Women across the UK have been left with overgrown fringes and longer locks than usual due to hairdressers being closed during lockdown - and the Duchess of Cambridge is no different. Kate Middleton, 39, showed off noticeably longer hair during her most recent virtual engagement. Her brunette locks cascaded over her left shoulder as she chatted to nurses from the University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust via video link on Thursday to hear about their work and thank them for their efforts. The Duchess, who is in lockdown with her family at Anmer Hall, in Norfolk, is setting an example by doing her own hair and letting her style grow out, explained celebrity stylist James Johsnon. Lockdown locks! Kate Middleton, 39, showed off noticeably longer hair during her most recent virtual engagement. She joined NHS staff on a video call to thank them for their hard work Shorter style: The Duchess of Cambridge had a choppier, shorter style in October when she visited students at the University of Derby. A stylist said Kate is 'setting an example' 'Fewer trims has given her hair time to grow to grow, and no doubt having less styling has encouraged her hair to look healthy!,' he told Femail. 'Just like many at the moment, I think the lockdown has forced many into trying new styles they wouldnt normally do prelockdown, the longer grown out hair really suits her. 'Less movement and flicky is bang on trend, proving again why shes a hair icon.' The Duchess of Cambridge's hair was looking longer before Christmas but she wore it in voluminous curls that made it look shorter than it was. Straightening the hair, as she did in the most recent video call, reveals the full length. The Duchess of Cambridge looked business ready for the video call with NHS staff on Tuesday, wearing a crisp white shirt under a classic blazer. In keeping with the 'less-is-more' styling approach, Kate kept her accessories simple and added a delicate necklace and pair of simple drop earrings. Curly Kate! The Duchess of Cambridge's hair was already looking long in November (left) and December (right) but appeared shorter due to the voluminous curls Fuss-free style: The Duchess of Cambridge pulled back her hair when she joined Prince William for a video call earlier this month (pictured) 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 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. 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 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?'. '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.' Chandigarh, Jan 22 : Even as he slammed the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) for spreading lies over the farm laws and dubbed the Centre's refusal to repeal them as 'inhuman', Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Friday announced jobs for one member of each of the families of the state's farmers who had lost their lives in the agitation against the 'black' laws. Questioning "why the Centre is hesitating to repeal the laws?", the Chief Minister said they should repeal the laws, then sit with the farmers and frame new laws after taking all stakeholders in confidence. He said that the Constitution of India has already been amended so many times, then why the government was adamant about not taking back the farm laws. Hitting out at the Central government for pushing the laws through Parliament with a brute majority, without any discussion, the Chief Minister said the entire country is paying the price for this. "Is there a Constitution in the country? Agriculture is a state subject under Schedule 7, so why has the Centre interfered with a state subject?" he asked, adding that "they went and enacted these laws without consulting anyone, because of which we have all landed in this situation." Barely were things coming back to normal after the lockdown, when the entire industry had shut down operations, when the farm laws were imposed, he said, adding that the legislations had been implemented by the Centre without any thought to the impact it would have on the farmers and agriculture. Asserting that "we are with the farmers and will stand by them," the Chief Minister said during the 20th edition of his Facebook Live #AskCaptain session that the Punjab government and every person in Punjab stands with the farmers. "All Punjabis are concerned about our farmers sitting on Delhi borders, they are there to persuade Centre to repeal laws that were implemented without taking us into confidence," he said, adding that "lots of old people are sitting there at the borders not for themselves but for the future of their children and grandchildren." The sad part, said the Chief Minister, was that "we are losing our farmers to the cold every day, with an estimated farmers 76 dying so far". In addition to the Rs 5 lakh compensation being given to the families of the deceased farmers, his government would also give a job to a family member, he added. Replying to a question by a Ferozepur resident, the Chief Minister asserted that the Akalis and the AAP were spreading lies on the issue of the high-powered committee on the agricultural reforms, as exposed by an RTI response. Pointing out that Punjab was not even included initially in the committee, he said it was only after he wrote to the Centre that Punjab's name was added, by which time the first meeting had already taken place without the state's representation. The second meeting was attended by Manpreet Badal as financial issues were discussed, while in the third and final meeting, no politician was invited and only the Agriculture Secretary attended. Amarinder Singh agreed with a Tarn Taran resident that the Centre was being arrogant and was not thinking about the impact of the farm laws on the farmers. "You should ask the Central government if India is not a democracy anymore?" he said, in response to the resident's question as to whether democracy no longer exists in this country. "It is against humanity," said the Chief Minister, agreeing that when the farmers for whom the laws are made don't want them, then why can't they be repealed. Stressing that representatives of almost all farm unions from across the country were sitting at the Delhi borders, the Chief Minister said the agitation was of the entire nation's farmers and not just of Punjab's farmers. He recalled that the farmers were getting MSP since 1966, with the Congress first introducing it, and nobody had any doubts about its continuation will now, because of these farm laws which were aimed at ending the MSP and market system. "And if that happens, the foodgrain currently procured by Centre for use in PDS distribution will also end. Who will then give food to the poor?" he asked. On the NIA notices to some farmers and supporters of the farmer agitation, the Chief Minister told the news editor of a New Zealand Punjabi weekly it was a wrong step and he would be writing soon to the Union Home Minister on the issue. Even Khalsa Aid, which was working across the globe, had not been spared, he said, adding that "Punjabiyon nu pyaar naal manao te man lenge....tussi dang chakoge, o vi dang chuk lenge. (If you talk to Punjabis nicely and persuade them, they will agree to your suggestions, but if you pick up a stick they too would pick one.)" Joe Biden is set to leave his presidential limo The Beast in the US when he attends the G7 summit in Cornwall because it could get stuck in the countys narrow and winding roads. The US President will come to Carbis Bay in June for what could be his first overseas trip in office. It is expected he will be driven around the seaside resort, just along the coast from St Ives, in a smaller armoured SUV rather than his immense official car. The Beast is the nickname for the specially built 1.1million Cadillac with 5in-thick bulletproof windows in which the president travels. Encased in ballistic armour and weighing about nine tons, it contains a sealed cabin with an oxygen supply and bags of blood matching the presidents type in case of a medical emergency. The President is expected to leave his 1.1million custom-made Cadillac which is encased in ballistic armour and weighs around nine tons in the US. Pictured: The Presidential limo on Inauguration Day on Wednesday The US President will come to Carbis Bay in June for what could be his first overseas trip in office. Pictured: A narrow lane in Cornwall Should anyone grab the door handles without authorisation, a 120-volt shock can be delivered at the flick of a switch. The car can also emit tear gas and flood the road with nails or an oil slick. But because of its length 18ft the vehicle can sometimes be tricky to manoeuvre. In 2009, during a visit by Barack Obama to see Gordon Brown, the car almost got stuck as it attempted to turn around in Downing Street, eventually managing it after five attempts. Two years later, a decoy version got caught as it attempted to roll over an exit ramp at the gates of the US embassy in Dublin. In June, Mr Biden is expected to fly into Newquay airport on Air Force One, the presidential aircraft, and helicopter Marine One will take him on to Carbis Bay. A final decision on what car to use will be taken after a recce of the area is completed in the coming weeks, US sources said. If anyone tries to grab the door handles without authorisation, a 120-volt shock can be delivered at the flick of a switch. Pictured: Biden on Inauguration Day The new President is expected to be driven around the seaside resort, just along the coast from St Ives, but not inside his usual Cadillac after fears it may get stuck in the narrow roads of the Cornish village Donald Trump brought The Beast to London for his 2019 state visit. But for the 2019 G7 summit in Biarritz, a seaside resort in the south-west of France, he was driven in a smaller armoured SUV. He used a similar car last October when he drove past supporters at the hospital where he was being treated for Covid-19. The June summit also attended by Germany, France, Canada, Italy and Japan, and Australia, India, South Korea and the EU as guests will be the first opportunity for Boris Johnson to meet Mr Biden. No 10 has said it estimates the summit will provide a 50 million boost to the local economy. The President looked to double the minimum wage for Americans yesterday to help kickstart the US economy. Mr Biden ordered agencies to start work on an executive order requiring federal contractors to be paid $15 an hour (11), more than double the current $7.25. He also increased payments to food welfare claimants by an average of 36 a month for a family of three. 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. Using political documents, contemporary news articles and historial accounts, Stacker compiled a list of political firsts in U.S. history, from the first chief justice appointed in 1789 to the first transgender state senator who won her seat in 2020. EUGENE, Ore. -- Lane County Public Health held a virtual town hall Thursday night, answering questions the public had about the COVID-19 vaccine and distribution. Officials from public health were joined by representatives from PeaceHealth, McKenzie-Willamette Medical Center, the University of Oregon, Oregon Medical Group, and Eugene-Springfield Fire. The overall theme of the night boiled down to the ethics behind why the vaccination distribution process is set up the way it is. The panel said those who are getting the vaccine first either play a critical roll in fighting the pandemic, like first responders, or are among the most vulnerable populations. Officials on the panel said with a small supply of vaccines, these ethical decisions must be made in order to save lives. Dr. Jessica Versage with McKenzie-Willamette Medical Center said even when there are extra doses of the vaccine, they have those ethical discussions on where they should be distributed to. "Part of those ethical principles include who we should reach out for, so initially at our hospital we were able to reach out to an urgent care clinic providing care for HIV-positive patients, dialysis patients, cancer patients," Versage said. Lane County Public Health will be holding as mass vaccination drive for phase 1A. Only groups two and three of that phase can get access to one of the 7,400 doses. There were also questions about the safety of the vaccine. Health officials on the panel reassured the public: the vaccine is safe and went through all of the proper trials to be approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). It is needed to adopt new law on lustration according to UN standards for de-occupied territories Reznikov Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for the Reintegration of the Temporarily Occupied Territories of Ukraine Oleksiy Reznikov believes that for the deoccupied territories it is necessary to adopt a new law on lustration based on and according to UN standards. "We analyzed the legislation on lustration after 2014. It was necessary, but it was quite total, it did not give the possibility of judicial control and did not give a person the opportunity, if he believes that his right was unfairly limited, to raise the question of canceling the application of lustration norms to him. Therefore, we believe that there should be judicial control so that people can raise the question that he was in vain included in this or that category, and he should not fall under it," Reznikov told journalists on Friday. The deputy prime minister said that for the future de-occupied territories it will be necessary to adopt a new law on lustration. "I think that it makes sense to write a new law. Since then they wrote on a quick hand. I think that today there is a lot of attention and indignation in society, and it is simply impossible to forgive someone. Therefore, I think that it is necessary to write a law on the basis and according to UN standards," Reznikov said. Thus, restrictions should be introduced regarding the occupation of positions by citizens who were involved in the activities of the occupation forces and the occupation administrations, dividing into several categories depending on the place of service or work. Reznikov said it is planned to create a certain agency that will have the competence to make decisions on restricting rights. Issued by Essex Police of (left to right top row) Dinh Dinh Binh, Nguyen Minh Quang, Nguyen Huy Phong, Le Van Ha, Nguyen Van Hiep, Bui Phan Thang, Nguyen Van Hung, Nguyen Huy Hung, Nguyen Tien Dung, Pham Thi Tra My, (left to right second row) Tran Khanh Tho, Nguyen Van Nhan, Vo Ngoc Nam, Vo Van Linh, Nguyen Ba Vu Hung, Vo Nhan Du, Tran Hai Loc, Tran Manh Hung, Nguyen Thi Van, Bui Thi Nhung, (third row left to right) Hoang Van Tiep, Tran Thi Ngoc, Phan Thi Thanh,Tran Thi Tho, Duong Minh Tuan, Pham Thi Ngoc Oanh, Tran Thi Mai Nhung, Le Trong Thanh, Nguyen Ngoc Ha, Hoang Van Hoi, (bottom row left to right) Tran Ngoc Hieu, Cao Tien Dung, Dinh Dinh Thai Quyen, Dang Huu Tuyen, Nguyen Dinh Luong , Cao Huy Thanh, Nguyen Trong Thai, Nguyen Tho Tuan and Nguyen Dinh Tu, the 39 Vietnamese migrants, aged between 15 and 44, that were found dead in the back of a trailer in Essex on October 23 2019 (Essex Police) Four people smugglers have been jailed for between 13 and 27 years for the manslaughter of 39 migrants, who suffered an excruciating death in an airtight trailer. The victims, Vietnamese men, woman and children, had hoped for a better life in Britain when they agreed to pay up to 13,000 a head for a VIP smuggling service. On October 22 2019, they were crammed into a lorry container to be shipped from Zeebrugge to Purfleet in Essex in pitch black and sweltering conditions. Expand Close Top row, left to right, Alexandru-Ovidiu Hanga, Christopher Kennedy, Eamonn Harrison and Gheorghe Nica, and bottom row, left to right, Maurice Robinson, Ronan Hughes and Valentin Calota (Essex Police/PA) PA / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Top row, left to right, Alexandru-Ovidiu Hanga, Christopher Kennedy, Eamonn Harrison and Gheorghe Nica, and bottom row, left to right, Maurice Robinson, Ronan Hughes and Valentin Calota (Essex Police/PA) The Old Bailey heard how they desperately tried to raise the alarm as they ran out of air before reaching British shores. The migrants, two aged just 15, were found dead by lorry driver Maurice Robinson who collected the trailer from the docks early the next morning. Read More Robinson, 26, of Craigavon, and his boss Ronan Hughes, 41, of Armagh, had admitted plotting to people smuggle and 39 counts of manslaughter. Hughess partner in crime Gheorghe Nica, 43, of Basildon, Essex, and Eamonn Harrison, 24, of County Down, who had collected the victims on the continent, were found guilty of the offences. On Friday, Robinson, who also admitted money laundering, was jailed for 13 years and four months in jail, Hughes was sentenced to 20 years in prison, Nica to 27 years and Harrison to 18 years. I have no doubt that, as asserted by the prosecution, the conspiracy was a sophisticated, long running, and profitable one to smuggle mainly Vietnamese migrants across the channel Mr Justice Sweeney Mr Justice Sweeney said: I have no doubt that, as asserted by the prosecution, the conspiracy was a sophisticated, long running, and profitable one to smuggle mainly Vietnamese migrants across the channel. The migrants had desperately tried to break out of the trailer and raise the alarm before they suffered an excruciatingly slow death, the judge said. Other members of the gang were also jailed for their role in the organised criminal operation. Lorry driver Christopher Kennedy, 24, of County Armagh, was jailed for seven years; Valentin Calota, 38, from Birmingham, was handed four and a half years; and Alexandru-Ovidiu Hanga, 28, from Essex, was sentenced to three years in custody. Expand Close Court artist sketch by Elizabeth Cook of Gheorghe Nica (left) and Eamonn Harrison (right)(Elizabeth Cook) PA / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Court artist sketch by Elizabeth Cook of Gheorghe Nica (left) and Eamonn Harrison (right)(Elizabeth Cook) The court had heard the operation was long-running and profitable, with the smugglers standing to make more than a million pounds in October 2019 alone. A total of seven smuggling trips were identified between May 2018 and October 23 2019, although the court heard that there were likely to have been more. Migrants would board lorries at a remote location on the continent to be transported to Britain where they would be picked up by a fleet of smaller vehicles organised by Nica for transfer to a safe house until payment was received. The fee was between 10,000 and 13,000, for the VIP route in which the driver was aware of the presence of smuggled migrants inside the trailer attached to his lorry. Expand Close Police and forensic officers at the Waterglade Industrial Park in Grays, Essex, after 39 bodies of Vietnamese migrants were found inside the lorry on the industrial estate (Stefan Rousseau/PA) PA / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Police and forensic officers at the Waterglade Industrial Park in Grays, Essex, after 39 bodies of Vietnamese migrants were found inside the lorry on the industrial estate (Stefan Rousseau/PA) Some of the trips were thwarted by border officials and residents in Orsett, Essex, who had repeatedly reported migrants being dropped off to the police. Yet the smuggling operation was not stopped until after the tragic journey. The families of the victims in Vietnam and Britain have spoken of their loss and hardship. Phan Thi Thanh, 41, had sold the family home and left her son with his godmother before setting off on the ill-fated journey. Her heartbroken son said: I heard about the incident from mass media so I called dad in the UK in order to confirm if mum was a victim. I was very shocked, very sad and I was crying a lot. The decease of both parents is a big loss to them Tran Dinh Thanh Tran Hai Loc and his wife Nguyen Thi Van, both 35, who were found huddled together in death, left two children aged six and four. The childrens grandfather Tran Dinh Thanh said: Everyday, when they come home from school they always look at the photos of their parents on the altar. The decease of both parents is a big loss to them. Fifteen-year-old Nguyen Huy Hungs UK-based father Nguyen Huy Tung learned about his death on social media. He said: We were very shocked, trembled, we lost track and awareness of our surroundings. My wife had fainted many times whenever our sons name was mentioned. The 39 victims were: Dinh Dinh Binh, Nguyen Minh Quang, Nguyen Huy Phong, Le Van Ha, Nguyen Van Hiep, Bui Phan Thang, Nguyen Van Hung, Nguyen Huy Hung, Nguyen Tien Dung, Pham Thi Tra My, Tran Khanh Tho, Nguyen Van Nhan, Vo Ngoc Nam, Vo Van Linh, Nguyen Ba Vu Hung, Vo Nhan Du, Tran Hai Loc, Tran Manh Hung, Nguyen Thi Van, Bui Thi Nhung, Hoang Van Tiep, Tran Thi Ngoc, Phan Thi Thanh, Tran Thi Tho, Duong Minh Tuan, Pham Thi Ngoc Oanh, Tran Thi Mai Nhung, Le Trong Thanh, Nguyen Ngoc Ha, Hoang Van Hoi, Tran Ngoc Hieu, Cao Tien Dung, Dinh Dinh Thai Quyen, Dang Huu Tuyen, Nguyen Dinh Luong , Cao Huy Thanh, Nguyen Trong Thai, Nguyen Tho Tuan and Nguyen Dinh Tu. Essex Police Chief Constable Ben-Julian Harrington said: Every person in that trailer had left behind a family. They had been promised safe passage to our shores and they were lied to. They were left to die, all because of the greed of the men who have been sentenced today. He paid tribute to the victims families, saying: Theyve kept their dignity, and they put their trust in us to deliver justice. I promised them that we would, and my teams have done just that. Expand Close DCI Daniel Stoten gives a statement outside the Old Bailey (Aaron Chown/PA) PA / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp DCI Daniel Stoten gives a statement outside the Old Bailey (Aaron Chown/PA) Senior investigating officer Detective Chief Inspector Daniel Stoten welcomed the sentences, saying: I hope that the quality and the detail of the evidence, and the high level of exposure that this case has had, demonstrates that our pursuit of those involved in these wicked crimes is unrelenting. May this serve as a warning to those who think its OK to prey on the vulnerabilities of migrants and their families, transporting them in a way worse than we would transport animals. My message to you is that we will find you and we will stop you. Thirty-nine victims died in the trailer. Two of them were just 15 years old and had travelled half the world unaccompanied all of them left behind families, memories, and homes, in the pursuit of a false promise of something better. Instead they died, in an unimaginable way, because of the utter greed of these criminals. Home Secretary Priti Patel said: The pain and suffering endured by the families of the victims of this terrible tragedy is unbearable. They will always remain in my thoughts and prayers. The inhumanity of these callous people smugglers and their dangerous organised criminal networks has rightly been reflected in the sentencing today. Deputy director of the National Crime Agency Matthew Long said: There can be no greater demonstration of how dangerous the organised criminal networks involved in people smuggling can be than this tragic case. As a result of the callousness and greed of these individuals, 39 men, women and children lost their lives in the most horrific of circumstances. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell has proposed a delay of former President Donald Trump's impeachment trial Thursday in a meeting with new Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer. The delay is designed to give the still-emerging Trump legal team time to prepare. "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 wrote that his proposal includes a "modest and reasonable amount" of additional time for sides to prepare arguments -- laying out a proposed timeline that the writ of summons would be filed Jan. 28, followed by a Trump response by Feb. 4 and a pretrial brief due from the former president by Feb. 11. "From what I understand from today's conversation, is [the trial] 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 for a defense in a Senate trial," Sen. Mike Braun, R-Ind., said Thursday afternoon. "I think, in fairness to anybody who's accused of impeachable offenses, there needs to be some fair process," said Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas. PHOTO: Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., the top Republican in Senate, leaves the chamber after Vice President Kamala Harris swore in three new Democratic senators, at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021. (J. Scott Applewhite/AP) As his legal team fills out, Trump adviser Jason Miller confirmed that Butch Bowers will be joining Trump's defense in the upcoming impeachment trial. "Excited to announce that Columbia, SC-based Butch Bowers has joined President Trumps legal team. Butch is well respected by both Republicans and Democrats and will do an excellent job defending President Trump," Miller tweeted. MORE: Biden's 1st 100 days live updates: Biden to spend 1st full day focused on pandemic Earlier Thursday, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi told reporters that the House and Senate are "ready" to proceed with Trump's second impeachment trial, but she said transmission of the articles is being held up by questions about how the trial would work. Story continues "Im not going to be telling you when it is going ... they are now ready to receive, but there are other questions of how a trial to proceed. But we are ready," she said. "It will be soon, as I said you will be the first to know." "It will be soon, I dont think it will be long, but we must do it, she said. PHOTO: Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi speaks during her weekly press briefing on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C, Jan. 21, 2021. (Nicholas Kamm/AFP via Getty Images) Pelosi dismissed Republicans' concerns that impeachment could divide lawmakers so soon after the inauguration. "It's not really unifying to say, let's just forget it, and move on," Pelosi said. "Just because he is gone, thank God, we don't say to a president, 'Do whatever you want in the last months of your administration ... because people want to make nice nice,' ... I think that would be harmful for unity." MORE: Democrats, weighing witnesses, plan to launch impeachment trial by end of week, sources say On the question of witnesses, Pelosi deferred to the House managers, but differentiated between the evidence needed for Trump's first trial, and this upcoming one. "I do see a big difference between something that we all witnessed, versus what information you might need to substantiate an article of impeachment based in large part on a phone call the president made ... but its up to them," referring to the managers. Schumer reaffirmed Thursday that there will be an impeachment trial and but that he and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell are still working to agree on the rules. PHOTO: Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., exits his office on his way to a photo op with freshman senators at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Jan. 21, 2021. (Tom Brenner/Reuters) "Speaker Pelosi will determine when she will send the articles over. 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," Schumer said. "There will be a trial, there will be a vote, up or down or whether to convict the president." At the White House, press secretary Jen Psaki denied the trial poses a problem for pursuing President Joe Biden's agenda: "We are confident, though, that just like the American people can, the Senate can also multitask. And they can do their constitutional duty while continuing to conduct the business of the American people," she said Wednesday. Pelosi also didn't rule out the conduct of lawmakers coming under investigation in any probe of the Capitol Hill riot, accusing some members of giving "aid and comfort" to rioters. On Biden's inauguration she said, "What a difference a day makes," she said. "It was so perfect, in my view." ABC News' Allison Pecorin and Sarah Kolinovsky contributed to this report. This report was featured in the Friday, Jan. 22, 2021, episode of Start Here, ABC News daily news podcast. "Start Here" offers a straightforward look at the day's top stories in 20 minutes. Listen for free every weekday on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, the ABC News app or wherever you get your podcasts. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell to propose delay of Trump impeachment trial originally appeared on abcnews.go.com Washington: British Prime Minister Boris Johnson faces a new and yet familiar obstacle as he tries to forge a special relationship with US President Joe Biden: A bust of Britain's wartime leader, Winston Churchill. 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. Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Credit:AP Barack Obama then removed it from his inner sanctum -- prompting a stinging attack from Johnson himself. Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-22 13:30:19|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 22 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Friday welcomed the entry into force of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, commonly known as the Nuclear Weapon Ban Treaty. "I am pleased to recognize today's entry into force of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, the first multilateral nuclear disarmament treaty in more than two decades. The treaty is an important step towards the goal of a world free of nuclear weapons and a strong demonstration of support for multilateral approaches to nuclear disarmament," Guterres said in a video message. He commended the states that have ratified the treaty and welcomed the instrumental role of civil society in advancing negotiation and entry into force. The survivors of nuclear explosions and nuclear tests offered tragic testimonies and were a moral force behind the treaty. Entry into force is a tribute to their enduring advocacy, he said. "I look forward to carrying out the functions assigned by the treaty, including in preparation for the first meeting of states parties," he added. Nuclear weapons pose growing dangers and the world needs urgent action to ensure their elimination and prevent the catastrophic human and environmental consequences any use would cause. The elimination of nuclear weapons remains the highest disarmament priority of the United Nations, he said. "I call on all states to work together to realize this ambition to advance common security and collective safety." The treaty was adopted in July 2017 and was opened for signature in September 2017. Honduras signed the 50th ratification of treaty on Oct. 25 last year, triggering it to enter into force on Jan. 22, 2021, 90 days after its 50th instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession has been deposited. Enditem Texas Senator Ted Cruz expressed his distaste for Joe Biden's immediate move to rejoin the Paris Climate Agreement, just one of 17 executive orders the new President signed on his first afternoon in office post inauguration. "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," Cruz tweeted on Thursday. The Paris Agreement, first signed in 2016 by 195 countries around the world, is an international climate agreement within the United Nations that just happened to be negotiated on and signed near the French city. The Agreement's goal is to help "countries aim to reach global peaking of greenhouse gas emissions as soon as possible to achieve a climate neutral world by mid-century," per the United Nations. Politicians, like Beto O'Rourke, and even a few celebrities were quick to criticize Cruz's implication that the Paris Agreement is only related to people in who live in Paris, France. Beto struck a blow to Cruz, saying in his response tweet, "Cruz is for Cruz." The year 2020 challenged deep-rooted beliefs and transformed the way we work. Beliefs such as sales can occur only in physical branches or physical documents are required to be presented in person to close a sale or we will always need branches to service customers no longer hold true. The pandemic also tested the resilience, adaptability and sustenance of individuals and organisations. Adapting to long-lasting shifts in consumer and distributor behaviour is now a necessity. Displacement of the 'usual' and advent of the 'new normal' may be spoken of for generations to come. However, even in the context of this new operating environment, I believe that the fundamentals of running a business and leadership principles don't get altered completely. Certain aspects of business may get amplified and certain aspects may become obsolete. However, the core of how you run a business remains the same. This crisis has taught me how to keep the core while adapting to an ever-changing environment. Ways of Working For leaders, the challenge during uncertain times is two-fold - making the right decisions and setting a positive example for others. While leaders may have felt the urge to limit authority and tighten control, what was, in fact, needed was reassurance and decentralisation. Organisational resilience depends on acquiring wider perspectives across functional teams, being open to listening to different points of view and thereafter taking quick decisions. At HDFC Life, at the start of the pandemic, we created zonal teams, led by an Executive Committee member, to take quick decisions depending on the changing on-ground situation. Our BCP (Business Continuity Planning) team was empowered to not just monitor the situation but also think creatively, exercise agility and quickly adapt to make the most of opportunities. Interestingly, as we look back, we feel that the outcomes that were delivered with lesser control were far better than when we had tight controls - people rose up to the challenge and delivered not like it was merely a job, but a higher calling! It goes without saying that safety and well-being of all our stakeholders was of paramount importance. Hence, we took a bold step to shut down our offices and branches even prior to the official lockdown and started selling products and servicing customers via digital modes. While ensuring 'business as usual', it was also important to stand by employees and address their emotional well-being through reworked wellness strategies. It was also imperative to upgrade, upskill, reskill and adapt. While employees needed to put in that extra effort, it was also the responsibility of the organisation to provide them the necessary infrastructure to do so. We have moved from a 'one size fits all' approach to technology-enabled personalised learning. Product Innovation Understanding changing customer needs and building products that address these needs is core to our DNA. We have been the pioneers of identifying whitespaces and launching innovative product propositions in the life insurance space - for example, recognising that certain customers are not willing to take riskier bets and, hence, may prefer guaranteed products; we were the trailblazers with our competitive Sanchay Plus product. At the start of the pandemic, insurance was being reckoned as a 'risk cover' rather than a mere investment product, leading to increased preference for term plans. Accordingly, we bolstered our term offerings and topped it off with an innovative term product Group Poorna Suraksha. Although our product strategy will keep evolving, our focus on innovation and maintaining a balanced product mix will continue to remain a core pillar of our long-term strategy. Digital Transformation Organisations that have been early adopters of technology were able to overcome challenges and capitalise on opportunities presented by the pandemic. It is all about foresight - being able to foresee and prepare for the future instead of waiting for things to unfold at their own pace. At HDFC Life, we have been sustaining focus on digital transformation, starting way back in 2013. As a business, we have reimagined our operating model from being product centric to being customer centric; we have shifted from being a traditional 'distributor and product play' model to becoming an evolved matrix of platforms, digital channels, ecosystems and traditional avenues. During the pandemic, our investments in technology paid off with higher adoption of digital assets across channels. While digital is an enabler in the current environment, it will be the core in a post-Covid world. I firmly believe that we should continue to keep the customer as the No. 1 reason for investing in digital initiatives that will enable organisations to attract, onboard, service and fulfil all commitments. HDFC Life has invested in making the buying and onboarding journey easy for customers and enabled online claim submission early to ensure that claimants need not step out of their homes. Our video life certificate launched last year ensured that senior citizens did not have to step out of their homes during the pandemic to submit a life certificate for their pension! Customer Focus While customers have been at the core of what we do, the importance of working 'at the speed of the customer' has been amplified through the pandemic. Such a mindset requires deep understanding of our customers and their experiences. There is a need to analyse customer buying habits and model out long-term implications to adjust faster to the industry's new normal. Customers are now comfortable with digital apps with a fundamental reset towards performing different activities online (witnessed through the surge seen in time spent on apps). To ride on this behaviour, we launched WISE, an industry-first video-based end-to-end sales enablement tool. Customers continue to prefer digital. While the digital way of selling and servicing continues to see increased adoption, a segment of India's population who may have adopted digital out of compulsion during lockdown may still prefer the physical or phygital mode, especially for complex transactions. Hence, while we push the pedal on digital, we are calibrating our strategy to meet requirements of different customer segments. Customers are also expecting 'convenience & customisation'. We continue to make investments in data and analytics to model such personalised experiences . Conclusion The concept of life insurance is about foresight and preparation. It is about purchasing an umbrella when you don't need it, so that you are prepared when it rains. This concept also applies to running a life insurance business, or for that matter, any business in today's dynamic environment. The pandemic has only strengthened the need for foresight, resilience, innovation, digital & customer centricity. While we adapted quickly to shifts in customer, partner and employee expectations, we continue to remain focussed on our long-term strategy of running a sustainable and profitable business backed by balanced product mix, diversified distribution, continuous product innovation and reimagining insurance. (The author is CEO and MD, HDFC Life) New Delhi, Jan 22 : In a relief for senior Samajwadi Party leader and Lok Sabha MP Mohammad Azam Khan, the Supreme Court on Friday declined to entertain an appeal by the Uttar Pradesh government challenging the Allahabad High Court, which granted bail to his wife and son, in a case connected with fraudulent allotment of government land. A bench of Chief Justice S.A. Bobde told Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the UP government, the High Court order is a good order and queried, what is wrong with it? "The judgement is correct", said the Chief Justice. Mehta insisted that there are many cases registered Khan for land grabbing and other offences. The bench replied it could be the case that father may have done something wrong, but it is not correct to blame his son. Mehta replied that both son and wife are beneficiaries. The bench reiterated that the High Court judgement is good and it will dismiss the plea of the state government. After a brief hearing in the matter, the bench, also comprising Justices A.S. Bopanna and V Ramasubramanian said: "we are dismissing the special leave petition." Mehta requested the top court to make an observation in the order that this should not affect the trial against the accused. On October 13, the High Court had granted bail to Khan's wife Tazeen Fatma and their son Abdullah Azam Khan, a former MLA. The UP police have registered a case against them for allegedly fraudulent allotment of a plot of land for Hotel Quality Bar in 2014. Khan's wife had argued in the High Court that she took the property on rent in a bonafide belief that it belonged to the Zila Sahkari Vikas Sangh, Rampur. She informed the court that she was unaware that the property actually belonged to the district administration and added that the case has been foisted on them due to political rivalry. JACKSON, MI This week was a week of 100s in Jackson, as a 110-year-old historic train will depart the city to be preserved, and a retired Leoni Township firefighter celebrated his 101st birthday after surviving COVID-19. Here are some of the headlines you might have missed this week. 110-year-old locomotive departing from Jackson for Pennsylvania preservation group A mainstay in Jackson County for more than 60 years will depart from its Jackson station after its sale last week. The Jackson City Council approved a plan at its Tuesday, Jan. 12 meeting to sell Locomotive 5030, a train engine located in R.A. Greene Park near the Jackson Wastewater Treatment Plant, to a Pennsylvania nonprofit and tourist railroad. Life is always adventurous for former Jackson County firefighter turning 101 after surviving COVID-19 A World War II veteran and longtime Leoni Township firefighter has turned 101 and survived COVID-19. Robert Bob Cole marked the milestone birthday on Monday, Jan. 18, as family gathered outside his nursing home to celebrate coronavirus style. Daughter Geraldine Boley said she hasnt seen Cole in six months because of restrictions, and being there for his birthday was amazing. Reed Manor fire was arson, suspect in hospital, police say A Jackson County man is accused of setting the fire at Reed Manor on Monday night. A 41-year-old man broke through an exterior sliding glass door into an apartment in D Building at Reed Manor, 301 Steward Ave., around 10 p.m., Jan. 18. The man then exited the apartment into a shared hallway before entering another apartment. The woman inside the apartment ran outside and then noticed smoke and fire. Free meals from Jackson restaurants being passed out through new Consumers Energy program Jackson community leaders have a new plan to address the coronavirus pandemic-related challenges of a sluggish restaurant industry and the rising risks of food insecurity buy meals from local restaurants and pass them out for free. Consumers Energy and the city of Jackson are partnering in the new meal distribution program through Consumers Our Town initiative that distributes meals made by Jackson restaurants to Jackson families. Christopher & Banks in Westwood Mall to close after company files bankruptcy A Westwood Mall retailer is expected to permanently close after its corporate owners filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy last week. Minneapolis-based Christopher & Banks announced on Jan. 14 that it will close more than 400 stores across the country, including 24 locations in Michigan. On the list of Michigan closures are Jackson, Bay City, Grand Rapids, Howell, Lansing and Traverse City. Jackson Public Schools renames building after late civil rights activist John Lewis When Jackson Public Schools reopens a building that hasnt housed elementary students in nearly three decades, it will have a new name honoring late civil rights activist and Congressman John R. Lewis. Jackson Public Schools Board of Education unanimously approved changing the name of Lincoln Elementary School, which is in the process of a $9-million renovation that will bring 350 students back into the building in fall 2021. Name of Man killed in Jackson County crash released by police Police have released the name of the man killed in a Parma Township crash last week. Robert Curley, 39, of Homer, died in the single-car crash at around 11:40 p.m., Jan. 14, on W. Michigan Ave. near Callahan Road, west of Jackson, Michigan State Police said. Curley was the only person in the car and was pronounced dead at the scene, police said. The cause of the crash is still under investigation. Phone scammers telling Jackson County residents they missed jury duty, police say A new phone scam is going around Jackson County, police said. Scammers are pretending to be a Jackson County Sheriffs Office deputy and tell people they missed jury duty in a judges court, according to the sheriffs office. The suspects may know the name and address of the people they call, police said. However, jury trials are delayed until the spring because of COVID-19, county court officials have said. RIDGEFIELD The towns COVID positivity rate is starting to decrease, officials announced this week. Ridgefields positivity rate is 2.1 percent, down from the previous 2.9 percent, officials said at Wednesdays selectmen meeting. This also brings the town below Fairfield Countys positivity rate of 3.1 percent. First Selectman Rudy Marconi said the good news was that testing has been on a downward trend and there is a dramatic drop in number of cases per hundred thousand in both the state and Fairfield County. But, he cautioned there is the new variant that is expected to create a spike in March. Its definitely going to spread, Marconi said, adding the town is again promoting washing hands, sanitizing and keeping a distance of at least six feet, though it is suggested to stay 10 or 12 feet apart if possible. Marconi said they have no idea the number of vaccines theyre getting week to week, which is making scheduling vaccinations and volunteers very difficult. As of now its on a week-to-week basis. The town, especially Director of Health Ed Briggs, has been working closely with the Ridgefield Visiting Nurses Association to set up the RVNAs certified clinic in Ridgefield. By the end of this week, the RVNA will have completed approximately 1,200 but I dont know how many other people went to other locations, Marconi said. Were receiving, statewide, approximately 46,000 doses per week right now. The hope that can increase as well as the additional approvals of both AstaZeneca and Johnson & Johnson. Those eligible for the vaccine can register through the Vaccine Administration Management System. The system also allows the federal government to track vaccines, distribution, and actual vaccination. It is not a user friendly system, Marconi said. One of the issues has been it will only accept emails. We have many seniors in our town, not only many that dont have computers or emails. The state set up a help line for people to call if theyre having issues registering or dont have a computer. Ridgefield is also trying to assist residents sign up. People can call the RVNA at 203-431-2718 on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Tony Phillips, director of social services, is also assisting through his department, as is Founders Hall. Volunteers will be recruited to help as well. A tutorial video will be made and put on the town website next week to walk people through the vaccine application process. The next group, 1b, will start once Phase 1a is completed and residents 75 years old and older been vaccinated. About 1.4 million Connecticut residents are eligible in Phase 1b, which includes those 65 to 74 years old, as well as people under 65 who have a single co-morbidity, diabeties or asthma. Youre advised to bring your Epi-Pen if youre allergic, Marconi said. Marconi said someone is always ready in the queue to be vaccinated and ensure vaccines arent wasted, but the big concern is when people dont show up for their appointment. Moderna vaccines must be used within 12 hours of being opened. If you took a man in their 60s, the average risk is that for every 1000 people who got infected roughly 10 would be expected to unfortunately die with the virus, Britains Dr Vallance said. With the new variant, for 1000 people infected roughly 13 or 14 people might be expected to die. So thats the sort of change for that sort of age group and you will see a similar sort of relative increase across the age groups as well. But I want to stress that theres a lot of uncertainty around these numbers and we need more work to get a precise handle on it. UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson during Friday evenings Downing Street press conference. Credit:Getty Images "But it is obviously of concern that this has an increase in mortality as well as an increase in transmissibility." Australian Labors health spokesman Chris Bowen expressed concern the new variant could lead to greater disease and suffering. Mr Bowen demanded Prime Minister Scott Morrison actually work with the [state] premiers and get Australians home safely, ensure that the quarantine is strong enough for this new strain B117 and other strains which are emerging and give Australians overseas the support they deserve. Scientific paper prompted announcement The UK governments New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats Advisory Group (NERVTAG) asked different groups of experts to examine data about the new variant and whether it was killing more people. The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine reported the strain could be 1.35 times more deadly, while scientists from Imperial College London produced a similar figure of between 1.29 and 1.36. The University of Exeter found the risk of death could 1.91 times higher. A Public Health England analysis initially found no link between the new strain and higher mortality but now also believes it has found new evidence supporting the theory. At the moment what they have said is there could be an increase in mortality, Vallance said of the different findings. But theres a lot of uncertainty and a lot more work that needs to go on. I really urge against just picking the highest number and assuming thats correct. Loading Replay Replay video Play video Play video NERVTAG said while there was likely an increased risk of death compared to the original virus, it should be noted that the absolute risk of death per infection remains low. Other variants could prompt UK border closure UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he would not toughen lockdown measures in response to the new mortality information, but flagged extra border controls over concern about variants first detected in South Africa and Brazil. Scientists believe those two strains are no more transmissible than the UK variant but are increasingly worried they may not respond to the newly-approved vaccines. We are more concerned that they have certain features which means they might be less susceptible to vaccines, Dr Vallance said of the South African and Brazilian variants. Loading Its very difficult to compare between laboratories on this data and we need to get more clinical information to understand how much of an effect, if any, there is on the vaccine, but they are definitely of more concern than the one in the UK at the moment. Experts remain confident the UK strain will respond well to vaccines. Between 44 and 71 cases of the South African variant have already been found in the UK. There will be cases here. There will be cases all over the world of these variants, Dr Vallance said. The key thing is to identify, contact trace and try and make sure we contain. Pharmaceutical giants Pfizer and AstraZeneca have said existing products can be tweaked to respond to new variants but more resistant strains could be a problem for the millions of people who have already been given a jab. UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock. Credit:PA In a leaked video, Health Secretary Matt Hancock told travel agents that the South African variant might reduce vaccine efficacy by about 50 per cent and risk taking the UK back to square one. We are not sure of this data so I wouldnt say this in public, Mr Hancock told the meeting. He also praised Australias border controls as a way of fighting the virus, stoking speculation Britain might block the entry of non-citizens. Mr Johnson said arrivals from South Africa had already been banned from December 24 and all other travellers must produce a negative test and self-quarantine upon arrival. I really dont rule out that we may need to take further measures still, Mr Johnson said. We may need to go further to protect our borders because we do not want, after all the effort we are going to in this country, the massive success that the NHS and others are vaccinating ... put at risk by having a new variant come back in. Asked about Mr Hancocks comments, Vallance said there was no consensus on the degree to which the South African strain could get around vaccines. It is the case that both the South African and Brazilian variants have more differences in shape, which might mean they are recognised differently by antibodies and therefore laboratory studies are suggesting a decreased binding, he said. But I think its too early to know the effect that will have on the vaccination in people. Vaccine program hits new record Nearly 5.4 million people in the UK have received their first of two jabs. A record 410,000 were vaccinated on Thursday alone. New cases and hospitalisations are falling or flatlining in most parts of the UK but deaths are still climbing. Another 1404 deaths were registered on Friday, putting the UK on course to eclipse 100,000 by early next week. After speaking to her neighbors, she learned the wheel likely hit her neighbors yard first, just on the edge of her sidewalk, going into her backyard, Grant said. Then, as it broke apart, it fell into our yard. PEPPER PIKE, Ohio -- Three teams from Orange High School are advancing to the Ohio Mock Trial district competition Jan. 28 and 30. This years competition is virtual, which has made it even more challenging than usual, according to a news release from the Orange City School District. Seventy-eight Orange High School students have been studying this years Mock Trial case involving an individuals right to due process under the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. OHS began the process with 10 strong teams, all named after Marvel comics characters. But this years virtual competition allows only three teams per school to advance to district competition. So, Orange had a competition among its 10 teams to determine which three would advance. After four tough rounds, the OHS teams moving on to the district level are Team Thor, Team Deadpool and Team Hulk. In each case, students portray defense and prosecution attorneys and witnesses and argue the case before a panel of judges. A Best Attorney and a Best Witness are selected. OHS students who won Best Attorney awards in this tournament competition are Lyla Berns (three times), Kamille Giles-Watkins, Kerry Kelly, Mia Peterman, Aidan Stearns, Daniel Suh (twice) and Mira Swirsky. Best Witness winners were Xavier Arnold, Ben Frey, Maya Korland, Rose Martyn, Jaden Polster, Elana Rubanenko (twice), Taylor Silverstein, Emma Snyder-Lovera and Skyler Weisenberg. Selected teams will advance from district competition to regionals in February, and the state competition follows in March. Orange has had teams in the state competition for more than a dozen years. Last years state competition was canceled, just as the OHS teams arrived in Columbus, due to the coronavirus pandemic. This years OHS Mock Trial team advisers are David Chordas, Jessica Fairchild, Dena McSweeney and Megan Petronsky. Legal advisers include Aleks Chojnaki, Scott Heasley, Chuck Jarrett, Jeffrey Leikin, Jeff Saks and Jeff Ubersax. The Ohio Mock Trial program challenges students to learn more about the intricacies of the criminal justice system. It also teaches them to study and question the practices within the American justice system to gain a deeper understanding of how it operates. Scholastic art winner Orange High School junior Maddie Millett earned an honorable mention award in writing earlier in January in the 2020-21 Scholastic Art and Writing Competition. She was recognized for The Thanksgiving Throwback, in the category of Personal Essay and Memoir. Her teacher at OHS is Ryan Kerns. OHS students received a total of 25 awards in this years competition. Each year, the Cleveland Institute of Art hosts the Scholastic Art and Writing Competition that recognizes creative achievement in area students in grades 7-12. The young artists and writers compete for cash prizes, medals and scholarship awards. A panel of local professional artists, art educators, writers and writing educators jury the exhibit and select the awarded pieces from nearly 3,000 entries. Students who receive Gold Key Awards for individual works and portfolios advance to the national competition held each spring in New York. Read more from the Chagrin Solon Sun. We took another close look at the vaccine rollout in the San Francisco Bay Area this week and found that while scarcity of supply remains a problem, counties and health care providers are beginning to make progress with infrastructure for implementation, whether launching a dashboard reporting vaccine data or creating a mass vaccine site. Here's what we've learned from our investigation into vaccines: Counties are administering vaccines based on the states prioritization framework, which builds on the the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions recommendations. While county health departments are responsible for carrying out the state's plans, they make the final decision about when different groups of people will get the vaccine. County health departments are focused on vaccinating people without health plans or those who cannot access the vaccine elsewhere. If you have health insurance, you should check with your provider. While the state of California has given counties and health care providers the green light to vaccinate individuals age 65 and older, in addition to health care workers, the overall lack of vaccine supply makes it difficult to administer vaccines to all seniors immediately. SFGATE checked in with the nine Bay Area counties on their vaccine implementation. Here's what we found. Alameda Vaccine info: covid-19.acgov.org. Vaccine appointments: To receive a notification on when you're available for a vaccine, sign up at covid-19.acgov.org/vaccines. Total vaccines administered: 85,350 as of Jan. 14, 2021 (see latest numbers on the county's vaccine dashboard here). Who can get vaccinated in the county now? The county continues to focus on vaccinating health care workers in Phase 1a of the state plan. Vaccine news: The Oakland Police Officers Association and the Deputy Sheriffs Association of Alameda County called on the county to vaccinate law enforcement, warning in a Jan. 21 statement that the 1,500 first responders they represent still have not received the COVID-19 vaccine and that Alameda County has no plan to vaccinate these first responders who continue to serve their communities during the pandemic. The Alameda County Sheriffs Office is working to facilitate the vaccination of the county jail population against COVID-19, but the County Health Department has no plan to vaccinate the deputies or staff working in the jail. said Deputy Sheriff's Association President Kevin Lewis. More than 90 Alameda County Deputy Sheriffs have tested positive for COVID-19, and one deputy has already died, but there is no plan to vaccinate these essential first responders. Contra Costa Vaccine plan: coronavirus.cchealth.org. Vaccine appointments: Find information here. Total vaccines administered: 65,151 as of Jan. 22, 2021 (see latest numbers on the county's vaccine dashboard here.) Who can get vaccinated in the county now? The county website indicates health care workers, employees and residents of long-term care facilities and people ages 65 and older are eligible for vaccinations. Vaccine news: The county is ramping up vaccine efforts with a goal of speeding up vaccines for seniors and opening vaccine sites, with the Concord Pavilion and Crane Way Pavilion in Richmond under consideration, according to ABC 7 News. Marin Vaccine info: coronavirus.marinhhs.org/vaccine. Vaccine appointments: Find appointment options here, but keep in mind appoints are extremely limited and restricted. Total vaccines administered: Marin will be posting numbers online soon, their website says. Who can get vaccinated in the county now? "Currently only health care workers defined in Phase 1A are being vaccinated," according to the county website. "Some medical providers have begun scheduling patients who are in Phase 1B, including those over age 65, into vaccine appointments next week." Vaccine news: At a one-day event on Sunday, Marin Public Health, with assistance from Kaiser Permanente and Marin Medical Reserve Corps, vaccinated 1,247 education staff, including custodial workers, food service, transportation (bus drivers), special education teachers and other para-professionals. "Keep in mind, education is just one group that was vaccinated this week as part of Phase 1B," Laine Hendricks, a public information officer for the county, wrote in an email. "We are also offering vaccines to child care workers and people age 75 and over as supply allows. So the efforts are parallel. We are not vaccinating all educators before we move to another group." Napa Vaccine info: countyofnapa.org/3096/COVID-19-Vaccines. Vaccine appointments and notifications: You can fill out a form to be notified when you're eligible here. Total vaccines administered: 13,911 as of Jan. 21 (see the county's latest vaccine data here) Who can get vaccinated in the county now? The county website indicates health care works, employees and residents of long-term care facilities and people ages 65 and older are eligible for vaccinations. Vaccine news: Like all counties in the Bay Area, Napa is faced with low supply. "At this point, well have enough vaccine to get us to Wednesday, Public Health Officer Dr. Karen Relucio told the Napa Valley Register on Thursday. Unless we find out on Tuesday what our allocation will be for the coming week, thats all we have. It is literally day by day. San Francisco Vaccine info: sf.gov/covid-19-vaccine-san-francisco. Vaccine appointments: To receive a notification on when you're available for a vaccine, sign up at sf.gov/get-notified-when-youre-eligible-covid-19-vaccine. Total vaccines administered: 31,189 have received at least the first dose; 7,128 have gotten the second (see the county's latest vaccine data on the dashboard) Who can get vaccinated in the county now? The county is focused on vaccinating health care workers and starting to inoculate those 65 and older. "Check with your own health care provider first," the county said. "There is limited vaccine supply, and there may be a long waiting period." Vaccine news: 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." (Read more on SFGATE.) San Mateo Vaccine info: smchealth.org/covid-19-vaccination Vaccine appointments: Find information on providers that are booking appointments for those who are eligible here. Total vaccines administered: San Mateo County has received 25,800 first vaccine doses and 22,354 of these have been administered through county channels such as a drive-through clinic last week that vaccinated 9,550 people over seven days, county officials said in a Thursday press briefing. A second clinic will be set up for people to receive the second dose. Who can get vaccinated in the county now? "We are vaccinating all eligible Phase 1a health care workers and long-term care residents in San Mateo County and transitioning to the next phase, which now includes residents ages 65+ as the supply of vaccines allows," the county said. Vaccine news: The county advised residents on Thursday to be alert for scams related to the distribution of COVID-19 vaccines. For more information and to report scams, view here. The countys health officer, Scott Morrow, published a statement criticizing the rollout and lack of transparency from the state and the federal government. "To vaccinate most of the population adequately by July, all the entities in the county need to vaccinate 40,000 people per week, or about 6,000 every day," Morrow wrote. "The current supply coming to the various entities in the county from the state appears to be about one-tenth this rate." Santa Clara Vaccine info: sccfreevax.org Vaccine appointments: Find information on providers that are booking appointments for those who are eligible here. Total vaccines administered: 98,807 first doses; 26,338 second doses as of Jan. 20 (visit the county's vaccine dashboard here for the latest numbers. Who can get vaccinated in the county now? The county is focused on vaccinating health care workers and some providers are vaccinating individuals age 75 and older. Solano Vaccine info: solanocounty.com/covid19 Vaccine appointments: Find information on where individuals eligible to receive the vaccine can get inoculated here. Total vaccines administered: The county isn't sharing this information online. Who can get vaccinated in the county now? The county is focused on vaccinating health care workers. Some health care providers may be offering shots to seniors. Vaccine news: The Solano Public Health Department is hosting a town hall Friday, Jan. 22, at 3:30 p.m. to provide an update on COVID-19 and the vaccine rollout. The event will be streamed live on the Solano County Public Health Facebook page. Sonoma Vaccine info: socoemergency.org/emergency/novel-coronavirus/vaccine-information Vaccine appointments: Find info on where individuals eligible to receive the vaccine can get inoculated here. Total vaccines administered: 26,237 as of Jan. 21 (find the latest numbers here) Who can get vaccinated in the county now? The county is focused on vaccinating health care workers. Some health care providers may be offering shots to seniors. Vaccine news: The county announced Monday that it has partnered with Safeway to administer COVID-19 vaccinations to county health workers. On Wednesday, Safeway pharmacists assisted the county in vaccinating approximately 5,000 in-home supportive services workers. Additionally, 11 pharmacies in Safeway stores throughout the county have received state approval to provide COVID-19 vaccinations, and in-home supportive services workers will be able to start receiving vaccinations at those locations starting next week. Bay City News contributed to this story. Britons who refuse to take coronavirus vaccines will not enjoy protection even if their neighbours are immunised, scientists warned today. University of East Anglia experts yesterday claimed the current crop of Covid jabs will never allow Britain to reach 'herd immunity' - when so many people are immune to a virus that it can't spread and eventually fizzles out. The research found 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. Professor Paul Hunter, an infectious disease expert who led the study, said today people shouldn't count on getting default protection from their neighbours, as he urged everyone who is eligible for the jabs to take them. He said vaccines would allow a return to 'near-normal' life for large parts of society, but those who refuse the jab would not be protected. The 10 per cent of Brits who are not vaccinated against measles, for example, enjoy protection through herd immunity - although there are still flare ups of the infectious disease in communities where uptake is not that high. Experts now believe Covid will become a seasonal virus that we have to learn to live with forever, like flu. Professor Hunter told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'The rolling out the vaccine is going to make a huge difference and going to enable us to relax many of the restrictions that we're under at the moment and, certainly as we're moving into spring when the better weather comes along, that'll considerably help - 'but I think there are two key issues. 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 'The first is that if you are uncertain about whether you want the vaccine or not and especially if you're a vulnerable person you cannot rely on the fact that your neighbours have been vaccinated. 'So please, please, please make sure you go and be vaccinated yourself.' He said the second issue was that, particularly going into next winter, those who have not had a vaccine were at ongoing risk from coronavirus. Jonathan Van-Tam's mother gets Covid jab The 79-year-old mother of England's deputy chief medical officer has had her coronavirus vaccination. Professor Jonathan Van-Tam has previously spoken about encouraging his mother, Elizabeth Van-Tam, to be ready to receive the vaccine when she got the call. Ms Van-Tam said: 'While Ive had lots of reminders from Jonathan, I needed no encouragement when I received my phone call' Professor Jonathan Van-Tam, deputy chief medical officer for England Prof Van-Tam, who said his mother calls him 'Jonny', said he had told her it was 'really important' to get the jab 'because you are so at risk'. She had her vaccination on Thursday at a GP surgery in Whittlesey, six miles east of Peterborough, Cambridgeshire. Ms Van-Tam, who turned 79 this month, said afterwards: 'I was really happy to get my Covid-19 vaccine. 'While Ive had lots of reminders from Jonathan, I needed no encouragement when I received my phone call. 'The jab didnt hurt at all and the NHS staff were excellent. 'I would encourage everyone to take up the offer when it comes.' Advertisement He said there was a need to 'make sure we have appropriate tracking and tracing systems in place so that we identify where local outbreaks are occurring early enough to stop them'. 'This is something that happens in measlesparticular communities with low uptake of measles vaccines can have suddenly very nasty, very severe outbreaks of measles and what you have to do is make sure we've got systems in place to spot these early before they become real problems for the people concerned.' Professor Hunter added it was going to be 'pretty much impossible' to reach herd immunity with the vaccines or through naturally-acquired infection. While vaccines were 'very good at stopping people getting severe illness and dying', they will suppress spread of infection to other people but will not completely stop it. 'There will continue to be a risk to those people who are not vaccinated,' he said. Analysis from 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'. Professor Sir Mark Walport, who is advising ministers as a member of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage), echoed Professor Hunter's comments, adding: 'All the evidence says have a vaccine'. Asked whether there should be a plan to vaccinate the entire population in the future, including children, he said children do not get severe disease from Covid-19 but can transmit infection so 'ultimately yes' they should be vaccinated. But he said the current plan must be to vaccinate the most at risk. Only about 2% of New Jersey residents eligible to receive the coronavirus vaccine have scheduled appointments, state health officials said. And those eligible are likely to face more challenges securing an appointment, as several confused residents told NJ Advance Media the state gave them the OK to get vaccinated even though they fall outside the current eligibility requirements. Those currently eligible for the vaccine are health care workers, first-responders, long-term care residents and staff, those above the age of 65 and residents with medical conditions including smokers. Yet some residents, who meet none of these requirements, received an email alert Thursday night to schedule their vaccination appointment, they told NJ Advance Media. A spokeswoman with the state Department of Health, Donna Leusner, said emails went out Thursday to about 1,264,684 people who are eligible to get vaccinated. Approximately 2 million people have signed up with the state to receive a COVID-19 vaccine as of Friday, Leusner said. Of those who have signed up, more than 1 million have received emails saying they are eligible to receive the vaccine. More than 30,000 have successfully scheduled an appointment through the states site, Leusner said. State officials told NJ Advance Media that all six of the coronavirus mega-sites are opened as of Friday. As of Friday, the state has administered 490,677 coronavirus vaccines, with most of those being first doses, according to the states COVID-19 dashboard. Only about 62,000 residents in New Jersey have received both doses. Editors note: This post was updated around 2 p.m. to include new numbers provided by the state Department of Health on Friday afternoon. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Alex Napoliello may be reached at anapoliello@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @alexnapoNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook. "Masks are expensive and for many Americans they simply are not in the budget. People who are struggling right now, out of work and finding it difficult to put food on the table for their children, will keep wearing dirty, disposable masks because they can't afford to buy new ones. Our donation to families and frontline workers is one way we can help make a difference. We want to thank Feeding America and Feeding New York State Association for helping us locate areas with great need," said Barton Henderson, Esq., Chief Business Development Officer and Co-Owner of Henderson Promos, based in Red Bank, New Jersey. "My husband and I just want to help. Our business pivoted to PPE production at the onset of the pandemic, and we see the demand for masks first-hand. It is our pleasure to provide frontline workers at food banks and other nonprofits, as well as families in need, with essential masks to help keep them safe during these unprecedented times. Nobody should be at greater risk of contracting or spreading the virus because they can't afford clean masks," said Kristina Henderson, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Owner of Henderson Promos, and the current Mrs. New Jersey American titleholder. The recipients of masks from the Hendersons include: Community FoodBank of New Jersey Hillside, NJ 20,000 masks 20,000 masks Food Bank for New York City New York, NY 30,000 masks 30,000 masks Island Harvest FoodBank Bethpage, NY 6,000 masks 6,000 masks Long Island Cares FoodBank Happauge, NY 6,000 masks Philabundance FoodBank Philadelphia, PA 10,000 masks 10,000 masks Second Harvest FoodBank of Orange County Irvine, CA 20,000 masks 20,000 masks Food Bank of South Florida Pembroke Pines, FL 2,000 masks 2,000 masks RWJ Barnabas Health Foundation New Brunswick, NJ 6,000 masks 6,000 masks Police Departments in New Jersey Middletown , Eatontown , and Berkeley 800 masks , , and 800 masks New Jersey Department of Health (for psychiatric facilities) 3,800 masks Ancora Psychiatric Hospital 850 KN95 masks Monmouth County (NJ) Sheriff's Department - 500 masks (NJ) Sheriff's Department - 500 masks Monmouth County (NJ) SPCA 100 masks (NJ) SPCA 100 masks Fulfill FoodBank at the Jersey Shore Neptune, NJ 700 masks 700 masks Habcore Red Bank, NJ 500 masks 500 masks Lunch Break Red Bank, NJ 500 masks 500 masks Tigger House Foundation - Red Bank, NJ 500 masks The Hendersons utilized the supply chains they had in place overseas when the pandemic struck to begin much-needed PPE production. They quickly opened their own factory in the United States to avoid shipping delays to provide frontline workers with 3ply, made in the U.S.A., surgical masks from their factory in Santa Ana, California. It is now one of only a few USA made PPE manufacturers in the country. More information on the company can be found at hendersonppe.com. "As the pandemic continues throughout the country, we are grateful for this donation of masks from Bart and Kristina Henderson for Feeding America food banks," said Blake Thompson, Chief Supply Chain Officer, Feeding America. "In addition to nourishment from the food boxes they receive, the people we serve will also receive masks to protect themselves and their families." "We are so grateful to Bart and Kristina Henderson for their generous donation of thousands of masks to our food banks in New York City and Long Island. As the pandemic continues to hit our communities hard, these masks will help the people we serve stay safe. Poverty should not put anyone at higher risk of disease, and we salute the Henderson family for this thoughtful donation," said Dan Egan, Executive Director, Feeding New York State. Bart and Kristina Henderson are co-owners of Henderson Promos (hendersonpromos.com), based in Red Bank, New Jersey, and their PPE division is based in Santa Ana, CA (hendersonppe.com). Kristina is also the current Mrs. New Jersey American titleholder. She'll be competing for the national title March 19-27 in Las Vegas. For video, pictures or video of the mask donations contact Karla Bardinas, Think Media Communications, at [email protected]. SOURCE Henderson Promos Related Links https://hendersonpromos.com/ A New Jersey gym owner and former professional fighter has been arrested for allegedly shoving and punching a police officer while participating in the attack on the U.S. Capitol earlier this month, authorities said. Four people tipped of FBI agents that Scott Fairlamb, of Stockholm in Hardyston Township, Sussex County, could be seen on videos at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6 allegedly assaulting a police office, carrying a baton around Capitol grounds and standing on scaffolding outside the building, according to an affidavit. Fairlamb is charged with certain acts during civil disorder, assaulting a federal officer, knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority, carrying a dangerous weapon, and violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds. U.S. Magistrate Judge James B. Clark III ordered Fairlamb released on a $50,000 unsecured appearance bond and subject to home detention with electronic monitoring with the ability to go to work, medical appointment, religious services and other travel required related to the case. Clark said it was a badge of dishonor to be involved in the most troubling event in American history. Assistant U.S. Attorney Catherine Murphy said the government will be appealing the ruling to release Fairlamb. In one video, FBI agents said they identified Fairlamb as the man who shoved and then punched a police officer in the head on the West Front of the Capitol, according to the affidavit. Authorities said they have identified Scott Fairlamb as the man in a camoflauge jacket that is seen on video punching a police officer during the attack in the U.S. Capitol. (Courtesy of FBI) A second concerned citizen submitted a Facebook video that Fairlamb posted to his account in which he is carrying a collapsible baton and can be heard saying, What (do) Patriots do? We f----n disarm them and then we storm the f----n Capitol, according to the affidavit. The baton was found in his home by FBI agents Friday, Murphy said. Another person told the FBI about Fairlamb saying the people at the Capitol were going to disarm those protecting the building before storming it, according to the affidavit. Fairlamb later deleted the videos, authorities said. Another video showed Fairlamb standing on the scaffolding on the Capitol grounds, according to the affidavit. Murphy described Fairlamb as taking an active and violent role during the attack on the Capitol. She sought to have Fairlamb detained, citing his past criminal history, including a 2010 aggravated assault conviction and guilty plea to a simple assault charge in 2018. Authorities said Scott Fairlamb, (pictured) of New Jersey participated in the riots at the U.S. Capitol earlier this month. (Courtesy of the FBI) Harley Breite, Fairlambs defense attorney, argued his client should be released since Fairlamb is a business owner who a lot of people rely on and hasnt faced a serious criminal charge in more than a decade. He said Fairlamb is also battling leukemia. According to his bio on his gyms website, Fairlamb Fit, Fairlamb was born and raised in New Jersey and turned pro as a fighter in 2000, although his career was cut short when he was diagnosed with cancer. A call to the gym seeking comment Friday was not immediately returned. Fairlamb held a protest at his Pompton Lakes gym during the pandemic in response to Gov. Phil Murphys restrictions on fitness centers, according to social media posts. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Joe Atmonavage may be reached at jatmonavage@njadvancemedia.com. Have a tip? Tell us: nj.com/tips. The verdict is in for Samsungs Galaxy S21 series. Weve got two separate reviews for you today, one on the premium Ultra variant and another for the standard S21 which should also inform you of what to expect from the S21+ model. Dont expect any major surprises. Samsung seems to have taken onboard the critiques of last years S20, and the result is fewer software gimmicks and a lower price. With the S21 Ultra, you have a boggling array of camera options (including the return of that contentious Space Zoom feature), while the smallest, cheapest S21 gets the same top-tier processor as the bigger phones and most of the features and capabilities. Mat Smith Missing your daily email? Were fixing some errors that are sending older versions of TMA to some subscribers, but soon well be back in your inbox once everythings working like it should. Bloomberg reports the current prototype is made of fabric, too. The latest report on Apples VR and AR plans suggests the company is still working on a headset that features external cameras and a fabric shell. The device will apparently run on a bespoke operating system, currently codenamed rOS, and have its own special App Store. The company is battling with cooling the device, with the addition of a fan leading to heavier headsets that werent well suited for extended use. Apple is also working on its own AR glasses, which are still early in development and likely years away. Continue reading. A capable but costly flagship. Starting at $1,200, Samsungs Galaxy 21 Ultra might not pack many dramatic upgrades, but its a polished powerhouse thats remarkably competent on all fronts. According to Engadget mobile editor Chris Velasco, that doesnt mean its perfect some of its features arent as immediately useful as we had hoped, and the loss of expandable storage could be a deal-breaker for some power users. The Ultras price and size still might put it out of reach for some, but if you can justify the cost or dont mind waiting for a deal the good far outweighs the bad. Continue reading. The best Android phone for the money. Welcome to a world where less is more. The $800 Galaxy S21 is the entry-level model of Samsungs new trio of flagships, and it offers an intriguing mix of features for the price. Youll get the same top-tier processor and the same 120Hz refresh rate, but at a lower resolution on, obviously, a smaller screen. It has one fewer camera than the S21 Ultra and with less-sharp sensors, but according to reviews editor Cherlynn Low, it still offers a versatile imaging system. Plus, it has a brand new look and a long-lasting battery. For the money, youll have a hard time finding a better Android flagship. Continue reading. It may launch after new versions of the MacBook Pro. Today, Bloombergs Mark Gurman has provided some more detail on the next Air refresh. The publication reports it will be thinner and lighter, have a next-gen M1 processor and use the same MagSafe charging system bound for the next MacBook Pro refresh. The company is also said to be deliberating a design with smaller screen bezels, which would shrink the already-portable form factor further. Continue reading. The statement was made at a Senate hearing. Googles latest statement on the Australian governments efforts to make it, Facebook and other internet companies pay news outlets for using their content doesnt pull any punches. Mel Silva, Googles managing director in the country, told the Senate at a hearing: 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. The countrys officials were negotiating an agreement that would make payments voluntary. However, the pandemics impact on the news industrys ad revenue has led to the government switching its plans to make payments mandatory. Continue reading. Microscope manufacturer Hirox has created a panorama of Vermeers painting. Microscope maker Hirox captured over 9,100 photos of the painting with its 3D microscope, down to a detail of four microns per pixel. Revealing every crack and drop of paint with unprecedented detail, the team also created a 3D map of the canvas, revealing what looks like the surface of a strange planet. By switching to 3D mode, a blob of paint on the pupil can be seen from edge-on, revealing topographic detail in the paint and cracks, with white reflections apparently slightly raised from the pupil itself. Continue reading. A PS5 exclusive 'visual demo' is available now. Village will land on Xbox Series X, Series S, PlayStation 5 and PC, as first promised, but its also coming to Xbox One and PS4, Capcom revealed in todays Resident Evil stream. PS4 customers will get free access to the game in their digital libraries on PS5, and it ships with Xbox Smart Delivery, meaning Xbox One players will automatically receive an optimized version on Series X and S. Pre-orders are open now, and there is a deluxe and collectors edition up for grabs. Theres also a visual demo called Maiden available today, but its exclusive to PS5 a meatier gameplay demo will come out later. Capcom also lifted the lid on Re:Verse, a packed-in online multiplayer game that pits classic Resident Evil characters against one another in five-minute rounds of four to six players. Continue reading. But wait, theres more... Instacart lays off 1,900 workers, including all 10 who voted to form a union Tucows closes its once-popular software download site Alphabet pulls the plug on Loon's internet-broadcasting balloons 'Call of Duty: Warzone' is about to get a big esports push Intel's PC business is up 33 percent thanks to cheap notebooks 'Uncharted' movie release date slides to February 11th, 2022 Elon Musk announces $100 million prize for new carbon capture tech Russia bans 'Death Note' and other 'violent' anime Otter launches live transcription for Google Meet Amazon can keep Parler's servers offline, judge rules Netflix picks up an animated movie from 'Into The Spider-Verse' producers President Biden names Jessica Rosenworcel acting FCC chair Raspberry Pi Pico is a $4 Arduino alternative The north London girls' school has previously been used for similar events during the pandemic. (PA) Police who broke up wedding attended by 150 people at a north London school said the event was a deeply disturbing breach of lockdown rules as it emerged its not the first time it has been used for events during the coronavirus pandemic. Met Police officers said organisers of the wedding, held at Yesoday Hatorah Girls Senior School in Stamford Hill, covered the windows to stop people seeing in. Many of the guests fled as officers raided the venue on Thursday night, but five people were handed 200 fixed penalty notices and the organiser could face a 10,000 fine. Police had originally reported that 400 guests were present, but later revised the number down to 150. It comes after Home Secretary Priti Patel announced the introduction of 800 fines for house parties at a Downing Street briefing on Thursday. Watch: Fines for house parties introduced in England as restrictions tighten Detective Chief Superintendent Marcus Barnett said: This was a completely unacceptable breach of the law, which is very clearly in place to save lives and protect the NHS. An NHS that is under considerable pressure at a time when COVID-19 has killed nearly 100,000 people. This is a deadly and very dangerous disease. We can all see that and we must act responsibly. People across the country are making sacrifices by cancelling or postponing weddings and other celebrations and there is no excuse for this type of behaviour. My officers are working tirelessly with the community and we will not hesitate to take enforcement action if that is required to keep people safe. The mayor of Hackney in north London said school had been used for similar events during the pandemic. Speaking to BBC News, mayor Philip Glanville said: Its a deeply disturbing incident at a time when in Hackney we have seen the largest number of deaths reported since last April. Unfortunately, similar events have taken place even at this venue before and we need to be really clear how unacceptable it is. Story continues On Thursday Home Secretary Priti Patel announced that fines of 800 will be handed to people caught at house parties of over 15 people, doubling after each offence up to a maximum of 6,400 for repeat offenders. She said: 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. As this latest measure demonstrates, we will not stand by while a small number of individuals put others at risk. Watch: What you can and can't do during England's third national lockdown One by one, residents of the Westbranch neighborhood in northwest Houston have sought to rebuild and move back into their homes, picking up the pieces of what for many has been a long recovery after the explosion at Watson Grinding & Manufacturing one year ago Sunday. Leah Blok got back into her Bridgeland Lane home in July, Tracy Stephenson in August. Ronda Dotson moved back in September, and Ann Rawlinson was unpacking her boxes on Stanford Court on Tuesday. Alfonso Santana was looking forward to the day he could return, as well, according to his neighbors. His children were helping restore his home. Santana, 85, replaced the dead grass with a manicured lawn himself. He never made it back. Santana contracted COVID-19 and died just after New Years, his neighbors said. Its just so unfair, said Alicia Detamore, who lives across the street. The Watson explosion rocked this neighborhood last January, a catastrophe that preceded the COVID-19 pandemic by about a month and a half. The result was a harrowing year for hundreds of residents and families, who were forced to navigate a recovery effort for one crisis while enduring another. The blast killed Watson workers Gerardo Castorena Sr., 45, and Frank Flores, 44, along with resident Gilberto Mendoza Cruz, 47. Hundreds of homes in the unusually dense neighborhoods around the business were damaged. Windows were blown out and doors jammed shut. Ceilings caved in and many homes were knocked inches off their foundations. After the initial disaster response faded, the recovery effort effectively was left to insurance companies, splitting the neighborhood between haves and have-nots. Those with responsive insurance policies and speedy adjusters are making progress on repairs or new homes altogether. They have moved back or plan to soon. Those without coverage are left to patch up their homes or take out loans to do the work, while waiting on lawsuits against Watson to wind through courts. Those recoveries likely will be measured in years. Its so subjective. It shouldnt be that way, said Detamore, who credited her insurance adjuster with helping her return to her home in June, a few months after she and housemate Suzanne Slavinsky watched their roof collapse as contractors tried to repair it. You shouldnt have to fight with the company youre paying. Thats what insurance is for. Mark Mulligan, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer Jeff Creel, who lives two doors down from Detamore, has a large blue tarp hanging from the side of his house. Two weeks ago, a 6-foot chunk of stucco siding fell into his neighbors yard, a reminder almost a year after the explosion that he has not been able to fully repair his home. Im still battling with my insurance, he said. He has been meeting with contractors this month for quotes on how much it would cost to replace the side of his house and expects to spend between $7,000 and $14,000 out of pocket to do it. The ceiling of his garage collapsed, too. Its embarrassing when people ask, How did your renovation go? Creel said. I say, Well, I havent done it yet. Im still haggling with the insurance company, and theyre back in their newly appointed homes. Im happy for them the more they get, the better. Far from normal The neighborhood shows visible signs of progress from the months after the blast. There are far fewer dumpsters lining the streets, although discarded construction materials are still popping holes in car tires at a higher than normal rate. Residents say the pace of home reconstructions and repairs has picked up in recent months. Still, it is far from normal. At the corner of Bridgeland and Stanford which the neighborhood calls Ground Zero for its proximity to Watson residents say it feels desolate at night. Two empty lots on that corner are a constant reminder of the explosion, as are nearby homes that remain boarded up. One of the empty lots owners sold the land and moved on, neighbors said. Others near that corner still are rebuilding. Barbara Rogers and Christine Chuma were taking celebratory photos by their front door last week. They expect to move back in February. This is home, said Chuma, when asked if they considered leaving. Godofredo A. Vasquez, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer The damaged buildings on Watsons property loom on Gessner Road, with flowers marking the location where the two workers died. Debris still is scattered in heaps across the property, which has been put up for sale. The front gates are locked, with large banners displaying the real estate agents phone number and warning that the property is under surveillance. The strip mall next door has been demolished, but signs still advertise a tire company and other stores that no longer are there. The Houston division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco Firearms and Explosives conducted an investigation into the blast and turned over a report to the Houston Fire Department. Chief Samuel Pena has said the report left the cause of the Watson blast as undetermined, although it pointed to a leak in a supply line that carried the highly flammable propylene inside to the coating shop. The Chronicle has submitted a request for that report under the Texas Public Information Act. Residents say they are thankful the explosion occurred at 4:30 a.m. instead of later in the morning, when the leak would have allowed more gas to pool and resulted in a much larger explosion. We wouldnt be here, Detamore said. A year out of your life The city has made some changes in wake of the blast, tweaking its ordinance governing the storage and use of hazardous materials. One of the changes directly inspired by Watson closed a loophole that failed to account for chemicals stored outside. The companys storage tank was outdoors. That was a big deal. Hopefully it will prevent that from happening, or at least reduce the chances that it happens again, said City Council member Amy Peck, whose District A includes the neighborhoods around Watson. Much of the remaining response is out of the citys purview, Peck said, but she still tries to guide Solid Waste to the neighborhood when it falls behind on trash pickups. Were still trying to handle the stuff we can, Peck said. More than 2,000 people have filed lawsuits against Watson Grinding and Watson Valve, the two companies at the site of explosion. They declared bankruptcy soon after the blast, drawing the ire of a federal bankruptcy judge who said he would prioritize victims. That judge recently sent those cases back to state court to proceed. Attorneys for residents say they are eyeing each companys $26 million insurance policy. They also are pursuing claims against third-party companies, such as manufacturers of the parts involved in the gas leak. Mark Mulligan, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer Frank Peters is among the plaintiffs. His insurance company denied his claim on the day of the explosion, leaving him to take out tens of thousands of dollars in loans and try to repair the house himself. He said time has only made it more difficult to get by. He used to rent out his house as his primary source of income. I had to make many loans, am in debt to my ears, Peters said. Its been sad lately. I am struggling to try to find acceptance. Even for those who have been able to return, the anniversary marks a distressing year. Picture yourself in your bed, asleep in your home one morning, and the whole thing collapses literally on you. Your life is changed not just for a year, but pretty much forever, said Rawlinson, the woman who was moving back into her home on Stanford Court this week. Rawlinson had recently retired at the time of the blast. Her ceiling collapsed, pinning her to her bed. A neighbor had to come get her out. She had planned to spend 2020 traveling. The fact that it takes a year out of your life and really just causes a lot of dismay and hurt, I hope down the line, that guy pays, she said, referring to the owner of Watson, who made and then rescinded a promise to make residents whole after the blast. The owners of the company issued a statement Friday, saying they have been working with state and federal agencies to investigate the incident and express sincere condolences for all affected. The men who were lost that day, along with their families, will always be in our hearts and prayers, the statement said. We also acknowledge the difficulties experienced by our neighbors whose homes and businesses were affected and whose lives were disrupted. We have been inspired by the communitys response. Castorena had a son and three daughters. Flores had a son and a daughter. His family said it wishes he was still here to watch them grow. We know you can see that now more than you ever could, the family wrote. You were an amazing man in every aspect of the word. You went above and beyond for your own and anyone else that your loving soul saw needed help because you were an angel on earth, just as much as you are now. At a recent board meeting for the homeowners association, Creel suggested the group hold some kind of commemoration to mark the anniversary. They said, No, we dont want to do it, Creel said. I think they want to forget it if they can. dylan.mcguinness@chron.com twitter.com/dylmcguinness Some people go to any extent for having fun and forget that there is a thin line between being funny or being mean. Recently, owners of a high-end restaurant in Pakistans Islamabad city have come under extreme scrutiny on social media after their video mocking their manager over his English speaking skills went viral. The restaurant shown in the video is running under the name Cannoli by Cafe Soul. In the minute-long video, the owner Uzma Chaudary and Dia Haider introduce the manager of the restaurant who expresses that he has been working at the restaurant for the last nine years. Humiliating your countrymen so youll be accepted by foreigners always ends in being rejected by both. #BoycottCannoli https://t.co/hORo2XL1Ta Jeremy McLellan (@JeremyMcLellan) January 21, 2021 The next question they asked the manager named Awais, is that how many English learning courses he has taken. To which he replies, that he has taken three courses spanning over six years to learn the language. The woman then asks the manager to speak a sentence in English. Nervously, Awais speaks a sentence and says, My name is Awais Aftab and I job here manager, and that's it. While the two women are laughing in the background and then they continue saying that this is how beautifully he speaks English and that he is at a very good salary. Social media has now been upset with the two women for looking down upon the manager for not being able to speak proper English. And now #BoycottCannoli has also been trending on Twitter after the video went viral. Heres what people have to say about this- Saw this comment under Cannoli's Instagram post. ! #BoycottCannoli pic.twitter.com/VIqcd6C5V8 Zahra Khan Durrani (@ZahraK_Durrani) January 21, 2021 Thanks for sharing and letting us know about these ladies and restaurant boycottconoli Fari Khan (@FariKha18205912) January 21, 2021 #botcottcannoli glad this is trending, here's my part MJ (@Mr_MJunaid) January 21, 2021 Nailed it IrAmZ (@Ashhad6) January 21, 2021 Exactly, wise words. That's indeed the self established sense of pride whenever such people "mou terha kr angrez bn'ny ki koshish frmatey hey" such a shame Mohsin Shah (@MohsinSh_ah) January 21, 2021 To the female owners of Cannoli who filmed this man Awais and made FUN of his English, this is called WORKPLACE HARASSMENT and what you two privileged BURGERS did is the most DISGUSTING thing. ENGLISH IS NOT THE MEASURE OF INTELLIGENCE!!!!#BoycottCannoli pic.twitter.com/LLuqUUONiI Amber Khurshid Raja (@AmberKhurshid_) January 21, 2021 #BoycottCannoli Never knew that this character was real. pic.twitter.com/kWFbh96Mwp Jahanzaib Shaikh (@JahanzabShaikh) January 21, 2021 Kachra rani bhi ro rhi ho gi kisky sath compare kr dia peri peri (@pushppppaaa) January 21, 2021 So similar, Wafa Zainab (@Chubby_Wafa) January 21, 2021 Anyone who is living in Pakistan must have to know these lines. #BoycottCannoli pic.twitter.com/NV5Oql2bhA Ehtisham Siddique (@iMShami_) January 21, 2021 Disgusting and shameful! what a sick mentality, I think language is just a way of communication. However, in different country, speaking Eng makes you feel elite or a kind of superior than others. English is just a language not to define how capable someone is. #BoycottCannoli pic.twitter.com/bA7XmyQB1D Robert Winston (@ImRobertWin) January 21, 2021 Joke is on you now girls ..#BoycottCannoli https://t.co/96jRIjrjKY Waseem Abbasi (@Wabbasi007) January 21, 2021 The two women have now issued an apology saying that the whole video was misinterpreted. They said, "This video depicts the gup shup between us as a team, and is never meant or taken in a hurtful or negative way. If anyone was hurt or offended we apologize, however that was never our intention. What do you think? Let us know in the comments section below! A 97-year-old Auschwitz survivor is celebrating her first walk outside in a month after making a 'miraculous recovery' from Covid-19. Lily Ebert contracted the virus in January and was treated at her home in north London by her relatives who were able to use oxygen supplies, according to The Guardian. Her great-grandson Dov Forman, 17, took to Twitter to celebrate Lily's first walk outside in a month, adding that she was a 'fighter and survivor'. A photograph of Lily in Dov's post - which has been liked more than 129,000 times since first being shared yesterday - showed her beaming while wrapped warm in a grey coat and leopard print hat. Lily, a survivor of Auschwitz and the Nazi death marches, was liberated in April 1945 and began her new life in June that year, when she and her sisters were evacuated from the ruins of Germany and taken to Switzerland by train. Lily Ebert, a 97-year-old Auschwitz survivor, is celebrating her first walk outside in a month (pictured) after making a 'miraculous recovery' from Covid-19 Lily (pictured second from right) was just a teeanger when she was liberated from a Nazi death march in 1945 'My 97-year-old great-grandma, Lily Ebert BEM - Auschwitz Survivor, has just recovered from Covid- 19,' said Dov in his Twitter post. 'Today she went on her first walk in a month after making a miraculous recovery. A fighter and survivor,' he added. Hundreds of Twitter users were quick to offer their well-wishes to Lily, with Mayor of London Sadiq Khan writing: 'What an inspiration. Wishing Lily a continued safe and speedy recovery, and best wishes to all the family.' Another said: 'Thats amazing. Go Great Grandma Lily. An inspiration to us all,' while a third added: 'Bless her. Fans my small flame of optimism into fire.' Speaking to The Guardian, Dov confessed his family 'have no idea' how Lily contracted the virus because they had all been careful throughout the pandemic. Lily contracted the virus in January and was treated at her home in north London by her relatives who were able to use oxygen supplies. Pictured, with her great-grandson, Dov Forman Her great-grandson Dov Forman, 17, took to Twitter (pictured) to celebrate Lily's first walk outside in a month, adding that she was a 'fighter and survivor' 'She was able to have her first dose of the vaccine on 17 December but some time afterwards she was feeling ill. We kept her at home because we were worried about seeing her again if she went to hospital,' he explained. Lily's local GP regularly checked in on her and relatives who were able to use oxygen supplies looked after her. Dov admitted that there were some 'dark moments' during Lily's recovery, but that his great-grandmother is now '100%'. 'She has always been very positive. She is just a real survivor and a fighter and has been from a young age,' he added. Lily first hit headlines in July 2020, after successfully searching for the family of the American soldier who gave her a banknote with a message wishing her 'good luck and happiness'. Reaction: Hundreds of Twitter users were quick to offer their well-wishes to Lily, with Mayor of London Sadiq Khan writing: 'What an inspiration. Wishing Lily a continued safe and speedy recovery, and best wishes to all the family' Lily left for Switzerland in June 1945 after she was liberated from Buchenwald concentration camp, having previously been at Auschwitz where her mother, brother and sister were murdered by the Nazis. Prisoners at Auschwitz and other camps in occupied Eastern Europe were moved west in the so-called 'death marches' as Soviet troops closed in from the east. SS guards were ordered to kill prisoners who could no longer keep up, while others died of cold and exhaustion. More than 10,000 prisoners arrived at Buchenwald in January 1945, but thousands died before the Allies arrived. US soldiers from the 6th Armored Division entered the camp on April 11 and found more than 21,000 people there. Lily first hit headlines in July 2020, after successfully searching for the family of the American soldier who gave her a banknote with a message wishing her 'good luck and happiness' (pictured) Lily, then aged 21, was given a banknote by a US soldier with a message wishing her 'good luck and happiness'. She previously showed it to her great-grandson, explaining to BBC's Today programme: 'I even didn't know what I have with this note, how interesting it is and how interesting it will be for the whole world. 'I got something from a soldier who did not have a piece of paper to write on... so instead he took out this banknote and he wrote good luck for future life.' The Hungarian-born survivor later spoke over Zoom with the family of the US soldier, Private Hayman Shulman, who died seven years ago. Dov tracked down the private's family on Twitter and they shared an emotional conversation last year. Dov took to Twitter in a bid to try and reveal the US soldier who liberated his great-grandmother (pictured) Only around 400,000 Holocaust survivors are still alive today to give their testimony, it is believed. The Auschwitz museum marked 75 years in January since the most infamous Nazi death camp was liberated in early 1945. Despite German efforts to cover up evidence of their crimes against humanity, the Red Army found horrific piles of corpses at Auschwitz along with 7,000 survivors. Almost a million Jews were killed at the camp, along with tens of thousands of others including Poles, gypsies and Soviet prisoners of war. Lily was transported there from her native Hungary, which was occupied by the Nazis in 1944. Hungarian authorities collaborated with the Nazis and rounded up Jews in urban ghettos before deporting them to Auschwitz. More than 500,000 Hungarian Jews were murdered or died of maltreatment, historians estimate - around two-thirds of the country's Jewish population. Previously speaking about how much the banknote from the US soldier meant to her, she told Sky News: 'We had not a piece of paper, we had nothing, you cannot know that, you cannot explain it, especially today.' She continued: 'People cannot understand humans being without anything - you had the rug that you had on your body and that was it.' Dans une semaine Maurice va commemorer le 186e anniversaire de lAbolition de lEsclavage dans le pays, qui a eu lieu en 1835, avec une serie dactivite dans le pays. Cabinet has taken note of the activities being organised by the Ministry of Arts and Cultural Heritage on 01 February 2021 in collaboration with Le Morne Heritage Trust Fund, the Nelson Mandela Centre for African Culture, ISM Mauritius Ltd, the National Heritage Fund and the Creole Speaking Union, to commemorate the 186th Anniversary of the Abolition of Slavery in Mauritius. The theme retained for this years commemoration is Resilians to showcase the achievements of the descendants of slaves who have withstood all adversities and bounced back despite the trauma of slavery. A wreath laying ceremony would be held at: (a) the Monument aux Esclaves, Pointe Canon, Mahebourg on 31 January 2021; and (b) at the International Slave Route Monument, opposite Le Morne Public Beach on 1 February 2021, followed by an official programme at Le Morne Village, opposite Le Morne Government School. MINSK -- A court in Minsk has sentenced a teenage couple to prison terms for painting slogans against strongman Alyaksandr Lukashenka, who has run the country since 1994, on the shields of riot police officers during ongoing protests. The Kastrychnik (October) district court on January 22 sentenced Sofya Malashevich to two years in prison and Tsikhan Klyukach to 18 months. Both are 18-year-old students of a college in the western city of Brest. Crisis In Belarus Read our coverage as Belarusians continue to demand the resignation of Alyaksandr Lukashenka amid a brutal crackdown on protesters. The West refuses to recognize him as the country's legitimate leader after an August 9 election considered fraudulent. The court found Malashevich guilty of hooliganism, publicly insulting the country's president, and conducting activities that disrupted public order. Klyukach was found guilty of conducting activities that disrupted public order. The charges stem from their participation in anti-Lukashenka protests in Minsk, during which Malashevich spray-painted anti-Lukashenka slogans on the shields of the riot police while Klyukach was filming her actions on his mobile phone. Both pleaded guilty and asked the court to choose punishments other than prison terms. Ongoing protests have rocked Belarus since Lukashenka was officially announced as the winner of an August 9, 2020 presidential election, which opposition and protesters say was rigged. Several protesters have been killed and thousands arrested during the demonstrations demanding Lukashenka's resignation. There have also been credible reports from rights groups of torture during the widening security crackdown, which has also seen the arrests of many independent journalists. Lukashenka has denied any wrongdoing and refuses to negotiate with the opposition on stepping down and holding new elections. .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... WASHINGTON Images of National Guard soldiers camped in a cold parking garage after being sent to protect Washington sparked new calls Friday for investigations of the U.S. Capitol Police, now facing allegations that the agency evicted troops sent to help after its failure to stop rioting mobs two weeks ago. President Joe Biden expressed his dismay Friday morning to Gen. Daniel R. Hokanson, chief of the National Guard, about how the troops had been treated, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said. Members of both parties were irate about reports that Guardsmen were forced to take rest breaks outside the Capitol building. About 25,000 Guard members from across the country deployed to help secure President Joe Bidens inauguration, which went off with only a handful of minor arrests. Psaki said the president thanked Hokanson and the Guard for their help the last few weeks and offered his assistance if Hokanson needed anything. First lady Jill Biden visited Guard troops outside the Capitol on Friday, bringing them cookies and thanking them for protecting her family. She noted that the Bidens late son, Beau, served in the Delaware Army National Guard. ADVERTISEMENTSkip ................................................................ A jittery Washington had requested aid following the riot where police were badly outnumbered, locking down the nations capital with soldiers, police and barricades. Lawmakers and Biden took pains to thank security forces for their effort. All 25,000 Guard members were vetted by the FBI over concerns of an insider attack, and a dozen were removed from their posts including two who made extremist statements about the inauguration. Both the Guard and Capitol Police issued a joint statement Friday afternoon saying they have now coordinated to establish appropriate spaces within Congressional buildings for on-duty breaks. The statement noted that off-duty troops have hotel rooms or other comfortable accommodations. The National Guard said it originally moved troops out of the Capitol Rotunda and other spaces to garages at the behest of the Capitol Police. The Guardsmen were allowed back inside late Thursday after reports were widely shared of the conditions in the garages, with few bathrooms and little covering from the cold. Capitol Police Interim Chief Yogananda Pittman issued a statement Friday saying her agency did not instruct the National Guard to vacate the Capitol Building facilities. But two Capitol Police officers who spoke on condition of anonymity contradicted her statement, saying they were told department higher-ups had ordered the Guardsmen out. It was unclear why. The two officers spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized by the department to speak. Sen. Jim Inhofe, R-Okla., said that multiple members of military leadership had told him a uniformed Capitol Police officer told them to leave the Capitol Visitor Center. The troops didnt move on their own, said Inhofe, the top Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee. He added: This isnt a blame game, but I want to know what happened so we can make sure it cant happen again. Rep. Tim Ryan, D-Ohio, who leads a subcommittee that oversees the Capitol Police budget, said Pittman and other commanders would eventually need to testify about their decision-making. If the Capitol Police in any way, shape, or form pushed the Guard out into a cold garage, then theres going to be hell to pay, Ryan said . Were already trying to re-establish trust with the Capitol Police and weve got to figure out exactly what happened. The National Guard Bureau said Thursday that of the nearly 26,000 Guard troops deployed to D.C. for the inaugural, just 10,600 remain on duty. The bureau said the Guard is helping states with coordination and the logistics so that troops can get home. Thousands of Guard troops from all across the country poured into D.C. by the planeload and busload late last week, in response to escalating security threats and fears of more rioting. Military aircraft crowded the runways at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, carrying Guard members into the region in the wake of the deadly Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. Guard forces were scattered around the city, helping to secure the Capitol, monuments, Metro entrances and the perimeter of central D.C., which was largely locked down for several days leading up to Wednesdays inaugural ceremony. Some local law enforcement agencies have asked for continued assistance from the Guard, so roughly 7,000 troops are expected to stay in the region through the end of the month. The insurrection highlighted multiple failures by the Capitol Police to prepare for what became a violent mob overrunning parts of the building. Officers who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity said there was little planning before the riot or guidance from department leaders once the riot began. The riot left five people dead, including Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick, who was hit in the head by a fire extinguisher. Another officer died in an apparent suicide after the attack. ___ Merchant reported from Houston. Foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu received today the Executive Director of the European Labor Authority (ELA), ambassador Cosmin Boiangiu, expressing on this occasion Romania's support for the Authority reaching full operational capacity and efficiency, as in a few months it will move its seat from Brussels to Bratislava. According to a Foreign Ministry release, the Romanian top diplomat and the ELA Executive Director discussed the process of the Authority's operationalization and its action priorities for the next period, given the importance of the social field at European level and the emphasis on implementing the European Social Rights Pillar. Minister Bogdan Aurescu reaffirmed his satisfaction at Cosmin Boiangiu's election as the first Executive Director of this European agency and wished him all the success in fulfilling his mandate. The Foreign Minister also called for strengthened cooperation with and among EU member states for providing additional social protection to European workers and welcomed the commitment of the ELA Executive Director to the sustained promotion, as a matter of priority, of the rights of mobile EU workers and to ensuring the observance thereof, with emphasis on the aspects related to facilitating access to information and the applicable rights in the field, combating undeclared work and coordinating inspections. Another important element highlighted by the Foreign Affairs Minister was the need to adapt ELA's lines of action in the context of the lessons learned from the management of the COVID-19 pandemic and addressing with priority the situation of the most vulnerable categories of European workers such as seasonal workers or home care workers. In his turn, Cosmin Boiangiu pointed out the important role of the European Labor Authority in ensuring the consistent implementation in all member states of social and labor mobility legislation. As a short-term priority, he mentioned the analysis of the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic to the situation of temporary and seasonal mobile workers. Romanian diplomat Cosmin Boiangiu was elected on October 22, 2020 as the first Executive Director of the European Labor Authority. Boiangiu came to Romania on his first official visit after traveling to Slovakia, the country that will host the ELA headquarters. OFFALY County Council is on course to provide nearly 350 new social housing units in the next three years, according to a report from officials this month. Plans to dramatically ramp up the numbers of houses being built were presented to councillors at their January meeting. While just 19 houses were provided in 2020, including 14 by the council itself at Chancery Walk in Tullamore, there will be 84 added to the council's stock this year, 173 in 2022 and 90 in 2023. The houses will be coming from a variety of sources, including the council's own schemes, 'turnkey' estates provided by developers and further units from approved housing bodies. The 14 houses built off Chancery Lane in Tullamore were the only ones directly provided by the council in 2020 and the plan brought to councillors revealed that none will come from that source this year. Instead, 27 houses will be provided by an approved housing body at Killane Court in Edenderry and 26 by a similar organisation at Jackson's Hill, Sragh, Tullamore. Turnkey projects will deliver 25 houses this year, including eight at Heather Drive, Daingean, eight more in Mucklagh, six at MacGregol, Birr (where two were provided in 2020), and three in Cloneygowan. The year 2021 will also see four provided at Silverbrook in Tullamore through Part V of the Planning Act, whereby a certain number of social houses are provided to the council from a larger private development. The completion of two 'voids' (unoccupied houses which require substantial renovation for re-letting) brings the total for this year to 84. The council plans to return to building its own houses in 2022, with 42 units in the pipeline, with the largest single estate being 18 houses at Kylebeg, Banagher. Nine council houses will be built at Circular Road, Daingean, four in Moneygall and four more at Sr Senan, Edenderry, along with seven in Belmont. Turnkey projects will yield even more houses, including 34 at McAuley Drive, Birr and 28 on the Bog Road in Portarlington. Other turnkey developments in 2022 will see five houses provided at Riverside, Tullamore and four in Walsh Island. The long awaited Kearney's Field project in Tullamore is also scheduled for next year, with 41 units being built by an approved housing body. A housing body will also build 19 houses in Clonminch, Tullamore in 2022. The overall plan sees activity slowing down in 2023, the last year of the Rebuilding Ireland programme. The largest single project will be 38 council houses at Raheen in Clara. In Tullamore, the council will provide another 20 social units off Chancery Lane in a scheme which will be known as Dargan Drive. The final scheme currently listed for 2023 is a 32-unit project at the Convent, Portarlington, which will be undertaken by an approved housing body. In total, including 2020, 366 houses will be delivered up to the end of 2023. That's not a pie in the sky number. They are identified, approved projects, Sharon Kennedy, director of service, told councillors. Ms Kennedy said it was a case of trying to bring them home as quick as possible and at the same time, discussions would continue with developers presenting options for further turnkey schemes. We will be continuing to look for projects that will be delivered, she said. A report presented by housing official Monica Cleary indicated that targets set for the council will be exceeded. The target for building in 2020 and 2021 was 111 but 122 will be achieved, said Ms Cleary. Other means of housing provision, including leasing, brought the overall target for the two years to 177 but in all 191 will be delivered. Targets are targets. I try not to get too [caught] up in targets because you really are trying to deliver houses for people, that's what you're trying to focus on, she added. She pledged that the council's housing section will try to maximise its output and will continue to work with any new developments we can. The 38-house council scheme earmarked for Raheen, Clara, will begin its route through the planning consent process on January 27 and it is hoped it will come before councillors for approval in April. The houses at Killane Court in Edenderry should be finished by February 28 and the council will then nominate the tenants for them. At the end of 2019 33 council houses were allocated at Blundell Wood, Edenderry. Cllr Frank Moran indicated he was disappointed with the slow pace of the Raheen scheme in Clara, one which was supposed to be fastracked last year but might not now be delivered until the first three months of 2023. Four years is not fasttrack, said the Fianna Fail councillor, adding that he hoped the two different designs for the scheme would be shown to the public during the planning process and his preference was the one originally drafted by the council. He was told two designs could not be sent out for public consultation. A second design was drawn up by consultants. In further reaction to the plan, Cllr Sean O'Brien, supported by his fellow Tullamore Independent, Cllr Ken Smollen, called for more houses to be directly built by the council if possible, while Cllr John Clendennen, Fine Gael, said he hoped the acquisition of houses would not cease. Cllr Clendennen was told the emphasis at Government level was now on new housing in an effort to increase overall supply, but nonetheless some houses might still be acquired by the compulsory purchase route. Cllr Tony McCormack, Fianna Fail, said there were many houses also being provided by the private sector, especially in Tullamore, with schemes underway by Capital Homes on the Clara Road, Glenveagh off Collins Lane and further houses at Norbury Woods. In spite of the levels of activity, the waiting list for public housing in Offaly remains very high. There are 530 on the social housing list with a further 862 being supported with housing assistance payments. In 2020, 162 homes were allocated by the council, including 90 local authority homes. A further 12 were leased, 44 were provided through approved housing bodies and 16 mortgage-to-rent agreements were finalised. The Covid scenario brought added stresses and strains on what is already a fraught situation, said director of service Ms Kennedy. In spite of the Covid-19 restrictions on work and the requirements for remote working, she felt the housing section had moved as many projects as possible forward. It's been very challenging for those looking for homes as well in terms of our ability to respond to those needs. Repression of the democratic movement in the former British colony condemned. Calls for targeted sanctions against the officials responsible for the crackdown. The Union had to use the negotiations to preserve the autonomy of the city state. Defending human rights also in Xinjiang and Tibet. Brussels (AsiaNews / Agencies) - The European Union Parliament yesterday voted a resolution condemning the repression of the democratic movement in Hong Kong carried out by local and central government authorities. MEPs specified that the human rights situation in the former British colony will be taken into consideration when at the end of the year they are called upon to ratify the great bilateral investment agreement between the Union and Beijing. On December 30, after more than seven years of negotiations, the two sides reached an agreement in principle to finalize the pact. The EU argues that it will serve to rebalance economic relations with the Asian giant, accused of taking advantage of unfair commercial practices, such as subsidies to state-owned enterprises and social dumping. For years, Europeans have been demanding reciprocity of treatment for their investors. While Chinese companies can operate almost freely in Europe, European companies in China are obliged to create joint-ventures with local companies and to pass on technological and industrial secrets to them. EU deputies have called for targeted sanctions against Hong Kong and Beijing officials responsible for cracking down on pro-democracy protesters. They stressed that the signing of the agreement with China made Europe lose its credibility as a champion of human rights. The accusation against the European Commission and Germany (the first sponsor of the agreement) is that they did not use the negotiations as an instrument of pressure to preserve Hong Kong's high degree of autonomy and the fundamental rights and freedoms of its citizens. The same goes for the serious violations of human rights in the Chinese provinces of Xinjiang and Tibet. Press revelations about the existence of labour camps in Xinjiang, where hundreds of thousands of Uyghur and Kazakh Muslims would be forcibly employed to harvest cotton, seemed to have undermined the conclusion of the deal. The EU and China have agreed on a formula under which the Chinese government commits to effectively applying the ILO (World Labour Organization) conventions that it has already signed, and to "work on the ratification" of all the others, especially that on the fight against forced labour. The EU Commission defends itself from the accusations by arguing that the agreement with Beijing has yet to be ratified: its full implementation is not expected before two years, during which the Union will verify the commitments made by its Chinese counterpart. Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin worked with Joe Biden when he was vice president (Jim Lo Scalzo/Pool via AP) Lloyd Austin has received US Senate confirmation to become the nations first black secretary of defence. The 93-2 vote gave President Joe Biden his second Cabinet member. Avril Haines was confirmed on Wednesday as the first woman to serve as director of national intelligence. Mr Biden is expected to win approval for others on his national security team in coming days, including Antony Blinken as secretary of state. The president is looking for Mr Austin to restore stability in the Pentagon, which went through two Senate-confirmed secretaries of defence and four who held the post on an interim basis during the Trump administration. The only senators who voted against Mr Austin were Republicans Mike Lee of Utah and Josh Hawley of Missouri. Before heading to the Pentagon, Mr Austin wrote on Twitter that he is especially proud to be the first black secretary of defence. Itas an honor and a privilege to serve as our countryas 28th Secretary of Defense, and Iam especially proud to be the first African American to hold the position. Letas get to work. pic.twitter.com/qPAzVRxz9L Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III (@SecDef) January 22, 2021 Lets get to work, he wrote. Mr Austins confirmation was complicated by his status as a recently retired general. He required a waiver of a legal prohibition on a military officer serving as secretary of defence within seven years of retirement. Mr Austin retired in 2016 after serving as the first black general to head US Central Command. He was the first black vice chief of staff of the Army in 2012 and also served as director of the Joint Staff, a behind-the-scenes job that gave him an intimate view of the Pentagons inner workings. The House and the Senate approved the waiver on Thursday, clearing the way for the Senate confirmation vote. Mr Austin, a large man with a booming voice and a tendency to shy from publicity, describes himself as the son of a postal worker and a homemaker from Thomasville, Georgia. He has promised to speak his mind to Congress and to Mr Biden. Expand Close Lloyd Austin, a recently retired Army general, laughs during his conformation hearing (Greg Nash/Pool via AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Lloyd Austin, a recently retired Army general, laughs during his conformation hearing (Greg Nash/Pool via AP) At his confirmation hearing on Tuesday, Mr Austin said he had not sought the nomination but was ready to lead the Pentagon without clinging to his military status and with full awareness that being a political appointee and Cabinet member requires a different perspective and unique duties from a career in uniform. As vice president, Mr Biden worked closely with Mr Austin in 2010-11 to wind down US military involvement in Iraq while Mr Austin was the top US commander in Baghdad. American forces withdrew entirely, only to return in 2014 after the so-called Islamic State extremist group captured large swathes of Iraqi territory. At Central Command, Mr Austin was a key architect of the strategy to defeat IS in Iraq and Syria. Mr Biden said in December when he announced Mr Austin as his nominee that he considered him the person we need at this moment, and that he trusts him to ensure civilian control of the military. Digital.com, a leading independent review website for small business online tools, products, and services, has announced the best SEO (Search Engine Optimization) firms in Charlotte. The top companies were selected based on multiple service lines, size of the firm, industry focus, and customer feedback. Experts at Digital.com examined companies that offer additional digital marketing services, such as website design, link building, and PPC. The study includes a variety of small to large firms that can cater to businesses in need of customized services or those seeking quick turnarounds. Each service provider was also expected to work with clients across various industries or focus on niche markets like healthcare, education, and finance. This guide is a valuable tool because it highlights SEO firms that also offer additional services that will enable clients to scale, says Christelle Feniza, Communications Manager of Digital.com. Businesses can narrow their search for top firms in Charlotte and get honest feedback from customers. Researchers at Digital.com conducted a 40-hour assessment of over 75 companies across the web. To access the complete list of best SEO firms in Charlotte, please visit https://digital.com/seo-firms/charlotte/. 15 Best SEO Firms in Charlotte 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/. The urgent problem Schools have been ordered to teach online yet hundreds of thousands of pupils in the UK have no access to a computer at home. The Government is buying 1.3 million laptops, but this is taking time and lockdown children need them now. Abigail Rusling says sharing a laptop between her children has been 'disastrous'. Here she is pictured with (L-R) Grace, 12, Hannah, 15, Phoebe 12 and Sam 7, from Ewyas Harold, Hereford How the Mail plans to help As it did successfully with PPE and the NHS, the charity Mail Force aims to source supplies of much-needed equipment and then pass it on to schools through the Governments existing distribution scheme. Each new or recycled laptop will be over and above what the Department for Education has already bought to help needy families. Where you come in Once again we are turning to our army of wonderful readers, who have given money so generously to good causes in the past. And we are asking British companies to donate any laptops they are planning to replace. Our expert partners will repurpose them for the classroom. Where will computers come from? Laptops donated by companies will be wiped and recommissioned by Computacenter a global IT supplier which is already procuring computers for UK schools. In addition, new laptops and tablets will be funded. The Mail Force initiative will add extra devices there will be no double-counting. How they get to the right children The Department for Education prioritises those who need the laptops most, calculated by using a schools number of children on free meals or pupil premium (funding for disadvantaged youngsters). The laptops are then sent to schools for headteachers to allocate to the families that they consider the most needy. Help us get computers to kids: Daily Mail launches new drive to aid Britain's children struggling with lessons at home because they can't work online An ambitious crusade to deliver laptops to lockdown pupils who need them is launched today. Up to a million UK schoolchildren are struggling with lessons at home because they cannot work online. Now the Daily Mail is swinging into action for Mail Force the celebrated charity that gifted PPE to the NHS. The newspaper is today kick-starting its campaign to raise funds for Mail Forces Computer for Kids initiative, which aims to help prevent pupils falling further behind. The intervention was hailed by Education Secretary Gavin Williamson, all the main teaching unions, and the Childrens Commissioner for England. Up to a million UK schoolchildren are struggling with lessons at home because they cannot work online. Now the Daily Mail is swinging into action for Mail Force the celebrated charity that gifted PPE to the NHS. Pictured: Emily Lyons, 37, struggles to share her laptop between her four children on a daily basis for their online school classes. HOW TO DONATE TO COMPUTERS FOR KIDS CLICK HERE TO DONATE TO YOU, THE READER: How to send us donations The Daily Mail has launched a brand new campaign, Computers For Kids, to raise money for Mail Force a charity which aims to provide much needed school equipment and resources for pupils across the UK learning from home. With schools closed, we are left with the dilemma of hundreds of thousands of pupils in the UK having no access to a computer in their home. As part of this campaign, companies are donating their old laptops which, for around 15, can be wiped, professionally refurbished and made safe and fit for home schooling. They can then be delivered to a child or young person who needs one. In addition, the campaign is looking to support childrens needs in other ways such as funding brand new laptops and tablets, and assisting with data access and connectivity for online learning. Any surplus funds will be used to support of the work of UK schools via other means. TO MAKE A DONATION ONLINE Visit mailforcecharity.co.uk/donate and follow the steps to complete your donation. Please don't send us your old device. TO COMPANIES: Could you give your old laptops? Upgrading office computers is something all companies do from time to time and there has never been a better time to donate old laptops. If you are a company with 50 laptops or more that you could give, please visit www.computacenter.com/daily-mail to check they are suitable and register your donation. We will arrange for collection by our specialist partners Computacenter. Please note: we cannot accept donated laptops from individuals. COMPANIES SHOULD GO TO: computacenter.com/daily-mail TO SCHOOLS: Where to apply for the computers Schools must apply to the Department for Education, which is managing the demand and prioritising the schools most in need. The Mail Force initiative means more laptops will become available more quickly. SCHOOLS CAN APPLY HERE: https://get-help-with-tech.education.gov.uk Advertisement England rubgy star Maro Itoje also speaks out in the Mail today about the need to help poorer children who are falling victim to a growing digital divide in lockdown. Mr Williamson said: We know how difficult this past year has been for young people who have had their education disrupted by the pandemic, which is why we have provided laptops and tablets at such speed and scale to those who need them the most. The Daily Mails support in building on the aid provided by the Government can only be a good thing and I welcome the undoubted generous response of Mail readers, ensuring even more young people can benefit from a device for both home education and into the future. Mail Force will help companies recycle old computers for school use and is set to help fund new laptops and tablets so the Mail is asking its famously generous readers to contribute whatever they can towards the costs. Around 15 could pay to refurbish a laptop for a child in danger of missing vital weeks of education. Itoje tipped as a future captain of his country has been leading a personal campaign to tackle the digital divide. He told the Mail: We must strive for every child to have an equal education because it is the one gift that stays with them for life and opens up their world. Unlike the first lockdown, schools are now mandated to provide three to five hours of lessons per pupil every day yet lots of youngsters cannot get online. Ofcom estimated last year that there were 1.78million children in the UK without access to a device for online learning. Since then, the Government has ordered 1.3million laptops for pupils in England alone. So far, 800,000 have been delivered. Mail Force aims to speed things up. It is set to help fund new kit and has also identified a rich alternative source of laptops for schools firms upgrading their equipment who want to donate 50 or more of their old machines. The charitys expert partner, IT specialists Computacenter, will collect them, securely wipe them and install software to make them home-school ready. Last night, former education secretary Lord Blunkett warned of a new kind of educational apartheid created by the digital divide, and said: Quite simply, our children need laptops if they are to learn. That is why Im backing the Mails campaign to get the equipment, connectivity and conditions right for youngsters to have everything they need computers, software and support to be able to learn at home and begin catching up in the months and years ahead. Anna Webb, executive head of Newbridge Junior School and Penhale Infant School in Portsmouth, said: This is a brilliant campaign and will make a huge difference to us. We got 116 laptops from the DfE which was great but we have over 600 pupils across our two schools and around 50 per cent are still trying to access lessons from a mobile phone. Last year, Mail Force donated an incredible 42million items of PPE to the NHS, care homes and charity sector frontlines. The campaign won a public service award and the Mail was hailed for holding the Government to account at the same time as helping to solve the problem. The Congress will have an 'elected' party President by June, its General Secretary (Organisations) KC Venugopal said here on Friday after a crucial Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting. Party sources said that several senior party leaders had raised the issue of CWC elections as well, which led to heated arguments. The party however denied any such happening. Venugopal said that no dispute whatsoever on organisational elections arose at the "fruitful meeting". Addressing a press conference after the meeting that went on for three-and-a-half hours, Venugopal said: "The CWC discussed the organisational elections slated to be held in May. But CWC members unanimously requested interim chief Sonia Gandhi that the party elections should not interfere with Assembly polls in several states in the coming months." He said that the CWC members thereby requested for rescheduling of the organisational elections. "Finally, the CWC decided that an elected party President will be on the post in June 2021 at any cost," Venugopal said. As for 'heated arguments' between former Union Ministers Anand Sharma, Ghulam Nabi Azad and others who differed on the organisational elections, the Congress leader said: "There was no big debate in the CWC. We will conduct party election as per its constitution. And the schedule will be out very soon." "Some change in schedule was required due to coming Assembly elections (in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Assam, West Bengal, and Puducherry) and that was taken into consideration; the party will announce the election schedule accordingly," he said. Asked if there was demand for elections to the CWC as well, Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala said: "Don't get misguided. Don't fall for rumours. The leaders whose names have been taken are not dissenters -- they are our respected leaders and they are our family members. And we all were unanimous that the party election schedule be postponed for a month." Even as Surjewala said that there were not heated arguments in the meeting, the party source present there said that Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot raised the issue of demand by a few leaders for organisational elections and questioned if they had no faith in Congress leadership. A fuming Anand Sharma, one of the 23 signatories to a letter to Sonia Gandhi in August last year, retorted by demanding CWC elections as well. For the second day in a row, the number of new coronavirus cases reported by the central Health Ministry has set a record high for the pandemic so far. A total of 44,357 infections were added to the ministrys latest report, a level that was seen during the second wave in the autumn on a Monday when the figures account for Friday, Saturday and Sunday. There have now been 2,456,675 official cases of coronavirus recorded by the health authorities since the health crisis began last year. Speaking at a press conference to present the figures last night, Fernando Simon, the director of the Health Ministrys Coordination Center for Health Alerts (CCAES), admitted that the data was bad, but he insisted that this third wave may now be reaching its peak. The pressure on hospitals is now greater than it was during the second wave of the pandemic The governments chief epidemiologist pointed to the total of reported cases over the last seven days, which came in at 244,708 in Thursdays report a 31% rise on the same indicator on January 14. Its a significant increase but inferior to the 51% rise seen between the last two Mondays, or the 93% that it went up between January 7 and 14. With these new infections, the 14-day cumulative number of coronavirus cases per 100,000 inhabitants is now near the 800 mark, coming in at 795.65 in Thursdays report. Simon insisted that the indicator would take longer to reflect the flattening of the curve given that it takes in the last two weeks, a time period when infections have been rising sharply. The fall in rhythm is seen, however, if the seven-day figure is compared: on Friday it went up 64%, while yesterday it rose 52%. Simon also discussed the new, more contagious strain of the coronavirus that was first detected in the United Kingdom. He predicted that it could come to be the dominant variation of the virus by mid-March should it progress as it has in the UK, accounting for 40 to 50% of cases, compared to the 5% it accounts for currently. The CCAES chief pointed out that it was first detected in the UK at the end of September, but it wasnt until mid-December when it was identified as causing 40% of cases in that country compared to 4% three months prior. Broken down by region, the data from Thursdays report brings little good news. The incidence has risen in all territories. One week ago there was just one region with a 14-day cumulative number of coronavirus cases per 100,000 inhabitants above 1,000: Extremadura. Now there are six: Castilla-La Mancha, Castilla y Leon, Valencia, Extremadura, Murcia and La Rioja. The worsening situation is prompting the regions who are in charge of handling the pandemic in their territories to implement more restrictions. In the Basque Country, for example, the city of Bilbao has been subjected to a perimetral lockdown. The result of this, as Health Minister Salvador Illa told EL PAIS earlier this week in an interview, is that the regions are gradually moving toward the kind of full lockdown currently in place in other European countries, with the closure of hostelry establishments, a restriction on opening hours for businesses, a curfew and limits to the number of people who can meet in social settings. Simon said the new, more contagious strain of the coronavirus first detected in the UK could become the dominant variant in Spain by mid-March Simon has once again called for patience for these measures to take effect, while the Health Ministry is insisting that there is no need for an earlier curfew nor for home confinements, as some regions have been requesting. Such measures would require a renegotiation and new vote in the Congress of Deputies on the state of alarm that is currently in place, and which is not due to expire until May 8. The pressure on hospitals, meanwhile, is now greater than it was during the second wave of the pandemic. One in every five beds in the country is currently taken by a Covid-19 patient, a record level since the first wave. This is forcing surgeries to be canceled or delayed. Valencia and Castilla-La Mancha, with 39% and 32% occupation, respectively, are under the greatest pressure. The growth in demand is not suggesting there will be any relief for hospitals in the short term, with occupation rising 4.61% over the previous 24 hours according to Thursdays report. On the previous Thursday, that figure was 3.42%. Its a similar story in the countrys intensive care units (ICUs), where 36.78% of beds are occupied by Covid patients, another new record in this wave a week ago the figure was 28.46%. Only six territories are below 20%, but several are very close to that level: Asturias (19.57%), Canary Islands (13.32%), Cantabria (19.67%), Ceuta (17.65%), Galicia (18.57%) and Navarre (16.26%). These rising infection levels eventually translate into high numbers of fatalities. Thursdays report added 404 new victims to the overall death toll, compared to 464 on Wednesday and 404 on Tuesday. The result is a total of 1,9662 victims over the last seven days, which is close to the levels seen at the end of November, at the peak of the second wave. There have now been 55,041 official coronavirus deaths in Spain since the health crisis began. English version by Simon Hunter. It took only one briefing for Trump administration officials to start giving Psaki the kind of treatment they felt they had endured. One line of criticism on Thursday an ironic one given that administrations record was that she had delivered the briefing without wearing a mask, and that Biden had appeared at the Lincoln Memorial without one on Wednesday night, even though the president was asking government employees to wear masks on federal land. LOS ANGELESAVN Media Network is pleased to announce the launch of the Red Carpet Look Contest on AVN Stars. This weekend make an entrance on AVN Starsand win cash. Even though were not all in Vegas for the 38th annual AVN Awards Show, that doesnt mean this isn't the most glamorous time of the year! Show off your red carpet swagger in a personal photo and share it with your fans. Please be sure that youre in the image that you submit. This three-day, 72-hour, fan-voting contest starts at midnight PST on Friday, Jan. 22 and goes until 11:59 p.m. PST on Sunday, Jan. 24. All AVN Stars are eligible to enter and the Top 10 vote-getters will each receive cash prizes with the winner getting $750! To enter, just go into your Settings, click on the Contests tab and upload your image. Under contest rules, all uploaded images must feature the content creator; in addition, creators are required to post a tweet about their participation in the contest. As a reminder, AVN Stars implemented new rules for the 2021 contests. The winner of the previous contest may join the following weeks contest, however for that week their fan votes will only count 50% toward their contest ranking. For example, every 2 votes would count as 1 toward the following weeks contest ranking. The payout amount for votes will remain unchanged. Additionally, for every consecutive week that the same creator wins a contest, that following week their votes for ranking purposes will be reduced by 50%. For example, if the same creator wins two weeks in a row, their votes for the third week would accrue at 25% toward their contest rank for Week 3. To join AVN Stars for free, visit stars.avn.com. Built for adult entertainers, AVN Stars is a subscription-based community where creators can monetize their content without the worry of censorship, discrimination, shadow-banning or suspensions. Creators may charge a subscription fee or make their posts available for free. A disagreement over who is responsible for the 380,000 clean-up of the Kings River in Callan is not going away. There is asbestos in silt in the river and the clean-up process will be complicated and specialised. However, both the Office of Public Works (OPW) and Kilkenny County Council maintain the other is responsible for the works bill. Cllr Joe Lyons told fellow councillors at the recent Callan Thomastown municipal district meeting that he had received a letter from the OPW just that morning saying they had no responsibility for the project, that its Kilkenny County Councils area. Cllr Lyons said there is a lot of demand for the work to be carried out, in the area, and a lot of investigation has gone into the cleaning. There must be a less expensive way, Cllr Lyons said. He said people are being encouraged to get out and about and in most towns with a river there is an attractive amenity, but not here. Some work was carried out last year, and that was great, he said, but there are still silt islands left uncleared. This cant keep going on year after year, Cllr Lyons said. Director of Services Mary Mulholland said Kilkenny County Council has been very clear it is not responsible for funding the work. The cost of removal of material from the Kings River will be significant and a huge job of work. There is no budget for the work. Area Engineer Declan Murphy explained that there is asbestos in the silt and the expense comes from the need to put in a temporary bridge, remove the silt and dispose of it appropriately. Consultants estimated the cost of this work between 370,000 and 380,000. All due diligence has been done by consultants, Mr Murphy said. Ms Mulholland asked the OPW letter be forwarded to her. It is not known where the asbestos originated from, but could have been washed down the river from many miles away, Cllr Lyons said. Plans to clean up the silt and vegetation in the river began almost two years ago, when some silt was cleared in the area between the two bridges. The report of consultants at that stage revealed the contamination. Cllr Lyons observed the amount of asbestos in the silt must be low as wildlife and plant life in the river are thriving. Council staff are now liaising with other organisations with responsibility for aspects of river life, including the OPW, Waterways Ireland and Inland Fisheries Ireland, as well as consultants, with a view to progressing plans for the Kings River and will update councillors on any progress. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - January 22, 2021) - Entheon Biomedical Corp. (CSE: ENBI) (OTC Pink: ENTBF) (FSE: 1XU1) ("Entheon" or the "Company"), a biotechnology company focused on developing psychedelic medicines to treat addiction, is pleased to announce its inclusion in the Horizon North American Psychedelic ETF, the first ever psychedelic ETF of its kind. The new ETF is expected to start trading January 26, 2021 under the symbol "PYSK" on the NEO exchange. The Psychedelic ETF invests in North American publicly-listed companies focused on psychedelic medicines, providing diversified exposure to the psychedelics industry, and is designed to reflect the evolution of the industry in a timely fashion. The underlying index of the Psychedelic ETF is the North American Psychedelics Stock Index and measures performance of its constituent companies. "We're thrilled to have Entheon included in Horizon's Psychedelic ETF and look forward to supporting its development through our participation. The creation of this ETF and Index signals the growing acceptance of, and interest in, psychedelics as both a treatment and investment, and we're proud to be a part of this growing community," said Chief Executive Officer, Timothy Ko. "Our inclusion in this ETF also offers the practical advantage of providing Entheon with the potential for increased liquidity and awareness." About Entheon Biomedical Corp. Entheon is a biotechnology research and development company committed to developing and commercializing a portfolio of safe and effective N,N-dimethyltryptamine based psychedelic therapeutic products ("DMT Products") for the purposes of treating addiction and substance use disorders. Subject to obtaining all requisite regulatory approvals and permits, Entheon intends to generate revenue through the sale of its DMT Products to physicians, clinics and licensed psychiatrists in the United States, certain countries in the European Union and throughout Canada. About Horizon's Psychedelic ETF & North American Psychedelic Index At present, Horizon is the fourth largest ETF provider in Canada, and in 2017 established the first cannabis industry ETF. The underlying index of the Psychedelic ETF is the North American Psychedelic Stock Index, provided by German-based index provider Solactive. The Index is passive, weighing constituent companies according to their market cap. On Behalf of the Board of Directors, "Timothy Ko" Timothy Ko, CEO For more information, please contact the Company at: Entheon Biomedical Corp. Joseph Cullen, Investor Relations Telephone: +1 (778) 919-8615 Joe@entheonbiomedical.com https://entheonbiomedical.com/ For media inquiries, please contact Crystal Quast at: Bullseye Corporate Crystal Quast Telephone: +1 (647) 529-6364 Quast@BullseyeCorporate.com Cautionary Note on Forward-Looking Information This news release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. These statements relate to future events or future performance. All statements other than statements of historical fact may be forward-looking statements or information. More particularly and without limitation, this news release contains forward-looking statements and information relating to the Company's inclusion in Horizon ETFs North American Psychedelic Index, the commencement date of trading of the Horizon's ETF and other matters. The forward-looking statements and information are based on certain key expectations and assumptions made by management of the Company. Although management of the Company believes that the expectations and assumptions on which such forward-looking statements and information are based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements and information since no assurance can be given that they will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements and information are provided for the purpose of providing information about the current expectations and plans of management of the Company relating to the future. Readers are cautioned that reliance on such statements and information may not be appropriate for other purposes, such as making investment decisions. Since forward-looking statements and information address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors and risks. These include, but are not limited to, the Company's ability to raise further capital and the Company's ability to obtain regulatory and exchange approvals. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. The forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release are made as of the date hereof and no undertaking is given to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements or information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless so required by applicable securities laws. The forward-looking statements or information contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. Neither the CSE nor the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada 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/72595 Following the presentation, the Party and State leader hosted a reception for the ambassadors - Maria del Pilar Mendez Jimenez of Spain, Ali Akbar Nazari of Iran, and Meynardo Los Banos Montealegre of the Philippines. Highly valuing the sound cooperation between Vietnam and the countries, he expressed his belief that during their term, with the high sense of responsibility and warm sentiment towards Vietnam, the diplomats will excellently fulfill their duties so as to help further enhance their nations ties with Vietnam. He also hoped that they will have good impression of the country and people of Vietnam during their stay here. Informing his guests about the upcoming 13th National Party Congress a significant political event of the Vietnamese Party, Sate, and people, General Secretary and President Trong highlighted the ambassadors role in linking Vietnam with the countries and promoting international friends, partners, and communitys cooperation with and support for Vietnam to achieve strategic targets of the new development period. The Vietnamese State and Government will always create the best possible conditions for the ambassadors to perform their tasks, the leader affirmed, wishing Vietnams friendship and cooperation with Spain, Iran, and the Philippines will witness new strides in the future. ADVERTISEMENT Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL) said on Friday that reported leaks near its operational areas at Funiwa offshore facilities off the Atlantic coast were not from its facilities. It pledged to support regulators in tracing the source. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that fishermen around the Atlantic Ocean coastline reported an oil leak suspected to be from the Funiwa fields on Sunday. Esimaje Brikinn, General-Manager, Policy, Government and Public Affairs, Chevron, said the oil firm remained committed to tracing the source of the spill, as part of a joint effort by operators in the area to investigate the leakage. The observed spill has been reported by CNL to the appropriate regulatory agencies. For spills found within an operators operational area, the operator is required to contain the spill, followed by a Joint Investigation Visit by all stakeholders for assessment and further action. No spill has been observed within CNLs operational area, but we are monitoring this incident. CNL operates in strict compliance with the relevant laws and regulations governing the Nigerian petroleum industry and remains committed to the safety of people and the environment, he stated. Chevron and two other companies operate near the spill location. NAN gathered that the National Oil Spills Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) had summoned all the oil firms operating in the shallow waters near Koluama in Bayelsa in a bid to identify the source of the leaks. Musa Idris, Director-General, NOSDRA, told NAN in a telephone interview that the spills regulatory agency would dispatch its officials to the incident site. Meanwhile, Young Fabby, a community leader in Koluama 1, one of the impacted communities, told NAN that a joint team of Bayelsa government officials, oil firms operating in the area have scheduled a visit to the spill site for Friday. With the Joint Investigation Team visiting today, more facts will emerge. We are expecting the team to commence clean-up and remediation activities though the incident took place sometime around Saturday and oil discharge noticed since Sunday. There was high tidal currents at that time and it spread the oil ashore to the mangroves; we are ready to show the investigation team round when they arrive, the community leader stated. (NAN) Dear Reader, Business Standard has always strived hard to provide up-to-date information and commentary on developments that are of interest to you and have wider political and economic implications for the country and the world. Your encouragement and constant feedback on how to improve our offering have only made our resolve and commitment to these ideals stronger. Even during these difficult times arising out of Covid-19, we continue to remain committed to keeping you informed and updated with credible news, authoritative views and incisive commentary on topical issues of relevance. We, however, have a request. As we battle the economic impact of the pandemic, we need your support even more, so that we can continue to offer you more quality content. Our subscription model has seen an encouraging response from many of you, who have subscribed to our online content. More subscription to our online content can only help us achieve the goals of offering you even better and more relevant content. We believe in free, fair and credible journalism. Your support through more subscriptions can help us practise the journalism to which we are committed. Support quality journalism and subscribe to Business Standard. Digital Editor Surrounded by snow and ice with sleet starting to fall Ellen Lamont had all the teaching tools she could ever want to explain the states of matter to her elementary students this week. Surrounded by snow and ice with sleet starting to fall Ellen Lamont had all the teaching tools she could ever want to explain the states of matter to her elementary students this week. "What happens to our masks when we breathe outside?" Lamont asked her Grade 4/5 immersion students, each one seated in a homemade snow seat in their outdoor classroom, during a natural sciences lesson taught in French. She told them what they first exhale is a gas that condenses on their face coverings, and if they are outside long enough in the cold, that liquid may freeze and turn into a solid. JOHN WOODS / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Ellen Lamont said she has taken all the pivots required during the COVID-19 pandemic in stride and thats how Laura Secord Schools snow class came to be. Lamont could never have predicted she would be using personal protective equipment to conduct a lesson, nor she would ever be teaching in what her students have come to affectionately call "snow class" (classe de neige). The first-year teacher said she has taken all the pivots required during the COVID-19 pandemic in stride and thats how Laura Secord Schools snow class came to be. On Rupert DePapes first day back after the holiday break, the fifth grader said he came across a sign posted near the designated school door for his class. The 10-year-old followed Lamonts written instructions, and instead of entering the Wolseley area school as usual, built himself a snow chair. "Were stuck in our seat, and have to stay far apart, and cant really talk much (this year). Outside, its a lot more flexible with all the things you can do," said Rupert, whose favourite subjects are history and math; the latter of which is taught outside, unless the wind chill makes the temperature feel -28 C or colder. JOHN WOODS / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS As long as students are getting something out of it, Lamont said snow class will continue throughout the school year. While noting snow class can get "a bit chilly," he said its superior to in-class learning, because all of the students can learn together and move freely. Lamont and David Seburn, an educational assistant, have been overseeing a duplex classroom, with Grade 4s in one room and Grade 5s in another, since Manitoba schools entered a restricted level (code orange) on the province's pandemic response system. "I thought to myself, It would be so nice if just for this morning, we could all be outside so I could deliver this material once, altogether," Lamont said, recalling the moment she first decided to hold class outdoors Jan. 4. Engagement levels immediately spiked and students were more focused when they returned to their indoor classrooms to do pen-and-paper activities, she said. JOHN WOODS / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Engagement levels spiked and students were more focused when they returned to their indoor classrooms to do pen-and-paper activities, Lamont said. The success of an initial outdoor period has led to daily snow class lessons, which involve physical activity and the use of natural manipulatives, such as tree branches and ice cubes. Community members have donated Christmas trees, food colouring and a tree stump to decorate the space. The students also went on a nature walk to find items to make ice art with to spruce up the space. "To immerse children in nature and to create a love and reverence of nature is very important for this generation so we have kids that care about the environment and will protect it as they grow older," said Seburn, an educational assistant and forest school practitioner-in-training who is currently enrolled in a course at the Child and Nature Alliance of Canada. Its not only easier to engage students outdoors, he said, but also safer, at present. JOHN WOODS / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS The success of an initial outdoor period has led to daily snow class lessons. Lauren Phillips said she is incredibly appreciative of how her children's teachers, at both Laura Secord and River Heights School, have put emphasis on the importance of fresh air this year, in recognition COVID-19 can be transmitted through aerosols. "There's this notion of schools being safe, but schools arent safe if the behaviours arent safe," Phillips said. While her seventh graders teacher keeps the windows open during the school day, she said her son is ecstatic about snow class with Lamont. "Most people say school sucks, but I dont really get why," said Callie Neek, a fourth grader in the class. The nine-year-old said she would much rather be in school than at home, so she can see her friends and learn outside. As long as students are getting something out of it, Lamont said snow class will continue throughout the school year. "Theyve been so adaptive, so flexible, so willing to happily go along with whatever were doing and show up and try their best," the Winnipeg teacher said. "They have really truly amazed me." One of her students has suggested the class collect more stumps, so they can continue to learn outside when the snow melts. maggie.macintosh@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @macintoshmaggie New Delhi: A day ahead of Subhas Chandra Bose's 125th birth anniversary, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday (January 22) paid rich tributes to Netaji, the preeminent freedom fighter. In a series of tweets, Modi recalled the association of Netaji, as he is fondly known, with Haripura in Gujarat and urged people to watch a special programme being held there on Saturday afternoon. The Prime Minister noted that it was at the historic Haripura session of 1938 that Bose was elected Congress president. He tweeted, "Tomorrow, India will mark #ParakramDivas, the Jayanti of the great Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. Among the various programmes being organised across the nation, one special programme is being held at Haripura in Gujarat. Do join the programme, which begins at 1 PM." In another tweet, the PM said, "Haripura has a special relation with Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. It was at the historic Haripura Session of 1938 that Netaji Bose took up the Presidentship of the Congress Party. Tomorrows programme at Haripura will be a tribute to Netaji Boses contribution to our nation." "On the eve of Netaji Bose's Jayanti, my mind goes back to 23rd January 2009- the day we launched e-Gram Vishwagram Project from Haripura. This initiative revolutionised Gujarat's IT infrastructure and took the fruits of technology to the poor, in the remotest parts of the state," Modi said. On the eve of Netaji Boses Jayanti, my mind goes back to 23rd January 2009- the day we launched e-Gram Vishwagram Project from Haripura. This initiative revolutionised Gujarats IT infrastructure and took the fruits of technology to the poor, in the remotest parts of the state. pic.twitter.com/4QDzklcBLV Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 22, 2021 Remembering Netaji, he said, "I can never forget the affection of the people of Haripura, who took me through an elaborate procession on the same road as Netaji Bose was taken, in 1938. His procession included a decorated chariot drawn by 51 bullocks. I also visited the place where Netaji stayed in Haripura." I can never forget the affection of the people of Haripura, who took me through an elaborate procession on the same road as Netaji Bose was taken, in 1938. His procession included a decorated chariot drawn by 51 bullocks. I also visited the place where Netaji stayed in Haripura. pic.twitter.com/8OaLGZv6L5 Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 22, 2021 "May the thoughts and ideals of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose keep inspiring us to work towards building an India that he would be proud of?a strong, confident and self-reliant India, whose human-centric approach contributes to a better planet in the years to come," PM Modi added. The Prime Minister will visit West Bengal on Saturday to address 'Parakram Diwas' celebrations in Kolkata to commemorate Subhas Chandra Bose's birth anniversary. Netaji conjures deep emotional connect in his home state where both the ruling Trinamool Congress and the BJP are pulling out all the stops to associate themselves with his legacy ahead of the assembly polls there. A husband has been accused of throwing boiling water at his wife in anger after she woke him up to bring him breakfast in bed as a treat. Ali Ay, 28, allegedly poured boiling water over Rukiye Ay, 23, because he had wanted to sleep and he saw her romantic gesture as a disturbance. As a result, Rukiye suffered horrific injuries to her back, and was rushed to hospital in Turkey on January 9. Speaking from her hospital bed, Rukiye claimed she had brought her husband breakfast in bed as a surprise, but he was angry that she had woken him up. Rukiya says she then left her husband alone and went to eat breakfast with her daughter but Ali followed and threatened to divorce her. He then allegedly poured boiling hot water down Rukiya's neck and tried to pour on her face but she turned away. The scared mum said she tried to run away but she could feel her "T-shirt sticking" to her skin. Ali is then accused of throwing the "rest of the boiling water" at Rukiya and she said some of it landed on their child's feet. She said: "I prepared it all and then went to tell my husband he had breakfast in bed. He was angry and demanded to know why I woke him up, and told me not to bother him, so I started having breakfast with my daughter. "He came in still in a bad mood and told me he was going to divorce me and gain custody of our daughter no matter what I did. "He then poured boiling water down my neck. He was going to throw it in my face but I turned away. I ran away and could my T-shirt sticking to my skin. He then threw the rest of the boiling water at me and some of it landed on my child's feet and the rest hit me on the hip." Rukiye said she wanted to "escape" but she passed out from the pain and could hear her daughter screaming in the background. Ali then allegedly grabbed his wife's hair and dragged her to the bathroom, where Rukiye found strength and took the opportunity to run to a neighbour who called the police. Police arrested him but he was later released on bail, sparking public fury, which resulted in him being re-arrested and remanded in custody. Rukiye said: "I couldn't believe it, as long as he is free me and my daughter are in danger." Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video President Joe Biden moved swiftly to oust top managers loyal to President Donald Trump who had been blamed for recent turmoil at the federal government's array of international news organizations, including the biggest and most influential one, the Voice of America. Only hours after he was inaugurated, Biden forced out Michael Pack, the controversial head of the agency that oversees VOA and four other networks that broadcast news to millions of people abroad. This was followed, domino-like, on Thursday by the removal of VOA's director and deputy director after only a few weeks on the job. In doing so, Biden appears to be putting the brakes on what critics said was an effort by the Trump administration to turn the news agencies into mouthpieces for Trump's views and policies. The federal government spends $637 million annually to support the five news networks - VOA, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Middle East Broadcasting, the Office of Cuba Broadcasting and Radio Free Asia. The agencies were established by Congress as an extension of American "soft power," although the news and commentary they produce is by regulation independent of government or political control. Voice of America alone broadcasts in 47 different languages, primarily in countries where press freedom is limited or nonexistent. One of Biden's first moves on Wednesday was to seek the resignation of Pack, a Trump appointee who created a trail of scandal, lawsuits and acrimony in the eight months since he became chief executive of the news organizations' parent, the U.S. Agency for Global Media. Biden named Kelu Chao, a journalist who has worked at VOA for nearly 40 years, as Pack's interim replacement. (The Senate must confirm the agency's permanent chief executive.) And Chao, in turn, dismissed VOA's director and deputy director, Robert Reilly and Elizabeth Robbins on Thursday, both of whom had been appointed by Pack only last month. Chao named Yolanda Lopez, another longtime VOA journalist, as acting director. Biden's selection of Chao, and Chao's appointment of Lopez, signaled support for veteran staff and the way the news organizations had been operating before Pack. Chao joined a whistleblower lawsuit against Pack last fall after he suspended six senior USAGM executives and sought their removal, part of a sweeping purge of veteran managers under him. Lopez, who had directed VOA's editorial operations, was one of two VOA journalists reassigned by Reilly just last week, apparently as punishment for her role in a dispute over a speech by former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo at VOA headquarters. Also on Thursday, another Pack appointee, Jeffrey Shapiro, the head of the Office of Cuba Broadcasting, resigned. OCB operates Radio and TV Marti, which beam broadcasts into Cuba. Pack said Wednesday that his resignation came at Biden's request. During the president campaign, Biden's staff had indicated that he would replace Pack if Biden won election. Pack, a former documentary filmmaker who has worked with former Trump adviser Stephen Bannon, asserted the right to direct VOA's newsgathering, despite a "firewall" designed to protect it from outside influence. Pack said he was acting to restore VOA's tradition of nonpartisan reporting. But critics, especially those inside VOA, said his intention was to use VOA and its sister agencies to promote Trump's policies. In a staff memo announcing his resignation, Pack wrote, "I firmly believe that - thanks to your support, patriotism, and understanding - a great amount of much-needed reform was achieved in the past eight months He added: "USAGM and the CEO position are meant to be non-partisan. As such, every single day, I was solely focused upon reorienting the agency toward its mission. I sought, above all, to help the agency share America's story with the world objectively and without bias." One VOA journalist said Pack's resignation triggered "sighs of relief and cheers" among employees. She called Pack's resignation "a first step toward a return to normalcy." Among other actions, Pack declined to renew the expiring visas of foreign journalists who work for VOA, saying that they had not been properly vetted and that the agency could be harboring foreign spies. He later ordered subordinates to investigate VOA's chief White House reporter, Steve Herman, for alleged bias in his coverage of Trump. The investigation produced no disciplinary action, but VOA journalists said the investigation itself was an act of intimidation. At one point, Pack issued a news release describing some of the reporting by the agencies under his control as "substandard." He offered no examples. According to a whistleblower complaint filed Tuesday on behalf of senior managers Pack suspended in August, Pack used about $2 million in taxpayer funds to hire a law firm to compile personnel dossiers on some of the managers he sought to remove. The dossiers were developed to support his decision to replace them, the complaint said. Earlier this month, more than two dozen VOA employees objected to a directive, apparently from Pack and implemented by Reilly and Robbins, to broadcast a speech by Pompeo, the outgoing secretary of state, at the agency's headquarters in Washington. The employees said the order from a political appointee amounted to government "propaganda" - the very thing VOA was established to counter in countries abroad. They demanded that Reilly and Robbins resign. Reilly did not allow reporters to question Pompeo at the event. He later demoted the agency's White House correspondent, Patsy Widakuswara, after as she fired questions at Pompeo as he was leaving the building. Pack did not respond to a request for comment, continuing a practice he has observed since his appointment began. Since June, he has given interviews only to conservative media outlets and to USAGM-supervised agencies. ISTANBUL: A faithful dog waited for her owner outside a hospital in Turkey for almost a week until he was released after undergoing treatment for a brain condition. The small, mix-breed dog named Boncuk was rewarded for her loyalty with an emotional reunion when 68-year-old Cemal Senturk finally left hospital in the northeastern city of Trabzon. Senturk was taken to hospital on Jan. 14 after a brain embolism, according to media reports. Boncuk, whose name means Beads" in reference to her hazel eyes, followed the ambulance, and immediately began her vigil outside the entrance, returning every morning thereafter. She was occasionally fed by hospital staff. She doesnt pose a danger to anyone. Everybody noticed the relationship between the dog and her owner. It makes everybody happy," the hospitals communications director Fuat Ugur said. Senturks daughter tried to take the dog home several times, but said that she kept running away to return to the hospital. When Senturk finally left the hospital this week, an overjoyed Boncuk ran alongside his wheelchair, jumping up to be petted and wagging her tail. It makes a person very happy. The dog is very close to us, like a human being, and it makes you happy," Senturk said. Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has appointed a 3-member panel to probe the findings of the previous commissions appointed by the state to investigate human rights abuses committed during the last phase of the armed conflict with the LTTE in 2009. The move comes as the UN rights body in its next session starting from February is to examine Sri Lanka's rights progress in the backdrop of UNHRC resolutions, which called for the island nation's rights accountability. Rajapaksa appointed a judge of the highest court, a former chief of the police and a retired bureaucrat to the 3-member panel, according to a gazette dated Thursday. They have been tasked to find out if the previous panels had revealed any serious human rights violations, whether they made any recommendations, whether they were implemented and what are the steps needed to be taken to implement such recommendations. Sri Lanka under the previous government had co-sponsored two United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) resolutions which called for independent investigations into alleged rights abuses committed by both the LTTE and the government troops during the last phase of the armed conflict. The government of Gotabaya Rajapaksa in 2019 announced they were withdrawing from co-sponsorship of resolutions and blamed the previous government of betraying Sri Lanka's sovereignty by doing so. The latest move the government claims stems from their willingness to cooperate with the UN mechanisms. The Amnesty International was sceptical of the move. "Sri Lanka has a long history of commissions of inquiry that have repeatedly failed to deliver justice and reconciliation for victims of human rights violations. Findings of past commissions have not led to any prosecutions of those responsible for atrocities". According to the UN figures, up to 40,000 civilians were killed by the security forces during then Mahinda Rajapaksa's regime that brought an end to nearly three decades of civil war in Sri Lanka with the defeat of LTTE in 2009. Government troops and the Tamil Tiger rebels are both accused of war crimes. In late 2020, major pharmaceutical companies were able to develop a COVID-19 vaccine finally. This year, countries around the world are preparing to vaccinate people against the deadly coronavirus, and for that plan to roll out, tech companies are rushing to demonstrate their participation to help fight the further spread of the virus. DiDi's COVID-19 vaccine distribution According to the company's statement, China's ride-hailing company, DiDi Chuxing, had pledged a $10 million global fund to support the COVID-19 vaccination efforts in 13 other countries, according to the statement released by the company on Jan. 22. The multi-purpose fund will be used to reduce the fees for passengers going to vaccination appointments. It will also go to frontline healthcare workers who are traveling to vaccination locations. It will also sponsor future measures based on the market's local needs, according to DiDi. The company added that it will continue working with the respective governments. Also Read: COVID-19 Spreads More Than 2 Meters in Seconds! New Tool Calculates Virus' Transmission Risk in Poorly-Ventilated Places However, it is still unclear how the company plans to allocate funds across different markets: Mexico, New Zealand, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, Colombia, Peru, Panama, Argentina, and the Dominican Republic, Russia, Australia, and Japan. The company spokesperson said that they will share more details about it locally as the vaccinations roll out and their local support plans are finalized. Just like other tech firms, DiDi has responded fast to the COVID-19 outbreak by offering relief measures. The company said it had funded more than 6 million free and discounted rides and meals for frontline healthcare workers and distributed more than six million masks and sanitation kits to courier partners and drivers in its international markets. In China, the company has made the same efforts. The efforts include financial assistance like insurance plans for drivers with confirmed cases or for those who are undergoing quarantine. Jean Liu, the president of Didi, said that the vaccination support initiative is a crucial step in the local recovery effort around the world. Liu stated that the incredible commitment and the agility of DiDi teams, as well as the safety system that was built for complex mobility scenarios, play a massive role in protecting the people and ensuring the essential services throughout these difficult times. She added that they will continue to stand by their partners and communities to get their cities moving once more. To make sure that both the passenger and the driver are safe, DiDi had rolled out a mask detection technology in 2020 for in-car cameras across China and some of its overseas markets, according to DiDi Global. DiDi's history The company is backed by SoftBank, and it took a hit when it temporarily suspended its carpooling service after two passenger accidents back in 2018, according to Reuters. The startup remains as one of the most valuable private tech companies in China, and rumor has it that for a few years, it is planning an initial public offering, but the company outright denied it. DiDi has garnered more than 550 million users across Latin America, Asia, and Russia by offering taxi hailing, private car-hailing, bikes, rideshare, buses, and even e-bikes, and it has over 10 billion passenger trips every year. It has more than 20 million users and 2.8 million couriers and drivers outside of China. Related Article: Why Older Adults Should be First in Line for COVID 19 Vaccinations, Study Explains This article is owned by Tech Times Written by Sieeka Khan 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 22) While President Rodrigo Duterte has expressed support for the extension of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority's term, this has not been discussed in Congress, with a little more than a year left before the transitional government is dissolved. In a media briefing on Friday, Bangsamoro officials said it is "impossible" to finish all essential transition works with the little time left, and is appealing for three more years, or until 2025. "Not because we want to be in power," Chief Minister Ahod Ebrahim said. "It's not the power in the governance (we are after) but it is the success of the implementation process of the peace agreement." "Hinihingi namin na bigyan ng lahat ng chance na mag-succeed (We are asking for a chance to succeed)," Ebrahim added. He said it will be the President's sole prerogative if members of the BTA will be reappointed or replaced once the transition period is extended. The BTA was created in 2019 after the signing of the law creating the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, home to minority Muslims fighting for self-determination in the predominantly Roman Catholic Philippines. It was the result of decades-long negotiations between rebel groups in Mindanao, mainly the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, and the government. Ebrahim, from the MILF, explained they initially asked for a six-year transition but had to compromise, resulting in the three-year stint. Under the Bangsamoro Organic Law, the first elections under a parliamentary form of government will be held in 2022, along with the national polls. The region is not ready for a May 2022 elections, the BTA said. For instance, the transitional government is still working on the legislation of five major codes to strengthen the self-governing authority, said Minister of the Interior and Local Government Naguib Sinarimbo. Only one other administrative code has been passed so far, he said. The Bangsamoro Police Force has not been formed, and private armed groups have yet to be disbanded. Some 40% of plantilla positions are not yet filled up, he added, but an online job portal has already resulted in over 300,000 applicants. Ebrahim said majority of the Bangsamoro people support the continued leadership of the transitional government. While there is some opposition, including from Sulu Governor Abdusakur Tan II, who previously challenged the Bangsamoro Organic Law before the Supreme Court, more local officials have approved resolutions backing the BTA, he said. Duterte himself is on the BTA's side, Ebrahim said, citing the assurance the President gave during a previous meeting. "He said, 'I know that the three years period for transition is very short. I support 100% the extension of your transition period'," Ebrahim recalled the President as saying. Still, passing a law to this effect would depend on Congress, Duterte said. This is the same sentiment announced by Malacanang. There are now five bills filed at the House of Representatives, most seeking to prolong the BTA's life until 2025. Lawmakers earlier said they will start deliberating on these measures this January. 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. Thank you for reading! Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. If you have a subscription, please log in or sign up for an account on our website to continue. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. Multiple first-day orders issued by President Joe Biden Wednesday will help several immigrant communities on Staten Island. Biden strengthened the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which protects undocumented immigrants who arrived in the U.S. as children. President Donald Trump had taken steps to weaken the program during his time in office, also through executive action. Yesenia Mata, executive director of La Colmena an immigrant worker organization in Port Richmond applauded the decision, but said she hopes the Biden administration takes further steps, particularly on a pathway to citizenship. For us in the immigrant community, I think these last four years have been very difficult, she said. I think with the DACA program being restored it gives opportunity for the people who do qualify to have protection. Undocumented immigration has been an issue that neither party has been able to adequately address for over 20 years. The most publicized policies in recent years, like the DACA program under President Barack Obama, and crackdowns on illegal border crossings under Trump, were accomplished through executive order, leaving them vulnerable if a president from the opposing party is elected. Biden also issued an order that eased the crackdown on illegal border crossings, and a proclamation that ended the former presidents national emergency declaration regarding the border with Mexico. During tax season, hundreds of undocumented immigrants come to us at El Centro for help preparing their returns, said Michelle Molina, executive director of El Centro del Inmigrante. They pay their share even though they are not eligible to receive most food benefits, housing or social security. They are the mothers, fathers, grandparents, sisters and brothers who are our neighbors. They worship with us at church. They sit on our school PTAs. Now with President Bidens immigration proposal, they may finally have a chance to be recognized in the country they love and call home. A group of undocumented workers joyfully watch the inauguration of President Joseph Biden Wednesday at El Centro del Inmigrante, Port Richmond. (Photo Courtesy of El Centro) Another Biden executive order offered a reprieve to Liberians. The Deferred Enforced Departure for Liberians program offered nationals of the West African nation Temporary Protected Status (TPS) in the United States as their country endured two civil wars from 1989 to 2003. President George W. Bush and President Obama repeatedly extended the TPS for Liberians after the end of declared conflict, but President Trump decided in 2018 that the need had expired after Liberia underwent its first fully democratic transition of power when current President George Weah succeeded former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. Trump did install a transition period that most recently expired on Jan. 10, but the National Defense Authorization Act that passed at the end of 2019 included a provision that would provide permanent-residency status to Liberians continuously in America since Nov. 20, 2014. The application process for that permanent residency, according to Bidens executive order, was hampered by a slow launch, cumbersome procedures, and delays in adjudication. Under the order, people who received protections during Trumps transition period that expired Jan. 10 will not be eligible for removal from the U.S. until June 30, 2022. Despite her optimism, Mata noted the significant number of deportations under Obama approximately 1 million more people than his predecessor as cause for concern at what might happen under the Biden administration. She said the mixed-immigration-status of many Latino families is cause alone to push a pathway to citizenship. For example, Mata is a citizen while her husband is a green card holder under the nations permanent residency program. Many of the DACA recipients also have undocumented parents,' she said. Many of us are from mixed-status families and thats a reality. Thats the story of many people in the Latino community. We come from extended families, and we dont want to stop at the DACA program. 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. NBC News veteran Tom Brokaw said Friday that he is retiring from the network after 55 years. Brokaw rose from an early stint at a station in Sioux City, Iowa, to anchor three of the nation's best-known TV-news programs - 'Today,' 'NBC Nightly News', and, for a short time, 'Meet the Press'. He is the only person to have ever hosted all three shows. Author of 'The Greatest Generation', he was NBC's lead anchor at 'Nightly News' and for big events for more than 20 years before giving way to Brian Williams in 2004. The 80-year-old newsman did documentaries and made other appearances for the networks after that, but he has fought cancer and his television appearances have been more sporadic. The broadcasting legend said he will continue to be active in print journalism, writing books and articles. Tom Brokaw says he is retiring from NBC News after working at the network for 55 years Tom Brokaw appears on his first day as host of NBC's 'Today' show in August 1976 'During one of the most complex and consequential eras in American history, a new generation of NBC News journalists, producers and technicians is providing America with timely, insightful and critically important information, 24/7.' Brokaw said in a statement Friday, giving praise to his colleagues. 'I could not be more proud of them.' NBC announced his official retirement with a statement that credited him with 'more than half a century of award-winning reporting'. 'Brokaw will continue to be active in print journalism, authoring books and articles, and spend time with his wife, Meredith, three daughters and grandchildren,' it read. He had been absent from NBC's election and inauguration coverage, which was attributed to his age and health. Born in Webster, South Dakota, on February 6, 1940, the newscaster is a graduate of the University of South Dakota who rose to small-screen fame. After graduating in 1962 with a major in political science, Brokaw married his high school sweetheart, author Meredith Lynn Auld, in the same year. A former Miss South Dakota, Brokaw once inadvertently professed his love for her on the radio after leaving his mic on. The couple have three daughters together. NBC producer Andy Franklin described him as the anchor who 'presided over - and led us through - more stories than anyone can count.' Moderator Chuck Todd and Tom Brokaw, NBC News Senior Correspondent, appear on 'Meet the Press' " in Washington, D.C. on January 27, 2018. Brokaw briefly hosted the show NBC News' Tom Brokaw, PBS' Jim Lehrer, PBS' Robert MacNeil of 'The MacNeil/Lehrer Report' join together for coverage of the 1992 Democratic and Republican Conventions TOM BROKAW CAREER HIGHLIGHTS 1973: Tom Brokaw was NBC's White House correspondent during the Nixon administration and was broadcasting live from the White House as Richard Nixon resigned. 1982: Joins NBC Nightly News before becoming lead anchor and managing editor the following year. 1987: Brokaw was the first American journalist to interview the Soviet Union's final leader Mikhail Gorbachev. It took place at the Kremlin with Brokaw grilling Gorbachev about the Soviet position in the world at the height of the Cold War. He received an Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Award for excellence in broadcast journalism for the Gorbachev interview. 1989: The newscaster was the first in the U.S. to report from Berlin the night that the Berlin Wall came down He was live from the wall as he covered the unrest in the region but had no idea it would fall. 'A historic moment tonight, the Berlin Wall can no longer contain the East German people,' he said in his opening line. 1991: Brokaw was in Kuwait City on the night Saddam Hussein surrendered during the First Gulf War. 2000: He also conducted the first one-on-one American television interview with Vladinir Putin. Brokaw was also the first American anchor travel to Tibet to interview the Dalai Lama and report on the human-rights abuses there. He was the first to report that the war with Iraq had begun. 2001: Publishes highly successful book The Greatest Generation. The book placed a spotlight on the generation of Americans through the Great Depression and World War II. Its title has since become a phrase commonly used to refer to WWII veterans and their families. 2014: Recives the Presidential Medal of Freedom from Barack Obama. Advertisement Growing up in a small town in a working-class family, Brokaw did not even watch television until he was a teenager. Once he settled on the idea of working in it, his family and friends deemed it a natural fight for the talkative child who loved writing. 'Viewers across America knew that Tom Brokaw was grounded by his South Dakota roots and family values,' Tim Russert, host of NBC's Meet the Press, claimed as Brokaw was inducted into the Emmys Hall of Fame in 2017. 'They sensed that Tom was one of them, a good guy who cared.' Brokaw's TV career first began after he and his family relocated to Omaha, Nebraska, and he started working the early-morning shift for television station KMTV. By 1965, he was hired as the late-evening news anchor by WSB-TV in Atlanta, which often gave its newsfeed to NBC. At times, he filled in for NBC correspondents and also filed for NBC radio, as he covered the civil rights movement. Brokaw officially began at NBC in its Los Angeles bureau in 1966, where he covered Ronald Reagan's first run for public office and the assassination of Robert F. Kennedy. He was a White House correspondent during Richard Nixon's presidency after moving to D.C. in 1973, and began co-hosting the 'Today' show in 1976 alongside Jane Pauley. He started hosting 'Nightly News' in 1982 after John Chancellor stepped down. Brokaw was paired with Roger Mudd but after a year, became sole anchor and managing editor. The show rose to the top of the ratings. Among the highlights of his time as lead anchor, Brokaw became the first American journalist to interview the Soviet Union's final leader Mikhail Gorbachev and to report from Berlin the night that the Berlin Wall came down, according to Deadline. He received an Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Award for the Gorbachev interview. Brokaw was also the first American anchor travel to Tibet to interview the Dalai Lama and report on the human-rights abuses there, as well as the first to report that the war with Iraq had begun. 'In both cases, it was his innate news sense that drew him to the story,' his Night News replacement Brian Williams said. 'And in both cases, it was his inner drive that led him to go the extra mile.' For two decades, the trio of Brokaw, ABC's Peter Jennings and CBS' Dan Rather were the nation's most visible broadcasters, anchoring major stories like the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. 'There is no day that I had greater respect or needed his strength and wisdom more than 9/11, when he led NBC and his TV audience with calm assurances,' said producer Maralyn Gelefsky. Pictured above, NBC News' Tom Brokaw, Katie Couric, London Sunday Times' Andrew Brown covering the funeral of Princess Diana of Wales in September 1997 Pictured, 'NBC News 2018 State of the Union Coverage' with Tom Brokaw, Megyn Kelly, Lester Holt, Savannah Guthrie, Chuck Todd, an Andrea Mitchell After 9/11, Brokaw was among the targets of an anthrax attack that missed him but infected his longtime assistant, who opened the letter addressed to the host. He addressed the attempt to harm him on air, angered by the threat. After he left Nightly News in 2004, Brokaw reported and produced six documentaries, including one about the African American underclass in the south and two on the Middle East. Later in his career, Brokaw stepped in to briefly host 'Meet the Press' when Tim Russert died in 2008. Brokaw's time on air has dwindled in recent years, while he has served as a special correspondent for the NBCUniversal-owned outlet. The anchor enjoyed a semi-retirement while contributing essays to NBC and MSNBC programming. In August 2013, Brokaw was diagnoed with multiple myeloma, an incurable but treatable cancer affecting blood cells in the bone marrow. Brokaw began at NBC in its Los Angeles bureau in 1966. Pictured above in 2004 during his final broadcast as anchor of 'NBC Nightly News' After months of treatment at the Mayor Clinic, where he spent up to $10,000 per week on drugs, he was in remission by December 2014. He had previously said that the death of ABC news anchor Peter Jennings from lung cancer in 2005 'really affirmed my decision' to retire. Brokaw last appeared on Morning Joe on December 30 for end-of-year commentary. During the segment, he criticized Trump for 'whining while Covid patients struggle to survive' as he looked ahead to Biden's presidency. 'Before too long, Donald Trump's principal audiences will be his caddies,' he added, before beginning look back on his own career. 'For me, it's been an amazing journey. 57 years, as a reporter,' he said. 'As a young reporter in Omaha, I broke into local programming with a bulletin. President Kennedy had been assassinated. And for the next 57 years, I covered the seismic events that roiled our world, but none were as catastrophic as this pandemic. 'This is America's greatest test since the Civil War. We still have miles to go, and no assurances of just how it will all turn out.' As well as being a much-loved newscaster, Brokaw is a successful author who published The Greatest Generation in 2001. The book placed a spotlight on the generation of Americans through the Great Depression and World War II and its title has since become a phrase commonly used to refer to WWII veterans and their families. Tom Brokaw and Robert De Niro pictured together He also released a memoir 'A Lucky Life Interrupted' in 2015, looking back on his time covering global events such as 9/11 and his battle with cancer. In 2019, he also published 'The Fall of Richard Nixon: A Reporter Remembers Watergate', detailing his time covering the 1970s scandal as NBC's White House correspondent. 'I was deeply impressed not just by his professionalism, but by something else: his patriotism,' TV producer Robert Windrem has said of Brokaw's calm coverage on the day that Nixon resigned. 'He understood his role in the nation, his responsibility as an American.' Brokaw received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2014 from former President Barack Obama. In the same year, NBC also named its new Los Angeles broadcast facility on the Universal lot after him. He has also been awarded several notable journalism awards including several Emmys one for lifetime achievement and was inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame in 2006. And he is a Peabody, Dupont and Edward R. Murrow award winner. Yet his career was not completely without scandal. Former NBC News correspondent Linda Vester made claims in 2018 that he had groped, tickled her, and tried to kiss her during the 1990s. Brokaw hit back at the claims in a rebuttal letter in which he slammed the 'unsubstantiated criticism and attacks'. The author of 'The Greatest Generation' is now 80 years old and his television appearances have been limited in recent years as he fought cancer. He says he will continue writing books In a letter to colleagues, Brokaw claimed Vester's intent was to strip him 'of any honor and achievement I had earned in more than a half century of journalism and citizenship'. 'I am angry, hurt and unmoored from what I thought would be the final passage of my life and career, a mix of written and broadcast journalism, philanthropy and participation in environmental and social causes that have always given extra meaning to my life,' he wrote. 'Instead I am facing a long list of grievances from a former colleague who left NBC News angry that she had failed in her pursuit of stardom. 'She has unleashed a torrent of unsubstantiated criticism and attacks on me more than twenty years after I opened the door for her and a new job at Fox news.' He also accused the Washington Post and Variety of enabling her 'drive by shooting by publishing the claims'. Several women at NBC, including hosts like Rachel Maddow and Andrea Mitchell, backed Brokaw, signing a letter calling him 'a man of tremendous decency and integrity'. In recent years, Brokaw and his wife have been spending much of their time together in their ranch in Montana that they purchased in 1989. A Russian delegation is set to arrive in Egypt Wednesday on a new mission to inspect safety procedures at Sharm El-Sheikh and Hurghada airports, amid Russia's preparations to resume flights Red Sea destinations after a five-year suspension, sources in the civil aviation ministry told Al-Ahram Arabic website. The inspection tour is scheduled from 27 January to 4 February, acording to the sources. The Russian delegation is set to check security and safety procedures adopted at departure and arrival halls, as well as luggage and passenger-related safety procedures in both airports. The inspection is also set to cover the procedures related to flights, security measures related to airport fences, surveillance cameras and tarmac security systems, as well as employees movements in customs departments and on aircrafts, the source added. The delegation will also meet - during their visit - a number of officials from the civil aviation ministry. Russian charter flights to Egypts Red Sea resorts have been suspended since the downing of a Russian flight over Sinai in October 2015. Russias flight suspension to Red Sea resorts has taken a heavy toll on Egypts tourism industry a key source of hard currency since Russian visitors were major contributors to the tourism market in the country prior to 2015. In 2014, three million Russians visited the country and in 2015, 2.4 million Russians visited Egypt before Moscow suspended all commercial passenger flights to the country over the 2015 incident. In the past several years, the Egyptian authorities have tightened and upgraded all safety and security measures at all of the country's airports. Russian aviation and security experts have also inspected safety mesures at Egyptian airports, including Sharm El-Sheikh and Hurghada, on more than one occasion in the same period. Russia resumed flights to Cairo International Airport in April 2018, ending a 30-month suspension, but did not resume flights to Egypt's Red Sea destinations. Egypt began a gradual resumption of regular international flights on 1 July following a three-month closure due to the coronavirus pandemic. Russia resumed regular international flights to Cairo on 3 September after a six-month stoppage overthe pandemic. Since July, foreign tourists in groups have been allowed entry into three coastal Egyptian governorates with the lowest coronavirus infection rates in the country South Sinai, the Red Sea and Matrouh. Short link: The lawyer for a Tamil family fighting deportation has called their near three-year detention 'ludicrous' and accused Peter Dutton of wasting taxpayer cash. Priya and Nades Murugappan and their two young daughters are being detained in a demountable building on Christmas Island at a cost of $4,000 a day. New pictures sent to Daily Mail Australia show Kopika, five, and Tharunicaa, three, trying to enjoy life on the island where they cannot visit friends, must get permission to go the playground and are accompanied by guards to school. Priya and Nades Murugappan and their two young daughters (pictured) are being detained in a demountable building on Christmas Island at a cost of $4,000 a day Kopika (left) gets taken to school by guards while Priya stays inside to look after three-year-old Tharunicaa (right) The Home Affairs Minister does not believe the family are legitimate refugees but the courts have ruled they cannot be deported until their legal proceedings are over. Lawyer Carina Ford says they should be allowed to live in Biloela, Queensland - where they settled after arriving by boat seven years ago - until their case is closed. 'The government says Christmas Island is the most appropriate place for them to be housed even though there's no justification as to why that's the case,' she told Daily Mail Australia. 'There is just no need for children to be in detention and they should be released into the community so they can be where children should be.' The family lives in a temporary block with a bedroom and a living room and can cook food brought to them in a separate kitchen. During the week five-year-old Kopika gets taken to school by guards while Priya stays inside to look after three-year-old Tharunicaa, who was just a few months old when her family was arrested. 'All of her life she's been locked up. She's spent three Christmases in detention which is ludicrous,' said Ms Ford. 'Their lives are lonely and monotonous and the children are getting older so they're aware of their circumstances.' Tharunicaa (pictured) was just a few months old when her family was arrested and has spent the vast majority of her life locked up by the Australian Government Figures released last year showed the government has spent more than $6million detaining the family. Pictured: Priya and Nades The Biloela community wants them to be allowed back and supporters have kept in touch and sent presents over Christmas. 'They were inundated with box loads of cards and gifts from right across Australia, which was lovely,' Ms Ford explained. 'The pandemic has gathered more support for them to be released because people have an idea of what it's like for them to be in lockdown. 'People are looking on and wondering why this family are in the circumstances that they are, people are finding it more difficult to comprehend why they're in detention.' The family used to be the only detainees on Christmas Island until 225 people, mostly criminals whose vivas were cancelled, were moved into a separate facility near to theirs. Sisters: Kopika, five, and Tharunicaa, three Earlier this month detainees started fires in a violent protest as they demanded better medical care and improved internet access. 'We have concerns about the recent riots at the other facility on Christmas Island,' Ms Ford said. 'We have written to the department to make sure there is no crossover of guards because the last thing you want is people who are working in a volatile situation coming into a situation where a family is located.' Figures released last year showed the government has spent more than $6million detaining the family and fighting for their deportation in the courts. Last year the cost of detention was $1.4million, which equates to $4,000 a day. 'The money spent on this case is massive, at a time when overspending on situations like these is unnecessary, Ms Ford said. 'There's no reason for it when they could be contributing in the community as they were prior to being detained, working and not costing the taxpayer a cent. But that just doesn't seem to be the government's position.' In an ABC radio report last month, Priya said the family feel like animals kept on their own. 'We pray to God that no-one has to go through the same situation as us,' she said. The Department of Home Affairs said in a statement: 'Australian Border Force has deemed the current placement suitable for the family.' In a previous interview with Daily Mail Australia, Ms Ford criticised Mr Dutton for claiming the family was wasting taxpayer money by refusing to return to Sri Lanka. 'The same argument applies that he's being unfair by detaining them, it's as simple as that,' she said. 'I feel that trying to flip it around and blame the parents like that hasn't worked for Minister Dutton. 'I think people can see that it doesn't make sense for the person detaining the children to blame the parents.' Three years ago: While on bridging visas, the family rented a small house, paid for with money Nades earned by working at an abattoir The family are not allowed to visit friends on the island and must get approval to go to a playground where they are accompanied by guards The family (pictured on Christmas Island) lives in a temporary block with a bedroom and a living room and can cook food brought to them in a separate kitchen Ms Ford said if the government really wanted to reduce the cost to taxpayers then it would make more sense to release the family from detention on the island which is 1,500km north-west of Australia. 'We are using taxpayer dollars to detain them but they could be in the community while their case is pending, actually contributing, because Nades used to work in the local meatworks, and costing the taxpayer no money,' she said. 'Can you justify spending this amount of money on keeping a detention centre open that no-one else is using? I don't think you can. Maybe that's something the government can re-consider.' Priya and Nades came to Australia by boat separately in 2012 and 2013, alleging they were escaping the Sri Lankan civil war. They met in Sydney before getting married and settling in Biloela, Queensland where they had two children. The family rented a small house, paid for with money Nades earned by working at an abattoir. While her husband put food on the table, Priya looked after the children and attended Biloela Baptist Church craft group where she made dozens of friends. But they were kicked out in March 2018 when their home was raided by police at 5am, the day after Priya's bridging visa expired. In October 2019, the United Nations Human Rights Committee requested the family be let off Christmas Island but the government ignored it. A Federal Court judge in April ruled their deportation must remain on hold after determining the youngest daughter, Tharunicaa, had been denied procedural fairness in her bid to apply for a protection visa. Priya and Nades met in Sydney before getting married and settling in Biloela, Queensland where they had two children The family are stuck on Christmas Island. Pictured: A detention centre on the island The government was also ordered to pay the family more than $200,000 in legal fees. The government is appealing the decision and the family now faces a long wait for a decision, expected in the first half of this year. Speaking on Sydney radio 2GB last week, Mr Dutton said the family should stop fighting deportation. 'This case has gone on since 2012 I think, and it must have cost now probably over $10 million,' he said. 'That's money that should be going into... communities and helping Australian citizens. 'They are not refugees and they have used every trick in the book to make sure they can stay. 'This is a situation of their own making, it is ridiculous, it's unfair on their children, and it sends a very bad message to other people who think that they can rort the system as well.' Priya and Nades (pictured) came to Australia by boat separately in 2012 and 2013, alleging they were escaping the Sri Lankan civil war Ms Ford urged Mr Dutton to grant a protection visa and allow the family to stay in Australia. 'That's always been our position in this case. It's open to the minister to not have this go on and spend more money on it. The choice is his.' Ms Ford said she believes there is a 'good prospect' of her winning the case, which centres on two-year-old Tharunicaa, whose visa claim was never assessed. Nades claimed he will be persecuted in Sri Lanka because he was forced to join the militant group Tamil Tigers in 2001 and was harassed by the Sri Lankan military. The Immigration Assessment Authority rejected the claims on the basis he frequently travelled between Sri Lanka, Kuwait and Qatar for work between 2004 and 2010 during the civil war, something that a Tamil Tigers member would not be allowed to do. Priya has claimed she watched her former fiance get burned alive and was raped during the Sri Lankan civil war which lasted from 1983 to 2009. Labor leader Anthony Albanese has described the family's detention as 'publicly funded torture' and said they should be allowed to stay. Former Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce has also said the family's Biloela community, who want them to stay, should be listened to. A few years ago, British comedian James Veitch brought a show to the Melbourne International Comedy Festival about the year he had spent replying to online scammers, the kind who profess to be desperate to warehouse a few million dollars in your bank account or propose an unexpected marriage. Some of them entered into prolonged and erratically punctuated correspondence; clearly, they thought there was a good chance he would cough up eventually. It just shows that some people do. But who could possibly fall for the old Nigerian gold scam? And who puts that scam out there, anyway? Dominik Molls film Only the Animals starts in Abidjan, the largest city in Ivory Coast, where a group of likely lads spend their days on the internet looking for marks. From one site, they peel photographs of an aspiring model that can be drip-fed to someone with more lust than sense; opening another window, they hack into a dozen email accounts at once to see if someone will take the bait. They giggle a lot: its a crime, but its entertainment as well. They can even justify it. Im taking back the colonial share, says Armand (Guy Roger Bibisse NDrin), as he sweet-talks a fat French dairy farmer out of 1000. There is a trick in every Dominik Moll film: the worlds he builds feel grounded in reality, but it isnt long before each starts to skew into something distinctly odd. In Harry, Hes Here to Help (2000), an ordinary family find their lives turned upside down when they are joined on holiday by an unwanted guest who decides to repay their hospitality by murdering anyone he thinks is annoying them. In Lemming (2005), a couple invites the boss and his wife for dinner; a blocked sink turns out to be the result of a trapped lemming. At that point, the couples begin to merge, mirror and destroy each other. A groundbreaking lawsuit filed against Colt Manufacturing alleges that anti-Semitic gun lobby propaganda incited Robert Bowers to kill 11 Jews at the Tree of Life synagogue with an AR-15, a machine gun not suitable for civilians. If successful, Colt could be exposed to millions of dollars in damages. Our goal first and foremost is to save lives, said Robert Bracken of Bracken Lamberton, LLC, one of the lawyers representing Marc Simon whose parents were murdered. If we can prevent just one hate crime or avert just one mass shooting, its worth it. According to court papers, the gun lobby allegedly radicalized Mr. Bowers with a flood of white supremacist conspiracy theories about Jews, and incited him to commit one of the bloodiest acts of domestic terrorism in United States history and the deadliest anti-Semitic hate crime ever on American soil. We've seen what can happen with hate speech on social media," said Charles Lamberton, co-counsel for Mr. Simon. It echos around and gets amplified. Dangerous people become more dangerous. It's a recipe for disaster." Bracken added, AR-15s are designed to kill people. Thats the only thing theyre good for. A company that puts profits ahead of people and floods our markets with these military weapons must be held accountable. Asked what lies ahead, Lamberton replied, Were going to trial and were going to win. The case is Marc A. Simon, as Executor of the Estates of Sylvan Simon and Bernice R. Simon v. Colt Manufacturing Company, LLC et. al., GD-20-011130 (Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas). Garda-killer Aaron Brady got more than 1.6m in legal aid during his trial for the murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe. Brady (29) was handed the minimum 40-year jail sentence last October after being convicted of Det-Gda Donohoes killing. The 41-year-old father of two was shot dead during a botched armed robbery raid at Lordship Credit Union in Co Louth in 2013. It can now be revealed that Bradys defence team was awarded 1,604,404 in legal aid. The bill could rise because Brady, from New Road in Crossmaglen, Co Armagh, is to appeal his conviction. The legal costs were released by the Department of Justice after a Freedom of Information request was made by this newspaper. A breakdown of the expenditure shows payments to: :: Three senior counsel totalling 737,629 :: Four junior counsel totalling 667,476 :: And two solicitors totalling 199,299 Once VAT is factored in, the costs will be even higher. Aside from the 1.6m lawyer costs, three expert witnesses received 20,823, while a further three expert witnesses received 13,845. Legal sources said the bills, while appearing large, reflected a highly complex case the longest murder trial in the history of the State. It began on January 27 last year and sat for 118 days, during which 139 witnesses were called to give evidence, including the accused. In August the jury found Brady guilty of capital murder by a majority verdict of 11 to one. Jurors accepted the prosecution case he had fired the fatal shot during the raid at Lordship Credit Union in Dundalk on January 25, 2013. Brady had denied involvement, instead claiming he was moving laundered diesel waste cubes at a yard in south Armagh at the time. On the night he died, Mr Donohoe was on an armed cash escort when it was ambushed by a five-man gang. In a bid to avoid justice, Brady moved to New York, where, it was said, he wore the shooting of Det-Gda Adrian Donohoe like a badge of honour. During the trial, two key witnesses testified they heard him admit to shooting a garda in Ireland. Brady was described as a skilled and practised liar. He admitted lying when giving an account of his movements to gardai the day after the murder and again 10 days later, claiming he lied as he was trying to disguise the fact he was moving laundered diesel waste. The Department of Justice said it could not comment on individual cases. The provision of criminal legal aid in circumstances where a person is unable to fund their own criminal defence has been established as a constitutional right in Irish law, it said. Set fees are paid to legal practitioners in line with regulations. Colorado Springs, CO (80903) Today Mostly sunny. High 76F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low 51F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Across the Huntsville Hospital system, hospitalizations and staff coronavirus cases are decreasing. According to numbers released by the hospital Thursday, there are currently 365 inpatients in the system. On Monday, there were 409. A nurse prepares a dose of the coronavirus vaccine at the Huntsville Hospital community vaccination clinic Monday. A nurse prepares a dose of the coronavirus vaccine at the Huntsville Hospital community vaccination clinic Monday. David Spillers, Huntsville Hospitals CEO, said he believes the drop is, in part, thanks to the lack of a New Years surge. The huge surge we got from Thanksgiving to Christmas, that bolus of patients are working their way out of the system, he said. We didnt get another surge like we thought for New Years, so we didnt have any replacing those. So at this point, were just discharging more patients than were admitting. Throughout the pandemic, the hospital system has also struggled with high numbers of staff cases. Recently, Spillers said theyve seen a decrease of 20-30% in terms of staff members out with coronavirus. Following the same trend we've got in the community, he said. So, again, I don't want to get too excited, 'cause it could all change tomorrow, but right now, we're all trending in a good direction." He believes masking has made a difference. With the states Safer at Home order extending the mask mandate into March, Spillers said he believes it will be important long after the order expires. As vaccinations continue around the nation, Spillers said there is a lot of work that still needs to be done at the local level to meet goals -- like President Bidens plan for 100 million during his first 100 days. "One: we need to have virtually unlimited access to vaccines. Two: we need to significantly expand the number of sites where people can get a vaccine, he explained. If we're gonna vaccinate hundreds of thousands of people, we need hundreds of sites vaccinating people." Places like pharmacies, physicians offices, hospitals and health departments need to be part of the effort, but vaccines are still in short supply and Spillers says efforts need to be made to ramp up distribution. The hospital has already had 20,000 people sign up to be vaccinated, a process that Spillers believes is going to take a while, even with 500 to 700 vaccinations each day, since 20,000 people require 40,000 shots. There are people out there that are frustrated 'cause they can't get it right now, obviously, and I heard what they said, but at the same time, there is a shortage. We still don't have all we need, Spillers said. Early in the pandemic, we had the same issue with testing and over time, we fixed that. I think over time, we'll fix the issue with vaccinations and they'll be readily available and everybody can get one when they want one. According to the state vaccine dashboard, more than 640,000 doses of the vaccine have been allocated for Alabama, yet just under 450,000 have been delivered. As of Thursday, the health department reports 202,643 doses have been administered. Opposition leader Juan Guaido speaks to the media during a news conference the day after the parliamentary election in Caracas, Venezuela on Dec. 7, 2020. (Manaure Quintero/Reuters) EU States Should Recognize Guaido as Venezuelas Leader: EU Lawmakers BRUSSELSThe European Parliament called on EU governments to recognize Juan Guaido as Venezuelas interim president in a resolution on Thursday, after a downgrade of his status by the bloc earlier this month. The EUs 27 states said on Jan. 6 they can no longer legally recognize Guaido as the countrys legitimate head of state after he lost his position as head of parliament following legislative elections in Venezuela in December, despite the EU not recognizing that vote. The resolution, which was approved with 391 votes in favor, 114 against, and 177 abstentions, is not legally binding but carries political weight. The European Parliament calls on the member states to unequivocally recognize the constitutional continuation of the legitimate National Assembly of Venezuela elected in 2015 and the legitimate interim President of Venezuela Juan Guaido, it said. The assembly elected in 2015 was held by the opposition, whereas the new assembly is in the hands of Maduros allies, after the opposition called on Venezuelans to boycott the vote. Guaido is still seen by the United States and Britain as Venezuelas rightful leader. Following the disputed re-election of President Nicolas Maduro in 2018, Guaido, as head of parliament, became interim President. EU diplomats have stressed that the bloc does not recognize Maduro as president. Guaido thanked the European Parliament in a tweet for supporting the constitution and Venezuelans by recognizing him as president of the National Assembly, a committee of lawmakers who assert they are the countrys legitimate legislature, arguing the 2020 parliamentary elections were fraudulent. Venezuelas legitimate dialogue is in this Parliament, focused on achieving free and fair elections, he added. U.S. President Joe Bidens administration will continue to recognize Guaido as president, Anthony Blinken, Bidens nominee for secretary of state, said on Tuesday. The European Parliament was quick to recognize Guaido as interim president in early 2019 and awarded the Venezuelan opposition its annual human rights prize. It called for further sanctions against the Maduro government, on top of those already imposed, to decry what it views as rights violations and the rupture of democracy. Josep Borrell, the EU foreign policy chief, told Reuters in an interview on Tuesday that the bloc still considered Guaido to be an opposition leader and a critical figure in the effort to bring about new presidential elections in Venezuela. Status as interim president gives Guaido access to funds confiscated from Maduro by Western governments, as well as affording him access to top officials and supporting his pro-democracy movement domestically and internationally. By Robin Emmott; Sarah Kinosian 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. Hyderabad, Jan 22 : In another move to provide free healthcare facilities to poor in urban areas, the Telangana government on Friday launched eight Telangana Diagnostics mini hubs in Greater Hyderabad. Officials said Telangana Diagnostics is a first-of-its-kind initiative to provide quality diagnostic and imaging services free of cost to the public. Municipal Administration and Urban Development Mnister K. T. Rama Rao, Health Minister Eatala Rajender, Home Minister Mehmood Ali and other ministers inaugurated the mini hubs at urban primary healthcare centres. The mini hubs began their operations with pathological services and this will be subsequently expanded to the imaging services. Citizens can avail free diagnostic services such as X-ray, ECG, MRI, ultrasound and CT scan. Fifteen more such mini hubs will come in Greater Hyderabad. In all 108 tests can be conducted at these centres. In the next phase, the government plans to open mini hubs in remaining 32 district headquarters. The mini hubs have been opened to provide diagnostic services free of cost to the patients availing healthcare facilities in Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) limits. Health Minister said that poorer sections need not spend big amounts for tests. These facilities will be integrated with Basthi Dawakhanas and their reports will be sent to higher-level facilities. Patients approaching the primary health centres in need of any diagnostics will be referred to nearest mini hubs. The Health Minister also announced that a state-of-art organ transplant centre will be set up at Gandhi Hospital in Hyderabad. It will have eight operation theatres and medical colleges affiliated with the government hospitals will be linked with it. K. T. Rama Rao opened the mini hub at Sriramnagar in Rahamathnagar division. He said apart from 57 different blood tests and imaging services, the mini hubs will offer more services. He pointed out that the government implemented pathological services as a hub and spoke model at Institute of Preventive Medicine (IPM) in Hyderabad covering the GHMC area in 2018 with 126 spokes and gradually increased to catering to nearly 319 spokes including Basthi Dawakhanas, primary health centres, urban primary health centres, wellness centres and dispensaries across the GHMC area. Telangana Diagnostics is the second big initiative by the state government after Basthi Dawakhanas or neighbourhood clinics in Hyderabad and outskirts. A total of 224 Basthi Dawakhanas are functioning in GHMC offering quality healthcare and free treatment to the urban poor. In November last year the network of Basthi Dawakhanas saw major expansion with the opening of 24 new centres being opened in a single day. The government plans to increase the number of Basthi Dawakhanas to 300 soon. Launched two-and-half years ago, these centres are offering free medicines, consultation, specialist services, diagnostic tests and even telemedicine facilities. An initiative of Government of Telangana and National Urban Health Mission, Basthi Dawakhanas were launched in April 2018 and since then they have been offering the healthcare services to people nearly at their doorsteps. These centres provide 53 different kinds of free services, such as outpatient consultation, medicines, basic lab diagnosis, antenatal/postnatal care, and screening for non-communicable diseases such as blood pressure and diabetes. According to officials, every Basti Dawakhana registers over 100 outpatients a day. The services at Basthi Dawakhanas immensely benefited the urban poor during Covid-19 pandemic, especially during lockdown and when in the subsequent period when there was spurt in number of cases. As people were scared of visiting hospitals due to fear of contracting virus, they approached Basthi Dawakhanas near their homes for treatment of common ailments. Those who did not want to visit even these centres, availed their telemedicine services. Rama Rao stated on Friday that the medical and health department has been delivering quality service for the last one year in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. He said people will be indebted to the medical and health staff for their yeoman services. In a case it called a cautionary tale, the Tennessee Supreme Court held for the first time on Friday that lawyers who make unethical statements may receive harsher discipline if they choose to post the statements publicly on social media. In this case, a Nashville attorney posted comments on Facebook with instructions on how to shoot someone and avoid criminal conviction by making it look like self-defense. Winston B. Sitton had a Facebook page that identified him as a lawyer. For about a year, Mr. Sitton was a Facebook friend of Lauren Houston but had never met her in person. Through Facebook, Mr. Sitton learned that Ms. Houston was going through a difficult breakup with Jason Henderson, the father of her child, and that she was concerned about abuse or harassment by Mr. Henderson. In 2017, Ms. Houston posted a question on her Facebook page, I need to always carry my gun with me now, dont I? Is it legal to carry in TN in your car without paying the damn state? Responding to her post, Mr. Sitton told her that it was better to get a taser or tear gas. If she were to get a shotgun, he said, she should first fill it with rock salt, then bird shot, and then load for bear. Mr. Sitton next posted: If you want to kill him, then lure him into your house and claim he broke in with intent to do you bodily harm and that you feared for your life. Even with the new stand your ground law, the castle doctrine is a far safer basis for use of deadly force. Replying to Mr. Sittons post, Ms. Houston commented, I wish he would try. Mr. Sitton then posted on Ms. Houstons Facebook page: As a lawyer, I advise you to keep mum about this if you are remotely serious. Delete this thread and keep quiet. Your defense is that you are afraid for your life - revenge or premeditation of any sort will be used against you at trial. Mr. Sittons Facebook comments resulted in ethics charges with Tennessees Board of Professional Responsibility, the board that handles lawyer discipline. After a hearing, the Board recommended to the Tennessee Supreme Court that it suspend Mr. Sittons law license for 60 days. As part of normal procedure, the suspension was submitted to the Tennessee Supreme Court for final review. The Court indicated this sanction appeared inadequate given the facts and asked the Board and Mr. Sitton to brief the case. In his brief, Mr. Sitton explained that his comments were sarcasm or dark humor, written hastily and not meant to be taken seriously. In the majority opinion authored by Justice Holly Kirby, the Court rejected this explanation. First, the Court said, Mr. Sittons advice could have led to a disastrous outcome. Had Ms. Houston followed Mr. Sittons suggestion, Mr. Henderson could have ended up maimed or killed. Second, Mr. Sittons comments encouraged Ms. Houston to purposefully set up a situation designed to make the premeditated use of deadly force look like self-defense. The Court said this was grave misconduct. Third, Mr. Sittons choice to post his bad advice publicly fostered a cynical perception that the judicial process is corrupt and lawyers are co-conspirators who help clients manufacture fake defenses against criminal charges. The Court emphasized that the judicial system is not based on lies and deception but on truth and honor. The Court remarked that practicing law is a privilege and lawyers in any setting - including on social media - are bound by the ethics rules. It held that Mr. Sittons advice to Ms. Houston violated those rules. His choice to post the remarks publicly on social media greatly amplified their damaging effect and justified an increase in discipline. The Court suspended Mr. Sittons law license for four years, with one year on active suspension and the rest on probation. Justice Sharon Lee filed a separate opinion, stating that she joined only in the section of the majority opinion that addressed the inadequacy of Mr. Sittons punishment. She agreed with the sanction imposed by the Court but disagreed that the Court should have reviewed the Board of Professional Responsibility hearing panels finding of misconduct and Mr. Sittons challenges to the hearing panels decision. In Justice Lees view, considering these issues exceeded the scope of the Courts review under its rules. To read the majority opinion in In Re: Winston Bradshaw Sitton, BPR #018440, authored by Justice Holly Kirby, and the separate opinion authored by Justice Sharon Lee, go to the opinions section of TNCourts.gov. Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. New Jersey continues to expand its list of coronavirus vaccination sites, though limited supplies of doses from the federal government have made appointments tough to find for many residents. All six of New Jerseys state-run mega sites were scheduled to be open today. When vaccine is more widely available, each of those sites is expected to inoculate more than 2,000 people a day against COVID-19. As of Thursday night, 923,300 doses had been distributed to New Jersey with 475,704 administered, according to the states dashboard and the federal Centers for Disease Control. State officials expect to receive 100,000 vaccine doses a week for the next few weeks. Across the state, at least 415,656 people had received at least one dose and 59,819 had received the second, according to the dashboard. The seven-day average for new confirmed cases as of Thursday in New Jersey declined to 4,482, down 20% from a week ago, though still up 2% from a month ago. New Jerseys hospitals reported 3,328 patients as of Thursday night, the lowest since Dec. 5 and down 14% from a recent high of 3,873 on Dec. 22. Currently, shots are available for health care workers, long-term care residents and others in congregant living, police, and firefighters. Also included are anyone 65 or older and those between 16 and 64 with specific medical conditions, as well as smokers. Health officials have set a goal of vaccinating 70% of the adult population in New Jersey in six months. While at least one city has decided to accept walk-ins, nearly every other site in the state has asked people to pre-register through the states website. Many have reported getting appointment times weeks away. Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a subscription. Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyAttrino. Find NJ.com on Facebook. But every difference of opinion is not a difference of principle NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Jan. 21, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Affinor Growers Inc. (Affinor or the Company) (CSE: AFI) (OTCQB: RSSFF) is pleased to announce that it has entered into a lease agreement (the Lease) with Nick Brusatore (Mr. Brusatore) dated January 21, 2021, pursuant to which the Company has agreed to lease approximately 27,000,000 aggregate square feet of rentable area, consisting of a 15,000 square foot greenhouse operation and a 12,000 square foot composting building located in in Abbotsford, British Columbia (the Premises) from Mr. Brusatore (the Transaction). Pursuant to the terms of the Lease, the Company will lease the Premises for a term of ten (10) years commencing on March 1, 2021 and ending on February 28, 2031. The Company also has the option to renew the Lease for one (1) additional five (5) year term. The Company will use the Premises for the planting, growing and harvesting of various fruits and vegetables, and other ancillary uses related to the Companys business. Nick Brusatore: I am extremely excited about the new direction of Affinor Growers as the awareness and demand for locally grown produce is very apparent and upon Us, I believe in our passionate new management team along with our patented vertical technology coupled with our new poly carbonate greenhouse to take us into revenue. The Transaction constitutes a related party transaction within the meaning of Multilateral Instrument 61-101 Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101") as Mr. Brusatore is also a director and Chief Executive Officer of the Company. The Transaction is exempt from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements under MI 61-101 pursuant to sections 5.5(a) and 5.7(1)(a) as the fair market value of the Transaction does not exceed 25% of the Companys market capitalization. The Company will file a material change report in respect of the Lease. However, the material change report will not be filed at least 21 days prior to the entering the Lease as the details of the Lease had not been confirmed at that time. Private Placement The Company is also pleased to announce it is undertaking a private placement of up to 28,571,428 units (the Units) at a price of CDN$0.035 per Unit for gross proceeds of up to CDN$1,000,000 (the Offering). Each Unit consists of one common share of the Company (a Share) and one common share purchase warrant (a Warrant). Each Warrant will entitle the holder to acquire one additional Share (a Warrant Share) at a price of CDN$0.05 per Warrant Share, for a period of 12 months from the date of issuance. The net proceeds of the Offering will be used to fulfill the Companys obligations pursuant to the Lease. The Offering is subject to a number of conditions, including receipt of all necessary corporate and regulatory approvals, including the approvals of the Canadian Securities Exchange (the CSE). All securities issued in connection with the Offering will be subject to a statutory hold period of four months plus a day from the date of issuance in accordance with applicable securities laws. A finder's fee may be paid in connection with the Offering to eligible arm's length finders in accordance with CSE policies and applicable securities laws. The securities offered have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold absent registration or compliance with an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws. About Affinor Affinor is a publicly traded company listed on the CSE under the symbol "AFI" and on the OTCQB under the symbol RSSFF. Affinor is focused on developing vertical farming technologies and using those technologies to grow fruits and vegetables in a sustainable manner. To learn more about Affinor, visit: https://www.affinorgrowers.com/en On behalf of the Board of Directors, Affinor Growers Inc. Nick Brusatore Director /CEO nick@affinorgrowers.com Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. CAUTION REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION This news release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements". All statements in this new release, other than statements of historical facts, that address events or developments that the Company expects to occur, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects", "plans", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "projects", "potential" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "could" or "should" occur. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include market prices, continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions. Investors are cautioned that any such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made. Except as required by applicable securities laws, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements in the event that management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change. The UK mutation of Covid-19, which is easier to catch, accounts for more than 60pc of cases here in Ireland There have been 52 further deaths of people with Covid-19 and 2,371 new cases of the virus identified by the Department of Health this evening. 50 of these deaths occurred in January. The age range of those who died is from 39 to 99 years and the median age is 80. This comes as British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said there is some evidence the UK variant of coronavirus, which is now dominant in Ireland, is associated with a higher degree of mortality. Read More The UK mutation of Covid-19, which is easier to catch, accounts for more than 60pc of cases here and is growing, Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan warned last night at a Nphet briefing. There have been 757 new cases confirmed in Dublin, 237 in Cork, 154 in Waterford, 123 in Wexford, 114 in Louth, and the remaining 986 cases are spread across all other counties. Boris Johnson told the Downing Street press conference this evening: I must tell you this afternoon that weve been informed today that in addition to spreading more quickly it also now appears that there is some evidence that the new variant, the variant that was first identified in London and the South East, may be associated with a higher degree of mortality. All current evidence continues to show that both the vaccines were currently using remain effective both against the old variant and this new variant, Boris Johnson said. The death toll from the virus in Ireland has climbed to 2,870, while the total number of confirmed cases has risen to 184,279. Of the cases notified today; 1,129 are men and 1,194 are women; 57pc are under 45 years of age and the median age is 40 years old. Dr Tony Holohan, Chief Medical Officer said: We know that the ongoing restrictions are very challenging for people but, through the hard work and sacrifice of the vast majority of people, we are starting to see the first signs of a lower prevalence of the disease in the population. Strictly adhering to the public health measures is the key to making real progress in terms of flattening the curve and lowering the current trends in our hospitals and ICUs. The UKs chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance said the coronavirus variant which emerged in Kent is a common variant comprising a significant number of cases and transmits up to 70pc more easily than the original virus. He told a Downing Street press conference: We think it transmits between 30pc and 70pc more easily than the old variant. We dont yet understand why that is the case. It doesnt have a difference in terms of age distribution it can affect anybody at any age, similarly to the original virus. Sir Vallance said the Brazilian and South African coronavirus variants are of more concern than the UK strain because there are fears they may be less susceptible to vaccines. The chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance told the Downing Street press conference: We know less about how much more transmissible they are. We are more concerned that they have certain features that they might be less susceptible to vaccines. They are definitely of more concern than the one in the UK at the moment, and we need to keep looking at it and studying it very carefully. Earlier today, HSE CEO Paul Reid told RTE News at One that the current wave of the pandemic was advancing the health service into a "perilous position". Mr Reid confirmed there had been 2,700 coronavirus admissions to hospitals in the last 14 days with 163 of these patients needing ICU beds. The HSE chief confirmed there are just 26 ICU beds free in the country and that levels of care to patients in ICU may suffer if the numbers rise further, as they are expected to. There were 219 people in ICUs with Covid-19 this afternoon, and 318 ICU patients in total. Mr Reid said if this number grows to 350, "it will be more challenging to provide the same level of care." He disclosed that patients requiring ICU treatment had to be ferried from the west of the country to the east last night as there were no available ICU beds within that hospital group. More than half of all patients needing ICU care now are under 65 years of age, Mr Reid confirmed. With additional reporting from PA. January 22 : Sara Ali Khan, who has become a fitness freak, never misses her workout, not even during her vacations. Sara, who is currently in Maldives with mom Amrita Singh and brother Ibrahim Ali Khan, has been shelling out major vacay goals for her fans with her stunning pictures from her resort in Maldives. Today, she wanted to motivate her fans in a healthy way. Taking to her Instagram handle, the Love Aaj Kal actress shared a video, wherein she can be seen sweating it out in Maldives. Clad in a black crop top teamed with pink shorts, Sara is seen performing aerial yoga as she swings on a thick cotton rope. While she swings to and fro in the resort yoga room, Sara can be visible seen sweating it out with dedication. Swinging into the weekend @stregismaldives @ncstravels #stregismaldives #liveexquisite, the actress wrote. The Coolie No. 1 actor reached Maldives on Tuesday, and checked in at the St Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort. Amidst the coronavirus pandemic, Maldives had turned into a vacation hotspot for the Bollywood celebs. From Katrina Kaif to Sonakshi Sinha to Taapsee Pannu to Disha Patani, Ananya Panday, and now Sara, B-town divas soared the temperature of the island nation with their sultry bikini-clad avatars. For last few days, Sara has been sharing not only her stunning pictures but also pictures of the mesmerising sand and sea around her. Meanwhile, on the work front, the actress was shooting for Atrangi Re with Akshay Kumar and Dhanush in Agra before she jetted off to Maldives. Helmed by Aanand L Rai and produced by Bhushan Kumar, the film will feature Sara in a double role. Sara was last seen in Coolie No 1 opposite Varun Dhawan. Unfortunately, the film failed to live up to the expectations of the viewers. AssuredPartners logo David Heathfield, CEO of AssuredPartners in the UK, said: We look forward to working with John and his team and feel confident that the values upon which Borland has been built will prove to be a great fit with how we operate here at AssuredPartners." AssuredPartners Acquires Borland Insurance Limited in Scotland, United Kingdom United States Independent Insurance Agency Expands in Europe AssuredPartners Inc is pleased to announce the acquisition of Borland Insurance Limited. The transaction has received regulatory approval and will complete on 1 February 2021. The team of 30 will all remain in place and under the leadership of Borland CEO, John Silcock. Founded in 1995 with offices in Edinburgh, Aberdeenshire, Fife and Colchester, Borland provides insurance solutions to a wide spectrum of commercial and private clients. With a particular emphasis on providing bespoke insurance programmes to protect against all forms of business risk ranging from property exposures to general liability/workers compensation, contractors all risks to professional liability, Borland has developed a reputation for a client centric approach capable of providing targeted solutions to complex risk scenarios. AssuredPartners is one of the fastest-growing, independent insurance agency in the United States. Founded in 2011, AssuredPartners has acquired in excess of 325 agencies, with offices in 34 states and circa 7,000 employees. It is now the 11th largest broker in the United States and this latest acquisition adds to its expanding footprint in the UK retail brokerage space following acquisitions in Birmingham and Chester. AssuredPartners also recently announced the opening of an office in Belgium. David Heathfield, CEO of AssuredPartners in the UK, said, We look forward to working with John and his team and feel confident that the values upon which Borland has been built will prove to be a great fit with how we operate here at AssuredPartners. We are very excited about establishing a presence in Scotland and look forward to using the market knowledge that John has gained over the years as a platform from which to identify further acquisition opportunities across the UK in the near future. John Silcock, CEO, Borland Insurance, commented, We were in the privileged position of having a great deal of interest in our business, but it quickly became clear that AssuredPartners offered something different to the other acquirers out there. The cultural synergies between ourselves and AssuredPartners were obvious from the outset of our conversations. This gave me the comfort that post acquisition our clients would remain paramount to our service offering, whilst at the same time allowing the Borland team to be an integral part of the exciting project of growing the AssuredPartners operation across the UK retail space. ABOUT ASSUREDPARTNERS, INC Headquartered in Lake Mary, Florida and led by Jim Henderson and Tom Riley, AssuredPartners, Inc. acquires and invests in insurance brokerage businesses (property and casualty, employee benefits, surety and MGUs) across the United States and in the United Kingdom. From its founding in March of 2011, AssuredPartners has grown to over $1.6 billion in annualized revenue and continues to be one of the fastest growing insurance brokerage firms in the United States with over 190 offices in 34 states, the United Kingdom and Belgium. For more information, please visit http://www.assuredpartners.com. | Welcome Guest! You Are Here: GST Council to hold special session to discuss extending paying compensation to states beyond 2022, says finance minister. Centre to borrow Rs 1.58 lakh cr to compensate states for loss of revenue from GST, says FM Sitharaman after GST Council meeting. FM Sitharaman announces amnesty scheme for small GST taxpayers, allowing filing of returns with reduced late fee. .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... Actor Lily Collins has two projects in hot rotation on Netflix these days. Shes the Emily from Chicago who takes a job in Paris in the fan favorite series Emily in Paris, recently renewed for a second season, and she has a pivotal supporting role in David Finchers Oscar-magnet biopic Mank, playing Citizen Kane screenwriter Herman J. Mankiewiczs typist/secretary Rita Alexander, who also serves as something of a moral compass as arguably the most regular person in the Hollywood fable. I hope youll indulge me for just a couple of paragraphs before we proceed with my conversation with Collins. In June 1991, I interviewed Phil Collins as he was starting the North American leg of the But Seriously tour, at a time when Collins was regularly cranking out top 10 singles and filling arenas. (His monster solo album No Jacket Required got its title from Collins being turned away from Chicagos Pump Room because he was told the jacket he was wearing didnt meet restaurant standards.) ADVERTISEMENTSkip ................................................................ In the piece, I noted, Collins second wife and their baby are touring the world with him, and hes in a different place emotionally than he was when he wrote I Dont Care Anymore. That baby was Lily, now 31 and playing a Chicagoan in Paris who caused a bit of a stir when she dissed Lou Malnatis. Im not going to turn our Zoom chat into a Zoom Malnatis and offer to send some deep-dish Lilys way, but I do start our talk by noting Emilys friends in Chicago say hi. Oh, my God, thats so funny, thats so true, hello! comes the reply. Time for Mank talk. What I love about Rita is shes not a Hollywood starlet by any means, but she is fascinated with the industry, Collins says. But at the same time, shes been hired to do a job with a man who is very much a part of the industry, so shes kinda (walking) that fine line of being a professional whos trying not to show shes fascinated with his world, while at the same time shes undeniably fascinated with it. I (do agree) shes the moral compass of the film in a lot of ways, and the eyes and ears of the audience, as well. There are moments when you just want to shake Mankiewicz and say, Come on, get over it. This is what you promised. This is what you can do I think Rita does that for the audience; she holds him accountable. She stands for so much more than a stenographer. Collins character of Rita has a husband fighting for the British in a world war America hasnt yet joined, and as she worries for his life, its a reminder there are much bigger things in this world than a controversial Hollywood movie. Playing her reminded me we all need a Rita, Collins says. We all need that person to kind of remind us when our heads are in the clouds and in Ritas case, having a young and fresh perspective can sometimes alter ones views, and I think Rita does that for Mank. She reinvigorates him in a lot of ways and inspires him. Conversely, just when Rita thinks she has Mank pinned as being the very stereotype of the narcissistic, booze-soaked, star-crossed, badly aging former wunderkind, she learns some surprising things about Manks facility for quiet, noble, even heroic doings. I think Ritas the perfect person to see that, and show the audience, Collins says, because she does have these deep-seated morals. So, for her to digest that information it shows we can be inspired by someone (about whom) we thought we knew everything. She thought she had him all figured out, but shes not too prideful to prohibit herself from acknowledging she didnt. Finchers vision for Mank, in all its silver-tone black-and-white glory, includes a bounty of lavishly produced outdoor scenes capturing old Hollywood, but Collins scenes are almost all inside, with a maximum of four characters and many feature just Gary Oldmans Mank and Collins Rita. Its almost like a stage work. We were in this very secluded space that we didnt leave, and most of it near Manks bed, says Collins, whose scenes take place as Mankiewicz is rehabilitating from serious injuries suffered in an automobile accident. And it just recently hit me, this is not too unlike quarantine, in the sense that everything is inescapable, and he felt trapped, and if you think of her as this metaphorical figure, this mirror to hold him accountable for all his actions and insecurities we can all relate to having a Rita within ourselves. Weve all been trapped in a sense in our homes, weve all had to face our day-to-day lives without the distractions we would normally have, and were all having this voice in our head thats reminding us of what we need to focus on and how we need to get through things. Collins was still filming Emily in Paris in Paris when she got the role in Mank, and there was some overlap during which she would fly from France to Los Angeles for a day before having to return to the Emily set. It was difficult to figure out the scheduling of it all, but theyre such different characters that I found it more manageable to decipher between the two of them. If they both existed in modern day and had similar accents, I think I would have mixed up lines. But theres no way Rita would say anything Emily would say. Theres just no way. Now streaming Emily in Paris and Mank both starring Lily Collins are on Netflix. WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. The Indiana 4-H Foundation has added three members to its board of directors. Roger Sherer of Wells County, Annie Smith of Marion County, and Eric Wolfe of Putnam County join the other 18 foundation board members to lead the 60-year-old state organizations goal to broaden the impact and reach of Indiana state 4-H programs. Roger Sherer grew up on a Noble County farm in Northeast Indiana, where he was a 10-year 4-H member. In 1973, he attended National 4-H Congress and was selected as one of the scholarship winners in safety. Upon graduating from Purdue University with a degree in agricultural education and animal science, Sherer was selected to be a delegate to Poland in the International 4-H Youth Exchange program. He recently retired after serving 40 years as a 4-H youth development educator in Wells County for Purdue Extension. Annie Smith attended Butler University, where she studied voice and piano. In 2017, Smith launched her consulting business to offer individuals and groups insights into cultural diversity that enables participants to advance shared goals and understanding. She currently serves as a member of the Marion County 4-H Advisory Council and past vice president of the Purdue Extension-Marion County Board. Smith also is the Far Eastside ambassador with the Central Indiana Community Foundation and a lead facilitator with Kiwanis International. A native of Brazil, Ind. (Clay County), Eric Wolfe graduated from DePauw University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications, and currently resides in Greencastle, (Putnam County). Wolfe is the owner and managing broker of Prime Real Estate Group. Earlier in his career, Wolfe served as the assistant director of student life at DePauw University in Greencastle, community development director at the Putnam County Community Foundation in Greencastle, and the executive director of the National 4-H Youth Directions Council in Chevy Chase, Maryland. Indiana 4-H Foundation, a nonprofit organization, provides financial support for 4-H youth development programming across the state of Indiana. It receives funding from individuals, corporations, granting agencies, and through sales of Indiana 4-H license plates, which also benefit Indiana 4-H programs in each county where the license plates are sold. Source: Shelly Bingle, 317-445-7977 Agricultural Communications: 765-494-8415; Maureen Manier, Department Head, mmanier@purdue.edu Agriculture News Page Chinas People's Liberation Army has expanded a navy base in the South China Sea. The expansion has taken place over at least the past year. The base is on the island province of Hainan. Military experts with the website GlobalSecurity.org report that Yulin has gone from a normal submarine base to one that can support nuclear submarines. Expansion of the base increases Chinas ability to control the South China Sea. Chinas coast guard and navy already move through the waterway, which is claimed by five other countries. The base is on the north end of the South China Sea. Chinese ships at the base will be near the small Chinese-held islets in the Paracel and Spratly archipelagos. In that area, the Chinese navy can organize military exercises as well as watch the movements of ships from other countries. Gregory Poling is director of the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, D.C. He said the base is what controls all the deployments in the Paracels and the Spratlys. China cannot easily place ships permanently on the islets because it is too far from the Chinese mainland, and the sea is very rough, Poling added. Growth of the Yulin base is part of a larger, long-term Chinese naval modernization, Poling said. Wider dispute China claims about 90 percent of the 3.5 million-square-kilometer South China Sea. It says its claim comes from its long history of using the waters. Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam disagree with some or all of Chinas claims to the sea. China has used its technological and military abilities to control some of the islets. Last year, a Chinese coast guard ship sank a Vietnamese fishing boat. Also last year, a Malaysian ship closely followed and angered a Chinese coast guard ship. And Indonesia, which does not claim any of the area, chased a Chinese coast guard ship out of the southernmost part of the South China Sea. Indonesia and Vietnam brought details of the maritime conflicts with China to the United Nations. The United States has no claim on the waters. But U.S. officials look to Southeast Asian nations and Taiwan to help hold back Chinese military expansion. Alexander Huang is a strategic studies professor at Taiwans Tamkang University. He said the expansion of the base is future-oriented. The Yulin Naval Base would be the starting point for more distant outposts, said Collin Koh. He is a maritime security researcher at Nanyang Technical University in Singapore. These areas, he said, will increasingly become more important staging grounds. Navy base improvements The Yulin Navy Base belongs to a larger southern naval command center established in 1951. Yulin appears to be especially designed for future aircraft carriers, Huang said. Chinas first self-built aircraft carrier, the Shandong, will serve the southern command area, centering on the South China Sea, the Chinese state-run Global Times reported in October. The Shandong entered the navy early last year. Im Susan Shand. VOAs Ralph Jennings reported this story. Susan Shand adapted it for Learning English. Ashley Thompson was the editor. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story islet n. a small island archipelago n. a group of islands asset n. a valuable person or thin maritime adj. of or relating to sailing on the sea or doing business (such as trading) by sea orient v. to place (something) in a particular position or direction outpost - n. a large military camp that is in another country or that is far from a country's center of activity stage v. a place or area of activity in which the things that happen are watched with great interest by many peopl We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section, and visit our Facebook page. A senior army doctor on 120,000 who was so aghast at being asked to move from Scotland to England he tried to use military funds to book flights back home has been fined 3,000. Lieutenant Colonel Chris Baird-Clarke, 46, was unhappy after he was moved hundreds of miles from his job in Scotland to a role in England assisting new recruits. A court martial heard that he booked travel back home through the Army as he would be continuing to work at the weekends but failed to tell the superior officers at his new base. During the trial, he said he was 'distraught' to discover he would either have to move his family to England or fly home every weekend to see them. In total, he booked 19 flights between Scotland and England, but only took seven and was forced to cancel the remaining 12 after being told again by his commanders in England that he was not to make any more trips at the taxpayers' expense He and his wife and four children lived in Cornhill, in Aberdeenshire and Lt Col Baird-Clarke had been working as the regional head of Defence Occupational Medicine for the Army based in Edinburgh. In the spring of 2019 he was told he would be required to move almost 600 miles to Upavon, Wiltshire, to assist with the medical assessments of new recruits. Lt Col Baird-Clarke claimed he had seen many 'horrible' situations where soldiers had 'lost control' after being forced into a posting they didn't want. He even tried to leave the army rather than move to Upavon but was unsuccessful. He then requested a job-share arrangement that would allow him to carry on working at weekends as a doctor in Scotland and therefore have his flights home paid for as he would be travelling for service reasons. Bulford Military Court, Wilts heard that the Lt Col was in 'significant debt' and after 'obligatory payments' only had 600 left a month. As an Army doctor of senior rank, his minimum salary would have been around 120,000. However, it is likely he earned more because of his qualifications. His commanding officer in Upavon, Colonel Andrew Griffiths, OBE, rejected his proposal to work at home on the weekends because he had to put 'the needs of the army first'. He admitted two counts of failing to perform a duty by not informing his commanders in Upavon of his second job rather than the two charges of fraud, which he was acquitted of. He also admitted a further charge of failing to perform a duty for asking his assistant to make the bookings. Pictured: Bulford Military Court in Wiltshire After being turned down by Col Griffiths, the Lt Col spoke to his superior officer in his old unit, Surgeon Captain Mark Henry. Captain Henry was keen for him to continue to work for the Scottish base, and he then authorised the flights despite being unaware Lt Col Baird-Clarke had not informed Col Griffiths. In total, Lt Col Baird-Clarke booked 19 flights but only took seven and cancelled the remaining 12 after being told that he must stop working in Scotland immediately. The total cost of the bookings and cancellations reached 2,200. He even tried to leave the army rather than move to Upavon but was unsuccessful Summing up, prosecutor Lt Col Bilal Siddique argued: 'He was in receipt of a Lieutenant Colonel and Royal Army Medical corps salary* 'He is intelligent and looked for a way to play the system to save money at the taxpayers expense*' However, Lt Col Baird-Clarke, who has completed tours of Iraq and Afghanistan, was cleared of fraudulently making the bookings in just one hour and 20 minutes of deliberation. He admitted two counts of failing to perform a duty by not informing his commanders in Upavon of his second job rather than the two charges of fraud, which he was acquitted of. He also admitted a further charge of failing to perform a duty for asking his assistant to make the bookings. Sentencing Lt Col Baird-Clarke, who has since left the Army, Assistant Judge Advocate General Alistair McGrigor said: 'You should have alerted your chain of command. If you had done you would have been ordered not to do a second job. 'It resulted in a significant loss to the army due to the flights you booked.' Lt Col Baird-Clarke was reprimanded and handed a 3,000 fine and ordered to pay a service compensation order covering the costs of the flights. He is now working in Scotland doing the same role he was before he moved to Upavon, but as a civilian employed by the MOD. He previously served in Iraq, Afghanistan, Germany, Canada and Ulster. President Joe Biden holds a booklet as he speaks about the coronavirus in the State Dinning Room of the White House, Thursday, Jan. 21, 2021, in Washington. AP-Yonhap President Joe Biden on Thursday tightened mask wearing rules and ordered quarantine for people flying into the United States, as he got to work on tackling the coronavirus pandemic on his first full day in power. Signing 10 executive orders in the White House, Biden told the nation that the Covid-19 death toll would likely rise from 400,000 to half a million next month and that drastic action was needed. "We're in a national emergency. It's time we treated it like one," he said, adding that he wants to restore public trust in the wake of the divisive Donald Trump era. Scientists, he said, will "work free from political interference" under his administration, and he pledged: "We will level with you when we make a mistake." In addition to needing a negative Covid test result before flying, travelers to the US will now need to quarantine upon arrival, Biden said. This toughened existing regulations under Trump. Biden's other orders included reenergizing a so-far-stumbling vaccination program and expanding requirements to wear masks on public transport. Wearing masks "has become a partisan issue, unfortunately, but it's a patriotic act," Biden said, in a marked contrast to Trump, who for months gave mixed messages about whether or not to encourage the practice. US Vice President Kamala Harris listens as US President Joe Biden, not pictured, speaks on his administration's Covid-19 response in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington, DC, USA, on 21 January 2021. EPA-Yonhap 100 million doses Although vaccines were produced at a blistering speed in Trump's final year in power, the rollout has been chaotic. "What we're inheriting is so much worse than we could have imagined," Jeff Zients, the new White House Covid-19 response coordinator, told reporters. Biden has announced a goal of 100 million vaccines administered in 100 days, with his top experts saying it remains possible. So far, only 16.5 million doses have been injected. When asked Thursday if he had been ambitious enough, Biden shot back: "When I announced it, you all said it's not possible. Come on, give me a break, man." Biden said the administration was expanding places where Americans will be able to get their doses, with new community centers and extra medical staff to administer the vaccine. He has also restored top infectious diseases doctor Anthony Fauci to a leading, visible advisory role in the White House, after Trump complained about the expert's warnings on Covid. Fauci, a regular presence in the White House before being effectively banished, was back in the briefing room Thursday also pushing the message that public trust should be rebuilt. "One of the things we're going to do is to be completely transparent, open and honest if things go wrong," he said, noting he had discussed this with Biden minutes earlier. "The idea that you can get up here and talk about what you know... it is somewhat of a liberating feeling," Fauci said. White House press secretary Jen Psaki speaks with Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, during a press briefing in the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House, Thursday, Jan. 21, 2021, in Washington. AP COVID overshadows presidency The pandemic has overshadowed the Biden administration from its first moments. Only a few spectators were allowed to attend his swearing-in on Wednesday and everyone, from the military band to his wife Jill, looked on from behind face masks. Biden and his vice president, Kamala Harris, began their day on Thursday by participating in a traditional inaugural prayer service which also had to be conducted virtually, because of the coronavirus. The flood of executive orders and other directives which Biden began signing immediately on Wednesday has likewise focused mostly on his new national mask and vaccination strategy. In addition, he is bringing major firepower to trying to get a massive stimulus bill through Congress to help Americans. He faces multiple other challenges, including the aftershocks of a giant government computer hack blamed on Russia, and searing Trump-era political tensions an issue that could soon take center stage in a Senate impeachment trial of the ex-president. Other fronts that Biden has opened include new protections for so-called "Dreamers" children of illegal immigrants who have now grown up in the country and had been shielded from deportation. Yet another big blast at his predecessor's record was to immediately put the United States back into the Paris climate accord. A registered nurse administers the Pfizer-BioNtech COVID-19 vaccine to a person who is classed in the 1B category, which includes teachers and childcare providers, at the University of Arizona in Tucson, Arizona, U.S., January 21, 2021. REUTERS-Yonhap Economic growth this year will be better than feared, the Central Bank said, but warned the coming 12 months will still see more business closures and rising mortgage arrears. In Frankfurt, European Central Bank (ECB) President Christine Lagarde signaled that the eurozone economy as a whole is headed for a double-dip recession. The outlook here is better, with the economy tipped to grow by 3.8pc this year, a slight rise on previous forecasts, following the Brexit deal and good news on Covid-19 vaccines. Gross domestic product (GDP) rose an estimated 2.5pc last year, despite the pandemic and lockdowns. The latest restrictions will delay recovery until the second half of the year, according to the Banks quarterly bulletin, with GDP rising to an estimated 4.6pc in 2022. A boost in exports particularly in pharmaceuticals and computing services and recovering consumer demand will drive growth this year and next. But jobs, the true measure economic performance for most, will lag GDP growth. Unemployment stripping out those on pandemic payments will be an estimated 9.3pc this year, before falling to 7.8pc in 2022, the bank said. Adjusted for people on the pandemic unemployment payment (PUP), the jobless rate rose to 20.4pc in December 2020, although it was still 10pc below its April 2020 peak. There are still exceptional levels of uncertainty over Covid-19 developments, which could risk the recovery. The bank also warned of impending business failures and job losses as pandemic supports are withdrawn. Read More "The longer the duration of the crisis, the greater the accumulated financial stresses for firms, said Mark Cassidy, the banks director of economics and statistics, and certainly in the most affected sectors (of hospitality, arts, recreation, physical well-being) there will be firm closures. While more than 13bn was added to household savings in the year to November 2020, it masked individual income loss especially for those on the PUP. Mr Cassidy said he expects mortgage arrears to rise as pandemic supports are unwound, and that 23,000 fewer housing units will be built between 2020 and 2022 than the Bank had previously projected. Government spending is also weighing on the economy, with a deficit of 8.8 per cent of adjusted gross national income (GNI) last year, a significant deterioration compared to the small surplus it recorded in 2019, the bulletin said. Government debt will peak at 105pc of GNI in 2021, though it is still expected to be above 90pc in 2026. Although the pandemic spending boost is warranted and necessary the Central Bank said the government should plan to reduce its debt level over time. Consumer spending is expected to pick up to 2.1pc this year after falling by 8.3pc in 2020. Exports are holding their own during the pandemic, with total goods and services set to increase by 3.5pc this year and 5.5pc in 2022. But it is mainly the multinational-dominated pharmaceuticals and IT sectors that are benefitting. According to a forecast published on Wednesday by Davy Stockbrokers the multinational sector grew by 20pc in 2020 while output in the indigenous sector shrank by 10pc. And Brexit will make trade more difficult and costly for Irish firms, the Bank said. GDP will be 0.8pc lower this year than it could have been had the UK remained an EU member, and 10-year economic output will run at around 3.5pc below what it could be. Mr Cassidy said Brexit will also have a lasting impact on the supply chain. Trade between Ireland and the UK is now subject to permanent new frictions, which will permanently increase the cost, he told reporters on Thursday. Apart from exporters [it] will have effects on what goods come into this country and what goods are available for consumers. Meanwhile, the ECB has kept its main borrowing and savings rates unchanged at 0 or close to zero, with a negative rate on its deposit facility. The ECB said it would continue asset purchases under its 2trn pandemic emergency programme until at least March 2022. 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. 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. Hydrogen gas was banned for use in airships based on misinformation and outright falsehoods 100 years ago. Credit: Piqsels What do tomatoes, hemp and hydrogen gas have in common? Only one thing: they were all victims of misinformation that banned their use. Harmless products that could have had a positive role in the economy and society were shunned for generations. It seems incredible today to think that Europeans believed tomatoes were poisonous for about 200 years. People did get sick, and some died after eating tomatoes. The culprit was pewter dishes favored by the upper classes. Tomato acid leached out enough lead out to be poisonous. The advent of porcelain dishware and Italian pizza finally sorted out the real problem. But once a myth is born, it can be hard for the truth to emerge. Europe lagged a long time behind North America in tomato consumption. The prohibition of hemp, the fiber of the cannabis plant, has a more nuanced story and competing explanations. Some accounts sound like conspiracy theories. The alleged conspirators were industrialists in paper, plastics and pharmaceuticals who sought drug regulations to eliminate hemp as their competitor. This is difficult to prove, but economist George Stigler's seminal article in 1971 on the economics of regulation lends support to the theory. The best-documented cause of hemp's vilification is racism. Notable racist slurs by U.S. government official Harry Anslinger, who drafted the Marihuana Tax Act of 1937, leave no doubt of his bias. As commissioner of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics, he targeted racialized minorities who used hemp plants. The fear-mongering has ended in most places and important uses for hemp and cannabis are making a valuable contribution to health care, nutrition and fiber. But the stigma of the false claims continue, as does prohibition in many places. The world deprived itself of tomatoes for generations due to unfounded fears they were poisonous. Credit: Pixabay Hydrogen ban Unlike the prohibition on hemp, hydrogen gas bans in the United States and Canada are extremely narrow. It's legal to use hydrogen for almost every conceivable purpose, except one: as a gas to provide buoyancy for airships, more commonly known as blimps (although there are differences between airships, blimps and dirigibles). In fact, Canada still has a ban enshrined in its air regulations that states: "Hydrogen is not an acceptable lifting gas for use in airships." Canada's ban on this use of hydrogen is strange given that Canada has never had an airship industry. The origins of the false information that led to this ban on the use of hydrogen are even more surprising. Helium was discovered in natural gas in Kansas in 1903, and an experimental refinery was built in Texas in 1915. At great expense, a few barrage balloons were filled with helium during the First World War. After the war, the need for helium was unclear. But officials from the U.S. Bureau of Mines wanted to protect their newly established helium refinery. They took advantage of the Roma airship accident in 1922 to sell helium to the military. The Roma was a hydrogen-filled, Italian-built airship sold to the U.S. army. During trials, its rudder broke and the airship crashed in Norfolk, Va., hitting power lines during its descent. All 34 crew members were lost. Spreading a falsehood via the media that the crew would have survived had the airship had been filled with helium, the Bureau of Mines was given an audience in Washington, D.C. Before Congress, they staged a demonstration with two balloons and a burning splint. The Italian airship Roma flying over Norfolk, Va., in 1921. Credit: National Archives, CC BY The one filled with helium doused the burning splint. The one marked hydrogen would have put the flame out too, if it were more than 75 percent pure, but contaminated hydrogen gas is explosive. When the burning splint touched the balloon, it went off like a cannon, rattling the windows in Congress. Based on this poorly designed high school chemistry level experiment, U.S. politicians banned the use of hydrogen in airships. Rubber-stamped laws After the Second World War, when the U.S. became the dominant world air power, its regulations were rubber-stamped into the laws of other nations, including Canada. This is how Canada came to have a regulation banning hydrogen in airships that is grounded in neither science nor engineering research. The ban stems from a political decision made in a foreign country 98 years ago based on misinformation. Hydrogen gas is increasingly heralded as the mobile energy source of the green economy. Hydrogen fuel cells are used for electric cars, buses, boats, forklifts, trains and recently a converted Piper airplane. It is perfectly legal to carry hydrogen in a high-pressure container to power any vehicle, including an airship, but not if carried in a zero-pressure container (gas cell) to lift the airship. The prohibition on hydrogen has held back research and created doubts about the economic viability of airships that must depend on scarce, finite supplies of helium. Lies and misinformation have consequences. Canada needs a transportation solution to the chronic problems of food insecurity, crowded housing and poverty in remote Indigenous communities. Hydrogen-filled cargo airships could do for the Northern economy what the railways did for Western Canada 125 years ago. In the 21st century, myths and misrepresentations should not go unchallenged. Regulatory decisions made when we were still hand-cranking cars should either be justified or removed from the books. Explore further Maiden flight of giant helium-filled airship postponed This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. Cubans in Tapachula: A Guide for New Arrivals 'Here, youve got to make them feel sorry for you, and not run your mouth.' DIARIO DE CUBA spoke to Cuban immigrants who are 'experts' in eluding the citys perils. The first rule that the newly arrived immigrant in Tapachula, Mexico, should know is the following: the bureaucratic procedures may be slow, but he cannot be. The migratory offices work at their own sluggish pace, and are swamped whenever another Central American caravan reaches the town. Meanwhile, the Chiapas police have an uncanny knack for detecting undocumented immigrants, and are equally impressive for how fast they apprehend them, which is something they are proud of. Step One: Hurry! "You have to stay on your toes, because [the police] will catch you if you don't know what youre doing," say two Cuban brothers from Holguin who arrived in Tapachula only a week prior. Both preferred not to reveal their names. According to them, it all starts at the offices of the Mexican Refugee Assistance Commission (COMAR), where the local authorities issue a document that allows the immigrant to walk around the city without being stopped by the police, as it certifies that his request for immigration status is pending. "When you arrive at Tapachula, the first thing you have to do is go there and line up in front of the COMAR. There, in the line, youre protected, and the police cant do anything to you. But, if you walk down another street, and are caught, you can go to jail, or even be deported to Cuba," explained one of them. "Another important thing is that paper they give you there, which you cant lose, or damage, or anything. That's more important than an identity card. That's everything here, until they grant you your immigration status," says the other, showing his, carefully folded and covered by several layers of nylon, like those of almost all Cubans who have yet to achieve some kind of residency. In Tapachula there are two COMAR offices: the "New COMAR" and the "Old COMAR", approximately one kilometer from each other, very close to the center of the city. The "New COMAR" is the site where migrants must first go to receive the paperwork certifying that they are in the middle of an immigration process because they have applied for refugee status. It is advisable to proceed directly there rather than resting from ones journey through Central America. No matter the hour, there will always be new arrivals waiting in line. When the convoys reach Tapachula, several interviewees say, thousands of people gather in front of the doors and remain there until, days later, they get their permits. Step two: Wait The rush to get the paper from the COMAR's is followed by a tense wait to achieve immigration status, which is granted by the offices of the National Institute of Immigration (INM). Before the pandemic, according to some Cubans living in Tapachula, INM procedures could take weeks, or even a month. Now that the immigration authorities have decided that everything will be done via email, it is feared that it could take months. "After leaving COMAR, the most important thing is to buy a SIM, with Internet access. And you have to watch out for the Haitians, who are swindlers and tell you that you have Internet for a month, and you use it up in one day. Its better to buy it at a normal store than to go with the resellers," explains one of the brothers from Holguin. After submitting the identification documents by e-mail, the immigrant must wait for a response from the INM. If they are accepted, an interview will follow, which are currently being conducted by telephone. The last step for those who have asked to be recognized as refugees is handled at the "Old COMAR", where one is granted or denied this status. The brothers are still waiting for an answer from the INM, but are prepared for the interview. During their week in Tapachula they have managed to gather information from other migrants who have been in the city longer, who have told them that the questions have to do with what kind of immigration status they want to request, why they left Cuba, what their intentions are in Mexico, and how the trip through Central America went. Possible migratory statuses for a Cuban include "Visitor for humanitarian reasons" (humanitarian visa), "Permanent resident", "Permanent resident for migratory regularization", "Temporary resident" and "Permanent resident for humanitarian reasons". Except for the first one, all of them feature a four-year renewal period. The "Humanitarian Visitor" card is only valid for one year, and is usually issued to those who initially propose to cross the country in order to enter the United States. Step three: Get informed As Tapachula is one of the hot spots of the regions migration drama, several organizations dedicated to helping migrants and protecting their human rights are based in this city. Knowing about the services they provide can be crucial for those who have arrived in vulnerable situations, and, above all, for women and children. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), for example, provides economic assistance to many of the thousands of unprotected migrants lingering in Tapachula, as well as guidance on the procedures. For issues associated with legal assistance, condemnations of human rights violations, and psychological help, migrants can turn to the Fray Matias de Cordova Human Rights Center. This non-governmental, non-profit organization was founded in 1994, along with many other human rights organizations in Mexico, all inspired by the Zapatista movement. Among its functions is the condemnation and reporting of kidnappings and forced disappearances of migrants, as well as influencing public policies aimed at making Tapachula a safe place for those fleeing the misery and violence in their countries of origin. There are many others, mainly of a religious nature, but the health crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic has greatly limited their actions in recent months. Officially, the immigrant is informed on his first visit to the COMAR of places where he can receive care in the event of health problems. "They usually give you a phone number where you can get care. I haven't needed it, and I don't know anyone who has, at least not those of us who are thinking of going to the United States," says Ramon, a 25-year-old Havanan who has been in Tapachula for four months now. He also asked not to be identified for this report. Step Four: Blend in and keep your mouth shut "Two things are important here: don't look like a newly arrived immigrant, and don't run your mouth," Ramon continues. According to him and other Cubans from Tapachula, a few days ago a group of eight Cubans recently arrived from the Guatemalan jungle were captured by police in one of the city's parks. They were given away by their dirty clothes and exhausted expressions, as well as their white skin and the huge backpacks on their shoulders. Dangerously unaware, they decided to rest before going to the COMAR. They were all sent to the Siglo XXI Chiapas Immigration Facility, from where they may be deported. For the Cubans in Tapachula, the Siglo XXI Immigration Facility is "the Siglo XXI prison". They utter the name with dread. None of those interviewed knows anyone who has been released, nor do they know any fugitives who have escaped from it and gone into hiding on the northern border. "They say that, from the Siglo XXI, you either escape, or are returned to your country," says Ramon. Deportations in Chiapas are very common. In 2020, for example, the number of deportees in the state represented approximately 71% of the number of immigrants who passed through the INM. Among foreigners, Cubans are among the least deported: between 8% and 17% of the total number of immigrants from the island who end up at the INM in Tapachula. Before deportation one must pass through the Siglo XXI, which has been repeatedly accused of subjecting its prisoners to inhuman conditions. Other reports also indicate that many detainees are victims of theft and blackmail by prison authorities. According to Ramon, even more important than not looking like a newcomer is knowing how to keep ones mouth shut. "In the INM interview it is a bad idea to tell the truth about how you got here. If you came alone, through the jungle, if you joined a caravan, you can say that. But, if you paid a "coyote" who did things right and brought you here without a problem in just a few days, youd better not tell them that. They have to feel sorry for you. You should say that it took you a long time to get there, that you were robbed, that you don't have a dime. These are things that happen a lot, but there are those who show up without many problems, and they shouldnt let them know that," he explains. "I don't want any trouble. What if someone reads it? I want to go back to Cuba at some point, and dont want any trouble there. Besides, if I tell them how I got there, about the coyotes and all that, and they read it here, then I can get into trouble. If you tell them at the INM that you came with a coyote, paying, they think that's human trafficking! Then they start asking you to tell them everything you know about him. Other Cubans tipped me off about this when I arrived," he continues. Most Cuban migrants in Tapachula avoid talking to the press, and those who do often ask not to be identified. Their apprehension may be, in part, due to a habit of silence brought with them from Cuba, with its totalitarian system, an approach they have adopted as an axiom or as a philosophy of life: "telling the truth can only get you into trouble. " However, this is not the only reason. By telling the truth, Cubans are more vulnerable. One cannot say that he had an easy journey, riding in a car or a truck with a competent coyote. Nor can he say that he was all right in Cuba, but left because he simply wanted to live better. According to the Mexican Interior Ministrys Bulletin of Migratory Statistics, the reason most cited by Cubans in 2020 to acquire a "Visitor for Humanitarian Reasons" card was "refugee status," previously issued at the COMAR. The second most common reason was for being victims or witnesses of a crime that places them in danger, while the third was associated with "humanitarian causes;" that is, medical and psychological treatment necessary to preserve life, the recovery or recognition of a corpse, or help for a family member with a dire health condition residing in Mexico. Political asylum, on the other hand, is rarely granted by the INM. In 2020 only three Cubans obtained it, making Cuba the country with the second most political asylum seekers in all of Mexico. The first was Venezuela, with four. In reality, the political and social situation from which most Cuban migrants in Tapachula are fleeing cannot be compared to that left behind by many Central Americans. While the former can speak of scarcity, a lack of freedom, and repression on the island, many Hondurans, Guatemalans and Salvadorans have left behind abject poverty, evictions, paramilitary groups, massacres, gangs and political assassinations. Still, everyone here shares the same sensation: that of no longer belonging anywhere. The Kremlin views attempts to organize unauthorized rallies and incite young people to participate in them as unacceptable, Russian Presidential Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. "The only appropriate stance is in favor of abiding by the law and against the organization of unauthorized activities, let alone attempts to incite young people and children to take part in them," Peskov said, when asked about the Kremlins stance on the possibility of unauthorized rallies on January 23. Peskov has branded those calling on citizens to take part in the unsanctioned protests on January 23 as provocateurs, adding that the scale of the peoples unrest should not be overestimated. "Lets not overestimate things," he told reporters on Friday, commenting on the statements claiming that the upcoming protests can be larger in scale than in the previous months. Peskov called on reporters to work with objective data. According to the spokesman, "there are certain provocateurs" who are calling for organizing this action. "The actions of the provocateurs are clear to us, they are very clear to the law enforcement bodies, and corresponding measures are taken against these provocateurs," Peskov stressed. He added that "there are some dissatisfied people who make their position known," and "this position is taken into account." "As for some information about tomorrows rallies, lets make judgements about them the day after tomorrow," TASS cited him as saying. When asked whether the Kremlin had given any directives to the law enforcement regarding what action to take on January 23, Peskov stressed that "no directives of the Kremlin are needed here." According to him, "there is a certain law enforcement procedure regarding the way rallies are held and the way they are pre-approved, what kind of notifications are handed in beforehand." "If unlawful rallies are being held, then, of course, the law enforcement acts in accordance with their work procedure, regardless of whether they had been given directives or not," Peskov stated. Earlier, supporters of Alexey Navalny called on Russian citizens to take to the streets in his support on January 23. The Russian Prosecutor Generals Officesaid that the law enforcement had been directed to take preventive measures and take administrative actions against those inciting the protests or taking part in unlawful rallies. The Moscow police officially warned that those attending or promoting such protests will be held liable in accordance with the Russian law. Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-22 04:05:11|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BERLIN, Jan. 21 (Xinhua) -- German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Thursday she wants to talk to United States President Joe Biden's administration about the German-Russian Nord Stream gas pipeline project that faces U.S. sanctions. At a press conference, Merkel said that some transatlantic dispute, among them the Nord Stream 2 project, are still to be settled with the new U.S. administration. She said that Germany and the U.S. should "put everything on the table" and clarify the extent to which Washington can accept the project. Such debates, she said, would now take place "on a broader foundation of shared convictions." There is "just a broader space for political agreement with President Biden." Merkel also welcomed the decrees that Biden had signed immediately after taking office and that it was once again possible to work together with the United States at the World Health Organization (WHO) and on the Paris Agreement on climate change. Merkel said that "we can't now just count on political agreement" with Biden's administration, as there will also be discussions about "how we do things well for both countries." "Europe will have to take on more responsibility," said Merkel, "not only militarily but also in the diplomatic arena and many other areas. We in Germany are ready for this and the European Union is also ready for this." On Wednesday, Merkel sent her congratulations to Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris on their inauguration through government spokesman Steffen Seibert via Twitter. "I look forward to a new chapter of German-American friendship and cooperation," she said. Enditem Mandatory quarantine should be introduced for people coming into Ireland, the deputy chief medical officer has said. Dr Ronan Glynn told the Oireachtas Health Committee that there should be as few people as possible coming into the country for non-essential reasons over the coming months. It came a day after Tanaiste Leo Varadkar said introducing a 14-day quarantine period for travellers arriving in the country would be disproportionate and unworkable. Expand Close Deputy chief medical officer Dr Ronan Glynn has called for stricter curbs on international travel (Julien Behal/PA) PA / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Deputy chief medical officer Dr Ronan Glynn has called for stricter curbs on international travel (Julien Behal/PA) On Friday, Dr Glynn said the current regime on international travel makes it more difficult to maintain suppression of Covid-19, particularly in light of new strains of the virus. He told the committee: Nphet has been as clear as it possibly can be in relation to international travel. We do not want non-essential travellers coming into this country. Weve been clear on that for months. It has happened, although obviously the volume of travel has been way down, which is welcome. But there is no doubt that travel is continuing to play a role in in the transmission of this disease in this country, and will make it more difficult to maintain suppression over time. Thats particularly in light of the new variants. The regime thats there at the moment will not stop all cases coming into this country. However, Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney said the Government has decided against the measure because its much more difficult to do than the benefit that it might derive. He told RTE News at One: We havent decided to go down that road. Having said that, you know, we have changed the conditions around international travel really quite significantly in the last number of weeks. You cannot arrive in Ireland now, either by air or by sea without having a negative PCR test in the previous 72 hours and if you do, you know you will even be talking to the guards, and you could be fined up to 2,500 euros. Mr Coveney said the Government is also looking at introducing new visa requirements for parts of the world where new strains of the virus have developed. He said: Were looking at the viability now of whether we can introduce new visa requirements from South Africa, from Brazil, and potentially some other parts of the world as well. Dr Glynn said Nphet is particularly concerned about discretionary elements of international travel, such as incoming travellers being advised to self-isolate, rather than the measures being enforced. The key is that as few people as possible come into this country for non-essential reasons over the coming weeks and months Dr Ronan Glynn He said: Our advice is that the discretionary elements of travel need to be addressed to the greatest extent possible. Mandatory quarantine is one way in which that can be done, but there may be other ways that that can be done that Im not privy to from a health perspective. But, as I say, the key is that as few people as possible come into this country for non-essential reasons over the coming weeks and months. Dr Glynn said Nphet are not experts in whats possible from a political perspective. He added: What we want is a situation where non-essential travel is reduced to the greatest extent possible, through whatever means that are required to bring that about. The committee also heard that there have been 532 deaths related to Covid-19 so far in January. This is in line with the stark projection from Nphet that this month would see between 500 and 1,000 deaths linked to the disease. Director of Acute Hospitals at the HSE Liam Woods told the committee there are currently more than 6,000 staff off sick, because they are either Covid-positive, self-isolating or cocooning. Around half of those absences are nurses, he said. a i If you have recently travelled from Brazil, you are advised to self-isolate for your first 14 days in Ireland. Also, please call a GP to arrange a free COVID-19 test. This should be done as soon as possible after 5 days post arrival. HSE Ireland (@HSELive) January 22, 2021 Dr Glynn warned that it will take a long time to get the daily case numbers down to levels seen last summer, and that there is a long way to go before restrictions can be lifted. He declined to predict a timeframe, or a level of daily cases that might make reopening the economy and society feasible. While hospitals remain under intense pressure, Dr Glynn said Nphet believes it is seeing the peak in terms of patient admissions this week. The peak of patients in intensive care units could come next week, he said, noting the typical lag between admissions and patients being referred to ICU. Federal Department of Foreign Affairs Bern, 22.01.2021 - Thousands lost their homes as a result of the earthquake that hit Croatia at the end of last year. In response to a request from the Croatian authorities, Swiss Humanitarian Aid is supplying emergency shelters to the earthquake survivors. A total of CHF 400,000 has been allocated to the relief operation. On 29 December 2020, a magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck the Sisak-Moslavina region in central Croatia, causing severe damage. The earthquake shook the Croatian capital Zagreb, located fifty kilometres away from the epicentre, with shockwaves also felt in neighbouring countries. The Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) immediately offered to help the Croatian authorities responsible for coordinating the relief and rescue operations. Following the initial emergency phase, Croatia appealed for containers and other shelters for around 1,200 families whose homes had been completely destroyed. In response to the appeal, Swiss Humanitarian Aid will provide until end of January 20 mobile housing units for a hundred people by the end of January. Twelve sanitary facilities containing showers and toilets will be supplied further down the line. Two specialists from the Swiss Humanitarian Aid Unit, which is part of the FDFA, were deployed to Croatia last week to help implement Switzerland's relief efforts in consultation with the civil protection authorities. Address for enquiries FDFA Communication Federal Palace West Wing CH-3003 Bern, Switzerland Tel. Communication service: +41 58 462 31 53 Tel. Press service: +41 58 460 55 55 E-mail: kommunikation@eda.admin.ch Twitter: @SwissMFA Publisher Federal Department of Foreign Affairs https://www.eda.admin.ch/eda/en/home.html 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. Outgoing US ambassador to UN, Kelly Craft on January 21 berated Chinas efforts for isolating and excluding Taiwan ahead of her dismissal from the White House. Craft spent her last 24 hours stressing that the US will always strongly support Taiwan and that will continue with the administration of newly inaugurated President Joe Biden. The US position on this matter enjoys universal bipartisan support, Craft tweeted, and so, even as the United States is preparing for a transition, I can speak with great confidence that the US-Taiwan relationship will continue to grow and strengthen. Furthermore, Craft called Taiwan a force for good on the global stage, adding that the island is a vibrant democracy, a generous humanitarian actor, a responsible actor in the global health community, and a vigorous promoter and defender of human rights. Craft, a staunch supporter of Taiwans independent entry into the UN, World Health Organization, and the International Civil Aviation Organization, always condemned Beijing for treating the island nation as a renegade province. Under the Presidency of Donald Trump, Taiwans relations with the US smothered as former president Trump, a strong critic of Chinas communist regime lent extraordinary support to Taiwan in a diplomatic approach. Days ahead of Joe Bidens inaugural ceremony, Trumps US envoy to the United Nations Craft paid a surprise visit to Taipei, defying Beijings threats of US interference, and met with Taiwans New York representative. Before leaving office, Trump administration secretary of state Mike Pompeo banned all travel to China cancelling the US envoys planned three visit to the island after she spoke with the president of the self-ruled island Tsai Ing-wen via a video link. Read: Biden Halts Border Wall Building After Trump's Final Surge Read: McConnell Seeks To Push Trump Impeachment Trial To February .@SecPompeo also announced the upcoming visit of @USAmbUN to Taiwan, "a reliable partner and vibrant democracy." READ: https://t.co/vreM1wxLru pic.twitter.com/kBPqxuBQbH U.S. Asia Pacific Media Hub (@eAsiaMediaHub) January 8, 2021 .@SecPompeo issued a statement regarding the mass arrests of democracy advocates in Hong Kong. The U.S. will consider sanctions and other restrictions on any and all individuals and entities involved in executing this assault on the Hong Kong people." https://t.co/vreM1wxLru pic.twitter.com/7GuOyr6PeG U.S. Asia Pacific Media Hub (@eAsiaMediaHub) January 8, 2021 Tsai said 'will continue to promote bid' US envoy for the UN, Craft, was scheduled to have lunch with Tsai, but instead, the two held a videoconference that Craft described as a great privilege on Twitter. We discussed the many ways Taiwan is a model for the world, as demonstrated by its success in fighting Covid-19 and all that Taiwan has to offer in the fields of health, technology, and cutting-edge science, she said about the US Taiwan talks. Furthermore, condemning China, Craft said: Unfortunately, Taiwan is unable to share those successes in @UN venues, including the World Health Assembly, as a result of PRC [Peoples Republic of China] obstruction. China, which considers Taiwan as a part of its sovereign territory awaiting reunification with the mainland, and has repeatedly warned the US against its official contacts with Taipei, expressed anger at Crafts dialogue and her visit. Meanwhile, Tsai said that Taiwan was happy to talk with the US and will continue to promote its bid to join the UN. Read: After Trump Setbacks, Kim Jong Un Starts Over With Biden Read: Facebook's Oversight Board To Rule On Trump Ban When Georgetown police Det. Matthew Carapellucci met Patrick Plummer in person for the first time last year, arresting the Maine man after a weeks-long investigation, authorities alleged the suspect had in his car a spring-release knife, multiple phones and a cache of more than 100 images of child sexual abuse. Court records released this week detail how the undercover police officer posed as a 13-year-old girl to bust Plummer, who stands accused of trying to meet with someone he thought was a teenager for sex last year in a parking lot in Massachusetts. The 29-nine-year-old man, who is from Parsonsfield, Maine, was charged in a criminal complaint Wednesday in Boston federal court with traveling with the intent to have illicit sexual conduct with a minor and transporting child sex abuse imagery, U.S. Attorney Andrew Lellings office said in a statement. According to an affidavit filed by a Federal Bureau of Investigation agent assigned to the case, Plummer is accused of using various messaging applications, including Kik and Google Hangouts, to chat with Carapellucci. The suspect, court records claimed, devised a plan to meet with a person he thought was a child in Georgetown to have sex. Unknowingly communicating with an undercover officer the entire time, Plummer is accused of talking with the detective multiple times a day and sending Carapellucci several sexually explicit photographs. The Maine man was eventually arrested in late September of last year. The lead-up to Plummers arrest started around Sept. 10, 2020, according to the affidavit. At the time, Carapellucci was conducting online undercover investigations into the virtual sexual exploitation of children. On the date, the detective, posing as the minor, received an unsolicited private message while operating an undercover Kik account in a room on the platform designated for Massachusetts teenagers between the ages of 13 and 17, court records read. The message was from a user with the name, Patrick Smith, who law enforcement later claimed was Plummer, according to authorities. At the outset of the conversation, the affidavit alleged, the undercover officer informed the suspect he was a 13-year-old girl. Plummer is accused of telling Carapellucci he was 24 years old and lived in Maine. During their conversation, law enforcement said, Plummer asked who he thought was a girl if she was really 13, along with multiple sexually explicit questions. The Maine man is accused of suggesting he travel to Georgetown on Sept. 20 to meet her for sex. Thereafter, the suspect and the undercover detective transitioned their conversation onto the Google Hangouts platform, where, over the course of the next two weeks, they messaged back and forth multiple times per day, with Plummer often referencing sexual activity, according to court records. Authorities said the suspect and the officer, who continued to pose as a teenager, discussed specific trails in the woods where they could go. They planned for Plummer to drive to the state Sept. 20. At one point during their conversations, court records said, Plummer is accused of asking Carapellucci, Youre not some dude posing as a girl trying to get me to go to jail right? On September 25, 2020, he asked the [officer], Youre not a private investigator right?, " the affidavit read. Three days before Carapellucci and Plummer were supposed to meet, the suspect told the detective he would no longer be able to travel to Massachusetts to meet on Sept. 20. According to the affidavit, he suggested they meet a week later on Sept. 26 instead. He confirmed that they were still gonna have sex, the FBI agent wrote in the affidavit. They decided that they would meet at 10 a.m. at the Georgetown Park and Ride. Around 10:15 a.m. on Sept. 26, law enforcement said, Plummer was seen driving a silver Subaru Impreza near the meeting place. Upon entering the prearranged location, the suspect was then arrested, according to court records. When the undercover detective busted Plummer, the suspect allegedly said, I screwed up, the affidavit read. Plummers car was searched and later towed. Among the items found inside the Subaru, authorities claimed, were four cellphones, a Dell laptop and a spring-release knife. After being given his Miranda warning, Plummer agreed to speak with Carapellucci and is accused of admitting he was debating having sex with the teenager, court records alleged. Law enforcement said the suspect gave investigators the passcodes to his phones and told them there were roughly 30-40 images of child sexual abuse in his iCloud account and albums application on his phones. According to authorities, Plummer also admitted to talking online with around 10 underage girls on Google Hangouts, Kik and WhatsApp. During the investigation, Carapellucci learned the suspect was trying to solicit sexual activities from three other undercover officers who were posing as 14-year-old girls. Plummer is accused of expressing interest in meeting the people he thought were teenagers in Massachusetts and New Hampshire, the affidavit said. Investigators said after Plummers arrest, they obtained a warrant from Haverhill District Court to search the computer and phones seized from his car. Court records claimed authorities found more than 100 images and videos picturing the sexual abuse of children, some as young as 1 to 2 years old. The search of the devices revealed evidence Plummer was logged into the account he used to communicate with the undercover officer. Forensic analysis of the devices is ongoing, the U.S. attorneys office said. Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. MONCKS CORNER Despite a recent spike in COVID-19 cases and pushback from top state education officials, the Berkeley County School District remains steadfast in not requiring students, faculty and staff to wear face coverings while on campus. The district is the only one in the state that has chosen not to require face coverings for its 31,800 students while on school property. Its policy "strongly encourages" masks be worn when entering and exiting school buildings, in hallways and common areas and while in "close proximity to others," but falls short of requiring them. It is a policy that has been at odds with the states education officials and many district parents. The S.C. Department of Education issued a face-covering mandate during the summer. Masks must be worn when entering a school building, moving through hallways, during carpool/bus drop-off or pickup, and when social distancing is not possible or optimal. The fact that the district has ignored the mandate has baffled state officials. We are the height of another surge, so their policy or lack of one is, well, troubling, said Ryan Brown, a spokesman for the S.C. Department of Education. Weve had a considerable back-and-forth with the district. We dont understand their rationale and we dont support it. Brown said Superintendent of Education Molly Spearman could decide to withhold funds from the district in the future if the policy isnt changed but hoped it wont come to that. The majority of state money that goes to the districts is for teacher salaries and to support students, Brown said. If we withheld those funds, wed be hurting the people that were actually trying to help. Were in a stalemate right now, so any further movement on either side will probably come in a courtroom. Over the past two weeks, BCSD has reported 78 COVID-19 cases among faculty and staff while recording 188 student cases. South Carolina has reported more than 366,000 cases of COVID-19 in the past year, with more than 5,700 deaths. The past month has seen the largest increase in cases and deaths since the pandemic began a year ago. Many parents have lobbied the district to require face coverings, especially in light of the recent spike, but have felt like their voices are going unheard. The fact that the district doesnt have a mandate is ridiculous, said Melissa Soule, whose son Ben is an eighth grader at Marrington Middle School of the Arts. Its the reason that Ben isnt going to in-person classes. He started in-person learning at the beginning of the year but went virtual when he saw kids not wearing masks in his class, and Marrington has one of the best policies in the district. During the districts monthly meeting Jan. 12, the board spent more than 45 minutes addressing face coverings and a mask mandate, but no action was taken. The majority of the board members seemed to be supportive of a stronger mask mandate. Im in favor of requiring masks and Im fine if we change the language and policy from strongly encourage to require, board member Mac McQuillin said at the meeting. The sentiment was shared by board member Frank Wright. I think it makes sense to require students and teachers to wear masks, Wright said. Despite taking no action or having a formal vote on the issue, the board did ask district Superintendent Eddie Ingram to work with principals at individual schools to address any issues they were having about compliance. District spokeswoman Katie Tanner said Ingram did address face coverings with county principals last week, leaving the final decision on policy up to the principals. The board kicked the can down to the superintendent, and he kicked it down to the principals, Soule said. On Tuesday, Philip Simmons Elementary School Principal LaToya King sent an email to teachers updating the schools face-covering policy. The new policy would require all students, teachers, faculty and visitors to wear masks when entering the building. Multiple attempts this week to interview district officials to ask about the issue went unanswered. It is not known how many other county schools besides Philip Simmons now require face coverings on campus. While the district might not require students to wear masks, many parents like Ted Bolden, whose daughter Kaitlyn is a third grader at Hanahan Elementary School, have not given his children any choice in the matter. Its the right thing to do no matter what the district policy is, Bolden said. I cant remember the last time I saw a student without a mask on when I was dropping off or picking up (Kaitlyn). Most parents are pretty responsible. Board members have noticed that issues with face coverings have come in the high schools, where a handful of students have refused to wear masks. Most of the resistance we are getting is from the high school students, said board member Kathy Littlejohn on Jan. 12. This isnt the first time the district and state officials have clashed over face covering mandates. In September, Spearman threatened to pull access to state-owned school buses in the county if the district didnt comply with the states face-covering requirements. In a series of letters back and forth between the district and the state, Ingram challenged Spearmans authority to issue such a mandate. Failure to implement these requirements will result in the districts forfeiture of the ability to utilize 209 state-owned school buses currently allocated to your district, Spearman wrote to Ingram. The district eventually updated its policy to require masks on buses but stopped short of formally mandating masks inside buildings. 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 long serving Laois county councillor has announced his early retirement following a sudden serious illness last June. Fine Gael Cllr Tom Mulhall is from the Emo Ballybrittas area. TD Charlie Flanagan has said it is "a sad day" this Friday, January 22. "It is with great sadness that I learn of the early retirement from Laois County Council of my good friend and colleague Cllr Tom Mulhall. It is also a very sad day for the electorate in the wider Portarlington- Graiguecullen area and especially for the Mulhall family and Tom himself. "Cllr Tom Mulhall was a dedicated and committed Public representative for many years. He worked 24/7 for his constituents in the Portarlington- Graiguecullen Electoral area and he is widely respected for his role in Politics and Community affairs. "It is also a sad day for the Fine Gael party as Tom as very proud of his membership. "While there were many highlights to Tom career, we were all particularly proud of his year served as Cathaoirleach of Laois County Council in 2016/2017. Cllr Tom Mulhall will certainly be missed for his high work rate across the Portarlington- Graiguecullen area and in particular Portarlington, Killenard, Stradbally, Emo, The Heath, Ballybrittas, Vicarstown and Jamestown. "On behalf of the Fine Gael party in County Laois, I wish Tom a return to good health and every luck for future endeavours for himself and his family. On my own behalf, I wish to thank Tom for his personal support to me in my career over the years," he said. Last October, Cllr Mulhall's family Brigid, Una and Niall Mulhall wrote a letter of thanks to Laois County Council which was read out at their September meeting, expressing hopes of his recovery while at Peamount Hospital in Dublin. Tom has received so many get-well wishes from his colleagues and those he worked closely with every day and we as a family are very appreciative of this. We have been sharing these messages with him and they are helping him keep focused on his recovery. He regularly enquires about his council colleagues and is keeping up to date with news from home through the local papers. Anyone who has spent time with Tom will know that he is very strong-willed and we are happy to say that he is making a steady recovery with the help of wonderful healthcare staff". The Cathaoirleach of Laois County Council is Cllr Catherine Fitzgerald. "I am very sorry that Tom is retiring on health grounds. He was a very hard working councillor, I wish him and his wife Brigid and family all the best. I thank him for all his work at Laois County Council," she said. Cllr Aisling Moran is Cathaoirleach of the Portarlington Graiguecullen Municipal District. "I only served alongside Tom for a year but have known him many years. He was a great worker and fought hard for his area. People are ringing me to say what a loss he is. I wish him the best and a speedy recovery," she said. Below Cllr Tom Mulhall celebrates being reelected in the 2014 local elections. Photo: Alf Harvey From Cappakiel, Cllr Mulhall is married to Bridget with two children, Niall and Una and one grandchild. Tom was elected to Laois County Council in 2009 as a representative for the Emo Luggacurren electoral area and from 2014, for Graiguecullen-Portarlington. He has served as chair of the municipal district and also is the outgoing chair of the Laois Joint Policing Committee. He was involved in the completion of unfinished estates in Portarlington, secured funding for the refurbishment of the Old Schoolhouse, secured funding for the Stradbally community allotments, and set up community alerts in Emo and Vicarstown. Tom served as Cathaoirleach of Laois County Council, in 2016-17. Vaccine eligibility is expanding to front-line essential workers, including educators, beginning Monday. Teachers and other school staff members can then start getting vaccines through pharmacies or health care providers if they are able, city Health Commissioner Dr. Allison Arwady said. But the city is reliant on the federal government to provide the vaccine, and the amount Chicago has been receiving is minuscule compared with the number of people who need to be vaccinated in the next phase, Arwady said. Married At First Sight star Lauren Huntriss has revealed the reason why she and her virgin groom Matthew Bennett were edited out of the show's finale in 2019. The pair only appeared for a few seconds in background and reaction shots during the reunion dinner. In an Instagram Q&A on Thursday, Lauren claimed the couple were edited out of the finale because 'she had broken her contract' by criticising the show. Revealed: Former Married At First Sight star Lauren Huntriss (pictured) has FINALLY revealed the real reason why she and Matthew Bennett were edited out of the reunion dinner 'This was their way of getting back at me for breaking my contract and going rogue lol,' she wrote. Lauren also told her fans: 'I was actually in the UK on a holiday and they made me fly back for the reunion.' 'I had to cut my holiday short and they completely edited me out.' 'This was their way of getting back at me!' In an Instagram Q&A on Thursday, Lauren claimed the couple were edited out of the finale because 'she had broken her contract' by criticising the show. Pictured Lauren and Matthew After filming ended for the sixth season of MAFS, Lauren criticised producers and is understood to have broken her contract with Channel Nine and Endemol Shine Australia by doing so. During an unauthorised interview with The Kyle and Jackie O Show in February 2019, Lauren said she 'deserved' to tell her story despite efforts to silence her. When asked by a listener if producers cared about the participants' well-being, she replied: 'I don't know. I like to think that they are humans [and] have feelings and compassion, but I don't know...' Contract: After filming ended for the sixth season of MAFS, Lauren criticised producers and is understood to have broken her contract with Channel Nine and Endemol Shine Australia by doing so She later said it was irresponsible for producers to put certain people on television because they weren't mentally prepared for it. Lauren had also previously claimed on Facebook, she was pressured into delivering certain 'lines' for producers. In one controversial scene on MAFS, she told Matthew she 'used to be a lesbian'. But according to Lauren, she was pressured into saying this because her previous admission ('I used to see women') apparently 'wasn't dramatic enough'. Speaking on Kyle and Jackie O afterwards, she said: '[The producers] will say to you, "We'll keep you here all day until you say what we want you to say"'. Are you looking for a bike that can be operated manually and can be used as an e-bike? Then you should try the latest Super73 S2. This motorcycle is a part e-bike, part electric bicycle. We met another fellow @Super73 rider in Detroit @detroitebike and had a great time riding downtown. The 48v Z1 kept up with it's big bro, the S2. If you're out in the D and wanna ride, hit us up! : @patrickmgarrity #runplayback #super73 #supersquad #ebikes #super73community pic.twitter.com/0JIKISSrBC RunPlayBack (@RunPlayBack) July 26, 2020 Because of its unique capability, many popular vloggers already published multiple videos to show how the new motorcycle works. They are uploading different footage on Instagram, YouTube, and other social media platforms. It can act as your weekday commuter and a weekend toy. This means you can use it comfortably as an e-bike going to work and use it manually when hitting the road on your way home. According to CNET's latest report, the Super73 S2 also has an Unlimited Mode that transforms into an electric motorcycle. Super73 S2's specs The new bike's appearance is based on the motorcycles from the 1970s. The motorcycle's battery can last for six to seven hours. Super73 quietly unveils the 2 kW Super73-S2 e-bike, but it might be their best: The big news lately from Irvine, California-based electric bicycle company Super73 has been the release of its next generation, full suspension e-bike model known as the https://t.co/iLCnLGp2be pic.twitter.com/Fqx7eiZSHt Daniel Aharonoff (@broadscaler) February 12, 2020 Also Read: Apple Car Wants Collab with Canoo that Features 'Skateboard' Technology-But is the Startup Interested? However, it is important to remember that the bike is much faster if the battery already has some juice. Super73 S2 has 180-millimeter front and rear rotors, two-piston, forged aluminum caliper, and Tektro Hydraulic. On the other hand, its rear light is a great feature. The bulb will activate when the driver apple the breaks, which is kinda fancy. Super73 S2's LC is simple and easy to use. However, the issue is that the driver will not be able to activate the bike's Unlimited Mode from the bike's app. When it comes to the motorcycle's tires, the driver can easily hit rough roads because of their grippy feature, although they are dense rubber. Super73-RX gets a new 'Star Wars' look! Motorcycle Cruiser previously reported that the Super73-RX bike received a new look! The new cool design was based on the motorcycles featured in the popular sci-fi movie "Star Wars." The RX bike received a menacing color scheme inspired by the movie's TIE fighter. Super73-RX's entire frame was dipped in matte black and the addition of metallic red imperial cog badges, which are placed on the top-mounted battery case. The bike also received a set of Crankbrothers Stamp pedals and a pair of ODI lock-on grips. Aside from these, the motorcycle also features the Saddleman Seats, which provide a ribbed, full-grain black leather seat for the driver. For more news updates about new cool bikes, always keep your tabs open here at TechTimes. Related Article: Porsche Taycan Base Model: Specs, Features for Unbelievable $80,000 Only! Why Is It Cheap? This article is owned by TechTimes. Written by: Giuliano de Leon. 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. CBRE: HCM City among top preferred cities for cross-border investments in Asia-Pacific Ho Chi Minh City has been ranked fifth as Asia Pacific investors most preferred market for investments by CBRE Group, Inc. CBREs Asia Pacific Investor Intentions Survey 2021 was conducted between November 9 and December 14 last year. As many as 492 mainly Asia Pacific-based investors participated in the survey, which asked respondents a range of questions regarding their buying appetite and preferred strategies, sectors and markets for 2021. Ho Chi Minh City has already been on the radar of investors in recent years, especially those who are looking to invest in Southeast Asia, as the city is viewed as having the potential for greater appreciation in property values and higher yields, said Desmond Sim, Head of Research, Southeast Asia, CBRE. Other noteworthy movement in this years rankings included Ho Chi Minh City, which entered the top five for the first time. With the diversification of supply chains encouraging more manufacturing investment, industrial and logistics assets are keenly sought after, according to the survey. Tokyo retained its top position as the most preferred city for cross-border investment. The availability of high-quality assets and strong liquidity has made Tokyo a top-three investment destination since 2018. It was followed by Singapore, Seoul of the Republic of Korea and Shanghai of China./. SSC sets out measures to stock market overload issue The State Securities Commission of Viet Nam (SSC) has ordered the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange (HoSE) and securities firms to apply short-term, mid-term and long-term solutions for overload orders which forced the exchange to halt trading since the end of last year. Since December 21, 2020, there have been cases of some orders from investors via securities firms that were not sent to the southern bourse, said the SSC. The issue is a result of the transaction processing capacity of HoSE that limits the number of transactions per day, while transaction demands surged recently. To ensure the system operates smoothly and addresses the overload issue, in the short-term, the SSC requested related agencies to optimise the transaction process by increasing the trading lot from 10 to 100 shares per lot, starting from January 4, 2021. The SSC also urged HoSE and securities firms to inspect and prevent internal errors, and limit automatic transactions. For the mid-term, the SSC ordered HoSE to upgrade the transaction backup system to ensure the system operates smoothly until the new IT system for the stock market with support from the Korea Exchange (KRX) is officially launched. In the long-term, the HoSE and related agencies have to accelerate the process to bring the KRX system into operation to completely solve the overloaded orders problem. Viet Nams stock market posted good performance in the final months of last year on the back of surging orders. The VN-Index ended the last trading day of 2020 at 1,103.87 points, rising nearly 15 per cent compared to the beginning of the year. According to SSC, the increase in the number of investors and orders was driven by the fact that Viet Nam has controlled the COVID-19 pandemic, boosting the country's macro economy. Viet Nam was among countries that delivered positive economic growth of 2.91 per cent in 2020, and was expected to recover at 6.5 6.8 per cent in 2021. Government agencies also carried out many policies to support the market during the pandemic, such as the Circular No 14/2020/TT-BTC to reduce fees of some services in the securities sector, and Circular No 112/2020/TT-BTC on regulating collection rates of fees or charges to support and address difficulties in production, business activities and to ensure social security in response to COVID-19. The reduction in fees and supportive policies brought new cash flows into the stock market which helped the liquidity rise to a record level. Data from the General Statistics Office (GSO) showed the amount of capital poured into Viet Nams stock market rose 20 per cent in 2020 to VND383.6 trillion. In 2020, the average value of market transactions was over VND7.05 trillion per session, double that of 2019, data showed. Meanwhile, the number of new investors soared by 109 per cent in 2020 against the previous year. Central city to introduce tourism property project Property developer PGT has inked a co-operation and operation agreement with InterContinetal Hotels Group (IHG) PLC, Ong&Ong Singapore, VLand and Savills Viet Nam to develop a beachfront luxury apartment and hotel complex this year in Da Nang. The complex on the pristine beach of My Khe in Son Tra peninsular will be managed and distributed by Savills Viet Nam and V.Land. Following the agreement, the firm and partners will introduce the five-star Crowne Plaza Da Nang waterfront hotel and The 6nature Danang Apartment in the first quarter of 2021. The 40-storey coastal two-block complex, built with an investment of US$88.5 million by PGT, will be designed by Singaporean Ong&Ong company to supply luxurious apartment and hotel rooms. Chairman of PGT Group Le Anh Trieu said the complex would be an attractive landmark for tourists and residential demand on the beach of Da Nang and Son Tra Nature Reserve. Da Nang is a top destination for foreign investment and an increasingly popular tourist hub in central Viet Nam. The city has so far developed 16 tourist property projects consisting of 749 villas, of which 609 are for sale and 140 for lease. According to the citys planning and investment department, more five key tourism property projects will be developed in 2021. Privatisation plan missed, pressure to improve SOEs efficiency The privatisation of State-owned enterprises (SOEs) failed to meet the plan set for the 2016-20 period, causing pressure to improve the operational efficiency of SOEs in the next five-year period. According to a recent report by the Ministry of Finance, a total of 178 SOEs had privatisation plans approved in the 2016-20 period, with a total asset value of more than VN443.5 trillion. Among them, only 37 were on the Governments list of 128 must-be-privatised SOEs, meeting just 28 per cent of the target. This means that 91 SOEs failed to complete the privatisation plan. Among them, 13 were under the management of Ha Noi Peoples Committee, 38 under HCM City, six under the Committee for Management of State Capital at Enterprises and four under the Ministry of Industry and Trade. According to the ministrys Corporate Finance Department, the bottleneck was due to problems in verifying land assets. Viet Nam embarked on the SOE restructuring process from the 1990s. In the first 10 years, 577 SOEs were privatised. In 2001-05, 2,735 SOEs were privatised, another 646 in 2006-2010 and 508 in 2011-15. In 2020, only one SOE was privatised, the lowest figure over the past three decades. According to Nguyen Hong Long, Deputy Head of the Steering Committee for Enterprise Innovation and Development, the disappointing privatisation results in 2016-20 created significant pressure for the next period in restructuring and improving SOE efficiency. Long said with the issuance of new regulations about privatisation towards improving transparency and ensuring the maximum benefits for the State, many SOEs must spend time reviewing their privatisation plan, which takes more time. In the 2016-20 period, many SOEs had large scale operations with complicated financial situations and land ownership, thus privatisation, especially in evaluating their assets, was not easy, Long said. Long stressed that privatisation was not the final target. The final target was to restructure SOEs and improve their operational efficiency through diversifying ownership which would help renovate operations and governance models. Privatisation needs to be hastened in the next decade, Long said, adding that privatisation remained the most effective solution to improve the efficiency of SOEs and the economy. Deputy Minister of Finance Huynh Quang Hai said that it was necessary to continue reviewing the existing regulations to raise solutions to tackle problems and bottlenecks which were hindering the privatisation proccess. At the same, accountability must be increased, he added. Demand for furniture rises ahead of Tet With Tet approaching, more and more people in HCM City are shopping for furniture for home or for use at parties. Many are buying furniture either to move into new homes at housing projects completed late last year or to renovate their homes for Tet. In District 10s Ngo Gia Tu Street and Tan Binh Districts Truong Chinh Street, which are filled with furniture shops, the number of shoppers has not reduced since last year. Shops said due to the impact of COVID-19, customers are seeking items at reasonable prices. Many are offering promotions. Nha Xinh Furniture supermarket chain has discounts of 15-25 per cent on sofas, beds, TV shelves, wardrobes, and others. Dong A is offering a 50 per cent discount on sofas, free shipping and lifetime warranty. Duong Thanh Dao, marketing director of Qui Phuc Production, Commerce and Service Co. Ltd, said a few months ago his company bought more machinery to increase production since it realised demand would spike before Tet. In addition to working on new designs for Tet, the company has also expanded its storage and logistics capacity to better serve its customers, he added. Ha Noi to focus on promoting trade, industry Ha Noi will focus on promoting trade and industry in the 2021-25 period to make trade a high-added-value sector and develop Ha Noi into the international trade centre of Viet Nam. Accordingly, Ha Noi would encourage investment in developing modern retail systems, such as shopping centres and supermarkets. Under the capital citys industry and trade development plan to 2025, Ha Noi will develop five more wholesale centres and ten shopping centres at the regional level, 12 logistics centres, 68 shopping centres, 850 supermarkets and 140 markets. Tran Thi Phuong Lan, Deputy Director of the municipal Department of Industry and Trade, said attracting private investment in developing infrastructure for trade remained difficult, especially in local and wholesale markets. In addition, policies to manage modern trade models had not been promptly issued while modern commerce models were developing very rapidly. Regarding industry, most large-scale production facilities had been moved out of the city centre, meaning that industrial production was narrowed. Attracting investment in industrial zones and clusters was not comparative in terms of higher land lease prices than neighbouring provinces like Ha Nam, Hung Yen and Bac Ninh. Lan said that according to the Resolution of the 17th Ha Noi Party Congress, the industrys structure in the capital city would change significantly, with construction and industry accounting for 22.5-23 per cent, services by 65-65.5 per cent and agriculture accounting for a very modest proportion. This would have significant impact on the citys industry and trade sector, Lan said. Ha Noi expects industry to grow at an average rate of 7.5-8 per cent in the 2021-25 period, exports at 9.5-9.7 per cent, and retail sales of goods and services at 9-10 per cent. To achieve the targets, the capital city would focus on removing difficultis for enterprises, especially those operating in spearhead and part-supplying industries and promoting the development of hi-tech and high-added value products, taking advantage of Industry 4.0. In addition, the municipal authority would alo proactively call for investment in industrial infrastructure system and from high-tech enterprises. The city would also speed up the construction of 43 industrial clusters which were approved in 2018-20. Industrial production increasingly contributes to the overall growth of the citys gross regional domestic product (GRDP), making up 1.02 percentage points of the 7.16 GRDP growth rate in 2016 to 1.42 percentage points to the 7.63 GRDP growth rate in 2019. In 2020, due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, industrial production grew at 4.91 per cent, contributing 0.69 percentage points to the citys 3.98 GRDP growth rate. On average, industrial production increased by 8.3 per cent in the 2016-20 period. Ha Noi also always took the lead in the country in ICT revenue with around 6,000 ICT companies and two out of five IT zones nationwide. There were 17 in-operation industrial zones and hi-tech zones, 70 industrial clusters and 43 newly-founded industrial clusters. The total retail sale of goods and services increased by an average of 10.54 per cent per year in the 2016-20 period while export revenue grew at 8.8 per cent, 1.68 per cent higher than the average in 2011-15. There were 28 shopping centres, 142 supermarkets, 1,840 convenience store, 445 markets and 494 petrol stations in the city. Public investment to focus on key projects to create impetus for economic growth Public investment will focus on key national projects with important roles in enhancing regional links and creating new drivers and room for economic growth, Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung has said. Last year saw the highest public investment disbursement rate in 2016-20 as the Government identified public investment as a major driver for growth in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Ministry of Planning and Investment estimated the public investment disbursement rate would reach more than 90 per cent of the plan as of the end January 31 (the deadline for disbursement of 2020 public investment), compared to 73.3 per cent of 2017, 66.8 per cent of 2018 and 67.46 per cent of 2019. There were 17 ministries, central-level agencies and 17 localities with disbursement rates of more than 80 per cent as of December 31, 2020. However, 13 ministries and central-level agencies and five localities had disbursement rates below 60 per cent. According to Nguyen Manh Quyen, Deputy Chairman of Ha Noi Peoples Committee, the capital city disbursed about VND40.7 trillion worth of public investment or 93 per cent of the plan. HCM City disbursed VND31.5 trillion of public investment in 2020, 1.7 times higher than 2019, Le Thi Huynh Mai, Director of the municipal Department of Planning and Investment, said. These figures showed that never before was public investment disbursement as quick and strong as in 2020, said Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment Tran Quoc Phuong. It is public investment that drove GDP growth in 2020, he said. Phuong pointed out that total social investment accounted for 34 per cent of GDP and public investment 25 per cent of the total social investment, meaning public investment made up about 6-7 per cent of GDP. Taking into account the impacts of public investment, public investment plays a really important role in growth, Phuong said. Despite this progress, speeding up the disbursement of public investment remains a priority in 2021. Phuong said that the Law on Public Investment No 39/2019/QH14 which took effect from the beginning of this year would help tighten management of the entire process of public investment. In addition, the decentralisation of management would also be enhanced together with increasing accountabilities for higher efficiency of public investment. With the new regulations, plans for public investment would also be more accurate and practical, Phuong said. Sums which were failed to be disbursed would be deducted from the medium-term public investment plan, Phuong said. There were always differences between plans and real implementation but dont let the gap be too big, Phuong said. In 2021, the ministry will regularly update about the progress of public investment disbursement to give a timely push to the progress, he added. Hanoi strives to disburse 93 percent of public investment by Jan. 31 The capital city of Hanoi is exerting all-out efforts to disburse 93 percent of 2020 public investment by the end of this month, making it to the top performers in the nation, heard at a meeting on January 20. The meeting between Vice Chairman of the municipal Peoples Committee Ha Minh Hai and leaders of the Hanoi State Treasury was about the agencys collection and spending of State budget in 2021. To achieve the goal, Hai requested concerned authorities to focus more on public investment disbursement. The municipal State Treasury must better coordinate with other sectors to promptly address problems in order to accelerate the disbursement progress, he said, adding that it should also effectively promote public administrative reforms and make use of information technology to cut procedures businesses and organisations are required to fulfill. Regarding tasks for this year, the vice mayor asked the agency to be among pioneers in digital transformation, public administrative reforms and e-Government building. Nguyen Thi Thanh Huong, Director of the municipal State Treasury, said the city has so far disbursed 75 percent of its infrastructure construction and public investment, higher than that of the same period last year. The agency has established a hotline to tackle related issues and been coordinating with the municipal Department of Planning and Investment to publicise data on local public investment disbursement. On this occasion, Deputy Minister of Finance Vu Thi Mai presented the third-class Independence Order of the State President to the Hanoi State Treasury in recognition of its exceptional achievements in their missions, contributing to building socialism and protecting the country./. Vietnam, Canada need to take advantage of CPTPP Vietnam and Canada should utilise the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), to which both are signatories, and other free trade agreements (FTAs) to better facilitate bilateral trade and investment ties, Vietnamese Ambassador to Canada Pham Cao Phong has said. Despite the serious impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, Vietnam-Canada relations continued to flourish in 2020, with two-way trade enjoying a year-on-year rise of 11.2 percent, Phong told the Developing the Vietnam-Canada Business Partnership webinar held jointly by the Vietnamese Embassy, the Government of Quebec, and the ASEAN-Canada Business Council on January 20. He added that the pandemic is also a chance for the two countries to seek more innovative and effective measures to foster bilateral relations. John F.G Hannaford, Deputy Minister of International Trade at Global Affairs Canada, said he admires Vietnams effective response to COVID-19 and affirmed the important role of international cooperation amid the pandemic. Vietnams maintenance of an open supply chain for essential goods and services has supported uninterrupted trade flows between Canada and Southeast Asia, he said, stressing that Canada commits to intensifying its trade ties with Vietnam. Canada sees big opportunities for cooperation in the fields of food processing, agriculture, education, information and communications technology, and infrastructure in Vietnam, and hopes to attract more investment from the country, he added. Speaking at the webinar, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Do Thang Hai said that Vietnam can be viewed as a centre of FTAs, with several major and important agreements signed recently, such as the CPTPP (representing 13 percent of global GDP), the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (16 percent of global GDP), and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) (32 percent of global GDP). The country hopes to be a reliable destination and bridge connecting Canada and ASEAN and the Asia-Pacific, Hai said. As of November 2020, Canada was 14th among countries and territories investing in Vietnam, with 212 projects worth over 5.05 billion USD./. Thousands of flights planned for Tet Holiday Up to 1,200 flights will be operated daily during the Tet Holiday as travel demand surges. Despite Covid-19, local airlines plan to operate about 1,000 flights a day, an increase of 28% compared to the previous Tet Holiday. The busiest days will have 1,200 flights, an increase of 25.3% on the previous Tet Holiday. According to the Civil Administration of Vietnam, Tet flights will be the focus from January 27 to February 26. Because of Covid-19, the airlines will not operate usual international flights but pour resources into domestic flights. Vietnam Airlines and Vasco will operate 379 flights a day and 504 flights on busy days, an increase of 35.5% and 31% respectively compared to the same period last year. Vietjet Air plans to operate 371 flights a day and 375 flights on busy days, an increase of 17% and 28% on last year. Bamboo Airways reported that they will operate 180 flights a day, increased by 27.5% and 190 flights on busy days, increased by 34% on last year. Pacific Airlines will have an average of 124 flights a day and 130 flights a day during the peak of the holiday, an increase of 25% and 28% on last year. The airlines also announced 140-150 night flights a day which operates from 10 pm to 7 am. The Civil Administration of Vietnam advised passengers to buy tickets early via official channels, go to the airports two hours early and follow regulations including filling in the medical declaration forms and wearing face masks. Ha Giang looks to boost tourism with digital transformation and smart services The northern province of Ha Giang is looking to promote the local tourism industry through digital transformation and smart services in partnership with mobile carrier Mobifone and the National Administration of Tourism (VNAT). Under an agreement signed on January 20, Mobifone and VNAT will assist Ha Giang to use Mobifones Smart Travel system, and increase the promotion of tourism products and useful information to potential travellers. For its part, Ha Giang will provide data about local destinations, scenic spots, historical sites, culture and food to be incorporated in the Smart Travel system. The provincial authorities will also support the connection with local organisations and businesses to develop tourism through digital transformation. The Smart Travel tool features advanced technologies such as virtual reality, augmented reality, big data and online shopping designed to meet the needs of tourists, businesses, service providers and regulators alike. Through its data collection and analysis services, tourism authorities will be presented with an overview of their local tourisms advantages and disadvantages so that they can introduce appropriate policies. On the same day, VNAT also signed an agreement with Ha Giang to help the province create and develop tourism products, promote the brand of Ha Giang tourism and develop the workforce for tourism. VNAT Director Nguyen Trung Khanh said the cooperation will open new opportunities to boost the tourism of Ha Giang and Vietnam at large in a more effective manner. He added that digital transformation and smart travel development are the inevitable processes, especially as the Covid-19 pandemic has affected all aspects of life. For his part, Ha Giang Vice Chairman Tran Duc Quy said that the agreement signing is significant in that it will help the growth of the local tourism industry to be commensurate with its potential. Housing prices more stable in Hanoi and HCM City in 2021 Land prices will maintain or just slightly increase in the two biggest cities of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City this year as supply improves according to the Vietnam Association of Realtors (VARS). Speaking at a meeting held on January 11 to announce the report on the real estate market in 2020, Nguyen Van Dinh, vice chairman of Vietnam Association of Realtors (VARS), said 2020 saw a big transition in investment to the real estate market, driving up demand. "This has made the land market hot with soaring prices, especially in some outlying rural districts which are seeing fast urbanisation including Thach That, Hoai Duc, and Dong Anh," Dinh said. "Some areas in these districts saw land prices increasing by 50% against the prices of 2019 to VND25-VND30 million (USD1,087-USD1,304) per square metre." Explaining the sharp rise in land prices, Do Thu Hang, senior director of advisory services at Savills Hanoi said that instead of getting commissions from owners, many dealers are charging higher prices than set by owners. "I know a man who paid VND1 billion (USD43,478) to a dealer to buy a land lot in Dong Anh District," Hang explained. "However, the price set by the owner was only VND650 million (USD28,260)." The expert stressed that this is a common situation now which has inflated the land prices in Hanoi. Higher supply but no price fall in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City this year The Vietnam Association of Realtors's report estimates that housing prices in Hanoi will maintain or just slightly increase this year compared to 2020 as supplies improve. Meanwhile, Ho Chi Minh City will continue to witness rising prices, mostly in the newly-established Thu Duc City, in the first six months of this year. "The prices may be more stable in the final months due to higher supplies but there will be no fall," Dinh said. "At well-invested urban areas in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, land and apartment prices will continue to rise by 5-10 per cent in 2021," he added. Source: VNA/VNN/VNS/SGGP/VOV/NDO/Dtinews/SGT/VIR Jason Miller (C) at the 'Deconstructing: How Trump Won' panel during Politicon at Pasadena Convention Center in Pasadena, Calif., on July 30, 2017. (Joshua Blanchard/Getty Images for Politicon) Top Trump Adviser Jason Miller Talks About Trumps Future Plans Top Trump adviser and former spokesperson Jason Miller was interviewed by Just the News on Thursday, where he said that former President Donald Trump has some goals for the years to come. Miller flew together with Trump from Washington D.C. to Florida on Wednesday aboard Air Force One. Just the News asked if Trumps future plans include building a social media or cable network, taking legislative actions, or how he could possibly win an election again given what happened last time. Trump has a number of goals over the next couple of years winning back the House and the Senate for Republicans in 2022 to make sure that we can stop the Democratic craziness, said Miller. Rudy Giuliani speaks to supporters from The Ellipse near the White House in Washington on Jan. 6, 2021. (Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images) He also said that Trump will emerge as the nations leader on ballot and voter integrity. Miller said that due to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) being in control, he doesnt expect election integrity to improve in Washington. Chuck and Nancy are gonna do their best to continue rigging this, every aspect that they can, Miller said. He said that a lot of the debate over alleged election fraud was centered around abuses of Article II of the Constitution, which grants authority to state legislatures to handle many aspects of elections. He expects Trump to be working closely with state legislatures to look into ballot and voting integrity. He said Trump wouldnt be starting immediately, but rather after a transition period. This is critical, we have to do this, he said in conclusion. Miller posted on Twitter a photo of the White House with the caption until 2025, leading some people to speculate that Trump could run again and be in the White House in 2025. Trump made some statements in recent speeches that suggested he would continue to be active in politics. We love you. We will be back in some form, he said on Jan. 20. 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. Theres never been anything like it, Trump said in his farewell video on Tuesday. Biden to rescind Mexico City Policy, Trump's pro-life actions Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment The Biden administration dodged questions about the president's policy priorities regarding abortion funding on his first day in office, but on Thursday Dr. Anthony Fauci confirmed that the president will be rescinding his predecessor's pro-life policies. According to Catholic News Agency, Fauci told board members of the World Health Organization that the administration will repeal the Mexico City Policy in the coming days. It will be our policy to support womens and girls sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights in the United States, as well as globally, Fauci said. To that end, President Biden will be revoking the Mexico City Policy in the coming days, as part of his broader commitment to protect womens health and advance gender equality at home and around the world, he added. Fielding questions from reporters Wednesday during her first press conference as Biden's White House Press Secretary, Jen Psaki was asked about the Hyde Amendment, the Mexico City Policy and how the new president intends to proceed. "I think well have more to say on the Mexico City Policy in the coming days. But I will just take the opportunity to remind all of you that he is a devout Catholic and somebody who attends church regularly," Psaki replied to a reporter with the Catholic network EWTN. "He started his day attending church with his family this morning, but I dont have anything more for you on that," she added. The Hyde Amendment is a federal provision that bars tax dollars from being used to pay for the abortions of women on Medicaid. It once had considerable bipartisan support, including from Biden who reversed his stance during the 2020 presidential campaign. The Mexico City Policy prohibits U.S. tax dollars from being used by nongovernmental organizations and other entities that provide abortions, referrals for abortion or expand abortion services. Under the Trump administration, the policy was reinstituted and subsequently expanded. The Mexico City Policy, which critics call the "global gag rule," was first implemented by President Ronald Reagan. Ever since, Republican administrations have supported it and Democratic administrations have revoked it soon after entering office. Abortion rights activists have petitioned the Biden administration to rescind Trump's pro-life policies. Conservative pundits and journalists have expressed their dismay that Biden continues to be referred to as a "devout Catholic" given his views on abortion. "Reminder: the Catholic Church teaches that abortion is 'a crime against human life, constitutes a grave offense ... tweeted Mary Margaret Olohan of the Daily Caller. 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 country with the largest proven oil reserves in the world, clocking in at a whopping 299,953,000,000 barrels of proven oil, is currently suffering a fuel shortage so great that it is being viewed by many around the world as a humanitarian crisis. Despite being so incredibly resource rich, Venezuela continues to suffer from an extreme economic crisis with no clear end in sight. In large part thanks to severe international economic sanctions, the South American nation has been left with few options and few friends. The Trump administration has been especially tough on trade with Venezuela in an attempt to push the nations despotic leader Nicolas Maduro out of power. After years of cutting off nearly every conceivable stream of revenue for the country--which was once the wealthiest on the entire continent--Maduro remains in power, and the most embattled victims of the sanctions are not those in his cabinet but the Venezuelan citizens themselves. Venezuela currently relies heavily on Iran for fuel imports to keep their transportation systems, agricultural infrastructure, and generators running, and while some international oil shipments have managed to skirt U.S. sanctions, the flow of fuel in and out of Venezuela has slowed to the slightest trickle. With no market for their crude, the nations very last oil rig left back in August, and in September Bloomberg reported that the country was tearing apart its now useless pipelines to sell as scrap metal in a desperate strategy to scrape together some cash. Now, as the tough-on-Venezuela Trump era is drawing to a close, many see the administration transition as an opportunity for a fresh start for Venezuela. Representatives of fuel suppliers to Venezuela, importers of Venezuelan oil and advocacy groups said this month they plan to press the incoming administration of U.S. President-elect Joe Biden to reverse a ban on crude-for-diesel swaps, Reuters reported this week. Related: Can Shale Resist The Lure Of Another Output Surge? These advocates are not calling for a complete lifting of sanctions or renewed diplomacy with Maduros government--far from it. The crude-for-diesel swaps under consideration here were legal under the Trump administration until the last quarter of 2020. When the U.S. stopped making this exception, the impact on Venezuelan citizens was almost immediate. Farmers are already warning that shortages are impeding sugar harvesting and rice planting, Reuters reports. The humanitarian crisis in Venezuela is a grave one, and many advocates for the Venezuelan populace see the new administration in the United States as a beacon of hope for those currently suffering from fuel shortages. The concern is that the current sanctions are not helping the U.S. get any closer to its goal of punishing Maduro and his government, but are simply punishing the already beleaguered people of Venezuela instead. We hope that the incoming Biden administration can take a more strategic look at the purpose of the sanctions, and can lift those that dont change the position of the group in power and instead create problems for the population, Feliciano Reyna, president of Caracas-based aid group Accion Solidaria, was quoted. Internal PDVSA (Venezuelas state-owned oil company) documents show clearly that the nation hasnt received diesel imports since November of last year, leading data analysts to extrapolate that the country will run out of the fuel as soon as March or April. Amazingly, despite this grim prognosis, Maduros government continues to export diesel to Cuba, its close ally and sister in sanctions. One the one hand, this could be used as an argument to show that Venezuela doesnt need a loosening in sanctions to receive more diesel if Maduro already feels that he has enough to give away. However, the real lesson here is that this part of U.S. sanctions is of no concern to Maduro, nor is the suffering of his people. A reinstatement of crude-for-diesel trade therefore cant hurt the U.S. agenda, only stands to help the Venezuelan people. By Haley Zaremba for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Safehaven.com: RIYADH Foreign Minister Mohammad Haneef Atmar met with his Saudi counterpart Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud on the last day of his visit to Saudi Arabia in Riyadh, on Thursday. Foreign Minister Atmar conveyed good wishes of H.E Mohammad Ashraf Ghani to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Saudi Arabia and said that the President of Afghanistan has the vision to open a new chapter in political and economic cooperation with Saudi Arabia while appreciating the current comprehensive cooperation. Foreign Minister Atmar spoke in detail about the peace process, and highlighted extremism and terrorism threatening peace and prosperity in Afghanistan, the region, and the Islamic world. The Saudi Foreign Minister said that "terrorism and extremism are common threat that requires joint action. Prince Faisal called attention to the role of the Islamic worlds scholars in ending bloodshed and finding a political solution to the Afghanistan conflict. The Saudi Foreign Minister said that his government is ready to take an active part in resolving differences between Afghans and strengthening the global consensus for lasting peace in Afghanistan. The two sides held comprehensive talks on expanding bilateral cooperation in the political, security, economic, and development sectors. The Saudi Foreign Minister welcomed the agreements reached between the Afghan Foreign Minister and the officials of the various sectors of the Saudi government and declared his readiness to cooperate to achieve the decisions and goals agreed between the two countries. Minister Atmar and his accompanying delegation attended a special banquet hosted by the Saudi Foreign Ministry and concluded by thanking the gracious hospitality of the Saudi officials. With the inauguration of Joe Biden as the 46th US President this week, we want to see your pictures from the day he visited Louth as Vice-President in 2016. President Biden has express pride at his Irish roots in Louth around the Cooley Peninsula and in Mayo. Do you have a winning snap from that famous day in 2016? Send it to us at editor@dundalkdemocrat.ie to have it featured online and in the paper. In this photo provided by Turkey's Health Ministry, a vaccination team member administers a dose of the CoronaVac vaccine, produced by China's Sinovac Biotech Ltd., to Sati Kayiran, 88, in Ayas, in Ankara province, Turkey, Thursday, Jan. 21, 2021. Turkey on Thursday expanded its COVID-19 inoculation campaign to include people aged 85 and older. (Turkish Health Ministry via AP) Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Friday that a further 10 million doses of the Chinese CoronaVac vaccine could arrive in Turkey by this weekend. Speaking after prayers in Istanbul, Erdogan said delivery of a second batch of the vaccine had been approved by China. Turkey has so far received 3 million doses and has vaccinated nearly 2 million people, prioritizing health workers and the elderly, since its program started a week ago. Erdogan has said he expects a Turkish-developed vaccine to be available in May. Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Mel Silva, right, the managing director of Google Australia and New Zealand, appears via a video link during a Senate inquiry into a mandatory code of conduct proposed by the government at Parliament House in Canberra, Friday, Jan. 22, 2021. Google on Friday threatened to make its search engine unavailable in Australia if the government went ahead with plans to make tech giants pay for news content. (Mick Tsikas/AAP Image via AP) Google on Friday threatened to make its search engine unavailable in Australia if the government went ahead with plans to make tech giants pay for news content. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison quickly hit back, saying "we don't respond to threats." "Australia makes our rules for things you can do in Australia," Morrison told reporters in Brisbane. "That's done in our Parliament. It's done by our government. And that's how things work here in Australia." The confrontation highlights Australia's leading role in the global movement to push back against the outsize influence of U.S. tech giants over the news business. Morrison's comments came after Mel Silva, the managing director of Google Australia and New Zealand, told a Senate inquiry into the bill that the new rules would be unworkable. "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," Silva told senators. "And that would be a bad outcome not only for us, but also for the Australian people, media diversity, and the small businesses who use our products every day." The mandatory code of conduct proposed by the government aims to make Google and Facebook pay Australian media companies fairly for using news content the tech giants siphon from news sites. Google has faced pressure from authorities elsewhere to pay for news. On Thursday, it signed a deal with a group of French publishers paving the way for the company to make digital copyright payments. Under the agreement, Google will negotiate individual licensing deals with newspapers, with payments based on factors such as the amount published daily and monthly internet site traffic. But Google is resisting the Australian plan because it would have less control over how much it would have to pay. Under the Australian system, if an online platform and a news business can't agree on a price for news, an arbitration panel would make a binding decision on payment. Mel Silva, left, the managing director of Google Australia and New Zealand, appears via a video link during a Senate inquiry into a mandatory code of conduct proposed by the government at Parliament House in Canberra, Friday, Jan. 22, 2021. Google on Friday threatened to make its search engine unavailable in Australia if the government went ahead with plans to make tech giants pay for news content. (Mick Tsikas/AAP Image via AP) Silva said Google was willing to pay a wide and diverse group of news publishers for the value they added, but not under the rules as proposed, which included payments for links and snippets. She said the code's "biased arbitration model" also posed unmanageable financial and operational risks for Google. She suggested a series of tweaks to the bill. "We feel there is a workable path forward," Silva said. Like in many other countries, Google dominates internet searches in Australia. Silva told senators about 95% of searches in the nation are done through Google. Asked by one senator how much tax it pays, Silva said last year it paid about 59 million Australian dollars ($46 million) on revenues of AU$4.8 billion ($3.7 billion). Facebook also opposes the rules and has threatened to remove news stories from its site in Australia. Simon Milner, a Facebook vice president, said the sheer volume of deals it would have to strike would be unworkable. The Australia Institute, an independent think tank, said lawmakers should stand firm against Google's bullying. "Google's testimony today is part of a pattern of threatening behavior that is chilling for anyone who values our democracy," said Peter Lewis, the director of the institute's Centre for Responsible Technology. Explore further Google says Australian law on paying for news is unworkable 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. HK doctors prefer Chinese Covid vaccine: survey HK doctors prefer Chinese Covid vaccine: survey Candice Wong reports A pro-government healthcare workers' group and four unions in the medical sector say a survey they've carried out suggests Hong Kong doctors, nurses and dentists prefer China's Sinovac coronavirus jabs to those developed overseas. Medical Conscience said on Friday that they polled 930 healthcare workers, including 444 doctors and 318 dentists, regarding the three vaccines the Hong Kong government has procured so far. Sixty-one percent said their preferred vaccine would be the one made by Sinovac, while 22 percent opted for the one made by Germany's BioNTech and 11 percent the jab from Anglo-Swedish company AstraZeneca. Five percent of the respondents said they would refuse to take Covid-19 vaccines altogether. Medical Conscience said the survey was carried out between January 7 and January 14. Researchers in Brazil only made public the findings of their late-stage trials of the Sinovac jabs on January 13, saying it has an efficacy rate of 50.4 percent - lower than those of the other two. But Dr David Lam from Medical Conscience said many in the medical sector already knew that Sinovac was their favourite, because it is made in a more conventional way, using inactivated virus particles. "Maybe doctors and nurses are kind of more conservative people so they choose something they know well. Thats probably the reason why more people chose the inactivated virus technology," Lam said at a press conference. "I wouldnt really put too much emphasis on the branding of the vaccines, but rather the technology behind them." Lam also said he has no problem with the governments plan to prioritise care home residents and staff over healthcare workers when the inoculation programme is launched. He said while he believes doctors and nurses should be among the first groups of people to get the jabs, they don't need to be right at the front of the queue because they are well-trained and can protect themselves using their professional knowledge. 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. Current Print Subscribers will be prompted to either login to their current site user account or to create a new one. A confirmation email will be sent when a new user account is created, which must be confirmed within three days in order to provide uninterrupted online access through your Print Subscription. Once the email address is confirmed please provide your Account Number to activate your Print Subscription Service. Dr. Marcia Chatelain said the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.s 1967 book title resonates in many ways with the struggles in the U.S. today. In his book Where Do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community? King advocates for a sense of hope. Chatelain, professor of history and African American studies at Georgetown University, said Kings book seems like it could have been written in 2021 because he is addressing the problems we still struggle with as a nation. As someone who is living in Washington, D.C., on the days before a very controversial inauguration, I feel the sense of urgency that Dr. King felt in his moment about what happens next, Chatelain said Tuesday during a free lecture hosted by Wilkes-Barre Law & Library Association. Chatelain said what strikes her about Kings question is that the opposite of chaos isnt order, its community. The only way we overcome tensions and the violence and the misunderstanding and the misinformation and the disinformation that circulates in our society today is to turn toward each other in community rather than in isolation, Chatelain said. Thats something that Dr. King talked about and reflected upon during the entire course of his entire 39 years on Earth. Chatelain presented her lecture called The Many Faces of King to local attorneys by phone and Zoom as a tribute to the civil rights leader on the day after Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the federal holiday in his honor. She stressed how important it is for attorneys to make sure their clients are represented fairly and have equality under the law and she encouraged them to learn more about the lawsuits in which King was involved. She said they could get guidance and inspiration from the complicated and layered figure. Dr. King was a man who stretched in so many directions and often those directions would be court appearances, she said. Among those appearances, King was involved in cases that challenged segregation on buses that led to the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 as well as cases about freedom of assembly. I implore you to really think about ways as attorneys you could celebrate Dr. Kings legacy from the many legal battles he was involved in, Chatelain told attorneys. Luzerne County Manager David Pedri, who introduced Chatelain, referenced Kings quote: We may have all come on different ships, but were in the same boat now. I thought how poignant a quote that is and how we really need togetherness in this country as we face our inauguration of the next president, Pedri said. Thank you for reading! Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. If you have a subscription, please log in or sign up for an account on our website to continue. Congress interim chief Sonia Gandhi on Friday slammed the Centre on the farmers' issue. During a crucial Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting here, she said it was abundantly clear that the three farm laws were prepared in 'haste and Parliament was consciously denied an opportunity to examine in any meaningful detail the implications and impact'. She said the government has shown 'shocking insensitivity and arrogance while going through the charade of consultations'. She also raised the issue of the alleged chat leak of Arnab Goswami over the Balakot airstrike in the wake of the Pulwama terror attack in which 40 CRPF troopers were killed. Speaking at the CWC meeting, Sonia Gandhi said, " Parliament will reconvene in a week's time. It is the Budget session of course. But there are so many pressing issues of public concern that need to be debated and discussed fully. Whether the government will agree, however, remains to be seen." Discussing the farmers agitation over the three farm laws, which has been going on for past 58 days at several borders of the national capital, the Congress leader said, "The agitation of the farmers continues and the government has shown shocking insensitivity and arrogance while going through the charade of consultations." Launching a tirade against the government over the way in which the three farm laws were passed, Sonia Gandhi said her party's position on the farm laws has been very clear from the very beginning. "We reject them categorically because they will destroy the foundations of food security that are based on the three pillars of MSP, public procurement and public distribution system (PDS)," she said. Discussing the alleged chat leak of Arnab Goswami with BARC former CEO Partho Dasgupta, Sonia Gandhi said, "Very recently there have been very disturbing reports on how national security has been so thoroughly compromised." She said, just a few days back, former Defence Minister A.K. Antony said that leaking of official secrets of military operations was "treason". Questioning the government's silence on the issue, she said, "Yet the silence from the government's side on what has been revealed has been deafening. Those who give certificates of patriotism and nationalism to others now stand totally exposed." Discussing the Covid vaccination, which started on January 16, the Congress leader said that vaccination of the courageous frontline health professionals and workers has begun and "we certainly hope that the process will continue and be completed to the fullest extent". "The government has inflicted untold suffering on the people of our country by the manner in which it has managed the Covid-19 pandemic. It will take years for the scars to heal," she said. Sonia Gandhi also raised the economic issue and said that the economic situation remains grim and large parts of the economy like MSME and the informal sector have been decimated with the government refusing to extend a lifeline. "When public expenditure has to be carefully prioritised, it is very painful to find huge amounts of money being allocated and spent on initiatives that can only be described as 'personal vanity projects'," she said. She also targeted the government over the weakening of the labour and environmental laws and moving ahead with selling off of carefully built-up public assets. "Panic privatisation has gripped the government and this is something that the Congress party can never accept and support," she said. Sonia Gandhi also said that the party has started preparing for the forthcoming Assembly elections in some states. "Meanwhile, the schedule and modalities for the organisational elections too has to get the CWC's approval," she said. A benefit to being an aging baby boomer is a historical perspective on catastrophic postwar tragedies that changed everything. By everything, I mean events that so dramatically altered the course of history in one 24-hour period that the day after ushered in a new era. I would argue the following three dates/events fall into that horrific category: Nov. 22, 1963: The assassination of President John F. Kennedy. Sept. 11, 2001: The terrorist attacks on New York and Washington. Jan. 6, 2021: The U.S. Capitol attack. The latter is still raw and smoldering. There is much footage and evidence waiting to be reviewed. Many facts, villains, perpetrators, and collaborators are to be determined, with more arrests sure to come. Figuratively, tidal waves continue to crash on the shores of the Potomac from this political tsunami an insurrection incited by former President Trump against a co-equal branch of government and his loyal vice president. Have we met the enemy, and he is us, chanting USA, USA? The Capitol remains a fortress and a crime scene. Hence, it is too early for grand conclusions about precisely how Jan. 6 will alter and impact U.S. history, except to say that it will. As points of comparison, lets revisit JFKs death and Sept.11, 2001. JFK Assassination On the day John Kennedy was shot, I was a third-grader in Needham, Mass., a suburb of his Boston hometown. Seared into my memory is watching a classroom television when Walter Cronkite announced, President Kennedy died at 1 p.m. Central Standard Time. Two days later, another mind-branded memory took root. Watched live by most Americans, alleged assassin Lee Harvey Oswald was himself shot by Jack Ruby. Years ago, veteran CBS journalist Bob Schieffer famously wrote that the JFK killing was when America lost its innocence. He explained, As the entire nation watched in horror and shock as the events of that weekend unfolded on television in real-time the FIRST time that had ever happened our national confidence was shaken to the core. While JFKs untimely death gripped the nation in unified mourning, newly sworn-in President Lyndon Johnson vowed to continue Kennedys visions for a better and more equal America. JFKs passing, coupled with Johnsons political savvy as a former Senate majority leader, resulted in numerous groundbreaking legislative achievements and social programs under the Great Society umbrella. The first was the landmark Civil Rights Act, signed on July 2, 1964. Now-familiar programs such as Medicare and Medicaid became law the following year. Although Kennedys violent death negatively impacted Americans of all ages, few were more affected than the first wave of baby boomers, then in their teens. Less than three months later, a performance phenomenon united and infused the nations youth with new hope and turned the tide of their mourning. The Beatles made their U.S. debut on The Ed Sullivan Show, Feb. 9, 1964. They were watched by 45.3% of households 73 million Americans. The Fab Fours music helped spark the period of cultural/social changes and political upheaval we now speak of simply as the sixties. But the first domino fell with the violence of Nov. 22, 1963. Sept. 11, 2001 On a sunny September morning 38 years later, everything changed again. Four commercial airliners loaded with fuel for their east to west journeys across the U.S. were hijacked and turned into suicide missiles by 19 Islamic terrorists. The attacks targeting Americas most iconic financial, military, and government buildings took nearly 3,000 lives and launched the Global War on Terror. Although Congress had not officially declared war, enabling legislation granted President George W. Bush all the authority and resources needed to conduct operations abroad and at home. Most notable was the Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF), signed on Sept. 18, 2001, and soon followed by the Patriot Act on Oct. 26. The attacks also facilitated a massive government reorganization that, for starters, birthed the Department of Homeland Security. Moreover, significant flaws in the nations vast web of intelligence agencies, which had led to a failure to connect the dots and share information, were exposed. Collectively, Americans had never been more unified in their patriotism and outrage. Meanwhile, however, amid the fear of more attacks was apprehension about lost privacy and personal data collection. All Americans were impacted by tighter security measures, especially on planes and in airports. Furthermore, thousands of young men and women were motivated to join the military and fight back. What now are called endless wars began first in Afghanistan, followed by Iraq. As with JFKs assassination, most of us will always remember where we were upon hearing the catastrophic news of Sept. 11, 2001. On that day, American life forever changed as we were all infused with an awareness of terrorist threats embodied in the popular, actionable slogan See something, say something. Jan. 6, 2021 This was the first time the Capitol had been attacked since the War of 1812. Though facts and fallout from Jan. 6 are still unfolding, over time that date will equate to 9/11 with its potential for long-term political consequences, policy changes, legislative action, and national vulnerability. To best frame the discussion, what follows are questions that eventually will be answered some within weeks, others in months. Still others will take considerably longer. --How will we label Jan. 6, 2021? Will it be known as the Capitol Hill Siege? Will it be officially remembered each year with solemnity? --Did the attack prove that our democracy is fragile or strong? Remember, later that evening Congress reconvened and certified the Electoral College results for Joe Bidens victory. The following Wednesday, the House of Representatives voted to impeach President Trump. This Wednesday, Bidens inauguration went smoothly, though the Capitol was turned into an armed fortress. Three consecutive Wednesdays in January that a fiction writer could never have imagined. --When will the Capitol building and grounds get back to normal levels of security? Or will there forever be a new normal? --What was the root cause of the attack? Increasing white nationalism that turned into domestic terrorism? Overzealous mobs egged on by Donald Trumps Big Lie that the election was stolen and could be overturned on Jan. 6? --Will there be any long-term impact on the Republican Party? What happens to the ambitious careers of two Jan. 6 ringleaders, Sens. Ted Cruz and Josh Hawley? --Will Trump be convicted in the Senate for inciting an insurrection? If not, does that weaken the Constitutions impeachment clause? --How will Jan. 6 impact Trumps brand in the short term? What about his legacy? --In the future, will the losing party be more apt to challenge presidential elections? --How will the Jan. 6 events impact Joe Bidens presidency in the first 100 days when a Senate trial is likely to be convened? --How was the Capital so easily breached on Jan. 6? Did the mob have inside help? --How many Capitol attackers will be convicted? --Will there be fallout for Christians considering the appalling footage of Capitol attackers praying in the name of Jesus in the House chamber? --How will Jan. 6 impact the ongoing debate about free speech and the power of tech giants to de-platform social media accounts? --Will there be a congressionally authorized January 6 Commission similar to the 9/11 Commission? Will it have separate Republican and Democrat conclusions? --Given the haste of Trumps second impeachment, will that tool be used more frequently by the opposing party against future presidents? So many questions, so many complicated answers (where any can be discerned). The passing of time will clarify the issues and concerns unleashed by the Capitol attack. That understanding will then translate into steps sure to shape our national identity and impact political discourse well into the 21st century. As with 11/22/63 and 9/11/01, 1/6/21 will echo long in our lives. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 22) The Department of Health on Friday confirmed the detection of 16 new cases of the UK COVID-19 variant in the country. The DOH said twelve of the 16 additional cases are from Bontoc, Mountain Province. Town mayor Franklin Odsey also confirmed the 12 patients who tested positive of the B.1.1.7 variant of COVID-19. "12 out of 35 specimens from COVID-19 positive cases in this capital town have been confirmed to be of the UK variant. The Bontoc LGU urges everyone to intensify adherence to basic health protocols. Lockdown is still in effect," Odsey said. Of the 12 positive cases in Bontoc, the DOH said seven are male and five are female. Three are aged below 18 and another three are above 60. The other two patients who tested positive of the UK COVID-19 variant are overseas Filipino workers who returned to the country last Dec. 29 from Lebanon via a Philippine Airlines flight. The first case is a 64-year old female from Jaro, Iloilo City. She was isolated in San Juan City and discharged on January 9. The other is a 47-year old female OFW, reportedly a resident of Binangonan, Rizal. She was quarantined in New Clark City and discharged from isolation on January 13. The remaining two are local cases detected in La Trinidad, Benguet and Calamba City, Laguna. Both have no known contact with any confirmed case or travel history from outside the country. The positive case from La Trinidad is currently admitted in a Benguet temporary treatment and monitoring facility, while the 23-year-old male in Laguna has been discharged after testing negative on January 16. Of the 16 cases, the DOH says three have already recovered. Among the 13 active cases, three are asymptomatic and 10 have mild symptoms. "Biosurveillance is in place, and we will continue to expand our capacities to detect all COVID variants of public health importance," the DOH said in a statement. The department called on concerned local government units to ensure strict monitoring and compliance with quarantine protocols in their respective localities. The additional cases bring the total infected UK COVID-19 variant patients in the country to 17. The first case, announced by the DOH last January 13, is a 29-year-old male who returned to the country from Dubai last January 7. The DOH on Friday announced that the patient, a resident of Quezon City, is now cleared of coronavirus infection. Jeff Barker The Baltimore Sun (TNS) U.S. Rep. Andy Harris of Maryland is the latest Republican lawmaker to run afoul of new security screening designed to keep guns out of the House chamber following an attack two weeks ago on the Capitol, according to a Capitol official and an eyewitness account. A security official saw a firearm on the person of Rep. Harris and relayed that to his superiors as Harris sought to enter the chamber Thursday, said the Capitol official with knowledge of the events. To be clear, Rep. Harris did not enter the Floor, said the official. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter. The encounter was witnessed by Matt Fuller, a reporter for HuffPost. He tweeted that after Harris was refused entry, he asked Republican U.S. Rep. John Katko of New York to take something from him. Katko declined, saying he doesnt have a license, according to Fullers tweets. Aides to Harris and Katko did not respond Thursday night to questions from The Baltimore Sun. The U.S. Capitol Police department is looking into the matter, spokeswoman Eva Malecki told The Sun. She declined to answer questions, saying we cant comment on an ongoing investigation. Harris district includes parts of the counties of Baltimore, Carroll and Harford, as well as the Eastern Shore. After speaking with Katko, Harris then left on the elevators and 10 minutes later returned to the House chamber, according to Fullers article for HuffPost. He placed his cellphone and keys on a desk to the side, did not set off the magnetometer and was allowed to enter the House floor. The House placed metal detectors outside the chambers doors in the week after violent supporters of then-President Donald Trump stormed and ransacked the Capitol on Jan. 6, threatening members and then-Vice President Mike Pence. The rioters were trying to halt Congress from finalizing the Nov. 3 election results in which the Republican Trump lost to Democrat Joe Biden. Once that session resumed, Harris was among the GOP members arguing on behalf of Trumps unfounded contention that some election results should be dismissed because of fraud or other irregularities. Members are permitted to carry guns on the Capitol grounds, including the building itself, but not in the chamber. However, enough Republican lawmakers have been flouting the rules that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced Jan. 13 that members would be fined $5,000 in the future for refusing to abide by these protections. A second offense would carry a $10,000 fine. The levies would be deducted from their salaries, the speaker said. Among those criticizing the rules are Rep. Lauren Boebert, a Colorado Republican who tweeted Jan. 3 that she would carry my Glock to Congress. Harris, a member of the conservative Freedom Caucus who was endorsed by Trump, has earned high marks from the National Rifle Association for his gun rights votes. In 2013, he held a Bring your own Gun fundraiser, inviting participants to take target practice. Rep. John Katko: US Capitol attack was much worse than people realized Rep. John Katko: Establish national commission to investigate US Capitol attack Reese Witherspoon highlighted the incredible resemblance she and her children have in a cute selfie shared with her 25 million Instagram followers on Thursday. The 44-year-old Oscar winner looked years younger than her true age as she posed next to her 17-year-old son Deacon. The resemblance between the two was so strong that her son looked as if he could have been her younger brother. Seeing the resemblance: Reese Witherspoon, 44, looked so much like her 17-year-old son Deacon Phillippe that he could have been her younger brother in a cute selfie posted Thursday to Instagram Reese was bundled up against the cold in the wintry outdoor photo in a thick black coat with a furry hood and a red top. She rocked a minimal makeup look and covered up her straight blond tresses with a brown ski cap. Deacon beamed with his head resting on hers, while staying toasty in a dark green plaid sweater. 'love him to the moon,' the Morning Show star sweetly captioned her photo before tagging her son. Although Deacon hasn't shown much of an interest in acting, he confirmed that he was following his parents into a career in the arts after releasing his debut EDM single over the summer. Blended family: Reese shares Deacon and his 21-year-old sister Ava Phillippe with her ex-husband Ryan Phillippe, while she and her husband Jim Toth share eight-year-old Tennessee Which one's which? The A-lister often leaves her followers seeing double when she posts photos with her lookalike daughter Ava Deacon isn't the only one of Reese's children who bears a striking resemblance to her. The A-lister often leaves her followers seeing double when she posts photos with her lookalike daughter Ava Phillippe, 21. Reese shares her two oldest children with her ex-husband Ryan Phillippe, 46. The two actors were first introduced at her 21st birthday party in 1997, and two years later they married in a ceremony in Charleston, South Carolina. In between, they starred together in the hit dark romance Cruel Intentions. New love: In early 2010, Reese was reported to have begun dating Jim, a talent agent, and they married the following year at her estate in Ojai, California The couple later separated in 2006 and finalized their divorce the following year. In early 2010, Reese was reported to have begun dating the talent agent Jim Toth, and they married the following year at her estate in Ojai, California. Reese welcomed her third son, Tennessee, eight, with Jim in 2012. Sad: Later on Thursday, the Inherent Vice actress shared in her Instagram Stories that she had found a lovely cardinal in her driveway, but it appeared to be injured and couldn't fly In need: He hopped into a shoe box and she asked her followers for tips on how to help the bright-red bird Reese's photo with Deacon showed that she had left the warmer climate of Southern California behind, most likely for her home in Nashville, Tennessee, where her Draper James clothing boutique is located. Later on Thursday, the Inherent Vice actress shared in her Instagram Stories that she had found a lovely cardinal in her driveway. The bird appeared to be injured, and she wrote that 'He can't fly' as she got closer to it and it didn't make an effort to take off. 'I put down a box and he hopped in,' she captioned a second video showing the bird sitting in a shoe box, while she clarified that she hadn't touched it. The A-lister also put out a call for advice from her followers on what to do about the bird. Coming soon: The pandemic has slowed down her film projects, but Reese has a high-profile Legally Blonde sequel in the pipeline Pals: Her friend Mindy Kaling will be putting her comic skills to good use in writing the film's screenplay Although the ongoing coronavirus pandemic has slowed down Reese's Hollywood projects, she has plenty of high-profile projects in the pipeline. She'll be returning to her popular Legally Blonde series for a third outing as Elle Woods with her friend Mindy Kaling writing the screenplay. She'll also be returning to the sequel Sing 2 to voice the character Rosita, and she'll take on the title role in the upcoming Disney live-action film Tinkerbell. As many high-profile Instagram accounts out there show, you can attempt to reset the social media counter by showcasing the machines you use to get from one point of the world to another or your mansion. But you'll never be Porsche-in-a-swimming-pool-above-an-airborne-plane cool! And that's without mentioning the minimalist home the said pool is attached to. So, why not enjoy such delights in a form that steers clear of financial limitations and boundaries altogether?Looking past the potential liberation message sent by this short clip, the photorealistic nature of the rendering is definitely a sight for sore eyes.Now, those of you who consume digital art on a regular basis might be familiar with the idea of 911s being treated as amphibious vehicles , since we're looking at the work of Chris Labrooy.And the Zuffenhausen automaker isn't the only big name that has joined forces with the Scottish artist. For one, you can currently find his pixels on the Lamborghini website, in a splash of color that celebrates the Diablo's 30th anniversary. It's also worth noting that, outside the automotive realm, Labrooy has collaborated with names such as Apple or Nike, along with smaller businesses commissioning equally immersive projects Portraying Porsches as contraptions that can travel equally far on all three axes isn't limited to the 964 Neunelfer showcased in the first Instagram post below, or to airplanes, for that matter.In fact, if you check out the image in the second post, you'll find a 928, the model that was supposed to replace the 911 in the late 1970s, using its custom air propulsion system to hover around in the lounge at the John F. Kennedy International Airport's TWA Terminal.The piece is just as much of an innovative showcase of Porsche's iconic Guards Red shade as it is a tribute to the stunning work of American-Finnish architect Eero Saarinen. You know, the man who designed the TWA Flight Center airport terminal and hotel complex back in the late 1950s.The artist has returned to the matter, allowing us to zoom in on that Porsche relaxing inside the pool, while also playing with the lights, as you'll notice in the third Insta post below. Mumbai: Scam 1992" actor Pratik Gandhi is set to star in romantic-comedy Atithi Bhooto Bhava". The film is directed by Hardik Gajjar and produced by Pen Studios, known for backing titles such as Kahaani and Helicopter Eela. Gajjar is also co-producing the movie. Jayantilal Gada of Pen Studios said he is glad to associate with Gandhi and Gajjar again after Ravan Leela". Both these films are content driven and thats always been Pen Studios aim," Gada said in a statement. The shoot of Atithi Bhoota Bhava" commenced on Friday in Mathura. The film also features actors Sharmin Segal and Jackie Shroff. Gandhi, who had a successful 2020 courtesy web series Scam 1992 The Harshad Mehta Story", said he is excited to collaborate with Gajjar, Pen Studios and Shroff. This unique love story will be a learning experience as I will be working with a supremely talented actor Jackie Shroff," the actor said. The makers are planning to release the film sometime this year. The U.S.-China competition, which started with a tariff war under the former Donald Trump administration, is expected to escalate with the Joe Biden administration and continue to impact Korea's policy-making. gettyimagesbank By Do Je-hae One of the gravest challenges for Korea in the years ahead may be the escalating U.S.-China rivalry which will continue to have a profound impact on Korea's policies in various sectors, including diplomacy, national security and trade. Already, key nominees of the new U.S. administration have expressed a hardline stance against China. During a Senate confirmation hearing last week, U.S. Secretary of State-nominee Antony Blinken told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee that he will maintain a tough stance on Beijing. Asked whether he had any doubts that the goal of the Chinese Communist Party is to be the world's predominant political, geopolitical, military and economic power and for the U.S. to decline, Blinken said, "I have no doubt." Pull from two superpowers The prospect of a continued tough stance by the U.S. on China has resulted in growing concerns for Korea, which has been stuck between the two superpowers who have become increasingly vocal in their demand for loyalty. Even during the COVID-19 pandemic last year, some of the top policymakers from the U.S. and China rushed to visit Korea. In particular, the successive visits by Yang Jiechi, China's top diplomat and adviser to Chinese President Xi Jinping, and Wang Yi, state councilor and foreign minister, demonstrated the importance China places on Korea as a strategic partner in its efforts to deal with the competition with the U.S. Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi speaks during a visit to the National Assembly, Nov. 27, 2020. During Wang's visit to Korea, the two countries agreed on wide-ranging areas of cooperation ahead of the 30th anniversary in 2022 of the establishment of bilateral ties. Korea Times photo by Oh Dae-geun The growing importance China places on Korea can be seen in the wide range of trade and economic cooperation opportunities Wang underscored during his visit here in November. Some experts say China is trying to bring Korea closer to its side by promoting economic cooperation, including the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), phase two deal of the Korea-China FTA and the Korea-China-Japan FTA. After Wang's visit to Korea, the two countries announced that they would establish a "Korea-China Joint Plan for Economic Cooperation (2021-2025)," a blueprint for economic cooperation over the next five years. The two neighbors will also launch a committee for the future-oriented development of bilateral relations marking the 30th anniversary in 2022 of the establishment of diplomatic relations, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. "Ultimately, China is trying to distance Korea from the U.S. by strengthening economic cooperation," Lee Seong-hyon, director of the Center for Chinese Studies at Sejong Institute, told The Korea Times. "Throughout his visit to Korea, Wang stressed the RCEP, Korea-China-Japan FTA and the second phase of the Korea-China FTA as well as the 30th anniversary committee. All of these are primarily aimed at driving Korea toward China economically and at the people-to-people level." Unlike Trump who showed a disregard for allies, Biden is expected to implement policies to contain China in consultation with its allies and urge Korea to play a bigger role in its Indo-Pacific strategy. During a phone call with President Moon Jae-in on Nov. 12, 2020, Biden said Korea was the "linchpin of security and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region." Some experts say Korea is expected to let the two superpowers know exactly where it stands when it comes to sensitive issues, such as the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QUAD) currently involving the U.S., India, Japan and Australia that may be expanded to include other allies such as Korea on the South China Sea conflict. "The Biden administration will call for stronger participation from Korea in dealing with issues regarding China," Shin Beom-chul, director at Research Institute for Economy and Society, told The Korea Times. Beyond U.S. and China Last year, the Korean media was obsessed with how Korea will position itself between the U.S. Korea's most important security ally and China, which is Korea's biggest trading partner. But the often-asked question of how to make a choice is unrealistic for Korea as both countries are indispensable for its security and economy, according to other analysts. "In fact, no other country in the world is making a choice over the other at the moment," Kim Heung-kyu, a professor of political science at Ajou University, told The Korea Times. "For us, both the U.S. and China are so important. Therefore, it is conducive to our national interest to continue to solidify the Korea-U.S. alliance and pay respect to the strategic cooperative partnership with China as much as possible as our strategic assets." He also underscored the need for Korea to diversify its diplomacy and expand its global network to better prepare for the challenges of an era marked by intensifying superpower competition. Kim calls this a "solidifying alliance with the U.S. and developing a strategic partnership with China and plus strategy." President Moon Jae-in, at the center of the screen, takes part in a virtual ASEAN summit at Cheong Wa Dae in November 2020. Experts are highlighting the need to diversify Korea's diplomacy to better prepare for the challenges of an era of superpower competition. Korea Times file 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 pair of newlyweds undertook a beautiful gesture for the bride's grandmother, by getting married for the second time so she could attend a private ceremony. Virginia Cannon, 90, was brought to tears when she watched her granddaughter, also named Virginia, and husband Harvey Sydnor marry through the window of her care facility in Richmond, Virginia. Harvey, 51, and Virginia, 36, initially tied the knot on October 10, 2020 but when Virginia's grandmother couldn't attend because of health reasons and the pandemic, the couple wanted to do everything they could to make sure she did not miss out on wedding. Harvey Sydnor, left, and his wife Virginia, center, got married for a second time so her grandmother Virginia Cannon, right, could witness the ceremony from inside her care home in Richmond, Virginia Virginia Cannon, 90, pictured, was unable to attend the original ceremony due to ill health so staff at the care home facilitated a repeat of the wedding Mrs Cannon, right, stood behind a door while her granddaughter and Mr Sydnor repeated their vows The new bride spoke to Windsor Senior Center's activities director, Christina Scott, to see if there was anything extra that could be done. She was informed that her grandmother could not leave the center because of the risk of Covid-19, however, Ms Scott suggested that a 'mock wedding' could be hosted at the facility. Mr Sydnor, who is from Richmond, Virginia, said: 'At first, I was just going through the motions of the ceremony. 'It wasn't until later that I could see her grandmother's reactions. 'It brings tears to my eyes every time I see the video and the joy in her voice to see her granddaughter walking down the aisle. 'No matter what situation you are in, make the best of it. 'Keep others' feelings and health in mind. Do the little extra to bring smiles to someone else's face, and you reap the rewards. 'COVID is a situation we just need to work around it.' The entire wedding party got dressed up for a second time so Mrs Cannon could see their outfits The couple even had a second wedding cake created for their repeat special day 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. Every time former CIA Director John Brennan appears on cable news to warn America about some new "insidious threat to democracy," I am reminded again that he deserves to be in federal prison. In this corrupt media environment, however, the official who oversaw an illegal domestic-spying operation on the legislative branch of the United States government, who tried to cover it up and blame innocent Senate staffers when discovered, and who then brazenly lied about it to legislators and the American people -- this man is held up as a paragon of civic virtue. We still don't even know what role Brennan played in spying on his political opponents during the 2016 campaign. We do know he went on TV for years after, alleging to have insider knowledge of an unprecedented seditious criminal conspiracy against the United States. Never once was he challenged by his hosts. And when an independent multimillion-dollar investigation couldn't pull together a single indictment related to those claims, Brennan shrugged it off by saying that he may have "received bad information." Brennan was back on MSNBC yesterday, contending that American intelligence agencies "are moving in laser-like fashion to try to uncover as much as they can about" the pro-Trump "insurgency" that harbors "religious extremists, authoritarians, fascists, bigots, racists, nativists, even libertarians." Even a former Communist such as Brennan surely understands that there is nothing prohibiting Americans from being religious extremists, fascists, bigots, racists, nativists or even libertarians. It's definitely none of his business, or that of intelligence agencies, to define what those terms mean. (And the idea that libertarians, who can't get a minyan to agree on anything libertarian, are marshaling forces for a national insurgency is nonsensical.) As Brennan is a congenital liar, this may well be another one of his convenient fictions. Yet, considering his history of abusing power -- Samantha Power, no lightweight on this front herself, once warned that it wasn't a "good idea to piss off John Brennan" -- we shouldn't entirely dismiss the idea that his allies are ferreting out thoughtcrimes. Finding those who illegally threaten others with violence is well within the bailiwick of the government. But the Capitol riot has given authoritarians such as Brennan the pretext to advocate the chilling of speech and censorship. It has become normalized, even celebrated. Networks such as CNN employ full-time anti-speech advocates who pump out cynical content meant to shame tech carriers into taking their competition off the air. "Extremists exploit a loophole in social moderation: Podcasts on Apple, Google," reports Tali Arbel at the Associated Press. Are Americans who express their political views on the internet really abusing a "loophole," or are Big Tech companies who censor them at the behest of the powerful abusing a "loophole" in the First Amendment? Only in the kicker of the fearmongering piece does Arbel quote Jillian York of the Electronic Frontier Foundation, who warns that the tide of censorship "is against the speech of right-wing extremists ... but tomorrow the tide might be against opposition activists." The problem is that censors never believe they'll lose power, and maybe this time they're right. Those who rationalize state censorship almost always expand their definition of "extremist" to include their political opponents. The Washington Post's columnist Max Boot, for instance, welcomed regime change by imploring the Biden administration to regulate those who supposedly incite radicalism, including Fox News. Yesterday, Nicolle Wallace, Brennan's MSNBC colleague, called for forcing Republicans to offer "the truth" before they are "allowed" to say anything else. As we protect people from "counterfeit bills," she explained, we can protect them against "fake news." What made Wallace's comment especially surreal -- aside from the fact that's she apparently never read the Constitution -- was that her guest was Ben Rhodes, the former Obama administration official who once bragged to The New York Times that he'd duped a bunch of dimwitted reporters into becoming his disinformation operation. Now Rhodes, too, seems interested in importing Iranian-style censorship with a "firm and brutal" "detox" of bad ideas, achieved through the "national security" and "Homeland Security" officials. I'm old-fashioned. I'd rather have a bunch of nuts ranting on podcasts all day than one John Brennan deciding what we can say. To my ears, Rhodes, Brennan, Wallace and Boot are the ones who sound like a threat to "democracy." COPYRIGHT 2020 CREATORS.COM Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Vietnamese and Indian experts discuss opportunities for Vietnamese and Indian enterprises in the pharmaceutical industry. (Photo: VNA) Hanoi - Experts have pointed out lots of opportunities for Vietnamese and Indian enterprises in the pharmaceutical industry in Vietnam. In an effort to promote trade and investment in the pharmaceutical sector, the Embassy of India, the International Investment Promotion Alliance, the Association of Foreign Invested Enterprises and the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) organised a seminar in Hanoi on January 21 to connect experts and enterprises from the two countries. According to the embassy, India was popularly known as the pharmacy of the world, earning its credibility as one of the largest manufacturers of generic drugs. It also said the Indian pharmaceutical sector supplies over 50 percent of global demand for various vaccines, 40 percent of generic demand in the US and 25 percent of all medicine in the UK. Indian drugs are exported to more than 200 countries in the world, with the US being the key market. Indian pharmaceutical exports, including bulk drugs, intermediates, drug formulations, biologicals, Ayush & herbal products and surgical equipment, reached 16.28 billion USD in 2020. Ambassador Pranay Verma told the seminar: Vietnam is a key consumer of Indian pharmaceuticals with an annual trade worth 225 million USD. Vietnam is currently the 19th among the top 25 destinations for Indian pharmaceutical products. Indronil Sengupta, President of the India Chamber of Commerce in Hanoi, said: India has a large pool of scientists and engineers with potential to steer the industry ahead to greater heights, measuring the market size of Vietnam, with nearly 100 million of people, had an estimated total value of 7 billion USD in 2019 and would be growing at 8 percent till 2024. At the same time, local drug manufacturers were able to meet half of the total medicine market demand, approximately 60 percent of pharmaceutical end products, 90 percent of active pharmaceutical ingredients while most of the raw materials for the production were currently imported from India, China and other places. According to Indian experts, new regulations from various FTAs in Vietnam brought opportunities and challenges to Indian pharmaceutical companies which could enjoy lower taxes in the industry compared with companies in European countries. Nguyen Tuan Anh, factory director of Sao Kim Pharmaceutical Joint Stock Company, which produces and exports anti-malarial drug materials to Africa and some Southeast Asian countries, said his company expected to partner more with the Indian firms for more projects in Vietnam to serve the potential pharmaceutical market with a growth rate of more than 15 percent each year. Anh told Vietnam News: With the advantages in pharmaceutical materials and natural active ingredients that can meet domestic and export demand, we aim to develop high technology factories for pharmaceutical products to better compete in the market. Anh said more FTAs, especially ones with India, brought both chances and challenges to local companies like his as multinational pharmaceutical corporations could invest in and acquire the private enterprises, increasing competition. As most of the local pharmaceutical companies mainly produce inexpensive and common drugs, while drugs of high value still have to be imported, Anh said he was looking for Indian partners who can incorporate, transfer technology or participate in part of the pharmaceutical active ingredient semi-synthetic chain in Vietnam. Anh also expected to own the technology from good co-operation with Indian partners so that his company could soon proactively own the source raw materials in pharmaceutical production, helping Vietnam avoid the manipulation of raw materials from foreign producers to local production. Also at the seminar, Pham Thi Thu, owner of the drug chain Green Pharma 24 in Thanh Hoa, Hanoi and HCM City, said 50 percent of turnover was from Indian products which were at much lower prices compared to other imported drugs. Thu told Vietnam News: Vietnamese consumers love foreign brands and it is easier to advise them to buy Indian products with a price of as much as local products instead of paying for a price of two or three times higher for European imported drugs. Economist Nguyen Mai quoted the BMI Research in 2018 saying that Vietnam's pharmaceutical market size reached 5.9 billion USD, up 11.5 percent over the previous year, becoming the second largest pharmaceutical market in Southeast Asia, staying in the group of 17 countries with the highest pharmaceutical industry growth rate in the world. The current 180 local pharmaceutical manufacturing enterprises and 224 factories meeting GMP (good manufacturing practice) standards, met only 52.5 percent of the demand while the rest must be imported. According to the market report, the import turnover of pharmaceutical products reached 2.7 billion USD, up 6.7 percent, and the import of pharmaceutical materials reached 338 million USD, up 4.1 percent over the same period last year. As the report forecast local pharmaceutical industry to increase 11 percent per year as one of the most stable in the world, reaching 7.7 billion USD in 2021 and 16.1 billion USD in 2026, Mai said there was great potential for both sides. He said: Vietnamese and Indian pharmaceutical enterprises can establish long-term relationships, proceeding to sign and implement import-export contracts, make a "win-win" investment, contributing positively to the expansion of economic, scientific and technological cooperation relations between the two countries.". Judge Says Hall Competent for Trial By West Kentucky Star Staff PADUCAH - A man facing first-degree rape and strangulation charges from early last year was in court Wednesday.The McCracken Circuit Court Clerk says a competency hearing was held for 20-year-old Kevin Hall. The judge ruled that he is competent to stand trial and a pre-trial conference was scheduled for February 12.Hall had a hearing in December where the judge refused to reduce his bond from $25,000.He was arrested January 3, 2020, and McCracken County Sheriff's Deputies say Hall strangled a woman while forcibly raping her at his home. Robert Kocharyan on years of his leadership in Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia Situation on Armenian-Azerbaijani border is still tense, more on COVID-19 in Armenia, May 28 digest "Armenia" alliance of political parties paying tribute to founder of First Republic Aram Manukyan (LIVE) Yerevan.today: Armenia acting PM not greeted at ruling party's headquarters, citizens call him 'capitulator' Russia MOD reports on maintenance of ceasefire regime in Nagorno-Karabakh Armenia acting MOD meets with Russian counterpart in Moscow Armenia 2nd President: I see possibility of restoring borders of Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast We can provide our army with some key, modernized weapons, says Armenia ex-President Kocharyan Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: Captives issue is not one that any opposition force can resolve OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs release statement on detention of 6 Armenian servicemen by Azerbaijan Armenian acting Deputy PM: Discussion on issues possible only after withdrawal of Azeri troops from Armenia's territory Armenia acting PM on Syunik roads, Russian military posts: This is only place where there are working nuances Armenia acting PM: Process of return of POWs will intensify after upcoming elections Putin congratulates Aliyev on Republic Day 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 French President Emmanuel Macron said he would not apologize for Frances colonization of Algeria on Wednesday. It is not the first time Macron, heavily active on the world stage, has made controversial comments related to North Africa. Macron said there would be no repentance nor apologies, the French news service Agence France-Presse reported on Wednesday. The comments pertain to the French occupation of Algeria from 1830 to 1962, as well as the independence war during the last eight years of that period. France had a massive colonial empire at the time that also included Tunisia, Lebanon and Syria in the 20th century. Algeria was a unique example because Paris ruled the North African country as a part of France. Hundreds of thousands of European settlers known as pieds-noirs moved there. The majority Arab and Berber Muslim population did not have the same rights as the newcomers. Atrocities were committed by both French and Algerian forces during the war. After independence, there was a massive exodus of pieds-noirs as well as Algerian Jews and Muslims who had obtained French citizenship to France. Macrons comment coincided with the release of a report he commissioned on improving ties between France and Algeria. The report recommended a memories and truth commission to investigate French rule in Algeria and Macron agreed to establish it, according to The New York Times. Algerian-French ties are wrapped up in their colonial history. In July, as Black Lives Matter protests broke out internationally, Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune asked France to apologize for its treatment of Algerians during the occupation. Macron's other controversial comments on Africa include his 2017 statement that Africas problems were civilizational and the result of African families producing seven or eight children. Macron, who took office in 2017, has led international efforts to help Lebanon after the Beirut explosion last August. France also conducts military operations in the Sahel region of North Africa against Islamist forces. The time has come for India to legislate a Right to Health ensure everyone can access healthcare without risking falling prey to poverty. Despite swift advances in healthcare, Universal Health Coverage (UHC) remains a distant dream for India. Affordability of health services is a major hurdle in accessing healthcare in the worlds second-most populous country despite several government programs working towards it. Nearly 55 million Indians were pushed into poverty in 2011-12 due to enormous healthcare costs, which they pay from their meagre savings or by borrowing money. The recently released first phase of the National Family Health Survey, round 5 (NFHS-5) revealed startling trends in out-of-pocket expenditure. The findings reflect the situation before COVID-19 hit and the numbers are likely to be worse now on the back of Indias worst public health emergency this century the coronavirus pandemic. NFHS data reveals healthcare costs The Out-of-Pocket expenditure (OOPE) incurred by people while accessing public health services is on the rise. NFHS V data reveals that average out of pocket expenditure per delivery in a public health facility has risen in 10 states and two Union Territories. Amongst the states for which data was released in the first phase, the average OOPE for delivery in the public facility has increased by more than 10 percent in last five years (from NFHS- IV in 2015-16 to NFHS- V in 2019-20) in India. The steepest rise was of nearly 108 percent in Sikkim, where expenditure rose from Rs. 3,993 (NFHS-IV) to Rs. 8,334 (NFHS- V). The highest average Out of pocket expenditure was incurred in Manipur, which was Rs. 14,518. According to the National Health Account (NHA) 2016-17, out of pocket expenditure incurred by people was nearly 2.2 percent of GDP. This is higher than the Government of Indias own health spending, which amounts to 1.6 percent of GDP for 2020. Households shoulder the highest share of health expenditure in the country (63.2 percent in 2016-17). Consequently, OOPE is one of the biggest reason for people falling into poverty, leading to a vicious cycle of poor health outcomes and poverty. Moreover, the pandemic has highlighted the importance of good health outcomes - for not just an individual, but society at large. Government efforts to reduce OOPE The rising costs of healthcare are something the government recognizes and various schemes aimed at the poor and vulnerable exist. Janani-Shishu Suraksha Karyakram (JSSK) under the National Health Mission (NHM) aims to make maternal services more accessible and affordable for women at public health facilities. The Ayushman Bharat- Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojna (PMJAY) aims to address costs on healthcare. Other initiatives to address OOPE issues include Surakshit Matritva Aashwasan (SUMAN) and NHM Free Drugs Service Initiatives. However, out of pocket expenditure remains high and is still rising as suggested by NFHS V. Clearly these schemes appear to not be working as efficiently as expected. Public health infrastructure affects healthcare costs The benefits under schemes like the JSSK and SUMAN need well-equipped public health infrastructure, where they can access health services under the scheme. However, as of March 2018, only seven percent of functioning Sub-Centres, 12 percent of Primary Health Centres and 13 percent of Community Health Centres met minimum Indian Public Health Standards (IPHS) norms. (They are a set of standards envisaged to improve quality of healthcare delivery.) Proper equipment, infrastructure, and/or doctors are lacking when, for example, a pregnant woman visits a public health facility for delivery. Even if these basics are notionally available, she would still be forced to purchase other critical services like ultrasound, blood tests, etc. from nearby private health establishments. This makes it impossible for women to avail JSS benefits. Patients also end up buying medicines from private pharmacies, defeating the purpose of reducing OOPE through schemes like NHM Free Drug and Jan Aushadhi Schemes. Medicines constitute the majority share of OOPE in the country. A swift supply chain should be ensured to safeguard the availability of medicines in public health facilities under NHM Free drug scheme. At the same time, awareness on availability and efficacy regarding generic medicines remains low. Additionally, multiple referrals often increase transportation cost for the patient manifold, if a government ambulance is not available. Meanwhile, the beneficiary list of Ayushman Bharat- PMJAY is based on the data from Socio-Economic and Caste Census 2011, which is dated. As a result, thousands of people miss the opportunity to be supported by this health insurance scheme. The recent Parliamentary standing committee on COVID-19 outbreak has raised concerns on the schemes exclusion criteria, which caused many of those eligible from marginalised sections of the society were not able to get the benefit of Ayushman Bharat; they then had to pay out of their pocket for COVID-19 treatment. Moreover, even when covered by PMJAY, people may have to pay out of pocket due to unavailability of a facility in an empanelled hospital or the five lakh worth insurance cover was utilised during hospitalisation of some other member of the family. Therefore, increasing the insurance cover under PMJAY is also strongly argued. Right to health: A constitutional guarantee? Addressing increasing OOPE in public health settings need more rigorous policy formulation and implementation mechanisms. The government must ensure the availability of appropriate infrastructure to cater to Indias health needs. PHCs and CHCs must be adequately available across the country, including in rural, hilly and hard to reach areas. Besides, these public health facilities need to meet the IPHS norms to ensure the provision of quality healthcare. Mechanisms to strengthen the availability of free medicines at all public health facilities like swift supply chain, smoother digital system, and warehouse and transport management should be undertaken. To ensure state and central governments are constitutionally obligated to provide healthcare, the time has come for India to legislate a Right to Health ensure everyone can access healthcare without risking falling prey to poverty. The author is a public health professional who works at Oxfam India as a consultant. Also Read India need to focus on quality health care for all in the post- COVID-19 era WOOD RIVER Officials began the Wood River city council meeting Tuesday with a reflection on the events of Jan. 6 in Washington D.C. What happened gave cause for concern for all of us, Wood River Mayor Cheryl Maguire said, in part. Even though our Capitol is hundreds of miles away, the visuals which came to us touched us and reached into our souls. We are a nation that believes in law and justice. She also called on people to resolve to unite for the good of America. Maguire also informed the council that she is gathering information on an Illinois Department of Transportation Enhancement Grant for the citys downtown area along Madison Avenue. She will share details of the grant as it becomes available, she said. Maguire also honored several people: Wood River Fire Department Capt. Brian Crawford and engineer Scott Crump were named recipients of the Firefighter Excellence Unit Citation by the Office of the State Fire Marshal Medal of Honor Committee in response to a fire and rescue of an elderly resident from a second floor apartment. Engineer Bill Hall was named the 2020 Firefighter of the Year, presented by the Wood River Firefighters Association. Wood River Fire Department Capt. Nate Kamp, probationary firefighter Jacob Palen and Crump were named recipients of the Celebrating Excellence Clinical Save Award presented by ZOLL Medical Corp. for successfully returning a patient to spontaneous circulation before the arrival of the ambulance. Thje patient left the hospital a few days later. The fire department had just placed the ZOLL cardiac monitors in service shortly before this incident, Maguire said. She also thanked GRP|Wegman Construction, based in Bethalto, for donating material and labor to install new flag poles at the Wood River Police Station on Wednesday. The American flag, the state flag and the city flag were installed on new poles. The council also approved: Declaring 28 acres of city-owned property in the area of Ninth Street as surplus and authorizing requests for proposals. A resolution endorsing the Great Rivers and Routes Tourism Bureau. Seeking bids to paint Water Tower No. 1. A recommendation to appoint Chris Sobrino to serve as city treasurer. Aappointing Sandy Shaner to the Plan Commission. Massachusetts businesses that received federal loans to survive the recession during the COVID-19 pandemic could get those loans forgiven, only to face a large tax bill on the funds come April. Sen. Eric Lesser said thats why hes proposing to alter the Massachusetts income tax law so small businesses whose Paycheck Protection Program loans are forgiven dont face a higher tax bill. This legislation will ensure that struggling small business owners, who have suffered unimaginable hardships over the last year, are not taxed by the state on their PPP loan forgiveness amounts, the Longmeadow Democrat said in a statement Friday. Lesser, who last session was co-chairman of the Joint Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies, said the proposed changes would mirror the federal tax law on forgiven loan amounts. The bill, SD.172, has seven co-sponsors aside from Lesser, including Democratic Rep. Brian Ashe of Longmeadow and Republican Sen. Ryan Fattman of Sutton. Businesses have been carrying a heavy burden in their important role of protecting our public health and preventing the spread of COVID-19, said Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr, a Gloucester Republican. I want to explore every opportunity to help them survive. The Small Business Administration has issued more than 118,000 PPP loans to small businesses in Massachusetts, totaling $14.3 billion. The PPP loans became available under the CARES Act to help businesses struggling to stay open during the pandemic. Businesses are eligible to use it to cover payroll expenses, health care benefits, rent, utilities and other debt obligations. Businesses can get their loans forgiven if they used at least 60% of the loan to cover payroll expenses to keep their employees. Related content: SALEM A man wanted for his alleged role in an attack on officers at the Oregon State Capitol in December has been arrested. The Salem Police Department said Richard Braatz of Eugene was arrested Thursday in Salem while participating in a rally to protest the presidential election results. Braatz was lodged at the Marion County Correctional Facility on charges of second-degree attempted assault and riot in connection with a special legislative session on Dec. 21. Demonstrators, some armed, attacked authorities that day with bear spray, broke glass doors and called for the arrest of Gov. Kate Brown. It wasnt immediately known if Braatz has a lawyer to comment on his case. Our preparation for this week afforded us the opportunity to make this arrest, Salem Police Chief Trevor Womack said in a statement. Officers were committed to the goals set for protest response which include follow up investigation of criminal behavior and proper enforcement action when reasonable and appropriate. The Associated Press Kolkata, Jan 22 : Ahead of the crucial state Assembly polls, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee boastfully announced Swasthya Sathi cards for all residents of the state as they can avail a health cover of up to Rs.5 lakh. She had also sounded a warning saying if anyone refuses to give health care, the government has the power to cancel their licence. The CM said the state government had the right to cancel licences of private hospitals and nursing homes if they refuse to treat patients under the goverment's Swasthya Sathi health scheme. But there have been several reports where patients, despite carrying Swasthya Sathi cards, were refused medical treatment at private hospitals in the state. Swasthya Sathi is a flagship health insurance scheme launched by the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress government, providing health cover of up to Rs.5 lakh per annum to a family for secondary and tertiary care. According to reports, at least two incidents were reported in the recent past where a septuagenarian patient, Mohammad Gaffar, with the card was denied treatment by private nursing home authorities at Siliguri's Matigara in Darjeeling district, leading to his death. The medical facility allegedly asked for cash from the patient's party which they couldn't provide in time. In another incident, a patient named Sikha Rani Sen was denied treatment when she was taken to Kolkata's Red Plus Nursing Home near Baghajatin. The authorities refused to accept her state government health card and asked for a cash payment instead. "The health scheme is for poor people. No one should harass poor people," Banerjee had said, asking patients' parties to lodge police complaints in case of any harassment. Sources, however, said that private hospitals and nursing homes in Bengal are refusing to admit patients with Swasthya Sathi cards despite the CM's warning. Recently, Banerjee also instructed state chief secretary Alapan Bandhopadhyay to look into the matter, sources at the state secretariat Nabanno said. Torremolinos, Vinuela, Archidona, Riogordo, Casabermeja, Humilladero, Cortes de la Frontera and Alozaina have exceeded 500 coronavirus infections per 100,000 inhabitants in the last fourteen days, one of the main indicators to measure the progress of the pandemic. So the Junta de Andalucia has ordered the perimeter closure of these municipalities, a confinement that will last at least two weeks and will take effect from midnight tonight, Friday. All the localities that reach this rate now have their municipal borders closed, that is, you cannot enter or leave except for just cause. In the event that the rate reaches 1,000 cases, the regional government will also decree the closure of all non-essential activities, as will happen, also from midnight, in Ronda and Villanueva del Trabuco, where positive coronavirus diagnoses have skyrocketed in recent days. Perimeter confinement (you cannot enter or leave the town or village) should not be confused with a stay-at-home lockdown where you cannot leave the house except to buy food or medicine. The current state of alarm does not allow for this last option, although several regions - including Andalucia - have unsuccessfully requested the Government to reform the decree to include this possibility. The Junta updates the data regarding the accumulated incidence of infections every Monday and Thursday and takes two different measures, depending on the status of the pandemic. Monday updates are effective from 12am on Wednesdays and Thursday updates from 12am on Saturdays. Border closures Municipalities with more than 500 cases per hundred thousand inhabitants pver 14 days will have their border closed, and those that register more than a thousand cases will also have to close all non-essential activity. Currently exceeding 500 infections are Campillos, Alfarnatejo, Carratraca, Tolox, Cartama, Estepona, Manilva, Fuengirola, Mijas, Marbella, Benalmadena, Malaga city, Rincon de la Victoria, Teba, Almargen, Monda, Alameda, Salares, Ardales, Igualeja, El Borge, Benamocarra, Cartajima, Coin, Alhaurin el Grande, Algatocin, Alcaucin, Alfarnate, Villanueva del Rosario, Moclinejo, Gaucin, Alora, Farajan, Sayalonga, Comares, Velez-Malaga, Genalguacil, Ronda, Algarrobo, Mollina, Canete la Real, Benarraba, Alhaurin de la Torre, Canillas de Albaida and Villanueva del Trabuco. Perimeter restrictions and non-essential activities closed Ronda and Villanueva del Trabuco are added to the towns with a virus incidence rate of more than one thousand infections per hundred thousand people, and where all non-essential activities are already closed: Canete la Real, Alfarnate, Velez-Malaga, Alcaucin, Moclinejo, Alora, Farajan, Teba, Almargen, Monda, Alameda, Salares, Ardales, Igualeja, El Borge, Benamocarra, Cartajima, Coin, Alfarnatejo, Alhaurin el Grande and Algatocin. At the moment, none of these localities has fallen below a thousand positive diagnoses, although the Junta's measures will last for at least two weeks, regardless of whether the rate increases or decreases. After this period, the public health alerts committee will review the data and maintain the restrictions if the incidence rate has not decreased . The president of the regional government, Juanma Moreno, has requested authorisation to order home confinement in these last towns, which register more than a thousand cases per hundred thousand inhabitants. The Government of Pedro Sanchez has refused this request and the Minister of Health, Salvador Illa, has called for patience "because the measures taken today are not noticeable tomorrow, but within two weeks". Gender clinic whistleblower details why he exposed medical abuse of children Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment 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." DUBLIN, Jan. 22, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Global Pneumococcal Vaccine Market (2020-2025) by Type of Vaccine, Product, Sectors, Distribution Channel, Geography, Competitive Analysis and the Impact of Covid-19 with Ansoff Analysis" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The Global Pneumococcal Vaccine Market is estimated to be USD 7.9 Bn in 2020 and is expected to reach USD 11.1 Bn by 2025, growing at a CAGR of 7%. The factors such as the rising prevalence of pneumococcal diseases amongst the population and the introduction of novel vaccines have supported the growth of the market. The growing awareness programs about pneumococcal diseases initiated by the Government are also boosting the market growth. Moreover, the development of novel vaccines, trials, and launches with improved serotype coverage shall bring about growth opportunities in this market and help improve the coverage rate. However, the longer timelines taken to introduce a vaccine and the attached costs in the development of the vaccines hinders the growth of this market. Market Dynamics Drivers Surge in Prevalence of Pneumonia across the Globe Rise in Government Focus on Immunization Programs for Pneumonia Increase in Focus for Novel Pneumococcal Vaccines Provision of Low-Cost Pneumonia Vaccines Restraints Longer Timelines Required for Pneumonia Vaccine Production High Risk and Cost Involved in the Vaccine Development Opportunities Development of Protein-Based Combination Pneumococcal Vaccines Growing Awareness Regarding the Importance of Vaccination Rise in the Public-Private Partnerships to Provide Low-Cost Pneumococcal Vaccines Challenges Inadequate Vaccine Coverage Requirement of Cold Storage Facilities Stringent Regulatory Guidelines Trends Demand for Newer Pneumococcal Vaccines with a Broader Serotype Coverage Segments Covered By Vaccine, Conjugate Vaccines are anticipated to account as the fastest-growing segment during the forecasted period. They are considered to be more robust over polysaccharide ones and hence are more preferred leading to high demand. It also covers a wide age group as it can vaccinate an infant from 6 weeks old to 5years of age and for people over 50 + age groups, reducing asymptomatic delivery of the bacteria, and thus resulting in marked group immunity. By Product Type, Prevnar-13 is estimated to account for the fastest-growing segment during the forecasted period as it is recommended by the WHO as an efficient vaccine against pneumonia and has therefore been the widely adopted 13-valent PCV vaccines across the world. It has also been used as an essential vaccine for people above 50 age groups. By Sector, the Private Sector is considered to be the largest segment contributing to the growth during the forecasted period. It is mainly due to the high number of private hospitals and clinics. The cost at which a vaccine is sold in a private hospital and/or a clinic is comparatively high with regards to NGO or Government aided centers resulting in high growth activities. By the Distribution channel, the Non-Governmental Organizations are anticipated to account for the fastest growth during the forecasted period with the presence of UNICEF, GAVI, and the WHO. They are major promoters of this Vaccine by distributing the Vaccine from the source(manufacturer) to the destination(locational geographies), which have propelled the demand of this segment. By Geography, North America is anticipated to have the largest market share. The factors promoting the growth of this market are an established healthcare system, high investments in the R&D sector, followed by Government initiatives. For example, the US has called upon an initiative of the Healthy People 2020 goals to increase pneumococcal vaccination coverage to 60% in high-risk adults. Some of the companies covered in this report are Pfizer, GlaxoSmithKline PLC, Merck & Co. Inc., Sanofi Pasteur, Nuron Biotech Inc., CSL Ltd., Biomed Pvt. Ltd., China National Biotec Group, and Serum Institute of India Pvt. Ltd. Competitive Quadrant The report includes Competitive Quadrant, a proprietary tool to analyze and evaluate the position of companies based on their Industry Position score and Market Performance score. The tool uses various factors for categorizing the players into four categories. Some of these factors considered for analysis are financial performance over the last 3 years, growth strategies, innovation score, new product launches, investments, growth in market share, etc. Lions: Represents companies with a strong foothold in the market, with the highest market share, large investments in technologies, new products. Bulls: Companies that are medium in size competing with their USPs, growing companies with proven market share. Rabbits: Small companies but growing rapidly, constantly improving their offerings in the market. Tortoise: Companies that are slow in growth, having a long legacy, and stable or negative in performance. Why buy this report? The report offers a comprehensive evaluation of the Global Pneumococcal Vaccine Market. The report includes in-depth qualitative analysis, verifiable data from authentic sources, and projections about market size. The projections are calculated using proven research methodologies. The report has been compiled through extensive primary and secondary research. The primary research is done through interviews, surveys, and observation of renowned personnel in the industry. The report includes in-depth market analysis using Porter's 5 force model and the Ansoff Matrix. The impact of Covid-19 on the market is also featured in the report. The report also contains a competitive analysis using Positioning Quadrants, a Proprietary competitive positioning tool. Report Highlights: A complete analysis of the market including parent industry Important market dynamics and trends Market segmentation Historical, current, and projected size of the market based on value and volume Market shares and strategies of key players Recommendations to companies for strengthening their foothold in the market Key Topics Covered: 1 Report Description 1.1 Study Objectives 1.2 Market Definition 1.3 Currency 1.4 Years Considered 1.5 Language 1.6 Key Shareholders 2 Research Methodology 2.1 Research Process 2.2 Data Collection and Validation 2.2.1 Secondary Research 2.2.2 Primary Research 2.3 Market Size Estimation 2.4 Assumptions of the Study 2.5 Limitations of the Study 3 Executive Summary 4 Market Overview 4.1 Introduction 4.2 Market Dynamics 4.2.1 Drivers 4.2.2 Restraints 4.2.3 Opportunities 4.2.4 Challenges 4.3 Trends 5 Market Analysis 5.1 Porter's Five Forces Analysis 5.2 Impact of COVID-19 5.3 Ansoff Matrix Analysis 6 Global Pneumococcal Vaccine Market, By Vaccine Type 6.1 Introduction 6.2 Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) 6.3 Pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV/PPV) 7 Global Pneumococcal Vaccine Market, By Product Type 7.1 Introduction 7.2 Prevnar 13 7.3 Synflorix 7.4 Pneumovax 23 8 Global Pneumococcal Vaccine Market, By Sectors 8.1 Introduction 8.2 Public Sector 8.3 Private Sector 9 Global Pneumococcal Vaccine Market, By Distribution Channels 9.1 Introduction 9.2 Distributor Partner Companies 9.3 Non-governmental Organizations (NGO) 9.4 Government Authorities 10 Global Pneumococcal Vaccine Market, By Geography 10.1 Introduction 10.2 North America 10.2.1 US 10.2.2 Canada 10.2.3 Mexico 10.3 South America 10.3.1 Brazil 10.3.2 Argentina 10.4 Europe 10.4.1 UK 10.4.2 France 10.4.3 Germany 10.4.4 Italy 10.4.5 Rest of Europe 10.5 Asia-Pacific 10.5.1 China 10.5.2 Japan 10.5.3 India 10.5.4 Australia 10.5.5 Rest of APAC 10.6 Middle East and Africa 11 Competitive Landscape 11.1 IGR Competitive Quadrants 11.2 Market Share Analysis 11.3 Competitive Scenario 11.3.1 Mergers & Acquisitions 11.3.2 Agreements, Collaborations, & Partnerships 11.3.3 New Product Launches & Enhancements 11.3.4 Investments& Fundings 12 Company Profiles 12.1 GlaxoSmithKline Plc. 12.2 LG Chem Ltd. 12.3 Merck & Co., Inc. 12.4 Panacea Biotec Limited 12.5 Pfizer Inc 12.6 Pnuvax Incorporated 12.7 Serum Institute of India Pvt. Ltd. 12.8 Shenzhen Kangtai Biological Products Co., Ltd. (Beijing Minhai Biotechnology Corporation Limited) 12.9 Sk Bioscience 12.10 Walvax Biotechnology Co., Ltd. 12.11 Nuron Biotech Inc., 12.12 CSL Ltd. 12.13 Biomed Pvt. Ltd 12.14 Sanofi Pasteur 12.15 China National Biotec Group 12.16 Astellas Pharma Inc 12.17 AstraZeneca PLC 12.18 Emergent BioSolutions Inc 12.19 Johnson & Johnson 13 Appendix 13.1 Questionnaire For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/xbokg3 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 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 SOURCE Research and Markets Related Links http://www.researchandmarkets.com (Newser) It's not clear how it happened, but National Guard troops were ordered out of the US Capitol on Thursday and told to sleep on the floor of an unheated parking garage. That caused outrage, some of it from governors, and President Biden has apologized to the chief of the National Guard Bureau. First lady Jill Biden tried to smooth things over with chocolate chip cookies for the troops Friday, the New York Times reports. Several governors remained angry that troops sent to Washington to protect the Capitol and the inauguration were stuck breathing exhaust fumes all night and summoned their troops. "They did an outstanding job serving our nation's capital in a time of strife and should be graciously praised, not subject to substandard conditions," said New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu, a Republican. story continues below Sununu recalled his troops, as did the governors of Texas, Florida, and Montana, though many of the Guardsmen already were scheduled to leave. No one has taken responsibility for the move out of the Capitol, per the Washington Post. The National Guard said the instructions came from the Capitol Police, who denied that account. The Guardsmen have hotel rooms, but they often don't have enough of a break to go to them and instead sleep on the floor somewhere. Members said hundreds slept on the concrete of the Thurgood Marshall Federal Judiciary Building, sharing a few toilets. A soldier who said he served in Iraq and Afghanistan said, "I've never in my entire career felt like I've been booted onto the curb and told, 'Figure it out on your own.'" Other said it wasn't as bad as it sounds, saying options for thousands of troops are pretty limited in Washington. (Read more National Guard stories.) The Indo-China border at Bumla in the northeastern state of Arunachal Pradesh. (File image: Reuters) China's construction activities on "its own territory" is "normal" and is entirely a matter of sovereignty, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said on January 21, reacting to a report about China building a new village in Arunachal Pradesh. "China's position on the east sector of the China-India boundary, or Zangnan region (the southern part of China's Tibet), is consistent and clear. We have never recognised the so-called Arunachal Pradesh illegally established on the Chinese territory," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying told a media briefing while responding to a question. China claims Arunachal Pradesh as part of southern Tibet, while India's consistent stand has been that the northeastern state is an integral and inalienable part of the country. "China's normal construction on its own territory is entirely a matter of sovereignty," Hua was quoted as saying by the Chinese foreign ministry on its website in an updated statement. In a report, NDTV news channel showed two images of the area in Arunachal Pradesh where it said a new village has been set up by China and it consisted of about 101 homes. According to the channel, the first image dated August 26, 2019 did not show any human habitation but the second one of November 2020 shows a row of structures. In a cautious reaction to the report, India on January 18 said it keeps a constant watch on all developments having a bearing on the country's security, and takes necessary measures to safeguard its sovereignty and territorial integrity. The Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi said India has stepped up the construction of border infrastructure, including roads and bridges for the improvement of livelihood of its citizens. "Government keeps a constant watch on all developments having a bearing on India's security and takes all the necessary measures to safeguard its sovereignty and territorial integrity," it said. The India-China border dispute covers the 3,488-km-long Line of Actual Control (LAC). The report about China setting up a new village in Arunachal Pradesh comes amid a military standoff in eastern Ladakh for over eight months. India and China have held several rounds of military and diplomatic talks to resolve the face-off in eastern Ladakh, but no significant headway has been made so far. Jammu: An Army jawan was killed 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. Army jawan killedThe 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. Flags of the European Union fly outside the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France, on May 11, 2016. (Christopher Furlong/Getty Images) EU Parliament Says China Deal Threatens EU Credibility on Human Rights The European Parliament has criticized the EU executive for rushing to reach an investment agreement with the Chinese regime despite ongoing repression in Hong Kong and other parts of China. The European Commission, the European Unions executive body, said on Dec. 30 that it had agreed with Beijing in principle on the EU-China Comprehensive Agreement on Investment (CAI). The deal, which was seven years in the making, was concluded after the communist regime made commitments to expand market access for European businesses and to improve Chinas labor standards. But, in a resolution on the oppression in Hong Kong, which was passed on Thursday, the European Parliament said it regrets that the deal has not reflected Parliaments requests in previous resolutions on Hong Kong to use investment negotiations as a leverage tool aimed at preserving Hong Kongs high degree of autonomy, as well as its basic rights and freedoms. The EU legislature also regrets the fact that, by rushing to reach this agreement while not taking concrete action against ongoing grave human right violations, for example in Hong Kong, Xinjiang province and Tibet, the EU risks undermining its credibility as a global human rights actor. The Parliament pledged it will carefully scrutinise the agreement, including its provisions on labour rights. It said it will take the human rights situation in China, including in Hong Kong, into account when asked to endorse the investment agreement or future trade deals with the PRC [Peoples Republic of China]. The EU-China pact was criticized by the Trump administration, whose deputy national security adviser Matthew Pottinger said earlier this month that the deal, made despite Chinas grotesque human rights abuses, had shocked American politicians on both sides of the aisle at a time when a new U.S. presidential administration was imminent. Chris Patten, the last governor of Hong Kong, also condemned the deal and urged the European Parliament to reject it. The European Parliament resolution also urged EU leaders to promptly consider the introduction of targeted sanctions against Hong Kong and Chinese officials who are responsible for the abuse in Hong Kong, including Carrie Lam, Hong Kongs chief executive; Xia Baolong, director of Chinas Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office; and Luo Huining, head of Chinas Hong Kong liaison office. The Parliament strongly welcomed the UK governments offer of a pathway to citizenship for Hong Kong residents who hold British National Overseas (BNO) passports. Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said on Friday that the European Parliament should stop any form of meddling in Hong Kong affairs, according to AFP. Karnataka: Fisheries department amenable to handing over maintenance of Malpe slipway to fishermen by Jaideep Shenoy January 22,2021 | Source: The Times of India Department of fisheries has warmed up to a demand from local fishermen to hand over maintenance of the slipway at Malpe fisheries harbour to them. The issue has been hanging fire since April 2016 when the slipway sustained damages while a 45-tonne motorboat was hauled up for repairs. Due to the absence of this functional slipway, steel boats anchored at the harbour have to be taken to Kochi for any major repair work. Malpe harbour is one of the biggest fishing ports in Karnataka, home to around 2,000 boats, and 50% of them are steel boats. The Malpe Fishermens Association has been vocal in its demand that maintenance of slipway be handed over to them. Even the district administration is of the considered view that the maintenance part be handed over to fishermen and the fisheries department will finalise modalities for this handover soon. Hinting at this becoming a reality, Ramacharya Purnaik, director, department of fisheries then minister for ports and fisheries Kota Shrinivas Poojari, deputy commissioner G Jagadeesha were all of the view that the association should be vested with this maintenance rights. The files in this regard have moved to and from the finance department, which in the latest department has resent the file back with certain observations, Puranik told TOI. Located near the third stage of Malpe fisheries harbour, the slipway on which Rs 2.39 crore has been spent is presently in state of disuse. Krishna Suvarna, president of the association says steel boats are taken to Kochi for major repair works. This issue can be resolved with early commissioning of the existing slipway at Malpe. Handing it over to us for maintenance will help local fishermen get their boats repaired at reasonable cost, he said. The project aimed at helping fishermen in Malpe is a manual-cum-mechanical slipway and confusion abounded with regard to its maintenance from the day the project started. Department of port and fisheries initiated the project. It is the only slipway in the state on par with the one in Kochi as far as standard is considered. The foundation of the winch house of this slipway suffered damages in April, 2016 while hauling the boat. Post this, the foundation for the winch house was reconstructed on expert advice and later certified to bear a load of up to 70 tonnes. While M/s Yojaka (India) took up the civil works, Tebma Shipyard under its CSR initiative took up the mechanical works worth Rs 1.53 crore. This facility can be used to repair and paint 15 boats at a time. All can see at this slipway is the tracks, bearing gear wheels and other machinery rusting away and overrun with weeds. 2021 Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd. Washington: White House told on Wednesday told Kenneth I Juster, who is the top aide of US President Donald Trump, will be America's new ambassador to India. 62-year-old Juster, who is the Deputy Assistant to the US president for International Economic Affairs and Deputy Director of his National Economic Council, would replace Richard Verma if nominated and confirmed by the Senate. "Ken Juster's move to Indian Ambassador is because he is extremely qualified for the position," White House deputy spokesperson Lindsay E Walters confirmed to PTI about the news which was first reported by The Washington Post on Wednesday. "Ken has a strong and positive relationship with everyone in the White House, including the president," Walters said. The move has been welcomed by widely respected Ashley Telis, the top India expert in the US. "Ken knows India well and actually was deeply involved in successful bilateral negotiations between the two countries. The Indians will welcome him enthusiastically. He is a known quantity," Tellis told The Washington Post. However, an official announcement has not been made yet. The White House confirmation in this regard puts to rest all the speculations. Verma, the first Indian-American to head this position, put in his papers when Trump replaced Barack Obama as the President of the US. Also Read: Donald Trump's proposed state visit to UK in doubt For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Dave Chappelle has tested positive for the coronavirus forcing the comedian to cancel a handful of upcoming shows in Austin, Texas, a spokesperson told the Associated Press. Chappelle was expected to perform Thursday through Sunday at Stubbs Waller Creek Amphitheater in Austin. The shows have been canceled while the asymptomatic comedian is quarantining, according to the report. Chappelle has been performing socially-distanced shows in Ohio since June. As temperatures dropped, he moved his shows to Austin during the winter. Each show included rapid testing for the audience and daily tests for Chappelle and his team. Comedian Joe Rogan was scheduled to perform at the shows Friday and Saturday. Rogan apologized on Instagram for the canceled shows, but said they would be rescheduled. In his post, Rogan said he has not contracted the virus and has tested negative for COVID each day this week. New Jerseys largest public university wont require students to get vaccinated against COVID-19 for the fall semester, a top official said Friday. In a video sent to students and staff, Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences Senior Vice Chancellor Vicente Gracias assured students it is safe to get vaccinated. But rather than requiring vaccination, Rutgers hopes its students will decide to get the shots on their own, he said. Rutgers, with our stance of human liberties and our history of protecting that, the vaccine is not mandatory, Gracias said. It is something that we think because we are a university we can educate our community, we can educate ourselves. And I think we can show everyone that its essential that our Rutgers community vaccinate ourself. Gracias remarks come as the university continues to teach the vast majority of its courses online this spring and has fewer than 20 percent of its on-campus housing occupied. Rutgers wants to allow all students on campus in the fall but not at the same time, Antonio Calcado, the universitys executive vice president, said in the video. Campus officials plan to test rotating schedules for in-person instruction over the summer and give all students the chance to learn on campus this fall under a staggered schedule, he said. We owe that to our students, Calcado said. Rutgers sent nearly all students home from campus last March and has offered few courses in person throughout the pandemic. Even if students are allowed to return in the fall, the university is still nowhere close to a return to normal, Calcado said. I dont think reasonably that this will happen before September of 22, he said. And I truly believe we will probably be looking at 23. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Adam Clark may be reached at aclark@njadvancemedia.com. Have a news tip or a story idea about New Jersey schools? Send it here. Jack Vidgen was the first to be eliminated from the jungle on I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! last week. And on Friday, the pop star made the most of Sydney's hot weather as he soaked up the sun at the beach. The 24-year-old showed off his slim physique in a pair of black budgy smugglers. Soaking up the sun: Eliminated I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! star Jack Vidgen, 24, showed off his slim physique in black budgy smugglers at a Sydney beach on Friday (pictured) Jack appeared relaxed as he playfully jumped off a boardwalk into the water. He was accompanied on the outing by a male pal, who was also sporting a pair of tiny briefs. The duo were later spotted walking along the beach together. Fun day out: The pop star playfully jumped off a boardwalk into the water Making the most of it: Jack revealed his trim frame as he enjoyed Sydney's hot weather Company: Jack was accompanied on the outing by a male pal, who also sported a pair of tiny swimmers The outing comes after Jack was the first celebrity to be eliminated from I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! He went up against Ash Williams and Travis Varcoe in the 'Hell Hole of Destiny' contest, in which they had to guess how many rats were stored in a mystery box. Jack gave the most incorrect answer and was sent home from the jungle. Drying off: The duo were later spotted walking along the beach together Gone: The outing comes after Jack was the first celebrity to be eliminated from the jungle The star, who won Australia's Got Talent in 2011, was only allowed to say a quick goodbye before being literally ejected from his seat into a swamp. Jack emerged from the swamp looking very enthused, shouting 'woo!' and saying he was glad to, 'end with a bang!' Back at camp, Jack's co-stars mourned his exit, with Colin Fassnidge saying they were now like a 'piano with a missing key'. I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! continues Sunday at 7.30pm on Channel 10 Robert Kocharyan on years of his leadership in Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia Situation on Armenian-Azerbaijani border is still tense, more on COVID-19 in Armenia, May 28 digest "Armenia" alliance of political parties paying tribute to founder of First Republic Aram Manukyan (LIVE) Yerevan.today: Armenia acting PM not greeted at ruling party's headquarters, citizens call him 'capitulator' Russia MOD reports on maintenance of ceasefire regime in Nagorno-Karabakh Armenia acting MOD meets with Russian counterpart in Moscow Armenia 2nd President: I see possibility of restoring borders of Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast We can provide our army with some key, modernized weapons, says Armenia ex-President Kocharyan Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: Captives issue is not one that any opposition force can resolve OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs release statement on detention of 6 Armenian servicemen by Azerbaijan Armenian acting Deputy PM: Discussion on issues possible only after withdrawal of Azeri troops from Armenia's territory Armenia acting PM on Syunik roads, Russian military posts: This is only place where there are working nuances Armenia acting PM: Process of return of POWs will intensify after upcoming elections Putin congratulates Aliyev on Republic Day 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 There could be some delay in shipping Covaxin to the seven countries shortlisted to receive the Covid-19 vaccine as a goodwill gesture, as the government is waiting for approvals from their respective regulatory authorities, sources have told News18. On January 16, the Indian government decided to donate 8.1 lakh doses of Indias indigenous vaccine Covaxin to a select few countries, in what has been dubbed as Covid diplomacy. The Ministry of External Affairs, it was decided, would make the procurement after January 22. On January 18, a high-level meeting was held in the health ministry with foreign minister S Jaishankar, health minister Dr Harshvardhan and MoS Pharmaceuticals Mansukh Mandaviya. Serum Institute of India was represented by its CEO Adar Poonawalla and Bharat Biotech by CMD Dr Krishna Ella. Also Read | Amid Concerns Among Citizens over Vaccine Safety, Lancet Endorses Covaxin Phase I Trial Results It was decided at this meeting that doses of Covaxin would be sent to Myanmar, Mongolia, Oman, Bahrain, Philipines, Maldives and Mauritius. But there seems to be a hurdle as Covaxin is being administered in India in 'clinical trial mode' and its efficacy data is still awaited. Bharat Biotech had completed Phase-2 trials, and started a Phase-3 trial for Covaxin in India in November. Efficacy data from this study is expected by March. Sources have told News18 that the required dossiers have been sent to each of these countries after which a nod from their respective drug regulators would be sought. Given the exceptional circumstances under which Bharat Biotechs Covaxin got accelerated use approval seems to have led to some amount of hesitancy among citizens who fear taking the shot. However, the developers of the vaccine heaved a huge sigh of relief on Friday after The Lancet Infectious Disease journal published a study that said that Covaxin showed enhanced immune response without any serious side effects in the participants enrolled for the phase 1 trials. Covid-19: Rising Reluctance to Take the Shot Latest Challenge Before Centre Nevertheless, with the efficacy data yet to be generated and the term 'Clinical Trial Mode' still associated with the vaccine, apprehension among citizens is high, said sources within the Hyderabad-based pharma company. Covishield, on the other hand, has been sent off to a host of countries as a goodwill gesture. Besides commercial supplies, India has given free doses of Covishield to Maldives, Mauritius, Bhutan, Nepal and Bangladesh. Doses have been sent to Seychelles and Myanmar as well. UNITED NATIONS (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 21st January, 2021) UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres appointed an Independent Senior Advisory Panel that will seek ways to strengthen the humanitarian deconfliction mechanism in Syria, United Nations spokesman Stephane Dujarric said in a statement on Thursday. Humanitarian agencies provide information to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) through the deconfliction mechanism about the locations of civilian and humanitarian subjects in Syria. The United Nations has shared the coordinates with the US-led coalition forces, Russia and Turkey, to protect civilian facilities from possible attacks. "Following consultations, the Secretary-General decided to appoint a three-person Independent Senior Advisory Panel on humanitarian deconfliction in the Syrian Arab Republic," the statement said. 'The Panel will conduct its work independently and will provide the Secretary-General with advice on how to strengthen the deconfliction mechanism operated by OCHA in Syria. " The Advisory Panel, which has commenced its work on January 11, is composed of the Chair, Jan Egeland of Norway, Erika Feller of Australia and Radhouane Noucier from Tunisia. The experts will also advise on the recommendations on the deconfliction mechanism presented by the board of Inquiry and on lessons that can be learned, according to the statement. The panel will submit a final report to Guterres by May 10. In 2019, Guterres announced that the internal Headquarters Board of Inquiry would investigate a series of incidents in which UN-supported facilities in a dozen locations in northwest Syria were destroyed or damaged in airstrikes since September 2017. The probe was launched after two-thirds of the UN Security Council expressed concern over the lack of inquiry. In June, Russian Ambassador to the United Nations Vassily Nebenzia said Russia decided to quit the deconfliction mechanism because it was abused by terrorists. Among them: Tables will be limited to no more than four people indoors or six people outdoors; face coverings must be worn at all times except when seated and actively eating or drinking; tables must be spaced 6 feet apart; indoor service will be limited to a maximum of two hours; and bars and restaurants must close by 11 p.m. WASHINGTON: Former President Donald Trump has hired South Carolina-based lawyer Butch Bowers to represent him in his Senate impeachment trial over a charge that he incited insurrection, a source familiar with the matter said on Thursday. Bowers did not respond to requests for comment. While relatively unknown on the national stage, Bowers has represented former Republican governors in South Carolina and served in the U.S. Justice Department under Republican former President George W. Bush, according to his website. Republican Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, a Trump ally, recommended him, the source said. In 2012, Bowers represented then-Governor Nikki Haley in an ethics hearing over allegations that she engaged in illegal lobbying while she was a state representative. Haley was cleared of wrongdoing. In 2009, Bowers represented then-Governor Mark Sanford in an ethics hearing over his use of a state aircraft for a secret five-day trip to Argentina to see a woman with whom he was having an extramarital affair. Sanford agreed to pay $74,000 to settle charges that his personal travel and campaign spending violated state ethics laws, but he continued to deny wrongdoing. Bowers, also known as Karl Smith Bowers Jr., is a graduate of Tulane Universitys law school, has his own law firm and is associated with the Miller Law Group. Bowers said on the groups website that he enjoyed bird hunting" and good bourbon." Ive always found him to be competent and ethical, said South Carolina lawyer Jay Bender, a Democrat who has known Bowers professionally for over 20 years. But he said Trump would not be his first controversial representation. Ive found many of his clients to be objectionable," Bender said. Trumps trial is likely to begin sometime around mid-February in order to give Bowers time to prepare, Republican Senator Mike Braun told reporters on Thursday. SECOND IMPEACHMENT The Democratic-led House of Representatives on Jan. 13 made Trump the first U.S. president to be impeached twice, charging him with inciting an insurrection, focused on an incendiary speech he delivered to thousands of supporters on Jan. 6 shortly before a pro-Trump mob rampaged through the U.S. Capitol. The rioters disrupted the formal certification of Democrat Joe Bidens victory over Trump in the Nov. 3 election, sent lawmakers into hiding and left five people dead, including a police officer. Trump has falsely claimed the election was stolen from him as a result of widespread fraud. Trump appears to have had a difficult time retaining counsel for his impeachment defense. Earlier this month, Rudy Giuliani was poised to help defend the president, people familiar with the matter said. But in recent days, Giuliani said he would not do so, citing his participation in the rally shortly before the attack on the Capitol. Giuliani led the legal team that tried unsuccessfully to overturn Trumps election defeat. The often chaotic effort further battered the former New York City mayors reputation. John Eastman, a professor who represented Trump in his election challenges at the U.S. Supreme Court last month, was also said to be under consideration. He told Reuters last week he was open to defending Trump, but this week said he was unlikely to do so, citing his participation in the same rally. Eastman said he was constrained by the bar code of the District of Columbia. A lawyer shouldnt be an advocate in a case in which he is a witness," he said. Former White House counsel Pat Cipollone and Trump personal lawyer Jay Sekulow, who helped lead the defense in the first impeachment trial in early 2020, were not expected to be involved, people familiar with the situation have said. Trump was first impeached by the House in late 2019 on a charge of abusing his power by asking Ukraines government to announce investigations to discredit Biden. The then Republican-controlled Senate acquitted him. 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 Sputnik V to be available at Rs 1,195 a shot in Apollo hospitals 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? How to raise COVID-19 vaccine uptake and cut vaccine hesitancy in young people COVAXIN supply to be ready in from 15 June: Bharat Biotech COVID-19 vaccine: Over 10 lakh beneficiaries so far India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, Jan 22: Nearly 10.5 lakh beneficiaries have received anti-coronavirus shots under the countrywide COVID-19 vaccination exercise as on date, the Union Health Ministry said on Friday. In a span of 24 hours, 2,37,050 people were vaccinated across 4,049 sessions. A total of 18,167 sessions have been conducted so far. On the testing front too, India continues to register growing numbers, the ministry said. The expansion in testing infrastructure has given a boost in India's fight against the global pandemic. The cumulative testing has crossed 19 crore, it underlined. COVID-19 vaccine: Tamil Nadu health minister takes coronavirus jab A total of 8,00,242 samples were tested for COVID-19 in a span of 24 hours which has increased India's total cumulative tests to 19,01,48,024. "Comprehensive and widespread testing on a sustained basis has resulted in bringing down the positivity rate. The cumulative Positivity Rate stands at 5.59 per cent as of today," the ministry said. Steadily following the trend set over the past weeks, India's active caseload has fallen to 1.78 per cent of the total cases. India's Active Caseload presently stands at 1,88,688. A total of 18,002 new recoveries were registered in a span of 24 hours. This has led to a net decline of 3,620 cases from the total COVID-19 active caseload in a day. The total recovered cases have surged to 10,283,708 pushing the growing gap between the recovered and the active cases to 1,00,95,020 ( 54.5 times). The ministry said that 84.70 per cent of the new recovered cases are contributed by ten states and UTs. Kerala saw 6,229 persons recovering from COVID. Maharashtra and Karnataka reported 3,980 and 815 new recoveries, respectively. A total of 14,545 new positive cases were registered in a span of 24 hours. 3,091 more beneficiaries get vaccine shots in Assam Centre-farmers hold 11th round of talks, impasse over farm laws continues| Oneindia News Eight states and UTs have contributed 84.14 per cent of the new cases. Kerala reported 6,334 cases in a span of 24 hours. Maharashtra recorded 2,886 new cases, while Karnataka registered 674 daily cases. Over 82 per cent of the 163 case fatalities that have been reported in the past 24 hours are from nine states and UTs. Maharashtra has reported the maximum new daily deaths with 52 deaths. Kerala also saw a fatality count of 21. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, January 22, 2021, 14:31 [IST] Noida Police on Friday claimed to have busted an illegal kidney transplantation racket involving foreigners and Indian citizens with the arrest of two persons, including a Bangladeshi citizen. The Bangladeshi national was allegedly being forced to donate his kidney and an Indian person had facilitated his travel and stay in the country, the police said. An FIR was lodged against five persons at the Phase 3 police station following a complaint by the Gautam Buddh Nagar district health department, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Central Noida, Harish Chander said. Some people were brought in from Bangladesh in exchange for financial benefits but were involved in kidney transplants. Two people have been arrested in connection with the racket, Chander said. We are investigating in detail how these foreigners were brought into the country and who else is involved in this racket. We are also verifying in detail the documents provided by these people, the officer said. Those held have been identified as Bangladeshi citizen Ahmed Sharif and Bazulhaq, a native of Siwan district in Bihar and currently living in Delhi's Shaheen Bagh, police said. The others booked in the case included a man who was supposed to be getting the kidney harvested illegally from Sharif, a Bangladeshi travel agent Abdul Mannan, and one more person, they said. The FIR has been lodged under Indian Penal Code sections 420 (cheating), 468 and 471 (all related to forgery of documents) besides the Foreigners Act, 1984, and the Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act, 1994, police added. (Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com) Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. The dark web isn't a hangout for only criminals, a lot of journalists and political activists use it to safeguard their anonymity. Credit: Shutterstock The dark web began as an anonymous communication channel for the US government but is now a term used by the media and in Hollywood movies to refer to hidden online services where people primarily buy and sell items such as illegal drugs or distribute censored content. However, the dark web is becoming increasingly popular with internet users who simply want to safeguard their privacy online. Computer Security expert, Professor Sanjay Jha from UNSW School of Computer Science and Engineering, says that while there is the perception that the dark web is mainly a hub for criminal activity, there are many other reasons why someone may use it. "The name, dark web, is usually painted with a negative image, but in fact there are uses of the dark web which allows you to maintain anonymity," says Prof Jha. "Many journalists and political activists use the dark web as a safe place for free speech." Deep diving into the layers of the internet The internet is known to have three layers. The first is the most publicly available part of the internet and what people interact with most on an everyday basis using typical search engines such as Google. The second layer is called the 'deep web' which includes specialized databases that do not come up in usual search engines, although users would typically know how to search for these services. "The deep web can host servers for things such as scientific papers or medical records and are concealed behind passwords or other security walls," says Prof Jha, Director of CySpri Laboratory at UNSW. The third layer is the 'dark web' which is most commonly used for anonymity. "The dark web was not originally created for criminal activities but obviously some people have become entrepreneurial and decided to use it illegally for their own benefits," Prof Jha says. "The technology behind the dark web is reasonably robust in terms of providing users with anonymity which is part of the reason why criminal activity on these networks is harder to track." Not your typical search engine Forget what you know about Google or Yahoo, pages on the dark web won't show up in your normal search engines. It requires the user to download and install specialized Tor Browser servers so pages within the network can be discovered. The Tor network is also generally slower than normal internet browsers because of the way it's designed. "Like an onion, it uses multiple layers of encryption, which provides user anonymity," says Professor Jha. When you are browsing using the Tor network, as you are moving from one Tor router to another, the network creates a secure 'tunnel." These tunnels use protocols specific to Tor and are built on top of the standard internet which make the source-destination pair difficult to track. Professor Jha says this multi-layer encryption are like onion layers. "The two communicating parties, a service user and a service provider, will not be able to find out about the identify of each other," he says. "This set-up is the reason why it's so hard to detect activity in Tor." Don't be fooled by the name Professor Jha says that while you may be considering the dark web for personal privacy reasons, you can very easily expose yourself to the threats of a cyberattack. "For instance, you may download files that may look like the sort of files you may find in your regular browser but in actual fact they are packaged with harmful malware," says Prof Jha. He also warns that not everything is anonymous on the dark web, especially when you are providing your personal details to make purchases. Although most people commonly go through Tor for the benefits of anonymity, if not careful, these details can end up being used for the wrong reasons. "If you are not careful and end up giving out your real personal details, you are exposing yourself to identity theft which can often end up being used for illegal activity," he says. Czech lawmakers on Wednesday approved legislation requiring shops to sell mainly domestically made food that would benefit Czech producers, potentially putting the country on a collision course with the European Commission over EU single market rules. The measure stipulates that shops larger than 400 square metres must as of next year offer at least 55% of items that can be locally produced like fruit, vegetables, milk or meat. The proportion would rise gradually to 73% in 2028. The quotas are a part of a bill aimed at preventing double standards in food, an issue that some formerly communist eastern members of the European Union have pursued for years, contending that inferior food products unwanted by consumers in richer western EU states were being sold in poorer eastern markets. "Let's be nationalists a bit when it comes to food, Czech agriculture and our country," Agriculture Minister Miroslav Toman told parliament with respect to the legislation, which still must pass parliament's upper house. Opponents said quotas would give windfall profits to large domestic producers, raise prices, cause shortages and violate EU internal market rules which could lead to sanctions. "This proposal goes straight against the (EU) free market principles," opposition Pirate Party lawmaker Radek Holomcik said in the debate. The European Commission said it would analyse the legislation once fully adopted, but indicated that it was not welcome. "Free movement of agricultural products throughout the internal market is essential to ensure food security throughout the Union, and...local restrictions of whatever type are counterproductive," the EU executive said via a spokesperson. One of the Czech Republic's largest food producers is Agrofert, a conglomerate including farming, chemicals, food processing and media firms that was owned by Prime Minister Andrej Babis until he placed it into trust funds in 2017. The EU has determined he remains in indirect control of the trust. Babis was not present for Wednesday's vote and told Reuters he was against the legislation. "Some lawmakers believe this is a favourable step towards Czech farmers, but they are wrong, unfortunately. If the change were to take effect, it would mean palpable sanctions," he said. All but one of his party's lawmakers approved the bill. Ambassadors of eight EU countries, including Germany and France, warned against adopting the bill in a letter sent to lawmakers, Hospodarske Noviny daily paper reported. ADVERTISEMENT The Bauchi state government and a UK-based company, Power Dot UK, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), worth N30.9 billion to generate 10 megawatts of electricity per annum. Anthony Esere, the General Manager of the UK-based company, disclosed this on Friday after signing the MoU in Bauchi with Ibrahim Kabir, the General Manager of the Bauchi State Environmental Protection Agency (BASEPA). According to Mr Esere, electricity would be generated from deposited waste materials under the arrangement. He said 10 megawatts energy incineration plant would process no fewer than 64,700 metric tonnes of wastes annually to generate power, adding we would provide direct employment to 200 unemployed locals. He explained that the power plant would power all existing industries and factories, saying about 2,000 youth would also be gainfully employed for the project. He said plastic wastes are the raw materials which the plant would be processing, stressing we would commence work by March and hopefully the plant would be completed and commissioned within 12 months. In his remarks, the BASEPA general manager, Ibrahim Kabir, said the state government would, among other things, provide the waste, ensure monopoly of the dumping sites and provide an operational license to the company. He added that 21 acres of land would be provided to the company to enable them established the plant, indicating that his agency would ensure that all relevant documents regarding the project are timely processed for the project to commence on schedule. Gov Bala Mohammed, who described the project as a welcome development, assured the partners of the commitment and determination of his administration towards actualising the project . He said the project would generate employment, improve Internally-Generated Revenue (IGR) of the state as well as boost industrialisation, accelerated growth and development in the state. He explained that his government would fully comply with the national rules and guidelines regulating power generation and management. (NAN) The digital divide is now a matter of life and death for people who are unable to access essential healthcare information, said UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres in June 2020. Almost half the global population currently has no internet access, and many who do cannot freely access all information sources. Freedom House, which tracks internet restrictions worldwide, says the coronavirus pandemic is accelerating a dramatic decline in global internet freedom. It found that governments in at least 28 countries censored websites and social media posts in 2020 to suppress unfavorable health statistics, corruption allegations and other COVID-19-related content. Now, U.S. company Toki is building school-in-a-box devices to connect up to 1 billion people across Africa and Asia, using technologies that it claims could filter content to avoid some information sources and bypass local censorship. The devices will be Wi-Fi-ready servers that run on electric power or batteries and can handle dozens of concurrent users. If no networks are available, the servers will also come pre-installed with digital libraries curated to provide locally relevant content. One of Tokis country managers describes on LinkedIn that the devices would also run a decentralized search engine, designed to be anonymous, private and censorship-resistant. They will be donated to communities in the developing world by U.S.-based eRise, which was founded in 2019 to, according to its website, focus on digital empowerment initiatives that are capital-efficient, and which improve access to content, community and commerce. Both Toki and eRise were founded by entrepreneur and free speech advocate Rob Monster. Monster owns domain registration company Epik, which allowed controversial social network Parler to come briefly back online last week after the site was booted from Amazon's cloud service. Parler is just one of several platforms enabled by Epik, and Monsters other domain and web hosting companies, that have been home to far-right content. Parler is accused of hosting users that helped to coordinate the attack on the U.S. Capitol on January 6. Story continues The school-in-a-box would contain a memory card with educational content, games, books, maps and modules related to prayers, the story of religions and the art of being grateful. It says the device is intended for parents who want their kids to be smarter and curious; schools who cant afford a computer; [and] religious places who wish to spread awareness about education and empower the society. But one researcher says this effort recalls Facebooks heavily criticized project offering free connectivity in India, which spawned accusations of bias and self-censorship. We've seen a similar tactic by Facebook, to provide digital access points that can also serve the purpose of delivering favorable content and ensuring that these groups become dependent on your benevolence, said Dr. Joan Donovan, director of the Technology and Social Change Research Project at the Shorenstein Center. It becomes that much harder later on to change the power dynamics when the ideology is in the infrastructure. Monster has used free speech arguments to defend Epiks working with platforms that either welcome or tolerate extreme content. The Southern Poverty Law Center, which tracks hate groups, has been reported as saying that Monster offers services to the most disreputable horrific people on the Internet. Epik spokesperson Rob Davis told TechCrunch that Epik actively works with its clients to help them moderate content, and claimed that the company has deplatformed Nazi groups and deleted those promoting genocide. Lawful, responsible freedom of speech is an amazing right, said Davis. Every [domain registrar] has groups like this but Epik is often held to a higher standard. In a series of posts in 2019 on a forum dedicated to domain-name trading, Monster provided more details about the Toki technology. The servers would be powered by cheap Raspberry Pi processors and run a proprietary version of Linux that would enable file sharing, peer-to-peer commerce, a digital wallet and a personalized search engine, with the option of ignoring certain data sources. Decentralization not only means decentralization of the narrative and talking points of big tech groups like Google, Twitter and Facebook, said Epik's Davis. It also means anti-censorship by empowering people with things that they didnt know. The spokesperson gave the example of naturopathic remedies for minor health complaints. Naturopathic remedies have not been proven to be effective against COVID-19. Eventually, each device might come pre-loaded with a snapshot of the internet, said Davis, although he did not describe how the internet might be reduced to fit on a single, small physical device. The eRise website notes that content would be curated by local digital librarians that it would recruit. Davis told TechCrunch that Toki has working models of its server, is already conducting field trials and hopes to start deploying the devices to 6,000 villages in Africa in 2022 or 2023, perhaps in collaboration with an unnamed Asian telecoms company. The Toki devices selectivity, if practical, could raise its own content and censorship concerns; for example, if eRise allowed extreme content similar to that seen on Epiks clients like Gab and Parler, or ignored scientific advice on COVID-19 or other health issues. Donovan said she is wary of any one-box solution. We have to focus on decoupling information companies from service providers, she said. That much control can be used for political gain. Technology is politics by other means." PHOENIX, Jan. 22, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Families are invited to buckle up for a weekend drive-in movie night celebrating National School Choice Week. The events will feature "Mary Poppins Returns" and "Miss Virginia," both family-friendly films. "Miss Virginia" shares the true story of a mom who changed American education to find the best school fit for her son. Before the films, participants will hear special messages from Virginia Walden Ford, whose life inspired the film, as well as from National School Choice Week President Andrew Campanella. The screenings will take place on Friday, Jan. 29, and on Saturday, Jan. 30. at 6:30 p.m. at Vertuccio Farms. Guests will be asked to stay in their cars to ensure everyone is safely socially-distanced at the event. Free popcorn, candy bars and water bottles will be provided. The movie night 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. "Choose A School is very happy to be hosting a weekend of safe family drive-in school choice celebrations," said Barbara Duncan, vice-president of quality schools for the non-profit organization Choose A School AZ. "This event was organized with all of the safety measures in place to celebrate your freedom to choose the best school for your student. We hope that you attend and enjoy the show!" Choose A School Arizona helps families find the best education for their children and helps quality schools tell their stories and find students. Choose A School does this work through social media, strategic events, attending community events throughout the state, and one-on-one parent outreach. 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 (@FahadShabbir) MINSK (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 22nd January, 2021) Belarusian opposition figure, and ex-presidential candidate, Svetlana Tikhanovskaya called on Estonian authorities to expand sanctions against the official Minsk, her press service said on Friday. Many Western countries have refused to recognize Lukashenko as a legitimate president and imposed targeted sanctions against Belarusian officials, citing alleged election fraud and violence against protesters. The third package of EU sanctions entered into force on December 17 and put 29 persons and seven entities under restrictive measures. As of now, the sanctions list includes 88 persons and seven entities. "Svetlana Tikhanovskaya began a working visit to Estonia and met with President Kersti Kaljulaid. Svetlana called for the expansion of sanctions, adding to the list members of OMON Special Task Force and the main department for combating organized crime and corruption of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Belarus, judges and businessmen who support [current political] regime," the press service said in a Telegram channel. According to the message, the sides discussed the possibility of opening cases in Estonia against the Belarusian security forces within the framework of universal jurisdiction, cooperation on the issue of economic and digital reforms, and the development of the IT sector. The sides also discussed the upcoming All-Belarusian National Assembly which is set for February and the constitutional reform in Belarus. Kaljulaid outlined how Estonia has been helping Belarus, including allocating 700,000 Euros (almost $851,000) to support educational and public initiatives. After the presidential elections held in Belarus on August 9, in which Lukashenko won for the sixth time, mass opposition protests erupted in the country, which was suppressed by the security forces. The opposition believes that the elections were won by Tikhanovskaya. Amid ensuing anti-government protests that challenged the results, she refused to concede and fled to Lithuania, from where she continues rallying support from Western leaders. President Joe Biden on his first full day in office Thursday announced a wartime undertaking in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, asking Americans to mask up and set aside political divisions over the next few months as he tasks the federal government with ramping up vaccinations and boosting resources to schools and local governments. Citing stark forecasts compiled by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Biden noted the U.S. likely faced a total of more than half a million pandemic-linked deaths by mid-February. Were in a national emergency, Biden told reporters assembled in the State Dining Room of the White House. Its time we treated it like one. Biden noted that the nations 400,000-plus COVID-linked deaths are more than a quarter of all global deaths throughout the pandemic, even though the U.S. makes up just 4% of the worlds population. The American death toll has also surpassed the number of Americans who died in World War II, which justified a wartime undertaking, he said. Flanked by Vice President Kamala Harris, Dr. Anthony Fauci and other members of the administrations coronavirus task force joining by video, Biden said his COVID-19 plan would be guided by science, not politics. He pledged to provide transparency and honesty with the American people over the challenges the nation faced. Reiterating a common theme from public health officials in recent weeks, Biden said Americans should still expect an uptick in hospitalizations and deaths as a result of holiday travel and gatherings in recent months. We will level with you when we make a mistake, Biden said. Well straight up say what happened. The honest truth is, were still in a dark winter in this pandemic. Its going to get worse before it gets better. Progress from our plan will take time to measure. Biden signed a series of executive orders on the pandemic, calling for new mask and social distancing requirements on federal property and public transit. Public health experts say that if more Americans wore masks between now and April, as vaccinations roll out, it could save up to 50,000 lives, he argued. In light of new COVID-19 variants being detected in several states, he also signed an order requiring that travelers flying into the U.S. must be tested before they depart and quarantine when they arrive. Biden invoked the Defense Production Act to direct federal agencies and the private industry to ramp up production of testing and vaccination materials. His team has already identified suppliers and were working with them on a plan to move forward, Biden said. In a move he said would let many parents return to work, the president also called on the Department of Education to immediately provide schools and communities with clear guidance and resources to safely reopen schools and child care centers. The administrations nearly 200-page plan, available on the White House website, calls on Congress to provide immediate funding to increase the public health workforce and expand the pool of people eligible to administer vaccines. Biden has set a goal of vaccinating at least 100 million Americans in his first 100 days in office. Its one of the greatest operational challenges our nation has ever undertaken, he said. Were committed to getting it done. Well move heaven and earth to get people vaccinated for free. In the coming weeks, the Federal Emergency Management Agency plans to work with local governments to establish about 100 community-supported vaccination centers. The CDC will soon establish a program to make vaccines available in early February, Biden added. Biden also ordered more stringent worker safety standards to help prevent essential workers and others from contracting the virus. Biden last week announced a $1.9 trillion relief plan that included $1,400 stimulus checks for individuals, funds for vaccine distribution, $350 billion in state and local aid, $170 billion for schools, $35 billion to help local governments boost small businesses, and increased supplemental unemployment insurance from $300 to $400. How soon Congress takes up the proposal remains to be seen, but lawmakers and governors of both major parties have continued to press for more relief even after the latest $900 billion stimulus bill last year. Biden and Harris have pledged to tackle the virus right away by ramping up vaccination plans and providing greater relief to Americans. The White House will hold a news briefing including Fauci, the nations top infectious disease expert, at 4 p.m. Faucis blunt assessments of the pandemic frequently drew fire from former President Donald Trump and his supporters. We will make sure that scientists and public health experts will speak directly to you, Biden told reporters Thursday. The administrations COVID-19 response, he said, would always be free from political interference. Related Content: Advertisement President Joe Biden, flanked by VP Kamala Harris, signed a new executive order on Thursday to speed up vaccine delivery and doubled-down on his plan to hand out one million doses per day More than one million COVID-19 vaccines were given out in the United States yesterday as Joe Biden - just two days into his presidency - laid out his 'full scale war-time' plan to reach that exact goal. Biden has been touting for several weeks now how he will aim to have 100 million Americans inoculated within his first 100 days in office. Yet just one day after his inauguration, the US recorded 1.3 million COVID-19 vaccines. The seven-day rolling average for new COVID-19 vaccines being administered is already at 940,000 a day. It came as Biden signed a new executive order on Thursday to speed up vaccine delivery and doubled-down on his plan to hand out one million doses per day. He did not address that the Trump administration had already been on that trajectory to boost the number of shots closer to the one million mark. Shots per day jumped more than 800,000 in the days before Biden's inauguration. Biden snapped when questioned whether his 100 million shot goal was ambitious enough, saying: 'When I announced it, you all said it's not possible. Come on, gimme a break man.' Later, when pressed on the figure at a White House briefing, Press Secretary Jen Psaki defended the figure. The US recorded 1.3 million COVID-19 vaccines yesterday. The seven-day rolling average for new COVID-19 vaccines being administered is already at 940,000 a day She said the Trump administration was provided 36 million doses and pushed out 17 million shots, or about 500,000 per day. 'What we are proposing is to double that to about 1 million shots per day. We have outlined this goal and objective in coordination and consultation with our health and medical experts,' she said. Meanwhile, some health experts have said even the 100 million goal may not be sufficient to the challenge. Currently, the US has handed out 18.4 million vaccine doses of the 37.9 million distributed nationwide. So far, 5.6 percent of the US population has been vaccinated. Dr Anthony Fauci, who is now Biden's top COVID adviser, has been saying for weeks that the US would soon be giving at least a million vaccinations a day despite the sluggish start. Fauci on Thursday said Biden's plan to speed up COVID-19 inoculations, including setting up community vaccination centers and involving more local pharmacies, improves on the Trump administration's rollout. He added that Biden is deploying the Defense Production Act to help vaccine manufacturers, including Pfizer Inc, Johnson & Johnson and Moderna Inc, scale their production. Most Americans will likely be vaccinated by the middle of this year, Fauci said, though he added he remains concerned about the amount of people who are hesitant to get a vaccine. He stressed the importance of vaccinations after noting that fast-spreading COVID mutations are on the rise in South Africa and the UK with the British strain already here in US. Fauci said the rise of such strains made it even more important for Americans to get vaccinated and stop the spread of COVID. On his first full day in office, Biden pointed to the 400,000 deaths from COVID-19 so far and laid out efforts to deliver 100 million shots into Americans' arms. 'Our national plan launches a full-scale wartime effort to address the supply shortages by ramping up production and protective equipment, syringes, needles, you name it,' he said. 'And when I say wartime, people kind of look at me like: wartime? Well as I said last night, 400,000 Americans have died. That's more than have died in all of World War II 400,000. This is a wartime undertaking.' Biden, who borrowed a bit of pageantry from his predecessor, seating himself behind one of the same mini desks, brandished a mask and repeated his call for Americans to wear them for the next 100 days. 'It's a patriotic act,' he said, lamenting that mask use had become politicized. 'They're more important than the vaccine,' which takes time to work, he added. There were 3,955 deaths reported in the US yesterday, with the seven-day rolling average now at just over 2,900 There were 188,952 new cases nationwide yesterday and the rolling seven-day average is currently at 180,930 Meanwhile, Florida on Thursday changed its rules on vaccine eligibility amid shortages of doses. Florida's top health officer has advised counties across his state to prioritize available doses to residents, including so-called snowbirds who reside in the state part-time. Uncertainty over the vaccine supply has prompted concern over medical tourism, particularly those coming from overseas who could prevent some Florida seniors from getting their turn for vaccination first. Health officials have discounted that such a problem exists but moved anyway to make it more explicit that the state's supply of vaccines should be reserved for residents and others with strong ties to Florida. In a two-page advisory signed by Florida Surgeon General Scott Rivkees, the state Health Department noted that the 'vaccine remains scarce with the United States and vaccine availability in Florida is extremely limited.' As a result, Rivkees issued a public health advisory that directs 'prioritization of Floridians for COVID-19 vaccine in Florida.' That means vaccine providers must first ascertain whether a shot recipient is a permanent or seasonal resident by providing a driver's license or a host of other documents, including rental leases and utility bills as spelled out by the state Health Department. Gov. Ron DeSantis has downplayed so-called medical tourism, which he has called inappropriate, and said he would crack down on the practice by who he called 'interlopers.' Robert Kocharyan on years of his leadership in Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia Situation on Armenian-Azerbaijani border is still tense, more on COVID-19 in Armenia, May 28 digest "Armenia" alliance of political parties paying tribute to founder of First Republic Aram Manukyan (LIVE) Yerevan.today: Armenia acting PM not greeted at ruling party's headquarters, citizens call him 'capitulator' Russia MOD reports on maintenance of ceasefire regime in Nagorno-Karabakh Armenia acting MOD meets with Russian counterpart in Moscow Armenia 2nd President: I see possibility of restoring borders of Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast We can provide our army with some key, modernized weapons, says Armenia ex-President Kocharyan Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: Captives issue is not one that any opposition force can resolve OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs release statement on detention of 6 Armenian servicemen by Azerbaijan Armenian acting Deputy PM: Discussion on issues possible only after withdrawal of Azeri troops from Armenia's territory Armenia acting PM on Syunik roads, Russian military posts: This is only place where there are working nuances Armenia acting PM: Process of return of POWs will intensify after upcoming elections Putin congratulates Aliyev on Republic Day 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 .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... BILLINGS, Mont. The Biden administration announced Thursday a 60-day suspension of new oil and gas leasing and drilling permits for U.S. lands and waters, as officials moved quickly to reverse Trump administration policies on energy and the environment. The suspension, part of a broad review of programs at the Department of Interior, went into effect immediately under an order signed Wednesday by Acting Interior Secretary Scott de la Vega. It follows Democratic President Joe Bidens campaign pledge to halt new drilling on federal lands and end the leasing of publicly owned energy reserves as part of his plan to address climate change. The order did not ban new drilling outright. It includes an exception giving a small number of senior Interior officials the secretary, deputy secretary, solicitor and several assistant secretaries authority to approve actions that otherwise would be suspended. ADVERTISEMENTSkip ................................................................ The order also applies to coal leases and permits, and blocks the approval of new mining plans. Land sales and exchanges and the hiring of senior-level staff at the agency also were suspended. Under former President Donald Trump, federal agencies prioritized energy development and eased environmental rules to speed up drilling permits as part of the Republicans goal to boost fossil fuel production. Trump consistently downplayed the dangers of climate change, which Biden has made a top priority. On his first day in office Wednesday, Biden signed a series of executive orders that underscored his different approach rejoining the Paris Climate Accord, revoking approval of the Keystone XL oil pipeline from Canada and telling agencies to immediately review dozens of Trump-era rules on science, the environment and public health. The Interior Department order did not limit existing oil and gas operations under valid leases, meaning activity wont come to a sudden halt on the millions of acres of lands in the West and offshore in the Gulf of Mexico where much drilling is concentrated. Its effect could be further blunted by companies that stockpiled enough drilling permits in Trumps final months to allow them to keep pumping oil and gas for years. Erik Milito with the National Ocean Industries Association, which represents offshore energy firms, said he was optimistic companies still will be able to get new permits approved through the senior-level officials specified in the order. But Bidens move could be the first step in an eventual goal to ban all leases and permits to drill on federal land. Mineral leasing laws state that federal lands are for many uses, including extracting oil and gas, but the Democrat could set out to rewrite those laws, said Kevin Book, managing director at Clearview Energy Partners. The administrations announcement drew outrage from Republicans and some industry trade groups. They said limiting access to publicly owned energy resources would mean more foreign oil imports, lost jobs and fewer tax revenues. Republican Sen. John Barrasso of Wyoming said the administration was off to a divisive and disastrous start. He added that the government is legally obliged to act on all drilling permit applications it receives and that staff memos cant override the law. Impeding American energy will only serve to hurt local communities and hamper Americas economic recovery, American Petroleum Institute President Mike Sommers said in a statement. National Wildlife Federation Vice President Tracy Stone-Manning said she expected Biden to make good on his campaign promise to end leasing altogether, or at least impose a long-term moratorium on any new issuances. The Biden administration has made a commitment to driving down carbon emissions. It makes sense starting with the land that we all own, she said. We have 24 million acres already under lease. That should get us through. Oil and gas extracted from public lands and waters account for about a quarter of annual U.S. production. Extracting and burning those fuels generates the equivalent of almost 550 million tons (500 metric tons) of greenhouse gases annually, the U.S. Geological Survey said in a 2018 study. Under Trump, Interior officials approved almost 1,400 permits on federal lands, primarily in Wyoming and New Mexico, over a three-month period that included the election, according to an Associated Press analysis of government data. Those permits, which remain valid, will allow companies to continue drilling for years, potentially undercutting Bidens climate agenda. But there are other ways an ambitious Biden administration could make it harder for permit holders to extract oil and gas. The ability to get your resources out, to get right of way, to get roads, to get supporting infrastructure, not all of that is signed and sealed right now, Clearview Energys Book said. Under President Barack Obama, the Interior Department imposed a 2016 moratorium on federal coal leases while it investigated the coal programs climate effects and whether companies were paying a fair share for coal from public lands. Trump lifted the moratorium soon after taking office. __ AP writer Cathy Bussewitz contributed from New York. ___ Follow Matthew Brown on Twitter: @MatthewBrownAP A Texas doctor has been fired and criminally charged after he was accused of stealing a vial of the COVID-19 vaccine to give shots to friends and relatives. Authorities allege that Dr. Hasan Gokal, who worked for Harris County Public Health, stole a vial containing nine doses of the moderna vaccine while working at a vaccination site at Lyndsay Lyons Park, in Humble, on December 29. The theft was reportedly discovered after Gokal bragged about it to a co-worker the following week, who then reported him to supervisors. Prosecutors later determined that Gokal, 48, had used the vial to give the vaccine to nine different people, including his wife. He abused his position to place his friends and family in line in front of people who had gone through the lawful process to be there, said Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg. What he did was illegal and he'll be held accountable under the law. Authorities allege that Dr. Hasan Gokal, who worked for Harris County Public Health, stole a vial containing nine doses of the Moderna vaccine The theft reportedly took place while he working at a vaccination site at Lyndsay Lyons Park (above), in Humble, on December 29 Ogg said Gokal ignored protocols intended to ensure that the vaccine is given to front-line workers and people at higher risk for COVID-19 complications instead of being wasted, adding that mishandling the vaccine can lead to the countys government funding being cut. Gokals lawyer, Paul Doyle, said in a written statement that his client is a dedicated public servant who is looking forward to his day in court. He added that his client did nothing wrong, insisting the vial was already damaged but Gokal didnt want it to go to waste. [Gokal] ensured that COVID-19 vaccine dosages that would have otherwise expired went into the arms of people who met the criteria for receiving it, Doyle said. Harris County would have preferred Dr. Gokal let the vaccines go to waste and are attempting to disparage this mans reputation in the process to support this policy. Gokal was fired after an internal investigation by the health department. He's been charged with a misdemeanor count of theft by a public servant, and faces up to a year in jail and a $4,000 fine if convicted. Prosecutors later determined that Gokal, 48, had used the vial to give the vaccine to nine different people, one of whom was his wife Gokal had been one of the faces of Harris County Public Health during the pandemic, having regularly featured in videos and on townhall panels. Records indicate he has been practising medicine for 21 years and is in good standing with the Texas Medical Board, with no disciplinary history. Woods Nash, an assistant professor of bioethics and medical humanities at the University of Houston College of Medicine, told ABC13: If the accusation against Dr. Gokal is true, he has committed a significant breach of the public's trust in the medical profession. We trust doctors and other health care professionals to put the interest of their patients, and the public, ahead of their own goals and desires. That expectation of altruism is not altered by the pandemic. If anything, the pandemic only increases the urgency of setting aside self-interests that conflict with the public good, he continued. Gokal has not been arrested and a court hearing has not been set. His medical license is still active. The vaccine rollout in the Houston region and other parts of Texas have been slower than expected, according to KHOU11. Only 10 percent of Texans eligible for the first dose have received them. In the Houston region, only Galveston and Fort Bend counties vaccinated higher than that average, while Harris County was at 10 percent. Gokal had been one of the faces of Harris County Public Health during the pandemic, having regularly featured in videos and on townhall panels Steven Brandenburg, 46, was arrested on December 31 and charged on Tuesday with trying to ruin more than 500 doses of the Moderna COVID vaccine In Wisconsin, a pharmacist was arrested in December after being accused of ruining 57 vials of the Moderna vaccine because he allegedly believed the vaccine would mutate recipients DNA. Steven Bandenburg, 46, was charged this week with a misdemeanor of attempted felony criminal damage to property. Prosecutors said Bradenburg is an admitted conspiracy theorist who believed the vaccine would mutate recipients' DNA. Medical experts say there is no truth to the claims that the COVID-19 vaccines genetically modify humans. Brandenburg told a detective that he removed the vials from the refrigerator at the medical center for three hours of December 24 then replaced them. Then the next day on Christmas he took the vials out of the refrigerator again and left them out for nine hours, believing that it would render the doses ineffective if it wasn't refrigerated for 12 hours. But he said a pharmacy technician found the vials and put them back in the refrigerator. The Moderna vaccine is supposed to be stored between 36 and 46 degrees Fahrenheit. If convicted, Brandenburg could face a $10,000 fine and up to nine months in prison. He is due back in court March 18. Israeli warplanes fired several missiles in central Syria early Friday, Syrian state media reported, without giving word on casualties. State-news agency SANA quoted an unnamed military official as saying the attack took place shortly before dawn when Israeli warplanes flew over neighboring Lebanon. Israel has launched hundreds of strikes against Iran-linked military targets in Syria over the years but rarely acknowledges or discusses such operations. The Syrian military official said the attacked was aimed at several targets in and near the central province of Hama. It added that Syrian air defense units shot down most of the missiles. It was Israels first strike on Syria since President Joe Biden took office. Tension has been high in the Middle East over the past weeks as many had feared retaliation for the U.S. killing of Irans Revolutionary Guard commander Qassem Soleimani last year in Baghdad. On Jan. 13, Israeli warplanes carried out intense airstrikes in eastern Syria apparently targeting positions and arms depots of Iran-backed forces. At least 57 fighters were killed and dozens were wounded, according to a Syrian opposition war monitoring group. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an opposition war monitor that tracks Syrias war, said it recorded 39 Israeli strikes inside Syria in 2020 that hit 135 targets, including military posts, warehouses or vehicles. Israel views Iranian entrenchment on its northern frontier as a red line, and it has repeatedly struck Iran-linked facilities and weapons convoys destined for Lebanons militant Hezbollah group. The strikes also come amid intensifying low-altitude Israeli warplane missions in Lebanese skies that have caused jitters among residents. (Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com) live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More The Union Budget 2021 to be presented on February 1 will decide the market direction for the next few days. It comes at a time when the coronavirus pandemic has changed the economic landscape materially. There is euphoria on D-Street on key reforms that could push growth and kickstart the capex cycle in the economy. We expect positive announcements on reforms viz key reforms in labour laws and judicial reforms, which will support a recovery and re-ignite animal spirits, domestic brokerage firm Sharekhan said in a note. For 2021-22, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has said the budget will see a massive public sector investment and expenditure push, including in infrastructure and health sectors. Alon with these two sectors, real estate, construction and railways,too, are expected to be in focus in the budget. Analysts believe stocks from infra, healthcare and manufacturing could witness traction after the budget announcements. Here are 10 stocks recommended by analysts that you can buy for the short term: Analyst: Rusmik Oza, Executive Vice President, Head of Fundamental Research at Kotak Securities Varroc Engineering (VEL) VEL has a diversified product portfolio spread across India, China, the Americas and Europe and caters to various auto original equipment manufaturers (OEM) globally. In India, it supplies to most two-wheeler makers. It has a strong global lighting system business based in Europe, the Americas, China and India. VEL is the sixth-largest Tier-1 automotive exterior lighting manufacturer globally. It supplies to global companies like Tesla, Audi, JLR, Bentley and Volkswagen. "Increased penetration within the existing key customers and addition of new customers will drive revenue growth for its global lighting business. This business could be less impacted in the future as lighting would be used in both Fuel driven vehicles and electric vehicles," said the analyst. Kalpataru Power Transmission (KPTL) On a consolidated basis, KPTL has a good mix of business coming from transmission and distribution (T&D) and infrastructure (ie railways, roads & logistics). In T&D, the orders are well-diversified within and outside India. As of September 2020 quarter, it had consolidated order book of Rs 26,500 crore. It has been monetising its power transmission assets and reducing debt. With the cash flows coming from the sale of Alipurdar Transmission assets to Adani Transmission it should be a debt-free company in FY22. "Expect valuations to inch-up in future as the promoters reduce the borrowing against pledged shares and company generates healthy free cash flows in future," the analyst said. Larsen & Toubro (L&T) L&T is the best proxy to play the infrastructure theme in India. The last three years of healthy ordering has strengthened the backlog of L&T and the sector. The past three years have seen support on large-sized orders (more than Rs 2,500 crore) spanning across most key business segments of L&Ttransport infrastructure, power, hydrocarbon and water. The large order wins over a three-year period should ideally set L&T up for a sweet two-three year period of execution. The focus should now shift on L&Ts ability to execute and reap pricing gains more than on the impending plateauing of new orders. "We envisage pricing gains from incremental order wins for L&T as peers of L&T are high on the backlog and are going slow of expanding capacities. We look forward to L&Ts ability to scale up its Rs 1 lakh crore FY20 revenues to Rs 1.4 lakh crore by FY24," said the analyst. PNC Infratech PNC had a strong order book of Rs 15,800 crore at the end of Q2FY21. The current order book is about 3.2 times of FY20 revenue and gives strong revenue growth visibility for the next two to three years. The management targets to add about Rs 9,000-10,000 crore of order inflows in FY21 of which it has already secured nearly Rs 4,200 crore of work (till Q2FY21 result) while the balance is expected in H2FY21. PNC does not see any challenge in meeting about Rs 970 crore equity commitment in the HAM project based on its expectation of strong internal accruals in the next three years, robust balance sheet with net cash at the standalone level and asset monetization plans. "PNCs robust order backlog, strong execution track record, net cash balance sheet in EPC business and the long-term growth opportunity in the sector gives comfort for maintaining growth in the financials on a long-term basis," said the analyst. Dalmia Bharat Cement is also one of the good proxy play on revival in capex cycle, housing and higher infrastructure spending. The ongoing inorganic and organic expansion projects of Dalmia are progressing towards completion by FY22E. The company is on track to become the third-largest cement company by capacity (37 mtpa) by FY22E. "We are not concerned with Dalmias high exposure to East (over 65 percent of sales). Despite weak prices in the East, Dalmia is able to sustain industry-leading margins due to its superior cost structure," said the analyst. "Strong free cash flows despite growth CAPEX would help Dalmia become net cash in FY23E. We expect Dalmia Bharat's volume to grow at the rate of 9 percent over FY2021E-23E. The stock offers one of the best risk-reward matrices in the cement sector," the analyst added. Analyst: Ashis Biswas, head of Technical Research at CapitalVia Global Research Aurobindo Pharma (target price: Rs 1,153) Expanding its market share through acquisition and approvals, Aurobindo Pharma is an integrated pharmaceutical company. The company acquired commercial operations in seven western European countries from Actavis. The company has acquired personnel, commercial infrastructure, products, marketing authorization, and dossier license rights in these seven countries. The acquisition brought in a pipeline of about 1,200 products from different segments and an additional pipeline of over 200 products under its foray. The company has forayed into the nutritional OTC business in the US and other international markets. The company is gaining share in new markets of Belgium, Poland, and Czech and would be integrating the Netherlands over the near-term. Sun Pharmaceutical Industries (target price: Rs 730) Sun Pharmaceutical Industries will benefi from two types of FDI available in the pharma sector, brownfield and greenfield Investments. Both are in line with the initiative of Make in India. The company reported a net profit after tax of Rs 1,948.38 crore in the latest quarter. Technically, a breakout from its weekly consolidation surpassing resistance of Rs 560-565 zones is also a positive for the stock. JSW Steel (target price: Rs 477) With its recent win of iron ore mines in Odisha, the company is better placed in the long-term regarding its raw material security. "We expect any sharp increase in iron ore prices, like the one witnessed in Q3, would add to its margins when captive mines get operational," said the analyst. The stock has witnessed a strong buying interest and strong consolidation. Momentum indicator RSI has taken support at 60 levels and reversed from this level, which is positive supporting technical evidence. Glenmark Pharmaceuticals (target price: Rs 670) Glenmark Pharmaceuticals has received final approval from the USFDA for Tadalafil tablets USP in the strengths of 2.5 mg, 5 mg, 10 mg, and 20 mg, the company said in a recent regulatory filing. Robust growth across segments, improving cash flows, controlled debts, and several cost efficiencies measures saw Glenmark delivere better-than-expected earnings growth led by domestic formulation (DF), ROW, EU, and API segments. HUDCO (target price: Rs 58.90) HUDCO plays a crucial role in various government schemes to develop Indian housing and urban infrastructure. A massive shortage in housing with about 4.4 crore units in rural and about 1.9 crore in urban areas coupled with the government's push towards housing through various schemes and subsequent infrastructure development, enables ample growth opportunity. The views and investment tips expressed by 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. Sorry! This content is not available in your region BRUSSELS: AstraZeneca Plc has informed European Union officials on Friday it would cut deliveries of its COVID-19 vaccine to the bloc by 60% to 31 million doses in the first quarter of the year due to production problems, a senior official told Reuters. The decrease deals another blow to Europes COVID-19 vaccination drive after Pfizer Inc and partner BioNTech SE slowed supplies of their vaccine to the bloc this week, saying the move was needed because of work to ramp up production. AstraZeneca was expected to deliver about 80 million doses to the 27 EU countries by the end of March, the official who was involved in the talks said. The official added AstraZeneca planned to begin deliveries to the EU from Feb. 15, in line with original plans. The company confirmed the drop in deliveries without giving specific details on the magnitude of the shortfall. Initial volumes will be lower than originally anticipated due to reduced yields at a manufacturing site within our European supply chain," an AstraZeneca spokesman said in a written statement. We will be supplying tens of millions of doses in February and March to the European Union, as we continue to ramp up production volumes," he said of the vaccine developed with Oxford University. The Britain-based drugmaker had also agreed to deliver more than 80 million doses in the second quarter. On Friday, the EU official, who spoke under condition of anonymity, said the company was not able to provide updated delivery targets for the April to June period due to the production issues. AstraZeneca told EU officials at a meeting that the cut was due to production problems at a vaccine factory in Belgium run by its partner Novasep, the EU official said. Novasep was not immediately available to comment. EU governments expressed deep dissatisfaction with this," EU Health Commissioner Stella Kyriakides said on Twitter after the announcement. The EU drug regulator is due to decide on approval of AstraZenecas vaccine on Jan. 29. It has already received emergency authorisation in Britain. The EU has a deal to purchase at least 300 million doses from AstraZeneca, with an option for an additional 100 million, part of the companys global commitments to supply more than 3 billion doses. 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 Covid-19 has changed the world as we know it - our daily lives look nothing like what they were in the beginning of 2020. During these tough times the key is to digest the crisis in total and think of not only managing it, but also preparing for the post-crisis tone. For India Inc, it perhaps translates into 'Innovation' and 'Adaptability' and these words seemed to have echoed through their halls, as it has been truly inspiring to see how businesses across industries are revisiting their models and pivoting their offerings to suit the new normal. One particular organisational learning was remarkably quick, quicker to most of us, than some of the more arduous teachings of this difficult time. We learnt that adaptability is the only way to move forward. At Coca-Cola India we took a phased approach towards evolving ourselves to rise up to the situation at hand: Phase 1: Ensure the safety of people and community; lead by action. The company pledged Rs 100 crore to support communities during the pandemic. Phase 2: Inspire people. Our campaign focused on local heroes who were making a difference to communities around them. Maana mushkil ki gadi hai par umeed usse bhi badi hai. Phase 3: As things opened up, we slowly but steadily lived up to the idea of being a total beverage company. During these times, all brands have a role to play in consumers' lives. From pure indulgence to functional, we saw a pick-up in all benefits sought by consumers and we were there with them, all the way. Ultimately, consumers are the essence of any business, and they were evolving and adapting to the changing external environment much faster. Occasions began blurring. Due to physical distancing, out-of-home occasions have transitioned to at-home moments. Consumers are turning to brands they trust, products that make them feel good and bring back some state of familiarity and "normalcy" in their lives. The time spent with one's family has also increased dramatically. All these point to a need for rapid adaptation. Let's deep dive into why. Human beings are social creatures, and hence driven by a certain set of values garnered from both society and self. When it comes to values, consumers have always wanted to relate to a brand and see them as an extension of life choices. These values shape emotions and emotions drive behaviour. Currently when it comes to behaviour, every consumer's path to purchase has altered significantly as their core drivers for choosing a product have become safety, hygiene and trust. Consumers have become more conscious of what they are purchasing and consuming. Shopping is a deliberate exercise of choice, especially for categories that impact the family and its long-term health. Emphasising the immuno-boosting benefits of products and the fortification of micronutrients is gaining increased acceptance in a situation where consumers' main worry is falling ill. As consumers' focus for choosing a product shifts to healthy, Covid-safe items, organisations must continue evolving and adapting to the new, changing market dynamics. Those that thrive quickly read the signals of change and pivot successfully. Innovation combined with agile adoption of new technologies and greater transparency will determine market leadership. It was a trend we had anticipated and had already begun expanding. The Minute Maid as a platform for wellness launched two immuno-boosting variants Minute Maid Vita Punch and Minute Maid Nutriforce in August this year, offering consumers the benefits of mental agility and immunity. Vita Punch contains 100 per cent of the body's daily need for Vitamin C, while Nutriforce contains iron, zinc and vitamin complexes in an exceptional blend of apple juice. The products that have been designed to provide vital nutrients, aid metabolism and enhance cognition. The accelerated digital transformation forced by the pandemic has been one of the biggest changes when it comes to consumer preference. With people spending more time on their digital devices, this trend is likely to stay even once we have settled into a post-pandemic world. What we've seen in our business is that among urban consumers, there is a strong movement towards newer platforms for purchase like e-commerce. The shift to becoming more available on e-commerce platforms, while revising pricing, promotion and packaging strategies can be a massive, exciting challenge. Organisations that experiment quickly, often and economically - with products, processes, business models and strategies - will ultimately win. At Coca-Cola India we're presently building on digital, for it to be a growth engine for the future, and have already established a sizeable presence on all leading e-commerce platforms and have also built associations with major food aggregators. Through our tie-up with Common Services Center, we have tried to ensure rural last-mile delivery by listing all our popular products on their Grameen e-store platforms. Globally, Coca-Cola is taking strategic steps to reorganise and better enable the system to pursue its Beverages for Life strategy, with a portfolio of drinks that are positioned to capture growth in a fast-changing marketplace. The company is building a networked global organisation, combining the power of scale with the deep knowledge required to win locally. Changes in our operating model will shift our marketing to drive more growth and put execution closer to consumers while prioritising a portfolio of strong brands and a disciplined innovation framework. The company is creating new operating units focused on regional and local execution that will work closely with marketing category leadership teams that span the globe to rapidly scale ideas. This structure will be supported by the company's newly created Platform Services Organisation, which will provide global services and enhanced expertise across a range of critical capabilities. During the pandemic we have had to ensure that every moving part across the large Coca-Cola system was interlinked and benefiting from the changes being made. It's always necessary that we prepare for whatever's next and do so with nimbleness and determination. But it's comforting to realise that no matter what happens, all of us are rallying for a better world, and building an improved, shared future together. And at the end of the day, that's all that matters. (The author is President, Coca-Cola, India and South West Asia) 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. File image: Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressing the nation while launching the COVID-19 vaccination drive (Image: YouTube/Narendra Modi) The Congress in Assam attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi with 24 questions on issues such as enactment of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), the governments "failure" to deport Bangladeshis illegally living in the state and "creating hurdles" in development of industry. State Congress president Ripun Bora posed these questions in a press conference ahead of the prime ministers visit to the poll-bound state on Saturday. The prime minister has endangered the existence of the indigenous Assamese people by imposing the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) on them, Bora alleged. The CAA says that members of Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi and Christian communities who have come from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan till December 31, 2014 facing religious persecution in those countries will not be treated as illegal immigrants but will be given Indian citizenship. Many groups in Assam are afraid that CAA would lead to an influx of illegal immigrants from Bangladesh, which in turn would harm the interests of indigenous people. The Congress leader questioned Modi how can he claim to be a well-wisher of the state when he has totally disregarded the Assam Accord which pledges protection the indigenous population in the state. Clause Six of the Assam Accord, 1985, says that constitutional, legislative and administrative safeguards shall be provided to protect, preserve and promote the cultural, social, linguistic identity and heritage of the Assamese people. Bora said that the BJP had announced before the last assembly elections in 2016 that there will not be a single illegal Bangladeshi in the state. "How many Bangladeshis have been deported by Modi? Why did they (the BJP) have to impose the CAA on us and bring in more Bangladeshis in the state?" the Rajya Sabha MP said. He also asked whether the BJP government has been successful in sealing the Indo-Bangladesh border. During his recent visit to the state, BJP president JP Nadda had claimed that six communities -- tea tribes, Koch- Rajbongshi, Moran, Muttock, Chutia and Tai-Ahom -- have been granted Scheduled Tribe status, but they have not yet got it, the state Congress president said. After coming to power in 2014, the prime minister abolished the North East Industrial and Investment Promotion policy, creating hurdles in the way of industrial development of Assam, he claimed. In August 2017, the prime minister had announced a financial package to control floods in the region but the promise remained unfulfilled, Bora alleged. Guwahati has not become a smart city as promised by the BJP which also sold off 27 oilfields in Upper Assam to private companies, the Congress leader claimed. The prime minister on Saturday will launch a special programme of the Assam government to distribute land 'patta' or land allotment certificates to over one lakh landless indigenous people. KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. Police say that three people are dead and another seriously injured after a crash along Highway 140 near Klamath Falls on Thursday morning. Troopers from Oregon State Police and emergency crews responded to the crash just after 8 a.m. on Hwy 140 near Varney Creek Road. OSP said that a preliminary investigation of the scene found that 36-year-old KC Brock of Central Point was driving eastbound in a Hyundai Santa Fe when he tried to pass a truck and trailer in a no-passing zone. Brock slammed into a Dodge Dakota, driven by 53-year-old Charles Lundy of Klamath Falls, heading westbound. Both Brock and Lundy were killed in the resulting crash. Lundy's passenger, 59-year-old Betty Bishop of Medford, was also killed. Brock's passenger, 27-year-old Kevin Morris of Central Point, was taken to the hospital via air ambulance. OSP gave no further information about the extent of his injuries. Troopers were assisted at the scene by Rocky Point Fire/EMS and the Oregon Department of Transportation. People line up outside a hospital to get COVID-19 tests in Beijing, China on Jan. 14, 2021. (GREG BAKER/AFP via Getty Images) Residents in Chinas Virus Hotspots Share Their Experiences Under Lockdown Draconian lockdown measures led to suicides in northeast China Numerous Chinese cities are battling a resurgence of the COVID-19 pandemic since December last year, with northeastern China being hit particularly hard. Various cities in Heilongjiang, a province that borders Russia, Suihua, Qiqihar and Harbin, have been shut down to contain the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus. Draconian Lockdown Measures Wangkui county of Suihua city in Heilongjiang is one of the six areas designated as high-risk in the country for pandemic control. At the initial stage of the latest CCP virus outbreak, each household was allowed to send out one person to do the shopping every three days. But starting from Jan. 20, stricter measures were imposed, and everyone is required to stay at home for seven consecutive days. The draconian lockdown measures are taking a toll on residents. On Jan. 20, a video circulated on social media showed that a resident had taken his own life by jumping from a high-rise apartment building in Suihua. The next day, another disturbing video was posted online, showing that a resident committed suicide by hanging himself on a horizontal bar. Around the same time, a video was shared on Chinese social media, in which an elderly man was seen arguing with the police on the street about the harsh lockdown measures. At one point, he pounded on the police vehicle out of frustration. He said, I have heart disease. The building I live in is very cold. What else can I do? I dont have anything to eat! Take me to prison. At least I will have something to eat in the prison! The man said he is a military veteran who is over 70 years old. I used to be a soldier. I am not afraid of death, he said. What is the definition of the Chinese Communist Party? They are all bastards! A resident in the countryside of Wangkui county complained on Chinese social media that he couldnt use the bathroom because he is locked up inside his home. In rural areas, the bathroom is usually located outside of the house and in the courtyard. He posted, What did you [authorities] have in mind [when you sealed us inside our homes]? Apartment buildings are sealed off and residents are trapped inside in Qiqihar, China on January 2021. (L) A building in Beijiang Yayuan Community. (R) A building in Changxinyuan Community. (Provided to The Epoch Times) The situation in Qiqihar city is similar. A resident surnamed Chen told The Epoch Times on Jan. 21 that everyone had been placed under strict home quarantine for a week. The epidemic is very serious now. We are forbidden to go out, Chen said. Our community has been placed under lockdown since Jan. 12, and all shops are closed. So far, more than ten confirmed cases have been reported in our district. In Fularji district in Qiqihar, in addition to ordering residents to stay at home, local authorities told family members in the same household to maintain a social distance from one another. A local told The Epoch Timess sister media NTD that doors have been sealed with paper strips to prevent residents from going out. Someone came to seal the doors with paper strips yesterday (Jan. 20), treating us like prison inmates. Moreover, he would not tell us how many days we are expected to stay inside. We were told to wait until they [authorities] notify us later. We would be violating the law if we attempted to break the seal. I did not have enough food at home so I asked him what I should do. He said it was none of his business and I have to find a solution myself. In Zhaoqing county of Heilongjiang Province, an insider told The Epoch Times that villages have been closed off and roads are blocked. The roads connecting villages are all blocked. Previously, the authorities had policemen patrolling the road checkpoints. Now, they just dumped truckloads of mud to block the roads, so that no vehicles can drive through. I dont think they need policemen at the checkpoints now. Soaring Food Prices Chen Xin (pseudonym), a resident of Harbin, revealed that the entire city is totally under lockdown, and the authorities had issued urgent notices to ban all kinds of social gatherings. Chen noticed that food prices have significantly gone up in his area. Commodity prices are getting out of control in Harbin. Green onion is 11 yuan [about $1.70] per pound, eggs are 8 yuan [about $1.23] per pound, pork is over 30 yuan [about $4.63], beef and lamb are both around 45 yuan [about $6.94] per pound, he said. Locals Dont Trust Chinese-made Vaccines Chen said everyone inside the city is aware about the severity of the situation. However, outsiders dont know whats going on in Harbin because state-run media is downplaying the severity of the crisis. Nonetheless, local residents are reluctant to receive vaccination. Many of my friends and former classmates work in government and public service organizations. They do not dare to take the vaccination. Even if the vaccine is free, they would refuse to take it. They are very afraid that Chinese-made vaccines do not meet the quality standard, and they are also afraid of side-effects. None of my relatives have taken it yet. Most people in mainland China, including experts, have stayed away and raised concerns about the safety of Chinese-made vaccines, especially since several pharmaceutical companies are still conducting clinical trials for their products. According to a report by The Epoch Times, local authorities in Zhenjiang City, Jiangsu Province, didnt get the COVID-19 vaccine after mandating that residents must be vaccinated. In Shanghai, medical staffers as well as ordinary citizens are concerned about the safety of the vaccine. Chinese media reported that the central government planned for 50 million vaccinations, with 25 million people receiving the first dose before Jan. 15, 2021, then receiving a second dose before Feb. 15, 2021. Chen also said most citizens do not trust the official data of COVID-19 cases. Everyone knows that the real figure is at least ten times that of the official data, he said. Chen Han, Li Shanshan, and Lin Cenxin contributed to this report. The Philippines will buy 20 million doses of Moderna's Covid-19 vaccine, presidential spokesman Harry Roque said on Tuesday, adding to deals for a total of 72 million doses from AstraZeneca, Novavax and Sinovac. With more than 504,000 Covid-19 cases and nearly 10,000 deaths, as of Tuesday, the Philippines has the second-highest level of infections in Southeast Asia. Also Read | What 2020 did to Indias inequality President Rodrigo Duterte has said he preferred that the Philippines sources its Covid-19 vaccines from either China or Russia and on Tuesday Food and Drug Administration chief Rolando Enrique Domingo told state-owned PTV network that late-stage clinical trial applications from Sinovac and Clover Biopharmaceuticals have been approved. Duterte wants to take the Sinovac vaccine as soon as it is available, but without media coverage of the vaccination, Roque told a regular news conference. This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Derick Almena, 50, will reportedly plead guilty to 36 counts of involuntary manslaughter in exchange for a nine-year sentence in Alameda County on Friday The primary tenant of a San Francisco warehouse where 36 people died in a late-night fire in 2016 has plead guilty to the deaths, avoiding a second trial after the first ended in a hung jury. Derick Almena, 50, plead guilty in Alameda County Court on Friday to 36 counts of involuntary manslaughter in exchange for a nine-year sentence. Almena may serve little or none of that term because of time already spent behind bars since his June 2017 arrest and credit for good behavior. His sentencing date has been set for March 8 and he must remain under house arrest with an ankle monitor until that time. Alameda County prosecutors say Almena was criminally negligent when he illegally converted the dilapidated industrial Oakland warehouse into a residence and event space for artists dubbed the 'Ghost Ship'. He stuffed the two-story building with flammable materials and extension cords, but it had no smoke detectors or sprinklers. The December 2, 2016, fire broke out at the warehouse during an electronic music and dance party, moving so quickly that victims were trapped on the illegally constructed second floor. Prosecutors said the victims received no warning and had little chance to escape down a narrow, ramshackle staircase. The fire is believed to have been electrical but no exact cause has ever been determined. The blaze killed 36 after partygoers found themselves trapped on the second floor The burned warehouse after the deadly fire that broke out on Decemeber 2, 2016 The interior of a portion of the 'Ghost Ship' warehouse, which visitors warned was a fire hazard Almena spoke little during his virtual court hearing on Friday morning, only answering 'guilty' in response to each count and confirming that he understood the terms of his deal. The case has been emotionally wrenching for family and friends of the victims, many who packed a courtroom for months in 2019, only to see a jury split on whether to convict Almena, who leased the building that caught fire. The jury also found co-defendant Max Harris, who was the Ghost Ship's 'creative director' and would collect rent, not guilty at the same trial. Harris, also known as Max Ohr, lived at the Ghost Ship and is accused of helping plan the electronic music concert where the deadly inferno broke out. He was arrested alongside Almena in 2017 but was acquitted of involuntary manslaughter charges last year and no longer lives in the state. Colleen Dolan, mother of victim Chelsea Faith Dolan, told the East Bay Times that families were not informed of the plea deal possibility before last Wednesday. 'My heart dropped, especially when I heard it was going to be a slap on the wrist. I want my daughter back; we want to be with our family members who died. He gets to be with his family,' she said. 'It's beyond a disappointment. It's beyond shock. I can't get my emotions up high enough. I'm disheartened and depressed.' 'I'm totally disappointed in how the DA's handled this case and even more in the outcome,' added David Gregory, whose daughter Michela Angelina Gregory died in the fire. 'I guess now we are supposed to just move on with our lives as if this is something we should just accept.' Almena, who had checked into a hotel on the night of the fire and was not in the building at the time, had been jailed since 2017 until he was released in May because of coronavirus concerns and after posting a $150,000 bail bond. He was placed on house arrest with an ankle monitor in the city of Upper Lake, where he lives with his wife and children. His wife Micah Allison was also reported to have run the warehouse with him but she has not faced charges. Superior Court Judge Trina Thompson ruled Friday that Almena must continue to wear the ankle monitor as he awaits his sentencing in March. Sami Long Kopelman, the mother of 34-year-old victim Edmond Lapine, told the East Bay Times that prosecutors said there were several reasons for now agreeing to a plea deal including the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and concern about finding an impartial jury pool. Max Harris, left, and Derick Almena at Santa Rita Jail in Alameda County in June 2017 The fire killed 36 people attending the dance party, all pictured above 'I believe this is an insult to the victims, their families, and is not how the justice system should work for those who were killed,' Kopelman said in a statement. 'The defendant gets his family, whereas some of us do not. What can be hoped for at this point is that the court has a different point of view on this case. It is not fair.' Judge James Cramer rejected a previous plea deal from Almena and Harris in August 2018 after hearing emotional testimony from the victims' familes. DailyMail.com exclusively revealed in 2017 how a friend described Almena as an 'arrogant' man who was so self-involved that he laughed off warnings his artist's commune was a potential death trap and allegedly ignored repeated safety warnings. It was also reported that Almena and his wife would leave their three children with a teenage babysitter for up to five days at a time - and return boasting about 'transcendent experiences'. In the aftermath of the fire, he posted an insensitive Facebook post in which he moaned about losing his furniture and art collection in the tragedy. 'Confirmed. Everything I worked so hard for is gone,' he wrote. 'Blessed that my children and Micah were at a hotel and safe and soundit's as if I have awoken from a dream filled with opulence and hope to be standing now in poverty of self worth.' Derick Ion Almena, right, and Micah Allison, the couple who operated the Ghost Ship warehouse where dozens died in a fire. They claim they did every thing they could to make the building safe as Almena faces 36 charges of involuntary manslaughter Micah Allison has supported her husband through the charges and claims his innocence Danielle Boudreaux, who has known Almena and Allison for over eight years, even claims one visitor to the warehouse was so concerned about the state of the property that she told her fire-fighter husband who arranged for an immediate fire inspection. She claims the local fire department carried out an inspection in 2015 and warned Almena of several fire safety violations, branding the warehouse a 'tinder box' - but still nothing was done. In February 2017, it was revealed that city officials in California were warned about the Oakland 'Ghost Ship' warehouse more than 22 times in the years leading up to the deadly fire. Police officers shut down a 'drug-fueled' rave at the warehouse nearly two years before the blaze and continuous complaints flooded in about the property in the 30 years leading up to the tragedy. Officials have said they had no idea the building was used as a residence. But on February 2, 2015, a person called the police claiming to be locked out of the warehouse and told a responding officer that 'this is a warehouse that is also an illegal shared housing'. The officer reported that the issue was resolved and left, the documents reveal. Oakland fire officials walk past the remains of the Ghost Ship warehouse in December 2016 The front of The Ghost Ship warehouse damaged from a deadly fire in December 2016 Records show Oakland police officers responded to several landlord-tenant disputes and less than three weeks before the fire, Oakland city inspectors received complaints about the warehouse being remodeled into residences. Another complaint was lodged on November 14 about an illegal interior building structure, records show. Boudreaux said Almena and Allison moved into the warehouse with their children in 2013. She said he rented the place for $5,000 a month and sub-letted space to several artists. Visitors have described the warehouse as a squalid scene where cat feces and used condoms littered the limited floor space, junk and 'art' was piled high in every room. They said nails protrude from stairs made out of old pallets, brick work crumbles in the walls and drug use rife among the party goers who came and went. The eccentric building operator created an indoor 'RV park' downstairs charging residents $500 a month per person and would also make money renting the space for parties. A family member of the victims of the Ghost Ship warehouse fire wipes her tears during an Alameda County District Attorney's press conference in September 2019 Mary Vega, mother of Ghost Ship fire victim Alex Vega, weeps at a hearing in 2019 'The first quarter of the 2nd floor was the family's residence, the rest of it was the dance area and the stage,' Boudreaux explained. 'They had these crazy huge four poster Balinese beds up there, and huge wooden Balinese couches, and a pagoda. 'Downstairs was the RV park. It was filled with a revolving cast of drug addicts who would come and go. 'It was $500 per person per month. His goal was always to have at least ten people, because the rent was $5k a month.' After the fire in December 2016, survivors told how they had to fight for a way out of the burning warehouse down a narrow staircase and how many people were trapped upstairs by the flames and smoke. Sheriff's officials told how some of the victims died after sending goodbye messages to their loved ones that said, 'I'm going to die' and 'I love you'. Almena claimed he had done everything that they could afford to do to make the warehouse safe. Yet he apologized for the fire in an interview with the Today show shortly afterward. Almena has said that he and his family wasn't there when the fire broke out and that he had booked a hotel room for the night because he was 'exhausted' and his children 'had school'. He told NBC that he and his wife are absolutely devastated and nothing is more important than the lives that have been lost. 'We're sorry to the families and all the friends who have lost loved ones. 'I gladly would give my entire life of fortune, of wealth, of experience again, again and againI would surrender everything,' Almena said. He said he didn't 'know anything about this event, other than okay I'm mopping for it; I'm dusting; I'm cleaning; I'm getting it beautiful'. City officials said the space was not permitted as a residential building, but Almena said about 20 people lived there, the station reported. 'The center we all lived there, and was one of creativity, and beauty, and optimism,' Almena said. He told NBC that he made repairs to the warehouse's electrical system without permits after, he says, the landlord refused. The type of lease Almena signed made him completely responsible for the building's maintenance and safety upkeep and so the building's owner, Chor Ng, wasn't charged with a crime. She still reached a settlement with the victims' families for an unknown figure. However, the Ng family now plans to file for bankruptcy which could delay payments. In July 2020, Oakland also agreed in a settlement to pay $32.7 million, with $23.5million going to victims' families and $9.2million to Samuel Maxwell, who survived the fire but was badly injured. The city didn't acknowledge any liability in the agreement but decided to settle because of the possible legal costs, the statement said. It was one of the largest settlements in history. Honor has announced its first phone since the company officially separated from Huawei - say hello to the Honor V40 5G. The device comes with a Dimensity 1000+ chipset, a new 50 MP camera, and speedy charging. The screen of the Honor V40 5G is a 6.72 OLED with curved sides and a pill-shaped punch hole for the dual selfie cameras. The panel supports a 120Hz refresh rate and up to 300Hz touch sampling rate and a resolution of 2676 x 1236 pixels. On the back, we have three cameras - the main one comes with a 50 MP RYYB sensor that is 1/1.56 big. The pixel size is 1.0m, but in the 4-in-1 pixel-binned mode it goes to 2m. The other two cameras are an 8MP ultrawide-angle shooter and a 2MP cam for close-up shots. There is also laser autofocus, placed right next to the single LED flash. While Honor is an independent company now, the phone was mostly developed under Huawei ownership so it's no surprise to see that the 4,000 mAh battery supports 66W wired charging. This lets you go from flat to 100% in 35 minutes. Wirereless charging speeds are impressive too - up to 50W and a 50% charge in 35 minutes. These are the same speeds in the Huawei Mate 40 Pro smartphone. Speaking about inherited technology, the Honor V40 5G comes with Magic UI 4.0, sadly, with Android 10 underneath. There was no word whether the phone would have Google Services because the event was in China, where phones ship without those anyway. Honor V40 5G The Honor V40 5G is already up for sale in three colors - Night Black, Titanium Silver, Rose Gold - and comes in two memory configurations - 8/128 GB or 8/256 GB. Price starts from CNY3,599 ($556/455) and goes up to CNY3,999 ($620/505). The event also saw the Honor MagicBook 14 and MagicBook 15 get new Intel-powered versions. The new iterations feature an 11th-gen Intel Core i7 processor with an Nvidia GeForce MX450 graphics card. Thanks to the new processor, the notebooks now support Wi-Fi 6 with a 2X2 MIMO dual-antenna design for wireless speeds up to 2400 Mbps. Source On January 18, Congress President Sonia Gandhi and former party president Rahul Gandhi met a group of Congress leaders from Kerala. On January 19, the grand old party announced a 10-member committee for the upcoming assembly polls in Kerala and named former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy as its head. On the face of it this would look like a wise and matter-of-fact move after all Chandy is a very popular leader. However, what makes it interesting is that the party has approached Chandy four years and eight months after it washed its hands of the leader and virtually forced him into political exile after the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) lost the 2016 elections to the Communist Party of India (Marxist)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF). The All India Congress Committee (AICC) has had to eat crow by agreeing to Chandys reinstatement, and it is also a clear statement by the party that it needs Chandy to win the upcoming assembly polls. The truth is that the AICC has once again found itself between a rock and a hard place. A complete absence of young leaders in the party with even a semblance of mass connect has forced it on the inevitable rediscovery path. With this announcement the Congress has adopted in Kerala the course it took in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan in 2018. Apart from Chandy, the 10-member committee will have Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala, Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) chief Mullappalay Ramachandran, AICC general secretary KC Venugopal and Lok Sabha MP Shashi Tharoor. This arrangement gives the party high command legroom to choose the next Chief Minister if the UDF wins the elections. The united front put up for the press by the Congress leadership air-brushes the fact that the party has realised (late in the day) that Chennithala who was Congress de-facto chief ministerial candidate since May 2016 has been found wanting. The Congress got a rather startling wake-up call in December when it was trounced at the local body elections that neither Chennithala nor Mullappally had the guile nor the political acumen to win an election. They soon found that playing to the gallery with accusations about gold smuggling is easier than making astute moves on the political chessboard. Though the Congress is the major party in the UDF, allies have always had considerable say in formulating poll stratagem and for most UDF allies Chandy is by far the most acceptable leader. This, sadly, reiterates a rather painful point that there is no other Congress leader with half the charisma and grassroots connect as 77-year-old Oommen Chandy. The party, at the national and state level, has left the septuagenarian to do the heavy lifting with barely four months to go before the polls. Chandy would be mindful of the treacherous pitfalls that lie ahead, as he would have to divide time tackling friends within the Congress committee and fighting the LDF. With the likes of Congress leader VM Sudheeran, his sworn nemesis who played a significant role in undoing much of the image he built as Chief Minister, Chandy would have his hands full. One is not sure if he would have the energy to go about it with the same zest as he did in 2016. Assuming Chandy, despite the odds, once again pulls a rabbit out of the hat, there is no guarantee he will be the AICC pick for Chief Minister. Surely, the high command is quite capable of parachuting its own choice from Delhi, like Venugopal. On the home front, Chennithala would be in no tearing hurry to give up his claim to the top job. Tharoor could be the wild card. The Oommen Chandy of 2016 would have been game for the rough and tumble. Despite his physical ailments, he may still have a go at it. If he actually pulls it off, which, of course, will cause as much dismay within sections of the Congress leadership as it would with the Left, the UDF allies would still want him at the helm. Whatever be the outcome in Kerala, this dilemma talks volumes about Congress inability to groom young leaders who can take the baton from the senior leaders a problem the grand old party is facing across India. IRFC's Rs4,634-cr IPO to open on 18 January; price band set at Rs25-26 The Rs4,634 crore initial public offer (IPO) of Indian Railway Finance Corporation (IRFC) will open on 18 January and remain open till 20 January. The company has set the price band of the issue in the range of Rs25-26 per share of face value Rs10 each. This will be the first IPO to hit the market in 2021. It is also the first by a non-banking financial company in the public sector. The IPO comprises a fresh issue of 59.43 crore equity shares and offer-for-sale of up to 118.80 crore shares. An investor can apply for a minimum of 575 equity shares and in multiples thereafter. IRFC has reserved 50 er cent of the issue for qualified institutional buyers and 15 per cent for non-institutional buyers. The remaining 35 per cent goes to retail investors. The shares are expected to be listed on the bourses on 29 January. The equity shares will be listed on both the exchanges BSE and NSE. DAM Capital Advisors, HSBC Securities and Capital Markets, ICICI Securities and SBI Capital Markets are the lead managers to the IPO. Indian Railway Finance Corporation is primarily engaged in financing the acquisition of rolling stock and projects of Indian Railways and lending to other entities under the ministry of railways. IRFC is registered with the Reserve Bank of India as an NBFC and is classified under the category of an Infrastructure Finance Company under the Reserve Bank of India Act. IRFC will not receive any proceeds from the offer for sale and the entire amount will go to Government of India, the promoter of the company. LG Electronics employees wait for a cup of brewed coffee prepared by CLOi BaristaBot at LG's headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul. / Courtesy of LG Electronics By Kim Bo-eun LG Electronics employees are now able to enjoy a cup of brewed coffee prepared by a robot barista at the conglomerate's headquarters on Yeouido, Seoul. The CLOi BaristaBot, the "intelligent" machine, was the first to acquire a robot brewing master certificate from the Korea Coffee Association. A brewing master certificate evaluates an individual's or now a robot's understanding of coffee brewing tools and the skill in brewing quality coffee. LG employees appeared to be excited about their shiny new colleague, which appears set to gradually replace the boring coffee machine sitting in the lounge. "We used to have a coffee machine in the lounge area, but now we are able to enjoy a cup of pour over coffee made by CLOi BaristaBot," an LG official said. BaristaBot is not the only robot to roll off of LG's assembly lines. The company has made robots a key pillar of its future business the conglomerate has been focusing on robots that can offer everyday services, and has designed machines to work in hotels, hospitals and restaurants. A "sterilization" robot removes bacteria using an Ultraviolet-C lamp, and will be launched in the U.S. market within the first half of the year. In July last year, LG launched "servebot," a robot equipped with a rack to deliver dishes of food a four-rack robot is able to carry up to 20 kilograms of food. The LG CLOi servebot is able to deliver items using self-driving technology after the input of a destination. In 2017, LG began operating a robot at Incheon International Airport, which roves around the sprawling air terminal to help visitors in need of assistance. That robot is also equipped with self-driving and obstacle-avoiding technology. It was recognized by the interior ministry in October last year for being able to safely move around, even while using elevators. LG expects the role of robots to grow due to the pandemic, based on a growing consumer preference for services conducted remotely. The company also said robots at offices will be able to reduce the burden on employees as it substitutes for them in doing simple tasks. It was March and the pandemic had just begun to take its shutdown toll on local restaurants when Hannah Ahzai had an opportunity to expand her business, Ummi Dees Burger Bistro. So the 26-year-old turned to KeVen Parker for advice. Both had lost their mothers to breast cancer, and they had bonded when Ahzai worked for Parker as a bartender at Ms. Tootsies, the swanky soul food institution on South Street named in honor of his mother, Joyce Tootsie Parker. Ahzai said Parker often inspired her as a beacon of light when she was down, and continued to mentor her when she launched her Strawberry Mansion sandwich shop known for its salmon cheesesteaks in 2018. Should Ahzai consider a partnership offer to expand to Abington at such a precarious moment? He said, Hanny, you are the commodity here, and the one thing about life is that you may be delayed, but you will not denied. Do not let anyone rush you. There will be plenty of opportunities, recalled Ahzai, who eventually turned down the offer. That advice brought me so much peace and comfort. KeVen Parker, who died last week of cancer and diabetes at 57, was someone who made the most of his opportunities and became a trailblazer and Philly restaurant icon. The Drexel grad, Comcast alum, and West Philly catering star was one of the few Black entrepreneurs to own a restaurant in Center City when he opened Ms. Tootsies in 2000 with 18 seats and his mom behind the stove, joining a handful of other pioneers like Delilah Winder and the Bynum brothers. It would quickly expand and grow to eventually include three buildings and four floors of action. READ MORE: KeVen Parker, soul food entrepreneur and owner of Ms. Tootsies, dies at 57 The classic soul food menu juicy fried chicken, thick turkey chops in peppery gravy, caramel-glossed yams, and legendary watermelon sweet tea was always on point. But it was the sleek ambience, with white tufted leather walls and oversized portraits of Philly music legends (whose songs often played in the background), and a steady clientele of celebrities that made it a magnetic destination. Its second floor lounge figured prominently in Back to Back, a 2015 track by Drake ( Second floor at Tootsies, getting shoulder rubs), certifying the restaurant as a glamorous cultural touchstone. I went to Parker and said, Dude, you really made it now man, said former Ms. Tootsies bartender and Parker confidant, Nate Rogers, noting the Drake line was perceived a diss against the rappers Philly rival, Meek Mill. But he didnt want to get into that tiff. That didnt really impress him that much. But Ms. Tootsies stylish glow left a big impression on generations of Philadelphians, especially young Black chefs like Kurt Evans, who recently opened Down North Pizza in Strawberry Mansion. If you were going downtown and you were Black in the 2000s, Ms. Tootsies was the spot, says Evans. It really embodied that urban culture, and the food wasnt overly complicated, but what Ms. Tootsies did was elevate it and put it on a plate. You could get dressed up and go down to South Street and eat soul food. And for the Black community that was huge because representation is really important. When I got into being a chef and restaurateur, KeVen Parker, the Bynums, and Delilah meant a lot to me. I can have a restaurant downtown one day, because Ive seen it. Parkers skill as a restaurateur and businessman had a direct impact on many who worked for him, including Rogers, who relied on his mentors advice as he moved into a new job as a marketing representative for Jim Beam. He always said its the customers that will help you succeed, and you never know who you might be waiting on so always make it nice, Rogers said. Under promise and over deliver. Parkers meticulous attention to details, from music to design, was always key, says Joy Parham, a culinary educator and caterer who in 2013 helped open KeVen Parkers Soul Food Cafe, his eponymous soul food stand at the Reading Terminal Market. Shell never forget the stands debut celebration party. He would execute an event to perfection, and it was always over the top, she said. And when it was time for the party, everything he talked about the lights, the dance floor came to be. It was phenomenal to walk into the dining area and see everything he envisioned came to life. That was my first time seeing anyone who looked like me doing anything like that. More than 20 years after Ms. Tootsies opened, however, its future is uncertain. Parker made plans for its continuation, says his sister, Lynette Parker, but its ownership status remains in flux. The Reading Terminal Market location remains open for takeout. And, aside from a handful of notables like Chad and Hannah Williams Friday Saturday Sunday, there are still far too few Black-owned restaurants in Center City. Its all about capital, says chef Omar Tate of Honeysuckle, noting that investment dollars have historically been lacking for chefs of color. One of the beautiful things about Black existence is that scarcity is a constant. What really needs to happen is that the city, state, and federal governments need to pinpoint Black and brown organizations doing the groundwork and invest in those, he said. The thing people are not asking these communities is: What do you need? Tate is among many in Phillys new generation of Black chefs who are part of a significant paradigm shift: Center City is no longer the prime beacon or barometer of their ambitions. Its about bringing change to the neighborhoods, says Tate, who is fund-raising to build a community center for Black culture and foodways in West Philadelphia. At one point, Center City was the status symbol, agrees Ahzai. However, I believe the current generation is more about empowering our own community first. Center City one day? Yeah, it would be great. But we understand the power of togetherness, the power of group economics, and were OK with being in North Philly, bringing value to our own communities. There are now, in fact, more Black-owned restaurants in Philadelphia than ever before. Aided by social media, some Black chefs are rethinking their priorities, from philanthropic initiatives to feeding communities in need like Everybody Eats, to business models with a clear social mission due to the pandemic and the fight for racial justice. A year ago, I wanted to put Honeysuckle at 15th and Spruce where Russet used to be, says Tate, whod become known for immersive pop-up events in New York, and is about to start a chef-in-residency at Blue Hill at Stone Barns in Tarrytown, N.Y., serving a nine-course menu meditation on conflict in Black existence for $250 a person. I could do that here, and maybe its still a possibility. But when I moved back home in March because of the pandemic, it became abundantly clear I needed to be here and create a place near my moms house [in West Philadelphia] where I could be able to distribute food and nourish people whether times were good or bad. My lifes work is leading toward more community development, bigger social impact stuff. And Im happy about that. Similarly, Evans, a longtime activist known for his series of End Mass Incarceration dinners, has focused on employing formerly incarcerated people at Down North to give them opportunities for a new beginning. Parham, a former sous-chef at Malvern Buttery and culinary instructor at Strawberry Mansion High School, is running pop-ups out of Kampar Kitchen in South Philadelphia. But her primary focus, she says, is creating a better platform for transitioning students from internships to jobs out of Urban Country, the catering company she runs with her husband, Gary McCoy. Meanwhile, KeVen Parkers niece, Aaliyah Al-Amin, 26, who got her first break at Ms. Tootsies as a hostess and prep chef, says her uncle was a prime influence for the multi-property project she and partner Devon Walls have created to help transform downtown Chester. It includes a restaurant, juice bar, and music club they co-own called BrothersJazz Cafe, launched in 2017, a warehouse with artist-maker spaces, and Indigo Mills Farm, which they began in part to buffer the price spikes of the pandemic and has helped make the restaurant self-sustainable for eggs and mushrooms. The inspiration is all from KeVen Parker, she said. Ms. Tootsies was an institution for artists, for fashion, and created a space for people like me to be comfortable and at home in an upscale ambience That whole idea of being Black-owned and creating that level of excellence is what really stuck with me. And he was that mentor. He laid the bricks so other people like myself could open a restaurant and see what that looks like. To continue, please log in, or sign up for a new account. We offer one free story view per month. If you register for an account, you will get two additional story views. After those three total views, we ask that you support us with a subscription. A subscription to our digital content is so much more than just access to our valuable content. It means youre helping to support a local community institution that has, from its very start, supported the betterment of our society. Thank you very much! (JNS) As the Middle East remains on edge due to sky-high tensions between the United States and Iran, and with the U.S. Air Force holding a joint drill with Saudi Arabias Royal Air Force, the Pentagon and the Israeli defense establishment remain in close touch as they monitor developments. Yet a report released by the Jewish Institute for National Security of America a pro-Israel think tank based in Washington D.C., that includes senior former American military commanders has called for that cooperation to be tightened further by relocating Israel away from the area of respon... Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney has said that the authorities do not have the legal entitlement to hold a person at Dublin Airport indefinitely. Mr Coveney said that the figure of 80 people who had arrived into the country recently without a negative PCR Covid test reflected less than one per cent of arrivals and that there was very strong compliance with the PCR test requirements. The conditions for arriving into the country had changed, he said, and people could not arrive without a negative PCR test in the previous 72 hours. If you do you will be talking to the guards and face a fine of 2,000. That includes Irish people coming home, he told RTE radios News at One. The gardai may follow up in the cases of the 80 people who arrived recently, he said. The Government was also working with the airlines who were getting stricter about allowing people to board without a negative PCR test. The minister said that the viability of introducing new visa requirements for travel from countries such as South Africa and Brazil was under active consideration, as was mandatory quarantine for people who arrive without a negative PCR test result. Read More Level 5 lockdown until March but restaurants and pubs could stay shut until May When asked about EU collective travel restrictions, Mr Coveney said that at the moment it was not possible to move in concert on this island, so it could be difficult to achieve collective agreement at EU level. Ideally, yes, Id like to see collective action. It was too early yet to say how long the current restrictions would last, but the Cabinet was meeting next week and would try to give people certainty as early as possible. We dont know how the strains are going to behave. As long as there were 2,000 cases per day and there was strain on the health system restrictions could not be eased, he said. With regard to schools reopening, especially for special needs students, Mr Coveney said he would like to see all sides taking the advice of the public health experts. A TikTok user is saying that if you live in Houston, don't worry about what's in the COVID-19 vaccine. Abe Bahranipoor uploaded a video titled "Don't Worry About What's in the COVID vaccine: Texas edition." He's already garnered nearly 4,000 views for the video, in which he had some pretty shady things to say about the Bayou City. TODAY ON TIKTOK: If George Strait sang 'WAP', it would probably sound a lot like this "First off, if you live or have spent any amount of time in this toxic city of Houston, you're good," he began. "Don't worry about what's in the COVID vaccine." Bahranipoor went on to say that if you've ever been to certain locations in Austin or San Antonio, you have bigger things to worry about than the vaccine. Not to mention if you've ever stepped foot on a beach in Texas. Yes, Galveston, that includes you. "If you've been to any of the dirty beaches in Texas, congratulations, you're actually immune to COVID-19," he said. I mean, is that a bad thing? When asked who in Houston could've broken his heart so badly he would say such horrible things about our great city, Bahranipoor jokingly replied, "Lol a burger place put onions on my burger when I said not to." Oh, if you live in one of Texas' red cities, this video shouldn't concern you, because you probably still believe COVID-19 is a hoax, he said. That includes you, Fort Worth. Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. AIADMK goes to police again against Sasikala, alleges conspiracy to unleash violence in TN Sasikala tests positive for COVID-19, condition stable India oi-Vicky Nanjappa Bengaluru, Jan 22: Expelled AIADMK leader V K Sasikala, serving a jail term and shifted to a hospital here with complaints of fever and breathlessness, tested positive for coronavirus on Thursday, an official bulletin said. Sasikala, admitted to the Bowring Hospital on Wednesday, is presently in the dedicated COVID-19 Centre of the Victoria Hospital in the city and her condition was stable, hospital sources added. 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. Sasikala 'stable', emerges in wheelchair post CT scan: Watch | Oneindia News Sasikala tests positive for Covid-19, shifted to intensive care unit However, on suspicion, fresh tests were conducted on Thursday, which confirmed the COVID-19 infection, they said. A Victoria Hospital health bulletin issued late on Thursday said, "COVID-19 Pneumonia (severe based on CT Scan - 16/25), hypertension, hypothyroidism on treatment." Serving a four year imprisonment in a corruption case at the Parappana Agrahara Prison here, Sasikala, a close aide of late Tamil Nadu chief minister Jayalalithaa, had complained of fever and breathlessness on Wednesday, a week before her slated release on January 27. She was admitted to the Bowring and Lady Curzon Medical College and Research Institute, also known as Bowring Hospital. Earlier in the day, Bowring Hospital Director Dr Manoj Kumar H V said 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. Sasikala''s nephew and Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam general secretary T T V Dhinakaran, who rushed here on learning about her illness, told reporters she was stable. "I got the reliable information that her health is stable. Doctors are looking after her very well.Good care is given. They are monitoring her," Dhinakaran said. Sasikala was sentenced to four years imprisonment in February 2017 in the Rs 66 crore disproportionate assets case. Slovenian police are looking for vandals who put out an eternal flame at a Russian war memorial honoring fallen soldiers, the Russian embassy said Friday BELGRADE (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 22nd January, 2021) Slovenian police are looking for vandals who put out an eternal flame at a Russian war memorial honoring fallen soldiers, the Russian embassy said Friday. "A police investigation has been opened at the embassy's initiative, and the mayoral office in Ljubljana has been notified. It plans to have the burner repaired soon," the diplomatic mission said. The eternal flame was vandalized on Thursday. The war memorial featuring a flock of soaring storks often serves as a backdrop for solemn ceremonies. The embassy filed a complaint with the Slovenian Foreign Ministry. It asked authorities to find those responsible and bring them to justice to prevent such incidents from happening again. Among Michigan teachers and first-responders, the excitement of becoming eligible this month for the COVID-19 vaccine is dimming amidst frustration of how to obtain a vaccine appointment. Those essential workers are finding themselves now competing for the states limited supply of COVID-19 vaccines. Not including vaccine allocations for long-term care facility staff and residents, Michigan has been getting about 60,000 first doses a week for residents age 65 and older as well as a select list of essential workers, including teachers below the college level, police and other first-responders, jail and prison employers and front-line state and federal workers. Seniors are the largest group -- Michigan has 1.8 million residents in that age range -- and also the most vulnerable to COVID-19. For those reasons, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services are recommended that health-care providers allocate about 75% of the vaccine doses they receive for seniors, with the remaining 25% available for essential workers. As 80% of COVID deaths have been among those 65 and older in our state, ensuring older Michiganders get vaccinated is the best way to protect them from the virus, MDHHS spokeswoman Lynn Sutfin said. We have highly encouraged local health departments to prioritize vaccination of older residents as they begin to expand their vaccination efforts. But that also leaves roughly 15,000 doses of vaccine a week statewide to vaccinate hundreds of thousands of essential workers. With demand for the vaccine far outstripping supply, officials at local health departments and hospitals are nonetheless chipping away at the task. The biggest advice for essential workers who qualify for a vaccine: Check with your employer to see if theres an arrangement for you and your co-workers to bet immunized, either with a specific vaccination clinic for your workplace or a block of appointments set aside with a specific provider. In Kent County, for instance, the countys hospital systems and the Kent County Health Department have divided up the list of school districts, with each district assigned to a specific provider, said Dr. Darryl Elmouchi, president of Spectrum Health West Michigan. While any eligible essential worker can sign up for a vaccine through Spectrum, Elmouchi said those with employers working directly with Spectrum will get priority. Linda Vail, head of the Ingham County Health Department, said her department is working directly with employers, and most health departments do. Like, we reached out to our (intermediate school district), who reached out to all our school districts to find out how many school employees from each district want to get vaccinated, Vail said. We open up slots of them and send them a link so they can schedule a vaccine appointment. So its an employer-based system, she said. Essential workers should be talking to their employers. That employer-based system has two benefits, said Marcus Cheatham, health officer for the Mid-Michigan District Health Department, which oversees Clinton, Gratiot and Montcalm counties. It makes it easier for essential workers to get access to vaccines, and it also helps in screening people for eligibility for the vaccine. Were sending invitations to the essential workers, he said. We know who they are and where they work. Weve got a list of names that were checking off, so cheating is not a problem there. Todd Belding, pharmacy manager for Sparrow Health Care in Lansing, said his hospital is trying to open up appointments for essential workers in their region. Theyve particularly put a priority on school districts with in-person classes, to get those teachers vaccinated, he said. In some cases, weve done clinics just for that group, he said. In some cases, weve opened appointments at our clinics that also are serving senior citizens. Weve done several clinics for teachers, he said. The other day, we did the essential workers for the city of Lansing, the workers at the Board of Water and Light. Essential workers also can seek an appointment on their own, Belding said, adding Sparrows website that takes appointments for vaccines is open to essential workers, including child-care providers who are self-employed. A lot of essential workers out there dont work for large organizations such as a school district or larger city government, he said. So those essential workers should keep watching the websites (of health departments or hospitals) to try to get a spot there. I would sign up on anyones list that could get me the vaccine, he said. Currently, the list of essential workers eligible for vaccination does not include frontline workers in retail and food service. At this point, its estimated that vaccination of other essential workers will begin in May, along with those under 65 who have pre-existing conditions. Its going to take awhile to get through all the 65-plus senior citizens and the essential workers who are eligible now, Vail said. The pace could pick up as more vaccine doses become available, health experts say. That could happen if the current manufacturers increase production and/or as more companies get their vaccines approved. Its all about the availability of the vaccine, Vail said. Read more on MLive: How much should new coronavirus variant worry Michiganders? Temperature issues spoil COVID-19 vaccine shipments to 21 sites in Michigan COVID-19 vaccinations surpass 500K in Michigan Digital communications agency, Chimp&z Inc has announced the appointment of Ashish Duggal as Vice President - Growth & Operations. He will be working closely with the co-founders on scaling up the business & boost operational developments in the agency and the Merge Infinity Global Network. In this role, Duggal will look into the partnerships with existing clientele and will actively contribute to strategizing and acquiring new clients with his advertising insights and brand communication advisory to amplify the agency's business impact. He will be working with teams across the agencys Mumbai and Gurgaon offices. With over 10 years of experience in digital marketing prior to Chimp&z Inc Duggal served as AVP at Logicserve Digital. A certified sales practitioner for Adobe Experience Cloud products, he is also equipped with a deep understanding of the Google ecosystem including GCM, DV360, Search 360, AdWords, and other media platforms. Duggal brings to the table exceptional Marketing Technology Solutions. He excels in analyzing businesses and consulting for Acquiring & Budgeting for Media (Performance & Branding), Technology (Analytics, Personalization, CMS, Automation, etc.), Creative & Development Solutions, Data Science, SEO, Content, etc. Chimp&z Inc is one of the few agencies globally, with the right culture, people & intention to make it stand out in the crowd. In my tenure here, I plan to strengthen the business by bringing in the best practices and set up processes that match up the global scale, which is already a work-in-progress at the agency. My duties encompass overlooking existing and new business, initiating new revenue streams, partnerships, and regular business operations (India and International). I am happy to have been on-boarded and backed by the two strongholds and co-founders, Angad Singh Manchanda and Lavinn Rajpal. Looking forward to setting new industry benchmarks with them, said Ashish Duggal, Vice President- Growth & Operations, Chimp&z Inc. At a time when we are working towards expanding in the International Market, Ashish is a great addition to the top management. His vast experience will be instrumental in realizing our vision and is a definite step towards building a more comprehensive team. We look forward to growing together in this journey, said Angad Singh Manchanda, Co-founder, and CEO, Chimp&z Inc. Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. On January 11 the leaders of Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a deal to develop cross-border transportation routes and boost economic growth to benefit the South Caucasus and the Wider Region. This meeting took place two months after the Moscow-brokered armistice between Armenia and Azerbaijan ended a 44-day war over Nagorno-Karabakh, The Modern Diplomacy writes in the article Thorny path towards peace and reconciliation in Karabakh. This ethno-territorial conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh has drawn dividing lines between Armenia and Azerbaijan for almost 30 years. Some estimates put the number of deaths on both sides at 30,000 after the First Karabakh war before a ceasefire was reached in May 1994. As a result of this war, one fifth of the internationally recognized territory of Azerbaijan was occupied and the entire Azerbaijani population of the former Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast (NKAO) and seven adjacent districts (Lachin, Kalbajar, Agdam, Fizuly, Jabrail, Gubatli and Zangilan) was forcibly expelled by the Armenian armed forces. Incidentally, due to sporadic frontline skirmishes and clashes, both military personnel and civilians have been killed along the Line of Contact, devoid of any peacekeeping force, since 1994. Over the years, Armenia and the separatist regime that emerged in the occupied Azerbaijani territories refused any final status short of independence for Nagorno-Karabakh and tried to preserve this status quo and achieve international security guarantees on the non-resumption of hostilities while avoiding the withdrawal of its armed forces from the occupied territories and preventing the safe return of expelled Azerbaijani inhabitants to their permanent places of residence. However, such a policy, in its turn, polarized the region and reduced to naught any meaningful regional cooperation between the three South Caucasus states. The Second Karabakh war, which took place from September 27 to November 9, 2020, and the subsequent Russia-brokered peace deal on November 10, significantly changed the facts on the ground and created a new political reality that replaced the no war, no peace situation that had been hanging over the region for almost 30 years. As a result of this war, more than 6,000 soldiers died on both sides in fighting. This war came to an end because of a clear victory for Azerbaijan, which has restored its territorial integrity and sovereignty. Owing to the humiliating defeat of Armenia, the myth of the invincibility of the Armenian armed forces has been shattered and the Prime Minister of this country has been under continuous pressure from the opposition to step down. Thus, after the Second Karabakh war, the pendulum has swung from devastating war towards actual peace. The question, is, however, whether the conflicting parties will be able to achieve lasting peace in the coming years: How can a relationship that has been completely destroyed owing to this protracted armed conflict and previous wars be restored? The fate of all inhabitants of both the highlands and lowlands of Karabakh, irrespective of their ethnic origin, is crucial in this context. Security arrangements for the Armenian minority residing in this area are currently organized through the deployment of 1,960 Russian peacekeepers for at least five years to monitor the implementation of the trilateral statement signed by the heads of state of Azerbaijan, Armenia, and the Russian Federation on November 10 (hereafter, the trilateral statement). At the same time, the return of the former Azerbaijani inhabitants to their permanent places of residence previously occupied by the Armenian armed forces is envisaged by the trilateral statement and the UNHCR has been assigned to oversee this task. It is paramount that Azerbaijan has to demonstrate a policy of strategic patience in the coming years to entice the Armenians of Karabakh region into closer incorporation through attractive political, economic, social, and other development. Today, it is important that this country changes its external minority policy and withdraws its territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a next step, both Armenia and Azerbaijan can recognize the territorial integrity of one other. Such rapprochement can lead to the opening of the borders between Armenia and Turkey and Armenia and Azerbaijan, which would increase economic opportunities for landlocked Armenia. It can thereby contribute to regional stability, development, and trans-regional cooperation among the three South Caucasian states. At the same time, it would create an enabling environment that could be more conducive for future dialogue and interactions between Armenians and Azerbaijanis. However, despite ups and downs, there was peaceful coexistence between the Armenian and Azerbaijani communities in Karabakh as well as Armenia and Azerbaijans respective minorities in Azerbaijan and Armenia. This protracted conflict has, however, led Armenians and Azerbaijanis to live in parallel realities for almost 30 years. In light of the recent past, we cannot soon reconcile our different narratives. It is a long process; however, reconciliation is not only an outcome, it is also a process. Although the gestation period might be long, the process of reconciliation itself can be extremely rewarding. In fact, the Armenian and Azerbaijani inhabitants of Karabakh have lived together in this region in the past. However, for almost 30 years this was impossible. Will and determination should be put to good use in order to arrive at such a peaceful coexistence once again. A group of San Antonio organizers who want to strip the police union of its ability to negotiate a contract with the city raised nearly $300,000 last year most of it from anonymous sources. Fix SAPD outraised its chief opponent, the San Antonio Police Officers Association, and had more money in its piggy bank at the end of last year, campaign finance reports show. The overwhelming bulk of Fix SAPDs fundraising haul from August to December $250,000 in cash donations came from the Texas Organizing Project Education Fund, an arm of the Texas Organizing Project, a progressive grassroots group that specializes in community and election organizing. Because TOPs education fund is organized as a 501(c)(3) public charity, it doesnt have to make its donors known to the public. That makes it nigh impossible to know who so far has bankrolled the Fix SAPD campaign, which coordinated a petition drive to gather enough signatures to get two measures on the May ballot that would effectively neutralize the police officers association. On ExpressNews.com: San Antonio city leaders brace for battle over new police contract, seek changes in how officers are disciplined The use of so-called dark money political donations that cant be traced to specific donors has been on the rise within the past decade as politically active nonprofits increasingly adopted the technique of shielding the identity of donors from the public. When dark money flows into politically active groups, voters are left in the dark about who is trying to influence them, said Michael Beckel, research director for Issue One, a bipartisan campaign finance reform group. Thats a large chunk of money from unknown sources flowing into Fix SAPD. Leaders of Fix SAPD and TOP denied that the $250,000 in contributions fit the colloquial definition of dark money, at least in the negative sense typically associated with the term. There is no dark money, there has been no dark money in Fix SAPD, there will be no dark money in Fix SAPD, said Ojiyoma Martin, who heads the organization. The TOP-related money came out of the education funds general pot of donations it receives year-round to provide financial support for community outreach efforts on issues such as health care access, immigration and housing, TOP executive director Michelle Tremillo said. In other words, the nonprofit wasnt specifically raising money to back Fix SAPD. Weve received no contribution from any individual or entity attempting to hide their identity, Tremillo said. John Danny Diaz, the incoming president of the police officers association, seemed disinterested in the source of Fix SAPDs money. The unions political action committee raised more than $280,000 and spent roughly $164,000 in all of 2020, filings with the Texas Ethics Commission show. The unions PAC ended the year with close to $96,000 on hand. Fix SAPD, on the other hand, raised $299,880 from August to December, according to its first campaign finance report filed with the city. The organization spent about $207,000 in that time. At the end of the year, Fix SAPD had more than $130,000 in the bank. Wherever they get their money from, thats on them, Diaz said. My concern and my focus right now is to educate the citizens as much as possible on the truth, and not lies or misrepresentations of our policies and procedures. On ExpressNews.com: Arbitrators excuse allegations of racism in police Typically, 501(c)(3)s cant give to political campaigns. But the IRS carves out an exception for lobbying efforts, which experts say can include giving donations to ballot initiatives such as the Fix SAPD drive so long as they dont spend too much. Under Texas law, public charities generally dont have to disclose their donors when it comes to political activity. Its possible that TOPs education fund wont continue giving to Fix SAPD, Tremillo said, given that the money would have to come out of the organizations lobbying budget which it needs for lobbying state lawmakers convening this year in the biennial legislative session. Nonetheless, TOP so far has had an outsize role in the campaign and is beefing up its role in seeking local police reforms. Fix SAPD spent more than $183,000 last year on signature-gatherers from another arm of TOP, per its campaign finance filing. Three years ago, TOP gathered 140,000 signatures to put an ordinance on the ballot to mandate paid sick leave for San Antonio workers who dont receive the benefit. The City Council instead adopted the ordinance outright, avoiding the ballot initiative, though the ordinance was later tied up in the courts. Fix SAPD has sought to gather enough signatures to put a pair of measures on a citywide ballot: one to strip the police union of the right to bargain collectively over wages and working conditions, the other to challenge firings and disciplinary action before arbitrators. The idea behind both measures is to take away the unions ability to influence how officers are disciplined. This month, Fix SAPD turned in more than 20,000 signatures from those who want the collective bargaining matter placed on the May ballot but wasnt able to get the necessary number of signatures for the other measure. The city clerk is still verifying whether the 20,000 signatures are valid. On ExpressNews.com: San Antonio activists turn in 20,000 signatures for police reform amendment In a questionnaire, TOP pressed mayoral and council candidates to take a position on the repeals sought by Fix SAPD and to agree they wouldnt seek endorsements from the police union. Police officers deserve an ability to negotiate their salary and benefits, and we support their right to do that, Tremillo said. However, thousands across San Antonio agree with us that no contract should allow anyone to escape accountability for misconduct. Fix SAPDs proposed charter amendment doesnt differentiate. If it makes it onto the May ballot and wins, the amendment would repeal the provision that allows collective bargaining under state law. If that happens, backers say, the union could still have a contract with the city. But it wouldnt be required. TOP wasnt Fix SAPDs sole donor. The petition campaign got $25,000 from a consulting firm owned by veteran political strategist Christian Archer and $10,250 from startup investment firm Scaleworks, owned by TechBloc co-founder Lew Moorman. Advertisement Boris Johnson will lead a No10 briefing tonight as he faces the wrath of Tories demanding a 'road map' for lifting Covid lockdown from March. The PM is to hold a press conference from Downing Street at 5pm amid mounting anxiety about how long the country will be under draconian curbs. On a visit to flood-hit Manchester yesterday, Mr Johnson warned it was too early to say 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. However, ministers are under growing pressure to lay out an exit timetable, with the 70-strong Covid Recovery Group of Conservative MPs urging the government to start lifting the lockdown no later than March 8. That would allow time for the four most vulnerable groups to have been given vaccines, and the protection to have taken effect. CRG chair Mark Harper said: '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.' In the latest sign that the outbreak could be flattening out, new official data show cases dropped last week, although a million people were infected, and deaths in London are falling. Mr Johnson could also declare tonight that the number of people given vaccines have topped five million, with the rollout speeding up. But there is little evidence the brutal squeeze will be loosened any time soon, despite grim figures showing business activity has plunged even more than expected during the lockdown this month, leaving the UK looking down the barrel of a double dip recession. The government borrowed more than 34billion in December - the third highest monthly total ever - as it scrambles to keep millions of jobs and stricken firms afloat while tax revenues dwindle. Instead Cabinet ministers are embroiled in an unseemly squabble over whether to pump up financial support further and toughen rules at UK borders. A leaked plan from Matt Hancock's Department of Health would see everyone who tests positive for coronavirus given 500 in cash to self-isolate. The idea, which could cost half a billion pounds a week, is meant to bolster low levels of compliance - but officials at Rishi Sunak's Treasury branded it 'bonkers', while No10 effectively disowned the proposal, saying the PM had not seen it. Meanwhile, the powerful Covid O Cabinet committee is due to made a decision on introducing 'quarantine hotels' next week - with all arrivals potentially forced to isolate for 10 days at airports in a bid to prevent more Covid 'super-strains' being imported. Prime Minister Boris Johnson visits a storm basin near the River Mersey in Didsbury on January 21, 2021 in Manchester, England The ONS report today said the number of people likely to test positive for coronavirus came down from 1.122million on January 2 to 1.023million on January 16 Passengers wait at Heathrow Airport today as ministers mull even tighter rules The number of people developing Covid-19 every day appears to have halved in a fortnight from 70,000 on January 8 to 34,000 today, according to the Covid Symptom Study, which uses self-reported symptoms through a mobile app used by around a million people Grim figures published today showed government borrowing soared to 34.1billion in December - the third highest monthly figure on record - amid growing fears about the UK's debt mountain Closely-watched PMI data for the private sector showed a reading of 40.6 so far in January - with anything blow 50 pointing to a contraction Has the UK passed the worst of second peak? More signs that Britain may have passed the worst of the second wave emerged today as the Office for National Statistics said the total number of people with coronavirus dropped last week - but there were still more than a million people infected. And the symptom-tracking Covid Symptom Study estimates that the number of people developing symptoms each day has halved in a fortnight, down to 34,000 a day from 70,000 on January 8, while official death counts show fatalities appear to be declining in London. Numbers of people testing positive through NHS Test and Trace have also tumbled for twelve days in a row, with the daily average tumbling from 60,000 on January 10 to 40,000 yesterday. And an array of other data also suggests the epidemic is coming under control, with Public Health England figures showing positive test rates are down in all regions and age groups. London's average daily death count fell from 169 to 163 in the most recent four days of data and could be set to fall further as official statistics remain lower than they were at the start of this month. Professor Tim Spector, a King's College London epidemiologist, said today that the 'signs are hopeful we're on our way out of this situation'. But he cautioned the virus is still widespread all over the country, with huge numbers of people infected. NHS hospitals are under immense strain and intensive care wards twice as busy as last year, despite thousands of extra beds. Advertisement Hopes have been fuelled that the UK might have passed the worst of the second wave, with the Office for National Statistics saying the total number of people with coronavirus dropped last week - but there were still more than a million people infected. And the symptom-tracking Covid Symptom Study estimates that the number of people developing symptoms each day has halved in a fortnight, down to 34,000 a day from 70,000 on January 8, and that the R rate of the virus in the UK is just 0.8, while official death counts show fatalities appear to be declining in London. Numbers of people testing positive through NHS Test and Trace have also tumbled for twelve days in a row, with the daily average tumbling from 60,000 on January 10 to 40,000 yesterday, and Public Health England figures show positive test rates were down in all regions and age groups last week. Professor Tim Spector, a King's College London epidemiologist, said today that the 'signs are hopeful we're on our way out of this situation'. London's average daily death count fell from 169 to 163 in the most recent four days of data and could be set to fall further as official statistics remain lower than they were at the start of this month. But he cautioned the virus is still widespread all over the country, with huge numbers of people infected. NHS hospitals are under immense strain and intensive care wards twice as busy as last year, despite thousands of extra beds. More than 20,000 people have died since January 1 and thousands more will die in the coming weeks even with cases continuing to fall because it can take weeks for infected patients to become severely ill. Almost 40,000 Britons are currently in hospital with Covid. Despite the flattening, the direction of travel in government seems to be towards tightening lockdown even further. There were reports today that ministers are already in talks with hotel chains over plans to force UK arrivals to quarantine at airports. Travellers could be prevented from using their own accommodation under the proposals being put together by the government. Using GPS tags to ensure compliance is also believed to have been considered. The draconian 'quarantine hotel' system, similar to that used in Australia and New Zealand, is a prospect amid rising fears about the spread of Covid variants around the globe. Arrivals would potentially have to pay for their stays while they self-isolate for 10 days, or even a fortnight. There are reports today that negotiations are already taking place with hotel chains, while London Mayor Sadiq Khan said he was in favour. The powerful Covid O Cabinet sub-committee is due to discuss the ideas over the coming days - although a final decision is not likely until next week. Environment Secretary George has refused to rule out even more drastic action, with foreigners barred from coming to the UK altogether. Asked about the possibility in a round of interviews, Mr Eustice told Sky News: 'We always keep these things under review. And it has been considered. 'There is concern at the moment about the number of mutant strains.' 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 yesterday 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'. The proposal to hand out 500 to everyone who tests positive for coronavirus has surfaced amid efforts to increase compliance - with many believed to dodge the rules because they cannot afford to stop working. Detailed in an official policy paper, it is said to be the 'preferred position' of Mr Hancock's Department of Health. Ministers mull 'quarantine hotels' for UK arrivals Ministers are in talks with hotel chains over plans to force UK arrivals to quarantine at airports, it was claimed today. Travellers could be prevented from using their own accommodation under the proposals being put together by the government. Using GPS tags to ensure compliance is also believed to have been considered. The draconian 'quarantine hotel' system, similar to that used in Australia and New Zealand, is a prospect amid rising fears about the spread of Covid variants around the globe. Arrivals would potentially have to pay for their stays while they self-isolate for 10 days, or even a fortnight. There are reports today that negotiations are already taking place with hotel chains, while London Mayor Sadiq Khan said he was in favour. The powerful Covid O Cabinet sub-committee is due to discuss the ideas over the coming days - although a final decision is not likely until next week. Meanwhile, Environment Secretary George has refused to rule out even more drastic action, with foreigners barred from coming to the UK altogether. Asked about the possibility, Mr Eustice told Sky News: 'We always keep these things under review. And it has been considered. 'There is concern at the moment about the number of mutant strains.' Advertisement 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. Mr 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'. The wrangling came as as grim figures showed business activity plunging into the red again this month. Closely-watched PMI data for the private sector showed a reading of 40.6 so far in January - with anything below 50 pointing to a contraction. It was significantly worse than the expectations of analysts, who had predicted 46.1, underlining the devastating impact of the pandemic. Economists warned that a double-dip downturn is now firmly 'on the cards' after the fledgling recovery from the worst recession in 300 years was strangled by action to control a surge in cases. Figures last week showed GDP dropping 2.6 per cent in November during the second England-wide Covid lockdown. Any December rally will have been smothered by the harsh 'tier' controls in England, and the renewed blanket curbs in January. In more signs of the huge problems facing the country, figures have revealed public borrowing hit 34.1billion in December - the third highest monthly figure on record. And retail sales saw the largest fall since records began last year, even though there was a slight uptick in December. However, separate PMI released for the Eurozone show the UK is far from alone, with France and other major players also facing GDP going into reverse again. Chris Williamson, Chief Business Economist at IHS Markit, said its 'flash' PMI for this month showed the crucial services sector had been hit 'especially hard'. However, in a crumb of comfort, he said the scale of the downturn was far less dramatic than last spring. 'A steep slump in business activity in January puts the locked-down UK economy on course to contract sharply in the first quarter of 2021, meaning a double-dip recession is on the cards,' he said. 'Services have once again been especially hard hit, but manufacturing has seen growth almost stall, blamed on a cocktail of COVID-19 and Brexit, which has led to increasingly widespread supply delays, rising costs and falling exports. UK faces double-dip recession as business activity slumps in January Britain is facing a double-dip recession as grim figures showed business activity plunging into the red again this month. Closely-watched PMI data for the private sector showed a reading of 40.6 so far in January - with anything below 50 pointing to a contraction. It was significantly worse than the expectations of analysts, who had predicted 46.1, underlining the devastating impact of the pandemic. Economists warned that a double-dip downturn is now firmly 'on the cards' after the fledgling recovery from the worst recession in 300 years was strangled by action to control a surge in cases. Figures last week showed GDP dropping 2.6 per cent in November during the second England-wide Covid lockdown. Any December rally will have been smothered by the harsh 'tier' controls in England, and the renewed blanket curbs in January. In more signs of the huge problems facing the country, figures have revealed public borrowing hit 34.1billion in December - the third highest monthly figure on record. And retail sales saw the largest fall since records began last year, even though there was a slight uptick in December. However, separate PMI released for the Eurozone show the UK is far from alone, with France and other major players also facing GDP going into reverse again. Advertisement 'Worryingly, January also saw companies reduce headcounts at an increased rate again albeit less so than seen between March and November. The steepest loss of jobs was recorded in the hotels, restaurants, travel and leisure sectors, reflecting the new lockdown measures. 'Encouragingly, the current downturn looks far less severe than that seen during the first national lockdown, and businesses have become increasingly optimistic about the outlook, thanks mainly to progress in rolling out COVID-19 vaccines. 'Business hopes for the year ahead have risen the highest for over six-and-a-half years, boding well for the economy to return to solid growth once virus restrictions ease.' Government borrowing soared to 34.1billion in December - the third highest monthly figure on record - amid growing fears about the UK's debt mountain. The number for the last month of 2020 was 28.2billion higher than the equivalent period in 2019 as the pandemic wreaked havoc on the economy and ministers lashed out on massive bailouts such as furlough. It pushed total borrowing for the first nine months of the financial year to 270.8billion, the peak for any April to December period since records began in 1993. There are fears the full-year figure will top 400billion. Even in the aftermath of the credit crunch, borrowing only hit 158billion in 2009-10. The UK's debt pile reached 2.13trillion by the end of 2020, around 99.4 per cent of GDP - the highest debt to GDP ratio since 1962. Other PMI produced by IHS Markit today showed a double-dip recession in the Eurozone is 'increasingly inevitable', with France among the countries most seriously hit. The slowdown among business activities in the currency area intensified in January as the pandemic continued to batter the continent. 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. 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.' 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. There are early signs in Government data that number of people dying each day in London has turned a corner and started to decline in mid-January, with the daily average declining from 169 to 163 and falling for four days in a row between January 10 and 14 Hancock faces backlash over 'bonkers' plan to give people 500 when they test positive for Covid 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'. Advertisement 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. '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 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. New Delhi, Jan 22 : Throwing the gauntlet to China, parliamentarians in Denmark have proposed that Taiwan be included in the World Health Organisation (WHO). Members of six of the ten political parties support Taiwan's entry to WHO's top decision-making body. Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten reported last week that despite Chinese opposition, the MPs have suggested that Denmark should lend support to countries like the US and the UK and allow Taiwan to re-join the World Health Assembly (WHA) as an observer. Many countries have appreciated the Taiwanese healthcare system for keeping the Covid-19 pandemic under control. Till 2016, Taiwan was part of the WHA but was thrown out due to Chinese pressure. China has hardened its stance over Taiwan, which it says is part of the mainland and not an independent nation. Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs says that the proposal was initiated by the Danish Blue-bloc coalition and Danish Social Liberal Party and is under review by the parliament's foreign affairs committee. However, the stumbling block to the parliamentary proposal is that Denmark does not as yet recognise Taiwan as an independent nation. Danish Foreign Minister Jeppe Kofod told the media that the government supports an observer status for Taiwan at the WHA but it will continue to maintain a 'one-China policy,' which sees Taiwan as part of China. Expectedly, the Chinese embassy in Copenhagen reacted strongly to the proposal. It wrote to Jyllands-Posten saying that the Danish parliament has no right to interfere in the matter. "The Embassy states that they strongly oppose any action by any power that is against the one-China principle and that interferes with China's internal affairs," says the Danish newspaper. Taiwan's representative office in Copenhagen too jumped into the fray. In a Facebook post, it said that six of the ten political parties represented in the Danish parliament are supporting Taiwan in its bid to re-enter the WHA. The Danish civil society too seems supportive of the proposal. Michael Danielsen, chairman of NGO - Taiwan Corner, said that media reports have been positive towards Taiwan, which could benefit its bid internationally. He added that Denmark can have more practical bilateral exchanges with Taiwan on health and energy related matters. China has been threatening Taiwan with war and keeps violating its territorial integrity by sending naval ships and warplanes. The island nation with 24 million people lies barely 160 kms across the Taiwan Strait which connects the South China Sea with the East China Sea. Taipei has resisted Chinese expansionism with an overarching strategic tie-up with the US that covers defence, military and trade relations. (This content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com) By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 01/22/2021 ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade. alum Dale Moss reportedly cheated on Clare Crawley throughout their entire five-month engagement.According to multiple sources familiar with the situation, Clare believes Dale had been cheating on her after they got engaged on 's sixteenth season in Summer 2020, E! News reported The woman in question, Eleonora Srugo, a New York City-based real estate agent, "has been talking to her friends about sneaking around with Dale," according to a source."[Clare] has seen proof" that when she couldn't be with Dale in New York City, he was reportedly spending time with Eleonora.Dale reportedly claimed his relationship with Eleonora was strictly platonic and business-related, but the source told E! News that Clare "never trusted the friendship and thought it was shady.""Clare has always been skeptical" of Dale and Eleonora's alleged friendship, which reportedly dates back to at least late 2019.Dale was once photographed having dinner with Eleonora and other friends, and he has commented on her Instagram account several times since 2019. Their arguably flirty interactions reportedly continued in the months preceding Dale's appearance."Dale would always reassure Clare that it was nothing serious," said the source."[But] multiple people have told Clare that Dale was parading around NYC with this girl."The source explained that "Clare would confront him about his relationship and tried to question him about it, but he would always deny it."Dale's questionable relationship with Eleonora was reportedly "a root cause of a lot of their arguments" that resulted in Dale and Clare parting ways and ending their engagement.Dale announced his split from Clare on Tuesday, January 19, saying the pair had arrived at "the healthiest decision" for the "both" of them, but then Clare revealed two days later she had been blindsided by Dale's public statement.Clare wrote on Instagram on Thursday, "I was made aware of a 'mutual' statement at the same time you all were, so I've needed some time to really digest this."Multiple sources described Dale as a "fame-seeker," according to E! News, and the source said, "It is obvious [to Clare] now. Things are making sense to her now. She didn't want to believe it at first but is now heartbroken."Another source added of Clare, "She feels [Dale] knew the truth was going to come out about his shady friendship. She feels he wanted to break up quickly because the truth was eventually going to come out."However, a source close to Dale has denied Dale and Eleonora were having an affair."There is zero truth to the romance rumors," the Dale insider told E! News. "Dale was faithful to Clare throughout their entire relationship. He is committed to staying on good terms with Clare and has nothing but love and respect for her."The Dale insider claimed the pair work out at the same gym and Eleonora "was helping Dale find a bigger apartment for when Clare would eventually move to New York.""He has known the girl for way longer than he has known Clare," the Dale insider alleged, "so of course they would be in touch... This is an innocent friendship."An Eleonora friend explained Dale and the real estate agent had simply developed an "intimate relationship" just like many brokers and their clients."They become their social workers, they know the client's financials, they become their dog sitters in some cases. They can become like family," the close pal told the website, adding that Eleonora is a professional."In this case, Eleonora and Dale are close friends, but that is all... She definitely wouldn't sleep with someone's fiance."In addition to cheating speculation, it's been widely reported Dale "broke it off" with Clare because he wants to continue living in New York City while Clare feels the need to stay in Sacramento, CA, and tend to her mother, who battles Alzheimer's disease."[Dale] doesn't want to give up the party life. He loves the NYC scene," the source said. "His partying would be a problem in their relationship and would cause many fights."In addition, the source noted of Clare, "She just wants to get married, settle down and have children. They were on complete different pages."When a reporter tracked Dale down outside of his New York City apartment, Dale reportedly explained of the breakup, "Honestly, we've just got a lot going on in our lives right now."When asked whether he and Clare will remain friends, Dale responded, "Clare and I will be cool."But Clare said in her Thursday Instagram statement she is "crushed" by the breakup given her intentions with the relationship had "always been very clear.""This was not what I expected or hoped for and am still trying to process this," Clare wrote in her post."2020 was one hell of a year, with COVID, battling severe anxiety post-show, balancing a public new relationship, all while slowly losing my mother. It hasn't been ideal circumstances, but that is life right."Clare, however, said she has "been looking forward to the light at the end of the tunnel.""Our relationship was not perfect," she continued of Dale, "but I can say that I was genuinely invested with all of my heart. I may not have all the answers, but I do know this -- I will continue to show up, stand by my word, and be committed to love."Before Dale announced his split from Clare, seemingly without Clare's knowledge, reports swirled the pair had been fighting all the time and so they decided to take some time apart to figure out their relationship and where it was headed.Clare and Dale last posted photos of each other on Instagram on January 9, when the couple enjoyed a beach day in La Jolla together and their relationship seemed to be in good standing.Clare was convinced she had met her future husband when Dale stepped out of a limo on Night 1 of 's sixteenth season and took her breath away.It took less than two weeks for Clare to determine Dale was the guy she wanted to be with forever, and so she dumped all of her other bachelors to pursue that one relationship.Clare's journey on the show therefore ended prematurely with a steamy overnight date with Dale that led to Dale getting down on one knee and proposing marriage seemingly the next day.Once Tayshia Adams took over Clare's season, Clare and Dale sat down with host Chris Harrison during a November episode and expressed how they both believed they had found love at first sight When Chris asked what was next for the couple, Clare immediately shouted, "Babies!"But Dale noted he'd like to get married before welcoming children."I've never been afraid of commitment," Dale told People in a joint interview with Clare last year."And when I met Clare, I knew I was all in. She lights a fire in me that I was missing for so long."Dale recently claimed he had turned down the opportunity to compete on multiple times after being nominated for the show but changed his mind once Clare was announced as the show's sixteenth-season star in March 2020.Prior to getting involved with Dale, Clare had been engaged to The Bachelor Winter Games bachelor Benoit Beausejour-Savard Clare and Benoit announced their decision to split in April 2018 after being engaged for only a month and a half.Interested in more The Bachelor news? Join our The Bachelor Facebook Group The coronavirus exposed lingering divisions in the Balkans, and now Europe's most volatile region is once again cleaving along geopolitical and ethnic lines over efforts to get people vaccinated. The European Union has pledged to give six prospective members 70 million euros ($85 million) to buy covid shots, but deliveries are facing delays. That's empowered Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic to leverage his links with China and traditional ally Russia into pledging vaccine donations to North Macedonia and to the ethnic Serbs in Kosovo and Bosnia-Herzegovina. The 18 million people who live in the western Balkans have been severely hit by coronavirus, with parts of former Yugoslavia recording among the world's highest per-capita death rates. The fallout is threatening efforts to resolve lingering border disputes and risks pushing the region further away from the EU's orbit as Russia and China extend their reach. Western Europe was already failing a place that's synonymous with hardship and war, according to Zijad Becirovic, director of the International Institute for Middle East and Balkan Studies in Ljubljana. The U.S., meanwhile, has gradually loosened political ties with the region since intervening in Bosnia and Kosovo conflicts in the 1990s. Hungary, Serbia's neighbor to the north, became the first EU nation this week to approve Russia's vaccine for use. Prime Minister Viktor Orban has been building ties with Moscow while defying the EU over his increasingly autocratic rule. Bosnia, fearing delays, has ordered vaccines from Russia and China, Prime Minister Zoran Tegeltija said on Thursday. "It wouldn't be surprising if some countries change their geopolitical orientation in the future exactly because of the 'stepmother' treatment by the EU," said Becirovic. "Over the past decade, the U.S. left the Balkans to the EU, which not only didn't deal with the Balkans, it barely dealt with itself." Vucic said this month he predicted Brussels would be slow to respond, so he started talks on procuring shots from Russia and China, as well as the U.K. and U.S., whose vaccine programs are currently ahead of the EU's. Serbia has received 1.05 million vaccine shots and has contracts for 6.18 million more. North Macedonia is expecting to get vaccines from Serbia, as well as from the EU and its own purchases, Prime Minister Zoran Zaev said on Facebook on Jan. 18. Serbia's offer is "an act of solidarity," he said. Yet opponents see Vucic's action as anything but benevolent, and rather as a way of stoking tensions between ethnicities. In Kosovo, whose existence as a state Serbia refuses to recognize, government officials rebuked the effort to get vaccines to the north of the country where most ethnic Serbs live. Relations between the two countries remain strained despite years of efforts to mend ties following the war that ended in 1999 when Serb forces were driven out by NATO-led bombing campaign. This week, Vucic said Serbia will find a way to help Kosovo, regardless of ethnicity. "Without jeopardizing anyone, we're always ready to help Albanians as well, and without any ethnic quotas," he said. Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama, meanwhile, has pledged to send "a symbolic number of vaccines" to Kosovo for front-line medical personnel as early as next week. "It is important to think not like the EU, but to think that we are not alone, because Kosovo and Albania are one in joy and trouble, Rama said after getting his shot. 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 (Photo : Screenshot From Sid Meier's Civilization Official YouTube Channel) 'Civ 6' First Look, Lady Tru Leader Vietnam: Nine Dragon River Delta ability "Civilization" is looking towards Asia and adding a really interesting character to "Civilization 6". Firaxis has recently dropped a deep dive video that revealed Vietnam coming to "Civilization 6". Vietnam, which is already part of the upcoming New Frontier Pass that is due on January 28 will be led by Ba Trieu who also goes by many names like Trieu Thi Trinh or Lady Trieu or more modernly known as Lady Tru. 'Civilization 6' Vietnam leak According to an article by Eurogamer, Lady Tru "Civilization 6" fought against the occupation of Vietnam's north by the Wu Kingdom some time during the early 200 AD. Vietnam's new unique ability is said to be called the Nine Dragon River Delta. This makes land speciality districts only buildable within rainforests, woods, or marsh tiles. Buildings on the tiles will receive maybe additional space, culture, or production. The particular ability also allows the woods to be planted along with a sort of Medieval Faires civic. Ba Trieu's unique ability is to be able to Drive Out the Aggressor which is pretty self-explanatory but basically, it provides additional strength for units fighting within the rainforest, wood, or marsh tiles. This particular bonus is also increased further for the tiles that are owned by Vietnam. When returning to rainforests, woods, or marshes, units will be getting additional movement. This is also furthered for their owned tiles. Vietnam is known to have quite a unique medieval era unit that attacks in range called the Voi Chien. This unit is capable of moving while it is attacking. However, it is a little more expensive compared to the crossbowman that it replaces. The good side is that it is stronger when it is defending as well as having greater sight. Thanh, Vietnam's unique district responsible for granting additional culture for every adjacent district is also important. Once the flight is researched, the district will start to generate tourism quite equal to the culture output. This won't require a population and is also very cheap to build compared to the encampment district that it replaces. Read Also: 'Minecraft' Snapshot 21w03a adds Glow Squid, Glow Lichen: How to Make Neon Signs New Civs in 'Civilization 6' Vietnam seems like a relatively flexible civ that is really terrain-focused. This can shoot for either culture or science, depending on how the player places the districts. Firaxis' suggestion is to construct buildings as quickly as possible in order to get the extra yields. This is also good to avoid desert, but still don't be afraid of simply settling in the open plains or the grasslands since Vietnam can plant woods really early. Rainforests, however, can't be planted so players should rethink before chopping them down. Rainforest, woods, and marsh tiles that are owned by Vietnam even offer the civ some significant tactical benefits. This then turns Vietnam into sort of "a defensive powerhouse" according to Firaxis. However, if players can choose their battle strategically, these particular tiles will also allow Vietnam in order to render some of the crippling offensive attacks. Check out the trailer on Sid Meier's Civilization YouTube channel. Related Article: 'Fortnite' Pele Cup Guide: How to Get Skins, Rewards, Start Time, and More This article is owned by Tech Times Written by Urian Buenconsejo 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. President Joe Biden took several steps in the wrong direction on the first day of office, according to Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) on Thursday. 'Several Big Steps in the Wrong Direction' McConnell stated Biden re-entered the failed Paris climate agreement, which was an unfavorable bargain that would set them up to self-inflict significant economic pain on working American families with no affirmation that China or Russia would uphold their commitments. McConnell denounced several actions taken by the president and cautioned that Republicans would attempt to block proposals they disagree with. Aside from rejoining the Paris climate agreement, McConnell pointed out Biden's canceling of the Keystone XL oil pipeline and sacking a Trump appointee as National Labor Relations Board general counsel, reported News Break. The Kentucky senator made it clear that Biden is in for a fight as he condemned his decisions to reportedly pander to the radical left on immigration and environmental issues in ways that will only harm Americans at a grassroots level. According to McConnell, "This is not the Day One American workers deserved," reported The Western Journal. He also stated, "On the Biden administration's very first day, it took several big steps in the wrong direction," reported Newsmax. Later, McConnell remarked, "It's still early. There is plenty of time for President Biden to remember that he does not owe his election to the far left." Meanwhile, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, in his floor speech, celebrated the early executive orders of the new administration. He found the idea of a president who actually took the defining crisis of our time seriously favorable and was moved by the change. Also Read: Biden's Stimulus Plan to Benefit the Unemployed, Students, Low Wage Earners McConnell said their side takes great pride in the milestones that three consecutive Republican Senates helped deliver for the United States citizens. He added as voters chose President Biden to take over the Oval Office, they simultaneously diminished the Democrats' House majority and elected this evenly-divided Senate. He also said Biden should take into consideration that he does not owe his election to the far-left. The president can and must refocus his administration on producing good-paying American jobs and not sacrificing their people's jobs to liberal symbolism, according to McConnell. Republicans have reproved the Paris climate agreement, an international accord merging nearly 200 nations with the aim of diverting the human impact on climate change and diminishing greenhouse gas emissions. However, GOP officials claim the agreement, which former President Donald Trump nearly immediately pulled the United States out of after being elected in 2017, will affect manufacturing jobs and unfairly hold the nation to an environmental standard not met by India or China. Alongside other congressional GOP members, McConnell has similarly taken issue with the president's decision to kill the Keystone Pipeline XL. McConnell stated the United States has already been diminishing carbon emissions while China and other countries in the agreement have kept increasing theirs. He added rejoining will just set them up to kill American jobs while their competitors remain to roar on by. Related Article: Biden Launches New Twitter Account, Clashes With Twitter's Decision @ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The year 2020 will long be remembered for the transformation of life, communal and personal, caused by the pandemic. The Ecumenical world, too, has suffered from the restriction imposed due to the health crisis. In relationships among Christians, divided but eager to overcome separations, personal contacts are essential. The mutual understanding and reciprocal trust necessary to deepen communion are born and grow only through encounter. Many meetings, many church gatherings and ecumenical dialogues have had to be cancelled or postponed to a future date. Certain meetings have been replaced by video conferences, but there is no doubt that a conversation mediated by technology does not produce the same effect as an exchange of ideas, beliefs, and motivations that takes place in person. Yet, even in this fateful year, the search for Christian unity has continued, and has made progress. Sixty years after its founding (June 1960), the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity (pcpuc) carries onward with conviction its mandate: to promote ecumenism in the Catholic Church and the relationships of the Catholic Church with other Christians, in their Churches and communities. These two tasks have been clearly outlined and described in the Ecumenical Vademecum for Bishops, which the Dicastery recently published with Pope Francis blessing. The document was drafted by Council officials with the advice of experts and the approval of the relevant Dicasteries of the Roman Curia. To illustrate the recent activity of the PCPUC we can use the framework of the Vademecum, which reflects the fundamental areas of ecumenical work, not only of the bishops but of the whole Church. The first essential task is within the Catholic Church herself: to keep ecumenical responsibility alive. Information, formation, motivation. This includes participation in numerous meetings, publications, regular correspondence with particular Churches, ad limina visits, and so on. Moreover, in order to promote the ecumenical spirit in the Catholic Church, the Pontifical Council has recently equipped itself with new instruments. First of all, a website (www.christianunity.va) which, in addition to offering updates on the ecumenical activity of the Holy See, presents all the ecumenical documents published since the time of the Second Vatican Council in order to encourage the study and reception of these texts. It is a true ecumenical library in several languages, accessible to all. Adding to this is a new journal, Acta cumenica, a new format of the Information Service/Service dinformation bulletin which, published by the Dicastery for over 50 years, constitutes an authentic archive of the Ecumenical commitment of the Catholic Church. We are confident that this journal, which can also be consulted online, will be a source of information and inspiration for all those who work in the field of unity. There is also a new series entitled Ut unum sint, created in collaboration with the Libreria Editrice Vaticana to disseminate ecumenical essays and documents in order to foster theological reflection and rapprochement among Christians. The first volume is dedicated to the Dicasterys sixtieth anniversary; the second will publish the proceedings of a recent conference on the ecumenical mission of the Eastern Catholic Churches. In the field of formation, it is worth noting the Corso Ut unum sint, a programme for continuing education in ecumenism launched in 2019 in cooperation with the Angelicums institute for ecumenical studies, under the patronage of the Council, directly involving several officials. With regard to the second task, or the relations of the Catholic Church with other Churches and communities, here too we can follow the framework of the Vademecum: spiritual ecumenism, the dialogue of charity, dialogue of truth and dialogue of life. In the realm of spiritual ecumenism, one of the main activities of the Pontifical Council is the preparation each year, in cooperation with the World Council of Churches, of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. There are also other activities related to spiritual ecumenism, such as the temporary transfer or exchange of relics. In this regard, among the events of recent years, we recall the temporary transfer of the relics of Saint Nicholas of Bari, an event that attracted over two million pilgrims in 2017. There have been similar transfers of relics in Greece and Bulgaria, again with a large participation of faithful. There is no shortage of requests: devotion to the relics of saints and martyrs is very much alive in orthodoxy. Another important event of the ecumenism of saints were the celebrations with the Armenian Church for the recognition of Saint Gregory of Narek as a Doctor of the Church. In the field of the dialogue of charity, we can mention the many meetings organized by the Dicastery with various Christian leaders. In normal times, not a week passes that a delegation or representative of another Church does not come to the Vatican to meet the Holy Father or to have conversations with the Pontifical Council. Rare, then, are the Popes Apostolic Journeys that do not have an ecumenical dimension. Suffice it to think of Pope Francis recent visits to the Holy Land, Albania, Georgia, Armenia, Switzerland, Bulgaria, North Macedonia, Romania, the Baltic States, as well as his pilgrimage to the World Council of Churches in Geneva in 2018. This visit had an enormous and fruitful echo in the ecumenical world, especially Protestant. To be remembered among the particularly significant encounters in these recent years is Pope Francis meeting with Patriarch Kirill in 2016, an event held for the first time in history between the Bishop of Rome and the Head of the Russian Orthodox Church. There are then the numerous declarations and positions taken by the Holy See or by the Pontiff himself in support of Christians (as well as other populations) who find themselves in difficult circumstances. In the sphere of the dialogue of truth, or the theological dialogue among the Churches, there are currently underway 15 bilateral dialogues and diverse discussions of a multilateral nature. Naturally not all dialogues have the same doctrinal consistency, nor do all promise equal results. Each one of them requires the appointment of several experts in a particular theological/ecclesial field. The number per party varies: from 28 (in the Catholic-Orthodox dialogue) to six or seven in other dialogues. Generally these commissions meet once a year, for a week, in different countries, hosted in alternating years by the Catholic and the other party. A dialogue commission works for five or six years, or until the completion of a document of convergence or consensus. In recent years, particularly significant documents have been produced: in 2015 with Pentecostals (Do Not Quench the Spirit); in 2016 with the Orthodox Church (Synodality and Primacy during the First Millenium); with Evangelicals (Scripture and Tradition and The Church in Salvation); with Methodists (The Call to Holiness: From Glory to Glory); in 2017 with the Assyrian Church of the East (Common Statement on Sacramental Life); in 2018 with the new Charismatic Churches (The Characteristics of the New Charismatic Churches), not a bilateral document, but drafted by our partners in dialogue with us; and with the Anglican Communion (Walking Together on the Way); in 2020 regarding the trilateral Lutheran-Mennonite-Catholic dialogue (Baptism and Incorporation into the Body of Christ, the Church), with publications also relative to the Catholic response to the document of the Faith and Order Commission, The Church: Towards a Common Vision, drafted after having consulted with episcopal conferences, theological faculties and individual theologians, without reservations on the part of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. Published also in 2020 was the communique for the 20th anniversary of the Joint Declaration on the doctrine of Justification and the document of the dialogue with the Disciples of Christ, Do This in Memory of Me: Christians Formed and Transformed by the Eucharist. The Joint Working Group between the Catholic Church and the World Council of Churches has completed two texts of a pastoral nature, regarding the promotion of peace in conflict situations and with regard to the ecumenical challenges and opportunities in aiding migrants and refugees. Obviously the challenges vary according to the dialogues. I will mention only a few. The dialogue with the Orthodox Churches, which focus mainly on the ecclesiological question of the relationship between primacy and synodality, requires in-depth studies and is also marked by a complicated historical legacy, as well as by intra-orthodox tensions. With the historical Churches of the East the fundamental issue is the different interpretation of the concept of Church, and therefore of sacramentality and ordained ministry; another nine challenges have emerged related to ethical and moral issues, and difficulty in the very process of dialogue due to a weakening of theological traditions. With the free Churches (Baptist, Methodist, Mennonite, for example) we sense the sincere desire for dialogue with the Catholic Church, but here, beyond the differences commonly experienced with historical Protestantism, there is the question of the missionary nature, or of proselytism which in some parts of the world also aims at the conversion of other Christians, including Catholics. This issue is particularly felt in relations with Pentecostals and Evangelicals, and with all those movements that are considered restorationist, or that believe, under Gods guidance, that they must take the place of the historical Churches, which supposedly have drifted away from the pure Gospel. However, a new, more relaxed and cordial climate of dialogue is developing with some representatives of these communities. Significantly contributing to this is the Global Christian Forum, instituted some 20 years ago by what are called the four pillars: the Catholic Church, the World Council of Churches, the World Evangelical Alliance, and the Pentecostal World Fellowship. It is a space of encounter in which the historical Churches and all the new forms of community can participate simply on the basis of faith in Jesus Christ, avoiding doctrinal controversies, to become better acquainted with the respective identities in a spirit of mutual trust. The good fruits and progress achieved have not always been highly visible; some were not noticed at all. Let us think, for example of the rapprochement between Catholic and Pentecostal leaders that is slowly growing in Brazil and South America, on the basis of a letter of intent signed in 2019, in which the partners committed themselves to work together, avoiding all forms of proselytism; and let us recall the interest reawakened in the charismatic Churches from the new office, Charis, instituted by Pope Francis as a service for charismatic renewal. Also in the framework of the dialogue of truth the Dicastery has two internal projects: a working document on the Petrine ministry which offers a summary of national and international dialogues official and unofficial on this theme, and the preparation of the 1700th anniversary of Nicea, the first ecumenical council, which will take place in 2025 and can be a fruitful occasion for a decisive reaffirmation of the Christian faith shared by all the Churches. With regard to the dialogue of life, the Pontifical Council is active in the field of cultural ecumenism through its Catholic Committee for cultural cooperation which provides scholarships to students of Orthodox and Eastern Orthodox Churches. This year the Committee is supporting some 40 students, who are taking courses in the Pontifical Universities and are living in Catholic Colleges. The opportunity to get to know the Catholic Church from up close and in depth contributes to the spread of a more positive idea about her in Orthodox environments. Also of note in this context is the annual student exchange involving young priests, which began several years ago with the Church of Greece, then launched in 2016 with the Russian Church and organized this year also with the Eastern Orthodox Churches. Thus there is a vast and dynamic network of ecumenical relationships among Christians and among the Churches, which should become better known and appreciated. At times public opinion only becomes aware of big events, including, for example, Pope Francis visit to Lesbos in 2016 with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and with Archbishop Ieronymos of Athens, and the meeting with Church leaders in Bari in 2018 for the day of prayer and reflection on the Middle East. If on the one hand the current pandemic has naturally put ecumenical work to an arduous test, as already mentioned, it favours in-person meetings, meetings which we hope will resume as soon as possible, on the other hand it has inspired among Christians a spirit of greater solidarity and sharing, as evidenced by the significant acceptance of the invitation launched by Pope Francis last May to simultaneously pray the Our Father for the end of the suffering that affects everyone. Another reason for encouragement is the awareness of the growing involvement of the Roman Curia in the cause of unity, as demonstrated by the numerous projects advanced in these recent years by various Dicasteries. Lastly, the warm and creative support given by Pope Francis, not only in favour of ecumenical events but, much more deeply, for a reform of the Curia and of the Church and without a doubt an effective stimulus that inspires and enlivens the daily work of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity. In spite of everything, 2020 did not halt the journey toward the restoration of unity for which the Lord Jesus prayed at the Last Supper. Bishop Brian Farrell Secretary of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity 3 1 of 3 Stefani Reynolds/Associated Press Show More Show Less 2 of 3 KEN CEDENO, Contributor / POOL/AFP via Getty Images Show More Show Less 3 of 3 During his confirmation hearing to become secretary of Transportation, Pete Buttigieg was asked about transporting liquefied natural gas by rail. The nominee said he will be taking a hard look at it." Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, noted that the nation's natural gas renaissance has had an enormous impact on improving emissions. Last June, he added, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration had finalized rules allowing the bulk transportation of liquefied natural gas by rail. The new rule, he told Buttigieg, is important because if gives Americans, particularly those who are limited with energy choices because of geography, an affordable option with electricity. He asked Buttigieg if he planned to rescind that rule if confirmed as Transportation Secretary. China in Focus (Jan. 21): Biden Admin: Chinas Sanctions Unproductive The Biden administration has denounced Chinas retaliation toward the Trump administration, calling Beijings recent sanctions on former White House officials unproductive and cynical. Chinas foreign ministry spokesperson says the past few years werent easy. The comment follows former President Donald Trumps departure from the White House. Bidens administration intends to maintain U.S. membership in the World Health Organization after Trump announced he was pulling America out. One U.S. lawmaker says American taxpayers shouldnt fund the organization. A Chinese messaging app has been caught reading users private information. Some of the information has even been uploaded to the web. And the Chinese Communist Party has built a village of more than 100 houses in a disputed area. The move further strains tensions on the China-India border. Subscribe to our YouTube channel for more first-hand news from China. For more news and videos, please visit our website and Twitter. The former Bloomberg reporter who quit her job and left her husband to be with jailed 'Pharma Bro' Martin Shkreli has revealed the pair has patched things up following their brief split last month when she went public about their love. Christie Smythe, 38, says she is back on speaking terms with Shkreli, who remains behind bars until 2023, after he cut her off for speaking openly about their whirlwind romance. Smythe, a journalist who broke the news of his arrest for securities fraud in 2015, made headlines in December when she told Elle magazine she had given up her job and ended her marriage because she had fallen in love with Shkreli, dubbed 'the most hated man in America.' Speaking to Fox News on Thursday, Smythe stood by her actions and insisted she has not been 'brainwashed' as critics have claimed, saying Shkreli is just misunderstood. Scroll down for video Christie Smythe said she and Shkreli have stayed in touch through letters and jailhouse visits and even shared the only photo of the couple together (pictured) as she revealed they have reconciled Smythe, a former Bloomberg journalist who broke the news of his arrest for securities fraud in 2015, made headlines in December when she went public about their romance in an interview with Elle magazine Since then, the unlikely pair have patched things up and have stayed in contact through letters and jailhouse visits 'You don't know what you're talking about, you don't know me and what an incredibly willful and independent person I have been since childhood. And you don't know Martin. Martin is not a brilliant manipulator when you get to know him,' she told Fox News correspondent Laura Ingle. 'He's just a very, very eccentric person. It doesn't play well in public, especially in negative light. 'He is phenomenally intelligent and charismatic, but also has no emotional intelligence and very little common sense and is very awkward. And if you combine all of those things, you get kind of this public relations disaster,' she added. Shkreli was reported to have ended things with Smythe last month and released a statement saying he 'wishes her well' after she disclosed details of their relationship. Smythe was widely criticized over the interview but had hit back at her critics by defending her lover and her actions. As for her marriage, Smythe told Ingle she was unhappy and already considering leaving her husband when she fell for Shkreli. She later visited him in prison to tell him that she loved him after quitting her job. She also maintained that she had acted appropriately as a journalist despite developing a romance with the man she was covering. Smythe, 38, revealed she had quit her job, divorced her husband, and froze her eggs for imprisoned former CEO Martin Shkreli last month Following her interview with Fox on Thursday, Smythe also shared tweets insisting she had acted appropriately as a journalist despite developing a romance with the man she was covering In a statement to Fox News, Bloomberg said Smythe's conduct with Shkreli 'was not consistent with expectations for a Bloomberg journalist.' 'It became apparent that it would be best to part ways. Ms. Smythe tendered her resignation, and we accepted it,' a spokesperson said. Since their reconciliation, Smythe told Ingle she and Shkreli have stayed in touch through letters and jailhouse visits and even shared the only photo of the couple together that was taken during a visitation day. They are now in the process of figuring out their plans for the future once he's released from jail. 'I would love Martin to get out,' Smythe said. 'I would love him to start working on something productive that helps the world. And I'd like to play some sort of role in helping him get there. That's my dream.' Following the interview, Smythe took to Twitter to clarify the timeline of their relationship and said she made the right choice when she decided to resign. 'I didn't sleep with Martin, or "date" him. We bonded, slowly, and I developed feelings for him. Then I left my job because it was obvious I was conflicted (a slow realization). I eliminated the conflict. Not liking which path I chose doesn't make it an "ethical lapse",' she tweeted. She posted another tweet adding: 'The funny thing is I know of plenty of journalists who fraternized with sources much more intimately than I ever did when I was covering Martin (or anyone). As long as the scoops come, and the process stays hidden, it goes unquestioned.' Martine Shkreli was sentenced to seven years in federal prison and up to $7.4 million in fines in 2017 on charges of securities fraud Smythe has claimed her marriage had already been on the rocks when she left her husband for Shkreli It comes days after a federal judge rejected Shkreli's second request to be let out of prison early after he claimed in court papers that mental health issues have weakened his immune system and made him more susceptible to contracting the coronavirus. U.S. District Judge Kiyo Matsumoto said in a 12-page ruling on Friday that Shkreli again failed to demonstrate extraordinary and compelling factors that would require a sentence modification, such as release under home confinement rules designed to move vulnerable inmates out of institutions during the pandemic. Smythe (on her wedding day) said she was living a 'perfect Brooklyn life' with her ex-husband, Pimco executive Devin Arcoleo, 36, until she encountered Shkreli Matsumoto, the same judge that ruled against Shkreli in May, said the 37-year-old presented no evidence to support his claims and that a mental health practitioner who evaluated him found him to be stable. The low-security prison in Allenwood, Pennsylvania, where Shkreli is locked up has seen an increase in coronavirus cases among inmates and staff, with 26 inmates and 14 staff members currently testing positive. Prosecutors said that, as of January 6, there were no positive cases in Shkreli's housing unit. In her ruling, Matsumoto wrote that Shkreli is a 'relatively young and healthy man' and won't be at high risk of severe complications if he were to contract the disease. Shkreli is serving a seven-year prison sentence for a 2017 conviction for lying to investors about the performance of two hedge funds he ran, withdrawing more money from those funds than he was entitled to get, and defrauding investors in a drug company, Retrophin, by hiding his ownership of some of its stock. Shkreli, who was ordered to forfeit $7.3million as part of his sentence, is due to be released from prison in September 2023. Shkreli had gained notoriety for a running a 'Ponzi-like' scheme to prop up his pharma empire and was already known as one of the most hated men in America for jacking up the price of a life-saving AIDS drug from $13.50 to $750, when he met Smythe. Smythe shared details of their romance in Elle last month after being cut off by Shkreli who, in a statement, said he 'wishes her well'. Even his own lawyer, Ben Brafman, at the time said the relationship was not a good one. Martin Shkreli was sentenced to seven years in federal prison and up to $7.4 million in fines in 2017 on charges of securities fraud Smythe is pictured with her ex-husband. They started going to couple's counselling when she began working on stories about Shkreli. Her husband warned her Shkreli was using her Smythe's ex-husband warned her Shkreli was manipulating her and her bosses at Bloomberg told her she'd lost her professional impartiality but she persisted with their relationship, visiting him in prison and defending him on Twitter, until it finally turned romantic after he was sentenced in 2018. Since then, she said she has frozen her eggs to be able to have a family with Shkreli, 37, when he gets out of prison. They've never slept together and have only been able to hug or kiss briefly in prison. Before getting entangled with one of the most hated people in the world, Smythe lived 'the perfect little Brooklyn life' with her dog and husband whom she divorced 'I fell down the rabbit hole. I'm happy here. I feel like I have purpose,' she said. Approached by DailyMail.com in December, Smythe's ex-husband, Pimco executive Devin Arcoleo, 36, declined to comment and would not say whether or not she had given him any prior warning of her decision to make their messy split public. He said, 'No I have nothing I want to share thank you.' The pair first met in 2015 soon after she found out that he was under federal investigation for securities law violations. She had been told by a source that he was under investigation. When she called him for a comment, he told her she didn't know what she was talking about, she says. Then, after his arrest, he contacted her when he'd been bailed out of jail. She says he told her: 'I should have listened to you.' They met in person four days later and she hoped to put together a profile on him for Bloomberg. He came armed with spreadsheets showing, he claimed, where his investors' money had gone. 'You could see his earnestness. It just didn't match this idea of a fraudster,' she told Elle. For weeks afterwards, she says he 'toyed' with her by promising an on-the-record interview only to give one to one of her competitors afterwards. Maybe I was being charmed by a master manipulator Eventually, he called asking for her advice because he needed a new lawyer. She said she was flattered. 'It really felt like he didn't have anybody to talk to that he could bounce ideas off of. 'I was like, 'All right. I guess I can do that.'' He sounded 'ragged and fragile, and I got concerned he would commit suicide because all this stuff was all happening at once,' she said. She was so convinced he was suicidal that she prepared an obituary to publish, she said. They met again at a wine bar near his Murray Hill apartment where, she says, they bonded over their childhoods and the fact that neither of them went to Ivy League schools. Smythe started advocating for Shkreli on social media. She ended up quitting Bloomberg when her editors said there was a conflict of interest She then wrote a paper for a class she was taking at Columbia where she described being drawn in by him and how he manipulated reporters to his advantage. Her professor told her, she says, that the lines had become too muddied for her to be impartial in her reporting of her case. 'Maybe I was being charmed by a master manipulator,' she said. Nonetheless, she decided she wanted to write a book about him. In 2017, she drafted a proposal. He then invited her to hear him speak at an event where he complimented her on stage, saying: 'Even if you find an honest reporterI made friends with one, she's here right now.' She recalls how afterwards, they were in a bar drinking with some of the audience members who had come to hear him speak, when he went to the bathroom. She stepped in to entertain the crowd. 'It almost felt like I was a political wife,' she said. Shkreli's trial began in 2017. By then, Smythe had taken book leave from Bloomberg. She went to court every day to watch the trial and sometimes sat with his supporters, she claims, to gain an understanding of who they were for her book. While he 'trolled' other reporters, including The New York Post's Emily Saul, Smythe fell deeper for him. 'He trolls because he's anxious and he really, really wants to be somebody,' she said. Before he was convicted, the pair spent time together at his apartment. She claims it was 'for research'. Even her husband warned her: 'He is just using you.' He also said she was risking her professional reputation by 'getting too sucked into this bad person'. Shkreli's lawyer Brafman told The New York Post last month : 'I do remember her very clearly and never completely understood Martin's relationship to and with women. 'My suspicion was, yes, that there was a relationship. 'Let's just say that I talked to him about it and tried to explain that this relationship with a journalist who was essentially writing a book about the trial, a book about him, was not a great idea. 'But you know, I was his lawyer. I wasn't his guardian. Martin is a man of his own mind. [He] was indeed a complicated young man, and that's an understatement. 'Most geniuses are,' he said. A Walmart Supercenter in San Antonio has temporarily closed for cleaning. The store, located at 16503 Nacogdoches Road on the Northeast Side, closed at 2 p.m. Friday to allow a third-party cleaning crew to clean and sanitize the building, officials said. The store will remain closed until 7 a.m. Sunday. Walmart did not give a specific reason for closing the store. A company spokesperson referred a question about COVID-19 cases to the local health department, citing the privacy of workers. "Everything we're doing is for the well-being of our associates and customers, and in consideration of guidance by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and health experts," Walmart said in a statement. "When the store reopens Sunday, we will continue conducting associate health screens and temperature checks, and all associates will be provided with facemasks and gloves." While the company did not confirm any information related to the Nacogdoches Road store, Walmart noted that it's working with employees who test positive at any store. Workers can receive a maximum of two weeks of pay under an emergency leave policy. Walmart will start offering COVID-19 vaccinations at Texas pharmacies next week, officials announced Friday. Patrick Thornton, a 40-year-old math teacher in Houston, Tex., relies on his voice to clearly communicate with his high school students. So when he began to feel he was recovering from Covid, he was relieved to get his voice back a month after losing it. Thornton got sick in mid-August and had symptoms typical of a moderate case: a sore throat, headaches, trouble breathing. By the end of September, I was more or less counting myself as on the mend and healing, Thornton says. But on September 25, I took a nap, and then my mom called. As the two spoke, Thorntons mother remarked that it was great that his voice was returning. Something was wrong, however. I realized that some of the words didnt feel right in my mouth, you know? he says. They felt jumbled, stuck inside. Thornton had suddenly developed a severe stutter for the first time in his life. I got my voice back, but it broke my mouth, he says. After relaying the story over several minutes, Thornton sighs heavily with exhaustion. The thought of going back to teaching with his stutter, that was terrifying, he says. Follow DH's coverage of the Covid-19 pandemic here In November Thornton still struggled with low energy, chest pain and headaches. And sometimes my heart rate [would] just decide that were being chased by a tiger out of nowhere," he adds. His stutter only worsened by that time, Thornton says, and he worried that it reflected some more insidious condition in his brain, despite doctors insistence that the speech disruption was simply a product of stress. A growing body of evidence warns that the legacy of the pandemic does not necessarily disappear when the novel coronavirus, or SARS-CoV-2, is cleared from the body. Among the millions of people who have survived respiratory complications from Covid-19, many still live with lingering symptoms in the wake of even a mild case of the disease. Neurological symptoms, ranging from fatigue to brain fog to loss of smell, persist after the virus is gone from the body. An early survey of 153 Covid-19 patients in the UK and a more recent preprint study of people hospitalized with the disease in Italy both found that about a third had neurological symptoms of some kind. Other estimates have trended even higher. Theres a really wide spectrum of [neurological] manifestations of Covid, says Thomas Pollak, a neuropsychiatrist at Kings College London and a co-author of the UK study. Some are totally devastating, like stroke or encephalitis, and some are much more subtle. Increasingly common symptoms include fatigue and memory problemsand, at times, new cases of psychosis or mania. Some neurological manifestations of post-Covid, such as stuttering, are more bizarre than others. But Houstons Thornton is not the only one afflicted. Soo-Eun Chang, a neuroscientist at the University of Michigan, is among the few researchers investigating stutter. While stress and anxiety are not the cause of stutter, they do exacerbate it, Chang says, and that is true for Thornton. But she says the origins of the disorder lie in complex circuits of the brain that coordinate the millions of neuronal connections needed for human speech. While most people develop this disruption of speech when they learn to talk, around age two, neurogenic stutter can arise after brain trauma, such as an injury. Chang has seen an increase in cases of stutter in her clinical practice during the pandemicmostly in people whose existing stutter worsened or whose childhood stutter returned. Having the virus, she says, could lead to conditions that disrupt speech. Speech is one of the more complex movement behaviors that humans perform, Chang says. There are literally 100 muscles involved that have to coordinate on a millisecond time scale, so its a significant feat. And it depends on a well-functioning brain. Covids inflammatory response could undermine the efficiency of these circuits. An immune-mediated attack on synaptic connections could lead to a change in brain function, she says. The idea that SARS-CoV-2 can get into the human brain is mainly supported by autopsy studies, such as one by Frank Heppner, a neuropathologist at ChariteUniversity Medicine Berlin, and his colleagues. The researchers found evidence of the virus in specific areas of the brain, probably near the sites of entry. One could be the lining of the nasal passage, the olfactory mucosa, which is in close contact with neuronal cells that could provide a route to the brain. We started at that region and then physically mapped [a pathway through] the regions up to the olfactory bulb and further to brain stem nuclei, Heppner says. The researchers found evidence of viral protein in those distant brain stem regions but not in other areas of the brain. This told us, or made it likely, that the virus used the transmucosal route along the olfactory nerve as a port of entry, Heppner adds. They also saw viral particles in trigeminal nerves, which are sensory nerves that enter the brain and transmit the pain of headache. Heppner says his team also discovered hints that the virus could get into the brain through blood vessels. But autopsies were undertaken in those with severe disease, and it is uncertain whether the virus gets into the brain in milder cases. For most people, the symptoms brought on by Covid are likely the result of immune system activity. The virus gets cleared from the lungs, but the immune system is triggered and doing harmful things, Heppner says. The same could be true for the central nervous system. Its a fair speculation. It could explain very well the long Covid symptoms like chronic fatigue and problems in concentration. William Banks, who studies the blood-brain barrier (BBB) at the Department of Veterans Affairs Puget Sound Health Care System in Washington State and the University of Washington Medical School, says, The virus doesnt have to get into the brain to muck up function. We know theres a big cytokine storm, meaning the release of inflammatory signals by immune cells in serious cases. Even mild cases provoke cytokine release, however. And Banks says it is well established that cytokines can cross the blood-brain barrier and cause depressionlike symptoms. Researchers refer to those symptomsincluding a loss of interest in life, an increased desire to rest and sleep and cognitive impairmentsas sickness behavior, which often accompanies a flu or cold. Those symptoms could drag on if cytokines continue to be released after the infection has passed. Yet another possibility is that the virus itself does not cross the BBB but that a viral protein, perhaps shed from a dying virus, might do so. Banks and his colleagues showed as much in a recent paper in Nature Neuroscience. They injected mice with S1, which makes up half of SARS-CoV-2s spike protein, and found that it readily crossed the BBB. Michelle Erickson, who works with Banks at the VA Puget Sound and the University of Washington Medical School, says that the work adds, at least in mice, a defined route by which the virus can get into brain, importantly, in the absence of inflammation, when the blood-brain barrier might be leaky. We saw that spike can get into the intact BBB, she adds. Often infiltration is almost entirely due to BBB disruption. But here it was only slightly disrupted, which was quite surprising to us. The results hint that not only the S1 protein but potentially the virus itself could cross the BBB. A viral protein could cause damage by binding to proteins on neurons and other critical brain cells. We know these binding proteins are very neurotoxic; theyre stress inducing, Banks says. And the presence of any viral material could shoot off the immune system. There is yet another possibility: the virus could lead the immune system to produce damaging autoantibodies. These proteins bind not only to the virus but to other proteins in the body as well, either disrupting their function directly or triggering an immune attack on cells. Covid wreaks havoc with the immune system, says neuropsychiatrist Pollak. Theres a huge surge in various inflammatory mediators. Some early evidence suggests that anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies may react to tissues in the brain and body, he says, and that could possibly occur at neurons. Autoantibodies are the culprit in a recently described neurological disease called anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis, which can cause fatigue, brain fog, and even psychosis and coma. The immune system proteins bind to NMDA receptors that are critical for neuronal signaling. Binding to neuronal proteins tends to disrupt synaptic function, like in the case of anti-NMDA receptor antibodies, Pollak says. That leads to signaling dysfunction, and information processing gets out of whack. The autoantibody hypothesis still warrants further research. Its probably the most speculative and the one we know the least about, Banks says. Fatigue, brain fog and other symptoms probably arise from multiple different immune-mediated mechanisms. But researchers agree that synapses, where brain signals are passed from neuron to neuron, are probably disrupted. Were a long way off from understanding exactly how these nebulous responses arise, Pollak says. But the general principle is that if you create a perturbation in the system or the brain, youll affect its computational ability. Recent preprint work by Andrew Yang at the laboratory of Tony Wyss-Coray of Stanford University also hints that the brain undergoes widespread changes in the wake of Covid-19 that could contribute to neurological symptoms. Yang and his colleagues found altered patterns of genes switching on and off in cells from the brains of patients who had died of the disease. These differences were observed in neurons and other brain cellsglia and immune cells called microglia. The genetic activation patterns differed from those observed in people who died of the flu or nonviral causes. Yangs team examined an area of the cortex and saw dramatic gene expression changes in neurons in a specific region called cortical layer 2/3. These neurons have been recently implicated as playing a pivotal role in the complex processing required for human thought, so disruption of their activity could lead to mental fuzziness. The patterns of genetic changes the researchers saw in the cortex mirrored genetic pathways mapped out in mental illnesses such as schizophrenia and depression. In addition, Yang also found gene-expression changes in microglia, which clean up waste and eat dead cells in a process called phagocytosis. Microglia can consume, or phagocytose, neuron bodies and synapses, reshaping neural circuits if the cells are dying or even when they are under stress. Neurons generally do not regenerate, so cognitive function may be impaired. It is not only neurological symptoms that afflict patients. More common mental illnesses are affecting people with Covid, too. A study published in the Lancet Psychiatry showed that having the disease led to greater risk for anxiety, depression and sleep disorders. Paul Harrison of the University of Oxford and his colleagues sifted through the electronic health records of nearly 70 million Americans and identified more than 62,000 people who had been diagnosed with Covid-19. In the three months following diagnosis, we found that Covid was associated with roughly twice the incidence of common psychiatric diagnoses, compared with other health conditions, Harrison says. Why Covid increased the risk for mental illness remains unclear. But Harrison says the virus itself is probably not directly responsible. He points to the psychological consequences of having a potentially fatal illness that could prevent you from returning from the hospital to your family. There are all sorts of acute stresses associated with the diagnosis, he says. I think those factors are going to be the most important explanation for the association we observed. Still, Harrison adds that the immune response provoked by the virus may have also had an effect on the brain that could have triggered psychiatric symptoms. He has a study underway to investigate the longer-term mental health effects of Covid-19, including symptoms such as brain fog and fatigue. The legacy of Covid will undoubtedly persist. Although Thornton was still struggling by December, his stutter and energy level had improved, and he had gone back to teaching. The kids have been really good about it, he says. Its been a rocky road, but theres light at the end. Still, the lasting effects could mean not just bothersome symptoms for a few people but a public mental health crisis, Banks says. It could ultimately turn out thatas horrible as the death rate is, with perhaps one in 1,000 Americans having diedin the end there, could be this legacy affecting up to one in 10, he adds. And its probably rooted in neuroimmunity. As vaccines become available to essential workers, several popular grocery store chains have committed to financially supporting employees who receive the coronavirus vaccine. Right now, retailers including Dollar General, Trader Joe's and Aldi have announced plans to pay employees who receive the vaccine. Shopping service Instacart has shared a similar plan. Combined, the four companies employ more than 375,000 people across tens of thousands of locations. "Access to the vaccine is one more way we can help protect our ALDI team and the loyal shoppers who enter our stores," said an ALDI spokesperson, who told TODAY Food that the German supermarket chain intends to "cover costs associated with vaccine administration and provide hourly employees with two hours of pay for each vaccine dose" received. "We are especially excited for our frontline employees to have the opportunity to receive the vaccine, and hope it gives them peace of mind as they continue to serve their communities as essential workers." The ALDI spokesperson also explained that salaried employees will have scheduling flexibility when it comes time to getting their vaccine. Related: Amid the coronavirus pandemic, supermarket workers have become more essential than ever. A Trader Joe's spokesperson said that the company is "closely monitoring the status of" the vaccine rollout, and plans to pay employees two hours of regular pay per dose of vaccine received. The company will also work with employees to make sure their schedule allows them to be vaccinated. "We care about our Crew Members," said the spokesperson. "We encourage our Crew Members to get vaccinated and are supporting them in doing so." A spokesperson for Instacart said that shoppers would be paid a flat rate of $25 for being vaccinated. According to a press release, Dollar General will give employees a one-time payment equivalent to four hours of pay after they have received both vaccine doses. Each company said that their goal with these programs was to prioritize the health and safety of employees and customers alike. "Through our mission of serving others, we take the responsibility to serve our customers and communities seriously. Now is no different," said Dollar General in a press release. "...For our frontline employees who wish to receive the vaccine, we are going to support them." Baring all! Pregnant Morgan Stewart showed her baby bump progress in a Thursday, January 21, naked selfie. Read article Carrying this babe for three more weeks, the Rich Kids of Beverly Hills alum, 32, captioned the black-and-white mirror selfie. The former reality star covered her chest while standing in her closet in the Instagram post. Courtesy Morgan Stewart/Instagram I. Cant. Wait, Stewarts husband, Jordan McGraw, commented on the social media upload. Read article Us Weekly broke the news in August 2020 that the Daily Pop host and the Hundred Handed frontman, 34, are expecting their first child. She may not be great at math but at least we know shell be well dressed, the pregnant star wrote via Instagram at the time. Dr. Phil McGraws son added with a post of his own: Been working on my dad jokes for years. The couple wed four months later. The most magical day, the California native captioned Instagram photos from their December 2020 ceremony. The E! personality was previously married to Brendan Fitzpatrick from May 2016 to August 2019. Brendan and I have spent six wonderful years together, but we have made the difficult decision to go our separate ways, Stewart wrote via Instagram following their split. I wanted to take the time to clarify that our reason for separating has nothing to do with anything other than two people who sadly grew apart, deciding whats best for themselves in the next phase of their lives. The former couple took legal action to end their marriage in September 2019. The following year, Us broke the news that Stewart was in a relationship with Jordan, whom she first dated before meeting Fitzpatrick, 31. Read article Theyre so happy, a source told Us of the pair in March 2020. Jordans family also loves Morgan and is supportive of their relationship. While awaiting their little ones arrival, the Pace University grad has been staying in shape with the help of Pilates and a lot of walking. The mom-to-be went on to exclusively tell Us in November 2020 that shes trying to keep her pregnancy style the same as before. Stewart explained at the time: Ive definitely invested in a lot more pairs of boots to pair with my leggings though. Probably will be a little more conservative [when the baby comes]. But who knows! Time will tell. I already am pretty buttoned up. KYODO NEWS - Jan 21, 2021 - 19:47 | All, World China has decided to impose sanctions on former U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and other 27 policymakers for violating the country's sovereignty in recent years, the Foreign Ministry said Thursday on its website. The move underscores Beijing's grudges against former U.S. President Donald Trump's administration, which promoted anti-China policies such as higher tariffs, sanctions on Chinese high-tech companies and its support of measures for Hong Kong and Taiwan. China, meanwhile, expressed willingness to make efforts to ease tensions with the United States under new President Joe Biden, who took office on Wednesday, calling on him to work together to improve relations between the world's two major powers. "It is necessary to respect each other with courage," China's Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told reporters, congratulating Biden on his inauguration. Diplomatic sources in Beijing say many Chinese officials expect that Democrat Biden will take a softer approach to China than Republican Trump, who pursued protectionist trade policies under his "America First" agenda. But they are also concerned that the Democrat favoring liberalism would take a firmer stand on human rights and democracy issues in China, unlike the former president, whose tougher stance on Beijing may have been motivated by his desire to gain public support, the sources added. The 28 policymakers include former National Security Adviser Robert O'Brien, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Kelly Craft, Trump's economic adviser Peter Navarro, former National Security Adviser John Bolton and strategist Stephen Bannon. They and their immediate family members are prohibited from entering mainland China and its special administrative regions Hong Kong and Macau, while enterprises and institutions associated with them will be restricted from doing business with Chinese entities. "Over the past few years, some anti-China politicians in the United States" have executed "a series of crazy moves" that have "undermined China's interests and seriously disrupted China-U.S. relations," the Chinese Foreign Ministry said in a statement. "The Chinese government is firmly resolved to defend China's national sovereignty, security and development interests," it added. Taking a jab at Pompeo, Hua said on Wednesday, "He's such a laughing stock. It's like a new drama every day. But I think he has done irreparable damage to the U.S.'s national image and reputation. It's such a tragedy for the American people." The Global Times, a tabloid affiliated with the Chinese Communist Party, on Thursday quoted a Chinese expert on U.S. studies as saying the sanctions were "completely reciprocal." "This move showed China's great restraint and sincerity in the hope of stabilizing China-U.S. relations for the future," the expert was also quoted as saying. Related coverage: Asian leaders congratulate new U.S. President Biden FOCUS: Japan braces for U.S. jobs-focused Biden trade policy Picture showcasing the missing of three lions on the sacred chariot of Kanaka Durga (Image credit: Twitter @BabitaGanguly) The police cracked the mystery behind the theft of three silver lion statues attached to the chariot of Goddess Kanaka Durga atop Indrakeeladri, which happened a few months ago. A habitual offender has been arrested from West Godavari district, police sources said. The thief had sold these to a jeweler who melted them. The disappearance of the three silver lions came to light following an audit ordered by the state government on temple properties and tightening of security following the recent incidents of temple attacks. The three silver lions weighed 16 kg. Following detection of the theft, an SIT was formed by the police to probe the matter. Workers from other states who laboured at the Durga temple, the temple staff and 40 habitual thieves were questioned but in vain. The sources said that the West Godavari district police arrested a habitual offender in a property case. During questioning, he gave details of theft of silver lions. Police got in touch with the Vijayawada police and detained the man for questioning. It turned out that the thief sold the silver lions to a jeweler in Tuni in West Godavari district. He quickly melted it. The jeweler has also been taken into custody. Meanwhile, the AP Police formed SIT teams to investigate the recent attacks on temples and recommend ways for better protection of shrines. Addressing a press meet here on Thursday, DIG Pala Raju alleged that some political parties are targeting the police department for no real reason. Police department had set up special teams across districts to investigate the temple attacks cases. Earlier, DGP Gautam Sawang had revealed details of the attacks on temples during the 2020 2021 period and referred to 44 cases. In seven cases, no attack took place. In nine cases, the people involved had political background. Pala Raju said news written in print media and aired on electronic media are based on facts but not so the jottings in social media. An incident that took place in 2014 in Eluru was trolled on social media as if it has happened recently. In a few instances, incidents that happened in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka were trolled on social media to spread an impression that they happened in Andhra Pradesh. Pala Raju said that the police have been investigating as to who are internationally spreading false news on social media platforms. A few people are trying to bring down the morale of the police department, he said. Mumbai: Actor Karan Deol has warned social media users about an impostor operating a fake Twitter profile in his name. Deol, who made his acting debut with Pal Pal Dil Ke Paas", took to his verified Instagram account on Thursday evening to share a screen shot of the fake Twitter handle, which has a display picture of him and his actor-politician father Sunny Deol. Hi Guys, it has come to my attention that the above Twitter account is being used in my name to spread hateful information and is causing serious social disharmony. I would like to once again clarify that this is not me and I do not have a Twitter account," he wrote. Deol, 30, also urged his fans to report against the fake Twitter page. On the work front, the actor will be seen next in Apne 2", in which he will feature alongside his father, grandfather Dharmendra and uncle Bobby Deol. The film will be directed by Anil Sharma, who also helmed the 2007 hit drama, and will be produced by Deepak Mukut. Thiruvananthapuram, Jan 22 : The Kerala High Court on Friday granted conditional bail to the 35-year-old woman who was arrested following a complaint by her minor son that she has been sexually assaulting him. Justice S. Shirsy granted her bail on a Rs 1 lakh security bond and called upon the government to constitute a special investigation team headed by a woman IPS officer. The court also directed the government to constitute a special medical board drawn from doctors of Thiruvananthapuram Medical College as the prosecution had in its petition appealed that the child was suffering from several physical and mental issues. The court also directed the child to be separated from the father. It may be recalled that the defence had argued that the child was forced into this complaint by his father who had remarried without getting divorce from the child's mother against whom the complaint was lodged. The mother of the arrested woman while speaking to the media said: "This was a fabricated case and my daughter is innocent. "The four children are now with their father in the Middle East and he has remarried without divorcing my daughter. Now in order to coerce my daughter to sign the divorce papers, he has fabricated this case. "The directive of the honourable high court to constitute a special investigation team lead by a woman IPS officer is a welcome move and let truth come out". The court also observed that the relationship between a mother and her children commences when the mother conceives the child and it is a relationship of pure love. The woman was arrested on January 5, 2021 after her 14-year-old son complained to the Kadakkavoor police that his mother had sexually abused him from 2017 to 2019. Farmers' Protest: 11th round of talks over farm laws underway India oi-Ajay Joseph Raj P New Delhi, Jan 22: The 11th round of talks between the central government and farmer leaders over the three contentious farm laws that sparked nationwide protests in November last year and drew lakhs of farmers to the national capital for sit-in protests along Delhi borders is underway. It can be seen that the inconclusive talks between both parties forced the Supreme Court of India to intervene earlier this month, leading to the formation of a special committee. 8 dead in dynamite blast at railway crusher site in Shivamogga Meanwhile, Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar met Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday night to deliberate over the matter. Tomar has been leading the government team in the negotiations along with Railways, Commerce and Food Minister Piyush Goyal and Minister of State for Commerce Som Parkash, who is also an MP from Punjab, the state that drew the maximum protest. Earlier, protesting farmer groups rejected the Centre's proposal to suspend the three laws for a period of 18 months, and reiterated that they want nothing but complete withdrawal of all the legislations. Kamala Harris as vice president cements India-US relationship: White House "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 legislation for remunerative MSP (minimum support price) for all farmers were reiterated as the pending demands of the movement," the Samyukt Kisan Morcha said in an official statement. During an internal consultation between kisan unions, the farmers asserted that they "will not go back to their homes until their demand to repeal the three contentious farm laws is accepted by the government". "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 further said. Most of the Nepalis associate road accidents with bad luck or inevitable happenings. But, the numbers and the studies suggest something else. These accidents are not mere cases of bad luck, but there are multiple deep causes. In the last fiscal year 2019/20 only, there were 10,030 road accidents with 153 casualties, as per the annual accidental description of the traffic police. There has been about an 18 per cent rise in the number of road accidents compared to the fiscal year 2018/19. Likewise, the numbers do not seem to drop in the current fiscal year 2020/21 as well because 3,747 road accidents with 68 casualties have already been recorded within the first five months of the year. With hundreds of traffic police personnel deployed in the country and with such strict traffic rules and regulations, why is the number of road accidents still climbing up every day in Nepal? Lets dig deeper into the causes or reasons why road accidents are an everyday affair in Nepal. 1. Negligence of driver/rider File: Traffic police interrogating a scooter rider One of the studies of the road traffic accidents in the Kathmandu valley proved that the most road accidents occur due to negligence of the drivers. It is reported that about 60 per cent of road accidents take place due to the carelessness of the drivers. Mainly, bike riders become victims of road accidents. Major causes for this include over-speeding, overtaking, lack of attention while driving or riding, not using helmets, using mobile phones while driving, and drink-driving. Also, there is no system to check the physical and mental health condition of the drivers or riders. Likewise, the drivers of both long routes and short routes are having to drive constantly without a rest which also increases the risk of road accidents. There is an unhealthy competition among the drivers and vehicle owners, due to which the tendency of overtaking, overspeeding, and carrying passengers more than the capacity of the vehicle is increasing. This is also one of the major causes of the increasing number of road accidents. 2. Negligence of pedestrians File image: A man crosses a road in Kathmandu as traffic police look on. Many road accidents take place due to the carelessness of the pedestrians as well. Most of the pedestrians cross the road from the place that is convenient for them rather than crossing the road using zebra crossings or pedestrian bridges even in the place they are available. Similarly, many pedestrians do not use the pavement while walking. Also, the lack of awareness of traffic light signals and road safety education and ignoring these rules also result in many road accidents are taking place in Nepal. 3. Lack of road infrastructures File Image: Road potholes full of rain water Another prime reason for the steady rise of road accidents in Nepal is the lack of road infrastructures. Most of the roads in Nepal are narrow and not blacktopped. Road safety experts also inform that most of the roads are constructed without complying with the road-design standards. The tendency of not researching enough before the road construction and giving permission to all sorts of vehicles to ply constructed roads without prior research are also the major causes of road accidents. Poor investment in road construction, driving overloaded vehicles, construction of roads without including cycle lanes and pedestrian pavements, thee lack of disabled-friendly road structures are other factors that are causing road accidents in Nepal. 4. Mechanical defects File Image: Vehicle turned turtle Many studies suggest that many road accidents in Nepal occur due to mechanical defects in the vehicle like brake failure, faulty headlights, and sidelights, tyre blowouts, malfunctioning of the steering system. and other systems. Although there is a provision of a vehicle fitness test in Nepal, it has not been implemented properly. Due to that, many vehicles are avoiding fitness tests and running in the ruined conditions inviting many road crashes and casualties. 5. Lack of implementation of traffic rules File Image: A dummy donned as a traffic police staffer in Kathmandu, in September 2020. It is not that Nepal does not have any rules aimed at preventing road accidents. Instead, road accidents are increasing due to the lack of proper implementation of those rules and regulations. The Government of Nepal (GoN) has a National Road Safety Strategy and Road Safety Action Plan (RSAP, 20132020), based on the five UN Global Plan for the Decade of Action for Road Safety 20112020 pillars: road safety management; safer roads and mobility; safer vehicles; safer road users; and post-crash response (GoN 2013). The RSAP is yet to be fully implemented, reports Delivering Road Safety in Nepal Leadership Priorities and Initiatives to 2030, a work by the World Bank. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton speaks during the launch of an antitrust investigation into large tech companies outside of the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington on Sept. 9, 2019. (Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images) Texas Attorney General Threatens to Sue Biden Administration Over Illegal Deportation Freeze Texas Attorney General Ken Paxon said he will sue the Biden administration over its illegal deportation freeze. Border states like Texas pay a particularly high price when the federal government fails to faithfully execute our countrys immigration laws, Paxton wrote in a letter. Paxton remarked: I wont tolerate unlawful acts from Joe Bidens administration. Today, I am taking action. It came after the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said the Biden administration would pause deportations for some illegal immigrants for 100 days. 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 read. Throughout this interim period DHS will continue to enforce our immigration laws. Specifically, the policy will pause removals for certain noncitizens who were ordered to be deported. Acting DHS Secretary David Pekoske in a memorandum (pdf) ordered agencies under the DHS to review immigration enforcement policies and set interim policies for civil enforcement. But Paxton said that the administration is obligated to consult with the state before reducing immigration enforcement measures, according to his letter, which was sent to Pekoske. DHSs failure to provide Texas with pre-implementation notice of the memorandumcombined with its quick implementation of the memorandummakes waiting impracticable. We require an immediate response or we will seek relief to enjoin your order, as contemplated by the Agreement, Paxton added. Pekoskes memo stipulated that deportations can continue under certain circumstances, including individuals who pose a threat to national security, anyone who was convicted of an aggravated felony and released from prison and who has been determined to be a security threat, and anyone who illegally entered the United States after Nov. 1. Due to limited resources, DHS cannot respond to all immigration violations or remove all persons unlawfully in the United States, Pekoske added. DHS must implement civil immigration enforcement based on sensible priorities and changing circumstances. DHSs civil immigration enforcement priorities are protecting national security, border security, and public safety. Biden also on Wednesday released an immigration proposal that would provide an eight-year path to citizenship for about 11 million undocumented aliens living in the U.S. Paxtons threat of a lawsuit was supported by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, who tweeted: Biden is trying to halt deportations of illegal aliens who already have a final order of removal from the U.S. This abandons the obligation to enforce federal immigration laws. Texas is fighting this attempt to grant blanket amnesty. The Epoch Times has reached out to the White House for comment. VANCOUVER, British Columbia and ANKARA, Turkey, Jan. 21, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Trillion Energy International Inc. (Trillion or the Company) (CSE: TCF) (OTC: TCFF) (Frankfurt: 3P2N) is please to provide an update on the Companys planned activities for 2021. We expect oil and gas prices to continue to rebound during 2021 as the economy strengthens. 2020 was a challenging year for the oil and gas sector, with historic negative oil prices due to a sharp drop in demand as a result of COVID and temporary over-supply concerns abounded. Oil prices have now returned to pre-COVID levels, the current price of oil received is over US $50/bbl, a $20/bbl improvement. Natural gas currently sells for US $5.52/mcf. Our two producing oil and gas fields continue to generate revenue. The Cendere Oil Field is producing 150 bopd and generating about US $230,000/month for Trillion and the SASB Gas Field is producing 705 mcf/d and generating about US $38,000/month for Trillion. Our mandate for 2021 is to commence redevelopment of the SASB Gas field which was delayed from 2020 due to the associated slowdowns, COVID and energy markets conditions, which have only recently recovered. As part of the SASB Gas field Phase III work program, we plan to drill five new wells and conduct two or more workovers, which target proven and probable gas reserves having a discounted Net Present Value to the Company after all costs, of US $79.5million as evaluated by GLJ Petroleum Consultants, as previously reported in our June 23, 2020 and June 30, 2020 news releases. The Phase III work program will be followed by Phase IV and Phase V work programs to produce additional gas. We are currently in discussions with drilling and services companies to carry out the Phase III development work program. Several jack-up rigs are available in the region and the Company is in the process of securing a timetable for work commencement. A jack-up rig is required as the SASB gas field is located in shallow water. The Company is plans to fund the work through a combination of debt and equity capital to which it is currently evaluating opportunities to acquire same. Art Halleran, CEO stated: 2021 will be a milestone year for us, we believe the redevelopment of the SASB gas field will significantly grow our shareholder value. Upon the successful completion of the Phase III development, we expect to generate significant positive EBITA and cash-flow that will be used to fund a Phase IV development program for SASB planned for 2022 About the Company Trillion Energy is an oil and gas producing company with multiple assets throughout Turkey and Bulgaria. The Company is 49% owner of the SASB natural gas field, one of the Black Seas first and largest scale natural gas development projects; a 19.6% (except three wells with 9.8%) interest in the Cendere oil field; a 100% interest in 42,833 hectares oil exploration Derecik block covering the northern extension of the prolific Iraq/ Zagros Basin; and in Bulgaria, the Vranino 1-11 block, a prospective unconventional natural gas property. For further information, please see our website: www.trillionenergy.com or email us: info@trillionenergy.com The Companys NI 51-101 and other reports relating to its reserves as of December 31, 2019 are filed on www.sec.gov/edgar www.sedar.com, www.thecse.com, as well as the Companys website. Contact Corporate offices: 1-778-819-1585 e-mail: info@trillionenergy.com Website: www.trillionenergy.com Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements and other information about this news release and the Company reserves The accuracy of any resources estimate is a function of the quality and quantity of available data and of engineering interpretation and judgement. While resources estimates presented herein are considered reasonable, the estimates should be accepted with the understanding that reservoirs performance subsequent to the date of the estimate may justify revision, either upward or downward. Revenue projections presented in this report are based in part on forecasts of market prices, currency exchange rates, inflation, market demand and government policy which are subject to many uncertainties and may, in future, differ materially from the forecasts utilized herein. Present values of revenues documented in this report do not necessarily represent the fair market value of the resources evaluated herein. This release contains forward-looking statements, which are based on current expectations, estimates, and projections about the Companys business and prospects, as well as managements beliefs, and certain assumptions made by management. Words such as anticipates, expects, intends, plans, believes, seeks, estimates, may, should, will and variations of these words are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such statements speak only as of the date hereof and are subject to change. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly revise or update any forward-looking statements for any reason. These statements include, but are not limited to, statements about the Companys prospectus listing on the Canadian Securities Exchange, the potential impact on the market for its securities, expansion and business strategies, anticipated growth opportunities, and the amount of fundraising necessary to achieve the foregoing. Such statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties, and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Accordingly, actual results could differ materially and adversely from those expressed in any forward-looking statements as a result of various factors. These factors include unforeseen securities regulatory challenges, COVID, oil and gas price fluxuations, operational and geological risks, the ability of the Company to raise necessary funds for development; the outcome of commercial negotiations; changes in technical or operating conditions; the cost of extracting gas and oil may be too costly so that it is uneconomic and not profitable to do so and other factors discussed from time to time in the Companys Securities and Exchange Commission filings, including the most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent reports on Forms 10-Q, 8-K. For a full summary of our oil and gas reserves information, please refer to our Forms F-1,2,3 51-101 filed on www.sedar.com, and or request a copy of our reserves report effective December 31, 2019. The Telegraph The list of Donald Trump associates who have attempted to bring down the former president is as long as it is varied: from his lawyer, to his closest advisor, his ex-wife and his alleged lover. But like many powerful figures before him, it may well be his accountant that would be his undergoing. Allen Weisselberg, the little-known 73-year-old chief financial officer for the Trump Organisation, has worked for the Trump family as far back as the early 1970s under Donalds father Fred. Some say he is closer to Mr Trump than he is to his own children. As one former employee put it, he knows where the bodies are buried". In recent weeks New York prosecutors investigating Mr Trumps tax affairs have been turning the screws on Mr Weisselberg in the hope of flipping him to testify against his boss. Cyrus Vance, the Manhattan District Attorney, is looking into everything from hush-money payments paid to women on Mr Trump's behalf, to property valuations and employee compensation. Speculation is mounting that his office may be able to turn Mr Weisselberg, who has not been accused of any wrongdoing, as it pulls together a grand jury to decide whether to indict. He spit at women crossed in the street, frightening them above all for the danger of coronavirus contagion, and had managed to escape from the Macomer detention center by returning to Venice. Today the man, a 36-year-old from Sierra Leone, was tracked down and arrested by the police of the lagoon city. He was the recipient of a prison order issued by the Venice Public Prosecutor's Office for the expiation of one year of imprisonment for resisting a public official, aggravated personal injury, aggravated damage, beatings and theft. The man had become the protagonist of numerous episodes in the center of Mestre between last June and August. Particular alarm had raised the repeated habit of spitting in the faces of women he passed on the street. Recently he had been taken to the Sardinian CPR, from which however it had not been possible to expel him due to lack of agreements with the country of origin, and in recent days there had been news of his return to the province of Venice. (Unioneonline / L) Over six weeks of proposed works are due to be carried out in Newbridge starting next month. Irish Water, in partnership with the Council, is working on the Upper Liffey Valley Sewerage Scheme which is building a new wastewater network in several locations in Newbridge and Naas. Construction was due to begin along the Athgarvan Road from October 27 until December 1 during Level 5 restrictions but it emerged that an unidentified local retail objected to the project taking place without due process such as a public notice period. District Engineer Brenda Cuddy said permission has been sought to carry out the proposed rescheduled works from early February to the start of the third week of March. A section of Athgarvan Road is expected to be closed to the public for the duration of the works. The District Engineer told councillors at this week's local municipal meeting that the works were "strategic to Newbridge". Irish Water said the construction works would be carried out in a controlled and safe manner, abiding by all public health measures during Level 5 restrictions in keeping with Government and HSE guidelines to protect workers, their families and the broader community. At the October meeting of the Kildare Newbridge Municipal District meeting, councillors had agreed to allow the works proceed in order to take advantage of lower than normal traffic levels in Newbridge town due to the Level 5 restrictions. Denmark has banned all flights from the UAE for five days as authorities raise suspicions about covid-19 tests taken by passengers from Dubai, Anadolu news agency reports. Transport Minister Benny Engelbrecht said passengers coming from Dubai have been diagnosed with fast-spreading variants of COVID-19 and the country will investigate the accuracy of the results of tests carried out in the UAE. The European country early this year required that anyone entering its territory must show proof of a negative coronavirus test no older than 24 hours. The Danish government Wednesday extended coronavirus lockdown by three weeks until Feb. 7 due to concerns over a new variant of the virus. The Nephilims Revenge: A Murder Mystery and End-Times Saga: an absorbing novel that reveals western lore and relevant prophecies of the end-times including the deadly Coronavirus days. The Nephilims Revenge: A Murder Mystery and End-times Saga is the creation of published author Michael J. Lindsay, a writer who has been a lifelong law enforcement officer. He began his law enforcement career in 1971 as an MP in the army during the Vietnam era and was eventually charged with establishing a military police investigation section at his permanent duty station in Kansas. Lindsay writes, Michael Lindsay wrote this murder mystery coming directly from his forty-plus years of forensic experience as a police officer, crime scene specialist, investigator, and academy crime scene instructor. More than being just a technically correct police story, this saga intertwines Mikes passions for the Wild West and the cowboy life; his awe of the few remaining wilderness areas; his interest in the many legends of the Superstition Mountains of Arizona; and his extensive studies of end-time Bible prophecy, occult manifestations, and UFOs. One would think that these diverse subjects will not be part of a real-world story, but many surprising revelations are exposed in this implication but accurate account. In fact, this deep whodunit mystery is actually solved by looking closely at the epic conflict of good versus evil through uncovering several ancient end-time prophecies. Readers will be surprised to find that by the end of this deceit-filled tale of treachery, they will have a real hands-on understanding of the end-time prophecy that will enable them to read and comprehend many prophetic Bible passages that pastors today refuse to teach and that they, quite honestly, do not really understand. This mystery story, coupled with Mikes first book on prophecy, The Town Crier: Two Months to Prophetic Literacy (A Guide to Saving AmericaOne Prophecy at A Time), will bring readers to a level of prophetic understanding far beyond what most priests and pastors possess today. Published by Christian Faith Publishing, Michael J. Lindsays new book tells an eye-opening story to the readers as the author reveals both ancient and end-time prophecies that allow them to comprehend and understand many prophetic Bible passages. View a synopsis of The Nephilims Revenge: A Murder Mystery and End-Times Saga on YouTube. Consumers can purchase The Nephilims Revenge: A Murder Mystery and End-Times Saga at traditional brick & mortar bookstores, or online at Amazon.com, Apple iTunes store, or Barnes and Noble. For additional information or inquiries about The Nephilims Revenge: A Murder Mystery and End-Times Saga, contact the Christian Faith Publishing media department at 866-554-0919. FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., Jan. 22, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Merlin Law Group has recently hired Dennis Bailey, a former Circuit Judge from the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit, to lead its Trial Division. Bailey brings a wealth of experience to the firm and previously worked fourteen years as a criminal trial lawyer. He served as Assistant State Attorney of Broward County for nine of those years, prosecuting and defending crimes from misdemeanors to murder. Bailey spent another 14 years of his career in general civil rights practice as both plaintiff and defense counsel and represented clients ranging from Fortune 500 companies to homeless citizens in Federal Civil Rights litigation throughout Florida. Bailey's experience as an attorney includes over 200 jury trials and over 200 bench trials. As a judge, Bailey oversaw hundreds of trials. He also served as a teacher and taught trial practice at Nova Southeastern University and the University of Miami. Chip Merlin, president of Merlin Law Group, noted Bailey will work with Managing Attorney Michael Duffy on both oversight and support of the firm's cases. Merlin believes Bailey's experience and passion for trial practice will aid even the most seasoned attorneys and assist in training and mentoring other attorneys with little trial exposure. "Other attorneys at law firms representing policyholders simply do not have the support we provide to our staff. This effort to increase specialized legal skill sets and provide the educational tools and training to our team sets us apart as do the individual efforts of each of the attorneys here at Merlin Law Group," said Merlin. Bailey is familiar with the firm and from his time on the bench and is excited to join its efforts to advocate for policyholders nationwide. "I've known Merlin Law Group and the work it does for more than a decade. When I decided to leave the bench and get back into private practice, I knew Merlin Law Group was where I wanted to go," said Bailey. About Merlin Law Group: Merlin Law Group has been dedicated to representing policyholders and litigating their insurance claims for over 35 years. We have represented individual homeowners, commercial enterprises, condominium associations, and large municipalities. Our firm has successfully litigated and recovered hundreds of millions in damages for our clients. Having a dedicated trial team, financial resources to fight insurance companies, and attorneys nationwide sets us apart. SOURCE Merlin Law Group, P.A. Related Links www.merlinlawgroup.com It was supposed to be a lesson in anti-racism held schoolwide. On the afternoon of Inauguration Day, students at the highly-selective, public magnet Lowell High School were told to submit anonymous thoughts on race and inequity in a public "share board" on a school-sponsored forum, Padlet. Then, messages of unequal treatment toward Black Americans and concerns about the phrase "all lives matter" gave way to hateful, trolling screeds, a battering ram of anti-Black and anti-Semitic slurs, pornography and an expletive-laden death threat to President Joe Biden. According to a letter to students and parents obtained by SFGATE, Lowell administrators "immediately deactivated" the website and are working to "trace the origin" of the hack. "The images and hateful words are part of historic acts of violence that have been committed time and again, and I will not tolerate it," said Lowell Principal Dacotah Scott in a video message addressed to the Lowell community. "This message is to whomever made these racist and anti-Semitic attacks on our community: I will pursue all means available to me to hold you accountable for your actions. Your words and actions have no place at Lowell." Who sent the messages remains unknown. Padlet emphasizes "extra security" and "school-wide activity monitoring" in its K-12-specific offerings, and the school itself believed that the site "could only be added to by our Coordinated Care Team." (Padlet did not immediately respond to a request for comment from SFGATE.) The school is providing drop-in hours with counselors and other "wellness staff" for students, and district Superintendent Vincent Matthews said in a statement that the individuals involved "will be held accountable following SFUSD policies and state and federal laws." (District representatives declined to provide further comment to SFGATE.) But even as administrators investigate and seek to find the individuals "responsible for these sick and hate filled posts," according to the letter to parents, the hack proved to be yet another instance of racism on campus, students say, that very well could have been perpetrated by a peer. Faculty response has been inadequate in acknowledging the history leading up to the hack and the possibility that the attack came from inside the campus, alleged a student-written email made public and addressed to San Francisco Mayor London Breed, District 7 Supervisor Myrna Melgar and Matthews. Melgar and Breed's offices did not immediately respond to requests for comment from SFGATE. The email, which counted Lowell senior and school board representative Shavonne Hines-Foster among its authors, read: "Students were rightfully upset by these images. They looked to the Lowell administration for action and support. Instead, they were met with formulaic, copy-and-pasted email responses." I think the school is trying to make make this an issue about cybersecurity when its an issue about racism," Hines-Foster told the San Francisco Examiner. "SFUSD knows its there, theyve just let Lowell run amok because theyre Lowell prestigious Lowell. (Hines-Foster did not immediately respond to a request for comment from SFGATE.) A Change.org petition started by a Lowell teacher calling for a federal investigation was removed, though the cause is unclear. The response that students did receive, the email said, "failed to describe the horrendous images students saw today" and did not acknowledge "the racism and anti-Blackness so rooted in the culture at Lowell." According to a 2019 report by the school, just under 2% of the Lowell student population is African American. A 2019 Census tally estimated that the African American population in San Francisco County was just over 5%. Lowell has become notorious for a culture that, to some students and faculty, is apathetic to racism and inequity on campus, even in recent years when school officials affirmed that they "stand against racism." In 2016, a poster made by a student for Black History Month read "Happy Black History Month #Gang" and peddled anti-Black tropes, resulting in a walkout by the Black Student Union. (At the time, Principal Andrew Ishibashi defended the student responsible, saying their "intent was not malicious.") A school board meeting during the pandemic to evaluate the school's GPA- and test score-based admissions policies already deemed by some education activists as exclusionary ended with a board member proclaiming that she was "listening to a bunch of racists." There's also the myriad Black students who have faced discrimination on an interpersonal scale. A 2016 report found that some students were called "ghetto," while others were told by other students and teachers that they had doubts regarding their academic achievements and skill. (The San Francisco Chronicle, which first reported on the virtual attack, said Hines-Foster, who faced cyberbullying and other attacks, was asked if her mother, who owned a bakery, sold fried chicken at her shop.) Board of Education President Gabriela Lopez, in a statement, stood in support of student demands to "address the ongoing racist history and culture at Lowell" and stop the stifling of "students who speak up about racism." But for the city and school district officials, the email from students ends with a notice: "These actions were not committed in ignorance; they sought to perpetuate racism, anti-Blackness, and white supremacy. If you choose to ignore this email, you are contributing to the same cycle." A man who crashed into a tree earlier this month has died from a traumatic brain injury, the York County Coroner announced Thursday. David Klinedinst, 68, of Conewago Township, crashed into a tree in Manchester Township on Jan. 11, according to the coroner. The crash occurred in the area of Church Road and Sandhurst Drive, at 6:25 a.m., the coroner said. Klinedinst was not wearing a seatbelt, and there was no one else involved in the crash. Although Klinedinst was taken to WellSpan York Hospital, he died from his injuries on Wednesday night, the coroner said. His death was ruled accidental. There will be no autopsy, but routine toxicology tests will be done, the coroner said. Read more on PennLive: Advertisement There was confusion tonight about how deadly the Kent coronavirus variant really is after 10 SAGE studies came to wildly different conclusions about its lethality and the World Health Organization said it still hadn't seen any convincing data. Boris Johnson and his science chiefs tonight made the shocking claim that the strain called B.1.1.7 could be 30 per cent more deadly than older versions of the virus without presenting any evidence to back up the terrifying development. The announcement came after 10 studies submitted to SAGE overwhelmingly suggested that the strain was more lethal than past variants. But there are question marks over the findings because the estimates varied vastly and one study even found the strain was less deadly than the older version. The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine estimated the risk of death from the new variant could be 1.35 times greater, Imperial College London said it was between 1.29 and 1.36 times, Exeter University found it may be 1.91 and Public Health England said it could be as high as 1.6. But there are further questions over the reliablity of the data because the research was only based on a few hundreds deaths. Public Health England chief Dr Susan Hopkins cautioned people from reading too much into the findings and suggested the evidence was still murky. She added: 'There is evidence from some but not all data sources which suggests that the variant of concern which was first detected in the UK may lead to a higher risk of death than the non-variant. Evidence on this variant is still emerging and more work is underway to fully understand how it behaves.' Sir Patrick Vallance told the briefing tonight that hospital data had suggested the variant could increase the risk of death for a man his 60s from 1 per cent to 1.3 per cent, but he admitted 'the evidence is not yet strong'. Adding to the confusion, Professor Chris Whitty, said he was not entirely convinced the strain was deadlier in the first place. And the variant has already been spotted in 60 countries, including most of continental Europe, the US, Australia, India, China and Saudi Arabia - yet none of those countries have reported a higher mortality rate from the new variant. Kit Yates, a mathematical biologist at the University of Bath, slammed the Government for causing confusion and panic about the variant. He tweeted: 'I really dislike the way the news about the increased lethality of B1.1.7 was leaked out and then discussed in a press briefing. Where is the data? We want to be able to scrutinise it and to understand the detail, not just the summary.' The WHO also undermined No10, saying it had not yet seen any evidence to convince it that the Kent strain was actually more deadly than other strains. In a thinly-veiled jab at the UK Government, the body said it was more likely that the increased death rate was a result of ministers losing a grip on infections. Dr Mike Ryan, chief of the WHO's Health Emergencies Programme, told a separate press conference today: 'There is a big difference between the lethality of a virus, how many people on average a virus kills, versus the mortality. If I have one million people infected and my lethality is 1 per cent, or two million people infected with a lethality of 1 per cent, twice as many people will die [in the second case].' The SAGE paper cited three studies of the Kent strain: A London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine study (left) based on 2,583 deaths that said the hazard of death within 28 days of test for the mutant strain compared with non-mutant strains was 35% times higher An Imperial College London study (centre) of the Case Fatality Rate of the new mutant strain that found the risk of death was 36% times higher A University of Exeter study (right) that suggested the risk of death could be 91% higher. Both the Exeter and the Imperial studies were based on just 8% of deaths during the study period WHAT DO STUDIES SUBMITTED TO SAGE ON THE KENT STRAIN'S LETHALITY SHOW? RESEARCH GROUP IMPERIAL COLLEGE LONDON (1) IMPERIAL COLLEGE LONDON (2) LONDON SCHOOL OF HYGIENE & TROPICAL MEDICINE (1) LONDON SCHOOL OF HYGIENE & TROPICAL MEDICINE (2) UNIVERSITY OF EXETER COVID-19 CLINICAL INFORMATION NETWORK PUBLIC HEALTH ENGLAND (1) PUBLIC HEALTH ENGLAND (2) PUBLIC HEALTH ENGLAND (3) PUBLIC HEALTH ENGLAND (4) HOW MUCH MORE DEADLY THAN ORIGINAL STRAIN? 36% 29% 35% 28% 91% 37% 7% 30% 0% 65 Advertisement The Kent variant first emerged in the South East of England in October and quickly become the dominant strain in Britain, sparking a devastating winter wave of infections and hospital admissions which plunged the country into a third lockdown. Studies have shown the Kent strain is between 50 and 70 per cent more infectious than the original version thanks to key mutations on its spike protein which make it easier to lock onto human cells. This gives it an evolutionary edge over other strains. What do we know about the Kent variant? Name: B.1.1.7, formerly VUI-202012/01 Where did it come from? The variant was first found in Kent and can be traced back to September 2020. Scientists noticed that it was spreading in November and it was revealed to the public in December. What makes it new? The variant, which is a version of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus that causes Covid-19, has a series of mutations that change the shape of the spike protein on its outside. The main one is known as N501Y. This appears to make it better able to stick to the cells inside the body and makes it more likely to cause infection and faster to spread. How did that happen? Viruses, particularly ones spreading so fast and in such huge numbers, mutate all the time. To reproduce they basically force living cells to copy and paste the viral genetic code, and this can contain errors that lead to slightly different versions of the virus. Often these mutations make no difference but, if they make the virus stronger, they can stick around for further generations and become the norm. What can we do about it? Nothing much. People who catch the virus won't know which type they have, and it will still cause the same symptoms and illness. Officials can try to contain it by locking down the areas where it is most prevalent, but if it is stronger than other versions of the virus it will eventually spread everywhere and become dominant as long as people continue to travel. Will our vaccines still work? Yes, it's very likely they will. Scientists on SAGE are fairly sure the mutations the Kent variant carries do not significantly affect how well the immune system can handle it. People who have a vaccine modelled on an older version of the virus, or who have been infected with Covid-19 before, are likely to be immune to it. This is because the main mutations are only on one part of the spike protein, whereas the immune system is able to target various other parts of the virus. Advertisement There were also fears that these same mutations could make the variant resistant to vaccines or natural immunity from previous infection. But data from UK studies suggest this won't be the case. Speaking at this evening's Downing Street press conference, Boris Johnson said: 'We've been informed today that in addition to spreading more quickly it also now appears that there is some evidence that the new variant, the variant that was first identified in London and the South East, may be associated with a higher degree of mortality.' And the PM handed over to his chief scientific adviser, Sir Patrick Vallance, who explained: 'If you took a man in their 60s, the average risk is that for a thousand people who got infected, roughly 10 would be expected to, unfortunately, die with the new variant, for a thousand people infected, roughly 13 or 14 people might be expected to die. That's the sort of change for that sort of age group.' He added: 'I want to stress that there's a lot of uncertainty around these numbers and we need more work to get a precise handle on it, but it obviously is of concern that this has an increase in mortality as well as an increase in transmissibility, as it appears of today. Professor Neil Ferguson, who sits on the SAGE subgroup NERVTAG and whose grim modelling that hundreds of thousands of Britons could die without action spooked ministers into the first lockdown last March, said today: 'It is a realistic possibility that the new UK variant increases the risk of death, but there is considerable remaining uncertainty. 'Four groups - Imperial, LSHTM, PHE and Exeter - have looked at the relationship between people testing positive for the variant vs old strains and the risk of death. That suggests a 1.3-fold increased risk of death. So for 60 year-olds, 13 in 1000 might die compared with 10 in 1000 for old strains.' Public Health England refused to commit to a lethality figure. Dr Susan Hopkins, strategic response director at PHE said: 'There is evidence from some but not all data sources which suggests that the variant of concern which was first detected in the UK may lead to a higher risk of death than the non-variant. Evidence on this variant is still emerging and more work is underway to fully understand how it behaves.' The doom-mongering No10 press conference came despite an array of statistics that showed the second wave has peaked already and may finally be coming under control. SAGE today claimed Britains R rate has fallen below the crucial level of one and separate surveillance studies estimated daily cases have halved in a fortnight. Department of Health figures mirrored the trend, with infections falling by 30 per cent week-on-week as health chiefs announced another 40,261 cases. Officials also posted 1,401 deaths, up just 9.5 per cent on last Friday. But experts warned the fatality toll will continue to rise for at least another week because of how long it takes for infected patients to become severely ill. Defying mounting pressure to commit to easing the current measures, Mr Johnson warned today that the NHS is still under huge pressure and the curbs will only be lifted when it is 'safe'. Downing Street was warned it faces the 'mother of all battles' next month when it has to discuss relaxing the restrictions. The 70-strong Covid Recovery Group of Conservative MPs is urging the government to start lifting the lockdown no later than March 8 - when vaccines given to the most vulnerable groups should have taken effect. But No10's refusal to give an exact day for when lockdown will end may have been fuelled by worrying findings from scientists feeding into SAGE who sounded the alarm about the possible increased death risk of the variant. Ojabalpur : , Jan 22 (IANS) The Bharatiya Janata Party led government's campaign against encroachers and the land mafia continues in Madhya Pradesh with 15 acre of government land in Jabalpur freed from the possession of encroachers. The value of this land has been estimated to be worth more than 25 crore. It has been reported that action is underway against the perpetrators under the leadership of Jabalpur District Magistrate Karmveer Sharma. Major action has been taken at six other locations simultaneously. In the latest action taken by the Shivraj Chouhan government, more than 15 acre of government land with an estimated market value of Rs 25 crore 46 lakh was freed from the illegal encroachment. As much as 12 acre of government land worth nearly Rs 18 crore 66 lakh was freed from the possession of the influential Virendra Patel in Pipariya village, Baniakheda in Panagar tehsil of Jabalpur. The prized land adjoining the school and main road was being illegally occupied and cultivated for farming for 15 years by former sarpanch Virendra Patel. Along with removing the illegal part of the posh house being built in Khajri village in the name of wife Sanjeeda Bi by historysheeter and supervised criminal Mohammad Shamim alias Shamim Kabadi, joint action was taken in collaboration with the police and municipal corporation led by the district administration. The godown built by Shamim in the nearby Chanti village was also demolished with the help of JCB machines. Similarly action was followed against Mohanlal Patel, a resident of Pipariya village, Baniakheda, who had illegally set up the construction of godowns and shops by occupying three acre land of market value worth two crore five lakh rupees. Mason is up to date on all vaccinations, he is FIV/FeLV negative and he is neutered. He is available for adoption right now. Q. Who is your best friend? A. Last time we chatted, my BFF was Roman. I told you that Roman was a work in progress and that I was investing a lot of time, effort and patience in the boy. Sometimes he could be stand-offish, and I kept telling him that's not going to work if he wants to find a new home. Well, my efforts paid off and Roman finally went home. I'm giving you all of this history so that you know that I haven't found a new BFF yet but I'm actively looking. UPDATE: I am considering Ceasar for a BFF. If he would sit still long enough for an interview, maybe we could make it work! Q. What is your favorite toy? A. We cats are so lucky! We have so many toys and trees to climb on that it's hard to decide which might be my favorite. However, I will tell you that if someone came in here and just used that laser pointer for an hour I would be the happiest cat on earth. A good workout beats sitting in the tree and watching the birds. Well, almost LOL! Q. If you could have a job, what would that be? .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... SAN ANTONIO A Central Texas man shown on video participating in the U.S. Capitol insurrection two weeks ago has surrendered to the FBI in San Antonio, according to court documents filed Thursday in Washington. The federal complaint accused Christopher Ray Grider, 39, of Eddy, Texas, of willful depredation of federal property, remaining in a restricted area unlawfully, and violent entry in the Jan. 6 riot. Grider turned surrendered to federal agents Wednesday and remained in Bastrop County Jail in Bastrop, near Austin, pending an initial court appearance Friday before a federal magistrate. It was unclear from online jail records if Grider. In an affidavit filed Thursday in Washington district court, an FBI agent reported that social media video showed Grider helping rioters try to smash into the House chamber when police trying to protect House members shot Ashli Babbitt dead. In a video conference interview, he told KWTX-TV in Waco, Texas, that he was just a few feet when Babbitt was shot. It was unclear from online jail records if Grider, ADVERTISEMENTSkip ................................................................ Bellaire and West University Place have reported zero deaths due to COVID-19, despite Harris County having some of the highest COVID-19 related death totals in the state. Although the two cities, which are located in the heart of Harris County, have similar COVID-19 precautions that other cities have, local officials in the two cities believe their lack of COVID-19 related deaths are a result of a variety of reasons, such as high incomes and low populations. On HoustonChronicle.com: Texas likely won't move to next vaccine phase until May or June, official Dr. David Lakey predicts Despite the lack of reported deaths, the two cities will continue to follow standard health and safety protocols as advised by the city, state and federal government. As a city, we are doing what everyone else is doing, said Deacon Tittle, Bellaire Fire Chief, and Safety Officer. We are working to keep our citizens educated on the Coronavirus and following the guidance with the citys operations from our elected officials along with the CDC. There are many factors that come into play with the number of coronavirus cases in the City of Bellaire but ultimately it comes back to the individual, their health, the recognition of symptoms early on, and how they approach the virus. West U Fire Chief Aaron Taylor had similar sentiments. I could tell you about all of the precautions the city has taken, but the answer as to why we may have fared better than other communities, thus far, said Aaron Taylor, West University Fire Chief, could be a myriad of reasons yet to be known with certainty. At first glance, Bellaire and West U would seem to be prime COVID-19 incubators, considering the median age of both cities are higher than the surrounding communities. While 10.5 percent of Houstonians are 65 years old or older, 17.4 and 15.3 percent of people are older than 65 in Bellaire and West U, respectively, according to the US Census Bureau. But, according to Elizabeth Perez, Harris County Public Healths Director of Communications, Education, and Engagement, other factors that go into COVID-19 deaths are population and socio-economic disparities. In higher population areas, people come in contact with one another more often, Perez said. According to the US Census, Bellaire has a population of approximately 19,283, and West U has 28,552. This is compared to Houston, which borders the two cities, with a population of 2.3 million. Of the total confirmed COVID-19 cases since the pandemic began last year, Harris County has 293,271, with 2,812 deaths, as of Jan. 22. With the latest reports from the two cities, Bellaire and West U have a combined 1,368 confirmed cases since the beginning of the pandemic, with zero deaths. But the zip codes surrounding the two cities have similar population sizes and more COVID-19 deaths. According to Harris County Public Health , the zip code that encompasses Montrose had six reported COVID-19 deaths, the Texas Medical Center has eight, Braeswood Place has 12, Gulfton has 34 and the Meyerland area has 11 as of Jan. 22. This could be the result of Bellaire and West U having some of the highest median incomes in the state. Residents of Bellaire and West U could potentially have more opportunities to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, and all other diseases, that lower-income areas wouldnt be able to do. According to Perez, its not surprising that areas that have higher incomes are less likely to have poor health outcomes. Areas where there have been long term historical disparities, and where youre likely to have larger amounts of socio-economic disparities, that is going to historically be hardest hit by COVID, she said. Theyre less likely to have access to health care, they might be working more lower-income jobs that might put them at a higher risk. They may not have the ability to take time off if theyre sick. So, there are all these other social factors that will indirectly or directly impact health. Correction: The article mistakenly reported Southside Place has 12 COVID-19 related deaths. Although in the same zip code, the areas outside of Southside Place have the reported deaths. Southside Place has zero. ryan.nickerson@hcnonline.com This service applies to you if your subscription has not yet expired on our old site. You will have continued access until your subscription expires; then you will need to purchase an ongoing subscription through our new system. Please contact the Parsons Sun office at (620) 421-2000 if you have any questions Here are all the shows on the BBC's Musicals: The Greatest Show tonight! The events kicked off last weekend on BBC Radio Two with a few days' worth of documentaries, celebrations and performances, spearheaded by Sheridan Smith, Michael Ball and Elaine Paige. This will reach a general stagey crescendo with Musicals: The Greatest Show a 100-minute odyssey through musical feature, featuring a plethora of specially recorded numbers. It will be shown on BBC One and BBC iPlayer on 7 February at 7.40pm GMT) and will be available to stream for a full year! In a helpful round-up, we've listed all the shows you can expect to hear/see as part of the event (some of them are only available via radio we've indicated below): - Smith and Amanda Holden will duet on "I Know Him So Well" from Chess - Gavin Spokes, from the West End production of Hamilton, will perform hit number "You'll Be Back" - Michael Ball will perform showstopper "You Can't Stop The Beat" from Hairspray - Smith will also return to her lauded turn as Fanny Brice to give a rendition of "Don't Rain On My Parade" from Funny Girl - Soon-to-be West End leading light Ivano Turco performs "Only You, Lonely You" from Andrew Lloyd Webber's upcoming mucsical Cinderella - From Los Angeles, Nicole Scherzinger performs "Never Enough" from movie musical The Greatest Showman - Josh Groban sings "The Impossible Dream" from Man Of La Mancha (on Radio 2 only) - Paige will return to the part of Norma Desmond with Sunset Boulevard's "As If We Never Said Goodbye" (on Radio 2 only) - Because they're the crown jewels of the West End, the Queens of Six will perform "Six" - Stage star Ramin Karimloo sings "The Music Of The Night" from The Phantom Of The Opera, a show he's appeared in on a plethora of occasions - Tight-knit trio Mazz Murray, Kate Graham and Jo Napthine of MAMMA MIA! perform "Dancing Queen" - Simply the best Aisha Jawando of the West End production of TINA, The Tina Turner Musical will perform, well, "The Best" - Lea Salonga performs "I Dreamed A Dream" from Les Miserables with her performance recorded in Manila - Former star of the West End show and current lead on the tour, Layton Williams of Everybody's Talking About Jamie performs "The Wall In My Head" - WhatsOnStage Award-winner Sam Tutty sings "You Will Be Found" from Dear Evan Hansen, alongside members of the West End cast - Announced as leading the upcoming tour of the show, Nicole Raquel Dennis of "Dreamgirls" with And I Am Telling You - Former Elphaba Kerry Ellis sings "Defying Gravity" from Wicked - Part of the original West End cast, Christine Allado and Alexia Khadime perform "When You Believe" from The Prince Of Egypt (on Radio 2 only) - Jac Yarrow, with the public, performing "Any Dream Will Do" from Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat You can find out more about Yarrow's special performance here. 7 day print subscribers enjoy unlimited access to yakimaherald.com Enter the LAST NAME and the 7 DIGIT phone number on your print subscription account to connect your print subscription to your yakimaherald.com account. David Williams is ready to get back to lunch. The investment banker and ardent gourmand has spent the past six months conducting corporate hospitality over takeaway ordered from Melbourne chef Anthony Luis Flower Drum restaurant shared around a boardroom table. But easing social distancing restrictions and the slow re-opening of state borders means the banker who advises companies including Bega Cheese and Coca-Cola Amatil can get back to managing relationships the way he feels most comfortable. Investment banker David Williams. Credit:Paul Jeffers Ive been back there twice this week, Williams tells The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age on Thursday of Flower Drum. Ive always had reasonably robust lunches but the lunches are very much more powerful now than they were before the pandemic, because Zoom works but nothing beats face to face. Across Sydney and Melbourne, COVID concerns and a raft of complex, changing social distancing restrictions have presented hospitality groups and restaurants with a steep challenge as the industry attempts to recoup revenues lost during the pandemic. Already, the corporate entertaining sector is emerging as one of the most resilient categories driving the recovery. Chef Matt Moran, who is the owner of Sydney CBD fine dining and corporate lunch haunts including Aria, Chop House and Bea at Barangaroo says the pandemic has changed how professionals approach the corporate lunch. .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... PHOENIX An Arizona lawmaker has introduced legislation that would require prosecutors to charge women who decide to get abortions and the doctors who perform the procedures with homicide. Republican state Rep. Walt Blackman, who is known for his strict stance against abortion, had previously said he would introduce the bill, calling abortion clinics death factories. The bill expands the definition of a person to include an unborn child in the womb at any stage of development, The Arizona Republic reported. It also removes any protections for mothers or medical professionals and would allow the state attorney general and county attorneys to prosecute homicide by abortion regardless of any conflicting federal regulations. If you want to spout, My body, my body choice, you need to spend some time in our Arizona penal system. If you are going to kill and end the life of another human being, that is murder, Blackman said during a livestream on Facebook in August. Nine other Republican representatives have announced their support of the bill. ADVERTISEMENTSkip ................................................................ Democratic lawmakers, including a newly elected representative who said she had previously ended a pregnancy, criticized the proposal on Thursday. As someone who has had an abortion, its absolutely sickening knowing my colleagues want to sentence my doctor and I to death for choices they have NO BUSINESS dictating for me or anyone else, Democratic state Rep. Melody Hernandez wrote on Twitter. Blackman on Thursday said he was proud to sponsor the bill and that it was time to abolish abortion in Arizona. Roe v. Wade, the 1973 Supreme Court decision legalizing abortion in the United States, had its 48th anniversary on Friday. In the waning days of the Trump administration, the schism between big business and the Republican Party burst into the open. While corporate America notched real gains over the last four years, including lower taxes and a looser regulatory environment, President Donald J. Trump routinely upset major chief executives. The Jan. 6 riot at the Capitol and the refusal of Mr. Trump and many congressional Republicans to recognize the election result was the breaking point, culminating in many large companies condemning Mr. Trump and cutting off support for his allies in Congress. But just because big business is at odds with the Republican Party doesnt mean its ready to embrace every aspect of the Democratic agenda. With President Biden seeking to undo much of Mr. Trumps legacy, including some initiatives championed by big business, chief executives are approaching the new administration with a mix of optimism and apprehension. At the most fundamental level, many executives appear grateful to move on from the Trump administration, which routinely surprised companies with abrupt changes to trade policy, immigration rules and more. China is one of the biggest competitors of the United States, including in the battle of space missions. As of the moment, the Asian country's space industry is currently rising. Also Read: NASA's TESS Discovers a Strange Pink Planet With Two Stars That Triggers BTS Fans, Here's Why Can China win against the U.S. in this 21st Century Space Race? According to MIT Technology Review's latest report, although China's space program might have been slow because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, there are still some space startups in the country that are continuously growing. The Asian country's space missions didn't stop since China was able to send a rover to Mars, bring back moon rocks to Earth, and test the next-gen crewed vehicle, which was specifically designed to bring the Chinese astronauts or "taikonauts" into orbit. What is the 21st Century Space Race? Researchers explained that the 21st Century Space Race is the competition between the United States and China when it comes to space exploration. The battle between the two powerful countries is still happening for the last two decades. China is expected to build a new space station this year of 2021. It is also planning to send the country's astronauts to space before 2021 ends. On the other hand, China is also focusing on the commercial space industry. "The state is really great at large, ambitious projects like going to the moon or developing a large reconnaissance satellite," said Cornel University researcher Lincoln Hines via MIT's official website. "But it's not responsive to meeting market needs. I think the government thinks its commercial space sector can be complementary to the state," he added. A China space agency makes another advancement Space News reported that iSpace, a China space agency, is working on reusable launcher landing leg tests, alongside IPO plans. The Chinese private rocker firm is currently planning to file an initial public offering on the Science and Technology Innovation Board. iSpace confirmed that it is now making progress in developing the reusable first stage of the Hyperbola-2 methane-liquid oxygen propellant launch vehicle. The space firm already carried out observations and tests for the landing legs of the spacecraft's first stage. This development also shows that China is still making advancements despite the ongoing pandemic. For more news updates about the U.S. and China's space mission progress, always keep your tabs open here at TechTimes. Related Article: Uranus-Mars Conjunction 2021 Plus Moon: How to Spot The Majestic Cosmo Bodies in the Skies (Binoculars Needed) This article is owned by TechTimes. Written by: Giuliano de Leon. 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. 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. Robert Kocharyan on years of his leadership in Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia Situation on Armenian-Azerbaijani border is still tense, more on COVID-19 in Armenia, May 28 digest "Armenia" alliance of political parties paying tribute to founder of First Republic Aram Manukyan (LIVE) Yerevan.today: Armenia acting PM not greeted at ruling party's headquarters, citizens call him 'capitulator' Russia MOD reports on maintenance of ceasefire regime in Nagorno-Karabakh Armenia acting MOD meets with Russian counterpart in Moscow Armenia 2nd President: I see possibility of restoring borders of Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast We can provide our army with some key, modernized weapons, says Armenia ex-President Kocharyan Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: Captives issue is not one that any opposition force can resolve OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs release statement on detention of 6 Armenian servicemen by Azerbaijan Armenian acting Deputy PM: Discussion on issues possible only after withdrawal of Azeri troops from Armenia's territory Armenia acting PM on Syunik roads, Russian military posts: This is only place where there are working nuances Armenia acting PM: Process of return of POWs will intensify after upcoming elections Putin congratulates Aliyev on Republic Day 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 Peer Respites Provide Alternative to Psychiatric Wards During Pandemic Mia McDermott is no stranger to isolation. Abandoned as an infant in China, she lived in an orphanage until a family in California adopted her as a toddler. She spent her adolescence in boarding schools and early adult years in and out of psychiatric hospitals, where she underwent treatment for bipolar disorder, anxiety, and anorexia. The pandemic left McDermott feeling especially lonely. She restricted social interactions because her fatty liver disease put her at greater risk of complications should she contract COVID-19. The 26-year-old Santa Cruz resident stopped regularly eating and taking her psychiatric medications, and contemplated suicide. When McDermotts thoughts grew increasingly dark in June, she checked into Second Story, a mental health program based in a home not far from her own, where she finds nonclinical support in a peaceful environment from people who have faced similar challenges. Second Story is what is known as a peer respite, a welcoming place where people can stay when theyre experiencing or nearing a mental health crisis. Betting that a low-key wellness approach, coupled with empathy from people who have been there, can help people in distress recover, this unorthodox strategy has gained popularity in recent years as the nation grapples with a severe shortage of psychiatric beds that has been exacerbated by the pandemic. Peer respites allow guests to avoid psychiatric hospitalization and emergency department visits. They now operate in at least 14 states. California has five in the San Francisco Bay Area and Los Angeles County. When things are really tough and you need extra support but you dont need hospitalization, wheres that middle ground? asked Keris Myrick, founder of Hacienda of Hope, a peer respite in Long Beach, California. People with serious mental illness are more likely to experience emotional distress in the pandemic than the general population, said Dr. Benjamin Druss, a psychiatrist and professor at Emory Universitys public health school, elaborating that they tend to have smaller social networks and more medical problems. That was the case with McDermott. I dont have a full-on relationship with my family. My friends are my family, she said. She yearned to give them a hug, see their smile or stand close and take a selfie. The next best thing was Second Story, located in a pewter-gray split-level, five-bedroom house in Aptos, a quaint beach community near McDermotts Santa Cruz home. Peer respites offer people in distress short-term (usually up to two weeks), round-the-clock emotional support from peerspeople who have experienced mental health conditions and are trained and often certified by states to support others with similar issuesand activities such as arts, meditation, and support groups. You cant tell whos the guest and whos the staff. We dont wear uniforms or badges, said Angelica Garcia-Guerrero, associate director of Hacienda of Hopes parent organization. Peer respites are free for guests but rarely covered by insurance. States and counties typically pick up the tab. Hacienda of Hopes $900,000 annual operating costs are covered by Los Angeles County through the Mental Health Services Act, a policy that directs proceeds from a statewide tax on people who earn more than $1 million annually to behavioral health programs. In September, California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill that would establish a statewide certification process for mental health peer providers by July 2022. For now, however, peer respite staff members in California are not licensed or certified. Peer respites typically dont offer clinical care or dispense psychiatric drugs, though guests can bring theirs. Peers share personal stories with guests but avoid labeling them with diagnoses. Guests must comeand can leavevoluntarily. Some respites have few restrictions on who can stay; others dont allow guests who express suicidal thoughts or are homeless. Peer respite is one of several types of programs that divert people facing behavioral health crises from the hospital, but is the only one without clinical involvement, said Travis Atkinson, a consultant at TBD Solutions, a behavioral health care company. The first peer respites arose around 2000, said Laysha Ostrow, CEO of Live & Learn, which conducts behavioral health research. The approach seems to be expanding. Live & Learn counts 33 peer respites today in the U.S., up from 19 six years ago. All are overseen and staffed by people with histories of psychiatric disorders. About a dozen other programs employ a mix of peers and laypersons who dont have psychiatric diagnoses, or arent peer-led, Atkinson said. Though she had stayed at Second Story several times over the past five years, McDermott hesitated to return during the pandemic. However, she felt reassured after learning that guests were required to wear a mask in common areas and get a covid test before their stay. To ensure physical distancing, the respite reduced capacity from six to five guests at a time. During her two-week stay, McDermott played with the respites two cats and pianoactivities she found therapeutic. But most helpful was talking to peers in a way she couldnt with her mental health providers, she said. In the past, McDermott said, she had been involuntarily admitted to a psychiatric hospital after she expressed suicidal thoughts. When she shared similar sentiments with Second Story peers, they offered to talk, or call the hospital if she wanted. They were willing to listen, she said. But theyre not forceful about helping. By the end of the visit, McDermott said that she felt understood and her loneliness and suicidal feelings had waned. She started eating and taking her medications more consistently, she said. The small number of studies on respites have found that guests had fewer hospitalizations and accounted for lower Medicaid spending for nearly a year after a respite stay than people with similar conditions who didnt stay in a respite. Respite visitors spent less time in the hospital and emergency room the longer they had stayed in the respite. Financial struggles and opposition from neighbors have hindered the growth of respites, however. Live & Learn said that although five peer respites have been created since 2018, at least two others closed because of budget cuts. Neighbors have challenged nearby respite placements in a few instances. Santa Cruz-area media outlets reported in 2019 that Second Story neighbors had voiced safety concerns with the respite. Neighbor Tony Crane told California Healthline that guests have used drugs and consumed alcohol in the neighborhood, and he worried that peers are not licensed or certified to support people in crisis. He felt it was too risky to let his children ride their bikes near the respite when they were younger. In a written response, Monica Martinez, whose organization runs Second Story, said neighbors often target community mental health programs because of concerns that come from misconceptions and stigma surrounding those seeking mental health support. Many respites are struggling with increased demand and decreased availability during the pandemic. Sherry Jenkins Tucker, executive director of Georgia Mental Health Consumer Network, said its four respites have had to reduce capacity to enable physical distancing, despite increased demand for services. Other respites have temporarily suspended stays because of the pandemic. McDermott said her mental health had improved since staying at Second Story in June, but she still struggles with isolation amid the pandemic. Holidays are hard for me, said McDermott, who returned to Second Story in November. I really wanted to be able to have Thanksgiving with people. Sarah Kwon is an independent journalist. Kaiser Health News is a national health policy news service. It is an editorially independent program of the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, which isnt affiliated with Kaiser Permanente. DETROIT A man who has served nearly 50 years for a murder committed when he was a teenager is on a path to eventual release. The Michigan Court of Appeals on Thursday handed down a major victory for 66-year-old David Bennett when it ruled that a Wayne County judge violated his rights when citing mental health as a reason to keep him in prison without parole, The Associated Press reports. The court ruled that Bennett must be sentenced to a number of years, which will likely lead to a speedy release based on years served and credits for good behavior, the wire service reports. Now a productive, stable and peaceful adult, Bennett has even saved more than $40,000 through various jobs, the court said. At 17 years old, Bennett was automatically sentenced to life imprisonment without parole in 1972 for the fatal stabbing of Vivian Berry, the report said. He is among hundreds of convicted teens in Michigan whose cases became eligible for new hearings after a U.S. Supreme Court decision that requires minors to be treated differently than adults at sentencing; judges now must consider the crime and the offenders background. Evidence presented to the appeals court established that Bennett was severely physically and emotionally abused by his parents, which deeply scared the young mans already fragile psyche, the court said. Psychologists testified that untreated mental illness and a rage state were behind the crime, not sadistic depravity. The Wayne County Prosecutors Office was seeking a second no-parole sentence when Judge Dalton Roberson ruled that Bennett should stay behind bars because he might have problems living on his own due to mental health, The AP reports. Prosecutors have not said if they will appeal this weeks at the Michigan Supreme Court, the report said. READ MORE: Judge upholds Michigans shortest and harshest term limits for politicians Criminal charges under review after Confederate statue tarred and feathered, painted with clown makeup Bars, restaurants will have 10 p.m. curfew when indoor dining reopens Feb. 1 6% of Michigan adults vaccinated against COVID-19 so far; see numbers in your county Robert Kocharyan on years of his leadership in Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia Situation on Armenian-Azerbaijani border is still tense, more on COVID-19 in Armenia, May 28 digest "Armenia" alliance of political parties paying tribute to founder of First Republic Aram Manukyan (LIVE) Yerevan.today: Armenia acting PM not greeted at ruling party's headquarters, citizens call him 'capitulator' Russia MOD reports on maintenance of ceasefire regime in Nagorno-Karabakh Armenia acting MOD meets with Russian counterpart in Moscow Armenia 2nd President: I see possibility of restoring borders of Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast We can provide our army with some key, modernized weapons, says Armenia ex-President Kocharyan Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: Captives issue is not one that any opposition force can resolve OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs release statement on detention of 6 Armenian servicemen by Azerbaijan Armenian acting Deputy PM: Discussion on issues possible only after withdrawal of Azeri troops from Armenia's territory Armenia acting PM on Syunik roads, Russian military posts: This is only place where there are working nuances Armenia acting PM: Process of return of POWs will intensify after upcoming elections Putin congratulates Aliyev on Republic Day 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 President Biden moved quickly to have the United States rejoin the global effort to slow a warming planet that is already bringing rising sea levels, devastating wildfires, record storms, serious crop damage and species extinctions. One of his first executive actions was notification to the United Nations that the U.S. would be recommitting to the landmark 2015 Paris Agreement in which nearly 200 countries have agreed to limit the fossil-fuel pollution that is accelerating climate change. Former President Donald Trump had officially withdrawn the U.S. from a pact he had called a job killer, a drain on American competitiveness and a giant transfer of American wealth to foreign nations that are responsible for most of the worlds pollution. But in the campaign and now in his executive actions, Biden showed he recognized that the effects of global warming posed a serious threat not only to the American economy but to national security. The overarching goal of the Paris accord is to contain temperature rise to to less than 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels by the end of the century. Each of the co-signing countries is required to submit a nonbinding plan to limit fossil fuel pollution, a major contributor to greenhouse gases. The presence of the United States in that global effort is critical because of its historic record as the largest contributor to greenhouse gases and potential to encourage other nations to move toward a carbon-free future. The 2015 agreement signed by President Barack Obama included contributions to a Green Climate Fund to allow poorer nations to shift to renewable energy. Biden has proposed going even further than Obama in reducing this nations reliance on fossil fuels: eliminating carbon emissions from electric power production by 2035 and from the overall economy by 2050. While the return to the Paris Agreement is an important signal to the world, it will take an array of executive actions and legislation from Congress to achieve the Biden administrations ambitious goals. He took one specific step on his first day in office by halting the construction permit for the Keystone XL pipeline, which would transfer Canadian tar sands crude, among the planets dirtiest fossil fuels, to refineries on the Gulf Coast of Texas. Under Trump, the U.S. government had been going in the wrong direction, easing regulations on emissions from automobiles, power plants and oil wells drawing a flurry of lawsuits from California Attorney General Xavier Becerra defending the states determination to set the standard for a cleaner economy. It wont be easy for Biden to get his climate objectives through a narrowly divided Congress. Some Republicans immediately signed their objections to the recommitment to the Paris Agreement. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, sneered on Twitter that Biden was more interested in the views of the citizens of Paris than in the jobs of the citizens of Pittsburgh. But the recent history of catastrophic storms along the Gulf Coast is a reminder that Texas is hardly exempt from the effects of climate change. The previous decade was the warmest on record for Planet Earth. The world just lost four years of robust American support for its existential challenge. Biden has wisely sent the message that the United States is back on the case. 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. The family of a young man killed in a shootout with Birmingham police this week said he hadnt been himself for a month and they believe Wednesdays ordeal didnt have to end in his death. They didnt have to gun my son down like,' said Carolyn Berry, the mother of 21-year-old Eusi Malik Kater Jr. He didnt have any bullets in his gun. He was surrendering. The ordeal began about 2:15 p.m. Wednesday when South Precinct officers responded to the area of the 100 block of 5th Avenue South West 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 South West and took a tactical position on the porch. A 1033 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. Katers sister, 24-year-old Malika Kater, said her brother called her Wednesday afternoon to come pick him up. He said, Lika, Ive been in a shootout, come get me,' she said. As Malika Kater headed to the west side, she got behind police officers heading to the scene. I just knew it was my brother,' she said. 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. Eusi Malik Kater Jr., pictured here with his sister Malika, was killed Jan. 20, 2021 in a shootout with Birmingham police. Malika said her brother had settled down after his prison release. He was very calm,' she said. At some point, however, he fell in with the wrong people and the family believes he was given laced drugs on Christmas Eve. He hasnt been himself since then,' she said. She said had been acting irrational and the family had sought help previously from the police and UAB Hospital. We were trying to get him help but they said they couldnt do anything because he hadnt done anything. I had called police several times because my son wasnt himself. It kinda like drove him crazy,' Berry said. They said he was grown and they couldnt do anything about it. Katers mother said she witnessed the entire situation. I was there through the whole deal,' she said. Her son, she said, got into a shooting with people in a parking lot near their home. Thats when he shot out all of his bullets,' Berry said. Me and my mom, his grandmom, tried to talk him into giving up the gun but he said he was straight and waiting on his sister. She said then someone started chasing him, police arrived on the scene and a standoff was underway. Berry said she believes more than 100 hundred shots were fired at her son. I was terrified. I knew they were fixing to kill my son,' she said. Berry asked if she could try to talk with him. I was saying was better for him, not being in his right mind, to see a familiar face but they wouldnt let me talk to my son. I was talking to an officer and I heard over the loudspeaker that he was coming out with his hands up,' she said. The next thing I knew, they fired over 20 more shots. Paramedics who had been staging nearby were brought in and Kater was taken to the hospital. Berry and Malika Kater said they learned from the news that Kater had died. Everybodys just hurt right now, Malika Kater said. Berry said she hasnt heard from any law enforcement since she was the scene Wednesday. The family, she said, wants answers. My son was not no danger to society. He just ended up getting lost,' she said. Everybody wants to judge him by his past and yes he went to prison for stealing cars or breaking into empty cars. He never had a weapon. He was no menace to society. He was not no killer. He was not on a suicide mission,' Berry said. He just ended up getting a hold of something that messed him up. They are trained to deal with people who are not in their right mind. This was uncalled for. " WASHINGTON President Biden on Friday telephoned the chief of the National Guard Bureau to express dismay after troops deployed to protect his inauguration were ordered a day earlier to rest in an unheated garage after being booted from the Capitol, administration officials said. Photographs of dozens of guard members resting in parking spaces created a public relations debacle in the first days of Mr. Bidens term, with some governors demanding that troops from their states be sent home. In a telephone call with General Daniel R. Hokanson, the chief of the National Guard Bureau, Mr. Biden asked what he could do about the situation, the officials said. The two men also talked about Mr. Bidens personal connection to the Guard; Mr. Bidens son, Beau, who died of brain cancer in 2015, served as a Major in the Delaware Army National Guard. Officials said that the White House might also arrange a call with state officials to thank them for their states contributions to the deployment of more than 25,000 National Guard personnel to the nations capital to provide security ahead of and during the inauguration on Wednesday. Friday, January 22, 2021 From The Hill: President-elect Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris on Tuesday announced the formation of a White House Gender Policy Council, an effort they said will be aimed at advancing the country toward gender equality as their administration works to build the nation back better. The Biden-Harris transition team said in the announcement that the council will be co-chaired by Jennifer Klein, chief strategy and policy officer at TIMES UP, and Julissa Reynoso, the incoming assistant to the president and chief of staff to Dr. Jill Biden who also previously served as the U.S. ambassador to Uruguay under former President Obama. The transition team said the council will help guide and coordinate government policy that impacts women and girls across a variety of issues, including racial justice and economic security, and work in cooperation with other White House policy councils. Read more here. https://lawprofessors.typepad.com/family_law/2021/01/biden-harris-announce-formation-of-white-house-gender-policy-council.html Przepraszamy! Ogoszenie na stanowisku: Test Automation Engineer for Cross Technology Capabilities wygaso z dniem 2021-02-20 Ta propozycja bya zozona przez Nordea Bank Abp SA Oddzia w Polsce Mozliwe przyczyny wygasniecia ogoszenia to: oferta zamieszczona przez pracodawce zostaa usunieta z serwisu praca.egospodarka.pl firma zakonczya proces rekrutacji uzyskujac odpowiednia ilosc zgoszen firma zmodyfikowaa tresc zlecenia i jest ono dostepne pod innym adresem url dostawca tresci usuna ogoszenie z bazy danych nieprawidowy adres WWW ogoszenia Jezeli poszukujesz pracy w branzy Informatyka / Telekomunikacja, zajrzyj tutaj: Praca Informatyka / Telekomunikacja Jezeli poszukujesz pracy na stanowisku Test Automation Engineer for Cross Technology Capabilities, zajrzyj tutaj: Praca Test Automation Engineer for Cross Technology Capabilities Jezeli poszukujesz pracy w miescie: Gdansk, zajrzyj tutaj: Praca Gdansk Pamietaj, ze mozesz takze rozpoczac poszukiwanie pracy od strony gownej, kliknij tutaj. Inne propozycje, ktore mogy byc w kregu Twoich zainteresowan: (@ChaudhryMAli88) MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 22nd January, 2021) Albania has declared a Russian diplomat persona non grata over violation of anti-coronavirus measures, he must leave the country within 72 hours, the country's foreign ministry said in a statement. The ministry said it had contacted Russian Ambassador to Tirana Mikhail Afanasyev expressing concern about the continuing violations of measures to combat COVID-19 by the diplomat of the Russian embassy. "Unfortunately, contrary to promises, the diplomat continued to violate the measures taken. ... With regret, the Albanian government decided to declare diplomat Aleksey Krivosheyev persona non grata with the obligation to leave the country within 72 hours from the moment of official notification," the statement says. At the same time, Tirana expressed hope that this decision would be perceived by Moscow as a compulsory measure to protect health, and also assured the Russian side of friendly feelings and readiness for constant improvement of relations between the countries. 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. For many years Pat (1936-1996) was apparently a cheerful collaborator in Dicks antics. When she eventually extricated herself from his shadow and began to attract attention for her own projects, the works were no less sexually explicit. Dick portrayed Pat in fishnets and garter belts, dressed as a nurse, a French maid or a schoolgirl, with legs akimbo or bottom thrust toward the viewer. In her own works, as seen in Pat Larter: Get Arted, at the Art Gallery of NSW, she was just as happy to bare it all for the camera. Its not unusual for an artist to take his wife as muse and model. Edward Hoppers spouse, Jo, appears in numerous paintings. Bonnard is famous for his portraits of Marthe, who never seemed to age. But I cant think of an artist any time, anywhere, who could rival Richard Larter for the sheer quantity of images of his wife. Neither has there ever been a wife willing to adopt so many lewd, erotic and downright kinky poses. Encountering Pat Larter for the first time, people often said: Im sure Ive met you before somewhere. Most probably it was in one of the many versions of Pat painted by her husband, Richard Larter. Once seen, these pictures were hard to forget. The weak, sensitive woman oppressed by her brutal perv of a husband is a dramatic stereotype but this did not apply to Pat and Dick. The Larters were pervs together who would descend on Sydney from their home in Yass and make an enthusiastic sweep of the porno shops, seeking rare gems to add to their magazine collection. Pat Larter in a still from 'Armpats', 1979, from the Pat Larter archive. Credit:Silvia Jansons/AGNSW And yet, for all their kinkiness, there is something strangely innocent about the sexuality that percolates through Dick and Pats work. Its a vision rooted (if youll pardon the expression) in the page three girls of the English tabloids, the double entendres of Carry On movies, vintage soft-core photos, Soho strip clubs, and an abiding belief that sexual liberation was also a way of liberating the mind and the soul. Nowadays, when all forms of dark and deviant behaviour have colonised the internet, the Larters lewdness seems quaint and old-fashioned more like slapstick comedy than pornography. Dick and Pat were products of a post-war world that was just beginning to enjoy a taste of freedom in the years leading up to the 1960s. Both were natives of Essex: Dick was born in Hornchurch in 1929, Pat in Leytonstone in 1936. They met while working in the same London insurance office and would marry when Pat was only 16. By the time they migrated to Australia in 1962, they already had three children. Two more were to follow. At no stage did the Larters see any contradiction between their roles as Mum and Dad, and the perpetual sexual pantomime of their art, which was interrupted only by suites of hyper-decorative abstract paintings. In the language of the 60s, they 'did their own thing'. They were non-conformists who played by their own set of rules, but largely in a spirit of fun. Bestselling Author and Pastor, Mark Driscoll, Teams Up with Daughter, Real Faith Ministries Director, Ashley Chase, to Release New Book About How to 'Pray Like Jesus' NEWS PROVIDED BY Charisma House Jan. 22, 2021 ORLANDO, Fla., Jan. 22, 2021 /Standard Newswire/ -- As a young father, bestselling author and pastor, Mark Driscoll, remembers reading Bible stories and teaching his first-born daughter, Ashley, how to pray the way God's children talk to their dad. Today, at a time when Americans may feel isolated, anxious, or disconnected, Driscoll and daughter, Real Faith Ministries Director, Ashley Chase, believe prayer can be a powerful, life-changing vehicle for help. But all too often, especially during uncertain times, prayer does not come easy. There are many books on prayer and about Jesus, but there are very few on Jesus' prayer life. His was the perfect prayer life and a model for how to pray. So, why, how, and where did Jesus pray? Driscoll and Chase answer these questions and invite readers to experience the presence of God through an ever-deepening, life-giving, burden-relieving, and hope-lifting relationship with Jesus Christ in their new book, "Pray Like Jesus: Learn to Pray to God as Father" (https://driscollbooks.com/) ISBN-13: 978-1-62999-926-5, available this week, in partnership with Charisma House Publishing. Watch a message from Driscoll and Chase here (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zAeYnLRc0sI). "Whether you find yourself relating more to one or the other of us, our prayer is that by the end of this book, you'll discover that you'll have a new perspective of your relationship with God," Driscoll says. "Once you know who your Dad is, it's a lot easier to talk to Him." Many people seeking God statistically value prayer and try to have a richer prayer life. However, most people struggle to build any momentum in their prayer lives when they fall into a rut or do not understand how easy it is. In "Pray Like Jesus" (https://driscollbooks.com/), the father/daughter duo looks at Jesus' teachings about prayer and how he modeled talking to God. The discussion is biblical, practical, and easy to read. "It is an honor to be able to share stories of how God has used prayer to grow my faith and mold me as a believer. I love that prayer requires us to be dependent on God, much like a child who is helpless without a parent," says Chase. "God loves to bless His children, and since He is the only one who truly knows and can fill our needs, who better to go to in this often-tumultuous life?" Driscoll and Chase's book teaches how to pray more earnestly, more joyously, more humbly, more frequently, more naturally, and more fruitfully. It will help readers understand how to make prayer a central part of life and direct each day. The book includes a sermon series for churches, ministries, and small groups, daily devotionals, a small-group study guide with discussion questions, and suggested prayer activities. "Pray Like Jesus: Learn to Pray to God as Father" (https://driscollbooks.com/) is released by Charisma House, which publishes books that challenge, encourage, teach, and equip Christians. For additional information, including a free sample chapter of "Pray Like Jesus," visit https://driscollbooks.com/. Stay in touch with Mark and Ashley: Facebook: @PastorMark Twitter: @PastorMark YouTube: @MarkDriscoll Website: realfaith.com Mark Driscoll is a Jesus- following, mission-leading, church-serving, people-loving, Bible-preaching pastor, and the author of many books, including "Real Marriage" and "Who Do You Think You Are?" He is the pastor of The Trinity Church in Scottsdale, Arizona. With a skillful mix of bold presentation, accessible teaching, and unrelenting compassion for those who are hurting the most, Pastor Mark has taken biblical Christianity into cultural corners rarely explored by Evangelicals. He and his wife and ministry partner, Grace, have three sons and two daughters. Ashley Chase is the Driscolls' oldest of five children. She studied theology at Capenwray Bible College in Costa Rica, is a graduate with honors from the master's program at the Barrett Honors College, was recently married, and is a gifted Bible teacher who speaks and writes fluently in English and Spanish. She is the Missions Director at The Trinity Church, Ministry Director for Real Faith, and was a campus leader for the prayer tent that prayed day and night for an entire school year at Arizona State University, one of the largest universities in America. Title: Pray Like Jesus: Learn to Pray to God as Father | Release Date: January 19, 2021 | US Retail: $17.99 | ISBN-13: 978-1-62999-926-5 | E-Book ISBN: 978-1-62999-927-2 | Audio Download: 978-1-62999-928-9 | Binding: Trade Paper | Size: 6" x 9" | Page Count: 240 | BISAC Category: RELIGION/Christian Living/Prayer RELIGION/Christian Living/Spiritual Growth RELIGION/Christian Living To interview Mark Driscoll or Ashley Chase, or for a review copy of "Pray Like Jesus: Learn to Pray to God as Father," contact lklosterman@tkomarketing.net or chelsey@tkomarketing.net. SOURCE Charisma House CONTACT: Linda Klosterman, lklosterman@tkomarketing.net; Chelsey Dickson, chelsey@tkomarketing.net; both with TKO Publicity President Joe Biden lost in two presidential races before winning his third. He ran as a Delaware Senator in 1988, only to drop out after just three months because of plagiarism allegations when he quoted U.K. politician Neil Kinnock without attribution, dredging up other instances when Biden misattributed speech. He left the 2008 race after soundly losing the Iowa Caucus to Barack Obama, for whom he became Vice President. Then in 2020, after a shaky early campaign, Biden did it. As MSNBC host Chris Hayes tweeted, Bidens story can be read as a reminder never to give up on your dreamseven when they come with public embarrassment and take decades. Many of us have milestones that took us longer than we planned, whether earning a degree, learning how to swim, or winning a Super Bowl. So the Inquirers Opinion team wants to hear from you: Whats something that took you a while to achieve, or an area of your life where you were a late bloomer? Let us know in no more than 150 words in the Google form below, and/or feel free to reach out with thoughts at opinion@inquirer.com. Well publish select responses in print and online in the days ahead. Joe Biden was sworn in as the 46th president of the United States on Wednesday. This weeks transfer of power presents followers of Turkish-American relations with a crucial question: Under Bidens watch, what lies ahead for bilateral relations, Daily Sabah writes in the article Turkey and the United States: So-called strategic partners? One of the challenges was Washingtons 1974 decision to sanction Turkey in light of Ankaras military intervention in Cyprus. However, in the past problems tended to be swept under the rug due to the significant disparity in power between Turkey and the U.S., Ankara's willingness to kowtow to American interests and Turkey's aspirations to join the Western bloc. For these reasons, the Turkish-American relationship can be described as more of a "strategic partnership," notwithstanding certain issues. To be clear, the strategic partnership was formed to achieve a shared destiny but was a relationship in which Turkey heavily depended on the United States. In contrast, unlike past challenges, the bilateral tensions dating back to the Obama administrations have persisted and cropped up throughout Trump's term in office. The Cold War, which severely limited Turkeys policy options, ended three decades ago. The unipolar world order, which the United States attempted to forge, collapsed over the last 10 years. As the world heads toward a multipolar system, Turkey now pursues an independent foreign policy in a bid to take advantage of fresh opportunities. However, what the United States wants from Turkey as a partner is for it to be as dependent as it was in the Cold War, or for it to assume the role of an ally that will not threaten its interests, as in the 2000s. This fundamental disagreement is the root of all tensions in the Turkey-U.S. accord. All other reasons, whether it be Turkey's ties with Russia, the S-400 air defense system or the F-35 fighter jets, are superfluous. The nations are also at odds over Turkey's fight against the PKK terrorist organization and its offshoot the YPG in Iraq and Syria. If all of these challenges are to be overcome, the two countries must first agree on the nature of their relationship. So how will it work? The United States must come to terms with the fact that the world is multipolar but must also accept that Turkey has the social, economic, political and military capacity to make its own independent policy decisions. Washington must reconcile the fact that Turkey, like the United States, pursues a grand strategy. Ankara's grand strategy is centered around protecting its interests, and those of its friends and allies, in the Middle East, the Caucasus, North Africa, the Eastern Mediterranean and the Balkans. If necessary, the Turks are willing to resort to more aggressive tactics to accomplish their goals but more on that later. In order for the bilateral relationship to progress under the Biden administration from the current toxic state it is in, Turkey and the United States must take stock of their game plans and come up with a joint strategy in which their interests do not clash. But initial signals from Washington suggest that the Americans have yet to understand Turkey's new position in the global arena. Most recently, Antony Blinken, Bidens nominee for secretary of state, referred to Turkey as its so-called strategic partner and stressed that it was unacceptable for Turkey and Russia to be on the same page. Turkey and Russia have been cooperating on strategic issues, such as air defense and nuclear power. But the two countries have also disagreed on several fronts including Libya, Idlib and Nagorno-Karabakh. Despite their differences, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin have adopted a strategic approach that facilitates closer cooperation in areas of consensus. In this respect, Ankara's relationship with Moscow is not just an alliance but a partnership of equals to achieve goals of mutual interest. The current state of the Turkish-Russian accord could act as a template for the Biden administration on how to engage with the Turks today. It's the golden age of the internet, and Sen. Bernie Sanders is the star du jour. While Vice President Kamala Harris and first ladies Jill Biden and Michelle Obama were praised on inauguration day for their stylish monochromatic looks, the world had its eye on another fashionista. The manager of a shelter home for women was arrested on Thursday in Chhattisgarh's Bilaspur district for allegedly raping one of its inmates, police said. The development took place two days after the 19- year-old victim along with two other women, who were recently shifted out of the shelter home, accused its staff of indulging in sexual and physical abuse against the inmates. "The statements of the three women were recorded before a magistrate under section 164 of the CrPC on Thursday, during which one of them stated that she was raped by shelter manager Jitendra Maurya," Bilaspur Superintendent of Police Prashant Agrawal said. Another woman alleged that she was physically assaulted by the shelter staff, he said. Based on the statement, Maurya was arrested and further investigation into the matter is underway, he added. Ujjwala Home Bilaspur, operated by NGO Shri Shivmangal Shikshan Samiti since 2014, landed in controversy on January 17 when a 20-year-old woman was allegedly denied to leave the shelter even as her husband had reached the place to take her back home. "The 20-year-old woman had been shifted to the shelter home on January 16 when she was found wandering nearby. She said she had left her home after a fight with her husband", another police official had 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. The man then forcibly took his wife and reached Sarkanda police station, where they lodged a case of wrongful confinement, voluntarily causing hurt and obscene acts against the shelter home staff. Shelter home manager Maurya also lodged a case against the woman's family on charges of house trespass and obscene acts, he said. Meanwhile, two other women had also reached the police station alleging physical and mental abuse of inmates at the shelter home and they were also made complainants in the case, he said. On Tuesday, the three women had approached the media stating that one of them was sexually assaulted by Maurya and other inmates were physically tortured by the shelter staff, following which they were called up for recording their statement before the magistrate on Thursday. The woman who has claimed that she was raped by Maurya, is a victim in an another gang-rape case. After their statements, section 376 (rape) and 354 (molestation) of the IPC were included in the case already registered against Maurya and shelter home staff on January 17, the SP said, adding that further investigation into the case is underway. Maurya, however, had denied the charges. Another government official said the shelter home has been shut and seven other inmates have been shifted to their homes and other government facilities. Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili, who is on a two-day visit to Brussels, has met with President of the European Council Charles Michel. Zurabishvili has thanked the President of the European Council for the EUs support to Georgia since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic noting that Georgia now seeks that same solidarity to access the vaccines. "We continue to stand by Georgia in its efforts to overcome #COVID19 pandemic and its consequences and to deepen reforms. Lets further strengthen our partnership. EUs support to Georgias territorial integrity is unwavering," Michel wrote on Twitter. "The support weve received from the EU since the beginning of COVID proves that solidarity is the best way out of this global challenge. We seek that same solidarity now that the world has access to vaccines," Zurabishvili wrote on her Twitter page after the meeting. Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain Belgium will ban non-essential trips in and out of the country from Wednesday in a bid to curb the spread of highly contagious coronavirus variants, Prime Minister Alexander De Croo said. The prohibition will run to March 1 and apply to land, sea and air travel but will not affect cross-border workers or those with overriding health or family reasons. "We are not going to build a wall around Belgium. We can go to other countries but only for essential reasons," De Croo told a media conference on Friday. The announcement comes a day after a European Union summit by videoconference during which leaders decided against barring travel across the EU's internal borders. They instead "strongly discouraged" nonessential intra-EU trips, and warned they might toughen that line in days ahead if the worrying virus variants took hold. The EU wants to avoid a repeat of the height of the pandemic's first wave in March last year when several member states panicked and closed off national borders unilaterally, triggering travel and economic chaos. Travel into the EU is already severely restricted. The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control has warned there is a "very high" probability of the more contagious variants spreading in the bloc. These mutationswhich emerged in Britain, South Africa and Brazilhave already prompted bans or restrictions on travellers from those countries. Deadly British variant For most of the EU, the variants are currently a tiny number of overall cases, but the British variant has spread quickly in Ireland and Portugal. The latter country is in the EU's passport-free Schengen area. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Friday that new medical information on the variant dominating in his country showed it may be 30 percent more deadly than the strains on the continent. The EU has blocked all but freight or voyagers on essential trips from entering the bloc from Britain, a former member outside of the bloc's freedom of movement rules. Belgiuma country of 11.5 million wedged between Germany, France and the Netherlandsis particularly worried it could be vulnerable to cross-border infections, especially during a February vacation period. It has registered one of the highest death rates in the world during the pandemic, but restrictions closing bars and restaurants since October along with a nighttime curfew have brought infection and hospital cases down in the past two months. "The situation has stabilised these past weeks," De Croo said, but "that doesn't mean the danger has disappeared". Already, Belgian citizens and residents returning to the country have to have a COVID-19 test on arrival, self-isolate for a week and then take another test. Others arriving also need to show a negative COVID-19 test before taking a flight to Belgium. Belgian Health Minister Frank Vandenbroucke said that a person testing positive for COVID-19 would now have to quarantine for 10 days instead of seven as previously "because the new (British) variant is more contagious, for longer". De Croo said he was aware that "a lot of people are frankly fed-up" with the restrictions, but he urged compliance so that "the light at the end of the tunnel" could be reached. Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak 2021 AFP Egypt is expecting new batches of Covid-19 vaccine, Sinopharm from China and Oxford/AstraZeneca, to arrive by the end of this month. As soon as the batches arrive, the ministry will start calling on the public to take the vaccine which will be available free of charge. Ministry of Health and Population Spokesman Khaled Megahed said the vaccine will be available at the ministrys hospitals and medical centres throughout the governorates. As soon as the vaccine reaches the country, the ministry will activate the website on which the public can log on and register their names to take the vaccine. The ministry will start giving the public the vaccine on 1 February, Megahed said. Egypt had approved the emergency use of the Sinopharm vaccine earlier this month. The first batch of vaccines, which arrived in December, was tested by the Egyptian Drug Authority (EDA) to ensure its safety for use, Health Minister Hala Zayed had announced at the time. The first batch of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine should also be arriving soon. Zayed said last week that the registration of the vaccine by the EDA is around the corner. Once the EDA approval is clinched, Egypt will sign the deal for the import of the AstraZeneca vaccine. Meanwhile, Egypt, in collaboration with Russia, is getting ready to produce the Russian Sputnik V vaccine in Egypt. Mohamed Hassani, assistant to the minister of health for initiatives and member of the ministrys Scientific Committee to Combat Covid-19, told Al-Ahram Weekly Egypt will be manufacturing the vaccine to cover the needs of Africa and the Middle East region. Hassani said that the health minister, speaking during a videoconference meeting of the Bureau of the Assembly of African Union Heads of State and Government and heads of regional economic assemblies which took place on 14 January, announced that Egypt had joined the Covid-19 African Vaccine Acquisition Task Team (AVATT). The AVATT initiative will speed up the African contribution in the vaccines clinical development, and will overcome all the financial challenges to provide vaccines to eligible groups as well as help Egypts capabilities to manufacture and distribute the vaccine among African citizens, Hassani said, adding that the Russian vaccine is the cheapest at less than $10 per dose. According to Hassani, the Russian vaccine will be manufactured in Egypt and Algeria to fulfil the needs of all African countries. Russia is ready to transfer technology to produce this vaccine in Egypt which has an adequate production base, said a statement by the Russian Embassy in Egypt, adding that this will allow for the widest possible vaccination campaign. According to Hassani, the Russian clinical research file is currently being examined by the Health Ministrys research committee in order to conduct the clinical studies on it in Egypt. This is not the first time Egypt participates in clinical studies on Covid-19 vaccines. It has conducted clinical trials in cooperation with the Chinese government and the UAE G42 Healthcare Company on the Chinese Sinopharm vaccine in its third phase in September last year with 3,000 volunteers. Although Hassani did not specify when the trials were performed, he said clinical trials were one of the factors that allowed the ministrys scientific committee to approve the production of the vaccine in Egypt. The statement by the Russian Embassy said the results of clinical trials and the experience of implementing comprehensive vaccinations against the novel coronavirus in Russia and other countries have proven that Sputnik V is one of the three most effective vaccines produced in the world so far, more than 90 per cent effective. The statement stressed that, unlike other vaccines, it does not require expensive special equipment for deep freeze and can be stored and moved in a 2+ to 8+ degree heat bike, which allows delivery to remote areas. According to a September 2020 announcement on the Sputnik V website, the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), Russias sovereign wealth fund, and Pharco, one of the leading pharmaceutical groups in Egypt, acting through its key operational subsidiary Biogeneric Pharma, have agreed to secure the supply of 25 million doses of the Sputnik V vaccine for Egypt. Egypt officially entered the second wave of the pandemic after cases rose steadily throughout November and December. By Monday, the countrys total infection tally had reached 157,275, while the death toll hit 8,638. Government officials have been urging the public to abide by precautionary measures taken against the virus, and the cabinet has called on authorities to strictly enforce fines stipulated for violations on people who do not wear face masks in public transportation, indoor public places and government establishments. People who do not wear facemasks are fined LE50 on the spot, whereas public places especially restaurants and cafes which surpass 50 per cent capacity pay an immediate fine of LE4,000. *A version of this article appears in print in the 21 January, 2021 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly. Short link: CHICAGO, Jan. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, McDonald's Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $1.29 per share of common stock payable on March 15, 2021 to shareholders of record at the close of business on March 1, 2021. Upcoming Communications For important news and information regarding McDonald's, including the timing of future investor conferences and earnings calls, visit the Investor Relations section of the Company's Internet home page at www.investor.mcdonalds.com. McDonald's uses this website as a primary channel for disclosing key information to its investors, some of which may contain material and previously non-public information. About McDonald's McDonald's is the world's leading global foodservice retailer with over 39,000 locations in over 100 countries. Approximately 93% of McDonald's restaurants worldwide are owned and operated by independent local business owners. Forward-Looking Statements This release contains certain forward-looking statements, which reflect management's expectations regarding future events and operating performance and speak only as of the date hereof. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from our expectations are detailed in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, such as its annual and quarterly reports and current reports on Form 8-K. The Company undertakes no obligation to update such forward-looking statements, except as may otherwise be required by law. SOURCE McDonald's Corporation Related Links http://www.mcdonalds.com The Serum Institute of India's (SII) consignment of COVID-19 vaccine 'Covishield' to be dispatched to Myanmar, Seychelles and Mauritius has arrived at Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in the early hours of Friday. The flight for Myanmar is scheduled to take off at 6:40 am from Mumbai while the vaccine consignment for Mauritius and Seychelles will be sent via one flight expected to depart at 11 am. According to sources, a consignment containing 1.5 million doses of Covishield vaccine will reach Yangon, Myanmar on January 22. A consignment of 50,000 doses of Covishield vaccine is scheduled to reach Seychelles as part of India's vaccine donation program. Seychelles is only among the four Indian Ocean countries to receive the Covishield vaccine, manufactured by the SII. "The donation of the vaccines under the VaccineMaitri demonstrates India's role as a reliable partner of Seychelles and net security provider in the Indian Ocean Region. This is also reflective of India's special relations with Seychelles and the central place enjoyed by Seychelles in Prime Minister Modi's vision of SAGAR: "Security and Growth for All in the Region"," the source said. Seychelles has around 1 lakh inhabitants and the 50,000 doses of Covishield will be able to cover nearly 25 per cent of the total Seychelles population, they added. Mauritius will receive a consignment of 100,000 doses of Covishield vaccine. "Mauritius has a population of less than 1.3 million inhabitants and is highly dependent on external trade and tourism and hospitality industry which has been severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The request for supply of Indian vaccines was made from the highest level in the Mauritius government," as per the sources. 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'. (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.) Cases have decreased over the past week but are still high. The number of hospitalized Covid patients has also fallen in the Belknap County area. Deaths have remained at about the same level. The test positivity rate in Belknap 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 Belknap 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 Belknap 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 4 cases per day were reported in Belknap County, a 51 percent decrease from the average two weeks ago. Since the beginning of the pandemic, at least 1 in 15 residents have been infected, a total of 4,096 reported cases . About the data In data for New Hampshire, The Times primarily relies on reports from the state. New Hampshire 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: March 11, 2021: The reported number of tests likely includes many older tests. The reported number of tests likely includes many older tests. Feb. 17, 2021: New Hampshire added a backlog of 421 cases from November, December and January. New Hampshire added a backlog of 421 cases from November, December and January. Jan. 2, 2021: New Hampshire reported data for two days after reporting no data on New Year's Day. New Hampshire reported data for two days after reporting no data on New Year's Day. Dec. 26, 2020: New Hampshire reported data for Dec. 25 and 26 after reporting no data on Christmas. New Hampshire reported data for Dec. 25 and 26 after reporting no data on Christmas. Nov. 27, 2020: New Hampshire reported data for Nov. 26 and Nov. 27 after reporting no data on Thanksgiving. New Hampshire reported data for Nov. 26 and Nov. 27 after reporting no data on Thanksgiving. Oct. 2, 2020: New Hampshire began reporting probable cases identified through antigen testing and also reported a backlog of 22 cases from one laboratory. The tallies on this page include cases and deaths that have been identified by public health officials as probable coronavirus patients through antigen testing. 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 Belknap County is at a high risk level for unvaccinated people because there was an average of 7 daily cases per 100,000 people reported in the past two weeks. The risk in Belknap 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: Sir Patrick Vallance today said it was too early too draw conclusions from Israel's vaccination drive after alarm that hospitalisations have not yet dropped. Israel is currently leading the global vaccination drive, with around 30 per cent of its citizens having had at least a single dose of a jab so far. However, infection and death rates, as well as the numbers of people in hospital, have shown little sign of falling. Latest figures show a further 7,027 tested positive for the virus on Thursday, with 64 new deaths from the disease. Out of 82,930 active cases, 1,918 are hospitalized. Last week, the hospitalisation figure was just over 1,000. Addressing the apparent failure of the jab regime in cutting infection rates, Israel's top coronavirus medic said on Wednesday that the Pfizer vaccine was less effective than expected. 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. 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. But Sir Patrick, the UK's chief scientific adviser, told the Downing Street press conference on Friday that the Israeli data was 'very preliminary'. Israel is currently leading the global vaccination drive, with around 30 per cent of its citizens having had at least a single dose of a jab so far Sir Patrick Vallance today said it was too early too draw conclusions from Israel's vaccination drive after alarm that hospitalisations have not yet dropped He said: 'In terms of the Israeli data, I think that was information from one of the organisations that organises health in Israel, I think there are four, and it was preliminary data that came out on the numbers. 'I think the Israeli health ministry has said they're not entirely sure those are the final data and they're expecting the effects to increase so I think it's very preliminary. 'These are preliminary information from a subset of people, they haven't followed people for long enough. 'We had a discussion with the Israeli advisers yesterday and they are expecting to get more information over the next few weeks. 'And I think we are going to have to monitor this very carefully, we're going to have to keep looking at data and understanding the performance of vaccines in the real world.' Dr Nachman Ash, one of the medics leading the Covid-19 response in Israel, had told local media Army Radio earlier this week: '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 Dr Ash's comment came 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. Dr Ash suggests the level of protection after the first dose is even lower than the 52 per cent claimed by Pfizer. Vaccine regulators in the UK have told MPs Pfizer's jab appeared to work so well after a single jab that they questioned whether the second was necessary at all. Dr Nachman Ash, Israel's top coronavirus medic, said on Wednesday that the Pfizer vaccine was less effective than expected On Friday, the UK's chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty defended the decision to delay offering a second vaccine jab, arguing it allowed for more people to be offered a level of immunity against Covid-19. He said it was still the plan to offer people two doses of the vaccine because the follow-up injection is understood to boost the length of time that someone is protected for against the virus. But the Government adviser argued that double the number of people would receive the 'great majority' of inoculation available against the deadly disease faster by following the strategy of extending the gap between doses from three weeks to 12. He made the comments after being challenged by a concerned member of the public at a Downing Street press conference about the decision to delay the follow-up jab. Prof Whitty said: 'We are absolutely clear that everybody needs two vaccinations. 'The first gives the great majority, as far as we can see, of the initial protection, but the second vaccine increases that, and probably makes it longer lasting as well. 'So, we are very much committed to two vaccinations. 'The reason for extending the course of the vaccination is primarily to double the number of people that can get vaccinated, and so it is a public health decision. 'By a process of relatively simple maths, you can think that if a vaccine is more than 50 per cent effective, if you double the number of people who are vaccinated over this very risky period when there is a lot of virus circulating, you are overall going to get some substantial benefit.' Prof Whitty, pressed on whether the delay could give the virus time to mutate and work against the protection afforded by the first jab, added the decision to delay the second vaccine doses was based on 'a balance of risk'. 'I think most people would agree that the risk that was identified was a relatively much smaller risk than the risk of not having people vaccinated, which essentially was the alternative,' he added. Israel started vaccinating on December 19 and had already given doses to 800,000 people before the turn of the year two weeks ago, meaning a large chunk of the 8.7million population should have a fairly high degree of protection by now. Israel hopes that the vaccine drive will start to show an effect by mid-February and hopes to vaccinate all its adults by the end of March - when PM Benjamin Netanyahu will face the voters in a snap election. Sorry! This content is not available in your region TDT | Manama The Daily Tribune www.newsofbahrain.com Bahrain is committed to serving all its citizens, no matter where they are, said His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, yesterday. The states effort is to serve all its citizens, HM the King said, adding the Kingdom remains committed to this pledge. HM King Hamad made it clear that the Kingdom will help its citizens with all support and care required wherever they are. HM, the King was holding a telephonic conversation with Bahraini bodybuilding champion Sami Al-Haddad. Al Haddad expressed utmost thanks to HM the King for the call, his noble directives, and great interest in releasing Bahraini fishermen. He also extended thanks to HM the King for the care accorded to all Bahraini citizens Al Haddad was among the three Bahrainis released by Qatar from captivity following strong interventions by Bahrain. Interior Ministry, as directed by the Cabinet chaired by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, took necessary measures to release Bahraini citizens detained by Qatar and facilitate their return to the Kingdom. 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. Morgan Funeral Home A West Virginia mom allegedly upset over her husbands recent absence fatally shot her five children and set their house on fire before turning the gun on herself, authorities said this week. The Greenbrier County Sheriffs Department on Thursday revealed 25-year-old Oreanna Antoinette Myers killed her three kids and two stepchildren on Dec. 8, then set their two-story house near Williamsburg, West Virginia, ablaze. Immediately after, Myers shot herself, authorities said. The children have been identified as Shaun Dawson Bumgarner, 7; Riley James Bumgarner, 6; Kian Myers, 4; Aarikyle Nova Myers, 3; and Haiken Jirachi Myers, 1. Our moral fabric finds it unconscionable that a mother could harm her own children or take their own life, Greenbrier County Sheriff Bruce Sloan said during a Thursday press conference, announcing that the six deaths were the result of a murder-suicide. Obviously, we cant determine why Oreanna Myers chose to end the life of her own children and her own life, but that is what we concluded occurred. Sloan added that after the grisly crime, investigators found a series of notes from Myers. The notes were discovered inside a plastic bag that was duct-taped to the passenger side mirror of the familys carwhich had recently been involved in an accident. Myers will and instructions on how to contact her husband and mother were also found in the bag. In one note titled, My Confession, Myers said she shot all the boys in the head and set the house on fire, Sloan said. Im sorry. Mental health is serious. I hope someday someone will help others like me. Mental health is not to joke about or to take lightly, the note read, according to WV Metro News. When someone begs, pleads, cries out for help, please help them. You just might save a life or more lives. Authorities said Myers also left notes for her family and husband, Brian Bumgarner. In the note to her family, Myers said she was sorry for the childrens deaths, describing them as no ones fault but her own. My demons won over, she added. Story continues In the note to her husband, Myers said, Im so sorry Brian. I was not strong enough for you or this family. Im sorry for my evil crimes. I was not able to fight these demons. Sloan said Myers had not been previously treated for mental illness, and there had been no history of mistreatment involving the children. Child Protective Services had never been contacted about the family, the sheriff added. He said Myers husband had been staying with relatives before the murder-suicide. While the separation was, in part, meant to alleviate transportation issues during the week, text messages between the couple revealed that his absence had been a tremendous source of contention. In one text message, which Sloan read aloud during the press conference, Myers warned her husband, Youll have nothing to come back to but [a] corpse. No one cares why should I? On Dec. 8, Myers picked up two of her sons from a bus stop with a red line drawn across her face and the bridge of her nose, underneath her eyes, that went from ear to ear, authorities said. About an hour later, emergency workers responded to a 911 call that the Myers home was engulfed in flames. Sloan said it took investigators one week to find the remains of one of the children. A gut-wrenching obituary for four of the children said the kids were collectively known by name as Team Shark. Shaun, a second-grade student, was interested in space and wanted to be an astronaut, while Riley was learning to play the piano and the ukulele. The obit adds that Aarikyle loved painting and superheroes, and Haiken was spoiled by all and loved driving his toy cars. If you or a loved one are struggling with suicidal thoughts, please reach out to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255), or contact the Crisis Text Line by texting TALK to 741741. Read more at The Daily Beast. Got a tip? Send it to The Daily Beast here Get our top stories in your inbox every day. Sign up now! Daily Beast Membership: Beast Inside goes deeper on the stories that matter to you. Learn more. A man who killed his grandmother and a retired police officer during a psychotic episode has been found not guilty of murder because of his mental illness. Murray Deakin's bloody rampage began on June 1, 2018 when he discovered his motorbike had been moved from the driveway of the Bega house where he lived with his parents. After asking his grandfather Thomas Winner where his bike was, he stabbed the older man with a pen-knife. Murray Deakin (pictured) has been found not guilty of the horrific crimes as he could not tell right from wrong due to a psychotic episode caused by schizophrenia He then stabbed his grandmother Gail Winner, who had been unloading groceries from the car, four times in the chest, back and neck. He later told doctors he thought his grandparents were vampires. Deakin then led police on two dangerous car chases. Retired highway patrolman Mick Horne saw Deakin speeding, called triple zero, followed him and eventually pulled up beside him when Deakin stopped. Footage recorded on his wife's phone shows Mr Horne asking Deakin what he is doing and whose car he is driving. Deakin made a snarling sound, turned around expressionless and told Mr Horne to 'follow the code'. When Mr Horne asked for his name, Deakin sighed then pulled a hammer from his backpack. Mr Horne turned and ran, but Deakin hit him on the head multiple times as Melanie Horne watched on from the car. Deakin later said he thought Mr Horne was a demon. Pictured: Retired police officer Michael Horne who died when he was hit repeatedly in the back of the head by a hammer by Murray Deakin who was having a psychotic episode Mr Horne died two days later. Gail Winner died that afternoon, and her husband survived. Justice Robert Beech-Jones on Friday found that Deakin could not tell right from wrong at the time of the attacks because he was gripped by a psychotic state caused by schizophrenia. Three psychiatrists earlier gave evidence supporting the finding. The expert evidence caused prosecutors to accept on Wednesday that Deakin's plea that he was not guilty be reason of mental illness was made out, stopping the NSW Supreme Court trial. Police forensics officers attend the crime scene after Deakin stabbed both his grandparents The court found an alternative explanation - that Deakin's psychosis was caused by drug use, including cannabis and LSD - did not 'withstand much scrutiny'. Deakin grew from an awkward, maladjusted youth into a 'reclusive and seriously obsessed' young adult, Justice Beech-Jones said. As a child he obsessively washed his hands, obsessively removed and grinded tap fittings, and added weights to doors to make them close faster. At 18, he told his father he had been hearing voices. An employer at a nursery described him as 'unemployable' and said he was obsessive with certain tasks. Retired police officer Michael Horne (left) who was clubbed to death with a claw hammer by an insane man while his horrified wife looked on from their car His deterioration suggested developing schizophrenia. Former NSW police officer Michael Horne died when Murray Deakin hit him in the back of the head with a hammer Even if Deakin had taken LSD which precipitated his psychosis, that would only be a symptom of his schizophrenia, the judge said. Deakin will be held in custody, with his case to be reviewed twice a year. He will only be released on an order from the mental health tribunal. Justice Beech-Jones expressed the court's condolences to the Winner and Horne families. '(The Winners') devotion was such that they were prepared to assume the burden of looking after their troubled grandson in their advancing years,' he said. Mr Horne died after following his instinct to protect the public, he said. 'All three primary victims deserve not to be defined or remembered by how they died, but how they lived,' the judge said. BEIRUT - Four civilians, including two children, were killed Thursday night during Israeli airstrikes in central Syria, said Syrian state news agency Sana. It said a Syrian anti-aircraft gun responded to the attack, which was carried out by Israeli military helicopters coming from Lebanese airspace. Conversely, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) said the four civilians were killed after a surface-to-air missile shot by a Syrian government anti-aircraft gun hit their home and blew it up, and not by the impact of one of the Israeli missiles. Sana published photos of the destroyed home, where all four victims were members of the same family - father, mother and two children - in an unspecified location in the western countryside of Hama, about 150 km north of Damascus. SOHR, on the other hand, said the Syrian government missile fell on the Kazu district on the outskirts of Hama. It said the family's home was hit by shrapnel from Syrian anti-aircraft missiles during Israeli strikes that hit and destroyed five Iranian and pro-Iranian militia military positions in the region west of Hama that had already been previously hit. SOHR and other concordant sources said this area contains arms and missile depots belonging to Hezbollah, Iran, and other pro-Iranian militias in Syria. The federal government will cover the full cost of deploying New Jerseys National Guard to fight the coronavirus pandemic through Sept. 30, according to an order signed Thursday by President Joe Biden. Washington had been paying 75% rather than 100% of the cost since late August. An order issued last month by former President Donald Trump extended the deployment through March 31 with the federal government continuing to pay 75%. It is the policy of my administration to combat and respond to COVID-19 with the full capacity and capability of the federal government to protect and support our families, schools, and businesses, and to assist state, local, tribal, and territorial governments to do the same, to the extent authorized by law, Biden said in the order. The Guard first was deployed in March after New Jersey became one of the first states slammed by the coronavirus. The federal government picked up the entire cost from April 3 through Aug. 21 under a provision that allowed the state to oversee the Guard but tap federal funds to pay for them. Trump in August approved the deployment to the end of the year, but lowered the reimbursement to 75% for all states but Florida and Texas, both controlled by Republicans. In December, Trumps order required those two states also to pay 25% of the costs of deploying Guard troops. CORONAVIRUS RESOURCES: Live map tracker | Newsletter | Homepage New Jersey has used its troops to help staff long-term health facilities, particularly those for veterans. Gov. Phil Murphy sent Guard members to Washington following the Jan. 6 Capitol riot by pro-Trump supporters in order to help beef up security in advance of Bidens inauguration on Wednesday. But some lawmakers disagreed with Murphys decision in June to send Guard troops to the nations capital during protests over police brutality. Murphy defended the action by saying the troops were there to protect federal monuments, not to join federal efforts to rein in protesters near the White House. Jonathan D. Salant may be reached at jsalant@njadvancemedia.com. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Bucharest Prefect Traian Berbeceanu announced on Friday the decision taken by the Bucharest Municipal Committee for Emergency Situations to ease several restrictions imposed in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, so that restaurants, bars and cafes will be allowed to operate between 6:00 and 21:00 at maximum 30 percent of capacity. "Bucharest's infection rate today was 2.52 per thousand population. This is the third consecutive day with an incidence rate below 3 per thousand, which is why we legally had to call a meeting of the Municipal Committee for Emergency Situations to analyze the situation and make a decision. Thus, by a vote of 47 to one and four abstentions it was decided that starting on Monday, that is effective from January 25 at midnight, several restrictions currently in force shall be relaxed. The relaxation measures cover the HORECA industry. Restaurants, bars and cafes can operate from 6:00 to 21:00 at maximum 30 percent of capacity, in compliance with all the legal regulations," Berbeceanu said in a press statement. Dublin, Jan. 22, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Global MRD Testing Market: Focus on Technology, Application, End User, Region and Competitive Landscape - Analysis and Forecast, 2020-2025" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The global market for MRD testing is predicted to grow at a CAGR of 15.64% over the forecast period, 2020-2025. MRD Testing industry to be one of the most rapidly evolving and dynamic markets. The market is driven by certain factors, such as the rising incidence of hematologic malignancies, the increasing consumer awareness for tailored therapy, the increasing research funding from the National Cancer Institute, and the increasing disposable income in emerging economies. The market is favored by the developments in the field of MRD testing solutions for hematologic malignancies and solid tumors. Currently, the MRD testing industry is witnessing an upsurge due to the rising incidence of hematologic malignancies, resulting in the high demand for sensitive testing solutions. Additionally, the high adoption of MRD tests among patients and the growing awareness among physicians regarding MRD testing are some of the critical factors expected to bolster the market growth. Furthermore, diagnostic companies are focusing on the development of NGS-based MRD tests for lymphoid malignancies, having higher sensitivity and low turnaround time to benefit the patients suffering from hematologic malignancies. Competitive Landscape The exponential rise in the number of cases associated with hematological malignancies has created a buzz among the diagnostic companies to further invest in the development of reliable, sensitive, and rapid MRD testing solutions to aid patients to get into remission. Due to the presence of a diverse product portfolio and intense market penetration, Invivoscribe, Inc. has been a pioneer in this field and has been a significant competitor in this market. On the basis of region, North America holds the largest share of the MRD testing market due to high infusion of funding from government organizations for conducting research on hematological malignancies, rising incidence of hematological malignancies, and high adoption of technologically advanced MRD tests, among others. Apart from this, Asia-Pacific is anticipated to grow at the fastest CAGR during the forecast period, 2020-2025. Key Questions Answered in this Report: What are the major market drivers, challenges, and opportunities and their respective impacts in the global MRD testing market? What is the potential impact of biotechnological advancement in the diagnostic industry among end users, such as physicians, researchers, pathologists, and laboratory technicians? What is the current market demand along with future expected demand for the global MRD testing market? Has MRD testing penetrated major countries facing an immense burden from hematological malignancies? What are the key regulatory hurdles for industry players looking to enter this highly dynamic market? What are the key development strategies that are implemented by the major players in order to sustain in the competitive market? How is each segment of the market expected to grow during the forecast period from 2020 to 2025 based on each segment? Technology (flow cytometry, PCR, NGS, and other technologies) Application (hematological malignancy and solid tumor) End user (specialty clinics and hospitals, diagnostic laboratories, research institutions, and other end users) Region (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America & Middle East, and Rest-of-the-World) Which are the leading players with significant offerings to the global MRD testing market? What is the expected market dominance for each of these leading players? Which emerging companies are anticipated to be highly disruptive in the future, and what are their key strategies for sustainable growth in the global MRD testing market? Key Topics Covered: 1 Product Definition and Market Scope 2 Research Methodology 3 Market Overview 3.1 MRD Testing 3.2 MRD Testing: Solid Tumor vs Hematological Malignancies 3.3 Market Footprint 3.4 Market Size and Future Growth Potential 4 Market Dynamics 4.1 Impact Analysis 4.2 Market Drivers 4.2.1 Rising Incidence of Hematologic Malignancies 4.2.2 Increasing Consumer Awareness for Tailored Therapy 4.2.3 Increase in Research Funding from National Cancer Institute 4.2.4 Increasing Disposable Income in Emerging Economies 4.3 Market Restraints 4.3.1 False Negatives and Positives 4.3.2 Uncertain Reimbursement and Regulatory Policies 4.3.3 Lack of Trained Professionals 4.3.4 Lack of Established Treatment Protocols for High-Value Tests in Emerging Economies 4.4 Market Opportunities 4.4.1 Potential Long-Term Cost Savings 4.4.2 Increasing Market Access in Emerging Economies 4.4.3 Technological Evolution of Testing 4.4.3.1 8- and 10-Color Flow Cytometry 4.4.3.2 PCR for Gene Rearrangements 4.4.3.3 NGS and Multiplexing 5 Industry Insights 5.1 Approval Scenario 5.1.1 Approved Minimal Residual Disease Tests by Major Players 5.1.2 Launched Minimal Residual Disease Tests by Major Players 5.2 Financing Scenario 5.2.1 Key Players Stratification (as Per Raised Financing Value) 5.2.2 Key Players Financing Analysis (FY2017-2019) 5.3 Regulatory Framework 5.4 Reimbursement Scenario 5.5 Supply Chain Analysis 5.5.1 For Laboratory Developed Tests (LDTs) 5.5.2 For In-Vitro Diagnostics (IVDs) 5.6 Minimal Residual Disease Testing Government Initiatives 5.6.1 Technology Consideration for Minimal Residual Disease 5.6.1.1 Considerations for Cellular Technology Platforms 5.6.1.2 Considerations for Molecular Technology Platforms 5.6.1.3 Considerations for Sample 5.7 Impact of COVID-19 on Minimal Residual Disease Testing Market 5.7.1 Considerations With Inpatients 5.7.2 Considerations With Outpatients 5.8 Price Sensitivity Analysis (Elasticity) 5.8.1 Physicians' Perception 5.8.2 Investors' Perception 5.8.3 Payors' Perception 6 Global Minimal Residual Disease Testing Market: Competitive Insights 6.1 Overview 6.2 Synergistic Activities 6.3 Approvals 6.4 Product Launches and Updates 6.5 Other Developments 6.6 Market Share Analysis, 2018-2019 6.7 Growth Share Analysis 7 Global Minimal Residual Disease Testing Market (by Technology), 2019-2025 7.1 Overview 7.2 Flow Cytometry 7.3 Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) 7.4 Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) 7.5 Other Technologies 8 Global Minimal Residual Testing Market (by Application), 2019-2025 8.1 Overview 8.2 Hematological Malignancies 8.2.1 Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma (NHL) 8.2.2 Multiple Myeloma (MM) 8.2.3 Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) 8.2.4 Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) 8.2.5 Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) 8.2.6 Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML) 8.2.7 Hodgkin's Lymphoma (HL) 8.2.8 Other Leukemia 9 Global Minimal Residual Disease Testing Market (by End User), 2019-2025 9.1 Overview 9.2 Specialty Clinics and Hospitals 9.3 Diagnostic Laboratories 9.4 Research Institutions 9.5 Other End Users 10 Global Minimal Residual Disease Testing Market (by Region), 2019-2025 10.1 Overview 11 Company Profiles Adaptive Biotechnologies Corporation ArcherDX, Inc. (Part of Invitae Corporation) Arup Laboratories ASURAGEN INC. Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. Cergentis B.V. Guardant Health ICON plc Inivata Ltd. Invivoscribe, Inc. Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings Mission Bio, Inc. Natera, Inc. NeoGenomics Laboratories, Inc. Opko Health, Inc. Quest Diagnostics Incorporated Sysmex Corporation For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/qw8u11 Research and Markets also offers Custom Research services providing focused, comprehensive and tailored research. Denton, TX (76205) Today Cloudy this morning. A few showers developing during the afternoon. High 79F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 30%.. Tonight Cloudy this evening with showers after midnight. Low 63F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%. The Rural Independent Group has criticised the Government for its "juvenile" excuses for not imposing mandatory travel quarantine. Tanaiste Leo Varadkar said on Thursday that a system of mandatory quarantine for incoming air and sea passengers would be disproportionate and unworkable. The group says 33,000 foreign travellers arrive into the country every week, which will "inevitably" carry more Covid-19 cases into Ireland. The Group's leader, Mattie McGrath, says it makes a "laughing stock" of the Irish public. He said: "We saw the tens of thousands of people who came here for Christmas, we saw up to 20,000 people who came since... and this is making a laughing stock of the people who are making huge sacrifices to try and comply with the regulations. "It's time the Government got serious and got real and had proper meaningful checks and tests." Meanwhile, the European Union is considering tougher travel restrictions to prevent the spread of Covid-19 variants across the bloc. Speaking on Thursday night, Commission President Ursula Von Der Leyen said they are proposing a "dark red" zone within the bloc's traffic light travel system. Picture: Olivier Hoslet, Pool Photo via AP The Commission said restrictions around travel across the EU should be co-ordinated, and allow for essential workers to cross borders freely. It also wants more testing and sequencing for variants, saying there should be a check on 5% of all swabs - currently, Ireland is checking around 1%. Speaking on Thursday night, Commission President Ursula Von Der Leyen said they are proposing a "dark red" zone within the bloc's traffic light travel system. "Persons travelling from dark red areas could be required to do a test before departure, as well as undergo quarantine after arrival, this is within the European Union," Ms Von Der Leyen said. "In view of the very serious health situation, all non-essential travel should be strongly discouraged, both within the country and across borders." The Telegraph The list of Donald Trump associates who have attempted to bring down the former president is as long as it is varied: from his lawyer, to his closest advisor, his ex-wife and his alleged lover. But like many powerful figures before him, it may well be his accountant that would be his undergoing. Allen Weisselberg, the little-known 73-year-old chief financial officer for the Trump Organisation, has worked for the Trump family as far back as the early 1970s under Donalds father Fred. Some say he is closer to Mr Trump than he is to his own children. As one former employee put it, he knows where the bodies are buried". In recent weeks New York prosecutors investigating Mr Trumps tax affairs have been turning the screws on Mr Weisselberg in the hope of flipping him to testify against his boss. Cyrus Vance, the Manhattan District Attorney, is looking into everything from hush-money payments paid to women on Mr Trump's behalf, to property valuations and employee compensation. Speculation is mounting that his office may be able to turn Mr Weisselberg, who has not been accused of any wrongdoing, as it pulls together a grand jury to decide whether to indict. New Delhi: Uttar Pradesh police recorded statements of Tandav web series director Ali Abbas Zafar, writer Gaurav Solanki and producer Himanshu Krishna Mehra on Friday (January 22) in relation to the case filed in Lucknow against them and others. The trio recorded their statements in Mumbais Andheri after UP police visited their homes on Thursday (January 21). A team of UP police had arrived at the residences of Zafar and Solanki in Mumbai. However, as their houses were locked the officers pasted notices, asking them to appear before the Investigation Officer (IO) in Lucknow on January 27. We have served notice asking him (Zafar) to appear before IO (Investigation Officer) on 27th January in Lucknow. His house was locked and nobody was there, so we pasted the notice there, Anil Kumar Singh, Uttar Pradesh Police was quoted as saying by ANI. A case was registered in Lucknow's Hazratganj Kotwali against Amazon Prime India head of original content Aparna Purohit, Ali Abbas Zafar, Himanshu Krishna Mehra and Gaurav Solanki. (Exclusive pics: Director Ali Abbas Zafar, writer Gaurav Solanki and producer Himanshu Krishna Mehra record statements with UP police) It remains unclear whether the police will also summon actor Saif Ali Khan and Amazon Prime Video India executives for inquiry. Earlier on Friday, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting directed the makers of 'Tandav' to delete controversial scenes from the web series. This is the first time that any OTT project has been ordered to implement changes. Many BJP leaders and netizens have alleged that the show hurt religious sentiments and portrays Hindu gods in bad light. Syracuse, N.Y. Upstate University Hospital has been named a Magnet hospital, a designation that recognizes excellent nursing care. Upstate received the designation today from the American Nurses Credentialing Center, an arm of the American Nurses Association. Less than 10% of U.S. hospitals earn Magnet designation. What is so inspiring is that we earned this recognition during a pandemic, when nurses were at the frontlines for hours caring for the very sick and supporting their families in a health care crisis such as we have not experienced before, said Dr. Mantosh Dewan, president of Upstate Medical University. The American Nurses Credentialing Center singled out Upstates nurses for their care of Covid-19 patients. The organization noted how Upstate nurses and other staff stepped up to help out at its sister hospital, Stony Brook University Hospital on Long Island, in April and May at the start of the pandemic. Upstate employs more than 2,500 nurses. There are 548 Magnet facilities worldwide, 34 in New York state. Upstate is the second Syracuse hospital to get Magnet designation. St. Josephs Hospital Health Center was named a Magnet hospital in 2002. James T. Mulder covers health and higher education. Have a news tip? Contact him at (315) 470-2245 or jmulder@syracuse.com Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. Irina Shayk has evidently learned how to balance being a mom with keeping up her personal style. On Friday, the 35-year-old supermodel was spotted taking her daughter Lea out for a walk through New York City's busy streets. After dropping her child off at home, she was then seen heading to a local cafe to pick up coffee and snacks to take home with her. Mom time: Irina Shayk was seen wearing a stylish outfit while taking her daughter Lea for a walk through New York City's streets on Friday morning Shayk was seen wearing a large brown overcoat with fur lining, ostensibly worn to keep her nice and cozy in the midst of a frigid East Coast winter. Underneath her coat, the supermodel wore a yellow button-up shirt and a matching pair of form-fitting pants, both from Live the Process, which she contrasted with a pair of black boots. The Hercules actress also carried a bright yellow handbag to carry her belongings and complement her outfit. She kept a pair of black rectangular sunglasses on to keep the shining winter sun rays out of her eyes. Keeping her safe: During certain points of the walk, the supermodel wore a green face mask to make sure that both herself and her daughter were protected from coronavirus Great contrast: Shayk paired a predominantly yellow Live the Process outfit with a large brown overcoat to keep herself comfortable as she spent time outside The Russian model kept her beautiful brunette hair held back with a headband, ensuring that her locks would not fly in her face as she briskly walked through the streets. She was also seen wearing a number of necklaces in addition to a set of earrings. At certain points during her stroll, she was spotted using a dark green face mask to keep herself protected from any potential exposure to COVID-19. Shayk dressed her daughter in a white jacket and a stylish pair of plaid pants; her hair was tied up in two ponytails to keep nice and neat for the excursion. Looking to the future: During an interview, the model dished that she tried to keep a balance between her work life and her parenting skills, as she wanted 'to raise a strong, powerful woman High-profile couple: Shayk and her former partner Bradley Cooper were first linked in 2015 and welcomed a daughter before splitting up in 2019 In an interview with Vogue, the supermodel spoke about the balance that she attempts to maintain between work and raising her daughter and why she thinks that she is setting a good example for her child. Shayk told the publication: 'I always try not to stay away from my daughter for more than a week, but I also dont want to be this woman whos not truthful to herself...I want my daughter to know that momma has a job in her life because I want to raise a strong, powerful woman.' She also elaborated on the relationship that she currently has with Lea's father, Bradley Cooper, and how she feels that they are both giving their child the most that they can of themselves. 'I always say, What is co-parenting? Co-parenting people say, Oh, you know, its 50/50. But Im not 50 per cent of a mom, Im 100 per cent. And hes 100 per cent of a dad. So I dont see that as co-parenting,' she opined. Shayk and Cooper were first romantically linked in 2015 and welcomed their daughter two years later; they eventually separated in 2019. TOKYO, Jan. 22, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Nippon Express (China) Co., Ltd. (hereinafter "NE China"), a subsidiary of Nippon Express Co., Ltd. of Tokyo, signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on December 18, 2020, over business partnership with Jointown Pharmaceutical Group Logistics Co., Ltd. (hereinafter "JPG Logistics"), a member of the Jointown Pharmaceutical Group Co., Ltd. (hereinafter "JPG"), a major Chinese pharmaceutical distributor/wholesaler. Logo: https://kyodonewsprwire.jp/img/202101189894-O3-D9zLqa5R Photo1: Left: JPG CEO Ji Qin; right: NE China Senior VP Hisashi Shimoonoda https://kyodonewsprwire.jp/prwfile/release/M103866/202101189894/_prw_PI1fl_S40bY2x6.jpg Photo2: Visitors watching pharmaceutical inspection https://kyodonewsprwire.jp/prwfile/release/M103866/202101189894/_prw_PI2fl_9s31iAVD.jpg JPG Logistics is a JPG company specializing in pharmaceutical logistics that runs, manages and supports the entire group's logistics operations as well as its logistics centers at the provincial and regional city level, and it provides China's domestic pharmaceutical distribution market with enhanced transport services. NE China had been considering a business partnership with JPG Logistics to cover those operational aspects of pharmaceutical logistics in which foreign companies are not allowed to participate under China's Good Supplying Practice (GSP) standards governing pharmaceutical supply and quality control. NE China has already been working together on transport efforts with JPG Logistics during the coronavirus pandemic, and it has developed a system enabling pharmaceutical products in China to be delivered overseas and for foreign pharmaceutical products to be delivered to regional cities in China. This business partnership will allow Nippon Express to offer services that meet customer needs for safety-conscious pharmaceutical transport by combining its own pharmaceutical logistics services utilizing its global network outside China with JPG's domestic transport network within China. Nippon Express will continue upgrading its services to meet increasingly sophisticated and varied pharmaceutical transport needs as it steps up efforts both inside and outside Japan on behalf of the pharmaceutical industry, which has been positioned as a priority industry in the company's corporate strategy. Nippon Express website: http://www.nipponexpress.com/ Official LinkedIn Account: NIPPON EXPRESS GROUP https://www.linkedin.com/company/nippon-express-group/ SOURCE Nippon Express Co., Ltd. Related Links http://www.nipponexpress.com AV Gear San Diego State U Upgrades Microphones for Hybrid Learning Courtesy of San Diego State University San Diego State University is outfitting nearly 200 classrooms across its main and Imperial Valley campuses with Sony's MAS-A100 beamforming ceiling microphone, to support the hybrid classroom model. The hands-free lecture and presentation solution uses speech reinforcement technology to provide clear audio without the typical constraints of lavalier or handheld microphones. Features of the technology include: Easy installation; An Intelligent Feedback Reducer function, to extract speech while suppressing feedback; Automatic gain control; Ability to record lectures for on-demand purposes; Dual-channel output for simultaneous recording of both instructor and student voices; Compatibility with third-party Dante mixers, converters and other devices; and Power over Ethernet capability. "As we refreshed the design of our classroom due to the pandemic, we sought a touchless experience to safeguard employees and adhere to health and safety protocols," explained Rudy Arias, associate director for Instructional Technology Services at San Diego State University, in a statement. "We were looking for an audio solution that would be hands-free, easy to implement, cost-effective and offer high-quality sound from any location. When we were introduced to the Sony IP ceiling microphone through a virtual demo, we placed our order within hours. We knew right away that it met our list of requirements and would be a reliable solution for our new hybrid classroom experience. We are currently installing them across our two campuses to make a bigger impact and facilitate a more engaging educational experience for teachers and students alike, and we are actively exploring and testing additional Sony classroom solutions to complement the new microphones and enhance our display capabilities." Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 Mumbai Jan 22 : Indian-American economist and Chief Economist of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Gita Gopinath on Friday reacted to a complimentary post by Amitabh Bachchan, saying he was the greatest of all time and that she was a huge fan of the Bollywood superstar. Big B had called Gopinath a beautiful face on his television quiz show, Kaun Banega Crorepati. Gopinath shared a video clip of the moment from show on her verified Twitter account on Friday, where Bachchan can be seen telling a contestant in Hindi while showing Gita's photo on the big screen: "She has such a beautiful face, nobody can relate her with economy." Reacting to the clip, Gita tweeted: "Ok, I don't think I will ever get over this. As a HUGE fan of Big B @SrBachchan, the Greatest of All Time, this is special!" Responding to her tweet, Big B wrote: "Thank you Gita Gopinath ji .. I meant every word i said about you on the show .. said in utmost earnestness." However, not all netizens were overjoyed with Bachchan's comment in the KBC clip. A section of social media users slammed the veteran actor for hinting at the idea that a woman with a beautiful face could not be an expert in economy. "So sad that he just had to mention your looks while pointing to your earned achievement... Anyway, congratulations to you @GitaGopinath : keep the flag flying high!" commented a user. "I didn't like the comment about linking beauty with brains. Stupid of Mr. Bachchan to suggest that beautiful women can't be economists," expressed another user. BBC's Question Time came to Northern Ireland and Brandon Lewis's comments on the opportunities NI has with the current Brexit arrangements got the Twitterati talking. Lewis was among the panel which included the first and deputy First Minister, Labour shadow Northern Ireland secretary Louise Haigh and politics professor Anand Menon. Coronavirus and Brexit - and the food shortages in Northern Ireland - dominated. The first question was as to if those shortages were "teething problems" or deeper issues of the Northern Ireland protocol. Northern Ireland is continuing to follow some of the EUs rules to prevent the establishment of a hard border on the island of Ireland. Brandon Lewis has denied there is an issue relating to Brexit and said the problems with getting food to Northern Ireland from GB was down to coronavirus and a lag in issues of freight crossing the border in the south of England when France shut its border to the UK after a mutant strain of the virus was detected. Mr Lewis said moving goods from GB to NI was tariff free but there would need to be checks on items such as food stuffs. He said the protocol offered Northern Ireland - as part of the UK - "a unique competitive advantage" not seen around the world. "In the sense of Northern Ireland has the ability to trade in and as part of the UK as well as through the single market with the EU. "If you are a business who deals with the UK and the EU, the place to invest and grow your business is in Northern Ireland." He denied the protocol pushed Northern Ireland more toward to Dublin and the EU than London saying there remained "unfettered access between NI and the UK". "That gives NI a competitive opportunity and a huge opportunity. Once we come out of Covid." BBC broadcaster Andrea Catherwood, who is from Northern Ireland, was one of the many thousands to take to Twitter to comment on it. "Without any apparent irony a Government minister spells out the competitive advantage of being in the EU single market. You couldnt make it up," she tweeted. Some vented frustration the show was screened in Northern Ireland 40 minutes after it had gone out to the rest of the regions. This was because BBC NI chose to screen its local current affairs programme The View. One Twitter user said he was part of the virtual audience and had prepared and taken part for over three-and-a-half hours, only for his question to be cut for time. Belfast Telegraph political editor Suzanne Breen described it as "mind-numbingly dumb". "I'm a politics journalist in NI, and I'm bored silly with this," she tweeted. "Heaven help the poor audience in Britain." Africa's Covid-19 case fatality rate is now higher than the global average, which is "worrying and concerning", according to the head of Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC). The continent's death rate stands at 2.5% against a global average of 2.2% and the number of nations recording higher rates is growing, Africa CDC Director John Nkengasong told reporters. Earlier during the pandemic, Africa recorded lower death rates than the global average, Mr Nkengasong said. But in the "second wave" 21 African nations had a death rate above 3%. They are Sudan, Egypt, Liberia, Mali, Chad, Niger, The Gambia, Tunisia, Eswatini, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Zimbabwe. The continent has so far confirmed 3.3 million Covid-19 cases with 2.7 million recoveries and 81,000 deaths. Source: BBC Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video A festival season is 'still possible' this year despite yesterday's cancellation of Glastonbury due to Covid, according to industry insiders. The chief executive of the Association of Independent Festivals, Paul Reed, said the UK's largest festival was a 'different beast' and its cancellation did not mean other smaller events could not go ahead. But he said there is only hope for smaller events if the Government ensures organisers of music events can access insurance to protect against losses as a result of Covid. On Thursday, Glastonbury organisers announced that the 2021 festival has been cancelled because of the pandemic. 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. Industry insiders have warned there is still a chance for smaller festivals to go ahead this year, despite Glastonbury (pictured) being cancelled yesterday A statement from Glastonbury yesterday said organisers Michael and Emily Eavis (pictured) had moved 'heaven and earth' to try to put the event on this year Most live music events, including Glastonbury, were wiped out last summer by the pandemic. The chief executive of the Association of Independent Festivals, Paul Reed, (pictured) said the UK's largest festival was a 'different beast' and its cancellation did not mean other smaller events could not go ahead. But he said Government ministers must step in to help them secure insurance against Covid-related losses A recent study warned that without state support, Britain's 1.3billion live music industry is heading for another summer washout. But Mr Reed believed with the right help from ministers, smaller festivals could still go ahead. Speaking to BBC Breakfast he said: 'I will say about Glastonbury that it is a different beast to most festivals and most likely ran out of time due to the size and complexity of the event. 'For most festivals the cut-off point is more likely the end of March.' He said we are at a 'serious point in the pandemic and festivals only want to return when it is safe to do so'. 'This is devastating news about Glastonbury, not least for the amount of staff and freelancers and companies involved in delivering the event, but a festival season is still possible for this year if Government act now on insurance.' Last year marked the 50th anniversary of Glastonbury when headliners Sir Paul McCartney, Taylor Swift and Kendrick Lamar were all due to perform. Pictured: The Festival in 2019 In a statement on Twitter, the organisers announced Glastonbury Festival will not take place for a second year in a row because of the coronavirus pandemic He added that festivals are currently struggling to get insurance for coronavirus-related cancellations. 'We do need Government to intervene in this issue,' he said. A Government spokeswoman said: 'We are in regular dialogue with public health experts to agree a realistic return date for festivals and other large events. 'Once we are confident we have this, we will be working with organisers to unlock the barriers they face to restarting - including challenges getting insurance. 'Yesterday's decision by the festival organisers reflects the sad fact that the public health outlook did not make it likely 200,000 people could be together without social distancing measures in just a few months' time. 'We are continuing to help festivals with the 1.5 billion Culture Recovery Fund, with many already receiving this support.' A statement from Glastonbury said organisers had moved 'heaven and earth' to try to put the event on this year. The festival at Worthy Farm in Somerset was sold out for 2021 because so few people have asked for a refund from 2020. Mr Reed called Glastonbury 'a different beast to most festivals' and said with government support there was still a chance for smaller festivals to go ahead 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 when headliners Sir Paul McCartney, Taylor Swift and Kendrick Lamar were all due to perform. But in their announcement yesterday, Michael and Emily 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.' John Carl D'Annibale ALBANY AIM Photonics, a national photonics research consortium located on SUNY Polytechnic Institute's Albany campus, is losing its CEO Michael Cumbo after only seven months. Cumbo, who grew up in Rochester where AIM Photonics has a photonics chip packaging center, is taking a job with the private equity firm Artemis Capital Partners of Boston, although he will continue working from the Capital Region. Oil prices will be supported this year by the upcoming massive economic stimulus package in the United States and the low probability of much Iranian oil returning to the global market, according to Goldman Sachs. The $1.9-trillion COVID relief package proposed by President Joe Biden is set to stimulate the American economy, leading to a rise in U.S. oil demand by around 200,000 barrels per day (bpd) over 2021 and 2022, Reuters quoted a note from the investment bank as saying. Goldman Sachs has been bullish on oil since the end of last year, seeing Brent Crude averaging $65 in 2021. Apart from a stronger economy in the United States this year, the bank expects that the issue with the Iranian nuclear deal will not be resolved soon. The Trump Administration imposed sanctions on Irans oil exports in 2018, looking to cut off the oil sales of the Iranian regime, after the United States withdrew from the so-called Iranian nuclear deal. 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. President Bidens initial talks with foreign counterparts and allies will include Iran and the current U.S. sanctions, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki has said. This signals that the lifting of sanctions on Iran is not an immediate priority for the U.S. Administration. Delays in a full return of Iran production would reinforce our bullish oil outlook since we already forecast a tight 2022 crude market with low OPEC spare capacity, Goldman Sachs analysts said in the note. The U.S. Administrations moratorium on all oil and gas leasing in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska, the revocation of the Presidential permit for the Keystone XL pipeline, and the temporary ban on issuance of drilling permits on federal land and waters do not, on their own, mean that the oil market will tighten faster in 2021-2022 than previously expected, according to Goldman. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: UTICA, N.Y. The MetLife Foundation has donated $150,000 to the Mohawk Valley COVID-19 Response Fund, which was created to help local nonprofit organizations suffering economically due to the pandemic. The fund was established in March by the Community Foundation of Herkimer and Oneida Counties and the United Way of the Mohawk Valley. With the impact of COVID-19 growing in our area, its more important than ever that we all support the nonprofits helping the community get through this crisis, said Alicia Dicks, president and CEO of the Community Foundation. Its clear that the services they provide will continue to see increased demand from those in need, and we want to ensure these organizations can continue to meet those needs. The fund has already distributed more than $1 million to different nonprofits for personal protective equipment, technology, food and other supplies. Mohawk Valley Health System, Rome Memorial Hospital and Johnson Park Center, are just some of the nonprofits that have received assistance through the fund. MetLife vice president of global claims, Brian Sciortino, hopes the donation will help the fund meet the growing need for financial assistance. Along with its local partners, the Community Foundation is working to address the unique needs of people and small businesses in Utica and its surrounding communities. We have many employees living and working in the area and are proud to support these efforts, he said. To donate or apply for funding, click here. A Rhode Island corrections officer has been taken off the job as state officials continues to probe the death of a man in custody for the fatal beating of a couple in their home. The Providence Journal reports the state Department of Corrections confirmed on Wednesday that an unnamed officer at the Adult Correctional Institutions in Cranston has been placed on paid administration leave as part of the inquiry into the death of Timothy McQuesten. The 49-year-old was found unresponsive in his single cell at the state prisons Intake Service Center on Monday. He was taken to Rhode Island Hospital where he was pronounced dead. At the time, prison officials said the death was under investigation but foul play was not suspected. Kimberly and Mark Dupre, both in their 60s, were found in their Lincoln home last Thursday by police responding to a call from a neighbor. Kimberly Dupre was pronounced dead at the scene while Mark Dupre died at the hospital. McQuesten was arraigned Friday on two counts of first-degree murder and held without bail. He did not enter a plea. Authorities did not disclose a motive but said there was a previous relationship between the victims and the suspect, who lived about a quarter mile away. Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 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. 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 Telegraph The list of Donald Trump associates who have attempted to bring down the former president is as long as it is varied: from his lawyer, to his closest advisor, his ex-wife and his alleged lover. But like many powerful figures before him, it may well be his accountant that would be his undergoing. Allen Weisselberg, the little-known 73-year-old chief financial officer for the Trump Organisation, has worked for the Trump family as far back as the early 1970s under Donalds father Fred. Some say he is closer to Mr Trump than he is to his own children. As one former employee put it, he knows where the bodies are buried". In recent weeks New York prosecutors investigating Mr Trumps tax affairs have been turning the screws on Mr Weisselberg in the hope of flipping him to testify against his boss. Cyrus Vance, the Manhattan District Attorney, is looking into everything from hush-money payments paid to women on Mr Trump's behalf, to property valuations and employee compensation. Speculation is mounting that his office may be able to turn Mr Weisselberg, who has not been accused of any wrongdoing, as it pulls together a grand jury to decide whether to indict. 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. 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 Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020 amalgamates over 10 labor laws to consolidate into one comprehensive act. It was passed by the Indian parliament and received the presidents assent in September 2020. Rules to implement the Code are expected to be finalized in the next few weeks. The Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020 (OSH Code) is one of three new labor codes that will consolidate the bulk of labor legislation in India and streamline labor compliance besides expanding the social security net for workers. More importantly, the new labor codes seek to bring uniformity to the way labor laws are implemented in the country. This has been a much promised reform by Prime Minister Narendra Modis government and finally appears to be at the last stretch before coming to fruition. Since labor is a concurrent subject under the Indian constitution, it can be legislated upon by both federal and state governments, contributing to the existing framework of convoluted labor laws and notifications, many overlapping in their applicability and jurisdiction. Depending on the situation, this has removed safeguards for, both, employers and employees, due to ambiguous interpretation or limited scope of implementation. The new labor codes will subsume several labor laws at various levels of government; they are grouped into four categories to ease classification and clearly delineate the types of legislation they will subsume and their legislative goal. The four codes cover industrial relations, wages, social security, and worker health, safety, and welfare. In this article, we briefly spotlight key features of the OSH Code, including use of legal terms, duties of employers, rights of employees, important regulatory directives, and compliance obligations. Businesses should prepare their organizations for once the Code comes into effect or risk being found incompliant. Speaking to the media on January 12, the Labor and Employment Secretary Apurva Chandra stated that the labor ministry were looking to finalize the rules under the codes by January-end. Key definitions under the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code The following terms have had their definitions amended under the new labor code: Contract labor: Defined as a worker who is deemed to be employed in an establishment or connected to the work of an establishment upon being hired by a contractor for such purpose, regardless of the knowledge of the principal employer. The scope of this definition excludes workers (besides part-time employees) who are regularly employed by the contractor for any economic activity whereby such workers employment is governed by mutually accepted employment standards and benefits of periodical increment in pay and other welfare incentives. Provisions of the Code that pertain to contract labor would only apply to establishments that hire 50 or more contract laborers. Establishment: Defined as: (i) any place with 10 or more workers where any industry, trade, business, manufacturing, or occupation is undertaken; or (ii) a motor transport undertaking, newspaper establishment, audio-video production, building or other construction work, or plantation with 10 or more workers; or (iii) factory in which 10 or more workers are employed; or (iv) a mine or port or vicinity of port where dock work is carried out. Employee: Defined as a person employed and paid wages by an establishment to do any skilled, unskilled, manual, operational, supervisory, managerial, administrative, technical, clerical, or other work. The definition has been made consistent in all the four codes. Employer: Defined as a person who employs (directly, or through any person, or on behalf of any person) one or more employees in their establishment, and includes, inter alia, the person or authority that has the final control over the affairs of the establishment (or contractor). Factory: Definition is expanded to 20 workers for premises where the work process uses power and 40 workers where the work process uses no power. Principal employer: Defined as: (i) any person responsible for the supervision and control of the establishment where contract labor is employed or engaged; or (ii) the owner of the factory/establishment and/or manager of the factory/establishment. Hazardous process: Defined as any dangerous process or activity in relation to specific industries (Schedule I of the OSH Code) where special care must be taken so that handling or processing raw/intermediate/finished/bye-products, etc., could cause: (i) material impairment to the health of the employed persons; or (ii) pollution of the general environment. Wages: Defined as consolidated remuneration, comprising salaries, allowances, or money payable to a person in return for their employment and includes basic pay, dearness allowance, and retaining allowance, if any. Wages do not include (i) bonus; (ii) value of accommodation or light, water, medical attendance; (iii) employer contribution towards any pension or provident fund; (iv) conveyance allowance; (v) sum paid to employed person to reimburse special expenses; (vi) house rent allowance; (vii) overtime allowance and (viii) gratuity, etc. Worker: Defined as any person employed in any establishment to do any manual, unskilled, skilled, technical, operational, clerical, or supervisory work for hire or reward, whether the terms of employment be express or implied, and includes working journalists and sales promotion employees, but does not include the following: (i) who is subject to the Air Force Act, 1950, or the Army Act, 1950, or the Navy Act, 1957; or (ii) who is employed in the police service or as an officer or other employee of a prison; or (iii) who is employed mainly in a managerial or administrative capacity; or (iv) who is employed in a supervisory capacity drawing wage exceeding INR 18,000 per month or an amount as may be notified by the federal government from time to time What are the duties of employers under the OSH Code? New establishments covered by the OSH Code must register themselves (within 60 days of commencement of the Code) with registering officers appointed by the appropriate government. Establishments already registered under any other federal law will not be required to register again. Every employer is directed to undertake the following obligations by the OSH Code: Ensure that the workplace is free from hazards can cause injury or occupational disease to the employees and comply with the OSH Code and the governments directions on the same; Provide free annual health examination or testing, free of cost, to certain classes of employees; Provide and maintain, as reasonably practical, a working environment that is safe and without risk to the health of the employees; Issue letters of appointments to employees; and Ensure that no charge is levied on any employee for maintenance of safety and health at workplace, including the conduct of medical examination and investigation for the purpose of detecting occupational diseases. Further, the Code directs employers with respect to factories, mines, dock work, building and other construction work, or plantations to ensure: (i) safety arrangements in the workplace and absence of risk to health in connection with the use, storage, and transport of articles and substances; (ii) provision of such information, instruction, training, and supervision as are necessary to ensure the health and safety of all employees at work, etc. Similarly, the Code lays out that it is the duty of the architect, project engineer, or designer responsible for any building or construction work or the design of any project relating to such building, to ensure that due consideration is given to the safety and health of the building workers and employees involved in the construction, operation, and execution of such projects at the planning stage itself. The employer must provide a hygienic work environment with adequate ventilation, sufficient space (to avoid overcrowding), potable drinking water, arrangements for separate washrooms, etc. The Code also provides a uniform threshold for welfare provisions to be available at all establishments, such as a canteen, creche, first aid, welfare officer, etc. The Code also directs the government to notify working hours for various classes of establishments and employees and for women workers. For overtime, the prior consent of workers is required along with the payment of overtime wage. No worker in an establishment will be allowed to work for more than six days a week, except as provided for by the Code. Every worker is entitled to one day of leave for every 20 days of work in a calendar year. The Code also safeguards the rights of inter-state migrant workers by ensuring that they are also provided all the benefits available to a worker by the contractor under various labor laws. Further, the employer of every applicable establishment is required to pay to every inter-state migrant worker, a lump sum fare, to enable the journey to and from their native place and the place of their employment. What are the duties of employees as prescribed by the OSH Code? Every employee at the workplace shall: (i) take reasonable care for the health and safety of themself and other persons who may be affected by their acts or omissions at the workplace; (ii) comply with the safety and health requirements specified in the standards; (iii) co-operate with the employer in meeting the statutory obligations of the employer under this Code; (iv) if any situation which is unsafe or unhealthy comes to their attention, as soon as is practical, report such situation to their employer or to the health and safety representative; (v) not willfully interfere with or misuse or neglect any appliance, convenience, or other thing provided at the workplace for the purpose of securing the health, safety, and welfare of workers; (vi) not do anything, willfully and without reasonable cause, to endanger or potentially endanger themself or others; and (vii) perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the appropriate government. What are the rights of employees under the OSH Code? The OSH Code provides every employee the following rights: (i) Obtain from the employer, information relating to the employees health and safety at work and communicate to the employer any concern regarding inadequate provision for protection of the employees safety or health in connection with the work activity in the workplace, and if not satisfied, to the inspector-cum-facilitator; (ii) If they have reasonable apprehension that there is a likelihood of imminent serious personal injury or death or imminent danger to health, they may bring this to the notice of the employer directly, and simultaneously bring the same to the notice of the inspector-cum-facilitator; (iii) The employee should note that once the existence of such imminent danger is established, the employer is obliged to take immediate remedial action and send a report of the action taken in response to the inspector-cum-facilitator; and (iv) Even if the imminent danger / apprehension about the same by the employee(s) is not accepted by the employer, the employer must refer the matter to the inspector-cum-facilitator whose decision on the question of the existence of such imminent danger shall be final. What are the relevant authorities under the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code? National and state-level Occupational Safety and Health Advisory Board The OSH Code directs authorities to set up a National Occupational Safety and Health Advisory Board that will advise the federal government on matters relating to (i) standards, rules, and regulations to be declared under the OSH Code; (ii) implementation of provisions of the OSH Code; and (iii) issue of policy relating to occupational safety and health; and any other matters referred to it. The OSH Code also provides for the constitution of a similar state-level advisory board. Inspectors-cum-Facilitators They are appointed by the appropriate government and can inquire into accidents and conduct health and safety inspections. They are conferred special powers with respect to factories, mines, dock-works, buildings or other construction works, and oversee the prohibition of work in hazardous environments. Safety committees These may be formed in certain establishments, and for certain classes of workers, by the appropriate government. These committees will aim to function as a liaison between employers and employees. For specialist advice regarding doing business in India and/or training to ensure your organization is compliant under the upcoming labor codes, please feel free to contact our professional service advisors at india@dezshira.com. Nashik : , Jan 22 (IANS) A massive fire broke out at the Nashik Municipal Corporation headquarters, Rajiv Gandhi Bhavan, in the city on Friday afternoon, though there were no casualties. Officials said that the blaze suspected to have been caused by a short circuit was noticed in the 2nd-floor office of Shiv Sena's Leader of Opposition Ajay Boraste around noon when he was not present. Soon, the flames spread to nearby chambers and gutted furniture, electrical fittings and office equipment even as 10 Nashik fire engines were pressed into service to douse the blaze. An estimated 1,000-plus staff in the building was evacuated by police and fire brigade as thick smoke billowed from the premises. NMC Commissioner Kailas Jadhav directed the officials concerned to probe the cause of fire. The incident comes after a fire at a government hospital in Bhandara on January 9 killed 10 newborns, and another blaze at the Serum Institute of India's uncoming plant at Manjari on January 21, which claimed the lives of five labourers. Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-22 10:09:07|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close TRIPOLI, Jan. 21 (Xinhua) -- The International Organization for Migration (IOM) on Thursday said that 86 illegal migrants have been rescued off Libyan coast. "Today 86 migrants, including 7 women and 19 children, were returned to Libya by the coast guard," the IOM tweeted. "IOM staff onsite provided emergency support including medical assistance," it said. Thousands of illegal immigrants, mostly Africans, choose to cross the Mediterranean from Libya towards Europe, due to insecurity and chaos in the nation following the overthrow of former 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 the IOM. Enditem ROSEBURG, Ore. -- Blue Zones Project Umpqua is being recognized by various health organizations for encouraging more people in the community to make healthier choices. The Umpqua Valley is now considered a Blue Zones Certified Community by Oregon Healthiest State, Cambria Health Foundation, Share Care and Blue Zones National. Since 2017, staff said they have worked on getting the certification through their engagement in the community. They said their work has helped with downtown business renewal, decreasing food insecurity, decreasing childhood obesity, increasing volunteerism and adding more smoke-free areas. We work in three pillar areas, so its policy, people, places, said community engagement director Juliete Palenshus. This designation means, you know, leaders, organizations, volunteers, residents have come together to create that cultural shift. Palenshus said staff will be celebrating their certification on Feb. 22 during a virtual event. She said it will be open to the public. [January 22, 2021] GS1 HK and Zenecom join hands to help local merchants seize trillions O2O opportunities in Mainland medical, healthcare and beauty markets HONG KONG, Jan. 22, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- GS1 Hong Kong (GS1 HK) and Zenecom International Group Co. Ltd (Zenecom) formally signed a strategic cooperation agreement to launch "HK Trusted Market + WJH" initiative. Capitalising on the cross-border "Big Health" e-commerce platform WJH, the programme aims to bring premium Hong Kong's over-the-counter medicines, health supplement, beauty and skincare products (Coin as "Big Health" below) to Mainland China O2O (online-to-offline) platforms. The pandemic-driven "Big Health" industry stands out in the sluggish global economy. According to "Healthy China 2030" blueprint issued by The State Council, the scale of China's health service industry is expected to reach 16 trillion RMB in 2030. The national policy, coupled with an aging population and the lasting epidemic, has resulted in the soaring growth for medical, healthcare products and onlie shopping. Meanwhile, thanks to the pilot project of importing pharmaceutical products for cross-border e-commerce by the Chinese government, Zenecom, a cross-border e-commerce pilot enterprise approved by the government, is going to bring tremendous opportunities for the "Big Health" industry in Hong Kong. Anna Lin, Chief Executive of GS1 HK stated, "Our members revealed numerous obstacles to develop in the mainland. To help resolve their issues, GS1 HK decides to join hands with Zenecom to launch this programme that pledges authentic products, paving the way for Hong Kong & overseas companies to flourish under the O2O new retail model in the mainland." The cross-border e-marketplace "HK Trusted Market+WJH" by GS1 HK and Zenecom is designed to enable Hong Kong & overseas business to bank on the growing "Big Health" opportunities in Mainland China. Zenecom will provide one-stop services covering online and offline product listing, marketing, and sales operations. Products listed onto the platform via the programme will be given an exclusive anti-counterfeiting QR code, "REAL Barcode" provided by GS1 HK to ensure the authenticity of its source, enhancing confidence of the mainland consumers. By scanning the REAL label with electronic device, GS1 HK's REAL Barcode app (or its webpage) will be activated to allow consumers scan and authenticate the products. Mr. Roy Lei, Chief Executive of Zenecom stated, "WJH aims to provide mainland consumers with genuine and authentic "Big Health" products. As a cross-border e-commerce platform with integrated marketing strategy, we look forward to developing the "Big Health" market in mainland with overseas brands." The "HK Trusted Market + WJH" programme provides comprehensive one-stop omni-channel marketing services, ranging from customs declaration, products listing, cross-border and mainland logistics and storage, diversified online promotion to offline product display, etc. The process of customs declaration for cross-border products can be completed within 15 days, then the merchants can ship large quantities of goods to Zenecom's well-equipped bonded warehouse in Huangpu District, Guangzhou. The products will be delivered directly from the mainland bonded warehouse to the customers after their online purchase, which is time-saving. Website: www.gs1hk.org Website: www.zenecomgp.com SOURCE Zenecom International Group Co. Ltd [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] 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. WASHINGTON U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., and six other Democrats filed a complaint Thursday against Republican Sens. Ted Cruz of Texas and Josh Hawley of Missouri asking for a Senate investigation into their actions surrounding the Jan. 6 storming of the U.S. Capitol. The complaint calls for the Senate Ethics Committee to check for rules violations as promptly as possible, Blumenthal said in an interview. As possible examples of violations, the Democrats alleged that Cruz and Hawley planned to object to certifying the presidential election amid threats of violence, escalated the crisis by objecting after the attack on the Capitol and continued campaign fundraising mentioning their decisions to object during the attack. The Democrats suggest the committee investigate whether Cruz and Hawley had any prior coordination with people who breached the Capitol. Hawley said Thursday the complaint shows Democrats talk about unity, but are trying to silence dissent. This latest effort is a flagrant abuse of the Senate ethics process and a flagrant attempt to exact partisan revenge, he said. A spokeswomen for Cruz said in objecting Cruz used a process authorized by federal law for 150 years and noted he was supported by other senators. Sen. Cruz has been consistent, forceful, and unequivocal condemning political violence whether from the Left or from the Right, she said. A Cruz aide added that his fundraising notices sent during the Capitol siege were automated. Blumenthal and the other Democrats said in the complaint the Ethics Committee should also offer recommendations for strong disciplinary action for Hawley and Cruz, including up to expulsion or censure, if warranted. Blumenthal said he personally added that line. The Ethics Committee comprises six senators, evenly split by party. The letter was also signed by Democratic Sens. Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island, Ron Wyden of Oregon, Tina Smith of Minnesota, Mazie Hirono of Hawaii, Tim Kaine of Virginia and Sherrod Brown of Ohio. Whitehouse and Sen. Pat Leahy, D-Vt., who serve on the Senate Judiciary Committee, previously called for Cruz and Hawley to step down from the committee while the Department of Justice investigates the events at the Capitol. Blumenthal also sits on the committee and said Thursday night he had to think about whether Cruz and Hawley should step down. Another Democrat on the committee, Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., this week defended Cruz and Hawleys right to object to certifying the election results. But Blumenthal said he thought it would be hard to continue to work with Cruz and Hawley after their actions on Jan. 6. He noted hes had pitched battles with them in the past on matters of policy. Their objections to certifying the vote are in a different category, going beyond just a disagreement on the issues, Blumenthal said. What they did was to essentially undermine our democracy by adding powerful fuel to the fantasies and falsehoods that brought those that incited the armed insurrection. They did it as an opportunistic political stunt. Blumenthal said the nation wants compromise and unity but without sacrificing ideals. Other colleagues may be much more aligned and sympathetic to those ideals and goals than some who fanned the flames of mob attack on our democracy, he said. Working with some of them will be very deeply challenging if at all possible and may be not possible. While some Republicans withdrew their objections to certifying the election results after a mob broke into the Capitol, forcing lawmakers into lock-down and causing the deaths of five people, Hawley and Cruz led objection efforts in the Senate. Eight senators and over 100 House Republicans voted in favor of objections, saying they wanted a commission to study possible voter fraud and debate what they viewed were irregularities in how the election was conducted. Allegations of widespread voter fraud in the 2020 election have not been sustained in any court and little or no credible evidence of it has emerged. These Republicans have faced swift backlash including donors suspending political contributions, calls for their resignations and a canceled book deal for Hawley, who later found a new publisher. emilie.munson@hearstdc.com; Twitter: @emiliemunson The Queensland Council for Civil Liberties has warned that the emergency powers granted to the states Chief Health Officer cannot be extended indefinitely. The council was one of many advocacy groups that gave submissions to the public hearing of the parliamentary committee examining a proposed extension of Jeannette Youngs powers. Queensland Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young says she doesnt use her special powers lightly. Credit:Jono Searle/Getty They are set to expire in April and the extension would move the end date to September 30. All bodies that gave submissions supported the current extension of powers, but with significant caveats that they had to be balanced with consultation and oversight. 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) * Username This is the name that will be displayed next to your photo for comments, blog posts, and more. Choose wisely! 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. Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-22 16:31:37|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close HANOI, Jan. 22 (Xinhua) -- The Vinh Tan 1 thermal power plant, located in southern Vietnam's Binh Thuan province and mainly funded by a consortium under China Southern Power Grid, was awarded a prize of excellence in construction quality by Vietnam's Ministry of Construction. At an awarding ceremony held in the Vietnamese capital Hanoi on Thursday, the power plant was also conferred with an award of excellence in operation by the country's biggest electricity company Vietnam Electricity (EVN). The construction of the power plant started in July 2015, and the plant was put into full commercial operation in November 2018, around 200 days ahead of the contractual schedule. As of Jan. 16 this year, the two power units of the project have generated more than 20 billion kWh of energy, and contributed to around 4 percent of Vietnam's on-grid energy per year. "We have been aiming at building an advanced, reliable and green demonstrative power plant, and are making sure its quality, social benefits and environmental protection can stand the test of time," said Tang Hongjian, chairman of China Southern Power Grid International, via video link at the ceremony. "We want to build the power plant into a project that symbolizes China-Vietnam friendship and a model project that demonstrates the pragmatic cooperation between the two countries," he said. Pham Hong Phuong, vice president of EVN, spoke highly of the power plant's production and management, saying that the power plant has been operating stably with a high use ratio and has generated a considerable amount of electricity, especially during dry seasons when hydropower stations cannot produce that much power. "The power plant has been significant to alleviating the power shortage in southern Vietnam, and has contributed to power security," he said at the event. Enditem Regulatory News: This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210122005409/en/ Emilie GERMANE General Secretary of SFL (Photo: Business Wire) SFL (Paris:FLY) announces the departure of Francois Sebillotte, General Secretary. Francois Sebillotte joined SFL in 2000 as Legal Director, before being promoted to General Secretary the following year. Nicolas Reynaud, Chief Executive Officer, said: "Francois has played an active role in the Company's development, in particular by organising the structure of the Legal, Audit, IT and HR departments for which he was responsible. I would like to extend my thanks to him here for his contribution to the success of SFL." Francois Sebillotte said: "I am proud to have spent more than 20 years contributing to building SFL's reputation. The exceptional quality of its portfolio, its capacity to adapt to changing client habits and needs, and the professionalism of its teams are all key assets for a property player during a period of rapid change." Emilie Germane has been appointed General Secretary of SFL, reporting to Dimitri Boulte, Managing Director. Emilie Germane began her career at SFL in 2016 as Legal Director and joined the Management Committee in 2020. A trained lawyer and a graduate of ESSEC business school, Emilie previously held positions in the real estate departments at law firms Lacourte Balas Associes and Lefevre Pelletier Associes, before joining the Legal Department of Club Mediterranee in 2009. About SFL Leader in the prime segment of the Parisian commercial real estate market, Societe Fonciere Lyonnaise stands out for the quality of its property portfolio, which is valued at 7.2 billion and is focused on the Central Business District of Paris (cloud.paris, Edouard VII, Washington Plaza, etc.), and for the quality of its client portfolio, which is composed of prestigious companies in the consulting, media, digital, luxury, finance and insurance sectors. As France's oldest property company, SFL demonstrates year after year an unwavering commitment to its strategy focused on creating a high value in use for users and, ultimately, substantial appraisal values for its properties. Stock market: Euronext Paris Compartment A Euronext Paris ISIN FR0000033409 Bloomberg: FLY FP Reuters: FLYP PA S&P rating: BBB+ stable outlook View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210122005409/en/ Contacts: SFL Thomas Fareng +33 (0)1 42 97 27 00 t.fareng@fonciere-lyonnaise.com Evidence Gregoire Silly +33 (0)6 99 10 78 99 gregoire.silly@evidenceparis.fr www.fonciere-lyonnaise.com Neetu Kapoor Relives Cherished Memories With Late Husband Rishi Kapoor On Their 41st Wedding Anniversary Neetu Kapoor took to social media today remembering late husband Rishi Kapoor on their wedding anniversary. The actress who has since Rishi Kapoors passing last year, solemnly shared on social media how much she misses the late actor, posted a video montage of their time together. The curated video included several pictures from their wedding, films and social events where they were seen together. In the caption, she wrote, Justttt with a heartbreak emoji and added, Would have been 41 years today. View this post on Instagram A post shared by neetu Kapoor. Fightingfyt (@neetu54) Rishi and Neetu Kapoor tied the knot on 22 January 1980. The real-life couple has always been one of Bollywoods on-screen favorites in films like Amar Akbar Anthony, Kabhie Kabhie, Khel Khel Mein and after their wedding in films like Do Dooni Char, and Love Aaj Kal. The veteran actor died on April 30, 2021 after a two year battle with leukemia in Mumbai. He had returned to Mumbai in 2019 after spending a year with Neetu in New York where he was getting treated. On returning to India the late actor in an interview with a leading publication had humbly credited his wife for giving him the strength to battle cancer and said she stood by him like a rock and shouldered all his responsibilities. Neetu Kapoor resumed work several months after Rishis death with the film Jug Jugg Jeyo where she will be seen opposite actor Anil Kapoor. The film also stars Kiara Advani and Varun Dhawan. She frequently posts about missing Rishi on her social media handle. DTMB's celebration of giving DTMB's celebration of giving Michigan Department of Technology, Management & Budget (DTMB) employees have a tradition of giving to others every December. This year, several teams have continued to find ways to help others during the COVID-19 pandemic. Since 2003, team members from DTMB Agency Services supporting the Michigan Department of Health & Human Services have been participating in the Salvation Army Adopt-a-Family project. This year, the team helped a family with five children add a little fun to their holiday celebrations. The team ordered gifts online, made monetary donations, and one person even made warm, cute fleece blankets for each of the children. Other offices throughout the department also participated in the Adopt-A-Family program to help families in need enjoy the holidays. The DTMB Director's Office and senior leaders also continued their tradition, adopting three families this year, with seven children in total, ages 2-12. The Design and Delivery Services teams of DTMBs Infrastructure and Operations division also have a long-standing holiday tradition of participating in the Adopt-a-Family charity drive, adopting two families this year. Staff purchased clothing, toys, and much needed household items, and raised an additional $1,000 to help these families during their time of need. A team at the Office of Retirement Services (ORS) adopted a family of eight this holiday season. It was a little different this year trying to get everything together virtually, ORS analyst Jennifer Dunavant said. Some people donated money, some had items shipped to my house, others dropped off their items. During this tough time, we just wanted to make a family's Christmas a little brighter. Julie Gilbert, sister of project manager Jana Rolston, is a developmental kindergarten teacher in Charlotte Public Schools. Her class of 16 kids were disappointed when school went totally virtual before the holidays due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. DTMBs Enterprise Portfolio Management Organization decided to help them out with the Christmas spirit and bought the kids a few things to put smiles on their faces during the pandemic. In less than 10 days, the team pulled together toys and presents for the class, including gifts specifically for several of the students in the class that have special needs. The team from Agency Services supporting the Michigan Department of Transportation celebrated their ninth annual Diwali celebration virtually. The team hosted a lunch time video meeting in lieu of their usual in-person celebration. They also compiled a video in recognition of Diwali. The team uses their annual celebration to help those in need, and this year was no exception. Their donations to the Red Cross Disaster Recovery surpassed all previous years, with a collection of $770. DTMB's Office of Continuous Improvement staff donated money towards purchasing items for veterans at the Grand Rapids Home for Veterans. Items were selected from a list of needs and wants that had been posted on Facebook. OCI staff donated more than $361, resulting in the purchase of the following items: 100 AA batteries 100 AAA batteries 192 coffee K-cups 42 cocoa K-cups 36 Gillette disposable razors 66 tubes of Chapstick 2 Remington 3-head electric razors 2 Wahl Groomsman Electric Beard & Hair/Nose trimmer combo sets 3 electric beard trimmers 36 Pure Protein Bars 12 Cliff Bars Since the Grand Rapids Home for Veterans is currently not allowing visitors due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the items were ordered online and sent to the home to allow for contactless delivery. When deciding which organization to support this year, OCI chose the Grand Rapids Home for Veterans not only in appreciation of the service veterans have provided to our nation, but also due to the "inside view" OCI gained when they worked with the organization on process improvements. When the OCI staff was onsite, they were always warmly received by the veteran residents. Additionally, at least one OCI staff member has a family member that resided there. These are just a few of the examples of the ways DTMB teams help support the communities in which we live, work, and play. More information and stories can be found at DTMB Cares. London: After Queen Elizabeth II did not make a reference to it in her traditional speech on Wednesday that marks the opening of the UK Parliament, US President Donald Trump's proposed state visit to the UK this year looks in doubt. The state visit, which was expected around August/September and according to some reports even October this year, has been at the centre of a number of protests and controversy. There had been speculation that the visit may be postponed this year to avoid Trump being greeted by protesters outside Downing Street. The Queen's Speech only contained a reference towel coming King Felipe and Queen Letizia of Spain in July even though British Prime Minister Theresa May had extended an invitation for a state visit to the US President on behalf of the British monarch during her visit to Washington in January, which had been accepted. Read more: Republican wins Georgia election, blow to anti-Trump effort: Report "An invitation has been extended and accepted. The visit wasn't mentioned in the Queen's Speech because a date hasn't been fixed yet", a Downing Street statement said on Wednesay. But given that the Queen's Speech usually mentions all state visits planned for the duration of the Parliament, indicates the visit may have been put off indefinitely. White House, however, denied that the Queen's Speech indicated that the state visit had been cancelled. "That is not what she said. She only talked about visits with confirmed dates and we do not yet have a confirmed date, a spokesperson said. There has been considerable opposition in the UK over Trump being accorded all the pomp and pageantry associated with a state visit. Read more: Chinas efforts to rein in N Koreas nuke programme not worked out: US An online petition against such a visit had attracted over 100,000 signatures earlier this year and debated in the House of Commons as a result. There have also been spats between Trump and the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, most recently after in the aftermath of London terrorist attacks earlier this month. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-21 17:23:09|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close A man wearing face mask walks in a clothing market in Bangkok, Thailand, Jan. 21, 2021. Thailand on Thursday confirmed 142 new COVID-19 cases, according to the Center for the COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA). (Xinhua/Rachen Sageamsak) BANGKOK, Jan. 21 (Xinhua) -- Thailand on Thursday confirmed 142 new COVID-19 cases, according to the Center for the COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA). Some 125 of the new cases were domestic infections while 17 others were imported cases, CCSA spokesman Taweesin Visanuyothin told a daily news briefing. Of the domestic cases, 88 were detected among foreign migrants and Thai nationals via active testing, the CCSA spokesman said. The country's mobile testing units were testing about 2,000 to 3,000 foreign migrant workers daily at factories in Samut Sakhon province, where the latest outbreak was first detected in mid-December, Taweesin said. Thailand has so far confirmed 12,795 cases, with 9,842 patients having fully recovered and been released from hospitals while 2,882 others were still hospitalized. The death toll remained at 71, he said. Enditem 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. Dr Anthony Fauci has admitted he was 'knocked out' for a full day by his second dose of COVID-19 vaccine. 'I was hoping that I wouldnt get too knocked out. I did for about 24 hours. Now Im fine,' Dr Fauci said during a Thursday White House press briefing when asked if he'd had his booster shot. The nation's top infectious disease doctor said he was 'fatigued. A little achy. You know. Chilly,' but 'no sick' after his second dose of Moderna's coronavirus vaccine. Those are among the most common side effects of either of the two shots authorized in the US, made by Pfizer and Moderna. But Dr Fauci continued to remind Americans that those side effects are not illness triggered by the vaccine, but the immune system ramping up to fend off the virus. Dr Anthony Fauci said during a Thursday White House briefing that he was 'knocked out' for a full day by fatigue, chills and aches after getting his second dose of Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine on January 19 Dr Fauci revealed he got his second dose of the vaccine on January 19. It came 28 days after he received his first dose of the shot on December 22, on live television. He joined the ranks of other officials and high-profile figures whose vaccinations were televised to encourage Americans to get theirs, including President Biden, former Vice President Pence and three former US presidents: Obama, Bush and Clinton. Former President Trump, who had COVD-19 last fall, did not publicly get vaccinated. It is unclear whether he had the shot behind closed doors. Americans' confidence in vaccines has improved since the summer, when only about half of US adults said they planned to get the shot. By the end of December, that share had risen to 60 percent, according to Pew Research. Vaccine hesitancy threatens to undermine the critical rollout of vaccines. Despite the rise in confidence among the general public, health officials were taken aback when high rates of health care workers - who were given top priority for vaccination - refused the shot. In Ohio, some 60 percent of health care workers turned down the vaccine initially. One Illinois veterans home said that 80 percent of its staff said 'no' to getting vaccinated. Dr Fauci received his first dose of the vaccine on live television on December 22, in an effort to instill confidence in the shot in Americans About 80 percent of people who got Moderna's vaccine in its trial had side effects after the second dose (top and bottom, fourth bar from left in both). Headache, fatigue, aches (myalgia) and chills were most common, suffered by more than 50% of participants (bottom) Surveys showed that Americans' top concerns were that, despite published data from large trials, vaccines were developed too fast and might be unsafe or cause side effects some believed were worse than COVID-19 itself. No deaths have been conclusively linked to either Pfizer's or Moderna's vaccine. About 55 percent of people who got Moderna's shot in its trial reported side effects after the first dose. Eighty percent of participants who got the real vaccine had side effects after the second dose, so doctors warned Americans to be prepared to feel these. Like Dr Fauci, about 70 percent of participants were fatigued after their second dose and more than half were achy or had chills. Headaches were also a common side effect. Anecdotally, dozens of Americans who said they took part in trials for Moderna's and Pfizer's vaccines came forward saying the second dose had left them with significant side effects, with some reporting being in bed for day or more or developing high fevers. Since the rollout began, at least 20 cases of severe allergic reactions to Pfizer's vaccine have been documented. This has been a lesser concern with Moderna's shot, although a batch of 330,000 doses was put on hold in California after seven health care workers there had reactions within 24 hours. Since vaccinations began on December 14, 18.9 million doses of vaccine have been administered in the US. President Biden has set '100 million doses in 100 days' as the goal of his first four-and-a-half months in office. New Delhi: Aam Aadmi Party and CPI (M) leaders on Thursday slammed Union minister M Venkaiah Naidu for his comment that seeking loan waivers had become a fashion. While AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal said the comment exposed his bias towards the rich, CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury asked if the government would now term farmer suicides fashionable. Will this govt now say that Farmer suicides are also fashionable? We need to do more than loan waivers for our farmers, not mock at them. (sic), Yechury tweeted. Kejriwal was equally scathing. You dont see a fashion in it when you waive loans of the rich. But when it comes to waiving farmers loans, you see it as a fashion. This is not right. You waive a particular individuals loan, but not that of crores of farmers. This shows the kind of politics you engage in, he told reporters. Also Read | BJP 'back-stabbed' farmers by not implementing Swaminathan Commission report: Arvind Kejriwal Urban Development Minister Naidu had said at an event in Mumbai on Thursday that seeking loan waivers had become a fashion now but it was not the final solution and should be considered in extreme situations. Also Read: Arvind Kejriwal writes to Anil Baijal, suggests him to hold Janata Darbar on lines of AAP govt For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Garda-killer Aaron Brady got more than 1.6m in legal aid during his trial for the murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe. Brady (29) was handed the minimum 40-year jail sentence last October after being convicted of Det-Gda Donohoes killing. The 41-year-old father of two was shot dead during a botched armed robbery raid at Lordship Credit Union in Co Louth in 2013. Read More It can now be revealed that Bradys defence team was awarded 1,604,404 in legal aid. The bill could rise because Brady, from New Road in Crossmaglen, Co Armagh, is to appeal his conviction. The legal costs were released by the Department of Justice after a Freedom of Information request was made by this newspaper. A breakdown of the expenditure shows payments to: Three senior counsel totalling 737,629 Four junior counsel totalling 667,476 And two solicitors totalling 199,299 Once VAT is factored in, the costs will be even higher. Aside from the 1.6m lawyer costs, three expert witnesses received 20,823, while a further three expert witnesses received 13,845. Legal sources said the bills, while appearing large, reflected a highly complex case the longest murder trial in the history of the State. It began on January 27 last year and sat for 118 days, during which 139 witnesses were called to give evidence, including the accused. In August the jury found Brady guilty of capital murder by a majority verdict of 11 to one. Jurors accepted the prosecution case he had fired the fatal shot during the raid at Lordship Credit Union in Dundalk on January 25, 2013. Brady had denied involvement, instead claiming he was moving laundered diesel waste cubes at a yard in south Armagh at the time. On the night he died, Mr Donohoe was on an armed cash escort when it was ambushed by a five-man gang. In a bid to avoid justice, Brady moved to New York, where, it was said, he wore the shooting of Det-Gda Adrian Donohoe like a badge of honour. During the trial, two key witnesses testified they heard him admit to shooting a garda in Ireland. Brady was described as a skilled and practised liar. He admitted lying when giving an account of his movements to gardai the day after the murder and again 10 days later, claiming he lied as he was trying to disguise the fact he was moving laundered diesel waste. Read More The Department of Justice said it could not comment on individual cases. The provision of criminal legal aid in circumstances where a person is unable to fund their own criminal defence has been established as a constitutional right in Irish law, it said. Set fees are paid to legal practitioners in line with regulations. Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron addresses the media following the return of a grand jury investigation into the death of Breonna Taylor, in Frankfort, Ky., Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2020. Of the three Louisville Metro police officers being investigated, one was indicted. (AP Photo/Timothy D. Easley) PHOTO:AP Photo/Timothy D. Easley KY to Study Warrant Process After Taylor Shooting By The Associated Press LOUISVILLE - Kentuckys attorney general has formed a task force to study the search warrant process nearly a year after the fatal shooting of Breonna Taylor.Officers used a narcotics warrant to enter her home.Attorney General Daniel Cameron says the Taylor shooting put significant attention on the safe execution of search warrants in Kentucky.Cameron was the special prosecutor who investigated the police actions on the night of Taylors death.No officers were charged in her death.Cameron said the new task force would convene as often as necessary and should complete its work by the end of the year. [January 22, 2021] Northstar Capital, LLC Announces Successful Raise of $500 Million for Parallel Fund Strategy Northstar Capital, LLC ("Northstar"), a dedicated financing partner to private equity sponsors focused on the lower middle market, is pleased to announce the final close of its parallel fund strategy comprised of Northstar Mezzanine Partners VII L.P. (NMP VII) and Northstar Mezzanine Partners SBIC L.P. (NMP SBIC). Together, NMP VII and NMP SBIC provide Northstar with nearly $500 million of capital to invest in support of small businesses. NMP SBIC is Northstar's first fund to be licensed as a Small Business Investment Company ("SBIC") by the U.S. Small Business Administration ("SBA"). Since its founding in 1993, Northstar has secured nearly $2.0 billion of capital in support of more than 140 small businesses. "The entire Northstar team is grateful for the continued trust and support that our investors have placed in us across three decades," commented Douglas Mark, Managing Partner."The Northstar team's collective experience, dedication to a single, disciplined strategy and performance results resonates within the investor community." To date, Northstar has made nine platform investments via NMP VII and NMP SBIC, highlighting the favorable environment for Northstar's strategy. "The parallel fund strategy is off to a great start, as 2020 presented us with many opportunities to support our sponsor relationships with patient capital and creative financing solutions," observed Christopher Kocourek, Managing Partner. About Northstar Capital, LLC Northstar Capital, LLC (www.northstarcapital.com) is an investment management company that specializes in credit strategy funds that originate and manage junior capital investments and equity co-investments in lower middle-market companies. With offices in Minneapolis, Minnesota and Fargo, North Dakota. Northstar has secured nearly $2.0 billion in capital alongside private equity firms in support of more than 140 small businesses. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210122005430/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] NEW YORK, Jan. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, announces it has filed a class action lawsuit on behalf of purchasers of the securities of Walmart Inc. (NYSE: WMT) between March 30, 2016 and December 22, 2020, inclusive (the "Class Period"). The lawsuit seeks to recover damages for Walmart investors under the federal securities laws. To join the Walmart class action, go http://www.rosenlegal.com/cases-register-2014.htmlhttp://www.rosenlegal.com/cases-register-1961.html or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] or [email protected] for information on the class action. According to the lawsuit, defendants throughout the Class Period made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) the Company knowingly filled prescriptions that were issued by so-called "pill-mill" prescribers; (2) the Company filled thousands of prescriptions that showed obvious red flags, including highly-dangerous cocktails of drugs, (3) the Company's managers made it difficult for Walmart pharmacists to comply with their legal obligations by pressuring them to fulfill as many orders as possible; (4) hence, the Company's pharmacy revenues were inflated because the Company filled thousands of invalid prescriptions in violation of the Controlled Substance Act dispensing requirements; (5) the aforementioned conduct would subject the Company to regulatory scrutiny; and 6) as a result, Defendants' statements about Walmart's business, operations and prospects were materially false and misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis at all relevant times. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than March 22, 2021. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation. If you wish to join the litigation, go to http://www.rosenlegal.com/cases-register-2014.htmlhttp://www.rosenlegal.com/cases-register-1961.html or to discuss your rights or interests regarding this class action, please contact Phillip Kim, Esq. of Rosen Law Firm toll free at 866-767-3653 or via e-mail at [email protected] or [email protected]. NO CLASS HAS YET BEEN CERTIFIED IN THE ABOVE ACTION. UNTIL A CLASS IS CERTIFIED, YOU ARE NOT REPRESENTED BY COUNSEL UNLESS YOU RETAIN ONE. YOU MAY RETAIN COUNSEL OF YOUR CHOICE. YOU MAY ALSO REMAIN AN ABSENT CLASS MEMBER AND DO NOTHING AT THIS POINT. AN INVESTOR'S ABILITY TO SHARE IN ANY POTENTIAL FUTURE RECOVERY IS NOT DEPENDENT UPON SERVING AS LEAD PLAINTIFF. Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm or on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm. Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 3 each year since 2013. Rosen Law Firm has achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company. Rosen Law Firm's attorneys are ranked and recognized by numerous independent and respected sources. Rosen Law Firm has secured hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Contact Information: Laurence Rosen, Esq. Phillip Kim, Esq. The Rosen Law Firm, P.A. 275 Madison Avenue, 40th Floor New York, NY 10016 Tel: (212) 686-1060 Toll Free: (866) 767-3653 Fax: (212) 202-3827 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] www.rosenlegal.com SOURCE Rosen Law Firm, P.A. Related Links www.rosenlegal.com Greg Sukiennik has worked at all three Vermont News & Media newspapers and was their managing editor from 2017-19. He previously worked for ESPN.com, for the AP in Boston, and at The Berkshire Eagle in Pittsfield, Mass. NEARLY 120 social homes were refurbished and re-let by Limerick City and County Council during 2020, it has been revealed. The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh OBrien, has greatly welcomed the fact that last year's Voids Stimulus Programme exceeded targets in Limerick and across the country. The minister has specifically thanked Limerick City and County Council for its work in refurbishing and re-letting 117 homes during 2020. "The shutdown in construction activity in the first half of last year has had a big impact on our delivery of new build social housing. The Government decided as part of the July Stimulus to make up for lost ground by allocating 40m for the refurbishment of social housing stock which was otherwise vacant. I asked local authorities to ensure that all homes were refurbished and at the very least allocated by the end of the year. Limerick City and County Council responded with great enthusiasm and their speedy uptake in the scheme is to be highly commended," he said. Overall in 2020, 56.4m was spent to bring thousands of vacant homes back into productive use within the social housing stock. This represents the highest ever yearly spend and the highest number of homes to be refurbished under the voids programme. Over the course of the year 3,607 vacant social homes have been brought back into use, 2,565 of those in just six months. They have been refurbished and allocated to those on the social housing list and those experiencing homelessness. There was also an added economic benefit with further employment generated for local Limerick builders, carpenters, painters, plumbers, electricians and so on, said Minister O'Brien. A royal scandal. Victoria Larson, also known as Queen Victoria on Matt James season of The Bachelor, was once arrested for shoplifting. Read article Larson, 28, was taken to the Leon County Jail in Tallahassee, Florida, in July 2012 for stealing more than $250 worth of merchandise from a local Publix grocery store, according to the arrest report obtained by Us Weekly. While she placed several products into a shopping cart that she took to the stores checkout section, she then put the stolen objects into a reusable shopping bag. The taken items ranged from grocery food to cosmetics. Tallahassee Police Department After exiting the store, the California native was brought back inside and immediately detained until police arrived on the scene. She initially denied the theft before providing a police officer with a written statement. The reality stars mugshot shows her deviating from her brunette locks, trading them out for a blonde mane. Read article The Sun reported that Larson accepted a plea deal in August 2012 and received a six-month probation. She additionally was required to pay hundreds of dollars in fees and attend theft awareness classes. Upon arriving at the Nemacolin Resort in Farmington, Pennsylvania, to compete for James heart in 2020, Larson quickly established herself as the villain. She hopped out of the limo on night one, wearing a tiara on her head. ABC/Craig Sjodin Im Victoria, like the queen, and Im looking for a king with a good heart. So, I heard thats you, King Matt, she told the North Carolina native, 29, during the January 4 premiere. Despite getting into an argument with fellow contestant Marylynn Sienna, she has remained in the running for James heart. Read article Though she has gotten off on the wrong foot with many of her female castmates as well as several viewers, a friend of Larsons told Us exclusively that the Bachelor Nation star is a sweetheart and one of the nicest people they know. The flight attendant is also ignoring the backlash she has received from viewers. Shes not letting all the hate get to her too much, Larsons pal said. Shes asked me for advice because this isnt a situation shes ever had to deal with before, and the advice I gave her was, Its better to be hated than to be forgotten. Its better to be talked about than to not be talked about. And thats what stuck with her. At least people are reacting to her she should see it as a positive thing. MINSK -- A man has been hospitalized in grave condition after setting himself on fire in the central Independence Square in Minsk, where mass protests demanding the resignation of Alyaksandr Lukashenka have been under way since August. Video of the incident on January 22 showed a man engulfed in a fiery ball rolling on the ground for several seconds, with what appears to be a gas canister nearby. One video that captured the incident shows police officers trying to cover him with a blanket to extinguish the fire. The incident took place near the building that houses the government, parliament, Minsk city administration, and the City Council. WARNING: Viewers May Find The Images In This Video Distressing Minsk city administration spokeswoman Natallya Hanusevich said in a statement that the incident was being investigated. Interior Ministry spokeswoman Volha Chamadanava added in a statement that "at this point, it is not possible to give detailed information on the incident." Crisis In Belarus Read our coverage as Belarusians continue to demand the resignation of Alyaksandr Lukashenka amid a brutal crackdown on protesters. The West refuses to recognize him as the country's legitimate leader after an August 9 election considered fraudulent. "The investigative group was dispatched to the site. As soon as we know all the circumstances around the incident, we will let the public know," Chamadanava said. Health Ministry officials said that the man, whose identity was not disclosed, is unconscious and had burns over 50 percent of his body. Belarus has been gripped by a political crisis since August 9, when officials declared Alyaksandr Lukashenka, who has run the country with an iron fist since 1994, the winner of a presidential election. Opposition figures called the vote rigged, with thousands taking to the streets to protest on an almost daily basis. Lukashenkas declaration of victory has not been recognized by Western nations, many of whom have slapped him and other Belarus officials with sanctions for their violent crackdown on the dissent. Angelina Pivarnick and Deena Cortese finally made peace after a 10-month battle on Thursday's episode of Jersey Shore: Family Vacation. The two women had been close friends for a long time and finally were able to put aside their differences after a fight that started at Angelina's wedding. At that event, Deena, 34, Jenni 'JWoww' Farley, 34, and Nicole 'Snooki' Polizzi, 33, made an off-color speech that so upset Angelina, they hadn't talked in nearly a year. Making up: Angelina Pivarnick and Deena Cortese finally made peace after a 10-month battle on Thursday's episode of Jersey Shore: Family Vacation Sitting across from one another at a breakfast table on a group trip to Las Vegas, Deena and Angelina, 34, both admitted that they had carried things too far. 'I'm exhausted from everything,' said a nervous Deena, as Angelina echoed 'Same.' 'I know the speech hit the wrong way,' Deena said, 'but it got bigger than it had to be, taking sides and fighting with each other. Like, it's just crazy.' 'I could have just forgot about it,' Angelina conceded. 'But I was really mad. It wasn't just about me. It was in front of everybody.' Over it: Angelina admitted that she just wanted to move Wedding drama: The two women had been close friends for a long time and finally were able to put aside their differences after a fight that started at Angelina's wedding Deena said it hadn't been done maliciously, and she was hurt Angelina would think that. She suggested that when footage of the speech leaked on social media, Angelina fed into it and Angelina affirmed that she was so angry, she hadn't cared what she said. 'Honestly, I went into a depression,' Deena shared. 'I was crying every night. I'm very sensitive and emotional, and I just went into a hole.' Nightly crying: 'Honestly, I went into a depression,' Deena shared. 'I was crying every night. I'm very sensitive and emotional, and I just went into a hole' She emphasized that the Jersey Shore cast needed to stick together. 'If there's s*** that happens in our family, it has to just stay here,' Deena stressed. 'And then we can move past it on our own time, without so many millions and millions of people.' 'I am sorry about the speech,' she added. 'I am ready to move on.' Saying sorry: 'I am sorry about the speech,' Deena added. 'I am ready to move on' 'I feel the same way,' Angelina replied. 'I'm just over it, and I don't want to talk about it anymore.' Just then two birds snapped at each other near their table and they jumped. 'At least we're not the ones fighting!' Deena exclaimed. Good one: 'At least we're not the ones fighting!' Deena exclaimed after two birds scuffled nearby The whole trip to Las Vegas had been orchestrated by their guy friends as a way to get them back together while also ensuring that everyone had a good time. DJ Pauly D, 40, figured that the two women might break bread together if he invited his new girlfriend Nikki Hall, 26, to dine with them for the first time. He reassured Nikki that the evening was all about two of them, though he did tell her to avoid two words at the table: 'speech' and 'wedding.' New girlfriend: DJ Pauly D, 40, figured that the two women might break bread together if he invited his new girlfriend Nikki Hall, 26, to dine with them for the first time Nikki understood, and walked into the hotel to meet the gang, handing them a box of donuts. She was well-received by the group, who thought she and Pauly looked meant to be. 'I gotta take a photo of this,' said Mike 'The Situation' Sorrentino, 38, as Pauly threw his arms around his 'main piece' Nikki and 'side piece' Vinny Guadagnino, 33. First impressions: Nikki was well-received by the group, who thought she and Pauly looked meant to be Everyone then went to dinner to anticipate the arrival of Deena, who would be dining at the same table as Angelina for the first time in nearly a year. Both women were nervous, with Deena telling the cameras that it felt 'like a death sentence.' 'I really, really, really want it to go well,' Angelina emphasized in her own confessional, vowing to remain silent. High hopes: 'I really, really, really want it to go well,' Angelina emphasized in her own confessional, vowing to remain silent As she sat down, Deena saw that Angelina was unusually calm, like she was 'on tranquilizers.' She spoke the first words she'd said to her in 10 months: 'Angelina, do you mind passing me the bruschetta?' Shocked, Pauly pulled his chair back and mouthed 'Wow,' astounded that the two had spoken. First words: Deena spoke the first words she'd said to her in 10 months: 'Angelina, do you mind passing me the bruschetta?' 'Passing the bruschetta is the Italian version of passing the olive branch,' he said privately. With that out of the way, the couples at the table soon fell into amicable conversation, discussing their favorite recipes, appliances, tea flavors and Christmas decorations. It was so boring, Vinny complained that it felt like he was 'in Bed, Bath and Beyond.' Peace words: 'Passing the bruschetta is the Italian version of passing the olive branch,' Paul D said privately Dinner ended as well as it had begun, and Angelina ended up riding scooters around the hotel with the boys. Vinny tried to keep everyone amused by doing cartwheels, but then made a massive blunder. 'If you want, I can re-enact the speech,' he joked, speaking the word he'd been forbidden to say. So boring: Vinny Guadagnino complained about the couples being boring 'Chooch!' Pauly teased Vinny, as Angelina said, 'You suck!' and Deena moaned, 'Oy vey.' Back in her room afterward, Deena realized that it hadn't been as bad as she thought it might be. The next morning, she felt optimistic enough to ask Angelina to meet for breakfast by the pool. Bold move: Deena felt optimistic enough to ask Angelina to meet for breakfast by the pool Meanwhile in New Jersey, Jenni was recuperating from plastic surgery on her face, wishing that she could be in Las Vegas with everyone. Jenni had told Deena not to make up with Angelina, and had no idea that they were sitting down together at the moment. Deena looked at Angelina over their breakfast table, and began to apologize. Missed calls: Meanwhile in New Jersey, Jenni was recuperating from plastic surgery on her face, wishing that she could be in Las Vegas with everyone Angelina apologized, too, and they laughed at how silly they had both been. Things went so well, Deena told Angelina that she was pregnantsomething she hadn't planned on doing. 'I knew it,' Angelina replied, noting that her psychic grandmother had already told her. Prior knowledge: 'I knew it,' Angelina replied, noting that her psychic grandmother had already told her that Deena was pregnant Newly bonded, the two old roommates decided to pull a prank on the guys in the cast. Deena went to see them in the gym, where they were doing their usual workout routine. She immediately launched into Vinny for having ruined everything the night before, and he looked properly embarrassed. Gym prank: Newly bonded, the two old roommates decided to pull a prank on the guys in the cast with Deena telling them she was upset and leaving 'I think this whole thing is just a lot for me,' Deena told the men, with tears in her voice. 'I had [my husband] Chris book me a flight. I'm gonna leave. So I'm gonna go up and pack.' 'No! Stop it!' Mike, Vinny, Pauly and Ronnie Ortiz-Magro, 35, called out, upset. 'I love you guys,' Deena said, hugging them goodbye. 'And Nikki was so nice. And I really did have a good time, up until' Farewell hug: 'I love you guys,' Deena said, hugging them goodbye after scolding Vinny. 'And Nikki was so nice. And I really did have a good time, up until' 'I'm sorry! It was an accident,' Vinny begged, to which she countered, 'It didn't seem like it.' 'It was insensitive,' Pauly readily agreed. 'I'll text you guys when I get to the airport,' Deena said, walking out the door. Oscar worthy: Denna showed off her acting skills with a choked voice and tears in her eyes while pranking the guys 'Well, I'm gonna go kill myself,' Vinny moaned. Deena met Angelina by the pool and bragged, 'I frickin' killed it. I'm like the best actress ever.' The duo walked back into the gym, and the guys started jumping up and down and hugging them. Prank champions: The duo walked back into the gym, and the guys started jumping up and down and hugging them 'That's what they get for putting me through all the pranks over the last 10 years,' Deena crowed. 'Deena had me,' Ronnie said in a confessional. 'I'm like, ''You should be an actress, girl. What the f*** you doing on Jersey Shore?'' Deena told them all then that Vinny's mention of the speech had actually brought her and Angelina together, because she realized that both of them had been laughing at it. 'See?' Vinny cried, jubilant. 'Let's go!' 'Deena and Angelina are together, laughing,' Pauly marveled. 'We did it, fellas.' Jersey Shore: Family Vacation will return next week on MTV. Weve commented extensively over the last 10 months on the Cantrell administrations up-and-down handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, and for go DRDO develops critical near isothermal forging technology for aero-engines 28 May 2021 | 6:36 PM New Delhi, May 28 (UNI) Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) on Friday said that it has established the near isothermal forging technology to produce all the five stages of high-pressure compressors (HPC) discs out of difficult-to-deform titanium alloy using its unique 2000 MT isothermal forge press for aero-engines. see more.. Jaishankar discusses Covid relief, trade and economy ahead of talks with Austin and Blinken Friday 28 May 2021 | 5:11 PM New Delhi, May 28 (UNI) External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar discussed India-US healthcare partnership to address the Covid challenge, and two-way trade, technolgy and business collaboration ahead of his talks with Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defence Secretary Llyod Austin on Friday. see more.. Indian Navy conducts skill development training for maintenance of Oxygen plants 28 May 2021 | 4:15 PM New Delhi, May 28 (UNI) With an aim to run the Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) Oxygen plants efficiently, the Visakhapatnam Naval Dockyard, under the Eastern Naval Command commenced a Skill Development Training Program on Maintenance of PSA Oxygen Plants based on discussions between the Indian Navy and Niti Ayog. see more.. Construction work, reopening of factories will be allowed from May 31: Kejriwal 28 May 2021 | 4:07 PM New Delhi, May 28 (UNI) Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday announced that the ongoing COVID-19-induced lockdown will be relaxed for construction work and operation of factories from May 31 onwards keeping the livelihood of daily wagers in the mind as the situation in the National Capital is coming under control. see more.. The U.S. Navy has increased by $43.2 million its contract with General Dynamics Mission Systems for work on ballistic missile submarines. The work will take place mostly at the companys Pittsfield facility. Serum Institute of India, the world's largest vaccine maker, is already mass producing and stockpiling AstraZeneca's Covishield shot, while Indian biotech players Bharat Biotech and Zydus Cadila are developing their own vaccine candidates (Representative File Photo) Even as the investigation is underway to find out the reasons for the breakout of fire on January 21 at Serum Institute of India (SII) vaccine factory in Pune that killed at least five people and gutted equipment worth hundreds of crores of rupees, experts and industry executives have expressed shock and called the fire incident of this scale "unusual". The fire broke out at a building that makes Rotavirus and BCG vaccines, near the company's existing production plant at Manjri, a Pune suburb, where vaccine manufacturing equipment was being installed for the upcoming production of non-COVID vaccines. Adar Poonawalla, CEO of SII, told CNBC-TV18 that new product launches will be hit, and there will be major equipment damage and more than Rs 1000 crore in revenue loss over the next one to two years due to the fire. Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray tweeted that an "electrical fault" caused the fire at the plant. To be sure, SII is the largest vaccine maker in the world by volume, with a strong track record of regulatory and quality compliance and industrial safety. 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 "If you have a facility where let's say an expansion or construction is going on then one can understand that it is new facility, but this is a facility which has been producing rotavirus vaccine -- there could be some renovation, repair or expansion that might have been going on; we don't have exact details, but this (fire) is quite unusual," said Davinder Gill, former CEO of Hilleman Laboratories. Gill was previously global head of Biotherapeutics at Pfizer. Gill explains that unlike the pharmaceutical industry, especially bulk drug units that have chemical reactors involving risky chemical reactions that are prone to fire accidents, vaccine facilities have bioreactors to grow microorganisms and are generally safe from a fire standpoint. But they also have tanks that hold solvents and buffers. "The inflammable thing that vaccine manufacturing uses is ethanol (alcohol), and the manufacturers are trying to limit or eliminate the use of it," Gill said. Ethanol is used as a solvent in certain vaccines like Haemophilus influenzae type B HIB, for precipitation of DNA (or washing) in vaccine manufacturing. Another top executive of a vaccine company who didn't want to be named said that he was surprised at the intensity of the fire. "We still don't have details, electrical fault is claimed as a possible reason. Electric short circuits or build-up of static electricity can happen, but are rare," the executive said. "This isn't any old legacy plant; it is a newly built state-of-the-art manufacturing site making WHO prequalified vaccines - there will be a fire safety plan. Even the workers couldn't escape from fire to safety is both sad and bizarre," the executive added. Accident or Sabotage? Experts say the companies that are making COVID-19 vaccines can be highly vulnerable targets for cyber attacks and other sophisticated attempts of sabotage. "I think we have to be careful not to rush to conspiracy theories, but those investigating should examine the angle of sabotage, given the circumstances that we live in," Gill said. The vaccine executive quoted above said that when he saw the visuals of the fire at the SII plant on TV, the first thing he did was to immediately call his relevant department head and instructed him to beef up the security at the plants. "Security and surveillance at vaccine manufacturing plants are taken very seriously because we deal with biohazard material," the executive said. President Muhammadu Buhari has for the second time, blamed the banditry in Zamfara State on the mining activities in the region. The president stated this on Thursday evening in a statement by presidential spokesperson, Garba Shehu. Mr Buhari had in 2019 banned all mining activities in Zamfara, saying they were to blame for the rise in banditry. That ban, over a year ago, has not stopped the killings and kidnappings by bandits in Zamfara and neighbouring states. Thousands of persons have either been killed or kidnapped by the bandits in Zamfara, Katsina, Sokoto, Niger, Kaduna and Nasarawa states since Mr Buhari assumed office. There had been suspicions that the criminality is a fallout of the artisanal mining of gold, lead and other mineral resources in those areas. Fresh meeting The statement by Mr Shehu said the president has ordered a fresh meeting in a bid to put an end to the resurgence. He said an order has been given to the National Security Adviser (NSA), Babagana Monguno, to convene a meeting that will draw up a pathway to ending the menace. President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered for an immediate response to rising cases of bandit attacks on communities in Zamfara State. In a directive to the National Security Adviser, Major-General Babagana Monguno (Rtd), the President ordered that there must be a clear pathway to ending the resurgent banditry that has continued to cost lives and the displacement of thousands of families from their towns and villages, he said. Mr Shehu suggested that the presidents latest directive was because of a letter he received from a Zamfara official. He said the Speaker of the Zamfara State House of Assembly, Nasir Magarya, had written a letter, appealing to the president to intervene in the matter. In this respect, a meeting is soon to take place that will deliberate on security and the issue of illegal mining which is fuelling the crisis in Zamfara State, the statement said. In addition to NSA the convener, the meeting will be attended by Major-General Bashir Magashi (Rtd), Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and Architect Olamilekan Adegbite, Ministers of Defence, Interior, and Mines and Steel respectively. Also to attend the meeting are the Directors-General of the Department of State Services, DSS, and the National Intelligence Agency, NIA. Beyond the problems of bandits and cattle rustlers, the scale of lawlessness has been aggravated by illegal miners who are harvesting resources they have no legal rights to exploit. Official statistics suggest that there are more than 20,000 such miners undermining this important part of the economy, operating in a manner that is extraordinarily harmful and destructive. The result is chaos. This meeting is expected to address these and associated issues of corruption, government oversight and lawlessness, the statement read. ADVERTISEMENT Troubled residents of Zamfara and neighbouring states who have suffered from the bandit attacks will wait to see if the presidents latest directive will lead to a substantial change unlike that of 2019. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) Louisiana will continue to use an expanded version of absentee-by-mail voting for the upcoming spring elections that will fill two U.S. House seats. The coronavirus emergency plan won bipartisan approval from lawmakers in a vote released Thursday. Gov. John Bel Edwards already had announced his support of the plan submitted by Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin. Ballots submitted by lawmakers and released by each chamber showed 80 of 105 House members agreed to the proposal, along with 35 of 39 senators. Voters for the March 20 and April 24 elections will have five coronavirus-related reasons to request an absentee ballot rather than vote in person. News and commentary on organized crime, street crime, white collar crime, cyber crime, sex crime, crime fiction, crime prevention, espionage and terrorism. The Wall Street Journal reported last year about law enforcement agencies using such data. In particular, it found, two agencies in the Department of Homeland Security Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and Customs and Border Protection have used the data in patrolling the border and investigating immigrants who were later arrested. In October, BuzzFeed reported on the existence of a legal memo from the Department of Homeland Security opining that it was lawful for law enforcement agencies to buy and use smartphone location data without a warrant. The departments inspector general has opened an internal review. The military has also been known to sometimes use location data for intelligence purposes. In November, Vices Motherboard tech blog reported that Muslim Pro, a Muslim prayer and Quran app, had sent its users location data to a broker called X-Mode that in turn sold it to defense contractors that work with the U.S. military. Muslim Pro then said it would stop sharing data with X-Mode, and Apple and Google said they would ban apps that use the companys tracking software from phones running their mobile operating systems. The new memo for Mr. Wyden, written in response to inquiries by a privacy and cybersecurity aide in his office, Chris Soghoian, adds to that emerging mosaic. The Defense Intelligence Agency appears to be mainly buying and using location data for investigations about foreigners abroad; one of its main missions is detecting threats to American forces stationed around the world. But, the memo said, the unidentified broker or brokers from which the government buys bulk smartphone location data does not separate American and foreign users. The Defense Intelligence Agency instead processes the data as it arrives to filter those records which appear to be on domestic soil and puts them in a separate database. Agency analysts may only query that separate database of Americans data if they receive special approval, the memo said, adding, Permission to query the U.S. device location data has been granted five times in the past two and a half years for authorized purposes. Robert Kocharyan on years of his leadership in Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia Situation on Armenian-Azerbaijani border is still tense, more on COVID-19 in Armenia, May 28 digest "Armenia" alliance of political parties paying tribute to founder of First Republic Aram Manukyan (LIVE) Yerevan.today: Armenia acting PM not greeted at ruling party's headquarters, citizens call him 'capitulator' Russia MOD reports on maintenance of ceasefire regime in Nagorno-Karabakh Armenia acting MOD meets with Russian counterpart in Moscow Armenia 2nd President: I see possibility of restoring borders of Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast We can provide our army with some key, modernized weapons, says Armenia ex-President Kocharyan Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: Captives issue is not one that any opposition force can resolve OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs release statement on detention of 6 Armenian servicemen by Azerbaijan Armenian acting Deputy PM: Discussion on issues possible only after withdrawal of Azeri troops from Armenia's territory Armenia acting PM on Syunik roads, Russian military posts: This is only place where there are working nuances Armenia acting PM: Process of return of POWs will intensify after upcoming elections Putin congratulates Aliyev on Republic Day 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 Then-U.S. Vice President Joe Biden and Chinese leader Xi Jinping toast during a state luncheon for China at the Department of State in Washington on Sept. 25, 2015. (PAUL J. RICHARDS/AFP via Getty Images) Future of USChina Trade Deal Uncertain as Beijing Fails to Meet Phase One Targets WASHINGTONChina has fallen short on meeting its pledges in the phase one trade agreement signed last year, and the Biden administration will soon commence a review of the deal to determine a proper policy response. Treasury Secretary nominee Janet Yellen said there would be no immediate moves to lift punitive tariffs on Chinese imports that were imposed by the Trump administration. We are closely monitoring Chinas adherence to all of its Phase One commitments, including both the purchase commitments and structural commitments, she said on Jan. 21, in a written response to questions from the Senate Finance Committee following her confirmation hearing this week. The phase one trade deal signed in January 2020 requires Beijing to buy an additional $200 billion worth of U.S. goods and services during 2020 and 2021, compared to 2017 levels. Analysis of Chinese trade data by the Peterson Institute for International Economics (PIIE) showed that China has met about 58 percent of its purchase target of U.S. goods covered by the phase one deal. Through December 2020, Chinas total imports of covered products from the United States were $100.0 billion, compared with the target of $173.1 billion, the PIIE stated in its report. China met only 64 percent of its purchase commitment for U.S. farm goods, 60 percent for manufactured products, and 39 percent for energy products, according to the report. U.S. farm exports have been crucial for the phase one deal, as China was the largest export market for U.S. agriculture in 2017 before the trade war began. U.S. farmers were particularly hard hit by Beijings retaliatory tariffs. China has a fifth of the worlds population, but it has only one-tenth of the worlds arable land. That means the country is heavily dependent on imports of farm products, particularly soybeans, cotton, sorghum, wheat, and nuts. Under the phase one agreement, China was required to increase its U.S. farm purchases by $12.5 billion in 2020 and by $19.5 billion this year from the 2017 baseline level of nearly $24 billion. Last year, the Department of Agriculture expressed disappointment over Beijings slow progress on meeting its pledges in the trade deal. In order to satisfy the deal, Beijing has accelerated its purchases sharply in recent months despite the pandemic. Its unclear how the Biden administration would compel Beijing to follow through on its promises. Yellen, in her response to senators, stated that the Biden administration would engage in a comprehensive review of all aspects of the Trump Administrations trade policies toward China, including how completely Beijing has lived up to the terms of the Phase One Agreement. As part of his review, [Biden] is going to consult with allies to galvanize collective pressure. We need a different approach that actually brings meaningful pressure on China, she said. On Jan. 11, then-Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer praised the Trump administrations trade policies and urged the incoming administration to keep tariffs on China. We transformed the way people think about trade, and we transformed the way the models are, Lighthizer told The Wall Street Journal in an interview. My hope is that that will continue. The Trump administration maintained tariffs on nearly $370 billion worth of Chinese goods, citing Chinas unfair trade policies, including intellectual property theft, forced technology transfers, government subsidies for domestic companies, and restricting foreign access to Chinese markets. The trade deal doesnt fully address these longstanding structural issues. During the signing of the phase one agreement, then-president Donald Trump said he would retain U.S. tariffs as a bargaining chip for the second phase of the deal. After the pandemic, however, he expressed hesitation about negotiating a phase two agreement with China, especially after Beijings mishandling of the COVID-19 outbreak. Its unclear whether the United States will make progress on resolving trade issues with Beijing under the Biden administration. Some experts have expressed skepticism over whether the Chinese regime can truly commit to structural reforms. Yellen said in her written statement: The economic dimension of U.S.-China competition is crucial. And we will take on the challenge of Chinas abusive, unfair, and illegal practices. She criticized China for undercutting American companies by dumping products, erecting barriers, and giving illegal subsidies to corporations as well as engaging in policies that give Chinese companies an unfair technological advantage over U.S. businesses. At least 28 people were killed and more than 70 wounded in a rare twin suicide bombing on a crowded commercial street in the heart of Baghdad on January 20. According to a statement by Iraqi officials cited by sources of AP, one of the two suicide bombers had entered the bustling market and complained of illness, gathering people around him. He then detonated his explosives in a deadly act of violence. Closely following the first blast, the second suicide bomber detonated his explosives as chaos on the street ensued, Iraqi interior ministry officials said. The ministry issued a statement saying that no immediate claim of responsibility for the explosion has been made yet. The blast took place at an open-air market in Tayaran Square of Baghdad. The bombing attack rocked the Bab al-Sharqi commercial area killing the civilians. The attack comes just days ahead of the planned early elections. The Iraqi military troops suspect the Islamic State group behind the deadly explosions. Blood smeared across the commercial second-hand clothing market as remains of human flesh scattered with the blast. Loud shrieks of cries and stampede sent the street in a diary, according to ground reports. The police deployed on the crime scene speculated the casualty to rise. Survivors, that spoke on condition of anonymity, informed the Associated Press that many of the injured rushed to nearby hospitals were wounded seriously. Iraqi Health Ministry mobilized the citys hospitals to treat the bomb blast victims immediately. Read: Salih: Iraq Can't Be 'conflict Arena' For Others Read: Iraq Strikes $2 Billion Prepayment Crude Oil Supply Deal With China's Zhenhua [People and security forces gather at the site of a deadly bomb attack in a market selling used clothes, Iraq. Credit: AP] Iraqi military suspects IS' 'terrorist act' A spokesperson for the Iraqi militarys Joint Operations Command, Maj. Gen. Tahsin al-Khafaji, told AP: This is a terrorist act perpetrated by a sleeper cell of the Islamic State. He further informed that the first suicide bomber had enacted an illness in the middle of a busy street congregating civilians in large numbers nearby before detonating his explosive belt. The second detonated his bomb seconds later. Al-Khafaji said that the terror force IS wanted to prove its existence" as the Iraqi military had nearly rooted out its existence in covert operations. A deadly attack of similar intensity had taken place in 2018 when then Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi had declared victory over the Islamic State group. Militants in Baghdad have routinely targeted the American military forces deployed in the region with IEDs, rockets, and mortar attacks, particularly around the US Embassy in Baghdad's heavily fortified Green Zone, despite an informal truce signed between US-led coalition and Iran-backed armed militia. Footage circulating social media from the open air market capturing one of the blasts in #Baghdad, #Iraq pic.twitter.com/SHhETsOZrN Aurora Intel (@AuroraIntel) January 21, 2021 Read: One Policeman Killed, Dozens Injured In Southern Iraq Clashes Read: Iraq Postpones Date For Early Elections By Four Months (Image Credit: AP) 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. 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 concept worked temporarily for Bush, long enough to get him re-elected. In that case, the alternative reality was that the US-led invasion of Iraq was justified, necessary and successful. All false, and ultimately all seen to be false. But at the time Bush and his vice-president, Dick Cheney, were strikingly successful in misleading their nation. And they managed to do it without the help of so-called social media, truly an Orwellian misnomenclature for one of the most socially divisive forces in contemporary civilisation. Bush had already been re-elected by the time Facebook and Twitter launched operations. Yet Bush had a much easier sell. He had to persuade an America unsettled by the 9/11 attacks that it was cool to invade a faraway Arab country that most Americans already considered a hostile state. He merely had to conflate Iraqs Saddam Hussein with Al Qaedas Osama bin Laden and muddy the waters a bit to win public support for his big lie. Mission accomplished. Trump had the advantage of fully fledged anti-social media to work with. Critically, he also had the advantage of another decade of American failure on his side shocking inequalities of wealth and opportunity, failing wars fought with the lives and limbs of the American underclass, a paralysing opioid plague, ever-deepening cultural divides and racial resentments. The conditions for the rise of an authoritarian were ripe. A couple of centuries of American democracy are feeble defence against these historical forces for human discontent. Indeed, the American historians Will and Ariel Durant predicted as much more than half a century ago. They distilled the threefold warning that emerged from their 11-volume survey, The Story of Civilisation. Even though they were writing in 1968, at a time when democracy was sounder than ever before, as they describe it in their overview essay titled The Lessons of History. Loading One: If race or class war divides us into hostile camps, changing political arguments into blind hate, one side or the other may overturn the hustings with the rule of the sword. Two: If our economy of freedom fails to distribute wealth as ably as it has created it, the road to dictatorship will be open to any man who can persuasively promise security to all. Three: If a war continues to absorb and dominate [a democracy], or if the itch to rule the world requires a large military establishment and appropriation, the freedoms of democracy may one by one succumb to the discipline of arms and strife. The Durants didnt posit that you needed all three or even two of these conditions to overturn a democracy. Any one might suffice. And in America, the first two preconditions were present for Trump to exploit. And arguably some elements of the third as well. Trump exploited these crises by decrying them as American carnage and promising populist solutions. Populism has many definitions; the one I prefer is a political style offering unworkably simplistic solutions to complex problems. Loading One. Fix the race problem by shutting out Muslims and Mexicans and encouraging white supremacists. This only inflamed the hate, which Trump then sought to own and direct. Two. Fix the economy by blaming China and others for problems, putting tariffs on imports and handing out tax cuts. This only aggravated inequality and stoked the national debt, while Trump & Family profited personally. Three. Fix the forever wars by dismissing Americas commitments to US allies and bringing all the troops home. This did offer the prospect of relief to overworked troops, but weakened the Western alliance and encouraged Vladimir Putin in the process. And when circumstance delivered a pandemic, he produced a populist response to that, too. Blame China for inflicting it, and the Democrats and media for perpetuating it. Loading The power of Trumps achievement in overcoming reality was a marvel of manipulation. He knew exactly what he was doing. From the first. Remember his easy dismissal of inconvenient information as fake news. And, challenged by reporters in the act of making things up, he gave a pathbreaking attribution to authoritative sourcing: All I know is whats on the internet. Which, of course, is everything and nothing. When he was inaugurated, his spokeswoman Kellyanne Conway defended Trumps exaggerated claims of the number of adoring fans whod supposedly turned out in support. The administration had simply presented alternative facts, she said. This caused a stir at the time, yet now looks innocent compared with the monstrosity of Trumps perversions of pandemic reality that it would just go away like a miracle while 400,000 Americans died in the meantime. And to the last. In his efforts to overturn Joe Bidens election win, Trump was fully conscious of reality but orchestrated the alternative reality he wanted America to swallow. Some of his cynical manipulations were recorded by the former Sydney Morning Herald reporter Jonathan Swan this week for Axios. President Trump was sitting in the Oval Office one day in late November when a call came in from lawyer Sidney Powell. Ugh, Sidney, he told the staff in the room before he picked up. Shes getting a little crazy, isnt she? Shes really gotta tone it down. No one believes this stuff. Its just too much. Loading He put the call on speakerphone for the benefit of his audience. Powell was raving about a national security crisis involving the Iranians flipping votes in battleground states. Trump pressed mute and laughed mockingly. Powell, a former government attorney, filed four law suits in efforts to overturn the election result. It was clear that Trump recognised how unhinged his outside legal advisers were, wrote Swan: But Trump promoted Powell as part of his team. Sometimes you need a little crazy, Trump told one official. At the outset of his prime ministership Scott Morrison flirted with Trumpist populism. Remember his proposal to mimic Trump by moving the embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem? His whack at negative globalism? His sharing the stage with Trump at a political event in Ohio? BY DAMALI MUKHAYE The Incumbent Lord Mayor of Kampala Mr Erias Lukwago was yesterday re-elected for the third time to be at the helm of Kampala Capital City It was a surprise win for the visibly scared Lukwago who after seeing how the National Unity Platform (NUP) party candidates in the presidential and parliamentary elections had swept the Kampala votes saw a slim win for his return. But people still showed trust in Lukwago after scooping 194,592 votes against NUPs Nabilah Naggayis 60,082 votes. The president of FDC Patrick Amuriat says that Lukwago was voted back because of his personality having served the city dwellers very well for the last two terms. He also attributed Lukwago s win on the personality of the NUP candidate Ms Naggayi whom he said had already lost popularity among voters since she did nothing for people when she was a woman MP for over two terms. The chairperson of Kampala Arcaders Traders Association, Geoffrey Katongole said that since 2011, Lukwago has done his best to fight for informal sector most especially street vendors, boda boda, taxi operators, arcade owners hence they could not vote for Naggayi. Today Partly cloudy skies this morning will become overcast during the afternoon. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 76F. Winds NW at 10 to 15 mph. Tonight Cloudy skies this evening will become partly cloudy after midnight. Low around 45F. WNW winds at 15 to 25 mph, decreasing to 5 to 10 mph. Tomorrow Sunshine and clouds mixed. High around 65F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. If youve ever had the feeling that youd like to step off the planet and live somewhere far, far away as in some distant world a top scientist is suggesting that it could become reality for humans, in as little as 15 years. According to a report in The Sun, that vision was published in a research paper earlier this month by Dr. Janhunen, an astrophysicist at the Finnish Meteorological Institute in Helsinki. Dr. Janhunens blueprint moved in a different direction from the vast majority of conceptions regarding space settlement, the report said. Unlike most plots for distant world settlement, which choose the Moon or Mars, due to their closer proximity to Earth, the report noted that Dr. Janhunen laid out the blueprint for floating mega-satellites around the dwarf planet Ceres, which is about 325 million miles from Earth. The Sun reported that Dr. Janhunen laid out a plan which includes a disk-shaped habitat boasting thousands of cylindrical structures, each home to more than 50,000 people, linked by powerful magnets, and generating artificial gravity by slowly rotating. Dr. Janhunen said in his paper that, Residents would mine resources from Ceres 600 miles below the settlement and haul them back up using space elevators, the report cited. Lifting the materials from Ceres is energetically cheap compared to processing them into habitats, if a space elevator is used, he wrote. Dr. Janhunen added, Because Ceres has low gravity and rotates relatively fast, the space elevator is feasible. Why Ceres and not Mars? Dr. Janhunen added, Ceres the largest object in the asteroid belt is the best destination for off-world settlements due to its Nitrogen-rich atmosphere, which would allow settlers to more easily create Earth-like conditions, compared to Mars carbon dioxide-rich environment. What about the threats of rogue asteroids or space radiation? The report noted, that to address outside threats, Dr. Janhunen, who worked with a number of Finnish researchers on the paper, proposed that giant, cylindrical mirrors placed around the mega-satellite could protect it from bombardment of all kinds. The mirrors would play a dual role - in addition to protection, they would focus sunlight onto the habitat for the growth of crops and other plantlife, the report said. There are a number of issues with the plans. In his paper, Janhunen also highlighted a number of issues with the plans. For starters, theres the not-so-small hurdle of actually flying people to Ceres, the report noted. The Sun stated that a probe sent to Ceres in 2015, by NASA, took a staggering eight years to get there - far too long to sustain hundreds of people using current technology. Also, Dr. Janhunen admitted that the energy required to lift building materials from Ceres to orbit would represent a major obstacle, the report revealed. Dr. Janhunens research, which was published Jan. 6 in the pre-print journal Arxiv, has not yet been peer-reviewed by scientists, the The Sun reported. READ MORE: Connecticut State Police / Contributed Photo WETHERSFIELD A crash has closed a stretch of Route 287 on Friday, according to the state Department of Transportation. The DOT reported the crash at 11:18 a.m. (Bloomberg) -- Oil ended a choppy session lower with worsening global coronavirus outbreaks accentuating concerns over a demand rebound. Futures closed 0.3 percent lower in New York on Thursday. The U.S. dollar declined for a fourth straight session, boosting the appeal of commodities priced in the currency and providing support to prices that had fallen as much as 1.1 percent during the session. Meanwhile, JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut demand estimates for China as lockdowns spread, and in the U.S., a vaccine supply shortage has led New York City to reschedule more than 20,000 appointments. Still, U.S. benchmark crudes nearest contract settled at a premium to the following month for the first time since May. Brents so-called prompt spread is also in a backwardation structure, indicating tighter supply. West Texas Intermediate for March delivery fell 18 cents to settle at $53.13 a barrel. At these price levels, many people in the market are considering the downside risk, said Bart Melek, head of global commodity strategy at TD Securities. We continue to have concerns the oil market may have gone a little too high given where demand is likely to go in the near term. Despite an uncertain short-term consumption outlook, crude is still trading near the highest level in almost a year as investors pile into commodities and global inventories are seen depleting as the year goes on. Theres been a boost to energy use from cold weather, while Saudi Arabias unilateral output cuts and a weak dollar have also buoyed the market. Long-term oriented investors have used set-backs to add exposure to assets which benefit in a post-Covid world, said Giovanni Staunovo, an analyst at UBS Group AG. Despite still rising cases and new mobility restrictions, petroleum inventories have kept falling, indicating that the oil market remains undersupplied. In the U.S., while the industry-funded American Petroleum Institute reported that crude, gasoline and distillate inventories rose last week, it also showed a decline in inventories of more than 4 million barrels at the nations largest storage hub at Cushing, Oklahoma. Meanwhile, the recovery in oil refining margins wont likely persist, JBC Energy said in a note. While margins are still barely workable, crude runs worldwide have been trending above what would be needed to meet demand, according to the note. In Europe, air traffic has edged lower as the pandemic continues to stymie the aviation sector, according to a report from Eurocontrol. A seven-day rolling average shows air traffic was 64.8% below 2019 levels, compared to 61.4% last week. 2021 Bloomberg L.P. Independence Village of Midland is honored to be a recipient of the SeniorAdvisor.com Best of 2021 Award and to win the annual award for the fourth consecutive year. SeniorAdvisor.com is a premier ratings and reviews site for senior care providers in North America, and the award recognizes senior living and home care providers that have consistently received high ratings and reviews from residents and families. The designation from SeniorAdvisor.com is awarded to less than 3% of senior living and home care providers across the United States and Canada. Independence Village of Midland offers independent living, assisted living and memory care services. The community is located at 2325 Rockwell Dr. in Midland. To learn more about the award or Independence Village, call 989-839-2114. When people pay for goods and services with credit cards, merchants incur fees. With the Joe Biden sworn in, and Democrats in control of Congress, tom toms to impose price controls on credit card companies have started beating. InBanks keep piling credit card fees on retailers. Congress must act. an opinion piece published in the American Banker, Alex Ellwood urges Congress to enact legislation regulating card-acceptance fees. Consumers take for granted the enormous convenience, security, value, and innovation provided by Americas payments industry. This has been all the more true during the Covid-19 pandemic, when critical electronic payment systems have worked without a hitch. It would be put at risk. The payments industry is fiercely competitive. Nevertheless, efforts to regulate it like a public utility arent new. In 2008, Senator Dick Durbin and Congressman John Conyers proposed capping card-acceptance fees. In 2010 Durbin managed to include price controls on large, politically-unsympathetic banks debit-card fees in the Dodd-Frank Act. Advocates of payment price controls make a straightforward case. Merchants will benefit if reduced fees are mandated by government. Theyll pass their savings on to consumers. Everyone but the dastardly payments industry wins. Its not so simple. The argument focuses on a single stage in the value chain: transaction costs at the point of sale. But, as the great French political economist Frederic Bastiat observed, actions have seen and unseen consequences. Retailers immediate windfall would be seen. There would be unseen harmful effects as well. Market prices dynamically allocate resources to where theyre most highly valued. They harness the vast intelligence of billions of decisions by hundreds of millions of US consumers, millions of merchants, thousands of banks and processors, and more than half a dozen major networks like Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, PayPal, Star, and NYCE. Its beyond the ken of the cleverest and best-intentioned central planners. Price controls cause shortages and misallocate resources, thereby hurting consumers, always. Charges merchants pay to accept credit and debit cards have three principal components: interchange paid to banks issuing credit and debit cards, processing and licensing fees paid to networks like Mastercard and Visa, and fees paid to their processors. In the US, interchange is often the largest portion. Its used by two-sided payment networks to balance participation on both sides, of spend and acceptance, to maximize holistic value. More cardholder spending, begets more merchant acceptance, begetting more cardholder spending. Retailers are more willing to pay for electronic payments generating sales, than consumers are willing to pay for paying to purchase. Consequently, interchange fees are collected from merchants and passed to financial institutions, issuing credit, debit, and prepay cards, funding issuer innovation, fee-free accounts, and a host of cardholder benefits. The asymmetry of merchants paying more than consumers strikes some as unfair. However, many two-sided markets employ asymmetric pricing to maximize total value. Google, Bing, and Yahoo charge advertisers, not consumers searching. Bars sometimes offer women, but not men, free drinks. Interchange is paid by merchants to issuers and then, to a large degree passed on to consumers in benefits. That is so because consumers payment preferences trump merchants. Suppose, however, consumers were indifferent, that they would happily defer to merchants payment preferences. Interchange would plunge, as wooing merchants would be a path to capturing greater payments share. But ours is a world where Joe and Sally Sixpacks payment preferences count for more than Walmarts and Amazons. The empirical evidence of payment price controls harm is strong. In 2003 the Reserve Bank of Australia slashed credit-card interchange roughly 50%. CRA International observed, consequently, Australian cardholders annual fees increased AUD 480 million, and the value of reward points decreased 23%, primarily in 2003 and 2004. EU central planners imposed price ceilings of 30 and 20 basis points on credit and debit interchange, respectively, in 2015. Accenture (First Annapolis) surveyed changes EU bank issuers made from 2015 through 2017. Seventy percent of 275 card-product changes made by 78 issuers tracked were unfavorable in terms of increased fees and/or reduced rewards. US debit-interchange price controls were implemented in 2011. Exempting community banks popular with Democrats and Republicans, they were more political in design than the EUs and RBAs interventions. In response to lost revenue, banks reduced free checking. Bankrate.coms 2009 survey reported 76% of banks offered free checking. By 2015 only 38% of larger banks surveyed offered free checking with no conditions. Interchange has fueled a raft of issuer innovation including prepaid cards for the un- and underbanked, virtual cards turning payables into a profit center, healthcare cards, and neobanks. Capping it would suppress innovation. Imposing price controls on the entire merchant discount fee would stifle processor innovation and the supply of payment-acceptance to small merchants, which retailer Goliaths might not mind. Advocates of government intervention to reduce card fees are trying to curry favor with merchants, a special interest, albeit a big one. Many also suffer the conceit that their guidance from on-high would be superior to the seemingly messy and chaotic market, with each party consumer, merchant, bank, network, and processor, pursuing its own interest by its compass. In his seminal Economics in One Lesson Henry Hazlitt warned it is a sophismto concentrate on the short-run effects of policies on special groups and to ignore or belittle the long-run effects on the community as a whole. The debate over regulating payment fees has done just that. Consumers have been ignored and banks, networks, and processors belittled. Making the payments industry a public utility would put a damper on innovation and consumer value. Eric Grover is Principal at Intrepid Ventures, providing corporate development and strategy consulting to financial services, payment network, and processing businesses, and to firms serving and investing in the payments space. Yves here. Tom Neuberger gives an incisive and not at all cheery take on what is in store with President Biden. One tidbit stuck out: that the rule of thumb in DC is that $1 million in donations buys $1 billion in favors. No wonder guys in private equity are so rich. The leverage is so much greater. The rule of thumb decades ago at CalPERS was that the price of a $100 million commitment was a steak dinner. Since commitment sizes have gone up over time, if anything, the gearing has increased. By Thomas Neuburger. Originally published at DownWithTyranny! Humpty Dumpty cant be put back together again. Gonna be weird watching them trygonna be dangerous when they finally realize they cant, and go looking for scapegoats & distractions. Mark Ames (@MarkAmesExiled) January 20, 2021 Amid the hagiographic joy, I find myself quite concerned. Not only am I confronted by the next neoliberal president and his or her four (or more) years in office, about which I wrote in 2016, The more I contemplate what could easily lie ahead, the more my stomach hurts and my heart aches. One more neoliberal president is exactly one more than I honestly think I can take. But I also worry, given events that preceded the inauguration, that the reaction express will go entirely off the rails, in exactly the wrong and exactly the worst way possible. The Bad Washed Clean About the first concern, the praise-approaching-idolatory being given to the newly installed president suggests that the Standard Democratic Pattern still holds true; that very bad Democratic presidents are washed and cleansed by the receding light of the even-worse Republican presidents that preceded them. Thus a terrible Bill Clinton followed the much worse Reagan-Bush, and was loved for it. A terrible (yes, he really was bad ) Barack Obama followed the murderous Bush-Cheney regime, and is fawned over still by everyone with a major microphone, licked clean of any fault whenever his name comes up. Yes, he codified the right of presidents to order American citizens killed in his drone-kill program he too was a murderous man but he told a good, if scary, joke about it, so its all good. Even George Bush, the man who killed a million Iraqis, was baptized by the Obama clan and welcomed back to the Church of Your Respectable Betters. And now comes Joe Biden, Slayer of Trump, he of the racist past and the death-by-student-loans future , to bring the ship of state to its former moorings, docked at the wharf that holds our billionaires yachts and their owners available pocket change. (Its pretty well established that the ROI on bribes-cum-campaign-contributions is about 1000:1. That is, a million dollars in contributions buys about a billion worth of favors, benefits and federal contracts and sometimes a whole lot more . Our professional political crooks need a better agent. I volunteer.) Im not sure I can watch the next four years play out, not the many betrayals sprinkled with praiseworthy deeds , nor the protective hagiography that will be spun around him as he blindly wrecks what the rest of us hold dear the ability to live in this economy, the next generations climate, and this generations good sense, though the latter may have been a lost cause since the day Hillary Clinton first screamed Russia and no one told her, No, it was actually your fault. Cracking Down on Everyones Insurrection About more recent events Im even more pessimistic. It looks like the national security state will use the riot, the insurrection, the whatever-it-looked-like-to-you, to clamp down even more on a beleaguered people. The actual insurrectionists, those who stormed the Capitol, comprised, as I understand it, less than half of the whole crowd that gathered outside. Among the latter were a great many people whod simply just had it with our entire political system and didnt mind showing it. We can demonize them, or listen to them. A telling statistic: The news is awash with stories of Republican support for the stormers. According to The Hill, for example , a majority of Republicans more than 35 million voters blame Biden for the mob that stormed the Capitol, and 45 percent of registered GOP voters say they actively supported the actions of the demonstrators. That data can be read in two ways. Its how you read it thats telling: Either half of all Republican voters are so far lost in Clintons basket of deplorables that theres nothing left but to close them off, to scorn and contain their racist, fascist selves. Thus the censorship, the deplatforming, the crackdowns, the inevitable increased shaming. Or half of all Republican voters are as fed up with our well-moneyed leadership class as the whole of the rest of the unmoneyed country is, and theyre happy to join the only mob willing to express that anger for them, even if that mob, God help us, seems inclined toward murder. Do you really think that half of all Republican voters, more than 35 million Americans, support the murder of public officials? Are there really more than 35 million QAnon believers? You Know Something Is Happening. Are You Sure You Know What It Is? If something else is happening, its a something no amount of muscular intrusive policing, domestic spying and entrapment, deplatforming by the security states private-sector accomplices, and continuing economic torture will cure. In fact, the further Democratic Party leaders lean into those punishing acts, the more entrenched the mass of disaffecteds will become, and the more tempted they will be by right-wing solutions for their ills. If Liberal America were indeed a land of grace, the place of truth and light it imagines it is and sells itself to be wed be facing much less of a problem. There really would be a good team and a bad one to choose between. But Liberal America is itself a rotted tree, though of a different kind than the right-wing one, and the disaffected see that as well. If so, where can they turn to bridge the gap between their needs and real solutions? Democrats in power, of course, could offer left-wing solutions, real ones, to bridge that gap for them and heal the emmiserated, just as their political ancestors did in the 1930s. But they wont. Joe Biden: I beat the socialist. Thats how I got elected. And so, as I said, I find myself quite concerned. Actually frightened, in fact. The next neoliberal president may just be the one who collapses the whole damn building on our heads. Champaign, IL (61820) Today Occasional rain. Thunder possible. High 56F. Winds N at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 100%.. Tonight Showers early, then cloudy overnight. Low 44F. Winds NNE at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 50%. Thank you for reading! Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. If you have a subscription, please log in or sign up for an account on our website to continue. Under fire for attending the "Stop the Steal" protest for former President Donald Trump earlier this month, Louisiana businessman Donald Rouse Sr., co-owner of the Rouses supermarket chain, told talk radio listeners Friday that he probably should have listened to his son when he told him not to go to Washington, D.C. The day turned violent when some attendees at the rally, encouraged by Trump to "fight like hell" against the election results that Congress was certifying, stormed the Capitol and forced members of Congress to take shelter. Five people, including a Capitol Police officer, died in the mayhem, and the House impeached Trump a week later on the charge of incitement of insurrection. +10 Rouses co-owner engulfed in controversy after photo shows him at Trump rally outside Capitol Louisiana businessman Donald Rouse Sr. and the regional supermarket chain he co-owns became engulfed in controversy after a photo surfaced on "I didn't go over there in support of Trump," Rouse said during the interview on WBOK 1230 AM, one of the city's longest-running Black-owned radio stations. "I went over there to hear him speak. I went over there ... for history in the making, I guess I would say." Rouse reiterated that he left before the violence started and did not go the Capitol. Can't see video below? Click here. Rouse said he went to the rally but didn't have a ticket, so he stayed outside the barricades and watched the speech in an area between the Washington Monument and the White House. He said he only saw people with Trump and American flags around him and didn't see any Confederate flags, KKK hoods or other symbols the radio hosts asked about. He was one of the few wearing a mask, which he said made him feel "a little bit out of place." "I had very poor judgment," he said. "I (would) absolutely take it back right now if I could." He continued: "I didn't even understand what insurrection meant until recently." Top stories in New Orleans in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up Actor Wendell Pierce, one of the owners of the station, asked if Rouse thought the election was stolen. "No sir, I do not believe the election was stolen," he said. "I believe Trump was wrong. ... I'll support Joe Biden for as long as he's president." The grocery chain has faced a backlash from customers after its former HR director, Steve Galtier, posted a photo on his Facebook page showing Galtier and Rouse in a park where Trump supporters gathered near the White House. Other pictures he posted were of the surrounding crowds, accompanied by the caption: Millions in DC today with us. Rouse, whose son Donny is now the company's CEO, said he got cold about three-quarters of the way into Trump's speech and went back to the hotel around 12:30 or 1 p.m. He had lunch, took a nap and then turned on the TV and saw the "mess that these idiots were causing in the Capitol." He left D.C. as soon as he could, he said, and took a consultant's advice to lay low after the picture surfaced in hopes that the backlash would blow over. His friend, Terrebonne Parish NAACP President Jerome Boykin, was the one who encouraged him to do the interview on WBOK. Boykin said he didn't agree with Rouse's decision to attend the Trump rally, and he even participated in a protest at a Rouses grocery store in Houma. But, he said, he will judge his friend on his track record. LSU should consider ending Rouses relationship after Trump rally controversy, Collis Temple says An LSU board of supervisors member asked Friday whether the university could explore severing its relationship with Rouses Supermarkets over c "I think its clear that Mr. Rouse has given back to all communities, including African American community," Boykin said. Rouse also added that the grocery chain has created a community committee, comprised primarily of African American members, that is looking at the business and coming up with ideas to help employees and the community. Staff writer Ramon Antonio Vargas and The Associated Press contributed to this story. Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-22 16:49:06|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close VALLETTA, Jan. 22 (Xinhua) -- A program of events celebrating the Chinese Spring Festival, which falls on Feb. 12, kicked off on Friday in the island country Malta. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, a majority of these events hosted by the China Cultural Center in Malta will be online. The 12th "Imagine China" children's art competition, which is co-organized by the China Cultural Center and the Ministry of Education in Malta, was launched on Friday. It is the first program to be held among a series of celebration events. Themed "Magnificent China," the competition features 155 art works created by students from 18 local schools. Selected pieces will be exhibited on websites and social media platforms. Other events include performances, educational programs, quizzes, Chinese salons and a film festival, said Yang Xiaolong, director of the China Cultural Center in Malta. An opera, Turandot, to be presented online, on TV and on the big screen in the capital city Valletta as well from Feb. 7, will be a highlight of the celebration, Yang said. Local audiences will also have the opportunity to visit an online Chinese Zodiac culture exhibition during the celebration, which features an array of colorful designs and installations. The exhibition will mainly focus on the legends, myths and symbolism associated with the zodiac animal of the year 2021, the Ox. On Feb. 9-18, there will be a Chinese film festival where six classic Chinese films will be broadcast at the St. James Cavalier in Valletta. These films will allow audiences to explore and better understand China's past and present. The "Happy Chinese New Year" online get-together, which features martial arts, singing and dancing, will be open to the public on Feb. 9. The event is jointly organized by the China Cultural Center and the Confucius Institute of the University of Malta. On Feb. 26, the two institutions will also join forces to hold an online Lantern Festival Chinese Salon, where visitors can enjoy the unique charm of the Chinese language and traditional culture through interactive events. Moreover, a Chinese cultural classroom program will be offered to secondary school students in Malta during the celebration period, in which a Chinese theme will be explored in each of their usual subjects such as Maltese, English, geography, home economics, physical education and arts. "Our aim is to bring new hope, enthusiasm and strength during the celebration of Happy Chinese New Year," Yang said. Enditem TORONTO - Canadian scientists say blood thinners appear to prevent some COVID-19 patients with moderate illness from deteriorating further, offering a "massive" advance in treatment they expect will ease suffering and lesson strain on hospital ICUs. Paramedics take away an elderly patient at the Tendercare Living Centre, long-term-care facility during the COVID-19 pandemic in Scarborough, Ont., on Wednesday, December 23, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette TORONTO - Canadian scientists say blood thinners appear to prevent some COVID-19 patients with moderate illness from deteriorating further, offering a "massive" advance in treatment they expect will ease suffering and lesson strain on hospital ICUs. University Health Network scientist Ewan Goligher said Friday that blood thinners could soon be part of standard care after the interim results of global trials showed Heparin reduced the probability of requiring life support by about a third. The news comes on the heels of promising early data for another COVID-19 drug targeting seniors, as health systems across the country wrestle with the impact of a recent surge in cases and long-term care homes battle devastating outbreaks. Considering how many people around the world end up in intensive care because of COVID-19, Goligher said this finding is "massive." "They're very, very ill, they're often in the ICU for a long time. It's a devastating life event," Goligher, a critical care physician at Toronto General Hospital, said of the patients he sees. "Even if they do survive, it means immense suffering, and to prevent people from becoming critically ill is huge." Interim results of clinical trials spanning five continents in more than 300 hospitals suggest full-dose blood thinners could significantly reduce the number of severe cases that are now straining health-care systems. The study involved more than 1,300 moderately ill patients admitted to hospital, including hundreds of people admitted to hospitals across Canada. Researchers found the full dose was more effective than the lower dose typically administered to prevent blood clots in hospitalized patients. Goligher, co-chair of the therapeutic anticoagulation domain of the trial, said he expected patients at his downtown hospital would be on routine blood thinners "imminently," and "fully expected" hospitals around the world would, too. "Before people change their practice they're going to want to see the full paper published so we're working very hard now to write up the results and get them published in a high impact journal," he said. "One of the exciting things about this treatment is that Heparin is already cheap, widely available, and available in low and middle-income countries, as well as countries like Canada and the United States. So this is a cheap therapy that can make a significant impact on outcomes for patients." Goligher said researchers still needs to look into other questions surrounding blood thinners, such as whether to continue treatment if a moderately ill patient develops severe COVID-19, and whether adding an antiplatelet agent would help. Doctors noticed early in the pandemic that COVID-19 patients suffered an increased rate of blood clots and inflammation. This led to complications including lung failure, heart attack and stroke. Back in December, investigators found that giving full-dose blood thinners to critically ill ICU patients did not help, and was actually harmful. However, Goligher noted there have been other drugs that appear to ease mortality in severe cases, expecting more trials to release promising data soon. Goligher was heartened by the news that blood thinners could soon ease a devastating winter surge of infections. "I personally find the thought that this treatment will prevent (patients) from getting to this state incredibly gratifying. It's even better than if it was an effective treatment for severe COVID-19, to be able to prevent people from becoming severe is huge." The trials are supported by international funding organizations including the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the NIH National Heart, Lung & Blood Institute in the United States, the National Institute for Health Research in the United Kingdom, and the National Health and Medical Research Council in Australia. Meanwhile, U.S. drugmaker Eli Lilly said this week that early trial data reveals its antibody drug bamlanivimab developed in partnership with Vancouvers AbCellera Biologics can prevent some COVID-19 illness in nursing home residents and staff. Early data from a Phase 3 trial found that in addition to offering therapeutic value, bamlanivimab "significantly" reduced the risk of contracting symptomatic COVID-19 among 965 residents and staff of long-term care facilities in the U.S. Health Canada has approved its use as a therapy for mild to moderate cases of COVID-19, but not to prevent infection. A spokesman for Eli Lilly Canada said the company expected to present the new data to Health Canada, but noted their findings were still early. In November, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Canada had purchased 26,000 doses of the drug, with shipments to arrive between December 2020 and February 2021. But Lauren Fischer, VP of corporate affairs for Eli Lilly Canada, says the drug is not being used on patients here yet. Fischer said the provinces have raised "some implementation concerns" about bamlanivimab, which involves an hour-long intravenous infusion. "The provinces are still considering their approach to making it available but we haven't seen a lot of progress on that," Fischer said. "The provinces have really moved with commendable speed on vaccinations, they've shown that they can overcome implementation difficulties to make needed solutions available.... We stand ready to partner with provincial governments as they try to make those solutions happen." The drug is meant for patients over the age of 65 with underlying conditions. Dr. Doron Sagman, Eli Lilly's VP of research and development and medical affairs, said the early data suggests some level of protection for older Canadians waiting for a COVID-19 vaccine, or if their immune response to a vaccine is not as robust as others. "The intent again is to provide a therapeutic bridge to those vaccines and fill a gap in those individuals who have been affected by the illness and have not yet been vaccinated," said Sagman. Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Theresa Tam said Friday that Health Canada relies on clinical experts "on the ground" treating patients "to decide what's best for them." This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 22, 2021. Islamic Republic of Iran's President, Hassan Rouhani has dubbed outgoing US President, Donald Trump as a tyrant, after Trump released a farewell speech hours before Joe Biden takes over as president of the United States. Rouhani, whose regime with Supreme leader Ayotallah Khamenei is one of the most repressive and dictatorial in the Islamic Nation's history, called on United States President-elect, Joe Biden, to return to the 2015 nuclear deal and lift sanctions imposed on Tehran by Donald Trump's administration. Speaking at a televised cabinet meeting Wednesday, January 20, Rouhani said the ball was "in the US court now." "If Washington returns to Iran's 2015 nuclear deal, we will also fully respect our commitments under the pact," he said, adding in reference to Trump that "a tyrant's era came to an end and today is the final day of his ominous reign." Tensions between the two countries were at an all time high during Trump's time in office as he castigated the Iran Nuclear deal saying it was a cover up for Iran to develop a nuclear bomb. Tensions also increased after the US assassinated Iranian general Qasem Soleimani last January using a military drone. Recently Trump ordered Nuclear capable jets to fly over the Middle East as political observers feared Trump could start a war with Iran by bombing an Iranian nuclear site. Biden -- a member of the Obama administration which negotiated the original Iran Nuclear deal -- entering office on Wednesday noon, hopes are high for diplomacy between both countries. At the meeting Wednesday, Rouhani castigated Trump, saying his four years in office "bore no fruit other than injustice and corruption and causing problems for his own people and the world." Under the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, the Iranian government agreed to three key things: reducing the number of centrifuges in the country by two-thirds, slashing its stockpile of enriched uranium, and capping ongoing enrichment at 3.67%, an amount sufficient for energy provision but not enough to build a nuclear bomb. In addition, Iran was required to limit uranium research and development, and allow inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) certain access to its nuclear facilities. In return for its compliance, all nuclear-related sanctions on Iran were lifted and the economy grew. But Trump ended the deal in 2018, sending the nation into economic hardship and blocking the Islamic Nation's ability to conduct business with other nations. Biden has expressed a desire to return to the 2015 agreement, telling CNN last year that Trump had "recklessly tossed away a policy that was working to keep America safe and replaced it with one that has worsened the threat." "I will offer Tehran a credible path back to diplomacy," the then-candidate wrote in September. "If Iran returns to strict compliance with the nuclear deal, the United States would rejoin the agreement as a starting point for follow-on negotiations." 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 STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Federal authorities arrested a Sanitation worker from Brooklyn on Thursday in connection with the U.S. Capitol riot, the U.S. Eastern District of New York said Friday. The Federal Bureau of Investigation arrested Dominick Madden, 43, after he allegedly entered the Capitol on Jan. 6, authorities said. Security cameras inside the Capitol captured Madden wearing a QAnon hoodie and Trump flag, according to the Eastern District of New York. Madden, who joined the city Sanitation Department in 2016, was officially on sick leave during the riots, admitted to being out of the house without authorization and is currently suspended from the department, federal authorities allege. The Brooklyn resident is now facing several charges, including knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority to do so; knowingly, and with intent to impede or disrupt the orderly conduct of government business or official functions, engaging in disorderly or disruptive conduct; as well as willfully and knowingly uttering loud, threatening or abusive language, or engaging in disorderly or disruptive conduct, at any place in the grounds or in any of the Capitol buildings with the intent to impede, disrupt or disturb the orderly conduct of a session of Congress or either House of Congress, according to authorities. Madden is expected to appear before Magistrate Judge Ramon Reyes Jr. later Friday. It was not immediately clear if Madden had retained a lawyer. McConnell Proposes Pre-Trial Timeline to Schumer on Trump Impeachment The impeachment pre-trial for former President Donald Trump should not start until February, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said Thursday. McConnell sent a timeline to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) that gives Trump one week from Jan. 28 to formally respond to the article of impeachment the House of Representatives passed. The House would submit its pre-trial brief on Feb. 4, to be answered by Trump one week later. Finally, the House would have two days to submit their rebuttal pre-trial brief. The timeline is similar in structure to those in Trumps first impeachment trial and the trial of former President Bill Clinton. 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. Given the unprecedented speed of the Houses process, our proposed timeline for the initial phases includes a modest and reasonable amount of additional time for both sides to assemble their arguments before the Senate would begin to hear them, he added. At this time of strong political passions, Senate Republicans believe it is absolutely imperative that we do not allow a half-baked process to short-circuit the due process that former President Trump deserves or damage the Senate or the presidency. House Democrats voted to impeach Trump on Jan. 13. They were joined by 10 House Republicans. The vote to impeach was 232197, with every Democrat voting in favor of impeachment. It marked the first time in U.S. history that a president has been impeached twice. The single article of impeachment alleges that the president incited an insurrection that resulted in the breach of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6. President Donald Trump speaks to supporters from The Ellipse near the White House in Washington, on Jan. 6, 2021. (Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images) A mob had breached the building before Trump had finished giving a speech to a large crowd of supporters more than a 30-minute walk away, a timeline of the day by The Epoch Times shows. Trump had urged the public to act peacefully and patriotically on that day, and repeatedly condemned the violence at the U.S. Capitol after the incident. Senate Democrats wanted to start the trial immediately after the House impeached Trump on Jan. 13 but could not because McConnell declined to agree to call the Senate back into session. A trial cannot start at this time because the House hasnt transmitted the article of impeachment. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) has refused to say when that will happen. Schumer told reporters in Washington earlier Thursday that Pelosi will decide on when to transmit. Leader McConnell and I are trying to come up with a bipartisan agreement to conduct a 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. I believe he should be convicted. Well have to wait till she sends the articles over to figure out how to do all that, Schumer said. Trump left office on Jan. 20, but Senate leaders are determined to press forward anyways, with an eye towards disqualifying him from holding office in the future. A conviction requires a supermajority vote. Democrats hold 50 seats in the Senate and Republicans also hold 50. A handful of Republicans have said theyre open to convicting Trump, including McConnell. No president in U.S. history has ever been convicted. If the threshold is not met, Trump will be acquitted for the second time. If hes convicted, senators can then choose to disqualify him. Trump, meanwhile, chose South Carolina-based lawyer Butch Bowers as his lead attorney, adviser Jason Miller confirmed. Bowers has represented a number of GOP lawmakers in the past, including then-South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley in 2012. Butch is well respected by both Republicans and Democrats and will do an excellent job defending President Trump, Miller said in a tweet. Highlights LG has launched the K42 smartphone in India with military-grade durability. The LG K42 comes with a MediaTek processor inside and 3GB of RAM. LG K42 comes with a quad-camera setup on the back. LG has launched the K42 smartphone in India. The highlight of this smartphone is the MIL-STD-810G compliance that ensures military-grade durability on the smartphone, such as protection against fall shock, temperature shock, vibration, humidity, high and low temperatures. This is a budget smartphone that takes on the likes of Realme Narzo 20A, Redmi 9 Prime, and the Motorola Moto G9 Power. The launch of the phone comes amid the speculations that LG is considering pulling out of the smartphone business. The K-series by LG belongs to the budget and mid-end markets. And the military-grade durability is something that you will find a lot on LG smartphones, except for the ones in the premium segment. The LG Wing that has two displays sliding out to form a "T" and the LG Velvet that has a beautiful design in the mid-range segment. But despite having several innovations in the smartphones, LG is said to be calling it quits from the smartphone industry after six successive years of loss. There is no announcement as yet on what LG will do about its smartphone business. LG K42 price in India The LG K42 comes at a price of Rs 10,990 for the single storage variant. It comes with a two-year warranty and one-time free screen replacement. It comes in grey and green colours and will be available from Flipkart. LG K42 specifications LG K42 features a 6.6-inch HD+ display with a punch-hole on the top with an aspect ratio of 20:9. Inside the punch-hole is an 8MP camera that supports 1080p video recording and some AI Beauty filters. On the back, the LG K42 comes with a 13MP main sensor, a 5MP super wide-angle sensor, a 2MP depth sensor, and a 2MP macro sensor. LG K42 has an AI Cam feature that suggests which AI filter will make the photo look better with a single touch. The LG K42 is powered by an octa-core 2.0GHz MT6762 processor paired with 3GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage. On the side, the LG K42 also comes with a Google Assistant button that summons the digital assistant. There is Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and LTE support among other connectivity features on the smartphone. The LG K42 is backed by a 4000mAh battery under the hood that is rated to deliver up to 16 hours of talk time. For charging, there is a USB-C port on the bottom. There is a microSD card support of up to 256GB. The LG K42 has a side-mounted fingerprint sensor on the power button. Speaking at the launch, Advait Vaidya, Business Head - Mobiles, LG India, said "Catering to this need, the LG K42 sets new standards of performance, innovation, and durability. The K42 with its quad-camera arrays, immersive large-screen displays, cutting-edge features and military grade durability is a value for money product that will provide the right edge to our new age consumers. We are confident that the K42 will be a game changer in the category and deliver an elevated experience to our consumers. We are firmly committed to the Make in India vision and the LGK42 will be made in India." Growing up, Josh, 33 (left), and Sam Teskey, 31, of ARIA-winning blues band The Teskey Brothers, were as thick as thieves. Since then theyve become fathers and toured the globe, but their bird call always helps them find each other. Josh and Sam Teskey: People often mistake Sam as the older brother. He speaks his truth more, whereas Im a bit more of a people pleaser. Credit:Dara Munnis JOSH: Sammy was born at home in Warrandyte in Melbourne, in the room above what is now our studio space. On the morning he was born, I toddled out to meet my younger brother, gave him a poke and, from then on, weve been teammates in life. My daughter was born in the same house in April last year, and Sams son was born there six years earlier. My partner, Hannah, and I rent the house off my parents now, and Sam and his partner, April, are regular visitors. We went to a tiny primary school with no year levels, so we were constantly together. We had these bird calls wed do so we could always find each other in bush near where we lived. We also used them at parties when we were teenagers. Id do the call and Sam would materialise out of the crowd. Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 LANE COUNTY, Ore. --- Educators in Oregon are just days away from being eligible to receive their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. However, there are a few things that need to happen in order for teachers to get vaccinated. First, school districts have to actually receive the doses. Keep in mind, they still don't know when they will get the first shipment or how many doses will be in it. There are 16 districts in Lane County, but only six of them have nursing staff. So, the plan is to to have these districts adminster vaccines to their own staff and then help others get vaccinated. Higher education will also be helping districts because they have the storage capability, according to Jason Davis with Lane County Public Health. President of the Eugene Education Association, Sabrina Gordon, said the 4J district is planning to use one of its schools to vaccinate staff when the time comes. "I know the district is working hard to get all those pieces in place so that hopefully there's not going to be a lag between when they get the vaccines and start vaccinating educators. The educators who work in 4J and the Bethel School Districts want the vaccines before they go back to in-person learning," Gordon said. Gordon told KEZI the nurses and their health providers will receive the shots first as well as those staff members that are already working with students in a limited capacity. Director of the Bethel Health Center, Brooke Cottle, said there is a plan in place to get educators in and out as quickly and safely as possible. "We have our school district nurses, we have our medical team here at the Bethel Health Center and we also have some medical personnel on contract that we will be pulling in to really be as efficient as possible with getting those out really quickly," Cottle said. Cottle said once their district is taken care of they will send some of the their resources to help smaller schools who need the help. Eugene 4J School District spokesperson Kerry Delf told KEZI 9 educators are thrilled to be eligible for the vaccine starting Monday. "This is a really good point to be at to be getting ready for these vaccines to be available. We don't know exactly how many or when they will be available so we've asked all of our team at 4J to be ready to turn around at a moments notice and sign up for vaccinations when the time comes," Kerry Delf said. 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. MAYS LANDING, N.J., Jan. 22, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Ideal Institute of Technology has established a $1 million #NoExcuse scholarship fund for eligible Atlantic County youth between the ages of 16 and 24. This scholarship covers 100% preparation for earning a high school diploma and career training in the nation's fastest growing industries. Training is available in the areas of Information Technology, Construction Trades, Music and Video Production, Entrepreneurship in E-commerce, and more. Free transportation and stipends totaling up to $1000 are included in the scholarship. #Noexcuses Scholarship application is now available Application dealdline February 26th 2021 The #NoExcuse Scholarship is unique because it is supported by Ideal's student enterprises. Scholarships for applicants are funded by the student through the student enterprises. The student-staffed businesses include the Ideal Tech Center, Ideal Builders, Ideal Studio, Ideal Discount Club, Ideal AC Esports, and Ideal Appliance Repair. Enrolled students will be able to gain practical workforce experience through these affiliates. Ren Parikh, founder, and Rodrick L. Green, director of strategic initiatives, announced the #NoExcuse Challenge last December. The scholarship fund is an initiative to assist the underemployed and undereducated population in Atlantic County. Ideal is calling on local for-profit and non-profit partner organizations to provide working opportunities for students and graduates. Accepting the challenge allows organizations and scholarship students to enter a mutually beneficial relationship. Organizations who join will have access to a professionally trained and certified workforce and Ideal students will be able to put all their newly acquired knowledge and skills into practice. Ideal Institute of Technology is a premier career and technical training school located in Atlantic County. It is the school of future jobs and a place to secure an elite technology and business education. Ren Parikh's goal is to transform South Jersey into the next Silicon Valley. Since the school's opening, Ideal has expanded its facilities to two campuses and offers more than fifty trades and certifications. This scholarship is an example of Ideal's empowering and sustainable ecosystem of education. Ideal Institute of Technology is a non-profit private career school in the Hamilton Mall, Mays Landing and at 121-123 S. Main St., Pleasantville. Some restrictions apply. Visit www.iitnj.org for eligibility details and the application. The priority deadline is February 26. Submit your application at https://www.iitnj.org/noexcuse/ to start earning a high school diploma and begin a new career. Call 609-318-8008 for additional information. Media Contact: Ren Parikh 732-429-4403 [email protected] SOURCE Ideal Institute of Technology Related Links http://www.iitnj.org remaining of Thank you for reading! This is your last free article before you will be asked to subscribe. Already have a paid subscription? Sign in Its just not realistic to say, You cant really go outside and play, in part because its winter. You cant really hang out with friends because of COVID. Also, you cant be on screens for longer than X time a day, Smith said. And you still have things you need to get done as a parent. You still have to do your own work and also just have some time to decompress from everything thats going on. She's known for strutting her stuff on some of the world's most prestigious runways. And Cindy Bruna displayed her signature catwalk stride as she set off on a lockdown stroll in a chic all-black outfit in New York City on Thursday. The Victoria's Secret Angel, 26, showed off her supermodel figure in a racy velvet bodysuit with cut-out detail as she pounded the pavements of Manhattan. Strutting her stuff: Cindy Bruna displayed her signature runway stride as she set off on a lockdown stroll in a chic all-black outfit in New York City on Thursday The French catwalk queen turned heads in a vinyl padded Moncler jacket and tight black skinny jeans to accentuate her toned pins. Cindy teamed the sleek ensemble with heeled Fendi ankle boots to add height to her already statuesque frame. With her jacket unzipped, the supermodel showed some skin as her Yproject leotard rose above her hips in a popular 'exposed thong' trend. Work it: The Victoria's Secret Angel, 26, showed off her supermodel figure in a racy velvet bodysuit with cut-out detail as she pounded the pavements of Manhattan She accessorised with oval black sunglasses, layered gold necklaces and and a large assortment of rings. The supermodel wore her hair up in a cute space bun style and frosted her ears with dinky diamond hoops. In her own world, the model scrolled through her phone before putting in headphones to entertain herself on her walk. Stunning: Cindy accessorised with layered gold necklaces and wore her hair up in a cute space bun style, teaming the sleek ensemble with Fendi ankle boots to add height to her frame The stroll comes two weeks after the model returned from a New Year's trip to the Dominican Republic. Cindy left the worries of the world behind as she closed her eyes to face the sun in an animal print bikini and black kaftan on Instagram. 'Reality called so I hung up,' the model told her 1 million followers as she posed in the Caribbean. Robert Kocharyan on years of his leadership in Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia Situation on Armenian-Azerbaijani border is still tense, more on COVID-19 in Armenia, May 28 digest "Armenia" alliance of political parties paying tribute to founder of First Republic Aram Manukyan (LIVE) Yerevan.today: Armenia acting PM not greeted at ruling party's headquarters, citizens call him 'capitulator' Russia MOD reports on maintenance of ceasefire regime in Nagorno-Karabakh Armenia acting MOD meets with Russian counterpart in Moscow Armenia 2nd President: I see possibility of restoring borders of Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast We can provide our army with some key, modernized weapons, says Armenia ex-President Kocharyan Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: Captives issue is not one that any opposition force can resolve OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs release statement on detention of 6 Armenian servicemen by Azerbaijan Armenian acting Deputy PM: Discussion on issues possible only after withdrawal of Azeri troops from Armenia's territory Armenia acting PM on Syunik roads, Russian military posts: This is only place where there are working nuances Armenia acting PM: Process of return of POWs will intensify after upcoming elections Putin congratulates Aliyev on Republic Day 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 Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 Govt, Amazon Web Service team up to set up quantum computing lab Indias ministry of electronics and information technology (MeitY) will establish a Quantum Computing Applications Lab in the country, in collaboration with Amazon Web Service (AWS) to accelerate quantum computing-led research and development and enable new scientific discoveries The MeitY Quantum Computing Applications Lab will provide quantum computing as a service to government ministries and departments, researchers, scientists, academia, and developers, to enable advances in areas such as manufacturing, healthcare, agriculture, and aerospace engineering. AWS will provide hosting with technical and programmatic support for the Lab. This MeitY initiative will provide scientific, academic, and developer communities access to a quantum computing development environment aligned with the governments science and technology priorities. Quantum computing is an emerging field that harnesses the laws of quantum mechanics to build powerful tools to process information. It has the potential to solve computational problems that are beyond the reach of classical computers, and lead to new breakthroughs that can transform chemical engineering, material science, drug discovery, financial portfolio optimisation, machine learning, and much more. India has a rich legacy in science, technology, and innovation. We believe that Indias path forward will be driven by achieving world-class scientific solutions. Enabling our scientific community with advanced technologies plays a key role towards scientific advancements and learning, said Ajay Sawhney, secretary, MeitY. Today, we are delighted to take another significant step in Indias science and technology journey with the establishment of the MeitY Quantum Computing Applications Lab with the support of AWS. An early and successful foundation in quantum computing is important to achieve leadership in this emerging field. The MeitY Quantum Computing Applications Lab, established with the support of AWS, is the first of its kind initiative in the world, and aims to enable Indias talented researchers to explore the unchartered applications of quantum computing, and pave the way for new discoveries and disruptions, said Rajendra Kumar, additional secretary, MeitY. A core mission of MeitY is to identify and deploy technologies to promote innovation and discovery to help India advance, and achieve a more sustainable future. Quantum computing has the extraordinary potential to help countries leapfrog technology generations, achieve scientific leadership, and deliver answers to complex economic and social challenges. This initiative will augment Indias ongoing efforts in developing quantum computing applications, said Abhishek Singh, president and CEO, National e-Governance Division (NeGD), MeitY. We congratulate MeitY for its visionary leadership as it empowers the scientific community in India, said Max Peterson, vice president, International Sales, Worldwide Public Sector, Amazon Web Services, Inc. By supporting the MeitY Quantum Computing Applications Lab, we aim to make quantum computing available to more scientists, researchers, developers and organisations, enabling them to access and experiment with the technology, and explore the practical applications of quantum algorithms. The MeitYQuantum Computing Applications Lab will identify quantum computing problem statements for experimentation from among central and state governments, research institutions, and academia. It will work with subject matter experts from the government sector to define the problem statements, and make them public, inviting applications from researchers, academia, and organisations to address them. The Lab will then provide select applicants with access to quantum computing hardware, simulators, and programming tools, on-demand and at no cost, via Amazon Braket, that enables scientists and developers to build algorithms, conduct advanced simulations, and run experiments. Amazon Braket provides a development environment to enable users to explore and design quantum algorithms, test and troubleshoot them on simulated quantum computers, and run them on different quantum hardware technologies. Limited access to quantum computing hardware and expertise, and complex infrastructure setup and management, are challenges that scientists and researchers face today, in their quest for scientific discovery, said Rahul Sharma, president, Public Sector AISPL, AWS India and South Asia. Our collaboration with MeitY to establish the Quantum Computing Applications Lab will provide the breadth and depth of AWS services to the research, academic, and scientific community to overcome these challenges and focus on innovation... The MeitY Quantum Computing Applications Lab will help government bodies and the scientific community to identify problems and opportunities rapidly, and test real-world challenges through experiments and prototypes in a low risk environment. Outcomes from these experiments will help researchers evolve the problem statements, proof-of-concepts, and prototypes that will lead to the development of new applications, models, and frameworks in quantum computing. Mount Greylock Investigating Racist 'Zoom Bomb' at High School From Principal Jacob Schutz: Mount Greylock Regional School is committed to being a community that promotes the ideals of diversity, belonging, inclusion and equity. We recognize the presence of systemic racism and pledge to do the work to build an antiracist school community. Mount Greylock Regional School (@MGMounties) January 21, 2021 WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. Mount Greylock Regional School is investigating an incident in which an intruder entered a virtual classroom to target a student with racist audio. Principal Jacob Schutz and Assistant Principal Colin Shebar notified the school community of the Thursday incident in a campuswide email at 4:56 on Thursday, about four hours after the school acknowledged the incident on its Twitter account. According to the school's incident report, which was shared in the email, at the end of a high school class, a student lied his or her way into the room and played a song that involved the lyric, "f***k the (n-word)." The incident report goes on to explain the outreach from school staff to the student targeted and his or her family. "Mount Greylock Regional School is committed to being a community that promotes the ideals of diversity, belonging, inclusion and equity," Schutz tweeted and included in the email blast. "We recognize the presence of systemic racism and pledge to do the work to build an antiracist school community. Racist actions have no place at MGRS." Later Thursday evening, Schutz said the school has notified the Williamstown Police Department about the incident, but he declined to say the extent to which outside agencies are assisting school personnel with the investigation. Schutz also said the school is operating under the assumption that the perpetrator is a student at the middle-high school. "I would say we have no reason to believe it's anybody other than a student based off of how our Zoom information is published and available to students," Schutz said. "That being said, it's not foolproof." Schutz said there have been a handful of incidents of students entering virtual classrooms where they did not belong, though none involved targeting of other students over race. He said he is aware of no incidents to date where an individual outside the school community has entered one of the school's virtual classrooms. According to the incident report, the class was engaged in self-guided work and the teacher was monitoring student work at the time of the incursion. "During the first half of the class, the teacher heard the 'ding' of someone entering the Zoom waiting room," the report reads. "Upon seeing the student's name, the person was let into the room (the teacher assumed the student had been kicked out of the Zoom and was rejoining). This was the imposter responsible for unmuting and playing the music at the end of the period." The report indicated many of the students in the class had the volume turned down to concentrate on their work and did not hear the offensive song, which reportedly played for about 30 seconds. "During this time, the teacher, several times, muted the person playing the music," the incident report reads. The student whose name was appropriated by the perpetrator, referred to as "the victim" in the incident report, stayed in the classroom after the period ended to make sure that the teacher knew they were not behind the incident. Mount Greylock staff, including the assistance principal and the victim's counselor talked with the victim over the next couple of periods, and school staff will follow up with the victim's family, the report reads. School counseling staff will join the targeted class during its next session to help the students process the incident, and the school promised to provide updates on its investigation when appropriate. In addition, the Mount Greylock administration: met Thursday with the Greylock Multicultural Student Union to talk about next steps; promised to refocus the diversity, equity inclusion goals of the School Council; talked about extending the district's relationship with the Disruptive Equity Education Project; and said it will look at technology updates and training to "better prepare staff and students to appropriately respond in a digital realm." At Thursday evening's meeting of Williamstown Diversity, Inclusion and Racial Equity Committee, committee members said the were pleased with the school's quick response and efforts to be transparent with the community about the incident. "We have good partners to talk with," Kerri Nicoll said. "These are issues that are long-standing, and more needs to be done, but we have some windows to do some of that work." Schutz said he looks forward to sharing that work. "I want to move forward as a community to figure this stuff out, and we can't do it alone," he said. "I appreciate the support so far that the community has offered, and I look forward to continuing that relationship with everybody." JASON ANDREW, STR / NYT Authorities are continuing to charge individuals in connection with the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, including some who previously served in the U.S. military. A report from NPR's Tom Dreisbach and Meg Anderson has found that nearly 20 percent of those facing federal or District of Columbia charges previously served or are currently serving in the U.S. military. More than 140 individuals have been charged so far, and at least 27 of those have been linked to the military through military records, social media accounts, court documents and news reports. by Mathias Hariyadi The shock that reached 7.1 on the Richter scale was felt, as well as in the region, as far as the Philippines. No tsunami warning was issued. Jakarta (AsiaNews) - According to preliminary information, no casualties or even serious damage was caused by the earthquake that struck last night around 19.23 Western Indonesian Time (WIB) on the island of Talaud, in the North Sulawesi archipelago, in Indonesia. The epicentre was located approximately 132 km from Melonguane, Talaud district - which is a three-hour ferry ride from Bitung, North Sulawes' main port - 119 km deep in the ocean. According to the Indonesian agency of meteorology, climatology and geophysics (BMKG), the epicenter was found 134 kilometers northeast of Melonguane, Talaud Islands, off the coast of Manado-Bitung in the hinterland of North Sulawesi. The earthquake was also felt in other regions, including the provinces of the North Moluccas, such as Galela and Halmahera. In addition to Melonguane, the agency confirmed that the tremor was felt in the areas of Tahuna, Ondong, Manado, Bitung, Bolaang Uki, Gorontalo, North Halmahera and Galela. The tremors were also felt in the Philippines. No tsunami warning was issued. People in Manado kept their cool, when the shock felt as if the nearby streets were swaying due to the passage of heavy and long vehicles. The Indonesian BMKG determined that the cause of this earthquake was the local plate-shifting activity based in the Philippines which later created the so-called thrust fault. There are no reports of aftershocks. However, Bambang Setiyo Prayitno of the Indonesian BKMG recommends that people be cautious about distributing unverified information via social media, which is sometimes not true. Father Stevi Undap, of the Saint Familia Mangaran on the island of Kabaruan, Talaud confirms that there are no fatal and serious accidents. "We're doing well here," he says. "There are no casualties or serious damage to Kabaruan. But - he adds - there is still no information available from other small islands". Rapper Lil Wayne has thanked Donald Trump for pardoning him during his final hours as president. Wayne, whose real name is Dwayne Michael Carter, admitted a weapons charge in December and was due to be sentenced later this month. The hip-hop star, a convicted felon, was facing up to 10 years in jail before Mr Trump intervened. Wayne thanked the former president for granting him a pardon. He tweeted: I want to thank President Trump for recognising that I have so much more to give to my family, my art, and my community. I want to thank President Trump for recognizing that I have so much more to give to my family, my art, and my community.A I also want to thank @bradfordcohen for working so diligently to secure another chance for me. Love! - Dwayne Michael Carter Jr. Lil Wayne WEEZY F (@LilTunechi) January 21, 2021 Mr Trump also commuted the sentence of rapper Kodak Black, who like Wayne was convicted of a weapons charge in Florida. He was serving a 46-month sentence before being freed this week. Black said: I Want To Thank The President @RealDonaldTrump For His Commitment To Justice Reform And Shortening My Sentence. 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. In a flurry of pardons before leaving office, Mr Trump also granted clemency to his former advisor Steve Bannon. (CNN) Amanda Gorman is fast becoming a household name after she delivered a powerful inauguration poem at the US Capitol on Wednesday, challenging Americans to unify and "leave behind a country better than the one we were left." And if her words to the country weren't incredible enough, the nation's first-ever youth poet laureate has two books topping best seller lists -- and they aren't even expected to release until September 21. "I AM ON THE FLOOR MY BOOKS ARE #1 & #2 ON AMAZON AFTER 1 DAY! Thank you so much to everyone for supporting me and my words. As Yeats put it: "For words alone are certain good: Sing, then," she wrote on Twitter Wednesday evening. Gorman, 22, is the writer of "The Hill We Climb: Poems," and "Change Sings: A Children's Anthem." The titles are currently topping both Barnes & Noble and Amazon's best sellers lists. The poem Gorman No. 1 on Amazon's list. The poet is joined by two other notable Black authors near the top of Amazon's list: Meena Harris, Vice President Kamala Harris' niece, takes the third spot with a children's book titled, "Ambitious Girl" followed by "A Promised Land," Former President Barack Obama's memoir. Born and raised in Los Angeles by a single-mother and sixth-grade English teacher, Gorman started writing poems when she was a child, but found performing terrifying due to a speech impediment. She overcame that fear by drawing confidence from former President Barack Obama and Martin Luther King Jr., and practicing songs from the Broadway musical "Hamilton." From celebrities to politicians, Gorman's words resonated with many and praise on social media was not in short supply. "Wasn't @TheAmandaGorman's poem just stunning?" She's promised to run for president in 2036 and I for one can't wait," Hillary Clinton wrote on Twitter. "I have never been prouder to see another young woman rise! Brava Brava, @TheAmandaGorman! Maya Angelou is cheering and so am I," Oprah Winfrey said on Twitter. Winfrey gave Gorman a ring in the shape of a caged bird from New York-based brand Of Rare Origin (a tribute to African American poet Maya Angelou) and a pair of gold hoop earrings from Greek designer Nikos Koulis. This story was first published on CNN.com, "Amanda Gorman's books are topping best seller lists and they haven't even been released yet." RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, Jan. 22, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- In continuation of the Saudi efforts to protect and enforce intellectual property rights, the Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property (SAIP), in cooperation with the General Security, has launched inspection campaigns across Saudi Arabia with the aim of controlling commercial stores that violate intellectual property rights regulations. During January 2021, 11620 items violating creative rights were seized, including electronics, computer programs, sound recordings, and printed works (student services). Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property (SAIP) Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property (SAIP) The campaign was launched by conducting preliminary surveys and more than 440 visits of mystery shoppers to targeted areas. In accordance with the laws and regulations in Saudi Arabia, establishments that violated intellectual property rights and prohibited or exploited goods were identified. In the same context, SAIP has launched a parallel campaign aimed at inspecting websites to verify the extent of their compliance with intellectual property systems. Legal measures was taken against infringing websites that amount to blocking them. As a result of this campaign, more than 355 websites were inspected, of which 77 were proven to violate intellectual property systems. Accordingly, these websites were blocked. The campaign came as an extension of the periodic field tours carried out by intellectual property inspectors on commercial establishments to combat the violation of property rights and to control the performance of service providers. In cooperation with partners from the government and private sectors, intellectual property inspection is done by means of continuous awareness-raising, inspection campaigns, knowledge of violators, and the punitive legal measures against them. SAIP stressed that it will be keen to take necessary measures to penalize violators of intellectual property in Saudi Arabia. SAIP also urged citizens and residents to support efforts of respecting intellectual property by communicating with SAIP official channels through social media @saipksa, email [email protected] and the contact customer service number: 920021421. Contact: Abdullah Almansour 00966920021421 [email protected] SOURCE Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property (SAIP) Six relatives and friends of six inmates who used a rope of braided bedsheets to break out of a California jail this month have been arrested and charged with helping the men escape, the authorities said. The Merced County Sheriffs Office said in a statement that the relatives and friends had aided the inmates in their escape, both during and after their incarceration. Four women and two men have been arrested on charges including conspiracy to commit a crime, participation in a street gang and being an accessory to a crime, according to jail records. They were identified as Sonia Montes, 46; Elvira Aleman De Montes, 66; Alexia Hernandez-Ramirez, 20; Arthur Quirarte, 19; Rosario Coronado, 41; and Raheem Hill, 28. Deputy Daryl Allen, a spokesman for the sheriffs office, declined on Thursday to give details about how they had helped the inmates escape, citing an investigation into the escape and its aftermath. Administratorii portalului nu poarta raspundere pentru continutul postarilor si materialelor plasate de utilizatorii site-ului. Utilizati informatia din acest articol pe propriul risc. 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. Heres a list of top ten stocks that may be in news on Friday: Reliance Industries: The oil-to-telecom behemoth with report its December quarter earnings on Friday. The company had posted a profit of 9,567 crore for the quarter ended September, down 15% from a year earlier because of lower revenues from its oil and gas business, but it was still higher than estimated. Vedanta: The mining giant on Thursday said production of mined zinc in India rose 4% to 2,44,000 tonne in the third quarter of FY'21 on account of higher ore production partially offset by slightly lower overall metal grades. HDFC Bank: Sebi has imposed 1 crore penalty on the bank for unilaterally invoking securities pledged by BRH Wealth Kreators in violation of the regulators interim orders. The regulator asked the lender to deposit 160 crore in a separate escrow account until the issue of settlement of clients securities is reconciled. Yes Bank: The private sector lender will announce its December quarter earnings today. It had reported a net profit of 129.4 crore for the September compared with a net loss of 600 crore in the year-ago period. The board will also meet today to consider a proposal for further fundraising through various instruments. Hero MotoCorp: Indias largest two-wheeler maker expects the current momentum in demand in the rural market to continue in FY22, riding on hopes of further measures to boost rural income in the upcoming Budget. These measures are expected to boost the sales of Heros entry-level motorcycles in the coming fiscal, said Pawan Munjal, chairman. JK Tyre: The company reported a multi-fold jump in consolidated net profit at 230.5 crore in the quarter ended December on robust sales and aided by favourable foreign exchange fluctuations. The company had posted a consolidated net profit of 10.27 crore a year ago. Consolidated revenue from operations during the period under review stood at 2,769.28 crore as against 2,199.80 crore. Punjab & Sind Bank: The lender has reported a fraud of 94.29 crore in an NPA account of Supertech Township Projects. The state-owned bank said it has reported the fraud to the RBI and that the account has been fully provided for as per the existing regulatory norms. Mphasis: The IT firm reported an 11% increase in consolidated net profit to 325.5 crore for the December quarter. Revenue from operations grew 8.6 per cent to 2,474.3 crore in the reported quarter from 2,276.7 crore a year ago. Asian Paints: The company said demand conditions continued to exhibit a strong recovery across business segments, The paints major reported a 62.3% jump in its consolidated profit to 1,265.35 crore for the quarter ended December. SBI Cards and Payment Services: The company reported nearly 52% decline in its net profit to 210 crore in the quarter ended December on higher provisioning. The pure-play credit card company, promoted by SBI, saw its total income grow marginally to 2,540 crore. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. It was quite fascinating to read Amanda Hootons profile of David Hallberg [December 5], the incoming artistic director of The Australian Ballet, and Nick Bryants story on Jeff Koons . Both artists have had great fame and many setbacks, but have come through them to achieve new things. Rodney Wetherell Melbourne, Vic Steffi Graf, our 10-week-old toy cavoodle puppy, was particularly pleased to see a tennis ball in this weeks Get It? [December 5]. Credit:Dani Jackson, Bondi Beach, NSW Send us a picture or Instagram one of Good Weekend in your life, using the hashtag #goodweekendmag. We choose one each week to publish here and in print. Long road Thank you for Eliza Harveys article about Anna Swans devastating accident [December 5], recovery, and its impact on her and her family. So much was conveyed about decision-making, tragedy, grief and resilience, as well as about bike safety and chronic pain management. I am also a grateful participant of Royal North Shore Hospitals Pain Management Clinic. I attended nearly 10 years ago and continue to practise the daily exercises and mental attitude and techniques. The pain does not disappear; you manage it, thereby gaining confidence to live better. I wish Anna and her family well and sincerely thank them for sharing their lives so honestly, for all our benefit. Jennifer Fergus Manly, NSW Very inspiring story, but a lot of angst and heartache could have been avoided: wear a helmet. Marcus Decaux Rozelle, NSW Its heart-wrenching to read of Anna Swans freak accident, but shes lucky to have her dedicated husband, siblings and parents. That her father, ABC health reporter Dr Norman Swan, continued to perform his public service is really commendable and a lesson for the rest of us. His reporting of COVID-19 has been second to none. Mukul Desai Hunters Hill, NSW Dicey Topics Any respect I had for Barry Gibb has flown right out the window [December 5]. He thinks that its great for a nation to have the English royal family to look up to. He doesnt have very high aspirations, does he? Sue Casiglia North Ryde, NSW Spotlight The following list includes recent reports from the Midland County Sheriffs Office and the Midland Police Department. Compiled by reporter Mitchell Kukulka. Tuesday, Jan. 19 8:43 p.m. A deputy was dispatched to a Porter Township residence in reference to a car-deer crash that occurred on Redstone Road near South Ten Mile Road. 7:14 p.m. Officers responded to a report of domestic violence in the 5300 block of Sunset Drive. 11:42 a.m. Officers responded to a vehicle crash in the area of North Saginaw Road and Eastman Avenue. 10:46 a.m. Officers responded to a report of domestic assault in the 1300 block of Glen Road. 10:07 a.m. Deputies responded to a car-deer crash in Edenville Township. 8 a.m. Officers responded to a vehicle crash in the 1700 block of South Saginaw Road. 7:54 a.m. Officers responded to a vehicle crash in Geneva Township. 7:11 a.m. Officers responded to a vehicle crash in the area of Eastlawn Drive and Swede Avenue. 5:44 a.m. Officers responded to a vehicle crash causing injuries in the area of East Ashman and Washington streets. 4:08 a.m. Deputies were dispatched to a Greendale Township business in reference to a report that the front door of the business broken. Entry was not made into the business. The damage to the door was about $500. This case is still open pending investigation. 12:35 a.m. Deputies responded to a vehicle crash in Greendale Township. Monday, Jan. 18 11:20 p.m. Deputies responded to a Jerome Township residence in reference to a malicious destruction of property complaint. Upon arrival, deputies made contact with the victim, a 27-year-old Bay County man and her ex-boyfriend, a 31-year-old Mills Township man. The woman said her ex-boyfriend caused about $2,000 in damage to her car and he tried running her off the road. Deputies also located suspected meth inside the man's vehicle. The man was arrested and transported to the Midland County Jail. 11:12 p.m. Deputies responded to a vehicle crash in Greendale Township. 8:53 p.m. Officers performed a warrant arrest in the 1500 block of East Sugnet Road. 8:23 p.m. Officers responded to a report of a stolen vehicle in the 1300 block of Haley Street. 7:54 p.m. A 60-year-old Jerome Township woman reported an unknown man followed her home and pulled into her driveway behind her. The woman said the man parked in her driveway for about one minute before leaving. She said she did not know who the man was, nor had she even seen the car. Deputies encouraged the woman to call 9-1-1 again if she feels like she's being followed, or if he shows back up at her house. 6:07 p.m. Officers responded to a report of malicious destruction of property in the 4000 block of Wellness Drive. 4:24 p.m. Officers responded to a vehicle crash in the 4000 block of Wellness Drive. 5:09 p.m. A 45-year-old woman reported her trash can was stolen. The approximate value of the stolen trash can is $75. There are no suspects. 3:34 p.m. A deputy spoke with a 78-year-old woman regarding a possible fraud. She said that several months ago, she let an unknown individual remotely control her computer in an effort to clean it. Recently, she has been missing money from her PayPal account. She said that she is missing $150. There are no suspects. 1:59 p.m. A 56-year-old man reported he was being harassed by his 39-year-old ex-girlfriend. The harassment was occurring over Facebook. Deputies contacted the woman and advised her not to contact the complainant. The man was referred to the courts for a Personal Protection Order. 12:42 p.m. Officers responded to a domestic assault in the 3600 block of Isabella Street. 12:41 p.m. A 70-year-old woman reported she was being harassed over Facebook messenger. She did not recognize the name of the person sending her the harassing messages. She was advised not to respond and to block the unknown subject. 11:56 a.m. A deputy was dispatched to the Village of Sanford for a report of a damaged government owned sign. There are no suspects. 8:24 a.m. Animal Control received a fax in reference to a dog bite that occurred in Warren Township. A child was bitten by the family's dog, and an isolation notice issued. 6:39 a.m. Deputies responded to a vehicle crash in Jerome Township. 12:29 a.m. Deputies responded to a traffic crash in Jerome Township. 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. Idk what else to say except :( Reply Thread Link It's just so sad. I don't blame him for not being able to watch. Also I need to gtfo of this cancer post. Reply Thread Link I do hope one day he's in a place where he can watch it because it's an incredible performance and a great way to remember Chadwick but if he never gets there I get it. Reply Thread Link :( Being his friend and so close to him for so long, totally get that. I saw TCM memorial segment again the other day and just started sobbing when he flashed on screen. Ugh fuck cancer forever. Reply Thread Link Learn more about LiveJournal Ratings in Hello! Your entry got to top-25 of the most popular entries in LiveJournal!Learn more about LiveJournal Ratings in FAQ Reply Thread Link He's right about Chadwick. When he passed I realized that while he was a star he really wasn't a "celebrity" despite being in this huge mainstream successful franchise? There were people who loved him who were going ooh I didn't even know he was married. Reply Thread Link aw this is so sad Reply Thread Link I don't blame him. It's hard enough for his fans. I can't imagine how it must be for those who actually knew Chadwick. Reply Thread Link I can relate. Reply Thread Link Aww Reply Thread Link Chadwick's performance was absolutely incredible, you could really see he was giving everything. I think he even learned to play trumpet for it. Reply Thread Link I know how he feels. I mean, I didn't know Chadwick and I can't imagine what Anthony is feeling, especially since Chadwick was a personal friend. But that happens to me with certain actors. I really can't watch a movie with Robin Williams or Heath Ledger. It just makes me so sad. I can't bear it. Reply Thread Link god, losing such a personal friend must be completely emotionally devastating. Reply Thread Link i can't watch it yet either. it's too final. Reply Thread Link That's so sad. People only ever have only nice, heartfelt things to say about Chadwick. The first time I actually saw Anthony Mackie in anything was Top Chef (I've seen him in plenty of things since) and his passion for food and traditional cooking leaped out of the screen. It was a good episode. Edited at 2021-01-23 08:37 am (UTC) Reply Thread Link I haven't watched it either. Some people have said he looks frail in it. Might watch it down the line. Reply Thread Link Vietnam and Israel kicked off negotiation over a labour cooperation agreement with an online meeting on January 21. Vietnam and Israel kicked off negotiations on a labour cooperation agreement on January 21. (Photo: VNA) At the meeting, both sides discussed technical issues to clarify their labour policies and regulations, as well as issues of priority and concern. They agreed to finalise negotiations and sign the agreement as soon as possible in 2021, with a view to bringing more Vietnamese labourers to work in Israel in the field of agriculture. Israel has a high demand for migrant workers, particularly in agriculture, healthcare, construction and restaurants, among others, while Vietnam has an abundant supply of hardworking and educated workforce. Both nations have huge advantage to further collaboration thanks to the complementary nature of the two economies. Vietnamese exports to the Mediterranean Sea country slight fell in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, Vietnam witnessed strong surge in its key exports like coffee, footwear, cashew nut, telephones and spare parts, seafood, and garment and textile./. VNA Vietnam, Israel amend air transport pact to set scene for opening of direct flights Vietnam and Israel on December 21 signed a protocol amending the air transport agreement between the two governments which are planning to launch direct flights connecting the two countries. A major retailer is making plans to build a store in Soddy Daisy. Attorney Arnold Stulce, who is representing both the land owner and the developer, made the announcement at the Soddy Daisy Commission meeting Thursday night. The name of the business will not be disclosed until all the details surrounding its development are settled. One of those issues is to rezone the property, which is a tract of land located at 7316 Dayton Pike. Based on other locations of this business around the Southeast, said attorney Stulce, it should generate from $18 million to $25 million in gross sales per year. When it is opened and operating the city would see a substantial increase in sales taxes each year, he said - about half a million dollars. It would also add 120 full time jobs and a substantial number of part time jobs. The location on the south end of town is ideal, said the attorney, and would draw from residents of Soddy Daisy. He said it would present no adverse traffic problems. "This is the type of business that my family would patronize on a regular basis," he said. To allow the project to move forward, the zoning would need to change from R-2A, Rural Residential District and A-1, Agricultural District, to C-2 Local Business District. The rezoning was approved unanimously. Two other properties were rezoned Thursday night, including 8627 Gann Road being changed from R-5 Single Lot Mobile Home District to A-1 Agricultural District. A tract of land located at 154 Bean St. was also rezoned from R-2, Urban Residential District to M-2 Wholesale and Light Industry. The commissioners voted to purchase property on Depot Street that will be used to extend a parking lot. A motion passed to buy the property at a price not to exceed $32,500, which includes both the selling price and closing costs. Burt Johnson, interim city manager and finance director, reported that the resurfacing project of Dayton Pike is now in the final stages of design. The city should be ready to start the paving in late spring. Public Works Director Steve Grant gave an update on the North Park. He said that the project has been delayed because needed materials have been hard to get. Many items have been back ordered and may not be available until spring. He said that at some point in the work there will be a lot of open ditches and trenches for wires and drains, so the area will be closed for several weeks. Fire Chief Mike Guffey asked for the commissioners to declare a 1991 squad truck as surplus in order to donate it to the Sequoyah Fire Department, who has asked Soddy Daisy for help. Vice Mayor Robert Cothran supported the idea. He said it is a good idea to help the community like others helped Soddy Daisy when its fire department was just getting started. The donation was approved by the commission. Chief Guffey also gave an update on the progress being made on the new fire hall #3. He said the heavy structure is up and wood inside the building is in. The fire station will be up and running quickly, he said. Multiple commissioners have been contacted by citizens about an old rock wall that fell along Dayton Pike as well as a damaged guard rail at the high school. Mr. Grant said that replacements for both have been scheduled. Mumbai, Jan 22 : Actress Ruhi Singh, who will next be seen playing a police officer in the web series Bang Baang: The Sound Of Crimes, says the role came as a refreshing change, considering she hails from a modelling background. "I always wanted to play the role of a serious cop because you are often stereotyped in this industry when you come from a modelling background. The role was really a refreshing change for me as an actor. When the makers of this show approached me for this role," said Ruhii. "Being a woman, getting to do a lot of action in the show was interesting. We have often seen that actresses get less opportunities to do action scenes in a film or in a show. They are mostly there for the glamour quotient. I always wanted to play a character where I could show off my martial arts skills," she added. Ruhii's co-star in the series is social media sensation Mr Faisu, or Faisal Shaikh. The budding actress says she had a balanced footage when it came to action scenes, with her male co-star. "I don't think there is any partiality in terms of proportion of action scenes. I feel the lead actor (Faisal Shaikh) and I got an equal opportunity to show off our action skills. My responsibility increased a lot as I didn't want to disappoint the makers of the show and the audience," she said. While Mr. Faisu is a popular social media star who had a huge Tiktok fan base when the app wasn't banned in India, Ruhii Singh , former Miss India, was previously seen in films like Calendar Girls and Ishq Forever. The action series Bang Baang: The Sound Of Crimes is directed by Shraddha Pasi Jairath, and is slated to will stream on ALTBalaji and Zee5 from January 25. (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden will sign orders to speed delivery of coronavirus stimulus checks and food aid, while Europe's vaccination drive was dealt another blow when AstraZeneca said initial deliveries to the region will fall short of the targeted volumes. DEATHS AND INFECTIONS * Eikon users, see COVID-19: MacroVitals https://apac1.apps.cp.thomsonreuters.com/cms/?navid=1592404098 for a case tracker and summary of news. EUROPE * The European Commission will seek clarification from Pfizer over delays reported by EU countries for the delivery of vaccines next week, a spokesman for the EU executive said. * British PM Boris Johnson said the new English variant of COVID-19 may be associated with a higher level of mortality. * Finland will put in place stricter regulations from Jan. 27 for entering the country, while Belgium is banning residents from taking vacations abroad until March. * Greece will loosen more lockdown restrictions on Feb. 1. ASIA-PACIFIC * Indian PM Narendra Modi said India was completely self-reliant on vaccine supplies as it inoculated more than 1 million people within a week of starting its campaign. * Japan and the IOC stood firm on their commitment to host the Tokyo Olympics this year and denied a report of a possible cancellation. AMERICAS * The WHO said it had reached an agreement with Pfizer/BioNTech for 40 million doses of its vaccine and should be able to start delivering vaccines to poor and lower-middle income countries next month under its COVAX programme. * Mexico said the administration of second doses of the Pfizer vaccines could be delayed. * Canadian PM Justin Trudeau said Pfizer's CEO Albert Bourla has reassured him it would supply Canada with 4 million doses of vaccine as scheduled by March 31. * Groups representing the U.S. travel industry and airlines voiced opposition to mandatory quarantines for air passengers arriving in the United States from overseas. * A variant of the novel coronavirus already accounts for about half of new infections in the Brazilian Amazonian city of Manaus, raising concerns about a greater risk of spread, a researcher warned. Story continues MIDDLE EAST AND AFRICA * Morocco received 2 million doses of Astrazeneca's vaccine, becoming the first African country to get a large enough shipment to roll out a nationwide immunisation programme. * Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said China had approved delivery of a second consignment of the CoronaVac vaccine. * Mali has chosen to use the AstraZeneca vaccine in its plan to initially immunise 4.2 million people. MEDICAL DEVELOPMENTS * Bharat Biotech's vaccine, which has been authorized for use in India, proved safe and produced an immune response in a small group of adults aged 18 to 55, a study showed. * BioNTech is to supply 50 million specialty needles at no profit to countries struggling to extract a sixth dose from vials of its vaccine. ECONOMIC IMPACT * A gauge of stocks across the world slipped from record highs and oil prices fell to end the week little changed as weak economic data and underwhelming earnings drove investors to reverse some recent risky bets.[MKTS/GLOB] * European Central Bank policymakers are set to delve deeper at their next meeting into how they measure borrowing costs in the virus-hit euro zone economy after failing to reach an agreement this week, four sources told Reuters. (Compiled by Devika Syamnath and Charles Regnier; Editing by Mark Heinrich and Sriraj Kalluvila) On the occasion of the 176th anniversary of the first arrival of Indian immigrant labourers to these shores, I intend to comment briefly, through a couple of letters to the press, on the current status of Indo-Trinidadians after their presence here for over a century and a half. They may be regarded as ethnic-focused, divisive and contentious, or may be deemed irrelevant and inconsequential in these times. A famous actress and the MyPillow guy: it seemed a whirlwind romance tailor-made for the times. However, it looks like Jane Krakowski and Mike Lindells supposed romance was a product of The Daily Mail and nothing more. Lindell, 59, CEO of MyPillow and noted Trump supporter and White House visitor, was rumored to have found a spark with Krakowski, who grew up in Parsippany and is known for playing Jenna Maroney on 30 Rock. The Daily Mail maintained that the alleged couple had a secret nine month romance before ending things. Krakowski, 52, currently hosts the Fox game show Name That Tune and plays Mrs. Dickinson on the Apple TV Plus series Dickinson. In addition to her Emmy-nominated run on 30 Rock, she also received a nomination for playing Jacqueline White, aka Jacqueline Voorhees, in Netflixs Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt. Mike Lindell, CEO of MyPillow, at the White House with former President Donald Trump in 2017.Saul Loeb | AFP via Getty Images She was previously engaged to British menswear designer Robert Godley. The couple, who separated in 2013, have a son. Lindell, who became famous for his late-night infomercials selling pillows, has been married twice, most recently to Dallas Yocum. They divorced a month after marrying in 2013. He has four children from his first marriage. Krakowski shut down the Lindell rumor via a playful statement from her publicist. Jane has never met Mr. Lindell, they told Page Six. She is not and has never been in any relationship with him, romantic or otherwise. She is, however, in full fledged fantasy relationships with Brad Pitt, Rege-Jean Page (from Netflixs hit series Bridgerton) and Kermit the Frog and welcomes any and all coverage on those. Happy to oblige. Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a subscription. Amy Kuperinsky may be reached at akuperinsky@njadvancemedia.com and followed at @AmyKup on Twitter. Denton, TX (76205) Today Cloudy this morning. A few showers developing during the afternoon. High 79F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 30%.. Tonight Cloudy this evening with showers after midnight. Low 63F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%. A Harris County Public Health doctor has been fired and faces state charges after allegedly stealing a vial of COVID-19 vaccine, Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg announced Thursday. Local officials say Dr. Hasan Gokal on Dec. 29 took a vial that contained nine doses of the vaccine while working at a county vaccination site at Lindsay/Lyons Park in Humble. He abused his position to place his friends and family in line in front of people who had gone through the lawful process to be there, Ogg said in a news release. What he did was illegal and hell be held accountable under the law. Gokal's attorney, Paul Doyle, said the vaccine was set to expire had it not been used. Dr. Gokal is a dedicated public servant who ensured that COVID-19 vaccine dosages that would have otherwise expired went into the arms of people who met the criteria for receiving it," Doyle said. "Harris County would have preferred Dr. Gokal let the vaccines go to waste and are attempting to disparage this mans reputation in the process to support this policy. We look forward to our day in court to right this wrong. Gokal first told a fellow county employee about the theft, and that employee reported him to supervisors, prosecutors said. Harris County Public Health investigated the matter and fired Gokal. Mishandling vaccines can result in a loss of government funding to the county, Ogg said. The public health organization's representatives said they couldn't comment because of pending litigation. Gokal's medical license is still active, according to the Texas Medical Board. He's been practicing for 21 years in the U.S., including nine years in Texas. Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo and County Attorney Christian Menefees offices both contacted prosecutors, who charged him with theft by a public servant, a Class A misdemeanor which carries a penalty of up to a year in jail and a $4,000 fine. samantha.ketterer@chron.com Email Whatsapp Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Just six weeks ago the first democratically elected government in the history of Montenegro was ushered into office, swept into power through mass, peaceful civic protests that lasted close to a year. These vast congregations were powered by dissent to a so-called Law on Freedom of Religion which, unlike its title, in reality took aim at freedom of faith and conscience. In the government I now serve as Justice Minister, we understood it as amongst our first duties to change this statute, so it truly lived up to its name. The law that would provoke such uproar passed through parliament in December 2019, when elected members opposed to it were arrested before the vote. Pushed through by the then ruling party alone who had been in office 30 unbroken years it gave the state the right to seize church and religious property at will. For instance, centuries old monasteries could be claimed by the state, and with the governments ownership confirmed by the government itself with no recourse to dispute it in an independent court. It was a brazen plan and plain for all to see: this statute would supply a legal prop for an illegal land grab. Today, those powers are gone. The new Law on Freedom of Religion or Beliefs has been written and adopted not to prescribe new legal obligations, but to align the nations statute book with the Constitution of Montenegro and international fundamental freedoms. Normal recourse to the courts for any property dispute now reassures faith communities their places of worship are safe. My ministry also took the opportunity to broaden the catalogue of religious rights and freedoms. For example, Islamic religious property (referred to as Vakuf) have existed in Montenegro for centuries, but only now is it legally recognized as such. Muslim and Jewish Montenegrins (who make up around 15 percent of our population; the large majority are Christian) serving in the military, police or spending time in prison will no longer be forced to eat food that violates their religious conscience. And additional legal safeguards ensure for the very first time that no one can be discriminated in employment because of their religion. Many of these changes to the law have come from faith groups themselves. Unprecedented in our countrys history, Christian, Jewish, and Muslim communities were consulted in earnest and as partners. We listened. Their insights have been included and grievances remedied in our new law respecting and reflecting the diverse social and religious characteristics of Montenegro. Indeed, on this basis, and inspired by the United States initiative to meet with religious communities on a weekly basis, my ministry will now establish a program of continuous dialogue with all religious communities. At the same time, all that was good for free expression of belief and protections for the faithful in Montenegro has been retained. Contracts previously signed between religious communities and the government that protect vested rights shall all the honored and preserved. Still, it is not enough simply to write into law these changes; they must be enacted in practice. At least for now, the new administration must work every day to overcome those institutions whose employees still need to be unchained from fear and extortion. Two weeks ago, the President of Montenegro used his authority to return the Law on Religion to Parliament for reconsideration. Given executive power is vested in parliament, he can only do this once. Therefore, we did not object: indeed, it has afforded us a chance to confirm the Law and our commitments once again. But it has also revealed a flavor of what to expect in the journey ahead of us, and the obstructions from institutions and individuals still loyal to the former administration we shall face along the way. From these very pages, to the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom and the halls of the British Parliament, early in our near year-long campaign against the old law, backing came from people and places we did not expect. We were honored by the generosity of support. With it, we have now established the fundamental freedom of belief in Montenegro. This achievement will be used as springboard to entrench other rights essential to a life in liberty: a free and independent judiciary; equality before the law; the right to freedom of speech to match our hard-won freedom of religion and with all of this a better life for all. BRATTLEBORO, Vt., Jan. 22, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Omega Optical Holdings, LLC (Omega or the Company), a leading precision optics platform backed by Artemis Capital Partners (Artemis), announced today that Dr. Michael J. Cumbo has been appointed President and CEO, effective February 1st. Dr. Cumbo brings more than 30 years of leadership experience in the optics and photonics industry to Omega. Artemis formed Omega Optical Holdings, LLC in August 2020, upon the acquisition of Omega Optical, LLC, a manufacturer of precision optical filters and coatings, and plans to target further complementary acquisitions. Dr. Cumbo will lead all strategic and operational initiatives to position the platform for long-term growth. Dr. Cumbo is an experienced optics and photonics industry leader with a successful track record of building world-class optical technology companies in the life science, defense & aerospace, semiconductor, and industrial OEM markets. Cumbo joins Omega from his previous role as CEO at AIM Photonics, the U.S. Defense Department's $600 million photonics hub in Albany, NY, where he will continue to serve as an advisor to AIM's Leadership Council. Prior to AIM Photonics, Cumbo spent 30 years driving growth and technology development at market-leading optics businesses across the globe, most recently serving as Vice President at AMETEK-ZYGO and as President of IDEX Optics & Photonics. "We are very pleased to welcome Mike as President and CEO of Omega," said Peter A. Hunter, Managing Director at Artemis and Chairman of Omega. "He has a deep technical and business background in optics, and he also has a proven track record of successfully building great companies and moving technologies and teams from research to production. We are excited about Omega's potential, and we are confident in Mike's ability to help build an innovative, world-class optics platform." "I am honored and excited to join the Omega team and partner with Artemis in building the Omega Optical Holdings platform," Cumbo said. "I look forward to working closely with Omega's management team, employees, customers and suppliers to build an agile organization that solves mission-critical technology challenges for our customers and meets the growing global demand for high precision, no-fail optical coatings, components and assemblies." Dr. Cumbo holds a Ph.D. in Optics, an M.S. in Optical Engineering, and a B.S. in Physics from the University of Rochester, as well as an M.S. in Electrical Engineering from Rochester Institute of Technology. He has 11 patents and authored 22 technical journal papers and conference proceeding articles. Omega Optical Founded in 1969, Omega Optical designs and manufactures precision optical filters and coatings enabling mission-critical applications for global OEM customers in a wide range of industries, including life sciences, environmental monitoring, aerospace, defense, semiconductor, and more. Specializing in complex, high-performing thin film band pass filters, the Company has a breadth of capabilities and experience to support full customer life cycle needs from design to prototyping to volume production. Omega is ISO 9001:2015 and ITAR compliant. For more information on Omega Optical, please visit: www.omegafilters.com Artemis Founded in 2010, Artemis Capital Partners is a Boston-based private equity firm focused on acquiring and growing manufacturers of differentiated industrial technologies, including optics and photonics. Artemis seeks to partner with companies that have strong established management teams, outstanding engineering capabilities, unique products, and expanding niche markets. For more information on Artemis, please visit: www.artemislp.com. SOURCE Omega Optical (an Artemis company) Related Links http://www.omegafilters.com A teenager is teaching other Russians how to 'sound like an American' when confronted by police at protests tomorrow against the detention of opposition leader Alexei Navalny. Law enforcement agencies are preparing to suppress nationwide demonstrations after 44-year-old Navalny urged supporters to flood the streets to protest him being detained on return to Russia. Navalny, who was charged with flouting the rules of a suspended jail term, was being treated in Berlin for suspected poisoning with the nerve agent novichok. Soon after he roused from his coma, he accused President Vladimir Putin of orchestrating his attempted assassination. Moscow police today said they would 'immediately suppress' any 'unsanctioned protests' in support of the dissident in the capital tomorrow. Protest coordinators have planned demonstrations in at least 65 other cities. Several Navalny aides have already been arrested. TikTok user @neurolera, who gives her name as Lera in her bio, posted a video of herself explaining the pronunciation of common American phrases to help protesters if they are apprehended by Russian riot police. The TikTok user, who calls herself Lera, advises protesters to tell the police at protests tomorrow that they are American and that they left their passport at the hotel Lera's first tip is to confidently tell the officers, 'I'm American'. She then stresses the tone and intonation for the statement to sound as if it's coming from the lips of a native speaker. If asked for a passport, Lera advises, protesters should tell the police they left it in their hotel room. Lera then suggests shouting: 'Your'e violating my human rights!'. During nationwide protests in 2019, officers were filmed beating and using violence against pro-democracy demonstrators. Finally, Lera advises demonstrators in trouble to pull out a phone and tell officers they will be getting in touch with their lawyer. Lera, who has over 680,000 followers on the popular social media app, released the video amid concerns that young people will make up a large number of protesters at tomorrow's rallies. Teachers, and the Kremlin, have warned schoolchildren against attending. If confronted with violence, Lera advises protesters to tell officers they are 'violating my human rights' and that they're calling their lawyer Schoolgirl Alina Morozova, thought to be 16 years old from Yaroslavl, a city four miles northeast of Moscow, was interrogated by police after posting a video showing herself taking down a portrait of Putin hanging at the front of her class. After teachers reported Morozova she was taken to a local police station and interrogated. The teenager, who also posted her video on TikTok, was released after police decided she had committed no crime. According to Russian law, the portrait of the president is not a state symbol, and therefore not illegal to remove. In another case schoolboy Andrey, 15, from Balashikha, a city bordering Moscow, hung a Navalny portrait on his wall - and was called for a 'talk' with police and a psychologist. Alina Morozova, thought to be 16, posted a video in which she took down the photo of Vladimir Putin hanging in her classroom. She also took a short video of herself at the police station while waiting to be interrogated by Russian police (pictured) According to reports, Alina has avoided punishment as there is no law banning people removing the president's image Teachers are handing out messages which threaten the students' future prospects should they attend the rallies tomorrow. A teacher at Krasnoyarsk Aerospace College, Natalya Reshetnikova, was recorded by her students declaring: 'If you are legally charged for violating public order, it'll be a stinky stamp on all of your professional life. 'This will shut the doors to all decent companies - unless, of course, you aspire to chop carrots at KFC.' In St Petersburg, parents were told: 'Protect your children from being sucked into destructive actions that can lead to psychological problems in the future and to unpredictable consequences in their lives today.' Putin's Children's Minister Anna Kuznetsova claimed youngsters are 'being used as a human shield, behind which somebody is planning to hide'. Parents were worried and wanted to 'put an end to this bacchanalia', she claimed. Some parents' organisations are calling for TikTok to be banned in Russia. 'These are Western social networks, they manipulate our children in every possible way in order to bring them to the streets,' parents' leader Olga Letkova said. Alexei Navalny was led away in handcuffs after being remanded in custody for 30 days by a makeshift court in Moscow Navalny was taken to a police van and driven to prison a day after his dramatic return to Russia, which came five months after he was airlifted to Berlin in a coma following the poison plot against him A few hardy Navalny supporters gathered outside the police station in -20C temperatures - with more protests planned 'At the protests, there will certainly be provocations and attempts to turn this into bloody massacres. 'It is obvious that this is a coup attempt that is being conducted in the West.' Reports today say officials are seeking a 13-and-a-half year sentence for Navalny in new legal action brought against him. He faces charges of stealing supporters' donations and the return of an old embezzlement accusation. He and his aides say the legal action is 'political'. Navalny has accused Putin of personally ordering his attempted assassination while also unleashing a video which accuses him of mammoth corruption. It claimed he owned a 1 billion palace on the Black Sea, which the Kremlin denied. Sergey Boyko, a Navalny supporter in Novosibirsk, was detained with his wife Elena ahead of the rallies, say reports. Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the protests were illegal. 'There is only one possible opinion the law absolutely must be complied with and illegal events cannot be organised, even less so with participation of the young people and children.' VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / January 22, 2021 / Silver Elephant Mining Corp. ("Silver Elephant" or "the Company") (TSX:ELEF)(OTCQX:SILEF)(Frankfurt:1P2N) is pleased to announce that it has entered into a binding definitive Asset Purchase Agreement (the "APA") with Victory Nickel Inc. ("Victory Nickel") to acquire the Minago Nickel Project located in Thompson nickel belt ("TNB"), Manitoba, Canada (the "Minago Project"). Proposed Transaction Summary Subject to the terms of the APA, Silver Elephant has agreed to acquire the Minago Project from Victory Nickel for aggregate consideration of US$11,675,000, which consists of a US$6,675,000 ("Property Payment") credit against certain secured debt owed by Victory Nickel to Silver Elephant at closing and US$5,000,000 in Silver Elephant common shares ("Consideration Shares") to be issued over a one-year period. Additionally, Silver Elephant will agree to issue to Victory Nickel C$2,000,000 in Silver Elephant common shares, upon the price of nickel exceeding US$10 per pound for 30 consecutive business days, occurring before December 31, 2023. At closing, pursuant to the APA, Silver Elephant will also subscribe for 40,000,000 common shares of Victory Nickel (each, a "VN Share") at a price per VN Share of $0.025 for consideration of C$1,000,000. Closing of contemplated transaction is expected by February 9, 2021, and subject to customary closing conditions, including the final approval of the Toronto Stock Exchange and Canada Stock Exchange. Dan Oosterman, the Company's Vice President, Exploration and Canadian Operations states: "The Minago acquisition immediately propels Silver Elephant to the forefront of the nickel sulphide mining space to supply much needed Class 1 nickel for long-range, high-intensity, fast charging NMC 811 (80% nickel, 10% manganese, 10% cobalt) cathode standard in lithium batteries to fuel mass electric vehicle (EV) adoption. EV penetration is expected to reach 22 to 30% by 2030 according to a recent research report by Ken Hoffman of Mckinsey & Company. Annual production of 30 million EV's requires over 2 billion pounds of Class 1 nickel. The 2019 global nickel production was approximately 5 billion pounds consisting of 2.5 billion pounds of Class 1 high-purity nickel from sulphide deposits, and 2.5 billion pounds of Class 2 nickel from laterite deposits. Nickel production from sulphide deposits has been in decline due to their rarity. Silver Elephant's value proposition is to fill the insatiable and eruptive Class 1 nickel demand from EV's by expanding nickel sulphide resource at Minago to district scale and eventually bringing the Minago project to production with industry partners." Minago Project Summary The Minago Project spans over 197 km2 and is in the province of Manitoba, Canada, situated approximately 480km north of Winnipeg and 225km southwest of Thompson. The Minago Project resides in the southern part of the TNB. It is recognized as the fifth largest nickel-bearing geological belt in the world with over 5 billion pounds of nickel production since 1958. Notable nickel mines include the T1, T3, and Birchtree mines all within a 225 km proximity to the Minago Project. Current annual production by Vale S.A. in the TNB is approximately 33 million pounds. The project site is close to existing infrastructure, including Manitoba Provincial Highway 6, a 230 kV high voltage transmission line that runs directly beside Highway 6, both of which transect the property. The Property may be served by the Hudson Bay Railway Company (HBR), with rail lines accessible from Ponton, Manitoba, approximately 65 km north of the project. Resource and Metallurgy The Minago Project contains a sulphide nickel deposit known as the Nose deposit that was advanced to a feasibility level stage as an open pit mine operation in 2009 by Victory Nickel with a former-NI43-101 compliant resource calculation completed by Wardrop Engineering in 2009 as tabulated below: Historic Resource Classification (Wardrop, 2009) Cutoff Tonnes (x 1,000) Ni (%) Mlbs Ni Measured 0.25% 11,051 0.56 136.4 Indicated 0.25% 43,063 0.51 484.0 Inferred 0.25% 14,585 0.53 170.4 A qualified person as defined by NI 43-101 has not done sufficient work to classify the historical estimate as current mineral resources or mineral reserves. The Company is not treating the historical estimate as current mineral resources or mineral reserves. The historic resource estimate database includes 68,092 metres of diamond drilling endowed with zones of wide (i.e. 100 meters+) and continuous mineralization within the Nose deposit. The table below showcases considerable widths through the mineralized zone: Hole No From (m) To (m) Int (m) Ni% V-10-11 161.5 353.2 191.7 0.51 V-10-16 176.0 320.3 144.3 0.85 V-08-06 537.7 676.7 139.0 0.73 V-08-06 132.2 265.3 133.1 0.62 V-10-15 109.5 228.0 118.5 0.82 V-08-04B 361.7 471.0 109.2 0.76 N-05-01 143.7 251.0 107.3 0.80 MXB-71-94 177.4 282.2 104.9 0.73 V-10-26 269.2 358.8 89.5 0.86 NM-06-02 293.3 364.2 70.9 1.21 N-05-01 325.3 391.2 65.9 1.08 V-10-18 351.0 409.1 58.1 1.67 B-12A-89 322.2 372.5 50.3 1.23 V-08-01 452.2 490.6 38.4 1.51 Reported widths are core-interval widths and not true widths. True widths have not been determined. The 2009 feasibility study incorporated metallurgical test work conducted by SGS Lakefield in 2008 which is yet to be verified by the Company. This test work was conducted on a composite of 5 metallurgical drillholes that were designed to have the best representation of the Nose deposits mineralization profile in terms of style and grade. The results of this work indicates that a nickel concentrate containing 22.27% Ni and with an equivalent sulphidic nickel recovery of 77.2%. Mineralogical work on the nature of the Nose deposit's nickel sulphides reveals a prevalence of violarite (FeNi2S4) and secondary millerite (NiS). These types of nickel sulphides result in high nickel tenor, which is the concentration of nickel in sulphides, contributing to the high metallurgical recoveries and concentrate grade at the Minago Project. Exploration Potential The Minago Project is in the same key geological formation of the Opswagan Group in which the Thompson nickel deposits occur. The orebodies in the Thompson Nickel Belt occur in what is geologically known as the Pipe Formation, specifically within the member known as the P2 schist. Thompson-style mineralization is believed to form as primary nickel sulphide deposits that have undergone remobilization into low-stress structural traps such as fold noses and along fold limbs in pressure shadows and dilatant zones as a result of regional metamorphism. This has led to several producing mines along the same fold-structure within kilometers of each other-in Thompson this is known as the Thompson Dome, where the Thompson, Birchtree and Pipe mines have collectively produced 150Mt grading 2.32% nickel since 1958. The Nose deposit at Minago has all the same structural, geological and mineralogical characteristics as the Thompson Dome. Extended mineralization has been defined by drilling along a fold structure within a kilometer north of the Nose deposit known as the North Limb. The North Limb has received over 6,000 meters of diamond drilling with intercepts of nickel mineralization akin to the grades and widths at the Nose deposit. Some highlights from the drilling completed in 2010 and 2011 along the North Limb are tabulated below: DDH No From (m) To (m) Int (m) Ni (%) V-10-02 142 202.4 60.4 0.45 incl 184.8 201.0 16.3 0.8 V-10-03 199.7 228.1 28.4 0.42 V-10-03 291.0 301.9 10.9 0.7 V-10-04 203.0 255.0 52.0 0.63 incl 206.0 236.5 30.5 1.01 V-10-04 263.0 292.0 29.0 0.56 incl 270.0 281.0 11.0 1.08 V-10-05 280.9 298.5 17.7 0.73 incl 282.0 298.5 9.5 1.07 V-10-13 180.8 314.6 133.9 0.5 incl 259.1 312.0 52.8 0.61 V-10-21 173.0 225.2 52.2 0.57 V-10-21 259.6 277.8 18.3 0.54 V-11-07 333.0 347.4 14.4 0.44 V-11-08 301.6 327.8 26.3 0.51 V-11-08 339.1 359.4 20.3 0.91 V-11-09 266.0 361.5 95.5 0.72 V-11-10 260.0 380.5 120.5 0.52 incl 292.5 324.0 31.5 0.75 V-11-11 217.9 235.0 17.1 0.58 V-11-11 255.0 304.0 49.0 0.56 incl 259.0 295.0 36.0 0.64 V-11-13 194.2 255.2 61.0 0.46 incl 208.0 237.0 29.0 0.6 V-11-14 302.4 338.7 36.3 0.68 Reported widths are core-interval widths and not true widths. True widths have not been determined. Based on these historic results Victory Nickel engaged AGP Consultants to evaluate the potential of the North Limb and established that a resource target estimate of between 21 million and 34 million tonnes grading 0.49% to 0.59% based on a 0.30% total nickel cut-off that is separate from the Nose deposit. This target estimate has not been verified by the Company. In addition to the North Limb, drillings completed immediately to the west of Nose ("Nose West Extension"), 10km to the south of Nose ("South Target"), and 3km to the northwest of North Limb ("O Limb") had all encountered nickel mineralization with highlights below. All those represent priority targets upon which the Company expects to evaluate further. Nose West Extension highlights: DDH No. From (m) To (m) Int (m) Ni % V-11-21 99.2 103.3 4.1 0.77 V-11-21 116.1 122.5 6.5 0.39 V-11-23 111.5 122.0 10.5 0.65 V-11-23 142.9 152.0 9.2 1.17 V-11-23 157.5 165.0 7.5 0.55 V-11-23 173.0 205.5 32.5 0.73 incl 176.1 187.5 11.4 1.11 V-11-24 196.3 199.8 3.5 0.45 V-11-24 230.0 233.9 3.9 0.64 Reported widths are core-interval widths and not true widths. True widths have not been determined. South Target highlights: DDH No Int (m)* Ni% A60 12.2 0.49 A60 23.2 0.47 A60 36.6 0.6 A37 36.6 0.51 A23 9.1 0.45 A34 16.2 0.71 A36 12.2 0.46 A36 24.4 0.38 *Taken from filed assessment maps reporting only width/grade. 'From' and 'To' meterage not available for these holes. Reported widths are core-interval widths and not true widths. True widths have not been determined. "O" Limb highlights: DDH No From (m) To (m) Int (m) Ni (% ) MN96-141 97.9 118.0 20.1 0.61 MN96-142 122.9 128.0 5.2 1.44 MXB-71-86 188.7 192.9 4.3 1.2 MXB-71-86 188.7 201.0 12.3 0.86 Reported widths are core-interval widths and not true widths. True widths have not been determined. Further Transaction Details The US$6,675,000 Property Payment will be made at closing in the form of a credit in the favour of Victory Nickel of US$6,675,000 against an aggregate of approximately US$11,880,000 owed by Victory Nickel pursuant to a Secured Debt Facility ("SDF") The current SDF creditor and Silver Elephant have entered into arm-length definitive Debt Purchase and Assignment Agreement ("DPAA"), whereby the SDF creditor will sell and assign the SDF to Silver Elephant for US$6,675,000 payable by Silver Elephant to the SDF creditor at closing of such transaction. Under the APA, Silver Elephant will further credit the remaining balance under the SDF to Victory Nickel's benefit, upon the completion of an independent economic study proving positive net present value being prepared in respect of the Minago Project in the future after closing. Silver Elephant will also grant Victory Nickel a right of first refusal till December 31, 2023 to exploit the sandstone (non-nickel bearing sulphides) resources for frac sand extraction at the Minago Project. The Consideration Shares will be issued in three tranches as follows: US$2,000,000 worth of Consideration Shares at Closing; a further US$2,000,000 worth of Consideration Shares on or before August 31, 2021, and a further US$1,000,000 worth of Consideration Shares on or before December 31, 2021, at such timings as may be determined at the sole option of Silver Elephant, all in accordance with the APA. Concluding Remarks John Lee, CFA, the Company's chairman states: "Danniel Oosterman, Silver Elephant's VP Exploration and Canadian Operations, started his career at Falconbridge and INCO, and helped drill the T3 deposit in Thompson not far from Minago. Silver Elephant has high hopes and aspirations for significant Minago resource expansion and Dan is ideally suited to unveil this great project and explore Minago to its full potential." Visit www.silverelef.com for Minago project 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. 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 Silver Elephant's future growth, results of operations, performance, business prospects and opportunities, are based on certain factors and assumptions, including, but not limited to, the ability of the Company to complete the transactions contemplated by the APA, the ability of the Company to explore the Minago Project, the ability of the Company to capitalize on the Minago Project, global commodities prices and volatility, the ability of the Company to access financing on terms acceptable to the Company, the ability of the Company and Victory Nickel to obtain the approval of the Toronto Stock Exchange and the Canadian Securities Exchange respectively, future exploration and drilling results at the Minago Project and elsewhere, political risks, risks associated with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, general economic, social and securities risks, and any other risks noted in the Company's public disclosure record, 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. SOURCE: Silver Elephant Mining Corp. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/625436/Silver-Elephant-Signs-Definitive-Agreement-to-Acquire-Minago-Nickel-Project-in-Thompson-Nickel-Belt-Manitoba-Canada Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain The coronavirus strain that has swept Britain and beyond in recent months could be more deadly as well as more transmissible, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Friday. The sobering news came as the UK sees record deaths from COVID-19, following a surge in cases and hospitalisations since the variant was first identified in southeast England in September. The strain has also spread to more than 60 nationsincluding China, where the pandemic began more than a year agoaccording to the World Health Organization (WHO). "In addition to spreading more quickly, it also now appears that there is some evidence that the new variant... may be associated with a higher degree of mortality," Johnson said at a news conference. He blamed the variant for the grim situation engulfing Britain, where another 1,401 fatalities were announced Friday, taking the overall toll to 95,981the highest in Europe. Virus deaths have risen 16 percent over the past week, while the number of people hospitalised with COVID-19 is approaching double the number seen during the worst days of the first wave of the pandemic in April. Chief government scientist Patrick Vallance said the new variant could be 30-40 percent more deadly for some age groups, although he stressed the assessment relied on sparse data. "There's a lot of uncertainty around these numbers and we need more work to get a precise handle on it, but it obviously is of concern," he said, flanking Johnson in Downing Street. "You will see that across the different age groups as well, a similar sort of relative increase in the risk." 'Signs of improvement' Britain is in the grip of its third and worst wave of the virus. The country is pinning its hopes of a return to normality later this year on the biggest vaccination programme in its history, which began last month. Johnson revealed 5.4 million people had now received their first dose of two vaccines currently being administered, with a daily record of 400,000 people inoculated in the last 24 hours. "All the current evidence continues to show that both the vaccines we are currently using remain effective both against the old variant and this new variant," he added. The government appears on track to meet its pledge to vaccinate 15 million of the most vulnerable by mid-February. It is also aiming to inoculate the entire adult population by September at the latest. England has been in a third nationwide lockdown since early this month, with similar restrictions in place in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, where devolved administrations are responsible for health policy. New Office for National Statistics (ONS) data released Friday showed the stay-at-home order had helped prompt a slight drop in infection rates across England last week. On average, one in 55 people have got the virus there, rising to one in 35 in London, it found. However, chief medical officer Chris Whitty warned that despite the "signs of improvement" cases remained "at a very high level" and hospitals were still in danger of becoming overwhelmed. The government said Friday it was launching a new national campaign featuring hospital staff and COVID-19 patients, in a bid to remind the public of the extreme pressures still facing the state-run health service. The "emotive" TV advert "challenges the public to think about the impact their actions might have by asking: 'Can you look them in the eyes and tell them you're helping by staying at home?'" Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak 2021 AFP Davies was adamant that the gay characters be portrayed by gay actors (unlike his groundbreaking 1999 drama Queer As Folk ) and the cast of mostly emerging actors is terrific. Jill is one of a group of friends who share a house in London in 1981 affectionately called the Pink Palace (based on the real Jills London flat). She shares the Palace with four gay mates Ash (Nathaniel Curtis), a drama student; Roscoe (Omari Douglas), a labourer who has escaped his strict Nigerian parents; Welsh apprentice tailor Colin (Callum Scott Howells), the least assuming of the friends; and Ritchie (Olly Alexander, lead singer of indie-pop band Years and Years), an aspiring actor eager to break free from his cloistered childhood on the Isle of Wight. Screenwriter Russell T. Davies draws on his past for this phenomenal new drama set during the nascent AIDS crisis in Britain. Inspiration also comes from close friend Jill, portrayed here as one of the leads, played by Lydia West (who also starred Davies Years and Years) . Its a Sin is an ensemble piece, but Ritchie, beguilingly played by Alexander, is at the heart of this story. He swiftly becomes a hedonistic party boy, enjoying his new life and friends; Davies captures the excitement of the new decade, the sexual freedom, the music, the clubland neon shining out of the gloom of Thatchers Britain. There are parties, auditions, sex, gay clubs, acting classes and more parties but theres also something looming on the horizon, something that arrives in London as a mystery, a rumour, something that many even consider a conspiracy theory. In Britain, before cases of HIV began to proliferate and the disease became global news, even gay activists who left photocopied fliers in gay pubs were regarded suspiciously (Sheets you ignore when out clubbing, as Davies has described the fliers). From left: David Carlyle as Gregory, Callum Scott Howells as Colin, Olly Alexander as Ritchie, Lydia West as Jill and Nathaniel Curtis as Ash. Credit:All3Media The first hint something is afoot in Its a Sin is when Colins boss, the fabulously tight-lipped Henry (Neil Patrick Harris) comes down with something hes caught from his partner and is soon in a quarantine ward in hospital. Colin doesnt share this news with his mates though, even as Ritchie regales them with his theories on the mysterious new virus being a money-making racket for drug companies. They say it affects homosexuals, Haitians and haemophiliacs, he says, aghast. Like theres a disease that only targets the letter H? As the decade wears on, though, friends of the Pink Palace begin falling ill, moving home as the euphemism was, their illnesses not discussed by their families, sometimes their lives not even celebrated with funerals; theres a particularly jolting moment when the mother of one character reveals she cant find a crematorium willing to take her son for fear of infection. Its one of many incidental moments that vividly illuminate the fear and misunderstanding around the disease at the time. The scene in which a character is detained in a locked hospital ward seems positively medieval; it is, in fact, based on a real case. Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has thanked her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi for sending over two million doses of COVID-19 vaccine as a gift to Bangladesh. India on Thursday officially handed over 2 million doses of domestically produced Covishield vaccine to Bangladesh. The vaccines were provided at a crucial time when the number of coronavirus cases in Bangladesh is rising. "I thank Prime Minister Narendra Modi for sending the vaccine (batch) as a gift," Hasina said at an online international conference held on the occasion of the 100th founding anniversary of the University of Dhaka on Thursday. She said the government has already planned how it would proceed with the vaccine, the Dhaka Tribune reported. "We have taken all the steps to face the COVID-19 situation in the country," Hasina said. Apart from the current delivery of vaccines, Bangladesh is also set to purchase 3 crore doses of India-made coronavirus vaccine. Hasina hoped that the vaccine that Bangladesh procured from India would arrive by January 25-26, the report said. 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 over 530,270. India also handed over 1 million doses of coronavirus vaccines to Nepal on Thursday. On Wednesday, India sent 150,000 doses of Covishield vaccines to Bhutan and 100,000 doses to the Maldives. . Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-22 13:17:20|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close A high-speed train pulls out of the Harbin West Station, which is along the railway linking Beijing and Harbin, capital city of northeastern province of Heilongjiang, Jan.22, 2021. (Xinhua/Wang Jianwei) BEIJING, Jan. 22 (Xinhua) -- China on Friday launched a new high-speed railway service that connects Beijing with Harbin, capital of the northeastern province of Heilongjiang. A newly unveiled 192-km-long section, running from Beijing to Chengde, in the neighboring Hebei Province, started operation Friday morning. Combined with two previously opened sections, the Beijing-Harbin high-speed railway extends 1,198 km. The new railway service forges a closer link between the national capital and the northeastern provinces of Liaoning, Jilin, and Heilongjiang. With a designed speed of 350 km per hour, the service is expected to shorten the travel time from Beijing to Harbin to about five hours, around one and a half hours less than the previous fastest railway route. The first section of the route, extending from Shenyang, capital of Liaoning Province, to Harbin, was put into operation in 2012. The section from Shenyang to Chengde began service in 2018. Three sets of Fuxing bullet trains that can operate under temperatures as low as minus 40 degrees have been put into operation for the first time on the railway. The route is an important part of China's high-speed railway network, which completes the high-speed railway link between the southern and northern regions of the country, said Fan Yijiang, an expert with the National Development and Reform Commission. "It will facilitate travel between the country's northeastern parts and the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region and can add values to areas along the route," Fan said. China's railway operation mileage reached 146,300 km by the end of last year, with 37,900 km of high-speed railways, data from China State Railway Group Co., Ltd. showed. Scene: The bodies of the Vietnamese nationals were discovered on an industrial estate in Grays, Essex; Inset: Ronan Hughes Four people-smugglers, including three Irishmen, have been jailed for the manslaughter of 39 migrants, who suffered an "excruciating" death in an airtight trailer. The victims, Vietnamese men, woman and children, had hoped for a better life in Britain when they agreed to pay up to 13,000 a head for a "VIP" smuggling service. On October 22 2019, they were crammed into a lorry container to be shipped from Zeebrugge to Purfleet in Essex in pitch black and sweltering conditions. The Old Bailey heard how they desperately tried to raise the alarm as they ran out of air before reaching British shores. The migrants, two aged just 15, were found dead by lorry driver Maurice Robinson who collected the trailer from the docks early the next morning. Robinson, 26, of Craigavon, and his boss Ronan Hughes, 41, of Armagh, had admitted plotting to people smuggle and 39 counts of manslaughter. Hughes's partner in crime Gheorghe Nica, 43, of Basildon, Essex, and Eamonn Harrison, 24, of County Down, who had collected the victims on the continent, were found guilty of the offences. On Friday, Robinson, who also admitted money-laundering, was jailed for 13 years and four months in jail, Hughes was sentenced to 20 years in prison, Nica to 27 years and Harrison to 18 years. Mr Justice Sweeney said: "I have no doubt that, as asserted by the prosecution, the conspiracy was a sophisticated, long running, and profitable one to smuggle mainly Vietnamese migrants across the channel." The migrants had desperately tried to break out of the trailer and raise the alarm before they suffered an "excruciatingly slow death", the judge said. The 11th round of talks between the protesting farmers and the Centre ended in a deadlock again, with the former sticking to their stand of complete repeal of the laws. Even the government hardened its stand, saying that the latest proposal of keeping the laws in abeyance for 12-18 months is the best it can do. Urging the farmers to reconsider their stand on the latest offer, agriculture minister Narendra Singh Tomar said there was no problem with the laws but an offer of suspending them was made as a respect to the farmers. Unlike the last 10 rounds, the 11th round of talks could not even reach a decision on the next date for the meeting. This is because the government also hardened its stand, saying it is ready to meet the farmers again once the unions agree to discuss the suspension proposal. This follows a big climbdown by the Centre during the last round when it offered to suspend the laws and form a joint committee to find a solution. Farmer leaders said they will intensify their agitation now and alleged that the Centres approach was not right during the meeting. While the meeting lasted for almost five hours, the two sides sat face to face for less than 30 minutes. Tractor rally at Ring Road Farmer leaders said their proposed January 26 tractor rally will take place on Delhis busy Outer Ring Road as decided earlier. Coming out of the meeting, farmer leader Balbir Singh Rajewal said it is for the government to ensure that the rally is peaceful. During the meet, the three central ministers including Tomar, railways, commerce and food minister Piyush Goyal and minister of state for commerce Som Parkash urged the union representatives to reconsider their stand, after which the two sides went for lunch. The break lasted for more than three hours. During this period, the farmer unions held consultations while the central ministers waited in a separate room at Vigyan Bhawan. The agriculture minister blamed external forces for the farmers rigid stand and said no resolution is possible when the sanctity of the agitation is lost. After the meeting, Bharatiya Kisan Union (Ugrahan) leader Joginder Singh Ugrahan said the discussions have broken down as the unions rejected the Centres proposal. A former Birmingham police detective has been indicted in an April shooting that killed another woman. A Jefferson County grand jury indicted 40-year-old Alfreda Fluker during its December session, according to court records made public Thursday. She is charged with capital murder and attempted murder in the April 10 shooting death of Kanisha Nicole Fuller and attempted murder of Mario Theodore White. Fluker and White were car partners on the Birmingham Police Departments Crime Reduction Team and also had been involved romantically for about a year. The shooting happened about 11:51 p.m. that Friday in Birminghams Germania Park. West Precinct officers responded to the park after the citys gunfire detection system, Shot Spotter, alerted them to shots fired. When they arrived on the scene, they learned the 43-year-old Fuller had been shot multiple times, including at least once to the head. Fuller was found unresponsive in an unmarked Birmingham police vehicle. She was taken to UAB Hospital where she was pronounced dead. That vehicle was assigned to White. Fullers white Jeep was found in the middle of a field at Germania Park. Kanisha Fuller was shot to death in April 2020 in Birmingham's Germania Park. A Birmingham police detective is charged in her killing. (Contributed) Investigators quickly identified the suspected shooter as Fluker, who had been with the department for about 15 years. She had been a detective for the past five years. Fluker was taken into custody at her mothers west Birmingham home. She has since been fired from the department, and White has resigned. At a June hearing, SBI agent Chris Lampley testified that White told investigators he had gone to Bessemer that night to talk with family about a dying relative. He was on his way home when he received a text message from Fuller asking him to meet at Germania Park, which is in the 3000 block of Pearson Avenue. White told Lampley that he and Fuller parked next to each other and talked from the vehicles for about 15 minutes before she eventually got into his city-issued blue Dodge Durango. White told investigators Fuller was asking for his help handing out fliers for a catering business she was starting, and they talked about that for about 10 minutes when headlights appeared before them and gunfire erupted. White said he grew up in the area and knew the park well. There was only one way for him to exit to flee the shots, and he pulled off in that direction. Initially he said he didnt know who was doing the shooting, Lampley testified. White told Fuller to get down, and he took off. As White reached the parks exit, he remembered he had his gun in the back seat and stopped to retrieve it to return fire, Lampley testified. When he stopped at that intersection, a black Ford Ranger pulled up and Fluker got out of the drivers side. White told investigators that Fluker was holding a gun. He put his gun back in his car and then snatched Flukers gun from her. He checked the weapon to confirm that there were no bullets left. The two argued, Lampley testified, and White pushed Fluker to the ground. He said he didnt know whether she retrieved her gun, but Lampley testified that gun has never been found. A witness who lives near the park told authorities he heard a man and woman arguing and then heard gunfire. He went out on the porch to see what was going on and saw the two standing between their vehicles at the parks exit. He couldnt understand what they were saying, but He knew the female was very upset about something, Lampley testified. White told detectives he then ran to his vehicle to check on Fuller and it was during that time Fluker fled the scene. Lampley testified that 15 shell casings were recovered from the scene, all matching Flukers 9 mm service weapon. One of the bullets, authorities said, entered the right side of Fullers head and exited through the left side. The majority of the damage was on the passengers side of Whites vehicle where Fuller was sitting. The investigation showed that Flukers cell phone indicated she had been at Germania Park at the time the shooting took place. Fluker, according to testimony, went to her mothers house and told her mother she had just shot at White. They will be coming to get me soon,' Fluker told her mother. She surrendered without incident when police went to arrest her. A witness who knew Fluker identified her as being in the park arguing with White that night, testimony showed. White eventually picked Fluker out of a lineup as the person who shot at him and Fuller. Additionally, a license plate reader picked up Flukers car being in the area at the time of the shooting. Under questioning from Flukers attorney, Lampley testified that White and Fuller were engaged in sexual activity at the time of the shooting, not just discussing a catering business. Fluker, a mother of three, has been held without bond since her arrest. A trial date has not yet been set. Gorakhpur, Jan 22 : In a major embarrassment to the Uttar Pradesh government, the Gorakhpur police has arrested six persons, including three policemen, for looting a jeweller and an employee of another jeweller of Maharajganj district. The accused cops were posted at Purani Basti police station of Basti district in the state. Gorakhpur SSP Jogender Kumar said, "We have also recovered Rs 19 lakh cash as well as gold and silver worth Rs 12 lakh and Rs 4 lakh respectively from their possession. Besides, the SUV used in the crime was also impounded." The Basti police administration has suspended 12 policemen of Purani Basti police station, including the three who were involved in the crime. SP Basti Hemraj Meena said, "The three policemen found to be involved in the loot have been suspended and the process of their termination is underway. Nine other policemen have also been suspended as they showed laxity in discharge of duty and also concealed the information about the absence of the accused from duty." He further said, "The accused have been booked under section 395 (punishment for dacoity), 412 (dishonestly receiving property stolen in the commission of a dacoity), 420(cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property) of IPC. They will also be booked under NSA and Gangster act." The arrested cops are sub-inspector Dharmendra Yadav and constables Mahendra Yadav and Santosh Yadav. The driver involved in the crime, Devendra Yadav, is a resident of Purani Basti and two others, Shailesh Yadav of Thoothibari in Maharajganj and Durgesh Yadav of Nichloul, Maharajganj, who leaked the location of the victims to the looters, have also been arrested. According to police reports, the victims, Deepak Verma, brother of jeweller Tarkeshwar Verma of Nichloul in Maharajganj and Raju Verma, who is an employee of jeweller Gautam Verma of Nichloul came to Gorakhpur by bus on Wednesday morning and took another bus for onward the journey to Lucknow where they had to purchase some jewellery. As soon as the bus started, three policemen in uniform entered the bus and asked both Deepak and Raju to get down and took them to Nausad area where they allegedly beat them up and also snatched their bag containing cash, gold and silver. The accused were later identified the help of CCTV footage at the railway bus station. Burlington voters will be deciding on Town Meeting Day in March whether Vermonts largest city should become host to shops that sell recreational marijuana. The City Council decided to put the measure before voters on Town Meeting Day, WCAX-TV reported. If approved, some of the local-option tax money collected in Burlington from cannabis sales would be used to help minority businesses and social support networks. In September, the Vermont Legislature legalized the recreational sales of marijuana by establishing a system to tax and regulate retail pot sales. Gov. Phil Scott let the bill become law without his signature. The law includes a provision that establishes a cannabis control board with an executive director to oversee the taxation and regulation of the market. And it sets up a 14% excise tax on cannabis products, of which 30% is earmarked for substance abuse prevention and it extends the 6% sales tax to cannabis products. With the recently adopted executive bylaws for Law 149/2019 regulating civil society, Egypt has taken a major step in the codification of community work. The law marks a unique qualitative shift for civil society associations in Egypt, according to Minister of Social Solidarity Nevine Al-Kabbag. Its various articles and many privileges are on par with the strongest community work laws in the world. The NGO law guarantees the right to establish civil society organisations by mere formal notification and the right to exercise their activities freely. It has eliminated red tape and prohibited government authorities from intervening in NGO affairs, dissolving them or dismissing their boards of directors except by court ruling. The executive bylaws translate the rights and privileges enshrined in the law into practical terms. It contains articles that support all forms of human rights, especially the right to form civil associations and private community organisations, Al-Kabbag added. The law marks a breakthrough, especially with respect to sources of funding and the surveillance of their activities. It has introduced effective controls on the powers to dissolve and penalise them. It includes articles designed to promote the freedom to volunteer and the principles of accountability and good governance, which officials regard as the beginning of a new historical stage in the history of civil society work that proceeds from an approach that is both developmental and rights oriented. The new law was drafted in response to President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisis appeal to lawmakers to address the demands of civil society to review Law 70/2017 with a view to opening up new horizons to rights and freedoms and a broader scope for civil society activity in Egypt. Al-Kabbag stated, Law 148 with its executive bylaws is incontrovertible proof of the changes that have taken place in social policies. They have swept aside old policies centring on the provision of a narrow and restricted range of social services, the criteria of entitlement to which were always the object of doubt and confusion, clearing the way to broader social policies of comprehensive development, the importance of partnership between the three sectors of the state, and the role the civil society sector can play as the governments fundamental partner in development, progress and the elimination of poverty in its various dimensions. According to the Federation of Civil Society Associations, the law facilitates the bureaucratic processes required to establish NGOs, solicit donations and spend funds. With the newly adopted bylaws, it ushers in a new phase of mutual trust between civil society and government and rounds out the circle of legislative reform for the community work ecosystem in Egypt. The bylaws give existing NGOs six months to bring their affairs into compliance with the regulations. The ministry and the federation are expected to launch a nationwide campaign to raise NGO awareness on how to meet the compliance requirements. Should an association fail to comply, the ministry would bring the matter to a court seeking a ruling to dissolve the entity in question. As for associations accused of working with terrorist organisations, the new regulations stipulate that they can only commence the compliance process after receiving a final court ruling acquitting them of all charges. The law prohibits NGOs from engaging in political, political party or syndicate activities, or letting their offices be used for such purposes. According to the Federation of Civil Society Associations, some 700 NGOs in Egypt receive foreign funding, the amount of which is contingent on the projects the associations carry out. Grants come from foreign NGOs, independent international organisations such as the UN Population Fund, the Red Cross, the International Planned Parenthood Federation, UNESCO, or foreign governmental organisations such as USAID. The donor organisations generally stipulate the type of activities they fund in accordance with their own charters. Some work in housing, others in education or the eradication of illiteracy, others in poverty reduction. The Egyptian government is looking forward to more extensive and closer cooperation with civil society organisations in development work, in order to surmount obstacles to progress and improve the efficacy of social services and human development efforts. *A version of this article appears in print in the 21 January, 2021 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly. Short link: Former President Donald Trumps endgame was catastrophic, from strong-arming local election officials to overturn an election on false premises, to inciting a riot on sacred government ground that left several people dead, to becoming the only president to be impeached twice. But we cannot let any of this erase the memory of the ugliest and most immoral policy choice made by the Trump administration the willful separation of children from their families at the southwest border. We have known about the family separation policy for years now. However, details revealed in a new report by the Justice Departments inspector general make clear how low the administration sank in carrying out the historically cruel policy. It also shows how the president didnt act alone. Senior Justice Department officials, in blessing a policy that was singular in its cruelty, have stained the Justice Department and the ideals on which it was founded. First, the report provides a window into how the family separation policy was a result of a single-minded focus on increasing prosecutions at the border. The administration crafted a zero-tolerance policy, which would knowingly rip children from their parents before prosecuting them, all as a means of frightening adults from coming to the country. Most troubling was the fact that, according to the report, senior Justice Department officials still barreled ahead in spite of warnings that the government was well aware of the likely tragic fallout of the policy. Warping the law for evil purposes This approach arrest, separate, and deport first, ask questions later was rooted in the erroneous notion that our immigration system is nothing more than an arm of the criminal justice system, and that deterring people from coming to the United States is its principal objective. Consider, for instance, Attorney General Jeff Sessions statement in May 2018 that we need to take away children and Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosensteins statement a week later to subordinates that prosecutors still should have brought cases despite the children being barely more than infants. The report reminds us that Trump's obsessive opposition to immigration but only some immigration, from some countries so easily eliminated the line between enforcing the law and being cruel. Story continues A system focused on enforcing the law can do so justly; a system intent on cruelty warps the law for evil purposes and is even more dangerous because it cloaks itself in the rule of law. As someone who previously worked as a senior official at both Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Department of Justice, I will be the first to say that there are plenty of reasons to be critical of the Obama administration's approach to immigration enforcement. However, one thing is certain the Obama administration left prosecutors the discretion not to bring cases when there was good reason not to do so. Lourdes de Leon hugs her son Leo, who was separated from her at the U.S. border, at a shelter in Guatemala City on Aug. 7, 2018. Prosecutors regularly are trained, and have the duty, to consider the potential consequences of their actions at charging and sentencing, in determining how or whether to proceed. In a huge departure from the norms of law enforcement, the Trump administration sought to eliminate this discretion at the border altogether. Being able to say no is core to responsible law enforcement, and the Biden administration should ensure that it is fully restored. Second, in hiding behind the rule of law in order to justify the administrations horrific policy goals, we see the DOJ's indifference to the core mission embodied in its name. Senior officials viewed child welfare as the responsibility of other agencies, with Rosenstein noting that I just dont see that as a DOJ equity. While this is partly true agencies like the Department of Health and Human Services play a role in the care of children in federal custody even artful denials of responsibility fall flat in the face of reality. Hate disguised as security: Trump's farcical border wall fails as immigration policy and impeachment distraction DOJ leaders intentionally separated families and were well aware of the consequences. Indeed, the fear, pain, and trauma caused by these separations were a feature, not a bug, of this program of deterrence. According to a court filing last week, the administration had failed to reach the parents of 611 children separated by the Trump administration. Biden plans next week to set up a task force to reunite families, but some children may never see their parents again. Cruelty in the name of justice is wrong Finally, at an April 3, 2018, meeting, as reported in the New York Times, Trump allegedly ranted and was on a tirade, demanding as many prosecutions as possible. His direct insertion of himself into matters of criminal prosecution is intensely problematic. While the president leads the executive branch, presidents and White House staff have traditionally been walled off from the day-to-day operations and decisions of prosecutors and investigators. Even assuming a presidents interest in carrying out the goals of his border security mission, Trumps direct involvement with the assistance of senior law enforcement officials around him should give us all pause. Remain in Mexico: My foster daughter was separated from her family at the border For years, we knew who Trump was. His personal immorality and vindictiveness were on display throughout his presidency. However, the facts detailed in the inspector general report make clear the extent to which some very senior lawyers who should have known better were complicit in carrying out the most disgraceful parts of Trumps legacy. The legal profession, and the Justice Department, deserved better. New leaders have taken over at the Justice Department. Their work is cut out for them. Immediately, they will oversee the identification, investigation, and prosecution of many individuals who incited and participated in the violence at the Capitol. More broadly, however, they must purge the notion adopted by their predecessors, that blatant cruelty in the name of justice is permissible. Only then can the department live up to the value for which it was named. Elliot Williams, a principal at The Raben Group, was an Assistant Director at U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and a Deputy Assistant Attorney General at the Department of Justice. Follow him on Twitter: @elliottcwilliams You can read diverse opinions from our Board of Contributors and other writers on the Opinion front page, on Twitter @usatodayopinion and in our daily Opinion newsletter. To respond to a column, submit a comment to letters@usatoday.com. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Separating parents and children was Trump's most immoral policy choice Cases have stayed about the same over the past week and are low. The numbers of hospitalized Covid patients and deaths in the Nevada County area have also remained at about the same level. The test positivity rate in Nevada 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 Nevada 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. Consider keeping your children in school and allowing occasional play dates . 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. Working remotely is the safest option. If you work in person, you can reduce your risk by working less-crowded hours. Crowded events with shouting, singing or exercising can be riskier. If you attend an indoor religious service , choose one without singing and where everyone wears a mask and stays at least six feet apart. Indoor weddings , funerals , concerts , sporting events and other gatherings that bring multiple households together are places where Covid can spread easily. Consider postponing or opting for smaller, outdoor events if possible. Airports, bus terminals and other transportation hubs often bring people from many different places together. If other areas are experiencing Covid-19 outbreaks, transportation hubs may be risky even if your county is at a moderate exposure level. Consider avoiding nonessential travel . If you take a taxi , open the windows and sit far away from others in the vehicle. If you 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. Its also OK to visit stores and indoor restaurants , and to get personal care services like haircuts and manicures . If you do, choose places where you can stay at least six feet away from other customers. Avoid indoor places like bars , gyms and movie theaters operating at full capacity. Such places are safer if everyone is wearing a mask and theres enough space to stay six feet apart. Museums , libraries and other large indoor spaces are good options, because theres more space to keep a safe distance from people in other households. 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 moderate Covid-19 transmission in Nevada County right now, heres how to lower your personal risk of getting Covid-19 and protect your community, according to public health experts. No cases were reported in Nevada County in the last week. Since the beginning of the pandemic, at least 1 in 10 residents have been infected, a total of 830 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 Nevada County is at a moderate risk level for unvaccinated people because there was an average of 2 daily cases per 100,000 people reported in the past two weeks. The risk in Nevada County will decrease to low risk if the daily case rate drops to less than about 0.7 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: Google users could soon an alarming phishing campaign that could affect a number of people. Security researchers warned the public that fraudsters and other malicious attackers are now targeting Google Forms users. They discovered thousands of Google Forms messages sent by different cyber criminals to lure telecommunications companies, retailers, as well as energy and manufacturing companies. According to SC Magazine's latest report, the current attack is only a preparation for an upcoming massive BEC (Business Email Compromises) phishing campaign. Fake Google Forms message is just a preparation Proofpoint Threat Research, a security firm, said in its blog that fraudsters are currently using Google Forms messages to bypass email security content filters based on keywords. The firm's security experts explained that the hybrid attack that uses Google Forms with social engineering attacks is commonly associated with BEC campaigns. Experts said that the fraudsters' tactic is to lure their victims into believing that they demand a "Quick Task" since they are in a hurry because of a business meeting. They are currently trying to fool Google users into believing that they don't have enough time to finish a certain task. Also Read: Some Google Messages Users Won't be Able to Send SMS at ALL! Here's What You Need to Do if That Happens The cybercriminals will then send a link in the email. This link will direct the users to an untitled file hosted by Google Forms. Their main goal is to trick Google Forms users into sending an email as a response. Why? Because the users will find that the file is blank and doesn't contain any information. Once the users are fooled, the tricksters will ask their victims to fill in the missing information so that they can have complete access to the file. What you need to do Staying anonymous on certain apps or social media platforms will hide your identity and help you avoid scammers and other malicious attackers. To help you further, here's a quick guide you can use so that you can stay anonymous on Google Forms; Business Insider explained that the first thing you need to do is create a Google Forms file and choose a premade template. After that, you must go to the Settings icon, which is located at the top-right corner of your screen. Once you are there, you'll find the General tab. You need to make sure that all the boxes for the "Limit to 1 Response" and the "Collect Email Addresses" are all unchecked or toggled off. Once you are done, all you need to do is save the file. For more news updates about Google's possible online breachers and other attacks, always keep your tabs open here at TechTimes. Related Article: Google's New Tool Might be the Solution to Prevent Hackers; Here's How You Can Use Chrome 88 This article is owned by TechTimes. Written by: Giuliano de Leon. 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Dozens of merchants protested Wednesday in Colombias capital city of Bogota against the local governments restrictions meant to stop the spread of the coronavirus. The protesters carried signs implying that the measures forcing them to keep their businesses closed will make them go bankrupt. The city is set to experience the third weekend in a row under a strict lockdown. Thousands of companies in Bogota ceased operations in 2020, according to the Observatory for COVID Monitoring and Reactivation. The economic sectors most affected in the third quarter of 2020 were lodging and food services, construction and manufacturing, according to a statement from the Bogota Chamber of Commerce released Monday. Bogota Mayor Claudia Lopez has said the restrictions are in response to an increase in COVID-19 infections and the high occupancy of hospital intensive care units. Government data show more than 91% of ICU beds are currently in use. Colombia has recorded 1,939,071 cases and 49,402 deaths of COVID-19, according to the latest report from the countrys Ministry of Health. (Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com) Sir Patrick Vallance has admitted the UKs COVID death rate is awful amid concerns the new variant of coronavirus may be more deadly than the first. In a sombre press conference on Friday, the UK's chief scientific adviser stood alongside Boris Johnson and chief medical officer Chris Whitty to paint a sober picture for the coming weeks. They said the new variant, first identified in Kent, could be associated with a 30% higher mortality rate. The three warned that the daily death rate, which hit a record 1,820 earlier this week, may not have peaked yet and that it would be some weeks before a reduction in the number of COVID hospital patients in recent days would work its way through the system. Sir Patrick said there was also some evidence that variants which had appeared in South Africa and Brazil may be less susceptible to approved COVID-19 vaccines than the original strains. In addition, Johnson warned further measures could be required to stop the new variants entering the UK following the decision to suspend all the Governments travel corridors. In a further downbeat note, Sir Patrick added: I dont think this virus is going anywhere. Its going to be around, I think, forever as a virus, but it will be controlled. Chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance warned that coronavirus could be around 'forever' during a Downing Street press conference on Friday (Leon Neal/PA Images via Getty Images) Awful death rate The sombre press conference was in sharp contrast to the recent optimism of a successful vaccination programme that has seen more than 5 million adults in the UK receive their first jab. The past week has seen the UK report a record daily death toll of 1,820, while the seven-day average of deaths continues to increase. The UK's death toll continues to increase. Sir Patrick said the awful death rate will stay high for a little while before beginning to decline, regardless of the impact of the new variant. The death rate is awful and its going to stay, Im afraid, high for a little while before it starts coming down, that was always what was predicted from the shape of this, he said. I think the information about the new variant doesnt change that. Story continues Prof Whitty warned the coronavirus situation in the UK remained extremely precarious with the virus still on the increase in some parts of the country. He said: In terms of the infection rate, if you took the country as a whole and just averaged it, then the number of infections is broadly going down but it is at a very high level, and it is extremely precarious I really want to stress this. The number of infections has decreased in recent days. A very small change and it could start taking off again from an extremely high base, and there are some areas of the country and some age groups in which it does not appear to be going down for example in people (aged) 20-30, the evidence is that it may still be increasing in some parts of the country. It is not solidly going down and it is very, very high. Prof Whitty said the peak of deaths may well be still in the future, before warning: If people took this moment and said, Right, it is over, it would get back into very deep trouble very fast and the NHS is absolutely at the top of what it can manage. If that happened again, we would be in really, really deep trouble. On Monday, experts said the UK has the highest daily death rate in the world. Oxford University researchers Our World In Data said an average of 935 daily deaths over the last week was the equivalent of more than 16 people in every million dying each day with coronavirus. Watch: COVID infection slightly decrease but remain high What does this mean for lockdown? The Prime Minister said that the lockdown rules would be reviewed on 15 February but warned that stricter measures may be needed to regain control over the spread of the virus in the meantime. Johnson said he believes Britain will have to live with COVID for "some time to come", adding that there is a discussion ongoing about which measures can be lifted and how. He told the briefing things will be opened "only safely, only cautiously", and that businesses will be better served by a slower approach rather than lifting measures quickly, only to go back into lockdown. "The first thing that we want to reopen... is schools, and that remains the priority," he said. What about the variants? Sir Patrick said the Brazilian and South African coronavirus variants are of more concern than the UK strain because there are fears they may be less susceptible to vaccines. We know less about how much more transmissible they are, he said. We are more concerned that they have certain features that they might be less susceptible to vaccines. They are definitely of more concern than the one in the UK at the moment, and we need to keep looking at it and studying it very carefully. Sir Patrick said the coronavirus variant which emerged in Kent is a common variant comprising a significant number of cases and transmits up to 70% more easily than the original virus. We think it transmits between 30% and 70% more easily than the old variant. We dont yet understand why that is the case, he continued. It doesnt have a difference in terms of age distribution it can affect anybody at any age, similarly to the original virus. He added that among people who have tested positive for COVID-19, there is evidence that there is an increased risk of death for those who have the new variant compared with the old virus. Watch: What you can and cant do during UKs third lockdown He cautioned, however, that this is based on evidence which is not yet strong and there is no real evidence of an increase in mortality among those hospitalised by the variant. These data are currently uncertain and we dont have a very good estimate of the precise nature or indeed whether it is an overall increase, but it looks like it is, he added. Shadow health secretary Jonathan Ashworth said after the briefing: "This is deeply alarming news, not least because Boris Johnson assured the nation back in December there was no evidence the variant was more dangerous. Hospital admissions have levelled off. "We urge ministers to go further and faster on vaccination roll out now to save lives, and introduce proper financial support for those needing to isolate to help breaks chains of transmission." Small improvements Despite the severity of the situation, the panel emphasised some small positives. There are signs the number of people in hospital is beginning to flatline in parts of England, said Prof Whitty. There has been a turning of the corner on that and the number of people with infections has gone down. There are definite signs of improvement but from a very high level. The number of people in hospital with Covid in the UK [is] increasing all the time, and has been over the last several weeks, and is now at an extraordinarily high level. But theres now signs of this beginning to flatten out, in some parts of England particularly the south east, east of England and London theres now signs of some reductions but at an incredibly high rate still. Latest vaccine news Johnson told the briefing that 400,000 vaccinations have been carried out in the last 24 hours, taking the total to more than five million since the rollout began in December. However: "There is more to do and the target remains stretchy," he said. The government aims to have given 13 million people in the UK their first dose of the vaccine by the end of February. A poll published on Friday revealed that the UK is now the most pro-vaccination country in the world, with 81% of Britons saying they would take up the offer of a coronavirus vaccine when offered. It will matter whats considered legal and whats not because it has some ramifications in the long run, but like everything else between CTU and CPS, it really is in question whether its legal or whether its not, and we shouldnt get confused by that or distracted by it, Bruno said. Its really about, what are the most important issues at play, and what is it that the parties are doing that makes it impossible to get to an agreement, or what does it take for them to get to an agreement? House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) arrive at a news briefing in Washington on May 22, 2019. (Alex Wong/Getty Images) Article of Impeachment to Be Delivered to Senate on Monday: Pelosi Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said that the Houses article of impeachment against President Donald Trump will be delivered to the Senate on Monday, in what some constitutional law experts have said is an impossible task. I have spoken to Speaker Pelosi who informed me that the article will be delivered to the Senate on Monday, Schumer said on the Senate floor on Friday, referring to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.). Hours later, Pelosi confirmed that the article will indeed be transferred on Jan. 25. Our Constitution and our country are well served by the extraordinary leadership of Lead Manager Jamie Raskin, and Representatives Diana DeGette, David Cicilline, Joaquin Castro, Eric Swalwell, Ted Lieu, Stacey Plaskett, Madeleine Dean, and Joe Neguse, she said in a statement, referencing her impeachment managers. We are respectful of the Senates constitutional power over the trial and always attentive to the fairness of the process, noting that the former president will have had the same amount of time to prepare for trial as our Managers. It means that the Senate would start the trial at around 1 p.m. ET on Tuesday unless the Senate reaches an agreement to push back the trial. During the last impeachment trial, Chief Justice John Roberts presided over the trial, but its not clear whether he will this time around. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) proposed delaying the trial until February to give Trumps legal team time to prepare. Some Republican senators balked at the prospect. We wont be doing any confirmations, we wont be doing any Covid-19 relief, we wont be doing anything else other than impeaching a person whos not even president, said Sen. John Cornyn of Texas (R-Texas), a member of the Republican leadership, according to CNN. The prospect of impeaching a former president is unprecedented and goes against the Constitution, some experts have said, including Harvard Law professor emeritus Alan Dershowitz. Now that Donald Trump is a private citizen, the Senate should dismiss the article of impeachment against him for lack of jurisdiction, Dershowitz, who helped defend Trump during his first Senate trial in 2020, wrote for the Wall Street Journal this week. The Constitution is clear: The president . . . shall be removed from office on impeachment . . . and convictionnot by the expiration of his term before the impeachment process is complete. It also mandates that judgment in cases of impeachment shall not extend further than to removal and disqualificationnot or disqualification. But Schumer has maintained that its not unconstitutional to impeach a former president. The Senate will conduct a trial of the impeachment of Donald Trump, Schumer said. It will be a full trial. It will be a fair trial. But make no mistake, there will be a trial, and when that trial ends, senators will have to decide if they believe Donald John Trump incited the insurrection against the United States. Schumer didnt elaborate on the length or on the format of the proceedings. Meanwhile, Jason Miller, a political aide to Trump, wrote on Twitter that Butch Bowers, a South Carolina defense attorney, joined Trumps legal defense team. The House previously voted to impeach Trump, claiming that his speech incited violence at the Capitol on Jan. 6 during the Joint Session of Congress. McConnell said he wants to push back the trial to February to give Trump time to mount a defense. This impeachment began with an unprecedentedly fast and minimal process over in the House, McConnell said on Friday. The sequel cannot be an insufficient Senate process that denies former President Trump his due process or damages the Senate or the presidency itself. Earlier on Friday, the Senate voted to confirm retired Gen. Lloyd Austin as President Joe Bidens Pentagon chief. Biden is also pushing lawmakers to pass a $1.9 trillion CCP virus spending package. Nicolle Wallace the former Bush administration Republican who earned a masters degree from Northwesterns Medill School of Journalism in 1996 is often a fierce critic of President Trump and the Republicans who support him. On her late-afternoon two-hour block on MSNBC she is usually clear-eyed and bold in her questioning and commentary, including sharp criticisms of Republicans objecting to the Electoral College votes. But its easier to rebuke distant politicians than it is to confront them face-to-face. During a recent show, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie was discussing Trumps refusal to admit he lost the presidential election. Wallace directly criticized Christie for defending previous Trump actions. After reviewing Christies lack of response after the Access Hollywood tape, or disparaging African nations or other issues, and his new position criticizing Trump for his election result denial, she asked him about running in 2024: Are you simply making a political calculation that you could clean the Trump stink off you faster than Marco Rubio or some of the other competitors? As politicians often do when theres no good answer, Christie pretty much ignored the question, but it was a great TV moment. Ill be curious if he ever agrees to go back on her show. Available on MSNBC. Scott L. Powers Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-22 17:13:55|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Photo taken on Jan. 22, 2021 shows a residential property destroyed by an Israeli missile strike in Syria's central province of Hama. A family of four members was killed at dawn Friday by a fresh Israeli missile strike that targeted Syria's central province of Hama, state news agency SANA reported. (Str/Xinhua) DAMASCUS, Jan. 22 (Xinhua) -- A family of four members was killed at dawn Friday by a fresh Israeli missile strike that targeted Syria's central province of Hama, state news agency SANA reported. A father, mother and two children were killed and four others were wounded in the attack, said SANA. It added that three residential homes were destroyed. The Israeli warplanes fired their missiles from over the Lebanese city of Tripoli, targeting military targets in the vicinity of Hama, said SANA, citing a military source. It added that the air defenses intercepted most of the missiles. The attack is the latest in a series of Israeli strikes targeting military sites in Syria. Earlier this month, an intense Israeli missile strike against a series of military positions in eastern Syria killed more than 57 fighters, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights war monitor. The "intense" missile strike targeted positions of Syrian forces and allied Iranian-backed fighters in the area extending from the city of Deir al-Zour to the al-Bukamal area on the Syrian-Iraqi border, said the Observatory. In 2020, Israel carried out a total of 39 attacks on Syrian military sites, according to the Observatory. The strikes last year killed 217 Syrian soldiers and pro-Iran fighters, it said. Israel has repeatedly said it will not tolerate any military activity of Iranian-backed militias in Syria. Enditem ADVERTISEMENT The Kremlin says it welcomes the U.S. readiness to extend the New START treaty on curbing nuclear weapons stockpiles, but warned that success will depend on the details. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov made the position of the Kremlin known on Friday, two days after the inauguration of the Joe Biden and Kamala Harris presidency in the U.S. The New START (Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty) agreement went into effect in 2011 and is set to expire on February 5, at which point there would be no deal between the U.S. and Russia setting controls on weapons stockpiles and allowing inspections. Mr Bidens new administration proposed a five-year extension this week. Russia is for preserving New START and for extending this treaty in order to gain time for talks and contacts. We can only welcome the political will to extend this document, said Mr Peskov. But he added that everything will depend on the details of this proposal, which is yet to be studied. The U.S. proposal had already received support from other parts of Russias political elite. Diplomat Mikhail Ulyanov called Mr Bidens move an encouraging step on Twitter. The extension will give the two sides more time to consider possible additional measures aimed at strengthening strategic stability and global security, wrote Ulyanov, who represents Russia at international organisations operating in Vienna. Russia has proposed an extension several times already, however, arguing for no changes to the current deal and without stipulations. Were already in a dialogue; were expecting concrete proposals, said Leonid Sluzki, head of the foreign relations committee in the Duma, Russias parliament. The two countries control about 90 per cent of the worlds nuclear weapons stockpile. New START limits the two countries to 1,550 ready-to-launch nuclear warheads and 800 launch systems each. The Trump administration had negotiated with Russia on the issue, but had been unable to reach a deal. (dpa/NAN) The Socialist Equality Party (SEP) and International Youth and Students for Social Equality (IYSSE) in Australia held a powerful online meeting last Sunday to commemorate the life of Barry Jobson, a former railway worker and veteran socialist, who died aged 78 on December 11. Jobson joined the Trotskyist movement in 1974 and dedicated his adult life to the struggle for socialist internationalism in the working class. Barry Jobson campaigning with the IYSSE SEP National Secretary Cheryl Crisp chaired the meeting. It was addressed by Nick Beams, Terry Cook and Max Boddy, who reviewed different aspects of Jobsons political contribution and their relevance for today. The more than two-hour event, which included photographs from the partys archives and an extended Q&A session, was attended by over 150 people. Participants logged into the meeting from across Australia. Others attended from Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, Germany, India, Korea, New Zealand, Romania, Sri Lanka, the UK and the US. The full video of the meeting is available here. After the meeting, participants spoke about the impact and contemporary significance of Jobsons political work. A summary of the meeting and other comments by audience members can be found here. Sneha, a Macquarie University student in Sydney, said: The political life of Barry Jobson rings with exceptional importance in this renewed period of class struggle that has seen further horrific assaults on the social position of the toiling masses Sneha Young people must politically orient to the working class to fend off the counter-revolutionary political currents of a nationalist and opportunist nature, including social democracy, Stalinism and trade unionism. Equally they must shed the post-modern conceptions of the Frankfurt School milieu that has festered in universities and its mutilation of class consciousness and denial of the objective revolutionary role of the working class. These political dead-ends must be countered with working class consciousness; that is, a conscious struggle for workers power. We, like Barry, must consciously intervene to change the trajectory of historya trajectory which has us hurtling towards nuclear and climate annihilation. The success of this immense responsibility is only possible through the tireless study of Marxism. It is only possible through the arming of the working class with a Marxist perspective. Lewis, a university student and former construction worker from Wellington, New Zealand, said: Reflecting on Barrys life during his memorial, shone a light on the struggles he fought for as well as showing us all that no matter what, any member of the working class can take up the struggle in the fight for international socialism. Barrys work for the SEP, and his efforts in building the membership of the IYSSE in Australia, was exceptional. As his memorial was being held, I learned of various prior conflicts that Barry and his fellow workers and comrades fought hard against. Having never met Barry, I felt a great admiration towards him as the story of his work was being told. Rest in peace, My condolences to all his family and friends. Julia, who joined the SEP in 2018, commented: The meeting conveyed how decisive it is to have workers who are trained as Marxists in the factories and other workplaces. The fight waged by Barry along with Terry Cook in the Elcar [Electric Car] railway workshop for socialist internationalism, against the nationalist program and betrayals of the Stalinists and the trade union bureaucracy, was done under conditions where these organisations dominated the workers movement. The support and leadership that the Trotskyists gained in the Elcar shop committee is a powerful demonstration of the support that a socialist program and perspective can win when its fought for in the working class. It was significant that members from other sections of the International Committee of the Fourth International, as well as members of the Socialist Labour League in Australia, were invited to give lunchtime addresses to the workers at Elcar. Barrys life shows the necessity for students and youth wanting to fight for socialism to turn out to the working class. Phoebe, a new party member from Melbourne, said the meeting highlighted the importance of a worker-Marxist like Barry Jobson and his work in raising the consciousness and introducing Marxist theory to workers. His determination to learn to read and write as an adult was extremely inspirational. He knew how important it was to study and really learn to read Marxist literature and develop himself. His determination to introduce Trotskyism to younger people and students at Newcastle University inspired a new generation of Marxists. Mark, a media worker in Sydney, said: It was wonderful to learn more about Barrys life and tireless fight to win the working class to the program of Trotskyism. I had no idea that Barry took himself to night school to improve his reading and writing skills, to enable him to study and educate himself properly as a revolutionist. Barry holds a special place in my heart because it was he who persuaded me to attend my first ever meeting of the Socialist Equality Party. At the timeit was during the second Gulf War in IraqI was desperately clinging to illusions in the Labor Party, hoping that it might take Australia out of the war. Barry, with great patience, was able to make me think, for the very first time, outside of the dead-end framework of parliamentary politics. Its no exaggeration to say that, had I not spoken to Barry, I might still be stumbling around in the dark. Heath, an unemployed worker from northern New South Wales (NSW), said: This meeting paid tribute to the life and times of inspirational comrade Barry Jobson. It showed that even during the final years of bourgeois reformism, during Whitlams Labor Party government, an ordinary (exceptional) worker like Barry was compelled to turn from Laborism and trade unionism to a revolutionary dedication to working class independence. That is a testament to the vitality of the Trotskyist perspective embodied in the Socialist Equality Party. Heath Barry knew that no other force in society, except us workers. From the railways in Sydney to the coal mines in Britain to the gig economy workers in Washington D.C., we are the only social force powerful enough to defeat capital. In order to realise this historic task, workers like me need a party to lead it. Barry fought to build that party and his success is the transmission of the unstained banner of Lenin and Trotsky onto a new generation. Barry distinguished himself during years of political reaction by fighting tirelessly for an internationalist and Marxist perspective against all forms of nationalism, opportunism, and petty-bourgeois class pressure. Through his whole life, Barry Jobson gave living expression to principles of courage, discipline and political fortitude. His life is an example to every fighter for socialism. I salute him. Jenny, a carer from Brisbane, said: Listening to the speakers talk about Barry Jobsons life, his contribution to political clarity within the Australian working class, and his lifelong dedication to this historical task, made very clear the loss that has been incurred in the revolutionary movement by his death. But he leaves behind a potent example for current and future revolutionariespeople who have serious minds, an uncompromising focus on objective truth and determination to understand and lead the struggle for the emancipation of humanity from this decayed system. That such principled people exist in the world is a blow to pessimism, cynicism and opportunism of all stripes. That the Fourth International, populated by extraordinary people like Barry, has survived the political turmoil since 1938 and continues its vital work within the working class means that humanity has a future. Rebecca, a community bus driver from Townsville in northern Queensland, said: I found the accounts of Barry in the 1970s interesting and am impressed that he never let the flame waver. Barry it seems was a keen scholar of socialism and recognised the importance of reading history and learning from it. Rebecca I didnt know all the names mentioned by Nick Beams, but understood that some left groups were, in fact, pseudo-left, such as the union leaders who signed up to the Accords. I am always impressed with people who maintain their principles throughout life. Its easy to be a young lefty, but being an unwavering old lefty requires principles many dont have because its more convenient to fit it in with a mendicant society. Michael, a musician from Sydney, who joined the SEP in 2018, said: The meeting was an extremely interesting look at a pivotal period in the history of the working class in this country. Im sure that, like me, most Australians, especially younger ones, would have no idea about most of these events. The importance of an international perspective was at the forefront throughout. Its one thing to speak of the international character of the working class in an abstract, theoretical sense. The meeting spelled out in concrete terms how Barry and his comrades fought to bring that perspective into Australias industrial workplaces, inviting international guest speakers and engaging workers here in the struggles of their overseas counterparts. The speakers made clear that Barry thoroughly personified the role of a worker-Bolshevik. Coming into the movement with minimal formal education, he recognised the vital importance of undertaking a serious study of history and Marxist theory, not only to raise his own political consciousness, but that of all those around hima truly inspiring figure. The overall death toll is 2,091,848 people, while 53,777,014 coronavirus patients have already recovered. The total number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the world exceeded 97.5 million patients as of January 22. As many as 97,536,545 laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 cases had been reported as of 09:21 on January 22, according to the Coronavirus COVID-19 Global Cases dashboard by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) at Johns Hopkins University. Read alsoSri Lanka fully reopens borders for tourists mediaThe overall death toll is 2,091,848 people, while 53,777,014 coronavirus patients have already recovered. The highest death toll was recorded in the United States (410,349 people), Brazil (214,147), India (153,032), Mexico (146,174), the United Kingdom (94,765), Italy (84,202), France (72,139), and Russia (66,810). The countries most affected by the coronavirus pandemic include the United States (24,631,890 confirmed cases), India (10,625,428), Brazil (8,697,368), Russia (3,616,680), the United Kingdom (3,553,773), France (3,046,371), Spain (2,456,675), Italy (2,428,221), Turkey (2,412,505), and Germany (2,108,895). As many as 192 countries have been affected by the virus. More news reports Reporting by UNIAN SALEM, Ore. -- A Eugene man was arrested Thursday for his alleged role in the attack on officers during a protest at the Oregon State Capitol on Dec. 21, 2020. Richard Braatz, 65, was arrested in downtown Salem while he was participating in a protest near the Marion County District Attorneys Office. He was initially identified with the help of the public through the Salem Police Department "Can You ID Me?" page. Braatz is charged with attempted assault in the second degree and riot. Education Minister Cliff Cullen announced on Thursday that the Manitoba government will be setting aside more than $24 million for seven future land acquisition projects, which includes two new school sites in the Brandon area. Advertisement Advertise With Us Education Minister Cliff Cullen announced on Thursday that the Manitoba government will be setting aside more than $24 million for seven future land acquisition projects, which includes two new school sites in the Brandon area. During an afternoon news conference on education infrastructure, Cullen stated that these projects involve a K-8 and K-12 facility, with the latter being a school under the jurisdiction of Division Scolaire Franco-Manitobaine. Outside of Brandon, Cullen also mentioned that this funding will be used to build new facilities in the Louis Riel, River East Transcona, Seven Oaks and Pembina Trails school divisions, all located in Winnipeg. This news was part of Thursdays broader announcement, where Cullen said the province will be investing an additional $50 million over the existing $160 million in funding they had earmarked for K-12 school capital projects this fiscal year. While the minister did not offer any more information about these new Brandon projects, he mentioned that this announcement reinforces the current PC governments promise to build 20 new schools across the next 10 years. "Weve opened six new schools with two more going to tender in the spring of this year, and four will start design in 21-22," he said. "Just this month, the Maryland Park School in Brandon and the Waterford Springs School in Winnipeg opened for students." Maryland Park School officially opened its doors on Jan. 4, providing some much-needed relief to a division that had been contending with student overpopulation for many years. BSD assistant superintendent Mathew Gustafson told the Sun on Thursday afternoon that this additional K-8 school will serve the same purpose and be a welcome asset to local families. "We look forward to working with the government of Manitoba in these preliminary stages," he wrote in an email. However, a new K-12 DSFM facility will definitely be of interest to french families living in or around Brandon, since the closest francophone school in the area is situated near CFB Shilo (Ecole La Source). Otherwise, the only other DSFM facilities in Westman are located in St. Lazare (Ecole Saint-Lazare) and Laurier (Ecole Jours de Plaine). "We are committed to maintaining safe and secure school environments for quality education and making sure students have excellent facilities to learn and grow while supporting our governments pledge to protect Manitobans," Cullen said on Thursday. A DSFM representative was not available for comment by press time. kdarbyson@brandonsun.com Twitter: @KyleDarbyson OTTAWA, Jan. 21, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Recently Published Report on Biofuels Market Size, Share & Growth Analysis Report, By Fuel Type (Biodiesel and Ethanol), By Feedstock (Coarse Grain, Sugar Crop, Vegetable Oil, Jatropha, Molasses) - Global Industry Analysis, Trends, Revenue, Segment Forecasts, Regional Outlook 2021 - 2030. Biofuel refers to the specific type of fuel derived from the natural sources such as plants, organic materials, animal wastes. Biofuel industry is gaining substantial attraction as alternative fuel for the petroleum derived fuels in order to mitigate major concerns of global warming, raised due to the fossil fuels. Primary sources of biofuels include soybean, corn, forestry, agricultural crops, also the waste from food services as well as ago industries. These fuels are available in solid, liquid, or gaseous forms and are chiefly used in various end use applications counting generation of energy, transportation fuels, lubrication & greasing, cooking purposes, charging of electronics and others. Some of the commercially used biofuels are biomethane, bioethanol, and biodiesel where in biomethane is manufactured by using domestic and agricultural wastes, bioethanol is produced from sugar beet, wheat, and algae. Further, biodiesels are manufactured using animal fats, algae lipids and vegetable oils. Get the Sample Pages of Report for More Understanding@ https://www.precedenceresearch.com/sample/1187 Growth Factors: Growing demand for biofuel as environment-friendly fuel in the road transportation is major factor driving growth of the global biofuels market. This is mainly attributed to copious availability of bioethanol, biodiesel in significant regions across the globe. According to data published by the International Energy Agency, worldwide share of biofuel in the total transport fuel would raise up to 27% by 2050. Most of the developed as well as emerging economies worldwide are focusing on the production of biofuels in order to lessen dependability on fossil fuels is another factor which is expected to augment growth of the target industry over the forecast period 2021-2030. For instance, as per the data published in 2018 by Renewable Energy Directive, the complete European Union board for renewable energy sources feasting by 2030 has been elevated up to 32%. Moreover, the benefits or advantages offered by the biofuels including least impact on the environment due to its clean and harmless nature, abundant availability with mandates are anticipated to propel growth of the global biofuel industry in the near future especially in the developing economies. Furthermore, energy sources among individuals worldwide, along with increasing government support for the production and research activities of biofuels across the globe are among major factors to fuel growth of the target industry in the next few years. Additionally, changing lifestyle and increasing focus on using high percentage biofuel blends are propelling in the global industry growth. View Full Report with Complete Report ToC@ https://www.precedenceresearch.com/biofuels-market Report Highlights: Ethanol segment dominated the overall market in 2020.The growth is attributed to growing use of ethanol as environment-friendly fuel in the automotive applications in order to lessen the global greenhouse gas emission. The biodiesel fuel type segment is expected to grow at a significant CAGR during the forecast time-frame. Among the feedstock type, vegetable oil segment accounted for the largest revenue with significant share in 2020. As the vegetable oil is contains low amount of saturated fats which helps in easy processing and reducing manufacturing costs. Sugar crop are expected to grow at a momentous CAGR during the forecast time-frame. DowDuPont, Inc. accounted for a significant share of the global biofuels market. Get Customization on this Research Report@ https://www.precedenceresearch.com/customization/1187 Regional Analysis: The report covers data for North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East and Africa. In 2020, North America dominated the global market with a market share of more than 36%. U.S. represented the highest share in the North American region primarily due to availability of abundant feedstock for the production of biofuels, along with the favorable government policies for the biofuel production in the region. Further increasing awareness regarding usage of renewable biofuels is another factor to contribute the high market share of the United States over the forecast period. Further Europe was the second important market in the biofuel. The growth of the biofuel industry in the countries of the Europe is attributed to growing adoption of the biofuels in the road transportation applications. Further, supporting policies for the use of biofuels by the European government in the European region is also expected to boost the demand for biofuels market in the near future. Asia Pacific is anticipated to grow at the maximum CAGR of around 8.5% in the forecast period due increasing implementation and focus on the government regulations in account to mitigate the greenhouse gas emissions in the countries of the region especially in India, China and Japan of the region. Latin America and the African and Middle Eastern region will display noticeable growth over the forecast period. Key Market Players and Strategies: The major companies functioning in the worldwide biofuels are Abengoa Bioenergy S.A., VERBIO Vereinigte BioEnergie, DowDuPont, Inc. Archer Daniels Midland Company, BTG International Ltd, Renewable Energy Group, Inc., Wilmar International Ltd, POET LLC, Cargill, My Eco Energy, China Clean Energy Inc. among others. Huge investment in the research and development of the biofuels along with acquisition, mergers, and strategic collaborations are the key business strategies undertaken by the companies operating in the global biofuels market. Buy this Premium Research Report@ https://www.precedenceresearch.com/checkout/1187 You can place an order or ask any questions, please feel free to contact at sales@precedenceresearch.com | +1 774 402 6168 About Us Precedence Research is a worldwide market research and consulting organization. We give unmatched nature of offering to our customers present all around the globe across industry verticals. Precedence Research has expertise in giving deep-dive market insight along with market intelligence to our customers spread crosswise over various undertakings. We are obliged to serve our different client base present over the enterprises of medicinal services, healthcare, innovation, next-gen technologies, semi-conductors, chemicals, automotive, and aerospace & defense, among different ventures present globally. For Latest Update Follow Us: https://www.linkedin.com/company/precedence-research/ https://www.facebook.com/precedenceresearch/ https://twitter.com/Precedence_R China will continue to extend support to Laos in its fight against COVID-19 and is actively considering aiding the nation with vaccines, President Xi Jinping said on Thursday. Xi, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remark in a phone conversation with Thongloun Sisoulith, the new general secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party Central Committee. The phone call came on the heels of a congratulatory message sent by Xi to Thongloun, the Lao prime minister, who was elected general secretary of the LPRP Central Committee at the 11th National Congress of the LPRP last week. On behalf of the Party, government and people of China, Xi again congratulated Thongloun on his election to the position, saying that he believes that the LPRP and Laos, under the leadership of the new LPRP Central Committee, will unite and strive to attain the targets set at the congress. As friendly neighboring nations, China and Laos adhere to the leadership of the Communist Party and socialism, which is the essential feature of bilateral relations, he said. With the bilateral relationship at its historic best and the world facing major changes unseen in a century, coupled with the fallout from the pandemic, Xi said Beijing stands ready to work with Vientiane toward closer high-level exchanges, closer strategic communication and deeper exchanges on party and state governance. The two sides must move forward steadily with major projects such as the China-Laos Economic Corridor and the China-Laos Railway and enable the joint building of the Belt and Road to secure more outcomes, he said. It is important to deepen exchanges and cooperation in areas such as culture, youth and tourism and keep enriching the content of the China-Laos community with a shared future, he added. Thongloun said Laos appreciates the precious support and help China has offered in its COVID-19 response, and the country will continue to implement the action plan for the bilateral community with a shared future and bolster cooperation with China in areas such as the Belt and Road. The two leaders jointly announced the launching of the China-Laos Friendship Year, in which the two nations will host celebrations to promote bilateral friendship. The reversal of Donald Trump's travel bans by the new US president has been greeted with relief by many Somalis living in Kenya. Somalia was among the first of mainly Muslim countries hit by the ban in 2017 affecting refugees who were hoping to go to the US Ali Mohammed, a Somali refugee living in Kenya for years after fleeing fighting in her homeland, hopes that the waiting will finally be over. I would like to appeal to President Joe Biden to fast track the resettlement process. We have been stuck here in the last five years. I have gone through the final interview in September 2016. Others have been waiting for resettlement since 2015. I would like to appeal to President Joe Biden to fast track the resettlement process. We have been stuck here in the last five years. I have gone through the final interview in September 2016. Others have been waiting for resettlement since 2015. Some had to go back home with their bags from the holding area before their flights after the ban was announced. Trump has indeed messed up with our lives."Some had to go back home with their bags from the holding area before their flights after the ban was announced. Trump has indeed messed up with our lives." President Biden has also proposed to Congress a landmark policy document that will provide a pathway to citizenship for immigrants who do not have legal status in the US. Source: BBC Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Ukraine cuts foreign currency spending on fuel imports by 36% in 2020 Some 8.023 million tonnes of petroleum products was imported into Ukraine last year. Reporting by UNIAN If you see a spelling error on our site, select it and press Ctrl+Enter Three politically motivated assaults on figures critical of the governments nationalist ally rattled the Turkish capital last week. The brazen violence sent shockwaves across opposition quarters, but President Recep Tayyip Erdogan also seems to have gotten food for thought. The victims were Selcuk Ozdag, deputy chair of the opposition Future Party, Orhan Uguroglu, a journalist heading the Ankara office of the daily Yenicag, and Afsin Hatipoglu, a lawyer who hosts a TV program on a channel critical of the government, all battered in broad daylight outside their homes by masked men wielding sticks and guns. What did the victims have in common? All had vocally criticized the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), the election ally and de facto government partner of Erdogans Justice and Development Party (AKP), days before the attacks. More importantly, they all come from nationalist political background, but have become critics of the MHP, the backbone of Turkeys nationalist movement, over its alliance with the AKP. Hatipoglu, for instance, is a former head of the ultra-nationalist Idealist Hearths, known also as the Grey Wolves. The rift within the MHP has already spawned a splinter party that has aligned with the main opposition. AKP defectors, too, have formed new parties, including the Future Party, led by former Premier Ahmet Davutoglu. Ozdag suffered the worst injuries, including broken fingers and 17 stitches on his head. The findings of the police investigation suggest the attack was well planned. The five assailants reportedly conducted reconnaissance around Ozdags home for a week. The police have arrested two of the suspects thus far. They are both young men actively involved in the Ankara branch of the Idealist Hearths. The group, notorious for deadly street clashes with left-wingers in the 1970s, functions as the youth branch of the MHP. A number of similar attacks on media figures of nationalist background have taken place in the past two years in what increasingly looks like a systematic effort of intimidation. The MHP links of the assailants suggest instigation by the partys policies at the very least. MHP leader Devlet Bahceli has only compounded the misgivings by failing to condemn the latest attacks. Obviously, the assaults aim to bully opposition politicians and media figures, especially those critical of the MHP. But they appear to carry a message to Erdogan as well a reminder that his nationalist allies will not shy away from stirring political tensions to force him toe the line. Indeed, the AKPs alliance with the MHP, which helped Erdogan install the executive presidency system and win the elections in 2018, is under increasing strain from both domestic dynamics and foreign policy factors. Bahceli wants to make sure that Erdogan, a pragmatist with a copious record of U-turns, would not drop the MHP in favor of more convenient allies ahead of elections in 2023. Erdogan and Bahceli have both asserted that their alliance is intact and bound to win the 2023 elections, even though opinion polls show their popular support is on the decline. Still, a series of developments in the past several months offer ample clues that the AKP-MHP relationship is not as smooth as it used to be in the presidential elections in 2018 or the municipal polls the following year. In domestic politics, Erdogan and Bahceli are at odds on several crucial issues. The first is Erdogans promise of judicial and economic reforms, which he is likely to unveil in February. The judicial package is expected to seek some degree of normalization in the domestic scene, where an unprecedented crackdown on dissent has landed thousands in jail, including Turkeys most popular Kurdish politician, Selahattin Demirtas. Bahceli is averse to such relaxation on grounds that the security of the state is at stake. Second, Erdogan has been visiting small parties of various stripes in an apparent bid to shape a third political bloc that would be under his control and fracture the opposition. But such a bloc could also ease Erdogans dependence on the MHP; hence, his contacts with other parties have fueled a confidence crisis in the alliance. Standing out among Erdogans contacts are those with the Felicity Party, the successor of the Islamist Welfare Party in which Erdogans political career began. Tellingly, Erdogan this week visited the grave of Necmettin Erbakan, the Welfare leader and his political mentor until the two became estranged after a split in the movement. The tremors in the AKP-MHP alliance are ideological as well, stemming from rivalry on how to mold the new Turkish nationalism. Will it give precedence to Islamic tenets or secular values? Erdogan is well aware that MHP-inspired nationalism is on the rise in AKP grassroots, threatening to secularize and snatch some segments of his base. To prevent such shifts, he needs to make sure that his base remains committed to conservative values and keep his own political Islamist credentials alive. Another reason for the AKP-MHP confidence crisis has to do with a plan to amend electoral laws. The two allies are quietly working on a blueprint, but have yet to reach a consensus. While the AKP hopes for changes that will facilitate Erdogans reelection, the MHP insists on maintaining the 50% threshold that a presidential candidate needs to pass to win. The MHP is averse also to any concessions that could pave the way for a return to the parliamentary system. In the MHPs view, only a powerful government, drawing on the executive presidency system and the AKP-MHP alliance, could deal with perceived existential threats to Turkey from a hostile neighborhood and political instability and terrorist groups at home. A further point of contention concerns the Kurdish-dominated Peoples Democratic Party (HDP), the third-largest force in parliament. The MHP has called for outlawing the HDP for allegedly collaborating with terrorists and inciting violence. Erdogan appears reluctant on such a move, wary of antagonizing his own Kurdish supporters and sparking fresh tensions in already crisis-laden ties with the European Union and the United States. Ankaras recent efforts to moderate its foreign policy are not to the MHPs liking, either. These include efforts to mend fences with the EU, the planned resumption of talks with Greece and overtures to the new US administration, which is expected to be tougher on Turkey with policies that could put further strain on the AKP-MHP alliance. In sum, Erdogans need to recalibrate his foreign policy and woo new allies at home marks a new chapter for the AKP-MHP alliance, in which the MHP seems to have even greater leverage to exert pressure on Erdogan. Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-23 00:43:15|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Russian RS-24 Yars intercontinental ballistic missile systems are seen on the Red Square for the Victory Day parade in Moscow, Russia, May 9, 2019. (Xinhua/Bai Xueqi) It is significant to take each other's concerns into consideration, Peskov said. MOSCOW, Jan. 22 (Xinhua) -- The Kremlin announced Friday that it welcomes the proposal of the United States concerning the extension of the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START), adding that everything will depend on the details of the proposal. "Russia stands in favor of the preservation of the New START and for the extension of this treaty, where a time lag could be used for conducting appropriate negotiations," the TASS news agency reported, citing Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov. It is significant to take each other's concerns into consideration, Peskov said. When commenting on whether Moscow received a formal proposal from Washington on the extension of the treaty, Peskov noted that there are currently no details on this. He reiterated that Russia has yet to find out what the United States will propose, adding that Russia's position "is well-known and consistent." Citing U.S. officials, multiple media outlets reported that the Joe Biden administration would seek a full five-year extension of the New START, which will expire on Feb. 5. In 2010, Washington and Moscow signed the New START, which stipulates limits to the numbers of deployed nuclear warheads and strategic delivery systems by both. The New START, the last remaining nuclear arms control treaty in force between the two nuclear superpowers, can be extended by a maximum of five years with the consent of the two countries. USMs REACH MS Receives CARES Act Funding Mon, 01/25/2021 - 13:06pm | By: David Tisdale A program at The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) that helps P-12 schools, juvenile detention centers and group homes in the state with positive behavior supports recently received federal funding to support its work. Realizing Excellence for ALL Children in Mississippi (REACH MS), housed in the USM School of Education, was awarded an approximately $149,000 CARES grant for the Implementing Social-Emotional Learning through Effective, Collaborative Teams (iSELECT) project through appropriations coming from the 2020 Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. iSELECT is designed to provide training, support, and curriculum materials for the implementation of evidence-based social-emotional learning (SEL) standards and curricula in Mississippi, as well as dramatically increase access to free, online training by all P-12 personnel to address the stressors magnified by the novel coronavirus pandemic. REACH MS is backed by a federally-funded State Personnel Development Grant awarded to the Mississippi Department of Education and operated through a cooperative agreement with USM. Since its inception in 2005, it has primarily focused on K-12 positive behavioral interventions and supports (PBIS), which it later extended to include juvenile detention centers and group homes. Early childhood PBIS, PBIS for students with significant disabilities, and Universal Design for Learning (UDL) are more recent initiatives. The principal investigator for the iSELECT grant is Dr. Hollie Filce, director of REACH MS and a professor and coordinator of special education programs, joined by co-principal investigators Dr. Brittany Herrington, Kasey Keith and Selina Merrell. Beginning in March and continuing through July 2021, REACH MS is providing free training through iSELECT on evidence-based SEL practices to anyone who wishes to participate, purchasing evidence-based SEL curricula for 50 schools, and offering follow-up support to these schools in order for them to begin school-wide SEL implementation. Schools that have not purchased an SEL curriculum and whose leadership teams have completed or will complete the SEL training may apply for the purchase of an approved evidence-based curriculum and follow-up support for implementation. Schools that receive Title I funding are prioritized for selection. According to Dr. Filce, the project will begin with a self-paced, online SEL professional learning series containing a combination of live and recorded modules for personnel within and outside of the 50 schools selected for implementation support. This professional learning series defines SEL, guides alignment of SEL to other school-wide initiatives, describes the process for implementing SEL school-wide, and introduces Mississippis new K-12 SEL standards. In this professional learning series, an unlimited number of participants can complete the series at no cost; the first 300 people to complete the series will earn free CEUs, SEMIs, or OSLs. This series is the states first training developed to provide an introduction to, and content on, the K-12 Social Emotional Learning Standards, Dr Filce said. Providing the cost of CEUs will serve as an incentive for participation and encourage the expansion of school-wide implementation to additional schools. REACH MS will guide participants through creating a school-wide SEL team and selecting an evidence-based SEL curriculum from either The Collaborative on Academic and Social Emotional Learnings Guidelines for Selecting Evidence-Based SEL Programs or What Works Clearinghouse. The program will also purchase each schools selected SEL curriculum and facilitate training from the curricula vendors for participants from the 50 schools and REACH MS staff. Upon completion of this project, program recipients will be ready to begin their school-wide SEL implementation at the start of the 2021-22 school year, with REACH MS providing virtual follow-up support at the start of the 2021-22 school year to assist each school with aligning their selected curricula, the new K-12 SEL Standards, and the evidence-based SEL practices presented in the series. For more information about REACH MS, visit www.usm.edu/reachms. God Listens: Grandma of 5 With Leaky, Broken Roof Has Prayers Answered, Thanks to Charity After struggling to compensate for a leaking roof using kitchen pots and pans to catch drips, a Virginia grandmother, raising five children, has had her prayers answered. Carol Johnson was using kitchen improvisations to catch rainwater during poor weather, until Pastor Tyronne Champion, director of Fauquier County nonprofit Community Touch Inc., heard her story. Champion wrote a grant proposal to Dominion Energy, and they responded by donating the necessary funds. The collaboration resulted in a brand-new roof over the familys heads. Carol Johnson with three of her grandchildren. (Courtesy of Peggy Fox of Dominion Energy) There are not enough words to say about Tyronne, the Champions, or the church itself, Johnson told news outlet WSET. But I wouldnt have any of it without him. Hes top dog. God listens, He answers prayers, the grandmother continued. They may not come when you want them, but they do come, and they may not be what you ask for. You get what you need, and He provides it. (Courtesy of Peggy Fox of Dominion Energy) Dominion rep Peggy Fox posted a video on Facebook on Dec. 29, 2020, showing laborers working on Johnsons new roof. The grandmother explained, It used to be just the leak was over top of the sink, so it was just going in the sink. That was not a problem but then all these others started. Community Touch runs two homeless shelters and a food pantry, and contributes to community outreach programs with the goal of subsidizing rent and daycare expenses for people in need. For Champion, Johnsons cause was high on his priorities, one of six projects being funded by Dominion then. (Courtesy of Peggy Fox of Dominion Energy) The funding was there and people need this, wrote the pastor. [Johnson] has five grandkids shes raising, so its really important for her to have a solid roof. These five, they go in five different directions, she joked of her brood, with a chuckle. We would love to hear your stories! You can share them with us here: emg.inspired@epochtimes.com Pennsylvania Victim Advocate Jennifer Storm on Friday tendered her resignation to Gov. Tom Wolf, capping off months-long political rancor with some factions of the General Assembly. In a written statement, Storm, who was appointed to the post in 2013 by then-Gov. Tom Corbett, a Republican, acknowledged the political scope of the state office. I came into the role as Commonwealth Victim Advocate knowing the political realities of the position, and I did so with fidelity and determination, Storm said. I leave the office knowing that I have served crime victims and survivors - and the office - well and with uncompromising courage. Storm submitted her resignation letter to the governor on Friday. During my tenure, I am proud to say that with the incredible staff at OVA, we have accomplished every one of my lofty goals, improving an already excellent office, she said. The staff of OVA are the finest victim advocates you can come by and I look to my successor to continue to advocate for the staff, the mission of the office, and the incredible community of impacted persons they will have the privilege of serving. Storm had for months fended off growing partisan opposition. The Pennsylvania Senate in November voted against giving Storm another term, a move she characterized as a personal vendetta against her spearheaded by the then chambers top-ranking member, Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati. Wolf, a Democrat, had nominated Storm for a second six-year term nearly a year ago. Scarnati retired in November. Last years vote against Storm capped months of debate over her qualifications, after a cadre of Senate Republicans pushed for the appointee to the post to hold a law degree. By a vote of 32-18, the Senate rejected Storms nomination, superseding an effort by Wolf to prevent the motion from being voted down. Some Democrats also voiced concerns. Storm gained a high profile in recent years, particularly as an advocate for victims of sexual assault. She spoke out in support of measures to change state law to enable victims of clergy sex abuse to pursue claims in court. Storm accused Scarnati of retribution for her efforts to reform the statute of limitations and, in effect, bring the Catholic Church to bear on decades of clergy sex abuse. Scarnati rebuked her assertions, affirming his intent to overhaul the qualifications of the Victim Advocates office, largely pushing that the candidate be a licensed attorney. In her statement to the press, Storm outlined some of her accomplishments during her tenure, including: Receiving more than 2.6 million in federal grant funds to expand services through hiring additional and more specialized staff Creating OVA satellite offices in Philadelphia, Allegheny, Lehigh and Northeastern regions, as well as within the Office of Attorney General Creating the first-in-the-nation Institutional Victim Assistance Coordinator whose role is solely to advocate for inmates and staff who are victimized within the walls of our state correctional institutions Herself a victim of sexual assault, Storm has published several books and produced an autobiographical documentary, Blackout Girl, that details her descent into addiction and despair after being raped. Robert Kocharyan on years of his leadership in Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia Situation on Armenian-Azerbaijani border is still tense, more on COVID-19 in Armenia, May 28 digest "Armenia" alliance of political parties paying tribute to founder of First Republic Aram Manukyan (LIVE) Yerevan.today: Armenia acting PM not greeted at ruling party's headquarters, citizens call him 'capitulator' Russia MOD reports on maintenance of ceasefire regime in Nagorno-Karabakh Armenia acting MOD meets with Russian counterpart in Moscow Armenia 2nd President: I see possibility of restoring borders of Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast We can provide our army with some key, modernized weapons, says Armenia ex-President Kocharyan Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: Captives issue is not one that any opposition force can resolve OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs release statement on detention of 6 Armenian servicemen by Azerbaijan Armenian acting Deputy PM: Discussion on issues possible only after withdrawal of Azeri troops from Armenia's territory Armenia acting PM on Syunik roads, Russian military posts: This is only place where there are working nuances Armenia acting PM: Process of return of POWs will intensify after upcoming elections Putin congratulates Aliyev on Republic Day 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 President Biden's vaccine effort is one of his first orders as the U.S. rejoined the World Health Organization. President Joe Biden revised a crucial foreign policy decision made last year by his predecessor, Donald Trump, after accusing the U.N. health agency of corruption and bowing to Chinese pressure over the coronavirus pandemic. Trump decided to stop the funding to the WHO in April last year, as the coronavirus pandemic spread worldwide, claiming it was " virtually controlled by China" He then went on, triggering the mechanism to pull the U.S. out of the company entirely. The withdrawal was due to go into effect in July of this year, but the Biden order will cancel it. As the U.S. death toll from COVID approached 400,000, more significant than any other country, Biden reversed Trump's decision to leave the WHO on his first day in office. U.S. has been the largest donor to WHO, making obligatory and voluntary donations of $400 million to $500 million. Trump's decision last year attracted sharp criticism in Congress and allies in Europe. In the fight against coronavirus, the WHO has been heavily involved, especially in developing countries. The incoming administration is preparing to attend this week's WHO Executive Board meeting, with Fauci, the top U.S. expert on infectious diseases, leading the delegation and speaking. Once the U.S. resumes its interaction with the WHO, according to a fact sheet released by the Biden transition team, the new administration will work with the body to improve and reform the group. In the meantime, the president said that to help curb the spread of the surging coronavirus. Biden would sign executive orders requiring masks and physical distance in all federal buildings - including government office buildings and federal lands and by federal workers and contractors. He said that this would be part of a "100-day masking challenge" to get Americans to wear masks openly. Earlier this week, Antony Blinken, Biden's preference for Secretary of State, said that a U.S. split with WHO could be healing and that the U.S. was planning to join Covax, the WHO-led initiative, the Vaccine Alliance's Coalition for Disease Preparedness Technologies, and Gavi. At Thursday's session, Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, spoke of a series of executive board meetings that started Monday. On Twitter late Wednesday, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus congratulated Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. COVAX has announced that it has obtained access to nearly 2 billion doses, with deliveries due to start in the first quarter, and has set a target of vaccinating up to one-fifth of the country's population by the end of the year as a vaccine effort. Fauci said the U.S. looks forward to reform and enhance the organization with other WHO member countries. As U.S. deaths topped 400,000 in the world's worst Covid-19 death toll on Tuesday. The 92-nation alliance aiming to deploy the Covid-19 vaccine effort to nations across the globe will be more effective. While the Trump administration, through Operation Warp Pace, has given some $18 billion to vaccine effort and drug production, it declined to participate in COVAX. U.S. involvement would help shore up the vaccine-equity program. China is one of the partner nations. While its vaccine effort is not among those procured by Covax, Sinovac Biotech Ltd., a Chinese drugmaker, said it had submitted pre-qualification data on its shot. The E.U is also funding the proposal. READ MORE: Man With Unauthorized Inauguration Credentials and Loaded Handgun Arrested by US Capitol Police @ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. By Sanjeev Miglani NEW DELHI (Reuters) - 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 ... On the eve of the 125th birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said that may the thoughts and ideals of the iconic freedom fighter continue to inspire all towards building a strong and self-reliant nation. "May the thoughts and ideals of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose keep inspiring us to work towards building an India that he would be proud ofa strong, confident and self-reliant India, whose human-centric approach contributes to a better planet in the years to come," he said. Modi will visit Kolkata on Januray 23 to address 'Parakram Diwas' celebrations in the city and will then head towards Assam where he will also distribute over one lakh land 'pattas' (allotment certificates) in Sivasagar on the same day. The Centre 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, said PMO. "Tomorrow, India will mark Parakram Divas, Jayanti of the great Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. Among the various programmes being organised across the nation, one special programme is being held at Haripura in Gujarat. Do join the programme, which begins at 1 PM," he said in a series of tweets on Friday evening. "Haripura has a special relation with Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. It was at the historic Haripura Session of 1938 that Netaji Bose took up the Presidentship of the Congress Party. Tomorrows programme at Haripura will be a tribute to Netaji Boses contribution to our nation," he added. Talking about his visit to Haripura on January 23, 2009, Modi said that it was the day when the e-Gram Vishwagram Project was launched in the village which revolutionised the IT infrastructure in Gujarat and brought technology closer to the poor, in the remotest parts of the state. "I can never forget the affection of the people of Haripura, who took me through an elaborate procession on the same road as Netaji Bose was taken, in 1938. His procession included a decorated chariot drawn by 51 bullocks. I also visited the place where Netaji stayed in Haripura," he said. On his visit to Kolkata on Saturday, Modi will preside over the inaugural function of the celebrations at Victoria Memorial in the city. A commemorative coin and postage stamp will be released by the prime minister, and a cultural programme "Amra Nuton Jouboneri Doot" will also be held. SACRAMENTO, Calif., Jan. 22, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- What's the open school concept? What's changing in education? How does project-based learning work? Parents across California are invited to learn about the different education options available to them, and what's changing in education, during a virtual fair on Saturday, Jan. 30. The free event will take place 10 a.m. to noon and will feature seven education experts and opportunities for Q&A. Speakers at the school choice fair include Andrew Campanella of National School Choice Week, Heather Martinson of Celebration Education, California Homeschool Network President Windi Eklund, project-based learning advocate Nancy Kaldas Mikhail, private school founder Cassi Clausen, and Larry Sand of the California Policy Center. During the online fair, winners of a poetry contest for Spanish-speaking families throughout California will be announced. The contest, hosted by Magda Gomez of Broadway Productions Online, asks students to create a poem in Spanish sharing how school choice has changed their lives. Three student winners will receive Amazon gift cards. All participants at the virtual panel will be entered for a chance to win door prizes, such as Amazon gift cards. To register, visit care.com/connect/celebrationeducation/activities/1890879-school-choice-fair . 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. "School choice is all about giving parents access to the best K-12 education options for their children in California," said Cecilia Iglesias, president of the Parent Union. "Our annual fair is a forum for school districts, public charter schools, and homeschoolers to talk with students and parents about those options. With the challenges of the school closures, parents want more options. This year, our statewide Zoom fair will allow parents to hear from all the K-12 educational experts." This event is hosted by Celebration Education and the California Policy Center. 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 When Joe Biden was an undergraduate at the University of Delaware in 1964, he was already planning to be president. Fifty-six years later, he finally got there. There's a lesson there for every leader and entrepreneur about persistence, and perseverance -- and also about the power of setting goals and sticking with them. When Biden first met his girlfriend Neilia Hunter's parents, he was sill in college. Even so, when asked about his career plans, he said he intended to be president. "Of the United States," he added, to avoid any possible confusion. Hunter's parents weren't crazy about their daughter marrying a Catholic, and that answer probably didn't help matters, but they relented and the two married in 1966. Biden already had a clear idea of where he wanted to go and he was single-minded about getting there. He majored in history and political science, with a minor in English, perfect subjects for someone with political ambitions. Then he went to law school, a natural choice since 28 of the 46 U.S. presidents were lawyers and four more attended law school but did not graduate. He first ran for office -- a seat on the New Castle County, Delaware Council -- in 1970, just two years after finishing law school. It took only two more years until he ran for the U.S. Senate and won. Then tragedy struck. Biden was sworn in at Wilmington Medical Center after Neilia and the Bidens' 1-year-old daughter, Naomi, died in a car accident that also badly injured their sons, Hunter and Beau. Biden began commuting from Delaware to D.C. every day so he could be home for them at night, and he kept right on commuting through his 36 years in the Senate. By 1980, Biden was remarried, to Jill Jacobs, and ready to consider an actual presidential run -- he was 37 and old enough to qualify for the first time. Eventually he decided that his youth and his lack of a clear vision for his presidency meant he should wait another cycle. In 1984, he came very close to running -- he even filled out and signed the papers to get on the New Hampshire primary ballot, but then decided not to file them. Four years later, in 1987, he did run, with some early success, until his campaign was derailed by accusations of plagiarism and he was forced to drop out. Then, in early 1988, he suffered a brain aneurysm. It took two surgeries and seven months away from the Senate before he recovered. In 2008, he made a second run for the presidency, but dropped out after placing fifth in the Iowa caucuses. Then he joined Barack Obama's ticket and became vice president. The window had closed. That might logically have set him up for a run in 2016, except for two things. First, Hillary Clinton, who'd fought hard for the nomination in 2008, quickly became an early front-runner. And Beau Biden died of cancer in 2015, leaving his father too grief-stricken to consider a political run. By the time he was ready to think about it, the window of opportunity had closed, he told the New Yorker. That brings us to today. After two unsuccessful runs and at least three elections when he considered running, a 78-year-old Biden was inaugurated as the oldest president in U.S. history. Almost exactly 47 years earlier, he had been sworn in as one of the youngest U.S. senators ever, at the age of 29. And a few years before that, he was an eager 22-year-old with a fixation on becoming president who turned out to have the patience, stamina, work ethic, determination, and and good luck to actually get there. There was another such 22-year-old at Biden's inauguration, Amanda Gorman, the first ever U.S. Youth Poet Laureate, who read her poem "The Hill We Climb" as part of the ceremony. Like Biden, she once had a speech impediment but taught herself to defeat it. Gorman is another up-and-comer with boundless ambition who plans to run for president in 2036 -- the first year she'll be old enough to do so. "You can put that in your iCloud calendar," she told the New York Times back when she was a 19-year-old college sophomore. Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - Co-chairs of the International Follow-Up Committee on Libyas Economic Working Group (EWG), including Acting Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Libya Stephanie Williams and representatives of Egypt, the United States and the European Union, met on Thursday to discuss urgent economic issues including the need to manage the impacts of a unified exchange rate as well as to unify and consolidate a national budget Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-23 01:29:00|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close The photo taken on Jan. 19, 2021 shows U.S. Secretary of Defense nominee Lloyd Austin attending a Senate Armed Services Committee confirmation hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., the United States. The U.S. Senate on Friday approved retired Army General Lloyd Austin, President Joe Biden's nominee, to serve as the nation's first African American Secretary of Defense. (Jim Lo Scalzo/Pool via Xinhua) WASHINGTON, Jan. 22 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. Senate on Friday approved retired Army General Lloyd Austin, President Joe Biden's nominee, to serve as the nation's first African American Secretary of Defense. The Senate confirmed Austin, aged 67, in a 93-2 vote. The only no votes came from two Republican senators. "It's an honor and a privilege to serve as our country's 28th Secretary of Defense, and I'm especially proud to be the first African American to hold the position," Austin tweeted after he was confirmed. Austin will be tasked with implementing the Biden administration's military and defense priorities, while playing a role in executing the logistics associated with COVID-19 vaccine distribution. Former commander of the U.S. Central Command, Austin retired in 2016 after more than 40 years of military service. As combined forces commander, Austin led the design and execution of the military campaign against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. While serving as commanding general of United States Forces-Iraq, he was responsible for the Army's largest logistical effort in more than 60 years when he oversaw the transition of U.S. and Coalition military forces and equipment out of Iraq. Born in Alabama and raised in Georgia, Austin received his bachelor of science degree from West Point, his master's degree in education from Auburn University, and his master's degree in business administration from Webster University. Congress passed a waiver on Thursday to allow Austin to take the job, as a U.S. law requires Pentagon chiefs to be out of the military for at least seven years. Enditem The spokeswoman of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny was jailed for nine days today to stop her from attending further protests as the Kremlin's free-speech crackdown extends to the country's young people. The imprisonment of Kira Yarmysh today for multiple counts of organising a rally comes before pro-democracy Russians are due to take to the streets to protest the detention of Navalny tomorrow. Navalny, 44, was jailed for flouting terms of a suspended prison sentence when he returned to Russia after being treated in Berlin for suspected poisoning with the novichok nerve agent. He alleges the assassination attempted was ordered by President Vladimir Putin. Moscow police said today that any 'unsanctioned protests' in his support will be 'immediately suppressed'. The Kremlin's warning against dissent extended to the country's children, who are being warned by teachers not to participate in the planned demonstrations. Russian schoolgirl Alina Morozova, thought to be 16 years old from Yaroslavl, a city four miles northeast of Moscow, was interrogated by police after posting a video showing herself taking down a portrait of President Vladimir Putin hanging in her classroom. Alexei Navalny's spokeswoman Kira Yarmysh (left) and her attorney arrive at Moscow's Savelovsky District Court for a hearing into an administrative case of a repeated violation in organising a rally. Yarmysh has been jailed for nine days Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny speaks to the media prior to a court session in 2019 Moscow, Russia According to reports, the 16-year-old has broken no law in removing the picture - and for now faces no punishment. The Kremlin appeared deeply concerned today over under 18s becoming a driving force of protests tomorrow. Alina's video shows her removing Putin's portrait in front of other students from a classroom in her school. She also posted a brief video from the police station. Her posts were made on social media app TikTok, where they have been seen by more than two million subscribers. 'The arrest of Alexei Navalny caused great resonance not only among young people, but also among the adults,' she told Open Media. 'On TikTok, this resonance is impossible not to notice - everything screams about it, even jokes about it appear.' She said: 'I didn't think at all that the video would get two million views outright. The next day, my class teacher talked to me, then the school director. They all had different opinions about my act, and they have the right to do so. Alina Morozova, thought to be 16, posted a video in which she took down the photo of Vladimir Putin hanging in her classroom. She also took a short video of herself at the police station while waiting to be interrogated by Russian police (pictured) According to reports, Alina has avoided punishment as there is no law banning people removing the president's image 'The portrait of the president, according to the law, is not a state symbol' - so it is not illegal to remove it. With my video, I expressed my civic position to which everyone at school has the right.' Then her teachers reported her to the police. 'Someone from the school reported my video to the police,' she said. 'The police also had a preventive conversation with me.' In another case, a schoolboy Andrey, 15, from Balashikha, hung a Navalny portrait on his wall - and was called for a 'talk' with police and a psychologist. Alina said the police did not act against her - but elsewhere in Russia, Navalny supporters are being detained, and students are receiving strong and in some cases hysterical messages not to attend rallies tomorrow. A teacher at Krasnoyarsk Aerospace College, Natalya Reshetnikova, was recorded by her students declaring: 'If you are legally charged for violating public order, it'll be a stinky stamp on all of your professional life. 'This will shut the doors to all decent companies - unless, of course, you aspire to chop carrots at KFC.' In St Petersburg, parents were told: 'Protect your children from being sucked into destructive actions that can lead to psychological problems in the future and to unpredictable consequences in their lives today.' Alexei Navalny was led away in handcuffs after being remanded in custody for 30 days by a makeshift court in Moscow Navalny was taken to a police van and driven to prison a day after his dramatic return to Russia, which came five months after he was airlifted to Berlin in a coma following the poison plot against him A few hardy Navalny supporters gathered outside the police station in -20C temperatures - with more protests planned Putin's children's ombudsman Anna Kuznetsova claimed children were 'being used as a human shield, behind which somebody is planning to hide'. Parents were worried and wanted to 'put an end to this bacchanalia', she claimed. A parents' leader Olga Letkova called for TikTok to be banned in Russia. 'These are Western social networks, they manipulate our children in every possible way in order to bring them to the streets,' she said. 'At the protests, there will certainly be provocations and attempts to turn this into bloody massacres. 'It is obvious that this is a coup attempt that is being conducted in the West.' Reports today say officials are seeking a 13-and-a-half year sentence for Navalny in new legal action brought against him. He faces charges of stealing supporters' donations and the return of an old embezzlement accusation. He and his aides say the legal action is 'political'. Navalny has accused Putin of personally ordering his attempted assassination while also unleashing a video which accuses him of mammoth corruption. It claimed he owned a 1 billion palace on the Black Sea, which the Kremlin denied. Sergey Boyko, a Navalny supporter in Novosibirsk, was detained with his wife Elena ahead of the rallies, say reports. Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the protests were illegal. 'There is only one possible opinion the law absolutely must be complied with and illegal events cannot be organised, even less so with participation of the young people and children.' Washington: Donald Trumps Senate impeachment trial will begin in a little over a fortnight, a delay designed to allow President Joe Biden more time to confirm his cabinet nominees and begin enacting his policy agenda. Democratic Senate leader Chuck Schumer said that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi plans to send the article of impeachment accusing the former president of inciting the January 6 insurrection at the Capitol to the Senate on Tuesday (AEDT). Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said the House would transmit the article of impeachment on Tuesday (AEDT). Credit:Bloomberg Schumer later announced that Trumps Senate trial will begin on February 9, a slower timeline than had previously been expected. Biden had made clear he wanted the focus of his administrations first weeks to be on his policy agenda and getting his cabinet installed rather than his predecessor. ADVERTISEMENT Against its earlier stance, the Barlavento Court of Appeal has approved an application seeking the removal of Venezuelan diplomat, Alex Saab, from a Cabo Verdean prison. The court in its earlier judgement reported by PREMIUM TIMES, rejected the appeal to stop diplomats extradition requests to the United States despite all arguments, including violation of human rights, put forward by Mr Saabs defence team. Both the court and the Attorney General, Luis Landim, had also argued in defiance of ECOWAS ruling, categorically denying ever ratifying the protocol that gave jurisdiction to the international court in matters of human rights. Fresh order In a fresh order issued on Thursday evening, the court said the detained diplomat be placed under house arrest and granted access to medical consultations till the countrys Supreme Court gives its final verdict on the case. For the practical effect of this article, the extradited person, as already exposed, and once he has financial possibilities and has already requested it, must qualify a residence for the purposes of his stay, which will be approved by the competent authorities, the criminal police, to safety effects and in order to avoid the serious danger of escape, the document made exclusively available to this newspaper, read in part. The twist, is coming barely two days after Donald Trump, a strong campaigner against Nicolas Maduro-led government, left the White House. This development has arguably offered a interlude to the long-haul legal and diplomatic tussle between Venezuela and the U.S. with Cape Verde as the battleground. As a prerequisite to ensure Mr Saabs compliance with his house arrest order, the court has seized the diplomats passport and other documents which they said could fast-track his escape. Apart from being placed under security surveillance, the court has also mandated him to present himself daily before the local police authority. Thus, considering that the maximum term of pre-trial detention has expired, Mma Judge Judge could subject the extradited to some or some of the legally admissible coercion measures provided for in the code of criminal procedure, so we think that a measure to ban the country from leaving (art. 288 , CPP), with seizure of passport and other valid documents for the saida of the country, informing us of SEP, daily periodic presentation before the local police authority, the obligation to remain on the island of Sal (art. 289 , paragraph 1. point c), of the CPP) and security deposit (art 283 , of the CPP) , appear to us as necessary, and are shown to be appropriate and proportionate to the situation, verifying all the assumptions of application, the court mandated. While a date to hear Mr Saabs before Cape Verde Supreme Court is unknown, PREMIUM TIMES can confirm that the ECOWAS court in Abuja has shifted the hearing on the case to Friday. The case was initially slated for February 5. Mr Saabs legal team will be led by Femi Falana. 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. * Username This is the name that will be displayed next to your photo for comments, blog posts, and more. Choose wisely! New Delhi: Farmers' protest in Maharashtra's Thane turned violent on Thursday. The residents of Nevali village are protesting against land procurement by Ministry of Defence for a proposed airport. The disputed land is an abadonned airport built by British forces during the World War. Overtime, local villagers reclaimed that land and have been using it for farming and other purposes. On Thursday, the farmers torched vehicles on Thane-Badlapur highway to protest against the acqusition. In response, the authorities have sent in additional forces to control the situation. Maharashtra: Farmers protest turns violent on Thane-Badlapur highway, protesting farmers say their land is being acquired by MoD pic.twitter.com/b6VDUmhMmH ANI (@ANI_news) June 22, 2017 Thane farmer protest: Additional forces sent to the spot including riot control vehicles ANI (@ANI_news) June 22, 2017 #Visuals from Thane-Badlapur highway where farmers protest turned violent, farmers say their land is being acquired by MoD. #Maharashtra pic.twitter.com/X5TgogeoMU ANI (@ANI_news) June 22, 2017 For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., Jan. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Northpointe Bank believes in the value of building trusted life-long relationships with the communities it serves. One of the ways Northpointe does this is by accessing grant funds from the Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB) of Indianapolis each spring to provide assistance to low and moderate income borrowers in Kent County. Many homeowners require critical repairs to their homes and often lack the resources needed to complete the repairs. Through a collaboration with Seeds of Promise, a local nonprofit, Northpointe helps administer the FHLBI's Neighborhood Impact Program to provide grants up to $7,500 to eligible homeowners in the community. These funds are used to restore their homes' roofs, windows, siding, exterior doors, furnaces and water heaters. Northpointe Bank "Seeds of Promise's partnership with Northpointe Bank has been a real blessing to our residents in the Southtown area," said Ron Jimmerson, Executive Director and Co-founder of Seeds of Promise. "Most were unaware that this program existed to help them with their home improvements, until the first flyer was developed and distributed to our residents. The Neighborhood Improvement Program has shown that we can slow down the process of Gentrification in our area, by assisting our residents with the needed funds to do the repairs and keep them in their homes." In 2019, the partnership helped 22 Kent County homeowners improve their homes, a new Northpointe Bank and Seeds of Promise record. In 7 years of participating with the Neighborhood Impact Program, our partnership has helped 59 vulnerable, local, low- and moderate-income homeowners improve their homes with a total community impact of $435,019. One homeowner shared, "I had a fire 10 years ago and my roof wasn't restored property. Water was getting into my dining and living rooms. My roof doesn't leak anymore and I couldn't have done it without Northpointe Bank and Seeds of Promise." Northpointe would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to Seeds of Promise for the work they are doing to empower homeowners in the community. The bank is proud to continue this partnership into 2021 with a donation of $21,000 which will help Seeds of Promise tackle the current waiting list of 86 low- to moderate-income homeowners who need to complete critical health and safety repairs to their homes, and hire a Spanish-speaking employee to help extend the reach and benefits of this program to the Hispanic Community in Kent County. Enabling more homeowners to repair and improve their homes will help the local community to grow and thrive now and in the future. A check presentation will take place at 1:00 pm on Friday, Jan. 22 at the Seeds of Promise office in Grand Rapids, Michigan. About Northpointe Bank Northpointe Bank, headquartered in Grand Rapids, Michigan, is a client-focused company that provides home loans and retail banking products to communities across the nation. Our mission is to be the best bank in America by bringing value and innovation to the people we serve. For each of the past six years, Independent Community Bankers of America has ranked Northpointe Bank as a top-performing bank in the nation out of approximately 5,000 ICBA member banks*. Learn more about Northpointe Bank at: www.northpointe.com. Member FDIC - Equal Housing Lender. Contact Michael J. Winks, President Lending & Retail Banking (616) 974-8406 [email protected] * - Source: Best Performing Community Banks; Independent Community Bankers of America ranked Northpointe Bank as best performing bank according to return-on-equity for banks with assets over $1 billion Related Images image1.jpg SOURCE Northpointe Bank Bob Avian, a choreographer, director and producer who was deeply involved in some of the biggest Broadway shows of the last 60 years, including with his frequent collaborator, Michael Bennett A Chorus Line, one of the longest-running musicals in history, died on Thursday in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. He was 83. His husband, Peter Pileski, said through a spokesman that the cause was cardiac arrest. Mr. Avian also choreographed the Broadway hits Miss Saigon (1991) and Sunset Boulevard (1994), among others, and directed a 2006 revival of A Chorus Line that ran on Broadway for almost two years, as well as productions of that show in London in 2013 and at New York City Center in 2018. He shared Tony Awards for choreography with Mr. Bennett for A Chorus Line (1975) and Ballroom (1978). It all started with a happenstance of casting. Mr. Avian began his career as a dancer, and early on, about 1960, he was cast in an international tour of West Side Story. I loved the adventure of traveling around the world, he wrote in Dancing Man: A Broadway Choreographers Journey, a memoir written with Tom Santopietro and published last year, but the tour would prove even more momentous for one all-encompassing reason: During rehearsals in New York, I met a fellow castmate, Michael Bennett, a 17-year-old high school dropout marked for greatness. A nearly 800-year-old gold coin described as showing the first 'true' portrait of an English king has sold for more than half a million pounds at auction. The gold penny featuring Henry III, estimated to be from around 1257, went under the hammer at Heritage Auctions, in Dallas, Texas, after a two-day auction ending on Thursday that saw it receive 17 bids and sell for $720,000, or 526,000. The coin was the highest-selling lot in an auction of more than 5,400 British and other coins, some of which dated as far back as the fifth century BC. The coin features a crowned Henry III with a sceptre in his right hand and a globe in his left. Just 7 are believed to still be around, 4 of which are in museums The second-highest selling coin was also British, with a 2019 gold coin featuring Elizabeth II and weighing two kilograms selling for $360,000, or 263,000. But it was the coin featuring a far older monarch which clearly caught collectors' eyes the most. The coin is supposedly one of just seven still in existence, four of which are in museums. The one that went under the hammer had previously been in a private collection for the last 25 years after it was bought at a Spink-Christie's auction in 1996. The gold penny features the crowned king holding a sceptre in his right hand and a globe in his left, with the words 'Henric', for Henry, and 'Rex I.I.I', for the third king, written around the side. The coin's reverse side features a 'long cross' and four five-petalled roses, as well as the name of King Henry III's goldsmith, William of Gloucester, around the edge Henry took the throne at the age of nine after the death of his father, King John, and reigned from 1216 until his death in 1272. Like his father, who was forced into signing the Magna Carta in 1215, he was also blighted with a revolt by English barons, while he also began the building of Westminster Abbey into its current form in 1245. He was also buried in the church upon his death. The coin was described by the English archaeologist and numismatist Sir John Evans as the first 'true' portrait of an English king on a coin, while the auction house said it dated from a period when gold 'was beginning to trickle back into European commerce after a dearth of nearly 500 years.' Henry III began the construction of Westminster Abbey into its current state in 1245, while he was buried there upon his death in 1272 The coin was struck by the king's goldsmith William of Gloucester at twice the weight of a silver penny, with a value of 20 pence. It was described by Heritage's Cristiano Bierrenbach as 'a wonderful portrait' and 'one of the most fabled coins in all of British numismatics.' The rarity and subsequent value is likely due to the fact that most of the minted coins were melted down due to the gold being more valuable than the coin itself. Indeed, no more gold coins were minted for circulation until the reign of Edward III in 1344, just under 100 years later. More than 150 legal and constitutional scholars including a co-founder of the conservative Federalist Society have joined in a letter arguing that President Donald Trump can be impeached despite being out of office. The letter comes as Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell has spelled out his preferences on a Senate trial for former President Donald Trump, who was impeached in the House just days before the end of his term. They point to the text of the Constitution, precedents, as well as the intentions of the Founders in providing a remedy to stop a 'demagogue' who might seek to overthrow the U.S. government. President Donald Trump waved to supporters as he arrived at Palm Beach International Airport in West Palm Beach, Florida, on January 20, the last day of his term. His Senate impeachment trial is set to begin within days despite Trump no longer being in office. Among the signers of the letter is Northwestern University Law Professor Steven Calabresi, a cofounder of the conservative Federalist Society, a group that generated lists of many of the conservative judicial nominees Trump installed in the courts. 'More broadly, a singular concern of the Framers in devising our constitutional system was the danger of a power-seeking populist of the type they referred to as a "demagogue" rising to the highest office and overthrowing republican government,' they write. Steven Calabresi is a confounder of the conservative Federalist Society 'The Framers further understood that the source of such a person's power does not expire if he or she is expelled from office; so long as such a person retains the loyalty of his or her supporters, he or she might return to power. The Framers devised the disqualification power to guard against that possibility, and would surely disagree that a person who sought to overthrow our democracy could not be disqualified from holding a future office of the United States because the plot reached its crescendo too close to the end of his or her term. Trump would be the first U.S. president impeached after leaving office, but not the first U.S. official. Trump was acquitted of his first impeachment in February 2020 Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell has proposed an impeachment schedule that will start early next month 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 Another key part of the argument is that the Constitution provides not just for removal but for denying future office. It states that impeachment 'shall not extend further than to removal from Office, and disqualification to hold and enjoy any Office of honor, Trust or Profit under the United States. Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer has already said 'there will be a vote on convicting the president for high crimes and misdemeanors; and if the president is convicted, there will be a vote on barring him from running again.' Other prominent signers on the letter, which was reported by Politico, included Ronald Reagan solicitor general Charles Fried and Michigan State University law professor Brian Kalt, an expert on peculiarities of the Constitution such as impeachment of former officials and the 25th Amendment. Calabresi, who calls himself an originalist Republican, also penned an op-ed in the New York Times calling Trump's pardons of former chief strategist Steve Bannon as 'corrupt' and possible obstruction of justice, since the longtime advisor could have potentially incriminating information on Trump. The signers cross the political spectrum, and take no position on whether Trump should be convicted, only on the validity of the procedure, which Trump loyalist Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) has said is unconstitutional. 'The Constitution's impeachment power has two aspects. The first is removal from office, which occurs automatically upon the conviction of a current officer. The second is disqualification from holding future office, which occurs in those cases where the Senate deems disqualification appropriate in light of the conduct for which the impeached person was convicted. The impeachment power must be read so as to give full effect to both aspects of this power,' they write. The Constitution grants the House the 'sole power' to impeach and the Senate the sole power to try all impeachments. The House impeached Trump for 'incitement of insurrection' after the MAGA riot of January 6. United Nations, Jan 22 : The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) said that 357,450 South Sudanese refugees have returned home from other regional countries since November 2017. According to the UNHCR and South Sudan's Relief and Rehabilitation Commission (RRC) monthly update for December 2020 issued on Thursday, some 236,764 refugees out of the figure returned following signing of the revitalized peace agreement in October 2018, reports Xinhua news agency. The report said that the majority (61 per cent) of the spontaneous refugee returnees were from Sudan, while 23 per cent 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 said 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. It further said that 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 revitalised peace deal the former warring parties signed in Ethiopia to end more than six years of conflict, since the outbreak in December 2013. In publishing the first volume of his presidential memoirs, A Promised Land, in mid-November, Barack Obama satisfied what has become a standard responsibility for former presidents in our modern era. While celebrity lends a boost, the ultimate success of Obamas or any memoir depends on a muse-infused skill set, according to Mia Leonin and Jaswinder Bolina, faculty members in the Creative Writing Program who have both written in the genre. We read memoirs because the person, often a public figure, fascinates us or the situation, story, or historical moment intrigues us, said Leonin, a senior lecturer in the University of Miami College of Arts and Sciences, adding that Obamas presidential memoir is virtually assured success because hes a fascinating human being. Yet writing a successful memoir, presidential or otherwise, demands more, suggested Leonin, who in addition to publishing several poetry collections has written her own memoir, Havana and Other Missing Fathers. It's not enough to have an extraordinary story or even to tell it well. A memoirist must make sense and meaning of their storywe want to know the so what? of a memoir, said Leonin. It is a beautiful coat made all the more remarkable by showing how its stitched and seamed. Jaswinder Bolina, an associate professor in the college, agreed that the best memoirs require a range of writing talents and that, ultimately, they must convey an intimacy that grants us backstage access. Whats interesting to most people is what the writer is willing to reveal to us about their private feelings about very public figures, said Bolina, an award-winning poet who last year published a collection of personal essays Of Color. Were fascinated to know whats happening on the public stage from which we are so far removed, added Bolina, like we all watched this on TV, but what was it really like when you were there? Books across all platforms have enjoyed a surge in popularity and sales during the pandemic. Print book sales have increased for the past five years and are up 8 percent this past year, according to NPD Bookscan, which tracks the U.S. industry. Both writers agreed that nonfiction writing in general and the memoir in particularfueled by the fascination with the personalare very much in vogue. Nonfiction writing, whether creative or journalistic nonfiction, has become a powerhouse that is absolutely on equal footing with the long-standing form of novelized fiction, said Bolina. Memoirs tend to focus on a particular theme, event, or aspect of one's life as opposed to autobiography which seeks to tell the story of a person's life, explained Leonin, adding that a memoir can take many shapes. For Bolina, memoir is akin to old-fashion autobiography, and he contrasted the form with his personal essays that use a past experiencesuch as when he was stopped while riding his bike as a young boy and harangued with racial insultsas a jumping off point, a way of getting into talking about how race is activated and what it feels like to be a racialized person in the world. While already popular, Leonin suggested that the pandemic may further fuel the memoirs popularity. We've experienced a tremendous amount of isolation and opposition in the last several months and they are a microcosm of the last several years, she said. People are hungry for shared experiences. And a great memoir has the potential to buckle us in with the promise of veracity and take us on a great adventure with great storytelling and drop us off somewhere surprising through insightful exposition. This respect for veracitytruthfulnessis at the heart of all writing, both writers noted. And memoir writing, which requires the author to go back in time to resurrect past experiences and feelings, has been described as chasing time and truth down the rabbit hole of memory. Leonins own favorite memoir, Joan Didion's The Year of Magical Thinking, reflects the truth she expects from the genre. Didion has a novelist's eye for setting a scene and a journalist's vision for the larger importance of individual moments, and she writes with unguarded honesty about the sudden loss of her husband, Leonin said. That memoir created enough distance that we could step into the author's grief and experience it and come out on the other side. You have to write it well but in a way thats believable, said Bolina, recognizing that ability as a key facet of the memoirists craft. My MFA focused on poetry and I had no special training for nonfiction writing, so I had to learn on the job how to separate the facts of what I know for certain without embellishing too much. The question of memoryaccurately and truthfully recounting what may have happened decades agoposes a daunting challenge for the memoirist, Bolina said. I understand the vicissitudes of memory in myselfknowing just how lousy my memory is and how easy it is to color a memory or misremember it, he said. Every time you remember something your brain relives it but creates it anew. Theres a lot of space there for mistakes to be made and for little errors in the code, he added. Memory is not like a computer hard drive where theres a reliable file stored that you can access at any point and all the details are real, he continued. Regardless how the mind reconstructs an experience, however, the memory is not discredited. It can offer insightall the neuroscience tells us that. Writing a successful memoir startsbut does not endwith extraordinary status or experience. Either youre famous like Obama and can give us insight into a place where well never go or youve experienced something extraordinarysuch as the story of the young activist in Pakistan shot by the Taliban or the guy who gets caught in the canyon and has to cut off his arm. You have to have a really interesting story and then you have to write it really well, Bolina said. Wild Rituals: 10 Lessons Animals Can Teach Us About Connection, Community, and Ourselves By Caitlin O'Connell Chronicle Prism. 224 pp. $26.95 - - - When wild elephant females reunite after a separation, they greet each other with great ceremony. The elephants flap their ears, bellow and place their trunks in each other's mouths. The temporal glands next to their eyes may stream liquid, a sign of high arousal. And in "the ultimate expression of sheer, elephantine joy," the animals then let loose with bladder and bowels. With this description in "Wild Rituals: 10 Lessons Animals Can Teach Us About Connection, Community, and Ourselves," elephant scientist Caitlin O'Connell kicks off an engaging tour of rituals in the animal kingdom. O'Connell defines a ritual as "a specific act or series of acts that are performed in a precise manner and repeated often,"often requiring intense concentration. This definition encompasses not only learned behaviors but also biological events, such as monarch caterpillars undergoing metamorphosis to become butterflies that migrate to avoid cold, and bears that stuff themselves with food to survive a hibernation-like state in winter. Rituals occur in 10 contexts: greeting, group rituals, courtship, gifting, spoken rituals, unspoken rituals, play, grieving and healing, renewal, and travel or migration. O'Connell's studies of the elephants at Etosha National Park in Namibia have spanned 30 years and make for delightful pachyderm stories, while at the same time a strength of the book is the variety of animals she includes. Wild zebra stallions head up harems of females. When the males meet one another, they let out high-pitched vocalizations, nuzzle and wrap necks with each other, and assume a facial expression with teeth bared and lips drawn up so that "it really looks like they are enjoying a hilarious joke together." The point is for the males to build trust and tamp down tension. Closer to home, our dog companions are famous for their exuberant, full-body greetings when we return home from an outing or the office (or right now, from a Zoom session in the next room). Animals enact complex sequences of steps to attract mates. Caribbean flamingoes begin the mating season by marching as a group with closely synchronized movements. In the British Virgin Islands, O'Connell watched as 60 flamingoes held their necks erect and beaks high, moving their heads in a back-and-forth pattern called head-flagging. What a fabulous sight that must have been! This set of behaviors triggers a month of courtship for the birds, marked also by precise sequences first by males then females, after which breeding pairs form. "For many species, courtship rituals are encoded in their genes," she concludes. O'Connell suggests that flamingo courtship is "most similar to square dancing" in humans because "individuals participating in the dance engage in a series of organized and synchronized actions that result in a pairing off of couples." This example from birds reflects broad trends in the book. O'Connell is fond of invoking instincts in explaining how rituals unfold. She explains grief behavior expressed by chimpanzees as due to "survival instincts" - and grieving behavior generally as "a survival instinct." Probably there is a biological basis at work when mothers continue to carry their infants even after the babies have died, as chimpanzees and individuals from a number of other species may do. Grieving in animals is a rich suite of behaviors, though, expressed differently by different individuals depending on their personalities and on their relationships with the deceased. Reducing it to an instinct seems too simplistic, as does saying things like "the travel bug is encoded in our genes" - as if all of us feel identical urges to be on the move because many animals migrate, as did our human ancestors. O'Connell even suggests that "helping in humans is instinctual" because children show evidence of it by age 1. Anthropologists look at this differently, pointing out that an enormous amount of learning and cultural shaping happens in a baby's first year of life. In a welcome way, O'Connell rejects any tendency toward human exceptionalism, a stance rooted in the belief that humans are inevitably exceptional in our intelligence and emotional expression. Yet I wonder if at times she takes this perspective a step too far. She describes food-sharing patterns in hunter-gatherer societies, for instance, then in the same paragraph says that "this same dynamic exists among vampire bats." She means that vampire bats also reduce food insecurity through social sharing of food resources. But can the "same dynamic" really exist in a bat society as in a human society steeped in linguistic and cultural traditions? How we - animals ourselves - may benefit by paying mindful attention to rituals in our own lives is a vital message of the book. O'Connell cites evidence showing a decline in rituals that bring person-to-person instead of screen-to-screen connection (even before the pandemic) and urges us to resist that trend. To that end she recounts personal and often moving stories from her life, beyond the practice of elephant science. When her brother was dying, she flew home to say goodbye, but owing to travel delays, she arrived too late. Being able to view an open casket and being present at the burial site with loved ones helped with closure, strengthening her appreciation of the comfort we may derive from mourning rituals. O'Connell leaves the reader with this thought: "Our rituals help us to not lose sight of ourselves and our place in the natural world." If achieved, that sense of connection with nature would bring benefits to all living species. - - - King, professor emerita at the College of William & Mary, is the author of several books on anthropology and animals, including "How Animals Grieve." Her latest book, "Animals' Best Friends: Putting Compassion to Work for Animals in Captivity and in the Wild," will be published in March. Eight mugshots - Portland Police Police in Portland, Oregon have arrested fifteen suspects after a mob of around 200 alleged Antifa members smashed up the Democrat headquarters and federal immigration offices in the city on Wednesday, while three people were arrested after a crowd in Seattle attacked buildings and burnt a US flag. The two Pacific Northwest cities have been hotspots for protests and violence since the Black Lives Matter demonstrations began last year in the aftermath of the death of George Floyd. There were also protests in Denver, Colorado; Columbus, Ohio and Sacramento in California. Portland Police released photographs of eight of the 15 arrested suspects as well as images of confiscated items including knives, batons and bullet-proof vests. A group of protesters dressed in black use umbrellas to shield themselves - Assfault Pirates via AP "Some of the crowd had pepperball guns, electronic control weapons, large fireworks, shields and rocks," said Portland police spokesman Kevin Allen. Federal police, who were initially deployed to the city during the Black Lives Matter protests, were reported to have used tear gas, stun grenades and other non-lethal munitions to disperse the crowd. The Federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement building that the rioters attacked had been a target during previous bouts of violence last year. Demonstrators have demanded that ICE, which enforces immigration law, be abolished. Police did not comment on the political nature of the crowd, but the violence came on a day when several far-left demonstrations were planned to put pressure on the new Biden administration to swiftly introduce immigration, racial justice and policing reforms. Gas-masked police using a large device to pump clouds of tear gas - Lindsey Wasson/Reuters According to the Daily Mail, seven of the 15 suspects detained in Portland had been arrested at previous Antifa protests, while The New York Times reported that one flier handed out at the Seattle demonstration attacked Biden over "his stupid" crime bill passed in 1994, which was blamed for leading to mass incarcerations. The Portland group was also reported to be carrying a banner reading: We dont want Biden we want revenge! and to have chanted ---- Biden The Democratic Party of Oregon said in a statement to AFP that it was "frustrated and disappointed" by the damage to its offices which were empty but would not be deterred "from our important work." The Tripura government has decided to provide free sanitary napkins to 1.68 lakh girls studying in classes between VI and XII, to encourage hygienic practices, a minister said on Thursday. According to PTI, the government will spend Rs 1.86 crore annually for the programme, under the 'Kishori Suchita Abhyjan'. Unsplash "We have decided to provide free sanitary napkins to girls from class VI to XII under Kishori Suchita Abhyjan. Girls of both government and private schools would be brought under the programme," state education minister Ratan Lal Nath, told reporters here. The scheme is aimed at ensuring that schoolgirls do not skip classes during their 'period days'. The government has also decided to implement 'School Bag Policy' formulated by the Centre. Unsplash The weight of a school bag for students studying in classes between 1 and 10 should be 10 per cent of their body weights, according to one of the guidelines of the policy. Last year, the Haryana government also announced that they will provide free sanitary pads to about 22.50 lakh below poverty line women and girls aged 10-45 every month, for a year. Unsplash In 2018, the state government launched a scheme under which sanitary napkin packets priced at Re 1 will be provided to girl students in government schools. Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. NORWALK Police said they have charged five local businesses for either selling alcohol, cigarettes or vape products to minors over the past month. Three of the businesses Tropical Grocery at 79 Cedar St., World of Beverages at 295 Main Ave. and Cibao at 39 Harbor Ave. were charged with selling alcohol to a minor. All three were referred to the Connecticut Liquor Commission. A manager at World of Beverages declined to comment. Representatives of Tropical Grocery and Cibao could also not be reached for comment. Two local smoke shops Vapewise at 203 Liberty Square and Mohegan Smoke Shop at 82-84 North Main St. each had an employee charged with selling vape cartridges to minors. The offending Vapewise employee was fined $500, since it was the business fourth time being cited in less than 30 days. A Mohegan Smoke Shop employee was fined $250 for his second violation over that same period. Adnan Modib, the owner of Vapewise, said the employee accused of selling to a minor has since been fired. In the employees defense, Modib said, the sale was more of a misunderstanding than anything. The problem is that he doesnt understand English very well and has never worked in a smoke shop before, he said. The owner of Mohegan Smoke Shop could not be reached for comment. Sgt. Sofia Gulino said the department has received numerous reports from parents regarding the sale of vape and nicotine products to their children in recent months. This is the second time in less than a month that officers have collaborated with cooperating minors to conduct compliance checks at several locations, Gulino said. Earlier this month, Vapewise and Mohegan were written up by police for similar violations. The Citgo gas station on East Avenue was also cited for selling nicotine to a minor. Police said the department will continue doing compliance checks in 2021 as part of the ongoing investigation. Pet Owner Lost His Beloved 3-Legged Dog, Then Spots Her on Adoption Site 10 Months Later Heartbroken after losing his dog, Dylan Summers, of Bourbon, Missouri, decided to open his home and his heart to another animal in need. But scouring an adoption website, he was shocked to come across a familiar face: the same three-legged pup that went missing from his yard 10 months earlier. Athena had been hit by a car and went through surgery to amputate her tail and one hind leg. During her recovery in February 2020, she went missing from the yard. Summers was frantic; Athena was still on postoperative medication yet had disappeared without a trace. I searched everywhere for her and posted online but no one came forward, Summers told news outlet KTVI-TV, adding that he was suspicious his beautiful brindle had been stolen. Summers persisted in his search for months, but to no avail. Little did he know that Athena had ended up at the center of an Illinois police investigation. St. Clair County Animal Control, in conjunction with the police, staged an animal cruelty rescue in December 2020 at a property. Several dogs, many in states of physical neglect, were removed from the home. Athena was among them, standing out from the pack with surgery scars. The other dogs at the residence looked like they had never had [a] vet, Illinois pet rescue Gateway Pet Guardians shared via Facebook. Naturally, we were all puzzled as to how a dog who had costly surgeries was there with them. It was clear that someone, at some time, had once cared immensely about this three-legged dog. The charity took Athena into their custody, dubbing her Miss-A-Toe. They uploaded photos of the sweet dog wrapped in a pink scarf, hoping to find her a new forever home. It was about 9 p.m. on the night of December 30, and I just happened to check my voicemail before bed, Gateways program director, Alisha Vianello, recalled. It was Summers calling to tell the charity they had his dog. Vianello called him back immediately. I was so happy to hear that she was safe and doing well, said Summers. All the missing pieces really came together when I spoke to Dylan, Vianello recalled. The next day I contacted [Athenas] foster family, who was thrilled for her, and arranged a time for everyone to meet at the GPG facility. Sharing Athenas crazy story, but with a happy ending, on Facebook, Gateway Pet Guardians exclaimed, Our shelter is over an hour away from [Summers] home! Today, we were thrilled to reunite Athena (her real name) and her dad. Summers described the New Years Day reunion as incredible, adding that Athena has since settled back into her old life like she never left. I am so appreciative of Gateway Pet Guardians for getting her back home to me, he added. We would love to hear your stories! You can share them with us here: emg.inspired@epochtimes.com 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 won't get the house" and "there will be blood spilled - your blood." Their mother's 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. Mr 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. Mr Kelly, from Grace O'Malley 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 won't 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. Mr Kelly had no previous convictions. "This all comes down to a family feud over a house," defence solicitor Evan Moore said. Mr Kelly's 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 Mr Kelly's sister and the argument had been going on for eight years. 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." Mr Kelly was very apologetic for what he did. He had never been in trouble before. Judge Smyth said it was a serious matter to make threats of this nature. Mr Moore said there had not been any interaction between Mr Kelly and his sister since and "if there is going to be anything, it will be a legal battle." 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. By Juliet Nalwooga Justice and Constitutional Affairs Minister Professor Ephraim Kamuntu has cautioned government about challenging post poll forces of change. Kamuntu who was defeated last week in the Sheema South parliamentary seat by independent candidate Professor Elijah Mushemeza has as such urged the Judiciary to be impartial while resolving election related disputes. He sounded the warning yesterday evening at the sidelines of the swearing-in ceremony of six members of the Judicial Service Commission at the supreme court in Kololo. This comes days after the country held presidential and parliamentary elections and experienced a new wave of the opposition National Unity Platform (NUP), defeating about 25 ministers including the Vice President, Edward Ssekandi. BEIJING - Shanghai has imposed lockdowns on two of China's best-known hospitals after they were linked to new coronavirus cases. Police officers and workers in protective suits close off a neighborhood as it is placed under lockdown in Shanghai, China, Thursday, Jan. 21, 2021. Shanghai has imposed lockdowns on two of China's best-known hospitals and some surrounding residential communities after they were linked to new coronavirus cases. (Chinatopix via AP) BEIJING - Shanghai has imposed lockdowns on two of China's best-known hospitals after they were linked to new coronavirus cases. Outpatient services have been suspended at Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center and Renji Hospital. They have been cordoned off, along with some surrounding residential communities. After months of quelling small clusters with mass testing, isolation and social distancing, China has seen outbreaks grow this winter, mainly in its frigid north. The National Health Commission on Friday announced 103 new cases had been detected over the past 24 hours. Lockdowns have also been imposed in parts of Beijing and other cities following outbreaks, schools are letting out early and citizens have been told to stay home for next months Lunar New Year holiday. China hopes to vaccinate 50 million people against the virus by the middle of February. Shanghai had six of the cases reported Friday. The two hospitals were put under lockdown after suspected cases were found at them on Wednesday and Thursday. Its not immediately clear if any additional cases were linked to the hospitals. Bystanders watch as police officers and workers in protective suits close off a neighborhood as it is placed under lockdown in Shanghai, China, Thursday, Jan. 21, 2021. Shanghai has imposed lockdowns on two of China's best-known hospitals and some surrounding residential communities after they were linked to new coronavirus cases. (Chinatopix via AP) Heilongjiang province in the far north reported 47 new cases, followed by Jilin just to the south with 19 and Hebei province just outside Beijing with 18. Beijing itself recorded three new cases. Chinese hospitals are currently treating 1,674 patients for COVID-19, of which 80 are in serious condition, while another 929 are under observation for testing positive without displaying any symptoms. In other developments in the Asia-Pacific region, The use of public sports facilities is banned amid social distancing rules at a park in Goyang, South Korea, Friday, Jan. 22, 2021. South Korea is reporting its smallest daily increase in coronavirus infections in two months as officials express cautious hope that the country is beginning to wiggle out from its worst wave of the pandemic. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon) Japan is publicly adamant that it will stage its postponed Olympics this summer. But to pull it off, many believe the vaccination of its 127 million citizens for the coronavirus is key. Its an immense undertaking in the best of circumstances and complicated now by an overly cautious decision-making process, bureaucratic roadblocks and a public that has long been deeply wary of vaccines. Japan hopes to start COVID-19 vaccinations in late February, but uncertainty is growing that a nation ranked among the worlds lowest in vaccine confidence can pull off the massive, $14 billion project in time for the games in July, casting doubt on whether the Tokyo Olympics can happen. Japan is under a partial state of emergency and struggling with an upsurge of infections. There have been about 351,000 cases, with 4,800 deaths, according to the health ministry. South Korea has reported its smallest daily increase in coronavirus infections in two months as officials express cautious hope that the country is beginning to wiggle out from its worst surge of the pandemic. The 346 new cases reported by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency on Friday brought the national caseload to 74,262, including 1,328 deaths. The agency said 240 of the new infections were from the greater Seoul area, home to half of the countrys 51 million people, which was hit hardest during a weekslong surge in transmissions that began in mid-November. Health authorities have clamped down on private social gatherings since late December, including fining restaurants that accepted large groups of diners. After a Christmas Day high of 1,241, daily new infections have slowed to around 400 to 600 in recent weeks, and officials eased some of the social distancing rules. Sri Lanka on Friday approved the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine for COVID-19 amid warnings from doctors that front-line health workers should be quickly inoculated to prevent the medical system from collapsing. Minister for Pharmaceutical Production and Regulation Channa Jayasumana said the vaccine is the first to be approved for emergency use in Sri Lanka, while several other candidates are in the pipeline at the National Medicines Regulatory Authority. It is unknown when Sri Lanka will be getting the vaccine. Hundreds of health care workers have tested positive in several hospitals. When you have one positive case, about 10 health workers will need to be sent to quarantine. The system is collapsing day by day, said Dr. Haritha Aluthge from the Government Medical Officers Association, the largest doctors union in the country. In the past three months, Sri Lanka has reported more than 52,000 new patients and 260 deaths. Between 500 to 900 new cases are reported every day. Myanmar on Friday received its first shipment of COVID-19 vaccine, a gift of 1.5 million doses from India. The vaccine was developed by Oxford University and the pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca and was produced under license in India. India has begun shipping supplies of the vaccine to several countries, including neighbouring Bangladesh, which received 2 million doses. Indias vaccine delivery comes after Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi promised last week during a visit to Myanmar a donation of 300,000 doses of its own vaccine. The gifts by India and China are examples of what has been called vaccine diplomacy in a country where the two powers vie sharply for influence. On Thursday, Myanmars Health Ministry announced 446 new cases of the coronavirus along with 16 new deaths. It has reported a total of 136,166 cases, including 3,013 deaths. In the coming weeks, we will have another batch of vaccines from other countries. Some are ones we bought, public health official Tun Myint said. India's embassy said Myanmar has signed an agreement with vaccine producer Serum Institute of India to procure additional doses. Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. The ceasefire is eastern Ukraine continues to be generally respected, despite certain disturbing trends. This was said in a statement by the Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office in Ukraine and in the Trilateral Contact Group (TCG), Ambassador Heidi Grau, after the regular meetings of the TCG and its Working Groups held through video conferencing on January 21. "Today was the first meeting of the Trilateral Contact Group in the new year 2021. I await this year our consultations will be constructive and based on mutual respect Despite certain disturbing trends, the ceasefire, as assessed by the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission, continues to be generally respected," she said. The general security situation in the conflict zone as well as issues concerning the functioning of the co-ordination mechanism for responding to ceasefire violations were in the focus of the Security Working Group. Participants in the Working Group meeting also discussed the conditions necessary for carrying out repair and reconstruction works at the gas distribution station near Marinka that, along with the gas pipeline, was damaged in 2014. Fourteen thousand residents of Krasnohorivka and Marinka depend on this station for heat supply. The discussions of the Political Working Group were concentrated on the implementation of the mandate given by the TCG to develop a draft action plan in full compliance with the Minsk agreements. The Humanitarian Working Group considered the order of future operation of the entry-exit crossing points on the contact line near Zolote and Shchastia of the Luhansk region. Questions concerning mutual release and exchange of conflict-related detainees were also discussed. I urge all participants of the TCG meeting to demonstrate the political will to swiftly reach an agreement on the mutual release and exchange of detainees based on the principle "all for all", starting with "all confirmed for all confirmed"," Grau noted. The attention of the Economic Working Group was focused on the provision of water supplies across the contact line in Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine. ish 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. "It was definitely flattering to land at $7,000,000, which was $1.5M higher than what we initially went out seeking," says CEO Aviv Hadar. Think Brilliant Media Studios, LLC, one of Oregon's staple technology businesses, has announced a recently completed $7,000,000 Private Equity round of financing. "This capital will be used to spur growth into various, dynamic verticals and markets, says Chief Executive Officer, Aviv Hadar. "We have our eyes set on the verticals we have operators in, such as cannabis and technology, but we also have our eyes set on some emerging concepts that blur the line between both sectors." Partnering with two private equity firms, the round was led by Original Founder and CEO, Aviv Hadar. Think Brilliant landed at $7,000,000 after initially only seeking out $5,500,000. "It was definitely flattering to land at $1.5M higher than what we initially went out seeking," says Hadar. "Our first pitch was for $3M, then $5.5M, then the continued interest from the private equity markets grew and we landed at $7M by bringing in another group of sophisticated, seasoned investors." About Think Brilliant Think Brilliant was founded in August of 2007, initially providing technology design and application development services. The company quickly grew and began developing its own in-house products and ideas and launching businesses. The team specializes in turning ideas and concepts into tangible businesses, assets and real-world products. Through its unique partnerships and established relationships with industry heavyweights, Think Brilliant has continued to spearhead, innovate and blend industries together, blurring the line between verticals in order to maximize revenue. Time after time Think Brilliant's involvement has led to global success. Those interested in contacting Think Brilliant can visit http://www.ThinkBrilliant.com, send an email to info(at)thinkbrilliant(dot)com, or call the company at (877) TBMS-101. Think Brilliant's team consists of technology driven thinkers and builders. Founders and engineers. ### How to Survive a Silver-Gold Sucker Punch Anyone who owns precious metals, mining shares or metals' ETFs knows the drill. First, gold and silver begin to establish an uptrend on the charts. Analysts (like us) start writing about how prices are getting ready to make an upside run. Then "out of nowhere" thousands of highly margined futures contracts hit the market on the short side, "re-painting" the charts, sending terror into the hearts of stackers and those who believe in "honest money." The reality is that honest money is being manipulated for personal gain by dishonest traders, enabled by "regulators" who, to put it charitably, look the other way. It can be disheartening. It can make you feel helpless. And worse, it can knock you off what David Morgan, Doug Casey, and others believe is destined to become the biggest precious metals and mining stock bull run of our lifetimes. But you can get back up again and persevere on the path to the Winners' Table. Years ago, when I was moving through the Dan ranks in martial arts' study with my revered Sensei (who unexpectedly passed away last December, ending at least on this plane our 33-year relationship), I was given an assignment. "Choose two or three self-defense situations you've been in when you felt unable to respond, and design effective, multiple-response counter attacks," he said. Remembering how in third grade I had been sucker punched by a supposed friend when I reached out to shake hands, and how terrible that felt, I went to work on a solution. I trained full-out for five minutes, then stopped, breathed out fully and held my breath to see what kind of offensive response(s) I could execute. Surprisingly, even though my lungs were oxygen-deprived, I was able to perform several powerful empty hand and kicking techniques. In the event, these would have provided an effective self-defense solution, even before breathing in to refill my lungs. (This capability also holds true for run, stop, draw-and-fire sidearm practice.) Not long ago, when silver was dropping $2.50 an ounce, with gold down $75, a metals dealer had this to say: "The Big money always moves way ahead of the crowd. And if you look at what sophisticated money on the planet is doing; they're using price as a cover; manipulated price as a tool of misdirection, to accumulate. Today, silver and gold are getting crushed like I've never seen (yet) our phones have been ringing off the hook for the past couple of days, as the price has dropped...and no one is selling anything... This is nothing more than a function of a paper price hit-and-run; a paper price drive-by shooting. As soon as the Commercials get to where they can cover, the price will turn around. The whole concept of the art of war is misdirection. They (the "Floor traders") realize that people are so inundated with life that they don't have time to look under the hood. So how do you control price or sentiment? You beat the heck out of the price and espouse negative rhetoric across the gamut of big-business-controlled media... This allows big money to accumulate gold and silver in copius amounts without being crowded out of their trade. Why did central banks reclassify gold as a Tier 1 (good as cash) asset? Why have central banks been massively accumulating? (Bloomberg reports, that in the last two years, central banks have acquired more than 1,300 tonnes of gold, which they've termed "the biggest gold-buying spree in half a century.") (Bloomberg reports, that in the last two years, central banks have acquired more than 1,300 tonnes of gold, which they've termed "the biggest gold-buying spree in half a century.") Why are the most wealthy and influential people on the COMEX the "Others" pulling record amounts (physical gold and silver) off the COMEX? In a daily column titled, "This is No Time to Give Up on Gold," Rick Ackerman, of Rick's Picks, commented about the metal's swoon: With gold's gratuitous, 4% plunge on Friday, bullion has once again affirmed its reputation as one of the nastiest, most frustrating assets an investor can own. Its chief enemy is a global network of shamans, thimble-riggers and feather merchants who make their living borrowing bullion from the central banks for practically nothing, then lending it to everyone else for slightly more. They are always looking for excuses to pound quotes so that they can replace what they've borrowed at a lower price. Helpful to this goal is a story that, however ridiculous, spooks gold bugs into dumping their holdings. The massive selling of metals is an illusion. And yes, it's been going on for quite a while. During a 2010 CFTC hearing, CPM Group's Jeff Christian testified that: "Precious metals trade in a multiple of a hundred times the amount of the underlying metal." In other words, prices are manipulated and suppressed with bets placed on tons of imaginary or non-existent metals. In his book " Rigged: Exposing the Largest Financial Fraud in History , Stuart Englert concludes that "More imaginary gold and silver is traded in a few days than is mined in an entire year. Such large-scale trading is at the heart of the price suppression scheme. This supply illusion causes the paper metals' price to be manipulated lower, even if demand is rising!" So... how can YOU respond to these periodic "shakedowns"? Ideally, as Master Miyagi in The Karate Kid movie would say, "Don't be there." You can sidestep a lot of the action by not trading on margin, buying your physical in tranches rather than all at once, and saving some capital to deploy during one of these take downs. Of course, if you have a position, you'll need to suffer through some short-term pain while prices get back to recognizing true supply/demand reality. But now that you know what's going on, it should help you dial down the emotions and certainly not give up! One of the core principles that David Morgan at The Morgan Report teaches is that "The market is ultimately bigger than any attempts to subvert it." Keeping this in mind can enable you to "stay long and strong" while the inevitable sorting out takes place, and metals prices bounce back quickly thereafter. David Smith is Senior Analyst for TheMorganReport.com and a regular contributor to MoneyMetals.com as well as the LODE Cryptographic Silver Monetary System Project. He has investigated precious metals mines and exploration sites in Argentina, Chile, Peru, Mexico, Bolivia, China, Canada and the U.S. He shares resource sector observations withr eaders, the media and North American investment conference attendees. Disclaimer: The above is a matter of opinion provided for general information purposes only and is not intended as investment advice. Information and analysis above are derived from sources and utilising methods believed to be reliable, but we cannot accept responsibility for any losses you may incur as a result of this analysis. Individuals should consult with their personal financial advisors. 2005-2019 http://www.MarketOracle.co.uk - The Market Oracle is a FREE Daily Financial Markets Analysis & Forecasting online publication. * Username This is the name that will be displayed next to your photo for comments, blog posts, and more. Choose wisely! Robert Kocharyan on years of his leadership in Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia Situation on Armenian-Azerbaijani border is still tense, more on COVID-19 in Armenia, May 28 digest "Armenia" alliance of political parties paying tribute to founder of First Republic Aram Manukyan (LIVE) Yerevan.today: Armenia acting PM not greeted at ruling party's headquarters, citizens call him 'capitulator' Russia MOD reports on maintenance of ceasefire regime in Nagorno-Karabakh Armenia acting MOD meets with Russian counterpart in Moscow Armenia 2nd President: I see possibility of restoring borders of Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast We can provide our army with some key, modernized weapons, says Armenia ex-President Kocharyan Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: Captives issue is not one that any opposition force can resolve OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs release statement on detention of 6 Armenian servicemen by Azerbaijan Armenian acting Deputy PM: Discussion on issues possible only after withdrawal of Azeri troops from Armenia's territory Armenia acting PM on Syunik roads, Russian military posts: This is only place where there are working nuances Armenia acting PM: Process of return of POWs will intensify after upcoming elections Putin congratulates Aliyev on Republic Day 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 A cat lover who says she was duped into buying a kitten destined to die young from a fatal heart condition has started a petition calling for all kittens being sold to be checked by vets first. Dianna Voyatzis, from Maida Vale, London, bought Ghost, a grey tabby, during the first lockdown in April but was surprised to find that the kitten she collected looked different to the long-haired tabby the Gumtree seller had sent photos of. However, after falling in love with the newborn cat when she was placed in her arms, she decided she was happy to keep her and paid the seller 400 - but now thinks the seller already knew Ghost had a heart problem. Unable to get her new kitten checked because of her own medical condition until November, Dianna says she was devastated to be told by a vet that the kitten had a- heart condition that would see her die just days later. Scroll down for video Dianna Voyatzis, 23, from London pictured with Ghost, the kitten that she paid 400 for in April 2020 from a seller on Gumtree - she says the kitten she got on the day of purchase was different to the one that she'd agreed to buy Grey tabby Ghost was six months old when vets discovered she had a heart defect that would prove fatal and the young cat died days later on December 8th In December, Ghost died at home with Dianna. She told FEMAIL: 'I was unable to go to the vets sooner due to being at high risk of the virus. 'When I took her, he came out five minutes later and said "Im really sorry but I think your kitten has only got five days to live." He explained that Ghost had a heart murmur and fluid in her stomach. Heartbroken, the cat lover took her to London's Royal Veterinary College, where they confirmed Ghost wouldn't survive due to a hereditary right-side heart failure. An operation to correct the deformity would cost around 17,000. 'She was only seven months old. Ghost died at home with me on December 8th at 5.13am.' While Dianna has tried to contact the seller on Gumtree, he appears to no longer be on the classified ad website and she's now convinced that he knew that the whole litter of kittens could be just as poorly as Ghost. The petition started by Dianna which asks that all kittens get a health MOT before being sold Unable to get Ghost checked because of her own medical condition until November, Dianna was shocked to discover the cat wouldn't live longer than a week after vets discovered the fatal heart condition 'There were 11 kittens in Ghost's litter - he made 4,400. He's just doing it for the money' Dianna has slammed the 'backstreet breeder' she bought from, saying there's a chance he knew the cat was unwell before selling her An operation to correct the deformity found in Ghost would have cost around 17,000 to correct She told My London: 'He's been selling sick kittens - I think it's wrong. It shows he's aware because hes using a different name. There were 11 kittens in Ghost's litter - he made 4,400. He's just doing it for the money.' I dont know where this journey with the petition will take me. I might fail but I have to at least try to protect other kittens... Dianna Voyatzis Dianna thinks the seller may have had an idea that Ghost wasn't well, saying: 'When I bought Ghost I actually choose a different cat. A long-haired cat, who looks completely different to Ghost. But when I saw Ghost I instantly fell in love with her.' The 999 operator says she doesn't regret taking Ghost home: 'Even today knowing everything I know about her I wouldnt change her as I am so thankful to her. She came to me for a reason.' Dianna has since started a petition called Ghost's Law in a bid to stop other people falling foul of the same experience and the petition has garnered almost 5,000 signatures so far. The petition started in Ghost's name has almost 5,000 signatures and calls for all sellers to get animals checked by a vet before handing them over She says a health check won't lead to poorly kittens being abandoned because there are always 'people like me who would love and look after' a sick kitten. 'I want it to be a law that ALL kittens are checked by a vet before sold. Many breeders with a licence take the kittens to be checked before they are sold. However, many slip through this.' MailOnline has contacted Gumtree for comment. The classified website told My London: "We take the welfare of animals extremely seriously and were saddened to hear about Diannas experience. We encourage all our users to always check medical records and to never purchase a pet before going to see it in person." Louisiana will keep in place expanded mail-in voting for the upcoming special congressional elections, in line with a court order last fall, after state lawmakers approved the emergency plan this week. The state House voted 80-8 and the state Senate voted 35-3 in favor of the plan, which expands the absentee voting to the same categories of people affected by the pandemic who were allowed to vote by mail in the fall elections. Lawmakers voted by mail ballot for the plan. I am pleased that this emergency plan passed with overwhelming, bipartisan support at every step of this process. This plan is a pragmatic response to the recent unprecedented surge in the COVID-19 pandemic, said Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin, a Republican. Together, the Clerks of Court, Registrars of Voters and their staff along with the entire SOS elections staff will provide the people of Louisiana safe, secure and accurate elections to which they are accustomed. +2 Louisiana's emergency election plan, once controversial, passes legislative committees easily An emergency election plan that prompted a partisan war over mail ballots last fall easily passed two legislative committees Tuesday, clearing The emergency plan loosening the states mail-in voting during the pandemic drew little controversy, an abrupt change from the fall. Ardoin and Republican state lawmakers pushed to limit mail voting during the pandemic last fall, but Gov. John Bel Edwards, a Democrat, refused to sign off. Instead, a federal judge ordered the state to allow people to access mail ballots if they meet one of a list of requirements. Those include people at higher risk of COVID-19 because of serious underlying medical conditions, subject to a medically necessary quarantine or isolation order, advised by a health provider to quarantine, experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 and seeking a diagnosis or are caring for someone who is quarantining or in isolation. That mirrors the rules for the summer and fall elections. In crafting the plan for the upcoming spring elections, Ardoin previously said the courts have spoken. The scoop on state politics in your inbox Get the Louisiana politics insider details once a week from us. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up Election to replace Luke Letlow in Congress to be set for March, officials say The election to replace Luke Letlow, who died from COVID-19 complications days before being sworn in as congressman for Louisianas 5th Distri After the court order, Ardoin put forth a nearly identical election plan for the upcoming elections, which include two special congressional contests. As of Thursday, a dozen people had already qualified for the vacant 2nd Congressional District left vacant by Cedric Richmond, who left for a senior post in the Biden White House. In the 5th District, Julia Letlow and six other candidates qualified for the seat left vacant by her husband Luke Letlow, who died of complications from COVID-19 last month. Both congressional elections will take place March 20, with an April runoff if necessary. Louisiana's proposed spring elections plan: Expanded mail-in voting, no extra early voting days Louisianas chief elections official is proposing an emergency plan for the February and Spring elections mirroring the expansion of absentee Mail voting soared to record levels in the 2020 presidential election in Louisiana. But that was largely because people who are already allowed to vote by mail--namely people who are 65 and older--took advantage of the absentee ballots in record numbers. Early voting also soared, though Ardoin did not include extra early voting days for the spring elections, like there was in November, citing expected low turnout. Only 5,476 people in November and 1,217 people in December took advantage of the COVID-19 mail ballots, according to Ardoin's office. 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. WTO members will not impose export prohibitions or restrictions on foodstuffs purchased for non-commercial humanitarian purposes by the World Food Programme. A corresponding joint statement was supported by about 80 WTO members, including Ukraine, the press service of the Ministry of Economic Development, Agriculture and Trade of Ukraine reports. "January 21, about 80 WTO members, including EU member states and Ukraine, supported the joint statement which stipulates that these WTO members will not impose any export prohibitions or restrictions on foodstuffs purchased for non-commercial humanitarian purposes by the World Food Programme," the statement reads. As noted, it was decided to make the joint statement after the members failed to find a compromise to endorse a decision, which would be binding on all the Organization members, at the WTO General Council meeting in December 2020. The Ministry underscores that Ukraine, which is one of the major exporters of certain agricultural products and contributes to global food security and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), attaches particular importance to achieving SDG Goal 2 end hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture. The joint statement of WTO members is also important given the situation resulting from the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic which leads to increased uncertainty in agricultural markets and the deterioration of the world's poor, in particular as a result of restrictions on agricultural exports. Measures that restrict exports, even those that can be justified under WTO rules, disrupt regional and global supply chains, reduce incentives for agricultural production, cause instability and rising prices, can lead to food shortages and threaten global food security. "We appreciate the efforts of the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) to tackle world hunger and food shortages, improve food quality and living standards for the most vulnerable in the most critical moments of their lives. At the same time, we recognize that export restrictions create obstacles to the provision of humanitarian aid, commented Ihor Petrashko, Minister of Economic Development, Trade and Agriculture of Ukraine. ol A rock from an asteroid hit the Earths atmosphere early Thursday morning at about 126,000 km/h, creating a large fireball over Madrid that could be seen across Spain. This is not an unusual event: besides space objects like this one, which disintegrate before reaching the ground, every year around 17,000 meteorites fall to Earth, according to the Madrid Planetarium. The phenomenon, which took place at around 3.56am local time, was captured and recorded by the Southwestern Europe Meteor Network (SWEMN) from the La Hita meteor observation station in La Puebla de Almoradiel in Toledo. The fireball was recorded as part of the SMART project, an initiative of the Andalusia Astrophysics Institute (IAA-CSIC) that continuously monitors the sky in a bid to record and study the impact of different objects from the solar system on the Earths atmosphere. The event was also captured by the SMART projects stations in Calar Alto (Almeria), La Sagra (Granada) and Seville, according to a press release from the center in La Hita. An analysis of the event carried out by the IAA-CSIC and the lead investigator of the SMART project, Jose Maria Madiedo, found that the rock entered the atmosphere at around 126,000 km/h over the east of the Madrid region. Due to its speed, the meteor became incandescent when it collided with the atmosphere, close to the border of Avila province. This created a large fireball at an altitude of about 84 kilometers, which was so bright it could be seen up to 600 km away. The object, which exploded several times over the course of its trajectory, moved towards the southeast and disintegrated over the city of Madrid, at an altitude of 21 kilometers, practically above the district of Puente de Vallecas, according to La Hita station. English version by Melissa Kitson. WASHINGTON - Joe Biden's White House has a lot in common cause with Canada, Justin Trudeau said Friday as he urged people to look past the new U.S. president's decision to kill off the Keystone XL pipeline project. Joe Biden, then the U.S. vice-president, and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau take their seats at the start of the First Ministers and National Indigenous Leaders meeting in Ottawa, Friday, Dec. 9, 2016. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld WASHINGTON - Joe Biden's White House has a lot in common cause with Canada, Justin Trudeau said Friday as he urged people to look past the new U.S. president's decision to kill off the Keystone XL pipeline project. The two countries have great partnership potential in the Biden era, particularly when it comes to a shared vision of tackling climate change while fuelling economic growth, the prime minister said. "It's not always going to be perfect alignment with the United States; that's the case with any given president," he told a news conference outside his Rideau Cottage residence. "In a situation where we are much more aligned on values, on focus, on the work that needs to be done to give opportunities for everyone while we build a better future I'm very much looking forward to working with President Biden." The two leaders spoke for about 30 minutes late Friday. Trudeau expressed Canada's "disappointment" with the Keystone decision, and Biden acknowledged the difficulties it has caused, said a federal official familiar with what was discussed. "The Prime Minister underscored the important economic and energy security benefits of our bilateral energy relationship as well as his support for energy workers," says the readout of their conversation released by the Office of the Prime Minister. "The Prime Minister and President reiterated the urgent need for ambitious action on climate change, reaffirmed their commitment to the Paris Agreement, and agreed to work together on net-zero emissions, zero-emissions vehicles, cross-border clean electricity transmission, and the Arctic." The readout of the call from the White House emphasized the close relationship between the two countries. "President Biden spoke with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in his first call to a foreign leader as President of the United States, highlighting the strategic importance of the U.S.-Canada relationship and reinvigorating our bilateral cooperation on an ambitious and wide-ranging agenda, including combating the COVID-19 pandemic, strengthening economic ties, defense, and global leadership to address the pressing challenge of climate change." By and large, the tone of the call was "overwhelmingly positive," said the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity in order to discuss details of the call. Trudeau also expressed concern about Biden's Buy American plan to ensure U.S. workers and manufacturers are the primary beneficiaries of his economic recovery strategy. The leaders agreed to continue to discuss Canada's concerns about an issue that the two sides have been discussing for months, and will continue to talk about as the administration finds its feet, the source suggested. Biden and Trudeau also agreed to meet next month, although it's not clear given the circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic what form that meeting would take. Earlier Friday, Trudeau said the federal government would be there to support oilpatch workers in Alberta and Saskatchewan who have been hurt by Biden's decision. But there's little doubt the fight is far from over, particularly if Alberta Premier Jason Kenney has anything to say about it. "The United States is setting a deeply disturbing precedent for any future projects and collaboration between our two nations," Kenney wrote in a letter to Trudeau he released Friday on Twitter. "The fact that it was a campaign promise makes it no less offensive. Our country has never surrendered our vital economic interests because a foreign government campaigned against them." Biden believes a brisk economic recovery doesn't have to come at the expense of the environment, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Thursday. Biden opposed the Keystone XL expansion as vice-president under Barack Obama, who blocked the project in 2015, and as president he still does, Psaki said. Kenney and other champions of the project, including Kirsten Hillman, Canada's ambassador to the U.S., argue it has changed significantly since the Obama administration cancelled it five years ago. As word emerged this week of the project's imminent demise, Calgary-based owner TC Energy revealed plans to spend US$1.7 billion on a solar, wind and battery-powered operating system for the pipeline to ensure it achieves net-zero emissions by 2030. Kenney wrote Wednesday's decision came "without taking the time to discuss it with their longest-standing ally," although Hillman insists she has been in near-constant discussions with the Biden team ever since May, when they promised to cancel the project. He called the decision a violation of the investor-protection provisions of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement and called on Trudeau to press the U.S. for compensation on behalf of TC Energy and the Alberta government. "I strongly urge you to ensure that there are proportionate economic consequences in response to these unfair U.S. actions," Kenney wrote. "If the U.S. is unwilling to listen, then we must demonstrate that Canada will stand up for Canadian workers and the Canadian economy." Biden's decision has critics among U.S. conservatives as well: Rep. Kevin McCarthy, the Republican House minority leader, called it a job-killing "virtue signal" to climate crusaders. Texas Sen. Ted Cruz accused Biden of erasing 11,000 potential jobs in the U.S. "with the stroke of a pen ... by presidential edict." Alaska Sen. Dan Sullivan said the president was "pandering to fringe activists." Kentucky Sen. Mitch McConnell, the Senate minority leader, said the move does little besides kill jobs, "disappoint our strong ally, Canada, and reverse some of our progress toward energy security." And Idaho senators Jim Risch and Mike Crapo both signed on to co-sponsor a Republican bill aimed at allowing construction on the project to continue, despite Biden's decision to rescind the permit. "The Keystone project is the linchpin of America's energy independence and job creation strategy," Risch said in a statement. "Shutting it down leaves us dependent on the likes of OPEC and Russia to help power the country and undermines the pact we made with our northern ally, Canada, which remains supportive of the project." This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 22, 2021. While acknowledging that obviously there are difficulties with the China relationship, Mr Tehan said he was prepared to play the long game. I wrote to Minister Wang last week. Obviously hes new to his portfolio like Im new to my portfolio. Im obviously very keen to begin a dialogue with Minister Wang but its something Im happy to be patient [about], Mr Tehan said. Loading Replay Replay video Play video Play video Out of respect to the new minister, Im not going to go into the specific details that Ive raised in my letter. Needless to say it was a detailed letter setting out a strong willingness from Australia to engage with China on many issues. Asked what his ultimate objective was in the Australia-China relationship, the former Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade mandarin said: The end game is that we want very constructive engagement with China across the board and that is what I am seeking to achieve. With more than 60 ships carrying Australian coal being unable to unload in China since October, Mr Tehan labelled the trade dispute incredibly disappointing and committed to doing everything I can to seek to engage constructively with China so we can address them. Loading He didnt rule out Australia taking China to the World Trade Organisation over the coal ban, as it has over barley, but said at the moment we are seeking to resolve this issue bilaterally. While wanting to re-open a dialogue with China, Mr Tehan also highlighted India and Vietnam as significant opportunities for Australia to diversify its export markets and said he hoped to conclude free-trade agreements with the United Kingdom and the European Union before the end of the year. He also revealed one of his major priorities would be pushing the US to join the worlds biggest free-trade deal, the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). One of the very positive things, and I think this creates an opportunity for us here in Australia, of the Biden administration is there will be a return to a greater emphasis on multilateralism and, I think, using regional organisations as well, Mr Tehan said. That gives us an opportunity to engage with the US on the World Trade Organisation when it comes to APEC [the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation forum] and importantly when it comes to the CPTPP. Tehan in his electorate of Hamilton in regional Victoria this week. Credit:Billy-Jay Robins With that type of engagement, hopefully that will also enable us to work constructively, and within our economic interests, with China as well. Although Australia has signed the Paris Agreement on climate change, there have been concerns from the business community and the Opposition that Canberra could be isolated on the issue on the international stage with the election of Mr Biden. The EU has committed to reach net-zero emissions by 2050 and proposed a carbon border tax that will see high-emissions exports hit with an import levy, while Mr Biden has announced a Clean Energy Revolution commitment with a 2050 deadline. Loading Mr Tehan said Australia would look to engage with the Biden administration on climate change action but he did not want to see carbon tariffs used as a new form of protectionism. We want to make sure that the engagement on climate change and meeting emissions reduction targets is done in a way which is constructive for global free trade, which is constructive for the trade investment relationships between nations, Mr Tehan said. He said carbon tariffs had not been an issue in Australias negotiations with Europe over a free-trade agreement. Pom Moonguaklang, owner and operator of Pom Poms Teahouse and Sandwicheria in Orlandos Milk District recently celebrated their 15th anniversary. This February, she will debut a new pop up concept called Pomisaan featuring regional Thai dishes like K-NOM JEEN, a Thai spaghetti fish pureed with lemon grass, turmeric, krachai ginger root, and vegan LAAB Hed a dish full of hearty mushrooms, a blend of fresh maitake, shiitake, and enoki, all fresh ingredients lime, mint, cilantro, cilantro, and fermented soy. Chef/Owner Pom was born and raised in Thailand and made her way to New York earning a degree as a pastry chef. She used her talent and creativity working for such restaurants as NoBu (Robert Dineros & Nobuyuki Nobu Matsuhisas Restaurant) and the famous Drag Cabaret restaurant, Lucky Chengs. Then moved to Orlando, and opened Pom Poms Teahouse and Sandwicheria. Sandwiches are what we craved after working in a hot kitchen in NYC and thats what cultivated this little shop we have grown to love. Who knew it would take off like it did but we are so grateful for the many years of support by such a wonderful family, known as Orlando, Pom told us via e-mail. Now, she is working on a new project a Thai Pop Up inside Pom Poms called Pomisaan, harkening back to her Thai roots. Isaan is a region in northeast Thailand where Pom was born and lived until she was 8 years old. The menu will be available for dine-in or take out at Pom Poms for dinner. Inteview with Pom on Pomisaan Pop Up Tasty Chomps: Tell us about your upcoming project? Pom Moonguaklang: Ive been wanting to get back to my roots/heritage and this concept has been on the back burner for a while since Ive been busy keeping what I have, open during the pandemic. Isaan cuisine is to eat nature, exoctic herbs, spices & roots. Now more than ever, health is very important. Isaan is very prevalent in the area I lived in Udon Thani, Thailand and influenced by Vietnam, Cambodia, Laotian, and Thai food. One of the dishes on the menu will be a version of Kao Mun Gai which is very popular in several regions across Asia. Its a very clean and comforting dish that anyone can enjoy. What are some challenges you have faced and how did you overcome them on your culinary journey? Challenges in my journey 25 years ago was being the only female executive chef while working at Lucky Chengs. At that time, it was very rare to have a female in that position. Then moving to Florida and opening Pom Poms Teahouse and Sandwicheria in the time before the food scene took off. You recently celebrated 15 years in Orlando what are your thoughts on the food scene today and how does it compare 15 years ago? 15 Years ago there was a very limited selection of really great food in Orlando, but now there is an abundance of so many different options from all over the world. Watching the food scene grow and getting a chance to try so many things, has been so wonderful. We now see great food in restaurant rows in College Park, Baldwin Park, Sand Lake, Thornton Park, Downtown Orlando, Lake Nonaessentially Central Florida is booming with different culinary options. What are some unique items people should get when ordering on the new Pomisaan menu? Everyone should try a little of everything on the menu. It gives you a chance to try so many different herbs, spices and roots that are not very common in the U.S. Sharing is highly recommended as many items can be very dense and rich in flavor, so a little can go a long way. Lessons learned in 2020? Do not get comfortable. Be prepared for anything. Navigate and pivot. What are your goals for 2021? Maintain and to push my culinary skills. And travel. Here is a look at the initial menu with more to come, expected to be available for dinner at Pom Poms starting February 1, 2021 from 5pm-10pm: Pomisaan MENU KAO MUN GAI steamed chicken, topped with roasted garlic, cilantro, scallions, served on a bed of ginger jasmine rice. Accompanied with 2 sauces for dipping, a fermented soy bean, and homemade sweet chili. Your sides a steamed Nappa cabbage, and vegetable soup. K-NOM JEEN Thai spaghetti fish pureed with lemon grass, turmeric, krachai ginger root, coconut milk, fish sauce, coconut cream, served with fresh bean sprouts, kaffir lime, and Thai basil, and served with rice vermicelli HA MOK PLA steamed in a banana leaf, red curry, fish made with kaffir lime, topped with coconut cream. Served with steamed nappa cabbage, and ginger rice. Very dense 7-10 bites VEGAN LAAB Hed mushrooms, a blend of fresh maitake, shiitake, and enoki, all fresh ingredients lime, mint, cilantro, cilantro, scallions, red onions, sweet soy, fermented soy roasted rice, served with steamed cabbage and cucumber. KUAY TIEW HAENG (goy tew hank) cold rice noodle, sweet soy, fermented soy, mushroom soy, bean sprouts, cilantro, scallions, cilantro, roasted garlic, and peanuts Observer Commentary--The leftwing nuts who hate Donald Trump now are shifting their hatred to include anyone who supports/ed Trump. Now it is Franklin Graham. We urge you to send a donation to the Samaritan's Purse to show your support for Rev. Graham. Hayley Fowler, writing for the News and Observer reports: Thousands of people are calling for the evangelist Franklin Graham to be fired for supporting Donald Trump after armed rioters stormed the U.S. Capitol in the presidents name. As of Tuesday afternoon, more than 17,000 people have signed a petition by the Christian community Faithful America that pushes for Grahams removal from Samaritans Purse and the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. The petition, created Jan. 15, is addressed to the board of directors at both organizations. Graham is the son of the late evangelist Billy Graham and is the chairman, president and CEO of Samaritans Purse and BGEA. Graham gets away with his hatred and conspiracy-theories by hiding behind the humanitarian work of Samaritans Purse and his late fathers name, Faithful America said in the petition. Its time for Samaritans Purse and the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) to realize that by propping up Franklins unchristian extremism, they are abandoning their Gospel missions, undermining democracy, and helping incite white-nationalist sedition. The petition encourages board members to fire Graham or resign in protest. Paul Saber, who serves on the board of directors for both organizations, told McClatchy News in a statement Tuesday that Faithful America fabricated this lie that (Graham) incited violence at the Capitol. The Boards of Directors for Samaritans Purse and the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association have expressed that they fully support Franklin Graham and are more than satisfied with the job he has done and is doing in leading these ministries, Saber said. Franklin Graham was not in Washington, D.C., and he did not encourage people to go to the Capitol on January 6. Armed Trump supporters stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6 as lawmakers met to certify the election results, with the violence resulting in the deaths of at least five people. Many have blamed the violence on the president, who urged his supporters to march to the Capitol during a rally Wednesday morning. Graham subsequently called for unity on Twitter and urged Christians to pray for the incoming Administration. But Faithful America said Grahams idolatry of Trump remained unshaken. In a Facebook post Thursday, Graham compared the 10 Republicans who voted to impeach the president to the apostle Judas betraying Jesus. Hat tip to Carole Gunn for sending us this link. With the growing importance of online platforms as a media vehicle, The Advertising Standards Council of India ( ASCI ) has started tracking new media platforms, such as over-the-top (OTT) video streaming, digital, and social media platforms for misleading ads, the ad regulator said. Digital advertising, including on streaming platforms, social media, digital news sites, and gaming, is expected to touch 22,300 crore in FY21, according to a September report by KPMG. While advertising revenues on digital were impacted in 2020 by the covid-19 pandemic, the medium is expected to overtake TV ads in FY21, the report added. The self-regulatory industry body is working on guidelines to be released in the next few weeks to clearly define what constitutes a digital ad, which could be a social media post or video, misleading practices, role of influencers, and transparency on social media platforms so that brands can make informed decisions on ethical and transparent promotions. A committee, comprising representatives of digital platforms, such as Facebook and Google, advertising agencies, advertisers and legal experts, is working to formulate clear guidelines. It will help regulate categories, such as liquor, which are getting away with online promotions despite being prohibited to advertise on mainstream media platforms. In November 2020, the regulator had taken suo-motu cognizance of 14 ads, which were run on OTT platforms and 12 were restricted from being aired. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. 2020 has been a challenging year for all of us. As social distancing became a rule to abide by, the wedding season hardly got to see all the high-octane celebrity weddings we are used to. While a lot of celebrities were seen tying the knot in intimate weddings with beautiful backdrops as the year was coming to an end, some of our favourite power couples had to postpone their wedding. The end of 2020 saw some scintillating wedding shenanigans of celebrity couples like music sensation Neha Kakkar and Rohanpreet Singh and actress Gauhar Khan got hitched to Zaid Darbar - calling it a romantic end to 2020. Seems like the beginning of 2021 is about to look a lot like the end of 2020 in terms of the celebrity weddings that might unfold. As the world is all set to get back to the normalcy that is setting in, a little birdie has already been creating a buzz about the first wedding of the year. As, Bollywood heartthrob Varun Dhawan is all set to get hitched to his childhood sweetheart Natasha Dalal this weekend, here is a list of all the power couples we hope and wish to see get married this year. (Natural News) In under two decades, humans can start abandoning Earth for an enormous, spinning human colony deep in the asteroid belt, according to astrophysicist Pekka Janhunen of the Finnish Meteorological Institute in Finland. In a new paper posted in the preprint server arXiv, Janhunen proposed a megasatellite composed of thousands of cylindrical spacecraft that are all linked together inside a disk-shaped frame orbiting the dwarf planet Ceres the largest object in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. Each of these cylinders can accommodate more than 50,000 people, support an artificial atmosphere, catch sunlight and generate an Earth-like gravity through the centrifugal force of its own rotation, according to Janhunen. This staggering project will take years to build, but Janhunen is optimistic that the first human settlers can start heading to Ceres within the next 15 years, LiveScience reported. But scientists pointed out that technological constraints on top of other limitations would make it hard to realize Janhunens vision. What the disk world looks like According to Janhunen, each cylinder of the megasatellite would measure around 6.2 miles long and 1.2 miles wide. It could comfortably hold around 57,000 people and would be attached to a disk next to neighboring cylinders through powerful magnets. New cylinders could also be added to the edges of the disk, allowing for expansion. Mars surface area is smaller than Earths, and consequently it cannot provide room for significant population and economic expansion, Janhunen said. But a Ceres colony is growable from one to millions of habitats. A cylinder will produce its own gravity by completing a rotation every 66 seconds. This rotation will generate the centrifugal force needed to simulate Earth-like gravity, allowing young settlers to grow into healthy adults. Long-term exposure to low gravity can shrink muscle and bone mass, which is one drawback of colonizing low-gravity planets like Mars. My concern is that children on a Mars settlement would not develop to healthy adults due to the too-low Martian gravity Therefore, I searched for [an] alternative that would provide [Earth-like] gravity but also an interconnected world, Janhunen said. (Related: Scientists say the Moon and Mars may have lava tubes so large, they could be used as permanent base structures for colonization.) Part of each cylinder is allotted to growing crops and trees in a 5-foot-thick bed of soil derived from raw materials from Ceres. Each disk is equipped with two enormous glass mirrors angled at 45 degrees relative to the disk in order to reflect sunlight. The remaining areas will rely on artificial light to simulate a day/night cycle. Janhunen said that Ceres is the ideal location for an orbiting space colony. Its average distance from Earth is comparable to that of Mars, making travel relatively easy. The dwarf planet is also rich in nitrogen, which is critical in developing the settlements atmosphere. Humans can build space elevators to transfer raw materials from the planet directly up to the orbiting habitats, according to Janhunen. Megasatellite will take a long time to build Janhunens proposal has precedents, but several limitations undermine his grand vision. In 1976, Princeton University physicist Gerard K. ONeill published a book about a torus-shaped space colony called an ONeill cylinder. This hulking spacecraft has three strips of land stretching along its interior, interspersed by equal-size strips serving as giant, sealed windows. Like Janhunens cylinder, an ONeill cylinder also completes a rotation in under two minutes to generate Earth-like gravity. However, building such a massive structure is difficult. Astrobiologist Manasvi Lingam of the Florida Institute of Technology, who was not part of the study, said that while Janhunens proposal offers a plausible alternative to Mars or moon colonization, it overlooks key considerations. I would say there are three main caveats The first is a question of other essential elements, other than nitrogen, Lingam told LiveScience. Phosphorus, for example, is needed by the body to create DNA and other cell components. But Janhunen did not explain where to obtain this element, according to Lingam (Janhunen also did not specify where the settlements oxygen will come from). Lingam added that collecting nitrogen and other raw materials from Ceres would require advanced technology. While mining the planet is plausible, scientists still have a way to go before they successfully develop the right equipment. (Related: Elon Musk: Mars must be colonized as a potential escape route in case of WW3.) That said, building Janhunens megasatellite would take a long time, according to Lingam. Janhunen suggested that the first cluster of orbiting habitats can be completed 22 years after mining begins on Ceres. But this estimate assumes that the settlements power supply grows exponentially each year. That timescale of 22 years might be the lower bound under optimal conditions, but Id argue that the real timescale could be a lot longer, Lingam said. Learn more about amazing proposals to colonize space at Space.news Sources include: LiveScience.com Davidson.Weismann.acu.il PopularMechanics.com A Georgia man was taken into custody Friday morning in connection with a shooting in Hoover earlier this month. Emmanuel Dion Leonard, 30, was arrested by the U.S. Marshals Southeast Regional Fugitive Task in Stone Mountain, Ga. He is charged with attempted murder and first-degree robbery in the Jan. 6 incident at a Bluff Park apartment complex. Hoovers 911 center just before 9:45 p.m. that Tuesday received multiple calls of shots fired near the 100 building at The Park at Wakefield and Wellington apartments, said Lt. Keith Czeskleba. Officers arrived on scene to find an adult male lying on the sidewalk suffering from at least one gunshot wound. The victim was transported to UAB hospital by Hoover Fire medics with life-threatening injuries but has since been released from the hospital. Witnesses reported hearing some type of altercation take place prior to the shots being fired and seeing two unknown males running away from the scene. Czeskleba said detectives determined the shooting had taken place during a drug deal. They obtained warrants against Leonard after speaking with the victim and witnesses. Leonard is being held in Georgias DeKalb County Jail awaiting extradition to Alabama. His bonds total $120,000. Investigators are still working to identify others involved in the case. Anyone with information is asked to call Det. Drew Mims at 205-739-7274. Tipsters who want to remain anonymous and possibly qualify for a cash reward can call Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777. Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Hudson County had the second lowest coronavirus vaccination rate in the state last week despite being New Jerseys most densely populated county, according to the state Department of Health. The county vaccinated just 896 people per 100,000 residents between Jan. 13 and Jan. 19, the lowest rate of any county in the state, except Mercer. Neighboring Bergen County vaccinated at more than double Hudsons rate. Hudson Countys vaccination rate also fell from a week earlier, when 1,630 doses were administered per 100,000 residents. Despite the slowing rate, many vaccination site officials here say theyre consistently distributing every dose they have. That could indicate Hudson County simply isnt receiving its due share of the vaccine to account for its population density. Either theres mis-entry of data and theyre not capturing all the vaccines administered or were not getting anywhere near enough, said Kearny Mayor Al Santos. The state Department of Health did not return a request for comment. A hospital, primary care provider, and municipality all shared remarkably similar stories Thursday: they applied for at least a 1,000 doses and only received several hundred. Hudson Regional Hospital in Secaucus has more than 1,000 employees and only received 500 doses for its first round of vaccinations. The Town of Kearny applied for 3,500 doses and received 300. And North Hudson Community Action Corporation recently learned it will only receive 300 next week after previously administering 1,000 doses weekly, officials said. Were struggling but were ready, said the organizations president, Joan Quigley. Were ready to go. Weve got the staff, weve got the expertise, all we need is the vaccines. As of 2019, Hudson County had 14,636.2 residents per square mile thats more than double that of Essex County, the states second most densely populated county. And its nearly 40 times higher than that of Cape May County, which is both the most sparsely populated county and the county with the highest vaccination rate. Hudson also has among the highest poverty rates in the state and is home to many immigrant communities and communities of color. When the Town of Kearny received its first shipment of 300 vaccine doses this week, it began booking appointments over the phone. Then, when it opened slots online, they disappeared within 10 minutes, Santos said. The Kearny mayor has ambitious hopes for how hell vaccinate the town, administering more than 100 doses per day at rotating locations throughout the 41,000-person municipality. Quigley also planned to create a vaccination hub at the Hudson County Community College Union City campus on Feb. 1. But this week, her vaccination supply was suddenly cut from 1,000 to 300 doses. And not all of those doses will go to Hudson County her organization has centers in Passaic and Bergen counties, as well. Mayors and healthcare providers countywide say they are quickly distributing the vaccines that they receive. The county, which has a vaccination site in south Kearny, already exceeded the states expectation to administer 60% of its supply by early January. I dont know of anyone thats hoarding or stockpiling vaccine in this county, Santos said. For now, Santos is left nearly helpless when inundated with requests from newly eligible residents seeking appointments. And Hudson Regional Hospital, which had hoped to partner with the Town of Secaucus for vaccinations, is still struggling to get through its own employees, said hospital President Dr. Nizar Kifaieh. Mayor Michael Gonnelli has begun vaccinating residents at Secaucus own testing site, but recently published a video saying it only had a very limited supply. Hes sort of tapping us on the shoulder to see if we can help, Kifaieh said, But were at the same loss too. India has begun the commercial export of the AstraZeneca 'Covishield' vaccine today to Brazil and Morocco after receiving clearance from the government. The vaccines are also being sent to immediate neighbours, with Bhutan having received 1.5 lakh doses of the Serum Insitute of India manufactured shot. Bangladesh was 'gifted' over 20 lakh doses of 'Covishield' as part of India's vaccine diplomacy. Seychelles and Mauritius will receive their first vaccine consignment later today. Stay tuned for more updates.. Israeli Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi has been in contact over the phone with his Qatari counterpart Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani on several occasions in the past few months, according to KAN public TV channel. Reportedly, the last conversation between the two men took place a month ago, focusing on tensions in the Gaza Strip. Ostensibly, it was after that talk that Qatar agreed to continue its financial transfers to Gaza, with monthly installments of $30 million. The financial aid to the Gaza Strip should help the needy to overcome the ongoing economic crisis there. On Jan. 12, senior Hamas official Mousa Abu Marzouk confirmed that Qatar will continue to provide humanitarian aid to Gaza for another year. Ashkenazis contact with Al Thani signals Jerusalems willingness to strengthen ties with Doha. A Jan. 13 report by KAN revealed an analysis paper produced by Israels National Security Council on the importance of nurturing ties with Qatar. Its closeness to the Muslim Brotherhood and to Iran makes it interesting for Israel. It could offer Israel a different kind of foothold in the region, compared with its rapprochement with the Emirates and with Bahrain. The paper also noted that Qatar could serve as a stabilizing element on Gaza, and could also help appease ongoing tensions with Turkey. The paper further noted potential fields of cooperation between the two countries, including security purchase, energy, agriculture, tourism, aviation and sports. On the backdrop of US President Joe Biden taking office, the issue of Qatars closeness with Iran is becoming extremely significant, from the Israeli point of view. Jerusalem hopes that recent rapprochement between Qatar and other Gulf states could influence Doha on Israel. Still, Qatari officials had repeatedly stated that normalization of ties with Israel would only be discussed after resolving the Palestinian issue. Meanwhile, Israel continues to strengthen ties with the Emirates and Bahrain on all levels. On Jan. 21, reports claimed that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is planning a visit to both countries on Feb. 9-11. According to these reports, Netanyahu will first arrive to Abu Dhabi, where he will meet with Emirati Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan. After that, he will visit Dubai, where he will hold a series of economic meetings. He will then continue to Manama, for a half day visit, meeting with King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa. The double visit has been postponed already twice and could go forward as planned if Israel ends its nationwide lockdown by the beginning of February. After the signing of the Abraham Accords last September, Netanyahu ordered his Cabinet ministers to wait with planning trips to the Emirates and Bahrain until he visits the two countries. In March, Stanford Medicine was one of the first academic medical centers in the country to develop a diagnostic test for the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19. Now, researchers in Stanfords Clinical Virology Laboratory have developed additional tests to detect the presence of coronavirus variants, or strains, already spreading in the United Kingdom, South Africa, Brazil and some parts of the United States. One strain, known as L452R, has been identified as the cause of an outbreak of COVID-19 in late December and early January in San Jose. Tracking viral variants and quickly identifying new mutations is critical to understanding whether they will spread more easily, cause more-severe disease or render vaccines less effective all vital questions in the worldwide fight against the virus. The Stanford researchers have started screening hundreds of viral samples collected from people across the Bay Area, with plans to ramp up significantly in the coming days. They also began sequencing whole viral genomes to identify new mutations as they arise in key viral proteins. In most cases it is too early to say whether or how these variants will influence the course of the pandemic, but it is important to monitor their evolution and spread, said Benjamin Pinsky, MD, PhD, associate professor of pathology and of infectious diseases at the School of Medicine. Our surveillance testing is specifically designed to allow large-scale screening of viral samples to identify specific strains circulating in the Bay Area and throughout California. Pinsky is the medical director of the Stanford Clinical Virology Laboratory. Virus mutates regularly Like many viruses, the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 mutates regularly inside infected cells. Most of these mutations are inconsequential, but some occur in genes encoding key viral proteins, including the spike protein that the virus uses to attach to and infect host cells. Changes in the spike protein are particularly concerning to virologists and clinicians because they may help the virus spread more easily from person to person something that appears to be happening in the U.K. variant known as B.1.1.7. Its also possible that spike protein mutations could reduce the effectiveness of available vaccines. Stanfords new test uses a technology called reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, or RT-PCR, to identify the presence of viral genetic material in samples collected from nasal passages. Using different panels of DNA tags, or probes, allows the researchers to discern not only whether a person is infected, but also whether they are carrying the original strain of the coronavirus, or one of the new variants. Currently, the test is designed to detect the U.K. variant, which has now been found in dozens of countries, including the United States, as well as the variants from South Africa and Brazil. When one of the known variants is suspected, the researchers sequence all of that viruss genetic material to confirm its identity. This whole-genome sequencing is also necessary to identify other single mutations, including the L452R variant now circulating in the Bay Area. Our hope is that Stanfords increased surveillance, combining RT-PCR and whole-genome sequencing, will provide critical information to help public health efforts during the coming months, Pinsky said. Traditionally, citizens who wish to testify on pending legislation in Ohio have to take a day off from work and get to Columbus in person to do so. Thats bad enough, making it much harder for average Jane and Joe Ohio to testify -- and of course, making it impossible for some. But, shockingly, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ohio General Assembly has not relaxed those rules to protect the health and safety of everyone who wishes to voice concerns about or support for pending bills. Thats particularly concerning when it comes to the well-being of COVID-vulnerable individuals. The well-publicized cases of legislators and legislative staff whove fallen ill with the coronavirus are testaments to the dangers. Thats why a recent call to legislative leaders from about 75 groups, including the American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio, the Ohio AFL-CIO and the Ohio Association of Food Banks, to change these rules during the pandemic should be heeded. The groups sent a letter Jan. 14 to House Speaker Bob Cupp and Senate President Matt Huffman, both Republicans from Lima, asking that they create the ability for citizens to participate in oral testimony virtually. The Ohio House 2020 Economic Recovery Task Force and the Controlling Board have hosted hearings where virtual testimony was available for witnesses, illustrating that this technology is not only already available but also facilitates participation in legislative discussions, the letter read in part. The groups noted that among those especially vulnerable to COVID-19 are Ohioans who are Black, immunocompromised, and who have low-incomes. Making it hard for them to testify reduces the diversity of voices that lawmakers can hear when considering legislation. But more broadly, the letter also noted that the demands of child care and of children learning from home and other care-giving challenges increased exponentially during the pandemic, creating insurmountable obstacles for many in having their voices heard at the Statehouse. Reducing the need for in-person testimony would also help reduce the risks of the viruss transmission to legislative personnel, the letter notes. The groups also called on Cupp and Huffman to require that masks be worn within the Statehouse. Exhibit A for why easing the way for citizen testimony on bills is wise was the paltry amount of testimony on bills last year seeking to repeal or amend House Bill 6, the fatally tainted nuclear bailout bill. None of those bills, shamefully, progressed beyond committee testimony. Maybe giving Ohioans more of a chance to have had their voices heard on these important bills would have signaled to lawmakers that Ohioans want HB 6 to be repealed or significantly amended -- forcing action, instead of inaction. On each of the two HB-6-repeal bills -- House Bill 738 (the Democratic bill) and HB 746 (the Republican version) -- the legislature held four hearings in September. HB 738 drew testimony from only five individuals -- a bill sponsor and four interested parties, three of them from utility or energy-related groups and one from the Ohio Manufacturers Association, a major energy user. HB 746 heard from eight witnesses -- the two bill sponsors; two other proponents -- representatives of the Ohio Consumers Counsel that speaks for all state ratepayers and from a renewable-energy group; and four interested parties: Sam Randazzo, then-chairman of the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio; and representatives of an energy-related organization, the nonpartisan Ohio Legislative Service Commission, and industrial energy users in Ohio. House Bill 772, which sought to cancel out parts but not all of HB 6, had only one hearing, Nov. 19, with only one witness -- its primary sponsor, Rep. Mark Romanchuk of Ontario in Richland County. Thats not a lot of diversity in voices. And not a lot of testimony, in general, despite the nine hearings, cumulatively. Its time the Ohio legislature opened the door for Ohioans to be able to tell their elected representatives through oral testimony offered remotely what they think of pending bills, how they will be impacted by the legislation, why they feel as they do and to offer their own insights on the legislation. Maybe that will make it harder to enact flawed and poorly considered legislation like HB 6 in the first place. Which suggests that, once the pandemic is over, allowing remote testimony would be a good way to continue. The Statehouse is the peoples house. Its time it behaves that way. About our editorials: Editorials express the view of the editorial board of cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer -- the senior leadership and editorial-writing staff. As is traditional, editorials are unsigned and intended to be seen as the voice of the news organization. Have something to say about this topic? * Send a letter to the editor, which will be considered for print publication. * Email general questions about our editorial board or comments or corrections on this editorial to Elizabeth Sullivan, director of opinion, at esullivan@cleveland.com. 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 Nigerian civil society organization is reporting that no less than 50 Christians were killed in March and 10 in the first two days of April by radical Fulani herdsmen. Since the start of 2020, estimates suggest that over 400 Christians were killed in the West African country. "In all, not less than 410 Christian lives have been lost in Nigeria to Jihadist Fulani terrorists in the past 93 days of 2020," the Anambra-based International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (Intersociety) said in a statement. Ten Christians were killed in the first two days of April, it added. "This is on daily average of about five Christian deaths. On average, the Jihadist Fulani militants killed 125 Christians in January and February, respectively, and 50 in March." Intersociety is a nongovernmental organization headed by Christian criminologist Emeka Umeagbalasi. Through a team of criminologists, lawyers, journalists as well as peace and conflict studies graduates, Intersociety has monitored violence against Christians in Nigeria since 2010. In addition to Umeagbalasi, the statement released Saturday was signed by lawyers Obianuju Igboeli, Ndidiamaka Bernard and Chinwe Umeche. Intersociety previously reported that 350 Christians were killed in the first two months of 2020 by Fulani militants, highway bandits and the Boko Haram terrorist group in the northeast. Since 2015, about 11,500 Christians have been killed in Nigeria, according to Intersociety. The killings are largely a result of increased terrorist attacks from Boko Haram splinter groups and overnight attacks carried out by radicalized Muslim nomadic Fulani herders against predominantly Christian farming communities in Nigeria's Middle Belt. In 2019, between 1,000 to 1,200 Christians were killed by Fulani attackers, Intersociety estimated. The NGO relies on what it deems to be credible local and foreign media reports as well as government accounts, data from international rights groups, eyewitness testimony and reports from Christian bodies to compile its estimates. Intersociety argued in its latest statement, which only counts the killings committed by Fulani attackers, that the decline in reported killings in March could be a result of attacks being under-reported due to a shift in local and international media attention during the coronavirus pandemic. The decline is not a result of "change of heart" or "government counter successes," it said. The group's statement comes as some international advocacy groups, including Christian Solidarity International and the Jubilee Campaign, are pressuring international actors to label the plight of Christians in Nigeria as a "genocide." On March 5, at least four Christians were reportedly killed and three women raped by Fulani attackers in the Guma area of the Benue state, according to Intersociety. On March 13 and March 14, seven Christians were killed in coordinated attacks in Tyohembe and Tse Ayev communities of the Benue state believed to be carried out by radical Fulanis. The attacks were said to be carried out between 11 p.m. on March 13 and the early-morning hours of March 14. Between March 26 and March 31, in Southern Kaduna state, a total of 11 Christians, including a district head and his brother, were reportedly killed by Fulani militants. On March 27, three more Christians were said to have been killed in the Chikun local government area of Kaduna. On March 30, the district head of the Jema'a local government area of Kaduna Danlami Barde and his brother, Musa Barde, were reportedly killed while the wife of Musa Barde sustained several gunshot injuries. On the night of March 31-April 1, at least three Christians were killed in the Ancha area of the Plateau state. "According to the Southern Kaduna Peoples Union (SOKAPU), in its statement dated 31st March 2020, no fewer than six defenseless Christians were hacked to death in Komo Community, Guruku ward in Chikun [local government area] of Kaduna State," Intersociety stated. On April 1, seven elderly Christians in the Hukke and Nkiedoro communities in the Plateau state were reportedly burned to death during an attack in which at least 23 houses were burned or destroyed. Nigeria ranks as the 12th worst country in the world for Christian persecution on Open Doors USA's 2020 World Watch List. It is one of the most deadly countries in the world for Christians. Because of the Nigerian government's inability to halt societal and extremist violence and hold those accountable responsible, Nigeria was added to the U.S. State Department's "special watch list" of countries that engage in or tolerate severe violations for religious freedom in December. "We are designating [Nigeria] special watch list for the first time because of all of the increasing violence and communal activity and the lack of effective government response and the lack of judicial cases being brought forward in that country," U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom Sam Brownback told reporters at the time. "It is a dangerous situation in too many parts of Nigeria. The government has either not been willing to or have been ineffective in their response and the violence continues to grow." Courtesy of The Christian Post President Joe Biden addresses the nation at the Lincoln Memorial after being inaugurated, in Washington on Jan. 20, 2021. (Joshua Roberts/Pool/Reuters) Biden Broke Own Rule on Masks Due to Celebration, Spokeswoman Says President Joe Biden violated his own mask mandate by going maskless on federal property Wednesday night because he was taking part in a celebration, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said. I think he was celebrating an evening of a historic day in our country, Psaki told reporters during a briefing Thursday. Biden signed an executive order on this first day in office mandating people wear masks in federal buildings and on federal lands. Heads of agencies should immediately move to require compliance, the order states. Hours later, Biden went without a mask while at the memorial in Washington. Certainly he signed the mask mandate because its a way to send a message to the American public about the importance of wearing masks, how it can save tens of thousands of lives. We take a number of COVID precautions here in terms of testing, social distancing, mask wearing ourselves, as we do every single day. But I dont know that I have more for you on it than that, Psaki told reporters. President Joe Biden addresses the nation at the Lincoln Memorial after being inaugurated, in Washington on Jan. 20, 2021. (Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images) Asked whether Biden was setting a good example by going without a mask, she added: I think the power of his example is also the message he sends by signing 25 executive orders, including almost half of them related to COVID. The requirements that were all under every day here to ensure were sending that message to the public. Yesterday was a historic moment in our history. He was inaugurated as president of the United States, surrounded by his family. We take a number of precautions. I think we have bigger issues to worry about at this moment in time, she said. Biden repeatedly on the campaign trail knocked former President Donald Trump for not wearing a mask. Biden also took off his mask to speak at the White House on Thursday, when he announced a national COVID-19 strategy and signed about two dozen more executive orders. Moscow, Jan 22 : Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny, who was detained earlier this week, has claimed that President Vladimir Putin owns a 1 billion euro palace which has a 'lap-dancing club', theatre and a casino inside its premises, according to media reports. In a video posted on Instagram, Navalny, who is known to be a harsh Putin critic, claimed to possess the leaked floor plans of Putin's lavish property on Russia's southern Black Sea coast, The Daily Mail reported. 3D images of the estate's interior allege "Putin's palace" features an arcade room with slot machines and a dance mat, a spa and a theatre inside the mansion, along with an underground ice rink and even vineyards in the grounds. Navalny also claimed that the estate, which also includes a church and strip club fitted with a lap dancers' pole, is 39 times the size of Monaco. "It is a separate state within Russia. And in this state, there is a single, irreplaceable tsar, Putin," The Daily Star newspaper quoted the opposition figure as further saying in the video. The video is part of an investigation published on Navalny's blog with a two-hour Youtube video, which was recorded just before his arrest on Sunday upon his arrival in Moscow from Germany where he was treated after being allegedly poisoned. But, Putin's spokesperson Dmitry Peskov has rejected Navalny's claims, saying the latter claim that Russian federal troops were guarding the compound was "pure nonsense", adding that Putin "doesn't own palaces". Peskov further said that the colossal estate "has nothing to do with either the President or the Kremlin so we haven't the slightest desire to be interested" in who owns it. Navalny fell into a coma on a flight from the Russian city of Tomsk to Moscow on August 20, 2020, after which he transferred to a Berlin hospital with suspected poisoning symptoms. In September, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Navalny was poisoned with the Soviet-style Novichok nerve agent. Russian authorities have repeatedly denied the accusations and demanded solid evidence from Germany. The opposition figure on probation was put on a wanted list on December 29, 2020 and he will remain in detention until a court ruling. Irish fishermen said they are concerned a taskforce will become a talking shop (Brian Lawless/PA) Irish fishermen say they are concerned a taskforce set up to support coastal communities after Brexit will become a talking shop. Representatives from the fishing industry said the Brexit trade agreement reached on Christmas Eve has failed Irish fishermen and is a bad fisheries deal. Under the terms of the Brexit agreement, Irish fleets will have to give back 25% of fish caught in UK waters. Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue said that after meeting fishing groups, he will set up a taskforce to seek recommendations on how to support the sector. The losses due to Brexit will ensure a large portion of the Irish fishing fleet will be unviable John Lynch, Irish South and East Fish Producers However, Sean ODonoghue, chief executive of Killybegs Fishermens Organisation (KFO), said some issues needed immediate action. We welcome the taskforce, but there are two things I am concerned about. Number one, that it becomes a talking shop, and secondly that it delays us from the immediate action that we need, he added. We need to immediately take up the burden-sharing and it cant be waiting for a taskforce to decide on something like that. The taskforce should be looking at something like the issues around relative stability. I would see that they would be more longer time than short term. I am talking about addressing the burden-share in the next two months, not in the next year. The industry said that based on the current burden-sharing equation, Ireland will incur losses of 42 million euro. It amounts to a loss of 15% in the value of all fish caught by Irish fleets, however other EU member states are incurring losses of about 7%. Giving evidence to the Oireachtas Agriculture Committee on Friday, Mr McConalogue said the taskforce will provide recommendations for local coastal communities. I intend to set out in the arrangements and the terms of reference for this taskforce later next week, he added. I will ask the taskforce to immediately focus on possible arrangements for a temporary fleet tie-up scheme to counter the impacts of the reduction in quotas which will impact from the beginning of April. Expand Close A fishing vessel comes into the harbour in the fishing village of Howth, Dublin (Brian Lawless/PA) PA / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp A fishing vessel comes into the harbour in the fishing village of Howth, Dublin (Brian Lawless/PA) John Ward, of the Irish Fish Producers Organisation (IFPO), said they want the issues in the terrible Brexit deal resolved. We are very much a junior partner in a huge department, he added. He said that the marine sector is on the coattails of the agriculture department. We will never get the representation that we require, he added. John Lynch, chairman of the Irish South and East Fish Producers Organisation, said the loss of 42 million euro has been gifted to the UK. The loses due to Brexit will ensure a large portion of the Irish fishing fleet will be unviable for the future and these figures do not include the negative effects of these losses on all fishing-related ancillary industries, he added. Sinn Feins Padraig Mac Lochlainn said it is estimated Donegals fishing industry will suffer 400 job losses. Mr Mac Lochlainn said the effect on an industry that is already struggling to survive will leave it completely unsustainable. This is a profound injustice Padraig Mac Lochlainn, Sinn Fein They (fishermen) are looking for a fair allocation of the fish in our own exclusive economic zone, under the jurisdiction of the common fisheries policy, he added. This is a serious crisis. As (fishing) was the last item on the (Brexit) agenda, there was a rush to get the deal over the line, and our fishermen were sacrificed and we took a disproportionate hit. This is a profound injustice. Mr McConalogue said Ireland will see a greater impact compared with other EU member states. That is a situation I am certainly not happy with, and one that we never wanted or fought for, he added. Although we knew we were very much the nation that was most endangered from a fishing point of view because, by far, compared to other EU members, we share more of our species with the UK, and the species that are important to us are the species that are most important to the UK as well. The outcome is not a fair reflection of burden-sharing, it does put more weight and impact on our fishing sector. Independent TD Thomas Pringle said: This is a very serious situation for the fishing industry and its debatable how it can survive. Since the West often deems upheavals elsewhere as a right, today we embark on a route of stark comparison and contrast. The world stood still as it watched rioters breach Capitol Hill. The US was facing an insurrection, a violent uprising against its identity. In the process, everything it had preached to the world at large in the shape of freedom of speech, protesters rights, and people power was scrutinized differently and undermined before our eyes. Amidst the mayhem, the western script on human rights, promoted to the world as a must, disappeared into thin air. Set aside President Trumps role in all this; overlook the fact that almost 50 percent of voting Americans had chosen Trump yet again; and dismiss President Trumps unpleasant exit course from the White house. Now focus on the double standards of the event itself. Memories do not fade quickly, and since it hasnt been that long since the West deemed riots and upheavals elsewhere a right, today we embark on a route of stark comparison and contrast. Identical scuffles to the riots on Capitol Hill take place elsewhere and are usually welcomed by western media as a good thing. Amidst turbulences, countries take to shutting down the Internet arguing that this action curbs the spread of misinformation. The West then objects proclaiming the action as a heavy-handed attack on fundamental human rights. Furthermore, when the Egyptian government blocked certain inciting websites, western media considered the action an interference with Egyptians right to seek, receive, and impart information. In fact, none of the sites that call for violence or illegal activities in Egypt, such as Al Boursa or Al Shaab newspapers, have been designated as unlawful sites by Twitter or other platforms. And when Egypt filtered such sites, western media called it, blocking opposition. And yet, in an identical move, President Trumps Twitter account, @realDonaldTrump was permanently suspended as did his Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram accounts. After the ban on his Twitter account, President Trump scrambled to find another platform to air his disgruntlement only to resort to Parler, a right-wing social media network that was immediately removed from the App Store, Google, and Amazon. The App Store, the only way to distribute apps to iPhones, said, Parler has not taken adequate measures to address the proliferation of these threats to people's safety. We have suspended Parler from the App Store until they resolve these issues." President Trump tweeted, " Twitter has gone further and further in banning free speech, and tonight, Twitter employees have coordinated with the Democrats and the Radical Left in removing my account from their platform, to silence me." The tweet disappeared instantly. The situations are similar, the reactions are alike, but, as far as western media are concerned, they are not the same. Whats good for the goose is not good for the gander. When thousands violently stormed Capitol Hill, the police ordered a lockdown. Members of Congress pulled gasmasks over their heads and took shelter under desks while barricaded in their chambers. This while rioters smashed windows and deployed teargas inside the building. One woman was shot in the neck; she later died. Three died of medical emergencies, and several police officers were hospitalized. The leader of the Proud Boys, the right-wing paramilitary group loyal to President Trump posted a quote on Parler, When the people fear the government, there is tyranny When the government fears the people There is liberty. He was later arrested, but when similar speeches fuel violence elsewhere, the West promotes them as rights. From another perspective, Capital Hill is home to the US senate, the Houses of Representatives, both Republican and Democratic, and the Supreme Court. As far as Egypt is concerned, the Egyptian Cabinet Office Headquarters and other official buildings are equally important and should not be breached. For several months in 2011, according to the Washington Post, activists, and protesters, not rioters, tried if not succeeded to break into Egyptian official buildings including the Cabinet Headquarters, the Ministry of Interior, and the Secret Security Agency. The Washington Post confirms, Activists broke into several interior Ministry Building, seizing trove of documents The armed forces statement in response to the various breaches was, [Do we not] have the right to defend the property of the Egyptian people, which we swore we would defend? Egypts Scientific Institute was torched during the same period. The Institute was home to 192,000 books, journals and writings. At some level it would be equivalent to the Smithsonian to US citizens. Imagine if Americans had seen one of the Smithsonian buildings set on fire. Then, President Donald Trump had only a few days left in his administration when members of Congress demanded his removal from office. In their eyes, he had stirred up the crowds prompting them to breach Capitol Hill. The US House Speaker, Nancy Pelosi stepped up the pressure on Vice-President Mike Pence to remove the president from office by declaring him unfit for office. The second option was to invoke the 25th amendment that removed an incapacitated president. What ex-President Morsi committed was by far more damning and incriminating. Morsi escaped from prison, collaborated with those against Egypt, sided with his clan, the Muslim Brotherhood, against the majority of Egyptians, and placed himself above the law with a decree that granted him far-reaching powers, all actions that construe treason. Morsi was unlikely to be removed through legal impeachment proceedings. This was not only due to the lack of an independent parliament, but also to the lack of a parliament altogether. Since Article 152 of the 2012 Constitution allows impeachment of the president for felony and high treason, Egypt did what it could to rid itself of Morsi, not much different from what Trump is facing. However, in the eyes of the West, the removal of Morsi was a coup that deserved admonishment for years to come. The similarities are crystal clear; the responses, starkly different. US Dollar Decline creates New Sector Opportunities to Trade The weakness in the US Dollar, which initiated after the Covid-19 peak in March 2020, has entered an extended downward price trend which is nearing a key support level near 88.33. One key factor related to this trend is a weakness in the US Dollar, which means other foreign currencies become comparatively stronger. This transitional currency valuation phase creates an environment where localized foreign investments may become much more opportunistic than the US stock market/sectors if this US Dollar decline continues. Simply put, foreign investors will suddenly start to realize they are losing alpha in US Dollar based investments compared to stronger, foreign currency-based investments over time and move their capital to profit from the US Dollars decline. US Dollar Index Monthly Chart The 88.33 level on the US DollarWeekly chart below is, in our opinion, critical because a breakdown below this level will likely initiate a downside trend that targets the 82.50 level, a 9% decline for the US Dollar. Recent support in the US Dollar has helped to continue to US stock market rally over the past few weeks. Everything hinges on if the 88.33 support level holds or if it is broken. We believe if this support level is broken in the near future, the US stock markets may experience a broad market rotation in trend which ould very likely be in excess of 8%. What happens over the next 2 to 4+ months with the new US President, policies, and Federal stimulus plans could prompt a big US/global market/sector rotation as investors expectations shift to address these new opportunities. If the US Dollar holds above 88.33 while these new stimulus packages and policies are enacted, then the US stock market indexes may continue to push dramatically higher over time. If the US Dollar breaks lower, below the 88.33 level, then there is a strong potential that global investors will identify strength in foreign market assets/stock in localized currencies and pull money away from US assets. S&P500 Index Monthly Chart The Monthly S&P 500 Index chart below highlights the very clear RSI Technical Divergence pattern that has set up across the peaks originating from the January 2018 highs. Each subsequent high price peak has setup a lower RSI peak resulting in a Divergence technical pattern. Even the current breakout rally after the November 2010 elections has established a higher price level and a lower RSI level than the January 2020 RSI peak. Be sure to sign up for my FREE webinar that will teach you how to find and trade my BEST ASSET NOW strategy on your own! Our researchers believe this longer-term technical divergence patter may be indicative of a capital shift process that could take place in 2021 if the US Dollar continues to slide below the 88.00 level. Weakness in the US Dollar will shift expectations away from US Stock Market strength and towards foreign market strength just like what happened between 2010 and 2014 when Emerging Markets rallied while the US Dollar flat-lined near 80.00 If this type of capital shift happens over the next 3 to 6+ months, US market sectors are very likely to shift focus as foreign capital moves away from US equities and begins to chase Alpha in localized capital market assets and foreign market ETFs. This can already be seen in major US sectors by looking at the 90-day performance compared to the 180-day performance data. For example, over the past 90 days, Energy, Financials, Materials, and Industrials have been the strongest S&P sectors. Yet, over the past 180 days, Materials, Industrials, Technology, and Discretionary sectors have outperformed. This suggests a shift is already taking place where Discretionary and Technology sectors have stalled in their advance while Energy and Financials have started to rally. Just recently, Energy, Health Care, Utilities, Financials, and Real Estate have all started to increase performance while Staples, Technology, and Comm. Services have shown increased downside performance metrics. It is becoming very obvious that capital is being shifted away from Discretionary, Technology, Comm. Services, Industrials, and Materials and being deployed more heavily into Energy, Health Care, Utilities, Financials, and Real Estate based on this data. 90 Day S&P Sector Performance 180 Day S&P Sector Performance Our research suggests a number of big price trends and rotations are likely to take place in 2021. Our What to expect in 2021 research article highlighted potential weakness in February/March 2021 and broader market weakness in August/September 2021. We feel the transitional capital market shift, as a result of the declining US Dollar, will accelerate this capital/sector shift over the next 6+ months and put foreign market assets, Emerging markets, and currency trends firmly ahead of US stock market performance this year. If the 88.00 level is broken on the US Dollar chart, then this currency/foreign market focus will become even more critical. 2021 is a year for traders to be prepared for broad market sector rotation, big trends in ETFs and currencies, and increased volatility in the US markets somewhat similar to 2013 through 2016. The downward trend in the US Dollar may setup some very big moves in foreign ETFs, US ETF sectors, and many US Stocks. It also appears that Energy, Financials, Materials, and Utilities are currently outperforming Technology, Comm. Services, Industrials, and others. If you are not watching these trends shift, you will miss some really big trading opportunities. I teach you how to find the hottest sectors and trading opportunities in my free BAN strategy webinar. For those who want to cut the research out entirely, the BAN Trader Pro newsletter service will help you navigate the big trends, high volatility, stimulus, and new US government policies. The time is now to learn and trade the Best Assets Now Hotlist using our proven sector rotation strategy. Our BAN Trader Pro strategy is proving to be an incredible advancement that allows us to dominate and generate Alpha. We urge you to take advantage of the BAN Trader Pro newsletter service to prepare for the big trends that we expect to continue throughout all of 2021 and into 2022 and beyond. Stay safe! Chris Vermeulen www.TheTechnicalTraders.com Chris Vermeulen has been involved in the markets since 1997 and is the founder of Technical Traders Ltd. He is an internationally recognized technical analyst, trader, and is the author of the book: 7 Steps to Win With Logic Through years of research, trading and helping individual traders around the world. He learned that many traders have great trading ideas, but they lack one thing, they struggle to execute trades in a systematic way for consistent results. Chris helps educate traders with a three-hour video course that can change your trading results for the better. His mission is to help his clients boost their trading performance while reducing market exposure and portfolio volatility. He is a regular speaker on HoweStreet.com, and the FinancialSurvivorNetwork radio shows. Chris was also featured on the cover of AmalgaTrader Magazine, and contributes articles to several leading financial hubs like MarketOracle.co.uk Disclaimer: Nothing in this report should be construed as a solicitation to buy or sell any securities mentioned. Technical Traders Ltd., its owners and the author of this report are not registered broker-dealers or financial advisors. Before investing in any securities, you should consult with your financial advisor and a registered broker-dealer. Never make an investment based solely on what you read in an online or printed report, including this report, especially if the investment involves a small, thinly-traded company that isnt well known. Technical Traders Ltd. and the author of this report has been paid by Cardiff Energy Corp. In addition, the author owns shares of Cardiff Energy Corp. and would also benefit from volume and price appreciation of its stock. The information provided here within should not be construed as a financial analysis but rather as an advertisement. The authors views and opinions regarding the companies featured in reports are his own views and are based on information that he has researched independently and has received, which the author assumes to be reliable. Technical Traders Ltd. and the author of this report do not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any content of this report, nor its fitness for any particular purpose. Lastly, the author does not guarantee that any of the companies mentioned in the reports will perform as expected, and any comparisons made to other companies may not be valid or come into effect. Chris Vermeulen Archive 2005-2019 http://www.MarketOracle.co.uk - The Market Oracle is a FREE Daily Financial Markets Analysis & Forecasting online publication. Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. Mr. Samuel A. Jinapor is a politician, a dedicated member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), and a qualified Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Ghana. He graduated from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Physics, and specialised in Biomedical Physics. His intellectual thirst and political aspirations led him to enrol to be trained as a lawyer a goal he accomplished successfully. Consequently, he was called to the Ghana Bar in 2012. As a newly enrolled lawyer, he undertook his pupillage with the reputable Messrs. Kulendi @ Law, an Accra-based commercial and corporate law firm, from October 2012 to August 2013. He studied under the tutelage of the renowned lawyer, Yonny Kulendi, who is now a Justice of the Supreme Court of Ghana. Within a relatively short period, Mr. Jinapor rose to the position of Senior Associate. In this capacity, he developed the skills for quick thinking and oratory, and he served as an advocate in major commercial and corporate litigations. Whilst at the firm, Mr. Jinapor acted as a transactional lawyer for several complex, commercial negotiations, both domestically and internationally. Again, as Senior Associate, he was periodically assigned to manage a team of lawyers from diverse backgrounds. Over the years, he had the rare opportunity of representing major foreign companies in Ghana as a Solicitor and Legal Advocate, both in Ghanaian Courts and Arbitral Tribunals. Mr. Jinapor earned his Masters Degree in Law (LL.M) in Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) from the Faculty of Law, University of Ghana, in May 2017. In the course of his studies, amongst others, he successfully took academic sessions in International Commercial Arbitration, Labour Law, Law and Society. POLITICAL LIFE Mr. Jinapor is regarded as a highly motivated and dynamic, rising young politician. He is energetic, intelligent, resourceful, and he combines effective communication skills, with detailed legal knowledge, to dissect complex problems, and deliver satisfactory outcomes, whether working alone or as part of a larger team. His interest in the countrys public affairs encouraged him to join politics in 2004, and he has since been a widely known and excellent Political Activist. His first foreign relations exposure came when, at an early age of twenty-three (23), he had the unusual opportunity to accompany the then President of the Republic, His Excellency John Agyekum Kufour, on his historic State Visit to the United Kingdom (UK) in 2007, as a Communications Aide, where he made appearances on shows of various media houses in the UK. The watershed moment came, when in 2007, he was privileged and honoured to be appointed by Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, then presidential aspirant of the New Patriotic Party, as his Campaign Aide in the 2007 NPP presidential primaries. This is a position he held in both the 2008 and 2012 general elections. In the 2016 general elections, Mr. Jinapor played a major political advocacy role for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and its presidential candidate, Akufo-Addo. He was seen and heard on major media and campaign platforms across the country, taking on the incumbent Mahama government, and promoting the policies of his Party, the NPP, a task he executed brilliantly with considerable courage and tenacity, earning him the admiration of many. In 2017, President Akufo-Addo appointed him as Deputy Chief of Staff in charge of Operations at the Office of the President, at a very youthful age of thirty-three (33), the youngest in the history of Ghana to occupy such a position. As Deputy Chief of Staff, he assisted the Chief of Staff in mobilising government machinery to support the execution of the Presidents agenda for the country. Having worked, closely, in various capacities with President Akufo-Addo, both in opposition and government, Mr. Jinapor has gained considerable experience in the workings of government. In 2020, whilst still performing his demanding task as Deputy Chief of Staff, he contested the parliamentary seat of Damongo, the maternal hometown of former President John Dramani Mahama, the 2020 Presidential Candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), and won that highly competitive election with a significant margin of victory. He unseated the NDCs two-term Member of Parliament and Ranking Member for Energy and Mines, Hon. Adam Mutawakilu. Since the creation of the Damongo Constituency in 2012, the NPP has never won the Presidential and Parliamentary elections. Thus, the victory of Mr. Jinapor in this Constituency came as a big surprise to many political pundits and commentators. He has since been sworn in as a Member of the 8th Parliament of the 4th Republic. President Akufo-Addo has nominated him as the Minister responsible for Lands and Natural Resources in the second term government of his government. If approved by Parliament, he will be the youngest to have occupied this portfolio. He is happily married to Mrs. Naada B.D. Jinapor, a Lawyer and head of the Corporate Law Department of the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) of Ghana. Their marriage is blessed with four (4) daughters. Source: Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Death, infections and hospitalisations due to COVID-19 are surging in Britain. This week the daily death rate record was topped twice in successive days, with 1,610 fatalities on Tuesday and, in a sharp rise, 1,820 on Wednesday. A further 1,290 deaths were announced Thursday, with an eight-year-old child among the latest victims. A staggering 21,024 people have died in the first three weeks of 2021, with the UK recording the highest death rate on the planet. In the last seven days another 283,388 new infections were recorded, bringing the total this year to more than 1 million (1,054,866). A patient is pushed on a trolley outside the Royal London Hospital in east London, Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2021, during Englands third national lockdown since the coronavirus outbreak began. Britain, with over 81,000 dead, has the deadliest virus toll in Europe and the number of hospital beds filled by COVID-19 patients has risen steadily for more than a month. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham) Hospitalisations reached 39,068 by Monday this week, almost double that at the height of the first wave last year. The number of patients on ventilation stood at 3,947. Data from National Health Service England published Thursday revealed that one in 10 major hospital trusts had no spare adult critical care beds last week. The governments daily count of infections does not give an accurate measure of the number of people infected. Imperial Colleges REACT-1 infection survey is more accurate. In its latest interim findings based on testing 142,900 people between January 6-15, Imperial estimates that 1.58 percent of the population had the virus during early Januaryup from 0.91 percent in December. This equates to one in 63 or about 900,000 people infected nationally. The highest level of infections was recorded in London, with 2.8 percent of the population with the disease, up from 1.21 percent in early December. Other estimates suggest up to 5 percent of the capitals nearly 10 million population may have the virus. This week, the London Ambulance Service was fielding 8,500 calls a dayprior to the pandemic it dealt with 5,000 to 6,000 daily. Yesterday, the Guardian revealed that NHS staff are preparing to transport patients using two London buses that have been converted into makeshift ambulances, in another sign of the strain Covid is putting on the capitals health services. Infections continue to surge despite the lockdown imposed by the Tory government on January 5. The lockdown is significantly less restrictive than the first in March, despite a new more contagious strain of the virus and worse hospitalisation rates. The REACT-1 survey found that COVID-19 cases rose by 50 percent between early December and January 15. The study concludes, During the initial 10 days of the third COVID-19 lockdown in England in January 2021, prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 was very high with no evidence of decline. Until prevalence in the community is reduced substantially, health services will remain under extreme pressure and the cumulative number of lives lost during this pandemic will continue to increase rapidly. During the first wave of the pandemic the governments brutal herd immunity policy led to the deaths of nearly 20,000 of the most vulnerable people living in care homes. COVID-19 deaths in care homes are surging again, doubling in a fortnight in England. The Office for National Statistics recorded 1,260 COVID-19 care home deaths in the two weeks to January 15almost twice the 661 fatalities two weeks ago. The virus is taking lives in care homes at a staggering rate, accounting for 40 percent of all deaths in care homes in Englandup from just over a quarter at the end of December. Only around 50 percent of the UKs 400,000 residents have so far been vaccinated against the virus. So severe is the rate of infection, that only hours after mooting that a phased reopening of schools in March was being prepared, with schools to be given just two weeks-notice of commencement, the government is being forced to row back. Thursdays Financial Times cited a senior figure close to Prime Minister Boris Johnson who said, 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. He is being cautious. Johnson is aware that an escalating number of deaths could ignite a social explosion. Later Thursday, a Downing Street spokesman stated that it couldnt be ruled out that a lockdown could last until the summer: 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. Johnson is having to adapt to a public mood strongly opposed to ending lockdown, with many demanding it is made more restrictive. An opinion poll for the Observer newspaper saw 61 percent in favour of closing nurseries and 51 percent supporting the closure of takeaway coffee shops and cafes. 75 percent of those questioned said that government ministers had responded too slowly to the pandemic. All of this was entirely foreseeable. On December 17, the Socialist Equality Party (UK) issued a statement, Stop the UKs winter of death! For emergency action to save lives! The article warned, The coronavirus pandemic in the UK is being allowed to run out of control. Prime Minister Boris Johnsons Conservative government is pursuing a murderous policy which poses an imminent risk to tens of thousands of lives. Although the government had to scale back its plans to allow the population to travel and mingle without hindrance for five days over Christmas, it encouraged a 24-hour a day shopping spree to save Christmas, i.e, to save the profits of the corporations. At that point, 66,000 people had died according to the official government measures, with a more accurate count based on fatalities with COVID-19 recorded on the death certificate nearer 80,000. In the just over four weeks since the SEP statement was published, tens of thousands more have died. By Thursday this week, 94,580 deaths had been recorded according to the governments' measure of a fatality within 28 days of a person testing postive for the virus. The true figure, as recorded by the UKs statistics agenciesincluding those where COVID was mentioned on the death certificate, together with additional data on fatalities that have occurred in recent daysshows that deaths from the virus have passed 111,000. The SEP statement cited Dr Claudia Paoloni, president of the Hospital Consultants and Specialists Association, who warned that the Christmas plans will see patients dying needlessly and thousands of critical cases going untreated. Leading public health specialist Professor Gabriel Scally also warned, There is no point having a very merry Christmas and then burying friends and relations in January and February. The SEP explained that the fight against the pandemic is not only, or even primarily, a medical issue. It is, above all, a matter of social and political struggle. The arch criminal and his cabal of herd immunity enthusiasts in Downing Street are responsible for social murder on a vast scale. But this widely hated government could only have sacrificed the lives of over 111,000 people on the altar of profit and on behalf of the oligarchy that rules Britain with the collusion of the opposition Labour Party and their partners in the trade unions. Under the banner of national unity, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer continued the mantra of his predecessor Jeremy Corbyn in offering his constructive opposition in a time of crisis. The trade unions response to the pandemic was to enter talks with the government during the spring lockdown to assist in what the Trades Union Congress described as a mass return to work. With the unions collusion, schools, colleges and universities were reopened from September becoming major vectors of the virus. This was bound up with the unions suppression of any and all action by workers against the danger of COVID-19. The SEP warned in its December statement, The coming weeks and months are critical. The action that workers take now can save tens of thousands of lives. We call on workers and young people to join our party and build a new international, socialist leadership the working class needs. This call must be taken up urgently by the working class, beginning with the formation of an interconnected network of workplace and neighbourhood committees, independent of the trade unions, to organise this political struggle and by workers and young people taking the decision to join the SEP. ADVERTISEMENT Nigeria is set to resume crude export from the Qua Iboe terminal in Akwa Ibom State, six weeks after a fire at the terminal disrupted production and loadings. S&P Global Platts, which provides benchmark prices for commodity markets around the world, reported Friday that Qua Iboe crude production has started to rise to normal levels of 200,000 barrels a day and that loading programmes for February and March have been released. Loading programmes for the two months average 169,643b/d and 153,226b/d respectively. S&P Global Platts estimated that production of the key grade ranged between 180,000 220,000b/d in 2020. Qua Iboe is one of Nigerias largest export grades and is popular among global refiners in India, the US, Canada, Italy, Spain, Indonesia and Netherlands. It is a light sweet crude that has a gravity of 36 API and low sulfur content of 0.13 per cent. The S&P Global Platts report quoted sources saying that Exxon Mobil, which operates the Qua export terminal had not officially lifted force majeure on Qua Iboe exports but they said it is imminent. Crude produced mostly by Exxon Mobil from the fields 20 40 miles off the coast of Akwa Ibom is brought to the shore at the Qua Iboe terminal via a seabed pipeline system. Bonny light is Nigerias main crude grade, and typically trades at roughly the same level as Qua Iboe. It was last assessed 30 cents per barrel. Prices for Nigerian crude have suffered in recent weeks even with lower supply due to the outage. 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. After a 10-month review, a task force commissioned by the Ontario government has issued a range of sweeping recommendations to reform the province's securities regulator. Rod Phillips, then Ontario's Minister of Finance, returns to Premier Doug Ford's office after the provincial government's daily briefing in Toronto on Monday, June 15, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young After a 10-month review, a task force commissioned by the Ontario government has issued a range of sweeping recommendations to reform the province's securities regulator. The Capital Markets Modernization Task Force's more than 70 recommendations include major governance changes to Ontario Securities Commission. These include splitting the agency's adjudicative and regulatory enforcement roles by separating its CEO and chairman positions, and creating an adjudicative body within the OSC to rule on alleged securities act violations. "The recommendations we have made are generational in their impact on the Ontario capital markets," Walied Soliman, the task force's chairman, said in the report. The task force also suggests expanding the agency's mandate to include growing the capital markets and augmenting its regulatory function. The task force recommends that the agency change its name to the Ontario Capital Markets Authority to reflect the broader mandate. The task force was commissioned in 2019 by Ontario's finance minister, with the goal of encouraging growth and competition in the province's capital markets. Ontario's capital markets regulatory framework hadn't been reviewed since 2003, the report says. In the report, the task force decried the lack of new securities issuers in Ontario, which they warned could lead to a reduced level of investment in the province. "The decline in new issuers and initial public offerings in Ontario is alarming," the task force wrote. "The real consequences of this trend are fewer head offices, fewer entrepreneurs, and fewer growth investment opportunities, all of which could drive Ontario to become a 'branch plant' economy." By issuing guidance that would bolster the Ontario securities regulator's enforcement powers, the task force said it hopes to level the playing field for market participants and provide increased transparency regarding the enforcement process. Over the course of its investigation, the task force met with more than 110 different stakeholders as it was developing its recommendations. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 22, 2021. Note to readers: This is a corrected story. A previous version referred to the OSC's review as an investigation. January 22, 2021 It wasn't until 1990 that climate change became a political issue. Since then, there has been a significant shift in the topic's exposure and has now reached multiple disciplines. As the global concern grows, there has been ongoing controversy around this topic. Public policies and agendas continue to appear disjointed in identifying the severity of pollutions impact and how to respond to it. Consequently, there are a lot of beliefs about the subject of pollution. Due to this, not many private organizations and enterprises have been tackling this issue as a real problem. On the other hand, many US corporations talk about controlling their pollution levels; however, they haven't been implementing their various policies. During this time, a few individuals have taken up the responsibility of playing their part, providing their services to reduce pollution. Among the handful of organizations addressing pollution as a 'real' issue is Sound Fighter Systems (SFS). Started in 1973, SFS is managed by Patrick Harrison as the President and co-owner Rand Falbaum. Headquartered in Shreveport, Sound Fighter Systems is one of the chief producers of absorptive noise barrier wall systems, which has provided its services to thousands of businesses over the years. A High-Quality Solution for Noise Pollution With the company providing soundproof solutions to businesses, SFS has acquired a renowned space in the USA's business world. The SonaGuard Absorptive Noise Barriers are an effective method to diminish noise pollution. With the UV resistant coating, the outdoor sound barrier panels and soundproofing materials are incorporated according to the client's need. Personnel doors, vehicle swing gates, mobile noise barriers, and acoustic louvers are some of the soundproof products that have been designed by the company that absorbs the noise. With the rise in technological advancement, the demand for customized products is high. Keeping this in mind, Sound Fighter Systems provides the option of customizing color schemes and unique cut-outs according to the requirements. Among the different types of pollution, noise pollution is downplayed the most. Most people fail to recognize that the propagation of noise can impact humans and animals too. Another efficient soundproof product of SFS is the LSE Noise Barrier Walls, manufactured seasonally. Like the SonaGuard barrier, the LSE Noise Barrier features sound absorptive technology, a quality rarely found in the USA's noise-proof products. The barrier walls' unique quality makes Sound Fighter Systems stand out amongst the competition. Loud and unwanted noises don't just diminish people's productivity, but they also lead to health issues such as neurological problems, high blood pressure, hypertension, and several nervous disorders. Wild and domestic animals also suffer, and chronic exposure to loud and unpleasant noises can cause anxiety, distraction, and hypervigilance, and lead to hearing loss. For example, Budweiser Frogs have significantly lost hearing, so they struggle to locate other frogs to mate with. Research shows that their reproduction process has been hugely affected due to hearing issues, which could even lead to their extinction. To combat the harmful effects of the loud noises produced by the urban areas and megacities, Sound Fighter Systems LLC has a solution. The soundproof products manufactured are not just worthwhile but are also highly durable and long-lasting. The RetroSorb Sound-Absorbing Panel System is another jewel in the crown of the Sound Fighter Systems. With the influx of climate change, rust and corrosion have now become a common issue. RetroSorb panels are not just sound-absorbing but are made from aluminum that promises no rust. Manufactured for structures that are either reflective or elevated, RetroSorb panels are a long-lasting investment for businesses. With the rise in climate change and its extreme consequences, now is the time to take care of the environment. Addressing this pressing issue is Sound Fighter Systems, a company dedicated to reducing noise emissions and creating a better and more peaceful environment. Many responsible architects, constructors, engineering teams, and developers have now started investing in services that eliminate sound waves impacting the environment. Sound Fighter Systems LLC provides its services to clients interested in cutting down their noise emissions and working towards a better environment. With its increased clients, the company has widened its network to Chevron (News - Alert) , Dominion Power, Navy Federal Credit Union, Verizon, and many others. Their innovative solutions paired with the ultramodern touch have enabled them to be named "2006 Small Business of the Year," becoming one of the USA's top rising companies. After the Capitol insurrection, dozens of college and university presidents released statements denouncing it. It was an attack on democracy itself, they said, and another reminder about the ugly way that racism works in America. Last summer, peaceful Black Lives Matter protesters were cleared from public spaces in Washington, D.C., and elsewhere by law enforcement officials in military battle gear. But the invaders at the Capitol didnt elicit the same show of force, because whites even those who have sworn to overturn an election dont seem as threatening as Blacks do. New Braunfels, TX (78130) Today Isolated thunderstorms this morning, then mainly cloudy during the afternoon with thunderstorms likely. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. High 87F. Winds SE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 80%.. Tonight Thunderstorms likely this evening. Then a chance of scattered thunderstorms overnight. Low 68F. Winds E at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 60%. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Art, architecture and design books to look out for in 2021 Plundered treasures, Zen-like spaces and inspiring women artists our selection of this years must-have titles But the following year saw the outbreak of the Iranian Revolution, and since then the collection has been hidden away in vaults, barely seen by the public. Today, its said to be the most important collection of modern art outside Europe and the United States, and worth several billion dollars. The Empress and I recounts Steins time spent building the collection, citing previously confidential correspondence with artists and dealers, while exploring the bond she formed with the Empress over a shared passion for art. 2 Carlo Scarpa: Beyond Matter by Patrizia Piccinini and Lorenzo Pennati It has been said that Carlo Scarpas death caused by falling down a flight of concrete stairs in Japan was a poetic end to the life of an architect whose practice fused the grandiosity of his native Venice with the clean, modern lines of Japanese design. The ground floor of the Olivetti store, Venice, with its Aurisina marble staircase. The stairs, staggered in relation to each other, appear to be floating Rizzolis Carlo Scarpa: Beyond Matter (published 23 March) features new photographs by Lorenzo Pennati of Scarpas major projects in Venice, Verona, Bologna and the Dolomites, and pays special attention to the minute details of material, shape and light that he obsessed over in order to achieve his Zen-inspired visions. The volume has a postscript written by the architects son, Tobia Scarpa, who is in the process of designing the Scarpa Museum in Treviso. Out of the Cage: The Art of Isabel Rawsthorne, by Carol Jacobi. The Estate of Francis Bacon Publishing, supported by Francis Bacon MB Art Foundation Monaco, in association with Thames & Hudson Francis Bacon, Portrait of Isabel Rawsthorne Standing in a Street in Soho, 1967. The Estate of Francis Bacon. All rights reserved, DACS 2020 She was married three times, counted Ian Fleming and Dylan Thomas as friends, and created black propaganda for the British government in the Second World War. She may also have been a spy. In Out of the Cage: The Art of Isabel Rawthorne (published 18 February), Carol Jacobi, Curator of British Art at Tate Britain, will cover all of those bases but also remind us of Rawsthorne the artist, in which capacity she had a long and productive career. 4 Napoleons Plunder: The Theft of Veroneses Feast by Cynthia Saltzman In 1797 Napoleons invading troops ripped Veroneses masterpiece, The Wedding Feast at Cana, off the refectory wall at the San Giorgio monastery. It was one of many paintings taken as spoils of war from Venice back to Paris. Paolo Veronese, The Wedding of Cana (Le nozze di Cana), 1563. Oil on canvas. Musee du Louvre, Paris. Photo: Luisa Ricciarini / Bridgeman Images As the French army cut a swathe through Europe, North Africa and the Levant, it continued to confiscate its enemies finest artworks and artefacts. Using the Veronese as a jumping-off point, Cynthia Saltzman investigates Napoleons Plunder (published 13 May), and how it helped turn the Louvre into both the greatest museum in the world and a monument to the emperors power. 5 The Mirror & the Palette Rebellion, Revolution and Resilience: 500 Years of Womens Self-Portraits by Jennifer Higgie Until the 20th century, women were largely ignored by European art history; even in the modern era, they had to fight to be taken seriously. One thing they were able to do was to sit down at an easel, pick up a mirror and paint themselves which is precisely what Catharina van Hemessen did in 1548, aged only 20. She was the first artist of any gender to paint a self-portrait at the easel, says Jennifer Higgie, an art critic and author who also presents the Bow Down podcast on women in art history. In The Mirror and the Palette (published 18 March) she celebrates 20 women artists Artemisia Gentileschi, Elisabeth-Louise Vigee Le Brun, Lois Mailou-Jones and Amrita Sher-Gil among them who defied the odds and broke taboos to present themselves, and their female perspective on the times they lived in, to the world. 6 Gorings Man in Paris: The Story of a Nazi Art Plunderer and His World by Jonathan Petropoulos Professor Jonathan Petropolous has spent his career engaging with the apparent paradox that Nazi leaders could perform acts of sheer barbarism yet still see themselves as men of culture. Gorings Man in Paris (published 26 January) is a biography of Bruno Lohse (1911-2007), Hermann Gorings art agent in Paris during much of the Second World War. Bruno Lohse (second from right) leads Goring on a tour to select works of seized art with ERR Paris chief von Behr (second from left). (Bruno Lohse papers, authors collection) The job entailed overseeing the systematic theft of thousands of artworks, largely from French Jews, and dispatching them to Germany, where Reichsmarschall Goring amassed an enormous personal collection. Lohse, who testified at the Nuremberg trials after the war and escaped conviction, was interviewed by Petropolous a number of times towards the end of his life. 7 Jaeger-LeCoultre: Reverso by Nicholas Foulkes Jaeger-LeCoultre has been a leader in micromechanics since 1844, when its founder, Antoine LeCoultre, invented a machine for measuring a thousandth of a millimetre. But the Swiss company is best known for the Reverso, a beautifully simple yet highly functional wristwatch with a case that flips to protect the delicate crystal, dial and movement within. Illustration from the 1930s of the Reverso function, highlighting its versatility. Jaeger-LeCoultre Created in 1931 for polo players, the elegant, rectangular Art Deco design captured the zeitgeist, and has continued to do so through more than 500 calibers, several hundred dials and a flipside variously decorated with enamel, engravings or gemstones indeed, the Duoface model turned the original into a two-time-zone watch. Jaeger-LeCoultre: Reverso (published 12 February) marks the 90th birthday of the iconic timepiece, tracing its history through archive images and photography, with text by the historian, journalist and horological specialist Nick Foulkes. 8 The Essential Louis Kahn by Cemal Emden and Caroline Maniaque The American Modernist architect Louis Kahn is best remembered as a maestro of light, an interest he claimed to have developed upon realising that the void between the columns of a Greek temple was just as significant as the space the columns filled. He brought this approach to more than 20 buildings, including Erdman Hall at Bryn Mawr College in Pennsylvania, the Sher-e-Bangla Nagar in Dhaka, Bangladesh, and the Yale Center for British Art in New Haven, Connecticut. Yale Center for British Art. Photo: Cemal Emden For The Essential Louis Kahn (published 1 April), the architectural photographer Cemal Emden has shot 280 images covering each project inside and out, focusing his lens on Kahns juxtaposition of materials, repetitions of lines, and preoccupation with light as well as capturing the way in which his designs succeed whether in religious, governmental, educational or residential settings. 9 Loot: Britain and the Benin Bronzes by Barnaby Phillips A timely contribution to the debate on cultural restitution, Loot: Britain and the Benin Bronzes charts the story of the contested group of around 900 sculptures from the historic kingdom of Benin now held in the collection of the British Museum in London. Phillips looks at everything from their creation beginning in the 16th century and their removal by the British in 1897, to their widely contested future, tapping a variety of sources and voices for insight into the controversy, among them the bronze casters of Benin City, museum directors and government officials. Benin cockerel (from Antiquities from the City of Benin and from Other Parts of West Africa in the British Museum by Charles Read and Ormonde Dalton, 1899) Rooted in fact, Loot addresses important questions about empire and the meaning of art, civilisation and culture, as the critic Clive Myrie aptly puts it. Phillipss succinct narrative also makes this a thrilling page-turner. Sign up today Christies Online Magazine delivers our best features, videos, and auction news to your inbox every week Subscribe 10 The Art Museum in Modern Times by Charles Saumarez Smith With the world in and out of lockdown, the future of museums has never been so widely debated. As if on cue, The Art Museum in Modern Times (published 13 April), by renowned museum director Charles Saumarez Smith, considers the ways in which art museums have evolved over the past 80 years and what their future holds. View of a gallery in the Kimbell Musuem, Fort Worth, designed by Louis Kahn. Photo Robert LaPrelle. 2020 Kimbell Art Museum, Fort Worth, Texas For this survey Saumarez Smith visited museums around the world, from MoMA in New York and Tate in London to the West Bund Museum in Shanghai, the Centre Pompidou in Paris and the Benesse House Museum on the Japanese island of Naoshima. He considers not only how architecture, innovation and funding have shaped the experience of art, but also the reasons behind the publics shifting attitudes towards visiting museums. Beautifully illustrated and filled with personal insights, it is a thoroughly enjoyable read. 11 Rothko Chapel: An Oasis for Reflection by Stephen Fox and Pamela Smart In 1964, the Texan oil baron John de Menil and his art collector wife Dominique commissioned the abstract artist Mark Rothko to create a cycle of paintings for a chapel they were building in Houston, Texas. The artist set to work, mocking up a life-size model of the space in his Manhattan studio on East 69th Street. He painted 14 colossal canvases that he hoped would be his answer to the Renaissance frescoes he had admired on his trips to Italy. Tragically Rothko never saw the paintings in situ, committing suicide a year before the chapel was completed in 1971. Now, on the 50th anniversary of the buildings opening, Rizzoli has published this comprehensive guide to Rothkos final creation, which historians have described as an overwhelming synthesis of art and architecture. Rothko Chapel: An Oasis for Reflection (published 2 March) also features an introduction from the artists son, Christopher. 12 Francis Bacon: Revelations by Mark Stevens and Annalyn Swan Numerous art historians have tried to pin down the enigma of Francis Bacon, searching for clues in the abuse he suffered at the hands of his father, how he came to terms with his homosexuality, as well as his debilitating asthma. Bacon himself rarely spoke about his art, for fear that his words would distract from his work. 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. Bharat Biotech's coronavirus vaccine Covaxin has been found to be well-tolerated and produced an immune response, says the Phase-1 interim data published by the company in the peer-reviewed British medical journal Lancet. The findings come at a time amid reports that some healthcare workers, including doctors, were not turning up to take the indigenously developed jab, which was given the emergency approval under the "trial mode", over safety concerns. India rolled out its vaccination drive on January 16 and will innoculate frontline workers first. In Phase-1, potential vaccines are tested on healthy human volunteers to check for the safety or potential side-effects of the vaccine and the immunogenicity, or the immune response that enables the body to fight an infection. Covaxin has been developed by the Hyderabad-based biotechnology firm in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research and the National Institute of Virology. The vaccine is now undergoing phase-3 trials. Phase 2 trials are being analysed. Also read: Healthcare workers feel used as guinea pigs, hesitate to take Covaxin: Report 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 Bharat Biotech conducted the Phase-1 study between July 13 and 30, 2020. The company said it screened 897 individuals but ended up enrolling 375. The participants were between 18 and 55 years of age. The duration of the study is 12 months, which means that all the participants will be followed-up during this period. The most common adverse event was pain at the injection site followed by headache, fatigue, and fever, the study said. The overall incidence of solicited local and systemic adverse events in this study was 1421 percent in all vaccine-treated groups. The company said the incidence of adverse events were noticeably lower than the rates for other SARS-CoV-2 vaccine platform candidates. Follow our LIVE blog for the latest updates of the novel coronavirus pandemic Among the enrolled participants, 100 each were randomly assigned to the three vaccine groups and 75 to the control group (Algel only). After both doses, solicited local and systemic adverse reactions were reported by 17 percent participants in the 3 g with Algel-IMDG group, 21 percent in the 6 g with Algel-IMDG group, 14 in the 6 g with Algel group, and ten in the Algel-only group. Five percent participants complained of pain at the injection site. Headache and fatigue were reported by 3 percent, while fever and nausea in 2 percent. Algel and IMDG are adjuvants that help to boost the vaccine efficacy. Of the adverse events, 69 percent were mild and 31 percent moderate. These were more frequent after the first dose. One serious adverse event of viral pneumonitis was reported in the 6 g with Algel group, unrelated to the vaccine, the study said. Immune response According to the study, Covaxin has induced binding and neutralising antibody responses. On Day 28 or 14 days after the second dose, all subjects who received the vaccine intramuscularly had significantly elevated spike binding IgG antibodies and neutralising antibody titers. The inclusion of the Algel-IMDG adjuvant helped the vaccine to induce a Th1-biased response or T-Cell response, that provides adaptive immunity. The vaccine has been approved for restricted emergency use under clinical trial mode. The government has procured 55 million doses of the vaccine, and has begun vaccination rollout. Sri Lankan Navy recovers bodies of 4 Tamil Nadu fishermen; unrest over deaths January 22,2021 | Source: India Today The bodies of four Tamil Nadu fishermen have been recovered by the Sri Lankan Navy. The Sri Lankan Navy had sunk the boat, alleged other fishermen, however, the Lankan Navy claimed that the boat sank while the fishermen were resisting arrest. That is when the boat rammed into our vessel, claimed the Lankan Navy. The incident took place in the wee hours of Monday when nearly 1,000 fishermen on 200 boats were travelling from Kottaipattinam for fishing. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami has announced a compensation of Rs 10 lakh each for the families of the four fishermen. CM Palaniswami also condemned the Sri Lankan Navy, accusing it of destroying the livelihood of fishermen from Tamil Nadu. Steps are being taken to put an end to such issues, CM Palaniswami's office said adding that he will write to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking action in this regard. The fishermen alleged that the Lankan Navy harassed them near Neduntheevu when they were trying to return. This is when one patrol vessel rammed into a boat, and the boat carrying A Mesia, V Nagaraj, N Sam and S Senthil Kumar sank. Theme(s): Communities and Organisations. The Telegraph The list of Donald Trump associates who have attempted to bring down the former president is as long as it is varied: from his lawyer, to his closest advisor, his ex-wife and his alleged lover. But like many powerful figures before him, it may well be his accountant that would be his undergoing. Allen Weisselberg, the little-known 73-year-old chief financial officer for the Trump Organisation, has worked for the Trump family as far back as the early 1970s under Donalds father Fred. Some say he is closer to Mr Trump than he is to his own children. As one former employee put it, he knows where the bodies are buried". In recent weeks New York prosecutors investigating Mr Trumps tax affairs have been turning the screws on Mr Weisselberg in the hope of flipping him to testify against his boss. Cyrus Vance, the Manhattan District Attorney, is looking into everything from hush-money payments paid to women on Mr Trump's behalf, to property valuations and employee compensation. Speculation is mounting that his office may be able to turn Mr Weisselberg, who has not been accused of any wrongdoing, as it pulls together a grand jury to decide whether to indict. She regularly treats her 228,000 Instagram followers to a slew of eye-catching snapshots as she poses up a storm in an array of racy ensembles. And Karren Brady's daughter Sophia Peschisolido stayed true to form on Friday, when she shared sizzling snaps of herself posing in just a black bra under her jacket. The brunette beauty, 23, wowed as she posed in the eye-catching ensemble, which she teamed with a pair of ripped form-fitting jeans for the Instagram snaps. Bra: Sophia Peschisolido shared sizzling snaps of herself posing in a black bra under her jacket Aside from proudly displaying her jaw-dropping curves, Sophia added extra pizzazz to her look by wearing her honey brown locks in a voluminous blowout. Keeping her accessories minimal, Sophia sported a pair of sparkling stud earrings, while she highlighted her good looks with a rich palette of makeup While she geotagged London in the post, Sophia is one of many social media influencers who escaped the UK's COVID-19 lockdown by jetting to Dubai. During her trip to Dubai, which was purported to be for work purposes, Sophia treated her followers to a slew of eye-catching bikini snaps. Denim delight: The brunette beauty, 23, wowed as she posed in the eye-catching ensemble, which she teamed with a pair of ripped form-fitting jeans for the Instagram snaps Tory peer Baroness Brady, 51, was also in Dubai last month with her daughter. She told the Daily Mail she had travelled there for business, leaving Britain on December 18 and returning 'shortly afterwards'. She said that 'no rules have been breached, by me or any member of my family'. One picture Sophia put on Instagram from last month showed her walking up the stairs at luxury restaurant Bagatelle Dubai with the caption: 'Mum getting the angles in lol.' Although it was uploaded on Christmas Eve, Karren explained that 'bears no relation to the dates I was in Dubai or the date the pictures was taken'. Wow: The stunning influencer looked like she was having a good time on her Dubai getaway as she posed for a series of sizzling lingerie snaps on Wednesday Sizzling: The daughter of Apprentice star Karen Brady showcased her incredible physique as she wore a black two-piece that left little to the imagination After Dubai was added to the travel corridor list in November, it became a playground for influencers keen to escape restrictions at home and seek out photo opportunities for their sponsorship deals. Many have faced a backlash for posting pictures of themselves sunbathing and enjoying nights out while COVID-19 cases in the UK soared and people faced more and more curbs on their lives. Sophia has been in Dubai since at least December 22, although there is no suggestion she broke Tier Four rules to fly out. In November, Karren wrote an article for The Sun urging readers to be 'sensible' with regards to visiting family members amid the pandemic. The multi-millionairess, who took her seat in the House of Lords in 2014, wrote: 'This virus doesn't know it's Christmas. It won't take a week off just so we can get together with our various beloveds.' Sun-kissed: The 23-year-old has shared scores of pictures of herself wearing bikinis in the Middle Eastern holiday hotspot She later told the Daily Mail: 'I went to Dubai for business on the 18th and returned shortly afterwards, my children did not travel with me. 'I have not breached any Government restrictions, to suggest otherwise would be totally incorrect.' Under the current national lockdown, people are banned from going on holiday and can travel internationally only for work or other legally permitted reasons. The United Arab Emirates has since been removed from the UK's travel corridor list, just days ahead of the decision to close all corridors amid fears of new strains of the virus. All travellers returning to the UK now need proof of a negative test and must quarantine for ten days, unless they test negative again after five days. (TNS) KANSAS CITY, Mo. Senate Democrats have filed an ethics complaint against Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz over their actions on the day of the Capitol insurrection, alleging their support for overturning election results even after a mob stormed the building set the stage for future violence. Seven Democratic senators sent a letter to the Senate Ethics Committee on Thursday, the day after the party took control of the chamber. The document, which recounts the two Republican senators actions on Jan. 6, calls for an investigation and says the committee, if warranted, should recommend either censure or expulsion an extraordinarily rare step. Hawley and Cruz led the failed attempt in the Senate to block certification of President Joe Bidens victory in key states. While it was within Senators rights to object to the electors, the conduct of Senators Cruz and Hawley, and potentially others, went beyond that, the complaint reads. Hawley and Cruz knew their objections followed baseless claims of election fraud, the complaint says, adding that the allegations had led to threats of violence. Both senators persisted in their objections after those threats came to fruition, the complaint reads. Their actions lend credence to the insurrectionists cause and set the stage for future violence. And both senators used their objections for political fundraising. Hawley responded by accusing Democrats of brazenly trying to silence dissent. This latest effort is a flagrant abuse of the Senate ethics process and a flagrant attempt to exact partisan revenge. Democrats appear intent on weaponizing every tool at their disposal including pushing an unconstitutional impeachment process to further divide the country, Hawley said in a statement. Missourians will not be cancelled by these partisan attacks. The complaint is signed by Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine who graduated from the same Kansas City high school as Hawley along with Sens. Ron Wyden of Oregon, Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island, Tina Smith of Minnesota, Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, Mazie Hirono of Hawaii and Sherrod Brown of Ohio. The Ethics Committee Chairman, Sen. Chris Coons of Delaware, was one of the first Democratic senators to call on Hawley and Cruz to resign. Missouris junior senator has faced enormous criticism since Jan. 6. His upcoming book was canceled by its publisher before Hawley found a new one. A Florida hotel is refusing to play host to a fundraiser Hawley planned to hold in February. GOP donors David Humphreys and Sam Fox have also disavowed Hawley, and former Missouri Sen. John Danforth, an early mentor, has called supporting Hawleys Senate campaign the worst mistake of his life. Their actions have been condemned by the public and rejected by members of their own party, the senators wrote of Hawley and Cruz in their complaint. As former Senator John Danforth argued, Lending credence to Trumps false claim that the election was stolen is a highly destructive attack on our constitutional government. Jonathan Shorman of The Kansas City Star wrote this story. 2021 The Kansas City Star. Visit at kansascity.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Sophie Cookson enjoyed a stroll with her partner Stephen Campbell Moore and their baby in London on Thursday. The Trial of Christine Keeler star, 30, and The History Boys actor, 41, welcomed their first child last year after they were spotted walking with the newborn in October. And Sophie and Stephen looked every inch the doting parents as they cooed over their baby during the stroll. Stepping out: Sophie Cookson enjoyed a stroll with her partner Stephen Campbell Moore and their baby in London on Thursday Sophie looked effortlessly chic in a pair of baggy grey mom jeans with a black jumper and chequered coat. The Kingsman: The Secret Service star finished her look with a blue knitted beanie hat and black sunglasses. Sophie left her brunette locks loose and appeared to go makeup-free for the family outing. Doting parents: The Trial of Christine Keeler star, 30, and The History Boys actor, 41, welcomed their first child last year after they were spotted walking with the newborn in October Sweet: And Sophie and Stephen looked every inch the doting parents as they cooed over their baby during the stroll Stylish: Sophie looked effortlessly chic in a pair of baggy grey mom jeans with a black jumper and chequered coat While Stephen wrapped up warmly in a dark beige shearling coat with jeans, blue trainers and an orange knitted hat. The couple appeared in good spirits as they enjoyed their stroll and sweetly doted on their baby. Sophie and Stephen met in 2017 while making the film Red Joan. That year Stephen had surgery for a benign brain tumour. Details: The Kingsman: The Secret Service star finished her look with a blue knitted beanie hat and black sunglasses Happy days: The couple appeared in good spirits as they enjoyed their stroll and sweetly doted on their baby In February 2018, Stephen and ex-wife Claire Foy, 36, announced their four-year marriage was over, saying they had been apart for some time. They share daughter Ivy Rose, now five. In a statement released at the time of their split, the couple said: 'We have separated and have been for some time. 'We do however continue as great friends with the utmost respect for one another.' Past: In February 2018, Stephen and ex-wife Claire Foy, 36, announced their four-year marriage was over, saying they had been apart for some time. They share daughter Ivy Rose, now five (pictured in 2016) At the end of 2018, Stephen and Sophie were pictured together in London, with the actress even wearing his cap. Last year, Sophie wowed critics and viewers alike in BBC One's The Trial Of Christine Keeler, in which she played the troubled 60s model. The drama told the story of how Harold Macmillan's government was rocked in 1963 when War Minister John Profumo confessed in the Commons to having an affair after first denying it with the 19-year-old Keeler. I dont know how Donald Trump was imagining his inauguration morning departure from Washington. Sure, he managed to fly out of town on Air Force One still president! but it was a pretty pathetic send-off for a guy who spent his whole political career bragging about the size of his crowds. Close to depressing, actually. Mike Pence and Mitch McConnell werent there to wave goodbye too busy preparing to hang out with Joe Biden on Capitol Hill. A very modest cluster of supporters arrived and cheered when Trump promised, We will be back in some form. Feel free to imagine the new Trump form. None of the ones that come to mind would be very pleasant, although some are fun to think about. Hes facing a ton of debt, and at the very minimum, we ought to see him back promoting a new line of Trump vodka or water or table lamps. And maybe running one of those rent-a-celebrity operations where a mom planning her daughters Sweet 16 party can bid to bring in Don Jr. as a featured guest. Or Melania for the in-laws anniversary. If you move to a new neighborhood, your 6-year-old could probably get to know the other kids faster if he had Eric on the front porch, playing dominoes with all comers. Trump is not the politician most people have at the top of their lists for conversation right now. Naturally, youre going to want to talk a lot about Joe Biden and his terrific speech. Still, sooner or later, youll run through current events. People will stare at each other across the dinner table, and then somebody will blurt out, God, did you hear about Trump? Its OK. Absolutely possible to be both a terrible president and a font of anecdotes. We obviously dont want anyone in the White House whod try to win an argument with the speaker of the House by claiming her teeth were falling out. But if it happens, its very possible people will mention it. And think about the pardons. We naturally suspected Trump would have some unusual choices for his batch of last-minute reprieves. This year he also had an interesting theme. Remember Barack Obama promoting the idea that the punishment should fit the crime, and springing some people sent to jail with monster sentences for fairly minor league offenses? Well, this year Trumps message, although he didnt exactly broadcast it, was that Political Corruption Is Piffle. You remember the political swamp he was going to dedicate his presidency to draining? Well, its not a problem anymore, and youre in the clear, Steve Bannon! (Charged with collecting money for the fabled border wall and then diverting over $1 million of those funds for his own stuff. When he was arrested last year, authorities picked Bannon up aboard a yacht owned by a fugitive Chinese billionaire.) As the administration went on, White House concerns about swamps seemed to dwindle, and it became easier to imagine Trump standing next to one, tossing the political equivalent of cottonmouths and yellow-bellied sliders into the water while Stephen Miller draped Spanish moss over everything. And the guys who stayed out of the clink were still going to have to find a way to make money when the Trump White House closed. As he left office, just to keep the water turbid for his old pals comfort, the about-to-be-ex-president revoked his own executive order aimed at prohibiting departing executive branch appointees from coming back as lobbyists for five years after leaving the administration. Were all hoping Biden doesnt create any topics for discussion nearly as, um, swampy. He is, as you may have noticed, a very different kind of guy. On Inauguration Day, the soon-to-be president tweeted at his wife, I love you, Jilly, and I couldnt be more grateful to have you with me on the journey ahead. Trumps chances of competing on the marital message front are a little dim now that hes banned from most social media. Maybe he just puts little love notes written in Sharpie under Melanias pillow. Hehehe. Wondering about whether people will miss Trump gossip presumes that hell ever stay out of the headlines. Hard to imagine. Were cruising toward one last Senate trial on his impeachment, and if thats ever over, theres the matter of his financial problems. Hes leaving the White House with a ton of debt, none of which he seems to have much capacity to pay. Were stuck giving him a pension of $221,000 or so plus a bunch of other stuff, such as lifetime Secret Service protection and funding for some private staffers. We the taxpayers will be also paying for some office space, as we do with all the ex-presidents. But one of the questions we instantly want to ask one that will take the political discussion at parties instantly away from the Biden agenda is whether hell try to use our money to rent space in his own properties. He charged the government a reported $2.5 million while he was in office. Time to let somebody else do the shopping. Alex Salmond at his trial in March, where he was cleared of all charges - Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images Europe Nicola Sturgeon and the SNP face potentially damaging revelations over the Alex Salmond affair after a Holyrood committee invoked legal powers never used before to force the release of explosive documents. The Holyrood inquiry investigating a botched civil service probe into allegations of sexual misconduct against the former First Minister said it needed to see information held by Scottish prosecutors to assess claims that a harassment procedure was used to damage the reputation of Alex Salmond. Its convenor, an SNP MSP, said the unprecedented move, designed to force the release of documents obtained in the criminal investigation into Mr Salmond and passed to his defence, was needed to uncover the truth. The legal notice to the Crown Office requests internal communications between senior SNP and Scottish Government officials, over text message and WhatsApp, related to Mr Salmond. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. It has also asked for any documents which could cast light on a leak to a tabloid newspaper, in which details of the investigation into Mr Salmond were first reported. The former First Minister had previously been warned that he could be prosecuted if he mentioned the documents disclosed to him for his defence. The committee's legal notice states: It has been asserted to the committee that the documents include evidence that elements of the Scottish Government (including special advisers) used the Scottish Governments Harassment complaints procedure and complaints considered through the same to damage the reputation of Alex Salmond, former First Minister. It is in the public interest to establish the veracity of these claims in order to allow the committee to understand fully the actions of the Scottish Government in handling the complaints and in order to inform the conclusions of our committee in line with its remit. Mr Salmonds allies believe the documents will add significant weight to claims that he was the victim of a political conspiracy aimed at preventing him from making a political comeback and challenging Ms Sturgeon. Story continues The information is said to raise questions over the previous evidence of Peter Murrell, Nicola Sturgeon's husband and the SNP chief executive - ANDY BUCHANAN/AFP He successfully challenged the fairness of the civil service probe against him in court. After he was cleared of all 13 sexual assault charges at his trial, following a separate criminal investigation, Mr Salmond alluded to a plot against him and said evidence he had been unable to present in court will see the light of day. Jackie Baillie, the interim leader of Scottish Labour who sits on the committee, said: This unprecedented action is necessary to cut through the web of secrecy that the Scottish Government has woven and to allow the committee to live up to its remit. The committee must receive the documents requested forthwith so that the truth of this sorry affair can be uncovered. Ms Sturgeon has strongly denied allegations of a conspiracy. It is claimed some of the as-yet unreleased documents could raise questions over the previous testimony of her husband, the SNP chief executive Peter Murrell. A committees legal powers to demand the release of documents has never been invoked before in the 22-year history of Holyrood. The Lord Advocate, Scotlands top law officer and a member of the SNP cabinet, could seek to resist the request if he deems releasing the documents would be contrary to the public interest. Mr Salmond and Ms Sturgeon were once close allies - Andrew Milligan/PA A spokesman for the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service said: COPFS has received the correspondence from the committee and will respond in early course. Meanwhile, Mr Salmond is also in an escalating row with the committee over when he will give much-anticipated evidence in person. MSPs wrote to him on Friday saying that if he could not give evidence during the first week of February then the committee regrets that it will not be able to take oral evidence from you. Mr Salmonds lawyers have said is not able to give evidence on the previously-suggested date of February 2 but will make himself available the following week. The small town of Nuoro, on Italys Sardinia island, is home to what many are calling the worlds rarest pasta, an intricate, hand-made treat that only a handful of people can make. Known as su filindeu (in Sardinias Sardo dialect), or Fili di Dio (in Italian), and translated as threads of God, this traditional pasta had been linked to La Festa di San Francesco, an ancient religious ritual celebrated every year, in May. For the past two hundred years, the only way to try threads of god pasta was to complete a 33km pilgrimage on foot or horseback from Nuoro to the village of Lula. But because this sacred dish is in serious danger of becoming extinct, the only three women in the world who know how to make it, have been trying to save it by making it more accessible. 67-year-old named Paola Abraini picked up the skills to make threads of god pasta from her mother, who also learned them from her mother, and so on for many generations. However, only one of her two daughters knows the basic technique, but lacks the passion and the patience necessary to carry on the family tradition. The only other two women who she managed to pass on her knowledge to Abrainis niece and her sister-in-law dont have any daughters to pass the secrets to, so su filindeu is in grave danger of vanishing. Photo: screenshot In recent years, Paola Abraini became so desperate to save the pasta she so loves that she went to local authorities asking her to help set up a school for girls willing to become su filindeu makers. They told her there was no money for schools, so she decided to invite girls into her home and teach them. That didnt go well either, because making the threads of god isnt the easiest thing in the world. It didnt go well, Abraini told the BBC, in 2015. The problem was that once they saw how I actually do it, theyd say, Its just too much work, and wouldnt come back. View this post on Instagram A post shared by R. Rummel (@rr_obscura) But she refuse to give up, and has since been invited to Rome to showcase her su filindeu making skills, by food and wine magazine Gambero Rosso. She also started making the rare pasta for several restaurants in the Italian capital to have it served to non-pilgrims for the first time, all in an attempt to save the rare dish. But why is threads of god pasta so difficult to make? It only consists of three ingredients semolina flower, water and salt but because everything is made by hand, its the process itself thats grueling. After mixing the ingredients, the dough is kneaded for a very long time to stretch the gluten, the key to making the extremely long and thin strands. Once its flexible enough, the stretching begins. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Gianluca Pino (@gianluca_pino_chef_) Paola Abraini rolls the dough into 8 long, thin strands, then folds them, cuts them in half and stretches them again. The process is repeated 32 times, until 256 extremely thin threads of pasta are obtained. Just to get an idea of how thin the pasta gets, they are about half as thin as the more well known angel hair pasta. Then the strands are stretched over a round, flat tray called a fundu in three overlapping layers, and left in the sun for a few hours, to dry. The layers of pasta stick together, thus creating a fabric-like design. Pieces of this edible tapestry are then broken and cooked. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Di Sardegna il racconto (@antonellafancello) The process is easy enough to understand, but getting it just right has apparently been a problem for most people, even seasoned cooks. Many people say that I have a secret I dont want to reveal, Abraini told the BBC. But the secret is right in front of you. Its in my hands. In 2015, a team of engineers from internationally-known pasta brand Barilla visited the threads of god master, hoping to find ways of reproduce the pasta with a machine. They apparently failed. Then, chef superstar Jamie Oliver visited Abraini and tried to learn her technique, but gave up after two hours of trying. And these are only the most notable examples, hundreds others have tried and failed. According to Slow Food Internationals Ark of Taste, a project that aims to classify and preserve the worlds most endangered culinary traditions, out of the nearly 4,000 listed items, su filindeu is both the worlds rarest and most endangered pasta. This is one of the most at-risk foods of becoming extinct, in large part because its one of the most difficult pastas to make that exists, said Raffaella Ponzio, head coordinator of Ark of Taste. The Hamilton County Health Department, in partnership with Hamilton County Office of Emergency Management, will begin taking first dose appointments again starting today (Friday) at 9 a.m. New appointments have been added to the schedule for Sunday through next Thursday. All appointments are at the Riverpark Hubert Fry Center, 4301 Amnicola Hwy. Enter near the Chattanooga State side of the Riverpark, not the Navy and Marine Reserve side. Those in the current Phases (1a1, 1a2, and individuals 75 and older) are encouraged to make their appointment online. Visit https://vaccine.hamiltontn. gov/ to view the list of phases and click on the first dose appointment link. Click the date tabs at the top of the appointment website and choose an available appointment time. People who do not have access to the Internet, or speak Spanish, can call Emergency Managements call center at 423-209-5399 to make their appointment. The call center is open Friday from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Due to high call volume, callers may experience a busy signal and need to continue to call back. As the Health Department receives new vaccine shipments from the state, we continue our mission to put those doses to use and vaccinate as many people as possible, as soon as possible, said Health Department Administrator Becky Barnes. The vaccine distribution is guided by phases according to the state of Tennessees Vaccination Plan. Only those eligible in the current phases will be able to make an appointment. The current phases are 1a1, 1a2 (see below), and those who are age 75 years or over, and all must be a Hamilton County resident or work in Hamilton County. Proof of meeting phase criteria must be shown at the entrance Important Information to Know Prior to Appointment Do not arrive more than 15 minutes prior to your scheduled appointment. Wear appropriate clothing to get a shot in upper arm Bring proof of Hamilton County residency (if applicable) Bring proof of Hamilton County employment (if applicable) Bring proof of age (if applicable) Bring COVID-19 Vaccine Encounter form (if possible; form available for download on registration page) Be prepared to wait 20 minutes after shot Be prepared for the entire process to take an hour or more Vaccination Record Card When patients receive their first dose with the Health Department, they will receive a Vaccination Record Card with the following important information. The vaccine manufacturer (either Moderna or Pfizer) The date the first dose of vaccine was given The date the second vaccine dose is due Additional Resources The Health Department will announce COVID vaccination POD information on their COVID-19 webpage: http://health.hamiltontn.org/ AllServices/Coronavirus(COVID- 19)/Vaccine.aspx . GREG NASH/POOL/AFP via Getty Images WASHINGTON The U.S. Senate voted 93-to-2 to confirm Lloyd Austin, a former Fort Drum commander, as the first Black Secretary of Defense Friday. Austin is Biden's second Cabinet official to be confirmed and he was approved by Congress with bipartisan support. Before his confirmation vote, Austin had to get a waiver from Congress to hold the office because he retired from the military less than seven years ago, a window intended to maintain civilian control of the Pentagon. Brattleboro, VT (05301) Today Cloudy with showers. High 57F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 60%.. Tonight Rain. Low 43F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near an inch. Western Australia has eased its border with New South Wales and Queensland, meaning east coast residents will once again be able to visit the Wildflower State. WA Premier Mark McGowan announced on Friday that NSW and Queensland will transition from a 'medium risk' to 'low risk' classification from 12.01am on Monday. NSW and Queensland residents still have to be tested for Covid-19 and spend 14 days in hotel quarantine upon arriving in WA. Masked Sydneysiders in the CBD on Wednesday. NSW and Queensland residents will be able to enter Western Australia from 12:01am on Monday, provided they quarantine for 14 days upon entry 'These changes are in line with the latest health advice given the recent improvement in Queensland, with 15 days of no community cases, and in New South Wales, with seven days of no community cases,' Mr McGowan wrote on Facebook. 'The outbreak in NSW last month was extremely concerning and prompted immediate action right across the country. 'Queensland's situation, which followed shortly after, was compounded with the detection of the UK variant strain and again resulted in swift action by us, by the QLD Government itself and from other States and Territories in a bid to protect the country. 'It's great news that these situations have now improved and that we're able to take this step.' WA Premier Mark McGowan (pictured) said 'it's great news that these situations (in NSW and Queensland) have now improved and that we're able to take this step' WA's change will bring the state in line with Victoria's change in classification earlier this week. Once Queensland and NSW reach 28 days without transmission, they will go from a 'low risk' classification to 'very low risk'. 'Very low risk states' do not have testing and quarantine requirements. Chief Health Officer Dr Andy Robertson advised Queensland could transition to the 'very low risk' category by February 1, given its unique situation. Masked travellers leave Sydney Airport ahead of Christmas in December. Residents will once again be able to enter WA from Monday WA recorded no new locally acquired cases on Covid-19 on Friday but did record two from overseas travellers in hotel quarantine. New South Wales recorded a fifth consecutive day with no locally acquired cases of coronavirus on Friday. There was one case recorded in a returned traveller, who is in hotel quarantine, while two previous cases have been excluded after further investigations. Queensland has not had a locally-acquired case for 15 days. .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... Canteen Brewhouse and Taylor Garrett Spirits have entered a collaboration for the ages. Its been fun to create something unique, with the growth of craft distilling weve seen over the last five to 10 years. You see a lot of crossover between spirits and craft beer, and I dont think anything can speak to a better combination than a whiskey and imperial stout that was born from the same malt bill, said Canteen Brewhouse head brewer Zach Guilmette. And (its) fun to taste both and see how they compare. I think everybodys going to have a fun time seeing the different flavor profiles and characteristics in both. The brewery will release Canteen Imperial Stout on Friday, Jan. 22, at its brewhouse located at 2381 Aztec NE. It will be available in four-packs of 16-ounce cans. A limited amount also will be on tap. ADVERTISEMENTSkip ................................................................ The same malt bill and grains were used to create the stout and the Taylor Garrett Canteen Imperial Whiskey. After aging it in whiskey barrels for a few months, you really get this nose of beautiful oak and some whiskey added to the dark roasted coffee and bittersweet chocolate, Guilmette said of the stout. And into the flavor you get into nice coffee and chocolate and some burnt grain and a beautiful vanilla, and that comes from the whiskey and the whiskey barrel, the oak itself. As it warms up, you get cinnamon, you get dried fruit. I think whats unique about it, is your first sip is going to taste entirely different from the last and continue to change and build different flavor characteristics. The release of Taylor Garrett Canteen Imperial Whiskey takes place Jan. 29 at the distillery, 315 Alameda NE. A limited of the stout also will be available in the four-packs and on tap. It really starts off on the nose, said Taylor Garrett Spirits founder and distiller Scott Feuille. You get a lot of those malt characteristics, and theres a sweetness, and then on the palate you get an initial sweetness and you get a little bit of sandalwood with the oak in it and then some really nice baking spices. But what impresses me about the whole thing is the finish just goes on and on. So you get that dark chocolate followed by the coffee and those same burnt grains kind of on the back end. Its a very nice, smooth finish, but it goes on for a good 20 seconds, and it just evolves through the course of the finish through these different flavor profiles that are straight from that beer grain mash build. Its beautiful. This is the first collaboration for Taylor Garrett Spirits. I really love the collaborative environment in the craft brewing community, Feuille said. When I set off to do Taylor Garrett I wanted it to incorporate the same collaborative spirit into distilled spirits and the best way to do that was to find somebody I thought would be a good partner to release our first collaboration. And of course, Canteen being (one of) the oldest continuously producing craft (breweries) in New Mexico with a rich history was a perfect match. Guilmette said the collaboration is a first of a number of a series of releases with Taylor Garrett and looks forward to when it is safe to throw a release party again. For now, he and Feuille will focus on cross promoting their collaboration. This has been such a great experience for me working with Zach and working with the folks here at Canteen, Feuille said. And of course we had a lot bigger vision for a release party and exciting things happening outside of the environment were in now. This pandemic, of course, has produced some challenges, but at the same time, its been great for me to have this experience working during this pandemic, working through these challenges to get a really exciting new product and something that I hope really helps both of our businesses and creates a little bit of excitement out there in the community during a time where there is not a whole lot to get excited about. The City of Newark wants the U.S. Supreme Court to review a decision made by New Jerseys highest court last summer that stripped the citys local police oversight board of subpoena power. The state Supreme Court in August ruled state lawmakers would have to change the law if a civilian complaint review board wanted subpoena power, a tool the city has argued is necessary to investigate allegations of police misconduct. Newark Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) Lodge No. 12 challenged the citys 2016 ordinance that created the review board. We must have muscular (civilian complaint review boards) with real power to investigate, hear testimony and review Internal Affairs documents to assure equal justice under the law, Newark Mayor Ras Baraka said. After the events of last year, including the wanton deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, we must have CCRBs with the legal authority to probe criminal police acts. The Newark police union argued in a lower court the citys review board would violate state Attorney General guidelines. New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir Grewal wrote in a legal brief in the case that the city gave the board powers that would interfere with Newarks police chief and the departments internal affairs. James Stewart, the Newark FOP president, said the city is allowed to create a board, but it has to be legal. He questioned if the money the city spent on an outside law firm to argue the case might have been better used, especially as the mayor has said Newarks budget has taken a hit due to the coronavirus. The New Jersey courts have previously agreed with our views on the matter so we are confident arguing the merits of the case in any forum, Stewart told NJ Advance Media. The citys review board was intended to be able to review the Newark polices internal affairs documents - which are generally not available to the public - and make discipline recommendations to the citys public safety director. While the boards investigatory powers were limited in the state Supreme Courts ruling, it may review cases. It cannot, however, run concurrent investigations at the same time as the Newark polices own internal affairs unit. Attorneys for the city argued in their petition to the U.S. Supreme Court that Newarks legislative body shouldnt be preempted by an executive regulation like the Attorney General guidelines. They said the constitutional separation of powers doctrine allows for a review board to exist separately from an internal affairs unit. They also argued that without a robust review board, Newark officials are unable to give residents protections laid out in the 14th Amendment. The attorneys pointed to the equal protection clause, which says no State can deprive a person of life, liberty or property without due process or deny a person the equal protection of laws. The boards creation in Newark came about five years ago, around the same time the citys police department agreed to a long list of reforms known as a consent decree. The consent decree was entered into after the U.S. Department of Justice issued a scathing report in 2014 that found unconstitutional practices among the citys police department. Activists have been calling for a civilian complaint review board for decades as well. The mayors administration vowed to keep pushing the legal battle after the state Supreme Courts 6-1 decision. During every step of this journey, I promised we will fight to win this case until all judicial and legislative options are exhausted, Baraka said. In the long, tortured history of police brutality against Black Americans, we have learned the only possible guarantee of full police transparency and accountability lies in the hands of the people they are sworn to protect. The citys petition to the nations highest court comes a day after video was released of a plainclothes Newark detective fatally shooting a South Orange man on New Years Day. Baraka called on the state Attorney Generals Office, which is handling the shooting investigation, to release information to the citys consent decree unit and civilian complaint review board. Stewart, the police union president, said he asked the attorney generals office to investigate the mayor for attempting to influence the direction of the attorney generals investigation. He said Barakas ask put every Newark cop on their heels and called the mayors statement incredibly disturbing. The CCRB doesnt even know when the police should use lights and sirens, let alone when to use force, Stewart said. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Rebecca Panico may be reached at rpanico@njadvancemedia.com. It was easy to root for Phil Mickelson at the PGA Championship last weekend. The little boy who learned to play golf left-handed by standing opposite his right-handed dad and mirroring dads swing has long been a crowd favorite. He is not only immensely gifted; he is imaginative and willing Emerging stronger from the Covid-19 pandemic, Asia is set to dominate this year's virtual World Economic Forum as a virus-battered West struggles and a new US president faces particularly daunting challenges. The 2020 WEF, which took place in its usual Swiss Alpine resort of Davos, saw the global elite just starting to worry about a pandemic that surfaced in China a month earlier. While the coronavirus leaves a mounting death toll and upends economies, depriving millions of people of work, China and Asian countries in 2021 are making a strong comeback from the virus that hit them first. In virtual format because of the pandemic, next week's event is headlined: "A Crucial Year to Rebuild Trust." The spotlight will be on Chinese President Xi Jinping, who will give a speech on Monday, the opening day of the event that will last through next Friday. The big names from Europe will be German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Emmanuel Macron and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who heads the European Union executive. US President Joe Biden will not appear at the virtual Davos, which has never been a fixture on the White House calendar -- even if the new administration has pledged to revive a US multilateral foreign policy after four years of Donald Trump's America First approach. Trump had been an exception as he stopped in Davos twice, with the real estate billionaire enjoying mixing with the global business elite. Before him, Bill Clinton was the only American president who had travelled to Davos, and that was just once. Showing up from Asia are China's and South Korea's presidents as well as the prime ministers of India and Japan. Following the first virtual session, Davos will move in May to Singapore, far from the luxury Swiss ski resort where it has taken place since it was launched in 1971, the brainchild of German professor Klaus Schwab. The stated reason for the changes is health safety. - 'Chance to rebuild' - But a virtual forum is not particularly attractive for the world's well-heeled movers and shakers, who value huddles behind closed doors in fancy hotels over meetings in formal settings. French insurance-credit group Euler Hermes said in a study this month that the "world's economic center of gravity" (WECG) has been moving towards Asia since 2002. "The Covid-19 crisis could accelerate the shifting global balance towards Asia," it added. "By 2030, we forecast the WECG, could be located around the confluence of China, India and Pakistan," the study projected. The speech by Xi, who addressed Davos back in 2017, seems almost to set the clock back, as if the business world seeks to erase the Trump era. Four years ago, he presented himself as the champion of free trade, much to the joy of Davos participants who feared the newly-elected Trump's protectionist moves. Biden is nevertheless sending John Kerry, the special climate envoy who will be welcomed after the new Democratic president has brought Washington back into the Paris climate accord. The agenda includes workshops entitled: "Stakeholder Capitalism: Building the Future" as well as "Advancing a New Social Contract" and "Resetting Consumption for a Sustainable Future." In a column published in mid-January, Schwab said 2021 could be a positive and historic year, 75 years after the original "Year Zero" following the devastation of World War II. "We once again have a chance to rebuild," he said, calling for rethinking capitalism in the light of a pandemic that has worsened inequality. He said "Covid-19 has delivered the final blow" to the post-war model where free markets and limited government produced prosperity and progress that now is "no longer sustainable, environmentally or socially." evs/lc/tgb EULER HERMES Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Mr. Wentworth has over 30 years of experience in senior leadership positions at companies including Aramark, US Foods and PepsiCo. He joins GoodWest from Aramark, where he served as President of the Healthcare & Dining segment from 2015 to 2020 and, before that, as Aramark's Group President, Europe. Mr. Wentworth previously served as Division President at US Foods; President and CEO of Natural Sweet Ventures; Vice President, General Manager, North America at Bic Graphic; Vice President of Sales, Convenience, and Gas Channel, in addition to numerous other executive positions, at PepsiCo.; and various executive positions at Altria. Mr. Wentworth joins GoodWest during a period of healthy growth, despite the challenging backdrop, reflecting the acceleration of the company's eCommerce platform, its initiatives in the coffee shop and food retail channels, and the strength of its Jordan's Skinny Mixes business. In 2020, GoodWest ramped up its new product development efforts and launched 17 new products, including bag-in-box shelf-stable milk and bag-in-box cold brew products. In addition, its Jordan's Skinny Mixes business, a branded provider of authentic, on-trend, low-calorie coffee syrups and flavorings that GoodWest acquired in April 2019, introduced new syrups and flavor infusions for sweet and savory beverages. Mr. Wentworth is known for his capabilities in achieving operating efficiencies, enhancing client relationships and customer satisfaction, and driving organic and inorganic growth in public and private organizations ranging from $500 million to $2.5 billion in revenues. Caleb Clark, a GoodWest board member and a Partner at Palladium Equity Partners, which manages the private equity fund that acquired a majority interest in the company in 2015, said: "We are extremely pleased to have Quenten join GoodWest as our new CEO. We believe he is a tested leader with a record of success and experience across companies in the service/retail, consumer products and healthcare sectors, which position him well to lead GoodWest as we pursue our next phase of growth in the global coffee and cold brew product space. "As we welcome Quenten, we want to acknowledge the accomplishments of Rick Lawlor as GoodWest's CEO," continued Mr. Clark. "Rick's leadership over the past several years, particularly in navigating GoodWest through the initial challenges posed by the pandemic, has been impressive. As we look to the future, we will value benefitting from Rick's ongoing counsel and experience as GoodWest's Executive Chairman." Mr. Wentworth added: "I am honored to join GoodWest as CEO. The company is a leader in its segments, and I believe we have the opportunity to grow the business significantly going forward. GoodWest is distinguished by an outstanding leadership team, and l look forward to working closely with my new colleagues and our range of customers." Rick Lawlor, Executive Chairman, added: "It has been an honor to serve as the CEO of this outstanding company for the past 44 months. I look forward to working closely with Quenten, who I have known for years, and continuing to make contributions to GoodWest's growth as Executive Chairman." About Palladium Equity Partners, LLC Palladium is a middle market private equity firm with nearly $3 billion of assets under management. The firm seeks to acquire and grow companies in partnership with founders and experienced management teams by providing capital, strategic guidance and operational oversight. Since its founding in 1997, Palladium has made 36 platform investments and 140 add-on acquisitions. For more information on Palladium, please visit www.palladiumequity.com. About GoodWest Industries GoodWest Industries, LLC, headquartered in Douglassville, PA, is a national provider of coffee condiments and an innovator in the rapidly growing iced coffee and cold brew product segments. GoodWest has more than 30,000 dispensers in operation across all 50 states and over 20 countries, serving consumers with real dairy products, iced coffees, and coffee flavorings. The Company currently has more than 30 premium products in its line, dispensed from propriety equipment that is made in America and 100% serviced by GoodWest. It also serves the away-from-home market with a primary focus on convenience stores, coffee service providers, and institutional foodservice. GoodWest's capabilities and expertise in aseptically processed and packaged dairy, non-dairy, coffee beverages, and specialty flavors allow it to provide customized products via co-manufacturing and private label partnerships. For additional information, please visit www.goodwest.com or call 800-948-1922. Contact: Todd Fogarty, Kekst CNC 212-521-4854 [email protected] SOURCE GoodWest Industries, LLC Related Links http://www.goodwest.com Nigeria, the most populous country in Africa, is poised to become the third largest in the world by 2050. Based on this fact alone, one would think that the country is humming and purring. But, in fact, Nigeria is teetering on the edge of becoming the next, bad version of Iraq. In Nigeria, conflict a bloody conflict a is normal, with religious and ethnic differences firmly serving as the recurrent flashpoints for violence that are feeding the regional instability across West Africa. It's a conflict that bears troublesome similarities to the sectarian battle in Iraq that has dominated, or one could say plagued, US foreign policy since this century began. The stakes are high for Nigeria. And, by default, for the African continent and the United States. Recall 2009. The notorious "Underwear Bomber" a a 23-year-old, Nigerian male, who boarded a plane bound for Michigan on Christmas Day with enough explosives in his underwear to take the lives of the 289 people, who were on that plane. Thankfully, in our post 9-11 world, he was caught before the crime was perpetrated and 289 lives were saved. In recent years, the terrorist group Boko Haram, which literally means "against western education", arose in the northern states and has slaughtered more than 20,000 innocent victims, displaced at least two million Nigerians, and kidnapped more than 200 Chibok schoolgirls a a move that afforded them international notoriety. If this all sounds horrific, it's because it is. The unnecessary violence and bloodshed in Nigeria is symptomatic of an intensified religious conflict. And, it is worthy of our attention now a not later. As mentioned before, Nigeria is the largest democracy in Africa. In fact, the rise of Nigeria's population growth mirrors its ascending influence in global economic markets and geopolitical affairs. It is now sub-Saharan Africa's largest economy and constitutes roughly 75% of the West African regional economy. Suffice it to say that a failure of government in Nigeria a sprinkled with an act of terrorism here and there a would have humungous ripple effects across the continent, not to mention regional global ramifications. Domestically, instability in Nigeria would also be damning, given our energy and oil interests a Nigeria is currently one of the top 7 crude oil suppliers to the U.S. The Underwear Bomber and Boko Haram incidents provide just a taste of what's to come alongside of an unstable and further radicalized Nigeria. We can't allow Nigeria, our ally, to further spiral into becoming a springboard for terrorism. The question now becomes, what, then, is to be done? The Bush and Obama administrations' approaches to quelling violence in Iraq warrants a revaluation of how the global community combats religious conflict. While the United States invested trillions of dollars to stabilize Iraq, there is little to show for it but a continued infiltration of terrorism, flow of impoverished refugees, and economic devastation. This is not acceptable. Recognizing that the root cause of religious discrimination and violence is intolerance a and understanding that money isn't a panacea for ending conflict a means shifting gears and exploring new tactics to resolve conflicts in Iraq, Nigeria, or you-name-the-hotbed. As a result, and in direct response to what was not happening in countries like Iraq and Nigeria, I formed a training program a Hardwired Global a that was not focused on money as a Band-Aid, but rather on helping local leaders de-escalate and mitigate conflict. Specifically, we train leaders to respond to the rise of extremists who brutally targeted minority faith communities and wiped out all dissenting voices. What we are seeing on a daily basis is transformative. Communities that previously had attacked one another, now gather together to overcome their fears and begin the hard work of ensuring that each would have their religious freedom and dignity respected by the government. They risk their lives to stand in defense of one another, recognizing that if they do not, they will all end up dead at the hands of the terrorist group who made no room for religious freedom. And in the midst of accelerated religious and ethnic tensions across northern Nigeria, Hardwired brought Muslim and Christian lawyers together for the first time to discover how to stand in one another's defense. As one of our recent Nigerian trainees described, "The initiative of Hardwired is to make this country great, to have peace within the community, and also to practice your religion without discrimination. We believe everybody has a right to thinking or conscience, to practice whatever he wishes as his own religion... I want a better society, I want a better country for Nigeria and the world at large." At Hardwired, we have learned that empathy is a greatly undervalued conflict resolution tool in shifting public opinion towards embracing ethnic and religious differences as a pillar of a just society. But the rush to support the symptom through humanitarian aid rather than address root causes has already proven to increase dependence on military solutions. Many aid organizations attempt to cultivate empathy in order to seek out kumbaya exercises where we rush to find the similarities in fractured societies. While these exercises might feel good, they are just moments and don't resolve the underlying, base issues. Empathy is most powerful when used to build a shared trust in a society that is invested in protecting pluralism and embracing religious and ethnic differences, rather than glossing over them. In Nigeria, Hardwired is putting these lessons into practice. And, we are finding that acknowledgment and acceptance of their differences is leading to greater security, economic prosperity, and a more diverse social fabric. The alternative a doing nothing and ignoring the religious dimension of the conflict a will ultimately exacerbate the destabilization of Nigeria's fragile democracy. Let's not let indifference result in Nigeria become the next Iraq. Courtesy of The Christian Post Tina Ramirez is founder and president of Hardwired, a non-governmental and nonprofit human rights organization with Special Consultative Status at the United Nations. She has worked for the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom and the U.S. Congress. She authored Iraq: Hope in the Midst of Darkness (2017) and was a contributing author and editor of Human Rights in the United States: A Dictionary and Documents (2010 and 2017). Bob Owen/Staff photographer Governor Greg Abbott is once again looking to ban Austin's homeless camps if city leaders don't. "Contrary to what Austin leaders think no one has a right to urinate & defecate wherever they want," Abbott said in a tweet Wednesday. Former Ulyanovsk Region official sentenced to 5 years in prison for embezzlement RAPSI, Vladimir Burnov 11:59 22/01/2021 MOSCOW, January 22 (RAPSI) A court has ordered a former head of the Ulyanovsk Regions legislative assembly Igor Tikhonov to 5 years in prison for large-scale embezzlement, the press service of the Investigative Committees Main Investigations Directorate has told RAPSI. Two ex-Healthcare Ministers of the region, Rashid Abdullov and Pavel Degtyar, have received 4 years behind bars each. According to the investigation, not later than May 2017, the accomplices conspired to steal budget money allocated for the state programs. To embezzle the funds they concluded oxygen supply contracts worth nearly 10.4 million rubles ($140,000) at the close of trading. Published on 2021/01/21 | Source Stills of actress Park Hye-soo's loveliness were released. "Dear.M" which premieres on the 26th of February, is a romance drama searching for M, the writer of a community article that turns Seo-yeon University upside down. It is known for connecting the worldview of the digital drama "Love Playlist". Park Hye-soo plays Ma Joo-ah. She is in second year of Seo-yeon University and she has a bold and cheerful personality. Her emotions show on her face and hence, it makes her target to Cha Min-ho (Jaehyun), her best friend of 12 years. In the stills released on the 21st, Park Hye-soo looks bubbly. She has her eyes fixed with liveliness in her face. The production says, "Ma Joo-ah is like vitamin. The actress' distinct personality and steady acting completes the character". Calon FM volunteers plan new future for the station after it ended broadcasting this week This article is old - Published: Friday, Jan 22nd, 2021 The volunteer presenters at a community radio station in Wrexham are planning for a new future after it ceased broadcasting this week. Calon FM, which was based in Wrexham Glyndwr Universitys Centre for the Creative Industries, announced its closure after it was confirmed that the university was withdrawing support for the station. Up to 2019, Calon Communications Limited (CCL) were working with the university on a five year plan, with Calon working towards the radio station covering its own costs as far as possible. However speaking before Christmas a representative from the board told Wrexham.com that unfortunately, due to financial constraints at the university, the plan had to be laid aside and the radio station was faced with the challenging task of covering its costs faster than anticipated. As a result Calon FM aired its final show on January 20 after more than 13 years on air. Now volunteer presenters at the station are planning for a new future. A statement issued by the volunteers, who run and present the award-winning station, said they are in negotiation with a number of interested parties and hoped to make an announcement soon on the stations new direction. They said: We are disappointed that the board in charge of Calon Communications Ltd in conjunction with the stations landlord Glyndwr University took the decision to close the station down with very little notice. In the four weeks since the bombshell announcement, we have come together as the remaining Stakeholders to discuss and formulate an alternative plan that will ensure the OFCOM licence is preserved here in Wrexham, that volunteers will continue to present their much-loved shows and that listeners can continue to hear the output as they have over 13 years. We are confident that, despite numerous hurdles, we can work with interested parties to continue and develop CalonFM as a strong community resource that offers students and other volunteers the chance to work in the media. The volunteers, who have launched a Save CalonFM campaign, will make a further announcement once they have assurances regarding a new location for the station. They also thanked listeners and backers for their messages of support and are encouraged to see how the community has rallied to support their local radio station. Anyone who wishes to get in touch can contact: savecalonfm@gmail.com Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. Its always been the case that if we see resurgences, you know that were gonna have to bring back (stricter) mitigations, Pritzker told reporters. Thats always been the case. We set metrics for that purpose, he said, adding at one point: If we see signs the U.K. variant is overtaking ... what weve already seen of coronavirus in the United States and that caseloads are beginning to surge at rates that we havent seen before then, obviously, well be moving into different mitigations. 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. Courtesy photo /U.S. Border Patrol U.S. Border Patrol agents assigned to the Hebbronville Station rescued five immigrants who were lost, authorities said. Laredo Sector Border Patrol Search, Trauma, and Rescue, and Air and Marine Unit responded to a recent 911 call. Agents said the lost individuals located a Border Patrol rescue placard at their location. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Thursday registered a case against UK-based political consulting company Cambridge Analytica for the 'illegal harvesting' of personal data from Facebook users in India. The agency has also named Global Science Research Ltd in its complaint, officials said. The action came after a preliminary enquiry into the matter which showed that Global Science Research had created an app "thisisyourdigitallife" which was authorised by Facebook to collect specific datasets of its users for research and academic purposes in 2014, they said. ALSO READ | At Tharoor-led Parl Panel Meet, Twitter Officials Face Scrutiny over Blocking Amit Shahs Account In 2018, reports had surfaced which said firm had harvested private information from the Facebook profiles of over 50 million worldwide without their consent. Union Minister of Electronics and Information Technology Ravi Shankar Prasad had informed the Parliament at the time that CBI would launch a probe into the Facebook-Cambridge Analytica data theft case. It was found that Facebook entered into a criminal conspiracy with Cambridge Analytica, allowing it to use the data harvested by it for commercial purposes, the officials said. Facebook had collected certificates from both the firms in 2016-17 that data collected by them using "thisisyourdigitallife" was accounted for and destroyed. However, the CBI enquiry did not find any evidence of any such destruction, according to the officials. "The enquiry prima facie established that Global Science Research Ltd, UK dishonestly and fraudulently accessed data of app users of "thisisyourdigitallife" and their Facebook friends," an official said, citing the FIR. According to the terms of the cost sharing arrangement, DuPont and Corteva together, on one hand, and Chemours, on the other hand, agree to a 50-50 split of certain qualified expenses incurred over a term not to exceed twenty years or $4 billion of qualified spend and escrow contributions in the aggregate . DuPont and Corteva's 50 percent will be limited to $2 billion including qualified expenses and escrow contributions. Under the existing Letter Agreement from June 1, 2019, DuPont and Corteva will each bear 50 percent of the first $300 million (up to $150 million each) and thereafter, DuPont bears 71 percent and Corteva bears the remaining 29 percent. DuPont's share of the potential $2 billion would be approximately $1.36 billion and Corteva's approximately $640 million. In connection with the cost sharing arrangement described above, the companies also agree to establish a $1 billion maximum escrow account to address potential future PFAS liabilities. Subject to the terms of the arrangement, contributions to the escrow will be made by Chemours, on one hand, and DuPont and Corteva, on the other hand, annually over an eight-year period. Over such period, Chemours will deposit a total of $500 million into the account and DuPont and Corteva will deposit an additional $500 million pursuant to the terms of their existing Letter Agreement. The escrow provides for a one-time replenishment mechanism if the escrow account balance has less than $700 million at December 31, 2028. After the term of this arrangement, Chemours' indemnification obligations under the Chemours Separation Agreement would continue unchanged, subject to certain exceptions set forth in the memorandum of understanding. Chemours will waive specified claims, including claims regarding the construct of its 2015 spin-off from EID. DuPont, Corteva and Chemours will dismiss the pending arbitration regarding those claims. In addition, DuPont, Corteva and Chemours have agreed to resolve the matters in the Ohio multi-district PFOA litigation for $83 million. DuPont will contribute $27 million, Corteva will contribute $27 million and Chemours will contribute $29 million to the settlement. The agreement resolves approximately 95 pending cases as well as unfiled matters. The case of Travis and Julie Abbott v. E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company is not included in the settlement and is presently pending appeal. These amounts are not subject to the new cost sharing arrangement. Ed Breen, DuPont Chairman and CEO; Jim Collins, Corteva CEO and Mark Vergnano, Chemours President and CEO commented on the agreement: "We are pleased to have reached a settlement agreement between our companies related to potential legacy PFAS liabilities, as well as resolving the remaining PFOA MDL cases in Ohio. The agreement will provide a measure of security and certainty for each company and our respective shareholders using a transparent process to address and resolve any potential future legacy PFAS matters." About DuPont DuPont (NYSE: DD) is a global innovation leader with technology-based materials, ingredients and solutions that help transform industries and everyday life. Our employees apply diverse science and expertise to help customers advance their best ideas and deliver essential innovations in key markets including electronics, transportation, construction, water, health and wellness, food and worker safety. More information about the company, its businesses and solutions can be found at www.dupont.com. Investors can access information included on the Investor Relations section of the website at investors.dupont.com. About Corteva Corteva, Inc. (NYSE: CTVA) is a publicly traded, global pure-play agriculture company that provides farmers around the world with the most complete portfolio in the industry - including a balanced and diverse mix of seed, crop protection and digital solutions focused on maximizing productivity to enhance yield and profitability. With some of the most recognized brands in agriculture and an industry-leading product and technology pipeline well positioned to drive growth, the company is committed to working with stakeholders throughout the food system as it fulfills its promise to enrich the lives of those who produce and those who consume, ensuring progress for generations to come. Corteva became an independent public company on June 1, 2019, and was previously the Agriculture Division of DowDuPont. More information can be found at www.corteva.com. About The Chemours Company The Chemours Company (NYSE: CC) is a global leader in Titanium Technologies, Fluoroproducts, and Chemical Solutions, providing its customers with solutions in a wide range of industries with market-defining products, application expertise and chemistry-based innovations. Chemours ingredients are found in plastics and coatings, refrigeration and air conditioning, mining, and general industrial manufacturing. Our flagship products include prominent brands such as Teflon, Ti-Pure, Krytox, Viton, Opteon, Freon and Nafion. In 2019, Chemours was named to Newsweek's list of America's Most Responsible Companies. The company has approximately 7,000 employees and 30 manufacturing sites serving approximately 3,700 customers in over 120 countries. Chemours is headquartered in Wilmington, Delaware and is listed on the NYSE under the symbol CC. For more information, we invite you to visit chemours.com. DuPont, the DuPont Oval Logo, and all trademarks and service marks denoted with , SM or are owned by affiliates of DuPont de Nemours, Inc. unless otherwise noted. Forward-Looking Statements This communication contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the federal securities laws, including Section 27A of the Securities Act, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"). Forward-looking statements are based on certain assumptions and expectations of future events that may not be accurate or realized and often contain words such as "expect," "anticipate," "intend," "plan," "believe," "seek," "see," "will," "would," "estimate", "target," similar expressions, and variations or negatives of these words. Forward-looking statements by their nature address matters that are, to different degrees, uncertain, such as statements about expected performance under and impact of the cost sharing arrangement by and between DuPont, Corteva and Chemours related to future eligible PFAS liabilities. Factors that could cause or contribute to these differences include, but are not limited to: the achievement, terms and conditions of final agreements related to the cost sharing arrangement; the outcome of any pending or future litigation related to PFAS or PFOA, including personal injury claims and natural resource damages claims; the extent and cost of ongoing remediation obligations and potential future remediation obligations; changes in laws and regulations applicable to PFAS chemicals; the performance by each of the parties of their respective obligations under the cost sharing arrangement. Unlisted factors may present significant additional obstacles to the realization of forward-looking statements. Further lists and descriptions of risks and uncertainties can be found in each of DuPont's, Corteva's and Chemours' respective annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019, and each of DuPont's, Corteva's and Chemours' respective subsequent reports on Form 10-Q, Form 10-K and Form 8-K, the contents of which are not incorporated by reference into, nor do they form part of, this announcement. Consequences of material differences in results as compared with those anticipated in the forward-looking statements could include, among other things, business disruption, operational problems, financial loss, legal liability to third parties and similar risks, any of which could have a material adverse effect on each of DuPont's, Corteva's or Chemours' respective consolidated financial condition, results of operations, credit rating or liquidity. None of DuPont, Corteva or Chemours assumes any obligation to publicly provide revisions or updates to any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, should circumstances change, except as otherwise required by securities and other applicable laws. SOURCE DuPont Related Links http://www.dupont.com ALBANY Thousands of disabled individuals who live in group home settings have seen their rate of vaccinations for coronavirus dwindle as the state has shifted doses to mass-vaccination sites and expanded the number of individuals eligible for the shots. Roughly 30 percent of the Capital Region's group home population about 11,000 disabled individuals and staff members who care for them in a 10-county region have been vaccinated through the first five weeks of the rollout. But when the state shifted to mass-vaccination sites, including one at the University of Albany, those locations were given in some cases 50 percent or more of a region's doses. That strategy has affected those who were in the first or 1A phase of vaccinations, because the shift was made in conjunction with adding a second phase of eligible individuals that include anyone 65 or older as well as teachers, police officers, grocery and convenience store workers and other essential workers. In a letter to Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo on Sunday, three leaders of groups representing the interests of disabled individuals New York Alliance for Inclusion & Innovation, New York State Industries for the Disabled and The ARC New York alerted the administration that their very vulnerable population was being pushed aside as hospital hub systems, initially established to vaccinate the 1A groups, were receiving little or no vaccine. "With the opening of the state vaccination sites and the re-allocation of vaccine to these sites, this has reduced vaccine supply and availability for the 1A population to the point that appointments have been cancelled the latter half of this past week and through the weekend," the groups' letter states. "Not only is this unintended consequence of concern for those in the priority population who have not yet received the vaccine, but it will likely result in 1A designated people having significant difficulty attaining the second vaccine dose in a timely manner." On Jan. 15, the Centers for Disability Services in Albany canceled a vaccination clinic that had been scheduled for 170 disabled individuals and their caretakers. In recent days, Cuomo has urged county health departments, hospitals, pharmacies and other vaccine administrators not to schedule any appointments until they have received their allotted doses for the week. That shift came as he blamed the federal government for not sending enough doses to New York, where vaccination appointments are backlogged and stretching into the late spring due to low supplies. We were grateful people with developmental disabilities and group home staff were included in 1A, but now theyve been elbowed aside," said Michael Seereiter, president and CEO of the New York Alliance for Inclusion & Innovation, which represents non-profits that support people with developmental disabilities across the state. "Its an unintended but serious consequence thats preventing high risk and vulnerable New Yorkers from getting vaccinated." Group homes for the disabled have been ravaged by the virus during the pandemic. Cuomo included them in the first phase because it can also be challenging for staff to control and direct members of that population who may not understand social-distancing and the need to wear a mask. A person briefed on the matter said that using the hospital hub system to vaccinate that population, including distributing vaccines to medical staff in their settings, was ideal because many of those individuals have access to public transportation but would not be able to drive themselves to a mass-vaccination site such as the one at the University at Albany. The hub system, which was highly criticized by county leaders who wanted their local health departments to vaccinate their populations, including the elderly and disabled, received praise from the advocates for the disabled. It provided "health equity for people who would not always get health equity," the person said. "We prioritized this group from the very beginning," said Gareth Rhodes, a deputy superintendent at the Department of Financial Services who is helping lead the vaccination rollout for the governor's coronavirus task force. "It's not like we stopped prioritizing them; they are still prioritized. We just don't have enough vaccine to go around." The state's shift to a mass-vaccination strategy which is augmenting distribution to hospitals, pharmacies and county health departments has also been problematic for senior citizens who said they were unable to navigate the state health department's backlogged and at times overwhelmed registration system. A 91-year-old Rensselaer County woman who contacted the Times Union on Thursday said she has multiple friends in her age group who, like her, still live at home and could not make appointments on their own. "I heard of three people that are going to Plattsburgh ... to get the shot," she said. "Not me. Finally, my neighbors sister-in-law went on at 6 o'clock in the morning and finally got me an appointment for Feb. 26 at SUNY (Albany)." But the woman, who lives alone, said she drives locally in her community but is not comfortable traveling alone to the UAlbany site so she is going to have someone drive her. "I have friends all living at home and our kids look in on us. Thats the ones they are completely forgetting about," she said. "Why can't we go just like we do for the flu shot to our pharmacy. I dont understand why were going through all this nonsense." The governor has directed pharmacies that are approved to administer the vaccine to prioritize residents 65 and older, but limited supplies have made it difficult for them to serve that population. In addition, county officials told the Times Union this week that some pharmacies had been reserving their vaccine doses only for existing customers and turning away others. Some county officials, who have been directed by the state to only prioritize essential workers, said they have used any leftover doses to administer shots to elderly and disabled individuals. "Older, less-mobile individuals are having a very difficult time navigating the (online) technology to schedule an appointment and are being left with very few options," said Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro, president of the state's County Executives Association. "That just isnt how we ought to be doing this." Larry Schwartz, who is heading Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo's vaccination rollout, said recently that it's important for counties to follow the state's guidance because it's critical those groups they are mandated to vaccinate police, firefighters, teachers, grocery and transportation workers, among others are able to work without risk of getting sick. "I understand, but if they start now vaccinating 65-plus with that limited allocation, that means fewer police officers, fewer firefighters, fewer teachers, fewer grocery workers are going to be able to get a vaccine shot," Schwartz said. "Its upsetting to me that I cant offer more doses to be able to vaccinate more people and thats because of the federal government not providing a greater allocation." State borders continued to reopen to Greater Sydney on Friday, as NSW recorded a fifth consecutive day without a locally-acquired coronavirus case. Ten local government areas previously designated as red zones have been recategorised as orange zones under Victorias travel permit system, meaning most Sydney residents are now able to travel to Victoria provided they have a coronavirus test within 72 hours of their arrival. Changes to border restrictions will allow those who have visited Newtown and other Inner West locations to travel to Victoria. Credit:Chris Pearce A ban remains in place for people who have been in the Cumberland local government area, home to western Sydneys Berala cluster, within 14 days of their arrival in Victoria. Western Australia announced an end to its hard border with NSW on Friday afternoon, more than a month after it was imposed. Travellers will still need to self-isolate for 14 days on arrival and present for a coronavirus test. Dear Reader, Business Standard has always strived hard to provide up-to-date information and commentary on developments that are of interest to you and have wider political and economic implications for the country and the world. Your encouragement and constant feedback on how to improve our offering have only made our resolve and commitment to these ideals stronger. Even during these difficult times arising out of Covid-19, we continue to remain committed to keeping you informed and updated with credible news, authoritative views and incisive commentary on topical issues of relevance. We, however, have a request. As we battle the economic impact of the pandemic, we need your support even more, so that we can continue to offer you more quality content. Our subscription model has seen an encouraging response from many of you, who have subscribed to our online content. More subscription to our online content can only help us achieve the goals of offering you even better and more relevant content. We believe in free, fair and credible journalism. Your support through more subscriptions can help us practise the journalism to which we are committed. Support quality journalism and subscribe to Business Standard. Digital Editor White-tailed eagles are set to be reintroduced to England after going extinct a century ago in a bid to reduce pests inculding geese and rabbits. A project by a farm and wildlife charity in Norfolk would see between six and 12 of the birds released each year - in an effort to maintain balanced ecosystems. Wild Ken Hill farm and the Roy Dennis Wildlife Foundation say the first eagles could be released later this year, but added only less than half are expected to survive past breeding age. White-tailed eagles could be reintroduced to England as a way of reducing pests including geese and rabbits (stock image) The project follows similar attempts in the Netherlands and Lithuania which helped control species further down the food chain. White-tailed or sea eagles earned the nickname flying barn doors due to their eight-foot wingspans. One of the largest birds of prey, they were became extinct in Britain in the early 20th century due to hunting and habitat destruction, but were reintroduced in Scotland in the 1960s. The project leaders say the massive predators are not only a missing part of Englands native biodiversity, but are also fundamental in maintaining the balance of ecosystems. Dominic Buscall, project manager at Wild Ken Hill, said: As an apex predator, the role that the white-tailed eagle plays in controlling meso-predators such as buzzards, as well as cormorants and feral geese, could well have knock-on benefits in the ecosystem. The farm plans to launch an online survey to assess local residents views on the project before deciding whether to go ahead. Between six and 12 of the birds, which went extinct in Britain a century ago, would be released each year in an effort to maintain balanced ecosystems at a location in Norfolk (file image of white-tailed eagle) A successful project in the Isle of Wight managed to relocate the eagles from Scotland. Four of the six young birds moved in the summer of 2019 and survived the year, with another seven relocating last August. Farmers there had expressed concerns the birds would pose a threat to livestock, but their diet in the Isle of Wight included mostly wild fish, carrion, rabbits, and gulls, Wild Ken Hill said. The birds still breed naturally across Europe and Asia from Greenland to Japan, feeding mainly on fish. In Norfolk the flock is expected to prey on Greylag and Canada Goose goslings, a similar diet to in The Netherlands where the birds feed on gosling Barnacle and Greylag geese species. Canada Geese were introduced to the UK in the 17th century and are widely considered to be pests. They can be culled with a license obtained from Natural England. Ahora | La presidenta del Consejo de Ministros, @VBermudezV, se presenta ante la Comision de Salud del @congresoperu para informar sobre las medidas tomadas por el Ejecutivo frente a la pandemia. pic.twitter.com/Anzy1XtPOm Developing a smart city and commercializing 5G are the two key tasks the Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC) and the Hanoi Peoples Committee have assigned to the Hanoi Department of Information and Communication. MICs Deputy Minister Pham Anh Tuan In a report presented at a conference on reviewing tasks in 2020, the department said it had helped the Hanoi Peoples Committee set up a plan on IT use in Hanoi in 2020 as well as IT use in state agencies, further developing digital government and ensuring cybersecurity in 2021. The department submitted to the municipal authorities a plan to implement Decree 45 on administrative procedures for the electronic environment, and to set up a program on digital transformation in Hanoi by 2025 with the vision until 2030. The agency also played an important role in the construction of infrastructure items at the software park in Dong Anh district. In terms of post and telecommunications, the agency advised municipal authorities on the regulation on managing, building and using technical infrastructure works for common use, and upgrading and rearranging telecom cables on poles. The department also worked with MICs specialized agencies to implement Decree 92 on fighting against spam messages, e-mails and calls. One of the outstanding telecom achievements of Hanoi in 2020 was the trial of 5G services and the installation of public wifi at tourist sites and historical relics in the city. In the fields of press, publications, media and electronic information, Hanoi has implemented the first phase of the plan on rearranging, developing and managing press agencies in Hanoi by 2025. The department is building a plan on establishing a Hanoi press center. Nguyen Thanh Liem, director of the Hanoi Department of Information and Communications, affirmed that Hanoi has pioneered eliminating spam calls and messages. Hanoi aims to improve its image in information technology application in 2021. With new infrastructure items such as the smart operation center, the cybersecurity monitoring center and shared software systems, information technology application in the city will be better in the time to come. Trial for 5G, new IT zones MICs Deputy Minister Pham Anh Tuan praised the achievements of the Hanoi Department of Information and Communications in 2020. He asked the department to build an action plan based on the key orientations shown in Instruction 01 from MIC. Tuan urged Hanoi to complete the Vpostcode map with addresses of every household. This is considered the foundation for e-commerce development and management. Regarding the ICT industry, Tuan wants Hanoi to develop concentrated IT IZs, as well as startups and technology firms. Hanois Vice Mayor Chu Xuan Dung wants the department to give advice to the city about programs related to digital transformation and smart city building. Trong Dat First industrial park in Vietnam gains access to 5G network The Yen Phong 1 Industrial Park in northern Bac Ninh province has become the first park in Vietnam to gain access to the 5G telecom network, with the new technology launched onsite by Viettel on January 14. San Francisco International Airport will provide around $21.3 million in aid for 125 airport retail tenants who have suffered during the coronavirus pandemic, the latest round in city assistance for hard-hit businesses. Lease agreements can be modified to waive some fees and rent obligations from 2020 under an ordinance signed by San Francisco Mayor London Breed on Friday. SFOs retailers have been especially hard-hit during the pandemic, with air travel plummeting. SFO is a critical link to China, where the coronavirus originated, and those flights were all canceled last February as the virus exploded. Some flights to China and other destinations have resumed, but demand is weak. International travelers are crucial to airport businesses, as they spend more heavily than domestic passengers. Christmas traffic was down around 81% compared to last year, according to SFO data. Tourism spending, the citys biggest industry, is expected to shrink by $10.7 billion in 2020 and 2021. We know how hard this pandemic has hit our retailers and businesses, especially at the airport where traffic has been down significantly for months, said Breed in a statement. As we work our way towards recovery and travel picks up again, we are going to need these businesses to serve our visitors and residents. The federal Cares Act is supporting the program, which will waive tenants cleaning and infrastructure fees between June and December. A payment called a Minimum Annual Guarantee will be waived for the months of March, April and May last year. It was suspended in June, following the severe decline of passenger traffic over those months. The airport will resume the charges after passenger traffic recovers for two months. To be eligible, concessions vendors must meet payroll and rehiring requirements that prioritize bringing back workers who were laid off or furloughed. Interactive Vaccine Tracker: Latest developments Detailed information about the coronavirus vaccines as it becomes available. The Port of San Francisco, Municipal Transportation Agency, and the Recreation and Park Department have also created programs to help small businesses, allocating around $19 million in aid across the agencies. We appreciate the perseverance of our concession tenants and hope this Emergency Rent Relief Program will help them to continue operating and begin the process of recovering and rehiring, said Airport Director Ivar Satero in a statement. Roland Li is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: roland.li@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @rolandlisf Let us know what you're seeing and hearing around the community. Submit here The US President Joe Biden on January 21 has proposed a five-year extension of New START with Russia which is also the last remaining nuclear reduction treaty between both the countries but also pledged to pressure Moscow in other aspects. Russia and the United States signed the New START with the formal name of Measures for the Further Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms on April 8, 2010, in Prague and entered into force on February 5, 2011. It limits both the nations to have 1,550 nuclear warheads each and is set to expire on February 5 after the negotiations halted under former US President Donald Trump. White House press secretary Jen Psaki told at her first news briefing that, I can confirm that the United States intends to seek a five-year extension of New START, as the treaty permits. The President has long been clear that the New START Treaty is in the national security interests of the United States. And this extension makes even more sense when the relationship with Russia is adversarial, as it is at this time. New START is the only remaining treaty constraining Russian nuclear forces and is an anchor of strategic stability between our two countries, she added. Read - Fauci Describes 'liberating Feeling' Of No Longer Working Under Trump Administration Read - 'Theres No Call Planned': White House Says Joe Biden Has No Plans To Call Donald Trump Will hold Russia to account, says Psaki Further, the White House press secretary has also said that the new intelligence chief Avril Haines would also initiate an investigation into Russias alleged poisoning of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny. Psaki also said that the United States would also investigate the bounties that were reportedly paid by the Russian government to extremists in Afghanistan who killed the American troops. Psaki told the reporters, Even as we work with Russia to advance U.S. interests, so too we work to hold Russia to account for its reckless and adversarial actions. And to this end, the President is also issuing a tasking to the intelligence community for its full assessment of the SolarWinds cyber breach, Russian interference in the 2020 election, its use of chemical weapons against opposition leader Alexei Navalny, and the alleged bounties on U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan. Read - Kamala Harris' Appointment As VP Would Help In Cementing Ties With India: White House Read - Cesar Chavez Bust Placed In Biden's Oval Office Chinas permanent representative to the UN has called for the end of unilateral coercive measures, claiming they prevent the supply of medical services writes SANA. China called for the cancelling of western unilateral coercive measures against Syria immediately. Chinas Permanent UN Representative Zhang Jun stressed, during a UN Security Council session on the situation in Syria via video, that the western coercive measures imposed on Syria have directly affected the livelihoods of the Syrian people and hindered the access of medical services and supplies. Jun pointed to the necessity of exerting further efforts to find a political solution to the crisis in Syria and supporting the work of the Constitutional Committee, which should be far from any foreign interference because the Syrian people are the only ones who will decide their future. 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. Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. Russian police apprehended the Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK) employee, Alexey Navalny press secretary Kira Yarmysh, and Georgy Alburov, also an FBK employee, a source in the law enforcement said. "Police officers have apprehended Kira Yarmysh at her apartment," TASS cited the source as saying. At approximately the same time, police officers met Alburov at the Leningradsky rain terminal, Alburov himself told journalists. The officers brought him to a police station. The FBK employees were apprehended over calls to participate in an unauthorized mass event. Previously, the police also apprehended former State Duma candidate, FBK employee Lyubov Sobol over similar charges. Yarmysh herself disclosed in her Twitter account, citing the police, that two administrative reports are to be filed against her: violation of rally organization procedure, and non-compliance to police. Previously, Alexey Navalnys sympathizers disseminated online calls to hold unauthorized rallies in the bloggers support on January 23, including on the Pushkinskaya Square in Moscow. The Prosecutor Generals Office said the law enforcement intends to take preventive measures and bring perpetrators to administrative responsibility, if there are grounds for that. Besides, orders were forwarded to the Federal Service for Supervision of Communications, Information Technology and Mass Media to restrict access to illegal information. The Prosecutors Office noted that people who call for illegal actions were issued warnings on unacceptability of violation of the law. Can't live without Didi: BJP's Sonali Guha wants to rejoin TMC Cyclone Yaas: How mangrove forest in Odisha acted as protective barrier against Nature's fury yet again? West Bengal Elections 2021: AIMM exposed after Bihar polls says Mamata India oi-Vicky Nanjappa Kolkata, Jan 22: West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee on Thursday said Asaduddin Owaisi''s AIMIM would not be a factor in the upcoming assembly polls in the state as its role as "B team of the BJP" has been exposed in the Bihar elections. During a core committee meeting of Murshidabad, a Muslim-dominated district, Banerjee urged party leaders to put up a united fight against the BJP and the other divisive forces. "During the core committee meeting, Mamata di assured us that AIMIM would not be a factor in Murshidabad district. She told us that Owaisi''s party was exposed after the Bihar polls," a local TMC leader said. Two groups clash inside BJP party office in Bengal Murshidabad district comprises 22 assembly seats. In the recently concluded Bihar elections, the AIMIM won five seats in the Muslims-dominated Seemanchal region on the border of West Bengal. Earlier this month, Owaisi had met Pirzada Abbas Siddiqui of Hooghly district''s Furfura Sharif to discuss the seat-sharing arrangement. The AIMIM chief has already expressed his desire to fight the upcoming assembly elections in the state. The TMC had dubbed the AIMIM''s entry in the state as an attempt to split the Muslim votes in the state and help the BJP. The AIMIM has termed the allegation as "baseless" and "motivated". A deciding factor in nearly 100-110 seats in the state, Muslims, who constitute 30 per cent of the population, till 2019, have acted as a bulwark of the TMC against its rivals, with most of them voting in favour of the party, considering it to be a "credible" force that can resist the saffron surge. Centre-farmers hold 11th round of talks, impasse over farm laws continues| Oneindia News In a development that might upset several political equations in election-bound state, Siddiqui on Thursday floated a new political outfit, contending that he wishes to be the kingmaker after the polls. The influential Muslim cleric said his new outfit -- Indian Secular Front (ISF) - plans to contest the elections from all 294 assembly seats in the state. Elections to the Bengal assembly are likely to be held in April-May. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, January 22, 2021, 10:38 [IST] Israels Competition Commissioner has cleared a joint investment by Cellcom, Hot Telecommunication Systems and the Israel Infrastructure Fund (IIF) into Israel Broadband Company (IBC). As reported by CommsUpdate, in September 2020 Cellcom and HOT confirmed that they had entered an investment transaction consisting of several agreements, including deals made through the IBC Partnership. Through this partnership, Cellcom and IIF jointly hold 70% of IBCs share capital. The transaction will see HOT become an equal member of the IBC Partnership by making an investment substantially equal to the investment made by each of [Cellcom] and IIF until the closing date of the transaction. This will confer on HOT an indirect 23.3% holding of IBCs share capital. For the deal to proceed, the investors are obliged to comply with various conditions and impending regulatory changes. Approval from the Ministry of Communications will also be required. This week, the MoC fined HOT ILS6 million (US$1.8 million) for antitrust breaches relating to the countrys reform of the wholesale market. A ministry statement asserted: HOT Telecoms conduct did not allow for normal wholesale market activity on its network, in a manner that, in effect, led to the exclusion of competitors from its network and to the deterrence of the development of competition. Although the ministry set regulated tariffs for wholesale services in 2017, it notes that HOT only fell in line with these restrictions the following year. Additionally, even after introducing the regulations, the MoC asserts that it detected complications that did not enable service providers to provide proper services to consumers. Why North Star felt it was key to keep in-person education amid COVID Passing immigration legislation will require business, labor and outside groups to work together to push Congress to act, the bills chief Senate sponsor said Thursday. We ned you to give it everything youve got, Democratic U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez told the American Business Immigration Council. President Joe Biden proposed the bill on his first day in office, highlighting its importance to the new administration in contrast to his predecessors efforts to revoke protections under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program for unauthorized immigrants brought to the country as children, known as dreamers. Biden also ended funding for the southern border wall that President Donald Trump promoted, calling the wall a waste of money that diverts attention from genuine threats to our homeland security. The legislation would provide a path to citizenship for an estimated 11 million unauthorized immigrants who first must undergo background checks and pay taxes, protect the dreamers from being deported, provide aid to the Central American countries to address the causes that lead to mass migrations, make it easier to keep families together, and limit a presidents ability to ban immigration on the basis of religion. New Jersey has 475,000 unauthorized immigrants, fifth highest among the 50 states, according to the Pew Research Center. Bidens bill also would increase the use of technology to detect narcotics coming in over the border and develop a strategy to secure the southern border. You must make the case for immigration reform not just for immigrants and their families but to Americans of all walks of life, Menendez said. It time to put political capital and every other capital on the table to make this happen. For example, Menendez said business groups should not contribute to campaigns of politicians who stoke fear, spread xenophobia and stymie progress for reform. A top official of one of those business groups, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, endorsed efforts to pass legislation but declined to answer whether the organization would withhold funding from immigration opponents. We think we have a very compelling case to make on the need for immigration reform, said Neil Bradley, the chambers executive vice president and chief policy officer. We dont believe its amnesty. We will be making that case to every Republican and every Democrat on the Hill. Even though Democrats control the White House and Congress, they need some Republican support to pass the bill since they need 60 votes in the Senate. In 2013, Menendez was part of a bipartisan Gang of Eight that came up with legislation that received 68 votes, only to die in the House when the Republican majority refused to vote on it. Ive reached out to half a dozen Republicans on immigration and theyve been open to the conversation, said another member of the Gang of Eight, Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin, D-Ill., according to pool reports. We havent agreed on anything but theyve been open to it and thats what its gonna take. We just have to try if we can get 60 people together on both sides. A Republican member of the Gang of Eight, U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, said the Biden proposal was more liberal than the original bipartisan deal and their challenge is they got to show that theyre going to be able to do the border security part of it, according to pool reports. He said that in a 50-50 Senate, the best shot at legislation would a bill that protected the dreamers. I just think comprehensive immigration is going to be a tough sale, given this environment, but doing DACA I think is possible, Graham said. Jonathan D. Salant may be reached at jsalant@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JDSalant. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. The Minister of Health has said that Syria will not accept a coronavirus vaccine if it means accepting terms that the country does not agree with reports Al-Watan. Syrian Health Minister, Hassan al-Ghobash, confirmed that no agreement has been signed between the Syrian government and any organization concerned with facilitating access to the coronavirus vaccine. He revealed that discussions have been ongoing for a month and a half, but there are conditions that do not suit the Syrian government. Responding to the interventions by the members of the Peoples Assembly, Ghobash said that the government is working hard to obtain the vaccine with conditions that make sense to the Syrian people. Availing the vaccine cannot be at the expense of other matters related to Syrian citizens and Syrian sovereignty. We will not accept that, he added. Ghobash pointed out that the second wave of the coronavirus was more challenging than the first, contrary to what many had believed, stressing that with the efforts of the government and the Ministry of Health, the second wave was dealt with appropriately. Ghobash expressed his fear of a coronavirus outbreak, similar to what happened in Lebanon, despite the general improvement in the health situation in Syria, stressing that all necessary precautions have been taken. During the session, the Peoples Assembly approved the draft law on the ratification of the Partnership Framework Agreement with Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, signed between the Ministry of Health, on behalf of Syria, and Gavi, in order to obtain vaccines or cash support. The agreement will benefit the country financially by providing the vaccine at a price lower than the international one and offering discounts, in addition to providing the foreign currency needed to import the vaccines. Gavi offers financial assistance for both the quadruple vaccine (three doses) and the muscle paralysis vaccine (one dose), noting that it began providing vaccines two years ago, free of charge. 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. National Third minister quits Mamata Banerjees government, breaks down on camera TMC MLA Rajib Banerjee talks to the media after resigning as West Bengal Forest Minister, in Kolkata, Friday. KOLKATA, JAN 22 (AGENCIES) | Publish Date: 1/22/2021 12:59:24 PM IST West Bengal Minister Rajib Banerjee today quit the government citing a change of portfolio two years ago and broke down on camera, saying: I never thought a day would come when I would have to take such a difficult step. He is the third minister to resign this month in the middle of an exodus from Chief Minister Mamata Banerjees Trinamool Congress ahead of elections. Mr Banerjee did not respond to questions on whether he was headed to the BJP, like dozens of Trinamool Congress leaders before him. As he emerged from the Governors house Raj Bhavan after handing over his resignation, he told media persons that he was hurt when he learnt from TV, one fine day, that he had lost the Irrigation ministry and had been moved to Forests. On the belated response to something that happened two years ago, he said he did not take any step as he was stopped by senior leaders. There is no problem with the changing of portfolio, but I was hurt by the way it was done, Mr Banerjee said. I am grateful to Mamata Banerjee for guiding me for all the years. I reiterate my commitment towards working for the people of Bengal. While there is no formal announcement, Mr Banerjee is widely expected to join the BJP on January 31, when one of the partys top leaders, Home Minister Amit Shah, is scheduled to address a rally in Howrah. His resignation comes days after he had complained about some leaders in the Trinamool Congress (TMC) carrying out propaganda against him. He had struck several discordant notes against the government and the party over the past two months. Senior TMC leader and minister Partha Chatterjee met with his at least twice, to try and bring him around. There are a few leaders in the party who only exploit workers. They run false propaganda against me using some party workers, he said on January 16 during a Facebook Live session, according to an ANI report. He, however, did not reveal any names. In the bitter run-up to the Bengal election due by May, scores of leaders and workers have left the Trinamool for the BJP. In December, Mamata Banerjee lost her top aide Suvendu Adhikari, who first quit as minister after an extended period of uncertainty, then immediately joined the BJP. Over 40 more leaders and workers followed him out of the Trinamool. On January 5, Minister of State for Sports Laxmi Ratan Shukla resigned. He, however, has not quit the party. The BJP, meanwhile, is investing considerable time and energy in its campaign to oust Mamata Banerjees government. Party heavyweights such as President JP Nadda and Amit Shah have been regularly visiting the state. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, too, will be in Kolkata tomorrow to mark the birth anniversary of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose. Home Search ICH Question Everything! Purpose and Intent of this website: If I were a national Republican lawmaker By Cesar Chelala January 22, 2021 " Information Clearing House " - If a man, I would dress as a woman. If a woman, I would dress as a man. I would buy a horse and, without resting, would go non-stop to Montana and remain there in the woods. Forever. I would erase the word shame from my dictionary. I would also erase the words law, maker, decency, responsibility, morality, duty. I would tell my children that they have the right to be ashamed of me. No Advertising - No Government Grants - This Is Independent Media Get Our Free Newsletter I would tell my children that, if they want to be respected, they should do exactly as I did, only in the opposite way. I would go into a circus, strangle the clown, steal his clothes, and wear them myself. I would buy a no-return ticket to Siberia. I would volunteer as a traveler to the moon. Next trip. I would shoot a person on 5th Ave., New York. I would hide under my bed, refuse to go out, and tell my children it is a new game I invented. I would stop shedding crocodile tears for things I have condoned/encouraged for 4 years. I would start looking for a new job. According to my qualifications, janitor is a definite possibility. If moral qualifications are considered, then it is not. I would start singing If I were a coward maaaannn to the tune of Fiddler on the Roof as a background. Cesar Chelala is a New York writer. Post your comment below Registration is necessary to post comments. We ask only that you do not use obscene or offensive language. Please be respectful of others. See also Search Information Clearing House The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Information Clearing House. Click Here To Support Information Clearing House Your support has kept ICH free on the Web since 2002. Click for Spanish , German , Dutch , Danish , French , translation- Note- Translation may take a moment to load. 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 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 Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. Families of British passengers killed when a Boeing 737 Max crashed in Ethiopia have slammed the 'astonishing and deeply worrying' decision to allow the planes to resume flying in Europe. The victim's loved ones have been calling for the European authorities to keep the aircraft grounded. A total of 346 passengers and crew died when two of the aircraft operated by Lion Air and Ethiopian Airlines crashed in October 2018 and March 2019 respectively. The planes were grounded around the world following the second crash, over concerns about mechanical and design problems. European authorities gave the go ahead for Boeing 737 Max after the families of British victims in a crash in Ethiopia (pictured) called for the aircraft to be grounded The fathers of Joanna Toole (left) and Sam Pegram (right) have slammed the authorities decision, with one branding it as 'astonishing' But they returned to service in the US last month, and Patrick Ky, executive director of the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (Easa), told reporters earlier this week that 'it will be cleared to fly again' in Europe later this month. Relatives of the victims of the Ethiopian Airlines crash are angry that he made the comment before an official accident report is published or Easa releases a study of the aircraft's safety. Adrian Toole, father of Joanna Toole, from Exmouth, Devon, who died in the crash, said: 'Easa's conduct is both astonishing and deeply worrying. 'It is not in accordance with Easa's previous assurances to us and it robs us and other interested parties of the opportunity to consider and make informed comment upon Easa's recommendations and the logic of Easa's decision making. 'We believe that commercial interests are being put before safety and we call on Easa not to take short cuts before allowing this aircraft to fly again in Europe.' Miss Toole worked with the UN's Food and Agriculture Organisation and was on her way to an environment meeting in Nairobi. A total of 346 passengers and crew died when two of the aircraft operated by Lion Air and Ethiopian Airlines crashed in October 2018 and March 2019 respectively Adrian Toole, father of Joanna Toole (pictured), from Exmouth, Devon, who died in the crash, said the move was nott in accordance with Easa's previous assurances to them Mark Pegram, father of another victim, Sam Pegram, of Penwortham, Lancashire, said: 'Why should we or anyone else not be sceptical that this aircraft is safe to fly? 'Sam, together with everyone else on those flights deserves to be honoured and the best way to do that is to put safety first. 'That is why we're calling on Easa to ensure the 737 Max remains grounded.' Clive Garner, aviation specialist at law firm Irwin Mitchell, which is representing the families, said: 'The introduction of the Boeing 737 Max was a disaster. 'Boeing made a number of catastrophic errors and critically important information was concealed from the aviation regulators causing the loss of 346 men, women and children. 'Those who lost loved ones rightly want to ensure that this aircraft is safe before it flies again.' 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. More than 100 Lao fishermen who were stranded in Malaysia for several months after losing work amid fears over the spread of COVID-19 have returned home, flying on a chartered flight to an airport in Vientiane on Jan. 17, Lao sources said. 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 Radio Free Asias 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 said. 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, a sister entity of BenarNews, that 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 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 because of fears of the spread of COVID-19, but flights chartered to take them home were postponed and then canceled. A group of 328 then arranged for flights on Air Asia while others decided to go home on their own about 100 were 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. Lloyd J. Austin, a West Point graduate who rose to the Army's elite ranks and marched through racial barriers in a 41-year career, won Senate confirmation Friday to become the nation's first Black secretary of defense. The 93-2 vote gave President Joe Biden his second Cabinet member; Avril Haines was confirmed on Wednesday as the first woman to serve as director of national intelligence. The two objections came from Republicans Josh Hawley and Mike Lee. Biden is expected to win approval for others on his national security team in coming days, including Antony Blinken as secretary of state. Biden is looking for Austin to restore stability atop the Pentagon, which went through two Senate-confirmed secretaries of defense and four who held the post on an interim basis during the Trump administration. Austin's confirmation was complicated by his status as a recently retired general. He required a waiver of a legal prohibition on a military officer serving as secretary of defense within seven years of retirement. Austin retired in 2016 after serving as the first Black general to head U.S. Central Command. He was the first Black vice chief of staff of the Army in 2012 and also served as director of the Joint Staff, a behind-the-scenes job that gave him an intimate view of the Pentagon's inner workings. Welcome: Army General Mark Milley, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, salutes new Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, who went to the Pentagon as soon as he was confirmed by the Senate on a 93-2 vote Into work: Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Army General Mark Milley, head for their Pentagon offices as Joe Biden's pick becomes the first ever black Pentagon chief Blowout vote: Austin passed 93-2 with senators saying they were confident civilian control of the military was secure in his hands The House and the Senate approved the waiver Thursday, clearing the way for the Senate confirmation vote. Austin, a large man with a booming voice and a tendency to shy from publicity, describes himself as the son of a postal worker and a homemaker from Thomasville, Georgia. He has promised to speak his mind to Congress and to Biden. At his confirmation hearing Tuesday, Austin said he had not sought the nomination but was ready to lead the Pentagon without clinging to his military status and with full awareness that being a political appointee and Cabinet member requires 'a different perspective and unique duties from a career in uniform.' As vice president, Biden worked closely with Austin in 2010-11 to wind down U.S. military involvement in Iraq while Austin was the top U.S. commander in Baghdad. American forces withdrew entirely, only to return in 2014 after the Islamic State extremist group captured large swaths of Iraqi territory. At Central Command, Austin was a key architect of the strategy to defeat IS in Iraq and Syria. Biden said in December when he announced Austin as his nominee that he considered him 'the person we need at this moment,' and that he trusts Austin to ensure civilian control of the military. Critics of the nomination have questioned the wisdom of making an exception to the law against a recently retired military officer serving as defense secretary, noting that the prohibition was put in place to guard against undue military influence in national security matters. Only twice before has Congress waived the prohibition - in 1950 for George C. Marshall during the Korean War and in 2017 for Jim Mattis, the retired Marine general who served as President Donald Trump's first Pentagon chief. Austin has promised to surround himself with qualified civilians. And he made clear at his confirmation hearing that he embraces Biden's early focus on combatting the coronavirus pandemic. Key role: Lloyd Austin will take over the Pentagon and become its first ever African American leader Previous role: Lloyd Austin ended his 41-year Army career with three years at the head of Central Command from 2013 to 2016 'I will quickly review the department's contributions to coronavirus relief efforts, ensuring we are doing everything we can - and then some - to help distribute vaccines across the country and to vaccinate our troops and preserve readiness,' he told the Senate Armed Services Committee. Under questioning by senators, Austin pledged to address white supremacy and violent extremism in the ranks of the military - problems that received relatively little public attention from his immediate predecessor, Mark Esper. Austin promised to 'rid our ranks of racists,' and said he takes the problem personally. 'The Defense Department's job is to keep America safe from our enemies,' he said. 'But we can't do that if some of those enemies lie within our own ranks.' Austin said he will insist that the leaders of every military service know that extremist behavior in their ranks is unacceptable. 'This is not something we can be passive on,' he said. 'This is something I think we have to be active on, and we have to lean into it and make sure that we're doing the right things to create the right climate.' He offered glimpses of other policy priorities, indicating that he embraces the view among many in Congress that China is the 'pacing challenge,' or the leading national security problem for the U.S. The Middle East was the main focus for Austin during much of his Army career, particularly when he reached senior officer ranks. On July 14, 2018, Walsh robbed the U.S. Bank branch at 4725 N Western Ave. in the Lincoln Square neighborhood of about $3,700, according to the complaint against him. He was arrested by federal agents 10 days later, after he met someone at a city senior center and tried to recruit them as an accomplice for another bank robbery and that person contacted the FBI. He was identified in part because he used a Ventra card registered in his name to take the L to near the bank, according to the complaint against him. The International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the state-owned Ukrgasbank (Kyiv) will sign an agreement on January 25 to provide Ukrgasbank with a five-year loan for EUR 30 million with the possibility of converting it into a 20% stake in the bank's capital, the Finance Ministry has told Interfax-Ukraine. According to the report, the execution of the agreement will become one of the important steps for the international financial organization to become a shareholder of the state bank in Ukraine, which, in turn, is the fulfillment of one of the state's obligations within the framework of the Stand-By Arrangement with the IMF. "Under the terms of the agreement, the IFC will provide Ukrgasbank with a five-year loan in the amount of EUR30 million with the possibility of converting it into a share in the capital of the financial institution in the amount of up to 20%. The size of the share in the capital will be determined separately," Deputy Finance Minister for European Integration Yuriy Drahanchuk told the BusinessCensor publication. As reported, on June 3, 2020, the Cabinet of Ministers, having authorized Minister of Finance Serhiy Marchenko to sign a deal related to the provision of EUR 30 million by the IFC to Ukrgasbank with the possibility of subsequent conversion into capital, announced its main terms. According to them, the Ministry of Finance must conclude an agreement with the IFC on the option to sell shares on the date of conversion, according to which the IFC can at any time sell to the state all or part of its shares in Ukrgasbank. The conditions also note that the option to sell Ukrgasbank shares is unlimited, and its price has yet to be determined. MITCHELL COUNTY, Iowa - A 51-year-old Osage woman is facing nine charges, including five felonies, for allegedly sharing drugs with minors. Erin Niemeyer was arrested earlier this month and is facing four felony charges of distributing drugs to a person under 18, four misdemeanor child endangerment charges and a felony charge for use of a minor in a drug trade. According to court documents, several minor children were interviewed by deputies. On one occasion, Niemeyer took the subjects to the town of Plymouth to buy a THC vape cartridge. Afterward, they all smoked it, authorities said. Multiple kids under the age of 18 told deputies that they had smoked marijuana with Niemeyer, documents state. The dates of the alleged incidents range from April 1, 2020 to Nov. 1, 2020. is waiting for a response from the administration of new US President to a set of proposals aimed at overcoming differences between Moscow and Washington, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said here. "We are yet to hear answers from our American colleagues in relation to everything that is already on the negotiating table," Xinhua news agency quoted Zakharova as saying a weekly briefing on Thursday. "The ball is in Washington's court," she added. The spokesperson expressed hope that the Biden administration will pursue "a more balanced (political) course, without aggravating the already excessively confrontational Russian-US relations". Zakharova also urged the Biden administration to "promptly take all necessary measures" to restore phone communication at the Russian Consulate General in New York, TASS News Agency reported. On Tuesday, all phone lines at the Consulate General were reported to be down, along with additional issues with cell phones and Internet connection. "We address Washington once again to take all the necessary measures to restore normal communication for our diplomats in New York...," the spokesperson added. For the first time since the US presidential elections took place on November 3, 2020, President sent a congratulatory telegram to Biden after the latter won the US Electoral College vote that officially determines the presidency. When Biden was projected to win the election, had said that it was "proper to wait for the official results" referring to certification of the outcome by the Electoral College. --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.) Skokie officials have said they hope to move on from phase 1a after this week. At least one Skokie school district has begun vaccinating teachers. School District 68 Superintendent James Garwood said the first day for its educators to get the shot was Tuesday, and he hopes all of his districts eligible staffers under 1b who want the vaccine can get it by the end of March. 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. (Newser) It took less than a year for COVID-19 to spread to every one of America's more than 3,000 counties. The last county to record an infection was Hawaii's Kalawao County, the smallest and least populous county in the country, where quarantine was a way of life for more than a century, the Wall Street Journal reports. The county is on the Kaluapapa peninsula on Moloka'i island. Steep cliffs cut it off from the rest of the island and the only land access is via a mule trail. People with leprosy, now known as Hansen's disease, were exiled there from 1866 to 1969 and the 70 or so current residents include around a dozen Hansen's disease patients, with an average age of 86, reports the Washington Post. story continues below Hawaii health officials say the county's first coronavirus case was reported in December, weeks after a case was finally reported in Loving County, Texas, population 169. A resident who had tested negative in Honolulu tested positive after flying back to the county. Officials say the virus didn't spread in the community because the person and others on the flight quarantined after arrival. "To me, that person was a hero, because they were honest, and they reported it, and they followed the rules of quarantining when they returned from outside the settlement," Glenn Wasserman, chief of the communicable disease and public health nursing division at the Hawaii Department of Health, tells the Journal. (Read more COVID-19 stories.) Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-22 10:23:50|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close MACAO, Jan. 22 (Xinhua) -- One new imported COVID-19 case was reported in Macao on Friday, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the special administrative region to 47, according to the Novel Coronavirus Response and Coordination Center of Macao. The new case was a 43-year-old female Macao resident who departed from Dubai on Jan. 19 and arrived in Japan on Jan. 20 via Singapore, the center said. The woman tested positive for COVID-19 on Thursday night after arriving in Macao boarding a flight from Tokyo, showing no symptoms yet, according to the center. The woman has been sent to hospital for treatment. A total of eight close contacts had been brought under medical observation at a public health center in Coloane. Prior to this, no locally transmitted cases had been reported in Macao for nearly 10 months and no imported cases had been reported for nearly seven months. Enditem Khloe Kardashian and her famous family have long been known to serve some body. And the Keeping Up with the Kardashians star is capitalizing on her assets with a recent photo shoot. She put it all out there Thursday, as she showed off her signature curves in a pair of hip-hugging jeans and a taupe Sherpa puffer jacket from her clothing line Good American. Serving body: Khloe Kardashian put it all out there Thursday, as she showed off her signature curves in a pair of hip-hugging jeans and a taupe Sherpa puffer jacket from her clothing line Good American The 36-year-old arched her back to show off the jeans, while posing against some rolling hills, in a photo posted to the brand's Instagram. It was captioned: 'Outerwear for anywhere [checkmark emoji] @khloekardashian in her favorite two tone Sherpa puffer and the Good Legs released hem.' Khloe modeled another sexy Good American look for Instagram last week, on which partner Tristan Thompson, 29, commented: 'My Queen.' She recently returned home to Los Angeles from Massachusetts, where she spent the holidays with Tristan and their daughter True, two. Model vibes: The snap was captioned: 'Outerwear for anywhere [checkmark emoji] @khloekardashian in her favorite two tone Sherpa puffer and the Good Legs released hem' Baby got back: The 36-year-old arched her back to show off the jeans, while posing against some rolling hills, in a photo posted to the brand's Instagram Kween Kardashian: Khloe modeled another sexy Good American look for Instagram last week, on which partner Tristan Thompson, 29, commented: 'My Queen' A source told People: 'Khloe and True had a fun week in Boston. They played in the snow, shopped and enjoyed holiday outings. They also celebrated an early Christmas with Tristan since they couldnt all be together on Christmas Day.' The insider added of recent engagement rumors, after Khloe was spotted with a massive rock on her ring finger: 'Khloe and Tristan are good. He gifted her a diamond ring, but it's not an engagement ring.' It comes after he signed a two-year contract with the Boston Celtics, reportedly worth $19million, following nine seasons with the Cleveland Cavaliers. Christmas vacation: She recently returned home to Los Angeles from Massachusetts, where she spent the holidays with Tristan and their daughter True, two Snow days: A source told People: 'Khloe and True had a fun week in Boston. They played in the snow, shopped and enjoyed holiday outings. They also celebrated an early Christmas with Tristan since they couldnt all be together on Christmas Day' New team: It comes after he signed a two-year contract with the Boston Celtics, reportedly worth $19million, following nine seasons with the Cleveland Cavaliers A source told ET Online last month: 'Tristan in Boston is a difficult pill to swallow for Khloe especially since she and Tristan have been doing so much better as a couple and as a family lately. Khloe is especially going through it, but is doing her best to keep her head up and stay positive.' The insider added: 'She's not excited for the move for her family's sake, but she is for Tristan and his career. At this point they're planning to split their time between LA and Boston, but it's still up in the air and there's no definite answer since they are still working on rebuilding their relationship and trust.' The couple has worked toward mending their relationship this year in quarantine, after splitting in February of 2019, amid his alleged cheating scandal with former family friend Jordyn Woods, 23. Cocktails for the at-home drinker When life gives you lemons, you make lemonade. When life gives you a global pandemic, tells you to stay indoors, puts you in charge of your little angels education and closes the pub, youll need something far stronger than lemonade. See the boom in mail order cocktail offerings for proof. Everyone from big spirits brands to indie bar operators are using a growing array of innovative packaging to get their products to drinkers and counteract the disastrous impact of yet another lockdown. Grey Goose is shipping kits containing the elements of Pornstar Martinis with access to an online video guide by the cocktails creator, Douglas Ankrah. Monkey Shoulder posted kits to 130 bartenders around the world for its November Lock In Live event. Black Tot marked its 50th anniversary with the launch of a tasting kit and a 24-hour rum festival on Facebook. Its all about liquid on lips for brands using pouches and tasting kits allows them to reach more people for less spend, says Steph DiCamillo, a former bartender and brand ambassador for coffee-infused Colon Salvadoreno rum, who founded mail order business Cocktails by Mail (CBM) last November. When Colon launched in April 2020, it wasnt able to use any of the normal sampling mechanics. So, I created cocktail pouch tasting kits using the format of slim bags in slim boxes that are small enough to fit through a letterbox. We soon discovered that there is huge demand for real, quality cocktails sent direct to peoples homes. Following the success of online mixing classes using the kits to support the rums launch, DiCamillo began hatching plans for CBM with one key difference: CBM uses biodegradable pouches, instead of the heat-sealed plastic pouches and miniature glass bottles in wider use (Grey Goose, Monkey Shoulder and Black Tot all use glass in the above examples). Every time I filled a plastic pouch my heart died a little, she says. Technically theyre recyclable with supermarket bags, but I knew I couldnt count on people to go out of their way to do this. When I started forming CBM as a company, priority number one was finding a more eco-friendly packaging solution. CROWDED MARKET Having a point of difference is crucial. Home cocktails is an increasingly crowded market as operators left reeling by the closure of Britains bars look for new ways to do business. Necessity is the mother of invention, as they say. And everyone knows mother likes her gin. By far our most popular cocktail over Christmas was our Superfruit Negroni, a mix of Whitley Neill Rhubarb & Ginger gin, Campari, Martini Rosso, hibiscus shrub, sea buckthorn and rhubarb bitters, says Chris Edwards, founder of Brixtons Shrub & Shutter bar and First Aid Box in Herne Hill, which has not opened its doors since the first lockdown. First Aid Box was just too small to accommodate the 2m distancing rule, so we had to close. But people still wanted our cocktails, so we started selling in the local area and ended up selling loads. When full lockdown came in again, we had to temporarily close Shrub & Shutter. Now we have widened deliveries out across the UK mainland. Transparent Pina Coladas, Blueberry Sours and Sazer-Quacks (all packaged in trademark apothecary-style bottled complete with child-proof lids) have also been taking the edge off lockdown for Edwards punters. Canned versions of Shrub & Shutter cocktails with Chapel Down wines, such as Dry Flint Negronis and Granny Smith Gimlets, are also on the cards. Edwards, who built his ecommerce site himself with the platform Squarespace, is not alone in having to adapt fast. David Wood, founder of premium drinks importer & distributor The Liana Collection, says: In May, we had a really hard decision to make after the collapse of our on-trade business: either let our team go or fight on and react to this new climate. He chose the latter, launching The Liana Cocktail Company in June. With punters unable to get into the bar, the venture aims to bring the bar to them with doorstep deliveries of premixed, quality cocktails in pouches with a novel twist: QR codes linked to online videos of virtual bartenders explaining the stories behind the drinks. It continues our mission to help tell the stories of exceptional, small producers and, for the first time ever, consumers can hear these stories in their living room, kitchen or local park through the magic of QR codes, says Wood. This is a technology I believe we will see a lot more of in consumer goods in the coming months. Indeed, Becky Davies, head of commercial at spirits distributor Ten Locks, says punters arent only missing the theatre of having cocktails mixed before their eyes, theyre also missing the patter of bartenders and the knowledge they share. Communication with end users is still key, she says. While they cant spend time asking questions in a venue before they make their choice, players should consider including an information card with online orders. Details about a brand, its values and the venue itself will help build loyalty and encourage visits in person once restrictions are lifted. LASTING IMPACT The questions on everyones minds (if not their lips) are how long the on-trade will take to recover and what that means for the longevity of doorstep cocktails. When restrictions were loosened last summer many drinkers flocked to bars while they could, but online cocktail delivery companies say demand remained strong. It seems likely that Covid will have a lasting impact on the way we socialise. Thats why newcomers should view home delivery as more than just a stop gap to get them through the current difficulties. Communication and ensuring deliveries are made on time and undamaged will be neglected at their peril. Delivery companies have been operating at higher capacities and weve experienced more damage as a result, says Richard Sager, UK general manager at Nio Cocktails, which began distributing premixed cocktails in recyclable, responsibly sourced paper sleeves that fit through letterboxes in the UK in 2019, after launching in Italy two years earlier. Sager says the company strengthened elements of [its] packaging to minimise damage during delivery and reduce any risk of customer disappointment. He adds: Its the fact that we had developed robust working practices that allowed us to meet the increased demand without risking tarnishing our brand. Supping cocktails at home could well become the new normal. If operators that have made the switch to home deliveries in recent months are to stay the course, theyll need to develop similar practices. Related articles: The Romanian Air Force on Thursday used a C-130 Hercules aircraft to fly into Romania approximately five tonnes of medical supplies from Qatar needed for the ongoing COVID-19 vaccination campaign, according to the Defence Ministry (MApN), according to AGERPRES. The supplies consist of 500,000 1 ml syringes and 450,000 3 ml syringes. The flight was carried out at the request of the Emergency Management Department as part of efforts to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. MApN points out that the distribution of the medical devices to the vaccination centres will be carried out by modes of transport provided by the Inspectorate General for Emergency Situations. While the lithium-ion battery is dominant in battery-electric vehicles, NiMH batteries are still the most common in full hybrid vehicles (HEVs), according to a new reportFull Hybrid Electric Vehicle Markets 2021-2041from IDTechEx. Toyota is the ruling OEM in the global HEV car market, with more than 60% market share in 2019. Other manufacturers have started to eat into this share over the years, but Toyota still reigns supreme. While the other OEMs have mostly transitioned towards Li-ion batteries for their HEVs, Toyota remains committed to NiMH batteries and HEVs for the foreseeable future, with the majority of their line-up now using either NiMH or Li-ion depending on the specifications. For the relatively small batteries that are used in HEVs, the NiMH is still sufficient to meet requirements. It is also much more technologically mature and lower cost than Li-ion. However, as Li-ion costs continue to fall and HEV battery capacity increases, NiMH batteries are unlikely to remain competitive, but will still see an increase in short term demand, IDTechEx says. Sales of HEVs have continued to grow throughout the COVID-19 pandemic despite the downturn of the overall car market. This, combined with Toyotas dominance and NiMH portfolio, provides a good market for NiMH batteries, at least in the short term. Li-ion technology is still evolving and reducing in price; at a certain point, it may no longer be cost-effective to continue using NiMH. Additionally, fossil fuel bans are incoming, with countries such as the UK banning purely internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles by 2030 and only allowing hybrids that can drive a significant distance with zero emissions. HEV manufacturers will likely increase the battery capacity in order to give more electric-only range, making the Li-ion option more appealing. Even with this stay of execution for HEVs, banning vehicles with ICEs of any sort is likely to follow shortly after. This will eliminate the HEV in many markets and hence the demand for NiMH, IDTechEx notes. The report gives an in-depth look at the historic HEV market in China, Europe, Japan, South Korea, and the US, with an outlook over the next 20 years. An extensive model database of more than 80 HEVs sold between 2015 and 2019 is used to determine the markets battery and motor-generator technology in addition to geographical markets and manufacturer market shares. Israel's M&H Distillery signs UK distribution deal with Penderyn Israel's trailblazing M&H Distillery has announced the long-awaited launch of its first range of single malt whiskies into the UK market. The Tel Aviv-based distillery has signed Welsh whisky maker Penderyn as the exclusive UK distributor of its new series, The Elements, as well as its Classic Single Malt - the first Israeli whisky. M&H was established in 2012 under the leadership of the legendary Dr Jim Swan, with the hot Middle Eastern climate helping the distillery team to create unique spirits. Its whiskies are currently available in markets including the US, Canada, France, the Netherlands, Germany, Australia and South Africa. Its Classic Single Malt Whisky is aged in ex-Bourbon and rejuvenated wine casks, while the three releases in the Elements series feature a different cask element designed to enhance the liquid. The M&H Distillery also produces Levantine Gin, made from 100 per cent malted barley that is mashed in-house, which is already available in the UK. Eitan Attir, CEO of M&H, said: "Despite the global situation, 2020 has been the most exciting year for us with the worldwide release of our first collection of single malt whiskies. We are very enthusiastic about this partnership with Penderyn, who we believe is the best partner to develop our brand in the UK." Stephen Davies, CEO of Penderyn Distillery, said: "We're proud to distribute the M&H's single malts collection to the British public. There's a new world of single malts out there to be explored, and the M&H Distillery is bringing its unique taste of Israeli whisky to our shores." 22 January 2021 - Bethany Whymark Champaign, IL (61820) Today Occasional rain. Thunder possible. High 56F. Winds N at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 100%.. Tonight Showers early, then cloudy overnight. Low 44F. Winds NNE at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 50%. Tamil Nadu Newsprint & Papers | Thiru R Ramaseshan resigned as Executive Director (Finance) & Chief Financial Officer of the company. The price of kraft paper, used in packaging, has increased by Rs 5-7 a kg in the last four weeks despite a low demand from corrugated box manufacturers who use it as their primary raw material. Demand is low since it is a lean season for the manufacturers of corrugated boxes or cartons used in packaging. Kraft, which in German means strong paper, is quoting at Rs 28-30 kg against Rs 18-23 in early December. Before the coronavirus pandemic, the price was Rs 27 a kg. The price depends on the BF, or bursting factor, which means the strength at which a bunch of papers bursts when hit with a hammer. A paper industry expert said that manufacturers of kraft paper, made from waste paper, are unwilling to cut prices on the grounds that they are finding it difficult to source waste paper. The December-February period is one of change. Old cartons are changed since there is no place for the old design and companies shift to new packaging. New orders for the boxes begin in February, the expert, who did not wish to be identified, said. Corrugated boxes demand is also down since some goods manufacturers are adopting alternative packing methods. For example, cool drink manufacturers, who used to pack 12 two-litre bottles in a carton, are now using plastic trays, doing away with the corrugated boxes. Demand for corrugated boxes has not picked up over the last two months since products manufactured by fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) companies are piling up with movement being slack. Besides this, the demand for corrugated boxes for pisciculture in Bengal is sharply lower since December-January is a lean period. In view of this, corrugated box manufacturers are buying kraft paper on a hand-to-mouth basis. These manufacturers cannot seek a hike in the box prices from buyers like FMCG companies since they would have to bid and get orders on prices that prevailed earlier. The manufacturers can hope to raise prices only when a new tender opens up. Kraft paper manufacturers are holding up their prices as they have found takers in China, which has imported higher volume from India as it has banned imports of all wastes from January 1, 2021. The kraft paper manufacturers face other constraints, too, in importing waste paper as its availability is lower, while freight rates are high besides ships and containers not being available. If you want the container to be available early, you need to pay a 10 percent surcharge. This has made imports of waste paper costlier and difficult, the expert said. Kraft paper manufacturing does not require bleaching and hence it is produced by small and medium enterprises. These manufacturers mix water with old papers and convert them into pulp before the kraft paper is made. A kraft paper maker can be found in every locality making use of old and waste papers in the area. As waste paper freight is fixed on volume and not weight, it is a costly proposition for the manufacturers, forcing them to settle for locally available raw material. Similarly, corrugated box making units spring around these kraft paper units to save higher freight costs. For example in Vapi city in Gujarat, corrugated box manufacturers get kraft paper delivered locally by these small manufacturers. The expert said the export of kraft paper to China could emerge as a threat for the availability of fibre for kraft paper makers and corrugated box manufacturers. A paper can normally be recycled five times. This means if 100 tonnes are exported, it takes away the potential availability of 500 tonnes of fibre for the paper industry, the expert said. As most of the small and medium manufacturers use old technology, they are able to recover only 65 percent of the fibre in old paper with the rest being washed away with water that is mixed with the old paper. All these have resulted in kraft paper makers keeping their prices higher at current levels. But this does not mean that there would be a shortage of paper in the days to come, the expert said. Since mid-November 2020, kraft paper prices have surged mainly on account of an import ban by China on all wastes, mainly paper, that came into force on January 1, 2021, and non-availability of containers. China had stopped importing wastepaper from across the world well ahead of the ban. Chinese paper mills began importing kraft paper from India to use it as pulp or a fibre source to manufacture paper. This resulted in a shortage of kraft paper for corrugated box manufacturers in India. (Subramani Ra Mancombu is a journalist based in Chennai who writes on commodities and agriculture) On the Day of Unity, January 22, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky took part in a ceremony honoring the memory of President of the Ukrainian People's Republic Mykhailo Hrushevsky. Zelensky laid a bouquet of flowers at the foot of the monument to the prominent statesman. A basket of flowers was also installed near the memorial, the presidential press service reported. The ceremony was attended by Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Dmytro Razumkov, Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal and Head of the Office of the President Andriy Yermak. In addition, due to the anniversary of the tragic death of the activists of the Revolution of Dignity Serhiy Nigoyan and Mikhail Zhiznevsky, flowers were laid on behalf of the President to the sites of death of the Heroes of Ukraine on Hrushevsky Street in Kyiv, the message reads. As reported, the Day of Unity was established in 1999 by a decree of the second President Leonid Kuchma, taking into account the political and historical significance of the unification of the UPR and ZUNR in 1919 to create a single council Ukrainian state. In 2011-2013, Ukraine celebrated the Day of Unity and Freedom on this day. 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. Elsa Pataky recently arrived in Sydney to shoot Benjamin Millepied's Hollywood adaptation of the opera Carmen. And the 44-year-old actress caught up with her co-star Rossy de Palma in the city on Thursday as they took a break from filming. The two women, who both hail from Spain, enjoyed a friendly conversation as they sat on a bench. Stylish: Elsa Pataky looked effortlessly chic in a pair of tan shorts and a baggy black T-shirt as she stepped out in Sydney on Thursday Elsa, who is married to actor Chris Hemsworth, looked effortlessly chic in a pair of tan shorts and a baggy black T-shirt. The Fast and Furious star completed her look with beige sneakers, and carried her belongings in a tote bag. Rossy, meanwhile, opted for a quirky ensemble consisting of a green dress, a fringed fedora and an oversized Nike bum bag. The 56-year-old has appeared in a number of movies by Spanish filmmaker Pedro Almodovar, including Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown, The Flower of My Secret, and Julieta. Good chat? The 44-year-old actress caught up with her co-star Rossy de Palma (right) in the city as they took a break from filming the Hollywood adaptation of the opera Carmen Unusual: Rossy opted for a quirky ensemble consisting of a green dress, a fringed fedora and an oversized Nike bum bag It's unclear what roles Elsa and Rossy will be playing in Carmen, but they're expected to be filming scenes together in the coming weeks. The duo will star alongside Normal People's Paul Mescal, who stepped in to play the male lead, Aidan, after Fifty Shades of Grey star Jamie Dornan pulled out. Melissa Barrera will play the titular role. While the opera 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. Carmen is Benjamin Millepied's feature directorial debut. Coming soon: It's unclear what roles Elsa and Rossy will be playing in Carmen, but they're expected to be filming scenes together in the coming weeks Benjamin, who is married to actress Natalie Portman, arrived in Australia to begin production on the film in November. He previously shared his excitement over having Paul, Melissa and Rossy on board. 'I feel so lucky to have actors as extraordinary as Melissa, Paul and Rossy with me on this film,' he said in a 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.' Normal People is available to stream on Stan in Australia Apple is blazing fast with its releases as new rumors speculated on the arrival of the next version of iPhone and iPad's operating system, the iOS 15, that would soon come and bid farewell to iPhone 6s and SE Gen 1. While sad news may come for people who held on to older versions of the iPhone, another release of the smartphone would come with the iPhone 13 rumors. The most valuable technology company from Cupertino, California, is going nowhere but forward with its releases, and not looking back to the old iPhones which would soon be phased out with its OS. The popular iOS would soon transition from 14 to 15 this year, says the leaks, despite the operating system still at its beta stage on its current version. The iOS 14 is still facing many bugs and issues at this moment, with the iOS 14.3's release reportedly draining the smartphone's battery more often than expected with the recent update from Apple. The bug is caused by background processes that task the iPhone to backup photos, automatic animations, and other processes included with the iOS version 14.3. Read Also: 'Battlefront 2' Crossplay: Redditors Demand Cross Platform Gameplay-What Does EA Say About This? iOS 15 Rumors: iPhone 13 Releasing Soon According to a French website called "iPhone Soft," they have received news of the iOS 15 that would soon dawn the systems and daily operations of the iPhone and iPads this coming year. However, that is not the only news Apple would bring shortly, as it would also bring an updated version of the iPhone 12, with the iPhone 13 this year. While news of the iPhone 13 may come so sudden after the recent release of the iPhone 12 last November and only shipping its iPhone 12 Pro Max version by early December 2020, this is the phase Apple is in now. It seems that the trend would be a yearly update of the smartphones and their operating system, along with its popular tablet counterpart, the iPad. iOS 15 is the next, and most advanced version of the iOS that will reportedly, be the native operating system of the soon-releasing iPhone 13, and replace the current iOS 14 that is still in its beta testing phase. iOS 15 Rumors: Bidding Farewell to iPhone 6s and SE Gen 1 Apple would also be bidding farewell to update the old 2015-released smartphone, the iPhone 6s, and 2016's iPhone SE, also known as Generation 1. While these smartphones survived the test of time and were still included in the revolutionary iOS 14, which is said to be iPhone's most advanced system yet, it would not be included in the transition to the 15th version. According to Mac Rumors, iOS 15 is leaked to be working for only the iPhone 7, 7 Plus, and above, adding iPhone 13 to its list of the growing smartphone variant from the Cupertino giant. Various leakers have been mentioning this transition, regarding dropping the support for iPhone 6s and the SE, as it moves on to the future iOS. Related Article: iOS 14.3 Battery Drain Issue Persists: User Shares Fix and Device Settings to Prevent it This article is owned by Tech Times Written by Isaiah Alonzo 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. In July, Erica Rodriguez, 20, checked herself into the Renfrew Center, a residential center for eating-disorder treatment in the Philadelphia area. Rodriguez, who has been struggling with disordered eating since she was 12, had relapsed in quarantine. It had gotten to the point that I was feeling a bad physical toll, she said. The day before I decided to go, it was getting hard to breathe. I would stand up and feel super dizzy and faint. It felt like I was having a panic attack because my heart was beating so fast all the time. After five days at the Renfrew Center, staff members recommended she complete eight weeks of inpatient treatment. But that changed the very next day. Rodriguez was told that she had to leave the center immediately because a staff member she had been in contact with had tested positive for COVID-19. She was told that she could come back in two weeks if she tested negative but that the facility could not guarantee her a bed. They discharged me with a new medication, Rodriguez said. I was left with no help. The many stressors brought on by the coronavirus pandemic have led to increased substance use, mental health issues, and disordered eating behaviors. Experts predict that the pandemic may lead to an increase in deaths of despair, a term for early deaths among young and midlife Americans, from suicide, drug overdoses, and alcoholism. Overdoses in Philadelphia are expected to hit an all-time high in 2020; nationwide, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently reported the highest-ever number of fatal overdoses nationally in a 12-month period. READ MORE: Impact of COVID-19 shutdown and now police brutality may cause increase in deaths of despair Many residential treatment centers around the country have experienced more demand for their services during the pandemic and serious struggles with containing the virus. In Cape Cod, Mass., a detox center weathered criticisms for having lax COVID-19 policies after seven patients and six staff members tested positive this month. In New Hampshire, patients complained about a lack of social distancing and mask-wearing at one of the states biggest residential substance-use disorder treatment facilities, which battled an outbreak that affected at least 50 people. In October, about 80 patients at the 270-bed Kirkbride Center in West Philadelphia tested positive for coronavirus the addiction treatment centers second outbreak since the beginning of the pandemic. Public health experts who worked with the facility to contain the spread said they did everything right, taking dramatic measures to contain it but because the virus can often spread without symptoms, it was difficult to detect early. A family disease Residential treatment centers have long included in-person therapy sessions, support groups, and family visits in their programs. Part of the challenge now is delivering those treatments virtually, said Gina Marchando, CEO of Seabrook House, an addiction treatment facility in New Jersey owned by Summit BHC. Research shows addiction is a family disease to some degree, Marchando said. So although weve been able to include family virtually, you still miss out on that family dynamic. Theres something so critical about getting that family system together in one room with a skilled clinician to be able to really understand, gauge, and assess those dynamics. Marchando said the facility requires all residents to be tested for COVID-19, and quarantines those waiting for results. READ MORE: Calls keep soaring at Philly and national crisis hotlines: It spiked and hasnt stopped A former employee, though, said staff and residents who had come into contact with people who tested positive for COVID hadnt been notified of their exposure, even though some had shared rooms. The former employee, who asked that their name be withheld for fear of reprisals, also noted that a nurse manager at the facility told staffers that even if they were exposed to the virus, they werent required to quarantine while they awaited COVID-19 test results. The manager encouraged staff to take vitamins to boost their immune systems, and said that testing had to be approved by the facilitys human resources division and would be provided only for staffers who had a true exposure to the virus. Seabrook did not respond to a follow-up request to comment on the employees claims. Renfrew requires patients to submit a negative COVID-19 test result that is not older than 14 days before they are admitted. After taking the test, Renfrew expects patients to self-quarantine until they enter the treatment center. Patients who are at higher risk, such as those who live on college campuses or have been in large gatherings, are required to provide two negative results. At the facility, all staff and patients are required to wear face masks and no visitors are allowed inside, said Franci Kraman, a physician at Renfrew, in a written statement. Any patient who tests positive for COVID is immediately discharged and supported through our virtual programming, Kraman said. A spokesperson also pointed out that Renfrew prioritizes returning patients and ensures that beds are available for them. Out of an abundance of caution we also discharge patients who are defined as close contact. During the quarantine period, the discharged individuals are able to attend our virtual services. After the quarantine period, our admissions department works closely with the patient to ensure a seamless transition back to campus. Rodriguez opted not to participate in virtual programming and hasnt returned to Renfrew to continue her treatment, partially because she needed to return to work. Any interruption to inpatient treatment can be detrimental to a patients overall recovery, said Bruce Zahn, a professor in the department of clinical psychology at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. READ MORE: Philadelphia may be on the way to a record for fatal drug overdoses in 2020, another COVID-19 consequence The general principle is that the longer one stays engaged in treatment, the better the outcome, he said. One of the main things with COVID is that theres increased stress. If a patient is in treatment for mental illness and substance misuse, they are already not doing so well to begin with. Youre taking vulnerable people and taking away their treatment, which makes them even more vulnerable. At Eagleville Hospital, a large treatment center in Montgomery County that takes some of the regions most vulnerable addicted patients, staff have been on edge as COVID-19 cases spiked last month from one to 30 in a single week, one nurse said. The facility was not testing patients at admission just requiring them to present a negative COVID test. Some patients would show up with test results from some time ago and get admitted anyway, said the nurse, who also asked that her name be withheld for fear of reprisals. Management at the hospital told staff there arent enough tests for the patient population but the nurse said shes unsure why Eagleville doesnt have enough tests when other rehabs have instituted universal testing programs. We were told we werent able to get tests, period, back in the spring, the nurse said. Now, my facility is acting like we havent been going through a pandemic. Eagleville officials did not respond to a request for comment. Social distancing was difficult to practice, with four patients to a room, the nurse said, and staffing was at an all-time low. In some units, 40 patients were assigned to a single nurse and a technician. Adapting protocols At Brookdale Premier Addiction Recovery in Scotrun, Monroe County, COVID-19 protocols have evolved as the CDC has released more detailed information on containing the virus. Temperature checks were implemented in March for staff members and patients, said Joe Mattioli IV, chief operating officer and executive director at the center. Social distancing measures were also implemented for patients. We still maintained the ability for them to have interaction, Mattioli said. Keeping everybody separated worked very well for close to seven, eight months. We had only one patient case, and two staff cases. But those cases were enough for the center to take a closer look at its own protocols, Mattioli said. They moved all group activities to open-air spaces. Staff members, who are tested if they are exposed or show symptoms, have their temperatures taken every day when they report to work. Every patient admitted to Brookdale is tested for the virus before entering the facility, and even if they test negative, they must be isolated for 72 hours and present another negative test before theyre allowed to participate in group activities. While patients are isolated, theyre treated via telehealth, said Mattioli. When a patient or staff member tests positive, other patients and staff members are notified and the treatment center conducts comprehensive contact tracing, Mattioli said. Staff members have also begun their vaccinations as of mid-January, 72% of the facilitys staff has received their first round. Im always very sensitive to the mortality rate of COVID, Mattioli said. Its nothing to scoff at and its terrible. This is killing people. But the disease of addiction has been killing much greater numbers of people for a much greater period of time, and weve got to make sure our quality of care isnt compromised by one disease. live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More SEBI on Thursday imposed a penalty of Rs 1 crore on HDFC Bank for invoking securities pledged by stock broker BRH Wealth Kreators in violation of the regulator's interim directions. In addition, the bank has been directed to transfer Rs 158.68 crore along with 7 percent interest per annum into an escrow account till the issue of settlement of clients' securities is reconciled, SEBI said in an order. The instant proceedings have essentially arisen on account of non-conformity by HDFC Bank with the directions contained in the interim order issued by SEBI against BRH Wealth Kreators and other entities on October 7, 2019. Through the interim order, SEBI had directed BRH to cease and desist from undertaking any activity in the securities market and further, its assets would be utilised only for the purpose of payment of money and/ or delivery of securities, as the case may be, to the clients or investors under the supervision of the concerned exchanges or depositories. As such, the expression "assets" was extended to all properties of BRH, including securities, that were pledged by it against which funds were raised from HDFC Bank and other financial institutions, SEBI noted. Further, the depositories and banks were directed not to make debits from the demat as well as bank accounts of BRH. SEBI found that HDFC Bank on October 14, 2019 invoked the pledge of securities to the extent of Rs 158.68 crore and thereafter, sold most of the securities and appropriated the sale proceeds towards the outstanding under the various credit facilities advanced by the bank to BRH. The private sector lender had granted credit facilities to BRH and BRH Commodities aggregating to Rs 191.16 crore and Rs 26.61 crore, respectively. SEBI said the interim order was not an ultimate determination of the rights of recovery of the bank 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. "I find the invocation of pledge of client securities available in the two demat accounts of BRH...by the noticee (HDFC Bank), was not in conformity with the directions contained in the interim order," SEBI Whole Time Member G Mahalingam said. Accordingly, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has imposed a penalty of Rs 1 crore on HDFC Bank and the fine shall be payable within a period of 45 days. In addition, the private sector bank has been asked to keep the Reserve Bank of India informed about the order within a week. Illustrative image (Source: VNA) Hanoi - Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has asked the Ministry of Transport to work with localities to take old motor vehicles that do not meet circulation standards off the roads. Exhaust emissions from old and raggedy motorbikes have been blamed as one of the causes of air pollution and safety risks in big cities such as Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Data from the Hanoi People's Committee shows there are more than 5.7 million motorcycles in use in the city, nearly half of which are old motorcycles manufactured before the year 2000. There are more than 730,000 cars and many vehicles from other provinces that regularly travel into the city, causing a great deal of pollution. Motorbikes also account for 80-90 percent of the total carbon monoxide and high hydrocarbon and 50 percent of the total nitrogen oxide emitted from all road motor vehicles. Old motor vehicles emit much greater levels of toxic gases than those that are maintained periodically. These pollutants greatly affect the quality of the urban air environment and directly affect people's health. In 2010, then Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung issued a project to control motorcycle emissions in cities across the country. From September 2020, Hanoi has also implemented a pilot project on emission measurement and support. Under this programme, the owners of motorbikes more than 18 years old that do not meet emission standards can claim from 2-4 million VND to buy a new vehicle. This funding will be provided by the Vietnam Motorcycle Manufacturers Association. But so far it has not been implemented since such a move requires some social costs and administrative procedures that are not specified in the law, according to the Hanoi Department of Natural Resources and Environment. According to traffic experts, gas emission checks for motorbikes are necessary but need a specific roadmap. Nguyen Van Phuong, deputy head of Motor Vehicle Quality Division under the Vietnam Register, said the Government has only issued regulations on periodic inspections for cars but not motorbikes. The country also lacks regulations stipulating the maximum lifep of motorcycles. Therefore, there are no specific statistics on the state of old motorbikes across the country, Phuong told Lao Dong (Labour) newspaper. Recovering old motorbikes is not easy because it is the property of the people, so it is necessary to build a complete legal corridor, according to Phuong. In many countries, motorbikes are managed by technical requirements and tariffs on old motorcycles are very high, experts said. Vietnam should also control outdated vehicles through emissions inspection, they said. Along with that, the Government and manufacturers need to offer financial mechanisms and policies to support vehicle owners. The Indian Air Force (IAF) kickstarted the first major international wargames involving its Rafale fighter jets in Jodhpur with their French counterparts. Desert Knight-21: First edition As part of the first edition of the exercise Desert Knight-21, four French Rafale fighters landed in Jodhpur after flying directly for around four hours from the Djibouti airbase using their A-330 multirole tanker transport aircraft which also landed here. Exercise Desert Knight-21, is being at Jodhpur Air Force Station from January 20 to January 24 this year. Mean machines The French are participating with Rafale, Airbus A-330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT), A-400M Tactical Transport aircraft and approximately 175 personnel. The IAF aircraft participating in the exercise include Mirage 2000, Su-30 MKI, Rafale, IL-78 Flight Refuelling Aircraft, AWACS and AEW&C aircraft. Indo-French defence cooperation The exercise marks an important milestone in the series of engagements between the two air forces. As part of Indo-French defence cooperation, the Indian Air Force and the French Air and Space Force held six editions of air exercises named 'Garuda' - the latest being in 2019 at Air Force Base Mont-de-Marsan in France. As measures to further the existing cooperation, the two forces have been gainfully utilising available opportunities to conduct 'hop-exercises'. The French Air and Space Force deployment, while ferrying to Australia for Ex Pitchblack in 2018, was hosted by the IAF at the air force stations in Agra and Gwalior for exercise with fighters and MRTT aircraft. Currently, the French detachment for Ex Desert Knight-21 is deployed in Asia as part of their 'Skyros Deployment' and has ferried in forces to Air Force Station Jodhpur. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Never miss a story! Stay connected and informed with Mint. Download our App Now!! Topics The British Government lawyer who resigned over threats to break international law has said he is perplexed by Brandon Lewis's denial that there is an Irish Sea border. Sir Jonathan Jones said he did not know whether "it's just confusion, or lack of understanding about what the content of those obligations is". "What I'm afraid we're seeing is people just being blase or inaccurate about what the agreement actually means." Sir Jonathan told Prospect Magazine that was potentially "storing up trouble" for the future. "Either you end up in the place where we ended up on the internal market bill - of ministers effectively implying that they're prepared to ignore the bits of the agreement they don't like, which would be a very serious problem. "Or you have people basically being misled about what the agreement requires, or what it means. And then that will all be exposed." He added: "I think that's already happening. People [who were] led to believe that there'll be no border checks, or that trade will flow as smoothly as [it] did when we were in the single market, are learning that that's just not true. "So you have a mismatch between the rhetoric and reality and at worst, it implies a willingness of the government to somehow magic away the bits of the agreement that it no longer likes." Asked about the possibility of terminating the Northern Ireland protocol, he said there were mechanisms for Britain to raise concerns with the EU and resolve the problems. Sir Jonathan said: "If the Government is saying it wants to use the mechanisms available to improve the operation of the new arrangements, then that would be perfectly understandable. "If the Government were to be saying: 'It's outrageous that the EU member states are now imposing checks' - of the kind they're perfectly entitled to impose - and that these are grounds somehow for the UK to walk away from the agreement, that would be pretty self-destructive. "I hope that is not what is being said. "If the UK continually gives the impression that it's prepared to depart from its obligations when it decides they don't suit, that I would have thought is a terrible message to send to the EU and to every other partner, or potential partner." Tamil Nadu Elections 2021: Assembly to meet on Feb 2 India oi-Vicky Nanjappa Chennai, Jan 22: The Tamil Nadu Assembly would meet here on February 2 for the year''s first session with the customary Governor''s address to the House, the Legislative Assembly Secretariat said on Thursday. Governor Banwarilal Purohit has summoned the Assembly to meet at 11 AM on February 2 at ''Kalaivanar Arangam'' in the Omandurar Government Estate here, a notification said. The session would begin with the customary address of the Governor to the House and the Business Advisory Committee would later decide on the duration of the session. This year''s first session comes barely a few months ahead of the Assembly elections -expected in April or early May- and it is likely to be more stormy than before with main opposition DMK stepping up its attack on the AIADMK government in its poll campaign over a range of issues including corruption allegations. COVID-19 vaccine: Tamil Nadu health minister takes coronavirus jab Centre-farmers hold 11th round of talks, impasse over farm laws continues| Oneindia News The Assembly hall in the centuries old Fort St George premises was considered unsuitable in view of the coronavirus pandemic and the House met in September last year at the Arangam, a government auditorium and this year''s session too would be held in the same location. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, January 22, 2021, 10:31 [IST] It has been exactly 22 days since stand-up comedian Munawar Faruqui was arrested in Madhya Pradesh where he was for one of his shows. Faruqui, along with four others, were arrested on charges of passing indecent remarks against Hindu deities and Union Home Minister Amit Shah during a show in Indore, police said then. So far, there hasn't been any concrete evidence against him. ALSO READ: A Look at Arrested Comedian Munawar Faruqui's Tryst with Satire: Partition, Gujarat, Muslim Stereotypes According to police, the complainant overheard 'rehearsal jokes' that the Mumbai-based artist was going to crack on his show. The complaint was filed by Eklavya Singh Gaur (36), son of local BJP MLA Malini Laxman Singh Gaur, based on which Faruqui and four others were arrested, police said. Gaur and his associates had gone to the show as an audience, where they objected to the comments and created a ruckus over it. They also forced the event to stop. Twenty-two days have passed since his arrest, but there has been no reprieve for Faruqui. The case may be handed to Uttar Pradesh police in the coming days. Here is a timeline of events that followed the 30-year-old stand-up comedian's arrest: On January 1, Faruqui was performing at a cafe in 56 Dukan of Indore. The show was interrupted by a group of people who said his jokes were mocking Hindu religion and Gods. A complaint was filed by Eklavya Singh Gaur (36), son of local BJP MLA Malini Laxman Singh Gaur. Following the complaint, Faruqui and four others, local comic Prakhar Vyas, Nalin Yadav, Pratik Vyas and Edwin Anthony, were arrested. Day after Faruquis arrest, his friend, Sadakat Khan, was also arrested. Interestingly, Khan was not even named in the FIR. The charges pressed against him were that he was a co-organiser of the event. His bail plea was rejected by a court in Madhya Pradesh on January 5.. On January 13, Indore police chief Vijay Khatri acknowledged that there was no concrete evidence against Faruqui, but he defended his arrest. Apart from the rehearsals, there were his old videos too. They were going to do it, anyway. All of their jokes were about Hindu gods and goddesses. It isnt as if they would have not cracked these jokes if there was no hungama," Khatri was quoted as saying in media reports. While there is a lack of evidence against Faruqui, a video from April 2020 is being cited as the reason for his arrest. In the video, the comedian cracks joke around the song 'Mera piya ghar aya O Ramji' where he talks about the irony in the lyrics. This video was used to file an FIR against him in Uttar Pradesh on January 6. The FIR against him has been filed in Allahabads George Town police station and has been booked for charges of committing offences affecting communal harmony and hurting religious sentiments of people. A team of Uttar Pradesh police team reached Indore last week to take Faruqui to an Allahabad court. Police Inspector Dhakeshwar Singh of Allahabad Crime Branch said the citys additional chief judicial magistrate had issued the production warrant against Faruqui on January 6 in a case which was lodged in the city last April on the complaint of a local advocate accusing the comedian of mocking and insulting Hindu deities in his viral video clips on social media. The FIR lodged in Allahabad, however, did not give the correct address of the comedian but on the news of his arrest by Indore police, the UP police too moved the Allahabad court and secured the production warrant against him, he added. A UP police team presented the same warrant to an Indore magisterial court and the jail authorities there to bring him to Allahabad, said Singh. On January 14, Faruqui moved Madhya Pradesh High court seeking bail. The matter was posted for hearing the next day. However, the plea was rejected then also. His judicial custody was extended till January 27. ALGIERS: Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune on Wednesday successfully underwent surgery on his foot to address complications resulting from a coronavirus infection, the presidency said. The surgery, details of which were not specified, was carried out in Germany, where he had spent more than two months for treatment of COVID-19, returning home in December. Elected in December 2019, Tebboune, 75, has promised political and economic reforms following mass protests that forced his predecessor Abdelaziz Bouteflika to resign after two decades in power. 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 Robert Kocharyan on years of his leadership in Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia Situation on Armenian-Azerbaijani border is still tense, more on COVID-19 in Armenia, May 28 digest "Armenia" alliance of political parties paying tribute to founder of First Republic Aram Manukyan (LIVE) Yerevan.today: Armenia acting PM not greeted at ruling party's headquarters, citizens call him 'capitulator' Russia MOD reports on maintenance of ceasefire regime in Nagorno-Karabakh Armenia acting MOD meets with Russian counterpart in Moscow Armenia 2nd President: I see possibility of restoring borders of Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast We can provide our army with some key, modernized weapons, says Armenia ex-President Kocharyan Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: Captives issue is not one that any opposition force can resolve OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs release statement on detention of 6 Armenian servicemen by Azerbaijan Armenian acting Deputy PM: Discussion on issues possible only after withdrawal of Azeri troops from Armenia's territory Armenia acting PM on Syunik roads, Russian military posts: This is only place where there are working nuances Armenia acting PM: Process of return of POWs will intensify after upcoming elections Putin congratulates Aliyev on Republic Day 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 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. PM launches pan India rollout of Covid-19 vaccination drive Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday launched the worlds largest Covid-19 vaccination programme covering the entire length and breadth of the country via video conferencing. A sanitation worker from AIIMS, New Delhi, was the first Indian to get a Covid-19 vaccine shot, moments after Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the inoculation drive with an emotional address to the people. The current session covering the entire length and breadth of the country involves a total of 3,006 sites across all states and union territories, virtually connected during the launch. The prime minister remembered the desperate times of 2020 when families did not know any way out of the pandemic, and when they could not even offer ritualistic send-offs to the departed. Decision of a lockdown wasnt easy but we went by the dictum Jaan hai toh jahaan hai, Modi said. These vaccines will give us a decisive victory in our fight against Covid-19, said the prime minister, hailing the Indian resolve against Covid-19 as one of confidence and self reliance. Exhorting people against falling for rumours or propaganda, the prime minister praised Indian scientists and researchers with meditating saints, who worked through the last year to deliver two made-in-India vaccines which are the most cost effective in the world. The country has awaited this day eagerly for months. Everyone wanted to know when the COVID vaccine will come. The vaccine is here and in a very short time, he added. Today, a grateful nation returns that favour and repays that loan by ensuring that health-care workers get the first shots, Modi said while kicking off one-of-a-kind vaccine drive in human history. Never has such a scale of vaccination been run ever in history. You can imagine the scale from the first phase. More than hundred nations have less than three crore population and india is vaccinating three crore in phase one, Modi said. Do not make the mistake of taking one shot and forgetting another. There will be a 28-day gap. You must remember that two weeks after the second dose, you will get the necessary protection from COVID. Dont become casual affer the jab, he reiterated. The prime minister said India will target more than 300 million people in the first two phases of the vaccination, including 10 million health workers and 20 million frontline workers covered in the first phase, and 270 million 50-plus people and under 50-years category with co-morbid conditions. The prime minister asked people to take the benefit of the vaccines saying the world trusted Indian scientific rigour. Today the scientists, and those associated with the vaccine deserve our special gratitude as they were engaged in vaccine development day in and day not through festivals, Modi said. This trust will be strengthened further as we conduct the Covid-19 drive, a process that will take a long year, but we just show the same self-confidence and self-reliance through the inoculation drive as we showed during our fight against the pandemic last year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, quoting national poet Ramdhari Singh Dinkar maanavvl jan zor lagaata hai, pathar paani ban jaata hai. To boost confidence among the countrymen about the vaccine, the prime minister also cited Telegu legend Apparao, who had said a nation was built on people and not bricks. We must give back to society, the PM said. Simultaneously, the drive rolled out across the country at 3,006 chosen locations where 100 beneficiaries each were covered today taking the total number of vaccinated to three lakh by this evening, if all the three lakh registered heath workers turn up to take their shots. Modi said scientists and experts had given permission for emergency use of the made-in-India vaccines only after being absolutely sure of their safety and the people should be aware of any propaganda and rumours. The made-in-India vaccines would ensure a decisive victory for the country over the coronavirus pandemic, he asserted. I wish India & Sri @narendramodiji great success in launching the worlds largest Covid vaccination roll-out. It brings me great pride that #Covishield is part of this historic effort & to endorse its safety & efficacy, I join our health workers in taking the vaccine myself, Adar Poonawalla, CEO of Serum Institute of India, which supplies the Covishield vaccine stated in a tweet The first shot to be administered today was the indigenously made Bharat Biotech-ICMRs Covaxin. Earlier, the Prime Minister recalled the dark days following the pandemic outbreak and said: Today, I am remembering the days when everyone wanted to do something but did not have a way. Children had to live apart from mothers. Mothers cried and couldnt do anything. Many elders were battling the disease all by themselves. We could not even see off the departed in traditional ritualistic ways. The more we think of those days the more anguished we feel. But friends, in that same atmosphere of crisis, someone was weaving webs of hope. Someone was putting their lives at risk for our safety our doctors, nurses, parade coal staff, Asha workers, ambulance drivers and safai Karamcharis. They gave their role of service to society a priority they stayed apart from families, did not go home for days. Several friends never came back home. This is why the society is repaying its loan and gratitude by giving the first doses to health workers today. Covid-19 vaccines are a tribute of a grateful nation to health workers, the prime minister said. States have been given both vaccines and the choice of allocation to session sites has been left to the states. 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 Moves to re-open schools for pupils with special needs are back on track but there is no target date for their return. Talks resumed yesterday between Department of Education officials and unions representing teachers and special needs assistants (SNAs) in a third attempt to agree the timing and conditions for partial re-opening of the schools. Schools have remained closed since Christmas because of Covid infection rates, with February 1 pencilled in as the earliest date for a full return. The Government hoped special needs pupils and 60,000 Leaving Cert candidates would be back earlier but met opposition on both fronts and shelved a proposed three-day week for Sixth Years. Now the difficulties encountered over the return of 23,000 pupils with special needs casts serious doubt over a general re-opening on February 1. Read More The Government will decide next week but sources said the main focus now was on the return of special needs pupils and Leaving Cert students. Although public health advice is that schools are safe environments, the daily Covid figures are not persuading many staff to return and have scuppered hopes of a return for special needs pupils this week One union source said they would need the figures to be back to November/early December levels to instil confidence but these are a long way off. Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan yesterday said that on December 1 the five-day average was 261 cases per day but now it was 2,430 cases per day. In the Dail yesterday Education Minister Norma Foley spoke about the controversy over re-opening schools and the effective rejection of public health advice, saying she was somewhat taken aback by some commentary around their role in recent days, which sought to cast aspersions on their advice. HSE chief executive Paul Reid also spoke yesterday about the importance of getting children with special needs back into school and made pointed comments about the safety risk. From a public health perspective, families of such vulnerable children would not have the same level of exposure to Covid-19 because of very nature of their childrens vulnerabilities and the protections families put in place, he said. It comes as a survey has found that most parents believe schools should remain closed beyond February 1. Only a quarter of adults think pupils should return to classrooms then, although among parents of Leaving Cert students and primary pupils it was slightly higher at 33pc and 28pc respectively. The parents made their views known in a survey conducted in the past week by market research company, iReach Insights. In the survey, 87pc of parents of Leaving Cert students said there should be a decision before the end of January on whether the exams will be cancelled and replaced with calculated grades. There was also strong support (75pc) for allowing students to have a choice between sitting exams in June or receiving calculated grades. A logo of Dubai's Emaar Properties is seen at an under-construction building in Dubai, UAE, March 3, 2016. REUTERS/Ahmed Jadallah/File Photo - RTX2AIDV Emaar India Ltd, subsidiary of Dubai-based real estate developer Emaar Properties, has cautioned public against dealing with MGF Group, its promoter Shravan Gupta, and associates, in respect of a land parcel in Okhla, Delhi. This land was valued at nearly Rs 5 billion in 2008 and may be currently valued much higher, the company said in a statement. Emaar has also issued a public notice to this effect. The public notice elaborates that Emaar has approached the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) alleging illegal conduct by Mr Shravan Gupta and MGF Group, causing losses of properties and funds to Emaar India Ltd (previously, Emaar MGF Land Ltd). We were informed by credible sources that MGF was likely to deal with the Okhla land parcel. We wanted to caution the public against dealing with MGF Group, SSP Buildcon Private Limited, Shravan Gupta, Shilpa Gupta or any of their associates / related entities or persons. The notice pertains specifically to a land parcel of approximately 4.88 acres in Okhla, Mathura Road, New Delhi. This land was valued at nearly Rs 5 billion in 2008 and may be much higher today," the company said in a statement on January 22. Emaar India was a joint venture between Dubai-based Emaar and Mr Shravan Guptas MGF Developments Ltd. Emaar Properties, one of the worlds leading real estate developers, entered the Indian real estate with one of the largest FDI in the real estate sector in 2005. Once Emaar took management control of Emaar India, it found several unauthorised related party transactions prior to 2016. After investigating, Emaar proceeded with recourse to the necessary remedies available under Indian law. Emaar has sought to recover over Rs 24 billion and interest from the relevant date of siphoning of funds or properties. The proceedings were filed in November 2019 before the NCLT Delhi, the statement said. Emaar said in the statement that they have been informed that Shravan Gupta and his family are since outside India and recently learned from a court order in an unrelated matter that he and his family are likely to take up citizenship of the Commonwealth of Dominica. Emaar will continue to pursue its remedies under Indian law. Emaar has faith in the Indian legal system and the judiciary and confident that the legal processes will catch up with MGF and Shravan Gupta, the statement added. Meanwhile, Emaar India Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Ajay Munot has resigned from the company to pursue his personal interest. Munot became CEO of India business of Dubai-based Emaar Properties in August 2019. "We confirm that Ajay Munot has resigned from the company to pursue his own personal interests," the company said in a statement. Emaar India will be managed by Hadi Badri, who heads Emaar's international business, until further notice, it added. Gold prices fell sharply by Rs 519 to Rs 49,140 per 10 gram in the Mumbai retail market on rupee appreciation and weak global cues. The yellow metal dropped owing to the rise in US treasury yields and a decrease in US weekly jobless claims. The precious metal prices had declined Rs 187, or 0.38 percent, for the week in the domestic market. The premium charged by a dealer over official domestic price flipped into a discount for first time in 2021 to $0.25 per troy ounce against a premium of $0.5 last week. The rate of 10 gram 22-carat gold in Mumbai was Rs 45,012 plus 3 percent GST, while 24-carat 10 gram was Rs 49,140 plus GST. The 18-carat gold quoted at Rs 36,855 plus GST in the retail market. "We are seeing good demand for gold jewellery and rising gold prices have prompted a surge in wedding jewellery booking," Mumbai Jewellers Association Vice President Kumar Jain told Moneycontrol. He expects the retail yellow metal price to go up from Rs 52,000/10 gm to Rs 60,000 by around March-end to April first week. According to Kumar, the jewellery industry needs a lot of things from the government, which were mentioned in the last Budget. The industry has already approached the NITI Aayog over these issues. "We have submitted a letter to Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to reduce the import duty to 4-6 percent from 12.5 percent as it will bring down gold smuggling in the country," he noted. He also said the Industry wants to extend the PAN card limit for buying gold jewellery to Rs 10 lakh from the current Rs 2 lakh as most of the gold buyers are housewives who buy ornaments from their savings and many of them dont have a PAN card. The Rs 2 lakh limit gets exhausted after buying just 30 gm of gold. The US dollar traded slightly lower at 90.14, or 0.02 percent, against a basket of six currencies. Gold holdings in SPDR Gold Trust, the worlds largest gold-backed exchange-traded fund, remained unchanged for the second day at 1,174.12 tonnes. Spot gold slumped by $19.19 to $1,851.09 an ounce at 1204 GMT in London trading. MCX Bulldesk was down 163 points, or 1.05 percent, at 15,288 at 15:34. The index tracks the real-time performance of MCX Gold and MCX Silver futures. Navneet Damani, Vice President, Motilal Oswal, said, Gold prices continue to trade in a range as positive economic data, vaccine update and rising US yields gained although it was aided by a weaker dollar and further stimulus bet. Increase in coronavirus numbers and lockdown measures announced by various economies is supporting the prices at lower levels. The broader trend on COMEX could be in the range of $1,845-1,880 and on domestic front prices could hover in the range of Rs 49,150-49,530. The gold/silver ratio currently stands at 74.68 to 1, which means the number of silver ounces required to buy one ounce of gold. Silver prices tanked Rs 1,368 to Rs 65,792 per kg from its closing on January 21. In the futures market, the gold rate touched an intraday high of Rs 49,399 and an intraday low of Rs 48,825 on the Multi-Commodity Exchange (MCX). For the February series, the yellow metal touched a low of Rs 41,560 and a high of Rs 57,100. Gold futures for February delivery dipped Rs 444, or 0.90 percent, at Rs 49,004 per 10 gram in evening trade on a business turnover of 5,477 lots. The same for April slipped Rs 430, or 0.87 percent, at Rs 49,166 on a business turnover of 10,546 lots. The value of the February and Aprils contracts traded so far is Rs 2,890.58 crore and Rs 330.45 crore, respectively. Similarly, Gold Mini contract for February edged lower Rs 447, or 0.90 percent at Rs 48,971 on a business turnover of 14,244 lots. Trading Strategy Kshitij Purohit, Product Manager, Currency & Commodities, CapitalVia Global Research Limited Technically, International Gold is trading with negative bias since morning where it bounced back from the resistance of $1,873-1,878 levels in the previous session. Bearish sentiments dominated the morning session and the same continues for the upcoming session as well. On the domestic front, MCX Gold February is trading on a negative note. The support of Rs 48,800-48,600 could be tested in the upcoming session whereas resistance is at Rs 49,500-49,800 levels. For all commodities-related news, click here : 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. In October 2018, Mayor London Breed announced an ambitious goal she said was key to addressing San Franciscos swelling homeless population: open 1,000 shelter beds throughout the city by 2021. By January 2020, she was on track to meet and even exceed that goal. But that was before the pandemic, before the economic turmoil and before the city had to rehash its response to sheltering its most vulnerable. A new Navigation Center will open in the Bayview district on Monday, but Breed is still short of her goal by about 200 beds. At the same time, the pandemic forced the city to thin out its existing shelters to allow for social distancing. It also prompted officials to quickly shelter thousands in new ways: sanctioned tent sites, downtown hotel rooms and trailers on empty lots. When this crisis hit, we moved with a certain level of speed ... to empty out shelters, and we had to find alternatives to keep people separated from each other, she said. Everything was on the table. For years, San Francisco had been intensely focused on building more Navigation Centers shelters with extra services to help people find stable housing. But the past year has forced officials to rethink what temporary shelter should look like for those living on the streets. Things have changed, Breed added. We have to approach things differently if we have to separate people more. With the opening of the Bayview Navigation Center, Breed has opened 793 shelter beds since 2018. There are 105 more beds in the pipeline to open this year. Still, San Francisco needs more safe and stable places for its massive homeless population: Hundreds are sleeping on the streets, shelters have been operating at partial capacity and affordable housing is in short supply. Before the pandemic, the city had about 8,000 homeless people. Experts say that number has likely increased significantly, although an official count planned for this month was called off. When the city had to temporarily shut some shelters due to outbreaks and dramatically reduce capacity in others last spring, officials scrambled to find other options. The city leased about 3,000 private hotel rooms for the homeless, turned several empty properties into sanctioned tent sites with services like bathrooms and showers, and put 91 trailers from Californias emergency coronavirus operation and 29 leased RVs on a big, empty lot in the Bayview In total, the city has created about 3,800 temporary shelter options since the pandemic began, according to the mayors office. These are all new options that Breed wants the city to continue focusing on, even when the pandemic subsides. That includes buying more hotels if it is plausible, opening more safe sleeping sites and, most importantly, she said, adding more housing units to avoid creating group shelters. The mayor wants to add another 1,500 new units of permanent supportive housing over the next two years, which would be the largest one-time expansion of permanent supportive housing in the last 20 years. Finding the money to build those units will be difficult. The city faces a massive multimillion-dollar deficit over the next few years that will likely prompt layoffs and service cuts and make it harder to invest in new housing. But San Francisco does have a whole new $492 million pool of money from Prop. C, a 2018 business tax, to help it pay for more permanent supportive housing and rental vouchers. That tax will raise $250 million to $300 million per year with a tax on gross receipts of corporations with annual revenue above $50 million. Margot Kushel, the director of the Center for Vulnerable Populations at UCSF, said she hopes the city continues to focus more on permanent solutions like housing vouchers and rent subsidies over group shelters. They have always felt like a way to spend a lot of money managing a crisis, rather than ending it, she said. Nick Otto / Special to The Chronicle 2020 Still, Navigation Centers which are both costly and can take months and even years to get up and running help get people off the streets immediately as they wait for more permanent options. But they dont end homelessness. They are for an emergency situation, and it should really be a short-term stay until permanent housing is available, said Jennifer Friedenbach, director of San Franciscos Coalition on Homelessness. Everything needs a big re-evaluation after the pandemic is over. The new Bayview Navigation Center at 1925 Evans Ave. has capacity for 203 beds, but it will open with only 116 beds during the pandemic. The shelter cost $19.2 million to build and will exist for at least three years. San Francisco will likely explore buying the site from Caltrans, which owns the property. Meanwhile, another 200-bed Navigation Center that was set to open last year at 33 Gough St. hit construction delays due to the pandemic. Since the lot is slated for development in a few years, the city decided to turn it into a site for about 40 tents. Another site at 888 Post St. for homeless youth and a psychiatric respite center at 22nd and Valencia streets will also eventually open this year. But both will open with a reduced capacity due to COVID-19. The new, pandemic-era options are temporary and pricey. The city has leased 25 hotels for the homeless, spending $15 million to $18 million a month on the program. While the city has worried about FEMA funds running out, the Biden administration on Thursday signed an executive order saying that non-congregate shelters will be 100% reimbursed until September, but city officials said many questions remain about the order. While the majority of the cost will be reimbursed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, its unclear when the FEMA funding will run out. Breed said she hasnt figured out what exactly the citys homelessness response will look like post-pandemic. She said its hard to see through the next few months, when there is still so much tumult ahead. But, in the meantime, she said, the city will continue to figure out what works when it comes to sheltering the homeless. Were going to continue to do everything we can, she said. Trisha Thadani is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: tthadani@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @TrishaThadani On Joe Biden's first day in office, he got right to work. The press focused on Biden's 17 executive orders, from shutting down the Keystone XL pipeline, to ending border wall construction just as thousands of migrants in a pandemic are surging in. Biden did it for an aim that was clear enough -- to quickly undo the legacy and achievements of President Trump, and enact a sort of Obama restoration of the status quo. He also did something else that didn't get much press, for far muddier reasons: Mass firings at the Voice of America, a minor government agency that normally merits little attention. What the hell was that about? According to the Washington Post's Paul Farhi: President Biden moved swiftly to oust top managers loyal to former president Donald Trump who had been blamed for recent turmoil at the federal governments array of international news organizations, including the biggest and most influential one, the Voice of America. Only hours after he was inaugurated, Biden forced out Michael Pack , the controversial head of the agency that oversees VOA and four other networks that broadcast news to millions of people abroad. This was followed, domino-like, on Thursday by the removal of VOAs director and deputy director after only a few weeks on the job. In doing so, Biden appears to be putting the brakes on what critics said was an effort by the Trump administration to turn the news agencies into mouthpieces for Trumps views and policies. Why so fast? Pack and his allies had only been in office for about five months of a three-year appointment before Biden demanded his resignation. President Trump didn't pay a lot of big attention to what was going on there given that he had other fish to fry, and in any case, might have been in the dark. Democrats, though, and a few Republicans, had stalled his confirmation in the Senate for about three years, while Obama-era holdouts, who should have been out on Day One of the Trump administration, somehow held on, as bitter clingers to power. The press screamed that Pack, an experienced filmmaker, was destroying journalistic standards and making VOA a mouthpiece for President Trump's policies (which sounds like a good idea, but never mind that). It hailed Amanda Bennett, the leftist VOA director who had finally been dislodged, as the epitome of journalistic standards, which she sort of was, as journalism is practiced today, the kind that has put it in such low public regard. Bottom line, the attacks on Pack were garbage, and in fact, precisely the opposite of what was going on. Pack went to work to restore journalistic standards there to just basic facts with less bias. A South Asian branch of the service had been literally running Biden campaign propaganda courting Muslim voters as straight news -- got investigated and shut down, with firings. Meanwhile, the world's dissidents, from Iran, China and other hellholes unexpectedly erupted into cheers at Pack's arrival given that the VOA had been broadcasting mullah and ChiCom propaganda for years by "reporters" who seemed to them like infiltrators, given their pro-ChiCom and pro-mullah bias. There were also sex scandals and lawsuits and problems with VOA's openly Trump-hating White House correspondent, Steve Herman, whose Trump-hate made him make a fool of himself. Pack though, was forced out, despite his three-year tenure as chief of an independent agency, on Day One, in a very unusual move by the minions associated with President Joe Biden. Pack's lieutenants were out, too. Why the speed? Trump, after all, had let the agency fester in left-wingery for a full three years. Some theories come to mind: The people being brought in are seen as allies of the ousted Bennett, who has links to the Washington Post. Links? We understate: She's literally married to the WaPo's CEO. Was Biden swift act, then, a bid to win the favor of the Post's coverage, given the unpopularity of his policies? It seems like a distinct possibility. What else? Maybe Biden needs a propaganda outlet, given the implosion and unreliability of the social media giants. Many Democrats hate and distrust them as much as Republicans. Social media theoretically could affect Biden and his agenda just as surely as it does Republicans, so having a full blown news outlet could come in handy. Or, maybe Biden wanted to whip up international praise for his leadership, given his low legitimacy in the U.S. as president, owing to the stench of election fraud that hangs around him. Does he need a propaganda outlet for burnishing his legitimacy abroad? Another possibility. Or more specifically, could this act have been a favor to the ChiComs, whom, dissidents claim, have infiltrated the agency. We know the ChiComs cheered and tweeted 'good riddance' when President Trump departed office. Could it have been that? The only thing that seems certain is that someone in the leftist camp thought it mighty important to get control of Voice of America on Day One, seemingly as a military-like strategy of seizing communications. Whoever it was behind this couldn't wait even a day. What that means is anyone's guess, but whatever it was, it seems mighty important as one of the very first acts of President Joe Biden. Why was getting a politicized control over Voice of America so important to him? The reasoning of that will probably unfold soon. Image: logo, turned upside down. An airplane on its way to Chicago from the Upper Peninsula dropped landing gear into a neighborhood, on Thursday, Jan. 21, the Chicago Tribune reports. A tire and other landing gear from a small plane plunged from the sky and landed between two houses in a Chicago neighborhood around 6:19 p.m.; no one was injured, the newspaper reports. The small tire for an airplane was from a single-engine Pilatus PC12. The lopsided plane sent off considerable sparks when it landed at Chicago OHare International Airport, initiating an emergency response, the report said. The Boutique Airlines charter flight from Ironwood landed safely; the crew and passengers were uninjured. READ MORE: Bars, restaurants will have 10 p.m. curfew when indoor dining reopens Feb. 1 6% of Michigan adults vaccinated against COVID-19 so far; see numbers in your county This Northern Michigan town has transformed into an outdoor dining village Kalamazoo motel being transformed into apartments for those without homes CIE at IIIT Hyderabad announces the start of its next cohort of Deep tech Accelerators 11th cohort of Avishkar deeptech accelerator and 5th cohort of the OJAS Medtec acceleratorTwo AI startups Machstaaz and eSkinDoctor selected from over 100 applicantsStartups to get strategy, business and research mentoring HYDERABAD, India, Jan. 20, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- CIE at IIIT Hyderabad announced the onboarding of two startups Machstatz and eSkindoctor under Avishkar DeepTech accelerator cohort No. 11 & OJAS MedTech Accelerator cohort No. 5. AVISHKAR deeptech is a 6-month cohort-based accelerator for emerging tech startups and OJAS MedTech is an accelerator for startups in life sciences, biotechnology, diagnostics, point of care devices for healthcare along with cutting-edge emerging technologies facilitated by CIE@IIITH. The accelerator brings together the deeptech expertise of IIITH's research labs and technology mentoring opportunities that help startups build quality product/features within shorter timelines. The startups also go through a structured strategic business mentoring from Co-Creation Consulting, customer introductions and investor connect for follow-on round of investments. Medtech startups also get access to medtech consortium which includes clinicians, hospitals, pharma, biotech & manufacturing companies. Investment readiness of the cohort startups is a key deliverable for the 6-month programme. A number of other ecosystem partners of IIITH also contribute towards the programme with business development services and tools. Prof Ramesh Loganathan, COO of CIE-IIITH said, "Nurturing and growing early-stage tech startups has been our focus since we started CIE in 2008. Over the years we have had 400 startups in the incubator and about 20 in our Accelerator programs." For this cohort, 7 startups pitched for OJAS Accelerator and 9 startups pitched for the Deeptech accelerator. The Investment Committee panel included professors, clinicians, angel investors and other ecosystem partners. "We are very happy to onboard eSkindoctor Healthtech private Limited, focused on Dermatology and is using Artificial Intelligence and Deep Learning algorithms to address the gap in availability of doctors by improving the accuracy and efficiency in triaging skin condition," says Dr. Sonali Khanra, Head OJAS Medtech BioNEST, IIIT Hyderabad. She adds that skin diseases pose significant threat to patients' well-being, mental health, ability to function, and social participation, a measure of disability defined broadly by the WHO. Technology interventions in early screening and diagnosis in low resource setting towards delivering high quality care are essential in improving the burden of skin diseases. About IIIT-Hyderabad: The International Institute of Information Technology, Hyderabad (IIITH) is an autonomous research university founded in 1998 that focuses on the core areas of Information Technology, such as Computer Science, Electronics and Communications, and their applications in other domains through inter-disciplinary research with great social impact. Some of its research domains include Cognitive Science, Visual Information Technologies, Human Language Technologies, Data Engineering, VLSI and Embedded Systems, Computer Architecture, Wireless Communications, Algorithms and Information Security, Robotics, Building Science, Earthquake Engineering, Computational Natural Sciences and Bioinformatics, IT in Agriculture and e-Governance. Centre For Innovation & Entrepreneurship (CIE-IIITH): CIE@IIITH, also known as CIE (Centre of Innovation and Entrepreneurship) is a DST approved incubator operational since 2008. CIE@IIITH has so far supported around 400 startups and has seed- funded 19 startups, 80% of which are cash positive. CIE@IIITH was also instrumental being the kiln of the initiatives that culminated into the foundation of T-Hub. Along with developments in AVISHKAR, OJAS medtech, CIE@IIITH is also focusing on turning a new leaf in terms of infrastructure facilities, programmes and startup engagements focusing towards building a deeptech startup ecosystem. New working spaces are launched, seed funding programmes, structured workshops and mentoring opportunities and technology transfer facilitation are also being deployed now. OJAS BioNEST @ CIE-IIIT Hyderabad was founded in 2018 with a support by DBT-BIRAC. OJAS- BioNEST helps companies building products at the intersection of technology and medicine in areas such as disease prevention, detection, diagnosis, treatment, monitoring, and wellness. OJAS welcomes entrepreneurs working on futuristic, bold and innovative ideas, harnessing digital technologies in healthcare practice. About Machstatz: Machstatz provides end to end solution in Industrial IoT. They use artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms to provide predictive and process analytics solutions to manufacturing industries. Their solutions are being implemented in manufacturing industries which increases production efficiency, reduces downtime of industrial machines and eliminates defects in real time. Machstatz offers Smart devices along with Connectivity, Communication, Software Analytics, Dashboarding and reporting in order to provide a complete solution to its customers. Started in 2017 by the founders Sameer Patnaik, Pruthviraj Subudhi & Srikant Gupta the startup has gained traction quickly with acquiring customers in industries like Iron & Steel, Chemical, Glass, Textile and Automotive. Machstatz uses flexible models, proven diagnostic instruments, sophisticated software and unmatched analytic expertise to deliver sustainable, scalable and cost effective based maintenance and monitoring programs that ensure industrial asset availability, helping to maximize runtime productivity and increase overall operational efficiency. In 2018 the startup was featured among Top 60 startups across India for 'The Economic Times Power of Ideas' conducted by IIM Ahmedabad in association with Facebook, Department of Science & Technology (DST), Govt. of India. Machstatz is also funded by angel investors and technology business incubator DERBI foundation supported by Dept. of Science & Technology, Govt. of India based out of Bangalore. They are a strong team of 15 members with expertise in Industrial Automation & Data Science. With the additional support and funding from IIIT Hyderabad - Machstatz aims to scale up and expand their customer base. Utilize the mentoring process in scaling up their product and reach out to global markets. About eSkindoctor: One of the founders, in his earlier company, while working on a project to design solutions to improve maternal and child health in rural India realized that the primary access to healthcare for many people were quacks. In fact, a WHO report in 2016 stated that over half of all those practicing allopathic medicine did not have any medical qualification. Technology can help to fill this gap and provide information and connect with right doctors at the right time. Mumbaibased eSkindoctor Healthtech private Limited is focused on Dermatology and is using Artificial Intelligence and Deep Learning algorithms to address this gap. Skin problems are one of the least cared for, because the number of dermatologists in India for a 138-crore population is around 7000, and they are most concentrated in big cities. The number of skin problems that people face in India is around 68 crores per year. This and many more other reasons compelled Arun a graduate from IIM A, Naveen a Graduate from BITS Pilani and Anand a Graduate from XIM to setup eskindoctor.com- A platform that allows patients to understand their skin condition and access quality dermatologists. The platform is driven by augmenting skin disease diagnosis and management with AI, improving both efficiency & accuracy of care. Making Triaging Skin Condition Simple "Patients can access eskindoctor.com on their mobile phone or laptop and upload a photo of the affected part and answers a few questions asked by the artificial intelligence tool. Based on data provided, patient is shared with information about their skin problem and guides them to resolution by engaging with a dermatologist on the platform," Anand Says . "Currently we have built the model to triage all the common, very common and rare skin diseases prevailing in India. We are able to triage accurately around 100 Plus Skin Conditions. We have used public data sets and proprietary data sets to train our model," Arun Says Providing access to Dermatologists with curated case capsule eSkinDoctor.com uses the combination of a state-of-the-art deep learning model working with a proprietary Differential Diagnosis (DD) algorithm to present doctors with a curated case capsule along with Provisional diagnosis recommendation of AI engine for a highly efficient diagnosis. Doctor reaches out to patient if they need any additional information to complete the prescription. The entire process can be completed on an average in 5 Minutes, helping doctors to improve efficiency and accuracy," says Naveen. eSkinDoctor is led by highly experienced team behind it. They are alumni of IIMA, BITS PILANI and XIM with a track record of couple of decades in IT industry and with the additional support and funding from IIIT Hyderabad - eSkindoctor aims to scale up and expand their customer base and utilize the mentoring process in clinical validation and scaling up their product to reach to global markets. For further information, please contact: Sunory Dutt Head of Communications IIIT-Hyderabad E-mail: sunory.dutt@iiit.ac.in Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/600789/IIIT_Hyderabad_Logo.jpg (Disclaimer--Features may vary depending on the regions; subject to change without notice.) NEW MILFORD The nearly $6,000 check came in the mail. Alice Elliot, 88, was suspicious. The check, listed from a Wells Fargo Bank in a city in Ohio, was sent from Orlando, Fla, she said. Its just one instance of what appears to be a scam from people claiming to be representatives of Publishers Clearing House, a sweepstakes company. I have been bombarded by Publishers Clearing House, relentless, Elliot said. New Milford police get at least a call a day about scammers, Lt. Lee Grabner said. Its non-stop, he said. While police have not reported any victims from the scams, they have received several reports about it, he said. Grabner said the scam often takes form in a letter or phone call. Some residents reported getting a check in the mail, accompanied by claims insisting a PCH crew meet them to verify the check. Shortly after Elliot received the letter, the calls continued. The apparent scammers asked her for $5,000 to receive a package. Then it went down to $400, then $200 and then I finally got them down to $100, Elliot said. Then, they finally said, Do you have a credit card?...Then they started telling me what I had to do. I hung up. Elliot said she didnt give the caller a chance to continue because she knew it wasnt right. If these people are doing this as a living to try and scam people, they ought to be exposed, she said. Its just not right. What a way to make money. Grabner advised residents who get such calls or correspondence to shred the letter, block the phone number, refrain from giving out any personal information and report it to the police. Publishers Clearing House is a sweepstakes company offering a variety of digital contests, lotteries and games people can enter for a chance at winning prize money. Some people might recall seeing the companys commercials where a prize patrol would surprise winners with a giant check at their doorstep. The company warns on its website of potential frauds happening via fake phone calls, emails and letters asking people for money or credit card information. If you receive a check claiming to be for a legitimate sweepstakes prize and are asked to cash it and wire or send a portion back STOP you are the victim of a fraudulent contact, the company states. The check is not real! Consumers should always remember that at Publishers Clearing House no payment or fee is ever necessary to enter or claim a prize. WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - After ending the previous session modestly lower, treasuries moved back to the upside during the trading day on Friday. Bond prices moved higher early in the session and remained positive throughout the day. As a result, the yield on the benchmark ten-year note, which moves opposite of its price, slipped 1.8 basis points at 1.091 percent. Treasuries benefited from their appeal as a safe haven amid uncertainty about President Joe Biden's proposed $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package. Moderate Republican Senators Mitt Romney and Lisa Murkowski have both expressed skepticism about more stimulus. Romney and Murkowski both pointed to the recently approved $900 billion stimulus and raised questions about whether more relief is needed. Democrats could attempt to pass a new stimulus bill without Republican support by the so-called reconciliation process, which only requires a majority. However, Democratic Senator Joe Manchin has also expressed concerns about the cost of increasing the size of direct payments to individuals to $2,000 from $600. Traders largely shrugged off a report from the National Association of Realtors showing an unexpected rebound in existing home sales in the month of December. NAR said existing home sales climbed by 0.7 percent to an annual rate of 6.76 million in December after tumbling by 2.2 percent to a revised rate of 6.71 million in November. The rebound surprised economists, who had expected existing home sales to slump by 2.1 percent to a rate of 6.55 million from the 6.69 million originally reported for the previous month. With the unexpected monthly increase, existing home sales in December were up by 22.2 percent compared to the same month a year ago. 'Home sales rose in December, and for 2020 as a whole, we saw sales perform at their highest levels since 2006, despite the pandemic,' said Lawrence Yun, NAR's chief economist. He added, 'What's even better is that this momentum is likely to carry into the new year, with more buyers expected to enter the market.' The Federal Reserve's monetary policy decision may attract attention next week along with reports on consumer confidence, durable goods orders, new home sales, and personal income and spending. Bond traders are also likely to keep an eye on the results of the Treasury Department's auctions of two-year, five-year and seven-year notes. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de 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. Seven Democratic senators have asked the Senate Ethics Committee to investigate the actions of Republican senators and Josh Hawley to fully understand their role in the January 6 insurrection at the Capitol by supporters of former President Donald Trump. Thousands had gathered that day as Congress voted to formally certify President Joe Biden's victory over Trump in November. Hawley and Cruz led objections in the Senate to Biden's victory, despite the widespread recognition that the effort would fail. In the end, Congress certified Biden's Electoral College victory, but not before thousands marched to the Capitol at Trump's urging, overwhelmed security and interrupted the proceedings. In the end, the violence led to five deaths, injured dozens of police officers and caused extensive damage to the Capitol. 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. Until then, a cloud of uncertainty will hang over them and over this body, the Democratic senators wrote in a letter to the leaders of the Senate Ethics Committee. The Democratic senators said Cruz and Hawley announced their intentions to object even though they knew that claims of election fraud were baseless and had led to threats of violence. Their actions lend credence to the insurrectionists' cause and set the stage for future violence. And both senators used their objections for political fundraising, the Democratic senators said in their letter. Cruz and Hawley have condemned the violence on January 6. Cruz called it a "despicable act of terrorism. Hawley said those who attacked police and broke the law must be prosecuted. Cruz helped force a vote on Biden's victory in Arizona, while Hawley helped force one on Biden's victory in Pennsylvania. Joe Biden and the Democrats talk about unity but are brazenly trying to silence dissent," Hawley said in a prepared statement. This latest effort is a flagrant abuse of the Senate ethics process and a flagrant attempt to exact partisan revenge." Those Democrats requesting the investigation are Senators Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island, Ron Wyden of Oregon, Tina Smith of Minnesota, Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, Mazie Hirono of Hawaii, Tim Kaine of Virginia and Sherrod Brown of Ohio. (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.) (TNS) Hawaiian Electric is rolling out a new program called Quick Connect that will enable many customers installing new rooftop solar systems to see their monthly electricity costs reduced faster by accelerating the process for turning on new systems.For the next 12 months, customers on Oahu, Maui and Hawaii island installing new systems on circuits where the new program is available will not need the standard approvals before activating their systems. The program is aimed at supporting customers and the state's solar industry during the COVID-19 pandemic.The approval process, which typically takes several weeks or months for each step to be completed, can now be handled after the system is built and turned on. That will substantially reduce the wait for many new solar customers. If successful, Quick Connect may be extended beyond one year.To determine eligibility, customers can check hosting capacity for all circuits on all three islands on the locational value maps available at.Hawaii State FCU awards $40K to teachers Hawaii State Federal Credit Union said Tuesday it has awarded nearly $40, 000 in grants to Hawaii public school teachers through its 2020 Investing in Education grant program. Eighty-four grants were distributed to public school teachers across Oahu, Maui, Kauai and Molokai to help purchase classroom supplies and enhance student curriculums."Since 2009, Hawaii State FCU's Investing in Education grant program has supported teachers by providing grants to purchase needed supplies, technology and tools to enhance classroom learning, " said Andrew Rosen, president and CEO of Hawaii State FCU. "The need, especially during this past year, has never been greater. Our teachers have had to step up to the challenge of maintaining engagement and enrichment in both distance-learning and modified-classroom settings. We're proud to continue our support for these selfless teachers and their efforts to continually expand the academic opportunities for our students."Grants were distributed statewide, with nearly 35 % received by Leeward Oahu-area school teachers and more than 10 % going to neighbor island teachers on Maui, Kauai and Molokai. The Telegraph The list of Donald Trump associates who have attempted to bring down the former president is as long as it is varied: from his lawyer, to his closest advisor, his ex-wife and his alleged lover. But like many powerful figures before him, it may well be his accountant that would be his undergoing. Allen Weisselberg, the little-known 73-year-old chief financial officer for the Trump Organisation, has worked for the Trump family as far back as the early 1970s under Donalds father Fred. Some say he is closer to Mr Trump than he is to his own children. As one former employee put it, he knows where the bodies are buried". In recent weeks New York prosecutors investigating Mr Trumps tax affairs have been turning the screws on Mr Weisselberg in the hope of flipping him to testify against his boss. Cyrus Vance, the Manhattan District Attorney, is looking into everything from hush-money payments paid to women on Mr Trump's behalf, to property valuations and employee compensation. Speculation is mounting that his office may be able to turn Mr Weisselberg, who has not been accused of any wrongdoing, as it pulls together a grand jury to decide whether to indict. 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. One of President Joe Biden's first actions in office was to issue new orders requiring masks on planes, at airports and on all federal property. Here's what we know about how these orders will work: - What do the new executive orders on masks do? One order requires that masks be worn at airports and on many planes, trains, ships and intercity buses. The second order requires masks on federal property. - Is this a national mask mandate? Together, the two orders come as close to a national mask mandate as some believe federal powers allow, but they are not the national mask requirement that some experts had hoped for. Such a requirement would likely have been challenged in court by anti-mask activists, who have argued that only states and municipalities have the power to require residents to wear masks at a local level. Others, however, have argued these are unprecedented times and that a national mask mandate would send a signal and be a reflection of the seriousness of the crisis. - How is this going to be enforced? Enforcement is unclear. The new transportation mask order calls on a variety of federal agencies to "immediately take action," but does not include details of when the mandate would take effect or how strictly it will be enforced, or by whom. Similarly, the order regarding masks on federal property mandates that federal agencies take immediate action to require masks, but leaves it to agencies to determine how to implement the requirement. - When do the orders take effect? It's unclear when the requirements will go into effect, and the CDC and other agencies are working out the legal details. White House officials instructed agency heads to provide regular briefings and encouraged them to quickly raise "any questions regarding the scope or implementation" of the orders. - What federal properties does it apply to? Does this mean people have to wear masks at national parks? It's unknown whether masks will be required at outdoor federal properties like national parks. Social distancing and masks already are strongly encouraged at most national parks, but under former president Donald Trump, the National Park Service had not made them mandatory. Asked specifically about the whether masks will be required at parks, a Biden administration official said such decisions will be left to their overseeing agencies to implement, while also following science. - How could the new requirements help to battle the pandemic? Masks are the lowest-hanging fruit of public health measures. The nation doesn't have enough vaccines. Lockdowns are hurtful to businesses and impossible to sustain through the pandemic. There is an overwhelming amount of science that shows how dramatically masks reduce transmission of this virus. Masks are one of many tools available - including testing, contact tracing and vaccines. But experts say masks are perhaps the easiest and most cost-effective way to reduce infections. "It is, in some ways, our best medical tool," said Ali Mokdad, an epidemiologist at the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington. "It can save hundreds of thousands of lives without the need for surgery, drugs, no side effects and readily available to everyone." - What kinds of travel, and types of transportation, are covered in the mandate? The order covers interstate travel, the White House says. It applies to commercial aircraft, trains, public maritime vessels, including ferries, and intercity buses. The order also covers "public transportation," defined broadly under a U.S. code section as "continuing shared-ride surface transportation services that are open to the general public or open to a segment of the general public defined by age, disability or low income." - Which federal agencies will implement the transportation mask requirement? The order instructs the departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, Transportation, and Homeland Security, the Coast Guard and any other executive departments and agencies with "relevant regulatory authority" to immediately take action to put the requirement in place. It gives agency leaders a week to update Jeffrey Zients, coordinator of the White House's coronavirus response, on their progress. - Will there be exceptions to the transportation mask mandate? Heads of federal agencies can make exemptions for entire categories of people or on a case-by-case basis if required by law. If they do that, they must require "alternative and appropriate safeguards," according to the order, although it does not give examples. The exceptions must be documented in writing. - Where does the federal government get its authority? The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention note that the federal government gets its power to isolate and quarantine people with communicable diseases from the Constitution's Commerce Clause. Isolation means its authority to separate those who are sick from those who aren't, the agency said. Quarantine "separates and restricts the movement" of people exposed to disease to determine if they become ill, according to the CDC. The secretary of Health and Human Services "is authorized to take measures to prevent the entry and spread of communicable diseases from foreign countries into the United States and between states," and that has been done in practice by the CDC, the public health agency said. - Don't airlines already require masks? Yes. But safety reports filed with the federal government show flight attendants seeking to enforce that private-sector requirement have repeatedly been taunted, verbally abused and ignored by passengers. The risks have, at times, gone beyond the increased potential for coronavirus infection. One pilot, distracted by mask violations, descended to the wrong altitude, although there was no conflicting air traffic, according to a safety report. Airlines say they have banned hundreds of passengers from flying during the pandemic because of mask violations. Members of Congress, unions representing transportation workers and public health experts within the CDC have called for a federal requirement to require masks. - Why are some people resistant to mask-wearing? Some degree of resistance to any new practice is natural. During the 1918 pandemic, for example, anti-mask protests led to confrontations. What has made things worse over the past year, health experts say, is the politicization of the issue by Trump and others. As a result, large swaths of the country have become stubbornly resistant to the practice. Thirty-five states require people to wear masks in public, according to the White House's new coronavirus strategy document. Some state leaders have proudly touted their refusal to enact mask mandates, such as South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem. a Republican and Trump ally. The hope, public health experts say, is that Biden's actions will make such mandates more widely enacted by making it the default position of federal government. - How widespread is mask-wearing now? Researchers at the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington have tracked through surveys how many people wear masks. Mask-wearing in many countries, like Singapore, Japan and Argentina, quickly reached 95 percent. In the United States, that number went from 40 percent in April to 76 percent more recently. WATCH: Elephant dies after villager sets its ear on fire in Tamil Nadu India oi-Deepika S Chennai, Jan 22: In yet another horrific example of animal cruelty, a 40-year-old elephant has died after being set on fire by a villager near a private resort in Masinagudi in Nilgiris district. The video has gone viral where the it showed the tyre in flames being hurled from a building on the animal, which got stuck in its ear. The injured elephant ran away in distress. The elephant had been under watch, treatment for the last three months, but succumbed earlier this week. Barbaric act in Nilgiris, Tamilnadu. An elephant was attacked with a burning tyre, in a private resort, killing the animal. Hope the guilty are punished for this inhumane act of violence. #WA #EveryLifeMatters #SaveWildlife pic.twitter.com/iLJn2yxgdq Praveen Angusamy, IFS (@PraveenIFShere) January 22, 2021 An emotional video of a forest ranger, who was taking care of the elephant breaking down while saying goodbye has won many hearts. "It's really moving to see this tearful bid adieu to an elephant by his companion forester at Sadivayal Elephant Camp in Mudumalai Tiger Reserve, Tamil Nadu," wrote Indian Forest Service officer Ramesh Pandey while sharing the video on Twitter. Its really moving to see this tearful bid adieu to an elephant by his companion forester at Sadivayal Elephant Camp in Mudumalai Tiger Reserve, Tamil Nadu. #GreenGuards #elephants VC: @karthisathees pic.twitter.com/xMQNop1YfI Ramesh Pandey (@rameshpandeyifs) January 20, 2021 "Some emotions cannot be expressed into words. Gone from his sight, but not from his heart. A #Forestor who was taking care of an injured elephant in masinagudi, @MudumalaiTR, #Tamilnadu, crying after its death. #GreenWarriors (sic)," said the official Twitter account of IFS Association. Unlike the last 10 rounds of talks, the 11th round could not even reach a decision on the next date for the meeting as the Central Government also hardened its position saying it is ready to meet again once the unions agree to discuss the suspension proposal Both the Centre and the farmers' groups failed to reach a solution during the eleventh round of talks on Friday with the protesters reiterating their demand for a complete repeal of the contentious farm laws and the govt reasserting it has nothing more to give than 'suspend' their implementation for a period of 18 months. Unlike the last 10 rounds of talks, the eleventh round could not even reach a decision on the next date for the meeting. This is a big climbdown from when the Centre offered to suspend the laws and form a joint committee to find solutions. The Central Government, however, hinted at a possible next meeting provided the farmer unions are ready to discuss the government's proposal to temporarily suspend the laws. The Centre has asked them to reconsider its proposal for putting the Acts on hold for 12-18 months, but the farmers have rejected the proposal. On their part, the farmer groups said they will intensify their agitation and alleged that the government's approach was "not right" during Friday's meeting. They also said their tractor rally will go ahead as planned on Republic Day (26 January) and that they have told the police that it is the government's responsibility to maintain peace. Reports also quoted Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh as saying that the state government will provide employment to the kin of the farmers who have passed away while participating in the protest. "I have received a report that 76 farmers have passed away during the protest against three farm laws. Today, I announce that we'll provide govt jobs to one family member of those from Punjab who die in agitation at Delhi borders," he said. Centre, farmers remain adamant; 11th meeting ends inconclusively While the meeting on Friday lasted for almost five hours, the two sides sat face to face for less than 30 minutes, PTI reported. In the very beginning, the farmer leaders informed the government that they have decided to reject the proposal made by the government in the last round of talks on Wednesday. The three central ministers, including Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar, urged the representatives of the farmers' unions to reconsider their stand, after which the two sides went for a lunch break. The break, during which the farmer leaders had their langar (community kitchen) food, lasted for more than three hours and also saw the 41 farmer leaders holding consultations among themselves, at times in smaller groups, while the three central ministers waited in a separate room at the Vigyan Bhawan. After the meeting with the Union ministers, Bharatiya Kisan Union (Ugrahan) leader Joginder Singh Ugrahan said the discussions have broken down as the unions rejected the government's proposal. Another farmer leader, Rakesh Tikait, said that the ministers suggested that the suspension period can be increased to up to 2 years, but the unions remained firm on their demand for a complete repeal and a legal guarantee for Minimum Support Price (MSP) mechanism for procurement of crops. Coming out of the meeting venue, farmer leader Shiv Kumar Kakka said there was no headway in the discussions and that the government had asked the unions to deliberate on its proposal again. Kakka was the first to leave the meeting, but said it was for "some personal reasons". In the last round of meetings held on Wednesday, the government had offered to put on hold the three laws and set up a joint committee to find solutions. However, after internal consultations on Thursday, the farmer unions decided to reject the offer and stick to their two major demands the repeal of the three laws and a legal guarantee of the MSP. "We told the government that we will not agree to anything other than the repeal of the laws. But the minister asked us to discuss separately again and rethink the matter and convey the decision," farmer leader Darshan Pal told PTI. Tikait added, "We conveyed our position clearly to the government that we want a repeal of the laws and not a suspension. The ministers asked us to reconsider our decision." Some leaders expressed apprehensions that the movement will lose its momentum once the farmers go away from Delhi borders. Harpal Singh, president of Bhartiya Kisan Union Asli Arajnaitik, said, "Even if we accept the government's offer, our fellow brothers sitting at Delhi borders will not accept anything other than a repeal of the laws. They will not spare us. What achievement will we show to them?" He also questioned the government's credibility, alleging it was difficult to believe that they will keep their word on putting the laws on hold for 18 months. "We will die here but we will not return without getting the laws repealed," Singh said. In a full general body meeting on Thursday, Samyukt Kisan Morcha, the umbrella body of the protesting unions, had rejected the government's proposal. "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 Morcha had said in a statement. 'No problem' with farm laws, says Tomar Union agriculture minister Tomar said some "forces" definitely want protests to continue for their "own personal and political motives" and no resolution is possible when the sanctity of agitation is lost. The minister said the farmer unions have been asked to revert till Saturday if they agree to the government's proposal for putting the laws on hold and forming a joint committee to reach a solution, after which the talks can continue. "We also told farmers to give their own proposal, other than the repeal of Acts, if they have got anything better than our offer," Tomar told reporters after the 11th round of talks ended. Asked whether he expects the farmers to agree to the government offer, he said, "I don't want to speculate, but we are hopeful that farmer unions will consider positively our proposal." On whether he saw any division among the union leaders on the government proposal, Tomar did not give a direct reply but said, "We thanked all farmer leaders, including those who support our proposal and those who are against it." "We should remain hopeful. Let's wait till tomorrow to hear farmers' unions' final decision," he said. Taking a hardline position, the minister said some external force was definitely trying to ensure that the agitation continues and those were obviously against the interests of farmers. "The government gave many proposals to end the protest, but no resolution is possible when the sanctity of an agitation is lost," he said. Tomar said the three farm reform bills were passed in Parliament for farmers' benefit and will increase their income. The ongoing agitation is mainly by those from Punjab and some from a few other states, he claimed. Tomar said the talks between the government and farmers are continuing since 14 October and there have been 11 rounds so far, including one with officials and others with the ministers. PTI reported that Tomar recommended to the farmers to discuss the proposal to suspend the laws internally. The minister also thanked unions for their cooperation and said while there were "no problems with the laws", the government offered to suspend them as respect for the protesting farmers. Along with Union Agriculture Minister Tomar, Railways, Commerce and Food Minister Piyush Goyal and Minister of State for Commerce Som Parkash are also participating in the talks with representatives of 41 farmer unions at the Vigyan Bhawan. Punjab, Haryana farmers to set out for tractor parade in Delhi tomorrow After holding rehearsals and preparations for the past few days, several batches of farmers from Punjab and Haryana will set out on Saturday to participate in the proposed tractor parade on 26 January in Delhi. "We all are geared up for participation in a tractor parade. Our first batch will move from Khanauri (in Sangrur) and another from Dabwali (in Sirsa district)," Bharti Kisan Union (Ekta-Ugrahan) general secretary Sukhdev Singh Kokrikalan said on Friday. "Considering the kind of enthusiasm among people, over 30,000 tractors owing allegiance to our union will be part of the parade," he added. Farmer unions have held several tractor rallies across the state to mobilise people and prepare for the proposed parade in the past few days. Farmers have also announced to display tableaus during the parade to showcase the plight of the farming community, they said. As farmer bodies have given a call for a peaceful tractor parade, farmer unions have issued directions to their village and block-level leadership to ensure discipline during the march. "Our union's block-level and village-level leaders will lead the tractor march and rest will follow them," said Kokrikalan, adding that volunteers will be deployed to keep a check on the situation. In Haryana, farmers from Karnal, Ambala, Rohtak, Bhiwani and Kurukshetra will leave for Delhi, said farmer leaders. Thousands of farmers from across the country 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. On 11 January, the Supreme Court stayed the implementation of the three laws till further orders and appointed a four-member panel to resolve the impasse. Bhartiya Kisan Union president Bhupinder Singh Mann had recused himself from the committee appointed by the apex court. Shetkari Sanghatana (Maharashtra) president Anil Ghanwat and agriculture economists Pramod Kumar Joshi and Ashok Gulati, the other three members on the panel, started the consultation process with stakeholders on Thursday. With inputs from PTI Hours after being sworn in as the 46th President of the United States, Joe Biden sent an ambitious immigration reform bill to Congress that has the promise to create an eight-year path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants, bolster border security with new screening technologies, and deliver aid to Central America. The bill referred to as the US Citizenship Act of 2021 modernizes the immigration system and also represents the most sweeping immigration reform package passed since 1986. It marks a symbolic break with the restrictionist immigration policies that have defined the last four years under the rule of Donald Trump and therefore ushering in what Biden promises to be a more welcoming era for immigrants in the US. More, it is being deemed as a move that would benefit hundreds and thousands of Indian IT professionals in the US, whose current wait period for legal permanent residency runs into several decades. Some of the provisions of the bill are as follows Implements Reforms To Legal Immigration The centerpiece of the bill is a provision that would allow undocumented immigrants to obtain legal status and eventually, citizenship. To qualify, they would have to have been present in the US on or before January 1, 2021, unless granted a waiver on humanitarian grounds. Initially, they would be able to obtain a work permit and travel abroad with the assurance that they would be permitted to reenter. After five years, they would be able to apply for a green card if they pass background checks and pay taxes. Immigrants covered by the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program and Temporary Protected Status, as well as farmworkers, would, however, be able to apply for green cards immediately. After holding their green card for three years and passing additional background tests, they could apply for US citizenship. Increases Per Country Visa Caps According to the incoming White House official, the bill reforms the family-based immigration system by recapturing unused visas to clear the backlog, eliminating the lengthy waits, and it increases their per-country visa caps. It also eliminates the bars and other provisions that have kept families apart. "The bill also clears employment-based immigration backlogs by reducing those backlogs altogether, eliminating the per country. It makes it easier for graduates of US universities with advanced degrees, in the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) fields to stay in the US. It also improves access to green cards for workers from the low wage sectors," said the official. Also read: Joe Biden's Immigration Bill Proposes to Eliminate Per Country Cap, to Benefit Indian Techies Prohibits Discrimination Based on Religion The bill also includes the No Ban Act that prohibits discrimination based on religion and limits presidential authority to issue future bans," the official added. Indian IT professionals, most of whom are highly skilled and come to the US mainly on the H-1B work visas, are the worst sufferers of the current immigration system which imposes a seven percent per country quota on allotment of the coveted Green Card or permanent legal residency. Biden's bill also increases the diversity visa program from 55,000 visas to 80,000 per year. Boosts Funding For Immigration Enforcement The bill would allow for an unspecified increase in funding for immigration enforcement. An incoming White House official said that Alejandro Mayorkas, Bidens nominee for Department of Homeland Security secretary, would have to assess the precise dollar amount required. Those funds would go toward improving screening technology, officer training, infrastructure at ports of entry, and border security between ports of entry, favoring alternatives to a border wall. The bill would also establish mechanisms to address misconduct among DHSs ranks, increasing staff at the DHS Office of Professional Responsibility, which investigates such cases, and requiring the agency to create a use-of-force policy. The bill has earned praise from immigrant rights activists who see reform, which lawmakers have demanded for more than a decade, as an imperative. But its not clear whether it could pass in the Senate, where Democrats have a narrow majority and it would need at least 60 votes in order to survive the filibuster. (Natural News) Antifa supporter Daniel Alan Baker was arrested for plotting to murder Trump supporters and police on Inauguration Day. (Article by Jim Hoft republished from TheGatewayPundit.com) He trained in Syria in 2017 with the YPG, was featured on VICE, and in 2020 participated in the CHAZ insurrection in Seattle, per DOJ documents. Jack Posobiec broke the story Friday. Antifa supporter Daniel Alan Baker posted links to CNN on his "Call to Arms" to kill Trump supporters and police officers on Inauguration Day He has been arrested by the FBI pic.twitter.com/1sEMIABGhB Jack Posobiec (@JackPosobiec) January 16, 2021 Baker posted links to CNN on his Call to Arms to kill Trump supporters and police officers on Inauguration Day. Daniel Alan Baker wanted to stockpile AK-47s and build bombs in CHAZ district in Seattle to start the revolution. Tallahassee WCTV had more on the arrest: Tallahassee resident Daniel Baker was arrested Friday. Federal law enforcement alleges he encouraged violence against protesters expected to hold demonstrations at the Capitol starting Sunday. US Attorney for Floridas Northern District Lawrence Keefe told us earlier this week, law enforcement had been working to identify threats before they manifested. Trying to detect, disrupt and dismantle any coordinated efforts to attack any capital, said Keefe. Baker, a former US Army infantryman, took part in a number of last summers protests against police brutality according to the affidavit. The criminal complaint included Daniel Baker saying he received Soros money and he will be offering cash rewards for information on Trump supporters in his video. Baker also offers cash rewards to any of his followers who send him information on Trump supporters at the US Capitol protest and riots. Here is the entire criminal complaint filed against Daniel Alan Baker. Criminal Complaint (Baker)( by WCTV Digital Team Read more at: TheGatewayPundit.com Chinese warship construction continues at a rapid pace, building large numbers of destroyers and amphibious (LPS and LHD) assault ships. These ships are also world class in terms of technology and design. To accomplish this China has worked for over a decade building incrementally better models of these ships. Satellite photos of their shipyards plus activities of research facilities and capabilities indicate a serious effort to move ahead of Western navy technology during the 2020s. That means transition to all electric drive ships and sensors that match Western capabilities and evolving rapidly enough to surpass them. China is still experimenting with aircraft carrier design while putting two carriers into service with a third nearing completion. Each carrier represents a different stage in the Chinese development process. As part of that effort China became the only country in the world with two shipyards capable of building large carriers. These two yards are visibly expanding their capabilities so that the largest (100,000 ton) carriers can be built. China did not begin their aircraft carrier development until the late 1990s. In contrast China has been developing its own designs for other types of warships since the 1970s and 80s. China takes as long as necessary to get ship designs right. In some cases this takes a long time. An example of this is Chinese development of nuclear submarines. Since the 1960s China has been trying, and failing, to design and build competitive SSNs (nuclear attack subs) and SSBNs (ballistic missile carrying nuclear subs) as well as a reliable SLBM (sea launched ballistic missile). SSBNs are larger and more complex than SSNs and China has been concentrating on perfecting a competitive SSBN design. China began construction of its first SSN in the 1960s and a decade later built its first SSBN. While each SSN and SSBN improves, those improvements have produced nuclear sub designs that are still several decades behind the Americans though close to matching current Russian nuclear sub tech. Propulsion and silencing capabilities developed for the SSBNs have been applied to SSNs and the latest SSN design, the Type 93G is like the Type 94A SSBN and evolutionary improvement with each Type 93 SSN built incorporating improvements based on experience with previous Type 93s. Chinese ship yards are apparently able to build two or three nuclear subs simultaneously. While the U.S. Navy is stuck with a dysfunctional warship construction capability and new technology it cannot afford, the Chinese have avoided the American mistakes so far and are rapidly closing the quality gap. That includes having their new ships spend a lot of time at sea, in all seasons and weather, to gain operational experience that can be obtained no other way. All this is the result of China concluding that it is no longer enough just to be the major land-based military power in East Asia, as they have been for thousands of years. The new Chinese economy requires that China protect its access to foreign markets and sources of raw materials. A large, modern navy would not only do that but also be capable of contesting the naval domination that West has had for centuries. China now has a naval strategy unlike any in its history. That is one component of a Chinese strategy that involves ambitious goals on land and sea. China is seeking ownership of the South China Sea, large chunks of India and, rather quietly, the Far Eastern Russian territories. In addition Chinese seeks naval domination in the Western Pacific and the Indian Ocean. Going after adjacent land areas is the traditional Chinese way of expanding. China has tended, for thousands of years, to absorb areas not populated by Han (ethnic Chinese) people. While the traditional Chinese lands are now incorporated into communist China what, there is no precedent for Chinese naval domination beyond their coastal waters. Westerners fail to understand some basics about Chinese history and practice. For example, the Chinese have long called China Zhongguo, which is usually translated into English as middle kingdom. A more literal and accurate translation is everything under the heavens. Until the 21st century, this mainly meant adjacent land areas occupied by a least a large minority of Han Chinese. But now China points out that everything means the South China Sea as well and perhaps much more distant lands. China has laid claim to the South China Sea because China is currently faced with a situation unique in Chinese history; dependency on markets and resources far from the Chinese heartland and best reached by sea. Until quite recently China had observed the policy that we have everything we need and do not require whatever foreigners have. These was one exception; gold, silver and gems. This made trade with China difficult because China had much to offer, including silk and other exquisite textiles. China tolerated foreign traders coming in by sea. Most of these were Arab and Indian, but this trade was not essential for China. Nor was trade via the land route; the Silk Road that reached as far as the Middle East, as well as India and all points along the way. Since China preferred to be paid in silver this limited how much distant customers could afford. That worked well for China. China did like to keep an eye on what was happening in distant lands and sometimes took extraordinary measures to do so. For example, in the early 15th century (1402-33) China funded a large fleet of over 300 ships. These included many enormous vessels that were 120 meters (370 feet) long so that distant lands could be investigated in a proper manner. These ships were more than twice the size of Western vessels. This rare Chinese fleet was proposed and commanded by Zheng He, a very capable Chinese general and a senior official who had the trust of several Chinese emperors. The purpose of the tribute fleet was to impress on foreigners the might of China and to demand tribute from foreign rulers. The tribute fleet also traded, if only to bring back samples of foreign goods, envoys and ideas. All of these were seen as curiosities, not anything really useful to China. The tribute fleet also carried over 20,000 soldiers to impress on foreigners that you did not want to mess with China. Zeng He was a very capable general and he used his tribute fleet troops a few times to impress on troublesome foreigners that the Chinese meant to get their way. These seven voyages took the fleet into Southeast Asia, India, the Middle East and east Africa. After Zeng He died, apparently while leading the last voyage, the emperor ordered the fleet dismantled and written records of the voyages filed away. China had, as always, everything it needed in China and the foreigners had nothing to offer that justified such a large fleet. Let the foreigners come to China with their offerings and, as long as they recognized Chinese supremacy, they would be tolerated. What Zheng He missed was the growing knowledge explosion in Europe. This was producing all manner of new, and very useful technologies. Before the end of the 15th century some of these new European ships had reached East Africa and the formerly unknown and explored Americas. Over next few decades these high-tech foreign barbarians traded and conquered their way closer and closer to the Chinese empire. When these heavily armed black ships of the western barbarians showed up seeking to trade, the Chinese were not impressed by what the western voyagers had to offer. Western ideas were particularly disdained. For over 400 years after the first voyage of Zheng He China dismissed Western ideas, encompassed in the Renaissance, Age of Enlightenment, Industrial Revolution and a growing body of new scientific, engineering and political developments. From the 17th century on those Western concepts became more difficult to ignore. Western advances in ship building, navigation and weapons, especially cannon and firearms, arrived in China more frequently, in larger numbers and often violently. China was slow to adapt. By the late 19th century, when the despised Japanese adopted much of this Western technology, China was forced to recognize that the world had changed, and not in a way that benefitted China. The new ideas generated by the Renaissance and Age of Enlightenment could be ignored but not Western technology. Western ideas like democracy and radical socialism (communism) had some appeal to Chinese eager to replace the ancient imperial system based on feudalism and a highly skilled bureaucracy. Efforts to implement these new ideas caught on, but not in a big way and often with disastrous results. What was produced was a century of revolution and civil war that made China much weaker. Chinese later regarded this as a century of humiliation made possible by the superior technology and organization of Western nations. When the Chinese communists came out on top in China after World War II one of main goals was to finally reap the benefits of the Industrial Revolution. But the Great Leap Forward of the 1950s and the Cultural Revolution of the 1960s killed over 30 million Chinese while doing little to help the economy or most Chinese. Chinese leaders learned from this and by the 1970s realized that the existing communist government could only claim to have destroyed feudalism and replaced it with a communist economic system that was not much more effective than the ancient imperial system. Then Chinese leaders sought to try something different. In a typically bold move worthy of Admiral Zheng He, Chinese were encouraged to create an Industrial Revolution using Western ideas of property rights and entrepreneurial development of new products and manufacturing techniques. By 1980s Chinese leaders were proclaiming that it was glorious to get rich as long as you stayed out of politics. In other words, the communist dynasty would still rule, but in a way that allowed most Chinese to get rich, or at least more affluent than they had ever been in the past. It worked and from the 1980s through the present China finally went through the Industrial Revolution and became the second largest economy in the world (after the United States). At the current rate of growth China will have the largest economy by the late 2020s and believe they will need comparable military power to hold on to their economic gains. The Chinese leaders were impressed by the United States, which had been the most effective practitioner of the Industrial Revolution and had gotten into late, during the 19th century. By 1900 the U.S. had the largest economy in the world and, the Chinese noted, were still a nation that produced all it needed within the continental United States. Despite that, the Americans were very much a trading nation, but that was something of a bonus. The Chinese communists also noted that during World War II the Americans mainly exported weapons, industrial equipment, fuel and food. The Americans did this with a population less than a fifth that of China. By World War II less than ten percent of Americans were employed in agriculture, produced nearly as much food as China and exported what they did not consume. The Americans were producing most of the new technology. By World War II the U.S. had the most powerful fleet on the planet, and still do. Their air forces were unmatched and in the 1960s Americans were walking on the moon and retuning safely. By the end of the 20th century, Chinese leaders were wondering what to do about this. These leaders, while still communist, were seen by most Chinese as just another imperial dynasty. The privileged sons of the senior communist officials were disparagingly called little princes. And while some these sons were an embarrassment to their families, many more turned the next generation of senior leadership into what amounted to hereditary rule. The Chinese leaders noted this, along with the growing assertiveness of the newly affluent Chinese. By the early 21st century over half the Chinese population were wealthier than they ever imagined. In two generations most Chinese families had gone from poverty to affluence. Their children were better educated than any before. At this point, the Chinese rulers realized they could hang onto their hereditary power only as long as the newly affluent saw their communist rulers aiding continued economic growth rather than losing it via growing corruption or wars that achieved little other than impoverishing the newly affluent Chinese. To assure the survival of the new dynasty Chinese leaders adopted a typically Chinese solution; they deliberately planned for the long term. In Western terms, they played the long game. This meant maintaining economic growth while also creating Chinese scientific and military capabilities that were beyond what any other nation possessed. That had worked in the past until Chinese emperors ignored the rest of the world despite the good advice of imperial officials like Zheng He, who is now hailed by Chinese as a visionary that was ignored. By 1980 Chinese leaders decided they would no longer ignore the rest of the world but would instead become prosperous and powerful enough to dominate it for the long term. As Zheng He demonstrated, that required the most powerful navy on the planet. To achieve military dominance, Chinese leader accepted that this would take decades and this is what the Chinese are up to. Military reforms began in the 1980s as the Chinese adopted Western weapons, techniques and technology. China purchased or stole all the Western tech they could and this included manufacturing technology as well as Western designs for weapons, training and military equipment. China went slowly. They didn't build a large nuclear arsenal once they had learned how to build nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles in the 1960s. Same with warplanes and armored vehicles. This was not the Western way but it has worked for the Chinese as they acquired and learned to use one technology after another. The Chinese approach to warship design and construction is a good example. Since the 1990s the Chinese have gone from producing copies of Russian designs to those matching the latest Western designs. It was the same with the ground and air forces. The Chinese also realized they could no longer rely on a large (in manpower) armed forces but needed a much smaller force of better educated, trained, equipped and armed troops. Back in the 1980s Chinese leaders calculated that it would take half a century to match and surpass the West in military power. Westerners scoffed at such an idea but now it is generally agreed that by the 2030s the Chinese will achieve their goal. That does not mean China will use that military power to conquer the world. That was not the Chinese way. Their plan is to possess military power that will, like Zheng Hes tribute fleet, impress upon foreigners that China is not to be defied and that if China wants something, they are more likely to get it. That is being done via the Chinese BRI (Belt and Road initiative) project which is reestablishing the Silk Road, not just overland but with a maritime version as well. The land version involves investing over half a trillion dollars in building transportation and other infrastructure from China into Central Asia, Southeast Asia, South Asia and even Europe. These local investments give China enormous political and economic leverage. Long term it means China has finally sound something worth exporting along the Silk Road; Chinese economic and if needed, military power. The maritime version of the new Silk Road is there to ensure access to areas outside Eurasia. More importantly the new Chinese fleet can dominate shipping lanes worldwide and force other nations to worry about their own access to the seas. All this depends on continued Chinese economic and technological growth. That is less certain that Chinese plans for military expansion. It was the rapidly growing economy that enabled the Chinese to pay for their new fleet and modern ground forces. Chinese leaders and foreign economists both note several serious flaws in the Chinese financial and political systems. Chinese leaders are trying to use a tightly controlled and high-tech police state to fix these economic problems and it is unclear if their Big Brother approach will work. If it does it will change the world as well as China. Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. FAIRFIELD For the first time in recent memory, the Representative Town Meeting is evenly split in terms of party membership. The change in the balance of power comes after two Democrats switched their affiliation to Republican in the past few weeks. The move means a number of changes are in store for how the RTM operates and could affect some issues coming before the town body, especially the budget. First, Hannah Gale changed her party membership. At the time, Gale said the switch was a result of the Connecticut Democratic Partys push for legislation to remove the states religious exemption for vaccination mandates. Tameisha Powell-Dunmore followed two weeks later on Jan. 11. She said she changed parties because she was berated by some Democrats for posts she made on Facebook about the events at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6 and for supporting the first selectwomans Voluntary Early Retirement Incentive Program. Democratic Town Committee Chairman Steven Sheinberg has refuted her claims that she was berated by Democratic officials, saying conversations with her were cal and focused on Powell-Dunmore spreading apparent conspiracy theories online. He said the DTC was incredibly confused and disappointed to see the posts, which mostly focused on largely disproven claims about election fraud, adding they echoed the dangerous conspiracy theories, spread by right-wing domestic terrorists and radical, cult-like fringe groups, such as QAnon. I was told that I should resign from the DTC because my truths are not their truths and to give my seat back because it belongs to the Democratic Party, Powell-Dunmore said. It does not belong to a political party; I was elected by the voters in my district after campaigning on what I believe in. Sheinberg said the DTC leadership agreed that she is within her right to share her own individual opinions, but that she was sharing things that were in direct conflict with her role as an elected member of a Democratic Town Committee. The party change takes effect 90 days after such a change in affiliation for voting in primaries, but the two members are already considered Republicans in terms of how the Representative Town Meeting is split. Town Clerk Betsy Browne said she checked town records as far back as the 1980s and did not find a time when there was an evenly split RTM. A now split RTM Pamela Iacono, the Republican Caucus leader of the RTM, said Powell-Dunmore and Gale have been accepted into the Republican caucus. Iacono said Powell-Dunmores switch means there most likely will no longer be a majority and minority leader of the body. She said the even split creates an opportunity for more compromise and effective work to be done. I think this situation we are in now will be a good reminder to us that we need to work collaboratively if we want to pass any incentives for the town, Iacono said. If either caucus has an item it wants approved, it will require cooperation from both parties to pass. Iacono said the biggest issue she sees facing the RTM in the near term is the budget appropriation for the next fiscal year. Last year, Im proud to say we worked together to pass a budget, but that historically doesnt always happen, she said. The year before there was a major division split on party line on how to fund the paving budget. Jill Vergara, the Democratic Caucus leader, also said the split RTM would lead to spirited discussions, which she said is usually good for vetting plans and creating positive outcomes. She said she was disappointed that Democrats lost the majority, but is proud they put principles above politics. I think its pretty important to note that the Republican caucus leader and I have worked well together pretty much since the pandemic began, she said. I plan to continue that. As she watched the presidential inauguration, Vergara said she has an even stronger resolve to work with her Republican on the RTM. She said she agreed with Iaconos point about possible issues during the budget process, but thinks there is an opportunity for more compromise. We really do have to work together to get it done for the town, she said. Vergara said she also wanted to make it clear that cooperation does not mean that Democrats in the RTM will be mute and approve everything presented to them. She said it is her duty to debate and interrogate everything. Some people characterize that as partisan for some reason, she said. Its not partisan. Its questioning, and I refuse to have the RTM be a rubber stamp body. Were going to continue to be a check and balance for the people. Powell-Dunmore said she is proud voters gave her the opportunity to serve her community. She said she had always done what she thought was right regardless of party, adding she does not believe in conspiracy theories or spreading disinformation. This country has been through a lot in recent years, and I just want everyone to come together, she said. It is the same reason why I volunteered for the Racial Equity and Justice Task Force. I am the lone elected town official who is a person of color. This entire experience has not been easy for me but I speak the truth and will always stand up for what is right. What it means for the body Browne pointed out that, if a vote fell along party lines and was evenly split, the motion would fail. She also said that the balance of power in the Committee on Committees is subject to change. The Committee on Committees, also known as the RTM's special legislative management committee, chooses the membership of RTM standing committees and ad hoc special committees. It generally consists of of three members of the majority party and two members of the minority party. In the event that no majority or minority party exists as composed, the Committee on Committees shall consist of two members from each of the two parties with the highest number of members and one member as selected by the First Selectman, a town document says. Browne also confirmed that there will no longer be a majority and minority leader in the RTM just caucus leaders. Jonathan L. Wharton, an associate professor of political science and urban affairs at Southern Connecticut State University, said Representative Town Meetings are not usually tied to political parties. It tends to be more about the candidates or the issues themselves financial concerns and those things, he said. It seems its rare that it is so partisan or hyper partisan. Ive never heard of a moment when it is split like this before. So, this is new to me. Wharton, who studies state and local government, said most governing bodies in municipalities have an odd number of members, which prevents situations where there could be a tie. One good thing about local government, Wharton said, is that most people know one another and it generally prevents any sort of hyper-partisanship. He said town bodys have a better chance of members haggling things out. Im not saying all the time, Wharton said. But it seems to be because they know one another, they still find a pathway of negotiating things out when needed. Thats kind of the beauty of local politics. The art of negotiation is more possible than it could ever be... in state positions and certainly national positions. Wharton said it is rare for politicians to change party affiliation from one major party to another, noting that switching from Independent to Republican or Democrat or vice-versa happens more frequently. Wharton also said Fairfield Democrats are likely to politicize Gale and Powell-Dunmore switching parties, and their reasons for doing so, during the next election cycle. At the end of the day, these are more national issues than local issues, he said. Its a matter of how some officials politicize national politics for their own gain as opposed to (national politics) seeping from the top-down. The story was updated to reflect the rules for when the party switch will take effect. joshua.labella@hearstmediact.com remaining of Thank you for reading! This is your last free article before you will be asked to subscribe. Already have a paid subscription? Sign in Who will be the next CBI chief? PM Modi-led panel shortlists these three names; Congress protests Congress to have new elected president by June 2021 India oi-Deepika S New Delhi, Jan 22: The Congress party will have a new elected president in June 2021, and Sonia Gandhi will remain as the interim party chief for the five state assembly elections to be held by May. CWC meet: Argment forces big decision at meeting: Details | Oneindia News After a three-and-a-half-hour meeting, which was stormy at times, the Congress Working Committee(CWC), the party's highest policy making body, authorised incumbent chief Sonia Gandhi to schedule the internal elections after the conclusion of assembly polls in five states due to be held in April-May. "The CWC decided that there will be an elected Congress president by June 2021 at any cost," AICC general secretary K C Venugopal said, adding that the little change of schedule depending on the timing of the state elections will be decided soon. Reports said the party's Central Election Authority had proposed the holding of polls for electing its president and the AICC session on May 29 and the CWC discussed the dates, but authorised Sonia Gandhi to schedule them after the assembly polls. Sonia Gandhi took over as interim Congress president after Rahul Gandhi resigned in the wake of the party's Lok Sabha debacle in May 2019. There have been demands from a section of the Congress leaders for having a full-time and active party president and an organisational overhaul. The CWC had in its earlier meeting decided to hold organisational elections, following a storm in the party in August last year over a letter to Sonia Gandhi by a group of 23 leaders including Ghulam Nabi Azad, Anand Sharma, Bhupinder Hooda, Prithviraj Chavan, Kapil Sibal, Manish Tewari and Mukul Wasnik raising these issues. Top U.S. infectious disease expert Anthony Fauci said that based on recent seven-day averages, coronavirus infections may be about to hit a plateau in the United States. At a White House news briefing, Fauci also said coronavirus vaccines can be modified to account for new variants of the virus, and that while the South Africa variant is concerning, it does not appear to be in the United States. Another highly-transmissible variant of the virus first discovered in the United Kingdom has spread to at least 20 U.S. states, Fauci said, adding that he expects current vaccines will be effective against the recently discovered virus mutations. "Bottom line: were paying very close attention to it for our alternative plans if we have to ever modify the vaccine. But right now, from the reports we have ... it appears that the vaccines will still be effective against them," Reuters cited him as saying. The United States still has a limited ability to track the presence of new variants in its population, he added. Fauci said President Joe Bidens plan to speed COVID-19 inoculations, including setting up community vaccination centers and involving more local pharmacies, improves on the Trump administrations rollout. He added that Biden is deploying the Defense Production Act to help vaccine manufacturers, including Pfizer Inc, Johnson & Johnson and Moderna Inc, scale their production. COVID-19 has spiraled out of control for months in the United States even with a massive vaccination campaign underway. The U.S. death toll has exceeded 400,000. The hedge fund industry posted a second consecutive month of inflows in November, adding $14.0 billion in new assets during the month. Novembers inflows marked a significant increase over the $5.2 billion in new assets the industry added in October. Novembers inflows represented 0.4% of industry assets, according to the Barclay Fund Flow Indicator published by BarclayHedge, a division of Backstop Solutions. Coupled with a $134.4 billion monthly trading profit, total industry assets stood at more than $3.60 trillion as November ended. Data from 6,900 funds in the BarclayHedge database showed Sector Specific funds setting the pace in November bringing in $6.2 billion, while Fixed Income funds added $4.7 billion. Investors looked beyond the immediate pandemic concerns and found cause for optimism in improved consumer sentiment and retail sales, upticks in some commodity prices, the strong economic recovery in China and record economic growth in the U.S. during the third quarter, said Sol Waksman, president of BarclayHedge. For the 12 months through November, the hedge fund industry experienced $100.1 billion in redemptions. A $149.1 billion trading profit over the period brought total industry assets to $3.60 trillion at the end of November, up from $3.41 trillion at the end of October and up from $3.17 trillion a year earlier. Five hedge fund sectors experienced 12-month inflows through November. Leading the way were Sector Specific funds adding $31.7 billion, 17.4% of assets, and Event Driven funds with 12-month inflows of $7.1 billion, 4.1% of assets. Emerging Markets Asia funds added $5.3 billion, 4.6% of assets, Convertible Arbitrage funds took in $5.1 billion, 24.6% of assets, and Emerging Markets Latin America funds brought in $567.8 million, 4.8% of assets. Equity Long/Short Funds reported the largest 12-month redemptions with $27.3 billion in outflows, 13.6% of assets. Macro Funds shed $22.5 billion, 11.3% of assets, over the period, Fixed Income funds saw $19.8 billion in redemptions, 3.1% of assets, and Equity Long Bias funds experienced $18.4 billion in outflows, 5.3% of assets. Managed futures funds returned to inflows in November, bringing in $73.4 million in new assets. Three of four CTA sectors experienced inflows. Hybrid CTAs added $153.4 million, 1.7% of assets, Multi Advisor Futures Funds brought in $142.6 million, 1.4% of assets, and Discretionary CTAs saw $27.5 million in inflows, 0.2% of assets. The lone managed futures sector posting net redemptions in November was Systematic CTAs with $107.5 million in outflows, a negligible amount of assets. For the 12-month period through November, CTAs saw $8.0 billion in outflows, 2.6% of assets. A $12.7 billion trading loss over the period brought industry assets to $291.7 billion industry asset total at the end of the month, down from $310.2 billion a year earlier. About Backstop Solutions Backstops mission is to help the institutional investment industry use time to its fullest potential. We develop technology to simplify and streamline otherwise time-consuming tasks and processes, enabling our clients to quickly and easily access, share and manage the knowledge thats critical to their day-to-day business success. Backstop provides its industry-leading cloud-based productivity suite to investment consultants, pensions, funds of funds, family offices, endowments, foundations, private equity, hedge funds and real estate investment firms. BarclayHedge, a division of Backstop, currently maintains data on more than 6,900 hedge funds, funds of funds and CTAs. Institutional investors, brokerage firms and private banks worldwide utilize BarclayHedge indices as performance benchmarks for the hedge fund and managed futures industries. States Were Ready to Act Whos Still Missing Out Glenn Hegar had some good news to share earlier this month. Texas faces a shortfall of nearly $1 billion -- not great, but a lot healthier than the $4.6-billion budget hole the state's comptroller projected back in July.One big reason for the relative recovery, Hegar says, is online sales taxes. By July, collections from remote and online retailers were higher than theyd been during the previous holiday shopping season.Online sales taxes have been a critical source of revenue that has helped state and local governments in Texas weather this pandemic, says Hegar.Texas is not unique. In at least one way, the pandemic was well-timed for state and local governments. After years of trying, they got the Supreme Court to agree in 2018 to allow collection of taxes on sales by vendors who dont have a physical presence in their states. A year earlier, Amazon, the largest online retailer, had agreed to collect sales taxes in all 45 states that impose such taxes.In other words, the pandemic, bad as it has been, would have been worse financially for state and local governments if it had struck in 2015, rather than in 2020.Weve talked to a lot of cities who said this was a key element that helped them keep going in this crisis, says Michael Gleeson, legislative manager for finance at the National League of Cities. There would be a much bigger loss of revenues for cities, and there would be a much bigger hole that cities would be facing right now, if revenues had not been picked up while everyone was shopping online.Online retail sales topped $200 billion in both the second and third quarter of last year. They peaked as a share of total retail at 16.1 percent during the second quarter (April through June, when many states had imposed stay-at-home orders), according to the U.S. Census Bureau . Their share dipped in the third quarter to 13.5 percent of total sales but that still represented a jump of nearly 40 percent, compared to the same period in 2019.Thats real money. Cities and states still mourn the hit that stores on Main Street and shopping malls have taken, but at least they were able to capture a substantial share of the purchases that shifted online.That revenue was not only helpful, but in some ways its become almost essential, says Patrick Murphy, vice president of public finance at Arnold Ventures, a philanthropic foundation. Purchases at brick-and-mortar stores going down is bad enough, but if they hadnt been able to capture some of the money online, what a problem that would have been.The 2018 Supreme Court decision, in South Dakota v. Wayfair , overturned prior decisions that had made it impossible for states to collect sales taxes from remote sellers. They certainly tried in different ways, but were shot down by various courts. It was the long-sought Wayfair decision, as its known, that opened the door for states to collect taxes on most online sales.Prior to the Wayfair decision, although some ecommerce sellers were going down the path of starting to collect sales tax on their sales, online sales was still a potential avenue to avoid the sales tax, says Chuck Maniace, vice president of regulatory analysis at Sovos, a tax compliance firm.Wayfair allows states to demand that businesses without a physical presence collect and remit taxes, assuming they make at least $100,000 worth of in-state sales. Following the decision, large states such as California and Texas have set the threshold higher, at $500,000. States differ in terms of how many in-state transactions can take place before a seller has to collect taxes (generally, about 200).States had been laying the groundwork for collecting taxes on online sales for many years. Since 2000, a consortium called the Streamlined Sales Tax Governing Board has worked on ways to make tax systems more uniform. Half the states have adopted its system of definitions, rules and exemptions.That was key, since figuring out sales tax codes even in individual states can be a chore. A state might exempt raisins and yogurt while taxing yogurt-covered raisins because they're considered candy, for example. Wisconsin devotes five pages of its tax code to questions about taxing ice.For some reason, clay pigeons are tax-exempt, says John Macco, who chairs the Ways and Means Committee in the Wisconsin Assembly. I didnt know we had a clay pigeon lobby.Having pushed the question all the way to the Supreme Court, states were ready to act once they had the green light. Forty-three of the 45 states that collect sales taxes had implementing legislation in place in time for the pandemic.Addressing the issues raised as a result of the Wayfair decision ensured that my agency was prepared when collections began to increase sharply in April 2020, says Hegar, the Texas comptroller, who notes that the state collected $1.3 billion from online sales in the first year after implementing Wayfair. For the most part, this revenue would not have been collected but for marketplace legislation and the requirement that certain remote sellers collect taxes on sales.The two sales-tax states without Wayfair legislation on the books are Florida and Missouri. In Florida, extending the sales tax to online commerce sounded like a new tax, making it politically tricky. In Missouri, the question was how to untangle the complicated local and state sales and use tax system.It actually came up on the Senate floor the day we broke for COVID-19, Missouri Sen. Andrew Koenig told. When we came back to session, we just didnt have the time to work out a compromise on it.Lawmakers in both states are expected to make another run at the issue this year. The pandemic, with all its disruptions to in-person transactions, has proven to be no time for failure in taxing online purchases.Bills have been filed in both chambers and were already hearing bipartisan support for the measure, says Scott Shalley, president of the Florida Retail Federation. It has been a years-long effort in Florida to fix the glitch in state statute to remove the burden from the consumer and ensure that Florida retailers are competing on a level playing field.Other states are still tinkering with their rules. Under Wayfair, states cant impose requirements that present an undue burden to online sellers. There are differences of opinion about whether retailers should have to collect sales taxes for every locality that imposes its own rates above and beyond what a state may charge.In Texas, retailers can ask to be part of a simplified program that exempts them from collecting or tracking all the local rates, instead working with one rate statewide. Still, modern software means that if retailers can figure out where to ship a package, they can figure out the local sales tax.We ended up just exceeding our sales tax estimate for the year, says John Bruggen, assistant budget and finance administrator for Hamilton County, Ohio. We ended up hitting budget on the sales tax, which is our major revenue source.For most states, cities and counties, being able to collect taxes on online sales has proven to be a boon at a time of continuing financial troubles.It did come at a good time for them, says David Hitchcock, a senior director at S&P Global, a financial ratings firm. With revenues down, they need every dollar they can get. Reporter Debra Pressey is a reporter covering health care at The News-Gazette. Her email is dpressey@news-gazette.com, and you can follow her on Twitter (@DLPressey). A class-wise schedule will be created and the students will be escorted to the toilet block to demonstrate the proper way of using the incinerator The Delhi government has directed principals of its schools as well as the heads of over 550 MCD schools to facilitate installation of sanitary napkin incinerators with smoke control units in toilet blocks for girls. According to officials, the Education Ministry's Project Approval Board (PAB) has awarded work for procurement and installation of sanitary napkin incinerators in 3,204 toilet blocks of 553 schools of DoE and MCD. "Head of schools in consultation with the authorized representative shall identify the location in the toilet blocks where the product is to be installed. The principals make all immediate arrangement for proper power supply with power points at the proposed installation location. The cost of these power plugs will be paid by principals concerned from Vidyalaya Kalyan Samiti (VKS) funds or grant in aids, the Directorate of Education (DoE) said in a letter to schools. In case, the power points are not installed within the stipulated time period, the vendor will install and give a demonstration of the product from his own source. However, the head of the school shall verify the installation and proper functioning of products after it is done and given to the vendor. The principal shall provide assistance and local support in transportation and installation of the product in the school, it added. The government has asked schools to depute female science lab attendant or science teacher as in-charge SNI (Sanitary Napkin Incinerator). The OS will instruct the timetable in-charge to assign substitute periods of teachers on leave to in-charge SNI every day to carry out the demonstration. The in-charge shall prepare a class-wise schedule and escort the girl's students of the class to the toilet block to demonstrate the proper way of using the incinerator, the directive said. The training will be given turn by turn to all the girls from Class 5 to the highest class of the school every month by the principal or in-charge SNI. This shall be repeated till all girls become proficient in using the machine. The in-charge shall ensure switching on of the machine every day in the morning and switching off at the end of the school timings, it added. Why not? Neil Patrick Harris responded to showrunner Russel T. Davies recent comments to Radio Times claiming straight actors shouldnt play gay roles. Read article Speaking with The Sunday Times., the A Series of Unfortunate Events star, 47, disagreed. Im not one to jump onto labeling. As an actor, you certainly hope you can be a visible option for all kinds of different roles. I played a character [in How I Met Your Mother] for nine years that was nothing like me, Harris said on Thursday, January 21, before clarifying that he believed Davies comments were speaking more about the joyfulness of being able to be authentic. Chelsea Lauren/Shutterstock He went on to cite other actors, including Aidan Gillen, Craig Kelly and Charlie Hunnam, who played gay men in Queer as Folk a series also created by Davies. I think theres something sexy about casting a straight actor to play a gay role if theyre willing to invest a lot into it, Harris shared. Read article The New Mexico native noted, Theres a nervousness that comes from the newness of it all. To declare that youd never do that, you might miss opportunities. Harris said that he himself plans to continue to accept parts playing straight roles. In his January 11 interview with the Radio Times, Davies said, You wouldnt cast someone able-bodied and put them in a wheelchair. You wouldnt Black someone up. Authenticity is leading us to joyous places. Jim Parsons previously spoke on the topic. Theres definitely this spectrum when it comes to answers on the issue, Parsons, 47, told The L.A. Times earlier this month. I think the fight, as it were, is not about having only gay people play the gay parts but to ensure that all parts are open to all actors. Its important that gay characters are portrayed as well-rounded and completely human individuals. Read article Harris came out as gay in 2006. Hes married to David Burtka, with whom he celebrated 16 years of marriage in 2020. They share 9-year-old twins, Harper and Gideon. Speaking with Us Weekly in 2019, Harris opened up about keeping their love alive after more than a decade together. We tend to communicate and talk a lot, he revealed at the time. I think when you keep things pent up and you exist in, like, a facade, it seems to lead to more problems, so we talk about stuff when we have problems with each other. Burkta, 45, joked, Tasers work really well too. At least they make the other person stop talking. Looks like you typed in the wrong url. To visit the SiliconIndia Home page click here To view the SiliconIndia blogs page click here What is SiliconIndia? SiliconIndia is one of the largest content and community networks for Indian professionals, entrepreneurs and students worldwide. Since 1997, we have inspired successes for Indian professionals through our thought provoking SiliconIndia career events and magazines. Now, through the addition of the online professional network, we combine the power of news, magazine and events, with an online network that can exclusively help you develop deep professional and social relationships with the SiliconIndia member community. Some of the member benefits are: Your own trusted network, discussion groups, Messages and the Lounge to interact with and expand your professional and social network. Write on what you are passionate about and publish to the entire internet using our professional Blogs. Special web seminars and career events on topics of interest exclusive to SiliconIndia network members. Oportunities to get personalized one on one advice from experienced professionals for career growth, entrepreneurship and higher education through our unique mentorship program. Mentors are invited from within the SiliconIndia network. The opportunity to contribute to our leading magazine, online news and events, to help enhance your professional profile in the growing SiliconIndia community. A proponent of Mayor LaToya Cantrells efforts last year to slash the taxes that go to New Orleans Public Library has been nominated for a seat on its board, a move that has drawn a rebuke from the groups that successfully fended off the budget cut last year. Cantrells nomination of Dana Henry, an executive with the charter management organization Einstein Schools, was up before the City Councils Governmental Affairs committee on Thursday, the first step in granting approval to put him on the library board. But that nomination is on hold for now, with City Council members waiting to hear from him before deciding whether to sign off on the idea. We decided that it would be better if we could hold a meeting at a future time where Mr. Henry can lay out his case for being able to serve, said Andrew Sullivan, chief of staff to Governmental Affairs Chair Kristin Gisleson Palmer. Henry did not respond to requests for comment on his nomination Thursday. Library advocates, including more than 100 who wrote in to the council to oppose Henry, said his support of cutting library funding, particularly as a part of an organization that was caught lying about endorsements, was disqualifying. As a board member you are its frontline and defense, you represent the institution and you are there to protect it, said Courtney Kearney, a board member of Friends of the Library. And to be part of the campaign that was based on misinformation shows that he doesnt have the librarys best interest at heart. The dust-up over appointments, which rarely generate much controversy or discussion, is part of the continuing fallout from the defeat of a complex tax proposal Cantrell put before the voters in December. The plan would have replaced a series of taxes that are set to expire this year with a set of new ones, in the process cutting the librarys funding by 40% to pay for increased funding for economic development, affordable housing and infrastructure. Property tax proposals, French Quarter sales tax voted down in New Orleans New Orleans voters solidly rejected all three parts of Mayor LaToya Cantrell's tax reshuffling Saturday night, voting down a plan that would h Top stories in New Orleans in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up Voters rejected the three ballot measures that made up that plan as a result of campaigning by those who wanted to see the library fully funded. Among the groups supporting Cantrells plan was Yes for Childrens Success, a political action committee largely made up of charter school proponents. Those groups largely focused on a portion of the plan that would allow the city to use the library tax to help fund a program that provides scholarships to pre-Kindergarten programs for low-income residents. Henry is listed as providing $5,000 of in-kind services for staff time and $1,600 worth of legal services, coordination of campaign activities and strategy to the PAC. He also donated $250 to the organization. All nine members of the library board are appointed by the mayor and must be approved by the City Council. Henry was initially nominated in the fall to replace board member James Chassee, who had moved out of the district. If appointed, Henry would fill out the remainder of Chassees term, which ends in 2026. Signing off on mayoral appointments is a regular, and usually uneventful, council task. In the same committee meeting where Henrys nomination was set to be discussed, council members green-lit a half-dozen other appointments to city bodies including putting Gayle Benson on the Audubon Commission board in a matter of minutes with little discussion. Typically these appointments are pro-forma but in this case theres obviously a lot of energy in the air around this specific topic so for us we want to make sure that this process honors all the voices that are a part of it, including the nominees, Sullivan said. Regardless of whether Henry is appointed to the library board, a vote on more funding appears to be in the cards. Council members have indicated they are likely to put a full renewal of the current millage on the ballot in the fall. The implementation of the new Motor Vehicle Inspection System (MVIS) by the Land Transportation Office (LTO) is underway. That means motorists that need to renew their vehicle registration will proceed to a local Private Motor Vehicle Inspection Center (PMVIC) to have their vehicle undergo a full roadworthiness and safety check. Components and systems like the primary and secondary lights, horn, suspension, steering play, braking, so on and so forth will be tested by the PMVICs. Yesterday, however, a post on social media sparked quite a bit of outrage amongst motor vehicle owners. The post claims that an unmodified Toyota Land Cruiser 200 in Nueva Ecija failed its MVIS because the sound level of the exhaust exceeded the 99-decibel limit. And we're not talking about going over a little bit; the MVISR or Motor Vehicle Inspection Report indicates that the vehicle exceeded 650 decibels or more than 6.5 times the limit. Basically, if you were in the vicinity of a sound that was 650+ decibels, everyone in the area would likely end up being deaf. Gunshots, for instance, are about 140 decibels. We've already reached out to the vehicle owner via a contact in Cabanatuan City for their story; we're just waiting on a response from the owner. We reached out to our contacts in the PMVIC business for comment on the matter, and we got a response right away. There is actually a group of PMVICs called the Vehicle Inspection Center Association Philippines or VICOAP; no, there is no connection to the popular mayor. In this group, they talk about issues and the implementation of the MVIS by the LTO. Specifically, they check on each other to share best practices in this new industry and to discuss potential problems that could affect PMVICs as a whole. And as you can expect, many of the other PMVICs are up in arms over this issue that broke out yesterday. The PMVIC in question is the one based in Cabanatuan City: Five S Inspection Center, Incorporated. In the wake of the issue and the prodding of many of the VICOAP members, we got an explanation and a copy of the retest. According to our source, the claim is that during the test, there was a "misreading" which they say can happen in certain circumstances. There are no exact specifics as to what happened that affected the reading, but what the PMVIC in question did do was that they retested the Land Cruiser right away. In the retest (which was free of charge), the vehicle passed. The PMVIC reported that the case was an isolated one and that they had reported the incident to the machine provider. There was concern over the manner in which the supposed failed MVISR was published on social media. The test center also forwarded the retest of the Land Cruiser in question which happened soon after the erroneous 650+ decibel result. The retest showed that it had passed at 79.6 decibels. Hopefully, the PMVICs can figure out all the bugs with their respective systems to avoid issues such as this one in the future. As the MVIS rolls out in other regions, we expect more problems, bugs, and glitches to emerge as vehicles are checked for roadworthiness. There is another matter of a Subaru that was tested and had its all-wheel-drive system damaged, and we'll update you on developments on that front. Police officers wear face masks as they patrol the city centre in Manchester, England, on Oct. 20, 2020. (Christopher Furlong/Getty Images) UK Police Break up Wedding Party Held at London Jewish School British police broke up a wedding party held at a Jewish school in London on Thursday evening, which was attended by around 150 people in breach of CCP virus restrictions. The Metropolitan Police said it received a call at 21.14 GMT on Thursday, reporting a large gathering at a school in Egerton Road, Stamford Hill, north London. Organiser of wedding in Stamford Hill to be considered for 10,000 COVID breach fine. Officers responded and found around 400 people inside the venue. @MPSSpecials https://t.co/qUi2hjoh27 Hackney Police (gov.uk/coronavirus) (@MPSHackney) January 22, 2021 The Met initially said officers found around 400 people inside the venue, but later revised the figure down to 150. Many of the people there left as police arrived, the Met said in a press release. The group had gathered for a wedding party, the police found, adding that the buildings windows had been covered to stop people seeing inside. The police are considering issuing a 10,000 ($13,641) fine to the organiser of the event, in accordance with government rules on COVID-19 breaches. Five attendees of the wedding party were issued with 200 ($273) fixed penalty notices. Detective Chief Superintendent Marcus Barnett of the Met Police said it was a completely unacceptable breach of the law. People across the country are making sacrifices by cancelling or postponing weddings and other celebrations and there is no excuse for this type of behaviour, he said. He said police officers will not hesitate to take enforcement action if that is required to keep people safe. The strictly Orthodox Yesodey Hatorah Senior Girls School, whose venue was used for the wedding party, said it was absolutely horrified by what happened and condemned it in the strongest possible terms. In a statement to Jewish News, the school said it had no knowledge that the wedding was taking place as it had leased the school hall to an external organisation which managed all lettings. The UKs chief rabbi Ephraim Mirvis said it was a most shameful desecration of all that we hold dear, and that such illegal behaviour is abhorred by the overwhelming majority of the Jewish community. 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. On Thursday, Home Secretary Priti Patel announced a new 800 ($1,096) fine will be introduced next week for people who attend house parties in breach of lockdown rules. Simon Veazey contributed to this report. 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. Tens of thousands of people protested in Nepals capital on Friday against the prime minister for dissolving Parliament and ordering new elections in an escalating feud within the governing party. The supporters of a splinter group in the Nepal Communist Party marched peacefully in the center of Kathmandu as they demanded that Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Oli reinstate Parliament. Security was tight in the capital, with barbed wire barriers and police in riot gear blocking the area around the main government offices. There were no reports of violence. Parliament was dissolved on Dec. 20 at the direction of the prime minister and new elections were announced for April 30 and May 10, 2021. Oli became prime minister after his Nepal Communist Party won elections three years ago. Olis party and the party of former Maoist rebels had earlier merged to form a unified Communist party. Tensions, however, have grown between Oli and the leader of the former rebels, Pushpa Kamal Dahal, who is also co-chair of the party. The two had previously agreed that they would split the five-year prime ministers term between them, but Oli has refused to allow Dahal to take over. The opposition has also accused Olis government of corruption, and his administration has faced criticism over its handling of the coronavirus outbreak. Oli also has been accused of moving closer to China and drifting away from Nepals traditional partner, India, since taking power. This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Developers of the new Philadelphia Police Department headquarters at the former Inquirer building on North Broad Street have blasted past their planned completion date for the project, which is now set to cost the city over $1 million more than previously announced. Officials expect the redevelopment of the former newspaper tower at 400 N. Broad St. to be finished in June 2021, six months later than the targeted completion date of Dec. 31, 2020, in its developers original contract with the city, city spokesman Paul Chrystie said in an email. A city agency has also authorized as much as $1.26 million more for the buildings redevelopment than the $280.3 million that Mayor Jim Kenneys office had said the project would cost in June 2017, shortly after the plan was announced. The additional spending is for a construction-auditing firm, Philadelphia-based Talson Solutions LLC, to monitor the projects development on behalf of the city. There had been no other additional costs that werent in the original budget, Chrystie said. It is not uncommon for the end users of big, complex projects to hire such owners representatives to monitor invoices and expense reports, track adherence to construction schedules, and other auditing tasks. The Kenney administration was pleased that this enormous project remains on target for a 2021 opening, given the logistical and economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic, Chrystie said. The police department did not directly respond to questions about whether the delay posed any scheduling or logistical difficulties, but said in a statement that it was working with city agencies to ensure a smooth transition to the new building. READ MORE: Philly Police Department to move into former Inquirer, Daily News building on N. Broad (from May 2017) As with any project of this magnitude, timelines are fluid, the department said. However, Kris Henderson, executive director of Amistad Law Center, a public-interest law firm, said Philadelphians should have been made aware of the extra spending toward what many consider an already-expensive project. The announced budget increase could reinforce impressions that the city is disproportionately generous to its police department, to the detriment of other priorities, Henderson said. In the city, weve seen a lot of problems with transparency, with the police, in particular, Henderson said, citing such instances as officials initial defense later walked back of the use of tear gas, pepper spray, and rubber bullets on protesters gathered on I-676 in June. During a December hearing on gun violence, Councilmember Kenyatta Johnson also questioned why the project does not include a new police forensics lab, which some law-enforcement officials have cast as essential to clearing more fatal firearms investigations. Of the nearly 8,500 shootings in which people were wounded or killed since 2015, just 21% have resulted in charges, and fewer than 9% have reached a conviction, The Inquirer reported in December. If were building a brand new police building that we signed off for, I need a better explanation as to why the crime lab wouldnt be a part of that new building, he said. The completion delay and additional spending are the latest twists to what has become a long-running and costly effort to move the Philadelphia Police Department to a new home from its outdated headquarters at Seventh and Race Streets, known as the Roundhouse. READ MORE: The old Inquirer Building is soon to become Police Headquarters. My tour was bittersweet. | Mike Newall (from April 2019) Under then-Mayor Michael Nutter, City Council approved plans in 2014 to rehabilitate the former Provident Mutual Life Insurance Co. building at 46th and Market Streets in West Philadelphia for the department. In 2017, after more than $52 million had been spent to buy and renovate the life insurance building, the Kenney administration jettisoned plans to move police there, opting instead for a deal to place the department in the 18-story tower vacated five years earlier by The Inquirer and Daily News newspapers. The Provident Mutual building was sold by the city in early 2019 for $42 million less than it had spent at the site. It is now being developed into a public-health campus. Meanwhile, officials agreed to pay Inquirer building owner Bart Blatstein $249 million for the purchase and redevelopment of the tower and an adjacent parking structure. Costs associated with the project beyond those being paid to Blatstein or his affiliates, including furniture and equipment purchases would bring the projects total cost to maximum of $280.3 million, city officials said at the time. Talsons initial $1.1 million contract not accounted for in the announced budget was approved in September 2017 by the board of the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority, according to meeting minutes. The PRA board approved a one-year, $150,000 extension to that contract in November 2020, due to the delayed completion date, the minutes show. Talson president Robert S. Bright declined to comment on the companys work at the police headquarters project, referring questions to the city. Blatstein did not respond to a message. Talson has done construction-monitoring work at Lincoln Financial Field, Citizens Bank Park, the Comcast Center, and the Freedom Tower in Lower Manhattan, and has worked on the $5.2 billion Panama Canal expansion project. The company was also awarded a contract for as much as $424,000 in 2017 to monitor minority participation in the rebuilding of parks, recreation centers and libraries under the citys $500 million Rebuild initiative. Chrystie said the project-auditing contract with Talson was not disclosed as part of the original budget because it had not yet been approved by the PRA board. He said the completion delay was due to flooding and area-wide electric-service outages at the start of construction; the redesign of some features, including an expansion of the medical examiners office; and a construction shutdown at the start of the COVID-19 health crisis, as well as pandemic-related supply issues. The administration is not dismayed by these delays, which frankly are at a level to be expected for a project of this size and complexity, particularly a project that involves a substantial [information technology] infrastructure, Chrystie said. 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 Robert Kocharyan on years of his leadership in Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia Situation on Armenian-Azerbaijani border is still tense, more on COVID-19 in Armenia, May 28 digest "Armenia" alliance of political parties paying tribute to founder of First Republic Aram Manukyan (LIVE) Yerevan.today: Armenia acting PM not greeted at ruling party's headquarters, citizens call him 'capitulator' Russia MOD reports on maintenance of ceasefire regime in Nagorno-Karabakh Armenia acting MOD meets with Russian counterpart in Moscow Armenia 2nd President: I see possibility of restoring borders of Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast We can provide our army with some key, modernized weapons, says Armenia ex-President Kocharyan Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: Captives issue is not one that any opposition force can resolve OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs release statement on detention of 6 Armenian servicemen by Azerbaijan Armenian acting Deputy PM: Discussion on issues possible only after withdrawal of Azeri troops from Armenia's territory Armenia acting PM on Syunik roads, Russian military posts: This is only place where there are working nuances Armenia acting PM: Process of return of POWs will intensify after upcoming elections Putin congratulates Aliyev on Republic Day 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 China announced it will soon implement harsh new measures requiring all religious personnel to support and implement total submission to the Chinese Communist Party, sparking concern among Chinese Christians. Asia News reports that the new administrative measures will be put in place for Chinese religious groups starting Feb. 1. The measures complete the "Regulations on religious affairs" revised two years ago and implemented on Feb. 1, 2018. The new measures include six chapters and 41 articles dealing with the organization, functions, offices, supervision, projects and economic administration of communities and groups at both a national and local level. Under the new rules, every aspect of the life of religious communities a from formation, gatherings to annual and daily projects a is subject to approval by the government's religious affairs department. Additionally, all religious personnel are required to support, promote and implement total submission to the Chinese Communist Party among all members of their communities. Article 5 reads that "religious organizations must adhere to the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party, observe the constitution, laws, regulations, ordinances and policies, adhere to the principle of independence and self-government, adhere to the directives on religions in China, implementing the values aaof socialism ..." According to Article 17, "Religious organizations must spread the principles and policies of the Chinese Communist Party, as well as national laws, regulations, rules to religious personnel and religious citizens, educating religious personnel and religious citizens to support the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party, supporting the socialist system, adhering to and following the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics ..." The law stipulates that "without the approval of the religious affairs department of the people's government, or registration with the civil affairs department of the people's government, no activities can be carried out in the name of religious groups." Persecution watchdog International Christians Concern warns that the latest measures will be used by the Communist government as a "legal tool to further tighten space for religious groups." A Chinese Catholic priest told Asia News the new provisions are just another example of the CCP's continued crackdown on religion. "In practice, your religion no longer matters, if you are Buddhist, or Taoist, or Muslim or Christian: the only religion allowed is faith in the Chinese Communist Party," he said. Since the initial implementation of the "Regulations on religious affairs" in 2018, Christians and other religious groups have experienced heightened levels of persecution. China has banned online sales of Bibles, leveled churches, and arrested hundreds of Christians for "inciting subversion of state power." In December, China sentenced Wang Yi, founder of one of China's largest unregistered churches, to nine years in prison for "subversion of state power." The U.S. condemned the sentencing as "another example of "Beijing's intensification of repression of Chinese Christians and members of other religious groups." The Chinese government has also been accused of detaining more than a million Muslims in what it calls re-education camps. In a letter released Dec. 31, the China Human Rights Lawyers Group warned that it seems as though the "Cultural [Revolution] is returning in covert form" across China. "Basic freedom of speech is being suppressed, sensitive news is prohibited, ideological discussions in universities are being shut down. Many matters of societal welfare are politicized, and internet censorship is the norm," they wrote. "The state of human rights in China is in rapid decline. "Human rights violations in the Chinese frontier are being roundly criticized and condemned by many countries. China's leaders seem to have become the enemies of civilized countries overnight. By the looks of things, there is really no reason to be optimistic as we look at the festering regression of China's human rights situation throughout 2019." Despite oppression, the lawyers urged human rights advocates and others to continue making the "most fundamental efforts for the sake of advancing the cause of human rights in China." China is ranked 27th on Open Doors USA's World Watch List of 50 countries where it's most difficult to be a Christian. Courtesy of The Christian Post Friends and fans of murdered Beatles star John Lennon were today marking the 20th anniversary of his death. Sir Paul McCartney said he would remember his old friend and bandmate 'with all the love in my heart' and said the murdered star would be 'tickled' to know the group still had a number one album in the charts. Lennon was shot 20 years ago at the age of 40 by obsessed loner Mark Chapman, a decade after the demise of the Beatles. Lennon's widow Yoko Ono has called for the world to reflect on the horrors of 'gun violence' on the anniversary of the death. In Britain, the anniversary was being commemorated with a blue plaque unveiled at his suburban childhood home. The English Heritage plaque in Woolton, Liverpool, will overlook the porch where the young Lennon taught himself to play guitar and members of his family were returning to the house today for the unveiling, joined by musicians from Liverpool's Merseybeat era. It is the first blue plaque to commemorate an English pop musician. A statue of a knotted gun was also being unveiled in Liverpool by Dr Michael Nobel, head of the Nobel family society and chairman of the Non-Violence Foundation. It will stand in Cavern Walks shopping centre, next door to the original site of the famous Cavern Club in Mathew Street. A poll calling for a statue of John Lennon in London's Trafalgar Square is to be handed to Mayor Ken Livingstone. The survey by music retailer HMV found that almost half those polled thought it would be a fitting memorial to the star if his statue was placed on the square's empty plinth. The Beatles' greatest hits album, 1, is set to break the million sales barrier, just a month after its release. Sir Paul said: 'It is shocking to think that John was killed 20 years ago. If he was alive I'd be chuffed to let him know that his album has gone to number one in 28 countries. I know he'd be tickled by that.' Speaking about his plans to remember Lennon's death, he said: 'I'll be thinking of all the great times that we had together, and I'll be remembering him with all the love in my heart.' Lennon was shot as he walked with Yoko Ono outside their flat near New York's Central Park. He was shot in the back five times by Chapman, just hours after he signed an autograph for him on the steps of his flat in the Dakota building. Lennon was rushed to hospital but was pronounced dead at 11.07pm. Chapman, who had suffered from depression, later said Lennon 'was an album cover to me... he didn't exist'. He remains behind bars after his parole appeal was turned down earlier this year. Every year since the 1980 shooting fans have gathered in Central Park for a memorial vigil and up to 1,000 are expected there tonight. But the city's mayor Rudolph Giuliani has angered fans by refusing to lift a 1am (0600 GMT) curfew on the park. Liverpool's Mayor Edwin Clein had written to ask for a 'special concession' for the event. You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close A hostage-taker has been shot and killed by police today following a knife attack outside a high school in China. The assailant was killed by a police sniper after holding a student hostage outside the school in Kunming, south-west Chinas Yunnan Province at around local time 5pm today. The attacker, a 56-year-old male, also killed one person and injured seven before the hostage took place, the authorities said. The hostage was rescued safely. A hostage-taker has been shot and killed by police today following a knife attack outside a high school in China. The picture shows the assailant holding a student hostage in Kunming The assailant was killed by a police sniper while holding a student hostage outside the school in Kunming, south-west Chinas Yunnan Province at around local time 5pm today Footage widely circulated on Chinese social media shows the shot being fired at the knife-wielding attacker, who was holding a schoolboy hostage, in the head. A group of police officers rushed to rescue the abducted pupil and surround the assailant after he was killed. The suspect was identified as a 56-year-old local male resident, known by his surname Wang, according to an official statement. At about 6.40pm, the suspect was shot and killed. The hostage was rescued without injuries Wang killed one person and injured seven before the hostage took place at around 5pm on Friday outside the Experimental Middle School of Yunnan Normal University, the officials said. The local police arrived at the scene immediately after being alerted. They conducted efforts to stabilise the suspect emotionally while more officers were dispatched to the location. At about 6.40pm, the suspect was shot and killed. The hostage was rescued without injuries, the statement said. The victims injured during the knife attack have been rushed to the hospital. An investigation is underway while the motive of the attack remains unclear. The news comes after several knife attacks that occurred last year at schools across China have shocked the country. Last September, a knife-wielding man injured five people including schoolchildren near a kindergarten in Guangzhou, Guangdong province. Another incident involving 41 students and teachers injured took place in June 2020 at a school in Wuzhou, southern region Guangxi. The attacker was sentenced to death last month. After leaving Washington D.C., Donald Trump spent the last minutes of his term giving good tidings. When in Florida, he was greeted by supporters who, in his final moments as President, gave a resounding thumbs up that could be heard in Washington. The President left the White House before the next administration is sworn in. His leaving the Oval Office ends a tumultuous four years spent at the service of all Americans and America First. Trump said it was not the ending but the beginning. On his last departure from the White House, President Trump flew to West Palm Beach from DC and went to Joint Base Andrews located in Maryland. This is the last time he boarded Marine One and Airforce One in his last trip, before becoming Citizen Trump, reported NTD. On this day, many Trump supporters were lining streets to catch a glimpse of the Trump motorcade. This simple show of support from landing at the Mar-a-Lago resort was lively and showed genuine heartfelt support compared to the inauguration. For many Trump supporters, this is the last time they will be able to honor his time as a 45th president of the United States. For many, it was a homecoming of sorts but the start of something great. Anita Bargas went all the way from Texas and told WLPG that she wanted to thank him and appreciated all he's done for America. Another supporter, Iam Hedendal, said that it was somber, but seeing Trump is a celebration and a way to say welcome back, he added. Trump and his return to Florida is a big day for Trump Loyalists. Daniel Rakus, a 65-year-old Palm Beach resident, is one of many who showed support to let him know he has their support. He told the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. He adds the President worked hard, and he did an excellent job. Rakus said that President Trump never failed them and his time in office is proof of that. Many Trump supporters saw a day of celebration of a problematic but fruitful four years despite the tangle of the Washington establishment. Lisa Beche, 53, from Boca Raton, added that he is the best. According to her, in his four years in office, he listened to Americans and were heard. Thomas Burgess, 35, told an outlet that Trump's presidency helped him get his life back. Saying that Trump's First Step Act was instrumental for his prison release in 2019. He was given eight years when caught selling cocaine. One of the recipients of Trump's presidential pardons, Roger Stone, a former Trump adviser, was in the crowd as well. Trump waved as he always has done to acknowledge his supporters during the motorcade. Like his rallies, proudly pro-Trump crowds were laid out several miles before the Palm Beach Island Bridge. So many were present that it was two or three deep in places. Trump is supported by the dozens showing their acknowledgment on the last day of his presidency. Other supporters flew flags saying "Praying for Trump" and "Trump 4 ever my president." One person congratulates Tiffany Trump's engagement. But some signs from the next administration and anti-Trumpers were ignored in the crowd. Trump and his return to Mar-A-Lago in Florida is just rest for the long haul. He said that he'd be back and maybe 2024. Related article: Trump Speaks Last Time as President, 'The Movement We Started Is Only Just Beginning' @ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. North Dakota's federal court has ruled that Catholic hospitals should not be forced to conduct transgender procedures, the Christian Post reported on Wednesday. Deciding on the case of the Sisters of Mercy, et. al. vs. Azar, North Dakota District Court Judge Peter Welte granted exemption for Catholic hospitals from the Transgender Mandate since it is contrary to the Religious Freedom Restoration Act. The federal court decided through a "permanent injuctive relief" in favor of the Catholic hospitals who should not be required to perform gender transition procedures by the Department of Health and Human Services. Welte "dismissed without prejudice" the Defendants'--the Department of Health and Human Services led by Secretary Alex Azar--"abortion-related claims, APA claims, and claims challenging Title IX and other unidentified federal laws," thereby granting the sisters of Mercy and company "partial summary judgment and injunctive relief." "The Court declares that HHS's interpretation of Section 1557 that requires the Catholic Plaintiffs to perform and provide insurance coverage for gender-transition procedures violates their sincerely held religious beliefs without satisfying strict scrutiny under the RFRA," read the Conclusion of the 57-page court decision. "Accordingly, the Court PERMANENTLY ENJOINS AND RESTRAINS HHS, Secretary Azar, their divisions, bureaus, agents, officers, commissioners, employees, and anyone acting in concert or participation with them, including their successors in office, from interpreting or enforcing Section 1557 of the ACA, 42 U.S.C. 18116(a), or any 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," it said. A 2019 appointee of former President Donald Trump, Welte explained that a "RFRA violation is comparable to the deprivation of a First Amendment right. "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," he concluded. According to the Christian Post, the Affordable Care Act or "Transgender Mandate" was implemented in 2016 by the Obama administration. It requires "healthcare providers" to "perform gender transition procedures, even on minors, even if they hold religious objections to the controversial practice." The creation of the Affordable Care Act then prompted the filing of a lawsuit against the HHS by a group of Catholic entities, composed of the congregation of the Sisters of Mercy, "two Sacred Heart Mercy Health Care Center clinics; SMP Health System and the North Dakota-based University of Mary", as per Christian Post. The Christian Post revealed that Becket Law, renowned to handle "religious liberty cases," represented the Catholic plaintiffs. In 2020, the Affordable Care Act were broadened of its exemptions by the HHS but "were complicated by the Supreme Court decision Bostock v. Clayton County" that concluded the "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," the Christian Post added. Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. (Newser) Sen. Lisa Murkowski didn't vote for Donald Trump in November, and she doesn't always agree with what goes on in the Republican Party. But she still won't switch sides. "I can't be somebody that I'm not," she told reporters Friday. If she'd agree to caucus with Democrats, Politico reports, they'd hold a majority; the Senate is split 50-50 now. Murkowski apparently didn't vote for President Biden, either. She said she wrote in a name because she preferred "to vote affirmatively for somebody. I don't want to vote for somebody that I don't feel confident and strong and good in." After the attack on the US Capitol, Murkowski said Trump should resign. And in the past, per the Hill, she's said, "if the Republican Party continues to be the party of Trump, I'm not quite sure where I fit." story continues below "As kind of disjointed as things may be on the Republican side," Murkowski said Friday, "there's no way you can talk me into going over to the other side, that's not who I am." She conceded that not being a Democrat doesn't necessarily make her a Republican: "Now, some of the Republicans will say, you are not really one of us. Let's define: What is the Republican Party nowadays?" Her answer: "In many ways, we are a party that is really struggling to identify." No other Republican senator appears to be considering crossing the aisle. Vermont Sen. Jim Jeffords moved over to the Democratic side in 2001, several months into a deadlocked Senate. That gave Democrats control. (Read more Lisa Murkowski stories.) Subscribing to our services is a three step process. First you have to create an account and then you have to pick if you want to subscribe to digital and or print. Some people only want to be a digital subscriber to get access online and others want to also receive the print edition. If you are already a print subscriber and want online access, it is free, you simply have to create an online account and then attach your print subscription account number to the online account you create. WASHINGTON U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., and six other Democrats filed a complaint Thursday against Republican Sens. Ted Cruz of Texas and Josh Hawley of Missouri asking for a Senate investigation into their actions surrounding the Jan. 6 storming of the U.S. Capitol. The complaint calls for the Senate Ethics Committee to check for rules violations as promptly as possible, Blumenthal said in an interview. As possible examples of violations, the Democrats alleged that Cruz and Hawley planned to object to certifying the presidential election amid threats of violence, escalated the crisis by objecting after the attack on the Capitol and continued campaign fundraising mentioning their decisions to object during the attack. The Democrats suggest the committee investigate whether Cruz and Hawley had any prior coordination with people who breached the Capitol. Hawley said Thursday the complaint shows Democrats talk about unity, but are trying to silence dissent. This latest effort is a flagrant abuse of the Senate ethics process and a flagrant attempt to exact partisan revenge, he said. A spokeswomen for Cruz said in objecting Cruz used a process authorized by federal law for 150 years and noted he was supported by other senators. Sen. Cruz has been consistent, forceful, and unequivocal condemning political violence whether from the Left or from the Right, she said. A Cruz aide added that his fundraising notices sent during the Capitol siege were automated. Blumenthal and the other Democrats said in the complaint the Ethics Committee should also offer recommendations for strong disciplinary action for Hawley and Cruz, including up to expulsion or censure, if warranted. Blumenthal said he personally added that line. The Ethics Committee comprises six senators, evenly split by party. The letter was also signed by Democratic Sens. Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island, Ron Wyden of Oregon, Tina Smith of Minnesota, Mazie Hirono of Hawaii, Tim Kaine of Virginia and Sherrod Brown of Ohio. Whitehouse and Sen. Pat Leahy, D-Vt., who serve on the Senate Judiciary Committee, previously called for Cruz and Hawley to step down from the committee while the Department of Justice investigates the events at the Capitol. Blumenthal also sits on the committee and said Thursday night he had to think about whether Cruz and Hawley should step down. Another Democrat on the committee, Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., this week defended Cruz and Hawleys right to object to certifying the election results. But Blumenthal said he thought it would be hard to continue to work with Cruz and Hawley after their actions on Jan. 6. He noted hes had pitched battles with them in the past on matters of policy. Their objections to certifying the vote are in a different category, going beyond just a disagreement on the issues, Blumenthal said. What they did was to essentially undermine our democracy by adding powerful fuel to the fantasies and falsehoods that brought those that incited the armed insurrection. They did it as an opportunistic political stunt. Blumenthal said the nation wants compromise and unity but without sacrificing ideals. Other colleagues may be much more aligned and sympathetic to those ideals and goals than some who fanned the flames of mob attack on our democracy, he said. Working with some of them will be very deeply challenging if at all possible and may be not possible. While some Republicans withdrew their objections to certifying the election results after a mob broke into the Capitol, forcing lawmakers into lock-down and causing the deaths of five people, Hawley and Cruz led objection efforts in the Senate. Eight senators and over 100 House Republicans voted in favor of objections, saying they wanted a commission to study possible voter fraud and debate what they viewed were irregularities in how the election was conducted. Allegations of widespread voter fraud in the 2020 election have not been sustained in any court and little or no credible evidence of it has emerged. These Republicans have faced swift backlash including donors suspending political contributions, calls for their resignations and a canceled book deal for Hawley, who later found a new publisher. emilie.munson@hearstdc.com; Twitter: @emiliemunson By Benjamin Schrader Two days after the violent storming of the US Capitol by Donald Trumps supporters on January 6th, Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Robert Wilkie tweeted: Our #Veterans fought to defend the freedoms that were attacked this week. The assault on the Capitol is an affront to all who have worn the uniform. As more details about this assault emerge, it is clear that veterans were present in many different capacities at the Capitol that day. There were 91 veterans among the members of Congress forced to take shelter as rioters breached the building. Air Force veteran Ashli Babbitt was shot and killed by a security officer as she tried to climb through a barricaded doorway, and retired Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Larry Rendall Brock, Jr. was seen carrying plastic restraints onto the Senate floor. Capitol Police Officer Brian D. Sicknick, an Air National Guardsman who had served in Iraq and Afghanistan before becoming an anti-war advocate, was killed in the line of duty by protestors, while his fellow CPD officer and Iraq war veteran Eugene Goodman has been hailed for leading rioters away from the Senate chamber. Judging by photographs and videos of the rioters, one might assume many more of them were veterans, given the large quantities of military gear on display. Indeed, NPR recently reported that 1 in 5 of the rioters charged with crimes so far have military experience. But combat-style clothing and equipment have become standard accessories for conservative activists, from the boogaloo movement to anti-Covid lockdown protest groups. Flags and insignia carried by the rioters also blur the line between veterans and civilian militias, including Gadsden flags, Come and Take It Texas militia flags, Oath Keeper hats, and a wide array of military unit patches. A member of the Oath Keepers right-wing militia group wearing a tactical vest (Shutterstock/Ryanzo W. Perez) While veterans tend to be more politically conservative than the public at large, this hardly explains veterans involvement in an attempted overthrow of the US government. While the VA Secretary is right to call the attack an affront to all who have worn the uniform, it is critical to explore how some veterans could see participation in the riot as an extension of their duty rather than a dereliction of it. Part of this can be explained by what I call the Soldiers Contract. A long tradition of research in political science has tried to define the relationship between the state and the people, and identify how they mutually support and limit each other. This relationship is generally described as The Social Contract. But soldiers and veterans have a different relationship to the state than ordinary citizens. While citizens pledge allegiance to the state in exchange for protection of their rights and liberties, soldiers are the sword that protects both the state and citizens. Soldiers swear an oath to defend the Constitution against enemies foreign and domestic. They also swear an oath to follow the orders of the President. Soldiers are taught that it is their duty to disobey any unlawful orders they receive while in service. But many veterans, myself included, believe that their oath of service extends beyond their time in the military. They seek to uphold the ideals embodied in the Soldiers Contract in their everyday lives. The political leanings of veterans can lead to significant differences in how they interpret their Soldiers Contract and their oath of service. Conspiracy theories like QAnon, which exploit the language of patriotism and duty and ask that followers pledge oaths of loyalty to fellow believers, are arguably especially attractive to veterans. The fact that General Michael Flynn has helped promote the QAnon theory increases its appeal. Other right-wing groups such as the Oath Keepers, whose leader was recently indicted on Federal conspiracy charges for his role in the riot, actively recruit former military veterans. While a veteran like Brian Sicknick may have viewed it as his duty to protect the voting process and defend those in the Capitol, a veteran who is a QAnon follower could believe that following the orders, or even the informal directives, of the President is most important. This explains veteran involvement on all sides of the violence that took place at the US Capitol. There should be some concern over the training that soldiers receive and the lessons learned while deployed in places like Iraq and Afghanistan being brought home and used against the US populace. This is an effect known as Foucaults Boomerang. It can already be identified in policing practices as US police forces become more militarized. And it can also be seen in the increasing militarization of conservative activist groups, as illustrated by the Boogaloo movement, with the example of the Airforce Staff Sgt Steven Carrillo shooting of two police officers in Santa Cruz. This is not just localized in conservative movements as there appears to be an increase in militarization within liberal activism, evidenced by the rise in gun sales to liberal buyers, and the increasing number of organizations with military experience to help train gun safety to new gun owners, including the John Brown Gun Club, the Liberal Gun Club, and others. As we transition to new national leadership, what social change will the next few years bring for the American people? Will there be an escalation in political violence in the US? What role will veterans play in all of this? Regardless of what happens, veterans will have an influential role. The past twenty years of war that has been central to the experience of US soldiers and recent veterans give them the tools to make the future a more dangerous one. At the same time, it should also provide them with the insight to understand the horrors of war and the commitment to ensure that conflict does not happen at home. We will see. Dr. Benjamin Schrader is a Political Scientist who conducted research on veteran activism for the Vietnam Legacies Project at the HRC. His work is focused on veterans' relationship to the state and civilian populations in what he calls the Soldiers Contract. He is currently an instructor for the University of California, Irvine, Veteran Studies Program. Syracuse, N.Y. -- A specialty womens apparel retailer has filed bankruptcy and will close its more than 400 stores across the U.S., including its location at Destiny USA. Christopher & Banks Corp. filed for relief under Chapter 11 of U.S. Bankruptcy Code on Jan. 14, saying it planned to close a significant portion, if not all, of its brick-and-mortar stores. Since then, it has begun store closing sales at all its 449 stores in 44 states. The Minneapolis-based retailer caters to women in the 40 to 60 demographic, offering privately branded apparel and accessories. It operates 315 MPW stores, 76 Outlet stores, 31 Christopher & Banks stores and 28 stores in its womens plus-size clothing division CJ Banks. It also operates the www.ChristopherandBanks.com e-commerce website. Signs at the Christopher & Banks store in the outlet section of the Destiny USA mall in Syracuse tout 40% to 60% off the lowest ticketed prices in the entire store. The Christopher & Banks store at the Great Northern Mall in Clay closed last year because of water damage and never reopened. The company said it is in active discussion with potential buyers of its e-commerce platform and related assets. Company President and CEO Keri Jones said financial distress caused by the coronavirus pandemic forced the companys decision to close its stores. I want to extend my deepest gratitude to our dedicated associates, loyal customers and supportive partners for their commitment to Christopher & Banks throughout these challenging times, Jones said. The closed Christopher & Banks store at Great Northern Mall in Clay. Rick Moriarty | rmoriarty@syracuse.com The closing is the latest blow to the Syracuse area retail scene, especially its two remaining malls. Great Northern has large vacancies and will soon lose its last anchor, Dicks Sporting Goods. Destiny USA, the largest mall in New York and sixth largest in the U.S., has seen a string of store closures in recent weeks. Best Buy announced Wednesday that it is closing its store at Destiny. Read more: Destiny USA retailer to close as store shutdowns speed up Destiny USA loses 15th major retailer in 5 years: See the full list Destiny USA is losing another anchor store J.C. Penney sets closing date for Destiny USA store Lord & Taylor at Destiny USA to close Michaels at Destiny USA closes Great Northerns new reps plan for struggling mall: a complete break from the past Great Northern Mall is losing its last anchor store; where is Dicks going? Rick Moriarty covers business news and consumer issues. Got a tip, comment or story idea? Contact him anytime: Email | Twitter | Facebook | 315-470-3148 Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso (PANA) - The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement has welcomed the entry into force on Friday, 22 January 2021, of the first instrument of international humanitarian law containing provisions to address the catastrophic humanitarian consequences of the use and testing of nuclear weapons MALVERN, PA As ACME Markets gets set to celebrate its 130th anniversary on Jan. 23, the company announced a new campaign to provide hunger relief to the communities it serves. Founded in 1891 by two friends, Samuel Robinson and Robert Crawford, ACME has a long history of providing the community with great, quality products and friendly service. To celebrate the occasion, ACME and its ACME Markets Foundation will launch 130 Days of Giving by pledging $1 million in grant funding from its Nourishing Neighbors community relief fund to local food organizations that continue to provide food distribution in relation to COVID-19. "ACME has a long-standing commitment to the communities we serve," said Jim Perkins, President of ACME Markets. "I cannot think of a better way to honor our rich history than by pledging $1 million to fight food insecurity in our neighborhoods." Local food organizations can apply for funding now through Feb. 12, by visiting http://acmemarketsfoundation.org and using the invitation code ACME130. All grantees will be notified by June 1. In addition to the $1 million pledge, ACME Markets Foundation will also support various other giving initiatives throughout the next 130 days. These include working with Bringing Hope Home to support 130 families suffering a cancer diagnosis during the month of March. The 130 Days of Giving initiative is a part of a yearlong celebration to commemorate ACME's 130 years of serving the community. In 1891 Robinson and Crawford opened a small neighborhood grocery store in South Philadelphia, emphasizing quality products, low prices, and friendly service. One century and three decades later, ACME operates 163 stores, including 102 ACME Pharmacies at select locations, in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Delaware, and Maryland, employing over 18,000 associates. In 2020, the ACME Markets Foundation and its Nourishing Neighbors initiative provided over $6 million in financial support to local hunger organizations. The company and its associates remain committed to the communities they serve. For more information, visit www.acmemarkets.com. ACME Markets is a part of Albertsons Companies Mid-Atlantic Division. This article originally appeared on the Malvern Patch With political parties apprehending violence and unrest in poll-bound West Bengal, Sunil Arora on Friday said the commission has zero-tolerance to money and muscle power and misuse of the government machinery. The CEC also said no civic police volunteers will be deployed for the upcoming assembly elections in the state. "The commission has zero-tolerance to money and muscle power or misuse of government machinery," the CEC told reporters here. He said the EC's expenditure observer will take steps to prevent misuse of money power. The full bench of the ECI, which is currently in the state to review preparedness for the assembly polls due in April-May, held meetings with representatives of political parties, senior government officials and police officers. Asked about incidents of violence ahead of the assembly elections in the state, Arora said, "We would like to review events of serious crimes which have political overtones and examine them on a case-to-case basis." To a related question about the EC taking action against those involved in incidents of hurling stones at political meetings and processions, the CEC said, "The commission can act only after the election dates are announced. We will take a series of measures and not allow bike rallies after the model code of conduct comes into force." Claiming that is witnessing political violence in the run-up to the elections, opposition parties have urged the full bench of the ECI to ensure that free and fair polls are held in the state. The ruling Trinamool Congress 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, however, denied the TMC's allegation, saying that it was "baseless" and "far from the truth". Describing the allegation against the BSF as "unfortunate", Arora said it is one of the finest forces in the country. He said the political party concerned should come up with facts to support its allegation. Several parties voiced concerns over law and order situation in the state, while issues like fake news on social media and provocative slogans with communal overtone have also been flagged by them, the CEC said. Asked about allegations that a large number of electors were not allowed to cast votes in the 2018 Panchayat polls, Arora said the State Election Commission conducts the polls to the local bodies. "The ECI will ensure that there is no irregularity and every voter is allowed to cast vote in a free and fair manner in the assembly polls. We know how to get it done," he said. Arora said the full bench of the ECI asked the state's chief secretary and home secretary to look into the issues of fake information in the social media raised by political parties. According to the CEC, the chief secretary and the home secretary of the state said that they are following the EC's guidelines in letter and spirit. He said there will be 1,01,790 polling stations for the 2021 assembly elections in the state and every booth should be made accessible to all persons with disabilities. (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.) Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan signed a Memorandum of Understanding Thursday on joint exploration and development of hydrocarbon resources of the Dostlug (Friendship) field in the Caspian Sea (See New era of Caspian oil begins). The agreement on the joint exploration of the once-disputed section of the undersea hydrocarbons field was signed in the Turkmen capital, Ashgabat, between Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov and his Turkmen counterpart Rashid Meredov, Daily Sabah writes in the article Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan to resolve disputes on Caspian oil field. The agreement is expected to support progress on the Trans-Caspian pipeline, a multi-billion dollar plan to link Turkmenistan's giant gas fields to Europe via Azerbaijan. The link has been held up by geopolitics and a lack of commercial backing, although a landmark deal on the status of the Caspian Sea signed by Caspian littoral states that Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Russia in 2018 was viewed as a positive step. Robert Cutler, director of the Energy Security program at the NATO Association of Canada, said the Dostlug agreement "clears the last obstacle" to the Trans-Caspian pipeline. "The gas exists, the valve is off, (Turkmenistan) is just waiting to turn the gas on," Cutler told Agence France-Presse (AFP), adding that the project did not require a "commercial champion" to build the pipeline. Experts estimate that the Dostlug hydrocarbons field contains natural gas and 60-70 million tons of oil. Azerbaijan currently delivers natural gas to Turkish and European markets through the Trans-Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline (TANAP) and recently completed Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP), together forming the Southern Gas Corridor (SGC) to deliver natural gas to Europe. During the meeting, the diplomats emphasized the high level of bilateral ties in political, trade, economic, cultural and humanitarian areas. It was noted that the visit of Bayramov to Ashgabat complements the "start of a new stage of energy cooperation" between the two neighboring countries. "In this regard, the significance of joint steps on resource use and collaboration on the Caspian Sea was highlighted," the Turkmen Foreign Ministry said in a statement, according to AA. The top diplomats also highlighted the efficiency of political and diplomatic dialogue between the two states and discussed bilateral issues and the aspects of regional and international agendas. The ministers also underlined the importance of the collaboration of Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan in the framework of regional and international formats. They also discussed the opportunities of holding joint events in 2021 and the issue of expanding cultural and humanitarian ties between the two states. The possibilities of expanding economic and investment cooperation, including through the use of the transport-transit potential of the two countries, which possess modern automobile, railway and sea infrastructures, were also discussed in the meeting. Meanwhile, Bayramov and Meredov emphasized the importance of the Transit and Transport Cooperation Agreement between Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Turkey and Afghanistan (Lapis Lazuli Route Agreement). Turkey's Foreign Ministry in a written statement welcomed the energy agreement between Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan. "We wish that this agreement will further strengthen the friendship between the two countries, will be auspicious for the friendly and brotherly peoples of Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan and contribute to the prosperity and stability of the region," it said. "We also wish that this agreement will pave the way for the projects to enhance the energy security of Turkey and the rest of Europe," the statement added. For four tempestuous days and nights the trawler Sam of Ladram had been scooping up cuttlefish, 20 miles off our South-West coast. By Thursday morning the storm had abated, and I watched its five crew offload the inky catch known as 'black gold' in these parts in their home port of Brixham, Devon. With me was Ian Perkes, the town's only fish exporter. Ordinarily, he would have been eyeing the six-tonne haul with a view to buying a sizeable chunk, for 2 a kilo, at yesterday's harbour-side auction, then selling it with a 10 per cent mark-up to wholesalers across Europe, where cuttlefish is a delicacy. Since January 1, however, when cynical French customs officials began using every rule in the Brussels bureaucratic book to delay British fish entering the EU, he hasn't bought a single box. Ordinarily, Devon fish exporter Ian Perkes would ordinarily be keen on selling cuttlefish to sell in the EU. But since French customs officials began using every rule in the Brussels bureaucratic book to delay British fish entering the EU, he hasn't bought a single box As Mr Perkes told me, his business depends on his ability to put Devon fish on the dining tables of Rome, Paris or Madrid the day after landing. He daren't risk outlaying thousands of pounds when there is every chance the catch will be delivered so late that the quality is impaired and customers will reject it. The pernickety attitude of Gallic jobsworths means some batches are not getting any further than Boulogne, which serves as a vast clearing house for Europe's suppliers. And worse, the fall in demand made worse by lockdowns across Europe has seen the price of British fish plunge by about 20 per cent across the board. The trawler's skipper, who has fished from Brixham for 40 of his 55 years, nodded in agreement as Mr Perkes described this disgraceful act of sabotage. 'That's the French for you, ain't it?' he mused, in his throaty West Country burr. 'They'll do anything to get at us. 'People aren't going to pay top dollar for fish that takes three or four days to reach its destination, are they?' The pernickety attitude of Gallic jobsworths means some batches are not getting any further than Boulogne, which serves as a vast clearing house for Europe's suppliers. Pictured: Fishermen empty their catch aboard fishing boat 'About Time' while trawling in the English Channel Indeed not. Which is surely why France's customs and border officials doubtless encouraged by Brussels bigwigs intent on punishing Britain for leaving the EU are applying the importation rules with vindictive rigour. This is not merely a 'teething problem', as the Prime Minister blithely insisted this week. Nor are these fishermen merely whingeing in difficult times for us all. They are tough, resilient folk who have endured many crises. But nothing quite like this. This week, industry insiders gave me examples of the disgraceful delaying tactics. Lorry-loads of our fish are being confined for many hours simply because a full stop has been misplaced when filling in the morass of newly essential importation documents which can number up to 40 A4 pages per delivery. Or because there is a discrepancy of a kilo or two in the declared weight of a box of fish. One particularly petty French official objected to 32 pallets carrying 2,000 boxes of Scottish fish being labelled with UK stickers, I am told. These islands were now officially known as GB, he sniffed, forcing the hapless driver to go away to have the 'correct' labels printed and attached, causing a 12-hour delay. Lorry-loads of our fish are being confined for many hours simply because a full stop has been misplaced when filling in the morass of newly essential importation documents In another ludicrous case, a West Country lorry driver was forbidden from transferring his load onto trucks taking orders from Boulogne to other parts of Europe because, on checking his tachograph (which records the speed and distance a vehicle has travelled), officials decided he had driven for his maximum allotted hours and had to take a break. His protest that he had only been at the wheel for so long because he was kept waiting for hours at the border and that, in any case, unloading boxes didn't constitute a danger was met with sneers. Another driver was humiliatingly forced to unpack his load because a solitary fish-tail protruded from a box. The officials apparently find all this highly amusing. 'Don't blame us, Monsieur, it was you who chose to leave,' they will invariably say with a dismissive Gallic shrug. However, to the many port towns which depend on Britain's 987million fishing sector, and the 12,000 people it employs, there is nothing funny about this blatant bullying. Paperwork can number up to 40 A4 pages per delivery. Drivers have also been stopped because there is a discrepancy of a kilo or two in the declared weight of a box of fish For an industry which exports 75 per cent of its produce, this heavy-handed officiousness is threatening to put many merchants out of business. And we haven't yet mentioned the huge extra costs British fish exporters are incurring as they struggle to escape this strangling 'cordon rouge'. For instance, there are the costs for employing French-speaking accountants to handle the newly applicable 5.5 VAT rate on fish exports; and the price of paying French customs handling agents who, the jobsworth officials dictate for no obvious reason, must be based in, or very near, the fish trucks' port of entry. Then there are the fees from 30 to 300 for the services of British environmental health officers, or vets, who are now obliged to inspect every consignment of fish, sign it off as 'fresh', and forward the certification to Boulogne, no more than 24 hours before a lorry leaves the packing depot. All this is causing such despair that, last Monday, merchants based in Devon, North Yorkshire and Scotland sent a convoy of trucks into the heart of London to highlight their plight. Bearing slogans such as 'Incompetent Government Destroying Shellfish Industry' they parked as close as possible to Downing Street, and there were fears they would dump a mound of rotting fish outside No 10. Police issued the drivers and their mates with 200 fixed penalty notices for making 'unnecessary journeys' in contravention of lockdown laws. But Gary Hodgson, an owner of Bridlington-based crab, whelk and lobster wholesaler Venture Seafoods, told me he would gladly pay the fines for the three drivers he sent south. 'To me it was absolutely essential to the entire seafood industry to highlight this issue,' he said. 'It's easier to export fish to Asia now than to Europe. It's ridiculous. But this isn't just happening to us in the next two or three weeks we will see the effect [of over-zealous EU border checks] on the entire haulage industry.' A newspaper report this week suggests he may be right. It quoted a senior Brussels diplomat as saying that the EU was deliberately making it difficult for British goods to enter the Eurozone. Why? To persuade us not to turn London into Singapore-on-Thames by introducing sweeping deregulatory work and business reforms that go against EU ideology. Given that the UK has agreed to give EU countries a six-month grace period before enforcing our customs regulations stringently, this ploy is all the more outrageous. In the Commons, however, the PM brushed aside the fishermen's anger. For an industry which exports 75 per cent of its produce, this heavy-handed officiousness is threatening to put many merchants out of business Promising 100million to improve trawlers and fish processing plants, and a 23million package to tide over export firms hit by the hold-ups, he pledged that the fishing industry would soon reach its El Dorado (a remark which prompted critics to remind him that the Spanish Conquistadors never did find this mythical City of Gold). This prediction echoed his remarks on sealing the Brexit deal, when, sporting a symbolic fish-patterned tie, he promised that Britain would soon 'catch and eat prodigious quantities of extra fish'. Among those who listened to those words with anticipation was our Brixham merchant Mr Perkes who, like many in the fishing industry, supported Brexit, believing we could only prosper by being freed from catch quotas and regaining sovereignty over our waters. When Mr Johnson visited Brixham in the summer of 2019 Mr Perkes, 64, felt honoured to shake his hand on the harbourside. While this blunt-talking businessman reserves his most stinging words for the French ('they have never liked us, it's history,' he says) were he to meet the Prime Minister again his greeting would be less enthusiastic. His 'sense of disillusion' becomes understandable as he describes the logistical nightmare that has beset his company which he founded in 1976 and now turns over 4million a year, exporting fish such as Dover Sole, monkfish, scallops, bass and ray wings into Europe. 'In week one of January, 2020, our sales were 85,000,' he tells me, sitting in his office overlooking the strangely inert harbour. 'In week one of this year, do you know how much they were? Zero. We didn't export any fish at all until January 15. That's how bad things are now.' He explains his operation to help me understand this cliff-edge fall in trade. The day begins at dawn, when he buys fish straight off the boats. Not long ago this was done in a chaotic auction room. Now it is done online from his office overlooking the harbour. The fish is packed in his dockside warehouse, from where the freight carriers DFDS collect it and transfer it to their hub at the port of Avonmouth, near Bristol. There it is loaded on a huge refrigerated lorry, along with fish from many other ports a process known as 'groupage' and travels via the Channel Tunnel to Calais. From Calais, the fish is moved to Boulogne, to be collected by drivers who relay it to the continental wholesalers Mr Perkes supplies. Before we left the EU this journey could be completed comfortably inside a day. The only paperwork was a single sheet listing the customer's name, the number of boxes shipped, the species of fish they contained, and their weight. To the many port towns which depend on Britain's 987million fishing sector, and the 12,000 people it employs, there is nothing funny about this blatant bullying But even this form was superfluous. No one bothered to check it, much less look inside the lorries; they were simply waved into France. The changes that occurred when midnight struck on December 31 are enough to make the head spin. To illustrate it, Mr Perkes asks his office manager, Nicola Williams, to fetch the documents she had to complete on Wednesday when after two aborted attempts the company finally exported its first post-Brexit shipment. She took out a sheaf of 39 pages and spread them out, covering his desk. There were appendices, sub-sections, codes, charts, official stamps, translations from French to English... all for just three pallets of sole, scallops and skate with a sale value of 12,000. 'So this is why we are all shouting,' says Mr Perkes. 'It's madness isn't it?' So what is the purpose of this paper tsunami? How much time must it take to go through it all? Suffice to say it covers four areas of inspection: customs declarations, catch certificates, export health certificates and cross-Europe journey-tracing plans. But some consignments require as many as seven types of form, including endangered species permits. They must be located on four different computer databases, and completing them is so fiendishly difficult that the Government's Marine Management Organisation issued a 33-point flow-chart to explain the system. The databases also have a nasty habit of seizing or serving up incorrect information. When Ms Williams entered the 'commodity codes' for the company's first planned consignment the one she was given for ray wings wasn't recognised. This glitch was detected by the time the lorry reached Exeter, just 30 miles away. Fearing the French might deny entry to the entire lorry load for the sake of this one, minor error the driver turned back and offloaded the pallets. Some of the fish was salvaged and frozen but thousands of pounds worth had to be destroyed. Mr Perkes' second attempted European foray, last Monday, was marginally more successful. This time his fish reached Calais, but officials refused to allow it to be taken to Boulogne, just 20 miles along the coast, because the tracking system crashed. The 24-hour delay meant it only arrived in Italy on Thursday. As for the latest despatch, it was still awaiting clearance during our interview. Mr Perkes anxiously monitored its progress while fielding calls from customers across Europe 'champing at the bit' for their promised deliveries. Worrying as such daily dramas are, though, what most concerns him and many other exporters is the price of implementing this raft of new regulations. With environmental health officers, French agents and accountants to pay, and staff to handle the mountain of extra admin required, his costs will soar by about 300 a day, or 75,000 a year and in a company with a high turnover but small margins, he says, that will wipe out its entire annual profit. 'If this goes on for very long, we won't be here any more,' he says starkly. 'Boris has promised 23million, and that will help in the short term. 'But in the long run that's nothing, is it?' Before I leave, he shows me into the depot, where vats full of succulent scallops are being prepared for the Italians, who devour great quantities of them if, that is, they arrive fresh from the sea. Then we stroll past the Sam of Ladram, where the sight of 'black gold' being offloaded prompts Mr Perkes to reflect on the PM's optimistic projection that, should our fishermen be prevented from selling freely and profitably into Europe, a whole new clientele of British 'fish fanatics' will be hungry for their catch. A newspaper report this week quoted a senior Brussels diplomat as saying that the EU was deliberately making it difficult for British goods to enter the Eurozone It makes him wonder whether the Prime Minister has the first clue about the industry he purports to champion. Mr Perkes says: 'We regularly get 100 tonnes of cuttlefish a week and 99.5 tonnes are exported. To the Europeans cuttlefish is a delicacy. 'They have so many more dishes than us, and they'll bake it, grill it, fry it. 'But your average British person wouldn't touch the stuff.' He laughs: 'We just use the backbone for pet budgies to nibble on. 'It's the same with lots of other species, such as Dover Sole. There are ten different grades, but only three will sell in the UK. 'The rest have to go to Europe, so how can the Government say we don't need to sell them our fish?' He leaves this rhetorical question hanging and returns to his office to hear mercy of mercies! that permission has been given for his latest despatch to leave Boulogne. Only six hours late, but at last a modest victory. Unless the French can be made to end this spiteful war, however, you fear that he and thousands more in Britain's age-old fishing industry might soon sink without trace. In yet another jolt for the TMC dispensation, forest minister Rajib Banerjee quit the cabinet, joining the growing list of dissenters who have put the ruling camp in a tight spot ahead of the assembly elections. The TMC, however, asserted that Banerjee's move would have no impact on the party. Banerjee, while talking to reporters, said he was forced to take this decision after being publicly humiliated by a section of the party's leaders for airing his grievances over their style of functioning. He, however, declined to comment when asked if he plans to quit the party in the days to come. "I had grievances against some of the party's senior members and informed the leadership about it. I also had a word with party supremo, but nothing happened. Instead, I was personally attacked by a section of leaders. "I was hurt by the personal attacks. Hence, I resigned from the state cabinet," he said. In his letter to the chief minister, however, the TMC MLA did not cite any reason for quitting the cabinet. "It has been a great honour and privilege to serve the people of I heartily convey my gratitude for getting this opportunity," he said in the letter. The Domjur MLA also met Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar at Raj Bhavan after submitting his resignation, and held a meeting with him for an hour. "Shri Rajib Banerjee, Minister for Forest Affairs @MamataOfficial called on me and handed over a letter of resignation from the Council of Ministers. He was indicated that steps by the constitution would be taken," Dhankhar tweeted. Incidentally, Banerjee had skipped the last five cabinet meetings, amid murmurs that he was trying to distance himself from the party leadership. Sharing his resignation letter on Facebook, Banerjee said that he hopes that he will be able to continue to work for the people of the state in the days to come. "I hope that in the years to come I will be able to be at each of your services in the best way possible as that has been the sole reason I am into politics," he said in his post. The TMC leadership, for the past one month, held several rounds of dialogue with Banerjee to address his grievances. State parliamentary affairs minister Partha Chatterjee and the party's poll strategist Prashant Kishor had met the leader and tried to pacify him. The Domjur MLA features in the list of TMC legislators who have expressed discontentment over the state of affairs in the camp. Barring Laxmi Ratan Shukla, who quit his cabinet post citing apolitical reasons, most of them, including Banerjee's former cabinet colleague Suvendu Adhikari, have switched over to the BJP. Reacting to the development, senior TMC Leader and MP Sougata Roy said if he had problems, he should have brought it up for discussion during cabinet meetings. "We tried to address his grievances, but it seems he was adamant. He might have some other plans... it is for him to decide," Roy said. Echoing him, senior TMC leader and minister Arup Roy, known to be a detractor of Banerjee in Howrah district, said he had apprehended that something like this would happen. "When the TMC was formed in 1998, neither Laxmi Ratan Shukla nor Rajib Banerjee was in the party. I always knew such a situation was in the offing. People like him leaving the party hardly matters," he said. Coming out in support of Banerjee, dissident TMC MLA Baishali Dalmiya said "honest and sincere people have no place in the party. "Corrupt people are calling the shots in Howrah district. There is no place for the honest ones," he said. An elated BJP said the "beginning of the end of the TMC has already begun", and the party would disintegrate soon. "It is only a matter of time before the TMC disintegrates. If he (Banerjee) wants to join us, we will look into it," state BJP president Dilip Ghosh said. BJP national general secretary and the party's Bengal minder Kailash Vijayvargiya lauded Banerjee over his move. "Rajib Banerjee ji is a good leader and a successful minister. Honest and good people have no place in a party like the TMC," he said. Vijayvargiya, however, refused to say anything when asked if Banerjee would join the saffron camp. The TMC received its biggest jolt last month, during Union Home Minister Amit Shah's rally in Midnapore, when party heavyweight Adhikari and 34 other leaders, including five MLAs and an MP of the ruling camp, switched over to the BJP. Since the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, when the BJP bagged 18 seats, just four less than the ruling TMC, and emerged as its challenger in Bengal, a TMC MP, 15 TMC MLAs, three legislators of the CPI(M) and four belonging to the Congress have switched over to the saffron camp. However, none of them resigned as MLAs. Elections to the 294-member assembly are likely to be held in April-May this year. GREENSBORO, N.C., Jan. 22, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Tanger Factory Outlet Centers, Inc. (NYSE: SKT) announced today that its 2020 dividend distributions should be treated as follows for income tax purposes. Common Shares: 100% as ordinary income Detailed information regarding each distribution for 2020 is below. Shareholders are encouraged to consult with their personal tax advisors as to their specific tax treatment of the Company's dividend distributions. Tanger Factory Outlet Centers, Inc. - Common Stock (Symbol SKT) (CUSIP No. 875465106) Totals % of Annual Total Record Date 1/31/2020 4/30/2020 Ex-Dividend Date 1/30/2020 4/29/2020 Payable Date 2/14/2020 5/15/2020 Total Distribution Per Share 0.355000 0.357500 0.712500 Amount Included In Shareholders' 2020 Income 0.355000 0.357500 0.712500 Box 1a Total Ordinary Dividends 0.355000 0.357500 0.712500 100.00% Box 3 Non Dividend Distributions 0.000000 0.000000 0.000000 0.00% Box 5 Section 199A Dividends 0.355000 0.357500 0.712500 About Tanger Factory Outlet Centers, Inc. Tanger Factory Outlet Centers, Inc. (NYSE: SKT) is a leading operator of upscale open-air outlet centers that owns, or has an ownership interest in, a portfolio of 38 centers. Tanger's operating properties are located in 20 states and in Canada, totaling approximately 14.1 million square feet, leased to over 2,700 stores operated by more than 500 different brand name companies. The Company has more than 40 years of experience in the outlet industry and is a publicly-traded REIT. For more information on Tanger Outlet Centers, call 1-800-4TANGER or visit the Company's website at www.tangeroutlets.com . Contact: Cyndi Holt VP, Investor Relations 336-834-6892 [email protected] SOURCE Tanger Factory Outlet Centers, Inc. Related Links www.tangeroutlet.com The views expressed by public comments are not those of this company or its affiliated companies. Please note by clicking on "Post" you acknowledge that you have read the TERMS OF USE and the comment you are posting is in compliance with such terms. Your comments may be used on air. Be polite. Inappropriate posts or posts containing offsite links, images, GIFs, inappropriate language, or memes may be removed by the moderator. Job listings and similar posts are likely automated SPAM messages from Facebook and are not placed by WFMZ-TV. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 22) Two of three factions of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, a breakaway group from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, are in talks with the transitional government for possible cooperation, an official said Friday. Bangsamoro Chief Minister Ahod Ebrahim said more than 900 BIFF members "already pronounced that they are willing to rejoin the MILF." Following decades of negotiations with the Philippine government, the MILF is now leading the Bangsamoro Transition Authority. The 80-member body serves as the interim government of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region until 2022 unless its term is extended by a new law. It's been two years since the region was created through the Bangsamoro Organic Law. In a media briefing, Ebrahim said some BIFF members were supposed to join the MILF in time for the Bangsamoro region's second anniversary celebration on Thursday. "We met some challenges because some of the commanders facing warrants of arrest will have to work out first these warrants before they can come out and rejoin the MILF," Ebrahim said. "There's another group that's not part of the dialogue, it's not responding positively to the dialogue," he added. The Philippine National Police recently filed complaints against BIFF leaders Salahudin "Salah" Hasan and Animbang "Commander Karialan" Indong, and dozens of other members for the attack on a police station and military detachment in Datu Piang, Maguindanao in December. Ebrahim said the transitional government is engaging the BIFF in dialogue while beefing up security as well. "Kapag hindi nakaya sa dialogue (If it is not resolved through dialogue), then the security arm of the government will be the final option," he said. Under the law, the Philippine National Police will also organize, maintain, and supervise a Police Regional Office in the Bangsamoro, which can be joined by members of the MILF and Moro National Liberation Front. Ebrahim said this needs further discussion. In the meantime, the Joint Peace and Security Team will maintain order, composed of PNP and Armed Forces personnel, as well as MILF members who have not been decommissioned. Bangsamoro officials are now asking Congress to extend the transition period for three more years, or until 2025, to ensure a successful implementation of the peace agreement. READ: Give us a chance to succeed: Bangsamoro officials plead for extended transition period The examination body has provisionally shortlisted 46,308 male candidates and 8,103 females on the basis of merit The SSC GD Constable Final Result 2018 is was released on its official website - ssc.nic.in. Candidates can now check the score by using their registration number and SSC registration password along with the security key. The recruitment drive was conducted for Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), NIA, SSF and Rifleman (GD) in Assam Rifles. In this recruitment round, 60,210 constable posts are up for grabs. Out of which, 50,699 are for male candidates and the remaining 9,511 for females. As of now, 1,09,552 candidates have cleared the examination. The examination body has provisionally shortlisted 46,308 male candidates and 8,103 females on the basis of merit. The examination was organised from 11 February, 2019 to 11 March, 2019 in online mode. Following the exam, 5,35,169 candidates were shortlisted for Physical Efficiency Test (PET)/ Physical Standard Test (PST). The result for PET/PST was announced on 17 December, 2019. Later, the medical examination for 1,75,370 candidates was conducted by the officials from 9 January, 2020 to 13 February, 2020, reported India.com. Steps to check result: Step 1: Enter the name of the official website on the search bar - ssc.nic.in Step 2: After the homepage opens, look for the log in section Step 3: Enter the basic details - registration number , SSC registration password and captcha code Step 4: Cross-check all the detail entered and click on submit Step 5: Your score will show up on the screen All candidates are advised to download the scorecard on their device and take a printout of the same for future use. After downloading the scoresheet, candidates must check all the details mentioned in it. For any discrepancy, please contact the authorities at the earliest. President Joe Biden got to work on day one. The first order of business was what we most needed setting a new tone at the top, one that no longer pits Democrats against Republicans, whites against blacks or Americans against Americans. This is a great nation, he said in his inaugural address. We are good people. And over the centuries, through storm and strife, in peace and in war, weve come so far. But we still have far to go. WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 20: 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. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) Getty ImagesGetty Images Bidens inaugural address rightly called on Americans to face the facts. We are an imperfect nation, still pressing forward with speed and urgency. It was the right message for a nation trying to overcome four years of me-first animosity and turmoil. But we should not be fooled. However gracious and solemn the inauguration, Joe Biden will not have the luxury of merely spouting platitudes to soothe our fears. And his focus on unifying the nation and bipartisan cooperation will only go so far in addressing the serious problems that threaten our nation. It may sound harsh, but its true. Americans cant afford to be patient as the president makes nice-nice with those whose bad judgment and misguided loyalty threatened the very pillars of our democracy. If he is to be a successful president in a time of unprecedented crises, Joe Biden will have to be tough and resolute in tackling the complex problems four years of chaos have left. 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 Joe Biden knows an anxious nation cant afford another failed presidency. Theres no arguing President Biden has been handed a raw deal. Hes taken charge of a country amid a raging pandemic, a paralyzed economy and millions of voters still screaming about a stolen election. We thought Barack Obama had it bad in 2009 when he stepped into office amid a Great Recession, but this may be ten times worse. We fully expect President Biden to make a good effort at bipartisanship. He knows how to reach out a hand in sincerity and friendship. We also expect he will bring at least a few Republicans to his side to deal with COVID-19, the economy and home-grown extremists. WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 20: Former U.S. President Barack Obama arrives to the inauguration of U.S. President-elect Joe Biden 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. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)Getty Images But this president cant make the mistake President Barack Obama did in his first months in office when he wasted precious time hoping to win over opponents. If necessary, Biden will need to get things done quickly with just the Democrats in tow, because this nation has no time to waste. All that being said, there are signs of a new can-do, bipartisan spirit. Bidens first cabinet picks are being approved without a lot of hoopla, and a group 16 senators from both parties has pledged to work with the new administration on more coronavirus relief for struggling families. President Joe Biden signs his first executive order in the Oval Office of the White House on Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)AP In just his first 24 hours, the new president has signed more than a dozen executive orders to undo many of Donald Trumps worst policies, and he hes already announced a plan to distribute the coronavirus vaccine, open schools, track infections and get our nation back to somewhere near normal. All of this bodes well for his presidency and for a nation in distress. Yet the best news is the new president is not just selling Americans a bill of goods to keep his poll ratings high. Hes told us the unvarnished truth. Theres still a rough road ahead with COVID-19. Things are likely to get worse before they gets better. And Biden has warned we all will have to pull together if we are to put this dismal era behind us. One of his best moves so far is to mandate masks wherever and whenever he can legally do so. Its about time. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, speaks during a news conference following a weekly meeting with the Senate Republican caucus, Tuesday, Dec. 8. 2020 at the Capitol in Washington. Americans waiting for Republicans in Congress to acknowledge Joe Biden as the president-elect may have to keep waiting until January as GOP leaders stick with President Donald Trumps litany of legal challenges and unproven claims of fraud. (Sarah Silbiger/Pool via AP)AP The one thing Americans sorely need is a president unafraid to move boldly to protect us, and one who will level with us, as President Biden has promised to do. It may sound corny, but Bidens ole Joe straight talk and optimism is just what Americans need to get through this winter and into the promise of spring. If Americans come together, he told us as he stepped into the powers of the presidency, theres nothing we cannot do. We have no doubt President Biden really believes that. And It wont hurt us one bit to believe it, too. Quality local journalism has never been more important. You deserve the best. Not a subscriber yet? Please consider supporting our work. Residents have been urged to brace damaging winds and tourists have been evacuated as Cyclone Lucas prepares to make landfall in Western Australia. The cyclone, to be named Lucas, is expected to make landfall late on Friday. Western Australia's Department of Fire and Emergency Services has issued a blue alert for communities between Beagle Bay and De Grey, on the north-coast, including tourist hotspot Broome. Much of the Pilbara region, including Port Hedland, is no longer expected to be impacted. Residents have been urged to brace damaging winds and tourists have been evacuated as Cyclone Lucas prepares to make landfall in Western Australia (pictured, graphic depiction of where Cyclone Lucas is expected to make landfall) Western Australia's Department of Fire and Emergency Services has issued a Blue alert for communities between Beagle Bay and De Grey, on the north-coast, including tourist hotspot Broome (pictured, Western Australia following Cyclone Veronica in 2019) Travellers are being urged to evacuate if they are unable to find safe accommodation, while residents are advised to prepare an emergency kit including a torch, portable radio, food, water and any necessary medication. The DFES said a tropical low was intensifying as it moved south towards Eighty Mile Beach, halfway between Port Hedland and Broome. It is expected to develop into a cyclone with category 2 intensity late on Friday or early Saturday. 'Though the system will weaken after making landfall, strong winds and heavy rainfall are expected to extend into the interior of WA over the weekend,' the DFES said. Gales may develop on the coast near Bidyadanga and De Grey during Friday afternoon and may extend to other parts of the warning area. Their still remains a small chance to impact Broome, the Bureau of Meteorology said. An 'all clear' advice has been issued for an area spanning from Port Hedland to De Grey and extending inland to Telfer, Marble Bar and Nullagine. Holidaymakers camping or travelling in caravans have been urged to find safe accommodation or leave the warning area. 'A cyclone is not a place you would want to be in a caravan or camping,' DFES assistant commissioner Paul Ryan said earlier this week. Travellers are being urged to evacuate if they are unable to find safe accommodation, while residents are advised to prepare an emergency kit including a torch, portable radio, food, water and any necessary medication (pictured, landcruiser drives through flooded street following Cyclone Veronica in 2019) The Pilbara Ports Authority directed all large vessels to clear the terminal in anticipation of the cyclone's arrival (pictured, trail of destruction left behind by Cyclone Veronica in 2019) The Bureau of Meteorology had anticipated a potential category three cyclone but has downgraded its forecast. Significant swell had initially been expected at Port Hedland, home to the world's largest bulk export terminal and customers including major iron ore miners. The Pilbara Ports Authority directed all large vessels to clear the terminal in anticipation of the cyclone's arrival. Anyone in the warning area is encouraged to assess their properties for loose items and tie down boats or caravans. Lucas will be the first tropical cyclone to hit the WA coast this season. Additional emergency crews could be deployed from Perth to the state's north on Friday depending on the severity of the impact. Another tropical cyclone could hit the remote Cocos Keeling Islands, 900km from Christmas Island, over the weekend. January 22 : Amit Sadh had a fabulous 2020 and the actor is all set for his first release for 2021. His show 'Jeet Ki Zid' in which he will be seen essaying the role of an army officer is now streaming on ZEE5. Sharing the news with his fans, he wrote, "The true story of a living legend whose will power redefined impossible. #JeetkiZid is streaming now." Trailer of the show was loved by the audience and finally the wait is over today! Zidd has been inspired by the real life story of Kargil struggle hero Major Deependra Singh Sengar. Amit will be seen playing his role. The show will have high octane action sequences and army missions. It is a story of a man whose ability to turn impossible into possible, makes him unique and inspiring. It is a story of his 'never give up' attitude and his zidd to win be it on the war on ground or the one inside his head. The show has the backdrop of Indian Army and is a special tribute to our great forces. The series is directed by Vishal Mangalorkar. It marks the debut of Boney Kapoor as a producer in the web world, alongside Arunava Joy Sengupta and Akash Chawala. It also features Amrita Puri and Sushant Singh in lead roles. Show is streaming now on ZEE5. Indian man among two new imported Covid-19 patients in Vietnam An Indian man and a Vietnamese citizen who recently arrived in Vietnam have tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, raising the total number of Covid-19 patients in the country to 1,548, the Ministry of Health reported on Friday evening. Photo for illustration by Dantri/Dtinews. According to the ministry's report, the 52-year-old Indian man flew from India and transited in the UAE before landing at Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City on January 19. He was sent to a quarantine area upon arrival in Long An Province and tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 on January 21. The patient is now being treated at the Long An Provincial General Hospital. The other patient is a 27-year-old Vietnamese man who returned from Japan to Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City on January 20. He was sent to a local quarantine area upon arrival and tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 on January 21. The patient is now being treated at the Cu Chi Field Hospital for Covid-19 patients. With these new infection cases, the number of imported Covid-19 patients in Vietnam has increased to 854. As of 6 pm on January 22, a total of 1,411 Covid-19 patients had recovered and been discharged from hospital. There have been 35 deaths, most of them being the elderly with serious underlying diseases. At present, over 18,000 people who had close contact with Covid-19 patients or returned from virus-hit areas are being monitored at hospitals, quarantine facilities, and at home. APEDA organises virtual buyer-seller meet with Azerbaijan to push rice exports APEDA in association with Indian Embassy in Azerbaijan on Friday organised a virtual buyer-seller meet (BSM) that brought together key stakeholders from the respective governments and trade on a common platform for strengthening strategic cooperation between India and Azerbaijan in export of Basmati Rice. With the Covid-19 pandemic adversely affecting all physical export promotion programmes, APEDA took a lead in organising virtual BSM to provide a platform to the exporters and importers of India and Azerbaijan. This Virtual-BSM with Azerbaijan is the 16th in the series of such events organised by APEDA with various countries as part of its efforts to boost export potential of Indias agricultural and processed food product exports. Earlier such virtual virtual-BSM was first organised with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) followed by Kuwait, Indonesia, Switzerland, Belgium, Iran, South Africa, Germany, the United States, Canada, Australia, Thailand and Nepal. During the virtual-BSM, presentations were made by leading Basmati rice exporters. The National Confederation of Entrepreneurs (Employers) Organisations of the Republic of Azerbaijan (ASK) explained their requirement or standards for Basmati rice imports from India. The virtual BSM was attended by B Vanlalvawna, ambassador of India to Azerbaijan, senior officials of APEDA and Embassy of India in Azerbaijan, The National Confederation of Entrepreneurs (Employers) Organisations of the Republic of Azerbaijan, and Indian Basmati rice exporters and rice importers of Azerbaijan. Ever since the Covid-19 pandemic, there has been an increased shift of focus towards CIS trade partners by India for creating new opportunities for exports in the agricultural and processed food sector. The Serum Institute of India's (SII) consignment of COVID-19 vaccine 'Covishield' to be dispatched to Myanmar, Seychelles and Mauritius has arrived at Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in the early hours of Friday. The flight for Myanmar is scheduled to take off at 6:40 am from Mumbai while the vaccine consignment for Mauritius and Seychelles will be sent via one flight expected to depart at 11 am. According to sources, a consignment containing 1.5 million doses of Covishield vaccine will reach Yangon, Myanmar on January 22. A consignment of 50,000 doses of Covishield vaccine is scheduled to reach Seychelles as part of India's vaccine donation program. Seychelles is only among the four Indian Ocean countries to receive the Covishield vaccine, manufactured by the SII. "The donation of the vaccines under the VaccineMaitri demonstrates India's role as a reliable partner of Seychelles and net security provider in the Indian Ocean Region. This is also reflective of India's special relations with Seychelles and the central place enjoyed by Seychelles in Prime Minister Modi's vision of SAGAR: "Security and Growth for All in the Region"," the source said. Seychelles has around 1 lakh inhabitants and the 50,000 doses of Covishield will be able to cover nearly 25 per cent of the total Seychelles population, they added. Mauritius will receive a consignment of 100,000 doses of Covishield vaccine. "Mauritius has a population of less than 1.3 million inhabitants and is highly dependent on external trade and tourism and hospitality industry which has been severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The request for supply of Indian vaccines was made from the highest level in the Mauritius government," as per the sources. 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'. (ANI) Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Interviewed by Dan F Stapleton Abbey Holmes won Australias heart with her formidable presence on the field as an Australian Rules footballer and her unfailing positivity. She played for both the Waratah Football Club in the Northern Territory and for the Adelaide Crows in the Australian Football League Womens (AFLW) competition, and competed on the TV reality show Australian Survivor in 2019. Abbey and her family moved to Adelaide when she was 10, and she says the South Australian capital soon felt like home. She loves Adelaides relaxed pace, walkable city centre and thriving food and drink scene. Here, she lists the locales she finds herself returning to again and again. The White Tiger Review: Adarsh Gourav's Vibrant Performance Drives This Bold Story Of Rags To Riches Movie: The White Tiger Rated: 3.5/5.0 Cast: Priyanka Chopra, Rajkummar Rao Director: Ramin Bahrani Rags to riches stories weve grown accustomed to end up sounding distant cousins of Disney fairy tales when one watches The White Tiger which hit Netflix this Friday. Ramin Bahranis film shakes things up a bit as it offers a protagonist willing to rattle up the economic food chain in which he ought to patiently wait his turn to be preyed up. The movie based on Arvind Adigas Man Booker Prize winning novel by the same name brings up caste, religion, patriarchy, politics, poverty, corruption and loyalty in a heady mix as it takes you out for a spin. The White Tigers narrative unfolds in retrospect as the films protagonist Balram Halwai, a swanky taxi service owner in Bangalore, writes a letter to a Chinese Premier attending a tech conference in the city, sharing his life story as to how he shred his poverty-stricken backdrop to become an entrepreneur. Sharp as whip Balram knows he doesnt belong to the rooster coop where just ought to live out the fate set for him and not rebel for freedom even when he is doing no more than breaking coal in the back of a tea shop of a tiny village in Bihar. So when he sees that the shrewd landlord of his village needs a second for his American return son Ashok, he becomes one. It is as Balram pushes off from the ground just a little bit and away from the life his greedy grandmother has already planned out for him, the glaring differences between him and his masters begin writing his story and he goes on with it unabashedly mocking and sneering at them making the narrative come alive. While his masters pretend, to their advantage, that hes their friend or in even more dire circumstances their family, he finds himself right back in the coop he thought he had fled as Ashoks wife Pinky in a drunk stupor runs over a child with their car and hes called on to take the blame. Caste, class, power, politics and oppression spin in and out of the story making Balram determined to break out. For one thing he knows for certain is that he is like the white tiger "a freak, a pervert of nature' born once a generation. The brilliance of the film lies in the fact that it engrosses you in Balrams witty narrative in a way that you feel like peering into his mind to know what hell do next every time hes backed into a corner. The story, however, does slow down in parts raking you on. Adarsh Gourav makes a swanky arrival to the movies as the protagonist Balram in this antithesis of Slumdog Millionaire, snatching the film to his credit from right under the noses of its starry Bollywood cast. Priyanka Chopra looks like a natural in her supporting role as Pinky and holds her ground as the rebellious bahu in a family of patriarchs and seemingly the only one the family who knows that the word kindness exists in the dictionary but only when it is convenient. The otherwise brilliant Rajkummar Rao is slightly out of pace as the U.S. return Ashok in this dominantly English language film. The actor seems to be trying extra hard in holding on to his American ascent which sadly makes the rest of his character slip. Music and cinematography play a big role bringing cinematic richness and highlighting the glaring differences in class in which Balram and his master operate. From opulence to dinginess the cinematography leaves no stone unturned in delivering the harsh realities. The cunningness and curiosity of the protagonist are brilliantly framed in his expressions and stance as he does a lot of listening and observing in his surroundings. The Punjabi pop music that often bursts through the speakers sinks seamlessly with the vibrant storytelling. Ramin Bahrani movie powers Adigas exceptional storytelling with a cinematic life of its own. The film is definitely on the Netflix shelves to trend for days. VIGO COUNTY, Ind. (WTHI) -- About 60 people a day, that's how many people the Vigo County Health Department has been vaccinated since they got a hold of the COVID-19 vaccine. "So far our vaccine rollout has been really successful here in Vigo County," Roni Elder with the Vigo County Health Department said. Wednesday, Vigo County received 1,500 more vaccines. It means they were able to open up more appointments for those who qualify to get them. But, many of you have had issues with scheduling a vaccine appointment. Roni Elder with the Vigo County Health Department said the key is to just be patient. "When we open up to more people everybody kind of rushes on to the website or starts calling 211 all at once so there are wait times and they're just bombarded with a lot of people a lot of traffic. So, just be patient," she said. Meanwhile, at the state level, state leaders say they are nearly booked for vaccination appointments in the next couple of weeks. Appointment availability is based on the supply of vaccines. Right now, they aren't able to predict when eligibility will expand. The state learns its allotment on Tuesdays. State Health Commissioner, Dr. Kristina Box said even though we are getting vaccines across the state, we must stay diligent. "I wanna caution Hoosiers not to let your guard down as this virus continues to shift," she said. Elder said the Vigo County Health Department is planning to move its vaccination stations into the old Sears building soon. That is so they can expand their vaccination efforts. Transit operators are sounding the alarm about rising coronavirus infections among their ranks and asking for stricter safety measures, with some South Bay bus and train drivers threatening to stop work because of what they deem unsafe conditions if their demands are not met. Infections among 2,100 employees at the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority had jumped to 149 since the beginning of the pandemic, rising at a rate of around 40 employees a month for the past three, spokesman Ken Blackstone said. Its largest union puts the count higher at 162 since March, said John Courtney, the president of ATU Local 265, which represents around 1,500 mechanics, drivers and other workers. Five people are recovering from hospitalization, he said. One bus driver died in October. Our members are genuinely scared, Courtney said. Recent spikes highlight the ongoing risks for frontline workers and challenges for transit agencies as the coronavirus surge continues and a limited vaccine supply has not yet reached operators, who are in the states next tier for eligibility. Bay Area agencies have taken similar approaches to worker safety stepping up cleaning, providing protective gear and halting fare collection on buses to protect drivers at the start of the pandemic, then resuming it again with stricter measures. Still, its unclear how many cases are from workplace exposure. At VTA, Blackstone said contact tracing has found few cases from workplace transmission, although he could not provide an exact number, and said those that did resulted from not following safety protocols, such as employees gathering in break rooms for extended periods of time. The union disputes that claim, arguing tracing is brief and conducted by supervisors who are not medical professionals. Break rooms have now been shut for two weeks. At the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency, more than 200 employees out of 6,000 have tested positive for COVID-19. Contact tracing shows almost, but not quite, zero cases transmitted among workers, Director Jeffrey Tumlin said Tuesday. At AC Transit, one employee has died from the virus, with contract tracing showing transmission was from outside of work, spokesman Robert Lyles said. Infections spiked from approximately 55 at Thanksgiving to 128 by Friday, said Board Director Jovanka Beckles. This is alarming and Im really scared for my community and the workers involved, Beckles said. Blackstone said the increase in cases at VTA reflect the broader spike throughout the region. While any infection is a serious concern, VTA did experience an uptick in the number of positive COVID-19 cases in recent weeks, it is a small percentage of employees testing positive, he said. It is sadly consistent with the community trend associated with recent holiday gatherings. But some leaders are calling for agencies to do more during the worst wave of the pandemic. In the letter sent Monday to VTA management, Courtney said individual employees could halt work under a section of their contract that gives them the right to stop if they feel unsafe although the contract doesnt allow a strike. The two parties met Tuesday and couldnt agree on labors demands, which included stopping front-door fare collection, expanding COVID-19 leave, paying for time spent traveling to and receiving vaccines from provider chosen by VTA, and offering post-vaccine sick leave. However, members have the right to individually claim that they feel that they are unsafe ... and with COVID-19 killing almost half a million people in this country, their lives are at risk, Courtney said. The infection rate at VTA roughly 7% is double that of the SFMTA. The highest number of infected employees 53 was at the Chaboya Division Yard in San Jose, according to the union. The county and union organized on-site testing for workers in December, which could be why more positive tests arose. One bus driver died from the virus in October. Courtney described Audrey Lopez as a cautious person who only entered a VTA building briefly to get her assignment, then stayed in her sanitized car or at home getting her groceries delivered. Courtney said VTA was a responsible actor at the start of the pandemic that worked closely with the union. The transit agency was the first in the Bay Area to stop front-door fare collection, provided personal protective equipment and installed thin plastic temporary barriers to protect drivers until more heavy-duty permanent versions could be installed. The agency also put plexiglass inside work areas, outdoor seating for workers at facilities and increased contactless forms of payment for customers. But the agency and its largest union have come to an impasse on how to respond to the recent surge. The agency did not agree to stop fare collection again, which resumed in August, similar to other agencies. With nosediving ridership and revenue, all agencies are hurting for the money, but have hope of soon receiving more federal relief funds. Theres no reason for them to continue to risk our lives for $2.25, Courtney said. If we save one life or two lives because weve gone to rear-door boarding, then weve won. Beckles of AC Transit will also push during the Jan. 27s board meeting to halt front-door fare collection, which she said is unsafe. I dont believe theres any amount of money that anyone could tell me is worth people dying, she said. VTAs union also wanted the agency to offer more COVID-19 leave. Workers could use state and federal COVID-19 leave last year, but those policies expired in 2021. Now, if employees are exposed in the course of duty, through no fault of their own, they would be paid through administrative leave, Blackstone said. However, if they get COVID-19 through other ways, employees have to use sick or vacation time. Mallory Moench is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: mallory.moench@sfchronicle.com Twitter:@mallorymoench The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) seal is seen on the lectern following a press conference announcing the FBI's 499th and 500th additions to the "Ten Most Wanted Fugitives" list on June 17, 2013 at the Newseum in Washington, DC. (Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images) Federal Investigators Increase Reward for Information on Jan. 6 Pipe Bombs Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF) have increased the reward for information leading to the successful identification of suspect(s) involved in placing pipe bombs in Washington city on Jan. 6. The bounty was first set to $50,000 on Jan. 7, one day after the bombs were discovered. This has since been increased to $75,000. ADDITIONAL REWARD: @ATFWashington & #FBIWFO are now offering a reward of up to $75K for info about the person(s) responsible for the placement of suspected pipe bombs in DC on January 6th. Call 1800CALLFBI with info or submit to https://t.co/NNj84wkNJP. pic.twitter.com/f77EHkVNND FBI Washington Field (@FBIWFO) January 21, 2021 Authorities have said that around 1 p.m. on Jan. 6, law enforcement agencies received the first reports about a suspected pipe bomb at the headquarters of the Republican National Committee (RNC), located at 310 First Street Southeast in Washington. Just 15 minutes later, a second suspected pipe bomb with a similar description to the threat at the RNC was reported at the headquarters of the Democratic National Committee (DNC), located at 430 South Capitol Street Southeast in Washington. The two bombs were defused and did not detonate. The FBI has also released pictures of individuals as they seek the publics help to identify those involved in assaults on law enforcement officers on Jan. 6. Dozens of people have already been arrested and charged in connection with the Capitol breach. Protesters and rioters breached the Capitol building on Jan. 6, interrupting a joint session of Congress. Members of Congress were counting electoral votes as one of the final steps in the election process. Hundreds of people illegally entered the Capitol and some wrought damage to the interior. Rioters also assaulted officers both inside and outside the building. Officials told news outlets that at least five people died in the midst of the chaos, including a woman who was shot by a plainclothes U.S. Capitol Police officer. Officials are now reviewing the matter. Zachary Stieber and Jack Phillips contributed to this report Two men have been charged with drug offenses after they waited three hours to get help for a friend who overdosed on heroin they sold him, dumping him in a secluded area outside a Montgomery County hospital and then plotting ways to avoid police, prosecutors said Thursday. Joshua Benner, 28, of Telford, and Ronald Shock, 35, of Boyertown, both face charges of drug delivery resulting in death, recklessly endangering another person, and related offenses in the death of Ramon Morales, 35. Police did not disclose where he lived. Both men remain in custody, in lieu of bail: $99,000 for Benner and $250,000 for Shock. Shocks attorney, John I. McMahon Jr., described the case as an accidental overdose death and said law enforcements efforts to stem the sale of fentanyl and other powerful narcotics in local communities have failed. Situations like these only compound the tragedy, all based on a fallacious law enforcement argument of deterrence, McMahon said. These cases are treated as if someone shot a loaded gun at the decedent, when the defendant couldve been just as easily the one who overdosed himself or herself. There was no indication Benner had hired an attorney. The two men and Morales were using heroin laced with fentanyl in Shocks apartment on the night of May 6, according to the affidavit of probable cause for their arrest. Through interviews with friends of Benners, detectives learned that he often visits Needle Park the colloquial name for McPherson Square in the Kensington section of Philadelphia to buy heroin, and had recently begun buying larger quantities to sell to others, the affidavit said. About 11:30 p.m., Morales, who had been snorting heroin, passed out in Shocks living room and was unresponsive, according to the affidavit. Panicking, Benner and Shock tried to rouse him by putting him in the shower and turning the water on, but it didnt work, the affidavit said. As they struggled with what to do that night, their words were recorded seemingly accidentally on Benners smartphone, the affidavit said. In the hours-long recording, Benner and Shock can be heard cleaning the apartment while saying they didnt want to call the police because they had outstanding warrants for violating probation in previous unrelated drug cases. If [this] gets out, were the bad people but we didnt make him do drugs, Benner said in the recording, according to the affidavit. At one point, Benner told Shock that they were looking at state time for this. Eventually, the two decided to drive Morales to Pottstown Hospital, where they left him on a grassy berm in the parking lot. Pottstown police officers who responded to the scene the next morning found Morales, but were unable to identify him until May 9, when a friend reported him missing. Through surveillance footage from the hospital, police traced the vehicle to Benner, and arrested him days later on an outstanding probation-violation warrant. He was taken into custody outside Shocks apartment, where Morales van was still parked. There were empty bags of heroin and cocaine inside the car, the affidavit said. Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin Steele, in a statement Thursday, derided the mens actions. Ramon Morales died from these deadly drugs that were sold to him by a dealer and then their casual disregard for his life caused him to suffer and die right in front of these two defendants while they did nothing, Steele said. TCL announced a bunch of TVs at CES 2021 including the 4K Mini LED TV C825, TCL 4K QLED TV C725, TCL 4K HDR TV P725. The 2021 TVs will bring with them support for Google TV but what if you just purchased a TCL Android TV in 2020 or 2019? Well, it looks like TCL could be updating its 2019 and 2020 TVs to Android 11. The information comes from FlatpanelsHD which says that TCL says that its 2019 and 2020 Android TV models in Europe will be updated to Android 11 with ALLM for apps, cinematic ads, instant apps (see below), a Gboard TV keyboard with speech-to-text and predictive typing, performance improvements, and a new 'Subscribe and install' option in the Google Play Store. Interestingly the website lists the X915, C815, C715, P715, and P615 among others. But these are the model numbers available in India as well, so it is safe to assume that the TVs could see the Android 11 update in India as well. However, there is no information on when we will see the update rollout. The question remains whether these older TVs will get the Google TV UI as there is no clarity on the same. Shout out to @Google TVs Senior Engineering Director for our partnership Your experience will be upgraded from #AndroidTV to the new #GoogleTV system & #TCL is proud to be one of the first providers this year https://t.co/t830lVsxGP pic.twitter.com/EwyUn4fZzv TCL_Europe (@TCL_Europe) January 15, 2021 In 2019, we saw the TCL C715 running on Android and bringing with it hands-free controls where you can call up the Google Assistant without the use of the remote control. You can read our review of the TCL C715 here. Another TV with hands-free controls is the LG GX and you can read our review of the TV here. With TCL TVs, the Google TV UI will come to its 2021 models. Sony is one more TV maker that has confirmed the Google TV UI on its 2021 models. You can learn more about the Sony 2021 TVs here. LG is also reworking its UI with the all-new WebOS 6. You can learn how LGs UI is changing here. WASHINGTON - One of the defining moments of the early effort to control the spread of the coronavirus came during a White House briefing in late March. Then-President Donald Trump was enamored of the idea that the anti-malarial drug hydroxychloroquine might offer significant benefit in treating covid-19, the disease caused by the virus. Anthony Fauci, the government's leading infectious-disease expert, previously had indicated his skepticism on that point. A reporter asked Fauci directly whether Americans should place hope in the drug. "There really isn't that much of a difference in many respects with what we're saying," he replied diplomatically. "The president feels optimistic about something - his feeling about it. What I'm saying is that it might - it might be effective. I'm not saying that it isn't. It might be effective." As a scientist, Fauci continued, he needed to see data demonstrating that it worked and was safe. But his difference with Trump was simply "a question of how one feels about it." It wasn't hard to read between the lines, really. Some people feel that recommending medicines should only follow tests to ensure that those medicines won't harm people and will actually work. Others, like the then-president of the United States, feel otherwise. Over the months that followed, Fauci was a regular frustration to Trump, given that same prioritization of accuracy and research over gut feelings and platitudes. Eventually, Trump elevated Scott Atlas from doing Fox News interviews to serving on his coronavirus team, on which Atlas advocated a do-little approach more in line with Trump's preferences. Fauci spoke to the media regularly but clearly was sidelined within the White House. As of noon Wednesday, there is a new White House. And Fauci, speaking to reporters on Thursday afternoon, was clearly enjoying being unshackled. At one point, for example, he was asked whether an offer from Amazon to aid the vaccine distribution effort would have been welcomed during the Trump administration. (Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos owns The Washington Post.) Fauci said he didn't know. Then he celebrated his ability to offer that response. "One of the new things in this administration is if you don't know the answer, don't guess," he said with a chuckle. "Just say you don't know the answer." A bit later, Fauci explained that his recommendations and thinking would be guided by the science, as it had been since the pandemic emerged. But here again, he drew a contrast with the prior administration. "One of the things that we're going to do is to be completely transparent, open and honest," he said of the government's approach to the pandemic. "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." This was a central part of President Joe Biden's pitch on the campaign trail, in fact: an insistence that his decision-making would be driven by science, not emotion. For a while, Trump tried to co-opt the idea, claiming that he was the one following the science, but it didn't really stick. Given Fauci's stated commitment to honesty, a reporter asked whether there was anything he'd like to "amend or clarify" from his tenure working for Trump. "No," Fauci replied. "I mean, I always said everything on the basis [of science]- that's where I got in trouble sometimes." The doctor's repeated references to there being a new sheriff in town did not go unnoticed. "You've joked a couple of times today already about the difference that you feel in being kind of the spokesperson for this issue in this administration versus the previous one," a reporter said. "Can you talk a little bit about how free, how much different do you feel? Less constrained?" "You said I was joking about it. I was very serious about it," Fauci replied, laughing. "I wasn't joking." "I don't want to be going back, you know, over history," he continued. "But it is very clear that there were things that were said, be it regarding things like hydroxychloroquine and other things like that, that really was uncomfortable because they were not based on scientific fact." "I can tell you," Fauci said, "I take no pleasure at all in being in a situation of contradicting the president, so it was really something that you didn't feel that you can actually say something and there wouldn't be any repercussions about it. 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." "You were basically vanished for a few months there for a while," the reporter replied. "You feel like you're back now?" "I think so," Fauci laughed. He then turned the lectern back over to the press secretary. She assured the room that he would return for future briefings. The scene of the road traffic collision on the Ballybogey Road near Ballymoney. Police confirmed that a male died at the scene of the one-vehicle accident. A man has died following a one vehicle road traffic collision in Co Antrim on Friday morning. The incident occurred at the Ballybogey Road area of Ballymoney. Police explained that shortly after 6.05am, it was reported that a blue Peugeot 207 was involved in the incident. The man died as a result of his injuries at the scene. The Ballybogey Road has now reopened following the accident. A spokesperson for the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service said it received a 999 call at 6.10am following reports of the incident. One emergency crew was dispatched to the scene and no one was taken to hospital. Commenting on the crash, North Antrim DUP MLA and Policing Board Member Mervyn Storey said: Sadly this morning a young person lost their life as a result of an accident on the Ballybogey Road at the junction of the Tullaghgore Road. I want to express my sympathy to the family and friends of the deceased. As with all such accidents on our roads, we have another family plunged into sorrow. We also are mindful of the emergency services who attend such tragic incidents. We say a word of thanks and appreciation for their response. Police enquiries into the circumstances surrounding the collision are continuing and they have appealed to anyone who witnessed the collision or who has dash-cam footage available, to contact officers at the Collision Investigation Unit on 101 quoting reference number 212 22/01/21. Developer Jerry Beades has lost a long-running battle to retain ownership of a site in north inner Dublin. An Bord Pleanala has given Dublin City Council permission to compulsorily acquire the derelict site at Richmond Avenue near Fairview. That was despite a plea from Mr Beades that he was in a positive position in relation to bank funding to complete a development on the site and that the actions of the Council had made that position uncertain. Bank of Scotland has a charge over at least part of the site, according to Land Registry records. ACC Bank, acquired by Rabobank in 2002, secured a judgement mortgage against Mr Beades interest in the property in 2009. Mr Beades insisted in his objection to the compulsory acquisition plan that the Council would take years to develop the disputed site, which has been designated as a derelict site since 2012 and was identified for acquisition by the local authority in 2017. The owner was given notice of the intention and the opportunity to render the property non-derelict to the satisfaction of the Council, the Council noted in its application. The owner did not respond, it claimed. Mr Beades is a high-profile lay litigant, often representing himself in court. In 2019, he lost an appeal to the Supreme Court, which ruled that Ulster Bank was entitled to a 3.5m summary judgment against him connected to unpaid loans. A demand to repay the loans had been made by the bank in 2013. An inspector with An Bord Pleanala noted in her report on the Councils application to compulsorily acquire the Richmond Avenue site that it has been on the derelict sites register since 2012. The site contains two incomplete large structures and a yard area which includes plant machinery, a badly damaged car, other vehicles, random storage of rusting metals such as a radiator, steel grids, tyres, tools and scaffold among other indistinguishable items that appear to be rubbish, she said in her report. It is considered that the owner was afforded ample opportunity to carry out necessary improvement works to render the site non-derelict which would have eliminated the need for formal action to the point of compulsory acquisition, she added regarding the Councils stance. The An Bord Pleanala report notes that the Council said it had previously attempted to enter into meaningful discussion to acquire the site by mutual agreement, but those efforts were unsuccessful. Mr Beades told An Bord Pleanala in 2019 that the disputed site is a plant yard used by his companies since the 80s. He also insisted that hed only become aware of the case 10 days before he submitted his written objection. He also claimed not to have received all the material on file in relation to it. The objector holds the view that damaging, untrue and private correspondence was sent to the board, the planning inspector added. In a further submission, Mr Beades said that a delay in building work at the site was subject to litigation in the Supreme Court. He had stated a number of other objections and asked for the Councils application to be rejected. U.S flyers missing sipping wine or Champagne with American Airlines will no doubt want to toast the carrier's new home delivery service which can bring inflight wines straight to their door. It's called Flagship Cellars and customers can even earn air miles with their purchases. Members of the American Airlines AAdvantage loyalty program can earn two miles per dollar spent on every order when they provide their AAdvantage number during checkout. American Airlines has launched an at-home inflight wine experience called Flagship Cellars. Pictured are some of the bottles previously only available onboard an AA flight that flyers can now have delivered to their door Customers can select from curated collections of mixed wines, build their own custom box, or purchase a monthly wine subscription, which includes three 'prestigious' wines for $99.99, including delivery. American Airlines explains that the wines considered for its wine program are thoroughly vetted. It says: 'Each year, a dedicated team of wine experts carefully reviews nearly 2,000 bottles to select those that will join the award-winning American Airlines wine program. 'Twice a year, the wine experts identify top selections based on their notes and historical data on what has been most popular with customers around the world. 'The team meets with its award-winning master sommelier to blind taste wines before presenting final options to a variety of American team members to solicit feedback and identify which wines are best suited for onboard and in lounges. 'American has more Global Traveler Wines on the Wing awards than any other U.S. carrier, including four first-place wins in the past year. Since 2015, American has been the top airline for first and business-class wines in North America.' Flagship Cellar customers can select from curated collections of mixed wines, build their own custom box, or purchase a monthly wine subscription, which includes three 'prestigious' wines for $99.99, including delivery. Pictured are wines offered with the service Wines and Champagnes available via the service include Deutz Brut Classic Champagne NV, Vilarnau Barcelona Brut Reserva Cava, The Crusher California Cabernet Sauvignon, Pounamu Special Selection Marlborough NZ Sauvignon Blanc, Churchill's Late Bottled Vintage Port 2014 and Sebastini Sonoma Pinot Noir. 'For wine lovers around the world, wine provides a deeper connection to the places they enjoy visiting,' said Alison Taylor, Chief Customer Officer at American. 'We created Flagship Cellars to provide more ways for customers to enjoy our Flagship wine even if they aren't flying in one of our premium cabins.' Anyone who lives in the U.S and is 21 years or older can select their wine preferences at vinesse.com/flagshipcellars. Teagasc Virtual Sheep Conference The annual national Teagasc Sheep Conference is going virtual this year and will take place across two evenings at 8pm on Tuesday, 26th January and Thursday, 28th January. An exciting line up of Teagasc and international speakers have been assembled for the two sessions. Teagasc Virtual Sheep Conference on Tuesday, 26th January and Thursday 28th January Speaking in advance of the virtual conference, Michael Gottstein, Head of Sheep Knowledge Transfer, Teagasc said: As we face into 2021, this is an important opportunity for sheep farmers, and those in the sheep sector, to update their knowledge on a number of key aspects of lowland sheep production. I am particularly looking forward to hear from our international speakers, Paul Kenyon from New Zealand and UK vet Ben Shrugnal, on their respective topics. The speakers on the 26 January are Nicola Fetherstone, Teagasc Walsh Scholar who will provide an update on the INZAC trial in Teagasc Athenry comparing, Irish five star and one star ewes, with elite New Zealand ewes. Then, Professor Paul Kenyon PhD, Head of School, School of Agriculture & Environment/Professor in Sheep Husbandry, Massey University, New Zealand will present a paper on New Zealand feeding guidelines for growing lambs to target live weights on herbage. The webinar on Thursday, 28 January is hosted by Damian Costello, Sheep Knowledge Transfer Specialist in Teagasc and he will be joined by Aine OBrien, Post-doctoral Researcher on Sheep Genetics and Genomics, Teagasc and by UK vet Ben Shrugnal. Aine will focus on how farmers can look at reducing labour at lambing by improving lamb vigour and ewe mothering ability through breeding. This will be followed by Bens presentation on Laryngeal chrondritis, an obstructive disease of the upper respiratory tract in sheep, more commonly known as Texel throat. For more details and to register for the Virtual sheep conference visit https://www.teagasc.ie/sheepcon21/ In the early hey-days of the Range Rover, following its introduction in the 1970s, it was the vehicle of choice for the British rangers. The... Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Jayanti or Netaji's birth anniversary every year is celebrated on 23rd January in his honour and to remember his contribution towards the freedom struggle. This day is celebrated to give tribute to him who was one of the great leaders who spent his entire life fighting for the independence of his country. "Tum mujhe khoon do main tumhe azadi dunga" (Give me your blood, and I shall give you freedom) - the quote by Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose inspired a huge number of youths to join the struggle for freedom from British rule. Netaji who was known for his patriotic zeal is considered as one of the greatest leaders ever born. Who Was Subhas Chandra Bose? Born on January 23rd, 1897 in a well-to-do family in Cuttack, Odisha, Subhas Chandra Bose was the ninth child of advocate Janakinath Bose and Prabhavati Devi. Netaji was a brilliant student who scored second in the matriculation examination and placed fourth in the Indian Civil Services (ICS) examination. Later he quit his ICS job and came back to India from England to join the freedom struggle for independence. Netaji's initial life was filled with instances of nationalist revelations, he was always a patriotic individual. He worked as a newspaper editor for Chittranjan Das and later began his own newspaper called Swaraj. Aligned with the INC (Indian National Congress) at first, Netaji believed that to acquire freedom, it's important to wage war against the British. He formed the Azad Hind Fauj, a military regiment intended to counter the British. How Subhas Chandra Bose Anniversary Is Celebrated? His birthday is celebrated across India by garlanding his statue; organising cultural programs in schools and universities and, hoisting the national flag. In three states including West Bengal, Tripura, and Odisha, 23rd January is a public holiday every year to celebrate Subhas Chandra Bose Jayanti. Also Read: Do You Know Why India Celebrates Republic Day? Netaji's Mysterious Death Netaji passed away on August 18, 1945, in a plane crash. However, his death still remains a mystery for many people even after 75 years. Many of his supports including his brother Sarat Chandra Bose and his other family members never accepted that he passed away in a plane crash. Many people claimed that Netaji took sanyas and use to live in UP by the name of Gumnami Baba, while others believed that he died in 1985 in Faizabad. On his death, Mahatma Gandhi said that he feels 'Bose is still alive'. Some Inspirational Quotes By Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose "No real change in history has ever been achieved by discussions." "Forget not that the grossest crime is to compromise with injustice and wrong. Remember the eternal law: you must give, if you want to get." "Freedom is not given - it is taken" "No real change in history has ever been achieved by discussions." "One individual may die for an idea, but that idea will, after his death, incarnate itself in a thousand lives. "Soldiers who always remain faithful to their nation, who are always prepared to sacrifice their lives, are invincible." "Give me blood and I will give you freedom!" People celebrate this day in unity across India. Subhas Chandra Bose was a true son of his motherland with great courage and willpower. His untiring efforts towards the freedom of his nation earned him the most respected titles of all times, Netaji. This year, the central government has decided to celebrate Subhas Chandra Bose's birth anniversary as 'Parakram Diwas' and it will mark his 125th birth anniversary. NASHVILLE, Tenn., Jan. 22, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Brookdale Senior Living Inc. hosted a COVID-19 vaccination clinic for its residents and community employees at its 500th community today. The milestone was reached when Brookdale Green Hills Cumberland in Nashville, Tenn., provided the life-saving vaccine to those who live and work there. Brookdale Green Hills was one of 34 Brookdale communities to host COVID-19 vaccination clinics today. Brookdale continues to work tirelessly to get remaining clinics scheduled as expeditiously as possible. In addition to celebrating this significant milestone, Brookdale is pleased that it has facilitated the administering of over 40,000 COVID-19 vaccinations at communities located in 39 states. This was accomplished in just over four weeks. "I'm thrilled that, as the leading senior living company in the U.S., Brookdale is having a significant impact in helping our nation's seniors reduce both the chances of contracting COVID-19, as well as the negative impacts of the virus if it is contracted," said Lucinda "Cindy" Baier, Brookdale's President and Chief Executive Officer. Brookdale was a major advocate with federal legislative and health officials for priority status of senior living residents in receiving a COVID-19 vaccine as soon as it was authorized for use. The company held its first two COVID-19 vaccination clinics on December 18, 2020, and pursued a rapid, coordinated process for scheduling daily clinics to deliver the vaccine through the holiday season and into the new year. "Our teams have done an outstanding job in preparing and conducting COVID-19 vaccine clinics," said Kim Elliott, Brookdale's Senior Vice President of Clinical Services. "We have worked hard to create a culture of vaccine acceptance because the high-risk population we serve is depending on us. We've increased communication and encouraged early discussions with primary care physicians to augment the information we have provided." Brookdale is grateful to CVS Health for its dedicated efforts to administer COVID-19 vaccines for the company's residents and community employees as part of the federal government's Pharmacy Partnership for Long-Term Care Program and continues to appreciate that government officials and legislators recognized the importance of including senior living residents and associates as a top priority for vaccination. Baier said, "Our residents are participating in high numbers because they recognize the importance of the vaccine. The seniors we serve have led the nation in the eradication of diseases such as whooping cough and smallpox early in their lives and they now have the ability to lead us again by being vaccinated against COVID-19. This is another example of how we can build upon their experience in reducing the threat of communicable diseases." In addition to its enhanced health and safety measures, Brookdale has made it easy for new residents who move into a Brookdale community prior to a scheduled clinic to receive the vaccine. This is all part of Brookdale's commitment to meet the needs of a growing senior population who require access to high-quality senior living services. To learn more about Brookdale's vaccination program, visit www.brookdale.com/hope. About Brookdale Senior Living Brookdale Senior Living Inc. is the leading operator of senior living communities throughout the United States. The Company is committed to providing senior living solutions primarily within properties that are designed, purpose-built and operated to provide the highest-quality service, care and living accommodations for residents. Brookdale operates and manages independent living, assisted living, memory care and continuing care retirement communities, with 726 communities in 43 states and the ability to serve approximately 64,000 residents as of December 31, 2020. The Company also offers a range of home health, hospice and outpatient therapy services to over 17,000 patients as of that date. For more Brookdale news, go to brookdalenews.com Contact: Media Relations, 615-564-8666, [email protected] SOURCE Brookdale Senior Living Related Links https://www.brookdalenews.com/ Help India! UN Special Rapporteur asks India to free 16 Human Rights Defenders accused in Bhima-Koregaon case By TCN News Support TwoCircles The Indian American Muslim Council (IAMC), an advocacy organization dedicated to safeguarding Indias pluralist and tolerant ethos, has launched a report titled, Crushing Dissent: 2021 Status Report on Human Rights in India, detailing human rights abuses in India. At the launch of this report, UN Special Rapporteur Ms. Mary Lawlor called upon the Indian government to immediately release 16 human rights defenders who have been imprisoned on charges of terrorism in the Bhima-Koregaon Case. These people should not be in jail. They are our modern-day heroes and we should all be looking to them and supporting them and demanding their release, Mary Lawlor, UN Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights Defenders, said on Thursday. Along with Father Stan Swamy, the octogenarian Jesuit priest against whose arbitrary detention in this case she has already written to the Indian Government, Ms. Lawlor said 15 others jailed in the same case must also be released. Ms. Lawlor while read out the names of the imprisoned rights activists who have worked to uphold the rights of the others should be acknowledged and they are Surendra Gadling, Rona Wilson, Sudhir Dhawale, Mahesh Raut, Vernon Gonsalves and Arun Fereria; Supreme Court lawyer Sudha Bharadwaj; authors Gautam Navlakha and Anand Teltumbde; poet Varvara Rao; academicians Hany Babu and Shoma Sen; and theater artistes Ramesh Gaichor, Sagar Gorkhe and Jyoti Jagtap. The so-called Bhima-Koregaon case refers to violence at a public meeting called three years ago by low-caste Hindus at a village known as Bhima-Koregaon in Maharashtra state. Several civil rights investigations have established that upper caste Hindus allied with Indias ruling party, Prime Minister Narendra Modis BJP, carried out the violence. Police have, however, targeted human rights defenders, who deny their involvement. Ms. Lawlor, whose three-year term as UN Special Rapporteur began last May, also called out the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), under which the Bhima-Koregaon accused have been charged, as among the several prominent pieces of legislation that would appear on paper and in practice to undermine rights contained in the covenant and the work of human rights defenders. Amendments to the UAPA made in 2019, which granted greater powers to designate individuals as terrorists despite the definition of a terrorist act not being precise or concrete, failed to comply with the principles of legal certainty, Ms. Lawlor said. This has opened up the Act, which was already being used to target human rights defenders, to greater abuse. In 2020, it continued to be applied against human rights defenders with the extremely damaging effect of conflating the defense of human rights with terrorist activities, Ms. Lawlor said, adding, there was a very concerning deterioration of the environment for defending human rights in India. Saying that Indias human rights situation is very serious, Ms. Lawlor said she sent six communications to the Indian Government since May to convey our concerns on human rights issues. India had responded to just one. In June she wrote to the Indian Government raising concerns over the arrest of 11 human rights defenders for protesting the Citizenship (Amendment) Act. However, this communication has gone unanswered. She added: Defending human rights is not terrorism. We need to get that message out over and over again. Noted human rights defender Teesta Setalvad said among human rights defenders who are today incarcerated, besides those mentioned by Mr. Lawlor, we have a list of almost 23 very young and dynamic human rights defenders incarcerated in post February 2020 anti-Muslim pogrom in Delhi. Among the 23, almost 19 happened to be young Muslims activists, who actually came into the forefront of leadership to resist the draconian citizenship Amendment Act. These young activists were deliberately targeted by the state because of their clarity, courage and determination. The lower caste (the untouchables) have been singularly targeted for thousands of years and subjected to othering and discrimination by the dominant caste. Then, it is the Muslim community who is facing discrimination and marginalization for the last 40 years. And since the 1990s, Indian Christian community has also been subject to this kind of othering. added Teesta. The Indian Government had arrested Father Stan Swamy only because he had worked for four decades for the uplift of the poor tribal people in Jharkhand state, Father Cedric Prakash, a Jesuit priest and a human rights defender, said. Fr. Swamy became an obstacle for successive governments who, in collusion with vested interest, especially those who deplete the forests of the precious resources, like the mining mafia, the timber merchants, wanted to wrest control of the forests from the tribal people. Fr. Swamy was fighting for the release of more than 3000 tribal youth, struggling for their rights, accompanying them in their legal battles, and so on. Former Australian Senator Lee Rhiannon said the notion that India is a great secular democracy has become a cloak to conceal the extent of the injustice. The foundation on which is Indias judiciary, parliamentary and education systems have been extensively eroded as Mr. Modis governments passing discriminatory laws, neutralizing judges and cultivating a BJP controlled police force is at an advanced stage. IAMC National General Secretary Mohammad Jawad said This exhaustive reports coverage of all the aspects from the sedition laws and hate speech, to national security legislation and the criminalization of dissent, from the questions on the independence of the judiciary to the dilution of labor laws and the universal health policies demonstrates how the Modi government is set to undo decades of positive and progressive work in India. IAMC will share the 2021 Human Rights report, Crushing Dissent, with members of US Congress, the White House, the Department of State, the National Security Council, think-tanks, the US academia and research community and the civil rights activists and NGOs, he added. Employees in one Texas suburb will be in no rush back to the office. Cedar Park ranked No. 7 on Money magazine's list of the 10 best places in the nation to live if you work from home. The publication cited the city's schools, bike trails and barbecue. A 25 minute drive northwest of Austin, Cedar Park offers relatively affordable homes the median price tag stands at $342,000 and a diverse community. The city was more racially and economically diverse than the other locales on the list. READ ALSO: California man blasts Texas 'dystopia' in Op-Ed after moving to Austin Money noted that local commuters must pay to use the 183A, a cashless toll road, to reach the Texas capitol nearby. But the COVID-19 pandemic made that less of an issue. "If youre working remotely, theres little reason to worry," the magazine wrote. "Or to live anywhere else, really." For indoor activities, Money pointed to Cedar Park's recreation center with a gym and indoor track. Outdoors, Brushy Creek Lake Park has paved trails and plenty of room for kayaks. The No. 1 spot on the list belonged to Reston, Virginia, followed by Lower Merion, Pennsylvania and Naperville, Illinois. Cedar Park, the lone representative of the Lone Star State, ranked one spot ahead of Portland, Oregon. To compile the ranking, Money analyzed 157,000 data points across nearly 2,000 cities and towns in the U.S. Places were excluded if they had a population under 25,000, lacked racial diversity, had more than double the national crime rate, or less than 85 percent of their state's median household income. "As with our flagship Best Places to Live list, we considered the cost of living, safety, and the quality of education in each location," Money wrote. "For this list, we also considered the share of residents that worked from home pre-pandemic and prioritized a good at-home setup: enough space to give everyone a room to themselves, access to necessities like daycare facilities and pharmacies, and, of course, sufficient internet connection." When Money released that flagship list in September, New Braunfels San Antonio's neighbor to the northeast came in at No. 25 because of its attractions, from the Comal River to Wurstfest, and booming job market. Indian-American economist Gita Gopinath has been serving as the chief of the International Monetary Fund since 2019. Bollywood actor and Kaun Banega Crorepati host Amitabh Bachchan, however, has just referred to the Director of IMF's Research Department and the Economic Counsellor of the Fund as someone with a "beautiful face". In a recent episode of Kaun Banega Crorepati, the eponymous quiz game show hosted by Bachchan for over a decade, the actor referred to how Gopinath looked while describing a question based on her to a contestant. The question was based on identifying the correct organisation that Gopinath headed and was accompanied by an image of the woman on screen. While describing the woman, Bachchan said in Hindi, "She has such a beautiful face, who can link it with the economy?" A video of the same was shared by Gopinath herself who took to social media to thank the actor for mentioning her. "Okay, I don't think I will ever get over this. As a HUGE fan of Big B, the Greatest of All Time, this is special!" the IMF chief tweeted. Ok, I don't think I will ever get over this. As a HUGE fan of Big B @SrBachchan, the Greatest of All Time, this is special! pic.twitter.com/bXAeijceHE Gita Gopinath (@GitaGopinath) January 22, 2021 Bachchan himself responded to Gopinath's tweet. "Thank you Gita Gopinath ji...I meant every word I said about you on the show ...said in utmost earnestness," he wrote. thank you Gita Gopinath ji .. I meant every word i said about you on the show .. said in utmost earnestness .. https://t.co/VuyJCjfyCI Amitabh Bachchan (@SrBachchan) January 22, 2021 While many congratulated the duo on the hearty exchange, many on Twitter could not help point out the rather sexist nature of Bachchan's comment. sorry to say but that was blatant sexism. https://t.co/px9ZWXHvIP stfu UncLe (@someotherkapoor) January 22, 2021 @GitaGopinath sorry to say..But he was being sheer sexist there..What has the beautiful face and economics to do against each other??It sounds very.. Irking.. https://t.co/KB6xCcfmrx (@iagolevel) January 22, 2021 Did he say Itna khubsurat chehra hai inka, economy ke saath koi jod hi nahi sakta!?What does it mean? What's her job got to do with her looks? What are looks to do with economy? Pretty people can't be accomplished? What is the point of that statement? Someone please help. https://t.co/j8kj5VpoaJ Ginny (@Velvetyvirgo) January 22, 2021 Tell me you didn't miss the sexism. Bachchan ji should know neither in India nor anywhere else beauty is a parameter to become a economist. #sexism https://t.co/JFSuxKz7fD Chandrajit (@chandrajit_) January 22, 2021 What did he mean by itna sundar cehra koi economy se jod hi nahi sakta? https://t.co/ub0WbfCISG Srishti (@Srishtea_) January 22, 2021 Itna khubsurat chehra economy ke sath joda he nai ja sakta. @SrBachchan should avoid such sexist jibes frankly @GitaGopinath https://t.co/qma6v6EepB aman (@RamanVirdi21) January 22, 2021 Rich old men can be sexist and seem cool https://t.co/fAmmEg0hus sidthestoner (@sid_thestoner) January 22, 2021 Others, however, shared Gopinath's excitement. This is so so sweet https://t.co/fUPC29sIyO Tamanna Inamdar (@TamannaInamdar) January 22, 2021 So sad that he just had to mention your looks while pointing to your earned achievement. Bet you he wouldn't have made a mention if, say, @raghuramrajan or @kaushikcbasu were on the screen. Anyway, congratulations to you @GitaGopinath : keep the flag flying high! Jaideep Mehta (@jaideep400) January 22, 2021 Earlier in January 2020, Gopinath had appreciated India's efforts to contain the coronavirus pandemic, saying that she expects more in terms of scale in the near future. "The Indian government has prioritised things very well. Health is the first priority, containment measures have been put in place," she told CNBC-TV18 in an exclusive interview. "The Indian government has also provided direct support to weaker sections. I commend the RBI (Reserve Bank of India) for putting liquidity measures in place." A Reserve Bank of India (RBI) discussion paper on regulation of non-banking finance companies (NBFCs) has proposed tighter regulations for large NBFCs and creation of a multilayer model in the industry. The discussion paper has proposed a multiple layer structure to categorise NBFCs depending on their size and interconnectedness with the system. Going by this, NBFCs in the lower layer will be known as NBFC-Base Layer (NBFC-BL). NBFCs in the middle layer will be known as NBFC-Middle Layer (NBFC-ML). An NBFC in the Upper Layer will be known as NBFC-Upper Layer (NBFC-UL) and will invite a new regulatory superstructure, the RBI said. "An NBFC in the Upper Layer will be known as NBFC-Upper Layer (NBFC-UL) and will invite a new regulatory superstructure," the RBI said The central bank has called for feedback on this discussion paper. The RBI decided to tighten regulations or NBFCs to safeguard the financial system considering the growing size of certain companies and their linkages to the rest of the system. In view of the recent stress in the sector, it has become imperative to reexamine the suitability of this regulatory approach, especially when failure of an extremely large NBFC can precipitate systemic risks, the RBI said. Unbridled growth aided by less rigorous regulatory framework within an interconnected financial system can sow the seeds of systemic risk. Failure of any large and deeply interconnected NBFC is capable of transmitting shocks into the entire financial sector and causing disruption even to the operations of the small and mid-sized NBFCs, the central bank said. Under the circumstances, the regulatory framework for NBFCs needs to be reoriented to keep pace with the changing realities, the RBI said. According to the RBI discussion paper, the process of identification of NBFC-UL based on parametric analysis discussed above shall be conducted as a yearly exercise. Once identified as NBFC-UL, the NBFC will be advised individually about its classification as a NBFC-UL and that it will be subjected to regulation akin to banks, the RBI said. A time-period of eight weeks will be provided to the NBFC to enable it to chart out a plan for implementation. Within the allotted time period, the NBFC would have to put in place a board-approved policy towards the adoption of the enhanced regulatory framework, the RBI said. If a certain NBFC, identified as NBFC-UL, does not want to feature in the upper layer, it can scale down their operations and reduce interconnectedness and complexity to ensure that they continue to function as NBFC-ML rather than NBFC-UL, the RBI said. The methodology for assessing the NBFC-UL will be reviewed on a regular basis, which is at least once in four years, the RBI said. NBFCs in the upper layer will have to comply with common equity Tier 1 capital regulations like commercial banks. They need to maintain a 9 percent CET1 ratio, the RBI said. It is felt that CET 1 could be introduced for NBFC-UL to enhance the quality of regulatory capital. It is proposed that CET 1 may be prescribed at 9 percent within the Tier I capital, the RBI said. Further, In addition to the CRAR requirements, NBFCs will also be subjected to a leverage requirement to ensure that the growth of the NBFC is supported by adequate capital, the RBI said. These NBFCs will also have to comply with the 90-day NPA classification rule such as banks. The RBI discussion paper has also proposed to increase the minimum capital norms from Rs2 crore to RS 20 crore for NBFCs. Also, the threshold to identify systemically important NBFCs has been raised to Rs 1,000 crore from Rs 500 crore. NEW YORK, Jan. 22, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF PHILADELPHIA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA CIVIL TRIAL DIVISION IN RE LIVENT CORPORATION SECURITIES LITIGATION CIVIL ACTION Consolidated Case No. 190501229 SUMMARY NOTICE OF PENDENCY OF CLASS ACTION, PROPOSED SETTL EMENT, AND MOTION FOR ATTORNEYS' FEES AND EXPENSES To: All persons and entities who or which purchased or otherwise acquired the publicly traded common stock of Livent Corporation ("Livent") pursuant and/or traceable to Livent's Offering Materials for its initial public offering of 23,000,000 shares. YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED, pursuant to an Order of the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, that Lead Plaintiffs Plymouth County Retirement Association and Gary Bizarria, on behalf of themselves and the proposed Settlement Class,1 and Livent and the other defendants in the Action, have reached a proposed settlement of the above-captioned class action (the "Action") in the amount of $7,400,000 that, if approved, will resolve the Action in its entirety (the "Settlement"). A hearing will be held before the Honorable Ramy I. Djerassi, either in person at the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, in a courtroom that will be posted in advance on the Settlement website, or remotely, using information that will be posted on the Settlement website, in the Court's discretion, at 10:00 a.m. EDT on April 15, 2021 (the "Settlement Hearing") to, among other things, determine whether the Court should: (i) approve the proposed Settlement as fair, reasonable, and adequate; (ii) dismiss the Action with prejudice as provided in the Stipulation and Agreement of Settlement, dated October 27, 2020; (iii) approve the proposed Plan of Allocation for distribution of the Net Settlement Fund; and (iv) approve Lead Counsel's Fee and Expense Application. The Court may change the date of the Settlement Hearing without providing another notice. You do NOT need to attend the Settlement Hearing to receive a distribution from the Net Settlement Fund. IF YOU ARE A MEMBER OF THE SETTLEMENT CLASS, YOUR RIGHTS WILL BE AFFECTED BY THE PROPOSED SETTLEMENT AND YOU MAY BE ENTITLED TO A MONETARY PAYMENT. If you have not yet received a Notice and Proof of Claim and Release form ("Claim Form"), you may obtain copies of these documents by visiting the website dedicated to the Settlement, www.LiventSecuritiesSettlement.com, or by contacting the Claims Administrator at: Livent Securities Settlement c/o Epiq Class Action & Claims Solutions, Inc. P.O. Box 5270 Portland, OR 97208-5270 Inquiries, other than requests for the Notice/Claim Form or for information about the status of a claim, may also be made to Lead Counsel: Alfred L. Fatale III, Esq. LABATON SUCHAROW LLP 140 Broadway New York, NY 10005 www.labaton.com [email protected] (888) 219-6877 If you are a Settlement Class Member, to be eligible to share in the distribution of the Net Settlement Fund, you must submit a Claim Form postmarked or submitted online no later than May 8, 2021. If you are a Settlement Class Member and do not timely submit a valid Claim Form, you will not be eligible to share in the distribution of the Net Settlement Fund, but you will nevertheless be bound by all judgments or orders entered by the Court in the Action, whether favorable or unfavorable. If you are a Settlement Class Member and wish to exclude yourself from the Settlement Class, you must submit a written request for exclusion in accordance with the instructions set forth in the Notice such that it is received no later than March 25, 2021. If you properly exclude yourself from the Settlement Class, you will not be bound by any judgments or orders entered by the Court in the Action, whether favorable or unfavorable, and you will not be eligible to share in the distribution of the Net Settlement Fund. Any objections to the proposed Settlement, the proposed Plan of Allocation, and/or Lead Counsel's Fee and Expense Application must be mailed to counsel for the Parties in accordance with the instructions in the Notice, such that they are received no later than March 25, 2021. PLEASE DO NOT CONTACT THE COURT, DEFENDANTS, OR DEFENDANTS' COUNSEL REGARDING THIS NOTICE. DATED: January 22, 2021 BY ORDER OF THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF PHILADELPHIA COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA SOURCE// Labaton Sucharow LLP URL// www.LiventSecuritiesSettlement.com 1 All terms not defined herein shall have the definition assigned to them in the Stipulation and Agreement of Settlement, dated October 27, 2020. SOURCE Labaton Sucharow LLP 01/22/2021 Photo (c) TARIK KIZILKAYA - Getty Images Google says it would have no real choice but to pull its search engine from Australia if a proposed law requiring the company to pay news publishers for content goes into effect. The company said its primary concern is that the law "would require payments simply for links and snippets just to news results in Search," said Google Australia and New Zealand VP Mel Silva. "The free service we offer Australian users, and our business model, has been built on the ability to link freely between websites," Silva told Australias Senate Economics Legislation Committee on Friday. 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, Silva said. We have had to conclude after looking at the legislation in detail we do not see a way, with the financial and operational risks, that we could continue to offer a service in Australia. Australia hits back Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison issued a swift response, saying we dont respond to threats. Australia makes our rules for things you can do in Australia, Morrison said at a press conference in Brisbane. Thats done in our Parliament. Its done by our government. And thats how things work here in Australia. The bill, called the News Media and Digital Platforms Mandatory Bargaining Code, would make Google and Facebook pay Australian media companies for using news content they pull from news sites. The law was introduced into Parliament in December to ensure that news media businesses are fairly remunerated for the content they generate, helping to sustain public interest journalism in Australia. Silva said Google isnt on board with the law as it stands. Specifically, the company doesnt want to pay for links and snippets it surfaces in response to users queries. Silva suggested that the bill be revised, saying Google feels there is a workable path forward. There is a way forward that allows Google to pay publishers for value, without breaking Google Search and our business in Australia, she said. 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". 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. Dont Chuck this up. Photo: Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images Last week, Joe Biden proposed a $1.9 trillion COVID-relief package that included $350 billion in fiscal aid to states (or, as conservatives call it, a blue-state bailout) and a $15 federal minimum wage (or, as conservatives call it, Stalinism). The president-elect then declared his intention to pass this bill through Congress on a bipartisan basis. Which is roughly as realistic as my intention to sell Mitch McConnell on the Meidner Plan through sheer force of blogging. I dont think it can get 60. Because even the people on our side that would be inclined to want to work with the administration on something like that, that price range is going to be out of range for them, Senate Minority Whip John Thune told Politico this week. The three most moderate Senate Republicans Mitt Romney, Lisa Murkowski, and Susan Collins all expressed their opposition to the proposals size and timing. We just passed a program with over $900 billion in it, Romney told the press Wednesday. Im not looking for a new program in the immediate future. Since then, a common-sense coalition of eight Democrats and eight Republicans has formed, in hopes of crafting a bipartisan alternative to Bidens plan. The group is set to meet with National Economic Council director Brian Deese in the coming days to discuss potential areas of overlapping interest. The endeavor seems less than promising. Beyond the fact that the common sense among this coalitions Republicans is that no further aid is required, a compromise supported by only eight Republicans is a compromise that cannot win the 60 votes necessary for overcoming a Senate filibuster. Instead of carrying on time-consuming negotiations with conservatives who are uninterested in broad relief and incapable of delivering it by themselves even if they were Biden should pare back his first bill to its essentials: funding for vaccines and $1,400 checks. The case for this approach, as articulated by The American Prospects David Dayen and many Democrats in the House, is twofold: 1) The economic and public-health value of getting to vaccine-induced herd immunity as soon as possible is massive, especially now that new, ultra-virulent COVID strains are in circulation. 2) Distributing $1,400 checks would simultaneously keep Americas most vulnerable afloat while a broader package is ironed out, and fulfill the Democrats core campaign promise in the Georgia Senate runoffs. Whats more, thanks to Donald Trump, many Senate Republicans have publicly claimed to support the checks, which are overwhelmingly popular. Now that a Democrat is president, its quite possible that Republican support for the cash relief payments no longer exists (after all, even Democrat Joe Manchin has expressed aversion to the policy). But if the GOP wants to clear up the confusion that Donald Trump created and inform the voting public that Americans deserve more cash relief to help them weather this pandemic is actually a Democratic idea then so be it. The vital thing is to get a turbo-charged vaccine-distribution program up and running. Democrats can enact virtually everything else in Bidens plan through budget reconciliation, which enables bills to pass the Senate with a simple majority vote. But since reconciliation is an inherently time-consuming process, Biden cannot get vaccine dollars out next week through it. (In a better world, Democrats would simply abolish the legislative filibuster today, and pass Bidens full plan tomorrow, but for now the partys moderate senators are opposed to such a rational course of action.) The shots and checks strategy has backing in the House. But, according to Dayens reporting, Senate Democrats are skeptical. Their reasoning is that popular items can drive Congress to pass a bigger deal, and without them, a bigger deal might get stranded. Which is silly. There is no big bipartisan deal to be had, but no one can strand a big deal save for Democrats themselves. They arent the minority party anymore. They dont need to hold vaccine funding hostage to more partisan priorities; they can just use the power that budget reconciliation gives them to pass whatever relief measures they desire. No more gangs of eight, ten, or 16. No protracted negotiations with Republicans who cant even deliver the scraps they concede. As a wise bus once said, no malarkey. Pocket the vaccine funding and either relief checks or the political victory of forcing Republicans to own their opposition to relief checks and then do the rest your own way. Above all, dont let one of these COVID mutants increase the pandemics death toll by hundreds of thousands because you wasted two weeks trying to appeal to the better angels of Mitt Romneys nature. The Nagol is Back! VTOs guide to this years Nagol, plus where to stay and play in south, central and north Pentecost. (Natural News) If you never thought that you would live long enough to see Soviet- and Chinese Communist-style totalitarianism in the United States, the worlds global beacon of freedom and individual liberty, think again. You have. Coming soon to the nations capital, if deranged, power-mad Democratic leftists get their way, is a new secret police agency that will literally be charged with spying on any and all Americans deemed disloyal to the Dem-aligned deep state. Well, only a certain color of disloyal Americans. A recent article published in the left-wing Daily Beast by Jeff Stein argues that current federal agencies including the FBI are not really equipped to stop white terror because they were unable to see the signs of the pre-planning ahead of the Capitol Building riot. In fact, the FBI did know. Refinery 29 reported about a week after the Jan. 6 riot: According to a report from the FBI, the day before the rioters stormed Congress, their office issued an internal warning that extremists were traveling to Washington to commit violence and war. As of 5 January 2021, FBI Norfolk received information indicating calls for violence in response to unlawful lockdowns to begin on 6 January 2021 in Washington, D.C., the warning noted. An online thread discussed specific calls for violence to include stating, Be ready to fight. Congress needs to hear glass breaking, doors being kicked in, and blood from their BLM and Antifa slave soldiers being spilled. Get violent. Stop calling this a march, or rally, or a protest. Go there ready for war. We get our President or we die. NOTHING else will achieve this goal, it adds. Furthermore, there are reports that the riot was staged that is, fed by provocateurs who whipped some Trump supporters up into enough of a frenzy they went and did something Trump supporters just dont do, participated in a riot. You can tell the attack was preplanned because some rioters were wearing helmets, face coverings, and were carrying objects used to break windows. But, the worst part about the riot is that it is being used by leftist crackpots like Stein to serve as justification to act out their sadistic, racist violence porn against the former presidents supporters (not all of whom are white, of course). Stein actually calls for the formation and use of secret police to infiltrate and neutralize armed domestic extremists, which according to the latest leftist narrative in Congress and the media, involves about 75 million Trump voters. The writer goes on to ridiculously claim the Capitol breach was akin to the 9/11 attack which killed nearly 3,000 (five died in relation to the Capitol riot one police officer, one unarmed female Air Force veteran, and three others from medical conditions not related to injury). As such, the new secret police agency must then be empowered to act against American citizens under the direction of a new domestic spy agency. One response to the 9/11 tragedy may well get renewed attention after the Capitol assaultespecially if armed white nationalists are successful in carrying out more attacks in the coming days and weeks: The call for a secret police, he wrote. Other countries have domestic spy agencies to fight extremists at home. Does America need one, too? https://t.co/kwhCqRWyI3 The Daily Beast (@thedailybeast) January 18, 2021 What never occurs to this lunatic Stein is that 1) Democrats arent always going to be in power, which means 2) this secret police force could also be directed against left-wing extremist groups he favors including the black separatists of the Not F**king Around Coalition, or NFAC, which recently threatened to kidnap police officers and hold them for ransom. And of course, lets not forget the billions in damages caused to American cities last year by Black Lives Matter and Antifa terrorists. So what is this lunatic writers thoughts about directing this new secret police agency against black left-wing extremist nationalists in the Not F**king Around Coalition?? Asking for Lady Liberty Dancing Elvis (@JDHeyes) January 21, 2021 But thats different, of course; theirs is a cause, while Trumps white supporters are terrorists. People like Stein are out there, folks. They always have been, but now, post-Trump, their lunatic ideas are being legitimized by our countrys true authoritarians Democrats. See more reporting like this at CivilWar.news. Sources include: TheDailyBeast.com NaturalNews.com Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 At this moment, ensuring an as fast and efficient as possible implementation of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan is "essential" for the Romanian authorities, Deputy Prime Minister Dan Barna said at his meeting today with Istvan Jakab, acting head of the European Commission's Representation in Romania. "We appreciate the involvement of the European Commission in ensuring a coordinated management of the aspects related to the COVID-19 pandemic and we are further counting on this involvement. As far as we are concerned, at this moment it is essential that we ensure an as fast and efficient as possible implementation of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan. We want to build a plan that is not only technically accepted by the Commission, but also makes a major contribution to combating the effects of the economic crisis we are going through," Barna said, as cited in a government release. The European official assured the Deputy Prime Minister of the full openness of the EC Representation to strengthening cooperation with the Executive in Bucharest. "I assured Deputy Prime Minister Dan Barna that there is full openness on the part of the European Commission's Representation to strengthening cooperation with the Romanian government, so that Romanians can benefit from all the advantages deriving from the status of European Union citizens," declared Istvan Jakab. BOCA RATON, Fla., Jan. 22, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- On Saturday, January 23rd, 2021, at 10 am, a group of concerned citizens led by Karyn Turk, Mrs. Florida 2016, will peacefully protest Big Tech Censorship at Bed, Bath & Beyond at 1400 C University Commons in Boca Raton, Florida. Karyn Turk and Kelsey Grammar Karyn Turk This protest is fueled by the announcement by Bed, Bath, and Beyond that they will no longer carry the "My Pillow" brand, caving to left-leaning influencers who have rallied against "My Pillow" CEO Mike Lindell due to his support of former President Donald J. Trump. "My Pillow" exclusively manufactures its products entirely in the USA and employs approximately 1,500 fellow Americans, and has consistently proven to be a loyal American brand. The protest is led by Karyn Turk, Mrs. Florida 2016, weekly Newsmax contributor and host of "Behind The Headlines". Joining her is well-known activist Steven Alembik who was recently awarded the faith and freedom award from the New Journey PAC. "Big box retailers should know that it is a mistake to allow the social media trends to dictate their store policies. Consumers are perfectly able to make their own buying choices without intervention to pull products because big tech wants to silence American voicesmostly conservative ones." "Our first amendment, which gives YOU the right to speak freely, is under vicious attack. This issue goes beyond partisan politics. Freedom of speech is a unified belief, a constitutional right, something that every American should embrace and defend," stated Turk. Saturday's protest comes on the heels of a series of conservative censorships from "Big Tech" companies, including Twitter's lifetime ban of President's Trump's account, Apple, Amazon, and Google removing conservative social media site Parler from their services and big-box retailers decision to stop carrying conservative-led brand "My Pillow." Citizens outraged by Big Tech's continual silencing of their voices are encouraged to attend this peaceful protest to support their First Amendment Rights. Media Contact: Kristin Davis at ThinkRight PR 212-920-9918 [email protected] SOURCE Karyn Turk Weber said the health department has received several offers of facilities, including some schools, to use as vaccination clinics when they move to the next phase. The health department this week also began offering clinics at its facilities five days a week. Previously, vaccine clinics were held three days a week, Weber said. She also said nursing students from Joliet Junior College and the University of St. Francis are assisting in administering the vaccine. New Delhi, Jan 22 : The Congress Working Committee (CWC) on Friday passed three resolutions, including a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe over the alleged chat leak endangering the national security. A resolution demanding withdrawal of three farm laws was also passed while the CWC also appreciated the scientist and appealed to the people to come forward for the Covid vaccination. The virtual CWC meeting chaired by Congress interim chief Sonia Gandhi was attended by former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, former party chief Rahul Gandhi and several other senior leaders. Addressing the media after the CWC, Congress General Secretary (Organisation) K. C. Venugopal said, "The CWC expressed its concern at the recent revelations exposing in the sordid conversations that have undoubtedly compromised national security. It is clear that among those involved are persons in the highest echelons of government and there has been a breach of secrecy concerning vital and sensitive military operations." The CWC also questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the central government silence on the issue. "The CWC demands a time-bound investigation by a JPC to enquire into the breach of national security, violations of the official secrets act and the role of the persons involved," he said. Talking about the three farm laws, Venugopal said, "The CWC noted that these three laws impinge upon the Constitutional rights of states and constitute the first step in dismantling the three pillars of the edifice of food security built up over the past decades -- MSP, public procurement and the PDS." He reiterated that the three farm laws did not pass the Parliamentary scrutiny as they were bulldozed by muzzling the voice of the Opposition, particularly in the Upper house. He said that these laws, when implemented, will affect every person of the country as pricing of all food products would be at the mercy of a handful of people. "There is only one demand of farmers and farm labourers -- repeal the farm laws. "But the government continues to side step, malign, deceive and hoodwink the farmers by attempting to tire out, intimidate and divide the farmers," he said. "The CWC demands the Modi government to forthwith repeal the three farm laws," Venugopal said. "We have decided to hold block level programmes throughout the country before February 10, followed by a district level agitation and convention before February 28. There will be a massive convention before February 28 at state level to show solidarity with the farmers," he added. Venugopal also said that during the Parliament's Budget session that is scheduled to start from January 29, the Congress along with the opposition parties will stand against these anti-farm laws and will put pressure on the government to repeal these three laws. Speaking about the final resolution on the Covid vaccine, the Congress leader said, "The CWC places on record the appreciation of scientists, researchers, who worked tirelessly to develop the Covid-19 vaccine in a record time." He said that the CWC also noted with concern that there is a complete lack of "clarity" about availability of the vaccine for citizens as there is no timeline by the government for vaccination beyond the first three crore people. The CWC also demanded that the Covid vaccine should be provided for free to the disadvantaged, marginalised poor sections particularly the SC, ST and the OBC within a time bound manner. He further said that the CWC also expressed its dismay over the reports that vaccine may be sold in open market for Rs 2,000 for two dosage per individual. He said, "Such profiteering in times of grave adversity simply cannot be permitted and the government needs to explicitly declare a clear policy in this regard." He further said that the CWC also urged the government to take all steps necessary to overcome the hesitancy of the front-line health workers on Covid vaccination. The CWC also demanded that the state government should be given the option of laying out a state-specific order of beneficiaries, so that the vaccination programme is taken forward with utmost speed and efficiency. "The CWC appeals to the people to come forward without any hesitation and avail the vaccination," Rajasthan MP said. HOUSTON, Jan. 22, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Idera, Inc. ("Idera" or "the Company"), parent company of global B2B software productivity brands, today announced an agreement to recapitalize the Company, with global private markets investment manager Partners Group becoming majority owner, on behalf of its clients. Current shareholders HGGC and TA Associates will continue as significant equity investors moving forward, along with Idera's management team. This recapitalization represents the fourth equity transaction for Idera since 2014 and reflects investor confidence in the Company's innovative business model and M&A expertise. Since 2014, Idera has grown revenue, bookings, and earnings by more than 10X. Organic growth from market-leading assets and acquisitions of nearly 20 companies drive the growth and foretell continued investor success. "Since partnering with TA in 2014, we devoted ourselves to achieving results beneficial to shareholders, customers, and employees," said Randy Jacops, Idera's CEO. "Our business model ensures we focus on customer priorities and attracts great investors who advise our innovations and support our belief that accepting and managing risk encourages creativity and confidence from our team. I am honored to lead such a great company and look forward to continuing our success with Partners Group and our other investors." "When we first met the Idera team, we discovered a company with a unique business model focused on efficiency, reliability and speed, and one that we believed to be an attractive investment opportunity," stated Hythem El-Nazer, a Managing Director at TA Associates. "We became fans of Idera's product mantra of making products easier to use, more scalable and with exceptional quality. This clear focus eliminated friction from the go-to-market process and enabled the Company to focus on the highest value ideas. We are thrilled to continue to partner with Randy Jacops and his management team on the next phase of growth." "When we heard the Idera story, we jumped at the chance to invest in the Company as we pride ourselves on partnering with winning management teams to drive success," said Steve Young, HGGC Co-Founder and outgoing Idera Chairman. "After we acquired a majority interest in 2017, we worked with Idera to ramp up the acquisition engine and closed over ten transactions in two years. This pace continues with a new deal announced this week and another pending. We look forward to more success as continuing investors in this great company," added Neil White, Partner at HGGC. Partners Group made an initial investment in Idera, on behalf of its clients, in 2019. As described by Hal Avidano, Managing Director at Partners Group, "We are excited to continue our relationship with Idera and expand its strong platform. Over the past 18 months, we became further convinced of Idera's business model and the significant market opportunity in the sector. Partners Group is a transformational investor and we believe that our thematic and platform-building expertise is an excellent fit for Idera as it capitalizes on these secular trends and achieves further growth." Kirkland & Ellis and Horzepa, Spiegel & Associates acted as legal counsel for Idera. Ropes & Gray acted as legal counsel for Partners Group. Deloitte acted as accounting and tax advisor to Idera. Jefferies will act as lead financing partner and M&A advisor for the transaction. About Partners Group Partners Group is a leading global private markets investment manager. Since 1996, the firm has invested over USD 145 billion in private equity, private real estate, private debt and private infrastructure on behalf of its clients globally. Partners Group is a committed, responsible investor and aims to create broad stakeholder impact through its active ownership and development of growing businesses, attractive real estate and essential infrastructure. With over USD 109 billion in assets under management as of 31 December 2020, Partners Group serves a broad range of institutional investors, sovereign wealth funds, family offices and private individuals globally. The firm employs more than 1,500 diverse professionals across 20 offices worldwide and has regional headquarters in Baar-Zug, Switzerland; Denver, USA; and Singapore. It has been listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange since 2006 (symbol: PGHN). For more information, please visit www.partnersgroup.com or follow us on LinkedIn or Twitter . Partners Group's private equity business has an established track record of investing in leading businesses with development potential to generate attractive returns for its clients. With entrepreneurial governance at the heart of its approach, Partners Group's private equity business aims to build high-performing boards and works together with management teams on targeted value creation initiatives. These enable long-term, sustainable growth, to the benefit of all stakeholders. Partners Group's private equity business has directly invested in over 240 businesses since inception and today has USD 45 billion in assets under management. About Idera, Inc. Idera, Inc. delivers B2B software productivity tools that enable technical users to do more with less, faster. Idera, Inc. brands span three divisionsDatabase Tools, Developer Tools, and Testing Toolswith products evangelized by millions of community members and more than 50,000 customers worldwide, including some of the world's largest healthcare, financial services, retail, and technology companies. To learn more, visit: https://www.ideracorp.com/ . About HGGC HGGC is a leading middle-market private equity firm with over $5.4 billion in cumulative capital commitments. Based in Palo Alto, Calif., HGGC is distinguished by its Advantaged Investing approach that enables the firm to source and acquire scalable businesses through partnerships with management teams, founders and sponsors who reinvest alongside HGGC, creating a strong alignment of interests. Since its inception in 2007, HGGC has completed more than 190 platform investments, add-on acquisitions, recapitalizations and liquidity events with an aggregate transaction value of over $27 billion. More information, including a complete list of current and former portfolio companies, is available at hggc.com. About TA Associates TA Associates is a leading global growth private equity firm. Focused on targeted sectors within five industries technology, healthcare, financial services, consumer and business services TA invests in profitable, growing companies with opportunities for sustained growth, and has invested in more than 500 companies around the world. Investing as either a majority or minority investor, TA employs a long-term approach, utilizing its strategic resources to help management teams build lasting value in high-quality growth companies. TA has raised $33.5 billion in capital since its founding in 1968 and is committing to new investments at the pace of over $3 billion per year. The firm's more than 100 investment professionals are based in Boston, Menlo Park, London, Mumbai and Hong Kong. More information about TA Associates can be found at www.ta.com . Media Contacts Partners Group Clare Burrows [email protected] +1 (212) 908 2708 HGGC - Tom Faust [email protected] 646-502-3513 TA Associates Philip Nunes [email protected] 617-391-0792 SOURCE Idera Related Links https://www.ideracorp.com New Speed Test will Measure Broadband in Kentucky By West Kentucky Star Staff FRANKFORT - Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman announced Thursday the launch of the Kentucky Broadband Speed Test, a crowd-sourcing project that will gather data from Kentuckians needed to expand internet home access for distance learning, telework and telehealth.Kentuckians can take the free, anonymous speed test from Jan. 19 to Feb. 18 at the link below.To participate, the device must be connected to your home Wi-Fi service and disconnected from a virtual private network that may be connected to a workplace or school. For the most accurate results, ensure that no one else connected to your home internet is using a substantial portion of the internet bandwidth for activities such as streaming video or gaming during the test.Individuals without Wi-Fi access in their home can visit their local library or other locations such as stores or restaurants that offer free internet access to submit the address of a home with no available service.This announcement comes after the Beshear-Coleman Administration first dedicated $8 million in CARES Act funding to broadband expansion in August 2020. Since then, Kentucky has reduced the number of students without internet access from 35,000 to 13,000. The speed test marks the second step in the state's initiative to build a better Kentucky for everyone through expanded broadband access.In addition to finding out their own upload and download speeds, Kentuckians who participate in the speed test will help detect slow spots around the state and where Wi-Fi access and affordability are lacking.The speed test can be done from any device connected to the Wi-Fi signal in your home.On the Net: 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. Office of National Investment Council proposes to create state fund of funds, national investment fund with shares of large SOEs for holding IPO The Office of the National Investment Council under the President of Ukraine proposes to create the State Fund of Funds and the National Investment Fund (NIF) with shares of large state-owned enterprises (SOEs) for holding an IPO, Head of the Office Olha Mahaletska has said. "Among the initiatives that are proposed to be considered for the National Economic Strategy of Ukraine is the creation of a National Investment Fund for the transformation of state-owned enterprises, the stakes in which will be under its management, into effective and profitable companies, as well as the State Fund of Funds. It will activate the development of the investment fund industry," she said, presenting the Office's proposals to the National Strategy until 2030. The expected effect of the launch of the State Fund of Funds exceeds 1% of GDP, Mahaletska added. According to her, the State Fund of Funds invests in other funds instead of directly investing in stocks and bonds of companies. The mechanism of operation is the financing of investment funds that have already received investments from a limited list of first-class foreign investors, such as the EBRD and IFC. The seed capital of the State Fund of Funds will be the national budget of Ukraine (10-20%) and international financial institutions (IFIs, 80-90%). Earlier, the government of the country considered the possibility of creating a "fund of funds" to support Ukrainian startups on the basis of public-private partnerships. However, instead, in 2019, the Ministry of Finance launched the Ukrainian Startup Fund. As for the NIF, it is proposed at the first stage to transfer shares of 10-15 large state-owned enterprises to its management, and in the future this number can be increased, Mahaletska said. According to her, the main task of such an investment fund is to increase the efficiency of state-owned enterprises through the corporatization. In particular, the NIF will be able to appoint its representatives to the company's supervisory boards. "The task of the highest level is to prepare the enterprise for an initial public offering of its shares on a stock exchange," Mahaletska said. Earlier, Head of the National Securities and Stock Market Commission Tymur Khromaev proposed to create a National Investment Fund, which will include minority stakes in about 20-30 strategic enterprises. The IPO of this fund will increase the investment attractiveness of Ukraine and provide the prerequisites for a successful IPO for these enterprises. In recent years, the idea of creating a National Welfare Fund has been promoted by the National Securities and Stock Market Commission, citing as an example the successful experience of such a fund in Romania and a number of other countries. However, these proposals were met with no response until recently. Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. 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. There is something about sitting behind a computer screen that seems to bring out the absolute worst in some people. And its even worse for people who are already in contention for being some of the worst people to begin with. This weeks poster child for the worst being brought out in the worst comes to us from beautiful Grand Traverse County, the so-called pinkie of Michigan. The story starts last year when Grand Traverse County Commission Chair Rob Hentschel invited the Proud Boys to a Commission meeting to defend their reprehensible positions regarding guns and general fascism. In fact, Hentschel gave them far more time to spew their hateful speech than public comment rules typically permit. At the Commission meeting this week, a member of the community spoke during the public comment time, asking Hentschel to publicly denounce the Proud Boys. What happened next is truly hard to believe: East Bay Township resident Keli MacIntosh spoke during public comment about recent violence in the U.S. Capitol and the presence of Proud Boys at the event. MacIntosh asked Commission Chair Rob Hentschel to make a public statement denouncing Proud Boys, noting Hentschel oversaw a commission meeting last year about making Grand Traverse County a Second Amendment sanctuary county a meeting at which Hentschel gave the Proud Boys time to present and defend their beliefs. MacIntosh said the commissions tacit welcome of the group and support for Michigan for 2A Sanctuary Counties Administrator Randy Bishops plan to send a message to lawmakers emboldened some residents to participate in heavily armed protests in Michigan in 2020 and could contribute to further potential violence. [] As MacIntosh spoke, Commission Vice Chair Ron Clous got up from his chair and disappeared off-screen momentarily. He returned with what appeared to be a semi-automatic rifle, holding it across his chest close to the camera as MacIntosh continued speaking. Hentschel began laughing when he saw Clous, with Clous then setting the rifle down on the floor. You can watch the video for yourself HERE (Clous brandishing his weapon begins at the 1:31:27 mark). Yes, the meeting is on Zoom, not in person. Yes, it look like its just a couple of gun fetishists have a yuck-yuck at the expense of constituent who isnt happy about their positions regarding fascistic cosplay soldiers like the Proud Boys. But this was still a public meeting. And waving a gun around in response to the comments of a community member is shocking and completely unacceptable. It looks, for all intents and purposes, to be a threat: Shut up or I might do more than just show you my gun. I am told that local residents have contacted both the County Prosecutor and Attorney General Dana Nessel, asking them to press charges for this truly outrageous act by an elected public official. Heres hoping Ron Clous pays a steep political price for his disgusting display. UPDATE: I wanted to elevate this from Cindy in the comments: BEAUMONT, Texas, Jan. 22, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Infrared Cameras, Inc. (ICI), the leader in advanced biorisk management technology, is pleased to share that CEO Gary Strahan has donated 150 thermal camera systems - a $1.5M market value - to Meharry Medical College. Meharry Medical College is one of the nation's leading Historically Black Colleges (HBCs) and has been at the forefront of treatment, vaccine research and testing for COVID-19 since the onset of the pandemic. The cameras will be used by Meharry Medical College throughout the Metro Nashville public school system in Nashville, TN to help slow the spread of COVID-19. "We are exceptionally grateful to Mr. Strahan for this generous donation," said Dr. James Hildreth, President of Meharry Medical College. "This donation provides Meharry the means to continue being on the cutting edge of medical technology research and at the forefront of COVID response. We know firsthand the toll this virus can take, and it's imperative we continue to do all we can to slow the spread. Given the increased volume of COVID-positive patients hospitals are taking in again, the ability to slow the spread in large gathering places - such as schools - is imperative to the wellbeing of healthcare workers and citizens across the state." ICI's cameras are easy to operate and understand, using a basic red/green light (pass/fail) indicator system. This fast, reliable and easy-to-use temperature screening solution is perfect for schools where hundreds of students and staff are passing each other in the halls every day. The ability to quickly identify someone with a 100.4+ degree temperature is essential to slowing the spread of COVID-19. This kind of technology continues to play a pivotal role in the reopening of the country and its educational facilities. "When it comes to vital testing, treatment and vaccine research, Meharry has been at the helm of COVID-19 from the start," said Gary Strahan, CEO of ICI. "Even still, black communities have been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19. Considering Meharry's continued leadership on the frontlines and recognition as one of the nation's HBCU's most involved in combating COVID-19, the decision to donate to this organization was an easy one to make." ICI has been in business since 1995 and has been responding to global health crises, including epidemics and pandemics, since 2002. ICI is helping to create safer and more secure environments through advanced temperature screening in schools, office spaces, hospitals, airports and more across the country. About Infrared Cameras, Inc. Infrared Cameras, Inc. has been a leader in developing and manufacturing innovative infrared imaging technology since 1995. Veteran-owned and based in Beaumont, Texas, ICI offers complete infrared solutions, including: equipment, custom designs, software, calibration, training, and more. The company's mission is to develop the most sensitive, accurate, and competitively priced infrared cameras in the world. To learn more about Infrared Cameras, Inc., visit http://www.infraredcameras.com/ or follow ICI on LinkedIn , YouTube, Instagram , Facebook , and Twitter . SOURCE Infrared Cameras, Inc. Related Links https://infraredcameras.com/ Mexico City, Jan 22 : Mexico's President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has expressed his support for his new American counterpart President Joe Biden's proposed agenda for fighting the Covid-19 pandemic, spurring the economy and dealing with immigration. Just a day after Biden's inauguration on Wednesday, Lopez Obrador described relations with the new US administration as "very good", reports Xinhua news agency. He added he agreed with Biden's focus on controlling the spread of the novel coronavirus as a way to get the economy back on track. "It is not the economic crisis only. What is causing the most damage is the Covid-19 pandemic," Lopez Obrador said during his daily press conference on Thursday. Referring to the $1.9 trillion in fiscal stimulus the Biden administration intends to inject into the US economy, Lopez Obrador said that was "also important". On immigration, Lopez Obrador said Biden's strategy of regularising the immigration status of foreign migrants residing in the US would satisfy the needs of Mexicans. "That is very good. We have nothing to object to, on the contrary, we agree that this must be done," the Mexican President added. Some 38 million Mexicans are estimated to be living in the US. Following his inauguration earlier on Wednesday, Biden signed 17 executive orders. 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. NSW has recorded no new coronavirus cases for a fifth consecutive day, as the exclusion of previous cases on the northern beaches led to the state's case total being revised downwards. There have been 4894 cases in NSW since the start of the pandemic, after one new case in hotel quarantine was added to the total on Friday. Masks are likely to stay when restrictions are wound back next week. Credit:Louise Kennerley The two cases excluded had not been formally linked to the area's Avalon cluster, a spokesperson for NSW Health said, which still stands at 151. They were both identified in December. Cases can be excluded from the state's total if it emerges they were most likely an old infection, a false positive test or have been counted by another jurisdiction. Charlene Gehm, a dancer who thrilled audiences and critics alike with her excellence in an unusually wide range of roles with the Joffrey Ballet and other troupes, died on Jan. 10 at her home in Manhattan. She was 69. Her husband, Gary MacDougal, said the cause was cancer. Audiences who saw Ms. Gehm perform in the Joffrey from 1976 through 1991, when it was based in New York (it is now in Chicago), knew she could give as good as she got while being yanked, dragged and thrown around in the combative, knockdown duets of William Forsythes Love Songs. By contrast, she was an expert in stillness, minimalism and archaic-profile poses when paired with Rudolf Nureyev, as guest artist, in the Joffreys 1979 landmark revival of Nijinskys LApres-Midi dun Faune. He was the mythical fawn, and she was the marvelously deadpan nymph who aroused him. In Les Patineurs, by the English choreographer Frederick Ashton, Ms. Gehm could show off her strong classical technique; in his Wedding Bouquet, her gifts as a witty comedienne were on display. As Jennifer Dunning wrote in The New York Times, Ms. Gehms performance as a tipsy wedding guest could make one laugh even while appreciating its subtlety, grace and a touch of the bittersweet. Due to CBCs Past Bias, Epoch Times Publishes Its Response to Broadcasters Inquiry Jan. 22, 2021 Please see our response to the CBC reporters inquiry after our statement below. In early January 2021, The Epoch Times published a 28-page sample edition distributed to select areas by Canada Post to grow our readership and subscription base, a common and established practice in the publishing industry. The sample edition includes and showcases a collection of our articles on national and international news, opinions, health, culture and other lifestyle content, as well as a 10-page special report on Beijings persistent efforts to influence, and infiltrate, Canada and the West, including Canadian politicians. On Jan. 21, we received an inquiry from CBC News reporter Katie Nicholson about our latest sample edition with questions loaded with inaccurate labels of The Epoch Times. We have decided to publish our response to the CBC for the following reasons. This same CBC reporter covered our previous sample edition in April 2020 on the Chinese regimes coverup of the coronavirus outbreak that led to the global pandemic, but purposely omitted crucial facts about The Epoch Times that we provided to her before her deadline, and created biased hit pieces about our media. On April 29, 2020, CBC published her report on TV, radio, and on its website with an inaccurate and provocative headline that began Racist and inflammatory, airing the opinion of one individual and implying that all Canadians felt the same way. The CBC News director of journalistic standards later admitted the article had multiple errors. A scholar CBC interviewed for their hit pieces later told The Epoch Times that CBC had a predetermined narrative when they interviewed him, as can be read here, adding that CBC had decided in advance that they were going to report on Epoch Times in that way. He said: I will not be particularly inclined to speak with CBC again. CBCs reports also intentionally omitted the crucial fact that our media organization was founded by Chinese immigrants, as we had told the reporter. This is an important detail that contradicts the claim that we are dealing in racism toward Chinese. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) does not represent the Chinese people or China. Understanding the difference is vital and will eliminate racial tension, as people come to understand that the criticism is of the CCP, not the Chinese people. CBC failed to report the facts and contents of our sample edition, and instead repeated unsubstantiated impressions or allegations from individuals about the paper, including one mail carrier. It also gave very negligible (3.5 percent) time to the side defending The Epoch Times, which was limited to a paraphrase of the publishers quote in their flagship TV program The National. Based on her questions to us, it seems Ms. Nicholson is taking an angle similar to some other recent media reports to highlight a rebellion by a mail carrier refusing to deliver The Epoch Times sample edition. This is despite numerous confirmations by Canada Post and the relevant ministry that the paper is a mailable product. Responsible journalism would examine the dangers of a few individuals deciding to censor mail and determine for others what they can or cannot read. Given a public backlash from thousands of its own readers last year in its web reports comments section, CBC made changes to the headline of its April article three times, and deleted hundreds of comments critical of the article and CBC, but the article remained inaccurate. Despite our multiple requests and communications, CBC refused to retract, or apologize for, its article. To make things worse, CBC then carried additional biased reports by Ms. Nicholson on the Epoch Times and our sample edition. Unfortunately, some of the same bias and mistakes that previous CBC reports featured in spring 2020 have been repeated over the last few days by CBC local reports on our latest sample edition, and also by some other media outlets. To further discredit The Epoch Times, CBCs reports have tried to portray the peaceful spiritual practice of Falun Gong, which is the personal belief of the publications founders, in a negative light. This time around, in a CBC radio interview, the host and her guest when talking about the practice used the slanderous and discriminatory word that the Chinese Communist Party has been spreading to justify its ongoing persecution of the practice. To ensure the public has access to accurate facts, we have decided this time to make public our latest response to CBC reporter Ms. Nicholson as below. We also include some of our previous coverage on CBCs biased reports on The Epoch Times at the end of our response. Our Response to the Inquiry by CBCs Katie Nicholson January 22, 2021 Hi Ms. Nicholson, Newspaper sampling is a common practice in the news industry to grow business. Canada is a country that believes in freedom of the press, and we believe readers are wise enough to judge for themselves whether we are reporting truthfully. This is a free country. Readers deserve the chance to know different styles and types of reporting. The Epoch Times is an independent, non-partisan media outlet that reports honestly and objectively and has won multiple journalism awards. It is heartening that the vast majority of the feedback we have received from readers of the recent sample edition has been positive. If people do not wish to read our sample newspaper, then treat it like other promotional material. CBC is a taxpayer-funded mediato the tune of an estimated over $1 billion per year. It looks as though you are spending tax money to try to discredit an independent media outlet. It is also surprising that you question Canada Posts delivery of our paper. If the delivery of mail is up to the individual carrier to decide based on his/her impression of hatred, no one can trust the post office any more. If Canada Post were to block us, that would be the government censoring an independent media outlet. This would violate the Charter of Rights, which guarantees freedom of the press. Canada Post has rightly stood by its mandate. We are a media started by Asian immigrants. There is no way we would publish content that is anti-Asian. Please read our content more carefully. To a media thats leaning left, we may seem on the right. We believe we are neutral and independent. We disagree with your label. The independent media watchdog AllSides evaluates us in this way: The Epoch Times bias rating is Lean Right, though perhaps close to Center. Much of The Epoch Times reporting is balanced; a slight right-wing bias is mostly displayed via story choice. If you see problems with our reporting, then, rather than repeat negative descriptions of us, point to any of our sentences that are not factual. On that basis we can have a reasonable discussion. But you only seem to interview those who speak negatively of us, employing labels, rather than pointing out specific factual errors. We have been growing very fast exactly because readers like our fact-based reporting. But in reporting the facts, we may contradict some commonly accepted narratives, including about China. Reading us can be a liberating experience. We invite you to give your readers a more objective account of what we are about. Below is some of our previous coverage on CBCs biased reports on the Epoch Times in April/May 2020: CBC Intentionally Excludes Crucial Facts About Epoch Times and Our Coverage of Beijings Coverup of Virus Outbreak CBC Had Predetermined Narrative for Reporting on Epoch Times, Says Scholar Interviewed by Broadcaster CBC Admits Mistakes in Reporting of Epoch Times Coverage of Beijings Virus Coverup How CBC Failed Its Own Journalistic Standards in Its Coverage of The Epoch Times CBC Intentionally Excludes Crucial Facts About Epoch Times and Our Coverage of Beijings Coverup of Virus Outbreak April 29, 2020 This is our first public statement on CBCs coverage of The Epoch Times special edition. To read our second statement, please click here. The Epoch Times recently published a special edition on how Beijings coverup of the coronavirus outbreak in Wuhan led to the global pandemic with the front-page headline How the Chinese Communist Party Endangered the World. Its an eight-page collection of Epoch Times articles distributed to select areas in Canada, as we believe it contains important information for Canadians to have. On April 29, CBC published an article devoted to this special edition that is deliberately misleading and intentionally excludes crucial information we provided to CBC prior to the publication of its article. The sole purpose seems to be to discredit The Epoch Times and our reporting on the coronavirus. A copy of our email to the CBC reporter prior to publication is included at the end of this article. I am heartened to see that most of the comments on the CBC article are critical of it. At the end of this article we include some of the comments. The headline CBC gave the article seems to speak for all Canadians, saying Racist and inflammatory: Canadians upset by Epoch Times claim China behind virus, made it as a bioweapon. How does CBC know how the majority of Canadians feel about our coverage? The front page of The Epoch Times special edition that was distributed on April 13, 2020. The article quotes an individual who feels that our coverage of the Chinese Communist Party (CCPs) responsibility for the coronavirus pandemic is racist and inflammatory. Is that one individuals opinion the source of a headline speaking for all Canadians? The headline focuses on a small part of our eight-page special edition, a commentary article that discusses the history of top CCP officials talking about developing bioweapons. But this opinion article did not state that the Wuhan lab was developing bioweapons, contrary to the claim in the headline. CBC purposefully omitted that our media organization was founded by Chinese immigrants, which was stated in the email to the reporter. We are the media telling people that this pandemic is not the fault of the Chinese people, but is the fault of the Communist Party. The Chinese people have been victimized by the CCPs handling of this pandemic. By discussing the CCPs role, we are truly standing up for the Chinese people. Making the truth about the CCPs role clear will also help eliminate racial tension. CCP propaganda is the origin of the identification of the CCP and China, and the CCP works continuously to emphasize this, not only in its own state-controlled media, but in media around the world. By merging the two very different entities together to stir up the idea that when someone is talking about the CCP, its the same as talking about China, this conflation is used to evoke the Chinese peoples patriotism and elicit Westerners concerns over racism, leading people from both groups to defend the CCP. In this way, peoples worthy motives are used to enmesh them in the CCPs ill behaviour. If people read our paper, they will understand these issues better. There is no balance in the CBC article. The reporter purposefully chose a few voices that have one-sided opinions and used them to attempt to discredit us. The article includes no comments from any individuals who might disagree with CBCs criticism. In fact, we received a great deal of feedback via phone or email regarding this special edition and are aware that many Canadians are highly appreciative of our work. Sometimes people call our office and are very critical, but when we talk to them we often find that they didnt take time to read our content, but just glanced at the cover and jumped to a conclusion. When we explain our content and ask them to read it, they often change their attitude and opinion. The CBC article also tries to discredit our reporting on China. In fact, China is the most difficult subject for media to cover due to the Beijing regimes lack of transparency. However, we have more connections inside China than others and have reported vital information ahead of many other media. We began to report on the Wuhan virus on Dec. 31 and reported on the coverup of the real numbers in early February. If more people had been reading The Epoch Times, our country could have been prepared. In our opinion, there is not enough truthful reporting about China and the nature of its ruling communist regime. The CBC article also uses the persecution against Falun Gong in China to unfairly frame us as an agenda-driven media and then goes on to misrepresent that persecution. It is grossly irresponsible reporting to say Its followers say the Chinese government persecutes them and oppresses their religious rights, as though the evidence for the persecution of Falun Gong depends only on what its adherents say. From the most basic research, CBC should know, for example, that both the American Congress and European Parliament have passed resolutions urging the CCP to stop the persecution campaign and have raised concerns about or explicitly condemned the forced organ harvesting that has targeted Falun Gong practitioners. Regarding the persecution, one CBC source says there could be certain exaggerations, blatantly downplaying a severe persecution campaign that has resulted in untold suffering and death. The article also has simple factual errors. For instance, the first sentence describes us as a free newspaper typically found in street boxes. The Epoch Times in Canada stopped distribution through street boxes last July and is only available via paid subscriptions and home delivery. This article asserts that the Shen Yun Performing Arts company is part of Epoch Media Group. It is not. We understand that different readers may have different opinions, and that readers have the right to choose whatever media they want to read. But having multiple voices gives people greater choice, and makes for a healthier society. This CBC report is meant to shut down our voice. Instead of debating on specifics and pointing out concrete reporting errors, it quotes a few critical voices in an attempt to discredit us. We have received numerous awards for our reporting, including from the Society of Professional Journalists and the New York Press Association. We also received a national award for our SARS coverage in Canada, after being among the first media to break the SARS story in 2003, three weeks before the Chinese regime admitted there was an epidemic. Cindy Gu is the publisher of the Canadian editions of The Epoch Times. * * * The Special Edition can be downloaded here. Email Sent to CBC Reporter Prior to Publication The email includes a message to the CBC reporter, information worth noting and information about the Special Edition. Hi Katie, Thank you for the inquiry. 1) The Epoch Times was founded by Chinese immigrants in North America who fled communist persecution in their home country. All of our editors and reporters in China were arrested, with some enduring long prison sentences and brutal torture. We have connections in China with people who provide exclusive information that we report on. For instance, here and here are two recent articles about the virus outbreak based on internal government documents leaked to The Epoch Times. The Epoch Times has broken many important stories related to China over the last two decades. 2) We started to report on the worrisome situation of the virus on Dec. 31, 2019. In early February we reported that the real number of deaths and infections inside China was at least 10 to 20 times the Chinese governments official numbers, way ahead of other media. If more people had read our reports, the world would have been better prepared. Timely information can save lives. 3) The Epoch Times has recently been sampling copies of a special edition on Beijings coverup that led to a global pandemic in select areas because we consider that information to be important to Canadians. We regard this sampling as an act of good citizenship. Sampling refers to distributing copies of a newspaper to specific neighbourhoods. This is a standard way of raising brand awareness and recruiting new subscribers. 4) Some people may have erroneously conflated criticism of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) with criticism of the Chinese people. The Chinese Communist Party does not represent the Chinese people or China. Understanding the difference is vital and will eliminate racial tension, as people come to understand that the criticism of the handling of the virus is of the CCP, not the Chinese people. The current confrontation is between the CCP and the people of the world, both in and outside of China. Both the Chinese people and Canadians are victims of the CCPs coverup. We are not alone in pointing out the distinction between the CCP and China. Consider these recent headlines: Washington Post: Dont blame China for the coronavirus blame the Chinese Communist Party; Globe and Mail: The coronavirus exposes the lie at the heart of Communist China; National Post: Beijings communist regime is the biggest China virus threatening our survival. 5) Regarding the Wuhan lab, it is a small part of our reporting on the coronavirus. China silenced early whistleblowers, destroyed samples, and falsified data. We simply asked questions like many others. In the past, CCP top military officials openly talked about the development of bioweapons. Whether the virus is engineered or not, has neither been proven nor disproven at this point. In our documentary we only raise questions, it never ruled out a natural origin and it does not assert that the virus was engineered. The documentary is fastidious in not giving any definitive conclusions regarding the origin. It presents the facts that were known and the opinions of experts. 6) While most newspapers have been experiencing a decline in circulation, The Epoch Times has been growing in recent years, against the trend. Worth noting: The Epoch Times was among the first to report on the SARS outbreak in 2003, three weeks before the Chinese regime publicly admitted there was an outbreak. Our early coverage of the SARS outbreak earned our Chinese edition a national award from the National Ethnic Press and Media Council of Canada. According to a recent study by the University of Southampton, if non-pharmaceutical interventionssuch as early detection, isolation of cases, travel restrictions and cordon sanitaire could have been conducted one week, two weeks, or three weeks earlier, cases could have been reduced by 66 percent, 86 percent and 95 percent, respectivelysignificantly limiting the geographical spread of the disease. Dr. Shawn Whatley, past president of the Ontario Medical Association, said I first learned about the damage by the new, aggressive Wuhan virus from The Epoch Times. Kudos to ET for doing what we pay the departments of health billions of dollars to do. About the Special Edition: Our Special Edition features some of our coverage of the virus that has engulfed the globe, causing a serious threat to peoples health and way of life. There have been multiple reports and studies, and even remarks by governments, noting that had the Chinese communist regime been forthright about the outbreak and the risks sooner, many lives could have been saved and the damage to economies would have been minimal. The Special Edition delves into topics such as how the Chinese Communist Partys coverup led to a pandemic, how the regime persecuted medical professionals in China who tried to get information out about the outbreak, how it is still hiding the true scale of the pandemic and the number of deaths in China, and how it has launched a global disinformation campaign to lay the blame for the pandemic elsewhere. Regards, Cindy Gu Publisher, The Epoch Times Canada * * * Selection of Readers Comments on CBCs Article Brad Mercier 17 minutes ago Im heartened to see most comments are critical of this CBC article and the way it defends the legitimate criticism CCP. Disinformation and controlling the narrative is common with our national broadcaster and this is another example. John Burnaby 22 minutes ago Many media organizations, including the CBC, just dont get it. The CCP is an evil organization. They are seeking whats best for themselves at the expense of everything and everyone else. Canada needs to look at them not as friends, but as adversaries along the lines of Russia, North Korea, etc Mark Williamson 23 minutes ago This article is quickly being buried and rightfully so. Please do not use the term Canadians when you are only talking about a handful of people that share your view. Sandra Rivera 1 hour ago CBC needs to be investigated for writing such a blatantly pro Communist Party of China propaganda piece. Misinformation and misleading statements. Mary Lucas 4 minutes ago I find Epoch to be one of the more objective, reliable sources of news. They dont like the Chinese Communist Party, and they make that clear. By contrast, I find a lot of disinformation from Canadian main stream sources. I am also appalled that the CBC seems to think that postal workers should have to agree with the content if their deliveries. This article seems to be intended as a smear piece against Epoch Times. Sandra Rivera 14 minutes ago I typed in CBC and got this article. I thought at first this was the China Broadcasting Corporation website. Fred Thiolla 24 minutes ago Headline from the Epoch Times is: How the Chinese Communist Party endangered the world Now tell me how ANYONE could interpret that as stirring hate or being r*cist? Absolutely ridiculous attempt to defend the CCP. The article should be criticized for pushing untrue claims not for questioning Beijing Elias Eliot 1 hour ago The tittle claiming Canadians upset is extremely misleading. Perhaps some Canadian would be more appropriate. But the integrity of journalist has been in decline for too long now and sadly things just keep getting worst. Mike Smith 48 minutes ago Thank you Epoch Times for at least opening up the discussion and our right to question. Charels Latner 28 minutes ago The truth will not be suppressed , Thank-you Epoch.. And yes, thank-you CBC for enlightening Canadians about this great publication. Odd, but still, Thanks. Greg Dear 1 hour ago Basically, this article is trying to convince us that criticism of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is the same as criticism of the Chinese people and even the same as racism against Chinese people. Suppose we believe it. The questions are Is Criticism of the Iranian government is racism against Iranian people? Is Criticism of the North Korean government is racism against Korean people? etc., etc. Mike Smith 18 minutes ago Democracy is built on the right to question and the freedom to have different opinions even if you dont agree with them. We should never fear or worse try and squash anybodys opinions. If they are completely false we have to have faith the truth will prevail and it will but it only happens when we are willing to explore all the possibilities. Instant claims of rac is cowardly defence. Brian Robertson 34 minutes ago The charge of racism has been so overused and abused as to render the term meaningless. And the charge of being inflammatory? Dont make me laugh. * * * To subscribe to The Epoch Times, please visit ReadEpoch.ca The Epoch Times was founded in 2000 in North America by Chinese immigrants and has been on the forefront of uncensored China news, breaking some of the most important China stories over the past two decades. It was among the first to report on the SARS outbreak in 2003 and won a national award in Canada for this coverage. Since its launch, the independent news outlet has been the target of multiple attacks and interference from the Chinese communist regime. Last year, its printing press at its Hong Kong office was set on fire by masked intruders during the height of protests in that city. The Epoch Times believes that the Chinese Communist Party was behind the attack in an effort to silence the outlet. The Epoch Times print newspaper is available via subscription across Canada and the United States. Its online version comes in English, French, Chinese, and more than 20 other languages. Prime Minister on Friday sought to dispel fears and misconceptions over the efficacy and safety of Covid vaccines in an interaction with health workers in Varanasi, his Lok Sabha constituency. "When doctors and health workers give a clean chit to the vaccine, it sends a very strong message among people about the efficacy of the shots," he said through video conference. Health practitioners who have been vaccinated against coronavirus or have administered the shots to others took part, sharing their first-hand experiences. "Really, corona warriors have done a wonderful job," Modi said in the 30-minute interaction during which a hospital matron, a nurse, a lab technician and a doctor asserted that there were no side effects after they were vaccinated. The interaction came against the backdrop of authorities grappling with hesitancy over the vaccination, with many health workers not turning up to get themselves inoculated at their assigned centres. "The world's largest vaccination drive is underway in India. Our frontline warriors are getting vaccinated across the nation," Modi had tweeted on Thursday. "This interaction would give first hand opportunity to hear their experiences as well as feedback," he had said. The prime minister had launched the nationwide inoculation drive on January 16 with over three crore healthcare and frontline workers prioritised to get the jabs initially. His military service saw him deployed to the Balkans during the Kosovo war before finding global success with the hit single You're Beautiful. But now James Blunt has a new and urgent mission on his hands to retrieve his late grandfather's 'irreplaceable' pocket watch. The heirloom, I can disclose, was among a haul of personal belongings ransacked from Blunt's hillside villa in Ibiza last week. James Blunt and his wife, the Duke of Wellington's niece Sofia, have been targeted by burglars at their Ibiza home The crooner's military service saw him deployed to the Balkans during the Kosovo war, pictured in 1999 The former Household Cavalry officer and his wife, the Duke of Wellington's niece Sofia, spent several months on the island during lockdown last year, but were not at the house, recently renovated, at the time of the raid in the early hours of last Thursday night. Every single one of the balladeer's shirts and T-shirts were taken from the property bought by Blunt for 1.7 million in 2006 as were a pair of gold cufflinks, and numerous items, including a bayonet from his time in Kosovo. Their loss has prompted him to issue a heartfelt appeal. Stressing that he's aware that it is a 'difficult time for many people on the island', he adds: 'My only real sadness is that they took some cufflinks and an old pocket watch that belonged to my grandfather, and a bayonet from my time as a soldier in the Kosovo war in 1999. I would gladly pay a reward for their return.' The former Household Cavalry officer spent several months on the island during lockdown last year Blunt characteristically retains his sense of humour. 'The thieves took about 100 items, including a black and white cowhide rug that my wife didn't like, so I suspect she could be involved,' he jokes. 'They also took all my T-shirts and shirts. They can't have a very good sense of aesthetics.' A search for fingerprints has led local police to conclude that there were three intruders, who gained entry undetected even though Blunt had ensured that the house was occupied in his family's absence. A friend offers sympathy. 'Blunty's lovely. He invites people back to the house all the time for dinner,' she tells me. 'That's where he does the parties, with people dancing till the early morning. 'Will he get the watch and cufflinks back? I doubt they're still in Ibiza.' Mike clowns about as kids give him a makeover lesson Former rugby player Mike Tindall's attempt to tackle home-schooling has led to colourful results. The 42-year-old is married to the Queen's granddaughter, Zara Phillips, with whom he has daughters Mia, six, and Lena, two. Former rugby player Mike Tindall shared a picture of his blackened nose and orange beard following an arts and crafts session He shared a picture of his blackened nose and orange beard following an arts and crafts session at their home on Princess Anne's Gatcombe Park estate in Gloucestershire. 'I feel like I succeeded in home-schooling arts and crafts today,' he says. 'Any movies out there need a creepy villain? I think I fit the bill.' Mike, who whose wife Zara, 39, is five months pregnant with their third child, previously admitted home-schooling during the first lockdown was 'nice but frustrating'. Hot priest's marriage prayers are answered! Dubbed the 'hot priest of Notting Hill' after spreading the gospel of love on the streets of West London during the first lockdown, Pat Allerton is rejoicing for more personal reasons. I can reveal the Old Etonian vicar, 42, has got engaged to South African-born Kirsty Turnbull, 33. The 'hot priest of Notting Hill, Pat Allerton, has got engaged to South African-born Kirsty Turnbull 'We were on a walk and the sun came out, the birds were singing, it was beautiful,' Pat tells me. 'I went down on one knee and found myself at a loss for words, which is unusual for a preacher. But I managed to get the words out and thank the Lord she said yes.' Kirsty, who runs Year Here, an enterprise that tackles social problems in London, met Pat when she joined his former church, St Dionis in Parson's Green. New Delhi, Jan 22 : The CBI has registered a case against UK-based Cambridge Analytica and Global Science Research Limited in a case of alleged "illegal harvest" of personal data of 5.62 lakh Indian Facebook users. A Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) official told IANS: "The agency registered the case on January 19 against Cambridge Analytica represented by Alexander Nix and Global Science Research Limited represented by Aleksandr Kogen under the Information Technology Act." The case was registered after the CBI registered a Preliminary Enquiry in July 2018 on the central government's recommendation. The CBI PE came after Union Law and IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad told the Rajya Sabha that the probe will be handed over to the central agency. The PE was registered after number of media reports appeared with respect to alleged illegal harvesting of personal data of Facebook users and their friends by Cambridge Analytica (CA) through Global Science Research Limited (GSR). The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) had sought details from Facebook and CA for the alleged violations and its possible misuse by Cambridge Analytica for profiling and influencing elections in India. The CBI had examined a set of details shared by CA and Facebook in its ongoing probe into alleged data harvesting of Indians from the social media platform. The agency had sought the data from CA and Facebook, based in Britain and the US respectively, in order to know the method of data collection by the CA, the political consultation firm that combined data mining, data brokerage, and data analysis with strategic communication during the electoral processes. Facebook reported that the data of potentially 5.62 lakh Indians users might have been illegally harvested. CA Limited had not responded to MeitY's further correspondence, it stated. In the PE, it was revealed that Kogan, had created an application named "thisisyourdigitallife". "As per the platform policy for Facebook, the application was authorised to collect certain specific data of the users for academic and research purposes. The application, however, illegally collected additional unauthorised data of the user as well as their friends' network on Facebook," the CBI alleged. The PE further revealed that the data was collected "without the knowledge and the consent" of the application users. "The data collected includes demographic information, pages liked on Facebook contents of private messages etc," it said. The CBI said that Facebook communicated to the agency that 335 users in India had installed this application. "They have estimated that data of approximately 5.62 lakh additional users who were part of the friends network of these 335 users had also been harvested illegally by the application," it said. The CBI said that during investigation, 335 application users were contacted by the Inquiry Officer, out of which six responded. "They unanimously said that they were misled by the application and were unaware of the fact that their friends' data was harvested. They also stated that they would not have used the application if they knew it would do so," the CBI said. "Enquiry revealed that Global Science Research Limited entered into a criminal conspiracy with CA during 2014 and the right to use the illegally harvested datasets was given to Cambridge Analytica Limited for commercial purposes," the agency alleged. It further said that Facebook had collected written certificates from Kogan, who represented Global science Research Limited and CA during 2016-2017, declaring that all such data obtained by them through the app "thisisyourdigitallife" was accounted for and destroyed. "This fact confirms that GSR illegally harvested datasets and provided the same to CA for commercial purposes. However, the inquiry could not authenticate the claims of GSR and CA that datasets were destroyed," it said. The CBI said that it prima facie established that GSR "dishonestly and fraudulently" accessed the data of Facebook users and their friends and illegally harvested through the app in pursuance of criminal conspiracy, whereas the GSR gave the right to use the illegally harvested datasets to CA for commercial gains. CA had earlier faced allegations that it used personal information harvested from 87 million Facebook accounts to help Donald Trump win the 2016 US presidential election. Brother of Christian imprisoned in Pakistan on blasphemy charge pleads for Biden to help Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment 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. For months, all those Americans who were opposed to Joe Biden and didn't want him to be elected as the next President of the United States didn't hold back from saying that he is not their president, and will never be their president. Basically, it was all the Donald Trump supporters' war cry because they were so furious that Trump lost the election to Joe Biden. Reuters Well, some people took the quote that people actually used to show their disapproval of their new president and turned it into one of the most hilarious jokes ever. One person, in particular, went viral for saying Joe Biden is not his president and he had a pretty accurate reason for that. An Indian guy named Prayag Tiwari replied to Joe Biden's tweet saying 'Joe Biden is not my President'. Joe biden is not my president Prayag (@theprayagtiwari) January 20, 2021 Of course, someone assumed he's a Trump supporter but nope, he just lives in India and Joe Biden is obviously not his president. No I am from india Prayag (@theprayagtiwari) January 20, 2021 The viral interaction has been shared widely all over the internet and it even resulted in a Twitter trend. #JoeBidenIsNotMyPresident will make literally everyone laugh. I AM LOSING MY FUCKING MIND IF YOU ARE WONDERING WHY #JoeBidenIsNotMyPresident IS TRENDING I THINK ITS THIS pic.twitter.com/pzElEqRdbF ajax loving husband hours (@atywashere) January 22, 2021 What a man! Other countries are jumping in. #JoeBidenIsNotMyPresident because I'm Canadian but man, am I ecstatic that he's the American President right now. The world has become as much safer place. (@TWlTTERjailFREE) January 22, 2021 The power of one man. #JoeBidenIsNotMyPresident is trending for wrong reasons thanks to @theprayagtiwari . Nailed it man. pic.twitter.com/xO19GhzTLk Satya Dev (@satyadev41) January 22, 2021 Exactly. #JoeBidenIsNotMyPresident Only because Im British and live in London, BUT if you live in America, Hawaii, Alaska or Puerto Rico JOE BIDEN IS YOUR PRESIDENT. pic.twitter.com/nKiZP78QRw KeanoTheDog (@judgeyourself99) January 22, 2021 Yep. #JoeBidenIsNotMyPresident My President is Ram Nath Kovind @rashtrapatibhvn who will be unfurling flag on 26th Jan pic.twitter.com/2HCknhnLBx Maverick Is Listening (@Maverick_0705) January 22, 2021 The most Indian thing ever. Some Indian shit #JoeBidenIsNotMyPresident pic.twitter.com/wduIjfiILX SaM || REST || Follow back limit reached (@blurytae) January 22, 2021 This collage, though. Wow. Not our President, for sure. Wait, I don't want to have something common with MAGA supporters. MAGA trumpets Rest of the world #JoeBidenIsNotMyPresident (But seriously this legend ) pic.twitter.com/4jWJdSV0F8 Cinnabons (@thereylorolls) January 22, 2021 Oops. Joe Biden was sworn in as the 46th President of the United States on Wednesday. Reuters In his first remarks, 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. Reuters His deputy, Kamala Harris, with origins 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. 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. Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. India on Friday said it has not received any request for coronavirus vaccines from Pakistan and that it is undertaking commercial supplies of the doses to a number of countries, including Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Brazil and Morocco. So far, India has sent consignments of coronavirus vaccines under grant assistance to Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Mauritius and Seychelles. "I am not aware of any request for the supply of Indian-made vaccines to Pakistan on a G2G (government-to-government) basis or commercial basis," Spokesperson in the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Anurag Srivastava said at a media briefing. When asked whether India would do if Pakistan requests for the vaccines, he declined to answer saying the question is "hypothetical at this stage". On Friday, India began commercial exports and sent two million doses each to Brazil and Morocco. India began sending coronavirus vaccines as grant assistance to the neighbouring countries on Wednesday. "On the first day, 1.5 lakh doses of vaccines were supplied to Bhutan and 1 lakh doses to Maldives as grant assistance. Yesterday, supplies of 10 lakh doses to Nepal and 20 lakh doses to Bangladesh were undertaken," he said. On Friday, Srivastava said consignments of 15 lakh doses for Myanmar, one lakh doses to Mauritius and 50,000 doses to Seychelles were airlifted. He said supplies as grant assistance to Sri Lanka and Afghanistan will be undertaken after receiving confirmation of regulatory clearances from the two countries. "Contractual supplies are also being undertaken to Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Brazil, Morocco, Bangladesh and Myanmar," he said. The MEA spokesperson said there was interest in many countries in accessing vaccines from India which is the global hub for vaccine production. "Keeping in view the domestic requirements of the phased rollout, India will continue to supply COVID-19 vaccines to partner countries over the coming weeks and months in a phased manner. It will be ensured that domestic manufacturers will have adequate stocks to meet domestic requirements while supplying abroad," said Srivastava. He said quantities and types of vaccines to various countries would be based on availability and regulatory approvals in the countries concerned. In a major announcement, India on Tuesday said it would send COVID-19 vaccines under grant assistance to Bhutan, Maldives, Bangladesh, Nepal, Myanmar and Seychelles from Wednesday and supplies to Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and Mauritius will commence after confirmation of necessary regulatory clearances. 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 Covaxin is being produced by Bharat Biotech. 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. A Form 3 student at Wahundura Secondary School in Muranga is nursing injuries after he was stabbed by a fellow student on Sunday. A police report indicates that the two learners were fighting over a padlock when one of them pulled out a knife and stabbed the other on the side of his head near the left ear. The victim was rushed to the Kirian-ini Mission Hospital for treatment and discharged on the same day. Police noted that the student was in a fair condition at the time. However, when the student returned to the hospital for a check-up two days later, doctors suspected he may have sustained internal injuries. They referred him to the Kenyatta National Hospital for specialised treatment. He is said to be in stable condition. The other student aged 17 disappeared from school shortly after stabbing his colleague and is still at large. FEMA has made available for review revised preliminary flood risk information and updated Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) for Victoria County, Texas. The federal agency is urging property owners to review the latest information to learn about local flood risks and potential future flood insurance requirements. Community stakeholders can identify any concerns or questions about the information provided and participate in the appeal and comment periods for the maps. FEMA will accept comments on the maps, as well as as appeals, through April 21, 2021. The updated maps were produced in coordination with local, state and FEMA officials. Significant community review of the maps has already taken place, but before the maps become final, community stakeholders can identify any concerns or questions about the information provided and submit appeals or comments. Appeals/comments may be submitted for the City of Victoria; and the unincorporated areas of Victoria County Residents may submit an appeal if they consider modeling or data used to create the map is technically or scientifically incorrect. An appeal must include technical information, such as hydraulic or hydrologic data, to support the claim. Appeals cannot be based on the effects of proposed projects or projects started after the study is in progress. If property owners see incorrect information that does not change the flood hazard information such as a missing or misspelled road name in the Special Flood Hazard Area or an incorrect corporate boundary they can submit a written comment. The next step in the mapping process is to resolve all comments and appeals. Once these are resolved, FEMA will notify communities of the effective date of the final maps. The preliminary maps may also be viewed online: The Flood Map Changes Viewer at http://msc.fema.gov/fmcv FEMA Map Service Center at http://msc.fema.gov/portal Source: FEMA Topics Texas Flood New Korean Ambassador to Japan arrives in Tokyo, Friday. Yonhap New South Korean Ambassador to Japan Kang Chang-il said Friday that Seoul has a "firm" will to normalize relations with Tokyo, as he departed for the country amid a protracted row over wartime history and trade. "The Moon government has a firm will to normalize relations between South Korea and Japan, and the president also expressed the will during a New Year's press conference," he told reporters at Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul. "I plan to relay this message to the Japanese side," he added. Noting long-running historical spats between the two countries, Kang said his heart is "a little heavy." A controversial decision to delay the second dose of the Pfizer vaccine may be reviewed by the UK body that advises the Department of Health here, it has emerged. The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) is understood to be investigating claims the first dose of the vaccine is not as effective as previously thought, a senior Department of Health official has said. Patricia Donnelly, who heads up the local vaccination programme, said she believes the JCVI is speaking to officials in Israel about emerging evidence from there that suggests the effectiveness of the Pfizer-BioNTech jab could be as low as 33% following the first dose. Ms Donnelly was challenged about the second dose delay policy by People Before Profit MLA Gerry Carroll when she appeared in front of Stormont's health committee yesterday. Raising concerns that the Department of Health is "going along with the Tory approach", Mr Carroll asked Ms Donnelly whether she is confident that delaying the second dose of the vaccine is safe. She said: "I am aware of the media reports about the experience in Israel. "As I understand it, the JCVI are considering that evidence and have been directly in contact with the Israeli authorities to try and understand what that evidence will be and I suspect that they will then, it would be the normal process, they will then review it and they may or may not issue further advice to us about it. "So, our responsibility in the vaccine programme is to act on that advice, I don't think that any of us feel that we are the competent authority to say what the best approach to this is. Read More "However, whatever the scientific advice that comes forward, we will follow it in the vaccination programme, and I suppose I would want people to have confidence that we will do the very best that we can and we will act under that advice and as quickly as possible under that advice." Ms Donnelly also revealed to the health committee that an additional 44,000 people here have received a Covid-19 jab as a result of delaying the second dose for healthcare workers. The policy, which means people receive their second dose at 12 weeks instead of the three weeks recommended by the manufacturer, has proved to be extremely contentious and a furious row erupted between the British Medical Association (BMA) and the Department of Health over the matter. The BMA accused officials of treating healthcare staff like guinea pigs, while the Department of Health insisted the move is safe and will benefit more people in less time. The Department of Health stressed it is following JCVI advice, which has been based on a review of the impact of the pandemic to date and data on the vaccines, and said the position has been endorsed by the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges. However, Dr Tom Black from the BMA said yesterday: "Our members are telling us they feel betrayed - the World Health Organisation, US Food and Drug Administration, Dr Anthony Fauci, the European Medicines Agency and even Pfizer have all said delaying the second dose is a bad idea." TIRUPATI: Jana Sena chief Pawan Kalyan said that his party would soon form shadow committees to keep an eye on the functioning of temple committees and boards of 12 major temples in the state, including Tirumala, and also check if there were any violations in the implementation of dharmas in them. Despite the spate of attacks on places of worship in the state, the government's indifference in this matter would give impetus to those indulging in such unholy things, Pawan Kalyan felt while addressing the media here on Friday along with the partys political affairs committee chairman Nadendla Manohar, before winding up his two-day tour to Tirupati and Tirumala. The government has immediately arrested those who posted about temples on social media. But why was it so late in arresting a man who admitted to vandalizing idols in temples? It raises many doubts as to why the government took all those days to arrest the man, he said. He alleged that political interference in temples and their trust boards has been causing disturbances for the past several years. He said political interferences and appointing politicians as members on temple trust boards, including TTD, should be stopped. Pawan Kalyan slammed the decision of TTD trust board to keep open the Vaikunta Dwaram at the sacred abode of Lord Venkateswara in Tirumala for 10 days from Vaikunta Ekadasi. It was not fair to break centuries-old practices, he said, while recalling that the holy passage used to be kept open for devotees only on Vaikunta Ekadasi and Dwadasi days for several centuries. Condemning the series of incidents of vandalism at temples in the state, he accused the state government of inaction in identifying and nabbing the perpetrators. Would the YSRC government show the same attitude if the same kind of attacks happened in places of worship of other faiths? he questioned. He also alleged that the law and order situation in the state has been deteriorating with the ruling party targeting and harassing common people and opposition parties when they post their views on various issues on social media platforms. Replying to a question, the Jana Sena chief said that the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) was a responsible and committed organisation. Is there still an organization anywhere in the world that is so committed to leave everything for the country even after all these decades?, Kalyan asked, while saying that he had never seen such a strong organisation in the world. Pawan Kalyan donated Rs 30 lakh for the construction of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. The Jana Sena Chief handed over the cheque to the RSS state chief Bharatiji. He also gave a cheque for Rs 11,000 arranged by his personal staff. He said Lord Sri Ramachandra embodies dharma and tolerance, sacrifice and bravery. They are an inspiration to all. It is everyones responsibility to support construction of the temple in Ayodhya. After knowing that I am donating, my personal staff members, including Muslims and Christians, have also raised Rs 11,000 for the purpose, he added. Former minister and BJP leader Dr Kamineni Srinivas and RSS representatives participated in the programme. TTD board chief donates Rs 10 lakh Meanwhile, TTD Trust Board chairman Y.V. Subba Reddy on Friday donated Rs 10 lakh towards the construction of Ram Mandir at Ayodhya. The board chief handed over a cheque for the amount to VHP and RSS representatives at his camp office in Tadepalligudem. He said that he will discuss in the upcoming TTD board meeting about providing financial assistance towards the construction of Ram Mandir on behalf of TTD. VHP National President Milind Parande, Kshetra Secretary Kesava Hegde, State Vice-President PVS Naidu, RSS representatives Srinivasa Raju, Durgaprasad were also present. Police are probing a sinister threat made to employees working at Northern Irelands Border Control Ports. The investigation was launched after graffiti warning that all border post staff are targets appeared in Larne. It prompted officials at the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) to alert the operators of the facilities at Larne, Belfast and Warrenpoint. A leaked internal memo seen by the Belfast Telegraph was sent out by the Brexit Operational Readiness department. It said: To be aware, the below appeared overnight near Larne Port. There is nothing to suggest at this time that this is anything other than an isolated incident. However, this may understandably cause you/your teams concern but be assured that DAERA have engaged with the PSNI, who are dealing with the matter appropriately. DAERA will continue to liaise with the PSNI to ensure that your health, safety and welfare, and that of our delivery partners, remains our utmost priority. I would be grateful if you could ask your relevant staff to report anything suspicious in the area of the Port to either ourselves, PSNI or Port Security. Border Control Post (BCP) facilities came into operation from January 1 because of Brexit with a de facto Irish Sea border regarding movements of goods from Great Britain and the Northern Ireland protocol. While its fundamental purpose is to prevent a hardening of the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland it means that instead there are customs checks at our ports. TUV leader Jim Allister said: No one, either through actual threats or headline-grabbing threats, should be resorting to matters pertaining to violence in respect of any issue. There is a place for, indeed a necessary place, for political opposition to the partition of the United Kingdom. But that should be coming from particularly the political leadership of unionism. Alliance East Antrim MLA Stewart Dickson added: While there is no excuse for this, sadly some will attempt to justify it by linking it with Brexit. The reality is, it is just thugs again attempting to assert their dominance in the area. DUP MP for East Antrim Sammy Wilson said: "Throughout all of this Brexit debate, the only people who have threatened violence as far any checks are concerned, have been those who supported the Remain campaign. "And that includes people who time and time again talked about threats of violence from the IRA and republicans if there were border posts put along the border between Northern Ireland the Irish Republic and yet they have been strangely silent, the same crowd, when a border has been placed between Northern Ireland and GB. "So unionists are the only people who never at any stage threatened there would be violence as a result of whatever arrangements came and arose from Brexit. "And that is still my position and still our position that this is still an issue that unionists feel very sore about, feel betrayed by, have fears about the future because of the erection of these border posts and the disruption which they have caused and the difference which it makes between us and the rest of the United Kingdom. "But I believe, and indeed there has been evidence already this week, that through political pressure and through using what leverage we have we can first of all get some of the immediate problems of the protocol dealt with and in the longer run I believe the protocol itself will be shown to be unworkable. There is a political battle to be fought here and I dont think anything will be achieved by writing messages on the walls and it has not been the approach which unionists have. Meanwhile, a source has said there are fears in Warrenpoint that the BCP there could be targeted by dissident republicans. They said: Where its located is at the Narrow Water Castle, and anyone who knows the history about Narrow Water will know about the bomb that went off there (in 1979, killing 18 soldiers). So there is a credible threat as nobody wants to see a border infrastructure of any shape or description in this area, and similarly I dont think the loyalists want to see border inspection in Larne. A DAERA spokesperson said the department was aware of this incident and are liaising with the PSNI. The PSNI said: Police are aware of a graffiti incident the vicinity of Larne Harbour on January 21. This matter is currently under investigation. CONTRACT AWARD Northrop wins $3.6B Air Force battlefield comms contract Northrop Grumman has won a $3.6 billion contract for Battlefield Airborne Communications Node support. The Air Force contract covers operations, sustainment and support. The company will also provide research, development, test and evaluation, and integration for payloads connected to the BACN system. The Battlefield Airborne Communications Node works in conjunction with the unmanned aerial vehicle Global Hawk to create what Northrop calls a persistent gateway that receives, bridges and distributes communications on the battlefield. The system overcomes line of sight issues for communications and enables better situational awareness from ground units to the highest command levels, the company says on its website. Northrop began working on BACN several years ago as part of a demonstration project. A gang of more than 100 monkeys has raided a farm to steal food in Thailand after a lack of tourists due to Covid-19 cut off their regular food supply. Video footage shows adult and baby monkeys - which are normally fed by tourists - racing to grab chunks of corn to eat in Nakhon Ratchasima province on January 18. The villagers could only watch from afar as the creatures ravaged their crops. One of the farmers said he did not dare to stop the animals as they were too many and could become aggressive. A gang of more than 100 monkeys raided a farm on Tuesday to steal food in Thailand after a lack of tourists due to Covid-19 cut off their food supply. Pictured: The monkeys run across a road, captured in video footage of the gang moving towards the farm He said: 'It would be impossible to stop all of them and dangerous, too. One monkey is enough to harm people if it wants too. 'Imagine having to stop more than a hundred hungry monkeys. So we just let them eat the crops.' As the farm is close to the national park, other animals such as elephants, cattle, and bulls, have raided the area before to search for food. The monkey gang emerged from the Khao Phaeng Ma Non-Hunting Area and Khao Yai National Park where they lived. Recorded from inside a car, the footage showed the driver slowly creeping up the dusty road as monkeys ran across in front the vehicle. Panning to the right of the car, the person filming showed a number of other monkeys hiding among the foliage, before chasing after the rest of the gang. One of the farmers said he did not dare to stop the animals as they were too many and could become aggressive. The monkey gang emerged from the Khao Phaeng Ma Non-Hunting Area and Khao Yai National Park where they lived Tourism has plummeted in Thailand, leaving the monkeys without a consistent source of food. In Q2 and Q3 of 2020, virtually no tourists arrived in Thailand, with the latest available figures from the Thai Ministry of Tourism showing just 3,065 tourists arrived from abroad in November They used to be fed with snacks by tourists but due to the pandemic, there were fewer visitors to give them food. Some of the animals have also taken over the road appearing to move to the next place while carrying their babies when they have finished eating corn. The devastated farmers sought help from local government agencies so they can be compensated for the crops and prevent the incident from happening again. The first quarter of 2020 saw tourist arrivals in Thailand drop to 6.7 million people, down from 10.7 million from the first quarter of the previous year, as the coronavirus pandemic began to sweep the globe and limit the number of people travelling. In March 2020, just 800,000 came to Thailand, compared to 3.4 million in 2019, with the country closing its borders to tourists for the month of April. In Q2 and Q3 of 2020, virtually no tourists arrived in Thailand, with the latest available figures from the Thai Ministry of Tourism showing just 3,065 tourists arrived from abroad in November 2020. In July last year, it was reported that the city of Lopburi, around 30 miles west of edge of Nakhon Ratchasima province, had been overrun by macaques. Lopburi is home to some 8,400 macaques which were a major tourist draw before lockdown stopped visitors from coming. However, without food, they became a menace to the locals Residents of Lopburi said that without tourists to feed the monkeys, they turned violent, attacking people and each-other in an increasingly desperate search for food A lack of tourists and a consistent source of food led to the monkeys becoming aggressive, with as many as 8,400 overrunning the city and forcing locals to avoid going outside where possible. Local vets were even forced to sterilise some the monkeys to try and keep their numbers down, with police admitting they were powerless to do anything. Before the coronavirus, the monkeys drew tourists to the city, with many purchasing fruit from local businesses to feed the monkeys for a photo opportunity. They also drew the Buddhist faithful, who believe feeding the animals to be a meritorious deed. An ADT technician has admitted to repeatedly hacking the home security cameras of 200 'attractive' customers to spy on naked women and couples having sex. Telesforo Aviles, 35, from Dallas, Texas, pleaded guilty to computer fraud on Thursday. He was fired from the security company in April last year. He is said to have accessed customer accounts more than 9,600 times over a four and a half year period. Aviles, who was pictured by Inside Edition in September last year, now faces up to five years in federal prison. Acting U.S. Attorney Prerak Shah said: 'This defendant, entrusted with safeguarding customers' homes, instead intruded on their most intimate moments. 'We are glad to hold him accountable for this disgusting betrayal of trust.' Telesforo Aviles from Dallas, Texas, pleaded guilty to computer fraud Thursday. Aviles, who was fired from ADT in April last year, now faces five years in prison Aviles was able to access accounts by 'routinely adding his personal email address to customers' 'ADT Pulse' accounts', authorities say. He would then have 'real-time access to the video feeds from their homes' Aviles was able to access accounts by 'routinely adding his personal email address to customers' 'ADT Pulse' accounts', authorities say. He would then have 'real-time access to the video feeds from their homes'. Aviles is said to have told customers 'he needed to add himself temporarily in order to 'test' the system; in other instances, he added himself without their knowledge', officials say. In a statement the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Texas said: 'Mr. Aviles took note of which homes had attractive women, then repeatedly logged into these customers' accounts in order to view their footage for sexual gratification, he admits. 'Plea papers indicate he watched numerous videos of naked women and couples engaging in sexual activity inside their homes.' In May last year it was reported that ADT was being sued by customers who were affected by Aviles' crimes. Amy Johnson told Inside Edition in September last year: 'It's just the ultimate invasion of privacy. It's very scary to realize that someone has access and was watching us for such a long time and so many times in our main living room.' Her husband Richard added: 'You start to think, why was this guy tuning into our living area over 300 times? What is it that he was seeing? Was it the kids, was it Amy? 'You just assume that ADT would have had a stronger security system to prevent something like that from occurring.' Another alleged victim Shana Doty said: 'What he did, hes done to us, hes done to others, and its just not right.' Alleged victims Shana Doty, left, and Amy and Richard Johnson, right. In May last year it was reported that ADT was being sued by customers who were affected by Aviles' crimes Amy Johnson demonstrates the placement of her ADT camera during an appearance on Inside Edition FBI Dallas Special Agent in Charge Matthew J. DeSarno said: 'The defendant used his position of employment to illegally breach the privacy of numerous people. The FBI works with our law enforcement partners to thoroughly investigate all cyber intrusions and hold criminals accountable for their actions. 'Cyber intrusions do not only affect businesses, but also members of the public. We encourage everyone to practice cyber hygiene with all their connected devices by reviewing authorized users and routinely changing passwords. 'If you become the victim of a cybercrime, please contact the FBI through ic3.gov or 1-800-CALL FBI.' ADT said in a statement last year: 'The company has been actively assisting law enforcement, including the FBI, in their investigation to help bring justice to Aviles' victims. 'We understand that this incident jeopardizes that trust and is entirely unacceptable. We will make extraordinary efforts to earn back that trust.' A Limerick TD has called on a British multinational pharmaceutical giant to pay 500 million towards the victims of the mother and baby homes. GlaxoSmithKline cooperated with the investigation of the Mother and Baby Home Commission and gave documentation which showed they engaged in vaccine trials between 1934 and 1973. These were carried out by Wellcome, which became part of GlaxoSmithKline in 2000. Independent TD, Richard O'Donoghue, raised the issue at the Dail on Wednesday. I feel strongly that GlaxoSmithKline be asked to contribute financially to the Mother and Baby Homes Redress Scheme, said Mr ODonoghue. I think they have a moral obligation to make a contribution and a significant one at that. Their involvement in vaccine and clinical trials was overall to their financial benefit, and their engagement with the Mother and Baby Homes, and of its residents was at best, dubious, but in real terms, unethical and illegal. Trials were allegedly carried out on children in Bessborough, St Patrick's Navan Road (Pelletstown), Sean Ross Abbey, Castlepollard, Dunboyne as well as others. The findings of their many trials in these institutions, I have no doubt, were to the huge financial benefit of what is now GlaxoSmithKline, a major pharmaceutical operation that had revenues of 40 billion in 2019, said Mr ODonoghue. "GlaxoSmithKline should contribute, I feel they have a moral obligation to do so and this Government should immediately start such dialogue. A figure in the region of 500 million wouldnt be far off the mark for them. It made 6 billion in profit in 2019, so its a small contribution in real terms. In fact over the last 10 years 500 million represents not even a figure approaching a fraction of one per cent. "Basically, 500 million is minuscule to GSK and would represent a genuine and meaningful contribution to the redress scheme, which will be well north of 1 billion, he added. (Natural News) Chinas Central Television Station reported Thursday, Jan. 21, that something fishy was going on at the Fort Detrick lab in Frederick, Maryland. The lab is known in full as the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID). The station claimed the lab was branded as the darkest experiment center of the United States government by American political news sites without mentioning specific publications. The state-run media outlet also enumerated the various safety concerns related to the lab and stressed that it had been linked to alleged leaks and disappearances of lethal viruses. It was an apparent attempt to point the source of the virus to America, and it came on the heels of a conspiracy theory that trended on Chinese social media linking the origins of Covid-19 to a U.S. military lab. The trending topic stemmed from the statement of Hua Chunying, spokesperson from Chinas Ministry of Foreign Affairs, daring the U.S. government to open the biological lab at Fort Detrick and invite World Health Organization (WHO) experts to conduct origin-tracing of the coronavirus in the country. Here is a tweet showing a screenshot of the trending topic on Weibo, a popular social media platform in China, featuring Huas statement. This hashtag has shot to the top among trending topics on Weibo, with many saying they firmly believe that the US is the origin of the pandemic now that this theory has the official endorsement from the foreign ministry. https://t.co/zwyLuJEN4Q Jane Li (@Jane_Li911) January 19, 2021 The statement heard around Chinese social media For the uninitiated, here is the meat of Huas statement in a press briefing Monday, Jan.18: Id 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. The Chinese are clearly employing a misdirection tactic as WHO experts are currently in China to do origin-tracing. The experts are just waiting to end their quarantine before they begin work on the field. The viruss exact origin remains unknown, but the consensus is that it came from bats and jumped to humans through an intermediate host. The novel coronavirus, scientifically known as SARS-CoV-2, first emerged in Wuhan, China in December 2019. Most of the first cases recorded in Wuhan were associated with a seafood market that was also selling live wild animals such as snakes, rats, beavers and foxes. China has long been trying to deflect blame while rejecting the widely held assessment that Wuhan is the birthplace of the pandemic. (Related: Wuhan medics say they knew about coronavirus deaths as early as December 2019.) In March 2020, another Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson, Zhao Lijian, tweeted that the U.S. military brought the epidemic to Wuhan. Quoting Alexander Kekule, director of the Institute for Biosecurity Research in Germany, Chinese state-run media claimed that the virus spreading worldwide was a kind of variant mutating in north Italy. Kekule disproved the claim in an email interview with Indian newspaper Hindustan Times, saying that his words were taken out of context from his book and his interview with German television. India wasnt spared from Chinas blame game. Chinas state-run media Global Times published a story on Nov. 29 last year saying that the earliest human-to-human transmission occurred in the Indian subcontinent, several months before the Wuhan outbreak. The story quoted a Chinese study titled The early cryptic transmission and evolution of SARS-CoV-2 in human hosts. It was conducted by three researchers, one of them affiliated with the state-run Chinese Academy of Sciences. Follow FluSurvival.com for more news and information about the pandemic. Sources include: DailyMail.co.uk Twitter.com Qz.com TheEpochTimes.com Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. Farmers' Protest: Former Maharashtra CM to meet Anna Hazare ahead of his hunger strike India oi-Ajay Joseph Raj P Mumbai, Jan 22: Former Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis is expected to meet social activist Anna Hazare on Friday to discuss the three contentious farm laws. This meeting comes in view of Hazare's threat to go on an indefinite hunger strike in support of farmers protesting in the border areas. According to reports, the BJP leadership is wary of the impact he can make with his stage-in and has sent a delegation led by senior party leader Fadnavis to show the positive aspects of the farm laws to Anna Hazare. Farmers' Protest: Centre to hold 11th round of talks over farm laws today In December, 2020, the social activist had announced he will go on a hunger strike from January 30 supporting farmers' demands to repeal the three farm laws. Speaking to media, he had said, "The government is just giving empty promises due to which I do not have any trust left (in the government)... Let's see, what action the Centre takes on my demands. they have sought time for a month, so I have given them time till January end." Centre-farmers hold 11th round of talks, impasse over farm laws continues| Oneindia News "If my demands are not met, I will resume my hunger strike protest. This would be my last protest," he added. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, January 22, 2021, 10:29 [IST] The New Orleans Public Library will present a special live story time with award-winning childrens book author Jesse Byrd at 10:30 a.m. Jan. 27 on Zoom. Byrd, a dual resident of California and Louisiana, has received acclaim for promoting positivity, laughter and diversity. His works include King Penguin, Sunny Days, Real Jungle Tails and more. In his debut novel "King Penguin," Pierre the penguin is forced to leave his home as a war looms and he eventually comes face to face with a frightening villain. The book, for ages 10 and up, won awards at both the Los Angeles and Paris annual book festivals. His two picture books, Sunny Days and Real Jungle Tales, have received awards in four major competitions worldwide. Learn more about Byrd at www.JesseBCreative.com. Plus, every Saturday at 10:30 a.m., children ages 2 to 5 and their caregivers are invited to tune in for a live virtual story time, designed and presented by the librarys qualified team of childrens librarians. To register for either story time program, visit nolalibrary.org/events. TAXING BUSINESS: With tax time nearing, the library will present a virtual filing workshop from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Jan. 30. Attendees will learn how to avoid common tax filing and processing errors. This program is part of a nationwide effort to help the millions of taxpayers who prepare their own taxes. The workshop is presented in partnership with IRS Taxpayer Advocate Services, which aims to educate taxpayers about self-help tools and resources to check refund status. Visit nolalibrary.org/events to register for the workshop. ART CONTEST: Entries are being accepted for the annual Black History Month art contest. The contest theme is "New Orleans Activists and Activism." Students are encouraged to celebrate historical activists such as Ruby Bridges and Oretha Castle Haley, activism that took place in New Orleans such as the 1963 march on City Hall or an activist they know from their own lives by submitting an original piece of visual art, music or a video. Anyone living or attending schools in Orleans Parish in kindergarten to 12th grade is eligible to enter. Contest winners will have their submissions displayed digitally and will receive a free book. Entries must be submitted before midnight Feb. 27. Go to contests.nolalibrary.org for details and contest rules. The Eve Illusion by Giovanna & Tom Fletcher (Penguin 7.99, 400 pp) THE EVE ILLUSION by Giovanna & Tom Fletcher (Penguin 7.99, 400 pp) Giovanna and Tom Fletcher are certainly a power couple. The Duchess of Cambridge was a guest on Giovannas podcast, Happy Mum, Happy Baby, while Tom is a member of band McFly, and their books regularly top bestsellers lists. Eve, the heroine of their Eve Of Man fantasy series, was the first baby girl for decades to be born on Earth, which has been devastated by climate change. She grows up confined for her own protection in a London tower but, at 16, she falls in love and escapes with her boyfriend, Bram. The second novel in the series follows Eves experiences in the outside world, while inside the Tower security guard Michael experiences the terrible consequences of her escape. Fans of The Hunger Games will relish this high-octane tale of love and survival against the odds. THE SPHINX The Sphinx by Hugo Vickers (Hodder 10.99, 400 pp) by Hugo Vickers (Hodder 10.99, 400 pp) The historian Hugo Vickers was 23 when he first met 94-year-old Gladys, Duchess of Marlborough, but a friendship grew between the pair that lasted until her death in 1977. Gladys was born to wealthy American parents and grew up trailing her mother around Europe in search of a grand husband. A crude attempt at early plastic surgery marred her looks but didnt discourage the Duke of Marlborough. Their marriage proved disastrously unhappy and Gladys became a recluse until relatives moved her to St Andrews, a private psychiatric hospital in Northamptonshire. Vickerss affectionate biography is a compelling account of a wilful American beauty whose dream of marrying into the aristocracy proved a bitter disappointment. My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell (4th Estate 8.99, 384 pp) MY DARK VANESSA by Kate Elizabeth Russell (4th Estate 8.99, 384 pp) Vanessa Wyes is a 15-year-old pupil at Browick, a boarding school in Maine in the U.S., when she joins a creative writing class run by the head of English, 42-year-old Jacob Strane, whose interest in her gradually shifts from academic to personal. Beginning with compliments, then gifts of books including Lolita, Strane convinces Vanessa she is his soulmate. Seventeen years later, in 2017, Vanessas life has not turned out well: she has a dead-end job, and numbs herself with drugs and one-night stands. Yet she remains in contact with Strane, and when another former Browick pupil accuses him of abuse, Vanessa refuses to accept she, too, was a victim. Kate Elizabeth Russells powerful novel draws on personal experience for its raw and shocking portrayal of the shadow side of attraction. Samsung Electronics Co. is considering spending more than $10 billion building its most advanced logic chipmaking plant in the U.S., a major investment it hopes will win more American clients and help it catch up with industry leader Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. The world's largest memory chip and smartphone maker is in discussions to locate a facility in Austin, Texas, capable of fabricating chips as advanced as 3 nanometers in the future, people familiar with the matter said. Plans are preliminary and subject to change but for now the aim is to kick off construction this year, install major equipment from 2022, then begin operations as early as 2023, they said. While the investment amount could fluctuate, Samsung's plans would mean upwards of $10 billion to bankroll the project, one of the people said. UGLY BOXES: Streamlined 5G buildout puts 'ground furniture' in Houston front yards Samsung is taking advantage of a concerted U.S. government effort to counter China's rising economic prowess and lure back home some of the advanced manufacturing that over the past decades has gravitated toward Asia. The hope is that such production bases in the U.S. will galvanize local businesses and support American industry and chip design. Intel Corp.'s troubles ramping up on technology and its potential reliance in the future on TSMC and Samsung for at least some of its chipmaking only underscored the extent to which Asian giants have forged ahead in recent years. The envisioned plant will be its first in the U.S. to use extreme ultraviolet lithography, the standard for next-generation silicon, the people said, asking not to be identified talking about internal deliberations. Asked about plans for a U.S. facility, Samsung said in an email no decision has yet been made. "If Samsung really wants to realize its goal to become the top chipmaker by 2030, it needs massive investment in the U.S. to catch up with TSMC," said Greg Roh, senior vice president at HMC Securities. "TSMC is likely to keep making progress in process nodes to 3nm at its Arizona plant and Samsung may do the same. One challenging task is to secure EUV equipment now, when Hynix and Micron are also seeking to purchase the machines." LEAVING CALI: Michael Dell says more tech companies will be moving to Texas If Samsung goes ahead, it would effectively go head-to-head on American soil with TSMC, which is on track to build its own $12 billion chip plant in Arizona by 2024. Samsung is trying to catch TSMC in the so-called foundry business of making chips for the world's corporations -- a particularly pivotal capability given a deepening shortage of semiconductors in recent weeks. Under Samsung family scion Jay Y. Lee, the company has said it wants to be the biggest player in the $400 billion chip industry. It plans to invest $116 billion into its foundry and chip design businesses over the next decade, aiming to catch TSMC by offering chips made using 3-nanometer technology in 2022. It already dominates the market for memory chips and is trying to increase its presence in the more profitable market for logic devices, such as the processors that run smartphones and computers. It already counts Qualcomm Inc. and Nvidia Corp. as customers, companies that historically relied on TSMC exclusively. It has two EUV plants, one near its main chip site in Hwaseong, south of Seoul, and another coming online nearby at Pyeongtaek. To close a deal, Samsung may need time to negotiate potential incentives with the Biden administration. The company has hired people in Washington D.C. to lobby on behalf of the deal and is ready to go ahead with the new administration in place, the people said. Tax benefits and subsidies will ease Samsung's financial burden, but the company may go ahead even without major incentives, one of the people said. Samsung has been looking into overseas chipmaking for years. Intensifying trade tensions between the U.S. and China and now Covid-19 are stoking uncertainty over the reliability and economics of the global supply chain. Plants in the U.S. could help the Korean chipmaker strike better deals with key clients in the U.S., particularly in competition with TSMC. From Microsoft to Amazon.com and Google, the world's largest cloud computing firms are increasingly designing their own silicon, aiming to tailor chips to power their vast datacenters more efficiently. All need manufacturers like TSMC or Samsung to turn their blueprints into reality. Samsung's U.S. branch purchased land in October right next to its existing Austin fab, which is capable of running older processes. The Austin City Council held a meeting in December to discuss Samsung's request to rezone that parcel of land for industrial development, according to meeting minutes. Read more: Samsung Intensifies Chip Wars With Bet It Can Catch TSMC by 2022 Some analysts question Samsung's ability to carve out a significant share of a market dominated by TSMC, which is spending a record $28 billion this year to ensure it remains at the forefront of both technology and sheer capacity. For its part, Samsung's semiconductor division spent $26 billion on capital expenditure in 2020, but that's been largely in support of its dominant memory business and not all of its expertise in making memory is directly relevant to creating advanced logic chips. Processors are more complex to manufacture than memory and their production yields are harder to control and scale up in the same way. Foundry customers also require bespoke solutions, imposing another barrier to rapid expansion and also making Samsung dependent on customers' designs. But the Korean giant can draw confidence from its work with Nvidia, whose chief executive officer has sung Samsung's praises in collaborating on the manufacturing for its latest graphics card silicon. A study of spitting cobras, published in Science (22 January 2021 doi 10.1126/science.abb9303) 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 defence, 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 metres towards the eyes of anything which comes too close, suggests a defence 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. 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 times - that 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 favoured long-distance defence through spitting and a specially adapted defensive venom. The idea that early humans, millions of years ago, may have caused the evolution of spitting in cobras emphasises 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 specialise 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." "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 honour 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." ### EAST ALTON Helmkamp Construction Co. has added Logan Mitchell as an assistant project manager to its project management team. Mitchell, a construction management graduate from Bellevue University, said he is looking forward to working with one of the industrys finest. INDIANAPOLIS (dpa-AFX) - Today's Daily Dose brings you news about the effectiveness of Lilly's Bamlanivimab in reducing the risk of contracting symptomatic COVID-19 among residents and staff of long-term care facilities, executive changes at BiondVax Pharma, regulatory update on Genetic Technologies' COVID-19 PRS Test, Adamis' SYMJEPI products being made available in the Walgreens Prescription Savings Club, Fluidigm's Advanta Dx SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR Assay receiving the CE-IVD mark. Read on. 1. Adamis to Offer SYMJEPI in Walgreens Prescription Savings Club Adamis Pharmaceuticals Corporation (ADMP) surged more than 90% in after-hours Thursday, on news of its SYMJEPI products now being available to members of the Walgreens Prescription Savings Club program. The SYMJEPI products are being offered at a discounted price of $99.99 for a two-pack, the lowest price offered for epinephrine products and the lowest price for epinephrine devices on the market. SYMJEPI injection products are approved by the FDA for use in the emergency treatment of acute allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis. ADMP closed Thursday's trading at $1.27, down 11.19%. 2. BiondVax Ropes in GlaxoSmithKline Vaccine Executive To head company BiondVax Pharmaceuticals Ltd. (BVXV) has appointed Amir Reichman as its new CEO, effective March 2, 2021. Amir Reichman is currently working at GlaxoSmithKline Vaccine in Belgium as Head of Global Vaccines Engineering Core Technologies and Asset Management. Prior to his current position in global vaccine engineering, he was the Global GSK Vaccines Supply Chain Senior Director. Ron Babecoff, BiondVax's founder and current CEO, will share duties during a transition period while Reichman completes his work obligations at GlaxoSmithKline. BVXV closed Thursday's trading at $5.95, up 40.66%. 3. Fluidigm's COVID-19 Test Gets Certified in Europe Shares of Fluidigm Corp. (FLDM) were up over 26% in extended trading Thursday, on news of the company receiving CE-IVD mark for its Advanta Dx SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR Assay, an extraction-free saliva-based test to detect nucleic acid from the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The Advanta Dx SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR Assay does not require collection via invasive nasopharyngeal swab, and studies have demonstrated 100 percent agreement between saliva results from the Advanta Dx Assay and results from paired nasopharyngeal samples tested with authorized assays. The company will be offering the Advanta Dx SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR Assay for 5 euros per test, based on volume and other factors. The total addressable market for COVID-19 testing in Europe is estimated to be $5 billion to $7 billion in 2021, according to the company. FLDM closed Thursday's trading at $6.16, up 5.12%. In after-hours, the stock was up another 26.62% at $7.80. 4. Genetic Technologies Forges Ahead With COVID-19 PRS Test Genetic Technologies Limited (GENE) expects to make submission for regulatory clearance of its COVID-19 serious disease risk Polygenic Risk Score Test (COVID-19 PRS Test) via Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services/Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CMS/CLIA) by the end of this quarter. The company added that its Germline Testing division will initially focus on BRCA testing to align with its GeneType for Breast Cancer product and Lynch Syndrome testing to align with its GeneType for Colorectal Cancer. Genetic Technologies plans to release its quarterly results for the period ending December 31, 2020, on Thursday, January 28, 2021. GENE closed Thursday's trading at $5.48, up 27.44%. 5. Lilly's Antibody Reduces Risk of COVID-19 at Nursing Homes by 80% Eli Lilly and Co. (LLY) says that its monoclonal antibody therapy Bamlanivimab reduced the risk of contracting symptomatic COVID-19 among residents and staff of long-term care facilities by 80% compared to residents in the same facility randomized to placebo. As part of a COVID-19 prevention trial, dubbed BLAZE-2, residents and staff at skilled nursing and assisted living facilities across the U.S. were randomized to receive either 4,200 mg of Bamlanivimab or placebo. Among those who enrolled in the study, 965 participants were negative for the SARS-CoV-2 virus at baseline (299 residents and 666 staff) and 132 participants (41 residents and 91 staff) tested positive for the virus at baseline. After 8 weeks of follow-up, there was a significantly lower frequency of symptomatic COVID-19 in the Bamlanivimab treatment arm versus placebo, which was the primary endpoint of the study. Bamlanivimab is authorized for emergency use by the FDA for the treatment of mild to moderate COVID-19 in high-risk patients. Commenting on the study results, Myron Cohen, CoVPN co-principal investigator and director of the Institute for Global Health and Infectious Diseases at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, said, 'The results of this innovative study further support the belief that Bamlanivimab - and potentially other monoclonal antibodies - can reduce symptoms and may even prevent COVID-19.' LLY closed Thursday's trading at $202.35, up 0.54%. 6. Stocks That Gained/Lost the Most Celsion Corporation (CLSN) closed Thursday's trading at $1.74, up 36.47%. Corbus Pharmaceuticals Holdings, Inc. (CRBP) closed at $2.36, up 35.63%. ReWalk Robotics Ltd. (RWLK) closed at $2.64, up 32%. Obalon Therapeutics, Inc. (OBLN) closed at $5.19, up 37.32%. Cancer Genetics Inc. (CGIX) closed at $4.30, down 26.62%. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX ELI LILLY-Aktie komplett kostenlos handeln - auf Smartbroker.de Chennai, Jan 22 : The Tamil Nadu government on Friday announced the cancellation of cultural performances by students of schools and colleges during the Republic Day celebrations on January 26 due to Covid-19 pandemic. In a statement, the government said that under the prevailing unusual circumstances due to coronavirus infections, the cultural programmes slated to be presented by students would be avoided. The government also said that the District Collectors have been advised to send their officials to the residences of freedom fighters and honour them in order to avoid risks of coronavirus infection in view of their old age. The state also requested the people to enjoy the Republic Day parade and other celebrations on television instead of visiting the venues across the state where such functions will be held. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. A Staten Island grand jury has declined to indict a Grant City bar owner on charges stemming from a confrontation last month in which he allegedly drove into a sheriffs deputy while trying to flee an arrest for defying city and state coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions, the Advance/SILive.com has learned. However, the panel did charge Daniel Presti, co-owner of Macs Public House, with two misdemeanor counts of violating the states Alcohol Beverage Control laws for unlicensed sale of alcohol and unlicensed bottle club, prosecutors said. Even so, Presti and Mark J. Fonte, one of his lawyers, claimed victory Friday. Presti, who testified before the grand jury Thursday, had been arrested on various charges, including felony counts of assault and reckless endangerment, arising from the episode, which occurred overnight on Dec. 5 into Dec. 6. Its a huge relief. A huge weight has been lifted, Presti said Friday in a telephone interview. My muzzle has come off my face now. Its very clear that the governor and mayor sent out a squad to silence me. Its a travesty whats going on, said Presti, an outspoken critic of the city and states coronavirus policies regulating business. He thanked his great legal team Fonte and attorney Louis Gelormino. Said Fonte: Mr. Presti has been totally vindicated with respect to all matters pertaining to the sheriff. We are grateful to the professionals at the district attorneys office who conducted a deep dive into the facts of this case. Macs Public House has been a flashpoint in protests against government-imposed coronavirus restrictions. In posted signs, the bar declared itself an autonomous zone as of Nov. 20, stating it wouldnt abide by any rules and regulations issued by the governor or mayor, a civil complaint alleges. The taverns liquor license was suspended Nov. 27. In a statement Friday, District Attorney Michael E. McMahon said he intends to pursue the two charges against Presti and hold him accountable under the law. The D.A. said his staff has worked with the city sheriffs office, the NYPD and other agencies since the outset of the investigation. We have diligently, comprehensively, and vigorously pursued all facts and evidence, and made every effort to present that evidence fairly and impartially to the grand jury, as is our obligation and duty to the people of Staten Island, said McMahon. Acts of violence against these officers is not something we take lightly, and my thoughts and prayers continue to be with the deputy sheriff injured during the performance of his duty in the early morning hours of Dec. 6 of last year in Grant City, said McMahon. The D.A. said he could not disclose further information on the case, citing the confidentiality of grand jury proceedings. Daniel Presti, seated in the office of his lawyer Mark J. Fonte, said the grand jury's decision had lifted "a huge weight" off him. (Staten Island Advance/Alexandra Salmieri) Mitch Schwartz, deputy press secretary for the mayors office, called the grand jurys decision an absurd miscarriage of justice. The defendant is a serial scofflaw who almost killed a uniformed officer on camera after fleeing the consequences of his actions, said Schwartz. His establishment endangered New Yorkers lives in the middle of a pandemic. Were a safer city without it, and the grand jury should have known better. Authorities said the incident between Presti, then 34, and the two sheriffs officers unfolded around 12:15 a.m. The officers approached Presti on the street near his Lincoln Avenue pub, said officials. He bolted and entered his turquoise 2020 Jeep on South Railroad Avenue, a criminal complaint alleges. Presti turned on the engine and drove into one of the officers, knocking him onto the hood, alleges the complaint. As the officer clung on, Presti drove down South Railroad, then turned left twice onto Lincoln Avenue and then North Railroad Avenue before a sheriffs car stopped him, the complaint alleges. Video released by the defense team in December showed the moment Presti struck the deputy sheriff with his Jeep after running from authorities. At the time, Fonte said it clearly shows my client running for his life from unidentified individuals dressed in dark clothing. New York City Sheriff Joseph Fucito initially said the sheriffs officer suffered two leg fractures. Fonte said the evidence disproved that claim. I was notified by the district attorney that a review of the medical records showed that the sheriffs officer did not break his legs nor any other bone in his body, said Fonte. Statements by Sheriff Fucito that the officer broke his legs turned out to be a total falsehood. Fonte also said the grand jurys vote not to indict Presti vindicates McMahons decision not to seek bail at Prestis arraignment in Criminal Court after his arrest. Bail is set not as a punishment, but to ensure a defendants return to court on assigned dates. The D.A. had been criticized by the mayor, governor and the Legal Aid Society, a public defender group. Legal Aid contended McMahons handling of the case to that point demonstrated the preferential treatment in the court system toward white New Yorkers with means. In response, McMahon said then he intended to fully prosecute this matter based on the facts and evidence. He said it was wrong to assume that bail is indicative of what the outcome of a criminal case will be or how strongly my office will work to pursue justice. Said Fonte: The district attorneys initial assessment of this matter turned out to be correct, and his decision not to seek bail was the right one. Those insinuating that his decision not to seek bail based on factors other than the facts of this case owe District Attorney McMahon an apology. My client is grateful the professionals in the district attorneys office took a critical look at the actions of the sheriff, said Fonte. Fonte was extremely critical of Fucito, the head of the sheriffs office, and said he should step down. He said the sheriffs officers had lurk(ed) in the dark and chased Presti like a dog in the street. This lie by the sheriffs office should not go unpunished, said Fonte. My client suffered terribly as a result of the lies by the sheriff. He should immediately apologize to my client and the people of Staten Island. I also call for his immediate resignation. The lawyer again urged the city to order the Police Department to institute a training program for the sheriffs department and to put a professional from the NYPD in charge. The sheriffs office did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment. Fonte and Presti said Macs Public House will remain closed pending the outcome of civil litigation, which is scheduled for argument on Feb. 2 in state Supreme Court, St. George. Mark J. Fonte, one of the lawyers for Daniel Presti, praised the grand jury's decision. (Staten Island Advance/Alexandra Salmieri) Last month, the city filed a public-nuisance lawsuit against Macs Public House. The suit seeks to have the bar deemed a public nuisance and shuttered for flouting city and state-imposed prohibitions against indoor dining and drinking at bars and restaurants in an orange zone. A Staten Island justice denied the citys bid for a temporary restraining order, which would have subjected the pub to a lengthy shuttering and fines. However, Justice Catherine M. DiDomenico has scheduled the Feb. 2 hearing on the citys application for a preliminary injunction. A preliminary injunction is more enduring than a temporary restraining order, which is a short-term measure. 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. Denton, TX (76205) Today Cloudy this morning. A few showers developing during the afternoon. High 79F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 30%.. Tonight Cloudy this evening with showers after midnight. Low 63F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%. WASHINGTON a Leading Christian persecution watchdog nongovernmental organization Open Doors USA released it's 2020 World Watch List Wednesday, an influential annual data report that this year highlights a drastic increase in attacks against Christian buildings and the imprisonment of Christians. The report, first launched in 1992, ranks the worst 50 countries in the world when it comes to the persecution of Christians and is based on data compiled by Open Doors' operations in 60 countries. This year's list names a number of repeat offenders such as North Korea, China, Iran, Somalia, and Eritrea as well as new countries where radical Islamic extremism wreaked havoc on Christian communities in 2019. Open Doors rolled out the 2020 report at a briefing attended by representatives of the Trump administration, Congress, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom and prominent human rights activists. "The 2020 World Watch List will provide you with the most credible grassroots data on Christian persecution. But it is much more than that," Open Doors USA CEO David Curry explained. "It's going to sound the alarm." The report finds that about 260 million Christians experience "high levels of persecution" in the top 50 countries on the list, an increase of about 6 percent from the 2019 report. The report also states that 9,488 "churches or Christian buildings" a or an average of 25 per day a were attacked during the 2019 reporting period (Nov. 1, 2018, to Oct. 31, 2019). By comparison, Open Doors noted in last year's report that 1,266 churches or Christian buildings were attacked. Also, the number of Christians detained without trial, arrested and imprisoned increased from 2,625 in the 2019 report to 3,711 in the 2020 report. The 2020 report, however, indicates a decrease in the number of Christians killed for their faith. At least 2,983 Christians were killed for faith-related reasons during the last reporting period. That is an average of eight Christians killed per day. By comparison, an average of 11 Christians was killed per day (4,136) during Open Doors' 2018 reporting period. In almost all of Thom S. Rainer's consultations, church members perceive their church to be friendly. But as he surveyed guests, he found that the guests typically saw church members as unfriendly. The perception chasm existed because the members were indeed friendly . . . to one another. Curry told The Christian Post the drop in killings Open Doors was able to document for this year's report was due to the Islamic terror group Boko Haram killing fewer Christians in Nigeria (No. 12). Curry said during the news conference that Nigeria still represents the most violent country in the world for Christians as far as the organization's data can track. "The difference this year is primarily because, in Nigeria, Boko Haram has changed its tactic," Curry said. "They have gone from assassination and these kinds of things to roadside assaults on Christians and kidnappings. So we have seen a jump in those kinds of things. But Boko Haram is also spreading its wings into Cameroon and into Chad but also into Burkina Faso." The report's findings come as violent Islamic extremism spiked in sub-Saharan Africa in 2019, particularly in areas where government control is weak. The increase has led to the closure of churches and caused hundreds of thousands to flee from their homes and villages. One of the countries listed on the World Watch List this year that wasn't in 2019 is Burkina Faso. The West African country that was once considered to be relatively peaceful rose 33 spots in Open Doors' rankings from last year and is now ranked No. 28. The northeast part of the country has been dealing with the rise of extremist violence since 2016. But attacks spread and escalated exponentially in 2019. Estimates have suggested that over 250 people were killed by Islamic extremist groups in Burkina Faso in 2019. There were reports of several attacks on Christian churches and worshipers, including a December attack on a church service that killed at least 14. The United Nations reported that Burkina Faso is "one of the fastest-growing displacement crises in Africa" as hundreds of thousands have fled in the face of spiraling insecurity. Nearly one-third of the Burkina Faso population is affected by the crisis. "The government has a responsibility to protect soft targets. We know that they are going to try to attack churches," Curry said. "They need to protect those churches and allow Christians to worship freely. Christians are afraid to go to church in the northeastern part of Burkina Faso right now. We really need the civic government to protect Christians in their communities." Similar countries included in the report are the Central African Republic (No. 25), which is dealing with the fighting of rebel Islamic militants who target Christians, and Mali (No. 29). Niger was also added to the World Watch List this year, ranking No. 50. Civil war-ridden Cameroon (No. 48) was added to the World Watch List this year amid reports of attacks by radical Islamic extremists against Christians communities. Cameroon is also dealing with the spread of Boko Haram. Locals in rebel-supporting, English-speaking regions have accused nomadic Fulani herdsmen radicals of carrying out deadly attacks against civilians after encouragement from government actors. "As difficult as the issue has been to cover, from a religious freedom aspect, it is great to see this because most of the events [in Cameroon] have been considered to be other issues like an insurgency," Scott Morgan, a human rights activist who has broadly covered issues in Africa, told CP in reaction to Cameroon making the World Watch List. "The crisis started as an education issue, so it is not easy to view the Cameroon conflict as specifically a religious freedom issue," he added. "But as we are seeing with some of the countries in the Sahel, we are starting to see that issue making people nervous here in Washington. We are reaching out to the embassies and other concerned groups and we are looking forward to doing something on that in the near future." Fulani violence against Christian farming communities in Nigeria continued in 2019. One human rights group estimates that at least 1,000 Nigerian Christians were killed by Fulani radicals or Boko Haram militants in 2019 while over 6,000 have been killed since 2015. "I think it is wrong to look at [Fulani] as simply having territorial issues," Curry said. "They have an ideology that is historically been radicalized and they have an agenda to push Christians out of these communities. The cover story that somehow these are their ancient lands and so forth doesn't justify unlawful behavior against Christians who live there." The Nigerian government has long faced criticism for its inability to control the violence. "The great tragedy of Nigeria's ineffectual response to Boko Haram and Fulani herdsmen is now parts of Cameroon and those other areas like Burkina Faso are greatly affected," Curry said. The top 10 countries on the 2020 World Watch list are the same ones included in the top 10 last year. North Korea held the top-sport on the list for the 18th consecutive year as the Kim regime continues to imprison thousands of Christians in labor camps while the underground church community continues to grow. North Korea is followed by Afghanistan, Somalia, Libya, Pakistan, Eritrea, Sudan, Yemen, Iran and India, where Hindu persecution against Christians has greatly increased since the Bharatiya Janata Party rose to power in 2014. Open Doors notes that in the Islamic Republic of Iran, at least 194 Christians were arrested in 2019. According to Curry, 114 Christians in Iran were arrested in the days before Christmas. Curry said the arrests are a continuation of the Iranian government's attempt to "crush" the growing house church movement. "These are courageous people standing up against the power that exists there in that country," Curry said. "Iran has put its full faith into persecuting Christians." In Southeast Asia, Sri Lanka moved from No. 46 to No. 30 on the 2020 World Watch List after suicide bombings last Easter carried out by Islamic extremists killed over 250 and injured 500 others at three churches and three hotels. "[They were] dressed up in their Sunday best and taking their kids [to church], but they didn't come home," Curry said. "There are repercussions for things like that: 176 children, in that case, lost one or both parents." China, which has been criticized heavily for its mistreatment of various religious groups and detention of hundreds of thousands of Muslims, ranked No. 23 on the list in 2020. In 2019, China ranked No. 27. China has imprisoned countless pastors and Christians for worshiping in unregistered house churches. According to Curry, 5,596 churches in China have been shut down, many of which are because they refuse to put up surveillance cameras in their churches. Curry stressed in the briefing that China represents the "greatest threat" to human rights as it seeks to control the Chinese people and churches through surveillance. "Churches must be sacred places," he said. "If the government was monitoring you, your every move, scoring your citizenship based on how often you went to church or didn't go to church, how would you feel? That's what's happening in China." Courtesy of The Christian Post 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. Denmark is suspending flights from the UAE for five days over suspicions that virus tests and checks are not rigorous enough, the Nordic nation's transport minister said on Friday. All air passengers arriving in Denmark need to show a negative virus test from the previous 24 hours, but Transport Minister Benny Engelbrecht said Danish authorities want to be sure there were no botched screenings or tests that had been bought in Dubai. "All commercial flights from the United Arab Emirates are cancelled for five days," he said in a statement, adding that it would give officials time "to ensure that the required negative test is a true screening that has been carried out correctly". The flight ban will run from Friday until Wednesday, during which time Denmark will not accept any negative tests from the UAE. While other tourist destinations are applying heavy restrictions to control the health crisis, Dubai has kept its doors open. Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen issued a rebuke this week after several Danish celebrities visited Dubai. "What happens when you travel at the moment is that you take the risk of bringing back mutations to Denmark, which helps undermine our control of the epidemic," she said on Tuesday. Denmark imposed tight restrictions at the end of December to combat a spike in cases, and officials are worried about new fast-spreading variants. Some 283 cases of the British variant have been confirmed along with one case of the South African variant, which involved a person who had stayed in Dubai. Search Keywords: Short link: Kristena Lucky BCW hires Kristena Lucky as executive vice president, brand solutions practice lead, North America. Lucky joins BCW from Edelman, where she most recently served as executive vice president, brand strategist, for the U.S. brand practice. Before that, she was executive vice president, head of brand for Edelmans southwest region. She has also been a vice president at Chicago-based multicultural marketing agency Burrell Communications and a marketing manager with Accenture. At BCW, Lucky is responsible for leading and growing the practice across North America. She is based in Dallas. Kristena has spent her entire career developing integrated, cross-functional programs for clients that ignite growth by moving people from awareness to action, setting the stage for sales growth and long-term loyalty, said Chris Foster, BCW president, North America Chris Foster. Kevin Shinkle Devine + Partners hires Kevin Shinkle as senior vice president and chief content officer. Shinkle was most recently chief communications officer for the Knights of Columbus. He previously served as chief communications officer at Delta Air Lines, global business editor for the Associated Press and business editor at The Star-Ledger. Over the course of the past few years, D+P has doubled down on content. Our hiring of Kevin, a well-respected and experienced content expert, reaffirms and strengthens that commitment, said Devine + Partners president and CEO Jay Devine. Damian Benders H Code, the largest Hispanic digital media company in the U.S., appoints Damian Benders as general manager of B Code, a newly launched division that aims to reach, target and influence Black Americans. Benders was most recently vice president of Video & Business Development for iOne Digital. Previously, he worked at Moguldom Media Group, SnagFilms, FilmBuff and Metro International. In 2008, Benders launched EdwardOwen Consulting, a digital media and strategy consultancy. At B Code, Benders will manage the development and execution of creative, branded content, editorial, custom content and integrated digital offerings. (Newser) Liz Cheney is the No. 3 Republican in the House and has long been expected to rise even higher. However, the 54-year-old Wyoming congresswoman is now in political peril, reports Politico. She risks not only losing her leadership position as chairwoman of the House Republican Conference but her very seat because of her vote in favor of impeaching Donald Trump earlier this month. Cheney not only was one of 10 Republicans to vote in favor, but she announced her position the day before the vote, which her GOP critics say gave Democrats political ammunition, per the Hill. As a result, pro-Trump Republicans such as Reps. Jim Jordan and Jeff Van Drew and are moving to oust Cheney from her leadership post, though Axios sees it as an "uphill campaign" at the moment given that it would eventually require a two-thirds vote. story continues below Stories about the friction are reading much into the battle. "Some say the Cheney fight has already become a proxy battle for the heart and soul of the splintered GOP," according to Politico. If she loses the No. 3 post, the site sees it as a sign that the "Trumpification" of the party remains intact. Axios, meanwhile, sees it as a crucial test of House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, who has asked Cheney's critics to back off while pledging to hear them out in a closed-door conference meeting next week. Meanwhile, Cheney already has gotten a serious primary challenger in the wake of her impeachment vote, reports CBS News. State Sen. Anthony Bouchard announced his campaign this week. Cheney's vote to impeach shows "just how out of touch she is with Wyoming," he says. (Read more Liz Cheney stories.) Ukraine has joined a group of nearly 80 WTO members (the World Trade Organization) which issued the joint statement that these countries commit to not impose export restrictions on foodstuffs purchased by the UN's World Food Programme (WFP) for humanitarian aid. As reported on the website of the Ministry for Development of Economy, Trade and Agriculture of Ukraine, the countries announced the joint statement after a meeting of the General Council of the WTO in December 2020 failed to reach a compromise for the appropriate decision, which would be binding on all WTO members. "We appreciate the efforts of the UN World Food Program (WFP) to overcome hunger and food shortages in the world, improve the quality of food supply and the living standards of the most vulnerable part of the population at the most critical moments of their lives," the press service of the ministry said, quoting Minister Ihor Petrashko. "At the same time, we recognize that export restrictions create barriers to the provision of humanitarian aid," the minister said. The ministry said the importance of the statement by WTO members in view of the situation that has developed in the light of the COVID-19 pandemic, which leads to increased uncertainty in agricultural markets and a worsening of the situation of the world's poor, in particular, due to the spread of restrictions on the export of foodstuffs. Amid fears of being cooped up during curfew hours, residents in the Netherlands have resorted to buying delivery uniforms and borrowing dogs amongst other creative moves. In the backdrop of coronavirus pandemic, the European nation has imposed night curfew across the country allowing only dog walkers, international passengers, funeral-goers, food delivery personnel and several other working in emergency services to move around. The new rules would come into effect starting January 23 and would restrict people to their homes between 9 pm and 4:30 am. However, in a bid to avoid these restrictions Dutch residents have now resorted to creative measures including offering their services to walk a dog. A website matcheenleenhond.nl., matching those needing help with their pets with volunteers for dog walking has been overwhelmed with offers. Speaking to Associated Press, owner of the website, Jos van Prooijen said, We normally get 10 offers a week and since they announced plans for a curfew on Tuesday we have received 300. Read: Netherlands Begin Vaccinations; Last EU Nation To Do So Read: UK Citizens Barred From Entering Netherlands, Germany For Non-essential Travel Frozen sale of delivery uniforms Meanwhile, many have turned to food delivery services for their night freedom. According to Dutch daily Algemeen Dagblad, online market place Marktplaats.nl froze sales of jackets and clothing of well-known delivery companies in response to soaring demand. However, many sellers have decided to profit from the situation including those offering empty scooter delivery boxes starting at 50 euros. Although the Netherlands has seen a decline in numbers of infections and hospital admissions in recent weeks, health authorities are concerned that the more infectious mutation of the coronavirus first detected in Britain will make up the majority of Dutch cases by mid-February. According to the official data reported, the dutch nation has reported over 933,000 with South Holland being the most affected area. A total of 13,337 people have lost their lives since the pandemic began. Last week, the country continued its rollout of COVID-19 inoculations at a mass vaccination centre in Houten. This came after the Dutch government came under fierce criticism for its late start to vaccinations. Read: Karnataka: Mandatory 7 Day Quarantine For Those Coming From UK, Denmark & Netherlands Read: Netherlands Begins Mass Vaccinations In Houten 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 Mayo man who repeatedly raped a child over the course of two years has received a prison sentence of nine years with one suspended. The now adult victim has indicated that she wishes for the man's name to be published, but a controversial Court of Appeal ruling last November in relation to child victims of crime means this cannot be done without an order from the court. The Central Criminal Court heard that during a number of the attacks between 2009 and 2011 the man would rape the child with a tampon before forcing her to have sex with him. Justice Michael White said that the attacks were extremely violent and had had a severe impact. He said this was to be expected and noted the victim has self harmed a number of times and has made three suicide attempts. After his arrest in 2012 the man strenuously denied any wrongdoing, telling gardai its a fairy tale, it never happened, Im not a paedophile. I want to vomit when I hear those (allegations). Last November he pleaded guilty to rape, oral rape and rape with a tampon. He later pleaded guilty to six more counts of a similar nature. All the offending took place between December 2009 and December 2011 when the child was aged between seven and nine years old. After a trial in 2015 a jury convicted the man of multiple rapes of another young girl. In 2017 he was convicted of possession of child pornography found on a computer seized during a search of his home in 2012 by gardai investigating the rape offences. The court heard that the man previously lived next door to the girl and her mother in another county and that the mother was struggling as the father had left the family home. After he moved to Mayo he continued to stay in touch with the mother and offered to take the child away for short stays on the pretence of giving the woman a break. Justice White said that this was a premeditated plan to gain access to the child and was an abuse of the mother's trust. Sentencing him on Wednesday, Justice White said that the man's guilty plea was significant because it saved the victim the very difficult task of giving evidence in a trial. But he said that there was an absence of genuine remorse or understanding for the enormity of his offending. He imposed concurrent nine year prison terms for each offence which are to run consecutive to the termination of the 15 prison term he is currently serving. Justice White suspended the final year on condition that the man make himself available for assessment for his suitability on the Better Lives sex offenders programme. 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. UPDATE: The grand jury has declined to indict Alberto Reyes and charges against him have been dismissed. The case against Victor Guadalupe is ongoing. Click here for the story. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Police arrested two men who allegedly were caught with a gun and drugs during an early morning raid of their New Brighton apartment. Alberto Reyes, 29, and Victor Guadalupe, 28, were taken into custody after police executed a search warrant at their home on Van Tuyl Street around 6 a.m. Thursday, according to a statement from the NYPDs Deputy Commissioner of Public Information. Officers allegedly found 118 pills of methamphetamine inside two twist bags in a bedroom, according to the criminal complaint. A defaced, loaded .25-caliber Jennings semi-automatic handgun with five bullets in its magazine allegedly was recovered in a different bedroom, according to the criminal complaint. Both men have been charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance and criminal possession of a weapon, according to the criminal complaint. Bond has been set at $25,000/$10,000 for Reyes and $100,000/$50,000 for Guadalupe; both suspects are scheduled to appear in Criminal Court on Tuesday, according to public records. Guadalupe previously pleaded guilty to criminal sale of a controlled substance; he was sentenced in November 2019, according to the criminal complaint. Mr. Reyes denies these allegations, said Kelvin Richards, his attorney. He doesnt live at the address and was only visiting his friends when the police stormed in and executed their search warrant. This case is a classic example of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Mr. Reyes has never been arrested before and this was his first contact with our criminal justice system. It is traumatizing to him to be sitting in jail on...bond which he cannot afford for his first arrest while other people with privileges can run a cop over with their car and be released without bail and or given the benefit of the doubt while the DA investigate their case. Hong Kongs Bar Association elected veteran human rights barrister Paul Harris as its new chairman Thursday to replace Phillip Dykes, who had been in the position since 2018. Harris was admitted to the Bar in the United Kingdom in 1976 and he previously worked on the Hong Kong Bar in 1993. He founded the citys leading rights organization Human Rights Monitor in 1995. The new chairman faces challenges in the form of the organizations rocky relationship with Beijing, complicated by the new National Security Law (NSL) imposed by China on Hong Kong last June, which appears to infringe upon the citys autonomy due to conflicts with the citys Basic Law, its mini-constitution. Harris on Thursday spoke to reporters about changes he wants to see with the NSL and how he hopes to strengthen the rule of law in Hong Kong as the Bar Associations chair. He also answered questions about British barrister David Perry who had been assigned to represent the Hong Kong government in a high-profile case against nine pro-democracy activists and politicians for unauthorized assembly. Perry on Wednesday withdrew from the case citing pressure from the legal community in the UK as well as quarantine concerns. The interview has been edited for length and clarity. Harris: Im a deeply committed rule of law person. That means that on the one hand, I don't like violent demonstrations, on the other hand, I don't like authorities that abuse their power. I will be trying in my term to strengthen the rule of law any way I can. I am particularly concerned about some of the provisions of the National Security Law, particularly the one that says that certain officials are above the law, that they shan't be challenged in any court. We should remember that at the moment, a lot of countries have suspended extradition agreements with Hong Kong, which means that someone like a murderer can avoid justice by moving from London to Hong Kong or Hong Kong to London. And when we get over this terrible COVID epidemic, movement's going to get a lot easier. I think that's a situation that nobody in Hong Kong wants. I hope to explore whether there is any chance of getting the government to agree to some modifications to that national security law that will enable extradition arrangements to be reinstated, I don't know if that will be possible, but that's what I'm going to work towards. Question: Can you elaborate on which provisions in the NSL you want to amend? Harris: There are two provisions that say that two different groups of officials should be above the law, also Article 55, the provision that allows people to be taken to the mainland, out of the jurisdiction. The Basic Law guarantees that Hong Kong people who have access to the courts. All three provisions that I've referred to seem to me to be in breach of that, Article 35 [of the Basic Law]. There's also a provision that there should be no jury trials for national security cases, but the Basic Law says that there should be a jury trial for serious cases and these national security offences carry a maximum of life imprisonment. In addition, the regulations made under Article 43 [of the NSL] empower the police to question people about their political opinions with criminal penalties including substantial imprisonment if they don't comply. They're modeled on provisions to deal with organized and serious crime. But asking questions about something like fraud is quite different from asking someone what they believe about such subjects as the Communist Party or Hong Kongs status as a special region. This is, in my view absolutely in breach of the protection of freedom of conscience. In the Basic Law, so those are the most important ones. There are a few others. I have actually done a study of this and this is fairly widely available. It's an article-by-article analysis of the provisions, some of them comply. Some of them no problem. Some of them it depends how the courts interpret them. Some of them in my view, cannot be consistent, and they're the ones that I will do my utmost to persuade the government need to be modified. Question: What are your thoughts about David Perry withdrawing from his appointment to the case against the nine pro-democracy advocates? Harris: This is a very complicated situation, and I don't think I can say very much sensibly actually at this point. And as you rightly said asking me, Im particularly awkwardly placed because I would have been his opponent if hed come. On a personal level, I was looking forward to meeting him. He's a very able advocate. It's always nice to have an opponent as a barrister who's able and the bar counsel has not yet had a chance to consider this case, so I can't say anything on behalf of the bar counsel. My only personal comment would be that my understanding is that the quarantine issue played a bigger part than the media have been mentioning, and that is a very important issue because getting from the UK to [Hong Kong] at the moment requires 42 days, the first 21 out of the UK and then 21 quarantine in Hong Kong, and even sending somebody from quarantine to come and prosecute the case is very controversial because they may infect people. It could be me if I'm in the same court, so I think that is a big part of what's behind it. As for the broader issues, I really can't comment on them now. The bar counsel will be discussing them. Question: Will you make any major personnel changes to the bar as chairman? Harris: OK, there's a new team. Anita Yip has stayed on as one of the two vice chairs. Erik Shum will be the other, Johnny Ma will be the honorary secretary. Eugene Yim stays on as the deputy honorary secretary and there are some changes to the membership as well. Question: Back to Mr. Perry, is there some kind of conflicting interpretation about the cab-rank rule? Let me tell you what the cab-rank rule is. Its the same in Hong Kong as in England. In your jurisdiction, that means in Hong Kong, if you're a Hong Kong barrister, in England and Wales, if you're an English barrister, you're bound by the cab-rank rule, which says that you have to take a case, whatever you think of the client. There are certain exceptions but it's a very old established rule. The important thing to note is that this rule does not apply to overseas work. No one is obliged to go outside their own jurisdiction, whether they do so, it's a matter for them. And it's not something that is under the control of the bar council in either country. And it comes down to the decision of the individual barrister. I think there has been some misinformation that there's no cab-rank rule that obliges anyone to come from England to Hong Kong or any one jurisdiction or any other jurisdiction. Question: Do you think the public still has confidence in Hong Kongs judicial independence? Harris: In the judicial system yes, Hong Kong has some very good judges. I have been utterly appalled and disgusted at the number of attacks on the judges that I have seen in certain newspapers recently. The judges panel arent so bad, it's the rules under which they operate. They don't enter into public controversy. So, it's a particularly mean and disgusting thing to make allegations, groundless allegations, about a judge. I saw an article recently suggesting a judge had made a decision because he was in league with one of the counsels in the case, this is a preposterous suggestion, and it is deeply offensive. I will do what I can by whatever method seems best to try and protect the independence of the judiciary and strengthen it where possible. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- The New York Police Department released new details about the alleged serial killer arrested in connection with the deaths of three women at a NYCHA complex in Brownsville, Brooklyn. Police arrested Kevin Gavin, 67, on Wednesday after he allegedly killed three residents of the Woodson Houses between 2015 and 2021, NYPD Chief of Detectives Rodney Harrison said at a press conference Thursday. Mr. Gavin was familiar with many of the residents in the building and ran errands for some of the elderly tenants who resided at that location, Harrison said. Forensic evidence, credible witnesses and a partnership with Brooklyn district attorneys office led to the arrest, Harrison added. The first victim was Myrtle McKinney, 82, who was found on Nov. 9, 2015, inside her apartment by her home health aide. Initially, police believed she died of natural causes, but while being examined a stab wound was discovered in the left rear of her neck and officials ruled McKinneys death a homicide, Harrison said. The second victim was Jacolia James, 83, who was found on April, 30, 2019, by her grandson, who had last seen her earlier that night at 7 p.m. [and] when he returned home 4 hours later she was deceased, Harrison said. James was found face down with injures on her face and neck, making her death highly suspicious, according to Harrison. After evidence was found, Gavin became a suspect in that homicide, Harrison added. The third victim, Juanita Cabarello, 78, was found dead on Jan 15. Her son came to spend the weekend with her and instead her found her inside of her apartment lying on floor with telephone cord wrapped around he neck, Harrison said. Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez joined Harrison during the press conference and said that the case will go in front of a grand jury. I know how devastating these losses have been to the people of Brownsville. These women were beloved mothers and grandmothers and neighbors, Gonzalez said. I am confident that the defendant took advantage of his relationship with these women, was allowed into their homes and did unspeakable acts of violence against them. Our community will be safer. Gavin is facing murder charges and is expected to be arraigned Friday, pubic records indicate. A lawyer representing Gavin was not publicly listed as of Friday afternoon. Close Are you anyone who, outside of our Blue Earth, also wonders about the world? Do you find yourself hunting for space-related material on the Internet? If your answer is 'Yes,' then you'll be delighted with these throwback pictures of Jupiter. A video focused on work carried out by NASA's Universe of Learning project was recently shared by the Hubble team. The clip shows the Hubble Ultra Deep Field (HUDF): an image captured by the telescope in 2003 of a small chunk of the sky, with 800 observations taken over an 11.3-day span. Posted on the NASA Hubble Space Telescope's official Instagram site, the photos often display the northern and southern auroras of Jupiter. The post has gathered more than 77,000 likes since being shared, and the statistics are still rising. It has also collected hundreds of funny messages from individuals. Its Exact Age and Position Estimates The NASA study team, headed by John Banovetz and Danny Milisavljevic of the University of Purdue in West Lafayette, Indiana, researched 1E 0102.2-7219 to understand the precise age and position of the supernova and to locate the shrapnel from the explosion. The ejecta clumps or knots inside the nebula are traveling at varying speeds and distances away from the core of the major eruption, as stated in an article by The Next Web. The total velocity of the knots is 3.2 million km/h, and about two million miles per hour, a velocity so swift that it will take about 15 minutes for an object from Earth to enter and return to the Moon at the same distance. The team of scientists took the 22 quickest knots that can be seen from the nebula to calculate the exact age of the supernova remnant and followed the motion of the knots backward until they all reached one point, which would then mark the exact place where a star used to shine. The researchers were able to determine how long it took the ejecta to reach their present points until they had the location. The pace of the shattered heart of the star that triggered the explosion, also known as the neutron star that was expelled from the blast, could also be clocked by Hubble. According to their estimation, 1,700 years earlier, about the period of the Roman Empire's decline, the light from the eruption landed on Earth, indicating it must have been noticeable to certain citizens on Earth during that time. The researchers said, though, that the supernova might have been apparent to people residing in the southern hemisphere, and, sadly, no records of the occurrence are known. About HUDF The HUDF, which comprises approximately 10,000 galaxies, is the galaxy's most robust visual-light image, as the video states. In other terms, deep space provides an eruption of spinning, glowing galaxies, and supernovae. (As opposed to stating, false-color illustrations of space X-ray photos that, while stunning, are not realistic.) And that it is possible to extend the HUDF picture into a 3D vision practically. According to The Nerdist, The 3D vision helps one imagine the galaxies and stars in the HUDF as they actually are: millions or billions of light-years distant from each other. This also implies that they are not only fired back into space but through time as well. For starters, the above cross-section illustrates how a single galaxy has changed over time. We are witnessing it at a more youthful and younger age as the galaxy travels farther away from Earth in space. All the way back, until it's just a little red spot in the obscurity of a vortex. The journey guides audiences around the stars and galaxies in the HUDF for about three minutes, which sounds like a miniature ride to the planetarium. But whatever Hubble's successor is going to teach us, you'll want to preserve your eyesight. ALSO READ: NASA Hubble Space Telescope Shares Photo Gallery of Colliding Galaxies Check out more news and information on Space on Science Times. Syndicated and guest columns represent the personal views of the writers, not necessarily those of the editorial staff. The editorial department operates entirely independently of the news department and is not involved in newsroom operations. Albany, NY, Jan. 22, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The New York Center for Research, Economic Advancement, Technology, Engineering and Science (NY CREATES) today announced that Dr. John Bowers, AIM Photonics Deputy Chief Executive Officer and Distinguished Professor at the University of California Santa Barbara, will serve as Acting Executive Director beginning February 1. Dr. Bowers will assume the interim role after the current CEO, Dr. Michael J. Cumbo, leaves his position at the end of this month to join Artemis Capital Partners. A nationwide search for a new CEO will commence next week. Additionally, Mr. Cumbo will continue his involvement with AIM, serving as a special advisor to the AIM leadership team. We thank Michael for his work leading AIM Photonics in 2020, and the business-like approach he established for the institutes management and operations will have a lasting, positive impact, said NY CREATES President Dr. Doug Grose. In Dr. Bowers, we could not ask for a better interim leader and we have an experienced and highly capable team. Together, this team will continue to make significant contributions to advance the integrated photonics industry for years to come. It was a privilege to lead AIM Photonics during the past seven months. I am even more impressed today with the capabilities and dedication of this team than I was when I first joined it, said Dr. Michael J. Cumbo, CEO, AIM Photonics. My decision to step down as the CEO is driven entirely by personal factors. I remain convinced of the vital importance of AIMs mission to advance integrated photonic circuit manufacturing technology in the United States, and I look forward to continuing to be involved in an advisory capacity. During this transition, Dr. Bowers a member of AIM Photonics leadership since the institutions inception will serve as Acting Executive Director; and NY CREATES President Dr. Grose will oversee day-to-day operations, financial, and administrative functions, with the assistance of key AIM and NY CREATES staff. Dr. John Bowers, Distinguished Professor at UCSB, Deputy CEO and Acting Executive Director of AIM Photonics said, AIM Photonics is beginning to have a significant impact on the world of integrated photonics, but it is only the beginning and Michaels leadership has AIM well-positioned to accomplish much more in the years to come. While this is certainly a loss, it has been pleasure to have an individual of Mikes qualifications leading the organization. A vital component of NY CREATES is AIM Photonics the Albany and Rochester-based national manufacturing institute with more than 126 consortium members, including those focused on data communications, sensors, quantum and neuromorphic computing. AIM featured services include the industry leading Process Design Kit (PDK), Multi Project Wafer (MPW), and the Test, Assembly and Packaging (TAP) facility in Rochester, New York. AIMs comprehensive set of silicon Photonic Integrated Circuit (PIC) devices are enabling the implementation of next-generation products. NY CREATES recently announced it would receive $19 million in research program awards for advanced integrated photonics under The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agencys (DARPA) Lasers for Universal Microscale Optical Systems (LUMOS) program. The LUMOS program will enable efficient on-chip optical gain in highly capable integrated photonics platforms. The DARPA contract will support a team of academic, industrial, and government partners, led by AIM Photonics, and continues the growth and expansion of this critical Department of Defense funded manufacturing institute. About NY CREATES NY CREATES serves as New Yorks bridge to the advanced electronics industry. As the primary resource for fostering public-private and academic partnerships in New York State, NY CREATES attracts and leads industry connected innovation and commercialization projects that secure significant investment, advance R&D in emerging technologies, and generate the jobs of tomorrow. NY CREATES runs some of the most advanced facilities in the world, boasts more than 2,700 industry experts and faculty, and manages public and private investments of more than $20 billion placing it at the global epicenter of high-tech innovation and commercialization. Learn more at www.NY-CREATES.org. About AIM Photonics AIM Photonics is one of several Manufacturing Innovation Institutes, an industry-driven public-private partnership that focuses the nations premiere capabilities and expertise to capture critical global manufacturing leadership in a technology that is both essential to national security and positioned to provide a compelling return-on-investment to the U.S. economy. Learn more at www.AIMPhotonics.com ### Attachment Minister gives Tet gifts to veterans and policy beneficiaries Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs Dao Ngoc Dung visited and gave presents to people in Bat Xat District, Lao Cai Province on January 22. Minister Dao Ngoc Dung gives Tet gifts to veterans and policy beneficiaries in Lao Cai Province on January 22. In symbolic recognition of earlier generations' ambitions and accomplishments, and support for America's current Moon to Mars exploration approach, a Moon rock now sits in the Oval Office of the White House. At the request of the incoming Biden Administration, NASA loaned the Moon rock that was put on display in the Oval Office Jan. 20. It is from the Lunar Sample Laboratory Facility at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, and its display case is inscribed with the following: Lunar Sample 76015,143 Apollo 17 astronaut Ronald Evans and moonwalkers Harrison Schmitt and Eugene Cernan, the last humans to set foot on the Moon, chipped this sample from a large boulder at the base of the North Massif in the Taurus-Littrow Valley, 3 km (almost 2 miles) from the Lunar Module. This 332 gram piece of the Moon (less than a pound), which was collected in 1972, is a 3.9-billion-year-old sample formed during the last large impact event on the nearside of the Moon, the Imbrium Impact Basin, which is 1,145 km or 711.5 miles in diameter. The irregular sample surfaces contain tiny craters created as micrometeorite impacts have sand-blasted the rock over millions of years. The flat, sawn sides were created in NASA's Lunar Curation Laboratory when slices were cut for scientific research. This ongoing research is imperative as we continue to learn about our planet and the Moon, and prepare for future missions to the cislunar orbit and beyond. Please follow SpaceRef on Twitter and Like us on Facebook. The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) says a grim milestone has been reached in the Sahel with no fewer than two million people displaced by unrelenting violence. Needs are surging across a region where multiple crises converge including armed conflict, extreme poverty, food insecurity, climatic changes, and the COVID-19 pandemic. The extreme vulnerability of the Sahel has been laid bare by the impact of forced displacement. This is caused by widespread and gruesome violence perpetrated by armed insurgent groups and criminal gangs, UNHCR said on Friday. The Sahel, which includes Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Niger and Nigerias extreme north, is home to some of the worlds least developed countries. According to the agency, internal displacement in the region has increased fourfold in just two years. It said there were 490,000 Internally Displaced Persons (IPDs) at the beginning of 2019, more than half of whom were from Burkina Faso. The Sahel also hosts over 850,000 refugees, mainly from Mali, it added. Already this year, violence in Niger and Burkina Faso has forced more than 21,000 people to flee their homes and seek refuge within their own countries. In Burkina Faso, since Dec. 31, a series of armed attacks on the town of Koumbri and nearby villages in the North of the country have displaced more than 11,000 people. Most are women and children who fled at night after attackers began shooting at their homes. They have reached safety and are now staying within local communities in Ouahigouya and Barga, some 35 kilometres away, UNHCR said. The agency warned that the communities hosting the displaced had reached a breaking point. Many of the IDPs, it said, lack basic needs like shelter in spite of the generosity of their hosts. UNHCR added that they were in urgent need of water and access to medical and sanitation services to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The humanitarian response is dangerously overstretched, and UNHCR is urging the international community to redouble its support for the region. States must act now to help Sahel countries address the root causes of this forced displacement, to boost strategic and sustainable development. And to strengthen institutions such as schools and hospitals, many of which have shut due to ongoing violence. The situation has worsened due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it noted. ADVERTISEMENT The agency enumerated its interventions in the region to include provision of shelter, relief items, hygiene materials and cash. (NAN) Holocaust survivor Tomi Reichental at his home in Dublin holding an old photograph of himself with his parents Judith and Arnold and cousin Chava. Photo: Mark Condren NATIONAL Holocaust Memorial Day is now more important than ever given the rise in far right groups across the world, soaring misinformation and increasing levels of antisemitism, it has been warned. It came as Holocaust survivors and their families are set to be joined by Taoiseach Micheal Martin for a special ceremony on Sunday to remember the victims of extremism. Because of the Covid-19 pandemic, people will be able to view the virtual event from 6pm on Sunday via a live link. The ceremony commemorates the six million Jewish people and millions of other victims who were murdered due to their ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, political affiliations or religious beliefs. Holocaust survivors and Irish residents Tomi Reichental and Suzi Diamond will offer personal recollections of the Holocaust. The ceremony will also include an address by the Taoiseach, readings from the Scroll of Names and a special candle lighting ceremony in memory of all who died. Holocaust Education Trust Ireland (HETI) Chairman Professor Thomas O'Dowd said the event was more important than ever given alarming world events. "Today, we are experiencing a surge in misinformation, an increase in anti-semitism and a prevalence of holocaust denial and distortion," he said. Read More Tomi Reichental, who has received multiple awards for his human rights campaigning, survived the notorious Bergen-Belsen camp and later settled in Ireland. "What we saw was hell on earth," he warned. Mr Reichental said it was now incumbent on everyone to ensure that truth and human rights were respected so that the world is not condemned to seeing history repeat itself. Jonathan Philips (66) had his father's entire family fall victim to the Holocaust. His father, Geoffrey (Gunther), fled to the UK as a child after Kristallnacht in 1938 and, when he was old enough, joined the British Army. My father was very hesitant to talk about his experience while we were growing up, Jonathan said. After his death we found about a hundred-odd pages of his account handwritten, which I regret not knowing more about before. I wish I could have asked him more about it." Kayla Hertz (28) is from New York City but has been living in Dublin since 2014. She lost relatives on both sides of her family during the holocaust. "There are many Jewish people living in New York City so it's common to know people whose family was affected by the holocaust, Kayla explained. Moving to Ireland where Jewish people are such a minority and Holocaust education is not required in the school curriculum, it makes me want to be more proactive in spreading awareness. "My generation will be the last who will have personally known Holocaust survivors and it's up to people like myself who have this direct experience to keep their stories alive. "Although its difficult to talk about, its necessary. A project to tackle bovine mastitis and reduce the use of broad-spectrum antibiotics in dairy cattle is being launched by UK researchers. Their approach will use mass spectrometry an analytical method using sophisticated lab equipment to develop a rapid diagnosis of mastitis, directly from a suspected milk sample. This will initially use laboratory-based equipment but could potentially be translated to an on-site test to further increase test turnaround times. The project, by the Queens University Belfast, will also explore the wider application of REIMS technology Rapid Evaporative Ionization Mass Spectrometry in areas such as milk-quality analysis and the monitoring of lameness in herds. Bovine mastitis is a painful inflammatory condition of the udder, caused by the cows immune response to a microbial infection. It is a significant challenge to the dairy farmer and to the industry due to the effect on cow welfare, the complexities of controlling the condition and the need to withhold milk from human consumption during treatment and recovery. Farmers carry out a visual inspection of the milk as part of the milking process; changes, such as the formation of clots in the milk, can be indicative of clinical mastitis in addition to the direct observation of heat or swelling of the udder. Somatic cell counting of a milk sample can be useful in screening for pre-clinical mastitis, particularly where farmers regularly undertake milk recording of their herd. Microbial culture and sensitivity are then carried out to determine the causal pathogen and the best type of antibiotic treatment, but these tests can take several days and rely on an uncontaminated sample being collected in the milking parlour. Broad-spectrum antibiotic treatment is usually started immediately, before microbiology results have been returned by the laboratory, to minimise the pain and suffering of the cow. But researchers say that such therapeutic use of broad-spectrum antibiotics has the potential to contribute to antimicrobial resistance (AMR) an increasing problem for both animal and human health. The REIMS approach could eliminate the need for time-consuming milk-sample preparation and therefore, be more user-friendly for farmers with near-instantaneous results PhD principal supervisor, Dr Simon Cameron from Queens, said the project had potential to positively impact agriculture. He said: REIMS is a fairly new technology and we are constantly finding new applications for it. "It has the potential to be a step change in how we use mass spectrometry to address problems facing society and this project investigates just one of these. By being able to analyse samples more quickly, and in a way that is more user-friendly to the farmer, we hope to be able to bring the benefit of mass spectrometry to dairy farmers through rapid diagnosis of bovine mastitis and identification of the causal microbe. Additionally, researchers say the rapid identification of pathogens would allow for more timely, targeted narrow-spectrum treatments, potentially reducing the use of broad-spectrum antibiotics. In fact, if rapid diagnostics also facilitated earlier treatment, the use of antibiotics might be eliminated altogether, further helping societys battle against AMR. As part of the project, milk samples will be collected from dairy farms from cows with suspected and confirmed mastitis, alongside healthy control samples. The same project will also look at lameness in dairy cattle. Current diagnosis of lameness involves visual observation which unfortunately means cows are often undiagnosed until the problem has become fairly advanced. The series Manhunt, Deadly Games is streaming on Netflix. It tells the story of Richard Jewell, the security guard falsely accused of being the Olympic Park bomber in Atlanta, 1996. Clint Eastwood made a film about Jewell, too, which was quite good. But the series is better. It consists of ten episodes that carefully expose how the FBI and the media developed a narrative that fit their version of the facts and then they stuck to it. When new information, other facts that exonerated Jewell were revealed, the FBI and the media steadfastly refused to consider them. Sound familiar? Russia hoax? At Olympic Park in Atlanta in 1996, Richard Jewell was employed as a security guard. Hed always wanted to be a policeman, but a security guard was what he was at the time and he took the job seriously. Hed been trained to be on the lookout for unattended packages or backpacks, so when he saw one, he reported it. His superiors were not inclined to take him seriously but he was insistent, so they humored him. The bomb tech confirmed his suspicions, people were quickly cleared from the area, most but not all. The bomb went off; one woman was killed, many were injured but Jewell had saved countless lives. He was momentarily a hero but three days later an FBI profiler suggested that Jewell could be the hero/bomber, a nutcase who planted the bomb in order to become a hero. The FBI liked this theory, and so did an aggressive reporter at the Atlanta-Journal Constitution, Kathy Scruggs. She put it out in her paper, the national media took the bait and Jewells life was destroyed. Think of Nick Sandmann, the young man the media decided to skewer as arrogant and smug because he remained calm in the face of some pretty combative harassment. The media, print and electronic, were vicious. They meant to destroy the life of the sixteen-year-old who had attended a pro-life march with his Catholic school class and they nearly did. Sandmann eventually won the defamation cases filed against news outlets that had eviscerated him in the media. Jewell, too, won a defamation case, but he died of diabetes in his forties. The deadliest campaign to destroy a man in recent history is, of course, the lefts unrelenting campaign to ruin Donald Trump, before, during and apparently after his term in office, his second term, in my opinion, having been blatantly stolen by the swamp establishment that had vowed in 2016 to subvert his re-election by any means necessary. In Trumps case, the FBI, DOJ, CIA, the Clintons, Obamas and the machine of the deep state all colluded to destroy one man. They fear Trump like theyve never feared anyone before. They still do, which is why they are maniacally trying to find a way to prevent him from ever running for office again. They want to cancel him. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, et. al. have all banned him in the most blatant act of censorship ever attempted in America; the media and the Democrats mightily approve of this naked suppression of free speech, raising not a whimper of protest. Twitter has shadow-banned conservatives for years. In the past few weeks, though, theyve de-platformed manyaccounts of people whose views they deem offensive conservatives. Ayatollah Khomenis calls to destroy Israel seems to be fine with Twitter; conservative ideas are not. The left has chafed under the Constitution for ages; now theyve thoroughly abrogated it. They, the media and the left, are now out of the closet calling for all conservative voices to be silenced. They are likely encouraged by the ease with which so many Americans have given up so many of their essential freedoms because of a virus. These wanna-be Stalinists seem to assume they have carte blanche to transform the United States into a totalitarian regime almost overnight. The saddest, most frightening aspect to all that has happened is that our once-respected institutions -- the FBI, DOJ, CIA -- have all been co-opted by the Alinskyite left. They are all on the wrong side of right now. They are all on the side of the ruling class, fearful of losing their places within it. The men and women of the swamp serve themselves, not the people who elected them. This is true of too many weak-kneed Republicans, as well, who think nothing of stabbing Trump in the back on his way out of office. Congress is shot through with members of the GOP who think they can dispense with those 75 million Trump voters with a Pelosi-ite flick of their wrist. Not going to happen. Watching the series about Richard Jewell is a timely reminder of just how long the media and our law enforcement agencies have been monuments unto themselves, not to the people they are meant to serve or to the law. What they did to President Trump over the four years he served in office was sheer treachery; illegal, unconstitutional and depraved. And they are not finished. Not satisfied to have impeached him once for nothing, they think they can do it again after he leaves office. Trump is the Richard Jewell of presidents, relentlessly pursued with undeserved venom. Jewell was cleared when a bomb expert from the ATF proved he could not have been the perpetrator. The FBI relinquished him as a suspect four months after the bombing, but many people still saw him as guilty. The real bomber, Eric Rudolph, was finally caught in 2003 and confessed in 2005. Not until then was Jewell acquitted by the public. But to this day the Atlanta-Journal Constitution has never apologized for their part in Jewells virtual annihilation. No one among the media who savaged Nick Sandmann ever apologized either. The reporter who first gave life to the Jewell-is-guilty-because-he-lives-with -his mother theory died in 2001 at forty-two years of age. We all know by now that the mainstream media are indeed enemies of the people. They actually think, as talking head Mika Brzezinski once said, that it is their job to tell us what to think. They have veritable contempt for conservatives and are openly discussing how to render us voiceless. They want Fox News gone, OAN, Newsmax and conservative radio gone. They even want to ban podcasts by conservatives. The Democrats seem to agree on this point. Where are the voices standing up for free speech and open political dialogue? Trump and his millions of supporters so enrage the left, that they many would indict each and every one of us for wrongthink if they could. That may be what is coming. Stalin and Mao got rid of their millions of undesirables (their deplorables) via show trials and genocide. At the moment the left just cancels us, erases us from their social platforms in the hope we will simply go away. Not a chance. To ignore evil is to become an accomplice to it. Martin Luther King, Jr. Photo credit: Gage Skidmore (copped) CC BY-SA 3.0 license Kendallville, IN (46755) Today Cloudy with a few showers. High near 50F. Winds NE at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 30%. Higher wind gusts possible.. Tonight Rain showers this evening with overcast skies overnight. Low 41F. Winds NE at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 40%. Higher wind gusts possible. Jamal Furani, 78, lost his sight 10 years ago due to corneal disease, but thanks for modern science, the Israeli man is able to see once again. Furani received an artificial cornea implant that integrated directly into the eyewall and following the one-hour surgery, he was able to recognize family members and read numbers on an eye chart. The implant, called KPro, is a non-degradable synthetic nano-tissue that is placed under a thin membrane that covers the surface of the eyelid and the sclera, which is the white area of the eye. The top layer of KPro is designed with biomimetic material that 'stimulates cellular proliferation, leading to progressive tissue integrations,' according to the implant's maker CorNeat. Scroll down for video Jamal Furani (seated) lost his sight 10 years ago due to corneal disease, but thanks for modern science, the Israeli man is able to see again. Furani received an artificial cornea implant that integrated directly into the eyewall and following the one-hour surgery, he was able to recognize family members and read numbers on an eye chart The procedure was performed January 11 by Professor Irit Bahar, the head of the ophthalmology department at Rabin Medical Center in Petah Tikva, Israel. The medical facility conducted the first human trials of CorNeat's KPop, a total of 10 patients, which received approval just last July, Israel Haymon reports. The patients in the trial suffered from corneal blindness and deemed either not candidates for or have experienced at least one failed cornea transplant. Corneal blindness is due to disease developing in the cornea that results in the vision loss. The implant, called KPro, is a non-degradable synthetic nano-tissue that is placed under a thin membrane that covers the surface of the eyelid and the sclera, which is the white area of the eye It affects two million people each year and accounts for more than five person of the total blind population worldwide. The first step of the procedure, which takes less than an hour, is to dissect the conjunctiva - the mucous membrane that covers the front of the eye and lines the inside of the eyelids. The corneal epithelium is then completely removed to decrease the prevalence of retro prosthetic membrane formation and the center of the cornea is marked by the surgeon, allowing them to place a stamp on the surface for where the implant will sit. The implant is then laid over the open area of the eyeball and secured by the stitching and snapped in place. Incisions are made around the cornea, along with stitching to attach the implant, and then cornea is removed. CorNeat says regeneration of cells begins and then in weeks, the implant is permanently embedded in the patient's eye. Dr. Gilad Litvin, chief medical officer at CorNeat Vision and the inventor of the KPro device, said the implantation procedure is 'relatively simple' and takes less than an hour. The transplant procedure took less than an hour. Pictures is the artificial cornea (top) and the tools used during surgery (bottom) Incisions are made around the cornea, along with stitching to attach the implant, and then cornea is removed. CorNeat says regeneration of cells begins and then in weeks, the implant is permanently embedded in the patient's eye He also said that KPro could help millions of blind patients worldwide, as the treatment does not require donor transplants and can be done in areas with no corneal practice. Litvin said he was thrilled with the results, saying it 'surreal' that the team had made a world-first achievement and that it was making waves in the field of organ transplantation. 'After years of hard work, seeing a colleague implant the CorNeat KPro with ease and witnessing a fellow human being regain his sight the following day was electrifying and emotionally moving, there were a lot of tears in the room,' Litvin said. 'This is an extremely important milestone for CorNeat Vision, key in our journey to enable people around the world to fully enjoy their vision potential. 'I am grateful and honored to work with an outstanding group of people whose hard work, diligence and creativity, made this moment possible.' Corneal transplants are common procedures to restore eyesight but they can only be done with a donor cornea, for which demand is high while pig corneas are a viable solution, the team's success with this procedure could prove life-changing for many. A Saudi influencer has sparked outrage by posting images of herself naked in the bathtub with her husband to celebrate getting a verified Snapchat account. Fouz Al-Otaibi appears topless in the images alongside husband Ahmed Moussa as the pair lounge in a bathtub while drinking Champagne. In a second video clip she is also seen jumping on her husband's lap before dancing around and swigging from a bottle of red wine. But the images prompted fury in conservative Saudi Arabia, with viewers accusing her of 'violating public decency'. Fouz Al-Otaibi has caused outrage in Saudi Arabia by posing naked in the bath with her husband while drinking Champagne to celebrate getting a verified Snapchat account Fouz also posted a video of herself dancing around with her husband while swigging from a red wine bottle, prompting one user to brand her 'an animal' 'Where does those animals live,' one user wrote. 'If in Saudi Arabia, why aren't they issued an arrest warrant against for spreading vice and violating public decency?' 'Fame and money humiliate humans,' another added. 'God wants our daughters and Muslim girls covered,' said a third. While Fouz remained unrepentent in the face of the criticism, she did hit back at accusations she was drinking alcohol - saying the Champagne and wine were both non-alcoholic. Fouz has made a name for herself by provoking religious conservatives in Saudi Arabia, which has earned her some 500,000 followers online. In the past, she has posted intimate shots that include her jumping on her husband's lap and exchanging kisses with him. And in 2019 she provoked a furious backlash after posting her marriage contract online, containing a list of rules that her husband must abide by. Fouz has amassed some 500,000 followers online by outraging conservative religious sensibilities, with images often showing her in intimate situations with her husband They included providing her with a household cleaner, money to live off, and stipulated that he cannot take another woman in marriage - which is sometimes permitted by Islamic marriage laws. 'A man who marries after agreeing to any condition is stupid,' one wrote. 'Was she serious when she wrote out these conditions,' another added. 'I swear there are no more men. 'Sharia stated that a man can marry four women and he can find a hundred better than this one.' President Moon Jae-in visits SK Bioscience's plant located in Andong, North Gyeongsang Province, a contract-manufacturer of AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccines, Wednesday. / Yonhap By Lee Hyo-jin Korea is gearing up to start COVID-19 vaccinations next month, with the first batch of vaccines expected to arrive in the country in the coming weeks. The first shipment of Pfizer vaccines for 50,000 people is likely to arrive in early February, health authorities said Thursday. It will be the first batch of doses for 10 million people Korea has secured through COVAX, the global initiative for coronavirus vaccine development and distribution. As the government speeds up its plans to start inoculations, which were initially scheduled for late February, all eyes are on whether vaccine injections will be available ahead of the Lunar New Year holidays starting Feb. 11. The government has divided the vaccination program into several steps, each managed by related governmental bodies. Once the vaccines win approval from the Ministry of Food and Drug safety, they will be delivered into the country by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. The Defense Ministry will manage storage and distribution to 250 vaccination centers across the country, which the Ministry of Interior and Safety is currently preparing in cooperation with local governments. The interior ministry plans to install one vaccination site per city, county, and district, and two more in each region with a population of more than 500,000. Considering that about 600 people are estimated to visit the centers every day, the venues must be well-ventilated and wide enough to maintain social distancing. The facilities also need to be equipped with their own power generators in order to safely store the vaccines. Cold-chain systems must be established not only for logistics, but also at each vaccination center. Pfizer's RNA (mRNA) vaccine can be the trickiest to handle, as it needs to be stored at minus 70 degrees Celsius. Moderna's and Janssen's vaccines need to be stored at minus 20 degrees Celsius. The interior ministry is currently reviewing 150 facilities as possible candidates to be used as vaccination centers. "Currently, we have 93 gyms, 30 movie theaters, 12 medical institutions, 10 parks and five government centers on our list of candidates. After further discussions with the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA), we will announce a detailed list early next week," said Park Jong-hyun, the deputy spokesman at the ministry, during a briefing held on Thursday. Meanwhile, according to the KDCA, Korea reported 346 daily new coronavirus cases on Thursday, including 314 local transmissions, raising the total caseload to 74,262. 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. US IT sector and business groups, including technology giants Google and Apple, have applauded President Joe Biden's steps to initiate immigration reforms, underlining that the move would boost American economy, create jobs and attract talent from across the world. On the day one of his presidency on Wednesday, Biden sent a comprehensive immigration bill to Congress which proposes major overhauls to the system, including granting legal status and a path to citizenship to tens of thousands of undocumented immigrants and other groups and reduce the time that family members must wait outside the US for green cards. Called the US Citizenship Act of 2021, the legislation modernises the immigration system, and also proposes to eliminate the per country cap for employment-based green cards, a move that would benefit thousands of Indian IT professionals whose current wait period for legal permanent residency runs into several decades. Apple CEO Tim Cook welcomed President Biden's "commitment to pursuing comprehensive immigration reform that reflects the American values of justice, fairness and dignity". "This effort will strengthen American communities and the pathways to opportunity this country has long fostered," he said in a statement late Wednesday. Google CEO Sundar Pichai in a tweet on Thursday applauded Biden's quick action on COVID relief, Paris climate accord and immigration reform. "Google has supported action on these important issues & we look forward to working with the new administration to help the US recover from the pandemic grow our economy," he said. Biden on Wednesday also issued a series of executive orders, ranging from rejoining the Paris agreement on climate change, halting America's withdrawal from the World Health Organisation, revoking Muslim travel ban, stopping immediate construction of Mexico border wall and extending the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) programme for another four years. "The Biden-Harris administration's planned actions make important and overdue investments in immigration reforms that can successfully meet the demands of a globally competitive, digital economy, including expanded visa programmes for high-skilled workers and families," said Jason Oxman, president and chief executive officer of the Information Technology Industry Council (ITI). ITI is the global trade association for the tech sector, representing nearly 70 of the worlds most innovative companies. Biden is also following through on his call for unity by reaffirming his commitment to giving Dreamers a path to citizenship and to welcoming immigrants -- regardless of their country of origin -- seeking to come to the US from abroad, Oxman said. Oxman said as America continues its economic recovery from COVID-19, ensuring US employers can attract and retain the best talent from around the world is paramount. We commend President Biden for his swift and decisive actions, and for prioritising this critical issue. Our industry is committed to working with the administration and the 117th Congress to advance these efforts and grow the US innovation economy through a competitive immigration system," he said. The US Citizenship Act of 2021 will create an earned path to citizenship for Dreamers, undocumented immigrants living in the US, and the essential workers who have risked their lives to serve and protect American communities, the White House had said. We are encouraged that the Biden-Harris Administration is following through on their commitment to send meaningful immigration legislation to Congress that establishes a well-deserved pathway to citizenship for millions of undocumented people like us and our families," said FWD.Org, an advocacy organisation representing top Silicon Valley companies, including Facebook, Google, Microsoft and DropBox. American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) executive director Benjamin Johnson said Biden met this historic moment with action by sending a much-needed immigration bill to Congress, along with his administrations commitment to see the legislation enacted. Failure to pass reasoned immigration reform for the past three decades has led to families being kept apart for years and businesses unable to hire job creators. The provisions in the US Citizenship Act will strengthen communities, reunite families, and harness the creativity and talent of immigrants who want to be a part of the American Dream in a way that has been impossible for decades," he said. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Zomato plans to file for an IPO in the first half of next year. Ahead of a potential listing on exchanges, Zomato is on the verge of closing a $500 million investment that would value the Gurugram-based company at around $5.5 billion. Existing investors Tiger Global, Kora Investments, Steadview, Fidelity, Bow Wave, Vy Capital along with new backer Dragoneer Group, will participate in the financing round, The Economic Times reported. The fundraising will include a mix of primary cash infusion of $250 million by existing backers and a similar amount via a secondary sale of shares by Chinese investors Ant Group (an affiliate of Alibaba) and Sunlight Fund, the report said. Moneycontrol could not independently verify the story. Zomato co-founder Deepinder Goyal did not comment when contacted by The Economic Times. Also read: Zomato raises $660 million at a valuation of $3.9 billion "Ant Group remains committed to our vision of bringing inclusive financial services to global consumers and small-and-micro businesses, by working closely together with our global partners, including Zomato," a spokesperson told the paper. After the infusion of capital, Zomato is expected to have $1 billion in cash before its proposed initial public offering (IPO), the report said. "Zomato is aiming for an IPO by June this year valuing the company at $6-8 billion in the public market," a source told the publication. Also read: Zomato raises USD 195 mn in funding from 6 investors, valuation touches $3.6bn Moneycontrol had in September 2020 reported that Zomato is planning to file for an IPO in the first half of 2021. In December 2020, the company had closed a $660 million primary financing round, which valued the company at $3.9 billion. A bag of cement which usually costs approximately $50 has more than tripled in price at some places since Covid-19 invaded the country in March 2020. Some people are paying as much as $150 and more for a bag of cement. The education minister has been accused of exacerbating tensions with teaching unions after she claimed they have refused to accept public health advice. Opposition and Government TDs called on Norma Foley to not speak publicly until after a full agreement is reached to get children with special educational needs back into classrooms. Fianna Fail's Eamon O Cuiv and Fine Gael TD Kieran O'Donnell both suggested that Ms Foley should go into a Brexit-style "tunnel" to hammer out a resolution. "My plea this evening would be to everybody now, all the parties to go into the tunnel and just sit down and see how this can be worked out in the interest of those probably least well able to speak for themselves and that's the children," Mr O Cuiv told the Dail. Independent TD Thomas Pringle suggested that both Ms Foley and Minister of State for Special Education Josepha Madigan should resign. "To say that the handling of the reopening of schools has been an omni-shambles would be the understatement of the year," the Donegal TD said. He told Ms Foley that the attempt to pit parents against teachers, SNAs and unions is "reprehensible" and is "a blatant attempt to deflect from the fact that you have done nothing to plan for this since September, except to take advantage of the goodwill of all educational staff ". Labour's Aodhan O Riordain said both Ms Foley and Ms Madigan have "lost control of the situation". He also said: "every time the minister gets an opportunity ...to speak about this issue she only makes things worse". Ms Foley said her Department has prioritised the reopening of schools and classes for children with special educational needs and has "engaged intensively" with all stakeholders to realise this shared ambition. She said the Department wrote to special schools and primary schools on January 15, setting out details of the framework to allow in-school teaching and learning take place. Opposition and Government TDs called on Norma Foley to not speak publicly until after a full agreement is reached to get children with special educational needs back into classrooms. "This guidance was agreed with the Into and Forsa," she said. Ms Foley said Ireland is now an outlier in the European Union in not having in-person provision available for students with special educational needs. "We have addressed the concerns raised in relation to safety, including making public health officials available to education partner representatives, and subsequently facilitating three of the most senior public health officials in the country to communicate directly with teachers and SNAs." She said: "The Department has consistently accepted and implemented the knowledge and advice of public health. This is the first time that unions have refused to accept that advice." Ms Foley told the Dail that "all discussions" around the opening up of schools "happened first" and public announcements had followed. Independent TD Mattie McGrath said certainty is now needed and after two failed attempts to get children back to school he said "there can't be any more false dawns". Contributed photo / WIHS MIDDLETOWN WIHS 104.9-FM General Manager Steve Tuzeneu recently honored Program Manager and on-air Host Ron Gangwer for his two decades at the radio station. A resident of Enfield, Gangwer grew up in Pennsylvania, Ky., and Vermont, according to a press release. After graduating from Pensacola Christian College with a bachelors degree in the Bible and education, he was a sixth-grade teacher and then school administrator at a Christian academy in Massachusetts. Gangwer joined the staff of the commercial-free, listener-supported, nonprofit Christian radio station in February 2001, the news release said. A state Senate committee is considering a bill that would ban the possession of guns in government buildings, hospitals and child care centers, following the siege of the U.S. Capitol earlier this month. The Senate Judiciary Committee heard nearly three hours of testimony Wednesday, the Bennington Banner reported. If you were to ask the average Vermonter, they would say those are common-sense ideas, said Sen. Phil Baruth, a Democrat and Progressive from Burlington, who introduced the bill. You dont need and dont want guns in those areas. He said he was inspired to file the bill because of political tensions and inflamed rhetoric over the past several years, including scenes of armed protesters entering statehouses and the U.S. Capitol in an intimidating and sometimes threatening manner. The bill would not apply to protests outside government buildings, said Senate Judiciary Committee chair Dick Sears, D-Bennington. State and federal law enforcement and military personnel would be exempted, the newspaper reported. Firearms are banned from schools and courthouses in Vermont. Defender General Matthew Valerio and Chris Bradley, president of the Vermont Federation of Sportsmens Clubs, questioned whether existing laws, such as a statue which makes it a crime to possess a dangerous or deadly weapon with the intent to injure, could be applied instead of a new law. In my view, its not the carrying of the firearm (that is the problem); its the intent and desire of the person carrying the firearm thats the problem, said Valerio during testimony. Attorney General T.J. Donovan, and some other state officials testified in support of the bill, noting concerns about employee safety in and around state offices and recent threats. Some pointed to the 2015 murder of Lara Sobel, a Department of Children and Families social worker, by a parent upset by her involvement in a child custody case. A pedestrian in Quincy was struck and seriously injured in a crash Friday morning, according to authorities. While police didnt specify the exact location of the crash, they said Beale Street from Chapman Street to Hancock Street will be closed as authorities investigate. The pedestrian was taken to Boston Medical Center with serious injuries, police said. Beale Street from Chapman St to Hancock St will be closed as members of our Crash Reconstruction Unit investigate a pedestrian crash. The victim was transported to BMC with serious injuries. Please seek an alternate route. We will update as we learn more. #MATraffic pic.twitter.com/GbcrV6ek5o Quincy, MA Police Dept (@quincymapolice) January 22, 2021 Police in Quincy posted on social media about the crash just after 7 a.m., however, didnt provide a time regarding the crash or how long the roads may be closed due to the investigation. No further updates were provided on the condition of the victim. Boris Johnson set the scene for tougher restrictions on travel into the UK tonight as he warned: 'We may need to go further to protect our borders'. The Prime Minister refused to rule out tough new measures including enforced quarantine in specially designated hotels as he led a press conference this evening. Amid fears that a strain of coronavirus that originated in South Africa may be more resistant to vaccines he told the nation making it too easy for it and other variants to enter would under all the hard work put in by locked down Britons. Desperate wrangling is going on within Cabinet over the shape of the restrictions, set to be finalised at a meeting of the core Covid O sub-committee on Monday. A range of escalations are being considered to combat the global spread of variants, with a full border closure to foreign nationals still on the table. However, the most likely outcome is a version of the enforced isolation system used by countries such as Australia and New Zealand. Asked whether new border measures were coming, at the press conference, Mr Johnson said: 'I really don't rule it out, we may need to take further measures still. 'We may need to go further to protect our borders. 'We don't want to put that [all the effort to control the virus] at risk by having a new variant come back in.' Asked whether new border measures were coming, at the press conference, Mr Johnson said: 'I really don't rule it out, we may need to take further measures still' How would 'quarantine hotels' and GPS tracking work? Ministers are scrambling to upgrade the border quarantine system amid fears the rules are being flouted. Civil servants have been ordered to study the 'managed isolation' arrangements used by countries such as Australia, New Zealand and Singapore. Under those schemes, arrivals from abroad must stay in quarantine hotels for 14 days at their own expense. Passengers are transferred direct from airports to the hotels, and largely confined to their rooms - with the authorities monitoring to check no-one leaves. The systems have been credited with stopping Covid cases being imported. However, some airlines have stopped flying to Australia and New Zealand as the routes are not sustainable - with many citizens stranded abroad as a result. Officials have also looked at the arrangements in Poland, where isolating individuals face 'enhanced monitoring'. That includes being contacted once a day and made to send a picture of themselves at the location where they are meant to be quarantining. The pictures are validated using facial-recognition technology and GPS data. However, the option is thought to have been rejected as too intrusive and difficult to implement on scale. Advertisement Under plans being discussed, arrivals would potentially have to pay for their stays at hotels near airports while they self-isolate for 10 days, or even a fortnight. Hawks led by Priti Patel and Matt Hancock are pushing for blanket action, with sources insisting the policy will be 'worthless' unless it covers all travellers. But Transport Secretary Grant Shapps and Chancellor Rishi Sunak are said to be lobbying for a more nuanced approach. That could see measures targeted on arrivals from high-risk countries, or just foreign nationals who usually will not have homes in the UK where they can isolate safely. Tory MPs told MailOnline that the measures will 'kill' the travel industry, and urged the government to make sure they are 'highly targeted'. Negotiations are already believed to be taking place with hotel chains, while London Mayor Sadiq Khan has announced he is in favour. The powerful Covid O Cabinet sub-committee is due to thrash out the ideas on Monday. Environment Secretary George has refused to rule out even more drastic action this morning, with foreigners barred from coming to the UK altogether. Asked about the possibility, Mr Eustice told Sky News: 'We always keep these things under review. And it has been considered. 'There is concern at the moment about the number of mutant strains.' 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 yesterday 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'. Mr Sunak and Mr Shapps 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 Ms Patel and Mr Hancock are eager to enforce harsher rules to stop mutant strains from entering the country, potentially undermining the vaccine operation. Passengers wait at Heathrow Airport today as ministers mull even tighter rules Hawks led by Priti Patel (right) and Matt Hancock (left) are pushing for blanket action, with sources insisting the policy will be 'worthless' unless it covers all travellers Heathrow Airport is much quieter than usual but passengers face delays due to checks Transport Secretary Grant Shapps and Chancellor Rishi Sunak are said to be lobbying for a more nuanced approach Options on the table include imposing the 'quarantine hotels' for all arrivals, or for 'high risk' countries. The 'test and release' scheme, under which people can cut their isolation to five days by having a second test, could also be suspended. A Cabinet source among the hawks told MailOnline on the quarantine hotel idea: 'No-one should be going anywhere anyway. If it doesn't apply to everyone it makes it worthless.' They pointed out that tourism had stopped, so Britons were the main source of movement in and out of the country. 'It is Brits going and then returning,' they said. The source also insisted the travel industry had been treated far more gently than the arts and other sectors up to now. But 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.' Marriott today denied that was in talks with the government about using its hotels for quarantine. A spokeswoman for IHG Hotels & Resorts, which runs Holiday Inn, said: 'IHG and our partners have worked closely with national and local government and the relevant health bodies to support the recovery effort during the pandemic. 'This has included providing accommodation for frontline healthcare workers and those needing to self-isolate. We have also worked with charities providing accommodation to some of society's most vulnerable, such as the homeless. 'Due to guest confidentiality we would not comment on individual bookings.' Huge queues prompted anger from passengers and questions over the number of staff at work Mr Khan voiced backing for the move, telling LBC radio: 'We have had until now, even now, people arriving in our country, getting off a plane, using Tubes to go to home or to a hotel in the centre of London, that doesn't make any sense to me.' He added: 'We should have much tighter controls at our borders... that includes not just tests before you arrive that are negative, tests when you arrive that are negative and staying in a hotel at the airport for at least a couple weeks until we know that you are ok to go about your business.' Mr Khan insisted ministers 'shouldn't be embarrassed of saying... those countries where there is a particularly dangerous strain of the virus, we shouldn't be allowing people from those countries to come to our country in this period.' Travellers arriving at Heathrow today hit out at plans to force all new arrivals to quarantine at a hotel. British residents and visitors said the scheme now under consideration by ministers would be too costly and put them off from going overseas. Under the proposals all those arriving back in the UK would be taken directly to a self-isolation centre most likely one of the many airport hotels where they would stay for 10 days. It has not been revealed if travellers would have to pay for their enforced stay or the Government pick up the bill. Leanne and Paul Martin, returning from Barbados, said having to stay at an airport hotel for up to 10 days would be hugely inconvenient. 'It would make more sense if we could go and stay at our home,' said Leanne from Daventry, West Midlands, 'I understand the need to control the borders and they are trying to do it like Australia, but it is a little bit too late really. 'The borders should have closed months ago.' Marni Krebbs, a US citizen who lives in London, said: 'It is really a bit like shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted. 'Why are they suddenly wanting to do this now. It does not make sense, and who will pay for the hotel stay.' Troy, from Essex, hit out the plans which could be announced as early as next week. 'Who is going to pay for my stay in a hotel. I could just go home and self isolate', he said. I've been in Barbados where everyone is given a red wristband that shows they have to self isolate. Why not do that here. 'If the Government are that worried they should just close down the airports completely. It is just another mess.' Passengers arriving at Heathrow's Terminal Two faced queues of up to an hour to clear passport control where Border Force agents checked each arrival was in possession of a negative PCR test. They also had to show a completed locator form with an address where they would self-isolate for the required 10 days. The documentation was previously checked by airlines before boarding overnight flights to the UK. Prakash Chandra,30, who arrived from Delhi, said having to stay in a hotel for 10 days would put him off from flying. A British resident, he was returning to his job with Nokia after visiting friends and family in India. 'I am not sure my employer would approve of me having to spend 10 days in quarantine,' he said. Abby Lancaster, 18, flew into Heathrow after a three-week trip to visit her grandparents in Antigua. Travellers lash out at border plan Travellers arriving at Heathrow have hit out at plans to force all new arrivals to quarantine at a hotel for 10 days in an attempt to stop the spread of Covid-19. British residents and visitors said the scheme now under consideration by ministers would be too costly and put them off from going overseas. Under the proposals all those arriving back in the UK would be taken directly to a self-isolation centre most likely one of the many airport hotels where they would stay for 10 days. It has not been revealed if travellers would have to pay for their enforced stay or the Government pick up the bill. Leanne and Paul Martin, returning from Barbados, said having to stay at an airport hotel for up to 10 days would be hugely inconvenient. 'It would make more sense if we could go and stay at our home,' said Leanne from Daventry, West Midlands, 'I understand the need to control the borders and they are trying to do it like Australia, but it is a little bit too late really. 'The borders should have closed months ago.' Advertisement She said:' I would not want to come back and have to spend another 10 days in a hotel. Who will pay for my stay? 'It makes much more sense for me to go home rather than stay somewhere else. That is what has been happening for months now.' Other travellers questioned why they should have to pay for a hotel stay when they can complete their quarantine period at home. 'It is yet another half cocked idea from the Government,' said Alan Charters. 'I think everyone would agree the borders should have been closed a year ago, but now they are only thinking about doing it. 'Nothing seems to make much sense in what they are doing.' World Health Organisation Health systems development consultant Alvaro Garbayo was so infuriated with the chaos at Heathrow yesterday 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: '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. 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. 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. 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. 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. '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.' Two weeks of Australia-style hotel quarantine (and YOU pay), and closing the border to ALL foreign arrivals: Moves ministers are mulling to prevent Covid strains getting into Britain Ministers are examining a raft of measures to secure the UK's borders against highly transmissible strains of coronavirus from overseas. International travel has been slashed to a fraction of what it was before the pandemic struck, but different countries have used different measures to secure themselves against imported cases while fighting the home-grown spread. The UK has until recently taken a very soft-touch approach to policing both foreign arrivals and British citizens arriving home from overseas travel. But with the Covid death toll now at a pandemic high ministers are looking at a range of measures that could be introduced to make Britain and Northern Ireland more secure. Some island nations like Australia and New Zealand have long enforced stringent arrival rules, including blocking entry to some travellers, or forcing the rest into quarantine hotels - often at their own expense. Here we look at some of the measures that the UK could introduce and how they have been implemented elsewhere. Hotel quarantine Currently travellers arriving in the UK are allowed to disembark and quarantine at their own homes or their destination accommodation Ministers are in talks with hotel chains over plans to force UK arrivals to quarantine at airports, it was claimed today. Currently travellers arriving in the UK are allowed to disembark and quarantine at their own homes or their destination accommodation. The self-isolation lasts 10 days, cut to five if they receive a negative test result. But this system relies on people following the rules and there are concerns over low levels of compliance that could allow the virus to spread. Instead the Government is believed to be examining plans to place arrivals in a hotel to quarantine after arriving, to ensure the rules are not broken. Arrivals would potentially have to pay for their stays while they self-isolate for 10 days, or even a fortnight. There are reports today that negotiations are already taking place with hotel chains, while London Mayor Sadiq Khan said he was in favour. The powerful Covid O Cabinet sub-committee is due to discuss the ideas over the coming days - although a final decision is not likely until next week. This has been attempted here but not since the early days of the pandemic and that was only on a small scale. A group of more than 80 people evacuated from the Chinese city of Wuhan - believed to be the epicenter of the pandemic - were flown into the UK and taken to former nurses accommodation at Arrowe Park Hospital on the Wirral. Their accommodation was kitted out with bedding, games consoles and Barbies ahead of their 14 days in quarantine. But the scheme attracted negative headlines when the isolated Brits held staff to 'ransom', with one security guard alleging that the evacuees know they can threaten to leave the secure unit and 'get whatever they want'. One person tried to leave before completing the 14-day stay after his return from China, breaking the contract they signed before they were rescued. Photographs taken outside the hospital in Birkenhead appeared to show officials pulling up to the barrier outside the building with at least two crates of Budweiser beer in the boot of a car. Photographs taken outside the quarantine hospital in Birkenhead last January appeared to show officials pulling up to the barrier outside the building with at least two crates of Budweiser in the boot of a car A patient staying at the Arrowe Park Hospital tried to leave before completing the 14-day stay after his return from China, breaking the contract they signed before they were rescued It forced Health Secretary Matt Hancock to hurry in a new law to give police officers draconian powers to seize suspected patients and force them into isolation in handcuffs. The quarantine was not repeated in the UK, but it has been used more successfully abroad, including Australia and New Zealand. Australia has been quarantining all new arrivals both citizens and visitors in hotels since March 29 last year in order to stop cases of coronavirus being imported from overseas. Quarantine lasts for a minimum of 14 days and a maximum of 24, with limited exemptions for transiting passengers, foreign diplomats, government officials, and oil and gas workers. Individual states can also grant exemptions at their own discretion, as happened with some athletes arriving for the Australian Open who were allowed to quarantine at private residences instead of government-provided hotels sparking public outcry. Quarantine takes place in the city of arrival, regardless of the final destination within Australia, with travellers taken to a hotel directly from the airport. The government chooses the hotel, passengers are not routinely advised of its location in advance and they are be billed for their stay afterwards. Anyone arriving with symptoms will be tested at the airport and taken to the hotel to await the result, with their baggage brought separately. Those with no symptoms will be allowed to collect their bags before being put on a bus, which will then take them to the hotel. Those in quarantine will be tested at least twice on day 2 and day 12 of quarantine. Provided they test negative each time, they will be released after 14 days. Anyone who returns a positive test will be kept in quarantine until testing negative. Anyone who refuses a test may be kept in quarantine longer. Guests in the hotels are not allowed to leave their rooms, and have all food brought to them. While the government says that dietary requirements will be taken into account, travellers have frequently complained about the state of the food. The maximum penalty for breaching the rules is a 6,000 fine, six months in prison, or both with a further 3,000 fine applied for each day a person continues to break the rules. Australia has experienced two waves of Covid infections, but has kept both cases and deaths significantly lower than other westernised countries its highest daily toll of the pandemic was 721 cases, reported on July 30 last year. By comparison, the UK's worst daily total was 68,053. Currently, the country reports an average of 12 cases per day and has suffered just a handful of deaths since October last year. Its last death was on December 28. As a result, there are few restrictions within the country. Bars, restaurants, gyms, shopping centres and other leisure facilities are all open in most states, but a few high-risk locations have mask-wearing rules and limits on group sizes. The last wave of coronavirus infections the country suffered, between June and September, began in Melbourne amid 'security lapses' at the quarantine hotels. One whistleblower alleged that security guards were having sex with new arrivals quarantining at the hotel - infecting themselves with Covid which they then passed on to others. An inquiry into the scandal found the failings were to blame for Australia's second wave, including 768 deaths suffered as a result. Novak Djokovic, pictured on his hotel balcony in Adelaide, has reportedly issued a list of demands for stranded players including a shorter quarantine and access to tennis courts Doctors and infectious diseases experts have slammed special Covid rules for celebrities like Matt Damon. The Good Will Hunting star is wife Luciana Barroso, 45, and their daughters, Isabella, 14, Gia, 12, and Stella, 10, are among an elite group who have qualified for an exemption Tom Hanks (pictured with wife Rita Wilson) was given special permission to quarantine at a Gold Coast mansion so he could film a biopic in Australia about Elvis Presley, despite testing positive to Covid to Australia in March 2020 shortly after arriving from the United States Last week Australian Open tennis stars were told that they would get no 'special treatment' after world number one Novak Djokovic demanded that the 72 players isolating in hotels be allowed to move to private homes with tennis courts. The Serb's reported list of demands included a shorter quarantine period, permission for players to visit their coaches, and access to courts where they could train for the tournament in Melbourne. But state premier Daniel Andrews said authorities would not bend the rules, telling the players that 'there's no special treatment here... because the virus doesn't treat you specially, so neither do we.' However, other celebs have been given preferential treatment under the system. Matt Damon has been allowed to quarantine for 14 days at a large house at Byron Bay in New South Wales instead of having to endure two weeks in a cramped hotel as he prepares to work on a new Thor film with Chris Hemsworth. Damon, 50, his wife Luciana Barroso, 45, and their daughters, Isabella, 14, Gia, 12, and Stella, 10, are among an elite group who have qualified for an exemption. Immigration lawyer Rebekah O'Sullivan said the Good Will Hunting actor had 'privately arranged and funded' his two-week isolation with his wife and children so as not to create 'any burden to the Australian taxpayer whatsoever'. Singer Dannii Minogue in July last year was given special permission by Queensland Health to quarantine at a Gold Coast property with her son Ethan. And Oscar-winning actor Tom Hanks two months later was given special permission to also quarantine at a Gold Coast mansion so he could film a biopic in Australia about Elvis Presley, despite testing positive to Covid in March 2020, shortly after arriving from the United States. Shut the border to foreigners Another option for the Government would be to shut the UK's borders to all arrivals. Currently there is a ban on arrivals from South America and South Africa, where specific outbreaks of coronavirus variants have been found. Environment Secretary George Eustice told Sky News today a full border closure to all visitors from abroad has been considered, adding that there 'is concern at the moment about the number of mutant strains'. But later he told LBC: 'It's right that we are cautious about travel, but we don't think it's right at the moment to close it down altogether and close the border.' Ministers have long pushed against a total shutdown of all but essential foreign traffic, arguing that it would simply be too damaging for the economy as a whole and airlines in particular. However Home Secretary Priti Patel broke ranks this week to reveal she argued in favour of the move as early as last March. Ms Patel said on the question of whether British borders should have been closed earlier 'the answer is yes, I was an advocate of closing them last March'. The remarks, made during a Zoom call last night with the Conservative Friends of India group and first published by the Guido Fawkes website, will pile the pressure on Boris Johnson. Home Secretary Priti Patel broke ranks this week to reveal she argued in favour of the move as early as last March. The Prime Minister has faced sustained criticism from Labour over why the Government failed to roll-out tougher border restrictions earlier in the Covid-19 crisis. A requirement for all arrivals in the UK to have a negative test came into force on Monday this week but critics have been calling for months for the Government to introduce the measure. Ms Patel told the meeting of Tory supporters: 'On 'should we have closed our borders earlier' the answer is yes, I was an advocate of closing them last March'' It prompted a political firestorm, with Nigel Farage, the leader of the Reform UK party - formerly the Brexit Party - immediately pouncing on them as he tweeted: 'What a pity Boris Johnson didn't listen to Priti Patel.' Nick Thomas-Symonds, Labour's shadow home secretary, said: 'This is a shocking admission from the Home Secretary about the Government's failure to secure the UK's borders against Covid. 'Priti Patel's admission, coupled with the complete lack of strategy for testing of travellers, means that the Government has left our doors open to the virus and worrying mutations. 'Ministers now need to - urgently - review and overhaul border policy, whilst taking responsibility for the huge damage their incompetence has done to our national safety and security.' Electronic tags and monitoring It is likely it would lead to enormous civil liberties protests and complaints about the likely huge cost of such a plan, which would involve potentially monitoring thousands of people. Using GPS tags to ensure compliance is also believed to have been considered. This would see arrivals slapped with electronic devices that show if they are staying at home as required. The measure is currently limited to use with convicted criminals on parole and those awaiting trial while on bail. It is likely it would lead to enormous civil liberties protests and complaints about the likely huge cost of such a plan, which would involve potentially monitoring thousands of people. Officials have also looked at the arrangements in Poland, where isolating individuals face 'enhanced monitoring'. That includes being contacted once a day and made to send a picture of themselves at the location where they are meant to be quarantining. The pictures are validated using facial-recognition technology and GPS data. However, the option is thought to have been rejected as too intrusive and difficult to implement on scale. Biden administration picks up Nile diplomacy Antony Blinken, US President Joe Bidens nominee to be secretary of state, warned this week in his confirmation hearing that talks between Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam could "boil over." In response to a question by Senate Foreign Relations Committee member Chris Coons, D-Del., about how the United States can better support the "fragile transition in Sudan" and hold countries in the region accountable for human rights, Blinken noted "concerning actions, including atrocities" by Ethiopian forces against Tigreans and refugees and promised a "fully engaged" American foreign policy in the region. The Biden administration is not inheriting a cold start on Nile River and Horn of Africa diplomacy. US President Donald Trump agreed to help broker a deal between Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan in September 2019, at the request of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. Then US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin worked out an agreement with the three parties and the World Bank in February 2020, but when it came time to sign, Ethiopia never showed up. Since then, mediation efforts by the African Union and South Africa have sputtered. The stakes in the Nile dam talks couldnt be higher for Egypt, and became more complicated, and intertwined, because of the Ethiopian civil war and its impact on Sudan. While the Nile talks have been until now been mostly a high stakes Egypt-Ethiopia diplomatic dispute, with Sudan in a supporting role (for Egypt), the Sudan-Ethiopia fault line now risks military escalation. Nile is "life and death" for Egypt "For Egypt, the matter of the Nile is a matter of life and death, Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry said in an exclusive interview with Al-Monitor in September 2019, adding, I dont think anybody would agree that Ethiopian development should come at the expense of the lives of Egyptians. Heres why, as we explained last year. The Blue Nile, which joins with the White Nile to form the Nile in Sudan, originates in Ethiopia. The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, which would be the largest hydroelectric power generator in the region and has been under construction since 2011, is nearing completion. The dam would satisfy the water and energy needs of Ethiopias 110 million people and allow Ethiopia to export power throughout the region, another boost for its economy. Egypt is 90% desert and the Nile is the only source of water; 95% of Egypts estimated 100 million citizens live along the river. The Niles water barely meets Egypts needs; any reduction could be a massive hardship for Egyptians. Egypt has suggested Ethiopia only fill the dam over 10 years, or some period of time, to assure equitable distribution and manage any technical problems of Nile water management. Ethiopia says Egypt is overstating the impact of the dam, and that seasonal and climate variations make technical commitments now impractical. For Ethiopia, the dam is a matter of sovereignty and national pride. Sudan, the third party to the talks on the dam, has tilted toward Egypt in the talks. Khartoum also stands to gain from the dam, which could help curtail episodic flooding and provide cheaper and more accessible energy. Ethiopian civil war threatens Sudan, Nile talks The outbreak of civil war in Ethiopia between the government and the Tigray People's Liberation Front in November has shaken the fragile transition in Sudan and sidelined progress on the dam talks. Sudan has 44 million people, including over 1 million refugees and nearly 2 million internally displaced persons, according to the UN refugee agency. The UNHCR reports that over 58,000 refugees have fled to Sudan from Ethiopia since November. The friction on the Sudan-Ethiopia border as a result of the war has escalated to military threats over accusations of violations of sovereignty on both sides. The Trump administration transformed US relations with Sudan by removing it from the US terrorism list, thereby allowing Sudan to receive US and international aid and debt relief, in return for Sudan normalizing relations with Israel. Sudan sparked the 2018-2019 popular demonstrations in the region, which spread to Algeria, Lebanon and Iraq, a kind of sequel to the Arab Spring protests of 2010/2011. In April 2019, a joint "military-civilian sovereignty council" replaced Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, a dictator and war criminal, following demonstrations which began in December 2018. New Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok, a 61-year-old economist, leads a transitional government of bureaucrats and old-guard military types from the Bashir days. The economy is close to collapse and political institutions in advanced decline, if they ever functioned much at all, as we explain here. The unemployment rate in Sudan is estimated at 16% (and is probably much higher), the poverty rate 36.1% (also probably higher), and the COVID-19 pandemic has made it all worse. In 2020, Sudans economy is expected to contract by 8.4%, the third year in a row of negative growth; just less than 1% growth rate is expected in 2021, according to the International Monetary Fund. Ethiopia blames Egypt for escalation Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed implied last month, without naming names, that Egypt is provoking or encouraging the border confrontations between Ethiopia and Sudan, which both Egypt and Sudan deny, as Khalid Hassan reports. Nonetheless, concerns about the consequences of the Ethiopian civil war have pushed Egypt and Sudan even closer a trend that began after the fall of Bashir. Khartoum and Cairo have expanded military cooperation, and taken a tougher stance on rejecting Ethiopias position on the Nile Dam talks, as Baher al-Kady reports. Egyptian General Intelligence Service Maj. Gen. Abbas Kamel was in Sudan this month to discuss coordination on recent developments, as Hagar Hosny writes. Ethiopias announcement of a new dam on the Agma River, north of Addis Ababa, while not impacting the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, was received poorly in Cairo, as Hosny reports here. US well placed for "fully engaged" diplomacy The risks of spillover from the Ethiopian war are high. "Ethiopias fragmentation could portend displacement on a scale not seen in modern times," write Payton Knopf and Jeffrey Feltman. The fault lines are ominous: the border disputes between Sudan and Ethiopia over the Al-Fasha, and between Ethiopia and Eritrea in Tigray; thousands more refugees; fragile economies in Sudan and Ethiopia; and consequences for Somalia and elsewhere in the region of endemic ethnic conflict. The Biden administration has a strong diplomatic hand. The United States has close ties with all three parties to the Nile talks. If managed right, there is plenty of Nile water to share, and no one is talking about infringing on Ethiopias ultimate sovereignty over the Blue Nile dam. Egypt, to its credit, has so far played the Nile talks by the diplomatic book. The United Arab Emirates, which has long-standing interests and relationships in the region, could offer an assist, even if quietly, as Ahmed Gomaa reports. Abu Dhabis position has been to consistently back diplomacy and de-escalation, and it has good relations with all parties. As Knopf and Feltman point out, the Ethiopian crisis, and its consequences, represent a shared interest with the Gulf Cooperation Council, as well as African allies and partners. From left, KB Financial Group Chairman Yoon Jong-kyu, Woori Financial Group Son Tae-seung and Kim Gwang-soo, the head of the Korea Federation of Banks (KFB) attend a meeting at KFB headquarters in central Seoul, Friday. / Yonhap By Anna J. Park While expressing support for the government's five-year Korea New Deal initiative, major financial groups in Korea have urged the ruling party to deregulate the country's financial markets. Key members of the ruling party and the heads of Korea's five major financial groups KB, Shinhan, Woori, Hana and NH and other leaders of financial institutions met Friday to discuss ways to support President Moon Jae-in's Korean New Deal initiative aimed at stimulating economic growth and job creation through digital and green projects. Kim Gwang-soo, the head of the Korea Federation of Banks (KFB), told reporters after Friday's meeting that some of the deregulation requests made by financial groups to the ruling party included tax benefits for long-term equity investments by these financial giants. Ruling party lawmakers said the financial sector's support was crucial in ensuring the success of the massive government project. "What matters most in laying the groundwork for the further development of the Korean economy is to facilitate the private sector's money being funneled into innovative Korea New Deal companies through the capital market," Kim Jin-pyo, a five-term lawmaker and the head of the National Economic Advisory Council, said at the meeting. The government announced the Korea New Deal initiative in July last year, with plans to inject 160 trillion won ($133 bil.) by 2025 to create 1.9 million jobs and to support green and digital industries to lead the nation's future growth. Korea's major financial groups each revealed their future strategic plans to support the government's move, such as investing in innovative start-ups in the green and digital sectors as well as providing benefits to local entrepreneurs in the area. Owner Krystle McNeely said the ability to move her care center into the Zion building would allow it to serve additional students and provide more programming, such as a gym and a library. She said she went through the proper process to receive permits and the suspension of the permit amounts to the city of Zion putting its preferred business over a local company ready to open. remaining of Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. During a tour of the West Jefferson High School with coronavirus precautions it can be seen that each desk in the classroom has a grey or red sticker on the top corner in Harvey, La. Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2020. Each period, students will be asked to alternate their use of desks and to clean them off after each class. The school is scheduled to open on August 26. (Photo by Max Becherer, NOLA.com, The Times-Picayune | The New Orleans Advocate) As the nation gathered to watch the inauguration this week, one thing became glaringly obvious: President Joe Biden is already breaking his promises to the American people. If you recall, throughout the presidential campaign, Biden tweeted repeatedly that if elected president, he would "listen to the experts" to combat the coronavirus. Yet, amidst a pandemic where the death toll reached a grim milestone this week -- surpassing 400,000 COVID-19 deaths, according to John Hopkins University -- the president and many of his high-profile guests attending his inauguration flouted CDC guidelines and advice of the so-called experts. For instance, Lady Gaga, Garth Brooks and Jennifer Lopez were all permitted to sing at the 46th president's swearing in ceremony -- something that Americans are forbidden from doing at church, our kids' schools, music venues and elsewhere because the "experts" say singing can spread the highly contagious coronavirus. "It is possible that COVID-19 may spread through the droplets and airborne particles that are formed when a person who has COVID-19 coughs, sneezes, sings, talks, or breathes," says the CDC. It warns, "There is growing evidence that droplets and airborne particles can remain suspended in the air and be breathed in by others, and travel distances beyond 6 feet (for example, during choir practice, in restaurants, or in fitness classes)." As such, California Governor Gavin Newsom banned singing and chanting in churches last summer. A ban that's still in effect restricting Americans from practicing their faith singing Gospel music and other forms of religious expression. Yet, the "rules" never seem to apply to liberal elites. Consider the irony that while Biden's privileged pals were singing to their heart's content, just two days earlier -- on MLK Day -- Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, who Biden has brought on as his top COVID adviser, told more than 100 Black clergy and leading public health officials at a Choose Healthy Life Black Clergy Conclave event that they won't be able to sing at church until "maybe" next fall. The question came from the Rev. John Vaughn, a pastor at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta. He asked Biden's top pandemic adviser, "When can we expect to go back to church, when we'll be able to sing, we'll be able to do wind instruments?" he asked. Not until "the overwhelming proportion of our population," at least 70-85% of the population, is vaccinated, said Fauci. But again, none of that purported "expert" advice stopped Biden's guests from abiding by the same restrictions imposed on the rest of us. Inaugural attendees violated social distancing guidelines and at times mask mandates. Many hugged those outside their household --something the CDC and other "experts" strongly discourage. If you think former First Lady Michelle Obama hugging President Biden's grandchildren at the inauguration was no big deal, try telling that to millions of Americans whose children haven't been able to hug or visit their own grandparents for almost a year. Other attendees held hands, gave fist bumps, high-fives and, in the case of Jennifer Lopez, skipped wearing a mask as she walked arm in arm with a Marine escorting her to the stage. COVID "rules" for thee, but not for me. Yes, attendees were required to get COVID-19 tests prior to the event, per reports. However that requirement doesn't lift singing bans for millions of Christians and other people of faith across America, nor does it exempt professional musicians who would gladly get tested if that meant being able to earn a living or sing at their place of worship. Same with school kids across the country who are still barred from participating in musical theatre or singing in a choir. And let's not forget that just last month in towns across America Christmas caroling, the beloved holiday tradition was canceled because we were told by the "experts" it's too dangerous to sing -- even if the caroling took place outside and participants were distanced. Let's also consider all the restaurants and other small businesses crushed throughout the pandemic and the millions of jobs destroyed due to social distancing mandates and other government restrictions. Who speaks for them while Lopez belts out "This Land Is Your Land"? COPYRIGHT 2021 CREATORS.COM A state Senate committee has approved a bill that would force the Murphy administration to take a regional approach to restricting businesses because of the pandemic. The bill, approved 5-0 by the Senate Commerce Committee, would require the administration devise a color-coded system to guide the states reopening. Business lobbyists have throughout the health crisis criticized what they describe as the Murphy administrations one-size-fits-all decision-making that treats businesses in regions with major outbreaks the same as those in counties with a low risk of outbreak. From the beginning of the pandemic weve had two significant crises facing us: one medical, one economic. Both have been potentially devastating to our states future. The medical crisis has been dealt with very aggressively .... and the state is a national model, said Tom Bracken, president of the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce. However, the economic crisis has received much less attention and our economy right now is in very bad shape. The bill (S3093), Bracken said, balances New Jerseys medical and economic concerns to safely address both crises. Chamber groups in South Jersey last summer proposed regional economic reopening plans that the administration summarily dismissed, he said. Bracken noted businesses still would maintain health and safety protocols theyve developed throughout the pandemic. John Cifelli, general manager of Unionville Vineyards in Hunterdon County, argued seven New Jersey counties have fewer coronavirus cases, cumulatively, than Hudson County, and it doesnt make sense for businesses in counties with low caseloads to suffer the same restrictions. State Sen. Joseph Cryan, D-Union, questioned whether the bill would actually draw New Jerseyans in high risk, or red counties, to those in lower-risk, green or yellow, counties. Arent we inviting the spread of the virus at some level? he said. Gov. Phil Murphy, when asked about taking a more regional approach in May, expressed similar concern, drawing a distinction between New Jersey and states like New York and Pennsylvania that have implemented regional-based reopening plans. You know, were not New York. Somebody reminded me yesterday that if you drove from New York City to the Canadian border, its a 10-hour drive. Its hard to get more than a three-hour drive in New Jersey. Were all packed in together, its the densest state in the nation. And from a healthcare perspective ... I personally am of the opinion that steps we take will continue to be statewide steps in terms of reopening. Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a subscription. Samantha Marcus may be reached at smarcus@njadvancemedia.com. LeeBeth Young, firstborn child of megachurch Pastor Ed Young, passes Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Founding pastor of Fellowship Church in Grapevine, Texas, Ed Young, is mourning the death of his firstborn child, daughter LeeBeth Young. She was 34. The megachurch pastor, who did not share how his daughter died, said in a statement on social media Tuesday that she is now healed and whole in Gods presence after passing on Monday night. It is with great sadness that I write these words. Last night, our precious and cherished daughter LeeBeth passed away. She was our firstborn, and we celebrate her life, Young said. LeeBeth was a bright, intelligent, strong, creative, witty, and faithful young woman. We love our daughter, and she loved the Lord. Because of her relationship with Jesus, she is now healed and whole in His presence. We ask that you pray for our family, our church, and so many others who loved LeeBeth deeply, he added. The death of LeeBeth Young, who previously worked in communications and video for the church, prompted an outpouring of support for Pastor Ed Young and his family on social media from prominent Christian figures such as evangelical Bible teacher Beth Moore and co-founder of Saddleback Church in California, Kay Warren. Tears .... so very sorry for the loss of your beloved girl. Standing with you, holding your hearts in ours. Here for your family if we can be strong shoulders to lean on, Warren replied to Youngs announcement on Twitter. Other Christian leaders such as Josh Howerton, senior pastor of the multi-site Lakepointe Church in Texas, who said he never met Young before, also shared his condolences. I have never met you, but I love you and am grieving with you tonight, Pastor. The Howerton family is praying for you at bedtime tonight, and should there ever be anything a nobody like me could do for you, I would want the privilege, he wrote. Natasha Artz, who said she attended youth camp with LeeBeth, said her death left her heartbroken. This shook me to the core. I am utterly heartbroken and in tears. Fellowship Church has been my home church since a very young age. LeeBeth and I shared the same age and I remember being in youth camp with her. Such a beautiful family and a beautiful legacy they have created. May God grant the Young family his love, strength and peace during such a difficult time. LeeBeth...your smile, your bright personality and the love you shared with others will live on FOREVER, Artz wrote in response to the news Tuesday. LeeBeth, the eldest of Pastor Youngs four children, was close to her father and once wrote on Instagram that he is the most genuine/humble people you will ever meet and she was blessed God let me be his daughter! In a speech she gave in 2018, she described herself as independent. I think the one attribute my mom would say is the most fitting for me would be independence. My mom used to tell me from the moment I learned how to walk and talk, she felt like I was plotting my move out, LeeBeth said of her mother Lisa. She felt like I was ready to have my own life as a little kid. Luckily, I stayed in the home all through college. I didnt move out too early or anything, she said. Credit: Patrick Balls and Martin GriffinGenesis' The Last Domino? Tour of the U.K. and Ireland, which originally was supposed take place in late 2020, then was pushed back to April of this year, has been postponed again because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The reunion trek, which will be the Rock & Roll Hall of Famers' first tour since 2007, now is mapped out from a September 15-16 stand in Dublin through an October 11-13 engagement in London. In announcing the new dates, Genesis posted a brief statement on their Facebook page that reads, "We're ready, but the world isn't...yet!" The band also has posted a teaser trailer for the tour on its YouTube channel. Tickets for the rescheduled concerts are available via Genesis-Music.com. Previously purchased tickets are still valid, and those who bought them will be contacted by their ticket agent regarding updated details. As previously reported, the trek will feature Genesis' classic trio lineup of Phil Collins, Mike Rutherford and Tony Banks, joined by Collins' son Nic on drums and the group's longtime touring guitarist Daryl Stuermer. By Matt Friedlander Copyright 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved. Biden has received kudos for several easy-to-achieve early steps like rejoining the Paris climate accord, which he could do with the stroke of a pen, and inviting infectious disease expert Anthony Fauci to appear at the White House press briefings. But achieving more meaningful policy goals will require him to work with Congress, which has become notoriously gridlocked and partisan in recent years. Matthew Burris, 9, watches his mother, Erica Jackson, of Los Angeles, undergo a COVID-19 antibody test at the Southside Church of Christ in Los Angeles. Credit:The Orange County Register/AP 'A dismal failure' When pharmaceutical companies Moderna and Pfizer announced in November that their COVID-19 vaccines were 90 per cent effective, a new sense of hope began to emerge in America. Moncef Slaoui, the head of the Trump administrations vaccine development, predicted that enough Americans could be vaccinated by May to allow life to return to a sense of relative normality. No-one expects that anymore. The vaccine rollout has been disappointingly slow and plagued with bureaucratic problems. So far just 36 million doses of vaccine have been distributed and 17 million shots administered - significantly below target. Speaking to reporters on his first full day in office on Friday (AEDT), Biden said America's vaccine rollout had been "a dismal failure thus far". "In 5 weeks only 4 per cent of the US population has received a shot," Jonathan Reiner, a professor of medicine and surgery at George Washington University, said on Twitter this week. "Yes, thats a disaster." Reiner said every day two million Americans should be receiving a vaccine, but the current figure is under one million. In a call with reporters on Inauguration Day, Jeff Zients, the new White House COVID-19 response co-ordinator, told reporters: "What were inheriting is so much worse than we could have imagined. "The cooperation or lack of cooperation from the Trump administration has been an impediment [...] We have to vaccinate as much of the US population as possible to put this pandemic behind us, but we dont have the infrastructure." Biden has said his top priority is to see 100 million vaccine shots put into Americans' arms in his first 100 days in office. On Friday (AEDT) he signed a further 10 executive orders to combat the pandemic - including one invoking the Defence Production Act for companies to manufacture masks, swabs and other medical equipment. But many of the COVID-19 actions Biden has announced so have been largely symbolic or piecemeal - certainly far less than will be required to dramatically expand the number of vaccinations or reduce the spread of the virus. Biden has called for Congress to pass a new $US1.9 trillion ($2.45 trillion) bill that includes tens of billions of dollars in new spending for vaccine distribution and coronavirus testing. US President Joe Biden signs an executive order after speaking during an event on his administration's COVID response with Vice-President Kamala Harris, left, and Dr Anthony Fauci, director of the US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. Credit:Bloomberg Meanwhile, the economic damage inflicted by the pandemic is beginning to intensify again. New bans on indoor dining and winter temperatures have hit the hospitality industry hard. Last week 1.4 million Americans applied for unemployment benefits - one of the highest figures since August. Biden's proposed economic relief bill would boost emergency unemployment payments and send $US1400 stimulus cheques to most Americans. But to achieve that he will need the support of both houses of Congress. Pressure from the left and right Shortly after Biden's inauguration ceremony, another swearing-in event took place at the Capitol when Democrats Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock were inducted into the chamber. This gave the Democrats 50 seats and therefore a majority given Vice-President Kamala Harris can cast a tie-breaking vote in her role as Senate President. Ossoff and Warnock's surprise wins in January delivered the Democrats a trifecta in Washington, meaning they control the Senate and House of Representatives as well as the presidency. This is the first time since January 2011 that the Democrats have had unified control in the US capital. The development has increased their sense of ambition about what can be achieved in the early months of Biden's term. "This Senate will legislate," incoming Democratic Senate Leader Chuck Schumer said this week, contrasting his approach with Republicans' focus on confirming Trump's judicial nominees. "It will be active, responsive, energetic and bold." Bernie Sanders, the Senate's most progressive member and new head of the Senate Budget Committee, this week called for Democrats to aim big when it comes to policy. "This is an unprecedented moment in American history," Sanders said in an opinion article for CNN. "We must act in an unprecedented way." US Democratic Senator Bernie Sanders is pushing for President Joe Biden to enact bold progressive legislation. Credit:AP As well as tackling the pandemic, Sanders said Democrats should push to legislate 12 weeks of paid family leave, universal pre-school for every three and four-year-old in the country and to make public colleges and universities tuition free. Biden has put a big emphasis on trying to revive a culture of bipartisanship in Washington by passing legislation that also attracts Republican votes. But he is facing pressure from the left of his party to put progressive ambition ahead of working across the aisle. "The danger we face would not be in going too big or spending too much, but in going too small and leaving the needs of the American people behind," Sanders wrote in his op-ed. "If Republicans would like to work with us, we should welcome them. But their support is not necessary." To pass many types of legislation, a 60-vote majority is required under the Senate's so-called filibuster rules. But Sanders is pushing to use a process known as budget reconciliation, which can pass spending and taxing policies with a simple majority of Senate votes. Meanwhile, fellow progressive senator Elizabeth Warren is pushing for the Biden administration to use executive authority to cancel student loan debt for millions of Americans - an idea the President has yet to commit to. On the other side of the ledger, Biden is facing pressure from Republicans who say veering too far to the left would betray his calls for unity and bipartisanship. "On the Biden administration's very first day, it took several big steps in the wrong direction," Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said, referring to Biden's executive orders blocking construction of the border wall and terminating Trump's ban on travel to the US from several Muslim majority countries. The Republican added that Biden should "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 people's livelihoods to liberal symbolism," McConnell said. In particular, McConnell hit out at Biden's plan to overhaul the country's immigration laws by providing a pathway to citizenship for millions of undocumented immigrants and expanding America's refugee intake. Biden's proposal, McConnell said, would create "huge new incentives for people to rush here illegally at the same time" and "will invite another humanitarian crisis on our border". Loading Although he is no longer the Senate majority leader, McConnell and his Republican colleagues will continue to have significant power to block legislation under the filibuster rules. Convincing 10 Republicans to loosen immigration laws currently looks like an all-but-impossible task. Biden would also need to win over Republicans in order to enact policies such as a $US15 federal minimum wage and a tightening of gun controls. As well the 50-50 split in the Senate, the Democrats also hold only a narrow 11-seat majority in the House of Representatives. It's highly possible that Democrats could lose their House majority in 2022 given the party of newly-installed presidents typically loses seats in midterm elections. Barack Obama, Bill Clinton and Trump all lost their House majorities after their first two years in office, which severely limited their ability to enact their preferred policies during the remainder of their presidencies. The Bombay High Court on Friday directed the Maharashtra government to submit by Monday the medical report of Partho Dasgupta, former Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) CEO arrested in the television rating points (TRP) rigging scam. A single bench of Justice PD Naik heard an urgent bail plea this evening, filed by Dasgupta's counsels, seeking interim bail for at least two weeks considering his poor health. Last week, Dasgupta was rushed to JJ Hospital from the Taloja prison, where he is lodged as an undertrial, after his blood sugar levels shot up and he fell unconscious. Dasgupta was discharged this evening, after which his lawyers moved HC seeking an urgent hearing. "He was discharged from JJ Hospital on a stretcher. If he was fit enough to be discharged, then he should have been walking out and not been carried out on a stretcher," said Dasgupta's counsel Arjun Singh Thakur. The state's counsel, Deepak Thakare, told HC that as per protocol, since the JJ hospital had certified Dasgupta to be fit for discharge, he will be taken to the Taloja prison hospital. If he is certified as fit, he will be shifted to his prison cell, or else, he will be taken back to JJ hospital, Thakare said. "So, the court directed that the state produce his (Dasgupta's) latest medical reports. And it will hear our urgent bail plea on Monday," advocate Thakur said. Dasgupta was arrested by the Mumbai crime branch on December 24 last year. Earlier this week, a sessions court here rejected his bail plea saying he played a vital role in the TRP scam. (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.) Lawmakers in the House and Senate approved Lloyd Austin as the new defense secretary on Friday, giving the Pentagon its first Black secretary and ending weeks of debate over President Joe Bidens choice of a former Army general for a job nearly always held by a civilian. After each chamber approved a waiver that allowed Austin to take the job just a few years after leaving active military service on Thursday, the Senate confirmed him Friday morning in a 93-2 vote. Austin is expected to be one of Bidens closest advisers on foreign policy, especially on the issues of competing with China and reducing troop deployments in the Middle East. His appointment is a big step for a racially diverse federal institution whose leadership remains almost entirely white. He takes over the Defense Department, Americas largest employer, at a deeply complicated time for the military. Amid a monthslong Republican effort to tamper with the presidential election, top military officers and former defense secretaries repeatedly emphasized that the armed forces have no role in vital democratic processes like voting and transferring power between presidents. But after the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol which some veterans and current service members participated in the Pentagon deployed thousands of troops to Washington to secure Bidens inauguration. With the clear and growing risk of political fights pulling in uniformed personnel, congressional lawmakers are anxious to affirm the limits of the militarys reach in American democracy and to investigate and root out radicalization among the troops. Austin has told lawmakers that hes committed to ending extremism within the Defense Department. We can never take our hands off the wheel on this, he said at a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on Tuesday. This has no place in the military of the United States of America. But in its own way, Austins nomination by Biden boosted concerns about the politicization of the military. The job of defense secretary has only twice before gone to a former general. National security experts say that having a lifelong civilian in the role is important to signal that the armed forces are accountable to people outside their ranks who represent the broader country and to limit political ambition or partisanship among the troops. Both houses of Congress are needed to approve a special waiver for a retired officer to become defense secretary less than seven years after theyve left the military. Austin retired in 2016. Several influential lawmakers, including Democratic Sens. Elizabeth Warren (Mass.) and Tammy Duckworth (Ill.) and Republican Sen. Tom Cotton (Ark.), argued that it was inappropriate for Austin to receive that waiver, particularly so soon after lawmakers gave a similar waiver to retired Marine Gen. Jim Mattis to take the job in 2017. Democratic leaders and most Republicans disagreed, however. The House passed the waiver early Thursday afternoon after suddenly canceling a public hearing with Austin and the Senate followed suit later in the day, clearing the way for its confirmation vote. Can you give the president of the United States the benefit of the doubt? House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) asked her colleagues ahead of the vote, according to Politico. During his appearance before the Senate panel on Tuesday, Austin repeatedly committed to putting civilians in top decision-making roles, citing two well-respected deputies he already plans to bring in: Kathleen Hicks and Colin Kahl, who both have Defense Department experience in their resumes. And he outlined plans to address his potential conflicts of interest in managing the armed services, promising to probe how military leaders handle sexual assault cases an issue many officers are loath to lose control over and to recuse himself from decisions related to Raytheon, a major military contractor that placed Austin on its board after he retired. Additionally, he pledged to be responsive to the press and to congressional overseers, unlike his recent predecessors. Lloyd Austin, President Joe Biden's pick for defense secretary, testified before the Senate Armed Services Committee on Tuesday, Jan. 19. (Photo: POOL New / Reuters) The incoming Pentagon chief also said he will focus heavily on responding to Beijings expanding global influence, boosting U.S. alliances with other nations concerned about China and addressing fears that the military has not invested enough resources in the Pacific Ocean region. With Austin having spent much of his career in the Middle East, some lawmakers worry that he doesnt have enough familiarity with Washingtons primary international rival. Austin calmed some of those worries by calling China a pacing threat on Tuesday, according to Zack Cooper, a former Pentagon official now with the American Enterprise Institute think tank. The phrase refers to the competitor who is most plausibly moving to challenge American defense strategy. There will still be a lot of people who will be nervous about the degree of Asia expertise that he has, Cooper said. But he added that Austins expected appointment of analysts deeply familiar with the region, like Kelly Magsamen and Ely Ratner, will further allay those fears. As one of the most prominent faces in the Biden administration, Austin can expect heavy scrutiny, including from skeptics of the waiver who will closely monitor how civilians fare in his Pentagon and from more liberal Democrats who hope to craft a more progressive foreign policy. Under former President Donald Trump, the militarys budget grew significantly and military actions abroad caused significantly more civilian deaths even as Trump reduced some foreign troop deployments. Lawmakers and activists will likely push Austin on human rights issues including U.S. support for the brutal Saudi-led coalition in Yemen and other controversial policies he has been involved in and trimming the defense budget. Austins historic confirmation makes him the second member of Bidens Cabinet to take office, following Avril Haines as the first female director of national intelligence. Bidens team wants to quickly fill top national security jobs because of a recent massive Russian hack of sensitive U.S. institutions and fears that other adversaries will exploit the presidential transition period. This article originally appeared on HuffPost and has been updated. The Missourians Opinion section is a public forum for the discussion of ideas. The views presented in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Missourian or the University of Missouri. If you would like to contribute to the Opinion page with a response or an original topic of your own, visit our submission form You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close Instacart is cutting about 1,900 employees' jobs, including 10 workers who recently formed a union, as the company seeks to boost its ranks of contract workers. The grocery delivery company already classifies most of its workers as independent contractors, whose numbers have ballooned to more than 500,000 during the coronavirus pandemic. But starting in 2015, the company hired a small subset of workers as employees, who under U.S. law are entitled to protections like minimum wage and can be subject to more direction and training by their boss. "What we found is that our shoppers require training and supervision, which is how you improve the quality of the picking," Instacart Chief Executive Officer Apoorva Mehta said at the time. "You can't do that when they are independent contractors." Now, Instacart is moving in the other direction, eliminating 1,877 employees' positions, including those of 10 workers in Illinois who last year became the first in the country to vote to unionize at the company. The company said it's doing this as part of a shift toward new models, like providing its technology to retailers to have their own workers prepare customers' orders. "We know this is an incredibly challenging time for many as we move through the covid-19 crisis, and we're doing everything we can to support in-store shoppers through this transition," the company said in an emailed statement. Instacart said it's providing severance packages and seeking to place affected workers in open positions within the company or working directly for retailers. Instacart said it will still have thousands of shoppers classified as employees after making the change but declined to provide more specifics. The United Food & Commercial Workers union, which represents the Illinois workers, condemned the move, saying it eliminates around a fifth or more of Instacart's U.S. front-line employee positions. "Instacart firing the only unionized workers at the company and destroying the jobs of nearly 2,000 dedicated front-line workers in the middle of this public health crisis is simply wrong," Marc Perrone, the union's president, wrote in an emailed statement. San Francisco-based Instacart and other gig companies including Uber Technologies Inc. and Lyft Inc. last year bankrolled a successful $200 million campaign to pass a California ballot measure exempting them from a state law declaring workers were employees if they did work in the "usual course" of their bosses' business. Emboldened by that victory, the companies are pushing for similar changes elsewhere that would make it easier to claim workers are contractors. Instacart's cuts were condemned Thursday by state and federal lawmakers including Illinois Congressman Jesus Garcia, who called them "outrageous" and tweeted that he was "eager to take on bad actors like Instacart" in Congress and via a "reinvigorated" National Labor Relations Board under President Joe Biden. 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. Japan has joined a growing list of countries that are challenging Chinas maritime claims in the South China Sea. On Tuesday, Japan presented a one-page diplomatic note to the United Nations rejecting Chinas baseline claims and denouncing its efforts to limit the freedom of navigation and overflight. Japans note is the latest in series of recent criticisms of Chinas position, joining submissions to the U.N. from the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Malaysia, Australia, Indonesia, Vietnam, the Philippines, and the United States. This backlash suggests that Chinas excessive claims and its assertive behavior are setting off alarm bells in in a growing number of capitalsboth in Southeast Asia and beyond. By joining the United States and several European and Asian nations in formally protesting China's claims, Japan is joining a diplomatic (and maybe operational) effort to reject specific elements of China's South China Sea claims, said Isaac Kardon, an assistant professor at the U.S. Naval War College. In its submission, Japan explicitly rejects Chinas claim that the drawing of territorial sea baselines by China on relevant islands and reefs in the South China Sea conforms to UNCLOS and general international law. The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea is an international treaty that covers maritime jurisdictions, the use of sea resources, and the freedom of navigation and overflight. Baselines are imaginary lines on a map connecting the outermost points of the features of an archipelago and are meant to circumscribe the territory that belongs to it. Japanese Ground Home Defence Forces Amphibious Assault Vehicles (AAV) maneouver along the beach of a Philippine navy training center facing the South China Sea in annual U.S.-Philippine marines exercises. San Antonio town, Zambales province, Oct. 6, 2018. Deeper Southeast Asia ties Although Japan is not among the claimants in the South China Sea, this is not its first foray into those turbulent waters. Japan has deepened security ties with several of the Southeast Asian claimant nations in recent years, and in October 2020 carried out anti-submarine exercises in the South China Sea. Japanese companies have signed onto joint offshore energy projects with Vietnam, and Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga recently set a defense export agreement with Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc. Similarly, the Philippines has acquired coast guard vessels and radar systems from Japan. And Japanese vessels have participated in exercises in the South China Sea with forces from the United States and the Philippines. Japans decision to challenge Chinas position in the South China Sea is also likely related to its dispute with China over the Japanese-occupied Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea. The timing of the note is crucial, Pooja Bhatt, a PhD candidate at Jawaharlal Nehru University, said, as it was released a few hours prior to a reportedly high-level consultation on maritime issues between China and Japan where the latter lodged a diplomatic protest over increasing Chinese belligerence near the Senkaku Islands. More broadly, Bhatt said Japans action reflected a trend of non-claimant states that seek safety and freedom of trade and navigation and hope to uphold the rule of law and internationally accepted norms in the high seas of the South China Sea just like any other global commons. Because the waters of the South China Sea beyond the territorial sea are high seas that impact global peace and security, Bhatt explained, claimant and non-claimant states are increasingly vocal to register their concern through diplomatic notes to the United Nations at the multilateral level. At odds with UNCLOS For example, France, Germany, and the United Kingdom submitted joint notes to the United Nations in September 2020. They contended that Chinas baseline claims and historic rights claims were inconsistent with UNCLOS. China claims straight baselines around the Paracel Islands, an area in the northern South China Sea disputed by Vietnam, China, and Taiwan. Assessments of these claims have long concluded that Chinas baselines in the Paracels are at odds with UNCLOS requirements. China has not yet claimed baselines around the Spratly Islands, the site of overlapping claims between China, Vietnam, the Philippines, Brunei, Taiwan, and Malaysia. In July 2016, an UNCLOS tribunal ruled that China is constituted principally by territory on the mainland of Asia and cannot meet the definition of an archipelagic State, which means that any future straight baseline claims around the Spratly Islands will not find any support under international law. The arbitral award also invalidated Chinas historic rights claims within its so-called nine-dash line. The UNCLOS tribunal at the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague issued this arbitral award in response to a legal challenge brought against China in 2013 by the Philippines. China refused to participate in the arbitration, rejected the PCAs ruling, and has continued to defend its baseline claims. In the years since the UNCLOS tribunal ruling, the legal battle over Chinas South China Sea claims has continued. According to Kardon, Japans recent note to the U.N. is part of a series of such diplomatic notes that began with Malaysia's December 2019 submission of extended continental shelf claims to the United Nations Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf. China responded by asking the Commission to not consider Malaysias submission. This provided another target for claimants and other interested parties to voice formal objections to specific aspects of China's claims, Kardon said. Japans note to the United Nations is a response to Chinas retort to the joint notes that France, Germany, and the United Kingdom submitted in September 2020. Japans note also expresses concern about Chinas position on freedom of navigation and overflight in the South China Sea specifically over what are called low-tide elevations, features exposed at low tide but submerged at high tide that do not generate a territorial sea. Japan specifically accuses China of protesting the overflight of Japanese aircraft in the airspace surrounding Mischief Reef a low-tide elevation in the Spratly Islands that China transformed into a major outpost through land reclamation. Bella Hadid was forced to deny she's on drugs on Thursday, as she unveiled something of a New Age transformation in her first Instagram post since January 5. In breaking her weeks-long silence, the Victoria's Secret model, 24, revealed she is 'only here to be an instrument of peace and love' as she shared snaps of the crystals and books that have had an apparent influence on her new take on life. However, she soon found herself having to shoot down accusations of taking psilocybin mushrooms, when an Instagram user wrote in reaction to her lengthy philosophical post: 'Girl just say you did shrooms.' Denied: Bella Hadid was forced to deny she's on drugs on Thursday, as she unveiled something of a New Age transformation in her first Instagram post since January 5. Pictured in 2019 Hitting back at the suggestion, the sister of fellow model Gigi Hadd wrote: 'I wish it was that easy, lol! I haven't touched any type of that sorta thing. Bless.' Bella's post showcased a big shift in her life, as she spoke about the 'pure wisdom' she'd encountered during her time away from social media. Captioning her eclectic collection of pictures, which included imagery of angels, she wrote: 'I took some time away to reflect and learn about myself in a way that would be too much to explain at the moment , but with time I will express.' 'The memories and fortune I came back with are pure wisdom, a closer relationship with myself & my spirituality, a sense of self-love that I have always lacked , a few great friends, and these books that saw me through. I found myself, my strength and my light again. Crystals: The Victoria's Secret model, 24, revealed she is 'only here to be an instrument of peace and love' as she shared snaps of the crystals that have had an apparent influence on her New Age philosophy: She also shared imagery of angels in her eclectic collection of snapshots Comment: She soon found herself having to shoot down accusations of taking psilocybin mushrooms, when an Instagram user wrote under her post, 'Girl just say you did shrooms' 'I found myself, my strength and my light again. I am only here to be an instrument of peace & love to help people that suffer and hopefully the world, in time... 'Thank you to my angels who have supported and have continued to love me , for me. You saved me .' Concluding her lengthy caption about her break away from social media, she wrote: 'Take time to get help for your mental health. Its worth it to get to your full potential.' A part of her process also apparently included horse-riding, as she shared an image of herself enjoying the equestrian activity. Equestrian activities: A part of her process also apparently included horse-riding, as she shared an image of herself enjoying the equestrian activity Candor: The 24-year-old wrote, 'I took some time away to reflect and learn about myself in a way that would be too much to explain at the moment , but with time I will express' 'It's worth it to get to your full potential': At the end of a lengthy caption about her off-time she wrote: 'Take time to get help for your mental health' Her Instagram post included some religious artwork as well as a picture showing piles of some of her books in front of the fireplace. The books included The 11 Karmic Spaces by the late Ma Jaya whose Kashi Ashram, who denied allegations of abuse by former members, the Miami New Times reported. After Ma Jaya died her daughter claimed that when she was 14 an adult male member of the religious group raped her multiple times at her mother's instruction. Bella's booklist also included The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran, Create Your Own Calm by Meera Lee Patel and I Thought It Was Just Me (But It Isn't) by Brene Brown. Literary maven: Her Instagram post included some religious artwork as well as a picture showing piles of some of her books in front of the fireplace Off they go: Bella included a photograph of herself running cheerfully through a meadow hand in hand with another woman whose face was not visible Her new Instagram photo album indicated that during her time off from social media she also kept herself entertained with a CD player and some coloured pencils. A couple of pictures also showed crystals - which is an enthusiasm shared by Bella's fellow spiritually-enlightened celebrity Spencer Pratt. Bella included a photograph of herself running cheerfully through a meadow hand in hand with another woman whose face was not visible. She enjoyed some animal company as well during her social media hiatus, including with a bit of horseback riding and some time spent with a cat. Gigi welcomed a baby daughter four months ago with her on-again beau Zayn Malik and this Thursday finally revealed that the little girl's name is Khai. Such fun: Her new Instagram photo album indicated that during her time off from social media she also kept herself entertained with a CD player and some colored pencils 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. ROSEBURG, Ore. Feeding Umpqua Food Bank received a huge delivery from Sherms Thunderbird Market Thursday. The grocery store donated 30,000 pounds of food to the organization. The food was brought to the food bank in a semi-truck from their home base in Medford. Owner Steven Olsrud escorted the truck to Roseburg. He told KEZI 9 News that this donation is needed now more than ever as the food bank continues to address food insecurities caused by the pandemic and the 2020 wildfires. This has probably been the worst year of all for southern Oregon, said Olsrud. There is so much need out there. Olsrud said this is a tradition that goes back 15 years. He said theyve donated more than 400,000 pounds of food to Feeding Umpqua since they started. When we started doing the food donations, it doesnt really hurt us, but it really helps the communities we serve, he said. Sherms Thunderbird has three locations in Southern Oregon: Roseburg, Medford and Klamath Falls. Connecticuts economy was barely prepared to withstand the pandemic-induced lockdowns of 2020. The impact on jobs, wealth, population and state government finances was severe, leaving Connecticut dangerously exposed to greater economic pain when the next crisis occurs. How prepared was Connecticut to deal with the pandemic and ensuing lockdowns? What was the impact of those restrictions throughout 2020? Is Connecticuts economy more, or less prepared to deal with some future crisis? Heading into the crisis, Connecticuts economy was in a weakened state. In November 2019, Connecticuts unemployment rate stood at 3.8 percent, a little higher than the national rate of 3.5 percent. Moreover, the states government finances were atrocious. According to the Pew Charitable Trust, in 2018 Connecticut ranked third from the bottom on funding government pensions, with only Kentucky, New Jersey and Illinois lower. The amount of unfunded liabilities for pensions is about $35 billion, more than ten times the states rainy day fund. Connecticut remains a wealthy state, with sufficient resources to face the next crisis. Sadly, that wealth reserve has frayed significantly. One measure: The increase in housing prices in Connecticut during the five years ending in the third quarter of 2020 ranks fourth from the bottom. Much of this lackluster performance was driven by outward migration of Connecticut residents: U.S. Census data shows that Connecticut was one of only three states to lose population over the period 2010-18. (The other two were Illinois and West Virginia.) Connecticut headed into the pandemic armed with government finances and attractiveness to new residents resembling states historically dependent on a dying - and dirty - industry, coal mining. How did Connecticuts economy perform, once the pandemic hit? Badly. While the national unemployment rate increased from 3.5 percent to 6.7 percent (November 2019 to November 2020), Connecticuts rate more than doubled, going from 3.8 percent to 8.2 percent. One hundred thousand were thrown into dependency on unemployment checks, resulting in a 434 percent dollar increase from September 2019 to September 2020. Small businesses, the core of any functioning economy, were devastated. In a Christmastime article, the Wall Street Journal reported that one in three small businesses have closed their doors in Connecticut since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic. In perhaps the most depressing result, during spring 2020, the Connecticut Food Bank experienced a 44 percent increase in demand combined with a 60 percent reduction in corporate food donations. To deal with a once-a-century phenomenon, unemployment checks went out and food banks stepped up, leaving Connecticuts economy and government finances highly stressed. Unemployment is historically high, businesses remain restricted and government financial resources to deal with the next crisis are frighteningly constrained. Those 100,000 unexpected monthly unemployment checks represented a massive unbudgeted expense. Gov. Ned Lamont has steadfastly resisted tapping into the states record-level $3 billion rainy day fund. One could argue that a pandemic defines a rainy day, and that we should spend that money right now to ease the stress on the hungry and unemployed. One would be wrong. The real rainy day will come when all those unfunded government liabilities come due. John Rosen is adjunct professor of economics at the University of New Haven. Kyle Longo is a senior at the University of New Haven and a leader in the Liberty Initiative, a Transformative Education program at the university. New Delhi: Bharat Biotech International Limiteds (BBIL) Covaxin was well tolerated and induced enhanced immune response with neutralising antibodies, preliminary data from Phase I trial to assess safety and immunogenicity published in British medical journal Lancet shows. The inactivated vaccine, which has used particles of dead coronavirus, led to common side effects such as pain at injection site, headache, fatigue and fever and nausea, and one adverse event which the data showed was not associated with the trial group who got Covaxin. Between July 13 and 30, 827 participants were screened and eventually 375 were enrolled after the rest did not qualify due to a variety of issues. Among those enrolled, 100 each were randomly assigned to three vaccine groups and 75 were randomly assigned to the control or placebo arm of the trial. The vaccine groups received three different formulations of the vaccine. During the trials, conducted at 11 sites in India, the second dose of the vaccine was administered 14 days apart. Later, when the Phase III trials began in early November to test the vaccines efficacy the gap between the first and second dose was kept at 28 days to elicit enhanced immune response in building immunity. The key assessment in the Phase I trial was of the safety and reactogenicity and preliminary assessment of immune response against SARS-CoV-2. Participants were observed for two hours after vaccination to assess reactogenicity, and were instructed to record local and systemic reactions at seven day intervals (days 0-7 and days 14-21) after vaccination using a diary card. Solicited local adverse events were pain at the injection site and swelling, and systemic adverse events, including fever, fatigue or malaise, myalgia, body aches, headaches, nausea or vomiting, anorexia, chills, generalised rash, and diarrhoea. All unsolicited adverse events were reported by participants throughout the study. The vaccine was well tolerated in all dose groups with no vaccine-related serious adverse events. Both humoral and cell-mediated responses were observed in the recipients of the Algel-IMDG-based vaccines, the study published in Lancet said. Following vaccination, the IgG antibody titres or levels against the virus spike protein, receptor-binding domain and nucleocapsid protein increased after each dose of the vaccine. The vaccine induced response was similar to those observed in the convalescent serum collected from 41 patients who had recovered from Covid-19. The study, however, did not report any data on persistence of vaccine-induced antibody responses or long-term safety outcomes. This data is likely expected in the Phase II and III trial data study. The government drug regulator approved Covaxin early this month in clinical trial mode due to paucity of Phase III data on the vaccines efficacy. This means that healthcare workers receiving the vaccine as part of the mass vaccinate drive will be under active monitoring following their vaccination, to check for side effects and adverse effects. The vaccine was developed in collaboration with Indian Council of Medical Research National Institute of Virology. The indigenous and inactivated vaccine was developed and manufactured in BBILs Bio-Safety Level 3 high containment facility in Hyderabad. Award-winning New York City jazz pianist Ben Rosenblum and his trio will perform an intimate concert at the Timucua Arts Foundation in Orlando on Friday, Feb. 12, as part of a seven-stop Southeast tour through Florida, South Carolina and North Carolina. This evening will be open to limited attendance for its two sets at 7 p.m. and 8:30 p.m., and will also be live-streamed. More information can be found at the links on Timucua's website, timucua.com. SeaofTranquility.org stated that Rosenblum is "mature beyond his years." AllThatJazz.com wrote that he is an "impressive talent," and Downbea... Vice President Kamala Harris' stepdaughter Ella Emhoff quickly emerged as a breakout star of the inauguration this week, thanks in part to her stylish designer coat and in part to an eyebrow wiggle caught by TV cameras. While attending the ceremony on Wednesday, the 21-year-old Parsons School of Design art student attended the ceremony on Wednesday was captured on camera reacting as former Vice President Mike Pence walked out and though most of her face was covered with a face mask, she still managed to be incredibly expressive. As cameras panned to former President Barack Obama, Ella, standing behind him, could be seen dramatically wiggling her eyebrows, a move that has captured the attention of thousands of social media users. Viral: Vice President Kamala Harris' stepdaughter Ella Emhoff quickly emerged as a breakout star of the inauguration this week, thanks in part to an eyebrow wiggle caught by TV cameras On camera: When former VP Pence walked by, cameras captured Ella wiggling her eyebrows, one at a time Funny: The blink-and-you-missed-it-moment quickly became a viral clip from the inauguration, capturing the few seconds it took for Ella to wiggle her eyebrows above her glasses Ella and her brother Cole call Vice President Harris 'Momala' The blink-and-you-missed-it-moment quickly became a viral clip from the inauguration, capturing the few seconds it took for Ella to wiggle her eyebrows, one at a time, above her glasses. Twitter users have branded the moment 'sassy' and imaged they could read her thoughts as she reacted to Pence walking in front of her. 'Lmaoooo Ella Emhoffs eyebrow waggle this is amazing,' wrote one. 'You thought Ella Emhoff's coat was cool, but what about these side eyebrows,' said another. 'I have very little interest in celebrity fawning, treating this kind of pomp and circumstance like it's emotionally meaningful, or acting like these people are my buddies (or yours). But then Ella Emhoff waggled her eyebrows like Groucho and my frozen heart melted a little bit,' opined a third. Yet another wrote: 'J.Lo was cool but its Ella Emhoff's eyebrow for me.' In love: Twitter users have branded the moment 'sassy' and imaged they could read her thoughts as she reacted to Pence walking in front of her 'I hope Ella Emhoff's eyebrows have got their own agent,' quipped yet another, while one more wrote that the moment 'gave me great joy.' 'I could watch Ella Emhoff's eyebrows at the inauguration all day. (Was this to Pence?) I'm so glad she's part of this new crew,' said another. Several particularly loved that it was a reaction to Pence. 'Ella Emhoffs reaction to Pence most amusing inaugural moment. What spell was she casting? I think it was something to help him feel comfortable in his surroundings. And how cool is she for bringing The Monster Book of Monsters for Joe to be sworn in on,' said one. 'Catching Ella Emhoff wiggling her eyebrows when Mike Pence walked out actually just made my day, the kids are all right,' tweeted another. 'I am now an unabashed Ella Emhoff stannot just for the iconic fashion, but for the sassy eyebrow raise when the Pences walked out,' said one more. They are calling the clip 'amazing' and saying it 'gave me great joy' and 'made my day' While there was plenty of head-turning fashion to behold at the event on Wednesday, Ella quickly emerged as one to watch when she stepped out with her brother Cole, 26. Ella who is the daughter of Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff and his ex-wife, Emmy award-winning film producer Kerstin Emhoff 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. Speaking to Vogue, Ella, who is in her final year of college 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. Glam! On inauguration day, social media users were also hailing Ella's style and fawning over this Miu Miu coat Hanging with dad: 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 '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.' 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. Twitter users flooded the social media platform with praise as well. 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 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 '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 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.' 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. [January 22, 2021] NEI recognized among India's Top 30 Best Workplaces in Manufacturing 2021 JAIPUR, India, Jan. 22, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- National Engineering Industries Ltd (NEI), part of USD 2.4 billion diversified CK Birla Group has been honoured with the recognition of 'India's best Workplaces in Manufacturing 2021' by Great Place to Work Institute. NEI's brand, NBC Bearings is a symbol of dependability and flexible engineering solutions and it's only fitting for the company to also be acknowledged as a top employer. NEI emerged in the top 30 organizations considered through a rigorous evaluation and assessment demonstrating that NEI offers the best working experience to its employees. Speaking on this development, Rohit Saboo, President and CEO, National Engineering Industries Ltd said, "I am delighted with the recognition of being amongst India's Top 30 Best Workplaces in Manufacturing. This certification is a testimony of our people focussed approach. We understand that positive employee engagement is integral in achieving our business goals and company's success. We always strive to create world class people practices to drive a high performance culture. I congratulate each employee on this tremendous recognition." Sandeep Gautam, CHRO, National Engineering Industries Ltd said, "Being identified as one of the best manufacturing workpaces is indeed a commendable feat. NEI is known for its people practices which are designed and adapted basis continuous feedback from its employees fostering a high trust culture. We value talent and offer them extraordinary opportunities and seamless avenues to learn and grow. NEI's people focused strategy reflect in the company's relentless effort to be a preferred and premier employer." NEI's best-in-class people practices include employee wellness programs, rewards and employee recognition and work-life balance. With an open and high performance culture, there is special emphasis on diversity of workforce and inclusion. NEI also provides various leadership development and performance enhancement programs for the talent cohorts. The company continues to focus on strengthening its HR practices to create a quality and fun work environment that motivates its people. NEI has also been recognised as 'India's best companies to work for -2020 - Top 100'. About NEI (National Engineering Industries Ltd) Founded in 1946, National Engineering Industries Ltd (NEI) is India's leading bearings manufacturer and exporter, renowned for excellence in quality and delivery. Headquartered in Jaipur, NEI is an integral part of the US$ 2.4 bn CK Birla Group. Having started with 30,000 bearings in 19 sizes in 1946, NEI has evolved to manufacture over 200 million bearings each year in more than 1450 sizes to serve a host of customers across India and 30 other countries across five continents. NEI acquired, Kinex bearings in 2020 through its wholly owned European subsidiary. Leading customers from US, Germany, Brazil, Japan, Australia etc. have entrusted NEI with their critical product requirements. NEI also serves the Indian aftermarket through a countrywide network of 550 authorized stockists. With an employee strength of over 2,800 and five manufacturing plants in Jaipur, Newai (Rajasthan), Manesar (Haryana) and Vadodara (Gujarat), NEI is equipped with global manufacturing and process technology and one of the best R&D centres in the country. www.nbcbearings.com [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] PHOENIX -- Health officials say the number of COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations in Arizona are declining despite the state having the worst infection rate in the country. Department of Health Services Director Dr. Cara Christ said Friday that the number of patients and even the positivity test rate have dipped slightly in the last few weeks. It was the one bright spot of news as Arizona reached a grim milestone with a pandemic death toll of more than 12,000. That puts COVID-19 on track to eclipse heart disease and cancer as the leading cause of death in the state. The Department of Health Services on Friday reported 8,099 additional known cases and 229 additional deaths, increasing the states pandemic totals to 708,041 cases and 12,001 deaths. One person in every 141 Arizona residents was diagnosed with COVID-19 over the past week. ___ THE VIRUS OUTBREAK: Dr. Fauci says a lack of candor about the coronavirus under President Donald Trump very likely cost lives. Japan is publicly adamant it will stage the postponed Olympics, but faces vaccine roadblocks. Germany passes 50,000 deaths from coronavirus. Lucky few get COVID-19 vaccine because of rare extra doses in U.S. New Chinese film praises Wuhan ahead of lockdown anniversary. Brazil awaits vaccine cargo from India amid supply concerns. ___ Follow all of APs pandemic coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic, https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-vaccine and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak ___ HERES WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING: BOISE, Idaho -- Limited coronavirus vaccine availability, confusion over which Idaho residents should be vaccinated first and rumors of line-jumpers are all complicating the states vaccine rollout. Members of Idahos COVID-19 Vaccine Advisory Committee met Friday to help clarify exactly who should have first dibs on the states doses. Sarah Leeds with the Idaho Immunization Program says the demand is far higher than the doses available. So far, the federal government has distributed more than 178,000 doses to Idaho. Thats a rate of about 9,970 doses for every 100,000 residents, putting Idaho near the bottom compared to the allotment given other states. Story continues Currently, front-line health care workers, nursing home staffers, dentists, pharmacists and other medical-field staffers are eligible to be vaccinated in Idaho, as can child care workers, teachers and staffers at primary and secondary schools and correctional center staffers. But the people who are charged with giving out the vaccine local health departments, pharmacies and medical care providers have different interpretations of exactly who is included in each category. ___ RALEIGH North Carolinas Department of Health and Human Services said on Friday that the state has seen 1,280 of its coronavirus vaccine doses get discarded. Only 0.1% (or 1,280) of the 1.1 million doses which have entered the state thus far have become unusable for any reason and we have not received reports of significant batches being lost, the department said in a statement to The Associated Press. In a Thursday afternoon news conference, the states top public health official, Dr. Mandy Cohen, estimated the waste to be in the tens of doses. Doses being administered at county health departments, clinics, hospitals and other places could be tossed out due to a vaccine being stored too long in a freezer or not being administered in a timely manner once it has been taken out of a freezer. There are currently 136 different vaccine providers in the state. The health department said providers are using low dead-volume syringes are designed to maximize the amount of doses it can get out one multi-dose vial. In some cases, providers have been able to extract an extra dose out of the Pfizer supply, and we appreciate the hard work of providers to maximize the use of this supply, the department said. North Carolina expects to continue getting about 120,000 new first doses of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines each week. ___ SEATTLE -- A suburban Seattle man who advertised a supposed COVID-19 vaccine he said he created in his personal lab, has been arrested. KUOW reports Johnny T. Stine faces a misdemeanor charge of introducing misbranded drugs into interstate commerce. According to the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Washington, Stine advertised injections of the supposed vaccine for $400 on his personal Facebook page in March 2020. At that time, there was no authorized COVID-19 vaccine on the market. It wasnt immediately known if Stine has a lawyer to comment on his case. He could face up to one year in prison if convicted. ___ BURLINGTON, Vt. -- A state health inspector has found that some residents of a long-term care and skilled nursing facility in Burlington, Vermont, failed to get doses of required medication and proper wound care and were left to sit in their urine amid a coronavirus outbreak at the facility last month. The Vermont Department of Disabilities, Aging and Independent Living and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services did the inspection at Elderwood at Burlington on Dec. 9 and 10, the Burlington Free Press reported. The survey was done following recent anonymous complaints about the facility. A subsequent report did not find any instances of infection control failing to stop the spread of COVID-19, the newspaper reported. The facility said in a statement Friday that it is committed to working with regulatory authorities to ensure it maintains high standards of care and appropriately complies with all guidance. Elderwood at Burlington is and always has been committed to high quality, safe resident care. Throughout the pandemic, which has stretched the resources of healthcare providers across the country, our staff have worked with diligence and dedication to care for residents, the statement said. The report states that the facility continues to hire, train and schedule enough competent staff to meet the needs of residents and surpass state minimum staffing requirements. ___ MISSION, Kan. Online sign-ups for the coronavirus vaccine are filling up almost as quickly as they are posted as health officials in Kansas begin moving beyond immunizing just health care workers and long-term care residents. Saline County had to shut its down within 30 minutes after residents 65 and older nabbed all 900 available slots. Thats about how long Douglas County had its signup open before its 500 slots were filled. The rush comes after Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly announced Thursday that the state was moving into the second vaccination phase, which includes about 1 million people. It includes not just those 65 and older but also people in congregate settings such as prisons and homeless shelters, and critical workers such as firefighters, police officers, teachers and meat packing plant employees. The state also will continue vaccinating people from the first phase, some of whom wanted to watch the rollout to see if there were problems before getting vaccinated themselves. The challenge is that the state doesnt have nearly enough doses for all of them at least not yet. So the state is leaving it up to counties to decide how to prioritize who gets vaccinated next. ___ SACRAMENTO, Calif. California is reporting a one-day record of 764 COVID-19 deaths but the rate of new infections is falling. The deaths reported Friday by the California Department of Public Health top the previous mark of 708 set on Jan. 8. In the last two days California has recorded 1,335 deaths. Hospitalizations and newly confirmed cases have been falling, however, and health officials are growing more optimistic that the worst of the latest surge is over. The 23,024 new cases reported Friday are less than half the mid-December peak of nearly 54,000. Hospitalizations have fallen below 20,000, a drop of more than 10% in two weeks. ___ PORTLAND, Ore. Gov. Kate Brown on Friday defended her decision to reject federal guidelines and prioritize teachers for the COVID-19 vaccine before the elderly, stating that if all of Oregons seniors were vaccinated first teachers would likely not be vaccinated before the school year and many students would not return to in-person learning. In addition, during a news conference, officials from the Oregon Health Authority presented a new vaccination timeline that delays the eligibility for seniors 65 to 69 years old to be vaccinated until March 7 and those 70 to 74 pushed back to Feb. 28. Last week, Oregon officials announced a change to the vaccine distribution instead of vaccinating teachers and seniors at the same time, teachers would be vaccinated beginning Jan. 25 and people 80 or older beginning Feb. 8. ___ SAO PAULO Sao Paulo state, which has posted the greatest number of COVID-19 deaths of any Brazilian state, has tightened its restrictions on activity until Feb. 7 with the 8 p.m. closure of non-essential businesses. The reopening of schools, previously planned for Feb. 1, was postponed by a week. Health authorities also announced local hospitals could run out of intensive-care beds in 28 days, which forced them to reassign 1,000 beds for COVID-19 patients. Sao Paulo state is home to 46 million people, and has recorded almost 51,000 deaths from the virus almost one fourth of the total in Brazil, where cases and deaths of coronavirus are surging again. Also on Friday, Brazils health regulator authorized the emergency use of 4.8 million CoronaVac vaccines bottled locally by Sao Paulos Butantan Institute. Six million shots were previously made available by Butantan, and another 2 million AstraZeneca shots are expected to arrive from India later on Friday. Brazil has a population of about 210 million. ___ MONTGOMERY, Ala. Alabama's state health officer said a low supply of vaccine is the largest hindrance to getting people vaccinated for COVID-19. Alabama health officials were expecting to get more than 112,000 COVID-19 vaccination doses a week based on conversations with federal officials when Operation Ward Speed began last year. Instead, officials said, the state is getting about 50,000 to 60,000 doses a week. Dr. Scott Harris said federal officials later said the 112,000 figure was not a promise but a figure that the state should use in its planning. Alabama has approved more than 883 pharmacies, hospitals, doctors offices, and other providers to do vaccinations but only 364 have received any vaccine. He said only about 117 providers will get vaccine this week because of the available supply. The state of nearly 5 million people has received 502,950 vaccine doses and 223,887 of those have been administered, according to state numbers. Harris said many of the unused doses are designated for patients in upcoming appointments for their second or first dose. ___ WASHINGTON White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki was asked about a potential pause in vaccinations in New York, where the state is reporting a shortage in vaccines available for first doses. Psaki says the White House has asked the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to look into what is possible to address the situation in New York. But she stressed the administration will defer to the judgment of medical experts. Clearly we dont want any states to run out of access to vaccines, Psaki says, adding the Biden administration aims to avoid supply crunches going forward. ___ LONDON AstraZeneca says it will ship fewer doses of its coronavirus vaccine to the European Union than anticipated due to supply chain problems. The company is waiting for the European Medicines Agency to approve its vaccine, which could happen when the EU regulator meets on Jan. 29. AstraZenecas statement said, initial volumes will be lower than originally anticipated due to reduced yields at a manufacturing site within our European supply chain. It adds: We will be supplying tens of millions of doses in February and March to the European Union, as we continue to ramp up production volumes. Regulators in Britain and several other countries have already given the vaccine the green light. ___ BATON ROUGE, La. Louisiana has released some demographic details on whos received the coronavirus vaccine. However, the data provided Friday lacks key information to determine if Louisianas doses are equitably distributed. Few vaccine providers are identifying race in the data submitted. That undermines Gov. John Bel Edwards efforts to ensure minority groups have adequate access to vaccination. The information shows at least 33% of Louisianas nearly 273,000 vaccine recipients are white and at least 10% are black. But another 56% of those who have received the shots were listed as unknown or other. Edwards is calling on hospitals, clinics and pharmacies vaccinating people in Louisiana to start providing more complete data. ___ WASHINGTON New research finds full doses of blood thinners such as heparin can help moderately ill hospitalized COVID-19 patients avoid the need for breathing machines or other organ support. The preliminary results come from three large, international studies testing various coronavirus treatments and havent yet been published. The U.S. National Institutes of Health and other sponsors released the results Friday to help doctors decide on appropriate care. Nearly all hospitalized COVID-19 patients currently get low doses of a blood thinner to try to prevent clots from forming. The new results show that when we give higher doses of blood thinners to patients who are not already critically ill, there is a significant benefit in preventing them from getting sicker, said Dr. Matthew Neal, a trauma surgeon at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and one study leader. However, the researchers say these drugs dont help and may harm people who are more seriously ill. The study highlights how timing and degree of illness matter for coronavirus treatments. Steroid drugs can help severely ill patients but not ones who are only mildly ill. Some antibody drugs seem to help when given soon after or before symptoms appear but not for sicker, hospitalized patients. ___ HAVANA A possibly more contagious variant of the coronavirus has been detected in Cuba. Dr. Maria Guadalupe Guzman of the Pedro Kouri Institute of Tropical Medicine says the variant, originally detected in South Africa, was found in an asymptomatic traveler during a check at ports and airports. While that case was imported, she says authorities cant rule out the possibility it is also circulating locally. But the institutes director of epidemiology, Francisco Duran, said its not the reason for a recent upsurge in cases on the island. The nation of some 11 million people has recorded more than 20,000 cases of the coronavirus, including 530 on Thursday, and 188 deaths. ___ PHOENIX Arizonas death toll surpassed 12,000 on Friday after reporting 229 more deaths. The Department of Health Services reported 8,099 confirmed cases, increasing total cases to more than 700,000. The surge has crowded hospitals statewide. Arizona is ramping up vaccinations by opening an additional site. But like other states, Arizona has had difficulty getting enough doses to administer. ___ WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. The Navajo Nation is extending its stay-at-home order with a revised nightly curfew and lifting weekend lockdowns to allow more coronavirus vaccinations. Tribal officials announced the measures will take effect Monday and run through at least Feb. 15. Officials say the daily curfew will run daily from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. The tribe has reported a total of 26,782 cases and 940 known deaths on the reservation. ___ RABAT, Morocco Morocco has received its first doses of vaccine against the coronavirus and plans to start injections next week. The Health Ministry sats the AstraZeneca vaccine, delivered from India, will be followed by another delivery next week of a second vaccine, from Chinas Sinopharm. The vaccine rollout will start next week. Priority will be given to health workers age 40 and above, police and army officers, teachers 45 and above and those over 75. Nearly a year into the coronavirus pandemic, the wildly successful clinical trials of vaccines by Pfizer and Moderna have helped get millions vaccinated against COVID-19, but new vaccines on the horizon will be needed to curb the pandemic more quickly, said Dean Sten Vermund of the Yale School of Public Health. Those vaccines, which should arrive in February and March, will need to be combined with efforts to persuade reluctant people that the vaccines are safe and effective against spreading the disease, he said. As of Wednesday, 16 million Americans and 52 million people worldwide had received at least their first dose of vaccine, according to Bloomberg, an average of 2.35 million doses per day. Vermund called the rate at which the vaccines are being rolled out suboptimal, given that the Trump administration had promised 20 million shots by the end of 2020. The logistics were not particularly well established, he said. However, he said, I think Connecticuts doing well. The rollout to health care workers went expeditiously. Residents and staff of nursing homes also have been successfully immunized. We still have a ways to go, including persuading workers in health care settings who are not doctors or nurses to get their shots, Vermund said. Thats because many of those workers, including aides and food service and sanitary service employees, are people of color who have a higher degree of mistrust in the health care system in general, based on historical abuses. To get those people on board, Vermund said, they should be told, Youre not the first to receive the vaccine. There have been 15 million that have come before you in the U.S. alone. Youre not a guinea pig. Theyre just nervous because its a new vaccine, its new technology, or theyre young and healthy and [believe] theyre not going to get it, said Dr. Michael Parry, head of infectious diseases at Stamford Health. The resistance is completely unfounded, he said. The vaccines are so safe, Vermund said, that only one person in the country has died after receiving a shot, a doctor in Florida who died of a blood disorder. That could have been a coincidence, Vermund said. The other populations that need to be reached are people who are homeless, the mentally ill, those with substance abuse issues and people in remote and rural areas, he said. The new drugs, by Johnson & Johnson, AstraZeneca and Merck, will help in reaching those communities, Vermund said. They use more traditional technologies to trigger the bodys immune system and will not need to be stored in subfreezing temperatures like the current vaccines. The Yale Center for Clinical Investigation, in cooperation with Yale New Haven Health, was a site for the clinical trials of the Pfizer vaccine, led by principal investigator Dr. Onyema Ogbuagu. Community ambassadors helped recruit people of color to enroll in the trials to ensure equitable access to the vaccine. Parry said vaccine supply remains an issue, which is why Phase 1B of the states rollout has not moved beyond people 75 and older. We could use more vaccine than theyre giving us, he said. Whatever the volume is, youd like it to be predictable because then you can hire vaccinators and people to run the program. The health system, which includes Stamford Hospital, needs to schedule appointments three to four weeks in advance, and its not helpful to have to cancel them for lack of vaccine. The state had distributed 211,325 first doses of the vaccines as of Jan. 10, according to the governors COVID-19 Vaccine Advisory Group, and 73 percent of those had been given. A total of 31,200 second doses had been allocated, with just more than half given as of Jan. 13. Stamford Health is giving staff their second dose of vaccine at the same time people 75 and older are getting their first dose. Weve had to extend maybe by a week the second dose for individuals, but that is perfectly fine, Parry said. Getting a COVID vaccine will protect someone from getting sick, but its not certain it will keep that person from infecting others, though that has been true of other vaccines, Vermund said. We dont have the studies of the viral load in the upper respiratory tract and the nasal passages. Within a month or so well know, he said. I think that persons who are protected from COVID will be wearing masks to protect other people, Vermund said. Even if its shown that vaccination prevents spread of the virus, masks still should be worn unless its certain that everyone in a group has been vaccinated, such as in a classroom or workplace where vaccinations are mandatory. Were going to be wearing a mask indefinitely because it will be some time before so-called herd immunity is achieved, Parry said. That requires up to 80 percent of the population to have immunity. Its uncertain how mutations in the virus might affect the protection of the vaccines, Parry said, and those changes need to be closely followed, but he said, from what hes read, the changes that have happened did not alter the efficacy of the vaccines. The two vaccines being rolled out now still have not been approved for children, but those trials should not take long because the efficacy of the drugs already is known, Vermund said. edward.stannard@hearstmediact.com; 203-680-9382 UK's official memorial ceremony to be livestreamed on Wednesday Holocaust Memorial Day commemorations in Market Place, Newbury last year. West Berkshire Council has issued a statement supporting Holocaust Memorial Day (HMD) tomorrow (Wednesday). While pandemic restrictions prevent organisers from staging a public ceremony in Newbury, the programme is being moved online. In addition, the council encourages local people to mark the event in their own homes. A spokesperson says: "HMD encourages remembrance in a world scarred by genocide, to remember the six million Jews murdered during the Holocaust, alongside the millions of other people killed under Nazi Persecution and in genocides that followed in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia and Darfur. "As with all current events, HMD will be marked a little differently this year. "However, there are many different and meaningful ways to get involved and play your part to mark it." At 7pm, a ceremony will be livestreamed on the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust's website. Registration is required for this event. This precedes the lighting of candles across the UK at 8pm, to be displayed at people's windows in an act of remembrance for the victims of genocide. Council chairman Graham Pask says: "HMD is for everyone. "Each year across the UK, thousands of people come together to learn more about the past and take action to create a safer future. "I hope as many people as possible will take part in 'Lighting the Darkness' and honour the survivors and all those whose lives were changed beyond recognition." PARIS, Jan. 21 (WP).The 100th session of the deadlocked Vietnam peace talks was held today. After the five-hour session, devoted almost entirely to prepared speeches reiterating well-known positions, U.S. press spokesman Stephen Ledogar said that nothing transpired of any news value. South Vietnamese spokesman Nguyen Trieu Dan noted that, apart from marking the end of two years of talks as well as the end of the Vietnamese year of the dog, the 100th session did not differ at all from any of the others. The Communist delegates, for their part, placed all the blame on the Nixon administration. Xuan Thuy for North Vietnam, echoing charges made earlier this week in Hanoi, protested a series of U.S. bombings of North Vietnamese territory between Jan. 8 and 17. Mrs. Nguyen Thi Binh of the Viet Cong attacked the absurd and insolent U.S. demand for mutual withdrawal of North Vietnamese as well as American forces. Because of next weeks Tet holiday, the 101st session of the talks was scheduled for Thursday Feb. 4, instead of next Thursday. This will begin the year of the pig, which Vietnamese generally are said to regard as an omen of prosperity and peace. The International Herald Tribune, Jan. 22, 1971. 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. .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... In 1975, two New York City detectives were convicted of the murder of Denver businessman Hal Levine. Mike Borrelli, an Italian American New York Police Department detective, and his former partner, Bob Davis, one of the first Black detectives in New York, spent decades fighting to clear their names. The search was on to find one of the confessed gunmen, who was placed into witness protection by law enforcement over 40 years ago. ADVERTISEMENTSkip ................................................................ This was the man filmmaker Sheldon Wilson wanted to find. I started this in 2007 when I came across a little story from an old newspaper article that talked about the Colorado Godfather, Wilson says. I knew as much as the next guy. It seemed like a crazy story that needed answers. The result is the four-episode documentary series Between Black and Blue. The series is available on Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, Vimeo, Vudu and YouTube. Wilson says the unbelievable story involves crooked cops, a Mafia godfather, murder, an alleged public poisoning, Elvis Presley, prison gang leaders and a cocaine-addicted newspaper editor who printed it all. When no physical evidence is found connecting Borrelli or Davis to the murder, complete immunity is given to one of the confessed murderers in exchange for his testimony. Hes a known criminal who had previously been diagnosed as a pathological liar. Four years into Borellis life sentence, he receives a new trial and is found innocent. Astonishingly, the courts refuse to give Davis a new trial even though Borrelli, the man accused of hiring him to do the hit, has been exonerated. Davis feels the color of his skin is standing in the way of the justice he so rightly deserves. In a surprising turn of events, Borrelli returns to the force, becoming the only person ever convicted of murder to become a police officer again. Borrelli commits the rest of his life to proving Davis innocence. Through all of this, both men remained the best of friends, transforming their lives into deeply inspiring success stories. It was incredibly difficult, and it was such a complicated story with so many character and so many tangents, Wilson says. We ended up having to go and break things down by subject. We wanted to make sure that a complete story was told. To tell that story, Wilson wanted to find the man who was put into the U.S. Federal Witness Protection Program. I was very determined, and people told me I was nuts and never going to find him, he says. I eventually found him. Wilson also wanted to tell Davis struggle to be found innocent. Its a little disheartening, because we are still battling systemic racism, Wilson says. Its still a flawed judicial system. Its a decades-old story, and for the people involved, it feels like it happened just yesterday. Its a story we need to keep in the publics eye. Wilson got help on the project from his wife, Marie Lou Gingras. The pair are already looking at doing another film. Theres another case Id like to get into, he says. She was very much ready to do another one. There are so many cases like this, its almost hard to pick which one. I feel like I should be focusing on at least one of them. After 13 years of work on the series, Wilson is excited to have it available for viewers consumption. No one gets into documentary filmmaking to get rich, he says. Its the stories that we are telling that make a difference. My biggest regret is that it wasnt out before Bob Davis died in June. On demand The four-episode documentary series Between Black and Blue is available on demand on Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, Vimeo, Vudu and YouTube Joe Biden US IT sector and business groups, including technology giants Google and Apple, have applauded President Joe Biden's steps to initiate immigration reforms, underlining that the move would boost American economy, create jobs and attract talent from across the world. On the day one of his presidency on Wednesday, Biden sent a comprehensive immigration bill to Congress which proposes major overhauls to the system, including granting legal status and a path to citizenship to tens of thousands of undocumented immigrants and other groups and reduce the time that family members must wait outside the US for green cards. Called the US Citizenship Act of 2021, the legislation modernises the immigration system, and also proposes to eliminate the per country cap for employment-based green cards, a move that would benefit thousands of Indian IT professionals whose current wait period for legal permanent residency runs into several decades. Apple CEO Tim Cook welcomed President Biden''s "commitment to pursuing comprehensive immigration reform that reflects the American values of justice, fairness and dignity". "This effort will strengthen American communities and the pathways to opportunity this country has long fostered," he said in a statement late Wednesday. Google CEO Sundar Pichai in a tweet on Thursday applauded Biden''s quick action on COVID relief, Paris climate accord and immigration reform. "Google has supported action on these important issues & we look forward to working with the new administration to help the US recover from the pandemic + grow our economy, he said. Biden on Wednesday also issued a series of executive orders, ranging from rejoining the Paris agreement on climate change, halting America''s withdrawal from the World Health Organisation, revoking Muslim travel ban, stopping immediate construction of Mexico border wall and extending the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) programme for another four years. "The Biden-Harris administration''s planned actions make important and overdue investments in immigration reforms that can successfully meet the demands of a globally competitive, digital economy, including expanded visa programmes for high-skilled workers and families," said Jason Oxman, president and chief executive officer of the Information Technology Industry Council (ITI). ITI is the global trade association for the tech sector, representing nearly 70 of the worlds most innovative companies. Biden is also following through on his call for unity by reaffirming his commitment to giving Dreamers a path to citizenship and to welcoming immigrants -- regardless of their country of origin -- seeking to come to the US from abroad, Oxman said. Oxman said as America continues its economic recovery from COVID-19, ensuring US employers can attract and retain the best talent from around the world is paramount. We commend President Biden for his swift and decisive actions, and for prioritising this critical issue. Our industry is committed to working with the administration and the 117th Congress to advance these efforts and grow the US innovation economy through a competitive immigration system, he said. The US Citizenship Act of 2021 will create an earned path to citizenship for Dreamers, undocumented immigrants living in the US, and the essential workers who have risked their lives to serve and protect American communities, the White House had said. We are encouraged that the Biden-Harris Administration is following through on their commitment to send meaningful immigration legislation to Congress that establishes a well-deserved pathway to citizenship for millions of undocumented people like us and our families, said FWD.Org, an advocacy organisation representing top Silicon Valley companies, including Facebook, Google, Microsoft and DropBox. American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) executive director Benjamin Johnson said Biden met this historic moment with action by sending a much-needed immigration bill to Congress, along with his administrations commitment to see the legislation enacted. Failure to pass reasoned immigration reform for the past three decades has led to families being kept apart for years and businesses unable to hire job creators. The provisions in the US Citizenship Act will strengthen communities, reunite families, and harness the creativity and talent of immigrants who want to be a part of the American Dream in a way that has been impossible for decades, he said. By Yi Whan-woo Former U.S. Ambassador to South Korea Sung Kim has been named the acting assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs. This, according to diplomatic sources, will make Kim the only official in the Joe Biden administration to have served in all three key posts related to North Korea, conditional on Senate approval of his new appointment. As well as ambassador, and now assistant secretary of state, he was also the special representative for North Korea policy, who spearheaded the U.S. side in denuclearization dialogue with the two Koreas, China, Japan and Russia. A career diplomat, Kim was ambassador to Seoul (2011-14) and the special representative for North Korea policy (2014-16), before being appointed ambassador to the Philippines and then Indonesia, respectively. The U.S. State Department's website showed Kim was appointed Wednesday with the launch of the Biden administration. In his new job, Kim will oversee policies involving South Korea, China, Japan and the East Asia and Pacific region. "Possibly no one in the new U.S. government will know about North Korea-related issues better than Sung Kim," said Park Won-gon, an international relations professor at Handong Global University. "I don't think he will have any problems in getting down to work right away." The professor noted that the fact Kim has no "employment gap" under three administrations Barack Obama, Donald Trump and now Biden makes him "dependable and trustworthy." Park pointed out that some diplomats, such as Secretary of State nominee Tony Blinken and Deputy Secretary of State nominee Wendy Sherman were shunned by Trump after they worked for Obama. "I am certain Kim's diplomatic acumen has been sharpened over the years, and this will be helpful in dealing with North Korea," Park said. Social Democratic Party (PSD) Chairman Marcel Ciolacu announced on Friday that he had been vaccinated, but after his mother, adding that those in the Government should do more for vulnerable people, according to AGREPRES. "I got vaccinated today. But after my mother! I could have never got vaccinated before her, one of the many chronically ill people in Romania. Before being funny, those in the Government should do more for the really vulnerable people. For those who really need this vaccine as soon as possible," Ciolacu wrote on Facebook. According to him, until the immunization of a significant percentage of the population, testing remains the most effective means of combating the pandemic. Social Democratic Party (PSD) Chairman Marcel Ciolacu on Thursday evening accused the Government of administrative inability to organize and manage the pandemic, noting that President Klaus Iohannis in this context should have gathered all political forces for a country plan, according to AGREPRES. "At such a delicate time, not only in our country, but all over the world, the president's approach should have been completely different. All political forces had to come together for a country plan, in the short and medium term, to overcome what we are still facing. We still have an obvious, not overcome and uncontrolled health crisis, they have an administrative inability to organize and manage this pandemic (...) They have an administrative inability, they are both foolish and proud. What specialists do they have?," Ciolacu claimed on Antena 3 TV station. At the same time, the PSD leader stated that Prime Minister Florin Citu invented "vaccination tourism," maintaining that people come hundreds of kilometers to be vaccinated in hospitals when they have a chronic illness, instead of being vaccinated at home. In his opinion, the prime minister should assume this vaccination campaign and resign if 10.4 million Romanians are not vaccinated by September, as he proposed. ANDERSON COUNTY, SR 61 Bridge over Norfolk Southern Railway and Market Street in Clinton: SR 61 East is reduced to one lane through this bridge repair project. Motorists should be alert for workers present, changing conditions, lane shifts, and use extreme caution through this area. ANDERSON COUNTY, US 25/SR 9 Bridge over Clinch River between SR 61 and Carden Farm Drive: SR 9 northbound is reduced to one lane approaching the bridge as crews continue work in this area. Motorists should be alert for workers present, changing conditions, lane shifts, and use extreme caution through this bridge construction project. ANDERSON COUNTY, US 25/SR 9 at SR 170: Motorists should be alert for workers present, changing conditions, possible lane closures and use extreme caution through this intersection construction project. BLOUNT COUNTY, US 129 North and South between SR 35 Hall Road and Tyson Boulevard: Motorists should be alert for workers present, possible lane closures and brief stoppages of traffic through this roadway construction project. For project information, go to https://www.tn.gov/tdot/projects/projects-region-1/sr-115-alcoa-highway-hall-road-to-tyson-blvd.html BLOUNT COUNTY, SR 335 Hunt Road Bridge over US 129 Alcoa Highway: The newly constructed Hunt Road Bridge is open to traffic. Motorists should be alert for new traffic patterns and workers present as work continues in this area. BLOUNT COUNTY, SR 335 Hunt Road between Ambrose Street and Ramsay Street: Motorists should be alert for possible lane closures at various times as crews install utilities through this construction project. Motorists should be alert for workers present directing traffic and use extreme caution through this area. BLOUNT COUNTY, SR 33 between Foothills Mall Drive and Henry Street: Motorists should be alert for possible nightly lane closures between the hours of 7 p.m. and 6 a.m. the following morning as crews begin mobilizing to begin this intersection improvement construction project. Motorists should be alert for workers present, changed conditions and use extreme caution through this area. CAMPBELL COUNTY, I-75 North and South between Mile Markers 135 and 142: Motorists should be alert for possible temporary lane closures between the hours of 7 p.m. and 6 a.m. the following morning through this project. Motorists should be alert for slowed or stopped traffic, expect potential delays and use extreme caution through this area. CAMPBELL COUNTY, I-75 North near Mile Marker 143: Motorists should be alert for possible temporary lane closures between the hours of 7 p.m. and 6 a.m. the following morning on Sundays through Thursdays through this project. Motorists should be alert for slowed or stopped traffic, expect potential delays and use extreme caution through this area. CAMPBELL COUNTY, SR 63 between Myers Lane and Frontier Road/Woodson Lane: Motorists should be alert for possible temporary lane closures between the hours of 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and/or 7 p.m. and 6 a.m. the following morning through this construction project. Motorists should be alert for slowed or stopped traffic, expect potential delays and use extreme caution through this area. CARTER COUNTY, US 19E/SR 37 Bridge over the Doe River and Riverview Road: Motorists should be alert for possible lane closures through this bridge repair project. Motorists should be alert for workers present, slowed traffic, and use extreme caution in this area. CLAIBORNE COUNTY, SR 63 between Old Town Creek and US 25E/SR 32: Motorists should be alert for possible lane closures through this construction project. Motorists should be alert for workers present, expect delays and use extreme caution through this area. COCKE COUNTY, I-40 East and West between Mile Markers 430 and 434: Motorists should be alert for possible lane closures and lane shifts as crews perform work through this project. Motorist should be alert for workers present, reduce speed, and use extreme caution through this area. COCKE COUNTY, SR 9 near I-40: Motorists should be alert for possible lane closures through this construction project. Motorists should be alert for workers present, expect delays and use extreme caution through this area. HAMBLEN COUNTY, SR 34 near Commerce Blvd.: Motorists should be alert for possible lane closures between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. through this construction project. Motorists should be alert for workers present, slowed traffic, and use extreme caution in this area. HAMBLEN COUNTY, SR 160 near Commerce Blvd.: Motorists should be alert for possible lane closures between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. through this construction project. Motorists should be alert for workers present, slowed traffic, and use extreme caution in this area. JOHNSON COUNTY, SR 167 at Log Mile 7.5: Motorists should be alert for single lane roadway with temporary traffic signal through this slide repair project. Motorists should bealert for workers present, slowed traffic, and use extreme caution in this area. KNOX COUNTY, I-40 West between Mile Markers 394 and 393: Motorists should be alert for possible nightly lane closures between the hours of 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. the following morning as crews perform median barrier wall work through this overhead sign replacement project. Motorists should be alert for workers present, slowed or stopped traffic, expect potential delays and use extreme caution through this area. KNOX COUNTY, I-40 East and West near Mile Marker 396: On Sunday, January 24, 2021, motorists should be alert for possible lane closures between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. as utility crews perform overhead work. Motorists should be alert for workers present, slowed traffic, and use extreme caution in this area. KNOX COUNTY, I-640 West near Mile Marker 3: On Thursday, January 21, 2021, motorists should be alert for possible lane closures between the hours of 8 p.m. and 6 a.m. the following morning as crews perform guardrail repairs. Motorists should be alert for workers present, slowed traffic, and use extreme caution in this area. KNOX COUNTY, I-640 East near Mile Marker 7: On Thursday, January 21, 2021, motorists should be alert for possible lane closures between the hours of 7 p.m. and 6 a.m. the following morning as crews perform roadside maintenance activities. Motorists should be alert for workers present, slowed traffic, and use extreme caution in this area. KNOX COUNTY, US 11W/SR 1 Rutledge Pike Bridge over Norfolk Southern Railroad near Harris Road: Motorists should be alert for lane shifts and changing traffic patterns through this bridge repair project. Motorists should be alert for workers present, expect potential delays, and use caution through this area. KNOX COUNTY, US 129/SR 115 Alcoa Highway between Topside Road and Maloney Road: Motorists should be alert for possible temporary lane closures and lane shifts as crews perform work through this project. Motorists should be alert for new traffic patterns. Motorists should be alert for workers present, reduce speed and use extreme caution through this area. For project information, go to https://www.tn.gov/tdot/projects/projects-region-1/sr-115-alcoa-highway-little-river-to-maloney.html KNOX COUNTY, US 129/SR 115 Alcoa Highway between Maloney Road and Woodson Drive: Motorists should be alert for possible temporary lane closures and lane shifts as crews perform work through this project. Motorists should be alert for new traffic patterns. Motorists should be alert for workers present, reduce speed and use extreme caution through this area. For project information, go to https://www.tn.gov/tdot/projects/projects-region-1/sr-115-alcoa-highway-maloney-to-woodson.html KNOX COUNTY, US 441 Broadway Viaduct between Jackson Avenue and Fifth Avenue: US 441 Broadway Viaduct over Norfolk Southern Railroad in downtown Knoxville is closed for bridge replacement. The Broadway Viaduct will be closed to all traffic for the duration of the project. During the closure, Broadway will be closed from the intersection of Oak Avenue, Worlds Fair Park, and Jackson Avenue to just north of the Depot Avenue intersection. Depot Avenue will also be closed. These closures will ensure the safety of workers and motorists as crews demolish the old bridge and reconstruct the new bridge. Primary and Local Detour Routes around the bridge closure will be in place. For detour routes and project information, go to https://www.tn.gov/tdot/projects/projects-region-1/broadway-viaduct.html KNOX COUNTY, US 441/SR 71 Chapman Highway between Highland View Drive and Burnett Lane: Motorists should be alert for possible lane closures daily between the hours of 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. through this construction project. Motorists should be alert for workers and equipment present, expect potential delays, and use extreme caution through this area. For project information, go to https://www.tn.gov/tdot/projects/projects-region-1/chapman-highway-evans-to-burnett.html KNOX COUNTY, SR 162 Pellissippi Parkway West between I-40 and Lovell Road: Motorists should be alert for possible temporary lane closures through this construction project. Motorists should be alert for workers present, reduced speeds, expect possible delays, and use caution through this area. KNOX COUNTY, SR 162 Pellissippi Parkway West at Hardin Valley Road: Motorists should be alert for possible temporary lane closures through this construction project. Motorists should be alert for workers present, reduced speeds, expect possible delays, and use caution through this area. KNOX COUNTY, SR 332 Concord Road between Turkey Creek Road and Northshore: Motorists should be alert for possible lane closures daily between the hours of 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. and new traffic patterns through this construction project. Motorists should be alert for workers present, expect potential delays, and use extreme caution through this area. For project information, go to https://www.tn.gov/tdot/projects/projects-region-1/sr-332-proposed-widening.html LOUDON COUNTY, I-40 East between Mile Markers 364 and 365: Motorists should be alert for workers present, reduced speeds, closed shoulders and use extreme caution through this slope stabilization project. ROANE COUNTY, I-40 West between Mile Markers 340 and 344: Motorists should be alert for possible lane closures nightly between the hours of 7 p.m. and 6 a.m. the following morning through this slope stabilization project. Motorists should be alert for workers present, reduced speeds, lane shifts, and use extreme caution through this area. ROANE COUNTY, I-40 East and West between Mile Markers 349.7 and 350.8: On Thursday, January 21, 2021, motorists should be alert for possible lane closures between the hours of 8 p.m. and 6 a.m. the following morning as crews perform guardrail repairs. Motorists should be alert for workers present, slowed traffic, and use extreme caution in this area. SCOTT COUNTY, US 27/SR 29 between Industrial Lane and Second Avenue: Motorists should be alert for possible temporary lane closures through this construction project. Motorists should be alert for workers present, expect possible delays, and use caution through this area. SEVIER COUNTY, SR 71 between US 411 and Macon Lane: Motorists should be alert for possible lane closures daily between the hours of 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. through this construction project. Motorists should be alert for workers and equipment present, expect potential delays, and use extreme caution through this area. UNICOI COUNTY, SR 36 between Log Miles 2.5 and 5.3: Motorists should be alert for possible lane closures, workers present, expect potential delays, and use extreme caution through this slope stabilization project. WASHINGTON COUNTY, I-26 East and West near Mile Marker 15.5: On Tuesday, January 20, 2021, motorists should be alert for possible lane closures between the hours of 8 p.m. and 6 a.m. the following morning as crews perform guardrail repairs. Motorists should be alert for workers present, slowed traffic, and use extreme caution in this area. WASHINGTON COUNTY, I-26 East and West between Mile Markers 16 and 18: Motorists should be alert for possible nightly lane closures between the hours of 7 p.m. and 6 a.m. the following morning through this construction project. Motorists should be alert for slowed or stopped traffic, expect delays, and use extreme caution approaching this area. WASHINGTON COUNTY, SR 93 between Davis Road and Fire Hall Road: Motorists should be alert for possible temporary lane closures through this construction project. Motorists should be alert for workers present, reduced speeds, and use caution through this area. WASHINGTON COUNTY, SR 354 Boones Creek Road at I-26: Motorists should be alert for possible lane closures between the hours of 7 p.m. and 6 a.m. the following morning through this construction project. Lake Park Drive will be closed and detoured at the intersection with SR 354 as construction continues in this area. Motorists should follow signed detour. Motorists should be alert for workers present, expect delays and use extreme caution through this area. For information on statewide interstate construction motorists can access the Tennessee Department of Transportation SmartWay website at https://smartway.tn.gov/traffic TDOT is now on Twitter. For up to the minute traffic information in Knoxville and the Tri-Cities follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/knoxville511. For statewide travel information follow www.twitter.com/TN511. 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. In a letter submitted and released by the inspector generals office, Brown said internal reviews of the search warrant practices, which include the departments specialized teams as well as other cities, are already underway and that a search warrant committee has been formed to study every aspect that touches on obtaining and serving a search warrant. A report is expected to be released as early as the end of this month, the letter stated. [January 22, 2021] VPN.com Sends President Biden and VP Harris the American Censorship Report ATLANTA and and WASHINGTON, Jan. 22, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The United States of America has delivered another peaceful transition of power to the world. While COVID-19 and immigration policy are high on the list of issues for the new administration to address, VPN.com CEO Michael Gargiulo believes censorship in America must also be a top priority. With numerous U.S. government officials and entrepreneurs now being banned, censored and silenced for their speech, Gargiulo sent a letter containing their American Censorship Report to President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. Started in 2017, VPN.com is a non-partisan privacy research organization with a focus on Internet freedom and privacy recommendations. Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, they also provide Internet policy advice and strategy to government officials across the world. The full letter and report can be found below. -- January 22, 2021 President Joseph R. Biden Vice President Kamala D. Harris 1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW Washington, DC 20500 USA Dear President Biden and Vice President Harris, Congratulations on your arrival at the White House, as leaders of the free world. We know your teams worked very hard to ensure your diverse message was heard all across America. I write to you both today to continue sharing our expertise in cybersecurity, Internet access, and censorship with world leaders. As we have done for previous Presidents, Governors, U.S. Senators, and State Legislators, we will advise you both over the coming years to the best of our ability, free of partisanship. For decades, censorship has waged war on free speech in countries like China, Russia, Venezuela, North Korea, Burma, Cuba, Iran, Vietnam, and many more. The free speech and open Internet access that the world has relentlessly turned to America to protect is in jeopardy of eroding before our very eyes. Thankfully, your focus on diversity and American freedoms gives hope to hundreds of millions of oppressed people. We have entered a time where cancel culture has brought into question the core freedoms that our country was built upon. We now have situations where if someone descends from politically accepted normalcy, they are silenced, censored and eliminated. It is becoming increasingly difficult to debate and descent from popular opinion, online and offline. Unfortunately, social media, mass media and partisan reporters have played their parts in these digital distortions. Rarely is someone innocent before proven guilty anymore. The world must hear from you that libel, slander and character assassinations are the enemies of truth and freedom. In most oppressed countries, if you so speak a negative word about their dictator, government, laws, or use specific tools like VPNs to protect from censorship, you will be imprisoned and even killed! This is the restricted reality that billions of people have lived in for decades, but Americans are only now discovering the oppression baggage that censorship brings. We are now segregating ourselves based on political views and silencing those who do not conform. We have seen this play out in history time and time again, and the ending is not good. There is now a very thin line between the American Republic and developmental communism. You both are the guards against this communism from invading our hearts, minds, and our very souls. Freedom of Speech and Freedom of the Press are the most sacred amendments of our Constitution. No one will ever agree with everyone but in this country, we cannot censor and cancel those who have a legal difference of opinions. This censorship will rot our souls and our ability to have civil discourse within this country. Unfortunately, our research also indicates countless elected officials, entrepreneurs, and even students in our universities have been targeted and censored because of their nonconforming or conservative opinions. We must be very determined to obstruct this creep of communism that will forever knock on America's door. Censorship is a disaster everywhere it exists on earth. While there are existing deliberations underway, we cannot create an environment for foreign enemies to digitally invade our ways of life. It does seem contradictory to allow the President of Iran and the President of Russia on Twitter but not the former President of the United States. Foreign leaders with documented human rights violations cannot be held to a different standard of culpability and due process than that of our own elected officials and citizens. This is a double standard that censorship and communism thrive on. For peace and unity, please ask service providers from all over the world to support free speech and thought diversity. If our leaders do not stand up now, we may be on a course that cannot be turned back from. As you both make clear, lawful diversity is critical, especially online. Please stand up for free speech and fight for those who have completely different views than you. It is what we have done for years to preserve these human rights, as our Founding Fathers and the Framers of the sacred U.S. Constitution desired. As President Herbert Hoover said, It is a paradox that every dictator has climbed to power on the ladder of free speech. Immediately on attaining power each dictator has suppressed all free speech except his own. At VPN.com, we look forward to assisting your cyber policies in every way we can, fighting digital extremism and protecting American freedoms with your leadership over the coming years. Sincerely, Michael Gargiulo CEO of VPN.com michal@vpn.com cc: Mr. Ron Klain, White House Chief of Staff Mr. Steve Ricchetti, Counselor to the President Ms. Tina Flournoy, Chief of Staff to the Vice President Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell Speaker Nancy Policy, House of Representatives Representative Lindsay Graham, Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee Senator Gary Peters, Chairman of the Senate Homeland Security Committee Senator Mark Warner, Chairman of the Cybersecurity Caucus Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-GA 14th Representative Carolyn Bourdeaux, D-GA 7th Senator Raphael Warnock, D-GA Senator Jon Ossoff, D-GA For media and interview inquiries, please email: pr@vpn.com or visit: https://www.vpn.com/press Read More: VPN.com Warns President Trump & ICANN to Terminate All Iranian Domain Names https://www.bloomber g.com/press-releases/2019-11-26/vpn-com-warns-president-trump-icann-to-terminate-all-iranian-domain-names Interview: How the Right VPN Can Give Your Business Critical Cyber Protection https: //www.myasbn.com/small-business/technology/how-the-right-vpn-can-give-your-business-critical-cyber-protection-michael-gargiulo-vpn-com/ Read More: VPN.com Sells Most Politically Influential Domain Name of the Decade, GeorgiaRunoff.com https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2021/01/05/2153026/0/en/VPN-com-Sells-Most-Politically-I nfluential-Domain-Name-of-the-Decade-GeorgiaRunoff-com.html Read More: VPN.com Acquires LSUTigers.com for 2020 National Champions https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2021/01/11/2155886/0/en/VPN-com-Acquires-LSUTigers-com-for-2020-National-Champions.html See More: VPN.com P uts Netflix CEO Reed Hastings on Notice About Security Risks & VPN Ban https://finance.yahoo.com/news/vpn-com-puts-netflix-ceo-070101969.html Read More: VPN.com Selects #1 Hosting Partner for VPN and Freedom of Speech, Performive.com led by CEO Gary Simat https://finance.yahoo.com/news/vpn-com-partner-t otal-server-062556983.html See More: VPN.com Launches in French, VPN.com Se Lance en Francais https://vpn.com/fr See More: VPN.com at Forefront of Historic Delete Facebook and Privacy Protests https://www.vpn.com/privacy/how-to-deactivate-facebook/ See More: VPN.com Warns Fox News About Major Website Security & HTTPS Risks https://www.globenewswire.com/news- release/2018/10/03/1600480/0/en/VPN-com-Warns-Fox-News-About-Major-Website-Security-HTTPS-Risks.html See More: Georgia State Representative Acquires BrianKemp.com with Help from VPN.com CEO https://patch.com/georgia/buckhead/state-lawmaker-buys-briankemp-com-california-democrat See More: VPN Domain Brokers and Premium Domain Names https://vpn.com/domains Read More: VPN.com CEO Features Partner Improving Features for those with Dis abilities https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2019/10/15/1930073/0/en/VPN -com-Top-Business-VPN-Encrypt-me-Improves-Experience-for-People-with-Disabilities.html Read More: VPN.com Celebrates Healthcare Heroes with their Open Georgia Parade https://atlantanmagazine.com/vpn-supports-local-businesses-and-healthcare-workers A Chinese organised crime gang operating a network of grow houses in Ireland could have made 2 million profits from one property alone before the operation was shut down, a court has heard. The Criminal Assets Bureau are now seeking to seize two of the properties at Bansha Road in Tipperary and Blanchardstown in Dublin in a proceeds of crime case against three respondents named in the High Court today. Luk Yao Kwok, Weizhong Zhang and Huinjuan Xu are named in the proceedings listing the properties at Mountain View in Tipperary Town and Warrenstown Rise in Blanchardstown. The court heard that more than 300 plants, valued at 250,000 for the crop, were growing in the Blanchardstown property. David Dodd BL told the court that with a four month crop rotation and the growhouse running for around 40 months the profit margin was around 2 million. A further 237 plants were found in a second property, one month into harvest in Tipperary but both houses were purchased through a complex networks of cash payments. The High Court heard that Luk Yao Kwok, was essentially part of the organised crime group and the Criminal Assets Bureau claims he was directing the purchasing of properties with the proceeds of crime. In his own affidavit Kwok, who was previously linked to a grow house in the UK, said that he ran a cash business and it was convenient for him to buy the properties that way. The Bureau are seeking a possession order against the houses identified which they say were bought up by the group as they established a sophisticated grow house and laundering network in Ireland. Justice Alexander Owens will prepare a judgement on the case heard in a virtual courtroom during which a complex arrangement to buy the properties was laid out. Amongst a number of people cited at having paid cash and transferred funds to a solicitors office to buy the houses was a couple who run a business in Dublin. More than a year ago the CAB carried out a series of raids in four counties targeting a Chinese gang they believed were linked to a major organised crime network and who were responsible for organising a network of growhouses in Ireland. Monies were frozen in bank accounts and mobile phones, computers and documents were seized during the raids. They raided properties in Dublin in Terenure and Blanchardstown and in north Cork along with Tipperary. A solicitors office in County Laois was also searched during the operation. After nearly 30 years of talks, arguments, and threats, Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan have agreed to jointly develop a disputed hydrocarbon field that lies in the Caspian Sea about midway between the two countries. Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding on the development of the Dostlug field at a videoconference meeting on January 21. While an agreement on the hydrocarbon field is a major step in the improvement of relations between the two Caspian littoral countries, it also rekindles the prospect of the construction of a trans-Caspian pipeline. The name of the field -- Dostlug or Friendship -- symbolizes compromise. Since the collapse of the Soviet Union in late 1991, both countries have laid claim to the field, with Azerbaijan naming it Kyapaz and Turkmenistan calling it Serdar. It was actually one of three disputed fields that are located in the middle of the Caspian Sea, roughly halfway between Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan. The other two are the Azeri and Chirag fields, which Turkmenistan calls, respectively, the Omar and Osman fields. But Azerbaijan started developing the two fields, Chirag in 1997 and Azeri in 2002, with help from an international consortium led by BP, and without resolving the ownership dispute with Turkmenistan. Azerbaijans decision to develop the two fields angered Turkmenistans first president, Saparmurat Niyazov, who had met with Azerbaijani President Heydar Aliyev in Baku in 1996 to discuss cooperation to benefit both countries. Azerbaijani-Turkmen relations plummeted and grew worse as the Chirag and Azeri fields started production. Together with a third nearby field -- Gunashli -- combined estimated recoverable reserves from the three fields is some 7 billion barrels of oil and ACG fields quickly accounted for the bulk of Azerbaijans oil production (though production peaked in 2010 at 823,100 barrels per day and has been gradually decreasing since). Meanwhile, the lack of tankers limited the amount of oil Turkmenistan could export. Relations started to improve between the two countries after the deaths of Heydar Aliyev (2003) and Niyazov (2006), though as late as 2009 Berdymukhammedov was still contemplating taking the matter of ownership of the Chirag and Azeri fields to international arbitration. In 2007, Berdymukhammedovs first year in power, Turkmenistan issued a license to the Cyprus-based company Buried Hill to develop Block III, the Serdar (now Dostlug) field, and the company began seismic surveying, but Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan agreed to hold off on any work until they resolved their dispute over the field. So the signing of a memorandum on the Dostlug field is a significant accomplishment for the two countries and Aliyev mentioned it was the result of "persistent activity from our two countries." An official from the State Oil Company of the Azerbaijani Republic (SOCAR), Ibragim Akhmedov, said, Many technical and commercial details still need to be worked out in connection with the future development of the field, but he hailed the memorandum as heralding a new era in the history of relations of Azerbaijan with neighbor Turkmenistan. Dostlug has proven reserves of some 1.4 billion barrels of oil and further exploration could find more. Akhmedov added that due to the development of the Chirag and Azeri fields, We have infrastructure and pipelines in the Caspian, oil pipelines and gas pipelines connecting the region to markets in Europe and other areas. That raises the larger matter of the Trans-Caspian Pipeline (TCP), which aims to annually bring some 30 billion cubic meters of Turkmen gas across the Caspian Sea to Azerbaijan for export to Europe. Robert Cutler is a senior research fellow and director of the Energy Security Program, NATO Association of Canada, and leading authority on Caspian geopolitics and energy matters. Cutler told RFE/RL, This [memorandum of understanding], which was enabled and accelerated by the August 2018 Aqtau Treaty, in fact dissolves away the final obstacle to the TCP. The long debate over the status of the Caspian Sea and its division was largely resolved at the Caspian summit in Aqtau, Kazakhstan, in August 2018 when the leaders of the five littoral states -- which also include Iran, Kazakhstan, and Russia -- signed the Caspian Sea Convention. An agreement on developing Dostlug would be a major step in Azerbaijani-Turkmen cooperation in jointly developing sites in the Caspian Sea and could be key to finally constructing the TCP. Cutler said there should be no doubt that the two sides have had detailed conversations on TCP cooperation in the context of bilateral discussions that have now produced this [memorandum of understanding]. As Akhmedov mentioned, there are still many details left to be resolved in cooperation on the Dostlug field and one of those will undoubtedly be the financing for the project. Azerbaijan does not have enough gas to fill the Trans-Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline (TANAP) as the volume the pipeline carries have increased, eventually to 60 billion cubic meters, and although several countries have been mentioned as possibly contributing to the gas that will be transported by TANAP. Turkmenistan, with the fourth-largest reserves of natural gas in the world, is the obvious choice to send gas through TANAP and on to Europe. Cutler said that since the memorandum on Dostlug has been signed, Observers should not be surprised by further progress on TCP implementation in the foreseeable future. There is, however, one drawback. SOCAR has invested its own money into the energy-export projects, including the TANAP pipeline, which brings Azerbaijani gas across Turkey to Europe. Turkmenistans economy is currently in crisis and the country could desperately use any new revenue it can find. But Aliyev made it very clear in late August 2018 that Azerbaijan was willing to act as a transit country for Turkmen gas but if Turkmenistan wanted a pipeline built, the government should fund the project the same way SOCAR funds its export-route projects. There was no clue from the complimentary exchanges between the Azerbaijani and Turkmen leaders at the video summit if Aliyev thought Turkmenistan should also contribute financially to the development of the Dostlug field. Rajinikanth, the superstar has recently made headlines with his sudden decision to cancel his political entry. The rumours regarding the Annaatthe actor's health issues have been doing rounds from the end of 2020 after he decided to not pursue his political aspirations. Now, the rumour mills suggest that Rajinikanth is planning to retire from acting. If the latest reports are to be believed, the hectic schedule has taken a toll on the superstar's health, and his doctors have advised him to take complete rest. So, Rajinikanth is now seriously considering retirement from acting, to solely focus on his health. In that case, Annaatthe might end up as the final project of his acting career. Even though similar rumours had gone viral after Rajinikanth announced his political entry, they had died down after the superstar backed out from his decision. But now, the senior actor's decision to walk out from a few films that he committed earlier also fueled the speculations. According to the grapevine, Rajinikanth has now walked out from all his previously committed projects. After Annaatthe, the superstar was supposed to play the lead role in the upcoming production venture of Kamal Haasan, which is supposed to be directed by Master director Lokesh Kanagaraj. He had also agreed to do a project for the production banner Sun Pictures, after completing the Siva directorial. However, the rumour mills suggest that Rajinikanth has decided to quit both the projects. The gossip mongers also point out that the superstar is not considering any new scripts, and has informed the same to the filmmakers and banners who were waiting for an opportunity to work with him. Rajinikanth is expected to resume the shooting of Annaatthe once he feels better. An official announcement on the senior star's decision is expected to be made very soon. Also Read: Master: Vijay Starrer To Hit Amazon Prime Video On February 12? Dhanush's Karnan: The Satellite Rights Of The Mari Selvaraj Project Are Sold Hyderabad, Jan 22 : Election for Mayor and Deputy Mayor of Greater Hyderabad will be held on February 11. The Telangana State Election Commission on Friday directed the election authority and Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) Commissioner to conduct the election on February 11 at 12.30 p.m. State Election Commissioner (SEC) C. Partha Sarathi has issued a notification for the election, directing the election authority and GHMC Commissioner to authorise one of the District Collectors having jurisdiction over any area comprising the GHMC to conduct the election to the offices of Mayor and Deputy Mayor. The District Collector to be authorised for conducting the election will give notice on or before February 6 to all members of GHMC. According to the schedule, directly elected ward members of GHMC will be administered the oath at 11 a.m. on February 11. The same day, a special meeting will be held at 12.30 p.m. for election of Mayor and Deputy Mayor. If for any reason the election is not held on February 11, it shall be held the next day, the SEC said. He said a senior IAS officer will be appointed as election observer. The poll panel made it clear that the election of Deputy Mayor should be taken after the election of Mayor. In the GHMC elections held last month, the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) won 56 divisions in the 150-member body. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) came second with 48 divisions while the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) bagged 44 seats. The SEC on January 16 notified the newly elected ward members (corporators) to the council of GHMC. The gazette notification paved way for holding the first meeting of the newly-elected members as also the election of Mayor and Deputy Mayor by them. The term of the existing council of GHMC expires on February 10. The process of conducting first meeting of the new council and election of Mayor and Deputy Mayor will have to be completed by February 15. U.S. Senator Rick Scott, Republican of Florida, speaks to the media before the weekly Senate Republican lunch on Capitol Hill in Washington on Nov. 10, 2020. (Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images) Rick Scott Says Hell Back GOP Incumbents Over Trump Challengers Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.), the new chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC), said on Jan. 21 that hell back GOP incumbents even if former President Donald Trump or his family were to get involved in the 2022 Senate races. Im supporting incumbents, Scott said during a press briefing on Capitol Hill when pressed on rumors that Trumps daughter, Ivanka, might be considering running alongside fellow Florida Sen. Marco Rubio in 2022. He said that nobody has talked to me or confirmed the rumors, noting that he hasnt spoken with Trump since he left office. Nobody. Ive tried to call around. Nobodys said anything about Florida, he said. Scott, who voted on Jan. 6 to object to the certification of electoral college votes in Pennsylvania, repeated his stance when asked if he would back Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) against a Trump-backed challenger. As the new NRSC head, Scott is in charge of spearing the GOPs effort to take back the Senate, including keeping seats in Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and Wisconsin. Democratic seats in Arizona, Georgia, Nevada. and New Hampshire will also be targeted by Republicans in 2022. Defending his decision to challenge Pennsylvanias electoral college results, Scott said that he wants people to follow the law. I mean, you have to remember what I went through in my 2018 election where they completely violated the law. They found 95,000 votes after election night. Chuck Schumer sent lawyers down because he didnt care what the votes were, hes going to the court. So, I want people to follow the law, Scott said. Scott also said he would not judge those who vote to convict Trump in his upcoming impeachment trial. Everybody will have to decide on their own. I think we ought to focus on where were going, not the past, he said. Everybody will make their own decision. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) said that the House will likely send the article of impeachment against Trump to the Senate by the end of the week. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) told reporters on Jan. 21 that its up to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) as to when the article will be transmitted. The House impeached Trump on Jan. 13 for allegedly incitement of an insurrection; blaming him for the Jan. 6 breach of the U.S. Capitol although he urged supporters to act peacefully at the time. Trump meanwhile has made some statements in recent speeches suggesting that he will continue to be active in politics. We love you, he told Americans on Wednesday. We will be back in some form. 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. Theres never been anything like it, Trump said in a farewell video on Tuesday. On Thursday, newly-elected Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) announced she has introducing articles of impeachment against President Joe Biden. Zachary Stieber contributed to this report. Videos Sorry, there are no recent results for popular videos. You can now add West Boylston and Boylston to the growing list of Central Massachusetts cities and towns where filming will take place for the upcoming reboot of Showtimes Dexter series. The production crew will be filming over the course of two days in the area of Route 140 and Route 70 in Boylston and Maple Street in West Boylston, according to the Telegram & Gazette. The popular crime drama is also scheduled to film in Gardner, Lancaster, Sterling and Worcester. The upcoming season will be a limited series, which will run for 10 episodes and premiere in October. The reboot brings back the award-winning, eight-season series after fans were disappointed with the shows ending. Michael C. Hall will again star as Dexter Morgan, a serial killer-hunting serial killer. The filming taking place in West Boylston will be a for a car accident scene near the Mass. Wildlife parking lot, the Telegram reports. Filming is tentatively scheduled to take place on Feb. 24 and March 1, the paper reports. Starring alongside Hall is Julia Jones from The Mandalorian, Alano Miller from Sylvies Love, Johnny Sequoyah from Believe and Jack Alcott from THE GOOD LORD BIRD. The Dexter revival will be a continuation of the original 2006-2013 crime drama mystery, which centered on Dexter, a forensics expert in Miami who solved crimes in his public life and murdered serial killers in his private life. Related Content: MPs have launched an inquiry seeking to understand how a potential ban on exporting live animals for fattening and slaughter would impact farmers. Plans to ban exports of live animals for slaughter were unveiled by Defra last month despite longstanding concerns by the livestock sector. Defra Secretary George Eustice said the controversial ban could be in force by the end of next year. The House of Commons Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (EFRA) Select Committee has launched an inquiry into how it may impact on farmers. The inquiry will also look at potential improvements for animal health and welfare. European Union law currently prevents any restriction on imports and exports between member states. Mr Eustice explained that because of Brexit, it would 'strengthen the UK's position as a world leader on animal welfare'. But EFRA Committee member and veterinary surgeon, Dr Neil Hudson MP, said the new inquiry wanted to know what support would be available for farmers to adjust. "Thousands of animals, from pets to racehorses to farm animals, are moved between the UK and the EU every year. "We want to understand the effects of new regulations on our important farming and equine industries and what support they will need to adjust. "We need our new rules to be underpinned by the best possible evidence, and our inquiry will hold the government to account on this. Chair of the EFRA Committee, Neil Parish MP, said the governments proposals would bring a 'raft of changes' for those who export live animals. "While I welcome the ambition to improve animal welfare, it is important that the government considers the impacts on British farmers of a ban on live exports and what will happen to animals that would be exported." The Committee will also scrutinise the UKs capacity and effectiveness in certifying, recording and inspecting animal movements across borders, as well as responding to outbreaks of animal disease. The movement of horses, ponies and donkeys for breeding and racing will also be considered. HSE CEO Paul Reid said that the country has never seen such a high level of ICU patients being treated for the same illness as Covid hospitalisations continue to rise. As of the latest figures, there are 211 people in ICU being treated for Covid-19, which is 66pc of the countrys ICU population. The HSE boss said 300 people are also receiving respiratory support outside of ICU. Read More Taking to Twitter, Mr Reid said nothing is more serious than the current situation. He wrote: We've never seen 66% of patients in ICU (211) being treated for the same illness. We're battling hard to sustain safe levels of care but it's getting harder. 300 patients are also receiving respiratory support outside of ICU. Nothing is more serious. We've never seen 66% of patients in ICU (211) being treated for the same illness. We're battling hard to sustain safe levels of care but its getting harder.300 patients are also receiving respiratory support outside of ICU. Nothing is more serious. #StaySafe @HSELive #COVID19 Paul Reid (@paulreiddublin) January 22, 2021 HSE Chief Clinical Officer Dr Colm Henry said that the country remains in a precarious position despite the drop in cases. Speaking on RTE Radio Ones Morning Ireland, he said there are still extraordinary levels of infection in the community with levels 10 times higher than early December. "While there are some positive trends in the community, ongoing community transmission levels will continue to feed into our hospital system which is under considerable stress at the moment, he said. Tanaiste Leo Varadkar said that one-third of patients with Covid-19 in hospitals picked it up in hospital. Responding to this, Dr Henry explained that despite all precautions taken by hospital staff and management, if transmission is high in the community it too will be high in hospitals. "Anyone who has been in hospital in the past few months will see they are unrecognisable to what they were like before the pandemic with the screening of patients, staff wearing masks and PPE and the testing of people coming in in the various departments, he said. "There are huge efforts being made by staff and management to make hospitals as safe as possible. "But, what they cannot protect themselves against is simple high levels of infection in the community, because staff working in hospitals live in the community and the patients who get sick in the community with Covid have to come into hospital. "It is impossible to keep covid out of hospital settings, despite all these efforts. Yesterday, a further 51 coronavirus-related deaths and 2,608 more cases were confirmed by the Department of Health. 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. The reproduction rate has fallen considerably to 0.5 to 0.8. Chair of NPHET professor Philip Nolan said: We have to keep it below 0.1 if we are to successfully emerge out of the current wave. 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. Closing borders anew would be a "mistake" and would have "great consequences for the EU's credibility" and the health sector in Luxembourg, says Jean Asselborn. "Closing the intra-EU borders in 2020 was a mistake and it would be even worse to do it in 2021," the Luxembourg Minister of Foreign Affairs told German public radio station Deutschlandfunk. "Like last spring, it would have great consequences for the credibility of the European Union", he said. His warning came just a few hours before the EU summit on Thursday evening on the fight against the pandemic in light of the new variants. On the agenda: limiting cross-border movements, accelerating the vaccination programmes, implementing a shared certificate, among other things. Asselborn stressed that he wasn't talking about tourism, but cross-border workers. Around 50,000 people commute daily from Germany, the same number from Belgium and around 100,000 from France. If the borders are closed to them, "the Luxembourgish health system will collapse", as "60% of people working in the medical sector come in from abroad", he said. Asselborn reminded listeners of the EU's promise that everyone could work freely in every other member country. "THIS IS PART OF OUR DAILY LIFE" The Minister further stressed that within the EU, "30% of the population lives in border areas. If you live in Paris or Berlin, you may have to deal with borders twice or three times a year. For us, this is daily life." On Wednesday, Prime Minister Xavier Bettel had spoken to German chancellor Angela Merkel and Belgian Prime Minister Alexander de Croo about this very issue. The same day, France had raised the idea of "health checks" at its borders. Angela Merkel, too, did not want to exclude border checks if neighbouring countries did not take sufficient measures to combat the new and more contagious Coronavirus variants. Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-22 06:03:49|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close WARSAW, Jan. 21 (Xinhua) -- Poland has detected a case of a more contagious variant of coronavirus that was first discovered in Britain, the country's Health Ministry confirmed on Thursday. The variant was detected in a COVID-19 patient in the southern Lesser Poland province, a ministry spokesperson told Polish Press Agency (PAP). Since the start of the pandemic, 1,457,755 people in Poland have been diagnosed with COVID-19, which cost 34,561 lives. Meanwhile, 591,785 people, mainly health workers, have been vaccinated, according to the Health Ministry. Also on Thursday, the PAP quoted Health Minister Adam Niedzielski as saying that he reckons 2.5 million Poles will be vaccinated by the end of the first quarter, down from 3 million at the start of the Pfizer vaccine distribution due to a Europe-wide slowdown in deliveries. 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. Enditem Press Release January 22, 2021 POE: VACCINE PASSPORTS SHOULD BE GIVEN FREE Sen. Grace Poe has urged the Department of Health (DOH) to issue a standard vaccine certificate that should be free of charge to vaccinees to help expedite the return to work of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) sidelined by the pandemic. "The certificate as proof of vaccination should be at no cost to the recipient," Poe said on Friday's continuation of the Senate committee of the whole hearing on the government's COVID-19 vaccination program. "The standard document that our people will carry as their badge of protection that they have been vaccinated should not make them spend extra money because every peso is precious especially during these hard times," she added. At the Senate hearing, Poe stressed anew the importance of the vaccine passport, which she introduced through her Senate Bill No. 1994 or the "Vaccine Passport Act." The bill seeks to issue vaccine passports to individuals who have gotten the vaccine, including students, local workers and OFWs. "The vaccine certificate would be very effective. 'Pag naghanap ang ating mga kababayan, kabilang na ang mga OFW, ng trabaho at pinakita nila 'yun, advantage na 'yan sa kanila. Alam naman natin 'yun ang kulang sa atin ngayon na kailangan talagang mas dumami ulit ang mga nagtatrabaho," Poe explained. "'Yung mga OFW natin, kapag aalis sila para magtatrabaho sa ibang bansa, darating ang panahon na magiging requirement na 'yankung ano ang mga bakunang meron ka... May mga iba pang klaseng virus na maaaring lumabas na kailangang magpabakuna tayo. Mauna na tayo. Gawin na natin na meron tayong talaan kung ano ang mga bakuna natin sapagkat marami sa ating mga kababayan ang kailangang pumasok sa eskuwela at magtrabaho," Poe also said. On Poe's questioning, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said the record will indicate among others, the dates of first dose and second dose of the vaccine. She also pointed out that the DOH and relevant agencies should keep an organized record and database of those who have received the vaccine and other relevant information. Under Poe's bill, the vaccine record will contain types and purposes of vaccines administered to the holder, the batch numbers the vaccines belong to, dates administered, and the persons and institutions that administered the inoculation. The bill also includes a provision that prohibits the collection of fees for the issuance, amendment or replacement of a vaccine passport, as well as penalties for offenses for possession of more than one vaccine passport, falsification and forgery. Other countries like Greece, Denmark and Israel have initiated the same move as another step to help their economy recover from the pandemic. Sea Dragon is likely to bother China and not just because of the moniker. The ongoing multination Sea Dragon 2021 exercise in the U.S. territory of Guam illustrates yet another platform in which the United States, along with key Indo-Pacific allies and partners, seek to promote high-end naval interoperability and readiness. This years exercise involves Australia, Canada, India, Japan and the United States; as The Diplomat editor-at-large Ankit Panda described it on Twitter, it, thus, effectively is a Quad+1 exercise. While the navies of India, Japan and the United States are participating in the exercise, Australia and Canada have sent units from their air forces. Nurses asked why the list of selected candidates was not released even though the merit list was declared on November 7. DC Image HYDERABAD: Scores of nurses, who had qualified in the recruitment examination for government hospitals conducted by TSPSC, were detained by the police when they staged a sit-in at the office of Director, Public Health & Family Welfare in Sultan Bazaar on Friday. They were asking why the list of selected candidates was not released even though the merit list was declared on November 7 and committee to look into the issue was given a two-week deadline. The nurses were taken to the Sultan Bazaar, Amberpet and Afzalgunj police stations and released later. A delegation of nurses allowed to meet the director submitted a representation seeking early recruitment considering that TSPSC had conducted the test in March 2018. In all 21,000 aspirants appeared for the test for 3,311 posts. Although, the merit list was declared on November 7 last year, it was opposed by nurses working in private hospitals as only outsourced nurses from government hospitals were given weightage. In the second week of November, the government constituted a committee to look into the matter and resolve the issue within two weeks. K. Dharani Reddy, who is among the eligible candidates, asked, It has been more than two months and the committee is yet to make any headway. We toiled during the pandemic by risking our lives to treat Covid patient. So why are we subject to such and inhuman treatment. Goverdhan, a protestor who was detained earlier in the day, said, Government officials have to be blamed for this chaos. When things could be handled smoothly, they are prolonging the matter and making our lives miserable. Our career prospects are getting affected. A Good Weekend analysis of winners over the 45-year life of the awards shows that a quarter of the top 200 on The Australian Financial Reviews 2019 Rich List have an Order of Australia, and they overwhelmingly have the higher-level honours. Australians like to think of themselves as great egalitarians. But the Order of Australia created in 1975 by then-prime minister Gough Whitlam to replace the politicised British Imperial honours system is arguably just as class-based as ever. Doled out on Australia Day and the Queens Birthday, the honours are arranged according to a strict hierarchy: the highest is the Companion of the Order (AC), then comes Officer of the Order (AO), Member of the Order (AM) and Medal of the Order (OAM). It did. A Good Weekend analysis of the Order of Australia honours system highlights just how unusual a candidate Bates was for the revered ranks of the AO the second-highest honour, granted to Australians who have been of distinguished service of a high degree to Australia or to humanity at large. Her 2018 award bucks the general trend towards granting the highest honours overwhelmingly to the rich, the powerful, the well-connected and the male. After the Government House ceremony, you go to a lunch at Parliament House in Sydney, says Bates, who lives in Sydneys inner suburbs. At my table were Mr and Mrs Whoever and theyd won their award for scouting sitting next to an old hooker. I think my award broke the mould somewhat, and I hope it did. Bates, a straight-talking bottle-blonde who worked for decades as a sex worker before sex work was decriminalised, was used to being on the other, non-establishment side of the law. Suddenly, here was the Queen through her Australian representative, then-governor-general Peter Cosgrove appointing her an Officer in the Order of Australia for her services to sex workers and drug users. The AO was a great surprise and a big deal. The crown came up and I thought, What is that? What have I done now? she recounts. And it was, Miss Bates, we are in the process of giving you an AO. Julie Bates well remembers the morning in 2018 when she saw something that made her worry the law was onto her. Drinking coffee in bed in her pyjamas, and scrolling through her emails, she caught sight of a crown insignia. Her chest clenched. Former Australian of the Year and domestic and family violence campaigner Rosie Batty said at the time that she was sickened by Arndts honour. It makes me question the legitimacy of the awards system in the entirety across the spectrum, Batty told News Corp. While Arndt has made a significant contribution to sex education and was a strong Australian voice in the 1970s sexual revolution, more recently she stirred controversy with her sympathetic 2017 interview with convicted paedophile Nicolaas Bester for her YouTube channel, and prior to that, her description of a scout master who sexually abused boys as a good bloke. Controversial 2020 honours recipients included former Speaker of the House and lifelong Liberal politician Bronwyn Bishop, who left politics following an expenses scandal. Also honoured was Graham Richardson, the former Labor politician and notorious factional headkicker once known as the Senator for Kneecaps. Eyebrows were also raised at the honouring of retired broadcaster Mike Carlton, who often turns the air blue with abuse of his ideological foes on Twitter. But by far the most controversial honour went to Bettina Arndt , the sex therapist and media commentator associated with the mens rights movement. Arndt was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for her work on gender equity through advocacy for men. The statistics paint their own picture, but the last Australia Day honours list, released just before the pandemic distracted everyones attention, rendered the idiosyncrasies of the system in technicolour. That list lost people, says one former Council for the Order of Australia insider. It cracked open peoples uncertainty about the honours. It had a few too many rich people and a few too many pollies. More than 320 state and federal politicians have been honoured with the higher-level awards (AM, AO, AC), with a record 20 bestowed with gongs in 2020, more than half of them from the conservative side of politics. Women account for only 31 per cent of Order of Australia appointments. No statistics exist on the percentage of Indigenous nominees or recipients, but the Council for the Order of Australia, which selects the recipients, has not had an Indigenous community member since 2012. About 130 directors of boards of ASX 300 companies have an Order of Australia, and the suburbs AC and AO recipients are most likely to live in are Toorak in Melbourne (which boasts 67 of them) and Mosman in Sydney (57), followed by Melbournes South Yarra (45) and Kew (34). Sydneys exclusive Vaucluse has 39 ACs and AOs. The highest-level award, the AC, has never been given to anyone in the Multicultural or Disabled fields of endeavour, but of the 30 fields awards are given to, the Parliament and Politics category boasts 42 ACs, while Business and Commerce leaders have collected 48 of them. These are awards from the bottom up individuals are neither qualified nor disqualified on the basis of their political leanings, social views or religious convictions. Many months later, in September , Council for the Order of Australia chair Shane Stone himself an AC issued a statement saying the council had considered requests for the cancellation of appointments to the Order of Australia of Ms Bettina Arndt AM and Mr Mike Carlton AM and will make no further recommendations to the Governor-General. Further, the statement said, unanimous community approval is not a criteria for Council to make a recommendation. The symbolic motion was supported by all senators except One Nations Pauline Hanson and Malcolm Roberts. Then Victorian attorney-general Jill Hennessy wrote to Governor-General David Hurley asking the council to consider cancelling Arndts honour on the basis it brought the Order of Australia into disrepute. The outrage was swift. Victorian Liberal senator Sarah Henderson wrote to the Council of the Order of Australia urging it to revoke the AM, saying Arndt had seriously crossed the line and that it was no longer appropriate she be honoured. Labor senators Kristina Keneally and Penny Wong moved a Senate motion calling Arndts comments reckless and abhorrent and not consistent with her retaining her Order of Australia. Weeks after her award was announced, Arndt tweeted in support of Queensland man Rowan Baxter, who burned to death his estranged wife Hannah Clarke and their three young children, then killed himself. Appointed for renewable two-year terms, its members are a mix of the community representatives (currently including top-end-of-towners Melbourne philanthropist Rupert Myer AO and Sydney corporate board member Jillian Segal AO) and appointees from the states and territories usually the secretary to the governor or the chief public servant in the premiers department. It also includes three ex-officio public officer holders the Deputy Secretary of Governance from the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, the Chief of the Australian Defence Force, and the Vice-President of the Federal Executive Council (the governmental body empowered to advise the Crown, via the governor-general). The chair and seven community representatives are chosen by the prime minister and officially appointed by the governor-general. One of the big problems we suffer from is awareness of the system itself. I am aware of the criticisms that have been raised. There are considered criticisms of the system that are valid and need to be addressed. The Order of Australia is the highest form of recognition for Australians, says Hurley over the phone. It is a recognition of significant contribution to the life of Australia at the community, national and global levels. Hurley rarely gives media interviews and his willingness to discuss the honours is indicative of a soft push for change from within. Twice a year, the 19-member Council for the Order of Australia gathers in a nondescript building on the sprawling grounds of the Governor-Generals official residence in Yarralumla, home to the grandly titled Honours and Awards Secretariat of the Office of the Official Secretary to the Governor-General. While its run under the auspices of the governor-general, the governor-general has no role in its decisions. That said, incumbent David Hurley is vitally interested in the process and public perceptions of it. Much of the current systems imbalance comes down to who has the resources to nominate deserving others, notes one observer: If youre trying to stand up your fences and tend your crops, you dont have time. Credit:Getty Images The decision of the council was final. But the whole saga led many to ask: how do these people get an Order of Australia in the first place? And, for that matter, how does anyone? The officials might put the applications into loose groupings of the level of order AC, AO, and so on. But the council will make the decision, sometimes thrashing it out and even taking a vote. For example, it is understood Julie Bates nomination was upgraded from a lower honour to an AO on the urging of some council members who pointed out the number of lives she must have saved through her HIV-prevention work. It was always interesting that the professionals generally got the higher awards, says Brady. But the OAM recipients usually were the ones who would say, I dont deserve this, when they had in fact done remarkable work for the community. Julie Bates was appointed an Officer in the Order of Australia for her services to sex workers and drug users: I think my award broke the mould somewhat. Credit:Dominic Lorrimer Stephen Brady, a former secretary of the council and official secretary to the governor-general, explains: The secretariat does 12 to 18 months of research on each application, validating the information. One of their roles is to approach people who are not on the nomination form as referees. They seek more detail or corroboration those contacted will often be very honest. Every so often youll get a recipient who is criticised. People will wring their hands and say, How did that happen? But we see the whole picture of someone, he says. The 19 people on the council come from across the political spectrum. You have a full suite of opinions of the nominee and their merit, and Ill keep coming back to that word, merit, because its about merit, not quotas. Stone says he does get calls from people who have nominated others, asking after the status of the application, but he refers them back to the secretariat. The current chair, Shane Stone, is a former Liberal Party president and one-time Northern Territory chief minister. Described by one former council member as a traditional bloke from the Northern Territory and a really decent human being, Stone is in Queensland when I speak to him he travels widely through regional and remote Australia in his other role as Coordinator-General of the National Drought and North Queensland Flood Response and Recovery Agency. He moves out of the wind to make himself heard on his mobile. The councils deliberations are confidential, no reasons are given for the rejection of applications, and there is no avenue for appeal. The sessions run all day, sometimes spilling over two days, and for some sessions you might be looking at 800 or 900 people, according to one person familiar with the meetings. Former Victorian College of the Arts CEO Andrea Hull AO served on the council as a community representative from 2008 to 2014. The secretariat is independent in its research and they have a register of people they will go to, she says. Occasionally its obvious that a person has self-nominated, which is not comme il faut. Then there are the highly networked individuals who nominate each other, not realising their swollen vanity may be exposed. You could see the email chain it begins with, You nominate me, Ill nominate you, and here is who you should approach as referees, Hull says. The debates were robust. There was never any sense at the table that people were being pressured to accept certain nominations. Professional and industry associations will frequently organise and draft nominations for leaders in their field surgeons and lawyers are well-resourced in this respect. Some former politicians might be officially nominated by an eminent person, but the application bears all the hallmarks of being filled out by party HQ. I can remember a couple of politicians who were not given awards, Hull says. There was one in particular I had knowledge of who absolutely did not warrant an award. She wont say who it is, only that she is keeping an eye out for that person, to see if they end up getting one. Loading Human rights lawyer Moira Rayner is a long-time feminist and activist who clashed with Victorian premier Jeff Kennetts government in the 1990s over the issue of womens prisons. In the 1990s she was nominated for an Order of Australia by Father Julian Punch, a Catholic priest who she got to know while working on an inquiry into homeless children in the 1980s. Rayners nomination was not successful. I thought Gough Whitlam was a wild optimist in trying to clean up the Imperial honours system, because inevitably it gets down to who does the picking, Rayner says. The political nature of many recent appointments has been embarrassing. Its not reflective of merit at all, its reflective of who you know. Rayner believes the system should be taken apart and looked at carefully, and re-established with new guidelines so the networks of those privileged ones fall apart. As for the likelihood of her getting an award now that shes criticised the system: Ill never be nominated again. In 1974, before relations between Gough Whitlam and the Crown soured, the Australian prime minister visited the Queen at Buckingham Palace. Whitlam used the meeting to outline his proposal for a new, native Australian honours system. She was happy with the concept, he recounted in a 1983 speech. Previously, eminent Australians had been recognised under the British Imperial system, which Whitlam considered inappropriate. He was impressed by the Canadian honours system, established in 1967, and sought to model ours on it. On Australia Day 1975, the Order of Australia came into being. Knighthoods and damehoods did not figure in Whitlams reimagining of Australian honours he wanted the Companion of the Order of Australia to be the highest honour the country could bestow. Not only that, but the Companion, or AC, would rank above all Australian knights and dames previously anointed under the British Imperial honours system. But Whitlams republican-spirited changes were short-lived, and we have seen an unedifying back-and-forth on Australian knighthoods ever since. When Malcolm Fraser succeeded Whitlam as prime minister, he added a knighthood and a damehood to the Order of Australia. In 1986, then-Prime Minister Bob Hawke abolished them again. Then Tony Abbott was elected in 2013, and he re-introduced knighthoods and damehoods unilaterally as prime minister, with no oversight from the council. Already trailing in the polls, when Abbott announced on Australia Day 2015 that Prince Philip would be made a Knight of the Order of Australia, he lost both the public and his party room, commencing a chain of events that led to Malcolm Turnbull toppling him in September that year. There were other noses out of joint, too. When Prime Minister Abbott reintroduced knighthoods and dames, he didnt foresee the level of anger from the ACs, says former governor-general secretary Brady. Many of them contacted Government House, commenting sharply that they had accepted what they thought was the highest honour! Turnbull duly abolished the knights and dames category, although the changes were not backdated Prince Philip may well have been baffled to receive an Australian knighthood, but he got to keep it. The unused medals left over from Abbotts ill-advised reintroduction of knights and dames cost taxpayers about $135,000, it emerged at a Senate estimates hearing in October 2020. This sort of political tinkering was out of keeping with Whitlams original vision, which was for an honours system that would be out of the hands of politicians and in those of a widely representative council that would reflect community values. The Order of Australia is different from Imperial Orders in an important aspect: the method of selecting recipients, he said in his 1983 speech. It is not unkind but factual to say that the Imperial Awards are made on the recommendation of politicians there have been constant cases of political favours in appointments in Imperial Orders. There cannot be such cases in the Order of Australia. Credit:Edwina Pickles; Natalie Boog; Joshua Morris; Brook Mitchell; AAP So how well has the Order of Australia lived up to Whitlams dream of a non- political process? Good Weekends analysis shows politics and politicians still have plenty of involvement in the modern honours system. Former senior politicians are highly likely to be honoured with awards, compared to disability advocates or environmental crusaders or just about anyone else. While many awards go to community workers, when politicians get gonged, it tends to be at the highest level 40 per cent of politicians with an Order of Australia are at the AC and AO level. There is a skew to conservative politicians 165 Coalition members have received gongs, compared to 130 Labor politicians. (Some high-profile Labor people, notably former Labor prime minister Paul Keating and former Labor minister Jim McClelland, have refused honours.) And you dont have to have served in parliament to get a gong for services to politics former Liberal party federal directors Tony Nutt and Brian Loughnane have AOs, and former Labor party national secretary George Wright was made an AO in the Australia Day list in 2020. Former Nationals federal director Paul Davey was given an AM in 2019, and former Nationals federal president Christine Ferguson got the same gong in 2018. Some years the party-political bias has been stark in 2005, when John Howard was prime minister, the Liberals got 14 awards, and just one Labor politician was honoured. Then there are the former pollies on the council itself alongside Country Liberal Shane Stone as chair, another of its community representatives Cheryl Edwardes AM is a former West Australian Liberal attorney-general who has worked as a mining company executive, including for Gina Rineharts Hancock Prospecting. Stone says neither he nor Edwardes is actively involved in politics. We are two people out of 19, he says. I can assure you that the state representatives, particularly the Labor states, wouldnt tolerate that for a minute and theres more of them than there are conservatives. I say to people, We leave politics at the door. We dont talk politics in here, we talk contribution. We assess people on their merits. "I say to people, 'We leave politics at the door. We dont talk politics in here, we talk contribution. We assess people on their merits. According to Brady, the wall between the council and the prime ministers office was guarded ruthlessly during his time. A prime minister could ask how a particular application was going, but that was about it. Stone agrees: The Governor-General and the Prime Minister would not ring me and say, We think so-and-so should get one. That might be so, but there are other ways to influence an outcome, and taken historically, its clear the community representatives have not been overly representative. Since 1975, three in every four members of the council have been men, and 96 per cent of ex-officio members since inception have been male. Women have been selected more often more recently, reflecting a general social shift towards more women in leadership roles. Yet since the election of Tony Abbott in 2013, there have been no Indigenous Australians appointed to the council. Stones great frustration with criticism of the honours system is that many critics never nominate anyone themselves. Prior to his appointment as council chair, he nominated 74 people, he says, and as chief minister he appointed a public servant to lead nominations for the Northern Territory. He particularly wanted more Indigenous and migrant citizens honoured. I nominated the first Muslim in the Territory, Stone says. He was a meat-worker turned imam and a bloody good bloke. Stone regularly takes people aside in his stead as flood response coordinator, and tells them to nominate the ordinary people doing extraordinary things in flood and drought recovery on the land. I am passionate about the whole thing. I have lived and breathed it. I believe there is huge merit in the way we recognise people, he says. No one is standing there saying, Hey, its perfect. Nothings perfect, we strive to do better. We are conscious we dont get as many nominations for women as we would like. Its not as if we dont try. Stone defends the honouring of former politicians something that grinds many peoples gears, particularly given the generous parliamentary pensions many ex-MPs benefit from. There are plenty of former politicians who are passed over, I can assure you. Its not an entitlement to an award, he says. We try to recognise those who have served their time then re-entered the community to work, when what theyve done post-politics is hugely commendable. Thats what you want, particularly among those who have the benefit of a parliamentary pension. He argues that relative to the overall number, theres not that many honours to former pollies, but concedes some classes of people have more time and resources to nominate people than others. Its almost an urban luxury to sit around on a Sunday afternoon and say, Ill do a nomination. But if youre trying to stand up your fences and tend your crops, you dont have time. Certainly time, resources and expertise with government processes is a plus. An inherent weakness of the system is that the professions are able to draw on high-level referees in a way ordinary folk cant, says one former council insider. Most people might struggle to bring together five really good referees. Whereas if your nominator is John Howard and its co-sponsored by Kim Beazley, your application jumps off the page. This one-time insider says the OAM the lowest-order community honour runs the risk of putting ordinary people at the bottom of the honours system, where sometimes their nobility and real sacrifice is equal to or greater than that of your well-paid surgeon. It is almost like the British class system. Credit: ASX data: opendirector.com.au Carol Kiernan is an intelligence and communications consultant who has worked with the Australian Federal Police. She was living with her husband in Washington, D.C., working for the World Bank, when a 2017 visit home coincided with the announcement of the Queens Birthday honours list. What the 63-year-old read enraged her. There were 14 men and one woman [who] got a Companion. That woman was Cate Blanchett, Kiernan recalls. I felt like I was stepping back into the 50s with women being so grateful for everything. I had been overseas for a number of years, and I thought, Whats going on here? We dont recognise that 50 per cent of the population are women. On a flight from Melbourne to Sydney a few days later, still fuming, Kiernan picked up a copy of The Age and read a letter to the editor from education academic Dr Elizabeth Hartnell-Young, in which she too complained of the gender disparity in the honours list. Kiernan contacted her, and soon after they met in a Melbourne cafe to discuss what they could do. Hartnell-Young roped in Ruth McGowan, a former country mayor and champion of rural Australia, and after a brainstorming session involving lots of butchers paper, the trio founded the Honour a Woman group. Short and sharp, says Kiernan of its 2017 launch. We just went all day and said, What are we angry about? What steps do we want to take? How can we get there? As a movement rather than an organisation, it has 70 ambassadors from public life and the media. Its goal is to raise awareness and lobby governments for structural change to the honours system. The gender disparity in the awards system is stark a breakdown of all recipients between 1975 and 2016 shows 70 per cent were male and 30 per cent female. Kiernan says it is accepted that women have generally been given the lower awards. Only since 2017 has the secretariat published a gender breakdown of which level awards women are mostly honoured with, but they show she is right. Between 1975 and 2019, women received only 19 per cent of ACs, 21 per cent of AOs and 24 per cent of AMs. They were better represented among the lowest community level honour, the OAM, where they made up 35 per cent of recipients. Lobbying governments and the Governor-General, Honour a Woman wants nothing less than 50-50 gender parity. Things improved in the Australia Day 2020 list 41 per cent of recipients were female, and women received 62 per cent of ACs. But, Kiernan points out, only eight of the maximum of 35 ACs were awarded in 2020, so the sample was small. An investiture ceremony at Government House. They really are a joyous occasion, says Governor-General David Hurley (at far right). Governor-General David Hurley does not dispute that the Order of Australia has a woman problem. The data supports it, he says. You cant walk away from that. I dont think its appropriate, I dont think its right, and I want to change it. We need to ensure we have a system thats sustainable, that attracts the nominations of women. Hurley has met with the Honour a Woman group, and while he doesnt agree with their proposal of a quota for female recipients, he is working to boost nominations of women from the grassroots. In recent years we have worked hard to redress that balance and the numbers have changed. To this end, Hurley has written to 59 peak bodies in Australia over the past few months, armed with data on their 20-year history of male versus female nominations, encouraging them to examine their nominations process for gender balance. To some of them, I have said quite candidly, I dont think youre doing well enough. Now shes been radicalised, Kiernan sees Order of Australia injustice everywhere she goes. She rattles off a list of eminent women whove never been honoured as their male peers have, including former Western Australian premier Carmen Lawrence, anti-nuclear campaigner and Nobel Peace Prize nominee Helen Caldicott, who has 21 honorary degrees (her nomination for an Order of Australia in 2020 was rejected), and the recently deceased Helen Reddy. I did a quick check of other musicians of her era and found that her male colleagues were not forgotten, Kiernan says. Normie Rowe AM, Ronnie Burns AM, Glenn Shorrock AM, John Farnham AO, Angry Anderson AM, Slim Dusty AO MBE, Brian Cadd AM, Smoky Dawson AM, Athol Guy AO, Keith Potger AO and John Williamson AM. The Gibb brothers got CBEs [Commanders of the Orders of the British Empire]. None of them are feminist icons! Elizabeth Broderick has spent a lifetime fighting for gender equality, as Australian Sex Discrimination Commissioner and Chair-Rapporteur of the UN Working Group on Discrimination against Women and Girls. She is an Officer of the Order of Australia and a former Australian of the Year. She recently stepped down from the Council of the Order of Australia after four years service and says the council does need people arguing the toss for women. In many of the award categories, she notes, professional associations predominantly put men forward. Some progress has been made by state governments like Victoria, which in 2017 appointed a public servant within the Department of Premier and Cabinet to actively search for female nominees, but theres clearly more work to be done. The question is, how do we get more nominations for women? You can only make decisions based on the nominations you have in front of you. The question is, how do we get more nominations for women? You can only make decisions based on the nominations you have in front of you. There may be a new sense of activism around the awards, but criticism of the system dates back decades. In 1994, the Keating government commissioned an inquiry into the Order of Australia system. Frank Walker, then Minister for Administrative Services, spoke of complaints that the system is one for the elite groups in society that to be recognised you need to be a doctor, a lawyer, a business leader or senior government official. He noted the view that not enough women are receiving recognition through the system. Led by Clare Petre, who has held various leadership positions in the not-for-profit community sector, the inquiry found that Australians value their honours system as a signpost to our national identity, our values, our aspirations and our heroes but that access to awards is currently seen mainly as the preserve of organisations and powerful or well-connected individuals. I track Petre down and she invites me to her Coogee home in Sydneys east to pick up a copy of her report, A Matter of Honour. She seems glad someone is taking an interest. Petre says many members of the inquiry committee went in wondering whether we needed an honours system at all. They heard from thousands of Australians in every state and territory, through submissions, public forums, and face-to-face meetings with community and interest groups. The response from the community was, Yes, we do. The main thing was people thought it should reflect community values and be above and beyond what was your job. Petres report found many Indigenous people objected in particular to the Queens Birthday honours announcements. People in the Indigenous community did not relate to the system. There was a failure of the honours to reflect Indigenous values. University of Canberra chancellor Tom Calma received an AO in 2012 for his service to the Aboriginal community. As a recipient, I am also a supporter of it, he tells me. But there is not a great representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, particularly in the higher-order awards. Professor Marcia Langton was made an AM in 1993, and upgraded to an AO in 2020. The main reason she accepted the honours, she says, was to be gracious towards those very kind people who noticed my unpaid, voluntary work, and took the time to nominate me an onerous task that involves a lot of work on their part. When asked if Indigenous Australians have been well represented in the honours, Governor-General Hurley is frank. No, they havent been, he says. Its not easy. Ive had conversations with Indigenous leaders. Some are of the view that this is not a system for them. Some are of the view that, We dont recognise people as individuals. So should an Indigenous person be appointed to the Council for the Order of Australia? I think it would be useful, Hurley responds. You need the perspective. Says Petre: If you took this 25-year-old report, I fear it would be no different today. The top awards would be dominated by professionals. I look and still see all the people who have been awarded for community services are at the OAM level. She notes that lots of ex-politicians still receive the awards, so there is a system there that operates at a political level. It is an important system, the community does value it, but the accessibility of it still needs to be addressed. What is an honours system for? Most countries have some form of it. In India they give out the delightful-sounding Jewel of India (Bharat Ratna). South Africa created the Star of South Africa in 1975 knights are called ritters in Afrikaans. The US has its Medal of Honor, Presidential Medal of Freedom and Legion of Merit (recently awarded to Scott Morrison by Donald Trump). Indonesia has the Star of the Republic of Indonesia and France has the highly coveted Legion dHonneur. Some scoff at honours altogether. Says former foreign minister and NSW premier Bob Carr: Ive always been struck by how distressed people get that their award is inferior to that of a colleague or acquaintance. So often theyre deeply unhappy. Still, as Napoleon said, Men are led by baubles. He notes that aside from the above-mentioned medals, the US republic doesnt do them. That just strikes me as interesting ... [they] probably view them historically as a residue of monarchy. Certainly, the brandishing of Order of Australia pins is a subject of mockery or pride, depending on your audience. There are official guidelines on how to wear the medals and pins, and while recipients are not mandated to wear them, they are encouraged to be proud of their honour. The ACs and the AOs get round-the-neck medals, says the former council insider. You can only really wear them once, at your investiture, so the pin is the thing. In the Qantas Chairmans Lounge, the eyes are looking. Such cynicism aside, former governor-general secretary Stephen Brady says the investiture ceremonies bolster faith in the system. The longer I was there, the less ambivalent I became as I saw the great pleasure at the investitures the joy was always greater, the lower the award, he says. And it is always the OAMs who get the loudest clap. He recalls seeing the recipients spill out across the lawn of Government House, following their ceremony. It was the epitome of Australian egalitarianism, recipients feeling acknowledged by their country, surrounded by their family, wanting a photo with the governor-general. Governor-General Hurley says those ceremonies are the highlights of the year for him and his staff. They really are a joyous occasion where youre celebrating so much thats good about Australian life. There are signs of change. The emergence of awareness-raising by groups like Honour a Woman has meant there was a significant increase in the number of nominations made in the Order of Australia during 201819: a total of 2909 nominations were submitted. When it works well, its as good a system as anybody could conceive, says Brady. Confidentiality is key, but ultimately whether or not the community accepts the awards system depends on the calibre and impartiality of the council. Loading Governor-General Hurley concedes there are valid criticisms of the system. You would be foolish to say there werent, there are, he says. We can correct them, theyre solvable. Former Liberal Victorian premier Ted Baillieu believes the system generally does work well. He concedes there may be some gender disparity, but puts that down to the lack of women nominated in the first place. There are women all around leading things. I would not walk into a room and think, Oh my god, theres a whole lot of women, he says. The presence of women in senior roles is all around us. I would hope the number of nominations grows. Baillieu received his own AO in the Australia Day honours in 2020, even though, he says, Ive never been much of a gong person myself. As we speak on the phone, more than six months later, he rummages in his desk and unwraps his Order of Australia pin for the first time. Its plastic sleeve makes a satisfying crunching sound. I dont wear jewellery at all, he says, not even a watch. Baillieu believes the hundreds of worthy honours recipients announced every year are overlooked because of a few controversial awardees. Way too much criticism is earmarked at the awards system based on some names which might be controversial for some people who have high media profiles. As for any perceived biases in the system, the former premier has a simple message. Its easy to do something about it. Just nominate someone. Jacqueline Maley is an Honour a Woman media ambassador. Statistical analysis by Nigel Gladstone. To read more from Good Weekend magazine, visit our page at The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age and Brisbane Times. Rahul Gandhi stoking fear on vaccine, all will be vaccinate by December: Union Minister Shivamogga blast: Rahul Gandhi calls for in-depth investigation India pti-Madhuri Adnal New Delhi, Jan 22:Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday said the news of the blast at a stone mining quarry in Karnataka is tragic and asserted that such incidents call for an in-depth investigation so that similar tragedies can be avoided in the future. At least six people were killed after a truckload of explosives, suspected to be meant for mining, exploded in Karnataka's Shivamogga district on Thursday night, police said. "The news of blast at stone mining quarry in Karnataka is tragic. Condolences to the families of the victims," Gandhi tweeted. 8 dead in dynamite blast at railway crusher site in Shivamogga Blast at a quarry in Karnataka's Shivamogga, 8 people dead and area sealed off | Oneindia News "Such incidents call for in-depth investigation so that similar tragedies can be avoided in the future," the former Congress chief said. The massive explosion took place near a gravel and boulder crushing facility around 10:30 pm on Thursday, sending shockwaves not only in Shivamogga but also in neighbouring Chikkamagaluru and Davangere districts. Welcome to Good Weekend Talks, a weekly chance for our audience to luxuriate in a long-form story from the magazine, through a conversation between the writer, editor and an expert. Madonna King's January 2021 feature story looks at what it's like to be a 10-year-old girl in Australia today. Madonna is joined in discussion by Good Weekend editor Katrina Strickland and senior writer (and father to three daughters) Tim Elliott, the trio delving into everything from body anxiety to fraught friendships, technological ability to tears, for a look at how "teen" is overtaking "tween" more rapidly than ever. For the full feature excerpt, see Saturday's Good Weekend, or visit The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age and Brisbane Times. Something is going on in Texas and its deer processing facilities, and we aren't the only ones keeping tabs. In nearly two months, the Texas Game Wardens have released information about finding spoiled deer carcasses at three processing facilities two in North Texas and one in Poteet just south of San Antonio in Atascosa County, which a warden said is "very rare." "Fifteen years on and I've never had anything like this," David Nieto, Texas Game Warden for the San Antonio district, said. "It's very rare for it to happen one time, but even more rare for it to happen two to three times as it has in the state." For the Poteet case, Texas Game Wardens and the Poteet Police Department checked out BR Outfitters on Jan. 9 after receiving reports of a "rotting smell" coming from the building, according to a news release from Texas Parks and Wildlife. Upon inspection, officials found several deer carcasses lying in a pile at the bottom of a walk-in cooler. After their visit, officials instructed the owner to seal and lock the facility and not allow any meat to leave. READ ALSO: Texas Game Wardens post about another bust with 22 spoiled deer carcasses Four days later, on Jan. 13 authorities returned to the processor and re-inspected the carcasses only to find out they were spoiled. In total, they found 50 white-tailed deer carcasses, along with several coolers and tubs of trimmings, that were determined by a Texas Health and Human Services inspector to be unfit for human consumption. The investigation is ongoing and criminal cases are pending, according to the Poteet Police Department. Anyone who may have taken their harvest to the facility and is seeking a refund should contact BR Outfitters, located at 8645 N. Hwy 16, for more information. Officials also busted a North Texas facility on Dec. 18 after finding 22 deer carcasses unfit for human consumption. A couple of weeks later, on Jan. 16, wardens busted a second North Texas facility for having 80 spoiled white-tailed deer carcasses. Due to the recent busts, Nieto said the TPWD has taken notice and will be watching closely as they routinely inspect these facilities during hunting season, which runs November through January. Nieto added he doesn't know why the cases occurred so closely or why it's happening. As of now, he believes it could be just a coincidence. TPWD told MySA.com it is looking into it and will provide further details once more information is gathered about the possible uptick. Priscilla Aguirre is a general assignment reporter for MySA.com | priscilla.aguirre@express-news.net | @CillaAguirre In two resolutions adopted this week, the European Unions legislative body also welcomed the Russian-brokered ceasefire that stopped the Armenian-Azerbaijani war on November 10. But it cautioned that the conflict remains unresolved. One of the resolutions calls for a Karabakh settlement based on the Basic Principles, a framework peace accord that has long been jointly advanced by the three co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group: the United States, Russia and France. It stresses the urgent need to ensure the security of the Armenian population and its cultural heritage in Nagorno-Karabakh. Turkey provided full diplomatic and military support to Azerbaijan during the six-week war. Turkish combat drones heavily used by the Azerbaijani army are believed to have been a key factor behind Bakus military victory. According to Western media reports, Ankara also recruited thousands of jihadist fighters from the Middle East to fight on Azerbaijans side. The European Parliament resolution strongly condemns the destabilizing role of Turkey which further undermines the fragile stability in the whole of the South Caucasus region. It says the Turks should refrain from any interference in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, including offering military support to Azerbaijan. The resolution also deplores 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. France has been especially vocal in its condemnation of that transfer. Its Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian reiterated last month French calls for the departure of the Syrian mercenaries from the conflict zone. Turkey has denied sending members of Turkish-backed Syrian rebel groups to Karabakh. Azerbaijan also denies the presence of such mercenaries in the Azerbaijani army ranks. Armenia hailed the European Parliament resolutions on Friday. The Armenian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, Anna Naghdalian, praised, among other things, the EUs legislatures calls for an agreement on Karabakhs future status to be founded on the [Minsk] groups Basic Principles. Naghdalian said it thus voiced support for the Karabakh Armenians right to self-determination. Greg Sukiennik has worked at all three Vermont News & Media newspapers and was their managing editor from 2017-19. He previously worked for ESPN.com, for the AP in Boston, and at The Berkshire Eagle in Pittsfield, Mass. Aditya Singh, 36, was aided by the Chicago Bail Project, which came up with the $1,000 he needed to go free until his next court date after a $10,000 D-bond was set earlier, according to Cook County sheriffs spokesman Matt Walberg. The Chicago Bail Project also helped secure an undisclosed place for Singh to live while he faces felony criminal trespass to a restricted area of an airport and misdemeanor charges. A condition of his release was that Singh must be on electric monitoring, Walberg said. The violent insurrection at the U.S. Capitol left the public reeling. And though we have a lot more to learn about the attackthe authorities from Capitol Police to the Justice Department continue to offer the public shockingly little informationit is clear that this was a threat the government had the ability to prevent but failed to. President Joe Biden and members of Congress have already expressed interest in potentially expanding counterterrorism laws in response to the attack. But the fundamental issue is not that officials hands were tied by the law, but rather that they took their finger off the pulse of the looming danger. Despite warning signs flashing red well before Jan. 6including out in the openour government was shockingly unprepared. Advertisement Reports indicate the top tier of the FBI only learned of the attack already underway through a game of phone tag with staff in the building and a mutual friend acting as an intermediary. Most rioters were able to simply walk out of the Capitol, handing them the opportunity to discard or destroy evidence of unlawful activity, or potentially cause greater harm as days went by before they were tracked down and charged. Advertisement Advertisement Subscribe to the Slatest newsletter A daily email update of the stories you need to read right now. We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again. Please enable javascript to use form. Email address: Send me updates about Slate special offers. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms Sign Up Thanks for signing up! You can manage your newsletter subscriptions at any time. So we must be wary of impulses to respond to the assault on democracy by ramping up counterterrorism and surveillance powers. Our democracy came under threat last week by a mob of insurrectionists looking to stop the presidential election vote count. That justifiably brings anger, fear, and a desire for action. But such action must properly identify and remedy the true flaws in our system. Advertisement The most glaring flaw to address is government misdirection of an abundant set of existing law enforcement powers. Amping up these powers does little to make our government more effective; instead it facilitates unchecked discretion. This devolves into selective targeting by the federal government, which wields these powers primarily against marginalized groups and neglects genuine threats. Federal and state law enforcement agencies have spent years closely surveilling Black activists and journalists. Last summer, Black Lives Matter protesters were targeted with mass arrests and excessive prosecution. Meanwhile, these same agencies apparently ignored the right-wing groups that mobilized and publicly discussed their plans ahead of Jan. 6. Since the attack, some officials have dubiously claimed that an obstacle to combating right-wing insurrectionists is that laws against domestic terrorism are weaker than the laws against international terrorism. It is true that we subject terrorists associated with groups like al-Qaida to different law than terrorists associated with white supremacist groupsbut thats because international terrorism laws are already far too broad, not because domestic terrorism laws are insufficient. Advertisement Advertisement Weve seen time and again how ramped-up security powers do little to improve the governments capabilities to combat threats, and instead focus increasingly unchecked powers against disfavored groups. These powers include incredibly broad investigative and surveillance authorities, a secretive and unreliable system of terror watchlists, numerous provisions already on the books for prosecuting terrorism, sentencing enhancements, and nearly a trillion dollars spent on homeland security since 9/11, to name just a few. And in the wake of the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing, a terrorist attack by a white supremacist, Congress responded by enacting one of the most draconian laws on the books. The Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996 eviscerated access to courts for the wrongfully convicted, expanded the federal death penalty, and increased deportation and detention of immigrants while doing very little to address the threat of domestic terrorism. Advertisement There is no lack of authority to disrupt or punish attacks like the one the Capitol suffered last week. Grafting the problems of international terrorism laws onto domestic authorities would only make the most heavily policed, marginalized communities more vulnerable. Laws against providing material support to international terrorist entities make up a huge portion of counterterrorism investigations, but can often be cudgels against individuals based on tenuous connections and associations. Extending this practice into the realm of domestic terrorism could open the door to broad-scale intimidation and prosecution of peaceful anti-government protesters. Meanwhile, portions of the Patriot Act permit mass surveillance for international terrorism investigations; these authorities need to be reined in, not extended in their use to domestic terrorism investigations. Such action would be manna from heaven for someone like former Attorney General Bill Barr, who last year craved the power to treat Black Lives Matter protesters as a national security threat and wanted to recast antifa not as a general ideology but rather as an organized terrorist network. Advertisement Advertisement There is no lack of authority to disrupt or punish attacks like the one the Capitol suffered last week. As civil and human rights attorneys recently noted in a letter to Congress, the Department of Justice already has more than 50 federal statutes at its disposal to arrest and charge people who participated in the riot. The government is now considering prosecuting some individuals for sedition. Instead of handing law enforcement yet more tools, Congress should be asking hard questions about the Justice Departments bizarre focus on black identity extremists and antifa, even as the director of the FBI testified in September that white supremacists were a top-tier domestic terrorism threat. Experts both in and outside of government have warned again and again and again that law enforcement is failing to take seriously the threat white supremacists pose, sometimes even within their own ranks. Advertisement In the weeks ahead, we will likely hear more about how surveillance powers like cellphone tracking, face recognition, and web traffic monitoring were used to track down insurrectionists. Setting aside the fact that these tools are only being deployed because the attackers were allowed to walk free out of the Capitol, law enforcement is sure to misuse unchecked access to these powers just as international terrorism operations have. Reforms to build safeguards such as warrant requirements for these tools would prevent abuse and still allow the kind of investigative activities used to track down the insurrectionists. Requiring evidence of wrongdoing and court approval are simply checks against abuse and the type of indiscriminate focus that have become so toxic in U.S. enforcement agencies. We do not need to hand the government more power. We need to demand that the government use the ample powers it already has to prioritize risks based on how strong a threat they present, not what level of risk the government assumes when it sees someone wearing a hijab or a MAGA hat. 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. 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 A series of short videos featuring the peaceful and prosperous lives of Uygur people in southern Xinjiang have been widely circulated online recently. Protagonists in the videos are reported graduated from vocational education and training centers in Xinjiang. To those who are not familiar with Xinjiang, this is undoubtedly shocking news. Netizens admired the Chinese governments iron-like willingness, though these centers have been groundlessly attacked by some Western politicians for some time. The reason to disclose the content which might be unfavorable in the countrys public opinion and to publish the controversial lives of trainees is simple: The so-called shameful truth is untenable facing the fact that people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang live harmoniously. Since 2018, the slander from the West accusing the training centers of being prisons or concentration camps have emerged. Every year since 2019, the so-called Uyghur Human Rights Policy Act has also been proposed by the United States for the sake of ulterior ends. Neglecting the Chinese governments explanation and statement that the training centers have achieved remarkable success in the fight against terrorism and extremism, which even attracted thousands of reporters from other countries to visit the vocational education and training centers and left laudatory remarks. Some Western politicians still turn blind eyes to it and continue to spread rumors, slander, and discredit against the training centers, which is rascally. China, always modest and good-natured, has unwittingly refuted the groundless accusations by showing harmony. Taking a closer look at these videos, one can realize that videos neither intendedly highlights the advantages of vocational education and training nor emphasizes the positive changes brought by such efforts. Whats more, none of the main protagonists are tagged as graduates from the centers they are ordinary people. They involve in various undertakings. Some start their own businesses; some apply for employment; some utilize the skills theyve mastered in factories. And as many reports have mentioned before, some are now tour guides, museum docents, dancers, and so on. It is obvious that they are free to choose their dream career in the diverse domain and pursue self-development in the harmonious social condition that the unemployed could always find a job, and those who get a job enjoy their undertakings. It is worth noting that many people have also worked for government agencies and become government officials, civil servants, community workers, and so on, engaging in significant work in critical positions. Their stories demonstrate that though once incited, coerced, or induced to participate in terrorist or extremist activities, they have never been alienated or discriminated against. They are still trusted by the Chinese government and the people of all ethnic groups, and they can enjoy the harmony of equality. They share similar living conditions with people of other cities in China. In the meantime, they are surrounded by unique elements full of distinctive ethnic features, which range from clothing, food, daily necessities, furniture decoration, social etiquette, singing and dancing, and religious beliefs. They retain their own culture and customs and are also willing to interact with people from other ethnic groups, enjoying the harmony of being protected and respected. As reflected in the videos, peoples daily life in Xinjiang is completely different from the rhetoric of western politicians. Todays harmonious atmosphere in Xinjiang smashes the nonsense on the invasion of human rights and freedom, ethnic assimilation, and religious destruction. In such a harmonious life scene, all the ordinary characters in the videos bring warmth to us. Their stories are even more blazing after their background story of once being a trainee in the vocational education and training center is revealed. It is natural for people who did not know the situation before to have such an idea: those fruitful achievements should not be kept as secrets but should instead be spread worldwide. It is not hard to see in a train of hot events-from video series to the big news, the Chinese government, when it is facing groundless accusations, has disdained to explain and clarify what vocational education and training work is, what have been done and what effect it has. Instead, it turns the lens to the people and gives the right of speech to the masses, omitting the unimportant procedure of education, guidance, and remedy but sharing the harmonious life of the people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang, which become the most convincing proof. In the past, under the influence of terrorism and extremism, many Uygur people in Xinjiang, especially in its southern part, were trapped in the pit of hell by religious extremists. They were instigated to be a tool to undermine national reunification and ethnic unity. Their outstanding qualities the innate talent of singing and dancing, colorful life, and the spirit of unity and harmonyhave lasted for thousands of years but were on the verge of being wiped out. Illegal acts, such as organizing and launching violent terrorist incidents, have seriously undermined social harmony. All these problems could be solved by vocational education and training because it can render strength to people to restore their reasoning in a non-obligatory way, can help them set up unswerving beliefs to resist extreme ideas, and can guide them to return to the nature of unity and harmony. As for living a harmonious life, it is just a basic welfare China insists on providing for its people that they could embrace again. The welfare itself is strong enough to explain all the efforts made by China for its territory and people. Therefore, the cause of the disclosure of trainees life lies in their harmonious life. Of course, creating and displaying this harmony to the world is a wise effort of the Chinese government to fight back against American and Western politicians in the gentlest manner. WASHINGTON Seven Democratic senators are calling for the chambers ethics panel to investigate U.S. Sen. Ted Cruzs objection to Arizonas electoral votes before the Capitol riots, which they say lend credence to the insurrectionists cause and set the stage for future violence. The Democrats want the ethics panel to decide whether Cruz and U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley, a Missouri Republican who also objected to electoral votes on Jan. 6, failed to put loyalty to the highest moral principles and to country above loyalty to persons, party, or government department. They recommended possible punishments, including censure or expulsion. CRUZS EXPLANATION: The senator says he was trying to build trust by objecting to election results By proceeding with their objections to the electors after the violent attack, Senators Cruz and Hawley lent legitimacy to the mobs cause and made future violence more likely, the senators wrote in the ethics complaint filed Thursday. The Senate has the exclusive power to determine whether these actions violated its ethics rules, to investigate further conduct of which we may not be aware that may have violated these rules, and to consider appropriate discipline. Cruz, who has voiced no regrets about his objection, has said he was trying to build confidence in the results by setting them aside for 10 days while an emergency audit could be conducted. His effort was initially backed by 11 other Republicans, though six dropped their objections after the riot. It is unfortunate that some congressional Democrats are disregarding President Biden's call for unity and are instead playing political games by filing frivolous ethics complaints against their colleagues, a spokeswoman for Cruz said. Sen. Cruz debated a question of law and policy on the floor of the Senate, he did so expressly supported by 11 other Senators, and he utilized a process to raise the objection that has been explicitly authorized by federal law for nearly 150 years. The complaint comes as Democrats continue to push for repercussions for the lawmakers they blame for inciting the insurrection, chiefly former President Donald Trump, who the House impeached last week, making him the first president to be impeached twice. A Senate trial is still pending, though the chances of Trump being convicted appear slim. It is also unlikely that Cruz would be censured or expelled from the Senate, which is now evenly split between Republicans and Democrats. A censure requires a majority vote, meaning every Democrat would have to agree, and expulsion would require two-thirds support. Both are rare. Since 1789, the Senate has censured nine members and expelled 15. The complaint against Cruz and Hawley was signed by U.S. Sens. Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island, Ron Wyden of Oregon, Tina Smith of Minnesota, Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, Mazie Hirono of Hawaii, Tim Kaine of Virginia and Sherrod Brown of Ohio. The top Democrat on the six-member ethics panel, U.S. Sen. Chris Coons of Delaware, previously called for Cruz and Hawley to resign. Beyond that, its unclear what appetite there may be for such an inquiry. The committees rules say it shall promptly conduct a preliminary inquiry into complaints it receives. The committee can then vote on whether to continue or dismiss the complaint. While several senators have voiced frustration with Cruz, others including at least one Democrat have said they believe he was within his rights to object. I think the Senate is a place of freedom. And people come here to speak their piece, and they do, and they provide a kind of leadership, U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, a California Democrat, said earlier this month. In some cases, its positive, in some cases, maybe not. U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, a Texas Republican, said in a Thursday interview with Austin news station KXAN that he doesnt believe Cruz bears any blame for the riots and does not support calls for his resignation or expulsion. Free speech gives people the right to be wrong. It gives them a right to express their strongly held views, Cornyn said. TEXAS TAKE: Get political headlines from across the state sent directly to your inbox Cruz has said he wanted to delay certifying the election results until after an emergency audit, which he has said would have built trust in the outcome of the election that Trump falsely claimed had been stolen from him. Cruz has said he did not know whether there was sufficient fraud to alter the outcome. It would have been a much better solution, it would have helped bring this country together, it would have helped heal the divisions we have in this country and help reestablish trust in our democratic system, Cruz said earlier this month. What I was working to do is find a way to re-establish widespread trust in the system. Cruz objected to Arizonas electoral votes, sparking a debate that was cut off as a mob of Trump supporters stormed the Capitol less than an hour after Cruz raised his objection. While Cruzs objection originally had the backing of 11 other Republican senators, six dropped their objections after the riots. Rather than following their colleagues example, Senators Cruz and Hawley continued to amplify the claims of fraud that they likely knew to be baseless and that had led to violence earlier that day, the Democrats wrote in the complaint. They wrote that they dont buy Cruzs justification for his objection. Both Senators Hawley and Cruz argued that the public perception of fraud justified their actions. This perception was created by President Trumps baseless claims, and was magnified by Sens. Cruz and Hawleys repetition of those claims, they wrote. It is probable that Sens. Cruz and Hawley knew those claims to be false. ben.wermund@chron.com Govt asks WhatsApp not to impose terms on Indian users Union ministry for electronics and information technology has written to WhatsApp CEO Will Cathcart, asking the messaging platform to withdraw its proposed update to its privacy policy and terms of service. The new policy, which was supposed to be enforced from 8 February, has been pushed by three months amid backlash. The changes to the WhatsApp Privacy Policy and Terms of Service outline the vast amounts and categories of data that is collected by WhatsApp and how it will be shared with other Facebook companies. These changes enable WhatsApp, and other Facebook companies, to make invasive and precise inferences about users which may not be reasonably foreseen or expected by users in the ordinary course of accessing these services, the letter states. These changes notify users that WhatsApp will collect highly invasive and granular metadata, such as time, frequency and duration of interactions, group names, payments and transaction data, online status, location indicators, as well as any messages shared by users with business accounts. Further, these changes indicate that this information will be shared with other Facebook companies for an extremely expansive and broad set of purposes, without providing users with any option to opt-out of this integration across social media platforms, it adds. The government noted that such a policy would entail the dissolution of any meaningful distinction between Facebook companies and WhatsApp. The government also emphasised that any unilateral changes to the WhatsApp terms of service and privacy would not be fair and acceptable. In fact, it would be an infringement of the countrys sovereignty, it pointed out. Meity said India is home to the largest user base of WhatsApp globally and is one the biggest markets for its services. The proposed changes to the WhatsApp terms of service and privacy policy "raise grave concerns regarding the implications for the choice and autonomy of Indian citizens," it wrote. The ministry has asked WhatsApp to withdraw the proposed changes and reconsider its approach to information privacy, freedom of choice and data security. Stating that Indians should be properly respected, it said, "any unilateral changes to the WhatsApp terms of service and privacy would not be fair and acceptable. ANI reported that the CEO has been asked to furnish responses to the union governments query regarding the privacy, data transfer and sharing policies. As per reports, the letter states that WhatsApps approach of having to either accept the terms or leave the platform takes away meaningful choice, and infringes on the interests of Indians in relation to informational privacy and security. The ministry also reportedly said that it would create a source of information about users with Facebook, which can be a security risk. Speaking at the 15th India Digital Summit, minister of communications, electronics and IT Ravi Shankar Prasad noted that national security will be central with regard to exposure of international companies, including those from China, in the country. WhatsApp has drawn massive criticism from users globally, including India, over concerns that data was being shared with its parent company, Facebook. WhatsApp, on its part, has maintained that messages on the platform are end-to-end encrypted and that neither WhatsApp nor Facebook can see the private messages on WhatsApp's platform. "This is an issue that my department is (working) on, and being the final authority, it will not be proper for me to make comments. But except to flag one thing very clearly. Be it WhatsApp, be it Facebook, be it any digital platform, you are free to do business in India but do it in a manner without impinging upon the rights of Indians who operate there," Prasad said. He added that the sanctity of personal communications needs to be maintained. "I've only spoken on principles, given that my department is working. I have to await that," he said. Earlier this month, WhatsApp had informed users of an update in its terms of service and privacy policy around how it processes user data and partners with Facebook to offer integrations across the social media giant's products. Users had till 8 February to agree to the new terms in order to continue using the platform. However, WhatsApp drew flak from users across the globe, including India that ranks among the biggest markets for WhatsApp with over 400 million users. Following this, WhatsApp has now decided to delay the rollout of its new policy update to 15 May, and said it will "do a lot more to clear up the misinformation around how privacy and security works on WhatsApp". WhatsApp had also stated that it is open to answering any questions from the government on the issue and that it remains committed to the privacy and security of users across India. On the governments decision to ban several Chinese apps, Prasad said the issues were data privacy and national security. "Yes, we banned apps because the issue was data privacy, issue was national security, issue was national sovereignty. Therefore, in any exposure of companies, national security angle will also be taken, be it private or government. As far as the relevant financial routes are concerned, some changes have also taken place with regard to countries having physical adjacency with India," he said. Prasad said data must be procured through free consent, it must be used for the objective for which it has been collected, and the data fiduciary who has procured that data must ensure proper safety and sanctity of that data. "I do acknowledge the implicit need for data movement across the globe to keep digital commerce intact. But the ground rule of that movement must be very clearly laid out. Next, there must be the reciprocity in the data sharing of the world. And again, we shall never compromise on our digital sovereignty," he said. Unlike other parties, we have 'neta', 'niyat' to take BJP forward: BJP chief Nadda India oi-Deepika S Lucknow, Jan 22: BJP president J P Nadda on Friday said his party has a leader and the intention to take it forward unlike other political outfits, which he accused of being dynastic. He said "parivarvaad" (dynastic politics) can be found in all political parties except the BJP, in which an ordinary person can become a prime minister, defence minister or home minister. The BJP chief was speaking at the party''s "Booth President Conference" here. The BJP president had arrived here on Thursday to hold discussions with party office-bearers in the state, where the assembly polls will be held next year. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also attended the event. "We have ''neta'' (leader), ''niyat'' (intention), ''niti'' (policy), ''karyakarta'' (workers) and ''karyakram'' (programme). We have no reason to stop," Nadda told party workers. He said ''''parivarvaad'''' exists in all political parties, with the baton being passed on to the son by the father. "But it is in the BJP that an ordinary person can become a prime minister, defence minister or home minister," he said. Referring to the COVID-19 pandemic, Nadda said, "Even the US was fighting against it, but what happened? It could not decide between the options of ''arth'' (economy) and ''swasthya'' (health). As a result, it was a political issue, an electoral issue and there was an electoral loss. They had a better health system than us. Spain and Italy had better health system than us, but all of this collapsed because the leadership did not take the decision at the appropriate time. Here, Modiji took the decision at the right time, imposed a lockdown with timely intervention and bold decision, and saved the country." He added that at the time of the imposition of the lockdown, the testing capacity was 150 samples per day and today it is 10 lakh per day and in UP, it is over 1.5 lakh per day. "At the onset of the lockdown, PPE kits were imported and today over 5 lakh PPE kits are being made per day," he said. "India has the best recovery rate and lowest mortality rate. Today, our recovery rate is above 97 per cent and it is increasing every day. UP''s population is 24 crore and the population of the US is 33 crore. There, the number of people who have died is four lakh. Every life is important. Here, it is 8,000. We have to understand this difference," the BJP chief said. Nadda said the image of India has changed due to the ''swachhta abhiyan'' and the toilets constructed in various households are not merely toilets, they are "izzat ghar for women". "The Ujjawla Yojana was not merely a scheme, it empowered the women," he said, adding that UP bothered about every migrant labourer, which passed through the state during the nationwide lockdown. He urged the party workers to link every farmer with the FPO (farmer producer organisation) and told them to implement social harmony in letter and spirit. Speaking at the event, Adityanath said the BJP has set new standards for political parties. Dynastic politics, casteism, regionalism and linguistic divisions weaken democracy and challenge the unity and integrity of the country, Adityanath said. Today, the world is looking towards India with hope, the chief minister said. Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Ministers Keshav Prasad Maurya and Dinesh Sharma were also present at the event. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, January 22, 2021, 18:57 [IST] With Serum India Institute's Covishield consignments dispatched to Mauritius, Seychelles, India fulfills its Vaccine Maitri commitment under which the country promised to ship Covid 19 vaccines to six of its neighbors as a goodwill gesture. On Friday, the spokesperson of the External Affairs Ministry Anurag Srivastava was the first person to post pictures on Twitter, saying Consignments of Indian made Covid vaccines being airlifted for Seychelles and Mauritius! Consignments of Indian made Covid vaccines being airlifted for Seychelles and Mauritius! #VaccineMaitri #NeighbourhoodFirst pic.twitter.com/WydE2kjXFa Anurag Srivastava (@MEAIndia) January 22, 2021 Earlier this week, India had announced a vaccine rollout for Bhutan, Maldives, Bangladesh, Nepal, Myanmar and Seychelles from Wednesday which comes in line with its Neighbourhood First Policy. The only neighbour absent from India's list apart from China, is regional rival Pakistan, which had not requested assistance, according to an Indian government official. After the official announcement, Prime Minister Narendra on January 19 said: India is deeply 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. #VaccineMaitri https://t.co/9Czfkuk8h7 Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 19, 2021 India started delivering the vaccine from January 20. On the first day, consigments were sent to Bhutan and Maldives. On Day 2, Covid jabs were sent to Bangladesh, Nepal, while Covishield consignments were dispatch to Myanmar and Seychelles on Friday. With the last consignment being dispatched, India today complete its Vaccine Maitri commitment which Foreign Minister expressed as an extension of friendship. Meanwhile, on the same day, the government has cleared commercial exports of COVID-19 vaccines, with the first consignments to be shipped to Brazil and Morocco. 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. How Vaccine Maitri enhanced relationship Bhutan On January 20, 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. Bhutanese Foreign Minister Tandi Dorji thanked India for the "generous gift" saying: Deeply grateful to GoI for its abiding friendship and unconditional support to Bhutan's fight against the COVID-19 pandemic "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. 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 Bhutans fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.@DrSJaishankar @RuchiraKamboj pic.twitter.com/0yQqp4Bpp1 ForeignMinisterBhutan (@FMBhutan) January 20, 2021 Maldives The Maldives also received 100,000 doses of Covid 19 vaccines from India under grants assistance in sync with its 'neighbourhood first' policy. 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. 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 , government and people of India for this most generous gift. Ibrahim Mohamed Solih (@ibusolih) January 20, 2021 Nepal India on Thursday provided 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. KP Oli took to Twitter to say, I thank Prime Minister Narendra Modi as well as the Government and people of India for the generous grant of one million doses of COVID vaccine to Nepal at this critical time when India is rolling out vaccination for it's own people. I thank Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi ji as well as the Government and people of India for the generous grant of one million doses of COVID vaccine to Nepal at this critical time when India is rolling out vaccination for it's own people. pic.twitter.com/uO7qQpLiSx K P Sharma Oli (@kpsharmaoli) January 21, 2021 Bangladesh As India handed over 2 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines to Bangladesh under grant assistance, Bangladesh foreign minister Dr AK Abdul Momen said, "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." 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. Mauritius One lakh doses of the Covishield vaccine is slated to arrive in Mauritius on Friday afternoon. Seychelles A consignment of 50,000 doses of the Covishield vaccine is scheduled to reach Seychelles today, which is among the four Indian Ocean countries to receive the Covishield vaccine. Seychelles has around 1 lakh inhabitants and the 50,000 doses will thus be able to cover nearly 25% of the total Seychelles population. Seychelles was almost coronavirus free till December 2020. However, a sudden spike in COVID-19 cases has been reported since December resulting in a public health scare in the country. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. 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. SEBI Asks HDFC Bank to Deposit Rs158.68 Crore in Escrow Account, Pay Penalty of Rs1 Crore for Violating Its Order in BMA Wealth Matter Coming down heavily on HDFC Bank Ltd for violating its orders, market regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has asked the lender to deposit Rs158.68 crore along with interest in an escrow account and pay a penalty of Rs1 crore. SEBI found HDFC Bank violated its interim order and unilaterally invoked securities pledged by BRH Wealth Kreators Ltd (BRH) (formerly BMA Wealth Creators Ltd) and BRH Commodities Private Ltd (formerly BMA Commodities Pvt Ltd), worth Rs158.68 crore. In the order, G Mahalingam, whole time member (WTM) of SEBI says, "Given the unilateral action of HDFC Bank to avoid SEBIs interim order, I am of the view that the alleged violations of SEBI circulars as also the failure to conduct due diligence by HDFC Bank to verify the ownership of securities pledged at the time of creation of the pledge, are not relevant for consideration at this point in time. As stated earlier, the validity of the pledge at the time of creation does not justify the subsequent act of invocation by HDFC Bank on 14 October 2019, post the interim order." "I find the invocation of pledge of client securities available in the two demat accounts of BRH by HDFC Bank, was not in conformity with the directions contained in the interim order. I find that HDFC Bank had unilaterally invoked securities pledged by BRH to the extent of Rs158.68 crore. I am therefore, of the considered view that HDFC Bank be directed to deposit an equivalent amount of Rs158.68 crore along with interest from 14 October 2019 till date, at the rate of 7% per annum (being the marginal cost of funds based lending rate (MCLR) notified by the Reserve Bank of India-RBI) in a separate interest bearing escrow account (in any nationalised bank by marking a lien in favour of SEBI), till the issue of settlement of clients securities is reconciled," the order says. HDFC Bank has been also asked to keep RBI informed about the action taken by SEBI. In its regulatory filing, HDFC Bank says it is reviewing the SEBI order for considering future course of action. SEBI in its order on 7 October 2017 had barred BRH Wealth Kreators (formerly BMA Wealth), Shiv Kumar Damani, Anubhav Bhatter, Murgesh Devashrayi, BRH Commodities, Prosperous Vyapaar Pvt Ltd, Polo-Setco Tie Up Pvt Ltd and Parton Commercial Pvt Ltd from markets. However, on 7 November 2019, HDFC Bank informed SEBI about recalling its credit facilities from BRH and BRH Commodities. HDFC Bank says it had granted credit facilities to BRH and BRH Commodities aggregating to Rs191.16 crore and Rs26.61 crore, respectively. Responding to this, SEBI told HDFC Bank that the lender's action is against the directions given by the market regulator under its interim order. "It is observed from your letter that HDFC had granted overdraft or loan against securities (LAS) for Rs87.75 crore. However, it is observed from the information provided by National Stock Exchange (NSE) that the HDFC Bank has invoked securities pledged by BRH to the tune of Rs158.7 crore as on 14 October 2019," SEBI says. On 2 January 2020, SEBI confirmed its direction given in the interim order issued on 7 October 2017. In a letter on 14 February 2020, HDFC Bank contended that its action are in accordance with law and thus it would not be correct to state that the same are not in conformity with the interim order issued by SEBI. "The Banks act of invoking the securities provided under the OD or LAS facility for amounts higher than the outstanding under the said facility is in accordance with its right of general lien as afforded under Section 171 of the Contract Act, 1872, which right is expressly reserved in the relevant loan documents executed with BRH and BRH Commodities, respectively, as stated in our letter dated 7 November 2019. The Bank is thus fully entitled in law to appropriate proceeds from sale of the securities for any outstanding of the concerned Borrowers, whether the securities were provided for that specific facility or not," HDFC Bank told SEBI. On 19 March 2020, SEBI issued a show cause notice (SCN) to HDFC Bank for noncompliance with its directions in the interim order through invocation of pledge of securities. HDFC had granted credit facilities to BRH, worth Rs191.16 crore and to BRH Commodities worth Rs26.61 crore, out of which Rs87.75 crore was granted as LAS. On 14 October 2019, HDFC Bank invoked securities pledged by BRH to the extent of Rs158.68 Crore. "The aforementioned invocation of pledge of client securities available in the two demat accounts of BRH, by HDFC Bank, was allegedly not in conformity with the directions contained in the interim order," the SCN says. Responding to the SCN, HDFC Bank contended that its action of revoking pledged securities are more to do with its regular banking business and SEBI has no jurisdiction over the transactions. It further submitted, "NSE and Central Depository Services Ltd (CDSL) have permitted creation of pledges as late as 27 September 2019 without objection. In fact, not only did CDSL, who was covered by SEBIs circulars and the interim order, record the pledge in favour of HDFC Bank but allowed it to invoke the said pledge after the interim order and even sell the pledged securities further. The aforesaid clearly shows that the pledge was validly created and invocation of such pledge was not in contravention of interim order." During the hearing Mr Mahalingam, WTM of SEBI pointed out that HDFC Bank is also covered in interim order issued by the market regulator. He says, "...the expression 'assets of the noticees' at paragraph 9(v) of the interim order would extend to all properties of BRH including securities that were pledged by it against which funds were raised from HDFC Bank, Bajaj Finance Ltd and JM Financial Products Ltd. It is pertinent to note that the interim order had quantified the outstanding loans of HDFC Bank at paragraph 7F therein." "When a loan outstanding of a broker is adjusted against the pledged securities belonging to its clients, it is the broker which gets benefitted as it reduces its liability. Such a reduction of the brokers liability is at the cost of its clients. It is relevant to emphasise that the underlying object of the interim order was to protect the securities belonging to the clients and in case of shortfall, to utilise other assets of the stock broker to meet claims of its clients. Thus, the impact of the interim order was to impose an immediate freeze inter alia on the assets of the stock broker, in whatever form it was and wherever it was situated irrespective of who was in possession of such assets," the WTM says. Further, Mr Mahalingam pointed out that vide the directions at paragraphs 9(vi) and 9(vii) of the interim order, the depositories and banks were directed not to make debits from the demat accounts or bank accounts of BRH. He says, "...the act of invocation of the pledge by HDFC Bank avoiding the interim order without paying deference to the restrictions imposed on the assets of the stock broker, is against the settled position in law...If HDFC Bank's right to recover its dues from BRH was affected on account of the interim order, it could have approached a court or forum of competent jurisdiction before such conscious avoidance of the said order. The right to challenge such orders by an 'affected party' in an appropriate forum is always available under the statute. In any case, HDFC Bank could not have unilaterally chosen to ignore the directions contained in the order of a regulator and proceed with its recovery, claiming to have been guided by an independent legal opinion." While asking HDFC Bank to deposit Rs158.68 crore along with an interest at 7% from 14 October 2017 till date, the WTM of SEBI asked the lender to pay a penalty of Rs1 crore within 45 days. Besides HDFC Bank is also asked to keep RBI informed about its order, place copy of its order before the bank's board and disclose the order on its website. On the evening of 31 December, as the hours ticked down to the New Year, 40-year-old Aguiratou Diallo was at home with her four children in their village near the town of Koumbri in northern Burkina Faso, when a group of armed men burst into the courtyard outside. They threatened to hurt us if we were still there when they returned the next day. Then they fired into the air to scare us, said Aguiratou, whose husband was away at work at the time. I was so frightened. The whole family including my grandmother, aunt, and my husbands brothers and sisters met up and left the village. We set off on foot without any belongings. There were about 40 of us, and it took us 20 hours to reach Ouahigouya. After rejoining her husband, the family were moved to a site hosting other families who had fled their homes, where UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, and its partners provided them with shelter, blankets, mattresses and other essential items. Our biggest concern now is water, because the wells are nearly empty, Aguiratou explained. Our wish is for peace to return so that we can go home. Our biggest concern now is water, because the wells are nearly empty." Aguiratou and her family are among some 11,400 people mostly women and children who fled their homes during the first few weeks of January, following continuous attacks by armed groups on the town of Koumbri and its neighbouring villages. This latest wave of displacement in Africas Sahel region which includes Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali and Niger has pushed the total number of people forced to flee within their own country in the region to beyond two million for the first time. The countries that make up the Sahel are among the worlds least developed and are now the epicentre of the fastest-growing displacement crisis globally, driven by years of violent attacks by armed insurgent groups and criminal gangs. See also: Grim milestone as Sahel violence displaces 2 million inside their countries More than one million of those uprooted are from Burkina Faso, where the numbers forced to flee to other parts of the country in search of safety nearly doubled in 2020 alone. Another of those who fled the area around Koumbri in early January was 81-year-old Salamata, who together with her three sons and their families left the land they farm after armed men swept into their village, killing several inhabitants. One of the victims was the son of my neighbour, who Ive watched growing up, Salamata said. During the attack we heard gunfire, bullets were flying everywhere and even falling in our courtyard. I was very scared for my children, who were still outside. "Bullets were flying everywhere and even falling in our courtyard." The next day, even though we didnt want to leave our village, we left in order to save our lives, she added. Like most of the new arrivals in Ouahigouya and nearby Barga, Salamata and her family are being hosted by local residents, in her case a nephew who is currently sheltering 78 people. Another Ouahigouya resident who moved there from Koumbri two decades ago is 72-year-old Micailou, who opened up his large courtyard and stores of rice to accommodate and feed nearly 400 of those who fled for several days until local partners found alternative shelter for them. When I lived in Koumbri I was a kind of local leader, so when they arrived, I didnt hesitate to welcome them. As a human being, its a moral duty, Micailou said. Unfortunately, due to the lack of shelter, they had to spend three nights sleeping on the ground, he added. My greatest wish is that understanding can be established between communities so that peace can return. Then everyone will be able to return home undisturbed. Argentina has boasted of a diplomatic victory by claiming Germany asked for their permission - not Britain's - for a scientific ship to dock at the Falkland Islands. In addition, German airline Lufthansa has asked for permission from Argentina for two flights from Hamburg to fly over the country en route to the Falklands. Argentina claimed this implied recognition of the Falklands as 'Argentine territory'. The German government is said to have asked for permission for the Polarstern research ship to dock in Port Stanley, the capital of the British-held territory. The two, 15-hour flights are scheduled for 1 February and 30 March. Argentina and Britain have long disputed ownership of the Falklands, with Argentina for decades claiming sovereignty over the British-run islands it calls the Malvinas. The dispute led to a brief war in 1982. Among the requests made by German flight carrier Lufthansa was permission to dock an antarctic exploring ship, the 'Polarstern', outside the Falklands capital of Port Stanley (pictured) Argentina's Foreign Ministry said in a statement that Lufthansa had asked its civil aviation authority and regional authorities to fly over Argentina and use the Argentine Patagonian town of Ushuaia as an alternative airport should it be unable to land in the Falklands. The Foreign Ministry said the German Embassy also asked for authorization from the Argentine Naval Prefecture for the Polarstern ship to enter 'Puerto Argentino,' the Argentine name for the Falklands capital Port Stanley. 'The relevance of Lufthansa's request presented to the Argentine authorities is highlighted as it implies the recognition of the Malvinas Islands as part of Argentine territory,' the Foreign Ministry said. Lufthansa also asked for Argentine permission for two flights over the Falklands to support a research expedition to the Antarctic. The Falkland Islands are a British Overseas Territory In the past year, Argentina has renewed its drive to reclaim the Falklands, appointing a Malvinas minister, saying it will redraw maps to emphasize its claim for use in schools and lobbying at the United Nations. The German government did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. Lufthansa announced the alternate route for the flight via the Falklands in a press release on Wednesday touting 'the longest passenger flight in the history of its company, marking one of the most unique flights the airline has ever carried out.' Both passengers and crew at present are in a 14-day quarantine and their luggage sealed and decontaminated in a bid to try to keep COVID cases low in the remote region. Deputy President William Ruto is not the hustler he claims to be and he is part of the dynasties, Rarieda MP Otiende Amollo has opined. The outspoken lawmaker contributed to the Hustler Vs Dynasty political debate saying it is likely to cause class wars. Speaking during an interview on Citizen TV, Otiende claimed that Ruto easily fits in with the political elite, having benefited from the dynasties. The leader of Hustler has benefited from the people he calls dynasties throughout. If you examine closely, there is nothing that is hustler about DP William Ruto. He fits completely within the so-called dynasty, he said. Adding: Anyone who can be so rich in less than 30 years without proper explanation can only be classified among the so-called dynasties. According to the MP, spreading the Hustler vs Dynasty narrative will only lead to insurrection among Kenyans. In society, there are always differences in terms of class. We have many problems in this country but fortunately, we have never had class wars. The moment you ferment disaffection among Kenyans in Kawangware, Kibra, Mukuru Kwa Njenga, Mathare, etc. to a sense of entitlement that you are driving a car because you disadvantaged themwhen they come calling, who is likely to suffer most? Amollo posed. Otiende warned that once the Hustler vs Dynasty gathers pace it will be almost impossible to stop. He also slammed Rutos wheelbarrow politics saying: A wheelbarrow is the earliest form of Agrarian RevolutionI want to tell Kenyans to be the change that they need. Spanish regions such as Andalusia, Catalonia and Madrid are wasting thousands of doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine by not injecting patients with the sixth dose contained in the vials. Since January 8, when the European Medicines Agency granted authorization, the five initial doses contained in the vials are now officially six, increasing the number of potential recipients. But this change has not been exploited by a number of Spains territories, who are in charge of their own vaccination campaigns. Speaking on Thursday in the regional parliament, Andalusias health chief Jesus Aguirre admitted that this was the case. You could take out up to five doses and there was a wee drop left, and that little bit is used to administer that sixth dose, he said. But we are talking about 20% more vaccinations. Catalonia has admitted it is only using the sixth dose from two-thirds of the vials, which would suggest wastage of around 10,000 doses The Andalusian regional government has blamed the failure to use this dose on a deficit of 0.1-millimeter syringes, the type that is usually used to inject insulin or in pediatrics, and has promised to solve the issue. The extraction of the sixth dose is more difficult with the 0.2-millimeter syringes also being used to administer the vaccines. Based on the information offered by Spains regions, it is impossible to calculate how much of the vaccine has been wasted. Catalonia, for its part, has admitted it is only using the sixth dose from two-thirds of the vials. The region has administered more than 165,000 doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine so far, which would suggest wastage of around 10,000 doses. A similar situation is playing out in Madrid, which on Thursday announced the purchase of 280,000 syringes in order to take advantage of this sixth dose. This is a low amount, however, compared to the millions of suitable syringes that have been purchased by regions with a much smaller population, such as Murcia and the Balearic and Canary Islands. The Madrid region has stated that in the majority of cases it is managing to use the sixth dose, but it has offered little extra information. Aragon, which purchased 1,870,000 syringes in September, says that it has managed to use 100% of the first five doses from each vial and 81% of the sixth, which is 97% of the total. Castilla-La Mancha, meanwhile, puts the percentage at 90%, while Asturias, Castilla y Leon and the Basque Country opted not to provide figures when consulted by EL PAIS. The rest of the regions, however, stated that the use of the sixth dose is widespread across their territories. Sanctions for line-jumpers A nurse vaccinating a resident of the Pare Vilaseca nursing home in Barcelona. Albert Garcia / EL PAIS Meanwhile, Spains regions are having to improvise a response to news that politicians, retired health workers and relatives of medical staff are jumping the line and receiving the Covid-19 vaccine ahead of their time. Currently, Spain is still in the first stage of the vaccination campaign, which is focussing on senior home residents, their carers, front-line medical workers and adults with serious disabilities. The Health Ministry and the countrys regions have been working on the vaccination plan since September, but the scheme has failed to adequately set out how the order of the vaccinations should be supervised, and whether there should be some kind of sanction or punishment for those who jump the line or indeed what to do with unused doses. The excuses offered so far by those who have got the vaccine early range from wanting to boost confidence in the vaccination, to claims of making use of leftover doses. EL PAIS has requested information from the countrys health departments as to the measures being taken against these irregularities. The majority have not responded. Extremadura, Madrid and Navarre claim that they are observing protocols, while Valencia, La Rioja, Andalusia and the Basque Country explain that they are cross-referencing databases: anyone who is found to have been given the vaccine despite not being on the list of phase one recipients must offer an explanation. Health Minister Salvador Illa said this week that proper planning must be put in place to avoid wasting injections, adding that any sanctions for breaking protocol are the responsibility of the regions. For now, none of Spains regional governments have confirmed whether or not they have levied sanctions against offenders. No second dose Valencia premier Ximo Puig. GVA / Europa Press One decision that has been made, however, is that Valencia is opting not to administer the second vaccine dose to anyone who has jumped the line. This includes, for example, the Socialist Party (PSOE) mayors of the municipalities of El Verger, Els Poblets and Rafelbunol, who were found to have skipped the protocol and were given the vaccines in senior homes. The PSOE premier of the region, Ximo Puig, has taken the decision not to administer the second dose to the 150 to 185 people thought to have jumped the line. They will instead be fully vaccinated when it is their turn, he insisted. But Fernando Simon, the director of the Health Ministrys Coordination Center for Health Alerts (CCAES) and the governments most visible face during the coronavirus crisis, criticized the approach. I understand that people who were vaccinated when they shouldnt have been should admit their responsibility, he said when asked by reporters about the incidents. But from my point of view, I believe it would committing two errors: vaccinating people ahead of time and not administering the second vaccine. The issue is whether it is worse to waste the first dose by not giving the second one 21 to 42 days later, as stipulated by the manufacturer, or to fully immunize those who jumped the line. The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine needs two doses for the recipient to develop 94% immunity to Covid-19, according to clinical trials. The regional government has said that it respects Simons opinion but that this was a matter of institutional credibility. The aforementioned mayors who jumped the line have been suspended from the party and their local councils will be deciding whether or not they should be fired. Based on reporting by Oriol Guell, Eva Saiz, Pablo Linde, Jessica Mouzo and Ferran Bono. English version by Simon Hunter. In Matamoros, Mexico, strikes are again breaking out to demand higher wages and safe working conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic. The work stoppages are emerging two years after the historic wave of strikes in the city, when workers organized strike committees and mass assemblies in a rebellion against the corrupt company unions. Growing discontent among workers has prompted the so-called Independent Union for Industry and Service Workers (SNITIS), formed by labor lawyer Susana Prieto to contain opposition after the 2019 strikes, to file a formal announcement of a strike on January 25 at all maquiladoras in Matamoros, hoping thereby to keep the struggle under their control and settled on terms acceptable to the companies as soon as possible. Strikers at Concurrent Manufacturing, January 20 (Facebook live feed by Expreso RGV) However, on Wednesday, as soon as the shift began at 7:00 a.m., about 60 metalworkers at one of the two Concurrent maquiladora factories in Matamoros decided to walk out in opposition to a 7 percent wage increase offer by management, demanding instead a 15 percent increase and bonus of 10,157 pesos (US$ 514). The strikers bravely refused to work for several hours and held heated debates outside the plant with management and delegates of the STIME union, which controls the contract at the factory and belongs to the corrupt Confederation of Mexican Workers (CTM). The wildcat strike was an attempt by the workerslacking confidence in any of the unions, independent or otherwiseto take the struggle against the company into their own hands. However, the STIME representatives were able to bring the work stoppage to an end in the immediate term, agreeing to a 10 percent increase and the 10,157 pesos bonus behind closed doors with management. At about 10:00 a.m., the union delegates announced their deal and ordered workers to end the strike. A striker explained in a live feed that the delegates opposed demanding 15 percent because we earn more than the minimum wage, and well everyone walked back inside. Concurrent Manufacturing is owned by the Texas-based multinational Cypress Industries, which produces circuit boards, wires, sheet metal and other metallic equipment. It employs about 300 workers in the Matamoros plants. The city sits just across the border from Brownsville, Texas. The demands of 15 percent and 10,000 pesos, which workers have labeled the 15/10 movement, correspond to a clause included in a large share of the contracts in the city stipulating that any increase in the minimum wage needs to be matched for all salaries on top of the payment of a bonus consisting of the daily minimum wage increase (28 pesos for the border region) multiplied by 365 days. The clause is widely seen as a conquest by workers in the city, initially won during historic militant strikes during the 1980s and partially applied to the more than 70,000 strikers in 2019. On December 1, the administration of President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador (known as AMLO) announced a nationwide minimum wage hike of 15 percent to 213 daily pesos (US$ 10.80) in the northern border region, where the cost of living is higher, and 141 pesos (US$ 7.14) in the rest of the country. Not only are these still the lowest minimum wages in the hemisphere; they are also barely higher than the cost of the basic basket of goods for one individual, let alone for a family. The International Labor Organization wrote in a 2020-2021 report that real wages in Mexico fell 1.5 percent in 2019 and remain below the pre-2008 crisis level. These abysmal conditions reveal the complete inadequacy of AMLOs increase of the minimum wage 100 percent across the northern border in 2019, which he attempted to use as a cover for the creation of the worlds largest free trade zonea 16-mile strip along the US-Mexico border in which corporations can enjoy lower tax rates than in the United States. From January to April 2019, however, workers in Matamoros responded with wildcat strikes, which initially demanded the corresponding 100 percent wage increase and a bonus of 32,000 pesos, as well as a return to the 40-hour work week and the removal of the CTM unions. In appeals through the World Socialist Web Site and during a mass march to the border, workers called on American workers to join them in a struggle against the transnational corporations. Matamoros workers on strike Prieto and her partners in the independent trade unions, however, intervened to keep the strikes chained to the union bureaucracy and channel all appeals behind the AMLO administration. Eventually, they were able to shut down the strike after companies agreed to a 20 percent wage increase and the 32,000 pesos. This intervention by the independent unions, which worked to sideline the genuinely independent initiative of workers and their efforts to expand their struggle internationally, allowed the corporations and the CTM unions to fire more than 5,000 militant workers in mass reprisals. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, countless workers have been infected and died in outbreaks that the corporations, trade unions and government authorities have sought to cover up across Mexico. On Wednesday, the country reported its highest daily toll of 1,584 deaths, while the new and more transmissible strain first found in England has been detected in the state of Tamaulipas, where Matamoros is located. Despite this dire situation, AMLO is adamant in his commitment to keep the factories open, declaring Wednesday that he shares the approach to the pandemic and economic reactivation of the incoming Joseph Biden White House, which is essentially no different to that under Donald Trump, namely, keeping workplaces open to ensure the flow of profits, regardless of the deaths which result. While AMLO ordered a brief and limited shutdown of the maquiladoras in April that the corporations largely ignored, workers in Matamoros, Ciudad Juarez, Reynosa and other industrial cities on the border carried out a wave of wildcat strikes to shut down production, following similar actions by autoworkers in Europe, Canada and the United States. Since the reopening in May, lawyer Susana Prieto has led the efforts to compel workers to obey AMLOs homicidal decrees, while refusing to call for any struggle against the thousands of layoffs carried out as reprisals for the April 2020 strikes. By simply dismissing workers demands to shut down nonessential activities and provide full compensation for lost wages, Prieto and similar forces in and around the unions have demonstrated that they are not independent or democratic at all, but simply tools of the capitalists like the CTM. While North American workers have faced hundreds of thousands of deaths, mass layoffs, and attacks against their wages and benefits, US billionaires saw their total wealth increase by more than $1 trillion in the first nine months of 2020. Within Mexico, the billionaires German Larrea and Alberto Baillereswith whom AMLO has a good relationshipsaw their net worth increase 65 percent and 56 percent respectively in 2020. The strikes this month in Matamoros are part of a growing resurgence of the class struggle, including a strike by Hunts Point warehouse workers in New York, the mass protests in Tunisia and the caravan of thousands of Honduran refugees and migrant workers. The wildcat strike at the Concurrent factory highlights the urgent need for workers to form rank-and-file committees opposed to the trade unions in order to expand their struggle across Mexico and internationally against the profit system and the endless concentration of wealth at the expense of workers lives and livelihoods. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. Police are looking for the publics help in locating a 15-year-old girl from New Springville who has been missing for more than two weeks. Xieara Dale was last seen at her home on Monday, Jan. 4, at around 9 p.m., police said in a statement. Dale is described as 5-feet, 6-inches tall, weighing 110 pounds with blue eyes and black hair, police said. She was last seen wearing a black and gray jacket, gray sweatpants and a red shirt, according to the statement. Anyone with information in regard to this missing person is asked to call the NYPDs Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers website at WWW.NYPDCRIMESTOPPERS.COM, or on Twitter @NYPDTips. All calls are kept strictly confidential. New Delhi: Google on Thursday highlighted the work of Oskar Fischinger, the German-American artist, musician and filmmaker who created incredible works of animated art set to music by dediacting Doodle. To mark his 117th birthday Google wants you to think new and visual music composition of your own in honor of filmmaker and abstract animator Oskar Fischinger. The artist's died in 1967, was known for pairing abstract visuals with music, long before computer graphics and music videos. Oskar Fischinger made around 50 short films and painted around 800 canvases that holds a place in museums, galleries and collections across the globe. This German-American abstract animator, filmmaker, and painter, notable for creating abstract musical animation many decades before the appearance of computer graphics and music videos. He created special effects for Fritz Lang's 1929 Woman In The Moon, one of the first sci-fi rocket movies. One of Oskar Fischingers famous quotes was, Music is not limited to the world of sound. There exists a music of the visual world, is one of Fischingers famous quotes. 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. Subscriber content preview By HOPE YEN Associated Press WASHINGTON President Joe Biden's nominee for secretary of transportation, Pete Buttigieg, appeared on a smooth path to quick confirmation, pledging to senators on Thursday to help carry out the administration's ambitious agenda to rebuild the nation's infrastructure. Speaking at his confirmation hearing, Buttigieg pointed to a generational opportunity to create new jobs, fight economic inequality and stem climate change. He pledged more conversations with Congress on programs that will require significant investments in the months to come. . . . Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey announced Thursday that she is extending Alabamas Safer at Home and mandatory mask-wearing order through March 5. Ivey was joined during a news conference by State Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris, who spoke about the states plan for administering the coronavirus vaccine. A staff member at Athens Limestone Hospital receives one of the first COVID-19 vaccinations in North Alabama. A staff member at Athens Limestone Hospital receives one of the first COVID-19 vaccinations in North Alabama. The state said it's already working with the Biden administration for future vaccines. The governor and health department said the state doesn't have enough vaccine to give out. Harris said they've had communication with Bidens transition team, and there could be changes to see who gets the vaccine next, but theres nothing official yet. In the news conference on Thursday, Harris and Ivey announced a partnership with Walmart pharmacy to start administering the vaccine. It's not clear when that will happen, and right now, the state is only getting a certain amount of vaccine based off of its population. If it's ultimately determined that a group of Alabamians 65 and older should be in the next eligibility group, that's about 500,000 people in Alabama, so half a million more people are going to hear the message it's time to get your vaccine, and they are deserving and we will get it to them as quickly as possible, but yet, the amount were getting in the state each week will not change, Harris said. Right now, the state has about 500 places, both public and private, that are signed up to give the vaccine out, but only half of those places have the vaccine. Officials said most hospitals in the state have already run out of vaccine and are asking for more, but it's unclear when they will get it. In the news conference, Ivey said no state has enough. She also said at one point last week, the state only had 39 ICU beds available and extending this mask order shouldn't come as a surprise because of the number of cases. The state is seeing a slight decline in cases after the holiday spike. We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form Huntington, WV (25701) Today Thunderstorms likely. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. High 73F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%.. Tonight Thunderstorms this evening followed by occasional showers overnight. Low 53F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%. Vaccination against coronavirus begins in Estonia on Sunday: Social Affairs Ministry HELSINKI, Dec 27 (Sputnik) Estonia will begin the process of vaccinating its population against COVID-19 on Sunday, having received the first batches of coronavirus vaccines, the Ministry of Social Affairs said. On Saturday, Estonia received the first batch of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine, consisting of 9,750 doses (enough for nearly 5,000 people). The country expects more deliveries in January. Vaccination will begin on Sunday. According to Estonias Minister of Social Affairs Tanel Kiik, medical workers will get vaccinated first. In total, about 30,000 healthcare workers are expected to get shots in the coming days, as well as over 25,000 people working and living in care homes and 260,000 people over 70 and those with chronic health conditions. Nairobi, Kenya (PANA) - Kenya Airways said on Friday it was suspending flights to two major European hubs following the introduction of new regulations as a result of a new variant of the coronavirus When indie pop artist Eves Karydas starting working on her hit single Complicated, her grandfather had just passed away, her relationship was in turmoil and she was feeling creatively blocked. To top it all off, she constantly dreamed about her teeth falling out. Flash forward almost two years and the song has become an anthem for many Australians whose lives have been upended by the coronavirus pandemic. Australian singer-songwriter Eves Karydas is tipped to make the Hottest 100 thanks to her single Complicated. The lyrics slotted into the global conversation in a way I could never have premeditated, says the singer, whose real name is Hannah Evyenia Karydas. Its been such a tough year. Everyone you speak to, its just been a kick in the balls. So its a super special song to me. Karydas looks set to be one of 26 acts who will make their debut in Triple Js Hottest 100 countdown on Saturday. And Complicated which includes lines like Wish I was in love, wish I was alone has a strong chance of making the top 10, according to prediction website 100 Warm Tunas. Posted Thursday, January 21, 2021 4:44 pm OLYMPIA Inauguration Day remained peaceful at the Washington State Capitol Campus despite worrying security concerns brought on by insurrection at the U.S. Capitol and a breach on the governor's mansion property in Olympia two weeks ago. Only a handful of individual protesters roamed the campus at various times throughout the day, but a drawdown of Washington National Guardsmen and state troopers might still take some time. "Just because we don't have any specific threats on any given day doesn't mean there isn't concern for dangers out there," Washington State Patrol spokesperson Chris Loftis told reporters Wednesday. Loftis said he expects to see a gradual drawdown of troopers and guardsmen over the next few days. He said he does not know what the longterm security plans will be . "It's going to be a process, not an event," he said. In the meantime, the cost to keep the campus secure isn't cheap. Over the last 13 days, the State Patrol has spent more than $1.6 million, including $1,507,450 on labor costs and an additional $100,707 on food, supplies, equipment and lodging for troopers. The cost for the Department of Enterprise Services, which is in charge of the Capitol grounds, is currently at $33,304, including a one-time $14,000 fee for the fencing surrounding the campus. The cost of deploying the Washington National Guard, which has been activated since Jan. 10, might not be known for a few weeks, spokesperson Karina Shagren said. Early estimates show it will likely be more than the State Patrol's costs. "It's going to be an expensive bill," she said. Loftis said he believes the presence of the State Patrol and the National Guard has contributed to the calm on the Capitol campus. "How much money would we, as a country, be willing to spend to go back to Jan. 6 and take that assault on our nation's Capitol out of our history books?" Loftis said. "How much would you spend to be able to get the six lives that were taken from us back to their families?" After the events of Jan. 6, Gov. Jay Inslee activated 750 members of the Washington National Guard before the opening of the Legislature. Fencing was put up around the Capitol grounds, and strict security protocols were put in place to get into the Legislative Building. Loftis said he couldn't say exactly how many National Guard members were actually on the campus at one time for tactical reasons, but he said at any given time the number was "in the hundreds." Two arrests were made on the Legislature's opening day Jan. 11, which only brought about three dozen protesters to the state Capitol campus. One woman attempted to use her RV to block a roadway and refused to comply with orders, and a man attempted to cross an opening in the fence that was secured with a double line of troopers. The man, Thomas Hughes of Everett, was also charged with criminal trespassing after breaching the gate to the governor's mansion on Jan. 6. Another man, Damon Huseman of Seattle, was arrested Tuesday and charged with second-degree assault, felony harassment and criminal trespassing in connection with the Jan. 6 events in Olympia. Forensic experts in western Libya have discovered 10 more bodies buried in mass graves, the internationally recognized government announced on Thursday. Three bodies were blindfolded and their wrists bound, the Interior Ministry of the Government of National Accord (GNA) wrote in a Facebook post. Hundreds of people have been reported missing since the Kaniyat militia took control of Tarhuna in 2015. Located some 57 miles (92 kilometers) southeast of Tripoli, the city was used as a strategic base for Gen. Khalifa Hifters forces during their 14-month offensive against the capital that ended in defeat this summer. The militia controlled Tarhuna until the GNA recaptured it in June. The North African country is embroiled in a six-year-long civil war pitting the GNA against Hifters Libyan National Army (LNA), with each faction propped up by an array of foreign backers that have flooded the country with illegal arms and mercenaries. Hifters forces control much of the eastern part of the country with support from the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Russia, and the Tripoli-based government enjoys the backing of Turkey and Qatar. In a report published earlier this month, residents of Tahruna told the New York-based Human Rights Watch that the Hifter-affiliated group frequently abducted, tortured and killed its opponents. Since driving the Kaniyat militia out, the GNA has pledged to identify the bodies found in mass graves, some of which showed signs of abuse. The United States sanctioned the Kaniyat militia and its leader, Mohamed al-Kani, in November, accusing them of torturing and killing civilians in a cruel campaign of oppression. The discoveries come as Libya prepares to hold elections for a temporary executive government. The UN Support Mission in Libya announced Thursday that elections will be held in Switzerland next month to determine an interim authority before general elections are held in Libya later this year. The GNA and LNA agreed to a permanent cease-fire during UN-mediated talks in October, giving the rival factions until this Saturday to expel their foreign fighters and mercenaries from Libyan territory. The outgoing acting UN special envoy for Libya, Stephanie Williams, said earlier this week that any outside powers whose fighters remain in violation of the truce are denying Libya of its sovereignty. Back home in New Jersey, she enrolled in self-defense classes and bought a Taser for security. In September, N.Y.U. settled Ms. Cojabs complaint with the Office of Civil Rights, outlining steps to address anti-Semitism on campus, as defined in the presidents executive order. But the school did not concede any wrongdoing, nor mention the section of the executive order citing examples of anti-Israel speech as anti-Semitic. In the meantime, the conflicts continue, with or without students on campus. Universities are left to muddle in the middle, to balance irreconcilable imperatives. Columbias president, Lee Bollinger, reaffirmed the schools commitment to free speech but vowed to disregard the student referendum on divestment. N.Y.U.s president, Andrew D. Hamilton, expressed consternation to Zoom over its cancellation of the webinar with Ms. Khaled, but he also chided the professors who sponsored it. For now, though, the virtual campus makes it easy not to listen to one another, to refuse to normalize an opposing point of view. Instead, both sides dig into their own moral narratives, said Kenneth S. Stern, the director of the Center for the Study of Hate at Bard College in Annandale-on-Hudson, N.Y., who was the lead drafter in the group that created the working definition of anti-Semitism invoked in Mr. Trumps executive order. Mr. Stern said the definition was meant principally for data gathering, not regulating campus debate. The reality is that both arguments are true, and to understand the issue you have to not just pick one side and battle against the other, you have to say that both people have indigenous claims, and one can make the case, from the Jewish perspective, that of course weve always been there, and the Palestinians can say, Weve been here for a long time and were indigenous. Both of those things are true. The history is messy, he said, with justice on both sides, and injustice on both sides. Even without remote learning, students have little incentive to see the other view and strong support for hardening their own sides. Mr. Stern said, mildly, That makes conversations very difficult. Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Due to the sluggish sales of the automotive industry over the past year, car manufacturers and supply chain partners have been underproducing products while the pandemic was in full swing. The recent development of the COVID19 vaccine has caused the industry to spring back to life, but skyrocketing demand in 2021 causing massive shortages for computer hardware that many connected cars require. Cars in 2021 are far more advanced than cars were even a few years ago, with some premium models requiring over 3,000 computer chips for a single vehicle. The pandemic caused the majority of drivers and potential customers to stay home, which dampened the demand for cars in 2020. Since the country is beginning to open back up, the demand for cars is high again, but chip manufacturers are struggling to meet order deadlines. In fact, Ford Motors shut down a factory in Kentucky this week due to the storage. Audi also has similar problems, announcing the company will be making 10,000 fewer vehicles this quarter, and is furloughing 10,000 employees. Leading chip makers such as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co.(TSMC) have been unable to secure capacity since demand started increasing at the end of 2020. This manufacturing crisis has caused a bit of a problematic relationship between the automotive and computer chip industry. The pandemic has created a surge in consumer electronic demand, and car manufacturers claim that companies like TSMC are compromising orders in favor of electronics. Consumers have now come to expect cars that are, as CCS Insight analyst Geoff Blaber stated to BBC, computers on wheels. So as the world begins to approach the end of the pandemic, the automotive industry has a genuine reason to be concerned about this computer chip shortage. Edited by Maurice Nagle 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. No, youre not dreaming. Thats the sound of bubbling water and the smell of freshly brewed coffee wafting through the air as you contemplate waking up. The Barisieur coffee maker and alarm clock lets you start your day with a freshly brewed cup of joe (or loose leaf tea) without leaving the cozy confines of your bed. The beautifully designed (and pricy) system created by British industrial designer Joshua Renouf is composed of hand-blown borosilicate glass and polished stainless steel components that sit on a wood tray, giving it a science lab meets contemporary sculpture vibe. Barisieur even has a built-in mini milk fridge to keep everything you need within reach. The clocks display dims as the night goes on and theres a built-in USB charger for your phone. Just set Barisieur to start brewing 5 minutes before the alarm and stay in bed a little longer. $445, b8ta.com Circuits QA Engineer Santa Clara Valley (Cupertino) , California , United States Hardware Summary Posted: Jan 21, 2021 Role Number: 200217899 Do you have a passion for crafting entirely new solutions? As part of our Digital Design Engineering group, you'll take imaginative and revolutionary ideas and determine how to turn them into reality! You and your team will apply engineering fundamentals and start from scratch if needed, bringing forward-thinking ideas to the real world! Your efforts will be groundbreaking, often literally. Join us, and you'll help design the tools that allow us to bring customers experiences they've never before envisioned. We have an extraordinary opportunity for digital design QA Engineers. In this highly visible role, you will be at the heart of a processor design effort, working with the custom digital circuits team and library development, making a critical impact delivering high quality products to market quickly. Key Qualifications We are looking for applicants with 1~2 years of experience in SRAM or Standard Cell Library development, EDA automation or Quality Assurance. Proficient in scripting in Perl, Python and/or TCL. Good understanding of transistor level design, SRAM and/or Standard cell circuits, cell characterization and library validation. Experience with various EDA tools for synthesis, place-route, verilog simulation, spice simulation, formal verification, DRC/LVS, RC extraction and/or library characterization. Familiarity of Verilog syntax, liberty models and variation format. Knowledge of timing, power, noise and IR analysis. Description Imagine yourself at the center of our SOC design effort, collaborating with all fields, playing a strategic role of getting functional products to millions of customers quickly. You will have the opportunity to integrate and come-up with new ideas, as well as work with a team of hardworking engineers. As a QA Engineer for the digital circuits team, you will perform the following: - Define and develop QA checks to verify EDA views of megacells and standard cell libraries. - Debug and provide quick solutions for digital IP designers and/or users. - Engage with CAD team to implement new automation flows and QA checks. - Work with foundries on library releases, technical support and model enhancement. Education & Experience - BSEE / MSEE is required. Additional Requirements Apple is an Equal Opportunity Employer that is committed to inclusion and diversity. We also take affirmative action to offer employment and advancement opportunities to all applicants, including minorities, women, protected veterans, and individuals with disabilities. Apple will not discriminate or retaliate against applicants who inquire about, disclose, or discuss their compensation or that of other applicants. Passengers wait in line to enter a Transportation Security Administration checkpoint at Los Angeles International Airport, in Los Angeles, Calif., Nov. 25, 2020. (PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images) US to Require Quarantine for All International Air Travelers President Joe Biden on Jan. 21 issued an executive order that would require international air travelers to quarantine upon arrival to the United States. To the extent feasible, the presidents order states, air travelers seeking to enter the United States from a foreign country must comply with applicable guidelines from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) concerning international travel including recommended periods of self-quarantine or self-isolation upon arrival. It doesnt elaborate on how the latest requirements will be enforced, but directs the secretary of Homeland Security to promptly develop a plan for a self-quarantine requirement. The executive order, which is set to go into effect on Jan. 26, also states that people traveling to the United States should test negative before departure. Anyone traveling to the country by plane will need to test before they get onto that plane before they depart and quarantine when they arrive in America, Biden told reporters at a press conference. The order also directs U.S. agencies to hold talks with Canada and Mexico regarding public health protocols for land ports of entry including implementing CDC guidelines. Nearly all non-essential travel at U.S. land borders with Canada and Mexico is suspended through Feb. 21. The CDC recommends a quarantine of at least seven days for people arriving in the United States from nearly all countries. Travelers who do not get tested for COVID-19, the disease caused by the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus upon arrival, are recommended to remain at home for 10 days after travel. The president has also asked federal agencies to immediately take action to ensure that travelers wear masks in airports and on commercial aircraft, trains, public maritime vesselsincluding ferriesintercity bus services, and all public transportation. Exceptions can be made on a case-by-case basis, the order states. We are prepared to make sure we use all relevant authorities to enforce the presidents executive order to ensure across every mode of transportation workers, passengers, commuters are protected, Pete Buttigieg, the nominee to become secretary of transportation, said Thursday. The Biden administration 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 President Donald Trump issued an order on Monday lifting them, effective the same day the new testing rules take effect. Reuters contributed to this report. A man on trial for a 2019 stabbing death outside a Winnipeg restaurant told court he was so consumed with rage, he has no memory of the slaying. A man on trial for a 2019 stabbing death outside a Winnipeg restaurant told court he was so consumed with rage, he has no memory of the slaying. "Everything happened quick, I was very angry," Mahfouth Assi testified earlier this week through an Arabic interpreter. "My mind was not functioning, I dont remember." Yazan Al Horani, 20, was killed outside Ramallah Cafe and hookah lounge, April 15, 2019. Another man, Moussa Almousa, who prosecutors allege was Assis primary target, suffered two stab wounds to the chest and back, but survived. Assi, 22, has pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder and attempted murder arguing he was provoked and should be convicted of the lesser offences of manslaughter and aggravated assault. Court has heard testimony Assi and Almousa became embroiled in a heated exchange of culturally charged insults, after Assi took exception to Almousa standing on a cafe couch to take a selfie with his friends. "I told him, Please, can you get off the couch? and he got angry," Assi said. "He came to me, gave me his phone, said, F--- off, take a picture of us." Assi said he asked Almousa why he was acting that way, making him even angrier, at which point, he asked to see the cafe owner. Assi said he guided Almousa to the cashiers counter and told cafe owner Hamza Samir: "This guy is looking for trouble, he has to leave." Almousa got angry, shoved Assi, who shoved back before staff and Almousas friends separated the two men, court heard. "He got very angry, he started insulting my mother," Assi said. "When the guys separated us, he was out of my sight but I heard him say, Ill stab you, I will shoot you, come outside if you are a man and you have balls." Assi said they continued to trade insults, with Assi insulting Almousas mother, "but I stopped first." In earlier testimony, Almousa told court he and his friends had been standing outside the restaurant for two to three minutes, when Assi rounded the corner from the back and started stabbing him. "I just fell down and my friend Yazan was trying to calm him down, saying, Please, please, dont do that. Then he stabbed Yazan as well and killed him," Almousa said. "When I saw that Yazan was fallen down and stabbed, I stood and went toward (Assi) and then he stabbed me (again)." Al Horani and his family emigrated from Syria in 2017, after years spent in a refugee camp in Jordan, a family friend told the Free Press following his death. Al Horani was taking adult-education courses, had started a new job at Blady Middle Eastern grocery store, and was recently engaged to be married. Assi told court he knew Al Horani through his (Assis) cousin, one of Bladys owners. "He was a very respectful man, friendly nice guy," Assi said. Assi told court he had no memory of picking up a knife or attacking the two men. "The only feeling that I remember is that I was very mad, very angry," he said. "Mostly what I remember is someone holding me, touching me, trying to push me away." Assi said the next thing he recalled was arriving in his car at a St. Norbert service station and finding a bloody knife on the passenger seat. "There were bruises on my body, my right hand was swollen and my leg was hurting," he said. "When I saw the knife I realized I made a mistake, I hurt someone I knew something had happened." "Scared that people would come after (him) for revenge," Assi drove on to Kenora, Ont., where he booked a hotel room. A few hours later, while checking social media, he learned Al Horani was dead, he said. "I was surprised and I was sad," Assi said. "I knew that he came with that group. I was trying to remember what happened and I couldnt remember and got even more scared." After talking on the phone to his father, Assi said he got in his car, called police and was arrested on the highway just outside Kenora. In earlier testimony, Assi, guided by defence lawyer Scott Newman, provided details of his upbringing in Ramallah, Palestine. At 12, he had to care for three younger siblings while his mother recovered from colon cancer. As a teen, Assi said he was repeatedly tortured by Israeli special forces. "The country was in a war state and they wanted me to give information about my friends. I never co-operated with them, so my life was under threat." At 17, he arrived in Ohio, and lived with an uncle. Ten months later, fearing he would be deported, Assi walked across the border and arrived in Winnipeg, where he had more family, including one of the owners of the Ramallah Cafe. The trial resumes Monday. dean.pritchard@freepress.mb.ca ADVERTISEMENT The Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) has criticised Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State for rejecting COVID-19 vaccines. Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State and Chairman of NGF, said this in a statement on Thursday in Abuja after the forums first virtual meeting for 2021. Mr Fayemi said the governors met and deliberated on matters of national importance, particularly the procurement and administration of COVID-19 vaccines in the country. PREMIUM TIMES had reported how Mr Bello, who had lied in the past about the status of the deadly COVID-19 in Nigeria, condemned the COVID-19 vaccination, saying it was meant to kill people. On the ill-fated pronouncement made by a member of the forum regarding the COVID-19 vaccine in a national daily, the forum totally and categorically dissociated itself from the statement. The forum emphasised that it will continue to be informed and guided by science and will ensure that every decision it takes will help retain public and professional trust and is not compromised by conflicts of interest, he said. Mr Fayemi also briefed the governors on his meeting with the Chairperson of Board of the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation (GAVI), Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, on the rollout of the COVAX facility. COVAX is a global risk-sharing mechanism co-led by GAVI, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) and the World Health Organization (WHO) to facilitate pooled procurement and the equitable distribution of COVID-19 vaccines across developing countries, he said. (NAN) Brattleboro, VT (05301) Today Cloudy with showers. High 57F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 60%.. Tonight Rain. Low 43F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near an inch. Thank you for reading! This content is only available for Daily Journal subscribers. Select one of the following to read this story and others on djournal.com: One Week - $1.99 One Month - $7.50 One Year - $80.50 Your subscription supports: Investigative reporting In-depth analysis on local news and sports Profiles and features on your neighbors and communities The best tips on places to eat and things to do in Northeast Mississippi Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. Senate Republican and Democratic leaders have reached agreement on the the calendar outlines for the second impeachment of former President Donald Trump with the substance of the trial set to begin February 9th. The agreement, which Majority Leader Charles Schumer called 'good progress,' came after Minority Leader Mitch McConnell called for a delay in the trial, in a posture that got a boost from President Joe Biden, who is anxious to get his cabinet confirmed. Under the outlines of the plan, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi will transmit an impeachment article Monday, leading senators to be sworn in Tuesday night. A week later, on Feb. 2, Trump's lawyers and impeachment managers must submit their answers to the impeachment article. The following week, Feb. 8, would be the deadline for the next round of trial briefs, according to McConnell's office. The trial could then begin on Feb. 9th. 'The January 6 insurrection at the Capitol incited by Donald J. Trump was a day none of us will ever forget,' Schumer said on the Senate floor Friday night. 'We all want to put this awful chapter in our nation's history behind us. But healing and unity will only come if there is truth and accountability, and that is what this trial will provide,' he said. He said the delay after Monday's article will provide 'a period of time to draft their legal briefs just as they did in previous trials.' The breakthrough came hours after President Biden expressed support for the idea of delaying a Senate impeachment trial of his predecessor expressing at least general support for a proposal put forward by McConnell. However, Schumer did not say who would preside over the trial, how long it might take, or whether witnesses would provide testimony. McConnell said he would have preferred his original proposal to have the House hold up the article until next Thursday. 'We need a full and fair process where the former president can mount a defense and the Senate can properly consider the factual, legal and constitutional questions at stake,' McConnell said. 'Leader McConnell is glad that Leader Schumer agreed to Republicans request for additional time during the pre-trial phase. Especially given the fast and minimal process in the House, Republicans set out to ensure the Senates next steps will respect former President Trumps rights and due process, the institution of the Senate, and the office of the presidency,' said McConnell spokesman Doug Andres. He called the deal 'a win for due process and fairness.' He endorsed the idea after rolling out more of his economic plan Friday afternoon, hours after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said she will send over an impeachment article Monday which will kick off a Senate trial of Biden's predecessor. The legislative part of his plan, a $1.9 trillion stimulus package, would get caught up in the chaos. 'I haven't heard the detail of it but I do think that having some time to get our administration up and running, the more time we have to get up and running and meet these crises, the better,' he said when asked about McConnell's offer. 'I want to thank the Senate for passing out our Secretary of Defense. Looks like our Secretary of Treasury, looks like our Secretary of State's in place. 'So the more time we have to get up and running to meet these crises the better,' he said, mentioning one cabinet nomination that had cleared the Senate - that of Auston Lloyd to lead the Pentagon - and two that had not. His comment came after White House press secretary Jen Psaki, said Biden 'believes that it's up to the Senate and Congress to determine how they will hold the former president accountable and what the mechanics and timeline of that process will be.' But how the trial will actually happen is in chaos, after Pelosi said she would will deliver a House-passed impeachment article to the Senate Monday. The following day, the trial has to formally begin. Backing for delay: Joe Biden was asked Friday about a proposal floated by Mitch McConnell to delay a trial by two weeks, saying 'the more time we have to get up and running and meet these crises, the better.' Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer announced Pelosi's decision to transmit an impeachment article to the Senate TRUMP'S TRIAL: WHAT WE STILL DON'T KNOW When will it really begin? Who will preside? Can Democrats and Republicans cut a deal on how it runs? Will there be witnesses? Will Trump go? Who will round out Trump's legal team? Will the trial 'double-track' with legislation and other actions? Will Rudy Giuliani play a role? Will House managers play video from the riot? Will Republicans who have denounced Trump ally with Democrats on process? Will Mitch McConnell use his influence to help or hurt Trump? How many days will the trial last? Will Trump seek to mount legal challenge to the trial as unconstitutional? Will Capitol Police get called to testify about coming under atta c k? Advertisement Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer announced Pelosi's move on the Senate floor Friday at the start of the day's session. But he and Mitch McConnell, the Republican Minority Leader, have not struck a deal on how the trial will be run or on how to share power in the 50-50 Senate. That leaves undecided the details of how the trial will actually unfold, and even who will preside, with Chief Justice John Roberts said to be reluctant, which would mean Kamala Harris could preside as vice-president, or Patrick Leahy as the longest-serving Democratic senator. Both voted to convict Trump at his first impeachment trial. Democrats have their own reasons to want to delay a trial but absent an agreement, it will begin directly. 'I have spoken to Speaker Pelosi who informed me that the articles will be delivered to the Senate on Monday,' Schumer said. He listed impeachment along with other pressing business as priorities, as President Joe Biden seeks to get a cabinet confirmed and move his agenda. Word of when the article will make its way to the Senate provides some certainty about the start of the trial. But after that there is no certainty. Complicating the picture is leverage Republicans appear to hold over the terms. If senators don't unanimously agree on a procedure, the Senate will proceed to the trial on a full-time basis, muddying the start of the Biden presidency. It all ties together with the failure so far to reach a power sharing agreement for control of the 50-50 Senate with Democrats holding the technical majority but still not controlling committees until a new agreement is reached. 'The Senate must and will do all three: COVID relief, confirmation of nominees, and impeachment trial,' Schumer said from the floor. 'The Senate will conduct a trial on the impeachment of Donald Trump, said Schumer said. 'It will be a fair trial. But make no mistake, there will be a trial.' On Tuesday, another step would occur with the swearing in of the presiding officer. The Constitution states that the chief justice shall preside over presidential impeachments, but a trial for a former president is a gray area. The trial itself could begin Wednesday although an entirely different schedule could occur if Schumer and McConnell are able to reach agreement or if something could gain consent of all 100 senators. Senate impeachment rules begin the trial at 1 pm the day after the articles are received. Senators meet six days a week at the same time each day until the trial is concluded. But senators could impose a different schedule if an impeachment resolution is agreed to. Schumer said on the floor he has been speaking with Sen. Mitch McConnell about the 'timing and duration' of the trial. Trump will be the first U.S. president to be impeached twice, and the first to face an impeachment trial after leaving office. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell had proposed a schedule to start the trial in mid-February House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of Calif., holds the article of impeachment against President Donald Trump after signing it, in an engrossment ceremony before transmission to the Senate for trial on Capitol Hill, in Washington, Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2021 President Donald Trump pumps his fist as he tours a section of the U.S.-Mexico border wall, Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2021, in Alamo, Texas. He was impeached in the House for 'incitement of insurrection' 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 Pelosi's move means the Senate will at least ceremonially begin the trial Tuesday, when senators are sworn in to be essentially jurors and the Senate formally accepts the article to form a court of impeachment. A series of prominent lawyers who have worked with Trump in the past have said they will not be taking part in the impeachment trial. He no longer has the benefit of having a White House counsel to defend him as he did when he was in office. Trump will be represented by South Carolina attorney Karl 'Butch' Bowers, who was identified by Trump ally Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), who will serve as a juror weighing Trump's fate in the trial and who was with Trump on one of his last trips aboard Air Force One. Bowers has previously represented former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley and former Gov. Mark Sanford. Graham was already digging in Friday against a quick trial. 'If the trial starts right away, that would be an affront to everything every American claims to hold near and dear is that you get a chance to defend yourself. 'Senator McConnell's plan is a good plan. And we'll see what the Democrats want to do,' he said. Schumer and McConnell have already begun negotiations for how a trial might proceed amid Democratic concerns that the trial could sap momentum for Biden's early moves. To date he has just two cabinet members confirmed Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, who got confirmed by the Senate after Schumer spoke. And with leaders also negotiating on a power-sharing agreement for the 50-50 Senate amid McConnell's procedural demands, Democrats don't yet have the authority to quickly push through nominations either. Pelosi's decision comes a day after she was coy when asked about when she might send over an article. There are already signs that the end of Trump's tenure could be having an impact on Republican fury at Trump after a MAGA mob ransacked the Capitol. The Hill reported at most five or six Republicans might vote for impeachment, based on some lawmakers' assessments. Republicans have seen the political blowback at House GOP Conference Chair Rep. Liz Cheney, who voted for impeachment and issued a blistering statement, only to see a challenge forming to her own leadership post. Two-thirds of senators would have to vote for Trump to be convicted. After that happened, a majority vote could prevent him from ever holding public office at a time when he has maintained a grip over the Republican Party. McConnell had been seeking a delay of the articles until next week, in a plan he released 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,' he said. The House impeached Trump for 'incitement of insurrection' following his remarks to supporters who later trashed the Capitol. Trump had told them to 'fight like hell,' after spending two months calling the election 'rigged' and claiming he won. More than 100 House Republicans voted to overturn election results even after members of the mob stormed the House floor. It was later revealed members of the mob chanted to 'hang Mike Pence' and smashed windows. Sen. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) told reporters in the Capitol that 'We can do anything after the articles come over, that we can all live we can agree to.' But absent such unanimous consent, he said: 'If we can't agree, as I understand it, the next day at one o'clock, we start the trial and we stay within six days a week until we're done. 'I believe there's a desire to agree to a different structure than that but that would all be between Schumer and McConnell.' Pelosi said in a statement Friday: 'The article of impeachment for incitement of insurrection by Donald Trump will be delivered to the Senate on Monday, January 25 ... 'We are respectful of the Senate's constitutional power over the trial and always attentive to the fairness of the process, noting that the former president will have had the same amount of time to prepare for trial as our Managers. Our Managers are ready to begin to make their case to 100 Senate jurors through the trial process.' House impeachment managers will argue the case to convict. 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 'Exactly one week after the attack on the Capitol to undermine the integrity of our democracy, a bipartisan vote of the House of Representatives passed the article of impeachment, which is our solemn duty to deliver to the Senate,' she said. With a trial on a fast track, more than 150 legal and constitutional scholars including a co-founder of the conservative Federalist Society have joined in a letter arguing that Trump can be impeached despite being out of office. They point to the text of the Constitution, precedents, as well as the intentions of the Founders in providing a remedy to stop a 'demagogue' who might seek to overthrow the U.S. government. Among the signers of the letter is Northwestern University Law Professor Steven Calabresi, a cofounder of the conservative Federalist Society, a group that generated lists of many of the conservative judicial nominees Trump installed in the courts. 'More broadly, a singular concern of the Framers in devising our constitutional system was the danger of a power-seeking populist of the type they referred to as a 'demagogue' rising to the highest office and overthrowing republican government,' they write. 'The Framers further understood that the source of such a person's power does not expire if he or she is expelled from office; so long as such a person retains the loyalty of his or her supporters, he or she might return to power. The Framers devised the disqualification power to guard against that possibility, and would surely disagree that a person who sought to overthrow our democracy could not be disqualified from holding a future office of the United States because the plot reached its crescendo too close to the end of his or her term. Another key part of the argument is that the Constitution provides not just for removal but for denying future office. It states that impeachment 'shall not extend further than to removal from Office, and disqualification to hold and enjoy any Office of honor, Trust or Profit under the United States. Christopher Rufo vows to fight as Biden reverses ban on critical race theory in government Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Christopher F. Rufo, a director at the Discovery Institute, who said his research inspired former President Donald Trumps decision to abolish critical race theory training at federal agencies last year, announced a legal coalition to fight back after President Joe Biden reversed the move. Today, President Biden doubled-down on critical race theory in the federal government. In response, I am announcing a new coalition of legal foundations and private attorneys that will wage relentless legal warfare against race theory in America's institutions. The fight is on, Rufo said in a statement. "Critical race theory is a grave threat to the American way of life. It divides Americans by race and traffics in the pernicious concepts of race essentialism, racial stereotyping, and race-based segregationall under a false pursuit of 'social justice, he wrote. Trump issued an executive order last September to combat offensive and anti-American race and sex stereotyping and scapegoating weeks after he directed federal agencies to stop teaching government workers about critical race theory and related concepts like white privilege. A few weeks ago, I BANNED efforts to indoctrinate government employees with divisive and harmful sex and race-based ideologies. Today, I've expanded that ban to people and companies that do business with our Country, the United States Military, Government Contractors, and Grantees. Americans should be taught to take PRIDE in our Great Country, and if you dont, theres nothing in it for you! Trump tweeted at the time. Today, President Biden doubled-down on critical race theory in the federal government. In response, I am announcing a new coalition of legal foundations and private attorneys that will wage relentless legal warfare against race theory in America's institutions. The fight is on. pic.twitter.com/JZJYpjla1k Christopher F. Rufo ?? (@realchrisrufo) January 20, 2021 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. On Wednesday, in one of his first executive actions as Americas 46th president, Biden rescinded Trumps diversity training order in its entirety. Executive Order 13950 of September 22, 2020 (Combating Race and Sex Stereotyping), is hereby revoked, Biden wrote in the order published by The White House. Our Nation deserves an ambitious whole-of-government equity agenda that matches the scale of the opportunities and challenges that we face. It is therefore the policy of my Administration that the Federal Government should pursue a comprehensive approach to advancing equity for all, including people of color and others who have been historically underserved, marginalized, and adversely affected by persistent poverty and inequality, Bidens order states. Earlier this month, the Labor Department had suspended enforcement of Trumps order after a federal court judge blocked it. Several Democratic senators, including Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, had also called on the government to back off the order as there is "much-needed efforts in our states to reduce race and sex-based discrimination." Media star Megyn Kelly, meanwhile, appeared to throw her support behind Rufo in a retweet of his statement Wednesday, noting: "THIS IS THE ANSWER. THE LAW. These indoctrination sessions are unlawful. Studies have shown they create *more,* not less, racism. Good for you @realchrisrufo. Alexandria Pierce-Baddeley, 29, who leaves behind a nine-year-old daughter, was suffering from a nasty mouth abscess in the days before her death A teaching assistant accidentally killed herself from an overdose of anxiety pills and wine after refusing to go to the dentist for fear of catching Covid, an inquest heard. Alexandria Pierce-Baddeley, 29, who leaves behind a nine-year-old daughter, was suffering from a nasty mouth abscess in the days before her death. Past medical problems meant the young mother, from Winsford, Cheshire, had resolved not to leave the house and potentially expose herself to infection. Instead she tried to self-treat her painful ulcer with Propranolol beta blocker tablets, tumeric paste and white wine. She was found dead on her double bed the next day by her mother, who described her daughter as 'vibrant and happy'. Her ex-boyfriend Paul Johnson confirmed he had ended their 10-year relationship the day before her May 1 death. During Ms Pierce-Baddeley's final hours, she texted Mr Johnson a photo of a large number of pills with the words: 'In 20 minutes I won't be able to move.' Mr Johnson said she had previously threatened to take her own life, and initially police investigated the death as a possible suicide But at Warrington Coroner's Court a death by misadventure was recorded following the inquest. Past medical problems meant the young mother, from Winsford, Cheshire, had resolved not to leave the house and potentially expose herself to infection The hearing heard that Ms Pierce-Baddeley, who worked at a special needs school, had a history of bulimia and had previously been admitted to hospital for hepatitis, sepsis and pneumonia. In a statement read to the hearing her mother Angela Dutton said: 'Just recently she had developed a large abscess but would not venture out to seek treatment because she was fearful of the Covid-19 pandemic and the high risk it posed to her. 'Instead she was treating herself at home with painkillers and applying a homemade turmeric paste to the affected area. 'The abscess was large and would have been visible to anyone if they had been asked to look at it. She had been in a lot of pain for six days prior to her death 'I was fearful of Alexandria's ability to safely manage her painkilling medication and was concerned she may take too many tablets or not check whether there was any risk of adverse reactions with other medication or alcohol - or even if they were safe for her to take at all.' Mr Johnson told the court that at 10pm the night before her death he received a string of texts from her. One showed a photo of a large quantity of pink tablets, and another read: 'In 20 minutes I wont be able to move.' She was found dead on her double bed the next day by her mother, who described her daughter as 'vibrant and happy' Mr Johnson said in his statement: 'I never called police as I had come to expect this kind of behaviour from Alex in the past. 'She had previously threatened to take her own life but the threats never felt real and she did it a few times. The following morning I called her but got no answer and was not able to contact her.' Ms Dutton also said she had been unable to contact Ms Pierce-Baddeley and so went to the house and, when there was no answer at the door, let herself in. 'I went upstairs and as I got the top and I saw Alexandria lying across the bed,' she said. 'I thought at first she was asleep - but when I got closer I realised something was not right. 'There was no evidence of suicide - all I found in her bedroom was empty glass a bowl for the turmeric and a packet of Panadol with two tablets missing. 'All her prescription medication was downstairs and in order. There were no empty packets or sleeves in the bins.' She added: 'When I found Alexandria she had just showered, put on clean pyjamas, her make-up was done and she had rinsed her mouth with turmeric to ease the abscess and probably took more pain relief. She then fell asleep and didn't wake up. Presumably her body gave up.' Toxicology tests showed Ms Pierce-Baddeley had 228 micrograms of alcohol per 100ml of blood in her system - the limit for driving in blood in 80 micrograms. A fatal level of Propranolol was also discovered in her bloodstream. Police said empty bottles of wine were found around her bedroom. The hearing heard that Ms Pierce-Baddeley, who worked at a special needs school, had a history of bulimia and had previously been admitted to hospital for hepatitis, sepsis and pneumonia Ms Dutton paid tribute to her daughter as an affable woman who loved her family, especially her own young daughter. Ms Dutton said: 'She had a large circle of friends and for the most part was a happy and vibrant young woman. 'She seemed to be in good spirits the previous night and was clapping for the NHS with her neighbours. 'She was not the type to take her own life - had she made that decision she would have written a letter explaining why. 'I feel her death was down to one drink too many, accidental over medication or even infection from the abscess. I find it hard to believe anyone terrified of going out because of Covid to seek treatment for an extremely painful abscess which she was treating herself the best she could would take her own life. 'I cannot stress how much she was devoted to her daughter. She had great expectations for her and wanted to be there for her. I genuinely believe any overdose was purely accidental and not deliberate.' Recording a conclusion of misadventure, coroner Heath Westerman said: 'There was much for Alexandra to live for and her mother states she does not believe her daughter would have taken her own life without making any necessary arrangements. 'Due to the large abscess she was suffering from, she was perhaps treating that by over-using her own medication along with the consumption of alcohol. 'She was fearful of catching Covid and therefore that is an indication that she did not want her life to end. 'I believe the consumption of alcohol and Propranolol was not done with the intent to end her life but was done by means of coping with Covid 19 and the large abscess she was suffering from in her mouth. 'She had suffered in the days before and would not visit the dentist due to Covid19 misfortune took its place and sadly it led to her death.' How Indias Kavach will add to Chinas Malacca Dilemma India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, Jan 22: 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. China's industrial expansion relies heavily on energy, particularly oil. In 2017 China became the world's largest importer of oil surpassing the US and approximately 70 per cent of the country's oil requirements were satisfied through imports in 2018 with the US Department of Commerce expecting this to grow to about 80 per cent by 2040. In an article, the Berkeley Political Review said that this dependance on foreign oil to run the country's giant economic machine created what is known as The Malacca Dilemma, coined in 2003 by then president, Hu Jintao. Indian Militarys Kavach is a message to Beijing that Indian Ocean Region isnt South China Sea Next week, the Indian Military will execute high intensity offensive and defensive manoeuvres in the Andam Sea and Bay of Bengal in an exercise. Codenamed Kavach or shield. The military drill will 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 war fighting 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. .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." 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 reconnaissance (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. Centre-farmers hold 11th round of talks, impasse over farm laws continues| Oneindia News 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. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, January 22, 2021, 10:01 [IST] 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. OCEAN SPRINGS, Mississippi -- Ocean Springs Mayor Shea Dobson announced Friday he will not seek a second term. In his announcement, Dobson cited other opportunities and goals he wants to accomplish. He becomes the third Jackson County mayor in the past week to announce he would not seek reelection, following Pascagoula Mayor Steve Demetropoulos and Moss Point Mayor Mario King, leaving Gautier Mayor Phil Torjusen as the only one of the countys four mayors seeking reelection. I have some great opportunities that I do not want to pass up and want to take advantage of while I am still young, Dobson said. I turn 35 this year and have many goals left to accomplish. Four years ago, Dobson pulled off a stunning upset, defeating three-term incumbent mayor Connie Moran in the general election, taking 55.4 percent of the vote and winning five of the six city wards. He came into office with experience working for the National Association for Gun Rights, U.S. Sen. Rand Pauls presidential campaign, and Americans for Prosperity. In making his decision public Friday, Dobson touted some of his administrations accomplishments, including what he called a healthy budget and increasing the Citys reserve fund; streamlining the permitting process and creating a more business-friendly community; cyber and technology upgrades; and pay raises for all employees and police in particular. Dobsons term as mayor has not been without controversy, however. On his very first day in office in 2017, Dobson restored the embattled Mississippi state flag outside city hall, igniting months of protests from Mississippi Rising, the Jackson County NAACP and others. More recently, he touched off a lesser controversy when he and the board opted to take control of the City-owned Mary C. OKeefe Cultural Arts Center from the Friends of the Mary C. It has been an honor to serve the residents of Ocean Springs since my election in 2017, Dobson said. We have made great strides in our City that I am extremely proud of. What I will miss most is helping our residents. Whether it was an issue with trash collection, drainage or simply helping someone navigate the gauntlet of government agencies, assisting and serving my community has been a privilege and an honor. Dobsons decision leaves three current candidates, all Republicans, for the mayors office: Local business woman Melanie Allen; state representative Jeff Guice; and businessman Kenny Holloway. Municipal candidates have until 5 p.m. on Feb. 5 to qualify. Party primaries are set for April 6, with runoffs (if necessary) on April 27. The general election is scheduled for June 8 and the new term begins July 1. Not only did King Billy give us the Twelfth and colourful murals featuring portraits of himself, it has now emerged the Protestant king also gifted satire to the British. Forget Monty Python, Private Eye and Have I Got News For You?, it seems William of Orange saw the funny side first, cleverly commissioning a series of crude prints to undermine his rival and father-in-law, the Catholic James II. Desperate to win the propaganda war and ensure the backing and financial support of key figures in the Netherlands for his bid to topple James and take the throne, Dutch William turned to the prolific printmaker and painter Romeyn de Hooghe. And new research reveals de Hooghe didnt disappoint, producing a raft of humorous, often crude prints between 1688 to 1690 that portrayed William as the sober, brave defender of Protestantism taking on a cowardly, cuckolded James. The cartoons depict James as in thrall to Jesuits and his cousin, Louis XIV of France, who is drawn as an unstable megalomaniac who defecates on his allies. In one print Louis balances on a globe, with his naked buttocks squashing Ireland, where he backed Jamess attempt to retake the throne. Another print shows a frightened James fleeing England, riding pillion with Louis. James son is carried in the arms of Father Petre, the Queens Jesuit confessor who was rumoured to be the boys real father. De Hooghes artistic efforts would appear to have helped Williams cause he landed in England in 1688, deposing James shortly afterwards. James attempted to regain the crown in 1690 but was famously defeated by William at the Battle of the Boyne, commemorated every July 12 by tens of thousands of Orange brethren. The new findings are the work of Meredith Hale, a historian from the University of Exeter, who has carried out the first detailed analysis of the satires (including translating the annotations into English). Her research shows how De Hooghe was able to quickly respond to the rapid unfolding of events in England and the Netherlands. The golden age of British satire has long been thought to have originated in the coffee houses of 18th century London when the likes of William Hogarth and James Gillray first started to produce savage cartoons undermining the wealthy and powerful. But Hale, whose new book The Birth of Modern Political Satire: Romeyn de Hooghe and the Glorious Revolution is published by Oxford University Press, argues de Hooghes work for King Billy are the first images that can be classed as modern political satire. Political satire has long been considered to an 18th-century British phenomenon, generated by Londons news-driven coffee-house culture, she told the Times. I believe political satire as we know it in fact emerged earlier, in the late 17th century Netherlands in the contentious political milieu surrounding William IIIs invasion of England. She added: Romeyn de Hooghes satires were at the heart of the most important development in the history of printed political imagery. The prints established many of the qualities that define the genre to this day, the crude treatment of the body, text and images used together and serialised production. ORANGE VILLAGE, Ohio The Last Page is scheduled to open Tuesday, Feb. 16, in the Pinecrest development in Orange Village. Reservations will be accepted beginning Monday, Jan. 25. The Last Page is at 100 Park Ave., suite 128. Pinecrest is at the northeast corner of Interstate 271 and Harvard Road. Hours will be 11 a.m. Monday through Friday, and 10:30 a.m. Saturday and Sunday for brunch. It also will offer takeout, curbside pickup and delivery. In addition to full dining room and bar, the restaurant will include a patio and a green room not named for the color but for the prep / waiting room for guests and VIPs on shows and in studios. It will serve as a lounge for drinks, meetings and small bites. Total space encompasses 6,000 square feet, owner Todd Leebow said. While he admits it is a challenging time, Leebow isnt shy from taking a bold leap opening a restaurant during the pandemic. Im a gutsy guy when it comes to business, he told cleveland.com recently. We believe people are looking for places to go. While the world is changing people need to be with people and enjoy great food and beverage and company. Our best days are ahead of us. Drinks will include handcrafted cocktails, wines that pair with dishes and craft beers. The menu is rooted in American dishes with unique global influences, meshing a variety of flavors. We looked at the last 100 years of dishes, Leebow said. French dip is not just a French dip; it is Vietnamese- inspired. Were marrying together American favorites and global favorites. Leebow from Clevelands East Side has lived in Miami, Los Angeles and New York, but relocated back to Northeast Ohio. He is president and chief executive officer of Majestic Steel USA. His company, Kind of One Concepts, will run the restaurant, which is located near Central Park, the grassy area in front of Silverspot Cinema. Related coverage: The Last Page restaurant to open in Pinecrest development 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. The Pennsylvania Department of Health reported nearly 200 new deaths tied to COVID-19 Friday, but fewer people are hospitalized with the virus. The state reported 193 new fatalities, raising the statewide total to 20,321. This week, the state passed another grim milestone in the pandemic, as more than 20,000 deaths have now been tied to the coronavirus. While it took eight months to reach 10,000 fatalities, it took less than two months to double that number. On a more positive note, the state reported 4,169 people are being treated in hospitals for COVID-19, as the number of hospitalizations continues its decline in recent weeks. The number of people being treated for COVID-19 peaked at more than 6,300 in December. The health department reports 822 people are being treated in intensive care units. The state reported 5,338 new coronavirus cases Friday, raising the statewide total to 794,172 since the beginning of the pandemic. The number of new infections has dropped in recent weeks; the state had surpassed 10,000 new daily cases with regularity in December. This week, Gov. Tom Wolfs administration said it is expanding vaccine eligibility to anyone over 65 and all those between the ages of 16 and 64 with chronic health issues or high-risk conditions. Those with cancer, heart disease, Down syndrome, pregnancy and other conditions are now in Phase 1A, the states earliest phase of vaccine distribution. More health systems, pharmacies and grocery stores are starting to get limited supplies of the vaccine, but many Pennsylvanian are finding its not so easy to get the shot. Many are calling multiple pharmacies and finding they are out of luck. State officials warn that residents will need to be patient and there isnt enough supply to distribute the vaccine to all those who are eligible, at this point. Health care providers are also asking people to understand that it may still take weeks or months to have an adequate supply to provide doses to everyone who wants them. On the upside, health care officials say they are confident they can scale up and distribute vaccines quickly as more become available. For now, the demand far outweighs the supply. So far, more than 585,000 vaccine doses have been administered. The vaccines require two doses, and 98,881 have received both doses. The vast majority of those who have been vaccinated are health care workers and residents and staff of nursing homes. Most of those who contract the coronavirus recover after relatively mild symptoms, and some people who test positive dont even feel sick. But health experts warn the virus poses risks to everyone, particularly seniors and those who have health complications. Even those with no symptoms can pass COVID-19 to others, experts say. Gov. Wolf announced Friday he is nominating Alison Beam, his deputy chief of staff, to succeed outgoing Pennsylvania Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine. President Joe Biden has nominated Levine to be his assistant health secretary. She is poised to become the first openly-transgender official to be confirmed by the U.S. Senate. Wolf also has also named Dr. Wendy Braund as Interim Acting Physician General, replacing Levine in that position. More from PennLive While Dr. Rachel Levine inspired and enraged Pennsylvanians, her work caught President Bidens eye A NEW blunder has hit thousands of customers of one of the largest banks in the State. AIB has been forced to apologise to 6,000 of its customers after incorrectly reporting details on them to the Central Banks credit register. It is just the latest bank to have messed up its reporting to the credit register. Bank of Ireland, AIBs subsidiary EBS, and Ulster Bank are among the institutions that have owned up to mistakes on customer credit records recently. Read More In the latest blunder, AIB incorrectly marked a huge number of accounts in reports to the Central Banks Central Credit Register with a settled flag. This indicates to the register that a settlement was reached between the customer and the bank and could be considered a negative event on a customers credit record. A number of people who contacted this publication said the mistake was made on their credit record even though they did not have an issue with missed payments. They now fear they will be refused loans. The Central Bank has been informed about the incorrect reporting, AIB said. We have written to customers to let them know that we made a mistake when reporting the closing of their accounts on the Central Credit Register. We have corrected customers records and apologised to them for any inconvenience caused. Customers can contact our helpline on 0818 300 128 with any queries, the bank said. A spokesperson for the Central Bank said any customer who believes that they have been affected by this error should contact AIB directly at the contact details contained in the letter. It said it expects all lenders comply with their reporting obligations under banking legislation. Before Christmas, Bank of Ireland had to write to thousands of customers to apologise for incorrectly reporting details of their loan transactions to the Central Banks credit register. The bank made mistakes when reporting on payments being made on mortgages that have been restructured. Some 47,000 accounts were affected. It said it will consider compensating those impacted by the blunder. Files from the bank sent to the Central Credit Register (CCR) mixed up the length of time the bank had allowed mortgage holders, who are under pressure to repay their loans, to pay interest only. In June last year, EBS wrote to 16,000 mortgage holders to apologise after mistakenly reporting them to the Irish Credit Bureau (ICB), which is owned by the banks, as missing payments. EBS said it since corrected the mistake. Last February it emerged errors by the ICB had impacted the credit records of thousands of people. The bureau insisted that no loan applications were affected by the errors, which have since been corrected. Although the Central Bank has the official credit register, the Central Credit Register, the banks still use the ICB, which is controlled by them. Recently mistakes by Ulster Bank in data it sent to the Central Credit Register resulted in some customers having their data accessed multiple times in error. South Africa's Advertising Regulatory Board (ARB) has asked for the removal of an advertisement for Windhoek beer on the basis that it entrenches toxic masculinity in suggesting that "real men drink real beer". Source: YouTube Source: YouTube Hey! That's a Windhoek. That's 100% pure beer. You don't need any lime. See for yourself. Source: YouTube Source: YouTube Source: YouTube Source: YouTube The advertisement, which features actor Gerard Butler, opens in a bar, initially feeling like many traditional beer commercials. However, the mood changes when a character called Joe asks the waiter for a piece of lime to add to his beer.According to Business Insider South Africa , Joe "is a gentle looking, red-headed man two characteristics that might typically make him a target for teasing in a toxic environment".Gerard Butler is seated at the bar and says,Joe then takes a sip of the beer - without lime - and clearly enjoys it.TimesLive reports that Aadila Agjee lodged a complaint against Heineken South Africa on its marketing of Windhoek Lager. Agjee says the commercial is offensive in that It belittles a man for requesting a lime slice with his beer.The complaint states as follows, The advertisement featuring Gerard Butler is offensive. It belittles a man for requesting a lime slice with his beer. While this may seem funny to many, an equal or larger number of people enjoy citrus with their beer or cider - popularly linked with women having a lime or lemon slice with their cider. I understand the message that Windhoek beer is complete on its own, however, shaming or belittling people for their personal preferences is not ok."Rather try to attract all customers instead of being stupidly restrictive and offending a whole range of potential customers. At least no-one gets a celebrity to insult my Heineken or Savannah with lemon or lime slice....Gender stereotyping or negative gender portrayal must not be permitted in advertising, unless in the opinion of the ARB, such stereotyping or portrayal is reasonable and justifiable in an open and democratic society based on human dignity, equality and freedom, states the ARB.Heineken was instructed to withdraw or amend the commercial.See the full ruling issued by the ARB 2016 movie Hell Or High Water was one of the blockbuster movies of the year. The movie was directed by David Mackenzie. The cast of this action drama film includes Jeff Bridges, Chris Pine, Ben Foster and Taylor Sheridon among others. The movie was nominated for the Best Movie at the Academy Award as well. The plot revolves around two brothers who resort to robbing banks as they can no longer pay their mortgage. They continue doing so until the police are hard on their heels. The scenes of the movie has the audiences wondering where is Hell Or High Water filmed? Read ahead to know more. Also read | 'Black Widow' Is Expected To Be Delayed Yet Again From Its May 2021 Date? Also read | Where Is 'Death In Paradise' Filmed? Take A Look At The Stunning Tropical Island Hell Or High Water filming locations Where is Hell Or High Water filmed? According to a report by MovieLocations.com, the entire movie is shot in New Mexico. Landscapes scenes in the movie also hint at the Texan terrain. The banks which were robbed in the film also raised questions as to what banks were robbed in Hell Or High Water? Read to know the details. Clovis, New Mexico, USA Clovis is the main Hell Or High Water filming location. The brothers first rob the Texas Midlands Bank, Archer City. In reality, it is not a bank but the office of an internet company. There are three windows which are cross-shaped and they are the real windows of the St James Episcopal Church opposite the office. Portales, New Mexico, USA This is one of the important of Hell or High Water filming location. The second robbery was executed here by the brothers. Unlike the first bank, the second one was a real bank called the JP Stone Community Bank. At this place, a gunfight takes place between an old man and the robbers. Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA The robberies organised by the brothers catch the eye of the Texas ranger. The ranger is about to retire. His headquarters in the movie are a real bank called New Mexico Bank & Trust. Blue Ribbon Bar & Grill The scene where the robbers stop to eat is shot here. In the movie, it is renamed as The Famous T-Bone Cafe. An old waitress in this cafe gives them a hard time by not serving what they want to eat. The place has now shut down. Also read | Dakota Johnson Suffered A Panic Attack While Filming First Singing Scene Of 'Our Friend'? Also read | The Fuller House's Candace Reveals Why She Is Following Over 1,100 Social Media Accounts Image courtesy- @hellorhighwatermovie Instagram Get the latest entertainment news from India & around the world. Now follow your favourite television celebs and telly updates. Republic World is your one-stop destination for trending Bollywood news. Tune in today to stay updated with all the latest news and headlines from the world of entertainment. Former Belarusian presidential candidate Svetlana Tikhanovskaya has suggested expanding sanctions against the Belarusian authorities. "Previously, the violence against those who disagreed was physical. Now, not only political prisoners, but also people who haven't been charged are in prison. Maybe they're not being tortured, but they suffer in prisons every day," Tikhanovskaya said at a press conference in Tallinn on Friday. "It's important to use [sanctions] not only against top officials. It's important to include on this list judges, defense and security officials who have beaten people. Before beating people, they need to understand that their children won't be able to do anything in Europe," she said. Sanctions are having an effective impact on the authorities, Tikhanovskaya said. "As of now, I won't run in the next election," she said. Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Reinsalu, who attended the conference online, said that "the sanctions are working. They have shown the fragility of the [Alexander] Lukashenko regime." The minister said he believes the West should "maintain a clear political position. The only way out is a new transparent election." "Secondly, it is important that the West should continue the sanctions policies. Sanctions have now been imposed on 88 individuals and seven companies, and this list needs to be increased. Thirdly, support is needed, for example, on the issue of vaccines, on which Lukashenko has fully failed," Reinsalu said. Tikhanovskaya arrived in Tallinn on Friday to attend a virtual Arria-formula meeting of the UN Security Council on freedom of the media in Belarus. A worker pushes a trolley loaded with boxes of COVID-19 vaccines at the Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, Nepal, Jan. 21, 2021. One million doses of COVID-19 vaccines supplied by India arrived in Kathmandu on Thursday. (Photo by Sulav Shrestha/Xinhua) KATHMANDU, Jan. 20 (Xinhua) -- India will supply one million doses of COVID-10 vaccines to Nepal as assistance, Nepal's Minister of Health and Population Hridayas Tripathi announced on Wednesday. "The vaccines to be made available by India will arrive in Nepal on Thursday," he said at a joint press meet organized by the ministry and the Indian embassy in Kathmandu. The Nepali government plans to vaccinate 72 percent of its population aged 15 years and above. On Jan. 15, Nepal's drug regular the Department of Drug Administration had approved this vaccine for emergency use in Nepal. Health workers, sanitation workers, security personnel and those involved in management of anti-COVID-19 efforts will be first inoculated with the vaccines. According to the health ministry, their number is around 900,000. "All administrative, technical and financial preparations have been completed to start vaccination," said Tripathi. Dr. Shyam Raj Upreti, coordinator of the COVID-19 Vaccine Advisory Committee under the health ministry told Xinhua on Wednesday that the vaccination drive would start within two weeks after the vaccines arrive in the country. He was rumoured to be a last minute addition to this year's season of I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!, but Colin Fassnidge brought all the right ingredients. In an interview with HuffPost Australia on Friday, the 47-year-old celebrity chef's co-star on the hit reality show, Grant Denyer, branded Colin 'a major energetic force'. The 43-year-old veteran TV host said Colin's laidback charm was an asset and helped keep things light around the camp. Talent: He was rumoured to be a last minute addition to this year's season of I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!, but Colin Fassnidge (pictured) brought all the right ingredients 'He just brings this wonderful positivity and cheekiness that we all need when we're pretty fragile,' explained Grant. The Irish chef was rumoured to have only entered the jungle as a replacement for controversial celebrity chef Pete Evans. Colin reportedly spoke about his former My Kitchen Rules co-star in a deleted scene on I'm A Celebrity. Fan: In an interview with HuffPost Australia on Friday, the 47-year-old celebrity chef's co-star on the hit reality show, Grant Denyer (pictured), branded Colin 'a major energetic force' According to footage obtained by The Daily Telegraph on Thursday, Colin said the 48-year-old disgraced chef was 'off the leash'. 'I do not agree with any of the views,' Colin said about Pete, who has been labelled an 'anti-vaxxer' and a 'conspiracy theorist'. In footage that did make it to air on Wednesday, Colin also spoke about his early feud with fellow celebrity chef and MKR co-star Manu Feildel. In and out: The Irish chef was rumoured to have only entered the jungle as a replacement for controversial celebrity chef Pete Evans (right) He admitted there was a rivalry between himself and the 46-year-old French chef when they were trying to establish themselves, and then they just 'never stopped fighting'. Colin announced his appearance on I'm A Celebrity in a post on Instagram earlier this month, and revealed he'd told everyone he'd returned to Ireland to keep up the charade. 'Well that time I went to Ireland... well I lied!!! After the year we had, why not do it!!!!!! Strap in cos I know what's coming!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!' he wrote. UK meat companies are now seeing a 'serious and sustained loss of trade' with the EU as post-Brexit border problems continue. The British Meat Processors Association (BMPA) said it was receiving a growing number of calls from firms highlighting a 'plethora of problems' at borders. While some issues were caused by unfamiliarity with the new system on both sides of the channel, there were also 'serious structural problems', the body warned. It said this would not go away as it now formed part of the 'new normal', which started in the new year following the end of the transition period. Nick Allen, CEO of BMPA described a common problem: One of our members reported on 11 January that he had 6 lorry loads of product [value around 300,000] all waiting for customs clearance into the Republic of Ireland. "At the time, one of those loads was about to be returned to the processing company after waiting 5 days for clearance. "Drivers have been reporting long delays as they wait for HMRC to process the customs documents, he said. The body has called for the current customs and certification system to be digitised, as the existing paper-based system was a 'relic from the last century'. It was never designed to cope with the kind of integrated, just-in-time supply chain we have built up over the last 40 years," Mr Allen added. "If not fixed quickly it will be the thing that starts to dismantle the European trade British companies have fought so hard to win. The BMPA also warned that the UK haulage firms had ceased taking grouped loads, where small consignments of mixed products are grouped into one big lorry load. 'Groupage' allows processors to make smaller, daily deliveries of a wide range of high value, retail-packed goods to multiple EU customers to keep their shelves stocked with the variety of products their customers expect. Before the UK left the EU, over 40 percent of the British meat industrys trade with the bloc was sent this way. But the BMPA said the new 'badly implemented' post-Brexit customs system had caused haulage firms to cease taking grouped loads. Mr Allen said: If continental supermarkets are unable to have products delivered the way they need them to be, this trade will simply be lost as EU customers abandon UK suppliers and source product from European processors. "Members are already being told by their EU customers that theyll be looking to Spain and Ireland to buy product from now on." The National Pig Association (NPA) recently warned of 'excessive bureaucracy' associated with new paperwork requirements at the borders. With pork being a perishable product, it said these delays were making UK shipments unattractive to buyers in the EU, forcing processors to reject shipments and cancel future orders. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 22) The Interior Department is now looking into barangays' financial practices, particularly their cash withdrawals. "[T]initignan na din namin yung pananalapi ng barangay pati iyong sistema ng pagwi-withdraw ngayon," said Interior Undersecretary for Barangay Affairs Martin Dino in a virtual briefing. "Dahil marami kaming complaint na natanggap dito na just a simple certification ni Kapitan, the treasurer can withdraw all the money in the bank. [Translation: We're also looking into barangays' finances along with their system when it comes to withdrawal. We have been receiving a lot of complaints saying the treasurer can withdraw all the (barangay's) money in the bank with just a simple certification from the barangay captain.] Citing his own experience as barangay captain for nearly 13 years, Dino said barangay treasurers may only withdraw the barangay's funds with after a Barangay Council resolution authorizes it. Without this document, which is signed by the barangay kagawad or village councilors, treasurers should not be able to proceed with any withdrawals. "The treasurer can withdraw sa depository bank ng mga barangay, tapos ang liquidation gagawin na lang sa end of the year," according to the complaints, he lamented. [Translation: The treasurer can withdraw from the depository banks, with liquidation being done only at the end of the year.] Citing the Commission on Audit, the Interior official said a lot of barangays haven't been doing any liquidating. They must do so lest they want to face cases, he added, noting barangays should explain where the money after being withdrawn. "Magpapalabas na rin kami ng mga inventory para malaman namin kung saan dinala ang pera ng barangay. Lalung-lalo na dito sa Metro Manila, ang laki-laki ng mga pondo ng barangay dito, milyun-milyon," Dino said, adding the funds of some barangays in the region even reach almost 190 million yearly. [Translation: We will order the release of inventories so that we know where barangays are placing their money. Especially here in Metro Manila, the funds of barangays here are worth millions (of pesos).] As Boston approaches a cumulative total of 50,000 COVID-19 cases, city officials urged residents Friday to trust and seek out vaccines as soon as they are available. We understand that some people are hesitant to take the vaccine. This is especially true in the Black and Latino communities, Mayor Marty Walsh said at a Friday press conference. There is no doubt that throughout history communities of color have faced discrimination in the outright cruelty in the healthcare system. As of early Friday afternoon, total cases in Boston sat at 49,840 and Walsh said the city would probably be over the 50,000 mark when additional data is released later in the day. On Thursday, the city reported 473 new confirmed cases, six deaths, and an average positivity rate of 7.5 percent. Weve seen the positive rates go down in almost every single neighborhood as well, which is encouraging to see. Were seeing improvements in our numbers as they stabilize, Walsh said. But we know that this can change at any time. Right now, our case numbers are still concerning, and our hospital numbers are certainly higher than wed like them to be. The virus has hit hardest in communities of color across the state and Boston officials on Friday said they are working to build trust in the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines. Dr. Thea James, Boston Medical Centers vice president of mission and associate chief medical officer, said she has seen the hurt the pandemic has caused to the entire region and, in particular, in Black and brown communities. As an emergency medicine physician, she said she knows that some people are hesitant to take the vaccine but said the fastest way to get back to a sense of normalcy is through inoculation. I understand how you feel, 100 percent, because I live in the world like you do. Im also here because I was hesitant. And I was where you might be right now. I was struggling, I was really struggling. And I was struggling because of the pandemic, there were rollbacks, she said at the press conference. I just came to the conclusion that the fastest way back to thriving for us is the vaccine. And I decided that although I was feeling helpless and struggling, the one thing I could do is I could take the vaccine. Gov. Charlie Baker, pointing to improved COVID-19 metrics, announced Thursday that the state plans to lift a 9:30 p.m. curfew on restaurants and businesses and a stay-at-home advisory starting Monday. Baker said businesses must still abide by a 25 percent capacity limit for at least another two weeks. Boston rolled back to Phase 2, Step 2 of the states reopening plan in mid-December as COVID-19 cases surged post-Thanksgiving. Walsh extended the rollback until at least Jan. 27 citing a further effort to combat COVID-19 after the winter holidays. Were going to continue to evaluate the situation in our city and provide an update on whether this pause will continue or ends next week. So we will have more information on that phasing next week for everybody, Walsh said. The numbers can change anytime. The last thing we want to do is reopen too quickly because in the effort we might have to close down again. And we must continue to protect our hospital capacity, especially [with] the threat of this new COVID variant. The Government has abandoned plans to introduce graduated speeding fines despite legislation being previously agreed by Cabinet. Transport Minister Eamon Ryan has decided to ditch the new fines over fears it would be too complicated for motorists to understand if they were introduced at the same time as variable speed limits on motorways. Graduated speeding fines were agreed by the last government and would have hit motorists with more severe penalties based on how fast they were driving when they broke the speed limit. The speeding penalties, which were brought to Cabinet by former transport minister Shane Ross, were deeply unpopular with rural Fine Gael ministers and have now been ditched by the Green Party leader. However, new road traffic legislation that is due before the Cabinet in early February will pave the way for variable speed limits on motorways for the first time. Read More The M50 is earmarked as the first road network to have a variety of speed limits depending on where a motorist is driving. A Department of Transport spokesperson said the minister decided not to introduce the graduated fines at the same time as new speed limits because it would be risky and unwise to have two simultaneous significant changes in the speeding legislation. The Road Traffic (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill already includes a significant initiative in the area of speeding, namely the policy to allow the introduction of variable speed limits on the motorway network, beginning with the M50, the spokesperson said. The variable speed limits system will require significant public education to promote awareness of the new system and driver adaptation. It would be risky and unwise to have two simultaneous significant changes in the speeding legislation, she added. The spokesperson said some of the commentary and reporting on graduated speeding penalties and variable speed limits showed there is already a degree of confusion between the two systems in many peoples minds. In order to be successful any initiative must be clearly understood, she added. A Fine Gael source said the party was vehemently opposed to the policy on graduated speeding fines progressing now that Shane Ross was no longer part of the Government. This is a victory for rural Ireland and it is positive that the Greens saw sense on this one, the source said. Mr Rosss graduated speeding fines proposals would have meant motorists caught by up to 10kmh over the limit would be hit with a 60 fine and two points, with penalties progressively harsher the faster a motorist drove. There was also to be a new offence of driving more than 30kmh above the limit resulting in a court prosecution, a 2,000 fine and seven penalty points. The concept of graduated speeding penalties involves having increasing penalties for speeding depending on the amount by which the speed limit is exceeded. Mr Rosss proposals were resisted by Fine Gael Cabinet ministers from rural constituencies in the last government. However, despite the resistance, a memo on the fines was agreed by the Cabinet in their final weeks. A Chinese pastor living Wuhan a the epicenter of the deadly coronavirus outbreak a has penned a powerful letter urging the international faith community to pray as the number of confirmed cases rises above 20,000 in the country. The Christian leader, identified as "A Wuhan Pastor" by China Source, penned a lengthy letter in which he revealed that fellow pastors from around the world have been reaching out, asking how they can support him. "It is readily apparent that we are facing a test of our faith," the pastor wrote. "The situation is so critical, yet [we are] trusting in the Lord's promises, that his thoughts toward us are of peace, and not evil (Jeremiah. 29:11), and that he allows for a time of testing, not to destroy us, but to establish us." "Therefore, Christians are not only to suffer with the people of this city, but we have a responsibility to pray for those in this city who are fearful, and to bring to them the peace of Christ." The pastor emphasized that while Christ has "given us His peace," that "peace is not to remove us from disaster and death, but rather to have peace in the midst of disaster and death, because Christ has already overcome these things." "[When] disaster strikes us, it is but a form of God's love," he contended. "Spoken for today, Wuhan's pestilence cannot separate us from the love of Christ; this love is in our Lord Jesus Christ." The pastor urged the international community to "pray for God's mercy upon this city, and bring peace upon this city through our prayers and testimony." "I believe this is the command of God calling those of us living in Wuhan," he said. "We are to seek peace for this city, seek peace for those who are afflicted with this illness, seek peace for the medical personnel struggling on the front lines, seek peace for every government official at every level, seek peace for all the people of Wuhan!" The pastor concluded his letter by urging readers to "turn their eyes upon Jesus," adding that "only through the hope of the Lord's mercy will this city be saved." The pastor's letter comes as the number of confirmed cases of the coronavirus rose above 20,000 in China, prompting Chinese authorities to quarantine several major cities. The virus originated in Wuhan, a city of 11 million in Hubei province, and can lead to respiratory illnesses, deadly in some cases. On Monday, Hong Kong reported its first death from the virus, which has killed at least 425, all but two of them in mainland China. The United States recently recorded its 11th case of the virus. Last week, the World Health Organization declared the outbreak a public health emergency. Persecution watchdog International Christian Concern notes that in this time of desperation and fear, China's Christian community has stepped up to provide hope and refuge to those suffering. A video shared by Father Francis Liu from the Chinese Christian Fellowship of Righteousness shows that encouraging sermons are being broadcast to their communities through speakers placed on balconies. According to ICC, a Christian rode his bike to a pharmacy where people gathered and played a sermon through a portable speaker. Another video circulated on social media shows Christians distributing face masks and Gospel pamphlets to passersby on the streets as a sermon plays in the background. Additionally, Christians from other provinces have offered their homes to host people fleeing from Hubei province who face housing discrimination. Human Rights Watch notes that there have been numerous reports of hotels outside of Hubei province refusing to admit travelers with Wuhan or Hubei identification cards, of villages setting up roadblocks blocking cars with Hubei license plates from entering, and of people from Hubei being harassed on social media. Brother Jia Xuewei and sister Shu Qiong, from the heavily persecuted Early Rain Covenant Church in Sichuan, are among a number of Christians who opened up their homes to escapees and offered to cover room and board until Hubei lifts its quarantine. Speaking to Fox News, Doug Perez, an American who resides in Wuhan, described the situation as a "scary experience," like "something out of a sci-fi movie." He said that beyond the virus, he worries about the Chinese government's reaction. "The government here has taken a very, very strict, very strict and very proactive response ... to this coronavirus," Perez said. "It wouldn't surprise me if there are some problems in the future, especially, you know, food shortages or civil unrest." Courtesy of The Christian Post The Moon landings, spectacular as they were in themselves, were just a means to an end. Humans went there to explore, not hop around like underweight rabbits, and explore they did. And they even brought back pieces of the Earth satellite, for study and whatever.It is estimated that around 22 kg (48.5 pounds) of lunar samples have been shipped to our planet by the Apollo astronauts, including 50 rocks. The one you see here comes from the very last Apollo mission to have reached the Moon and was a big hit in the Oval Office on January 20, when the 46th President of the United States, Joe Biden , was sworn in.According to NASA , which on Thursday officially explained the presence of a strange transparent case with a rock inside it in the Oval Office, the lunar sample is on loan at the request of the Biden administration, and comes from the Lunar Sample Laboratory Facility at NASAs Johnson Space Center in Houston.The rock has the following inscription on the support of the casing, explaining all there is to know about it:Lunar Sample 76015,143Apollo 17 astronaut Ronald Evans and moonwalkers Harrison Schmitt and Eugene Cernan, the last humans to set foot on the Moon, chipped this sample from a large boulder at the base of the North Massif in the Taurus-Littrow Valley, 3 km (almost 2 miles) from the Lunar Module. This 332 gram piece of the Moon (less than a pound), which was collected in 1972, is a 3.9-billion-year-old sample formed during the last large impact event on the nearside of the Moon, the Imbrium Impact Basin, which is 1,145 km or 711.5 miles in diameter.It is up to Joe Biden to continue Americas next ambitious space exploration program, Artemis, which kicked off under Donald Trump . All the major first steps of Artemis, from the first dry run to the actual landing on the Moon, will take place within the next four years. India will host the defence ministers of the countries of the Region at a conclave during the upcoming Aero India in Bengaluru, officials said on Friday. India is organising the conclave in the backdrop of growing Chinese military assertiveness in the Region (IOR). " Rajnath Singh is hosting the IOR defence ministers' conclave on February 4. It will be held during the Aero India 2021," said an official. The conclave is being organised as part of an initiative to promote dialogue in an institutional and cooperative environment that can foster peace, stability and prosperity in the region, the official said. "The broad theme of the conclave will be 'Enhanced Peace, Security and Cooperation in the Indian Ocean'. The conclave would address aspects related to synergising the resources and efforts in the Indian Ocean," the official said. "The IOR conclave is an effort towards India's commitment and continued engagement in the Indian Ocean both for defence diplomacy as also for economic prosperity through sustained engagement, dialogue, experience sharing and exchange of best practices," he said. The conclave is also taking place at a time Indian and Chinese troops are locked in a bitter standoff in eastern Ladakh for the last eight months. In sync with the security doctrine, the Indian Navy has significantly increased its deployment of warships, submarines and other assets in the Indian Ocean Region, in an attempt to send across a message to China. The Indian Ocean, considered the backyard of the Indian Navy, is critical for India's strategic interests. China has been making concerted efforts to increase its presence in the region. The next edition of Aero India, considered Asia's largest aerospace exhibition, will be held in its traditional venue of Bengaluru from February 3-5. (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 for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. Scientists discovered that COVID-19 can spread more than two meters in a poorly-ventilated room. Because of the alarming finding, the researchers developed a new tool that can calculate the transmission risk of the novel coronavirus in places with poor ventilation. According to Science Daily's latest report, the medical researchers explained that in poorly-ventilated places, people are more likely to get infected when they are just talking than through coughing. The study's results were published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society A. The new research also revealed that social distancing has no bearing inside a poorly-ventilated place since people inhale the same air. Right now, the researchers are working on a new tool that could help the public know COVID-19's transmission risk in a room with a poor or no ventilation system. The new COVID-19 tool Live Mint's reported that the University of Cambridge and Imperial College London's researchers were the ones who developed the new tool. They said that the vast majority of coronavirus cases are spread through the indoor transmission. Also Read: Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine Death Risks: 29 Died in Norway, Database Reportedly Shows 55 US Deaths People can get infected via droplets or aerosols. Although the experts said that social distancing can't decrease infection in poorly-ventilated rooms, they said that wearing masks can somehow reduce the infections. Why? Because they can slow the breath's momentum and filter a portion of the exhaled droplets. The team also used mathematical models to reveal how the SARS-CoV-2 virus spreads in different indoor spaces. They based the models on the place's occupancy, size, ventilation, and whether people are wearing masks. How the new tool works The new tool is called Airborne.cam. It is an open-source tool that helps users understand how safety measures, such as ventilation, affect the risk of indoor transmission. The innovation can also calculate the risk changes over time. Anyone can use the new COVID-19 tool since it is offered for free. Airborne.cam can be used by the people who are managing workplaces, shops, classrooms, and other public places. "The tool can help people use fluid mechanics to make better choices, and adapt their day-to-day activities and surroundings in order to suppress risk, both for themselves and for others," said Savvas Gkantonas, the study's co-author, via Live Mint. For more news updates about newly developed technologies that can fight the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, always keep your tabs open here at TechTimes. Related Article: Apple Watch Feature Detects COVID-19 Symptoms Before Patients Test Positive, Revealing Significant Changes This article is owned by TechTimes. Written by: Giuliano de Leon. 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Anything Goes will embark on a tour after it concludes its run at the Barbican Theatre, it has been confirmed. Cole Porter and PG Wodehouse's hit musical is set on the SS Americana and follows two pairings that try to find love on the high seas. It features numbers such as "I Get A Kick Out of You", "You're the Top", "It's De- Lovely!" and "Anything Goes". Anything Goes first debuted on Broadway in 1934, before sailing across the Atlantic to the West End where it opened the folllowing year. It has been revived on a plethora of occasions since, with the likes of Elaine Paige, Bernard Cribbins, Caroline O'Connor, Sutton Foster and Joel Grey attached. A UK tour of the Sheffield Theatres production ran in 2015, with Debbie Kurup and Matt Rawle in the cast. The show will first be presented at the Barbican from early June with the line-up recently augmented. After that it will cross the Irish Sea and play at Bord Gais Energy Theatre from 26 August to 11 September, before visiting The Lowry in Salford (15 to 25 September), Mayflower Southampton (28 September to 2 October) and Edinburgh Playhouse (12 to 17 October). Casting for the tour is to be revealed a quick flick through show pages suggests Mullally will be appearing in Dublin, but further names are as yet not set in stone (according to the production it will reportedly be revealed in the coming weeks). Anything Goes has twice been adapted for the big screen, and twice won the Tony Award for Best Musical Revival in both 1988 and 2011. Marshall directed and choreographed the 2011 revival and will once more return to helm a brand new version of the show. Joining her on the creative team will be set designer Derek McLane, lighting designer Neil Austin, sound designer Simon Baker and musical supervisor Stephen Ridley. Beirut blast: What is ammonium nitrate that causes 78 deaths in explosion Shivamogga dynamite blast: Contractor of stone crushing facility among two detained, High-level probe ordered India oi-Madhuri Adnal Shivamogga (Karnataka), January 22: Two bodies were recovered so far on Friday after a dynamite blast at a railway crusher site in Karnataka's Hunasodu village of Shivamogga district. The vehicle was badly mangled and the bodies of the victims were dismembered beyond recognition. Two people have been detained and a high-level investigation ordered into the explosion in Shivamogga distric which left at least eight dead, police said on Friday. The detained included a contractor of a stone crushing facility where the blast occured when a truckload of gelatin sticks went off, police added. Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa on Friday ordered a high-level probe into the cause of the blast following the incident. Taking to Twitter, he said that strict action against the guilty will be taken. Blast at a quarry in Karnataka's Shivamogga, 8 people dead and area sealed off | Oneindia News "I express my deepest condolences to the family of the deceased. The injured are being treated and I wish them a speedy recovery," Yediyurappa said. He also informed that teams have been sent immediately for the necessary rescue operation. I am in contact with the senior officials since last night, he said. 8 dead in dynamite blast at railway crusher site in Shivamogga According to the District Collector, KB Shivakumar, Police has started the investigation and bomb squad from Bengaluru & another team from Mangaluru will be reaching the spot to zero in on the reason that why did the incident take place. ''It was initially observed that there were explosives in a vehicle parked here. It's being probed that why were they brought here. Till now we recovered 2 bodies. It's being circulated in public that 10-15 died. But it's not substantiated by any facts,'' Shivamogga District Collector. ''Police has started the investigation, they have made a little progress. We've also sought the help of bomb detection squads so that they can come here & help us technically to zero in on the reason that why did the incident take place,'' he added. He further said,''As per our preliminary information, since the incident occurred at night there was no worker working here. So, all the people who worked here regularly are safe. We have confirmed it. We are trying to trace the people who were accompanying the vehicle.'' Shivamogga MP BY Raghavendra also visited the spot. ''A loud sound was heard which was accompanied by vibration near Hunasodu village in Shivamogga dist. There was an explosion due to dynamite or explosive material, investigation is on. Bomb Squad is coming from Bengaluru & another team from Mangaluru,'' BY Raghavendra, Shivamogga MP said. He said,''40-50 crushers are operational in this area. They had taken license from district administrator. Investigation is going on. Not only Railways, but they were also supplying (material) to all development works like residential purposes, public work.'' KS Eshwarappa, Karnataka Minister on an explosion in Shivamogga said,''This had never happened before in Shivamogga. We are witnessing this for the first time here. Experts are coming from Bengaluru, they will give a report after which we will take action.'' The incident took place in Abbalagere village located along the Shivamogga-Hanagal state highway, which passes through Savalunga and Shikaripura. Shikaripura, which is nearly 290 km from Bengaluru, is the home constituency of Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa. The massive explosion took place near a gravel and boulder crushing facility around 10:30 pm on Thursday, sending shockwaves not only in Shivamogga but also in neighbouring Chikkamagaluru and Davangere districts. The sound of the blast, which was initially thought to be an earthquake, was heard in neighbouring Davangere, Chikkamagaluru and Uttara Kannada districts. In Shivamogga, the effect was severe as some houses developed cracks, roof tiles and window panes shattered into pieces. EDWARDSVILLE Two men this week pleaded guilty to federal charges related to bank fraud in Edwardsville in March. Elvin Lugo-Cales, 47, of Orlando, Florida, and Johnny Collado, 30, of Bronx, New York, pleaded guilty to multiple federal charges, including conspiracy to commit bank fraud, bank fraud, and aggravated identity theft. According to court documents, on March 2, 2020, Lugo-Cales and Collado traveled from New York to St. Louis for the sole purpose of defrauding banks in the St. Louis metro region. On March 5, they drove to a U.S. Bank location in Edwardsville where Collado waited in the car while Lugo-Cales went into the bank. Inside, Lugo-Cales presented a fake United States passport bearing his photograph but someone elses name and tried to cash a counterfeit check in the amount of $3,650 made payable to that other person. Fortunately, the bank teller recognized the check was counterfeit, refused to conduct the transaction and called the police. Lugo-Cales left the bank and drove away with Collado, leaving the counterfeit check and false passport with his picture on it with the teller. The two men were stopped by police and taken into custody a short time later. At the time of his arrest, Collado possessed and attempted to conceal numerous items used to perpetrate the fraud scheme, including over $20,000 cash, numerous blank counterfeit checks, a counterfeit Oregon drivers license, and a false United States passport card. Sentencing hearings for the two men will be held April 27 at 10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. at the federal courthouse in Benton. Lugo-Cales and Collado face up to 30 years in prison and a fine of up to $1 million on each of their fraud charges. Their aggravated identity theft charges carry a mandatory sentence of two years of imprisonment, which must run consecutively to any other sentence imposed. The investigation was conducted by the Edwardsville Police Department and United States Secret Service. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Luke J. Weissler. MYRTLE BEACH The Myrtle Beach Police Department arrested a man Thursday in connection with a cold-case in Georgia involving a 2003 slaying, according to authorities. Alvin Shane Barfield, 47, who had escaped arrest for 18 years, was ultimately found at a residence in Myrtle Beach and taken into custody without incident, police said. According to the Columbus Police Department, on July 18, 2003, a man later identified as Albert Woolfolk was found dead by his mother and one of Woolfolk's employees. Woolfolk was stabbed multiple times, according to the Columbus police. An investigation in February gradually led Columbus police to seek warrants for Barfields arrest after discovering physical evidence that linked him to the case, police said. Sign up for our Myrtle Beach weekly update newsletter. Sign up for weekly roundups of our top stories, news and culture from the Myrtle Beach area. This newsletter is hand-curated by a member of our Myrtle Beach news staff. Email Sign Up! Columbus and Myrtle Beach police worked with U.S. Marshals Task Force on the case. "Our ongoing partnerships with federal, state and local agencies have, once again, led to outstanding results," Myrtle Beach police Chief Amy Prock said. "Our city is safer today and Mr. Barfield will be held accountable for his actions, thanks to the hard work and dedication of police officers in South Carolina and Georgia." Horry County court records show that in 2017 Barfield was charged with a minor offense and his fine was suspended. Barfield was transported to the J. Reuben Long Detention Center, where he will await extradition. YEREVAN, JANUARY 22, ARMENPRESS. Chief of the General Staff of the Armenian Armed Forces. Colonel-General Onik Gasparyan received Ambassador of the USA to Armenia Lynne Tracy and Military Attache of the US Embassy in Armenia, Colonel Scott Maxwell. As ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of the Defense Ministry of Armenia, during the meeting the sides discussed issues referring to the bilateral defense cooperation between Armenia and the USA and outlined the future programs for cooperation. The sides also referred to other issues of mutual interest. Indoor dining can reopen in Michigan starting Monday, Feb. 1, however, the restart comes with tight restrictions. Bars and restaurants will be mandated to close by 10 p.m. and are limited to 25% capacity or 100 people the lesser of the two, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced in a Friday, Jan. 22 news conference. Michigan restaurants were allowed to open at 50% capacity in the summer and fall and had no curfew. Indoor dining has been closed in Michigan since Nov. 18. The revised health order takes effect Feb. 1 and runs through Feb. 21. A few activities must remain closed, including night clubs, water parks and some contact sports, the state announced. Other states have similar curfews in hopes of reducing gatherings. Ohio has had a 10 p.m. curfew at restaurants since November. While the dine-in ban will end, state leaders are still encouraging takeout, delivery or outdoor dining instead. Doctors and scientists continue to reiterate that gathering indoors without a mask is one of the easiest ways to spread COVID-19, said Michigan Chief Medical Executive Dr. Joneigh Khaldun. Just because something is open does not mean that it is 100% safe or that you should do it, Khaldun said. The safest thing to do is to not eat inside a restaurant. Groups like seniors or people with medical conditions should especially think twice before eating inside a restaurant, Khaldun said. A look at the updated health order for Michigan, starting Feb. 1. Michigan restaurant groups have bittersweet feelings about the news happy for the reopening, but concerned about the restrictions. Reopening at 25% capacity is a start, but its not what we were hoping for or what our industry needs right now, said Michigan Licensed Beverage Association Executive Director Scott Ellis in a news release. Many establishments have been closed because carryout sales werent enough to keep them open. Were afraid a strict capacity limit like this will continue to keep those places closed. A recent MLBA survey shows only about two-thirds of bars and restaurants would be willing to reopen if capacity limits were set at 25%. As long as customers are social distancing, Ellis said businesses should be allowed to have more people inside. One-size-fits-all restrictions like these simply dont make sense, Ellis said. A breakfast diner doesnt have a problem abiding by a night-time curfew, but an upscale dining establishment in downtown Detroit does because people dont typically frequent those places until later in the evening. Fridays announcement is overdue news, said Michigan Restaurant and Lodging Association President and CEO Justin Winslow in a news release. The MRLA wants clear metrics to show when restaurants can open with higher capacities. Winslow also advocates for hospitality workers to be moved up in the vaccination line. State leaders have focused on three metrics in recent months when deciding what to open COVID-19 case numbers, hospitalizations and the percentage of tests coming back positive. All three have dropped by more than half since the dine-in ban started. Since Nov. 18, the seven-day average of cases per day has dropped from 6,900 per day to 1,900 per day. COVID-19-related hospitalizations have dropped from about 3,800 to less than 1,900. And the percent positive rate has dipped from about 13.5% to less than 5%. When the dine-in ban started, there were 65 active outbreaks connected to bars and restaurants. As of this week, there are seven active outbreaks tied to such facilities. RELATED STORIES Michigan loses estimated 60,000 leisure, hospitality jobs in December Bowling centers, roller rink sue Whitmer for damages caused by shutdown Indoor dining at restaurants remains on track to reopen Feb. 1 Investigators bust more restaurants illegally serving alcohol during dine-in ban The government is trying to give you pandemic aid money heres whats out there As not just the husband of a playwright but the subject of her latest work, virologist Nathan Wolfe knows that when it comes to onstage depictions of real people, the writer gets the last word. Wolfe surmised as much long before he saw himself in Lauren Gunderson's "The Catastrophist," a new one-man play that will be available to stream, starting Tuesday, in a filmed version co-produced by Round House Theatre in Bethesda, Md., and the Marin Theatre of Mill Valley, Calif. Speaking alongside his wife over video chat from their Bay Area home, Wolfe recalls first learning the power of Gunderson's pen years ago, when she wrote a "parody" he claims is based on him. "I don't even want to admit which one of her plays that is," he says. Gunderson, America's most produced living playwright, is quick to retort: "This is literally referenced in ('The Catastrophist'). Nathan thinks there was this play about him," she says, before turning to address her husband. "But it's not about you." Wolfe defends himself, with a chuckle: "I said it was a 'parody,' loosely based on me." Wherever the truth lies, the 50-year-old virus hunter is right: By re-litigating this long-standing dispute in "The Catastrophist," a work that can be restaged in perpetuity, Gunderson again gets the last word. It's an astute observation from a researcher long celebrated for his tracking of such viral outbreaks as Ebola and swine flu, which in 2011 landed him on Time magazine's list of the world's 100 most influential people. The prolific Gunderson, meanwhile, has turned her fascination with scientific minds into myriad plays, including "The Half-Life of Marie Curie" and "Silent Sky," the true story of 19th-century astronomer Henrietta Leavitt. A decade ago, during the early days of her relationship with Wolfe, she remembers thinking it was inevitable that she would turn her creative eye to her partner. "Would it be a movie? Would it be a play?" Gunderson says she wondered. "Of course, we fell in love, got married and had two kids, and no play or movie was written. So this has been a long time coming." "Lauren claims that I had a veto," Wolfe adds, "but I don't remember getting a veto on this one." As the founder of Global Viral, a nonprofit that studies and communicates the risks of epidemics, Wolfe has long been intrigued by microbial life. ("If you're really interested in what life is and how we fit into it - well, it would be sort of foolish not to understand the most numerous, most diverse forms of life on our planet, which are viruses," he says.) Yet the idea of Gunderson putting Wolfe's work under the microscope wasn't broached until the onset of the current pandemic, when Jasson Minadakis, artistic director of the Marin Theatre, approached the playwright about adapting her husband's 2011 book, "The Viral Storm." After some hesitation, Gunderson countered with her own concept: a memory play, which would be less of an exploration of Wolfe's work and more of an emotionally rooted character study. With Minadakis directing and William DeMeritt playing Wolfe, "The Catastrophist" was filmed last month on the Marin Theatre stage under coronavirus safety protocols. "It becomes a piece where you're learning about viruses, and you're learning about pandemics, but more importantly, through all of that, you're seeing what drives the people who are truly saving our lives today," says Ryan Rilette, Round House's artistic director. "That's what I love about it." Set in 2016, "The Catastrophist" opens with Wolfe trapped in an ethereal realm. As the character becomes unmoored from temporal reality, revisiting moments of personal and professional significance, he engages in meta-theatrical dialogue with an unseen playwright. Although the implicit threat of covid-19 looms over the play, Gunderson is less interested in directly addressing the current moment than she is in channeling the universality of her husband's life experience, including the birth of their children, the loss of family members and the steadfast pursuit of one's passions. "My job as a dramatist is to get to the hardest, most sensitive and scary and painful parts of a character's journey," Gunderson says. "So - wow - am I strong enough and capable enough to take this man that I love and put the character of him into these dark corners and hard, tough memories? But I knew that, on the other side, is this life that we live, and we're together and we're OK." Capturing Wolfe's dry sense of humor and suffer-no-fools personality proved easy enough for Gunderson. But she also interviewed her husband and his mother to further shape his character in the play. After not seeing any drafts of the script, Wolfe experienced "The Catastrophist" for the first time when DeMeritt performed a live reading last year. As Wolfe recalls, it was a "singular, memorable moment." He promptly contributed some notes, to fine-tune the play's science, which Gunderson happily incorporated. "The feeling was one of bookending a part of my life and, in some ways, emphasizing the next step of my life, which will be different," Wolfe says. "I didn't start off as a scientist focused on pandemics. I was working with wild ape populations, and fascinated by evolutionary theory. And I won't end my career as a scientist working on pandemics. So it's kind of cool." Down the road, when their 4- and 6-year-old sons are old enough, Gunderson and Wolfe plan to show them "The Catastrophist" as a way to further connect with their parents. In that sense, the play works is both a work of undeniable immediacy and, at least in the Gunderson-Wolfe household, something of a time capsule. "Finding this idea that felt urgent and exciting, and pushed me as an artist, was a real gift, just separate from the fact that it helped me understand and explore my partner of 10 years," Gunderson says. "It also felt like a gift to Nathan. That wasn't the reason to do it, but it certainly turned into something, and that felt good." Does the subject of "The Catastrophist" have anything to add? Wolfe allows a knowing smile. "I'm going to give the playwright the last word." - - - THE CATASTROPHIST Round House Theatre. roundhousetheatre.org. Dates: Available to stream starting Tuesday. Prices: $30. Indias 2-1 Test series win in Australia must count as one of its greatest victories. It certainly has to be Indias greatest away series win. Down 1-0 after the Adelaide Test, in which India collapsed to its lowest-ever total 36 in the second innings, after taking a lead in the first, not many had bet on an Indian recovery. But they did it, with elan. Going into the second Test at Melbourne, India had already lost their captain and batting mainstay, Virat Kohli, who had to miss the last three Tests, having to fly home to be with his actor wife, ... Simon Coveney spoke about the difficulties working with the former Trump administration (Niall Carson/PA) Irelands foreign affairs minister has spoken about the difficulties of working with the former Trump administration, particularly on issues around foreign policy. Simon Coveney said that while the Irish Government had a good and respectful working relationship with the Trump White House, there were significant differences of opinion on foreign policy approaches. Addressing the Institute of International and European Affairs (IIEA), Mr Coveney said that President Joe Bidens administration has indicated it wants a much warmer transatlantic relationship. Regardless of who is in the White House, its the job of an Irish foreign minister and the Irish Government to ensure they have a good and functioning relationship, Mr Coveney added. Many thanks to Minister @simoncoveney for setting out #Ireland's #UNSC priorities this lunchtime. Full remarks available here: https://t.co/R3pIRfQwiG Live-video of full event available here: https://t.co/9OpLigTD9x Edited video and podcast to follow shortly!#GlobalEurope pic.twitter.com/AuEy2yYH2g IIEA (@iiea) January 22, 2021 We had a good functioning relationship with the Trump administration, but we also had very significant differences of opinion in terms of foreign policy and foreign policy approaches, whether that was the Middle East or, in the context of climate, whether it was the World Health Organisation, whether it was the approach towards advocacy on human rights issues, migration its a long list. While we had a good and respectful working relationship with the Trump administration, it was difficult to work with a country that is a friend when they have a very different approach on fundamental issues that are contrary to Irish foreign policy and, quite frankly, an Irish value system. What we are seeing now is an administration with a very, very different outlook on the world and how it interacts with global politics. We are already seeing in the Biden administration and the people he has chosen to lead his administration are looking to reach out. They are already signalling they want a much warmer transatlantic relationship and want multilateralism to work and want US leadership in the context. It is factually true that the approach of the Trump administration to foreign policy was one of effectively bilateral transaction-based politics, where if it was in the interests of the US, if it was America-first, then they proceeded with something, if it wasnt, they didnt. We had a good functioning relationship with the Trump administration, but we also had very significant differences of opinion in terms of foreign policy Simon Coveney, Foreign Affairs Minister I think the Biden approach with be the opposite to that, to ensure that US influence is used to shape the world that is good for it. He also said that Ireland wants to help the US find its feet in the organisations it has left or disowned. Mr Coveney was making an online address about Irelands priorities for the United Nations Security Council. Ireland formally took its seat as an elected member of the UN Security Council three weeks ago. Ireland won a temporary seat at the UN Security Council in June, competing against Canada and Norway for two seats. Mr Coveney said international issues have been compounded by the coronavirus pandemic. Concluding, Minister @simoncoveney says: "We are committed to being an active member of Council on all of these issues but also, we are not naAve." pic.twitter.com/lGRaVsqFOa IIEA (@iiea) January 22, 2021 We face an uncertain global landscape, marked by tensions and regional rivalries, the unravelling of international arms control regimes; the threat posed by terrorist organisations and other non-state actors, and the global challenge of climate change, increasingly seen as a multiplier of conflict and instability, he told the webinar. These challenges have been compounded by the coronavirus pandemic, and by an increasing scepticism in some quarters about the value of multilateralism. We, however, believe that the UN remains indispensable. We ran for election to the Security Council because we want it to succeed. We now have an opportunity to help push back against this tide and make a concrete contribution to the work of the UN at the highest level. | Welcome Guest! You Are Here: GST Council to hold special session to discuss extending paying compensation to states beyond 2022, says finance minister. Centre to borrow Rs 1.58 lakh cr to compensate states for loss of revenue from GST, says FM Sitharaman after GST Council meeting. FM Sitharaman announces amnesty scheme for small GST taxpayers, allowing filing of returns with reduced late fee. NEW YORK - A New York judge on Thursday denied the National Rifle Associations bid to throw out a state lawsuit that seeks to put the powerful gun advocacy group out of business. FILE In this Jan. 18, 2019, file photo, an attendee at a gun-rights rally wears a hat supporting the National Rifle Association, at the Capitol in Olympia, Wash. A New York judge on Thursday, Jan. 21, 2021, denied the National Rifle Association's bid to throw out a state lawsuit that seeks to put the powerful gun advocacy group out of business. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren, File) NEW YORK - A New York judge on Thursday denied the National Rifle Associations bid to throw out a state lawsuit that seeks to put the powerful gun advocacy group out of business. Judge Joel Cohens ruling will allow New York Attorney General Letitia James lawsuit to move ahead in state court in Manhattan, rather than dismissing it on technical grounds or moving it to federal court, as the NRAs lawyers desired. James lawsuit, filed last August, seeks the NRAs dissolution under state non-profit law over claims that top executives illegally diverted tens of millions of dollars for trips, no-show contracts and other expenditures. James is the states chief law enforcement officer and has regulatory power over non-profit organizations incorporated in the state, such as the NRA, Cohen said. It would be inappropriate to find that the attorney couldnt pursue her claims in state court just because one of the defendants wants to proceed in federal court, Cohen said at a hearing held by video because of the coronavirus pandemic. Cohen also rejected the NRAs arguments that James lawsuit was improperly filed in Manhattan and shouldve been filed in Albany, where the NRAs incorporation paperwork lists an address. The NRAs arguments for dismissing the case did not involve the merits of the case. Todays order reaffirms what weve known all along: the NRA does not get to dictate if and where they will answer for their actions, James said in a statement. The NRA has been incorporated in New York since 1871, though it is headquartered in Virginia and last week filed for bankruptcy protection in Texas in a bid to reincorporate in that state. The NRA, in announcing its bankruptcy filing last Friday, said it wanted to break free of a corrupt political and regulatory environment in New York and that it saw Texas as friendlier to its interests. The NRAs lawyers said at a bankruptcy court hearing on Wednesday in Dallas that they wouldnt use the Chapter 11 proceedings to halt the lawsuit. After Thursdays ruling, they said they were ready to go ahead with the case, including a meeting with lawyers from James office on Friday and another hearing in March. In a letter to Cohen in advance of Thursdays heading, NRA lawyer Sarah Rogers said the organization had no position on seeking to stay the case through bankruptcy, but that it reserved right to seek such orders from bankruptcy court in the future. Normally, a bankruptcy filing would halt all pending litigation. James office contends that its lawsuit is covered by an exemption involving a states regulatory powers and cannot be stopped by bankruptcy. Assistant New York Attorney General James Sheehan said he hoped to bring the case to trial by early 2022. In seeking to dismiss or move the states lawsuit to federal court, Rogers argued that many of its misspending and self-dealing allegations were also contained in pending lawsuits in federal court a slate of cases she described as a tangled nest of litigation. Part of Rogers argument for moving the state lawsuit to federal court involved an error in the states original filing that she said altered the timeline of when it was filed. Jamess office filed its lawsuit on Aug. 6, but later had to amend the complaint to include a part that was left. That same day, the NRA filed a lawsuit in federal court alleging James actions were motivated by hostility toward its political advocacy, including her comments in 2018 that the NRA is a terrorist organization. Rogers contended that because of the filing glitch James lawsuit should be considered a counterclaim to the NRAs lawsuit and handled alongside of it in federal court. Cohen rejected that, saying Rogers was placing far too much weight on a non-substantive error that was quickly fixed. The attorney general filed first, he said. Follow Michael Sisak on Twitter at twitter.com/mikesisak A senior executive said Friday the pharmaceutical giant is putting its learning on the COVID-19 vaccine to work in other parts of its pipeline while cautioning that the public should not expect an overnight proliferation of miracle cures. Pfizer executive Angela Hwang participated in an economic summit hosted by the Connecticut Business & Industry Association that was webcast on CT-N. In Groton, Pfizer analyzes the safety and effectiveness of therapies it develops, with the New York City-based company among Connecticuts largest employers with some 5,000 people. A Greenwich resident, Angela Hwang leads the companys Biopharmaceuticals Group that has more than 600 medicines and vaccines in its portfolio and pipeline, addressing infectious diseases, cancer and cures for rarer ailments that leaps in genetic science are putting within reach. As a company, weve learned that some things that are no-regret moves, and you should apply always, Hwang said Friday. But then this extra element of, can you go all out and take everything and every program at risk and be able to take this financial investment at this scale all the time? I think thats probably not going to happen all of the time. Still, Hwang reiterated Pfizer CEO Albert Bourlas comments earlier this month that Pfizer is now applying the biotechnology underpinning its COVID-19 vaccine to other ailments, to include cancer. Pfizer pivoted to COVID-19 research after advancements in a flu vaccine its scientists have been developing with Germanys BioNTech. The companies are using messenger RNA to feed cells genetic sequences that help them recognize the spike protein that causes COVID-19 complications and develop antibodies to break down the real thing, rather than exposing the body to infected cells to elicit an immune response as the case with standard vaccines. Because all you need is a genetic sequence, we are able to follow the evolution of any virus but in this case, the coronavirus, Hwang told Connecticut business leaders on Friday. Youve heard a lot recently about new variants. ... By following the genetic sequence, we are able then to produce even a new vaccine, if thats whats necessary. Hwang noted the companys tandem efforts to prepare to manufacture doses, covering everything from securing glass vials to designing specialized containers to keep vaccines frozen at approaching 100 degrees Fahrenheit below zero, which keeps the vaccine stable prior to being thawed for shots. In December, Pfizer was first to win U.S. Food & Drug Administration emergency-use authorization for its vaccine which is administered in two doses, with Moderna getting the OK for its vaccine the same month. AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson have indicated they will seek FDA approval shortly for their vaccine candidates, with other companies expected to follow. This month, Bourla said the company now expects to produce 2 billion doses this year. Hwang reiterated Bourlas comments that Pfizer and BioNTech are now looking forward to applying mRNA research to other ailments, as well as operational lessons learned from the COVID-19 sprint. A lesson learned from all of this is that fostering an environment where innovation can thrive, where science can thrive, is really important because if it werent for the fact that there was already work going on in mRNA, ... it would have taken us a whole lot longer to come up with this solution, Hwang said. For sure, this vaccine program has taught us a lot about where time is spent and where time can be shortened. I definitely think we will all move forward from a development perspective and ... have an even clearer sense as to where the points of acceleration might be. Alex.Soule@scni.com; 203-842-2545; @casoulman Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) The pandemic has changed the way people live and taught many invaluable lessons, including the importance of preparing for what's ahead. And with the world entering a new year amid a health crisis, seizing opportunities to secure one's future and even of their loved ones has never been so important. "Are they looking to invest for their retirement? For the education of their children? Or maybe to leave a legacy for the next generation? Then they will have to go for a long-term view, a longer-term view for that," AIA Philam Life chief investment officer Arleen Guevara told CNN Philippines' The Exchange with Rico Hizon. "They can go and invest globally if the investment opportunities locally are not really sufficient to fulfill those requirements." AIA Philam Life has partnered with affiliate AIA Investment Management to launch Elite Funds, which cater to investors seeking entry into the global landscape. Investing in global markets grants access to more opportunities otherwise not available in one's country, said AIA IM head of funds, Shrikant Bhat, adding it diversifies one's risk portfolio across regions too. Through global investments, Bhat said investors are also "able to tap into high-quality managers who are really good at what they do" across the globe, effectively catering to their long-term needs. The key to successful investments is marrying customers' and fund managers' interests, which involves looking at both benefits in tactical opportunities in short-term events without derailing the long-term picture, he likewise shared. Given investments are a major matter and shouldn't be taken lightly, Guevara reminded the importance of consulting experts before actually doing some investing. "For Filipinos who want to begin investing globally, they can begin through investments in AIA Elite Funds, available through Family Provider or Money Works. They should have their trusted financial advisor, have that conversation with them, and deal with reputable institutions like AIA Philam Life so that they will avoid getting into something that they haven't really planned for," she explained. Click here for more information about AIA Philam Life Elite Funds, or visit AIA Philam Life's Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/AIAPhilamLife/, email philamlife@aia.com or call (02)8528-2000. Dr. Richard Schabas, medical officer of health for Hastings and Prince Edward County, speaks to media at Quinte Health Care hospital in Belleville, Ont., on, Oct. 13, 2014. (Lars Hagberg/The Canadian Press) Lockdowns Are Not Supported by Strong Science: Ontarios Former Chief Medical Officer Ontarios former chief medical officer criticized the provinces lockdown measures in an open letter sent to Premier Doug Ford on Monday. Our well-intentioned but misguided efforts to control Covid are only compounding the tragedy, Dr. Richard Schabas wrote. We need to change course. Schabas served as Ontarios Chief Medical Officer of Health from 1987 to 1997 and was Chief of Staff at York Central Hospital during the outbreak of SARS in 2003. Lockdown was never part of our planned pandemic response nor is it supported by strong science, Schabas wrote. Reasonable estimates of the infection fatality rate from Covid have been declining as we learn more, he continued. Models that predicted hundreds of thousands of deaths from Covid in Canada were badly wrong because they used incorrect, exaggerated inputs. Schabas said he supported the call to change the provinces lockdown policy suggested by MPP Roman Baber, who was ousted from the Progressive Conservative Caucus after speaking out against the restrictive measures on Jan. 15. Baber pointed to five reasons to support his anti-lockdown position, including the low fatality rate of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, which causes the disease COVID-19, and major consequences caused by lockdowns, which he said are more harmful than the virus itself. Barber said that lockdowns have caused the loss of education, unemployment, social isolation, and mental health problems. We will be paying for lockdownin lives and dollars for decades to come, Schabas wrote in the letter. Schabas also questioned the governments preparation to cope with the pandemic. In April the government announced that it had added almost 1,500 critical care beds to cope with a Covid surge. Now, after nine months to prepare for the predictable resurgence of Covid, why do you have less ICU Capcity than we had last April? he wrote. Schabas said the governments response to Barbers suggestions show that it has resorted to fearmongering to encourage compliance with lockdowns. Every knowledgeable observer of Covid understand that CFR (case fatality rate) is in itself an irrelevant number, he said. CFRs only virtue is its ability to frighten by overestimating the real risk of dying from a Covid infection. Ford has not publicly responded to Schabass letter. Highways ministry sets record with construction of 534 km road in one week Ministry of road transport and highways (MoRTH) has created a record by constructing 534 km of National Highways (NHs) in the last week commencing 8 January, ie, an average of more than 76 km pr day. The ministry has constructed 8,169 km of national highways so far in the current financial (between 15 April 2020 and 15 January 2021), recording construction of an average 28.16 km of highways. During the same period in the last fiscal, 7,573 km roads were constructed, with a speed of 26.11 km per day. The Ministry is hopeful that with such pace it should be able to cross construction target of 11,000 km by 31 March. The ministry also awarded NH projects of 7,597 km during this period (April 2020 to 15 January 2021). In 2019-20, projects of 3,474 km were awarded during the same period. Thus, the pace of award has also more than doubled this fiscal. In total, projects of 8,948 km of roads were awarded in 2019-20 while 10,237 km of roads were constructed. The achievement assumes significance given the fact that the first two months of the current fiscal were lost due to nationwide lockdown in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic. The ministry said the pace of construction is expected to increase further in the remaining months of the current financial year, which are conducive for construction activities. The first delivery of imported scrap to arrive in China since last months relaxation of import restrictions has been held up by delays at the port, market sources told Fastmarkets on Friday January 22. The bulk vessel of Japan-origin heavy scrap was sold to a Chinese steelmaker early in January. The vessel was originally expected to arrive at port in Shanghai this week, according to a local Chinese report, but two Japanese scrap trading sources said the vessel would not be able to berth until the weekend. One of the Japanese traders said the ship was awaiting a place to berth, but was expected to be able to do so in the next one or two days. The second Japanese trader said the vessel had to wait for room to dock due to congestion at the port. A few ports in the Northeast of China are facing problems such as congestion and delayed shipments, a Chinese trader said. Japanese ports have experienced similar bottlenecks amid heightened export activity in recent weeks. Sources from companies involved in the deal did not give any details about the situation when approached for comment by Fastmarkets on Friday. Chinas Ministry of Ecology & Environment formally confirmed the relaxation of steel scrap import regulations for material arriving in China on December 31. Fastmarkets price assessment for steel scrap, P&S, export, fob main port Japan was 44,000-46,500 ($425-449) per tonne on January 20, down from 47,500-48,000 per tonne a week earlier, based on sales to South Korea. The last transaction price heard for Japanese P&S scrap to China known as HS in Japan was 47,000 per tonne fob earlier this week. Explore the six macro-economic and steel-specific dynamics set to rebalance the Asia steel and scrap market in 2021. Read our full report, Asia Steel and Scrap: Six Key Forces Driving 2021, today. Register with JOC.com and receive 5 free pieces of content for the first thirty days. After thirty days, you will receive 3 pieces of content and after sixty days you will receive 1 piece of content. To receive full access, Subscribe Today . You can also subscribe to our daily newsletter. Register We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form More than half of German firms are expecting skilled labour shortages to be an issue for them again in 2021. Some 54 per cent of German firms are expecting shortages this year, according to a skilled labour migration report to be released by the Bertelsmann Foundation on Tuesday. As in 2020, the poll surveyed decision makers from various big firms in Germany. Last year, 55 per cent said they had fewer skilled workers than needed. "Bigger companies are more often affected by a lack of skilled labour than small companies," said Matthias Mayer, migration expert at the Bertelsmann Foundation and co-author of the study. "In particular the health sector and construction suffer from shortages," he said. Firms are focusing on training new and existing employees to fill the gap, as well as developing a better work-life balance to hold on to employees. Only 17 per cent said they are seeking skilled workers from abroad, and those who did preferred staff from the European Union or European countries, followed by Asia and the Middle East. Firms showed little experience with skilled workers from Africa. They cited language issues and the valuation of qualifications gained in potential workers' home countries as hurdles. They said legal hurdles and entry restrictions due to the coronavirus pandemic played a secondary role. Depending on the question, either 500 or 2,500 decision makers in German firms were surveyed for the poll between September 21 and October 20 last year. Source: GNA Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The 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. An international treaty banning nuclear weapons has come into force, but what the accord will actually achieve remains in doubt since nuclear powers are staying away from it. The Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) is an important step towards the goal of a world free of nuclear weapons and a strong demonstration of support for multilateral approaches to nuclear disarmament," UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in a statement on January 22. Guterres praised "the first multilateral nuclear disarmament treaty in more than two decades," and called on all states to "work together to realize this ambition to advance common security and collective safety." The treaty that forbids the development, production, testing, possession, and use of atomic arms is now part of international law after it received its 50th ratification in October, triggering a 90-day period before its entry into force. When the pact was approved by the UN General Assembly in 2017, 122 nations representing nearly two-thirds of the world's countries approved it. But only about half of these countries have turned the treaty into national law so far, and none of the nine nations known or believed to possess nuclear weapons Britain, China, France, India, Israel, North Korea, Pakistan, Russia, and the United States supported it. Even Japan, the only country to have suffered nuclear attacks, does not support the treaty, arguing that pursuing a ban is not realistic with nuclear and non-nuclear states so sharply divided over it. Nonetheless, Beatrice Fihn, executive director of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, a civil society umbrella group that won the 2017 Nobel Peace Prize, tweeted that the #nuclearban will only grow stronger from now on. The ban is the future, she wrote. Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg said: "The countdown has begun on the most malicious weapon ever invented by mankind." Previous pacts that have outlawed landmines, cluster munitions, chemical weapons, and biological agents have proven that it is possible to eventually achieve disarmament despite initial opposition from arsenal countries, he added. With reporting by dpa and AP For more stories like this, check out The Chronicles weekly Travel newsletter! Sign up here. After a brutal year in which Californias tourism industry was cut in half, travel and hospitality experts are seeing signs of a rebound in 2021. A variety of elements may help spur pandemic-fatigued people to take long-delayed vacations, like the coronavirus vaccine rollout, a proposed federal stimulus plan and widespread adoption of new health protocols. Recent consumer surveys and market research indicate that Americans are sitting on caches of unused vacation days and anticipate planning bucket-list trips later this year, while also buying motor homes and visiting parks in record numbers. According to a recent report from the U.S. Travel Association, about half of Americans are feeling optimistic about planning a trip in the next 12 months. But after nearly a year of shutdown orders and travel restrictions, and with vaccination programs faltering around the country, a return to vacationing normally is not guaranteed. Here are six predictions from industry insiders and travel experts on how leisure travel will develop this year, from flights and hotels to road trips and vacation rentals. Liz Hafalia / The Chronicle 2020 Touchless tech takes over: The shift toward routing boarding passes and movie tickets through smartphones ratcheted up last year as physical contact became taboo. Now, more companies and activity venues like ski resorts and theme parks are rolling out apps that allow users to order food, scan tickets and check into reservations. Its a hard turn away from the brand of in-person interactions the hospitality industry is built on. The shift were going to see is in empowering the guest to get the experience that they want whether they want to go through the app or theyre OK with contact, said Kirk Pederson, president of Sightline Hospitality, a San Francisco property manager that operates 14 hotels. Pederson mentioned a recent trip he took to Las Vegas, in which he checked into his hotel, keyed into his room and ordered a room service drop-off all through his phone. I didnt have to talk to one person, he said. Some would argue, wheres the hospitality in that? And I get it. Im old-school. But it was pretty efficient. Airports too have invested in new touchless infrastructure during the pandemic, and some insiders believe its here to stay. Last fall, for instance, San Francisco International Airport joined about a dozen airports around the world that have installed biometric scanners that use facial recognition to verify an international travelers identity. These have been talked about for years but the pandemic sped up their adoption, said Scott Mayerowitz, executive editorial director at air travel website the Points Guy. Previously, consumers may have once prioritized protecting their personal information, but the pandemic has changed the equation, Mayerowitz said. People are more likely to make those privacy trade-offs in order to not be within 6 feet of another human, he said. Those changes are here to stay. Paul Chinn / The Chronicle 2020 Air travel slow to take off: The volume of air travelers in the U.S. is nowhere near what it was before the pandemic, but consumer surveys and experts are cautiously optimistic that people will start flying again in large numbers in 2021. The International Air Transport Association expects the number of fliers to pick up during the second half of the year as vaccinations become accessible and widespread. In a recent survey of 5,700 travelers by the online booking tool Scotts Cheap Flights, nearly three-quarters of respondents said they were planning on taking at least one international trip this year. One of the sentiments Ive heard over and over again is how much people are looking to make up for lost time, said Scott Keyes, the companys founder and chief flight expert. I think people are drawing up big plans in their minds. He anticipates a run on urban, bucket-list destinations like Paris and Tokyo once a vaccine is widely dispersed which, he acknowledged, could take several months and push a return to normalcy into the second half of the year. To entice fliers to return, airlines have done away with ticket change fees, a development Keyes said he never expected. Thats a big sea change and its one theyve all said is going to be permanent, he said. However, this doesnt mean the airline industry will recover quickly. It could continue hemorrhaging tens of billions of dollars next year as it reels from cost-cutting measures taken in 2020, like reducing flights and furloughing and laying off workers, according to a recent International Air Transport Association report. Backroads Opting for the outdoors: The drop in air travel last year coincided with an uptick in visits to local and state parks across Northern California as people sheltering in place sought easy escapes from life indoors. In the Bay Area, campground operators and park managers have reported record visitation and usage in the regions hundreds of outdoor areas. Companies that connect people with nature are in a great position going into 2021, said Tom Hale, founder and president of Backroads, an adventure tour operator in Berkeley that organizes small group trips across the world for tens of thousands of clients each year. His company suffered an 85% downturn in bookings last year compared to 2019 after the onset of the pandemic scared people away from group trips. But Hale said about 10,000 people have already booked trips for 2021, and he anticipates gaining back about half of his pre-pandemic bookings this year. Theres no question that were in the quintessential sweet spot of how people want to travel, he said. People are desperate to get outside. Hale is already bullish on 2022. I think there will be even more pent-up demand that releases next year, he said. Harvest Hosts Road trips, RVs stay strong: Apprehensive about packing themselves onto planes, many Americans are leaning towards road trips and weekend getaways. In California, more than 70% of travel spending came from in-state residents in 2019. Caroline Beteta, CEO and president of Visit California, the states tourism bureau, told The Chronicle last fall that she expects that proportion to rise substantially for the duration of the pandemic as residents explore their world-class backyard. To help facilitate, Visit California is setting up a limited-time hotline on Jan. 26 for consultations on road trip planning with local travel experts. With some campgrounds and parks closing in the early months of the pandemic last year, recreational vehicle rental companies and dealerships reported a surge of interest from families looking for an insular travel experience. They expect the enthusiasm will carry over to this year as well. About 115 California wineries, breweries, farms and other venues have signed up to host RVers for free through the platform Harvest Hosts, with the implied agreement that visitors will patronize those businesses during their stays. Joel Holland, CEO of Harvest Hosts, said he doesnt see the road-trip trend slowing down, even after widespread vaccinations. I think there will be a carry-over effect for people who have fallen back in love with the great American road trip, he said. Liz Hafalia / The Chronicle 2020 Hotel struggles continue: Nationwide, the hotel industry experienced the most devastating year on record in 2020, according to a new report from the American Hotel & Lodging Association. Occupancy rates hovered in the low double-digits on average, layoffs were widespread and many hotels closed permanently. Travel is not expected to return to 2019 levels until 2024, the report said. The good news is that leisure travel is expected to bounce back as the vaccine rollout ramps up. Business travel, however, remains nearly nonexistent, though it is expected to begin its slow return in the second half of the year, the report said. Pederson, of Sightline Hospitality, is more optimistic even though six of the 20 hotels his company managed at the beginning of 2020 closed. He believes his company is geared up for a second-half explosion in 2021 and thinks a return to normalcy at hotels could arrive in 2022. It really depends on the market, he said. Pederson believes that drive-to outdoor destinations, such as Lake Tahoe, are primed for early and sustained success. Urban markets, however, which are more dependent on corporate conventions and business travelers, could be in for another rough year. Its really going to be a story of winners and losers, Pederson said. Vacasa Short-term rentals tick up: As hotels have been forced to shut down due to pandemic restrictions or opted to close due to lagging travelers, people have turned to short-term vacation rentals. Bookings at Vacasa, which manages more than 25,000 rental properties around the country, have spiked in the past three weeks for dates in 2021, according to Natalia Sutin, the companys vice president of revenue management. That tells us theres confidence, she said. In California, where municipalities have passed regulations on short-term rentals in recent years, the trends show people booking places within reasonable driving distance of their homes and making last-minute reservations to places like Lake Tahoe, Sutin said. Listings in natural settings like ski cabins and beachfront homes have been especially popular. We fully expect that to continue in 2021, she said. Gregory Thomas is The San Francisco Chronicles editor of lifestyle and outdoors. Email: gthomas@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @GregRThomas Some residents in the Volta Region have expressed mixed reactions about the President's re-nomination of Dr Archibald Yao Letsa as the Volta Regional Minister-designate. Speaking in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) some residents described the renomination as a step in the right direction to enable him to continue with the development plans he has for the Region, while others think otherwise. An egg seller, who only gave her name as Akpene said the President had taken a good decision for re-nominating him, considering the swift nature he handled security situations in the Region. She said the Region also witnessed some appreciable level of development under him in the past four years, and thus deserved a second chance to continue. Akpene commended the President for reducing the number of his ministers, saying it would help save the public purse. Another resident who gave his name as Emmanuel said the Region had not witnessed any development under Dr Letsa as Minister, hence, "we don't want him, the President should bring another person. A lotto agent, who wanted to remain anonymous said the President would not have re-nominated him if he had not performed to his satisfaction, therefore he had no problem with him being reappointed. The agent while commending the President for reducing the number of his Ministers, added that he wondered why such was not done in his first term of office. A trader who gave her name as Dzigbordi said she had not seen the needed development in the Region for which Dr Letsa should be given another term as the Regional Minister. Another gentleman who also gave his name as Michael said "the reduction of the number of ministers is a step towards plus, but not a plus," urging the President to reduce it further to save the public purse. Source: GNA Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Thank you for reading! Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading. A number of religious organisations have offered their places of worship as potential vaccination centres, should they be needed. A spokesperson for The Islamic Cultural Centre of Ireland offered their premises, in Clonskeagh, Dublin. The Islamic Cultural Centre of Ireland will be delighted to offer the premises for use during this national time of need, a spokesperson said. In particular we host a very large multi-purpose hall with very high ceilings and ample ventilation, heating, and access, with a spacious car park, all that could be of use if determined so by the HSE, they added. Fr. John ODonovan, Administrator at the Cathedral of St. Mary & St. Anne and PP of Blackpool, The Glen, Ballyvolane, and Sundays Well which he has suggested as temporary Covid-19 vaccination centers. Picture: Dan Linehan The Diocese of Cork and Ross said they have previously advised the HSE locally that the diocese will offer whatever support may be appropriate in assisting in any way with the HSEs work in this time of the pandemic. Most parish churches continue to be in regular use for live-streaming of masses and for funerals with limited attendance so it may not be practical to have them used as vaccination centres. However, other parish properties such as parish halls may be suitable. The Bishop and the diocese will respond positively to any request for assistance from the HSE should a request be made, a spokesperson for the Diocese said. A spokesperson for the HSE said it is considering the options when it comes to mass vaccination centres. Mass Vaccination Centres will be used when the availability of vaccines is increased. The standing up of these centres will be dependent on vaccine supply and workforce availability, a spokesperson said. A number of third-party facilities are being investigated which include hotels, convention centres, sports halls, third-level colleges, racecourses etc. "A number of locations are currently under consideration and will be approved and finalised by the HSE in the coming weeks, they added. A spokesperson for the Church of Ireland said they would be open to assisting the HSE, with similar buildings being used in Northern Ireland already. Although the Church of Ireland has very few buildings on the scale of Salisbury Cathedral, we would, of course, be open to requests to assist with providing premises for vaccination, provided that any such use would be in line with official public health guidance. Any request would likely be made to an individual parish, which would have discretion regarding how or whether its premises could be used, they said. A spokesperson for the Church of Ireland said they would be open to assisting the HSE, with similar buildings being used in Northern Ireland already. Picture Dan Linehan It comes as Irelands vaccination plan continues to move forward after the Cabinet formally gave its approval to allow GPs and pharmacists administer Covid-19 vaccines. Neale Richmond TD said using places of worship as vaccination centres is a no-brainer. Churches, temples and mosques tend to be large, high-ceiling buildings with multiple entrances, ample parking, bathrooms, light, power and car parking. They are often located in the centre of communities on main roads with public transport nearby, he said. We have seen them used in other countries already and there is a huge opportunity when we move to the mass vaccination stage. Already I have had many religious leaders offering up their place of worship for what will be a massive national effort, he added. BENSALEM, Pa, Jan. 22, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Law Offices of Howard G. Smith reminds investors of the upcoming March 5, 2021 deadline to file a lead plaintiff motion in the case filed on behalf of investors who purchased SolarWinds Corporation ("SolarWinds" or the "Company") (NYSE: SWI ) securities between February 24, 2020 and December 15, 2020, inclusive (the "Class Period"). Investors suffering losses on their SolarWinds investments are encouraged to contact the Law Offices of Howard G. Smith to discuss their legal rights in this class action at 888-638-4847 or by email to [email protected]. 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 in this class action alleges that throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and/or misleading statements, as well as failed to disclose material adverse facts about the Company's business, operations, and prospects. Specifically, Defendants failed to disclose to investors that: (1) 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. If you purchased or otherwise acquired SolarWinds securities during the Class Period, you may move the Court no later than March 5, 2021 to ask the Court to appoint you as lead plaintiff if you meet certain legal requirements. To be a member of the class action you need not take any action at this time; you may retain counsel of your choice or take no action and remain an absent member of the class action. If you wish to learn more about this class action, or if you have any questions concerning this announcement or your rights or interests with respect to these matters, please contact Howard G. Smith, Esquire, of Law Offices of Howard G. Smith, 3070 Bristol Pike, Suite 112, Bensalem, Pennsylvania 19020, by telephone at (215) 638-4847, toll-free at (888) 638-4847, or by email to [email protected], or visit our website at www.howardsmithlaw.com. This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and ethical rules. Contacts Law Offices of Howard G. Smith Howard G. Smith, Esquire 215-638-4847 888-638-4847 [email protected] www.howardsmithlaw.com SOURCE Law Offices of Howard G. Smith Related Links http://www.howardsmithlaw.com/ There are three major troubling factors for new U.S. President Joe Biden. In the recently agreed US$2 billion fiveyear prepayment oil supply deal between the Federal Government of Iraq (FGI) in Baghdad and Chinas Zhenhua Oil. First, is that the deal is straight out of the playbook that Russia used to gain control over Iraqs semi-autonomous northern region of Kurdistan in 2017. Second, according to various sources close to Iraqs Oil Ministry spoken to by OilPrice.com last week, this deal between Russias Rosneft and the government of Kurdistan (the KRG) meant that Moscow was able to cause such disruption in the budget payments-for-oil deal between Kurdistan and Baghdad that the resulting financial crunch for the FGI pre-disposed Baghdad to look beneficially at the China proposal in the first place. This implies clearly that Russia and China are directly acting in concert to carve up the Middle East after it was effectively vacated by former President Donald Trump. And third, it means that China is directly testing Bidens ability to separate trade considerations from security considerations as Trump frequently traded the latter off for the former to see what the new U.S. Presidents reaction will be, particularly given that Zhenhua Oil is an in your face arm of Chinas defence contractor Norinco. Looking at the Russian Kurdistan deal first as a comparison point for the new China FGI deal, the Kremlins corporate oil proxy, Rosneft, effectively took over the ownership of Kurdistans oil sector in 2017 through three principal manoeuvres. First, Russia provided the KRG with US$1.5 billion in financing through a three to five year prepayment oil supply deal, exactly the same as the deal just agreed between Baghdad and China. Second, it took an 80 per cent working interest in five potentially major oil blocks in the Kurdistan region together with corollary investment and technical, technology, and equipment assistance. And third, it established 60 per cent ownership of the vital KRG oil pipeline into southern Europes port of Ceyhan in Turkey by dint of a commitment to invest US$1.8 billion to increase its capacity to one million barrels per day. Related: Big Oil Is Buying Into The Solar Boom From the moment that Russia had gained control in Kurdistan it began to create problems with the FGI in southern Iraq, particularly by using the budget disbursements for oil deals as leverage. Having taken over control of the Kirkuk oil fields from Kurdish forces in October 2017, following rioting after Baghdad failed to recognise the yes vote on independence referendum in September 2017, the FGI found itself dependent on the KRG, as the Kurds possessed the only operational export pipeline (to Ceyhan) for oil into southern Europe out of Iraq. This affected some 300,000 bpd of crude oil previously pumped in the Kirkuk province. Russia, though, insisted through the KRG that oil flows would not restart until pipeline transit fees and pumping tariffs were paid to Rosneft. Moscow also wanted the FGI to look again at its decision to deem invalid the assignment to Rosneft by the KRG of five exploration blocks in Kurdish territory. These are estimated to have aggregate 3P reserves of 670 million barrels, and Rosneft has an 80 per cent stake in each. Under the previous FGI administration of Prime Minister, Haider al-Abadi, the signs were that some accommodation of the demands of Rosneft, and the KRG, might be in the offing. There had been some movement on the percentage basis for the budget compensation, up from just under 13 per cent of the total Iraq budget, and there had been a ratification of the idea that Baghdad would return significant volumes of oil to Kurdistan for local refining and it had even been acknowledged that a pumping tariff might be paid to Rosneft. At that time, then-Oil Minister Jabar al-Luaibi even said that he was willing to accommodate Rosneft in the Kirkuk oil hub itself, highlighting that Baghdad did not want to close the doors in the face of anyone who wanted to help. The only condition at that point was that Rosneft should work with BP (which, as BP owned a 19.75 per cent stake in Rosneft), did not appear to be an insurmountable requirement. At that point in time, wishing to safeguard the legitimate government in Baghdad, Washington brought pressure to bear on the FGI in Baghdad and on the KRG to at least partially resume FGI-directed exports of Kirkuk crude oil through the Kurdistan-Turkey pipeline, with the aim of keeping oil prices lower given the absence of Iranian supply, after the U.S. re-imposed sanctions on Iran in 2018 but the budget disbursements for oil deal originally agreed in 2014 has rarely operated as intended since then. Related: Canada Is Cleaning Up Its Oil Sands This, in turn, has been a major contributing factor in the FGIs subsequent financial troubles, which was approaching a potentially catastrophic point last August when new Prime Minister, Mustafa al-Kadhimi, had to visit Washington to beg for funding. At that point, al-Kadhimi needed to come up with at least IQD12 trillion (US$10 billion) just to pay the next two months salaries of more than four million employees, retirees, state beneficiaries, and the food relief for low-income families. These groups together constitute the majority of households in Iraq and it is believed in senior Iraq government circles that any failure to pay any of these obligations could result in the sort of widespread protests and bloodshed that occurred at the end of 2019. Washington agreed to a series of investments and financing worth around US$8 billion, including deals with Chevron, General Electric, Honeywell International, Baker Hughes, and Stellar Energy - but on the proviso that Iraq reduced its dependence on Iran. This commitment was specifically to be evidenced in the first instance by gradually decreasing its electricity and gas imports from Iran for which it was regularly receiving a sanctions waiver from Washington. Almost after this, Iraq signed a two-year contract the longest such deal ever - for the export of electricity and gas from Iran. After that, U.S. State Department spokeswoman, Morgan Ortagus, announced the shortest-ever waiver for Iraq to import Iranian electricity and gas and also announced new sanctions against 20 Iran- and Iraq-based entities that were cited as funnelling money to Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps elite Quds Force. Given the utter financial chaos that Russia has created by using the oil prepayments deal with the KRG for Baghdad and the political schism it has created between Baghdad and Washington, al-Kadhimis only realistic route forward was either Russia or China. As Russia is already politically occupied in northern Iraq and China already has a 25-year multi-generational deal with Iraqs sponsor Iran it is China that clearly feels best positioned to sequestrate southern Iraq. This is helped in Chinas case by the fact that, unlike Russia, Beijing has a long history of getting around pesky U.S. sanctions on any country. The last time it dramatically went its own way was in 2012 when the U.S. tried to sanction the massive state-owned oil trading firm Zhuhai Zhenrong Corp, founded by the man who started oil trading between Beijing and Tehran in 1995 as a means by which Iran could pay for arms supplied by China to be used in the Iran-Iraq war. This prompted a flat refusal from the company to toe the U.S. line. IOC Sinopec (Asias biggest oil refiner) also took no notice of repeated warnings from the U.S., having little or no exposure to it. This is the key factor at play in China and not in Russia - the lack of exposure of its firms to the U.S. financial infrastructure (particularly to the U.S. dollar) and the ease with which companies can set up new special purposes vehicles to handle ring-fenced areas of their businesses to operate normally, despite U.S. sanctions. Indeed, China made no secret that it was going to use its Bank of Kunlun as the main funding and clearing vehicle for its dealings with Iran, as the Bank of Kunlun had been used extensively before to settle tens of billions of dollars worth of oil imports during the U.N. sanctions against Tehran between 2012 and 2015. Although the deal just agreed between Baghdad and Zhenhua Oil - according to the original letter sent out by Iraqs State Organization for Marketing of Oil (SOMO) stated that the initial upfront payment will be for one years worth of oil, the prepayment period for 4 million barrels a month will be for five years in total. This will suit China well, not just in terms of securing energy supplies for that long but more importantly for securing even more political influence with Irans neighbour, a key stepping-stone in its multi-generational geopolitical game-changing One Belt, One Road program. It will also test how resolutely Joe Biden will stick to his initial China plan. By Simon Watkins for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: The plate glass windows of the Twin Peaks Tavern have seen a lot of LGBTQ history. Since the 1970s, protests against the anti-gay Briggs Initiative, marches in memory of Harvey Milk and reactions to elections and Supreme Court victories have transpired in view of the bar that sits on the corner of Castro and 17th streets, the entrance of the historically LGBTQ Castro neighborhood. But its not just what has transpired in the taverns vicinity thats made history: The floor to ceiling windows are themselves a marker of the gay rights struggle, believed to be the first of their kind for a gay bar in the United States. In 1972, when Twin Peaks opened under Mary Ellen Cunha and Peggy Forsters ownership, the windows were a sign that the community was coming out of the closet, and coming together in public away from the hidden and unmarked bars that characterized many queer spaces prior. It was a real, empowering innovation by the bar owners, says Don Romesburg, a professor at Sonoma State University and LGBTQ historian. Well into the 70s across the country, simply gathering together as gay people in commercial venues could lead to police raids, being exposed at your job and to families. Having a gay bar where passersby could easily look in and see gay people enjoying themselves together without fear of legal persecution or violence was a really profound architectural move. It is worthy of its historical landmark status. Petery Barma and Bret Parker But like many ubiquitous neighborhood institutions during the pandemic, those windows into Twin Peaks have been at risk of being shuttered. The tavern has had to reach out for community support to survive the shutdowns, most recently during the holiday season when a recent push on the Twin Peaks GoFundMe helped get the bars campaign over the $100,000 mark in December and back to more secure financial footing. Owner Jeff Green says Twin Peaks has laid off roughly half its 10 workers, with a remaining four on furlough (there is also a separate GoFundMe that benefits bar staff). During its five decades, Twin Peaks has also served as an extended living room for many in the community its Victoriana-lite interior offers a particular brand of coziness, and the smell of bar coffee and baked goods from the neighboring Hot Cookie greet you once through the swinging door. In a neighborhood filled with dance venues and pickup bars its a different kind of space: The music is kept to a low din and cruising is minimal. It has also long been known as a favorite spot for older gay men. All of this is why the idea that such an integral part of the Castro fabric could close was inconceivable to many in the neighborhood including many who donated to save the tavern. I feel like its our Stonewall, says Bret Parker, co-director of Through the Windows, a 2019 documentary about Twin Peaks that is currently streaming at www.throughthewindows.com to benefit the bar. Thats where we go if something is happening good or bad, we head to that corner and we also head to Twin Peaks. Santiago Mejia / The Chronicle Green and business partner George Roehm became the owners of Twin Peaks Tavern in 2003 after working as bartenders there since 1989. Green describes it as a passing down of the business from owners Cunha and Forster. While Green and Roehm updated the paint and the carpet, they were careful not to touch the beloved 70s fern bar fixtures (although the actual ferns are long gone) or balcony. We wanted to maintain the feel its always had, that feeling people love, says Green. We have people that have been coming here since the 70s and didnt want to change it too much. In the 70s, the signature windows also helped inform the mood of the bar: Because of its visibility from the sidewalk, Cunha and Forster instituted a no touch policy inside that helped set it apart as a place intended for socializing in the neighborhood. There would still be arrests for lewd conduct or if you were dancing too close, making out, even just holding hands in a bar, says Romesburg of LGBTQ rights in the 70s. The very visibility remembered as such a liberating move by Twin Peaks required a certain kind of respectability in terms of how patrons behaved themselves. Romesburg says that the bars policy may have also been what attracted the older, more discreet clientele of gay men who have favored Twin Peaks since it opened. We wouldnt dare go in there in the 70s or 80s, says Marc Huestis, a longtime producer of special events at the Castro Theater, acknowledging the bars reputation for older clientele. It was our future then, we didnt want to be reminded of it. When Jeff and George took it over it became more hip. Thats when I started taking stars there after my shows, we practically had to pry Alan Cumming out of the place. The bars reputation as a mecca for senior patrons also earned it a number of nicknames. Romesburg titled a 2013 article about the history of the bar The Glass Coffin after one of its most famous monikers, which dates back to the 70s. Green says that he and Roehm find the nicknames ageist and offensive. Parker calls the names morbid, especially given the Castros status as ground zero of the AIDS crisis in the 80s and 90s. Santiago Mejia / The Chronicle Despite the nicknames, younger customers have also been taken in by Twin Peaks charms in recent years. Photographer Devlin Shand has been going to the bar since moving to San Francisco in his 20s and says the connection to queer history that Twin Peaks represents is a big part of its lure, along with its Irish coffee. As someone who appreciates the meaning of being a queer San Franciscan, its important to me to patronize and lift up spaces that are a monument to that history, Shand says. Sometimes you hear the nicknames and you have to roll your eyes at that trope of gay men being youth obsessed. Ive seen so much cultural, intergenerational exchange in that space. Its beyond a community, says bartender Speros Mikanos. People come in and drop stuff off like its a mailbox. I may not know everyones name, but I know their cocktails. While the fundraising campaign has lessened some of the financial worry for Twin Peaks, Green says what will ultimately allow them the most peace of mind is being able to open up for outdoor business again. They are putting a lot of faith into the vaccine, herd immunity and people taking social distancing seriously so hospitalizations go down and they can reopen with neighboring Orphan Andys as their food partner. As for the taverns long-term future, Green is in his 50s and says that he and Roehm have no plans to sell it. But, eventually, well into the future, they would look for someone who would want to carry on the legacy of Twin Peaks Tavern the way they have. Our hope is that it will be maintained forever as the gateway, and the living room, that its become, says Green. For now though, they just cant wait to get back to work behind those windows and back to the regulars theyve been missing the past 10 months. Tony Bravo is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: tbravo@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @TonyBravoSF Would you like to receive breaking news notifications from The Post and Courier? Sign up to receive news and updates from this site directly to your desktop. Breaking News Columbia Breaking News Greenville Breaking News Myrtle Beach Breaking News Aiken Breaking News Click on the bell icon to manage your notifications at any time. Success! Please click the 'Allow' button in the 'Show Notifcations' alert in your browser if one is available. Thank you for signing up! Please enable notifications in your browser and reload the page. Britain is facing a double-dip recession as grim figures showed business activity plunging into the red again this month. Closely-watched PMI data for the private sector showed a reading of 40.6 so far in January - with anything below 50 pointing to a contraction. It was significantly worse than the expectations of analysts, who had predicted 46.1, underlining the devastating impact of the pandemic. Economists warned that a double-dip downturn is now firmly 'on the cards' after the fledgling recovery from the worst recession in 300 years was strangled by action to control a surge in cases. Figures last week showed GDP dropping 2.6 per cent in November during the second England-wide Covid lockdown. Any December rally will have been smothered by the harsh 'tier' controls in England, and the renewed blanket curbs in January. In more signs of the huge problems facing the country, figures have revealed public borrowing hit 34.1billion in December - the third highest monthly figure on record. And retail sales saw the largest fall since records began last year, even though there was a slight uptick in December. However, separate PMI released for the Eurozone show the UK is far from alone, with France and other major players also facing GDP going into reverse again. Closely-watched PMI data for the private sector showed a reading of 40.6 so far in January - with anything blow 50 pointing to a contraction GDP tumbled by 2.6 per cent in November as the second coronavirus lockdown hammered the economy, official figures showed today. In this chart, 100 represents the size of the economy in 2018 Grim figures published today showed government borrowing soared to 34.1billion in December - the third highest monthly figure on record - amid growing fears about the UK's debt mountain Government borrowing soared in December Government borrowing soared to 34.1billion in December - the third highest monthly figure on record - amid growing fears about the UK's debt mountain. The number for the last month of 2020 was 28.2billion higher than the equivalent period in 2019 as the pandemic wreaked havoc on the economy and ministers lashed out on massive bailouts such as furlough. It pushed total borrowing for the first nine months of the financial year to 270.8billion, the peak for any April to December period since records began in 1993. There are fears the full-year figure will top 400billion. Even in the aftermath of the credit crunch, borrowing only hit 158billion in 2009-10. The UK's debt pile reached 2.13trillion by the end of 2020, around 99.4 per cent of GDP - the highest debt to GDP ratio since 1962. Advertisement Chris Williamson, Chief Business Economist at IHS Markit, said its 'flash' PMI for this month showed the crucial services sector had been hit 'especially hard'. However, in a crumb of comfort, he said the scale of the downturn was far less dramatic than last spring. 'A steep slump in business activity in January puts the locked-down UK economy on course to contract sharply in the first quarter of 2021, meaning a double-dip recession is on the cards,' he said. 'Services have once again been especially hard hit, but manufacturing has seen growth almost stall, blamed on a cocktail of COVID-19 and Brexit, which has led to increasingly widespread supply delays, rising costs and falling exports. 'Worryingly, January also saw companies reduce headcounts at an increased rate again albeit less so than seen between March and November. The steepest loss of jobs was recorded in the hotels, restaurants, travel and leisure sectors, reflecting the new lockdown measures. 'Encouragingly, the current downturn looks far less severe than that seen during the first national lockdown, and businesses have become increasingly optimistic about the outlook, thanks mainly to progress in rolling out COVID-19 vaccines. 'Business hopes for the year ahead have risen the highest for over six-and-a-half years, boding well for the economy to return to solid growth once virus restrictions ease.' Government borrowing soared to 34.1billion in December - the third highest monthly figure on record - amid growing fears about the UK's debt mountain. The number for the last month of 2020 was 28.2billion higher than the equivalent period in 2019 as the pandemic wreaked havoc on the economy and ministers lashed out on massive bailouts such as furlough. It pushed total borrowing for the first nine months of the financial year to 270.8billion, the peak for any April to December period since records began in 1993. There are fears the full-year figure will top 400billion. Even in the aftermath of the credit crunch, borrowing only hit 158billion in 2009-10. The UK's debt pile reached 2.13trillion by the end of 2020, around 99.4 per cent of GDP - the highest debt to GDP ratio since 1962. Other PMI produced by IHS Markit today showed a double-dip recession in the Eurozone is 'increasingly inevitable', with France among the countries most seriously hit. The slowdown among business activities in the currency area intensified in January as the pandemic continued to batter the continent. The late Mary Kenny The death has occurred of Mary Kenny, Upper Byrnesgrove, Ballyragget, Kilkenny. Peacefully, in the loving care of the matron and staff at Brookhaven Nursing Home, Ballyragget. Mary will be sadly missed by her niece and nephew, relatives, neighbours, friends, and her HSE carers. In accordance with current Government/HSE guidelines and in the interest of public health and the safely of our most vulnerable, a private family funeral will take place for Mary with Requiem Mass celebrated on Saturday (23rd January) at 11am in Saint Patrick's Church, Ballyragget, followed by burial in Saint Finian's Cemetery, Ballyragget (max. of 10 family members in the church and cemetery). There will be an opportunity for the community to remember Mary by being present, socially distanced, on Saturday morning en route from Mary's house to the Church. Please use the online condolence book at RIP.ie if you wish to offer your sympathies. The late Damian Lis The death has occurred of Damian Lis, College Park, Kilkenny City, Kilkenny / Killarney, Kerry. January 20, unexpectedly, at University Hospital Kerry, Tralee, beloved son of Agnieszka and the late Fryderyk, sadly missed by his heartbroken mother and her husband Dermot Hyland, his little brother Jake, grandmothers Halina and Adela and uncles, aunts and cousins in Poland, extended family, neighbours and friends in Kilkenny and Killarney. In accordance with current Government/HSE guidelines and in the interest of public health and the safety of our most vulnerable, a private family funeral will take place for Damian. Requiem Mass will be celebrated on Saturday, January 23, at 11am in St Joseph's Church, Foulkstown, Kilkenny with interment afterwards in the adjoining cemetery. The Requiem Mass will be live-streamed at the following link https://youtu.be/SKAJezwjSqQ Those wishing to leave a message of condolence for Damian's family can do so at RIP.ie. Damian's family would like to thank everybody for their support and understanding in these difficult days. The late Margaret (Peggy) Comerford The death has occurred of Margaret (Peggy) Comerford (nee Byrne), Knockmahon, Castlewarren, Kilkenny. Formerly of Shambough, Rosbercon, New Ross, Wexford. Peacefully, at her home. Peggy will be sadly missed by her loving family - her daughters, her sons, her sister, her sons-in-law, her daughters-in-law, her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Funeral Mass at noon on Friday in Castlewarren Church. In accordance with current Government/HSE guidelines and in the interest of public health and the safety of our most vulnerable, the church and graveyard is closed to ten family members only. Anyone wishing to express their sympathy to the family may do so by adding a note of condolence in section provided on RIP.ie, for which the family will be very grateful. The family would like to thank you for your support, love and understanding at this difficult time. The late Sheila Fitzgerald (nee Murphy) The death has occurred of Sheila Fitzgerald (nee Murphy), Lates House, Tullaroan, Kilkenny. Peacefully at St Lukes Hospital, Kilkenny on Tuesday, January 19. Deeply regretted and sadly missed by her loving family, her husband Billy, sons John and Tom,daughters-in-law Andrea and Orla, grandchildren David, Colm, Lucy and Sadie, sister Phil, brothers-in-law Fr. Michael Fitzgerald and Eddie Phelan, nieces, nephews, relatives, neighbours and friends. Due to current Level 5, HSE and Government restrictions, Sheilas Funeral will take place privately (for 10 family members only). Those who would like to view the Funeral Mass can do so through the following link; https://youtu.be/Pe8GgnTaD14 at 11am on Friday, January 22. Please use the online condolence page at RIP.ie as an option to offer your sympathies. House strictly private please. The family would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for their understanding and support at this difficult time. A Memorial Service will be held at a later date. The late Eileen Kennedy (nee O'Donovan) The death has occurred of Eileen Kennedy (nee O'Donovan) (Castlecomer Road, Kilkenny and formerly of Carrigroe, Clonakilty, Cork) January 20 (peacefully) in the wonderful care of the staff at Archersrath Nursing Home. Beloved wife of the late Cyril and mother of Rose, Paddy, Declan and Jeremy. She will be deeply missed by her brothers Donal and Jerry, daughters-in-law, her cherished grandchildren David, Jenny, Clodagh, Laura, Eaodain, Amy, Ruby and Eve, extended family and friends. A private funeral will take place due to government advice regarding public gatherings. Those who would have liked to attend but cannot, may join the private family Funeral Mass on Friday, January 22, at 3pm on the following link www.stcanicesparish.ie Please feel free to leave a message of condolence in the condolence book on RIP.ie. Eileen's family would like to thank you for your co-operation and support at this difficult time. New Delhi, Jan 22 : Dubai will celebrate its status as the region's gastronomic hub with the return the Dubai Food Festival (DFF) from 25 February to 13 March, 2021. The eighth edition of the annual culinary extravaganza will include three weekends of food and dining experiences held throughout the city. This year's edition will focus on four highlights of Dubai's foodie scene: rich culinary diversity, authentic and homegrown cuisine, unique restaurant experiences, and exceptional value for money. From street food sizzlers and family friendly fare to fine dining decadence, DFF has a cuisine for every palate and budget, making it one of the highlights of the year for visitors and residents alike. Organised by Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment (DFRE), DFF will offer a range of mouth-watering experiences, including Dubai Restaurant Week, which will feature exclusive menus at more than 30 exceptional restaurants. Meanwhile, Foodie Experiences will offer innovative dining concepts including Chef's Tables, Masterclasses, and chef collaborations. Other main highlights include Etisalat Beach Canteen, which will focus on Dubai's evolving international and local food scene, and homegrown brands that have been established locally. Dubai Food Festival is a citywide culinary celebration that showcases the emirate's emergence as the gastronomy capital of the region through a packed 17-day programme of food-related events, activities, promotions and appearances by food celebrities. DFF promotes the diversity, creativity and multicultural nature of Dubai's culinary offering - from its five-star gourmet dining to its hidden gems. (Puja Gupta can be contacted at puja.g@ians.in) By Chandini Monnappa and Sethuraman N R BENGALURU (Reuters) - At least five mine workers were killed in southern India when their trucks carrying blasting material exploded, officials said on Friday. Local media said the toll could be higher. The workers were transporting gelatin sticks used commonly as explosive material in stone mining quarries, a senior police official at the site of the accident, in Shivamogga district of Karnataka state, said. News18 said that the death toll could be as high as 11. Karnataka, home to the tech hub of Bengaluru, has vast mineral deposits ... Thank you for reading! Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. If you have a subscription, please log in or sign up for an account on our website to continue. New Delhi: India has highlighted the "irony" as Pakistan co-sponsored a resolution at the United Nations on safeguarding religious sites pointing out to recent demolishment of a Hindu temple in the country. India in its statement on Adoption of Resolution on "Promoting a culture of peace and tolerance to safeguard religious sites" said,"The resolution can not be a smokescreen for countries like Pakistan to hide behind.". Adding, "It is a matter of great irony that the country where the most recent attack and demolition of a Hindu temple took place in a series of such attacks" and "where the rights of minorities are being emasculated is one of the co-sponsors of the resolution under the agenda item Culture of Peace December 2020 saw the demolition of a historic Hindu temple Karak in the country's northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. The temple has been the target of attack in the past as well. It was demolished in 1997 and later reconstructed again in 2015. The statement elaborated, "Pakistan with explicit support and connivance with the law enforcement agencies which stood as mute spectators while the historic temple was being razed.". It is not for the first time India had spoken about Pakistan's track record on the deteriorating situation of minorities. In fact, New Delhi has taken up several times the abduction of Hindu, Sikh, Christian girls in the country by summoning Pakistani diplomats. India statement saw a reiteration of "application of the principles of objectivity, non-selectivity and impartiality" to form the basis of discussions in the United Nations especially on the issue of religion and the top body "should not take sides and as long as such selectivity exists, the world can never truly foster a culture of peace." Pakistan has several times raised Islamophobia at the UN but maintained a deafening silence when it comes to discrimination faced by Hindus, and others, particularly on its own soil. Live TV New Delhi: The Delhi police on Wednesday informed that a German woman has alleged that her Indian husband, whom she had befriended on social networking website Facebook, raped her during the couples stay in Punjab. A rape case against the accused has been registered at central Delhis Paharganj police station here on the complaint of the woman, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central) Mandeep Singh Randhawa said. In her complaint, the 44-year-old woman alleged that her husband, aged 24, raped her while her father-in-law molested her after she started residing with the family in Punjab after her wedding last year. They were planning to move to Germany and had recently come to Delhi for undertaking visa formalities, police said. They were staying at a hotel in Paharganj. Yesterday, the woman informed the police that she had lost her way in the Connaught Place. She also alleged that her husband had raped her and was ill-treating her after marriage, police sources said. Also Read: Delhi Shame! 25-year-old woman allegedly raped by man who befriended her on Facebook in Saket Considering the severity of the allegations, the police have registered a case against the husband here even though she alleged that the rape happened in Punjab. Her father-in-law has not been named in the FIR. Police said that her statement in front of a magistrate is yet to be recorded. They are also verifying whether the couple is married. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. The Australian PM congratulated Vietnam on outstanding achievements the country gained in 2020 to become a rare model in COVID-19 pandemic control and socio-economic development amid the worst global economic depression in decades. He said he believes that the upcoming 13th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) will be a success. He also congratulated Vietnam on fulfilling the role of ASEAN Chair in 2020 with the successful signing of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc talks on the phone with his Australian counterpart Scott Morrison (Photo: VNA) He thanked Vietnam for supporting turning the ASEAN-Australia Summit into an annual mechanism. PM Morrison said he hopes the Vietnam-Australia relations will be elevated to a strategic partnership in 2023 on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the bilateral diplomatic relations. PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc suggested that the two sides optimise advantages and potential of cooperation so as to become one of top 10 trade partners of each other and double two-way investment flow, thus supporting the post-pandemic recovery. He mentioned the need to soon finalise and sign the Australia-Vietnam Enhanced Economic Engagement Strategy (EEES), while promoting cooperation in the framework of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and RCEP, thus further boosting trade and minimise disputes. He proposed that Australia continue giving technical support to Vietnam and further open its market for Vietnamese agricultural products such as fresh whole shrimp, longan, passion fruit, rambutan and star apple. Vietnam hopes that Australia will encourage large firms to invest in telecommunications, infrastructure, hi-tech agriculture, finance-banking, mining, energy, manufacturing, education, and tourism in Vietnam, while increasing the provision of ODA to Vietnam, focusing on infrastructure, agricultural, rural and mountainous development, poverty reduction, climate change response, and high-quality human resource training, PM Phuc told the Australian government leader. Both sides should also strengthen cooperation in military medicine, cyber security, and defence industry, Phuc said, asking the Australian side to continue to create favourable conditions for the Vietnamese community to settle in the country while keeping the Vietnamese cultural characteristics and language. The two PMs affirmed that friendship and mutual understanding and trust is a strong motivation for more effective, intensive and extensive cooperation between the two countries. PM Morrison agreed with PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc on the need to continue deepening economic connectivity between the two countries, and pledged to provide Vietnam with more resources and support so that the country can access effective and safe vaccines. He also affirmed continued support for Vietnam in performing the role of a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council in 2021, and in conducting UN peacekeeping operations. Morrison confirmed that Australia will attend a conference on womens role in UN peacekeeping in 2021, and will work closely with Vietnam in implementing economic development programmes in the Mekong sub-region. Australia is willing to engage in tripartite cooperation mechanisms in the region involving Vietnam, Australia, Laos and Cambodia, he added. The two PMs also agreed to collaborate in bolstering the ASEAN-Australia partnership to make the ties more efficient and strengthening collaboration in international and regional mechanisms and forums. They reiterated the significance of strengthening cooperation and maintaining peace, stability, and maritime and aviation security, safety and freedom, as well as ensuring legitimate rights and interest as stated in the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) 1982. They underlined the need to settle disputes on the basis of international law, including the UNCLOS 1982, fully and effective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea and working to achieve an effective Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC) in line with international law, including the UNCLOS 1982. The Vietnamese PM lauded the outcomes of the Vietnam visit by PM Morrison in 2019, and invited the Australian PM to visit Vietnam again. PM Morrison accepted the invitation with pleasure, while expressing hope to welcome PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc to his country in the near future./. Human rights lawyer Tara Murray had hopes of somehow witnessing Kamala Harris' vice-presidential oath in person. But a raging pandemic and the January 6 violent siege on the US Capitol by a pro-Trump mob got in her way. So on Wednesday, Murray -- the founder of a pro-Harris group, Mamas for Momala -- celebrated the inauguration just as she had volunteered during the course of the campaign: remotely. She pulled on a sweater representing the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority that she and Harris share, ate a special lunch of her mother's gumbo and joined her fellow "Mamas" for a Facebook watch party. All around the country this week, Black women followed suit -- dressing up, toasting and exulting at home and online as the former US senator and California attorney general walked into history. "I'm not going to allow the plans and the plots of these White supremacist terrorists to interfere with the joy that I have," the 39-year-old Murray said from her home in the Northern Virginia suburbs of Washington. "This moment belongs to all of us who worked so hard." 'We delivered' In office, Harris "will stand as one, but she will bring 10,000," said Glynda Carr, the president and CEO of Higher Heights for America, paraphrasing the late poet Maya Angelou. "She's a woman. She's a woman of color. She's a Black woman, a daughter of immigrants. She belongs to a historically Black Greek Letter organization. She went to a historically Black college." "As she governs, she brings those voices with her," said Carr, whose organization focuses on building Black women's political power. Black women were crucial to the Biden-Harris victory, with 90% backing the ticket in November, CNN exit polls show. And in Georgia, a state that went blue in the presidential contest for the first time since 1992, Black women supported Democrats Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff by even wider margins -- elevating them to the Senate in this month's runoffs and giving their party control of the chamber. Black women "show up consistently for this country," said LaTosha Brown, co-founder of Black Voters Matter Fund, which mobilized voters in Georgia and in key battlegrounds to help secure Joe Biden's victory. She also helped lead a high-profile campaign last summer by Black female activists to push Biden to add an African American woman to the ticket. In lobbying then-candidate Biden, "I made a promise that, literally, if you select a Black woman vice president, Black women are going to deliver it to you," Brown recounted Wednesday. "And we delivered." But Brown's work in the 2020 election came at an enormous price. She contracted Covid-19 in June while on the campaign trail and has endured death threats for her very public activism. And over the weekend, a long-time Georgia organizer with whom Brown worked died -- another heartbreak in the parade of Americans lost to the pandemic. Chucks and pearls Brown said her emotions Wednesday swung between "extreme hope" and deep sadness over the injustice and racial divisions that still persist. But she was determined to celebrate. She watched the inauguration on television from Atlanta -- adorned in pearls, a "bedazzled" pair of Converse Chuck Taylor sneakers and an electric blue dress, gifted by a friend to thank Brown for her part in turning Georgia Democratic blue. "At the end of the day, what Black women have become masters at is not allowing the world to steal our joy," Brown said. Around the country, women of all ages and races pulled out their glue guns to pay joyful tribute to Harris by decorating their Chuck Taylors, the brand she sported so often on the campaign trail. Chucks and Pearls Day, a Facebook group started by Harris supporter Jeanette DeVaughn a little more than a month ago, had grown to more than 89,000 members by Wednesday morning. There, Harris supporters uploaded a steady stream of pictures of their Chucks, studded with pearls, rhinestones and even Swarovski crystals. Lace and satin ribbons often replaced shoestrings. DeVaughn, an Austin, Texas, grandmother who works part-time at an Amazon distribution center, said women identify with Harris' high-low style: "classy and sophisticated" pearls paired with ''really, really comfortable" shoes. This month's violent siege at the US Capitol saddened DeVaughn because, she said, it was "so disrespectful" of the history-making nature of Harris' win. The pandemic and heavy security, she felt, had robbed Harris of the chance to enjoy her day as fully as her predecessors had. But DeVaughn said nothing would deter her from celebrating this week, either. Her inaugural wardrobe: A silky black cocktail dress and pearl-covered purple Chucks. For many, the party started days before Harris took her oath on Wednesday. At one online "Sip" Sunday sponsored by Higher Heights of America and Essence magazine, a who's who of Black women in politics celebrated both Harris' success and their role in it. They also had fun. Spinderella -- the DJ known as part of the hip-hop group Salt-N-Pepa -- entertained the virtual crowd. Samara Davis, of the Black Bourbon Society, walked participants through how to prepare The Kamala, a whiskey sour concoction whose muddled raspberries and mint garnish evoked the AKA sorority's distinctive pink-and-green colors. Higher Heights' Carr and other activists also said they were readying themselves for the political battles that would begin as soon as this week. That includes building support for Biden's Covid-19 recovery relief package, boosting the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour and helping elevate another Black woman to the US Senate to fill the void now that Harris has ascended to higher office. A similar path Murray canvassed for President Barack Obama's barrier-breaking campaign more than a dozen years ago, but she felt compelled to do even more for the Biden-Harris ticket -- given the parallels between her life and Harris' story. She, too, was raised in California by a single mom and traveled across the country to attend Howard University, one of the nation's pre-eminent HBCUs. She pledged AKA in her sophomore year, graduated in 2003 and went on to earn her law degree at Harvard. Last year, she joined forces with more than 5,000 women around the country to help make Wednesday's history happen -- calling, writing and texting voters in battleground states from Arizona to Florida in the run-up to Election Day. Among their efforts: sending texts to 200,000 Pennsylvania residents, encouraging them to register to vote. They also mailed 20,000 postcards to low-propensity voters in Georgia to encourage them to cast ballots both in the presidential election and in the state's January 5 Senate runoffs. Murray has three young children, but the group was open to any woman who "cared about the next generation," she said. The Momala in the title reflects the nickname Harris' stepchildren, Cole and Ella Emhoff, bestowed on her. On Wednesday, Murray was as busy ever. She joined her group's Facebook watch party. She monitored the inauguration on television with her husband and children. She texted almost constantly with her sorority sisters and other friends. As she watched the ceremony unfold, Murray marveled at the "prophetic voice" of 22-year-old Amanda Gorman, the youngest inaugural poet in US history, who spoke of a "nation that isn't broken, but simply unfinished." She took comfort in Biden's promise to confront White supremacy head on and work to the heal the country's divides. And when Harris, resplendent in a purple coat and dress, uttered the oath of office, Murray joined her two daughters, ages 5 and 2, in wild screaming. "The best parts of American society were on display today -- in contrast to what we saw two weeks ago," Murray said. "It feels like a dark cloud has lifted. Technocrats who pushed policies like masks, social distancing and lockdowns in the first place had no evidence that they would work. Now the data is coming in that they are largely worthless against stopping COVID-19 or any other virus and in fact may be increasing the spread. TN Editor Infectious diseases expert Professor Steven Riley says current data shows that the national lockdown in the United Kingdom is not working. Riley, who is professor of infectious disease dynamics at Imperial College London, cited a React study which shows the prevalence of infection increased between 6 and 15 January, after the national lockdown was announced on January 4. Its long enough that, were the lockdown working effectively, we would certainly have hoped to have seen a decline, said Riley. The professor added that current research certainly doesnt support the conclusion that lockdown is working. As we highlighted last week, a peer reviewed study by Stanford researchers found that mandatory lockdowns do not provide more benefits to stopping the spread of COVID-19 than voluntary measures such as social distancing. The researchers found no clear, significant beneficial effect of [more restrictive measures] on case growth in any country. While numerous studies show that lockdowns have no impact on reducing the spread of viruses, an avalanche of data shows that they cost lives. Academics from Duke, Harvard, and Johns Hopkins have warned that there could be around a million excess deaths over the next two decades as a result of lockdowns. Thousands of doctors and scientists are on record as opposing lockdown measures, warning that they will cause more death than the coronavirus itself. Read full story here Estrada said the overarching theme of Bidens orders on immigration is allowing immigrant families, particularly those that include U.S. citizens, to stay together. He said the action would eliminate very harsh penalties for multiple entries and would open the door for people who have been here for decades to legally be here. He said the process proposed is similar to the amnesty process offered during the Reagan administration in the 1980s. Schools are closing again in response to surging levels of COVID-19 infection, but staging randomized 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. 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." Karla Hemming, Report Co-Author, Professor, University of Birmingham's Institute of Applied Health Research 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. The Telegraph The list of Donald Trump associates who have attempted to bring down the former president is as long as it is varied: from his lawyer, to his closest advisor, his ex-wife and his alleged lover. But like many powerful figures before him, it may well be his accountant that would be his undergoing. Allen Weisselberg, the little-known 73-year-old chief financial officer for the Trump Organisation, has worked for the Trump family as far back as the early 1970s under Donalds father Fred. Some say he is closer to Mr Trump than he is to his own children. As one former employee put it, he knows where the bodies are buried". In recent weeks New York prosecutors investigating Mr Trumps tax affairs have been turning the screws on Mr Weisselberg in the hope of flipping him to testify against his boss. Cyrus Vance, the Manhattan District Attorney, is looking into everything from hush-money payments paid to women on Mr Trump's behalf, to property valuations and employee compensation. Speculation is mounting that his office may be able to turn Mr Weisselberg, who has not been accused of any wrongdoing, as it pulls together a grand jury to decide whether to indict. The woman who then stayed at Mendezs house told police that she felt Vargas was being disrespectful and called her boyfriend and Mendez. When Mendez got home, he argued with Vargas and told him to leave, records state. The woman said she saw Mendez swing a plastic snow shovel back and forth as if to protect himself, records state. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 22) The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases eased the age restrictions in areas under modified general community quarantine, allowing children aged 10 to 14 years old to go out beginning Feb. 1, IATF and Presidential spokesman Harry Roque announced Friday. "The Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) approved the recommendation to relax age-based restrictions for areas placed under Modified General Community Quarantine (MGCQ) beginning February 1, 2021," Roque said in a statement. The Trade Department earlier proposed to ease the age limit to help stimulate economic activity. "Local government units (LGUs), on the other hand, are enjoined to adopt the same relaxation of age-restrictions for areas under General Community Quarantine (GCQ)," Roque added. Current IATF rules permit those aged 15 to 65 years old to leave their homes. Meanwhile, those covered by the age restrictions could only go out of their homes to access essential items and services. "Any person below ten (10) years old and those who are over sixty-five (65) years of age shall be required to remain in their residence at all times," the official said. The Health Department said the move was done in line with the goal to balance economy and health. "As long as we continue to implement and comply with the minimum public health standards, kahit anong age ang lumalabas as long as compliant tayo, we are protected," DOH spokesperson Ma. Rosario Vergeire said in a media forum. [Translation: As long as we continue to implement and comply with the minimum public health standards, any age that would go out, as long we are compliant, we are protected.] In addition to this, Roque explained that going out will be good for the children, who have stayed in their homes for ten months now due to the lack of face-to-face classes. "[Allowing them] to leave their houses, especially on a weekend activity, is good for their physical, social and mental health," Roque said in a separate statement Friday night. There are criticisms on the IATF's decision amid the recent detection of a more contagious COVID-19 variant in the country. Meanwhile, independent research group OCTA said it would continue to monitor areas that would be relaxing restrictions to check possible effects in the spike in cases. "What we will do right now in OCTA research is we'll continue to monitor what's happening in these areas where the restrictions are being loosened or relaxed, so we can see if there will be an effect on the number of cases," research fellow Professor Guido David told CNN Philippines' The Source. AUSTIN, Texas, Jan. 22, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Zenoss Inc., the leader in AI-driven full-stack monitoring, today announced its company highlights for 2020. Among many noteworthy accomplishments, Zenoss saw record milestones in its Zenoss Cloud offering, the industry's first full-stack monitoring plus AIOps platform . Zenoss Cloud revenue grew by 229% compared to 2019. The AI-powered Zenoss Cloud platform was launched in mid-2018 and has been the company's flagship product, providing immediate root-cause analysis and preventing IT disruptions in any environment from simple infrastructures to the most complex, dynamic multicloud IT deployments. In addition, the company also recorded the following accomplishments in 2020: Named Strong Performer in Forrester Wave for Artificial Intelligence for IT Operations for Artificial Intelligence for IT Operations Recognized in latest Gartner Market Guide for IT Infrastructure Monitoring Tools Advanced to the Premier Level of the Google Cloud Partner Advantage Program Announced availability on the Google Cloud Marketplace Formed global strategic partnerships with Atos, HCL Technologies, ADCom Solutions, Amrut Software and Zensar Technologies Launched Zenoss Cloud zone for EMEA Featured in Network World article on tool consolidation Named to CRN list of 20 Coolest Cloud Management and Migration Companies Zenoss Cloud is the leading AI-driven full-stack monitoring platform that streams and normalizes all machine data, uniquely enabling the emergence of context for preventing service disruptions in complex, modern IT environments. Zenoss Cloud leverages the most powerful machine learning and real-time analytics to give companies the ability to scale and adapt to the changing needs of their businesses. To learn more about Zenoss Cloud, visit https://www.zenoss.com/product . With a focus on secure IT monitoring, Zenoss has successfully completed the System and Organization Controls (SOC) 2 audit. SOC is an internationally recognized auditing standard created by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. The audit performed by independent auditor BDO certifies that Zenoss procedures, policies and operations meet or exceed the trust services criteria for security, data privacy, availability and process integrity. As security becomes increasingly prioritized, independent validation of security controls becomes more crucial for customers, especially those in government and in highly regulated industries. The SOC 2 report provides an analysis of a service organization's systems and the suitability of the design and operating effectiveness of the organization's controls. "In the face of the challenges which came in 2020, Zenoss stayed focused on its mission and core values and delivered an unprecedented year," said Greg Stock, chairman and CEO of Zenoss. "We have never had a closer relationship with our customers, and we are headed into 2021 with incredible momentum and determination." To learn more about Zenoss, visit https://www.zenoss.com . About Zenoss Zenoss works with the world's largest organizations to ensure their IT services and applications are always on. Delivering full-stack monitoring combined with AIOps, Zenoss uniquely collects all types of machine data, including metrics, dependency data, events, streaming data and logs, to build real-time IT service models that train machine learning algorithms to deliver robust AIOps analytics capabilities. This enables IT Ops and DevOps teams to optimize application performance, predict and eliminate outages, and reduce IT spend in modern hybrid IT environments. Zenoss is recognized as a Leader in The Forrester Wave: Intelligent Application and Service Monitoring, Q2 2019 and is recognized in the 2019 Gartner Market Guide for AIOps Platforms . For more information about Zenoss, please visit https://www.zenoss.com . Zenoss Media Contact Jill Ford [email protected] SOURCE Zenoss Inc. Related Links http://www.zenoss.com More than 15 firearms and hundreds of rounds of ammunition were uncovered at the home of the Nashville man who was photographed storming the US Capitol building with a handful zip-ties, according to a new court filing. Eric Munchel is charged with violent entry and disorderly conduct on the Capitol grounds, conspiracy and civil disorder after taking part in the deadly riots earlier this month. The 30-year-old - who attended the rally with his mother - was dubbed 'zip-tie guy' on social media after photos of him holding plastic cuffs inside the Senate gallery went viral. In a court filing ahead of a Friday detention hearing in Nashville, prosecutors described a January 10 search of Munchel's home that turned up assault rifles, a sniper rifle with a tripod, shotguns, pistols, hundreds of rounds of ammunition and a drum-style magazine. This photo provided by U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee shows multiple assault rifles that were found during a search of Eric Munchel's home on January 10 FBI agents also found tactical gear Munchel had worn during the riots as well as vest that was 'similar, if not identical' to the one his mother, Lisa Eisenhart, appeared to have been wearing that day Eric Munchel was quickly dubbed 'zip tie guy' after he was pictured with a bundle of flex-cuffs inside the Senate chamber FBI agents also found tactical gear Munchel had worn during the riots as well as vest that was 'similar, if not identical' to the one his mom, Lisa Eisenhart, appeared to have been wearing that day. Federal prosecutors also said they have reason to believe Munchel may have had weapons with him in Washington based on footage obtained from an iPhone he had strapped on his chest. The video, which was not publicly released, allegedly showed them stashing weapons in a tactical bag outside the Capitol before entering. It isn't clear where exactly the firearms were left. The findings were revealed in a memorandum filed Wednesday requesting Munchel be detained until trial amid claims he's a danger to his community and a serious flight risk. Munchel is said to have traveled to Washington with Eisenhart, 57, who has also been charged and has a detention hearing set for July. The two participated in Trump's 'Stop the Steal' rally in which the former president repeated his baseless claims of election fraud and exhorted the crowd to march to the Capitol and 'fight like hell.' Munchel 'perceived himself to be a revolutionary, in the mold of those who overthrew the British government in the American Revolution,' according to court filings. Eric Munchel, 30, is pictured in his mugshot having been arrested in Nashville last Sunday. His mother, Lisa Eisenhart, 57, was arrested on Saturday Eric Munchel, 30, left, is seen along with his mother Lisa Eisenhart, 57, at the Capitol siege He was 'dressed for combat' with 'combat boots, military fatigues, a tactical vest, gloves, and a gaiter that covered all of his face except for his eyes,' documents state. He also wore a stun gun on his hip and mounted a cellphone to his chest to record events. Investigators later recovered the cellphone from a friend who had been given it by Munchel, according to court documents. In cellphone video, Munchel recorded himself speaking to Eisenhart about not entering the Capitol with weapons. According to the memorandum, Munchel says he needs to 'take my weapons off before I go in there.' Then Munchel and Eisenhart walk to a location where 'a tactical bag and other items appear to have been stashed,' take off items and deposit them in or near the bag. Later, while walking through the Capitol, Munchel spots plastic handcuffs and says, 'Zipties. I need to get me some of them,' according to the court document. In a detailed breakdown of his clothing Munchel's 'expensive camouflage and tactical larp-flare' helped identify Munchel Munchel and his mom are said to have driven from Nashville, Tennessee for the protest Handcuffs were among the items found when investigators later searched Munchel's home. Federal prosecutors argue in the memorandum that Munchel's offenses are serious and he should be detained pending trial to 'ensure the safety of the community.' He has 'made statements evincing an intent to engage in violent conduct because of his disillusionment with the outcome of the 2020 Presidential election,' the document states. It also notes that the riot at the Capitol resulted in five deaths. It comes as authorities in Tennessee earlier this week announced they had taken Eisenhart into custody days after her son was arrested. Pictures of the mother-and-son duo went viral earlier this month after it was revealed that the pair had brought a stash of plastic cuffs along with them to the protest. Video footage clearly shows the pair holding the flex cuffs as they attempted to chase two cops inside the Capitol building. Eisenhart was charged on Saturday with being in a restricted building without lawful authority, violent entry or disorderly conduct in the Capitol, along with a charge of conspiracy. 'The left has everything: the media, organizations, the government. We have to organize if we're going to fight back and be heard,' she said to a newspaper at the time of the protests. Munchel and Eisenhart aren't just being charged for their actions but also being charged with 'conspiracy' with 'persons known and unknown' to authorities According to the statement of the facts, Eisenhart also had flex cuffs and was part of a mob that chased police officers inside the Capitol The nurse, who wore a bulletproof vest like her son, added: 'This country was founded on revolution. If they're going to take every legitimate means from us, and we can't even express ourselves on the internet, we won't even be able to speak freely, what is America for? 'I'd rather die as a 57-year-old woman than live under oppression. I'd rather die and would rather fight.' Upon being interviewed this week, Eisenhart's tone had mellowed somewhat as she insisted she and her son did not have any violent intentions when they stormed the Capitol, despite the pictures of them carrying the plastic ties. 'We saw the zip cuffs on top of an already opened cabinet in the hallway inside the Capitol building,' Eisenhart told The Tennessean. 'We picked them up to prevent them falling into hands of bad actors.' The pair were also captured on video among a small group who breached the Senate chamber. Munchel told The Times of London: 'We wanted to show that we're willing to rise up, band together and fight if necessary. Same as our forefathers, who established this country in 1776. It was a kind of flexing of muscles.' He claims that he thought he was welcome to enter the U.S. Capitol and like his mother said that he 'found' the zip ties and merely picked them up so he could hand them in to a police officer. 'We're not looking at this as a grand conspiracy, but we are interested in learning what people would do with things like zip ties,' a law enforcement official told The Washington Post at the time the pictures were released. President Joe Biden prepares to sign a series of orders in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington on Jan. 20, 2021. (Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images) Biden Orders $15 Minimum Wage for Federal Employees, Overrides Trump Orders President Joe Biden on Friday signed an executive order that requires federal contractors to pay at least $15 per hour and provide employees with emergency paid leave. The order instructs the Office of Personnel Management to develop recommendations to agencies that would ensure as many employees as possible get a $15 per hour minimum wage. Assuming a standard 40-hour workweek, 52 weeks per year, the $15 per hour minimum wage translates to a $31,200 yearly wage before taxes. This is something the president talked about on the campaign that, when we are using taxpayer dollars, federal contractors should provide the benefits and pay that workers deserve, said Brian Deese, director of the National Economic Council, at a press briefing. In addition, the Biden order removes Trump-era Schedule F job classification within the governments career civil service for employees in confidential, policy-determining, policy-making or policy-advocating positions. Employees converted to Schedule F would lose most of their civil service protections and could be fired at any time. The new order also overturns a series of executive orders signed by former President Donald Trump in May 2018. Those previous orders made it easier for the federal government to fire poor performers, further limited official time the federal employees can use to conduct union activities, and directed agencies to renegotiate collective bargaining agreements with federal unions under stricter parameters. Under the newly-signed order, agencies will no longer have to follow those Trump-era labor relations policies. In a Biden administration, agencies are no longer under orders to strip long-held rights from contracts, run roughshod over employees and unilaterally impose workplace policies that disrespect their service to our country, National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU) National President Tony Reardon said in a statement embracing the changes. The NTEU represents some 150,000 employees of 31 departments and agencies of the U.S. government. To be sure, NTEU was in the process of successfully challenging many aspects of the Trump executive orders because they were clearly in violation of civil service laws, Reardon said, adding that his organization looks forward to returning to the bargaining table and negotiating with more respect for employees and their representatives. The new signing boosts the number of Bidens executive actions to more than 30. A number of those actions are direct reversals of Trump administrations policies, including the permit for the Keystone XL pipeline, the construction of barrier along the U.S.-Mexican border, the travel ban on seven predominantly Muslim countries, and the advisory commission to promote patriotic education in public schools. The Florida Department of Healths updated daily vaccination report no longer lists the thousands of people overdue for their second shot of COVID-19 vaccines. The states daily update includes total doses administered to date, including how many have received the first dose, and how many have received a second dose completing the regimen of either the Moderna or Pfizer shots to be considered fully immunized. On Wednesdays report, though, one previously reported feature, those overdue for their second shot, was no longer listed. The previous report, released Tuesday, showed that 44,470 people were overdue for their second shot. The availability of doses for those who need the second shot is increasingly in short supply. The state has been receiving about 265,000 doses of the vaccine from the federal government each week. Sen. Rick Scott said on Wednesday the state will be getting another 266,100 next week, which would put the states supply at more than 2 million doses delivered to date. But vaccination efforts statewide have ramped up after the new year, and as of Wednesdays report, the state has already administered 1,233,593 doses, between both first and second shots. From Jan. 6-12, that total was more than 400,000 and from Jan. 13-19 its more than 340,000. Recent totals may increase with successive reports as well because of a lag in reporting from some of the vaccination sites. So the supply from the federal government is less than the states capacity. Gov. Ron DeSantis has stated several times in the last couple of weeks that he has asked for double the supply from the federal government, but with the new Biden administration taking over as of Wednesday, its uncertain what changes will occur. Biden did say that states wont be penalized for lagging in vaccination by shifting some of their allocation to more efficient states, according to Jeff Zients, the White House official directing the national response. We are not looking to pit one state against another, Zients told The Associated Press. DeSantis had emphasized Floridas need with its larger population of 65 and older - 4.5 million - and attempted to display the states capacity to deliver the vaccine. He downplayed an idea put forward by the Biden administration of setting up massive vaccine centers across the nation set up by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Instead, he stated he thought the federal government should just get more shots into the hands of the states and let them enact their vaccination plans. Several vaccinations sites around the state including the drive-through location in The Villages, though, have had to put appointments on hold as their existing supplies from Florida have run out. And DeSantis said in a press conference this week he expects several hundred thousand seniors to be due for their second shot each week come February. ___ Richard Tribou of the Orlando Sentinel wrote this story. (c)2021 The Orlando Sentinel (Orlando, Fla.) Visit The Orlando Sentinel (Orlando, Fla.) at www.OrlandoSentinel.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-22 19:51:50|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, Jan. 22 (Xinhua) -- Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, stressed leveraging the guiding and safeguarding roles of strict Party governance in every respect to ensure the development goals and tasks of the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025) are fulfilled. Xi, also Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks Friday when he addressed the fifth plenary session of the 19th CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection. Enditem Bengaluru, Jan 22 : Late Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaaa's key aide V.K. Sasikala, who tested Covid positive just ahead of her release from jail, is being treated with the standard protocol, a hospital bulletin said on Friday. "With the diagnosis of Covid-19, severe pneumonia with Type II diabetes, hypertension and hypothyroidism, the patient is being treated with standard Covid-19 protocol at the Trauma Care Centre of Victoria Hospital," the hospital's third bulletin said. "She is maintaining oxygen saturation of 97 per cent with five litres of oxygen through a Non-rebreather mask (NRBM)," it said. The bulletin added that her condition was stable and comfortable, and she was conscious and well oriented. The 63-year-old Sasikala was first admitted to Bowring and Lady Curzon Hospital by the doctors at the prison, where she is serving a term for corruption, with a diagnosis of type II diabetes mellitus, hypertension, hypothyroidism, urinary tract infection (UTI) and suspected Severe Acute Respiratory Illness (SARI). Sasikala, lodged at the Parappana Agrahara Prison, was sentenced to four years imprisonment in February 2017 in a disproportionate assets case. The case pertains to the amassment of disproportionate assets to the tune of Rs 66.65 crore during Jayalalithaa's first tenure as Tamil Nadu Chief Minister (1991-1996). In September 2013, a special court convicted Jayalalithaa to simple imprisonment of four years. A Rs 100-crore fine was also slapped on her, and she was 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 awarded a fine amount of Rs 10 crore each. Jayalalithaa 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. Charges against Jayalalithaa had abated in view of her death on December 5, 2016. Soon after Jayalaithaa's death, Sasikala took over the reins of the AIADMK in December 2016, but was later unceremoniously removed from the party by the Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami-led camp. She again came into limelight in late November 2019, when the Income Tax department had reportedly attached proxy properties valued Rs 1,600 crore allegedly belonging to her under the provisions of the Benami Transactions (Prohibition) Act. It is further alleged that nine properties, located in Chennai, Puducherry and Coimbatore, were purchased soon after demonetisation in November 2016. [January 22, 2021] Black Knight's First Look: 2020 Ends With 1.7 Million More Seriously Delinquent Homeowners Than at Start of Year; Foreclosures at Record Low JACKSONVILLE, Fla., Jan. 22, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Black Knight, Inc. (NYSE: BKI) reports the following "first look" at December 2020 month-end mortgage performance statistics derived from its loan-level database representing the majority of the national mortgage market. Total U.S. loan delinquency rate (loans 30 or more days past due, but not in foreclosure): 6.08% Month-over-month change: -3.90% Year-over-year change: 78.93% Total U.S. foreclosure pre-sale inventory rate: 0.33% Month-over-month change: 1.30% Year-over-year change: -27.77% Total U.S. foreclosure starts: 7,100 Month-over-month change: 61.36% Year-over-year change: -82.03% Monthly prepayment rate (SMM): 3.15% Month-over-month change: 11.73% Year-over-year change: 112.17% Foreclosure sales as % of 90+: 0.07% Month-over-month change: 5.18% Year-over-year change: -95.33% Number of properties that are 30 or more days past due, but not in foreclosure: 3,251,000 Month-over-month change: -130,000 Year-over-year change: 1,448,000 Number of properties that are 90 or more days past due, but not in foreclosure: 2,146,000 Month-over-month change: -47,000 Year-over-year change: 1,719,000 Number of properties in foreclosure pre-sale inventory: 178,000 Month-over-month change: 2,000 Year-over-year change: -67,000 Number of properties that are 30 or more days past due or in foreclosure: 3,429,000 Month-over-month change: -128,000 Year-over-year change: 1,382,000 Top 5 States by Non-Current* Percentage Mississippi: 10.79% Louisiana: 10.25% Hawaii: 9.02% West Virginia: 8.38% New York: 8.31% Bottom 5 States by Non-Current* Percentage Oregon: 4.18% Utah: 4.03% Colorado: 3.92% Washington: 3.85% Idaho: 3.37% Top 5 States by 90+ Days Delinquent Percentage Mississippi: 6.40% Louisiana: 6.36% Hawaii: 5.87% Nevada: 5.64% Alaska: 5.26% Top 5 States by 6-Month Improvement in Non-Current* Percentage New Jersey: -29.32% Colorado: -28.46% Alaska: -28.26% California: -28.02% Utah: -28.01% Top 5 States by 6-Month Deterioration in Non-Current* Percentage West Virginia: 1.09% Oklahoma: -0.51% Arkansas: -0.86% Indiana: -2.36% Iowa: -2.40% *Non-current totals combine foreclosures and delinquencies as a percent of active loans in that state. Notes: 1) Totals are extrapolated based on Black Knight's loan-level database of mortgage assets. 2) All whole numbers are rounded to the nearest thousand, except foreclosure starts, which are rounded to the nearest hundred. For a more detailed view of this month's "first look" data, please visit the Black Knight newsroom. The company will provide a more in-depth review of this data in its monthly Mortgage Monitor report, which includes an analysis of data supplemented by detailed charts and graphs that reflect trend and point-in-time observations. The Mortgage Monitor report will be available online at https://www.blackknightinc.com/data-reports/ by Feb. 1, 2021. For more information about gaining access to Black Knight's loan-level database, please send an email to Mortgage.Monitor@bkfs.com. About Black Knight Black Knight, Inc. (NYSE:BKI) is an award-winning software, data and analytics company that drives innovation in the mortgage lending and servicing and real estate industries, as well as the capital and secondary markets. Businesses leverage our robust, integrated solutions across the entire homeownership life cycle to help retain existing customers, gain new customers, mitigate risk and operate more effectively. Our clients rely on our proven, comprehensive, scalable products and our unwavering commitment to delivering superior client support to achieve their strategic goals and better serve their customers. For more information on Black Knight, please visit www.blackknightinc.com. For more information: Michelle Kersch Mitch Cohen Black Knight, Inc. Black Knight, Inc. 904.854.5043 704.890.8158 michelle.kersch@bkfs.com mitch.cohen@bkfs.com View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/black-knights-first-look-2020-ends-with-1-7-million-more-seriously-delinquent-homeowners-than-at-start-of-year-foreclosures-at-record-low-301211915.html SOURCE Black Knight, Inc. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Students are headed back to class amid the coronavirus pandemic, and to keep you posted on whats unfolding throughout U.S. schools K-12 as well as colleges Yahoo Life is running a weekly wrap-up featuring news bites, interviews and updates on the ever-unfolding situation. President Biden is aiming to reopen schools to in-person learning within 100 days. Biden made the announcement as part of the National Strategy for the COVID-19 Response and Pandemic Preparedness, which was released on Thursday. The document spells out several strategies for tackling the pandemic and returning to normalcy, including a section devoted to education. The United States is committed to ensuring that students and educators are able to resume safe, in-person learning as quickly as possible, with the goal of getting a majority of K-8 schools safely open in 100 days, the document reads. Biden also issued an executive order called Supporting the Reopening and Continuing Operation of Schools and Early Childhood Education Providers that directs a national strategy for safely reopening schools. (To date, it has largely been a state-led operation.) Under the order, the Departments of Education and Health and Human Services must provide guidance on safe reopening and operating, and have to develop a Safer Schools and Campuses Best Practices Clearinghouse to share lessons learned and best practices from across the country. Bidens order extends federal support to states for full reimbursement of eligible costs needed for a safe school reopening through the FEMA Disaster Relief Fund. He is also asking Congress to provide at least $130 billion in dedicated funding to schools, $350 billion in flexible state and local relief funds that will help districts avoid layoffs and close budget gaps, and additional resources so that schools can safely reopen, including funds to implement screening tests. The Biden administration also plans to release a handbook to help schools and local leaders implement the precautions and strategies needed for safe reopening. The White House says it will work with states and local school districts to support screening in schools, including working with states to ensure an adequate supply of test kits. Story continues Reactions on social media are mixed: This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. But doctors agree that this is a step in the right direction. Ive been advocating for schools to reopen prior to this, infectious disease expert Dr. Amesh A. Adalja, senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, tells Yahoo Life. Its a nice development that the president is prioritizing reopening. Dr. William Schaffner, an infectious disease specialist and professor at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, tells Yahoo Life that reopening schools in 100 days is aspirational, adding, I think its a great idea. However, experts say many precautions need to be taken first. Its a huge job, Schaffner notes, adding that trying to vaccinate all adults associated with schools is key. If we could vaccinate all adults associated with schools, we could reduce the anxiety in our country tremendously and get kids back in school, he says. Schools also have to be modified in a way that allows for physical distancing and limits the spread, Adalja says. That may mean getting creative with learning spaces, like taking over empty buildings in the community for learning or having outdoor class when the weather permits, he says. Schools can reclaim empty space, just like hospitals have to do. They can use resources from the federal government to rent space. Adalja acknowledges that its not possible to reopen schools to in-person learning and have students and staff be 100 percent safe from the virus. Schaffner agrees: Nothing is perfect. We cant wave a magic wand. But children are less affected by the virus and they dont seem to be major transmitters. Adults are transmitting this virus mostly. This needs to be a priority in this country, Adalja says. Its odd that schools have stayed open in other countries but, in the U.S., casinos have stayed open while schools have stayed closed. School district in Arkansas approves COVID-19 leave for teachers Arkansass Siloam Springs School District board members have approved COVID-19 leave for employees. Staff will be granted 10 days of paid COVID-19 leave if they become sick or have to quarantine because of the virus. Teachers were granted 10 days of COVID-19 leave in the fall under federal legislation, but the federal money was halted on Dec. 31, superintendent Jody Wiggins tells Yahoo Life. Employees who meet the criteria will not have to use their sick time or personal time until the 10 days of COVID-19 leave is used up. We have had several teachers who would have had to be docked pay for missing too many days if we had not had COVID leave available in the fall, Wiggins says. We anticipate we will have as many, if not more, COVID-related absences this spring. Arkansas is currently seeing a surge in COVID-19 infections, with 3,106 new cases reported Thursday. A policy like this is very forward-thinking, Dr. Juan Salazar, physician in chief and executive vice president of academic affairs at Connecticut Childrens Medical Center, tells Yahoo Life. It could potentially help limit the spread of COVID-19 from teachers and staff to students. It also helps alleviate concerns about using up vacation time or losing pay for COVID-related sick days, Dr. Lawrence Kleinman, survey/data core director at the Institute for Health, Health Care Policy and Aging Research at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, tells Yahoo Life. When peoples financial interests go against public health interests, thats a bad thing, he says. Wiggins says the leave policy has been very well received and much appreciated by staff. We hope this relieves some of the stress on our staff that is associated with the pandemic, he says. We also hope this encourages staff to go and get tested when they are exhibiting symptoms without the fear of possibly losing salary if they have to stay at home because of a positive test. Our ultimate goal is to do everything we can as a district to ensure that we maintain face-to-face instruction because we believe that is the best option for students and for learning. Some high schools are live-streaming athletic events Sports have continued at many high schools across the country, but the number of spectators has been limited due to the pandemic. Thats why several have come up with a tech-savvy solution: live-streaming events. At the Twinsburg (Ohio) City School District, games are live-streamed through the districts three YouTube channels. We started to have the conversation about this when COVID really ramped up last spring, projecting that we were probably going to be in this situation for a while, Brian Fantone, athletic director of Twinsburg Schools, tells Yahoo Life. Twinsburg High School has an interactive media class taught by Casey Kirtley, and it seemed like a natural fit to use its resources to live-stream games, he says. We were very fortunate that we had a lot of capability and personnel meaning Casey and his students to pull this off, Fantone says. Fantone shares athletic schedules with Kirtley and his class; they set up cameras in the right areas and live-stream from the events. One hundred percent of the credit goes to Mr. Kirtley and his students, Fantone says. The reception from families has been great, Fantone adds. He has also heard that family members from out of state who normally wouldnt be able to see students play have been able to tune in. Its just become a bright spot with everything thats happened, he says. The school is even considering continuing with live-streamed games when life returns to normal. Theres something to be said for continuing the process of live-streaming athletic events, just because of the positives that have come out of it, he says. The Charlotte (N.C.) Country Day School is also live-streaming athletic events. Abe Wehmiller, the schools director of athletics, tells Yahoo Life that the school started live-streaming some home volleyball and basketball games in the fall of 2019 as a way to expand our following beyond our immediate student and parent community. But, this past fall, the school ramped up our efforts considerably as a way to provide continued viewing opportunities even as weve had to limit in-person attendance in compliance with COVID-related health and safety protocols, he says. Charlotte Country Day School broadcasts most of its athletic events through the NFHS Network and purchased a schoolwide license so viewers dont have to pay a fee. It hasnt been a seamless process, though. We learned a lot this fall about what is required to successfully produce regular broadcasts everything from equipment to personnel to network infrastructure, Wehmiller says. There were a lot of bumps in the road, but were much better at it now than we were when we started in September. More than 4,500 people sign a petition to prioritize COVID-19 vaccination for Vermont teachers and school staff A petition to prioritize COVID-19 vaccines for teachers and school staff in Vermont has garnered more than 4,500 signatures and counting. The petition, which was started by kindergarten teacher Samantha Brehm, asks that teachers be included in the states phase one rollout for COVID-19 vaccination. There is insufficient data to justify the exclusion of teachers and school staff from being prioritized to receive the COVID-19 vaccination, the petition reads. We call on Governor [Phil] Scott to follow the CDC and federal guidelines to ensure the inclusion of teachers and school staff in the next phase of vaccinations after group 1A. As of now, health care personnel and residents of long-term care facilities can be vaccinated in the state. Starting Jan. 25, people who are 75 or older will be able to be vaccinated. Brehm tells Yahoo Life that school surveillance data of COVID-19 cases among teachers and staff is incomplete given that it only includes positive results from those who have opted into testing or are asymptomatic. Surveillance testing excludes teachers who fail the daily health screening or self-report more than one symptom, her petition reads. My hope is that the state of Vermont acknowledges that the school surveillance data is incomplete, she says. Brehm says she sent her petition to Scott and received an automated response about the states vaccination schedule in response. A sign has been modified to read "I will be grateful for Covid ending" in Brattleboro, Vt. (Brian Snyder/Reuters) Rebecca Kelley, Scotts communications director, defended the states vaccination plan. Our vaccination strategy is based on data and science and focused on preserving lives, she tells Yahoo Life. While we continue to have an unpredictable and very limited supply, our phase two distribution plan prioritizes those at greatest risk of death and severe illness with an age banding approach. The state eventually will move down by five-year increments to those who are 65 years old. After that, people with certain chronic conditions will be included. Teachers and school staff who meet these criteria would of course be eligible for vaccination during these early distribution phases, Kelley says. The bottom line is that age is the No. 1 indicator of risk for death and severe illness. In Vermont, 93 percent of our COVID-19 deaths are 65 years old or older, Kelley explains. By prioritizing based on that risk, we are meeting our No. 1 goal in this emergency: to save lives. Expanding to a broader population based on jobs and sectors would distract us from this mission, and given the limited supply, would make little impact on stopping the spread of the virus to our most vulnerable. This is the thinking behind our strategy. Kelley says the state uses the surveillance testing to monitor our broader conditions for the virus in our communities not to justify an approach to vaccination. But Brehm maintains that teachers need to be prioritized. Vermont children deserve to be in school, Vermont parents expect children to be in school and Vermont is doing everything to make that happen by April 2021, except vaccinating teachers and school staff, she says. Teachers and school staff matter. A record number of teachers are retiring in Floridas Broward County amid concerns about the lack of social distancing in classrooms Hundreds of teachers in Floridas Broward County are planning to retire over concerns about safety in their schools. Several parents also spoke out in a press conference earlier this week about fears that local schools arent spacing out students enough in class. One of those parents, John Moreno-Escobar, said that he received a message from his sons elementary school that said some classes may only be able to maintain a distance of 3 feet between students, half the distance currently recommended by the CDC. Im very concerned about the health of students, parents and teachers, he said at the press conference. As more students get pushed to go back, were going to see this more. Sawgrass Elementary School, the Sunrise, Fla., school that Moreno-Escobars son attends, did not respond to Yahoo Lifes request for comment. Salazar says its risky to disregard CDC guidelines on spacing in schools. Many of the kids will be, for the most part, asymptomatic, he says. Even if theyre wearing a mask, bringing back a lot of kids in classrooms in crowded conditions those kids are going to get infected, and theyre going to bring it home to their parents and grandparents, who can get really sick. Anna Fusco, president of the Broward Teachers Union, tells Yahoo Life that the union expects all schools to follow protocol and all CDC guidelines for social distancing. It can happen if they pay close attention to the capacity of the students entering in brick and mortar, she says. The schools need to make a conscious effort to not ignore the CDC guidelines for social distancing. This year, 340 teachers are retiring in the school district a sharp increase from 108 last year. Fusco says she doesnt blame teachers who choose retirement. The COVID cases have risen and the deaths have risen, she says. The choice to end their career with retirement instead of possible exposure to COVID and possibly die was not easy, but they needed to make the choice to retire to make sure they stay safe and alive. For those who arent retiring, Fusco says, theyre very concerned the CDC guidelines will not be able to continue as the district plans to bring more students back to in-person learning. For the latest coronavirus news and updates, follow along at https://news.yahoo.com/coronavirus. According to experts, people over 60 and those who are immunocompromised continue to be the most at risk. If you have questions, please reference the CDCs and WHOs resource guides. Read more from Yahoo Life Want lifestyle and wellness news delivered to your inbox? Sign up here for Yahoo Lifes newsletter. Biden is known for his empathy, his lingering at the rope line to hear one last story of a life taken too early, his tendency to tear up when recalling a loved one whos died. But he also has something that leaders from Nelson Mandela to Abraham Lincoln had a belief in the power of why not? Thats the province of poets, not policy wonks. Heat health alerts have been issued for several districts, including Melbourne, as Victoria heads into a burst of summer heat, with temperatures set to soar into the 40s across much of the state, sparking bushfire concerns. The Department of Health and Human Services on Friday issued a heat warning for the Mallee district for Saturday and for the central, Mallee, north-central, north-east, northern country and Wimmera weather districts on Sunday. Beachgoers in St Kilda today. Credit:Paul Rovere The hot blast will see Melbournes temperature hit 34 degrees on Sunday before tapping a peak of 41 degrees on Monday, the Bureau of Meteorology predicted late Friday afternoon. Bureau of Meteorology meteorologist Miriam Bradbury said we will see the heat really kick in on Sunday and continue to Monday. BAD AXE State Sen. Dan Lauwers made a stop in Bad Axe on Wednesday to speak with the owner of the Peppermill Inn and other restaurants about the current state of Michigans shutdown orders. It was the third such stop Lauwers had made that day, appearing earlier in the day at Roadhouse 19 in Yale and at Little Camilles by the Bay in New Baltimore. Lauwers conservation with owner Thomas McCollum was recorded and is part of a video his staff created of him talking with other restaurant owners about the devastating impact the shutdown orders have had on restaurants. The video will be available for viewing on Lauwerss state senate website and social media pages. During their conversation, McCollum said that as a result of the shutdown, 2020 was the first year the Peppermill lost money in the 26 years he owned it. He also went the route of offering takeout, which normally accounts for only 5% of the restaurants sales and brought in about $200 to $300 a day not enough to pay for one waitress, cook, food costs, and other expenses. Related story: Lauwers to speak Wednesday about restaurant restrictions The (state) grants do help, but we just want to be open, McCollum said about still being closed. The restaurant has no money to pay the ongoing bills, so we need to open soon, McCollum said. If we cant open soon, there is a good chance that the restaurant I have owned for 26 years will be done. It will be sad to go out of business due to no fault of my own," he said. "Lets open to save thousands of jobs and businesses. Lauwers also talked with other Huron County residents who stopped by, including members of the We the County group, about the coronavirus pandemic in general and other issues in Lansing. In Michigan, as of Jan 16., the number of confirmed daily COVID-19 cases per million has been cut by 92%, the daily positive test percentage is down by more than 57%, and hospitalizations have dropped by 42% since the November order was issued. Lauwers said that throughout all of this, it was disheartening to hear the governor say that the Legislature did not work with her, as she had vetoed legislation that had near unanimous support in the Legislature. She has also not appeared at all in the Senate chamber, a first for Lauwers in his time as a state senator. Its becoming insulting, Lauwers said, adding the legislators and health departments do not know what the governors plans are until she announces them in a press conference. Lauwers said the Legislature plans on prorating all licensing fees and taxes for businesses that were closed due to the pandemic that received state-supported services. Its better to collect money over time from them than put someone out of business, Lauwers said. Aside from working on getting the economy back open, the state Legislature would be looking at two things the balance of power in state government in what allows the governor to have executive overreach, and the licensing of various businesses. Lauwers gave the example of barbershops having to shut down because they are licensed by the state, so legislators are looking at if such licenses are needed. I like the idea of having certification that can be done through professional associations, Lauwers said. It doesnt need to come through the state, to hold that over people. Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-22 07:03:03|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 21 (Xinhua) -- The UN secretary-general's special representative and head of the UN peacekeeping mission in the Central African Republic (CAR), Mankeur Ndiaye, warned Thursday that the country faces the grave risk of a setback. "The Central African Republic runs a serious risk of a setback in terms of security and peacebuilding, which could undermine everything that this council and the partners of the Central African Republic have helped to build," Ndiaye told the Security Council in a briefing. After the Constitutional Court's release on Monday of the final results of the presidential election and its proclamation of the re-election of President Faustin Archange Touadera, the situation remains tense on the ground, he said. The wave of violence, which preceded the election, continues, following the creation of a new coalition of armed groups, the Coalition of Patriots for Change (CPC), whose alliance with political actors, in particular former President Francois Bozize, is now established. Their initial goal of the CPC was to disrupt the presidential election. Most recently, the coalition is attempting to unseat President Touadera, he said. He made a forceful appeal for additional support. Ongoing violence against civilians, authorities, security forces and peacekeepers is testing the capacities of the peacekeeping mission. To cope with the new threat, and to avoid that it takes a lasting hold on the country's territory, the response of the mission must be frank, clear and robust, he said. Ndiaye said the only sustainable answer to today's challenges is political. There is a need to think about how best the international community -- the United Nations, bilateral partners and regional actors -- could collectively support the strengthening of governance and the diligent building of the country's institutions, he said. Central Africans have demonstrated that they are no longer willing to tolerate the use of violence to deprive them of their fundamental rights, such as the right to vote, said Ndiaye. The resilience and enthusiasm encourage the peacekeeping mission and the entire international community to continue to support them on the path of reconciliation, reconstruction, dialogue and inclusion. It is certainly a difficult path, but remains the only one that may lead to lasting peace, he said. Enditem US President Joe Biden has begun to undo some of Donald Trump's key policies, hours after being sworn in, including ending the travel ban on some majority-Muslim countries and other African nations. His proclamation said that the US was built on a foundation of religious freedom and tolerance, a principle enshrined in the United States Constitution. Nevertheless, the previous administration enacted a number of executive orders and presidential proclamations that prevented certain individuals from entering the United States - first from primarily Muslim countries, and later, from largely African countries. 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. Mr Trump signed a controversial travel ban just seven days after taking office as US president in January 2017, arguing it was vital to protect Americans. People from Iran, Libya, Somalia, Syria, Yemen, Venezuela, and North Korea were banned from obtaining any kind of visa. Chad was taken off this list in 2019. Last February, citizens of six more countries were barred from obtaining certain types of visas, including those from Eritrea, Nigeria, Sudan, and Tanzania. Mr Biden said the actions of Mr Trumps administration had undermined national security. They have jeopardised our global network of alliances and partnerships and are a moral blight that has dulled the power of our example the world over. And they have separated loved ones, inflicting pain that will ripple for years to come. They are just plain wrong. But the new president said the US would still take threats to the country seriously. When visa applicants request entry to the United States, we will apply a rigorous, individualised vetting system. But we will not turn our backs on our values with discriminatory bans on entry into the United States. Source: BBC Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video 1. Yes. The public must have assurances that ethical standards are met by everyone. 2. Yes. As long as an independent board hears the grievances, its a worthwhile idea. 3. No. The concept is too broad. It should be limited to the citys elected officials. 4. No. There are plenty of stipulations in place already. An ordinance is a waste of time. 5. Unsure. Its hard to say without seeing how it would be structured and applied. Vote View Results London, United Kingdom--(Newsfile Corp. - January 22, 2021) - Link Reservations Inc. (OTC PINK: LRSV) (the "Company"), a provider of cannabidiol (CBD) products specifically tailored for pets, announces it has purchased DailyLifeCBD - a website selling CBD products for people. As part of this, the Company has acquired both the DailyLifeCBD website and its existing product line. The purchase means Link Reservations will now expand its operations with a website selling products for the human market, which will be a sister site to LinkResPet, its dedicated pet care brand. "This is an exciting opportunity for LRSV as we move to expand into the highly popular and lucrative CBD wellness sector, positioning ourselves for a potentially substantial revenue growth", commented Rene Lauritsen, CEO at LinkResPet. "By having an exclusive home for our CBD wellness products, we will be able to initially grow our target audience organically by offering our existing pet owner customers products for both their pets and now themselves, through a whole new range tailored for personal use. At the same time, the possibility to grow our market presence and customer base beyond that is very significant, as people don't need to have a pet to be interested in our CBD products", he explained. According to a Nielsen study, approximately 74% of consumers who purchase CBD products own pets, and 24% of pet owners use hemp or CBD for themselves, their pet or both. In fact, about 26% of dog owners are using CBD products, of which half are already administering it to their dogs. The global cannabidiol market was valued at USD 4.6 billion in 2018 and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 22.2% from 2019 to 2025, https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/cannabidiol-cbd-market . The Company plans to initiate activities through DailyLifeCBD with a range of non-edible and edible lifestyle products and expand on the range as the site and demand grows. For more information about DailyLifeCBD please visit: https://dailylifecbd.com/ For more information about LinkResPet, please visit www.linkrespet.com or follow them on Twitter on @res_pet About Link Reservations Inc. Link Reservations Inc is CBD Petcare provider dedicated to improving the health and life conditions of pets worldwide. Developing and marketing hemp-based CBD products for cats, dogs and horses, the Company is currently present in Europe and in the US. A pioneer in the area, Link Reservations Inc products can be found under its brand LinkResPets (www.linkrespet.com). Forward-Looking Statements & Disclaimers: The information in this Press Release includes certain "forward-looking" statements within the meaning of the Safe Harbor provisions of Federal Securities Laws, as that term is defined in section 27a of the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and section 21e of the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Statements in this document, which are not purely historical, are forward-looking statements and include any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the future. Investors are cautioned that such statements are based upon assumptions that in the future may prove not to have been accurate and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties, including the future financial performance of the Company. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in its forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations or any of its forward-looking statements will prove to be correct. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements that speak only as of the date of this release, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements to reflect new information, events, or circumstances after the date of this release except as required by law. Link Reservations Inc. 400 Thames Valley Park Drive Reading Berkshire RG6 1 PT United Kingdom Phone: +44 330 808 0897 To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/72615 [January 22, 2021] Michael J. Cumbo Appointed President & CEO Of Omega Optical Holdings BRATTLEBORO, Vt., Jan. 22, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Omega Optical Holdings, LLC (Omega or the Company), a leading precision optics platform backed by Artemis Capital Partners (Artemis), announced today that Dr. Michael J. Cumbo has been appointed President and CEO, effective February 1st. Dr. Cumbo brings more than 30 years of leadership experience in the optics and photonics industry to Omega. Artemis formed Omega Optical Holdings, LLC in August 2020, upon the acquisition of Omega Optical, LLC, a manufacturer of precision optical filters and coatings, and plans to target further complementary acquisitions. Dr. Cumbo will lead all strategic and operational initiatives to position the platform for long-term growth. Dr. Cumbo is an experienced optics and photonics industry leader with a successful track record of building world-class optical technology companies in the life science, defense & aerospace, semiconductor, and industrial OEM markets. Cumbo joins Omega from his previous role as CEO at AIM Photonics, the U.S. Defense Department's $600 million photonics hub in Albany, NY, where he will continue to serve as the Chairman of AIM's Leadership Council. Prior to AIM Photonics, Cumbo spent 30 years driving growth and technology development at market-leading optics businesses across the globe, most recently serving as Vice President at AMETEK-ZYGO and as President of IDEXOptics & Photonics. "We are very pleased to welcome Mike as President and CEO of Omega," said Peter A. Hunter, Managing Director at Artemis and Chairman of Omega. "He has a deep technical and business background in optics, and he also has a proven track record of successfully building great companies and moving technologies and teams from research to production. We are excited about Omega's potential, and we are confident in Mike's ability to help build an innovative, world-class optics platform." "I am honored and excited to join the Omega team and partner with Artemis in building the Omega Optical Holdings platform," Cumbo said. "I look forward to working closely with Omega's management team, employees, customers and suppliers to build an agile organization that solves mission-critical technology challenges for our customers and meets the growing global demand for high precision, no-fail optical coatings, components and assemblies." Dr. Cumbo holds a Ph.D. in Optics, an M.S. in Optical Engineering, and a B.S. in Physics from the University of Rochester, as well as an M.S. in Electrical Engineering from Rochester Institute of Technology. He has 11 patents and authored 22 technical journal papers and conference proceeding articles. Omega Optical Founded in 1969, Omega Optical designs and manufactures precision optical filters and coatings enabling mission-critical applications for global OEM customers in a wide range of industries, including life sciences, environmental monitoring, aerospace, defense, semiconductor, and more. Specializing in complex, high-performing thin film band pass filters, the Company has a breadth of capabilities and experience to support full customer life cycle needs from design to prototyping to volume production. Omega is ISO 9001:2015 and ITAR compliant. For more information on Omega Optical, please visit: www.omegafilters.com Artemis Founded in 2010, Artemis Capital Partners is a Boston-based private equity firm focused on acquiring and growing manufacturers of differentiated industrial technologies, including optics and photonics. Artemis seeks to partner with companies that have strong established management teams, outstanding engineering capabilities, unique products, and expanding niche markets. For more information on Artemis, please visit: www.artemislp.com. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/michael-j-cumbo-appointed-president--ceo-of-omega-optical-holdings-301213377.html SOURCE Omega Optical (an Artemis company) [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] B I want to be a role model, says ernardine Evaristo emphatically. And an inspiration. Because my background, its not, you know, a white background. Its not upper-class; its not privileged; its not Oxbridge. I come from a large, working-class, mixed-race family growing up in suburbia. The things that have happened to my career this last year have been absolutely wonderful, but people shouldnt forget that its been a very, very long journey. The 61-year-old winner of the 2019 Booker Prize sits at a 10-seat distance from me (its before the latest lockdown), in the front row of the theatre-in-the-round of Rose Bruford College. Evaristo has just begun a five-year term as president of the Kent drama school. There is a satisfying circularity to this alumna appointment. These days Evaristo thinks of herself, with occasional amusement, as part of the establishment: a professor of literature at Brunel University; an honorary fellow of St Annes College, Oxford; a vice-president of the Royal Society of Literature; an OBE recipient on the Queens 2020 birthday honours list. None of that, however, was her expectation 40 years ago when she was a very happy student here at Rose Bruford. It took the young Woolwich-raised Evaristo, fourth of eight children of an immigrant West African father and British mother, three rounds of drama school applications to secure any offers. She chose the college, set around a manor house on the leafy fringes of Sidcup, because it offered a course in community theatre and she knew how challenging it would be to find work as a black actor. Other drama courses would have trained me to act, she says. But not given that sense of control over my career from also being able to create theatre. On graduating in 1982, she co-founded Britains first black womens theatre company, Theatre of Black Women, with fellow students Paulette Randall and Patricia St Hilaire. There is a significantly broadened culture of opportunity for black theatre-makers today but Evaristo hopes her appointment to this ceremonial role, following former National Theatre director Sir Richard Eyre, will bolster students ambitions. I hope that for black students in particular, it will have a resonance, she says. For the student body as a whole I feel that I have a lot of wisdom to share. I have been in the arts professionally since 1982, and that is a very long time to last, first in theatre and then in writing. I hope I can impart to the students here in a hopeful way that need to be resourceful, tenacious, resilient, imaginative, determined beyond belief and committed to your art in the face of all kinds of adversity. Even something as extreme as theatres annus horribilis in 2020. We meet in what now seem the sunny uplands of Tier 3 on a bracingly bright, clear day before Christmas. After having her photograph taken in Rose Brufords landscaped Lamorbey Park grounds, Evaristo and I head into the theatre. Her eighth, Booker-nabbing novel, Girl, Woman, Other, begins outside a theatre: with Amma sauntering down the South Bank on the day the black, feminist epic she has written and directed, The Last Amazon of Dahomey, opens at the National. Of the 12, mostly female, mostly black, characters explored in that novel, Ammas story seems the most infused with the young Evaristo. The author now smiles fondly about her lesbian era (she and husband, writer David Shannon, have been together since 2006). Meanwhile Amma, a gay veteran of radical feminist theatre, has spent decades on the fringe, a renegade lobbying hand grenades at the establishment that excluded her until the mainstream began to absorb what was once radical and she found herself hopeful of joining it. Of her own accession to establishment positions, Evaristo says: Im not interested in a status quo that is exclusionary. When I get into these positions of symbolic or actual power, Im there to represent people who I feel should become part of the narrative of that organisation. Bernadine and Margaret Atwood / Getty Images Being the first black British woman to be awarded the Booker, a prize she shared with Margaret Atwood that year, has given Evaristo a powerful mainstream platform. Ive done nothing but talk, she chuckles, eyes glinting. Everything changed for me through winning the prize. I have this background as an activist, which Ive carried on with, but now more people pay attention. For years, Evaristo has been known in literary circles, for her advocacy of inclusion, and nurturing of younger authors. The Complete Works poetry scheme she founded, which mentored 30 poets of colour, can genuinely be said to have transformed British spoken and written word. Graduates include the multi-award-winning Jay Bernard, Raymond Antrobus and Sarah Howe. She also co-founded the influential writers development agency, Spread The Word. Evaristo began Girl, Woman, Other in 2013. While writing, she sensed a shift in the world, that the political momentum of #MeToo and #BlackLivesMatter had created more interest in that kind of story, and black womens lives generally. The book came out, relatively quietly, in May 2019. It was the Booker win that October that transformed its fortunes, with 28 translation deals secured within a month, and an end-of-year endorsement from Barack Obama. Historian David Olusoga has said its Booker triumph symbolises a progressive shift in British cultural attitudes. The toppling of Edward Colstons statue in Bristol was another symbolic moment in a year of seismic change what did she think its impact was on the British Black Lives Matter movement? Events last summer really did change the focus here. Previously, it was very easy for British people to point to America, look at the levels of discrimination there and think, Well, we dont have that kind of problem here. MARQUESALMEIDA jacket, and GIAMBATTISTA VALLI trousers, as before. AEYDE boots, 340 (aeyde.com). Shirt, headband and earrings, Bernardines own / Ekua King But Britain is a country that is systemically racist in lots of different ways, that has refused for a long time to examine that. What happened last summer prompted many British institutions to look more seriously at their own practices and attitudes. Some artists have rejected honours, such as OBEs and MBEs, because of their association with the British Empire. They are old-fashioned terms and they need to change them, says Evaristo. But Im happy to accept these recognitions as a national honour. Also, my argument is, what does it look like if we dont accept them? If black and Asian authors dont, then they become white honours for white British people and that goes right up to people becoming Dames and entering the House of Lords. We continue our exclusion from certain levels of participation in society, and I think that would be sad. Though energised by the success of a generation of black creatives such as directors Lynette Linton and Ola Ince, writer-performers Michaela Coel and Inua Ellams and Steve McQueens Small Axe BBC1 drama season, she hopes to see more emerging black talent behind the scenes and at the helm of cultural organisations, as well as less familial pressure on children from immigrant backgrounds to jettison creative vocations. She also hopes to see Girl, Woman, Other adapted for the stage, ideally at the National in keeping with its protagonist Ammas play. The novel was optioned for TV early last year but that was just before the pandemic struck and things have since gone quiet. So is there serious talk of a theatre version? Not at the moment, says Evaristo. But focus on that [in this piece], because I really want them to! You get the feeling shell make it happen. WASHINGTON Opening arguments in the Senate impeachment trial for Donald Trump over the Capitol riot will begin the week of Feb. 8, the first time a former president will face such charges after leaving office. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer announced the schedule Friday evening after reaching an agreement with Republicans, who had pushed for a delay to give Trump a chance to organize his legal team and prepare a defense on the sole charge of incitement of insurrection. The February start date also allows the Senate more time to confirm President Joe Bidens Cabinet nominations and consider his proposed $1.9 trillion COVID relief package top priorities of the new White House agenda that could become stalled during trial proceedings. We all want to put this awful chapter in our nations history behind us, Schumer said about the deadly Jan. 6 Capitol siege by a mob of pro-Trump supporters. But healing and unity will only come if there is truth and accountability. And that is what this trial will provide. READ MORE: McConnell says Trump provoked Capitol siege, and fed lies to mob House Speaker Nancy Pelosi will send the article of impeachment late Monday, with senators sworn in as jurors Tuesday. But opening arguments will move to February. Trumps impeachment trial would be the first of a U.S. president no longer in office, an undertaking that his Senate Republican allies argue is pointless, and potentially even unconstitutional. Democrats say they have to hold Trump to account, even as they pursue Bidens legislative priorities, because of the gravity of what took place a violent attack on the U.S. Congress aimed at overturning an election. If Trump is convicted, the Senate could vote to bar him from holding office ever again, potentially upending his chances for a political comeback. The urgency for Democrats to hold Trump responsible was complicated by the need to put Bidens government in place and start quick work on his coronavirus aid package. The more time we have to get up and running ... the better, Biden said Friday in brief comments to reporters. Republicans were eager to delay the trial, putting distance between the shocking events of the siege and the votes that will test their loyalty to the former president who still commands voters attention. Negotiations between Schumer and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell were complicated, as the two are also in talks over a power-sharing agreement for the Senate, which is split 50-50 but in Democratic control because Vice President Kamala Harris serves as a tie-breaking vote. Pelosi said Friday the nine House impeachment managers, or prosecutors, are ready to begin to make their case against Trump. Trumps team will have had the same amount of time since the House impeachment vote to prepare, Pelosi said. READ MORE: What The Inquirer's Washington correspondent saw inside the House chamber as the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol closed in Democrats say they can move quickly through the trial, potentially with no witnesses, because lawmakers experienced the insurrection first-hand. One of the managers, California Rep. Ted Lieu, said Friday that Democrats would rather be working on policy right now, but we cant just ignore what happened on Jan. 6. This was an attack on our Capitol by a violent mob, Lieu said in an interview with The Associated Press. It was an attack on our nation instigated by our commander in chief. We have to address that and make sure it never happens again. Trump, who told his supporters to fight like hell just before they invaded the Capitol two weeks ago and interrupted the electoral vote count, is still assembling his legal team. White House press secretary Jen Psaki on Friday deferred to Congress on timing for the trial and would not say whether Biden thinks Trump should be convicted. But she said lawmakers can simultaneously discuss and have hearings on Bidens coronavirus relief package. We dont think it can be delayed or it can wait, so theyre going to have to find a path forward, Psaki said of the virus aid. Hes confident they can do that. Democrats would need the support of at least 17 Republicans to convict Trump, a high bar. While most Republican senators condemned Trumps actions that day, far fewer appear to be ready to convict. READ MORE: South Jersey anti-vax and ReOpen activist charged in Capitol riot A handful of Senate Republicans have indicated they are open but not committed to conviction. But most have come to Trumps defense as it relates to impeachment, saying they believe a trial will be divisive and questioning the legality of trying a president after he has left office. South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham, a close Trump ally who has been helping him find lawyers, said Friday there is a very compelling constitutional case on whether Trump can be impeached after his term an assertion Democrats reject, saying there is ample legal precedent. Graham also suggested Republicans will argue Trumps words on Jan. 6 were not legally incitement. On the facts, theyll be able to mount a defense, so the main thing is to give him a chance to prepare and run the trial orderly, and hopefully the Senate will reject the idea of pursuing presidents after they leave office, Graham said. Other Republicans had stronger words, suggesting there should be no trial at all. Wyoming Sen. John Barrasso said Pelosi is sending a message to Biden that my hatred and vitriol of Donald Trump is so strong that I will stop even you and your Cabinet from getting anything done. Wisconsin Sen. Ron Johnson suggested Democrats are choosing vindictiveness over national security as Biden attempts to set up his government. McConnell, who said this week that Trump provoked his supporters before the riot, has not said how he will vote. He said Senate Republicans strongly believe we need a full and fair process where the former president can mount a defense and the Senate can properly consider the factual, legal and constitutional questions. Trump, the first president to be impeached twice, is at a disadvantage compared with his first impeachment trial, in which he had the full resources of the White House counsels office to defend him. Graham helped Trump hire South Carolina attorney Butch Bowers after members of his past legal teams indicated they did not plan to join the new effort. The most powerful three-row SUV ever offered with a license plate bracket also happens to be rare. Dodge will build a total of 2,000 units according to the press release at the end of this story, which means that a family-sized utility vehicle is rarer than Mopars muscliest muscle car ever, the Demon.Its a single model-year run, said Dodge head Tim Kuniskis, ensuring that it will be a very special, sought-after performance SUV for years to come. Based on anticipated demand, all dealer allocations have already been reserved, but there is still some time to secure an unsold dealer order.Read that quote again, then remember that youll have to place an order at an authorized Dodge dealership nevertheless. The unsold orders, therefore, are likely to be marked up into the stratosphere by dealers who care more about quick money instead of continued patronage from a happy customer.Excluding $1,495 for the destination charge, the most exciting Durango ever produced can be had from $80,995 before optional extras. There arent too many of those, frankly, because the Hellcat is pretty much loaded as standard. There is only one special color for the exterior that costs extra, the stripes will set you back $1,195 or $1,295, three-season Pirelli P-Zero tires add $595 to the tally, and Laguna leather seats are available at $1,595.Scheduled to end production this June, the Durangos future is a bit uncertain because Stellantis doesnt wish to comment on future products. The safest scenario would be for Dodge to continue making it on the same platform, which is underwhelming if you consider the all-new underpinnings of the Jeep Grand Cherokee . The Giorgio Global architecture would be an interesting upgrade, but that doesnt seem too likely either.According to hearsay, the next generation of the Durango codenamed SD would join the Ram 1500-based Jeep Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer for the 2023 model year at the Warren Truck Assembly Plant in Michigan. In this case, Dodge would switch back to body-on-frame construction. At least six people were buried alive in Jharkhand's Koderma district when the roof of a mica mine caved in, a senior police officer said on Friday. Two bodies have been retrieved so far and efforts are underway to trace the others, Koderma Superintendent of Police (SP) Ehtesham Waquarib said. According to the SP, around eight people were collecting mica scraps in Phulwariya area of Koderma on Thursday evening, when the roof of the mine collapsed. Two of them were rescued by locals who gathered at the site of the incident hearing their cries, while the whereabouts of the other six could not be ascertained. In a few days the nation will mark the 176th anniversary of the first arrival of immigrants from India on May 30, 1845. They would come every year up to 1917, except for a short break between 1848 and 1851, transforming the local society. Andre' Hill/FacebookBy MEREDITH DELISO, ABC News (COLUMBUS, Ohio) -- Officials in Columbus, Ohio, plan to invest nearly $5 million in new body-worn cameras and introduce new legislation targeting police response following the death of Andre Hill, a Black man who was shot and killed by a police officer last month. The city has set aside $4.5 million to fund the "next generation of body-worn cameras to ensure cameras are recording and audio is captured when we need it most," Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther said during a press briefing Thursday. The announcement comes nearly a month to the day after Hill was fatally shot by an officer dispatched to a "non-emergency" disturbance call. Adam Coy, the officer who shot Hill, was fired by the city earlier this month after an investigation determined that his use of deadly force was not reasonable. Coy did not turn on his body camera until after shooting Hill on Dec. 22, authorities said. Body-camera footage released earlier this month also appeared to show responding officers handcuffed Hill before rendering any first aid. The city invested millions to first outfit the Columbus Division of Police officers with body-worn cameras in 2016. The upgraded body-worn cameras will provide "common-sense changes that will protect our officers and the public," Mayor Ginther said Thursday. The new cameras, which the city will begin installing this year, will automatically activate when an officer exits a cruiser on a priority call, sync with new dashboard cameras that are currently being installed and have improved resolution and video clarity, the mayor said. The city is also working to enhance the "look-back" feature to ensure the cameras are recording both video and audio. The look-back function on Coy's camera recorded 60 seconds of the incident without sound. "Bottom line, if this technology were in place in December, we would have higher-resolution video and audio evidence leading up to and including the shooting death of Andre Hill. Period," Ginther said. The city is working with the Columbus police union to ensure the look-back setting is aligned with the contract, the mayor said. The Columbus City Council also plans to introduce new legislation in the wake of Hill's fatal shooting to "make sure this doesn't happen again," Council President Shannon Hardin said during the briefing. "Andre's Law aims to ensure that safety officers use their body-worn cameras properly and call for medical aid or deliver medical aid themselves," Hardin said. The proposed legislation, which Hardin aims to pass "in short order" after its introduction on Monday, would require that body-worn cameras be activated during any enforcement action and require police to request or render aid under certain circumstances. Those who violate the law could be subject to discipline, or even criminal charges, Hardin said. "Andre's Law will not solve all police violence. But it's one more step in the right direction -- to ensure we know what is happening on the scene based on body-cam footage, and ensure that if residents are hurt, peace officers are there to render aid," Hardin said. "And if officers don't comply, that there can be greater accountability."Columbus to invest nearly $5M in police bodycams after Andre Hill shooting. Copyright 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved. ADVERTISEMENT The Nigerian government has launched an e-ticketing solution for the Abuja Kaduna rail line. The Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Ameachi, said the initiative is a Public Private Partnership (PPP) valued at N900 million. The amount is provided by the concessionaire, SecureID Solutions, which will run the system for 10 years to recoup its investment before handing ownership back to the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC). The government said the initiative will address numerous complaints by commuters about ticket racketeering, according to statement from Eric Ojiekwe, a spokesperson for the transportation ministry. Mr Amaechi, who conducted a virtual launch Thursday, said the automated ticketing system will enhance efficiency, save time and promote accountability while also reducing leakages and promoting economic growth. Speaking earlier, the chairman of the governing board, NRC, Ibrahim Musa, said that the e- ticketing solution finally brings to an end the persistent allegations of ticket racketeering at the train Station. According to the Chief Executive Officer of Secure ID Solutions, Kofo Akinkugbe, the launch heralds the nations entry into the new age of multi- model ticketing in public transportation while allowing for passengers convenience, efficiency and accountability for operators and providing data for government for better decision making. Mrs Akinkugbe further stated that the e- ticketing solution after a successful pilot programme as of recent, has issued 25,000 tickets online and informed intending commuters on the Abuja Kaduna rail corridor to assess the e ticketing solution via web by visiting www.nrc.tps.ng. Other avenues are: downloading the application from Google Play store or Apple Store, POS and cash payments at the counter. According to her, all solutions offer increased customer experience such as convenient ticket purchase 24 hours a day, seat selection, secure online payments, no physical interaction amongst others. On his part, the managing director, NRC, promised to increase the train shuttle from 8-16 and possibly commence hourly trip. A double-dip recession in the Eurozone is 'increasingly inevitable' due to Covid-19, with France among the countries most seriously hit, experts have warned. The slowdown in Eurozone business activities intensified in January as the pandemic continued to batter the economy, a key survey showed on Friday. The closely watched PMI index compiled by IHS Markit is considered the earliest indicator of the state of the economy and the latest reading confirmed fears that the year-old virus crisis is still going strong. France was among the hardest hit Eurozone nations, according to the closely watched PMI index compiled by IHS Markit, amid concerns over the country's vaccination roll-out. Pictured: Metal barriers block the access to the pyramids of the closed Louvre museum in Paris France was among the hardest hit Eurozone nations, with the news coming amid concerns over the country's vaccine roll-out being slower than others. Much hope has been put in the distribution of vaccinations to reopen the economy but the campaign in the EU is going at a slower pace than hoped. Meanwhile in Britain, that left the EU on January 1, the relapse into a third national lockdown has sparked the sharpest drop in business activity since May, with services companies hit hardest, according to the survey. The series of damaging lockdowns have been largely due to the spread of a more contagious strain of the virus. A preliminary 'flash' UK Composite Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) fell to 40.6 in January, down from 50.4 in December, in the survey announced Friday. However, Britain's vaccination programme has been rolled out at a much faster rate than countries on the continent, partly thanks to its ability to avoid European red tape since Brexit, that is holding others back. In the UK, 8.01 vaccine doses have been administered per 100 people, as of January 22. In contrast, France has seen just 1.26, Germany 1.67 and Spain 2.36. Pictured: Bournemouth International Centre in the UK. Britain's vaccination programme has been rolled out at a much faster rate than countries on the continent, partly thanks to its ability to avoid European red tape that is holding others back Pictured: A graph showing Cumulative Covid-19 vaccination doses administered per 100 people, as of January 22, in European countries 'A double-dip recession for the eurozone economy is looking increasingly inevitable as tighter Covid-19 restrictions took a further toll on businesses in January,' Chris Williamson, chief business economist at IHS Markit, said. This meant that the economies of the 19 countries that use the single currency, dominated by Germany and France, would sink back into recession after only a very short recovery over the European summer. The firm's closely watched PMI index fell from 49.1 points in December to 47.5 points this month, further away from the 50-point level which indicates growth. Williamson noted however that the bad start to 2021 would be less damaging than the economic collapse seen in the first wave of the pandemic last year. This was due to the 'ongoing relative resilience of manufacturing, rising demand for exported goods and the lockdown measures having been less stringent on average than last year,' he said. The difference between France and Germany was notable. The near-empty Pariser Platz square in front of Berlin's landmark Brandenburg Gate (Brandenburger Tor) reflected in a shop window on January 22, 2021. Europe's top economy Germany this week extended its partial lockdown until February 14, 2021. A preliminary 'flash' UK Composite Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) fell to 40.6 in January, down from 50.4 German exports managed to keep the country narrowly on a growth trajectory, while French business activity sank. The situation for the rest of the eurozone, accounting for a little more than half of the bloc's economy, was even worse. Worryingly, employment across the eurozone fell for an eleventh consecutive month, albeit with modest increases in France and Germany, IHS Markit said. The bleak picture confirmed a warning by European Central Bank chief Christine Lagarde who saw 'serious risks' still looming over the eurozone economy. The rollout of vaccines had instilled 'a strong degree of confidence' but 'the recent rise in virus case numbers has caused some pull-back in optimism,' Williamson said. If there is one thing you can rely on when it comes to Haydock going updates and inspections it is the predictable snotty attitude that accompanies them (not only on Social Media, but from some of the racing media itself), a sneering stance which is normally reserved for the champion trainer. It is a bit tiresome. Don't get me wrong, like everyone else I was very surprised that the course passed a Thursday morning inspection considering they were waterlogged 24 hours earlier and promptly got another 35mm afterwards. Haydock were too, calling it a "minor miracle." But they reported they had no standing water on the track when they looked - unlike Wincanton, who raced on Thursday despite being saturated in parts (I must have missed the hilariously cutting comments about that) - so why wouldn't they give it another 48 hours and every chance? Big, fat no bet It could well be they call it off on Saturday morning after another shufty - it could be that frost (-2 is forecast overnight) does for them - but for our purposes, here and now, it is going ahead on what will be "Haydock heavy". Maybe not be quite as deep as Chepstow was earlier in the week (they had a going stick reading of 2.5) but probably testing enough for connections to be worried for the return of Buveur D'Air in the Unibet Hurdle at 15:15. Ground which promises to be this bad is clearly not ideal for the dual Champion Hurdler, reappearing for the first time since suffering a very nasty hoof injury in the 2019 Fighting Fifth, but the fact that he takes on two inferior rivals getting weight would be very much welcomed by owner and trainer. Look, he should win on these terms, but no-one will be in the least surprised if he is chinned at odds-on on his first start since November 2019, so let's move on. Actually, Haydock won't take up too much of our time. I am quite a fan of Llandinabo Lad but I would want more than 15/8 to get with him under a 5lb penalty against four last-time-out winners in the Rossington Main at 13:30 and I spent far too long looking at the Peter Marsh at 14:40 before coming up with a big, fat, no bet. The problem is that I fully get the case for Royal Pagaille (who will be Gold Cup potential if winning this race off 156) and the fragile but talented mudlark Sam Brown, but they occupy the first two places in the betting at 9/4 and 4/1 respectively and there isn't much wriggle room in their odds. They are just a bit too obvious. All bar five of these are out of the handicap, so getting a solid alternative was not easy - third-favourite, Thommy Whittle winner, Sam's Adventure is the obvious one on that score - and I would probably put up Crievehill win-only at 16/1+ on the Exchange if my hand was forced. Given he has pretty much run like a drain in his last two starts, including behind Royal Pagaille at Kempton last time, that probably tells a story, but he is back on the same mark as when winning by 10 lengths over course and distance here in November 2019, so he is handicapped to take a hand at least. And his course form figures read 3221. But it would be a half-hearted selection if I put him up here - and the early 22s and 20s in the marketplace has gone, too - for all the Nigel Twiston-Davies yard have found a bit of form recently. I feel like I have already backed a winner in the ITV race at Taunton at 14:10, as I very nearly punted West Approach each way at 10/1 earlier in the week, and he wasn't declared on Thursday. In his absence, I can ignore a race which has cut up to just the seven runners. It does look a little like a Yala Enki (beat Rock The Kasbah 5 1/2 lengths in this race last year) v If The Cap Fits match-up, but last year's runner-up is not without a chance and could pester the former on the front end and the handicapper thinks the French recruit Al Roc has a decent enough shout, though he does carry a 4lb penalty. If you want to back Yala Enki at 10/11, just be advised that he has a far shorter turnaround from the Welsh National than he did last season. Right, let's get to Ascot and hopefully some bets. I'll take the card in time order. Back talented pair in Ascot's 13:50 There isn't a tempting wager in the five-runner Grade 2 mares' hurdle at 13:15, though I would prefer Magic Of Light, seeking a hat-trick in the race, at around 11/4 over the slight odds-on jolly Roksana. But I am going to put up two in the 2m3f58yd handicap hurdle at 13:50, starting with Janika at 7/1 each way, four places, with the Betfair Sportsbook. I mentioned him in my ante-post piece on Tuesday when he was a general 14/1 and 12/1 chance, but I couldn't get involved then as he was also entered in the handicap chase on this card. I am not surprised he comes here though, as he is 13lb lower over hurdles, and that is not where the positives end. He is clearly a very talented chaser on his day - he was rated 166 after winning the Haldon Gold Cup under 11st 10lb in November 2019 - and that run confirmed that he is also a horse that goes well when fresh and can carry big weights, despite apparently being on the small side. The latter is important as he hasn't been out for the thick-end of a year after competing in the Grade 1 Betfair Ascot Chase, and he comes here after having had a wind op (he had his soft palate cauterized) in the interim. He may well have had more troubles than that given the lengthy absence but I am told he is in great order for this, and that hurdles mark of 147 is begging to be exploited. He was a winner over hurdles in heavy ground when trained in France and his only start in that area for Henderson was in last year's Relkeel, when he finished a fair fourth. He looks fairly handicapped on that run, without even factoring in his chase exploits. If it wasn't for the trainer comments, and the fact that he was taken out because of it at Haydock in November, I would have said IK Brunel would have been fine on soft ground, with the step down in trip what he has been crying out for. Well, not exactly crying, but shaping as it will help. It would be all too easy to pass him over, but I think we set far too much store in trainer comments (for all he may decide to withdraw him here, I guess, if the ground is considered deeper than the official soft), so I am putting him up here at 26.025/1 or bigger on the Exchange. On the ground front, you can easily argue that IK Brunel's best runs have come on soft (Timeform agreed with those official going descriptions, too) and I reckon the tempo of this race could really suit him. There is loads of pace in here, and a stalking ride in a strongly-run contest could pay dividends. He travelled well up to the third-last over 3m at Newbury last time, and I think a mark of 136 is very fair judged on his (soft ground) Musselburgh win last February. Trainer and Betfair Ambassador Olly Murphy is having his best spell since the summer, and he has better chances of notching another winner than his odds suggest. He is also 20/1 with the Sportsbook. At the top of the market, I think Lightly Squeeze is a very fair 6/1 chance, especially as I think the longer trip will suit, given he had 1m6f form on the Flat. I may have a small interest on him so I don't lose if he wins, but I can't put up three here. Thankfully the 3m handicap chase at 14:25 isn't on ITV or else I would have had to tip Singlefarmpayment again. Perfect time for Domaine De L'Isle to perk up I am siding with Domaine De L'Isle in the 2m5f handicap chase at 15.014/1 or bigger - I wouldn't back him at less than 12/1 myself - in the 2m5f handicap chase at 15:00. The early 20s with the Sportsbook was snaffled on Thursday and I can see why, as he is back on the same mark as when beating Bennys King by a neck in this race on heavy last year (and in a very good time, too). David Bass rode him there and is on board for the first time since here. He let me down big style when I put him for the Paddy Power in November (albeit he was a 50/1 poke when I did) but a recent spin over hurdles will hopefully have teed him up for this. Once again, there is plenty of pace in this race and that will suit this hold-up performer, and hopefully the first-time blinkers do the trick in perking him up. They will need to, admittedly. Sean Curran is having a fair jumps season thanks mainly to Talking About You (and he also had a Flat winner this month) and is interesting that a majority of his winners on the level have come in this headgear. His Wolverhampton winner this month, Revolutionary Man, wore them, as did Griggy, Word Of Honour and Pink Jazz (won first time in them at 13/2) in 2020. He has had seven winning horses in 2020 and 2021, and four of them wore blinkers, so he knows what he is doing on that score. The horse could blow out but 16/1 is a fair trade-off. I fully expect to see Politologue win the Grade 1 Clarence House Stakes at 15:35 and the 11/8+ on the Exchange is not a bad price if you like them short. Paul Nicholls has really (if belatedly) found the key to the horse in ditching the hood and making the running with the grey, who is also two from three around here. I suppose those backing him have to be worried by serious form rivals Waiting Patiently and Defi Du Seuil though, and I always find these type of bets easy to resist. If all eight go to post, then maybe Fanion D'Estruval could be the each-way play at 14/1 and bigger. A confession now. I was going to stray from my ITV-only brief and tip Singlefarmpayment. In fact, I had the copy written and filed, and then he came through as a non-runner at 9:28am on Friday morning due to an infection. I have also backed Chef D'Oeuvre at 12/1 each way in the 2.05pm at Haydock away from the ITV cameras, if you would like to know. Good luck. Subscriber content preview SEATTLE An industrial property at 8025 10th Ave. S. in South Park sold for $11.5 million, according to King County records. The seller was Rodia Properties LLC, which acquired the property in 2005 for over $2.5 million. . . . WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 23rd January, 2021) US President Joe Biden has requested a comprehensive domestic terrorist threat evaluation from the intelligence community, White House spokesperson Jen Psaki told reporters on Friday. "Our initial work on DVE [Domestic Violent Extremism] will broadly fall into three areas. The first is a tasking from President Biden sent to the ODNI [Office of the Director of National Intelligence] today requesting a comprehensive threat assessment coordinated with the FBI and DHS on domestic violent extremism," Psaki said. "This assessment will draw on the analysis from across the government and, as appropriate, non-governmental organizations. The key point here is that we want fact-based analysis upon which we can shape policy." Chandigarh: Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Friday directed the Punjab Infrastructure Development Board (PIDB) to expedite all developmental works in the state at a meeting of its Board, which gave ex-post-facto approval to Rs 27.16 cores worth of urban environment improvement projects, along with development, upgradation and maintenance of various historic sites, including the Patiala Qila Mubarak. The Chief Minister is likely to virtually launch, next week, the Rs 8.58 crore project for upgradation, operation and maintenance of Ran Baas, Qila Mubarak Patiala, as Heritage Hotel on PPP mode, which is likely to be completed within 18 months. He will also launch the PPP project for operational and maintenance of Baba Banda Singh Bahadur Memorial, Chhappar Chiri, at an estimated cost of Rs 2.54 crore with a concession period of 15 years. Captain Amarinder Singh The Chief Minister was informed during the meeting that the construction of the Patiala Bus Stand had commenced and would be completed by November this year at a cost of Rs 60 crore. While discussing the renovation of the Amritsar Circuit House, at an estimated cost of Rs 3.94 crore, the Chief Minister, also asked Chief Secretary Vini Mahajan to work on a proposal to appoint a Protocol Officer to manage the large number of dignitaries visiting the holy city. He asked the CS to present the proposal before the next meeting of the Council of Ministers. Besides giving post-facto approval to the Cabinets decision to impose Special ID @ 25 paisa on Petrol, Diesel and Immoveable Property, the Board meeting also formally approved Rs 27.16 crore worth of projects under Urban Environment Improvement Programme Phase 1 and 2, as well as Raising of Term Loans from Banks for funding UEIP Phase-2 projects. These projects were earlier cleared by the Chief Minister, in his capacity as the Board chairman. Captain Amarinder Singh The 36th meeting of the PIDB Board, held virtually amid Covid today, also gave ex post facto approval to a Rs 125 crore project for establishing an Exhibition Centre in Ludhiana in PPP mode. To be developed at an estimated Rs 125 crore, with a concession period of 99 years, the project is expected to be launched by March, an official spokesperson said after the meeting. The meeting also discussed the status of other PPP projects in the pipeline, including Track and Trace mechanism for manufacturing, transport, distribution and consumption of liquor; Development of International Standard Tourism/Theme Destination in State of Punjab on Pathankot Dalhousie Road around Ranjit Sagar Lake; Development of Mohali Commercial Complex cum Convention Centre (GMADA) and Amritsar Commercial Complex cum Convention Centre (ADA); and Operation & Maintenance of PWD Rest House, Bhupindra Road, Patiala as Heritage Hotel. Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. Law enforcement officers detained four people on suspicion of violating fire safety requirements, which resulted in a fire and the death of 15 people in the Kharkiv nursing home on January 21, said Prosecutor General Iryna Venediktova. "Deadly fire in Kharkiv - four people have been detained. The prosecutor's office and the police promptly detained a group of people involved in organizing a private nursing home, where there was a fire with 15 victims," Venediktova wrote on her Facebook page. So, within the framework of criminal proceedings on the fact of violation of the fire safety requirements established by law, which entailed the death of people in accordance with Article 208, the owner of the house was detained, who handed over a two-story building for a boarding house, as well as the tenant of the house and his wife - the director of a private enterprise, which actually ran the institution ... The administrator who coordinated the work of the boarding house, but was not officially employed there, has been also detained. Now all the detainees are being prepared notices of suspicion and motions to choose a preventive measure. The Supreme Court on Friday dismissed another suit filed by the Sani Abacha family seeking access to the looted funds which they and the late Nigerian dictator stashed in foreign bank accounts. PREMIUM TIMES reports that the suit filed in the name of Ali Abacha, was dismissed by a five-man panel led by Sylvester Ngwuta for lacking in merit. Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, a Justice of the Supreme Court, who prepared the lead judgment, held that Mr Ali Abachas case was not different from that of a son of the ex-dictator, Abba Mohammed Sani, which was earlier dismissed by the apex court on February 7, 2020. Ms Kekere-Ekun, whose judgment was read by another Justice of the apex court, Ejembi Eko, on Friday, said: It is pertinent to state at this juncture that a case with the same facts and issues was decided recently by this court in SC. 68/2010 Alhaji Abba Mohammed Sani Vs the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Attorney-General of the Federation. Judgment was delivered on February 7, 2020. It is now reported in (2020) 2-3 SC (Pt. II). Although the appellants are different, the facts and issues in contention are the same. Both had their bank accounts in Switzerland and other countries frozen as result of the authorisation given to the Swiss law firm by the respondents. In the earlier case, the contention was also that the respondents acted outside the scope of their duties under a repealed law and were therefore not entitled to seek refuge under section 2(a) of the Public Officer Protection Act. She held that as in Abba Sanis case, the Ali Abachas matter too had become statute-barred and incompetent because it was not filed at the trial court within three months of the occurrence of the action complained about, thereby flouting section 2(a) of the Public Officer Protection Act. She said, It is not in dispute that the suit before the trial court was filed outside the three months stipulated in section 2(a) of the Act. The only issue to be considered was whether in the circumstances, the action was maintainable. The suit was not doubt statute-barred and rightly struck out by the lower court. Incidentally, R.O Atabo, also represented the appellant in Sani Vs the President & Another. He has not advanced any superior argument to warrant a departure from our decision in that case. This issue is resolved against the appellant. She ruled that it was unnecessary to go further to resolve other issues in the appeal. In conclusion, I find this appeal to be devoid of merit. It is hereby dismissed, she ruled. Background Mr Abacha died as the Nigerian Head of State on June 8, 1998, but funds looted by him and members of his immediate family in millions of different hard currencies, were still being recovered and repatriated by the Nigerian government as of February 2020. Then president, Olusegun Obasanjo, on December 23, 1999 delegated the power to freeze the Abacha familys foreign accounts under the Banking (Freezing of Accounts) Act to ex-Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Kanu Agabi, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria. Under the mutual legal assistance triggered by Nigerias requests, the familys bank accounts were subsequently frozen places like the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg and Jersey. Following the attorney-generals letter in October 2003 requesting the transfer of all the funds in the frozen accounts in the foreign countries to Nigeria, the Abachas, including Ali and Abba, had filed different suits at the Kaduna Division of the Federal High Court to challenge the move. Abacha family wins in trial court On April 16, 2004, the office of the AGF filed a preliminary objection against the Ali Abachas suit, contending that the court lacked jurisdiction to hear the suit on the grounds that it had become statute-barred by virtue of section 2(2)(a) f the Public Officers Protection Act. ADVERTISEMENT In a judgment delivered on September 24, 2004, the judge, A. M Liman, dismissed the AGFs preliminary objection on the grounds that the Public Officer Protection Act was not applicable. Mr Liman ruled that the Federal Government had no authority to write the letters for a request for mutual assistance because the Banking (Freezing of Accounts) Act of 1983 upon which the request was based had been repealed in 1999. AGF appeals judgement The Federal Government won at Court of Appeal and Supreme Court. The Court of Appeal in its judgment delivered on July 19, 2010, set aside the Federal High Courts verdict, holding that the suit was statute-barred and incompetent. Dissatisfied with the Court of Appeals judgment, Ali Abacha further appealed to the Supreme Court through a notice of appealed filed on May 9, 2019. The appeal was heard by the Supreme Court on October 26, 2020 and dismissed on Friday. An employee shows the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine in New York City on Dec. 21, 2020. (Eduardo Munoz/Reuters) 1,900 Doses of CCP Virus Vaccine Destroyed After Cleaner Accidentally Unplugs Freezer in Boston Hundreds of doses of Modernas CCP virus vaccine were destroyed after a cleaner in Boston accidentally turned off the freezer, while thousands more were possibly ruined by temperature change in Maine. On Tuesday, January 19, 2021, VA Boston Pharmacy staff discovered that a freezer at the Jamaica Plain campus failed. As a result, 1,900 doses of the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine stored in the freezer were compromised, Kyle Toto, the public affairs specialist at VA Boston Healthcare System, said in a statement to news outlets on Thursday. Moderna vaccine doses are frozen between -13 and -15 degrees F, says the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The doses then can be frozen or stored between 36 and 46 degrees F for up to 30 days, the agency says (pdf). The freezer at the Boston pharmacy was in a secure location and had an alarm system installed, said Toto. The plug was found loose after a contractor accidentally removed it while cleaning. Toto said the incident is being investigated. Replenishment doses are in process and we do not foresee disruption of our vaccination effort, Toto added. Separately, in Maine, around 4,400 doses of the Moderna vaccine may have to be discarded due to a change in temperature, said Maine CDC Director Dr. Nirav Shah. 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 said, reported NECN. Our goal among all of this is to make sure vaccine comes into the state is safe, effective, and viable before it goes into any arms, said Shah. This news is concerning, but its important to note this is how the system works. There are numerous checks along the way to ensure it is safe and effective, as well as viable. The CDC on Friday also said that severe allergic reactions to Moderna Incs coronavirus vaccine appear to be quite rare. Based on the data, the CDC said anaphylaxis, a life-threatening allergic reaction, occurred at a rate of 2.5 cases per 1 million shots administered. The agency cautioned that the risk of anaphylaxis was difficult to compare to nonCOVID-19 vaccines because it is still so early in the vaccination program. The CDC said the characteristics of severe allergic reactions to Modernas vaccine were similar to those reported with the COVID-19 vaccine from Pfizer Inc and partner BioNTech SE. Earlier this month, the CDC reported severe allergic reactions to the Pfizer/BioNTech shot occurred at a rate of 11.1 per 1 million vaccinations. Reuters contributed to this report. Investors check share prices at a securities firm in Nanjing, Jiangsu province. [Photo by Xing Qu/For China Daily] Chinese A-share assets are likely to continue outperforming most overseas equities in 2021, thanks to the country's robust economic recovery and the inflow of capital from foreign investors and domestic residents, experts said on Thursday. The CSI 300 index, a benchmark of the A-share market, has climbed 6.79 percent since the beginning of 2021 to Thursday's close at 5564.97 points, trading around its highest level in 13 years and outrunning the S&P 500's 2.55-percent rise this year as of Wednesday, according to market tracker Wind Info. "The A-share market is likely to continue leading global equities in 2021," said Channel Yeung, China market analyst at FXTM, a United Kingdom-based global trading platform. While it will still take some time for many major economies to end large-scale lockdowns and achieve economic recovery, China is already on the positive growth track and is expected to further expand its momentum this year amid policy support, he said. On Monday, China reported 2.3 percent economic growth in 2020, becoming the world's only major economy expected to have avoided contraction last year. As consumption and corporate investment are normalized in China, A-share firms are expected to see their earnings rapidly recover, enhancing their investment allure and attracting more foreign investors, Yeung said. From Jan 1 to Thursday, the A-share market saw a net inflow totaling 48.7 billion yuan ($7.5 billion) via stock connect programs with Hong Kong, with Jan 8 seeing 20.6 billion yuan worth of net inflows, the second-highest in history, according to Wind Info. The bullish sentiment also prevailed among Chinese investors. A mutual fund issued by E Fund Management Co Ltd broke the record for the initial subscription amount in China's mutual fund industry on Monday, attracting more than 230 billion yuan in subscriptions. The wave of Chinese families investing more in stocks and funds would be a key aspect of this year's market uptrend, thanks to the shrinking supply of shadow banking products curbs on housing purchases, as well as strengthened investor protection and quality of listed firms in the capital market, said Wendy Liu, head of China strategy at UBS Global Research. Meanwhile, about 200 billion yuan worth of foreign capital is expected to flow into the A-share market this year, helping the CSI 300 climb to 5950 points in an optimistic scenario, Liu said. Lynda Zhou, chief investment officer for equities in China at global asset manager Fidelity International, said the A-share market may outrun global equities this year amid continued foreign inflows, with cyclical shares that are the most sensitive to economic recovery and consumer discretionary sectors likely to be among the big winners. Cyclical sectors like oil, chemicals, machinery and metals led the market higher on Thursday, sending the CSI 300 up 1.62 percent, according to Wind Info. However, volatility will intensify in the A-share market this year, particularly as shares traded at high valuations face substantial downward pressure if their earnings fail to meet market expectations, Zhou said. After ending last year on a strong note with the CSI 300 rising over 27 percent, some A-shares, especially industry leaders in the sectors such as liquor, medical care and new energy vehicles are now traded at relatively high valuations. The expensive industry leaders may face short-term corrections as investors turn to cheaper companies, but should again attract investors when their valuation levels become more reasonable, given institutional investors' preferences for shares with high earnings growth and steady prospects, said Yeung from FXTM. BSNL and MTNL turn EBITDA positive within 1 year of implementing revival plan State-owned telecom firms Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) and Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd (MTNL) are back on the path of profitability a year after undertaking a revival plan to contain huge wage bills, administrative costs and other expenditure. BSNL had reported earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) of Rs3,855 crore in 2015-16 against Rs672 crore in 2014-15 and now, after few troubled years and a revival package, BSNL is once again back on the track of profitability. Within a year of implementing the revival plan, BSNL and MTNL have turned EBITDA positive in the first 6 months of this financial year. While for BSNL, EBITDA rose from minus Rs3,596 crore for half year ended September 2019 to Rs602 crore in April-September 2020-21, for MTNL the corresponding figures were minus Rs549 crore in April-September 2019-20, and Rs276 crore in the April-September 2020-21 period. According to Department of Telecommunications (DoT) sources, both organisations are expected to reduce their losses by 50 per cent when compared to 2019-20. Telecom minister Ravi Shankar Prasad had told the Lok Sabha during question hour in November 2019 that the government was committed to revive BSNL for public service and fairness, and had granted a package to support the PSU. "We are going to revive BSNL and make it profitable," he had told both houses of Parliament then. Both BSNL and MTNL have seen a sharp reduction in wage bill due to a voluntary retirement scheme (VRS) (nearly 50 per cent employees of BSNL and 75 per cent of MTNL opted for the VRS package. BSNL was able to maintain its revenue and cut down on other costs. BSNL is also rapidly expanding its fiber-to-the home (FTTH) connections and the progress is being closely monitored by DoT. In the mobile segment, market share has increased to 10.36 per cent in October 2020 as per figures published by Trai. BSNL added over 10 million new customers during the financial year in mobile segment. This has also given fillip to governments Digital India drive of cashless transactions as online transactions have increased by over 43 per cent in December 2020 since last financial year. The union cabinet had approved the revival package for BSNL/ MTNL in October 2019 which, inter-alia, included VRS, support for 4G spectrum, monetisation of core and non-core assets, Sovereign guarantee for bonds to be raised by the PSUs and merger of MTNL and BSNL in the short run. BSNL and MTNL have very successfully raised money through the bond route. In the recent bond-offer of MTNL, the issue was subscribed more than 3 times and for BSNL more than 2 times. According to DoT sources MTNL/ BSNL have been able to monetise core and non-core assets totalling Rs1,830 crore in 2019-20. This figure is expected to be in excess of Rs3,000 crore in the current year. In this regard, 6 properties are expected to be approved for auction through DIPAM route. BSNL is monetising its tower assets by leasing it out. It earned Rs1,018 crore. in the previous year and has planned to securitise the earnings from tower rentals. BSNL towers have unique preposition of fiber connection in more than 70 per cent, which make them highly attractive for TSP. Fiber has been monetised by leasing it out to private TSPs and BBNL. It has leased out 2 lakh kilometres of OFC at the rate of Rs18,000 per km per year earning a revenue of Rs360 crore. Insofar as 4G services are concerned, as per DoT the position is quite clear that core network for 4G will be totally made in India. According to DoT sources, BSNL and MTNL are strategic assets, and will provide a big impetus to the Indian manufacturers in the field of telecom. The Indian mobile communication market now has 4 players of which 3 are in the private sector and the fourth is the BSNL/MTNL combine. In the wireline or land line segment, BSNL/MTNL still has about 50 per cent of the share with considerable network across the country. The PSUs are hopeful of leveraging this strength by offering the services on fiber and linking this with FTTH connections. Home > 2021 > The COVID-19 Crisis and the Fascist Class Politics in Hungary | Attila (...) by Attila Antal [1] There is a misunderstanding about Hungarian government which says the novel coronavirus outbreak created a new dictatorship in Europe. In fact, the coronavirus crisis did not bring on or finalise the authoritarian turn in Hungary. Rather the conditions for authoritarian rule preceded the crisis and were certain to define how the government would respond to the crisis. It is beyond question that by introducing the so-called Enabling Act, which grants absolute power to the Prime Minister, the Orban government has become an authoritarian political system. Nevertheless, the unholy use of the coronavirus situation is just the latest stage of exceptional government in Hungary. The main social and political outcome of this permanent state of exception is the subjection of society to the forces of neoliberalism. Along with the new Enabling Law the neoliberalization of public services also put the Hungarian society in an incredibly difficult position to handle the threat of the epidemic. Moreover, the main cause behind the emerging Fascism is the class politics of the political system, which is based on the compromise of the upper middle-class and national bourgeoisie. I propose here that the main aim of Orban is to maintain the post-pandemic world by the unnecessary extension of state of exception. [2] According to Giorgio Agamben there is a seminal transformation in conjunction with the idea of government, which overturns the traditional hierarchical relation between causes and effects. Since governing the causes is difficult and expensive, it is safer and more useful to try to govern the effects.. [3] Authoritarian populist regimes have started to manage the effects of the crisis made by them and this is a considerable change not just in the concept of government, but in penal politics. The emergency measures in normal circumstances are far not unknown in Hungary. The government during this biopolitical hate campaign against refugees and migrants introduced and prolonged the formal state of exception. The Orban regime is constantly using the extraordinary measures since 2015 to maintain its political power. This puts the current Enabling Law upon the pandemic case into a different light, because the real danger, in my view, is not just the indefinite power of Orban and the rule by decree, granted by the new regulation, but the fact that he gained nearly half a decade of experience in exceptional governance. Which is worrisome in this situation, on the one hand the dangerous way how the regime handles the epidemic crisis and made a political crisis from it, on the other the neoliberal measures applying before and during the crisis. Fascist Class Politics in Historical Scales To examine the effects of the social crisis on the coronavirus and how this could contribute to the intensification of the Fascist tendencies inherent in the Orban administration (which do not manifest themselves in repressive dictatorship, rather in deliberately operating state power against the poorest members of society), it is worth first referring to the class relations that point to the fundamental peculiarity of Fascism(s) throughout history. In his book, Fascism and Dictatorship, Nicos Poulantzas examined the emergence of Fascism in Italy and Germany between the two World Wars, with reference to the class relations that created these systems. [4] Poulantzas, who argues that the Fascist state is an exceptional capitalist state, assumes that there is a bloc of power in the functioning capitalist state, in Gramscian sense, by which the capitalist class or a faction thereof exercises hegemony. Fascist regimes are embedded in the political disintegration of the dominant German and Italian classes (i.e. neither the bourgeoisie, in possession of the means of production, nor the working-class have succeeded in gaining hegemony in society, and thus this hegemony has disintegrated) and the fact that a revolutionary breakthrough of the working-class has failed, the bourgeoisie had not been defeated before the Fascist takeover. This double failure liberated smallholders, traders, and paid employees, that is the petty bourgeoisie, to function as an autonomous social force in Fascist parties. [5] For Poulantzas, then, Fascism is the political organization of petty bourgeoisie that restores the hegemony of monopoly capital in several phases: in the first period, Fascist forces form loose alliances with individual members of dominant classes; then comes the alliance of petty bourgeoisie and monopoly capital; and then, under the Fascist forces that come to power, petty bourgeoisie becomes the dominant class, while real power falls into the hands of monopoly capital, which eventually becomes the ruling class of society. [6] Thus, according to Poulantzas, the Fascist party becomes the organizational tool of petty bourgeoisie (from which much of the partys personal apparatus comes from) as they become disillusioned with the previously supported social democracy after World War I, which did not represent their interests effectively. As petty bourgeoisie gradually separates from the working class, it begins to approach the big capitalists more and more. Thus, in Poulantzass analysis, the historical role of fascism was to achieve an alliance between big capital and petty bourgeoisie [7] Emerging Fascism and the Regimes Class Politics in Hungary The potential Fascist threat inherent in the Orban system has unfolded gradually, and this, as is was pointed out in the January 2012 workshop of Eszmelet [Consciousness], was embedded in the 2010 authoritarian turn. [8] Behind the administration there is a socially formed and politically coerced class compromise, like those described by Poulantzas. Before analysing this, let me briefly examine the social philosophy behind the class politics of the Orban system. The social policy of the administration (tax policy, family policy, family support systems, reduction) is based on an unprecedented redistribution of public goods in favour of the middle-class and upper middle-class, to the detriment of the poorest. Nor could this be changed... They cant, but they dont want to work, and the job market doesnt ask for them either.... And for these people we also have something to say. Viktor Orban sees this trap, he just cant talk honestly about reality. It cannot be revealed that, unless a miracle happens, a cruel future awaits them in order to keep those who still have a chance. [9] This approach thus conceals a very serious class politics, which was described by another ideological constructor of the system, Gyula Teller: The political leadership, which (by shifting focus of the redistribution) creates stronger-than-usual remuneration-performance-remuneration cycle and by successfully applying this continuously increases the part of the performing society, must protect this otherwise fair way of redistribution... [10] The Orban administration expects unconditional political and social loyalty from supported classes. Authors on the class politics of the Orban government have confirmed that behind the systems capital accumulating state there is a social conglomerate like the alliance of big capital and petty bourgeoisie described by Poulantzas. [11] This is nothing more than an alliance between the national big capital faction and the upper middle class. Eszter Bartha recognized this very early: Thus, strong doubts were expressed among Hungarian workers about both the regime change and the new democracy. However, these doubts did not point in the direction of a general critique, but rather in favour of a specific Hungarian path, where the state plays a kind of balancing role between, between the multinational companies and domestic producers on the one hand and the interests of the working-class and capitalists on the other. The spectacular exclusion of the working-class from politics and the weakness of advocacy may also have contributed to the majority hoping only for a state... [12] The Hungarian political left, because of its liberal and neoliberal orientations and pathological compliance constraints, did not represent the interests of working-class, and from the second half of the 2000s, workers began to orient towards the (far)right. Gabor Scheiring is arguing that due to the absence of a left-wing political project it was possible for national and local political entrepreneurs to channel the frustration, fear of the future and slippage of the working-class people through the strategic application of historically prepared cultural narratives. This gave the political right the opportunity to mobilize the fears of the working-class abandoned by the left. [13] It is worth clarifying that the workers did not at all legitimize the authoritarian turn in their ultimate despair; the operation of authoritarian capitalism relates to the state appointment and conquest of the national capitalist class. The neo-feudal class of national capital has no interest in democratizing the work, instead [c]ompanies participating in labour-intensive production, or production that does not require technology, have a vested interest in an institutional structure that enhances the vulnerability of the labour force and decreases the tax burden, as they do not require skilled labour, nor do they use complicated technology. [14] The danger of Fascism emerging under the Orban administration can be seen in the reallocation of enormous social resources in favour of national big capital and its allied upper middle class, while these resources were taken away from the most vulnerable social groups, whom the system literally abandoned. In addition, the government made a pact with the international capital and financial sphere, which also provided huge subsidies to the expense of Hungarian society. So even before the outbreak of the epidemic, significant progress had been destroying the lower middle-class and other social groups lagging behind. The Orban governments after 2010 is, in fact, based on the dual recognition that, on the one hand, the Eastern European semi- peripheral form of global capitalism can be operated in an authoritarian way, and on the other hand, the capitalist system of the centre will contribute to this. Orbans concept can be seen as the most serious assassination of society, as people are simultaneously exploited by the national bourgeoisie and global big capital, while all of this is legitimized by the upper middle class, and the system seeks to pacify abandoned social groups with institutional hatred. The destruction of workers interests, trade unions, the right to strike, and the new Labour Code, which serves the interests of employers, are related to the positioning of the national capital class and the international capital. This was argued in the editorial resolution in Eszmelet [Consciousness] 124: The essence of the new far-right is socially similar everywhere: traditional anti-capitalist leftist tendencies have been replaced by forces competing with and subordinate to global big capital, but also protecting national capital, in the name of national resistance. Their declared goal is to broaden their voting base in order to retain and gain power, also addressing those social groups that, after World War II, traditionally formed the social base of the left. [15] Basically, we can say that the Fidesz took over the far-right political position of Jobbik. As Poulantzas described in connection with petty bourgeoisie, Fascist regimes can only be organized and survive in the interest sphere of big business. Accordingly, the Orban model is also based on the betrayal and extreme exploitation of workers, as Viktor Orban came to power in 2010 in the wake of the countermovement of the working class, yet the measures of the accumulative state alienated much of the working class and poorer segments of society while benefiting the economic elite and big business. [16] The Embedded Neoliberal Nature of Epidemic Crisis Management It is to say that the direct help of working people is not the priority of the Orban government at all. The main explanation behind this are the mentioned workfare concept and the neoliberalization of public services of the past years. This neoliberalization goes hand in hand with the ultimate political power, because the emergency power is required to maintain the neoliberal agenda which characterizes the Orban system. As it has been argued here, the government has always been much more afraid of the economic consequences of the crisis than of its epidemiological ones. The neoliberal and state-capitalist approach have always been decisive after 2010: strengthening the private health sector, a significant withdrawal of funds from public health, downsizing the epidemiological administration (a large number of Hungarian doctors and nurses work abroad), in addition, the system began to dismantle the universal insurance system and expelled the poorest from the healthcare services. These are well-known phenomena and reveal how neoliberalism intensifies deep social-economic problems. This embedded neoliberal atmosphere remained essential from the outbreak of the coronavirus crisis and most of the governments economic measures are to save the employers and capital, instead of protecting the workers. States are helping with wage subsidies to avoid mass unemployment across Europe, except Hungary. In most countries, at least half of the wages are taken over by the state, in many places 80 percent or more is paid. It seems that the Orban administration waits till the last minute to help people (health workers will receive a one-time wage supplement so far). This attitude has already sparked significant social tensions and contributed to the hopelessness of people who lost their jobs due to the virus. The tax exemption for small businesses [17] and the moratorium on loans will hardly be enough to save the hundreds of thousands of Hungarian workers who became unemployed and have no savings. [18] While this rigor may be surprising, it fits exactly into the systems neoliberal workfare concept, which has been introduced by Orban in 2014 as a counter-concept of social-welfare systems, and it seems to be that the epidemic crisis is an excellent opportunity to eliminate the remnants of the welfare state. [19] Epidemiological, health and social destruction shows the increasingly authoritarian nature of the system, but the economic crisis management program put together by the Orban government is just as tragic. The essence of this is a neoliberal policy with the main goal of directly helping capital and large corporations, while the state provides direct help to workers only as a last resort. Behind this is the rather hypocritical, wild capitalist statement of Orban that there is no going back to a social aid-based economy. Thus, in an authoritarian system serving the interests of capital, any help for working-class can only reach workers through the filter of capitalists. This is exemplified by the 70 per cent wage support for part-time work announced on 7 April 2020, [20] but this measure represents only about 10 to 35 per cent of public wage subsidies in terms of total wage costs. In return, the Orban system introduced the Slave Act in the event of an epidemiological emergency by providing employers with a freely ordered 24-hour working time frame (meaning that anyone can be required to work overtime in telework at any time). Thus, neoliberal tendencies continue to strengthen in all areas. Conclusion: Ruling of Post-Epidemic World The main arguments here are the following, because of the permanent state of exception the authoritarian moment is not the Enabling Act in Hungary, moreover, the embedded neoliberal character of the regime unfolding in the last years strongly maintain how the Orban regime deals with the pandemic situation. This does not mean that the Enabling Law is not a fundamental turning point, it is in three senses. Lets make it clear, Orban has always governed alone, so the law was not needed to ensure this, but to intimidate his uncertain political fractions. Secondly, the Enabling Act put the Hungarian society into a political quarantine. The situation is extremely paradox, because every social uprising can weaken the epidemic control, but without a strong protest movement the permanent Enabling Law will define the post-epidemic situation. This is the greatest danger of the situation, by the Enabling Act Orban is able to maintain the state of emergency even when it is no longer required. Finally, Orban has found a way to accomplish all its political aspirations that do not serve to tackle the epidemic, but to build a post-epidemic world. That is why the regime started to implement its political agenda amid epidemiological measures: strip powers from mayors (which was eventually withdrawn); forcing the continuation of a debated construction investment project in Budapest; as part of the ongoing cultural war the government occupies the theatres; classify public data about a Chinese-funded railway for a decade (in which Orbans most important oligarch, Lorincz Meszaros got involved); continue to place state universities to foundations; financially plundering the opposition parties and municipalities in a rather hypocritical way; denying state recognition of gender transition. None of these measures relates to the management of the epidemic, moreover the regime detected remarkable few coronavirus cases with one of the lowest test rates in the European Union. It is to say, Orban is trying to rule the epidemic crisis politically, because his aim is to get comparative advantage evolving the post-epidemic world in which the state of exception remains the most important equipment of the government. The epidemic crisis, of course, is not made by Orban, but he has made a political crisis from it with the aim of being able to dominate. (@ChaudhryMAli88) Thousands of Hong Kongers will be ordered to stay in their homes for the city's first coronavirus lockdown, local media reported Friday, as authorities battle an outbreak in one of its poorest and most densely packed districts Hong Kong, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 22nd Jan, 2021 ) :Thousands of Hong Kongers will be ordered to stay in their homes for the city's first coronavirus lockdown, local media reported Friday, as authorities battle an outbreak in one of its poorest and most densely packed districts. The order bans anyone from leaving their apartment unless they can show a negative test where cases have surged in recent days, and will last until everyone within the designated area has been tested, the reports said. The South China Morning Post said the measures would come in at midnight Friday into Saturday with some 1,700 police ready to enforce the lockdown covering some 150 housing blocks and up to 9,000 people. Health officials declined to comment on the proposal at an afternoon press briefing but multiple local outlets reported the lockdown citing government officials throughout Friday. Overfishing has put 60 per cent of the UK's fish stocks at risk of collapse with North Sea cod, crab and herring among those in a critical state, a report has warned. The audit by marine conservation charity Oceana found that only 37 of the 104 stocks examined were of a healthy size and only 38 were exploited sustainably. Oceana is calling on the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to follow scientific guidance when setting catch limits to preserve our fish. These fishing rate recommendations are calculated to allow populations to recover and reproduce as to maintain fish stocks in the long run. Without such measures, they warned, marine life, coastal communities and the fishing industry itself will suffer in the long run. Scroll down for video Overfishing has put 60 per cent of the UK's fish stocks at risk of collapse with North Sea cod, crab and herring among those in a critical state, a report has warned. Pictured: a fishing boat The fate of cod an iconic species in the UK is of particular concern, with Oceana attributing its significant overfishing in recent years to 'political decisions' that have lead to a series of declines and collapses in cod stock. Pictured, a crate of cod Oceana is calling on the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to follow scientific guidance when setting catch limits to preserve our fish. Pictured: the difference between the advised and set catch limits for the UK's most economically important fish 'It is shocking to find that 6 out of 10 of the UK's most important fish stocks are overfished or in a critical situation,' said Oceana's head of UK policy, Melissa Moore. 'This report provides clear evidence that setting catch limits higher than those recommended by scientists is causing stocks of some of the UK's best-loved fish, like cod, to rapidly decline.' 'Those currently taking part in negotiating catch limits for 2021 must set them in line with scientific advice and not push for continued overfishing.' 'There is an opportunity and a responsibility for the UK to lead the way in achieving sustainable fisheries.' The audit revealed that the majority of the UK's ten most economically important fish stocks have either been overfished or are at a critical low level. These include North Sea cod, North Sea herring, Southern North Sea crab, Eastern English Channel scallops, North East Atlantic blue whiting and North Sea whiting. The fate of cod an iconic species in the UK is of particular concern, with Oceana attributing its significant overfishing in recent years to 'political decisions' that have lead to a series of declines and collapses in cod stock. 'It is shocking to find that 6 out of 10 of the UK's most important fish stocks are overfished or in a critical situation,' said Oceana's head of UK policy, Melissa Moore. Pictured, an edible crab trapped in an abandoned pot off the Scottish coast (left) and a European plaice (right) Only stocks of the North East Atlantic mackerel, North Sea haddock and West of Scotland Nephrops, a type of lobster are both healthy and being sustainably fished. This is because catch limits for these species have been set at, or below, the recommended sustainable limits in recent years, demonstrating the positive impact of following marine conservation guidelines, Oceana experts said. For North Sea anglerfish the other of the UK's top ten economically important fish there is presently insufficient data to make a reliable assessment, they added. The audit revealed that the majority of the UK's ten most economically important fish stocks have either been overfished or are at a critical low level These include North Sea cod, North Sea herring, Southern North Sea crab, Eastern English Channel scallops, North East Atlantic blue whiting and North Sea whiting The findings of the audit come as the UK and the European Union begin negotiations to set so-called 'total allowable catch' limits for shared fish stocks for this year. According to Oceana, the strong EU fisheries regulatory framework including the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) has seen the overfishing rate for fish populations drop from around 66 to 38 per cent. However, the report warns, the Fisheries Act 2020 which has replaced the CFP in the UK's waters is less rigorous, laying out sustainability objectives but failing to compel all stocks to be fished in accordance with scientific guidance. Overfishing must be made 'a thing of the past', Oceana experts said, in order to allow marine life the chance to rebound and build resilience to large-scale threats such as climate change. The full findings of the report are published on the Oceana website. The findings of the audit come as the UK and the European Union begin negotiations to set so-called 'total allowable catch' limits for shared fish stocks for this year. Pictured: Herring Big quote: I am honored to be designated as the Acting Chairwoman of the Federal Communications Commission by President Biden. I thank the President for the opportunity to lead an agency with such a vital mission and talented staff. It is a privilege to serve the American people and work on their behalf to expand the reach of communications opportunity in the digital age," Rosenworcel said in a statement. President Biden and the FCC have confirmed that Jessica Rosenworcel will act as interim Chairwoman of the FCC, until such time that a permanent chair is appointed. Its also possible that Rosenworcel could be appointed to the position permanently. However, its also likely that Biden could appoint Geoffrey Starks, who serves as a Democratic FCC commissioner. Both Rosenworcel and Starks have been the clear forerunners for the FCC chair under the Biden-Harris administration. Rosenworcel has served as an FCC commissioner since 2012, carrying the role both through the Obama and Trump eras. Shes been a vocal proponent of net neutrality, being a key force that led to the codification of net neutrality into law under the 2015 Open Internet Order before its untimely repeal in 2017 under Ajit Pai's FCC. Today @POTUS designated me Acting Chairwoman of the @FCC. I am honored and excited to lead this great agency. Now more than ever we need to expand the reach of communications opportunity for all of us. We have a lot of work to do and I can't wait to get started. Jessica Rosenworcel (@JRosenworcel) January 21, 2021 Rosenworcel has also supported the classification of ISPs as Title II common carriers, removing barriers preventing municipal broadband deployment, and has championed much of the FCCs spectrum policy in regards to the future of Wi-Fi. Rosenworcel has also been critical of rubber stamping massive mergers, such as the controversial Sprint/T-Mobile merger. Most recently, Rosenworcel has been vocal about broadband providers suspending data caps and overage fees during the Covid-19 pandemic, and has encouraged a broader discussion about data caps in general. Rosenworcel is the second-ever woman to assume the role of acting chair, as Mignon Clyburn held the position before Tom Wheeler was designated as the official chairman back in 2013. However, should Rosenworcel be appointed to the chair permanently, she would be the first official FCC chairwoman. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported its biggest one-day increase in Covid-19 vaccinations Friday as more states said they are struggling with vaccine supply. The CDC said Friday that nearly 1.6 million more doses of the vaccines have been administered, bringing the total of doses given to more than 19 million. And 1 million new shots were reported in the previous 24-hour period, according to changes in CDC data from Wednesday morning to Thursday morning. That was only the second time a one-day increase rose above 1 million. The number of administered doses reported this week also was 22% higher than last week. While vaccinations are taking off, more states are complaining that they don't have enough vaccine. New York will run out of Covid-19 vaccine doses Friday after using 97% of the first doses it received, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said. In Louisiana, there's no need to set up a mass vaccination site because the state doesn't have enough vaccine doses to make it worthwhile, said Gov. John Bel Edwards. People in Louisiana are 'anxiously awaiting increasing allocations' of vaccine, Edwards said Friday. 'We're gearing up now to prepare for those increasing allocations, so that while we're not doing mass vaccination events currently, we are planning and preparing for those,' he said. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy said his state doesn't need more distribution locations either but needs more doses of the vaccines. 'I cannot be any more clearer. We have built the infrastructure that can handle this job. We need the doses,' Murphy said Friday. White House press secretary Jen Psaki said the White House has asked the CDC to look into the possibility that states might run out of their allocated doses. 'We've asked the CDC, to look into exactly this issue, and see what can be done,' Psaki said at Friday's White House briefing. After conversations with the vaccine makers on a 'very regular basis,' President Joe Biden's coronavirus advisers are confident the supply will increase in the near future, said Dr. Vivek Murthy, Biden's nominee for surgeon general. 'Those conversations, I think, have given us more confidence that there is more supply coming, and that it will continue to steadily increase over the next few months,' Murthy said Friday on a webcast sponsored by the US Conference of Mayors. The 19 million doses administered to people represent about 48% of the 39.8 million doses that have been distributed, according to the CDC. About 5% of the US population -- roughly 16.2 million people -- has received at least one dose of the vaccine, and 2.75 million people are fully vaccinated, according to CDC data updated Friday morning. States have 72 hours to report vaccine data, so data published by the CDC may be delayed -- and may not necessarily mean all doses were given on the day reported. New vaccines in the pipeline offer hope Officials hope new coronavirus vaccines will be approved and help with supply. Currently, the US has two approved vaccines, by Pfizer and Moderna. Johnson & Johnson's vaccine candidate is 'right around the corner' from seeking emergency use authorization from the Food and Drug Administration said Dr. Anthony Fauci, chief medical adviser to President Joe Biden, on Thursday. 'They're probably a couple of weeks away from getting the data looked at, to have the FDA evaluate whether or not we're in a situation where we could move ahead and start thinking about getting it out into the public,' Fauci said. The company, assuming it receives FDA approval, plans to have 'enough vaccines for 100 million Americans by spring,' board member Dr. Mark McClellan told CNBC on Thursday. That candidate would come with advantages, including that it would be a single shot, and that it doesn't require storage at extremely low temperatures, he said. As for another candidate in Phase 3 trials, from AstraZeneca, that is 'a bit behind, but not too far behind,' Fauci said. Last week, the federal government's Operation Warp Speed program's chief adviser said he hoped the AstraZeneca candidate, if data shows it to be effective, could receive US authorization by the end of March. 'Hopefully the vaccine again is efficacious, as has been shown in the trials conducted in Brazil and in the UK,' said Operation Warp Speed chief science adviser Moncef Slaoui. 'So maybe an approval somewhere towards the latter part of the month of March, and a significant number of doses available around that time.' The AstraZeneca vaccine is already in use in some places, including the UK and Brazil. US could be almost back to normal by fall, Fauci says Despite challenges with distributing and administering Covid-19 vaccines, the US 'can and should' vaccinate 70-85% of adults by the end of summer, Fauci said. That could bring a semblance of normalcy by the fall, according to Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. 'When you put ... the pedal to the floor, you can get it done,' Fauci told CNN's Chris Cuomo on Thursday night. If the US were to administer 1 million shots per day -- the pace required to meet President Joe Biden's goal of giving 100 million shots in his first 100 days in office -- it would take until the end of 2021 to fully vaccinate 75% of US adults, assuming every recipient needs two shots, according to a CNN analysis. But that time frame would shrink if some people received one-dose vaccines, such as Johnson & Johnson's candidate. And Fauci said Friday he believes the US can go faster than 1 million shots per day. 'I'd like it to be a lot more,' Fauci told CNN's John Berman. 'The goal (of 100 million shots in 100 days) was set, but you don't want to get fixated on, 'Was that an undershoot or an overshoot?' 'If we can do better than that, which I personally think we likely will, then great.' Fauci's assessment offers a glimmer of hope as the country has reported an average of 3,050 Covid-19 deaths a day over the last week. Forecasts predict the nation's death toll will likely top 500,000 within the next month. It also comes as new case levels, though sky-high compared to most of the pandemic, have been dipping recently. The US has averaged about 187,590 new cases a day over the last week -- down nearly 25% from the all-time peak average reached just 11 days ago, but still 2.8 times higher than the summer's peak in July, Johns Hopkins University data shows. The CDC recently warned that new, more contagious virus variants -- like the one first identified in the UK -- could still accelerate the spread of the virus. Fauci said Friday that a more transmissible variant isn't yet dominant in the United States, and he's 'not exactly sure' that it will drive a surge in cases, but it has to be watched carefully. 'The best thing you can do about that is to continue to uniformly adhere to the public health recommendations that we've spoken about time and again -- from the wearing of masks to the washing of hands to avoiding congregate settings,' Fauci said. 'That's the kind of thing that prevents surges regardless of what the type of virus ... is there.' Demand outstripping supply In Georgia, officials are seeing high numbers of cases, hospitalizations and deaths, and the 120,000 doses allotted per week to the state is not enough to vaccinate seniors and other high-risk residents, Gov. Brian Kemp said. 'We will still have far more demand than we have supply,' Kemp said. Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms said she receives calls daily from people 'desperately looking for the vaccine.' The Atlanta metropolitan area 'didn't get as much of the vaccine at the beginning of the distribution as I had hoped that we would receive,' Lance Bottoms told CNN's Wolf Blitzer. 'A lot of it went to other places throughout the state.' Constraints on supply in New York City means there are not enough doses to vaccinate members of the city's police and fire departments, the agencies told CNN on Thursday. There are still enough for those who already have appointments made and those who had already received their first dose, the fire department said. Lines at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Thursday were filled largely with people over 65 years old, with some waiting for five hours for the vaccine, Mayor Eric Garcetti said. 'There may be a wait ... so use the restroom beforehand, bring water and snacks, and make sure your gas tank is filled up or your car is charged,' he said. Murthy, Biden's pick for surgeon general, said the US needs to do more to speed up the vaccinations. 'We cannot take a year in order to get to the critical levels of vaccination that we need in this country,' Murthy told CNN's Wolf Blitzer on Thursday. 'We've got to get there sooner.' Even with reports of many people waiting in line, about 6 in 10 Americans don't know when or where to get a coronavirus vaccine, according to a new report from the Kaiser Family Foundation. Most Americans don't know when or where they can get a vaccine, including older Americans, who are already eligible to get a vaccine in a growing number of states,' foundation President and CEO Drew Altman said in a news release Friday. 'Understandably large numbers of people are frustrated, angry and confused.' The Biden administration will 'try to build ... (a) national clearinghouse' that provides information on where people can get shots, said White House chief of staff Ron Klain on Thursday night. 'It needs to be earlier and more transparent for people to figure out how to get their shot and where to get their shot,' Klain told MSNBC's Lawrence O'Donnell. Robert Kocharyan on years of his leadership in Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia Situation on Armenian-Azerbaijani border is still tense, more on COVID-19 in Armenia, May 28 digest "Armenia" alliance of political parties paying tribute to founder of First Republic Aram Manukyan (LIVE) Yerevan.today: Armenia acting PM not greeted at ruling party's headquarters, citizens call him 'capitulator' Russia MOD reports on maintenance of ceasefire regime in Nagorno-Karabakh Armenia acting MOD meets with Russian counterpart in Moscow Armenia 2nd President: I see possibility of restoring borders of Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast We can provide our army with some key, modernized weapons, says Armenia ex-President Kocharyan Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: Captives issue is not one that any opposition force can resolve OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs release statement on detention of 6 Armenian servicemen by Azerbaijan Armenian acting Deputy PM: Discussion on issues possible only after withdrawal of Azeri troops from Armenia's territory Armenia acting PM on Syunik roads, Russian military posts: This is only place where there are working nuances Armenia acting PM: Process of return of POWs will intensify after upcoming elections Putin congratulates Aliyev on Republic Day 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 Qualcomm is expanding rapidly in Southeast Asia Just a few days ago, China-headquartered Lenovo announced a series of new consumer products and software to serve growing digital transformation demands, including the IdeaPad 5G, ThinkReality A3, Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i Pro laptop, and ThinkPad X1 Titanium Yoga among others. Nguyen Van Giap, general manager of Lenovo Vietnam, explained to VIR that the future of remote and hybrid work should be versatile, collaborative, and powerful and with the right technology, individuals can be better at multitasking and reap the benefits of increased focus and efficiency. At Lenovo, by engineering the widest portfolio of products, solutions, software, and services, with foundations in the three building blocks of data, computing power, and algorithms, we are providing a comprehensive range of products and solutions for the future of remote and hybrid work, smarter commercial and retail, empowering students and teachers, virtual healthcare and telemedicine, and security and services, Giap said. Already the worlds leading PC company and a leader in smartphones and tablets, Lenovo is nurturing its bigger ambitions to better conquer the world market this year, driven by growth momentum in 2020. And in this vision Asia-Pacific, including Vietnam, is a top target. Despite a challenging year across the board in 2020, tech titans still made gains from strong digital transformation demands. Specifically, Lenovo successfully achieved outstanding performance not only in the PC market but also in software, services, and solutions industries. On a global scale, Lenovo still managed to deliver a record financial quarter between July and September last year, and all of our core businesses delivered on-year growth. Our software and services revenue also set a new bar for the company, with PC market share returned to No.1 globally, elaborated Giap. Riding high In another front of the technology map, Ericsson, a global leader in ICT services and solutions from Sweden, also made gains in Vietnam during 2020 with its prestige continuing to increase as an important partner in promoting the digital transformation of industries and enterprises. Throughout 2020, Ericsson continued to focus on working with customers such as Viettel, VNPT/Vinaphone, MobiFone, and Vietnamobile in expanding and upgrading their 4G networks to ensure mobile broadband capacity and coverage meets the needs of Vietnamese industry and society throughout the nation. In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, we all appreciated the significant value of remote work, healthcare, and education, amongst other societal needs. This was all made possible through the availability of 4G mobile broadband network services provided by leading Vietnamese mobile network operators, supplied by Ericsson and other vendors, said Denis Brunetti, president of Ericsson in Vietnam, Myanmar, Cambodia, and Laos. Ericsson also ended 2020 with pivotal and strategic 5G launches with Viettel, VNPT/Vinaphone, and MobiFone, laying an important foundation for future 5G-enabled plans this year. Similarly, US tech giant Qualcomm, the worlds leading wireless technology innovator, highlighted its 2020 performance in Vietnam with a number of new moves to double down on its commitment to the country. Thieu Phuong Nam, country manager of Qualcomm Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia stressed, The opening of our new office and interoperability testing laboratory, Qualcomms first research and development lab in Southeast Asia, last June is a testament to this. The new office allows Qualcomm to provide enhanced support to partners in both business and government. It also reflects our expanded capacity in Vietnam, particularly our increased number of engineers and developers, which help address the growing demand for quality products and services, Nam explained. Meanwhile, the interoperability testing laboratory offers state-of-the-art testing capabilities for local partners including VinSmart, BKAV, and Viettel, among others, to develop and produce high-quality devices matching international standards. Another example of showing its ambition in Vietnam is the recent announcement of the 10 local startups shortlisted for the Qualcomm Vietnam Innovation Challenge, a competition for local startups. These shortlisted startups focus on technology areas such as smart cities, Industry 4.0, the Internet of Things (IoT), agriculture, and machine learning which also overlap with the priorities of the Vietnamese government. Elsewhere, Chinas Huawei Vietnam focused on ICT training and technology transfer to develop its local staff and cooperating with local partners to carry out telecoms projects. Seeing growth potential, Huawei Vietnam has been preparing for future plans to benefit from 5G there in line with the countrys supporting policies to accelerate digital transformation. Huawei has suffered from 5G rollout bans in the US and a number of EU nations, with some leaders questioning the groups security. But it continued to grow in 2020, although slowdown in growth was reported. Revenue in the first nine months reached 671.3 billion ($103.57 billion), up 9.9 per cent from 2019, versus 24.4 per cent over the same period a year earlier. Net profit margin for the nine months was 8.0 per cent, versus 8.7 per cent over the same period a year earlier. 2021 race The year 2020 could be remembered as a milestone year in Vietnams ICT history due to the initial launches of 5G services. People in several locations across Vietnam are now already starting to experience the higher speeds and superior performance that 5G offers, with the promise of much more to come in 2021 and beyond. The launch of such services will serve to achieve the governments goal of making Vietnam one of the early adopters of 5G technology and capabilities across industry and society. 5G will be the foundation upon which Vietnam can further build on its digital transformation journey and realise the strategic vision of making Vietnam one of the top 50 digital transformation countries by 2025. And in this path, the next wave of socioeconomic development through high-tech foreign investment, science and technology, and startup innovation is created, thus opening more opportunities for multinational corporations (MNCs) and increasing competition. With its wide range of new products, Lenovo Vietnam is expecting business growth to not only be attributed to a growing PC market: it also reflects the acceleration of an existing trend of customers turning to Lenovo for complete solutions. To enable its expansion journey in the country, Lenovo Vietnams general manager Giap said that Lenovo proactively seeks partnerships in Vietnam to help organisations reap the benefits of digital transformation. In particular, it has been focusing on the healthcare and education sectors, enabling organisations to intelligently transform. For Ericsson, through 2021, it will remain focused on bringing the latest 5G technology to Vietnam. The group sees many opportunities in the country, and is making plans for this. We continue to work with the Embassy of Sweden to Vietnam and Business Sweden on a number of strategic digital transformation initiatives, including in transport such as airports, and also energy, said the groups Denis Brunetti. Business Sweden is an organisation jointly owned by the Swedish government and representatives from the Swedish business community. We are also planning to invest in various Industry 4.0 initiatives in Vietnam over the coming years, partnering with other Swedish companies as well as our mobile operator customers. Our ambition is further sharpened by the expectation that over two-thirds of MNC manufacturing globally will relocate to Asia-Pacific by 2025, with Vietnam clearly attracting a high number of these manufacturing opportunities, Brunetti added. To this end, Ericsson will continue to work with Vietnams mobile operators and service providers to build the 5G networks across Vietnam, which will effectively lay the foundation for Vietnams inclusive and sustained GDP growth fuelled by IoT, AI, automation, AR/VR, and machine learning. Like Ericsson and Lenovo, Qualcomm plans to focus on working with Vietnamese partners to help create a robust mobile ecosystem, specifically for 5G networks and services, which are slated to be commercially launched this year. This includes working with telco companies to ensure they have the proper infrastructure to deploy commercial 5G, including the ability to leverage on mmWavethe cornerstone in ensuring 5G is better than previous generations of cellular technology. We also plan to continue our collaborations with local original equipment manufacturers to create devices such as smartphones and Always On, Always Connected laptops that will allow end-users to access and benefit from 5G, said Nam from Qualcomm Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. And in this trend, Huawei Vietnam, with over 20 years of presence in the country, is not an outsider. CEO of Huawei Vietnam Sun Bohan said that the opening of two new offices in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City confirm Huaweis long-term investment commitments in Vietnam. He told VIR, We will continue to cooperate with local mobile network operators and other partners to bring advanced technologies to Vietnamese users. Moreover, in the time to come, Huawei will also collaborate with leading universities in Vietnam in ICT training. To prepare for the countrys stronger acceleration of digital transformation with commercial launch of 5G this year, groups such as Viettel, VNPT/Vinaphone, and MobiFone are working with MNCs on specific products and solutions for their future journeys. With similar approaches and specific plans, the race among the MNCs is forecast to be further heated in the upcoming months to come. Robert Kocharyan on years of his leadership in Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia Situation on Armenian-Azerbaijani border is still tense, more on COVID-19 in Armenia, May 28 digest "Armenia" alliance of political parties paying tribute to founder of First Republic Aram Manukyan (LIVE) Yerevan.today: Armenia acting PM not greeted at ruling party's headquarters, citizens call him 'capitulator' Russia MOD reports on maintenance of ceasefire regime in Nagorno-Karabakh Armenia acting MOD meets with Russian counterpart in Moscow Armenia 2nd President: I see possibility of restoring borders of Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast We can provide our army with some key, modernized weapons, says Armenia ex-President Kocharyan Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: Captives issue is not one that any opposition force can resolve OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs release statement on detention of 6 Armenian servicemen by Azerbaijan Armenian acting Deputy PM: Discussion on issues possible only after withdrawal of Azeri troops from Armenia's territory Armenia acting PM on Syunik roads, Russian military posts: This is only place where there are working nuances Armenia acting PM: Process of return of POWs will intensify after upcoming elections Putin congratulates Aliyev on Republic Day 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 The Telegraph The list of Donald Trump associates who have attempted to bring down the former president is as long as it is varied: from his lawyer, to his closest advisor, his ex-wife and his alleged lover. But like many powerful figures before him, it may well be his accountant that would be his undergoing. Allen Weisselberg, the little-known 73-year-old chief financial officer for the Trump Organisation, has worked for the Trump family as far back as the early 1970s under Donalds father Fred. Some say he is closer to Mr Trump than he is to his own children. As one former employee put it, he knows where the bodies are buried". In recent weeks New York prosecutors investigating Mr Trumps tax affairs have been turning the screws on Mr Weisselberg in the hope of flipping him to testify against his boss. Cyrus Vance, the Manhattan District Attorney, is looking into everything from hush-money payments paid to women on Mr Trump's behalf, to property valuations and employee compensation. Speculation is mounting that his office may be able to turn Mr Weisselberg, who has not been accused of any wrongdoing, as it pulls together a grand jury to decide whether to indict. The 2020 election cycle might be complete but the debate and battles over Pennsylvanias election laws have only just begun. The House State Government Committee held a lengthy hearing Thursday to discuss possible changes to election laws. Republican lawmakers grilled the states top election officials Secretary of State Kathy Boockvar and Deputy Secretary for Elections and Commissions Jonathan Marks. Federal, state and local officials have repeatedly defended the integrity of the election in Pennsylvania and court rulings rejected challenges by former President Donald Trump and his supporters. Nonetheless, Republican lawmakers, who control the General Assembly, have continued to lambast state officials for inconsistencies in the management of the election. Democrats say many GOP lawmakers dont want to acknowledge President Bidens victory was legitimate. During the nearly three-hour hearing the first of 14 the committee intends to hold on election administration - lawmakers prodded into the nitty-gritty of the large volume of guidance issued by the state department to county election officials last year. Committee Chairman Seth Grove, R-York County, said the hearings are intended to educate the committee members and public about what goes into an election. He said the hearings are not intended to re-litigate issues that surrounded the November election but to figure out how to improve the election process. We can do that. Were willing to do that. We want to do that. In order for us to get there, were going to go through an in-depth review of the election process, Grove said. Rep. Margo Davidson of Delaware County, the ranking Democrat on the committee, considered the hearings a waste of time since she said it will end up reaching the conclusion that we had a free, fair, accurate and uniform election in 2020 that some voters will never be satisfied with. But through their questions, Republicans on the committee made it clear that county election officials found Boockvars guidance to be confusing and, in some cases, seemed contradictory. That led to lack of uniformity across the commonwealths 67 counties in how elections were run and votes counted, they said. That is what contributed to people losing faith in the integrity of the election, said Rep. Dawn Keefer, R-York County. If they dont trust the process, theyre not going to trust the results, she said. Boockvar attributed the need for the guidance to county election officials to the significant election law changes the General Assembly implemented over the last two years, including the expansion of mail-in voting. In addition, new voting systems, and the COVID-19 pandemic, along with the numerous election-related lawsuits, presented more challenges that left county election officials seeking direction, she said. We get constant questions, deservedly so, a lot of questions from the counties about so many different factors that go into election administration, Boockvar said. On top of that each county has some discretion in how it conducts its elections provided it stays within the confines of state and federal law. But in a statement to lawmakers, Boockvar denounced efforts to contest the legitimacy of the election and said disinformation about the election helped fuel the mob that launched a deadly assault at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6. Its time for unity and its time for truth, she said in her statement. The ongoing assault on facts and our democratic process that we have witnessed for months must end. Its anti-American, dangerous, and goes against everything we stand for as a country. Questions during the grueling and occasionally testy hearing dove into rationale and reasoning for guidance and court decisions surrounding controversial issues that arose before and after the election. Naked ballots Rep. Ryan Mackenzie, R-Lehigh County, asked Boockvar why she issued guidance advising counties to count mail-in ballots that arrived without a secrecy envelope when the state Supreme Court later ruled it was clear state law didnt permit that. It seems like you were offering guidance that was in direct contradiction to what the law said, Mackenzie said. Boockvar said that guidance was put out before the primary as a result of questions coming from county election officials. She said the guidance she issued was consistent with what other states that use secrecy ballots do in those cases. But once the court disagreed, she said they withdrew their guidance and told counties not to count them. But Mackenzie asked why she issued it in the first place in light of our law in the state that [the Supreme Court] seem to say theres no wiggle room, no ambiguity? Boockvar said lawyers the department consulted didnt believe the law was all that clear on that point. Sometimes, youre not always right, she said. Besides that, she said, We believe theres a clear constitutional preference for enfranchisement of voters. She suggested that might be an area where the Legislature may want to look to change the law. Confusion at the polls The guidance given to county election officials about how to handle voters who received mail-in ballots and chose to vote in person instead were not consistently applied, Keefer said. At some polling places in York County, voters who surrendered both pieces of the mail-in ballot were allowed to vote on the regular voting system while at others, those voters were made to cast a provisional ballot. So from precinct to precinct, there were differences, Keefer said. So you said guidance isnt binding, right? But there has to be some continuity and uniformity across the counties. Boockvar said that issue comes down to poll worker training and one change she would like to see made is to have uniform poll worker training and a mandate that poll workers attend. But a longer period of time to implement the significant election law changes also would have helped. Signature matching Rep. Russ Diamond, R-Lebanon County, said the department issued guidance last year stating that the election code doesnt permit county election officials to reject ballot applications or ballots based solely on a signature analysis. So why then did the department use its kings bench jurisdiction to ask the Supreme Court to issue a ruling on that point without an underlying court case challenging it, he asked. Diamond said it was as if the department was using the court as its own personal lawyer. Boockvar said counties did not know what they should be doing with regard to signatures and she didnt want it to be an issue where they trying to figure out what to do on Election Day when they started processing mail-in ballots. It was something that if we didnt get in effect a clear statement from the courts that it was going to take even longer to count the ballots, she said. At the hearings outset, Grove said, The overall goal of these hearings is to walk the committee and the public down a path of how elections occur and ascertain the need for changes at every step. This will be a daunting task, but it is important to build a baseline of understanding and facts. The committees next hearing is set for Jan. 28 with the focus being on the statewide voter registration system and other election-related information technology issues. For the first time in 2020, voters could cast ballots by mail without providing an excuse as to why they couldnt get to the polls. In the general election, more than 2.5 million voters cast ballots by mail, far more than ever before. The law expanding mail-in voting was widely approved by Republican lawmakers; Gov. Tom Wolf signed it in 2019. Many of Pennsylvanias Republican lawmakers signed letters asking Congress to delay or reject the states electoral votes. Even so, the 2020 election cycle proved to be very successful for Republicans in Pennsylvania. Republicans held control of the state Legislature, all nine of the states GOP congressmen were re-elected and Republicans won two of the states three row office elections. Jan Murphy may be reached at jmurphy@pennlive.com. Follow her on Twitter at @JanMurphy. 21 years after the Kargil War, the sacrifices of Indias brave still remain etched in the nations collective memory. The war began with the infiltration of Pakistani troops into Indian territory in May 1999. After 60 days of fierce fighting, the war ended with the Indian Army recapturing occupied territory. Over the two months of the war, the Indian Army proved beyond doubt that they would stop at nothing short of complete victory. Now, with special access to military personnel and historical records, HistoryTV18s new film retells the story of 'Operation Vijay, with dramatic recreations of hard-won battles on the arduous road to victory. The action-packed, Kargil: Valour & Victory, premieres on the 26th of January at 9 PM. The military documentary outlines the events of the Kargil War, showcasing true stories of unflinching bravery and the actions of five exceptional young men on the frontline, whose actions have come to define courage and sacrifice for generations of Indians. These men represent the many heroes who fought for India. As many as 30,000 Indian soldiers played their part in the war; over 500 were killed and more than 1,300 wounded. The documentary is a tribute to them all. The film also features top military personnel, who were in the thick of the action at the time. Viewers will hear from former Chief of Army Staff, General Ved Prakash Malik PVSM, AVSM (Retd), former GOC 8 Mountain Division, Lt. General Mohinder Puri PVSM, UYSM (Retd), former Brigade Commander 8 Mountain Artillery Brigade, Maj. General Lakhwinder Singh, YSM (Retd), and strategic defence analyst Nitin A. Gokhale. The Kargil War was the first armed conflict in the Indian sub-continent in the nuclear age. Responding to the offensive actions from a belligerent neighbour, Indian forces undertook military operations in the most inhospitable Himalayan terrain, at altitudes of over 15,000 feet. Young Indian officers and jawans endured oxygen deprivation, vertical ascents, and extreme conditions on Ladakhs barren slopes and summits, to oust the enemy and win back strategic peaks. By the time the war was won, India had lost some of her finest. The highest military honour, the Param Vir Chakra, was awarded to Capt. Manoj Kumar Pandey, Grenadier Yogendra Singh Yadav, and Capt. Vikram Batra. The Mahavir Chakra was awarded to Capt. Anuj Nayyar, while Capt. Haneef Uddin was awarded the Vir Chakra. The documentary tells the story of these bravehearts during the war. Marking Indias Republic Day, HistoryTV18s new documentary is the latest in a set of world-class shows honouring the Indian armed forces. Kargil: Valour & Victory recounts acts of grit and sacrifice against a well-entrenched enemy, occupying high ground. The films explosive battle scenes come to life with world-class production values and specialist filming, on location in Ladakh. The battles of Tololing, Khalubar, Point. 4875 (later named Batra Top), Tiger Hill and Turtuk in Sub Sector West (later renamed Sub-sector Haneef) are recreated with HistoryTV18s trademark rigour. As the ambush of 23-year-old Lt. Saurabh Kalia, at a forward Indian post in May 1999 and his subsequent torture showed, Pakistan had put a ruthless plan into action. Dubbed Operation Badr, the intent was to wrest strategic peaks from India in order to dominate the entire region. Following the large-scale infiltration into Indian territory, the Indian parliament ratified military action to restore the sanctity of the Line of Control and take back lost ground. Indian artillery unleashed unprecedented firepower, with Bofors guns deployed in a direct firing role for the first time, while infantry units defied enemy fire in uphill assaults. Every arm of the Indian Army came together to fight as a unified force. Despite setbacks in the early days of Operation Vijay, young Indian officers led from the front with feats of bravery and warcraft. Soon the tide of war changed and with each triumph, emboldened units took back one besieged peak after another. The suicide mission of 24-year-old Capt. Manoj Pandey, the extraordinary will of 19-year-old Grenadier Yogendra Yadav, the ultimate sacrifice of Capt. Haneef Uddin, Capt. Anuj Nayyar, and Capt. Vikram Batra codename Shershah, as well as the actions of others like them, ensured that the Indian tricolour once again flew high and proud on Ladakhs peaks. Avinash Kaul, Managing Director A+E Networks | TV18 and CEO-Broadcast for Network18, said, Kargil: Valour & Victory is a definitive account of the historic events of the Kargil War and salutes the indomitable spirit of the Indian soldier. A special offering on Indias 72nd Republic Day. Its a taut, genre-defining must-watch, with class-leading production values and storytelling. Im absolutely certain that our viewers will find it gripping and inspiring. Watch Kargil: Valour & Victory on the 26th of January, Tuesday at 9 PM, only on HistoryTV18. ALSO READ: Neeraj Pandey Announces Creation Of Special Ops Universe, Kay Kay Menon To Return As Himmat Singh ALSO READ: Shagun Pandey Opens Up About His Role In Pyaar Tune Kya Kiya, Says It Brought Him Out Of His Comfort Zone WASHINGTON U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz's standing among Texas Republicans took a hit after the Capitol riots but only a small one, as the senator remains on stronger footing than even U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, who just easily won reelection, according to Morning Consult polling released Friday. Cruzs approval rating among Texas Republicans dipped 5 points from 81 to 76 percent after the insurrection at the Capitol, which Democrats accuse Cruz of inciting as he objected to electoral votes from Arizona less than an hour before the Capitol was stormed. Among all voters, Cruzs approval hit 45 percent, down from 48, while 44 percent said they disapprove, up from 41 percent. CRUZ CATCHES COMPLAINT: Dems say his objection lent credence to the insurrectionists cause For comparison, Cornyn, who won reelection by 10 points in November, enjoys the support of 72 percent of Texas Republicans. And the share of those who say they strongly approve of Cruz, 46 percent, is 16 points higher than those who say the same about Cornyn, Morning Consult found. The polling comes as Democrats call for Cruz to resign or be expelled from the Senate. Cruz says he isnt going anywhere. Seven Democratic senators on Thursday filed an ethics complaint against Cruz and U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley, a Missouri Republican who also objected to certifying President Joe Bidens victory, saying they lent credence to the insurrectionists cause and set the stage for future violence. Cruz, who has voiced no regrets about his objection, has said he was trying to build confidence in the results by setting them aside for 10 days while an emergency audit could be conducted to settle Donald Trumps claims that the election was stolen. Cruzs effort was initially backed by 11 other Republicans, though six dropped their objections after the riot. CRUZ STATES HIS CASE: The senator says he was working to reestablish widespread trust in the system The Morning Consult findings fit a longstanding trend for Cruz. The only thing thats ever really diluted the support of Republican voters in Texas for Cruz was when he was crosswise with Trump, and he knows that and were seeing evidence he knows that, said James Henson, director of the Texas Politics Project at the University of Texas at Austin, in a recent interview. In UTs polling, Cruzs approval rating among Republicans in Texas hit its lowest point 55 percent in June 2016, at the height of his primary battle with Trump, Henson said. By October 2018 it had risen back to 86 percent and Henson said it hasnt wavered much since. ben.wermund@chron.com Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-23 05:17:43|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close SANTIAGO, Jan. 22 (Xinhua) -- Chile on Friday reported 4,956 new daily cases of novel coronavirus infection, the highest figure since infections peaked in June, bringing the total caseload to 690,066. According to the Ministry of Health, in the same 24 hours, 84 more people died from causes associated with COVID-19, raising the death toll to 17,786. Some 645,035 patients have recovered from the disease, while 26,889 are in the active stage. "Citizens must understand that although great efforts are being made to make more beds available, it is necessary to avoid needing one, so it is essential that the population continue to take care of itself," Chilean Health Minister Enrique Paris said. "Millions" of Chileans "do comply" with social distancing guidelines, he said, urging the rest "to follow the example of that vast majority." Health authorities also announced that 54,458 people had received the first of two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine, while 8,364 had received both the first and second doses, as part of a national vaccination campaign. Enditem Photo: The Canadian Press Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, takes questions as he speaks with reporters in the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House, Thursday, Jan. 21, 2021, in Washington. Dr. Anthony Fauci is back. In truth, the nations leading infectious-diseases expert never really went away. But after enduring nearly a year of darts and undermining comments from former President Donald Trump, Fauci now speaks with the authority of the White House again. He called it liberating Thursday to be backed by a science-friendly administration that has embraced his recommendations to battle COVID-19. One of the new things in this administration is, If you dont know the answer, dont guess, Fauci said in one pointed observation during a White House briefing. Just say you dont know the answer. Faucis highly visible schedule on Thursday, the first full day of President Joe Bidens term, underscored the new administration's confidence in the doctor but also the urgency of the moment. His day began with a 4 a.m. virtual meeting with officials of the World Health Organization, which is based in Switzerland, and stretched past a 4 p.m. appearance at the lectern in the White House briefing room. The breakneck pace showcased the urgent need to combat a pandemic that has killed more than 400,000 Americans and reached its deadliest phase just as the new president comes to office. Fauci made clear that he believed the new administration would not trade in the mixed messages that so often came from the Trump White House, where scientific fact was often obscured by the presidents political agenda. The idea that you can get up here and talk about what you know and what the science is ... it is something of a liberating feeling, Fauci told reporters. White House press secretary Jen Psaki had invited Fauci to take the podium first at her daily briefing. While choosing his words carefully, Fauci acknowledged that it had been difficult at times to work for Trump, who repeatedly played down the severity of the pandemic, refused to consistently promote mask-wearing and often touted unproven scientific remedies, including a malaria drug and even injecting disinfectant. It was very clear that there were things that were said, be it regarding things like hydroxychloroquine and other things, that really was uncomfortable because they were not based in scientific fact, Fauci said. He added that he took no pleasure in having to contradict the president, a move that often drew Trumps wrath. Biden, during his presidential campaign, pledged to making Fauci his chief medical adviser when he took office, and the 80-year-old scientist was immediately in motion. American pastors who traveled to Hong Kong to support the months-long pro-democracy demonstrations say they faced tear gas and water cannons as they stood in solidarity with student demonstrators during one of the most dynamic five-day stretches of the protests. Rev. Bill Devlin of the Infinity Bible Church in New York City and Rev. Patrick Mahoney of the Christian Defense Coalition were in Hong Kong from Nov. 13 until Nov. 18. They were present as police besieged Hong Kong Polytechnic University where students barricaded themselves in and clashed with riot police. Devlin and Mahoney say they spent time between PolyU on the Kowloon peninsula and the Chinese University of Hong Kong. Their objective was the share the love of Jesus Christ, pray with demonstrators and encourage them in their call for democracy, liberty and human rights. "We spent five days there. We met hundreds of students and young people. And we were right in the middle of everything: rubber bullets, tear gas, water cannons," Devlin told The Christian Post. "And I forget how many times I personally got tear-gassed. But we were there to basically encourage the people fighting for democracy and human rights to say: 'You're not alone." Although they wore gas masks, Mahoney recalled the pain when tear gas got into his eyes. "We were praying in the streets. I didn't have my goggles on. I had my glasses and I thought that would be good enough," he told CP. "The tear gas fell right at my feet and within 10 seconds my eyes were on fire and I couldn't see. It was about three minutes before I could see. I had to wash it out with one of those spray things of saline solution." Pro-democracy demonstrators object to what they see as the Chinese government's interference with the semi-autonomy that was promised to Hong Kong when the former British colony returned to Chinese rule in 1997. Under the agreement that expires in 2047, Hong Kong is a special administrative region that maintains governing and economic systems separate from mainland China. Protestors object to legislation that would allow Hong Kong authorities to extradite fugitives wanted in mainland China. Critics fear such action would undermine Hong Kong's autonomy and subject Hong Kong residents to Chian's legal system. "[T]he persecution and the oppressive nature of the mainland Chinese government in 1997 is not what it is today," Mahoney said. "Under President Xi, churches have been bulldozed. Christians are being thrown into jail. Uighurs are being put in internment camps." "When this 50 years ends and [Hong Kong] becomes part of mainland China, we know right now they will be persecuted," Mahoney added. "They will be brutalized, they won't be able to get a job, their churches will be monitored." Devlin, a regular participant in the U.S. State Department's International Religious Freedom Roundtable who regularly travels the globe to support persecuted communities through his charity, explained that he spent the better part of three days with the student protesters at PolyU. PolyU was blockaded by riot police toward the end of the pastors' trip on Nov. 17. The school was the last of a handful of campuses that pro-democracy protesters had occupied in addition to blocking the Cross-Harbour Tunnel that links the peninsula of Kowloon to Hong Kong Island. Devlin said that authorities issued a warning to protesters barricaded on campus that they would have to leave by 8 p.m. on Nov. 17 if they wanted to leave without getting arrested. Rev. Bill Devlin (L) and Rev. Patrick Mahoney (center-left) pose for a photo with two Hong Kong pro-democracy protesters during their trip to Hong Kong in November 2019. | Bill DevlinDevlin, Mahoney and the group of pro-democracy activists they were traveling with determined it was best to leave the campus and avoid arrest because one of the Hong King protesters they were with could have faced years in prison if he were arrested again for protesting. Later that night, Devlin said, he joined members of the Hong Kong legislative council and Roman Catholic Bishop Joseph Ha to negotiate the release of all the PolyU students who wanted to leave the school without being arrested. Despite meetings at three police stations throughout the night and early morning, Devlin said Hong Kong riot police would not accept their appeal. "That was at about 4 a.m. and then police began arresting the doctors, the nurses, the remaining journalists and some of the students and young people that were inside," Devlin said. The next evening, the pastors organized a three-hour prayer rally outside the local police station on Nathan Road. Devlin said that dozens of "Hong Kongers" joined them in prayer. According to Devlin, the prayer meeting was unhindered by authorities. He said a couple of people even prayed to receive Jesus as their Lord and Savior. At least 1,100 people have been arrested in retaliation to the siege at PolyU, figures reported by media show. Before the university blockade, protesters and police had engaged in escalating clashes. Videos and news reports showed some protesters throwing explosive devices and starting fires, while others walked around with bows and arrows. One shocking video seen worldwide is that of a police truck engulfed in flames at PolyU. However, Devlin stressed that the majority of the protesters in the city were peaceful, including the group of five students that he and Mahoney traveled with. He said he only saw three young men tossing petrol bombs that "didn't get anywhere near anybody." "In any great social movement, including the one that we fought for civil rights here in America, there's going to be a few people that have other ideas about how to accomplish your objectives," Devlin said. "Martin Luther King was out there stating 'we need to be non-violent and resist only with peace.' Yet, you still had the Black Panthers and other minority members of the civil rights movement that wanted to promote violence." Devlin argued that the focus on violent protesters in the media was "overinflated." "Most of the young people there were just saying, 'Hey, we are here as part of the Umbrella Movement,'" said Devlin. "It wasn't only a symbol of wanting human rights and democracy, it was practical because the umbrellas were used to repel the rubber bullets and the tear gas canisters." Mahoney said that a majority of the tear gas canisters were used on peaceful protesters. "I can say with 100 percent certainty the majority of the tear gas fired and water cannons were used on peaceful protesters, civilians," Mahoney contended. "I was at an outside restaurant when we were praying for the students at PolyU. They were not demonstrators. They were not protesters and they got tear-gassed. They all went running inside and were throwing up." Devlin and Mahoney said that one of the tear gas canisters they found was made by a company based in Homer, Pennsylvania called Nonlethal Technologies. A used tear gas canister found by Rev. Bill Devlin during his trip to Hong Kong in November 2019 | Bill Devlin"Sadly, the majority of the tear gas canisters sold to the Hong Kong government and the police is a company in Homer, Pennsylvania," Mahoney said. "So we're working with Congress on something called the Hong Kong Protection Act, which would ban American companies from selling tear gas and things like that to Hong Kong." The legislation is sponsored by Massachusetts Democrat Rep. James McGovern, New Jersey Republican Rep. Chris Smith and California Democrat Rep. Ro Khanna. The bill passed the House in October. "The world has now seen eye witness evidence compiled by journalists in the media showing that police have used excessive force and used equipment in violation of manufacturer guidelines and international standards," McGovern said on the House floor prior to the bill's passage. Mahoney said that reports are indicating that the Chinese mainland is producing new tear gas that is "much more lethal" with more toxic elements in it. However, he said that there hasn't yet been any proof. "We brought back to America one of those Chinese tear gas containers and we're looking for labs in America to do an analysis on that," he said. It was reported Wednesday that Hong Kong police plan to enter the PolyU on Thursday and end the nearly two-week-long blockade as university staff reported that there are no protesters left on school grounds. Authorities will look to handle leftover "dangerous items and offensive weapons." Last week, near-unanimous majorities in the U.S. House and Senate voted in favor of the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act. The bill was signed by President Donald Trump on Wednesday. The bill requires the U.S. State Department to report on whether or not Hong Kong's freedoms are being maintained by Beijing. If the freedoms and semi-autonomy of Hong Kong are not respected by the Chinese government, the U.S. could strip Hong Kong of special status and treat it similar to mainland China when it comes to trade and exports. Losing special status could have dire consequences for the Hong Kong economy. Courtesy of The Christian Post A new series of terrifying TV ads urging Britons to stay at home will air from tonight, as ministers face accusations of 'scaremongering' with claims that the UK's Covid variant could be more deadly. The shock tactic adverts will feature close-ups of patients who have had Covid wearing oxygen masks accompanied by bold thought provoking messages. In accompanying posters, Britons will be told to look into the patient's eyes and 'tell her you never bend the rules'. In another of the posters, which carry the NHS logo and the Government's 'Stay Home, Protect the NHS, Save Lives' slogan, Britons will be told to look at a patient and 'tell him the risk isn't real'. The new TV adverts, which also features NHS staff, will air on ITV and Channel 4 this evening as part of the campaign. Further advertising will run across radio, online and across social media from Saturday evening, the Government has announced. But the new hard-hitting campaign comes amid accusations of Government 'scaremongering' from Tory MPs. Boris Johnson and science chiefs tonight made the shocking claim that the Kent variant of the coronavirus could be 30 per cent more deadly than older versions of the virus. However Tory backbencher Craig Mackinlay said some of the scientific warnings were reminiscent of 'Project Fear' - a term often used by Brexit campaigners against Remainers in the run-up to the EU referendum. The South Thanet MP, who is a member of the Covid Recovery Group (CRG), which opposes blanket lockdown measures, said there seemed to be a new twist every time hope emerged of measures being eased. A hard-hitting new series of TV adverts urging Britons to stay at home will air from tonight, as ministers ramp up pressure on the public to obey lockdown rules. The shock tactic adverts will feature close-ups of Covid patients wearing oxygen masks accompanied by a bold thought provoking message Other posters also urge viewers to look the patient in the eye and 'tell him the risk isn't real' Mr Mackinlay told MailOnline: It seems to me we are now being held hostage to a zero Covid policy which is completely unattainable or if you do attain it we are going to be in lockdown for an incredibly long period. That just cannot be. The next thing will be oh dear, this new variant from Timbuktu is not responsive to the vaccine, or the vaccine doesnt work against it. Because Covid has been with us now for a year it is not at all surprising if the evolution or mutation is going to be towards a different type of which these vaccines cant work against. Britain hits 400,000 daily Covid jabs: UK tops record for third day in a row as NHS drive continues to pick up pace By Luke Andrews for MailOnline More than 400,000 Britons were vaccinated against coronavirus on Thursday, official figures show, as the NHS drive to inoculate the most vulnerable continues to gather steam. Department of Health figures published today reveal 412,615 jabs were carried out on Thursday, marking the third day in a row the scheme has picked up the pace. The Government is aiming to vaccinate all 15million in the top priority groups - over-70s, NHS staff, vulnerable and care home residents - by mid-February, meaning they will need to get jabs into the arms of 350,000 people a day. But today's figures show the daily target was exceeded, sparking hopes the Government will make good on its promise which will pile pressure on ministers to end the brutal lockdown sooner. Overall, more than 5.3million Britons have been vaccinated against the virus since the scheme began. Advertisement That doesnt matter as such because you then need to formulate a new vaccine. But we are just adding more delay. His comments came as the Government tonight launches the new hard-hitting ad campaign urging Britons to obey lockdown rules. The campaign will feature footage and remarks broadcast from patients who have coronavirus, as well as the NHS staff who are looking after them at Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital. The Government said that someone is currently admitted to hospital every 30 seconds with the virus, and a quarter of those are under the age of 55. There are currently over 38,000 beds taken up in England by Covid patients. Meanwhile, another 40,261 positive tests were recorded today, down almost 30 per cent in a week. Officials also recorded 1,401 fatalities, up just 9.5 per cent on last Friday. Health Secretary Matt Hancock said: 'The NHS is under intense pressure. They are relying on all of us to follow the rules. 'I know how long the last few months have felt, and I know the vast majority of people are following the rules, but we have come too far to let up now. 'Every day we are closer to beating this virus, and already over five million people across the UK have been vaccinated. 'But right now more than ever we need to stick together to protect our NHS and to keep saving lives. The message couldn't be clearer - stay at home.' England's chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty said: 'The impact of the current wave is still putting significant pressure on hospitals across the country and many patients are very sick. 'Vaccines give clear hope for the future, but for now we must all continue to play our part in protecting the NHS and saving lives.' Dr Emeka Okorocha, a A&E doctor at East London Hospitals, said: 'The past year has been tough on everyone and I know that lockdown has been so frustrating for so many of us. 'However, life is really tough on the frontline at the moment, so ask yourself, is it worth breaking the rules to go and meet friends? 'Lives are being lost and the strain on my colleagues is clear. 'We're all exhausted but we are still here fighting the good fight against this horrible disease.' The change of tone in Government messaging comes as, Prime Minister Boris Johnson, England's Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty, and Chief Scientific Adviser to the Government Sir Patrick Vallance presented a mixed bag of news at the Downing Street press conference tonight. The trio sounded optimism about a recent decline in infections, but warned the new variant could lead to higher death rates in the coming weeks and months. The change of tone in Government messaging comes as, Prime Minister Mr Johnson, England's Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty, and Chief Scientific Adviser to the Government Sir Patrick Vallance presented a mixed bag of news at the Downing Street press conference tonight Explaining the risk change out loud without presenting data to prove the terrifying development after it was leaked to ITV political editor Robert Peston before the briefing, Sir Patrick said that hospital data had suggested the variant could increase the risk of death for a man his 60s from 1 per cent to 1.3 per cent, but he admitted 'the evidence is not yet strong'. Principal of Orthdox Jewish girls school where 400 guests attended lockdown-busting wedding died of the virus in first wave By James Gant and Jack Elsom for MailOnline Police raided a lockdown-breaking wedding at a Jewish girls' school last night - 10 months after its principal died of Covid-19. Four hundred guests packed inside Yesodey Hatorah Girls' Senior School in Stamford Hill, north London, which is being used as a coronavirus testing centre. The organiser was fined the maximum 10,000 penalty and five others were stung 200 after officers busted the address at 9.14pm following a tip-off. The building's windows had been covered to stop people seeing inside and many of the guests fled as the police arrived and avoided being fined. Downing Street today condemned the 'selfish' illegal gathering which took place hours after Priti Patel announced a police crackdown on rule-breakers. The Home Secretary said people attending illegal house parties will face 800 fines from next week, doubling for each offence up to a maximum of 6,400. Jewish leaders blasted the wedding - which costs about 750 at the venue - with the Chief Rabbi branding it 'a most shameful desecration of all that we hold dear'. Yesodey Hatorah was run by Rabbi Avrohom Pinter until he was struck down and killed by coronavirus in April last year. No10 rowed in behind the police and supported them in doling out fines. The Prime Minister's official spokesman said: 'Large gatherings such as this pose a health risk not just to those who attend themselves but to those they live with and others who may come into contact with them. 'We fully back the police in taking action against people who flagrantly and selfishly break the rules.' Yesodey Hatorah Girls' School was being held as a coronavirus testing centre for people in Hackney, opening on Sundays between 12pm and 3pm. Chief Rabbi Mirvis tweeted: 'At a time when we are all making such great sacrifices, it amounts to a brazen abrogation of the responsibility to protect life and such illegal behaviour is abhorred by the overwhelming majority of the Jewish community.' Marie van der Zyl, president of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, said the breach 'goes against Jewish teaching that preserving life is of the highest value'. 'The reckless and dangerous behaviour of those behind this event does not represent the attitude of the vast majority of British Jews, including from within the Strictly Orthodox community, who are fully aware of the terrible toll of this pandemic. 'At the latest count, 740 members of the Jewish community were among the more than 90,000 UK fatalities from Covid.' Advertisement Mr Johnson has pointedly refused to rule out the draconian restrictions lasting well into the summer and No10 today slapped down Tory calls for a 'road map' back to normal life, despite an array of data suggesting the worst of the second wave is over. SAGE today claimed Britain's R rate has fallen below the crucial level of one, separate experts estimated daily cases have halved in a fortnight and the Department of Health's own statistics show daily infections have fallen every day for almost two weeks. Defying mounting pressure to commit to easing the current measures, Mr Johnson warned today that the NHS is still under huge pressure and the curbs will only be lifted when it is 'safe'. Downing Street was warned it faces the 'mother of all battles' next month when it has to discuss relaxing the restrictions. The 70-strong Covid Recovery Group of Conservative MPs is urging the government to start lifting the lockdown no later than March 8 - when vaccines given to the most vulnerable groups should have taken effect. But No10's refusal to give an exact day for when lockdown will end may have been fuelled by worrying findings from scientists feeding into SAGE, who believe that the highly-infectious Kent variant of Covid - called B.1.1.7 - may be up to 30 per cent deadlier than older strains. The PM is expected to discuss analysis of the variant's lethality by Public Health England and other groups feeding into NERVTAG at tonight's press conference, alongside Professor Chris Whitty and Sir Patrick Vallance. 'Professor Lockdown' Neil Ferguson, the Imperial College London epidemiologist whose grim modelling warned hundreds of thousands of Britons could die without action back in March, told ITV's Robert Peston it is a 'realistic possibility' the new variant increases the risk of death. The variant has already been spotted in 60 countries, including the US, Australia, India, China and Saudi Arabia. But the Government's top scientific advisers believe the current crop of vaccines will work against the variant - but may be less effective against other South African and Brazilian mutations. In a dramatic sign that the outbreak could be flattening out, SAGE said the R rate - the average number of people each infected patient passes the virus onto - was between 0.8 and 1. That is down sharply from last week, when it was between 1.2 and 1.3. Separate data show cases have halved in a fortnight and deaths in London are falling. And figures today revealed Britain's mass vaccination drive is continuing to pick up speed following a blip last week, with a record 400,000 doses dished out yesterday. The epidemic is still huge and devastating the country, however, with almost 40,000 infected patients in hospital. And grim figures laying bare the other economically-crippling side of lockdown reveal business activity has fallen even more than expected this month, leaving the UK looking down the barrel of a double dip recession. Number 10 borrowed more than 34billion in December - the third highest monthly total ever - as it scrambles to keep millions of jobs and stricken firms afloat while tax revenues dwindle. Instead Cabinet ministers are embroiled in an unseemly squabble over whether to pump up financial support further and toughen rules at UK borders. A leaked plan from Matt Hancock's Department of Health would see everyone who tests positive for coronavirus given 500 in cash to self-isolate. The idea, which could cost half a billion pounds a week, is meant to bolster low levels of compliance - but officials at Rishi Sunak's Treasury branded it 'bonkers', while No10 effectively disowned the proposal, saying the PM had not seen it. Protesting farmers' unions have rejected the government's proposal to suspend the three contentious laws for 18 months and said they want a 'complete' repeal of the three legislations. The government, during their tenth round of negotiation with the agitating farmer leaders, proposed to suspend the three farm laws for 1-1.5 years (18 months) and set up a joint committee to find an amicable solution in the interest of the farming community. Farmers have firmly said that they will not go back to their homes until the government accepts their demand to repeal the three contentious farm laws. On Friday, January 22, farmers and government will again meet for the 11th time on the new proposal. Before the meeting, Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar met senior BJP leader and Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday night. Meanwhile, the meeting between the protesting unions and police over the January 26 tractor rally remained inconclusive on Thursday as the farmers are adament to take it out on Delhi's busy Outer Ring Road. In the meeting held with the police officials, police requested farmers to not conduct the parade in Delhi while the farmers restated their plan about doing the parade. The three laws have already been stayed by the Supreme Court on January 11 till further orders, and the apex court also formed a committee of experts 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 court-appointed panel on Thursday started its consultation process and interacted with 10 farmer organisations from eight states, including Uttar Pradesh. Enacted in September last year, the three laws have been projected by the Central government 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. Also read: Cyberattack on GSTN portal? Cryptic tweet raises data security concerns among taxpayers Also read: Budget: BJP suggests three-pronged strategy to maximise PSU valuation for disinvestment Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. The Covid-19 death toll has crossed 400 with the deaths of 18 more people yesterday. The death toll now stands at 408, with 96 of those occurring in the last seven days alone. The Ministry of Health reported the deaths in its daily update yesterday evening. An elephant was burned alive after thugs set it on fire when it approached a private resort in southern India. Two men have been arrested and a third is wanted, after they allegedly threw burning rags at the elephant, with the disturbing scenes being captured on video. Police have said an investigation has been launched into the attack, that occurred in the Nilgiris district of Tamil Nadu in southern India. It took place near a private resort, where a group described as 'miscreants' tried to shoo the elephant away that was in the middle of a street by throwing burning cloth. As the video shows, recorded from a balcony of a nearby house, the fire catches on the right side of the elephant before it runs towards the jungle, trumpeting in pain. Pictured: An elephant was set on fire in southern India as a group of men tried to shoo it away from a private resort. Police have said an investigation has been launched into the attack Within moments, the panicked elephant disappears into the wilderness, but the fire can still be seen burning bright through the darkness. People can be heard shouting in the video, although it is unclear if they are shouting because the elephant is on fire, or in an attempt to shoo it away. Tragically, the 40-year-old elephant suffered serious burn injuries near its ears and died on Tuesday while it was being transported on its way for treatment by officials. It was reportedly found by forest rangers in a very weak condition, and was being transported to an elephant sanctuary when it died. The elephant had found its way into a private resort (pictured) when it was attacked. Men threw flaming rags at it, apparently in an attempt ti shoo it away, setting the beast on fire Two people, identified as Prasath and Raymond Dean, both natives to Mavanallah, were taken into custody. A further man, identified as Ricky Rayan, is also involved in the case but out of town and the police are trying to locate him and make an arrest. Asian elephants have been listed as endangered since 1986, with the wild population having decreased by an estimated 50 percent since the 1930s and 1940s. The elephant's right-hand side caught on fire, causing it to flee the resort. It could still be seen in a video filmed by a local as it fled into the wilderness, where it sadly later died The estimated 27,000 - 31,000 elephants in India are threatened by loss of their habitat, environmental degradation and habitat fragmentation. With over 80 percent of India's population being Hindu - a religion that considers elephants a sacred animal - the news of the attack is likely to spark outrage. Elephants are seen as the living incarnation of one of their most important gods, called Ganesh, an elephant-headed deity. Googles threat to cut off search to Australian users and walk away from $4 billion in revenue has sparked warnings the digital giants are not bluffing over laws designed to force them to pay for news. The $1.8 trillion search giants local managing director Melanie Silva told a Senate committee hearing on Friday that Google would shut off search in Australia if the governments proposed media bargaining code becomes law. Experts said the threat is not idle, with Google likely fearful the code could set a global precedent. Melanie Silva, Google managing director and vice-president of Australia and New Zealand, says the company will cut off search to Australian users if it is forced to pay for news content. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Australia would not respond to the threats as news media companies fired back at suggestions their content did not add value to the platforms. Australia makes our rules for things you can do in Australia. Thats done in our Parliament. Its done by our government, and thats how things work here in Australia, he said. People who want to work with that, in Australia, youre very welcome. But we dont respond to threats. Does the spitefulness of this government know no bounds? Is the pettiness of denying full diplomatic status to the new EU representatives in the UK what the 52 per cent who voted for Brexit really want? Shameful actions like this, far from making Britain great again, further diminish us in the eyes of the world and reduce our power and influence. What does our country gain by persistently sticking two fingers up to the EU? As for Robert Jenricks proposal to legislate to protect historic statues, it is disgraceful. It is a deliberate V sign to millions of our own citizens, who for generations have suffered offence, discrimination and racial injustice. The statues themselves are only a symbol, but what the government is effectively saying is that it has no intention of supporting any re-examination of our history, particularly the murkier aspects of our colonial past, to meet the understandings and sensitivities of a more enlightened age. Has no one in government watched Steve McQueens films, or David Olusogas TV documentaries? Or considered the mass of other evidence that we now have to enable us to reassess these issues in a way that will enhance respect for our nation rather than diminish it? Gavin Turner Norfolk Fishing fiasco Unlike some of your readers, I do actually have sympathy for the fishermen and women. They may have voted for Brexit, but they were given the same assurances by the Leave campaign as all of us that trading with the EU would continue as before. For Johnson to offer 23m compensation for temporary hiccups shows how little he understands about the impact of his Brexit model; theres nothing temporary about this status unless he is about to renegotiate his deal. It should be no surprise to anyone that import and export flows from and to the EU are being disrupted, because the government chose to leave both the single market and customs union. The trade deal was agreed as the Christmas holiday started, and only one week before the cut-off date. There was no chance for proper preparation until the terms were known. As we are now all realising, trading and dealing with our biggest market will neither be the same nor nearly as easy as it was. And thats for all of us, not just the fishermen whose export business is now critically compromised. The saddest part is that this is simply the result of deliberate government policy. The need for detailed review and scrutiny by parliamentary committee, therefore, cannot be greater. Charles Wood Birmingham Retailers must adapt I noted with interest todays article by Ben Chapman titled UK retail sales in 2020 fall at fastest pace on record around the ONS December retail sales statistics. Theres no doubt that 2020 had major repercussions for retailers, as they surrendered their store fronts and swapped in-store for online experiences. Usually, retailers are rushed off their feet in December, but with last-minute restrictions spanning the country in the run up to Christmas, the fall in retail sales isnt surprising. One thing is clear as we move forward: retail may never return to pre-Covid normality. Retailers should all be looking to the future and asking, how can we boost our online experience to attract and retain new customers? This year, choice and convenience will be crucial. Home shopping for many is just too convenient to pull back from, and customers will want simple, intuitive online experiences from the comfort of their sofas. Whats more, embracing eCommerce and the huge range of choice that it opens up has been a lifeline for some brands think Oasis, Warehouse and Cath Kidston, each resurrected thanks to online success. The next three months could be brutal for our retail sector but we must look ahead and resolve any trade challenges expected, as a result of the EU exit. Conversations with customers and our own research has uncovered that retailers are selling across borders more than ever but with supply chain problems already grabbing headlines, shoppers are now anxious about buying from international sellers online. Building back trust and making eCommerce experiences as smooth as possible will be critical to survival for many retail brands this year and will help build solid foundations for a post-Covid economy. Matthew Furneaux eCommerce expert and Director at GBG Tougher restrictions The UK government has done too little, too late to control the Coronavirus pandemic spike. The UK has the highest mortality rate in Europe and rates fifth in the world. It is shocking when you consider that Britain has the NHS available to everyone, whereas for most people around the world medical care is not freely available. Members of the public have to take responsibility for their actions contributing to the rise in Covid-19 cases. Those who abuse the restrictions and overwhelm the NHS to the brink of collapse are ignorant, arrogant and continue to live in denial. NHS frustration and anger to peoples attitudes is understandable as they are being strained psychologically to the limits by inadequate government policies. The virus is now claiming the lives of young and fit people. NHS staff are not the only ones to suffer. Patients with life-threatening conditions will become casualties of the pandemic as surgeons and doctors are having to cancel procedures and operations to help save Covid-19 patients. Will tougher restrictions finally come into place when patients start to be turned away by hospitals? Jeannette Schael Hampshire Little lasting damage The remarkable thing about Donald Trumps presidency is how little lasting damage he did. In hours, at the stroke of a pen, Biden undid many of the things Trump did. Overseas, Trumps pacifism stopped him from causing lasting damage in the way Bush did in the Middle East. Trumps lack of interest and competence limited his actions to self-promotion. He did exploit and deepen the political divide in the US but he did not cause it. There is a danger that a focus on vilifying Trump will stop the Democrats addressing the most pressing problem: the need to resolve the political divide in the US. Just how difficult this will be can be seen from the massive canvassing effort in Georgia. Although the Democrats won those crucial elections they garnered very few extra votes, a very small dent in the divide. Seventy-four million people voted for Trump last November and could well vote for a similar leader in 2024, who is neither a pacifist nor incompetent. They felt Trump understood them and was on their side. It is their emotions, not reason, that the Democrats must woo, by understanding them and involving them in actions, not words, that address the issues that have made them disaffected. Jon Hawksley London Nature hitting back At last, politicians are beginning to appreciate the reality of the pandemic. No quick fix, no magic bullet, no return to normality. The natural world is a generous friend, but a fearsome adversary. For generations, humankind has taken nature for granted, plundered its larder and ignored its warnings. Now it's hitting back, yet the majority of the human race continues to insist on business as usual. It's taken just one virus, crossing into the human species, to bring our fragile civilisation to its knees. The warning signs have been there to see for decades. The sleeping dog has woken up. Steve Edmondson Cambridge LAKE OSWEGO, Ore. An organization representing Oregon hospitals expressed doubts on Friday that healthcare providers throughout the state would be able to meet Governor Kate Brown's plan to begin vaccinating seniors for coronavirus early next month. Governor Brown announced last week that Oregon would open up vaccinations to childcare workers, teachers, and other school staff on January 25 pushing vaccinations for seniors into February. Under this plan, seniors 80 and over would be eligible starting February 8, with progressively younger groups becoming eligible over the following weeks. In a press briefing on Friday, Brown appeared to stand by that plan, acknowledging criticism of the decision to push back vaccinations for seniors in favor of educators. "If we were to vaccinate every Oregon senior first, the unfortunate and harsh reality is that many of our educators would not get vaccinated this school year, and Oregon kids would continue to suffer," Brown said. "If we flip that, and prioritize the needs of Oregon kids, it puts a two-week delay on beginning vaccinations for seniors who live independently." RELATED: Klamath County prepares to begin vaccinating teachers in next phase of roll-out The Oregon Association of Hospital and Health Systems released a statement shortly after that, disagreeing with Brown's assessment not based on the decision to vaccinate educators first, but because of the relatively short period before vaccinations are opened up to the first group of seniors. We are deeply concerned that the Governor, by expanding eligibility to teachers and other school employees in addition to seniors aged 65 and older, is increasing demand for the vaccine far beyond available supply in some regions," said Becky Hultberg, President and CEO of OAHHS. "Since the state does not control the vaccine supply, Oregonians are being asked to take it on faith that the state can keep to the Governors timeline." Hultberg said that there are some regions of the state where supply of the vaccine may be able to meet the demand of both educators and seniors, indicating that those areas should be free to move forward. But other hospitals, Hultberg said, simply will not have enough doses available to meet the challenge. In particular, Hultberg pointed to the Portland metro area, where she estimated that it would take several weeks to vaccinate teachers, on top of members of Phase 1a who have not yet been vaccinated. Adding 80-year-olds by February 8 would only compound the problem, she said. "At 15,000 doses a week in the Portland metro area, we should all be honest about the fact that there will be significant wait times for vaccines and that completing our efforts will take many, many months unless supply increases," Hultberg said. "Setting unreasonable expectations will not speed up vaccinations but will lead to confusion on the part of Oregon seniors, and will increase the operational burden borne by hospitals tasked with explaining to those who believe they have a place in line that they will have to wait even longer." RELATED: Sign-ups for Jackson County vaccination clinic close after exceeding capacity Brown said on Friday that there have been strides made in the vaccination effort over the past several weeks, claiming that all nursing home residents in the state who wanted to receive the vaccine had been inoculated. Many of Oregon's coronavirus-related deaths have come from outbreaks at these kinds of facilities, where the residents are likely to be particularly vulnerable both by reason of age and by existing medical conditions. "I have prioritized protecting seniors since day one of this response and, as a result, Oregon is faring better than nearly every other state in the nation in protecting vulnerable seniors," said Governor Brown. "Oregon has the second lowest COVID-19 infection rate among seniors in the country, and the third lowest death rate among people 65 and older." According to a timeline provided by the Oregon Health Authority on Friday, health officials anticipate that a significant number of educators and seniors 78 percent, a little over the percentage of Phase 1A member currently vaccinated won't be inoculated until early May, based on the number of doses currently allocated to Oregon. The plan for vaccinating educators before the first group of seniors becomes eligible on February 8 is ambitious. OHA hopes to have more than half of teachers and school staff vaccinated by that time, just over two weeks from now. According to that timeline, another group of seniors will become eligible every week after February 8. Seniors 75 and over during the week of February 14, 70 and older on February 21, and 65 and older on February 28. The Karnataka chief minister condoled the deaths and said that the government has ordered an investigation into the accident. Shivamogga is Yediyurappa's home district Two people have been detained and a high-level investigation has been ordered into the explosion in Shivamogga district which left at least six dead. The explosion had occurred on Thursday night after a truckload of gelatin sticks exploded at a stone-mining quarry. PTI quoted police as saying that the people detained include a contractor of a stone crushing facility where the blast occurred. The exact toll due to the blast is unclear as publications are reporting various figures. While The Times of India and News18 quoted Karnataka chief minister BS Yediyurappa as saying that five people have died, reports also emerged of at least eight deaths due to the explosion. PTI, which has reported that six casualties have been caused, also quoted authorities as saying that the toll is likely to increase. "There are rumours that at least 10 to 15 people have died. Let the police complete their investigation," Shivamogga Deputy Commissioner KB Shivakumar told PTI on Friday. Karnataka chief minister BS Yediyurappa condoled the deaths and said that the Karnataka government has ordered an investigation into the accident. Shivamogga is Yediyurappa's home district. Stringent action would be taken against the guilty, he added. The chief minister also said that he had been in contact with senior officials since last night and dispatched teams to carry out rescue operations. "My deepest condolences to the bereaved family members. I wish a speedy recovery to the injured," Yediyurappa tweeted. According to The Times of India, Yediyurappa has announced a compensation of Rs 5 lakh for the kin of the deceased. The sound of the blast, which was initially thought to be an earthquake, was heard in neighbouring Davangere, Chikkamagaluru and Uttara Kannada districts as well. In Shivamogga, the effect was severe as some houses developed cracks, and roof tiles and window panes shattered into pieces. The vehicle was badly mangled and the bodies of the victims were dismembered beyond recognition, reports said. With inputs from PTI CLEVELAND, Ohio How well do you know Cleveland? Jeopardy! gave viewers a chance to test their knowledge about the city Thursday night as it featured an entire category on Cleveland. The category, Cleveland: News Clues, appeared in the shows first round and the clues were read by WOIO Channel 19 news anchors Chris Frye and Nichole Vrsansky. So how do you think youd do? For people who have lived in the area for even a short time, the clues shouldnt be too difficult ... it wasnt tough for the contestants, who answered every clue correctly. Time to start, beginning with the $200 selection. The correct responses are at the end. $200 In 1967, Cleveland voters chose Democrat Carl Stokes over Republican Seth Taft, making Stokes the first African American to hold this office in one of Americas major cities. $400 This institution opened in downtown Cleveland on Sept. 2, 1995, and celebrated with a star-studded show featuring legend after legend, including Johnny Cash, Aretha Franklin, Bruce Springsteen and Bob Dylan. $600 In 2018, this hometown hero and his foundation partnered with Akron, Ohios, public school district to open a new school offering innovative instruction for at-risk students. $800 In 1967, the Cleveland Clinics Dr. Rene Favaloro removed a vein from a patients leg and used it to route blood flow around a blocked coronary artery, achieving a landmark in this now-common type of heart surgery. $1,000 In 1969, Clevelands Cuyahoga River was so badly polluted that an oil slick on the rivers surface caught fire, making national headlines and helping spark the 1970 creation of this federal agency. Correct responses $200: What is mayor? $400: What is the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame? $600: Who is LeBron James? $800: What is bypass? $1,000: What is the EPA? As President Joe Biden takes office, White House staff change out photographs in hallways, newly appointed cabinet members familiarize themselves with briefing materials, and new stationary memorializing the arrival of the 46th president of the United States is printed. Change is everywhere in Washington, D.C. In stark contrast, Americans across the nation are plagued with the same challenges that they faced yesterday. A global pandemic that has claimed more than 402,000 American lives continues to wreak havoc with no end in sight. In its wreckage, families struggle to make ends meet in an economy that flounders under the weight of international and domestic factors including political turmoil, foreign price wars, and supply chain deficiencies. Unemployment rates have stagnated at a staggering 6.7 percent, and 7.3 million Americans are still actively seeking employment. While the name might be confusing, the Railroad Commission of Texas regulates the oil and gas industry in the single largest oil producing state in our nation. Alongside surface mining, pipeline safety and alternative fuels, this agency seeks to responsibly produce our states abundant resources for the benefit of all Texans with sensible and practical regulation. As chairman of the Railroad Commission of Texas, I am proud of the significant economic impact this industry provides to our state and the nation. Producing more than 41 percent of the nations oil, Texas energy producers leave a massive footprint on our economy. Last year, the industry paid $13.9 billion in state and local taxes and state royalty payments. More than 400,000 Texans were directly employed by oil and natural gas companies last year, with average incomes that more than double the national average. Indirectly, each oil and natural gas job creates an additional 2.4 jobs in Texas. All in, the oil and natural gas industry was responsible for employing nearly 1 million Texans last year alone. These companies provide some of the most affordable energy prices to families across the state at 8.6 cents/kWh compared to the national average of 10.54 cents/kWh. Additionally, this industry provides tax revenues and refined products that keep our roads paved, teachers employed, and hospitals supplied. Texas is not the only state that faces dire consequences. In Pennsylvania, more than 60,000 individuals are employed by the oil, natural gas, coal, and nuclear production industries. Natural gas drilling has provided the state with nearly $2 billion in revenue since 2012, funding roads, parks, first responders, and agricultural preservation across the state. In New Mexico, more than 62,000 jobs stand to be lost to a fracking ban on federal lands, totaling 5 percent of the states overall workforce and more than $1.1 billion in state revenue would disappear. In California, a state that has already begun to enact policies that pick energy winners and losers, communities face rolling blackouts and soaring energy costs as a result of an unreliable energy grid. President Biden has been very clear about his intent to dismantle this industry in favor of the Green New Deal and expensive, unreliable alternative fuel sources. Through a series of executive orders, his plan to strangle the American oil and gas industry will lead to increased energy costs, increased unemployment rates and an increased dependency on foreign oil. While Americans struggle to pay their bills and keep food on the table, this polar shift in energy policy will make the road to recovery even longer and American families simply cannot withstand any further delay in economic stabilization. In his inaugural speech, Biden made a plea to Americans who do not support his ideals. 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. Thats democracy. Thats America. Mr. Biden, I implore you to heed your own advice. This democracy, this America, desperately needs a president who will do exactly what you have asked of them to hear us out as we move forward and take measure of our hearts. My ask is simple: as you assume office, take measure of the needs of every American who has suffered through the economic turmoil of the last year. Instead of immediately signing energy and climate policies into law that will cause detrimental harm to American families across the country, hear me out. Allow Americans to get back to work, provide for their families and keep the lights on. Wait for the economy to fully recover before forcing the Americans to pay more for energy, fight for fewer jobs and take home less income. We need stability and growth, not a Green New Deal. Christi Craddick is the chairman of the Railroad Commission of Texas Sompo Japan plans to use EasySends no-code development platform to power its marine insurance accident notification system Tel Aviv, Israel, January 22, 2021 EasySend, a no-code platform for building and optimizing digital customer journeys, announced that theyre partnering with Sompo Japan, the second-largest non-life insurance company in Japan, to introduce their no-code platform into Sompos marine insurance accident notification system. This strategic integration marks EasySends move into the Japanese insurance market. Due to the recent acceleration in digital transformation and the fast-paced evolution of digital devices, customers needs have become diverse, complex, and rapidly changing requiring fast and continuous support and advancements. To meet customers evolving needs and expectations, Sompo Japan has devoted three digital labs in Tokyo, Tel Aviv, and Silicon Valley. Sompo Digital labs focus on promoting digital transformation, exploring innovative, emerging start-ups, and conducting joint Proof of Concept projects with SOMPO Holdings different business units. Sompo Digital Labs played a key role in introducing EasySends no-code development platform to Sompo Japan, an introduction that resulted in a commercial agreement between the two companies aiming to improve Sompo Japans customer experience (CX) and work efficiency. EasySend provides a cloud-based, no-code development platform to banks as well as insurance and financial service companies in Europe, the United States, and Israel. The company transforms paperwork into digital journeys in a very short period of time. The EasySend platform does not require any programming expertise and allows non-developers to create digital journeys quickly and easily with an intuitive drag-and-drop interface and pre-made templates. The platform greatly improves customer experience (CX) and reduces time to market as well as operational costs. By continuously developing digital journeys to improve customer experience and operational efficiency, EasySend enables businesses to flexibly respond to the ever-changing business environment and customer needs. As a first step, Sompo Japan will implement EasySends no-code platform into its marine insurance accident notification system. Following this stage, Sompo will seek to apply the platform to respond to additional customer needs. Before using EasySends platform at-scale i.e., transitioning from solely utilizing it for claims processing to leveraging its capabilities for customer payments and specific accident data analyses Sompo will channel its efforts towards standardizing and digitizing accident receipt documents (including images taken with a smartphone) and claims documents. Once that has been achieved, the company will continue to expand its efforts to continue improving its responsiveness to the ever-evolving customer environment. About EasySend EasySend is leading the charge for a digital future by empowering insurance carriers, banks, and financial services to transform manual, paper-based processes into powerful digital experiences on any device. EasySend empowers enterprises to deliver new digital journeys faster and improve the customer experience at a fraction of the cost with their innovative no-code development platform. By harnessing AI and machine learning, EasySend enables real-time insights into customer interactions, allowing processes to be optimized quickly and easily. The company was founded in 2016 and has offices in the U.S., Germany, and headquarters in Tel Aviv, Israel. For more information, visit https://www.easysend.io/. Media Contact: Headline Media Justine Rosin justine@headline.media US:+1 917 724 2176 Topics Customer Experience Japan Would you like to receive breaking news notifications from The Post and Courier? Sign up to receive news and updates from this site directly to your desktop. Breaking News Columbia Breaking News Greenville Breaking News Myrtle Beach Breaking News Aiken Breaking News Click on the bell icon to manage your notifications at any time. Success! Please click the 'Allow' button in the 'Show Notifcations' alert in your browser if one is available. Thank you for signing up! Please enable notifications in your browser and reload the page. Pipeline 22 January 2021 Unveiling a new chapter in its European expansion, IHG Hotels & Resorts' boutique luxury brand, Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants, will open its first property in France this spring. The opening of Kimpton St Honore Paris will see the brand's playful and sophisticated design, innovative approach to restaurants and bars, and immersive guest experiences that foster genuine human connections, offer a fresh perspective on hospitality in the City of Light. Kimpton St Honore Paris will breathe new life into a heritage building which once housed the much-loved luxury department store "Samaritaine de Luxe". Located on the Boulevard des Capucines in Paris' Opera district, the hotel will infuse true Kimpton style, harmoniously blending luxury and creativity across 149 stylish guest rooms (including 24 suites), an indoor swimming pool, gym and a Spa with luxury treatment rooms. Its landmark original 1917 Art Nouveau facade, distinctive staircase and unique elevator will all be thoughtfully restored and celebrated French interior designer Charles Zana is transforming the spaces to bring Kimpton's elegant and playful design to life within. Hotel interiors will be inspired by 1930's Art Deco and each guest room will have the feel of a chic, modern, design-centric Parisian apartment, with balconies, floor-to-ceiling windows and thoughtfully-selected works of art. Culinary and cocktail experiences at Kimpton St Honore Paris will bring a refreshing light-heartedness and authenticity in its service to the neighbourhood, with exciting outlets and Kimpton's famed daily Social Hour offering the opportunity for guests to enjoy interesting, locally inspired drinks and swap stories. The light-filled ground-floor will see a Californian-inspired restaurant and bar designed by Humbert & Poyet set to combine light, seaside-inspired recipes infused with American generosity. On the tenth-floor rooftop, a terrace bar with 360-degree views of the city will welcome guests for unique cocktails and bites cleverly paired with social moments in mind, set to become as popular with locals as with visitors to Paris. WASHINGTON It was the culminating moment of a transfer of power: President Biden and the first lady, Jill Biden, walked up the driveway to their new home on Wednesday, ascended the steps to the North Portico, waved to the crowd as a military band played Hail to the Chief, turned to head inside and came face-to-face with a closed door. As the world watched and a small crowd of Biden family members came up behind them, the first couple waited. Was the president supposed to open the pair of big wooden doors himself? Had former President Donald J. Trump, who had left eight hours earlier, locked him out? Soon enough the doors were swung open, and the Bidens entered. The awkward moment had lasted only a handful of seconds about 10, if you time it but it did not go unnoticed in Washington. Biden moves to end Muslim travel ban, rejoin Paris climate accord and bolster war on Covid-19 President Joe Biden signed a series of executive orders, including the lifting of Donald Trumps ban on travel from some Muslim countries, reversing the former presidents decision to exit the Paris climate accord and restoring Americas membership of the World Health Organisation. The orders also include a directive to halt construction of the wall on the US-Mexico border, and efforts to expand diversity and equality for minority groups in the federal government. The orders, issued just hours after he was sworn in as president, are aimed at reversing decisions by his predecessor Donald Trump and set the stage for policy reversals by the Biden administration. Biden said his administration is decided on bolstering environmental protections and strengthening the fight against Covid-19. "Some of things we are going to be doing are going to be bold," he said in the Oval Office. "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. He said his actions on the Covid-19 pandemic, which has claimed 400,000 American lives, would help change the course of the crisis. The United States formally left the Paris accord last year after President Trump cast aspersions on climate science and asserted that the accord was an economic burden. President Biden issued an executive order on Wednesday to bring the US, 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. 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. 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 Defence Fund. Climate-change leaders welcomed President 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. The president said he will be signing a number of executive orders over the next several days of the week. BEIJING, Jan. 22, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Huami Corporation ("Huami" or the "Company") (NYSE: HMI), today announced that it will hold its 2020 Annual General Meeting of Shareholders (the "AGM") at Huami Co., Ltd. Building B2, zhongguancun No.1, No.81 Beiqing road, Haidian District, Beijing, China P.C.100094, at 2:00 pm (Beijing Time) on February 25, 2021. The purpose of the AGM is for the Company's shareholders to consider, and if thought fit, approve the change of the Company's legal name from "Huami Corporation" to "Zepp Health Corporation", and the change of the Company's trading symbol at the New York Stock Exchange from "HMI" to "ZEPP." The proposed name change and trading symbol change will not affect any rights of shareholders or the Company's operations and financial position. The board of directors of the Company has fixed the close of business on January 22, 2021 as the record date (the "Record Date") in order to determine the shareholders entitled to receive notice of the AGM or any adjourned or postponed meeting thereof. Holders of the Company's ordinary shares whose names are on the register of members of the Company at the close of business on the Record Date are entitled to attend the AGM and any adjournment or postponement thereof in person. Holders of the Company's American depositary shares ("ADSs") who wish to exercise their voting rights for the underlying shares must act through Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, the depositary of the Company's ADS program. Huami has filed its annual report on Form 20-F, including its audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019, with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). Huami's Form 20-F can be accessed on the above-mentioned Company website, as well as on the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov. Shareholders may request a hard copy of the Company's annual report on Form 20-F, free of charge, by contacting Huami Corporation at [email protected] or by writing to Huami Corporation at Huami Global Innovation Center, Building B2, Zhong'an Chuanggu Technology Park, No.900 Wangjiang West Road, Hefei, China (230088), People's Republic of China. About Huami Corporation Huami's mission is to connect health with technology. Since its inception in 2013, Huami has developed a platform of proprietary technology including AI chips, biometric sensors, and data algorithms, which drive a broadening line of smart health products for consumers, and analytics services for industry. In 2019, Huami shipped 36.6 million units of smart watches and fitness bands, including its own Amazfit brand, and products developed and manufactured for Xiaomi, comprising 23% of global category shipments1. Huami Corporation is based in Hefei, China, with U.S. operations, Huami-USA, based in Cupertino, Calif. For more information, please visit https://www.huami.com/investor/pages/company-profile. [1] IDC, Correcting and Replacing Shipments of Wearable Devices, 3/10/20 For investor and media inquiries, please contact: In China: Huami Corporation Grace Yujia Zhang E-mail: [email protected] The Piacente Group, Inc. Yang Song Tel: +86-10-6508-0677 E-mail: [email protected] In the United States: Brad Samson E-mail: [email protected] SOURCE Huami Corporation Related Links www.huami.com LAKE RONKONKOMA, NY (OnSachem.com / OnTownMedia.com) The Mokkas family is bringing a taste of Athens to the former Peters Kitchen at 966 Portion Rd. in Lake Ronkonkoma, just west of the Farmingville border. Gus, Mikey and Ralphy Mokkas are excited to introduce to the community their newest venture, Super Greek Gyro Bowls & More, which their announcement stated is continuing the tradition of serving delicious food in a family-oriented and friendly atmosphere. The friendly atmosphere was certainly evident on Thursday as the restaurant celebrated its grand opening with a ribbon-cutting. Today we were happy to welcome Super Greek to Ronkonkoma, the Ronkonkoma Chamber of Commerce announced. Located in Lake Ronkonkoma, and just a few blocks from the Farmingville border, the Farmingville Hills Chamber of Commerce also attend the celebratory gathering along with elected officials. Support Local Journalism Now, more than ever, the world needs trustworthy reportingbut good journalism isnt free. Please support us by making a contribution. Contribute As an ode to their first-generation status and childhood memories of vacationing in Greece, the Brothers have created a concept that combines Greek street food with their own twist while also keeping our new normal in mind, Super Greek announced. While focusing on making sure that your food is still fresh and delicious, even on the go, you will be able to create your own gyro bowls with no shortage of combinations. From a variety of house-made tzatziki sauces and dressings to fresh seafood and vegan options while also serving those Greek classics we all know and love, Super Greek will be the perfect quick, simple & delicious option for any meal. In addition to the build your own gyro bowls, Super Greeks menu also includes selections such as Greek Nachos & Poutine, Homemade Spinach & Cheese Pies, and Greek sodas. With the help of Union Square Advertising on Union Avenue in Lake Ronkonkoma, the Mokkas brothers created a trendy atmosphere that mirrors the feel of walking down the streets of Athens, according to Super Greek. The brothers arent new to Lake Ronkonkoma. They owned Peters Kitchenand now transformed it into a new dining experience. NEW HAVEN In a year that will be remembered for its calamities, 2020 had its ups and downs for Drew Osbon, who bills his submarine sandwich business as epic. Osbon lost the ghost kitchen space he had at an East Street warehouse at the start of last year. But by June, he had landed a small storefront at 957 State St. in the city. His business, Munchies, opened at the end of December and had stayed open as 2020 segued into 2021. But last week, Osbon again faced a challenge: A fire did enough damage to the business that it will be closed for several weeks. Osbon, however, vowed his business will rise from the ashes. It was always a dream of mine to have a place of my own in New Haven, he said. Osbon spoke as Mayor Justin Elicker and Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz visited several upper State Street businesses looking to raise their profiles in the midst of the pandemic. Each merchant used their moment to show off their role as a survivor and to ask the public to support them as much as possible. Elicker described Munchies fare as funky gourmet sandwiches. One of the 11 types of subs on the menu is the FXO: French onion-style steak and cheese with French onion dip, caramelized onions, American cheese and smoked Swiss. Cheryl Consiglio, whose Italian restaurant-operating family is close to New Haven foodie royalty, opened The Neighborhood Cafe two years ago. And until the pandemic hit, there were plenty of days when the line of customers waiting to order stretched out the door, Consiglio said. The business reopened three months ago and, financially, Consiglio said her restaurant is doing about one-third of what it did before COVID-19. Were going to stick it out, she said. Also highlighted on the tour were Provisions on State, a butcher shop and grocery founded by Emily Mingrone and business partner Shane McGowan, the owners of Tavern on State; and Chestnut Fine Foods & Confections, a 30-year-old catering company and cafe for foodies of all tastes that serves daily prepared gourmet foods, artisanal breads, desserts and a cheese assortment. John Martin, co-president of the Upper State Street Association, described the merchants he works with in the neighborhood as a strong group that sticks together and helps each other out. Martin said upper State Street merchants have been hurt by a lack of Yale University graduate students who normally would be living in the area. But now they are all spread out across the country, he said. Elicker urged the public to really support these merchants for the next two months. Its going to be really tough for them, he said. The four businesses are participating in Eat New Haven, a primarily digital campaign aimed at celebrating and supporting local restaurants and food purveyors, according to city officials. ,luther.turmelle@hearstmediact.com Quote: HuskerFarmer Originally Posted by How about Carli? Carli is by far one of the top suspension systems on the market. I factory ordered a 2020 f250 and wanted to level the truck, the dealer suggested Readylift with Bilsteins on all four corners. I started looking into different kits and came across some Youtube videos made by CJC Off-road about Carli and why its the best. Really good content and even gave them a call and ended up buying a 2.5 Pin Top with add a packs, radius arms, torsion sway bar, front diff guard and high mount steering stabilizer. I am so glad I went this route the ride is outstanding. I live in northern Canada down a which can become rough and with this kit it makes you really feel in control and you aren't scared to open it up as you have confidence to do so. You cant beat the quality of their products and if you are American or even Canadian like myself its all made in the USA "North America" I had my dealership install the kit and the mechanics were impressed with the build quality of the parts and how Carli provided all the little extras most kits leave out i.e. Brake line extension, castor shims. Only side note to mention is there can be a wait time on Carli Systems so if you do go this route be prepared to wait 8-10 weeks. NEW YORK, Jan. 22, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- In recognition of its technological advances and the potential for immediate real-world impact, the new CLOi Autonomous UV-C Robot from LG Business Solutions was featured at The Paley Center's Best of CES 2021 product showcase and panel discussion. The robot is designed to efficiently disinfect various commercial environments using UV-C light and was one of only four products selected for demonstration by the Paley Media Council from among thousands introduced at Digital CES 2021. According to Jeffrey Weiland, LG Business Solutions USA's robotics team lead, "This special recognition validates LG's dedication and determination to rapidly develop this vital public health tool. The past year has proven that the importance of public sanitation will only continue to grow, and LG is proud to play a role in designing technological tools to help businesses improve the safety of their spaces for customers and employees." The Paley Center for Media's "Next Big Thing" Best of CES panel discussion and demonstration session invites leading industry experts to examine and experience the most promising and impactful products debuted at CES, the world's largest annual technology conference. At the 2021 virtual event, Weiland explained the robot's capabilities during a live demonstration of a prototype in a hotel room setting. The new LG CLOi Autonomous UV-C Robot is expected to enable a new standard of hygiene for commercial environments by automatically disinfecting high-touch, high-traffic areas. The autonomous robot will move easily around tables, chairs and other furniture to irradiate and disinfect a room's touchable surfaces in minutes. It will be capable of disinfecting multiple areas on a single battery charge. To ensure consistent operation and simplify worker interactions, staff can monitor the robots' progress via remote updates to smartphones or tablets. Employees are protected from exposure to UV rays by the robot's safety lock, which can be triggered by an internal motion detector when humans are present, by pressing an on-board emergency stop button, or via the mobile application. This is the first in a series of new LG CLOi autonomous robots planned for introduction in the United States during 2021. For high-res images, click here . EDITOR'S NOTE: UV-C covers wavelength spectrum between 100 and 280nm. Actual disinfecting time will be based on room size. Motion detection sensors are effective up to a 16-foot radius. About LG Business Solutions USA The LG Electronics USA Business Solutions division serves commercial display customers in the U.S. lodging and hospitality, digital signage, systems integration, healthcare, education, government and industrial markets. Based in Lincolnshire, Ill., with its dedicated engineering and customer support team, LG Electronics USA Business Solutions delivers business-to-business technology solutions tailored to the particular needs of business environments. LG Electronics USA Inc., based in Englewood Cliffs, N.J., is the North American subsidiary of LG Electronics Inc., a $53 billion global force in consumer electronics, mobile communications, home appliances and air solutions. LG is a 2020 ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year-Sustained Excellence. For more information, please visit www.LGSolutions.com. SOURCE LG Business Solutions USA Related Links http://www.LGSolutions.com A hospital boss and celebrities have slammed the Government's 800 fines for house parties of 15 or more - saying it suggests bashes with 14 revellers are okay. Home Secretary Priti Patel announced the hefty penalty for Covid-19 lockdown breakers yesterday. She said the fines - which would increase to 6,400 for repeat offenders - would be dished out to anyone who attended a house party of 15 or more. Home Secretary Priti Patel announced 800 penalty for people going to illicit events yesterday evening at the briefing as she lashed out at people aiding the spread of Covid But Deborah Lee, chief executive of Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust - warned parties of under 15 guests were still not acceptable. There have been 81,805 deaths in England - 133.4 per 100,000 population where she works running Gloucestershire Royal and Cheltenham General Hospitals Mrs Lee said: 'I can't help feeling that fining people 800 for attending a house party of 15 or more folk sends a mixed message. 'For the avoidance of doubt the NHS needs everyone to strictly follow the guidance; there's nothing that's OK about a party of 14.' Chief executive of Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Deborah Lee Good Morning Britain host Piers Morgan also questioned the unclear message. He tweeted: 'Does this mean house parties for 14 people are fine?' Outspoken Match of the Day host Gary Lineker waded in and said: 'This is ambiguous. 'Could be interpreted as being acceptable to have 14 or fewer people, which presumably is not the case.' Actor David Schneider agreed and said: 'Unclear messaging costs lives. In unrelated news, parties of up to 15 people are apparently fine.' Ms Patel tweeted after her speech: 'Just announced: We're introducing a new 800 fine for those attending house parties. '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.' Flanking Ms Patel as she made the announcement yesterday, 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.' The UK recorded another 37,892 infections yesterday, 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. Minister Counsellor Nguyen Phuong Tra, Deputy Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the UN, has urged relevant parties in the Central African Republic to resolve election-related differences through dialogue and negotiation, on the basis of respecting the countrys laws and Constitution. Participants at the UNSC's online meeting to discuss the election turmoil in the Central African Republic (Photo: VNA) Addressing a meeting of the UN Security Council (UNSC) in New York on January 21 to discuss the election turmoil in the Central African Republic, Tra expressed concern about its security situation while emphasising the importance of respecting the Peace Agreement between the Government and armed groups. She called on the international community to maintain support for the country. The Vietnamese diplomat also underlined the central role played by regional and sub-regional organisations and the vital contribution of the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA). Mankeur Ndiaye, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for the Central African Republic and Head of MINUSCA, briefed participants on instability in the country, saying that certain armed groups have opposed the election process. Attacks on armed forces, peacekeepers, and humanitarian workers disrupt economic and humanitarian activities and affect the lives of civilians in the Central African Republic - Illustrative image (Photo: AFP/VNA) Attacks on armed forces, peacekeepers, and humanitarian workers have disrupted economic and humanitarian activities and affected the lives of civilians in many areas, he said. Ndiaye called on the UNSC to provide personnel and resources assistance to ensure MINUSCAs operations, towards helping the Central African Republic respond to its current security challenges. Participants strongly condemned acts in violation of the Peace Agreement and violence perpetrated by armed groups. They also affirmed to support the role of regional organisations such as the African Union and the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), and MINUSCAs role in ensuring security and fostering dialogue between the parties./. VNA Press Release 22 January 2021 Evolution Hospitality, the lifestyle division of Aimbridge Hospitality, the leading, global, third-party hotel management company, has opened and is managing the 105-room Fort Sutter Hotel Sacramento. Advertisements "Our team is excited to be part of this distinctive boutique hotel project and its debut in Sacramento's vibrant Midtown neighborhood," said Will Loughran, chief operating officer of Evolution Hospitality. "The Fort Sutter Hotel, owned by local restauranteurs Randy and Stacy Paragary, will benefit from our extensive experience in the lifestyle space while backed by Aimbridge Hospitality's expansive scale. We look forward to a successful partnership." A new Tapestry Collection by Hilton property, the Fort Sutter Hotel Sacramento has begun accepting reservations for 2021 to accommodate guests in their casual-modern rooms and suites, including five one-bedroom suites with 1 baths. The smart rooms were inspired by surrounding Midtown's energy, filled with natural light, and stocked with Malin + Goetz bath products. The property is conveniently located within the five-square block Sutter District, easily accessible by foot or the property's rental bikes with plenty of parks, restaurants, and art galleries. The Fort Sutter Hotel is also next door to The Sofia Center for the Arts, home of the new B Street Theatre. Guests will have plenty of on-site amenities to enjoy including the outdoor lounge with a fire pit, curated art gallery with well-known and up-and-coming local artists' work on display, fitness center, Mercantile on-site market, and purified water refill stations. Cafe Bernardo serves quality American cuisine all day long while the Four Palms lobby bar delivers a selection of signature cocktails, fine wine, and local beers. The property also boasts 1,800 square feet of urban-inspired indoor and outdoor meeting space for flexible event capabilities with custom catering options. The Fort Sutter Hotel Sacramento is located at 1308 28th Street, Sacramento, CA 95816. For reservations, please visit https://fortsutterhotel.com or call (916) 603-2301. Follow along on Facebook @forsutterhotel or Instagram @fortsutterhotel. She recently insisted to her followers she had jetted to Mexico - not because her sister Demi had flown out, but because she had been presented with a work trip she 'couldn't turn down'. And Chloe Sims took some time out from her busy schedule on Friday as she relaxed by the pool at her hotel in Tulum. The TOWIE star, 38, looked sensational as she showed off her enviable figure in a skimpy green bikini in sizzling Instagram posts. Green with envy: Chloe Sims took some time out from her busy schedule on Friday as she relaxed by the pool at her hotel in Tulum, Mexico Chloe ensured her figure was on full display as she stretched out by the pool and arched her back for the racy snap. The TV star blended in with the tropical green surroundings in her sexy green two-piece, which she teamed with a pair of brown, fringed sandals. Chloe appeared to go make-up free for her spot of sunbathing, while her ombre locks were left loose. Flaunt: The TOWIE star, 38, looked sensational as she showed off her enviable figure in a skimpy green bikini in sizzling Instagram posts Chloe also took to her Instagram stories where she gave fans another look at her PrettyLittleThing swimwear, while also giving a glimpse of her stunning accommodation. Captioning her grid post, Chloe was keen to reiterate her purpose of being in the country as she penned: 'BLENDING IN TULUM. 'Ideal location for shooting as its beautiful everywhere here.. & this hotel is soooo pretty. Brief visit but so glad I got to stay with @wataltulum.' Wow: Chloe also took to her Instagram stories where she gave fans another look at her PrettyLittleThing swimwear, while also giving a glimpse of her stunning accommodation Here for work: Captioning her grid post, Chloe was keen to reiterate her purpose of being in the country Not content with her bikini snaps, Chloe also posed for a trio of striking snaps as she modelled a stylish outfit. The mum-of-one looked amazing as she rocked a white camisole top from Zara, which she paired with ripped blue Free People jeans. Chloe completed her holiday look with a white wide-brimmed hat and a tasseled bag as she posed at her hotel. Looking goods: Not content with her bikini snaps, Chloe also posed for a trio of striking snaps as she modelled a stylish outfit Work it: The mum-of-one looked amazing as she rocked a white camisole top from Zara, which she paired with ripped blue Free People jeans Strike a pose: Chloe completed her holiday look with a white wide-brimmed hat and a tasseled bag as she posed at her hotel The TV personality also put on a busty display on her stories as she slipped into a plunging animal print crop top and matching sarong for a showstopping snap. Earlier this week, the TOWIE star revealed she had travelled to Mexico on a 'work related trip' amid Britain's coronavirus lockdown. Chloe took to Instagram and shared a series of bikini photos of herself after landing in celebrity hot spot Tulum. Wild thing: The TV personality also put on a busty display on her stories as she slipped into a plunging animal print crop top and matching sarong for a showstopping snap Sisters trip: Chloe said she had jetted to Mexico, not because her sister Demi (pictured) was there but because she had been presented with a work trip she 'couldn't turn down' After several reality stars have received criticism for travelling to Dubai for 'work' trips recently, Chloe insisted an opportunity presented itself in Mexico that she 'could not turn down'. She wrote: 'I HAVE ARRIVED IN MEXICO.. SO I WANTED TO GET AHEAD OF ANY NEGATIVE STORIES TO MAKE IT CLEAR, THIS IS FIRST & FOREMOST A WORK RELATED TRIP. 'SOME OPPORTUNITIES HAVE PRESENTED THEMSELVES, THAT I FELT I COULD NOT TURN DOWN & SO AFTER FULLY CONSIDERING THE LATEST GOVERNMENT GUIDELINES. I DECIDED TO TRAVEL.' Working hard? Earlier this week, the TOWIE star revealed she had travelled to Mexico on a 'work related trip' amid Britain's coronavirus lockdown Chloe wrote: 'I HAVE ARRIVED IN MEXICO.. SO I WANTED TO GET AHEAD OF ANY NEGATIVE STORIES TO MAKE IT CLEAR, THIS IS FIRST & FOREMOST A WORK RELATED TRIP' Chloe added she would be quarantining at her home in Essex as soon as she returns from the trip. She said: 'OBVIOUSLY I WILL BE QUARANTINING IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LEGAL REQUIREMENTS UPON MY RETURN.' Tulum is popular with stars including Drew Barrymore and Kristin Cavallari with Love Island's Eyal Booker and girlfriend Delilah Belle Hamlin also recently visiting the city. 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. THE expert advisory group set up to plan for Leaving Cert 2021 is now placing an increased focus on alternatives to the normal arrangements. Education Minister Norma Foley attended a meeting of the advisory group today, which agreed to intensive engagement around exploring further possible options. While the advisory group has always considered contingencies in the event that the exams whether written, orals or practicals cannot go ahead as normal, new attention is now being paid to other options. The broadening of the focus follows concerns raised by sixth year students themselves in a survey published this week by the Irish Second Level Students Union (ISSU). The ISSU, which is a member of the advisory body, along with other education stakeholders, brought its findings to the table today. Read More The Department of Education stated afterwards: The group agreed that there would be an intensive set of engagements in respect of exploring further possible options for the examinations, having regard to the reports findings. The group agreed that the report represented an important input to the deliberations underway. The headline finding in the ISSU survey was that four out of five members of the Class of 2021 want a choice between calculated grades and sitting June exams. 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. More than 13,000 Leaving Cert students responded to the survey and gave their opinions on other matters, including arrangements for the oral and practical exams and the Leaving Cert Applied (LCA). Todays meeting of the advisory group came against a backdrop of continuing high rates of Covid, which look set to keep schools closed beyond the target reopening date of February 1. The extended loss of face-to-face teaching will have a major impact on preparations for the exams and the overall uncertainty is also damaging to student mental health Even if the 60,000 Leaving Cert candidates are prioritised for a return to the classroom, it seems highly unlikely that they will be back on February 1. The Holocaust Memorial Resource & Education Center in partnership with the Jewish Federation and the Roth Family JCC will present, via Zoom, the International Holocaust Remembrance Day Commemoration featuring Holocaust survivor Ralph Preiss on Jan. 24, 3 p.m. - 4:30 p.m., in observance of the International Holocaust Remembrance Day and remember the innocent six million Jews and millions of other people who fell victims to Nazi persecution. Tribute will be paid to the millions of lives lost, through a candle lighting and a commemorative reading and powerful words of inspiration by local... Britains health service has said that roughly $20 million was spent on upgrades to oxygen infrastructure before the winter London: As a new and more contagious variant of the coronavirus pounds Britains overstretched National Health Service, healthcare 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 centres 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 in the 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. Despite Britains pulling ahead of the United States and other European countries in the race to vaccinate people and signs of a slowdown in new cases, deaths are soaring, hospitals continue to fill up, and, for the second time in a year, overtaxed health workers are scrambling to keep patients alive. And this time, they said, the warning signs were even more obvious. We were horrified we knew what was coming, said Dave Carr, an intensive care nurse in south London. Still, the government waited to lock down the country again until 4 January, when the health system was on the brink of crisis, and hospitals hesitated to pause elective operations so that doctors could prepare. We dont know what to do, Carr said. We cant turn patients away. Were practicing medicine in a way we never have in the UK ever before. For the United States, where cases are falling even as some cities remain swamped by the virus, the harrowing scenes in British hospitals hold a sobering lesson: Health systems that withstood the first wave of the pandemic remain vulnerable to the challenges of a faster-spreading variant. In recent months, doctors in Britain have set in motion more sophisticated plans for transferring patients, a crucial safety valve for hard-hit hospitals. And doctors have learned less invasive techniques to help patients breathe. But in other respects, hospitals defences were down when cases began to surge this winter. Health care workers who had left their usual posts to treat coronavirus patients in the spring were depleted, making reinforcements harder to come by. Hospitals were trying to honour long-delayed appointments for non-COVID ailments and treating the sorts of heart attack and stroke patients who had avoided hospitals unwisely, doctors said in the spring. The heaving wards and gruelling shifts that seemed inescapable last year suddenly looked to doctors and nurses like a consequence of poor planning, eroding the solidarity that once buoyed the health service. With nearly 40,000 COVID-19 patients in hospitals, almost double last years peak, Britain has suffered more per capita deaths over the last week than any other country. More than 101,000 people have died from the coronavirus in Britain. It just didnt have to be like this, said Tariq Jenner, a London emergency room doctor. The first time, you could say it was unavoidable. This just feels wholly avoidable, and thats a lot more difficult to stomach. Prime Minister Boris Johnson has repeatedly avoided taking fast action to stanch the spread of the virus. In September, he defied a call from government scientists for a brief England-wide lockdown, waiting until November to strengthen countrywide controls. On 22 December, government scientists again asked for strict measures, including school closures, a step that Johnson avoided until 4 January. All the while, doctors and nurses fretted in break rooms over the viruss spread. And they pressed hospital leaders to prepare. Most worrisome were the pipes that hospitals use to carry liquid oxygen into wards and convert it to gas. In August, a body overseeing English hospital groups warned that the pandemic had led to loadings beyond the capacity of the existing pipework and called for engineers to conduct remedial work. Britains health service has said that roughly $20 million was spent on upgrades to oxygen infrastructure before the winter. But industry experts said that not all hospitals received government funding to complete the work. In recent weeks, doctors have allowed some patients blood oxygen levels to fall below their usual targets and moved other patients to different hospitals because of overloaded systems. The need for oxygen has grown this winter because doctors are forgoing ventilators in favour of breathing machines that are less invasive but more oxygen-intensive. You couldve upgraded the pipes, said Christina Pagel, a professor of operational research at University College London. This kind of planning could easily have been done over the summer, but people just thought it wasnt going to happen again. Hospital executives were also reluctant to pause elective operations, setting back efforts to convert wards and train hospital workers with less experience in intensive care as cases mounted. In mid-November, staff members at a south London hospital wrote to the board, warning that it may be unrealistic to keep handling elective surgeries on top of everyday winter illnesses and COVID patients, given the current pressures on staffing and the high rates of sickness and burnout. Even before coronavirus cases soared, the staff members wrote, intensive care nurses were treating more patients than usual, risking compromises in patient care. The combination of demands starved health workers of time to get ready. Some London hospitals have expanded intensive care wards from roughly 50 beds to 220. Weve gone into this wave less well-prepared, with staff more exhausted and overstretched, without the preparation time that we had before the last wave, said Mark Boothroyd, an emergency room nurse. The danger is most of the NHS is maxed out now, and weve still got another few weeks to go. Many health workers have retired since the spring. Others have been reluctant to volunteer on intensive care wards a second time or are calling in sick when asked to do so. Nurses still on COVID wards report a litany of mental and physical strains: Joints aching from moving patients, many of whom are overweight; appetites waning again; sleep being disrupted by anxieties about staffing levels. Some said they had taken to drinking after long shifts. Hospitals have set up dermatology clinics for workers whose masks and hand-washing have damaged their skin. During a recent handover on the nursing staff, Carr said, he noticed a colleague crying. Normally Id say, All right, youre obviously stretched thin, go home, he said. Instead of that, Im saying, Youre obviously stretched, Id put my arm around you if I could, and you cant go home. Theres all of that pressure and a lot of fear. With wards full of sedated patients, health workers are handling a dizzying array of tasks: dispensing medicines, monitoring blood pressure and electrolytes, adjusting feeding tubes, preventing infections. In some hospitals, doctors said staff shortages meant that they could not awaken ventilated patients as often as usual, accelerating muscle wasting. And the government has still not issued clear instructions for how to ration resources in the most dire circumstances. The question of triage is on everyones mind, said Zudin Puthucheary, a doctor and council member of the Intensive Care Society, a professional body. Whos going to be making those decisions? Because were not trained to make them. Hospitals have become so busy that the volume of clinical waste produced by the National Health Service has more than doubled, according to internal hospital memos. And as cases recede in London, patients are being shuttled from as far as northern England and Wales to specialist hospitals in the city. While the pace of new admissions of COVID patients to British hospitals has slowed in recent days, doctors are steeling themselves for months of work to come as they try to help people recover. We havent got a plan for how were going to rehabilitate these patients and get them back to their lives, Puthucheary said. Thats the next big question we have to face. Benjamin Mueller c.2021 The New York Times Company Videos supporting jailed Russian opposition leader Aleksei Navalny are receiving millions of views on TikTok, while other social-media platforms are also seeing a strong uptick in pro-Navalny content, including posts by popular celebrities. Interest has spiked since Navalny's arrest on January 17 and his release of a documentary about a palace allegedly owned by Russian President Vladimir Putin. Many posts are promoting protests planned for January 23 and call for Navalny's release, despite an unprecedented crackdown by security forces on leading opposition figures. We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form The Court of Appeal (CoA) has ruled the High Court should re-hear 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 for 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 the 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 a new hearing, 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 that, 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. This recent piece, headlined "We Know About Bidens Cabinet on Cannabis," reports on the marijuana reform profiles of a number of members of the new Cabinet selection by Prez-Elect Joe Biden. The piece is an interesting read, and here is the start and conclusion to a focused discussion of some key nominees: With Democratic President-Elect Joe Biden set for inauguration next week and with his party in control of both chambers of Congress (albeit the narrowest of majorities in the Senate) cannabis legalization could, finally, get at least a debate in both houses. There are three measures that the 117th U.S. Congress could consider during Bidens first term: the SAFE Banking and MORE Acts which were approved by the Democrat-controlled House in 2019 and 2020, respectively, and the STATES Act, a measure which would give states control over cannabis laws without federal interference that never made it to the House floor. Were any of the reforms approved by Congress, responsibility for enacting and enforcing provisions of the law would be the responsibility of several government agencies led by Bidens Cabinet picks. The SAFE Act, for example, would require regulation (and buy-in) from the Treasury Department; the MORE Act would likely involve a host of agencies, including but not limited to Health and Human Services, and the departments of Labor, Commerce, and Justice. The STATES Act would also likely hinge on support from the Justice Department and perhaps Commerce. Many of Bidens picks are veterans of the Obama Administration for which the former Senator from Delaware served as vice president such as Agriculture Secretary nominee Tom Vilsack, former Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen, and Domestic Policy Council Chair Susan Rice. Others, including Vice President-Elect Kamala Harris, HHS Secretary nominee Xavier Becerra (California), and Labor Secretary nominee Marty Walsh (Massachusetts), come from states that have legalized cannabis for adult use. A host of nominees that could play a role were Congress to end federal cannabis prohibition simply have made no public statements on the issue.... If approved by the Senate, Bidens cabinet would be the most diverse in the history of the U.S. and that diversity could be advantageous rather than obstructionist if Congress passes all (or some) of the major cannabis proposals. Denmark's prime minister today set a target to drive down the country's asylum seeker applications to zero to protect 'social cohesion'. The country is already seeing the lowest number of asylum seekers since 1998, with 1,547 people applying in 2020. By comparison, applications in the UK were 32,423 last year. 'We cannot promise zero asylum seekers, but we can set up that vision,' Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said in parliament. 'We need to be careful that not too many people come to our country, otherwise our social cohesion cannot exist.' Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen speaks during a press conference in Berlin in 2019. Frederiksen announced today that her government will drive down Denmark's number of asylum applications to zero The low number of applications last year can be partly explained by the Covid-19 pandemic but it is less than a tenth of the figure in 2015, at the height of the refugee crisis in Europe. Denmark's figure of 21,300 applications in 2015 was only about an eighth of the number in neighbouring Sweden. Denmark, a country of 5.8 million inhabitants, makes no secret of its desire to discourage people from seeking refuge. Immigration Minister Mattias Tesfaye said yesterday the country's strict immigration policies were to be thanked for the low number of applications. Thousands of people attend a demonstration in support of asylum seekers in Copenhagen, Denmark, in 2015 at the height of Europe's refugee crisis 'Very many of those who come here have no need at all for protection,' he also claimed in the statement. Among the country's strict policies was the planned deportations of Syrian refugees announced in 2019. After an assessment by the Danish Immigration Service, the government ruled that some migrants could be sent back to Damascus. They concluded the capital, and its surrounds, were no longer dangerous enough for asylum to be automatically granted. Asylum was rescinded for some Syrian refugees. Deportations, however, were limited due to a reluctance on the part of the Danish government to negotiate with the Assad regime. Refugee activists chant and sing as they display a banner reading 'Stop Deportation' in the departure terminal at Copenhagen Airport on August 1, 2016 Tesfaye said that similar repatriation difficulties for refused asylum seekers made it all-the-more important to curb the number of arrivals. 'Fewer asylum seekers means, all other things being equal, lower spending on processing applications, accommodation and deportation of those whose claims for asylum are rejected. 'We can spend that money on more welfare at home and on persecuted people in local regions [near to conflict zones, ed.],' he said. In 2017, as leader of the Social Democrats Frederiksen presented a plan to send all 'non-Western' migrants back to so-called reception centres in North Africa and the Middle East. In September, Copenhagen appointed an ambassador for migration to speed up the creation of one or more migrant camps outside the European Union as part a new European asylum system. The figures announced yesterday aren't a true reflection of the actual number of asylum seekers to arrive in Denmark. They include individuals who travelled without asylum and some who were approved, for reasons including family reunification. CLEVELAND -- The violent assault on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6 was not an accident. It was instigated by powerful officials who elevated disinformation and attempts to undermine democracy. Instead of confronting the truth, these leaders promoted malignant conspiracy theories that preyed on the prejudices of their supporters. It will take leaders of goodwill to lead us back from this dark moment. Between rising partisanship, dynamic growth in online hate, deep racial injustice, and the most serious public health emergency in a century, our state and municipal leaders face a deeply divided public with starkly divergent outlooks on our current political moment. During a contentious election, the gravity of the moment was felt by Ohio voters who made their voices heard in record numbers despite efforts to suppress turnout. Such efforts cause chaos and uncertainty, and stoke the flames of political extremism and conspiratorial thinking in our state. It is because these threats persist that the Anti-Defamation League and the Ohio Mayors Alliance have come together to share resources and expertise. Through this partnership, we can help preserve our democratic processes and prevent acts of politically motivated extremism from undermining our most-treasured institutions. This can be enhanced through partnerships with other state leaders to educate them on the risks posed from politically motivated, and at times violent, extremist groups and efforts. The ADL and the Ohio Mayors Alliance have been successful in working toward the shared goal of helping to protect the electoral system in our state -- and the processes, protocols, and personnel it is composed of -- from the threats of sabotage, misinformation, and violence. As a result of these concerns, ADL has replicated this success nationwide by meeting with mayors, governors, attorneys general, and other leaders, as well as 20,000 members of federal, state, and local law enforcement to convey trends in extremism and offer tools to help them mitigate the threat of violent extremism. The commitment and engagement of our political leaders are critical to our continued success. This year, the bipartisan coalition working alongside the ADL and the Mayors Alliance has come to better understand the risks that our systems and voters face. In part because of this information-sharing and education, our state experienced relatively few threats or incidents of violence and voter intimidation in the run-up to Nov. 3. While the 2020 election has ended, our work to protect our democracy will continue. Between 2019 and 2020, our country saw nearly 10,000 incidents characterized by racism, anti-Semitism, white supremacism, and other forms of hate and extremism. Our state experienced nearly 325 of these. We remain firm in our belief that these threats can be countered with the commitment of our partners in state and local government. We call on policymakers and leaders at all levels in Ohio to consider a multipronged, holistic approach to fostering an environment where hate and extremism are pushed to the margins, including legal, educational, and regulatory measures. This must be accompanied by a bipartisan and full-throated rejection of efforts to traffic in conspiracy theories and extremism -- particularly those in public and political life. Our leaders must understand the power that their words yield. Leaders from across Ohios civil society have proven that, by working together, we can prevent the actions of those who seek to intimidate voters and undermine our political process, without respect to party affiliation or political goals. We can come together as one Ohio. With the help of organizations like ADL and the Ohio Mayors Alliance, state and municipal leadership, civic and civil rights organizations, and countless Ohio residents and communities, we can continue to exercise our greatest constitutional gifts and preserve and strengthen our democratic institutions for future generations. James Pasch is the regional director of the Anti-Defamation League for Ohio, West Virginia, Kentucky and Western Pennsylvania. Keary McCarthy is executive director for the Ohio Mayors Alliance. Have something to say about this topic? * Send a letter to the editor, which will be considered for print publication. * Email general questions about our editorial board or comments or corrections on this opinion column to Elizabeth Sullivan, director of opinion, at esullivan@cleveland.com. Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. Huntington, WV (25701) Today Thunderstorms likely. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. High 73F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%.. Tonight Thunderstorms this evening followed by occasional showers overnight. Low 53F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%. PM Modi hails Assam while addressing 18th Convocation of Tezpur University India oi-Ajay Joseph Raj P New Delhi, Jan 22: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday addressed the 18th Convocation of Tezpur University, Assam through video-conferencing. Assam Governor Prof. Jagdish Mukhi, Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and Union Education Minister Dr Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank were present on the occasion. Addressing the gathering, PM Modi said, "Our nation is entering the 75th year of independence. Innumerable people of Assam had contributed towards freedom. Several people had sacrificed their lives, their youth. Now you have to live for New India, Aatmanirbhar India." India miles ahead of China in vaccine diplomacy The event will witness the conferring of degrees and diplomas upon 1218 students who passed out in 2020. Among the degree recipients, 48 toppers of various undergraduate and postgraduate programmes will be awarded Gold Medals. Centre-farmers hold 11th round of talks, impasse over farm laws continues| Oneindia News The Convocation was held in blended mode observing the COVID-19 protocols, whereby only the 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. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, January 22, 2021, 11:23 [IST] Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Credit: University of Southern California Scottish bacteriologist Alexander Fleming's discovery of penicillin, the world's first antibiotic, saved countless lives. But even as the bacteria killer first hit the U.S. marketin the closing months of World War IIFleming warned the world about what penicillin might unleash. Misuse of the antibiotic could result in an explosion of resistant bacteria, he cautioned in his 1945 Nobel Prize speech. His words proved prophetic. Today, less than 100 years after their debut, antibiotics are losing the war against germs. Antibiotics are meant to quash bacteria and certain fungi, but superbugs have evolved to survive them. Germs built their potent defenses thanks in large part to the overuse of antibiotics in humans and animals. In this new era, these drugs have rapidly become less effective at fighting infection. "We did not recognize how quickly we could lose what we have in our toolbox," says Neha Nanda, medical director of infection prevention and antimicrobial stewardship at Keck Medicine of USC. "We know the history. Why are we letting history repeat itself in a way that will harm us today?" The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) calls antibiotic resistance "one of the biggest public health challenges of our time." Each year, about 2.8 million people in the U.S. are infected with antibiotic-resistant bacteria or fungi. More than 35,000 of them die, among an estimated 700,000 deaths worldwide. At USC, scientists are working to build new lines of defense against the rise of powerful bacteria and fungi. They've turned the university into an epicenter for research as they race to develop new strategies and tools to counteract the growing threat. How Does Antibiotic Resistance Occur? A Prescription for Trouble "Antibiotic resistance is a naturally occurring phenomenonit's been happening before we humans walked the earth. We're just making it worse," says Adam Smith, an environmental engineer at the USC Viterbi School of Engineering who studies the presence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in our water supply. Microbes have gained such resilience through adaptation, he adds, that "we're quickly reaching a post-antibiotic world." Used properly, antibiotics can knock out many bacterial infections, from strep throat to urinary tract infections. But the CDC estimates that at least 30% of antibiotic prescriptions in emergency rooms, hospitals and clinics are inappropriate. They're doled out for virus-caused health issues they can't fix, such as the flu or a common cold. Credit: University of Southern California Says Nanda: "What's disappointing is why this has happenedthe absence of a disciplined restriction around prescribing antibiotics." If you take an antibiotic for the flu, the drug won't touch the virus. But it will destroy other bystanders, like good bacteria that digest food, keep us healthy and attack infection. Any surviving germs left in your body get tougher. These survivors multiply and swap their drug-resistant genes like trading cards. The more patients take antibiotics, the more this can happen. Because antibiotics are used so often in hospitals, and because bacteria thrive in such settings, these facilities can sometimes harbor resistant germs. That means chronically ill and immunocompromised people, who are more likely to need intense medical care, are at especially high risk. Increasingly, doctors are forced to tell their hospitalized patients there is no antibiotic to treat them or "they're down to a drug of last resort," Nanda says. Adding to the challenge is that prescribing an antibiotic has become what Nanda calls "a social act." Physicians want to help patients"to do something," she saysand patients often insist on an antibiotic prescription when they feel sick. Jason Doctor, an expert in physician behavior and psychology at the USC Price School of Public Policy, calls prescribing antibiotic drugs a gray area because it's so often a judgment call. The best course of action to treat a patient may be unclear, he says, which can open the door to physician overprescribing. A 2019 national survey by Doctor and other researchers illuminates the challenge. It found that 91% of primary care physicians believe inappropriate antibiotic prescribing is an issue in outpatient settings, but only 37% agree it takes place in their practice. "Clinicians recognize there is a problem," he says, "but they don't see that they're responsible for it." Much of his research focuses on how to persuade physicians to reduce antibiotic prescribing. One strategy that works: Giving them a performance goal. If you show physicians that their colleagues hit a benchmark for writing fewer inappropriate prescriptions, Doctor says, "they want to change their behaviors to emulate their peers." Credit: University of Southern California The Bacterial Baddies at the Heart of Antibiotic Resistance Who are the supervillains of the superbug universe? Gram-negative bacteria. They block infection-fighting white blood cells and drugs with their protective outer capsule. Examples of these bad bugs include Escherichia coli (commonly known as E. coli), guilty of causing respiratory infections, diarrhea and more, as well as Salmonella and its food-borne illnesses. Don't forget the fungi. Charles McKenna, director of the Center for Drug Discovery at the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, has been on a global hunt for new approaches to antifungal treatments. Currently on his radar is the aggressive yeast-like fungus Candida auris. This emerging threat causes blood, wound and ear infections, and it repels most antibiotics, he says. "It potentially could resist all of them, and we'd be out of options." As McKenna explains, superbugs got their name because they're indifferent to many drugs. "If we had decent drugs, they wouldn't be superbugs anymorethey'd be out of business," he says. The solution is to improve drug discovery. The drug discovery process worldwide is too slow and costly, he says, and "viruses and bacteria can mutate more rapidly than we can make a new drug." It takes 10 years or more to develop and approve a new antibiotic. But McKenna is hopeful. If his predictions prove true, artificial intelligence will soon accelerate the discovery of new medicines. Robots aren't finding germ-killing drugs yet, but he sees them on the horizon. As McKenna looks to the future, microbiologist Brian Luna looks to the past in his quest against a life-threatening supervillain: Acinetobacter baumannii. Strains of this highly drug-resistant bacteria typically infect vulnerable patients in hospitals. Along with his colleagues at the Keck School of Medicine of USC and other institutions, Luna scoured 12,000 drugs already approved for other conditions to see if one might work against A. baumannii. The USC team found an answer among the classics: rifabutin, a drug discovered in 1975 and originally used to treat tuberculosis. Now the researchers look to recruit other old antibiotics to perform new duties. "It's always going to be an uphill battle," Luna says. "Bacteria have had an evolutionary head start of several millions of years." Credit: University of Southern California Environmental Pressures Play Key Role in Resistant Bacteria Hospitals and clinics aren't the only home turf for superbugs. In the U.S., about 70% of all antibiotics deemed "medically important"drugs that can be used to treat human diseaseare sold for use in livestock. Farmers and veterinarians rely on them not just to treat sick cows, pigs and chickens, but also to prevent disease in healthy animals (a practice largely banned in California). The CDC estimates 20% of antibiotic-resistant infections in humans annually are linked to agriculture. When people eat chicken and steak, they also might be eating drug-resistant bacteria if the food is tainted from poor processing or preparation during its farm-to-fork journey. But Marlene Maeusli, a Ph.D. candidate at the Keck School of Medicine, warns: "You can't think, 'I'm a vegetarian, so I'm safe.' Superbugs are everyone's responsibilityand risk." Maeusli led a recent study that showed how eating plants carries its own dangers. The researchers exposed lab-grown lettuce to E. coli, then fed the lettuce to mice and tracked the resistant bacteria as it colonized the rodents' intestines. In fields far outside the lab, animal manure used in fertilizer for crops can seep into irrigation waterand this contaminated water spreads bacteria onto plants. "Our findings highlight the importance of tackling foodborne antibiotic resistance from a complete food-chain perspective," Maeusli says. That food chain includes water, says Smith, the water quality researcher from USC Viterbi. He and other USC researchers have found evidence of bacteria becoming genetically resistant to antibiotics in wastewater treatment plants, where water is recycled for irrigation, car washes, firefighting and even drinking. Bits of DNA that make microbes resistant can then get into groundwater, where other bacteria can pick them up and grow stronger. A concerned Smith thinks solutions need to come from two directions: Engineers have to come up with answers to protect the water supply, whereas health care pros need to safeguard against the spread of bacteria and inappropriate antibiotic use. To Stop Antibiotic Resistance, Experts Keep a Closer Watch The World Health Organization and others have called on hospitals and medical centers to adopt antimicrobial stewardship programs that promote appropriate use of the drugs and improve patient outcomes. At USC, Nanda and a cross-disciplinary team monitor antibiotic use in the Keck Medicine hospital system. Some antibiotics can only be prescribed by Keck Medicine's infectious disease specialists, whereas others get special scrutiny once administered. Though Nanda sees progress, "changing behaviors doesn't happen overnight." In the meantime, she wants medical science to explore alternative bacteria fighters, including advanced immunotherapies. Scientists are investigating the powers of bacteriophages, which are viruses that specialize in infecting and destroying bacteria. Chemists and engineers have their eyes on antimicrobial polymers that can kill drug-resistant bacteria in minutes, along with nanoparticles that selectively target certain bacteria. The public has a role in prevention, too. Practice good hygiene. Demand healthier food practices. Avoid antibiotic overuse and get vaccinated. "Everyone can be their own best advocate," Nanda says. "Help create a culture of accountability and awareness." 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 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 Advertisement Day in, day out, we endure the Covid briefings as Boris and Co grimly tell us to stay home and stay safe. Just 120 miles away, in her 6million country estate in Herefordshire, actress Elizabeth Hurley, 55, has spent the past ten months proving a pandemic is no reason not to stay perky and positive. More pretty than Whitty, more va-va- voom than Vallance, here CLAUDIA CONNELL looks at Liz's lovely lockdown... LADY OF THE MANOR, March 13, 2020: With lockdown No1 looming, Liz retreated to her Grade II-listed country manor. 'Why go out when you can stay in?' she asked. 'Why buy new dresses when you can squeeze into one you've had for 15 years?' she added. Safety conscious, frugal and still fitting in old dresses... Liz is an example to us all THANK YOU AND GOOD NIGHTIE... March 28: Liz wanted to add her voice to the national outpouring of thanks to the NHS ... not by sticking a rainbow drawing in the window, or banging a saucepan with a wooden spoon on her front doorstep like everyone else, but by posing in her bathroom in a lacy babydoll nightie. Far more eye-catching DRESSED TO THRILLER April 8: What better way to keep boredom at bay than to dip into the dressing-up box and star in your own murder mystery? Turban, fur stole, diamond earrings and fake eyelashes but what's the thriller? Dial Double-D For Murder, perhaps? HEAVENLY AND EARTH April 22: Despite the virus, Liz found time to support good causes such as Earth Day, where people are encouraged to focus on environmental issues. 'Habitat destruction and the illegal wildlife trade have contributed to deadly pandemics,' she told her 1.8million Facebook followers...while lying half-naked in the long grass TURNING UP THE HEAT April 24: With Britain enjoying a heatwave and most of us despairing of our spare tyres due to all that lockdown banana bread, Liz was star-jumping in hotpants and a tiny bikini top (from her own range). With a flat stomach and the body of someone half her age, '#stayhome' was the inspirational message SHE'S A STAR OF SMALL SCREEN May 18: In lockdown, we watched more TV than ever before, but lounging on a DFS sofa in elasticated trousers was not for Miss Hurley. Instead, she caught up on her box sets while wearing a 21-year-old Versace cocktail dress, showing us all how to slob out in style A LITTLE WAHEY OF SUNSHINE May 21: With some experts suggesting that Vitamin D can help ward off the virus, Liz did her bit to get the message out there loud and clear. Frolicking in the glorious spring sunshine and working from home like so many others she gave a topless plug to Clinique, part of the Estee Lauder brand with whom she has a 2million contract SHE'S LIFE AND SOAP OF PARTY June 10: 'Happy birthday to me,' said Liz, as she marked her 55th with bubbles. Embracing the social media trend for bathtub selfies, she uploaded a picture of herself enjoying a soak. But beneath the frivolity was a serious message: 'Grateful to be happy & healthy. Here's hoping real life starts again one day' A CASE OF BLOOM AND BUST June 22: In dark times, some of us may forget to stop and appreciate the glorious beauty of the English countryside but not Elizabeth. 'Fourteen weeks at home and England is blooming' she said, while posing in a cosy cardie with no bra underneath (attracting some 190,000 likes). Chris Packham, take note SULTRY SNUB TO THE PUB July 8: Drinkers flocked to newly reopened pubs but sensible souls such as Liz held back. 'Bars may be open but I'm staying home#safer #nicer,' she said in a public-spirited message, looking sultry in a red dress. You don't get that down the Kings Arms PLAYING HER CARDIE RIGHT? August 23: Life is starting to get back to normal and Liz is back at work. She marks her return to filming by uploading a pic in her vest, knickers and trusty cardie. She's making a movie called Father Christmas Is Back in which she stars as one of four sisters who celebrate Xmas in a huge country mansion in a succession of revealing outfits. A stretch, maybe, but we're sure she'll pull it off STRICTLY COME DAZZLING December 19: While the audience was spilling over with excitement at the final of Strictly Come Dancing, Elizabeth was spilling out of her dress as she put in an unexpected cameo appearance, reading out the voting rules. Dads up and down the land sat bolt upright as our favourite actress brought some added sparkle to the ballroom (and the BBC tech staff scrabbled to cover her modesty with some rolling credits) BIG NIGHT OUT FOR THESE TWO December 31: Elizabeth marked the end of a very trying year in the company of her handsome 18-year-old son Damian. Wearing a New Year's Eve plunging party frock by DSquared2, she saw out 2020 with typical Hurley razzle-dazzle BRINGING SOME SEX AP-PEEL? January 18, 2021: Back in a third lockdown and Liz is not resting on her laurels. While others feel slovenly and lack motivation, she is churning out jars of marmalade. 'Lockdown has turned me into a demented housewife,' she joked while showing off her wares. A new string to her business bow, perhaps? She certainly knows how to set out her stall Casey Affleck on Thursday denied that he was in disguise at his brother Ben Affleck's house earlier this week, dressed as a landscaper tossing in the trash a cardboard figure of Ana de Armas following Ben's split with the actress. 'No, that's not me,' the 45-year-old actor told ET correspondent Rachel Smith Thursday. 'A bunch of people sent that picture to me and I was gonna tweet some, like, joke, response or something. 'And then I couldn't think of one and a joke didn't seem appropriate. And I don't have Twitter so that wasn't going to work. But it definitely wasn't me.' The latest: Casey Affleck, 45, on Thursday denied that he was in disguise at his brother Ben Affleck's house earlier this week, dressed as a landscaper tossing in the trash a cardboard figure of Ana de Armas following Ben's split with the actress The Academy Award-winning actor told the outlet that he couldn't even confirm the breakup of the celeb couple, saying, 'I can't even really say if they have totally broken up for good or whatever. I would leave that to them to speak to.' The Manchester By the Sea star, without getting into specifics, pointed to strain on 'people in relationships' brought about by the coronavirus lockdown implemented last March amid the spread of the pandemic. 'The reality is, I think that this year has been really hard on people in relationships,' Affleck said. 'I wouldn't know because I've been single, but I bet there are a lot of people that have, you know, it's been challenging to relationships. 'And I think that Ana is just the sweetest, funniest, smartest, most charming person. I think she won't have any problems meeting somebody else.' Praise: Casey called de Armas 'just the sweetest, funniest, smartest, most charming person.' She was snapped in Paris last year Loyal: Casey said he'd 'be there to carry Ben through it, but I don't think he'll have any problems;' Affleck was snapped last year in LA Popular: The idea it was the Oscar-winner tossing the cutout spurred chat on Twitter The father of two - to sons 16-year-old Indiana and 13-year-old Atticus, with ex Summer Phoenix, 42 - told the outlet he has 'no idea' if his sibling and the actress will get back together, noting he'd 'be sorry if it doesn't work out.' He continued: 'I think she's a catch in every way. And I'll be there to carry Ben through it, but I don't think he'll have any problems. My advice to them would be like, "Yes, think long and hard about it, because quarantine is not fun if you're single."' The Massachusetts native touted de Armas's work in the yet-to-be-released movie Blonde, saying the actress could 'win an Oscar next year' for her work in the Andrew Dominik-directed film, which also features Bobby Cannavale and Adrien Brody. 'I saw her performance as Marilyn Monroe in this movie called Blonde, which hasn't come out, and I would bet a lot that she's gonna pick up every single award,' Affleck said. 'She's gonna have a good year. I'm not too worried about her.' Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Carnival Cruise Line has delayed the restart of U.S. sailings for another month through April 30 and said it is canceling Australian operations through May 19. Carnival homeports two ships in New Orleans the Valor and the Glory. Carnival previously announced that trips on the Valor were canceled until at least April 29 for an upgrade to the ship. The extended absence of cruise ships is costly for New Orleans. Before the pandemic, Carnival and other cruise ship operators were sending around a million passengers annually through New Orleans on their way to and from cruises since 2014. In 2019, that hit a record 1.18 million. Cruisers contribute about $110 million in direct spending as they stay extra nights in hotels, eat in the city's restaurants and spend in shops. In addition, Carnival has canceled the European itineraries for Carnival Legend, which were to begin in May through Oct. 31, and delayed the start date for its ship Mardi Gras from Port Canaveral, Florida, with the first cruise now set for May 29. The situation in Europe has affected Mardi Gras' departure to the U.S. Carnival said booked guests and travel agents are being notified directly of the cancellations and their options for a future cruise credit and onboard credit package or a full refund. Researchers in the UK have conducted a study assessing the efficacy of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine BNT162b2 against the new variant of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) the agent that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The new B.1.1.7 variant, which has higher transmission potential than previous SARS-CoV-2 strains, recently emerged in the UK, South Africa and Brazil and has now been identified in 50 countries. The emergence of B.1.1.7 has triggered concerns over whether the vaccines that are currently being rolled out in an effort to control the COVID-19 pandemic will still be effective against SARS-CoV-2. Now, Ravindra Gupta from the University of Cambridge and colleagues have demonstrated evidence of a reduced antibody response against the B.1.1.7 mutant among individuals (aged between 64 and 85) three weeks after they received the first dose of the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine BNT162b. However, the researchers say the reductions were expected, that vaccines should still retain good activity and that vaccination is still a priority. Nevertheless, further work is needed to establish the impact of these observations on real-life vaccine efficacy, adds the team. A pre-print version of the research paper is available on the medRxiv* server, while the article undergoes peer review. Vaccines have quickly emerged, but so have variants Since the COVID-19 outbreak first began in Wuhan, China, in late 2019, the rapid spread of SARS-CoV-2 has culminated in a global pandemic that has had scientists racing to develop vaccines against the causative agent SARS-CoV-2. The unprecedented scientific response to this global challenge has led to three vaccines now being licensed for use, namely the Pfizer BioNTech BNT162b2 vaccine, the Moderna mRNA-1273 vaccine, and the Oxford-AstraZeneca ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine. These vaccines all target a protein expressed on the surface of SARS-CoV-2 called spike, which is the main structure the virus uses to bind to and infect the cell. However, these vaccines were designed against the Wuhan strain isolated in 2019. Since then, the virus has evolved to optimize its infectivity and evade being targeted by drugs and the immune system. Now, SARS-CoV-2 transmission has been confounded in many areas of the world by the recently emerged B1.1.7 variant, which has now been identified in 50 countries. Concerns are growing as to whether the Pfizer BioNTech, Moderna, and Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccines will be effective against this new variant. Furthermore, vaccine supply is limited, and many governments have had to extend the interval time between first and second doses in order to expand vaccine coverage. Information on vaccine-elicited responses in real-world settings outside of highly selective clinical trials is important, says Gupta and colleagues. It is unclear whether real-world neutralizing antibody titers will follow those in clinical trials, particularly in elderly persons, and how this will be impacted by mutations in strains such as B1.1.7. What did the researchers do? Gupta and colleagues assessed immune responses induced three weeks following one dose of the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine BNT162b2 vaccine among 23 individuals who have received the first dose as part of vaccine rollout in the UK. The team also tested neutralizing antibody responses against pseudoviruses engineered to express wild-type spike protein or the three key mutations present in B.1.1.7 (deletion 69/70, N501Y, A570D). In addition, the team tested a panel of sera from eleven individuals who had recovered from SARS-CoV-2 infection. The study cohort had a median age of over 80 (82 years), in line with the targeting of this age group in the initial UK vaccine rollout. What did the study find? The team reports that titers of anti-spike immunoglobulin G (IgG) correlated well with neutralization responses. The data showed that ant-spike IgG antibody titers were much higher among vaccinated individuals than among healthy controls and were similar to those seen among recovered individuals. However, there was an almost 100-fold variation in IgG responses among the vaccinated participants. Those older than 80 years exhibited significantly reduced IgG responses and lower neutralization potency than those younger than 80. This may or may not be compensated for by the second dose and it will be important to follow all participants over the following months for measurement of neutralization activity as well as data on re-infection, say the researchers. How did the three B.1.1.7 mutations affect immune responses? The three B.1.1.7 mutations in spike did not significantly impact neutralization titers among recovered individuals or people who had been vaccinated. Next, the team engineered a pseudovirus to express spike protein that included the full set of mutations present in the B.1.1.7 variant (del69/70, del 144/145, N501Y, A570D, P681H, T716I, S982A, D1118H). When sera were tested against this full set of B.1.1.7 spike mutations, neutralization titers were reduced among the vaccinated individuals. Among 15 individuals who had exhibited neutralization activity three weeks following vaccination, 10 showed evidence of a reduced antibody response against the B.1.1.7 mutant. Overall, the reduction in efficacy was less than 3-fold, while the most significant reduction was around 6-fold, and the median reduction was 3.85-fold. Vaccination remains a priority, but further research is needed These modest changes are what we expected to see given the mutational profiles. Vaccines should still retain good activity and vaccine coverage is a priority, write the researchers. However, further research is needed to investigate the impact of these observations on real-life vaccine efficacy, says Gupta and colleagues Other variants also need to be tested against vaccine sera, some with more concerning mutations such as E484K and K417N that have been shown to impact neutralization by monoclonal antibodies or convalescent sera, concludes the team. *Important Notice medRxiv publishes preliminary scientific reports that are not peer-reviewed and, therefore, should not be regarded as conclusive, guide clinical practice/health-related behavior, or treated as established information. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. The world is home to many wild animals and they all have to struggle to survive. While some feed on grasses, others feed on their fellow animals. In the process, they all need the means to stay alive. That is where survival of the fitted arises. Those with an overwhelming strength prey on the others with inferior strength. Below Is a Series Of The Strongest Jaws In The Wild Stack Up 1. Saltwater Crocodile (Bite Force: 3,700 PSI) A professor of anatomy and paleobiology at Florida State University, Dr. Gregory Erickson conducted a 10-year study to scientifically measure jaw strength in all 23 crocodile species. Erickson and his team positioned a bite force transducer wrapped in protective layers of bull hide between the jaws of multiple crocodile specimens. After monitoring the crocodiles using the bite force transducer, the highest reading with 3,700 PSI, was executed by a 17-foot saltwater crocodile. This was the highest bite force recorded among the 23 crocodiles that Erickson examined. The bite force beats the 2,980-PSI value for a 13-foot wild American alligator. 2. Great White Shark (Bite Force: 4,000 PSI) A team of Australian scientists which was led by Steve Wroe in 2008, used sophisticated computer modeling based on multiple x-ray images of shark skulls. It was estimated that a 21-foot great white shark can produce nearly 4,000 PSI of bite force. This is because the bite strength in sharks is highly dependent on size. 3. Hippopotamus (Bite Force: 1,800 PSI) Hippopotamus has a bite that can crush a whole watermelon. It has tusks that can grow two feet long, and a mouth that opens 180 degrees. Additionally, hippos likely have the strongest jaws of any herbivore on the planet. They are particularly hostile crocodiles. They are territorial and potentially aggressive compared to crocodiles. The hippopotamus is said to be capable of biting a 10-foot croc in half. While the bite force of females has been measured at 1,800 PSI, those of the males have reportedly proven too aggressive to test. 4. Jaguar (Bite Force: 1,500 PSI) Jaguar is described as the largest cat in the Americas. Aside from being the largest, it is also the strongest biter of any wild feline. As it is, Jaguar kills its prey by biting it on the skull while other cats go for the throat to kill their victims. And its biting force is capable of puncturing the shell of a turtle. 5. Gorilla (Bite Force: 1,300 PSI) Gorillas are also distinct in terms of biting force. Gorilla relies on its massive neck and jaw muscles. Their muscles are one of the most powerful with their strong molars that allow them to chew heavy shoots, nuts, tubers, bark, and other fibrous foods. They are herbivorous, though. Other features such as long, sharp canines that are seen in mature males are mostly for display. ALSO READ - Giant Kangaroo Had Crushing Bite 6. Polar Bear (Bite Force: 1,200 PSI) The Polar Bear's teeth are designed to handle both flora and fauna, unlike other polar bears. Polar Bears are meat-eaters. They don't grass or tree leaves. Because they are strictly meat eaters, their bite is well adapted to their prey. Of all the mammals, polar bears are the only ones that actively hunt humans. 7. Spotted Hyena (Bite Force: 1,100 PSI) When it comes to hunting, hyenas are the most skilled. They have powerful jaw strength that allows them to scavenge on carcasses that other predators have abandoned. They actively hunt for their prey and kill them. They have dual-purpose teeth that allow them to shear flesh and crush bone. Hyenas are able to make their own kill because they have large jaw muscles and arched structure. One unique thing about hyenas is that, once they make their own kill, they eat it all without leaving remnants behind. 8. Bengal Tiger (Bite Force: 1,050 PSI) The Bengal tiger is perhaps one animal that has a fearsome display. They have the force that allows them to achieve that. During an encounter, the Bengal tiger delivers more than a thousand pounds-per-square-inch of pressure. This is almost twice as much bite force as the king of the jungle. Bengal tiger has the longest canine teeth (2.5 to 3 inches) of all cats. 9. Grizzly Bear (Bite Force: 975 PSI) The grizzly bear has massive paws which enables it to attack moose with a single swipe. Aside from this massive display of energy, grizzlies have one of the more fearsome sets of choppers. When you talk about biting force, grizzly bears have the bite force that is capable of crushing a bowling ball. Perhaps because of their ability to bite deep into the flesh, doctors in countries where grizzly bears are found have developed antibiotics to fight the deep-tissue bacterial infections that survivors often suffer from. 10. Lion (Bite Force: 650 PSI) You might have been reading and anticipating to know the bite force of a lion. Surprisingly, lions have a bite force of only 650 PSI. This bite force is not much stronger than the hardest-biting domestic dog, the English mastiff (550 PSI). However, lions are social creatures. They don't hunt their prey singly, instead, they hunt in groups and consume their kill where it falls. This is partly responsible for their inability to have a strong bite force, according to researchers. In comparison, humans can only exert a maximum of 160 PSI bite force. This is only a sufficient bite through a tough steak sandwich. RELATED ARTICLE - Otter Bites Woman, Gets Killed By Authorities In Maine For more updates about animals and related stories, don't forget to follow Nature World News! Paleteria La Michoacana operates out of Modesto, California Investor-backed Tropicale Foods, a US manufacturer of frozen Hispanic products, has acquired Paleteria La Michoacana, a peer company based in California. Tropicale Foods and its Illinois-based private-equity backers Wind Point Partners, said Paleteria La Michoacana (PLM) is being acquired from fellow investors Canum Capital Partners in San Francisco and Greyrock Capital Group, a buy-out firm in California. PLM also produces frozen Hispanic products such as paletas (ice pops), bolis (snacks), and mangonada cups (smoothies) sold throughout the US in retailers, convenience stores, and traditional grocers under the brand La Michoacana. The company has one production site, a 45,000 square-foot facility in Modesto, California. Steven Schiller, the CEO of Tropicale, said: "The cultures of our two companies are very similar, making this a natural partnership. PLM has built a terrific business with a great brand, customer base, team, and operation. Our plan is to invest behind PLM and the La Michoacana brand and leverage our combined capabilities to accelerate growth for our customers." Financial terms were not disclosed. The founders of Canum Capital will remain invested in the combined company. Located in Ontario, Tropicale also makes paletas under its Helados Mexico brand, along with bolis and mangonada supplied to retailers. Wind Point invested in the business in 2019 in partnership with snacks industry veteran Jose Luis Prado, who was once the CEO of Evans Food Group, a manufacturer of branded and private-label pork rind snacks. "Tropicale will continue to seek strategic acquisition opportunities, with a focus on leading branded frozen novelty businesses," Wind Point said. The private-equity investor has also previously invested in Stir Foods, a contract manufacturer in California, and Wisconsin-based Gehl Foods, a producer of dairy-based beverages and cheese sauces. Brandon Gregorio and Robert Spigner, co-founders of Canum Capital, added: "We're proud of the industry-leading growth and operational transformation executed by PLM over the last four years. This combination of strong, recognised brands unites two customer-driven companies with highly complementary capabilities. The financial backing of Wind Point Partners and our continued investment in the combined company will enable a value creation plan that will accelerate growth." 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 devoted dog has spent days waiting outside a hospital in northern Turkey where her sick owner was receiving treatment. The pet, Boncuk (Bon-DJUK), 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. AP image When the door opens she pokes her head inside, he said. On Wednesday, Boncuk was finally reunited with Senturk when he was pushed outside in a wheelchair for a brief meeting with his dog. AP image 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. Last year in December, a 30-seconds long video of a loyal dog that had refused to eat or drink anything as he waited for his deceased owner in China melted the internet users hearts. According to the local media, the faithful dog had been expecting its owner to return since he recently died. In a heart-wrenching video filmed through a window, shared by Xuanwo Video, the dog could be seen lying in a room full of newspapers, magazines, medical check-up reports and other waste. He was visibly sad, unwell and hopeless, unaware that his owner had died. The story reported by Chinas Xuanwo Video, affiliated to local newspaper Xian Business, claimed that the dog was seen lying in a room in Guiyang, the Guizhou Province capital in southern China. They claimed that the dog had been a loyal companion for over 15 years to an octogenarian and not knowing he died, the canine had been expecting its owner to return ever since, reported the video news website. A neighbour in conversation with Xuanwo told them that it had been waiting for its late owner, and had not consumed food or liquid since the owner passed away. (With AP inputs) The transfer of a number of Ukrainian citizens held in the self-proclaimed Donbas republics to Viktor Medvedchuk, a Ukrainian parliamentarian and chairman of the political council of the Opposition Platform - For Life party, has been suspended, as the plane that had to bring these people did not take off, Leonid Kravchuk, head of the Ukrainian delegation to the Trilateral Contact Group (TCG), said on Thursday. "This process has already been stopped for a very simple reason: the plane that had to bring the people didn't depart. Not because there is no fuel or something. There is a simple question: Who is flying on the plane? Do these people have passports? Have they been put on a special register? After all, it's not just a horseback ride. This was to be quite a long trip, and this was to be a trip between different countries, too. They were first to fly from Donetsk to Rostov-on-Don, then from Rostov-on-Don to Minsk, and then from Minsk to Ukraine. This is already unworkable. The plane can't do that," Kravchuk said in a Ukrainian TV program. The transportation and return of Ukrainian citizens home is not an issue for Medvedchuk but an issue for Ukraine, Kravchuk said. "I don't know, maybe there is a small state of Medvedchuk apart from the Ukrainian state. A private person can't handle matters of this level separately from the state, and if he ventures to do this or if this is supported by Russia, this means only that a PR stunt has been launched around this particular person to elevate his reputation," he said. As was reported earlier, Ukrainian Human Rights Commissioner Liudmyla Denisova received confirmation of two routes along which some Ukrainians unlawfully held in the parts of Donetsk and Luhansk regions not controlled by Kyiv were to be unilaterally transferred to the territory under the Ukrainian government's control. At the same time, Denisova said the number of Ukrainians who were supposed to be released had been changed all the time. It would be understandable if Wesley Enoch felt disappointed or frustrated that his fifth and final Sydney Festival had been co-directed by the coronavirus pandemic. But looking forward is clearly a trait of his character, as well as his creative output. The Sydney Festivals he has directed annually since 2015 have been defined by their focus on innovative commissions of First Nations artists, new and emerging talent, and large-scale Australian works. Outgoing Sydney Festival artistic director Wesley Enoch and incoming artistic director Olivia Ansell. Credit:Wolter Peeters As he prepares to see out his final event on Tuesday, Enoch, 50, is simply grateful the festival managed to go ahead as Sydney stumbled through a second wave of the virus that saw new lockdowns, border closures and restrictions. The festival had to start short of its sold-out opening attraction, Gravity & Other Myths, which was to have premiered The Pulse at Barangaroo but was forced to withdraw. I think overall, what Ive loved, almost every artist and every audience member who has come up to me says, Thank you for putting something on, thank you for putting a festival on and prototyping what COVID-normal will look like, Enoch said. TOLEDO, Ohio, Jan. 22, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Northwest Ohio Scholarship Fund will be hosting a Virtual K-8 School Choice Fair to help families in the region learn about their school options. During the virtual fair, which takes place 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Jan. 30, families will have the opportunity to visit with representatives of each school, learn about the needs-based scholarships available, and ask questions. Schools from the following Northwest Ohio counties will be represented: Allen, Crawford, Defiance, Erie, Fulton, Hancock, Henry, Huron, Lucas, Ottawa, Paulding, Putnam, Richland, Sandusky, Seneca, Van Wert, Williams, Wood or Wyandot. Each participating school will have its own Zoom breakout room at the fair. To register and receive a Zoom link for the free event, visit https://tinyurl.com/NOSFSchoolFair This virtual fair 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. "One thing that the COVID-19 pandemic has shown us is that school choice is very important," said Ann Riddle, executive director at the Northwest Ohio Scholarship Fund. "The Northwest Ohio Scholarship Fund is excited to present its annual school choice school fair virtually during National School Choice Week and bring those choices to parents in the comfort of their homes." The Northwest Ohio Scholarship Fund is committed to offering educational choices to low-income families through privately funded scholarships. . 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 SAGINAW COUNTY, MI - A former employee of a foster-care and treatment facility in Saginaw Countys Thomas Township is accused of sexual misconduct with a resident there. Prosecutors allege 32-year-old Crystal Kay Miner, of Midland, had an inappropriate relationship with a 17-year-old resident of Holy Cross Childrens Services, located at 925 N. River Road. While the age of consent for sexual activity in Michigan is 16, state law prohibits child care employees from having sexual contact with people under their care, even if such a person is older than 16. Thomas Township Police Chief Al Fong said a program coordinator at Holy Cross reported the alleged misconduct to his department on April 3. Miner on June 9 was arraigned in Saginaw County District Court on single counts of fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct-foster care and distributing sexually explicit material to a minor. Both charges are punishable by up to two years incarceration. The second charge stems from prosecutors alleging Miner provided pornographic images from a magazine to a 16-year-old male at the facility. Miner is free on a $25,000 personal recognizance bond. Miner is represented by defense attorney James F. Gust, who declined to comment on the case when contacted by MLive-The Saginaw News. Holy Cross hired Miner as a treatment specialist in June 2017, said Kassie Kretzschmar, chief marketing and communications officer for Holy Cross Services. The agency suspended Miner in April when staff suspected possible inappropriate behaviors and immediately alerted police, Kretzschmar said. Holy Cross terminated Miners employment in June 2020. Obviously, we do not condone this type of behavior, Kretzschmar said. We take it very seriously and have zero tolerance. Holy Cross Childrens Services is a faith-based facility that treats mental health, substance abuse, homelessness, and provides childrens services. Although the facility, which is one of many across the state, has Catholic roots, it is not operated or overseen by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saginaw. Holy Cross does rent the Thomas Township property from the Diocese, however. Miner is to appear in court for a preliminary examination on Feb. 18. Miner is the second Holy Cross employee to have faced sexual misconduct allegations in recent years. In June 2017, 27-year-old Jamie Lee Schreiner pleaded guilty to one count of third-degree criminal sexual conduct and two counts of attempted third-degree criminal sexual conduct. Schreiner worked at Holy Cross Childrens Services for six months before she was suspended and later fired on charges she had a sexual relationship with a teen residing there. Schreiner in July 2017 was sentenced to three concurrent terms of five years on probation and must also register as a sex offender for the rest of her life. Read more: Woman charged with having sex with teen at treatment facility Woman charged with sex at juvenile treatment facility could avoid jail time Fire sparked by space heater claims Thumb womans life on her 60th birthday [January 22, 2021] Mydecine Innovations Group Included in First-Ever Psychedelics ETF DENVER, Jan. 22, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Mydecine Innovations Group (CSE: MYCO) (OTC: MYCOF) (FSE: 0NFA) (Mydecine or the Company), an emerging biopharma and life sciences company committed to the research, development, and acceptance of alternative nature-sourced medicine for mainstream use, has been included in the first-ever Psychedelics Exchanged Traded Fund (ETF). The Horizons Psychedelic Stock Index ETF index, which was announced in December 2020 and includes 17 companies in the U.S. and Canada, is expected to start trading on Tuesday, January 26 under the ticker PSYK on the NEO exchange. While medicinal psychedelics are certainly not new, the legal market and the ability to invest in these cutting-edge companies certainly is new, said Joshua Bartch, Co-Founder & CEO, Mydecine. Together, with these 17 companies, Mydecine is helping to build an industry that is investing in and researching innovative solutions for treating previously untreatable mental illness. We are honored that we are included, and we are also mindful that this now gives more people, who may be new to the space, the ability to access and diversify their investments. By having exposure to many different companies with solid fundamentals, but different approaches, philosophies, indications, and technologies, is healthy for investors in the industry. The ETF will will track an underlying index the North American Psychedelic Stock Index - provided by the German-based Solactive. Additional details on the ETF, including how it is weighted and conditioned, can be found here. Additionally, the Company will be participating in the KCSA Virtual Psychedelics Investor Conference, at 10:20 AM ET on Wednesday January 27, 2021. About Mydecine Innovations Group Mydecine Innovations Grop (CSE: MYCO) (OTC:MYCOF) (FSE:0NFA) is an emerging biotech and life sciences company dedicated to developing and commercializing innovative solutions for treating mental health problems and enhancing vitality. The companys world-renowned medical and scientific advisory board is building out a robust R&D pipeline of nature-sourced psychedelic-assisted therapeutics, novel compounds, therapy protocols, and unique delivery systems. Mydecine has exclusive access to a full cGMP certified pharmaceutical manufacturing facility with the ability to import/export, cultivate, extract/isolate, and analyze active mushroom compounds with full government approval through Health Canada. Mydecine also operates out of a state-of-the-art mycology lab in Denver, CO to focus on genetic research for scaling commercial cultivation of rare (non-psychedelic) medicinal mushrooms. At the heart of Mydecines core philosophy is that psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy will continue to gain acceptance in the medical community with many of the worlds best accredited research organizations demonstrating its remarkable clinical effectiveness. Mydecine recognizes the responsibility associated with psychedelic-assisted therapy and will continue to position itself as a long-term leader across the spectrum of clinical trials, research, technology, and global supply. Mydecine has also successfully completed multiple acquisitions since its inception. Learn more at: https://www.mydecine.com/ and follow us on Facebook , Twitter , and Instagram . Mydecine Innovations Group Media Contacts Anne Donohoe / Nick Opich KCSA Strategic Communications adonohoe@kcsa.com / nopich@kcsa.com 212-896-1265 / 212-896-1206 On behalf of the Board of Directors: Joshua Bartch, Chief Executive Officer contact@mydecineinc.com Corp Communications: Charles Lee, Investor Relations corp@mydecineinc.com +1 720-277-9879 For further information about Mydecine Innovations Group, Inc., please visit the Companys profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com or visit the Companys website at www.mydecine.com. The Canadian Securities Exchange has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release and accepts no responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy hereof. This news release contains forward-looking statements, which relate to future events or future performance and reflect managements current expectations and assumptions. Such forward-looking statements reflect managements current beliefs and are based on assumptions made by and information currently available to the Company. Readers are cautioned that these forward-looking statements are neither promises nor guarantees, and are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause future results to differ materially from those expected including, without limitation, the availability and continuity of financing, the ability of the Company to adequately protect and enforce its intellectual property, the Company's ability to bring its products to commercial production, continued growth of the global adaptive pathway medicine, natural health products and digital health industries, and the risks presented by the highly regulated and competitive market concerning the development, production, sale and use of the Company's products. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances save as required under applicable securities legislation. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell securities and the Company is not soliciting an offer to buy securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of such jurisdiction. This news release does not constitute an offer of securities for sale in the United States. These securities have not and will not be registered under United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold in the United States or to a U.S. Person unless so registered, or an exemption from registration is relied upon. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] If your weekend plans consist of varying levels of TV, Netflix and food - not necessarily in that order - you're not alone. Another weekend in lockdown, another new batch of arrivals on Netflix to keep us entertained. Here's what's new on the streaming platform this weekend: Fate: The Winx Saga (Now on Netflix) Filmed in Ireland, Fate: The Winx Saga follows the coming-of-age journey of five fairies attending Alfea, a magical boarding school in the Otherworld where they must learn to master their powers while navigating love, rivalries, and the monsters that threaten their very existence. From creator Brian Young (The Vampire Diaries), Fate: The Winx Saga is a live-action reimagining of the Italian cartoon series WINX CLUB by Iginio Straffi. The White Tiger (Now on Netflix) Balram Halwai (Adarsh Gourav) narrates his epic and darkly humorous rise from poor villager to successful entrepreneur in modern India. Cunning and ambitious, our young hero jockeys his way into becoming a driver for Ashok (Rajkummar Rao) and Pinky (Priyanka Chopra Jonas), who have just returned from America. Society has trained Balram to be one thing a servant so he makes himself indispensable to his rich masters. But after a night of betrayal, he realizes the corrupt lengths they will go to trap him and save themselves. On the verge of losing everything, Balram rebels against a rigged and unequal system to rise up and become a new kind of master. Based on the New York Times bestseller and 2008 Man Booker Prize-winning novel. Call My Agent!: Season 4 (Now on Netflix) Tantrums. Treachery. Secret flings. When you work with stars this big, the juiciest dramas play out behind the scenes. This season of Call My Agent! sees ASK recruit a new senior agent from Starmedia, for better or worse. Meanwhile, Andrea and the team will have to fight for the custody of their clients. And what clients! Charlotte Gainsbourg, Sigourney Weaver, Jean Reno and more feature. Riverdale: Season 5 (Now on Netflix) Archie and the gang are back for another season of this teen drama. What could possibly happen at prom?! Riverdale Season 5, Episode 1 is now streaming with new episodes added weekly. Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous Season 2 (Now on Netflix) Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous follows a group of six teenagers chosen for a once-in-a-lifetime experience at a new adventure camp on the opposite side of Isla Nublar. But when dinosaurs wreak havoc across the island, the campers are stranded. Unable to reach the outside world, theyll need to go from strangers to friends to family if theyre going to survive. Scott Kreamer (Pinky Malinky) and Lane Lueras (Kung Fu Panda: The Paws of Destiny) serve as showrunners and executive producers. The series is executive produced by Steven Spielberg, Frank Marshall, and Colin Trevorrow. Blown Away: Season 2 (Now on Netflix) The hot shop is open! A new batch of glass-blowing artists from around the world battle the heat, the clock and each other in 10 dynamic challenges. Spycraft (Now on Netflix) This is a look at the gadgetry behind some of historys greatest stories of espionage, the minds that invented them and the agents that used them. Daughter From Another Mother (Madre solo hay dos) (Now on Netflix) Two very different women form a peculiar family when they discover that their 6-month-old children were erroneously exchanged at birth. So My Grandmas a Lesbian! (Salir del ropero) (Now on Netflix) When Evas grandmother decides to marry her best friend, Celia, Eva worries what her conservative fiance and his family will think. Hello Ninja: Season 4 (Now on Netflix) In their fourth season, Wesley, Georgie and Pretzel go on more fun-filled adventures, solve mysteries and learn important life lessons along the way. The first Red Sea International Film Festival, which was to open in March 2020 but has been delayed due to Covid-19, held a three-day event with the iconic Egyptian filmmaker Khairy Beshara in Jeddah (14-16 December). The event included the launch of The Rebel, a book on Besharas life and work by critic Mohamed Sayed Abdel Rehim, a masterclass in which Beshara shared his professional experience reshaping the Arab film industry over four decades, and a three-day retrospective featuring ever-before-seen 4K versions of five of Besharas best loved films (restored by the Red Sea Foundation): The Collar and the Bracelet (1986), Bitter Day, Sweet Day (1988), Ice Cream in Gleam (1992), Abracadabra America (1993), and Traffic Light (1995). None of these films had ever been screened in the kingdom. In seven chapters Khairy Besharas Influence on the Millennial Generation, Colourful Butterfly Effect, Documentary Film Star, Neorealism, Folk Fantasy, Criticising the Critics and Digital Democratisation The Rebel focuses on the rebellious spirit that has characterised Besharas work since the early 1970s: The rebellious spirit he sparks in new artists stands out in hiw artistic influence on modern Egyptian and Arab cinema. This is not only evident in his work, be it documentaries, short and feature narratives or even TV dramas, but it has also always been an integral part of Besharas personality. The 262-page book also includes an extended interview and a filmography, as well as stills and making-of images from the directors private archive. Abdel Rehim traces Besharas influence through Egypts New (aka Independent) Cinema, which he sees as both an extension of the New Realism of which Beshara was part and a beacon of hope for the future of cinema in this part of the world. Examples include Ibrahim Al Batouts Ithaki (2005) and Hawi (2010); Sherif El Bendarys Dry Hot Summers (2015) and Ali, the Goat & Ibrahim (2016); Tamer El Saids In the Last Days of the City (2016), and Muhammad Hammads Withered Green (2016). He also stresses the connection Beshara forged with the public, his conviction being that, without an audience, cinema cannot exist. Abdel Rehim moves onto Besharas childhood in the small village of Sidi Sakem in the north of Kafr Al Sheikh governorate, where he was born in 1947, and the atmosphere of which, even as a famous director in his seventies, Beshara remains attached to: the pigeons, seagulls and butterflies especially. He once said that if they were controllable, Abdel Rehim writes, he would have had butterflies star in all of his films. Assisting Abbas Kamel on Im the Doctor (1968), Besharas career started with a short documentary, Tank Hunter (1974). Between 1974 and 2000, he made 25 documentaries and short films, the 2000 feature-length documentary Jesus in Egypt being his most recent. Though he was maneuvering his way to his first narrative feature, through the 1970s and 1980s Beshara became known as the documentary film star. His rebellious spirit came through in his focus on the human element even when the topic was historical or public. He always presented ordinary, convincing, flesh-and-blood characters. But it is his second long narrative Houseboat No.70 (1982) his first was Bloody Destinies (1980) that is regarded as the founding film in Egyptian Neorealism, the school that bound the directors Mohamed Khan (1942-2016), Atef El-Taieb (1947-1995), Raafat El-Mihi (1940-2015) and Daoud Abdel Sayed (1946) as well as the screenwriter Bashir El Deek (1944). Influenced by documentary techniques, Neorealist films used archival footage and were often shot on the street features that would persist into Besharas later, mature work like The Collar and the Bracelet (1986) and Bitter Day, Sweet Day (1986), both of which feature real-life footage of their settings. He rebelled against the mainstream commercial cinema of his time, the early 1980s, presenting the rough, realistic face of society. Thanks to him a totally new aspect of Egyptian cinema was to emerge... The 1990s marked a new phase in which Beshara rebelled anew, not only against existing cinema but also against himself. I cannot make you The collar and the Bracelet over and over. If you like it this much go and watch it again, but dont imprison me inside it, Beshara is quoted as saying. By the time he made the cult classic Crab (1990), starring Ahmed Zaki, the Neorealist approach had become somewhat hackneyed and was being overused in shallow and repetitive ways. In a somewhat postmodernist way, Beshara reflected the spirit of ideological collapse with the fall of the Berlin Wall in such films as Ice Cream in Gleam (1992), starring the then aspiring pop star Amr Diab and Wild Desire (1992), starring the commercial screen goddess Nadia Al-Gindi, as well Abracadabra America (1993), and Strawberry War (1993). He referenced various world film schools in new, localised ways and above all popular ways. This led to attacks by critics who, not expecting such films to succeed commercially, also disapproved of serious cinema embracing pop culture. According to one interview, Beshara felt he was seen as a traitor. The pressure was such that he considered giving up his film career. But he found the perfect way to deal with the critics: he ignored them, focusing on himself and his audience. An innovator to the last, Beshara developed a link with digital technology while attending his daughters wedding in the US in 2000. With such a small, light device he found the freedom he had always sought, developing techniques he would use in such digital pieces as A Night on the Moon (2009), a narrative feature, and Moondog (2012), a biographical film he wrote and edited as well as directing. Beshara is still writing and rebelling, with new scripts looking for producers. He directs television drama, and appears in such films in Sherif El Bendarys short Sunday at Five (2020). *A version of this article appears in print in the 21 January, 2021 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly. Short link: Mumbai, Jan 22 : Hollywood icon Morgan Freeman is overwhelmed with the creativity that Indian artist Swapnil Jadhav showed in his portrait made of coloured sand, and took to Twitter to appreciate his talent. Freeman took to Twitter to give a special shoutout to Swapnil, and share his creation. "Life often can feel like shifting sands, but if we choose to pivot with it, there is a revelation that we are not the same people we used to be. Thank you, Swapnil Jadhav for the talent you express through colored sand art," Freeman tweeted. Some time back, Swapnil had shared the images on Instagram, writing: "The best way to guarantee a loss is to quit. - Morgan Freeman... Portrait Rangoli / coloured sand art of the great actor , director , king of voice @morganfreeman #morganfreeman #hollywood #rangoli #instagood #instagram #art #portrait #portraitrangoli #painting #thane #drawing." Freeman has a special bond with India. He came to the country some time back to explore "the story of god" in a documentary series. "I was fascinated by India. So going there was a very settling experience. I went there for a spiritual trip more than a sight-seeing trip. So, it was a spiritual experience for me. The time I spent on the Ganges will stay with me forever," Freeman had told IANS in an interview. During his tryst with India for "The Story of God", he visited Bodh Gaya and Varanasi -- cities which are of religious significance. NASHVILLE --- On January 15th, Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security Commissioner Jeff Long and Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP) 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 THP cadet classes #1120 & 121 graduation, click here. 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 (POST) 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 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 Bill Lee. You are going to accomplish great things as you leave here today, said Governor Bill Lee. You will make a difference and you will save lives during your career. Its was a great honor to join Governor Bill Lee as we graduated our new troopers, said Commissioner Jeff 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 Matt 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, said Colonel Matt Perry. 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. New Trooper Assignments Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. NEW DELHI: A fire broke out at the Institution of Engineers building near ITO in central Delhi on Friday (Jnauary 22). No injuries were reported in the incident, and the blaze has been brought under control, the Fire Department said. The fire started from a meter board of the building. A call about the fire was received at 8.30 am, officials from the fire department told PTI. "We received a call around 8.30 a.m. about a fire in the meter board at the Institution of Engineers building at ITO. A total of 12 fire tenders were rushed to the site. The fire was on the second floor of the building," said Atul Garg, Director Delhi Fire Service. According to reports, authorities launched an investigation into the incident and to ascertain the cause of the fire. Live TV Glenfiddich unveils second Chinese New Year special release Glenfiddich has teamed up with an up-and-coming Chinese illustrator for a special Chinese New Year whisky release. The 21-year-old single malt will be sold in a gift pack designed by Rlon Wang, which has been inspired by meetings and reunions with family. It is the second in a series of three Chinese New Year special-edition packs from Glenfiddich, following the inaugural edition in 2020 when Wang reimagined an epic journey to Asia by Charles Gordon, son-in-law of Glenfiddich founder William Grant. The 2021 special edition bottle depicts the stag (known as 'fu lu' in Mandarin), which represents wealth, prosperity and longevity in Chinese culture, to honour Charles Gordon's triumphant return back to Scotland. Maria Ropero-Ortiz, senior brand manager at Glenfiddich UK, said: "We are proud to bring this limited edition to the UK market to celebrate Chinese New Year. Families across Asia traditionally would become whole again this time of year, and despite this poignant moment being shared and experienced differently in 2021, we set out to recreate a thoughtful story of homecoming. "With our maverick spirit at the heart of all that we do, we felt it's only right to recommission the innovative Chinese artist Rlon Wang to bring 'The Great Homecoming' to life." Of his design, Wang said: "I wanted to tell a story that evoked the warmth and excitement of Lunar New Year. Inspired by the Glenfiddich spirit of experimentation and adventure, I created an illustration that comes alive with symbols of generations old and new. I loved playing with the symbiosis of Chinese and Scottish cultures - two connected countries on opposite sides of the world." The 2021 Chinese New Year design is available with the Glenfiddich Reserva Rum Cask 21Years Old. It is available for 145 through luxury retailers including The Whisky World, The Whisky Exchange and The Whisky Shop. In November, fellow Scotch whisky brand Johnnie Walker also announced special-edition whisky releases to mark Chinese New Year in 2021. 22 January 2021 - Bethany Whymark San Francisco prosecutors have filed charges against three men suspected in a shootout in the Tenderloin District last week that injured five people. Four of those injured, police believe, were also the shooters. Stockton resident 30-year-old Cory James Howard, 44-year-old Antioch resident Karmal Howard and 44-year-old San Francisco resident Robert Mitchell all face multiple felony gun charges, including carrying a loaded firearm and being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm. A fourth, yet unnamed suspect is still hospitalized and is expected to be booked upon his release, police said. All five of those struck by gunfire suffered non-life-threatening injuries. Police announced the charges Friday, nearly a week after a gun battle that erupted at Eddy and Taylor streets at about 9:30 p.m. Saturday. The shootout allegedly involved an illegal drug sale between two groups of people, police said, but officials could not immediately comment on whether the suspects were believed to be members of a gang. Three victims, including Cory James Howard, a 37-year-old man and a 30-year-old woman were taken to a hospital in Oakland in private vehicles. Mitchell and Karmal Howard were admitted to San Francisco hospitals. Police said the female victim has not been named as a suspect. It was not immediately clear whether the 37-year-old man is the suspect who is still hospitalized. All three of the men charged already on community supervision before their most recent arrest. Cory Howard is on probation out of Santa Clara County for a previous burglary conviction, Karmal Howard is on parole out of Alameda County for a robbery conviction and Mitchell is on felony probation in San Francisco for a domestic violence conviction, police said. Megan Cassidy is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: megan.cassidy@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @meganrcassidy Jose Mourinho admits it is going to take something extra special to crack the 86-game unbeaten home record set by his Chelsea team. Liverpool's long run without a Premier League defeat at Anfield came to an end after 68 games, stretching over almost four years, before Burnley's 1-0 win, on Thursday. Chelsea, however, did not lose a single league game at Stamford Bridge from February 2004 until October 2008, a sequence more than covering Mourinho's first spell at the West London club. Jose Mourinho said his Chelsea side's 86-game unbeaten league run will be 'difficult' to beat The Tottenham manager spoke after Liverpool's 68-game run came to an end on Thursday 'The records are there to be broken, even the most incredible ones in so many sports,' said the Portuguese, now in charge of Tottenham. 'There are some records that you look to them and you feel that it is impossible for somebody to do it. 'What Liverpool did is amazing and very, very difficult to achieve. Our record from Chelsea is still the record and is very difficult for somebody to do better than that. But congratulations to Liverpool for the amazing run they had by not losing a Premier League match at home for so long.' Avram Grant was in charge when Chelsea's record was ended by Liverpool. Mourinho did not lose a Premier League game at home until deep into his second spell at the Bridge, a defeat by Sunderland in April 2014. As Chelsea boss (pictured), Mourinho did not lose a home league game until his second spell The Portuguese (second right) still congratulated Liverpool on an 'amazing' achievement Chelsea's unbeaten run under Mourinho Games: 86 Wins: 62 Draws: 24 Goals scored: 175 Goals conceded: 44 Days without defeat at Stamford Bridge: 1,462 Advertisement Much of his 'Special One' mystique was built around the invincibility of his teams on home soil but the Spurs boss fears bigger teams are increasingly vulnerable to shock results. 'What was almost a scandal, years ago, is not anymore,' said Mourinho as he prepared his team for Monday's FA Cup tie at Wycombe. 'Any team can go to any stadium and get a result. 'The teams considered with less potential are not like that as much anymore, these clubs and professionals deserve the credit. 'I don't open my mouth anymore and say 'wow, what a crazy result.' There are no more crazy results. 'Every team, even those with the objective to be champions or top four, I am not surprised if these big teams have a run of matches where confidence drops a bit because of bad results. 'The reality is that nothing is eternal. Not consecutive victories and not consecutive defeats. Always the next matches are open with open results.' [January 22, 2021] Global Communications Test and Measurement Market Report 2020 with Company Profiles of Anritsu, EXFO, Keysight Technologies, NETSCOUT, Rohde & Schwarz, Spirent Communications & VIAVI Solutions DUBLIN, Jan. 22, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The "5G Network Deployment Catalyzes the Global Communications Test and Measurement Market" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The COVID-19 pandemic caught most of the world off guard, forcing governments to impose lockdowns. Wireless communications, therefore, became the lifeline of enterprises whose employees were forced to work from home (WFH). Although the pandemic could be seen as a viable opportunity for operators and service providers to capitalize upon demand, that was not the case. The network operator and service provider community was instead challenged by an inability to adequately scale their infrastructure to accommodate the surge in traffic on their networks. This affected the quality of service and experience for subscribers. The fact that larger enterprises now have a WFH workforce means that data has become more vulnerable to malware such as distributed denial of service (DDoS) and ransomware attacks. Service providers and enterprises require solutions that ensure high quality of service and experience while securing the integrity of proprietary data from theft. While network operators remain on course to deploy a full-fledged 5G network, the WFH phenomenon has caused many people to migrate to tier II and III towns and cities, which are less dense than the mega cities they lived in previously. This shift has mitigated the urgency in deployment of small cell clusters that have high throughput but very low coverage. Network operators have instead used radio frequency (RF) planning solutions with active network testing to efficiently deploy 5G networks. Although COVID-19 has slowed down 5G networks to a certain degree, at the same time, significant congestion has bombarded LTE broadband networks. Simultaneously, there has been major development in connected vehicles and Industrial Internet of Things ( IIoT) technologies, which will require testing solutions that are predominantly used in the communications industry. While a lot of work remains in the development of 5G, work on 6G has just started. This has pushed demand for equipment that can test terahertz (THz) wave technologies, particularly for research and development (R&D). However, a considerable work remains in standardizing the new 6G network. Demand for the type of testing solution required would therefore be restricted to those that test the physical layer. From a geographic perspective, North America and Asia-Pacific lead the wireless communications industry. Led by the United States, North America has mde important strides in 5G. The region is also home to large web-scale companies such as Amazon Web Services (AWS), which provide cloud-based services to the enterprise, and video-on-demand content providers like Netflix. Asia-Pacific is led by China, South Korea, and Taiwan, who are all making significant progress in 5G deployments. Research Scope This global study of the communications test and measurement market takes into account revenue generated from 4 key regions: North America , Europe , Asia-Pacific , and the Rest of the World. , , , and the Rest of the World. Revenue was calculated by aggregating revenue contributions from individual testing vendors. The study period begins in 2017 and forecasts end in 2025. Testing equipment/solution type: RF testing equipment, FOTE, Ethernet testing solutions, network performance test and monitoring Area of application: R&D, manufacturing, installation & maintenance Type of end user: Network equipment manufacturers (NEM), service providers, chipset manufacturers, enterprise, others (manufacturers of fiber optic components) Key Topics Covered: 1. Strategic Imperatives Why is it Increasingly Difficult to Grow? The Strategic Imperative The Impact of the Top Three Strategic Imperatives on the Communications Test and Measurement Industry About the Growth Pipeline Engine Growth Opportunities Fuel the Growth Pipeline Engine 2, Growth Opportunity Analysis, Communications Test and Measurement Market Communications Test and Measurement Market - Scope of Analysis Communications Test and Measurement Market Segmentation Key Competitors in the Communications Test and Measurement Market Key Growth Metrics for Communications Test and Measurement Market Growth Drivers for Communications Test and Measurement Market Growth Driver Analysis for Communications Test and Measurement Market Growth Restraints for Communications Test and Measurement Market Growth Restraint Analysis for Communications Test and Measurement Market Forecast Assumptions, Communications Test and Measurement Market Revenue Forecast, Communications Test and Measurement Market Revenue Forecast by Product, Communications Test and Measurement Market Revenue Forecast Analysis, Communications Test and Measurement Market Revenue Forecast by Region, Communications Test and Measurement Market Revenue Forecast Analysis by Region, Communications Test and Measurement Market Revenue Forecast By End User, Communications Test and Measurement Market Revenue Forecast Analysis by End User, Communications Test and Measurement Market Revenue Forecast by Application, Communications Test and Measurement Market Revenue Forecast Analysis by Application, Communications Test and Measurement Market Competitive Environment, Communications Test and Measurement Market Market Share, Communications Test and Measurement Market Market Share Analysis, Communications Test and Measurement Market Company Profile - Keysight Technologies Company Profile - VIAVI Solutions Company Profile - Rohde & Schwarz Company Profile - Anritsu Company Profile - Spirent Communications Company Profile - NETSCOUT Company Profile - NI Company Profile - EXFO 3. Growth Opportunity Analysis, RF Testing Equipment 4. Growth Opportunity Analysis, Ethernet Testing Solutions 5. Growth Opportunity Analysis, FOTE 6. Growth Opportunity Analysis, Network Performance Test and Monitoring 7. Growth Opportunity Universe, Communications Test and Measurement Market Growth Opportunity 1 - 5G Services Would Require Innovative Testing Solutions, 2019 Growth Opportunity 2 - 6G Services Would Require Solutions that Can Test in THz Frequency Range, 2019 in THz Frequency Range, 2019 Growth Opportunity 3 - Fully Autonomous Vehicles Would Require Customized Communications Test Solution, 2019 Growth Opportunity 4 - COVID-19 and the New Normal, 2020 Growth Opportunity 5 - The Proliferation of IIoT, 2019 8. Next steps Companies Mentioned Anritsu EXFO Keysight Technologies NETSCOUT NI Rohde & Schwarz Spirent Communications VIAVI Solutions For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/sq16py Research and Markets also offers Custom Research services providing focused, comprehensive and tailored research. Media Contact: Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager press@researchandmarkets.com For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1904 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/global-communications-test-and-measurement-market-report-2020-with-company-profiles-of-anritsu-exfo-keysight-technologies-netscout-rohde--schwarz-spirent-communications--viavi-solutions-301213211.html SOURCE Research and Markets [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 3 mesi fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. High Purity Quartz Market size is forecast to reach $703.4 million by 2025, after growing at a CAGR of 6.5% during 2020-2025. The growing semiconductor industry is the key factor which is projected to boost the global high-purity quartz industry, along with the growing demand for technical innovations and electronics industry. The growing need for improved network capacity, increased use of new-age wafers in semiconductors and increased internet penetration around the world raises demand for high-purity quartz glass in optic-fiber. Also, the full swing of research and development activities on the high-pure quartz market, new technologies have regularly grown in the past decade, which has driven the growth of the high purity quartz industry over the forecast period. High Purity Quartz Market Report Coverage The report High Purity Quartz Market Forecast (2020-2025) , by IndustryARC, covers an in-depth analysis of the following segments of the high purity quartz market. By Form: Powder, Sand, Rock, Pebble, and Others By Purity: 99.95% SiO 2 , 99.99% SiO 2 , 99.997% and 99.998% SiO 2 , and 99.999% SiO 2 By Application: Semiconductor, Solar, Lighting (Automotive Xenon, Halogen, HID Lamps, UHP Lamps, and Others), Telecommunication and Optics, Microelectronics, Ceramics, Specialty Glass (LCD, Lenses, Laboratory Glassware, and Others), High Purity Fillers (Paints, Resins, Abrasives, and Others), and Others By End Use: Transportation (Automotive (Passenger Cars and Commercial Vehicles), Aerospace, Marine, Locomotive)), Consumer Goods, Healthcare, Energy and Power Transportation (Automotive (Passenger Cars and Commercial Vehicles), Aerospace, Marine, Locomotive)), Consumer Goods, Healthcare,, Electrical and Electronics, Building and Construction, and Others By Geography: North America, South America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Rest of World. Key Takeaways In the APAC region, the efficiency of high-quality quartz processing techniques has however increased by a large margin due to improvement in technology, increasing investment in emerging regions such as India and China and rapid industrialization in those regions. The demand for solar components and resources has seen tremendous development, due to the increasing environmental problems and a growing focus on using greener sources of energy, which in turn has direct impact for the growth of the global high-purity quartz industry. As research and development in the high-purity quartz industry are in full swing, over the last decade new possible applications for the same have regularly arisen, resulting in a growing global demand for high-purity quartz. Moreover, the COVID-19 pandemic and nationwide lockdown has deteriorated all sectors including the manufacturing sector that has slowed down the demand for goods production and exports of the high-purity quartz market. High Purity Quartz Market Segment Analysis - By Form Quartz sand held the largest share in the high purity quartz market in 2019. Quartz sand as an important industrial mineral raw material is widely used in aerospace, electronics, machinery, IT, petroleum, and more. Demand for high purity quartz sand has risen from the semiconductor sector over the years. In the semiconductor market, there are no substitutes for high purity quartz sand, which is intended to ensure market growth in the long run. Apart from semiconductor application, solar energy sector will also play a major role in the growth of the high purity quartz sand market during the forecast period. According to International Trade Centre (ITC), the total export values of silica sands and quartz sands increased from USD 10,58,411 thousand in 2017 to USD 11,61,290 thousand in 2019. Thus, the increasing demand of high purity quartz sands from various end-use industries for various applications would drive the market for high purity quartz in the forecast period. High Purity Quartz Market Segment Analysis - By Purity 99.997% and 99.998% SiO 2 is the purest form of quartz which held the largest share in the high purity quartz market in 2019. 99.997% high purity quartz is high-grade high purity quartz . This high purity quartz grade is used for solar panel, quartz tube, quartz rod, multi-spec crucibles, and others. This high purity quartz has the chemical properties of low alkali and high Al, anti-crystallization, and heat resistance. 99.997% and 99.998% SiO 2 are also used in facets of photovoltaic (PV) cell manufacturing, light sources, reaction chambers, tools used in the production of solar cells, thin films, silicon wafers and others. 99.997% and 99.998% SiO 2 high purity quartz grade improves the efficiency of solar-powered devices. It is also helping researchers to drive down the cost of solar devices. High Purity Quartz Market Segment Analysis - By Application Semiconductors held the largest share in the high purity quartz market in 2019. Silicon dioxide (SiO 2 ) is the key element of high purity quartz sand . Pure crystalline SiO 2 displays piezoelectric effect, which is used in computer chip production and semiconductor technology, thus quartz is used in semiconductor industry. Extremely high purity quartz is used in the semiconductor industry to produce silicon wafers, but this is rare and costly. Pure quartz sand is used to make silicon metal semiconductors for transistors, in the development of microelectronics, integrated circuits and the silicon chip. So, with the growing usage of high purity quartz in the semiconductor for transistors, ICs and others the high purity quartz market is expected to grow. High Purity Quartz Market Segment Analysis - By End Use Electrical and electronics sector held the largest share in the high purity quartz market in 2019 and is estimated to rise at a CAGR of 7.2% in terms of revenue during the forecast period from 2020-2025 . High purity quartz is widely used crystal when it comes to conducting electricity. It produces electrical reaction, mineral with this ability are known as piezoelectric. By applying a charge, physical stress, or heat electrical reaction can be created. Whereas in electronics high purity quartz is used in radios, computers, televisions and watches because of its conductive properties. Therefore, with the rising electrical and electronics sector, the growth for high purity quartz market is anticipated to rise in the forecast period. High Purity Quartz Market Segment Analysis - By Geography APAC dominated the high purity quartz market in terms of revenue with a share of 50.6% in 2019 and is projected to dominate the market during the forecast period (2020-2025) . The high-purity quartz demand in Asia Pacific is led by a rise in the number of solar and fabrication plants in the region. Because of the country's promising semiconductor industry, China and Japan have a significant market share. The Socio-economic changes in China have been the driving force behind the growing demand for semiconductor and solar industry. In May 2015, the Chinese government launched Made in China 2025, an initiative designed to develop select manufacturing sectors in to worldwide industry leaders. The announcement of the Made in China 2025 initiative reiterated Chinas focus on next-generation information technology, with reference to semiconductors and, more specifically, ICs. According to the International Trade Administration (ITA), Japans electronic products industry is the third-largest in the world, is the most significant factor driving demand for sales of semiconductors in Japan. Thus, growing development in various end-use industries in this region will further drive the market for high purity quartz in the forecast period. High Purity Quartz Market Drivers Increase in the demand from semiconductor industry. High purity quartz products offer superior quality and excellent purity and are ideal for use in the semiconductor industry. In the semiconductor industry, high-purity quartz is used to produce crucibles and quartz glass products, such as windows, tubes, and rods. Quartz caps and opaque quartz rings also made from high-purity fused quartz are other products used in semiconductor manufacturing. Holders of semiconductor wafers are composed of rods and ingots made from fused quartz glass; in terms of air streaks and inclusions and size distributions, the specifications for fused quartz to manufacture plate halt are very stringent. Also, the major use of semiconductors is seen mostly in the electronics industry. The U.S. semiconductor industry has been a leader in technological development worldwide for over 50 years. According to the Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA), in 2019, the total R&D investment in U.S. Semiconductor industry totaled 39.8 billion dollars. Since high purity quartz is the most preferred material of choice to enhance the performance of products in the semiconductor industry. In turn, this would fuel the use in the semiconductor industry of high-purity quartz in the coming years. Increasing adoption of high purity quartz in the solar industry The raw material used in the solar cell industry to produce crucibles is high pure quartz (HPQ) sand. As the cost of solar is decreasing and efficiency continues to rise, solar becomes increasingly viable worldwide. The most economical option for meeting the steady rise in quality requirements in the solar industry is highly pure quartz sand. For all c-Si PV modules silicon is considered as the base material. In the production of multi-crystalline silicone for use in solar PV cells, large rectangular crucibles are used. Also, monocrystalline silicon processing includes rounded crypts made of pure solar quartz. Gradually, numerous countries around the world are focusing on renewable sources of clean energy. The Central Government spends 30 percent of the benchmark installation cost for PV rooftop systems according to the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy. Therefore, rising initiatives by governments and the growth of the solar industry is projected to fuel the global market for high purity quartz during the forecast period. High Purity Quartz Market Challenges Volatility of raw material prices and the high cost of high-purity quartz can hinder the market growth Every-industry from supermarkets to white goods, electronics, and automobiles have an adverse effect on increasing volatile raw material prices. A decisive role is played by the reduced accessibility of raw materials. The purchase of raw materials is under threat as trade restrictions continue to grow. Companies requiring industrial raw materials for high purity quartz production, in particular, face major challenges. High purity quartz, particularly in the microelectronics and electronics industries, is considered one of the most important minerals. However, issues such as the presence of impurities are faced by highly pure quartz, which has led several electronic companies either to buy low-purity quartz or to find alternatives. High costs for high purity quartz and ultra-high-purity quartz acts as a market constraint. The price of high purity quartz begins at 5,000 dollars per ton and can sometimes be priced higher than 5,000 dollars per ton. Due to the above-mentioned factors, high purity quartz is anticipated to get struggled to achieve widespread adoption. High Purity Quartz Market Landscape Technology launches, acquisitions, and R&D activities are key strategies adopted by players in the high purity quartz market. In 2019, the market of high purity quartz has been consolidated by the top five players accounting for XX% of the share. Major players in the high purity quartz market are Sibelco, The Quartz Corporation, Jiangsu Pacific Quartz Co., Ltd., Russia Quartz LLC, High Purity Quartz Ltd, Donghai Shihu Quartz Co., Ltd., Creswick Quartz, Covia Holdings Corporation, TopTradeWay (TTW), and Solar Quartz Technologies Corporation among others. Acquisition/Product Launches Bloomberg (Bloomberg) -- A century after automakers showed the world the value of assembly-line manufacturing, a shortage of semiconductors is teaching the industry a painful new lesson in what it takes to build a car.For most of its history, the industry has relied on a distinct approach to buying car parts, procuring components from suppliers right at the moment theyre needed. Its referred to as just-in-time manufacturing and is designed to streamline production and eliminate the costs of keeping warehouses stocked with parts waiting to be used.But the shortcomings of that system were made starkly clear this year as the automakers confronted a dearth of the chips they need to build advanced functions into their vehicles, and found themselves near the bottom of chipmakers customer lists because of their just-in-time approach. That shortage is threatening to cut $110 billion in sales from the industry, and forcing auto manufacturers to overhaul the way they get the electronic components that have become critical to contemporary car design.Customers need to change, said Hassane El-Khoury, chief executive officer of ON Semiconductor Corp., which gets more than a third of its revenue from the automotive market. That just-in-time mindset doesnt work.Semiconductor makers are demanding guaranteed, long-term orders rather than the short-term flexibility the carmakers are used to. The chipmakers assertiveness, even under pressure from lawmakers, underscores the rebalancing of power from the companies whose logos are on the cars to those that provide the advanced technology that runs them.As these components play a bigger role in everything from in-car entertainment to self-driving functions, chip manufacturers say theyre willing to invest in expanding production to head off a repeat of shortages that have forced the industry to mothball factories and furlough workers -- if the carmakers give them orders that cant be canceled and commit to long-term agreements.Why would I have invested a single dollar when my customer can cancel within 30 days and it takes me two years to build capacity? ON Semiconductors El-Khoury said.There are signs the industry is listening. Last week, Ford Motor Co. Chief Executive Officer Jim Farley indicated a new willingness to reverse decades of outsourcing for parts.As the industry changes, we have to in-source now, just like we in-sourced powertrains in the 20s and 30s, said Farley, who has shut down half his factories and seen his dealers lots emptying because of a dearth of chips.Most components used by the auto industry are part of a discrete food chain, and carmakers are at the top, able to orchestrate their suppliers actions in a system that delivers them a set of components that can be put together quickly and cheaply into a finished vehicle. Electronics makers, whove fared much better in the chip supply crunch, regard semiconductors as essential systems, and they work directly with chipmakers to secure products and often design their devices around the chips themselves.Automakers can no longer assume the dominance of an 800-pound gorilla in negotiations with chip companies and battery makers, said Mark Wakefield, head of the auto practice at consultancy AlixParters.Pioneered by Toyota Motor Corp. in the 1960s, just-in-time is a system where components suppliers are required to turn up with whatever the carmakers want at the last possible moment in a process that pares costs to the very minimum.That strategy has served the industry well, saving money and helping it organize a system for sourcing the 40,000 or so components that go into a modern vehicle, many of which can be made in a matter of days. But semiconductors -- the heart of sensors, engine management and battery controllers, infotainment and eventually systems that will pilot vehicles -- are created in a process that takes months. And building and equipping a factory to produce them requires years.Todays cars contain an average of 1,400 semiconductors -- and that puts the chipmakers at an advantage. Fords Farley said hes now negotiating contracts directly with chipmakers -- bypassing his traditional auto suppliers -- while building up inventory of the precious pieces and even redesigning models to accommodate the semiconductor companies.We have learned a lot through this crisis that can be applied to many critical components, Farley told analysts last month as he announced Ford would lose half its production in the second quarter and take a $2.5 billion hit to earnings this year, citing a lack of chips. Were also thinking about what this means for the world of batteries and silicon and all sorts of other components that are really mission critical for our company.Ford is not alone in seeking solutions that upend long-time industry practices. Automakers from General Motors Co. to Volkswagen AG to Tesla Inc. are looking for ways to get closer to the chipmaking process, which could include forming partnerships with semiconductor companies, bringing chipmaking in-house and even building their own foundries. Nothing is off the table.Cars are only going to get more technical and theyre going to need more chips, said Sam Fiorani, vice president of vehicle forecasting at consultant AutoForecast Solutions. All of the vehicle manufacturers are looking at every possible scenario for getting it solved for the long-term.But according to some chipmakers, the auto industry has embraced new technology but failed to understand those that supply it.There is a huge difference between manufacturing a car and manufacturing a chip, said Kurt Sievers, CEO of NXP Semiconductor NV, the biggest maker of auto chips. Weve been working for years closely with the auto OEMs directly when it comes to R&D and innovation -- however, not at all for supply chain and volume forecasting.Sievers said the chip industry wants specific forecasts that stretch out in years and binding commitments to buy chips that last that long. The way automakers, referred to as original equipment manufacturers or OEMs, and semiconductor vendors work together needs to change, he said.And the car companies have little choice but to do so. Consumers are increasingly choosing vehicles based on functions such as connectivity, entertainment and advanced automated safety features. The auto industry is steadily shifting away from gasoline to battery power. All of that requires more chips.Its no longer this subsystem that no one cares about, said Victor Peng, CEO of Xilinx Inc. a chipmaker whose products are uses in advanced driver-assistance systems. The electronics is really going to shape the customer experience.The semiconductor industry has plenty of other orders to fill. In 2020 automakers bought almost $40 billion worth of chips, little changed from the prior year, even amid the crash of the pandemic. By comparison, the computer industry bought 17% more chips than it did in 2019, for a total of $160 billion. Phone makers, meantime, provided the chip industry with $137 billion in revenue, a jump of 12%.Earlier this year, automakers lobbied U.S. lawmakers to intervene to help them with the shortage, arguing that chipmakers were unfairly prioritizing customers building less important consumer electronics over cars. The automakers argue their industry creates more than 7 million jobs in America and is critical to national security. And theyve found a sympathetic ear in President Joe Biden, who was supported by the United Auto Workers in the 2020 election, and is working to help the auto industry navigate the chip crisis.Still, consumer electronics buys $20 billion more chips a year than the auto industry, and Big Tech has plenty of clout in Washington, too.Chipmakers are also in no hurry to add new factories to meet this years chip rush. Though 2020 was a good year and 2021 is shaping up to be even better, they dont have to look back very far to be reminded of the difficulties of matching supply with short-term fluctuations in demand. In 2019 industry sales shrank 12% as customers slashed orders to work through stockpiles.Many investors and analysts are already concerned that what now looks like insatiable demand is customers double-ordering: asking for twice the amount they need so they can at least get the number they want. In the past, such heavy ordering has proved to foreshadow industry gluts, with demand eventually easing and buyers tapping the brakes as they worked down accumulated inventory.We came out of 2018 guns blazing, everybody hoarded, and then 2019 was an awful year of demand because they already had chips, said ON Semiconductors El Khoury. Here we are today with people looking at us and asking, why havent you invested?The type of chip automakers want also works against them. Much of what they use -- things such as sensors and power regulators -- can be made on whats called lagging nodes, or production technology that hasnt been state-of-the-art for years. While that makes it cheaper, chipmakers are reluctant to expand capacity of technology thats closer to being obsolete.The chips that the automotive industry uses are older than the ones youd find in your cell phones or in your video games, said AutoForecast Solutions Fiorani. That makes them less of a priority to the companies that produce them.Fiorani said carmakers would be better served forming joint ventures with chipmakers to tap their expertise and lock down a dependable source of supply. But doing that would involve going around traditional suppliers such as Continental AG and Robert Bosch AG and turning back the clock to a more expensive time when companies like Ford had to deal with suppliers for raw materials.Some auto suppliers are already taking steps to make sure they dont get cut out. Parts supplier Robert Bosch is opening a new chip factory in Dresden that it says is the first of its kind dedicated to manufacturing semiconductors for automotive uses. Still, some automakers are already talking openly about cutting out those middlemen in order to keep up with the speed of change.We will be the one who has the commercial relationship with the chipmaker, Volvo Cars CEO Hakan Samuelsson said at a mobility conference in Tel Aviv this month. When we want a change and you have to talk to suppliers, it is too slow.Fords Farley said hes consulted with tech companies and discovered how common it is in other industries to keep buffer stock and to buy directly from chip manufacturers.Even if the company still buys the components with chips on them from a supplier, they still negotiated a direct deal, he told analysts, describing something thats common practice for companies like Apple Inc. Ford learned that nine of its tier-one component suppliers rely on just one Renesas Electronics Corp. factory in Japan for chips, a plant that suffered a fire, he said.Some automakers have made rapid progress in understanding their newer suppliers and are negotiating long-term deals. Others are sticking to the belief that they can dictate how their suppliers should act, according to ON Semiconductors El-Khoudry.Learning from their current difficulties is the key to turning around the current crisis and avoiding the next, according to Xilinxs Peng. Toyota, the inventor of just-in-time, said it expects to return to pre-pandemic levels of profitability as soon as this year, helped by factories that continue to churn out vehicles because the company made the decision to accumulate stockpiles of chips.People have to think differently or theyre going to be left behind, Peng 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. He demanded that the state government pay Rs 20 lakh ex-gratia to each to the families of those killed in the accident. Representational image/ANI HYDERABAD: Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) president N. Uttam Kumar Reddy on Friday demanded adequate compensation to families of agricultural labourers who were killed and injured in a road accident at Devarakonda on Thursday. Uttam Kumar Reddy, along with ex-ZP chairman Balu Naik, and DCC president Shankar Naik, visited Devarakonda hospital and paid their respects to the victims. The TPCC chief gave Rs 4 lakh assistance to the families of the victims on behalf of the Congress. Speaking to mediapersons later, he demanded that the state government pay Rs 20 lakh ex-gratia to each to the families of those killed in the accident. He said adequate compensation should be paid to those injured besides ensuring free treatment. Reddy demanded that the state government take immediate measures to ensure road safety. He said that there was a huge rise in fatal accidents, especially in rural areas. He said drunk driving, overloading of public transport vehicles, rash driving and bad roads were among the main reasons for such accidents. The local police and transport authorities were neither checking overloaded seven-seater autos, jeeps and other vehicles, nor adequate steps were being taken to check drunken-driving on highways and other roads, especially those connecting rural areas. The TPCC chief demanded that the government take immediate steps to ply and increase frequency of RTC buses in the rural areas so that people would be discouraged from driving on such risky roads. He demanded setting up of well-equipped trauma centres, especially in accident prone zones. Just imagine, for a moment, what it must be like to be a child in lockdown. Stuck indoors, unable to play with friends and banished from school for weeks and months on end. Now imagine how tough it is for the children from the poorest, most under-privileged homes in society. Ask yourself if you could cope in a crowded flat in a tower block, cooped up with three or four siblings and a single parent who is struggling to help you access any sort of education at all. And think, too, about children in rural homes where the broadband is weak to non-existent, competing for internet access with other siblings and a parent who needs to work from home. Or maybe you dont have a computer at all, because its been broken or stolen. Youre trying to download homework on your phone, but the screen is too small and youve used up your networks data allowance for this month. Special visit: Lord Blunketts guide dog Lucy steals the limelight at a Sussex school in 1997 How on earth are you going to learn anything? My own schooldays were long before the digital era, too, but the world has changed. Like every other aspect of our society, education relies on technology. Quite simply, our children need laptops if they are to learn. And, as a country, we have allowed this situation to drag on for far too long without making sure theyve got the technology they require. That is why Im backing the Mails campaign to get the equipment, connectivity and conditions right for youngsters to have everything they need computers, software and support to be able to learn at home and begin catching up in the months and years ahead. And you can help, too. We all have to pull together. We have a duty to an entire generation, because they are the future of our country. We cannot allow their education to be blighted any longer. Never in living memory have schoolchildren endured what the current generation is facing. The pandemic is tough for all of us but, for children, its often worse. According to research published this week by the Sutton Trust, 50 per cent more children in middle-class homes have been able to access five hours teaching a day, compared with children in working-class homes. David Blunkett said: 'Just imagine, for a moment, what it must be like to be a child in lockdown. Stuck indoors, unable to play with friends and banished from school for weeks and months on end' Nearly twice as many parents on low incomes say they are finding the current lockdown harder than any that went before, compared with people in better financial circumstances. Families with the largest incomes, which make up 19 per cent of the country, are spending on average 200 or more to make sure their children have the technology they need. But in 31 per cent of homes at the bottom of the income scale, nothing has been spent at all because there is no money to spare. And the gulf between rich and poor is evident within the state school system, where 55 per cent of teachers at the less affluent schools report they are seeing a lower standard of work from pupils than they would normally expect compared with 41 per cent at the better-off schools. The evidence is stark: more than half of the teachers surveyed said that where pupils families cant afford good-quality computer equipment and connections at home, their work is suffering. Sir Peter Lampl, founder of the Sutton Trust, says: The first period of school closures had a huge impact on all young people, but particularly those from lower-income backgrounds. 'Never in living memory have schoolchildren endured what the current generation is facing. The pandemic is tough for all of us but, for children, its often worse,' said David Blunkett The repercussions of these months of lost learning are devastating, and will be felt for years to come. Its imperative we dont let this happen again. Frankly, I find it heart-breaking that one of the legacies of Covid now threatens to be a new kind of educational apartheid, as the gap between Britains most advantaged children and the most deprived only grows further. Yet surely this is fixable. Only the most brilliant research scientists and the biggest pharmaceutical organisations can tackle the virus by developing vaccines and better treatments. But all of us can contribute to ensuring that Britains children have the wherewithal to learn online. We dont know, and I suspect no one really knows, quite how long the lockdown will continue to keep our schools and colleges closed. Thankfully, they remain open for the children of key workers and those designated vulnerable, whose homes are not suitable for any kind of learning online or off. But millions more are at home, unable to access the limited school places available. Thats why getting the right technology into every home, with internet connections that work, must be an immediate priority for the weeks ahead. David Blunkett said: 'Frankly, I find it heart-breaking that one of the legacies of Covid now threatens to be a new kind of educational apartheid, as the gap between Britains most advantaged children and the most deprived only grows further' (stock image) At the start of this latest lockdown, Ofcom estimated that at least 1.1 million children did not have access to a computer. I say computer because working on a smartphone, particularly sharing one with siblings or with a parent, simply doesnt hack it. You cant, for hour after hour, use a smartphone for purposes for which it was never intended even if you have one in the first place. Ten months ago, the Government promised to equip all children with the necessary tools to continue learning. It repeated this promise in the autumn. Thus far, some 800,000 devices have been handed out to those most in need. More are on their way as stock becomes available, at a time when all nations are competing for the same resources. But more can and must be done. 'At the start of this latest lockdown, Ofcom estimated that at least 1.1 million children did not have access to a computer. I say computer because working on a smartphone, particularly sharing one with siblings or with a parent, simply doesnt hack it,' said David Blunkett (stock image) I might have been a Labour Education Secretary, but I want to emphasise that Im not making a party-political point here. Im merely stating a fact, underlining how difficult it has been so far to get the equipment in place. This cant be done without a concerted effort from all of us, putting aside our differences Left and Right, unions, government, businesses, individuals, everyone. We all have a part to play in this crucial project. Not for the first time, Britains biggest-selling newspaper is using its clout to bring everyone together. The Mails initiative will be welcomed from all sides. All sorts of people have been doing what they can though, until now, their efforts have not been co-ordinated. David Blunkett said: 'Ten months ago, the Government promised to equip all children with the necessary tools to continue learning. It repeated this promise in the autumn. Thus far, some 800,000 devices have been handed out to those most in need' (stock image) I know in my own city of Sheffield what a difference businesses as well as individuals can make. At least some form of learning will bring joy and might help to rescue an otherwise lost generation. HOW TO DONATE TO COMPUTERS FOR KIDS CLICK HERE TO DONATE TO YOU, THE READER: How to send us donations The Daily Mail has launched a brand new campaign, Computers For Kids, to raise money for Mail Force a charity which aims to provide much needed school equipment and resources for pupils across the UK learning from home. With schools closed, we are left with the dilemma of hundreds of thousands of pupils in the UK having no access to a computer in their home. As part of this campaign, companies are donating their old laptops which, for around 15, can be wiped, professionally refurbished and made safe and fit for home schooling. They can then be delivered to a child or young person who needs one. In addition, the campaign is looking to support childrens needs in other ways such as funding brand new laptops and tablets, and assisting with data access and connectivity for online learning. Any surplus funds will be used to support of the work of UK schools via other means. TO MAKE A DONATION ONLINE Visit mailforcecharity.co.uk/donate and follow the steps to complete your donation. Please don't send us your old device. TO COMPANIES: Could you give your old laptops? Upgrading office computers is something all companies do from time to time and there has never been a better time to donate old laptops. If you are a company with 50 laptops or more that you could give, please visit www.computacenter.com/daily-mail to check they are suitable and register your donation. We will arrange for collection by our specialist partners Computacenter. Please note: we cannot accept donated laptops from individuals. COMPANIES SHOULD GO TO: computacenter.com/daily-mail TO SCHOOLS: Where to apply for the computers Schools must apply to the Department for Education, which is managing the demand and prioritising the schools most in need. The Mail Force initiative means more laptops will become available more quickly. SCHOOLS CAN APPLY HERE: https://get-help-with-tech.education.gov.uk Advertisement The comedian John Bishop has donated 100 laptops to his old school in Runcorn, Cheshire. As a child, I qualified for free school meals, he said, so I know I would have been in one of the families that needed help to gain access to a laptop. When children are sent home without the tools to facilitate their education, they are basically being written off, and that is unacceptable. When this pandemic is over, he added, we do not want a generation of children who, through no fault of their own, find themselves left behind. Allowing that to happen would be shameful. I applaud every word he says, as I also applaud all the generous donations made by individuals off their own bat such as Leeds United striker Patrick Bamford, who has given 5,000 to a local primary school to purchase iPads for pupils, and Brighton and Hove Albion F.C. which is donating 100 laptops to schools as part of its community support programme. But this is also about our young people in further education and sixth-form colleges. Sheffield City College has thousands of students between the ages of 16 and 19, many of whom have been really struggling with both vocational and academic subjects. That is why the college has heroically begged, borrowed and bought 2,000 computers over the past few months, to help youngsters to continue learning. Just at the time when the Government has published its policy paper on the future of further education and an offer of support in lifelong learning, those who have often lost out the first time round are in danger of losing out all over again. Get this right and all of us gain. Get it wrong and we all turn out to be the losers. And there is another reason why a campaign to equip our nation matters. When we get back to some form of normality, then working differently, learning differently and opening up new, creative opportunities will be possible only if people have the resources to do it. Having the right equipment will allow schools and colleges to be able to connect in completely new ways. As Secretary of State, I was a great advocate for old-fashioned homework. I still am. But technology is so versatile now that it can be used for much more than traditional learning. Video conferencing software, for instance, can link students with each other, their tutors and with the world of work. This equipment is needed now and in the future for the Governments own online tutoring programme, to help students catch up on lost learning. So far, this has been taken up by only 30 per cent of young people. It remains unavailable to the many who simply dont have the means to participate. Nothing can substitute for getting our children back into the classroom and our young people back into the laboratories and lecture theatres. The imperative must be to return to full classroom teaching as soon as humanly possible. Whatever it takes, we must make the next few months an opportunity to re-establish hope and optimism, positive ideas and collaborative working, to replace the doom and gloom which have pulled so many of us down over the past, terrible year. Now is the moment to focus on the future and to work together to make Britain a better, more equal and creative country, ready to regenerate and rebuild our economy. Lord Blunkett was Education Secretary from 1997 to 2001. To help the students of Class 10 preparing for the annual state board examination in May this year, Odisha government will provide an exam guide book free of cost to all. This was announced by School and Mass Education Minister S R Dash on Thursday. "The state government will distribute free of cost 'Pariksha Darpan' (exam guide) book to all the 6,20,508 students who will appear in the annual matriculation (Class 10) examination," the minister said. 'Parikshya Darpan', a 700 page guide book will help students to prepare for the upcoming crucial board examination. "In order to reduce the stress of the students, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had asked the department to help candidates," the minister said. Though the state government had earlier reduced 30 per cent of the syllabus for the Class 10 board examination, it is felt that still, students face difficulties for the examination. The new book 'Pariksha Darpan' contains probable questions and answers, he said. The minister said the students of government, government-aided and private schools appearing in the matriculation examination conducted by the Board of Secondary Education (BSE) will get the book free of cost. The examination will start from May 3. Earlier, keeping in view the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the livelihood of the people across the state, the chief minister on January 13 had announced waiver of examination fees for the matriculation examination. The state government will bear Rs 27 crore towards examination fee waiver. Each candidate appearing in the annual high school certificate examination was supposed to pay Rs 420 for filling up the forms. Also Read:Budget 2021: How is 'Skill India' doing? As the world was told to breathe a sigh of relief with the inauguration of Joe Biden as US president, 17,350 people perished from COVID-19 infections across the globe. This was the single highest death toll ever recorded in one day. In the United States, COVID-19 claimed 4,385 more lives, and less than one month from now the death toll is expected to surpass half a million people. The World Health Organization (WHO) executive board convenes this week at its 148th session to review the second report on the progress of the pandemic drafted January 6 by the Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response. The report, which functions as a framework for the week-long meeting, sets out to evaluate the lessons learned from the global response to the pandemic and formulate resolutions for critical steps that must be taken to address the deficiencies the pandemic has exposed. Logo of the World Health Organization The entire report is a devastating indictment of the worlds response to a pandemic that was both foreseen and foretold. And despite ample warnings, high-income nations and their leaders chose to place the preservation of their financial institutions and national interest above those of their population and the well-being of the planet. What is lacking in the report is a much-needed Marxist analysis that could provide a scientific context for these failings, which have seen nearly 100 million cases of COVID-19 infections and more than 2 million deaths. One of the early critical points made in the report is the continual failure to apply comprehensive public health measuresincluding early case detection, contact tracing and isolation, physical distancing, hygiene and limits on travel and gatheringto stem the continuing and unacceptable transmission, illness and death that continues to take a terrible toll even as vaccination rollout has commenced. The pandemic has only further exposed and deepened the inequalities that exist within and between nations. The panel found that vulnerable and marginalized people in several countries were deprived of health care and essential services. Access to diagnostics, therapeutics like oxygen and necessary supplies favored high-income countries. They cited vaccine nationalism as a threat of further fallout from the pandemic. We cannot allow a principle to be established that it is acceptable for high-income countries to be able to vaccinate 100 percent of their populations while poorer countries must make do with only 20 percent coverage, the panel wrote. COVID-19 did not start in the poorest countries, but they are suffering the greatest collateral damage, and they need enhanced solidarity and support from the international community. The global pandemic alert system is unusable and harmful in its present form. The panel calls for creating a system of distributed information where people in local clinics and laboratories working with real-time data and decision-making tools can provide the critical inputs to enable reaction in the order of days and not weeks to pathogens of epidemic risk. However, this requires political initiative on the part of nations to hold themselves accountable for taking all necessary actions as soon as an alert is issued. The authors raise concern that experiences with previous pandemics, and evaluations and recommendations thereof, have not been acted upon. There has been a wholesale failure to take seriously the existential risk posed by a pandemic threat to humanity and its place in the future of the planet, they wrote. Additionally, they note that the WHO has been underpowered to do the job expected of it. Underfunding and lack of material support has impacted its ability to deploy personnel or containment resources to local areas. Due to rising geopolitical tensions that are straining social cohesion, the inability to engage in an internationally coordinated and cooperative fashion weakens the worlds pandemic alert and outbreak containment functions. However, rather than addressing the extensive critique offered in the report on the inept global response to the pandemic, the bourgeois press has preferred to latch onto relatively minor elements of the lengthy 34-page statement, which found fault with delays during the early response to the outbreak in Wuhan, China, by both the Chinese government and the WHO. Behind these glaring omissions in the mainstream press are nationalist interests that attempt to deflect responsibility for the toll the pandemic has taken on nations populations. CNNs opening paragraph on the report leads with, China and the WHO could have acted quicker and more forcefully to contain the start of the COVID-19 outbreak. Although highlighting some of the major points from the report, the New York Times ultimately turns to scapegoat the WHO, China and the Trump administration, ignoring the newspapers complicity in instigating the policy of herd immunity and back-to-school initiatives. The report attributes faults with the WHOs response to fundamental failures of high-income countries and their leaders. It states that lack of confidence in the WHO by some member states stems from deep divisions that have emerged over several years in global relations. It is precisely the concrete principle of internationalism based on social need and not individual profit that could provide a global institution such as the WHO the political stability needed to declare a global emergency and enact an appropriate international response. The pandemic has demonstrated concretely, in the negative, the dangers the globe faces when not organized under international socialist principles. However, the reality is that the WHO remains a bourgeois institution that can play only an advisory role. When the WHO declared a public health emergency of international concern just one year ago, only a limited number of nations heeded the warning and escalated public health measures appropriate to the danger. The panel notes with deep concern that the failure to enact fundamental change despite the warnings issued has left the world dangerously exposed, as the COVID-19 pandemic proves. The Independent Panel does not want to preserve yet another report to sit on the shelves, leaving historians to ask what if its recommendations had been heeded. The panel highly commends the nurses and health care workers who stepped up to the herculean task in the pandemic, risking their livelihoods and lives to innovate to help reorganize hospitals and health care services, manage COVID-19 patients, provide health messaging and, increasingly, establish and staff vaccine delivery systems. This took place despite a 6-million-person deficit in the global health care workforce. Yet little has been reported in the press on this vital work by health care workers. The panel notes that more than 1,500 nurses, likely a serious undercount, have perished since October, and 70 percent of national nursing associations are reporting high levels of mental health distress amongst nurses, together with physical exhaustion, verbal and physical attacks and discrimination. The toll the pandemic has had on non-COVID health issues has been astronomical. Of 105 countries surveyed, 90 percent have reported some disruption in health services. Low- and lower-middle-income countries have borne the brunt of this. The World Bank calculated that there had been a loss of 7 percent in global GDP, which amounts to US$6 trillion. Not surprisingly, countries that applied strict public health measures have seen better economic outcomes while also seeing less morbidity and death from COVID infections. The authors write, While the panel is cognizant that the pandemic is ongoing, and so the long-term trends in relation to economic impact are yet to be definitively established, we nevertheless believe that sufficient evidence exists to be confident that decision to implement strict public health control measures will leave economies at least no worse off than those that do not implement these measures while averting significantly more deaths and illness. One of President Bidens first acts was to sign an executive order that halted the USs withdrawal from the WHO. Another was a federal mask mandate. Dr. Anthony Fauci spoke on Thursday to the WHO Executive Board, stating his appreciation to the WHOs global public health response and concluding, The United States stands ready to work in partnership and solidarity to support the international COVID-19 response, mitigate its impact on the world, strengthen our institutions, advance epidemic preparedness for the future, and improve the health and well-being of all people throughout the world. Rhetoric aside, the United States faces an unmanageable economic crisis, temporarily somewhat disguised by the infusion of a massive supply of money from the Federal Reserve and international banks. The massive accumulation of debt will accelerate harsher austerity measures and authoritarian methods of rule. The pandemic did not spring onto the world stage by chance. It was well known that such a pandemic would materialize and that it was only a question of when. The response to it was a byproduct of the outdated nation-state system organized under capitalism. The findings of the Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Responses second report highlight the critical need for the socialist reorganization of the globes resources. Two flights, each carrying two million doses of Covishield vaccine , departed from the Mumbai airport for Brazil and Morocco in the early hours of Friday. India is one of the world's biggest drugmakers, and an increasing number of countries have already approached it for procuring coronavirus vaccines. "The Covishield vaccine, manufactured by the Serum Institute of India, departed from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) carrying 2 million doses to Brazil via Emirates Sky Cargo and 2 million doses to Morocco on Royal Air Maroc," said a press release by CSMIA. As of January 22, CSMIA has facilitated movement of over 14.17 million doses of the Covishield vaccine across various international and domestic destinations, it mentioned. Since Wednesday, India has been sending Covid-19 vaccines under grant assistance to Bhutan, the Maldives, Bangladesh, Nepal, Myanmar and Seychelles. India has already rolled out a massive coronavirus immunisation 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. This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Pope Francis appointed the Belgian religious as archbishop of Teheran-Ispahan of the Latins, after years of sede vacante. He will be consecrated on 16 February in Rome, on the feast day of St Maruthas. He appeals to Catholics around the world to nurture contact and bond with Iranian Catholics. Rome (AsiaNews) Pope Francis Mathieu on 8 January appointed Fr Dominique Mathieu as the new Archbishop of Teheran-Ispahan of the Latins. In an interview with AsiaNews, the new prelate outlined the objectives of his apostolate: unity and fraternal care between Catholics in Iran and the universal Church; contact and bond with them; nourishing the dream of living universal brotherhood, in mutual respect between Christians and Muslims, including Shias, after the steps taken with Sunnis; and keeping the historical presence of Christians alive and lively. The Belgian-born religious belongs to the Provincial Custody of the East and of the Holy Land of the Friars Minor Conventual. Currently Definitor General of the Order, he will be consecrated on 16 February, the feast day of St Maruthas, patron saint of Iran, in the Basilica of the Twelve Holy Apostles in Rome. Fr Mathieu was born on 13 June 1963 in Arlon, Belgium. After his high school studies, he entered the Order of Friars Minor Conventual and made his solemn profession in 1987. He was ordained priest on 24 September 1989 and was incardinated in the Provincial Custody of the East and of the Holy Land in 2013. Over the years he has held various positions: vocation promoter, secretary, vicar and provincial minister of the Belgian Province of the Friars Minor Conventual, rector of the National Shrine of Saint Anthony of Padua in Brussels and director of the associated Confraternity. About 22,000 Catholics (and about 500,000 Christians) live in Iran out of a population of almost 82 million inhabitants, mostly Shias Muslims (90 per cent). Sunnis are just over 5 per cent. Christians include Chaldeans and Armenians of the Latin rite, as well as Europeans and Latin Americans who work in the Islamic Republic. According to the Iranian Constitution (Article 13) Christians, Zoroastrians and Jews are free to worship within the limits of (Islamic) law. Christians have representatives in the Iranian Parliament (Majlis). Here is the interview with the new archbishop of Teheran-Ispahan: Fr Mathieu, how do you see your apostolate in the new Iranian reality? Like that of a good shepherd, who must gather the faithful around the Incarnate Word in communion with the universal Church, so that they may be more and more a living leaven in the mix of a people; a reality made up of people of high culture who, by their very nature, value the host. And the main challenges of the new mission? Keeping the historical presence of Christians alive and lively. What will be the foundations on which to base such apostolate? First of all, trust in God, who remains faithful to his promises. To this is added the good will to collaborate, everywhere and in all circumstances, to make him visible with one's life. Have you already become acquainted with Tehran and the local Christian community? I got to know and discover the local reality through the testimonies of those who lived there and those who passed through. I believe the faithful expect to see Jesus' promise concretely realised when he said ascending to heaven: I am with you always, until the end of the age. They desire to live his Word and celebrate the sacraments, guided by a pastor with an open heart and charitable in deeds. May it be a living and visible sign for every person. On the matter of Christian unity, what do you expect? Will there be collaboration, even in light of a numerically small group? I expect to recognise that like the apostles, despite our particularities, we shall be moved by the one and only Holy Spirit, who sends us to proclaim that we are all brothers in him. What can you tell us about relations with Muslims? Will the popes apostolic visit to Iraq be important even for Iranian Christians, especially with respect to the relationship with Shias? The last encyclical of Pope Francesco, Fratelli tutti, indicates the path for dialogue and gives its tone. In this regard, the coming trip to Iraq adds a concrete act to the word. A stop in Najaf, a holy city for Iraqi Shias, is under consideration, with a possible meeting with their spiritual leader, Ali Al-Sistani, and the signing of the Abu Dhabi document reflect the relationship. [This gesture] would keep alive, even in Iran, the dream of living universal brotherhood, in mutual respect. Christians in Iran complain of a certain of isolation from the universal Church. What can we do in the West, in this sense, to be closer to Iranian Christians? For Catholics of the Latin rite, the appointment of a new archbishop after a few years of sede vacante has had a positive response. That decision is a mature response by the Holy See to reach out to Roman Catholics in an extreme edge of the world with the gift of a pastor, a conventual friar minor. I would tell Catholics in the West and in the world: Show them your fraternal attention and pray to God for their intentions; finally, contact and bond with them as much as possible. The Ondo State government has begun the distribution of 10,000 doses of rat poison to destroy rats in Lassa fever prone communities, as the dreaded virus begins its upward trend in the state. Ondo and Edo states are the epicentres of the virus in the country. The Lassa virus is said to be transmitted to man by infected multi-mammate rats. According to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control(NCDC), humans become infected from direct contact with the urine and faeces of the rat which contains the virus, through touching soiled objects, eating contaminated food, or exposure to open cuts or sores. Secondary transmission from person to person can occur following exposure to the virus in the blood, tissue, urine, faeces or other bodily secretions of an infected individual. Hospital-acquired (nosocomial) transmission from person to person are not uncommon and importantly can occur if appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is not worn when managing suspected cases. Out of the cumulative fatalities of 244 recorded last year nationwide, Ondo State recorded 81 deaths, from a total of 423 confirmed cases. Comparatively, 41 people died from COVID-19 in the state by the end of 2020. According to the figures in Week 1, dating from January 1-10, 2020, Ondo State recorded three confirmed Lassa Fever cases out of the 18 suspected cases considered. So far, during the new week, no death has been recorded in Ondo, but two deaths were recorded in Bauchi State, according to NCDC. The cumulative fatality figure for week 1 is nine, reported in four states of Edo, Ondo, Bauchi and Ebonyi. But the Ondo State Government, not waiting for an explosion of the epidemic, has begun an awareness campaign in Lassa prone communities and distributing about 10,000 doses of poisons to residents of Ayede Ogbese in Akure North Local Government Area. The aim, according to the government, is to kill the rats in the community to curb further spread of the virus. The State Epidemiologist, Stephen Fagbemi, at the campaign on Wednesday, tagged End Lassa Now, said Ondo is now the epicentre of the virus in the country. Mr Fagbemi was represented by Dolani Gbelela, the Assistant State Epidemiologist. Mr Gbelela said 423 cases of Lassa fever were recorded in 2020 out of which 81 persons died, representing 34 per cent of Lassa Fever related deaths in Nigeria. He said that Lassa Fever is of a greater burden to the state, hence the need for the campaign and advocacy for necessary measures to be put in place to eradicate the scourge. Mr Gbelela also disclosed that those most affected were between 21 and 30 years of age. He noted that after the poisons were distributed, about 3000 rats were killed in Owo alone since the campaign began in December. ADVERTISEMENT The Special Adviser to the governor and Acting Commissioner for Health, Jjibayo Adeyeye, said Lassa Fever had killed many people in the state since it was first discovered in Ose local government. The scourge, which was usually experienced in Ose and some LGAs sharing borders with Edo State, has spread to over five other LGAs, hence the need for the aggressive de-ratification exercise being embarked upon, he said. Mr Adeyeye further said the good news was that no Lassa Fever mortality had been recorded this year and all hands were on deck to ensure non is recorded. He then urged all residents of Ogbese to play their roles in preventing the outbreak of the disease by cleaning their environment, clearing all bushes around their houses, disposing of refuse properly, as well as killing all rats in their environment. The Odopetu of Ogbese, Oladimeji Abitogun, in his remarks, said proper attention should be given to Lassa Fever just as it is being given to the insurgency, COVID-19 and other life-threatening matters as every life is important. Mr Abitogun added that more deaths had been recorded from Lassa fever than COVID-19 in the state. Farmers will start to see additional money paid out to them by the end of the month as the second and final instalment of convergence funding is distributed. Around 18,000 farmers and crofters across Scotland will benefit from the support worth 71.8 million. The payments are part of a 160m package relating to EU CAP funding that the UK government failed to pass on to Scotland between 2014-18. The funds had been the subject of a lengthy and concerted campaign to ensure that Scottish farmers received the money they were due. It started when the EU Multi Annual Financial Framework set out the aim of redistributing CAP payments more equitably across the EU based on average /hectare. Under the framework, all countries receiving less than 90% of the EU average would receive a funding uplift. As the member state, the UK only qualified for an uplift because of Scotland, whose per hectare rate is only 45% of the EU average: England, Wales and NI are all above the 90% qualifying threshold. After months of lobbying from the farming industry and Scottish government, farmers and crofters will benefit to the tune of 160m. Rural Economy Secretary Fergus Ewing said: Our farmers and crofters deserve this money and it is something that we fought hard to get. Were continuing our pattern of improvement by making the convergence payments earlier than last year and we also commenced the LFASS 2020 payment runs two months earlier than the 2019 system payments. LFASS payments go to nearly 11,000 farmers and crofters in some of our more remote and marginalised areas, but because of EU rules the 2020 payment is only 40% of the 2018 rate. "Last year I committed to use some of the convergence money to bring these vital payments back up to 2018 levels and that is what I have done. Washington: Donald Trumps Senate impeachment trial will begin in a little over a fortnight, a delay designed to allow President Joe Biden more time to confirm his cabinet nominees and begin enacting his policy agenda. Democratic Senate leader Chuck Schumer said that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi plans to send the article of impeachment accusing the former president of inciting the January 6 insurrection at the Capitol to the Senate on Tuesday (AEDT). Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said the House would transmit the article of impeachment on Tuesday (AEDT). Credit:Bloomberg Schumer later announced that Trumps Senate trial will begin on February 9, a slower timeline than had previously been expected. Biden had made clear he wanted the focus of his administrations first weeks to be on his policy agenda and getting his cabinet installed rather than his predecessor. They only confirmed their romance weeks ago but have already packed on the PDA on a loved-up trip to St. Barts. And Michael B. Jordan and his new girlfriend Lori Harvey were seen boarding a plane on Thursday to leave the Caribbean island as their vacation came to an end. The Black Panther actor, 33, wore a relaxed travelling outfit with grey sweatpants and a black Malcolm X t-shirt as he arrived at the airport, while his model girlfriend, 24, was dressed down in leggings and a sweatshirt. Smitten: Michael B. Jordan, 33, and his new girlfriend Lori Harvey, 24,were seen boarding an airplane on Thursday as their loved-up trip to Saint Barts for her 24th birthday came to an end The model wore her hair in a tight bun on top of her head and accessorized with a black quilted Bottega Venetta bag with a gold chain strap slung across her body. The pair both wore black Louis Vuitton face masks to keep themselves protected during their trip. Michael and Lori - who've nicknamed each other 'Turtle' and 'Nugget' - have been dating for a few months and only went Instagram official on January 10 but they're clearly smitten. The 'inseparable' couple were not afraid of public displays of affection as they were pictured kissing and hugging while on a floating dock in the ocean last Friday. In the snaps, they looked like they couldn't get enough of each other as Michael gently kissed Lori's shoulder while placing a hand on her taut tummy. Casual: The 33-year-old Black Panther actor wore grey sweatpants and a black Malcolm X t-shirt while his model girlfriend wore leggings and a sweatshirt with her hair in a tight bun The love birds also posed for a mirror selfie posted to social media on Tuesday as Michael stood behind his girlfriend, who wore a skintight apple green mini dress, as he put one hand on her chest. They were staying on a yacht in Saint Barthelemy with Lori's family, her dad, Family Feud host Steve Harvey, and his wife Marjorie, for her 24th birthday getaway. 'It was really important to Lori that Michael be there to celebrate her 24th birthday with her and her family because she definitely sees their relationship going somewhere,' a source told Hollywood Life on Saturday. Love birds: Lori wore a skintight apple green mini dress as she posed for a mirror selfie with boyfriend Michael who stood behind her with one hand on her chest Yacht life: The couple were staying on a yacht on the Carribean islandwith Lori's family, her dad, Family Feud host Steve Harvey, and his wife Marjorie Lori and Michael were first pictured together sporting matching sweats while departing a Delta airplane in Georgia on November 25. Last Thursday, the actor posted a photo and a video to his account, which showed him and his girlfriend standing back to back against a snowy landscape. The caption read: '10:10 HBD'; and Lori responded by writing in the comments section: 'My baby.' Last year, Lori celebrated her birthday kissing Grammy-winning rapper Future in a pool in Jamaica, but they had reportedly split by August. The video vixen is said to have previously romanced three-time Grammy winner Diddy and three-time Grammy nominee Trey Songz. A clear majority of Swiss voters favour the introduction of a nationwide ban against wearing face-coverings in public, known as a 'burqa ban', ahead of a referendum on the issue in March. According to a Tamedia poll of 15,000 eligible voters on Friday, a full 63 percent of those questioned said they would vote yes or were considering voting yes in an upcoming popular vote on the ban, the Tages Anzeiger daily reported. The Swiss are set to vote on whether they want to ban face coverings in public on March 7, when they will also vote on a range of other issues as part of the country's famous direct democratic system. The text does not mention Muslim veils explicitly, stating only that 'no one shall cover their face in public, nor in areas accessible to the public or in areas where services are ordinarily accessible to all.' But the proposed ban, which has been opposed by the Swiss government, is widely seen as targeting burqas and other face-covering Muslim veils. Campaign posters of the far-right Swiss People's Party depicting a woman wearing a burqa against a background of a Swiss flag. These posters were used in 2009. Now, in 2021, a referendum is planned on March 7 that could ban face coverings in public spaces The initiative also makes several exceptions, including in 'places of worship', and, vitally in these pandemic times, for 'health reasons'. Currently, all individuals in Switzerland are required to wear masks 'in all areas open to the public' and 'all areas that can be accessed by people,' according to the Swiss Federal Office of Public Health, because of the coronavirus pandemic. The Egerkingen committee which presented the initiative is heavily backed by the populist right-wing Swiss People's Party, but some left-leaning politicians have also joined the campaign in the name of protecting women's rights. Swiss Justice Minister Karin Keller-Sutter announced this week that the government opposed the nationwide ban, stressing that women wearing full body-covering veils were rarely seen in Switzerland. She stressed that most women seen in the country wearing such veils are tourists. The justice minister also insisted the issue should be left up to Switzerland's 26 cantons. Two cantons, Ticino and St.Gallen, have already introduced such bans, while three other cantons, Zurich, Solothurn and Glarus, have rejected doing so in recent years. Pictured: A traditional Muslim family with husband and a child and three women in hijabs in the streets of Zurich, Switzerland The government and parliament are backing a counter proposal, which would require people to reveal their faces to the authorities for identification purposes, for instance at borders or on public transport. The Swiss government urged voters to reject the proposal on Tuesday, saying it could deter tourists and 'be unhelpful for certain groups of women', Aljazeera reported. Fines of up to 10,000 Swiss francs (8,200) could be given to anyone who refused, according to the counter proposal, which will enter into force if the Egerkingen initiative is rejected. Swiss Justice Minister Karin Keller-Sutter (pictured) announced this week that the government opposed the nationwide ban, stressing that women wearing full body-covering veils were rarely seen in Switzerland Under Switzerland's form of direct democracy, any proposal to change the constitution that raise more than 100,000 signatures goes to a popular vote. 'Very few people in Switzerland wear a full facial covering,' the government said in a statement. 'A nationwide ban would undermine the sovereignty of the cantons, damage tourism and be unhelpful for certain groups of women.' Official statistics show that Muslims make up only around 5 percent of Switzerland's 8.6 million population. Putting to rest concerns raised after its emergency approval earlier this month, the Lancet Infectious Disease journal published a study that said Covaxin - Indias first indigenous vaccine against Covid-19 - showed enhanced immune response without any serious side effects in the participants enrolled for the phase 1 trials. The study comes at a time when the Indian government is being forced to draw up an elaborate plan to alleviate fears among citizens against taking the vaccine fueled by news reports of severe side-effects (none medically substantiated) in recipients. Also read | Covid-19: Rising Reluctance to Take the Shot Latest Challenge Before Centre Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech, who developed the vaccine in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune, welcomed the move. "Extremely proud to announce phase I clinical trial studies of Covaxin, published in the most prestigious journal of THE LANCET Infectious Diseases. This is the first clinical trial data publication of a vaccine from India," tweeted Suchitra Ella, Joint Managing Director of Bharat Biotech. The study by the revered peer-review journal stated that the 375-participant phase 1 trial showed that Covaxin induced binding and neutralising antibody responds against the novel coronavirus. Among the authors of the paper were Dr Randeep Guleria, Dr Krishna Ella, Dr Samiran Panda and Professor Balram Bhargava. "BBV152 (Covaxin) led to tolerable safety outcomes and enhanced immune responses. Both Algel-IMDG formulations were selected for phase 2 immunogenicity trials. Further efficacy trials are warranted," the results said. An elated ICMR said, "The findings show the safety and immunogenicity of the vaccine as seen in a double-blind, randomised trial." On December 25 last year, the ICMR had highlighted the international attention Covaxin was drawing. Data generated from within India underlines impressive safety and immunogenicity profile of Covaxin and sparks Lancets interest in publishing them, the medical body had boasted in a tweet. The pre-print of this study was published on December 15. The study also measured the vaccines immunogenicity, which is its ability to generate an immune response as measured on two arms antibody production and T-cell response. The developers have also spoken about Covaxin showing long-term antibody and T-cell memory responses three months after the shot was administered to phase-1 trial volunteers. As per the study, local adverse events were pain and swelling at the injection site, and systemic adverse events included fever, fatigue or malaise, myalgia, body aches, headaches, nausea or vomiting, anorexia, chills, generalised rash, and diarrhoea. All adverse events were reported by the participants throughout the study, it showed. The paper also talks about a serious adverse event which was reported in a group five days after receiving the first shot of the vaccine. While it was initially reported as a solicited adverse event", it was later classified as not causally associated with the vaccine" "Overall the results published in Lancet today indicate that the vaccine is safe and capable of generating an immune response. The type of T-cell response generated deserves special mention. The vaccine produced a T-h1 biased response, which is the preferred type. This trial is not intended or designed to test efficacy," Dr Rajeev Jayadevan, science writer and public educator told News18. Phase 1 studies are done to assess the safety of a new vaccine, and the Lancet results confirm Covaxins safety and immunogenicity profile. Lee students will return to the classroom Tuesday, after a temporary shift to all-remote learning amid a spike in COVID-19 cases. The rate has dropped significantly in recent weeks, officials said. Newly-elected Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene said Thursday that she has filed articles of impeachment against Pres. Joe Biden. In a statement, Marjorie Taylor Greene said that Pres. Biden is unfit to hold the office of the presidency. She noted that Biden's pattern of abuse of power as former president Barack Obama's vice president is "lengthy and disturbing." Greene added that Pres. Biden has shown that he would do whatever it takes to bail out his son, Hunter, and connect his family's money with funds from corrupt foreign energy companies. As of 6 p.m., the specific articles of impeachment are not yet available, CBS 46 reported. But in the statement, Greene said Biden abused the Office of the Vice President's power and enabled bribery and other high crimes and misdemeanors when he allowed his son to influence the domestic policy of a foreign nation and accept various benefits from foreign nationals for "certain favors." Greene further noted that Biden is even on tape admitting "to a quid pro quo with the Ukrainian government threatening to withhold $1,000,000,000 in foreign aid if they did not do his bidding." She added that Pres. Biden residing in the White House "is a threat to national security and he must be immediately impeached." According to a Fox News report, Marjorie Taylor Greene had been a public supporter of the conspiracy theories from QAnon and a strong Trump ally. She recently criticized the deployment of around 25,000 National Guard to Washington D.C. to protect Biden during the presidential inauguration. She tweeted and called Biden a "clueless Grandpa" on Wednesday. Greene also took to Twitter to make her announcement in filing the articles of impeachment against Pres. Biden. She immediately used her announcement to raise money for an "Impeach Joe Biden Fund." Greene was able to use her Twitter account after being banned from the social media platform for 12 hours last weekend. Twitter blocked her account because she allegedly violated its rules put in place after the violent riot at the Capitol on Jan. 6. Greene's articles of impeachment are not expected to make it very far with a Democrat-controlled House. Democrats also control the Senate and won't likely consider impeaching Biden. Marjorie Taylor Greene announced that she would file impeachment articles against Pres. Biden last week, just hours after the House impeached President Donald Trump for the second time. Related story: Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene To File Impeachment Articles Against Biden Pres. Biden-Ukraine Allegations Pres. Biden has repeatedly denied making any policy decisions toward Ukraine while minding his son's business interest into consideration. Senate Republicans conducted an investigation last year, looking at corruption allegations against the Bidens. According to The Hill report, the Senate did not find any evidence to prove the claims against the current president. It was also found that Hunter's work for the Ukrainian company, Burisma, does not have evidence that influenced the U.S. foreign policy. But Hunter is currently under investigation by the Justice Department, probing his finances that include some of his Chinese business dealings. Marjorie Taylor Greene's Profile Marjorie Taylor Greene was among the 139 representatives and eight senators who rejected the Electoral College results from Arizona and Pennsylvania, the key states confirming Biden's win over Trump. Greene also claimed widespread voter fraud in her home state that resulted in Biden's close win in Georgia. However, she continued to push that her victory was totally legitimate and that her vote count was accurate, according to an Independent report. Republican officials who oversaw the election in Georgia have refuted her false claims of voter fraud. They also confirmed Biden's win after a series of checks and hand recounts. Marjorie Taylor Greene was elected in the house seat in November, representing Georgia's 14th Congressional District that includes almost all of the state's northwestern area. Trump also campaigned on behalf of Greene and dubbed her as a future Republican star. But some fellow Republicans have denounced Greene and others in her conspiracy theory wing of the party. Republican Senator Ben Sasse said she would just keep making fools out of herself, her constituents, and the party. Read also: Trump Impeached by House for Second Time With 10 Republican Members Voting Against Him A suspected gunman was arrested by police today and his 94-year-old grandmother led from his home after police ended a 24-hour siege in West London. Dramatic video showed armed officers smashing down the door of a 370,000 terraced home in Southall where he had been refusing to give himself up since yesterday afternoon. It came after they were called to the scene amid concerns for the welfare of a man inside. It was 24 hours later before he was brought out and arrested on suspicion of possessing a firearm and taken into custody. A neighbour opposite told MailOnline: Weve heard the alarm was raised after a visit to the house by social workers yesterday. All of a sudden there were armed police everywhere. It went on and on and we had police yelling at us to stay indoors. From our house we could see him talking to a police negotiator outside. He was saying, My gran is fine, shes fine. Later he started saying how much he wanted a coffee and he wanted to go out to pick up a few things. At one point he came outside and started watering plants while there were all these officers pointing their rifles at him. Armed police were still at the West London address as the siege continued today Officers cordoned off the street after reports a man may have a gun inside a house Police set up a unit at one end of the closed street as the siege neared 24 hours in duration It was quite surreal how calm he seemed despite being surrounded by dozens of officers. Even when they were kicking his door in he was still chatting away to the negotiator from his window. Eventually they got in and went up and got him and led him out in cuffs. The family has been at that address more than 30 years. Nothing like this has happened before but I think the guy might have mental health problems. Everyone hopes his gran is okay. Terror police armed with G36C variant of the Heckler & Koch weapons at the scene Officers were decked out in body armour as the situation neared a full day of attendance One video of the scene in Southall last showed laser sights on the property and negotiators shouting at the house. They could be heard saying 'Come back to the window. 'Come back to the window now so we can talk to you. 'We can end this now and sort it out and stop making all this noise. 'Put the phone back on the hook so we can speak to you.' The footage, shared online, mentions the names of a man and woman believed to be inside the house. Officers were called after reports a man with a gun was inside the property. An employee at a local restaurant on The Broadway told MyLondon: "Im working so couldnt go see but saw some armed police go past the shop." Another told us: "I've heard someone took out a gun. I don't know if anyone's been shot. Thats why police are there. "There are more than 50-60 police. They are carrying guns." Other footage showed stunned neighbours coming outside of adjoining homes only to spot the armed officers who screamed at them to get inside. Chief Superintendent Peter Gardner, West Area BCU Commander, said: We would like to thank residents for their patience and co-operation while we resolved this matter. "We would also like to thank the local authority and specialist firearms officers for their assistance in peacefully resolving this incident." Israel will OK over 800 new settlement homes during the week of Bidens inauguration By Gabe Friedman (JTA) Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Monday that he will advance plans to build over 800 new settlement homes next week, days before Joe Biden was sworn in as president of the United States. The move is likely to rile Biden, who like most past U.S. presidents opposes new settlement construction. Were here to stay. Were continuing to build the Land of Israel! Netanyahu wrote on Facebook. Tal Menashe, where an Israeli settler woman was allegedly killed b... A court in Minsk has upheld an extension of the pretrial detention of Belarusian opposition figure Maryya Kalesnikava, who faces national-security charges after she urged people to protest against a disputed presidential election. "Maryya Kalesnikava's defense appealed the extension of her stay at a detention facility with the Minsk City Court on January 21. The legal arguments were turned down. Maryya will remain at the detention facility until March 8," would-be Belarusian presidential candidate Viktar Babaryka said in a statement on January 22, quoting Kalesnikava's lawyer Lyudmila Kazak. The appeal came after Kalesnikava's pretrial detention was extended on January 6. Kalesnikava is a key member of the Coordination Council, a body set up by Belarus's political opposition to facilitate a transfer of power in the country following a presidential election in August 2020 that the opposition says was rigged and the West has refused to accept. She was arrested in September 2020 and charged with calling for actions aimed at damaging the country's national security via media and the Internet -- namely calling on people to protest against the election results. Crisis In Belarus Read our coverage as Belarusians continue to demand the resignation of Alyaksandr Lukashenka amid a brutal crackdown on protesters. The West refuses to recognize him as the country's legitimate leader after an August 9 election considered fraudulent. Kalesnikava, who rejects the charge as politically motivated, could be sentenced to up to five years in prison if convicted. Mass demonstrations have swept across Belarus since the disputed August 9 vote that gave Alyaksandr Lukashenka a sixth consecutive term. Lukashenka has directed a brutal postelection crackdown in which almost 30,000 people have been detained, and hundreds beaten in detention and on the streets. The EU and United States refuse to recognize Lukashenka as the countrys legitimate leader and have slapped sanctions on him and other senior Belarusian officials. The vote was widely dismissed as having been rigged, with the real winner being opposition leader Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya, who left the country for Lithuania shortly after the election due to security concerns. With reporting by Smartpress and Belnovosti Subscriber content preview SEATTLE An office building at 2607 Second Ave. sold for $6.5 million, according to King County records. The seller was 2607 Building LLC, which acquired the property in 2006 for nearly $4.6 million. . . . HENDERSON, Nev., Jan. 22, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Valley Bank of Nevada announces that Randall "Hank" Waters has joined the bank as Vice President / Henderson Retail Banking Manager. Waters brings 6 years of finance experience to this position. Having worked at Valley Bank of Nevada in the past (from 2013 to 2016), Waters knows a thing or two about the bank. Valley Bank of Nevada "I always knew that I wanted to come back to Valley Bank of Nevada for the tight-knit family atmosphere. The bank is broadening their product offering with consumer products while also expanding their business model, and now seemed like the perfect time to make the transition back into the banking world. I couldn't be more excited to be here," Waters commented. Waters grew up in Harlingen, Texas and moved to Las Vegas to attend UNLV in 2013. After graduating with a bachelor's degree in finance, Waters went on to earn his MBA at University of Utah. Since then, he has held advancing roles in finance and management, most recently serving as a Senior Finance Manager at MGM Resorts International. In his new role at Valley Bank of Nevada, Waters is responsible for directing and administering the retail sales and business development efforts of the Henderson branch of Valley Bank of Nevada, located at 4343 E Sunset Rd. Established in 2005, Valley Bank of Nevada is known for providing business and consumer banking services designed to restore the traditional values of service and quality the banking industry was built on. Dedicated to increasing the financial health and stability of communities through supporting small businesses, Valley Bank of Nevada has two valley locations, in Henderson and in North Las Vegas. The bank's philosophies are built upon the time-tested principles of service, integrity and commitment to success. Visit ValleyBankNV.com for more information. For more information, press only: Julie Goe, Marketing Director Valley Bank of Nevada 702-259-2658 [email protected] Related Images hank-waters.jpg Hank Waters SOURCE Valley Bank of Nevada President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has earned praise for acknowledging persons living with disabilities with the inclusion of one Mr Joshua Makuba in his list of nominees for ministerial appointments. President Akufo-Addo on Thursday, January 21, 2021, sent to parliament a total of 46 nominees for consideration to be appointed as sector ministers and regional ministers. Included in the list for the position of Oti Regional Minister was Mr Makuba, a physically challenged person. Mr Makuba, who has his right leg amputated, if passed by Parliaments Appointment Committee, will serve as Oti Regional Minister in the second term of President Akufo-Addo. The nominee, despite his disability, has distinguished himself as an industrious individual who has over the years worked for the New Patriotic Party in the Oti Region. The nominee is the current Regional Secretary of the party having won the position during a regional delegates conference in 2018. Mr Makuba, who is from the Nkwanta South Constituency, won the position by gaining 98 votes out of the 150 total votes cast by the delegates. He has been a strong advocate for persons living with disabilities and on several occasions called for their inclusion in governance. Makubu Joshua in academia holds an HND in Statistics, BSc in Actuarial Science, MPhil in Finance and a PhD Finance. His nomination has been met with positive reactions by advocates and other PWDs who have taken to social media to congratulate him. Source: Ghanaweb 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 DUBLIN, Calif. and LIVERMORE, Calif., Jan. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- CityHealth Urgent Care today announced the opening of two new COVID-19 testing locations, this time to serve the residents of the Tri-Valley and San Francisco Bay Area. A Dublin testing site is open at 5380 Broder Blvd., Dublin. It will be open every day from 10 AM - 7 PM. Livermore, CA & Dublin, CA COVID-19 Testing "CityHealth has been a great partner in our fight against COVID-19 in Alameda County. We are very pleased with the addition of the new testing site at the Santa Rita Jail campus. This location will provide much needed testing to eastern Alameda County and first responders who serve our communities," said Gregory J. Ahern, Alameda County Sheriff. A Livermore testing site will open on Friday, Jan. 22, at Las Positas College, 3000 Campus Hill Drive, Parking Lot P. The Livermore testing site will be open every day from 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM. "We are excited to partner with CityHealth Urgent Care and Las Positas College to expand COVID-19 testing in our area. Testing remains critical in our battle against COVID-19. Offering convenient testing here in Livermore will help ensure the health and safety of our community and surrounding communities," said Livermore Mayor Bob Woerner. "We're very pleased to be partnering with the cities of Dublin and Livermore to open two more COVID 19 testing sites," said Sean Parkin, CEO of CityHealth. "Offering 48-hour Molecular PCR tests in these communities will help to ensure COVID testing is readily accessible to even more people." Both locations will offer Molecular PCR tests, the most reliable COVID-19 test available. Results will be available within 48 hours. CityHealth has partnered with insurance companies and government agencies to provide free tests to US Citizens. Appointments are required for COVD-19 testing at 5380 Broder Blvd, Dublin, and Las Positas College, Livermore, and can be made at norcalcovid19testing.com . For those wishing to travel to Hawaii, CityHealth is designated as a Trusted Travel Partner by the State of Hawaii. Test documentation from CityHealth (included in the $20 administration fee) is compliant with State regulations as proof of a negative COVID-19 test, a requirement for travel under the Hawaii Safe Travel Program. Test appointments canceled more than 24 hours in advance will be refunded. CityHealth Urgent Care is a leader in providing accessible COVID-19 testing in the San Francisco Bay area. CityHealth has already opened testing locations in Downtown San Francisco, Oakland International Airport, and Sacramento Airport, as well as providing free mobile COVID-19 tests to essential workers in the Oakland area. Sean Parkin CityHealth Urgent Care 510-984-2489 [email protected] Related Images new-cityhealth-urgent-care-covid.jpg New CityHealth Urgent Care COVID-19 Testing Site Livermore, CA & Dublin, CA COVID-19 Testing Related Links Book an appointment SOURCE CityHealth Urgent Care A Gazette investigation shows an increasing number of soldiers, including wounded combat veterans, are being kicked out of the service for misconduct, often with no benefits, as the Army downsizes after a decade of war. Heather Higgins: Silencing People and Forcing Them to Accept Guilt Not the Way to Unity Heather Higgins, chairwoman of the Independent Womens Forum, suggested that the lefts current narrative of unity is coming across to the other side as being asked to accept guilt and shut up. Theres a lot of we need to unify,' Higgins told Jan Jekielek, host of The Epoch Times American Thought Leaders program on Jan. 20. Thats the language now. But she said the unity theyre talking about is you need to accept guilt for anything that we say that you need to accept guilt for, even if youre not guilty; you need to shut up, and you just need to go along with and comply with our point of view, Higgins pointed out. Which is extremely unhealthy. If you really want to unify the country, you have a level playing field in terms of the rules that apply, Higgins continued. And when it came to speech [it] was, you were judged by what you say and what you intended to say. But Higgins said that nowadays, the left judges people not by their words, but by a subjective interpretation of their words. Pretty much anything can be interpreted in a way where offense or incitement can be found if you just stretch it far enough, Higgins suggested. And were starting to see that. And what that means is the loss of speech because if you cant be understood for saying what you meant to say, then you really cant talk at all. Higgins gave the example of the media deliberately saying former President Donald Trump told people to drink bleach to kill the CCP (China Communist Pary) virus. He never said that. He wasnt talking about drinking Clorox. You interpreted that, and you cut video to make it sound like he said that. He didnt say that. Unfortunately, you look at our social media, etc. It is replete with mind reading. So much of the toxicity that comes is from people who assume mal-motive. They assume what you were thinking or what your intention was when they have no clue. Higgins continued. Its their own projections. But it has nothing to do with that reality. Higgins also talked about the breach of the Capitol on Jan. 6. What happened in the Capitol was appalling. The rioters behaved in hideous ways, Higgins made it very clear. And everyone has condemned that, as they should. But she pointed out that the concern is how rapidly the narrative changed. Higgins explained that it started with Trump and what Trump said, and then when it was found that Trump hadnt said anything incendiary, it became well he should have known, then it became anyone who supported him was, in fact, an enabler of this. Then to people who have been silent and not critical of Trump were also enablers because of their silence. And then we finally saw the analogies to conservatives as Nazi. This has a purpose, Higgins pointed out. It is in order to do several things. Higgins explained its to make sure that nobody questions whether there might have been some issues with election transparency that need to be addressed. And also to extend blame to anyone on the right, try and discredit their ideas, and force compliance with the next agenda, whatever that happens to be. The rioters were some fringe group that does not represent the average Trump protester, and certainly not the average Trump supporter and Trump policy supporter, Higgins pointed out. When talking about the recent de-platforming of Trump and Parler by Big Tech companies, Higgins rebuked the idea that since they are private companies, if you dont like this platform, go create your own. Well, they did, Higgins said, referring to how Parler was created but was still de-platformed. And the response was, we cant have a platform that we dont control and agree with. Thats too dangerous. Following the de-platforming of Parler, Poland recently proposed a law to confront censorship from Big Tech companies. Higgins said shes not surprised to see it coming from Poland. If youve lived in a repressive society, where only permitted, allowed thoughts are tolerated, then you see this for what it is, whether the mechanism to get there is the same or different. Polands proposed law seeks to establish a special counsil to guarantee that Polish citizens are not arbitrarily manipulated by Big Tech companies, wrote Polands Deputy Minister of Justice Sebastian Kaleta in an op-ed. Higgins went on to say that the Big Tech companies are cutting off the people oxygen of liberty. Part of what makes our country so remarkable is that we start with the idea that government is from the people and responsible to the people, said Higgins. People cant have you be responsive to them unless theyre free to say what they think. People cant let you know that somethings wrong if theyre not allowed to point out whats wrong. Higgins suggested the best solution is a neutral application of roles fairly to everyone and relying on what was actually said, not the subjective interpretation of what was said. Advertisement Sadiq Khan today asked for face coverings to be made compulsory in outside spaces because he thinks the virus could be spread by people queuing too closely together. Data has shown coronavirus cases in the capital are falling but the London mayor said he can't take his dog Luna out for walks in the park because there are too many people there. The number of walkers in the capital has risen by 20 per cent since the first lockdown in April last year - from 80 per cent below the baseline to just 60 per cent below it today, according to Apple's mobility figures. Meanwhile, there are also more people using their cars in the capital compared to the first lockdown. It comes as some 7,332 patients are currently staying overnight in London hospitals - a reduction of 250 yesterday - as coronavirus cases falls in London, with nearly 29,000 fewer confirmed cases each week. Seventeen boroughs saw falls in confirmed cases of at least a third in the week to January 16, with the biggest drop of 43.7 per cent in Bexley. Graphs on the Government dashboard show a clear dip in the number of hospital admissions, positive tests and deaths from the virus. Yesterday, the UK recorded another 37,892 infections, 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 the rate might be slowing. Photographs show workers filling trains on the London Underground this morning as crowds rushed through Tube stations on their way to work Traffic appeared to be heavy on the Blackwall Tunnel southern approach road in South East London this morning, with TomTom congestion data at 21 per cent at 7am, and 23 per cent at 8am Yesterday, congestion data reached 29 per cent at the 5pm rush hour as Londoners headed home despite lockdown restrictions urging employers to allow staff to work from home. Pictured, heavy traffic at the Blackwall Tunnel today The London Mayor said he no longer takes his dog Luna out for walks in the park because there are too many people there. Meanwhile there are more people are using their cars in the capital compared to the first lockdown Congestion in the capital has more than doubled, according to figures by Tom Tom, from 10 per cent in April 2020 to 22 per cent today. Traffic appeared to be heavy on the Blackwall Tunnel southern approach road in South East London this morning, with TomTom congestion data at 21 per cent at 7am, and 23 per cent at 8am. Yesterday, congestion data reached 29 per cent at the 5pm rush hour as Londoners headed home despite lockdown restrictions urging employers to allow staff to work from home. The congestion level represents the extra travel time for drivers on average compared to baseline uncongested conditions - so a 29 per cent level means a 30-minute trip will take about nine minutes more than with no traffic. Photographs show workers filling trains on the London Underground this morning as crowds rushed through Tube stations on their way to work. Last week Transport for London urged large employers to stagger shifts to enable those who have to travel to work to do so in the quieter times. Meanwhile, the Mayor said if people were going to be 'cheek by jowl' they needed to wear face coverings, even if they are outside. Last week Transport for London urged large employers to stagger shifts to enable those who have to travel to work to do so in the quieter times The official figure for Londoners dying within 28 days of a positive test stood at 11,882 last night and Mr Khan said he couldn't understand why the Government's restrictions weren't tighter. Pictured, commuters at Canada Water The UK recorded another 37,892 infections yesterday, 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 the rate might be slowing. Pictured, commuters at Canada Water underground station Travel volumes on the network are higher than they were last spring, during the first national lockdown, and TfL launched a campaign last Monday to encourage customers to use the network at quiet times. Pictured, drivers in London this morning He was pictured wearing a face covering on his way to an interview on LBC's James's O'Brien show this morning, where he said: 'More than 12,000 Londoners have now lost their life because of this awful pandemic.' The official figure for Londoners dying within 28 days of a positive test stood at 11,882 last night and Mr Khan said he couldn't understand why the Government's restrictions weren't tighter. It has been compulsory to wear face coverings on Tubes and buses since last June, and Mr Khan added: 'I have stopped walking my dog in the park because it's so busy.' He went on to reveal the number of London bus drivers to die from coronavirus had risen to 38 - meaning more than 60 London transport staff have died in the pandemic. The number of walkers in the capital rose by 20 per cent since the first lockdown in April last year - from 80 per cent below the baseline to just 60 per cent below it today It comes as congestion in the capital has more than doubled, according to figures by Tom Tom, from 10 per cent in April 2020 to 22 per cent today (pictured) Today he visited the London Ambulance Service where he said he was 'really worried' about NHS workers being stretched as they tackled the virus on the frontline. It comes after builders were left angry by construction sites changing shift times, meaning they now have to pay more to travel at peak times and won't get home until late in the evening - causing problems with childcare. Among them was Jefe Cortez, who tweeted: 'TfL, can you explain to me why my site has told me I can't start work until 9.30am to comply with your new guidelines that say construction workers aren't allowed on the trains during certain times in the morning? 'F***ing disgraceful. How am I supposed to help my wife look after my children in the evenings if I'm not getting home until 8.30pm every night?' Which companies and groups has Transport for London contacted? Transport for London said it had 'urgently contacted large employers in the area' of East London to urge them to stagger shifts and operating hours to help ease overcrowding issues on the Underground. The companies it has contacted are as follows: Amazon Sainsbury's Wickes Tate and Lyle City Airport Royal Docks TfL also contacted the following: Business groups Construction companies and the supply chain through Build UK Newham Council MailOnline contacted Amazon, Sainsbury's, Wickes, Tate and Lyle, City Airport and Royal Docks for comment. A Sainsbury's spokesman said: 'A very small number of our colleagues work in the area and have staggered shift patterns due to the nature of their roles. We have further support in place for colleagues to help them work flexibly and to travel during quieter times.' A source at City Airport said most staff are operational and start their shift before 6am, with the majority currently travelling in by private car and the airport issuing TfL's advice to its employees on a regular basis. Tate and Lyle is thought to have about 200 staff in work across two factories, down from a normal figure of 850 - although most of those travelling to work are shift workers and do not travel during the morning rush hour. Advertisement Another worker said: 'Today started well. Now I'm [angry] over my working hours being changed cos of Covid. All the construction industry are changing start times. So now instead of travelling into work off peak. I now have to travel at peak times. I give up.' Since Monday of last week, construction employees are now among the workers able to get regular rapid lateral flow tests for coronavirus which return results within 30 minutes, even if they don't have any symptoms. Jubilee line trains in East London were busy today as photographs showed commuters at Canada Water Underground Station waiting for an east bound train. It comes after shocking video footage taken at West Ham station last week showed commuters piling onto the Jubilee line, with concerns mounting over passengers being unable to socially distance at pinch points. Nick Dent, London Underground's director of line operations, told MailOnline: 'We are doing everything we can to help ensure those who need to travel for legally permitted reasons are able to do so safely and maintain social distancing, including targeted communications to encourage people to travel at quiet times. 'West Ham and Canning Town are the busiest stations on our network early in the mornings, and we are working with Newham Council to look at how working patterns in the borough could be changed to help ease any crowding during busy times. 'We have also urgently contacted large employers in the area including Amazon, Sainsbury's and Royal Docks to urge them to stagger shifts and operating hours to enable those who have to travel to work to do so in the quieter times. 'In addition, we have sent advice to business groups, and to construction companies and the supply chain through Build UK. We are regularly meeting with the trade unions to work together and respond to their concerns around this issue.' British Transport Police officers are at stations to ensure passengers are wearing face masks, and commuters are being urged to travel at the quietest times between 8.15am and 4pm and after 5.30pm on weekdays. Travel volumes on the network are higher than they were last spring, during the first national lockdown, and TfL launched a campaign last Monday to encourage customers to use the network at quiet times. Signage, announcements and one-way systems are being used in stations to help passengers maintain social distancing, and customers are urged to check before they travel for any delays or cancellations to services. TfL added that ridership has been falling week on week during the current lockdown regulations, and it has spoken with Newham Council about further changes to change working patterns and help cut down on crowding. Union bosses have already called for construction sites in Central London to stagger start times for workers, amid fears they could be putting themselves at risk by commuting on overcrowded tube trains. Aslef, Britain's main trade union for train drivers, also threatened to shut train stations 'unless these pinch points are dealt with' to ease congestion on the underground network as more people return to work. Canning Town and West Ham have been a focal point for congestion, with both operating as interchanges for the Docklands Light Railway, and Canning Town being a terminus for many bus routes across the wider area. Unions have raised concerns about overcrowding at the stations amid growing calls from Unite for construction sites in the capital to stagger start times or the congestion charge to be suspended for their workers. Some builders have been left angry by construction sites changing shift times, meaning they now have to pay more to travel London's Covid-19 cases per 100,000 in the week ending January 16 Hillingdon 720.8 Barking and Dagenham 919.7 Barnet 648.4 Bexley 638.8 Brent 910 Bromley 527.2 Camden 426.3 Croydon 779.7 Ealing 892.9 Enfield 736.4 Greenwich [note 2] 713.3 Hackney 650.9 Hammersmith and Fulham 571.5 Haringey 669.7 Harrow 672.5 Havering 671.2 Hillingdon 720.8 Hounslow 927 Islington 525.8 Kensington and Chelsea 450.3 Kingston upon Thames 428.7 Lambeth 696.6 Lewisham 658.2 Merton 675.4 Newham 895.4 Redbridge 766.7 Richmond upon Thames 333.3 Southwark 642 Sutton 667.3 Tower Hamlets 712.6 Waltham Forest 748.4 Wandsworth 537.2 Westminster 442 Advertisement But questions remain over how staggered start times for workers would work - especially when sites are bound by strict rules set by local authorities over the hours they are allowed to operate. Councils normally impose limits on noisy works that would be audible to neighbours of Monday to Friday from 8am to 6pm and Saturdays from 8am to 1pm, with none allowed on Sundays and bank holidays. Forty chief executives of London's biggest contractors met with Government officials in an emergency summit last Friday to discuss the problem, with ministers saying they are doing their upmost to keep workers safe. Unite national officer for construction Jerry Swain told MailOnline: 'While the construction industry remains open as sanctioned by the government, workers will have to travel to the sites they work on. 'In Central London, where many sites are located, public transport at present is the only viable way to get to work. Sites in Central London need to introduce staggered start times. 'Other options that could be introduced are the suspension of the congestion charge for workers on London construction sites and allocated free parking spaces for construction workers. 'Unite is willing to work with London Mayor Sadiq Khan, Transport for London, construction industry employers and other stakeholders to explore these possible options in the continuing battle to reduce Covid-19 infection rates.' And Finn Brennan, Aslef's district organiser for the London Underground, told BBC London: 'I don't think anyone gets on the Jubilee line at 7am in the morning for the laughs. 'The problem is there are people who have no other choice besides going to work, they don't have the option of working from home, they don't have the option of furlough, and there are some locations where people are coming onto the Underground all at the same time in the morning, when for the rest of the day the system's actually really quiet. 'The problem is, unless these pinch points are dealt with, then we are going to have to see services withdrawn and stations closed, because people are travelling in a way that is not safe for them, and is also not safe for the staff who have to deal with them and would have to deal with any incidents.' Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - January 22, 2021) - Cordoba Minerals Corp. (TSXV: CDB) (OTCQB: CDBMF) ("Cordoba" or the "Company") announces today that it intends to extend its price protection for an additional thirty (30) days in anticipation of closing the previously announced JCHX Tranche (defined below) of its non-brokered private placement (the "Offering") (refer to Cordoba's news release dated December 4, 2020), subject to acceptance by the TSX Venture Exchange. Cordoba closed the first tranche of the Offering on December 23, 2020 (refer to Cordoba's news release dated December 24, 2020). As previously announced, Cordoba's second largest shareholder, JCHX Mining Management Co., Ltd. ("JCHX"), has agreed to purchase 7,700,584 units of the Company (the "Units") at a price of $0.075 per Unit to maintain its 19.99% interest in the Company on a partially diluted basis. The closing of this tranche of the Offering (the "JCHX Tranche") is subject to the receipt of customary approvals and registration with Chinese regulatory agencies - expected to occur before the end of February 2021. Each Unit consists of one common share of the Company ("Share") and one Share purchase warrant ("Warrant"). Each Warrant entitles the holder, on exercise, to purchase one Share for a period of 24 months following issuance at the exercise price of $0.115 per Share. Net proceeds from the Offering will be used to advance fieldwork supporting the completion of the Pre-Feasibility Study at the Company's 100%-owned Alacran Copper-Gold-Silver Project in Colombia (refer to Cordoba's news release dated November 30, 2020) and for general corporate purposes. The securities underlying the Units are being offered pursuant to exemptions from the prospectus requirements. The securities underlying the Units will be subject to a four month and one day hold period. The JCHX Tranche remains subject to the final approval of the TSXV. The JCHX Tranche (the "Related Party Participation"), constitutes a "related party transaction" under Multilateral Instrument 61-101 -- Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101") as JCHX is a related party of Cordoba given its greater than 10% beneficial shareholding, respectively. Pursuant to Section 5.5(a) and 5.7(1)(a) of MI 61-101, the Company is exempt from obtaining a formal valuation and minority approval of the Company's shareholders in respect of the JCHX Tranche due to the fair market value of the Related Party Participation being below 25% of the Company's market capitalization for purposes of MI 61-101. The Company will file a material change report in respect of the JCHX Tranche. However, the material change report will be filed less than 21 days prior to the closing of the JCHX Tranche, which is consistent with market practice and the Company deems reasonable in the circumstances. About Cordoba Cordoba Minerals Corp. is a mineral exploration company focused on the exploration, development and acquisition of copper and gold projects. Cordoba is developing its 100%-owned San Matias Copper-Gold-Silver Project, which includes the Alacran Deposit and satellite deposits at Montiel East, Montiel West and Costa Azul, located in the Department of Cordoba, Colombia. Cordoba also holds a 25% interest in the Perseverance Copper Project in Arizona, USA, which it is exploring through a Joint Venture and Earn-In Agreement. For further information, please visit www.cordobaminerals.com. ON BEHALF OF THE COMPANY Eric Finlayson, President and Chief Executive Officer Information Contact Evan Young +1-604-689-8765 info@cordobamineralscorp.com Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (U.S. Securities Act) or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. persons unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available. Forward-Looking Statements This news release includes "forward-looking statements" and "forward-looking information" within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation. All statements included in this news release, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements including, without limitation, statements with respect to the Offering; timing and completion of the JCHX Tranche; receipt of applicable approvals; and use of proceeds. Forward-looking statements include predictions, projections and forecasts and are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "anticipate", "believe", "plan", "estimate", "expect", "potential", "target", "budget" and "intend" and statements that an event or result "may", "will", "should", "could" or "might" occur or be achieved and other similar expressions and includes the negatives thereof. Forward-looking statements are based on a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by management based on the business and markets in which the Company operates, are inherently subject to significant operational, economic, and competitive uncertainties, risks and contingencies. These include assumptions regarding, among other things: general business and economic conditions; the availability of additional exploration and mineral project financing; the supply and demand for, inventories of, and the level and volatility of the prices of metals; relationships with strategic partners; the timing and receipt of governmental permits and approvals; the timing and receipt of community and landowner approvals; changes in regulations; political factors; the accuracy of the Company's interpretation of drill results; the geology, grade and continuity of the Company's mineral deposits; the availability of equipment, skilled labour and services needed for the exploration and development of mineral properties; currency fluctuations; and impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate and actual results, and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's expectations include actual exploration results, interpretation of metallurgical characteristics of the mineralization, changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined, future metal prices, availability of capital and financing on acceptable terms, general economic, market or business conditions, uninsured risks, regulatory changes, delays or inability to receive required approvals, unknown impact related to potential business disruptions stemming from the COVID-19 outbreak, or another infectious illness, and other exploration or other risks detailed herein and from time to time in the filings made by the Company with securities regulators, including those described under the heading "Risks and Uncertainties" in the Company's most recently filed MD&A. The Company does not undertake to update or revise any forward-looking statements, except in accordance with applicable law. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/72607 City students urgently need to be back in classrooms as soon as its safe, Mayor Jim Kenney and members of City Council told Philadelphias school board and Superintendent William R. Hite Jr. on Thursday. COVID-19 has kept 120,000 Philadelphia School District pupils out of school buildings since March, and theres not yet a target date for any students to return. Every Philadelphian has struggled with the pandemic, the mayor said, but no one has been hit harder than the poor. Many children enrolled in the district live below the poverty line. Our children are suffering the most without in-person access to their teachers, classmates, and extracurricular activities, Kenney said. We must now embrace the next challenge facing our city helping students return to school safely and as quickly as possible. There are some children who are only safe in school buildings. There are some children who only eat in school buildings, City Councilperson Maria Quinones-Sanchez said at the hearing, one of two per year that Council must hold. A 9-year-old girl died in North Philadelphia after being shot in the head Wednesday morning. She and other children were left at home alone. Hite has said he hopes some children, likely prekindergarten through second-grade students, could return to school in February. We are painfully aware of the price that our children are paying by not being in school, Joyce Wilkerson, school board president, told Council. READ MORE: A new direction: Philadelphia school board shifts focus toward academics and equity work The school board reaffirmed its commitment to change the way it does business, putting a much heavier emphasis on student outcomes and holding Hites feet to the fire in a more concerted way. The board will also prioritize equity work, such as taking a hard look at who gains entry to the districts special admit schools, which disproportionately enroll students who are white and not from low-income families. Thats likely, board member Mallory Fix Lopez said, because some city elementary schools dont offer the types of curricula needed to prepare students for schools like Masterman and Central, because standardized tests disadvantage kids of color and poor kids, and because some Black and brown students dont bother applying to elite schools. Put plainly, thats just one of the districts practices and policies that we absolutely know do not support all of our students across the city, Fix Lopez said. (Fix Lopez also said she personally believes standardized test scores should not be used for admission to magnet schools.) The board will also be examining why kids of color, particularly Black boys, are disciplined at higher rates than other groups of children, said Wilkerson, telling Council to expect a much more focused and brighter light on the things that lead to different outcomes for children of color. City Councilmember Helen Gym asked whether the board and district would agree to hold schools harmless for population drops sustained because of the pandemic and virtual learning. School budgets are now calculated based on enrollment. We dont want to harm schools ability to be able to woo young people back, said Gym. Wilkerson said the board was not yet in a position to commit to holding schools harmless for their population drops, but what you raised is an issue we need to consider, she said. School buildings were also a topic of interest to City Council; the average district school is more than 70 years old, and many have serious environmental issues, such as lead paint and damaged asbestos. Just patching crumbling schools wont work, board members said. The vast majority of Philadelphia schools dont currently offer an adequate modern school experience, board members said. They also alluded to a likely need to close some under-enrolled schools in coming years. Before we spend a dime, we need to look at rightsizing our district and building buildings for the 21st century, Wilkerson said. Uri Monson, the districts chief financial officer, told Council that the school system is set to receive $565 million in federal COVID-19 relief over the next two years, money that buys us time, Monson said. But it does not wipe away the structural financial issues that result from a system that cannot raise its own finances, but must rely on the city and state for the bulk of its money. Philadelphia schools will have a $224 million deficit by 2024 and a $900 million gap if no course corrections are made, Monson said. The district is now projecting a $31 million fund balance in the 2020-21 school year and a $48 million surplus the following year, though those numbers do not take into account expenditures that will be needed to help students make up COVID-19 learning losses. Other districts have already decided on longer school days or years, or expanded summer options. Philadelphia has had very few summer school seats in the recent past. The district is looking at getting a very structured and expanded summer program, said Wilkerson. The Tema Regional Police have arrested 105 suspects for flouting the government's directives on the wearing of face masks as a preventive measure against the spread of COVID-19. The arrest was carried out in a four-hour operation by the police last Wednesday, around Tema Community One, 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 regardless of the directives. Breakdown She said of the total number of people arrested, nine were women while 96 were men, all within the age bracket 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 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 the suspects will be interrogated and screened by the command, after which further action would be taken. She urged the public to adhere strictly to the government's directives in order to curtail the spread of the virus. Cape Coast During a similar exercise carried out in Cape Coast yesterday, about 100 people were arrested at various locations for their failure to comply with the directive on the wearing of face masks. The operation was undertaken by the Regional Police Command and other district commands in the metropolis, including the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team, the Counter-Terrorism Unit and the Motor Traffic and Transport Department of the Police Service. The arrested were sent to the regional police headquarters and their statements were taken. The Regional Police Public Relations Officer, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Irene Oppong, said it was an offence for which suspects could be bailed and possibly cautioned. The operation, she said, was held simultaneously across the region in reaction to the President's directive that all Ghanaians should wear face masks in public places. Stampede A stampede occurred at the Abura Market and its environs over face masks as the police embarked on the operation to arrest people without face masks. People hurriedly sought for face masks to purchase to avoid being arrested. Others were, however, outraged by the action, saying it connoted double standards on the part of law enforcers. Many complained about the laxity in enforcing the laws, especially during the electioneering campaigns, saying the exercise had no basis. "They should be educating us to wear the mask and not arresting us like that, one of them said. When they were having rallies we were part of the political rallies and we all knew that the coronavirus was still around. Why are we now being arrested?" others asked. Meanwhile, sales of the mask immediately shot up as face mask sellers took advantage of the exercise to make quick profit. DSP Oppong urged the public to do the right thing by wearing the face mask and said: "we all have been told that the wearing of the face masks will reduce the spread of the virus so all must adhere to the directive." Source: graphiconline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-22 20:26:38|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close HONG KONG, Jan. 22 (Xinhua) -- The first batch of COVID-19 vaccines arrived at Myanmar's Yangon International Airport on Friday, as Sri Lanka approved the emergency use of Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine. On the government-to-government basis, a total of 1.5 million doses of the Covishield vaccine, manufactured by Serum Institute of India (SII), arrived in Myanmar and were handed over to the Medical Research Department under Myanmar's Ministry of Health and Sports. Sri Lankan authorities granted approval for the emergency use of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine for COVID-19, Minister for Pharmaceutical Production and Regulation Channa Jayasumana told local reporters. The COVID-19 cases in Indonesia rose by 13,632 within one day to 965,283, with the death toll adding by 250 to 27,453, the country's health ministry said. India's COVID-19 tally rose to 10,625,428 as 14,545 new cases were registered during the past 24 hours, said the latest data from the federal health ministry. According to the official data, the death toll mounted to 153,032 as 163 COVID-19 patients died since Thursday morning. The Indian government said on Friday that over one million healthcare workers have been vaccinated against COVID-19. Thailand confirmed 309 new coronavirus cases, mostly via active testing, according to Center for the COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA). Of the new cases, 297 were domestic ones while 12 others were those who had returned from abroad, CCSA spokesman Taweesin Visanuyothin said. The Department of Health (DOH) of the Philippines reported 2,178 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total number of cases in the Southeast Asian country to 509,887. The death toll climbed to 10,136 after 20 more patients died from the viral disease, the DOH said. Prime Minister Scott Morrison has declared that Australia has beaten a third wave of coronavirus infections. Morrison held a meeting of the National Cabinet, which consists of the prime minister and state and territory leaders, to discuss Australia's ongoing response to the pandemic. Following the meeting, he told reporters that the cap on international arrivals to Australia would not be lifted until Feb. 15. Laos has detected two more COVID-19 cases, with its total number rising to 43. Lao Deputy Minister of Health Phouthone Meaungpak told a press conference in Lao capital Vientiane that the two new cases include a 33-year-old woman living in southern Laos' Champasak province, who returned to the country from Thailand. New Zealand reported nine cases of COVID-19 in managed isolation since the last media statement on Wednesday. There are no new cases in the community. South Korea reported 346 more cases of COVID-19 compared to 24 hours ago, raising the total number of infections to 74,262. The daily caseload fell below 400 in three days, staying below 500 for five straight days. It peaked at 1,240 on Dec. 25. Enditem Remember how Republican state lawmakers threw hissy fits last summer when GOP Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin suggested that Louisiana expand mail-in voting opportunities for the Nov. 3 elections in response to COVID-19? They all but howled at the moon, breathlessly voicing concerns about vote fraud despite proffering no evidence of it. A federal judge subsequently tossed their objections and the sham plan they adopted in lieu of Ardoins initial proposal and ordered the state to expand early and mail-in balloting. The Nov. 3 elections, like two special elections held under similarly expanded rules in July and August, came off without a hint of fraud. Sadly, GOP lawmakers show no willingness to expand voting rights on a permanent basis. They have, however, come round to accepting temporary expansions in response to the ongoing pandemic. Earlier this month, Republican legislators expressed no concerns about vote fraud during committee hearings on Ardoins latest voting rights proposal, which expands mail balloting in elections scheduled for March and April, including two special elections for Congress. By Jan. 21 which, coincidentally, was Democrat Joe Bidens first full day in office as president the entire GOP-dominated Legislature had approved Ardoins emergency plan. The latest temporary rule changes track those used for the summer and fall ballots. They allow voters to request a mail-in ballot if they face a higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19 because of medical conditions; are subject to a quarantine order; are advised by a health provider to self-quarantine; have symptoms of COVID-19 and are seeking medical confirmation; or are caring for someone who is isolated because of the disease. Louisiana normally limits absentee or mail balloting to people who are 65 or older; those serving in the military; those who are overseas, hospitalized or physically disabled; and those who wont be in their parish on Election Day. We need to make certain that voting is safe and can take place amongst this pandemic, Ardoin said after lawmakers approved the latest emergency plan. Clancy DuBos: Spring election calendar already filling up 2021 was supposed to be a busy year, but its turning out to be more eventful than anyone anticipated. In addition to the New Orleans citywide Ardoin, who serves as the states top elections official, praised lawmakers for their overwhelming, bipartisan support at every step. He called the plan a pragmatic response to the recent unprecedented surge in the COVID-19 pandemic. Expanding voter access to mail balloting is a welcome if small step, but its noteworthy that Ardoin did not propose nor did lawmakers suggest expanding the number of days for early voting. Thats too bad, because a lot more people vote early than by expanded mail balloting. GOP lawmakers who balked at Ardoins proposals last summer are keenly aware of that. Its tiny, tiny, tiny, the number of people who relied on the Covid-related rule changes to vote by mail during the 2020 elections, said Rep. Polly Thomas, a Metairie Republican. Perhaps that explains Republican lawmakers sudden comfort with a limited expansion of mail balloting. One has to wonder, though, how they would howl if, say, Black voters across Louisiana started voting either by mail, early voting or on Election Day in numbers like we saw in Georgia on Jan. 5. Russia expects that the leadership of Moldova, where the Russian language has been deprived of its special status, will have enough "common sense" not to provoke an exacerbation of internal political tension on the basis of language, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Friday MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 22nd January, 2021) Russia expects that the leadership of Moldova, where the Russian language has been deprived of its special status, will have enough "common sense" not to provoke an exacerbation of internal political tension on the basis of language, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Friday. On June 4, 2018, the court declared the law on the functioning of languages, which was approved during the Soviet era, outdated. This document stated that Russian had a status of the language of interethnic communication in Moldova. In late 2020, the parliament of Moldova adopted a new law on the functioning of languages and returned the status of the language of interethnic communication to Russian. In addition, state bodies were obligated to provide citizens with information in Russian. On Thursday, the court declared the newly adopted law unconstitutional. "The issue of the status of the Russian language is of great importance for the preservation of social stability and interethnic harmony in Moldovan society, as well as in the context of the Transnistrian settlement. We hope that the republic's leadership will have enough common sense not to provoke an artificial exacerbation of internal political tension on linguistic grounds," Zakharova said in a statement. The decision of the Constitutional Court of Moldova on January 21, which put an end to the special status of the Russian language, causes "deep regret," she added "The verdict of the Constitutional Court, crossing out the decision of the Moldovan parliament, cannot but disappoint with the fact that no earlier than in November 2020, Maia Sandu promised to do everything in her power to ensure that the sphere of using the Russian language 'was at a good level' after winning the presidential election. She urged not to believe 'horror stories' that after her election, the rights of the Russian-speaking population to study and apply to government agencies in their native language would be infringed. Less than a month after her inauguration, these promises were violated," Zakharova said. Quick action by U.S. Border Patrol agents assigned to the horse patrol unit resulted in the discovery of a stash house with 30 immigrants who had crossed the border illegally. On Wednesday afternoon, horse patrol agents responded to a smuggling attempt near a ranch south of Rio Bravo. Agents tracked a group of individuals to Espejo Molina Road, where they observed the group getting into a black minivan. Congratulations, mlivetech.com got a very good Social Media Impact Score! Show it by adding this HTML code on your site: Mlivetech.com scored 68 Social Media Impact. Social Media Impact score is a measure of how much a site is popular on social networks. 3.5/5.0 Stars by Social Team This CoolSocial report was updated on 9 Jan 2013, you can refresh this analysis whenever you want. mlivetech.com is very popular in Twitter and Facebook. It has 105 twitter followers. Furthermore its facebook page has 13 likes. The total number of people who shared the mlivetech homepage on Google Plus by a google +1 button. This is the sum of two values: the total number of people who shared, liked or recommended the mlivetech homepage on Facebook + the total number of page likes (if mlivetech has a Facebook fan page). The total number of people who shared the mlivetech homepage on StumbleUpon. This is the sum of two values: the total number of people who shared the mlivetech homepage on Twitter + the total number of mlivetech followers (if mlivetech has a Twitter account). The total number of people who shared the mlivetech homepage on Delicious. Basic Information PAGE TITLE Technology News,Web Tools,Latest Gadgets howto, Chrome Extensions DESCRIPTION mlivetech is a source of useful tech news,webtools,internet tips,chrome extensions and latest gadgets howto. KEYWORDS webtools, internet tips, tech tips, blogger tips, chrome extensions, gadgets how to OTHER KEYWORDS CoolSocial advanced keyword analysis tool is able to detect and analyze every keyword on each page of a site. The URL (Uniform Resource Locator) is the address of the site. The title found in the head section of the homepage. The keywords meta-tag found in the head section of the homepage. The description meta-tag found in the head section of the homepage. Domain and Server DOCTYPE XHTML 1.0 Transitional CHARSET AND LANGUAGE English (United States) UTF-8English (United States) DETECTED LANGUAGE English English SERVER Apache OPERATIVE SYSTEM Linux Linux The language of mlivetech.com as detected by CoolSocial algorithms. Represents HTML declared type (e.g.: XHTML 1.1, HTML 4.0, the new HTML 5.0) Character set and language of the site. Operative System running on the server. Type of server and offered services. Site Traffic trend during the last year. Only available for sites ranked <= 100000 in the world. Referring domains for mlivetech.com by MajesticSeo. High values are a sign of site importance over the web and on web engines. Facebook link FACEBOOK PAGE LINK FOUND FACEBOOK PAGE www.facebook.com/pages/Mlivetech/192497737466009 DESCRIPTION s_published': true LIKES 13 PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT 0 PAGE TYPE Internet/software TIMELINE PAGE TIMELINE Facebook Timeline is the new layout of Facebook pages. A Facebook page link can be found in the homepage or in the robots.txt file. The URL of the found Facebook page. The type of Facebook page. The description of the Facebook page describes website and its services to the social media users. The total number of people who tagged or talked about website Facebook page in the last 7-10 days. The total number of people who like website Facebook page. Twitter account link TWITTER PAGE LINK FOUND TWITTER PAGE twitter.com/#!/mlivetech DESCRIPTION '} ACCOUNT CREATED ON 19 Mar 2011 LOCATION null TWEETS 339 FOLLOWERS 105 LISTED 0 STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. A storm that is some 3,000 miles away could dump one to three inches of snow or more on Staten Island and the rest of New York City on Tuesday, according to AccuWeather.com senior meteorologist Dave Bowers. The storm is expected to arrive on Staten Island around daybreak on Tuesday. Maybe the Tuesday morning rush hour, we would start to see some snowflakes flying, Bowers said. But he cautioned that since the storm is still off of the West Coast, the estimate of when it might arrive is subject to change. Right now, it looks like its mainly a snow event, Bowers said, adding that the accumulation will be during the day and wrapping up Tuesday evening. As far as estimates for total accumulations, Bowers said that right now were kind of playing it as kind of a blanket 1 to 3 inches, not only across Long Island but back through the city and into northern New Jersey and the lower Hudson Valley. While the storm models currently are fairly consistent, if the storm intensifies, you might see those accumulations going up in the coming days, Bowers said. However, at present, It doesnt look like a big storm, and were talking about temperatures that are probably going to be at or just above freezing while this is going on. But since its coming during the day and the temperatures are going to be kind of marginal, it looks like youre dealing with wet to slushy roads, Bowers said. Ice could pose hazards, especially if we end up with a wintry mix of snow and rain. Snow is expected to fall on Staten Island early next week. (Courtesy of AccuWeather.com) While the wind certainly is not going to be calm, it doesnt look it will be a big issue at approximately 10 to 20 mph, Bowers said. Meanwhile, he predicted that the storm will impact California for the next 48 hours. Late in the weekend, the storm probably will start to move across the Southern Rockies and then head into Texas before shooting northeastward across the middle of the country. Right now, it looks like the track of the storm, the center of the storm, would actually move away from the Tennessee Valley eastward across eventually Virginia and then off shore. If it holds to that track, it looks like most if not all of the storm would be snow, Bowers said. He added, though, that forecasters are allowing for the possibility that it mixes with another form of precipitation such as rain on Tuesday afternoon along the southern shore of Long Island. The snow mix line also could end up being over central or southern New Jersey rather than Long Island. Administratorii portalului nu poarta raspundere pentru continutul postarilor si materialelor plasate de utilizatorii site-ului. Utilizati informatia din acest articol pe propriul risc. Passengers arriving at Britain's airports have blasted plans to force all UK arrivals to quarantine at hotels for ten days after they land. The draconian 'quarantine hotel' scheme would ban travellers from using their own accommodation to isolate for 10 days - and could see GPS tags introduced to ensure compliance. The system, similar to that used in Australia and New Zealand, is being considered by ministers amid rising fears about the spread of Covid variants around the globe. But both British residents and visitors say the scheme would be too costly and would put them off from going overseas. Arrivals could have to pay for their stays while they self-isolate for 10 days, or even a fortnight. Any new restrictions would be a further blow to the beleaguered travel industry - and could spark chaos at airports already battling through new arrivals checks. Queues of people were seen waiting to clear passport control today while Border Force agents checked each person's locator form and negative PCR test. But the Home Office has insisted that there are enough Border Force staff manning the desks - and that the queues formed when multiple planes landed at the same time. Troy (pictured left with his travel companion Olivia), from Essex, hit out the plans which could be announced as early as next week. Leanne and Paul Martin (right), returning from Barbados, said having to stay at an airport hotel for up to 10 days would be hugely inconvenient Prakash Chandra, 30, (left) a British resident who arrived from Delhi, said having to stay in a hotel for 10 days would put him off from flying. Marni Krebbs (right), a US citizen who lives in London, said: 'It is really a bit like shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted' Arrivals (pictured in Heathrow, today) would potentially have to pay for their stays while they self-isolate for 10 days, or even a fortnight Any new restrictions would be a further blow to the beleaguered travel industry - and could spark chaos at airports already battling through new arrivals checks. Pictured: Arrivals checks today Non-essential travel is banned under England's current nation-wide lockdown. But those travelling for unavoidable reasons - such as for work - must have proof of a negative PCR test and a completed locator form with an address where they would self-isolate for the required 10 days. Lines at passport control were so long this week, 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'. Leanne and Paul Martin, returning from Barbados, said having to stay at an airport hotel for up to 10 days would be hugely inconvenient. 'It would make more sense if we could go and stay at our home,' said Ms Martin from Daventry, West Midlands. 'I understand the need to control the borders and they are trying to do it like Australia, but it is a little bit too late really. 'The borders should have closed months ago.' Troy, from Essex, hit out the plans which could be announced as early as next week. Queues of people were seen waiting to clear passport control today (pictured) and yesterday while Border Force agents checked each person's locator form and negative PCR test Joseph Lavy (right) said having to stay 10 days in a hotel after arriving in the UK would play havoc with his job. Leanne Thomas (left), who arrived from the US capital Washington DC, said:' Why would I want to stay in a hotel when I've got my own flat' Amid growing doubts over the summer holiday season, the Cabinet's Covid operations committee will thrash out how to tighten border controls. Passengers are pictured queuing at Heathrow Airport on Thursday He said: 'Who is going to pay for my stay in a hotel. I could just go home and self isolate. 'I've been in Barbados where everyone is given a red wristband that shows they have to self isolate. Why not do that here. 'If the Government are that worried they should just close down the airports completely. It is just another mess.' Marni Krebbs, a US citizen who lives in London, said: 'It is really a bit like shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted. 'Why are they suddenly wanting to do this now. It does not make sense, and who will pay for the hotel stay.' Joseph Lavy said having to stay 10 days in a hotel after arriving in the UK would play havoc with his job. Meanwhile in Manchester Airport, passenger Abbas Jaffry, 44, (left) blasted the quarantine scheme. Preben Kodbol, 63, had just landed from Denmark before travelling to Immingham. Lincs. He said: 'It is a terrible idea. It would certainly stop people coming to Britain' Arriving on a flight from Geneva, Mr Lavy - who is travelling to Dover to take up a new job with a logistics firm - said he disproved of the scheme, particularly if he had to pay for his enforced stay. He said: 'I can see they are trying to copy Australia, but if you have somewhere to stay why be put into a hotel. 'I would not want to pay for the stay when I have a perfectly good place to stay.' A British businessman arriving from Washington DC at Terminal 5 said he would not have made the trip if it meant having to self-isolate. 'I am only here for three weeks, and there would be no point coming if I had to stay for 10 days in a hotel, said the businessman who asked not to be named. 'I am here to work and would lose half of my time. I think most people coming over on business would feel the same. The businessman, who lives in the US capital added:' I can't see many people who would bother to come over if they are faced with a big hotel bill. There are not that many tourists so its returning residents or people here on business.' Some arrivals said introducing mandatory hotel quarantine would be a good thing. Maria Rizwan, 36, (left) of Bolton, Greater Manchester said: 'We need to do what we can to stop Covid-19 so we can finally get back to normal.' Scientist Amber Davies, 24, (right) said: 'I am all in favour of it. We need to do everything we can to stop the spread of the virus' Leanne Thomas, who also arrived from the US capital Washington DC, said:' Why would I want to stay in a hotel when I've got my own flat' Her views were shared by a member of the US Air Force returning to his base in Lakenheath, Suffolk. 'I've got somewhere to stay so it's a not for me.,' said the serviceman who declined to be named. 'I live here and have my own place. I understand the need to self-isolate, and if you have somewhere to go them that should be ok.' Another British resident, returning from Geneva at Terminal 5, said:' I can see why visitors might have to go into a hotel, but surely it does not make sense if you have a place here in the UK. 'I think many people would baulk at having to pay for a stay.' Both British residents and visitors say a hotel quarantine scheme would be too costly and would put them off from going overseas. Pictured: Heathrow Airport Terminal 5 today Meanwhile in Manchester Airport, passenger Abbas Jaffry, 44, blasted the quarantine scheme. Mr Jaffry - who had flown in from his home in Barcelona to see relatives in Bolton, Greater Manchester - said: 'It's a bad, crazy idea. 'This would put me off travellers. It would make me stay in Spain and not come here. It needs a rethink. 'I am happy to self-isolate but not in a hotel cut off from everything and everyone. It needs a rethink.' Aisha Zeeshan, 24, of Birmingham had come to the airport to fly to Islamabad, Pakistan. She said: 'I used to work for track and trace so I know that most people follow the rules and self-isolate. There are reports today that negotiations are already taking place with hotel chains, while London Mayor Sadiq Khan said he was in favour. Pictured: Heathrow Airport Terminal 5 today 'There is no need to make people stay in hotels whether they have to pay for it or not. It would stop people travelling so is a bad idea. 'We should trust people more to do the right thing,' Preben Kodbol, 63, had just landed from Denmark before travelling to Immingham. Lincs. He said: 'It is a terrible idea. It would certainly stop people coming to Britain. 'We need to stop the virus but people need to get on with their jobs and livelihoods.' Glass operator Jedd Obens, 40, who had just landed at Terminal 1 from Amsterdam, said: 'It's a mad idea. Huge queues prompted anger from passengers and questions over the number of staff at work 'I live alone so why would I need to go to a hotel. 'It would stop people going abroad or travelling when we need to encourage business.' Some arrivals said introducing mandatory hotel quarantine would be a good thing. Louie Carpino, 31, had just returned from a trip from Denmark for his bio-gas business to come home to his family in Heswall on the Wirral. The father-of-two said: 'I guess it's not such a crazy idea. If that what it takes to stop the spread of the disease then it would be a good idea. 'I would stay in a hotel if that's what is needed. I'd rather not pay for it mind.' Scientist Amber Davies, 24, of Liverpool had come to the airport to pick up her boyfriend from a flight from the Caribbean. She said: 'I am all in favour of it. We need to do everything we can to stop the spread of the virus. 'If people are willing to travel or go on holiday then they should take the responsibility to stay in a hotel to properly self-isolate. We would do it if necessary.' Maria Rizwan, 36, of Bolton, Greater Manchester was just waiting to catch a flight to Pakistan with her family. The mother-of-two joked: 'If the government want to pay for me to stay in a hotel then I'd be all in favour. 'It would like having another holiday.' She added: 'We need to do what we can to stop Covid-19 so we can finally get back to normal. 'If that means staying in a hotel, then so be it.' Passengers arriving at Heathrow's Terminal Two faced queues of up to an hour to clear passport control where Border Force agents checked each arrival was in possession of a negative PCR test. They also had to show a completed locator form with an address where they would self-isolate for the required 10 days. The documentation was previously checked by airlines before boarding overnight flights to the UK. Prakash Chandra, 30, a British resident who arrived from Delhi, said having to stay in a hotel for 10 days would put him off from flying. How would 'quarantine hotels' and GPS tracking work? Ministers are scrambling to upgrade the border quarantine system amid fears the rules are being flouted. Civil servants have been ordered to study the 'managed isolation' arrangements used by countries such as Australia, New Zealand and Singapore. Under those schemes, arrivals from abroad must stay in quarantine hotels for 14 days at their own expense. Passengers are transferred direct from airports to the hotels, and largely confined to their rooms - with the authorities monitoring to check no-one leaves. The systems have been credited with stopping Covid cases being imported. However, some airlines have stopped flying to Australia and New Zealand as the routes are not sustainable - with many citizens stranded abroad as a result. Officials have also looked at the arrangements in Poland, where isolating individuals face 'enhanced monitoring'. That includes being contacted once a day and made to send a picture of themselves at the location where they are meant to be quarantining. The pictures are validated using facial-recognition technology and GPS data. However, the option is thought to have been rejected as too intrusive and difficult to implement on scale. Advertisement Mr Chandra was returning to his job with Nokia after visiting friends and family in India. He said: 'I am not sure my employer would approve of me having to spend 10 days in quarantine.' Abby Lancaster, 18, flew into Heathrow after a three-week trip to visit her grandparents in Antigua. She said:' I would not want to come back and have to spend another 10 days in a hotel. Who will pay for my stay? 'It makes much more sense for me to go home rather than stay somewhere else. That is what has been happening for months now.' Other travellers questioned why they should have to pay for a hotel stay when they can complete their quarantine period at home. 'It is yet another half cocked idea from the Government,' said Alan Charters. 'I think everyone would agree the borders should have been closed a year ago, but now they are only thinking about doing it. 'Nothing seems to make much sense in what they are doing.' The powerful Covid O Cabinet sub-committee is due to discuss hotel quarantine ideas over the coming days - although a final decision is not likely until next week. Meanwhile, Environment Secretary George Eustice has refused to rule out even more drastic action, with foreigners barred from coming to the UK altogether. Asked about the possibility, Mr Eustice told Sky News: 'We always keep these things under review. And it has been considered. 'There is concern at the moment about the number of mutant strains. There are reports today that negotiations to put a 'hotel quarantine' scheme in place are already in progress with hotel chains, while London Mayor Sadiq Khan said he was in favour. 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 to get through passport control at Heathrow as the border situation worsened. Sharing a picture of the queues at Heathrow Airport today, former British ambassador to Turkey Peter Westmacott wrote: 'T2 Heathrow Friday afternoon. No ventilation. Long delays. Superspreading.' Sajiv Mathew shared his own picture, adding: 'Surely there is a more efficient way to verify passenger documentation. Hundreds of passengers including children and the elderly, have been waiting in line for almost two hours.' 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. Options on the table include imposing the 'quarantine hotels' for all arrivals, or for 'high risk' countries. The 'test and release' scheme, under which people can cut their isolation to five days by having a second test, could also be suspended. But 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.' Marriott today denied that was in talks with the government about using its hotels for quarantine. World Health Organisation Health systems development consultant Alvaro Garbayo was so infuriated with the chaos at Heathrow yesterday 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?' People who have travelled from multiple destinations queue in a system difficult to space 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. '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. Oil prices tumbled more than 2.5 percent early on Friday, dragged down by concerns that oil demand in the worlds top oil importer, China, could falter amid rising COVID-19 cases and expanding lockdowns. As of 9:35 a.m. ET on Friday, WTI Crude prices had slipped below $52 a barrel, and were trading down 2.60 percent at $51.73. The international benchmark, Brent Crude, had fallen below $55, with the price down 2.28 percent at $54.79. Oil prices lost further ground on Friday from the 11-month high they had hit last week, when the Saudi surprise cut was still supporting gains. This week, the price of oil rose on Tuesday and Wednesday, as the market expected the new U.S. Administration to act big in the next COVID relief package. The U.S. dollar dropped after Treasury Secretary nominee Janet Yellen told the Senate Finance Committee on Tuesday that the U.S. should act big in the upcoming stimulus package. The weaker dollar made crude cheaper for holders of other currencies, while the overall bullish market sentiment also sent investors and speculators to riskier assets, such as shares and commodities. However, oil prices slipped on Thursday, after the American Petroleum Institute (API) reported a build in crude oil inventories of 2.562 million barrels for the week ending January 15. Official EIA inventory data is expected later on Friday. Before the EIA inventory report on Friday, oil prices were pressured by a stronger U.S. dollar, which makes buying crude more expensive for holders of other currencies. The expanding lockdowns in China as COVID infections rise turned the sentiment bearish for the near term, as the market fears global oil demand this quarter could be weaker than anticipated just a week ago. Authorities in China are discouraging travel during the upcoming Lunar New Year holiday, while UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Thursday it was too early to say how the situation in the UK would evolve, and suggested that some lockdowns and restrictions could remain in place until the summer. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: The Duke of Cambridge heard stories of care home residents crying with joy and clapping for each other after having the Covid-19 jab, during a chat with medical staff involved with the vaccine roll-out. Dr Lauren Dixon, a GP from Cumbria, told William about the happy scenes she had witnessed and how care home residents viewed the vaccine as their ticket to see family again after months apart. The duke spoke to NHS workers across the four nations to learn about the programme to inoculate millions of the elderly and vulnerable. Yesterday The Duke of Cambridge held calls with frontline workers from vaccination sites across the UK to thank them for their tremendous efforts and dedication to delivering the Covid-19 vaccine. pic.twitter.com/PNIzpdSmnw The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (@KensingtonRoyal) January 22, 2021 During a break from vaccinating residents Dr Dixon, from the Bridgegate Medical Centre in Barrow-in-Furness, spoke of her surprise at being chosen to speak to the duke on Thursday via telephone. She said: I was just completely shocked, really nervous and he was just lovely and just really kind and grateful, and saying a really big thank you to everybody thats in our area that have really pulled together to make the vaccination effort go as well as it has. He asked how the roll-out had gone, he asked what it was like going into the care homes and how did they receive us arriving with the vaccine. Dr Dixons practice is one of 10 that form the Barrow and Millom Primary Care Network that has completed inoculations for all its residents aged over 80 and 75, as well as care home residents, after beginning vaccinations in mid-December. She added: The care homes have had an absolutely awful time, theyve really been through the mill over the last year. Some of their staff have just gone above and beyond for their residents, stayed all weekend sometimes because thats what theyve needed to do. So, I think for us, as soon as we had the opportunity to get out to the care homes we felt really excited. And then when we got there, you know the residents were just so happy. The 42-year-old married mother-of-two, who lives in her hometown of Barrow-in-Furness, added: Theyve been seeing their relatives maybe on videos, if theyre lucky, and sometimes through the window. But they all were just kind of like this is our ticket to being able to see our family again. So we had tears, they were clapping each other when they got the vaccines and it was just a real privilege actually to be able to support them with that. Dr Dixon, in her role as GP Executive Lead Integrated Care for NHS Morecambe Bay Clinical Commissioning Group, has also been supporting the vaccination programme across the Morecombe Bay area. (Alliance News) - The following stocks are the leading risers and fallers on AIM in London on Friday. AIM - WINNERS Journeo, up 30% at 65.00 pence, 12-month range 43.4p-74.82p. The transport technical services firm said it has received purchase orders worth GBP1.3 million for the supply of its advanced public transport information systems from a Northern Transport Partnership. VR Education Holdings, up 10% at 13.25p, 12-month range 4p-25.8p. The virtual reality education and enterprise training firm said 2020 revenue is expected to be EUR1.4 million, up 38% on 2019. VR Education added that it has closed during 2020 in excess of EUR1.8 million in new business, which should be recognised over the next 36 months. AIM - LOSERS 88 Energy, down 23% at 0.46p, 12-month range 0.2p-1.43p. The oil producer said that, in relation to its operations in Alaska, it is seeking clarification on a recently announced 60-day suspension of authority to issue new drilling permits on federal land by the US Department of the Interior. 88 Energy said it is in close communication with the Bureau of Land Management, which has indicated it will continue to process the company's permit to drill in anticipation of receiving a signature on or before February 12. "There is cause for optimism due to the advanced nature of the existing operations (which is one of the carve outs for the suspension)," noted 88. China Nonferrous Gold, down 11% at 8.9p, 12-month range 7p-17.41p. The Takijistan-focused gold miner said it has signed a new agreement with China CITIC Bank Corp for a loan facility of up to CNY300 million, around USD46.4 million. China Nonferrous expects to draw down USD20 million of the loan, which will go towards the replacement of the CCB Macau loan of USD20 million which is due in January. Zytronic, down 10% at 134.50p, 12-month range 70p-243.95p. The manufacturer and developer of touch technology products said it was difficult to foresee a return to profitability in its current financial year to the end of September, due to constraints caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. Zytronic's reorganisation and cost-reduction measures have allowed it to keep positive earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation, as well as a rise in orders for the year to date; however, with the pandemic constraints affecting the group's major overseas markets such as Gaming, a recovery to historic levels will depend on how quickly there is an effective vaccination programme. Jet2, down 8.6% at 1,359.39p, 12-month range 182.5p-1,950p. The leisure travel firm was lower in a negative read-across after airline International Consolidated Airlines was cut to Reduce from Hold by Kepler Cheuvreux. FTSE 100-listed IAG was London's worst blue-chip performer on Friday, down 4.4%. By Lucy Heming;A lucyheming@alliancenews.com Copyright 2021 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved. Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-22 01:22:51|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BERLIN, Jan. 21 (Xinhua) -- Volkswagen Passenger Cars has exceeded the European CO2 fleet emission targets for 2020, producing around six million grams fewer CO2 than required by law, the German carmaker said on Thursday. Compared with the previous year, CO2 emissions of Volkswagen's passenger car fleet of new vehicles fell by 22 percent year-on-year, according to preliminary company figures. Overall, the Volkswagen Group, which includes brands like Audi and Skoda, narrowly missed the European Union (EU) target for last year by around 0.5 grams of CO2 per kilometer. Since the group had set aside provisions at an early stage, the ensuing fines would have no significant financial impacts on the company's fourth-quarter earnings. Volkswagen's passenger car fleet of new vehicles in the EU achieved average CO2 emissions of 92 grams per kilometer, while the legal CO2 target for the brand was 97 grams per kilometer, according to the German carmaker. For passenger cars, CO2 emissions are regulated by the EU and a specific threshold value is calculated for each manufacturer to ensure that the European fleet value is achieved. Penalties are imposed for non-compliance with the limit values. The Volkswagen brand delivered 212,000 electric vehicles last year, the company said. The share of fully electric vehicles included in this figure tripled year-on-year to 134,000. In the Netherlands and Germany, Volkswagen Passenger Cars managed to "leap to the number one spot in all-electric vehicles" last year, with a share of 23.8 percent in Germany's battery electric vehicle (BEV) market and 23 percent in the Netherlands. "We significantly reduced the CO2 emissions of our new vehicle fleet in the EU. The Volkswagen and Audi brands in particular have made a major contribution to achieving this with their e-offensive," said Herbert Diess, chief executive officer (CEO) of the Volkswagen Group. Enditem Fare wars induced deep discounting has reappeared in India's aviation sector, as airlines seek to augment cash reserves, consolidate market share and bring back more capacity. The first shot in this war of extremely low prices was fired recently with most airlines commencing their sales offers. The development comes around a year since Covid-19 lockdown devastated the sector. Industry insiders, however, now believe that the roll-out of anti-Covid-19 vaccination programme will give a boost to air travel. Besides, some of the travel period offered under these schemes are beyond the current expiry of the fare cap imposed by the Centre. IndiGo's Chief Strategy and Revenue Officer Sanjay Kumar said: "Low fares always helps stimulate the demand for the travel period far out and works as a part of airline strategy." "These sales stimulate traffic among extremely price sensitive customers and helps airlines meet overall objectives." The latest passenger traffic data from the sector regulator DGCA indicate that the growth in passenger volumes is not yet adequate enough for a revival in the airline sector. The aggregate passenger traffic in December 2020 at 73.27 lakh was still 43.7 per cent lower on a year-on-year basis. Also Watch: "Lack of adequate demand in the post festive season along with higher available capacity has therefore, led a drop in passenger load factor for some of the airlines in December 2020 on a sequential basis vis-a-vis Nov 2020," said Suman Chowdhury, Chief Analytical Officer at Acuite Ratings & Research. "Such a scenario is possibly leading to a deep discounting strategy from airline companies. This involves sale of seats over the next few months through an attractive discount or add ons to ensure higher PLF over the next 1-2 quarters." Nevertheless, deep discounts are expected to hurt the already fragile financial condition of the sector. "It will have an impact on the profitability of airline operations which has already been under losses in the last few quarters. In our opinion, however, passenger demand will witness a significant improvement in the next few months with the tapering of the Covid infection rate as well as the progress on the vaccination," Chowdhury said. Apart from ensuring a minimum PLF in the coming months, experts contend that deep discounts will trigger liquidity enhancement for airlines. "Low airfares this month indicate the expected dip in travel post holiday season in December. Airfares in Jan across key routes have decreased 15-20 per cent MoM," said Rajnish Kumar, Co-founder & CTO, ixigo. "Heavy discounts being rolled out by major domestic and international airlines will definitely woo travellers who are planning vacations this year. With government caps ending on March 31, the discounts will attract flyers to plan their trips in advance and accelerate recovery in bookings to pre-Covid levels this year." On the other hand, the government has till now permitted the industry players to operate at 80 per cent of their pre-Covid capacity. The operational capacity deployment level is expected to reach pre-Covid mark by the end of calendar year's first quarter. "In the current scenario of impact on demand due to the pandemic, while some aircraft continue to be grounded, the passenger load factors (PLFs) of airlines have also been impacted despite the lower capacity," said Kinjal Shah, Vice President, ICRA. "Thus, airlines have to take a calculated call on fares and its impact on demand." The Ganges River is one of the biggest rivers in the world, providing water for a whopping half a billion people. But a worrying new study has warned that the river, with the combined flows of the Brahmaputra and Meghna rivers, could be responsible for up to three billion microplastic particles entering the Bay of Bengal every day. Researchers hope the findings will provide the first step in understanding how the Ganges River, as well as other major rivers, may contribute to oceanic microplastic. A new study has warned that the Ganges river, with the combined flows of the Brahmaputra and Meghna rivers - could be responsible for up to three billion microplastic particles entering the Bay of Bengal every day THE RIVER GANGES The Ganges River is a 1,500 mile waterway that stretches all the way from the foothills of the Himalayas. It is one of the most polluted in the world, containing urban sewage, animal waste, pesticides, industrial metals and ashes from cremated bodies. Also known as Ma Ganga, it provides water for half-a-billion people - more than any other river on Earth. In one year, the average catch is two million tons of fish from the Bay of Bengal alone - with approximately 31 per cent of the world's coastal fishermen working on the bay. Advertisement The Ganges River is a 1,500 mile waterway that stretches all the way from the foothills of the Himalayas. It is one of the most polluted in the world, containing urban sewage, animal waste, pesticides, industrial metals and ashes from cremated bodies. Also known as Ma Ganga, it provides water for half-a-billion people - more than any other river on Earth. In one year, the average catch is two million tons of fish from the Bay of Bengal alone - with approximately 31 per cent of the world's coastal fishermen working on the bay. An international team of researchers analysed two sets of 60 samples of river water collected before and after a monsoon. The samples were then analysed in laboratories at the University of Plymouth with microplastics found in 43 (71.6 per cent) of the samples taken pre-monsoon, and 37 (61.6 per cent) post-monsoon. More than 90 per cent of the microplastics found were fibres and, among them, rayon (54 per cent) and acrylic (24 per cent) both of which are commonly used in clothing were the most abundant. Combining predicted microplastic concentration at the mouth of the river with the discharge of the river, scientists estimate that between one billion and three billion microplastics might be being released from the Ganges Brahmaputra Meghna River Basin every day. The sample sites were selected to ensure a mixture of rural, urban, agricultural, tourism and religious locations, with the highest concentrations found closer to the river's mouth at Bhola, in Bangladesh. The Ganges River is a 1,500 mile waterway that stretches all the way from the foothills of the Himalayas An international team of researchers analysed two sets of 60 samples of river water collected before and after a monsoon Pre-monsoon samples collected there had four times as many particles as those taken at Harsil, known as the 'mini Switzerland' of India. Dr Imogen Napper, National Geographic Explorer, said: 'Globally, it has been estimated that 60 billion pieces of plastic are discharged into the ocean from rivers worldwide each day. 'However, what has been lacking until now has been a detailed analysis of how microplastic concentrations vary along a river's course. More than 90 percent of the microplastics found were fibres and, among them, rayon (54 per cent) and acrylic (24 per cent) both of which are commonly used in clothing were the most abundant The sample sites were selected to ensure a mixture of rural, urban, agricultural, tourism and religious locations, with the highest concentrations found closer to the river's mouth at Bhola, in Bangladesh 'By working with local communities and partners, this expedition always aimed to help us stem the flow of plastic entering the Gangetic basin. 'These results provide the first step in understanding how it, as well as other major rivers, may contribute to oceanic microplastic.' Professor Richard Thompson OBE, Head of the International Marine Litter Research Unit at the University of Plymouth, said: 'We know that rivers are a substantial source of microplastics in the ocean. 'But the information like this can help identify the key sources and pathways of microplastic and hence inform management interventions. 'With this type of evidence, we can progress toward using plastics more responsibly so as to get the many benefits they can bring without unnecessary contamination of the environment.' The study was published in Environmental Pollution. Melissa Gilbert and Rob Lowe started dating when they were 17. Gilbert was incredibly well-known thanks to her role in Little House on the Prairie and Lowe was still at the beginning of his career. But when the A New Kind of Family actor started to experience a real taste of fame, their relationship changed, according to Gilbert. Heres why the star-studded 80s Hollywood couple broke up the first time. Melissa Gilbert and Rob Lowe | Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images Rob Lowe cheated on Melissa Gilbert with his co-star, Nastassja Kinski Lowe starred in The Hotel New Hampshire in 1984. Right away, he and his co-star, Nastassja Kinski, had chemistry. From the first day of filming, Gilbert was concerned about what would come of their relationship. As it turns out, the Little House on the Prairie actor was right to be suspicious. Nastasska Kinski | Schweigmann/United Archives via Getty Images RELATED: Michelle Pfeiffer Thought Little House on the Prairie Star Melissa Gilbert Had an Affair With Her Husband The movie filmed in Montreal, Canada. On one of the many instances that Gilbert attempted to get a hold of Lowe via his hotel telephone, the hotel operator picked up and told Gilbert that her boyfriend just requested a wake-up call from Miss Kinskis room, according to Gilberts memoir, Prairie Tale. So she flew to Montreal to confront Lowe and tell him: You dont f*ck with Americas sweetheart. Melissa Gilbert and Rob Lowes first breakup By the time Gilbert arrived back in LA, she was in agony. Her friend Kate Franklin picked her up from the airport and took her straight to Jack in the Box. Between bites of a Chicken Supreme sandwich, she wailed: Why? Why did he do it? Whats wrong with me? Why doesnt he love me? For days I called rob incessantly and hung up as soon as I heard his voice, wrote Gilbert. I called her room, too. How Melissa Gilbert and Rob Lowe got back together When Lowe finally returned to LA from filming, Gilbert was mad I had gone from crushed to perplexed to f*cking pissed. Lowe repeatedly tried to get Gilbert to talk to him and she repeatedly denied him, telling him that hed ruined [her] life. But, eventually, he convinced her to give him a chance. Rob Lowe and Melissa Gilbert | Vinnie Zuffante/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images RELATED: Little House on the Prairie: Melissa Gilbert Had a Feeling Michael Landon Was Having an Affair Well Before the News Broke but No One Believed Her Once we were face-to-face, we talked and yelled and cried, wrote Gilbert. He let me get everything out of my system, and then like two comets colliding, we kind of exploded in each others arms. When all was said and done, after something like fourteen or fifteen hours of crying, screaming, talking, making love, carrying on, and laughing, we got very quiet. Gilbert asked Lowe why he did it. Its like when you walk down the beach and you see a beautiful shell in the sand, he said. You either pick it up and listen to it. Or you walk by. I had to listen to the shell. Gilbert found the explanation ridiculous and they laughed [their] little a*ses off. Humor was our savior, wrote Gilbert. With that, we were back together. 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. An elder with Early Rain Covenant Church in China has been charged with "illegal business operations" for having books for the church and sentenced to four years in prison. According to persecution watchdog ChinaAid, Qin Defu was sentenced to prison due to his involvement with 20,000 Christian books used by the 5,000-member church. The four-year prison sentence handed down November 29 was a "contradiction to a promise given" to Defu's family, in which authorities guaranteed if the church leader accepted a state-appointed attorney, he would be released. "Police reneged their earlier promise to his family that if they accepted a government-appointed attorney, they would 'go through the formalities then release him,'" Early Rain Covenant Church Pastor Wang Yi's lawyer's said, according to a Facebook post from a group affiliated with the church. "At brother Qin's trial, we learned that the charge of 'illegal business operations' only concerned 20,000 books for the church's own use (most of these were small gospel tracts like 'The Good News You Don't Want to Hear'), and Pastor Wang Yi actively took most of the responsibility for this in his testimony. Based on this, I estimate that Pastor Wang Yi will be sentenced to no less than 10 years in prison." Last December, authorities arrested Early Rain Church pastor and social activist Wang Yi and his wife, Jiang Rong along with 100 other members of the church, including Defu. Many members were later released after signing documents stating they would stop attending Early Rain. However, Pastor Yi was charged with "inciting to subvert state power" and was taken to an undisclosed location, yet to be sentenced. Yi's lawyers and family have not been able to locate the pastor, even after a year. According to the U.N.'s Human Rights Council working group report from Oct. 1, it's believed that 13 members of the church are still being detained. About 12 individuals are said to be in administrative detention and 11 were released on bail after a period of detention. Along with charges of "inciting subversion of state power," they also face criminal suspicion of "picking quarrels and provoking trouble," "illegal business activity" and "illegal publishing." Ahead of his arrest, Wang released a letter speaking of "disgust" at the Communist Party. "I believe that this Communist regime's persecution against the church is a greatly wicked, unlawful action. As a pastor of a Christian church, I must denounce this wickedness openly and severely," the pastor wrote. "The calling that I have received requires me to use non-violent methods to disobey those human laws that disobey the Bible and God. My Savior Christ also requires me to joyfully bear all costs for disobeying wicked laws." He expressed hope that God would use the persecution of Chinese Christians "to help more Chinese people to despair of their futures, to lead them through a wilderness of spiritual disillusionment and through this to make them know Jesus." He said that the persecution of believers and followers of Christ "is the most wicked and the most horrendous evil of Chinese society." The targeting of Early Rain Covenant Church comes amid the Chinese Communist Party's ongoing crackdown on religion. In May, authorities shut down Shouwang Church in Beijing, which was said to have been attended by over 1,000 people. In October, China Aid released a statement saying that authorities had demolished a large church in Funan, Anhui province, and detained its pastors. On Facebook, China Aid founder Bob Fu urged the Christian community to pray for the Early Rain Church members persecuted by the Chinese government, adding: "Lord, forgive these evildoers for they know not what they do." Courtesy of The Christian Post 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. With grocery store workers in the next batch of vaccine recipients set for early spring, some national chains are offering their frontline workers pay or paid time off to get a shot in the arm and a Charleston business leader believes other local firms will follow suit. "I think we will see employers step up," said Bryan Derreberry, president and CEO of Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce. "They want to have their employees and businesses safe." Derreberry hasn't heard of any incentives being offered by his group's 1,530 members for their 165,000 workers, but that doesn't mean they won't, he said. "I think you will see a major push by employers to get their employees vaccinated," he said. "I think they will do everything they can to make sure employees safeguard themselves." Derreberry agrees with providing paid time off for employees to receive the vaccine. He said it's important to make them aware of the closest inoculation site to expedite the process. "The sooner the general population is healthy, the sooner they will have business success," he said. Derreberry's comments come after a growing number of national grocers with stores in Charleston and across South Carolina have joined the push to combat the coronavirus by offering workers a variety of incentives to get vaccinated. Aldi, Lidl, Trader Joe's, Dollar General and Instacart have all recently announced plans to either pay employees or provide them paid hours off to get inoculated. Discount grocery store Lidl, which operates a store in Goose Creek and is expanding into North Charleston, said earlier this week it will pay its more than 6,000 U.S. employees who choose to get the vaccine an extra $200. The retailer said the additional payment will help offset the costs associated with vaccine administration, including travel costs and childcare. The company will also accommodate employee schedules for vaccine appointments "free of any obstacles," said Johannes Fieber, CEO of Lidl US. Rival grocer Aldi is offering its hourly workers with two hours of pay for each vaccine dose they receive, giving workers up to four hours of paid time off. Discount retailer Dollar General and grocery store Trader Joe's are offering similar incentives. "We do not want our employees to have to choose between receiving a vaccine or coming to work, so we are removing barriers," Dollar General said in a statement. Instacart, the on-demand grocery delivery platform, will begin offering a $25 "vaccine support stipend" on Feb. 1 for its in-store workers and eligible independent contractors who have been vaccinated. Vaccines are going to health care workers, nursing home residents and senior citizens 70 and older first, but grocery store employees in South Carolina will be able to sign up by the spring in the second eligible group, according to a schedule listed by the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control. Sign up for our new business newsletter We're starting a weekly newsletter about the business stories that are shaping Charleston and South Carolina. Get ahead with us - it's free. Email Sign Up! Companies want to be ready, but none of the retailers is mandating inoculations. The incentives are meant to prod workers into choosing safety for themselves and their customers once the shot is available. Grocery store workers are in the Phase 1B group, deemed "frontline essential workers" by DHEC. That group also includes firefighters, law enforcement officers, corrections officers, food and agricultural workers, postal service employees, as well as workers in manufacturing, public transit and education, including teachers, support staff and daycare workers. A University of South Carolina retail expert said companies are wise to offer workers an incentive. Employers want to make sure everyone is safe when they come into their stores, said Jeff Campbell, chairman of the schools retailing department. Because there is no national mandate to get the vaccine, the alternative is offering employees incentives. Its a small investment, and customers protection has a lot to do with it. Campbell believes incentives offered in the retail industry will be followed by those for hotel and restaurant workers in the hospitality field. "Retail and hospitality are tied together in a lot of ways, and making sure employees are vaccinated will be very beneficial to both industries," he said. Even so, most companies are reluctant to impose mandates, said Sharon Perley Masling, a partner at the law firm Morgan Lewis who has been advising clients on workplace issues surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic. The emergency nature of the vaccines approval makes it impractical for many companies to require it, given that the shots are not yet available to most of the population, she said. At the same time, Masling said the companies she works with are taking various steps to strongly encourage workers to get the shots. Its good for employees, its good for their communities and it's good for ensuring the continuation of business operations, she said. The vaccine rollout started slower than anticipated in the U.S., and many of the delivered supplies haven't made their way into people's arms yet. Nearly 40 million doses have been distributed across the nation as of Thursday, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, while about 19.1 million doses have been administered, including close to 2.8 million people who have received the initial and follow-up shots. Federal officials had projected 20 million people would have received first doses by the end of December, but that number came up far short. Vaccines became available earlier that month. In South Carolina, about 425,000 doses had been received by Thursday. About half had been administered, according to DHEC. To accelerate the process, Walmart is expanding the number of states where inoculations could become more readily available. The world's largest retailer already provides COVID-19 vaccines in New Mexico and Arkansas, but it has broadened its reach to select stores in South Carolina and other locations around the country, including stores in North Charleston near Tanger Outlets and in Summerville at the Neighborhood Market on Central Avenue. Walmart has the capacity to give up to 13 million shots a month "when supply and allocations allow," Cheryl Pegus, executive vice president of health and wellness, said in a blog post Friday. Vaccines are free, but an administration fee can be charged, according to the CDC. Providers can be reimbursed by public or private insurance, or, for the uninsured, by the Health Resources and Services Administration. People can't be denied a vaccine if they are unable to pay the fee. The UN says it has received "disturbing" reports of sexual violence and abuse in Ethiopia's conflict-hit Tigray region, including of individuals forced to rape members of their own family. Pramila Patten, the UN's special representative on sexual violence in conflict, said she was greatly concerned by serious allegations from the northern region, including "a high number of alleged rapes" in the Tigrayan capital Mekele. "There are also disturbing reports of individuals allegedly forced to rape members of their own family, under threats of imminent violence," Patten said in a statement Thursday. "Some women have also reportedly been forced by military elements to have sex in exchange for basic commodities." Patten called on all parties involved in the hostilities to commit to a zero-tolerance policy for crimes of sexual violence. Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, winner of the 2019 Nobel Peace Prize, announced military operations in Tigray in early November, saying they came in response to attacks by the regional ruling party on federal army camps. Abiy declared victory after federal forces entered the regional capital in late November, though leaders of the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) remain on the run and have vowed to fight on. Patten noted 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." She called for full humanitarian access to Tigray, including camps for displaced people "and refugee camps where new arrivals have allegedly reported cases of sexual violence." - Disease fears - Patten voiced concern about "more than 5,000 Eritrean refugees in and around the area of Shire living in dire conditions, many of them reportedly sleeping in an open field with no water or food, as well as the more than 59,000 Ethiopians who have fled the country into neighbouring Sudan." Story continues The caretaker administration in Tigray did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Earlier this month, state television broadcast footage of a meeting during which an unidentified man in a military uniform expressed concern about rapes in Mekele. "Why are women being raped in Mekele city?" the man said. "It wouldn't be shocking had it been happening during the war, because it is not manageable so it could be expected. But at this moment while federal police and local police are back in town, it is still happening." A doctor in Mekele told AFP earlier this month his hospital had treated 15 rape victims in late November and December, though he noted that "most do not come to hospital." Thousands have died in the Tigray conflict, according to the International Crisis Group, though a communications blackout and media and humanitarian access restrictions have made it difficult to assess the situation on the ground. As a result of the fighting in the region "many hospitals and clinics are only partially functioning or had to close" and "health care workers have been displaced," Dr Ibrahima Soce Fall, assistant director general for emergency response at the World Health Organization (WHO), said during a briefing Friday in Geneva. "Due to the conflict and disruptions, we are concerned about the potential for a number of diseases to spread in this region, including malaria, COVID-19, measles, cholera, meningitis and yellow fever," Fall said, adding that access remained a "major" challenge. rcb/np/ach 100 experts urge immediate Federal government action to protect Canadians from importations of dangerous COVID variants. Canadians overwhelmingly support key recommendations, including 76% in favour of restricting international travel and over 90% in favour of enhanced testing for those returning. MONTREAL, Jan. 21, 2021 /CNW Telbec/ - Highly-infectious mutant variants of the SARs-CoV-2 virus (known as Variants of Concern) are circulating internationally. "Variants of concern represent a clear and present danger to Canada's health security and economic well-being" says a new report, entitled Shielding Canadians from Variants of Concern, and signed by over 100 epidemiologists, virologists, doctors, scientists and health care professionals. "Existing travel and border protocols have not prevented the importation of COVID mutations into Canada. Delays in significantly reducing this risk could be ruinous." Several jurisdictions (like Taiwan, Australia, New Zealand, and South Korea) are successfully blocking COVID Variants at the border. Drawing from international successes, Canadian health experts recommend the following immediate actions: Restrict international travel to essential travel only. Test all travellers immediately on arrival, after 5 days, and a third time at 10 days. Enhance quarantine measures and strongly consider mandatory quarantine in designated hotels for all incoming travellers. Vaccinate, as a joint US-Canadian responsibility, the 200-300 thousand truckers and 25-50 thousand essential workers that make up the majority of US-Canada land-border crossings. "Shielding Canadians from Variants of Concern" report is produced by the COVID Strategic Choices Group, whose influential recent report Building a Canadian Shield laid-out key domestic actions to protect Canadians from COVID. "The Canadian Shield starts at the border" said COVID Strategic Choices Group cofounder Robert Greenhill. "If porous border controls allow dangerous COVID mutations to enter Canada, it could undo all the hard work and sacrifices of millions of Canadians. It could be like a whole new pandemic." Canadians overwhelmingly support the needed actions. A survey conducted by Leger for the Association for Canadian Studies and COVID Strategic Choices Group points to a broad consensus across regional, demographic and party lines calling for government to halt all non-essential travel and implement stricter testing for those returning to the country. 76% of Canadians support stopping direct travel to Canada unless it is for humanitarian reasons. 93% support administering a COVID test immediately upon arrival and 91% support administering a 2nd test 5 days later. "There is a strong consensus amongst Canadians against travel outside of Canada and on strict testing for those returning." Said Jack Jedwab, President of the Association of Canadian Studies. To see the full report, please visit: Association of Canadian Studies Report To learn more about the #CanadianShield strategy, background research and bios on the various experts behind this initiative, please visit: covidstrategicchoices.ca. For further info about the set of recommendations put forward by Canadian health experts and public sentiment towards these recommendations, please visit: Recommendations by Canadian health experts SOURCE Global Canada Initiative For further information: Available for comment: Robert Greenhill, Professor of Practice at McGill University; Jack Jedwab, President of the Association of Canadian Studies; as well as other experts Related Links https://global-canada.org/ EBRD record investment in 2020 in response to Covid-19 The EBRD responded to the coronavirus pandemic with record investment of 11 billion in 2020 through 411 projects, addressing the urgent needs of the 38 economies where it invests. This represented a 10 per cent increase in annual business investment relative to 2019, when the Bank provided 10.1 billion to finance 452 projects. Learn more EBRD President Odile Renaud-Basso spoke to one of Europes leading newspapers FAZ about the Banks response to the coronavirus pandemic, the outlook for 2021, the need for a green transition and the future of multilateralism Read more (in German) Major media outlets such as Reuters, AFP and bne IntelliNews reported on the Banks operational results in 2020. The results were especially widely reported in countries of operations and complemented by media engagements, for instance in Serbia, Ukraine, Greece and Turkey. The results were also successfully shared on the Banks social media channels. The EBRD President tweeted: We absolutely delivered on our promise to help our countries & clients deal with the economic impact of #COVID19. Now is the time to #BuildBackBetterEconomies Watch more Moodys reaffirms EBRDs triple-A rating Moodys, the rating agency, this week reaffirmed the EBRDs Aaa rating with stable outlook, commenting: Support from a globally diverse group of shareholders is solid, manifesting itself in repeated extensions of the EBRD's mandate into new countries and regions. The share of highly rated non-borrowing shareholders is very high and reflects a very strong ability to provide support if needed. Learn more read here Inequality and Covid-19 The EBRD hosted a virtual discussion on inequality during and after the Covid-19 pandemic this week featuring Sir Angus Deaton, Nobel Prize laureate in Economics and Senior Scholar at the Woodrow Wilson School, Professor Branko Milanovic, Presidential Professor at the Graduate Center of the City University of New York, and EBRD Chief Economist Beata Javorcik. The panel warned of the imminent danger that the pandemic will further increase already existing inequalities and discussed approaches to prevent such a scenario Watch it again Development banks mobilised US$ 175 billion of private finance in 2019 A new report published this week about The Mobilization of Private Finance by Multilateral Development Banks and Development Finance Institutions 2019 finds that 27 multilateral development banks and development finance institutions mobilised US$ 175 billion of private finance in 2019, an increase of 9 per cent over the previous year. Read learn more Project signings EBRD and Bank of Mongolia agree swap facility In Mongolia, the EBRD and the Bank of Mongolia (BOM) agreed to set up a long-term dollar-togrog swap facility to increase the availability of loans in local currency for companies in agribusiness, building materials, light manufacturing and services sectors. Learn more EBRD supports 5G roll-out in Poland The EBRD supported the Polish mobile network operator Play with an investment of PLN 100 million (22 million) in a senior unsecured bond in favour of the company. The company will invest the funds in a roll-out of 5G technology, spearheading an acceleration of digitalisation across the country. Learn more 26 million loan to build new wind farms in Poland The EBRD provided a loan of 26 million for a windfarm project with a total installed capacity of 51.4 MW in the north-east of Poland. The project will help accelerate the countrys transition from fossil fuels to renewable sources of energy. Learn more Providing US$ 58 million loan to Turk Ekonomi Bankasi In Turkey, the EBRD provided a loan of up to US$ 58 million to Turk Ekonomi Bankasi in support of local small businesses facing liquidity shortages due to the coronavirus pandemic. Learn more New financing for flour miller Ulusoy Un The EBRD and TSKB, the Industrial Development Bank of Turkey, jointly provided a local currency loan of TRY 40 million loan to fund flour producer Ulusoy Uns growing need for working capital to keep up with high demand from pasta-makers, bakeries and locked-down customers as the coronavirus pandemic continues. Learn more Supporting SMEs and green homes in North Macedonia In North Macedonia, the EBRD provided two loans collectively worth 3.5 million to ProCredit Bank Skopje to help SMEs achieve compliance with the EU health and safety standards and residential home-owners to make their buildings more energy efficient. Learn more Supporting packaging producer in Kazakhstan In Kazakhstan, the EBRD shared 50 per cent of risk on a KZT 450 million (around US$1.1 million) loan provided by its long-term partner Bank CenterCredit to the local packaging producer INTELLPACK. Learn more Supporting secure and green energy in Jordan In Jordan, the EBRD provided National Electric Power Company (NEPCO) with a US$ 100 million financing package to help the firm address working capital constraints by replacing short-term debt financing borrowed at the first peak of the Covid-19 crisis with a longer-term facility. Learn more Introducing new bus fleet in Amman In Jordan, in a first project under the EBRD Green Cities programme in the country, the Bank provided a financial package of 14.8 million to the Greater Amman Municipality for the procurement of a new bus fleet that will include zero-emission electric and Euro V diesel buses. Learn more Donors Donors gave half a billion euros to EBRD projects in 2020 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 EBRD in 2020. Learn more Albania to launch tender for first wind power plants The government of Albania announced plans to launch the first tender for the construction of utility-scale on-shore wind power plants in early in 2021. The initiative is supported by the EBRD with additional grant assistance of 650,000 provided by the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO). This is a major contribution towards the improvement of the countrys future energy supply mix, which will also help reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Learn more Start-up Innovation Challenge 2020 announces winners The EBRD announced the winners of the 2020 EBRD Start-up Innovation Challenge in response to Covid-19. Winners came from Turkey, Egypt, Romania and Cyprus. The initiative was supported with donor funds from the Republic of Korea, and in Egypt by the EBRDs Small Business Impact Fund (Italy, Japan, Korea, Luxembourg, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, Taipei China and the United States). Learn more Turkmen footwear manufacturer first to produce trainers and wellington boots In Turkmenistan, with finance and business advice from the EBRD and funded by the EU, Arassa Rysgal, a leading manufacturer of light footwear diversified its operations and became the first in the country to launch production of trainers and wellington boots. Learn more Supporting green farming in Tajikistan In Tajikistan, the EBRD, the EU, the Green Climate Fund and the Republic of Korea, under the Green Economy Financing Facility (GEFF), have joined forces to support small and medium-sized entrepreneurs with their ambition to grow their businesses by making them more climate-friendly and resilient. Learn more Egypt launches EBRD-UNWTO tourism recovery assistance package In Egypt, to boost the recovery of the tourism sector from the losses caused by Covid-19 lockdowns, the Ministries of International Cooperation and Tourism and Antiquities engaged with the World Tourism Organization UNWTO and the EBRD to ensure that Egypts national priorities are addressed. Learn more Events and engagements EBRD President Odile Renaud-Basso had an online call with Egypts Prime Minister Moustafa Madouri and Rania Al Mashat Learn more The London School of Economics hosted a discussion on the recovery of the Greek economy with EBRD economists and experts Julia Boulliard, Peter Sanfey and Dimitris Sourvanos. Learn more Covid-19 and the recovery of the energy sector were discussed in a webinar this week featuring the head of the International Energy Agency (IEA) Fatih Birol and EBRD President Odile Renaud-Basso, outlining policy proposals for sustainable recovery across the EBRD regions. Learn more The Latvian Capital Market Forum was opened on Tuesday with a keynote address of Jim Turnbull, EBRD Associate Director, Capital Markets Development. He called for intense cooperation to make the whole larger than the sum of its parts. Watch the address The Bank launched a partnership with Micromentor to recruit mentors and provide advice for businesses facing pressures because of the coronavirus pandemic, with a special focus on Jordan, Egypt, Tunisia, Lebanon, Morocco and West Bank and Gaza Learn more Subscribe to instant email updates on EBRD news about topics such as coronavirus and climate finance. Sign up Alison Winter (above), 41, became stranded on Shuna, part of the Slate Islands, Inner Hebrides, as she made her way towards a hilltop viewpoint A walker stuck waist-deep in a bog on an uninhabited Scottish island for four hours was rescued thanks to an emergency communication app - which led to ferrymen locating her using just three words. Alison Winter, 41, became stranded on Shuna, part of the Slate Islands, Inner Hebrides, as she made her way towards a hilltop viewpoint. She was rescued after alerting ferrymen to her location using geocoding app What3words, which gave her the location code of 'escalates, removing, lows'. The app divides the planet into 57 trillion 3x3 metre squares, each of which is given a unique combination of three English words. This allows for precise location mapping as it pinpoints precisely where the user is, eliminating the need to explain a location in relation to landmarks. Ms Winter had no phone signal but had luckily already downloaded the app after seeing author Neil Gaiman tweet about it coming to his rescue when his car broke down. Without a signal, the app functions the same as when you have no data connection: you can view the location of any what3words address you enter. But when Ms Winter eventually did get a signal, it took just eight minutes for her to be rescued after sending ferrymen the three-word location. 'It was the same ferrymen who transported me to the island. I felt they would be best to contact in case of an emergency as they know the island well,' she said. Ms Winter, a writer, had arrived on the island via the local ferry service last August and came across a pair of fellow hikers who recommended a great viewpoint. Ms Winter was rescued after alerting ferrymen to her location using geocoding app What3words, which gave her the location code of 'escalates, removing, lows' (above). The app divides the planet into 57 trillion 3x3 metre squares, each of which is given a unique combination of three English words - and provides precise location mapping Ms Winter, a writer, arrived on the island (pictured) via the local ferry service last August and came across a pair of fellow hikers who recommended a great viewpoint But as she made her way towards the hilltop, the conditions underfoot worsened and she quickly found herself struggling with the terrain - and fell into a bog. Ms Winter, who is an experienced hiker, said: 'It was an extremely hot and sunny day. I wasn't expecting the island to be waterlogged because no one can really appreciate how much rainfall Scotland gets until you live there. 'I realised that I'd ventured into what was essentially a swamp. The grass was 5ft high and the ground was completely unstable. I fell into a bog up to my waist, had to dig out my shoes, and just kept rolling my ankles and falling badly. 'At that moment, however, I had zero network coverage, so had to continue trudging through marshland and what can only be described as malicious tussocks. 'I eventually got a phone signal whilst balancing on a relatively stable mound and managed to get hold of the ferrymen. 'It was 3pm by this time and I'd been in difficulty for hours but was trying to rectify the situation myself. 'I had zero network coverage, so had to continue trudging through marshland and what can only be described as malicious tussocks. I eventually got a phone signal whilst balancing on a relatively stable mound and managed to get hold of the ferrymen,' said Ms Winter. (Above, file image of the What3words app) 'I knew exactly whereabouts I was on the island - I had my bearings and my sense of direction, but I couldn't get across the waterlogged terrain. It was terrifying and exhausting. 'They prompted me to use the What3words app so they could locate me and collect me by boat. Without that, they could have been searching for hours by land. 'Luckily, I already had it on my phone as I don't think the patchy signal would have coped with downloading it there and then.' She added: 'The boat came as close as it could into the rocky cove, so I had to get over 30ft of rocks, mostly in the water. 'My hands were cut up, but nothing was broken, although I do think I might have slightly cracked a shinbone. 'I'd been rambling in the hot sun for hours, was bleeding, and being bitten to pieces as my repellent wasn't strong enough. 'Although I was prepared if I did have to survive a night there, it would have been awful. I felt like I was in The Walking Dead. 'If it wasn't for the app, I expect a helicopter or rescue services might have been involved - not good during a pandemic - and I felt terribly aware of not wanting to cause trouble. 'The situation could have turned out differently if I hadn't already had What3words on my phone and the ferryman hadn't had the ingenuity to suggest I use it. 'You can do everything right, but something can still go wrong. So many people are reliant on walking as their sole form of exercise right now, and you never know when you might be in a situation like I was. 'I'm keen to help spread the word that this app could genuinely save your life - or at the very least end a traumatic situation.' Runners: Get your summer program off on the right foot A high street is one of the worlds great joys. Not all cities have them. Some, like Canberra, have only roads and motorways. Sydney, which inherited this lovely urban meme from old London, has some of the finest. Yet, it seems, were intent on destroying them. Stranger still, the greatest threat to one of our oldest and most important high streets is the very device that was meant to save it. Traffic on Parramatta Road at Leichhardt. Credit:Ben Rushton The device is tollways and the road is Parramatta Road which, while toll-free it is not free of their curse. Planning Minister Rob Stokes regards Parramatta Road as one of Sydneys ugliest, a scar through the heart of Sydney that must be healed but which every recent intervention has made not better but worse. Its yet another betrayal of the public interest by the neo-liberal lie. The connection is indirect but real. This is is how it works. I was shocked, in wading through my tax last week, to find that in five months last year I paid $660 in road tolls. Sure, Id made half a dozen trips south, and maybe the same to the north shore, plus one across town through the tunnel. But some of these were $20 per trip; $40 return. My top-up renewed almost every day. Tollways are ugly enough, god knows, politically as well as physically. The word toll is from the Latin tollere, to take away, especially by lifting up: to raise, therefore, but also to raze and erase. This is wholly apt. Toll roads do sometimes lift traffic from our streets but also suck beauty from our environment and money from our pockets, all to enrich the rich. We are thrilled to be recognized with this award. Providing our patients with excellent dental care to promote oral health is always our goal, says Dr. Patel of Marietta Dental Professionals. Marietta Dental Professionals is a state-of-the-art family dental practice, located at 2551 Roswell Rd., Building 100 in Marietta, GA. Offering the best in modern dentistry, Marietta Dental Professionals is led by Dr. Dipesh Patel and was established with the mission of providing high-quality dental care in a stress-free environment. Five-star ratings and superior reviews were left by patients across multiple, credible online sources. Find Local Doctors recognizes top dentists and has awarded Marietta Dental Professionals the designation of being a 2021 Top Patient Rated Marietta Dentist. Marietta Dental Professionals provides cutting-edge dental technology and relaxing amenities, keeping patients comfortable at every step in the treatment process. During every stage of life, patients can receive the dental care they need and deserve, ranging from preventative dental cleanings for kids to full-service dental implants for aging adults. Dr. Dipesh Patel and the skilled dental team are qualified to offer a number of specialized treatments, such as smile makeovers, clear orthodontics, emergency dental care and more. To ensure patients receive the most rewarding experience and superior results, Marietta Dental Professionals uses advanced, cutting-edge dental technology, including soft-tissue lasers, the Isolite suctioning device and advanced imaging, using the panoramic 3D cone beam and intraoral Trios scanner. The team is also staffed with fluent Spanish speakers to assist every patient in receiving an exceptional level of care. We are thrilled to be recognized with this award. Providing our patients with excellent dental care to promote oral health is always our goal, says Dr. Patel of Marietta Dental Professionals. More about Dr. Dipesh Patel and Marietta Dental Professionals: Dr. Dipesh Patel graduated with honors from the University of Georgia before earning his doctorate from Nova Southeastern Universitys College of Dental Medicine. At Marietta Dental Professionals, patients benefit from dental care that is safe, affordable and effective, using the best in advanced dental technology. Dr. Patel is also a sleep apnea treatment specialist. He offers advanced solutions in customized oral devices to help patients reduce obstructions, improve breathing and maximize sleep quality with Sleep Better Marietta, which is associated with Marietta Dental Professionals. For more information about the services offered at Marietta Dental Professionals, please visit http://www.mariettadentalpros.com or call (770) 514-5055. New Delhi, Jan 22 : As older adults are more prone to Covid-19 infection due to low immunity level, they should be given priority when it comes to vaccination, health experts stressed on Friday stating that prioritising them can substantially save more lives. SARS-CoV-2 has caused a public health and economic crisis worldwide. As of January 2021, there have been over 85 million cases and 1.8 million deaths reported. "As immunity is lower in older adults they are prone to Covid-19 and other a number of infections. Also, in many people co-morbidities like hypertension and diabetes develop with aging, which may lead to severity of such infections," Navneet Sood, Pulmonary Consultant, Dharamshila Narayana Superspeciality Hospital in New Delhi told IANS. "Covid-19 mortality rate is high in this group. Hence they should be given preference as far as the vaccine is concerned," Sood added. A study, published in a journal Science, indicated that prioritising older adults with speed in rollout from current rates under current transmission conditions, Covid-19 mortality could be reduced by about 23 per cent, or 65,000 lives, over the next three months in the US. "For essential workers who might be frustrated that they are not first, we hope this study offers some clarity. We realize it is a big sacrifice for them to make but our study shows it will save lives," said lead author Kate Bubar from the lead author Kate Bubar from the University of Colorado Boulder in the US. For the study, the team drew on demographic information from different countries, as well as up-to-date data on how many people have already tested positive for Covid-19, how quickly the virus is spreading, how fast vaccines are rolling out and their estimated efficacy. Then they modelled what would happen in five different scenarios in which a different group got vaccinated first -- children and teenagers; adults ages 20 to 49; adults 20 or older; or adults 60 or older (considering that about 30 per cent of those eligible might decline). Results from the US, Belgium, Brazil, China, India, Poland, South Africa, Spain and Zimbabwe are included in the paper, with more countries included in the online tool. The authors also note that, while the vaccines being distributed now are believed to have about a 90 to 95 per cent chance of protecting against severe disease, researchers don't yet know how well they block infection and transmission. Shillong, Jan 22 Jan 22 : At least six people were killed when they were working inside a coal mine in Meghalaya's East Jaintia hills district on Friday, police said. Confirming the death , East Jaintia Hills district superintendent of police Deepak Kumar Palecha told IANS over phone from district headquarters Khliehriat that he is collecting details of the incident. Official sources said that all six coal mine workers, who hailed from Karimganj district of southern Assam and were digging a tunnel in one of the illegal coal mines near Rymbai village, died on the spot as they fell into the mine after the machine, which they were using to dig the channel, broke. The bodies of the victim were retrieved and were sent to a Health Centre Khliehriat for autopsy. The incident is a grim reminder of the December 13, 2018 illegal coal mine tragedy in the same East Jaintia Hills district when 15 migrant miners from Assam trapped and died inside in an abandoned coal mine. The miners had stuck in the coal mine at a depth of around 370 feet after a tunnel was flooded with water from the nearby Lytein river. Even the bodies of the miners could not be retrieved after many days of rescue operation. The National Green Tribunal had earlier strictly restricted the coal mining in Meghalaya, which is blessed with a huge reserve of coal. January 22, 2021 - Patients with substance use disorders (SUDs) being treated for serious medical conditions are more likely to leave the hospital against medical advice (AMA) than those without addiction. A special type of contract with healthcare providers might enable patients to consent in advance to life-saving medical care - even if they later refuse treatment, according to a commentary in the Journal of Addiction Medicine, the official journal of the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM). The journal is published in the Lippincott portfolio by Wolters Kluwer. The Substance Use Advance Directive (SUAD) "has the potential to greatly improve the current state of treatment for life-threatening comorbid conditions in SUD patients through reducing AMA discharges," writes Paul Tobias, MD, JD, MBA, of Ohio Health, Columbus. But in an accompanying commentary, Kelly K. Dineen, JD, PhD, of Creighton University, Omaha, Neb., cites "obvious practical and ethical challenges" to the SUAD concept, including the lack of any legal basis for overruling patients if they later decide to refuse treatment: "As long as a patient has capacity, they almost always have the final say in consenting to or refusing care." 'Ulysses contracts' for hospitalized patients with SUDs: Consenting to care in advance Dr. Tobias describes the case of "Jane," a young woman with serious infections related to injection drug use, who was repeatedly hospitalized - but each time, left the hospital without completing treatment. It's a familiar scenario, reflecting the increased rate of AMA discharge among hospitalized patients with SUDs. Patients always have the right to make decisions about medical treatments, as long as they're not being coerced. However, the "irrationally self-harming decisions" sometimes made by patients with SUDs "[echo] the patterns seen in cases of coercion," according to Dr. Tobias. "By acknowledging SUD as an acting force that is beyond the control of the patient, the reason becomes clear: these patients cannot exercise free choice because their SUD coerces them to make unreasonable decisions." He proposes SUADs as an option to manage these difficult situations. SUADs are similar to psychiatric advance directives used in patients with psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia, who know they might lose their decision-making capacity in the future. These specialized instruments are sometimes called "Ulysses contracts" - referring to the story in the Odyssey where Ulysses orders his ship's crew to tie to him to the mast, instructing them not to release him even if he begs them to. "Ulysses contracts could be applied to patients like Jane by allowing patients who seek treatment of their life-threatening comorbid conditions to choose if and how their physicians can compel them to complete therapy," Dr. Tobias writes. Patients and healthcare providers could follow a shared decision-making approach to determining treatments for SUD and other medical conditions - including the conditions under which patients want to be kept in the hospital without the option of AMA discharge. In her commentary, Dr. Dineen's key objection to SUADs is that unlike Ulysses contracts used in patients with psychiatric disorders, the proposed SUADs would be applied to people who still have decision-making capacity. She also notes that hospitalized patients with addiction often receive inadequate or no treatment for SUD, including medications for withdrawal symptoms - despite the documented improvement in outcomes - and that this inadequate care is often the cause of AMA discharges. Dr. Dineen also points out the long history of "moralistic, punitive, and discriminatory attitudes and policies," leading to "separate but unequal systems of care" for people with SUDs who are at particular risk for having their autonomy removed. Dr. Tobias acknowledges the complexities of the SUAD approach. He emphasizes the need for evaluation of state policies "to determine whether the use of SUADs would enable better outcomes with improved patient autonomy and clear physician and nurse responsibilities when patient treatment decisions change." "Patients with SUD have too long carried the burden of structural and institutional discrimination on the basis of their disease," Dr. Dineen concludes. "Focusing on correcting those is far more just than inflicting more individual harm under the cloak of beneficence." Richard Saitz MD, MPH, FACP, DFASAM, Editor-in-Chief, Journal of Addiction Medicine, also voices reservations about SUADs: "There are serious concerns with an approach that would override a patient's decision when they have capacity to make it, particularly when that patient (one with addiction) belongs to a class of patients who have been stigmatized, whose autonomy is often taken away, and whose treatment for addiction is often of poor quality." ### Click here to read "How Advance Directives Help When Patients Refuse Life-saving Treatment Because of Their Substance Use." DOI: 10.1097/ADM.0000000000000799 Click here to read "It is Not the Patient, It is the System: Commentary on 'How Advanced Directives Help When Patients Refuse Life-saving Treatment Because of Their Substance Use.'" DOI: 10.1097/ADM.0000000000000800 ### The mission of Journal of Addiction Medicine, the official journal of the American Society of Addiction Medicine, is to promote excellence in the practice of addiction medicine and in clinical research as well as to support Addiction Medicine as a mainstream medical specialty. Published six times a year, the Journal is designed for all physicians and other mental health professionals who need to keep up-to-date with the treatment of addiction. Under the guidance of an esteemed Editorial Board, peer-reviewed articles published in the Journal focus on developments in addiction medicine as well as on treatment innovations and ethical, economic, forensic, and social topics. Visit us on the web at http://www. JournalAddictionMedicine. com . About The American Society of Addiction Medicine The American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) is a professional society representing more than 6000 physicians, clinicians, and associated professionals in the field of addiction medicine. ASAM is dedicated to increasing access and improving the quality of addiction treatment, educating physicians and the public, supporting research and prevention, and promoting the appropriate role of physicians in the care of patients with addiction. Visit us on the web at http://www. ASAM. org ; follow @ASAMorg on Twitter. About Wolters Kluwer Wolters Kluwer (WKL) is a global leader in professional information, software solutions, and services for the clinicians, nurses, accountants, lawyers, and tax, finance, audit, risk, compliance, and regulatory sectors. We help our customers make critical decisions every day by providing expert solutions that combine deep domain knowledge with advanced technology and services. Wolters Kluwer reported 2019 annual revenues of 4.6 billion. The group serves customers in over 180 countries, maintains operations in over 40 countries, and employs approximately 19,000 people worldwide. The company is headquartered in Alphen aan den Rijn, the Netherlands. Wolters Kluwer provides trusted clinical technology and evidence-based solutions that engage clinicians, patients, researchers and students with advanced clinical decision support, learning and research and clinical intelligence. For more information about our solutions, visit https:/ / www. wolterskluwer. com/ en/ health and follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter @WKHealth. Do You Understand Who Youre Talking To? JANUARY 22 O Lord, according to all Your righteousness, I pray, let Your anger and Your fury be turned away from Your city Jerusalem, Your holy mountain; because for our sins, and for the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and Your people are a reproach to all those around us. Daniel 9:16 The sins of Gods people were great. Daniel prayed, Our sins have risen up in Your face. And O God, were praying. Turn Your anger and Your fury away. God will judge any nation that continues to print pornography, abort babies, applaud sodomy, and sings, God bless us at the same time. Gods fury is turned against that nation. But Daniel is standing in the gap saying, O God, remove our guilt, then, Lord, restore Your glorycause Your face to shine upon Your sanctuary that is desolate, for the Lords sake. (v. 17). Daniels motivation is not for Americas sake, not for Israels sake, not for a denominations sake, not for his sake, but for Gods sake. For Thy city and Thy people are called by Thy name. What a great man Daniel was. Most of us ask God to get us out of the mess were in so we can drive new cars and not see the stock market tumble. How many are consumed for the glory of God? Very few. Daniel was. Daniel says, God, for Your sake, for Your name, do it! Do you have a burning in your heart for the name of our God to be exalted throughout this earth? His name has been stepped on, blasphemed, and ridiculed. Make the focus of your prayers and the goal of your prayers the glory of God. For more from Love Worth Finding and Pastor Adrian Rogers, please visit www.lwf.org. You can also listen to Adrian Rogers at OnePlace.com. Watch Adrian Rogers and Love Worth Finding Video Online. live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More Back in April 2020, when most steelmakers in the country cut production after the government announced a lockdown in March because of COVID-19, the senior leadership at JSPL took a contrarian view. "Some of our peers stopped producing or reduced their capacity utilisation. We also debated doing the same. But eventually decided to continue production. That was a major and bold decision that our team took," Managing Director VR Sharma told Moneycontrol. While the rest of the industry cut capacity utilisation by up to half for the first three months of the financial year, leading to a drop in production and sales, the trend was different for JSPL. The company kept running its mills at 80 to 90 percent utilisation, says Sharma. The company's steel production grew 8 percent quarter-on-quarter in the first quarter, and sales were up 12 percent. The trend was similar in the second quarter, with sales now growing by a faster rate, at 30 percent. Instead of depending on the domestic market to sell what it produced, JSPL was among the first in the country to channel all efforts to export markets. "We sold them all around the world. We did that without meeting them ( the clients) but through Zoom meetings," said Sharma. In 'normal times', JSPL used to export about 6,000 tons a month. But, that number shot up by over 2,000 times from April. "In the last three months, we have exported over nine lakh tons of steel. Nearly 30 percent of these exports were to China," Sharma had said in July 2020. The timing was good, as China had already begun recovering from the pandemic, and was implementing a $2 trillion stimuli package. "That decision to continue production, has kept us three to four steps ahead of the competition," says Sharma. The financial recovery That one decision has continued to bear fruit in the third quarter. JSPL recorded its highest ever quarterly production, with a jump of 22 percent in the third quarter, compared to the same period a year earlier. Sales were up 30 percent. The improved showing in production and sales have helped the company swing back in the black. Just like it did in the first two quarters of the financial year, the steelmaker recorded a profit in the third quarter. It had a consolidated net profit of Rs 2,432.20 crore for the quarter ended December 2020, mainly on account of increased income. The company had recorded a net loss of Rs 257.36 crore during the same quarter a year ago. Sharma expects the demand for steel to be 'stable' in the fourth quarter too, and that may see JSPL get back to black for the whole financial year, as compared to a net loss of Rs 109 crore in FY20. With an improvement in demand for steel in the domestic market, the focus has shifted from the exports market. From a share of 38 percent of the production in the second quarter, exports were down to 21 percent in the third. "Demand has increased with new projects, and with old ones resuming. We are seeing demand from different segments, including water pipelines, railways, shipbuilding, power sector and fabricators," Sharma said. The 15-15-50 target The improved showing has helped the company reduce its debt mountain by Rs 11,000 crore in nine months. "We had started the year with a debt of Rs 36,000 crore. It's now at Rs 25,000 crore," said Sharma. The plan, he added, is to further reduce it to Rs 15,000 crore by 2022. It's part of the company 15-15-50 road map. "Our aim is to have Rs 15,000 crore of EBITDA, or earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation, Rs 15,000 crore debt and Rs 50,000 crore of sales turnover by 2022. We are on track," added Sharma. A man who couldnt walk a year ago is gearing up to complete a half iron man. The Tauranga Half, described as one of the longest running and most popular triathlon events in New Zealand, is made up of a 2km swim, a 90km bike ride, and a 21km run. Matt Aldridge, an accounting student from Christchurch, was told hed never move his legs again after a serious paragliding accident two years ago which injured his legs, pelvis and back. He says competing in the event is definitely on the boundaries of what he can do. Im nervous and excited. Its been so long in the making, but Im really nervous about the pain there might be. Previously a keen mountaineer with two paragliding licenses, he crashed into a rocky outcrop in July 2018 while paragliding in Christchurchs Port Hills. He was travelling at around 60kmph, and sustained severe leg injuries. He says he came round a corner and went straight into a rocky outcrop. I came to a stop and tried to move my legs but there was nothing. He was in a wheelchair for six months and had several operations with 30 pins inserted. Matt was told hed never move his legs again, but never believed it. I thought if I worked hard Id eventually walk again. After a week he was able to wiggle a toe, after a month he was able to roll on his side and in a couple of months he was able to start lifting a leg. Matt is completing the triathlon in support of the Canterbury West Coast Air Rescue Trust that he credits for saving his life and legs. Matt believes he would have been paralysed if it wasnt for them. I myself am here because of them. It's the reason why my family hasn't buried a son, a brother. I want to make sure that this service is around and that other families can remain together. He has set up a Give a Little page titled Racing for the Rescue Chopper to raise money for the trust. The 26-year-old currently has multiple fused vertebrae and his legs are largely paralysed. His left ankle joint has been pieced together and has very limited movement, while part of his right ankle joint is fused which has resulted in the fixation of his toes. Matt after his accident in 2018. Supplied image. He says walking itself is painful and running any distance is nearing impossible, but he wants others to have the chance he had. It will be a bit painful for me but maybe someone will donate and maybe that will help someone else. I want other people to have a second chance. He doesnt have a funding goal, but says every little bit counts. Training for the triathlon was a feat, as after half an hour of running he would be in agony for the next day. He built up to a training regime which included six days a week in the gym, two or three swims a week, two runs a week, and three or four bike rides a week. He will complete the running section on crutches, and is confident hell finish. The Canterbury West Coast Air Rescue Trust, which has flown 14,000 rescue missions since it was founded in 1989, relies on community support to keep the service operational. Spokesperson for the Tauranga Half Dean Wilson says Matt has overcome massive odds. Its a miracle he is there, two years after he was rescued from a bad accident. He describes Matt as an amazing guy, who is very determined and fit. The Tauranga Half will kick off around 6am tomorrow morning. For more information visit Matts Give a Little page. Baghdad, Jan 22 : The Islamic State (IS) terror group has claimed responsibility for the twin suicide bombings at a crowded market area in Baghdad, that killed 32 people and injured 116 others, Iraqi media reports said on Friday. The group identified the two suicide bombers as Abu Yousif al-Ansari and Mohammed Arif al-Muhajir, who targeted a gathering of Shia people in downtown Baghdad on Thursday, the local media reports quoted an online IS statement as saying. On Thursday morning, a suicide bomber detonated his explosive belt in a bustling outdoor market for second-hand clothes in Bab al-Sharji area, and a second one blew himself up a few minutes later in the same area. Later in the day, Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi, also commander-in-chief of the Iraqi forces, chaired an emergency meeting with security and intelligence commanders to discuss the security breach in Baghdad. Following the meeting, a statement by al-Kadhimi's media office said that he launched an investigation into the incident. Meanwhile, al-Kadhimi also sacked five security senior officials and commanders in the wake of the bombings, according to a tweet by Yahia Rasoul, spokesman of of the Iraqi forces. This 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. Advertisement More than 3,800 Americans died of COVID-19 on Thursday though the number of hospitalized patients and confirmed cases continued their downward trajectory as Johnson & Johnson vows to have enough vaccines to inoculate 100 million Americans by the spring. The latest data from The COVID Tracking Project shows that 184,864 Americans tested positive for the coronavirus on Thursday. As of early Friday morning, there were at least 119,927 patients hospitalized with COVID-19. Wednesday was Americas second deadliest day on record since the start of the pandemic - 4,229 fatalities. But the death count dropped slightly on Thursday to 3,889. Since the pandemic began, 410,102 people in the US have died from COVID-19. The latest COVID-19 figures show a slight drop in the number of new infections on Thursday, according to The COVID Tracking Project As of early Friday morning, there were at least 119,927 patients hospitalized with COVID-19. Wednesday was Americas second deadliest day on record since the start of the pandemic - 4,229 fatalities. But the death count dropped slightly on Thursday to 3,889 The data indicates that the case count as well as the number of hospitalized patients is on a downward trajectory Since the pandemic began, 410,102 people in the US have died from COVID-19. Overall, more than 24.6 million Americans have tested positive for the coronavirus Overall, more than 24.6 million Americans have tested positive for the coronavirus. While the number of fatalities remains high, public health officials do see reasons for optimism as hospitalization rates as well as the rates of infection are showing signs of decline. There is also eager anticipation for a third COVID-19 vaccine that is set to be approved by the New Jersey-based pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson. Dr. Mark McClellen, a company board member, told CNBC on Thursday that the nations COVID-19 vaccine supply will receive a huge boost in the coming weeks if the clinical trial works out. Dr. Mark McClellen, a board member with New Jersey-based pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson, believes that the single-shot vaccine that is expected to be approved by the company within weeks will enable 100 million Americans to be inoculated by the spring The Johnson & Johnson vaccine is a single-dose shot, which would mean the rollout would be faster and people who receive the jab would likely be protected from coronavirus in a matter of weeks after the injection. The above image is a file photo illustration showing vials with stickers reading 'COVID-19 / Coronavirus vaccine' I do know that J&J is making a very large supply, going all out with its production, both here in the US and elsewhere around the world, with the goal of having perhaps enough vaccines for 100 million Americans by spring, by this April or so, McClellan, the former commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, said on Thursday. Dr. Anthony Fauci, the governments top infectious disease expert, said on Thursday that Johnson & Johnson could have enough data on the vaccine to begin analysis within a week or two. McClellan told CNBC that the company is currently conducting a large scale clinical trial. The independent scientists who are overseeing that study should be taking a close look in the very near future based on those results, and well see how fast the vaccine could go forward, McClellan said. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine is a single-dose shot, which would mean the rollout would be faster and people who receive the jab would likely be protected from coronavirus in a matter of weeks after the injection. The two vaccines that have been granted emergency use authorization - Moderna and Pfizer/BioNTech - require two doses. Health officials said that the US is expected to approve the low-cost AstraZeneca/Oxford vaccine in April. The rollout of the vaccination program in the US has been sluggish as less than half of the nearly 38 million doses of vaccine that have been distributed thus far have made their way into peoples arms, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. On average, about 883,000 Americans have been vaccinated over the course of the past six days. But at least a dozen states are reported vaccine shortages in the face of surging demand. Officials in New York City and San Francisco warn that they will be completely out of vaccines by the end of the week. New York City also had to shut down 15 vaccination sites temporarily due to the short supply. McClellan told CNBC that the supply will be increasing, but not probably enough to keep up with the large number of Americans who really want to get vaccinated now. McClellan, a health policy expert at Duke University, believes the Biden administration will implement policies that will speed up vaccine distribution. Its going to be challenging, but I think the supply will be there over the next couple of months to vaccinate even more than 100 million Americans, he said. 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. 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. 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 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. 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 37.9 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. Sorry! This content is not available in your region Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-22 13:24:51|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close JALALABAD, Afghanistan, Jan. 22 (Xinhua) -- A total of 16 militants have been confirmed dead as Afghan forces stormed Taliban hideouts in Khogiani and Shirzad districts of the eastern Nangarhar province on Thursday, said a statement of the provincial government released here Friday. The operations, according to the statement, were conducted late Thursday night in Akram Khil area of Khogiani district and Hashim Khil area of Shirzad district and in total left 16 dead including five group commanders. Two hideouts and two checkpoints of the militants were also destroyed during the raids, the statement asserted. The Taliban outfit has yet to make comments. Enditem One of Google Xs well-known projects, the Loon, that used balloons to deliver internet services to places that lacked existing network infrastructure is being shut down. Googles parent company, Alphabet, has announced that they are shutting down Loon because it has been difficult to commercialise the project. Project Loon was officially announced in 2013 as a part of Google X and followed the Moonshot Factory to Alphabet before graduating in July 2018. Loon has partnered with a handful of carriers around the world since and has proved to be quite useful at delivering emergency internet access after natural disasters left places ravaged. As reported by Wired, Alphabet has taken a call to not invest in Loon any further. The official blog post states that the main problem is not being able to get the costs low enough to build a long-term, sustainable business. Also Read: Google's Helium balloons stayed in air for almost a year, providing internet We talk a lot about connecting the next billion users, but the reality is Loon has been chasing the hardest problem of all in connectivity the last billion users: The communities in areas too difficult or remote to reach, or the areas where delivering service with existing technologies is just too expensive for everyday people. While weve found a number of willing partners along the way, we havent found a way to get the costs low enough to build a long-term, sustainable business. Developing radical new technology is inherently risky, but that doesnt make breaking this news any easier. Today, Im sad to share that Loon will be winding down, wrote Alastair Westgarth. Loon will continue to provide our pilot service in Kenya until March 1 and well work closely with our partners to ensure operations are wrapped up safely and smoothly. Loon (@Loon4all) January 22, 2021 Google X chief Astro Teller who also chairs the Loon board was the one who recommended that Alphabet no longer fund it. However, Teller did call the project a successful experiment but not a viable business as no one wanted to pick up the mantle. As the Wired writes - Loon was a success, he (Teller) says, because once it was clear that it would never become a viable business, or solve internet connectivity, he called it quits. Since 2019, Loon has been operating a pilot service in Kenya and that will end on March 1 as it works to bring down the balloons that are still operating. We wanted Loon to be a beautiful solution to a seemingly unsolvable problem, said Teller. Inauguration speech Regarding President assails white supremacy, (A8, Jan. 21): The mention of Islamic extremism and terrorism in an American presidents speech, a routine inclusion for the past few years, was replaced by extremism and terrorism by domestic white supremacists. What a change. This is the real American carnage former President Donald Trump has brought upon us in four years. I hope President Joe Biden ends it. Siraj Narsi, Sugar Land For all Americans Regarding Root for America, (A14, Jan. 20): Four years ago my husband and I were on a cruise during the elections. We left having done early voting and feeling confident that our candidates win would be historic. We saw the result that night and went to bed hoping that it was a mistake. In the morning we walked into breakfast where among thousands of people you could hear a pin drop, unlike the previous four years when the captain announced that President Barack Obama had won again and the guests started a conga line and the atmosphere was jubilant. We survived the chaos and the lying and hopefully now we will have a kind man as president. God bless Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. Finally a president who is truly a president for all Americans no matter the color of your skin. Marie Perez, Houston Regarding Texas GOP goes on the offensive, (A1, Jan. 21): I am not anti-immigration but the Joe Biden plan to offer an eight year path to citizenship for approximately 11 million undocumented immigrants in the U.S. is as wrong as wrong can be and is not, as some believe, a moral imperative. It will encourage even more undocumented immigrants witness the caravan currently en route from Honduras hoping for a change in U.S. laws and is a slap in the face to those who legally immigrated to the U.S. DACA qualifiers should not be given citizenship either, but for those who have met the rules, and continue to follow them, some sort of protected status should be allowed. The plan to admit more refugees into the U.S. is equally shortsighted, as would be a repeal of the Muslim travel ban. I do not agree with Sen. Ted Cruz on several issues but he is correct in stating the Democrats priority is on noncitizens who are here illegally and not on Americans, at least not on white Americans. I did not vote for Biden or Donald Trump, but such liberal, progressive Democratic proposals are exactly why so many did vote for Trump and are so angry. Ike W Harper, Sugar Land (JNS) More than 100 years ago, George Santayana famously intoned that those who cannot remember the past are doomed to repeat it. The Spanish philosophers warning has often been repeated. Regrettably, it is often ignored, including by many historians. Avi Shlaim provides the latest example. In a Dec. 22 op-ed in Foreign Policy magazine titled, If Biden Wants Israeli-Palestinian Peace, He Must Break with the Past, Shlaim seeks to provide the incoming U.S. administration with advice on how to achieve in the Middle East. The Oxford University professor emeritus has... The Akutan plant will close 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. The Akutan site has the capacity to process as much as three million pounds of raw fish a day, including Wild Alaska pollock, Pacific cod, Alaska king and snow crabs, and halibut. The company as a group exports to more than 50 countries and has operations in the US, Japan, Europe, China, and Latin America. CEO Joe Bundrant, the son of founder Chuck Bundrant, said in a statement: "This serious action to stop operations is necessary to allow us to do everything we can to provide a safe work environment and resume full operations as quickly as possible. "Our review of protocols has so far shown that our robust quarantine protocols have been closely followed and successful. We have not determined how the virus entered Akutan but are investigating all potential gaps." The closure comes during a busy period for Trident as the pollock season gets underway. "It's extremely difficult and impactful to do this," Stefanie Moreland, Trident's vice president of government relations and seafood sustainability, said. "A pause in operations is a sacrifice and burden for all of us at Trident, as well as for our partners. We're working through a variety of scenarios to lighten the burden for everyone affected by changes in our operation plans." Moreland said the company took the decision to shutter the plant based on advice from the State of Alaska and "with knowledge of lessons learned from others in our industry". All 700 staff will be confined to their worker accommodation during the closure on full pay and will receive daily health checks. "We know that Covid-19 is now on the site, and until we test everyone we won't know how extensive it is," Moreland added. "We feel with the full cooperation from employees on site, we'll be able to resume full operations in approximately three weeks." 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 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." Sylvie Belleville, Psychology Professor, University of Montreal 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 biomarkers - that is, physical and detectable signs of the disease - and 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. President Muhammadu Buhari has approved N6.45 billion for the setting up of gas plants in 38 locations nationwide in a bid to enhance the ... President Muhammadu Buhari has approved N6.45 billion for the setting up of gas plants in 38 locations nationwide in a bid to enhance the treatment of COVID-19 patients who need oxygen. Zainab Ahmed, minister of finance, broke the news at a national executive council meeting in Abuja on Thursday. She said the president approved the release of the funds for the production of oxygen, necessitated by the increased number of patients who need oxygen due to the surge in COVID infections in the country. The development comes two days after Babajide Sanwo-Olu, governor of Lagos, announced that the demand for oxygen at the Infectious Disease Hospital in Yaba area of the state has risen from 70 to 350 cylinders per day. The governor had said the upsurge of COVID-19 cases necessitated an increase in the amount of oxygen for moderate to severe cases of admission in all the isolation centres in Lagos. He said to address the high demand for oxygen in Lagos, which is the epicenter of COVID in Nigeria, the government decentralised the availability of oxygen across the state through the provision of 10 oxygen and sampling kiosks. This strategy is to further increase the fighting chance of Lagos residents that have contracted the virus and require immediate oxygen therapy, he had said. Nigeria is currently experiencing the second wave of the pandemic. Nigeria has a total of 114,691 COVID-19 infections out of which 92,336 have recovered and 1,478 have died. By James Oakes Norton. 256 pp. $26.95 - - - In his illuminating and accessible new book, James Oakes, an acclaimed historian of emancipation, offers us a "third Lincoln": neither the mythic Great Emancipator nor a flawed reluctant emancipator, but instead a committed proponent of antislavery constitutionalism. Lincoln, Oakes argues in "The Crooked Path to Abolition: Abraham Lincoln and the Antislavery Constitution," consistently upheld the "federal consensus" on slavery: that Congress could not abolish slavery in any state but also could not interfere with a state's choice to emancipate enslaved people. Within these constitutional boundaries, Lincoln pursued, before and during the Civil War, the goal of abolition by individual states. He intended that pressure from the federal government would move the Southern states to enact their own gradual emancipation policies, as individual Northern states had done after the American Revolution. Lincoln's outlook was rooted in a distinct antislavery constitutionalism, elaborated by reformers and politicians in counterpoint to the proslavery constitutionalism of Southern enslavers. During the antebellum decades, as slavery's apologists ratcheted up their claims that slaveholding was a constitutionally protected property right, abolitionists drew out the antislavery implications of the founding documents. For example, while Southern enslavers emphasized their summary right of recaption of fugitives, abolitionists emphasized states' authority to require due process in renditions. The Constitution's ambiguity on the fugitive issue meant "that every slave who escaped from Maryland to Pennsylvania, or from Kentucky to Ohio, opened the possibility of a political conflict between the owner's claim to his or her 'property' and the free state's recognition of the accused fugitive's right to due process." Invoking the Fifth Amendment right to due process was just one of the many ways that slavery's opponents "colonized" the Constitution, imbuing certain clauses with antislavery meaning. They also emphasized such measures as the territorial clause, which granted Congress the power to ban slavery from the territories, thereby preventing the addition of new slave states. By the time he became president in 1861, Lincoln had embraced most elements of what Oakes calls the "Antislavery Project": a set of policies, such as congressional abolition of slavery in the District of Columbia and the suppression of illegal smuggling of enslaved people into the United States, designed to reverse slavery's expansion and shift the sectional balance of power northward. Lincoln homed in on the banning of slavery's expansion in the territories as the one issue around which his nascent Republican Party was "most likely to build a winning coalition." In his reckoning, the policy of nonextension, by surrounding slave states with a cordon of free states, would undermine slavery's economic profitability and motivate Southern Whites to dismantle the institution. The Civil War, Oakes shows, radicalized Lincoln, compelling him to press more aggressively an agenda of state-level emancipation, through both threats and incentives aimed at enslavers. Lincoln seized on the antislavery movement's long-standing forfeiture-of-rights doctrine, which held that seceded states would relinquish their right to have fugitives returned, and on the doctrine that emancipating the enemy's enslaved people was a legitimate use of war powers. These prewar doctrines formed the basis of the wartime policy by which the Union Army confiscated, freed and eventually enlisted fugitive slaves. Lincoln also tried in vain to entice the loyal border slave states to adopt gradual emancipation policies, by offering to compensate them for their financial losses and to deport those who were freed. Though his overtures were rebuffed, he remained committed, even after his Emancipation Proclamation of 1863, to promoting state-by-state abolition. Lincoln's sustained campaign to shift the balance of power in these states toward antislavery forces worked, as six state governments - Maryland and Missouri, which had never seceded, and Virginia, Arkansas, Louisiana and Tennessee, which were undergoing wartime reconstruction - abolished slavery in the last year of the war. Adding them to the roster of free states made possible the 1865 ratification of the 13th Amendment, which abolished slavery throughout the United States. This course of events was "hardly inevitable," Oakes notes, but "neither was it accidental": Antislavery constitutionalism guided Lincoln's journey down the winding path to emancipation. A commitment to the federal consensus not only drove but also constrained Lincoln. The limits of his egalitarianism - his failure to support full social and political equality for Blacks - were, Oakes surmises, a function of his federalism. Lincoln regarded the right to vote or hold office or marry or attend public schools or serve on juries as state matters, beyond the purview of the federal government; under a federal system, state legislatures retained the power to practice local racial discrimination. In deferring to this notion of states' rights, Lincoln also deferred to discriminatory views and practices. This book represents a shift in Oakes's own thinking. While his 2007 study of Frederick Douglass and Lincoln, "The Radical and the Republican," juxtaposed Douglass the crusading reformer with Lincoln the cautious politician, this volume foregrounds the commonalities between the two men. Lincoln shared with Douglass, Oakes emphasizes, an abiding belief in the abolition movement's core principle of fundamental human equality. Much insight is to be gained by contrasting the antislavery constitutionalism of Douglass and Lincoln with the proslavery constitutionalism of Southern enslavers: Doing so brings into sharp focus the anti-racist qualities of Lincoln's leadership. But Oakes's earlier approach remains salient. Douglass and Lincoln both hated slavery, but "they hated it in different ways," as Oakes has cogently put it. Lincoln's view of Black freedom was considerably narrower than that of Douglass and of the Black resisters and reformers who were the vanguard of the abolition crusade. Understanding the convergence of Lincoln and Douglass is essential for understanding slavery's wartime demise. Acknowledging the persistent fault lines in the North, even among slavery's opponents, is a key to understanding why fundamental rights remained so elusive for Black Americans. - - - Varon is the Langbourne M. Williams professor of American history at the University of Virginia and the author of "Armies of Deliverance: A New History of the Civil War." Christina Ricci's estranged husband James Heerdegen has filed a temporary retraining order against the actress where he makes blistering claims that she is a drunk, pops pills and is a danger to their six-year-old son. In court documents obtained by DailyMail.com, Heerdegen claims that Ricci would get into drunken rages in front of him and their son Freddie, black out and then forget everything she did when she finally came to. Heerdegen also claims that he had to check their son's bottles of breastmilk for fear of it being contaminated with alcohol she drank the night before. 'On those occasions in which I found ''contaminated'' bottles, I would have to throw them out to ensure that our infant was not being fed with alcohol polluted breast milk,' he says in the filing. He also includes embarrassing photos of Ricci 'in a state of severe intoxication wherein she was ''blacked out'' and passed around by numerous third parties who seem to find humor in the situation.' He says the photos 'severely adversely affected my emotional calm and peace of mind.' Friday's filing comes after Ricci detailed how she had to hide knives in the house because she feared Heerdegen could kill her after he allegedly said he would only feel sorry for her if she was 'dismembered into small pieces'. A judge granted Ricci a restraining order against Heerdegen on Wednesday. In court documents obtained by DailyMail.com, James Heerdegen claims that Christina Ricci would get into drunken rages in front of him and their six-year-old son Freddie. They're pictured in January 2019 He also included photos of Ricci 'in a state of severe intoxication wherein she has 'blacked out' and is being passed around by numerous third parties who seem to find humor in the situation' He said the photos of a drunken Ricci 'severely adversely affected my emotional calm and peace of mind' Ricci and Heerdegen seen at Adelaide Airport with their son Freddie in 2018 The documents include messages between Ricci and Heerdegen where she apologizes for her alleged drunken outbursts. 'I get it this time,' Ricci writes. 'This morning was a huge alert'. In other messages Ricci he labels herself a 'monster' and says she's 'detoxing.' Heerdegen claims at one point she was so drunk she fell over while holding their baby in her arms and says she would drive their son in a car while under the influence. He goes on to claim that Ricci once terminated a pregnancy without his knowledge. 'I was particularly devastated upon learning of this,' he said. 'It resulted in a brief separation as I left the family house in order to contemplate whether I wanted to continue on in the marriage. Ultimately I decided to reconcile with Petitioner and moved back into the family.' Heerdegen also tells of a time in August 2015 when they traveled to Savannah, Georgia, while Ricci was filming a show for Amazon. He says they threw a small party for their son who had just turned one. Heerdegen says he left the party and returned to find Ricci drunk which 'resulted in her launching into a drunken tirade in front of my son, informing me that she had slept with a producer on her show, and calling me the most vile of names and making bizarre threats. 'The following day [Ricci] claimed to have no memory of what she had said or done. When I inquired about her statement that she had slept with a producer on the show, she stated to me that she most likely said that in order to ''hurt me''. 'Prior to our separation in June of 2020, [Ricci] would drink to excess on an almost daily basis causing her to engage in emotionally abusive and offensive conduct directed towards me wherein Petitioner during her rants and raves would typically call me a 'fu**ing cu*t,' he writes in the filing. In court documents obtained by DailyMail.com, Heerdegen claims that Ricci would get into drunken rages in front of him and their six-year-old son Freddie. He claims he had to check baby bottles where she pumped her breastmilk for fear of being contaminated with alcohol she drank from the night before The documents include messages between Ricci and Heerdegen where she apologizes for her alleged outbursts. 'I get it this time,' Ricci writes. 'This morning was a huge alert'. In other messages Ricci he labels herself a 'monster' and says she's 'detoxing' Heerdegen claimed Ricci would 'typically ''black out'' after drinking to excess, and upon waking, have no memory of the events and/or abusive conduct that she had engaged in'. While Ricci claims Heerdegen has been violent with her, he says in the filing that she once attacked him while he was on the toilet. The 40-year-old actress 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. But in Heerdegen's filing Friday, he claims any photos she has of her own bruising was caused by her hitting him. Ricci's attorney Samantha Spector said in a statement to DailyMail.com that Heerdegen's filing is 'nothing more than a transparently abusive attempt to silence my client. It will not work. Christina will not be intimidated by Mr. Heerdegen and his barrage of misleading claims and she remains determined to protect her family.' 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 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 Heerdegen claims at one point Ricci was so drunk she fell over while holding their baby in her arms and says she would drive their son in a car while under the influence A judge ordered Heerdegen to remain at least 100 yards away from Ricci and their son Freddie. He also cannot have visitations with the boy and must stay away from the family's dog. 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'. He also claims that her restraining order is a preemptive fabricated strike against him. In Ricci's filing, she 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. 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. Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. New Delhi: The government is planning to help people suffering from autism, mental illnesses, intellectual disability and victims of acid attacks. As a result, such people may soon get quotas in central government jobs and for promotions. The Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) has proposed vacancies, promotion quotas and an age relaxation for those with disabilities in a draft policy. The move may stoke controversy as reservation in promotion for persons with disabilities is before the Supreme Court of India.The vacancies earmarked will be for the posts of office assistants to Indian Administrative Service officers. In case of direct recruitment, four per cent of the total number of vacancies in the cadre strength in each group of the posts, i.e. A, B, C and D, shall be reserved for persons with benchmark disabilities, the DoPT said. Benchmark disabilities have been defined as blindness, low vision, deafness, hardness of hearing, locomotor disability including cerebral palsy, dwarfism, muscular dystrophy and cured leprosy. Besides, acid victims, those with autism, intellectual disability, specific learning disability, mental illnesses and deafblindness (a combination of sight and hearing loss) will also be entitled to one per cent reservation. ALSO READ: Maharashtra govt tells HC it may hike compensation for rape victims Intellectual disability is a condition characterised by significant limitations both in intellectual functioning (reasoning, learning, problem solving) and in adaptive behaviour which covers a range of everyday skills. In case of promotions, four per cent of the total number of vacancies in the cadre strength in each group of posts, i.e in Groups D and C, will be reserved for persons with benchmark disabilities, the guidelines said. Only those with such disabilitieswith not less than 40 per cent of a specified disabilitywill be eligible for reservations in posts/services, the draft said. The provisions have been made to ensure that reservation for people with disabilities is not adjusted against the posts meant for those from Scheduled Caste and Other Backward Classes. Reservation for SCs, STs and OBCs is called vertical reservation and the reservation for categories such as persons with benchmark disabilities and ex-servicemen is called horizontal reservation. READ: Vivek Oberoi gifts new house to acid attack survivor on her wedding Horizontal reservation cuts across vertical reservation (in what is called interlocking reservation) and persons selected against the quota for persons with benchmark disabilities have to be placed in the appropriate category viz SC/ST/OBC/General candidates depending upon the category to which they belong in the roster meant for reservation of SCs/STs/OBCs, it said. The DoPT has sought suggestions on the draft policy from all central government departments within the next 15 days. With PTI inputs For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Advertisement Mick Norcross was seen beaming next to his son Kirk in his final picture taken three weeks before he was found dead aged 57 as shocked TOWIE stars and friends suggested he was battling a secret bout of depression before he died. The Sugar Hut owner, property developer and reality star, who rose to fame as the man behind the nightclub on the hit ITV2 series, was discovered at his mansion in Bulphan, Essex, by emergency services on Thursday afternoon. In a tragic final tweet, posted just hours before his body was found yesterday, he wrote: 'At the end remind yourself that you did the best you could. And that is good enough.' He is survived by his sons Kirk, Mason, Daniel and daughter Hollie. He also has three grandchildren. Mick had sold the Sugar Hut nightclub in 2019 and concentrated on his property businesses. Before his death he was developing the famous Grand Hotel in Leigh-on-Sea near Southend into 18 luxury flats, which remains unfinished. He was also building five luxury houses in Bulphan, called the Bonham Estate, where the asking price for a five-bedroom property is 1.75million. But some of the properties have been on the market since November 2019 and remain unsold. Mick lived in a mansion in the same village, which he designed and built himself. He also had an antiques shop in nearby Brentwood. His money appears to have been tied up in businesses and projects that will have inevitably been hit by the coronavirus pandemic, but it is not known if he was in a financially precarious position before he died. Mick previously admitted having having struggles with mental health and his tendency to erect a 'hard exterior' when the going got tough and struggling to talk to family about problems without it 'turning into a shouting match'. Essex Police have not confirmed the cause of Mick's death, or if it was suicide, but said it was not being treated as suspicious. Former TOWIE co-stars Mark Wright and Mario Falcone hinted that Mick was battling depression and suicidal thoughts, which have increased markedly, especially amongst men, during repeated national lockdowns since last March. Mr Wright tweeted: 'Such a gent. We lost a good one. Let this be ANOTHER reason to check in on people and ask if they are ok. Its imperative we talk. Love to Kirk and the rest of the family. such sad news. Mario wrote on Instagram: 'When I went through my battle with depression and suicide you were the only one from the whole show that reached out and cared about me. You were someone I looked up to and held in the highest regard. The thought of you going through the same pain and emotional darkness I did breaks my heart'. Gemma Collins said: 'You never know what someone is going through'. Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn, an Essex boy and friend of Mick's paid tribute to his 'gentleman' friend and another pal who recently died. He tweeted: 'Two men I know have taken their lives in the last few days. Please if you are struggling, talk to someone close to you', before sharing phone numbers for mental health charities Mind, Samaritans and The Calm Zone. Twice-married Mick was romantically linked to a number of TOWIE stars including Maria Fowler, Chloe Sims and Gemma Collins, before finding love with his former Sugar Hut Honey, Samantha Keahey, who went on to become the nightclub brand's office. Mick and Samantha were last seen together in early December is a series of Instagram photos that appeared to be in his mansion's garden. His son Kirk, 32, who lives with his father, previously revealed that his appearances in the show caused him to consider suicide, telling The Sun in 2019: Reality TV turned me into a monster. Reality TV shows have come under fire in recent years after a spate of stars committed suicide. Caroline Flack, presenter of fellow ITV2 series Love Island, was found dead aged 40 in her home on Valentines Day last year. Mike Thalassitis, 26, and Sophie Gradon, 32, also killed themselves after appearing in Love Island in 2018 and 2019 respectively. And in May 2019, Steve Dymond, 63, killed himself after appearing on The Jeremy Kyle Show, another ITV2 production. Heartbreaking: TOWIE's Mick Norcross was seen beaming next to his son Kirk in his final picture, taken three weeks before he was been found dead aged 57 Mick Norcross was found dead in his Essex Mansion (pictured today) where his son Kirk is also understood to live Mick had sold the Sugar Hut nightclub in 2019 and concentrated on his property businesses. Before his death he was developing the famous Grand Hotel in Leigh-on-Sea into 18 luxury flats (pictured today) Heartbreaking: As well as pictures with Kirk, Mick's girlfriend Samantha Keahey shared a number of shots of the couple, including sweet images taken last month Tragic: Mick haunting last tweet, posted on Thursday morning at 7.17am, read: 'At the end remind yourself that you did the best you could. And that is good enough.' Starring role: The Sugar Hut owner and reality star, who rose to fame as the man behind the nightclub on the hit ITV2 series, was discovered at his home in Bulphan, Essex, by emergency services on Thursday afternoon Heartbreaking: Mick is pictured with his girlfriend Samantha Keahey, who were last seen together last month TOWIE's Mario Falcone reveals Mick Norcross was 'the only one from the show to reach out' during his battle with depression Supportive: Mario Falcone has spoken out about how Mick Norcross reached out to him during the height of his battle with depression on Thursday Mario Falcone has spoken out about how Mick Norcross reached out to him during the height of his battle with depression back in 2012, following the businessman's tragic death on Thursday. The TOWIE star, 32, paid tribute to his former co-star, who was pronounced dead at his home in Essex by emergency services on Thursday afternoon aged 57. Mario, who starred on the show between 2011 and 2018, said he looked up to Mick 'in the highest regard', after the businessman reached out to him when Mario tragically tried to take his own life eight years ago. Grieving: The TOWIE star, 32, paid tribute to his former co-star, who was found dead at his home in Essex by emergency services on Thursday afternoon aged 57 The television personality previously spoke about how he tried to commit suicide during the height of his fame after a painful and televised split with his ex-fiancee Lucy Mecklenburgh. Sharing a photo with former Sugar Hut owner Mick, Mario wrote: 'This one is very hard to accept. I had so much respect and admiration for this man. 'I had the honour of filming with him a lot on TOWIE and also to be good friends away from the show. 'When I went through my battle with depression and suicide you were the only one from the whole show that reached out and cared about me. You were someone I looked up to and held in the highest regard. The thought of you going through the same pain and emotional darkness I did breaks my heart. 'You will be sorely missed by so many! 'Thank you for the many memories in the sugar hut, the wild parties, the advice and dropping me off to get my R8. The world has lost a very good man. 'RIP Mick Norcross.' Advertisement On January 4, Kirk, 32, shared a selfie on Facebook showing him sitting alongside his grinning father, adding the caption: 'Me and the big man', with a heart emoji. Mick is survived by his sons Kirk, Mason, Daniel and daughter Hollie. He also has three grandchildren. The businessman had spoken out about his regrets around appearing on the show which he said he did to promote his nightclub. He said in 2018: My son and I were part of the show for a couple of years but it was very demanding. And what it did to me as a person was quite a strange thing, taking me from somebody nobody really knows to somebody that everyone knows because youre a household name so to speak. In an episode of the programme in 2011, Mick referenced his mental health in a conversation with Kirk, saying: 'Maybe there's bits of my life where I haven't been there for you so it's hard for me to see where I'm going wrong... 'I wasn't there enough for you growing up but I want you to know I'm here for you now. I want to do the things we didn't do and still can do. I'm quite a hard person and it's difficult for me to show my emotions and that's not me making an excuses and it doesn't mean I don't love you and I don't want you around me. 'I just put this hard exterior up sometimes. Any time you get upset let's not end up having a shouting match over it. Talk to me. With women, that's where I push buttons. Unfortunately in what I do, I am surrounded by women from 20 years of age to 35 years of age.' When Kirk voiced concerns over women taking advantage of Mick, he went on: 'Really Kirk it's not your decision, with me you might think I'm having a great time and that but every night I come to this house on my own, I live on my own, it's empty, it's nothing.' On Thursday, Mick sent shockwaves around the TV world when news arose of his passing, and while Kirk has so far remained silent, the haunting last picture has emerged. As well as pictures with Kirk, Mick's girlfriend Samantha Keahey shared a number of shots of the couple last year, including sweet images taken last month. Mick is survived by his sons Kirk, Mason, Daniel and daughter Hollie. He also has three grandchildren. The star made his TOWIE debut in 2011 during the show's second season, while son Kirk was part of the original cast. The businessman was introduced as the owner of Sugar Hut, a nightclub in Brentwood which was a popular filming location for the show. During his time on the show, Mick caught the attention of Gemma Collins, 39, who soon developed a crush on him. One of his most notable storylines was when, at a pool party for the second series finale, Gemma was convinced Mick was bringing a bottle of champagne over to her, but was instead snubbed when the Sugar Hut owner walked past her and presented the bubbly to Lauren Goodger's sister Nicola. Gemma led the tributes, writing on Instagram: 'ALWAYS A GENTLEMAN. Absolutely shocked and saddened by the news. My thoughts and prayers are going out to Kirk family and friends absolutely tragic #ripmicknorcross 'The memories of the early days the sugar hut and the wonderful filming parties you put on will never be forgotten. You never know what someone is going through you was [sic] one of the good guys.' An Essex Police spokesman told MailOnline: 'We were called to an address in Bulphan shortly before 3.15pm on Thursday 21 January. Sadly, a man inside was pronounced dead. His death is not being treated as suspicious and a file will be prepared for the coroner.' Tributes from the property developer's TOWIE co-stars and celebrity friends were soon posted in response to Mick's heartbreaking final tweet. TOWIE veteran James Argent called the property developer: 'A true gentleman & a very kind man'. James, 33, wrote: 'RIP Mick. Many amazing memories, So Sad! My thoughts are with his family.' Mario Falcone, who starred on the show between 2011 to 2018 posted a broken heart emoji, as did Elliott Wright, who appeared on TOWIE between 2010 and 2017. Jamie Reed, who had a brief stint on the reality series, chimed: 'Very sad. RIP'. EOTB star Jess Impiazzi, who was one of Mick's original 'Sugar Hut Honeys' - a group of hostesses in the club - typed: 'Please don't ever feel like no one is there or wants to listen, you matter! You're loved!...And the world is better with you in it. There is always light at the end of the tunnel! I promise.' Mick sold Sugar Hut in 2019, having previously gone on to develop a property portfolio, including The Grand Hotel in Leigh. The businessman shelled out 4.3m for the site back in 2011 and dreamed of turning the derelict building into a boutique hotel,restaurant and spa. However, despite extensive renovation, restoration work took longer than planned and the hotel is still yet to open. The same year Mick bought the hotel, he put his 3.4million converted farmhouse up for sale. The mansion, which was also a regular filming location during his time, was the envy of TOWIE viewers. The estate also boasted a private house where Kirk lived with his girlfriend at the time Lauren Pope, a hot tub and plasma screen TVs. After putting up the house on sale, Mick said, 'I've been here six years and I've completely refurbished this place. Now I'm ready to move on to another project.' Mick was also building five luxury houses in Bulphan, called the Bonham Estate (pictured), close to his home The executive properties (pictured) have an asking price for a five-bedroom property is on the market for 1.75million. Some have been on the market since 2019 Police outside the mansion home of Mick Norcross yesterday evening, after the TOWIE star was found dead earlier this afternoon A police car and a forensic investigation van were parked outside Mr Norcross' home in Bulphan, Essex, after he was found dead on Thursday afternoon Gemma Collins said she was 'absolutely shocked and saddened by the news' as she said Mick was 'always a gentleman' Well loved: Tributes from the property developer's TOWIE co-stars and celebrity friends were soon posted on Mick's heartbreaking final tweet Millionaire: Mick was known as the businessman of Essex on the hit ITV2 show, but eventually sold the Brentwood nightclub in 2019 (pictured) Mick made a hefty profit for 2.2million after buying the house in 2005 for 1.2million. It is the first tragedy to strike the TOWIE cast since Patricia Brooker, known as Nanny Pat, died aged 80 in 2015. Reality TV has been hit with a number of tragic young deaths in recent years, including perhaps most notably, Love Island host Caroline Flack, who took her own life at her north-east London home last February aged 40. Before that, the programme was rocked by the death of Mike Thalassitis, who hanged himself in a park after an alcohol and cocaine binge aged just 26, an inquest was told in 2019. A decade earlier, there was widespread mourning over the death of Big Brother's Jade Goody, who died of cervical cancer at 27, after being hailed for her work in raising awareness and encouraging women to get checked. Reliving the famous scene with Gemma Collins, Mick previously said he regretted reducing the boutique owner to tears in an interview with The Sun that year. He said at the time: 'I had no idea that Gemma was so upset. I think someone may have told her I was going to come over to her rather than Nicola. But I never meant to hurt her. I hate the thought of upsetting anyone.' Mick and Kirk are pictured in a promo shot for 2011's third season of TOWIE Nightclub owner: The businessman rose to fame as the owner of Sugar Hut nightclub on the ITV series The Only Way Is Essex (pictured in 2012) The star made his TOWIE debut in 2011 during the show's second season, while son Kirk was part of the original cast when the show began a year prior. Mick went on to have a brief romance with Maria Fowler, who also starred on the show and was 13 years his junior. He quit TOWIE in 2013, after being left furious the nightclub was being used a battleground on the show. Sugar Hut became known for its high-publicised feuds on the show with huge rows between central characters such as Mark Wright and Lauren Goodger, as well as former on-off couple Chloe Sims and Mark's cousin Elliott. He told The Sun at the time of his departure: 'My club is an upmarket venue where people come to drink champagne and feel spoiled. All these rows they keep filming don't show the club in a good light and I'm worried it's putting people off coming, which is the last thing I want.' Mick described his time on TOWIE as 'very demanding' and 'what it did to me as a person was quite a strange thing' as he struggled from being 'somebody nobody really knows' to 'a household name so to speak'. Sweet: Mick is pictured at the 2012 Inside Soap Awards alongside his fleet of hostesses, the Sugar Hut Honeys - including Love Island winner Hannah Elizabeth (seen kissing the star) Heartache: Love Island star Mike Thalassitis and host Caroline Flack both died from suicide in 2019 and 2020 respectively Drama: When TOWIE debuted in 2010, Sugar Hut was the place to be and where much of the drama unfolded (Jessica Wright, Lauren Goodger, Amy Childs, Mark Wright and James Argent pictured in 2011) Shock: Mick's nightclub was a key feature on the show, which also starred his fleet of hostesses - known as The Sugar Hut Honeys (pictured) He said during an interview with Echo News about why he joined TOWIE in 2018 that 'it was a decision I took just to try to manoeuvre the business - the Sugar Hut - in the right way, I needed it to be portrayed in the right light and being part of the show that was the only way I could do that.' Mick added: 'I didn't want them to just come and ride roughshod over the business and portray it how they wanted, people having fights in the club and what have you. 'That would never be right and even the relationship with my son, I needed that to come across right. But it got to the stage where it really wasn't where I needed to be in life.' Mick pictured at the Royal World Premiere of 'Skyfall' at Royal Albert Hall on October 23, 2012 in London HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (AP) Nearly $20,000 in reward money is being offered for information about vandalism last year on a north Alabama synagogue and Jewish center that were painted with anti-Semitic graffiti. Police hope the money will lead to arrests in the attacks on Etz Chayim Synagogue and Chabad of Huntsville, which were vandalized on back-to-back nights in April. Huntsville Police Chief Mark McMurray says investigators have a person of interest. Surveillance camera footage has investigators looking for someone who walked with a limp and appeared to have a prosthetic left leg. They say the person may have been driving a light-colored, older Toyota Prius. A new economic viability analysis on Friday revealed that renewable energy along with battery storage in is cost competitive with new coal power plants. The report finds the levelized cost of energy for a hypothetical hybrid, solar, wind and li-ion battery storage system for the state to be Rs 4.97/kWh in 2021, which falls to Rs 3.4/kWh by 2030. In comparison, cost of electricity produced from new coal power plants in is between Rs 4.5-6/kWh. The hybrid system is designed to cater to 1GW of solar and wind capacity in 2021 with two hours of battery backup, which increases step wise to a four-hour backup by 2030. The research further highlighted that lithium-based battery storage systems could also help reduce curtailment of renewable energy. Close to 50 per cent of solar power in was curtailed since the lockdown in March 2020. Similarly, its curtailment of wind power in 2019 went up to 3.52hours per day from 1.87 hours per day in 2018. "Our analysis found that the cost of hybrid RE with battery storage system is at parity with new coal power plants in Tamil Nadu. Moreover, in 10-year time, incremental capacity addition would further drive down the cost by over 31 per xent," said Jyoti Gulia, founder of JMK Research and Analysis. The analysis, released by Climate Trends and JMK Research and Analytics, tracks the system from an initial capacity of 800 MW of solar and 200 MW of wind along with 500 MWh of storage, that would cater to Tamil Nadu's average annual power demand for two hours per day from 2021-2023. Its capacity is augmented to three hours of daily backup for 2024-2026, and then four hours per day for 2027-2030. In the last year, the hybrid system would meet 29 per cent of Tamil Nadu's average annual power demand at a competitive levelized cost of energy (LCOE) of Rs 3.4/kWh. It also puts into perspective that Tamil Nadu has five new thermal power projects in its pipeline over the next three years. The Cheyyur ultra mega coal power plant is the biggest of these projects with a tariff of Rs 5-6/kWh, which would be 32 to 43 per cent more expensive than the system modelled in the analysis. "Tamil Nadu has got the largest installed renewable energy capacity and it leads India's energy transition efforts, yet it also has the largest coal power pipeline in the country. Since RE with battery storage works out to be cheaper than coal, perhaps TANGEDCO and other state power generation companies need to reconsider the coal pipeline," Aarti Khosla, Director, Climate Trends, told IANS. Also, if this hypothetical, solar and wind-powered storage system were to wheel all of its energy to Delhi, even after accounting for interstate transmission system charges it could cover 100 per cent of Delhi's average yearly electricity demand by 2030 at an LCOE of Rs 4.4/kWh. "The system thus demonstrates that RE coupled with battery storage is a technically and financially viable option to building new coal capacity. At the same time, it would be a dispatchable source of power that addresses the grid integration of intermittent solar and wind power," added Jyoti. --IANS vg/in (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The exterior of Central Men's Jail in Santa Ana, Calif., on Jan. 25, 2016. (AP Photo/Nick Ut) Suspected Killer Becomes Second Inmate to Die From COVID-19 Related Complications Orange Countys second inmate to die from COVID-19 related complications was awaiting trial for attempted homicide and suspicion of homicide charges. Ah Le Fang, 37, was arrested and booked August 2017 by the Fullerton Police Department after he was suspected of stabbing his mother and her boyfriend with a knife inside the apartment where they lived together with his older sister. Fang tested positive for COVID-19 last December and was transferred to a local hospital on Jan. 6, the Orange County Sheriffs Department (OCSD) said in a Jan. 21 press release. Fangs jury trial was set for July; he in 2018 pleaded not guilty to the suspicion of homicide and attempted murder charges. The inmates death came as Sheriff Don Barnes faces a legal order from a Superior Court judge to release 50 percent of the countys jail population due to a coronavirus outbreak in the prison population. The lawsuit was filed by the American Civil Liberties Union who claimed that inmates are getting hurt by being forced to stay in prison during an outbreak that can be lethal to the medically vulnerable. Barnes has continued to appeal the order, saying that it would be extremely dangerous for the community at large if 1,800 inmates were released. As of Jan. 22, there were 55 inmates positive for the virus. There have been 2,270 inmates who have tested positive since the beginning of the pandemic. On the day of the crime, Fangs mother, 50-year-old Lu Thao, called Fullerton police to report that she had been attacked. When officers arrived at the apartment, they found Thao outside who had been stabbed in the abdomen. Thaos boyfriend, 75, was stabbed in the arm. Both victims were taken to the local hospital, where Thao was pronounced dead. Fang died about a month after the first county inmate suffered fatal COVID-19 complications. Eddie Lee Anderson, 68, died Dec. 18 after testing his positive for the disease. He was also on trial for murder related to the 1976 rape and killing of Leslie Penrod Harris. With files from City News Service by Silvina Premat The South American country is a popular destination for those who want to escape the war in Syria with their entire family. The work of the Catholic community and Christian-inspired NGOs. A response to the call of Pope Francis. Migrants thank the Argentine people for their humanity. Buenos Aires (AsiaNews) - Emigrating from Syria and adapting to a totally different country was not easy for Fadi Ali. A native of the city of Latakia, he marks five in Argentina in March where he is both "happy and very grateful": next month he will in fact obtain Argentine citizenship. He is a "forced migrant". This is the term used by local volunteers from non-governmental organizations working to welcome Syrians, whom others call "refugees". Fadi and his wife decided to leave Syria after living in the midst of the war for almost a decade. Fadi had a good job, but the fear of losing a loved one in a bomb blast was stronger. "Afterwards you can't get them back and it goes without saying that we should have done this or that," the Syrian refugee, an agricultural engineer who is now director of a textile company in Buenos Aires, where he lives with his family, told AsiaNews. He and his wife chose a country so distant and unknown because it allowed them to emigrate with their two small children. "Leaving them alone was not an option for me - remembers Fadi - as many of my compatriots do who go to a European state, settle down and then do all the paperwork to bring their families. It takes years. I couldn't leave my family in Syria; I wanted us to go away all together and the other nations would not allow it. Thanks to the Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, who acted as intermediaries, and to a community that welcomed them in Buenos Aires, the difficulties of integrating Syrian migrants were less than usual. "In the beginning - says Fadi - it is very difficult because you leave everything, your family and your memories, and because you do not know the language, the country and the people". He explains that for the first months he communicated in English and then took an intensive Spanish course and was also able to work as an interpreter in the government program to welcome Syrians. This program is called "Programa Syria, but all of its outcomes are not always happy ones. Several religious-inspired NGOs then started networking and two years ago made it possible to replicate in Argentina the community patronage, a collaborative model launched in Canada and adopted today in many European countries. It facilitates the interaction between international organizations, government programs and civil society groups that care for migrants and refugees. Among the most active entities are the Adventist Development and Relief Agency, the Amal Foundation, Youth with a Mission (of Baptist Christians) and Manos Abiertas, an apostolic work linked to the Society of Jesus. The evangelicals took on a request that in the strictest sense was not aimed at them: the appeal launched in 2015 by Pope Francis to European Catholics to welcome those who "flee death from war and famine". Collaboration with the International Organization for Migration and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees has enabled these and other humanitarian groups to welcome a dozen Syrian families to Argentina. Volunteers accompany and assist migrants from the airport until their integration into society. Administrative and managerial work is complicated, it takes time and energy. It's the hardest part, but everyone does it as a service, as part of the mission. The best thing is to be with families, says Marta Irigoy, leader of Manos Abiertas. International and local restrictions due to the Covid-19 pandemic have delayed the departure for Argentina of another dozen Syrian families. This has raised the expectations of those waiting for their arrival: Ours is a mustard seed - says Irigoy. A grain that can have enormous significance for migrants. Fadi Ali testifies to this. From a Muslim family, he does not practice any religion: "I have my own way of communicating with God". He adds that in the midst of a conflict like the one in Syria, faith can be lost. It is because of the sadness of all that one is forced to see; something that prompts you to ask yourself: "Where is God?". Fadi says at one point he thought that he was alone in this world. When I arrived in Argentina, however, I saw that there are still human beings, there are people who care about others, who have the ability to love and help. For me, God is not much more than that. It is pure love between us. It is care for others. It is feeling the pain of the other even if there are no family relationships or languages in common. When we arrived there was no way to communicate, but the love they showed us, the patience they had for us was a great motivation". As a form of gratitude, Fadi wrote and gave the nun who welcomed him and his family to Argentina a prayer inspired by his experience: My Lord, I searched for you for a long time with empty eyes and a closed heart. I have looked for you everywhere and in every dark corner of this life. In the frightened eyes of those who have no home and who have no hope. I have tried to hear your voice in the sounds of war and the cries of the oppressed. I've been so close to losing you forever ... but I finally found you. Not in a large mosque or a fancy church. I found Your light shining in the hearts of those people who now surround me. My Lord, you found me while I spent my life looking for you in other places. May Your glory shine in the hearts of those who live in darkness. May Your Holy Name give peace to those who have lost everything. May Your Holy Name bless this place and those who have given us hope and prove that humanity will ultimately triumph. Ohio Republican congressman Steve Stivers has said $1,400 stimulus checks should only go to people who take the coronavirus vaccine, despite the government's slow rollout meaning less than 6 percent of the population have so far been able to get the shot. Stivers told Yahoo Finance Live on Thursday he does not support President Joe Biden's plan to deliver a third stimulus check of $1,400 to millions of Americans financially impacted by the pandemic. But the congressman said he would be willing to come around to the idea if the funds are directed only to Americans who take the vaccine because he said this would 'buy' herd immunity. Experts have said herd immunity - or when enough of the population is vaccinated to stop the spread of the virus - could come when around 70 to 90 per cent of the population gets its shots. Stivers did not go into detail about how his plan would work so it is not clear if he proposes people should only receive the checks once the shots have gone physically gone into their arms - something that for Americans not on current priority lists is many months away. For many Americans it is not a matter of choice to get the vaccine. Instead, they're at the mercy of the nation's dismal vaccination program that has been racked with delays from the get-go. The vast majority want to be vaccinated, with more than 60 percent of Americans saying they will definitely or probably get the vaccine when it is available to them, according to a Washington Post-ABC News poll last week. Meanwhile a separate survey by CNN found 41 percent of Americans would get the vaccine as soon as possible if it became available to them. People feel they are being held up by issues with the rollout, with 59 percent saying vaccine distribution in their state is moving too slowly and 57 percent saying the process for getting a vaccine in their state has not been properly explained. Though most want to get the shot, just 5.6 percent of Americans have so far been vaccinated and only 18.4 million doses administered, according to Bloomberg data, meaning Stivers' plan could pose a double disadvantage to many of both waiting for a vaccine and waiting for some much-needed financial relief. Ohio Republican congressman Steve Stivers has said $1,400 stimulus checks should only go to people who take the coronavirus vaccine, despite the government's slow rollout meaning less than 6 percent of the population have so far been able to get the shot 'It's so important that we build herd immunity as soon as we can,' said Stivers. 'While I am not for giving $1,400 stimulus check for anything, I would be willing to sign off on a stimulus check of $1,400 for people who take the vaccine. 'I hope the administration will look at that option because we actually buy something with our $1,400 - and that's herd immunity.' Stivers said the nation should only increase is debt 'for the right things' - which he said means recovery from the coronavirus pandemic and herd immunity. Herd immunity, according to Dr. Anthony Fauci, one of the leaders of the US's anti-coronavirus efforts, could come when around 70 to 90 per cent of the population is vaccinated. That's a far cry from the current vaccination rate of under 6 percent. 'The quickest thing we need to do if we really want to help the American people, is get this economy turned back on - get people back to work, get kids back in school, get ourselves some herd immunity, get the vaccine distributed as quick as we can and get the uptake rate up,' he said. 'That's why I'd be willing to accept a $1,400 stimulus check if people were willing to take the vaccine.' Stivers said he believes Republicans and Democrats can 'come together on' a stimulus package and reach some common ground. 'There will be things we disagree on that's how America works but hopefully there are things we can come together on,' he said. He added: 'Well clearly the vaccine distribution getting that out as quickly as we can that is very, very important. That is super important.' Americans blasted Stivers' comments on social media, pointing out that many do not have access to the vaccine and that this will just hold up getting funds to people financially hard-hit by the pandemic. 'Does this moron realize a very large part of the population doesnt have access to the vaccine and have no idea when we will be able to get it,' one person wrote. Stivers told Yahoo Finance Live Thursday he does not support President Joe Biden's plan to deliver a third stimulus check of $1,400 to millions of Americans financially impacted by the pandemic but would agree if it only goes to vaccinated Americans Americans blasted Stivers' comments on social media, pointing out that many do not have access to the vaccine and that this will just hold up getting funds to people financially hard-hit by the pandemic 'Good idea though Steve, hold up more stimulus money for struggling Americans.' Another agreed: 'You have a lot of nerve @SteveStivers. Especially knowing that thousands and thousands of people dont have access to it yet.' 'What about people who desperately need the money but have no access to the vaccine, possibly for months? Not surprising to see this kind of regressive policy idea from GOP,' fumed another person. Others blasted the forceful tactic saying it takes away the right to 'medical freedom', or the right to choose not to be vaccinated. 'Really? what happened to medical freedom?' one person wrote. DailyMail.com has contacted Stivers' office for clarification on his proposal and for comment. His office didn't immediately respond. Days before he took office, Biden unveiled his $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief plan which includes $1,400 stimulus checks for Americans. Congress will need to pass the relief bill before funds could be rolled out. This would mark the third round of checks after the federal government issued $1,200 payments in April and $600 checks in January. The $1,400 checks would take the latest round to $2,000. This was the amount Democrats led by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi - and an unlikely ally of Donald Trump - had pushed for but was blocked by then-Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. Biden said he hopes for bipartisan support but Republicans are expected to object to the plan. A person receives the vaccine in Arizona. For many Americans it is not a matter of choice to get the vaccine but that they are falling foul to the nation's dismal vaccination program that has been racked with delays from the get-go Though most want to get the shot, just 5.6 percent of Americans have so far been vaccinated and only 18.4 million doses administered, according to Bloomberg data On Tuesday, Senator Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania said Biden's plan 'would be a colossal waste and economically harmful.' While Stivers plan to withhold the checks from Americans who do not get the vaccine could incentivize people to get the vaccine it could put some of the most vulnerable at risk. Once people are vaccinated, they will be protected from contracting coronavirus meaning it is safer for them to return to work. But those not vaccinated will still be at risk - and possibly not able to go to work, or at least attend work in-person - meaning it could be argued they are in greater need of financial assistance. Research also shows the majority of Americans want to be vaccinated yet for those not in high-risk categories, it could be many months before they get the chance to get a shot. To date, just 18.4 million doses have been administered across the US, with an average of 939,973 doses administered per day in the last week, according to data from Bloomberg. The Trump administration had set a goal of inoculating 20 million Americans by the end of December, while Trump even claimed they would reach 100 million vaccinations in that time frame. The federal government failed to deliver on this target, and just shy of 38 million doses had been delivered to the states as of Monday. But state rollouts have also been plagued by issues in administering the doses once they reach officials on the ground. So far, just 47.2 percent of all doses that have reached states have been administered to the American public with more than half sitting unused. This week, California's state epidemiologist said it could take until June to vaccinate all residents aged 65 and over, pushing back the timeline for younger people to start getting the shot by at least four months. And New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said it will take six months to vaccinate the current priority list including people aged 65 and over, the immunocompromised and healthcare workers with the current rate of supply. The US's woeful vaccination program comes as the nation passed the grim milestone of 400,000 COVID-19 deaths this week while infections have now topped 24.6 million. Biden has pledged to administer 100 million vaccines in his first 100 days in office. 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. President Joe Biden announced his promise to get 100 million Americans vaccinated in his first 100 days last week 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. Stivers told Yahoo Trump's impeachment trial could delay legislation - including the coronavirus relief bill - being passed. 'Last time the impeachment trial took six weeks in the Senate. And it doesn't take six weeks to go through the evidence. It takes six weeks because under the Senate rules everybody wants to talk and everybody gets to talk and so it will likely take at least four weeks,' he said. 'And the big thing it will slow down in the senate is the confirmation of President Biden's cabinet but then it will take up floor time that could be used to pass the coronavirus package, an infrastructure package, housing packages,' he said.. 'So I wish we weren't spending time impeaching somebody that is already gone but that horse is already out of the barn I guess.' We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form Would you like to receive breaking news notifications from The Post and Courier? Sign up to receive news and updates from this site directly to your desktop. Breaking News Columbia Breaking News Greenville Breaking News Myrtle Beach Breaking News Aiken Breaking News Click on the bell icon to manage your notifications at any time. Success! Please click the 'Allow' button in the 'Show Notifcations' alert in your browser if one is available. Thank you for signing up! Please enable notifications in your browser and reload the page. The company said it would have to prevent Australians from accessing its search engine (Andrew Matthews/PA) Google has threatened to make its search engine unavailable in Australia if the government goes ahead with plans to make tech giants pay for news content. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison quickly hit back, saying we dont respond to threats. Mr Morrisons comments came after Mel Silva, the managing director of Google Australia and New Zealand, told a Senate inquiry into the bill the new rules would be unworkable. The mandatory code of conduct proposed by the government aims to make Google and Facebook pay Australian media companies fairly for using news content they siphon from news sites. Australia makes our rules for things you can do in Australia. Scott Morrison Ms Silva said: 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. And that would be a bad outcome not only for us, but also for the Australian people, media diversity, and the small businesses who use our products every day. Ms Silva said it was willing to pay a wide and diverse group of news publishers for the value they added, but not under the rules as proposed, which included payments for links and snippets. She said the codes biased arbitration model also posed unmanageable financial and operational risks for Google and suggested a series of tweaks to the bill. We feel there is a workable path forward, she said. Expand Close Facebook has also spoken out against the plans (Niall Carson/PA) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Facebook has also spoken out against the plans (Niall Carson/PA) Like in many other countries, Google dominates internet searches in Australia, with Ms Silva telling senators about 95% of searches in the nation are done through the company. Mr Morrison, speaking to reporters in Brisbane, said: Australia makes our rules for things you can do in Australia. Thats done in our Parliament. Its done by our government. And thats how things work here in Australia. Facebook also opposes the rules and has threatened to remove news stories from its site in Australia. Simon Milner, a Facebook vice president, said the sheer volume of deals it would have to strike would be unworkable. The Australia Institute, an independent think tank, said politicians should stand firm against Googles bullying. Googles testimony today is part of a pattern of threatening behaviour that is chilling for anyone who values our democracy, said Peter Lewis, the director of the institutes Centre for Responsible Technology. Ayodhya, Jan 22 : The Ram Mandir Trust in Ayodhya claimed on Friday that the hurdle in the way of the construction of the foundation of Ram Mandir has been cleared after the second session of the brainstorming meeting with engineers from Larsen and Tubro and Tata Group at the Faizabad circuit house. The Trust announced that it has finalised the design for the foundation, which is being prepared in Mumbai and will be ready by February. Grand puja was performed on Thursday and Friday at the Ram Janambhoomi site to mark the resumption of construction activity which was halted two months back when a water stream of river Saryu was found under its premises. Talking to IANS, Anil Mishra, one of the trustees, said that digging has started around the sanctum sanctorum and the proposed temple building, and it will take almost 70 days to remove the debris following which work on the base of the temple will start. For the base of the temple, the digging will go 40 feet below the ground level and from that level the base will be built using stones and some other similar materials. A retaining wall will also be built along with the base. The chairman of the Ram Janmabhoomi Construction Committee, Nripendra Mishra, took part in the grand puja. 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. Actor Varun Dhawan is set to tie the knot with his long-time girlfriend, fashion designer Natasha Dalal, on Sunday, according to the actor's uncle Anil Dhawan. Varun and Natasha did their schooling together and have been in a long-term relationship. Even though Varun's uncle has confirmed the actor's marriage rumours, there has been no official announcement about the wedding date from Varun's side. Recently, when paparazzo congratulated Varun on the wedding news, the actor responded hilariously. In a video, which has now gone viral on social media, the photographer is seen telling Varun, "Shaadi Mubarak", to which the actor replied, "Teri shaadi ho gayi? Bachche bhi ho gaye? Congratulations!" View this post on Instagram A post shared by Voompla (@voompla) Reports suggest that Varun and Natasha will tie the knot in an intimate ceremony in Alibaug. It is also being reported that the wedding will be attended by just 50 guests, including Shah Rukh Khan, Karan Johar, and Salman Khan. David Dhawan was recently spotted at designer Manish Malhotra's store with son, Rohit Dhawan, and daughter-in-law, Jhanvi. It has also come to light that designer Kunal Rawal might style Varun's wedding wardrobe. Unconfirmed reports doing the rounds of media have said that the wedding will be a three-day affair, from January 22 to 24, and will be conducted as per the Hindu rituals. On the work front, Varun was last seen in Coolie No. 1, which opened to negative reviews. He is currently busy with the shooting of Jug Jugg Jeeyo. The concept worked temporarily for Bush, long enough to get him re-elected. In that case, the alternative reality was that the US-led invasion of Iraq was justified, necessary and successful. All false, and ultimately all seen to be false. But at the time Bush and his vice-president, Dick Cheney, were strikingly successful in misleading their nation. And they managed to do it without the help of so-called social media, truly an Orwellian misnomenclature for one of the most socially divisive forces in contemporary civilisation. Bush had already been re-elected by the time Facebook and Twitter launched operations. Yet Bush had a much easier sell. He had to persuade an America unsettled by the 9/11 attacks that it was cool to invade a faraway Arab country that most Americans already considered a hostile state. He merely had to conflate Iraqs Saddam Hussein with Al Qaedas Osama bin Laden and muddy the waters a bit to win public support for his big lie. Mission accomplished. Trump had the advantage of fully fledged anti-social media to work with. Critically, he also had the advantage of another decade of American failure on his side shocking inequalities of wealth and opportunity, failing wars fought with the lives and limbs of the American underclass, a paralysing opioid plague, ever-deepening cultural divides and racial resentments. The conditions for the rise of an authoritarian were ripe. A couple of centuries of American democracy are feeble defence against these historical forces for human discontent. Indeed, the American historians Will and Ariel Durant predicted as much more than half a century ago. They distilled the threefold warning that emerged from their 11-volume survey, The Story of Civilisation. Even though they were writing in 1968, at a time when democracy was sounder than ever before, as they describe it in their overview essay titled The Lessons of History. Loading One: If race or class war divides us into hostile camps, changing political arguments into blind hate, one side or the other may overturn the hustings with the rule of the sword. Two: If our economy of freedom fails to distribute wealth as ably as it has created it, the road to dictatorship will be open to any man who can persuasively promise security to all. Three: If a war continues to absorb and dominate [a democracy], or if the itch to rule the world requires a large military establishment and appropriation, the freedoms of democracy may one by one succumb to the discipline of arms and strife. The Durants didnt posit that you needed all three or even two of these conditions to overturn a democracy. Any one might suffice. And in America, the first two preconditions were present for Trump to exploit. And arguably some elements of the third as well. Trump exploited these crises by decrying them as American carnage and promising populist solutions. Populism has many definitions; the one I prefer is a political style offering unworkably simplistic solutions to complex problems. Loading One. Fix the race problem by shutting out Muslims and Mexicans and encouraging white supremacists. This only inflamed the hate, which Trump then sought to own and direct. Two. Fix the economy by blaming China and others for problems, putting tariffs on imports and handing out tax cuts. This only aggravated inequality and stoked the national debt, while Trump & Family profited personally. Three. Fix the forever wars by dismissing Americas commitments to US allies and bringing all the troops home. This did offer the prospect of relief to overworked troops, but weakened the Western alliance and encouraged Vladimir Putin in the process. And when circumstance delivered a pandemic, he produced a populist response to that, too. Blame China for inflicting it, and the Democrats and media for perpetuating it. Loading The power of Trumps achievement in overcoming reality was a marvel of manipulation. He knew exactly what he was doing. From the first. Remember his easy dismissal of inconvenient information as fake news. And, challenged by reporters in the act of making things up, he gave a pathbreaking attribution to authoritative sourcing: All I know is whats on the internet. Which, of course, is everything and nothing. When he was inaugurated, his spokeswoman Kellyanne Conway defended Trumps exaggerated claims of the number of adoring fans whod supposedly turned out in support. The administration had simply presented alternative facts, she said. This caused a stir at the time, yet now looks innocent compared with the monstrosity of Trumps perversions of pandemic reality that it would just go away like a miracle while 400,000 Americans died in the meantime. And to the last. In his efforts to overturn Joe Bidens election win, Trump was fully conscious of reality but orchestrated the alternative reality he wanted America to swallow. Some of his cynical manipulations were recorded by the former Sydney Morning Herald reporter Jonathan Swan this week for Axios. President Trump was sitting in the Oval Office one day in late November when a call came in from lawyer Sidney Powell. Ugh, Sidney, he told the staff in the room before he picked up. Shes getting a little crazy, isnt she? Shes really gotta tone it down. No one believes this stuff. Its just too much. Loading He put the call on speakerphone for the benefit of his audience. Powell was raving about a national security crisis involving the Iranians flipping votes in battleground states. Trump pressed mute and laughed mockingly. Powell, a former government attorney, filed four law suits in efforts to overturn the election result. It was clear that Trump recognised how unhinged his outside legal advisers were, wrote Swan: But Trump promoted Powell as part of his team. Sometimes you need a little crazy, Trump told one official. At the outset of his prime ministership Scott Morrison flirted with Trumpist populism. Remember his proposal to mimic Trump by moving the embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem? His whack at negative globalism? His sharing the stage with Trump at a political event in Ohio? Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney is considering a run for Pennsylvanias open U.S. Senate seat next year, according to a source with direct knowledge of his thinking, even as he continues to also weigh a possible campaign for governor. The priority is the pandemic and getting everybody vaccinated. Thats his primary focus, among other issues, the source said, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss private conversations with Kenney. But the governors race and possibly the Senate race are considerations. The long list of Pennsylvania politicians whose names are already being floated as potential 2022 candidates for open seats in Washington and Harrisburg can be split into two groups: candidates likely to actually launch campaigns, and those seeking the political boost that can come from just expressing interest. Time will tell if Kenney is a serious candidate or just serious about being considered a candidate. In a wide-ranging interview Tuesday, Kenney said a run for higher office is not my plan at the moment. The future remains to be seen, he said, adding that he didnt decide to run for mayor six years ago until relatively late in the election cycle. Kenney political adviser Brandon Evans said in a statement Friday that while the governors office or the U.S. Senate may be future considerations for Mayor Kenney, he is focused right now on confronting COVID-19 getting as many people vaccinated as quickly as possible and reviving the citys economy. Kenney first emerged as a potential gubernatorial contender in late 2019, just before he easily secured a second term in City Hall. Many city and state political watchers doubt Kenney will ultimately pull the trigger on a statewide run. Kenney began his second term last year and cannot run for a third, meaning his influence in City Hall could wane as he wades further into lame-duck status. In the world of politics, having your name in the mix is always important, said City Councilmember Maria Quinones Sanchez, a Democrat and frequent Kenney critic. No one wants to embrace a lame-duck status. For the people around him, it is very important that his name continues to be out there. Under the citys Home Rule Charter, Kenney would have to resign as mayor to begin campaigning for another office, and City Council President Darrell L. Clarke would become mayor. READ MORE: Pat Toomey's retirement makes the 2022 elections in Pennsylvania a total free-for-all Kenney fueled speculation that he may run for statewide office last summer when he launched a statewide political action committee that he told supporters would be used to boost progressive candidates. Thats a standard political move to build support and name recognition. The PAC has raised $95,000, almost entirely in large checks from labor unions, according to the campaign finance website Transparency USA including $25,000 from the local carpenters union and $5,000 from the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers. Pennsylvanias Senate race is already considered one of the most competitive in the country and will help determine which party controls the chamber after the midterm elections. Sen. Pat Toomey, a Lehigh Valley Republican, announced in October that he wont seek a third term or run for governor in 2022. A stampede of candidates in both parties are expected to run. The gubernatorial race is also expected to draw a large number of candidates, with Gov. Tom Wolf, a Democrat, term-limited against running again. State Attorney General Josh Shapiro is widely seen as the early Democratic front-runner in that contest. No clear front-runner has emerged in the Democratic primary for the Senate race, although Lt. Gov. John Fetterman is making a play for the role. Fetterman, who is from Braddock and unsuccessfully sought the partys Senate nomination in 2016, announced his interest in the race two weeks ago. He said Friday that hes raised more than $925,000 in campaign cash since then. READ MORE: Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. John Fetterman is eyeing a run for Senate in 2022 The cast of potential Democratic Senate candidates could present challenges for Kenney. State Sen. Sharif Street, for instance, has expressed an interest and could encroach on the mayors geographic base. State Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta of Philadelphia, U.S. Rep. Chrissy Houlahan of Chester County, and Montgomery County Commissioner Valerie Arkoosh are also said to be eyeing the race, which could further divide Democratic support in Southeastern Pennsylvania. And Fetterman may complicate any hopes Kenney has of running as the most progressive candidate in the field a mantle that was already in danger following widespread criticism of the citys heavy-handed response to last summers protests against police brutality. People [in the progressive movement] are not particularly excited about him pursuing higher offices, said Amanda McIllmurray, political director for the progressive group Reclaim Philadelphia. He really let the Philadelphia community down in the summer in response to the uprisings. Former U.S. Rep. Lou Barletta, a Hazleton Republican who may run for governor, served four terms in the House before unsuccessfully challenging Sen. Bob Casey (D., Pa.) in 2018. If he runs to replace Wolf, he expects to face Shapiro, who Barletta said has pretty well filled the lane for governor among Democrats in the state. Barletta said the lack of a clear-cut leader in the Senate primaries will draw many potential candidates, including some who will likely never enter the race. I think youre always going to have some candidates who may not have serious intentions but want to begin to get statewide name ID, Barletta said. One way to build it is to float your name even if you dont have an intention of running. I think youre going to see a lot of that, people now saying they have interest but in the end bowing out. Staff writer Laura McCrystal contributed to this article. With the countrys notoriously fickle internet connectivity and the continuing danger of physical contact, I find books a safe remedy to the growing loneliness of lockdown. Many local cultural workers and institutions, despite the punishing circumstances of this current crisis, are putting out work, which deserve a much larger audience. This 2021, you can expand your reading list and consider these Filipino writers and publishers. National Publishers The countrys biggest publishers often still have books worth checking out. Anvil Publishing has repackaged several Filipino classics for a contemporary audience, including Manuel Arguilla, Lope K. Santos, and the always fabulous Nick Joaquin. Books from the dearly departed Visprint Inc Bob Ongs bestsellers, Agay Llaneras heartfelt Choco Chip Hips, Kikomachine, and Trese comics have found a second life in Avenida Books. Bookmark Inc. has an online shop with a rich selection of childrens books, Philippine histories, and texts on indigenous culture, environmentalism and popular science. They also sell many affordable literary classics, like Nick Joaquins The Woman Who Had Two Navels, the short story collections of Bienvenido Santos, the novels of NVM Gonzales and Azucena Grajo Uranza, and titles from the grande dame of Philippine letters, Gilda Cordero-Fernando. I particularly love Bookmarks translations of Rizals Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo by Soledad Lacson-Locsin. These translations retain the lyrical, playful language of the original texts, along with all the bombastic drama and romance of Rizals writing. Sandra Nicole Roldans At the School Gate is another noteworthy book. Following an activists daughter as she navigates the perils of Ferdinand Marcos martial law, At the School Gate is an important account of how fascism debilitates the happiness and security of everyday life. Selections from New Day Publishers (Doctor to the Barrios by Juan M. Flavier), Bookmark Inc. (At the School Gate by Sandra Nicole Roldan and Noli Me Tangere by Jose Rizal) and Anvil Publishing (The Essential Manuel Arguilla Reader and Banaag at Sikat by Lope K. Santos). New Day Publishers is a pioneering national press that has expanded to Shopee. They offer fiction and non-fiction books: Pugad Baboy comics, Moro histories, and a biography of Josephine Bracken. Another great set of New Day titles are Juan M. Flaviers series on working in the countryside. Flavier portrays rural communities with generous humor and humanity. Finally, Adarna House possesses a colorful assortment of literature for children that can be appreciated by all ages. They released one of my favorite books of 2020, Si Laleng at ang Lakbay-Paaralan, which shows the challenges and triumphs of an Indigenous bakwit school, and the terrors of a militarized society. RELATED: Our best Filipino books of 2020 University Presses The University of the Philippines Press, Ateneo de Manila University Press, the University of Santo Tomas University Press, and the Cordillera Studies Center all have online shops, and I always exercise a significant amount of self-control to just browse and not buy. UP Press continues to publish literature with a progressive and sometimes revolutionary perspective. Gelacio Guillermos Mga Tula and Benilda Santos Kuwadro Numero Uno are two poetry collections imbued with startling grace and power, probing everything from the feudal violence in the nations countryside to the nature of consciousness and being. Lualhati Abreus Agaw-Dilim, Agaw-Liwanag is a harrowing autobiography of an activist during the countrys most tumultuous periods, and illustrates the shortcomings but ultimate necessity of revolution. And if youre looking for something a bit more lighthearted but written with equal skill, theres Jhoanna Lynn Cruzs Abi Nako, a memoir on motherhood and the literary equivalent of a drag queen at the height of her bombastic powers. Ateneo Press carries books by prominent cultural critics like Soledad Reyes and Rolando Tolentino, popular Tagalog writers Liwayway Arceo and Rosario de Guzman-Lingat, and National Artists Resil Mojares, Amado V. Hernandez, and Rolando S. Tinio. Ateneo Press also sells H. Arlo Nimmos The Songs of Salanda, a devastatingly heartbreaking and beautiful account of an anthropologist living with the Sama Dilaut of Tawi-Tawi, years before martial law upended their ways of life. And with the threat of historical revisionism growing worse each day, Ricardo Manapats Some Are Smarter Than Others documents the extensive corruption of martial law and reminds us that in a just world, the Marcoses would all be in jail. Selections from UP Press ( Mga Tula by Gelacio Guillermo, Kuwadro Numero Uno by Benilda Santos, and Agaw-Dilim, Agaw-Liwanag by Lualhati Abreu) and Ateneo Press (The Songs of Salanda by H. Arlo Nimmo). Meanwhile, UST Press presents the reader with T.S. Sungkits groundbreaking novel Driftwood on Dry Land, translated into English from the original Binisaya. Sungkits blends the mundane and marvelous to craft a mythic novel on the first inhabitants of Mindanao. Charlson Ongs Blue Angel, White Shadow is another remarkable UST Press title. The novel is a detective story in Manilas Chinatown, and sketches a fascinating panoply of characters with their colorful, intoxicating mysteries. The Cordillera Studies Center (CSC) publishes work that I find incredibly helpful and worthwhile, expanding my limited urban purview into the nations beyond Manila. June Prill-Bretts Tradition and Transformation is a must-read for anyone who wants to become more familiar with the richness and complexity of Cordillera cultures. Saliksik-Kordilerya, edited by Delfin Tolentino, Jr., compiles several interesting papers on aspects of Cordillera life, like Ifugao folk-songs and the Indigenous Kalinga healer called mandadawak. The CSC also carries issues of the seminal research journal, The Cordillera Review. However, even books from university presses can be priced at amounts inaccessible to many Filipinos, especially with todays destitute state of wages and exorbitant costs of living. If you want to read more Filipino literature without emptying your wallet, visit Sentro ng Wikang Filipinos Aklatang Bayan. The online library contains twenty-nine books in Filipino that you can download for free. Its a generous treasury of literature, featuring feminist and revolutionary poetry, manuals for sustainable farming and peasant organizing, Bukidnon folktales, narratives of OFWs, songs of the bakwit, and all the richness that todays Filipino writers have to offer. Selections from UST Press (Blue Angel, White Shadow by Charlson Ong), Sentro ng Wikang Pilipino (Hindi Ito Romansa by Chuckberry J. Pascual) and Cordillera Studies Center (Saliksik-Kordilerya edited by Delfin Tolentino, Jr.). Independent Publishers There are many independent publishers in the Philippines who publish books you wont normally see in National Book Store, Fully Booked, or other big bookstores. At the 2020 Manila International Book, several of these publishers banded together to form The Indie Publishers Collab. A cursory look at the members of this writers collective shows several indie publishers with catalogues of books to captivate your attention. Balangay Books features books from notable Filipino writers such as Bebang Sy, Nap I. Arcilla, and Almayrah Tiburon. Cubao Editions, a homegrown small press from Quezon City, showcases the writing of Paul S. de Guzman and Chiles Samaniego, two writers whose fiction bursts with strangeness and creativity. For those seeking poetry, Gacha Press has linguistically playful and potent chapbooks from Paolo Manalo and Michael Balili. Kasingkasing Press is one of the most exciting small presses publishing today. In addition to works in English and Filipino, they publish books in Binisaya, Hiligaynon, and other Philippine languages, providing some much-needed diversity to Philippine letters. Kasingkasing Press released one of my favorite books of 2020, Felino S. Garcia Jr.s Filipino translation of Adelina Gurrea Monasterios marvellous works, which have so long remained in Spanish unread by many. Selections from Balangay Books ("Maqueda" by Nap I. Arcilla III), Gacha Press ("Happily Ever Ek-ek" by Paolo Manalo), Cubao Editions ("Marienbad, etc." by Chiles Samaniego), Kasingkasing Press ("Panglugayawan" by Elsed Togonon), and Southern Voices Printing Press ("Ang Munting Prinsipe"). Kasingkasings Lazada shop also carries books from Aklat Alamid. They specialize in childrens literature in Philippine languages like Ilocano and Ibanag, and have published two lovely books about children and their relationships with family and the natural world. Another progressive publisher is Southern Voices Printing Press. They sell socially-conscious childrens literature and biographies of activists and revolutionaries like Recca Monte, Crispin Beltran, and Angie B. Ipong. They also recently released Ang Munting Prinsipe, a Filipino translation of Antoine Saint de-Exuperys The Little Prince. Finally, readers should patronize Gantala Press. Philippine literature, as with any other institution, isnt immune to patriarchy and the excess of mens voices; Gantala Press provides an urgent, feminist answer to this. They publish Meranaw and vegan cookbooks, astrology zines, comics of women-loving-women, and stories of peasant and working-class activists. Gantalas publications remind us that literature isnt just produced by a professionalized group of writers from the middle and upper classes; literature should be produced and enjoyed by the broad sectors of the Philippine people, from farmers to urban workers to single mothers to Indigenous peoples. And with every publication, Gantala forwards this necessary, revolutionary alternative. Local Bookstores There are also several local, independent bookstores who carry out-of-print and hard-to-find literature, both local and international. You can visit or contact them online: Wise Guys Bookshop (Santa Mesa, Manila), Roels Bookshop (Quezon City), Popular Bookstore (Quezon City), Bookay-Ukay, Studio Soup Zine Library (Quezon City), Kwago (Makati City), Uno Morato, Tradewinds Bookshop (Intramuros), Mt. Cloud Bookshop (Baguio City), Puon Bookstore of the Alfredo F. Tadiar Library (San Fernando, La Union), Yolis Books and Crafts (Los Banos), and Savage Mind (Naga City). You can also visit artbooks.ph to find rare, limited edition, and wonderfully opulent books. In addition to the books I mentioned above, here are some books I recommend from local presses: La India, or the Island of the Disappeared by Rosario Cruz-Lucero (UP Press) The Sky Over Dimas by Vicente Garcia-Groyon (UP Press) The Forest/Ang Gubat by William Pomeroy (UP Press) Muog: Ang Naratibo ng Kanayunan sa Matagalang Digmaan ng Pilipinas (UP Press) The Philippines is in the Heart by Carlos Bulosan (Ateneo Press) The Nation Beyond Manila/Ang Bayan sa Labas ng Maynila by Rosario Cruz-Lucero (Ateneo Press) Tiempo Muerto by Caroline Hau (Ateneo Press) Moral Politics of the Philippines by Wataru Kusaka (Ateneo Press) Isabelos Archive and House of Memory both by Resil Mojares (Anvil Press) Tikim by Doreen Fernandez (Anvil Press) Balintuna: Mga Kwentong Kakatwa (7 Eyes Productions) Lupang Ramos: Isang Kasaysayan (Gantala Press) Umaalma, Kumikibo: Essays on Women and Violence (Gantala Press) Saliksik-Kordilyera: Papers on Indigenous Practice, Ritual Life, and Oral Tradition (Cordillera Studies Center) Dap-ay Discourse Uno: Activist Perspective of Cordillera History and Social Change (Cordillera Studies Center) Kali: Voice of Cordillera Women (Cordillera Womens Education Action Research Center) 50: Mga Binalaybay ni Roger Felix Salditos (Sentro ng Wikang Filipino). After spending 300-plus days in a soul-crushing lockdown because of the lack of adequate government response to this pandemic, its easy to think that there is nothing else, that we must surrender our lives to corrupt powers beyond our control. Literature, especially literature produced to defend the status quo, can reaffirm that. But literature can also show us the alternatives. And in the Philippines, theres a significant and growing body of literature which illustrates paths to different, more human ways of being. I hope this list helps you find them. Samsung Electronics has introduced its new JetBot 90 with AI+ smart technologies that optimize its cleaning route and new Smart Dial Front Load washers and dryers that learn user preferences and optimise washing and drying cycles. Samsung Electronics has introduced innovative new home appliances that can help automate daily tasks. The new JetBot 90 AI+ features smart technologies that optimize its cleaning route and respond to its environment. Meanwhile, Samsungs new Smart Dial Front Load washers and dryers use artificial intelligence to learn user preferences and recommend optimal washing and drying cycles. Both the JetBot 90 AI+ and smart washer were recently recognized with this years CES Innovation Awards and will arrive in the U.S. in the first half of 2021. At Samsung, were committed to delivering new appliance innovations that inspire families, while helping make life at home easier in ways not thought of before, said John Herrington, Senior Vice President, General Manager of Home Appliances. By automating your floor care and learning your laundry preferences, these new home appliances remove items from your to-do list, freeing you up to do more of what you love. JetBot 90 AI+ Vacuum with AI-Based Sensors and Navigation The JetBot 90 AI+the worlds first smart robotic vacuum, powered by Intel AIgives your floors an amazing clean with minimal effort. Using a combination of sensors and AI-enhanced object recognition technology, the JetBot 90 AI+ navigates your home with the same efficiency and care you do. A LiDAR sensor, similar to that used in self-driving cars, detects distance and tracks location for precise movements. A 3D sensor recognizes the difference between objects such as a toy and the leg of a chair, detects even small objects on the floor, and recognizes a rooms shape to manoeuvre around it. An object recognition algorithm allows it to identify objects of all kinds and map the safest, most efficient route. JetBot 90 AI+ then uses this information to clean closely around items on the floor, while being sure to maintain a safe distance from fragile or delicate objects, and to lower itself under furniture when needed. If anything is classified as dangerous or likely to cause secondary contamination, it will simply avoid the object. As it cleans the floor, the JetBot 90 AI+s advanced digital inverter motor maximizes the 30W suction power of its Jet Cyclone system to trap dust from the air and dirt from the floor. The units self-cleaning brush, which has fine fibers made of soft woven textiles, picks up dust from hard floor and reaches into crevices. When its finished cleaning, the JetBot 90 AI+ automatically heads back to the Clean Station, Samsungs signature disposal system. There, it empties the dirt, dust, and hair it has collected into a bag that you only need to replace once every two to three months. And by connecting to your smartphone via the Samsung SmartThings app, the JetBot 90 AI+ literally puts its cleaning power in your hands. Control your vacuum from anywhereschedule a clean, set no-go zones on a map of your home, or even connect to its camera to keep an eye on your home and your pets while youre away. Streamlined Clothing Care with AI-Powered Washer-Dryer Pair Samsungs AI innovations are continually changing the way consumers tackle everyday tasks. The new 8800 Series Smart Dial Front Load washers and dryers have been redesigned to make laundry easier, more intuitive, and less stressful. Samsung is bringing its signature Smart Dial technology to the new laundry pair. The Smart Dial intelligently learns your preferred cycles and settings, then prioritizes them for quick access in a simplified, easy-to-use control panel. It also recommends specific cycles based on intelligent learning of past cycles run on particular days of the week or at specific times. Its powerful OptiWash feature detects the laundry loads weight and uses a patented Turbidity Sensor to determine the ideal amount of water and detergent to use in the cycle. It also determines how long to wash clothing, ensuring that clothes come out their cleanest. Using a stacked washer and dryer has never been easier. With the MultiControl feature, you can fully operate both the washer and the dryer right from a centralized panel on the washer,2 keeping all controls within an easy reach. You can also use the SmartThings app3 to receive end of cycle alerts, remotely start or stop your wash, schedule cycles, and more, right from your smartphone. The JetBot 90 AI+ and laundry pair will be on display at Samsungs virtual CES exhibit from January 11 to 14. TradeArabia News Service Met Eireann has put the country on alert for a 'hazardous' weekend with the issuing of a snow ice weather warning for all of Ireland. The forecaster had already issued a weather advisory for wintry conditions and regional warning are also in place but the Glasnevin meteorologists have now issued a Status Yellow - snow-ice warning for all of Ireland The forecaster says there will be falls of hail, sleet and snow with icy temperatures creating hazardous conditions. The alert is valid from 6 pm on Saturday to 12 noon Sunday. In its summary outlook Met Eireann says it will be cold for the remainder of this weekend and to start next week. It says sleet and snow on Saturday night will clear eastwards, with a mix of showers and clear spells following for Sunday and Monday. Met Eireann expects it to turn unsettled next week in milder conditions. More weather details below tweet. Status Yellow - Snow/Ice warning for Ireland Met Eireann Weather Warning Falls of hail, sleet and snow. Icy and hazardous conditions. Valid: 18:00 Saturday 23/01/2021 to 12:00 Sunday 24/01/2021 For more weather warning information:https://t.co/l8JdKfwZt9 pic.twitter.com/bdD8HryYlN Met Eireann (@MetEireann) January 22, 2021 NATIONAL FORECAST for weekend issued at 12.03pm on Friday, January 22 SATURDAY Saturday will be another cold day with frost lingering for much of the morning. Remaining dry over most of the country with spells of winter sunshine but scattered showers of hail, sleet and snow will continue in the northwest. Later tomorrow evening a band of showers in the west will turn increasingly to sleet and snow away from the coasts as it extends eastward. Highest afternoon temperatures of just 2 to 5 degrees in a light to moderate westerly breeze. Cold on Saturday night with a band of sleet and snow in the west moving eastwards across the country, with accumulations in many areas. The rain, sleet and snow will gradually clear into the Irish Sea towards morning. Frost and ice will develop as it clears, with lowest temperatures of -3 to 0 degrees in a light breeze. SUNDAY: Another cold day on Sunday with sunny spells and scattered showers, mainly in the north and west where some will be of sleet or snow. Showers will drift further inland through the afternoon and evening. Highest temperatures of 3 to 5 degrees in a moderate west to southwest breeze. Cold on Sunday night and dry in many areas with showers easing. Lowest temperatures of +3 to -1 degrees with frost forming. MONDAY: A largely dry and bright day on Monday, with showers becoming more isolated and long sunny spells. Highest temperatures of 4 to 7 degrees in a light to moderate westerly breeze. Gradually becoming cloudy on Monday night with rain pushing into the west and southwest later in the night. Lowest temperatures of -3 to +1 degrees with frost and icy patches forming in a moderate southerly breeze. TUESDAY: Turning unsettled on Tuesday with widespread rain, turning to sleet or snow for a time as it meets the colder air. A milder day over the southern half of the country with highest afternoon temperatures of 8 to 11 degrees, but remaining cold over the northern half of the country with highest afternoon temperatures of just 2 to 5 degrees. Outbreaks of rain will continue on Tuesday night. However, it will be a milder night with lowest temperatures of 5 to 8 degrees. FURTHER OUTLOOK: Continuing milder but unsettled for the rest of next week, with outbreaks of rain and breezy conditions. A seguir llevando en alto el nombre del Peru! Titulares de Defensa y @CancilleriaPeru dan la bienvenida a los miembros que se incorporan a los equipos de agregados de Defensa, en la ceremonia de despedida del personal militar designado a las agregadurias del Peru en el Exterior. pic.twitter.com/xZbWzhSajS Huntsville Hospital's vaccine clinic finished up its first week of giving the coronavirus vaccine to people in phase 1B. Hospital workers at the Jaycee Community Building wrapped up a monumental week for Huntsville Hospital. They completed the first week of administering the vaccine and gave 500 vaccines on Friday. Starting next week, Huntsville Hospital's vaccine clinic will be giving about 500 doses, 7 days a week. The hospital system is only administering the shots to first responders and people 75 years and older with an appointment. The hospital's Vice President of Operations, Tracey Doughty, said people are thankful the hospital is making it easy to get an appointment. Grateful is the word that pops into the top of my head," he said. "Our citizens are grateful to get the vaccine. Theyre tired of COVID, too, theyre ready to get it over, and much like us, they see it as one of the processes we can use to get back to normal. Starting Feb. 12, the vaccine clinic at the Jaycee Community Building will be administering 1,000 doses of the vaccine every day. Doughty wants to remind everyone that just because more people are getting vaccinated, we all still need to wear masks and practice social distancing. Mark Wright and Joey Essex have led the tributes to former TOWIE co-star Mick Norcross after the club owner was found dead at his Essex home on Thursday afternoon, aged 57. The Sugar Hut owner and reality star, who rose to fame as the man behind the nightclub on the hit ITV2 series, was discovered at his Bulphan home by emergency services. Mark, who appeared on the show until 2011, has since described Mick as the 'perfect gentlemen' whenever they crossed paths, while a devastated Joey admitted he treated him 'like a son.' Speaking out: Mark Wright has paid tribute to former TOWIE co-star Mick Norcross after the club owner was found dead at his Essex home on Thursday afternoon aged 57 Appearing on Friday's edition of Lorraine, Mark said: 'I dont want to talk much about it but I do want to send my condolences to the family - [Mick's son] Kirk must be broken-hearted. 'He was a gentleman, a nice guy, always so welcoming at his club.' Reaching out to those who might be struggling with feelings of loneliness or depression, he added: 'If you know anyone who is down just talk to them. If you are feeling down talk to a family member or friend.' In a tweet shared with followers shortly after news of Mick's death broke on Thursday evening, Mark called the businessman an 'inspiration' to those who knew him. He wrote: 'RIP Mick N. You were a great man, an inspiration to many, always so polite and welcoming. Such a gent. We lost a good one. 'Let this be ANOTHER reason to check in on people and ask if they are ok. Its imperative we talk. Love to Kirk and the rest of the family... such sad news.' Stunned: Elsewhere Joey Essex admitted he was in 'complete shock' after learning of his co-star's death Shock: Joey admitted the Sugar Hut owner 'treated him like a son' and 'looked out for him' during their time together on the show Nice guy: Mark, who appeared on the show until 2011, said Norcross was always a 'perfect gentlemen' whenever they crossed paths Joey also paid tribute to Mick, admitting the Sugar Hut owner 'looked out for him' during their time together on the show. He tweeted: 'In complete shock. I looked up to Micky, you treated me like a son whilst I was on my crazy journey growing up in this industry, you looked after me & made me feel at ease if I had a problem, Ill always remember that... My heart goes out to your family. Im gutted, god bless.' Elsewhere Gemma Collins echoed Mark's sentiments, adding: 'ALWAYS A GENTLEMAN. Absolutely shocked and saddened by the news. My thoughts and prayers are going out to Kirk family and friends absolutely tragic #ripmicknorcross 'The memories of the early days the sugar hut and the wonderful filming parties you put on will never be forgotten. You never know what someone is going through you was [sic] one of the good guys.' Old friends: Joey featured regularly alongside Mick on the popular show (pictured together in 2011) Tragic: Gemma Collins shared a photo on Instagram with the caption, 'ALWAYS A GENTLEMAN. Absolutely shocked and saddened by the news' Well loved: Tributes from the property developer's TOWIE co-stars and celebrity friends were soon posted on Mick's heartbreaking final tweet TOWIE veteran James Argent called the property developer: 'A true gentleman & a very kind man'. James, 33, wrote: 'RIP Mick. Many amazing memories, So Sad! My thoughts are with his family.' Mario Falcone, who starred on the show between 2011 to 2018 posted a broken heart emoji, as did Elliott Wright, who appeared on TOWIE between 2010 and 2017. Jamie Reed, who had a brief stint on the reality series, chimed: 'Very sad. RIP'. EOTB star Jess Impiazzi, who was one of Mick's original 'Sugar Hut Honeys' - a group of hostesses in the club - typed: 'Please don't ever feel like no one is there or wants to listen, you matter! You're loved!...And the world is better with you in it. There is always light at the end of the tunnel! I promise.' Frankie Essex added: 'Rest in peace Mick thank you for all the memories and being such a genuine person... you will be sadly missed.' While Charlie King wrote: 'Its a really sad evening ...... another stark reminder you really dont know what battles people are struggling to defeat. Pretty gutted tbh ! Sleep well in the knowledge Mick you are a true gentleman.' TOWIE narrator Denise Van Outen wrote: 'RIP @micky_norcross such a lovely man. So sad... my thoughts are with his family.' Heartbreaking: TOWIE's Mick was seen beaming next to his son Kirk in his haunting final picture, taken three weeks before he was found dead Devastating loss: Dozens of Mick's celebrity pals shared their heartache on social media In a haunting final tweet, posted just hours before his body was found, Mick wrote: 'At the end remind yourself that you did the best you could. And that is good enough.' On January 4, son Kirk, 32, shared a selfie on Facebook showing him sitting alongside his grinning father, adding the caption: 'Me and the big man', with a heart emoji. On Thursday, Mick sent shockwaves around the TV world when news arose of his passing, and while Kirk has so far remained silent, the haunting last picture has emerged. Moving: The tributes continued to flood in as news of Mick's death broke on Thursday evening As well as pictures with Kirk, Mick's girlfriend Samantha Keahey shared a number of shots of the couple last year, including sweet images taken last month. Mick is survived by his sons Kirk, Mason, Daniel and daughter Hollie. He also has three grandchildren. The star made his TOWIE debut in 2011 during the show's second season, while son Kirk was part of the original cast. The businessman was introduced as the owner of Sugar Hut, a nightclub in Brentwood which was a popular filming location for the show. During his time on the show, Mick caught the attention of Gemma Collins, 39, who soon developed a crush on him. One of his most notable storylines was when, at a pool party for the second series finale, Gemma was convinced Mick was bringing a bottle of champagne over to her, but was instead snubbed when the Sugar Hut owner walked past her and presented the bubbly to Lauren Goodger's sister Nicola. Heartbreaking: As well as pictures with Kirk, Mick's girlfriend Samantha Keahey shared a number of shots of the couple, including sweet images taken last month Tragic: Mick haunting last tweet, posted on Thursday morning at 7.17am, read: 'At the end remind yourself that you did the best you could. And that is good enough.' Starring role: The Sugar Hut owner and reality star rose to fame as the man behind the nightclub on the hit ITV2 series Heartbreaking: Mick is pictured with his girlfriend Samantha Keahey Concern: Police outside the home of Mick Norcross on Thursday evening, after the TOWIE star was found dead earlier in the afternoon In an episode of the programme from 2011, Mick referenced his mental health in a conversation with Kirk, saying: 'Maybe there's bits of my life where I haven't been there for you so it's hard for me to see where I'm going wrong... 'I wasn't there enough for you growing up but I want you to know I'm here for you now. I want to do the things we didn't do and still can do. I'm quite a hard person and it's difficult for me to show my emotions and that's not me making an excuses and it doesn't mean I don't love you and I don't want you around me... 'I just put this hard exterior up sometimes. Any time you get upset let's not end up having a shouting match over it. Talk to me. With women, that's where I push buttons. Unfortunately in what I do, I am surrounded by women from 20 years of age to 35 years of age.' When Kirk voiced concerns over women taking advantage of Mick, he went on: 'Really Kirk it's not your decision, with me you might think I'm having a great time and that but every night I come to this house on my own, I live on my own, it's empty, it's nothing.' Mick and Kirk are pictured in a promo shot for 2011's third season of TOWIE Mick Norcross' TOWIE moments MARCH 2011: Mick makes his TOWIE entrance, when Kirk attempts to set Gemma Collins up with his dad. After Gemma voiced her desire to find a 'Danny Dyer-Tony Soprano' style older man, Kirk insisted Mick would be 'perfect'. Despite his best efforts, the businessman seemed more enticed by fellow newcomer Chloe Sims. APRIL 2011: Despite his attentions continuing to point to Chloe, Gemma continued in her quest for Mick as she famously left an apple pie on his doorstep however he does not realise it is a gift from the boutique owner. Gemma continued in her quest for Mick as she famously left an apple pie on his doorstep MAY 2011: In one of the show's most iconic scenes, Gemma is left heartbroken when she believes Mick is approaching her with a bottle of champagne at Mark Wright's pool party however he is in fact heading toward Lauren Goodger's sister Nicola. He later said of the scene: 'I had no idea that Gemma was so upset. I think someone may have told her I was going to come over to her rather than Nicola. But I never meant to hurt her. I hate the thought of upsetting anyone.' SEPTEMBER 2011: Mick sparks up a romance with Maria Fowler - an enemy to Kirk - however the following month he ends the relationship over rumours flying around Essex about their relationship. In one of the show's most iconic scenes, Gemma is left heartbroken when she believes Mick is approaching her with a bottle of champagne OCTOBER 2011: Mick confesses to Kirk that he feels lonely and would like some company 'Maybe there's bits of my life where I haven't been there for you so it's hard for me to see where I'm going wrong... 'I wasn't there enough for you growing up but I want you to know I'm here for you now. I want to do the things we didn't do and still can do. I'm quite a hard person and it's difficult for me to show my emotions and that's not me making an excuses and it doesn't mean I don't love you and I don't want you around me and I just put this hard exterior up sometimes... 'Any time you get upset let's not end up having a shouting match over it. Talk to me. With women, that's where I push buttons. Unfortunately in what I do, I am surrounded by women from 20 years of age to 35 years of age.' When Kirk voiced concerns over women taking advantage of Mick, he went on: 'Really Kirk it's not your decision, with me you might think I'm having a great time and that but every night I come to this house on my own, I live on my own, it's empty, it's nothing.' APRIL 2012: Mick is left in shock when a blaze breaks out at his Essex mansion after which he was treated for smoke inhalation while Kirk suffered minor cuts after attempting to put out the fire that broke out an upstairs rooms around 2.30pm. He spoke of the fire on the show and showed Mario Falcone the damage on-screen. MAY 2012: Mick invites a number of the TOWIE boys around for a poker night to christen his new man cave since his home renovation MARCH 2013: Mick announced his departure from the show after five series and banned filming in his club after becoming displeased with the reputation of fighting and fury among castmembers within the luxury establishment. He said: 'My club is an upmarket venue where people come to drink champagne and feel spoiled. All these rows they keep filming dont show the club in a good light and Im worried its putting people off coming, which is the last thing I want.' Mick announced his departure from the show after five series and banned filming in his club Advertisement An Essex Police spokesman told MailOnline: 'We were called to an address in Bulphan shortly before 3.15pm on Thursday 21 January. Sadly, a man inside was pronounced dead. His death is not being treated as suspicious and a file will be prepared for the coroner.' Mick sold Sugar Hut in 2019, having previously gone on to develop a property portfolio, including The Grand Hotel in Leigh. The businessman shelled out 4.3m for the site back in 2011 and dreamed of turning the derelict building into a boutique hotel,restaurant and spa. Nightclub owner: The businessman rose to fame as the owner of Sugar Hut nightclub on the ITV series The Only Way Is Essex (pictured in 2012) Main man: The star made his TOWIE debut in 2011 during the show's second season, while son Kirk was part of the original cast when the show began a year prior. Emergency services: A police car and a forensic investigation van were parked outside Mick's home in Bulphan, Essex, after he was found dead on Thursday afternoon However, despite extensive renovation, restoration work took longer than planned and the hotel is still yet to open. The same year Mick bought the hotel, he put his 3.4million converted farmhouse up for sale. The mansion, which was also a regular filming location during his time, was the envy of TOWIE viewers. The estate also boasted a private house where Kirk lived with his girlfriend at the time Lauren Pope, a hot tub and plasma screen TVs. After putting up the house on sale, Mick said, 'I've been here six years and I've completely refurbished this place. Now I'm ready to move on to another project.' Sweet: Mick is pictured at the 2012 Inside Soap Awards alongside his fleet of hostesses, the Sugar Hut Honeys - including Love Island winner Hannah Elizabeth (seen kissing the star) Millionaire: Mick was known as the businessman of Essex on the hit ITV2 show, but eventually sold the Brentwood nightclub in 2019 (pictured) Mick made a hefty profit for 2.2million after buying the house in 2005 for 1.2million. It is the first tragedy to strike the TOWIE cast since Patricia Brooker, known as Nanny Pat, died aged 80 in 2015. Reality TV has been hit with a number of tragic young deaths in recent years, including perhaps most notably, Love Island host Caroline Flack, who took her own life at her north-east London home last February aged 40. Before that, the programme was rocked by the death of Mike Thalassitis, who hanged himself in a park after an alcohol and cocaine binge aged just 26, an inquest was told in 2019. A decade earlier, there was widespread mourning over the death of Big Brother's Jade Goody, who died of cervical cancer at 27, after being hailed for her work in raising awareness and encouraging women to get checked. Heartache: Love Island star Mike Thalassitis and host Caroline Flack both died from suicide in 2019 and 2020 respectively Reliving the famous scene with Gemma Collins, Mick previously said he regretted reducing the boutique owner to tears in an interview with The Sun that year. He said at the time: 'I had no idea that Gemma was so upset. I think someone may have told her I was going to come over to her rather than Nicola. But I never meant to hurt her. I hate the thought of upsetting anyone.' Mick went on to have a brief romance with Maria Fowler, who also starred on the show and was 13 years his junior. He quit TOWIE in 2013, after being left furious the nightclub was being used a battleground on the show. Drama: When TOWIE debuted in 2010, Sugar Hut was the place to be and where much of the drama unfolded (Jessica Wright, Lauren Goodger, Amy Childs, Mark Wright and James Argent pictured in 2011) Sugar Hut became known for its high-publicised feuds on the show with huge rows between central characters such as Mark Wright and Lauren Goodger, as well as former on-off couple Chloe Sims and Mark's cousin Elliott. He told The Sun at the time of his departure: 'My club is an upmarket venue where people come to drink champagne and feel spoiled. All these rows they keep filming don't show the club in a good light and I'm worried it's putting people off coming, which is the last thing I want.' Mick described his time on TOWIE as 'very demanding' and 'what it did to me as a person was quite a strange thing' as he struggled from being 'somebody nobody really knows' to 'a household name so to speak'. Shock: Mick's nightclub was a key feature on the show, which also starred his fleet of hostesses - known as The Sugar Hut Honeys (pictured) He said during an interview with Echo News about why he joined TOWIE in 2018 that 'it was a decision I took just to try to manoeuvre the business - the Sugar Hut - in the right way, I needed it to be portrayed in the right light and being part of the show that was the only way I could do that.' Mick added: 'I didn't want them to just come and ride roughshod over the business and portray it how they wanted, people having fights in the club and what have you. 'That would never be right and even the relationship with my son, I needed that to come across right. But it got to the stage where it really wasn't where I needed to be in life.' Mick pictured at the Royal World Premiere of 'Skyfall' at Royal Albert Hall on October 23, 2012 in London Robert Kocharyan on years of his leadership in Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia Situation on Armenian-Azerbaijani border is still tense, more on COVID-19 in Armenia, May 28 digest "Armenia" alliance of political parties paying tribute to founder of First Republic Aram Manukyan (LIVE) Yerevan.today: Armenia acting PM not greeted at ruling party's headquarters, citizens call him 'capitulator' Russia MOD reports on maintenance of ceasefire regime in Nagorno-Karabakh Armenia acting MOD meets with Russian counterpart in Moscow Armenia 2nd President: I see possibility of restoring borders of Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast We can provide our army with some key, modernized weapons, says Armenia ex-President Kocharyan Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: Captives issue is not one that any opposition force can resolve OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs release statement on detention of 6 Armenian servicemen by Azerbaijan Armenian acting Deputy PM: Discussion on issues possible only after withdrawal of Azeri troops from Armenia's territory Armenia acting PM on Syunik roads, Russian military posts: This is only place where there are working nuances Armenia acting PM: Process of return of POWs will intensify after upcoming elections Putin congratulates Aliyev on Republic Day 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 All 77 BJP MLAs in Bengal to have central security cover Two groups clash inside BJP party office in Bengal India oi-Vicky Nanjappa Burdwan, Jan 22: 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. BJP is instilling hatred in Bengal by communal speeches: TMC 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. Centre-farmers hold 11th round of talks, impasse over farm laws continues| Oneindia News "Those joining the party should understand that no act of indiscipline will be tolerated," he said. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, January 22, 2021, 10:17 [IST] NORTH OLMSTED, Ohio -- Fire Chief Edward M. Schepp is hoping his firefighters can breathe easier while on the job. Thats why his department is in the process of applying for a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Assistance to Firefighters Grant to pay for new vehicle exhaust systems at fire stations No. 1 and No. 2. The estimated cost of the two exhaust removal systems is $110,000, with the 90/10 FEMA grant covering the majority of the expenditure. Its an exhaust-removal system designed to remove diesel fumes from apparatus when theyre backing in or pulling out of the bays, Schepp said. Diesel exhaust is a known carcinogen, as well as a hazard for heart disease and other health issues. Right now, we basically just open up the doors and let the cross-ventilation vent the station. The fire chief said this is an issue, considering that the living quarters -- kitchens, family rooms, sleeping areas and offices -- are located adjacent to the apparatus floor. Modern vehicle exhaust systems have come a long way. When a fire engine leaves a station, the tube -- attached via magnets -- extends until the vehicle is out of the bay before it disconnects and retracts back into a starting position. Also, the computerized units provide usage printouts. The North Olmsted Fire Department has previously applied for the Assistance to Firefighters Grants, with mixed results. Last year, the department was unsuccessful in receiving COVID-related funds. The diesel exhaust removal system has been on our radar for quite some time, Schepp said. When you look at the guidance from FEMA for grant projects, if it doesnt rank your project very high, then you wont get the funds for it. In the past, weve received grants because the guidance from FEMA said these are good projects. The fact that FEMA currently ranks the diesel exhaust removal system as a high priority has Schepp feeling optimistic about North Olmsteds chances. Its a competitive grant, but youll never know if you dont try, Schepp said. Well put our best foot forward, see if we can write a good grant and go from there. Once it gets down to FEMA, its a competitive process, so there will be a lot of other fire departments competing for the same money. While the fire chief said the exhaust-removal system remains a priority for his department, the city hasnt budgeted for the full expenditure in 2021. That means if the FEMA grant isnt approved, the new amenity wont be added this year. However, that could change going forward. Its for the health and safety of our firefighters, Schepp said. Theyre the ones who are working around this equipment every day. We want to make sure they go home in as good of shape or better than they came in. Read more news from the Sun Post Herald. (Natural News) What is going on with Western democracies in the age of COVID-19, a virus that does, indeed, cause deaths but not in 99 percent of people who get it? Were seeing an extremely disturbing trend among democracies in Europe, Asia, and elsewhere: Creeping authoritarianism leading to extreme measures, and all being justified because of the novel coronavirus. In the U.S., deep state actors and Democratic legal operatives convinced officials in some states to violate their own voting laws to enact widespread mail-in balloting so that the election could be stolen from President Donald Trump. Mail-in ballots were necessary, you see, to keep voters safe from the virus (though tens of millions of Americans voted in person in other states without any problems). The virus has been used to justify endless lockdowns, restrictions on businesses, travel bans, and the destruction of civil and constitutional liberties including freedom of religion and freedom of speech and expression. And now, in Australia, another Western democracy, the virus may be used to justify isolating citizens in quarantined captivity in the Outback. The Wall Street Journal reported last week: Australia has relied on one of the worlds most aggressive quarantine programs to keep the coronavirus at bay. Now, one leader wants to go further by housing returned travelers in Outback camps far from cities as new Covid-19 variants threaten the countrys success. The premier of Queensland state wants to repurpose camps designed for resources workers as isolation hubs in remote scrubland where temperatures can top 100 degrees Fahrenheit. It follows an outbreak of a highly contagious coronavirus strain at a quarantine hotel in state capital Brisbane, Australias third-largest city with a population of about 2.5 million people. I think with this new strain, we have to put all options on the table and these are sensible, rational options, Annastacia Palaszczuk, who was re-elected as Queensland premier in October, said. The WSJ reported that one reason why she was reelected was due to her center-left governments tough measures to contain the virus. Since when did Australians agree to isolation hundreds of miles in one of the countrys least-hospitable regions? And does she really believe locking away sick people in an isolated quarantine camp is sensible and rational? What is going on with our democratic leaders? Yes, in recent weeks new strains of the virus have been discovered but thats what viruses do, they mutate. These new strains, however, are no more deadly than the original strain, so why the excessive, liberty-stealing isolation? Heres how they justify it in Australia. Underpinning the logic of using workers camps to house returned travelers is the potential for health authorities to get on top of outbreaks quickly and limit their spread. Other positives include access to fresh air and exercise for those in isolation, officials say, the WSJ reports. (Related: COVID-19 vaccine reactions being blamed on PEG, but could it be the body responding to mRNA transhumanist genetic reprogramming?) Got that? Stealing liberty and limiting freedoms is good for you. Actually, its good for those in power, who are never going to subject themselves to similar rural isolation. Theyre too important, you see. Theres no reason why we couldnt do something similar here in Queensland or if not around the country, Palaszczuk told the WSJ, adding that shes going to bring up the idea with Prime Minister Scott Morrison and other territorial premiers in the coming days. Make no mistake, this is not good. Never in the history of modern democracies have citizens endured such a massive assault on their civil liberties. In the U.S., our constitutional rights are not contingent on whether or not there is an outbreak of a viral illness, especially one that is far less deadly than weve been led to believe. Americans and free citizens everywhere should be trusted to make their own judgments and decisions about the risks they do or do not want to take. We dont need a nanny state functionary telling us how to live our lives. See more reporting like this at Pandemic.news. Sources include: WSJ.com NaturalNews.com Robert Kocharyan on years of his leadership in Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia Situation on Armenian-Azerbaijani border is still tense, more on COVID-19 in Armenia, May 28 digest "Armenia" alliance of political parties paying tribute to founder of First Republic Aram Manukyan (LIVE) Yerevan.today: Armenia acting PM not greeted at ruling party's headquarters, citizens call him 'capitulator' Russia MOD reports on maintenance of ceasefire regime in Nagorno-Karabakh Armenia acting MOD meets with Russian counterpart in Moscow Armenia 2nd President: I see possibility of restoring borders of Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast We can provide our army with some key, modernized weapons, says Armenia ex-President Kocharyan Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: Captives issue is not one that any opposition force can resolve OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs release statement on detention of 6 Armenian servicemen by Azerbaijan Armenian acting Deputy PM: Discussion on issues possible only after withdrawal of Azeri troops from Armenia's territory Armenia acting PM on Syunik roads, Russian military posts: This is only place where there are working nuances Armenia acting PM: Process of return of POWs will intensify after upcoming elections Putin congratulates Aliyev on Republic Day 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 No Smoking Underground Transition Team $810M When the Netherlands made smoking at railways illegal last year, railroad owner ProRail removed hundreds of six-foot smoke poles that were used as ashtrays from stations. Now, thanks to a company called Lightwell, the smoke poles have had their ashtray centers removed, but 90 to 95 percent of the original design maintained, and have been refurbished into e-bike chargers. The chargers are free to use and can host two bikes at a time. So far, two have been installed as part of a pilot test.Source: Fast Company The thought of earthworms over 1 foot long is troubling, to be sure, but what if those worms were robotic? Thats the idea behind a project underway at Cornell University, which aims to make robotic worms that can traverse soil and analyze its density, moisture and temperature. Fiber-optic cameras built into the agriculture bots will take pictures of plants roots and measure microorganism activity.Source: New Atlas Twitter and Facebook both announced they will transition all official presidential accounts from the Trump administration to Bidens on Inauguration Day, Jan. 20, 2021. As both social platforms did in early 2017 at the end of Barack Obamas second term, relevant accounts like Twitters @whitehouse, @FLOTUS and @VP will have all past posts archived and access will be given to Joe Bidens team.Source: The Verge In late November, the General Services Administration finalized a five-year contract worth up to $810 million with Uber and Lyft that will provide rides for 4 million federal workers for official travel.Source: Gizmodo Present Laughter (Broadway HD - online and via app) Rating: Verdict: Lots of laughter present Kennedy: Bobby's Last Crusade (stream.theatre) Rating: Verdict: Soft-focused eulogy Waiting For Obama (stream.theatre, Spotify) Rating: Verdict: Guns, not roses As Oscar Wilde cheekily suggested, we Brits have everything in common with America nowadays 'except, of course, language'. I was therefore a little worried that Kevin Kline might drive a three-wheeled wagon through Noel Coward's quintessentially English comedy Present Laughter. Even so, I couldn't resist having a look at Kline's 2017 production of the play, in a live recording available on Broadway HD, an internet platform packed with tasty American shows and musicals. As it happens, I had nothing to fear. From the moment he provided the correct, Cowardian pronunciation of 'illusion' (three carefully separated syllables 'ill-you-shun'), I knew I was in safe hands. I was therefore a little worried that Kevin Kline might drive a three-wheeled wagon through Noel Coward's quintessentially English comedy Present Laughter. As it happens, I had nothing to fear. Pictured: Kevin Kline as Garry Essendine Kline is a consummate comedian in the role of Garry Essendine Coward's comic self-portrait of a vain, womanising thesp Kline is a consummate comedian in the role of Garry Essendine Coward's comic self-portrait of a vain, womanising thesp. He is more than a match for Andrew Scott's Olivier award-winning turn in the role at the Old Vic two years ago. Kline may be 73 but blithely passes himself off as 45. He adds plenty of physical comedy to Coward's repartee, getting the belt of his dressing gown caught round a banister, doing press-ups during a love scene and bashing his head on a swing door. Mercifully, this doesn't bulldoze Essendine's acidic one-liners or lofty histrionics. Kline may be 73 but blithely passes himself off as 45. He adds plenty of physical comedy to Coward's repartee, getting the belt of his dressing gown caught round a banister, doing press-ups during a love scene and bashing his head on a swing door He also rolls over like a puppy for his ex-wife (Kate Burton), who has the practical manner of a Bavarian hill-walker. And as a bejewelled predatory beauty, Cobie Smulders of The Avengers smoulders (sorry!), even if her cut-glass accent sometimes ditches in the mid-Atlantic. The other character that comes off beautifully is the handsome stage set itself, which is a model of Art Deco bohemian chic. With a camera giving us a ringside seat (on a chaise longue), Present Laughter is a visual treat, too. By contrast, two new plays on stream.theatre illustrate how the U.S. has become bitterly divided. One is Kennedy: Bobby's Last Crusade, a soft-focused account of the last days of JFK's brother before he was assassinated as he campaigned to be the Democrat nominee for the White House in 1968. The resonance with today is obvious, as Kennedy laments war, poverty, environmental destruction and racism. Actor-writer David Arrow captures boyish Bobby down to the cute curl on his tumbling fringe. Kennedy: Bobby's Last Crusade, a soft-focused account of the last days of JFK's brother before he was assassinated as he campaigned to be the Democrat nominee for the White House in 1968 Actor-writer David Arrow captures boyish Bobby down to the cute curl on his tumbling fringe His voice quivers with sincerity; his melancholic gaze makes him look sorry to be smiling. Arrow's one-man portrait, set amid the bunting of a convention room, exposes Bobby as a benign but slightly constipated loner, fond of quoting from antiquity. Waiting For Obama, meanwhile, is a staged reading of a radio play that takes on America's continuing row over gun control. Also available on Spotify, it imagines the 44th President visiting a family in Colorado in a campaign to take back the firearms held in 65 million homes across the U.S. He is not welcomed by grandpop Hank, a bumper-sticker thinker who takes delight in warning him he'll have to prise his AR15 assault rifle 'from my cold, dead hands'. With gunfire heard between scenes, journalist John Moore's play captures the political and social logjam of a society that can't even agree on its constitution. Yet there's also a sweetness to a story that puts its faith in a humanity trampled underfoot by the rush to righteousness. The purpose was commendable: to prevent renters from losing shelter amid a pandemic. Tossing families onto the street and packing them into shelters would be a boon to COVID-19. Workers who have lost jobs in the crisis can hardly be blamed if they lack the money to keep a roof over their heads. The moratorium blocks landlords from banishing tenants for not paying rent, though the renters are not relieved of what they owe. This Monday, Scots around the world will celebrate Burns Night in celebration of the life and poetry of poet Robert Burns. To honour the occasion, a haggis has been launched to the edge of space for the first time. The haggis was attached to a weather balloon and soared more than 20 miles (107,293ft) above the Earth equivalent to nearly four times the height of Mount Everest! The haggis was attached to a weather balloon and soared more than 20 miles (107,293ft) above the Earth equivalent to nearly four times the height of Mount Everest WHAT IS HAGGIS? Historically, when hunters made their kill, they would use up the offal, which went off first, using the cleaned animal's stomach as a cooking bag. Minced heart, liver and lungs are bulked out with oatmeal, onions, suet, seasoning and spices before cooking. Nowadays natural casings are still used, but synthetic ones are becoming more common (there is no effect on the flavour.) Haggis is normally made with sheep offal, but originally any animal would have been used. There are many variations, which include combinations of lamb, pork, beef, venison and slightly more unusual offerings, such as rabbit and hare. Source: BBC Good Food Advertisement Scottish butcher Simon Howie worked with space education and research firm Stratonauts to launch the 454g haggis in Perth and Kinross this month. The haggis was attached to a weather balloon before taking off from the Simon Howie headquarters in Dunning. It then travelled over Stirling, Falkirk, Edinburgh and the Pentland Hills before landing safely in Lauder in the Borders. Mr Howie said: 'After a year like no other, we wanted to kick off 2021 by lifting the spirits of the general public. We are thrilled to have worked with Stratonauts to take Scotland's national dish to new heights. 'Burns Night is one of the most important dates on the food calendar for us and we wanted to mark the occasion by sending the UK's best-selling haggis, the Original 454g, to the edge of space. 'It has been a difficult time and I'm incredibly proud of everyone that works for me, from increasing production to support the supermarkets through the period of panic-buying to the demands of Christmas production and now Burns we are working round the clock to produce over one million haggis and feed over three million customers our best-selling haggis. 'We hope that our space haggis gives everyone some much-needed cheer.' The haggis was airborne for two hours, 37 minutes and covered a distance of 52 miles. This Monday, Scots around the world will celebrate Burns Night in celebration of the life and poetry of poet Robert Burns It has now been safely transported back to the company's headquarters, where it will be preserved for years to come as the 'first haggis in space'. Mr Howie said it is hoped the mission, which came ahead of Burns Night on January 25, sparks intergalactic and scientific interest in young people. Once the current Covid-19 restrictions are lifted, the company plans to run workshops in partnership with Stratonauts in local primary schools to encourage more pupils into science, technology, engineering and maths-related careers. Haggis is normally made with sheep offal, but originally any animal would have been used. It's typically served with 'neeps' (swede) and 'tatties' (potatoes) Lewis Campbell, Stratonauts director, said: 'Launching from Dunning was challenging due to the winds as we needed to ensure a safe retrieval of the footage and of course the 'space haggis' itself. 'Having monitored the weather for weeks, a window of opportunity finally presented itself and what a window it turned out to be. Perfect conditions. 'After reaching over 107,000ft with views of at least 250 miles, the haggis then fell to Earth at nearly 200mph before the parachute took over meaning it is also probably the fastest haggis in the world too. 'We are delighted to have worked with Simon Howie on this flight to the edge of space and to fly a haggis to such great heights in celebration of Burns Night 2021.' Ariel Skelley/Getty Images/Blend Images When it comes to working parents, there's one San Antonio business that stands out from the rest. The San Antonio Chamber of Commerce has been recognized as one of the "Best Places for Working Parents." Businesses are recognized based on family-friendly policies & practices offered to support employees, specifically working parents. The chamber shared their certificate on social media. "The San Antonio Chamber of Commerce has earned the 2021 Best Place for Working Parents business designation in recognition of their commitment to supporting working parents through their family-friendly polices and practices." While COPA values the members review and conclusion, it maintains that the officers prolonged restraint of this child, after he was searched, demonstrated he was not armed, could no longer present any threat and was experiencing emotional and psychological trauma is unacceptable and in violation of CPD policy, Roberts said. The long-standing practice of the Chicago Police Department to keep persons who are no longer a threat and have demonstrably committed no criminal offense restrained must cease. It can no longer be considered an acceptable police practice. DUBLIN, Jan. 22, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The "United States Crude Oil Refinery Outlook to 2025" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. United States Crude Oil Refinery Outlook to 2025 is a comprehensive report on crude oil refinery industry in United States. The report also provides details on oil refineries such as name, type, operational status, operator apart from capacity data for the major processing units, for all active and planned refineries in United States for the period 2015-2025. Further, the report also offers recent developments, financial deals as well as latest contracts awarded in the country's oil refinery industry, wherever available. Scope Updated information related to all active, planned and announced refineries in the country, including operator and equity details Information on CDU, condensate splitter, coking, catalytic cracking and hydrocracking capacities by refinery in the country, wherever available Key mergers and acquisitions, and asset transactions in the country's crude oil industry, wherever available Latest developments, and awarded contracts related to crude oil refineries in the country, wherever available Reasons to Buy Gain strong understanding of the country's crude oil refining industry Facilitate decision making on the basis of strong historical and outlook of capacity data Assess your competitor's major crude oil refining assets and their performance in the country Analyze the latest developments, financial deals and awarded contracts related to the country's crude oil refining industry Understand the country's financial deals landscape by analyzing how competitors are financed, and the mergers and partnerships that have shaped the market Key Topics Covered: 1. Table of Contents 1.1. List of Tables 1.2. List of Figures 2. Introduction 2.1. What is This Report About? 2.2. Market Definition 3. United States Refining Industry 3.1. United States Refining Industry, Key Data 3.2. United States Refining Industry, Overview 3.3. United States Refining Industry, Total Refining Capacity 3.4. United States Refining Industry, Crude Distillation Unit Capacity 3.5. United States Refining Industry, Condensate Splitter Unit Capacity 3.6. United States Refining Industry, Coking Capacity 3.7. United States Refining Industry, Catalytic Cracking Capacity 3.8. United States Refining Industry, Hydrocracking Capacity 3.9. United States Refining Industry, Asset Details 3.9.1. United States Refining Industry, Active Asset Details 3.9.2. United States Refining Industry, Planned Asset Details 4. Recent Contracts 4.1. Detailed Contract Summary 4.1.1. Awarded Contracts 5. Financial Deals Landscape 5.1. Detailed Deal Summary 5.1.1. Acquisition 5.1.2. Debt Offerings 5.1.3. Partnerships 5.1.4. Asset Transactions 6. Recent Developments 6.1. Other Significant Developments 7. Appendix For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/ta7m0f 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 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1904 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 SOURCE Research and Markets Related Links http://www.researchandmarkets.com USM Researchers Date Timbers from North Mississippi Structure to 1734 Wed, 02/03/2021 - 17:33pm | By: Van Arnold Pictured from left to right: Grant Harley (associate professor University of Idaho); Danny King (undergraduate student University of Idaho); Tommy Patterson (assistant professor USM); Ashley Chasez (graduate student USM); Alyssa Crowell (graduate student USM); Ian Stewart (graduate student USM); David Holt (associate professor USM) What began with a random phone call became an intense research project that led to remarkable discoveries by a group of professors and students at The University of Southern Mississippi (USM). Assistant Professor of geography Dr. Tommy Patterson, Associate Professor of geography Dr. David Holt, and Associate Professor of geography Dr. Grant Harley joined forces to assist archaeologists in determining the age of timbers used in construction of the historic Colbert-Walker home site near Tupelo, Miss. After nearly two years of painstaking analysis, the group formed a startling conclusion: pine wood from the Colbert-Walker structure could be traced back to 1734. What that means is that the former home represents one of the oldest, if not the oldest, dendro-dated (a scientific method of dating tree rings to the exact year they were formed) structures in the Gulf South region. When asked to describe his emotions upon learning the timbers pre-Revolutionary War date, Patterson said: Jubilation. This particular result came after months of trial and error, leaving us wondering if the material was un-datable. In fact, the project had almost run its course until Patterson came up with a last-ditch idea. At the 11th hour I suggested to my colleagues that we try a slightly different approach to cross-dating and everything finally fell into place, said Patterson. I think Grant Harley worked late into the night once the dating finally showed promise, and I woke up to emails the following morning with lots of exclamation points. Needless to say, it was a fantastic finding for our group. Still unsure, Holt acknowledges that he did not trust the results initially and continued working in confirmation mode for a few weeks thereafter. I rebuilt the reference chronologies, remeasured all of the samples, and reconstructed the process probably four times, he noted. Then, once I confirmed the dates by exhausting all possible interpretations of the reference chronologies, I simply called my colleagues and said, The numbers are good! It is ready for reviewers. Countless hours were spent on the project that also included valuable contributions from USM undergraduate and graduate students. Two exhaustive sampling trips were made to Tupelo in March and October of 2019. We are extremely grateful for our student volunteers who crawled around an old house for the sake of research, said Patterson. The unlikely adventure began in 2018 when Patterson was contacted by archaeologist Raymond Doherty, who sought the professors help dating timbers from three structures in the Tupelo area. Doherty was working with the Chickasaw nation to determine if the structures were of Chickasaw origin. Our goal was to date them to the early 1800s. At that time, I was in the second year of my visiting position at USM with no lab or funding for research, so I called my colleagues Drs. Holt and Harley and asked for their help, said Patterson. We formed a research team and started the project in early 2019. The group used methods that are common in dendroarchaeology, which required removing samples from suitable timbers in the attic and crawl space of the house. Patterson points out that each piece of timber contains tree rings, which resemble a barcode with a distinct pattern. Favorable growing seasons (perhaps wetter than average) will produce wider rings, whereas hotter or drier years will produce narrow rings. Exclusive, hollow drill bits and various saws were used to extract the samples that were then measured in a laboratory. Each year of growth is measured to 0.001mm accuracy, and the measurements are ordered into a tree-ring chronology (chronological measurements of each growth ring). Sophisticated software aids in the process, providing statistics that confirm the dating match. When assigning dates to the timbers, samples from specific pieces were collected that contained bark or the outer curvature of the tree. Thus, the researchers knew that the last year of growth was represented in the sample. We compared the tree-ring patterns in the timber samples to tree-ring reference chronologies from the local area in order to assign calendar years to all growth rings in the samples, said Patterson. Once we assigned dates to the samples, we could safely assume that the outermost year was the cut-date for the tree, and timber was used for construction within the calendar year or one year following. Harley, who has since become a member of the faculty at the University of Idaho, points out that the Tupelo structures 1734 date can be placed into historical context by comparing dates from other structures in the region: Timbers from the La Pointe-Krebs House in Pascagoula, Miss, were dated to 1757. Timbers from a Jesuit plantation in New Orleans, La., were dated to 1762. Timbers from the Deason House in Ellisville, Miss., were dated to 1835/36. The old Ursuline Convent in the New Orleans French Quarter purportedly existed as a drawing on a map dated to 1733, but historical documents report it was not finished until 1734. Though the construction year of the convent has not yet been confirmed with dendrochronology, said Harley. Patterson describes trees as the silent stenographers of the forest, recording environmental conditions for hundreds to thousands of years. Today, there is an international community of scientists that use tree rings to study climate, wildfires, forest ecology, land-use changes, and even insect outbreaks, he said. The archaeological application of tree-ring science can provide exact calendar years for building materials, which can be important when determining construction dates for historical reasons. The Walker-Colbert homes construction has been traced to the 1850s. The USM research team has shown that it contains salvaged timbers that have persevered for more than 280 years. Future research aims to pinpoint the woods origins. Patterson, Holt and Harley hope to have their findings published in the current calendar year. They are excited and gratified by the ring of truth their research has yielded. This research is important because it allows owners of historic structures to have concrete, scientific evidence of the year, or years, during which their structure was built, said Harley. Echoed Patterson: We look forward to getting this research out to a larger audience and potentially expanding to additional structures in Mississippi. Our region of the South is underrepresented in dendroarchaeological research, so hopefully we can fill in the map with future studies. Located in the southwestern part of China's Yunnan province, the city of Tengchong is a stop along an economic and trade route that links China with the world. Heshun, an ancient town in Tengchong known as the hometown of overseas Chinese, has formed a unique horse caravan culture and a culture introduced by overseas Chinese returning to their hometown. Words He Shun He Xie, meaning smooth and harmony, are written on a wall in the ancient town of Heshun, Tengchong, southwest Chinas Yunnan povince. (Peoples Daily Online/Su Yingxiang) Tengchong has been open to the outside world since ancient times, becoming an important stop along the Silk Road. Today, about 350,000 overseas Chinese living in 23 countries and regions across the world trace their ancestry to Tengchong. Tengchong is also a place where culture and education are highly valued. In Heshun, profound cultural atmosphere can be felt everywhere, from libraries to laundry stations, and schools. Heshun library, called the cultural center of Tengchong, was and is regarded as the press center of the ancient town of Heshun. Photo shows the Heshun Library in the ancient town of Heshun, Tengchong. (Su Yingxiang/Peoples Daily Online) With Heshun ancient town having a population of only about 6,000 people, Heshun library keeps more than 100,000 books, including over 20,000 important ancient woodblock-printed books and documents published in the early 21st century. It also has a rich collection of popular culture, science and reference books. Gudong town, some 40 kilometers from Heshun, is famous for shadow puppetry. Liu Yongzhou, a 4th-generation inheritor of shadow puppetry in Liujiazhai village, is teaching it to his grandson Liu Chaokan. In his 20s, Liu Chaokan is doing his best to give a new life to the traditional folk art. Artists of three generations put on a shadow puppet show in Liujiazhai village, Gudong town, Tengchong, southwest Chinas Yunnan province. (Peoples Daily Online/Meng Bin) Jade is a unique industry in Tengchong. With a jade processing history of more than 600 years, Tengchong became prosperous, driven by the jade industry and sculpturing. Yang Shuming, a young jade sculptor, is a master of the ancient craftsmanship with exquisite skills. According to Yang, to make a masterpiece a sculptor should treat every piece of jade as a friend, learn about it and then work on it. He said one of his jade sculptures still hasnt been finished since he started the work more than 10 years ago, explaining that sometimes sculptors devote their life to accomplish one single jade sculpture. Yang Shuming teaches a foreign guest how to identify jade. (Peoples Daily Online/Xiang Xingquan) Tengchong is also a place with a beautiful ecological environment. Located in the north of Tengchong city, Beihai Wetland is surrounded by mountains. As a plateau volcanic barrier lake, the wetland is also known as a grassland on the water. The wetland is home to various precious animal and plant species, including purple gallinules under key protection and golden eagles under first-class national protection, as well as water shields, a first-class national protected plant. Photo shows a purple gallinule, a species under key protection, in Beihai Wetland. (Peoples Daily Online/Zhou Yu) Endowed with rich geological resources, Tengchong has both volcanic fields and terrestrial heat resources, which is rare in the world. The boiling pot is a representative geological view in Tengchong. With a diameter of more than 3 meters and a depth of 1.5 meters, the pot is filled boiling water with a temperature of 96.6 degrees Celsius all year. Tourists boil eggs in the boiling pot in Tengchong. (Peoples Daily Online/Zhou Yu) | Welcome Guest! You Are Here: GST Council to hold special session to discuss extending paying compensation to states beyond 2022, says finance minister. Centre to borrow Rs 1.58 lakh cr to compensate states for loss of revenue from GST, says FM Sitharaman after GST Council meeting. FM Sitharaman announces amnesty scheme for small GST taxpayers, allowing filing of returns with reduced late fee. New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the 18th Convocation of Tezpur University in Assam on Friday at 10.30 AM through video conferencing. At 10:30 AM tomorrow, 22nd January, I look forward to addressing the Convocation of Tezpur University. This is a wonderful opportunity to interact with the bright youngsters from Assam and the Northeast. Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 21, 2021 According to Prime Ministers Office (PMO) release, Assam Governor Jagdish Mukhi, Union Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal `Nishank` and Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal will also be present on the occasion. Around 1,218 students who passed out in 2020 will be conferred degrees and diplomas and 48 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. "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," the PMO said. Live TV The Vietnamese diaspora in the U.S. are cautiously optimistic about the tenure of new U.S. President Joe Biden, knowing he faces stiff challenges. "Finally this day has arrived, I was looking forward to this years inauguration ceremony because it is different from many others," said Huy Pham, a California resident. A freelance lensman and businessman, Pham said he found the ceremony "beautiful and professional." As soon as Biden was declared victor of the U.S. presidential election in November 2020, Huy sent an email to the 2021 Presidential Inaugural Committee to register for a ticket to the event. But he was told that there would be no ticket for the public amid the Covid-19 pandemic. However, the organizers still sent tickets to people as souvenirs. Fireworks are seen over the National Mall during the "Celebrating America" event at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, after the inauguration of Joe Biden as the 46th President of the United States, in U.S., January 20, 2021. Photo by Reuters/Carlos Barria. Among many Americans looking for a respite from the turmoil of the Trump administration, Pham felt Biden was better placed to handle serious challenges. "The Covid-19 pandemic will be the biggest challenge, next to economic recovery. The two challenges are interconnected," he said. He said Biden would have the advantage of having the legislative and executive branches of the U.S. Federal Government managed by members of the Democratic Party. He felt this would make it easier for the new president to find support for his policies. "And the Covid-19 vaccine is now available," he added. The U.S. is currently the worlds biggest Covid-19 hotspot, with more than 24.5 million cases and 406,000 deaths. One day before Bidens inauguration, European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell called on Biden to take global leadership on the pandemic, saying it was up to the U.S. to retake its place as "an engine of the world" and help out. "This is the first global crisis in which the American leadership has been missing and the world needs American leadership," Borrell said. Derek Pham, a Vietnamese American journalist, agreed, saying Trump had failed against the crisis wrought by the novel coronavirus and showed his weakness when the country needed him the most. "That was why Biden had more chances to win the 2020 election, and now he must prove his ability in this battle and take the country back to normal," he said. Pham hoped that Bidens administration will be able to contain the virus as quickly as possible, support vaccination in many countries, and help America take back its leadership on the world stage. Half-a-million Covid-19 deaths The immediate reality is very gloomy. Dr. Rochelle Walensky, incoming director of the Center for Disease Control, said that by the middle of February, they expect half-a-million Covid-19 deaths. In response, President Biden has promised that his administration will administer 100 million vaccinations in its first 100 days, which, as he said at his speech in Delaware last week, would require the administration to "move heaven and earth." Alex Nguyen, residing in Washington, praised the president for taking the pandemic seriously. He also loved the idea of planting 200,000 flags on the National Mall instead of inviting thousands of people to the inauguration ceremony of January 20. "It is practical and moving, many of my American colleagues also liked the idea," said Nguyen, whose biggest hope from the new administration is the Covid-19 vaccination process. Also hoping to get his green card in the future, Nguyen is particularly interested in Bidens immigration policies. Hours ahead of Bidens inauguration, incoming White House officials released more details of his legislative proposals on immigration reform, including a pathway to U.S. citizenship for around 11 million people. The proposals were described as a "common-sense approach to modernizing and restoring humanity to the immigration system" after four years of Trumps systematic crackdown on both legal and illegal immigration. Nguyen said it was essential that those living in America for years, but have not been recognized and allowed to pay tax, are helped by the administration. He recognized, however, that there would be difficulties in tackling illegal immigrants and security threats at borders. U.S. President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden wave at the crowd as they head to the White House after the 2021 inauguration, in Washington, U.S., January 20, 2021. Photo by Reuters/Callaghan O'Hare. Too hard Many members of the Vietnamese diaspora have kept their feet on their ground, not getting carried away by the moment or nursing sky-high expectations in the new administration. "The challenge is too hard. Half of the country voted for Trump. Each side has its own ideas. I only hope that Biden and his cabinet will come up with policies that benefit all Americans," Nguyen said. Derek Pham and Lu Ta, a Vietnamese residing in the U.S. for nearly four decades, echoed Nguyens opinion. They both felt that it would take Biden at least two years, half of his presidential term, to gain the trust of Americans and unite them. Ta said Trumps influence will last long unless he is indicted and convicted. "His extreme right wing policies have hurt the heart of American democracy. The country has been through a lot of storms, that is why our institution and people are strong," Ta maintained. "I hope Biden will do his job well, take care of people and they will change their opinion about him." Another California resident, Moc Mien, was guardedly hopeful. "I believe Biden will take America back to normal... He must be cautious with every step, or he will face the biggest failure of his life." The Telegraph The list of Donald Trump associates who have attempted to bring down the former president is as long as it is varied: from his lawyer, to his closest advisor, his ex-wife and his alleged lover. But like many powerful figures before him, it may well be his accountant that would be his undergoing. Allen Weisselberg, the little-known 73-year-old chief financial officer for the Trump Organisation, has worked for the Trump family as far back as the early 1970s under Donalds father Fred. Some say he is closer to Mr Trump than he is to his own children. As one former employee put it, he knows where the bodies are buried". In recent weeks New York prosecutors investigating Mr Trumps tax affairs have been turning the screws on Mr Weisselberg in the hope of flipping him to testify against his boss. Cyrus Vance, the Manhattan District Attorney, is looking into everything from hush-money payments paid to women on Mr Trump's behalf, to property valuations and employee compensation. Speculation is mounting that his office may be able to turn Mr Weisselberg, who has not been accused of any wrongdoing, as it pulls together a grand jury to decide whether to indict. Alabama State Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris and other public health officials gave news media the latest information on COVID-19 vaccinations in Alabama today. They also fielded questions about the vaccines. How long does it protect you? a reporter asked Harris. The answer is we dont know, Harris said. There was a statement put out by Moderna in the past couple of weeks in which they believe, based on the antibody production that they have scene and the maintenance of levels, that probably a years protection is reasonable, for sure, at a minimum. We dont know if its going to be longer than that. Ive not seen something similar with Pfizer. I think theres good evidence that they last for several months because there have been phase 3 trials that started back in July or August. Id say six months, certainly, we know that much. But we just dont really know for sure. The Moderna and Pfizer vaccines are available in Alabama, although supply of the shots still falls well short of demand, a situation that Harris said will likely continue for some time. For now, Alabama is offering the shots to health care workers, nursing home residents, people age 75 and older, and first responders such as police and firefighters. Related: How to get a COVID-19 vaccine in Alabama When can Alabama move to next phase of COVID vaccinations? Harris was also asked about indications that the Moderna vaccine might be up to 80% effective at protecting people after a single dose. He was asked if health officials considered the possibility of trying to give as many people as possible a single dose rather than continue with the plans for two doses while supplies are still limited. We certainly have talked about that, Harris said. We want to see consensus guidance from public health nationally on how to do that. Thats a really big decision to make and were not going to make it alone here. These vaccines were studied as two-shot regimens. They went through an approval process, or at least an emergency authorization process, they were given the EUA (emergency use authorization) to use as a two-dose regimen. And so we just wouldnt lightly consider on our own to cut that in half. That may happen if a vaccine shortage persists and we dont get any products on the market. We may decide that twice as many people with pretty good protection is better than half that number with really good protection. Its a balance. There are pros and cons to that. Harris said the two-dose regimens for both Moderna and Pfizer vaccines appear to highly effective. The two-shot regimen for Moderna and for Pfizer, for that matter, is more than 90% effective, in some populations, maybe 95% effective, Harris said. Thats about as good as we have with just about any vaccine. Thats in the range of what we get with measles vaccine, which is a terrific vaccine. Beginning Saturday, many Manitobans will see a modest loosening of restrictions set in place in mid-November when new daily case counts soared. Advertisement Advertise With Us Beginning Saturday, many Manitobans will see a modest loosening of restrictions set in place in mid-November when new daily case counts soared. The entire province will nevertheless remain in the critical level red zone, as per Manitobas pandemic response system. Under the new orders, funerals can take place with one officiant and 10 people, with all proper protocols in place. On an intimate level, changes included outdoor visits augmented to include five people and members of a household on private property, and household changes mean two designated people can now visit, but only those same two people. As for businesses, retail operations will be expanded to eliminate the list of essential items. Stores will be able to sell any products if they maintain physical distancing between customers with occupancy limits of 25 per cent or a maximum of 250 people, whichever of those is lower. The orders will also be expanded to allow for basic services that promote physical and mental health for Manitobans, said Dr. Brent Roussin, Manitobas chief provincial public health officer. Non-regulated health services will be allowed to reopen, and barbershops and hair stylists are able to reopen at 25 per cent capacity, with physical distancing, and requirements to also collect information regarding potential contacts. Roussin emphasized this is for hair services only. But returning to a targeted approach, the Northern health region, including Churchill, will not see those changes. That region has been consistently seeing half of the daily new cases with 105 of 196 announced Thursday. Premier Brian Pallister joined his chief provincial public health officer Thursday to share that news. He said Manitobans have earned this opportunity and can earn more such opportunities in the future if they continue to adhere to public health orders. "They are cautious changes. They are changes we are making to ensure we continue to protect and safeguard Manitoba lives," said Pallister. Pallister described the alternative to the two-person-only rule graphically, after saying he knows people will be disappointed with it. "You have many friends and family youd like to see and youd like to visit and youve been holding back the ability to do that out of respect for the rules. Let me explain why. Two people is a fixed number," he said, adding its about reducing contacts. "You might be thinking, Well, over the next three weeks Id be able to see in three weeks, 21 days, two different people a day. And, if you did that, youd see 42 people. Thats not the only problem. The problem isnt just 42 people versus two people. The problem is, well, let me explain to you this way " Pallister did some contact math, trying to get the message across that a couple visiting a home becomes, exponentially, many more couples before long. "And, as you move forward, if you keep going like that and we relaxed these rules to allow this to happen, after about a week youd be able to have a gathering with 500 people. It wouldnt all be in the room, but they would have all been in direct contact with the people in the room. You see the problem that we would have," he said. Pallister noted 100,000 Manitobans responded to the government survey related to moving forward on restrictions. He said no one wants a COVID comeback. "Were asking you to follow the rules because thats how well keep each other safe," Pallister said, after noting there arent enough enforcement personnel to verify each household is following the rules. "Remember that in three weeks time, if we do the right things, there may be the opportunity to make further progress on this front." Pallister also encourages Manitobans to shop local because businesses have been through a rough patch and this is an opportunity for some to get their jobs back. When asked what changes the province introduced to restrictions that are different from its ideas earlier in the week, Roussin said only around specifics related to the two-people rule. "We had talked about two people gathering within a residence. We sent the message that this should be considered a bubble-type format that we dont want many, many groups of two visiting. But what we did was just clarify that in the orders that it is actually a designated two people that would be allowed to visit any household." "Lets follow the doctors orders," said Pallister. "Lets stay home. Only leave home for essential purposes. Stay home when youre ill. Stay home when any member of your family is sick. Dont socialize with people outside your household. Wash your hands. Cover your cough. Practise physical distancing. You know these rules, now. Keep following them." 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 white supremacist has been awarded $3,000 after corrections officials wrongly accused him of breaching his bail conditions. Philip Neville Arps, 45, was jailed for 21 months in 2019 for spreading disturbing footage of the Christchurch massacre - filmed by gunman Brenton Tarrant as he shot dead 51 people at the city's Al Noor Mosque and Linwood Islamic Centre. He sent the horrific video to 30 people and callously asked a friend to alter the footage by adding a 'kill count' and crosshairs. Philip Neville Arps (pictured in March 2019) appeared in Christchurch District Court, where he was awarded $3000 in costs after being wrongly accused of breaching his bail conditions The Christchurch businessman was released in January last year with strict bail conditions including that he was not to loiter near any mosque. He was also barred from having contact with Muslims without special approval from his probation officer. In August last year, Arps visited a home brew shop just 17m from the Linwood Islamic Centre in a nearby shopping centre. His electronic monitoring bracelet logged the location and notified police who arrested him at nearby shops and charged him with breaching his bail conditions. Arps denied the charge at Christchurch District Court - where the full costs of defending himself came to $7,300. In October, the Christchurch District Court dismissed the charge with no opposition from the Department of Corrections as there was no evidence Arps had breached his bail conditions. Christchurch District Court where Judge Peter Rollo brought down his decision on costs Instead, CCTV footage showed Arps visited the home brew store briefly between 9.45am and 9.50am, and the store manager confirmed he had simply bought some items and left. Arps' lawyer Anselm Williams made an application to the court for costs, saying the Corrections Department should pay his legal fees as the arrest had caused distress to both Arps and his family. The Linwood Mosque and nearby shops. Arps had an electric monitoring bracelet that alerted police when he visited a home brew store 17m from the Linwood Mosque In October, the court heard even though Arps gave police a legitimate explanation for being where he was, neither police nor the Department of Corrections had made any inquiries to verify it. The Corrections Department opposed Arps's application for costs, saying they had 'sufficient evidence' to support a prosecution at the start of the case. Corrections lawyer Shivani Dayal said the department had acted in good faith, in the public interest and that probation records showed Arps was unrepentant for his earlier offences. Father-of-six Philip Neville Arps (pictured) was awarded $3000 after the Corrections Department pursued him despite evidence showing he had not breached bail conditions Judge Peter Rollo granted Arps $3,000 in costs, slightly less than half of Arps' legal costs. He said it was proper for Arps to pay for his own fees up until the bail hearing - after which Corrections should be liable for the costs - as it then became obvious their prosecution could not succeed. Judge Rollo said though he did not consider it improper for the charge to have been brought in the first place. Gardai are examining an official complaint lodged about the leaking of a GP contract by then-taoiseach Leo Varadkar. A statement to the Irish Examiner confirmed: "An Garda Siochana has received correspondence which is currently being assessed to determine what if any Garda action is required. "An Garda Siochana has no further comment at this time." It's believed the complaint about Mr Varadkar was made before Christmas and interviews have been carried out to assess its validity. Mr Varadkar admitted last year he posted a copy of a contract negotiated between the government and the Irish Medical Organisation to rival GP group, the National Association of General Practitioners, headed by Maitiu O Tuathail. File Picture: Moya Nolan A spokesman for the Tanaiste said Mr Varadkar had not been contacted by gardai and his office was not aware of any investigation. Mr Varadkar admitted last year that he posted a copy of a contract negotiated between the then government and the Irish Medical Organisation to rival GP group, the National Association of General Practitioners, headed by his friend Maitiu O Tuathail. Mr Varadkar apologised for his actions in the Dail in November after he was accused of breaching the Official Secrets Act and breaking the law, stating at the time that "sharing" the document was "not best practice". "There was nothing selfish, corrupt, dishonest or illegal in what I did," he said. Read More New information raises fresh controversy over Leo Varadkar's leaking of confidential file Correspondence released this week by Sinn Fein's Pearse Doherty, under Freedom of Information, shows that then-health minister Simon Harris, who was responsible for the negotiations, was unable to obtain the document at the time due to its sensitivity. In response, Mr Varadkar said the document shared with Dr O Tuathail was an earlier version of the agreement that had been publicly referenced and not the updated copy that Mr Harris was seeking at a later date. Thank you for reading! Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. If you have a subscription, please log in or sign up for an account on our website to continue. Please purchase a subscription to continue reading. If you have a subscription, please Log In . Your current subscription does not provide access to this content. If you believe you've gotten this message in error, please Log In. The logos of mobile apps Facebook and Google on a smartphone in Sydney, Australia, on Dec. 9, 2020. (The Epoch Times) Google Threatens to Remove Search Engine in Australia Over Proposed Law Google on Friday said it may make its search engine unavailable in Australia if the government carries out a plan for search engines to pay for news content. 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, Mel Silva, Googles managing director for the region, told Australian senators. And that would be a bad outcome not only for us, but also for the Australian people, media diversity, and the small businesses who use our products every day. Silva then said that the draft legislation remains unworkable, adding that it would be breaking the way users searched for content in the country. The law would require payments simply for links and snippets just to news results in Search, said Silva. The free service we offer Australian users, and our business model, has been built on the ability to link freely between websites, she added. The Australian law proposed last year stipulates that media companies will be able to request payments from Google and Facebook for news articles that are posted there. Facebook and Google have argued that some publishers can benefit from their links being posted to their platforms. However, the two companies have received criticism for their moves to censor or diminish the reach of certain users, news publishers, and websites. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, in response to Google, said that Australia makes our rules for things you can do in Australia. People who want to work with that in Australia, youre very welcome. But we dont respond to threats, he said to reporters Friday. If Google withdrew its search engine from Australia, users would have to use alternatives such as the privacy-focused DuckDuckGo, Startpage, Bing, or Yahoo, among many other search engines. Big Tech companies have also faced pressure from authorities elsewhere to pay for news. On Thursday, Google signed a deal with a group of French publishers paving the way for the company to make digital copyright payments. Under the agreement, Google will negotiate individual licensing deals with newspapers, with payments based on factors such as the amount published daily and monthly internet site traffic. Facebook said it opposes Australias rules and has threatened to remove news stories from its site in Australia. Simon Milner, a Facebook vice president, said the sheer volume of deals it would have to strike would be unworkable. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Bengaluru, which faced an acute water shortage during the summer season, is among metro cities that are likely to run out of water by 2020, Niti Aayog has warned in a report. In the hour of crisis, Vishwanath Srikantaiah, a water activist, vlogger and the mind behind Bengaluru-based NGO, Rainwater Club, has emerged as a consistent force in the water conservation field, and holds great insight when it comes to rainwater harvesting and ecological sanitation. Popularly known as ZenRainMan, which is also the name of his YouTube channel, Srikantaiah has dedicated his life to spreading awareness about the proper usage of rainwater, techniques to gauge and use it to maximum effect, and tips on how rainwater harvesting can become a great source of sustainable sanitation. Photo: YouTube Imperial Valley News Center Deliberate Genocide in China Washington, DC - In waning hours of the Trump Administration, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo decorated military officer, former congressman, exceptional Secretary of State leveled what may be the strongest, most widely supported, enduring charge against Communist China: Deliberate genocide. Beyond Chinas overt and covert attacks on Western values and international security, abusing rule of law, manipulating public opinion, economic data, currency, and multilateral trade regimes, hatching and spreading the deadly COVID-19 virus, Pompeo laid out the case for Chinas unconscionable genocide against religious minorities, most egregiously millions of minority Muslims in Western China. Notably, Muslims are not the only religion systematically, grotesquely, officially persecuted for their faith. Christians, Buddhists, Taoists, and other minorities are mercilessly persecuted by the Communist Government, which to now has been wholly unaccountable to world opinion. As Pompeo affirmed, a wide swath of evidence from victims, relatives, journalists, international human rights groups, and incontrovertible technical data show 11 million Uighur Muslims have been targeted, one million forced into concentration camps for communist deprogramming or reeducation. At the direction of Chinas Communist government the same one that bankrolled Biden family members Chinese Muslims today suffer interminable physical imprisonment, physical abuse, forced abortions, forced sterilization, and unapologetic denial of rights found in our Bill of Rights, from free speech, worship, assembly, travel, and peaceful protest, to self-defense, confrontation of accusers, access to a fair trial, and freedom from cruel and unusual punishment. With Muslims, Christians have been placed in fear, harassed, imprisoned, churches burned, theology changed, and personally martyred for unwillingness to deny their faith. Not surprisingly, when a 2015 Gallup poll asked Chinese citizens their views, 90 percent averred atheism. Fear, persecution, imprisonment, brain washing, and death are powerful incentives for denying faith. What Pompeo had done, however, is bigger than meets the eye. By accusing China of genocide, a label that will likely be repeated by US allies, examined, and confirmed by non-partisan international human rights groups in time, he has brought China within reach of the Genocide Convention of 1948 (Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide). This is a serious development, with downstream legal effects for China no matter the Biden Administrations affection, connection, or personal dependence on China. The Genocide Convention, at Article II, makes clear that genocide is any of the following acts to destroy, in whole or in part a religious group by killing, causing serious bodily or mental harm, inflicting conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction, imposing measures intended to prevent births, or forcibly transferring children of that group to another group. China has done each of the above, most numerously to Muslims, but consistently to all faiths. Communist Chinas goal is to isolate, intimidate, and eradicate religious faith and if they cannot do this by mind-control and deprogramming, then to isolate, intimidate, and eradicate all those who believe. The specter is horrific, and the tell it like it is Trump State Department is making clear it is real. Pompeo is saying what all know, and apologists for China and Communism never say. But the move will cast a long shadow over China, one they cannot outrun. Article IV states: Persons committing genocide or any of the other acts enumerated shall be punished, whether they are constitutionally responsible rulers, public officials or private individuals. The sweep of that provision raises stakes for Chinas rulers. Lest some argue China is outside the Convention, it is not. Among the 151 treaty signatories, China ratified it in 1949. Even as China seeks to dodge accountability, as they do for COVID-19, truth is louder than communist denials. Recent reports compare Chinas offenses against religious minorities with acts perpetrated by Nazi Germany. So, here we are. Beyond declaring finally that Communist China is perpetuating crimes against humanity, evils so identifiable, systematic, egregious and unforgivable that they amount to genocide, and beyond setting up potential prosecutions, however unlikely, this move triggers three other events. First, this move reminds the world as President Ronald Reagan once did, to lasting effect and against advice of his own team that there are still evil empires afoot. In Reagans day, the most powerful, inhumane, and ambitious communist regime was the Soviet Union. Today, it is China. Second, this move forces incoming President Bidens hand, making him own up to facts, stand up for liberty, or side with an overtly inexcusable, anti-religious, inhumane and cruel communist regime. The truth is hard to avert, once someone points it out, steps up to shine a light, making clear the untruth. Finally, his move reinforces what the past four years have been, with respect to China. They have been an ugly coming out. They have been the bright light of a liberty-loving nation saying enough. They have not been business as usual, or anything like the Obama-Biden years. Mike Pence did not fly to Beijing with his son to surreptitiously craft private contracts, with a nod, wink, and lasting stink. Bottom line: The world is different because of moves like this, bold and real, credible and paradigm-shifting, powerful and patriotic, but wedded to truth, serving all humanity, showcasing fidelity to universal principles, including human rights, freedom of worship, and humanitys rejection of genocide. Thank you, Secretary Pompeo, and wider Trump Team, for speaking truth to Communist power. May we all take heart from your example. May we follow that example, wherever it leads. Robert Charles is a former assistant secretary of state for President George W. Bush, former naval intelligence officer and litigator. He served in the Reagan and Bush 41 White Houses, as congressional counsel for five years, and wrote Narcotics and Terrorism (2003) and Eagles and Evergreens (2018), the latter on WWII vets in a Maine town. What are the extra charges and paperwork and why were they introduced? Shipping goods either way across the UK-EU border now takes longer and is more expensive since the UK left the EU's Customs Union and Single Market. Since January 1 a new customs regime has been in place that treats the UK as an external 'third country' for goods being imported and exported into and out of the EU. Although the terms of the free trade deal mean there are no tariffs or quotas, the small print of the deal imposes new red tape and charges for goods being moved across the border. Customs clearance charges must now be paid, while many couriers also add on postal or handling fees to account for the extra paperwork they now need to process. VAT is payable by businesses when they bring goods into the UK. Goods that are exported by UK businesses to the EU are zero-rated, meaning that UK VAT is not charged at the point of sale. Some goods may need a rules of origin document. And once they arrive at the ports, there are new checks by officials which also slow down the transport process. The extra time taken for goods to cross the border means some shipments have been delayed. That means that in addition to extra fees at the border goods are also taking longer to travel from retailer to customer - complicating the situation further. Advertisement High Street retailers and luxury brands may burn items returned by EU customers that are now stuck in European warehouses rather than bringing them back to the UK to avoid the cost and hassle of Brexit red tape. EU consumers buying a coat, a pair of boots or any other product from a UK-based retailer now have to pay charges including import duties and courier or postal handling fees following Britain's exit from the Customs Union and Single Market. Some of the same costs and red tape also apply to British customers buying products that have been shipped from the EU - adding a third to the cost of online orders and slowing down deliveries due to extra checks at ports. Customers in the EU are being asked to pay the extra costs by couriers when the goods reach their door, so many are rejecting them to avoid paying the bill. Figures from data firm Statista show that 30% of orders are now being returned. Four major UK High Street fashion retailers are have begun stockpiling returns at warehouses in Belgium, Ireland and Germany, reported the BBC. One brand will incur charges of almost 20,000 to get the returns back. Apart from the charges, businesses need to also complete Customs declaration forms detailing the contents, their origin and value to get goods through ports. UK Fashion & Textile Association chief Adam Mansell said retailers may now find it cheaper to simply dispose of the items at the EU warehouses rather than pay to have them shipped back to Britain. He said: 'It's part of the ongoing small print of the deal. If you're in Germany and buying goods from the UK, you as the German customer are the importer bringing goods into the EU. 'You then have a courier company knocking on the door giving you a customs clearance invoice that you need to pay to receive your goods.' Mr Mansell said further customs paperwork facing UK retailers when goods are returned includes an 'export clearance charge, import charge arrival, import VAT charge and, depending on the goods, a rules of origin document as well. Lots of large businesses don't have a handle on it, never mind smaller ones.' After the UK's exit from the Customs Union and Single Market goods now face extra checks at the border. This is slowing down the flow of lorries (pictured are queues at Dover today) There are large queues at Dover today as lorry drivers face longer checks on their goods Clothes shopper Louisa Walters, 52, was asked for 77.23 in tax, duties and charges after splashing out more than 240 on two items of clothing from Paris-based Sandro Journalist Susannah Butter said she had been asked to pay more than 100 by a UPS delivery man British woman who was told to pay nearly 80 more to buy a dress Clothes shopper Louisa Walters, 52, was asked for 77.23 in tax, duties and charges after splashing out more than 240 on two items of clothing from Paris-based Sandro. It broke down to 24.50 in duty, 46.73 in VAT and 6 in charges from DPD. The duty suggests the goods, at least partially, originated from outside the EU. It's not clear if a sales tax was levied on the original order. Ms Walters said she didn't even know they were coming from France. 'DPD offered me two options - pay the fees or return the package. There was no way I was paying 77 so I clicked to not accept the package. I was very disappointed,' she told The Times. Advertisement British shoppers today complained about being hit with punishing 'Brexit fees' on purchases from Europe, which could add more than third to the cost of a new outfit. Londoner, Ellie Huddleston, aged 26, found the charges added up to 82 for a 200 coat and another 58 for a selection of blouses that had a list price of 180. Lisa Walpole, from Norfolk, was told to pay 121 in relation to a 236 clothes order she made from the Norwegian website Onepiece.com, which specialises in premium jumpsuits. And Helen Kara, from Uttoxeter in Staffordshire, was hit with a bill for 93 after purchasing 292 worth of bed linen from Urbanara.co.uk, which is based in Berlin. Ms Huddleston said she was surprised by the fees, which were notified by the two international courier firms who were handling the shipments. 'I didn't even know when the parcels would be coming - so I sent both back without paying the extra fees and won't be ordering anything from Europe again any time soon,' she told the BBC. One of the biggest problems is that people shopping with an EU-based store online find it difficult, if not impossible, to understand how much the extra charges will add up to. A man who paid 300 to buy two pairs of suede winter boots from a German firm online was told by UPS that he would have to come up with another 147 before they would deliver. How delays at the border are hitting food deliveries There are more forms to fill in before lorries arrive at the Channel and other crossings following the UK's exit from the Customs Union and Single Market. And once they arrive at the ports, there are new checks by officials which also slow down the transport process. For UK retailers, it means there is a slowdown in receiving stock from the EU. It takes longer for European hauliers to get here, and UK-based lorries are slowed down on the way out and then slowed down on the return trip as well. This is leading to empty shelves and shortages of some goods for consumers. The most immediate problems are with perishable goods - food and drink. Alcoholic drinks and staples including broccoli, tomatoes and cheese have been in short supply because they are imported from manufacturers in Europe. The problems are similar for exporters, UK firms sending goods to be sold in Europe. The import problem is most acute for perishable foods. Fish and shellfish that are sold to European markets are decomposing in the back of lorries because of the time taken to get across. And now the problem is affecting other, more robust foods, like meat and vegetables, which are rotting on the dockside. Scottish seafood firms last week warned they are just 'days from collapse' unless emergency cash is paid out to compensate for the Brexit border chaos. Hauliers have also faced difficulties transporting stock to Ulster under the Northern Ireland Protocol in the Brexit deal. The protocol is designed to allow Northern Ireland to follow the EU's customs rules to prevent the establishment of a hard border on the island of Ireland. But this has caused delays at the ports on either side of the Irish Sea because of new declarations and checks. Advertisement The unnamed man told the BBC: 'It was virtually impossible to find out what the charges would be beforehand, so I had to take a shot in the dark. I didn't imagine that it would be half as much again.' Under the new rules, anyone in the UK receiving a gift from the EU worth more than 39 may now face a bill for import VAT - with many items charged at 20per cent. For goods costing more than 135, customs duties may also apply, which can range from 0-25per cent of the purchase price. The extra charges are usually collected by the courier on behalf of the government, with customers asked to pay before they can pick up their package. Because of the new red tape and costs involved, most courier firms add a handling fee, so pushing up the bill even more. The costs and complexity of the new regime means that some EU businesses have decided to suspend selling items to UK consumers. Courier industry expert, David Jinks, the Head of Consumer Research at ParcelHero, said: 'Now the UK has left the EU's single market I'm afraid shoppers buying from EU stores should expect the unexpected. 'Despite the fact Boris Johnson claimed he had secured a 'cakeist' free trade deal, meaning Britain can actually have its cake and eat it, there are, in fact, a bunch of new fees that may need to be paid on parcels arriving from the EU. 'Some EU-based stores have stopped selling to the UK entirely because of the mess.' The Government said: 'We have encouraged companies new to dealing with customs declarations to appoint a specialist to deal with import and export declarations on their behalf - and we made more than 80m available to expand the capacity of the customs agents market. 'The Government will continue to work closely with businesses to ensure they are able to trade effectively under the new rules.' British customers are also liable to be hit with further duties if the goods originated, even partially, outside the EU. The delivery companies are then whacking their own additional charges on top - 2.5 per cent of the VAT charge in the case of DHL - to cover their administrative fees. It is believed that the issues can be ironed out over the next few months as more EU retailers register with HMRC. But some have pulled the plug on their UK operations altogether in the wake of Brexit. These are four examples of products ordered by UK customers from EU firms that have now gone up in price due to Brexit charges and red tape And Helen Kara, from Uttoxeter in Staffordshire, was hit with a bill for 93 after purchasing 292 worth of bed linen from Urbanara.co.uk, which is based in Berlin (pictured is the firm's website) Lisa Walpole, from Norfolk, was told to pay 121 in relation to a 236 clothes order she made from the Norwegian website Onepiece.com, which specialises in premium jumpsuits The Brexit trade deal has seen many European customers rejecting goods imported from the UK after being presented with unexpected customs paperwork and charges when signing for them It comes after it emerged yesterday the EU is demanding that Boris Johnson abandon his plans for a 'Singapore on Thames' before they will grease the wheels at the ports. The bloc 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. UK Fashion & Textile Association chief Adam Mansell said it was often cheaper for British retailers to dump goods being returned from Europe rather than deal with them It emerged 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 Mr 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.' There are large queues at Dover today as lorry drivers face longer checks on their goods Lorry drivers have reportedly been warned that tailbacks at ports could get worse in the coming days as traffic returns to normal levels 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.' Liz Truss, the International Trade Secretary, said problems in Northern Ireland were 'down to both' Brexit and coronavirus 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. '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.' Ministers have admitted that post-Brexit rules are partly to blame for empty shelves in Northern Ireland supermarkets 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.' Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Pune, India, Jan. 21, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The global military robots market size is expected to reach USD 25.66 billion by 2027, exhibiting a CAGR of 10.15% during the forecast period. The growing adoption of advanced aerial robots in military operations, including attacking, rescue activities, surveillance, and others will have a tremendous impact on the global market, states Fortune Business Insights, in a report, titled Military Robots Market Size, Share & COVID-19 Impact Analysis, By Platform (Airborne, Land, Naval), By Mode of Operation (Semi-Autonomous and Autonomous), By Mode of Propulsion (Manual, Electric, and Hybrid), By Application (Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance, Search and Rescue, Combat Support, Transportation, and Others), and Regional Forecast, 2020-2027. The market size stood at USD 13.87 billion. The entire world is fighting with the COVID-19 pandemic, which has severely disrupted trades across the globe. The authorities of several countries have initiated lockdown to prevent the spread of this deadly virus. Such plans have caused disturbances in the production and supply chain. But, with time and resolution, we will be able to combat this stern time and get back to normality. Our well-revised reports will help companies to receive in-depth information about the present scenario of every market so that you can adopt the necessary strategies accordingly. The military robots market highpoints: An in-depth analysis of the market Valuable facts and figures Profound data about leading regions Latest market development Key policies implemented by companies COVID-19 impact Get Sample PDF Brochure with Impact of COVID19: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/covid19-impact/military-robots-market-104663 Key Market Driver : Combination of Cutting-edge Technologies in Military Robots to Aid Growth The amalgamation of technologies such as artificial intelligence, real-time data monitoring, and the Internet of Things (IoT) has accelerated the demand for these robots in modern warfare, thus aiding the market. These robots can track, record, and perform required counter-attacks on the targets located far away from the soldiers, hence easily identifying enemies on the ground, sea, or air. The increasing utilization of robots for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) activities will bolster the healthy growth of the market. Furthermore, the growing focus of companies towards designing and developing small robots capable of transmitting images and videos to the ground-based station for assisting soldiers to make real-time decisions on battlefields will subsequently augur well for the global military robots market during the forecast period. List of Top Companies Profiled in the Military Robots Market: Northrop Grumman Corporation (The U.S.) Thales Group (France) FLIR Systems, Inc. (The U.S.) Clearpath Robotics Inc. (Canada) Cobham Limited (The U.K.) QinetiQ (The U.K.) AeroVironment, Inc. (The U.S.) BAE Systems. (The U.K.) Elbit Systems Ltd. (Israel) Raytheon Technologies (The U.S.) Inquire Before Buying This Research Report: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/queries/military-robots-market-104663 COVID-19 Pandemic: Suspended Deliveries of Military Robots to Restrict Market Growth The pandemic has considerably affected the production and delivery of military robots, which, in turn, will diminish the growth of the market. Stringent government norms have disrupted the import and export of robots, resulting in delayed deliveries. The halt on operations has critically thwarted the production in manufacturing processes. The prominent companies situated in the U.S., the U.K., Germany, and France have experienced enormous loss due to the outbreak. However, companies are implementing strategies to recover the financial damage caused by the coronavirus, which, in turn, can improve the market scenario. Regional Analysis : Presence of Major Manufacturing Companies to Boost Development in Europe Europe is expected to experience a rapid growth rate during the forecast period owing to the presence of prominent manufacturers in the region. According to The World Robotics 2019, 700 service robot manufacturing companies are identified across the globe, out of which 307 companies are operating in Europe. The increasing trend for advanced robots with features such as speech and haptics-based human-machine interface, navigation and collision avoidance, motion, and task planning will further propel the growth of the market in Europe. The increasing military expenditure coupled with robust homeland security will have an excellent impact on the military robots market growth in the region. Key Industry Development : October 2019: BAE Systems, a British multinational defense, security, and aerospace company developed Robotic Technology Demonstrator (RTD) as a program to showcase the latest in robotic combat systems. Browse Detailed Summary of Research Report with TOC: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/military-robots-market-104663 Detailed Table of Content: Introduction Research Scope Market Segmentation Research Methodology Definitions and Assumptions Executive Summary Market Dynamics Market Drivers Market Restraints Market Opportunities Key Insights Key Industry Developments Key Contracts & Agreements, Mergers, Acquisitions and Partnerships Latest technological Advancements Porters Five Forces Analysis Supply Chain Analysis Quantitative Insights-Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Global Military Robots Market Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on the Global Military Robots Market Steps Taken by the Industry/Companies/Government to Overcome the Impact Key Development in the Industry in Response to COVID-19 Impact Global Military Robots Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast, 2016-2027 Segmental Definitions Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast By Platform Airborne Land Naval Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast By Mode of Operation Semi-Autonomous Autonomous Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast By Mode of Propulsion Electric Mechanical Hybrid TOC Continued! Speak to Our Expert: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/speak-to-analyst/military-robots-market-104663 Have a Look at Related Research Insights: Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Market Size, Share & COVID-19 Impact Analysis, By Class (Small UAVs, Tactical UAVs, and Strategic UAVs), By Technology (Remotely Operated, Semi-autonomous, and Fully-autonomous), By System (UAV Airframe, UAV Payloads, UAV Avionics, UAV Propulsion, and UAV Software), By Application (Military, Commercial and Recreational), and Regional Forecast, 2020-2027 Unmanned Surface Vehicle (USV)s Market Size, Share & Industry Analysis, By Application (Defense, Commercial), By Type (Surface, Sub-Surface), By System (Propulsion, Communication), By Mode of Operation (Autonomous Surface Vehicle, Remotely Operated Surface Vehicle), By Size (Small <7 Meters, Medium 7 to 11 Meters), By Endurance (Less than 100 hours, 100 to 500 hours), By Hull Type (Kayak, Catamaran) and Regional Forecast, 2019-2026 Unmanned Underwater Vehicles Market Size, Share and Industry Analysis, By Type (Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV), and Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV)), By Application (Commercial Exploration, Scientific Research, Defense), By Product Type (Small Vehicle, High-Capacity Electric Vehicle, Work-Class Vehicle), By Propulsion System (Electric System), By Payload (Camera, Sensors, Inertial Navigation System), and Regional Forecast 2019-2026 About Us: Fortune Business Insights offers expert corporate analysis and accurate data, helping organizations of all sizes make timely decisions. We tailor innovative solutions for our clients, assisting them to address challenges distinct to their businesses. Our goal is to empower our clients with holistic market intelligence, giving a granular overview of the market they are operating in. Our reports contain a unique mix of tangible insights and qualitative analysis to help companies achieve sustainable growth. Our team of experienced analysts and consultants use industry-leading research tools and techniques to compile comprehensive market studies, interspersed with relevant data. At Fortune Business Insights, we aim at highlighting the most lucrative growth opportunities for our clients. We, therefore, offer recommendations, making it easier for them to navigate through technological and market-related changes. Our consulting services are designed to help organizations identify hidden opportunities and understand prevailing competitive challenges. Contact Us: Fortune Business Insights Pvt. Ltd. 308, Supreme Headquarters, Survey No. 36, Baner, Pune-Bangalore Highway, Pune - 411045, Maharashtra, India. Phone: US: +1 424 253 0390 UK: +44 2071 939123 APAC: +91 744 740 1245 Email: sales@fortunebusinessinsights.com Fortune Business Insights LinkedIn | Twitter | Blogs Read Press Release: What it Means to be Future Ready AI-Driven Engagement Website Upgrades The Power of Planning Addressing New Risks The Journey Ahead 2020 has been called The Great Acceleration, and with good reason.While this term refers to the pivot businesses had to make this year due to COVID-19, it also holds true for state and local governments. Organizations of all types essentially had to transform themselves overnight to meet new pandemic-driven demands around remote work, digital service delivery and data analytics.Some government agencies had a head start in this race to become future ready. They had embraced cloud modernization, virtualized parts of their IT infrastructure and adopted IoT and artificial intelligence (AI)-driven technologies before the pandemic hit.Government Technology recently recognized five such jurisdictions Los Angeles County; El Paso, Texas; the Orange County (Fla.) Property Appraisers Office; the state of Mississippi; and the city of Lynchburg, Va. with 2020 Future Ready Awards . The award program, underwritten by Google Cloud, recognizes jurisdictions that are embracing IT modernization and digital technologies to prepare for the future.Technology leaders from all five organizations recently gathered for a virtual conversation about how they are using technology to be more responsive and resilient.Being future ready is no longer optional for government agencies. It has become a mission-critical component of how they need to operate going forward.Future ready agencies leverage new technologies and processes to guide their overall business strategies and fulfill their missions. A 2020 research from the Center for Digital Government (CDG) shows that more than 75 percent of state, county and city governments are developing formal content, governance and user experience strategies to deliver better interactions to citizens, staff and other stakeholders. These strategies involve fine-tuning marketing and communications both within the organization and externally. They also include new policies and practices that mandate the use of data and identify digital channels these organizations will use to engage with stakeholders.The CDG survey found state, local and county governments are turning to a variety of technologies and approaches to make this happen, including single sign-on solutions, native mobile apps, messaging apps, SMS text messaging solutions and responsive web design practices. Overall, governments are focusing on delivering human-centered technology experiences, which balance process automation with personalization and user-centered design to speed service delivery.Many of this years future ready award winners are embracing this human-centered approach to transform their organizations.To become future ready, the Orange County Appraisers Office has employed a citizen-centered cross platform strategy, says Tatsiana Sokalava, the organizations chief operating officer.That strategy includes leveraged big data and artificial intelligence to introduce new technologies, such as a conversational chatbot on its website that answers taxpayers questions. The office also developed a cloud-based survey tool to gather more data and customer feedback about its field appraisals. The tool even includes sentiment analysis capabilities that flag feedback the organization needs to act on more quickly.During this pandemic, weve introduced several integrated SaaS applications that have actually helped us through this challenging time, Sokalava says.Mississippi also uses chatbot technology. A statewide chatbot -- aptly named Missi -- responds to a range of citizen requests and inquiries. The technology, which has been in place for several years, played a significant role in helping the state meet growing demands for information and services during the pandemic.She [Missi] is available to help our citizens 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and supports about 400 types of interactions right now, says David Johnson, executive director of the Mississippi Department of Information Technology Services and CIO for the state.Like many jurisdictions, the city of El Paso embraced collaborative tools to facilitate remote work when the pandemic hit. The city also deployed a new community-focused website to centralize communication to residents, giving them a go-to destination for finding information and resources.Araceli Guerra, the citys director of information technology, says the new website helped the city be more responsive during the COVID-19 crisis.We were able to really action that website and transform it into a one-stop shop where citizens could find testing information, rental assistance, food assistance and broadband initiatives, she says.Los Angeles County strengthened service delivery during the pandemic, too, while it lays the groundwork for a digital future. The county established a $10 million technology innovation fund to support various departmental initiatives, created a $20 million legacy modernization fund and developed an enterprise-wide IT strategy that involves more than 200 business units and 37 different departments. In addition, the county is using predictive analytics and AI to address social issues, including homelessness, incarceration, and racial and digital equity.Bill Kehoe, the countys chief information officer, says having a strategic plan is key to making his organization future ready.We actually have created a plan where we have teams around each of the goals. Those teams identify objectives, and they identify current and future initiatives that then drive us forward in an innovative way, Kehoe says.Theres a lesson here for other government organizations that want to become future-ready have a plan. As the CDG survey indicates, agencies are employing content, governance and user experience strategies to drive IT innovation. These strategies, along with good data management, can lay the groundwork for a strategic business plan that government organizations can execute on.States and localities will confront new information security risks as they reimagine how they engage with employees, residents and other stakeholders.Terry Hutchens, Lynchburgs chief information officer, says governments must focus on enterprise security as they modernize. His city has added new functionality to its mobile app, collaborated with school districts and state agencies on new applications and cloud infrastructure to improve service delivery and increase resilience, he says. At the same time, it beefed up security to protect this evolving digital environment.Were rolling out multifactor authentication not just for email but for every type of remote access that you can have, Hutchens says. We've also moved tertiary backups to the cloud for all our data to avoid the potential for ransomware in the future.Whats clear from these five jurisdictions is that becoming future ready includes IT modernization that makes governments more agile, secure and user-centric. Key pillars of this strategy must include scalable cloud platforms that facilitate remote work and citizen engagement, modern security policies and services, and AI-driven tools and user-centered design that drive a digitally enabled, human-centered approach to service delivery.We really should be delivering our services like the private sector does. Citizens have come to expect that same transparency and ease of use in their engagement with government as they have in their private lives, says Johnson. In the private sector, a successful business usually has a solid business plan. In government, that digital business plan, objectives and mission are basically pre-determined for you by mandates, by law and by policy. But what changes over time is the way we deliver services to meet those objectives and strive for continuous improvement. Kiev, Jan 22 : At least 15 people were killed and five others injured in a fire at a private nursing home in Kharkiv, Ukraine, authorities said. According to the press service of Ukrainian State Service for Emergencies, the fire broke out at 3.03 p.m. on Thursday and quickly engulfed an area of about 100 square metres, reports Xinhua news agency. After about two hours, the fire was extinguished. Fifty employees of the State Emergency Service and 13 pieces of equipment were involved in the fight against the fire. The bodies of 15 people were found at the scene of the tragedy. Nine more people were rescued, five of whom were hospitalised. The state of the victims has not yet been reported. President Volodymyr Zelensky called the incident a terrible tragedy and instructed the Cabinet of Ministers to urgently address the situation. The preliminary cause of the fire is the violation of the safety regulations, according to Prosecutor General Irina Venediktova. Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal called for an extraordinary governmental meeting to set up a state commission to investigate the cause of the tragedy. The fire was classified as a state-level emergency. MINISTER Patrick ODonovan has taken a jab back at Deputy Richard ODonoghue over his comments about him and the vaccine in the Dail last week. Speaking about vaccine issues and concerns, during questions to the government, Deputy ODonoghue announced he will take the vaccine after previously expressing reservations. He also brought up a junior minister for Limerick (Patrick ODonovan) saying in the Leader, Waiting to see how your neighbours get on (with the vaccine) is cowardly. In response, Minister ODonovan said: I was flabbergasted when I heard the contribution because in the Limerick Leader article in question I didn't refer to any individual and I never named anybody. Deputy ODonoghue asked in the Dail is it OK in this country to ask a question? Is it OK in this country to be scared? Six weeks ago I was asked would I take the vaccine and on that same day I answered truthfully that I would have to speak to my doctors because they were dealing with an underlying condition that I was dealing with. My doctors told me when the vaccine becomes available they will advise me to take it and I will take it. People have put out a stigma that it is not OK to ask a question, said Deputy ODonoghue, whose advice to anyone who has concerns is consult your GP who knows you best. In reply, Tanaiste Leo Varadkar said it is OK to ask questions, it is OK to have doubts, OK to seek reassurance and OK to seek information. Deputy ODonoghue said he agreed with every sentiment the tanaiste said. So you would be right in saying, tanaiste, it isnt OK for one of your junior ministers to come out and call people cowardly that were asking for medical advice and asking questions because your junior minister for Limerick came out and stated this in a newspaper that people were cowardly that asked questions, and that to me is completely wrong, said Deputy ODonoghue. In a statement to the Leader, Minister ODonovan said he thinks if people are bringing up articles from the Limerick Leader, or any paper in the Dail, then at the very least they should make some attempt to do it accurately. I was flabbergasted when I heard the contribution, because in the Limerick Leader article in question I didn't refer to any individual and I never named anybody. Also I wasn't referring to people who seek clarification on the use of the vaccine or the science behind them as my own background in science has always thought me the importance of seeking informed answers to important and relevant questions, said Minister ODonovan. He continued: However, what I was referring to is those in positions of leadership who say, and have said, publicly that they won't take the vaccine, and who challenge the science without one ounce or screed of credibility in a Trump-like roaring and shouting fashion. We know how dangerous some anti-vaccine and anti-mask people are with the conspiracy theories and anti-science rubbish they have spread online. And having seen what has happened in America and other countries recently it is not the type of politics we need here in Ireland. In conclusion, the minister for the OPW said if some people in politics take issue with the Limerick Leader article, even though they are not referred to in it, and I never named anyone, then that's a matter for them to explain to be honest rather than it is for me. VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Jan. 22, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Christina Lake Cannabis Corp. (the Company or CLC or Christina Lake Cannabis) (CSE:CLC) (FRANKFURT: CLB) is pleased to announce that its executive management and its team of Master Growers have agreed upon a provisional crop allocation structure for the 2021 growing season. Based on the 2020 performance of the Companys proprietary cannabis strains, which are genetically optimized for outdoor growth under natural sunlight, CLC has selected seven strains which would comprise approximately 90% of its 2021 crop. Additionally, the Company has elected to trial the outdoor performance of 49 other cannabis strains from CLCs seed bank and plant portfolio, which would comprise the remaining 10% of the Companys planned crop for 2021. Although higher ratios of experimental growth are common in the cannabis industry, the Company is taking a conservative approach to its allocation for this year by heavily favouring strains in which CLC has the greatest degree of confidence based on previous results. The Company intends to continue focusing on extraction to produce winterized oils and distillates, which are presently in high demand for uses in medicinal applications as well as consumer packaged goods under Cannabis 2.0. In its December 18, 2020 press release, CLC shared details about its genetic databank which consists of more than 600,000 seeds and over 100 different proprietary strains of cannabis. Over a period of approximately three years, the Company experimented with combining genetics to optimize the properties of a given plants biomass when grown under sunlight. These proprietary formulations are engineered with an objective of maximizing specific elements of a given cannabis plant (or their respective extracts) such as tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) content and terpene profiles. During trial periods of outdoor cultivation, the Companys Master Growers meticulously track the growth and performance of each proprietary strain, noting any areas of concern such as mildew or susceptibility to pests, as well as its flowering patterns and the plants response to certain nutrients. Although the Companys primary objective is to cultivate cannabis for extractions with high THC content, certain strains with lower THC levels have been chosen for their highly desirable terpene profiles, which can be strategically utilized in specific products for end users. A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/d844148c-cb95-43be-84af-aa606d0780c4 Readers using news aggregation services may be unable to view the media above. Please access SEDAR or the Investor Relations section of the Companys website for a version of this press release containing all published media. For the 2021 growing season, CLC intends to utilize more land than it did in 2020 to cultivate a total of 56 strategically allocated strains. In addition to strains that were successfully grown last year, which will comprise approximately 60% of the Companys 2021 crop, the Company is also introducing three strains that have already undergone a rigorous two-year testing cycle to confirm their suitability for commercial-scale growth. About 10% of the Companys planned crop for 2021 is to consist of experimental strains, most of which have already passed the first year of the testing cycle and some of which have demonstrated THC content of 25% or higher, well above the average THC content of CLCs 2020 crop. During the 2020 growing season, approximately 75% of the Companys plants were physically supported by latticework frames known as trellises. Because the trellises appear to have been beneficial to the health of the Companys plants, CLC intends to install trellises for all of its plants in an effort to further improve its output in 2021, in both quantitative and qualitative terms. Joel Dumaresq, Chief Executive Officer and a Director of the Company commented, The value we create in cultivating cannabis is by no means limited to growing plants outdoors in an optimal climate such as that of Christina Lake. In fact, the proprietary strains of cannabis that we have developed in-house to capitalize upon the environmental advantages we benefit from are arguably the backbone of our enterprise because they enable us to maximize our yields of elements such as THC and terpenes based on our discretion in accordance with market demand. Our integrated business model of cultivation, extraction, and R&D is unique in the Canadian marketplace, and I believe that by strategically allocating proven strains and high-THC experimental strains, we can sustain a reliable and predictable rate of output. In addition to the expanded cultivation area, the possibility of being able to turn over certain strains more than once in the growing season, and our increased focus upon strains with higher THC levels, our internal calculations indicate that the overall 2021 harvest yield could expand by 35% or more over the 2020 harvest yield. About Christina Lake Cannabis Corp. Christina Lake Cannabis Corp. is a licensed producer of cannabis under the Cannabis Act. It has secured a standard cultivation licence and corresponding processing/sales amendment from Health Canada (March 2020 and August 2020, respectively) as well as a research and development licence (early 2020). CLCs facility consists of a 32-acre property, which includes over 950,000 square feet of outdoor grow space, offices, propagation and drying rooms, research facilities, and a facility dedicated to processing and extraction. CLC also owns a 99-acre plot of land adjoining its principal 32-acre site, which enables the Company to grow at a much larger scale. CLC cultivates cannabis using strains specifically developed for outdoor cultivation and in its inaugural harvest year produced 32,500 kg (71,650 lb) on its existing facility before developing an adjacent 99-acre expansion property. Such an expansion will ultimately bring CLCs annual cultivation footprint to over 4.35 million square feet, which could enable at least 150,000 kg (330,693 lb) of low-cost, high-quality, sun-grown cannabis to be produced annually by the Company. On behalf of Christina Lake Cannabis Corp.: Joel Dumaresq Joel Dumaresq, CEO and Director For more information about CLC, please visit: www.christinalakecannabis.com Jamie Frawley Investor Relations jamie@clcannabis.com 416-268-9432 Jordan Owens Media Inquiries jordan.owens@hkstrategies.ca 236-818-5969 THE CANADIAN SECURITIES EXCHANGE (CSE) HAS NOT REVIEWED AND DOES NOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS RELEASE, NOR HAS OR DOES THE CSES REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER. 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 Companys disclosure documents which can be found under the Companys profile on http://www.sedar.com . Statement Regarding Third-Party Investor Relations Firms An effort to retire the university mascot because of its violent back story have waxed and waned over the years but alumni and the president of the student body said after protests over the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis over the summer and growing awareness of racial injustice, as well as the use of Crusader imagery during the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, the time has come to find a new university symbol. This service applies to you if your subscription has not yet expired on our old site. You will have continued access until your subscription expires; then you will need to purchase an ongoing subscription through our new system. Please contact The Chanute Tribune office at 620-431-4100 if you have any questions The Department of Defense announced Friday that it has moved Israel from the U.S. European Command (EUCOM) area of responsibility (AOR) to that of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), which includes the Middle East. This reassignment reflects recent breakthroughs in Arab-Israeli relations and provides opportunities to strengthen military cooperation to address the greatest threat to regional security: the Islamic Republic of Iran. The Pentagon divides the globe into AORs and allots responsibility for each to a regional combatant command. EUCOM covers the European landmass and adjacent maritime regions, focusing primarily on the NATO alliance and the threat from Moscow. CENTCOM is responsible for the wider Middle East and has focused on the threat from Iran and Islamist terrorism as well as the associated conflicts in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Syria. Despite Israels location, when CENTCOM was created in 1983, responsibility for the Jewish state was assigned to EUCOM. Given the geography and respective priorities of the two combatant commands, the decision may have seemed odd. Israel, after all, is located in the Middle East and will remain so despite the efforts of Tehran and its terrorist proxies. That decision, however, reflected Jerusalems isolation at the time, even after its peace agreement with Egypt in 1979 somewhat mitigated the Arab-Israeli conflict. As the Pentagon noted last week with a bit of understatement, Israels regional isolation would have complicated efforts by CENTCOM to coordinate multilateral exercises and operations that included Israel. But, over time, things have changed. The Islamic Republic of Irans persistent efforts to pursue a nuclear weapons capability, export terrorism, subvert its neighbors, and install itself as the regional hegemon made Arab capitals progressively acknowledge, at least in private, that Iran was the real threat to regional security. Even after Jordan made peace with Israel in 1994, EUCOM continued to take the lead for the Pentagon in coordinating military-to-military relations with Israel. This included, for example, the long-running U.S.-Israel Juniper Cobra missile defense exercise coordinated by EUCOM and conducted every two years. Then, last year, in a major victory for American diplomacy, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain signed the Abraham Accords with Israel. Soon afterward, Morocco and Sudan took steps toward normalization. The easing of tensions between Israel and its Arab neighbors subsequent to the Abraham Accords has provided a strategic opportunity for the United States to align key partners against shared threats in the Middle East, the Pentagon said in its statement. In response to the Friday announcement, Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz praised the move and made clear that the decision followed weeks of bilateral dialogue. CENTCOM, of course, maintained a relationship with Israel before this decision, one that grew over time. CENTCOM commanders visited Israel recently, and U.S. Air Forces Central Command conducted F-35 exercises with Israel last year despite the pandemic. But this latest move by the Pentagon can facilitate deeper cooperation between the United States, Israel, and its Arab neighbors, including the expansion of existing exercises and the addition of new ones. For example, CENTCOM should seek to add Israel to the next iteration of the U.S.-UAE Iron Union exercise. Regardless, while CENTCOM will play the lead role, it will be important to sustain key elements of EUCOMs coordination and connectivity with Israel. This can help sustain vital existing cooperation, facilitate needed multilateral exercises in the Eastern Mediterranean, and provide a hedge against any major reversal in recent progress in Arab-Israeli relations. If properly implemented, the transition of Israel to CENTCOMs portfolio can begin to foster a broader, more unified, and more capable regional military coalition to protect shared interests and deter aggression from Tehran. Bradley Bowman is senior director of the Center on Military and Political Power (CMPP) at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD). For more analysis from Bradley and CMPP, please subscribe HERE. Follow Bradley on Twitter @Brad_L_Bowman. Follow FDD on Twitter @FDD and @FDD_CMPP. FDD is a Washington, DC-based, nonpartisan research institute focusing on national security and foreign policy. The government is closely monitoring reports of Pfizer vaccine shortages overseas and Prime Minister Scott Morrison has acknowledged the planned February rollout could be delayed by production issues. Mr Morrison has also left the door open for mandating COVID-19 vaccines for aged care employees. Those workers are among the first targeted groups scheduled to start receiving vaccinations in the second half of February. Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the start date of the planned rollout could change depending on Pfizer's supply. Credit:AP But the planned start of the rollout is pending a late January approval of the Pfizer vaccine by the Therapeutic Goods Administration, as well as any potential changes to Pfizer's production schedule. Mr Morrison reiterated the plan to begin vaccinating those priority groups by mid to late February, but said it could be subject to change. Ravkoo, the digital pharmacy platform, today announced that Buddys Pharmacy in Las Vegas, Nevada has become a member of its affiliate network of independent pharmacies. As an affiliate, Buddys Pharmacy is now able to offer free, same-day prescription delivery within a 25-mile radius of its Northern Las Vegas location. Becoming a Ravkoo affiliate also means generating more prescriptions and foot traffic for businesses while making prescription management easier for customersa win-win situation. We're an independent pharmacy in a big city, which makes it difficult for us to attract a lot of volume to our pharmacy, especially with the big box pharmacies taking over, explained Pritesh Kerai, Manager at Buddy's Pharmacy. Affiliating with Ravkoo has not only helped us get that foot-traffic back, but it has also made it easier for patients to manage their prescriptions from one platform. Ravkoo operates its platform on a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) basis across the United States. Using Ravkoo is easy. It can be accessed through a smart phone, computer, or a Ravkoo Pharmacy Kiosk at a local providers office. Once Ravkoo receives a prescription from a doctor, or when a patient sends over a prescription to Ravkoo, Ravkoo uses the patients zip code to locate the closest Ravkoo affiliated pharmacy to dispense the medication. Ravkoo's goal is to affiliate with pharmacies all over the United States in order to provide free, same-day delivery for patients nationwide. Patients are updated on the status of their prescriptions through text messages and real-time web portal notifications. Ravkoo can also connect patients with a live, on-demand pharmacist so they can better understand medical insurance plan coverage, co-pays and pricing. Ravkoo accepts all major commercial insurance as well as has amazing benefits for cash patients. If a medication is not covered, or a patient cannot afford the copay or cost of the medication, Ravkoo can help with their discount cards. If a prescription is already at another pharmacy, Ravkoo can request that the prescription to be transferred to their platform. Ravkoos hub services are secure, HIPAA compliant, and licensed. They have licensed board-certified pharmacists and pharmacy technicians as well as an experienced team to make the magic happen. There is never a charge to patients for using the service. The company currently has over 400 distribution centers nationwide in over 100 major cities, providing free same-day prescription delivery to patients doorsteps. The company is also committed to giving back to the communities they serve. Ravkoo is now helping neighborhood communities by donating $1 to major charities for every prescription received from patients. For more information, visit http://www.ravkoo.com. (Natural News) Just because Donald Trump is gone from the White House does not mean that his Operation Warp Speed mass vaccination program for the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) has come to an end. According to reports, door-to-door administration of China virus jabs by the government is now well underway in Seattle, where local fire department paramedics equipped with syringes are going around paying area residents a visit. Right now, the main targets are residents of adult family homes throughout the city. Eventually, this will expand to everyone in the city, at least if Mayor Jenny Durkan has anything to say about it. We have to get these shots out of refrigerators and into peoples arms, Durkan shrieked during a recent press conference. We hope that if we get steady supplies, we will stand up mass vaccination sites side by side with our testing sites. For months, Seattle has had four free drive-up coronavirus testing sites set up, at which 556,000 tests were performed. Now, many of these sites will probably be transformed into injections sites, where National Guard and other branches of the military will presumably be tasked with plunging needles through peoples skin. It will really have to be an all-hands-on-deck approach, Durkan added, suggesting that public schools throughout Seattle may all need to be transformed into WuFlu jab sites. It is an undertaking that our country has never done before, not on this scale. Durkan stressed that in order to reach a minimum 70 percent vaccination rate among Seattles adult population, which is her goal, King County will have to vaccinate 1.3 million people. This means 2.6 million shots total in two phases. More of the latest news about the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine rollout at warp speed can be found at Pandemic.news. Its amazing to see far-leftists cheerfully embrace vaccines from Donald Trump The first round of Seattle Fires door-to-door vaccine distribution is scheduled to be completed by Jan. 24. The second round of distribution is slated for a finish date of Feb. 21. Since receiving batches of vaccines back in mid-December, Seattle has not been able to inject them all into people as quickly as its leaders would have liked. Long-term care residents and health care workers were supposed to have been vaccinated a whole lot sooner. CVS and Walgreens are also to blame. After waiting weeks for state approval, the drug chains failed to schedule vaccine clinics as they intended, resulting in a delayed rollout of the shots. Mobile vaccination clinics were also set up to jab older adults, people with disabilities and their caretakers at some 100 family homes throughout the city whose residents agreed to participate in the scheme. For being as far-left as it is, the city of Seattle sure has taken a liking for vaccines that were rushed into production and distribution by Trump, a man they hate, along with his allies. Seattle requested an initial shipment of 1,000 doses of Modernas China Virus vaccine which, like the others, was rushed into production by Trumps team earlier this year. While it would normally take years upon years to get a new vaccine developed and approved, Trump was able to fast-track it in just a few months, using the military to get it sent out to distribution sites across the country. The state of Washington is still in the early stages of vaccine distribution, prioritizing health care workers, first responders and residents of long-term care facilities as first in line. The next phase will include people over 70 years of age, along with people over 50 years of age who live in multi-generational households. We finally got the vaccine that can provide hope, Durkan said proudly. Were really going to rely on the federal government to provide a steady source. Sources for this article include: SHTFplan.com NaturalNews.com EMS1.com Washington: After an unexplained delay, the US Defence Department has announced plans to try in a military court three men held at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, who are suspected of involvement in deadly bombings in Indonesia in 2002 and 2003. An Indonesian Police Officer shows an undated photo of suspected al-Qaeda operative Hambali during a news conference in 2003. Credit:Getty Images A senior military legal official approved non-capital charges that include conspiracy, murder and terrorism for the men, who have been in US custody for 17 years for their alleged roles in the deadly bombing of Bali nightclubs in 2002 and a year later of a JW Marriott Hotel in Jakarta. Military prosecutors filed charges against Encep Nurjaman, an Indonesian known as Hambali, and the other two men in June 2017. The case was rejected by the Pentagon legal official known as a convening authority for reasons that arent publicly known. The case fell apart on them. I cannot tell you why because thats classified, said Valentine, part of the legal team for Hambali. A cross-country rape case is unfolding in Lawrence County, Pa., where a 44-year-old man is now facing 10 rape counts involving an 11-year-old girl. The big tip in the rape case came from North Dakota, ultimately resulting in New Castle, Pa., Police investigating and eventually arresting and charging 44-year-old John Lord Jr., as KDKA-TV in Pittsburgh reports: Lord now faces 10 counts of rape, 10 counts of statutory sexual assault, 10 counts of aggravated indecent assault, 10 counts of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse and 10 counts of sexual assault. In a post to its Facebook page, New Castle Police said the alleged sexual abuse by Lord on the then-11-year-old girl began in 2017 and continued until last year all in Lawrence County. But it wasnt until a tip came in from authorities in North Dakota in August of 2020 did New Castle Police close in on Lord. Detectives learned that the defendant, John Lord, did repeatedly commit statutory rape with a then 11-year-old female from 2017 until last year, New Castle Police wrote on Facebook. The Pa. department issued public thanks to the Bismarck North Dakota Police Department and the North Dakota Department of Children and Family Services for their assistance in the case. Further background, including who in the girls family initiated the case in North Dakota and where the victim is living now, was not included in information released by police. READ MORE: Pa. man, 22, accused of barricading woman for 2 days as he raped, beat her: cops In the complaint, dated January 15, Malaysia charges that the EU, particularly its member states such as France and Lithuania, had imposed restrictive measures on the use of palm oil that violate international trade agreements. Malaysia holds that the bloc and its members confer unfair benefits to EU domestic producers of certain biofuel feedstocks such as rapeseed oil and soy, and the biofuels produced therefrom at the expense of palm oil and oil palm crop-based biofuels from Malaysia. The EU has embarked on a major plan committing its members to build a carbon neutral economy by 2050, including by promoting the use of biofuels. However, it has deemed that palm oil production is not sustainable and palm oil-based biofuels cannot be counted towards EU renewable targets. Malaysia, the worlds second largest producer of palm oil, baulked at EU efforts to phase out the use of palm oil as a biofuel, and has requested consultations to help resolve the dispute. Being the mainstay of the rural economy, the agriculture sector has been a priority area for the government as was reflected in a host of announcements made last year and the three new farm laws. In view of the impasse over the farm laws, the budget is a golden opportunity for the government not only to ensure measures for smooth implementation of the reforms but also to address the age-old structural issues of low productivity, quality and value-addition. The government can focus on these areas while finalising the agriculture budget for FY22: 1) Improve productivity Agriculture inputs: The government can think of reorienting the fertiliser subsidy to encourage farmers to maintain a healthy balance of various kinds of fertilisers such as urea, nitrogen and potassium in the right proportion. This can go a long way in maintaining the soil health and facilitate sustainability of agricultural practice. Furthermore, an increased allocation may be directed towards creating mobile soil-testing labs, which will benefit a large section of small and marginal farmers. Irrigation: There may be increased allocation under Prime Minister Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) to promote and enhance the adoption of drip irrigation. The availability of water is a challenge for most parts of the country. This has been accentuated by erratic weather patterns and climate changes. The budget may consider allocation for water conservation near the cultivation area to address the problem of scarcity. Increased outlay for crop insurance: To help farmers mitigate the challenges posed by an erratic climate, higher allocation for crop insurance may enable a large section of farmers to avail of this incentive and enable adequate coverage. 2) Strengthen infrastructure, incentivise value addition Credit incentives: To incentivise developing the basic infrastructure and enable farmers for long-term investment on equipment, irrigation or infrastructure creation related to farming, rather than focussing on recurring expenditures such as weeding, harvesting, sorting and transporting, the budget may look at credit guarantee schemes for the sector on the lines of the MSME segment. Cluster development and focus on implementation: Government initiatives to promote around 3,500 commodity-specific FPOs over the next three years under the "One-Product-One-District" concept are likely to play an instrumental role in establishing linkages within clusters. However, given the implementation is mainly done by states, the budget should earmark equitable allocations for states to address this issue. Encourage private public partnerships: Given the pro-market nature of the agriculture bills, the budget may consider options of supporting the private sector in co-creating assets that would stand to benefit the agriculture sector in the long run. 3) Focus on upgrading, monitoring quality While traceability has been adopted for various agriculture and horticulture products, there are challenges in large scale implementation, given the fragmented nature of Indian farming. A dedicated corpus can be allocated for enabling this under the aegis of a nodal agency. To boost exports, the budget can look at incentivising growers (especially the smaller farmers / FPOs) to comply with the relevant certifications of the importing countries. Additional support may be earmarked for promoting organic production and exports. The budget may consider modernising and strengthening the existing laboratories along with setting up new ones on PPP basis. 4) Increase funding for research and development Given there is a significant dependence on imports of major commodities such as vegetable oils and pulses, it is important to enhance the domestic production of these commodities and additional funds need to be allocated for this purpose. It is important to note that livestock farming is one of the key pillars for augmenting farmers income through non-farm related activities. While the sector has immense potential, one of the big impediments for development is the prevalence of various diseases, which affects mortality, productivity and overall production. The supply of vaccine is not adequate to address the growing demand. Funding for the development of vaccines and creating necessary infrastructure would be required in this budget. Given there is an increasing shift in food preferences of consumers towards proteins and fibres, the budget should earmark allocation under R&D to develop alternative sources of plant-based proteins and cultivate it on a large scale and explore ways of augmenting supply of conventional protein. 5) Focus on agri-tech Agri-tech models related to marketplaces, farm advisory, mechanisation; logistics and storage including cold chain solutions, contracting procedures, predictive analytics for weather forecasting, pricing, market linkage through farm-to-fork supply will see greater adoption. Budgetary allocations will help in driving investments and accelerate adoption in the much-needed agriculture sector that is on the cusp of transformation. (Anand Ramanathan is the Partner at Deloitte India and Soumyak Biswas is the Associate Director at Deloitte India.) : 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. MIAMI (AP) A Colombian businessman was carrying a letter from Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro accrediting him to Iran's supreme leader when he was arrested on a U.S. warrant last year, according to a new court filing in a politically charged corruption case ratcheting up tensions with the South American nation. Attorneys for Alex Saab made the filing in Miami federal court Thursday just hours after prosecutors in the African nation of Cape Verde said they granted the 49-year-old Colombian house arrest as he fights extradition to the U.S. to face money laundering charges. U.S. officials believe Saab holds numerous secrets about how Maduro, his family and top aides allegedly siphoned off millions of dollars in government contracts amid widespread hunger in the oil-rich nation. He was detained last June when his jet made a refueling stop on a flight to Tehran, where he was allegedly sent to negotiate deals to exchange Venezuelan gold for Iranian gasoline. The Trump administration made Saab's extradition a top priority, at one point even sending a Navy warship to the African archipelago to keep an eye on the captive and discourage any plans by Venezuela to try to sneak him out of jail. In Caracas, Saabs prosecution is seen as a veiled attempt at regime change and is likely to complicate any effort by Maduro to seek a fresh start with the Biden administration, as is the continued imprisonment of several Americans in Caracas, including six Venezuelan-American oil executives and two former Green Berets caught in a failed raid seeking to capture Maduro. Lawyers at the Baker & Hostetler law firm filed a motion seeking to dismiss the U.S. charges, arguing Saab is immune from prosecution as a result of the many diplomatic posts he has held for Maduro's government since 2018. As evidence, they presented letters signed by Maduro's foreign minister purportedly accrediting Saab as a special envoy for humanitarian aid as well as a resolution signed last month naming him Venezuela's alternate permanent representative to the African Union in Ethiopia. Story continues There is also a letter, addressed to Iran's Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in which Maduro asks the Iranian supreme leader to help Saab obtain an urgent shipment of 5 million barrels of gasoline following the arrival of several previous shipments from Iran. Another apparent diplomatic note, from the Iranian Embassy in Caracas, refers to Saab's upcoming "official" visit and a request for the delivery of Iranian-made medicines. The arrival of the Iranian petroleum ships has marked a historic milestone in our bilateral relations and firmly and decisively sealed the love of the Venezuelan people for Iran, Maduro wrote in the June 11 letter, which Saab was purportedly carrying at the time of his arrest. The collective emotion of Venezuela when the vessels carrying the Iranian flag arrived in our jurisdictional waters is indicative of a victory in the relations between sovereign states, never subjected to any empire. The Trump administration in 2019 recognized opposition leader Juan Guaido as Venezuelas rightful leader, closed the U.S. Embassy in Caracas and imposed stiff oil sanctions on Maduros socialist government. Saab's attorneys argue that the U.S. campaign against Maduro, who himself was indicted in New York federal court on drug trafficking charges, is no substitute for international law. The irregular diplomatic relations between the United States and Venezuela do not permit the Court to ignore the Vienna Convention, Saabs attorneys said in the filing. Whatever its opinion of Mr. Maduro, the United States continues to recognize Venezuela as a sovereign member of the community of nations, and the law of nations requires it to respect that states sovereign rights, including to dispatch diplomatic emissaries to any other country in the world. Federal prosecutors in Miami indicted Saab in 2019 on money laundering charges connected to an alleged bribery scheme that pocketed more than $350 million from a low-income housing project for the Venezuelan government that was never built. The dismissal motion cites the late 1980s prosecution of former Panamanian strongman Manuel Noriega to argue that Saab should be allowed to enter a defense even before extradition. Normally, defendants who are considered fugitives are barred from being heard in federal court. Saab's attorneys also challenge the U.S. court's jurisdiction, saying that Saab hasn't traveled to the U.S. in nearly three decades and that proceeds from the alleged scheme were deposited into Miami bank accounts belonging to unnamed co-conspirators. The United States has only the barest alleged connection to the underlying supposed crimes, the filing said. Venezuela's government has vehemently objected to Saab's prosecution as a veiled attempt at regime change by the Trump administration and have ordered him to resist extradition at all costs. We have reasonable grounds to believe that if you are extradited to the United States, you will be put under pressure, whether legitimately or not, to disclose that information and thus put our country at great risk, says a letter signed by Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza that was part of Thursday's filing. A court in Cape Verde ruled this month that Saab can be extradited to the U.S. although the island nation's Supreme Court must give final approval. On Thursday, prosecutors in the island nation said they were moving Saab to house arrest while the appeals process plays out because he had already been detained longer than the maximum allowed. Saabs legal team in the extradition case, which is led by Spanish jurist Baltasar Garzon, celebrated the decision as long overdue, saying he spent seven months in jail in inhumane conditions that exacerbated his health problems. Under home detention, Saab can now receive proper treatment, the attorneys said in a statement. We will continue to appeal and demand respect for Alex Saab's diplomatic immunity and that his extradition to the U.S. be rejected as unfounded because it is a clear case of political persecution in pursuit of a larger objective, in this case the government of Venezuela, Garzon said in a statement. ___ Associated Press writer Scott Smith in Caracas, Venezuela, contributed to this report. ___ Joshua Goodman on Twitter: @APJoshGoodman On the occasion of the 176th anniversary of the first arrival of Indian immigrant labourers to these shores, I intend to comment briefly, through a couple of letters to the press, on the current status of Indo-Trinidadians after their presence here for over a century and a half. They may be regarded as ethnic-focused, divisive and contentious, or may be deemed irrelevant and inconsequential in these times. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. The College of Staten Island (CSI) has agreed to pay a settlement of almost $100,000 in a case alleging research misconduct, the Eastern District of New York announced Thursday. CSI agreed to repay a total of $98,237.86 to the United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) after both the school and the United States Attorneys Office conducted investigations that found a professor at CSI had not conducted the work required under the cooperative agreement and allegedly had fabricated research results, according to the Eastern District of New York. The professor accused of the misconduct does not work at CSI anymore, federal officials said. This investigation demonstrates the governments resolve to protect the integrity of federally funded research and ensure taxpayer money is not wasted on dishonesty, said U.S. Department of Commerce Special Agent-in-Charge Duane Townsend. We greatly appreciate the efforts of the U.S. Attorneys Office and the cooperation of the college in resolving this matter. The federal government granted the money to CSI in 2015 to conduct a component of a research project to study the role of ocean eddies on the productivity of certain fish stock, but later in 2018 NOAA told the Willowbrook school that the professor in charge of being the principal investigator in the project did not conduct the work required and allegedly had fabricated research results submitted to NOAA, the Eastern District of New York said. At that point, CSI launched its own internal investigation and concluded, in part, that the professor committed research misconduct and sent its results to the federal government. Upon receiving the schools findings, the United States Attorneys Office, with the support of the U.S. Department of Commerce, independently investigated the case and concluded that CSI failed to ensure proper management and completion of the research required under the cooperative agreement, and negotiated the resolution, according to the Eastern District of New York. CSI fully cooperated with the investigation, the government said. Besides repaying NOAA, CSI has also agreed to modify its current policies and procedures about federally funded research projects to ensure that the work required under federal awards is completed and to safeguard against research misconduct and fraud, the Eastern District of New York said. The investigation remains ongoing and the governments case is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Bonni J. Perlin. A spokesman for the Eastern District of New York declined to comment further about the case. The college demands strict adherence to the highest standards of scientific inquiry and integrity and expects all of our researchers to conduct themselves accordingly, a CSI spokesperson said Thursday in an emailed statement. Recognizing the failings in this matter and the need to be good stewards of taxpayer dollars, we have agreed to return these funds to the federal government and will work to ensure we are meeting our standards. Coronavirus in Africa could reverse 30 years of Wildlife conservation gains, harming interconnected communities and livelihoods (By Edwin Tambara) It would be an exaggerationbut not by muchto insist that oil policy in Mexico hasnt changed much since 1938. The expropriation of the oil industry and the creation of a state-run oil company in 1938 and the Petroleum Law of 1940 established the intent of the State to assume responsibility for the supply of crude oil, natural gas, and oil products in Mexico. Since 1940, the history of the public administration of the oil (and later of the electric power) industries in Mexico has been a matter of tweaking the share of supply the private sector is supposed to provide to complement the supplies by the state-owned Pemex and CFE. The Energy Reform of 2013-15 was a major tweakbut still a tweak. Private investors were allowed roles intended to complement the supply responsibilities of Mexicos state energy companies, Pemex and the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE). The template may be seen clearly on the power side. In the early 1990s, the figure of Independent Power Producer was introduced to allow for private electricity in generation but under an exclusive sales contract with a state power company. It also introduced the figure of Self-Supplier, a legal work-around of the state monopoly on public power generation, the effect of which was to create private power grids for large industrial companies. On HoustonChronicle.com: In Mexico, energy companies face slow rolling expropriation The Energy Reform of 2008 allowed private investment in renewable energy generation, but retail distribution would remain with the state, as it would in the Energy Reform of 2013-15. The creation of a wholesale power market following the second energy reform was slyly designed to break apart the private power grids, allowing CFE to recapture the lost business represented by the industrial companies that had joined self-supply associations. In a power auction, CFE could low-ball a price and gain the business. In the spring of 2020, the Energy Ministry and the power grid operator sought to block the coming online of wind and solar generation plants using arguments that would not stand up in the subsequent court challenges. An analogous story may be told on the oil side. When it appeared in late 2017 that the shallow-water Zama reservoir that had been discovered by Talos Energy would surpass in size any discovery by Pemex in more than two decades, Pemex, with the complicity of the authorities, prevented the project from quickly coming onstream (three years and counting). It is therefore a mistake to characterize the current government in Mexico as anti-reform or counter-reform. In suspending oil lease sales in 2018, the president said that he was taking a wait-and-see attitude about the ability of the oil companies to meet their promised production (supply) targets. The tweaking of the supply responsibilities of public and private producers includes the controversial, year-end changes in 2020 to rules that give the energy minister new authority over the permitting of international commerce in petroleum products. On HoustonChronicle.com: U.S. officials warn Mexico to stop holding up energy reforms The doubling-down on the states control over investors and regulators has been accomplished by an inward cultural and intellectual shift away from international engagement. The moral and technical authority of the energy regulators has been diminished, replacing bilingual, English speaking agency heads with foreign university degrees with nominees who lack such qualifications. Octavio Romero may be the first director-general of Pemex since 1976 who is not a speaker of English. On this account, he was denied a speakers slot at the 2019 Offshore Technology Conference in Houston. In summary, the much-criticized neoliberal politicians from 1982-2018 were no less orthodox than the current president. They added market-shiny ornaments to a regime in which the state would remain the energy quartermaster general. George Baker is the platform director of Energia.com and publisher of Mexico Energy Intelligence, an industry newsletter based in Houston. Somewhere around 2015, the security industry adopted a new mantra, cybersecurity is a boardroom issue. This statement was supported by lots of independent research, business press articles, webinars, local events, and even sessions at RSA and Black Hat crowing about the burgeoning relationship between CISOs, business executives, and corporate boards. Has anything really changed since then? To find out, ESG surveyed 365 senior business, cybersecurity, and IT professionals at organizations in North America (US and Canada) and Western Europe (UK, France, and Germany) working at midmarket (i.e., 100 to 999 employees) and enterprise-class (i.e., more than 1,000 employees) organizations. As it turns out, theres good news and bad news here. The good news is that cybersecurity is indeed a boardroom level issue. The bad news is that we are nowhere near where we should be. For example: Cybersecurity is still perceived as primarily a technology issue. Twenty-eight percent of respondents believe cybersecurity is entirely a technology area, while 41% say that cybersecurity is mostly a technology area with some emphasis on the business aspects of cybersecurity. Alarmingly, 11% still think of cybersecurity as a regulatory compliance area alone. All of this means that boardroom-level discussions about cybersecurity center on things like open software vulnerabilities and numbers of incidents detected rather than securing customer communications, getting employees onboard, or building cyber-resilience into critical applications and business processes. Same old priorities with a few more discussions. Twenty-eight percent of respondents believe cybersecurity is entirely a technology area, while 41% say that cybersecurity is mostly a technology area with some emphasis on the business aspects of cybersecurity. Alarmingly, 11% still think of cybersecurity as a regulatory compliance area alone. All of this means that boardroom-level discussions about cybersecurity center on things like open software vulnerabilities and numbers of incidents detected rather than securing customer communications, getting employees onboard, or building cyber-resilience into critical applications and business processes. Same old priorities with a few more discussions. CISOs are viewed as technologists. While just over half of all organizations consider the CISO a business executive, the other half of organizations still perceive CISOs as an IT role only. Heck, some firms see CISOs as little more than glorified firewall administrators. CISOs in this camp get little facetime with executives or boards; when they do, its usually to answer questions rather than provide any proactive input. While just over half of all organizations consider the CISO a business executive, the other half of organizations still perceive CISOs as an IT role only. Heck, some firms see CISOs as little more than glorified firewall administrators. CISOs in this camp get little facetime with executives or boards; when they do, its usually to answer questions rather than provide any proactive input. Cybersecurity remains antithetical to corporate culture. Under half (44%) of organizations claim that employees commitment and buy-in to cybersecurity is very good. The other 56% say it is adequate, fair, or poor. So, while CISOs proclaim that cybersecurity is everyones job, most organizations arent pushing this philosophy to rank and file employees. Under half (44%) of organizations claim that employees commitment and buy-in to cybersecurity is very good. The other 56% say it is adequate, fair, or poor. So, while CISOs proclaim that cybersecurity is everyones job, most organizations arent pushing this philosophy to rank and file employees. Business managers have little to no cybersecurity responsibilities. Similarly, only 29% of organizations claim that non-technical managers have cybersecurity responsibilities like classifying sensitive data, aligning employee roles with access policies, or working with cybersecurity managers on business planning. From my experience, business executives tend to think of these things as checkbox exercises to be done as quickly as possible. This and other data from the report indicates a cybersecurity dichotomy: Yes, boards and executives are more engaged with cybersecurity, but they retain an us and them mentality. Business executives and boards drive business decisions; CISOs are tasked with bolting on technical security controls and cleaning up messes as they occur. We werent wrong in 2015 when we declared that cybersecurity was a boardroom issue: Based on the ESG research, it appears that after years of neglect, boards and executives finally started paying attention to cybersecurity around 5 years ago. Since then, the cybersecurity industry has been busy patting itself on the back for any incremental progress. If your doctor warned you that you needed to lose 50 pounds, you wouldnt declare victory when you dropped 5 lbs. after a month. Unfortunately, thats whats happening with cybersecurity in the boardroom and C-suite. At most organizations, theres a lot of hard work ahead. Now, before I come off as Chicken Little, the data also indicates that there are organizations going beyond the basics. These firms have made significant progress with cybersecurity as an essential component of business mission, culture, and strategy. Furthermore, some organizations have reaped benefits like stronger security efficacy/efficiency, greater ROI on cybersecurity investments, and improved business flexibility. Whats their secret? More on that soon. LANSING, MI A Michigan water conservation group which has fought against groundwater withdrawals by Nestle has asked a judge to overturn a decision by Gov. Gretchen Whitmers administration to bounce its challenge to the companys permit on a technicality. The Michigan Citizens for Water Conservation (MCWC) is contesting a decision by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE), which dismissed the groups challenge to a permit to let Nestle Waters extract more groundwater for bottling under the Ice Mountain brand. The groups petition for judicial review was filed Thursday, Jan. 21 in Ingham County Circuit Court. In a press statement, MCWC President Peggy Case, called it punitive, illegal, and totally unjust of EGLE Director Liesl Clark to dismiss the groups appeal after a state administrative judge upheld Nestles controversial permit originally granted in 2018 under former Republican Gov. Rick Snyder and subsequently defended by Whitmers administration. We had hoped the new EGLE would rule on the merits and finally put a stop to Nestles ability to extract our water for free and damage our streams and lakes, Case wrote. We had hoped EGLE would honor the precedent from prior litigation that was won by MCWC in 2009 to reduce Nestles pumping. EGLE apparently thought it could simply kick the can down the road and avoid a real ruling, she wrote. The group claims EGLE encouraged MCWC to follow an administrative process that cost them $200,000 over two years before EGLE dismissed the case based on jurisdiction. In November, Clark ruled that EGLE lacked authority to hear challenges to such permits under state law and that the groups case should have been filed in circuit court. EGLE spokesperson Scott Dean declined to comment, saying Clarks ruling speaks for itself. We have nothing new to say on the matter, he said. The MCWCs filing is the latest turn-of-the-screw in legal efforts to unwind state approvals that allow Nestle to withdrawal 576,000 gallons of groundwater-per-day from the headwaters of two cold water trout streams in Osceola County. The state granted Nestle its permit in 2018, but state regulators say the companys watershed monitoring plans remain under review and Nestle still has yet to increase pumping on the well in Osceola Township northwest of Evart. The MCWC and the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians filed a challenge to Nestles permit approval in July 2018; arguing the state erred in granting the permit because, among other reasons, it was done using modeling data rather than actual field measurements. Nestle claims its data shows the withdrawal rates are sustainable and will not harm the surrounding environment. If a circuit court judge rules in favor of MCWC, attorneys in the case say Clark would have to revisit her decision and rule on the merits of the groups challenge. The MWCW and the tribe could also file new litigation against Nestle or the state in circuit court if necessary, say attorneys. The state case is separate but related to a local zoning dispute between Nestle and Osceola Township, which hampered Nestles plans to build new distribution infrastructure necessary to move additional water to its bottling plant by withholding zoning approval to build a booster station that would increase pressure in a water pipeline. The Michigan Court of Appeals sided with the township in 2019, rejecting Nestles argument that bottled water met the local zoning ordinance definition of an essential public service. Nestle Waters North America issued a statement Friday saying the MCWC appeal has no merit and referencing past statements from EGLE which characterized the companys permit review as uniquely thorough. We have confidence in the science behind our permit, said a Nestle spokesperson. The MCWC filing comes more than four years after Nestle submitted its initial application to increase withdrawal on its White Pine Springs Well No. 101 in Osceola Township. Public disclosure of the request in 2016 generated wide public outcry over potential environmental impacts, and from those upset that Nestle could source groundwater at essentially no cost while people in Flint were drinking water contaminated by bacteria and lead, and low-income residents of Detroit were having their taps shut off for non-payment. The Whitmer administration says questions of developing a state royalty or fee system for bottled water wells should be taken up by the legislature, which has not significantly considered the issue. Related stories: Nestle water extraction permit appeal rejected Nestle wins legal challenge in Michigan Why Nestle pays next to nothing for Michigan groundwater How Michigan water becomes a product inside Nestle plant In Detroit, Nestle holds private meeting on future of water Michigan township wins appeal in Nestle zoning lawsuit Nestle announces $36M expansion of Gerber in Michigan More pumping could harm wetlands, per Nestle study Texas AG Ken Paxton Tells DHS to Rescind Deportation Freeze, Threatens Lawsuit Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton on Thursday threatened to sue the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) over its recent announcement that the Biden administration will be pausing deportations for some illegal immigrants for 100 days beginning Jan. 22. The DHS on Wednesday said that the agency 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. Paxton, a Republican, sent a letter to DHS Acting Secretary David Pekoske calling the DHSs decision illegal. When the @JoeBiden admin breaks the law, I take action. I have told @DHSgov to immediately rescind its illegal, unconscionable deportation freezeor TX will sue. As AG, I will always put Americans, Texans firstnot dangerous aliens who must be deported!https://t.co/anW89QJiPP pic.twitter.com/ehsucOe6Ks Texas Attorney General (@TXAG) January 22, 2021 When the @JoeBiden admin breaks the law, I take action. I have told @DHSgov to immediately rescind its illegal, unconscionable deportation freezeor TX will sue. As AG, I will always put Americans, Texans firstnot dangerous aliens who must be deported! Paxton said in a Twitter statement. This complete abdication of the Department of Homeland Securitys (DHS) obligation to enforce federal immigration law is unlawful and will seriously and irreparably harm the State of Texas and its citizens, Paxton wrote in his letter. Border states like Texas pay a particularly high price when the federal government fails to faithfully execute our countrys immigration laws, he added. Your attempted halt on almost all deportations would increase the cost to Texas caused by illegal immigration. He noted that the DHS itself has previously acknowledged that such a pause on . . . removals will cause concrete injuries to Texas, citing an agreement between the agency and the state of Texas. In making the announcement, Pekokse said the deportation freeze would allow the DHS to ensure that its resources are dedicated to responding to the most pressing challenges that the United States faces. This includes immediate operational challenges at the southwest border in the midst of the most serious global public health crisis in a century, Pekokse said. Throughout this interim period DHS will continue to enforce our immigration laws. Pekokse provided the exceptions to the rule, which include individuals who are found by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to have engaged in or are suspected of terrorism or espionage or pose a danger to U.S. national security, or for whom the ICE acting director determines removal is required. Other exceptions include individuals who were not physically in the United States prior to Nov. 1, 2020, and those who have voluntarily agreed to waive any rights to remain in the United States. The directive applies to ICE, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Paxon in his letter noted that the DHS failed to consult with Texas before making its policy changes, as is required per an agreement between the state and the agency. Second, DHS agreed to prioritize the protection of the United States and its existing communities, including by promot[ing] the return or removal from[] the United States of inadmissible and removable aliens,Needless to say, a broad pause on the removal of illegal aliens does not promote . . . removal, he said. This letter serves as notice that Texas believes DHS has violated the Agreement, he added. Texas would like to resolve this dispute, but you must immediately rescind the January 20 Memorandum. The DHS didnt immediately respond to a request for comment by The Epoch Times. Mimi Nguyen Ly 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 Sierra County area. Deaths have remained at about the same level. The test positivity rate in Sierra 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 Sierra 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 Sierra 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 Sierra County in the last week. Since the beginning of the pandemic, at least 1 in 14 residents have been infected, a total of 778 reported cases . About the data In data for New Mexico, The Times primarily relies on reports from the state. The state does not update its data on weekends. Prior to April 2021, it released new data daily. 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: May 24, 2021: New Mexico announced many deaths after reviewing death certificates. New Mexico announced many deaths after reviewing death certificates. May 6, 2021: The reported number of tests likely includes many older tests. The tallies on this page include cases and deaths that have been identified by public health officials as probable coronavirus patients through antigen testing. 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 Sierra County is at a high risk level for unvaccinated people because there was an average of 9 daily cases per 100,000 people reported in the past two weeks. The risk in Sierra 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: Founder of the Atta Mills Institute, Koku Anyidoho, has said that its imperative that Ghanaians support the President of Ghana. According to him, such support will ensure that the Presidents second term becomes one that will leave solid legacies. He noted, also, that such public support will help the President to develop the country to the pedestal where all Ghanaians will be proud of their country. He tweeted: President Akufo-Addo has kept his word thinned his govt & shall have no Deputy Regional Ministers: Lets pray this early positive move filters through the whole of his 2nd term so he can leave some solid legacies as we all strive to build the Better Ghana that we so deserve. Samuel Koku Anyidoho (@KokuAnyidoho) January 22, 2021 Source: twitter/adomonline 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 (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? In the wake of the failed coup attempt, there is a plan under way to divide Democrats and Republicans, just as there were efforts to pin the whole thing on Antifa. But the events of Jan. 6 involved an insurrection to target the police and law enforcement, representatives of both political parties, and the Americans who elected them, replacing our Constitution with authoritarian rule. There are plenty of members of weirdos with animal skins, and horns, painted faces, faux patriotism and Confederate flags. These targets of hilarious memes obscure the true threat: deliberate rhetoric targeted specific politicians for death, and the weapons to carry out those executions, including guns, IEDs, pipe bombs and zip ties. Pipe bombs were destined for Democratic and Republican targets, including both the DNC and RNC. We dont know yet exactly why National Guard members were not approved, why requests for more law enforcement personnel were denied, why frantic calls for aid by the chief were turned down at the highest levels. But we do know that those Capitol Police requests came before the reading of the Electoral College results and the FBI reported on the danger. Someone powerful wanted this to happen. We also know that a reduced police force suffered at least one death, perhaps others, with as many as 60 injuries. Some of that, as well as the sacrifice many in the blue made, has been lost in the stories about the officer who posed for a selfie. And certainly, any who aided the insurrection must be investigated and held accountable, for what happened to their fellow officers, as well as to our elected legislative branch. We also know that those who intended to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (also not Antifa) similarly planned deadly attacks on law enforcement. Witnesses describe the mob chanting traitors at the police. So much for back the blue. There were also preliminary reports claiming Republicans were supportive of the insurrection. Allow me to present a more updated poll, from PBS/Marist, showing that only 8% of Americans expressed support for Trump supporters breaking into the US Capitol. Similarly, only 18% of Republicans and 3%of Democrats supported this attempt to violently overthrow the U.S. government, while 80% of the GOP and 96% of Democrats oppose it. Those rebelling against the United States government dont speak for Americans. As a result, 66% of Americans blame Trump for the violence, and 56% support his impeachment, according to an ABC News/IPSOS poll. Support for impeaching Trump in 2019-2020, Bill Clinton, or even Richard Nixon in 1974, never rose that high. There have been strong disagreements between Democrats and Republicans, between police and critics in the Black Lives Matter movement. And calls for unity in the past have been used as an excuse to avoid any sort of accountability. But we need unity among all of these groups to face a common enemy, not against someone who voted for the GOP in 2020 or their opponents, but that dangerous subsection who lack widespread support (as evidenced by the polls) but make up for it in an amplified online presence and willingness to use intimidation and violence. If we dont have that bipartisanship, and a truce to the disagreements of 2020 to deal with this threat, well be looking up to this mob and their puppet masters as our new leaders. John A. Tures is a professor of political science at LaGrange College in LaGrange, Georgia. He can be reached at jtures@lagrange.edu. PHILIPSBURG:--- Mr. William Obispo became the happy winner of the annual Maduro Travel New Years Raffle. Mr. Obispo won a Travel Gift Bag with certificates for an all-inclusive getaway for two persons. Partners in the Dominican Republic, Air Century (roundtrip flight tax-only), Colonial Tours (roundtrip transfer airport-hotel) and Barcelo Bavaro Grand Resort (3 nights all-inclusive stay at Adults Only) contributed to the Travel Gift Bag. General Manager Mr. Sjaoel Richardson stated: First of all: congratulations to Mr. Obispo. We are grateful for the many clients that visited our office in December and that bought their tickets and our travel packages. Every client automatically participated in the raffle. We can see that slowly, but surely, people are regaining confidence in traveling. We will update our website in the coming weeks with a new variety of pre-arranged travel packages and we advise our clients to visit our website www.maduro-sxm.com for updates. Mr. Austin Helligar, Director of Small Island Soca Cruise Group, drew the winning raffle ticket at Maduro Travels office. The Small Island Soca Cruise will depart from St. Maarten on November 5. Reservations for this Soca cruise can be made on www.smallislandsocacruise.com or at Maduro Travels office. Mitch McConnell has accused Joe Biden of being headed in 'the wrong direction' on his first full day in office. McConnell, who until the Senate switched hands on Wednesday was the Majority Leader, said that he had been unimpressed with the initial actions of Biden, who he has known for decades, and accused him of being beholden to a left-wing fringe of his party. Biden was in the Senate from 1973 to 2009. McConnell, who like Biden is 78, has been in the Senate since 1985. The Kentucky Republican, now Senate Minority Leader, was unimpressed by Biden's actions on immigration, climate change, civil rights and COVID. Mitch McConnell on Thursday expressed concern at Joe Biden's initial moves as president Biden, who has known McConnell for almost 40 years, spent his day undoing Trump policies Biden signed 17 executive orders or actions on Wednesday afternoon, getting to work immediately after being sworn in at noon. Many of his orders were to undo Donald Trump's policies, such as revoking a permit for the Keystone Pipeline, rejoining the Paris climate agreement and removing a Trump-appointed general counsel to the National Labor Relations Board. 'On the Biden administration's very first day, it took several big steps in the wrong direction,' McConnell said, adding that there is time for Biden to 'remember that he does not owe his election to the far left.' McConnell in particular pointed to Biden's immigration reform as being problematic for him and his constituents. 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 U.S. 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. The Homeland Security Department announced a 100-day moratorium on deportations 'for certain noncitizens,' starting Friday, after Biden revoked one of Trump's earliest executive orders making anyone in the country illegally a priority for deportations. His most ambitious proposal, unveiled Wednesday, is an immigration bill that would give legal status and a path to citizenship to anyone in the United States before Jan. 1 an estimated 11 million people and reduce the time that family members must wait outside the United States for green cards. Biden announced Wednesday the United States was rejoining the World Health Organization 'The new administration has also sketched out a proposal for blanket amnesty that would gut enforcement for American laws while creating huge new incentives for people to rush here illegally at the same time,' he said. 'This kind of failed approach will invite another humanitarian crisis on our border.' McConnell also reminded Biden and the slim Democratic Senate majority that Americans voted to keep a split Senate, with 50 Republicans and 50 Democrats. McConnell said that means Republicans intend to challenge policies they believe will have negative impacts on their constituents. 'If and when our Democratic friends depart from common sense, when they retreat from common ground, when their proposals would harm the common good then we'll use the power the American people have given us to push for what is right,' he told the Senate. 'The president can and should refocus his administration on creating good-paying American jobs, not sacrificing our people's livelihoods to liberal symbolism.' McConnell and Biden, both 78, are pictured together in January 2016 House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy told reporters on Thursday that he was 'disappointed to see within hours of assuming office, the new administration was more interested in helping illegal immigrants than helping our own citizens, more interested in virtue signals to the climate activists than supporting the union workers who were building the Keystone pipeline,' among other complaints. McConnell and McCarthy's rebukes will serve as a harsh wake-up call for those still bathing in the warm glow of Biden's inauguration. On Wednesday the new president used his address to the nation, on the steps of the Capitol, to urge unity and healing after four divisive years. The rose-tinted glasses were quickly removed. 'Every presidential inaugural is about unity,' said Matt Bennett of the center-left group Third Way. He told Politico: 'But how do you do your presidential inauguration about unity at a moment when your predecessor tried to execute a coup two weeks before?' Max Verstappen is already better than seven time world champion Lewis Hamilton. That is the sensational claim of Christian Horner, the Red Bull team boss who thinks the image of Hamilton's dominance took a major hit late in 2020. "I think he is the best, yes," Horner told the Dutch publication RacingNews365 when asked about team driver Verstappen. "Russell's performance at Mercedes confirmed that for me." He is referring to the Sakhir GP, where Russell stepped up from his back-of-the-grid Williams seat to substitute for Hamilton while the seven time world champion had covid-19. Horner said his comments should not be interpreted as him being "blind to all that Hamilton has achieved", but pointed out that the 36-year-old driver "does have access to a good package while Max has to get more and more out of his car". "You can see that by the fact that a driver from Williams qualified directly on the front row of the grid and almost won the race," he said. "If someone had to get into Max's car - if he had coronavirus - they would never reach his level of performance," Horner claims. (GMM) GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- Another way to register for COVID-19 vaccination in Kent County went online Friday, but appointments remain limited across the county due to vaccine shortages. Residents can now visit https://www.spectrumhealth.org/wmvaccineclinic to schedule an appointment for vaccination at a new, large-scale clinic at DeVos Place, 303 Monroe Ave. in Grand Rapids. Those not able to use the internet to register can call 833-755-0696. The clinic is a partnership between the Kent County Health Department, Spectrum Health and Mercy Health. In this current phase of vaccination, only healthcare workers, staff and residents at long-term care facilities, essential workers and first responders, and residents who are 65 or older are eligible. The new registration web portal is only for the DeVos Place clinic, which goes live in limited capacity Monday, Jan. 25. Healthcare providers continue to offer registration at their respective web pages for other vaccination clinics. Related: Large-scale vaccine clinic coming to DeVos Place in Grand Rapids Registration is limited and in many cases not available. Officials say to continue to check back at the following websites for openings. For the Kent County Health Department, residents can register for vaccination and check availability at this web page: https://accesskent.com/Health/covid-19-vaccine-registration.htm. Those needing help registering can also call 616-326-6992. For Spectrum Health, residents can complete a vaccination eligibility questionnaire online via MyChart and be notified when appointments become available. Spectrum has a web page detailing that process here: https://www.spectrumhealth.org/covid19/covid-19-vaccine. For Metro Health University of Michigan Health, residents can schedule appointments online via MyChart or by calling Metro Healths call center at 616-252-6161. This web page details the MyChart process: https://metrohealth.net/about/covid-19-updates/vaccination/vaccine-distribution/. People can also phone the call center for assistance. Mercy Health in Grand Rapids currently does not have any available appointments. The hospital system is working to launch an online registration portal. When it launches in the near future, it will be available here: https://www.mercyhealth.com/health-and-wellness/covid-19/vaccine. In Ottawa County, people can register for vaccination at this web page: https://ottawacounty.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_9NX1bJKKwiiIMMl. Those needing help completing registration can call 2-1-1. Ottawa also has a form for businesses considered essential to request vaccination clinics for their employees. That form is at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/EssentialEmployerVaccinationIntakeForm. Read more: Seniors, essential workers encouraged to seek COVID vaccinations in Muskegon, Ottawa counties Bars, restaurants will have 10 p.m. curfew when indoor dining reopens Feb. 1 Large-scale vaccine clinic coming to DeVos Place in Grand Rapids 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-law -- who had recovered from COVID-19 disease -- a 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. The low neutralizing titers in most convalescent plasma donors raise concern." Randall Davis, M.D., Professor, UAB Department of Medicine, University of Alabama "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." Findings Overall use of any tobacco product declined from 6.2 million in 2019 to 4.47 million in 2020. Among both groups of students, statistically significant declines were seen across a wide range of tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, cigars, smokeless tobacco, use of multiple tobacco products, use of any tobacco product and use of any combustible tobacco product. On the other hand, there was no significant increase or decrease in the current use of cigarettes, hookahs, pipe tobacco or heated tobacco products. Despite the declines, about 23.6% of high school students and 6.7% of middle school students or 16.2% combined still reported current use of one or more tobacco products. In middle school, a slightly higher percentage of female students used tobacco products (6.8% vs. 6.6% of males), whereas in high school, a higher percentage of male students used tobacco products (24.7% vs. 22.5% of females). In both age groups, e-cigarettes were the most popular tobacco product used, followed in high school students by cigars and cigarettes, and in middle school students by cigarettes and cigars. In terms of sexual identity, 30.9% of high school students and 16.5% of middle school students who self-identified as lesbian, gay or bisexual reported current use of tobacco products compared with 22% of high school students and 5.5% of middle school students who identified as heterosexual. Another 20.4% of high school students and 6.4% of middle school students who reported being unsure of their sexual identity currently used tobacco products. The authors attributed the decline in tobacco product use to several factors, such as the December 2019 federal increase in the minimum age of sale for all tobacco products from 18 to 21 and FDA guidance issued in January 2020 that emphasized enforcement against certain types of flavored e-cigarette products that appeal to youth, as well as various state and local initiatives. Continued actions are warranted to help ensure sustained progress in preventing and reducing youths use of all forms of tobacco products, including those that are combustible, noncombustible and electronic, they wrote. It should be noted that the Academy recently revised its own position paper on preventing and treating nicotine dependence and tobacco use. Talking About Tobacco Use: Family Physician Perspective Fisher, who also serves as an assistant professor in the Department of Family and Community Medicine at the University of Kansas School of Medicine-Wichita, said he was surprised to read that the use of cigarettes did not decrease given the recent emphasis on Tobacco 21 legislation and the wide range of other tobacco products available. As such, he emphasized the importance of educating youth about the harms of tobacco use early on. I think that we need to provide that education before students are given the opportunity to start using tobacco, Fisher said. Hopefully if students hear a consistent message from their teachers, their parents and their physicians about the harms of tobacco, they will be less inclined to start using. Fisher also outlined some of the strategies he uses. For example, when asked about counseling youth on using e-cigarettes, he said, You cant just simply ask students if they are using tobacco. I recently learned that there are many names for specific brands and types of e-cigarettes. It is important to specifically ask about the use of those, as students might not realize that what they are using is a form of an e-cigarette. The AAFP recommends universal screening for tobacco and nicotine use, especially for those in high-risk populations. Significant research has been done on the disproportionate harmful health effects caused by higher rates of tobacco and nicotine use among certain adult populations, including lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals. Given the findings that also showed higher tobacco use among youth who identified as lesbian, gay or bisexual, these early opportunities for education and intervention are especially important. Fisher added that he takes a nonjudgmental approach when discussing tobacco use or any other health issue. It is important that we create a culturally competent, inclusive way of reaching out to youth, especially LGBTQIA youth, said Fisher. I want youth who are marginalized to know that they can talk to me without judgement. I listen to understand. I want to be a trusted source of information about tobacco use and any other issue that affects health. I always ask if there is anything I can do to assist stopping any behavior that may be harmful and would keep the youth from their full potential. For AAFP members who want more information on tobacco cessation and decreasing tobacco use, Fisher noted that several tools and resources are available on the Academys website, including the Quit Smoking Guide and the Treating Tobacco Dependence Practice Manual. [January 22, 2021] Yiwugo Development Conference and 2020 Yiwugo Top 10 Vendors Award Ceremony was Successfully Held YIWU, China, Jan. 22, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Yiwugo.com, the official website of the Yiwu Commodity Market, which is the largest commodity wholesale market in the world, held the Yiwugo Development Conference & the 2020 Yiwugo Top 10 Vendors Award Ceremony on the afternoon of January 21 at Yiwu Marriott Hotel. Representatives at the conference discussed the paths of the transformation and upgrading of the physical wholesale market. Top 10 Vendors are awarded, contributing to the development of their own brands The Yiwugo Top 10 Vendors Award, which has been held for the 9th consecutive year, provided a platform for vendors in the Yiwu market to develop their own brands. Ten enterprises including Zhang Weichao Socks Firm, Beicheng Stationery Firm, Bole Stationery Firm, Shifeng Socks Firm, DuoAi Toy Firm, Yiwu Hanfan Ribbon Co., Ltd., Yiwu Mingcan Knitting Co., Ltd., XUPING JEWELRY, Yiwu Aishang Daily Necessities Factory, and Jinhua Lvkang Plastics Factory won the honorary title of "2020 Yiwugo Top 10 Vendors". This year the award of "Top 10 Broadcasters" was also launched for livestream broadcasters. Zhang Weichao Socks Firm, which ranked first in the "Top 10 Vendors", was also the top winner of the "Top 10 Broadcasters". Wholesale trade needs more flexible trading modes faced with the continuous shortening of the circulation chain With the broader use of digital technology in the industry, the information flow and logistics have accelerated and shortened the commodity circulation chains to some extent. From the multi-level consumption and circulation chain featuring "manufacturer -> multi-level wholesaler -> retailer -> final consumer" in the past, to the emerging consumption model of "manufacturer -> final consumer", wholesale business requires more flexible trading methods. Faced with these changes, representatives at the conference and vendors participating in the conference learned about the new concepts brought by the "new wholesale modes" such as "online development of the offline market", "shortening the circulation chain", and "reshaping the trading scenarios", and explored how to improve business models and processes to keep up with the development of the time and seek further and better development. Yiwugo has tried to launch cloud warehousing services to empower vendors as they enter a new era of wholesale Faced with more flexible trading modes, vendors need more support and assistance to effectively transform their business models. Yiwugo has tried to adopt the Internet + warehousing intelligent management model to provide vendors with services of better quality at lower cost including warehousing management, drop-shipping, logistics transportation, and express delivery in response to the pain points facing vendors after receiving small retailing orders. By providing these services, Yiwugo helps more vendors accelerate the transition to a more flexible trading model, thus benefiting from the development. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/yiwugo-development-conference-and-2020-yiwugo-top-10-vendors-award-ceremony-was-successfully-held-301213089.html SOURCE Yiwugo [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Correction: A previous version of this story listed the incorrect political party affiliation for former Rep. Mark Meadows. Michigans elected officials cant become career politicians within the state Legislature. A federal judge on Friday issued a ruling upholding Michigans term limits for state lawmakers - six years, or three two-year terms for representatives, and eight years, or two four-year terms for senators. Ten former state legislators recently went to court to challenge those limits, established by a 1992 ballot initiative that embedded the terms in the state Constitution. Nearly 59% of Michigan voters supported the limits at the time. The lawmakers who filed the federal lawsuit argued that the limits, referred to in the complaint as a failed social experiment, are the shortest and harshest in the nation, dont prevent political careerism or advantages of incumbency and havent boosted candidate diversity. They argued that the law actually hurts the Legislature and constituents by indiscriminately erasing years of valuable political experience each election. In 2014, Michigans term limits resulted in thirty-four lawmakers leaving office, the plaintiffs argued, according to a ruling issued by U.S. District Judge Janet Neff on Jan. 20. These term-limited legislators had a combined 248 years of experience ... In 2019, term limits resulted in nearly 70% of state senators and more than 20% percent of state representatives being prohibited from running for their legislative seats. And when politicians can no longer be politicians, they dont leave politics altogether. Nearly a quarter of term-limited politicians go on to become lobbyists, consultants or paid advocates, the ruling said. The former legislators posed various legal challenges to the term limits based on the state and U.S. Constitution. But Neff found that the law doesnt infringe on rights established by either document, either because the arguments were without merit or barred by previous court rulings. Plaintiffs have not established, as a matter of law, that the Michigan Constitutions term limits provision violates either the federal or state Constitutions, Neff ruled. Michigan voters took action three decades ago to change our state constitution, and that amendment has now held up twice in a court of law, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said in a statement. I appreciate the courts ruling and review of the case law on this matter, and while the legal challenges have failed, the Michigan Constitution and term limits for our lawmakers remain something voters can revisit and amend through lawful means as they deem appropriate. Term-limited Republican politician Roger Kahn, who served 12 years in the state Legislature -- four as a House representative and eight as a senator -- told MLive when he left office in 2019 that he didnt run to become a professional politician. Nevertheless, Kahn joined other politicians to file the lawsuit later the same month. Other politicians who signed on to the lawsuit include: Sen. Mike Kowall, R, White Lake Paul Opsommer, R-Dewitt Rep. Joe Haveman , R -Holland. Rep. David Nathan, D-Detroit Rep. Scott Dianda, D-Calumet, Rep. Clark Harder, D-Owosso Rep. Mary Valentine, D-Norton Shores Sen. Douglas Spade, D-Hillsdale Rep. Mark Meadows, D-East Lansing Read the judges full ruling here. More on MLive: Term-limited politicians file lawsuit Voters not Politicians talk term limit challenge The grandson of Irish playwright Oscar Wilde, whose life was said to have been "ruined" after a bitter courtroom clash with Unionist leader and lawyer Sir Edward Carson, has stumbled on a million-to-one discovery about his ancestor's deathbed conversion to Catholicism. And it was all thanks to the team behind the TV show Give My Head Peace and a Belfast priest who narrowly escaped death in a shooting in South Africa 14 years ago. The remarkable find came as the normally comedic team from Belfast were preparing a very different type of documentary with Merlin Holland about the links between his grandfather and Carson often dubbed "the father of Northern Ireland". Producer Damon Quinn revealed that the programme's director was alerted to a previously unseen church record about Wilde in Paris by his brother who is a priest. Quinn, who had dreamt for 30 years of making a film about the two towering Dubliners Carson and Wilde, said the director Jim Creagh was talking about the project to his brother Fr Kieran Creagh, a Passionist Order priest who was shot and wounded by robbers at a hospice in South Africa in 2007. Quinn said: "Suddenly Fr Kieran told Jim he knew of a detailed entry in a church register in Paris about the conversion carried out as the playwright lay dying in a hotel in November 1900 by Fr Cuthbert Dunne. "When we spoke to Merlin Holland he was amazed. He didn't know about the entry and we went to the church to film him seeing it for the first time." And again the "small world" connections with Northern Ireland kicked in because the priest who greeted Holland in the Paris church, St Joseph's, was Fr Aidan Troy who for many years was the high profile cleric at the Holy Cross church in Belfast's Ardoyne area. "You just couldn't have made it up," laughed Quinn while Holland said that surveying Fr Dunne's handwritten notes about the conversion was "unbearably moving" but it wasn't the only thing that surprised him after agreeing to collaborate with the Hole in the Wall gang on a film about his grandfather and Carson. Holland, who has written extensively about Wilde, said he was astonished that there were so many parallels between the two "privileged" Protestant men who were born into affluent families in the same year in the same part of Dublin. They were students together at Trinity College before embarking on divergent career paths, one in the literary world, the other as a barrister and as a Unionist politician. It was in 1895 that the two men came face to face again at the Old Bailey in London during a court case which has become one of the most infamous trials in British history and where the gay Wilde was no equal to Carson's skills as a lawyer. Quinn's film, however, quickly nailed the myth that Carson was the prosecutor of Wilde during his notorious trial for sodomy whereas his "demolition" of him actually came in an entirely separate case. During that earlier trial Carson had been acting as a defence lawyer for a London nobleman, the Marquess of Queensberry, who was being sued by Wilde for criminal libel. The case was launched after Queensberry, the father of one of Wilde's male lovers - Lord Alfred 'Bosie' Douglas - left him a calling card with the words: "To Oscar Wilde posing as Sodomite". Despite their similar backgrounds the barrister showed Wilde no favours when he went into the witness box and so devastating was his unrelenting and fiercesome cross-examination that Wilde, who'd been educated at the former Portora Royal School in Enniskillen, soon withdrew from the case on the advice of his own lawyers. In the new one-hour documentary, "Edward Carson and the Fall of Oscar Wilde", Holland, whose father Vyvyan had been the product of Wilde's early marriage to Constance Lloyd in 1884, said he bore no animosity towards Carson for his ancestor's demise. He added: "I take a rather controversial view in all this, that Carson was a brilliant lawyer and he was doing his job. His cross-examination of Oscar is still used today as a model by teachers of advocacy for their young legal pupils." Holland conceded, however, that the court case had for a time effectively destroyed his own family, who had discouraged him from taking an interest in his grandfather's life and career because he grew up in an era when homosexuality was not only criminal but also very much frowned upon. Holland said his interest started many years later after the literary world began to look at Wilde's work in a "more modern light". And his fascination, he admitted "hasn't let me go ever since". During the research for the documentary, Holland's voyage of discovery took him to Dublin, London, Paris and to Stormont to see Carson's statue and to St Anne's Cathedral where the Unionist leader is buried. And along the way he spoke to writer and former politician Gyles Brandreth; actors Rupert Everett and Simon Callow together with historian Professor Alvin Jackson who told him how Carson had assumed a saint-like status within the Unionist community during the Home Rule crisis. Holland saw black and white archive footage of the huge Carson funeral in Belfast in 1935 which he said contrasted starkly with "what happened to poor old Oscar" 35 years earlier when he was given a "discreet" funeral in Paris attended by only 56 people. In Oxford where Wilde studied at Magdalen College Holland is filmed saying that it was there that his grandfather decided to become "outrageous and to tweak the nose of the British establishment". Simon Callow, who studied at Queen's University in Belfast, explained that the Old Bailey showdown had its beginnings in Wilde falling hopelessly in love with 'Bosie' Douglas who'd had "an enormous sexual appetite" and who was a "world expert on the rent boys of London". It was said that Lord Queensberry's fury was intensified by the fact that another son was believed to have been having a homosexual affair with the then Liberal Prime Minister, Lord Roseberry. Holland said Queensberry went to the opening of Wilde's play The Importance of Being Earnest in London armed with a bunch of rotting vegetables but was turned away and then left his "sodomite" card at Wilde's club, a document that Holland was filmed studying in the safe room of the National Archives in London. On seeing the card an angry Wilde decided to take legal action and Queensberry was arrested. Holland said he would have loved to have asked Wilde why he took the case where he was exposed early on by Carson as having told a lie about his age and where he made a disparaging remark about a man whom he said was too ugly for him to kiss. After that comment the libel case fell asunder and Wilde was tried for sodomy and gross indecency and sentenced to two years hard labour in Reading prison. Holland, who in 2014 co-authored a play based on a handwritten transcript of the libel case which turned up in a plastic bag 100 years after the trial was over, asked himself the question in the documentary if Carson deserves his reputation as the man who destroyed Wilde. His answer? "Absolutely not." Edward Carson And the Fall of Oscar Wilde. Will be available on the BBC iPlayer today. It will be broadcast on BBC One Northern Ireland on Monday, February 1 at 10.45pm Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-22 13:09:39|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, Jan. 22 (Xinhua) -- The following are the updates on the global fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. - - - - BEIJING -- The Chinese mainland on Thursday reported 103 newly confirmed COVID-19 cases, including 94 locally transmitted and nine arriving from outside the mainland, the National Health Commission said Friday. Of the locally transmitted cases, 47 were reported in Heilongjiang, 19 in Jilin, 18 in Hebei, six in Shanghai, three in Beijing, and one in Shanxi, the commission said in its daily report. - - - - ADDIS ABABA -- Ethiopia registered 292 new COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, taking the nationwide tally to 132,326, the Ministry of Health said Thursday. The death toll from COVID-19 in the country has reached 2,057 as of Thursday evening, after 13 new deaths were reported, Ethiopian Health Minister Lia Tadesse said on Twitter. - - - - SEOUL -- South Korea reported 346 more cases of COVID-19 as of midnight Thursday compared to 24 hours ago, raising the total number of infections to 74,262. The daily caseload fell below 400 in three days, staying below 500 for five straight days. It peaked at 1,240 on Dec. 25. - - - - ADDIS ABABA -- The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases on the African continent reached 3,337,028 as of Thursday, the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said. According to the agency's data, the death toll related to the pandemic in Africa stood at 81,861 as of Thursday. - - - - TRIPOLI -- The National Center for Disease Control of Libya on Thursday reported 622 new COVID-19 cases, taking the national tally to 111,746. A total of 89,909 recoveries and 1,716 fatalities have so far been reported, the center said. - - - - BOGOTA -- Colombia registered 15,366 new COVID-19 cases over the past 24 hours, taking the nationwide tally to 1,972,345, said the Ministry of Health and Social Protection on Thursday. The country reported 395 more deaths, raising the national death toll to 50,187, with a total of 1,801,134 recoveries, said the ministry. - - - - RIO DE JANEIRO -- Brazil registered 1,316 deaths from COVID-19 in the last 24 hours, raising the nationwide tally to 214,147, the Ministry of Health said Thursday. Tests detected 59,119 new cases, bringing the national caseload to 8,697,368, it added. - - - - QUITO -- Ecuador registered 1,874 COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, bringing its total caseload to 236,189, the Ministry of Public Health reported Thursday. In addition, the ministry confirmed 73 new deaths from the virus, raising the national death toll to 9,883. - - - - BAGHDAD -- The Chinese Embassy in Iraq on Thursday delivered a batch of supplies to Iraq to help fight 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. - - - - PARIS -- With 22,848 infections confirmed in the last 24 hours, France's total coronavirus cases now stand at 2,987,965, official data showed on Thursday. The data posted on the government's website showed that the coronavirus caused 346 fatalities over the past day, bringing the death toll to 71,998. Enditem Arbikie signs deal for Singapore distribution of Highland Rye Scotland's Arbikie distillery is set for a bumper Burns Night celebration after securing a deal in Singapore for its new 1794 expression of Highland Rye whisky. Despite adverse international trading conditions, the Angus-based field-to-bottle distiller has secured a deal with spirits distributor Spun Spirits for the third edition of its Highland Rye - currently the only rye Scotch whisky. Singapore is a significant market for luxury spirits in Asia and makes a strong addition to the international distribution network for Arbikie's product range, which includes AK's Gin and the 'climate-positive' Nadar Gin and Vodka. Following the limited editions of Highland Rye launched in 2018 and 2019, the 1794 Highland Rye is being rolled out across global markets in 2021. Unlike the previous editions, which were finished in further casks, the 1794 has been matured in virgin oak. The distillery says this maturation method complements the rye spirit and has imparted notes of baking spices, butterscotch and muscovado sugar. Arbikie director Iain Stirling said: "We have been working very hard to expand globally and this new deal is a good start for us in the booming Asian whisky market. In a few years, from our launch limited edition to expanding into major whisky markets, such as Canada and the US, to launching our signature 1794 edition, it's a very exciting time at Arbikie as we look for further expansion elsewhere in Asia and the Middle East." To celebrate the official launch of 1794, Highland Rye is hosting a global celebration on Burns Night (Monday 25 January). 22 January 2021 - Bethany Whymark (Natural News) Democrats are now demanding that a fence be constructed around the U.S. Capitol. A Democratic lawmaker introduced a bill in Congress ordering the construction of a fence around the Capitols perimeter. This comes in stark contrast to their frequent opposition toward former president Donald Trumps border wall at the border with Mexico. Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-NY) introduced the bill on Jan. 15, which was referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on the same day. HR 339 instructs the architect of the Capitol to design and install an appropriate fence around the perimeter of the U.S. Capitol. The bill also mentioned that the west and east fronts of the Capitol would also be included in the perimeter. HR 339 followed an earlier bill Torres also introduced. HR 338 seeks to clarify the counting of electoral votes in Congress to be a National Special Security Event. This bill was referred to the House Committee on Homeland Security on Jan. 15. The specifics of the Capitol perimeter fence remain unclear. However, The National Pulse Senior Reporter Natalie Winters wrote that HR 339 follows years of Democratic politicians insisting walls dont work. They believe that Trumps efforts to erect a wall near Mexico was ineffective in deterring crime and illegal immigration. Winters quoted a December 2018 opinion piece by Fox News host Tucker Carlson. In the op-ed article, Carlson argued that border fences were less racist compared to walls as these were much easier to climb over. He elaborated: Fences are the perfect solution if youre trying to pretend you care about border security, while simultaneously encouraging much of the third world to move [to the U.S.] without permission. Tucker Carlson slammed politicians who insist that walls do not work The Fox News host commented: You can have lots of border fences and still wind up with 22 million illegal aliens living in your country. This phenomenon has been proven consecutively over the years thanks to Democrats opting to fund fences, Carlson continued. A number of Democratic politicians have voiced out their opposition to border walls. New York Rep. Hakeem Jeffries advised against wasting taxpayer money on border walls as they were something that will not make us more secure. Meanwhile, New York Sen. Chuck Schumer mentioned that border security can be done without the need to build a wall. Carlson rebuked these lawmakers insisting that walls were ineffective. He pointed out that these privileged politicians made these pronouncements while being surrounded by the same walls which they claim do not work. The conservative host also pointed out that Israel, a close U.S. ally, also has plenty of border walls. Carlson mentioned that whenever Democratic politicians appeared on Tucker Carlson Tonight, they would usually respond that Israels walls have nothing to do with immigration. The tall, foreboding walls serve to keep out terrorists and suicide bombers, they claimed. Democrats mastery of hypocrisy and double standards emerged during the coronavirus pandemic Based on Carlsons piece and HR 339, Democrats only care about walls if it serves to benefit them. A number of Democratic politicians have openly stuck to their hypocrisy and double standards, regardless of their rung in the government ladder. Three California officials exhibited similar behaviors amid the ongoing Wuhan coronavirus pandemic. In December 2020, Los Angeles County Supervisor Sheila Kuehl was spotted dining outdoors despite voting to ban al fresco dining just hours earlier. Local news outlet FOX 11 received multiple tips confirming the former actress visited an Italian restaurant near her residence. Kuehl reportedly voted to ban outdoor dining at the countys more than 30,000 food establishments over COVID-19 safety concerns. A month before, Gov. Gavin Newsom was spotted attending a birthday party without a mask or face covering. The California governor graced the celebration for his friend at The French Laundry restaurant. Newsom and his companions did not have any masks on inside the establishments exclusive dining room. Newsom said in October 2020 that Californians should wear masks in between bites of their meals. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi takes the top spot for hypocritical behavior. The head of the lower chamber visited a San Francisco salon in late August, amid the citys shutdown order for hair salons and barbershops. San Franciscos health department also banned indoor salon services. Despite her spokesmans insistence that Pelosi wore a mask and followed local COVID-19 requirement, security footage showed the House speaker devoid of any mask or face covering. Biased.news shows Democrats double standards and hypocrisy when it comes to border security and other issues. Sources include: TheNationalPulse.com Congress.gov 1 Congress.gov 2 FoxNews.com Dr Anthony Fauci warned that the South African 'super-covid' variant is the one he and health experts around the world are most worried about because it might make vaccines less effective. The South African variant is 'a little bit more concerning but not something that we dont think we can handle,' Dr Fauci said. He assured Americans that the variant has not yet been spotted in the US, but added: 'that we know of,' and took a shot at the patchwork efforts that have been made to find new variants so far. Like the UK variant that is in at least 20 states, the South African variant of coronavirus - known by scientists as 501Y - is thought to be more infectious than original coronavirus. But it also has mutations that might make vaccines less effective against it, a dangerous trait not seen in the UK's B117 variant. The varint that emerged in Brazil has also shown signs of making vaccines less effective. That's because they have mutations that may prevent antibodies that vaccines trigger from latching onto them and preventing them from infecting human cells. 'The South African and Brazilian variants are having this effect on the monoclonal antibodies' in lab tests, Dr Fauci said during his first White House press briefing with the 'The real question is what is their impact on the vaccine?' Dr Fauci warned during his first press briefing as an adviser to the Biden administration that the South African coronavirus variant is 'a little more concerning' because vaccines may be less effective against it - but said it hasn't been found in the US yet 'This is a new phenomenon we're seeing in pre-print journals' - studies that have not been peer reviewed for publication - 'but we have to pay attention...[because] what they're likely seeing is a diminution more with the South African variant than the UK variant in what would be the efficacy in the vaccine-induced antibody.' He added that that doesn't mean vaccines will be useless, they just might not be as effective as the 94 to 95 percent efficacy that Moderna's and Pfizer's vaccines have for the 'original' coronavirus strain. Viruses are constantly evolving and mutating, as Dr Fauci reminded Americans during his first press conference as an adviser to President Biden on Thursday. Most of these mutations are fairly meaningless, and most of the time even larger changes to the virus's genes die off and don't become a 'variant of concern.' However, as case numbers have surged around the world, there has been ore variation and opportunity for strains with genetic advantages to take hold. Last month, several such 'variants of concern' started cropping up across the globe. The UK was among the first to sound the alarm about its B117 variant, which is estimated to be between 70 percent more infectious and twice as infectious as the 'original' or wild-types of coronavirus that have been driving the pandemic. So far, it does not appear to make people any sicker or more likely to die of COVID-19. But, Dr Fauci warned, that doesn't mean it won't lead to an increase in deaths. 'With more transmissibility, you're going to get more cases, and when you get more cases you get more hospitalizations, and with more hospitalizations you get more deaths,' he cautioned. The first case of COVID-19 due to the new variant was likely in a Kent resident mid-September. Since then, it has spread like wildfire in the UK, becoming dominant. It now accounts for about 61 percent of all cases there. It didn't take long for it to arrive in the US in December. It has now been found in at least 20 US states. Scientists broadly assumed that if it was in the UK, it was likely already in the US before it was ever detected, because the economic ties - and therefore travel - between the US and UK are so tight. But the US has also lagged in its efforts to do viral genome sequencing - the process that allows scientists to detect mutations and variants. CDC has said it is now sequencing more than 6,000 samples a week, up from 3,5000 last month. That still only accounts for about half a percent of all covid-positive samples in the US. Dr Fauci acknowledged that the low number of samples being sequenced by the US could mean that the South African variant is already here, but not yet detected. 'Thus far, it does not appear at all that the South African strain is in the US,' Dr Fauci said. 'That said, the level of sequence surveillance is not at the level we would like it to be, but given the information we have today, it doesn't appear that it's 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. HOLYOKE Sister of St. Joseph Eleanor Dooley, who taught for more than 30 years at the College of Our Lady of the Elms in Chicopee where her late sister and fellow SSJ member, Sister Mary Dooley served as president, died Thursday at Marys Meadow at Providence Place. She was 92 and in her 71st year with her religious order. A scholar with a doctorate in French literature from the Sorbonne in Paris and masters degrees in theology and spirituality, Dooley taught both here and abroad, including classes for some of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfields first permanent deacons. Colleagues and friends called her a brilliant teacher with a quiet wit and humble manner who could easily quote church theologians, but who also traveled the globe to not only teach Catholic theology but learn from other religions. She was remembered as well for her close bond to her sister, who studied at the University of Paris with her, and who died after seven decades in religious life at age 90 in 2013. She followed her own path, said Sister Mary Shea of Eleanor Dooley, who entered the Sisters of St. Joseph in 1950, the same year as Shea, after graduating from Elms College with a degree in French and Latin. She was a very, very simple, honest and wonderful woman who took the opportunities that were presented to her. She added the Dooleys careers at Elms College, where Mary Dooley served as president from 1979 to 1993, kept them close and where you saw one, you always saw the other. After Mary left the presidency of Elms College, she would go and sit in the back of Eleanors class, said Shea who served as the Elms career services director for 20 years, beginning in 1978. There was an unusually strong bond between them. Mary was the go-getter - the public view and Eleanor was the humble spirit behind it. Sheas comments were echoed by political consultant Anthony L. Cignoli, who knew both women from their involvement in community projects. They were both active participants in many causes and efforts, Cignoli said. Sister Mary often more high profile, leading the charge, with Sister Eleanor loyally right there with her. Cignoli said he would never forget visiting the gym at the Elms one day and being amazed to see them in work-out attire, two nuns, in their 70s, seriously pumping iron with Sister Eleanor kindly advising me that I could stand to benefit a bit from their example. Ive met many nuns around the country who take active roles in their communities, Cignoli said. Sister Eleanor was part of a Sister-sister dynamic duo who represented for many of us here, regardless of religious affiliation, what it meant to be the good neighbor. The Rev. Mark Seltzer, special assistant to Elms President Harry E. Dumay for Catholic identity, said his first mentors at the Elms with Eleanor and Mary who invited me to teach during an interim session and advocated for me to be sent away for graduate study and they have been nothing but role models through the years. He called Eleanor Dooleys wisdom deep, something that was noted upon her retirement in 2015 from teaching three decades in the diocesan four-year program initiated by the late Bishop Joseph Maguire in the aftermath of Vatican II that ordains laymen to serve as deacons. At the time of her retirement from the program, one of the deacons, Roger Carrier, said of Dooley that her gift is her presence. She teaches us how to be Christ-like in the world. Deacon Leo Coughlin who heads the diaconate program said Bishop Emeritus Timothy McDonnell named the program for Dooley in the mid-2000s. Everybody loved her, Coughlin said. Everybody who had her in class. She was a saint on earth. Dooleys picture hangs above a photo in his office of all the deacons as if she is watching over them, he added. Sister Kathleen Imbruno said Dooley taught her at St. Marys High School in Milford, and that the two knew each other for 67 years. She called her brilliant and someone who could quote on a whim any of the best theologians from what was in her head. I met her when I was 13 and a freshman in high school and had her all through high school - four years of Latin, French and for sophomore religion, Imbruno said. I put her on a pedestal as a youngster and I never had a reason to take her off that pedestal. There was a holiness about her and an earnestness about her as a teacher. She wanted us to do our best and so we wanted to do our best for her. I am sure she was Gods instrument for my own vocation. I dont know if I would be a Sister of St. Joseph today if it were not for her. Sister Joan Ryzewicz, president of the Sisters of St. Joseph, called Dooley one of the congregations icons who carried our history like no other. Whoever she met, wherever she was, you had her undivided attention and you were wonderful, Ryzewicz said. She would always respond in a positive, uplifting fashion so that when you left her presence, you felt better. Sister Angela Deady, SSJ vice president, added, Eleanor always thanked everyone for all the work they do no matter their ministry. Opportunities took Dooley, after 13 years of teaching French, Latin, English and religion in area Catholic high schools after her Elms graduation, to Paris in the 1960s. There, her doctoral studies coincided with the final sessions of the Second Vatican Council that directed religious women and clergy to seek wider commitments beyond their prescribed ministries. The discipline of independent study and the extraordinary people who touched my life during those years in France challenged much of what I had thought and believed, wrote Dooley wrote in a 2007 essay about her teaching career for The Republican. Those years of study truly broadened my horizons. She added, Almost weekly, Yves Congar, Henri de Lubac, and other contributors to the council were speaking in lecture halls and in the basement of churches throughout Paris. As I listened to these profound theologians, my heart opened up and my soul felt the breath of the Spirit, Dooley wrote. I sensed that God was inviting my church to see all people with a new connectedness. As a Sister of Saint Joseph, my own world was opened wide as I felt called to look with new eyes at our congregational charism that invites us to unite neighbor with neighbor and neighbor with God. Dooley returned to the Elms after her Paris studies as a professor of French literature and later religious studies and theology, but also, as Shea noted, always ready to respond to other opportunities to share her learning and to learn from others. She taught applied spirituality for four summers at the Jesuit University of San Francisco and theological French for 16 summers at Harvard Divinity School. She guest taught at a hospital founded by the Sisters of Charity in the village of Mokama in Bihar, the poorest state in India, and later for three years at a spiritual life center run by Jesuits in New Delhi. While in India, she spent an evening ministering among the dying with Mother Teresa near Calcutta. She served as a visiting professor in world religions for a year at Fujan University in China in 1996. In her essay, she recounted conversations with Hindus, Buddhists and Muslims and said she found myself in awe of the sacred journey of every person. Dooley retired from full-time teaching at the Elms in 2002, but continued to teach Latin and theology there and also to teach Latin and French at Holy Name School in Chicopee. The students had a deep love with her, said Stelzer who was Holy Name pastor at the time Dooley taught there. Wherever she went, whatever the age group she had a lasting impact on students. In 2006, Dooley led a delegation of 12 people back to visit the roots of the Sisters of St. Joseph in France. The community was founded in LePuy in 1650 and then refounded after the French Revolution in Lyons. Looking at Eleanor as we walked, it was like she wasnt actually walking on the ground, recalled Shea of what she said was more of a pilgrimage for those visiting the communitys roots. She was filled with such a spirit of this is where we came from, this is why we are who we are. Sister Jane Morrissey, who, like Dooley, studied and taught abroad, said that Dooley loved her faith by living it. She met you where she found you and helped you to be someone you wouldnt have dreamed of being all by yourself, Morrissey said. Like the French subject of her dissertation, Raissa Maritain, she knew what it was to be Friends Together. Contributions in Dooleys memory may be made to the Sisters of St. Joseph, 577 Carew St., Springfield, Mass. 01104 Related content: The BBC has spent more than 1million on legal fees in three and half years to fight equal pay and race discrimination cases brought by its own staff. Solicitors and barristers it hired spent 2,688 hours on such cases from July 2017 to last December, and billed the corporation 1,121,652 even though the BBC has its own in-house lawyers. The figure, which has come to light in a letter from the BBC to the Commons digital, culture, media and sport committee, does not include the cost of ongoing tribunal claims. The BBC has spent more than 1million on legal fees in three and half years to fight equal pay and race discrimination cases brought by its own staff Licence fee plan shelved Plans to decriminalise TV licence evasion have been shelved, with the Government admitting yesterday it wanted to avoid any future changes being seen as an 'invitation to evade'. But decriminalisation is still 'under consideration', the Department for Culture, Media and Sport said. The Government has been looking at whether to swap the criminal sanction for 'civil enforcement'. But following the departure last November of No 10 adviser Dominic Cummings, who was said to be 'ideological' about axing the licence fee, decriminalisation will not be considered again until the size of the levy is renegotiated. Advertisement Committee chairman Julian Knight, who had demanded the disclosure from the BBC, described it as 'unbelievable' last night. He said money that could have funded programmes was instead used to pay 'the salaries of barristers and lawyers', and demanded an explanation. The corporation did not reveal the additional cost of using in-house lawyers to deal with staff allegations of pay inequality or race discrimination, but admitted they spent more than 2,400 hours on the work. Equal pay has been a huge source of controversy at the BBC. Last year, it reached a settlement with journalist Samira Ahmed after she won an equal pay case. An employment tribunal found she should have been paid the same for her work on Newswatch as Jeremy Vine was on Points Of View. Broadcaster Sarah Montague confirmed in January last year that she had won a 400,000 settlement from the BBC over unequal treatment. Carrie Gracie quit her role as China editor in January 2018 in protest at pay inequality. She was eventually given back pay, which she gave to charity. BBC staff including presenters stage an International Women's Day equal pay demo outside New Broadcasting House In Central London. Today Presenter Sarah Montague (front) Mr Knight said the bill was 'shocking', adding: 'It is unbelievable that the BBC has spent more than 1million of licence fee-payers' money fighting claims brought by its own staff. 'This disclosure sits uncomfortably against the BBC's claim that it offers value for money. It must offer a full explanation of how legal costs were allowed to escalate to such levels.' A BBC spokesman said: 'The complexities of these cases mean they need to be managed by qualified professionals not least to ensure fairness.' timberwolves.gonorthwood.com Business leaders looking to give their careers a powerful competitive advantage have a new option: a Northwood University Graduate Certificate in Strategic Financial Leadership. Beginning this spring, Northwood Universitys DeVos Graduate School will offer a sequence of four courses that will provide the real-world, in-depth expertise needed to give graduate certificate holders an advantage throughout their careers. With 100% online courses, competitive tuition rates and a start-to-finish commitment of just nine months, the program is designed to be manageable for people at any stage of their careers. Administratorii portalului nu poarta raspundere pentru continutul postarilor si materialelor plasate de utilizatorii site-ului. Utilizati informatia din acest articol pe propriul risc. In May 2019, amid great fanfare, Airbus announced a pathway for Mobile-area high-school students to train for jobs with the company. On Friday, the aircraft manufacturer announced that the first class of FlightPath9 had completed its course of study and joined the Airbus workforce in Mobile. Daryl Taylor, general manager of Airbus U.S. manufacturing facility, praised the group for persevering through circumstances that no one could have anticipated: A global pandemic that drastically reduced air travel, resulting in a massive slowdown in the industry that the trainees were preparing to join. Originally designed to take place over the course of one school year, the program ended up taking nearly twice that long as classes were shifted on online formats. I am extraordinarily proud of Team Mobile for creating the FlightPath9 program and seeing the inaugural class through to graduation, said Taylor. When presented with the unique challenges of a pandemic, the students, instructors, administrators, and sponsors of FlightPath9 met those challenges with remarkable grit and courage. The class started with 25 participating students; a company spokesperson said that 17 FlightPath9 participants had become Airbus employees. The company has not yet set a date for the launch of a second class: the spokesman said Airbus is reviewing the current impacts of COVID-19 in assessing the timeline for signing and training the next group. Gov. Kay Ivey, who came to Mobile in 2019 for the initial unveiling of the program, also praised the advancement of its first class. From the very beginning, the State of Alabama has been a partner with Airbus in creating economic growth and opportunity and now we have worked together to begin a long-term process of training our youth to become the business and manufacturing leaders of the future, said Ivey. Many thanks to all who gave of their time and effort to get us to this historic milestone. According to information provided by Airbus, the training program was created by Flight Works Alabama, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit education organization located at Mobile Aeroplex at Brookley, along with partners from the State of Alabama, Southwest Alabama Partnership for Training and Employment, local businesses and education institutions. The overall pathway consists of two programs: FlightPath9, which provides extracurricular training for high school students, and the Fast Track program, which provides additional training to help create a gateway to an aerospace career without a college degree or prior experience. The first class included students from 11 area high schools, with the largest contingents coming from B.C. Rain and McGill-Toolen Catholic High School. Among graduates, there was a distinct note of pride in Fridays announcement. Yuriy Greenlay, a participant in the inaugural FlightPath9 class, is shown inside the Airbus Final Assembly Line in Mobile. Greenlay said the program "changed my life."Courtesy of Airbus The pandemic stretched a nine-month process into a year-and-a-half, and yet we stayed true to the program, said graduate Joseph White, one of several students quoted in the Airbus announcement. FlightPath9 changed my life by giving me a great opportunity to come right out of high school (to Airbus), said program graduate Yuriy Greenlay. Words cannot explain my gratitude for being in the first class of FP9. All 77 BJP MLAs in Bengal to have central security cover Hired people running BJP, no alternative to Mamata in Bengal: TMC India pti-Deepika S Kolkata, Jan 22: The Trinamool Congress on Friday said the BJP is being run by "hired people" and that there is no alternative to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in West Bengal. Senior TMC leader and Education Minister Partha Chatterjee also said the BJP has become a place for people who have not been able to show loyalty to the party. "BJP is being run by hired people... Trinamool Congress is a big banyan tree. If two or three leaves fall, nothing happens to the tree," he told reporters here. "TMC workers are with Mamata Banerjee. There is no alternative to her in the state," he added. Chatterjee said the TMC has gained from strength to strength under Banerjee''s leadership, and the party has an ideal mix of the old and the young. Asked about the resignation of Forest Minister Rajib Banerjee from the state cabinet, he said, "I have nothing to say. Why they come and why they leave I don''t know. They enjoy power during their tenure and leave only at the time of elections." West Bengal Elections 2021: AIMM exposed after Bihar polls says Mamata Banerjee is the third Bengal minister after Suvendu Adhikari and Laxmi Ratan Shukla to resign in the last few weeks. "Those who are leaving the TMC will realise their mistake some day," Chatterjee said. Meanwhile, actor Sourav Das and BJP candidate for the 2016 Kalna assembly seat, Newton Majumdar, joined the TMC earlier in the day. Chatterjee also said the state government''s ''Duare Sarkar'' initiative will be extended till February 8. As the world went gaga over the overall value of all cryptocurrencies surpassing the $1 trillion mark and crossing the $40,000 mark, the saw its sharpest fall since September last year, hitting under $30,000 this week and hovering around $31,000 on Friday. Two weeks ago, hit $42,000, but it is now down 30 per cent from that record high. According to reports, increasing calls for regulation is the reason has crashed so big. At a US Senate hearing earlier this week, Janet Yellen, US President Joe Biden's nominee for Treasury Secretary, suggested that lawmakers must "curtail" the use of cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin over concerns that they are being used for illegal activities. "Cryptocurrencies are a particular concern. I think many are used -- at least in a transaction sense -- mainly for illicit financing. I think we really need to examine ways in which we can curtail their use and make sure that money laundering doesn't occur through those channels," she said. European Central Bank (ECB) President Christine Lagarde said last week that Bitcoin has been used for some "totally reprehensible money-laundering activity". This suggests that the Biden administration may be hostile to cryptocurrencies and increase regulation in months to come. Scott Minerd, Guggenheim Global CIO, said he expects that Bitcoin will retrace back to $20,000, reports Seeking Alpha. Buyers are aggressively accumulating more and more Bitcoins. This is the driving factor that earlier propelled the price growth of BTC towards all-time high. The second largest 'Ethereum' has soared over the past 12 months, after trading above $1,200 for the first time since early 2018. According to Christopher Wood of Jefferies, Bitcoin represents a legitimate alternative to gold for risk averse capital looking for a store of value. Wood said that Bitcoin was up 305 per cent for the whole of 2020. In this respect, the total market capitalisation of Bitcoin at the end of 2020 was $539 billion, compared with estimates of $12 trillion in above ground gold, Wood noted earlier this month. Recently, Bitcoin surpassed Warren Buffet's Berkshire Hathway in market capitalization and only ranks behind Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, Alphabet, Facebook, Tencent, Tesla, Alibaba and Taiwan Semiconductor in global market capitalisation league tables. --IANS na/arm (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.) Loading the player... Fire at Serum Institute: 5 dead, company to pay Rs 25 lakh compensation to families 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 that 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. 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. Indian parliament panel questions Facebook on WhatsApp's privacy terms Facebook executives on Thursday fielded questions from an Indian parliamentary panel about changes to WhatsApp's privacy policy, days after the country's technology ministry asked the messaging platform to withdraw them. The committee asked why Facebook needed to change WhatsApp's privacy terms and how it will impact users. The messaging platform this month kicked off a storm when it informed users it was preparing a new privacy policy, under which it could share limited user data, including phone number and location, with Facebook and its group firms. Budget 2021 to be growth supportive; health, R&D spending to get boost: YES Bank report According to economists at YES Bank, India's FY22 Budget is expected to be growth supportive, given that the country's FY21 annual real GDP contraction is projected to be at 7.7 per cent - the lowest growth yet in India's history. Despite India's ballooning fiscal deficit, the bank expects a strong fiscal push led by assumptions around divestment of public sector undertakings, increase in revenue from excise and customs duty, and revenue flow from 5G spectrum auction - the timing of which still remains uncertain. Hero MotoCorp tops cumulative 100 million in sales, to launch 10 products every year, first EV next fiscal India's largest two wheeler manufacturer Hero MotoCorp on Thursday reached a major milestone of cumulative 100 million unit sales, the first automobile company in the country to do so, exuding confidence that it would hit the next 100 million within this decade itself. Founded in 1984 as a joint venture with Japanese auto giant Honda, it took the company 29 years to hit the first 50 million and only 7 years for the next 50 COVID-19 positive children more likely to transfer infection than adults: Lancet 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. Besides, a team of Chinese and American researchers claimed that asymptomatic cases are also less infectious than symptomatic COVID-19 patients.The high infectivity of children with SARS-CoV-2 infection highlights the need for careful planning of school reopening, the researchers suggested. remaining of Thank you for reading! This is your last free article before you will be asked to subscribe. Already have a paid subscription? Sign in An Offaly school has bid a fond farewell to two teachers who retired recently. Kinnitty School Community wished a fond farewell to teachers Marian Molloy and Michael Daly as they celebrated their retirement. Mrs Molloy served a devoted 42 years in Kinnitty School Community. She began her teaching career in Cadamstown National School before the amalgamation of three local schools in the 1980s. She founded the Green Schools Initiative in Kinnitty School and the school was awarded Irish Water Green School of the Year Award in 2015. Her legacy continues as the school strives towards a sixth Green Flag. Marian maintained a joyous enthusiasm for teaching and particularly enjoyed preparing the children for their sacraments. Marians kindness and quick wit was enjoyed by her colleagues and pupils alike. Mr Daly worked in Kinnitty School for eleven and a half years, many of which he spent in Special Education. He shared his experience, knowledge and time generously with the whole school community. His calmness, wisdom and sense of humour were a consistent source of strength in the school. His commitment to Kinnitty school was reflected in his daily commute from Limerick City. Careful planning, within the safety guidelines, saw that pupils, staff, parents and the wider community in Kinnitty got an opportunity to extend their well wishes to Mrs Molloy and Mr Daly. The sun shone as the children performed their Christmas songs for Mrs Molloy and Mr Daly in the school yard. Mrs Claus arrived and greeted the children from outside their classroom windows. After break fifth and sixth class enjoyed an afternoon tea party and presented fabulous hand-crafted tree prints which included the names of the children. Fr OMeara celebrated mass in St. Flananns Church and afterwards, Tiaran Fay and Ben Ryan, leaders of Kinnitty Student Council, thanked Mrs Molloy and Mr Daly on behalf of the children. The Board of Management Chairperson Leo Minnock, and Parent Association Chairperson Breed OBrien made presentations on behalf of the pupils, parents and school community, among them a book of memories, pictures, photos and tributes from pupils, colleagues and members of the wider school community. The staff presented the retirees with Kinnitty GAA tops, flowers and two of Ms de Forges delicious cakes. The children formed a guard of honour in the school yard as parents and staff clapped and cheered as Mrs Molloy and Mr Daly departed Kinnitty school for the last time. The outpouring of thanks, appreciation and well wishes was a fitting tribute for two much loved teachers who had a huge commitment to and love for Kinnitty School Community. A testing clinic is scheduled in Cayuga County for people experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, and officials ask that people only make an appointment if they intend to keep it. The Cayuga County Health Department and Auburn Community Hospital are hosting a no-cost drive-thru clinic for symptomatic residents from 9 a.m. to noon Sunday, Jan. 24, at the Cayuga-Onondaga BOCES campus, 1879 W. Genesee St. Road, Aurelius. An appointment is required to be tested for any of the county's clinics, and registration will be closed if/when a clinic becomes fully booked. The health department said in a news release that some people have been booking two appointments for clinics and then showing up for just one preventing others who could not register from receiving a test. People are asked to make just one appointment and only if they plan to keep it. To schedule an appointment, go to cayugacounty.us/health and click on "COVID-19 Clinics." When making the appointment, you must provide your legal name, email address, home address, phone number and insurance information. If the insurance policy is in someone else's name, you should provide their name and date of birth. If you don't have insurance, write "no insurance" in the relevant fields. Gov. Phil Murphy will be back at the Trenton War Memorial at 1 p.m. Friday to provide updates on the rollout of the coronavirus vaccine and the latest numbers on the outbreak. The press conference will be streamed lived on the governors YouTube.com channel. Murphy, who attended the inauguration of President Joe Biden on Wednesday in Washington, D.C., will be joined by state Health Commissioner Judy Persichilli, state epidemiologist Dr. Christina Tan, and State Police Superintendent Colonel Pat Callahan. Before arriving in Trenton, Murphy and Persichilli will be at the Moorestown Mall at 10 a.m. to visit one of the states six vaccination mega-sites. Also attending will be interim Military and Veterans Affairs Commissioner Colonel Lisa Hou, U.S. Rep. Andy Kim, D-3rd Dist., and state Sen. Troy Singleton, D-Burlington. Singleton, 47, will receive his first dose of the vaccine during this visit to encourage others in the Black community to get vaccinated, according to the governors office. The Mooorestown Mall is among four mega-sites in New Jersey that have been open. The remaining two at the Meadowlands in East Rutherford and the Atlantic City Convention Center are scheduled to start giving shots on Friday. At least 475,704 have been vaccinated in New Jersey as of 4 p.m. Thursday with 415,656. Nearly 60,000 are fully vaccinated. As of 10 p.m. Thursday, there were 3,328 patients in the states 71 hospitals with the coronavirus or a case under investigation, according to the states dashboard. Thats 90 fewer than in the previous 24-hour period when New Jersey reached a six-week low in hospitalizations. Officials said 638 patients were receiving critical care Thursday night with 445 on ventilators. On Thursday, Murphy disclosed 4,095 more COVID-19 cases and 98 additional deaths. New Jersey has lost 20,760 residents during the COVID-19 pandemic 18,639 confirmed deaths and 2,121 deaths probably virus-related, according to state data. Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JGoldmanNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. (Natural News) Republican senators from Kentucky co-sponsored a bill that would make a social media platform liable for civil damages if that platform deletes or censors the users religious speech or political speech. Sens. Robby Mills and Phillip Wheeler proposed Senate Bill 111 entitled the Stop Social Media Censorship Act in response to Twitters decision to ban former President Donald Trump. The bill states platforms like Twitter and Facebook would not be allowed to shadowban users meaning to adjust algorithms to make others less likely to see questionable content. Under the bill, platforms would be expressly prohibited from justifying their actions by claiming a user posted hate speech if sued. The bill defines hate speech as a phrase concerning content that an individual finds offensive based on his or her personal moral code. That said, the bill still allows for the deletion of a message that calls for immediate acts of violence and incites criminal conduct. It also states that Kentucky citizens deserve to enjoy their free exercise rights of speech and religion in certain semi-public forums commonly used for religious and political speech, regardless of which political party or religious organization they ascribe to. Perhaps the most important, the bill emphasizes that the social media platforms must be deterred from maliciously interfering in elections. Meanwhile, a Republican lawmaker drafted legislation that could also land Big Tech companies in legal trouble for silencing political posts. North Dakota Rep. Tom Kading stated that he started drafting the bill in December 2020 after watching social media censorship ramp up toward the end of last year. According to Kading, the censorship has only gotten worse since then, culminating with the banning of Trump from several social media platforms. The bill states that social media sites would be liable in a civil lawsuit for damages to a North Dakota resident whose speech is restricted, censored or suppressed, as long as it is not obscene, lewd, lascivious, filthy, excessively violent, harassing or otherwise objectionable. Kading explained that if a website comes out and selectively publishes information or manipulates true information in order to create a certain desired narrative, it essentially amounts to defamation. Im frankly shocked at whats happening to our country and censoring does not create unity, it does not help the situation of division in our country, and it does not de-escalate the situation, Kading said. All it really does is make those who have been silenced dig in deeper and be more suspicious of whats going on. Censorship in social media affects millions worldwide so the Kentucky and North Dakota bills can start a global trend. But with Big Techs massive team of attorneys and resources, those bills may not be enough to limit censorship and banning of accounts. (Related: Foreign leaders are now condemning US regime for brutal censorship of American citizens.) Legal experts expect SB 111 to be struck down Legal experts said the Kentucky bill, also called SB 111, violates the Constitution and years of legal precedent. It is, to me, so clearly unconstitutional that it should be simply disregarded, open records attorney, Jon Fleischaker said. It is a waste of time and money. He added that private companies have the right to do business or not with whomever they want. University of Louisville law professor, Sam Marcosson, pointed out that courts have long held that the government cannot require media companies to publish things that they dont want to. Although the context here is social media rather than a traditional newspaper, the core principle is the same, Marcosson said. SB 111 employs coercive government power to force social media sites to publish content that may violate their rules. Both Fleischaker and Marcosson expect the bill to face challenges if enacted and to quickly be struck down. Follow FacebookCollapse.com for more news and information about social media censorship. Sources include: Courier-Journal.com TheFreeThoughtProject.com Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. 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. Hello @Twitter! Im 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! Herbert Diess (@Herbert_Diess) January 20, 2021 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. Also Watch: "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. Mother dolphin taken into care, son dolphin now missing PHUKET: Marine life experts took one of the dolphins found stranded on mud in Pha Khlok yesterday into care today (Jan 22), while the search continued for the smaller male dolphin believed to be the dolphins offspring. By Eakkapop Thongtub Friday 22 January 2021, 05:26PM The mother dolphin was brought ashore and taken to the Phuket Marine Biological Centre (PMBC) at Cape Panwa. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub The mother dolphin was brought ashore and taken to the Phuket Marine Biological Centre (PMBC) at Cape Panwa. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub The mother dolphin was brought ashore and taken to the Phuket Marine Biological Centre (PMBC) at Cape Panwa. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub The mother dolphin was brought ashore and taken to the Phuket Marine Biological Centre (PMBC) at Cape Panwa. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub The mother dolphin was brought ashore and taken to the Phuket Marine Biological Centre (PMBC) at Cape Panwa. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub The mother dolphin was brought ashore and taken to the Phuket Marine Biological Centre (PMBC) at Cape Panwa. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub The mother dolphin was brought ashore and taken to the Phuket Marine Biological Centre (PMBC) at Cape Panwa. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub Officers of the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR) this morning took to the water to monitor any progress made by the two dolphins after they were rescued from stranding by local villagers yesterday. However, after two hours of searching, the marine life experts were able to find only the two-metre-long female dolphin, seemingly unwell and swimming slowly. The smaller, one-metre-long male dolphin that the female dolphin was swimming closely alongside in Yamu Bay yesterday was nowhere to be found. The marine biologists brought the female ashore and had her transported to the Phuket Marine Biological Centre (PMBC) for care and treatment of any illness found. The search continues for the smaller male dolphin in the hope it can be found before it suffers drastic consequences from any illness it may be suffering. The two dolphins were first found by local residents yesterday. The dolphins, now being called in Thai media mother and son, were stranded on mud amid a mangroves at Cape Yamu in Pa Khlok, on Phukets east coast. The villagers helped free the two dolphins back to the bay, but the dolphins did not keep swimming out to deeper waters. Instead they kept swimming in shallow waters near the coast, prompting the villagers to call for help from the DMCR officers at the PMBC, located on Cape Panwa in Wichit. 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. Robert Kocharyan on years of his leadership in Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia Situation on Armenian-Azerbaijani border is still tense, more on COVID-19 in Armenia, May 28 digest "Armenia" alliance of political parties paying tribute to founder of First Republic Aram Manukyan (LIVE) Yerevan.today: Armenia acting PM not greeted at ruling party's headquarters, citizens call him 'capitulator' Russia MOD reports on maintenance of ceasefire regime in Nagorno-Karabakh Armenia acting MOD meets with Russian counterpart in Moscow Armenia 2nd President: I see possibility of restoring borders of Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast We can provide our army with some key, modernized weapons, says Armenia ex-President Kocharyan Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: Captives issue is not one that any opposition force can resolve OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs release statement on detention of 6 Armenian servicemen by Azerbaijan Armenian acting Deputy PM: Discussion on issues possible only after withdrawal of Azeri troops from Armenia's territory Armenia acting PM on Syunik roads, Russian military posts: This is only place where there are working nuances Armenia acting PM: Process of return of POWs will intensify after upcoming elections Putin congratulates Aliyev on Republic Day 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 A Nigerian professor at a Christian university has been released by kidnappers who were suspected to be Fulani herdsmen. Professor of computational mathematics and numerical analysis, John Fatokun is also the deputy vice chancellor of Anchor University in Lagos. He was captured on Monday while travelling to Nasarawa from Jos state. Fatokun was freed two days after, Morning Star News reported. "Despite the experience, my faith remains unshakable. We will continue to work, pray and raise godly men and women who are destined to change the narratives and make Nigeria a better place for the generations ahead," the Christian university professor told Legit, a local news outlet. The professor failed to identify his captors but it is believed that Muslim Fulani herdsmen are responsible for the kidnapping since the group has been operating such activities in the state of Nasarawa. The announcement of his release was made through Anchor University's Facebook page on Wednesday. "To the glory of God, the deputy vice-chancellor, Anchor University, Professor J.O. Fatokun, has been released," the Facebook post said. According to Okesola Sanusi, head of strategy and communications and also the school's assistant registrar, Fatokun was released after being prayed for. The report further stated that Fatokun was abducted while travelling from Jos, Plateau state to Keffi town in Nasarawa state in the north-central Nigeria. He was held at about nine o'clock in the evening in Kurmi Shinkafa village of Nasarawa state, Kokona County. He was then on his way to a high school in Keffi to drop off one of his children and was planning to return to his post in the university in Lagos. Fatokun's kidnappers demanded 20 million Naira or US$52,177 as ransom for his release from Deeper Life Bible Church, according to Anchor University's spokesman, Sanusi. Anchor University is owned by Deeper Life Christian Ministry church and being overseen by Rev. Dr. William Kumuyi. Reports of abductions and attacks against the Christians have been rampant in Nigeria. In a Morning Star News report in November 2020, a pastor along with two Christian women were captured by the militants from Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorist group. The pastor was reportedly released more than a week after his church held nightly prayer vigils. The report further said that a family of three were kidnapped on Oct. 24 also by the Muslim Fulani herdsmen in Nasarawa state. A six-year old Isaiah Okunu is still currently held in captivity after his father was killed by their abductors while his mother was released five days later. The kidnappers were initially asking for 10 million Naira (US$26,212) but the ransom was then lowered to 3 million Naira (US$7,865). The Christian family are members of Evangelical Church Winning All. Christian Headlines added that last year (November 2019-October 2020), Nigeria held the most numbers of kidnapping Christians with 990 total cases, according to Open Door. Nigeria ranks 9th as a country in the world where it is the hardest to be a Christian, according to the World Watch List 2021. The news also stated that Nigeria is a country with most Christians being killed for their faith with 3,530 cases which is up from 1,350 cases in 2019, the World Watch List report recorded. "In overall violence, Nigeria was second only to Pakistan, and it trailed only China in the number of churches attacked or closed, 270, according to the list," the report concluded. How quickly Alabamians can get the COVID-19 vaccine will depend in coming weeks on how much supply the state receives. Thats what State Health Officer Scott Harris said in a news conference today. As of today, Harris said, 223,887 Alabamians have received the first dose of vaccine, and the state has had 502,950 doses delivered. The state has also made headway in finding about 800 vaccine providers, including doctors offices, county health departments, hospitals and clinics. But many of those providers are waiting on vaccine. Right now, Alabama is vaccinating those in the Phase 1A and B categories, which includes healthcare workers, and people over the age of 75. How long before the state expands to other categories? Karen Landers, a spokeswoman for the Alabama Department of Public Health, said ADPH has not established a threshold to move from one phase of COVID-19 vaccination to the next. Rather, the ability to move to the next phase depends upon vaccine supply and CDC guidance regarding priorities for when vaccine is limited, Landers said. Harris said, because not everyone in every group will take the vaccine, the state will not wait to cover an entire group before moving on. You know, there are going to, are going to be places where we just dont have uptake, he said. You know, we know a little bit about that already. So were never going to get 100% of people, you know, wed love to get 70% of people. But were not going to get there quickly without new products. And we hope well see some more very soon. The problem is the amount of supply the state - indeed, all states - are receiving, Harris said. Alabama at the moment gets about 50,000 to 60,000 doses a week, and only gets about a days notice as to how much it is receiving. That sends scores of people around the state scurrying overnight to work out the logistics of getting doses to those who need them. Alabama is looking to vaccinate an adult population of about 3.9 million. That would be just under 8 million doses for the current vaccines, which take two doses to be fully effective. We clearly have to have more vaccine, Harris said. Realistically, we have to have new vaccine products out there. Without an order of magnitude increase in vaccine being shipped to our state, its going to take a long time. Harris said the approval of a third vaccine by Johnson & Johnson only requiring one dose - which could come in February - might also speed vaccination. Another vaccine, by AstraZeneca, requires two shots and is already authorized for use in the UK and Brazil. It could gain approval shortly. Chicago and suburban Cook County are on track to have limited indoor restaurant and bar service resume Saturday under Gov. J.B. Pritzkers coronavirus reopening plan, state public health officials said Friday. If pandemic trends hold for another day, establishments would be permitted to reopen at 25% capacity or 25 people, whichever is less. Among other loosened rules, gyms and fitness centers would be allowed to reopen with 50% capacity limits and other public health precautions in place. Meanwhile, Illinois officials are urging patience when the next phase of the massive COVID-19 vaccination effort launches Monday because while about a quarter of the states population will be eligible to be immunized, the vaccine supply remains severely limited and appointments will be hard to come by. People 65 and older, teachers, first responders, grocery store workers and others deemed essential workers, a group that totals more than 3 million people, will all be eligible for a shot. Earlier on Friday, state health officials announced 7,042 new confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19 and 95 additional fatalities, bringing the total number of known infections in Illinois to 1,093,375 and the statewide death toll to 18,615 since the start of the pandemic. Heres whats happening Friday with COVID-19 in the Chicago area and Illinois: 7:30 p.m.: Remote learning to continue until end of school year for Joliet School District 86 At least one suburban school district has made the decision to stay remote until the end of the school year. Parents in Joliet Public School District 86 this week were notified of the decision by the districts board of inspectors. The district, which is the fourth-largest elementary school district in the state, has 10,415 pre-K through eighth grade students enrolled in its 21 schools. The decision has drawn a mix of reactions on social media with some parents praising the decision and others questioning why the district made the decision this early. Read more here. Alicia Fabbre 7:10 p.m.: In Illinois nursing homes, tens of thousands still waiting for COVID-19 vaccinations: This is beyond an emergency Robert Schur said he isnt the kind of guy to write letters to elected leaders, but he feels his moms life is at stake. Schurs mother lives in a long-term care facility and has yet to be vaccinated against COVID-19, more than a month after doses began to be distributed. State data suggests most people in long-term care have yet to get their first dose of vaccine. This is one of the few times in my life Ive really needed the government to step up and do something, said Schur, a Northbrook attorney whos written to several legislators for assistance without much response. And I feel like its a failure of America. Illinois Department of Public Health data shows that, as of Thursday, roughly 90,000 shots had been administered in Illinois as part of a special federal program that sends Walgreens and CVS Health pharmacists into long-term care facilities to vaccinate residents and staff against the disease. But the state vaccination administration plan estimates that about 360,000 people qualify for early vaccinations because of ties to long-term care meaning far less than half have received a shot. Gov. J.B. Pritzker told reporters Friday that he was very troubled to see the slow pace, which now isnt expected to reach all facilities with a first round of vaccinations until mid-February. They must accelerate the pace of vaccines to our most vulnerable residents, he said. Read more here. Joe Mahr and Robert McCoppin 6:10 p.m.: After announcements by IHSA and state officials, the return of high school football, basketball and volleyball just a matter of when The Friday night lights have the chance to shine again. The Illinois High School Association announced Friday that high-risk sports in areas that have improved from Tier 1 to phase four can conduct games within their conference and regions. Additionally, according to parameters established by the Illinois Department of Public Health, moderate-risk sports competing outdoors in phase four also received expanded scheduling opportunities, including tournaments and out-of-state games. Basketball, football and wrestling are categorized as high-risk sports. And while thats a major step in the right direction, only three areas in Illinois Region 3 (Southwest), Region 5 (Southern) and Region 6 (East Central) are in phase four. Will and Kankakee counties are currently in Tier 1, while DuPage, Lake and McHenry, Suburban Cook and Chicago are all Tier 2. Still, theres genuine excitement by football, basketball and volleyball coaches that its not a matter of if a season will happen but when. Lets go, Brother Rice football coach Brian Badke said. Im so excited for these kids, especially the seniors. Its looking more and more like theyre going to have a chance to wear the jersey again. The IHSA will set new season dates after Wednesdays board meeting. Read more here. Pat Disabato, Daily Southtown 6 p.m.: Deerfield District 109 staff members to receive COVID-19 vaccine through pilot partnership with Walgreens For teachers and staff members at Deerfield School District 109, the much-anticipated COVID-19 vaccine is arriving sooner than anticipated. Beginning Friday, Jan. 29, the first dose of the Pfizer vaccine will be administered to interested school staff, according to a news release. Staff members are scheduled to receive their second dose Friday, Feb. 19. The pilot vaccination clinic is the result of a partnership between District 109 and Walgreens, which has its corporate headquarters in Deerfield. It was an inquiry from a Deerfield community member that got the ball rolling on the clinic, according to Eric Steckling, the districts director of communications and community relations. A community member inquired with Walgreens, and then (Walgreens) reached out to us just this week about setting up this clinic, Steckling said Friday. It was an opportunity we could not pass up. We are honored that Walgreens has offered to work with our district and are excited to be able to offer this opportunity to our staff. Walgreens officials did not immediately reply to requests for comment about the pilot clinic. The vaccine is not mandatory for district staff members. Steckling said the clinic is one solution that might increase in-person learning for students in the district. Read more here. Atavia Gibson 6 p.m.: Allstate cuts auto insurance rates by 5% in Illinois as driving remains depressed almost a year into the pandemic Allstate is reducing auto insurance rates to all Illinois policyholders by an average of 5%, according to filings with the state Department of Insurance. Though driving levels have picked up from last spring, when a statewide stay-at-home order left streets and highways empty, miles driven are still about 10-15% below pre-pandemic levels, Allstate said in the filing. The pandemic has changed day-to-day routines for many people, leading to a rise in online shopping and remote work, which has meant fewer drivers on the road, the Northbrook-based insurer said. Once the pandemic recedes, we expect these conditions to abate although it is possible the pandemic has led to some long-term changes in behavior, Allstate said. Read more here. Abdel Jimenez 5:45 p.m.: United CEO wants to make vaccine mandatory for employees if other companies go along United Airlines wants to make the COVID-19 vaccine mandatory for its workforce, as long as its not the only company to do so, CEO Scott Kirby told employees at a virtual meeting Thursday. I think the right thing to do is for United Airlines, and for other companies, to require the vaccines and to make them mandatory, he said, according to a transcript provided by the company. If other companies start requiring the vaccine, Chicago-based United likely would be among the first to do so, Kirby said. But he doesnt think the airline will get away with being the only company to require employees get the vaccine. We need some others to show leadership, he said. Read more here. Lauren Zumbach 5:30 p.m.: Patience urged as COVID-19 vaccinations open to millions in Illinois on Monday Illinois officials are urging patience when the next phase of the massive COVID-19 vaccination effort launches Monday because while about a quarter of the states population will be eligible to be immunized, the vaccine supply remains severely limited and appointments will be hard to come by. People 65 and older, teachers, first responders, grocery store workers and others deemed essential workers, a group that totals more than 3 million people, will all be eligible for a shot. But the state has received less than a million doses since the effort began in mid-December, and just 126,000 doses outside of Chicago are expected to be delivered to the state next week, Gov. J.B. Pritzker said at his weekly coronavirus briefing. There will be far greater demand than supply for at least the near term, Pritzker said, while promising appointments will be easier to come by as shipments increase. Read more here. Jamie Munks 5:15 p.m.: Essential workers are eligible for COVID-19 vaccines Monday, but still a lot of unknowns in workplace plans Starting Monday, Illinoisans who work in grocery stores, manufacturing plants and schools will be among those eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, presenting an opportunity and challenge for employers eager to see their workforces inoculated. Some large companies, such as Amazon and Aldi, are preparing to offer vaccinations at their workplaces, while others have announced incentives or extra paid time off for employees to get the shots. But rolling out workplace vaccination programs has proved complicated, and many of the efforts are in very early stages. Employers say they have received limited information from local government about what to do and its uncertain when enough vaccines will be available. There are a lot of unknowns, said Suley Muratoglu, CEO of Proven Partners Group, an Elgin company that makes food and beverage products for large corporations. Muratoglu wants to offer vaccination at his factory, which he believes would show a commitment to his workforce and help those without cars, but he is unclear how to go about it. We havent yet figured out how, as a business, to facilitate this for our employees, said Muratoglu, who employs 400 people and has inquired with Kane County. We would very much like to do that. Read more here. Alexia Elejalde-Ruiz, Lisa Schencker, Lauren Zumbach and Robert Channick 4:18 p.m.: Chicago area restaurants ready to reopen for indoor service again, some with tempered expectations, while others will stay closed Chicago bars and restaurants are ready to reopen for indoor service. Mostly. With Fridays announcement that such businesses may be able to seat and serve customers inside as soon as Saturday, many business owners and their employees said the looser restrictions will inevitably help an industry crippled by the COVID-19 pandemic. But such optimism is also tempered with concern: about health and safety, about whether the cost of reopening is worth the business it will bring and about the possibility of another shutdown as the COVID-19 pandemic persists, new strains emerge and vaccinations trickle forth slowly. Read more here. Josh Noel and Louisa Chu 2:09 p.m.: What is allowed and not allowed in Illinois COVID tiers plan? And where does your region stand With indoor dining returning throughout parts of the Chicago area there is new attention on the states system for managing COVID mitigations. In August the state moved to a system using tiers aimed at giving regions more flexibility. There are three levels between what was previously called phase 3 and phase 4. If key metrics of the coronavirus outbreak such as test positivity, hospitalizations and available hospital capacity get better or worse, a region can move forward or backward. Here is where the regions stand and what is allowed under the guidelines. Jonathon Berlin and Kori Rumore 1:03 p.m.: Cook Countys plan to resume jury trials uncertain as coronavirus concerns persist Cook County court officials want to resume jury trials earlier than many expected, attempting to strike a balance as COVID-19 spreads while a backlog of cases builds and some defendants languish behind bars. But an initial target date to bring jurors back as early as mid-February a plan met with skepticism from much of the courthouse rank and file has already been scrapped, officials said, and there is no firm deadline. Jury notices that were intended to go out this week have not been sent. Read more here. Megan Crepeau 12:27 p.m.: MCA Chicago makes first layoffs of the pandemic In its first staffing cuts of the pandemic, the Museum of Contemporary Art this week laid off 11% of its staff, including 17 of 162 full-time personnel, officials with the organization said. Also cut were 24 out of 49 regular part-time workers, including guides for school groups. 80% of them worked 4 hours per week or fewer, the museum said. Previously during the pandemic, and unlike almost all of its peers in the Museums in the Parks consortium, the North Side museum had not laid off or furloughed personnel, said officials. The job cuts are said to include positions throughout the institution. Read more here. Steve Johnson 12:12 p.m.: 7,042 new confirmed and probable COVID-19 cases and 95 additional deaths reported Illinois health officials on Friday announced 7,042 new confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19 and 95 additional fatalities, bringing the total number of known infections in Illinois to 1,093,375 and the statewide death toll to 18,615 since the start of the pandemic. Officials also reported 125,831 new tests in the last 24 hours. The seven-day statewide rolling positivity rate for cases as a share of total tests was 5.0% for the period ending Thursday. Chicago Tribune staff 11:28 a.m.: Suburban Cook County moves to extremely limited phase 1b of vaccinations on Monday Suburban Cook County will begin vaccinating a fraction of its elderly residents and essential workers on Monday, according to the public health departments website. Update: We will move to Phase 1b on Monday, Jan. 25. Vaccine supply is extremely limited and we urge your patience, a banner on the Cook County Department of Public Healths website said. Vaccination started in suburban Cook County last month with phase 1a, which included health care workers and staff and residents of long-term care facilities. Phase 1b in that region includes those 65 or older and frontline essential workers, such as teachers. The Tribune has asked the county health department for details on how people in 1b can get vaccinated. In Chicago, public health Commissioner Dr. Allison Arwady has predicted most people will get their vaccines from their health care provider, pharmacy or employer. But there also are a number of city-run mass vaccination sites a model that has been used in the suburbs as well. 11:04 a.m.: Limited indoor dining could return Saturday in Chicago and suburban Cook County Chicago and suburban Cook County are on track to have limited indoor restaurant and bar service resume Saturday under Gov. J.B. Pritzkers coronavirus reopening plan, state public health officials said Friday. If pandemic trends hold for another day, establishments would be permitted to reopen at 25% capacity or 25 people, whichever is less. Among other loosened rules, gyms and fitness centers would be allowed to reopen with 50% capacity limits and other public health precautions in place. Will and Kankakee counties saw limited indoor dining resume Thursday, but the prohibition, which as been widely flouted, remains in effect in the rest of the collar counties. 8:09 a.m.: Amid teachers union walkout vote, CPS announces staff vaccination plan Chicago Public Schools unveiled its coronavirus vaccination plan for teachers Friday, saying staff members will begin receiving their first doses in mid-February. The announcement comes as tensions are rising with the Chicago Teachers Union, whose members are in the midst of a vote over whether to refuse to show up for in-person work on Monday, when thousands of educators are due to return to school buildings for the first time since March. Skeptical of CPSs ability to keep staff and students safe from COVID-19 infection, the union has asked that educators be allowed to continue remote teaching at least until they receive a first vaccine dose. Will this news be enough to stop a possible teachers strike? Read more here. Hannah Leone 7:31 a.m.: Would another teachers strike be legal? All you need to know about the fight over reopening CPS schools Since Chicago Public Schools started requiring staff to report to in person despite no agreement with the Chicago Teachers Union on reopening each side has pushed a different narrative about conditions in schools and at the bargaining table. CPS has chaperoned media tours at handpicked schools where every coronavirus safety protocol appears to be followed: temperature checks at the main entrance, HEPA air purifiers in each classroom, masks, social distancing reminders on floors and walls. CTU has shared crowdsourced photos from other locations where teachers report missing air purifiers, windows that wont open and wipes gray with dirt from a surface that was supposedly deep-cleaned. The union claims their employer wont bargain in good faith; CPS accuses the union of moving the goalposts. Read more here about whats happening and what might happen. Hannah Leone 6:55 a.m.: Chicago Public Schools, city health officials to announce vaccine strategy for CPS Chicago Public Schools and city health officials were scheduled to announce Friday the CPS and city strategy for vaccinating public schools employees in the city. Schools chief Janice Jackson and city health Commissioner Dr. Allison Arwady were scheduled to hold a news conference at Ellington Elementary School in the Austin neighborhood Friday morning, according to a news release. Jackson and Arwady were joining the West Side schools principal for the morning event. Chicago Tribune staff 6:30 a.m.: Decaturs oldest manufacturing company ceases production at local plant after 113 years, partly because of COVID-19 safety concerns Farm and food supply company Union Iron recently closed its manufacturing operations in Decatur after more than a century in the community. Manufacturing ceased near the end of December and operations are being relocated to facilities in Nebraska, Kansas and Canada, according to AGI General Manager David Wernsing. In 2007, AGI purchased the business and in 2015 moved into the 135,000-square-foot facility at 3550 E. Mound Road. The Decatur business, founded in 1852, began by building steam engines. It has evolved into a maker of conveying equipment and related components for commercial and farm grain handling systems. Union Iron Works, founded in Decatur in 1864 by James Millikin and Caleb Burroughs, was considered the citys oldest manufacturing business. Begun as a maker of steam engines, the company shifted to producing corn shellers, parts for grain elevators and mill machinery. The decision to disperse manufacturing operation out of Decatur was made after consideration of COVID-19 safety pressures and a change in geographic demand from our customers, Wernsig said. While manufacturing will stop, we will continue to have staff in Decatur and will focus on providing inside sales and customer service support, he said. A Decatur warehouse will continue being used for distribution, too. While these times require us to make changes, AGI will continue to be a business operator, employer and supporter of the Decatur community, Wernsig said. Decatur Herald & Review, via Tribune Content Agency In case you missed it Then-President Donald Trump speaks before boarding Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland on Jan. 20, 2021. (Alex Edelman/AFP via Getty Images) Trump Continues to Have the Ability to Lead the Republican Party: GOP House Leader Former President Donald Trump has the ability to lead the Republican Party even after leaving office, House Republican Leader Kevin McCarty (R-Calif.) said Thursday. I think President Trump continues to have that ability to lead this party and unite. Yes, President Trump has the ability to lead this party, McCarthy said when asked if Trump is the leader of the GOP during an appearance on Fox News. McCarthy said that Trump has been able to move us in the right direction, making America continue to build. During a briefing on Capitol Hill, the congressman said that every former president has remained active in their party for a period of time. This president brought a lot of great success within, he brought people to the party that hadnt been involved in before, and he should continue to engage in that way, he said. But the one thing, I got asked a question earlier about what should the Republican Party focus or who should be the leader within the party? And the one thing we learned in the last four years that President Trump brought forward, that he listened to voices that no one else was hearing. On either party. Those are the voices we should continue to hear. Trumps plans after leaving office remain unclear. The Republican told supporters on Jan. 20 that we will be back in some form. Jason Miller, a Trump campaign adviser who flew with Trump to Florida that day, has said Trump will be involved with rallying for Republican candidates during the 2022 elections. Miller added this week that Trump will emerge as the nations leader on ballot and voter integrity. | Welcome Guest! You Are Here: GST Council to hold special session to discuss extending paying compensation to states beyond 2022, says finance minister. Centre to borrow Rs 1.58 lakh cr to compensate states for loss of revenue from GST, says FM Sitharaman after GST Council meeting. FM Sitharaman announces amnesty scheme for small GST taxpayers, allowing filing of returns with reduced late fee. A dress worn by Sarah Harris on Studio 10 this week became a hot topic after it was criticised on air by newsreader Natasha Exelby. After Natasha boldly said she didn't like the puffy pink garment, Sarah hilariously cut the feed to Natasha's video link and said she would never appear on Studio 10 again. For viewers who did like the 'Disney princess' frock, it's available for purchase from The Iconic for $149. Get the look! The controversial pink 'Disney princess' dress worn by Sarah Harris (left) on Studio 10 is now available for purchase. Pictured with co-host Tristan MacManus The soft pink midi dress is made of 100% linen, with cotton lining. It features voluminous, gathered sleeves, a structured bodice, and an invisible zipper at the back. For those who want to avoid the princess look, the dress also comes in an edgier shade of black. Stylish: The soft pink garment retails for $149 on The Iconic (pictured) Chic: The soft pink midi dress is made of 100% linen, with cotton lining The frock has divided Studio 10 viewers over the last 24 hours, with some loving the feminine style, while others have labelled it a fashion faux pas. Sarah is usually known for sporting an array of chic ensembles on the Channel 10 talk show. But Studio 10 contributor Natasha wasn't too impressed by the 39-year-old's ensemble on Thursday's show - and she let her know it. Appearing on the show via video link from Melbourne, the news reporter said she didn't like the garment, but admitted Sarah still 'looked beautiful' in it. Ouch: Sarah is known for sporting an array of chic ensembles while hosting Studio 10, but Natasha Exelby wasn't too impressed by the 39-year-old's pink dress on Thursday's show 'Sarah, we've been friends for a long time and you are a very attractive woman and I like many things you wear. Today I don't like that dress,' she said. 'I don't like it. I like you and other people might like it. I think you look beautiful, and the dress is great, I just don't like it as much as other dresses you have worn.' Sarah was wearing a pale pink dress that featured a square neckline and puffy sleeves. Awkward: Appearing on the show via video link from Melbourne, news reporter Natasha Exelby said she didn't like the garment, but admitted Sarah still 'looked beautiful' in it After pulling a sad face, Sarah jokingly told Natasha she would no longer be appearing on the show. 'I know where you're coming from, but I wanted to say, it's been awesome working with thanks for being on Studio 10 for your very last appearance!' she said. Following Sarah's comments, producers decided to also cut her from the air, presumably as a joke. Having a laugh: After pulling a sad face, Sarah jokingly told Natasha she would no longer be appearing on the show Natasha went viral in April 2017 when she was unaware that she was back on air during a live broadcast on the ABC. The political correspondent was caught daydreaming and staring at her pen for a few seconds, before gasping in shock once she realised she was being broadcast. She parted ways with the ABC soon after, but the network publicly denied she had been fired or let go due to the blooper. Shirish Date had a front-row seat to the chaos of Donald Trumps presidency and famously asked Trump whether he regretted having lied so many times to the American people. Date was also in attendance at the first, radically different press briefing on Inauguration Day. On this weeks Kicker, Kyle Pope, editor and publisher of CJR, and Date, HuffPosts senior White House correspondent, discuss what needs to change in the way the press corps covers a presidency, and why the destruction of the Republican Party is a major political story of our time. SHOW NOTES The Ministry Of Untruth, Shirish Date, HuffPost Do you regret at all, all the lying youve done?: A reporters blunt question to Trump goes unanswered, Tim Elfrink, the Washington Post PREVIOUSLY: What covid reporters can learn from Hiroshima Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today Amanda Darrach is a contributor to CJR and a visiting scholar at the University of St Andrews School of International Relations. Follow her on Twitter @thedarrach. Irelands lockdown restrictions will not be eased at the end of this month, the Taoiseach has confirmed. Micheal Martin also said Level 5 restrictions would continue into February given the high level of community transmission that still exists. The Governments Cabinet sub-committee on Covid-19 is due to meet on Monday to discuss the extension of the current restrictions, which are due to remain in place until January 31. A final decision will be made on Tuesday following a Cabinet meeting. Friday saw a further 52 deaths and 2,371 new cases of Covid-19 reported by the Department of Health. Fifty of the deaths occurred this month, two of which are still under investigation. As of Friday night there were 1,969 people with the disease in hospital, including 218 in ICU. The countrys 14-day incidence rate now stands 1,017 per 100,000 population. Expand Close Medics in PPE and ambulances outside the Accident and Emergency department at the Mater Hospital in Dublin (Niall Carson/PA) PA / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Medics in PPE and ambulances outside the Accident and Emergency department at the Mater Hospital in Dublin (Niall Carson/PA) Speaking at Government Buildings on Friday Mr Martin said: There is no talk at the moment in terms of any relaxation or reversing of restrictions at the end of this month. We are looking at a continuation of restrictions into February. You can take it that well take stock every four weeks of the situation. He added: Given the high level of community transmission out there still, and it is very high out there, I dont think one can envisage any significant relaxation of restrictions at this particular point in time. Mr Martin said Cabinet is considering introducing mandatory quarantining for people who come into the country without proof of a negative PCR test. It is also looking into suspending visa-free travel for some countries. He added that talks were ongoing between the UK and Ireland to find a two-island solution to mandatory quarantining. But he said there were complications about potentially introducing a wider quarantine because of the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic and that the border would not be sealed. Obviously there are complications, always have been, because of our relationship with the United Kingdom; with the border, with the North, and also the fact that were integrated into the European economic system, he said. I suppose, its more easy to call for a quarantine than to deliver it comprehensively. And a lot of people coming back are Irish people coming back into the country. Mr Martin indicated that the schools would not reopen on February 1 and that the Government was focusing its attention on trying to resume classes for special educational needs pupils as soon as possible. Asked about when schools were likely to reopen Mr Martin said: I really dont want to pre-empt the Cabinet committee meeting on Monday, but clearly community transmission levels are very high. The focus right now and the attention of the Minister for Education is on special schools and special education, working with the partners in education to see if we can develop a proposal around special education provision. He said Education Minister Norma Foley was continuing to engage with teachers unions and other educational partners, adding that they still share a combined objective, to make provision for children with special needs as soon as thats possible. That work is ongoing, he said. The Government had to abandon plans to resume classes for pupils with special educational needs on Thursday after unions the Irish National Teachers Organisation (Into) and Forsa said they had not received sufficient reassurances from the Department of Education that a return to schools was safe. Shivamogga, Jan 22 : Karnataka Home Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Friday said that the police has detained the quarry owner and a mining explosives supplier over the mining quarry blast that took place on the outskirts of the Shivamogga district a day earlier. "Our prima facie investigations reveal that there seems to be some negligence by the quarry owner and the operators. Police have already detained the quarry owner and the dynamite supplier for questioning. Probe is on," Bommai told reporters. According to the police, the quarry unit spans over 21 acres and is owned by S.T. Kulkarni. Stone crushing was reportedly being carried out in five acres of this plot, for which licence was granted in April 2019 and is valid till 2024. "The crushing unit was licensed under Sudhakar's name. Meanwhile, the police have taken into custody two people -- Sudhakar and Avinash Kulkarni, the son of S. T. Kulkarni -- for questioning," the police said. Mines and Geology Minister Murugesh Rudrappa Nirani, revealed that among the 15 people killed in the blast were labourers from Bihar. "It is suspected that gelatin sticks in a truck near the stone quarry exploded, killing the labourers from Bihar. I am saddened by the tragic incident at a stone quarry near Abbalagere in Shivamogga," he said. Meanwhile the number of casualties remains unclear as different sources have reported varying death tolls. Varying statements on death toll by ministers and Chief Minister have added to confusion further over the exact number of casualties. Nirani said that 15 people have died but his tweet says four casualties while Home Minister Bommai said that seven were killed in the incident and Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa announced that five people lost their lives in the explosion. But the authorities have not ruled out the possibility of the death toll increasing. "There are rumours that at least 10 to 15 people have died. Let the police complete their investigation and until then it would difficult to state anything on casualties," Shivamogga Deputy Commissioner K.B. Shivakumar told reporters. Shivamogga MP B.Y, Raghavendra said that as many 40 to 50 crushers are operational in this area. "They had taken a license from the district administrator. The investigation is going on. Not only Railways, but they were also supplying (material) to all development works like residential purposes, public work," he said after visiting the blast site. The state's Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister K.S. Eshwarappa, who represents the Shivamogga Assembly constituency, told the media that something like this has never happened in the area before. "We are witnessing this for the first time here. Experts are coming from Bengaluru, they will give a report after which we will take action," he added. The explosion occurred at around 10.20 p.m. on Thursday night and jolted Shivamogga and thee neighbouring regions. The sound of the blast was so intense that it was reportedly heard in neighbouring Davangere, Chikkamagaluru and Uttara Kannada districts, which are 95 km, 97 km and 180 km away, respectively, from Shivamogga. In Shivamogga, some houses developed cracks, roof tiles and window panes shattered into pieces within a radius of 15 km of the blast site. The Telegraph The list of Donald Trump associates who have attempted to bring down the former president is as long as it is varied: from his lawyer, to his closest advisor, his ex-wife and his alleged lover. But like many powerful figures before him, it may well be his accountant that would be his undergoing. Allen Weisselberg, the little-known 73-year-old chief financial officer for the Trump Organisation, has worked for the Trump family as far back as the early 1970s under Donalds father Fred. Some say he is closer to Mr Trump than he is to his own children. As one former employee put it, he knows where the bodies are buried". In recent weeks New York prosecutors investigating Mr Trumps tax affairs have been turning the screws on Mr Weisselberg in the hope of flipping him to testify against his boss. Cyrus Vance, the Manhattan District Attorney, is looking into everything from hush-money payments paid to women on Mr Trump's behalf, to property valuations and employee compensation. Speculation is mounting that his office may be able to turn Mr Weisselberg, who has not been accused of any wrongdoing, as it pulls together a grand jury to decide whether to indict. Vietnam will tighten border controls to prevent illegal entry as the COVID-19 pandemic is still complex across the world and in Asia. Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam chairs a meeting of National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control on Thursday. VNA/VNS Photo Doan Tan Chairing a meeting of National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control on Thursday, Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam asked localities to strengthen disease prevention and control measures and strictly inspect said measures ahead of and during the Tet (Lunar New Year) celebrations. Localities nationwide were asked to communicate with families whose members have returned from abroad so the returnees can properly report their health conditions and be quarantined. The Ministry of National Defence has assigned more staff to and supported COVID-19 checkpoints along the countrys borders. Police and local authorities have regularly visited families whose members are living or working aboard and told them about health monitoring and quarantine policies in case their family members return to Vietnam. People have been told to report to authorities immediately if they come across anyone suspected of having returned from abroad without quarantining. Hoang Minh Duc, deputy head of the General Department of Preventive Medicine under the health ministry, said many countries have maintained strong measures to curb the spread of SARS-CoV-2 and its variants. Southeast Asian countries faced high risks of the pandemic's resurgence, for example, Indonesia with more than 927,000 cases and about 27,000 deaths, the Philippines with about 506,000 cases and more than 10,000 deaths or Malaysia with some 165,000 cases and 619 deaths, he said. According to the World Health Organization, a new coronavirus variant detected in the UK in mid-December last year has spread to more than 50 countries and territories. Another variant of the virus in South Africa also spread to 23 countries. Although 46 countries around the world are implementing COVID-19 vaccination campaigns, it would take time to create community immunity, according to experts at the meeting. Meanwhile, new variants of SARS-CoV-2 were detected in various countries, increasing the infection numbers and fatalities, with 14,000-16,000 deaths reported daily in the last few days, experts noted, warning about the disease resurgence even in countries that have launched vaccination campaigns. Duc said that in Vietnam, some quarantine areas which host foreign experts and Vietnamese people returning from abroad had violated quarantine violations, posing risks of spreading the virus. At the meeting, the committee members agreed they would report to the Government about the desire of overseas Vietnamese people to return to Vietnam. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health reported that it was working with other ministries and agencies to complete mechanisms relating to the study, production and access to COVID-19 vaccines. Like other countries, Vietnam will identify priority groups to get COVID-19 vaccines. The health ministry is working with the ministries of defence and science and technology to speed up domestic vaccine trials. The ministries of health and finance will develop mechanisms for vaccine production and supply if the vaccine trials are successful. The committee also asked ministries and agencies to update their COVID-19 prevention and control activities, particularly at antoancovid.vn which provides real-time situations of thousands of public places across the country including schools and hospitals. VNS Mountain border turn white with snow, border guards work harder The COVID-19 checkpoint of Si Lo Lau Border Guard Station in the northern province of Lai Chau has been engulfed in fog and frost almost around the clock in the last few days. While the HCM City market has remained quiet since the Covid-19 outbreak, land prices have been increasing in the neighboring markets of Dong Nai, Long An and Binh Duong. A recent report of the Vietnam Association of Realtors (VARS) said the development of Long Thanh International Airport in Dong Nai and the development of Thu Duc City, plus new roads and bridges connecting the southeastern provinces region with HCM City, have led to increased activity in the real estate market. In Binh Duong province, the cities adjacent to HCM City which have potential for economic development such as Thuan An and Di An have become lucrative land for realtors to develop affordable apartment projects. This is a product HCM City lacks. VARS reports that the apartment prices in Binh Duong increased sharply in 2020, despite Covid-19, from VND25-30 million per square meter to VND30-35 million, or 15 percent. In Dong Nai province, contiguous to the eastern part of HCM City, also has seen land prices escalating, especially thanks to the development of the Long Thanh Airport. In 2019, the average land price hovered around VND12-14 million per square meter, while it rose to VND22 million in 2020. In Long Thanh Town, the prices in some areas have surged to VND100 million per square meter. The real estate market in Ba Ria Vung Tau province is also hot as it is adjacent to HCM City and has great potential to develop tourism. After a lot of ups and downs, the market has become stable. Thanks to effective management by local authorities, the land prices there have been stable, now hovering around VND10 million per square meter. Can Tho, which is further from HCM City than other markets, was quiet in the first half of 2020 but was unexpectedly busy in late July when the outbreak was controlled. The projects are well invested, with good infrastructure conditions and sufficient legal status (land use right certificate), and have been selling well. In Binh Duong province, the cities adjacent to HCM City which have potential for economic development such as Thuan An and Di An have become lucrative land for realtors to develop affordable apartment projects. This is a product HCM City lacks. It is estimated that about 500 land products have been marketed. The projects near the central area of the city and near big roads are priced at VND40-60 million per square meter. Meanwhile, other projects are selling at VND19-30 million per square meter, a 7 percent increase compared with 2019. Investors also are paying special attention to projects in Long An, which is also contiguous to HCM City. However, because of Covid-19, the sale is slow, just 20 percent. Some projects with high potential can be sold at VND21-26 million per square meter. Other areas have land prices of VND13-15 million per square meter. The products of projects launched recently in Long An show that the lowest price is VND15-20 million per square meter. The prices of over VND20 million are seen in some projects in Nhon Trach area of Dong Nai. In Long Thanh, where the construction of Long Thanh Airport has kicked off, the prices have escalated to VND20-35 million per square meter. In Phu My of Ba Ria Vung Tau, the land prices are over VND 10 million. According to VARS, the land prices in many suburban districts have increased because of information that the districts will develop into inner citys districts. The transparent urban area development planning also makes the areas more attractive to investors. The association noted that investors have appeared in rural areas, which has pushed up land prices there. In some areas, the prices have soared from hundreds of thousands of dong per square meter some years ago to several million of dong. In HCM City, because of short supply in the context of high demand, the apartment prices have surged rapidly. Because of the short supply of project products, investors are seeking to buy land in the suburbs, pushing prices up in the districts of Binh Chanh, Go Vap and Cu Chi. Experts say the suburban market is getting hot because of the limited supply in HCM City. The better conditions of infrastructure conditions in many districts of HCM City have also helped the prices in neighboring areas increase. The HCM City Real Estate Association also commented that investors are flocking to the suburbs and neighboring areas of HCM City because land in the central area is getting exhausted. Investing in the suburban market is not a bad choice nowadays, as the infrastructure system has been improved. Pham Ngoc Thien Thanh from CBRE Vietnam noted a lot of large-scale projects have been implemented in Long Thanh district, and 90 percent of buyers in the area are from HCM City. However, experts warn that the speculation may lead to price fever similar to what happened in districts 9 and Binh Chanh. DKRA Vietnam has predicted that the new supply and demand for land may recover and increase in 2021, mostly in Long An, Dong Nai, Binh Duong and Ba Ria Vung Tau. Land continues to be the top choice for investors this year. Ho Van Phu Quoc real estate market forecast to grow, driven by upgrade into first island city The real estate market of Phu Quoc in the Cuu Long (Mekong) River Delta of Kien Giang was forecast to be robust as the island district has just been given the green light to be upgraded to the countrys first island city in March this year. 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. She's been living it up on her never-ending trip to Dubai. But Chloe Ferry has admitted she 'can't wait' to fly home in a few days time as her weight has crept up during her lavish trip abroad. The Geordie Shore star, 25, flaunted her peachy posterior in a skimpy purple bikini as she shared a sizzling Instagram snap after telling fans she's looking forward to getting back in the gym after weeks of indulging during the holiday. Wow: Chloe Ferry, 25, flaunted her peachy posterior in a sizzling Instagram snap on Friday after admitting she's gained weight during her lavish getaway to Dubai Chloe set pulses racing in a sexy purple halterneck bikini as she posed poolside during one of the final days of her Dubai getaway. She penned the caption: 'Keep that a*s looking fat.' The star also took to Instagram Stories to reveal she would be flying home in a few days, adding she was looking forward to getting back into her gruelling fitness regime. Changes: The Geordie Shore star telling fans she's looking forward to getting back in the gym after weeks of indulging on her never-ending holiday Time to go home! Chloe took to Instagram Stories to reveal she would be flying home in a few days and couldn't wait to get back into her gruelling fitness regime She said: 'I'm back home in a few days and I'm not gonna lie I'm actually really excited to get back to doing some workouts I want to start training and eat healthy every single day and get some work done. 'It's really really out of my routine here I can't wait to just get in the gym get training every single day, I know you probably can't tell I've put weight on but I can feel it in myself. 'I just can't wait. I know I've obviously been training a little bit out here, and I was at the start just living on chicken Caesar salads, but then it started becoming burgers everyday and pizzas and stuff like that. 'So I'm gonna really get my mind in a good place, eating healthy, meditating, stuff like that.' Despite her admitted weight gain, Chloe still exuded confidence as she got dressed up for another night out with pals. The Celebs Go Dating star slipped into a sheer black bustier and skintight orange leather trousers as she posed in her hotel room. Back to normality: 'I know you probably can't tell I've put weight on but I can feel it in myself' she told her fans The holiday's over: She added: 'So I'm gonna really get my mind in a good place, eating healthy, meditating, stuff like that' 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. 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. Living it up: Despite her apparent weight gain, Chloe has still been flaunting her physique in a slew of racy looks as she parties on her 'work trip' abroad 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. 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. 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. The Drummond Company, environmental groups and government regulators have all agreed to revise a settlement over air pollution violations at Drummonds ABC Coke facility in Tarrant, just outside the Birmingham city limits. The new agreement includes stricter leak detection and monitoring requirements, sending penalty funds to community health organizations and making more public records available about the facility in the future. The initial settlement, finalized in February 2019, called for Drummond to pay $775,000 in penalties and conduct additional leak detection activities for three years to resolve air pollution violations regarding the coke plant. Birmingham-based environmental group Gasp objected to the initial settlement agreement between Drummond, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Jefferson County Department of Health, which regulates air pollution in the county. Gasp, represented by the Southern Environmental Law Center, filed to intervene in the case in December 2019. The groups say the new consent order contains significant improvements from the previous settlement. It is critical that the voices of the families and workers who have been breathing ABC Cokes toxic and illegal pollution for a decade are finally represented, GASP Executive Director Michael Hansen said in a news release. The settlement agreement represents positive steps toward addressing this legacy of pollution with permanent solutions, and we remain committed to ensuring that the plant is held accountable for any future violations. Under the initial agreement, the $775,000 in penalties would be split between the EPA and the Jefferson County Department of Health. Under the new agreement, the health department agreed to give its portion, $387,500, to the Community Foundation, which will use the funding to award grants to benefit the public health of people living near the plant, in Tarrant and northeast Birmingham. This is a welcomed, long overdue development that will hopefully bring ABC Cokes operations and reporting into modern times, said Keisha Brown, a resident of Birminghams Harriman Park neighborhood. While there will never be a penalty high enough to right the wrongs our communities have endured, ABC Cokes new requirements puts our health and wellbeing first, and you cant put a price on peoples health. Harriman Park is part of the EPAs 35th Avenue Superfund Site, an area of heavily contaminated soil in north Birmingham, thanks to more than a century of heavy industrial operations. The case began after environmental regulators uncovered violations about how the plant handled benzene, a known carcinogen, in May 2011. Inspectors from the EPA and the county health department say they found a number of violations relating to ABC Cokes handling of benzene at the coke byproducts processing facility, including a number of deficiencies in the companys leak detection and repair protocols, which are legally mandated by the Clean Air Act. The plant turns coal into a substance called coke by baking it in super-heated, low-oxygen coke ovens. The process removes impurities from the coal, leaving a high-carbon fuel behind that is used in steel-making or other industrial processes. Inspectors reported finding an open-ended overflow pipe, equipment that was not properly sealed, improperly monitored and waste water streams that were exposed to the outside air, potentially allowing the chemical to escape. The company had failed to take actions to properly control, reduce or eliminate the benzene in those streams as required, the EPA said in an information sheet about the settlement. Sarah Stokes, senior attorney from the Southern Environmental Law Center, said the new agreement is a substantial improvement. This settlement agreement attempts to end ABC Cokes long history of violations by creating essential checks and balances, Stokes said in a news release. ABC Cokes rigorous monitoring and reporting requirements, as well as the Jefferson County Department of Healths commitment to put all facilities files on a public database, will provide significantly more transparency for communities and the ability to quickly identify any violations going forward. South Korean President Moon Jae-in and his Costa Rican counterpart, Carlos Alvarado, had phone discussions Friday on the COVID-19 pandemic and other major issues including efforts to promote a green and emissions-free economy, Cheong Wa Dae said. Alvarado expressed his gratitude to South Korea for support related to the antivirus fight. The government has provided the Central American nation with high-efficiency KF-94 face masks, worth a total of around US$1 million, and shared its virus control know-how. Alvarado said Moon's Green New Deal and Digital New Deal projects have the same policy goal with his government's campaign during the half-hour conversation, according to Cheong Wa Dae spokesman Kang Min-seok. Costa Rica is pushing for the National Decarbonization Plan 2018-2050 with the aim of going carbon neutral by 2050. It focuses on expanding the use of renewable energy and supply of electric cars. The country also plans to build an electric train system in its capital area with a total budget of $1.55 billion. South Korea has formed a government-private consortium for a bid to participate in the project. Moon told Alvarado that if his country teams up with the world's top-notch South Korean firms, it would serve as a "new turning point" in bilateral cooperation on decarbonization. The Costa Rican leader invited Moon to visit his country, saying late former President Roh Moo-hyun was the last South Korean president to have done so. Roh traveled there in 2005. He also asked Moon to join a summit of the Central American Integration System member states scheduled to be held in June. Moon requested that Alvarado attend a P4G summit that South Korea plans to host in May. P4G stands for Partnering for Green Growth and the Global Goals 2030, a public-private initiative to tackle climate change and other sustainable development challenges. (Yonhap) In June 1991, Mount Pinatubo, a volcanic peak on the Philippine Island of Luzon, literally blew its top. It was the second-most powerful volcanic eruption of the 20th century, ten times stronger than Mount Saint Helens, and its effects were devastating. Lava and ash spewed into the surrounding environment in the Zambales Mountains, pooling in layers up to 600 feet thick in the valleys. Following the eruption, powerful typhoons and monsoon rains triggered landslides and ash flows that continued for many months. Eight hundred people lost their lives, and the lush forests that covered the mountain prior to the eruption were destroyed or severely damaged. In recent years, scientists returned to the region to survey the surviving mammal populations, and in a new paper in the Philippine Journal of Science, the team announced the rediscovery of a species of mouse that had long been feared to be extinct. "When Pinatubo blew up, probably the last thing on anyone's mind was that a little species of mouse was thought to live only on that one mountain, and might well have become extinct as a result. What we've learned subsequently really blew us away", says Larry Heaney, the Negaunee Curator of Mammals at Chicago's Field Museum and one of the paper's authors. In early 2011 and again in 2012, twenty years after the eruption, Field Museum researcher Danilo (Danny) Balete went to Mt. Pinatubo to study its mammal fauna. Over the course of several months, Balete and his team of field assistants (including local men from the Aeta tribe) surveyed the mammals on the mountain, from the bottom to near the top where the forest had been devastated by the eruption. "Most of our field work on Luzon and elsewhere in the Philippines has been in natural forested habitats where mammals are most common" says Eric Rickart, Curator of Vertebrates at the Natural History Museum of Utah and lead author on the paper, "but Danny couldn't pass up an opportunity to see how mammals were faring on Mt. Pinatubo." There were no surveys of the mammals on Mt. Pinatubo prior to the eruption. However, specimens housed in the US National Museum of Natural History provided some records from lower elevations around the mountain. "Most of these early records were for common species of bats collected in the 1950s," says Heaney, "but one specimen was particularly intriguing-a small rodent that became the type specimen, and only example, of a new species described in 1962 as Apomys sacobianus, the Pinatubo volcano mouse." Conditions on Mt. Pinatubo were very harsh, and the survey work by Balete's team was both grueling and dangerous. Even after 20 years, evidence of the eruption was everywhere. The landscape was very unstable due to the constantly eroding ash and lahar deposits that made working in the steep terrain hazardous. It also greatly slowed the process of plant succession. Vegetation was a sparse mix of native and non-native plants, dense stands of grass (including bamboo), shrubs, low-growing vines, and few trees-all the characteristic of early stage second-growth habitat. It was a far cry from the old-growth tropical forest that covered the mountain before the eruption. Field surveys of small non-flying mammals elsewhere on Luzon have revealed that old-growth forests contain a great variety of native species and few, if any, non-native "pest" species of rats. But in heavily disturbed second-growth habitats, particularly areas near croplands, the reverse is the case-non-native rats are most abundant, and there are only a few hardy native species. "We thought the work on Pinatubo would confirm this general pattern, so we expected to see few if any of the native species," says Rickart. A specific motivation for the Pinatubo survey was to discover the fate of Apomys sacobianus, the Pinatubo volcano mouse. "After the eruption of Pinatubo, we looked for this mouse on other peaks in the Zambales Mountains but failed to find it," notes Heaney, "suggesting a very limited geographic distribution for the species. We thought the volcano might be the only place this mouse lived." And based on expectations from islands elsewhere, at the time it seemed possible that the species might have been lost because of the eruption. However, the survey of Pinatubo produced some very surprising results-a total of 17 species were documented, including eight bats, seven rodents (five native and two non-native species), and even two large mammals (wild pig and deer). Contrary to expectations, non-native rats were not at all common and were restricted to areas near Aeta croplands where such agricultural pests are often most abundant. Despite the fact that all areas surveyed supported sparse, scrubby second-growth vegetation rather than forest, native rodents were abundant everywhere. Most surprising of all, the most abundant species, overwhelmingly, was the volcano mouse Apomys sacobianus. Far from being wiped out by the eruption, this species was thriving in this greatly disturbed landscape along with other native species that also have a high tolerance for disturbance. "For some time, we've known that many of the small mammals of the Philippines can tolerate habitat disturbance, both natural and human-caused," Rickart says, "but most of them are geographically widespread, not locally endemic species which usually are viewed by conservation biologists as highly vulnerable." As Mt. Pinatubo recovers from the damage done by the eruption, the forests will return and other species of mammals will move in. "Mt. Pinatubo could be a wonderful place to establish a long-term project to monitor habitat recovery and community re-assembly following the eruption," says Rickart, "such information would be helpful in efforts to regenerate the many areas that have been deforested by people." After completing the Mt. Pinatubo mammal survey, Danny Balete returned to the Field Museum where he organized specimens and data from the survey, made some early notes for an eventual publication, and then set them aside to finish later. After he suddenly died in 2017 at age 56, Rickart and Heaney say that they picked up and completed the study as a tribute to Balete, who is now recognized as one of the most important figures in Philippine biodiversity science for his extensive research contributions, mentoring of younger colleagues, and promoting enjoyment of nature throughout the Philippines. "Knowing that a species once thought to be vulnerable, even feared to be extinct, is actually thriving is the finest tribute to Danny that we can imagine," adds Heaney. ### Thank you for reading! Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. If you have a subscription, please log in or sign up for an account on our website to continue. Teachers' union says the minister has made the right decision (PA) Further financial support totalling 3.25 million has been announced by the Education Minister to support substitute teachers during the current six week lockdown. With many schools remaining closed and others only open for vulnerable children and those of key workers, substitute teachers have been unable to secure work. Peter Weir said he was fully aware of the significant impact the closures due to the pandemic are continuing to have on our pupils, teaching and non-teaching staff. The issue of funding for substitute teachers who have lost the opportunity to work in schools during the current six-week period of school closures is one that I, and my Department, have been working hard to resolve, the Minister said. I am pleased to announce that we will be re-introducing the income support scheme for substitute teachers. The estimated total cost of the scheme is around 3.25m. Substitute teachers in Northern Ireland are a unique group of staff, and the education sector depends on these individuals to be available to cover for absences of permanent teachers, he said. This will be welcome news to those staff for whom substitute teaching has been their regular source of income. Their income stopped abruptly when schools were instructed to close to pupils except for vulnerable children and those of key workers, and it is only right that they are not disadvantaged when so many other workers have been able to access the UK-wide furlough scheme. Schools will remain closed to most pupils until the end of the half term break in February. The minister is due to meet with Health Minister Robin Swann in the next two days to discuss the current health situation, with a decision on whether a further school closure is necessary to be made by the NI Executive next week. The scheme has been welcomed by teaching union NASUWT who said it will provide much needed relief. The NASUWT commends the Minister and Department for acting swiftly to put this scheme in place, said Dr Patrick Roach, NASUWT General Secretary. The scheme is identical to that which ran during the April to June period. Thousands of substitute teachers have lost out on the opportunity to work through the current lockdown. The hard reality is that schools simply could not function without these teachers, he said. The NASUWT will continue to fight for our substitute teacher members, ensuring that the interests of day-to-day substitute teachers are protected between now and the eventual phased reopening of schools beyond the provision for key workers and vulnerable children. Justin McCamphill, NASUWT National Official Northern Ireland, said it was important to acknowledge when the Minister gets things right. Putting this scheme in place sends an important signal that substitute teachers concerns are being listened to. It is important that eligible substitute teachers act quickly to apply for the scheme which will be open for applications from 22 to 29 January 2021 with payments expected in March 2021. Based in Merrillville, Noe reported during our broadcast that Meals on Wheels of Northwest Indiana is desperately in need of more volunteers. The months of January, February and March are usually challenging to maintain volunteer ranks since retired senior citizens are among the most dedicated volunteers. Winter weather and sunny weather annual retreats by many to Florida and Arizona annually thins their volunteer pool this time of year. The current COVID-19 global pandemic has amplified the already existing challenges. Charlie Doud showed up for his coronavirus vaccination at the mega-site at Rowan College of South Jersey in Gloucester County on Jan. 14. It was organized, he said, with plenty of volunteers and National Guard members moving the lines along, checking peoples appointments and reminding them it was essential to get a second dose. They emphasized the importance of the second dose, but there were no handouts or instructions as to how to register, Doud said, noting he was reminded of the second dose several times during his visit. Since then, he said, hes been unable to get an appointment. Hes tried calling the state but no one has answered, he said, yet he did get an email from the state stressing he needed a second dose. The email had no further directions. My concern is just that we absolutely understand the importance of the second dose, but more clarity needs to be given so people can follow through as encouraged, Doud said. CORONAVIRUS RESOURCES: Live map tracker | Newsletter | Homepage With vaccine demand far outstripping supply, some people who have received a first dose said they are worried they wont be able to find the appointments they need and they fear not getting the second dose in time will render their first dose worthless. And even though it may not be time for the second dose, they said they are confused and concerned about how the process will play out, despite assurances by state officials that the system will work. New Jersey State Health Commissioner Judy Persichilli has said several times that facilities should make a second appointment for people at the time that they receive the first dose. And on Friday, the state issued a statement saying sites must accommodate all vaccine recipients who received their first dose at their location for their second dose appointment at the appropriate interval. Vaccination sites are responsible for bringing their patients back for their second vaccination and are encouraged to schedule this appointment at their initial visit, said Alexandra Altman, a spokeswoman for Murphy, noting the state has been able to provide all needed second doses. The sites are also expected to issue second dose reminders to each recipient to encourage completion of vaccine course, as described in the New Jerseys Interim COVID-19 Vaccination Plan. Altman didnt respond to questions about how and when the Gloucester site, run by the state, will start booking second doses. People have a reason to be concerned about the timing of their second dose, said Stephanie Navarro Silvera, an epidemiologist and public health professor with Montclair State University. The clinical studies done by Pfizer and Moderna show that the vaccines offer the highest rate of protection at 21 and 28 days after the first dose, respectively. Unfortunately there isnt much science to support expanding the interval between doses, she said. Without more studies, including larger and more diverse sample sizes, it is difficult to say what impact expanding the interval between doses may have on vaccine efficacy. Dave Dudley also got his first dose at the mega-site but said he didnt get a second appointment. While waiting in the observation area to make sure he didnt face any adverse side effects, his wife received an email with a link where he could schedule his second dose, he said. They tried but the dates were all booked or they didnt go out far enough to match the 21 days he needed to wait. He said he asked two people at the Rowan site, who said they werent taking appointments and he would need to book it through the states website. My concern for myself is that I will not be able to get an appointment near 21 days, Dudley said. I am concerned for other people who may not be as persistent to follow up like me and just say screw it, I got one shot, thats good enough. Then the state and the residents have an ineffective vaccine campaign. Its a concern shared by others who dont have a second dose appointment. When Jerry Ruderman received his first dose of the Moderna vaccine at Raritan Valley Community College, a site run by Somerset County, he said he was impressed with how the site was run. He received a vaccination card showing what date he received the shot. I asked the tech that gave me my shot about the second dose and they said that I should follow the directions on the card that was received, Ruderman said. It said `Your second dose is due 28 days from today on February 15, 2021. There was no reference to a time or that I had an actual appointment. Jerry Ruderman's vaccine card and information sheet from Somerset County have no instructions on how to book a second dose. When he went home, he emailed the county health department but said he hasnt yet received a response. Obviously I am very happy that I was able to get the first dose but I am anxious about making sure that I am able to get the second dose as recommended, he said. Im not blaming the health officials but the procedure needs to be clearer. TIMING IS EVERYTHING Many people across the state are still struggling to make their first appointments, often coming up empty when they try various registration sites. This is likely to continue for some time as the state is only expecting 100,000 doses a week for the next several weeks, nowhere near enough to meet the surge in demand for the vaccine. Its unclear how many sites, including the ones run by the state and the counties, are making second dose appointments, but at least some private facilities have their second dose plans in play. Summit Medical Group, which has more than 80 facilities in northern New Jersey, said its booking first and second dose appointments at the same time in accordance with best practice guidelines from The New Jersey Department of Health. Scheduling both appointments for the full two-dose series helps us to manage vaccine supply and our capacity for appointments into the future, said chief quality officer Ashish Parikh. Shop Rite said its customers are scheduled for second doses when they receive their first doses. Boyds Pharmacy, which has three vaccine locations in Mansfield, Medford and Pemberton, said it is trying to schedule patients for a second dose when they get their first one. We generally will schedule them for approximately the same time slot as their first dose, but 28 days later, pharmacist Marvin Wainwright said. We are trying to lower confusion and increase the likelihood that people get their second doses by scheduling them while they are sitting in the chair getting their first dose and handing them an appointment reminder and a screening questionnaire to be completed on the day of their second dose. Wainwright said Boyds should start to receive its first round of second doses next week. Second doses would take a priority over first doses if vaccine supply was to become more limited, he said. Somerset County, which runs the clinic at Raritan Valley Community College where Jerry Ruderman got his first dose, clarified how it would handle second doses. People will receive an email with a date they should return for a second dose, spokesman Nathan Rudy said. The appointment date will not necessarily be exactly 28 days after they receive their first shot, but will be soon after, he said. Steven Goldstein is also eager to book his second dose. He said the Gloucester mega-site site was very efficient and orderly when he got his vaccine, but he left without a second dose plan. He was given a card saying he was eligible for a second dose on Feb. 9, but there is no time and its handwritten, he said. Steven Goldstein got his first dose of the coronavirus vaccine at the Gloucester County mega-site. I kept asking what do you mean Feb. 9? Should I come in the morning, afternoon, is there a time? And everyone said the same thing. We have no idea, he said. I must have asked a dozen people. You just leave saying Huh? Whats going on? When he got home, he tried to book a second appointment on the states website, but he said there were no instructions for second doses. He said he doesnt blame the state about the lack of vaccine supply, but hes anxious that he wont be able to get his second shot. Even without an appointment, Goldstein, who lives two hours from the Gloucester site, said he has a plan. Im going to book a hotel and get there early in the morning and assume my whole day will be filled with bureaucracy and i will hope they let me in, Goldstein said. Im going to arrive 7 a.m. as if Im waiting in line for Barbra Streisand tickets in 1978. Please subscribe now and support the local journalism YOU rely on and trust. Karin Price Mueller may be reached at KPriceMueller@NJAdvanceMedia.com. Susan K. Livio may be reached at slivio@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @SusanKLivio. A Texas National Guard soldier died Tuesday in what officials in Austin said was a non-combat-related incident while supporting Operation Spartan Shield in Kuwait. Staff Sgt. Timothy Manchester, 34, of Austin, served with the 36th Infantry Division headquartered at Camp Mabry. He deployed with the division last September and is the missions first casualty. In a statement issued Friday, the guard did not say how he died and said the incident was being investigated. We are devastated by the loss of one of our own, said Maj. Gen. Tracy Norris, the guards adjutant general. In this profession, we always know in the back of our mind that this is a possibility, but we hope it never comes to pass. The entire Texas Military Department sends our deepest condolences to Staff Sgt. Manchesters family and loved ones he leaves behind. We are also keeping his fellow service members in our thoughts and prayers who are still overseas mourning the loss of their brother in arms. Soldiers with the deployment are serving throughout the Middle East, including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Jordan and two other counties that the divisions commander, Maj. Gen. Patrick Hamilton, declined to name when they gathered for a departure ceremony Sept. 27 in Round Rock. On ExpressNews.com: Texan soldiers bid farewell to families, again Manchester, who served at at Camp Arifjan in Kuwait, joined the Texas Army National Guard in 2018, after serving in the Marine Corps. He earned the Iraq Campaign Medal with two campaign stars, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal and National Defense Service Medal. The Texans are providing training for partner nations in such areas as artillery, maneuver, and command and control, based on a Central Command theater security plan. . At the end of the day, Hamilton said of the training, its all about us not having to be there and them having the capacity to do the things that they need to do to protect and defend their countries on their own. sigc@express-news.net WASHINGTON Seven Democratic senators, including Ron Wyden of Oregon, on Thursday asked the Senate Ethics Committee to investigate the actions of Republican Sens. Ted Cruz and Josh Hawley to fully understand their role in the Jan. 6 insurrection at the Capitol by supporters of former President Donald Trump. Thousands had gathered that day as Congress voted to formally certify President Joe Bidens victory over Trump in November. Hawley and Cruz led objections in the Senate to Bidens victory, despite the widespread recognition that the effort would fail. In the end, Congress certified Bidens Electoral College victory, but not before thousands marched to the Capitol at Trumps urging, overwhelmed security and interrupted the proceedings. In the end, the violence led to five deaths, injured dozens of police officers and caused extensive damage to the Capitol. 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. Until then, a cloud of uncertainty will hang over them and over this body, the Democratic senators wrote in a letter to the leaders of the Senate Ethics Committee. The Democratic senators said Cruz and Hawley announced their intentions to object even though they knew that claims of election fraud were baseless and had led to threats of violence. Their actions lend credence to the insurrectionists cause and set the stage for future violence. And both senators used their objections for political fundraising, the Democratic senators said in their letter. Cruz and Hawley have condemned the violence on Jan. 6. Cruz called it a despicable act of terrorism. Hawley said those who attacked police and broke the law must be prosecuted. Cruz helped force a vote on Bidens victory in Arizona, while Hawley helped force one on Bidens victory in Pennsylvania. Joe Biden and the Democrats talk about unity but are brazenly trying to silence dissent, Hawley said in a prepared statement. This latest effort is a flagrant abuse of the Senate ethics process and a flagrant attempt to exact partisan revenge. The six other Democrats requesting the investigation are Sens. Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island, Tina Smith of Minnesota, Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, Mazie Hirono of Hawaii, Tim Kaine of Virginia and Sherrod Brown of Ohio. --The Associated Press The Navy have launched an investigation after an aircraft technician's girlfriend was found hiding in a cupboard after he smuggled her onto the airbase. The woman is said to have been caught hiding semi-naked among her lover's jumpsuits at RNAS Yeovilton in Somerset. He is said to have sneaked her into the Somerset base in the boot of his car when he returned from Christmas leave. The Navy base is home to the Commando Helicopter Force and its Merlin helicopters, as well as a number of Wildcat helicopters - which are due to join aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth when it is deployed to the South China Sea later this year. The technician, who is part of the Commando unit, admitted to his superiors the woman - who was born in Indonesia but is a Dutch citizen - is his girlfriend. Concerns were raised on the base over the security breach with colleagues fearing the woman could have been exposed to vital secret information about the airbase. The woman is said to have been caught hiding among her lover's jumpsuits at RNAS Yeovilton in Somerset (pictured) The Navy base is home to the Commando Helicopter Force and its Merlin helicopters (pictured), as well as a number of Wildcat helicopters The Wildcat helicopters are due to join aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth (pictured) during its deployment to the South China Sea later this year But the Ministry of Defence denied that there was any suggestion of espionarge. A spokesperson for the MoD told Mail Online: 'The Royal Navy takes any breach of security or Covid guidelines extremely seriously. 'We are investigating the incident but the individual is a European national and there is no suspicion of espionage.' The Sun reports that the woman was escorted from the base by armed guards and is said to have left the UK immediately. A Navy source also told the paper the woman was an 'unauthorised foreign national on Ministry of Defence property' and described the incident as 'an astonishing breach'. According to the Sun, the technician, who is serving with 847 Naval Air Squadron, told Navy bosses he first met the woman on holiday in 2019. The incident constitues a major security breach at the airbase. The MoD have launched a probe into the incident and discussions about the penalty for the aircraft technician are ongoing. [January 22, 2021] JEOL: Release of a New Cold Field Emission Cryo-Electron Microscope CRYO ARM 300 II (JEM-3300) JEOL Ltd. (TOKYO:6951) (President & COO Izumi Oi) announces the release of a new cold field emission cryo-electron microscope (cryo-EM), the CRYO ARM (News - Alert) 300 II (JEM-3300), to be released in January 2021. This new cryo-EM has been developed based on the concept of "Quick and easy to operate and get high-contrast and high-resolution images". This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210121005316/en/ Cold Field Emission Cryo-Electron Microscope CRYO ARM(TM) 300 II (JEM-3300) (Photo: Business Wire) Development Background Recent dramatic improvement of resolution in single particle analysis (SPA) using cryo-EM has led to SPA as an essential method for structural analysis of proteins. To address this market, JEOL released the CRYO ARM 300 in 2017. Equipped with a cold field emission gun (Cold FEG) for enhanced resolution and a cro-stage for loading multiple samples, the CRYO ARM 300 has continued to achieve best-in-class resolution for SPA. However, the previous workflow of SPA using cryo-EM needs multiple electron microscopes because the workflows for sample screening and for image data acquisition are independent of one another. This problem gives rise to large operating costs for cryo-EM users. Since multiple microscopes must be used, it is inconvenient to transfer cryo-samples between the cryo-EMs. Therefore, users have been requesting one cryo-EM enabling the complete workflow from sample screening to image data acquisition. Furthermore, in order for various users to use the cryo-EM, an improvement of usability has been required, allowing anyone from novice users to professional users to smoothly operate the microscope. To meet these requests, JEOL has developed a new cryo-EM, the CRYO ARM 300 II. This microscope achieves a great improvement in throughput for high-quality data acquisition with quick and easy operation compared with the previous CRYO ARM 300. Main Features 1. High-speed imaging achieved by optimal electron beam control 2. Improved hardware stability for high-quality image acquisition 3. Higher operability through system improvement Annual unit sales target 10 units/year Cold Field Emission Cryo-Electron Microscope CRYO ARM 300 II (JEM-3300) https://www.jeol.co.jp/en/products/detail/JEM-3300.html JEOL Ltd. 3-1-2, Musashino, Akishima, Tokyo, 196-8558, Japan Izumi Oi, President & COO (Stock code: 6951, Tokyo Stock Exchange First Section) www.jeol.com View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210121005316/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Xi Jinping and his Chinese Communist Party have declared war on Transcendence. "Transcendence" refers to that which goes beyond and extends above the "immanent," the horizontal scale. The Truly Transcendent is infinite, meaning "unlimited." The immanent is finite, bounded. Yet the finite hungers for the infinite. Ultimately this is an intense desire for the InfiniteTranscendent Being a God. Without a healthy understanding of and reverence for Transcendence humans have no standard for good. If there is no absolute standard for good, then there is no standard for identifying evil. Theologian Alvin Plantinga says that a strictly finite worldview "has no place for genuine moral obligation of any sort." Richard E. Simmons III, in his book, Reflections on the Existence of God, discusses the Nuremberg Trials of Nazi war criminals. Robert H. Jackson, the chief prosecutor, "appealed to a law beyond the law, a universal standard." A system of ethics, he believed, as Simmons describes it, "has to be transcendental, and its basis cannot rest in the finite world." If there is no standard for identifying evil, then anything goes a from heists to Holocausts. Without the Transcendent standard how can anything be judged as truly wrong? However, Thomas Jefferson was thinking about Transcendence and the injustice of slavery, when he said, "I tremble for my country when I remember that God is just; that His justice cannot sleep forever." Most of the groups that Xi Jinping's government is now persecuting from among their own people are those who look beyond the earthly tyrants to Transcendent authority. It's not just Christians and their institutions in China that are under attack, but Muslims and Buddhists, and any others who look to authority above and beyond the stern councils of Beijing. That includes spiritual movements like Falun Gong. A shocking Canadian report exposed "large scale organ seizures from unwilling Falun Gong practitioners." This passion to try to squelch the recognition of and hunger for Transcendence should come as no surprise, since all authoritarians ultimately come to this. If there is a Transcendent Being whom people worship, then the dictators are not at the top of the pole of power. They are compelled to eliminate every trace of Transcendence. In doing so they run into a confession of St. Augustine: "Thou hast made us for Thyself, and our hearts are restless until they rest in Thee." A few centuries later, French mathematician and philosopher Blaise Pascal, in his Pensees (French for "reflections," or "thoughts"), wrote: "What else does this craving, and this helplessness, proclaim but that there was once in man a true happiness, of which all that now remains is the empty print and trace? Thus he tries in vain to fill with everything around him, seeking in things that are not there the help he cannot find in those that are, though none can help, since this infinite abyss can only be filled with the infinite and immutable object; in other words by God himself." Xi Jinping and all the totalitarians can try to stifle the passion in the human soul for Transcendence and replace it with sloganeering, great spectacles of armies and weapons paraded before the nation and world, as well as their own personages, but none of these can fill the "infinite abyss." Those of us who ministered in the former Soviet Bloc after the collapse of Communism were amazed at how quickly churches, seminaries, and ministries sprung up everywhere. When I think of Xi's current war on Transcendence, I remember an afternoon in 1971 in the New Territories north of Hong Kong. President Richard Nixon, my boss at that time, would a year later surprise the world by traveling to China. On that 1971 day, however, China was closed tight to the United States and much of the world. Yet l could look a hundred yards ahead and see a farmer in China working his fields. "There are some Chinese who believe Mao will never die," said my host. They have faith that at some future point he will ascend into the mountains and continue to rule China forever, my friend continued. To suggest that there were Chinese who, in the officially atheist state, had already exalted Mao to transcendent status a in their minds at least a proved both Augustine and Pascal right: the human soul must have Transcendence just as the human body must have oxygen or water. Take away true Transcendence and we begin glorifying and worshipping everything around us. The Antichrist spirit exploits this. "Anti," in New Testament Greek, means "in the place of" as well as "against." The Antichrist spirit is therefore that of opposition and imposition. The desire is not only to oppose Christ but to push Him aside and put oneself on the Lord's throne. Lucifer tried this before creation, and, in the words of Jesus, fell from Heaven "like lightning." (Luke 10:18) This has been the outcome for earthly despots driven by the Antichrist spirit to seize the thrones of their nations, civilizations, and, finally, the world itself. Nero tried. Stalin attempted. Hitler blitzed. Now Xi Jinping is making his run on the throne of time and history. However, the Chinese are spiritually hungry. During the relaxation of Marxist totalitarianism prior to 2018, great churches bloomed overnight athe churches Xi is now bulldozing, bearing crosses he has ripped down. Xi's war on Transcendence is not new. The outcome has already been written in the soul of humanity. Wallace Henley is a former pastor, White House, and congressional aide. He served eighteen years as a teaching pastor at Houston's Second Baptist Church. Wallace, the author of more than twenty books, now does conferences on the church and culture, church growth and leadership. He is the founder of Belhaven University's Master of Ministry Leadership Degree. Courtesy of The Christian Post Ballet dancer Tiler Peck worked with Rebecca Luker twice over the course of their respective careers. At the age of 11, Peck, one of New York City Ballet's principal dancers, joined the Broadway company of The Music Man, in which Luker played librarian Marian Paroo. As an adult, they were each other's shadow in the 2014 Kennedy Center production of Ahrens and Flaherty's Little Dancer (now titled Marie, Dancing Still), playing the younger and older versions of Marie van Goethem, the ballerina who inspired the famous statue by Edgar Degas. Luker passed away in December after a yearlong struggle with ALS, and it has led the theatrical community to reflect on what she meant as both an artist and a person. Peck used words like "angel" and "lovely" and "the whole package" to describe her. She took her work on Little Dancer so seriously, Peck remembers, that they would take ballet classes together and spend a great deal of time making sure their gestures looked the same. And on one number, when director and choreographer Susan Stroman suggested Luker do a potentially unconquerable feat which Peck described as "hitting the highest note in the entire show" at the same time as beating her feet like a ballerina, while being lifted initial trepidation led to a flawless performance, because everyone rightfully believed Luker could do anything. "To see her do that and nail it every night, like it was the easiest thing for her? That's my favorite memory," Peck concludes. You can see an early version of this, through a rehearsal-room performance of the song "Looking Back at Myself," in the video below: ADVERTISEMENT Lafarge Africa Plc has reached a resolution to offload its 35 per cent holding in Tema-based cement-maker, Continental Blue Investment (CBI), after years of consecutive loss-making, cutting short a partnership as old as the Ghanaian firm, which began operation in 2017. The Nigerian unit of LafargeHolcim Limited, the worlds biggest cement company, took the new direction on Wednesday, following an emergency meeting of the board, it said in a note to the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) on Wednesday. Lafarge Africas operations on the continent have been on a bumpy ride in recent times, and the current move marks its second major divestment in less than two years, coming after the sale of its South African subsidiary in July 2019 in a deal worth over $316.289 million. That went entirely to settling Lafarge Africas debt to Caricement BV in a debt-to-equity swap. The decrease in net debt has significantly strengthened our balance sheet and has placed us in a vantage position to face the future, said Khaled El Dokani, Country CEO Lafarge Africa Plc Nigeria. Times have been hard on the company as the coronavirus lockdown imposed by the Nigerian government last year hammered sales, forcing management to call off its major infrastructure projects for 2020. The ordeal has become more complicated, with the inflow of oil money into Africas largest crude producer slowing down to a mere trickle on account of an oil crash last year, Mr El Dokani said. Lafarge Africa appears to be losing patience over its investment in the Ghanaian cement grinding plant, which has been heaping up losses since inception, even though undertakings in such startups often require a great deal of time to generate profit and deliver returns. As at 31 December 2019 the carrying amount of the Companys investment in Continental Blue Investment (CBI) has been fully depleted, as the losses reported over the years exceeded the carrying amount of the investment, it said in its 2019 financial report. Ginika Frank-Durugbor, Lafarge Africas spokesperson, did not react immediately when PREMIUM TIMES asked her for comment via email. Shares in Lafarge Africa closed trade on the NSE on Thursday at N27.95 per unit, up by 5.47 per cent. (Natural News) How would you feel about being told by the government that you should wear a mask on your face forever? This was the suggestion made by Jonathan Van-Tam, Englands deputy chief medical officer, during a recent interview with The Sun about living in the world post-Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19). Since the novel Chinese infection will always be with us, according to Van-Tam, some people will probably choose to affix a hijab-like face diaper over their nose and mouth for the rest of their miserable muzzled lives. Even though face coverings have repeatedly been shown not to work while harboring microbes and other filth like some kind of disease-replicating petri dish, Van-Tam apparently believes the debunked conspiracy theory that plastic-woven face wraps somehow help to prevent the spread of Chinese germs. I think there are going to be people who make a personal decision to say, you know what, when Im in a crowded place in the winter Im going to put a face covering on. When Im on a tube I am going to put a face covering on, Van-Tam is quoted as saying. While Van-Tams statements were in reference to the voluntary continued use of face masks, they hint at a possible future in which government mandates concerning masks will become the permanent norm. Though Van-Tam couched the possible permanency of masks as a choice that some people might voluntarily make, it is fair to suspect that his statement could be predictive programming for the widespread permanent masking of the people, reported National File. The United Kingdom is currently under severe lockdown. The globalists including Americas dubious health expert Anthony Fauci and dubious president-elect Joe Biden give no indication that they are backing off from draconian tyranny measures. Will Fauci eventually call for permanent face diapers, too? One can easily envision a time in the not-too-distant future when health authorities like Van-Tam and Fauci might actually call for people to have masks permanently stitched into their faces, never to be removed. This would fit right into Van-Tams narrative that the Chinese virus itself is now a permanent fixture of the world, thus requiring permanent face diapers on every persons face to keep it at bay. Since this type of mindless fear-mongering is showing no signs of relenting anytime soon, it is almost an expectation that the transhumanist body butchers will soon make the suggestion that peoples faces be surgically altered with non-removable cloth muzzles or plastic face shields to cure the plandemic. If this sounds like crazy talk, consider the degree to which dumbed-down society has already coalesced to the nonsensical medical interventions that have already been imposed on the ignorant masses for going on almost a year now. Much of the world has been barred from using hydroxychloroquine (HCQ), a simple and effective remedy for the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19), and very few people seem to know or care. Meanwhile, the medical fascists are insistent that masks are the solution, just so long as you wear it at all times except when sitting at a restaurant table, of course, because the virus does not transmit there. Everyone should see that this is where this dehumanizing mask business is going, wrote one National File commenter. This is causing enormous amounts of psychological damage to our children and our adults. You cannot isolate humans like this, were a social animal like elephants and whales, we need the group, contact. What in the hell is this guy talking about? asked another who lives in Great Britain. What personal decision to put on a mask? In the globalist police state of Britain, anyone who doesnt wear a facial hijab in public is arrested by the Stasi. More related news about Chinese pathogens and the governments communist response to them is available at Pandemic.news. Sources for this article include: NationalFile.com NaturalNews.com NaturalNews.com Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. New York, Jan 22 : The next phase of the second impeachment of former President Donald Trump is set to be launched next week when the Senate receives the charges against him from the House of Representatives accusing him of instigating the January 6 storming of the Capitol by his supporters, Democratic Party's Senate Leader Chuck Schumer said on Friday. He said on the Senate floor that the Articles of Impeachment, as the charges heet voted by the House on January 13 is known, will be sent by the House to the Senate on Monday, paving the way for the judicial-style trial of Trump. At the impeachment trial, two-thirds of the Senators acting as jurors will have to vote to convict Trump. The Senate is divided equally with each party having 50 members and the Democrats will have to get 17 Republicans to defect on the issue if Trump is to be convicted. The first impeachment failed last year when the Democrats could not get the two-thirds vote. Speaker Nancy Pelosi ceremoniously signed the document that accuses him of instigating an insurrection in his speech to supporters before Congress was to begin the ratification of the electoral college votes confirming Joe Biden as the President-elect. He is also accused of questioning the legitimacy to Biden's election. But she has held off sending the Articles of Impeachment to the Senate till the Democrats can exert control over the Senate with Vice President Kamala Harris presiding over it with a casting vote. After Trump's speech urging them to march to Congress, a section of his supporters forced their way into the Capitol building while the process of counting the votes was in progress and broke into the Senate chamber and Pelosi's office. Republican Party's Senate Leader Mitch McConnell asked for a two-week delay to allow Trump to prepare his defence. Schumer, who has not agreed so far, said: "The Senate will conduct a trial on the impeachment of Donald Trump. It will be a fair trial. But make no mistake, there will be a trial." He did not say when the trial will begin. The Democrats would want a quick trial and put away the issue as they will have to move quickly on confirming the high-level appointments made by Biden and move his agenda forward. McConnell and some Republicans have blamed Trump for the riot which left five people dead, including a police officer. McConnell said in the Senate on Tuesday: "They were provoked by the president and other powerful people, and they tried to use fear and violence" to stop a function of the Congress. But he has yet to indicate if he would vote to convict. Many Republicans have said that the impeachment will only deepen the polarisation of the country. (Arul Louis can be reached at arul.l@ians.in and followed on Twitter at @arulouis) SHOWS February 22, 2021 10.00 am Bazaar Corporate Radar Bazaar Corporate Radar is your window into the minds of top CEOs, Boardrooms, global economists, fund managers and sector analysts. If it?s making news, you?ll find it on Bazaar Corporate Radar. 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 new worldwide study funded by the British Heart Foundation (BHF) will measure how certain physical behaviors, such as sitting for long periods of time, can impact health. The 855,000 research project at the University College London (UCL), in collaboration with the University of Sydney, will look at how sedentary behavior can lead to heart and circulatory conditions such as heart attack and stroke, in order to improve prevention. Although physical inactivity is a well-known risk factor for heart and circulatory conditions, its understanding is limited. Most evidence comes from questionnaire-based studies that examine behaviors - such as amount of exercise, sitting, and sleep quality and duration - independently. Researchers at UCL say that, as these behaviors are all part of the same 24-hour cycle, they must be examined together to see their true impact on health. This is because these behaviors interact, and spending too much time being physically inactive might affect the benefits of being active at other times. Data has now been collected from 72,000 participants who have had their physical activity measured by a thigh-worn activity tracker over a prolonged period. The state-of-the-art devices can analyze a range of different actions, including how much time people spend sleeping, sitting down, standing up and moving around. Information from these devices - generated from 13 different international studies - have been stored in a unique database. People involved in these studies will also be monitored over several years to record their health and hospital visits. The new funding from the BHF means that the data can now be analyzed so that researchers can closely examine the relationship between physical inactivity, sitting and sleeping and the prevalence of heart and circulatory conditions. They will also look at known genetic risk factors for heart and circulatory disease in the study participants and how these interact with physical activity and health outcomes. Overall, the work could help shape new guidelines to improve the prevention of heart and circulatory diseases. Mark Hamer, Professor of Sport & Exercise Medicine at the Institute of Sport, Exercise & Health at UCL, is leading the study. Professor Hamer said: "Most of the evidence we have on physical behaviors is limited, which compromises our ability to make accurate associations to heart and circulatory disease. We now need to understand more about how an active lifestyle is maintained, and to do this we need to study large samples of people over their life course. "By understanding this better, we can begin to make improved recommendations to the public. This will help understand about how an active lifestyle is maintained in order to change peoples' lifestyles for the better. "With lockdown restrictions meaning some people are spending increased time sitting down, such as by working at a desk or watching TV, it's now even more important that we understand the impact this could have on people's health." With the deadline for applications for more than $1.5 billion in federal funding for high-speed internet development looming, theres concern among the smaller internet service providers that Manitoba could miss out again. With the deadline for applications for more than $1.5 billion in federal funding for high-speed internet development looming, theres concern among the smaller internet service providers that Manitoba could miss out again. Among other things, the ongoing moratorium on any new projects connecting to the Manitoba Hydro Telecom (MHT) network a key fibre backbone connection for most broadband developments outside the city is hampering designs that companies might otherwise submit for funding to the federal governments Universal Broadband Fund because of the uncertainty over access to the MHT network. An earlier deadline for smaller rapid response projects just passed, the deadline for other projects is Feb. 15. At the end of August, MHT stopped taking any new business after issuing a request for proposals to find a third-party operator for MHT. No decision has been made on that. A spokesperson for Reg Helwer, minister of Central Services, said an announcement is expected to be made in the next couple of months. A Manitoba Hydro spokesman said the stop-sell order will remain in place until that rural broadband RFP has been settled. Several sources said the competing proponents for the work are Bell MTS, Shaw, SaskTel, Xplornet and RFNow, a Virden based internet service provider (ISP). Many of the provinces smaller ISPs look forward to the certainty of access, but are worried about a potential steep price increase if Bell or one of the national telcos take over operation. Last summer, Jeff Klause, CEO of Voyageur Internet, which has 70 towers in and around the city, had a deal worked out to connect some of those towers in Stony Mountain and St. Norbert to the MHT fibre network. "I needed more bandwidth for school kids. It was all lined up and ready to go," he said. "I had done all the planning with MHT we were ready to pull the trigger and we got the notice to stop sell. No one explained why. There is a pandemic and usage is way up. It does not make sense." Klause said he submitted proposals for federal funding but not necessarily to communities where they are most needed, but to where he knew he could have access to the infrastructure he needed. Voyageur, which is 25 per cent owned by the Manitoba Metis Federation, has built its own small network that about 25,000 people rely on. Another small ISP, Swift High Speed Internet out of Steinbach, was caught in a similar situation. "We have had multiple ongoing conversations and network designs to turn on service through COVID while usage has skyrocketed," said Evan Schroeder, co-owner and chief operating officer of Swift. "That has not been possible." Hes applied for the federal funding but also for a more modest project than he might otherwise have done. In the fall, internal bickering and poor project management from Ottawa scuttled a $55-million project after the funds had already been approved to connect northern First Nations with high speed internet. The current uncertainty over access to a fibre network that is already there prompted Dave MacKay, the executive director of a coalition of Manitoba ISPs to say, "The province is about to lose out again (from winning access to) millions of dollars of federal money because we cant get along here in Manitoba." The ISPs are also concerned about an arrangement that the Winnipeg Metro Region has made with RFNow to form an enterprise called JohnQ Public Inc. that is partly financed by loans from municipalities within the Winnipeg Metro Region, effectively becoming the preferred ISP for those municipalities. In applying to the Universal Broadband Fund, consideration is given to applicants who already have support from the communities they propose to build in. To build fibre-to-the-home the ISPs need right-of-way easements from the municipalities. MacKay says the leverage that John Q Public has may make it harder for the other ISPs to get the municipal support. Colleen Sklar, executive director of Winnipeg Metro Region, said it welcomes collaboration from other ISPs. She said their main concern is that any new network development does not just concentrate on the populated areas but services everyone in a community. According to the latest research from the CRTC, only 41 per cent of rural households and 31 per cent of First Nations households on reserves across the country have access to high-speed internet. Northern Manitoba has the distinction of being the worst area outside the territories for internet connectivity. martin.cash@freepress.mb.ca Samsung Galaxy S21 is currently the fastest Android smartphone, thanks to its latest Snapdragon 888. This device's chip is proven amongst the fastest mobile processors. It can easily power up any Android device, until now. Also Read: Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra Teardown: Allegedly Disappointing Results Showed Sticky Battery, Difficulty Replacing Screen, and More Although it is considered the fastest Android phone, iPhone 12 still has the advantage against Samsung's latest smartphone flagship. The device's latest benchmarks revealed that iPhone 12's A14 Bionic chip is still faster than the Snapdragon 888 chipset. This means that iPhone 12 has nothing to worry about, even if Samsung Galaxy S21 is currently its ultimate rival in the industry. According to Toms Guide's latest report, Geekbench released benchmarks for the latest smartphone brands that were freshly released last year and this year. To give you additional information, here are the benchmarks of iPhone 12, Samsung Galaxy S21, and other popular Android devices. Samsung Galaxy S21 benchmarks Geekbench released the benchmarks for the most popular smartphones this year of 2021. Here is the list you should know. These scores are based on the devices' single-core and multi-core scores. iPhone 12 Pro (A14 Bionic) - 1,595 // 3,880 iPhone 12 (A14 Bionic) - 1,593 // 3,859 Galaxy S21 Ultra (Snapdragon 888) - 1,123 // 3,440 Galaxy S21 (Snapdragon 888) - 1,048 // 3.302 Galaxy Note 20 Ultra (Snapdragon 865 Plus) - 985 // 3,294 OnePlus 8T (Snapdragon 865) - 887 // 3,393 Galaxy S20 Plus (Snapdragon 865) - 811 // 3,076 Pixel (Snapdragon 765G) - 596 // 1,617 Right now, it is clear that the iPhone 12 lineup is still the faster smartphone. However, the latest Samsung Galaxy S21 flagships are only a few scores behind them, making Samsung's latest smartphones the fastest Android devices. What makes Galaxy S21 iPhone 12's ultimate rival? According to News 18's latest report, Samsung Galaxy S21 has certain features that make it the ultimate competitor of iPhone 12. The first one is its compatibility with a stylus, specifically Samsung's latest S-Pen. On the other hand, Samsung's latest device also has an insane amount of RAM, depending on the variant you pick. Aside from Galaxy S21's huge amount of RAM, its storage is also upgraded to a faster UFS 3.1. This means that the device now has faster write and read speeds, which greatly improves the device's performance. If you want to know more detail, all you need to do is click this link. For more news updates about Samsung's upcoming high-end smartphones, always keep your tabs open here at TechTimes. Related Article: Samsung Launches 870 Evo: Specs, Price, How to Order and More This article is owned by TechTimes. Written by: Giuliano de Leon. 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Calgary, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - January 22, 2021) - Hemostemix Inc. (TSXV: HEM) (OTC: HMTXD) ("Hemostemix" or the "Company") is pleased to announce it has signed the Building Relationships Entrepreneurs & Dealmakers (BREAD) contract with the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development. An initiative to assist high-potential, biotech focused Canadian Small and Medium Enterprise (SMEs), the program is designed to accelerate the growth of Hemostemix and other Canadian biotechnology companies. "We are actively working with the Trade Commissioner Service of CANADA in the USA, Japan and South Korea to source qualified partners to go to market with," stated Thomas Smeenk, CEO. "The BREAD agreement marks our Company's starting point to out-license ACP-01, and it generates our sponsorship into BioCom." ABOUT THE TRADE COMMISSIONER SERVICE OF CANADA The Trade Commissioner Service (TCS) plays an active role in helping Canadian companies achieve their goals of growth into international markets. Its services focus on helping companies prepare for international markets, assessing market potential, finding qualified contacts and partners and resolving problems. ABOUT HEMOSTEMIX Hemostemix is a publicly traded autologous stem cell therapy company, founded in 2003. A winner of the World Economic Forum Technology Pioneer Award, the Company developed and is commercializing its lead product ACP-01 for the treatment of CLI, PAD, Angina, Ischemic Cardiomyopathy, Dilated Cardiomyopathy and other conditions of ischemia. ACP-01 has been used to treat over 300 patients, and it is the subject of a randomized, placebo-controlled, double blind trial of its safety and efficacy in patients with advanced critical limb ischemia who have exhausted all other options to save their limb from amputation. On October 21, 2019, the Company announced the results from its Phase II CLI trial abstract presentation entitled "Autologous Stem Cell Treatment for CLI Patients with No Revascularization Options: An Update of the Hemostemix ACP-01 Trial With 4.5 Year Follow-up", which noted healing of ulcers and resolution of ischemic rest pain occurred in 83% of patients, with outcomes maintained for up to 4.5 years. The Company owns 91 patents across five patent families titled: Regulating Stem Cells, In Vitro Techniques for use with Stem Cells, Production from Blood of Cells of Neural Lineage, and Automated Cell Therapy. For more information, please visit www.hemostemix.com. For further information, please contact: Thomas Smeenk, President, CEO & Co-Founder Suite 1150, 707 - 7th Avenue S.W., Calgary, Alberta T2P 3H6 Phone: 905-580-4170 Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Service Provider (as that term is defined under the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. Forward-Looking Information: This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein are forward-looking information. In particular, this news release contains forward-looking information in relation to: the commercialization of ACP-01. There can be no assurance that such forward-looking information will prove to be accurate. Actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking information. This forward-looking information reflects Hemostemix's current beliefs and is based on information currently available to Hemostemix and on assumptions Hemostemix believes are reasonable. These assumptions include, but are not limited to: the underlying value of Hemostemix and its common shares; the successful resolution of the litigation that Hemostemix is pursuing or defending (the "Litigation"); the results of ACP-01 research, trials studies and analysis, including the midpoint analysis, being equivalent to or better than previous research, trials or studies as well as management's expectations of anticipated results; Hemostemix's general and administrative costs remaining constant; the receipt of all required regulatory approvals for research, trials or studies; the level of activity, market acceptance and market trends in the healthcare sector; the economy generally; consumer interest in Hemostemix's services and products; competition and Hemostemix's competitive advantages; and Hemostemix obtaining satisfactory financing to fund Hemostemix's operations including any research, trials or studies, and the Litigation. Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of Hemostemix to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Such risks and other factors may include, but are not limited to: the ability of Hemostemix to complete its current CLI clinical trial, complete a satisfactory futility analysis and the results of such and future clinical trials; litigation and potential litigation that Hemostemix may face; general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; general capital market conditions and market prices for securities; delay or failure to receive board or regulatory approvals; the actual results of future operations including the actual results of future research, trials or studies; competition; changes in legislation affecting Hemostemix; the timing and availability of external financing on acceptable terms; long-term capital requirements and future developments in Hemostemix's markets and the markets in which it expects to compete; lack of qualified, skilled labour or loss of key individuals; and risks related to the COVID-19 pandemic including various recommendations, orders and measures of governmental authorities to try to limit the pandemic, including travel restrictions, border closures, non-essential business closures, service disruptions, quarantines, self-isolations, shelters-in-place and social distancing, disruptions to markets, disruptions to economic activity and financings, disruptions to supply chains and sales channels, and a deterioration of general economic conditions including a possible national or global recession or depression; the potential impact that the COVID-19 pandemic may have on Hemostemix may include a decreased demand for the services that Hemostemix offers; and a deterioration of financial markets that could limit Hemostemix's ability to obtain external financing. A description of additional risk factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from forward-looking information can be found in Hemostemix's disclosure documents on the SEDAR website at www.sedar.com. Although Hemostemix has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. Readers are further cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information as there can be no assurance that the plans, intentions or expectations upon which they are placed will occur. Forward-looking information contained in this news release is expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking information contained in this news release represents the expectations of Hemostemix as of the date of this news release and, accordingly, it is subject to change after such date. However, Hemostemix expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required by applicable securities law. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/72606 MIDDLETOWN The Middletown United Public Service Employees Union has filed a grievance against the city in response to the mayors implementation of annual personnel reviews. The grievance is in reaction to Mayor Ben Florsheims recent roll-out of these first-ever evaluations. Florsheim said he is perplexed at the action, considering the union agreed to the contract. General Counsel Brig Smith referenced the pertaining article: The city may conduct annual performance reviews and evaluations of each bargaining unit member. But the grievance claims the appraisal form does not conform to the wording of the contract between UPSEU and the city. It alleges the policy is a clear violation of the collective bargaining agreement. The union is asking the city to cease and desist the reviews, and the city make whole anyone who has been affected by this violation. We dont disagree that evaluations, if done right, are healthy professional tools, for both the organization and for the workforce, Union President Geen Thazhampallath said. Our members arent contesting evaluations generally, but they are disconcerted by the citys lack of communication, education and collaboration as theyve tried to...roll this out from the top down, he said. The union is ready to collaborate with city officials on evaluation tools, as well personnel education, Thazhampallath said. Our grievance highlighted that the city missed these important steps, said Thazhampallath. Union members are heartened by meetings set for the near future where they can make positive contributions, he said. Smith said personnel rules require workers to undergo evaluations, which shall be used to enhance performance and goal expectations. Florsheim began the process with a non-bargaining director Wednesday, he said. I certainly anticipated a little bit of confusion, nervousness or questions. Im willing to sit down and address any concerns UPSEU or any city employee has. The mayor said his first reaction was astonishment, Are they looking at the same contract I am? Florsheim said hes had positive feedback from UPSEU workers and people under the other union bargaining agreements. The topic was addressed early on in Charter Revision Commission meetings, he said. Many candidates, including the mayor, talked about the issue during the election campaign, Florsheim said. In electing him and other city leaders in November, it was implicit that voters were behind candidates platforms, Florsheim said. I get that change is scary, and get it that theres going to be questions any time a new policy is introduced, he said. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 22) The Philippines' first known case of the more transmissible UK COVID-19 variant is now cleared of coronavirus infection, officials said on Friday. The Quezon City Government said the 29-year-old patient tested negative in his latest swab test. Doctors in his quarantine facility have to assess if he can be sent home soon. Health Department Spokesperson Maria Rosario Vergeire said a thorough assessment, such as a chest X-ray, needs to be done because the patient was previously diagnosed with pneumonia. She also stressed the importance of monitoring after the patient is sent home. Local officials vowed to continue monitoring the patient for at least two weeks after he returns to his home in Quezon City. Meanwhile, DOH is seeking the help of the National Bureau of Investigation to contact the patient's two co-passengers during their flight from Dubai to Manila on January 7. "We will be providing these two names to the NBI, through the Department of Justice, today para lang mahanap natin. Mas madali kasi silang makakahanap because of their database," Vergeire said in a media briefing. [Translation: We will send the two names to the NBI today so we can find them. They can easily find them because they have the database.] Of the 159 passengers on board the Emirates flight, 13 travelers including the index case detected with the B.1.1.7 SARS-CoV-2 variant first found in the United Kingdom tested positive for COVID-19. At least 14 contacts of the patient have contracted the disease. Arlene Foster dismissed support for an Irish unity referendum last night as Northern Ireland's future came under the spotlight amid Brexit fallout that has cleared supermarket shelves of food. The DUP leader insisted the country wanted to remain part of the UK as she was asked whether it needed to prepare for a vote on becoming part of the Republic within a decade. The exchange on the BBC's Question Time came amid a furious backlash against the Brexit deal agreed by Boris Johnson's Government. Under new customs regulations, hauliers have faced problems transporting stock to Northern Ireland from the rest of the UK. The staunch unionist was asked whether Ulster needed to be ready to hold a referendum, perhaps not immediately, but within the next 10 years, by an audience member. She replied that there were 'very logical and tangible reasons we must remain in the UK'. The DUP leader insisted the country wanted to remain part of the UK as she was asked whether it needed to prepare for a vote on becoming part of the Republic within a decade. The exchange on the BBC's Question Time came amid a furious backlash against the Brexit deal agreed by Boris Johnson's Government. Under new customs regulations, hauliers have faced problems transporting stock to Northern Ireland from the rest of the UK It has resulted in scenes of empty shelves and freezers in supermarkets across the country since January 1 'On a rational and logical basis I think people will continue to choose to be within the UK,' she said. 'It is of course, under the Belfast Agreement, for the consent of the people of Northern Ireland, and there is certainly nothing to show the people of Northern Ireland want to leave the UK in any of the opinion polls.' The Government was also urged to sort the border mess quickly by one of its leading backbenchers. Mark Francois, the MP for Rayleigh and Wickford and a leading Eurosceptic, told MailOnline: 'Margaret Thatcher once described Northern Ireland as being as British as Finchley. Well, it's a British as Rayleigh too. 'So Michael Gove must now be robust in seeking to solve these hopefully temporary problems in negotiations via the UK-EU joint committee.' Mrs Foster used a separate appearance on the BBC today to blast Boris Johnson over the Northern Ireland Protocol, which in effect created a border down the Irish sea. The DUP leader told the BBC's Radio 4: 'It is most definitely a structural problem in the Northern Ireland protocol. 'We warned about that last year when people voted to bring in the protocol, that there would be difficulties moving between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.' The protocol is designed to allow Northern Ireland to follow the EU's customs rules and has caused delays at the ports because of new declarations and checks. Arlene Foster said: 'The Prime Minister promised us that there would not be any difficulties but given the protocol and all the difficulties we have seen on the ground it was very clear that this was going to happen, it was all foreseen.' Mrs Foster accepted that there would be opportunities for businesses in Northern Ireland to trade freely with the EU and the rest of the UK due to its special status. She said she was committed to making the best of the current arrangements. NEW HAVEN Mayor Justin Elicker said he is not pursuing an investigation into a Trumbull birthday party attended briefly by City Health Director Maritza Bond. Bond, a former colleague of Danny Pizarro when she worked for the city of Bridgeport, had dropped off a birthday gift at his house Jan. 16 and said Friday there were no clues that a large gathering was about to occur. In New Haven, we expect all of our employees to use good judgment and to abide by the guidelines sent out by the CDC, the governors office and the city of New Haven, Elicker said. Given that Director Bond just was at the site and dropped off a gift, I dont see any need to investigate. He noted that States Attorney Joseph Corradino is conducting his own investigation. If something is uncovered, of course we will respond to it, Elicker said. Bond said there were fewer than 10 people, including caterers, at Pizarros Huntington Turnpike home when she arrived at 8:30 p.m. A tent was set up outside. I thought that was actually the proper way to have the dinner, set up for proper air flow, Bond said. She said she left within 15 minutes, attended to two COVID-related complaints in New Haven and was home by 10 p.m. Gov. Ned Lamonts rules for private gatherings allow for up to 25 people. Trumbull police later arrived at Pizarros party, responding to a complaint about parked cars blocking traffic, Hearst Connecticut Media reported. Pizarro, a longtime aide to Bridgeport Mayor Joe Ganim and a major city landowner, told Hearst there were 300 people at his 48th birthday party. He was fined $500 for allegedly violating the rules for gatherings during the pandemic. Hearst first reported Wednesday that Bond had stopped at the site. Bond, who was health director in Bridgeport for more than three years before taking her current job in her hometown of New Haven, said she talked to Pizarro after she heard how large the party had grown. I expressed my disappointment to him, she said. Bond is leading New Havens efforts to contain the spread of the coronavirus. Her health inspectors have responded to about 50 COVID-related complaints, shutting down several businesses for violating the rules. Im disappointed, she said. I feel strongly against large-scale gatherings as we are still dealing with a pandemic, Bond said. I honestly didnt think it was going to escalate to that. She said the issue of behaving safely during the pandemic is personal for her. My grandmother had COVID. My mother had COVID. I have close family members who are deeply affected, she said. We are reviewing all of the available evidence to determine whether any additional enforcement actions can be taken and proven to the exacting standards of the criminal law, Corradino told Hearst. Videos from the party had been posted on Instagram, but have since been taken down. Our rules of ethics prevent us from commenting directly on a pending investigation, Corradino said. Reporting by Brian Lockhart was used in this story. edward.stannard@hearstmediact.com; 203-680-9382 A photo taken on March 18, 2018, shows a Yemeni child looking out at buildings that were damaged in an air strike in the southern Yemeni city of Taiz. Photo: Ahmad Al-Basha/AFP via Getty Images During his Senate confirmation hearing on Tuesday, Secretary of State-designate Anthony Blinken said President Joe Bidens administration would end U.S. support for Saudi Arabias military intervention in Yemen, which in Blinkens words had contributed to the worst humanitarian situation anywhere in the world. As part of this shift in posture, Blinken said the administration would immediately review an order issued by former secretary of State Mike Pompeo last week designating Yemens Houthi rebels a terrorist organization. Pompeos order, which went into effect Tuesday, was emblematic of the Trump administrations spiteful and chaotic exit, being one of several parting booby traps set by the outgoing secretary in an apparent attempt to undermine Bidens foreign-policy plans. At best, Pompeos last-minute order will be quickly forgotten as a pointless, spiteful gesture toward the new administration. Unlike most petty pranks, however, this one has potentially devastating consequences: The U.N. warned that it could cause Yemen to experience a large-scale famine on a scale that we have not seen for nearly 40 years by making it impossible for aid agencies and NGOs to deliver assistance to areas controlled by the rebels (even with an exemption carved out for those groups). Bidens incoming foreign-policy and national security teams tend to agree, hence their commitment to quickly review and most likely reverse this designation. Beyond revisiting the terrorist label for the Houthis, the Biden administration intends to cease helping Saudi Arabia prosecute the Yemen war with logistical support and arms sales. Weapons sales to the Saudis and other countries were among the actions former president Donald Trump considered to be foreign-policy achievements. In late December, the Trump administration notified Congress that it was pushing ahead with another sale of $500 million worth of precision-guided bombs to Saudi Arabia. Lawmakers had until Thursday to pass a resolution of disapproval. Writing in the Washington Post on Wednesday, Yemeni human-rights activist and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Tawakkol Karman urged Biden to halt the sale before it is completed; it is not clear whether the administration has taken any action yet. On the campaign trail, however, Biden made clear his intent to change our posture toward Saudi Arabia and its catastrophic misadventure in Yemen. In an October statement marking the anniversary of the murder of Saudi Arabian dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi, Biden pledged: Under a Biden-Harris administration, we will reassess our relationship with the kingdom, end U.S. support for Saudi Arabias war in Yemen, and make sure America does not check its values at the door to sell arms or buy oil. The humanitarian crisis in Yemen is indeed staggering; Blinken was not exaggerating when he described it as the worst in the world. Over 200,000 people have died in the ongoing war, which has gone on for nearly six years. Millions more have been injured, displaced, or otherwise traumatized. Of the countrys 30 million people, some 24 million (80 percent) are dependent on outside assistance. Schools, hospitals, water, and sanitation infrastructure have been destroyed. Extreme poverty, hunger, and childhood malnutrition are rampant. The country was already running out of water due to climate change and population growth; now, much of that water is polluted, poisoned, or inaccessible. The Yemeni civil war began in late 2014, when the Houthis took over the capital city Sanaa and drove out the government of President Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi. Saudi Arabia launched a coalition intervention on behalf of the ousted government in March 2015, and the war quickly spiraled into an intractable proxy conflict between Saudi Arabia and Iran, which backs the Houthis. Biden, as vice-president, supported the Obama administrations decision to back the Saudi intervention at the time with diplomatic support and weapons sales. The Trump administration maintained and expanded that support, ignoring or overriding congressional objections after Saudi Arabia was accused of committing war crimes in Yemen. Bidens challenge as president will be to extricate the U.S. from its current position of making this crisis worse and find a path toward mitigating or resolving it instead. This is not a matter of picking between good guys and bad guys, because there are no good guys to pick. The Houthis, too, have committed atrocities and violated human rights, and their Iranian patrons are no less brutal theocrats than the Saudis. However, in the complex calculus of the Middle East, they have also been valuable allies against international terrorist organizations like Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State. The Saudi-led coalition, by comparison, got caught paying off members of Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula to abandon their strongholds or join up with coalition forces. Very bad people on both sides. Yemen is a massive crisis on its own, but it is also a microcosm of a larger regional puzzle. Realigning the U.S. position in the Middle East away from Saudi Arabia, right or wrong, as Biden wants to do, will be challenging, especially given the risk of overcorrecting and becoming too solicitous of Iran. What Biden can do to differentiate his policy from Trumps is put the interests of the U.S. ahead of those of Saudi Arabia and define those interests more broadly than profits from arms sales. Of course, the Saudis are aware that Biden is not their biggest fan. Saudi Arabias de facto ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, was personally friendly with Trump and his son-in-law Jared Kushner, and enjoyed blanket support from the Trump administration as he worked over the past few years to consolidate power and crack down on dissent within the kingdom. The Trump White House blocked attempts by other elements of the U.S. government to hold Saudi Arabia responsible for its actions in Yemen and for Khashoggis brutal murder, which Prince Mohammed is widely believed to have ordered. If the Saudis are to expect any support from the Biden administration, they will have to earn it. The crown prince has spearheaded a reform initiative that has expanded social freedoms in the kingdom, such as allowing women to drive, which has earned him much more praise than he deserves in American media and political circles. Saudi officials have been touting the progress they have made on human rights in the past year, including a dramatic decline in executions. It wont be surprising to see the Saudis advertising those changes even more aggressively in the coming months to curry favor with the Biden administration. At the same time, however, Prince Mohammed has behaved like a typical paranoid dictator, jailing and likely murdering his critics, persecuting activists, and stifling any perceived threats to his power. The Saudi Arabia emerging under his rule is perhaps less repressive, less theocratic, and more economically dynamic, but still decidedly totalitarian, with destructive ambitions of regional hegemony and little regard for the lives it destroys. It cannot, and should not, impress Biden with relatively small-bore social reforms while it continues to violate human rights at home and abroad. If Riyadh can no longer buy Americas acquiescence along with its tanks, planes, and bombs, that is a positive change in U.S. foreign policy by any standard. Approaching the Middle East with an emphasis on diplomacy and moral leadership is much better than making bellicose threats and seeding a regional arms race. If Biden can find a way to resolve the conflict in Yemen, then unlike his predecessors, he might actually deserve a Nobel Peace Prize. Stopping the bloodshed, or at very least ending our complicity in it, is a good first step. Commentary Biden on China: Lane-Changing After Trump? The then US vice president, Joseph Biden, and Chinese President Xi Jinping in China in August 2011. / Embassy of the People's Republic of China, Washington Governments in Asia, including China, welcomed the new US administration this week with questions about what President Joe Bidens China policy will look like. But Beijing is cautious. Hua Chunying, a spokeswoman for Chinas foreign ministry, said: The recent period had not been easy for us. It has been highly challenging and unusual. Both the Chinese and American people deserve a better future. Knowing damage had been done to its allies and international institutions under Donald Trump, Biden and his team will have to repair and restore Americas image. But how will Bidens China policy differ from Trumps? Behaving differently from Trump is not going to be enough. Bidens election victory led skeptics to question his soft, non-committal statements on China in previous years. Trump was tough on China. Even in his final days in office, Trump declared that Beijing was committing genocide against the Uighurs and other Muslims in Xinjiang and a video conference was held between a senior United States envoy and the president of Taiwan, Tsai Ing-wen, ignoring the fact that the island is claimed by Beijing. Trumps approach to China differed from former President Barack Obama, who watched as China under President Xi Jinping became more assertive. Trump was unambiguous in identifying Beijing as a threat to US interests and imposing penalties. It is likely that Bidens approach will be more multilateral and collective than Trumps policy of going it alone. The new administration may also find some areas where Washington and Beijing can work together, such as on climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic. Indeed, Trumps America first policy implied that Washington should stand alone and be dragged into isolation. During the previous four years, we saw China take the strategic opportunity of Trumps America first policy and become more assertive, expanding its influence. Today, China is the worlds largest and longest-surviving autocracy and its influence continues to rise. Western-based Chinese analysts have long argued that the notion of China slowly adopting international norms and aligning itself with the international order is wishful thinking. Today, China has regional hegemony, posing a serious challenge to US international influence. Antony Blinken, Bidens choice to be secretary of state, told the US Senate: I also believe that 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 thats actually helpful to our foreign policy. As we look at China, there is no doubt that it poses the most significant challenge [to US interests], Blinken said, noting there is room for cooperation. There are rising adversarial aspects of the relationship, certainly, competitive ones, and still some cooperative ones, when it is in our mutual interests, There are rising adversarial aspects of the relationship, certainly, competitive ones, and still some cooperative ones, when it is in our mutual interests, he said. Beijings Global Times mouthpiece in an editorial wrote of Blinken: Time will answer what these messages mean during the transition period. It added that Washington was to blame. One thing is very important. During the past four years, China-US relations have deteriorated. All conflicts have been provoked by Washington. Beijing has merely been responding and making countermoves. Beijing has imposed sanctions on 28 members of the Trump administration, including former secretary of state Mike Pompeo. Chinas foreign ministry said it had decided to sanction those who have seriously violated Chinas sovereignty and who have been mainly responsible for such US moves on China-related issues. There is the likelihood that if Biden follows Trump on China, Beijing will harden its attitude. Myanmar should be prepared to work with the new US administration but it is also important to maintain a stable relationship with its northern neighbor. Myanmar recently received its first major Chinese visit by foreign minister Wang Yi since the Nov. 8 general election. The US is distant compared to China, especially with Myanmar tied to Beijings Belt and Road Initiative. In August last year, in his nomination, the subsequently appointed US ambassador to Myanmar, Thomas Vajda, said one of his goals as envoy would be to advance US interests and values. He told the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations that US engagement with Myanmar is essential to advance the countrys reforms and help defend it against malign influences. To support Burma in this regard, the United States will need to continue helping government officials, economic reformers and civil society actors who are pushing back on unfair investment practices and deals that provide little benefit to local communities, he added. Malign influences? His reference to unfair investment practices and deals that provide little benefit showed clearly that he meant China. That was under Trump. The new ambassadors remarks came when tension between the US and China was running high, partly fueled by an opinion piece by then US charge d affaires at the US Embassy in Yangon, George Sibley. He alleged Chinas actions in the South China Sea and its aggressive crackdown in Hong Kong were part of a larger plan to undermine the regions sovereignty, including in Myanmar. Under the new administration, the US is likely to continue a tough stance on China while seeking to build more sustainable and lasting alliances with the region given Bidens recent selection of the former State Department official Kurt Campbell. The former US assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs, known as one of Washingtons most respected experts on Asia, is due to join the administration as Indo-Pacific coordinator. The job will give him broad management over National Security Council directorates that cover parts of Asia and China-related issues. Whatever the case, Myanmar should not suffer when the US advances its interests and values in the region, especially from repercussions caused by any hiccups in Sino-US relations. It should be a win-win for every player as Myanmar is not an enemy to the US or China. Myanmar poses no serious security threat to either country. But Myanmar also has to look after its national interests and sovereignty, while demonstrating that it can be a player, not just a playground. You may also like these stories: US Chaos Shocks the Worldbut Tomorrow Never Dies How Myanmars Foreign Policy Is Likely to Evolve in the NLDs Second Term China Grows More Assertive Ahead of Myanmars Election PARADISE, CALIF. - Assemblyman James Gallagher (R-Yuba City) has introduced a bill to help fast-track two construction projects for the town of Paradise. The town is working to establish a sewer system for the first time in its history, as part of Camp Fire rebuilding efforts. Before the fire Paradise was the largest unsewered community in California. The town is moving forward with studying a regional pipeline to transport wastewater to the City of Chico Water Pollution Control Plant. The Paradise Irrigation District is considering a water intertie, that would allow the sale of unused surface water in PID reservoirs, to help make up for losing most of its customers after the fire. It would involve transporting water to Chico. PID Assistant Manager Mickey Rich told Action News Now Thursday that the district currently has 3,000 water users. That's Far fewer than prior to the fire. Because of that, the district is looking for additional ways to generate revenue. Rich said the water intertie is just one option that will be examined during a study by the Sacramento State University Office of Water Programs. Bids have just been received in response to a request for proposals to conduct that work. Assembly Bill 36, Co-Authored by State Senator Jim Nielsen (R-Tehama) would allow the use of what's called the design-build procurement method for the projects. Assemblyman Gallagher Representative Curtis Grima told Action News Now the change in state building code would allow the town to hire one contractor to both design and build a project, a cost-effective method that can prevent project delays while providing more flexibility for these respective infrastructure projects. Gallagher's office will soon be seeking formal support for the legislation from Butte County Supervisors, the Chico City Council, and other stakeholders. AB36 will first be heard in the Assembly Local Government Committee sometime in March. After some delay, the grants were announced Thursday as part of the Restore, Reinvest, and Renew (R3) Program, which was created by the law that legalized recreational marijuana in the state. The program gets 25% of the $175 million in tax revenue from more than $900 million in cannabis sales last year through December. New York, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 22nd Jan, 2021 ) :Within hours of taking office, President Joe Biden undid some of Donald Trump's most controversial immigration policies and sparked cautious hope that millions living in the shadows could one day get legal status in the US. Scribbled signatures from his pen on Wednesday lifted an entry ban for people from many majority Muslim nations and halted construction of Trump's border wall with Mexico, heartening immigration defenders left reeling by four years of "America First" nationalism. Yet advocates see new battles ahead, including whether lawmakers can finally overhaul the nation's immigration system which has been branded as "broken" with some 11 million undocumented people living in limbo. These discussions, however, have only begun as the Trump administration has just left the White House. His so-called "Muslim ban," which in 2017 targeted citizens of Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen, ignited international outrage and lead to domestic court rulings against it. Iraq and Sudan were dropped from the list, but in 2018 the Supreme Court upheld a later version of the ban for the other nations -- as well as North Korea and Venezuela. As part of his first acts, Biden signed new protections for so-called "Dreamers" -- immigrants who arrived illegally as children and had been temporarily shielded from deportation by a program Trump tried to dismantle. In addition, the new president overturned one of his predecessor's orders pushing aggressive efforts to find and deport unauthorized immigrants, and imposed a 100-day suspension on most deportations. Immigration advocates erupted in support for Biden's first orders. "There is that dark cloud that used to hang over our heads, which is gone," said Camille Mackler, the executive director of a pro-migrant lawyers group founded against the ban targeting Muslim nations. - Republican pushback - "After four years of what was a war on immigration and immigrants, this feels like the dawn of a new day," said Krish O'Mara Vignarajah, president of Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service. "I think (this) is pretty significant action for, you know, a president unilaterally on day one," she added. Aura Hernandez, a 39-year-old immigrant from Guatemala who doesn't have papers, heaved a sigh of relief. "These past four years have been the worst of my life," said the mother of five, who took refuge for several months in a Manhattan church in 2018 to avoid deportation. But like millions of others in her position, Hernandez has to keep her hope in check because Biden's executive orders do not change the fundamentals of the nation's immigration system. The president's nominee to lead the nation's Homeland Security department, Alejandro Mayorkas, said this week that Biden has "committed to presenting Congress, on day one, with an immigration reform bill that, once and for all, fixes I think what we all can agree is a broken immigration system." Previous efforts to pass a major reform of the system have come tantalizingly close but failed in the end, leaving powerful Democratic Senator Bob Menendez to describe what he expects will be a "Herculean" effort in Congress this time around. A proposed bill would allow immigrants without documents, but who pay taxes and have no criminal record or national security issues, to work legally for six years and then get on a possible track to permanent legal status. Menendez noted that 60 of 100 votes would be needed for passage in the Senate, which means Democrats would have to have bipartisan support. Immigration reform is a particularly delicate issue for Republicans, who have been skeptical of regularization measures and some of whom will be up for re-election in 2022. Menendez called on the business community, especially in the migrant-heavy agricultural and tech sectors, to push Republicans for action. Apple boss Tim Cook said on Wednesday he was ready to work with the Biden administration and Congress for "comprehensive solutions to fix our broken immigration system." Yet any reform proposal will likely require negotiation and thus compromise, Menendez noted. The legal status of millions of undocumented people "is a major immigration issue that hasn't been resolved for decades," said Sahar Aziz, a law professor at Rutgers University. "Each time a Democratic president tries to find a path to citizenship, Republicans push back." A man who attacked a transgender woman with a knife and demanded that she provide him with free sex has received a fully suspended sentence. Liam Vickers (23) also threatened the victim's roommate when they attempted to intervene. He instructed the victim to delete his phone number and text messages from her phone before he left her home. Vickers of Swifts Grove, Clonshaugh, Dublin, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assault causing harm in an apartment in Dublin city centre in the early hours of September 30, 2017. He has two previous convictions for driving while holding a mobile phone and failure to appear. The court heard his father pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to murdering his mother in 2009. Judge Elma Sheahan had previously adjourned sentencing, ordering that Vickers follow all directions of the probation service and directing that drug testing be carried out each month. Passing sentencing today, Judge Sheahan said Vickers has been visited with great challenges in his young life and has made significant strides in the last 18 months. Judge Sheahan said this was a serious assault on a person who was vulnerable. She said she cannot place to one side the Vickers' own experience in young life which was horrific on any level. She noted that he has fully co-operated with the Probation Service, engaged with restorative justice and as a result reduced his risk of reoffending, She also noted he is in employment and dealing with his alcohol intake in therapy. Judge Sheahan sentenced Vickers to two years imprisonment, but suspended the entirety of the sentence for three years on strict conditions including that he follow all directions of the Probation Service and pay 2,000 in compensation to the victim within 12 months. At an earlier sentence hearing, Garda Sergeant Karl Colgan told Derek Cooney BL, prosecuting, that the victim worked at the time as an escort and on the date in question she got a call from Vickers to see if she was free. After she brought Vickers into her bedroom he took out a large knife and tried to stab her in the face. She blocked the attack and was wounded in her arm and her cheek. Vickers pointed the knife at her and asked for free sex, which she refused. Her roommate attempted to intervene and was also threatened with the knife. He told the victim to sit on the bed and delete his phone number and texts from her mobile phone. She deleted his texts and he walked calmly from the room, but she did not delete her call history and saved his phone number. During interview with gardai, Vickers said that he had been drinking in a park earlier that day and that he had consumed half a litre of vodka as well as taking cocaine and sleeping pills. He said he found the knife in the park and took it with him because he was paranoid about being robbed. In a victim impact statement, which was read out in court, the woman said she was attacked a second time with a knife after this incident and that she has lost her ability to trust people. She said she now feared to be alone and said that although her native Brazil was famous for being a violent country, she had never been attacked while she lived there. Sgt Colgan agreed with Dean Kelly SC, defending, that his client's mother was murdered by his father in 2009 and that his father is currently serving a life sentence of imprisonment. Mr Kelly said his client acknowledges that this violent and cowardly offence is aggravated by its victim being a person working far from home in a line of work that might dissuade them from approaching gardai. He said that Vickers has significant empathy for what the injured party experienced and that he is remorseful and ashamed of his actions. Google has been at odds with the Australian government ever since the latter started working on a mandatory code of conduct that would require Facebook, Google and others to pay news outlets for using their content. Now, according to The Sydney Morning Herald, that tech giant would go as far as leaving the country if its forced to pay for news. Mel Silva, Googles managing director in the country, told the Senate at a hearing: 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. The countrys officials were negotiating an agreement that would make payments voluntary. However, after seeing the pandemics impact on the news industrys ad revenue, the government switched its plans to make payments mandatory. As a response, Google published an open letter in August 2020, warning users that free search and YouTube services are at risk in the country if the government implements the proposed law. The tech giant also dropped its plans to launch a curated News Showcase in Australia. When asked about Googles declaration, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said: People who want to work with that, in Australia, you're very welcome. But we don't respond to threats. Silva denies that her statement was a threat. Its a reality, she said, clarifying that pulling Search in the country is the worst case scenario. She said making payments to news outlets for content would break Googles business, and the proposal would set an untenable precedent for [its] businesses and the digital economy. She added: It's not compatible with how search engines work or how the internet works. In a blog post the company published, it said its committed to reaching a workable code and see a clear path to getting there. Aside from Google, Facebook has also been opposed to mandatory payments from the start. The social network didnt threaten to leave Australia if the proposal becomes a law, but it wouldnt be able to offer news as a product anymore. 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 tumors 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 personalized 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 leukemia. The thorough investigation of these patients' tumors provides the researchers with a comprehensive understanding of the cellular composition and biology of each tumor. 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 tumor-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 practiced 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 tumors cellular diversity, which includes not only cancer cells, but also immune cells. "We examine the entire tumor 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 tumor 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 analyze using data science methods." Gunnar Ratsch, Study Corresponding Author, Professor, ETH Zurich The Tumor Profiler findings are then made available to the treating physicians, who discuss them at the interdisciplinary tumor 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 personalized 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. AFTER the surreal yet unsurprising way in which Donald Trumps true believers ransacked the U.S. Capitol at the presidents urging, a wide swath of internet companies banished him from their platforms. After conceding that president-elect Joe Biden would indeed assume power, Trump also assured his loyalists that our incredible journey is only just beginning. Opinion AFTER the surreal yet unsurprising way in which Donald Trumps true believers ransacked the U.S. Capitol at the presidents urging, a wide swath of internet companies banished him from their platforms. After conceding that president-elect Joe Biden would indeed assume power, Trump also assured his loyalists that "our incredible journey is only just beginning." Yet for both Trump the man and Trumpism as an ideology, the social-media muzzling of its chief purveyor deprives the associated far-right movement of its most cherished tool for materializing its dark, alternative vision for Americas future. Trump the man is addicted to the attention and power that comes from sowing division and chaos in both the news cycle and American discourse. At the same time, Trumpism, like all projects of authoritarian populism, feeds off of weaponizing social media to spread disinformation for political gain and to rupture common-sense truths. Discussion of evidence-based policy is shunned in favour of stoking outrage and fear to aggravate prejudice on both the left and the right. And while Big Tech was quick, at least in post-insurrection terms, to dump Trump perhaps hoping it delivers moral redemption for the other pathologies these same platforms continue to produce and profit from history shows that prohibition, in any form, almost never works. The internet crackdown on Trump will inflame the resentment he and his base already have for both Big Tech and the mainstream media. Touted as Trumps possible successor within the American political right, Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley saw a publishing deal pulled over his support for the Capitol riots (it was subsequently picked up by a lesser right-wing company). The working title of the dropped book: The Tyranny of Big Tech. Overall, there is simply too much money, influence and existential rage circulating among the American far-right and its foreign allies for Trumpism to be silenced indefinitely. The former president and his tens of millions of diehard followers will inevitably find a workaround solution. The far-right ecosystem is reportedly migrating to Telegram, an encrypted messaging service similar to the Facebook-owned Whatsapp. Brazils President Jair Bolsonaro dubbed the Trump of the Tropics has already been busy pitching Telegram to his own supporters. Polands conservative government is now drafting laws to make it illegal for tech companies to unilaterally ban users. A Russian technology firm is helping to revive the conservative social networking site Parler. Another tactic could be to utilize foreign internet servers and virtual private networks (VPNs) abroad to promote messages for domestic consumption. This happened recently when the Boogaloo movement, a U.S.-based anti-government militia, created a media website using Montreal-based cloud servers in a failed attempt to mobilize armed protests targeting president-elect Joe Bidens inauguration in Washington, D.C. Such an abrupt, ad-hoc schism in the internet landscape would come with much risk. For all the glaring faults of mainstream social-media sites, improvements to security and content veracity are being made though at an agonizingly slow pace. The need for stronger regulation of tech companies has also become a rare bipartisan issue to rally around. Even Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg has asked for better rules and standards, much in the same way that some in the fossil-fuel industry now support carbon pricing as a necessary framework for their companies to remain viable amid rising public disdain for their business model. This incremental progress toward a better-moderated online public sphere could be lost if the social-media environment is splintered further by tens of millions of partisan extremists diffusing from some badly flawed but well-known platforms to more obscure and opaque corners of the internet. Taken altogether, these dynamics create a basis ripe to produce the type of lasting, breakaway political hybrid that has been described by one Princeton historian as a virtual confederacy, dedicated to carrying on Trumps forever campaign. Comprised of the 45 per cent of Republican voters who supported the storming of the Capitol and the 147 Republican lawmakers who still voted against certifying the results of the U.S. elections and amplified by sympathetic corporate news channels such as Fox, Newsmax or One America News Network this "Trumpian government in exile" could resemble a de-facto third party in America an ethno-nationalist, evangelical insurgency focused on disrupting and destabilizing Americas legislative process. If so, the Republican party may be fractured to the benefit of Democrats. But it would also be incredibly toxic to the well-being and unity of the U.S., and hasten its plummet from grace on the world stage. It may also come to represent a final, fatal cleavage in Americas shared reality. Kyle Hiebert is a research analyst based in Winnipeg and former deputy editor of the Africa Conflict Monitor. Home > 2021 > Communalising Muslim politics is dangerous for Bengals social order | Arun (...) by Arun Srivastava Brushing aside the suggestions of left and democratic parties, even the proposition of the CPI(ML) liberation, the CPI(M), big brother of the Indian Commuist parties has decided to enter into alliance with the Congress with the sole purpose of ensuring the defeat of Mamata Banerjee. The reason for opposing Mamata is debateable and cannot be justified from the Marxist point of view. It is the whim of some top state leaders of the party that prompted it to oppose Mamata, when the politics is taking a worse path in recent decades. Some left intellectuals and expert would prefer to dismiss it as a mere absurd narrative but the fact cannot be denied that the top leadership of CPI(M) by refusing to direct the leaders of the state committee not to oppose the TMC in the assembly election are merely handing over West Bengal on gold platter to the BJP. More than anyone else the general secretary Sitaram Yechuri is aware on the political strength of the Marxist party and of the political and ideological commitment of its leaders as well as the rank and file in the state. The state leaders blame Mamata Banerjee for the malaise that plagues the state. But they have never been able to explain why they have miserably failed to build a popular anti-Mamata movement in the state. During a decade of the CPI(M)s ouster from the power, the party has not succeed in retrieving its lost ground. They have no plausible answer why even today the CPI(M) workers and cadres are joining the BJP. The fact is the party has behaved like a ship lost in the deep sea. The leaders are delinked from the Marxist ideology and of late have been focussing, according to a report of the state unit, on the religion and religious activities. The least said about the Congress is better. It is a rudderless party and depends on the charisma of its local leader Adhir Choudhary, more than the magnetism of Rahul Gandhi. Their keenness to forge alliance could be made out. They want to come to the centre stage of the state politics. But the political compulsion of the CPI(M) could not be comprehended. It is absolutely clear that the state CPI(M) leaders treat Mamata as their personal enemy than a political rival. Their differences with Mamata Banerjee is more of personal nature than ideological. Their claim of winning the election is simply preposterous. In 2016, the CPI(M) and Congress entered into an alliance with the vow to uproot the Trinamul, but the electoral experiment had failed. The combine had bagged only 76 seats, with the Congress winning 44 seats and the Left 32 seats. In 2021 the situation is more against them. The opposition space has been filled by the BJP. Their claim to win the election simply underlines the political bankruptcy of the left especially the CPI(M). Left parties and some left academics and intellectuals have launched a campaign No Vote to BJP under the forum Bengal against Fascist RSS-BJP. Do they really believe that their campaign will have any impact on the voters and refrain them from voting for the BJP? Whom they are trying to fool by resorting to such gimmicks. Their move makes it explicit that they have decided not to take lessons from the political developments and the ground realities that have surfaced in the recent past. When they would come to realise that BJP has communalised the citizens divided the society? Barely a decade back the support base of BJP was mere 2 per cent now it has 26 per cent of committed voters How could a person like Biman Bose, who has been the chairman of the Left Front ignore the fact that the BJP is on rise and is the second party, next to TMC? The so called indoctrinated CPI(M) cadres who had switched over to the TMC in 2011, today form the backbone of the BJP in Bengal. In the wake of CPI(M) workers and cadres joining the TMC in 2011, a senior CPI(M) leader had claimed that they would eventually return to the parent party at the suitable time. Probably the right time is yet to come. Is not it? Nothing much could be expected from a party which is still divided on the issue whether the BJP is fascist. People are yet to forget the reservation of Prakash Karat on describing the BJP as fascist. The CPI(M) is keen to ensure the defeat of TMC but at the same time it is surprising that it has not actively involved in the farmers struggle. Its trade unions have also been nursing a passive attitude towards farmers struggle. Notwithstanding the BJP committing one gaffe after another, they are making serious efforts to appropriate Bengals icons like Rabindranath Thakur, Swami Vivekananda and Netaji Subhas Bose for reaching out to the Bengali voters. Quite interesting they have been paying lio services to the dead icons, they are out to insult and denigrate the living conscience-keepers like Amartya Sen. It simply manifests their seriousness. In their quest to throw out Mamata, they are ruthlessly misusing the office of Governor. Only yesterday the Governor alleged that Al Queda had entered into the state. What does it imply? How could the left leaders keep their eye shut to these realities? Why they fail to visualise the worry of the people who are feeling scared of impending scenario of BJP wresting the state from the TMC in case the state witnesses multi-pronged electoral fight. Any suggestion to find a middle path is absurd and in fact would simply help the BJP. Those who talk of middle path and suggesting the voters to go for the best possible challenger to the BJP in each constituency really live in fools paradise. They must turn the pages of the electoral history in the state. They would come to understand the importance of winning the election. With the massive campaign already launched by the BJP they must not nurse any illusion. How could left ignore the BJPs strive to expand its social base by inducting Dalit, Muslim and Adivasi groups in districts? The urgency to win the election has forced the BJP to make a strategic shift. Its state minority morcha president Ali Hossain had said that a massive drive was being launched to induct 5,000 Muslims as members. In the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, the ruling TMC had a lead in 93 out of the 125 minority-dominated Assembly segments while the BJP was ahead in 23 and the Congress in nine seats. In their personalised feud with the TMC, the left and Congress leaders have also preferred to forget that MIM is out to further communalise the Muslim voters. It is a paradox that the BJP has been accusing Mamata of pursuing the politics of appeasement towards the Muslims, the chief of AIMIM Asaduddin Owaisi and Abbas Siddiqui, the young scion of the Pir clan that presides over the influential Furfura Sharif accuse her of using Muslims as mere vote-bank. This has undoubtedly come as elation for the BJP. It cannot be denied that Muslim politics in Bengal has taken a divisive turn in West Bengal before the assembly polls. Owasi has every right to fulfil his ambition to emerge as the Muslim face at the national level and to achieve this objective he is free to field his candidates in Bengal. But people of the country saw that how his machination helped the B JP to defeat the Mahagathbandhan in Bihar. MIM helped the BJP won. Owaisi along with Siddiqui would prove to be decisive factors in at least 46 seats. But one thing is certain; they would end up ensuring the victory of BJP. The saffron party may oblige Owaisi by not implementing the CAA and other citizenship laws, but one thing is certain that Muslims stand to lose their status and must not aspire to influence the decision making process in the state. Owaisi recently visited Bengal and made it known that Siddiqui would be public face of the Muslim intervention. His overture to work under the leadership of Siddiqui has wider implications. It is part of the well planned design to ensure the defeat of the secular forces. The most interesting aspect of this combination has been the plan to combine the Bengali Muslims led by Siddiqui with the non-Bengali Muslims who are the support base of MIM. It was generally perceived that the Bengali Muslims were solidly behind Mamata Banerjee. They constitute at least 27 per cent of the states population. Even a small shift in their stand would ultimately help the rightist communal forces. Siddiqui has already made it clear that he would enter the electoral fray and field candidates in a sizable number of seats. One thing is absolutely clear that Owaisis action will help the BJP more than it would serve the interest of the Muslims of Bengal. It is worth mentioning that in 2019 Loik Sabha elections, while TMC has got 43 per cent of vote, the BJP has gained 40 per cent. The BJP had got 17 per cent vote in Bengal in 2014 during the Modi wave but it dipped to 10 per cent in the 2016 assembly election. The Congress has the vote share of 5.6 per cent in 2019, a fall from 12.4 per cent in 2016. The LF is the biggest loser at mere 7.5 per cent in 2019, a pale show in comparison to its 26.6 per cent in 2016 . It does not take too much of arithmetical knowledge to find out the CPI(M)-Congress alliance will simply ensure the defeat of Mamata. The hurt pride of the CPI(M) leaders would be assuaged. Some political experts even argue that the presence of the alliance in the electoral arena will check shifting of the anti-Mamata votes to the BJP. They argue that there are large number of Congress as well as CPI(M) voters who will prefer to vote the BJP in case their own parties do not field their own candidates. Certainly this is weird argument. Does not it imply that the CPI(M) has lost its control on the rank and file? It is also said that they would emerge as the rallying point for the Bengali Muslim voters those have turned anti-Mamata. But the ground realities do not lend much credence to this argument. Not only the Muslims but even the traditional secular Bengali voters are confused at the stance of the Left-Congress combine. They strongly hold the view that BJP coming to power would not change the political scenario but it would endanger the Bengali culture. With their virtually no knowledge of the Bengali culture they will ruin the Bengali society. In recent months senior national leaders of BJP have committee a number of serious gaffes. Instead of repenting they have been assiduously sticking to their points and justifying their stands. What is worse the Bengali leaders instead of objecting have been supporting their leaders. Barely a week back the party national chief J.P. Nadda described a Radha-Govind temple in Katwa as the deekshasthal (site of initiation) of Chaitanya. This is historically wrong. But state BJP president Dilip Ghosh justified him. After a statue in Bankura was erroneously identified during Amit Shahs visit in November as that of tribal demigod Birsa Munda, Ghosh had claimed that after the Union minister said so everyone had to accept it as fact. A major move has been initiated by the MIM of Owaisi to divide and communalise the Bengali Muslims. The Bengali Muslims are unwilling to subscribe his line. But the threat remains. A week back the Murshidabad unit of the All India Imam-Muezzin and Social Welfare Organisation held a general meeting and emphasised the need to elect a secular and competent party in Bengal in order to do away with divisive forces in the country. The meeting that was touted to guide the community in favour the Trinamul Congress was attended by 650 representatives. Although the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen led by Asaduddin Owaisi or Furfura Sharif cleric Abbasuddin Siddiqui were not named, the exercise was largely to mitigate their influence as they attempt putting together a minority alliance for Bengal, which is likely to help the BJP by cutting into Muslim electoral support for the Trinamul Congress. As Muslims, we do not have any opportunity to be divided amongst ourselves. This year is too significant for that. Or else, we, too, will be beaten like our brothers in Uttar and Madhya Pradesh and our mosques, too, will be stormed, said Imran. Communal forces need to be struck down strongly, and that will only happen if we unite behind the secular force, added Maulana Qazmi, the imam of Calcuttas Nakhoda Masjid. In 2006, minority MLAs numbered 43 in the Assembly, whereas the number rose to 57 in Trinamuls first term, long before they were attacked by opponents for allegedly playing to the minority vote bank. The number of minority MLAs rose to 59 in Trinamuls current term at government, of which 32 were from their own party. According to the 2011 census, Muslims constitute about a third of the states electorate. In districts such as Murshidabad, Malda and North Dinajpur, the minority community holds the decisive sway over electoral outcomes. It is really painful to imagine when the CPIM) leadership would come to realise its mistakes. They ought to make out the reason for Amit Shah consistently camping in the state. Obviously for him the stakes are high and he does not want to take any chance. Amit Shah is managing the BJPs election there even as there is a general secretary in-charge. He is leading the BJPs charge in the state. Even Congress chief ministers and central ministers have campaigned in state elections but never have they held the formal responsibility of managing elections. BJP national president J.P Nadda on Saturday collected ek mutho chaal (a fistful of rice) from farmers to launch a party programme to woo them with an eye on the Assembly polls amid the ongoing farmer protests in Delhi. Launching the farmers outreach programme, Nadda defended the farm laws saying that they were aimed at ensuring freedom for the farmers before explaining the ek mutho chaal event at a public rally at Katwa in East Burdwan. BJP workers will visit farmers houses, ask for a fistful of rice and take a pledge to protect their interest. The programme will continue till January 24. BJP workers will visit 40,000 villages in Bengal. After this, BJP workers will observe Krishak Bhoj (lunch with farmers) till January 31 and tell them what injustice is being done to farmers in Bengal, said Nadda making it clear that the BJP was trying to win over the 72-lakh-odd farmers in Bengal.He also used the occasion to launch an attack on the Mamata Banerjee government for delaying the rollout of the PM-Kisan scheme in Bengal. Left-Congress pitch their alliance as alternative to TMC and BJP. The fact nevertheless remains it is a utopian claim. The alliance cannot be an alternative to the TMC. The contours of the alliance from seat distribution to a common agenda or manifesto are still to be worked out, but its leaders nurse the hope that voters will view it as a third option to the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the BJP in the state. Do they really take the Bengali voters so naive? Do they really believe that in a state where polarisation of electoral politics is taking place fast into a direct contest between the TMC and BJP, their alliance will have any space. The emerging political situation in West Bengal will only encourage multi-polarity. Left-Congress are free to pursue their lines, but rejection of communalism will prove to be disastrous for them too. A fortnight back Amartya Sen had said that the Left and other secular parties in West Bengal have no less commitment than the ruling TMC to ensuring that communalism does not rear its ugly head in the state. But it appears that this has not been taken in right spirit by the Left leaders. Senhad also said "Secular parties can differ in their detailed programmes, but the importance of rejecting communalism must surely be a strong shared value. The Left parties should have no less a commitment to that than the TMC (in keeping the state secular)". "Each party may have a good reason to pursue its own goals without harming the overarching objective of keeping Bengal secular and non-communal. First things should surely come first. Otherwise, we shall not be worthy heirs of Tagore and Netaji," he said. "Rabindranath Tagore, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar and Swami Vivekananda, all wanted and argued for a united Bengali culture, and there is no room in their social objective for trying to excite one community against another.That is the Bengali culture that we have come to admire and support. Kazi Nazrul Islam is as big a Bengali leader as the others. Bengal has greatly suffered from communalism in the past and has learned to reject it firmly," the Nobel laureate said. [January 22, 2021] Media Alert: Wolters Kluwer Lien Solutions Cites AI and Analytics as Key to Commercial Lending Success Technology advances, combined with the current economic downturn, are prompting commercial mortgage lenders and brokers to increasingly embrace newer technologies and the latest data analytics capabilities to more effectively compete against non-traditional lenders, manage risk, and grow their businesses. That's according to Wolters Kluwer Lien Solutions, writing in a new thought leadership piece. "Although there are many noteworthy technologies impacting commercial mortgage lending, none may be more important than the AI- and machine learning-based insights that allow financial institutions to transform their businesses and succeed in a rapidly changing market," writes Nasser Ansari, Director of Product Management for Wolters Kluwer Lien Solutions, in the January issue of Scotsman Guide's Commercial Edition. The publication has been covering financial developments for more than 25 years and hundreds of thousands of mortgage professionals rely on its insights to make profitable business decisions. "Machine learning and other technological advances have allowed detailed data in user-friendly formats to be more readily available to commercial mortgage professionals. What the COVID-19 pandemic is teaching us is that mortgage brokers need to take greater advantage of this data to make sound decisions amid exceptional levels of economic and market uncertainty." Today's technology not only massively expands the capabilities to conduct targeted consumer data collection, he writes, but enables critical analysis that yields important insights on one's target audience and can serve as a market differentiator. "The internet, mobile applications and social media, for example, are creating an unprecedented amount of data on consumer behavor. This offers a much richer dataset for financial institutions to use for their 'know your customer' initiatives," Ansari writes. "Secondly, modern IT infrastructure enables lenders to aggregate large amounts of data in a timely and cost-efficient manner. Data is no longer locked up in functional silos. This data can give enterprising lenders an enriched behavioral understanding of their customers, resulting in more cross-selling and up-selling opportunities," Nasser writes. "Big-data platforms and analytics are enabling companies to identify patterns in the data that were not previously possible. These analytics-based insights are hugely successful in providing the right experience to the right target consumer. The ability to identify the patterns (either positive or negative) leads to uncovering deeper customer insights, making better decisions and generating more profits," he concludes. Wolters Kluwer Lien Solutions, part of the Wolters Kluwer's Governance, Risk & Compliance (GRC) division, provides comprehensive lien management, debtor due diligence, monitoring, and risk management solutions to financial professionals. Its iLien suite of products provides solutions for asset-backed loan, real-estate and vehicle title processing and management to help reduce complexity in lien lifecycle management and promote more confident lending decisions. Wolters Kluwer's GRC division provides an array of expert solutions to help U.S. financial institutions manage regulatory and risk obligations. Lien Solutions' UCC Manage solution enables lenders to manage and address risks in their entire UCC lien portfolio with analytics, visibility and automation. iLien Motor Vehicle provides for the processing and management of motor vehicle titles and liens, helping solve the most unique and complicated challenges in title perfection. Wolters Kluwer Compliance Solutions' Paycheck Protection Program Supported by TSoftPlus, meanwhile, helps U.S. lenders' small business customers access critical stimulus funding. About Wolters Kluwer Governance, Risk & Compliance Governance, Risk & Compliance is a division of Wolters Kluwer, which provides legal and banking professionals with solutions to help ensure compliance with ever-changing regulatory and legal obligations, manage risk, increase efficiency, and produce better business outcomes. GRC offers a portfolio of technology-enabled expert services and solutions focused on legal entity compliance, legal operations management, banking product compliance, and banking regulatory compliance. Wolters Kluwer (AEX: WKL) is a global leader in information services and solutions for professionals in the health, tax and accounting, risk and compliance, finance and legal sectors. Wolters Kluwer reported 2019 annual revenues of 4.6 billion. The company, headquartered in Alphen aan den Rijn, the Netherlands, serves customers in over 180 countries, maintains operations in over 40 countries and employs 19,000 people worldwide. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210122005237/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] LG Electronics has been making headlines with reports that the company plans to exit the smartphone business. The latest development involves a Vietnamese conglomerate, which is reportedly in talks of buying the smartphone business from LG Electronics. According to BusinessKorea, Vietnams Vingroup Co has put the most attractive offer to buy LGs smartphone business. The company accounts for 14% of the market capitalization of listed Vietnamese companies. It has a diverse portfolio of businesses with hands in various industries including hotels, real estate, distribution, cars, smartphones, and land development. The company already produces smartphones for LG under ODM contract and is the top third smartphone manufacturer in Vietnam behind Oppo and Samsung. LG Wing According to the report, Vingroup Co is interested in taking over LGs smartphone business in the US and an acquisition would push Vingroup Co to a global presence. LG is reportedly interested in selling its smartphone business piece by piece as selling off the entire thing would prove to be very difficult. Recently, LG sent an internal memo that foreshadowed imminent major changes to the mobile division including sale, withdrawal, and downsizing of the smartphone business. This does not bode well for the companys recently teased LG Rollable with marketing date set for this year. The LG Rollable s future is now uncertain with this weeks news. Source The country could be in lockdown for another six weeks under plans being considered by the Government as the more infectious UK strain of Covid-19 takes a stronger grip. Ahead of a Cabinet Committee on Covid-19 next week it has emerged ministers are considering an extension of the highest level of coronavirus regulations until just before St Patricks Day. It comes as chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan warned last night the UK strain, which is easier to catch, is now at 60pc of cases and growing. Worryingly, the spread of Covid-19 has also surged in nursing homes and other long-term care centres in the last three weeks to levels not seen since the first wave last March and April. Read More Up to January 19 there were 483 deaths and of those 55 were linked to outbreaks in hospital settings and another 155 to outbreaks in residential facilities, of whom 139 were residents of nursing homes. Such a move by Government would mean non-essential retail will remain closed and household visits will continue to be banned until into the second week of March. Ministers will examine reopening schools and construction but all other aspects of the economy and society are expected to remain closed until March at the earliest. One Government source suggested schools may not have fully returned before that date. It comes as Northern Ireland announced plans to extend their national lockdown until March 5. Three senior Government sources said ministers will next week consider extending the lockdown for between four and six weeks. The three well-placed sources said the Government was leaning towards six rather than four weeks of Level 5 restrictions. However, a fourth Government source involved in the discussion said they expected restrictions to be extended for another four weeks beyond January 31. The Cabinet Committee on Covid-19 will meet on Monday ahead of a full Cabinet meeting on Tuesday. There is concern in Government about giving the public any indication of when restrictions will be finally eased as people tend to change their behaviour in the weeks before a lockdown ends. Read More It is believed the public stopped adhering to public health restrictions in mid-November ahead of regulations being eased in December. There is also a reluctance to take any more risks with restrictions after the massive outbreak of new cases after regulations were eased before Christmas. Tanaiste Leo Varadkar said the Government was nowhere near ready to start easing restrictions as the virus was still rampant in the community. Things are starting to fall slightly in terms of cases and hospitalisations but not at the pace we would like, Mr Varadkar told the Dail. Details of the extension of the third national lockdown come as 2,608 new cases of Covid-19 were reported along with 51 deaths. Dr Holohan warned that the existing measures are working in terms of control of transmission but we need to see them working for a much longer period of time. Professor Philip Nolan, who tracks the virus, said when the new UK variant becomes dominant it will add to the R number and it will be slightly more difficult to maintain the levels of transmission we are seeing now. Prof Nolan said levels of infection had fallen in all age groups except in people over 65 but it is growing among those over 85 which will lead to significant deaths. Health officials warned last night that the level of infection is still extremely high and 10 times higher than it was at the beginning of December. The number of deaths this month has now risen to 532 and Dr Holohan said he still predicts there could be up to 1,000 deaths from the virus this month. The R number, which indicates how fast the virus is spreading, is at 0.5 to 0.8 and it needs to be kept under 1. Hospitals which are continuing to struggle with 1,943 Covid-19 patients, 214 of whom are in intensive care, are having to rely more on surge beds. Asked about the reopening of schools in February Dr Holohan said education and health service continued to be priorities and the National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet) had given advice to Government. While we know we have made substantial progress relative to where we were in the late days of December and early January, we are nowhere near close to where we need to be," he said. Referring to reopening of schools he said: We want to see us being able to restore that as soon as possible but we have more progress to make. The Chicago Tribune has this new extended article details the status of expungement efforts in Illinois, and its full headline captures its themes: "Pot legalization was to bring expungements to many with records in Illinois. Numbers so far are low, but more are expected to be on the way." Here are excerpts: Marijuana legalization in Illinois came with grand plans for wiping clean many criminal records involving cannabis. That aspect of the law was so important that on the eve of legalization on Jan. 1, 2020, Gov. J.B. Pritzker pardoned more than 11,000 people of low-level marijuana convictions. Yet more than 700,000 cases could qualify for expungement, a process in which police and court records of arrests and convictions are cleared. The process is crucial to giving people with such records a better chance at getting a job, an education and a place to live. Now, almost one year after legalization took effect, few of those cannabis cases have been cleared. But officials say more expungements are on the way. Under the legalization legislation, Illinois State Police were tasked with identifying by Jan. 1, 2021, those cases that occurred since 2013 that could be expunged automatically. That amounts to some 47,000 cases, Toi Hutchinson, Gov. J.B. Pritzkers senior adviser on cannabis, said. With the deadline just days away, state police said they would make an announcement about those expungements soon. In Cook County, States Attorney Kim Foxx worked with a nonprofit tech company called Code for America to identify and clear 2,200 cases early this year. But during the COVID shutdown of courts, that process was delayed for months. Now, prosecutors there plan to expunge another 11,000 cases early in 2021. McHenry County States Attorney Patrick Kenneally also went to court to get about 1,900 cases expunged early in 2020. But in general, other counties have not taken such initiative. Some are still waiting for state police to identify which cases are eligible. Lake County, for instance, the states attorneys office knew of only two requests to vacate and expunge records, both of which were granted. As a result, many people are still paying the price for having small amounts of marijuana that customers now buy routinely at pot shops. On the production side, licensed cannabis companies are churning out tons of the plant, amounts that previously could have earned life sentences in prison. Now, after months of delays in the process, in part because of the pandemic, advocates are trying to reboot parts of the states plan to clear convictions. While only misdemeanor and the lowest level felony cases are eligible for automatic expungement, there remain an estimated 71,000 cases involving larger amounts of cannabis that dont qualify for automatic expungement but are eligible to be cleared in court, advocates say. Yet very few individuals have come forward seeking to clear their records, advocates say. They blame lack of familiarity with the process by the public, courts and court clerks. In response, a program called New Leaf is seeking to get people with pot convictions to come forward and get their slates wiped clean. New Leaf brings together 20 nonprofit organizations to help people get through the sometimes difficult process, which can take months or years. The program is being led by Illinois Legal Aid Online, which has step-by-step instructions for people to take part. The effort is being funded by taxpayers through the nonprofit Illinois Equal Justice Foundation. 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. KALAMAZOO, MI -- A rolling gun battle involving two vehicles led to two injuries, including one person injured when a bullet entered a residence just off the Western Michigan University campus. The shooting was reported about 2:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 21 at 700 SoHo apartments, just across Howard Street from the WMU campus. Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety officers said witnesses reported seeing shots fired between occupants of two vehicles. Police said gunfire appeared to have struck a residence, pierced a wall and struck a person inside. The persons injury was not life-threatening. Officers did not specifically say the injured person was in an apartment, although rescue crews were told to respond to a second-floor apartment to treat the person. Police said a second injured person showed up at a local hospital, also with an injury not considered life-threatening. Investigators did not say whether the second person was injured while in one of the two vehicles or somewhere else. WMU Public Safety officers earlier Thursday, in a social media post about 4:30 p.m., believed only one person was injured at that time. Kalamazoo Public Safety officers later updated the investigation and included information about the second injury. More from MLive Lawsuits target EPA lead rule, say pipe removals given too much time Suspected Michigan militia leader to plea in Gov. Whitmer kidnap plot, records show Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. FAIRFIELD Students at McKinley Elementary School were greeted with positive messages and art in sidewalk chalk on their first day back this week a stark contrast to the graffiti found there the week before. The drawings came after the sidewalk of the school was vandalized with spray paint last week. Police said the grafitti read United States of China on the sidewalk, and are still investigating the incident. Police are still investigating as members of the community band together to beautify the sidewalk. Following that situation last week, they approached me and they felt a need to give something back, said Teresa Gingrave, the schools principal. Almost to counteract what had happened. The group included Fairfield Warde Voices for Equity, the Fairfield Ludlowe Youth for Equity, parents, teachers and Beloved Community, which is a group from Fairfield Woods Middle School. The suggestion was, on Martin Luther King Day, which is very symbolic, they come to McKinley with a group of folks and teens and do some chalk art with positive messages as a surprise for the students and staff coming in on Tuesday, she said. Tuesday was the schools first day back in-person. Gingrave said that made it like a new day, adding the positive messages written in chalk were centered around kindness, acceptance and unity. She said it came at a divisive time in the country, in which the climate may not be the healthiest it has been. It certainly was a breath of fresh air to walk into the campus on Tuesday morning, following Martin Luther King Day and be confronted with an amazing work of art, she said. Its really what our children need to be exposed to. Margaret Capron, an art teacher from Fairfield Warde High School, was one of the organizers of the event, which she said took place for about an hour on Monday afternoon. I lead the National Art Honor Society at Warde High School, she said. So, I invited those members to join as well. Capron said community members and elected officials, such as Selectwoman Nancy Lefkowitz and state Rep. Cristin McCarthy Vahey, came to the event as well. She estimates about 100 people came throughout the event. We had an ongoing turnaround of people coming and leaving beautiful messages, she said. We wanted to do it the day before they came back to school because we were surprising the students. Given that a motto at McKinley Elementary is We are Family, Capron said much of the art revolved around family and love. She said people left quotes by Martin Luther King Jr., as well as drawings of the school mascot: a dolphin. There were a lot of students there who actually went to McKinley themselves when they were younger, Capron said. They wanted to make sure they were there to make a difference too. It was so lovely. At McKinley, Gingrave said, faculty have a lot of discussions with students about what it means to be a safe, respectful and thoughtful member of the school and Fairfield community. The messages of the art that volunteers put on the sidewalk, she said, fall in line with the schools core values. It was just a really nice gesture that was positive and provided us with the impetus for a lot of good dialogues in the classroom, Gingrave said. Students had a chance in morning meetings to talk about the art that they saw and the messages they read. It put us in a good place as we started bringing both cohorts together. Gingrave said she was taken aback by all the people that came out to work on the project, adding the support was amazing. There may be negative things that happen, but theres 100 other positive acts of kindness that constantly counteract it, she said. Thats a good place to be. joshua.labella@hearstmediact.com A pro-independence supporter displays a placard at a rally calling for Scottish independence in Glasgow in 2019 - ANDY BUCHANAN/AFP A judge has been urged to rule on whether Holyrood can unilaterally hold an independence referendum so that voters do not have to trust what may turn out to be SNP bluff and bluster. In a landmark case, the Court of Session has been asked to issue an declarator stating that the Scottish Parliament has the power to call a new vote on separation without the permission of UK ministers. Experts are generally of the view that Westminster's permission would be required to hold a legal vote - with the constitution explicitly reserved under the Scotland Act - although the matter has not been tested in court. The case has been brought by Martin Keatings, a pro-independence campaigner who raised around 230,000 in online donations, amid growing frustration from grassroots activists at Nicola Sturgeons failure to deliver a new referendum. Aidan ONeill, representing Mr Keatings, told the court that voters were currently being asked to trust in a secret plan to secure a new referendum and that a ruling would ensure they were not "kept in the dark". This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. Ms Sturgeon is also facing growing anger from some independence supporters over her refusal to explain how she will secure a new referendum if Boris Johnson sticks to his word and refuses to grant permission. In a move that has further angered some activists, Scottish ministers have formally sided with the UK Government in opposing Mr Keatings case. He [Mr Keatings] has a right to legal certainty on this issue," Mr O'Neill said, at an online hearing on Thursday. "As an ordinary voter, he is being asked to cast his vote, and the current Scottish Government says one of the issues which they are going to make an election issue is their plan to introduce a Bill to legislate for independence. In order to know whether or not to vote for a party that claims it is going to do that, any informed voter has to know whether that claim can actually be carried out, or whether its just bluff and bluster. Story continues The idea that... we have a secret plan and you just vote for us because everything will be alright, thats not how democracy works. It does not work on keeping things obfuscated, obscure, denying reality. Nicola Sturgeon has twice failed to deliver a referendum she promised activists - ANDY BUCHANAN/AFP Arguing against the claim that the case should be thrown out because Mr Keatings does not have appropriate "standing", Mr O'Neill suggested the argument amounted to treating the public as "plebs". He instead compared his client to the anti-Brexit campaigner Gina Miller and said it was important that normal citizens had the right to engage in politics through the courts. Ms Sturgeon has twice abandoned timetables for holding a new independence vote. Her latest position is that one will be held early in the next Holyrood parliament if she secures a mandate in May. However, Mr Johnson has repeatedly said he will not agree to a Section 30 order, which David Cameron granted ahead of the 2014 referendum, to allow a new vote to legally take place. Ms Sturgeon has refused calls to embark on legal action to test whether Holyrood could hold a referendum on its own, arguing "it could set us back." However, activists have defied her calls for "patience" and a two-day hearing began on Thursday. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. Mr O'Neill called on the court to resolve the "active dispute" over the issue, pointing out that Ms Sturgeon had pledged to publish a draft referendum bill before the Holyrood elections. He said this suggested Scottish ministers believed they did have the power to hold a new referendum without UK Government permission, something Tory ministers strongly refute. Mr Keatings, a full-time carer, is standing as an independent candidate in Mid-Scotland and Fife in Mays elections. The court heard that his legal action has around 10,000 supporters. David Johnston, representing the Advocate General, the UK Government's law officer in Scotland, urged Lady Carmichael to dismiss the action. The problem with this action is it is in flagrant conflict with the statutory procedure, he said. This action is brought when there is no Act of the Scottish Parliament on whose legality the court can rule. "And it is brought by a person who does not have standing to invoke the procedures set out in the Scotland Act, and its also brought in the wrong court. Years ago when former U.S President Donald Trump placed a travel ban on people from several predominantly Muslim countries, Syrian refugee Mahmoud Mansour's dreams were shattered. "We were shocked when (Donald) Trump issued the order," he recalled. Mansour, who lives in Jordan, said he had built hopes and dreams on the prospect of being resettled to the U.S. When Trump imposed the travel ban in 2016, Mansour was left shocked and frustrated. His family were among those shut out by the Trump administration four years ago after the government issued its travel ban barring people from Syria and suspending the refugee program for 120 days. They have been stuck in Jordan since 2012. With President Joe Biden in charge, Mansour says he is starting to feel optimistic. A raft of executive orders signed Wednesday undoes many of Trump's hallmark initiatives, such as lifting a travel ban on people from several predominantly Muslim countries. Mansour said Biden sent a strong message that the United States is ready to restore its humanitarian policies by lifting the travel ban on his first day in office on Wednesday. Mansour said his family had completed the procedures to go to the United States before their case was abruptly halted in 2017. He hopes now that his family will finally be reunited in the United States. Mansour said he would not be a burden on the country because he plans to be part of the workforce, if he gets to be resettled to the U.S. He called on the U.S. administration to be "merciful towards us as migrants or asylum seekers." Image:AP (Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com) 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. A day after President Joe Biden's inauguration went off with only a handful of minor arrests and incidents, more than 15,000 National Guard members are preparing to leave Washington, DC and head home. The National Guard Bureau said on Thursday that of the nearly 26,000 Guard troops deployed to DC for the inaugural, just 10,600 remain on duty. The bureau said the Guard is helping states with coordination and the logistics so that troops can get home. Thousands of Guard troops from all across the country poured into DC by the planeload and busload late last week, in response to escalating security threats and fears of more rioting. Military aircraft crowded the runways at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, carrying Guard members into the region in the wake of the deadly January 6 insurrection at the US Capitol. Guard forces were scattered around the city, helping to secure the Capitol, monuments, Metro entrances and the perimeter of central DC, which was largely locked down for several days leading up to Wednesday's inaugural ceremony. The US Secret Service announced that the special security event for the inauguration officially ended at noon on Thursday. The Guard said that it may take several days to make all the arrangements to return the 15,000 home, but it should be complete in five to 10 days. Guard members will have to turn in equipment, make travel plans and go through COVID-19 screening. Some local law enforcement agencies have asked for continued assistance from the Guard, so roughly 7,000 troops are expected to stay in the region through the end of the month. (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.) 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 January 22, 2021 " Information Clearing House " - In a position paper released January 12, the Israeli human rights group BTselem broke with its own tradition and stated unambiguously that the area comprising Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza Strip is an apartheid regime of Jewish supremacy. The significance of this paper cannot be overstated. BTselems status as a leading human rights organization is unassailable (disclosure: I opened BTselems office in Washington in 2008 and worked for the organization for over two years). BTselems research is used by other human rights organizations and governments, including the United States, in developing reports on the human rights situation in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. BTselem has, since its inception in 1989, focused exclusively on the West Bank and Gaza, allowing other groups to address issues of discrimination within Israels internationally recognized borders, or to comment on Israels actions in other countries, such as Lebanon or Syria. One of the effects of that laser focus was to reinforce the view of a democratic Israel that was engaged in a military occupation, with attendant violations of international law and human rights norms. This new paper marks a sharp break with that long-held stance. BTselem makes it clear, stating, The Israeli regime, which controls all the territory between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea, seeks to advance and cement Jewish supremacy throughout the entire area. To that end, it has divided the area into several units, each with a different set of rights for Palestiniansalways inferior to the rights of Jews. As part of this policy, Palestinians are denied many rights, including the right to self-determination. No Advertising - No Government Grants - This Is Independent Media Get Our Free Newsletter As BTselems statement stresses, the definition of apartheid is not limited to the actions of the South African regime from which the term derives. According to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, The crime of apartheid means inhumane actscommitted in the context of an institutionalized regime of systematic oppression and domination by one racial group over any other racial group or groups and committed with the intention of maintaining that regime. Although it has been tendentiously argued by some defenders of Israel that neither Palestinians nor Israelis constitute a racial group, the United Nations has defined racial discrimination as any distinction, exclusion, restriction or preference based on race, colour, descent, or national or ethnic origin which has the purpose or effect of nullifying or impairing the recognition, enjoyment or exercise, on an equal footing, of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the political, economic, social, cultural or any other field of public life. Within the narrow confines of the West Bank, conditions clearly fit the definition of apartheid under international law, and they have since Israel began transferring its citizens there, setting up two separate and unequal legal systems for Israelis and Palestinians. But BTselem goes further, and takes the view, long espoused by many Palestinian and pro-Palestinian activists, that functionally there are degrees of discrimination, but discrimination happens throughout the area under Israeli control. BTselem makes a strong case, one that will be a difficult for the Biden administration to ignore. The organizations reputation, and its identity as an Israeli rights group, will make it more difficult for American leaders to dismiss the groups characterization. Nonetheless, it is likely that Bidens first inclination will be to ignore this change. There will certainly be attacks on both BTselems position and the organization itself, both within Israel and in the United States. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has in the past publicly attacked BTselem, and his ambassador to the United Nations called BTselems Executive Director Hagai El Ad a collaborator in response to El Ads testimony before that body in 2018. Such attacks are sure to be harsher now, and they will likely be echoed by Israels supporters in the United States, supporters who are very much a bipartisan group. Joe Biden and Kamala Harris both have personal attachments to Israel, as they have often pointed out. But their support is based, at least in part, on the image of Israel as a liberal democracy, a country of laws, and one that they see as comparable to their view of the United States, a flawed but liberal country struggling toward a more inclusive, less racist society. But many supporters of Palestinian rights see a very different Israel, especially today. Many of those who welcome BTselems new position are also saying, with some frustration, that they have been waiting for many years for such an obvious truth to be spoken by Israeli human rights activists. These groups include Palestinian human rights groups such as al-Haq, the al-Mezan Center for Human Rights, Badil and others, as well as Israeli groups such as Adalah and Yesh Din. BTselem explained why it decided to take this step now: Recent years have seen a rise in the motivation and willingness of Israeli officials and institutions to enshrine Jewish supremacy in law and openly state their intentions. The enactment of Basic Law: Israelthe Nation State of the Jewish People and the declared plan to formally annex parts of the West Bank have shattered the facade Israel worked for years to maintain. That shattered facade is something Biden and Harris are going to have to come to terms with, regardless of the pressure they will feel to continue defending Israeli policies, both from Israel advocacy groups and from within their own hearts. Thanks to BTselem, they will have to reckon with the reality that the country they and many of their supporters have admired for a long time has been labeled an apartheid state by the human rights community of its own citizenry. Biden could try to dismiss BTselem as a fringe group or as a bunch of radicals who arent representative of the Israeli people. Certainly, most of the Jewish population of Israel would not agree with BTselems characterization of their country. But he will have to explain why the US State Department relied for so many years on BTselem reports for its annual human rights evaluation of Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories. Hell have to explain why BTselem is seen the world over as a fair arbiter of human rights, and is respected by the United Nations and many other world bodies, and why it has long been seen as a credible source in the United States despite years of attacks by right-wing forces. Advocates for Palestinian rights should keep this statement front and center in the eyes of Biden, Harris, and incoming Secretary of State Antony Blinken. Republicans and many Democrats will try to dismiss BTselems position paper simply by saying that Israel is a democracy and cannot be called an apartheid state. But if US progressives defend the apartheid label placed on Israel by Israels own leading human rights organization, US policy toward Israel and the Palestinians can begin to move toward one based on equal rights for all the people in that conflicted area. Biden need not support BTselems conclusion, but he will have to accept that the group has the facts on its side. Whether he faces Netanyahu or a new, likely even more nationalistic prime minister, he must use BTselems declaration to make Israels government recognize that the apartheid label is going to stick as long as Israel continues to control millions of Palestinians and deny them their basic civil and human rights. Biden must make it clear to Netanyahu that if it wants to assure continued American support, Israel must not merely protest the use of the term apartheid, but must change its policies so the term is no longer applicable. Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-22 23:51:08|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close STOCKHOLM, Jan. 22 (Xinhua) -- The Swedish Public Health Agency said on Friday that people who have traveled to Brazil, UK and South Africa should be tested for COVID-19 and avoid contact with others when they return to Sweden. At a press conference on Friday, the Public Health Agency urged everyone who travels to Sweden after visiting the UK, South Africa or Brazil to stay at home for at least seven days and avoid contact with others as much as possible, and to test themselves as soon as possible, with a follow-up test five days after their arrival in Sweden. The rest of the household are also asked to stay home waiting for test results. The new recommendations came after the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) published on Thursday a new risk assessment regarding new variants of the coronavirus that causes COVID-19. According to the ECDC assessment report, the probability of the introduction and community spread of variants of concern in the European Union and European Economic Area are "very high" due to their increased transmissibility, which is likely to lead to an increased number of infections. This, in turn, is likely to lead to higher hospitalization and death rates across all age-groups, but particularly for those in older age groups or with co-morbidities, said the report. "Therefore, the impact of introduction and community spread is considered to be high. The overall risk associated with the introduction and community spread of variants of concern is therefore assessed as being high/very high," the report added. Latest statistics from the Public Health Agency showed that 84 new deaths have been registered since Thursday, bringing the toll caused by COVID-19 to 11,005 in Sweden. Meanwhile, 4,214 new confirmed cases have been reported since Thursday, taking the total of infected cases to 547,166. As the world is struggling to contain the pandemic, vaccination is underway in Sweden and other countries with the already-authorized COVID-19 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. Enditem 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. Here are some of the best tips, tricks, and takeaways for R users from this year's rstudio::global(2021) virtual conference: Speed up your R code The new xrprof package builds on code profiling (performance measuring) offered by base R's Rprof() with these added features: It can run on a remote server, not just locally, allowing you to see what's happening in your production environment; It can see bottlenecks in C/C++ code, not just R code -- especially useful for R package developers using C or C++. And, it's a drop-in replacement for the ecosystem of Rprof() add-on tools, said author Aaron Jacobs, senior data scientist at Crescendo. This project was funded in part by the R Consortium. Customize your R data visualizations The thematic package lets you customize plot defaults for ggplot2, lattice, and base R graphics. It works within RStudio, R Markdown documents, and Shiny apps. thematic dataviz code might look something like this: thematic_on(bg = "#222222", fg = "white", accent = "#0CE3AC", font = "Oxanium") before running a plot. The package includes support for Google fonts. Improve your R Markdown docs & Shiny apps Customize design The bslib package aims to make it easier to create custom themes for Shiny apps and R Markdown documents. It should be on CRAN soon, but meanwhile it's available to install via remotes::install_github("rstudio/bslib") , according to RStudio's Thomas Mock. This is a successor to the older bootstraplib package. There are a number of other packages that can help you create more compelling Shiny user interfaces. At a pre-conference workshop, Dominik Krzeminski with the Shiny consulting firm Appsilon shared some of his favorites: ShinyJS - generate JavaScript UI actions such as showing and hiding components, but with R code ShinyWidgets - access additional input widgets beyond what's built into Shiny ShinyCSSLoaders - add animations while data loads or plots are rendering bs4Dash - build a version of Shiny dashboards using Bootstrap version 4 shinyMobile - create mobile and desktop Shiny apps using Framework7 as the underpinning shiny.semantic - take advantage of the Fomantic UI development framework (a branch of SemanticUI) to polish your app's look and feel In addition to shiny.semantic, Appsilon has created several more open-source Shiny extensions. You can see the complete offering at shiny.tools. Appsilon announced that two more are on the way: shiny.fluent, a UI framework that lets you use Microsoft Fluent UI frameworks in Shiny; and shiny.react, designed to make React JavaScript libraries easy to use in Shiny. What would a Shiny app look like with a Microsoft Fluent HI? You can see a demo here: https://demo.appsilon.ai/apps/fluentui/ And, Appsilon said they will make some of their Shiny look-and-feel templates and layouts available to the R community. Some will be free, others will be paid/premium. Want yet more ideas to up your Shiny game?? The Shiny Awesome GitHub repository lists a lot more Shiny exensions. Boost Shiny performance New in Shiny 1.6: bindCache() , which can cache values for Shiny inputs, plots (including plotly plots), and text. For now, you'll need to install the development version of Shiny to get this functionality: remotes::install_github("rstudio/shiny") There's fairly extensive bindCache() documentation, which you can see by running ?bindCache . Using the function looks pretty straightforward, at least according to demo code shown by RStudio's Winston Chang: reactive(...) %>% bindCache(input$city) renderPlot(...) %>% bindCache(input$city) That cache function came out of work RStudio did with the state of California, so an early version of California's Covid-19 dashboard could scale up for an expected 100,000 simultaneous users, Chang said. Other Shiny performance tips: Use update functions when creating dynamic input widgets, such as updateSelectInput() #UI radioButtons("state", label ="Select State", choices = c("CA", "NY")), selectInput("city", "Select city:", choices = c("")) ) #Server observe({ if(input$state == "CA") { updateSelectInput(session, "city", "California", choices = c("Sacramento", "Los Angeles", "San Francisco")) } else if(input$state == "NY") { updateSelectInput(session, "city", "New York", choices = c("Boston", "Worcester")) } else { updateSelectInput(session, "city", choices = c("")) } }) Use proxy functions if available for rendering more complex widgets, such as the DT package's dataTableProxy() . You can create your own custom messages similar to proxy functions if there isn't one available for the widgets you're working with, Pedro Coutinho Silva at Appsilon advised. Understand how long you can depend on a tidyverse function Few things last forever -- and code is no exception. In fact, RStudio Chief Scientist Hadley Wickham suggested developers view their code more like a smoke alarm, which needs occasional maintenance and less frequent replacement, as opposed to a monument that can be expected to last for decades. The popular tidyverse ecosystem of R packages views packages and functions this way. However, that can cause complications for developers who depend on that code for their own projects. So, Wickham said, RStudio aims to offer transparency on how long its code will be available without breaking changes. tidyverse lifecycle is a bit of a complex subject, Wickham added -- in fact, there's a whole R package devoted to explaining it, called lifecycle. In a nutshell, there are four key life stages for tidyverse code: experimental - likely to change or disappear, use at your own risk for production but do try it out and offer feedback; stable ; superseded - they've found something better and will recommend a new way, but the old way will be still be available; and deprecated - this generates a warning that the function will likely go away soon in a future package version. If you don't want to maintain and update your code but need or want it to be static, Wickham said, you can use the renv package. That creates a snapshot of R and package versions your code depends upon. Or, you can use a CRAN "time capsule" such as Microsoft's MRAN or RStudio Package Manager (as long as your only dependencies are CRAN packages). Exchange data with others - including Python and JavaScript users The pins pkg aims to make it easy to push and pull data between your local machine and services such as AWS, GitHub & Kaggle. There's also a function to search for data sets. Now, the new pinsjs project offers the same functionality to JavaScript and Python, project lead Javier Luraschi said. More info: pinjs https://pinsjs.github.io/pinsjs/ pins: https://pins.rstudio.com Next year's conference RStudio is planning for an in-person conference next year, March 7-10, 2022 in Orlando, Florida. A man charged with shooting and killing a police officer on Cape Cod, Massachusetts in 2018 has lost his bid to move his trial off the popular summer destination. The Cape Cod Times reports a judge recently ruled the murder trial of Thomas Latanowich will be held this summer in Barnstable Superior Court. Latanowichs attorney had argued that extensive local media coverage of the case created an overwhelmingly negative community sentiment toward his client, making it impossible to sit an impartial jury on the cape. But Cape and Islands Assistant District Attorney Michael Trudeau argued against moving the trial to a different jurisdiction, saying media coverage has significantly decreased since the shooting. Latanowich has been charged in the April 2018 shooting of Yarmouth K-9 Officer Sean Gannon. Gannon, 32, was killed while he and other officers were serving an arrest warrant at a Barnstable home. Gannons dog was also shot, but survived. On one side of the aisle, the usher explained, were ex-Dresdeners who had for one reason or another fled before the war. This was their first visit back. On the other side, with assorted attentive carers, sat a line of frail old men. They, whispered the young usher, were ex-Allied airmen who, almost to the day 60 years before, had flown the planes that bombed Dresden. The scene I can't un-see Johanna Ter Steege in George Sluizer's The Vanishing. Spoiler alert: film-wise I don't enjoy suspense. I like happy endings. So what if that makes me a dag? But my partner recommended I go and see the original Dutch version of The Vanishing. Basically, two young people stop at a petrol station where the girl disappears, and for the rest of the film we follow her boyfriend as he frantically searches for her. While I admit The Vanishing is a terrific flick, sitting through it for me was beyond unsettling. It was ultimately an anxiety-provoking nightmare. In the near-final scene, the protagonist has entered into an arrangement whereby he has been assured he will discover what has happened to his girlfriend. This leads to the scene I can't un-see. He wakes in the dark and on lighting a match he and we realise that he's actually in a coffin buried alive. And when the match goes out the air has run out. A minor mystery is why I stayed, and watched it from start to finish? Was I too stunned to move or did I need a lift home? I think I naively expected a happy ending. There wasn't one. The music that comes closest to perfection My musical tastes are all over the place. I love the Benny Goodman quartet, and the jazz piano of Teddy Wilson and Oscar Peterson, the contemplative choral masterpieces of the 11th-century abbess Hildegard of Bingen and Kings College Cambridge singing Allegri's Miserere. How to choose between my favourite swoon-making pieces by Handel, Bach, Schubert, Chopin, Beethoven, Purcell and Luigi Boccherini? But then, there is Mozart. If I had to choose just one piece, it would be the adagio from his Clarinet Concerto. Completed in 1791 less than two months before the composer's death aged 35, the Clarinet Concerto was Mozart's last instrumental work. The serene second movement offers seven minutes of exquisite musical perfection. Listen. The building that most amazed you The Austrian National Library. Half-crazed with jetlag after crossing the world, I dumped my suitcase at my hotel in Vienna and went straight to the Oesterreichische Nationalbibliothek. Unfortunately, it was just on closing time and the doors were open only for those who were leaving. I admit I could have gone back in the morning, but after what felt like a week in the air I couldn't wait. Miraculously I was allowed in to this marvel of a building and, better still, was able to wander about on my own. I'd read that the State Hall of the Austrian National Library, built between 1723 and 1726 is one of the world's largest and most beautiful historic libraries and it is. It's all true. The biggest Baroque library in Europe, the building while plain on the outside has a dramatic interior which is an absolute gem of secular 18th-century architecture. I went back a few more times during my stay but never had it to myself. The song that comes closest to perfection Choosing 20 or even 40 songs which for me come close to perfection would be an easier task than just picking one. They would range from Ella Fitzgerald singing I Love Paris and Aretha Franklin's I Say a Little Prayer to Paul McCartney's Yesterday. In fact, there'd be lots of Beatles, a Nina Simone, and a Peggy Lee finger-clicker, definitely a Nat King Cole and for charm Fred Astaire singing Let's Call the Whole Thing Off. And the beautiful Morgen by Richard Strauss. Where would I stop? However, if I only have one call I'll go for early Frank Sinatra. At his peak I think Frank is tops. And my favourite, originally released in 1949, is him singing One For My Baby (and One More For The Road). Poignant and brooding, I think this is Frank at his melancholic best. Wonderful music and lyrics by Johnny Mercer and Harold Arlen, delivered to heartfelt perfection. The artwork that most affected you The Third of May 1808 by Francisco Goya The Third of May 1808: The Execution of the Defenders of Madrid by Francisco Goya. Through reproductions in books I've been familiar with and have admired this painting since art school days. It depicts a night-time execution scene. A long line of rebels are about to be executed by Napoleonic troops after the Spanish uprising against French occupying forces in Madrid. When I saw it in the flesh, so to speak, in 2019 at The Prado in Madrid, it was quite affecting. It's a powerful and very beautiful painting in spite of the harrowing subject matter. Being able at last to get up as close as allowable to admire Goya's superb technique, to pore over his original brush marks rather than a reproduction in a book, was a sobering experience. The cinema experience you'll never forget Many years ago, even though he knew I didn't like horror films, a friend insisted that we see Count Yorga, Vampire. During a particularly suspenseful scene I was perched like a terrified frog on my seat. Suddenly, out of the dark, with movie screen-sized fangs lit by moonlight, the count raced open-mouthed towards an unsuspecting innocent walking along a jetty. As he sank his fangs into the hapless victim I sprang in fright onto the back of the woman sitting in front, instinctively throwing my arms around her neck so as to stabilise my fall. I assume she misread my motives, for she shrieked and fled. I saw no more of Count Yorga, Vampire. While on the floor, disentangling myself from between the seats, a torch flashed in my face and I was ordered out. Hobbs in his home studio. Credit:Simon Schluter The book that changed the way you saw the world As a child I was never afraid of the dark. Night-time was when my father sat on the bed and read me stories. And on the other side of the dark was the world those stories conjured up in my imagination. When I was about six he read me Treasure Island. As he did, I just assumed I needed no convincing that out there living their life simultaneously to mine was Jim Hawkins, one-legged cook Long John Silver, Captain Flint and assorted buccaneers with their pirate ships, parrots, tropical islands, sea chests and maps marked with an X for buried treasure. And not forgetting that scary Black Spot. My edition also had lovely illustrations, which meant I was able to visualise the story in marvellous detail. Words and pictures. With all that excitement it's a wonder I slept at all. Back then as a kid I had no real idea of "time" in a historical sense, but I suspect that Treasure Island may have helped foster a lifelong fascination with it. The place you always return to Mr Chicken atop Nelson's Column in Trafalgar Square, in Hobbs' beloved London. Credit:Leigh Hobbs As exasperating a city as it can sometimes be, London is the place I am most drawn to, almost compulsively. It may not be beautiful like Paris, or marvellous in quite the dramatic way that Rome unquestionably is. London doesn't have a Pantheon, Colosseum or Piazza del Popolo. And yet as wonderful as those places unquestionably are, nowhere drags me back like London does. There's a surface logic for this. I'm interested in art and classical music and am an architecture and English history enthusiast. I can seek all that and I determinedly find it in London. Hezhe people, one of the smallest ethnic minority groups in China, are now embracing prosperity as they keep alive their culture and heritage. People of Hezhe (which means "people in the east" in the local language) ethnic group in China lived on fishing and hunting for several thousand years and have inhabited areas along the Heilongjiang River, Songhua River and Wusuli River in northeast China. Jiejinkou Hezhe township in Tongjiang city, northeast China's Heilongjiang province, is one of the three existing ethnic townships of the Hezhe people in China. You Wenfeng, a resident in the township as well as an inheritor of the craft of making fish-skin clothes, always introduces the craft to visitors in details passionately. As the only inheritor of the intangible cultural heritage, the woman in her late sixties considers it her mission to bring the traditional skill of Hezhe to more people. She has lent most of the fish-skin clothes she made to museums for exhibition, and now has two pieces left at home, according to her. "The skill of making fish-skin clothes has been passed down for generations in our ethnic group," said You, adding that she learnt the technique from her mother. Basically all Hezhe women in her mothers generation could make clothes from fish skin, according to You. However, as Hezhe people no longer depend on fishing or hunting for their livelihood, fewer people wear fish-skin clothes. "If too few people can make fish-skin clothes, the traditional technique would become extinct," You said. Worrying about the inheriting of the intangible cultural heritage, she started to teach residents in her township the traditional craft. As time went by, people started to visit her from outside the township to learn the skill. She has also been invited to introduce and teach the technique in classes held in cultural promotion centers in Tongjiang city. Her students include both people of Hezhe ethnic group and Han people who are interested in the fish-skin clothes making technique. As more and more people, with their ages ranging from 20 to 60, have started to learn about making fish-skin clothes in recent years, the traditional craft of Hezhe has been introduced to various areas of the country. Liu Lei, a woman of Hezhe ethnic group and also the only deputy of the ethnic group to the National People's Congress (NPC) of China, has tried to promote the skill of making fish-skin clothes in front of the cameras during the annual sessions of the NPC and the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee every year since she became a deputy to the NPC in 2008, when she was only 23. She always attends the important annual sessions, which are normally held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, in Hezhe ethnic clothes with fish skin elements, including waistcoats and hats. During the two sessions in 2016, she showed a wallet and accessories made from fish skin in front of reporters, introducing Hezhe peoples special technique to more people. Hezhe ethnic group has a population of merely 5,000 or so, and the language of Hezhe people has been passed down only by word of mouth because they have no written language, said Liu, who pointed out that many items in the Hezhe ethnic culture that Hezhe people are so proud of are dying out, such as fish-skin clothes and Yimakan storytelling, an oral art in the form of singing and speaking aimed to showcase the history, legends and customs of Hezhe ethnic group. In the past years, she has submitted many motions concerning the protection and inheriting of Hezhe culture as a deputy to the NPC. "I'm very touched that the central and local governments have both provided strong support in our efforts to preserve our culture by rolling out favorable policies and allocating funds," Liu noted. As Hezhe ethnic group doesnt have its own characters, Yimakan storytelling, which symbolizes the history and culture of the ethnic group, has run into difficulty while being passed down. In 2006, Yimakan storytelling was listed in the first batch of national-level intangible cultural heritage in China. Five years later, it was inscribed on the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). "At the end of 2012, Jiejinkou Hezhe township established a Yimakan teaching and learning station to explore the traditional culture of Hezhe and invite inheritors of Yimakan and other intangible cultural heritage to give lessons," Wu Baoli, head of the station, told People's Daily. The township has also set up an art troupe to create and perform Yimakan and other song and dance shows of the ethnic group. "We have seen a growing consensus on protecting and inheriting the culture of Hezhe ethnic group," said Liu, who believes that preserving the culture of Hezhe people equals sustaining the roots and spirits of the ethnic group. Analysis: The climate papers most featured in the media in 2020 Posted on 22 January 2021 by Guest Author This article, guest authored by Robert Sweeney was originally published on the Carbon Brief website on Jan 13, 2021. The first part of the article is reposted below in. Click here to access the complete original article and comments posted on Carbon Brief. Last year was meant to be very different. The lead up to the fifth anniversary of the Paris Agreement was marked out by many as the year for climate action. Indeed, 2020 followed a year where climate change had been propelled onto newspaper front pages by Greta Thunberg, school strikes and Extinction Rebellion. But, as with many aspects of 2020, the Covid-19 pandemic soon took centre stage. As normal life was turned upside down, newspaper headlines and social media conversations were dominated by lockdowns, vaccines and infection rates. Yet there was still space to report on climate change. And thousands of newly published peer-reviewed climate papers vied for media attention throughout the year. These studies were covered around the world in news articles and blogs. They were also shared on social media platforms, such as Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn. Tracking all these mentions was Altmetric, an organisation that scores and ranks papers according to the attention they receive. (Full details of how the Altmetric scoring system works can be found in an earlier article.) Using Altmetric data for 2020, Carbon Brief has compiled its annual list of the 25 most talked-about climate change-related papers that were published the previous year. The infographic above shows which ones made it into the Top 10, while the chart at the end of the piece shows which journals feature most frequently in the Top 25. Top spot in a Covid year Last year was truly extraordinary for press and social media attention of scientific journal papers. In the six years that Carbon Brief has been undertaking this annual review, 2018 was the first year where a paper on any topic hit an Altmetric score of more than 10,000. In 2019, Altmetric found two papers that passed this milestone. The year of 2020 had 60. And all but a few were about Covid-19. (For Carbon Briefs previous Altmetric articles, see the links for 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016 and 2015.) It is, perhaps, no surprise then that the top climate paper of 2020 was also about Covid-19. It was the Nature Climate Change paper, Temporary reduction in daily global CO2 emissions during the Covid-19 forced confinement, by Prof Corinne Le Quere, a Royal Society research professor of climate change science at the University of East Anglia, and colleagues. In addition to covering the study, Carbon Brief also hosted a webinar on the impact of the Covid pandemic on CO2 emissions, with Le Quere as one of the panellists. The paper clocked in with an overall Altmetric score of 6,174. It was mentioned in 715 online news stories by 398 outlets, in 109 posts from 63 blogs, and in more than 4,000 tweets the most of any climate paper published last year for these categories. In widespread news coverage, the study was covered by the Washington Post, Financial Times, Reuters, New Scientist, Guardian, BBC News, Independent, MailOnline and Sky News. In another example of 2020 being such a remarkable year, this top climate paper is the 140th highest ranking of all papers scored by Altmetric. By comparison, in 2019, the top-ranked climate paper was the seventh highest overall. (Update: Altmetric has now published its Top 100 papers for 2020. It ranks the Le Quere et al. paper in 12th place. The higher ranking is because Altmetric changed their methodology this year rather than taking the 100 highest-scoring papers, they have selected the five top-scoring papers across 20 categories to give them a Top 100.) Second place The next highest scoring climate paper of 2020 was a short News & Views piece called Record-setting ocean warmth continued in 2019, published in Advances in Atmospheric Sciences, with a score of 3,954. The paper presents new ocean heat content data, which revealed that the worlds oceans in 2019 were the warmest in recorded human history. However, because the paper is an invited commentary rather than a traditional research paper, it isnt included in Carbon Briefs leaderboard. (Commentaries are typically commissioned by journal editors, rather than being part of an open submission process. They are also not routinely peer-reviewed. Carbon Brief does include review and perspective articles in the leaderboard, however, as these tend to follow a more traditional editorial process, though this varies by journal. For more on the different types of journal articles, see the guidelines given by Nature and Science as examples.) Instead, taking second spot with an Altmetric score of 3,696 is Future of the human climate niche, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). Its lead author is Dr Chi Xu, an ecologist at Nanjing University in China. The study shows that, for thousands of years, humans have concentrated in a surprisingly narrow subset of Earths available climates, characterised by mean annual temperatures around 13C. It warns that between one and three billion people could be left outside this environmental niche in the next 50 years, depending on the rate of warming and population growth. The paper was covered by 229 online news stories from 175 outlets across the world, including the New York Times, USA Today, CNN, Guardian, BBC News, Independent, Sun, Times of India, South China Morning Post and Der Spiegel. It was also picked up by 37 posts from 29 blogs and tweeted more than 3,000 times. In a piece for the Conversation, University College Londons Prof Mark Maslin described the study as a brilliant thought experiment, but highlighted some reservations, including a focus on a worst case scenario of climate change and not taking into account of the dynamic and adaptable nature of human technology and society. Third place Taking the final place on the rostrum is Global increase in major tropical cyclone exceedance probability over the past four decades, with an Altmetric score of 3,669. The study finds that major tropical cyclones category 3 or higher have become 15% more likely at a global level between 1979 and 2017. The North Atlantic has seen the most significant increases in cyclone intensity, the study says, with the chances of a major hurricane occurring in the North Atlantic increasing by 49% per decade. Back in May, lead author Dr James Kossin, a climate scientist at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Center for Weather and Climate, told Carbon Brief: Our analysis finds that the global increasing trend in tropical cyclone intensity has now risen to a point where it is very unlikely to be random, even after addressing known issues with the historical data. The study featured in 739 online news articles from 405 outlets, including the New York Times, Washington Post, New Scientist, CNN and USA Today. It was covered by 50 posts from 37 blogs and was tweeted 549 times the smallest total of any paper in this Top 10. (There is also a second study on tropical cyclones in the Top 25. In the 25th and final place is the Nature paper Slower decay of landfalling hurricanes in a warming world, which finds that landfalling hurricanes are now taking longer to weaken as they move inland than they were 50 years ago.) Click here to access the complete original article and comments posted on Carbon Brief. Most of us dont err on the side of radical generosity... Reimagining hospitality in the West requires cavorting with a God who delights in busting up our normalcy with divine creativity. Leslie Verner in her book, Invited As I looked around the house we had owned for just two years, and had only half-decorated, Leslie Verners words struck a deep chord. Her stories of hosting and being hosted, along with grapples with her pride, resonated hard...mostly because I recognized some of the same things in my own heart. In my childhood home, the door was never, ever closed to guests. Missionaries on furlough, kids in foster care, high school and college students all stayed or rented for extended periods of time. A teenage mom and her baby stayed one Christmas. After marrying and spending almost a decade in Washington, DC (where hosting most often means holding a lavish networking reception), my husband and I bought a home with a little more breathing room and started dreaming of how to put the guest room to use. With Verners words still echoing in my head, and sweet memories of old boarders in my heart, we applied to host an international student in 2019. (Actually, we applied to be merely a backup host family for the families who needed a break.) In January 2020 she moved in, all of us expecting she would stay for about four months. Instead, she lived with us for most of the year, and most of that time did school virtually. In a year where inviting friends into homes has been trickyif not impossiblewe had a multicultural fifteen year old in our household nearly all the time. Verner writes about research showing that humans can really only maintain about 150 relationships at once. Of these, we can really only know about 12 very intimately. Modern technology has frankly made us overconfident about the number of people we might actually be able to minister to, or even understand. For us, the ministry network shrank rapidly and decidedly: from the usual bustle of church and community commitments, to...one person. While we can see how Lord brought us together with this student for this pandemic, it was also the most intense season of hospitality that I will probably ever have. Ministering to her, as well as caring for myself and my own household, meant practicing truly radical generosity...all in the midst of worldwide fear and national chaos. We had a new roommate, with new rhythms, and food preferences. (Actually, learning to make her favorite dishes was probably one of the best parts of quarantine.) But what wasnt so easy was the constant call to quiet consistency usually in the form of curfews, door knocks and gentle confrontations. And all of this without chance for her, or us, to get out of the house and blow off steam with friends. There were moments of supreme relief, gratitude and joy. But we also had to learn to set and enforce boundaries, to deal with our own irritability, and to lean on the Lord for continual grace. Verner goes on to talk in her book about releasing the guilt of not being intimate friends with your whole social media list. Social media also has a way of amplifying the ever-present temptation to veer off your own Jericho road onto someone elses. Here on this blog will be examples of many Jericho roadssituations rife with real people hurting because of injustice and disasters, both preventable and unforeseeable. Our goal is not to overwhelm or to add to a to-do list, but to help you see more clearly your own Jericho road. Who is on it? How might you use your vote, influence and buying power, not to mention your spiritual gifts or even just your dining room, to be an even Better Samaritan? How can you show love to those living right with you or next door, as well as those on the other side of the world so deeply affected by your choices? Maybe this pandemic proves a season for our hearts to distinguish between our ideas of hospitality and the reality of hospitality. Maybe this pandemic proves a season for our hearts to distinguish between our ideas of hospitality and the reality of hospitality. Ideas about hospitality, after all, often involve a lot of largely unimportant trappings, most of which have been stripped away this year. In our unique situation, we found the reality of hospitality much more earthy than we expected... more raw, more physical, and more crucially present. Maybe you, or organization, have been on a new and truly exhausting road. Heres a reminder that He knows, He sees, and Hes alongside you. Lord, Our normalcy has been shattered our road looks very different. Open our eyes to the hurting people right in our path. When we are hurting, make us bold and wise to seek help and nourishment. Above all, let our grace be evident to all. We know that you are near. The Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol was the crisis Democrats were waiting for, and they are not going to waste it. Those few hours of lawless mayhem became unimpeachable proof that the muddy smears theyd thrown against Donald Trump supporters were all true. Through the funhouse mirror of hyper-partisanship, that angry mob of thousands became all 74 million Americans who voted for Trump in November. The crowds explicit anger over the 2020 election was cast as an implicit push for white supremacy. Never mind that almost all prominent Republicans and conservatives recoiled from the violence and immediately condemned it, or that one of the main organizers of the rally was a black Arab American. Theres enough scattershot evidence for Democrats and their allies to add demonstrated violence to their list of conservative crimes and justify a radical program of repression. While Joe Biden issues calls for unity, many of his allies are waging a scorched earth campaign to silence all who oppose them. Since the violent attacks, left-leaning tech companies have been given a free hand to quash dissent. On Jan. 8 Twitter permanently suspended President Trumps account and later purged more than 70,000 accounts it said were affiliated QAnon, whose members subscribe to various conspiracy theories and question the integrity of the government. That same day it was reported that Facebook removed the #Walkaway Campaign, which featured testimonials from Democrats who had left the party because of its hard-left turn. Facebook deemed this hateful, threatening, or obscene. On Jan. 10, Amazon pulled the plug on the libertarian social media platform Parler because a handful of its estimated 2.3 million active users were connected to the violence. Government is also policing thought. On Jan. 18, the New York Times reported that the Pentagon is intensifying efforts to identify and combat white supremacy and other far-right extremism in its ranks. Network news reported that several unnamed National Guardsmen were pulled from the ranks of those protecting the Capitol after the FBI said it discovered fringe political views in their social media footprint or digital communications with friends. That same day, Democratic Rep. Steve Cohen of Tennessee (pictured) questioned the loyalty of the National Guard because it is 90 some-odd percent male, and only about 20% of white males voted for Biden; you've got to figure the Guard is more conservative. ... There are probably not more than 25% of the people that are there protecting us that voted for Biden. The other 75% are in the class who might want to do something." Cohens rant is not only alarming; its inaccurate in its own terms. White men under age 30 (the average age of an enlisted man in the National Guard is 29.5) broke for Trump, but only narrowly 51% to 46%, according to exit polls. Now the Biden administration is promising to make domestic terrorism a priority for the National Security Council. You dont need a dog whistle decoder to know this means they will be targeting conservative groups. Anyone who says the innocent have nothing to worry about should bone up on the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II. It is tempting to compare this to the McCarthy-era probes that challenged peoples patriotism and worked to weed out communists, homosexuals and other alleged subversives and deviants. But that ugly movement was weak tea by comparison, as it targeted a relatively small percentage of Americans. Today, in the broadest sense, one half of the nation is working to demonize and silence the other half. This effort didnt begin after Jan. 6. The illiberalism that has infected many American schools, the cancel culture that has propagated across social media and the left-wing demand that everything what you eat, wear, watch and care about be seen through the lens of politics, was metastasizing long before. But the attack on the Capitol is the made-for-television moment being used to smother dissent in the name of patriotism. Everyone who thought Bidens victory would lower the temperature was sold a bill of goods. Instead of normalcy were getting a purge. This is inevitable because of the leftist ideology Democrats and their allies have embraced. It sees everyone -- except, of course, their enlightened selves -- as unthinking empty vessels. They believe their mission is to fill these pathetic puppets (i.e., you and me) with their virtuous brew of truth. They honestly think they are doing us a favor and expect well thank them once we see things their way. This is the faith of the victim culture, whose sinners are those who have been corrupted by the dark forces of conservatism and whose saints are those who walk the path of liberal enlightenment. This is why media figures such as Katie Couric describe Trump supporters as cult members and columnist Eugene Robinson wonders how they can be deprogrammed. Never Trump Republicans are echoing these sentiments. In his Jan. 14 New York Times column, David Brooks asserted that there is now a split on the right between those who have become detached from reality and those who, however right wing, are still in the real world. Hence, its not an argument. You cant argue with people who have their own separate made-up set of facts. George W. Bush strategist Mark McKinnon argued the same point on MSNBC this week: You can't just confront them [Trump supporters] with the facts because they don't believe it. They live in an alternate universe where they have been told other reality, quote realities, that they think are realities. To be sure, some Trump supporters fit this mold. The former president often did himself. But whether they mean to or not, these voices in the media, no less provide the rationale for abandoning the First Amendment in the name of censorship. Its why the left is cheering Big Techs embrace of cancel culture and pushing cable providers to stop airing One America News Network, Newsmax and other conservative influencers. Its why the so-called Trump Accountability Project, which seeks to prevent administrations officials from gainful employment, is not widely denounced for the thuggery that it is and why 250 publishing professionals feel comfortable circulating a No Book Deals for Traitors petition that says former Trump officials shouldnt be allowed to publish their works. Its also why Harvard students think its reasonable to circulate a letter demanding the revocation of degrees earned by Republicans who questioned the 2020 election, and why MoveOn.org demands that the Senate not give Ted Cruz and Josh Hawley any committee assignments. Note that antifa the anarchist hate group spurred on by Democrats -- has been stirring up trouble in Portland, Ore., this week, even shouting epithets against Joe Biden. Eventually the revolution eats its own. It is hard to know how any of this ends. History shows that such campaigns have no goal but total victory. For their perpetrators, there is no accommodation with an enemy they define as dangerous and irrational; there is only submission. I keep hoping that reasonable liberals will rise up and speak out against these illiberal forces. Finally, a plea: President Biden, please work to rebuild the decent, fair United States you celebrate in your rhetoric. It is under siege by those around you. New Delhi, Jan 22 : The Delhi High Court has expressed its disgust over the irresponsible behaviour of Delhi Government and three municipal corporations of not paying the salaries and pensions to employees of civic bodies. "I cannot tell how disgusted we are with all of you. You are behaving completely irresponsibly and do not care about the employees and retired pensioners," Justice Vipin Sanghi observed orally. The bench of Justice Sanghi and Rekha Palli came down heavily on the Arvind Kejriwal-led Government and BJP-led municipal corporations while hearing a batch of petitions relating to non-payment of salaries and pensions to municipal staff. Employees of the municipal corporations have gone on strike in recent months over the non-payment of their salaries. Thousands of civic body staffers went on an indefinite strike on January 7, demanding that their pay and pension must be released. The court warned that it will tell MCD employees to not come for work if they are not paid. "Let us see how your houses and hospitals are cleaned. We are ashamed of you, your leaders and the way you are behaving," the court said. The bench also noted that the problem has arisen as the Delhi government is sandwiched between municipal corporations and the central government. The court said that the political leaders should be mature enough. "If things do not 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 added. The court added, "You are fighting like cats and dogs. We have not asked you to give them any favour. We have only asked you for an adjustment." When the issue of shortage of revenue was raked up by Delhi government's counsel Satyakam, the court in turn asked how the government has huge sums of money to give advertisements in newspapers during the pandemic. "We will order an inquiry and order by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India. You were giving a daily half page and full page in every other newspaper. You have money for these advertisements," the court said. The division bench has asked the authorities to clear the outstanding salaries and pensions for October. Direction has also been issued to the corporations to disclose their expenditures since April 2020. Meanwhile, the Delhi government has been asked to file an affidavit on the amount which is liable to be paid to the municipal corporations. The matter has now been posted to February 22 for further hearing. In the last hearing, the court had pulled up the municipal corporations for non-payment of salaries and pensions, noting that paucity of funds cannot be an excuse and that right to receive pay is a fundamental right enshrined under the Constitution of India. Aryzta has begun writing to its Irish shareholders warning them to have a plan in place for March 1st when its Irish shares will be delisted from the Euronext stock exchange in Dublin. Aryztas primary listing is already in Zurich and the secondary listing on Euronext Dublin is structured through what are called CREST Depository Interests (CDI) that in turn are directly linked to an underlying Aryzta share held by CREST for the investor. . Trading on Euronext Dublin will end on March 1. Shareholders have been advised by the company they need to take action and should contact their broker or financial adviser. Investors can instruct their broker/custodian to exchange their Dublin CDIs for the underlying Swiss listed shares through the CREST system. Dublin CDI holders could also opt to sell their investment before the delisting. However, if holders of the Dublin-listed CDI take no action they won't lose anything, but the stock will no longer be traded on any public exchange making it harder to sell in future. Read More Earlier this month Aryzta announced the plan to cancel its secondary listing on Euronext Dublin. The board of the Swiss-Irish food group said it made the decision after careful review. The board said fewer than 4pc of the shares outstanding in Aryzta, which traces its roots back to IAWS, are currently listed on Euronext Dublin. It also cited low liquidity in the Irish listing compared to the main Swiss Stock Exchange (SIX) listing. In addition, it examined the benefits of having a single compliance and regulatory body, as well as the overall board objective to simplify the group and reduce central costs. The exit from the Irish stock market follows last years dramatic upheavals at the company, best known here as the baker of Cuisine de France branded goods. The past year has seen dramatic changes at the group with its previously Irish dominated leadership ousted in a bid to improve shareholder value by Swiss fund management group Veraison Capital which has helped install a new chairman. In December, the new board rejected an offer of CHF0.80 (0.74) per share from US hedge fund Elliott Advisors which valued the company at 734m, a bid that had been in train under the old regime. CLEVELAND, Ohio A Cuyahoga County grand jury handed up an indictment Friday against a 30-year-old Cleveland man shot after he cut a Broadview Heights police officer during a police pursuit last week, according to police reports and court records. Michael Stout is charged with felonious assault on a peace officer, carrying concealed weapons, improperly handling firearms in a motor vehicle, resisting arrest and obstructing official business, according to Stouts indictment. Stout remains hospitalized in MetroHealth, Broadview Heights police Lt. Don Polick said. His current condition was not immediately available Thursday afternoon. Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court records say Stout is scheduled for his initial court appearance Feb. 18. The incident started just after 2 a.m. Jan. 13 on Interstate 77 near Harris Road, according to a Broadview Heights police report. Broadview Heights police officer Jessica Harmon said that she was northbound on Interstate 77 when she noticed a white Ford Fusion drive past her did not have a rear license plate, the report says. She tried to stop the car near the Wallings Road exit, but the car continued to drive into Independence, the report says. Broadview Heights officer Ryan Tieber joined in the pursuit. The car stopped in the Rockside Road exit ramp, the report says. Tieber ordered the driver, identified as Javier Stout, to turn off the car and drop the keys out of the window, the report says. Tieber and other officers ordered Javier Stout out of the car and to lie on the ground, the report says. While Javier Tout refused to get out of the car, the passenger, identified as his brother Michael Stout, jumped out of the car and ran across the lanes of Interstate 77, the report says. Independence police officer Shane Bates and Tieber tried to place Michael Stout into custody, but he cut Tieber in the face and head several times. The officers tried to use a Taser but were unsuccessful. One of the officers shot Michael Stout. Broadview Heights and Independence police have still not said which officer fired the shot. Javier Stout was cited for failure to comply with the order or signal of a police officer and display of license plate in Parma Municipal Court. Tieber is currently recovering at home, Polick said. Stouts indictment incorrectly states that Broadview Heights police officer Scott Payne was the victim in the incident. Tyler Sinclair, a spokesman for Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Michael OMalley, confirmed that the officer initially named in the indictment is not the officer who was cut in the incident. A clerical error was made in the indictment. The correct victims name that should be included on the indictment is Officer Ryan Tieber, not Officer Scott Payne, Sinclair said in a statement to cleveland.com. We will be filing a motion to amend the indictment promptly. Michael Stout had an outstanding warrant for his arrest in a 2018 case where he was charged with identity fraud and tampering records, Cuyahoga County records say. Read more stories on cleveland.com: Cleveland man charged in cutting Broadview Heights police officer during pursuit, police say Euclid man smuggled fentanyl into county jail that caused cellmates fatal overdose, prosecutors say Cleveland cop fired for using crack cocaine, failing to report fellow officer who stepped on mans neck during arrest Akron police say man shot during argument; suspect in custody Two men die after exchanging gunfire in Maple Heights shootout, police say Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. Since they couldn't come up with an answer to the question above, the hauling addicts over at TFL Truck decided to keep pitting the TRX against all sorts of contraptions, so here we are, enjoying another episode of the sprinting saga.Earlier this month, we checked out a trio of F-150s duking it out with the Hellcat-motivated Ram, with the lineup including the mandatory Raptor, an Ecoboost, and even a Shelby-massaged truck.This time around, though, it's time for a member of Team Toyota to take on the overly muscular 1500. And while the 2021 Tacoma TRD Pro was present, it proved to be slower than a 25-year-old sibling, which is why the latter was invited to battle the TRX.As pickup aficionados among you might've guessed by now, we're talking about the original Tacoma. And this example not only features the largest engine available at the time, namely a 3.4-liter V6, but also a TRD (Toyota Racing Development) supercharger installed at the dealer.And while the official muscle number of the motor sits at 254 hp, further massaging has taken this particular example to around 300 ponies. And yes, it comes with a manual, one sporting five forward ratios.Sure, that sounds like nothing when compared to the 702 hp of the Ram's supercharged 6.2-liter HEMI , but we have to keep in mind the V8 machine weighs about twice as much as its opponent.Now, the odometer of the Tacoma might show 650,000 miles (over a million kilometers), but you should know that, somewhere around the 480,000-mile point, the head gasket gave up. And since this has been a one-owner vehicle, its driver decided to bring in a new engine. Keeping the vehicle in top shape also meant rebuilding the blower every 150,000 miles (240,000 km). Oh, and keep in mind the vehicle also performs hauling duties, so this is a brilliantly-maintained work truck.The competitive sprinting we're talking about is far from perfect, from the high altitude bringing rarefied air (the battle took place at the IMI Motorsports Complex in Colorado) to the length of the car, which sits considerably below the usual quarter-mile. But, if it's giggles you're after, the effect is guaranteed - the boss battle awaits you at the 3:30 point of the clip below. Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif Friday called on the new US administration to "unconditionally" lift sanctions imposed by Donald Trump on the Islamic republic to salvage the 2015 nuclear deal. The new administration of President Joe Biden "can still salvage the nuclear agreement, but only if it can muster the genuine political will in Washington to demonstrate that the United States is ready to be a real partner in collective efforts," Zarif wrote in an op-ed published by Foreign Affairs magazine Friday. "The administration should begin by unconditionally removing, with full effect, all sanctions imposed, reimposed, or relabeled since Trump took office. "In turn, Iran would reverse all the remedial measures it has taken in the wake of Trumps withdrawal from the nuclear deal," he added, warning against any attempt at "extracting concessions" from Tehran, Zarif added. The landmark deal agreed between Iran and the United States, China, Russia, Britain, France and Germany to curb Tehran's nuclear ambitions in exchange for sanctions relief has been largely in tatters since Trump withdrew from it in 2018 and reimposed harsh sanctions. The return of sanctions plunged Iran's economy into a deep recession, and in response, Tehran since 2019 has walked back on most of its key commitments under the deal. The Iranian government has signalled a readiness to engage with Biden, who took office on January 20 and who has expressed willingness to return to diplomacy with Tehran. But Biden has conditioned this on Iran returning to strict compliance with its commitments under the deal, while Tehran is now demanding that Washington first lift all sanctions. Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Out of concern over possible threats to the Capitol leading up to President Joe Bidens inauguration, Michigan lawmakers didnt meet in Lansing for session this week. But the groundwork is being laid by both the Michigan Legislature and Gov. Gretchen Whitmers administration for a busy new term, with the former setting policy priorities and filling committee leadership roles and the latter unveiling an ambitious plan for funding COVID-19 response and recovery. How to spend that money could be another sticking point in the Republican-led legislatures ongoing battle with the Whitmer administration over how best to handle the ongoing pandemic. Heres a look at the latest happenings in Michigan politics. Michigan Capitol (mostly) quiet this week The first few weeks of a new session are typically slow in the Michigan Legislature as incoming lawmakers get settled in, but the Capitol building was shut down altogether this week. In a joint statement, Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey, R-Clarklake, and House Speaker Jason Wentworth, R-Clare, said they made the call after Michigan State Police and the House and Senate sergeants at arms expressed concern over credible threats regarding events scheduled to take place at and around the state Capitol. The building was closed to the public and law enforcement kept a close eye on the grounds. The Michigan National Guard was activated last week by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Michigan State Police implemented a series of heightened security measures in response to protests at state Capitols around the country planned ahead of President-elect Joe Bidens inauguration. An FBI bulletin shared with local law enforcement warned militant anti-government groups were planning rallies on Jan. 17 in all 50 states, and the document included specific details about threats to Lansing. Ultimately, a handful of self-identified boogaloo boys held a demonstration Sunday outside the Capitol in Lansing. No other large organized protests occurred on Capitol grounds leading up to or during Bidens inauguration. More: Michigan lawmakers cancel session due to credible threats at state Capitol Armed boogaloo boys gather at Michigan Capitol, join small group of protesters Whitmer proposes $5.6 billion COVID-19 response plan, Republicans skeptical Whitmer released the full details of a $5.6 billion supplemental spending plan this week to 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 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. 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. 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. More: Whitmer unveils $5.6B plan to fund coronavirus response, economic recovery Shirkey reference to Chinese flu army prompts backlash Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey, R-Clark Lake, talked this week about his recovery from COVID-19 in December, referring to him battling the best soldier sent by the Chinese flu army. His name was Rona, Shirkey joked to Bart Hawley of JTV on Jan. 18. Im not as young as he used to be, so he and I wrestled for nine days, but I finally pinned him. Democrats blasted the attempt at humor as racist and xenophobic. Sen. Stephanie Chang of Detroit, the first Asian-American state senator in Michigan history, found the joke incredibly disappointing. It is incredibly disappointing to have to tell people -- apparently now my own colleagues -- again and again and again why this language is hurtful to the Asian American community, she said on Twitter. Shirkey discussed a variety of other topics with Hawley, including increased security at the state Capitol, his September meeting with militia leaders and his fractured relationship with Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. More: Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey says he wrestled COVID-19 sent by Chinese flu army Full gun ban wont come from State Capitol Commission The Michigan State Capitol Commission wont likely revisit a vote on a full gun ban in the building, Vice-chair John Truscott told MLive, even if the moneys there to implement one. The decision should be made by elected policy makers, he said, and that the Commission will not be involved in the debate. The reason Truscott gave Wednesday for reluctance to pursue a concealed weapons ban was that its a much different legal question... when we get into taking away the legal rights of a (concealed pistol license) holder. The Legislature or the Governor would be the appropriate decision-maker, he said. This comes after Whitmer proposed $5 million in her budget supplemental request for the implementation of increased security equipment the Commission said it would need to enforce a full gun ban. Unlike many state Capitol buildings around the country, visitors to the Michigan Capitol arent subject to metal detectors or a security checkpoint upon entry and are allowed to bring firearms into the building, as long as they are concealed. The Commission banned the open carry of firearms on Jan. 11. Truscott and Commissioner Bill Kandler previously said they stopped short of a full ban due to the price tag associated with bolstering security measures. Commissioner Truscott and I spent a lot of time figuring out how security works and how we could implement things, how security works at other buildings such as the Supreme Court, Kandler said on Jan. 11. After we reviewed all the implementation aspects, we determined the extreme limit of our real authority to actually implement was to implement a ban on open carry. We dont have the infrastructure to do much else at this time. More: Even if the moneys there, Capitol Commission to leave full gun ban up to Legislature House sets committee assignments On Thursday, Wentworth announced the new slate of committee chairs for the term. Committee chairs play a key role in setting policy priorities and amending legislation that makes it to the floor. They also hear directly from stakeholders and members of the public during committee meetings. Notable changes include Rep. Matt Hall, R-Marshall, moving from chairing the House Oversight Committee to the House Tax Policy Committee. Rep. Steve Johnson, R-Wayland, will take his place as the Oversight Committee chair. Rep. Julie Calley, R-Portland, the former House Elections and Ethics Committee Chair, will now chair the Local Government and Municipal Finance Committee, and Rep. Ann Bollin, R-Brighton Township, will chair Elections and Ethics. Rep. Bronna Kahle, R-Madison, will take over as Health Policy Committee chair, Rep. Roger Hauck, R-Mount Pleasant, will chair the Regulatory Reform Committee, and Rep. Mike Mueller, R-Linden, will chair the Government Operations Committee. Wentworth also announced the creation of two new committees: the Rules and Competitiveness Committee, chaired by Rep. Jim Lilly, R-Park Township, and the Workforce, Trades and Talent Committee, chaired by Rep. Beth Griffin, R-Mattawan. Other policy committees will continue to be chaired by the same lawmakers who led them last term. The House Appropriations Committee, which handles the state budget and supplemental spending, will be chaired by Rep. Thomas Albert, R-Lowell. Read more on MLive: New bills, chilly relations define first week of 101st Michigan Legislature 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 The Knesset's Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee held a special meeting on Monday to give MKs a chance to bid farewell and thank U.S. Ambassador to Israel David Friedman. Committee chairman Zvi Hauser of the Derech Eretz faction thanked Friedman for righting a historical wrong concerning Israel's capital. "During your tenure, you have fulfilled the dreams of us all. During your shift, a historical distortion was corrected, and the traditional position of the United States realized in declaring Jerusalem as the capital of the state of the Jewish people." Speaker of the Knesset Yariv Lavin... Russian officials are showing no signs of letting up in efforts to preempt planned nationwide street protests this weekend in support of Aleksei Navalny, vowing to immediately suppress any unsanctioned events and threatening jail time for demonstrators after rounding up several of the Kremlin critics allies for calling people to take to the streets. Navalny's allies are planning to hold demonstrations on January 23 in at least 65 cities across the country to protest his arrest and incarceration upon returning to Russia from Germany, where he was being treated following a near-fatal poisoning with a military-grade nerve agent in August. At least five allies of the 44-year-old were detained on January 21, including top officials from his Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK). One of them, Navalnys spokeswoman Kira Yarmysh, said in a tweet on January 22 that after spending the night in jail, she had been put under administrative arrest for organizing an unsanctioned event. Arrested for 9 days. Well, you know what to do. January 23 14.00, the central streets of your cities. Come! she wrote, noting that a judge deliberated less than five minutes before handing down the sentence. At a separate court hearing, another Navalny ally, activist Georgy Alburov, was sentenced by the Meshchansky district court to 10 days in jail on a similar charge, while FBK lawyer Lyubov Sobol was fined 250,000 rubles ($3,340). Sobol's lawyer, Vladimir Voronin, said the judge refused to allow media into the January 22 trial, noting that a protocol handed to him on Sobols offense was empty. Undeterred, Sobol wrote in a Facebook post: "Don't be afraid. Leave it to the Kremlin. We're in the right, and we're the majority. "What awaits us in the near future, if we keep silent. And silently watch as the innocent are imprisoned," she added in a tweet. Navalny, President Vladimir Putins 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, in a message on Instagram via his lawyer late on January 22, said from a Moscow jail cell that he wanted people to know he was in good physical and mental health. "Just in case, I am announcing that I dont plan to either hang myself on a window grill or cut my veins or throat open with a sharpened spoon, the post said. Bloomberg, citing two sources close to Russia's leaders, reported on January 22 that the Kremlin intends to imprison Navalny for "several years, or even more." 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. "In my call with President Putin today, I reiterated (that the) EU is united in its condemnation of Alexei Navalny's detention and calls for his immediate release," European Council President Charles Michel, who chairs EU summits, said on Twitter on January 22. Human Rights Watch (HRW) urged Russian authorities to curb their "unlawful" campaign against Navalny, saying they are harassing, intimidating, and detaining activists and students ahead of the protests. Cease these unlawful attacks on freedom of expression and instead focus on ensuring safety measures to protect those who wish to assemble peacefully," it said. 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. "There is no doubt that certain actions involving calls for unsanctioned, illegal rallies have been taken, Putins spokesman, Dmitry Peskov told journalists in Moscow on January 22. "There can be only one stance, the one in favor of the unconditional need to comply with the law, the inadmissibility of organizing illegal actions," he said, adding that "provocateurs" have been "illegally" encouraging younger Russians to participate in the rallies. Russia's telecommunications watchdog, Roskomnadzor, has already urged social media networks, including video-sharing app TikTok, to stop the spreading of posts by users that it says call on Russia's youth to take part in "illegal" public gatherings such as the planned Navalny demonstration. In an ominous warning on January 22, Moscow police said they would crack down on opposition protests if they go ahead. "Attempts to hold unsanctioned public events, as well as any provocative actions on the part of their participants, will be regarded as a threat to public order and immediately suppressed," Moscow police said in a statement. 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 Navalny's most-watched YouTube investigation ever. With reporting by Reuters, TASS, AFP, Interfax, and Current Time Robert Kocharyan on years of his leadership in Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia Situation on Armenian-Azerbaijani border is still tense, more on COVID-19 in Armenia, May 28 digest "Armenia" alliance of political parties paying tribute to founder of First Republic Aram Manukyan (LIVE) Yerevan.today: Armenia acting PM not greeted at ruling party's headquarters, citizens call him 'capitulator' Russia MOD reports on maintenance of ceasefire regime in Nagorno-Karabakh Armenia acting MOD meets with Russian counterpart in Moscow Armenia 2nd President: I see possibility of restoring borders of Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast We can provide our army with some key, modernized weapons, says Armenia ex-President Kocharyan Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: Captives issue is not one that any opposition force can resolve OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs release statement on detention of 6 Armenian servicemen by Azerbaijan Armenian acting Deputy PM: Discussion on issues possible only after withdrawal of Azeri troops from Armenia's territory Armenia acting PM on Syunik roads, Russian military posts: This is only place where there are working nuances Armenia acting PM: Process of return of POWs will intensify after upcoming elections Putin congratulates Aliyev on Republic Day 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 Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 22) Vaccine Czar Carlito Galvez, Jr. said the reason other countries may get COVID-19 vaccines from China's Sinovac at a cheaper price is because of cost-reducing conditions such as agreeing to produce the vaccine shots themselves using materials from the company. Galvez said the country was also offered cheaper rates under certain terms, adding that by producing the vaccine shots, the price will be cut by almost half. "Inofferan din kami, mababa 'yung presyo but you will be having the filling station o ibig sabihin 'yung raw materials dadalhin sa atin, tayong magfifinish," he told the Senate in a hearing on Friday. [Translation: We were also offered, the price is low but you will be having the filling station, meaning the raw materials will be sent here and we will finish (the vaccines).] Another condition for lower rates would be if the government will claim the vaccines straight from the company's manufacturing plant instead of having them ship the supply to the country, the official mentioned. Galvez has still not revealed the negotiated price for the Sinovac doses but he assured the public that the country is at an "advantage." He said the basis for negotiation is "sense of fairness," or making sure the Philippines will get rates close to that of other Southeast Asian nations. In November last year, the Department of Health told the Senate that Sinovac doses were priced at over 3,600 but Malacanang gave a lower number at around 650 per shot. Health Secretary Francisco Duque clarified that the initial submitted rate was based on a news article that staff found on Google. Senators were peeved that they were given unverified information. "There was no effort to check with Sinovac, the firm, itself para mavalidate lang [to validate], because official document 'yun [that was an official document]," Senator Panfilo "Ping" Lacson told Duque. "And maybe this would serve as a good lesson in future submissions na dapat bago tayo magsubmit, medyo accurate at saka validated 'yung data [that before we submit, the data should be accurate and validated]." Duque explained that at the time, the government was not yet in talks with manufacturing companies so they had to rely on online sources. Nonetheless, senators repeated the reminder to fact-check with the company. Israels Ministry of Health recently signed an agreement on collecting epidemiological data with coronavirus vaccine maker Pfizer. According to the agreement, Israel will provide statistical information and epidemiological data about the impact of the COVID-19 vaccine on Israelis who received it to allow the company to assess its efficiency. In exchange for this information, Pfizer promised to give Israel preference over other countries in obtaining the vaccine and that it would provide enough vaccines to vaccinate the entire adult population. There have been complaints about a lack of transparency around the agreement. They were especially concerned about the transfer of medical information pertaining to Israelis who were vaccinated that could allegedly be given to Pfizer without the patients consent. People wondered how Pfizer would use this information and if there was any risk that personal information about people receiving the vaccine would be revealed to the company. They asked how the government planned to ensure that privacy would not be violated, particularly when it comes to medical issues. In response to these concerns, the Health Ministry announced that only general epidemiological information would be given to Pfizer and that this information was already available to anyone who wanted it. However, if that is the case, why would Pfizer sign an agreement obligating it to give preferential treatment to a relatively small country like Israel? The publication led the nongovernmental organization Movement for Quality Government in Israel to demand that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense and Justice Minister Benny Gantz, Health Minister Yuli Edelstein and the Privacy Protection Authority release the details of the agreement with Pfizer. Early this week, the Health Ministry posted the text of the agreement to its website but parts were blacked out, including sections concerning violations of the agreements terms and means of resolving disputes between Pfizer and the State of Israel. Nevertheless, the Movement for Quality Government congratulated the Health Ministry for posting the document, noting, We welcome the far-reaching vaccination project in Israel, which is bringing us one more step closer to an end to the health crisis. It would make no sense for the State of Israel to peddle the confidential personal information of its citizens to a private company without first revealing the details of the agreement in a transparent and full way. Congratulations to the Ministry of Health for recognizing the importance of total transparency in its dealings with the public. That is the only way that Israelis can feel confident that their personal information was not exploited behind the scenes to their disadvantage. It is the only way we can be assured that our privacy was protected, and that the necessary means are in place to ensure a full medical vaccination program. The nature and quality of the information that Israel is to give Pfizer are not at all clear from the available details of the agreement. While large chunks of the agreement are still secret, Pfizer will not receive the personal medical files of any Israeli citizen, since that would violate the law protecting identifying information. Yediot Ahronot newspaper's Nadav Eyal has been covering the coronavirus since it first broke out and has followed the agreement closely. He told Al-Monitor, I am not concerned about this having a negative impact on the vaccination program, because the agreement includes an element of anonymization, which eliminates any possibility of the subjects identities being revealed. Israel is a dream country for vaccine research because it has one of the lowest percentages of people over 65 in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and because of its uniquely well organized health insurers. The system means there is an accessible single database of information, unlike in the United States, where health care is notoriously uncoordinated. Nevertheless, despite these advantages, some in Israel are concerned about the agreement and the vaccination program in general, complaining politics are too involved. Inbal Einav is a laboratory worker at one of the leading medical centers in the country. She told Al-Monitor, It is important for me to stress that I am not opposed to vaccines in general. I make a point of getting the flu shot every year. On the other hand, in the same breath I say that a vaccine that was developed so rapidly and that is being marketed so aggressively is somewhat disconcerting. A lot about the vaccine remains uncertain. This feels to me like a medical experiment with Israel as Pfizers pilot or Stage 3 country. I am certainly worried that all the information will be handed over to Pfizer. I have no doubt that politics are involved. Election politics lie behind this agreement. There is a reason they sealed the protocols of committees dealing with the coronavirus for the next 30 years. I find it suspicious because it is a violation of public trust. In contrast, Fateen Baiadsi, a member of the Baqa al-Gharbiyye local council responsible for emergency preparations who established the local vaccination center with the Clalit medical insurance company, told Al-Monitor, I think that as long as this leads to further development and is helpful in researching the vaccine or improving its efficiency, I see no problem with the agreement, provided that it meets the legal terms and ensures the privacy of Israeli citizens and their personal medical information. It is important to remember that we are in the midst of a war against the virus. Given the circumstances, we need to use all means at our disposal to win that war. Rio de Janeiro will not host its famous carnival this year due to a deadly revival of the coronavirus epidemic in Brazil, the city's mayor Eduardo Paes has announced. Rio's samba schools, which organise the celebratory parades, had hoped to hold the signature event in July after it was postponed from its usual slot in February or March. But in a tweet late Thursday, Paes quashed the possibility of holding the event this year, adding that it would 'foolish to imagine at this point that the conditions will exist for us to hold the carnival in July'. Brazil has been in the grips of a second wave of infections since November, with more than 1,000 daily deaths and an overall toll of more than 214,000 deaths - second only to the United States. Rio de Janeiro will not host its famous carnival this year due to a deadly revival of the coronavirus epidemic in Brazil, the city's mayor Eduardo Paes has announced (file) The carnival draws millions of visitors, and their tourist dollars, to the beachside city each year. But in a tweet late Thursday, Paes said it seemed 'foolish to imagine at this point that the conditions will exist for us to hold the carnival in July' while hospitals - especially in Brazil's northern Amazonas state - scramble for beds and oxygen to treat coronavirus patients. 'In 2022, we will (all properly vaccinated) be able to celebrate life and our culture with all the intensity we deserve,' the mayor said. In reality, Brazil's inoculation drive only started Monday with an initial six million doses available for the country's 212million inhabitants. Members of the 'Mocidade Independente' samba school are pictured parading in the Rio de Janeiro sambadrome during the 2020 carnival in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on January 25, 2020 Cancelling the carnival will have a huge impact on Rio's economy, and Paes announced state aid for people who had worked for months to prepare the enormous party. While many countries are deep into their immunisation campaigns, including some among its South American neighbours, giant Brazil's drive has been slow to get off the ground. It has been caught up in political infighting between far-right President Jair Bolsonaro - a coronavirus skeptic - and Sao Paulo state governor Joao Doria - a likely 2022 presidential candidate. Bolsonaro, who was aligned with former US president Donald Trump and his anti-China rhetoric, had sought to discredit the Chinese-developed CoronaVac vaccine, promoted by Doria. Brazil has been in the grips of a second wave of infections since November. In this photo taken on January 20, a man holds his daughter while being inoculated with the Sinovac Biotech's CoronaVac against COVID-19 in the city of Marica, Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil On Sunday, Brazil's drug regulator approved CoronaVac as well as the AstraZeneca-Oxford Covishield vaccine for emergency use. CoronaVac is the only vaccine of which doses - six million - were immediately available, and on Monday, Brazilians started receiving the Chinese jab. The campaign started with health workers, the elderly and indigenous people. Bolsonaro has been trying for more than a week to bring a batch of two million Covishield doses from India, where it is produced by the Serum Institute. Brazil's health ministry has said the shipment should finally arrive on Friday. The Butantan Institute has requested authorization for use of another 4.8 million doses of CoronaVac, which require separate approval because they were bottled locally. Residents with symptoms of COVID-19 wait to receive medical assistance from members of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in the riverside community of Bela Vista do Jaraqui, Manaus, Amazonas state, Brazil, on January 18, 2021 It hopes to receive the ingredients from China to locally manufacture another 40 million doses. The health ministry's Fiocruz Foundation, for its part, intends to manufacture the AstroZeneca vaccine. Late last year, Bolsonaro's government claimed Brazil had guaranteed access to 300 million vaccines. But experts say administrative failures have resulted in potentially deadly delays. Given that the vaccine requires two jabs, the six million CoronaVac and two million Covishield doses are enough only for four million people, and unless new doses arrive soon, the campaign will be interrupted. Beyond the international policies that have isolated Brazil, 'the problem is management, because the government was slow to reach agreements with laboratories,' said political analyst Thomaz Favaro of Global Risk. ADVERTISEMENT The absence of a Cape Verdean judge in the ECOWAS court in Abuja, on Thursday, stalled the case of an embattled Venezuelan diplomat, Alex Saab. Januaria Costa, who is one of the three judges presiding over the case at the international court, cited coronavirus pandemic as the reason for her absence even though the case was scheduled to hold virtually. Mr Saab, an ally of President Nicolas Maduro of Venezuela, has spent over six months in Cape Verdean prison after his arrest in June 2020, raising questions around his legal and diplomatic immunity as a Special Envoy on a humanitarian mission to Iran. He was arrested on the request of the INTERPOL and was to be extradited to the United States of America for alleged financial crimes. Against the background of the U.S. extradition requests and rulings by two lower Cape Verdean courts, the ECOWAS court in its December 2, 2020 ruling said all extradition moves be suspended till its next hearing schedule for today but this could not hold. PREMIUM TIMES, which has been following this legal and diplomatic battle, reported the unwillingness of Cape Verdean authorities to adhere to the ECOWAS ruling. It is not possible to intend such a provision to be applied in our country, when we have never accepted it in our national legal system, through the mechanisms provided for this, since it is a decision not applicable in the legal system of Cape Verde, where, as is known, the ECOWAS Court is not part of the Hierarchy of the Courts, where the Constitutional Court and the Supreme Court of Justice are at the apex (art. 214, paragraph I and a), 215 and 216, CRCV), an exclusive document from the countrys Attorney General, Luis Landim, showed. Meanwhile, a Cape Verde court, on Thursday evening, ordered that Mr Saab should be placed under house arrest and allowed to receive medical care. PREMIUM TIMES reports that the detained diplomat has not been released 24 hours after the court issued the order. His Cape Verde defence counsel, Pinto Monteiro, in an interview on Friday evening, confirmed that his client is still in prison because the police said they are yet to receive notification from the court to release him. Prison services on the island of Sal received the document, which was also addressed to the local head of the Judiciary Police, Mr Natalino Correia, who however says that he did not receive it, despite the information we have on how it happened. This circumstance prevents us from proceeding with the transfer process, after our services have already identified two rooms and a hotel with all the conditions, namely security, to welcome our client, Mr Monteiro said. He also expressed fears that Mr Saab may be kidnapped by the U.S. while under house arrest. (Editors Note: This story was updated to remove the reference to senior Nigerian lawyer Femi Falana after he explained that the source referenced in the removed paragraph is not a member of his legal team). BRUSSELS (dpa-AFX) - The pound lost ground against its key counterparts in the European session on Friday, weighed by weak U.K. retail sales and PMI data, as well as concerns over the looming border closure to prevent the spread of new coronavirus variant. Data from the Office for National Statistics showed that UK retail sales recovered in December but the pace of growth was much slower than expected. The retail sales volume gained 0.3 percent month-on-month, reversing a 4.1 percent decline seen in November. However, the pace of growth was weaker than the economists forecast of +1.2 percent. On a yearly basis, retail sales growth improved to 2.9 percent from 2.1 percent in November. Economists had forecast an annual growth of 4 percent. Another report showed that the U.K. budget deficit widened to the third highest level on record in December. Public sector net borrowing, excluding public sector banks, totaled GBP 34.1 billion in December, which was GBP 28.2 billion more than in the same period last year. This was both the highest December borrowing and the third-highest borrowing in any month since monthly records began in 1993. Survey results from IHS Markit and the Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply showed that the UK private sector logged a renewed downturn in January as the third lockdown dampened the services economy and trimmed the manufacturing growth. The flash composite output index fell sharply to an eight-month low of 40.6 in January from 50.4 in December. The score was forecast to rise to 50.7. U.K. cabinet minister George Eustice said that the government is mulling full border closure to avoid new strains of virus being spread in the country. 'There is concern at the moment at the number of mutant strains ... concerns that there's a risk that one day there will be a strain that might be able to evade the vaccine,' Eustice told Sky News. The pound reached 1.3652 against the greenback, falling from a high of 1.3736 seen at 7:00 pm ET. Further decline in the pound may find support near the 1.34 mark. The pound dropped to 141.51 against the yen, after a gain to 142.20 at 7:15 pm ET. Should the pound slides further, 138.00 is likely seen as its next support level. The pound weakened to 1.2079 against the franc, registering a 3-day low. The pair had closed yesterday's deals at 1.2151. The pound may locate support around the 1.185 mark. The U.K. currency was down against the euro, at a 3-day low of 0.8916. At yesterday's close, the pair was valued at 0.8858. The pound is poised to challenge support around the 0.90 mark. Flash data from IHS Markit showed that Eurozone private sector activity contracted at an accelerated pace in January amid the ongoing pandemic and related restrictions. The composite output index declined to 47.5 in January from 49.1 in December. The score was seen at 47.6. Looking ahead, Canada retail sales for November and U.S. existing home sales for December are set for release in the New York session. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de | Welcome Guest! You Are Here: GST Council to hold special session to discuss extending paying compensation to states beyond 2022, says finance minister. Centre to borrow Rs 1.58 lakh cr to compensate states for loss of revenue from GST, says FM Sitharaman after GST Council meeting. FM Sitharaman announces amnesty scheme for small GST taxpayers, allowing filing of returns with reduced late fee. With the UK now in its third lockdown, scientists are working to understand the effects the restrictions have had on people's mental health. Now, a new study has warned that older people's mental health has declined during the lockdowns, with a surge in anxiety and depression seen in over-50s - particularly in women. The researchers say that loneliness and a lack of physical activity may be contributing factors. The team hopes the findings could be used to develop new ways to mitigate the risk of worsening mental health during the pandemic. Anew study has warned that older people's mental health has declined during the lockdowns, with a surge in anxiety and depression seen in over-50s - particularly in women (stock image) WHAT IS DEPRESSION? While it is normal to feel down from time to time, people with depression may feel persistently unhappy for weeks or months on end. Depression can affect anyone at any age and is fairly common approximately one in ten people are likely to experience it. Depression is a genuine health condition which people cannot just ignore or 'snap out of it'. Symptoms and effects vary, but can include constantly feeling upset or hopeless, or losing interest in things you used to enjoy. It can also cause physical symptoms such as problems sleeping, tiredness, having a low appetite or sex drive, and even feeling physical pain. Advertisement In the study, researchers from the University of Exeter and King's College London studied data from more than 3,000 people aged over 50. They said loneliness emerged as a key factor linked to worsening symptoms of depression and anxiety. And a decrease in physical activity since the start of the pandemic was also associated with worsening symptoms of depression and anxiety. Women were also more likely to be struggling with their mental health, as were retired people. Dr Byron Creese at the University of Exeter who led the study said: 'Even before the pandemic, loneliness and physical activity levels were a huge issue in society, particularly among older people. 'Our study enabled us to compare mental health symptoms before and after Covid-19 in a large group of people aged 50 and over. 'We found that during lockdown, loneliness and decreased physical activity were associated with more symptoms of poor mental health, especially depression. 'It's now crucial that we build on this data to find new ways to mitigate risk of worsening mental health during the pandemic.' The study found that before the pandemic, lonely people would report an average of two symptoms of depression for at least several days over the previous two weeks The study found that before the pandemic, lonely people would report an average of two symptoms of depression for at least several days over the previous two weeks. During lockdown, lonely people reported either an increase in frequency of depressive symptoms, to more than half the days in the two week period, or a new symptom for at least several days in that time frame. In people who were not lonely, levels of depressive symptoms were unaffected. Professor Clive Ballard at the University of Exeter added: 'We are only just beginning to learn the impact that Covid-19 is having on the health and well-being of older people. 'For example, the effect of any economic impact may not yet have emerged. 'Our large-scale study will span a number of years, and will help us understand some of the longer-term effects of Covid-19 on mental health and well-being, and ultimately, on whether this has any knock-on effect on aspects of ageing, such as brain function and memory.' Every Voice Matters for Life NEWS PROVIDED BY Liberty Counsel Jan. 21, 2021 WASHINGTON, Jan. 21, 2021 /Christian Newswire/ -- Before leaving office, President Donald Trump proclaimed Friday, January 22 as National Sanctity of Human Life Day as it marks the 48th year since the U.S. Supreme Court decisions of Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton the infamous abortion opinions that opened the door to kill unborn babies up to birth. President Trump said, "Every human life is a gift to the world. Whether born or unborn, young or old, healthy or sick, every person is made in the holy image of God. The Almighty Creator gives unique talents, beautiful dreams, and a great purpose to every person. On National Sanctity of Human Life Day, we celebrate the wonder of human existence and renew our resolve to build a culture of life where every person of every age is protected, valued, and cherished." Since 1973, over 62 million unborn children have been killed in what should be the safest place--the womb. In 1984, President Ronald Reagan issued a proclamation designating January 22 as the National Sanctity of Human Life Day as the result of the influence of one woman, Dr. Mildred Jefferson, who worked tirelessly in support of personhood for every unborn child. Dr. Jefferson was the first black woman to graduate from Harvard Medical School and the first female surgeon at the Boston University Medical Center. During her career, she was awarded 28 honorary degrees. Dr. Jefferson's Christian faith compelled her to testify several times before Congress. She said, "I became a physician in order to help save lives, not to destroy them." Dr. Jefferson recognized that abortion was Satan's tool for eugenicists such as Planned Parenthood's founder, Margaret Sanger. A Boston public television station featured Dr. Jefferson in a 1972 episode of their series "The Advocates" dealing with the abortion issue. Her presentation was so effective she received a letter that read: "Yours was the most clear-cut exposition on this problem that I have ever heard. . . Several years ago I was faced with the issue of whether to sign a California abortion bill. . . I must confess to never having given the matter of abortion any serious thought until that time. No other issue since I have been in office has caused me to do so much study and soul-searching. . . I wish I could have heard your views before our legislation was passed. You made it irrefutably clear that an abortion is the taking of a human life. I'm grateful to you. Signed, Ronald Reagan." Dr. Jefferson believed that pro-life Americans have a duty to engage in political processes in order to give a voice to unborn children. She understood that if she didn't speak up, no one else would take her place. She knew it was her duty despite any personal cost to herself. Dr. Jefferson said, "I am at once a physician, a citizen, and a woman, and I am not willing to stand aside and allow this concept of expendable human lives to turn this great land of ours into just another exclusive reservation where only the perfect, the privileged, and the planned have the right to live." Download Liberty Counsel's booklet, "The Truth About Abortion." Liberty Counsel Founder and Chairman Mat Staver said, "January 22 is always a somber reminder that since 1973, tens of millions of preborn babies have been aborted in the United States. Margaret Sanger was a eugenicist that wanted to eliminate certain races and categories of people. Abortion is human genocide on a massive scale. Every life is precious. The womb must be a safe place again in America." Liberty Counsel provides broadcast quality TV interviews via Hi-Def Skype and LTN at no cost. SOURCE Liberty Counsel CONTACT: Mat Staver, 407-875-1776, Liberty@LC.org Related Links lc.org/ SUV kW kWh NHTSA For years and years now, car manufacturers have been investing billions of dollars into the research and development of autonomous vehicles. A car you can just jump in, input coordinates, and then go to sleep without having to worry about anything. Sure, we've made great progress since the early days when you wouldn't even get airbags with your car, but the question is, how far off from a fully autonomous vehicle are we?If you look past the main competitors in the automotive industry, you'll notice a plethora of companies that have emerged sometime in the past decade. Each one aimed to make itself noticed by launching innovative products packed with the latest technology. Vietnam-based automotive manufacturer VinFast is one of them. Launched in June of 2017, with its headquarters being located in Haiphong, VinFast had its first official appearance at the 2018 Paris Motor Show Following a reported initial investment of $1.5 billion, VinFast is now looking to make its first major move on the market by launching not one, but three Smart EV models. The company labels these as "SUVs that are multi-purpose vehicles, with a strong and trendy high-chassis design; capable of steering and self-driving assistance; equipped with outstanding safety and intelligence features." Without further ado, let's see what each one is about.The VinFast VF31 is a compactthat could be categorized as being part of the C-segment. It comes with basic self-driving and steering assistance features such as lane departure warning, blind-spot warning, and the list goes on to describe several options that are pretty much making their way into every new, premium-level vehicle these days. The VF31 will only be available in Vietnam, and the first units will be delivered in November 2021.The VF31 is 169 inches (4,300 mm) long, which makes it shorter than the Mazda CX-5 . It will be available with two different electric motors. The premium one has an output of 150(201 hp/204 PS) and 236 lb-ft (320 Nm) of torque, while the basic version only provides 85 kW (114 hp/115 PS) and 140 lb-ft (190 Nm) of torque. The company notes that an autonomy of up to 186 miles (300 km) is possible with this vehicle.The VinFast VF32 takes things to the next level, and it is labeled by the company as a "self-driving level 2-3 mid-size electric SUV, equivalent to a D-segment SUV". More interior space is available, as this model is 187 inches (4,750 mm) long, which means it's going to be slightly bigger than a Chevrolet Equinox , for example. The standard version will be powered by the engine used on the premium VF31.But the top of the line VF32 model will also benefit from a secondary electric engine as well, which will bring the total output to 300 kW (402 hp/408 PS) and 640 Nm (472 lb-ft) of torque. This car will also be using a permanent 4-wheel drive system and has a battery capacity of 90. The VinFast VF32 will be delivered in Vietnam starting February 2022, and the big news is it will also come to the United States, Canada, and Europe starting in June 2022.The VinFast VF33 is the most impressive vehicle of the Vietnamese manufacturer available to date. Measuring 201 inches (5,120 mm), it's just slightly longer than the 2021 Ford Explorer . The powertrain seems to be pretty much similar to the VF32, with the exception of an increased range of up to 341 miles (550 km), thanks to higher capacity batteries.VinFast points out that the VF33 is a "self-driving level 3 mid-size electric SUV with some level 4 features, equivalent to an E Segment SUV". Just as the VF32, you can put an order in for the VF33 starting September 2021 if you're in Vietnam, and November 2021 if you live in the United States, Canada, or Europe. Why yes, this one is coming to North America as well. Similarities with the VF32 continue in the safety ratings, as both vehicles are said to be engineered to get the best result in bothand Euro NCAP tests.Pricing for these three vehicles has not yet been disclosed, but we do have some more information regarding the available safety features. As the company states, the premium versions of these cars include "high-performance sensor systems including LiDAR sensors, 14 cameras that are capable of detecting objects up to 2,253 feet (687 meters) away and 19 360-degree sensors that allow warning and handling at high speeds of over 62 mph (100 kph)." Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. Second half of The Perfect Collection goes under hammer with Whisky Auctioneer The second half of one whisky lover's 'Perfect Collection' is going under the hammer next month in what is expected to be a historic sale. More than 1,900 bottles of rare, coveted and expensive single malts, many from long-lost Scottish distilleries, will feature in the sale, which is being hosted online by Whisky Auctioneer from 12-22 February. It is the second half of the collection of American philanthropist Richard Gooding, who dedicated more than two decades to seeking out some of the finest and rarest expressions from Scotland's distilleries and amassed a collection of nearly 4,000 bottles. One of the highlights at February's auction will be The Macallan 1926 Fine and Rare 60 Years Old, thought to be the world's most expensive bottle of whisky. It was drawn from Cask #263 and contains liquid distilled at the height of Prohibition in America. As one of no more than 14 bottles in existence with the Fine and Rare label, it is expected to fetch upwards of 1 million. Also going under the hammer are a bottle of The Balvenie 1937 50 Years Old, hailing from Bowmore's legendary 1964 vintage, and a 1921 private cask bottling of Dallas Dhu, which has not been seen on the secondary market for more than a quarter of a century. The 'Perfect Collection' launched in April 2020, with the first half fetching a total hammer price of 3.2 million and made Whisky Auctioneer the first auction house to sell a million-pound bottle of whisky. Iain McClune, founder of Whisky Auctioneer, said: "Mr Gooding's collection is nothing short of extraordinary and we are honoured and delighted to bring it to auction. Collectors, investors and whisky lovers alike will have their interest sparked by the truly astonishing array of whiskies on offer." Old and rare whisky expert, Angus MacRaild, added: "The most notable aspects about The Perfect Collection, for me, are that it offers enthusiasts and drinkers of old-style whiskies a treasure trove of opportunities to obtain obscure and very rarely seen independently bottled single malts done solely for the US market." To sign up for part two of The Perfect Collection and for more information go to www.whiskyauctioneer.com. 22 January 2021 - Bethany Whymark Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain After helping me put away Christmas decorations for another year, my younger daughter and I decided to have a tea party just because. I retrieved my treasured china tea pot that my mom hand-painted many years ago and pulled two of my favorite tea cups out of the cabinet. Using guidance from tea experts, I poured fresh water into the kettle (never reuse already boiled water, they say) and brought it to a boil. When it was rumbling, I turned off the heat and waited a minute before gently pouring it over the tea. (Don't want to burn the delicate leaves, they say.) Now it was time to steep the tea in hot water. I followed the directions for my newest tea find, Trankebar. (This family-owned business in Colorado produces "perfect indulgence teas" and also supports non-profit groups such as Wildlife SOS hence the elephants on its tea boxes.) As advised, I allowed four minutes for the flavors and healthful compounds in this aromatic black tea to be extracted. Last step: I gently removed the bags from the water and resisted the urge to squeeze them. This, say tea gurus, prevents bitter compounds from entering my perfect cup of tea. Ahhh time to put up our feet and enjoy the moment. Why is there such pleasure in a simple cup of tea? Turns out this second-most-consumed beverage in the world (behind water) imparts emotional benefits in addition to its well documented health advantages. This other type of wellness that goes beyond our risk for disease is called "health related quality of life" (HRQoL). It measures how well we function emotionally and socially. Studies are now emerging that report better quality of life scores for people who are habitual tea drinkers. Let's hear it for tea parties! There is also good evidence that tea's compounds have positive effects on bone health and immunity and may help fight off inflammatory diseases such as heart disease and cancer. Obesity is an inflammatory disease as well and I find that a cup of tea in a pretty cup helps me fight the urge to raid the M&M jar. Most tea research involves the consumption of teas from the Camellia sinensis plant, which includes black tea, green tea, oolong tea and white tea. Their differences arise from how they are processed. Black tea, for example, is darker and has a richer flavor because its leaves are dried and fermented. White tea, on the other hand, has a more delicate flavor and has less caffeine than the others. What can destroy the healthful properties of our beloved tea? Drowning it in sugar or fluffing it up with too much cream. This may definitely be the year to delight in the goodness of an uncomplicated cup of tea. Explore further Beating the bulge with a nice cup of tea Provided by Monterey Herald 2021 MediaNews Group, Inc. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. When President Biden was sworn in shortly before noon on Wednesday, he inherited a host of foreign policy challenges from former President Donald Trump. Most he would have recognized from his time as vice president, but all of them have evolved in the meantime. Bidens predecessor in the White House can point to a few foreign policy achievements on his watch. These include the Abraham Accords, which established peaceful relations between Israel and several Arab countries; the killing of Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi; and the destruction of that groups self-styled physical caliphate. But Trumps attempts to charm North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un into giving up his nuclear weapons were an abject failure, and his withdrawal from the World Health Organization and decision to engage in a trade war with China have left a lot of pieces for the Biden administration to pick up. President Biden at the White House on Thursday. (Alex Brandon/AP) China First among the foreign policy challenges that the new administration faces is an increasingly assertive China, as Bidens secretary of state nominee, Antony Blinken, made clear Tuesday during his confirmation hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. There is no doubt that it poses the most significant challenge of any nation-state to the United States, Blinken said. Trump launched a trade war with China in 2018, and although the two sides reached an agreement to scale back hostilities in early 2020, Washington and Beijing have continued to trade blows, with Trump signing an executive order in November that banned Americans from investing in firms with links to the Chinese military. Meanwhile, the COVID-19 pandemic, which originated in China, gave Trump another rhetorical cudgel with which to beat China and particularly its ruling Communist Party. Chinese President Xi Jinping delivering an address to the China International Import Expo in November. (Mark Schiefelbein/AP) Under the leadership of President Xi Jinping, who consolidated his hold on power during Trumps tenure and is now effectively ruler for life, China in recent years has continued its military buildup, reinforced its claims to disputed territories in the South China Sea and sought to dominate international organizations, sometimes filling the vacuum left by the United States under the Trump administration. Story continues The United States must approach China from a position of strength, not weakness, Blinken told the committee. Occupying such a position is still largely within our control, but doing so would require the United States to work with rather than denigrate its allies, and to resume its traditional leadership role in international institutions as opposed to ceding [that] terrain to China, he added. In written responses to advance policy questions from the Senate Armed Services Committee, Bidens defense secretary, retired Army Gen. Lloyd Austin, likewise identified China as the top priority for the Pentagon because of its ascent and the scope and scale of its military modernization. Referring to the continued erosion of U.S. military advantage vis-a-vis China and Russia as the most significant risk the Department must address, Austin warned that unless this trend is reversed, it could fundamentally challenge our ability to achieve U.S. national security objectives. Russia In contrast to the rhetorical offensive that Trump maintained against the Chinese regime, the former president remained extraordinarily solicitous toward Russian leader Vladimir Putin throughout his four-year term. Before running for president, Trump had written an obsequious note to Putin, congratulating the Russian president on being named Times Man of the Year and declaring himself a big fan of the former KGB officer. During Trumps time in the White House, Russian intelligence reportedly paid bounties to Taliban fighters in Afghanistan in return for attacks on U.S. troops; poisoned Putins chief Russian critic, Alexei Navalny, in an apparent assassination attempt; and, most recently, was discovered to have launched a massive cyber espionage campaign against U.S. government and private entities. Often referred to as the SolarWinds hack after the software firm that discovered it, the Russian campaign is still ongoing. Russian President Vladimir Putin at a meeting via videoconference on Jan. 14. (Mikhail Klimentyev, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP) However, even as evidence of Russian malfeasance toward the U.S. mounted, Trump rarely if ever found it in himself to criticize Putin. On Thursday, Bidens first full day on the job, his administration announced a major intelligence review of Russian activities such as the bounty program and the SolarWinds hack. But in a sign that Biden intends to find common ground where possible with Moscow, the new administration was also widely reported to be planning to offer an extension of the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty for another five years. North Korea While China poses a long-term challenge to U.S. interests, North Koreas development of nuclear capability and the failure of both the Obama and Trump administrations to persuade the Kim family regime to trade that capability away remains a short-term threat that the new administration cannot afford to ignore. Noting that this is a hard problem that has plagued administration after administration, Blinken told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Tuesday that the Biden team plans to review the entire approach and policy towards North Korea because its a problem that has not gotten better in fact, its gotten worse. A TV screen showing North Korean leader Kim Jong Un during a ruling party congress on Jan. 6. (Ahn Young-joon/AP) Like Blinken, Austin, who in general gave little away in either his written answers or his comments during his lengthy Tuesday afternoon confirmation hearing, also committed to consulting with the United States two primary regional partners, South Korea and Japan, in fashioning a strategy to contain North Korea. The United States relationships with those partners are critical to regional security and stability and provide a powerful deterrent to North Korean threats, he said in his written responses to questions. Iran Another nuclear adversary rarely far from the headlines is Iran. Biden can expect his dealings with the Islamic Republic to be scrutinized by his political opponents. This is particularly the case because several of his nominees and prospective appointees for national security jobs in the new administration, including Blinken and William Burns, the presidents pick for CIA director, had roles in negotiating the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, which was heavily criticized by Republicans and from which the Trump administration withdrew in May 2018. In the wake of Trumps abandonment of the deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, Iran has said it is no longer bound by the terms of the agreement. Earlier this month, Tehran announced it would resume enriching uranium to levels that were banned by the deal, which China, Russia, France, the United Kingdom and Germany co-signed. A key criticism of the deal was that it did nothing to constrain Irans development of a substantial ballistic missile activity or its irregular warfare activity usually conducted via proxy forces in Lebanon, Iraq, Syria and Yemen. The Biden campaign website pledged that so long as Iran returned to compliance with the deal, a Biden administration would re-enter the agreement, using hard-nosed diplomacy and support from our allies to strengthen and extend it, while more effectively pushing back against Irans other destabilizing activities. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani at a Cabinet meeting in Tehran. (Iranian Presidency/Handout/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images) Biden is committed to the proposition that Iran will not acquire a nuclear weapon, Blinken told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. But Blinken said withdrawing from the Iran nuclear deal had reduced the time Tehran required to create enough fissile material for a nuclear weapon from beyond a year to three or four months, based on what Blinken described as public reporting. The Biden administration will seek to negotiate a longer and stronger version of the agreement, Blinken said, but he acknowledged that were a long way from there. Iran has, of course, been particularly active in two countries where the United States has had troops deployed: Iraq and Syria. Iranian and U.S. forces spent several years delicately tiptoeing around each other as they each sought to help their Iraqi partners defeat the Islamic State. That ended early last year when U.S. forces killed Iranian Maj. Gen. Qassem Soleimani, the mastermind of the Iranian proxy campaigns across the Middle East. Afghanistan and Iraq As Bidens national security team prepared for their confirmation hearings, an unofficial memo outlining the administrations plans for the next few weeks found its way around Washington. It stated that Biden intends to issue a Forever Wars executive order in February that will initiate a review of counterterrorism operations with a view to reducing them and will start a process to move substantial use of force operations out of the control of the CIA and place them instead under the military. As the memo suggests, Biden is now commander in chief of a military still fighting wars that began many years before he became Barack Obamas vice president in January 2009. Trump had sought to make good on his 2016 campaign promise to bring U.S. troops home from the long wars the United States has been fighting in Afghanistan, Iraq and the Horn of Africa in the years since al-Qaida attacked the U.S. on Sept. 11, 2001. On Jan. 15, the Pentagon announced that U.S. forces had been reduced to 2,500 in each of Iraq and Afghanistan. Virtually all U.S. troops have also withdrawn from Somalia. Mike Pompeo, then secretary of state, meets with Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, head of the Taliban's peace negotiation team, in November. (Patrick Semansky, Pool via AP) The drawdown in Afghanistan bequeaths to Biden something similar to the basic U.S. footprint he has long advocated: a small force of intelligence and special operations forces to pursue al-Qaida and advise the Afghan government on how to secure the country against the Taliban. But the peace deal that the Trump administration signed with the Taliban commits the U.S. to withdraw completely from that country if the Taliban does not allow any terrorist groups, including al-Qaida, to use Afghanistan as a base. Beyond that, the deal also requires the Taliban not to have any dealings with groups that threaten U.S. security, a stipulation that would appear to include al-Qaida, which has never renounced its state of war with the United States. While the United States has made considerable progress against both al-Qaida and the Islamic State around the world, in Afghanistan theres still a problem with al-Qaida, Blinken told the Senate on Tuesday. Theres still a presence, theres still a relationship with the Taliban, he said, before adding that that presence is much diminished from what it was. However, Blinken said, if we take our eye off that ball, theres a risk that it comes back. With regard to the Islamic State, Blinken said that although U.S. forces and their partners had succeeded in ejecting the groups forces from their self-declared caliphate, its affiliates had sprouted up across the globe. Weve still got our work cut out for us, he said. _____ Read more from Yahoo News: (Reuters) - U.S. public health officials said a second COVID-19 shot could be administered as much as six weeks apart from the first one in situations where it was not possible to get a booster dose immediately. In most cases, the recommended dosing interval of three weeks for Pfizer Inc's vaccine and four weeks for Moderna Inc's vaccine should be followed, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said in its guidance on Thursday. However, "sometimes the situation is stressed where it's very difficult to be exactly on time", U.S. infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci told CNN on Friday. "I don't see a big problem with that (six weeks recommendation) if the situation on the ground means the stress is such that you can't precisely do 28 days or 21 days," Fauci added. Moderna said there was no data to give an informed perspective on the CDC's recommendation, while Pfizer did not respond to Reuters' request for comment. Britain has begun spacing doses of the vaccines by up to 12 weeks despite little data, saying the move could help more people get initial protection. (Reporting by Manas Mishra in Bengaluru, additional reporting by Susan Heavey in Washington; Editing by Anil D'Silva) remaining of Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. MOSCOW -- Russian riot police cracked down hard on some of the biggest anti-government protests in years on January 23, detaining thousands of demonstrators calling for Aleksei Navalny's release at nationwide rallies that raised the stakes in the jailed opposition leader's showdown with President Vladimir Putin. More than 3,000 people were arrested by police who clashed with and beat protesters, triggering criticism from the European Union and United States. The protests were a high-stakes test of Navalny's support in the depths of the Russian winter during the COVID-19 pandemic and economic downturn ahead of legislative elections expected in September. They pitted public outrage over the Kremlins treatment of its chief critic following his recovery in Germany from poisoning with a military-grade nerve agent against how much of a threat Putin sees from the 44-year-old lawyer he has repeatedly sought to downplay. In Moscow, thousands of demonstrators filled Pushkin Square in the city center, where clashes with police broke out and demonstrators were roughly dragged off by helmeted riot officers to police buses and detention trucks, some beaten with batons. Police eventually pushed demonstrators out of the square. Thousands then regrouped along a wide boulevard about a kilometer away, many of them throwing snowballs at the police. City officials put the crowd at some 4,000, while Reuters estimated some 40,000 had turned up for the demonstration in the Russian capital. The OVD-Info group that monitors political arrests said Russian police detained 3,296 people at unauthorized countrywide protests on January 23, including 1,274 in Moscow. Arrests in central Moscow included Navalny's wife, Yulia Navalnaya, and the Kremlin critic's close associate Lyubov Sobol, who was detained near Pushkin Square after speaking to Navalny's supporters. Hundreds of people remained gathered in the city center as evening fell. Police called on them to go home and blocked off several streets around the Kremlin. Some protesters later on January 23 gathered outside the high-security Matrosskaya Tishina detention center where Navalny is being held but were eventually pushed back by police, who made arrests. The demonstrators outside the prison chanted "Freedom!" and called on authorities to release Navalny. In St. Petersburg, scuffles between police and protesters were reported as well. Images of protesters with injuries such as bloodied heads circulated on social media. More than 40 officers received minor injuries during the protest in the capital, state agency TASS reported. Police were reported to have also rounded up minors. The detention of a young boy on Pushkin Square was filmed and uploaded to social media. Instances of alleged police brutality were also filmed, including video posted on Twitter that showed a Moscow police officer kneeling on the neck of a protester. The U.S. State Department strongly condemned what it called the "harsh tactics" used by Russian authorities and called for all those detained by police to be released. "We call on Russian authorities to release all those detained for exercising their universal rights," U.S. State Department spokesman Ned Price said in a statement, which also called for Navalny's "unconditional" release. The European Union's foreign policy chief expressed concern, saying he deplored "widespread arrests" and the "disproportionate use of force." "Following unfolding events in #Russia with concern," Josep Borrell wrote on Twitter on January 23. "I deplore widespread detentions, disproportionate use of force, cutting down internet and phone connections. We will discuss on Monday next steps with EU Foreign Ministers." Amnesty International condemned Russian authorities for the mass arrests and detentions. Russian authorities relentlessly unleash reprisals against peaceful protesters; what we saw today has only confirmed this. The police ignored their duty to guarantee the right to peaceful assembly and instead indiscriminately beat and arbitrarily arrested protesters, many of whom were young people," said Natalia Zviagina, Amnesty Internationals Russia director. Leonid Volkov, an ally of Navalny, said the opposition would hold more protests next weekend to demand Navalny's release. The first rallies on January 23 began in Siberia and the Far East with large crowds taking to the streets in Khabarovsk, Vladivostok, Novosibirsk, and other cities -- despite subfreezing temperatures and a heavy security presence. The protests are believed to be Russia's largest since March 2017 when coordinated anti-government demonstrations took place in 99 cities and towns across the country. More than 15,000 people attended rallies in the regions, according to tallies gathered by correspondents of MBKh Media -- an online news organization founded in 2017 by the exiled Russian businessman Mikhail Khodorkovsky. Reports from Khabarovsk said police beat detainees. Video posted on Twitter from Vladivostok showed police in riot gear charging at demonstrators and beating some with truncheons. In the Far East city of Yakutsk, protesters went out on the streets despite strong winds and temperatures of minus 50 degrees Celsius. Video posted on Twitter from Irkutsk showed a massive crowd of protesters chanting, "We will not leave!" RFE/RL's Tatar-Bashkir Service reports that authorities in Ufa, the capital of the Russian region of Bashkortostan, arrested protesters at a rally attended by more than 3,000 people. Among those taken into custody were Ruslan Valiyev, the editor in chief of Ekho Moskvy in Ufa, and the head of Navalny's campaign team in Ufa, Lilia Chanyseva. In Yekaterinburg, riot police reportedly clashed with demonstrators who'd gathered in temperatures of minus 30 degrees Celsius. Video posted to Twitter earlier in the day from Yekaterinburg showed protesters pelting police with snowballs. Ahead of the coordinated action in at least 65 Russian cities, authorities detained Navalny allies and warned social-media platforms to pull down posts calling on people to attend the "unsanctioned" rallies or face hefty fines. The Kremlin said the nationwide unsanctioned protests are illegal. The Kremlin shot itself in the foot with a completely hysterical campaign to try to prevent the protests," Leonid Volkov, coordinator of Navalnys Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK), told Current Time ahead of the protests. Current Time is the Russian-language network led by RFE/RL in cooperation with VOA. "Should demonstrations on January 23 not bring about an immediate result, which is clear -- we demand a release of Aleksei Navalny -- then such actions will be repeated over and over again, Volkov said. Ahead of the protests, universities and colleges across Russia reportedly urged students not to attend the rallies, with some saying they may be subject to disciplinary action, including expulsion. Russias largest social network, VKontakte, blocked all the pages dedicated to the rallies after Roskomnadzor, the national telecommunications watchdog, announced it would fine social-media companies for encouraging minors to participate. That action came amid media reports of calls for demonstrations -- and videos of school students replacing portraits of Putin in their classrooms with that of Navalny -- going viral among teenagers on the social network TikTok. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on January 22 that it is only natural that there are warnings...about the possible consequences related to noncompliance with the law" since there are calls for unauthorized, unlawful events. Navalny was taken into police custody shortly after his arrival in Russia on January 17 from Berlin where he was treated for a near-fatal poisoning in August with a Soviet-style chemical from the Novichok group. At a hastily arranged hearing at a police station on January 18, a judge authorized Navalnys detention for 30 days pending a ruling on his suspended sentence that could be revoked and replaced by prison time, allegedly for parole violations. In a message on Instagram via his lawyer late on January 22, he said from a Moscow jail cell that he wanted people to know he was in good physical and mental health. "Just in case, I am announcing that I dont plan to either hang myself on a window grill or cut my veins or throat open with a sharpened spoon, the post said. I use the staircase very carefully. They measure my blood pressure every day and it's like a cosmonaut's, so a sudden heart attack is ruled out. I know for a fact that there are many good people outside my prison and that help will come. Navalny has accused Putin of ordering his assassination, which combined with his detention has sparked widespread Western condemnation and threats of further sanctions. Human Rights Watch on January 22 urged Russian authorities to cease what it called unlawful attacks on freedom of expression and instead focus on ensuring safety measures to protect those who wish to assemble peacefully. In the past year Russian authorities have effectively banned all peaceful protest by the political opposition and prosecuted anyone who has refused to comply, said Hugh Williamson, Europe and Central Asia director at Human Rights Watch. Dozens of influential Russians, including actors, musicians, journalists, writers, athletes and popular bloggers, have come out with statements in support of Navalny, and some promised to attend the demonstrations. Bloomberg, citing two sources close to Russia's leaders, reported on January 22 that the Kremlin intends to imprison Navalny for "several years, or even more. Authorities accuse Navalny of violating the terms of a suspended sentence in a 2014 conviction for financial misdeeds, including violating the terms of parole while convalescing in Germany. He and supporters reject the charges, saying they are politically motivated to put an end to his anti-corruption work. Navalnys latest volley against state corruption -- a two-hour video about a $1.36 billion palace on the Black Sea allegedly belonging to Putin -- was released just two days after he was detained. The video has since become the most-watched report ever published by Navalny's Anti-Corruption Foundation. Peskov said on January 22 that the investigation into Putin and the Black Sea mansion was a lie and a cut-and-paste job. With reporting by RFE/RL correspondent Matthew Luxmoore, Current Time, RFE/RLs Russian Service, RFE/RL's Tatar-Bashkir Service, AFP, dpa, Reuters, and AP 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 special legislative commission convened this week to investigate the springtime crisis at the Holyoke Soldiers Home, which experienced one of the deadliest long-term care outbreaks in the state and likely the country. Updated on February 2 with information from the New York City Department of Small Businesses regarding the portion of the city's procurement budget spent on women- and minority-owned businesses in 2020. It's been a good week for equality. Just hours after taking the oath of office Wednesday, President Biden issued an executive order bolstering Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to require that the federal government does not discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. And, at the local level, New York City's Department of Small Business Services announced Tuesday that it would recognize LGBTQ business owners as minorities, a decision that will grant them a competitive advantage when bidding for contracts with the city, which will spend more than $20 billion on contractors this year. Mayor Bill DeBlasio in 2016 pledged that at least 30 percent of that giant pot would go to women- and minority-owned enterprises (M/WBEs) by 2021. But in reality, the 30 percent pledge applies to a much smaller pot. In fiscal year 2020 the city's total procurement budget was $22.5 billion; of that, only $4.29 billion was covered by Local Law 1, a common way of referring to the city's M/WBE utilization policy. According to Shaina Coronel, Press Associate for the NYC Department of Small Businesses, "The policy requires that City agencies set M/WBE utilization goals on four contract types: construction, professional services, standard services, and goods up to $1 million." In fiscal year 2020, the city spent $1.13 billion on M/WBEs, or 28 percent of the allotment covered by Local Law 1. Qualified businesses--those with at least 51 percent LGBTQ ownership--must certify with the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC), or the NYC Department of Small Business Services in order to expedite their bid for a M/WBE contract. "Equity of access and inclusion are at the core of the work we do at SBS," says Jonnel Doris, commissioner of the NYC Department of Small Business Services in a press release announcing the decision. "A diverse vendor pool makes a stronger New York City, and we are excited to maximize the inclusion of LGBTQ certified firms into the city's certification process." New York City joins a growing list of American cities--including Los Angeles, Baltimore, St. Louis, Chicago, Orlando, and Nashville--that recognize NGLCC-certified businesses as minority-owned when awarding contracts. The historic decision is a long time in the making. "I've been here in my role, leading public policy, almost six years, says Jonathan Lovitz, senior vice president of the NGLCC. "And in that time, we went from just three cities and states that recognized LGBTQ people as part of the minority business community in the public sector, to now over 25 cities and states, with a lot more on the way in 2021." Lovitz says that the rise in support from state and local governments is due in large part to the strength and power of LGBTQ entrepreneurs, citing the $1.7 trillion their businesses contribute to the U.S. economy. Access to city contracts isn't the only advantage being unlocked for LGBTQ business owners in New York City. The city's Small Business Services department has for years offered training and educational programs on everything from writing a business proposal to seeking funding. An entire subset of those programs is focused on women and minority owners, and now those programs can also be specialized for LGBTQ entrepreneurs. Plus, Lovitz says, more than a third of the Fortune 500 make it a priority to work with minority-owned businesses. Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-22 07:56:15|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 21 (Xinhua) -- The General Assembly on Thursday adopted a resolution to promote a culture of peace and tolerance to safeguard religious sites. The resolution calls for strengthened international efforts to foster a global dialogue on the promotion of a culture of tolerance and peace at all levels, based on respect for human rights and for the diversity of religions and beliefs. It condemns all acts or threats of violence, destruction, damage or endangerment, directed against religious sites and denounces any moves to obliterate or forcibly convert any religious sites. It invites all member states, the UN system, regional and nongovernmental organizations and other relevant stakeholders to support UN initiatives that promote tolerance, including the UN Plan of Action to Safeguard Religious Sites. The resolution expresses concern about the increase in incidents of racial and religious intolerance, discrimination and related violence, as well as of negative racial and religious stereotyping. It condemns any advocacy of national, racial or religious hatred that constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence, and urges states to take effective measures to address and combat such incidents. It expresses deep concern at the continued serious instances of derogatory stereotyping, negative profiling and stigmatization of persons based on their religion or belief, as well as programs and agendas pursued by extremist individuals, organizations and groups aimed at creating and perpetuating negative stereotypes about religious groups. It reaffirms the essential need to strengthen international, regional and subregional cooperation aimed at enhancing the national capacity of member states to prevent and effectively suppress attacks on places of worship. It deplores damage to the cultural heritage of countries in situations of crisis, conflict and post-conflict, and calls for an immediate end to such acts. The resolution calls on the United Nations to continue to develop strategies, educational initiatives and global communications campaigns and tools aimed at strengthening the protection of religious sites and cultural heritage, fostering mutual respect and understanding, enhancing media awareness and countering religious intolerance and hate speech. It invites all member states to enhance education and capacity-building to counter incitement to violence through fostering the messages of unity, solidarity and interreligious and intercultural dialogue, raising awareness and mutual respect toward promoting the culture of peace, non-violence and non-discrimination, and promoting understanding among people of all cultures, religions and beliefs, as well as the importance of peaceful coexistence. Enditem MEMBERS of the Traveller community in Cork have been offered emergency accommodation to self-isolate following an outbreak of Covid-19 at an overcrowded halting site on the northside of the city. Residents at the Spring Lane halting site in Ballyvolane have been offered a range of supports, including food hampers, after cases were detected onsite. Speaking to The Echo, the chair of the citys Traveller Accommodation Committee, Cllr Oliver Moran, said some groups, because of their circumstances, need more support than others when an outbreak occurs. When there is an outbreak of Covid-19, the response from the HSE or the city council, it can be very different in very different circumstances but the overall effort is the same and that is to support people who need to self-isolate, either while theyre waiting for a result to come through or after they have been diagnosed and they need to isolate from the rest of the community for the course of the illness. How that has been happening throughout the pandemic, there has been wrap-around responses from the city council and the HSE in different circumstances. So for a lot of people, elderly people particularly, throughout the city, throughout the pandemic the city council have been providing care packages and supports like that. That model is also being applied with respect to the Traveller community now there has been quite a large outbreak on one accommodation site in the city. That involves providing hampers of food so that families that have chosen to self-isolate in the site can remain isolating there for the course of the illness, he said. Read More Nphet calls for mandatory quarantine for people arriving into Ireland With respect to Traveller accommodation in the city, in this outbreak, residents have been offered emergency accommodation if they would like to self-isolate away from the site. A small number have taken that up. The majority of residents have chosen to remain in their homes and to self-isolate there. The focus for the HSE and for the city council and for the voluntary organisations involved is to support that as someones choice and to ensure they can properly self-isolate in their own homes, he continued. The Green Party councillor said the current pandemic has further underscored the need for improved Traveller accommodation facilities in the city. Just over a year ago, Cork City Council agreed a new Traveller accommodation plan which involves addressing the issue of overcrowding on Spring Lane by dramatically reducing the number of people living there by providing alternative accommodation away from Spring Lane and also by building a new Traveller accommodation site next door at Ellis's Yard. That is the near-term plan. Unfortunately that has been held up by the arrival of Covid-19, he said. The lessons from Covid-19 is that we need to move very quickly on addressing the issues of overcrowding in Traveller accommodation in Cork." The Echo has contacted Cork City Council and the HSE for comment. Software company SimSage has revolutionised the way website search tools can be used by agri-businesses and organisations to better connect farmers with the information they need. It has developed a downloadable plugin website search function, which uses artificial intelligence to understand agricultures natural language. A farmer typing artificial insemination into the Google search bar will provide a colourful list of results, but unlikely will it be the shade they were looking for. In industry, natural language is the use and interpretation of words and phrases that are specific to that sector, says co-founder Sean Wilson. And acronyms are another sticking point. Type AI into any popular search engine and Artificial Intelligence will dominate the search results - even when combined with agriculture but standard search functions arent configured to the broad range of agricultural language. While this example may seem trivial, it reflects on the incompatibilities creating barriers for an industry trying to keep digital pace. When looking at farmers web use, Duchy Colleges Rural Business School (RBS) found that farmers are online to find important information; most frequent in those searches were government websites, explains Mr Wilson. Additionally, finding information is often hindered by inadequate search engines with participants calling for a farmers google. The information gained through the RBS survey highlighted an opportunity for the business to adapt its original software. SimSage started up in May 2019 with our core product - software aimed at streamlining a businesss internal information storage and sourcing, explains Mr Wilson. While the original software has been successfully implemented in agri-business - including Glas Datas knowledge base and data connect platform we could see our core technology tackling challenges raised through the RBS survey. With the help of grant funding through Agri-Tech Cornwall and the Cornwall Development Company, SimSage brought in a range of partners to speed up this development. HARRISBURG, Pa. - A Pennsylvania woman accused of helping to steal a laptop from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's office during the attack on the U.S. Capitol was ordered released from detention on Thursday and placed in her mother's custody. Riley June Williams, 22, must stay in the home she shares with her mother and abide by other conditions of release, including avoiding contact with any witnesses or victims of the Jan. 6 Capitol storming. Federal Magistrate Judge Martin Carlson said he was releasing Williams in part because she had no prior criminal record, but he warned her that her mother, Wendy Williams, could be criminally charged if she fails to report to the court any violations of the conditions of release. "Your mother is making an enormous leap of faith on your behalf, and you are the one person in this courtroom who can make sure your mother doesn't have to choose between her love for you and her duty to this court," Carlson told the defendant. Although a federal prosecutor argued earlier this week that Williams should be detained, he and Williams's public defender said Thursday that they had reached an agreement on release. Williams faces two felony charges punishable by decades in prison, as well as two misdemeanors, according to charging documents. An updated affidavit filed Tuesday accuses her of filming and then sharing a video of someone else picking up an HP computer from a desk in Pelosi's office. A user named "Riley" later posted on the social media platform Discord that they "STOLE S - T FROM NANCY POLESI," the affidavit says. Williams was first charged with trespassing as well as violent entry to and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds. Prosecutors then added the felony charges: aiding or abetting the theft of government property and obstructing, influencing or impeding an official proceeding. As bailiffs escorted her into court on Thursday, Williams whispered "Hi, Mom" to her mother, who was seated at the defense table. Williams sat erect throughout the hearing and answered Carlson's questions succinctly and without emotion. Her public defender, Lori Ulrich, acknowledged that Williams entered the Capitol during the attack and said it was "regrettable that Ms. Williams took the president's bait." In a speech to thousands of supporters before the storming, then-President Donald Trump encouraged them to "fight" and "show strength." But Ulrich argued without further explanation that the charges against Williams were "overstated." She also sought to characterize allegations that Williams changed her phone number after the riot as an attempt to protect herself from an abusive ex-boyfriend, rather than an effort to escape authorities. While the FBI wrote in the affidavit that Williams appeared to have fled, Ulrich said a police officer investigating the former boyfriend's alleged abuse directed her to change the number. That ex-boyfriend was a key witness in the FBI's investigation. He told authorities that Williams's friends played a video of her stealing a hard drive or computer from Pelosi's office. Williams planned to send the device "to a friend in Russia, who then planned to sell the device to SVR, Russia's foreign intelligence service," the former boyfriend said, according to the affidavit. The FBI said that "the transfer of the computer device to Russia fell through for unknown reasons" and that Williams either destroyed the laptop or still has it. The stolen laptop, "only used for presentations," was taken from a conference room, Drew Hammill, Pelosi's deputy chief of staff, has said. In video clips allegedly live-streamed from the Capitol by Williams, a female voice that the FBI believes is hers instructs someone else in Pelosi's office to put on gloves. A black-gloved hand then takes a computer off a table as a caption on the video says, "they got the laptop." Another video, published by ITV News and posted to YouTube, shows Williams directing people up a staircase in the Capitol toward Pelosi's office, the affidavit says. "Up the stairs! Up the stairs!" she allegedly yells. "Go! Go!" The FBI said they determined that Williams drove to and from Washington for the "Stop the Steal" demonstration with her father, but that the pair separated during the event. Wendy Williams later told an ITV News reporter that her daughter had suddenly become interested in Trump's politics and "far-right message boards," according to the affidavit. Williams "took off" in expectation of law enforcement looking for her, her mother told ITV News. The defendant surrendered to authorities on Monday, a day after she was charged. Williams, her mother and her father, who also attended Thursday's hearing, declined to answer questions from reporters afterward. Williams is scheduled to appear in court on Jan. 25 at a virtual hearing in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. Before Williams was brought back to Dauphin County Prison to be processed for release, Carlson gave a pointed speech about the allegations that she had tried to interfere with Congress's constitutional obligation to certify the electoral college results. Calling her alleged actions "antithetical to these constitutional values," Carlson said Williams was being released from custody because her public defender and the assistant U.S. attorney on the case fulfilled their constitutional obligation to pursue justice. "Your freedom, conditioned as it is by the orders that I have entered, is the result of the prevailing of the Constitution," Carlson said. " . . . The Constitution prevails here today. And the Constitution will always prevail in this country." - - - The Washington Post's Christine Spolar, Hannah Knowles and Spencer S. Hsu contributed to this report. Poor youths from the upper castes have recently lost 26,807 jobs in the hirings done for village/ward volunteers by the state government. Kurnool: With the Telangana State implementing EWS reservation for forward communities, the Reddy Association has stepped up the demand for its implementation in Andhra Pradesh also. OC JAC held a dharna near the collectorate here on Friday and performed a Milk Abhishek for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekara Rao. Joint action committee for OC (OCJAC) state president Birru Pratap Reddy sought immediate implementation of the 10 per cent Economic Weaker Section (EWS) reservation in AP. After the protest dharna, the activists organised Palabhisekham at the flex of Prime Minister Modi, thanking him for having introduced this quota system in central government jobs. Addressing the gathering, Pratap Reddy said while this was implemented elsewhere, AP has not taken such a step. He also demanded the setting up of a Reddy Corporation in the state. He warned the government of a hunger strike if the demand is not met. We would call a Chalo Amaravathi protest in January last week to press this demand, he said. JAC steering committee leaders Manohar, Hemalath Reddy, Reddy Sankshema Sangam state media cell convener T Pratap Reddy and others participated in the protest. Meanwhile, AP Congress Committee working president Dr N. Tulasi Reddy requested the YSRC government to implement the EWS reservation. He wrote a letter to Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy, saying unemployed youths among the upper castes not entitled now to reservation facility are having difficulty getting jobs. The Centre had given 10 per cent reservation in central government schools as also in jobs to the upper caste poor via the 103rd amendment to the Constitution, he noted. He recalled that the Congress and the YSR Congress had supported the constitutional amendment bill in Parliament. Several state governments have already implemented it. The Telangana government was preparing to implement this. The AP government was implementing EWS reservations in schools but not in job placements, he said. Tulasireddy said the state government had recently stated it would issue special orders for this purpose. Poor youths from the upper castes have recently lost 26,807 jobs in the hirings done for village/ward volunteers by the state government, as also in filling 12,589 vacancies in Secretariat and 971 vacancies in the medical sector. This, he said, was unfair and unconstitutional. He appealed to the state government to issue orders implementing the 10 per cent EWS reservation on the lines of the 103rd Constitutional amendment. CLEVELAND, Ohio Mayor Frank Jackson on Thursday announced the appointment of Martin Keane as the director of Clevelands Department of Public Utilities. Keane, a former city councilman from the West Side, most recently was the assistant director of the department. He replaces Robert Davis, who resigned the post earlier this month. Keane was sworn in by Jackson on Thursday. Martin Keane comes to this position with valuable experience, having previously served as assistant director of Public Utilities as well as a longtime councilperson and chairman of the Utilities Committee, Jackson said in a statement. Davis last day on the job was last Friday. On Wednesday, Essential Utilities Inc. announced Davis would become the president of the companys Aqua Ohio water and wastewater utility. The company provides water service to about 500,000 residents in 19 counties in northeastern and eastern Ohio. Its systems include 33 water treatment plants and five wastewater treatment plants. Keanes appointment was announced late Thursday evening in the citys daily coronavirus briefing note. The Department of Public Utilities which includes Cleveland Water, Cleveland Public Power and Cleveland Water Pollution Control. Keane will manage the operations and oversight of more than 1,700 employees and a $570 million annual budget. Keane was elected to City Council in 2007 to represent the Kamms Corners, West Park and Puritas neighborhoods -- an area that now makes up the bulk of Ward 17. He chaired the Utilities Committee and was vice chair of the Transportation Committee. He resigned his seat in 2019 to take a post in the utilities department. Prior to joining City Council, Keane worked as a probation officer and then as an assistant county prosecutor of Cuyahoga County. Keane was raised in Ward 17, where his father served on City Council in the 1970s. After graduating from St. Ignatius High School, he attended the Ohio State University. He later earned his law degree at Cleveland Marshall College of Law. More from Cleveland City Hall Cleveland City Council OKs hiring Cuyahoga County to replace water main when it replaces Hilliard Road bridge Cleveland City Council votes to extend program that allows restaurants to add outdoor tables in public spaces Quicken Loans LLC plans to add 700 jobs in downtown Cleveland, city to offer job creation grant (CNN) China says that it is a "victim" of misinformation after Twitter restricted the account of the Chinese embassy in the United States. The retort comes after Twitter temporarily locked the account of the Chinese embassy over a tweet it posted defending Beijing's treatment of Uyghurs. The post, which was made earlier this month, claimed that Uyghur women in Xinjiang were no longer "baby-making machines." "In the process of eradicating extremism, the minds of [Uyghur] women in Xinjiang were emancipated and gender equality and reproductive health were promoted," the tweet read, citing a report from state-run newspaper China Daily. At a regular briefing in Beijing on Thursday, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson defended the embassy's actions. "China is ... a major victim. There are many false and ugly [pieces of] information about China on Xinjiang-related issues. Of course, the Chinese Embassy in the US has responsibilities and obligations to clarify the facts and explain the truth," Hua Chunying argued, hitting back at Twitter's "restrictive measures." "We hope Twitter can uphold the principle of objectivity and impartiality, not to show double standards on this issue, but to strengthen screening, and identify what is false information, what are rumors and lies, and what is fact and truth." China's far western Xinjiang region has long been associated with reports of the forced sterilization of people from the Uyghur minority, a predominantly Muslim ethnic group residing in the area. Chinese officials have denied the allegations. The United States has officially determined that China is committing genocide and crimes against humanity against Uyghur Muslims and ethnic and religious minority groups who live in Xinjiang. "This genocide is ongoing, and... we are witnessing the systematic attempt to destroy Uyghurs by the Chinese party-state," former US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement Tuesday, on the last full day of the Trump administration. News of the Twitter restriction was first reported by Bloomberg. A Twitter spokesperson said that the tweet had violated the company's content policy, which prohibits "the dehumanization of a group of people based on their religion, caste, age, disability, serious disease, national origin, race, or ethnicity." The tweet is now "no longer available" on the platform. The embassy's account, meanwhile, will remain locked until the Tweet is deleted, according to Twitter. In similar cases including one involving former President Donald Trump's account Twitter has required the user to manually delete the post in question before regaining the ability to post. The Chinese embassy, for its part, has not tweeted since January 9. It is not clear whether the embassy intends to delete the post to restore its account. The delegation in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment outside regular US business hours. Twitter and other social media companies have been grappling with the consequences of how their platforms can sometimes be used to spread incendiary speech. Such concerns led several platforms to ban Trump outright earlier this month after he incited a riot at the US Capitol. In December, the European Commission proposed vast new oversight and transparency laws for social media. The proposed law would even require the platforms to disclose their algorithms for advertising and recommended content. US law shields social media companies from responsibility over what is posted on their platforms. Lawmakers from both parties agree the law needs to change; they just don't agree on how. "I hope that there will not be some kind of overreach in measures adopted that will silence speech or take the wrong approach," said Cindy Cohn, the executive director of the Electronic Frontier Foundation, a non-profit that defends online civil liberties, referring to global efforts to regulate the space. Twitter is one of several US-based social media platforms that are blocked in China, along with Facebook and Instagram. Despite this, Chinese diplomats and agencies have increasingly been using Twitter to promote Beijing's interests around the world. Brian Fung, Scott McLean and CNN's Beijing bureau contributed to this report. This story was first published on CNN.com. WOBURN, Mass., Jan. 22, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Access, the worlds largest privately-held integrated information management services provider, today announced that it has been named one of the Boston Business Journals (BBJ) Middle Market Leaders, a ranking of the 50 highest growth companies in Massachusetts. The list is compiled through BBJ research and includes both private and public companies across all industries, from life sciences and technology to construction, professional services and more. To qualify, companies must report annual revenue between $25 million and $1 billion for 2017, 2018 and 2019. The BBJ ranking of firms uses a weighted final score that incorporates three-year growth and a companys total revenue. Being recognized as one of the 2021 BBJ middle market leaders further validates that our first priority, to ensure client success, is on point and helps drive our consistent year-over-year growth, said Rob Alston, CEO at Access. We have built a dynamic and well-respected company with world class talent focused on strategic acquisition, responsive service and innovation. We are pleased about our results to date and excited about our future potential. The 50 companies recognized in the list will be honored at the BBJs 2021 Middle Market Awards virtual event on Feb. 11 and in a special post-event publication. We are happy to celebrate fast-growing, innovative companies in the middle-market sector, said Boston Business Journal Market President and Publisher Carolyn Jones. These companies make a tremendous impact on our local business community and have reported impressive growth in recent years. We all look forward to honoring these 50 companies virtually next month. More information on the event and registration can be found here. About Boston Business Journal: The Boston Business Journal is the region's premier business media organization, one of 44 markets owned by American City Business Journals. About Access: Access is the largest privately held records and information management services provider worldwide, with operations across the United States, Canada, Central America and South America. Access provides transformative services, expertise and technologies to make organizations more efficient and more compliant. Access helps companies manage and activate their critical business information through offsite storage and information governance services, scanning and digital transformation solutions, document management software and secure destruction services. For 11 consecutive years, Access has been named to the Inc. 5000, the ranking of fastest-growing private companies in the U.S. For more information on Access, please visit AccessCorp.com . For more information, contact: Company Contact: Melissa Kolodziej 781-710-0763 melissa.kolodziej@accesscorp.com Media Contact: Lisa Hendrickson/LCH Communications for Access 516-767-8390 lisa@lchcommunications.com The government of Uzbekistan has surprised international economists by announcing plans to forge ahead in 2021 with its ambitious privatisation plans, despite the global Covid-19 pandemic, Euronews writes in the article Despite the pandemic, Uzbekistans privatisation plans forge ahead. The virus has caused enough economic stress that the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) recently suggested a slow-down of major privatisations might be wise. Earlier plans for large-scale privatisation of state-owned banks and enterprises may have to be delayed in case of slower-than-expected economic recovery, the banks annual country assessment said. But in fact despite the pandemics devastating impact on Uzbekistans major markets, and despite no growth at all in the first six months as the virus took hold, the nation finished the year with a surprising GDP upswing. So large-scale privatisation looks set to proceed on schedule. In his year-end address to the Oliy Mazhlis, Uzbekistans parliament, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev announced that preparations will be made for the privatisations of Sanoatkurilisbank, Asaka Bank, Mortgage Bank, Aloqa Bank, Turon Bank and Kishlock Kurilish Bank. Negotiations are underway for the acquisition of the states stake in at least one of the leading banks by strategic investors. State stakes in scores of other major enterprises, including 83 oil and gas companies, will be put up for auction. He re-emphasised that his administrations top goal is to make the private sector, not the state, the main driver in the economy. He envisages the number of Uzbekistan enterprises with state ownership to be reduced by two-thirds over the coming two years. By any stretch, this is a huge change. As a January 2020 working paper by the Asia Development Bank (ADB) pointed out, State-owned enterprises (SOEs) in Uzbekistan dominate and have significant influence on the performance of many sectors in the economy, including natural resources, energy, manufacturing, telecommunications, transport and agriculture. Mirziyoyevs administration is not the first to announce privatisation plans in the three decades since Uzbekistan broke away from the Soviet Union. The previous attempts were disappointing. Major enterprises proved to be unsaleable and, by and large, foreign investors chose to avoid the risks presented by a largely unreformed post-Soviet economy. Much has changed under Mirziyoyev. The US State Departments 2020 assessment of Uzbekistans investment climate concluded that policies have been implemented which are focused on improving Uzbekistans investment attractiveness including through adoption of a new currency regulation law to guarantee freedom of current cross-border and capital movement transactions; a new law on investment activities to guarantee foreign investors rights; and, a new tax code featuring lower and more equitable tax rates and simplified reporting requirements. One of the biggest changes has been the approach to privatisation itself. The objective now is not so much the proceeds from sales, but increased competition and efficiency. The hope now is that, even where privatisation isnt foreseen -- among natural monopolies and strategic sectors -- international corporate standards will nonetheless prevail. Sir Suma Chakrabarti, former president of the EBRD, and now adviser to Mirziyoyev on economic development and governance, said in a recent interview, Mirziyoyev has made clear the link between reforms and what the public value such as jobs, better education and healthcare. The larger plan is to modernise the economy, to make it less dependent on unprocessed resource exports and to increase value-added production. The government has accepted that this will require a vastly improved management pool which it hopes will come with foreign direct investment alongside improved domestic education. As the US State Department puts it: The policy of liberalization reforms, initiated by the government in 2016, is paying off: the total volume of foreign direct investment (FDI) attracted to Uzbekistan has grown from about $1.6 billion in 2018 to $4.2 billion in 2019. Uzbekistan was named as one of the top 20 global improvers in the World Banks 2020 Doing Business report, and the 2019 Country of the Year award winner by The Economist. Uzbekistans Finance Ministry is predicting $7.81 billion in FDI for 2021. Whether or not they are scheduled for privatisation, many of Uzbekistans leading state-owned firms are being nudged towards the international financial markets. In the year ahead, for instance, the huge Navoi Mining and Metallurgical Plant, gas monopoly Uzbekneftegaz, hydroelectricity producer Uzbekhydroenergo, and auto manufacturer Uzavtosanoat plan to raise international funds without government guarantees. Several have already or are in the process of securing international credit ratings. The prospectus requirements alone are forcing changes to corporate culture at lightning speed. Across the nations corporate landscape, pandemic-fueled Zoom webinars are all the rage, on subjects ranging from staff training and up-skilling, to meeting the ESG (Environmental, Social, and Corporate Governance) expectations of international investors. Where once the heads of state enterprises were treated as senior bureaucrats -- and officially ranked at ministerial or deputy ministerial level -- they are now expected to perform as genuine CEOs. Trashing politics over coronavirus vaccines and trying to allay fears, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said the call on launching them was taken by scientists. In a televised interaction with health workers in his Lok Sabha constituency Varanasi, Modi referred indirectly to criticism over the emergency-use clearance given to Bharat Biotech's Covaxin. The prime minister said all sorts of things are said in politics but he went by the scientists' decision. Politicians talk about this and that (Idhar ki bhi baat hoti hai, udhar ki bhi'). I gave only one reply that I will do what the scientists say, this is not the job of us politicians to decide, he added. And when the go-ahead from the scientists came, we had to decide from where to start. Then we decided to start from health workers who remain in contact with patients constantly," Modi said through video conference. "Some people are angry with my decision as well, he said. The prime minister had launched the inoculation drive on January 16, with the government prioritising three crore health and frontline workers for the initial phase. But the authorities are grappling with hesitancy among the intended beneficiaries, amid concerns expressed by some over the vaccines' safety and efficacy. Covaxin has been developed by Bharat Biotech. Covishield, the other vaccine rolled out this month, is developed by Oxford-AstraZeneca and manufactured by Serum Institute of India. "When doctors and health workers give a clean chit to the vaccine, it sends a very strong message among people about the efficacy of the shots," the prime minister told the gathering of health workers who had got themselves inoculated or had administered the vaccine to others. "For any vaccine, there is hard work of scientists involved and it is a scientific process. You must have heard that I faced so much pressure on why the vaccine was not coming soon, he said, indicating that he decided to wait for the go-ahead from the scientists. It was an unknown enemy which scientists, who are modern 'rishis', chased in laboratories by working day and night, he said, hailing their fight against the virus. "Our own made-in-India vaccine is reaching every corner of the country. India has not only become 'atmanirbhar' in the field of vaccines but is also helping other countries," the PM said. Modi said any feedback he gets from the people of Varanasi will help in other areas as well. Starting his interaction with Pushpa Devi, a matron at a district women's hospital, the PM asked whether she could say with confidence to others that the vaccine is safe. "I was fortunate to get vaccinated, she replied, adding that she now felt safe for her family's sake as well. I am telling everyone that there is no side effect. It's like any other injection and I appeal to everyone to go for it," she said. Modi reminded her that some people had apprehensions. The health worker said fear must shed and the vaccine taken "Darr ko hatana hai, vaccine lagwana hai". Health worker Rani Kunwar from the same hospital said, People bless us for the vaccine that we got within 10 months due to you." Talking to Dr V Shukla, chief medical superintendent at DDU hospital, the PM hailed the work of the medical fraternity as corona warriors. He said projects such as a cleanliness drive, safe drinking water and toilets offered "indirect benefits" while dealing with the virus. The doctor said there are potential side effects of every vaccine and drew a distinction between them and any adverse events due to a previous medical history. "Despite India being a developing country, we stole a march over developed countries in developing the vaccine, Shukla said. Modi suggested that there should be competition among hospitals and other institutes on vaccinating frontline workers so that the next phase can start soon. Senior Lab Technician R C Rai said his team was full of confidence and seeing them the others' trust on the vaccine has increased. Another medical worker said she vaccinated 87 people on January 16 alone, and also got herself vaccinated. "Really, corona warriors have done a wonderful job," Modi said in the 30-minute interaction. He had earlier said the interaction was meant to get feedback on the vaccination drive, described as the world's biggest. Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-22 14:59:40|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Two volunteers pose for photos by train No. G902 from Harbin in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province to Beijing, capital of China, at the Harbin west railway station in Harbin, Jan. 22, 2021. China on Friday launched a new high-speed railway service that connects Beijing with Harbin, capital of the northeastern province of Heilongjiang. A newly unveiled 192-km-long section, running from Beijing to Chengde, in the neighboring Hebei Province, started operation Friday morning. Combined with two previously opened sections, the Beijing-Harbin high-speed railway extends 1,198 km. The new railway service forges a closer link between the national capital and the northeastern provinces of Liaoning, Jilin, and Heilongjiang. With a designed speed of 350 km per hour, the service is expected to shorten the travel time from Beijing to Harbin to about five hours, around one and a half hours less than the previous fastest railway route. The first section of the route, extending from Shenyang, capital of Liaoning Province, to Harbin, was put into operation in 2012. The section from Shenyang to Chengde began service in 2018. (Xinhua/Wang Jianwei) BEIJING, Jan. 22 (Xinhua) -- China on Friday launched a new high-speed railway service that connects Beijing with Harbin, capital of the northeastern province of Heilongjiang. A newly unveiled 192-km-long section, running from Beijing to Chengde, in the neighboring Hebei Province, started operation Friday morning. Combined with two previously opened sections, the Beijing-Harbin high-speed railway extends 1,198 km. The new railway service forges a closer link between the national capital and the northeastern provinces of Liaoning, Jilin, and Heilongjiang. With a designed speed of 350 km per hour, the service is expected to shorten the travel time from Beijing to Harbin to about five hours, around one and a half hours less than the previous fastest railway route. The first section of the route, extending from Shenyang, capital of Liaoning Province, to Harbin, was put into operation in 2012. The section from Shenyang to Chengde began service in 2018. Three sets of Fuxing bullet trains that can operate under temperatures as low as minus 40 degrees have been put into operation for the first time on the railway. China's railway operation mileage reached 146,300 km by the end of last year, with 37,900 km of high-speed railways, data from China State Railway Group Co., Ltd. showed. Fan Yijiang, an expert with the National Development and Reform Commission, noted the route is an important part of China's high-speed railway network, which completes the high-speed railway link between the southern and northern regions of the country. "In an era when speed and efficiency are paramount, shortening the travel time will add new values to areas along the route," Fan said. The new route is expected to inject more economic vitality into northeast China as the region now has closer ties with the more prosperous Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region. Harqin Left Wing Mongolian Autonomous County in western Liaoning, a once remote place, embraces new development opportunities thanks to the railway. Beijing-based Chaoyang Tongmei Xtal Technology Co., Ltd. has invested 500 million yuan (77.4 million U.S. dollars) to set up an industrial park in the county that manufactures materials for semiconductor production. "Now it takes just over an hour to travel from Beijing to the county with the new railway service, which is an important factor that drives our investment decision," said Liu Wensen, general manager of the company. Li Kai, deputy dean of China Academy of Northeast Revitalization, said the railway is set to accelerate the revitalization of northeast China, an old industrial base of the country. In 2020, an innovation center was set up in Shenyang as part of a cooperation between the local government and Beijing's technology hub Zhongguancun. The center has initiated multiple key projects on promoting intelligent manufacturing. "With a solid industrial foundation, the northeastern region needs the support of funds, technology, and talent, which are all advantages of Beijing and its surrounding areas," Li said. Enditem WESTPORT Barnes & Noble plans to open the doors at its new downtown bookstore at 76 Post Road E. next month. The company this week confirmed an opening date of Feb. 24, after last months announcement of the move. The new 10,000-square-foot location will be about half the size of the store that Barnes & Noble operated for 23 years in the Post Plaza shopping center at 1076 Post Road E. The new storefront at 76 Post Road E. had been the home of a Restoration Hardware store that operated for about 20 years until its closing last year. From 1916 to 1999, the site had housed the Fine Arts theaters. With modern, bespoke shelving and the exceptionally attractive interior of the old Restoration Hardware store with which to work, we expect to have a comparable range of books to the old store, the company said in a statement. The main difference is that we will not have an in-store cafe, at least at the outset of opening. We decided on this given the proximity of other cafes and wishing to keep a full range of toys, games, puzzles and stationery alongside our books. About a dozen employees will work at the new store, with tenured booksellers relocating from the former location, according to the company. Im very excited about Barnes & Noble moving to the downtown. Westporters are book readers, and they love a good bookstore, Westport First Selectman Jim Marpe said in a recent interview. I think being located downtown will draw more people into the downtown area. Hopefully theyll not just shop at Barnes & Noble, but will also take the opportunity to shop at some of the other stores downtown and maybe even get a bite to eat at one of the great restaurants in that immediate area. Downtown Westport has not had a book retailer in more than a decade, although it had been long-served by two Main Street institutions. Remarkable Book Shop operated for more than 30 years until its closing in 1994. Kleins was based at the lower end of the street for 67 years until its closing in 2004. The downtown has retained a major literary presence since those stores closed. The Westport Library stands a couple blocks west of 76 Post Road E. Other neighbors include Anthropologie & Co., across the street at 59 Post Road E., in the mixed-use Bedford Square complex. Anthropologie opened there in 2017 after making its own in-town move, from 1365 Post Road E. In addition to Westport, Barnes & Noble also has stores in the state in Canton, Danbury, Enfield, Farmington, Glastonbury, Manchester, Milford, North Haven, Stamford, Waterbury and West Hartford. pschott@stamfordadvocate.com; twitter: @paulschott If you're a landlord who owns an investment property (bravo, by the way!) and are looking for a new tenant, you need to get your rental space up to snuffand you need to know your facts. Luckily for you, we're here to help! Here's the lowdown. What are the rules for showing an apartment if someone is currently living there? Typically, you must give your existing tenant at least 24 hours notice for an apartment showing. Real estate agent Mihal Gartenberg, of Warburg Realty in New York City, says that most leases just state reasonable notice, but 24 hours is a good rule of thumb since reasonable can mean different things to different people. There also might be a city or county rental law that stipulates a certain amount of time, so be sure to check that as well as the current lease (if there is one) before scheduling any showings. Kate Ziegler and Jack Romano, real estate agents with Arborview Realty in Boston, note that doesnt mean last-minute showings shouldnt be considered, though. If prospective renters request showings on short notice, you can always run that request by the current tenants to see if that fits into their schedule. Check renters laws Nearly every municipality has its own slate of rental regulations, and provides reference materials to renters when they move into a new place. Here's something to keep in mind: Your renters dont have to allow showings if they dont want to. Tenants have the right to quiet enjoyment of their home and do not have to collaborate with the landlord unless it is in the contract, Gartenberg says. Even if it is, the tenant can prevent showings, so its best to maintain a good relationship with them. Also, remember to comply with all Fair Housing rules and regulations. Ziegler and Romano recommend reading up on Fair Housing and local regulations if you're planning to take on your own tenant search. Even turning down a showing, let alone a rental application, based on race, religion, voucher status, or other protected classes can be a major liability for an owner or an agent. Should the apartment be vacant or occupied for the showing? This depends on whom you ask. Ziegler and Romano note that if an apartment is empty, its easier for potential tenants to imagine themselves in the space. But, Gartenberg says, an empty apartment can sometimes look smaller than it actually is. Just this weekend, I was showing an empty bedroom that has space for a king-size bed with nightstands, Gartenberg says. When one of the prospective tenants said the bedroom was small, I thought he was being sarcastic. It helps to show how and where furniture can fit inside a room. That being said, if someone lives there, you dont have a choice in the matter. Luckily some tenants are neat and clean, and use the space well. But if theyre messy or have furnishings and decorations that overwhelm the space, its better to wait to show the space until theyve moved out. How to make an apartment look more appealing There are a few tips to make an apartment look more appealing for showings. First and foremost, make sure its clean and uncluttered. That includes windowsills, baseboards, and bathrooms. A neat home and a clean home are not the same thing, Gartenberg says, so make sure youve got both bases covered. You dont want potential tenants to have to worry about hiring a cleaner the moment they move in. The same goes for the exterior of the apartment or building. Clean up any trash, vacuum the entry hall, and make sure the lawn is manicured and the walkway is clear. If you can show the apartment on a nice day, try to do that. If its winter and dreary outside all the time, make sure you take top-notch pictures for the listing. Open the blinds and turn off the lights, keep your reflection out of images, and capture multiple shots for each room. Remember that prospective tenants will first see the home on a screen, Ziegler and Romano say. First impressions and good images matter more than ever. Secure the space If you have current tenants, make sure they're aware of their belongings during showings. After all, you are going to have strangers poking around your home. Your tenants' private things will be open to whoever comes into the home, Gartenberg says. Make sure they put away their valuables." Also, to give your current tenants peace of mind, tell them you'll guide potential new tenants around the apartment room by room so you can keep an eye on them. The post Trying To Find a Renter? How To Show Your Apartment and Make a Great Impression appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com. Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. 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. Columbia-Greene Media has recently teamed up with the US Postal Service to provide same-day delivery of your local newspaper with your mail. Our expanded daily delivery of your local news reaches into the following areas: When it comes to police reform, San Antonios city staff is working on two tracks. On one track, the city is gearing up for another round of collective bargaining, which is tentatively set to begin on Feb. 12. Just to cover its bases, however, the city also is pursuing state legislation to remedy the holes in the disciplinary process for cops who abuse their authority. Along those lines, they have enlisted Rep. Barbara Gervin-Hawkins, D-San Antonio, to file legislation that would modify Chapter 143 of the Texas Local Government Code. There is also a wild card in the police reform debate, a third track of activity outside the control of city staff, City Council and the police department. Its the petition drive from Fix SAPD, an activist group hoping to get initiatives on the municipal ballot that would repeal Chapter 143, the states civil-service framework for public-safety employees, and Chapter 174, which grants police officers and firefighters the right to engage in collective bargaining. Fix SAPDs leadership distrusts the collective bargaining process, with good reason. In past bargaining cycles, union leadership has shown little willingness to bend on disciplinary rules which too often protect bad cops. This cycle, however, already feels different. For one thing, city reps, who focused most of their attention from 2014-2016 on reining in the cost of public-safety benefits, have made it clear that disciplinary reform will be their top priority this time. Also, the San Antonio Police Officers Association will enter this bargaining process with new leadership. The incoming union president, Danny Diaz, has sent signals that he will be more amenable to change than his predecessor, Mike Helle. On Tuesday, Councilman Manny Pelaez released a statement opposing Fix SAPDs attempt to repeal collective bargaining. The solution to police violence is consequences for police violence, Pelaez said. You need to be able to hire the right people and fire the wrong ones. The more I look at these collective bargaining agreements, the more Im convinced that the way to begin solving a problem that gets everybodys passions inflamed is by way of a negotiated agreement, Pelaez said. Fix SAPDs leaders are not wrong when they say that Chapter 143 previously has impeded productive negotiation on police reform. Chapter 143 contains a statute-of-limitations provision which prevents police departments from disciplining officers more than 180 days after an incident has occurred. Helle wrongly justified his hardline stance by saying it would be foolish for him to negotiate away provisions which were contained in the states civil-service statute. But its important to acknowledge that Chapters 174 and 143 exist for valid reasons. Chapter 143 was enacted to save cities in this state from at-will employment policies in which patronage ruled and police officers could be hired and fired for purely political (or personal) reasons. It's not any way for a major city to run its police department and San Antonio would be worse off without it. Chapter 174 was rooted in the idea that if first-responders are denied the right to strike, we should make sure to grant them the power to enter into a good-faith bargaining process. That bargaining process not only serves the unions, it gives the city an opportunity to negotiate for reforms that will supersede Chapter 143. If collective bargaining goes away, we revert to 143. Its a real possibility, given that Fix SAPD turned in more than the 20,000 petition signatures needed to get a collective-bargaining repeal on the ballot (although those signatures still need to be verified). For Chapter 143, theyll need about 80,000 signatures. Given the uncertainties surrounding the bargaining process, its a wise move for city staffers to simultaneously pursue change at the Legislature. Last week, Gervin-Hawkins filed a bill which would change Chapter 143s 180-day rule so that the clock would start with the day the incident is discovered by authorities, rather than the day it occurred. Its important that we give the department time to do a full investigation of matters, Gervin-Hawkins said. If an incident happens and you dont have the time to fully vet it, and you have to rush to do things, that creates a problem. It eliminates full transparency. Gervin-Hawkins is expected to follow up with three related bills. One would limit arbitrators power to determinations on the facts of a case, while granting the chief the final say on the appropriate level of punishment. The other bills would add to the number of points that job candidates receive if they are local residents and make all corrective actions from an officers personnel file accessible to the public. Ideally, the momentum coming from these different directions will compel the police union to do the right thing in collective bargaining. The power and the responsibility is in their hands. ggarcia@express-news.net | Twitter: @gilgamesh470 A 13-year-old boy in the early hours of today (Friday, January 22, 2020) met his untimely death when an electronic shop he was sleeping in caught fire and burnt him to death at Buipe, the capital of the Central Gonja District in the Savannah Region. The deceased whose body was burnt beyond recognition has been identified as Ibrahim Musah, by personnel of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) at Buipe who attended to the fire. The Savannah Regional Fire Commander, Assistant Chief Fire Officer (ACFO), Mr Kwasi Baffour Awuah who confirmed the incident to Graphic Online said the fire incident occurred at about 4 am this dawn. He said the structure in which the boy was sleeping when it caught the fire was located near the Buipe bridge over the Black Volta. ACFO, Mr Baffour-Awuah said the charred body of the boy has since been released to his family for burial this morning in accordance with Islamic customs and tradition. Source: graphiconline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video A man eluding Houston police in a car that was reported stolen died Friday after crashing into a tree in the Pecan Park neighborhood, authorities said. The man crashed about 10:35 a.m. in the 1900 block of Evergreen Drive near Kernel Street, after about a 10-minute police chase, said Assistant Chief Daryn Edwards. Police pulled the man out of the car, which was smoldering, and gave him CPR in an attempt to save his life, Edwards said. The owner of the car, a late model Chevrolet Malibu with gold colored rims, reported it missing on Jan. 10, the assistant chief said. The owner arranged to meet with the person who took it and was speaking with police when they saw a car matching its description at Howard and Galveston. Police tried to stop the car, and a pursuit began, Edwards said. The driver approached the intersection in Pecan Park at a high speed, hit a dip in the road and soon lost control of the car. He then went off into the median, Edwards said. No other injuries were reported. No further information was immediately available. One of my acquaintances, a professor at the University of Florida, was reasonably excited when she got the Covid vaccine shot offered by the university fairly quickly. Every country, however, needs its own plan for procurement, distribution and prioritisation for vaccination according to its socio-economic and demographic structure. This is undoubtedly an unprecedented scale of vaccination in India a much more extensive exercise than the polio vaccination to which we are accustomed for years. It will be 2024 till everybody gets vaccinated, experts believe. Even if the ... The Congress party will have an elected president by June 2021, with the party's working committee on Friday approving holding the internal election after the assembly polls. The committee after a three and a half hour meeting authorised incumbent party chief to schedule the internal election after the conclusion of assembly polls in five states. Addressing a joint press conference, Congress leaders K C Venugopal and Randeep Surjewala said elections to the CWC will also be held but it remains to be seen whether they can be scheduled before or after the election to the Congress chief's post. Sources said the Central Election Authority has proposed the holding of polls for electing the party president and AICC session on May 29 and the working committee discussed the dates, but authorised to schedule them after the assembly polls. The CWC passed three resolutions demanding a repeal of the three agriculture laws, a time-bound JPC probe into the alleged violations of security and Official Secrets Act and another to ensure that the government ensures free time-bound COVID-19 vaccination for the poor and oppressed sections. "The CWC decided that there will be an elected Congress President by June 2021 at any cost," AICC general secretary K C Venugopal said. He said the little change of schedule depending on the state elections will be decided soon. "The CWC discussed the schedule of Congress president's elections in May-end, proposed by its election authority. All CWC members unanimously requested Congress president that the internal elections should not interfere with the assembly elections." He said the Congress president was requested unanimously to reschedule AICC Plenary Session to the end of June 2021 and the Congress chief's election would be concluded by June 2021. "We will conduct elections as per the Constitution of the party. We need a change of schedule due to assembly polls as counting would be underway in May," he said. Asked about any dissenting notes on the holding of elections, Surjewala said, "There was no dissent at the meeting." He added that leaders like Ghulam Nabi Azad, Anand Sharma or P Chidambaram were not dissenters but senior members of the Congress party and were all unanimous in deciding to extend the election schedule a little. "There was no argument in the election schedule issue. The meeting was very fruitful. There is no dispute over conducting organizational election," Venugopal said. He said a little clarity was needed on whether the CWC election can be held before or after the Congress president's election. "We have to go to the constitution to look at that. The practice is to hold Congress president's election first and then the CWC election," he said. There were reports about Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot hitting out at those demanding internal elections, saying the leaders should leave this to the party chief and focus on how to fight the Narendra Modi-led BJP. Anand Sharma objected to the tone of his remarks, dubbing it "disrespectful", the sources said. The virtual meeting chaired by party chief started with her address. After the address, Gandhi asked AICC general secretary organisation K C Venugopal to read out the Organisational Election Schedule sent by chairperson of the Central Election Authority. The CEC chaired by Madhusudan Mistry has proposed that the AICC Session and the party president's election be held on May 29, with the process of nomination filing starting in the month of May itself. The party's top leadership also discussed the current political situation in the wake of the farmers' agitation and the party's strategy ahead of the Budget Session of Parliament on various issues, including the leaked WhatsApp chats of Republic TV editor-in-chief Arnab Goswami. Sonia Gandhi took over as the interim Congress president in August 2019 after resigned in the wake of the party's Lok Sabha debacle in May 2019. There have been demands from a section of the Congress leaders for having a full-time and active party president and an organisational overhaul. The CWC had in its earlier meeting decided to hold organisational elections, following a storm in the party in August last year over a letter to Sonia Gandhi by a group of 23 leaders including Ghulam Nabi Azad, Anand Sharma, Bhupinder Hooda, Prithviraj Chavan, Kapil Sibal, Manish Tewari and Mukul Wasnik raising these issues. Sonia Gandhi had last month met some of these 'letter-writers' and discussed the issues raised by them. The single Article of Impeachment passed by the House states, in pertinent part: INCITEMENT OF INSURRECTION On January 6, 2021, pursuant to the 12th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States, the Vice President of the United States, the House of Representatives, and the Senate met at the United States Capitol for a Joint Session of Congress to count the votes of the Electoral College. In the months preceding the Joint Session, President Trump repeatedly issued false statements asserting that the Presidential election results were the product of widespread fraud and should not be accepted by the American people or certified by State or Federal officials. Shortly before the Joint Session commenced, President Trump, addressed a crowd at the Ellipse in Washington, DC. There, he reiterated false claims that we won this election, and we won it by a landslide. He also willfully made statements that, in context, encouragedand foreseeably resulted inlawless action at the Capitol, such as: if you dont fight like hell youre not going to have a country anymore. Thus incited by President Trump, members of the crowd he had addressed, in an attempt to, among other objectives, interfere with the Joint Sessions solemn constitutional duty to certify the results of the 2020 Presidential election, unlawfully breached and vandalized the Capitol, injured and killed law enforcement personnel, menaced Members of Congress, the Vice President, and Congressional personnel, and engaged in other violent, deadly, destructive, and seditious acts. President Trumps conduct on January 6, 2021, followed his prior efforts to subvert and obstruct the certification of the results of the 2020 Presidential election. Those prior efforts included a phone call on January 2, 2021, during which President Trump urged the secretary of state of Georgia, Brad Raffensperger, to find enough votes to overturn the Georgia Presidential election results and threatened Secretary Raffensperger if he failed to do so. In all this, President Trump gravely endangered the security of the United States and its institutions of Government. He threatened the integrity of the democratic system, interfered with the peaceful transition of power, and imperiled a coequal branch of Government. He thereby betrayed his trust as President, to the manifest injury of the people of the United States. (Emphasis added) Ive argued that Trumps statements about the election should not be considered grounds for impeachment. A decent regard for free speech counsels strongly against impeaching a president for such statements. However, a president who advocates insurrectionary conduct should be impeached, removed, and disqualified from holding office in the future. Did Trump do that? The Article quotes only one statement that might be construed as urging insurrectionary or violent conduct. That statement is, if you dont fight like hell youre not going to have a country anymore. But the word fight is used all the time by politicians and advocates on both sides of the political spectrum. It is almost never construed literally. The drafters of the Article recognize this when they say that in context, Trumps statement encouragedand foreseeably resulted inlawless action. Its become clear, however, that Trumps statement did not result in the lawless action at the Capitol. The Washington Post recently reported that the riot was planned by militia leaders well beforehand. Theres still the question of whether Trump intended by his fight like hell statement to encourage a riot or participation in one. Its possible that he did. In my view, however, there is a strong presumption against impeaching a president and an even stronger one against impeaching a president in a hurry. (A more deliberative process might have revealed that the riot was planned ahead and might have shed light on the presidents intent.) I dont think the statement quoted in the Article overcomes that presumption. The day of the riot, I argued that Trump helped incite the rioting at the Capitol. I relied on a tweet by Trump from before the gathering on January 6. He said: I hope the Democrats, and even more importantly, the weak and ineffective RINO section of the Republican Party, are looking at the thousands of people pouring into D.C. They wont stand for a landslide election victory to be stolen. It seemed to me that Trump was signaling to the people pouring into D.C. that they should not just protest, but should act in ways that made it clear they wont stand for outcome of the election. Thus, his tweet can be construed as an invitation to an insurrection in some form. Indeed, I think thats the most reasonable way to construe it. Its not the only way, however. Trump might have been calling for more than traditional protesting but less than violence or the kind of disruption of the House and Senate that might be deemed an insurrection. If one agrees with me that there should be a strong presumption against impeaching a president, I think Trumps tweet falls short of grounds for impeachment. If one disagrees with me about presumptions, then theres a good case for impeachment. Accordingly, I respect the votes of the ten GOP House members who backed the insurrection Article of impeachment. However, I would not have voted for it. Finally, what about Trumps phone call with Raffensperger? The first thing to say is that it has nothing to do with inciting an insurrection. As to finding votes to switch the outcome in Georgia, its clear from the phone call that Trump believed he won the state by hundreds of thousands of votes. However, he told Raffensperger that he only needed to find around 11,000 of those votes to flip the result. In other words, Trump believed the votes he needed, and many more, were there to be found. Find meant find, not fraudulently produce. What about the threat to Raffesnperger? Heres what Trump told him: You know what they did and youre not reporting it. You know, thats a criminal offence. And you know, you cant let that happen. Thats a big risk to you and to Ryan [Germany], your lawyer. Thats a big risk. Trump wasnt threatening to prosecute Raffensperger, something the Georgia Secretary knew Trump would lack the power to do, in any case. He seemed to be claiming, absurdly, that Raffensperger might be guilty of a crime. Had Trumps statement been credible, it might have been intimidating. And theres an argument that trying to intimidate an election official is an impeachable offense. However, I doubt that erroneously telling a state election official that hes guilty of a crime for not supporting a candidates position on the election outcome meets the high crimes and misdemeanors standard of the Constitution. And, as noted, it was not insurrectionary. I conclude that theres a case in the Article for voting to impeach Trump, but that the better view is he shouldnt have been impeached based on that Article. In the final post Ive planned for this series, I will address the question of whether Trump should be impeached for comments he made about what Vice President Pence should do regarding the electoral count. Iran is again on the defensive because of its use of assassination, kidnapping and threats against foreign critics. A growing number of European nations are telling Iran that Europeans have run out of patience with Iranian broken promises to halt its violent practices. Iran has always been adept at playing on the vulnerabilities of foreign governments and getting away with murder by offering apologies and promises to not let it happen again. Iran also disavows responsibility when the killer or kidnapper was not identified. Iran has been getting away with this for decades. That success came at a cost. Decades of bad behavior at home and in so many other nations means that, as one would expect, you eventually reach the point where hardly anyone believes your lies and deceptions anymore. Iran became tagged as a known liar and terrorist more quickly in some regions than others. It happened first in the Middle East, where Iran had been viewed as dangerous and untrustworthy for centuries before the current religious dictatorship took power in the 1980s and created an unprecedented number of Iranian exiles who fled their homeland out of fear for their lives. Iran has no problem letting dissidents flee into exile as long as they do not openly criticize and oppose Iran from exile. In cases like that Iran has always felt justified in retaliating. Some foreign nations shut down these Iranian terrorism efforts more quickly than others. In the Americas Iran had more freedom of action in South America than in the United States and Canada and, in the 1990s, this led to bombing attacks on South American Jews causing hundreds of casualties. That shut down Iranian terror and espionage efforts in most of South America. The bombing campaign in South America was mainly about striking back at Israel, which long had the ability to foil Iranian efforts to carry out attacks inside Israel and even Iran attempts often resulted in devastating Israeli counterattacks. After the 1990s Iran made itself unwelcome in most of Eastern Europe for trying to kill local Jews or Israeli tourists there. China and Russia had always made it clear to Iran that any such violence within their borders would result in Israeli level retribution. Besides, Iran needed help from Russia and China to circumvent the growing list of sanctions imposed by nations subject to Iranian state-supported terrorism. Eventually most of the world was very off-limits to Iranian retribution operations. One exception was Western Europe, which had become the main target for Iranian intimidation efforts. Europe was, next to the United States and other English-speaking nations, a popular place for Iranian exiles to settle. European nations were also more willing than the U.S. to ignore Iranian misdeeds for the sake of continued trade. That was still true until the last few years when leaders of more and more European nations found they had no popular support for tolerating Iranian bad behavior. This shift became obvious over since 2018. For example, in late 2019 Iran publicized its capture of an exiled (in France) critic, Rouhollah Zam, and accused him of spying for Israel. Zam was the founder of AMAD (Awareness, Struggle, And Democracy in Farsi) news. What upset the Iranian government was that AMAD specialized in reporting details of corruption inside Iran. AMAD was particularly effective at identifying senior government officials, and their families, and describing how these families were living luxurious lives because of specific corrupt practices. AMAD provided details and it was obvious that Zam had inside information. AMAD did have a network of informants inside Iran. To safeguard his informants Zam used encrypted Internet communications to get the information out of Iran. Iran ordered its formidable Internet hacking personnel to find ways to get past the encryption and that had some success. But as long as Zam was a free man, AMAD was still an active threat to the government. In October 2019 Zam was captured when he was lured to Iraq to get information from informants who were reluctant to use the Internet. Zam was warned that this was probably a trap and it was. He disappeared in Iraq and shortly thereafter showed up on Iranian TV as a captured spy. AMADs role in exposing corruption was not mentioned, rather ZAM was accused of spying for Israel and AMAD was described as a creation of France, the CIA and other Western intelligence agencies. Iranians who knew of AMAD did not believe this, but that was not the point. The Iranian government boasted of having identified and arrested Iranians providing information to AMAD. Few names were mentioned, indicating that few imagined foreign spies were unmasked. In the past Iranian leaders have accused rival politicians, especially those active in criticizing corruption, of working for AMAD. The point of all this was to discourage Iranians from passing on evidence of corruption to foreign news organizations, who would publicize it so that such news would eventually reach the many Iranians who regularly use the Internet to find what is really happening in the world, and inside Iran. Catching Zam and disrupting AMAD was nothing new but the operation against AMAD was the last straw for many European governments. The Iranian religious dictatorship has become infamously eager to take extreme measures to silence Iranian critics who live outside the country. The assassinations were often carried out by agents of the IRGC (Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps) Quds Force. Quds is similar to the American Special Forces except that Quds helps establish pro-Iran militias and agents in foreign countries. Sometimes these foreign agents are used for assassinations or kidnappings. In Iraq, Quds can operate rather freely and probably handled the entrapment as well as kidnapping Zam in Iraq and getting him back across the border to Iran. By early 2020 Iran began to back off on the use of death squads after some of those agents were caught and European nations threatened retaliation. But less fatal operations continued and did not reflect well on the clerical rulers of Iran. European nations are coming to realize you cant trust Iran and it is prudent to regard Iran as an enemy. Inside Iran, popular protests against the government have been going on since late 2017 and even some elected officials, who are screened first by the senior clerics, are criticizing their government for trying to ignore or suppress some very real grievances. Most of the protestors are Iranians suffering economically. Most protestors blame the increasingly obvious government corruption. The government response has been to set up a special anti-corruption court and trying obvious cases of corruption, but only non-government corruption. The most flagrant and hated corruption is found among the families of the senior clergy. These are the people who run the country in large part because the IRGC protects the ruling clerics from the wrath of the Iranian people. Despite that, the anti-corruption court is finding and prosecuting some major offenders. Over forty have been sentenced to long prison terms and several have been executed. None of the prosecuted or executed were among the inner circle of corrupt clerics or their family members. Those punished tend to be critics of the government who forgot which side they were on. The government has been particularly eager to shut down those who provide damaging evidence of corruption by kin of the senior clerics. For example, in December 2018 someone put a recent photo on the Internet that showed Ahmad Khomeini, the great-grandson of Ayatollah Khomeini (the founder of the Iranian religious dictatorship) wearing expensive Western clothes and in the company of a female polo player. Ahmad Khomeini insisted the photo was stolen from a friend and uploaded to embarrass his father, Hassan Khomeini, one of the fifteen grandsons of the Ayatollah who had become too reformist for the ruling Guardians Council and was barred from running for election to the Assembly of Experts. This Assembly elects new Guardians Council members to replace those who have died. Hassan Khomeini is like his grandfather and lives simply but his children, like many of the descendants of the Ayatollah, exploit their family connection to get rich via corrupt practices. Ahmad Khomeini is now being called a luxury agazadeh, a derisive term for members of senior cleric families. This corruption is no secret but wealthy clerical families make an effort to not flaunt it, especially when the economy is doing poorly and most Iranians are suffering. This problem became more acute by the late 1990s. By then Iran's economy had become similar to that of medieval Europe. Back then, the Roman Catholic Church owned about a third of the real estate in Europe, the result of centuries of donations to various church institutions. Thousands of churches shrines and monasteries had endowments, usually land, and serfs obliged to work it. This wealth could not be taxed, and eventually, greedy kings and needy parliaments, seized the church lands, so that today the Roman Catholic Church is a very minor factor in the European economy. Not so in Iran, where pious Iranians were urged to donate property to Islamic institutions. As a result, by 2008 over 70,000 mosques, shrines and religious schools owned more than a third of the economy, paid no taxes, and even had their own army (the IRGC). Not all this property was donated, some was simply taken. There's one big difference between medieval Europe and contemporary Iran. About a thousand years ago, to prevent clergy from passing church property on to their children, the Roman Catholic clergy were forbidden, henceforth, to marry. This was never imposed on Moslem clergy and in Iran, the families of clergy have a monopoly on jobs, and business decisions, within the religious portion of the economy. All those assets are there to serve, first and foremost, the clergy and their families. This has not gone unnoticed. Before the Shah was overthrown in 1979, the religious assets were much smaller and were supervised by government officials. The clergy did not like this at all, and that supervision was quick to disappear once the monarchy was gone. Another post-Shah change was that, rather than wait for pious Iranians to donate property to religious institutions, the clergy seized the assets of wealthy "enemies of the state" and turned the goodies over to religious institutions. The clergy try to portray themselves as pious stewards of these assets. The truth is less savory, and is not invisible. All that PR and propaganda just enrage the population more. A growing number of people from these wealthy clerical families are trying to reform the system before there is yet another civil war, something Iranians have been noted for since antiquity. Such an uprising now would rip the country apart and probably leave Iranians worse off than they are now. These reformers believe that the violence could be triggered by something like photos of a luxury agazadeh enjoying the company of polo ponies and immodest women. It should be no surprise that many of the current protestors are calling for a return of the monarchy. In part that is because nothing irritates the religious dictatorship more than calling for a return of the monarchy. The Shia clerics led a revolution that enabled them to oust the monarchy in 1979 and then take over the government in the 1980s. The current generation of Iranians has no actual experience living under the monarchy but it is clear from photos, videos and whispered confirmation from their elders that life was better under the monarchy even though there was always corruption, favoritism and secret police. In short, the Shah (emperor) was never as crazy, oppressive or destructive as the current religious dictatorship. It is telling that the overseas Iranians, whose numbers have grown enormously since the 1980s, are organizing to support another revolution and many of the exiled aristocracy are involved, including the children and grandchildren of the last shah. Conscientious churchgoer: Ruth Coker Burks describes the LGBT community as the closest to the body of Christ that I have ever seen Ruth Coker Burks life changed one afternoon in 1986 when she went to visit a friend with cancer in an Arkansas hospital. There, the 26-year-old happened upon a curious scene: a group of nurses drawing straws to see who would have to enter a room with a forbidding red tarpaulin hung over the door. Intrigue got the better of her, and she decided to investigate. Inside the room was Jimmy, a young man weighing about five stone, evidently in his final hours, and crying out for his mother. Coker Burks rang his family home, only to be told that they had no interest in seeing him. My son died eight years ago when he went gay, his mother said tersely. For Coker Burks, there was nothing left to do, except the right thing. She held his hand and whispered reassurances into his ear. Jimmy, believing his mama had finally come and Coker Burks didnt contradict him died peacefully. Back then, Coker Burks knew little about Aids. A death sentence back in the mid-1980s, it was often described in her Bible-belt hometown as a divine punishment for homosexuality. Immediately, she realised the wide gulf between churchgoing and compassion, and noticed the prejudice, shame and cruelty heaped on the young men who had contracted Aids. It often came from their own families. Her own childhood had been pockmarked with abuse, mental illness and tragedy, and she says that start in life afforded her a particular empathy. In time, she became a helper and advocate for the young men with HIV and Aids in the area men she refers to as my guys. She helped them prepare meals to put on weight, often dumpster-diving to feed them. She arranged disability benefits, procured medication and held them as they died. She tells her story in her book All the Young Men, which has been described as a five-hankie memoir. It is an extraordinary journey, and she is an utterly charming guide. She is an irrepressible queen of the one-liner. My rule is that I will take any job as long as its legal and vertical, she writes at one point. When we speak, she is eager to let me know that she is 27pc Irish, on her fathers side. Her daughter Allison had red hair as a child. Someone once commented on her beautiful red hair, asking where it came from, and my ex-husbands family immediately replied, real pointed, Thats what we want to know, she says in a deadpan, molasses-thick Southern accent. With great tenderness, Coker Burks recalls the lives and, often, the deaths of her guys. While they all left an indelible mark, she remembers Billy, aka drag queen Miss Marilyn Morell, with particular fondness. After his family shunned him, he became a close friend, and she accompanied him to the doctor on the day he was diagnosed with Aids. Ive been at funerals when a family member has pointed at an open casket and said, this is what happens when you sin, she recalls. Ive heard it said from the pulpit that this is Gods retribution for a gay lifestyle. I ask her whether she believes that any of the family members who ostracised these men now believe themselves to have been on the wrong side of history, or if they regret their actions. They know what they did, she says quietly. They know who they are, and what they didnt do. Occasionally, Coker Burks would hand out safe-sex kits in her local parks, where gay men would often congregate under cover of darkness. She would often recognise, though never acknowledge, her fellow churchgoers, many of them family men. She describes the LGBT community as the closest to the body of Christ that I have ever seen closer than anyone sitting in a church. I learned so much more about living from these men than I ever learned about dying, she adds. The dying part is easy its the living part thats hard. My guys lived their lives every day because they knew that the day after tomorrow, there could be a cure. Coker Burks altruism would come at a cost. She and her daughter Allison were shunned and came home to find crosses burning on their front lawn. The question has to be asked. She was receiving the same messages about Aids as everyone else in 1986. She too was a conscientious churchgoer who was keen to raise her daughter in the Bible. Why was she the only one that decided to help these men? I have asked myself that question every day, she says. I did what everyone was supposed to do, but didnt. I guess I have a thick skin and a very low tolerance for bullshit. You know what bit in Dances With Wolves, where Kevin Costner goes to the great plains and waits for the cavalry and they never show up? Thats what I felt like. There was this vast human tragedy happening, but I had no earthly idea of the hatred towards me and my daughter and my guys. But that did nothing but rile me up and get me even more involved. Read More Alas, in the Deep South, such attitudes towards the LGBT community have never really gone away. In All The Young Men, Coker Burks writes how she was shunned anew as recently as 2013, as she advocated for three young foster children who were facing huge discrimination after being rumoured to be HIV-positive. I have [gay] friends in Canada who were terrified to come visit us, she says. I had friends visit me at my house, and I leave my blinds and windows open, and they couldnt stand it. They are so used to living covered up, away from everybody. Coker Burks has helped hundreds of young men diagnosed with HIV and Aids. In a peculiar twist of fate, she inherited most of the plots in a local cemetery from her mother. Many of those she helped had their final resting place there, after their remains were brought there under cover of darkness. To date, 50 rose bushes have been planted by the LGBT community in Files Cemetery in Hot Springs, Arkansas. The site has become a touchstone for the community, and is likely to receive even more attention on the release of Coker Burks book. Her reputation as a guardian angel became airborne, and eventually her advocacy work brought her to the corridors of power in Washington. There, an old childhood friend, Bill Clinton, enlisted her as an informal adviser on Aids to his administration. A big-screen adaptation of All The Young Men is already in the works, with producer Christina Won, long-time creative partner of Birdman/Revenant director Alejandro Inarritu, at the helm. Im a bit nervous Im very protective of my guys and I dont ever want them to be caricatures, says Coker Burks. The book is my baby, and my guys are like the children Ive kept safe for all these years. I want the film to be true above all else, I want the film to be human. As though this extraordinary tale could be anything but. Expand Close All the Young Men by Ruth Coker Burks / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp All the Young Men by Ruth Coker Burks All the Young Men (Trapeze) by Ruth Coker Burks is out now MOORESVILLE, N.C., Jan. 22, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Since 2004, Property Solutions, LLC has been buying houses with private funds, and closing fast. Having relocated from Michigan to the Greater Charlotte area in 2007, they have enjoyed the robust local markets in cities like Statesville, Mooresville, Huntersville, Cornelius, and others. Property Solutions, LLC But how has the Covid-19 pandemic affected this? Here's what company founder and Chief Homebuyer Lou Gimbutis had to say: "Covid-19 has brought this country some unexpected and unforeseen changes. In terms of buying houses, we purchase with cash, meaning that we are not subject to the whims or changing requirement of banks, mortgage companies, and other traditional lenders. We believe strongly in our business model, have experienced consistent success, and plan to continue to buy houses in all conditions, pretty or ugly- at a very aggressive pace." Property Solutions, LLC has the capacity to conduct the majority of their business without the necessity of personal contact. One visit to the house is typically all that is needed, and the majority of the transaction can be handled via phone, fax, email, or mail. "We're doing everything possible to keep our customers safe," says Gimbutis, "and to do business in a manner that they are comfortable with from start to finish." Customers may initiate contact via their website, https://www.soldcarolina.com/, or by calling 704-625-0260, 24 hours a day. Property Solutions, LLC has been a North Carolina company since 2007. Lou Gimbutis, owner of Property Solutions, has formerly served as Director of Education, President, and Vice-President of the Metrolina Real Estate Investors Association, and has joined the National Association of Real Estate Investors in lobbying to Congress against anti-investor (and thus, by extension, anti-housing-market legislation). Media Contact: Lou Gimbutis 704-500-2020 [email protected] SOURCE Property Solutions, LLC Related Links https://www.soldcarolina.com/ Egypt and China have signed an attachment agreement on completing works at the central business district project in the New Administrative Capital (NAC), a mega 700-square-kilometre project expected to be a new home to various public agencies. Via video conferencing, Egypt's Minister of Housing Assem El-Gazzar witnessed the signing ceremony in Beijing on Thursday, in the presence of the Egyptian Ambassador to China Mohamed El-Badry and Zhou Yong, the vice president of the China State Construction Engineering Corporation (CSCEC). A memorandum of understanding (MoU) on the management and operation of the project was also signed during the ceremony. Minister El-Gazzar thanked work teams from Egypt and China that are responsible for implementing the project, a statement by the Egyptian housing ministry said. The minister also called for speeding up workflow as the central business district project is likely to host the launching ceremony for the first phase of NAC. The project will not be the last to be implemented by the Chinese company in Egypt, El-Gazzar noted, adding "coordination is underway with the company to carry out a number of projects in a number of new cities across the country." Government offices were due to be relocated to the new capital by mid-2020, but the step was delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic. The NAC was among several Egyptian national projects that were due to be inaugurated this year. However, President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi instructed the government to reschedule the inauguration to 2021 due the pandemic and its related restrictive measures. Thousands of public employees are scheduled to be relocated to the NAC starting June 2021. Short link: 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. Various state police Criminal Investigation Departments (CID) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) will launch investigations against financial technology (fintech) lenders who received Chinese investments. The fintech companies, numbering over 24 and including Bubble Loan, Flip Cash, Go Cash and SnapIt Loan, have been asked to stop processing payments and transactions, sources told The Economic Times. Moneycontrol could not independently verify the report. The ED and police CIDs have also sent written notices to payment gateways such as Razorpay and Paytm, asking them to stop dealings with such companies, one source added. An official said the notices directed payment gateways to cancel accounts of several Chinese-backed fintech entities, adding that they are also being questioned for reasons behind opening accounts for such dubious firms. There is a big flaw here. Payment gateways, in a hurry to generate more cash flows, went and opened accounts for these Chinese entities. They have to do the know-your-customer (KYC) checks to figure out the money trail, the official noted. Paytm did not respond to queries, the report said. Razorpay said it has banned several of these apps in the past few months and proactively reported any suspicious merchants to law authorities and help them with KYC and other details. There has been no action or investigation against Razorpay in this regard. Razorpay has already banned 300-400 apps in the last three months, a spokesperson for Razorpay said. Notably, 95 percent of the fintech apps use Razorpay as their payment gateway, which alerted suspicion from the ED and state CIDs, an official said, adding that they had received a list of Chinese apps based on complaints and authorities are ensuring that due diligence such as merchant KYC was followed by Razorpay while onboarding these apps. There is also an investigation into money laundering charges against these apps, the official added, acknowledging that prevailing anti-China sentiments is also playing a part. This collaboration advances Tinubu Squares innovative digital solutions to a new competitive edge using Microsoft Power BI, the top Business Intelligence software on the market PARIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Tinubu Square, the market leader for enterprise software solutions to Credit and Surety Insurers, announces cooperation with Microsoft, the leading provider in Business Intelligence solutions. Olivier Placca, Tinubu Square co-founder and Deputy CEO declares: This cooperation is strategic for Tinubu Square to continue to offer carriers best-in-class technologies in the long run using the strength of Power BI across all business lines of our SaaS-based, end-to-end Enterprise Solution Platform. Our primary objective is answering our customers needs. Integrating Power BI to our Credit Insurance and Surety Platform offers them key benefits such as powerful insights, a scalable solution and settings on-the-fly. To take full advantage of our Business Intelligence capabilities, customers can tailor their own reports using a specifically designed Tinubu CIS data model, increasing efficiency and data relevance. Offer Sadey, Chief Technical Officer at Tinubu Square, explains: Before choosing Microsoft, we ran through a market research with full technical assessment of the different offerings. We wanted to be sure to integrate the best solution for our customers benefit. It had to perfectly fit our own solutions and enhance them; we found that Microsoft Power BI was the right technology for achieving that end. Today, Power BI is integrated in both our Trade Credit Insurance and our Surety SaaS Solutions (Tinubu CIS & Tinubu eSURETY). Choosing Power BI brings the assurance of benefiting from the best technical tool. It is scalable to the customers business needs and is highly secured. It has a strong API enabling carriers to personalize the whole configuration of the reports they need and customize their different workspaces. Configuration is actually very easy and can be done on-the-go. Customers can also connect to the Data Warehouse for their own needs of data analysis and prediction. Another advantage is the cost; Power BI is very affordable and allows us to continue offering high-end technological services while remaining cost-competitive. Overall, this collaboration with Microsoft is built on a solid policy: a progressive licensing mode and a strong global support technical, legal and business - allowing rapid scalability and therefore growth for our customers. Patrice Amann, Senior Director, Financial Services Business Lead - EMEA, at Microsoft expresses: Being at the vanguard of technological innovations, Microsoft developed Power BI which is specifically designed to facilitate businesses strategic decisions and growth. Today, business forecasts and decision-making processes rely solely on the quality of data, transformed into knowledge, and their real-time availability. Every company is looking for the guaranty that their data and cloud services will be fully secured and supported at all time, whether their activities spread on a global scale or is purely local. He adds: This collaboration with Tinubu Square shows that Microsoft Business Intelligence solutions are also designed to perfectly adjust to and match the need for digitalization in the Credit Insurance and Surety industry. Our goal is to provide the necessary technology to contribute to the large success of Tinubu Squares specialized solutions for carriers, and this cooperation materializes a joint intention between both companies to answer exact business needs and provide an always optimized customer experience. About Tinubu Square www.tinubu.com @TinubuGroup Tinubu Square is the industry-leading SaaS platform vendor, enabling Credit Insurance & Surety digital transformation. For 20 years, Tinubu Square has provided Credit & Surety insurers across the globe with software and services allowing them to offer best-in-class customer experience, as well as significantly reduce their exposure to risk and their financial, operational and technical costs. Tinubu Square has an international footprint with customers in over 20 countries, including 30 of the top 60 worldwide Credit & Surety underwriters. The NIA on Thursday arrested an active member of a "jihadi" gang, "Shahadat is our Goal", from Tamil Nadu for his alleged involvement in a conspiracy of waging a violent "jihad" in the southern state as part of efforts to establish Shariah, an official said. Mohammed Rashid, 25, from Tamil Nadu's Cuddalore district, was arrested and produced before a special NIA court in Chennai, which sent him to judicial custody, the official said. The case was registered in April 2018 under sections of the Indian Penal Code, the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and the Arms Act in Tamil Nadu's Ramanathapuram district after the arrest of Mohamed Rifas, Muparish Ahamed and Abupakkar Sithik from Keelakarai, a spokesperson of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) said. Lethal weapons, including swords, along with pamphlets pertaining to the terrorist gang, "Shahadat is our Goal", were seized from their possession, the official said. Other accused Sheik Dawood, Ahamed Imithyash, Hameed Asfar, Liyakath Ali, Sajith Ahamed and Rizwan Mohammad were also arrested during investigation, after which the NIA re-registered the case in January 2019, he added. Searches were conducted by the NIA at the premises of the accused in May 2019 and Rashid was identified as an active member of the terrorist gang, the official said. A scrutiny of the forensically-retrieved data from the seized digital devices and their e-mail and social media accounts revealed that the accused, including Rashid, had conducted multiple conspiracy meetings under the leadership of Dawood and Rifas with the intention of waging a violent "jihad" (holy war) in Tamil Nadu as part of their efforts to establish Shariah (Islamic law), the NIA spokesperson said. The accused, in pursuance of the conspiracy, had also attempted to procure illegal firearms, the official said, adding that further investigation in the case is underway. Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. Sister Hilary Beck guarded the high-school journalism classroom at St. Agnes Academy like a soldier. The petite nun was a stickler for grammar and serious about the craft of writing. She taught me the power of using my voice through the written word and appointed me the schools columnist. I didnt know it then, but Beck was my first mentor, a woman who put her hand in the small of my back and pushed me along early in my life. She also set into motion my lifelong relationship with many more mentors who often saw something in me that I didnt see in myself. To me, Beck was a light to guide me forward when I was starry-eyed with braces and baby fat and armed with a dream of impacting the world through my words. I was just too young to know how to do it. Thats what mentoring is about. With January as National Mentoring Month, I reflect on my moments with Beck. We stayed connected well into my journalism career, and I still have her letters and cards. Without her guidance, Im not so certain I would be writing this column today. Mentoring, whether through an organized program or an organic relationship, such as mine, is a powerful tool to help people grow professionally and personally. Thats why more than 71 percent of Fortune 500 companies offer mentoring programs to their employees. Its also important for young women and people of color who may not have access to opportunities, and it provides a way for the mentors themselves to pay it forward. Mentoring is not just important, its vital, said KTRK ABC13 anchor Chauncy Glover, who is founder of the Chauncy Glover Project, which empowers Black and Latino boys through a yearlong program of mentoring, tutoring and leadership training. Its not just conversation. Its not about raising a bunch of Chauncys. Its about encouraging the boys to be the best version of themselves and providing them with a village to do that. Glovers program has sent more than 200 boys to college. Each year, the program culminates with a black-tie gala in which they perform an original play, written by Glover, based on the boys lives. Glover has taken his program virtual because of the pandemic. Nearly 400 boys applied at the start of the school year; 70 were accepted. He calls the boys kings and says love is at the center of the mentoring relationship. That love is based on trust, not in the things that I say but how I live my life, said Glover, whose close relationship with his father and village of mentors has helped guide his own career. Some of these boys have never had anyone to love them without asking something in return. They need someone to be there and show up. We dont ask the boys for anything only that they represent themselves well, make us proud, pay it forward and learn the lessons. One lesson is when God blesses you, its your responsibility to pass along the blessing, Glover said. Thats something Azalia Benjamin-Mathis, a former educator turned real estate agent, knows well. Her first mentor guided her as a young teacher at a school in an underserved Southwest Houston neighborhood. Benjamin-Mathis later became a mentor to other teachers. When she switched careers, Sherry Campbell, founder of Energy Realty, became her rock. From the moment I met her, I knew shes the kind of woman I wanted to be. Shes service oriented and gave me the push I needed. We both have an aligned vision thats focused on community, not about making money, Benjamin-Mathis said. Ive wanted to be journalist from a very young age, and I was undeterred by people who told me that my career choice would mean a life of poverty, like a starving artist. Beck embraced my dream and give it a big maternal hug. She was bent over from severe kyphosis, but that didnt stop her from zipping around the hallways of the school, fussing at students for being late to class. She smelled like coffee and newsprint, something I learned was the norm as I entered newsrooms as a young journalist. Her hand had a slight shake, but she was steady with her teaching. When mean girls shook my confidence, Beck handed me over the keys to the schools darkroom, where I spent my lunch hours hidden away, learning to develop film and create artistic photos, a passion I still have today. Beck died in 1999 at age 97. I had many mentors to follow, including: Kay Read, a Baylor University graduate who is now retired in Georgia, who was my boss at the Kansas City Star, and later hired me to work alongside her at the New York Post; Lewis Diuguid, a retired columnist at the Star, who told me that he mentored me so that I could mentor others; and Susan Taylor, the former editor-in-chief of Essence Magazine, whom I met when I was just 19 as a college student and would meet her many times more. She encouraged me to apply for the magazines editor in chief job a decade ago. I did, but shortly after I became ill, and I had to pull out of the running. Taylor, who founded the National Cares Mentoring Movement to help recruit, train and nurture Black mentors, emailed me, and her words were poetic: The Holy Spirit lays the body down, when our body, mind and soul need to rest. God does bring to us whatever is needed to awaken us. Self-care is all of our lesson to learn well. I have served as a mentor to many young women and men through the years. I have found mentoring is often the simple words spoken at the right time to give someone the encouragement to keep going. Jenny Moore, an entrepreneur and founder of BlingGuard, who provides mentoring to female students at University of Houstons C.T. Bauer College of Business, said she wants young women to know they are not alone. This is really the most connected and disconnected generation. Its important these young women have that sounding board. Someone who cares for them and doesnt want anything from them, she said. Moore didnt have mentors growing up, she said, so she has started a private Facebook page for young women. She plans to launch national program to help college women. Everyone has different life experiences, and thats OK, she said. I want to encourage them to share their stories and find power in their voice. Theres a lot of healing in that. There are many other programs and resources for professionals looking for mentors, such as WatchHerWork.com, founded by Houston businesswoman Denise Hamilton, and Emerge, a non-profit organization program that empowers high-performing students from Houstons most underserved communities. More then 1,200 students in the Emerge program attend institutions, such as Harvard, Stanford, Yale and Rice universities. Each year, it connects 50 to 75 high school seniors with mentors. Denise Smith, owner of Denise Smith Consulting, an executive search firm for non-profit organizations and foundations, is a mentor and board member with Emerge. As a mentor, she provides support for the students, finding them internships, even sending them college care packages packed with food and clothes. Ultimately, her mission is to provide the students access to opportunities they deserve. These students are so bright and so creative, and they have such hope and positivity. It gives me hope of whats possible and really inspires me, she said. My relationship with Beck was an unlikely one an awkward Black girl with braces and baby fat and an aging white Catholic nun who smelled like coffee and newsprint but we were joined by a love of words and respect for storytelling. She was the sage. I was the sponge. It was perfect. joy.sewing@chron.com ALBANY School districts appear to be getting more aid in Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo's budget proposal, but the boost is largely driven by federal pandemic relief funds made available to schools in the most recent federal stimulus package. Aid to New York's more than 700 school districts would rise by $2.1 billion in 2021-2022, through a combination of federal and state dollars, according to the governor's financial plan. Approximately 70 percent of the $31.7 billion in combined state and federal education funding will be directed to high need districts, state officials say. But the state would actually reduce its education spending by more than $607 million in order to narrow the state's $14 billion budget deficit. Those gaps would be filled by more than $3.9 billion in coronavirus relief funds allocated to school districts, according to the executive budget proposal. Part of the savings would come from the consolidation of 11 expense-based aid categories, which reimburse districts for things like transportation, textbooks, and BOCES services. This is projected to reduce state spending by $393 million in 2021-22. In the Capital Region, most high need, urban districts will see their total aid numbers rise in the 2021-22 school year, while some wealthier suburban districts will see reductions in aid next year, according to the "school aid runs" released Tuesday night. Many rural districts in the region will see total aid amounts stay flat. Cuomo is calling on Congress to send New York $15 billion in order to eliminate its budget gap and fully fund districts hard-hit by the pandemic, but the current budget proposal presumes the state will receive $6 billion in already allocated federal aid. If Washington, D.C delivers, We are going to build back a state that youve never seen before," Cuomo said. "We know how to build, and we do it well. And we know how an investment pays back dividends that you will see for generations. The New York State Council of School Superintendents Executive Director Charles Dedrick echoed the governor's demand for financial assistance from the federal government after the state was "blindsided" by COVID-19. "While on first blush it appears the budget is proposing a significant aid increase for schools with federal help, the state would be reducing its own support by over $600 million, due to cuts in expense-based aids, a 'local district funding adjustment,' and other actions," Dedrick said in a statement. The state has committed to reimbursing all districts for costs associated with delivering meals, WiFi hotspots, and schoolwork to students when school buildings were closed last spring. Albany City Schools can expect a $9 million increase, a boost of about 7 percent, with just $72,000 of those additional dollars coming from the state. The Albany district laid off more than 200 teachers and staff last fall and reduced its in-person learning opportunities under the threat of mid-year cuts to state aid for the 2020-21 school year. So far, most education aid to districts has been paid in full, budget officials say. District officials, however, say they have not been guaranteed full aid for the second half of the current school year. Albany Superintendent Kaweeda G. Adams said district officials need more certainty about how much aid they will receive for the rest of this year in addition to 2021-22 before they can begin building back programs. "Governor Cuomo's initial look at the state's 2021-22 budget forecast reinforced the message that the governor and Division of Budget have been communicating throughout the COVID-19 crisis that we are waiting for the federal government to provide relief for schools," Adams said. "We are still awaiting more clarity about the state's position on school aid for the current year, though we recognize that the transition process for our national leadership has played a part in that delay." In a statement, state Division of Budget spokesman Freeman Klopott disputed Adams' claim that school districts were not guaranteed the full aid for the year. We dont know whats happening with the school district," he said. "It is locally controlled and they make all hiring and firing decisions. We have made it clear that the state will be paying 100 percent of P-12 education aid in the current year no funds will be withheld. Meanwhile, the neighboring Bethlehem district, which serves a wealthier demographic, will lose roughly $6.3 million, or 20 percent of its state aid, but with state and federal relief funds combined, the district is looking at an aid reduction of approximately $2.3 million, or 7.6 percent. But other suburban schools will see a moderate bump in total aid, including the North Colonie, Guilderland, and Niskayuna districts. Schenectady City Schools, which laid off hundreds of teachers and staff in September, will see an increase of $12 million, or 8.5 percent. Troy and Lansingburgh districts will each see an aid increase of roughly 4 percent for the coming school year. Aid remains relatively stable for the Mohonasen district . The schools would see a $1.8 million dollar cut to its state aid, but with the combined resources ends up with an extra $448,000, or 1.6 percent over the current school year's allocation. Superintendent Shannon Shine said minimal increases amount to a loss for school districts that have costs rise annually, in part, due to contractual salary increases. "The current state aid proposal will result in keeping it flat for three years in a row, still drastically underfunded in the first place, and leave districts like Mohonasen with significant budget challenges on the horizon," Shine said. State education officials oppose the use of federal dollars intended to support schools through the pandemic in the place of state aid. In their budget priorities, the state Education Department and Board of Regents asked lawmakers to restore more than 1.1 billion in federal relief funds that were deducted from state aid amounts during the 2020-2021 school year. "While understanding the current fiscal realities our state is facing, we cannot balance the state budget on the backs of our students by forcing school districts to use federal funding to fill the holes left in their budgets by a decrease in State Aid. We are profoundly opposed to federal funds being used to replace state dollars to support our schools," Board of Regents Chancellor Lester Young and State Education Commissioner Betty Rosa said in a statement. Any additional relief from the federal government should be used to help school districts meet the enormous additional costs of the pandemic and to address learning loss and other adverse student impacts rather than day-to-day expenses, Rosa and Young said. They note that education spending is disproportionately cut relative to other programs in the proposed budget and that state aid was the only program cut in the 2020-2021 enacted budget. The state budget is typically enacted by April 1. The final spending plan will be negotiated with both houses of the state Legislature, which will release their own budget proposals. A provision in the 2021 state budget allowed the state to reduce or withhold school aid by 20 percent mid-year depending on the economic impact of the pandemic. Following a series of lawsuits and protests from parents and the teachers union, the state walked back its plan to withhold 20 percent of schools' foundation aid and most aid has since been paid in full. In the days before became US president, construction crews worked quickly to finish Donald Trump's wall at an iconic cross-border park overlooking the Pacific Ocean, which then-first lady Pat Nixon inaugurated in 1971 as a symbol of friendship. Biden on Wednesday ordered a pause on all wall construction within a week, one of 17 executive orders issued on his first day in office, including six dealing with immigration. The order leaves billions of dollars of work unfinished - but still under contract - after Trump worked feverishly last year to build more than 450 miles (720 km), a goal he said he achieved eight days before leaving office. As of January 15, the government spent $6.1 billion of the $10.8 billion in work it signed contracts to have done, according to a Senate Democratic aide with knowledge of the contracts who spoke on condition of anonymity because details have not been made public. The full amount under contract would have extended Trump's wall to 664 miles (1,069 km). Biden, seeking to fulfil a pledge not to build another foot, gave his administration two months to determine how much it would cost to cancel contracts and whether money could be spent elsewhere. The Senate aide said fees would be negotiated with contractors and the administration would seek to spend whatever's left on related uses on the border, such as roads, lights, sensors and other technology. Publicly, the Trump administration said it secured $15 billion for the wall. The Senate aide said it was actually $16.45 billion as of Wednesday, $5.8 billion of which was appropriated by Congress and the rest diverted from the Defence and Treasury departments. The Trump administration notified the Senate aide on January 14 that it was moving ahead with a contract for $863 million, but it was not awarded. The Army Corps of Engineers, which has awarded wall contracts with Defence Department money, said Thursday that it told crews not to install any additional barriers and to limit activity over the next few days to what is necessary to safely prepare each site for a suspension of work. John Kurc, an activist who posts videos of dynamite blasts by wall construction crews, said he saw one dynamite charge being set Wednesday afternoon in Guadalupe Canyon in easternmost Arizona, even as the inauguration was playing out in Washington. Heavy machines have been crawling over roadways gouged into rocky mountainsides, tapping open holes for posts on US Bureau of Land Management property. Advocates in Texas' Rio Grande Valley, the busiest area for illegal crossings, and near Nogales, Arizona, saw idle construction equipment Thursday. But in San Diego, crews were out replacing a steel fence with imposing, tightly spaced poles topped with flat steel plates rising 30 feet (9 metres), said Dan Watman of Friends of Friendship Park, a group that promotes public access to the cross-border park overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Contractors began last week, said Watman, who was informed of the project in a December conference call with Border Patrol agents but got no explanation for it. The agency referred questions to the White House, which had no immediate comment. Trump said the border wall would be virtually impenetrable and paid for by Mexico, which never happened. While the wall is much more formidable than the barriers it replaced, it isn't uncommon for smugglers to guide people over or through it. Portions can be sawed with power tools sold at home improvement stores. Despite Trump's bravado, Border Patrol officials have said the wall was never meant to stop everyone but rather to slow their advance. Jose Edgar Zuleta, whose business selling religious jewelery in the Mexican city of Puebla dried up during the coronavirus pandemic, cleared two walls in Friendship Park in October with a special ladder. He moved through brush in a heavily patrolled area for about half an hour before getting caught. His 21-year-old son, who went ahead of him, got picked up hours later. The cross-border park has hosted yoga classes, concerts and countless news conferences, including one in 2018 with then-Attorney General Jeff Sessions to announce a zero tolerance policy that caused thousands of children to be separated from their parents at the border. Since 2012, after construction of a double wall at the park, the Border Patrol has opened a gate many weekends for up to 10 people at a time to exchange words with those in Mexico. SLSCO Ltd. of Galveston, Texas, won contracts to build double walls blanketing 14 miles (22 km) in San Diego. Company spokeswoman Liz Rogers said work at Friendship Park is separate and done by another company. The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear arguments next month on whether the government' illegally diverted billions of dollars from the Defence Department to build the wall after Congress denied money that Trump sought, triggering a 35-day government shutdown in 2017. It is unclear if Biden will adopt Trump's position before the Supreme Court. The government's brief is due February 11. Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador welcomed Biden's decision to stop wall construction but, in defence of Trump, noted that US presidents going back to 1990s built border barriers. He displayed a chart to prove his point. 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. Madonna famously enrolled her in a private French school at an early age and even boasted that she was fluent in the language by the age of 13. So it comes as no wonder Lourdes Leon wants fans to pardon her French. The 24-year-old model made quite the debut on Instagram on Friday as she made some very rude expletive-filled comments aimed directly at some of her followers. Scroll down for video Pardon her French! Lourdes Leon made quite the debut on Instagram on Friday as she made some very rude expletive-filled comments aimed directly at some of her followers Rude: The 24-year-old model launched her new social media by posting two of her fashion campaigns for Juicy Couture and Adidas but it was what was in the comments section that surely got tongues wagging She launched her new social media by posting two of her fashion campaigns for Juicy Couture and Adidas but it was what was in the comments section that surely got tongues wagging. One follower mentioned her famous mother as they wrote: 'Your mother made a masterpiece called Hard Candy.' Lourdes AKA Lola pulled no punches as she replied to the fan writing: 'Your mother sucks wild d***.' Bffs: Lourdes and Madonna are seen at New York Fashion week in September 2016 'What would your mom think?' One follower wondered what her 62-year-old Girl Gone Wild hitmaker mom would think of the racy photos and Lourdes replied 'does your mom know u don't wash your a**' 'You have no life': Lourdes took umbrage with someone hoping that Madonna would reply to him As she could be seen wearing Parade x Juicy Couture panties in one of her posts a fan wondered what her 62-year-old Girl Gone Wild hitmaker mom would think. The fan wrote: 'Not u thirst trappingwhat would your mom think!' Lourdes - whose profile photo is Michelle Visage from RuPaul's Drag Race - replied: 'does your mom know u don't wash ur a**.' Wow factor: Lola proudly showed off her Parade x Juicy Couture campaign as she sported a hoodie and panties combination for one of the posters Sending a message: She also shared a photo a T-shirt which had 'I'm not normal' across it 'Remember when u realized u would never amount to nothing': Lourdes pulled no punches 'Go follow her': She told another fan to follow her mother instead In her other post she shared a video of her Adidas By Stella McCartney SS21 campaign in which she dances alongside Akili King in a short clip directed by Anna Pollack. Under that post a fan wrote: 'Hey queen were waiting for your singing debut.' She replied: 'I'll sing at your funeral.' No doubt Lourdes' foul-mouth may come as a shock to many as she went to private bilingual school Lycee Francais De New York and was already fluent in the language by 13. Rising star: In her other post she shared a video of her Adidas By Stella McCartney SS21 campaign Showing her skills: She donned a clinging red and black patterned top as she danced in a field Star-studded: She was joined by Akili King in the short clip directed by Anna Pollack. Ouch: A fan commented that they were waiting for her singing debut as Lourdes offered 'I'll sing at your funeral' She later went to the La Guardia School of Performing Arts in New York City which is regarded as a 'fame school' and is often seen as a star factory. Lourdes has recently been making a name for herself in the world of modelling and has worked with a collection of designers. After making her runway debut during Gypsy Sport's NYFW show in 2018, Lourdes landed the Miu Miu campaign in 2019. The local health officials knew in early January that there was going to be an oxygen shortage imminently, but their warning did not carry any weight. by Noam Chomsky and Vijay Prashad Warnings that the oxygen supply was running out in the city of Manaus, Brazil, came to local and federal government officials a week before the calamity led to the deaths by asphyxiation of patients afflicted with COVID-19. No modern statesuch as Brazilshould have to admit that it did nothing when these warnings came in and simply allowed its own citizens to die for no reason. A Supreme Court judge and the solicitor general have demanded that the Brazilian government act, but this has not moved Jair Bolsonaros administration. Everything about this storydetailed in Solicitor General Jose Levi do Amarals reportreveals the rot of privatization and incompetence. The local health officials knew in early January that there was going to be an oxygen shortage imminently, but their warning did not carry any weight. A private contractor who had the job of providing the oxygen informed the government six days before the city ran out of this crucial supply in the fight against COVID-19. Even with the contractors information, the government did nothing; it would later sayagainst all scientific advicethat early treatment for coronavirus did not work. The insensitivity and incompetence of the government of Bolsonaro have led General Prosecutor Augusto Aras to call for a special probe. As Bolsonaro dithered, the government of Venezuela, in an act of solidarity, sent a shipment of oxygen to Manaus. The latest development caused by the governments toxic mix of privatization, ineptitude, and callousness should strengthen the case brought by Brazils health care unions against Jair Bolsonaro at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in July. But the problem is not the fault of Bolsonaro alone or even of Brazil. The problem lies in the neoliberal governments, governments in the United States, the United Kingdom, India, and others, governments whose commitments to profit-making firms and billionaires far outstrip their commitment to their own citizens or to their own constitutions. What we are seeing in countries such as Brazil is a crime against humanity. It is time to impanel a citizens tribunal to investigate the utter failure of the governments of Boris Johnson, Donald Trump, Jair Bolsonaro, Narendra Modi, and others to break the chain of the infection of COVID-19. Such a tribunal would collect the factual information that would ensure that we do not allow these states to tamper with the crime scene; the tribunal would provide the ICC with a firm foundation to do a forensic investigation of this crime against humanity when its own political suffocation is eased. We should all be outraged. But, outrage is not a strong enough word. This article was produced by Globetrotter. Noam Chomsky is a legendary linguist, philosopher, and political activist. He is the laureate professor of linguistics at the University of Arizona. His most recent book is Climate Crisis and the Global Green New Deal: The Political Economy of Saving the Planet. Vijay Prashad is an Indian historian, editor and journalist. He is a writing fellow and chief correspondent at Globetrotter. He is the chief editor of LeftWord Books and the director of Tricontinental: Institute for Social Research. He is a senior non-resident fellow at Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies, Renmin University of China. He has written more than 20 books, including The Darker Nations and The Poorer Nations. His latest book is Washington Bullets, with an introduction by Evo Morales Ayma. The Brazilian government announced on Thursday that a shipment of two million doses of the British AstraZeneca- Oxford coronavirus vaccine was finally set to arrive in the country from India. The Covid-19 vaccine delivery comes as public health experts sound the alarm over insufficient supply in South America's biggest nation. The vaccine, developed by AstraZeneca and the University of Oxford, will clear customs in Sao Paulo on Friday before being flown to Rio de Janeiro, where Brazil's state-run Fiocruz Institute is based, the ministry said. Fiocruz has a partnership with AstraZeneca and Oxford for the vaccine's distribution and production. This would be a much-needed boost to Brazil's vaccination programme. "The two million doses of AstraZeneca should arrive in Brazil Friday in the late afternoon," Brazil's ministry of health said in a statement. India begins commercial vaccine exports India has cleared commercial exports of Covid vaccines, with the first consignments to be shipped to Brazil and Morocco on Friday, the Indian foreign secretary told news agency Reuters. 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. A flight from India planned for last week was delayed, derailing the federal government's plan to begin immunisation with the AstraZeneca shot. Instead, vaccination began using the CoronaVac shot in Sao Paulo, where the state's Butantan Institute has a deal with Chinese biopharmaceutical company Sinovac. Neither Fiocruz nor Butantan have received the technology from their partners to produce vaccines domestically, and instead must import the active ingredient. The announcement of the 2 million doses from India comes as increasingly vocal Brazilian experts express concern about the influx of raw materials from Asia needed to produce vaccines for the nation of 210 million people. Counting doses from Butantan and those from India, there isn't enough vaccine and there is no certainty about when Brazil will have more, or how much," Mario Scheffer, professor of preventive medicine at the University of Sao Paulo, told The Associated Press. It will interfere with our capacity in the near-term to reach collective immunity." The Indian Embassy in Brasilia didn't immediately respond to a request for comment about the announced shipment nor the cause for last week's delay. Butantan made available 6 million CoronaVac doses it imported from China in order to kick off Brazil's immunization, and it used materials imported from China to bottle an additional 4.8 million shots. The health regulator must approve use of the latter batch before it can be distributed to states and municipalities across Brazil. Scheffer estimated in a report he published Jan. 18 that the government will need 10 million doses just to cover front-line health workers, leaving the elderly and other at-risk Brazilians included in priority groups without any vaccines. The government's own immunization plan doesn't specify how many Brazilians are included in priority groups. Brazil has recorded 212,000 deaths related to coronavirus, the second-highest total in the world after the United States, and infections and deaths surging again. While Brazil has a proud history of decades of immunization campaigns, in this pandemic it has struggled to cobble together a complete plan and suffered multiple logistical pitfalls. The vaccination plan is badly done, in general," said Domingos Alves, adjunct professor of social medicine at the University of Sao Paulo. It's important that the information be transparent and clear for the population to know how this vaccination process will be done." There has been some speculation on social media that diplomatic snafus namely those stemming from allies of Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro who criticised the Chinese government might explain the delay behind getting the required inputs. Oliver Stuenkel, an international relations professor at the Getulio Vargas Foundation, a university, told AP that such a reading is overly simplistic amid heightened global demand. Of course, since Bolsonaro isn't on good terms with the Chinese government, he doesn't really have the direct access," Stuenkel said from Sao Paulo. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Denton, TX (76205) Today Cloudy this morning. A few showers developing during the afternoon. High 79F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 30%.. Tonight Cloudy this evening with showers after midnight. Low 63F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%. By Emily Chow QIXIA, China (Reuters) - The 10 known survivors trapped since a deadly Jan. 10 gold mine explosion in northern China have been using laser pointers and loudspeakers to try to find their missing colleagues, state media reported on Friday. The rescue operation, which has been able to get food and medicines to the miners, was expected to take at least another two weeks, authorities have said. White bottles of food and water sent down to the trapped workers had a note stuck on them saying, "We are all waiting for you, keep going!", photos shared by propaganda department officials with Reuters on Friday showed. The food items sent to the workers include millet porridge, quail eggs, pickles and sausages and medical supplies included disinfectant, masks and cotton socks. "The physical condition, psychological condition and living environment of 10 miners in the middle section of the mine are good," the People's Daily, the official newspaper of China's ruling Communist Party, reported on Friday. "The miners continued to search for other trapped persons through laser pointer projection and loudspeaker shouting," it said. A total of 22 workers were trapped in the Hushan mine by the Jan 10 blast in Qixia, a major gold-producing region under the administration of Yantai in coastal Shandong province. One has died and 11 were not in contact with the rescue teams, according to a Xinhua radio report on Thursday. At least 15 days may be needed to clear the "severe blockages" as rescuers continued to drill shafts to reach the 10 men, officials said on Thursday. At the site, security was tight on Friday and Reuters journalists were not permitted to get close to the rescue operation. Workers in orange high visibility clothing could be seen operating heavy machinery. At the entrance to the site, a medical tent had been set up to administer COVID tests for rescue workers. About 570 people are involved in the rescue, the newspaper said. China's mines are among the world's deadliest. It has recorded 573 mine-related deaths in 2020, according to the National Mine Safety Administration. (Reporting by Emily Chow in Qixia and Beijing newsroom; Writing by Shivani Singh; Editing by Tony Munroe and Philippa Fletcher) JSW Steel on Friday reported a multi-fold rise in consolidated net profit for October-December quarter of the ongoing financial year at Rs 2,669 crore, as compared to Rs 187 crore in the year-ago quarter. Sequentially, the net profit grew 67 per cent from Rs 1,595 crore in July-September quarter. The company's revenue from operations rose to Rs 21,859 crore from Rs 18,055 crore in the year-ago quarter. JSW Steel reported its best quarterly operating EBITDA (earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation) at Rs 5,946 crore, while the margin stood at 27.2 per cent. The company produced 4.08 million tonnes of crude steel during the quarter as against 4.02 million tonnes a year ago. During the quarter, the domestic steel industry witnessed sharp demand recovery driven by restocking and higher demand from automotive, machinery, construction and infrastructure sectors, aided by government spending, the company said in a release. "On the back of this strong demand environment, JSW Steel improved average capacity utilisation level of 91 per cent for the quarter vs 86 per cent in Q2 2021," it said. Domestic sales volume rose 13 per cent year-on-year and 16 per cent quarter-on-quarter to 3.48 million tonnes. "The company calibrated its export volume to 12 per cent of the total sales at 0.47 million tonnes, in order to service the Indian market," it added. JSW steel said it is on course to meet its annual guidance of 15 million tonnes of saleable steel sales. However, it is expected that crude steel production guidance achievement will be about 95 per cent, mainly due to constraints on iron ore availability in India. On future outlook, the company said domestic steel demand has picked up on the back of strong economic momentum, and declining COVID-19 cases, along with supportive fiscal and monetary policies. JSW Steel is the flagship company of $12 billion diversified JSW Group, which has presence in sectors like steel, cement, energy, infrastructure, sport, among others. Shares of JSW Steel on Friday settled 4.37 per cent lower at Rs 375.60 on the BSE. Also Read: JSW Infrastructure completes acquisition of Chettinad Group's port business The Flinders University Centre for Marine Bioproducts Development bioreactor and processed microalgae sample held by Professor Wei Zhang, who is co-leading a bid to establish a national Marine Bioproducts Cooperative Research Centre (MB-CRC) in Australia. Credit: Flinders University Marine microalgae-based cellular agriculture is a promising new way to sustainably produce plant-based 'meat' and healthy 'superfoods' for the future. Researchers at Flinders University's Centre for Marine Bioproducts Development (CMBD) in Australia are responding to growing interest from consumers looking for healthier, more environmentally friendly, sustainable and ethical alternatives to animal proteins. Marine microalgae, single-cell photosynthetic organisms from the ocean could be the solution to the world's meat protein shortage, says CMBD director Flinders University Professor Wei Zhang, who is also co-leading a bid to establish a national Marine Bioproducts Cooperative Research Centre (MB-CRC) in Australia. The CRC's mission is to find ways to develop the third-generation of Australian high-value marine bioindustry (as opposed to the first-generation of fisheries and the second-generation of aquaculture) and transform Australia's emerging marine bioproducts sector into a globally competitive industry. The Centre's focus will be on industry and market-driven innovations to improve both the supply chain and value chain to deliver costs savings, improved production and competitive capacity for Australia to access high value marine bioproducts markets across the globe. "Our research spans the entire value chain, from microalgae cultivation and circular advanced biomanufacturing to the development of high-value functional food," Professor Zhang says. "Microalgae come in a diverse range of nutritional profiles and advanced cultivation strategies can be developed for tuning microalgae to produce protein-, oil- and carbohydrate-dominant types that can be processed into a broad range of functional foods, including healthy cell patties, chips, pastes, jams and even caviar." Two freshwater microalgal products currently on the market are the high protein Chlorella and Spirulina varieties used in the production of foods such as green pasta, drinks and beverages. Marine species are of significant interest as they do not require scarce freshwater and crop land. Their unique nutritional profiles such as their high DHA and EPA content (long chain omega 3 fatty acids) are essential for infant and brain development and cardiac health. Bioreactors for upscaling upscaled aquatic production of photosynthetic microalgae can also help to combat greenhouse gas emissions and climate change. One 90 x 90 x 210 cm (3 x 3 x 7 ft) bioreactor unit can absorb up to 400 times more carbon dioxide than the same footprint of trees. Using sunlight, certain varieties of microalgae create oxygen and convert carbon dioxide into organic carbon (protein, carbohydrates, pigments, fats and fibers), just like plants, but do not require valuable arable land for their production. "They are therefore often called the rainforests of the oceans," says Associate Professor Kirsten Heimann, senior lecturer in biotechnology at Flinders University. "Using sunlight, photosynthetic microalgae create oxygen and convert carbon dioxide into organic carbon (protein, carbohydrates, pigments, fats, fibers, and micronutrients), just like plants, but do not require valuable arable land for their production. This means microalgae can be sustainably harvested and converted into eco-friendly superfoods," she says. "Putting one and one together, microalgae and innovative production and processing could help to service the world's booming population and growing demand for sustainable protein production," she says. Along with research into processing techniques, the CMBD team is also investigating the use of waste or harvested seaweed for biodegradable plastics production, another sustainable solution to non-degradable petroleum-based plastics. Explore further Cashing in on marine byproducts More information: Reinu E. Abraham et al, Release of encapsulated bioactives influenced by alginate viscosity under in-vitro gastrointestinal model, International Journal of Biological Macromolecules (2021). Reinu E. Abraham et al, Release of encapsulated bioactives influenced by alginate viscosity under in-vitro gastrointestinal model,(2021). DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2020.12.143 Students in the TPP work with local organizations such as Girls Inc. to develop lessons that sometimes take shape as a fun community activity, like Spooky Science, pictured here. Three researchers from Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) received a one-year, $75,000 grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to plan how to combat the STEM teacher shortage in high-need school districts. The grant is part of the NSFs Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program, which provides funding to colleges and universities to recruit and prepare STEM majors to become K-12 teachers. WPI hopes to establish a Noyce Track 1 program, which focuses on supporting undergraduate STEM majors to become certified teachers through scholarships and early field experiences in the greater Worcester community. The prevalent shortage of STEM teachers in K-12 schools is exacerbated in high-need districts that have also endured system racism and underfunding, said Kathy Chen, executive director of WPIs STEM Education Center and principal investigator on the grant. In particular, the Physics Teacher Education Coalition (PhysTEC) reported that, among all academic disciplines, U.S. school districts consistently rank physics as the area with the most significant shortage of teachers. Through the grant, Building the Capacity for Noyce Scholars to Address the Urban STEM Teacher Shortage in Massachusetts, Chen, Shari Weaver, director of the Teacher Preparation Program (TPP), and Doug Petkie, professor and department head of Physics, aim to better support students who plan to become teachers of STEM subjects and diversify the future pool of potential Noyce Scholars at the university. They plan to build strong partnerships with local, high-need schools that will supervise, mentor, and potentially hire Noyce Scholars who complete the program. Students do come to WPI for STEM and teaching. This grant will allow us to look for areas of improvement in our TPP, where we can grow and develop in more in-depth ways, said Weaver, who is a former high school biology and physics teacher. It will support future STEM teachers in their growth as professionals and have a great impact on the education community. The grant will examine how undergraduates currently prepare to become STEM teachers, and will identify any unmet needs and barriers that may prevent them from becoming teachers in the K-12 classrooms after graduation. Included in that preparation is training TPP students with culturally responsive teaching/pedagogy and equity mindfulness. The grant will also pinpoint key requirements that high-need K-12 schools look for when hiring teacher candidates. Chen, Weaver, and Petkie will collect data via surveys, interviews, and focus groups of schools and WPI students in the TPP who are student-teaching, or preparing to student-teach, in high-need schools. We want to understand public schools hiring practices and what theyre looking for in teacher candidates, said Chen. Were also looking for ways to help our student teachers make the smoothest transition into the classroom. This project is aligned with our mission to improve and transform STEM education in K-12 schools, and encourage WPI students to be a part of that improvement. For more than 20 years, WPIs TPP has encouraged interested first- and second-year students to consider teaching as a career. The program begins with pre-practicum in which students work with local organizations such as Girls Inc. and the YMCA to develop lessons that sometimes take shape as a fun community activity, like Spooky Science, which was held as a Massachusetts STEM Week event. As these students move into their junior and senior years, they train with a mentor teacher at a local school and eventually do a classroom takeover, where they teach STEM classes on their own. (Many students complete their student-teaching as their Interactive Qualifying Project, a hands-on team project.) "WPI's TPP has given me the unique opportunity to work towards a Massachusetts's teaching license in Secondary Math while I earn my degree, said Juliette Spitaels 22, who is majoring in mathematical sciences. It has allowed me to pursue both my passions, instead of choosing only one; each has informed the other to enrich my college experience and prepare me for a career in education." WPI student-teachers like Spitaels have been placed in numerous school districts, including Worcester, Leominster, Auburn, Millbury, and others. For the envisioned Noyce Track 1, Weaver said WPI is partnering with more high-need, urban districts, including Worcester and Leominster. This will help prepare WPI student-teachers for urban spaces, which may be different from where they grew up and went to school, she said. Were focusing on urban settings because thats where WPI is, and where so many great community and school-enrichment organizations are. The goal is to help students find the right path to becoming a STEM professional and remove any barriers from that path, Weaver said. Participating in the Noyce Program will also help us elevate the status of teaching STEM and reframe how people feel about the teaching profession in a positive way. About Worcester Polytechnic Institute WPI, the global leader in project-based learning, is a distinctive, top-tier technological university founded in 1865 on the principle that students learn most effectively by applying the theory learned in the classroom to the practice of solving real-world problems. Recognized by the National Academy of Engineering with the 2016 Bernard M. Gordon Prize for Innovation in Engineering and Technology Education, WPIs pioneering project-based curriculum engages undergraduates in solving important scientific, technological, and societal problems throughout their education and at more than 50 project centers around the world. WPI offers more than 50 bachelors, masters, and doctoral degree programs across 14 academic departments in science, engineering, technology, business, the social sciences, and the humanities and arts. Its faculty and students pursue groundbreaking research to meet ongoing challenges in health and biotechnology; robotics and the internet of things; advanced materials and manufacturing; cyber, data, and security systems; learning science; and more. http://www.wpi.edu Contact: Jessica Messier Public Relations Specialist Worcester Polytechnic Institute jmmessier@wpi.edu # # # (Natural News) Last December 2020, health experts from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warned that Modernas coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine has yet another negative side effect: Upon vaccination, people with cosmetic facial fillers experienced swelling and inflammation. Most of the recipients of Modernas coronavirus vaccine have experienced mild side effects like headache, fatigue and pain at the injection site. Vaccine recipients who have had prior dermal fillers, but not Botox injections, may also experience temporary facial swelling. Adverse effects of the Moderna vaccine Data showed that the swelling was related to the COVID-19 vaccine. Back in December, FDA medical officer Dr. Rachel Zhang presented the findings at the Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee on Modernas coronavirus vaccine. In Modernas Phase 3 trial, three participants experienced facial or lip swelling after they received the vaccine. Two of them had prior dermal fillers in their cheeks within six months before inoculation. Meanwhile, the third volunteer had received dermal filler in the lip two days after getting vaccinated. According to the FDA, the two incidents of facial swelling are classified as severe adverse events. As of writing, the two participants have already recovered from the swelling. The FDA claims that the lip swelling incident was medically significant but not a severe adverse event. The patient with the lip swelling also experienced similar swelling in the past after receiving a flu vaccine. (Related: Portuguese nurse dies after receiving coronavirus vaccine.) Experts believe that coronavirus and other viral infections can trigger these immunogenic reactions in people who have recently been injected with dermal fillers. Zhang said that the swelling in the three clinical trial volunteers was treated with steroids or antihistamines, which are also often associated with negative side effects. Antihistamines may cause adverse effects like agitation, blurred vision, constipation, drowsiness, dry mouth, and urinary retention (trouble urinating). Steroids can cause side effects like cataracts, glaucoma, headaches, high blood pressure and muscle weakness. Zhang even attempted to brush off the side effects as minor, claiming that the three patients who experienced facial and lip swelling were only affected with localized swelling. She added that no systemic symptoms observed. Through a briefing document presented to the Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee, the FDA explained that the localized swelling in these cases could have been caused by an inflammatory reaction from interaction between the immune response after vaccination and the dermal filler. The cases were allegedly reported after natural infection or after an influenza-like illness, continued the document. Physicians suggest that injectable hyaluronic acid (HA)-based dermal fillers could be linked to occasional late-onset inflammatory reactions. HA is a gel-like substance that is found naturally in the body. HA-based dermal fillers are used to add volume to the skin, particularly in the cheeks. The fillers are also used to smoothen out wrinkles near the eyes, lips and forehead. Like vaccines, HA-based dermal fillers are associated with the following negative side effects that occur near the injection site: Bruising Itching Pain Rash Redness Swelling Swelling as an immunological reaction In an interview with ABC7, Dr. Shirley Chi, a dermatologist, explained that the reaction to the vaccine was immunological. Like Zhang, Chi insists that these negative side effects are perfectly fine. The immune system that causes inflammation is triggered when you get vaccinated, which is allegedly normal. Chi suggests that an immune response in certain areas is normal if there is a not a naturally occurring substance in the body. She said Americans with cosmetic facial fillers should still go ahead and get the vaccine because the patients who experienced facial swelling eventually recovered from the side effect. The committee recommended the FDA issue emergency use authorization for Modernas coronavirus vaccine after hearing about the trial and other concerns. The FDA issued the authorization last Dec. 18. According to the briefing document, Pfizer and BioNTechs coronavirus vaccine wasnt linked to any dermal filler-related side effect. However, officials warn that people who are allergic to components of either vaccine shouldnt get inoculated. Moderna also issued a similar warning on its website. The company also advised that the adverse reactions detailed in its clinical trial include: Chills Fatigue Headache Pain at the injection site Additional adverse reactions, some of which may be serious, may become apparent with more widespread use of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, added Moderna. The company concluded that vaccine providers should complete and submit reports to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System that tracks adverse vaccine events. Visit VaccineInjuryNews.com to read more articles about people who have experienced the negative side effects of the coronavirus vaccine. Sources include: TheEpochTimes.com DrugDiscoveryTrends.com MedicineNet.com Healthline.com ABC7.com On its website, the Monkey Whisperer in Central Florida describes itself as a family-owned, fastidiously clean and well organized exotic animal ranch with many unique animals in our care. One page of the website celebrates the recent birth of our baby bull bongo antelope who is being raised by his parents on the ranch. Other small animals at the Monkey Whisperer, which is owned and operated by Jimmy Wayne Hammonds, have a different future in store for them. We are accepting deposits on upcoming babies, we have several pregnant mommies expecting soon !! the site says, under a banner for Baby Marmosets and Baby Asian Small Clawed Otters. Another image describes the operation in more straightforward terms: It shows a man in a red vehicle with a white sign on one of its doors that reads: Baby Monkeys for Sale. Ask for Jim. But according to federal prosecutors, some of those sales were against the law. On Tuesday, prosecutors in Florida unsealed a seven-count indictment that charged Hammond with the illegal sale of several rare monkeys. Among the charges were violations of the Endangered Species Act and the Lacey Act, a federal conservation law that prohibits importing and shipping wildlife that may endanger native species. Hammond was also charged with witness tampering and falsifying records of some of his animal sales. If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in prison for the top charge of witness tampering, according to a statement from Maria Chapa Lopez, the U.S. attorney for the Middle District of Florida. Telephone and text messages left for Hammond on Wednesday were not immediately returned. Court records did not identify a lawyer for Hammond. The marketplace for exotic animals can be lucrative, and laws governing it vary by state. Regulating that marketplace has long been a battle of deception involving breeders, buyers and law enforcement officials. Although legislation has long been in place to stop illegal sales, some questionable players in the trade have operated in plain sight, as highlighted by the yearslong saga in Florida of Joseph Maldonado-Passage, a zoo operator known as Joe Exotic, and his nemesis, the animal rescue activist Carole Baskin, depicted in the Netflix documentary series Tiger King. According to the indictment unsealed Tuesday, in September 2017, Hammond made plans to sell a capuchin monkey to a person in California for $12,650. (The Monkey Whisperer site acknowledges it is illegal to own monkeys as pets in many states, including California.) Capuchin monkeys are small, boisterous and smelly. They soak their hands and feet in urine to leave a scent, according to the World Wildlife Fund. They are also smart. Researchers have said that the capuchin monkeys exhibit a level of intelligence, smartly selecting effective tools to help them crack open palm nuts for eating. After the money was deposited in Hammonds bank account, he had two people transport the animal, first to Nevada, then to California, according to the indictment. The animal was delivered to the buyer in October 2017, and law enforcement officials seized the animal from that buyer in January 2018, the indictment said. A month later, Hammond told law enforcement officials that he had sold the animal to a person in Nevada, which allows monkeys, according to the indictment. In March 2016, Hammond sold a cotton-top tamarin a small primate described by the federal government as critically endangered to a person in Wisconsin, according to the indictment. In April 2017, he sold another one to a person in Alabama; and that October he sold two cotton-top tamarins to a person in South Carolina, the indictment said. Cotton-top tamarins are one of the worlds tiniest primates. Though small, they are big in hair and noisy, with a shock of white fur around their skull, giving the appearance of an Einsteinian Mohawk, as once described in a New York Times article. The article playfully labeled them the punks among monkeys and said they make gorgeous punk music, squealing, whistling, chirping, letting loose with slicing screams. In August 2020, Hammond tried to persuade one of his customers to falsely tell law enforcement officials that she had purchased cotton-top tamarins at a flea market, rather than from Hammond, according to the indictment. According to prosecutors, this customer had bought the animals from Hammond and later returned them to him with the intent to hinder, delay, and prevent officials from learning about the transaction. This article originally appeared in The New York Times. President has directed his intelligence community to study the threat of domestic extremism in the United States, an undertaking being launched weeks after a violent mob loyal to stormed the U.S. Capitol. The disclosure Friday by White House press secretary Jen Psaki is a stark acknowledgment of the national security threat that officials see as posed by American extremists motivated to violence by extremist ideology. The involvement of the director of national intelligence, an office created after the September 11, 2001, attacks to prevent terrorism, suggests that American authorities are examining how to pivot to a more concerted focus on violence from radical extremists at home. FBI Director Chris Wray has said that, over the last year, the most lethal violence has come from anti-government activists, such as anarchists and militia-types. The rise of domestic violent extremism is a serious and growing national security threat," Psaki 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.) Are you a current print subscriber to Columbia Gorge News? If so, you qualify for free access to all content on columbiagorgenews.com. Simply verify with your subscriber id to receive free access. Your subscriber id may be found on your bill or mailing label. Advertisement 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'. The 500 payment is said to be the 'preferred position' of Matt Hancock's (right) Department of Health. In a round of interviews this morning, Environment Secretary George Eustice (left) 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 Government borrowing soared in December Government borrowing soared to 34.1billion in December - the third highest monthly figure on record - amid growing fears about the UK's debt mountain. The number for the last month of 2020 was 28.2billion higher than the equivalent period in 2019 as the pandemic wreaked havoc on the economy and ministers lashed out on massive bailouts such as furlough. It pushed total borrowing for the first nine months of the financial year to 270.8billion, the peak for any April to December period since records began in 1993. There are fears the full-year figure will top 400billion. Even in the aftermath of the credit crunch, borrowing only hit 158billion in 2009-10. The UK's debt pile reached 2.13trillion by the end of 2020, around 99.4 per cent of GDP - the highest debt to GDP ratio since 1962. Advertisement Financial help for those who test positive the Test and Trace Support Payment is currently 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.' No10 sources did not totally kill off the idea but suggested it was a long way from being agreed and pointed to concerns about creating 'perverse incentives'. Another insider said it 'had not been within a million miles of the PM'. Many MPs are sympathetic to the need for incentives for people to self-isolate, but concerned about the huge costs. A government adviser suggested today that only 18 per cent of people with symptoms are self-isolating for the full 10 days as instructed. Professor Susan Michie, of the Scientific Pandemic Insights Group on Behaviours, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'There will be people, for example single earners in a household looking after a family where 500 over 10 days, 50 a day, is not enough to pay the rent, to pay all the bills and put food on the table. 'There is a particular group of people who would need more from that 500 but at least the Government is recognising this is a key weakness in the whole pandemic strategy. 'If you have 82% of people with symptoms wandering around the community it is very very difficult to bring this level down.' She added: 'I think the question is, how does one get enough funds to compensate people for lost wages, especially for people in the gig economy and (the) precarious economy quickly and without complicated forms?' Some people are hesitant to share their contacts for test and trace due to a 'lack of trust' in the system, according to Professor Susan Michie, a member of the Government's Scientific Pandemic Insights Group on Behaviours. She told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'Only 76% of people intend to share their contacts because I think there is a lack of trust in the system. 'It is done by remote call centres rather than by local trusted public health infrastructure that people are familiar with and that is a big problem in itself. 'Another problem is this 10,000 fine which we know is now deterring lower-income people from coming forward to be tested. 'In Liverpool when they did the mass testing evaluation, the most deprived communities were 20 times as likely to be infectious but 20 times less likely to get tested and in the most deprived areas it is only 4% of people coming forward to be tested. 'This is a massive problem that urgently needs to be addressed.' Any increase in cash handouts to Covid-positive or isolating individuals will encounter fierce resistance from the Treasury. Grim figures published today showed government borrowing soared to 34.1billion in December - the third highest monthly figure on record - amid growing fears about the UK's debt mountain. The number for the last month of 2020 was 28.2billion higher than the equivalent period in 2019 as the pandemic wreaked havoc on the economy and ministers lashed out on massive bailouts such as furlough. It pushed total borrowing for the first nine months of the financial year to 270.8billion, the peak for any April to December period since records began in 1993. There are fears the full-year figure will top 400billion. Even in the aftermath of the credit crunch, borrowing only hit 158billion in 2009-10. The UK's debt pile reached 2.13trillion by the end of 2020, around 99.4 per cent of GDP - the highest debt to GDP ratio since 1962. Chancellor Rishi Sunak was last night reported to have told Tory MPs that he wants to use his March budget to restore order to the public finances. Meanwhile, Conservative backbenchers are demanding a timetable for easing the lockdown after Mr 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. Grim figures published today showed government borrowing soared to 34.1billion in December - the third highest monthly figure on record - amid growing fears about the UK's debt mountain 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. The Committee will be made up of 21 members comprised of 11 appointees by the CPS Energy Board of Trustees, including Mayoral appointees and 10 City Council appointees. "The rate advisory committee will enable community members to examine how CPS Energy rates are designed, making the utility more accountable and transparent," said Mayor Ron Nirenberg. "Serving on the committee is a great opportunity for residents to get involved and represent their neighbors." "CPS Energy is an important partner in the community providing energy services, and we need you to participate in how utility rates are determined for customers," said Janie Gonzalez, CPS Energy Trustee for the Southwest Quadrant 4. "Apply for the Rate Advisory Committee and be part of the solution. Your voice will make a difference." To qualify, members must be 18 years and older, a current customer, reside in the CPS Energy service area, and have effective communication skills. Membership of the Rate Advisory Committee shall be open to individuals in good financial standing with CPS Energy (for energy bills) through an application and appointment process. Members of the RAC will devote the necessary time and energy to learn about the utility business and the rate design function that allows utilities to recover their costs to provide service. This effort will help them understand and provide thoughtful input and perspectives regarding CPS Energy's rate structure and rate design options. "CPS Energy is committed to having a Rate Advisory Committee reflective of San Antonio and the community's needs," said Paula Gold-Williams, President & CEO of CPS Energy. "This committee can enhance our robust public input process and we enthusiastically invite our engaged community to apply to participate." Members of the community who qualify and are interested in serving on the Rate Advisory Committee can apply at cpsenergy.com/rac. Interested persons can visit the website for more information, an online application package which includes a description of the role and qualifications. Hard copies of the application package can be obtained by visiting any of our walk-in centers, the City of San Antonio's City Clerk's office or by calling (210) 353-6788. The application deadline is February 26. For more information, call (210) 353-6788 or email [email protected]. About CPS Energy Established in 1860, CPS Energy is the nation's largest public power, natural gas, and electric company, providing safe, reliable, and competitively-priced service to 860,934 electric and 358,495 natural gas customers in San Antonio and portions of seven adjoining counties. Our customers' combined energy bills rank among the lowest of the nation's 20 largest cities while generating $8 billion in revenue for the City of San Antonio for more than seven decades. As a trusted and strong community partner, we continuously focus on job creation, economic development, and educational investment. True to our People First philosophy, we are powered by our skilled workforce, whose commitment to the community is demonstrated through our employees' volunteerism in giving back to our city and programs aimed at bringing value to our customers. CPS Energy is among the top public power wind energy buyers in the nation and number one in Texas for solar generation. SOURCE CPS Energy Related Links www.cpsenergy.com Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the virus that causes the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), continues to spread worldwide. Over 96.97 million cases have been confirmed across 191 countries and territories, and over 2 million people have lost their lives. Study: Identification of existing pharmaceuticals and herbal medicines as inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 infection . Image Credit: NIAID / Flickr Many studies have tested the effects of various drugs and agents in the past. To date, there is still no targeted antiviral treatment for COVID-19. A team of researchers from Academia Sinica and the National University in Taiwan and the La Jolla Institute in the US evaluated the efficacy of 2,855 agents against SARS-CoV-2. They found that agents like mefloquine, nelfinavir, and extracts of plants such as Ganoderma lucidum (RF3) or Lingzi, Perilla frutescens, or Korean perilla, and Mentha haplocalyx or mentha, were found to be effective against SARS-CoV-2 infection in animal models. The study To arrive at the study findings, which were published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science of the United States of America (PNAS), the researchers utilized a cell-based infection assay to screen more than 3,000 agents used in humans and animals. From there, the team has identified 15 with antiviral activity. The team used in vitro enzymatic assays alongside computer modeling to test and confirm the activity of the chosen agents against the viral protease and RNA polymerase of SARS-CoV-2. The team used these agents by developing a challenge assay with hamsters. They identified five agents that can be used to develop new therapeutics to contain the current pandemic. Cell-based study The Vero E6 cell-based study has identified the 15 chemicals from a library of compounds approved for human and animal use. The team categorized the chemicals into five clusters viral protease inhibitors, inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 function, guanine analog, ion channel modulators, and ionophoric antibiotics. The chemicals include nelfinavir, boceprevir, thioguanine, cepharanthine, emetine, moxidectin, ivermectin, mefloquine, ivacaftor, azelnidipine, penfluridol, dronedarone, salinomycin, monensin, and maduramicin. Doseresponse relationships of 15 selected antiviral compounds. Vero E6 cells were pretreated with compounds at indicated doses followed by SARS-CoV-2 infection for 48 h. The percentage of viral titer determined by antinucleocapsid antibody after drug treatment (red) and cell viability (blue) were measured and expressed as mean SD of at least three independent experiments. Many Chinese herbal medicines and supplements were also tested, including species of Asterceae, Theaceae, Mentheae, and Lamiaceae. The team found that several drugs like mefloquine, nelfinavir, and extracts of Ganoderma lucidum (RF3), Perilla frutescens, and Mentha haplocalyx were effective against SARS-CoV-2 infection. The team also noted that since the safety and pharmacological characteristics of these drugs were already studied, the preclinical and clinical evaluation of the active compounds is expected to be faster. Hence, it can reduce the time, effort, and cost for further development of these agents. Conclusion The herbal compounds found to be effective in combating SARS-CoV-2 could be interesting sources to discover and develop new therapeutics that inhibit viral activity. These compounds may also be used in human trials to determine their safety and efficacy in patients with COVID-19. While the vaccination campaign is rolling out in some countries, it is still important to determine drugs and agents to combat the pandemic. This way, those who do not have the vaccine yet may be assured of an effective treatment. Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Friday announced job for a member of the family of each farmer from the state who died during the agitation against the Centre's new farm laws. Singh said he has received a report that 76 farmers from the state have died so far. All Punjabis are concerned about our farmers sitting on the Delhi borders. They are there to persuade the Centre to repeal that laws that were implemented without taking us into confidence, he said. Lots of old people are sitting there at the (Delhi) borders not for themselves but for the future of their children and grandchildren, said Amarinder Singh, adding that we are losing our farmers to the cold every day, with an estimated 76 farmers dying so far. In addition to the Rs 5 lakh compensation being given to the families of the dead farmers, his government will also give job to a member of their family, he added during the 20th edition of his Facebook Live #AskCaptain session. The CM also slammed the Shiromani Akali Dal and AAP for spreading "lies" over the farm laws and dubbed the Centre's refusal to repeal them as "inhuman". Farmers from Punjab and Haryana have been camping at Delhi's borders for several weeks, demanding the repeal of the farm laws and a legal guarantee on the minimum support price for crops. Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 While Nigeria prepares for a revenue shortage in 2021, with plans to borrow about a quarter of the years budget expenditure, the country will spend around N7.8 billion on entitlements, severance allowances and other perquisites to the nations former leaders, details of the assented 2021 budget have shown. The planned 2021 spending is the second-lowest amount that will be allocated to retired top government officials since 2017, when N5.9 billion was budgeted as gratuity for them. The money is a yearly ritual in the nations budgetary cycle, and by the end of this year, it would have cost Nigeria about N68.8 billion in five years. This year, of the total N7.8 billion, former heads of state, presidents and their respective deputies will earn a combined entitlement of N2.3 billion. This is the same amount that has been approved for the former leaders since 2017, save 2018 when they got N7.3 billion. The appropriation is in accordance with the remuneration for the former presidents act, which offers a slew of luxuries which have been faulted by some, especially because four in every ten Nigerians earn less than N377 per day, and the unemployment rate reached a record high last year as the country keeps struggling to diversify its economy to shore up its revenue base. As upkeep allowance, the act mandates the monthly payment of N350,000 to former presidents and N250,000 to former vice-presidents and chiefs of general staff, and this is subject to a review whenever there is an increase in the salary of the serving president. Nigeria has had fourteen presidents, prime minister and heads of state, all men, including incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari, since independence in 1960. Inclusive of Mr Buhari, seven of them are living: Yakubu Gowon, Ibrahim Babangida, Ernest Shonekan, Abdulsalami Abubakar, Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan. The deceased former heads are: Tafawa Balewa (only prime minister), Nnamdi Azikiwe (first ceremonial president), Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi (first military head of state), Murtala Mohammed, Shehu Shagari, Sani Abacha and Umaru YarAdua. The nation has also had 14 vice presidents and deputy heads of state, again all men, including two different deputies under the Ibrahim Babangida military junta Ebitu Ukiwe, 70, and Augustus Aikhomu, who died in 2011 aged 71. Seven of them are alive, including Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan, who would later become presidents themselves. Others are Ebitu Ukiwe; Mr Abachas deputy, Oladipo Diya; Atiku Abubakar, Namadi Sambo, and incumbent Yemi Osinbajo. The nations deceased former vice-presidents include Mr Ironsis deputy, Babafemi Ogundipe; Mr Gowons de facto deputy who died in 1991, Joseph Wey; Shehu YarAdua, who was Mr Obasanjos deputy in the latters military stint; Nigerias first democratically elected vice-president, Alex Ekwueme; Tunde Idiagbon, Mr Buharis deputy as head of state; Augustus Aikhomu; Mike Akhigbe, Nigerias last military deputy head of state. Living presidents and their deputies are, at the expense of the federal government, entitled to at least six security details and personal aides; well-furnished office and a five-bedroom apartment in any location of their choice; vehicles replaceable every four years; diplomatic passport for life; free medical treatment, which may be abroad where necessary, for themselves and their immediate families; thirty days all-expense-paid annual vacation within and outside Nigeria. The families of all deceased former presidents are, meanwhile, entitled to an annual allowance of N1 million payable as N250,000 per quarter, while the families of deceased former deputies get N750,000 per annum payable in the sum of N187,500 per quarter. ADVERTISEMENT The allowances shall be applied for the up-keep of the spouse and education of the children of deceased former heads of state and deceased former vice-presidents up to the university level, the act reads. However, if the spouse of the deceased leader remarries, they stop getting the allowance. Other expenses In the same vein, the nations retired heads of service and permanent secretaries will get a combined N4.5 billion as benefits this year, the exact amount that has been shared among them since 2019. This is an increase from the N3.6 billion the former officials got in 2018, and N2.6 billion in 2017. Also, for the fifth year running, retired heads of government agencies and parastatals will share among themselves N1 billion as severance benefits. Allocation over the years PREMIUM TIMES review of the approved budgets since 2017 showed that the country has spent about N70 billion on the severance benefits for its former leaders. While the financial obligation will cost the country N7.8 billion this year, it cost more in the preceding years. In 2020, it cost Nigeria N11.7 billion. This amount is inclusive of the N3.9 billion budgeted as additional retirement benefits for chief of defense staff, service chiefs, generals, colonels and army warrant officers. The amount is nonetheless way lower than the N31.5 billion spent in 2019, which included the severance package of N23.7 billion for the incoming and outgoing federal lawmakers and their aides. Nigeria spent N11.9 billion for similar purposes in 2018; and N5.9 billion in 2017, which is the lowest in five years. Nigeria has hardly ever mulled the possibility of abolishing or significantly reducing the pension packages for its former leaders and it continues to give little recourse to economic reality which informs why it will sell some government-owned properties and borrow to finance the 2021 budget, a quarter of which will go into debt payments. Critics have often argued that cutting the cost of governance is the brave step the country has refused to take to boost its earnings. Over the years, the national minimum wage stalled at N18,000 (about $50) until it was increased to N30,000 (about $80). Yet, some states have not met either benchmark. Still, like former federal leaders, former state governors and their deputies get extravagant allowances as pension even as their states grapple with the economic downturn. Stung by this economic downturn, especially as it has been dented a hard blow by the coronavirus pandemic, some states have taken austere measures by repealing the act. A few more are underway. But the larger number of other state governments that have maintained the status quo is a mirror reflection of what obtains in the larger Nigerian society. 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. Colorado Springs police say a gunman robbed two people, stole a car and tried to rob a third person in a half hour Wednesday evening. The first robbery was near a business in the 400 block of East Fillmore Street at about 4:30 p.m., when a male approached a man sitting in his car, police said. The robber pulled a gun, got in the car and demanded money before leaving with the victims car. A second victim reported a similar robbery about 15 minutes later in the 3100 block of Karen Place, and an attempted robbery in the 3400 block of North Prospect Street was reported at about 5 p.m., police said. No arrests have been announced and no suspect information has been released. Police search for suspects in string of robberies that led to car chase Colorado Springs police are searching for three males suspected in a string of robberies early Thursday, officers said. New Delhi, Jan 22 : Ahead of the eleventh round of meetings between the farmers and the Centre, a crucial meeting of the Congress Working Committee (CWC) began here on Friday to discuss the farmers' agitation among other issues. Also likely to be discussed is the schedule of the election of a new party president. Congress General Secretary and national media in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala said, "CWC meeting begins. Congress President Sonia Gandhi addresses the CWC." According to party sources, the virtual meeting being chaired by Sonia Gandhi will discuss Arnab Goswami's alleged chat leak related to the national security, the Covid-19 situation apart from the ongoing farmers' agitation. Sources also said that during the meeting, the schedule of election for the new party chief will also be discussed. Thousands of farmers have been protesting against the three farm laws on the borders of the national capital since November 26 last year, demanding that the three laws be repealed. On Tuesday, former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi slammed the government over the three farm laws, saying they were introduced to destroy the Indian agricultural sector. On Wednesday, the Congress fielded former Defence Minister A.K. Antony, former Home Minister Sushil Shinde, former Law Minister and External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid and leader of opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad to corner the government over the alleged chat leaks involving Goswami. The Congress described the leak of secret information as treason and demanded an immediate enquiry into the matter. Fran Lebowitzs politics may be almost impeccably left-wing, but everything else about her is delightfully reactionary in Martin Scorseses latest it is his second documentary about her life and opinions, a seven-part Netflix series called Pretend Its a City. Think of Lebowitz as a parallel-universe Florence King, a gregarious New York misanthrope rather than a cloistered Southern one. The title comes from Lebowitzs sardonic advice to the New Yorkers bumping into her on the sidewalk with their noses stuck in their devices: Pretend its a city. Lebowitz herself has never owned a mobile phone or a computer. I have a telephone and an address, she explains. That is sufficient. (She admits to asking friends to order books for her from Amazon.) She bristles when young people explain to her the attraction of social media, explaining with some exasperation that the reason she does not have Twitter or Instagram is not that she doesnt know what they are but that she does. She doesnt even use a typewriter, preferring to write with pen and paper. Thats my kind of reactionary. Lebowitz became a celebrity in the Andy Warholcentered 1970s New York scene, writing a movie-review column for his Interview magazine before publishing her hit essay collection, Metropolitan Life, in 1978. She didnt like Warhol (she announced herself at the door as Valerie Solanas on her first visit to his office) and he didnt like her, but she thrived at Interview because her ambition was to write, while Warhol was a magnet for people who really wanted to be artists and filmmakers. There is a kind of mid-century quaintness to Lebowitzs story: A girl from the suburbs moves to New York to be a writer, with no particular plan, connections, or education (Lebowitz took a GED after being expelled from high school), and she is in that sense a kind of person who does not exist anymore. That makes her an ambassador from the past, whether she likes it or not. Story continues She scrupulously avoids nostalgia, but much of her conversation is given to that most conservative of themes, a consciousness of things lost: She knows what a quarterfold is and remembers which underground newspapers were quarterfolds; part of her still lives in a Manhattan covered in printed words, from the ubiquitous litter of newspapers to the citys once-thriving bookshops, now mostly strangled by rising real-estate prices. Her stories are peppered with mostly forgotten or entirely forgotten figures, defunct cinemas, Maxs Kansas City. Her sensibilities are very much of another time as well. She plainly has no interest in the modern practice of identity politics in the hours of conversation filmed by Scorsese, there is just one oblique reference to her being a lesbian. She recoils from the excesses of cancel culture: Of course the Met had to fire James Levine for his on-the-job abuse, she concedes, but why suppress the recordings he conducted, which are great works of art? She is perplexed. I dont understand because he might get some money? These are the concerns of a civilized person: music, books, art, manners, the life of the city. It is very difficult to imagine Fran Lebowitz accepting a hashtag as an adequate means of expression. Not that she isnt economical one of her biggest laughs comes when she cuts off her interviewer: Scorsese: Do you suffer from Lebowitz: Yes! Lebowitz is famously funny professionally funny, a natural wit. But there is a sadness in Pretend Its a City, which cannot help being a kind of elegy for a lost world. More from National Review COLUMBUS, Ohio -- An Ohio lawmaker who is a persistent critic of House Bill 6, the tainted nuclear bailout law, once again is trying to repeal some of the bills lesser-known provisions that boosted FirstEnergys bottom line. The bill sponsored by Sen. Mark Romanchuk, a Richland County Republican, would eliminate the decoupling provision that effectively guarantees FirstEnergys revenues at 2018 levels, a record year for the company, as well as a different provision that allowed FirstEnergy to calculate its profits in such a way that would make it easier for the companys Ohio affiliates to pass a state test meant to prevent utilities from making too much money. Both measures were part of House Bill 6, a sweeping energy law that created a $1 billion bailout for two financially troubled Ohio nuclear plants owned by a former FirstEnergy subsidiary. The bill is at the center of a federal corruption probe, with federal prosecutors alleging FirstEnergy and its affiliates bribed former House Speaker Larry Householder to secure its passage. Romanchuks bill also would force FirstEnergy to refund the money its collected through the decoupling charge, which totaled $102 million in 2020. In an interview, he said both provisions further skew Ohios energy laws in favor of utilities and against customers. Whats been missed in this entire conversation is that it was also bad policy, Romanchuk said. Not only was the process tainted and possibly other things going on there, but the policy itself was absolutely bad. So my focus is to bring attention to the policy piece. As a member of the Ohio House last year, Romanchuk sponsored a bill that would have removed the decoupling provision and the nuclear subsidies that were in HB6 and co-sponsored a different bill that would have revoked the FirstEnergy-friendly profits accounting mechanism. He also co-sponsored a third bill that would have repealed HB6 completely. And after talks broke down during the final days of last years legislative session, Romanchuk circulated a discharge petition, a legislative maneuver that would have forced a floor vote on the repeal provisions. Asked about the legislation, FirstEnergy spokeswoman Jennifer Young said: FirstEnergy takes our obligation to serve our customers seriously, and we are reviewing the proposed legislation. Attorney General Dave Yost, a Republican, also is trying to strike down the decoupling provision through the courts. He filed a legal motion last week asking a Franklin County judge to rule it illegal, citing the corruption federal prosecutors have said helped get the bill passed. Chuck Jones, FirstEnergys former CEO who since has been fired as part of the companys internal investigation surrounding the HB6 scandal, told investors last year the decoupling provision essentially takes about one-third of our company and I think makes it somewhat recession-proof. Romanchuk said he plans to introduce more bills to repeal other provisions of HB6 as the legislative session continues. I think this first bill... will have a high likelihood of passing, I believe. Rather than just dumping one big bill, Im trying to look at it more strategically to see what we can do to get the votes, he said. Andy Clark was about to buy a Jersey Shore restaurant when COVID-19 arrived. With the sale delayed because of the pandemic, he waited. As the summer season started up again in May 2020, he closed on the business and assumed ownership of Scojos Eatery in Surf City. Three days later, a car crashed into landscaping in front of the Long Beach Island restaurant. But Clark and the staff persevered and pulled out a respectable summer season, adding indoor seating in September. In what has been a trying time for the food business, the restaurant managed to stay afloat even as the pandemic kept many Shore regulars home. Then the fire came. Just before 1 a.m. Thursday, a blaze broke out on the second floor of the Scojos building, drawing five volunteer fire companies to the scene. Things were moving along until this happened, Clark, 51, tells NJ Advance Media. It was a turn of events that his family, including Clarks son, couldnt have been prepared for, even after previous setbacks. None of us could really believe what was happening, says Andy Clark Jr. including his mother, sister and father, who has another job in sales but is at the restaurant every day. Damage inside Scojo's after the fire that broke out before 1 a.m. Jan. 21.Scojo's Eatery I tried to comfort them the best I could but really I was just in shock, he says. Now the Clarks have started a GoFundMe campaign in support of employees. Its the staff, Clark says, that has kept the business running despite the odds. We had a pretty good summer, all things considered, he says. The casual family restaurants menu ranges from omelets, pancakes and French toast to salads, fried calamari, hoagies, seafood, wraps and burgers. But without being able to open, theres not much Scojos can do. The minimum wage for a server is not a whole lot of money when it comes to unemployment, Clark says, and staff may have to wait a while until payments kick in. Andy Clark Jr., who helps out at the restaurant, set up the GoFundMe page, which by Friday morning had generated more than $8,000 for Scojos workers not far from the $10,000 fundraising goal. The family says money will go directly to employees. Its been unbelievable, says Clark Jr., 24. We cant say thank you enough to everyone thats supported us. The Clarks dont yet know what caused the fire, which appears to have been concentrated in an office on the second floor. The blaze burned through to the roof and down to the dining room below. The Ocean County Fire Marshal is investigating. If that office door was open, it wouldve been a much different situation, Clark says. No one was on the premises of the restaurant at the time. The business had closed for the day at 3 p.m. and staff left by 4 p.m. Andy Clark went back at 7 or 8 p.m. to do some work, his son says. Andy Clark Jr. got the call at 1 a.m. that the restaurant was on fire. When I got there, there was fire shooting out of the windows, he says. Firefighters outside Scojo's Thursday morning. Stephane Rebeck/Barnegat Light First Aid Squad The Surf City Volunteer Fire Company responded to the scene along with High Point Volunteer Fire Company, Ship Bottom Volunteer Fire Company, Beach Haven Volunteer Fire Company and Stafford Township Volunteer Fire Company No. 1, as well as Barnegat Light First Aid Squad. The departments did a phenomenal job doing what they needed to do, Clark says of the inferno in the building, which dates to 1955. Previous owners Scott Russo and Joe Wright, who took the restaurants name from a combination of their own, ran the business since 1998. Clark Jr. recounted how in the pandemic, the business transitioned from takeout-only to outdoor seating, then limited capacity indoor seating. Now with this we dont have anything, he says. The owner does not know what caused the blaze.Scojo's Eatery The Clarks are unsure how long repairs could take. Weve got a long road ahead of us, Clark says. They were allowed back on the scene Thursday afternoon and took pictures of the destruction, which includes fire and smoke damage as well as water damage from efforts to contain the conflagration to the second floor. Pink insulation hangs from the ceiling in the charred remains of the office. There was part of me last night that was thinking we just give up now, Clark Jr. says. But the family is rallying for a return. Were going to come back from this, he says. Were going to come back over time. Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a subscription. Amy Kuperinsky may be reached at akuperinsky@njadvancemedia.com and followed at @AmyKup on Twitter. Visitors at Nguyen Hue pedestrian street in downtown HCM City. (Photo: VNA) HCM City - Given Vietnams successful control of the COVID-19 pandemic, experts in tourism and hospitality have predicted a positive outlook for Vietnams tourism post-COVID crisis. Upcoming opportunities include investing in domestic travel, new tourism products, high-quality human resources, digitalisation in tourism, and infrastructure to help the country shine on both the local and international stage, local and international tourism industry leaders said at a roundtable organised by RMIT University on January 20. Promoting domestic tourism and building smart tourism are the major objectives of the citys tourism sector this year, said Le Truong Hien Hoa, Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Tourism Promotion Centre. One of the main focuses of city tourism this year is deploying joint programmes with key economic zones and provinces as well as tourism industries to build new tourism products and services to promote domestic tourism, Hoa said. With a low inflow of international tourists to the country, it is also a good time for the city to implement its smart tourism project. Our tourism database is playing a key role to ensure a successful smart tourism project which needs to involve many industries and fields in standardising the data collection system and digitising of travel services. Tran Thuy Trang, deputy manager of Vietravels inbound department, said that Vietnam should promote the country as a safe and attractive destination in the world. Not only businesses in the tourism and hospitality industry, but also the Government needs to showcase and promote the image of Vietnam as a safe destination so that we can increase international tourists once the country borders reopen and travel normalises, Trang said. Dr Nuno Ribeiro, tourism and hospitality management senior lecturer and research cluster lead at RMIT University, said: We are already seeing positive signs of these efforts with a very dynamic domestic tourism market, and the Governments initiatives have been extremely successful in generating more demand for internal travel while maintaining rigorous health and safety standards. I am certain that Vietnam will become one of the leading tourism destinations, not just in Southeast Asia but in the world, Ribeiro said. The Grand Ho Tram Hotel and Casino chief operating officer Craig Douglas stressed the importance of high-quality human resources development post-pandemic. With several projects still moving forward in the country, not only in the tourism industry but also in other industries, and the relocation of international manufacturing companies to Vietnam, the demand for human resources will be a big challenge and reinforce that our people are the most valuable asset, Douglas said. Children are unlikely to have played a significant role in the spread of coronavirus during the first wave last year, a study shows. Throughout the pandemic it has become increasingly evident children are less affected by Covid-19; symptoms, severe disease and death figures in children are all much lower than would be expected when compared to the rest of the population. Figures from Public Health England (PHE) show the current risk of dying from coronavirus if infected is 1,513 per 100,000 people for over-80s, but for children aged five to nine, this is just 0.1 per 100,000. The exact reason for this discrepancy remains unknown, but a leading theory states youngsters have fewer receptors which the virus uses to enter cells, making it harder for the virus to infect children. These receptors become more abundant with age. The new study from Germany enrolled parents and children from families in a trial which ran between April and May 2020 - before new variants, which may be better at infecting children, emerged. The research found children were far less likely get infected than their guardians and are also less likely to pass it on to someone in their household. Children are unlikely to play a significant role in the spreading of coronavirus, a new study shows. Blood tests revealed 1.8 per cent of the adults had antibodies to the SARS-CoV-2 virus which causes Covid-19. The figure for children was just 0.6 per cent, a threefold decrease (stock) Young children infected with the coronavirus have one SIXTEENTH of the viral load of over-80s Primary school-aged children infected with the coronavirus have much smaller viral loads than adults with Covid-19, a study has found. Viral load the amount of virus a person harbours in their nose and throat is believed by some scientists to be linked to transmissibility, although there is debate over these claims. Data from public health officials in the Netherlands reveals over-80s have a viral load 16 times bigger than than children under the age of 12. Rapid antigen tests, like ones suggested for use in schools and airports, are also likely to be less accurate for children than adults, due to this smaller load, the researchers say. Advertisement A total of 4,964 people (half parents and half children) were enrolled in the study, published today in JAMA Paediatrics. The average age of the children was six, but spanned from one to ten years old, and the parental average age was 40. All participants were swabbed and also had blood tests to scour for any sign of antibodies. Just two people - a parent and child from the same family - were currently infected. Blood tests revealed 1.8 per cent of the adults had antibodies to the SARS-CoV-2 virus which causes Covid-19. The figure for children was just 0.6 per cent, a threefold decrease. The data also showed that there was 56 instances of at least one of the family members having the virus. A previously infected adult and an uninfected child was 4.3 times more common than a previously infected child and an uninfected parent. The researchers from University Childrens Hospital, Im Neuenheimer Feld in Heidelberg and Ulm University Medical Centre write: 'In this cross-sectional study, the spread of SARS-CoV-2 infection during a period of lockdown in southwest Germany was particularly low in children aged 1 to 10 years. 'Accordingly, it is unlikely that children have boosted the pandemic.' The study was conducted when schools were closed and children were therefore less exposed to the virus, but researchers not involved with the study say this does not mean the findings are irrelevant. Figures from Public Health England (PHE) show the current risk of dying from coronavirus if infected is 1,513 per 100,000 people for over-80s, but for children aged five to nine, this is just 0.1 per 100,000 (stock photo) PHE finds 'very few' Covid outbreaks in schools that re-opened during the summer There were 'very few' coronavirus outbreaks in schools and nurseries that re-opened during the summer term, Government research has found. Only 55 clusters of Covid were recorded in educational settings across England in the seven weeks to July 17, when No10 began the phased reopening of schools. Researchers led by a team at Public Health England credited strict infection control measures over the summer when the disease was only circulating at the low rates, saying smaller classes with better social distancing would inevitably have helped to thwart the virus. But they admitted the nationwide reopening of schools to all children in September which officials believe helped fuel Britain's second wave would have inevitably led to more outbreaks because it was not as easy to keep youngsters apart in fully-opened facilities. Teaching unions repeatedly tried to derail plans to let youngsters back into classes in the summer, saying it would put staff and students at too great a risk of catching the virus. Advertisement Dr Sean O'Leary from the University of Colorado, who penned an editorial article about the German research, said: 'Although numbers were fairly small for the childcare attendance outcome, children who attended childcare actually had lower seroprevalence than those who did not (0.5 per cent for children in childcare vs 1.0 per cent for children not in childcare).' He continues: 'By examining parent-child dyads within the same household, this study suggests that children were both less likely to acquire infection when it was in the household and less likely to spread it in the household when they were infected.' The study period in Spring 2020 was before the emergence of new highly-virulent strains of coronavirus, such as those originating in the UK, South Africa and Brazil. Dr Neil Ferguson of Imperial college London, known as 'Professor Lockdown' due to his Spring predictions plunging the UK into its first draconian national lockdown, said in December it was possible the Kent variant, known scientifically as B.1.1.7, could be better at infecting children than older strains. The NERVTAG member who advises No10 said there was a 'hint' children - who have barely been affected by the pandemic so far - were more susceptible to the mutation. He revealed the number of cases of the new variant in under-15s was significantly higher than other strains - but did not reveal any exact figures. Speaking a virtual media briefing in December, he said: 'There is a hint that it is has a higher propensity to infect children. That may perhaps explain some of the differences but we haven't established any sort of causality.' Other experts were quick to add the data is preliminary and no proof of causation has yet been found. Members of COVID-19 Genomics UK (COG-UK) later said they are 'not familiar' with any data to suggest this might be the case. Speaking a day after Professor Ferguson made his comments, it announced there was insufficient data at the time to comment on how it affects certain groups. It has yet to publish updated evidence on this topic. Beshear Vetoes Bill on Lawsuits Against State By The Associated Press FRANKFORT - Governor Andy Beshear vetoed another Republican-backed bill on Thursday.Beshear rejected a measure aimed at bypassing a circuit court traditionally assigned high-profile cases involving state government. Beshear says the attempt to steer cases away from the Franklin County Circuit Court reflects legislative dissatisfaction with the duly elected judges and their rulings.For years, former GOP Gov. Matt Bevin and other Republicans complained about rulings by Franklin circuit court judges in high-stakes cases dealing with constitutional issues.GOP lawmakers have the numbers if they decide to override the veto when they resume their session next month. (Natural News) Joe Biden is now the president of the United States of America. His day one executive orders should have prioritized ending the single worst crisis in the world in Yemen, a war he campaigned on ending US involvement in, but they did not. (Article republished from CaitlinJohnstone.com) Ending US participation in the Yemen genocide could and should have begun on day one. In These Times reported the following back in November (emphasis added): One thing Biden can do, starting on day one, is end U.S. involvement in the Yemen war??involvement that he helped initiate. ?By executive order, Biden could get the Pentagon to end intelligence sharing for the Saudi coalition airstrikes, end logistical support, and end spare parts transfers that keep Saudi warplanes in the air, Hassan El-Tayyab, lead Middle East policy lobbyist for the Friends Committee on National Legislation, a progressive organization, tells In These Times. ?He could restore humanitarian assistance to northern Yemen. He could use his power as president to put pressure on other nations that are supporting the Saudi coalition??like France, the United Kingdom and Canada??and get them to follow suit. He could have the State Department put a stop on all arms sales to Saudi Arabia unless they meet certain benchmarks. Biden did none of these things, which while unsurprising is still inexcusable. This isnt some ten-year infrastructure plan were talking about, this is the worst mass atrocity on our entire planet and it should be treated with proportionate urgency. This administration consciously chose not to end US participation in that atrocity as swiftly as possible, which will remain an inexcusable decision even if the Yemen war is eventually ended later. Instead of grilling Biden about his decision not to prioritize his promise to end the Yemen war, which is what any real journalist would do, the press are asking him stupid nonsense questions about whether he can unite the country. CNN keeps screaming at Biden "can you unite the country" and he keeps ignoring them. Hilariously dumb question, even funnier reaction. Secular Talk (@KyleKulinski) January 20, 2021 In the lead-up to Bidens inauguration we were treated to some Senate hearings on his cabinet picks, in which we learned that this administration will continue Trumps murderous coupmongering in Venezuela, that it will maintain Trumps incendiary decision to have the US embassy in Jerusalem, that reviving the Iran nuclear deal is a long ways off from happening and will first require consultation with Israel, and that it will be continuing Trumps cold war escalations against China. In one of the more bizarre displays in the Senate hearings, Bidens nominee to lead the State Department Tony Blinken defended his support for the disastrous Libya intervention during his time in the Obama administration by blaming its aftermath on Muammar Gaddafi, the leader who was mutilated to death in the streets after a US-led intervention to oust him. Heres what I think we misjudged, Blinken said. We didnt fully appreciate the fact that one of the things Gaddafi had done over the years was to make sure that there was no possible rival to his power, and as a result there was no effective bureaucracy, no effective administration in Libya with which to work when he was gone. By when he was gone Blinken means when he was dead, because the United States helped kill him after staging an intervention based on lies. He is defending his push for an intervention which led to a failed state where people are sold as slaves by saying that if Gaddafi had run his country better it would not have collapsed into violence and chaos when the Obama administration murdered him. This is like an axe murderer blaming his actions on his victims bad housekeeping. The brazenness with which imperialist goons can shrug off all responsibility for their actions will never cease to astonish. At Senate confirmation hearing, Secretary of State nominee Anthony Blinken defends support for war in Libya In fact, I think its been written about. I was [Bidens] national security adviser, and he didnt agree with that course of action. pic.twitter.com/ZyCzTLXtOP Kevin Gosztola (@kgosztola) January 19, 2021 The next two years will be the Democratic Party at its most transparent. After two years they are statistically likely to lose control of the House and/or Senate, after which time theyll be able to pawn off all imperialist bloodshed and lack of progress on an obstructionist congress like they did for the last six years of the Obama administration. But until then the Democrats are going to have to own all of their reactionary depravity and mass murder on their own. This will set a sharp contrast from the past four years, where every mundane part of the US empires institutionalized abuse was portrayed as an anomaly unique to the Trump administration. Unable to blame their refusal to advance progressive policies and basic human decency on Trump and Vladimir Putin these next two years, theyll be forced to kill any leftward movement all on their own. Which is why we are now already seeing mass media articles with headlines like Under Biden, its time for Democrats to let go of Medicare for All. And this period will provide ample opportunities to highlight the fact that thats exactly what the Democratic Party exists to do: kill all leftward movement in the most powerful government on earth. As the US continues its soul-crushing neoliberal policies at home and its murderous neoconservative policies abroad with the same degree of psychopathy it displayed in previous administrations, we must draw attention to the fact that it is the Democratic Party which bears responsibility for these things. The sooner Americans can discredit the Democratic Party as a legitimate vehicle for progressive change, the sooner they can start looking for other tools. The first step to escape is to stop pushing against the fake door falsely labeled exit. Read more at: CaitlinJohnstone.com Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-22 05:53:07|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close by Sanaa Kamal RAMALLAH, Jan. 21 (Xinhua) -- Despite financial hardships, a gathering of passionate Palestinian owners of Volkswagen (VW) Beetle cars has been formed in the West Bank to help keep the legacy of the classic car alive. Ramzi Akram, one of the team founders from Nablus city, said the goal of establishing the team is to bring lovers of vintage cars together. "The gathering is also meant to raise awareness of the importance of owning and preserving such pieces of arts," the middle-aged man told Xinhua, adding that keeping such old cars requires much money for maintenance and spare parts. "The team dubbed the Beetles, includes more than 40 vintage VWs from various cities of the West Bank," Akram said, adding that the team's members organize various events and activities, mostly trips to mountainous areas. "Looking at this number of cars made in the last century makes you feel that you live in the past," he happily said. "The team conducts various recreational activities for the owners of old cars. We sometimes participate in social events such as weddings and national holidays," Akram, who also owns a modern car, told Xinhua. He explained that the team members also help each other with their expertise as well as getting spare parts. In 2019, the German carmaker VW ceased production of the iconic Beetle, 80 years after it first hit the streets. Ayman Rowais, a Palestinian in his 30s from the West Bank city of Nablus, is one of the founders of the team; he also owns a unique classic VW Beetle. "My car was the first Beetle to obtain official licenses in the Palestinian territories back in 1964," he told Xinhua, adding that the gathering serves as a bridge between the past and present. Rowais said he is in love with vintage cars, "although owning them is costly because of the expensive maintenance and spare parts." "I bought this 1964 Beetle from a female relative of mine five years ago... having this car was like a dream for me," said Rowais, who owns a grocery. "The car is now a member of the family... my 3-year-old son is fond of it and has three toy cars of the same kind." Rowais is always keen to make periodic mechanical and body maintenance and adjustments to his 57-year-old car to keep it healthy. "Maintenance is really costly and the spare parts are extremely expensive because they are very scarce, but still, driving and owning vintage cars is really amusing," he said, as he checked the engine's oil. Rowais added that he will never think of selling his dream car, and he will buy more vintage cars whenever he can. "I refused several good offers to sell my Beetle... I'm now planning to do a full restoration for the car in the near future," he explained. Meanwhile, Mohammed Salama, another owner of classic vehicles from Jenin city, said he owns four Beetles, adding that he "fell in love with this kind of cars" since he was a university student 26 years ago. According to Salama, the main obstacle facing owners of the Beetle cars in Palestine is the scarcity of spare parts, revealing that he sometimes orders spare parts from Germany. The 50-year-old man said he cannot give up the hobby of owning this type of cars, adding that they represent more than vehicles to him. "My cars represent history and memories, that is why I barely drive them... I love to see them clean and healthy, because they meant much to me," said Salama, who still keeps his father's 1946 vintage car. Enditem A Cumberland County grand jury has indicted an Atlantic County man in connection with a drug deal that turned into a robbery and shooting that left two men injured last year. Tahjir M. Rease, 21, of Mays Landing and a co-conspirator shot two men at a home on Ramblewood Drive in Vineland on Sept. 26, authorities said. A resident at the home told police that Rease, who was a long-time acquaintance, had contacted him to smoke/purchase weed, according to court documents. Rease and his accomplice, who has not been identified by police and remains at large, later arrived at the home, which was occupied by several people at the time, authorities said. When the victim began to weigh marijuana in the garage, Rease put a gun to the dealers head and said give me anything you got, authorities said. As Rease struggled with the victim, he called out let it fly and his partner fired a handgun, striking another man in the face and groin, authorities said. The gunman then shot another man in the thigh when he ran into the garage after hearing the initial gunshots, authorities said. The gunmen fled the scene on foot. Rease was charged a few days later and remains in Cumberland County Jail. The grand jury indicted him last week on first-degree charges of conspiracy to commit murder and robbery, along with a fourth-degree aggravated assault charge and weapons offenses. His attorney, Diane Ruberton, said Rease denies involvement in the incident. He maintains his innocence and were going to continue to fight the charges in court, she said. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Matt Gray may be reached at mgray@njadvancemedia.com. For the second year in a row, more than 40 students from Anh Den Dem Club (The Night Light) spent an evening traveling throughout the streets of Ho Chi Minh City, offering gifts to the homeless. Anh Den Dem was founded in 2019 by a group of economics students from the University of Economics and Law under the Vietnam National University-Ho Chi Minh City to provide support for underprivileged communities in the city. This year, on the groups second annual night drive,' Anh Den Dem members handed out more than 100 parcels of donated clothing collected from students at the Vietnam National University-Ho Chi Minh City. In just two days, Anh Den Dem collected nearly five times more donations than last year. All donations were washed, sorted, and packed with a baguette and carton of milk. Phan Thi Hanh Nguyen, head of the organizing board of Anh Den Dem, told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper that the group hopes to continue growing its donation program in the coming years. Apart from helping the needy, the program also helps us form connections with our fellow students," said Nguyen. "We will scale up the program next year if were able to attract new members from other universities." A homeless woman happily accepts a donated coat from Anh Den Dem. Photo: Nhat Thu / Tuoi Tre A student inspects donated clothes before packaging and distribution. Photo: Nhat Thu / Tuoi Tre Volunteer students divide donations into three groups for distribution in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Nhat Thu / Tuoi Tre On their way back home from work, Thuy Tien and Manh Tuan stopped a group of volunteers from Anh Den Dem in order to donate money and support their cause. Photo: Huu Huong / Tuoi Tre Two volunteers from Anh Den Dem offer a donation to a man in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Huu Huong / Tuoi Tre Anh Den Dem members pack gifts in preparation for their night drive. Photo: Nhat Thu / Tuoi Tre Anh Den Dem volunteers sort donated clothes before washing and distribution. Photo: Nhat Thu / Tuoi Tre A volunteer from Anh Den Dem offers support to a homeless man. Photo: Huu Huong / Tuoi Tre Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Town Conservation Agent Andrew Groff told the Conservation Commission that before a Dec. 24 erosion, the trees at right were at the same level as the tree to the left. Christmas Eve Storm Damaged Hoosic Riverbank in Williamstown Looking south at the erosion along the Hoosic River in Williamstown. The two manholes visible in the photo recently were abandoned as part of a rerouting of sewer lines necessitated by the same weather event that caused the erosion. WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. -- A late December rain event disrupted the town's sewer lines and caused significant erosion along the bank of the Hoosic River in the vicinity of Syndicate Road. Last week, the chair of the Conservation Commission informed his colleagues that he had issued an emergency certification to allow reconstruction of the lines near the intersection of Syndicate Road and North Street (Route 7). Lauren Stevens said he and Conservation Agent Andrew Groff reviewed the scene and OKed the realignment of sewer lines near the river. "There is a tangle of sewer infrastructure on the site," Groff said, showing the commission a diagram during its virtual meeting. "Really heavy rainfall and snowmelt on Christmas Eve caused a significant amount of water infiltration into this 12-inch main off the North Street neighborhood. This ties into a 24-inch main that comes down from, essentially, the Mission Park dorm. This line is the 48-inch pipe from North Adams. "This pipe does this weird little jog and it comes to a manhole here and then backs up, drops into the 24-inch here. This system is smaller than the rest of the pipe. It clogged and discharged raw sewage into the Hoosic, unfortunately, because of the rain event." After Groff and Stevens issued the emergency certification, the town's Department of Public Works was able to address the issue when the weather allowed in early January. It removed the "jog" Groff referred to and installed a straight line of adequate size to handle the flows. "It's really a modern and more well-designed connector," Groff said. "The Water Department believes this will prevent any future discharges into the Hoosic. We do not want to have that happen again." Work on the sewer line was completed on Jan. 14, Groff said. "I do want the commission to know that longer-term, we do have a pretty serious issue on this site," Groff said. "There was some significant erosion here during the Christmas Eve storm." Groff showed the commissioners dramatic photos of trees that now are practically in the river but were, on Dec. 23, 2020, high up on the bank. He said the town is talking with the Army Corps of Engineers about doing a bank stabilization project at the site, similar to one the Corps completed upstream along the Hoosic about 20 years ago. "We'll probably be before the commission [on the bank stabilization] at some point, but it's going to require not just local permitting but a whole alphabet soup of state and federal agencies," Groff said. Since the rerouting of the sewer lines in early January moved them away from the freshly eroded bank, that system is not in immediate danger from further erosion, Groff said. But the hope is that the land can be stabilized to prevent further loss of land at the site. "At my invitation, one emeritus geoscientist from Williams and two current geoscientists did look at this site from across the river," Stevens said. "They felt there was no magic solution to this. As the town had diagnosed, there's an immediate problem of preventing the rest of that bank from caving in. But then there is the long-range problem, which might include continuing the armoring that is further upriver." Groff said the town has engaged local engineering firm Guntlow & Associates to look at short-term steps the town can take on its own while also engaging with the Army Corps of Engineers to look at a more permanent solution. In other business at its Thursday meeting, the Conservation Commission: Informed a property owner on Stratton Road that their plan to build a home is subject to the Wetlands Protection Act because of the presence of an intermittent stream on the edge of the site and 25 feet from the proposed building's footprint. The commissioners raised concerns about the lack of specification for how the proposed building would handle discharge from roof drainage or a basement sump pump that the commissioners felt would be required to keep a planned rec room dry at the site. The commission's positive determination of the WPA's applicability triggered the need for the owner to do more detailed engineering under the Notice of Intent process to proceed with construction. Approved the replacement of a septic system on Sloan Road, near the Green River, but conditioned the work on better management of bordering vegetative wetland. The commissioners noted during a site visit to review the septic system project that the vegetation near the river's edge was not properly maintained. "I, frankly, found the plans for the septic system to be up to snuff and have no objection to any of that," Hank art said. "But I do object that the bordering vegetated wetland has been mowed, just mowed down." The commission approved the application with the condition that the BVW be left in its natural state and that there be no expansion of the current lawn at the site. Continued until an April meeting a hearing on an NOI from the town to improve a stormwater detention basin adjacent to 224 Longview Terrace. Engineer Charlie LaBatt of Guntlow informed the commission that defining the wetland boundary for the site -- first discussed at the commission's December meeting -- will be easier after the spring thaw. Approved plans for the demolition of a home, shed and two barns at 633 Northwest Hill Road Briefly discussed the Massachusetts Department of Transportation's proposal to put a roundabout at the junction of Routes 7 and 43 in South Williamstown. Art asked the commission to consider at a future meeting how that project could impact Bloedel Park, a small town-owned parcel at the Five Corners intersection that is under the custody and control of the commission. Specifically, Art speculated that the MassDOT plan could involve a "taking" of town land. Groff said that he knows MassDOT is aware of the park and likely would want to involve the proceedings triggered by Article 97 of the state's constitution to take land out of conservation. But he noted that the project -- if it happens -- likely would be jurisdictional for the commission because of its proximity to the Green River. And he said he would check with the state agency to see if a preliminary discussion with the Con Comm could be arranged. MassDOT is in the early stages of considering a traffic circle to improve safety at the site. It is welcoming public comments on the idea through a "virtual meeting" through Feb.3. Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said that the sphere of the provision of social services in Ukraine, in particular the activities of elderly care homes, should be regulated at the legislative level. He told this to journalists after visiting in hospital the victims of a January 21 fire in a private home for the elderly in Kharkiv, according to an Ukrinform correspondent. "Reform should be global in this case, I think. [...] There will be legislative initiatives, there should be reform. People can get normal quality services. I think that these could be both private and municipal services, no matter how it sounds. Such a market of fair social services should be open in Ukraine," Zelensky said. He said that he "partially does not morally understand children who send their parents to such hospice facilities, into such conditions." After talking to one of the Kharkiv fire victims, he stressed that such facilities do exist, but they do not pay taxes. "At least I already understand that people, in principle, know about such private hospices. The fact that - some of our colleagues from law enforcement agencies told me - no one knows about it is not true, because you can get registered on the Internet. It costs from 5,000 to 15,000 [hryvnias] a month," he said. Zelensky arrived in Kharkiv on Friday morning. On January 21, a fire broke out on the second floor of a two-story residential building in Kharkiv which, according to tentative reports, had been converted into a home for the elderly. Fifteen people were killed in the fire and five more were injured. The event has been classified as a state-level emergency. A government commission will work in Kharkiv on January 22 to establish the causes of the tragedy. According to Kharkiv Regional State Administration, the institution for the elderly where the tragedy took place was not included in any register. op Vaccinating older adults for COVID-19 first will save substantially more U.S. lives than prioritizing other age groups, and the slower the vaccine rollout and more widespread the virus, the more critical it is to bring them to the front of the line. That's one key takeaway from a new University of Colorado Boulder paper, published today in the journal Science, which uses mathematical modeling to make projections about how different distribution strategies would play out in countries around the globe. The research has already informed policy recommendations by the Centers for Disease Control and the World Health Organization to prioritize older adults after medical workers. Now, as policymakers decide how and whether to carry out that advice, the paper--which includes an interactive tool--presents the numbers behind the tough decision. Common sense would suggest you want to protect the older, most vulnerable people in the population first. But common sense also suggests you want to first protect front-line essential workers (like grocery store clerks and teachers) who are at higher risk of exposure. When common sense leads you in two different directions, math can help you decide." Daniel Larremore, Senior Author, Computational Biologist, Department of Computer Science and CU Boulder's BioFrontiers Institute For the study, Larremore and lead author Kate Bubar, a graduate student in the Department of Applied Mathematics, teamed up with colleagues at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and the University of Chicago. They drew on demographic information from different countries, as well as up-to-date data on how many people have already tested positive for COVID-19, how quickly the virus is spreading, how fast vaccines are rolling out and their estimated efficacy. Then they modeled what would happen in five different scenarios in which a different group got vaccinated first: Children and teenagers; adults ages 20 to 49; adults 20 or older; or adults 60 or older (considering that about 30% of those eligible might decline). In the fifth scenario, anyone who wanted a vaccine got one while supplies lasted. Results from the United States, Belgium, Brazil, China, India, Poland, South Africa, Spain and Zimbabwe are included in the paper, with more countries included in the online tool. Different strategies worked better or worse, depending on local circumstances, but a few key findings jumped out. In most scenarios, across countries, prioritizing adults 60+ saved the most lives. "Age is the strongest predictor of vulnerability," said Larremore, noting that while pre-existing conditions like asthma boost risk of severe illness or death, age boosts vulnerability more. "You have an exponentially higher likelihood of dying from COVID-19 as you get older." The authors also note that, while the vaccines being distributed now are believed to have about a 90 to 95% chance of protecting against severe disease, researchers don't yet know how well they block infection and transmission. If they don't block it well and asymptomatic spreaders abound, it again makes the most sense to vaccinate older adults. If nothing else, they'll be personally protected against grave disease. Only in scenarios where the virus is under control and the vaccine is known to block infection and transmission well does it make sense to move younger adults to the front of the line. That is not the situation in the United States right now. "For essential workers who might be frustrated that they are not first, we hope this study offers some clarity," said Bubar. "We realize it is a big sacrifice for them to make but our study shows it will save lives." So will a faster rollout, they found. For instance, all other things being equal, if the rollout speed was to be doubled from current rates under current transmission conditions, COVID-19 mortality could be reduced by about 23%, or 65,000 lives, over the next three months. The paper also suggests that in some situations where COVID has already infected large swaths of the population and vaccine is in short supply, it might make sense to ask younger adults who have already tested positive to step to the back of the line. "Our research suggests that prioritizing people who have not yet had COVID could allow hard-hit communities to stretch those first doses further and possibly get to some of the herd immunity effects sooner," said Larremore. The authors stress that vaccines alone are not the only tactic for helping win the race against COVID. "To allow the vaccine to get to folks before the virus does, we need to not only roll out the vaccine quickly and get it to the most vulnerable people. We have to also keep our foot on the virus brake with masks, distancing and smart policies," said Larremore. Three Kentucky grand jurors in the Breonna Taylor case have called for state Attorney General Daniel Cameron to be impeached, claiming he 'misrepresented their findings' in the months-long investigation into her fatal shooting. The three jurors, who were not named, filed a petition with the state House of Representatives on Friday renewing earlier allegations that challenged the controversial grand jury ruling in September. Cameron, a black Republican, was the special prosecutor who led the state investigation of the three Louisville cops involved in the fatal shooting of Taylor during a botched drug raid last year. He was widely criticized over the grand jury's decision not to charge any of the officers in the black woman's death. The shooting had sparked protests in Louisville alongside national protests over racial injustice and police misconduct. Three Kentucky grand jurors on Friday filed a petition seeking to impeach state Attorney General Daniel Cameron Cameron was widely criticized over the Septembeer grand jury ruling that did not charge any of the officers in Taylor's death. Former officer Brett Hankison (left) was charged by the grand with three counts of wanton endangerment. Neither of the two other officers, John Mattingly (center) nor Myles Cogrove (right) were not charged The petition accuses Cameron of breach of public trust and failure to comply with his duties as the state's chief law enforcement official. The jurors also claim Cameron did not give them the option to consider homicide offenses against detectives Jonathan Mattingly, Myles Cosgrove, and Brett Hankison. They do not accuse him of any crimes, but impeachment is not considered a criminal proceeding. Kentucky law requires impeachment petitions to be referred to a House committee but does not require any further action. Under the state's constitution, the House possesses the sole power of impeachment. An impeachment trial is held in the state Senate, with a conviction requiring the support of two-thirds of the senators present. The petition against Cameron, which was also signed by a handful of Kentuckians, was submitted to the overwhelmingly Republican Kentucky House. Republican Rep. Jason Nemes, the chair of the impeachment committee, said they will review the petition when it's officially filed after lawmakers return to the state capital on February 2, the Courier Journal reported. The attorney general will then be given the opportunity to reply. 'The grand jurors did not choose this battle,' Kevin Glogower, the attorney representing the jurors, said in a statement Friday. Taylor's shooting had sparked protests in Louisville alongside national protests over racial injustice and police misconduct 'This battle chose them. These are randomly selected citizens who were compelled to sit on a grand jury and were terribly misused by the most powerful law enforcement official in Kentucky.' Cameron had said in a widely viewed news conference in September that the grand jury had ruled the officers' actions were justified because they acted in self defense. Taylor's boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, admitted to shooting at officers from inside their home after mistaking the cops for intruders. The bullet ended up striking Louisville police Sergeant Jonathan Mattingly in the leg, prompting officers to return fire with 32 rounds into the home, five of which struck Taylor. Cameron at the time also said his office had presented 'every homicide offense' to the grand jury 'before it came to its conclusion.' Members of the jury later spoke out against his statements, claiming the 12-member panel was not given the option to consider charges against the officers like he claimed. The two officers who shot Taylor, according to ballistics evidence, were not charged by the grand jury. One of those officers was shot by Taylor's boyfriend (left) during the raid and returned fire. Taylor's boyfriend said he thought an intruder was breaking into her apartment The anonymous grand jurors, who were part of an impartial group of Kentucky citizens picked to review potential felony charges in the case, had to file a motion to speak freely about the case. Grand jury proceedings are typically kept under wraps and members votes in secret on whether they believe there is enough evidence to charge a person with a crime. Three grand jurors in the case had argued they did not agree with the charges presented and wanted to explore criminal charges but were denied because Cameron's prosecutors believed none of those charges would stick. They also accused Cameron in their petition of 'misleading' the public when he claimed the jurors had agreed that the officers' actions were justified. '[N]either Cameron nor anyone from his office mentioned any homicide offense to the grand jury,' the petition stated. 'Not only were no homicide offenses presented as alleged, no charges of any kind were presented to the Grand Jury other than the three wanton endangerment charges against Detective Hankinson.' Hankison was fired by the Louisville Metro Police Department in June after officials said he violated policy by 'wantonly and blindly' firing his gun during the raid. He was later charged for the offense and has pleaded not guilty. Cosgrove and Mattingly were not charged. Cosgrove, however, was one of two officers who were fired for misconduct in the case as a result of an internal investigation earlier this month. Detective Joshua Jaynes, who obtained the controversial no-knock search warrant for Taylor's apartment, was also terminated. Friday's petition is the latest in a flurry of tit-for-tat efforts to impeach Kentucky elected officials. Four Kentucky citizens recently petitioned the state House of Representatives to impeach Democratic Governor Andy Beshear for executive actions he took in response to the coronavirus pandemic, and the matter was assigned to a House committee for review. Beshear's actions had been upheld by the state Supreme Court, and the governor says there are 'zero grounds' for his removal. Meanwhile, Cameron is a close ally of US Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell and is seen as a rising GOP star. Patients of Asian and black backgrounds suffered disproportionate rates of premature death from COVID-19, according to a study of 1,737 patients by Queen Mary University of London and Barts Health NHS Trust Patients of Asian and black backgrounds suffered disproportionate rates of premature death from COVID-19, according to a study of 1,737 patients by Queen Mary University of London and Barts Health NHS Trust. The study, published in BMJ Open, is one of the most comprehensive studies exploring COVID-19 outcomes in black, Asian and minority ethnic populations so far reported, from one of the largest and most diverse UK hospital COVID-19 cohorts, representing a majority ethnically diverse population (only 35.2 per cent of patients identified as White ethnicity). The work resulted from a new interdisciplinary collaboration between intensive care physicians and HIV physicians. The researchers looked at data from all patients aged 16 years or over with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection and admitted to the five acute hospitals within Barts Health NHS Trust, between 1 January and 13 May 2020. 1,737 patients were included in the analysis of whom 511 had died by day 30 (29 per cent). 538 patients (31 per cent) were from Asian, 340 (20 per cent) black and 707 (40 per cent) white backgrounds. Compared with white patients, those from minority ethnic backgrounds were younger and less frail. Asian patients were 1.54 times more likely, and black patients 1.8 times more likely, to be admitted to ICU and to receive invasive ventilation, compared to white patients. After adjustment for age and sex, patients from Asian backgrounds were 1.49 times more likely to die compared to those from white backgrounds, and patients from black backgrounds were 1.30 times more likely to die. Asian and black patients experienced a 50-80 per cent increased risk of receiving mechanical ventilation in ICU compared with white patients of a similar age. Dr Yize Wan, Clinical Lecturer at Queen Mary University of London and Specialty Registrar in Intensive Care Medicine & Anaesthesia at Barts Health NHS Trust said: "Our study shows the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on Black and Asian groups in the first peak. Black and Asian people admitted to Barts Health hospitals with COVID-19 were significantly younger in age, had greater acute disease severity, and higher mortality relative to white patients of the same age and baseline health. "As the impact of COVID-19 continues to be seen within our community, the importance of responding to the ethnic disparities unmasked during the COVID-19 pandemic is crucial to prevent entrenching and inflicting them on future generations." Dr Vanessa Apea, Consultant Physician in Sexual Health and HIV at Barts Health NHS Trust and Honorary Senior Lecturer at Queen Mary University of London, added: "Authentic community based participatory research to understand the drivers of these differences, and co-creation of solutions are key to achieving health equity in these communities." The researchers caution that although the study had a large number of patients, it was not possible to assess a more detailed ethnicity breakdown and it may not reflect the vast heterogeneity within ethnic categories (such as Bangladeshi, Pakistani, black African or black Caribbean). Separately, two of the research team - Dr Vanessa Apea and Professor Chloe Orkin from Queen Mary and Barts Health - are delivering a new study to understand why Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities are so badly affected by the COVID-19 virus and address the lower uptake of the vaccine by people in these groups. The Amplifying Lives study, funded by Barts Charity, will gain deep insight into the causes of COVID-19 based on the lived experience of East London's racially diverse communities, through interviews and questionnaires. The researchers will work directly with local residents to understand their life before, and during, COVID-19. ### You can register your interest in taking part in the study at http://www. amplifyinglives. com For more information, please contact: Joel Winston Communications Manager (School of Medicine and Dentistry) Queen Mary University of London j.winston@qmul.ac.uk Tel: +44 (0)7968 267 064 Notes to the editor Research paper: Apea VJ, Wan YI, Dhairyawan R, et al. Ethnicity and outcomes in patients hospitalised with COVID-19 infection in East London: an observational cohort study. BMJ Open 2021;11:e042140. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-042140 Available here: https:/ / bmjopen. bmj. com/ content/ 11/ 1/ e042140. info About Queen Mary University of London At Queen Mary University of London, we believe that a diversity of ideas helps us achieve the previously unthinkable. In 1785, Sir William Blizard established England's first medical school, The London Hospital Medical College, to improve the health of east London's inhabitants. Together with St Bartholomew's Medical College, founded by John Abernethy in 1843 to help those living in the City of London, these two historic institutions are the bedrock of Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry. Today, Barts and The London continues to uphold this commitment to pioneering medical education and research. Being firmly embedded within our east London community, and with an approach that is driven by the specific health needs of our diverse population, is what makes Barts and The London truly distinctive. Our local community offer to us a window to the world, ensuring that our ground-breaking research in cancer, cardiovascular and inflammatory diseases, and population health not only dramatically improves the outcomes for patients in London, but also has a far-reaching global impact. This is just one of the many ways in which Queen Mary is continuing to push the boundaries of teaching, research and clinical practice, and helping us to achieve the previously unthinkable. New Delhi: China is currently one of the foremost human rights abusers in the world. From the monks of occupied Tibet to the Uighur Muslims of occupied East Turkistan (Xinjiang In China), the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) led by President Xi Jinping has hounded the ethnic minorities in China for decades. Ethnic minorities in China have been persecuted, lost all forms of privacy and even been forced into pseudo-slavery by the Chinese regime. But some continue to struggle against CCP's attempts to erase their unique identities. Both inside and outside China, activists have stood up to the unfair and repressive policies of the Chinese government. Campaign for Uighurs is a US-based group that advocates for the human rights and democratic freedom of Uighurs as well as other ethnic Turkic minorities in East Turkistan. On January 15, the group held an online event, wherein they invited prominent Uighur activists. During the online event, the panelists shared their experiences about forced disappearances of their family and relatives as well as the trials they have had to go through due to the abhorrent actions of the CCP. The webinar, which was hosted by Campaign for Uighurs, was titled Prioritizing the Uyghur Genocide: Voices of the Victims. The goal of the webinar was to highlight the plight of Uighurs and also to bring to the forefront the requests of Uyghurs to the international community. Many Uighur diasporas are still searching for their family members and relatives that have been caught up in China's genocide and their systematic attempts to eradicate (at least in terms of their unique identity) an entire minority race of people. Live TV The first speaker at the webinar was Jewher IIham. She is the daughter of renowned Uighur scholar Ilham Tohti. As it happens, the day of the webinar was also the 7" Anniversary of detainment of her father by the Chinese government. Jewher stated that she sincerely wished that instead of remembering the day her father was detained six years ago, she could somehow celebrate the anniversary of her reunion with her father, though the reunion was yet to happen. Through tearful eyes Jewher added that she wished to smile and walk hand in hand with her father again, instead of walking with his photo and screaming for his release. Jewher said that her father Ilham Tohti was a scholar and an intellectual, he was one of the very first Uighur that was arrested and also the first Uighur holding a Chinese passport to receive a life sentence. What Ilham Tohti did was try to foster dialogue between the Han Chinese and the Uighur people. He advocated for the religious and cultural beliefs of the Uighur people as well as equal opportunity for Uighurs in pursuing their dreams and ambitions. Ilham Tohti was one of the most popular lecturers at the Minzu University in Beijing, a university that caters to ethnic minorities. For his entire career, he had worked to strengthen the position of Uighurs Muslims and foster better relations between the Han Chinese and the Uighurs. In her ending remarks, Jewher stated that she wanted to urge the Chinese government to release her father as well all the other thousands of innocent Uighurs who were currently locked up in concentration camps, re-education centers, or prisons. She also added that she urges the incoming Biden administration to enforce the Uighur human rights Act of 2020 and ensure that mandated reports are delivered to Congress The next speaker in the webinar was Ziba Murat. Zibas mother, Dr Gulshan Abbas was detained by Chinese police in order to intimidate her US- based sister, Rushan Abbas, who dared to speak out against the Chinese regime. Dr. Gulshan was detained on 11 September 2018. For two years, Gulshans family were in the dark about her whereabouts and only recently learned that she was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment in March 2019 on fabricated charges. Ziba states that her mother is not a famous scholar or a renowned intellectual. She is a retired medical professional and a non-political person, but her life is as valuable as any Ziba added. Ziba further said that the Uighur diaspora continues to live in torment, faced with the constant torture of not knowing the whereabouts of their loved ones or their condition. Uighurs are being enslaved in factories all across China, with families forcibly separated. Innocent people are being sent into concentration camps by the Chinese regime for just trying to follow their faith or contact their loved ones abroad. Ziba also appealed to President-elect Biden and the incoming US administration. She wished to convey that her mothers story was just one among thousands and that clear action was needed of the hour. The next speaker at the webinar was Akida Pulkat. Akida is the daughter of Rahile Dawut, an eminent scholar of the Uyghur people. Duwut has been detained by the Chinese government since 12 December 2017. Before being detained, Duwut was a professor at Xinjiang University and one of the first Uighur women to receive her PhD. Throughout her career, Akida remembers that Duwut had received many awards from China's Ministry of Culture and shared her work in Europe and the United States, becoming a guide to many foreign scholars. Since being detained, Akida has been unable to contact her mother. Akida stated that for her mother's students, she was a kind and jovial teacher and for her friends, she was a humorous, open-mind good person with a great personality. But Dawut is now in a place that knows no freedom and knows no laughter. Dawut is currently being detained in what China calls re-education camps". Akida continued, over a million Uighur Muslims and other ethnic minorities are imprisoned in concentration camps across: occupied East Turkistan. She describes the CCPs actions as a modern genocide against the Uighur people. Those stuck in these re-education centers have no freedom, they have to survive without fresh air and they are not even allowed to meet loved ones, Akida added. But all hope is not lost, Akida said, suggesting that there are several ways in which people all over the world can help the Uighur cause. First, by raising awareness about the Uighurs and their plight. Social media is a powerful tool and should be used effectively for the cause. Second by writing to local officials about the issue such as abductions, unlawful detention, forced labour, etc. And third, is to stop supporting brands that profit from the forced labour of Uighurs. Forced Uighur labour is part of the supply chains of major companies. The next speaker at the webinar was Jevian Shirmemet, a Uighur Turk. Jevian is currently living in Istanbul. His mother was arrested by Chinese police in early 2018. Jevian's mother was held in a concentration camp for nearly a year and in late 2019 was sentenced without a formal trial. Jevian revealed that the supposed crime that his mother had committed was to visit Turkey to meet him. Jevians mother Suriya Tursun is a Chinese citizen who traveled to Turkey in 2013 with a Chinese passport. Her seemingly harmless actions were still considered crimes by the Chinese regime. Jevian has tried to ascertain the location of his mother from the Chinese embassy in Turkey, but the officials did not share any more information than the fact that she was imprisoned. Suriya Tursun is an innocent person, same as the thousands of other Uighurs that have been arbitrarily detained in concentration camps across occupied East Turkistan. Jevian revealed that as a son, he is very worried about his mother's health, her safety, and her very life. He extends a plea to democratic countries, international human rights organizations, and political parties to help him at least in getting answers regarding the situation of his mother. The final speaker at the conference was Kamalturk Yalqun. His father, Yalqun Rozi was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment in 2018. Kamalturks father was the chief editor of the Uyghur literature textbooks for middle school and elementary schools. The Chinese officials charged and imprisoned him because of ideological problems in the textbooks. After his fathers arrest Kamalturk became an activist and since then has been campaigning for his fathers release. The candid statements of the panelists during the online session indicates that a climate of condemnation is slowly forming around China. Despite the CCPs best efforts, brave activists like those on the panel continue to fight for the freedom and dignity of Uighur Muslims and all other ethnic minorities suffering under the repressive policies of the Chinese government. Slowly but surely, nations and people around the world have begun to take action and criticise China for its treatment of ethnic minorities. The US recently announced that it has banned all cotton and tomato imports from Xinjiang due to mounting evidence of forced labour being used there. The UK has also condemned China for its treatment of minorities in East Turkistan and is also considering banning products sourced from Xinjiang as well as any items that have Xinjiang products in their supply chain. China, however, continues to find itself isolated in the international realm and has been almost universally branded as a human rights abuser. Even though China continues to do all it can to suppress, dissent and hide its despicable actions, brave activists will continue to expose its deeds to the world. Thousands of Hanoi police officers were deployed on January 20 in a long campaign to ensure security and safety in the buildup to the 13th National Party Congress. The Hanoi Police Department launches the operation on January 20 in an effort to protect the 13th National Party Congress due to take place from January 25 to February 2. (Photo: Viet Hung/ Zingnews.vn) During the launch ceremony, Chu Ngoc Anh, chairman of the Hanoi administration (R), urges public security forces to guarantee absolute security and safety for the National Congress and those to attend the event. (Photo: Viet Hung/ Zingnews.vn) Deputy Minister of Public Security Bui Van Nam makes a request to local leaders and public officers to deal with all possible cases of anti-State activities, as well as any public disturbances. (Photo: VOV.VN) Colonel Nguyen Thanh Tung, deputy head of the Hanoi Police Department, says plans are in place at the highest level to ensure security and safety during the duration of the congress. (Photo: VOV.VN) Thousands of police officers are set to be on duty throughout the day during the course of the 13th National Party Congress. (Photo: VOV.VN) Specialised vehicles will be deployed to protect the countrys most important political event. (Photo: VOV.VN) Colonel Tung confirms that public security forces are fully committed to carrying out their tasks. (Photo: VOV.VN) Security forces travel in armored vehicles along the banks of Ho Hoan Kiem (Returned Sword Lake), one of the typical landmarks in the capital city. (Photo: Zingnews.vn) A convoy of police on Dinh Tien Hoang Street (Photo: Zingnews.vn) Public security forces will be on duty at various entrances to the capital in order to control traffic throughout the 13th National Party Congress. (Photo: Zingnews.vn) Police force patrol past the iconic Dong Kinh Nghia Thuc Square in Hoan Kiem District. (Photo: VOV.VN) The 13th National Party Congress is scheduled to get underway in Hanoi from January 25 to February 2. (Photo: Zingnews.vn) VOV Armed forces hold rehearsal ahead of 13th National Party Congress Relevant forces have embarked on the task of ensuring security and safety for the upcoming 13th National Party Congress which is scheduled to be held from January 25 to February 2 in Hanoi. Abbys Legendary Pizza has been purchased by Lone Rock Resources, according to a joint press release sent out by both companies Wednesday afternoon. Lone Rock, an Oregon company, will purchase 100% equity ownership of the 36 pizzerias throughout Oregon and Washington. We are very excited with this opportunity to further our commitment to this area and continue Abbys commitment to its customers, said Lone Rock Resources CEO Toby Luther. We fully appreciate the long-term operation, experience, and growth of the Abbys business. Over the past three years weve visited every Abbys location and have fallen in love with the high-quality employees, loyal customers and family-oriented business model. The companies plan to continue Abbys 57-year-old brand, staffing and locations. Their investment will take the company to even greater heights, and provide our one-thousand employees more opportunities to grow within the company, said Mills Sinclair, one of the principal owners. Weve been working with Lone Rock for three years and we all believe this means Abbys will continue to be headquartered in Roseburg for generations to come. This is the beginning of the next chapter of Abbys, Sinclair said. I have no doubt Abbys will continue to thrive and grow in Roseburg and throughout the Pacific Northwest, just as we have since Abby Broughton and Bob Harrell started the company in 1964. Lone Rock Resources is a family-owned company founded in Roseburg in 1950. Originally timber based, today the company has a variety of investments and employs over 110 in Douglas County. Abbys operates 36 restaurants in Oregon and Washington. The restaurant was founded by Roseburg residents Broughton and Harrell. The company will celebrate its 57th anniversary this year. 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. The President, Nana Addo Dankwa has unveiled great golden opportunities to the private sector on the maiden day of his swearing-in. In his maiden speech, President Nana Addo challenges the private sector to establish the state of the arts industries like the Ekumfi Fruits and Juices factory and produce products which would help cut down on imports in the medium to long term. The Alliance for Development and Industrialization, (ADI), has learnt that ADB bank, OBTF and KFW have taken up the challenge. Currently, ADB in partnership with OVCF and GIRSAL are supporting various businesses that are related to raw material production and community engagement to meet such a challenge. In view of this, Ekumfi Fruits and Juice Factory through the support of ADB is expected to expand its out-growers scheme to employ over 3000 workers within the space of 24 months. It is also estimated that the Ekumfi factory and its allied businesses is expected to generate an annual revenue exceeding US$90million within the next 24 to 36 months. This is still inadequate as the country consumes six times the value and this gives room for other businesses to fill in. Even if the gab is filled halfway, it is likely to generate GHC2 billion into the economy. It is for other industries to the advantage of this opportunity to the economy could expand. This also opens the opportunities for the farmer who are into the cultivation of commodities such as citrus, mango, passion fruits, pineapple among others, which is estimated to create more than 20, 000 jobs through the value chain process. The Ekumfi Juice factory, a wholly Ghanaian indigenous company has secured funding from the ADB bank to support the expansion of its out-grower scheme. The credit facility which is to finance Ekumfi outgrowing partner company has the mandate cultivate most of the fruits the factory needs. This would help expand the cultivation of pineapples in the central region to over 1500 acres to feed the Ekumfi Juice factory. Additionally, this facility is expected to help the company move from a single shift production to a two-shift per day, increasing employment at the farms and factory by about 1,000 and 300 respectively. The move is to make the company commercially more productive and also meet the factorys daily demand of an average of 8 acres of pineapple. ADB bank believes it is time that such a facility comes in to possibly augment the supply of pineapple to the factory and also keep the production of the pineapple juice factory afloat. The reason has been that most companies in the country fold up due to lack of raw materials, hence the need to provide six-year guarantee support. ADB bank provided the guarantee underwritten by Ghana Incentive-Based Risk-Sharing System for Agricultural Lending, (GIRSAL), to get KFW financing through the Out-grower Value Chain Fund (OVCF) of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA). ADB ventured into this arrangement because it has seen the good product from the Ekumfi Juice Factory and the way the factory was going to impact greatly on the economy as well as the lives of the people. The factory is currently the largest and only all-natural fruit juice on the Ghanaian market. The facility is now the biggest fruits processing factory in West Africa, with the capacity to process 10 tons of fruits per hour putting Ghana on the international radar with regard to the competition of products on the export market. The Ekumfi Pineapple Processing Factory is the first factory to be constructed within 18 months under the governments flagship initiative the One District One Factory project in line with the Presidents vision and support from Ghana EXIM Bank as well as support from other banks. The factory is sited on a 50-acre land and has 100-metres length and 50-metres width of factory floor space large enough for additional production works. The GIRSAL set up by the Bank of Ghana is a non-bank financial institution with the objective to de-risk agricultural financing by issuing agricultural guarantee instruments to enhance the total amount of credit to the agricultural and agribusiness sectors. Source: Ruth Aboagye/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - COVID-19 Hospitalizations in the U.S. declined in almost every state over the past week, COVID Tracking Project said on Thursday. Only New York saw an increase in hospitalized patients, the U.S. collaborative volunteer-run effort to track the pandemic said on Twitter. After 16 weeks of increases, weekly hospitalizations are down 4 percent. The country's COVID hospitalization numbers are continuing to fall on a daily basis. It is down from a January 6 peak of 132,474 to 119927 on Thursday. Out of this, 22,304 patients are admitted in Intensive Care Units. With 3955 additional deaths reporting in the last 24 hours, the total U.S. death toll from the pandemic rose to 410,105, according to the latest data by Johns Hopkins University. Nearly 189,000 new cases were reported across the country in the same period. This week, California surpassed 3 million COVID-19 cases, which means 1 in 13 Californians has tested positive since the start of the pandemic. The test positivity rate fell further. Out of nearly 1.80 million people who were tested for coronavirus on Thursday, 9.61 percent were diagnosed with the disease. Meanwhile, Dr. Anthony Fauci said that if up to 85 percent of adults in the United States are vaccinated by the end of summer, the country can begin a return to normalcy by fall. Dr.Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, made this observation during a White House media briefing Thursday. 'If we get 70 to 85 percent of the country vaccinated - let's say by the end of the summer, middle of the summer - I believe by the time we get to the fall, we will be approaching a degree of normality,' he told reporters. 'It's not going to be perfectly normal, but one that I think will take a lot of pressure off the American public,' he added. To a question if the Biden administration is trying to increase production by Moderna and Pfizer in the next six weeks, he answered positively. 'Yeah, as well as to utilize what we hope will be another player in the field: the J&J, Janssen, as well as other of the companies,' he told reporters. The country's top infectious disease expert said the new UK strain of the virus has spread to 20 states in the United States. Earlier in the day, President released a national COVID-19 strategy and signed 10 executive orders and other directives to move quickly to contain the crisis. Johnson & Johnson board member Dr.Mark McClellan told MSNBC Thursday that the pharmaceutical giant plans to have vaccines for 100 million Americans by spring. Britain's Environment Secretary George Eustice said the government is considering complete closure of the country's borders to break the spread of new variants of coronavirus. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de A Value Village store is seen Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2017, in Edmonds, Wash. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson) Staff at a Vancouver Value Village store returned over $85,000 in cash donated by accident, to the rightful owner, a senior who now lives in a long-term care home. Jeffrey Stonehouse, store manager, and his employee found the cash packed in envelopes in a yellow plastic bag on Jan. 18 at the Venables Street Value Village. We quickly removed the bag from the production room floor, and secured it in the office, and began to do our investigation, Stonehouse explained to Yahoo Canada. As soon as the cash was counted, he called the police as per store protocol. Stonehouse did not get into the specifics of the procedure but said that if they find a large amount of money, they do report it. Its not uncommon for Value Village employees to find money, or receive calls about items that were accidentally donated, but Stonehouse said its usually only pocket change they find. Based on the denomination you can tell whether it was intended, said Stonehouse. His first reaction was whether the cash was real or legal, but after seeing the dates printed on the bills such as from 1988, and bank receipts, he figured the cash must have been stashed away for quite some time. We were surprised, said Stonehouse. We didnt really understand the full scope of what we were doing initially, and it wasnt until probably half way through our count that we realized where we were going to end up. The money was donated by the owners family by accident with clothing, but the bank receipts had the name of the owner which helped them find the senior who it belonged to within 24 hours. In this particular situation, it was really easy for us to work with the police to find the owner, and in other instances there may not be anything that would signify where so or what to do, said Stonehouse. Stonehouse said it was unexpected but felt good to do. Heres how the internet reacted to the act of kindness: This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. LOCK HAVEN The 9-year-old boy found dead in a bathtub in Lock Haven in November had injuries all over his body. That was the testimony Thursday during the preliminary hearing for the lads aunt, Jamie Lynne Jackson, 36, who was ordered held for court on homicide and related charges. City police Detective Richard Simpson detailed the bruises, cuts and other injuries an autopsy revealed were all over Anson Landon Mitchell Stovers body. He had black eyes and a cut on his penis, the detective said, adding that the boys fingers were purple. The preliminary autopsy report lists two causes of death: blunt-force injuries to the head and multiple blunt-force injuries in general, the detective testified. Additional tests are being conducted to determine the extent of the brain injuries, he said. Stover weighed 54 pounds, 17 less than he did in March, the detective said. He recounted two interviews of Jackson in which she claimed that with the exception of scratches on Stovers arms she was unaware of the injuries despite saying she found him in his room naked. Jackson maintained she found her nephew on Nov. 28 in his room with tape wrapped around him that she cut off and then bathed and dressed him, he said. The autopsy did not reveal any tape or tape residue, he testified. Stover did not respond when she placed him in the tub but Jackson claimed she thought he was faking because he had done that previously, Simpson said she told him. The arrest affidavit states Jackson told investigators that Stover was unresponsive but breathing when she placed him in the tub. She admitted finding a little blood in his room that she removed by shampooing the rug, he said. The body was discovered after Officer Andrew Fisher went to Jacksons apartment in the 600 block of East Bald Eagle Street after receiving a phone call from her father, who was traveling to Lock Haven from his home in New York. Hugh Jackson said his daughter was hysterical. she said that she did not know what to do but threatened to kill herself if police showed up, the officer testified. Stover was lying in a fetal position in the tub wearing clean dry clothes, Fisher said. He noticed bruises on the back of the boys head, he said. Stover was one of six children living in the apartment but was the only boy, Simpson said. Jackson had gained temporary custody of Stover and his three sisters three years ago when their mother died. The other two girls are Jacksons. The girls had no signs of injuries except for a possible cigarette burn mark on one, Simpson said. Jackson, the lone adult in the low-income housing unit, was the only smoker, the detective said. District Judge Keith Kibler rejected assistant public defender Matthew A. Johnsons argument that the prosecution failed to produce evidence linking his client to Stovers injuries. In his closing argument, Clinton County District Attorney David Strouse noted Jackson made no effort to check on Stover in the tub nor did she seek medical help. She formulated a story that Stover was self-destructive and then tried to conceal a murder weapon by washing his clothes and cleaning his room, he argued. Besides homicide, Jackson is charged with aggravated assault, endangering the welfare of children, tampering with evidence, abuse of corpse and concealing the death of a child. She is jailed without bail. Strouse would not say if he plans to seek the death penalty but acknowledged there are aggravating circumstances that would permit him to do so. Loading I hope some miracle can happen to let more offshore international students back this term, he said. I used to think Id be back for the upcoming semester 1 or some time in March, as I am getting fed up with online studies and didnt foresee back in May that Id be continuing online studies for so long. I didnt make any new friends in online studies and it has caused me a lot of stress thinking about going through another semester of online classes. But Mr Andrews said this week bringing tens of thousands of international students to Victoria would be incredibly challenging, if not impossible during this year due to quarantine capacity constraints. The prospect of tens of thousands of international students coming here while weve still got people struggling to get home, or even if there was every Aussie that wanted to come home had already made it home, theres a big capacity issue here, he said. "Our borders are closed ... all of us have to adjust, do things differently." On Friday, Mr Tudge said there was no timeline yet for the return of international students to Australian university campuses. He said he had asked education providers to work with states to each come up with a plan, to be approved by their respective chief medical officers, then present them to the federal government. Thats the process. Now, the state governments are working through those things, along with the higher education providers, but were still not at that stage yet where were in the position to be able to have significant quarantining arrangements for those international students, he told the ABC. Loading ANU Professor Andrew Norton said while universities had forecast many years of substantially reduced revenue due to COVID-19 border closures, many had hoped international students would arrive back on campus later this year. The best-case scenario for me was always that they would get some non-trivial intake in the second half of 2021, but even that is unlikely at this point, he said. Victorian universities say they are focused on supporting international students who are studying on campus or in their home countries, but online-only learning cannot last forever. La Trobe University said there remains significant interest in studying online provided that the prospect of a physical return to campus is not delayed for too long. Deakin University said while feedback from international students studying online from offshore is generally positive, the university understands that it is not the situation that students expected or what they would prefer. Swinburne University said it had a number of students commence studies with Swinburne from their home countries in readiness for when they can travel to Australia. Loading RMIT said it was working closely with the Victorian government and other Victorian universities on a state-wide approach that will allow international students to enter Victoria. Its understood new international student applications are down 25 per cent at RMIT, compared to the same time last year. Monash said about a third of its international students were studying online, and most intended to continue doing so until Australias borders reopened to them. Professor Norton said international education was vulnerable on two fronts: losing new enrolments, and existing students dropping out. If students think theyre going to turn up [in Victoria] in six months time they might be willing to pay the full fee, but if its going to be a year or 18 months then thats probably a different situation, he said. My expectation is they thought this [online study] was a temporary situation and therefore they would see it out for a while. But now that it looks like being a lot more than temporary and if it goes till the end of this year, thats half a three-year degree. Why pay a premium price for a university where you cant even arrive in the country? Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-23 05:31:23|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close CAIRO, Jan. 22 (Xinhua) -- The Arab League (AL) welcomed on Friday the entry into force of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, urging for intensifying international efforts to establish a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East. In a statement, the AL Secretary-General, Ahmed Aboul-Gheit, described the move as an important step towards the disarmament and the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons in the world. Aboul-Gheit stressed that this development would help commence a new phase that would be a motivation for intensifying international efforts to achieve the final and irreversible disposal of nuclear weapons worldwide. He explained that the Arab countries were supportive of international efforts during the negotiation process for this treaty, "despite Israel's boycott of this path as an extension of its anti-nuclear disarmament policies and its stances opposing international efforts aimed at getting rid of nuclear weapons, especially in the Middle East." "It is time to intensify efforts to establish a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East, which is fully consistent with the objectives of this treaty," the AL chief said. The Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons was adopted in July 2017 and was opened for signature in September 2017. Honduras signed the 50th ratification of the treaty on Oct. 25 last year, triggering it to enter into force on Jan. 22, 2021, 90 days after its 50th instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession has been deposited. Enditem BCC Launches A Collegiate Recovery Community PITTSFIELD, Mass. Berkshire Community College (BCC) launched a Collegiate Recovery Community for its students last fall, and will expand its efforts into the spring 2021 semester and beyond. The recovery community, Students for Recovery at BCC, is a shared space for students to give and gain peer support, celebrate recovery, pursue their college goals, and find success. BCC's Collegiate Recovery Community, a collaboration between the Personal Counseling Center and Student Engagement, has been made possible through the support of a BCC Foundation donor. This donor previously helped fund the 2018 Hope and Health Conference at the College, coordinated by Dr. Kari Dupuis, Program Advisor for Human Services. According to a press release, recovery communities offer students a place to belong and thrive; students who feel a sense of belonging and purpose are more likely to persist and be successful. Students in recovery are often an underserved population on college campuses; establishing a recovery community and a broader campus culture that invites and embraces recovery and creates a more inclusive campus culture. Community colleges are situated to support students in recovery as they are often the place where students come to begin or restart their higher education pathway. The College has engaged Western Massachusetts resident Maureen Babineau, an educational consultant with knowledge of the national landscape of collegiate recovery, to guide and develop the community and the supportive campus culture. As a person in long-term recovery with a background in residential treatment for substance use, and experience in higher education, including student success initiatives, Babineau is passionate about helping all students move forward. Hilary Costa, a graduate intern in Personal Counseling at the College, has partnered with Babineau in this important work. "I approach collegiate recovery through a wellness and multiple pathway lens," Babineau said. "I believe collegiate recovery must include a student success component so individuals can thrive in both their student and recovery identities as they pursue their educational and career goals. I believe that identity development is the most important aspect of one's recovery capital and that reclaiming one's self is the true work of recovery." BCC has a history of supporting students holistically through the Personal Counseling Center. Lisa Mattila, LMHC, who has been with the college for 25 years, has provided therapeutic support to students, including those with substance use disorders. Over the years, Mattila has encountered many students in recovery who voiced the need for peer relationships. She sees the establishment of a Collegiate Recovery Community as a natural extension of this work and commitment to student wellness, and Mattila, Babineau and Costa will continue to collaborate to engage and support students. Students for Recovery welcomes current students and alumni to attend our weekly mutual aid recovery meetings. For more information, head to www.berkshirecc.edu/recovery or email recovery@berkshirecc.edu Beaumont Mayor Becky Ames said Thursday that individuals can join the citys waiting list for a COVID-19 vaccine regardless of where they live or what pre-existing conditions they have. Our goal through public health is to get as many people who wish to be vaccinated, vaccinated as soon as possible, she said. The city this week began ramping up its capacity for administering vaccines by converting the Civic Center into a vaccination hub. But she and other officials also have expressed frustration at the delays in getting vaccines to the region. Her comments during a virtual meeting of the Southeast Texas Press Club suggest that when the doses do arrive, presumably soon, they will be available to more people than just those in the top priority groups. The Beaumont and Port Arthur public health departments soon are expected to receive doses of vaccine that they plan to administer to individuals who have signed up on their respective waiting lists. More Information How to get on a vaccine wait list Beaumont: Call the 3-1-1 service line or (409) 980-8311. Port Arthur: Register at cityhall.portarthurtx.gov:444/forms/covid Note: A separate Jefferson County registry is full and not currently accepting signups. See More Collapse In Beaumont, residents can register by calling the 3-1-1 service line. In Port Arthur, residents can sign up on the city website. The form includes a question about whether the person registering is a health-care worker or has a condition that puts them at high risk. It also warns that existing vaccine supply will not cover all of the people who meet the criteria for Phase 1A or 1B at this time. Port Arthur Public Health Director Judith Smith said her city received 300 doses directly from the state this week. Those vaccines have been administered to health-care workers, city workers, funeral directors and residents on its waiting list. Related: Ames: Where are the vaccines? Both cities also will receive a portion of the 1,950 doses allocated this week to Jefferson County. The county will use part of that allocation for county employees in priority categories 1A and 1B as well as some indigent patients. The remaining doses, which Ames estimated at 1,500, would be split based on population between the two cities and administered to each citys wait list. While this isnt the 5,000 doses that the city of Beaumont requested and for which it set up the Civic Center to be ready to receive Ames on Thursday gave more detail on how the vaccination clinic would work when the doses arrive. Individuals on the waiting list will be called and given more instructions on how to register for a vaccine to receive an appointment window. The clinic will take place inside the civic center, as drive-thru service would require additional staff to monitor individuals after they have been vaccinated. You get your shot, you go to another location where everyone is 6 feet apart where a staff member observes, she said. We actually have to write down the time the shot was given and when the person left. Top hits: Get Beaumont Enterprise stories sent directly to your inbox Ames said the state is expected to get 332,000 doses of vaccine, although its still unclear how many might be allocated locally. She said she and Jefferson County Judge Jeff Branick dont believe weve gotten our fair share based on our population and were working through that with the state. Meanwhile, positive cases and virus-related deaths continue to rise. On Thursday, the county rose to 14,754 positive cases of the virus. It also recorded six additional virus-related deaths, bringing the pandemic total to 237. With 28 fatalities so far, January has tied October as the third most lethal month of the pandemic. There were 41 deaths at this point in December, which was the deadliest so far. kaitlin.bain@beaumontenterprise.com twitter.com/KaitlinBain Mumbai, Jan 22 : Actor Vivian Dsena, who enjoys a loyal television fan following, is not perturbed with the sudden wave of OTT taking over. He believes that the two mediums cannot be compared. "Everybody is not an OTT fan, and everybody is not an Indian television fan. The audience is very neatly separated or rather bifurcated," Vivian tells IANS. The actor, who rose to fame with television show Pyaar Kii Yeh Ekk Kahani, has reasons to believe that the digital world should not be confused with what television has to offer. "The digitalisation is in the direction of a digital world so if you compare it with television it would be very different because both the mediums are different. I don't think OTT should be in competition with Indian television because the basics never change, so television has always been the base of the mass audience platform, and digitalisation is a completely different world," he says. Having worked in the television industry for almost a decade, Vivian has learnt a few important lessons. Sharing the pearls of wisdom, he says, "I have learnt to never underestimate any human being in this industry or this world. Because there are a lot of people who never believed in me once upon a time and now when they met me they said they regret for not believing in me back then. So you should not underestimate anyone." -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Pennsylvania GOP Moves to Repeal No-Excuse Mail-In Ballot Provisions Republican state lawmakers in Pennsylvania have announced they will introduce legislation to repeal provisions in the law that allows for no-excuse mail-in ballots. Shortly, we intend to introduce legislation repealing the no-excuse mail-in ballot provisions enacted in Act 77 of 2019, state Sens. Patrick Stefano and Doug Mastriano said in a Jan. 21 memorandum. By removing the provisions of law that allow for no-excuse mail-in ballots, we can regain some trust in our elections integrity, they added. Faith in our election process is crucial to our democracy. We remain hopeful that this initiative, and any additional legislative changes that will come forward from our hearings, will once again restore confidence in our democracy and shine a light into the shadow of doubt that has been cast over Americans most democratic process. The senators said that Gov. Tom Wolf (D) and Secretary of State Kathy Boockvar (D), as well as the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, which has a 5-2 Democratic majority, had taken advantage of mail-in voting and usurped legislative power to set the conditions for an election result in their political interest. Their actions were a direct attack on the legislatures power to set the time, place, and manner of holding elections, as granted by the U.S. and Pennsylvania Constitutions, the senators continued. These actions taken in the last moments leading up to the election were inconsistent and questionable, and were not the legislatures intent when passing Act 77. Wolf in October 2019 signed Act 77, a law that creates a new option to vote by mail without needing to provide an excuse, which was required up until then for people using absentee ballots. A news release from Wolfs office at the time called the effort one that made voting more convenient and secure. Pennsylvania was among the six battleground states where election results were contested for weeks following the Nov. 4, 2020 general election. Then-President Donald Trump, Republicans, and other third parties alleged that there were widespread voting irregularities and potential fraud, as well as unconstitutional changes to voting laws prior to the election. Georgia was among the contested states. Its secretary of state, Brad Raffensperger, backed fellow Republicans in December 2020 in calling to end no-excuse voting, saying that it opens the door to potential illegal voting, especially in light of the federal rules that deny us the ability to keep voter lists, registration files, clean. 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. In an affidavit that was shared during the Maine Township Electoral Board hearings, Foss-Eggemann said the Maine Township clerk did not object to the location when she filed a Notice of Caucus with the clerks office. During an electoral board hearing, Clerk Pete Gialamas acknowledged that, at the time, he was not aware that 10 W. Higgins Road was located outside Maine Township. Straight Outta Compton Saturday 23/1 RTE2 @ 9.40pm NWA. were the most notorious rap group of the 1980's and this film charts their meteoric rise from the mean streets of Compton to their spectacular and egotistical fall. A big, brash, profane film that skips over a lot of the more troubling aspects of the group but still manages to hit the spot. Great performances from Jason Mitchell, Corey Hawkins and O'Shea Jackson Jr ( as his Da Ice Cube) make it all work. The Endless Saturday 23/1 Film4 @ 11.10pm Aaron and Justin had a strange childhood and as adults they think they've escaped it until an odd message forces them to revisit their past and deal with it once and for all. From directors and lead actors Justin Benson, Aaron Moorhead, this is a bizarre blend of drama, mystery and science fiction but it really works. It's a film that will change the way you look at religion, memory and family. Well worth your time. Buried Sunday 24/1 CH4 @ 00.20am An American truck driver in Iraq is kidnapped and wakes up buried in a coffin. All he has is a cigarette lighter and a mobile phone. His air is running out fast. Can he escape in time? If you are anyway claustrophobic I'd advise you avoid this like the plague but if you think you'll be able for it, it's a suspenseful and quite terrifying little tale. Ryan Reynolds carries the entire film on his shoulders and does a first rate job. Norfolk Sunday 24/1 BBC1 @ 00.30am Man and boy. Father and son. A nameless duo living a peaceful life in rural Norfolk. All is grand until Man gets called back to work. The work is dangerous and it leaves a lasting effect on boy. This 2015 psychological thriller is an interesting but tough film that will leave you with a lot to unpack when its over. A super pair of performances from Barry Keoghan and Denis Menochet will keep you watching. Scar Sunday 24/1 The Horror Channel @ 11.15pm A woman returns to her home town for a family event. Years before she faced a terrifying ordeal but got through it. Now she's back and things are stirred up again. Might she get real closure on the events of the past? Warning - this one is harsh, it's a horror film that may offend you and one that will definitely disgust you. But, Angela Bettis as the lead puts in such a good showing that you'll be glued to it throughout. Election Sunday 24/1 BBC1 @ Midnight Tracy Flick is the perfect student. She can do no wrong. This gets under the skin of her teacher Mr McAllister something fierce. So much so that it starts to affect his life. Alexander Payne's 1999 comedy is a cracker. Reese Wetherspoon is fantastic as student you'll love to hate and Matthew Broderick does masterful work as a teacher who takes his work way too seriously. Chris Klein as dumb jock Paul is priceless. A Taxi Driver Monday 25/1 Film4 @ 01.10am 1980. A violent time in Korea. A taxi driver is hired by a foreign reporter to drive him from Seoul into a warzone. A lot of money is offered for the trip. Too much money to turn down really. But will the cash outweigh the hassle? Led by a mighty turn from Kang-ho Song, star of last year's Parasite, this is a look at part of history unknown in the west and one that isn't afraid to let it's warmth and humanity shine through it's darker moments. Atomic Blonde Monday 25/1 TG4 @ 9.30pm Lorraine Broughton is a British spy on a mission in Cold War Berlin. An SIS agent has been murdered and she must use her special set of skills to figure out who did the deed and why. The film itself is a little muddled and messy but Charlize Theron is on fire here and a couple of spectacularly violent and brilliantly put together action scenes will pin you to your chair. James McAvoy is fun as a fellow man at arms. The Day Of The Locust Monday 25/1 Talking Pictures TV @ 10pm The film where Donald Sutherland plays Homer Simpson. Yup. The 1930's were a bad time in America and people flooded into Hollywood to find fame and fortune away from the Great depression. It worked out for some and not for others. A vicious and biting satire of the film industry. Flamboyant and extravangant in places, downright horrifying in others. It's excellent though and packed full of famous faces. American Animals Tuesday 26/1 Film4 @ 9pm Warren, Chas, Spencer and Eric. 4 bright young college students. 4 young men who really should have known better than to plan a heist from their own university. A story about pretentious fools who think the world revolves around doesn't sound like fun but this is one really gripping film and one that mixes in documentary footage to great effect. Nicely shot, wicked soundtrack and our own Barry Keoghan in the mix. How could you go wrong? Eyes Of Laura Mars Wednesday 27/1 Sony Movies @ 00.50am A fashion photographer develops psychic abilities that allow her to see through the eyes of a serial killer as he does his dodgy deeds. Somehow she has to figure out a way to use this skill against him. An unusual but well put together story and one filled with genuine suspense that also gives us an authentic look at New York in the 70's. Faye Dunaway nails the lead and Tommy Lee Jones is reliable as always. Nice supporting cast too with Brad Dourif and Raul Julia in tow. Crimson Peak Thursday 28/1 CH4 @ 01.45am After a horrible tragedy, Edith finds herself living a new life in an old mansion with her new beau. Strange occurrences have followed Edith her whole life though. A gorgeous gothic tale from the mind of Guillermo Del Toro. Scary in places, gruesome in others and atmospheric as hell. Record it and keep it for a dark spooky night. Or just watch it at 1.45am! Mia Wasikowska, Jessica Chastain, Tom Hiddleston and Charlie Hunnam all deliver the goods. Searching Thursday 28/1 Film4 @ 9pm When his daughter Margot goes missing, John is understandably freaked. The cops aren't finding anything so John gets to work himself and the first place he looks for clues is on her laptop. Searching takes an age old tale and puts a modern spin on it and the result is a wonderfully unique and twisty turny experience. It won't age the best but it's very of the now. John Cho does fine work in the lead role. Joe Friday 29/1 Sony Movies @ 9pm Joe owns a tree felling company. A boy called Gary asks him for a job. The two get on well. Then everything goes to hell for both of them. This 2013 drama is a tough but compelling watch about the parts of America and the people living in them that tend to be forgotten about. You won't leave this one in a good mood but you'll be glad you watched it. Nicholas Cage and Tye Sheridan are good in their roles but unknown Gary Poulter who died just before this came out puts in a stunner of a shift. Almost Famous Friday 29/1 RTE1 @ 9.30pm A young wannabe music journalist blags his way into a concert to write an article about a rock band and soon finds himself way out of his depth. This film rules. Ye are going to love it. Cameron Crowe's 70's set comedy drama is a glorious evocation of the period and it's filled with unreal music. It doesn't hide from the darker side of the times either. Patrick Fugit rocks the lead but Frances McDormand and Kate Hudson own this film. For more TV and film chat visit http://hamsandwichcinema.blogspot.com/ Borsa Italiana non ha responsabilita per il contenuto del sito a cui sta per accedere e non ha responsabilita per le informazioni contenute. Accedendo a questo link, Borsa Italiana non intende sollecitare acquisti o offerte in alcun paese da parte di nessuno. Sarai automaticamente diretto al link in cinque secondi. India on Friday said it has not received any request for coronavirus vaccines from Pakistan. "I am not aware of any request for the supply of Indian-made vaccines to Pakistan on a G2G (government-to-government) basis or commercial basis," Spokesperson in the ministry of external affairs (MEA) Anurag Srivastava said at a media briefing. On Friday, India began commercial exports and sent two million doses each to Brazil and Morocco. India began sending coronavirus vaccines as grant assistance to the neighbouring countries on Wednesday. "On the first day, 1.5 lakh doses of vaccines were supplied to Bhutan and 1 lakh doses to Maldives as grant assistance. Yesterday, supplies of 10 lakh doses to Nepal and 20 lakh doses to Bangladesh were undertaken," he said. On Friday, Srivastava said consignments of 15 lakh doses for Myanmar, one lakh doses to Mauritius and 50,000 doses to Seychelles were airlifted. "Contractual supplies are also being undertaken to Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Brazil, Morocco, Bangladesh and Myanmar," he said. The MEA spokesperson said there was interest in many countries in accessing vaccines from India which is the global hub for vaccine production. "Keeping in view the domestic requirements of the phased rollout, India will continue to supply COVID-19 vaccines to partner countries over the coming weeks and months in a phased manner. It will be ensured that domestic manufacturers will have adequate stocks to meet domestic requirements while supplying abroad," said Srivastava. In a major announcement, India earl said it would send COVID-19 vaccines under grant assistance to Bhutan, Maldives, Bangladesh, Nepal, Myanmar and Seychelles from Wednesday and supplies to Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and Mauritius will commence after confirmation of necessary regulatory clearances. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 Posted Thursday, January 21, 2021 4:38 pm A 26-year-old Seattle man was arrested Tuesday, accused of dousing two photojournalists with bear spray and threatening a newspaper reporter during the Jan. 6 protests at the Washington state Capitol, where supporters of former President Donald Trump breached a fence outside the Governor's mansion in Olympia, according to court documents filed in Thurston County Superior Court. Damon Huseman, who lives on Seattle's Capitol Hill, was charged Jan. 11 with two counts of second-degree assault for spraying the faces of a freelance photographer and a videojournalist with TVW, the state's public affairs network, with bear spray, incapacitating the men for hours and impeding them from carrying out their duties, according to charging documents. Huseman who at the time was armed with an assault-style rifle, a handgun and a knife was also charged with felony harassment, accused of lunging at a reporter in an attempt to grab her cellphone and threatening her and other members of the media, stating, "We're going to shoot you (expletive) dead in the next year," the charges say. Huseman, who was booked into the Thurston County Jail, made his preliminary court appearance via Zoom on Wednesday afternoon before Thurston County Superior Court Judge Sharonda Amamilo, who ordered him held in lieu of $50,000 bail. She also ordered Huseman to have no contact with the three journalists he's accused of targeting or the Capitol campus. Defense attorney Danielle Walker, who had requested Huseman be released on personal recognizance, entered not guilty pleas on his behalf to all three charges. She told the judge Huseman has lived in the area for eight years, was previously employed and has no criminal history. Walker also said Huseman had the right to be armed, noting he is not accused of pointing or firing his weapons at anyone. In response to a civil Extreme Risk Protection Order (ERPO) filed by a Patrol detective, Walker said Huseman surrendered all his firearms without argument. "I think the lack of firearms could assuage any fear that he could commit a violent offense ... This was a situation with very, very heightened emotion, with everyone screaming, with the President of the United States [inciting] people to insurrections," Walker said. "He did not do anything, though. He did not shoot anyone. He's turned over all of his guns. This is a one-time situation." The judge, however, disagreed with Walker's assessment, saying Huseman poses a danger to the community. "In this case, Mr. Huseman is alleged to have targeted media in a very threatening manner and when they were exercising their legitimate rights, within their employment and in a public place," Amamilo said. "It is alleged that Mr. Huseman then in threatening them, made demands of them that were not in his legal right to do so. And when they did not comply with Mr. Huseman's demands, the allegations are that Mr. Huseman then determined they needed to be punished and/or, in this case, physically coerced into complying with his unlawful demands." The Washington State Patrol (WSP) obtained a warrant for Huseman's arrest and after he was seen walking down a Seattle street on Tuesday afternoon, he was taken into custody without incident with assistance from Seattle police, said Sgt. Darren Wright, a spokesperson for the State Patrol. According to Wright, Huseman was also seen on video on the grounds of the Governor's mansion during the Jan. 6 protest and could potentially face an additional charge of criminal trespass. Washington's "extreme risk" protection law was overwhelmingly approved by voters in 2016 and went into effect in 2018, allowing police and family members to ask a judge to keep firearms out of the hands of people believed to pose a danger to themselves or others; if approved, a judge can impose a one-year gun ban and if firearms aren't voluntarily turned over, police can obtain a warrant for their seizure. In the criminal case against Huseman, the charges say all three victims provided similar descriptions of their assailant and identified Huseman as the suspect from their own photos and those posted to social-media sites. According to charging documents and the ERPO petition: Around noon on Jan. 6, a freelance photojournalist arrived at the Capitol and began photographing the demonstrators at 11th Avenue and Capitol Boulevard when he was approached by a man armed with an assault-style rifle who told the photographer to leave. When the photographer refused, the man sprayed his face and camera lens with bear spray, disorienting and blinding the photographer who asked a passerby for help. The passerby washed his eyes out with water. The photographer later drove to his mother's house and took a shower, but continued to feel the burning effects of the spray for the rest of the day and was unable to return to work, according to the charges. Soon after the photographer was sprayed, a journalist with TVW exited his office carrying a camera and wearing a TVW jacket. He saw the photographer suffering the effects of bear spray and gave him a bottle of water. The photographer warned him to watch his back. As the TVW journalist approached the protest underway on the Capitol lawn, an armed man in combat gear quickly walked toward him, yelling multiple times for the journalist "to get the (expletive) out of here," court records say. The journalist crossed the street and was planning how to access the protest when the same man approached him from behind; the journalist turned and was sprayed in the face with bear spray, then turned on his camera and captured images of his assailant that he later shared with Patrol investigators, the charges say. Concerned for his safety, the journalist returned to his office where a co-worker helped him. He too was unable to return to work that day. Later that same afternoon, a reporter noticed protesters walking toward the entrance to the Governor's mansion and was approached by a man armed with "a big gun" who demanded to know if she was a member of the media, got in her face and lunged at her, trying to grab her cellphone. He told the reporter she had five minutes to leave and said he'd already sprayed other journalists, according to the charges. In a later interview with a Patrol detective, the reporter said she felt she and other journalists were at risk of being shot and that she had never before been threatened on the job to that extent. She told the detective that later that night, she requested a bulletproof vest from her news agency. ___ (c)2021 The Seattle Times Visit The Seattle Times at www.seattletimes.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Byung BJay Pak, a 2017 Trump appointee, left his position the day after Trumps infamous call with Georgias secretary of state. The Department of Justice is investigating the sudden resignation of a Georgia U.S. attorney who left his post immediately after then-President Donald Trump complained about election fraud in the state. Byung J. Pak, better known as BJay, announced his resignation on Jan. 4 and left his post that same day. His departure came after the state had flipped from red to blue, and several recounts had been certified. Trump then passed over the next attorney in line as a replacement, which raised concerns. Donald Trump prepares to board Air Force One for his last time as president Wednesday. Trump was the first president in more than 150 years to refuse to attend his successors inauguration. (Photo by Pete Marovich Pool/Getty Images) According to a report in the The Washington Post, Pak resigned the day after Trumps call with Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger became known, the infamous conversation in which Trump demanded the man find enough votes to change Georgias election outcome. The call was widely seen as an abuse of power by the former commander-in-chief, who mentioned a never-Trumper U.S. attorney in the state a supposed reference to Pak and even hinted that Raffenspergers failure to heed his demands could constitute a criminal offense. Pak, whose resignation reportedly shocked his in-office colleagues, has since joined a private firm in Atlanta. While the circumstances around it are still murky, sources say Pak received a call from a senior member of Trumps Justice Department, who led him to believe leaving was in his best interest. Read More: Dr. Fauci: Its liberating working with Biden administration He was appointed by Trump in 2017. Trump brought up a federal prosecutor from South Georgia to lead the Atlanta office. Bobby Christine is a staunch Trump supporter who brought with him two staffers who both have experience investigating election fraud. Yet, upon his arrival, Christine joined the ranks of officials who found zero evidence of election fraud in the Peach State. Read More: Lil Wayne and Kodak Black publicly thank Trump for pardon, commutation Story continues Quite frankly, just watching television, you would assume that you got election cases stacked from the floor to the ceiling, he told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. I am so happy to find out thats not the case, but I didnt know coming in. On Wednesday, the day President Joe Biden was inaugurated, all U.S. attorneys appointed by Trump were asked to remain in their jobs for the time being. Have you subscribed to theGrios Dear Culture podcast? Download our newest episodes now! TheGrio is now on Apple TV, Amazon Fire and Roku. Download theGrio.com today! The post DOJ to investigate resignation of Georgia U.S. attorney after Trump criticism appeared first on TheGrio. FOIL Documents How It Works (TNS) The Legal Aid Society on Thursday denounced the Staten Island, N.Y., district attorney's 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 driver's 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 software's bias and unreliability has been the subject of criticism, is deeply troubling," said Diane Akerman, staff attorney with Legal Aid's 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.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 didn't limit Clearview's 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.On its Web site, Clearview AI says the company's 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,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, Macy's, Walmart and Target had used Clearview's 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 enforcement's use of facial-recognition technology, the Gothamist reported.New Jersey's attorney general has ordered all police departments in the state to stop using Clearview AI's program, the report said.Legal Aid believes the Staten Island D.A.'s office's 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 driver's 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." 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. As the industry shifts towards electrification, Nissan's EU-export-orientated Sunderland plant needs to source more electric components such as batteries in the UK, in order to avoid EU tariffs Remarks by Nissan COO Ashwani Gupta suggest that Nissan remains highly committed to its UK plant and will increase investment in electrified technology manufacturing in the UK to meet post-Brexit EU trade rules of origin requirements. More battery production will be added to the Envision plant next to Nissan's Sunderland vehicle manufacturing plant that makes the Leaf EV. Nissan makes about 30,000 Leaf electric cars at its Sunderland factory, most with a locally-sourced 40 kilowatt-hour battery. They remain tariff-free when exported to the EU. However, a higher-range battery is currently imported from Japan. Mr Gupta said in remarks to media that the Brexit deal has brought short-term business continuity. "It has protected 75,000 direct and indirect jobs across Europe and most important, all of our models manufactured in Sunderland qualify as local origin except the Leaf higher-range battery [62kWh]. "We have decided to get those from the Envision factory, which means all of our products, including the Qashqai E-power, will also qualify. "That means Brexit has brought Nissan a competitive advantage for being in the UK as one of the largest automotive companies, not only for UK but also outside the UK. "That's why I say that Brexit is positive for Nissan." Gupta also did not rule out buying batteries from other sources, including from the Britishvolt gigafactory being planned for Blyth, Northumberland, if demand for electric cars increased. Under the terms of the FTA agreed late last year between the UK and EU, local content on EU-bound cars that qualify for free circulation does not include parts - such as battery cells - assembled in Britain but sourced from outside the UK and EU, for example from China or Japan. That pointed to a potential problem for UK-made EVs that source battery cells from Asia. The Nissan news will act as a boost for the UK's automotive sector as it both navigates post-Brexit EU trading arrangements and seeks to attract investment in the medium- and long-term as the industry moves towards greater electrification. The UK government intends to ban the sale of ICE-equipped cars from 2030 (brought forward from 2040), a move that potentially starts to influence investment decisions. PSA chief Carlos Tavares has recently made remarks that raised concerns over the future of the Vauxhall car plant in the UK - which currently makes the ICE-equipped Astra model. The remains of a royal funerary temple, painted coffins, mummies, masks, statues, stelae, toys, and a chapter from the ancient Egyptian Book of the Dead were all among the spectacular new discoveries unveiled at the Saqqara Necropolis near Cairo this week. Beside king Tetis pyramid, the founder of the Sixth Dynasty, archaeologists have been busy excavating the sands of the Saqqara Necropolis to reveal more of its secrets. Renowned Egyptologist and former minister of antiquities Zahi Hawass, who has been leading the work, stood before a beautifully painted coffin examining the mummy inside during the announcement of the discoveries. This discovery is re-writing the history of Saqqara and in particular the saga of the 18th and 19th dynasties of the New Kingdom when king Teti was worshipped and the citizens of the time were buried around his pyramid, Hawass told Al-Ahram Weekly. He explained that the discovery confirmed the importance of the worship of king Teti during the 19th Dynasty, as archaeologists had unearthed a collection of New Kingdom workshops for mummification and the fabrication of coffins. This showed that the necropolis has not only been reused as a burial place during the Late Period but during the New Kingdom as well. Hawass said that the remains of the funerary temple of queen Nearit, the wife of Teti, was also uncovered along with three mudbrick warehouses at the temples southern end to store the provisions, offerings, and tools used to revive the queens cult.A large collection of burial shafts 10 to 12 metres deep had been found filled with more than 50 painted anthropoid coffins containing mummies, along with hundreds of statues of the deities Osiris and Ptah-Sokar-Osiris, stelae, toys, wooden boats and funerary masks, and a four-metre papyrus of Chapter 17 of the Book of the Dead.This helped the deceased pass through the trials faced on the journey to the other world. The copy of the text that was found was once owned by a member of the ancient Egyptian elite.A luxurious mudbrick shrine paved with polished limestone slabs and dating back to the New Kingdom was also found. It has a 24m shaft that Hawass expects to end in a tomb.The Egyptian archaeological mission working at the site found pottery from Crete, Syria, and Palestine, showing the long-distance trade and multicultural nature of Saqqara in ancient times. Many carefully carved and painted wooden ushabti figurines and funerary masks were unearthed beside a shrine dedicated to the god Anubis. A well-preserved limestone stelae was discovered that had belonged to a man named Kha-Ptah, overseer of the kings military chariot during the 19th Dynasty, and his wife Mwt-em-wia.The upper part of the stelae depicts the deceased and his wife in an adoration gesture in front of the god Osiris, while the lower part shows the deceased sitting with his wife behind him seated on a chair. Below the chair, one of their daughters sits and smells a lotus flower. Above her head is an ointment flask. In front of the man and his wife, there are six of his daughters and sons depicted in two registers, the upper one for seated daughters smelling lotus flowers and the lower one for standing sons.Hawass said that one of the daughters bears the name Nefertari, named after the wife of king Ramses II who built her a tomb in the Valley of the Queens at Luxor as well as a temple at Abu Simbel in Upper Egypt.One of the sons is named Kha-em-waset, he said, after one of the sons of Ramses II. He was considered a wise man, almost the first Egyptologist, who used to restore the antiquities of his ancestors.The owner of the stelae was the overseer of the kings military chariot, indicating his prestigious position.Other objects found include human skulls and bones along with a game known as senet. Those who win at senet will go to the other world, or to the fields of Aaru, which was the paradise of ancient Egypt, Hawass said. Radiologist Sahar Selim has conducted studies on the mummies found using X-rays and has determined the causes of death, the age of the deceased at their death, and the characteristics of a mummy of a young child.One mummy of a woman was found to be suffering from a chronic disease known as Mediterranean fever or swine fever, a disease that comes from direct contact with animals.The discoveries are very important and will make Saqqara an even more important tourist destination, Hawass said, adding that more secrets would be revealed soon. *A version of this article appears in print in the 21 January, 2021 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly. Short link: Good morning. One day after we watched our neighbours to the south replace their head of state, the Canadian government began searching for a new governor general to represent its head of state, Queen Elizabeth II. The Winnipeg Jets led for the first time all season in a road win last night. And the forecast calls for a high temperature slightly warmer than the average for todays date, while Saturdays high will be nearly six degrees warmer than the average. Colder temperatures are set to return Sunday. Adam Treusch, assignment editor Older Britons are more likely to get the Covid vaccine than younger generations, according to data. An Office for National Statistics survey published today revealed almost every adult aged 70 and over (98 per cent) would show up to their appointment. But only eight in 10 of those aged between 16 and 29 said they would be inoculated against the virus. Overall 89 per cent of Britons said they would get the jab. Older people are most at risk of death if they catch the virus, while younger people are more likely to only suffer mild symptoms. Jonathan Van-Tam's mother gets Covid jab The 79-year-old mother of England's deputy chief medical officer has had her coronavirus vaccination. Professor Jonathan Van-Tam has previously spoken about encouraging his mother, Elizabeth Van-Tam, to be ready to receive the vaccine when she got the call. Prof Van-Tam, who said his mother calls him 'Jonny', said he had told her it was 'really important' to get the jab 'because you are so at risk'. She had her vaccination on Thursday at a GP surgery in Whittlesey, six miles east of Peterborough, Cambridgeshire. Ms Van-Tam, who turned 79 this month, said afterwards: 'I was really happy to get my Covid-19 vaccine. 'While Ive had lots of reminders from Jonathan, I needed no encouragement when I received my phone call. 'The jab didnt hurt at all and the NHS staff were excellent. 'I would encourage everyone to take up the offer when it comes.' Ms Van-Tam said: 'While Ive had lots of reminders from Jonathan, I needed no encouragement when I received my phone call' Advertisement The ONS survey also showed only one in 20 Britons, or five per cent, said they were very or fairly unlikely to get the vaccine. And one in 100 respondents said they had already declined the jab, the equivalent of around half a million adults. Among adults who said they were unlikely to take the jab, the most common reason was being worried about potential long-term effects on their health (43 per cent). A similar proportion (42 per cent) were concerned about potential side effects, and 40 per cent said they wanted to wait to see how well the vaccine works. Around a quarter (26 per cent) said they do not think it will be safe. Almost 5,000 Britons were questioned between January 13 and 17 as part of the Opinions and Lifestyle Survey to understand the impact of Covid-19 on society. It did not include adults living in care homes or other establishments, so does not address vaccinations in these settings. It also did not consider vaccination take-up by ethnicity, which the ONS said it would examine in a separate report next week. A separate survey published this week found 72 per cent of black Britons were 'unlikely or very unlikely' to get the vaccine. It also found Pakistani, Bangladeshi and Eastern European groups also said they were unwilling to take the Covid jab, while women, younger people and those with lower levels of education were also more hesitant than others. The Government's top scientists blamed the disparity on 'structural and institutional racism and discrimination'. Ministers and community leaders have called on everyone to get the jab. As part of efforts to battle scepticism in BAME communities, a mosque has opened a Covid-19 vaccination centre. So far almost five million Britons have received at least one dose of the Covid-19 vaccine. Before approval, the vaccines underwent a rigorous testing process to pass standards of safety, quality and effectiveness set by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). Reports of serious side effects, such as allergic reactions, have been very rare, and no long-term complications have been reported, the NHS says. The ONS figures suggest there has been a slight gradual increase in positive attitudes towards getting vaccinated. In early December, 78 per cent of adults said they would be likely or fairly likely to take up an offered jab. When the Market Pavilion Hotel on East Bay Street closed its doors last spring, it was for the same reason that dozens of other properties in the area were temporarily going dark. The COVID-19 pandemic was still new, travel was virtually on hold and it wasn't clear how long shutdowns and stay-at-home orders would last. By early summer, most downtown hotels had opened their doors again, this time with revamped cleaning practices, plastic shields for front desks and face masks for their staffers. But a few opted to remain closed for months, using the time without guests to get work done that would be difficult otherwise. The Market Pavilion was one of them. It's also the last full-service hotel in Charleston to resume operations after temporarily shutting down. The property, just south of the historic City Market, officially reopened some of its guestrooms Friday for the first time since its spring hiatus. The hotel already had plans to redecorate in 2020, said Elaina Palassis England of owner Palas Hospitality. So it made sense to keep rooms closed longer and complete more improvements once it became clear that tourism would take time to recover, she said. The hotel's upscale lobby restaurant, Grill 225, welcomed diners back in December. That space, too, was updated, with walls, floors and furnishings refinished. The rooftop Pavilion Bar also reopened last month, with an "enhanced kitchen," new lounge chairs and outdoor heaters. Improvements in the hotel include new carpeting and drapes, electrical and air conditioning upgrades, paint color changes and new bedding and linens. The boardroom and employee areas were also renovated, the concierge floor was redesigned and a new retail area for popular food items, called the Cafe Pavilion, was completed at the South Market Street entrance. Sign up for our new business newsletter We're starting a weekly newsletter about the business stories that are shaping Charleston and South Carolina. Get ahead with us - it's free. Email Sign Up! Renovations are still ongoing, but Palassis said all of the rooms should be ready for guests by the spring. Visitors who do stay in the rooms open now won't be aware of the remaining work being done in the interim, she said. Palassis said the hotel staff is "anxious to get back to normalcy in 2021" and feels hopeful about the spring season. Most travel watchers, in the Palmetto State and beyond, are anticipating that pent-up demand that will eventually pay off for the hospitality industry once the coronavirus pandemic is under control in the U.S. During its roughly 10-month timeout, the Market Pavilion didn't miss out on much. The Charleston region saw occupancy rates much lower than those in recent years. At its low point in April, right when a glut of hotels announced they would be pausing reservations, occupancy in the region fell to just 19.6 percent. By October, slightly more than half of Charleston-area guestrooms were filled. The new year got off to a slow start with the statewide occupancy rate statewide coming it at about 36 percent for the first full week of January. But that's to be expected for what's typically South Carolina's slowest month for tourism, even without the dampening effects of a pandemic. State tourism director Duane Parrish predicted a "bleak first few months" for 2021 but has said he feels confident that homebound travelers will start booking trips later this year. (Newser) Republican Sens. Josh Hawley and Ted Cruz face an ethics investigation over their roles in fighting the certification of President Biden's electoral victory and the Jan. 6 rally that turned into an attack on the US Capitol. "By proceeding with their objections to the electors after the violent attack, Senators Cruz and Hawley lent legitimacy to the mob's cause and made future violence more likely," a group of Democrats wrote Thursday to the Senate Ethics Committee. Hawley, of Missouri, called the complaint in a statement "a flagrant abuse of the Senate ethics process and a flagrant attempt to exact partisan revenge," Politico reports. Cruz, of Texas, didn't issue a response. Seven Democratic senators signed the letter. story continues below The Democrats want the committee to look into whether Hawley and Cruz encouraged the mob attack on the Capitol; coordinated with organizers of the rally supporting President Trump that preceded the riot; received donations from anyone or any group that also supported the pro-Trump rally; and "engaged in criminal conduct or unethical or improper behavior." Both Republican senators have faced demands to resign from the Senate since they voted against accepting the electoral results of Arizona and Pennsylvania that night. Hawley and Cruz have said they didn't incite the riot, and both denounced the violence after it happened, per CNBC. (A Missouri newspaper immediately blamed Hawley.) DUBLIN (dpa-AFX) - Ireland's wholesale prices declined further in December, data from the Central Statistics Office showed on Friday. Wholesale prices decreased 14.5 percent annually in December, following a 10.7 percent decline in November. On a monthly basis, wholesale prices fell 4.1 percent in December, following a 2.8 percent drop in the previous month. Prices for export sales decreased by 4.2 percent monthly in December and fell 14.9 percent from a year ago. Prices for home sales rose 0.1 percent in December and declined 1.4 percent from the previous year. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. Esteban Ocon says it is "sad" to see his French countryman Cyril Abiteboul lose his top job as Renault rebrands as Alpine for 2021. Under new Renault CEO Luca de Meo, Abiteboul has been ousted while Marcin Budkowski is promoted - while Davide Brivio has been head-hunted from MotoGP. Frenchman Ocon says he has already spoken to his new bosses, including new Alpine CEO Laurent Rossi, "a couple of times by phone and video conference". "They are huge motorsport fans and very, very motivated," he said. "Davide has had great success in MotoGP and is hungry to develop the team, to take another step forward, which has given me a great feeling. I think we are in good hands," the 24-year-old told Spanish publications. As for Abiteboul's exit as team boss, Ocon said: "I am sad to see him go. "It's clear that we were very close to Cyril. He was in the project for a long time, getting the first good results, podiums, top-five. "I wish him the best for the future and I appreciate him very much for helping me to be who I am now," he added. (GMM) Bengaluru, Jan 22 : Karnataka's first case under the newly amended anti-Cow slaughter Act has been registered in Kudgi village in Vijayapura district, Animal Husbandry minister Prabhu Chauhan said on Friday. Kudgi is a small village located adjacent to Solapur to Chitradurga Highway (NH13) In Vijayapura, about 500 kms from state capital Bengaluru. According to a press statement released by Chauhan, the Basavan Bagewadi police has arrested Sikandarsab Rajesab Bepari, 35, resident of Kudgi village. Bepari was arrested when he was allegedly chopping meat of an Ox/Bull in a makeshift tin shed situated near a railway line in the village. "I am elated over our government giving me an opportunity to protect our cows and cattle. He was arrested after the public tipped off the local police, as in-time intervention of people and police was able to save one ox/bull that was tied to a pole nearby. Perhaps he was to slaughter it after he completed his chopping of another Ox that was slaughtered already," the minister's statement said. He also appealed to people that they should work to protect cow and cattle that are on the verge of extinction. "People should not take the law into their hands, let the police do its job. People need to inform police if they see any cow, ox, bull, buffalo or calves being slaughtered or smuggled," he explained. The Karnataka Prevention of Slaughter and Preservation of Cattle Ordinance, 2020 came into force from January 18 after Governor Vajubahi Rudabhai Vala's approval. The Karnataka Prevention of Slaughter and Preservation of Cattle Act, 2020, which envisages a ban on all forms of cattle slaughter and stringent punishment for offenders, is a revised version of a Bill that was passed in 2010 when the BJP was in power. Subsequently, in 2013, Congress came to power and the BJP's 2010 contentious Bill was shelved. The Congress had reverted to the less stringent Karnataka Prevention of Cow Slaughter and Preservation of Animals Act, 1964, which allows cow slaughter with certain restrictions. The Raspberry Pi Foundation has released their take on a Silicon-based microcontroller chip called the "Pico" that features an affordable system for one's Raspberry Pi-based computer build for machine learning, etc. The microcontroller is the smallest Raspberry Pi in existence and is somehow rivaling the Arduino, offering a fresh interface that pairs well with computer programming sequences. The basic computer programming company based in the United Kingdom, Raspberry Pi Foundation, has ventured into chip-making and pairing their present systems with a microcontroller chip for best integration. The company said that the new Raspberry Pi Pico would be the all-in-one chip, featuring the Silicon architecture and design. The company has been producing hardware and software for computer programming and complex process with an easy-to-navigate system in the past decade, offering a new interface that teaches the basics of computers. Most complex programs were built with the Raspberry Pi, which mostly runs on Ubuntu Linux, making a perfect pairing for programming. Read Also: Nvidia RTX 3060 Pre-Order Now Available: Price, Specs, and Everything You Need to Know! Raspberry Pi Pico vs the Arduino: A Good Alternative for Computer Programming According to Raspberry Pi Foundation's blog post, the Raspberry Pi Pico would be the connection to the "physical world" and be used to power or run almost anything, from cucumber sorters to high altitude balloons. Previous technology of the company's Raspberry Pi Zero consumed too much energy with 100mW of power, desperately in need of a microcontroller to regulate and help power saving. The Pico is a "low-cost breakout board" that is designed for the use of RP2040, provided that it has 2MB of flash memory and a power supply chip with an input voltage rating of 1.8. to 5.5 volts. The company said that the Raspberry Pi Pico can be powered by various sources, including everyday power cells such as AA batteries or a lithium-ion cell. While the Raspberry Pi Foundation has initially started as manufacturers of microcomputers, it has now ventured to the business of microcontrollers, one of which Arduino leads and takes the top spot. The entry-level microcontroller of the company is meant to accompany the in-house Silicon RP2040, which is perfect for machine-learning tasks even with its tiny power. Raspberry Pi Pico: How to Buy, Price, Release Date The company would release the Raspberry Pi Pico for sale on Monday, January 25, for the North American region, though most of its authorized retailers and sellers. The good news is that the foundation is offering the microcontroller for a low price of only $4, making it an affordable buy and excellent upgrade or pairing to the current Silicon microcomputer. The company said that it would also be available for sale via the subscription of the computer magazine called "Hack Space," coming free with this month's copy. Raspberry Pi Foundation said that it would offer the Pico to retail stores and has advised to only buy from trusted ones and authorized to avoid counterfeit. Related Article: Corellium Apple M1 Mac Linux is Now 'Completely Usable': How to Install This article is owned by Tech Times Written by Isaiah Alonzo 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Amaravati, Jan 22 : Actor-politician and Janasena party founder Pawan Kalyan on Friday donated Rs 30 lakh for the construction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya. Kalyan handed over the cheque to Andhra Pradesh RSS chief Bharatiji, along with another Rs 11,000 donation arranged by the actor's personal staff. "I am donating Rs 30 lakh as my part for the construction of Ram temple. After knowing that I am donating the sum, my personal staff members, including Hindus, Muslims and Christians, have also raised Rs 11,000 for the purpose," said Kalyan. Former minister and BJP leader Kamineni Srinivas and other RSS representatives were present on the occasion. ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 21st Jan, 2021 ) :The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) on Thursday termed the Green House Gas (GAG) emissions data more scientific with better authenticity as compared to the information shared by India at the global forum. Minister of State for Climate Change Zartaj Gul informed this to National Assembly Standing Committee on Climate Change headed by Member National Assembly Munaza Hassan that Pakistan was taking measures to contain GHG emissions through its meager resources without any support from the UNFCCC. She added that the country was signatory to the UNFCCC since 1994 and it had pledged to provide financial assistance, technology transfer and capacity building of the developing countries to cut their GHG emissions. Secretary Ministry of Climate Change (MoCC) Naheed Shah Durrani told the meeting that the Global Climate Impact Studies Center (GCISC) had a dedicated team of scientists working on economic data from oil refineries, industries, and agriculture and livestock sectors to develop a very intricate data for GHG emissions calculations. She added that the Ministry though its dedicated scientific arm of GCISC took first forest emissions baseline data for submitting it to UNFCCC which was compared to be more scientific than India by the forum. Durrani added that the Ministry had researchers and experts in all sectors that would compile a complete model on three-year data (2015-2018) to be presented to the committee. The MoCC secretary briefed the forum that during last nationally determined contributions (NDCs) preparation the previous government did not had provinces on board rather this time all provincial chief secretaries were requested to contribute their input into it. She informed that there was massive provincial and Federal coordination under 10 billion Tree Tsunami whereas a dashboard was also set up. "We have started a fourth level monitoring by SUPARCO for 10 Billion Tree Tsunami plantation to get satellite images for verification of plantation targets implemented across the country." Speaking on the occasion, Chairperson of the Committee Munaza Hassan said Pakistan was signatory to the Paris Agreement and all provinces had to contribute their share in NDCs. Moreover, the Committee had invited 100 university experts under collaboration to draw model for the purpose of coping with climate change through informed decision making. "I wanted to present this committee as a model at UNFCCC Asia Regional Conference," she added. The Minister of State later mentioned that Pakistan being a least contributor to the GHG emissions was taking myriads of efforts to contain emissions. "The question is to how much Pakistan has received the financial, technological and capacity building assistance from UNFCCC."She added that the Ministry had planned an Electric Vehicle (EV) charging station to be installed at Bhera interchange on Motorway with the assistance of Frontier Works Organization (FWO) and also in Lahore to introduce EVs in the country. Patna, Jan 22 : The Bihar government has directed the Economic Offence Wing (EOW) to act against those organisations and individuals posing objectionable contents on social media against public representatives and government officials. The chief minister's office (CMO) has directed the EOW through a circular to closely monitor content on social media and act on the complaints lodged by public representatives and government officials. The state government has acted on the letter sent by ADG EOW Nayyar Hasnain Khan to all secretaries and the CMO office. In the letter Khan said some individuals continuously post offensive and derogatory remarks against MLAs, MPs, MLCs, Ministers and government officials. In the last few weeks, CM Nitish Kumar and other ministers of his government have been rattled with posts on social media by ordinary people questioning their decisions. Manoj Jha, chief spokesperson of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) said that this is a "Tuglaki Farman" of Nitish Kumar government. "When I saw papers of this act, it came to my mind to congratulate the Nitish Kumar government for turning out to be like the Taliban. It is absolutely against the freedom of speech. If anyone asks questions from you, your government sends them to jail," alleged Jha. It may be recalled that the Bihar Press Bill of 1982 had invited widespread criticism in an attempt to muzzle the media. The contentious Bill was withdrawn after a year. Retaliating to Jha's charges, former minister and JDU spokesperson Neeraj Kumar said: "Social media platforms have been misused against public representatives and officials for years. People have used abusive and unparliamentary language against them which is not acceptable. It is time to apply brakes on it." Nikhil Anand, chief spokesperson of BJP Bihar unit said: "Though officials of concerned departments may clarify about the circular in a better way but there is no doubt about the misuse of social media to defame public representatives and government officials. There are many examples of character assassination. There are regulatory guidelines required for social media use. People cannot defame anyone in the garb of freedom of speech." By Alessia Cocca and Riham Alkousaa BERLIN (Reuters) - Like most residents at her care home in Berlin, 43-year-old Kristina Lang agreed to receive the coronavirus vaccine when her turn came, but not without trepidation. "They only said 'It's a vaccine and nothing will happen', but on TV, people were warned against the side-effects," said Lang, who uses a wheelchair. She is one of 102 residents at the home. Some have dementia, while others suffer from psychiatric disorders which mean they cannot live independently. At one point a woman Lang shared a room with tested positive for coronavirus, but she escaped infection. Lang says she feels safer now the she has been vaccinated. The care home manager, who declined to be named, said the mood among residents has improved since the new year. "The most difficult time was at the beginning of December when we had a corona outbreak in the house that affected several residents and employees," he said. He declined to say if there had been any deaths caused by coronavirus at the home, but as elsewhere in Germany, Berlin's nursing home population has been hard hit by the virus. Of the 1,860 COVID-19 deaths in Berlin, around 60 percent can be traced back to outbreaks in care homes, according to the city's health authority. The sector remains a major challenge across Germany, and governments have made nursing home populations the priority in their inoculation programmes. "Unfortunately, we are seeing a very high number of outbreaks in nursing homes. We currently know of 900 outbreaks (in Germany)," Lothar Wieler, the head of Germany's Robert Koch Institute (RKI), said on Friday. Out of more than 1.3 million people vaccinated so far in Germany, a third live in nursing homes, according to the RKI. Nonetheless it will be some time before the vaccine will allow normal visitor routines to resume. Heike Felber, 57, broke into tears when asked how many visitors she had received since moving into the home in April. Story continues "It's a difficult question," Felber said, looking forlorn as she sat on her bed at the home. Felber refused the vaccine. The manager said her children do not visit often, but that she received a present from her daughter and two letters from friends on her birthday last week. "I didn't get visits even before (coronavirus)," Lang said drily when asked the same. The Berlin health authorities said on Friday that around 96% of nursing homes residents had received a first coronavirus shot, and around 28% the second vaccination. Around 75% of the home's residents accepted the vaccine, the manager said. Those who refused did so either because they were were afraid of possible side-effects or because they did not have the mental capacity to understand what it was, he said. Margit Hechler, 64, has lived at the home for 16 years and said she was very young when she first began hearing voices after her father left. She plays piano, paints, sews her own clothes and makes bracelets and necklaces. The walls of her brightly decorated room are lined with her paintings. Hechler received the vaccine, and apart from a brief wave of weakness, said she had no side-effects. The virus doesn't scare her, she said, although she hopes for good health in the coming year. "This is my biggest wish ... because I have great pain and fears." (Reporting by Alessia Cocca and Riham Alkousaa; Editing by Raissa Kasolowsky) Thank you for reading! Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. If you have a subscription, please log in or sign up for an account on our website to continue. Britain is banning all arrivals from Tanzania and Democratic Republic of Congo from Friday, transport secretary Grant Shapps tweeted. Photo: Ben Stansall / AFP The UK has added more countries to its flight ban list in a bid to control the spread of the new COVID-19 variant. Britain is banning all arrivals from Tanzania and Democratic Republic of Congo from Friday, transport secretary Grant Shapps tweeted. All passengers from these countries except British and Irish Nationals and third country nationals with resident rights will be denied entry, he said. It came as Portugals prime minister Antonio Costa said on Thursday that all flights to and from the UK would be suspended from Saturday as the country also tackles rising cases of the more transmissible strain. He told a news conference that only repatriation flights would be allowed between both countries to reduce the risk of contagion. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. Many countries have placed curbs on travel from the UK in Europe and beyond. Countries around the world that have banned UK travel include Turkey, India, Hong Kong, Pakistan, Argentina, Jamaica, Morocco, Chile, and Colombia. Under new measures, everyone entering England from anywhere outside the country, Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man will need to self-isolate for 10 days. WATCH: Should I book a holiday in 2021? In addition to this, proof of a negative coronavirus test is required to travel to England. This may be taken up to three days before your journey begins. The new, fast-spreading variant of the COVID-19 virus prompted the UK government to impose a national lockdown at the start of this year. However, the chances of lockdowns persisting into the summer now appear to be growing, with a change in tone in government statements in recent days. READ MORE: Global air passenger traffic falls by 60% in 2020 A string of comments by ministers in the past 24 hours have dashed hopes Britain could bring down coronavirus infection rates and roll out vaccines fast enough to ease restrictions from March. But prime minister Boris Johnson declined to rule out the nationwide lockdown lasting into the summer on Thursday. Story continues He said it was too early to say when curbs would be eased, warning over the contagiousness of the new coronavirus variant. Home secretary Priti Patel added at a Downing Street press conference that it was far too early to speculate, when asked if people could book foreign holidays this summer. She reiterated the need to curb current non-essential travel. Watch: Should I book a holiday in 2021? Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - The new US president, Joe Biden, has signed a presidential decree to end discriminatory restrictions on entry to the United-States imposed on some candidates from several countries, including Libya, the US embassy announced here Friday 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. Emily Mieure covers criminal justice and emergency news. She also leads the News&Guides investigative efforts. She has reported for WDRB TV in Louisville, Ky., WFIE TV in Evansville, Ind., and WEIU TV in Charleston, Ill. Artist illustration of WASP-62b, the first Jupiter-like planet detected without clouds or haze in its observable atmosphere. The illustration is drawn from the perspective of an observer nearby to the planet. CREDIT M. Weiss/Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian Astronomers at the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian have detected the first Jupiter-like planet without clouds or haze in its observable atmosphere. The findings were published this month in the Astrophysical Journal Letters. Named WASP-62b, the gas giant was first detected in 2012 through the Wide Angle Search for Planets (WASP) South survey. Its atmosphere, however, had never been closely studied until now. "For my thesis, I have been working on exoplanet characterization," says Munazza Alam, a graduate student at the Center for Astrophysics who led the study. "I take discovered planets and I follow up on them to characterize their atmospheres." Known as a "hot Jupiter," WASP-62b is 575 light years away and about half the mass of our solar system's Jupiter. However, unlike our Jupiter, which takes nearly 12 years to orbit the sun, WASP-62b completes a rotation around its star in just four-and-a-half days. This proximity to the star makes it extremely hot, hence the name "hot Jupiter." Using the Hubble Space Telescope, Alam recorded data and observations of the planet using spectroscopy, the study of electromagnetic radiation to help detect chemical elements. Alam specifically monitored WASP-62b as it swept in front of its host star three times, making visible light observations, which can detect the presence of sodium and potassium in a planet's atmosphere. "I'll admit that at first I wasn't too excited about this planet," Alam says. "But once I started to take a look at the data, I got excited." While there was no evidence of potassium, sodium's presence was strikingly clear. The team was able to view the full sodium absorption lines in their data, or its complete fingerprint. Clouds or haze in the atmosphere would obscure the complete signature of sodium, Alam explains, and astronomers usually can only make out small hints of its presence. "This is smoking gun evidence that we are seeing a clear atmosphere," she says. Cloud-free planets are exceedingly rare; astronomers estimate that less than 7 percent of exoplanets have clear atmospheres, according to recent research. For example, the first and only other known exoplanet with a clear atmosphere was discovered in 2018. Named WASP-96b, it is classified as a hot Saturn. Astronomers believe studying exoplanets with cloudless atmospheres can lead to a better understanding of how they were formed. Their rarity "suggests something else is going on or they formed in a different way than most planets," Alam says. Clear atmospheres also make it easier to study the chemical composition of planets, which can help identify what a planet is made of. With the launch of the James Webb Space Telescope later this year, the team hopes to have new opportunities to study and better understand WASP-62b. The telescope's improved technologies, like higher resolution and better precision, should help them probe the atmosphere even closer to search for the presence of more elements, such as silicon. ### About the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian The Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian is a collaboration between 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, with research facilities across the U.S. and around the world. Please follow SpaceRef on Twitter and Like us on Facebook. Industrial output in Ukraine shrinks by 5.2% in 2020 The decline was recorded in mining and quarrying sectors, processing industry, etc. Reporting by UNIAN If you see a spelling error on our site, select it and press Ctrl+Enter Police responded to an address on Saluda Street regarding property damage. Officers observed that a Ram flatbed tow truck (Brown Towing and Recovery) had undercarriage and possible frame damage underneath the flatbed at the rear of the truck. Police observed a manhole cover that was raised several inches above the pavement surface. Police spoke with the driver who said he was traveling northbound on Saluda Street and was going down the hill. At the bottom of the hill is where the manhole cover is located. The man said that the rear of the truck caught on the raised manhole cover causing undercarriage damage and frame damage. He that there were no injuries to himself or any other vehicle occupant. The Ram tow truck left the scene under its own power.* * *Police responded to a theft from motor vehicle on Side Creek Way. Officers spoke with a man who said that someone unlawfully entered his vehicle and took a semi-automatic rifle. No damage was done to the vehicle during the incident, and no suspect information is known.* * *Police were called to a residence on E. 10th Street. Police spoke with a man who wanted to remain anonymous and said that he had a Stihl back-pack leaf blower stolen. He said that he did not want to report it stolen, but had been in a verbal argument with a homeless man. The homeless man said that he did not take the leaf blower, but would assist the owner with finding it. They both came to a mutual agreement and went their separate ways.* * *Police spoke with a man on Jefferson Street who said that he started his vehicle while he was inside his residence to warm the car up. During that time someone moved the vehicle about half a block away. The man said that the vehicle did not have a key fob inside when it was moved. There was nothing taken from the vehicle.* * *Officers spoke with an employee of Office Coordinators Inc., 326 E Main St., who said that in the morning another employee went to start up a company vehicle and noticed it was extremely loud. They both checked under the vehicle, and noticed the catalytic converter had been cut and stolen. No suspect information is known.* * *Police spoke with a man at a residence on Vine Street. The man said that his unlocked vehicle was unlawfully entered and items were taken. Those included an orange backpack which contained an Apple MacBook Air laptop, climbing equipment and $50 in cash. No damage was done to the vehicle, and no suspect information is known.* * *Police responded to the Publix, 5928 Hixson Pike. Officers spoke to the manager who said Publix had some excavating work done and a set of keys and wallet were dig up. There was no form of identification except for two old bank cards and keys. The items were placed in property. * * * Police responded to a residence on Shelborne Drive. Officers spoke with a man who said that he observed a red F-250 pulling a large trailer get stuck and drive through the front portion of his property. He said that the vehicle was driven by an unknown Hispanic man wearing a white cowboy hat. The man said that when he attempted to approach the vehicle it fled up Cross Street towards Highway 58. He estimated the damage to his property to be approximately $200. 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 current Port Authority Bus Terminal, despised by commuters and ridiculed by comedians, has a date with demolition to be replaced by a gleaming state-of-the-art structure. Port Authority officials unveiled a final scoping plan Thursday for a ground-up replacement that would include a five-story bus terminal, a close to 1 million square foot bus storage and staging building between 9th and 10th avenues, and a bigger set of ramps directly to and from the Lincoln Tunnel, to be opened between 2030 and 2031. The new terminal design also includes infrastructure for future construction of four high-rise towers over portions of the new bus terminal that could help fund it, through sale of air rights and payments in lieu of taxes shared by the city with the authority. Federal funding also could be sought. No price was given during the presentation. This is by far the best plan the Port Authority has received, said Rick Cotton, executive director, after outlining the plan and its history. We believe it will receive support from bus riders, from the neighbors. It achieved all the public policy goals and handles it with sophistication. The replacement terminal, storage building and ramp structure would be built entirely on Port Authority land, addressing concerns of surrounding neighbors that their property would be condemned for the bus terminal. The plan also gets intercity buses off city streets and address rush hour traffic and pollution issues caused by commuter buses, Cotton said. The 2 million-square foot main terminal will have five floors of more than 160 bus gates, and better circulation inside to avoid crowding, said Steve Plate, the Port Authoritys director of major capital projects. The bus storage and staging building will be a step up, with charging infrastructure for electric buses, he said. Its truly a world class facility, Plate said. Well make this facility the best possible... it will be a model for others in the world. The plan replaces the build in place plan that would have added two floors to the existing terminal that has been studied and tweaked since it first floated in 2017. Instead, the plan adds construction of a four-story bus storage and staging building, which will be used as a temporary bus terminal while the current terminal building on 8th Avenue is demolished and replaced, Platt said. Buses will be parked there after the morning rush hour, instead of returning to New Jersey until the evening rush, which should reduce delays. Commuters who use the bus terminal also can breathe a sigh of relief that this ends two competing plans to move the bus terminal to the Javits Center, criticized for being blocks away from 12 subway lines they can access at the existing bus terminal. The feedback couldnt have been clearer. The 11th Avenue locations got objections from bus riders and the community, Cotton said. It was not close to subways and the community feared thousands of commuters force to walk through the neighborhood. The neighborhood will also gain two parks converted form bus parking lots, totaling 3.5 acres. Pre-COVID-19 studies forecast an additional 30,000 bus commuters would use the terminal by the years 2025-2026. Since the pandemic, NJ Transit bus ridership is only 35% of pre-coronavirus levels and interstate commuter bus ridership has been slower to bounce back than local bus use. While a new ridership study is likely to be done as part of a federal environmental review process, the replacement will still meet a 2040 forecast of 30% increase in capacity from the 260,000 daily passengers who used it before the pandemic, Cotton said. With release of the final scoping document, authority officials asked the Federal Transit Administration to begin the final environmental assessment. While that is happening, the authority will be doing intense design and preliminary engineering work, Plate said. We want to find way to build faster with least disruption. The effort to replace the aging bus terminal, which is derided as an unworthy gateway to New York City, started in 2014. State Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg, D-Bergen, took then Port Authority chairman John Degnan on a bus ride to the terminal that year to show him the conditions commuters dealt with daily. Degnan ordered a $90 million fix-up project to deal with the bus terminals most pressing problems while the Authority studied eventual replacement of the building. I am pleased to see the Port Authority moving forward on construction of an expanded Bus Terminal at the current site, where New Jersey commuters will continue to have easy access to the many subway and bus lines that run down Eighth Avenue, Weinberg said. New Jersey spoke with a united, bipartisan voice, and we had to fight hard to get the new Port Authority Bus Terminal into the current 10-year Capital Plan. The debate included a design competition the authority held in 2016 for a new bus terminal. None of the five finalists was declared a winner of the competition by the authority, although one resulted in the option to move the bus terminal into the Javits Center basement. Bus terminal replacement was embroiled in bi-state politics with Authority commissioners appointed by New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo characterizing the project as a benefitting New Jersey. Last week Cuomo included a replacement bus terminal in his state of the state address. Ultimately, Weinberg and Congressman Jerold Nadler of New York co-chaired the Bi-State Port Authority Bus Terminal Workgroup for the past four years. This has long been our preferred option as it maintains a one-seat ride for New Jersey commuters while preserving convenient access to local subway and bus lines, said State Senator Tom Kean Jr., R-Union, who also was on the workgroup. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Larry Higgs may be reached at lhiggs@njadvancemedia.com. Why is Dublin City Council (DCC) coming under pressure to justify or scrap one of its most spectacular projects? Because some Dubliners fear a city centre white-water rafting facility would be an expensive white elephant. Last week, DCC issued contract tenders for the development in George's Dock, seeking expressions of interest from builders who could do the job. Since then, the council's plan has been slammed by senator and former tanaiste and justice minister Michael McDowell, who called it "a political obscenity" and "a grotesque vanity project". With nagging doubts over how the estimated price tag of 25m will be funded, it's still far from clear whether the idea's backers are waving or drowning. First of all, what exactly is white-water rafting ? Basically, it's an outdoor extreme sport that involves using an inflatable boat to navigate through turbulent water. It appeals to thrill-seekers and is usually performed by a team. As anyone who has seen the 1994 Hollywood movie The River Wild starring Meryl Streep and Kevin Bacon knows, white-water rafting can be highly dangerous without an experienced guide. What would the Dublin facility look like? George's Dock is currently lying empty, apart from the occasional Oktoberfest celebration or Christmas market. DCC's plan is to transform this 100 metres by 70 metres basin into a mechanically operated water area with a central pool, providing all the excitement of rafting in a safe environment. Expand Close The white water rafting facility proposed for the Dublin Docklands. / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The white water rafting facility proposed for the Dublin Docklands. If all goes according to schedule - and that's a really big if - construction will begin in the autumn and the facility will be open in early 2023. Who's expected to use it? First and foremost, paying customers. Under the proposed price structure, people would shell out 50 each to hire a raft carrying eight passengers. With the facility predicted to attract 36,000 visitors a year, it should in theory start making a profit by 2024. DCC also promises that its new design will serve as a canoeing centre, water polo venue and tourist attraction. Most importantly, it could be a useful place for Dublin Fire Brigade and other emergency services to carry out training exercises. The plans include a "flood- able urban street" and "mock rescue village" for that very purpose. How long has it been in the works? Inspired by a similar facility in Cardiff, the scheme was first put forward by assistant chief executive Richard Shakespeare after he joined DCC four years ago. Council officials worked hard to convince councillors of its merits and their campaign was successful. In December 2019, the project won formal approval by a vote of 37 to 19. Fianna Fail, Fine Gael and Sinn Fein councillors were nearly unanimously in favour. The main opposition came from the Green Party, with current Lord Mayor Hazel Chu rejecting it because she thought the money could be better spent elsewhere. Speaking of money, where's it going to come from? This is where the water gets murky. The original budget was 12m, but by the time councillors voted, it had rocketed to 22.8m. Council officials explained this by saying the design had expanded to include a water treatment plant, flood defences and two new buildings. According to DCC in 2019, the funding would be made up of 13m from government grants, 4.9m from development levies and 4m from capital reserves. Since then, however, it has emerged that the Depart- ment of Transport, Tourism and Sport actually refused a 6.6m grant application early last year. Not only that, DCC also offered to drop claims that it was owed around 12m by the Department of Housing over the wind-up of the Dublin Docklands Authority (DDA) "in return for grant assistance". This has not happened yet. Meanwhile, last week's contract tenders suggest the budget has crept up again - to 25m. Does all this uncertainty explain why there's now a backlash against it? Yes, not least because Dublin has such a serious housing crisis. Michael McDowell has become DCC's loudest political opponent, claiming it has "lost its way completely" and should concentrate on "the day job". "I've no problem with the development of the docklands area," McDowell said on Monday. "I'm just saying that DCC should not waste between 25m and 30m on this project at this time when it is failing miserably to do its primary function - look after the people who are looking for homes in Dublin." Will McDowell's attack actually change anything? That's not clear yet, but he certainly has some vocal supporters. "Mother of God, how is this still proceeding?" the former Fine Gael TD Noel Rock tweeted last week. Independent councillor Anthony Flynn has called DCC's tender "an absolute joke". His fellow independent, Christy Burke, voted for white-water rafting in 2019 because he thought George's Dock was "the ugliest site" and compared it with "a huge open grave". Now he feels its rising cost "cannot be accepted" and the development "just has to be rescinded". Is DCC taking this lying down? Not at all. Last weekend, DCC's docklands area manager Derek Kelly wrote to councillors, admitting that there has been some "especially hostile" commentary but also reminding them of the facility's benefits. He stressed that the facility could play a key role in rejuvenating Dublin's north-east inner city. The area, Mr Kelly said, "is still experiencing significant levels of deprivation, with certain groups lacking soft skills such as confidence, leadership, teamwork, self-esteem". Finally, what does the white-water rafting controversy tell us about how Dublin is being run? That depends which side you're on. For critics, it shows up our lack of local democracy, with too many sheep-like councillors simply rubber-stamping decisions made by unelected officials. For the project's supporters, it shows that politicians should stop interfering with the experts who actually understand proper planning. Either way, the closing date for construction firms to express their interest is February 22 - and then we should know whether this grand design is destined to stay afloat. Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-23 03:52:53|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close The High Representative of the European Union (EU) for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell (R) meets with visiting Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu in Brussels, Belgium, Jan. 21, 2021. Cavusoglu concluded a two-day official visit to Brussels on Friday, during which he met with officials of the European Union (EU), the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and Belgium. (European Union/Handout via Xinhua) BRUSSELS, Jan. 22 (Xinhua) -- Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu Friday concluded a two-day official visit to Brussels on Friday, during which he met with officials of the European Union (EU), the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and Belgium. European media described the visit as a charm offensive launched by the Turkish minister to try and appease the bloc after a year of bilateral tensions. Cavusoglu was welcomed by European Council President Charles Michel and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in a renewed positive atmosphere. Nevertheless, they called for "tangible outcomes" and "credible gestures on the ground" following a series of meetings. The year 2020 was not easy for the 27-member bloc and Turkey. Their relations deteriorated over issues such as the Cyprus settlement, Turkey's drilling activities in disputed Mediterranean waters and migration. In December, the European Council issued a joint declaration condemning Turkey's unilateral actions. On Thursday, Cavusoglu met with Josep Borrell, the EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. They discussed "the way ahead with focus on the situation in the Eastern Mediterranean, which is a centrepiece in EU-Turkey relations," according to a press release from the European External Action Service (EEAS). Following the meeting with Borrell, Cavusoglu tweeted that he "wishes to turn a new page with the EU." The top Turkish diplomat also exchanged views with von der Leyen, after which he urged the revitalization of Turkey's EU accession process. He also called for visa liberalization and the modernization of their customs union. During his meeting with Belgian Foreign Minister Sophie Wilmes, Cavusoglu asked for Belgium's support in Turkey's EU bid. On Friday, Cavusoglu met NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg at the alliance's headquarters here in Brussels. Stoltenberg welcomed the continuation of NATO-brokered talks between Turkey and Greece on a de-confliction mechanism in the Eastern Mediterranean. "The de-confliction mechanism has helped to reduce tensions and create the space for political discussions to resolve the underlying issues," said Stoltenberg. "I also welcome the Exploratory Talks taking place in Istanbul next week," the secretary general said, referring to the negotiations between Turkey and Greece that are due to restart next Monday. Enditem Sometimes the study of economics which has gone on for at least 250 years can take a wrong turn. Many economists would like to believe their discipline is more advanced than ever, but in the most important economics book of 2020 two leading British economists argue that, in its efforts to become more rigorous, its gone seriously astray. The book is Radical Uncertainty: Decision-making for an unknowable future, by Professor John Kay of Oxford University and Professor Mervyn King, a former governor of the Bank of England. The great push in economics since World War II has been to make the subject more rigorous and scientific by expressing its arguments and reasoning in mathematical equations rather than words and diagrams. Economics is now so dominated by maths its almost become a branch of applied mathematics. Credit:Matt Davidson The physical sciences have long been highly mathematical. Economists are sometimes accused of trying to distinguish their discipline from the other social sciences by making it more like physics. Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-22 14:35:56|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, Jan. 22 (Xinhua) -- With stringent anti-epidemic measures, political advisors in Beijing kicked off their annual meeting Thursday to pool wisdom for the city's development in the coming year. The meeting came at a time when a string of locally transmitted COVID-19 cases have been reported in the national capital, sounding the alarm bell in epidemic prevention and control. A total of 609 political advisors attended the meeting in person, while 116 others joined the discussions virtually. The in-person attendees were asked to take nucleic acid tests after checking into the hotel and were forbidden from leaving their rooms before receiving negative results. They were also advised to have meals at staggered timings. Physical barriers using transparent panels were erected on dining tables as part of prevention measures. The municipal legislative meeting will open on Saturday. Both the political consultative and legislative meetings, collectively known as "two sessions," have been slashed to four and a half days, compared with six and seven days last year. Li Wenjun, a political advisor in Beijing and chairman of pharmaceutical company Shouyao Holdings, said convening the "two sessions" after an epidemic-ravaged year can help stabilize social development and public sentiment in Beijing. "China effectively contained the spread of the virus early on and became the only major economy to achieve positive growth in 2020," Li said, adding that he hopes the "two sessions" in Beijing will be able to inject new impetus into the city's development in 2021. China entered the local "two sessions" season this week, with central China's Henan Province taking the lead and kicking off its annual provincial political consultative meeting on Sunday. All attendees to Henan's "two sessions" meetings were asked to take nucleic acid tests and wear masks during meeting sessions. They also had their temperature checked on a daily basis. On Wednesday, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region began its annual legislative meeting, where Qizhala, chairman of the regional government, said the region's GDP posted a stellar 7.8 percent growth in 2020 despite the epidemic. A number of provincial-level regions are also scheduled to open their local "two sessions" in the coming weeks. Provinces worst hit by recent sporadic COVID-19 outbreaks, including north China's Hebei Province and northeast China's Liaoning Province, have postponed their annual meetings. "The format of the meetings, including a plenary session and group discussion, poses the risk of cluster infections," said Zhang Sining, a researcher with Liaoning Academy of Social Sciences. "Postponing the meetings is in the interest of people's health." Zhang noted that postponing the meetings is particularly necessary since many attendees are medical professionals and local officials who are tasked with epidemic prevention work. "The experience of the past year tells us that we need to put people's life and health first, respect facts and scientific rules, and take effective measures," said Zhao Ji, president of Northeast University. Enditem WB CM's nephew Abhishek Banerjee sends legal notice to Suvendu Adhikari India oi-Briti Roy Barman Kolkata, Jan 22: TMC MP and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's nephew Abhishek Banerjee has sent a legal notice to BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari for making "defamatory statements" against him by "falsely" accusing him of being an "extortionist" during a public meeting of the BJP held at Khejuri on January 19. The notice stated that if Adhikari doesn't tender an apology in 36 hours, legal proceedings will be initiated. The notice sent by Banerjee to Adhikari also states that the former Mamata Banerjee confidant is an accused in multiple criminal cases despite which he is questioning the integrity of Abhishek Banerjee without any evidence. "Engulfed in egotism and arrogance, you seem to have forgotten about your many crimes committed against the public," the notice says while citing the Saradha Chit Fund and the Narada bribery cases. Abhishek Banerjee's lawyer said in the notice, "In the event you fail to comply with the same, my client shall be constrained to initiate appropriate proceedings against you, both civil and/or criminal, in accordance with law, without any further notice." Centre-farmers hold 11th round of talks, impasse over farm laws continues| Oneindia News Earlier, while addressing a rally in Pashchim Midnapore, Suvendu Adhikari dared Abhishek Banerjee to lodge a case against him for calling 'extortionist'. "I have said 'Tolabaaj Bhaipo' (Extortionist Nephew) & they (TMC) got angry saying why didn't you say the name. Now I'm saying the name. Lodge a case against me," Adhikari said. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, January 22, 2021, 9:53 [IST] Haiti - Environment : Signature of a joint declaration between Haiti and the Dominican Republic Thursday, January 21, as an extension of the joint declaration signed on January 10, 2021 by Presidents Jovenel Moise and Luis Abinader and https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-32758-haiti-flash-9-joint-commitments-between-haiti-and-the-dominican-republic.html , environment ministers Abner Septembre (Haiti) and Orlando Jorge Mera (Dominican Republic) signed in the border province of Elias Pina, a declaration in which they commit to working together to protect the border environment and to create a working group responsible for drawing up a binational agreement and its follow-up which could be signed in early June. Recall that Haiti and the Dominican Republic share the island with the greatest biological diversity (more than 5,000 varieties of plants) of the Caribbean islands and are part of the ecological corridor. "We propose and sign a joint declaration that reflects the commitment to work continuously in the search for solutions to the environmental problems we face and to present them as a bloc in the community and international forums," said Jorge Mera, during Of the reunion. Points of the joint declaration : 1. Resume its commitment to work jointly and systematically in reforestation programs in the border area; 2. Jointly develop mechanisms guaranteeing the conservation of cross-border protected areas, as well as the fight against illicit trafficking in species of flora and fauna; 3. Continue and increase the scholarship program, information exchange, technical training in forestry, as well as fire management programs for forest firefighters, forest rangers, etc...; 4. Cooperate in finding sustainable alternatives to cooking fuels which reduce the intensive use of firewood and charcoal; 5. Work jointly for the protection and sustainable use of the basins of the transboundary rivers Artibonite, Libon, Massacre / Dajabon and Pedernales, strengthening watershed councils as an ideal scenario for binational dialogue, ensuring its sustainability over time through the inclusion of local communities and the design of robust reforestation plans, through the initiative 'Vamos a sembrar agua' (We will sow water); 6. Sign a binational agreement on issues of common interest, including the Caribbean Biological Corridor initiatives, a regional initiative for the conservation of biodiversity. 7. Create an environmental working table, responsible for drawing up a binational agreement and monitoring it. This agreement will strengthen bilateral actions against environmental degradation of the border, which hinders human and economic development in the region. 8. Create a work plan addressing issues of water security on the island, sustainable land use, reduction of vulnerability to climate change and risk management, and reduction of biodiversity loss, with a view to launching joint actions and agreeing a common position as Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in international forums. 9. Within the framework of the Environment-Agriculture table of the Dominican-Haitian Joint Bilateral Commission, progress in the implementation of the commitments made in this declaration will be assessed every 6 months, exchange impressions and determine the next steps. See also : https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-32758-haiti-flash-9-joint-commitments-between-haiti-and-the-dominican-republic.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-28674-haiti-environment-6-haitian-scholars-in-the-dominican-republic.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-12513-haiti-environmentcaribbean-biological-corridor-signature-of-a-tripartite-agreement.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-5707-haiti-environment-project-green-border-one-year-after.html SL/ HaitiLibre The Brexit trade deal has given Nissan a competitive advantage, according to a senior official at the Japanese car giant. Ashwani Gupta, the carmaker's chief operating officer, said he believed the last minute deal would 'redefine' the UK's auto industry. 'Brexit has brought the business continuity in the short-term, protects 75,000 jobs across Europe and most importantly - all of our models which we manufacture in Sunderland,' he told a news briefing. Speaking from Japan, he said Nissan would continue investing in the UK, stressing the company did not stop investing in the run-up to the UK leaving the EU. The Brexit deal had secured the sustainability of Nissan and improved competitiveness of the giant Sunderland factory, he said. The Brexit trade deal has given Nissan a competitive advantage, according to a senior official at the Japanese car giant. Pictured: The plant today Ashwani Gupta (pictured), the carmaker's chief operating officer, said he believed the last minute deal would 'redefine' the UK's auto industry From the Bluebird and 470 staff to the Qashqai and 7,000 workers: A timeline of Nissan in Sunderland July 1986: The first Bluebird is rolled off the factory's production line by its 470 workers September 1986: Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher officially opens the plant May 1990: The Bluebird is retired and the Primera is rolled out August 1992: Two models of the Micra start being made January 1995: The factory makes its one millionth vehicle January 2000: Work on the Almera gets underway 2003: Sunderland produces a convertible Nissan - the Micra C+C June 2005: Its four millionth car is produced September 2005: Micra C+C gets on the supply line January 2006: The Nissan Tone, later renamed the Note is under production March 2006: PM Tony Blair visits 2006: The Qashqai is unveiled April 2008: The first version of the model is built June 2008: The plant unveils a new car to replace the Micra June 2008: 800 jobs created a plant goes 24/7 October 2008: Financial crash sees job cuts January 2009: 1,200 axed April 2009: Plant wins the Queen's Award for Export April 2010: Nissan's lithium-ion battery production plant opens next door August 2010: Nissan Juke unveiled March 2011: The electric LEAF comes into production July 2011: 200 more workers taken on to work on electric batteries January 2015: Prince Charles visits February 2016: chief executive Carlos Ghosn says it is better to stay in the EU June 24 2016: Day after Brexit firm declines to talk about future of plant January 2017: Nissan says UK investment to be reevaluated June 2018: Says it will put investment in the UK on hold January 2020: COO says Brexit trade deal has given them a 'competitive advantage in UK and outside' Advertisement 'Sunderland is one of the top three plants in the world for competitiveness for Nissan,' he said. 'Brexit gives us the competitive advantage in the UK and outside.' Mr Gupta also said Nissan would move production of the batteries used in its Leaf electric cars to the UK to take advantage of trade rules guaranteeing zero tariffs on EU exports if at least 55 per cent of the car's value is derived from the UK or the EU. The batteries are currently imported from Japan, but Mr Gupta told the BBC: 'We've decided to localise the manufacture of the 62KW battery in Sunderland so that all our products qualify (for tariff-free export to the EU).' By the end of 2023 all Nissan cars sold in Europe will have an electrified version, he said, adding it would then be up to customers to decide how quickly they switch from petrol and diesel motors. Mr Gupta added Nissan's message had been 'consistent' over the past few years, while Brexit was causing so much uncertainty for business. 'As long as the current business conditions are kept, we are sustainable, not only in Sunderland, but across Europe.' Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng said: 'Nissan's decision represents a genuine belief in Britain and a huge vote of confidence in our economy thanks to the vital certainty that our trade deal with the EU has given the auto sector. 'For the dedicated and highly-skilled workforce in Sunderland, it means the city will be home to Nissan's latest models for years to come and positions the company to capitalise on the wealth of benefits that will flow from electric vehicle production as part of our green industrial revolution.' Guy Opperman MP tweeted: 'Massive news for the North East. #Nissan's commitment shows a genuine belief in Britain and a huge vote of confidence in our economy.' Nissan said one of the two lines in its Sunderland plant will pause production on Friday as a result of European and global shipping routes and ports coming under pressure because of the coronavirus crisis. This will affect the line which produces Qashqai and Leaf, which will be back up and running next week. A company statement said: 'Production on Line One at the plant has been paused due to supply chain disruption caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. We anticipate that production will resume on Monday next week.' Steve Bush, Unite's national officer for the automotive sector, said: 'Mr Gupta's backing for the Nissan plant in Sunderland is welcome and no less than this incredible, dedicated workforce deserves. The Brexit deal had secured the sustainability of Nissan and improved competitiveness of the giant Sunderland factory, the COO said. Pictured: The Sunderland factory 'Through continued economic and public health uncertainty they have battled to maintain this plant as one of the most productive in the autos sector and to put it in the best place to transition to the next generation of vehicles. 'This workforce and their community deserve a future and we will be working with Nissan to deliver this because bumpy times lie ahead. 'That's why Unite is seeking an urgent meeting with the Government to discuss the part that they must play in the full UK-wide electrification needed to secure this plant and others like it in the UK. 'This country's leaders have to stop thinking in the short-term and plan now for the changes that are coming at us fast.' Bustling campuses remain quiet and isolating. Enrollment is sagging. Students are emotionally burned out. And coronavirus-induced budget shortfalls just might push finances to the edge. Nearly a year into the COVID-19 pandemic, New Jersey college officials and student leaders painted a bleak picture Thursday of a system challenged in every imaginable way. Universities are pondering budget cuts, while many students are considering skipping the spring semester or dropping out altogether. The state Senate Higher Education Committee requested virtual testimony on the challenges colleges face as a result of the coronavirus, including how staff and students have been impacted. The response underscored the wide-ranging consequences that will challenge higher education through 2021 and beyond. To state the obvious, the pandemic has changed everything, said Rutgers University President Jonathan Holloway, who last week announced he contracted the virus and would be working in isolation. The top priority remains the return of students to live and learn safely on campus. It is arguably the biggest challenge colleges face, one that has eluded them since March. Rutgers, the states largest university, has just 3,500 students in residence halls across its three campuses this semester, compared to the 19,000 it would normally host. Rutgers hopes to have all students and staff return to campus in the fall, but is considering rotating cycles for in-person instruction, Holloway said. Vaccines are a game-changer, and our aspirational goal is to be 100% returned in the fall, he said. But we will not have 100% of the community at the university at the same time. Financial losses, mental health issues and struggles with online learning are among the myriad issues facing college leaders and students. Several college presidents said they saw enrollment drop in the fall, including a 7% decline at Georgian Court University, according to president Joseph Marbach. At Rowan University, a growing number of students decided to skip the spring semester, President Ali Houshmand said. They basically see the light at the end of the tunnel in the fall, hoping they will come back to normal, Houshmand said. We have noticed a large number of students dropping out the past month. Lower enrollments are just part of the issue. Refunds for room and board last spring and a major decline in housing, dining and other revenue this academic year have forced difficult budget decisions. Rutgers was hit a $180 million revenue blow over the past two fiscal years, forcing layoffs, furloughs and wage freezes, Holloway said. Sue Tardi, president of William Paterson Universitys faculty union, told lawmakers the university is considering cutting 60 to 100 faculty positions and eliminating 10 academic programs as it grapples with a $20 million deficit for 2021-22. Our state cannot abandon the students who represent the hope and dreams for a better future for themselves and their families, Tardi said in a plea for more state financial support. Our state cannot abandon the faculty who have been dedicated to helping these students succeed. College officials are not alone in grappling with the pandemic, student leaders said. Arielle Dublin, vice president of Rutgers Universitys student government, said some students struggled to participate in their courses without laptops or internet access off campus. The loss of part-time jobs has also affected students ability to pay rent and buy groceries, she said. The loss of social interaction was also isolating, especially when students needed to talk about emotionally wrenching events such as George Floyds death at the hands of the Minneapolis police. Dublin and student government president Nicholas LaBelle said the demand for mental health services has been high during the pandemic. Not being able to be in person really does take a toll on students, Dublin said. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Adam Clark may be reached at aclark@njadvancemedia.com. Have a news tip or a story idea about New Jersey schools? Send it here. QAnon Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene said Thursday she has filed articles of impeachment against Joe Biden. The Republican Congresswoman from Georgia, 46, argued the newly elected president is 'unfit' for office and 'will do whatever it takes to bail out Hunter'. In a statement Greene indicated she is accusing Biden of abusing his power as Vice President when his son served on a Ukrainian energy company's board. It comes just one day after Biden was sworn into office. Greene was on Sunday temporarily suspended from Twitter. She has previously expressed racist views and support for QAnon conspiracy theories online. She said in a statement Thursday: 'President Joe Biden is unfit to hold the office of the presidency. His pattern of abuse of power as President Obama's Vice President is lengthy and disturbing. 'President Biden has demonstrated that he will do whatever it takes to bail out his son, Hunter, and line his family's pockets with cash from corrupt foreign energy companies,' QAnon Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene said Thursday she has filed articles of impeachment against Joe Biden. The Republican Congresswoman from Georgia, 46, argued the newly elected president is 'unfit' for office and 'will do whatever it takes to bail out Hunter' In a statement Greene indicated she is accusing Biden of abusing his power as Vice President when his son served on a Ukrainian energy company's board. It comes just one day after Biden was sworn into office, pictured Wednesday Greene also released a video to Twitter announcing her decision. She said: 'I've just filed articles of impeachment on president Joe Biden, we will see how this goes.' Donald Trump was last week impeached for the second time for his role in inciting the riot at the U.S. Capitol set up his trial in the Senate. The former president was acquitted by the Senate in February last year on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress stemming from his efforts to pressure Ukraine to investigate Joe Biden. President Trump and his Republican allies in Congress made Hunter Bidens business dealings in China and Ukraine a line of attack against the elder Biden during the 2020 election campaign. Senate Republicans said in a report last year that the appointment may have posed a conflict of interest but did not provide evidence that any policies were directly affected by Hunter Bidens work. In December it was then revealed that Hunter is under federal investigation for his taxes. Hunter Biden has denied any wrongdoing, and his father released a statement supporting his son. President Trump and his Republican allies in Congress made Hunter Bidens business dealings in China and Ukraine a line of attack against the elder Biden during the 2020 election campaign. Joe Biden is sworn in as the 46th president of the United States by Chief Justice John Roberts as Jill Biden holds the Bible Wednesday Joe Biden (L), flanked by is wife US First Lady Jill Biden (2nd L), Hunter Biden (R) and Ashley Biden (C), is sworn in as the 46th US President by Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts Greene had already pledged on January 13: 'On January 21st, I'm filing Articles of Impeachment on President-elect. '75 million Americans are fed up with inaction. It's time to take a stand. I'm proud to be the voice of Republican voters who have been ignored.' It is unlikely that Biden will be impeached with Democrats controlling the House. Greene's Twitter account was suspended 'without explanation,' she said in a statement over the weekend, while also condemning big tech companies for 'silencing' conservative views. The businesswoman and political newcomer was elected to represent Georgia's 14th District in November. She's gained large followings on social media in part by posting incendiary videos and comments and has also embraced QAnon. The far-right U.S. conspiracy theory is centered around the debunked belief that President Donald Trump is waging a secret campaign against enemies in the 'deep state' and a child sex trafficking ring they say is linked to Democrats. QAnon followers grappled with anger, confusion and disappointment Wednesday as President Joe Biden was sworn into office. The businesswoman and political newcomer was elected to represent Georgia's 14th District in November. She's gained large followings on social media in part by posting incendiary videos and comments and has also embraced QAnon Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene speaks as President Donald Trump listens at a campaign rallyin Dalton, Georgia on Monday, January 4. Greene was on Sunday temporarily suspended from Twitter. She has previously expressed racist views and support for QAnon conspiracy theories It has also emerged Greene described the Parkland high school shooting that left 17 dead as a 'false flag' event in a resurfaced Facebook post from 2018. The conspiracy theory that the shooting was an orchestrated event with an anti-gun agenda has circulated in right-wing circles. Shortly before her Twitter ban, Greene posted a clip from an interview with a local news outlet in which she condemned Georgia election officials and expressed support for debunked theories claiming that voting machines, absentee ballots and other issues led to widespread fraud in the state during the presidential election. Twitter responded to the tweet, and others, with a message that called the election fraud claim 'disputed,' and saying it posed 'a risk of violence.' A statement from Greene's team on Sunday included screenshots from Twitter which appeared to show the company informing the congresswoman she had violated its rules and would be prohibited from interacting with content on the site for 12 hours. Greene urged Congress to 'act to protect free speech' in her statement. Congressional members and guests arrive for the the 59th inaugural ceremony on Wednesday The action comes a little more than a week after Twitter banned Trump from the platform, citing 'the risk of further incitement of violence' following the deadly insurrection at the U.S. Capitol this month. As of January 12, Twitter had also suspended more than 70,000 accounts associated with QAnon as it attempted to rein in harmful activity ahead of the presidential inauguration. Twitter has said it is taking action against online behavior 'that has the potential to lead to offline harm' after the mob of Trump supporters violently stormed the Capitol building on Jan. 6. The company said the Republican's account had been 'temporarily locked out for multiple violations of our civic integrity policy.' Ottawa, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - January 22, 2021) - C-COM Satellite Systems Inc., (TSXV: CMI) a leading global provider of mobile auto-deploying satellite antenna systems, today announced the payment of an eligible dividend in the amount of $0.0125 per common share payable on February 19, 2021 to all shareholders of record as of February 5, 2021. Based on the closing price of $2.71 per share on January 21, 2021, this dividend represents a yield of 1.85% on an annualized basis. "We are pleased that we can continue to be able to reward our loyal shareholders with this quarterly dividend" said Leslie Klein, President and CEO of C-COM Satellite Systems Inc. The C-COM iNetVu mobile proprietary antennas, and services associated with these products, are used in mobile applications by corporations, government agencies, the military, law enforcement agencies, homeland security, utility vehicles, oil and gas platforms, police, fire, medical and other security and emergency services with a need for affordable mobile 2-way high-speed Internet over Satellite connectivity. About C-COM Satellite Systems Inc. C-COM Satellite Systems Inc. is a pioneer and world leader in the design, development, and manufacture of transportable and mobile satellite-based antenna systems. The Company has developed proprietary, auto-acquisition controller technology for rapid antenna pointing to a satellite with just the press of a button, enabling Broadband Internet via Satellite across a wide range of market applications worldwide, including regions unserved or underserved by terrestrial access technologies. C-COM has sold more than 8,500 antenna systems, in over 100 countries, through a dedicated dealer network that provides service to a wide range of vertical markets such as Oil & Gas Exploration, Military Communications, Disaster Management, SNG, Emergency Communications, Cellular Backhaul, Telemedicine, Mobile Education, Government Services, Mobile Banking, and others. The Company's iNetVu brand is synonymous with high quality, reliability, and cost-effectiveness. C-COM is in late-stage development of a potentially revolutionary Ka-band, electronically steerable, modular, conformal, flat panel phased array antenna. In cooperation with the University of Waterloo, C-COM is engaged in the design of this unique antenna with the intent of providing low-cost, high-throughput mobility applications over satellite for land, airborne and maritime verticals. For additional information please visit www.c-comsat.com The Company is publicly traded on the Canadian Venture Exchange (TSXV: CMI) and on the US OTC Exchange (OTC: CYSNF). iNetVu is a registered trademark of C-COM Satellite Systems Inc. Contact Investor Relations C-COM Satellite Systems Inc. Tel: (613) 745-4110 ext. 4950 Fax: (613) 745-1172 lklein@c-comsat.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. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/72591 1. No. 46 may be in the White House, but No. 45s legacy still lingers in Washington. The House will transmit its article of impeachment charging former President Donald Trump with incitement of insurrection to the Senate on Monday, prompting the start of a trial unlike any other in American history. Mr. Trumps impeachment trial, just weeks after he urged on a mob that attacked the Capitol, is the second one in just over a year. No other president has ever been impeached twice, and no former president has ever been put up on trial. Senators Chuck Schumer, above, and Mitch McConnell struck a deal to effectively delay the trial for two weeks, aiming to start the week of Feb. 8. Democrats had been trying to ensure that the impeachment trial does not get in the way of confirming President Bidens cabinet picks. Medical experts claim that COVID-19's troublesome symptom can be detected by an oximeter. Scientists and other researchers claim that this tool can identify if people are infected with the novel coronavirus. According to News Week's latest report, some patients are using oximeters during the ongoing global pandemic to check and monitor the level of oxygen in their bloodstreams. "A pulse oximeter measures the level of oxygen saturation in your red blood cells," said the American Lung Association via News Week. The health agency added that the oximeter has gained the attention of many people and medical experts during the COVID-19 pandemic since it can identify if a person is suffering from hypoxia, which is one of the most troublesome COVID-19 symptoms. Hypoxia is a health issue that makes blood oxygen saturation lower than the normal rate. How does the oximeter work? BBC News explained that an oximeter is slipped over the patient's middle finger. Once it is in place, it will shine a light into the body. The medical tool can measure how much of the light is absorbed in order to calculate oxygen levels in the bloodstream. Also Read: COVID-19 Vaccine Trials: US Kids Reportedly Sign Up for Pfizer, Moderna, and AstraZeneca Tests Usually, people are testing their blood oxygen levels three times a day. If a patient notices that his blood oxygen level is below 92%, that means he needs to call 999 or A&E. On the other hand, if the patient's oxygen levels drop to 93% or 94%, then he should speak to his GP or contact the emergency number 111. Current studies also revealed that even small drops below 95% could lead to possible death case. "The point of this whole strategy is to try to get in early to prevent people getting that sick, by admitting patients at a more salvageable point in their illness," said Dr. Matt Inada-Kim, a consultant in acute medicine at Hampshire Hospitals, via BBC News. Where to buy it? Before you decide to buy an oximeter, you should properly read its manual or do some research first. It is also highly advisable to ask you, doctor, before you decide to order one. FDA advised the public that an inaccurate reading could lead to serious health risks. Here are the places where you can buy an oximeter; Walgreens CVS Walmart Rite Aid Best Buy Amazon Target For more news updates about COVID-19, always keep your tabs open here at TechTimes. Related Article: New Tool Reveals COVID-19 Transmission Risk in Poorly-Ventilated Places! Virus Can Spread More Than 2 Meters in Seconds! This article is owned by TechTimes. Written by: Giuliano de Leon. 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. A haunted hotel where one of the most famous unsolved murders in the US took place 130 years ago has been put up for sale for $2million and the brutal killings are a key selling point. In 1892, Sunday school teacher Lizzie Borden, 32, was accused of burying a hatchet in the skulls of her wealthy property developer father and step-mother at the luxurious home they all shared in Fall River, Massachusetts. While most buyers might baulk at the idea of a home where the mutilated bodies of Andrew and Abby Borden were found, realtors for the Lizzie Borden Bed & Breakfast are actively appealing to those who are interested. Axe me whats coming on the market?" wrote realtor Suzanne St John, in a comment underneath an Instagram post calling the 19th century Greek Revival a turn key opportunity for $2,000,000. In the listing for the New England tourist attraction, St John wrote: Picture yourself serving fun hatchet cookies, tiny johnny cakes and a scrumptious breakfast to overnight guests who have just enjoyed an experience of a lifetime! You can even take a 3D tour. Whilst the tone may seem jaunty or macabre, the agents are complying with a real estate law in the state that forces them to reveal a propertys gruesome background. Four states in the US have disclosure laws about paranormal activity including New York, New Jersey and Minnesota. The case behind the Borden house is one of Americas most notorious mysteries. In 1893, Borden was tried, but unexpectedly acquitted, in a national media sensation, leading to a general outcry from a public convinced she was guilty. The story about the nice, middle-class, female 'murderer' from New England seeped into popular culture, and was turned into a 2015 Netflix series starring Christina Ricci, a 2018 feature film featuring Chloe Sevigny and Kristen Stewart and even the Simpsons in 1993, where Borden appeared on a Jury of the Damned alongside John Wilkes Booth who assassinated President Lincoln in 1865. But whilst Borden was left a (wealthy) social pariah until her death in 1927 aged 66, the houses popularity has only grown. After being turned into a bed and breakfast in 1998, tourists were invited to relax in the living room where Andrew was slashed to death on the sofa, or sleep in the guestroom where Abbys body was discovered. The furnishings retain their rightful place, the decor has been painstakingly duplicated, and the original hardware and doors are still intact, the website claims. It adds: Artifacts from the murder case are displayed while memorabilia from the era line shelves and mantel tops. A visitor is literally transported back to that morning when a perfect storm of events culminated in a double murder. Last year it was included on a list of Top Ten Haunted Hotels in America by USA Today, as well as one of the creepiest places in the state by Thrillist. For the hardcore Borden fans, the sale could also be wrapped up with the Victoria property nearby where Borden moved with her sister after the murders, and which was listed for $890,000 since last September. ALBANY The city quietly settled lawsuits over the summer with two men seen in videos being struck by police officers responding to calls for a loud party on First Street in March 2019. The settlements were approved at the July 21, 2020 Board of Estimate and Apportionment meeting. There was almost no discussion on the matter. The city did not admit any liability or wrongdoing as part of the settlements, according to the meeting agenda. The Times Union discovered the settlements while researching another story on the citys website. The city paid $100,000 to Armando Sanchez and $65,000 to Mario Gorostiza. Sanchez and Gorostiza filed federal lawsuits in June 2019 against the officers involved, alleging false arrest and excessive force as well as failure to intervene and supervisory liability. Their attorneys, James Knox and Julie Nociolo, did not return a request for comment. City spokesman David Galin declined to comment. Sanchez and Gorostiza were initially charged with offenses including resisting arrest, after police were called to break up a loud house party on March 16, 2019 on First Street. Body camera footage released by the department showed officers kicking in a door and repeatedly striking Sanchez, Gorostiza and another man, Lee Childs. An internal Albany Police Department report on the beating case of the three men outside 523 First St., obtained by the Times Union in August 2020, revealed misconduct by officers on the scene as well as a more general breakdown in law enforcement management and leadership. The Albany County District Attorneys office dropped the charges against the men two weeks later after one of the officers involved, Luke Deer, was charged with felony assault and official misconduct and suspended from the department. The criminal case against Deer is still pending. The Albany County District Attorneys office, which suspended grand juries due to rising coronavirus cases, is set to re-start grand juries just one day a week, beginning next week. Deer and two other officers who were recommended for termination remain suspended with pay while they challenge Chief Eric Hawkins decision. The city has not settled a claim filed by the third man, Lee Childs. Childs filed a federal civil rights lawsuit in March 2020. Childs was arrested several months after the incident after he sold drugs to an undercover state trooper. New Delhi, Jan 22 : The Supreme Court on Friday declined to entertain a plea by Vedanta seeking early hearing on its appeal filed against the Madras High Court order, which declined to allow the reopening of its Tuticorin plant. As the Tamil Nadu government had filed a special leave petition in the top court for expunging certain remarks in the Madras High Court order, a bench headed by Justice R. F. Nariman and comprising Justices Navin Sinha and K. M. Joseph admitted it and tagged it with the main matter. In the meanwhile, during the hearing, counsel appearing for Vedanta requested the top court for an early hearing on its appeal against the Madras High Court order but the bench declined to entertain this plea. The mining major had moved the top court in August against the High Court order declining to allow the reopening of the Tuticorin plant as it had upheld the orders of Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) which directed the closure of the plant in May 2018. On December 2, the Supreme Court had declined to entertain an interim plea by Vedanta Ltd seeking permission to inspect and operate Sterlite Copper unit at Tuticorin for four weeks to assess the pollution level. Senior advocate A.M. Singhvi, appearing for the company, had submitted that Vedanta is producing 36 per cent of the copper demand of the country and it is a case of mala fide closure of the plant. Vedanta sought handing over of the plant for three months, where two months would be needed to start the unit, and in order to find out whether the plant is polluting, the company should be allowed to run it for four weeks. The Tami Nadu government objected to these submissions and submitted before the top court that the plant has been polluting consistently. But, Singhvi contended the court should allow the company to run the plant, which would help in ascertain whether the plant is polluting beyond the acceptable limit. Senior advocate Colin Gonsalves, representing some villagers in the vicinity of the plant, had submitted the unit should not be allowed to operate, as it is contaminating the water and people are suffering from diseases like cancer. After a detailed hearing in the matter, the bench said: "Having heard Abhishek Manu Singhvi, C.S. Vaidyanathan, K.V. Viswanathan and Colin Gonsalves, all senior advocates, for some time, we are of the view that the relief(s) in this IA cannot be granted. Accordingly, this IA is dismissed." However, the top court said the main matter, the appeal against the High Court order, can come up for hearing after physical hearing resumes in the top court. India on Thursday slammed Pakistan for being one of the co-sponsors of a United Nations resolution on promoting a culture of peace even when Pakistan authorities remained "mute spectators" as a mob vandalised a historic temple in its Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. Indian ambassador to the United Nations, TS Tirumurti said, "The resolution cannot be a smokescreen for countries like Pakistan to hide behind." READ | Pakistani Raid Kills Taliban Suspected Of Slaying Of Troops India slams Pakistan for supporting terror outfits This statement by Indian ambassador TS Tirumurti comes after the United Nations General Assembly on Thursday adopted a resolution on "promoting a culture of peace and tolerance to safeguard religious sites'. This resolution calls for efforts to foster a global dialogue on the promotion of a culture of tolerance and peace at all levels, based on respect for human rights and for the diversity of religions and beliefs. "It is a matter of great irony that the country where the most recent attack and demolition of a Hindu temple took place in a series of such attacks and where the rights of minorities are being emasculated is one of the co-sponsors of the resolution under the agenda item 'Culture of Peace', " said TS Tirumurti. READ | Taliban Terrorists Kill 13 Local Police Personnel In Herat Province: Report Stating that the destruction of a Hindu temple in Pakistan's Karak town in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in December 2020, Tirumurti said that a historic Hindu temple was attacked and set on fire by a mob in Pakistan with explicit support and convenience with the law enforcement agencies which, stood as mute spectators while the historic temple was being razed. READ | 'Focus On Saving Your Economy': BJP Gives Advice To Imran Khan Over His Twitter Theatrics Acknowledging the efforts of Saudi Arabia and Morocco to pilot the delicate negotiations for achieving a consensus text of the draft resolution, Tirumurti said, "The United Nations including the UN Alliance of Civilizations should not take sides and as long as such selectivity exists, the world can never truly foster a culture of peace. We must stand united against the forces that supplant dialogue and peace with hatred and violence." India said that in this world of growing terrorism, violent extremism, radicalization and intolerance, religious sites and cultural heritage sites remain vulnerable to terrorist acts, violence and destruction. Pointing to instances in different parts of the world that remained vulnerable to terrorist acts, Tirumurti said, "The images of the shattering of the iconic Bamyan Buddha by fundamentalists are still vivid in our memories. The terrorist bombing of the Sikh gurudwara in Afghanistan where 25 Sikh worshipers were killed is yet another example of this vulnerability." READ | As Imran Khan Targets Arnab Goswami, Maj Gen KK Sinha Calls Out 'threatened' Pakistan Army 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. Colorado Springs, CO (80903) Today Mostly sunny. High 76F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low 51F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. In time, your blog will come to represent who you are. It will become the factor that would set your real estate operations apart from your competitors, continued Richard Uzelac of Strategic Agent Inc. CRMLS real estate agent members and members of the Miami Florida MLS can now utilize a full-featured blog at no additional cost. Yes, it means you can have your premium IDX advanced search system, agent website, and get a dedicated blog at the same time. Interestingly, real estate agents who use the $29 monthly website and IDX search system combination dont have to pay any extra or hidden charges for the new blog. If you want to keep your target audience engaged and updated about your real estate business, nows your chance, said Richard Uzelac, the Founder and CEO of Strategic Agent Inc. Today, a blog serves as an essential part of your website. It is an excellent tool to inform, educate, and update your audience about the real estate market. It is vital for real estate agents to show local industry expertise, and the inclusion of a blog is the perfect icing on the top of our high value website and IDX combo package, added Richard Uzelac. With a blog, you can thoroughly define your position and range of services to the audience. You can draft the content on your own and easily post it to your website. In time, your blog will come to represent who you are. It will become the factor that would set your real estate operations apart from your competitors, continued Richard Uzelac of Strategic Agent Inc. With the addition of a blog, Miami, Florida real estate agents can make the most out of their website and premium IDX search system. For starters, your blog will drive more traffic and that means more visibility in the market. A blog is a perfect opportunity for real estate agents in Florida to rank high on Google and strengthen their market position. I website and IDX are Google friendly and come with Search Engine Optimization tools to help your posts to be placed highly on Google, highlighted Uzelac, R., the Founder and CEO of Strategic Agent Inc. Once your real estate website can generate more traffic, you can expect more converted leads. Just like most industry experts, real estate agents can create and post updated information in the form of blog posts to draw the attention of more potential leads. You can add videos, images, and long-tail keywords to rank higher on Google than your competitors. Great real estate websites use their blog to gather valuable information of clients. For instance, you can integrate intuitive surveys within the article or encourage visitors to comment or ask questions. A blog allows you to start an engaging conversation that helps you understand your audience better and they know more about you as well, noted Mr. Uzelac. Unlike web content, the conversation on a blog comes across as more powerful and helps you get more leads (Google loves good blog posts). A new blog can take some time to draw attention, but it will help you build authority and trust over time. In fact, Florida real estate agents can now use the full-featured blog to create a unique brand identity. Moreover, you can use the blog to evaluate the effectiveness of your real estate services. Use the audiences perspective to make continuous and relevant changes that would improve your real estate position in Miami, Florida, or Southern California. Real estate agents can use the blog to build a more comprehensive email database of clients. Later on, you can execute email marketing campaigns and get more newsletter signs up for your website. Plus, a blog will help you get more exposure on social media platforms. Your blog ensures that your real estate position is clear in the eyes of your audience. It also allows you to reinforce your core real estate business values through informative content. If there is any new real estate update or service news, you can integrate internal sign-up links as promotions. About Strategic Agent Richard Uzelac's Strategic Agent Inc was created in 2015. Since that time Strategic Agent has helped thousands of Agents and Offices to build strong brands and online presences to enhance their real estate businesses. Strategic Agent specializes is Websites, IDX, and Internet Marketing and Advertising for the Real Estate Industry. Contact Richard Uzelac directly at Strategic Agent Inc. at 805-413-7888 for more information. About Richard Uzelac Richard Uzelac has been in the real estate business for over thirty years. He started as an agent in New Jersey then office owner in California to real estate technology leader. Richard Uzelac was the Senior Director of Realtor.com before starting Strategic Agent Inc. in 2015. Richard has given thousands of presentations and talks on real estate technology. Richard Uzelac is available as a Speaker and Consultant for Franchises, Offices and Agents. Contact Richard Uzelac at 805.413.7895 Credit: CC0 Public Domain Research from the University of Kent has demonstrated a decline in 'son preference' by women of childbearing age in Bangladesh. However, the study also shows that fertility decisions are still influenced according to son preference. The paper, 'Is son preference disappearing from Bangladesh?', surveyed a nationally representative sample of Bangladeshi women of childbearing age, born between 1975 and 1994, to assess how son preference is evolving. The term 'son preference' refers to any situation where parents value sons over daughters and make resulting choices accordingly, which can have a strong economic and demographic impact. The study finds that among women of childbearing age in Bangladesh, son preference is giving way to a desire for gender balance, a consequence of increased female education and employment. However, in contrast to these stated fertility preferences, actual fertility decisions are still shaped by son preference. Among those Bangladeshi women yet to have a child, the proportions indicating a desire for sons and daughters were almost identical. For those with one or two children, the presence of a son has a strong negative effect on the desire for additional sons, and the presence of a daughter has a strong negative effect on the desire for additional daughters. Son preference can have profound economic and demographic consequences upon female adult and maternal mortality, sex-selective abortions, gender differences in breastfeeding, intra-household gender bias in food allocation, gender differentials in infant and child mortality, imbalanced sex ratios and shortages of marriageable women in the population. The study also found evidence that the desire for gender balance in children was stronger among women who have completed secondary school and those who live in areas with more opportunities for female paid work, specifically in the ready-made garments sector. The desire for gender balance in children is also stronger among women co-residing with their mothers-in-law. However, survival analysis indicates that actual fertility decisions are still shaped by son preference. The study indicates that those without sons among their first two children are significantly more likely to have another child. The absence of a daughter among the first two children, on the other hand, has no corresponding effect on the decision to have another child. Dr. Zaki Wahhaj, Principle Investigator of the study and Reader in Economics at the University of Kent said: 'Our research reveals a discrepancy between the child sex preferences of women in Bangladesh and their actual fertility behavior. Whilst son preference has given way to a desire for children of both sexes as far as stated preferences are concerned, we find that actual fertility decisions of women in Bangladesh continue to be shaped by son preference.' Explore further Women with a low desire to avoid pregnancy still use contraception More information: M. Niaz Asadullah et al, Is son preference disappearing from Bangladesh?, World Development (2021). M. Niaz Asadullah et al, Is son preference disappearing from Bangladesh?,(2021). DOI: 10.1016/j.worlddev.2020.105353 Justice Department Asks Supreme Court to Reverse Trump Twitter Decision The Department of Justice asked the Supreme Court to overturn an appeals court ruling that found that former President Donald Trumps blocking of critics on the microblogging website Twitter violated the First Amendment, saying the ruling was deeply problematic. President Joe Biden, as well as future presidents and government officials, should not be bound by the decision the high court may well have overturned had the question not become moot by Trump completing his term of office, Acting Solicitor General Jeffrey Wall argued in a supplemental brief filed on Jan. 19 in Trump v. Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University. Wall had previously argued that Trumps ability to use the features of his personal Twitter account are independent of his presidential office, adding that blocking third-party accounts is a purely personal action that does not involve any right or privilege created by the State, he wrote, referencing a previous precedent. A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit ruled unanimously in 2019 that Trumps use of his personal Twitter account, @realDonaldTrump, created an official channel of communication. The feed for that account had been constantly filled with replies from users who taunted and insulted the president, often using expletives, and Trump had locked horns with Twitter management on many occasions. But because the president established a public forum of sorts, he wasnt allowed to restrict access to it based on a users political views, the court reasoned in upholding a 2018 decision by U.S. District Judge Naomi Buchwald, a Clinton appointee. Her decision extended to all public officials. This case requires us to consider whether a public official may, consistent with the First Amendment, block a person from his Twitter account in response to the political views that person has expressed, and whether the analysis differs because that public official is the President of the United States, she wrote. The answer to both questions is no. The @realDonaldTrump account meets the Supreme Courts standards for a designated public forum, and preventing political speech is viewpoint discrimination, she added. No government officialincluding the Presidentis above the law, she wrote, adding that Trump tweeted about government business on the account. The audience for a reply extends more broadly than the sender of the tweet being replied to, and blocking restricts the ability of a blocked user to speak to that audience, Buchwald wrote. Calling the rulings unfavorable to Trump deeply problematic, Wall argued in his new brief that the blocking of the individual respondents was not an official state action that can be redressed by the Office of the President. Twitters power to unilaterally shut down the @realDonaldTrump account [underscores] the Second Circuits error in holding that the account is a public forum. Wall wrote that Trump would cease to be a party to the litigation after Inauguration Day because respondents sued him only in his official capacity. In an official-capacity suit, the relief obtained by respondents is only nominally against the official and in fact is against the officials office, meaning that when President Trump leaves office, his successor automatically assume[s] [his] role in the litigation, he wrote, citing Lewis v. Clarke, a 2017 Supreme Court ruling. Jameel Jaffer, the Knight Institutes executive director, argued in a reply brief on Jan. 21 that Trump was the author of his own misfortune and that the 2nd Circuit ruling should be left intact. Petitioners are right that the case is moot, but they are wrong about why, Jaffer wrote. The case was mooted because Trump repeatedly violated Twitters terms of service over a period of four years by pushing the boundaries of Twitters Rules. Cities still effecting repairs almost one week after powerful storm blows through This house at 5th and I streets suffered major damage from last Wednesday's winds, but fortunately no injuries WEST PLAINS - National Weather Service forecasters warned last week that a strong cold front scheduled to pass through Eastern Washington and Northern Idaho beginning late Tuesday night and through Wednesday could bring strong winds, heavy rain and snow in the mountains - with winds potentially gusting into the 40 55 miles per hour range. They were a bit off as winds well exceeding those forecasted knocked down power lines, poles and trees leading to power disruptions to thousands and at least one death in the region on Jan. 13. Crews were continuing to make repairs in many areas as late as Tuesday, Jan. 19, with some customers without power through last weekend. While tracking average wind speeds at 28.1 mph, the National Weather Service station at Spokane International Airport also recorded high wind speeds of 53 mph and a wind gust at 71 mph. At the station in Spokane Valley at Felts Field, average wind speed was 15.1 mph, with high wind speeds topping 43 mph and a wind gust at 58 mph. By 9:30 a.m. Wednesday morning Avista Utilities was reporting 67,677 electric customers without power throughout their service area. According to their outage map about 25 minutes later, Inland Power and Light was reporting 15,801 of 43,061 customers - 36.7% - without power in their six county service area, including 13,191 of 29,925 customers in Spokane County. Many of those outages were in specific areas. At one point in time Wednesday morning, Inland reported 1,128 customers without power in Airway Heights, 1,257 customers around Hallett, Grove and Thomas Mallen roads in the West Terrace, 390 customers in the area of Jensen and Anderson roads and later in the afternoon another 690 customers without power in the area of south Cheney. Avista maps were showing afternoon outages of 289 customers east of Medical Lake in the Silver Lake area and 575 customers in a rough triangular region stretching from Four Lakes to Marshall, Geiger Heights and into the southwest portion of Spokane's South Hill. Inland highest number of customers without power eventually reached a total of 38.2$, 16,446 with 13,647 -45.2 % - of Spokane County customers in the dark. Among those were 2,300 in the Hallett, Grove and Thomas Mallon area that included Cheney School District's Snowdon and Windsor elementary schools and Westwood Middle School - all affected when a main three-phase power line went down, taking with it several poles and being covered with downed trees. In Cheney, outages began with 150 customers affected early in the storm in the North 4th and North 5th streets area, with several downed trees in power lines reported at 3:45 a.m. At 1.35 p.m., the entire city went dark when an Avista power distribution line went down, cutting out power to both substations at Cheney-Plaza and Jensen roads. Power was eventually restored to the city around 3 p.m. when Avista was able to make repairs, but Light Department crews were kept busy the rest of the day addressing specific areas of outages. "The Light crew worked until 2:30 a.m. Thursday, clearing trees and branches from lines and restoring individual houses with power," Light Department Director Steve Marx wrote in an email. Crews from all utilities continued effecting repairs through the rest of the week and through the weekend. The three-phase line knocked down in the West Terrace area was eventually fixed and power restored by late Thursday afternoon, allowing Cheney schools to reopen Friday. Falling trees and branches caused damage to playground equipment at Cheney's Sutton Park. Cheney lost a number of trees in city parks, including Sutton which also experienced damage to its playground equipment. In Medical Lake, City Administrator Doug Ross said they lost 13 trees due to the wind in Waterfront Park - one of which caused damage to the walking trail when its root ball took out a small section. Two more trees fell at the library, damaging the driveway but missing the building. "There were multiple trees power lines and trees down on City streets resulting in duty calls for both police and fire," Ross said. "The trail may take care of itself when we push the root ball back in place, otherwise we will do some paving when the asphalt plants open up." Officials in cities throughout the West Plains were still assessing damage as of press time Tuesday, Jan. 19. John McCallum can be reached at jmac@cheneyfreepress.com. Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. Beijing, Jan 22 : Alibaba Group's online marketplace Tmall Global has announced a string of service solutions to facilitate overseas small and medium-sized companies to open stores on its platform. The company will provide tailored registration, consultation, logistics, operation and language services to global brands, allowing them to open online stores in as quick as 30 days. According to Tmall Global, experts on cross-border business will offer one-on-one online guidance in nine languages to merchants from over 20 countries within three working days. Complete international supply chain services will also be provided to guarantee smooth delivery of goods, and quality agent operators are available for beginners, reports Xinhua news agency. The streamlined procedures and comprehensive services provided by Tmall Global will help global brands, particularly small- and medium-sized business players, boost cross-border business and offset difficulties brought up by the Covid-19 pandemic, said Maggie Liu, general manager of Tmall Global, at the 2021 Tmall Global New Seller Virtual Summit. So far, more than 29,000 overseas brands from 87 countries and regions have opened stores on the e-commerce platform of Tmall Global, covering over 5,800 categories. South Korean Social Media Influencer Dropped by Chinese Media Agency for Insulting China A South Korean social media influencer recently came under fire for endorsing messages that Chinese netizens perceived as insulting to China mostly due to a mistranslation and was ultimately dropped from her Chinese management agency. Hamzy, a South Korean internet content creator who hosts mukbang, also known as an eating show where people stream themselves eating large quantities of food, has a YouTube channel with over five million subscribers and videos each generating several millions of views. YouTube allows content creators to like comments which then get marked with a heart, and Hamzy liked some comments left by Korean viewers that offended her Chinese fan base, reported Taiwans government-run Central News Agency (CNA). One of the comments that Hamzy liked claimed that kimchi, a side dish of salted fermented vegetables, belonged to South Korea. The ownership of salted fermented vegetables is heavily disputed between China and South Korea. In late 2020, Chinese netizens clashed with Koreans on social media when the International Organization for Standardization issued a standard for pao cai, a similar fermented vegetable dish from Sichuan, China, according to a report from Reuters. The comment that angered Chinese netizens the most, however, was one that referred to Chinese people using a word that became derogatory in translation. The commenter said he was angry that Chinese guys were claiming that ssam, a Korean dish consisting of meat wrapped with leafy vegetables, was Chinese culinary culture. The mukbang host liked this comment. Using Google Translate, the Korean word used to refer to Chinese people translates to Chinese guys. However, the web translator Papago was used in the screenshot of the comment spread around social media, which translated to a Chinese word that is much more offensive and derogatoryChinese netizens considered it an insult to China. In a statement released on Jan. 16 on her Weibo, a Twitter-like social media platform in China, Hamzy apologized for liking the messages and stated that she did not mean to offend. If I had unintentionally offended everyone, and made everyone feel uncomfortable, I hereby sincerely apologize. I really do respect Chinese culinary culture, and I hope that everyone can see that. After the apology was posted, South Korean viewers on her YouTube channel were curious about the situation, and some accused her of betraying her home country and culture to make money in the Chinese market. In response, Hamzy wrote in her YouTube comment section that she apologized because Chinese fans were offended by the derogatory term, but of course I think kimchi and ssam are our countrys food, so a controversy based on this would not make sense. Chinese netizens found out about her response to her Korean fan base and Hamzy was again under fire for being two-faced. On Jan. 17, Hamzys management agency, Shanghai Suxian Advertising Media Company, announced that it had terminated its contract with her, since she had again severely hurt the feelings of Chinese fans as well as the trust of our company. In a statement posted to her YouTube channel three days ago, Hamzy addressed the incident and explained that the initial controversy was over a word that was offensive to Chinese people in translation, which she thought she should and did apologize for. She acknowledged that she had been dropped by her management agency, but said that she would not say that kimchi was Chinese food. If I have to say kimchi is Chinese food in order to work in China, then I will not work in China. Nearly all content on her Weibo has been deleted, and her official store on Taobao, a Chinese online shopping platform owned by Alibaba, was also taken down. Hamzys channel on YouTube, which is not managed by the Chinese agency, appears unaffected. The channels subscriber count has increased since the incident from 5.26 to 5.38 million, following its consistent upward trend over the last year. The YouTube personality is not the only one who has received backlash for perceived anti-China sentiments. BTS, a popular South Korean boy band, offended some Chinese netizens. In October 2020, the bands leader, who goes by the stage name RM, thanked Korean War veterans of the United States and South Korea in a speech but left out any acknowledgement of China, which fought alongside North Korea in the war, according to a report by The Associated Press. Photo: The Canadian Press A Government of Canada sign sits in front of a Library and Archives Canada building next to Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Tuesday Nov. 25, 2014. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld It will likely be another year before a federal review of the government's key transparency law is complete, fuelling the frustration of openness advocates. Newly released terms of reference for the government study of the Access to Information Act say a report will be submitted to the Treasury Board president by Jan. 31 of next year. The review, announced last June, has prompted skepticism from open-government proponents, who point to a pile of reports done over the years on reforming the access law. The law, introduced in 1983, allows people who pay $5 to ask for a range of federal documents, but it has been widely criticized as antiquated and poorly managed. "Putting the government in charge of reviewing its own secrecy and delay problems was never a good idea," said Ken Rubin, a researcher and longtime user of the access law. The Liberals should either present a new transparency bill before the next general election or let Parliament and the public figure out how to improve access to federal records, he said. Cara Zwibel, director of the fundamental-freedoms program at the Canadian Civil Liberties Association, said she is frustrated by the review because many of the issues have already been studied by bodies including the federal information commissioner and the House of Commons committee on information, privacy and ethics. The timetable likely means that any change to the law or how it works is at least 18 months to two years away, and even that would assume the Liberals were still governing and had the same priorities, she said. "I am disappointed that we remain in a holding pattern when it comes to advancing in this area." Conservative MP Luc Berthold, the party's Treasury Board critic, called it another example of the government failing to take transparency seriously. "Its irresponsible for the Trudeau Liberals to wait another year to fix the issues in Canadas information system," he said. "The time to act is now. The terms of reference say the review will focus on the legislative framework, opportunities to improve proactive publication to make information openly available and assessing processes to improve service and reduce delays. "The review will seek to broaden understanding of the Access to Information Act, its important role in our democracy and the values and principles it balances." Details about consultations and procedures for making written submissions will be posted on the review's website. The government says the resulting report, to be tabled in Parliament, will include a summary of feedback received during the review and provide recommendations to improve access to information for Canadians. Vi, premier developer, owner and operator of 10 luxury senior living communities across the U.S., announced that Randy Richardson, Vis President and CEO, has signed on to the CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion commitment. Recognizing that change starts at the executive level, Richardson joins over 1,600 CEOs of the worlds leading companies and business organizations in leveraging their individual and collective voices to advance diversity and inclusion in the workplace. The CEO Action pledge is an important step towards upholding Vis relentless commitment to a culture that supports respect, diversity, equity, and inclusion. These actions help each of our team members achieve their full potential and furthers our mission of enhancing the lives of older adults, said Richardson. We are committed to ensuring that Vi is an inclusive, fair, and welcoming workplace for all. The CEO Action pledge outlines a specific set of actions signatory CEOs will take to cultivate a culture of respect, diversity, equity, and inclusion. Richardson believes that these four commitments are important and concrete steps towards Vis ongoing dedication to supporting a diverse, inclusive and trusting workplace for every employee. Through this pledge, Vi has committed to the following: 1. Vi will continue to make its workplaces safe spaces to have complex, and sometimes difficult, conversations about diversity and inclusion: Vi will create and maintain environments, platforms, and forums where employees feel comfortable reaching out to their colleagues to gain greater awareness of each other's experiences and perspectives. By encouraging an ongoing dialogue and not tolerating any incongruence with these values of openness, Vi is building trust, encouraging compassion and open-mindedness, and reinforcing its commitment to a culture of inclusivity. 2. Vi will implement and expand unconscious bias education: Experts tell us that we all have unconscious biases -- that is human nature. Unconscious bias education enables individuals to begin recognizing, acknowledging, and therefore minimizing any potential blind spots he or she might have, but wasnt aware of previously. Vi will commit to rolling out and/or expanding unconscious bias education within the companies in the form that best fits Vis specific culture and business. By helping employees recognize and minimize their blind spots, Vi aims to facilitate more open and honest conversations. Additionally, Vi will make non-proprietary unconscious bias education modules available to others free of charge. 3. Vi will share bestand unsuccessfulpractices: Each of Vis communities have established strategies and initiatives around diversity and inclusion. Yet, Vi understands that many companies are still developing their strategies. Vi will commit to helping other companies evolve and enhance their current diversity strategies and encourage them, in turn, to share their successes and challenges with others. 4. Vi will create and share strategic inclusion and diversity plans with its board of directors: Vi will work with its board of directors through the development and evaluation of concrete, strategic action plans to prioritize and drive accountability around diversity and inclusion. Vi continues to focus on programs and initiatives towards these commitments. As an example, Vi employees had the opportunity to vote for their top 501(c)(3) philanthropic organizations that champion diversity, equity and inclusion. Employees selected The Equal Justice Initiative, The Trevor Project and My Brothers Keeper as the charities Vi would support in 2020. In addition, Vi continues to work with Risha Grant, an internationally renowned bias, diversity and inclusion expert on educational programs on the topics of diversity, inclusion, unconscious bias, equity, allyship, micro-aggressions and more. Vi is made up of dedicated and talented team members committed to improving the lives of older adults. Blending the best of a five-star resort lifestyle with senior living, Vi operates continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs), which provide residents with independent living as well as a continuum of care on-site, including assisted living, memory support and skilled nursing should the need ever arise. To find out more about the CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion initiative, visit https://www.ceoaction.com/faqs/. ### About Vi Headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, Vi operates 10 continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs) across the United States. With more than 30 years of experience as the owner and operator of residential communities for older adults, Vi continues to work toward providing quality environments, services and programs to enrich the lives of those they serve. Vi is proud to be the recipient of a number of best workplace awards, including Glassdoors 2020 Best Places to Work, and Great Place to Work and Fortunes Best Workplaces for Aging Services. Media Contact Murphy O'Brien 310-586-7180 vi@murphyobrien.com Bob Owen/Staff photographer Governor Greg Abbott is once again looking to ban Austin's homeless camps if city leaders don't. "Contrary to what Austin leaders think no one has a right to urinate & defecate wherever they want," Abbott said in a tweet Wednesday. A week ago, an extraordinary general assembly of the Egyptian Iron and Steel Company decided to liquidate its steel plants and spin off its mining activities. The loss-making company, established in the early 1950s, will have to sell off six million square metres of its land assets to pay off its LE9 billion outstanding debts before liquidation. The decision stirred unprecedented debate between those who support and others who oppose the liquidation, with this reaching the corridors of the House of Representatives. The opposition feeling was so high that the cabinet led by Prime Minister Mustafa Madbouli issued a statement giving the reasons behind the decision to liquidate. The four-page statement revealed the companys finances from 1997 until 2018-2019 based on a study conducted in 2019 by the Holding Company for Metallurgical Industries (MIH), Iron and Steels mother company. Discussion of the fate of the company began when Yasser Al-Hodeibi, deputy head of the Wafd Party and a member of the newly elected Shura Council, presented questions about the reasons for the liquidation in a memo to Madbouli. Were they related to unfixable structural problems, he asked, or management problems? Was there a lack of funding that could be managed, or redundant labour that could be dealt with through early retirement programmes? Why did the iron and steel industry owned by the private sector make a profit, while the public sector was losing money? Unlike the questions raised in the Shura Council, MPs were stern in their questions to the minister of public enterprise. Although parliament had just began its sessions, the issue was the focus of the Planning and Budgeting Committee and the Industry Committee. MP Mustafa Bakri said he would present 150 official documents revealing the intention to liquidate the company, which he described as an edifice of Egypts industrial history. Bakri accused the minister of public enterprise of rejecting offers by foreign companies to overhaul Iron and Steel, stating that the company has 200 million tons of raw iron and its trademark is worth $100 million. He said that the minister of public enterprise had taken up a hostile stance towards the workers and was intent on bringing down the company. Mohamed Badrawi, a member of parliaments Planning and Budget Committee, said the crisis was due to changes by successive managements of the companys responsibilities and their failure to find solutions for accumulated losses. There had been no interest in modernising production lines, he said. Badrawi proposed allocating the LE2 billion the state was planning to offer to workers to finance a strategy to renew the companys production facilities. He added that the company had been making profits until 2007. He also suggested that the state offer facilitated loans from government bodies to buy new equipment. The updated production lines should run on natural gas instead of coal. He requested the revision of deals between the Iron and Steel Company and its coal-production arm, one of the activities that make profits, by consulting with foreign experts. He said the companys activities in producing medical oxygen should be looked at, particularly as it had made large quantities available at the onset of the second wave of the coronavirus. In its statement, the government explained the decision to liquidate the Iron and Steel Company. The company made marginal profits in most years between 1997-98 and 2002-03. These [marginal profits] do not give a correct image of the true situation, however. The company used revisions of its assets [land] worth LE4.092 billion to record gains. The Central Auditing Agency has rejected this method, the statement said. The profits the company made from 2005-06 to 2009-10 were through occasional revenues not related to its main activity, such as carried-over revenues and allocations. If these are taken out, it turns out the profits are actually losses. Government replies to media questions focused on company losses that had reached LE8.5 billion and production capacity that was no more than 10 per cent of designed capacity as a result of the wearing out of production lines. The liquidation was the right decision, it said, asking those who opposed it to set aside their emotions. The same thing was said by former minister of public enterprise Mounir Fakhri Abdel-Nour. In a recent media appearance, he said that the question now is why the company fell down and could not get up again. The answer is simple: it is making losses and doesnt have what it takes to succeed. The companys technology is outdated. Its German production lines were initiated in 1954. In 1961, Soviet lines were added. At that time, production was also weak, but it was able to cover fixed costs. Production was expensive because expenses were enormous. The Ministry of Public Enterprise denied worries concerning the effects of the liquidation on the iron and steel market. The company produces 112,000 tons of steel annually, which is less than one per cent of market capacity. Consumption ranges between seven and eight million tons a year, and Egypts capacity currently stands at 11.8 million tons. It imports about two million tons at prices that are less than those of the iron and steel that is locally produced, the ministry stated. The cabinet said there had been three failed attempts to upgrade the companys facilities in 2014, 2018, and the first quarter of 2019. International companies had been invited to manage it on 20-year contracts with no less than $100 million in incentives and reductions in the workforce and paying off debts that stood at LE6.5 billion at the time. However, such efforts had failed to save the company, it said. *A version of this article appears in print in the 21 January, 2021 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly. Short link: Highlights Lucknow Police is deploying cameras with facial recognition technology that will detect the expressions of women in distress. The AI-driven technology will monitor whether a woman is in distress by recording her facial expression. The initiative has been taken under the Government of Uttar Pradeshs Mission Shakti Initiative which aims to reduce sexual harassment. In order to enhance the security of women, Lucknow Police is deploying cameras with facial recognition technology that will detect the expressions of women in distress. The cameras will first detect the expressions and then inform the nearest police station about a possible threat. The AI-driven technology will monitor whether a woman is in distress by recording her facial expression. The initiative has been taken under the Government of Uttar Pradesh's "Mission Shakti" Initiative which aims to reduce sexual harassment. Lucknow Police Commissioner Dhruv Kumar Thakur has said in a statement that around 200 hotspots have identified where the cameras can be installed. He said that maximum complaints of sexual harassment were received from these specific areas. Initially, only five AI-Enabled cameras will be installed to detect the facial expressions of women, who may be subjected to stalking or eve-teasing. Once the camera detects a distressed expression, the facial recognition technology will alert the police station which is nearest to the woman's location. The cameras will get activated upon detecting unhappy or distressed expressions. "We will set up five AI-based cameras which will be capable of sending an alert to the 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 reach the police," he added. "Lucknow is the only city in Uttar Pradesh which has been selected nationally to be developed as a 'safe city' for women," DK Thakur said. He also revealed that 31 pink booths, 10 patrolling cars, and 100 scooties, managed by women cops have been deployed in the city While this new technology to reduce sexual harassment cases is one of its kind, some of the technology experts have raised valid concerns about the same, and rightly so. Anushka Jain, Associate Counsel at non-profit Internet Freedom Foundation has told Gadgets 360 that accuracy of the systems tracking these expressions cannot be confirmed. "We don't know what expressions they are tracking and how accurate the system of tracking these expressions is. Also, it's not necessary that a person who's making an expression of anger or distress is actually being harassed in a manner wherein police intervention is needed. I could be talking to a friend, and I could get upset over something. And that could also trigger the cameras," she said. It is not always necessary that you will only be distressed if you are stalked or eve-teased, you can be angry or unhappy with your partner or over a fight that has taken place over text messages. There can be way too many reasons and every person reacts differently to different situations. So it remains unclear how the AI-driven cameras will differentiate between genuine and non-genuine situations. CCP Virus Rampant in Chinas Hebei Province, as Vice Premier Blames Religious Gatherings The COVID-19 epidemic is rampant in Chinas Hebei Province. While the source of the latest outbreak of the CCP virus in the province is still unknown, the communist regimes vice premier Sun Chunlan blames religious activities for its spread. Chinese citizens told The Epoch Time that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)s disinformation propaganda of the pandemic and its promotion of an herbal drug to treat COVID-19 might have lowered peoples guard and caused this round of outbreak in the province and surrounding areas. From Jan. 15 to Jan. 18, vice premier Sun Chunlan went to Hebei to supervise how the epidemic control measures were being implemented. This was her second visit, only one week after her last visit on Jan. 6 to Jan. 8. The epidemic situation in the province has been difficult to control since local officials announced the confirmed cases on Jan. 2. The virus quickly spread throughout Xiaoguozhuang village and the surrounding areas in Gaocheng district of Shijiazhuang city, the provincial capital. The CCP virus infections continue to emerge in centralized isolation sites and locked down areas. Gaocheng district of Shijiazhuang is designated as a high-risk area, and nearby cities such as Xinle and Nangong have recently been added to the list, according to a report by Chinese news portal Sohu. Beijings mouthpiece Xinhua covered Suns visit in Hebei. In her speech to the local authorities, Sun admitted that the source of the latest outbreak in Hebei has not been found but blamed places of worship for spreading the CCP virus. She said, It is necessary to learn lessons from the spread of the epidemic caused by religious activities and suspend group activities in religious places of worship and other gathering places. Suns speech contradicts previous announcements by local officials. On Jan. 9, Hebei held a press conference for epidemic prevention. Li Zhanzhu, head of the Shijiazhuang Municipal Bureau of Ethnic and Religious Affairs, refuted a rumor circulating on Chinese social media that claims, European and American priests preached in Gaocheng district and caused the outbreak. Li said, There is currently no evidence that the source of the epidemic is directly related to religious gatherings. Shijiazhuang citys Catholic Patriotic Association and Catholic Diocesewhich are state-sanctioned religious groupsissued a statement to dismiss the rumors. They said the epidemic has nothing to do with them and warned that if the rumors continue, they will pursue legal action to hold social media platforms and individuals accountable for spreading hearsay, according to a report by RFA. Chinese Catholic worshippers kneel and pray during Palm Sunday Mass during the Easter Holy Week at an underground or unofficial church on April 9, 2017 near Shijiazhuang, Hebei Province, China on April 9, 2017. (Kevin Frayer/Getty Images) Chinas Center for Diseases Control and Prevention stated on Jan. 2 that the first confirmed case from the latest round of CCP virus outbreaks in Hebei was a 61-year-old woman from Xiaoguozhuang village, Zengcun town in Gaocheng district of Shijiazhuang. She had attended a local wedding banquet, according to Chinese news portal Sina. The Epoch Times had previously reported that there were at least six wedding banquets and five funerals involving 2,643 people in Gaocheng district, Shijiazhuang last month. Many guests were infected and the virus spread to other provinces. However, Sun didnt mention a word about the weddings, and only emphasized religious activities. Disinformation Campaign The Epoch Times spoke with some residents in the capital city Beijing who shared their observations about the epidemic. Beijing is surrounded by Hebei Province and only 180 miles away from Shijianzhuang. A resident surnamed Liu said that ordinary people, farmers, and workers all listen to the Chinese regimes propaganda, but they are being misled. The CCPs propaganda and media seriously exaggerate the epidemic situation in other countries, which makes many Chinese people think that there is no epidemic in China and they all happen abroad, he said. A resident surnamed Xu said that the CCPs lack of transparency about the initial stages of the COVID-19 outbreak caused a global pandemic. So he does not believe in the official propaganda reports, and he chose to stay at home amid the recent surge in infections. Another Beijing resident surnamed Wu said that the out-of-control epidemic in Hebei is related to the governments promotion of the traditional Chinese medicine Lianhua Qingwen. The herbal medicine is highly recommended as an effective drug to prevent, mitigate, and treat COVID-19, and promoted by Zhong Nanshan, one of Chinas top epidemiologist experts. However, its efficacy is not proven and medical experts have raised concern. Wu pointed out that the pharmaceutical factory that manufactures Lianhua Qingwen is in Shijiazhuang. After the people in Shijiazhuang get their hands on this medicine, they think that when they have a fever, whether its due to the common cold or COVID-19, they will be fine as long as they drink Lianhua Qingwen, which claims to treat both, she said. People in the countryside like to attend gatherings such as weddings and funerals. They think this medicine is effective, so they think that theres no need to go to the hospital, which can be expensive. They didnt have symptoms at the time, so they just went to the wedding banquets. She added, If Zhong Nanshan didnt promote it [Lianhua Qingwen], then the common people would not have bought a few boxes of it and think they are fine [after taking it]. The most important thing [is to find out] whether or not the Lianhua Qingwen is effective. She hopes that Chinas National Medical Products Administration will reconsider its approval of the trial of this herbal medicine. Luo Ya contributed to the report. We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 22nd Jan, 2021 ) :Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral Muhammad Amjad Khan Niazi, during his official visit to Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), called on Chief of General Staff and Commander Royal Saudi Naval Forces. Upon his arrival at Royal Saudi Naval Forces (RSNF) Headquarters Riyadh, Admiral Muhammad Amjad Khan Niazi was received by Commander Royal Saudi Naval Forces Vice Admiral Fahad bin Abdullah Al Ghofaily, said a Pakistan Navy press release received here on Friday. A smartly turned out contingent of RSNF clad in ceremonial dress presented Guard of Honour to the Naval Chief. The Admiral was given comprehensive briefing on RSNF setup and ongoing operations. The Naval Chief also visited their Command and Control Centre. Later, Admiral Muhammad Amjad Khan Niazi called on Chief of General Staff General Fayyad bin Hamid Al Ruwaili and Commander Royal Naval Forces Vice Admiral Fahad bin Abdullah Al Ghofaily in separate meetings. During the interactions, matters of mutual interest and bilateral defence ties were discussed. The dignitaries acknowledged brotherly relations between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia and appreciated the contributions of Pakistan in spearheading various initiatives for maintaining peace and stability in the region. In addition, role of Pakistan Navy in training and capacity building of RSNF was also appreciated. This visit was expected to greatly enhance the bilateral cooperation between both the countries in general and navies in particular. San Mateo County filed a lawsuit against Pacifica Beach Yoga for violating public health orders, the toughest action the county has taken against businesses breaking safety rules in the pandemic. The county alleged in the lawsuit that owner Tommy Antoon has flagrantly refused to abide by various health orders for months, and has offered indoor, mask-free yoga classes, sometimes up to three times a day. All indoor gyms, fitness centers and yoga studios must close in areas covered by the states current stay-at-home orders, imposed after COVID-19 cases threatened to swamp state hospitals. The complaint filed in San Mateo County Superior Court also said Antoon failed to require staff and customers to wear face coverings and observe other safety protocols, and has refused requests by county staff to voluntarily follow public health orders. According to the lawsuit, on Jan. 5, Antoon told a county staffer Ill never close and profanely rejected citations hed been issued, saying he would never pay them. At a court hearing Thursday, Judge Danny Chou granted the countys request for a temporary restraining order to force Pacifica Beach Yoga to immediately shut down. A hearing is set for Feb. 4 and the court will evaluate then whether the preliminary injunction is needed. This business has left us no choice, San Mateo County Counsel John Beiers said in a statement. Our community rightly expects that when its state government imposes shelter in place laws, those laws will be enforced justly and equitably to ensure that everyone is playing by the same rules. Pacifica Beach Yoga did not respond to calls for comment. Posts on the studios Instagram page advertised classes as recently as Saturday, Jan. 16. One post described the classes as mask free, fear free. There have been 26 complaints since late October against Pacifica Beach Yoga alleging health order violations, according to the countys Business Compliance Team, an enforcement group formed in November. As of Jan. 5, the unit has received 1,065 complaints against businesses, of which 72% were abated. It has issued 100 written warnings and 22 citations, county officials previously told The Chronicle. Interactive Vaccine Tracker: Latest developments Detailed information about the coronavirus vaccines as it becomes available. So far, at least nine businesses have been fined as repeat offenders of stay-at-home orders since the County started keeping track of violations in November. They include a bar, a beauty salon, a gas station and several gyms, among others. The Pacifica yoga studio was among them. Fines against Pacifica Beach Yoga totaled $3,750, including a $250 citation in November for advertising mask-free hot yoga, and another $500 fine in December for operating indoors. We have a simple and clear message here in San Mateo County: Wear your damn mask, David Canepa, president of the countys Board of Supervisors, said in a statement. Its not about you. Its about everyone around you, including your friends, your loved ones and the people you dont even know who you come in contact with. Shwanika Narayan is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: shwanika.narayan@sfchronicle.com Twitter, Instagram: @shwanika Ricardo started photographing the Amazon forest and made contact with the native tribe. Since then, he has been trying to find ways to highlight the diversity and richness of the indigenous culture, as well as emphasize the importance of indigenous peoples in protecting the forests. CDC epidemiologist Jennifer Lehman, left, and a colleague from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment work at a drive-through COVID-19 testing center in Denver in March 2020. In mid-March, as COVID-19 cases were rising across the globe, Colorado opened one of the first drive-through COVID-19 testing sites in the United States. Jennifer Lehman, a CDC epidemiologist, was deployed to help the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) run this effort. Lehman hoped to help increase the states testing capacity and support the state in slowing the spread of the virus. However, she did not expect to become the subject of a widely recognized photo used by news outlets and a medical technology company. The first day of drive-through testing ran smoothly. Each person was required to have a healthcare providers note in order to get tested. The number of people requiring tests was manageable, and everyone waited patiently in their cars for their turn. Then came day two. As Jennifer and her colleagues arrived at CDPHEs lab in east Denver to begin the day, cars were already lined up around the block waiting for the site to open. Reporters and photographers stood in every corner of public property: in the grass, between cars, and crouched on sidewalks. She recalls people looking visibly sick as they waited in line for several hours. The sun pounded down on the staff in their personal protective equipment and on people in their parked cars. The staff werent expecting a crowd of this size. As Jennifer and her team tried to keep patients happy and hydrated, a photographer crouched on the ground with a massive professional camera snapped a photo of her and her CDPHE colleague in action. After an exhausting day of testing, Jennifer went home and got on the computer. As she searched for the Colorado drive-through testing site, she discovered a news article with her photo. She remembers thinking, How very cool. Then the photo started circulating on popular news outlets. First it appeared on CNN, then Vox, then Good Morning America. Jennifer decided to track down the photo to get a copy for herself. Jennifer figured out that the photo was available on Getty Images, and she contacted the photographer. After several attempts, Jennifer finally got a copy. Soon after, Jennifer and her colleague were contacted by Getty Images regarding a contract with a medical technology company to use the image in a print ad. That high-profile marketing effort led to an opportunity for her to donate money to charity. When the company purchased the photo from Getty, Getty offered to pay Jennifer a fee. But, being a full-time government employee, Jennifer wasnt permitted to accept payment. Instead, Getty offered to donate the money to two charities of Jennifers choice. Jennifer walks by the framed photo when she gets home each evening. It was a Mothers Day gift from her husband, and a reminder of the long hours spent trying to save lives and flatten the curve. Working on a response can be chaotic. Everything is constantly changing and each morning you go in not knowing what the day will hold, says Jennifer. You just have to jump in and be willing to help with whatever is needed. The Treasury Department and IRS are working to get unclaimed economic relief payments to as many as 8 million households that havent yet received their due. The undertaking, announced by the agencies Friday, is part of a broader initiative started by President Joe Bidens executive order mobilizing the full federal government on various parts of Covid-19 relief and will include a web tool to help people find out if theyre eligible. Much of the focus is on people not required to file tax returns. This is principally an issue associated with people who are non-filers, so theyre not filing income taxes in most cases because they dont make enough to need to file federal income taxes, National Economic Council Director Brian Deese said at a White House press briefing. The planned online portal is an outgrowth of the existing IRS non-filer website established last year to help ensure names and contact information were registered for payments. Initial payments were distributed based on the past two years of tax return filings, but not all eligible recipients were in those databases since not everyone has to file tax returns. Still waiting: Treasury and the IRS led two rounds of direct payments to individuals and households last year, the first following coronavirus aid legislation in March, the CARES Act, and then again after follow-up legislation was enacted in December. A variety of hitches, though, prevented millions of eligible recipients from quickly getting the money they were owed, and many are still waiting. As many as 8 million households may be eligible for but have not yet received payments from the CARES Act signed in March; many of these households could be legally entitled to as much as $1,200 per adult, according to a department fact sheet outlining the plan. The goal is to swiftly get money out the door to help eligible recipients who for various reasons havent accessed their payments. Other channels: In addition to the web tool, Treasury and the IRS will also reissue unclaimed economic relief payments from last year. Story continues Hundreds of thousands of checks and debit cards authorized by the CARES Act were never cashed or activated. Some were accidentally thrown away. Debit cards, for example, were mailed in discreet envelopes that many people thought was junk mail or scam offers so they tossed them in the trash. In addition to reissuing them, while turning off previously issued debit cards when new payments are made to help prevent fraud, Treasury and the IRS will also take outreach steps to encourage those who didnt claim their benefits to do so on their 2020 tax returns due this year. More education and awareness are needed in some cases, Deese said, noting plans to continue partnering with non-government groups to reach those missing out. The IRS worked through similar partnerships last year, too. The underlying outreach will also attempt to connect with people who dont have Internet access, or limited access, as well as those who dont speak English. Treasury and the IRS also plan to better target unserved households by leveraging information like addresses and zip codes on beneficiaries of other government assistance programs to pinpoint some whove missed payments. Separate action: In addition to directing Covid-19 relief via executive order, Biden is taking other actions including quickly rescinding an executive order affecting Treasury and IRS personnel involved in tax regulations. Lawmakers lauded Bidens decision to eliminate the new Schedule F worker classification for all federal employees who work on regulations across the government, which would have stripped them of many labor protections. Former President Donald Trump issued the directive in October, telling agencies to start the Schedule F recharacterization on Jan. 19. Critics said it would have effectively made rule-making federal employees the equivalent of political appointees a negative for collecting taxes. The Ways and Means Committee previously called for this to be done, as it will preserve the nonpartisan nature of tax administration and limit the politicization of the federal governments civil service, Chair Richard Neal (D-Mass.) said in a statement. Since COVID-19 struck, Bob Bruce has lost half of his business at the reassuringly old-school, 44-lane Astro Super Bowl on Harry Wurzbach Road, but he says hes still in the black and can hold on until things get back to normal. But normal for this former KTSA radio host who will turn 75 next month may be a lot harder to attain now that Donald Trump has lost his reelection bid to Joe Bidens substantial Electoral College margin and popular majority of more than 7 million votes. Like many Republicans, Bruce believes the election was stolen, despite the failure of 50 lawsuits attempting to make that argument, Republican judges who rejected some of those lawsuits and Republican elections officials who certified the results in several battleground states. I voted for Trump twice, said Bruce on Wednesday as Joe and Jill Biden rode down Pennsylvania Avenue to the White House and the exploding noise of bowling pins echoed around his house real bowlers dont say alley. His deep professional radio voice is measured, not shrill. Hes angry, but resigned to some level of political reality. Trumps hand has been played, but I would like to see him remain active (in national politics). Id like him giving the other side of the story. We wont be getting that from (former Senate Majority Leader) Mitch McConnell. Im done with that son of a bitch. A small sampling of local Republicans told the Express-News this week that they remained ardent supporters of Trump and do not know anyone in their group of friends who thinks the Republican brand has been damaged by the Trump-led violence at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, including the beating death of a police officer trying to stop the mob. Lynne Sladky /Associated Press On the contrary, they believe the Capitol storming, vandalism and deaths were orchestrated by the vaguely-defined anti-fascist group, antifa. Yes, absolutely, I believe that, said Stuart Knowlton, a former U.S. Army captain and electronics firm owner who now serves as an Atascosa County Commissioner. Interviewed on his way home, outside Jourdanton, Knowlton said video from the Capitol riot convinces him and other Republicans that the mob was not composed of legitimate Trump supporters. Look at their garb, he said. Ive been to a Trump rally. Ive been on a Trump Train down in the Valley. Ive never seen anyone dressed like these alleged rioters. Knowlton minimized the violence - It wasnt as bad as a normal night in Washington, D.C., he said, and was blown out of proportion by the liberal media. He chuckled at a popular Trump crowd taunt online: The 30,000 National Guard troops in Washington D.C. was the largest crowd Biden has ever drawn. What about the riots after Trump got elected in 2016? he asked. Was anyone asking if the burning of those buildings, all the breaking of windows, would damage the image of the Democratic Party? I agree that its bad some people got killed (at the Capitol), but the whole thing lasted less than three hours. Bruce concurred. They were infiltrated by antifa people. The people who support Trump are not for violence. I dont see any extremism in Trump. Show me the extremism. Hes just vocal. Whos the most vocal on the planet? The hard left. Black Lives Matter. Antifa. They have ugly things to say. On ExpressNews.com: San Antonio man charged in Capitol riot appears in federal court Bruce said he attended the University of Texas as part of a generation that marched with Martin Luther King, Jr. I dont remember anything as vividly as I remember the Seattle riots (last summer in protest of police killings). What Trump has done has been really productive. He has talked about criminal justice reform. Ive got a lot of black friends. Bruce said his two most trusted sources of news were the One America News Network, an eight-year-old California-based operation that bills itself as a supporter of Trump and traffics in falsehoods and conspiracy theories, and The Epoch Times, a pro-Trump, anti-China media outlet financed by members of Falun Gong, a religious movement persecuted in China for years. I will not watch CNN or MSNBC, Bruce said. Not watching any of the inauguration on TV - I was reading my Bible and the Constitution, - was Deana Abiassi, 58, a homemaker and mother of three who is now the communications director for the Bexar County Republican Party. She told a reporter seeking her views that she was recording the phone call. Theres been no proof (that the Capitol riot was connected to Trump supporters). It was well organized by a group (antifa) before that day, but not by any Republican Party groups. What happened has been widely condemned by leaders of the Republican Party. I condemn it personally. Destruction and mayhem is not a Republican principle. They support police and law and order. The assistant director of the Washington, D.C. field office of the FBI, Steven DAntuono, has said there was no indication of antifa supporters participating in the Capitol riot. The non-profit PolitiFact and major news organizations came to the same conclusion, that social media posts and public records show the overwhelming majority of those facing criminal charges are Trump supporters, including Republican officials and donors along with members of far-right militant and extremist groups. Texas Take: Get the latest news on Texas politics sent directly to your inbox every weekday The trio of local Republicans dont buy the notion that enough of the GOP was so repulsed by the behavior of Trump and his supporters that day that the party risks fracturing. But they do see some defectors. Knowlton said prominent Republicans who have recently decided to condemn Trump, such as McConnell, the Kentucky senator who is now the Senate minority leader, and U.S. Rep. Liz Cheney of Wyoming, were part of the swamp Trump once vowed to remove from Washington, no different from longtime GOP critics of Trump such as former U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell. We will lose the Rinos, absolutely, said Knowlton, using the acronym for Republicans In Name Only, a term that has long been applied to party moderates by those of its more conservative wing. The only reason country club Republicans expressed any support (for Trump) is because the grassroots were really for him. If they turn on Trump supporters, they are in deep trouble. Bruce doesnt know of any local Republicans jumping ship, and said he hopes to attend a February meeting of the GOPs congressional ultra-conservatives, the Freedom Caucus, in St. Petersburg, Fla. PETE MAROVICH /NYT Mitch McConnell and his political PAC are gonna lose some money for what hes done, he said. Four years from now, said Bruce, hed like to see Ted Cruz as President. Ditto for Knowlton, who said he thinks Cruz might have actually gained votes with his vocal support of Trumps claims of a fraudulent election. On ExpressNews.com: The Trump effect showed up in heavily Hispanic Texas border counties The bigger story in Texas is this, said Knowlton, I was riding that Trump Train in Roma, Texas, down to Rio Grande City and I heard a lot of young Hispanics telling me how they were gonna turn the Valley red for Trump. I thought they were crazy, but they almost did. Asked if she could accept that Joe Biden was fairly elected President, Abiassi paused and carefully phrased her response. I think Joe Biden is the elected President of the United States, she said. I respect the rule of law. She said she was saddened by the way Trump was treated and the loss of faith by some in the process of presidential elections. But Republicans have nothing to be ashamed of, she said, asserting without evidence that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and U.S. Rep. Maxine Waters of California have supported violence but that Democrats arent held accountable. Linking the violence of Jan. 6 to Republicans wont hold, Abiassi said. Theres been a lot of name-calling surrounding that day. That doesnt reflect on the Republican Party and what we stand forWe stand on principle. We always will. bselcraig@express-news.net Los Angeles, Jan 22 : Amid much speculation, the Daniel Craig-starrer James Bond adventure, No Time To Die, has been delayed yet again. An update on the official Twitter handle of the film on Friday stated that Craigs final outing as Agent 007 has now been pushed to October 8 for a theatrical release. "NO TIME TO DIE 8 October 2021," the post read. The film was originally scheduled to open on April 2. The release has been pushed amid the ongoing pandemic, with theatres still trying to recover business post lockdown. The film, directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga, was originally scheduled for release in April 2020, but was pushed to November last year owing to the Covid-19 pandemic. The release date was subsequently changed to April 2021. The recent push is being viewed as a move that will soon be adapted by other studios, and usher in another wave of delays for the big films. The new delay of the Bond film has already started shuffling the Hollywood release calendar. Jared Leto's superhero adventure Morbius has been delayed again to avoid clash with the Bond film. A Spider-Man spinoff, Morbius was slated to release on October 8. It has now moved to January 21, 2022. No Time To Die brings back Craig as the iconic spy James Bond for his final outing. The 25th Bond adventure will see Craig revisiting his past, bringing it to the present in order to save the future. The trailer comes with a tagline: "The mission that changes everything begins". The film also features Rami Malek as the new Bond villain, Safin, and brings back Lea Seydoux as Dr. Madeleine Swann, Ben Whishaw as Q, Ralph Fiennes as M, Naomie Harris as Moneypenny and Jeffrey Wright as CIA agent Felix Leiter. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text The (RBI) on Friday proposed to introduce a scale-based regulatory framework for non-banking financial companies (NBFC) to segregate larger entities and expose them to a stricter set of bank-like rules. This is aimed at protecting financial stability while ensuring that smaller continue to enjoy light-touch regulations and grow with ease. In a discussion paper released on its website, the central bank suggested a four-tier pyramid structure for the sector. There will be a base layer (NBFC-BL), which will have with an asset size of up to Rs 1,000 crore, accommodating more than 95 per cent of the non-deposit taking shadow lenders. This layer will continue to enjoy regulatory arbitrage. Above this base layer will sit a middle layer (NBFC-ML), where regulations will be stricter than now. On top of that, in the upper layer (NBFC-UL), 25-30 can be accommodated. They will have bank-like regulations as they have swelled in their sizes and become the largest set of borrowers from the financial system with deep interconnectedness, which can threaten financial stability. The layer will be populated by NBFCs that have large potential for a systemic spillover of risks and have the ability to impact financial stability. There is no parallel for this layer at present, as this will be a new layer for regulation. The regulatory framework for NBFCs falling in this layer will be bank-like, albeit with suitable and appropriate modifications, the discussion paper said. At the very top, there will be a few NBFCs that will be subjected to the regulations proposed specifically for them. The top layer will essentially be those NBFCs in the upper layer that can pose extreme risks. Thus, they must be put to significantly higher and bespoke regulatory/supervisory requirements. The base layer will comprise non-deposit taking NBFCs, while the middle layer will be populated by non-deposit taking but systemically important NBFCs, deposit taking NBFCs, housing companies, and others. The regulatory regime for this layer shall be stricter compared to the base layer, and adverse regulatory arbitrage vis-a-vis banks can be addressed for NBFCs falling in this layer in order to reduce systemic risk spillovers, where required, the paper said. Considering that the RBI closely monitors the top 50 NBFCs, the upper and top layers will be scrutinised in a granular manner as these NBFCs alone can destabilise the entire financial system, as was seen when IL&FS started defaulting in 2018. A host of parameters such as size, leverage, interconnectedness, substitutability, complexity, nature of activity of the NBFC, etc, will be considered to identify NBFCs that can be shifted to the top layer. ALSO READ: NBFCs seek continued liquidity support in upcoming Union Budget According to the paper, the top 10 NBFCs, in terms of their asset size, will anyway reside in the upper layer, irrespective of any other factor. A total of not more than 25 to 30 NBFCs will occupy this layer. All the regulations applicable to the middle-layer NBFCs will be applicable to the upper layer also. The regulations of the upper-layer NBFCs will be tuned on similar lines as those for banks, though providing for the unique business model of NBFCs as also preserving flexibility of their operations. These upper-layer NBFCS will have to maintain 9 per cent tier-1 capital, and will have to maintain cash reserve requirements as well as other leverage requirements. Also, the large exposure framework that is applicable to banks, such as 25 per cent of tier 1 capital for single borrowers and 40 per cent of the capital for group borrowers must be introduced for the upper-layer NBFCs. There will be suitable transition time for the implementation for the existing NBFCs. When it comes to corporate governance of these NBFCs, the paper says they need to maintain highest corporate governance standards and a diffused ownership structure to minimise the possibility of abuse of dominance. Also, they should fix sensitive sector exposures (SSE) ceilings based on internal board approved policy. ALSO READ: Economy getting over pandemic, growth headed for 'glorious summer': RBI Apart from proposed framework for SSE suggested for NBFCs in this layer, the question considered is whether limits should be placed also on exposure to other specific sectors of the economy. Considering the unique nature of NBFCs, it will be incumbent upon the board of NBFCs to determine internal exposure limits on other important sectors, the paper said. As far as the top layer is concerned, it is supposed to remain empty, but the RBI can populate it with upper-layer NBFCs if they are of the view that there has been unsustainable increase in the systemic risk spillovers from specific NBFCs in the upper layer. NBFCs in this layer will be subject to higher capital charge, including capital conservation buffers. There will be enhanced and more intensive supervisory engagement with these NBFCs. This will offer a framework for any NBFC to grow in size and complexity, provided it is able to build up capital commensurate with the additional risks and subject itself to intense supervisory scrutiny, it said. In other highlights, the discussion paper proposed that NBFCs with 10 or more branches should mandatorily be required to adopt core banking solution (CBS). It sought to increase the threshold for NBFCs to get classified systemically important from Rs 500 crore to Rs 1,000 crore. Out of the 9,425 non-deposit taking NBFCs, 9,133 NBFCs have asset size of less than Rs 500 crore. Hence, if the current threshold of systemic significance is raised to Rs 1,000 crore, the number of NBFCs in this layer would go up by 76 to 9,209, which would populate the base layer, the paper said. While this layer would continue to enjoy easy regulations, the NPA recognition norm would be reduced to 90 days from 180 days now. ALSO READ: Reliance Industries Q3 consolidated PAT at Rs 13,101 cr, up 12.5% YoY While the paper kept the capital adequacy ratio unchanged at 15 per cent, the paper proposed bank-like single exposure norms for NBFCs too in their lending operations. So, the paper said there should be single exposure limit of 25 per cent for single borrowers and 40 per cent for a group of borrowers anchored to the NBFCs Tier 1 capital. The paper proposed that in the middle layer, statutory auditors can be kept for three years before they are rotated with other auditors. The same auditor cannot come back from another six years after their three-year contract ends. The NBFCs in this category have to appoint a functionally independent chief compliance officer. The compensation packages of the management should be like that of private banks where excessive risk taking is discouraged. WASHINGTON Hours after President Bidens inauguration on Wednesday, change was already visible in the Oval Office, where Biden was photographed at the Resolute Desk, signing a pile of executive orders while wearing a black coronavirus mask. It was a stark contrast from Bidens predecessor, Donald Trump, who, along with his top aides, rarely wore a mask inside the White House. Bidens use of masks in the West Wing is one of many ways he and his team say they plan to establish strict protocols in an effort to keep the White House safe and set an example for the rest of the country. President Biden and his administration are leading by example in following COVID-19 safety protocols, and hes calling on all Americans to join him by taking basic steps like wearing masks and social distancing to stop the spread of the virus, a White House spokesperson told Yahoo News. Under Trump, the White House was the site of repeated outbreaks of COVID-19 that saw over 40 cases among staffers and top allies. The former president himself suffered an infection that put him in the hospital for three days. Among others who tested positive for the coronavirus during his time in office were first lady Melania Trump, press secretary Kayleigh McEnany and multiple members of Congress who attended West Wing events. Along with eschewing masks, Trump and his team regularly held large events at the White House and on the campaign trail in defiance of local social distancing regulations. On Tuesday, the final full day of Trumps presidency, the U.S. death toll from the pandemic reached 400,000. President Biden speaking at the White House on Thursday. (Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images) During the transition, Bidens team said he would implement some key measures to create a safe workplace for every single member of White House staff, including mandatory masks for staff, limited numbers of people working out of the West Wing, vaccines for people who will be in close proximity to the President or Vice President, and regular testing for all staff working in the complex. One of the executive orders Biden signed on Wednesday required masks on all federal property and lands. The following day he signed another order mandating masks in airports and on some public transportation. Trumps administration had inconsistently promoted infection-control measures such as social distancing, but refused to impose mask mandates. Biden himself has been criticized for briefly appearing maskless at the Lincoln Memorial during the inauguration celebrations. Story continues Asked about the new COVID protocols in the West Wing, a spokesperson pointed to comments White House press secretary Jen Psaki made in her first briefing, just hours after Wednesdays inauguration. What I can speak to of the steps were all taking to make sure that we are safe those include daily testing when were in the White House. It includes wearing N95 masks. ... It includes stringent rules about social distancing and abiding by that in the building that keeps us safe, Psaki said, adding, The president has asked us to also be models to the American people, and thats vitally important to us as well. So there are a number of new COVID steps, precautions, that weve put in place as of today. White House press secretary Jen Psaki. (Ken Cedeno/CNP/Bloomberg via Getty Images) One of the new measures involves Psakis briefings. During the Trump administration, only the small group of pool reporters who accompany the president each day were given coronavirus tests. Since Biden took office, there has been universal testing for the full contingent of the press corps who come to work in the West Wing each day. The White House spokesperson noted that many staffers are working from home and connecting with colleagues virtually. There is testing and a universal masking requirement for those who come in to work at the White House complex. Many of the presidents top aides, including Ron Klain, Jen Psaki, Kate Bedingfield, Jeff Zients, Cedric Richmond, Jake Sullivan and Brian Deese, are working in the West Wing and the White House campus with appropriate COVID precautions in place, including regular testing, universal masking and other safety measures. Additional aides are working from home and using a variety of tools to stay in touch and carry out their work, the spokesperson said. The White House is being tight-lipped about its COVID protocols. The spokesperson declined to comment on whether there is universal testing for everyone who enters the complex, the percentage of staff working from home and whether a videoconferencing system is being used. Last month, prior to Bidens inauguration, an Associated Press report suggested that virtual meetings would be difficult since popular consumer programs like Zoom and Google Meet are prohibited on White House computers. However, Bidens team is indeed conducting meetings via videoconferencing, though it is unclear what program they are using. Biden swears in appointees during a virtual ceremony at the White House on Wednesday. (Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images) On Wednesday evening, the president swore in dozens of appointees and staffers who appeared on a screen in the White House dining room. A Biden White House source also confirmed meetings are being conducted via videoconference. And some public events have also gone virtual. On Thursday, first lady Jill Biden held a live-streamed event to honor the work of educators. It was one of the first wholly virtual White House events since the coronavirus pandemic began last year. Ahead of the inauguration, Axios reported that staff in the West Wing received guidance that they would need to keep 6 feet apart. That means some offices that usually have bullpen seating would host only a single employee. The guidance also said some staff would be updated about potential opportunities for vaccination. The Biden White House source said rooms in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, which sits across from the West Wing inside the White House complex, have become solo offices as large portions of the workforce stay home. For the people that are in the office, we are taking precautions. We are masked, we are socially distanced. Theres one person per office, said the source. Were wearing N95s, theres hand sanitizer everywhere. Everyone here is taking the utmost caution. According to the source, staffers havent been told about plans for vaccinations. Were just working, the source said. _____ Read more from Yahoo News: That call came in a Dec. 17 letter signed by AAFP Board Chair Gary LeRoy, M.D., of Dayton, Ohio, that was sent to ONC National Coordinator Don Rucker, M.D. The letter was sent in response to a request for comments on the agencys interim final rule Information Blocking and the ONC Health IT Certification Program: Extension of Compliance Dates and Timeframes in Response to the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency. In the rule, ONC acknowledged the urgent conditions created by the COVID-19 pandemic and emphasized its understanding that caring for patients with COVID-19 is of utmost importance to the nations physicians. Accordingly, the agency announced, the information blocking compliance deadline for physicians, other clinicians and health care organizations would be extended from Nov. 2, 2020, to April 5, 2021. The Academy welcomed the agencys move, saying it strongly supports delaying the applicability date of information blocking regulations for physicians. But more is needed, the letter stated. Given the latest surge in COVID-19 cases across the nation, we recommend that ONC further extend this delay through the end of the national public health emergency or until July 31, 2021, whichever comes later. Armenias Minister of Environment Romanos Petrosyan today received the delegation led by Head of the Delegation of the European Union in Armenia, Ambassador Andrea Wiktorin. Greeting the guests, the minister emphasized that he attaches great importance to the close cooperation with international partners, European countries and particularly EU member states for environmental management. In her turn, Wiktorin expressed gratitude for accepting the offer to meet during the difficult post-war era. During the meeting, the parties discussed a number of issues on Armenia-EU cooperation in the environmental sector and the upcoming programs and projects. The minister touched upon the 44-day war in Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) that not only caused human casualties and humanitarian losses, but also led to the emergence of serious environmental issues and changes of the priorities earmarked in the environmental sector. Petrosyan presented the top three issues that need to be solved first, including restoration of the ecosystem of Lake Sevan; systemic management, protection and conservation of forested areas, forests and specially protected natural areas and structuring of the right model of balanced relations between the business environment and the environment in special protected natural areas. The minister emphasized that the EU has vast experience in these areas and that the Ministry of Environment anticipates the use of this experience and active support from its partners. Wiktorin expressed confidence that Armenia, which has resisted challenges (the war and the consequences of COVID-19) will be able to recover and implement the programs in a short period of time. She also underscored the scope of opportunities provided in the EU-Armenia Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement and stressed the EUs willingness to support the Government of Armenia to implement its priorities effectively. India may scrap its e-commerce policy after questions over its rationale were raised by certain sections within the government due to lack of unanimity. The policy aims to provide the regulator guidelines on law enforcement, law and order, individual safety, security and taxation, and seeks disclosure on source code to monitor digital biases. The policy might get scrapped as there is no convergence on certain issues. The minister questioned the real rationale for the policy, an official - who was part of the inter-ministerial meeting held on January 21 - told The Economic Times. Moneycontrol could not independently verify the report. The proposed policy is not clear as to purpose and in its current form is more like a broad document detailing the state of play in the ecommerce sector, the official added. They said the inter-ministerial group consisted of the Agriculture Ministry, Corporate Affairs Ministry, Electronics and IT Ministry and the Finance Ministry. All ministries concerned and regulators were present in the meeting, another official said. Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal was also a part of the group. The consultation meeting was organised by the Department of Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) to discuss the draft policy, decide on a sector regulator and implement a new law seeking to limit data storage by e-commerce companies, the report said. Various ministers discussed the reach and the role of the proposed regulator, and legislative overlaps related to policy specifications on consumer data storage, it added. Talk of scrapping the policy comes as the European Union came out with its Digital Markets Act, which can be a good starting point for India, an expert told the paper. Jill Biden held her first solo event as first lady on Thursday night, holding a zoom call with educators to praise their work during the pandemic. 'As a fellow educator and your first lady welcome to the White House,' she said in her opening. On the 22-minute call, Biden revealed she taught her community college class the morning she and the president left for Washington D.C. for his inauguration, joked it's 'funny' to call her husband President Biden, and vowed the administration would help schools fight the pandemic. Jill Biden, dressed in a cherry red dress and pearls, hit the ground running on her first full day in the White House. She joined President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and second gentleman Doug Emhoff in attending a virtual interfaith prayer service Thursday morning. Then held her event Thursday night. Jill Biden held her first solo event as first lady on Thursday night, holding a zoom call with educators Jill Biden hit ground running her first full day as first lady; above she joined President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and second gentleman Doug Emhoff in attending a virtual interfaith prayer service It's a marked contrast to her predecessor, Melania Trump. Melania Trump stayed in New York for the first few months of her husband's administration so their son could finish out the school year there. Her first event was a short speech at International Women of Courage ceremony at the State Department on March 29, 2017, followed by an appearance at the annual White House Easter Egg roll in April. Jill Biden, who said she would continue her teaching job alongside her first lady duties, told the educators on the call she is currently teaching this semester. She teaches writing at Northern Virginia Community College, where she taught full-time as second lady throughout the Obama administration. 'I am teaching hybrid this semester myself. And I have to tell you, you know, I, the one thing I love about educators, is that we all, I think, help one another. And so I had to take the hybrid training. And actually, on Tuesday morning, before we got on the plane to come to Washington, I was actually teaching my class,' she told them. She also outlined a list of promises her husband had made for educators and schools: hiring more counselors nurses and custodial staff, reducing class sizes, scaling up COVID testing in schools, promoting access to vaccines for educators and providing funding to state and local governments. And she joked it was funny to call her husband of 43 years the president. 'I mean it's funny to call on President Biden,' she said after repeatedly referring to him as 'Joe.' On the virtual call with educators, Jill Biden told educators her husband would help them and their schools fight the COVID pandemic Joe Biden and his family made a stylish statement while posing in front of the statue of Abraham Lincoln the night he was inauguration: Son-in-law Howard, granddaughters Natalie and Maisy, daughter Ashley, wife Jill, granddaughters Finnegan and Naomi, and grandson Hunter Jill Biden joked it was funny to call her husband of 43 years the president Biden is the first modern first lady to balance an outside job alongside her ceremonial role. She already has announced some of her plans for her time in the East Wing. In addition to work on education issues, she has revived Joining Forces, her initiative for military families that she started with Michelle Obama when she was second lady. She was subject of controversy before she sat foot in the White House when the Wall Street Journal published an op-ed from writer Joseph Epstein that called for her to drop the honorific 'Doctor' from her name. It caused an immediate backlash on social media. She told Stephen Colbert in response that 'One of the things I'm most proud of is my doctorate. I mean I worked so hard for it.' Jill Biden didn't bring up the controversy on the call where she was joined by Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, and Becky Pringle, president of the National Education Association. Both women referred to Biden as 'Doctor Biden' during the conversation. 'I love using Doctor Biden before your name,' Weingarten told her. 'Thank you,' Jill Biden said. 'It's interesting to have had that tussle with the Wall Street Journal, because in that moment, teachers all across America said, Dr. Biden is a doctor. She earned that doctorate. That doctorate was something that she earned in education. And that shows our respect for her,' Weingarten said. Biden ended her call with a peep talk for teachers who have been struggling to hold classes online and in person during the pandemic. 'This is our moment, because we know how to turn chaos into something beautiful. We do it every day in our classrooms,' she said. 'We know how to be a light in the darkness and Joe is going to be a champion for you. Because he knows that's the best way to serve our students. Together we are going to transform our nation's education system. And when we do that, we will change the course of our future forever. And if you ever wonder if it's possible. Just remember that the First Lady of the United States is one of your own,' she concluded. PC Michael Warren, 37, passed away on Tuesday after it was confirmed he had contracted the Covid-19 earlier in the week A father-of-two policeman has died after testing positive for Covid-19 - as colleagues pay tribute to the 'kind, genuine and enthusiastic' officer. PC Michael Warren, 37, passed away on Tuesday after it was confirmed he had contracted the virus earlier in the week. As he was classed as 'vulnerable', PC Warren had been shielding at home, but he had endeavoured to log on remotely to help his colleagues. It is not clear what underlying health problem he had. PC Warren is survived by his wife Vicky, his children Eden, eight, and Joseph, five, and both his parents. He had been with the Metropolitan Police for more than 15 years, and was most recently attached to the Met's Territorial Support Group. The father-of-two is believed to be the first serving Met officer to have died after being diagnosed with the coronavirus since the start of the pandemic. Commissioner Dame Cressida Dick said earlier this week that three other colleagues, including a police community support officer, have also died. Met Taskforce Chief Superintendent Karen Findlay, today paid tribute to PC Warren, describing the father-of-two as a 'lovely, genuine and hard-working' officer. She said: 'To lose his life at the young age of 37 is truly heart-breaking and my deepest thoughts and sympathies are with all who knew him, particularly his parents Pauline and Alan, his partner Vicky and their lovely children. 'Mike was a devoted father and a good police officer. Across the Met and the TSG he was a friend to many of his colleagues. 'He had a dry sense of humour and was often the heart and soul of a team in a TSG carrier. Metropolitan Police Commissioner Dame Cressida Dick previously said she is 'baffled' that frontline officers are not closer to the front of the Covid-19 vaccine queue The Mayor of London Sadiq Khan paid tribute to PC Warren on Friday, writing: 'My heart goes out to the entire @MetPoliceUK family following the tragic loss of PC Michael Warren to Covid-19' 'Outside of work, he was a passionate Spurs fan and dedicated his spare time to one of his life's other passions, motorbikes. 'Mike's passion for policing and serving the communities of London was unwavering, even after he started shielding at home so he could focus on his health given the current risk of Covid-19. 'He regularly went above and beyond to support his TSG colleagues virtually, doing anything he could to add value our policing family has lost a kind, genuine and enthusiastic police officer. 'He was very much motivated to return to frontline duties, and he regularly spoke about how he looked forwarded to putting his uniform back on and going out on patrol with his colleagues. 'His death is a bitterly stark and upsetting reminder of the human impact of this virus, I know we will all miss him dearly.' The Mayor of London Sadiq Khan also paid tribute to PC Warren on Friday, writing: 'My heart goes out to the entire @MetPoliceUK family following the tragic loss of PC Michael Warren to Covid-19. 'My deepest condolences to his family, friends and colleagues who continue to work tirelessly on the frontline. They are the very best of us and we are in their debt.' It comes as Dame Cressida Dick said she is 'baffled' that frontline officers are not closer to the front of the queue to receive the Covid-19 vaccine. Home Secretary Priti Patel promised the Government 'will absolutely work' to prioritise police in the vaccine rollout, but has not given a timescale for when officers could expect to receive their first dose. Home Secretary Priti Patel promised the Government 'will absolutely work' to prioritise police in the vaccine rollout When asked whether she wanted to see officers 'bumped up the queue', Ms Patel told BBC Radio 4 on Wednesday: 'It is police, fire and other frontline workers, and the Health Secretary and myself are working to absolutely make that happen - I'll be very clear about that. 'This isn't just something we are thinking about. There is a lot of work taking place in Government right now.' Earlier this week, a Dorset Police officer who tested positive for coronavirus was hospitalised after working to disperse crowds at an anti-lockdown protest in Bournemouth. Dorset Police Federation said the PC, 40, became unwell on Tuesday, adding he was being treated for a suspected blood clot on his lung. Anna Harvey, chairwoman of Dorset Police Federation, said the hospitalisation was a 'stark reminder of the extra risks our officers are facing on a daily basis'. 'It saddens me to say that there is every chance this officer would not be in this position if police officers had been prioritised for the Covid-19 vaccine,' she said. 'Warm words about how brave police officers are from the Government are not enough. Police officers are being put at risk.' She added: 'What I want now from the Government is action. We hear from the Home Secretary today that the police service is being told to 'get ready' for the vaccine. 'But when will officers actually get the vaccine so that no more of our colleagues end up in hospital?' New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will interact with beneficiaries and vaccinators of the COVID-19 inoculation drive in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh on Friday. The interaction between the PM, beneficiaries and vaccinators would take place around 1:15 PM via video conferencing. According to reports, those who will interact with the PM will share their first-hand experience of COVID-19 vaccination. 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 world`s largest vaccination drive, the Prime Ministers Office (PMO) said. "The worlds largest vaccination drive is underway in India. Our frontline warriors are getting vaccinated across the nation. At 1:15 PM tomorrow, 22nd January, I would interact with beneficiaries and vaccinators of Covid vaccination drive in Varanasi, via video conferencing," Prime Minister Modi said in a tweet. The worlds largest vaccination drive is underway in India. Our frontline warriors are getting vaccinated across the nation. At 1:15 PM tomorrow, 22nd January, I would interact with beneficiaries and vaccinators of Covid vaccination drive in Varanasi, via video conferencing. Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 21, 2021 On January 16, the Prime Minister had launched Indias vaccination drive against the novel coronavirus via video conferencing. Billed as the worlds largest vaccination program, covering the entire length and breadth of the country, the drive aims to first inoculate millions of its healthcare and frontline workers and reach an estimated 3 crore people by the end of its first phase. In Varanasi, the parliamentary constituency of Prime Minister Modi, the COVID-19 vaccination drive started at six centres. The first shot of the vaccine at the Sir Sunderlal Hospital of Banaras Hindu University (BHU) centre was administered to a sanitary staff Rashid Khan. Amid the ongoing vaccination programme, some adverse events have been reported following inoculation. Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan on Thursday released posters prepared by the Health Ministry to address issues related to COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy. He urged people to make judicious use of these posters and make it a mass campaign. The drugs regulatory body of India has currently approved two vaccines. Pune-based Serum Institute of India has developed the Covishield vaccine developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford University while the Covaxin has been developed by Hyderabad`s Bharat Biotech in collaboration with the Indian Medical Council of research (ICMR) and National Institute of Virology. Live TV (With ANI Inputs) To the editor: Our election was hijacked. There is no question. Congress has a duty to protect our democracy and follow the facts. Such talk is now labeled seditious and exposes any advocate to public ridicule and calls for resignation. It generates letters of criticism that are juvenilely crude and accusations that are wholly false. However, no one expressed any outrage when Nancy Pelosi, yes Nancy Pelosi, uttered these words in 2017, before allowing the Russia investigation. The hypocrisy of the left is overwhelming as is the entire cancel culture. Instead of being criticized, Congressman Moolenaar is to be applauded for doing something so desperately needed in our democracy: attempting to obtain public confidence in our electoral process. If a sizable portion of our citizens do not believe that elections are open, fair and honest, our government has failed us. Americans have always had a forum available to redress grievances. That is until this year. The merits of Article II constitutional challenges or factual allegations of fraud concerning the election have never been addressed on the merits. We will, unfortunately, never know the answers to these questions. It is no wonder so many voters are frustrated. What is necessary is wholesale electoral reform. Enact a system that inspires voter confidence and then make sure the laws are followed. The average American has every right to be distrusting of government. Who would have thought that the FBI and DOJ would engage in efforts to take down a president? NORMAN W. DONKER Midland Emaar India, the local subsidiary of the Dubai-based real estate major, has accused its erstwhile partner MGF Developments of fraud and illegal transfer of a land parcel in Delhi. Emaar has alleged that MGFs promoter Shravan Gupta and other associates are attempting to sell the land, valued over Rs 500 crore. According to it, the 4.88-acre land parcel, located in Okhla, was part of illegal transfers of properties that took place during its joint venture with MGF between 2005 and 2016. We were informed by credible sources that MGF was likely to deal with the Okhla land parcel. We wanted to caution the public against dealing with MGF Group, SSP Buildcon, Shravan Gupta, Shilpa Gupta, or any of their associates or related entities and persons. The notice pertains specifically to a land parcel of approximately 4.88 acres in Okhla, Mathura Road, New Delhi. This land was valued at nearly Rs 500 crore in 2008 and may be much higher today, the company said. Emaar has alleged that when it took management control of the JV entity Emaar India, it found several unauthorised related party transactions that took place before 2016. So far, Emaar has sought to recover over Rs 2,400 crore related to the siphoning off of funds or properties. It approached the National Company Law Tribunal in November 2019 for this. Further, Emaar also claimed on Friday that Gupta and his family, who have moved abroad since litigation began, are likely to take up citizenship of the Commonwealth of Dominica. Brattleboro, VT (05301) Today Cloudy with showers. High 57F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 60%.. Tonight Rain. Low 43F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near an inch. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. Daniel Presti, who was busted last month and accused of driving into a sheriffs deputy while trying to flee an arrest near his Grant City bar, testified before a grand jury on Thursday, his lawyer confirmed. Attorney Mark J. Fonte said Presti, an owner of Macs Public House, testified for about 90 minutes and gave a detailed and honest account of the events of Dec. 5th. Presti was arrested on various charges, including felony counts of second-degree assault and first-degree reckless endangerment stemming from the alleged incident. It occurred overnight on Dec. 5 into Dec. 6. Authorities allege uniformed deputies approached Presti, then 34, on foot when he walked out onto the street at about 12:15 a.m. The bar is located on Lincoln Avenue. Officers identified themselves, and one of them called out Presti, according to New York City Sheriff Joseph Fucito and a criminal complaint. Presti bolted and entered his turquoise 2020 Jeep on South Railroad Avenue, the complaint alleges. He turned on the engine, and intentionally and with depraved indifference to human life drove into one of the officers, knocking him onto the hood, alleges the complaint. As the officer clung on, Presti drove down South Railroad, then turned left twice onto Lincoln Avenue and then North Railroad Avenue before a sheriffs car stopped him, the complaint alleges. Authorities allege the officer was injured, a claim Prestis lawyers vehemently deny. Besides felony assault and reckless endangerment, Presti was arraigned in Criminal Court on misdemeanor counts of unlawfully fleeing an officer, resisting arrest, obstruction, reckless driving, menacing and assault. It was not immediately clear if the grand jury will vote on those specific charges. Also unclear is when the panel would make its decision. Fonte declined to comment, and prosecutors did not immediately respond to an email. Macs Public House has been a flashpoint in protests against government-imposed coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions. In posted signs, the bar declared itself an Autonomous Zone as of Nov. 20, stating it wouldnt abide by any rules and regulations issued by the governor or mayor, a civil complaint alleges. Afterward, on Dec. 1, Presti was arrested by a sheriffs deputy and issued a desk appearance ticket for criminal trespass for allegedly refusing to leave the premises during a dispute over coronavirus restrictions. On Dec. 2, controversial artist Scott LoBaido organized a rally in support of the bar and hundreds of supporters including the Proud Boys flooded Lincoln Avenue to the point of shutting it down. Following, on Dec. 11, the city filed a public-nuisance lawsuit against Macs in state Supreme Court, St. George. A civil complaint alleged Macs has repeatedly and blatantly flouted city and state-imposed prohibitions against indoor dining and drinking at bars and restaurants in an orange zone. A Staten Island justice denied the citys bid for a temporary restraining order, which would have subjected the pub to a lengthy shuttering and fines. However, Justice Catherine M. DiDomenico has scheduled a hearing for Feb. 2 on the citys application for a preliminary injunction. A preliminary injunction is more enduring than a temporary restraining order, which is a short-term measure. Meanwhile, Macs remains closed by order of the city and state Health Departments and the State Liquor Authority, Fonte said after the judges ruling. Its owners are complying with the existing closure orders out of respect for DiDomenicos decision, the lawyer has said. A man hurled abuse at a garda, telling her he hoped she 'got coronavirus and died' when he was stopped for a search. Darryl Boyd (24) also called the garda a "dirty tramp" in the incident on a city street. Judge Brian O'Shea issued a warrant for his arrest and sentencing when he failed to appear in Dublin District Court. Boyd, with an address at Marewood Crescent, Ballymun, had pleaded not guilty to threatening, abusive and insulting behaviour and failing to comply with garda directions. However, he did not come to court for the hearing of his case. Garda Lisa Sexton told Dublin District Court she was on duty at Parkwest Avenue at 2.50pm on March 28 last year when she stopped the accused and said she was going to carry out a search. Boyd began using threatening and abusive language, calling her a "scumbag and a dirty tramp." He was directed to leave the area, and was warned that it was an offence to fail to do so. He was also warned of the possible penalties, the garda said. Boyd continued to be threatening and abusive and "said he hoped I got coronavirus and died," Gda Sexton said. He refused to leave the area and called gardai "knackers". He was arrested and brought to a garda station, where he was charged. Defence solicitor Niamh McKernan said Boyd was not present and she had no application to make. Judge O'Shea said the garda's proofs in the case were "in order" and he found the accused guilty and convicted him in his absence. The court heard Boyd had 16 previous convictions for offences including possession of drugs. He had been fined for his most recent offence. The accused had not served any sentences and had not been given any suspended sentences previously, Garda Sergeant Gail Smith told the judge. Judge O'Shea said he was issuing a bench warrant for Boyd's arrest and sentencing. He said "for sentence" should be written on the front of the warrant "and highlighted." (Newser) As Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene filed impeachment articles against President Biden on his first full day in office, she was facing calls for her own removal over her support for conspiracy theories, one of which claims the Parkland, Fla., school shooting was staged. The left-leaning watchdog group Media Matters has screenshots of 2018 Facebook comments in which Greene, a QAnon supporter, claimed the massacre of 17 people at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School was a "false flag" event. Greene, then a right-wing media commentator, had commented on a news article about the school's resource officer, who failed to confront the shooter, receiving a large pension. "It's called a pay off to keep his mouth shut since it was a false flag planned shooting," someone wrote. "Exactly," Greene responded. "Paid to do what he did and keep his mouth shut!" she added in another post. story continues below She expressed similar "false flag" views about the 2012 shooting at Sandy Hook in Newtown, Conn. In yet another post, Greene wrote, "I am told that Nancy Pelosi tells Hillary Clinton several times a month that 'we need another school shooting' in order to persuade the public to want strict gun control." Gun control advocacy groups Never Again MSD, March for Our Lives-Parkland, Moms Demand Action, and Everytown for Gun Safety had called for Greene's removal from Congress as of Thursday, per the Washington Post and BuzzFeed. March for Our Lives co-founder David Hogg threatened to "make the next two years of your life not only your last in Congress but a living hell as well." This came as Greene filed impeachment articles, claiming Biden abused his power as vice president in his dealings with Ukraine, per WMTV. (Read more on the impeachment move.) 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. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 22) COVID-19 response deputy chief implementer Vince Dizon on Friday released the initial list of industries that will be prioritized in the first wave of the coronavirus vaccine rollout. Among them are essential workers from the sectors of agriculture, forestry, fisheries, transportation, construction, food, tourism, essential retail, water refilling stations, laundry services, logistics and courier services, sanitation services, communication, energy, power, and fuel. "The various technical working groups in the vaccine cluster are currently working with the Department of Trade and Department of Labor [and Employment] to have a definitive list of priority essential workers," Dizon said in a Senate hearing on the country's COVID-19 vaccination plan. He added the final list will be out next week. Other eligible COVID-19 vaccine recipients include frontline healthcare workers, senior citizens, indigents, uniformed personnel, teachers, and social workers. Based on the initial priority list of the government, top five priority groups are health workers, indigent senior citizens, remaining senior citizens, indigent population, and uniformed personnel. Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto said it would be better to vaccinate teachers right after medical workers. You cannot open the economy if you cannot even open your schools to begin with Lets do our health workers, next is our teachers so that you can have normalcy in the education sector, he said. Recto also said that the rollout can also be done by age just like in other countries. Meanwhile, Senator Imee Marcos said the workers in the transportation sector should be the first ones to be vaccinated since transportation is one of the major hurdles in opening up the economy. Iyong agri(culture) iyong health workers, hindi iyan makakapunta sa ospital sa bukid kapag wala iyong transport Lagi syang problema sa lahat ng effort natin na magbukas at magsimula ng ekonomiya,she explained. [Translation: Agriculture, our health workers cannot go to hospitals, to farms if there is no transportation. That is always the problem in all our efforts to open and restart the economy.] Galvez reiterated that the list is still being finalized and took note of the lawmakers suggestions. Vaccine czar Carlito Galvez said in the same hearing that the target date for the country's COVID-19 vaccine rollout is still on Feb. 20. However, if an emergency use authorization on anti-coronavirus shots that will be used in the vaccination program is not issued by the Food and Drug Administration on the date, "we can move it to last week of Feb. or March." Vaccines that may initially be used are those from the COVAX facility and Chinese firm Sinovac, he added. 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. The coronavirus has now reached every county in the United States - even a remote Hawaiian outpost that was the last remaining holdout. Until recently, Kalawao County, which has less than 100 residents and was used as a leper colony for decades, was the only county in the nation that hadn't reported a single covid-19 case. But even though it's so isolated from the rest of the world that basic supplies have to be brought in by barge once a year, as the Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday, the virus still managed to make its way there. According to Hawaii health officials, a resident who had traveled outside the community tested positive after flying home in December, ending Kalawao County's impressive run. What could have been a disastrous outbreak was narrowly avoided, because that individual followed the county's self-quarantine guidelines upon arrival - as did the other passengers they had close contact with during the flight. The fact that Kalawao County remained virus-free for so long can partially be attributed to geography. Located on the small island of Molokai, its single town, Kalaupapa, can only be reached by hiking down 1,600-foot cliffs, catching a rare flight on a small plane or making an arduous three-mile trek by mule. That seclusion also explains its painful history: In 1865, Hawaii decided that anyone diagnosed with leprosy - now known as Hansen's disease - would be exiled there for life. Thousands of patients were never allowed to leave the tiny settlement, and could only interact with visiting family members through a chicken-wire screen. Though some ended up marrying fellow patients and doing their best to live normal lives, parents often had their newborn babies taken away to a nursery out of fear that the disease could be transmitted to the child. In 1969, after a cure for Hansen's disease was introduced, Hawaii finally overturned the mandatory quarantine policy. But some patients opted to stay on the island because they'd grown accustomed to the lifestyle and feared the stigma that they might face elsewhere. Though most of the Kalawao County is now a national park, roughly a dozen survivors still live there today, in the care of the state. "Our patients are, on average, 86 years old. They all have other health issues, so they're at extreme high risk for covid mortality," Baron Chan, the branch chief for Hansen's disease at the Hawaii Department of Health, told KHON in October. Before the pandemic, Kalawao County had roughly 100 residents, including National Park Service employees and health workers, Chan told the station. But as many as half that number have left since early March, when state health officials took aggressive measures to protect the remaining residents who were once Hansen's disease patients. Visitors from outside the county were barred, and residents who left for other parts of the island or the state were told they would have to quarantine for two weeks upon returning. As the nationwide death toll from the coronavirus reached staggering heights, many in Kalawao County came to appreciate those restrictions. "I don't want to go Honolulu! You know, I don't want to go to the other islands at this point," Sister Alicia Damien Lau, a resident, told KHON in October. "You just get so paranoid." In fact, Kalawao was already so committed to following public health guidelines that the discovery of the first coronavirus case didn't make much of an impact, locals told the Maui News. People had started wearing masks long before they were mandatory statewide, and the county was already effectively under lockdown, with most nonessential tasks put on hold. "I don't think there is any fear," Father Patrick Killilea, a pastor at Kalawao County's sole Catholic church, told the paper. "The rest of us just have to be careful as usual." A surf rescue worker wearing a Santa hat looks through binoculars at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia on Dec. 25, 2020. (Jenny Evans/Getty Images) Surf Life Saving Australia Pleads for Caution as Rescue Drownings Surge A worrying increase in people drowning while trying to rescue others this summer has prompted a warning from Surf Live Saving Australia. Australians are being urged to plan for visiting the beach like they would for a road trip. Five people have died in bystander rescue drownings since Dec. 1, according to Surf Live Saving Australiaa figure normally expected over a 12-month period. They include a woman in her 20s who swam out with several others to rescue a teenage girl struggling in the water at Venus Bay, near Melbourne, last week. She got into difficulty before being pulled from the water by an off-duty lifeguard. Everyone else made it safely back, including the teenager. Trainee members of the Garie Vanguard Surf Life Saving group paddle out during a mock ocean rescue at Garie Beach in Sydney, Australia on Nov. 24, 2019. (Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images) NSW police officer Kelly Foster, 39, died on Jan. 2 in the Blue Mountains after attempting to rescue another canyoner from a whirlpool at Mount Wilson. The canyoner, 24-year-old software engineer Jennifer Qi, also died. Were starting to see more of it, SLSA general manager coastal safety Shane Daw said. Weve got people doing amazing things, heroic things, going to the aid of others but sadly, theyre becoming a statistic. While stressing the dangers associated with such scenarios, Daw is clear-eyed about the psychology of rescue situations. As he puts it, nothing he says is going to stop parents from trying to save their children. Instead, he offers more practical solutions to aid rescuers. What were saying is yell out for help because there may be surfers or people fishing that can see you, he said. But then as you are running into the water, in that one to two seconds have a quick look around: is there a surfboard or boogie board, some sort of flotation deviceeven an esky lidthats going to help support you? Because in virtually all (rescue fatality) situations they didnt take any type of flotation device, he said. Part of the reason behind this summers spike in cases is geographical. People walk past a Beach Closed sign at Bondi Beach, during the COVID-19 outbreak, in Sydney, Australia, on April 1, 2020. (Reuters/Loren Elliott) Australians unable to travel overseas because of the COVID-19 pandemic have been flocking to the beach and going off the beaten track. More than 90 percent of this summers drowning deaths have been at unpatrolled locations. Thats an alarming factorwith our vast coastline, people are seeking a little bit of privacy and to get away from the crowds but by doing so, theyre putting themselves at risk, Daw said. Another issue is the generally laidback attitude most Aussies have towards going to the beach. A recent study by SLSA found that since 2004, about three quarters of known bystander rescue drownings involved rip currents. Instructor Brett Walker guides Garie Vanguard Surf Life Saving trainees as they perform a mock ocean rescue and resuscitation at Garie Beach in Sydney, Australia on Nov. 24, 2019. (Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images) Taking just a couple of minutes to research beaches and assess the conditions can help reduce risks. If youre going to go camping or go on a road trip, youd always have a bit of a planyou make sure youve got enough petrol and youre taking all your things, Daw said. So if youre going to go to the beach, what were saying is dont do it ad hoc. While more research is needed to better understand the phenomenon, SLSAs figures lay bare the tragic impact of rescue drownings. Some 70 percent of fatal incidents involved people trying to rescue their own family members, usually children. Its a heroic effort, and we cant say enough good things about these people trying to actually save someone elses life, Daw said.But wed rather actually not have to talk about it because theyre here today and they havent lost their lives. Keys to Prevent Rescue Drownings Plan ahead for beach visitsis it a patrolled beach, are there rip currents? Look for floating implementssurfboards, boogie boards or event esky lids can help rescuers stay afloat. Call for helpseek assistance from lifeguards or other able swimmers. By Michael Ramsey 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. Former U.S. Ambassador to South Korea Harry Harris speaks with The Korea Times at the ambassadorial residence in Seoul, Jan. 20, his last day in office. / Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul By Yi Whan-woo Former U.S. Ambassador to South Korea Harry Harris said North Korea is not likely to collapse in the next several years, noting Kim Jong-un is in "complete control" over the repressive state. "I think they're doing okay. There's challenges up there but I don't see a likelihood (of collapse) in the next several years," he told The Korea Times on his last day at the office, Jan 20. "I believe that we should not count on the collapse of North Korea." Harris accompanied then-President Donald Trump to Panmunjeom in June 2019 for a snap summit with Kim, also joined by President Moon Jae-in. Thousands of farmers, mostly from Punjab and Haryana, have been camping at three Delhi border points. The eleventh round of talks between the Centre and farmer union leaders ended without any conclusion on January 22, a day after protesting farmers rejected the government's proposal to suspend the implementation of farm laws for 18 months. While the government said it had nothing better to offer than staying the implementation of farm laws, farmer union leaders were adamant on their demand of repeal of laws. "Government is ready to talk on its suspension proposal," Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said after the meeting concluded. "We gave them the best proposal. It's up to them now," he added. No new date of the next meeting was announced, first time during the series of negotiations, hinting at a possible deadlock that the talks have hit once again. Follow our LIVE UPDATES on Farmers' Protest Here The farmers' unions had on January 21 rejected the government's proposal and reiterated nothing less than the repeal of the three farm laws is acceptable to the farmers who have been protesting at various Delhi border points for about two months now. In the meeting that began at 1 pm, one hour late from the scheduled time, farm leaders were firm on their demand of the complete repeal of the laws. The government, sources said, expressed disappointment on unions' decision to reject the previous offer. Tomar, Minister of Railways, Piyush Goyal and Minister of State for Commerce Som Prakash have been representing the government side during the series of meetings held so far. Tomar had a meeting with Home Minister Amit Shah on January 21. "Before the lunch break, farmer leaders reiterated their demand for the repeal of the farm laws. The government said they were ready for amendments. The minister asked us to consider government's proposal and we asked him to consider ours. After that the minister left the meeting," Shiv Kumar Kakka, farmers' union leader said. After the ministers left, Union Agriculture Secretary Sanjay Aggarwal kept talking to the farmers till the meeting ended without any step forward. 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. In the tenth round of talks between the two sides on January 20, the government offered a proposal to suspend the implementation of recently passed agri reforms for 18 months. The farmers said their plan to carry out a parade on the outer ring road of Delhi on Republic Day despite the Delhi Police's request to not conduct the parade stands. 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 whereever 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 Read | Farm bills have potential to represent a significant step forward for agricultural reforms in India: IMF The two sides had arrived at some common ground in the sixth round of talks held on December 30 with the government agreeing on two of the four demands of farmers removing stubble burning penalty on farmers and withdrawing provisions in the draft Electricity Amendment Bill, 2020, which intend to change the mode of subsidy payment to farmers. The SC-appointed committee began consultations and held its first meeting with ten farmer unions from eight states on January 21.Also read | Farm laws will help increase the income of farmers: Amit Shah remaining of Thank you for reading! This is your last free article before you will be asked to subscribe. Already have a paid subscription? Sign in SPRINGFIELD City councilors on Thursday initiated plans to create a citizen board to address racial equity issues in Springfield, including equity in city promotions, contracts and grant opportunities. Council Vice President Tracye Whitfield, the new chairwoman of the councils Civil Rights subcommittee, suggested the Racial Equity Review Board could evaluate community complaints about equity and fairness, and look for remedies. She suggested that the board consist of five to seven residents from diverse backgrounds. One key issue is to make sure everyone is given a fair opportunity when (city) contracts are out to bid, Whitfield said. She posed questions such as: are contractors meeting quotas for minority hiring on city projects, and what strategies are they using to meet that obligation; how is the city requiring newly promoted municipal employees to live in the city within a year under the residency requirement, and is it enforced equitably; and does the city enforce the criteria for forgivable loans in a racially equitable way, such as for economic development and housing. Several councilors agreed that there should be a meeting with the citys chief diversity and inclusion officer, Talia Gee, to discuss the issues. She was appointed to that position by Mayor Domenic J. Sarno two years ago. The council has many subcommittees that could address the issues that come before the new citizen board, such as the councils Responsible Employer Ordinance committee, councilors said. Council President Marcus Williams said the board would not have litigation powers but could hear complaints and offer referrals that help resolve them. The citizen board would also be a liaison between the community and council, Councilor Justin Hurst said. The council might seek nominations to the board from different places, such as the business sector, social services, education and other fields, Hurst said. There will be further discussion of the details before setting up the membership, Whitfield said. Williams was joined by Councilors Adam Gomez, Timothy Allen and Hurst in praising the plans for the new board. Allen and Hurst are members of the councils Civil Rights subcommittee. Related Content: .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... Copyright 2021 Albuquerque Journal Despite a growth in freshman enrollment for the first time in years, University of New Mexico President Garnett Stokes said Thursday a COVID-induced deficit has forced the school to reexamine spending priorities this year and she remains concerned about future enrollment. But in an online State of the University address, she pointed out the universitys high points during a year when curriculum and finances were upended by the pandemic. Those include a 2020 freshman class that was one of the most diverse in the schools history. ADVERTISEMENTSkip ................................................................ The class was up about 7% from the year before the first freshman class in four years to grow compared with the previous year. Enrollment of Native American and African American students was up 15% and 19%, respectively, compared with the 2019 class, according to UNM documents. Still, we remain concerned by the negative trends we, and all universities, face for future enrollment, she said. Stokes recorded the speech in her office, a break from tradition. The speech is normally offered in front of an audience in the Student Union Building, but was instead posted to the schools website Thursday afternoon. Among the other highlights Stokes mentioned in her speech: The university moved up 31 spots to number 187 in the U.S. News and World Reports Best Colleges rankings; The schools Center for Quantum Information and Control was picked by the U.S. Department of Energy for a five-year, $115 million project; Associate Professor of Music Theory and Composition Jose-Luis Hurtado was awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship; and Distinguished Professor Emeritus Carlton Caves, who is in the Department of Physics and Astronomy, was elected to membership in the National Academy of Sciences and awarded the Micius Quantum Prize. Stokes also mentioned significant infrastructure projects that began or were completed last year. The school revamped Johnson Center, the main campus gym that now includes an indoor running track and outdoor adventure center. Stokes also said a hospital tower project continued in 2020 and she expects construction to begin this year. Despite the highlights, Stokes warned the campus community to brace for more reductions. She said the university was hit hard financially from multiple angles because of the pandemic. The school also saw a reduction in state support, as well as additional costs and revenue losses. UNMs main campus and the Health Sciences Center had to adjust their budgets to carve out about $44 million from what was planned originally for the 2021 fiscal year. As a result, we have greatly slowed hiring of the essential staff and faculty who are the heart and soul of the university, she said. We have restructured offices and reallocated budgets to protect the core of our academic mission. These budget adjustments were, and remain, hard. On many of those fronts, UNM isnt alone. At New Mexico State University, enrollment at the main campus in Las Cruces was steady, but the branch campuses in Alamogordo, Carlsbad and Grants saw steep declines of anywhere from 23% to more than 38%, according to the Associated Press. NMSU President John Floros told the AP that increases in out-of-state and graduate students have helped the university avoid significant revenue declines. There is a big issue brewing in the Philippine auto industry. On the first working day of 2021, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) released an order that they will be implementing safeguard measures against automobiles imported as completely build-up units or CBUs. This move was justified by the DTI as an attempt to protect local automobile manufacturing. The DTI is legally empowered by Republic Act 8800 to protect Philippine-made products against similar or competing imported products via safeguard measures, and that is what they will do. For 200 days the DTI will require a PHP 70,000 safeguard bond for every passenger vehicle and PHP 110,000 for every light commercial vehicle imported from most of the major countries our market sources them from, with some exceptions depending on vehicle type and country of origin. The 200 days will be used to buy time for the concerned government agencies to investigate and meet about what to do in the long term. On the surface, it may seem like the whole thing was triggered by the petition from the Philippine Metalworkers Association, and that is accurate. The PMA is a group of local unions involved in parts manufacturing (steel, electronics, etc.) and they asked the DTI to take action regarding the state of local auto manufacturing, and that started this whole process. We actually tried to reach out to the Philippine Metalworkers Association through some back channels in the unions but we couldn't get through. Apparently, even our contacts that are involved in the local auto unions don't know exactly who the spokesperson for the PMA is. There is an interesting thing to note here though: the petition coincided with the timing of another major and relevant industry event, and that was the closure of the Honda automobile factory. The announcement of Honda's decision to close their Sta. Rosa, Laguna factory by March 2020 sent a shockwave through the industry, especially if you were in the parts business. That meant the City and the BR-V won't be built in the Philippines anymore, signaling that the company will transition from manufacturer/importer to just importer. We actually thought that the petition itself was triggered by the Honda closure, but after a bit of consideration, we don't think that's accurate. Here's why: the PMA petition actually pre-dates Honda's announcement. Based on the DTI's report, the Secretary accepted the petition application of the PMA on January 15, 2020, and there were reports of the petition being lodged in 2019. Honda only announced the factory closure on February 22, 2020. From what we can tell, no one knew of the closure before February 22 outside of a very small (and very senior) circle within Honda. Unless there was a leak, the cessation of Honda's manufacturing operations here likely did not prompt the petition, but it may have pushed the response in favor of safeguards. The DTI sent a questionnaire to the many automobile companies operating in the Philippines on the main matter: is Philippine auto manufacturing being caused serious injury because of CBU imports? The two major automobile industry associations - CAMPI and AVID - also responded, and formed the basis of the industry response. Basically, they both condemned the safeguard measures... albeit in politically correct terms. Terms and phrases like deeply concerned, market contraction, progressive manufacturing policy, domestic industrial policy, fiscal incentives among others were used. Of the 113 local companies that the DTI had on their list, only 8 local companies responded: Toyota Motor Philippines, AutoHub Group (Mini, Rolls-Royce, Lotus), Mitsubishi Motors Philippines, Honda Cars Philippines, Sojitz Geely Auto Philippines, Nissan Philippines, Ford Philippines, and The Covenant Car Company, Inc. (MG, Chevrolet). There was another company but they just returned the questionnaire without responses. Here's an interesting tidbit though: Honda submitted their answered questionnaire on February 21, 2020, or just one day before the announcement of their own factory closure. That was timed to perfection. Regardless, the positions of the individual players were rather unanimous: safeguard measures will do more harm than good. Even the two largest automobile manufacturers (Toyota and Mitsubishi Motors) that are actually rolling out new vehicles from their factories in the country aren't jumping for joy over the matter. Together, the number one and number two automobile companies in the Philippines account for about 54% of total industry sales (2018 and 2019), and they also account for the overwhelming bulk of locally produced models. These two automakers made it clear that they are against it, going so far as to say that safeguard measures will affect the market in a very negative way, and with immediate effect. Moreover, they believe that there is no guarantee that safeguard measures will convince customers to shift their choice to a locally-produced model. The Philippines only produces a handful of vehicles from domestic factories, most of which are in Laguna. Toyota builds the Vios and the Innova in Sta. Rosa. Mitsubishi Motors manufactures the L300 and Mirage in Sta. Rosa. Isuzu assembles bigger trucks at their Binan plant. Foton assembles the Toplander SUV at their plant in Clark. The Nissan Almera is also locally built, albeit by UMPI which is also in Sta. Rosa at the old Nissan Motor Philippines facility, but let's put a pin in that one for now. As you can see, the options for locally produced models are slim. That's also why Toyota, Mitsubishi Motors, and the other automakers that actually have assembly lines manned by Filipinos are also in the import business. They are giving Filipino customers a broader choice through imports. Despite the opposition to the safeguards from all fronts - including embassies of exporting nations and the mother companies of most of the auto brands in the Philippines - the DTI still pushed through with it. The organizations supporting the DTI in this charge are the local parts suppliers and their respective organizations, like the Philippine Metalworker Association and the Philippine Parts Maker Association. I've read through the long 99-page report (or at least most of it) published by the DTI on the matter. I can understand the point that the DTI is driving at, but after going through it I do have three questions that need answering: 1) Is it really about protecting what's left of the local manufacturing industry? 2) Is this safeguard measure really a matter of building a favorable environment for local manufacturing? 3) Are imports directly hurting locally-made models and in turn the industries and jobs that rely on them? On the first question, my opinion is this: I'm not sure. Yes, there is a great advantage wielded by foreign automakers exporting CBUs to the Philippines given the many free trade agreements we are involved in via ASEAN. Things like higher economies of scale, better infrastructure, lower manufacturing costs, lower parts costs, lower overheads, and many, many more; this is just the tip of the proverbial iceberg. Thailand and Indonesia constitute the bulk of imported automobiles in the Philippines. China is catching up, while Korea and Japan have a strong presence too. We also have vehicles imported from North America, from Europe, and even from India. Actually, the last time we checked, there may be some exceptions with the safeguards for Indian-made vehicles. The thing worth noting is that we knew all of that a long time ago. So why are they implementing such measures now when the automotive industry as a whole is suffering? And by that, we mean languishing after 2020 that saw numbers drop by 40% compared to 2019. Some car companies in the Philippines believe that the industry will bounce back a little bit in 2021, but they may have to reconsider those predictions given the new safeguards. Something may have changed for the government to push this in 2021, and on the first working day of the year, no less. There's actually a prevalent theory in the industry: the DTI was supposedly pushed into doing this to try and make up for the shortfall of 2020. Let's see if that theory has merit. As we all know, 2020 was a terrible year, fiscally-speaking. Remember the 40% fewer cars sold? That means a huge chunk of revenue for a government that had to spend a lot to keep the country going during the heaviest of the lockdowns. Toss in the cash ayuda, basic goods handouts, infrastructure projects that are ongoing, the need for vaccines to be distributed, so on and so forth, it can be reasoned that the government has to make it all up somehow. This isn't a matter of the house always wins in casino speak; this is a matter of the house cannot and must not lose. The simple fact is that a government cannot be in the red. That is very much understandable if that is indeed the motivation (even just in part) behind this. The only problem is that everyone else is in the red. We just completed our 2020 annual sales report and an overwhelming majority of the Philippine automobile industry showed a lot of red. All the sales numbers of the top 10 performing auto brands took a nosedive. Isuzu was able to limit the damage and took a 19% hit. Hyundai has the highest drop of the top 10 brands at 50%. Even the sales of the perennial market leader and stalwart Toyota plummeted by 38%. In 2019, they sold over 161,395 vehicles, but in 2020 they dropped to 5 digits at 99,545 units. The timing of the safeguards couldn't be worse. Regarding the second question about whether I think the safeguard measure will grow local manufacturing, my opinion is this: not really. Slapping a huge bond on imported cars will make those more expensive in the short term, but I can't see how it will drive customers to buy local in the long term. Yes, the prices of competing imported models will go up versus local counterparts for just over half a year, but what's next? That doesn't exactly enhance the value-for-money proposition of locally-made vehicles on merit. There are also countermeasures available to automakers. Remember those economies of scale abroad? If there's enough demand here, importers can renegotiate their FOB/CIF prices with the exporter/manufacturer to compensate. They can even remove expensive features to be able to still be competitive. Unless I missed it in those 99 pages, I'm not seeing any plan - or even just a mention - to try and expand manufacturing here in the DTI report. The declared reason for the safeguards is protecting the status quo which already isn't much to begin with. As AVID mentioned in their statement, they feel like the rug is being pulled from under them after an already terrible 2020. But it might go down easier - or even just be bearable - if they were taking a hit for something better. The key is what CAMPI said in their statement, that the most suitable recourse is a progressive and sustainable manufacturing policy for the Philippines. Some would point out that we have two policies intended to boost local manufacturing. We have the Motor Vehicle Development Program or MVDP for assembling vehicles from knock-down kits and the Comprehensive Automotive Resurgence Strategy or CARS (yes, they really wanted that acronym) for full vehicle manufacturing including producing body shells and stamping. Both policies are intended to attract car companies to set up assembly lines in the Philippines with MVDP offering tax incentives (read: tax breaks) while CARS offers fiscal incentives (read: cash incentive) meant to soften the hit from the cost handicap of manufacturing here. With CARS, however, there is a big catch: an automaker has to achieve 200,000 models produced over 6 years for every car nameplate in the program. That means 33,333.33 units of every single CARS-enrolled nameplate per year. That is a tall order for our relatively small auto market; the Vios did come close in 2019 when unit sales hit 33,181, but that was it. Vios sales in 2020 are far less than 2019. The other model enrolled in the program is the Mirage from Mitsubishi, but the sales of that model aren't close to the Vios; about half. And that brings us to the third and final question: is local auto manufacturing (and the industries and jobs it supports) being harmed by imports? My opinion is two-fold. There is a soft yes and there is also a firm no. If we are just looking at overall sales, the answer will be a soft yes. Imports consist of the overwhelming majority of sales here versus Philippine-made or assembled models. For every 5 cars sold, 4 are imports while only 1 is made here. The sales numbers, however, do not show the whole picture. It's just the tip of the iceberg that's poking up from the surface. There is a much larger part that's hiding under the waterline. That's why my answer is also a firm no: imports are not directly hurting local auto manufacturing. The real harm is the environment that the auto industry has to operate and do business in. Automobile manufacturing in the Philippines isn't advantageous for many reasons. Many of the raw materials and parts are imported from foreign suppliers. Such supplies also have to come in via ships and through ports; these materials and parts can't be driven across a border on semi-trailers more economically because, well, we're islands. Infrastructure, while improving, isn't enough yet. We have higher energy costs relative to most of the region. Heck, we have higher fuel and food costs compared to the region. Well, maybe except for Singapore. All these things are stumbling blocks for large-scale manufacturing industries (i.e. automotive) to thrive. We also get hit with all kinds of natural disasters like typhoons, volcanoes, and earthquakes. When Taal erupted, nearly all auto manufacturing here stopped as most of the car factories are relatively close to the volcano. There isn't much we can do about our geographical location being on the firing line of every Western Pacific storm, but perhaps one of the biggest problems is that we have new policies that come into effect with every administration that affects the auto industry. MVDP came out in 2002 under President Macapagal-Arroyo. CARS emerged under the administration of President Aquino. TRAIN Law came about under President Duterte. These three differing policies from three consecutive presidencies each had a marked effect on how the industry does business. What this demonstrates is an apparent inconsistency from one administration to the next when it comes to automotive industry policies. In my opinion, that could be a red flag for automobile manufacturers that we are trying to attract. The industry just got used to the TRAIN law, but now there's a new matter to deal with: safeguards. In about 200 days, there may even be another new policy after the Tariff Commission investigation. Beyond the inherent disadvantages, what the major players in the auto industry need are consistent, realistic, and progressive policies that won't do a U-turn when power transfers from one administration to the next. Actually, given the advantage and head start that our ASEAN auto manufacturing neighbors already possess, we have to go beyond being attractive for manufacturing; we have to make offers that automakers simply cannot refuse. For auto manufacturing to survive and thrive here, automakers have to be given irresistible propositions to invest in making cars in the Philippines. They look for things like lower operating costs, lower energy costs, lower taxes, and many more. Those are just some of the non-negotiables to reform the business and manufacturing landscape to be advantageous on merit and not handicapped from the start. Is it doable? Possibly, but we need to focus on export. I'll say this flat out: the total sales volume of our auto industry is not enough to support sustainable automobile manufacturing. We need to be able to export vehicles, and that means building cars that are left-hand-drive and right-hand-drive. We are strategically located in terms of geography to export but we're not exporting. The Philippines did export CBUs in the form of the older generation Ford Escape and Mazda Tribute, but that ceased when Ford shut down the factory. Mitsubishi took over the plant and has plans to export the L300 Euro4, but there has been no announcement yet if they have started. There are still opportunities for exporting cars made in the Philippines, but right now the opportunity to export and be a player in the automotive value chain lies with the parts industry. If I remember correctly, there are many parts companies in the Philippines that play a big role in the global supply chain like Yazaki-Torres (for in-car instrument clusters, etc.). We also have many homegrown companies that are actively participating in the supply chain, one of which is alloy wheel company PAWI (Philippine Aluminum Wheels Inc.). You'll know them by their brand name of Rota. These companies and many more all need government support. Only time will tell how the safeguards will work, and what final policy will emerge after the Tariff Commission's investigation. It is likely that the industry will take a big hit in 2021 because prices will jump. Maybe not all the brands will survive, and some struggling dealerships may even close. Jobs will be lost if that happens. And it also doesn't help the case of those opposed to safeguards that another important piece of news broke out this week: Nissan. Remember the Almera sedan? Well, Nissan just officially confirmed an open secret: they will not be renewing the contract they have with UMPI to produce the Almera at their Sta. Rosa factory. This will mean that Nissan won't have any locally-built models anymore until the plans to utilize the Mitsubishi Motors Philippines plant (Nissan does own the biggest stake in Mitsubishi) to produce models in the future come to fruition. The cessation of Almera's production in the Philippines gives the DTI another ace to support safeguard measures, and it means that the next generation Almera will come from Thailand and that in itself brings up another issue. The Philippines has been in a trade conflict with Thailand over tobacco products. We are one of the largest exporters of tobacco products to Thailand, but there is a long-standing dispute between our two nations because Thailand is taxing our tobacco in violation of the 1994 GATT and affirmed by multiple decisions from the World Trade Organization (WTO). Now the Philippines is looking to retaliate economically against imports from Thailand via tariffs. And guess what: the Land of Smiles is the single largest exporter of cars to the Pearl of the Orient. The auto industry is collateral damage. The real losers in this are probably not the players in the industry though. It will be us: average consumers. If you're in the market for a vehicle costing around or below PHP 1 million, those could become more expensive soon. It's no problem if you were looking at getting a Mirage, Toplander, Innova, L300, or Vios, but alternatives may have been put out of reach. There are many ways to make Philippine-made vehicles more attractive to consumers in a market-driven economy. Give those who buy a brand new Philippine-made Mirage from Mitsubishi free or discounted registration for the first owner. Give those who buy a brand new Toyota Vios a 50% discount on all toll fees and parking fees. Give first owners of L300 Euro4 an exemption from taxes related to fuel purchases. There are many creative ways to make Philippine-made vehicles attractive or even compelling for customers, ways to make them proud and happy to own a car made here. There are those that belittle the capabilities of Filipinos to build cars. Hanggang jeepney lang tayo, some say. But honestly, the vehicles built here can and do compete against volume foreign imports on quality. Yes, even the reproductions of military-style World War II jeeps by MD Juan are sought after abroad. Remember when Honda closed the factory? I was able to do a long term test of a Philippine-made City for several months prior to that. I experienced no issues, even if the vehicle itself was already well and truly beaten up as a test car for the press. A month ago I was sent a fresh, all-new Thai-made Honda City. Whenever I went over a speed bump (AKA: hump) the engine would lose electrical power and stall. There was an electrical gremlin somewhere probably a loose connector. They're figuring out the issue, and it seems it's an isolated case. All other City units released to customers experienced no such problems. Yes, Philippine-made can be better. I believe in Philippine-made. We just need those vehicles to be made more affordable and better value on merit. And no, making competing models more expensive doesn't count. Until the real issues that are causing serious injury to Philippine auto manufacturing are recognized, addressed, and countered, any safeguard may just end up delaying the inevitable. Farmers at Singhu border allege conspiracy to kill 4 leaders on Republic Day India oi-Deepika S New Delhi, Jan 23: Farmer leaders at the Singhu border protest site on Friday alleged a plot to shoot four farmer leaders and cause disruption in the agitation on January 26. In a sensational revelation, farmer leaders at a late night press conference presented a masked man who named police officials who have a plan to shoot farmers if things go out of control on January 26. "Arms and ammunition was also dispatched with the intention to kill the farmers' leaders," they alleged. The masked man claimed that during the tractor rally, his team members were allegedly asked to pose as policemen and baton-charge on the crowd. Farmers' Protest: Sonia Gandhi slams Centre for showing insensitivity on farmers' issue The government''s negotiations with representatives of thousands of protesting farmers hit a roadblock on Friday as the unions squarely rejected the Centre''s proposal to put three contentious laws on hold, while the Agriculture Minister blamed external "forces" for their rigid stand and said no resolution is possible when the sanctity of agitation is lost. Farmers allege shootout plot, catch miscreant | Singhu Border | Oneindia News Unlike the last 10 rounds of talks, the 11th round saw both the sides hardening their positions and could not even reach a decision on the next date for the meeting. The government asked unions to revert by Saturday in case they agree to the suspension proposal and the talks can continue only thereafter. 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. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, January 23, 2021, 0:36 [IST] 13k volunteers administered 2nd dose of Covaxin in phase-3 trials: Bharat Biotech India pti-Madhuri Adnal Hyderabad, Jan 22: Bharat Biotech has successfully administered second dose of its COVID-19 vaccine Covaxin to 13,000 volunteers as part of its ongoing phase-3 clinical trials of the jab, Suchitra Ella joint managing director of Bharat Biotech said on Friday. She said in a tweet, "13,000 volunteers have been successfully administered the 2nd dose in the phase-3 clinical trials of Covaxin. My heartfelt thanks to all of them for their pro-vaccine public health voluntarism. The city-based vaccine maker has successfully completed enrollment of25,800 volunteers for the Phase-3 trials of Covaxin, Ella had earlier said. COVID-19 vaccine: Over 10 lakh beneficiaries so far The Central Licensing Authority has granted permission for the sale or distribution of Covaxin for restricted use in emergency situations in public interest as an abundant precaution, in clinical trial mode. The vaccine-maker in the fact sheet on Covaxin, posted in its website, had said the clinical efficacy of the vaccine is yet to be established and is being studied in Phase 3 clinical trial and hence it is important to appreciate that receiving the vaccine does not mean other precautions related to COVID-19 need not be followed. Centre-farmers hold 11th round of talks, impasse over farm laws continues| Oneindia News Covaxin is India's totally indigenous COVID-19 vaccine developed in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research and National Institute of Virology. The inactivated vaccine is developed and manufactured in Bharat Biotech's BSL-3 (Bio-Safety Level 3) bio-containment facility, one of its kind in the world. Jill Biden subtly paid tribute to every U.S. state and territory during Wednesday night's virtual inaugural concert with her custom outfit by Uruguayan-American designer Gabriela Hearst. The First Lady, 69, attended her husband's inauguration in an ocean blue tweed coat and dress by New York-based designer Alexandra O'Neill, the founder and creative director of Markarian, but she later changed into Hearst's designs for the evening's festivities. In a press release, the label revealed that the floral embroidery on Dr. Biden's ivory coat and matching dress represented 'the federal flowers from every state and territory of the United States of America.' Stunning: Jill Biden, pictured with President Joe Biden, wore a custom outfit by Uruguayan-American designer Gabriela Hearst to attend Wednesday night's virtual inauguration concert Detailed design: The elegant double-breasted cashmere coat features an A-line silhouette with embroidered flowers at the hem that rise up on the side's seams Added touches: Dr. Biden, 69, topped off the one-of-a-kind look with a matching face mask with similar embroidery and ivory leather gloves The elegant double-breasted cashmere coat features an A-line silhouette with embroidered flowers at the hem that rise up on the side's seams. The same embroidery decorates the silk organza neckline and arms of the matching dress. Dr. Biden topped off the one-of-a-kind look with a matching face mask with similar embroidery and ivory leather gloves. Gabriela Hearst shared more details about the design in an Instagram post on Thursday, the day after the inauguration, including close-up photos and videos of the standout pieces. 'The message of Unity is the main inspiration for the creation of the Ensemble,' the brand wrote. 'Unity makes strength and it is needed for the road ahead. Special moment: Dr. Biden wore the coat while watching fireworks with her family from the Blue Room Balcony at the White House Hidden message: The lining of the coat features an embroidered quote from Benjamin Franklin. Dr. Biden and her daughter Ashley Biden are pictured during the inaugural program Cohesive look: Dr. Biden's matching dress featured the same floral embroidery on the silk organza neckline and arms Special: Gabriela Hearst revealed the floral embroidery on the ivory coat and matching dress represented 'the federal flowers from every state and territory of the United States of America' Something to think about: The label shared more details about the design in an Instagram post on Thursday, the day after the inauguration 'The blooming symbol to represent this message are the federal flowers from every state and territory of the United States of America.' The designer also paid homage to Dr. Biden's home state, explaining: 'The Delaware flower is positioned at the heart level of The First Lady, from there, all the other flowers branch out.' According to the post, the pieces were made entirely in New York City. The coat and embroidery were crafted in the garment district, while the dress was assembled in the brand's in-house studio. The placement and color selections were studied for weeks, and each flower took approximately two to four hours to embroider. And the flowers weren't the outfit's only secret message. Thoughtful: Unity was the main inspiration behind the outfit, which was made in New York City with 'existing available fabrics to minimize the impact on the environment' Wow: The placement and color selections were studied for weeks, and each flower took approximately two to four hours to embroider Perfect planning: The designer paid homage to Dr. Biden's home state by placing the Delaware flower on her dress at her heart level The label explained: 'Inside of the coat, representing the lifelong calling and service of Dr. Biden as an educator is a hand embroidery on the lining with a quote from Founding Father Benjamin Franklin. "Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn."' Gabriela Hearst is known for its emphasis on sustainability, and Dr. Biden's outfit was made with 'existing available fabrics to minimize the impact on the environment.' Hearst, who recently became a U.S. citizen, shared photos of Dr. Biden wearing her designs on Wednesday evening, writing: 'Grateful for the honor to serve our friend, America's friend and First Lady.' Dr. Biden has worn Hearst's clothing on numerous occasions, including the green silk, fringe-trimmed dress she donned to the 2020 presidential debate in Cleveland, Ohio, in September. Keepsake: Gabriela Hearst shared a photo of the designer's original sketch of the coat Old friends: Dr. Biden has worn Hearst's clothing on numerous occasions, and appeared in a virtual event with the designer late last year Looking back: Dr. Biden donned a green silk, fringe-trimmed dress by Gabriela Hearst to the 2020 presidential debate in Cleveland, Ohio, in September Hearst lent her support to the Biden-Harris ticket during the presidential election by designing a T-shirt for the campaign and appearing in virtual events with Dr. Biden. 'I wouldnt have been able to start two businesses myself in America under the current administration,' the Uruguayan immigrant told WWD of former President Donald Trump's anti-immigration policies in October. Hearst's designs have been worn by the likes of Oprah Winfrey, Megan Markle, Kate Middleton, and former First Lady Melania Trump. In September, she won the CFDA Womenswear Designer of the Year Award. Last month, it was announced that she is the new artistic director of the French Fashion House Chloe, following in the footsteps of Karl Lagerfeld, Stella McCartney, Phoebe Philo, and Clare Waight Keller, who previously held the position. Who doesn't love a Flashback Friday post? The Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority of Texas certainly agrees and did just that with a post sharing images from the 1966 picnic celebration. About 3,000 people joined in April of that year for a barbecue to dedicate the dam's construction, which had actually been completed two years earlier. Three New Jersey women, including a prominent South Jersey conservative activist and a Monmouth County correctional officer, are the latest to face charges in the attempted insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, authorities said. Stephanie Hazelton, also known as Ayla Wolf, a right-wing activist who has been at the center of New Jersey protests in recent months, was arrested Friday, authorities said. She faces a felony charge of obstructing or impeding law enforcement during civil disorder after federal authorities received video allegedly showing Hazelton participating in the attack on the building and encouraging others to join in. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Bender said during a court hearing Friday that Hazelton was trying to incite others to join the attack. According to PhillyMag, Hazelton was seen at the Capitol in a since-deleted Facebook video and she documented her trip down to the nations capital on social media. The magazine found a video of people walking away from the Capitol who were injured, in which Hazelton is allegedly seen yelling, We need more men! U.S. Magistrate Judge Karen Williams released Hazelton on a $100,000 unsecured appearance bond. Hazelton has been active throughout the pandemic protesting government restrictions. In April, authorities described her as the leader of a protest in Trenton demanding Gov. Phil Murphy reopen the state. She was issued a summons accusing her of violating the states lockdown orders, the State Police said. She has also helped lead protests for Atilis Gym, a South Jersey fitness center that garnered national recognition for defying Murphys order on closing gyms. This war is just as important as our founding fathers, she said to a crowd outside the gym in May, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. We are the militia. We are the founding fathers. We are America. A second woman, Marissa Suarez, who worked as a correctional police officer in Monmouth County, was arrested earlier this morning. She was charged with knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful entry and violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds. Upon being arrested, she resigned from her position in Monmouth County that she held since 2019, a Monmouth County spokeswoman said. A violation of federal or state law of any kind is unacceptable, particularly from a sworn member of law enforcement whose role is to protect and serve, Monmouth County Sheriff Shaun Golden said in a statement. Actions have consequences and that applies to those who participated in the peaceful protests that resulted in violence at the Capitol. New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir Grewal urged others to come forward if they have information related to attempted insurrection. We are working with our federal partners to hold accountable all those who participated in the violent insurrection at the Capitol, including any members of New Jersey law enforcement, he said in a statement. There is absolutely no place in policing for those who breached the Capitol, or for those who espouse or support hateful, seditious ideologies. The third woman who was arrested Friday is Patricia Todisco, authorities said. She is charged with knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful entry and violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds. Both Suarez and Todisco were ordered released from custody Friday on $10,000 unsecured appearance bonds. Their next court date is scheduled for Jan. 27. This story is developing and will be updated. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Joe Atmonavage may be reached at jatmonavage@njadvancemedia.com. Have a tip? Tell us: nj.com/tips. NIZAMABAD: The issue of establishing Turmeric Board in Nizamabad has once again come to the fore as farmers are preparing to intensify their agitation with regard to this two-decade-old demand. Farmers of undivided Nizamabad and Karimnagar districts had participated in a series of agitations demanding establishment of Turmeric Board in Nizamabad. It may be mentioned that both Nizamabad and Karimnagar MP seats had been won by BJP after their candidates intensely campaigned about the failure of then-incumbent Nizamabad MP Kalvakuntla Kavitha of TRS failing to get the Turmeric Board established in the town. 178 farmers had even filed their nomination papers to contest from the Nizamabad Lok Sabha to make matters difficult for Kavitha, daughter of Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao. The farmers are now targeting Nizamabad MP Dharmapuri Arvind of BJP on his failure in getting the turmeric board to the town. Now MP, Arvind had as a contestant promised on a bond paper that he would ensure that a Turmeric Board is established in Nizamabad if he wins. BJP was in power at the centre at the time. Farmers of Nizamabad and Karimnagar districts have been demanding since the past two decades that a separate Turmeric Board be established in Nizamabad. They have repeatedly expressed displeasure over the Spices Board having only a regional office in the town. In this context, farmers who are sympathisers of TRS on Friday demanded the resignation of BJPs Arvind as MP. Speaking to newsmen at the Velpur market yard, they accused the saffron party parliament members from Nizamabad and Karimnagar of betraying turmeric farmers. MP Arvind signed on a bond paper promising that he will bring the Turmeric Board within five days after his victory in Parliament elections, recalled one of the farmers demanding the resignation of MP from the Lok Sabha. However, sympathisers of BJP within the farmers are holding a meeting at Chowtpally village in Kammarpally mandal on Saturday. MP Arvind and select BJP leaders will participate in this meeting. Surprisingly, BJP leaders are now seeking a letter from the TRS government promising minimum support price (MSP) for turmeric. This has left a vocal section of farmers dumbfounded. They are further flabbergasted that BJP leaders are now justifying existence of the regional office of Spices Board in Nizamabad, instead of demanding a separate Turmeric Board. Meanwhile, TPCC working president and Congress Lok Sabha member A. Revanth Reddy will observe a Rythu Deeksha in Armoor on January 30 in support of turmeric farmers. Even a joint action committee (JAC) consisting of Congress, Telugu Desam and Communist parties has been formed demanding that a Turmeric Board is finally established in Nizamabad and Rs. 10,000 per quintal is declared as the minimum price for turmeric. Farmers are currently getting below Rs. 5,000 per quintal of turmeric. Robert Kocharyan on years of his leadership in Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia Situation on Armenian-Azerbaijani border is still tense, more on COVID-19 in Armenia, May 28 digest "Armenia" alliance of political parties paying tribute to founder of First Republic Aram Manukyan (LIVE) Yerevan.today: Armenia acting PM not greeted at ruling party's headquarters, citizens call him 'capitulator' Russia MOD reports on maintenance of ceasefire regime in Nagorno-Karabakh Armenia acting MOD meets with Russian counterpart in Moscow Armenia 2nd President: I see possibility of restoring borders of Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast We can provide our army with some key, modernized weapons, says Armenia ex-President Kocharyan Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: Captives issue is not one that any opposition force can resolve OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs release statement on detention of 6 Armenian servicemen by Azerbaijan Armenian acting Deputy PM: Discussion on issues possible only after withdrawal of Azeri troops from Armenia's territory Armenia acting PM on Syunik roads, Russian military posts: This is only place where there are working nuances Armenia acting PM: Process of return of POWs will intensify after upcoming elections Putin congratulates Aliyev on Republic Day 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 Joseph Cooper admits he has a bad addiction to the more picturesque history of San Antonio. That would explain the more than 10,000 vintage postcards hes been collecting for decades. For half his life, the 53-year-old Alamo City native has collected various 4- by 6-inch portraits of his hometown, some more than a century old. The postcards spotlight all sorts of landmarks in old San Antonio, from enduring hallmarks like the Alamo and the River Walk to gone-but-not-forgotten haunts like Joskes and Playland Park. The dictionary calls it deltiology, the study and collection of postcards. You can just call it being puro postal for San Antonio. He feels drawn to the images on the postcards. I like the view into history, said Cooper, who showcases his postcards on his website, The Alamo City (thealamocity.com). But Cooper, who owns a company that provides loans to those who need legal services, also finds the messages written by the senders just as fascinating. The one thing I hear all the time is people look at them and (say), I cant believe the handwriting. Its so beautiful. Weve lost that personal connection, that someone took the time to buy a card, write it, put a stamp on it and put it in a mailbox. As opposed to just taking a picture and sending it out somewhere. Cooper noted that postcards also offer insights into the human condition you just dont get on social media. Just thinking about what that person was doing when they wrote it, and who it went to, Cooper said. Youll see a run of cards or a collection of cards that were sent between a grandfather and his grandson over the years. And somebody held on to those. Just the life story. Its very, very real. On ExpressNews.com: Puro Pinball Wizard: World-ranked pinball wizard is reviving the game The majority of Coopers postcards capture San Antonio from the early to late 1900s, showcasing the citys cultural heritage and diversity. Some are written in Spanish and German. And plenty highlight the citys signature celebrations, such as HemisFair 68 and so many Fiesta floats and horse-drawn carriages from across the decades. One of the oldest postcards in Coopers collection, the Souvenir of San Antonio, is an 1899-postmarked card with colorful illustrations of the Alamo, Mission Concepcion and Mission San Jose, which was printed in Germany the year prior. The message itself has just as much historical significance. Arthur Guenther, the son of flour mill magnate C.H. Guenther,sent the postcard to his own son Hilmar in Germany to add to his own postcard collection. The Souvenir card connected Cooper with Richard Eisenhour, a fellow postcard buff at the State Preservation Board in Austin, after Cooper outbid Eisenhour on the postcard on eBay. Eisenhour hounded the seller to connect him with the guy who beat him, and after he was successful, the two became friends. Its the earliest known Texas tourist postcard, Eisenhour said of the Souvenir card. And Joseph has it. Eisenhour has collected postcards for more than 40 years. Hes currently working on a book about Texas earliest postcards, a good portion of which involves Coopers postcards. Comprehensive. Thats the word (for Coopers collection), Eisenhour said. Its extremely diverse. On the lighter side is a pair of postcards with black-and-white photos of conjoined twins Violet and Daisy Hilton, who were billed as the San Antonio Siamese Twins in 1920s vaudeville. One is an autographed, unmailed postcard of the sisters holding saxophones. Cooper has no idea which sister signed it, Sincerely yours Daisy & Violet Hilton, on the back. The other postcard features the sisters in dresses with big bows in their hair. Although it was never mailed, the message on the back, dated Sept. 20, 1922, is addressed to Grace and Irene. Theres no signature, but the writer seemed to know a lot about the Hiltons, reporting that the sisters mother had dead, and that a very nice appearing lady was now caring for them. The message also reporters that the twins would not want to be separated if that were possible. On the grimmer end is a postcard with a photo of a dead horse slumped on the sidewalk of a Crockett Street storefront, a victim of the 1921 flood that swept through downtown San Antonio. A note underneath the image reads, Horse pulled out of basement. On ExpressNews.com: S.A. eye doc stuns with figurine collection of 1,600 Even creepier than the image, the postcard was sent unsigned, with no message to Miss Hortense Fox in Richmond, Virginia, sometime in the 1920s (the last digit on the postmark is missing.) Its one of several postcards in Coopers collection with images from the devastating 1913 and 1921 San Antonio floods. And talk about your postcards from the edge. Some grim black-and-white photo postcards show the aftermath of the 1913 and 1921 floods that swept through downtown San Antonio. Most of these stark images feature devastated roadways and shell-shocked citizens wading through knee-high water. Cooper safeguards these lithographic and chrome-colored wonders in clear plastic sleeves, most of them filed in small steel cabinets made for index cards, in a secure closet in an undisclosed location. Others fill boxes at his Shavano Park home, where his wife Catherine cheers on his collecting. Coopers collection started 25 years ago, when he came across a scrapbook of old San Antonio postcards at the City-Wide Vintage Sale in Austin. That find soon led to postcard shows, then dealer contacts. Way before eBay, Cooper said. Now in addition to eBay, Cooper relies on pickers, basically three or four dealers and a couple of individuals who scour estate sales for postcards and other relics to flip on the secondary market. He also gets a helping hand from his wife. I end up finding more postcards for him than he does, wife Catherine said. Thats my go-to gift. I just kind of comb everywhere. And thats fun for me. I love that. Postcards as we know them today date back to 1861, when Congress passed an act that allowed privately printed cards to be mailed. Postcards didnt really take off until the 1890s, when souvenir postal cards, considered the first picture postcards, showed up at the Chicago Worlds Fair in 1893 and at other expos. Stamped postcards peaked in 1990 with more than 2.8 billion mailed, according to the United States Postal Service. Then as email usage grew, mailing postcards declined. By the end of 2019, the most recent figures by the USPS, Americans mailed only 563 million stamped cards and postcards combined. On ExpressNews.com: San Antonio marketing manager collects pressed pennies from around the world As for how much those postcards of yesteryear sell for today, expect small prices to match that small correspondence. The earliest picture postcards, which date back to the 1890s, may sell for around $25 each. Most postcards from the early-1900s heyday may ring up around $5 to $10 each. The most Cooper ever paid for a postcard was $175, though he was willing to bid up to $1,500 on eBay for that 1899 Souvenir of San Antonio postcard. He ended up getting it for just $2. Cooper is still deciding on an inheritance plan for the collection. His two adult sons are safe from burden, and Cooper said Eisenhour is begging him to share his collection with the state archives. I dont know, Cooper said. Id love to see it stay in San Antonio. In the meantime, Cooper plans to just keep collecting postcards of the San Antonio that used to be, all while still sending postcards from anywhere else he and his wife travel. To get something thats written by a person or a loved one is still significant, Cooper said. Its a lot of fun. And like so many other saved postcards from the past, theyre bound to make future collectors wish they were there, too. rguzman@express-news.net | Twitter: @reneguz Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 22) Health Secretary Francisco Duque III on Friday asked Congress to pass a measure aimed at compensating people who might experience serious side effects from COVID-19 vaccines. Nakikiusap po kami kung pwedeng ikonsidera po ninyo to accommodate this proposal, Duque told senators in a hearing, referring to the proposed legislation on indemnification fund for affected vaccine recipients. [Translation: We are asking you to please consider this, to accommodate this proposal.] Senator Joel Villanueva responded positively to Duque's request, saying he will support such a measure. Sa (As regards) indemnification fund, I will support it.," the senator said. "We will look into it. Lets study more. In principle I am supportive of that." In the absence of an indemnification fund, state-run PhiHealth can shoulder the costs of possible hospitalization of vaccinated individuals who may have severe reactions from experimental vaccines, Duque volunteered. Some severe allergic reactions were linked to U.S.-based firms Moderna and Pfizers COVID-19 vaccines. However, most of these allergic reactions are said to be rare. Their side effects are usually mild similar to common vaccine reactions. Twenty-three elderly people with critical illnesses in Norway have reportedly died days after receiving Pfizers vaccine. However, it is possible that the weak bodies of very old, sick patients could not handle mild adverse reactions from the vaccine, Food and Drug Administration Director General Rolando Domingo has pointed out, noting that Norway was still able to record lower fatalities in nursing homes after the mass immunization. FDA limits use of Pfizer vaccine As a precaution, the FDA chief said elderly people with critical illnesses will be excluded from the list of people who could receive Pfizers COVID-19 vaccine in the country. "Kapag tayo ay nagbakuna, mag-iingat na sa mga matatandang matatanda at saka may sakit. Sila ay i-e-exclude sa pagbabakuna," he said in the same hearing. [Translation: When we start our rollout, we will be careful. We will exclude very old and sick from the vaccination program.] Duque expressed hope that those who will receive the shots will only experience mild side effects. Nevertheless, he said, life-saving medications will be made available in vaccination sites, including hospitals. We will be careful in the administration of these vaccines, he added. 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. Bloomberg (Bloomberg) -- A century after automakers showed the world the value of assembly-line manufacturing, a shortage of semiconductors is teaching the industry a painful new lesson in what it takes to build a car.For most of its history, the industry has relied on a distinct approach to buying car parts, procuring components from suppliers right at the moment theyre needed. Its referred to as just-in-time manufacturing and is designed to streamline production and eliminate the costs of keeping warehouses stocked with parts waiting to be used.But the shortcomings of that system were made starkly clear this year as the automakers confronted a dearth of the chips they need to build advanced functions into their vehicles, and found themselves near the bottom of chipmakers customer lists because of their just-in-time approach. That shortage is threatening to cut $110 billion in sales from the industry, and forcing auto manufacturers to overhaul the way they get the electronic components that have become critical to contemporary car design.Customers need to change, said Hassane El-Khoury, chief executive officer of ON Semiconductor Corp., which gets more than a third of its revenue from the automotive market. That just-in-time mindset doesnt work.Semiconductor makers are demanding guaranteed, long-term orders rather than the short-term flexibility the carmakers are used to. The chipmakers assertiveness, even under pressure from lawmakers, underscores the rebalancing of power from the companies whose logos are on the cars to those that provide the advanced technology that runs them.As these components play a bigger role in everything from in-car entertainment to self-driving functions, chip manufacturers say theyre willing to invest in expanding production to head off a repeat of shortages that have forced the industry to mothball factories and furlough workers -- if the carmakers give them orders that cant be canceled and commit to long-term agreements.Why would I have invested a single dollar when my customer can cancel within 30 days and it takes me two years to build capacity? ON Semiconductors El-Khoury said.There are signs the industry is listening. Last week, Ford Motor Co. Chief Executive Officer Jim Farley indicated a new willingness to reverse decades of outsourcing for parts.As the industry changes, we have to in-source now, just like we in-sourced powertrains in the 20s and 30s, said Farley, who has shut down half his factories and seen his dealers lots emptying because of a dearth of chips.Most components used by the auto industry are part of a discrete food chain, and carmakers are at the top, able to orchestrate their suppliers actions in a system that delivers them a set of components that can be put together quickly and cheaply into a finished vehicle. Electronics makers, whove fared much better in the chip supply crunch, regard semiconductors as essential systems, and they work directly with chipmakers to secure products and often design their devices around the chips themselves.Automakers can no longer assume the dominance of an 800-pound gorilla in negotiations with chip companies and battery makers, said Mark Wakefield, head of the auto practice at consultancy AlixParters.Pioneered by Toyota Motor Corp. in the 1960s, just-in-time is a system where components suppliers are required to turn up with whatever the carmakers want at the last possible moment in a process that pares costs to the very minimum.That strategy has served the industry well, saving money and helping it organize a system for sourcing the 40,000 or so components that go into a modern vehicle, many of which can be made in a matter of days. But semiconductors -- the heart of sensors, engine management and battery controllers, infotainment and eventually systems that will pilot vehicles -- are created in a process that takes months. And building and equipping a factory to produce them requires years.Todays cars contain an average of 1,400 semiconductors -- and that puts the chipmakers at an advantage. Fords Farley said hes now negotiating contracts directly with chipmakers -- bypassing his traditional auto suppliers -- while building up inventory of the precious pieces and even redesigning models to accommodate the semiconductor companies.We have learned a lot through this crisis that can be applied to many critical components, Farley told analysts last month as he announced Ford would lose half its production in the second quarter and take a $2.5 billion hit to earnings this year, citing a lack of chips. Were also thinking about what this means for the world of batteries and silicon and all sorts of other components that are really mission critical for our company.Ford is not alone in seeking solutions that upend long-time industry practices. Automakers from General Motors Co. to Volkswagen AG to Tesla Inc. are looking for ways to get closer to the chipmaking process, which could include forming partnerships with semiconductor companies, bringing chipmaking in-house and even building their own foundries. Nothing is off the table.Cars are only going to get more technical and theyre going to need more chips, said Sam Fiorani, vice president of vehicle forecasting at consultant AutoForecast Solutions. All of the vehicle manufacturers are looking at every possible scenario for getting it solved for the long-term.But according to some chipmakers, the auto industry has embraced new technology but failed to understand those that supply it.There is a huge difference between manufacturing a car and manufacturing a chip, said Kurt Sievers, CEO of NXP Semiconductor NV, the biggest maker of auto chips. Weve been working for years closely with the auto OEMs directly when it comes to R&D and innovation -- however, not at all for supply chain and volume forecasting.Sievers said the chip industry wants specific forecasts that stretch out in years and binding commitments to buy chips that last that long. The way automakers, referred to as original equipment manufacturers or OEMs, and semiconductor vendors work together needs to change, he said.And the car companies have little choice but to do so. Consumers are increasingly choosing vehicles based on functions such as connectivity, entertainment and advanced automated safety features. The auto industry is steadily shifting away from gasoline to battery power. All of that requires more chips.Its no longer this subsystem that no one cares about, said Victor Peng, CEO of Xilinx Inc. a chipmaker whose products are uses in advanced driver-assistance systems. The electronics is really going to shape the customer experience.The semiconductor industry has plenty of other orders to fill. In 2020 automakers bought almost $40 billion worth of chips, little changed from the prior year, even amid the crash of the pandemic. By comparison, the computer industry bought 17% more chips than it did in 2019, for a total of $160 billion. Phone makers, meantime, provided the chip industry with $137 billion in revenue, a jump of 12%.Earlier this year, automakers lobbied U.S. lawmakers to intervene to help them with the shortage, arguing that chipmakers were unfairly prioritizing customers building less important consumer electronics over cars. The automakers argue their industry creates more than 7 million jobs in America and is critical to national security. And theyve found a sympathetic ear in President Joe Biden, who was supported by the United Auto Workers in the 2020 election, and is working to help the auto industry navigate the chip crisis.Still, consumer electronics buys $20 billion more chips a year than the auto industry, and Big Tech has plenty of clout in Washington, too.Chipmakers are also in no hurry to add new factories to meet this years chip rush. Though 2020 was a good year and 2021 is shaping up to be even better, they dont have to look back very far to be reminded of the difficulties of matching supply with short-term fluctuations in demand. In 2019 industry sales shrank 12% as customers slashed orders to work through stockpiles.Many investors and analysts are already concerned that what now looks like insatiable demand is customers double-ordering: asking for twice the amount they need so they can at least get the number they want. In the past, such heavy ordering has proved to foreshadow industry gluts, with demand eventually easing and buyers tapping the brakes as they worked down accumulated inventory.We came out of 2018 guns blazing, everybody hoarded, and then 2019 was an awful year of demand because they already had chips, said ON Semiconductors El Khoury. Here we are today with people looking at us and asking, why havent you invested?The type of chip automakers want also works against them. Much of what they use -- things such as sensors and power regulators -- can be made on whats called lagging nodes, or production technology that hasnt been state-of-the-art for years. While that makes it cheaper, chipmakers are reluctant to expand capacity of technology thats closer to being obsolete.The chips that the automotive industry uses are older than the ones youd find in your cell phones or in your video games, said AutoForecast Solutions Fiorani. That makes them less of a priority to the companies that produce them.Fiorani said carmakers would be better served forming joint ventures with chipmakers to tap their expertise and lock down a dependable source of supply. But doing that would involve going around traditional suppliers such as Continental AG and Robert Bosch AG and turning back the clock to a more expensive time when companies like Ford had to deal with suppliers for raw materials.Some auto suppliers are already taking steps to make sure they dont get cut out. Parts supplier Robert Bosch is opening a new chip factory in Dresden that it says is the first of its kind dedicated to manufacturing semiconductors for automotive uses. Still, some automakers are already talking openly about cutting out those middlemen in order to keep up with the speed of change.We will be the one who has the commercial relationship with the chipmaker, Volvo Cars CEO Hakan Samuelsson said at a mobility conference in Tel Aviv this month. When we want a change and you have to talk to suppliers, it is too slow.Fords Farley said hes consulted with tech companies and discovered how common it is in other industries to keep buffer stock and to buy directly from chip manufacturers.Even if the company still buys the components with chips on them from a supplier, they still negotiated a direct deal, he told analysts, describing something thats common practice for companies like Apple Inc. Ford learned that nine of its tier-one component suppliers rely on just one Renesas Electronics Corp. factory in Japan for chips, a plant that suffered a fire, he said.Some automakers have made rapid progress in understanding their newer suppliers and are negotiating long-term deals. Others are sticking to the belief that they can dictate how their suppliers should act, according to ON Semiconductors El-Khoudry.Learning from their current difficulties is the key to turning around the current crisis and avoiding the next, according to Xilinxs Peng. Toyota, the inventor of just-in-time, said it expects to return to pre-pandemic levels of profitability as soon as this year, helped by factories that continue to churn out vehicles because the company made the decision to accumulate stockpiles of chips.People have to think differently or theyre going to be left behind, Peng 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. Grand Rivers Man Arrested on Drug, Other Charges By West Kentucky Star Staff MCCRACKEN COUNTY - A Grand Rivers man is facing drug charges after a traffic stop on Friday.At 10:30 am, a deputy with the McCracken County Sheriff's Department stopped a vehicle at the intersection of Clark's River Road and Wayne Sullivan Drive for an alleged traffic violation.A search of the vehicle reportedly uncovered methamphetamine, marijuana, a handgun, and drug paraphernalia.The driver, 26-year-old Edward Hicks, was arrested on charges of first degree possession of methamphetamine, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, and obstructed vision.He was lodged in the McCracken County Jail. Credit: CC0 Public Domain Germany has detected its first case of a newly discovered Brazilian coronavirus variant, feared to be particularly infectious, regional health officials in the state of Hesse said Friday. The infected person recently returned from a trip to Brazil and lab tests on Thursday confirmed he had caught the new strain, Hessian Social Affairs Minister Kai Klose told reporters. Experts from Germany's Robert Koch Institute (RKI) say the Brazilian mutation is similar to a new South African variant, which is seen as more contagious than the original virus. A third mutation that has emerged in Britain has added to fears about the pandemic, with scientists worrying that these more transmissible variants could turbocharge outbreaks across the globe. Several countries have already imposed travel restrictions on people from affected nations or are asking for negative COVID-19 tests before departure. Virologist Sandra Ciesek, one of Germany's best-known coronavirus experts, said Frankfurt's university hospital was informed on Thursday that an infected person was on board a flight from Brazil who was asymptomatic. A PCR test upon landing reliably showed he had the Brazilian variant of the virus, she said. The probe is still undergoing detailed sequencing, which takes longer. Brazilian expert Felipe Naveca recently told AFP that the Brazilian strain detected in the state of Amazonas is "very probably" more contagious, just like new strains found in Britain and South Africa. Naveca said the variant, which the World Health Organization has described as "worrying," may have spread throughout Brazil and could already be the dominant strain in Amazonas. Germany has also recorded cases of the British and South African mutations on its soil, but has managed to isolate those cases so far and no large clusters have emerged yet. Scientists to date do not believe that the new strains lead to more serious cases of COVID-19. Germany on Friday crossed the mark of 50,000 COVID-19 deaths since the start of the pandemic. Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak 2021 AFP The mutant South African coronavirus variant may make the current crop of vaccines 50 per cent less effective, Matt Hancock has sensationally claimed. In footage obtained by MailOnline, the Health Secretary warned allowing the variant to become the dominant strain in the UK could ruin Britain's vaccination drive and send the country 'back to square one'. Mr Hancock is understood to have made the astonishing comments during an online webinar with travel agents this week, to the shock of everyone on the call. He said there was 'evidence in the public domain' that the South African variant reduces vaccine efficacy by 'about 50 per cent'. Although he followed up by saying: 'We are not sure of this data so I wouldn't say this in public.' The South African strain called B.1.351 has key mutations on its spike protein which scientists fear might make it difficult for the immune system to recognise. These alterations open the door to it being resistant to vaccines, which train the body to spot the spike protein, or natural immunity from previous infection. It comes after South African scientists found that 48 per cent of blood samples from people who had been infected in the past did not show an immune response to the new variant - raising red flags about possible vaccine resistance. The South African version is also though to be at least 60 per cent more infectious than regular Covid and even more transmissible than the Kent variant that ripped through the UK and plunged England into its third national lockdown. The South African strain has already been spotted in the UK 73 times, according to the Covid-19 Genomics Consortium UK (COG-UK). Although it is likely to be far more widespread because COG-UK only analyses 10 per cent of random positive samples. In footage obtained by MailOnline, Health Secretary Matt Hancock sensationally claimed the mutant South African coronavirus variant makes the current crop of vaccines 50 per cent less effective The South African strain called B.1.351 has key mutations on its spike protein which make scientists fear might make it hard for the immune system to recognise Worrying strains around the world: Since the Covid pandemic began there have been at least six new stains which appear more infectious and have mutations that open the door to vaccine resistance The video of Mr Hancock's web chat surfaced on a private Facebook page for travel agents. The Health Secretary was seen chatting from his London home, where he is self-isolating after being alerted by NHS Covid-19 app on Tuesday. Talking about the possibility of summer holidays being on the cards this year, Mr Hancock, said: 'Last year, the travel restrictions were based on basically number of cases. When an area had a low number of cases then travel was fine. 'The complication we've got now is the new vaccine makes things better here, but the new variants put that at risk. 'Because if you have a variant that gets round the vaccine and there's evidence in the public domain, although we are not sure of this data so I wouldn't say this in public that the South African variant reduces by about 50 per cent the vaccine efficacy. UK bans flights from Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of Congo in latest bid to stop South African strain spreading here 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 last night 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. 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. 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. On January 15, people coming from South America and Portugal were also banned from entering the UK over fears about Brazilian strains which have similar mutations. Advertisement 'We are testing that, we've got some of the South African variant in Porton Down [a Public Health England laboratory] and we're testing it. And we've got a clinical trial in South Africa to check the AstraZeneca vaccine works. 'Nevertheless, if you vaccinate the entire population and then you get in a new variant that evaded the vaccine, then you'd be back to square one. 'And so tougher international restrictions are the price that for instance Australia has paid for stronger domestic protection, as in more life getting back to normal domestically.' MailOnline has contacted the Department of Health for comment. Dozens of cases of the South African coronavirus variant have already been spotted in Britain. The Covid-19 Genomics Consortium UK (COG-UK) said 73 Brits have tested positive for the variant so far, with the first case spotted in October last year. It's likely that there have been far more than the number reported because COG-UK only analyses 10 per cent of random positive coronavirus samples. In a bid to keep out other worrying variants cropping up around the world, including strains in Brazil which have similar mutations, the UK has closed its borders to anyone who has not tested negative within 72 hours of travelling. It has also outright banned travellers from several countries where the strains are prevalent. The Government is determined not to let potentially-vaccine resistant variants hamper its immunisation drive, which is on track to give a dose to the 14million most vulnerable Brits by mid-February. Today the programme in Britain vaccinated a record 400,000 people after uptake rose for the third day in a row. No10 needs to inject about 350,000 Brits a day to hit the goal next month. The figures will raise hope that lockdown will start to gradually be eased in spring. But No10 has has pointedly refused to rule out the draconian restrictions lasting into the summer, warning the NHS is still under huge pressure and the curbs will only be lifted when it is 'safe'. The official line from Number 10 is that there is not enough evidence yet to suggest the South African, or even the Brazil strains, are immune-resistant. But tests and clinical trials are being done by Public Health England, vaccine makers and independent scientists to see if the current iteration of jabs will still be effective against the super-strain. The strains discovered in Kent, South Africa and Brazil all have mutations of a spike protein, which enables the virus to latch onto human cells and therefore plays a key role in driving infections. But it is one mutation in particular - known as E484K and present in the variants from South Africa and Brazil - that has experts worried about immunity 'escape'. In a study published on Tuesday, South African academics found that 48 per cent of blood samples from people who had been infected in the past did not show an antibody response to the variant there. One researcher said it was 'clear that we have a problem'. Antibodies are substances made by the immune system that are key to destroying viruses or marking them for destruction by white blood cells. Antibodies are a major part of the immunity that is created by vaccines although not the only part so if the virus continues evolving to escape from them it could mean that vaccines have to be redesigned and given out again. But experts so far say they have no reason to believe vaccines won't work, which may be because they produce a stronger immune response than a very mild infection, and because they produce various different types of immune cells. It's unclear if Mr Hancock - who does not have a scientific background - stumbled over the 48 per cent figure in the results. The Government is determined not to let potentially-vaccine resistant variants hamper its immunisation drive, which is on track to give a dose to the 14million most vulnerable Brits by mid-February South African Covid mutation poses 're-infection risk' which could overpower vaccines, study finds The South African coronavirus mutation poses a 'significant re-infection risk' and could overpower vaccines, new research has found. Researchers in South Africa tested the variant against blood plasma from recovered Covid-19 patients. They found it was resistant to neutralising antibodies built up from prior infection, meaning that it could also defy immunity provided by the current crop of jabs. 'Here we show that the 501Y.V2 lineage, which contains nine spike mutations and rapidly emerged in South Africa during the second half of 2020, is largely resistant to neutralising antibodies elicited by infection with previously circulating lineages,' the authors said. 'This suggests that, despite the many people who 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 re-infection risk.' The researchers added that this might also affect the use of convalescent plasma as a treatment for Covid-19. They also referred to 'implications' for vaccines developed based on immune responses to the virus's spike protein. Advertisement It comes after Sir Patrick Vallance admitted on Thursday there were still 'question marks' over whether the vaccines would work against the South African and Brazilian strains. No10's chief scientific adviser added it was 'quite likely' Britons may need to get a Covid jab every winter for 'at least a few years'. However, Sir Patrick was able to say emphatically that the so-called Kent variant, first found in England, would be dealt with by the vaccines. Sir Patrick said even if a new variant is able to get around the current vaccines, it was going to be 'really quite easy' to tweak them to target the new versions. Meanwhile, 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 last night 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. 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. 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. On January 15, people coming from South America and Portugal were also banned from entering the UK over fears about Brazilian strains which have similar mutations. Cases have stayed about the same over the past week and are still high. The numbers of hospitalized Covid patients and deaths in the Richardson County area have also remained at about the same level. The test positivity rate in Richardson County is very high, suggesting that cases are being significantly undercounted. Weve recommended additional precautions below. 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 Richardson 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 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 . 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. 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. Because of the very high risk of exposure to Covid in Richardson 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 . 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. 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 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 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 Richardson 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 very high Covid-19 transmission in Richardson 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 Richardson County in the last week. Since the beginning of the pandemic, at least 1 in 11 residents have been infected, a total of 738 reported cases . About the data In data for Nebraska, The Times primarily relies on reports from the state, as well as health districts or county governments that often report ahead of the state. The state does not update its data on weekends. Prior to May 15, 2021, it released new data daily. 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: Jan. 20, 2021: Nebraska announced a large number of cases after completing data system maintenance. Nebraska announced a large number of cases after completing data system maintenance. Jan. 8, 2021: Nebraska removed deaths previously announced on Nov. 7 after determining the cause was not Covid-related, resulting in a one-day decrease. Nebraska removed deaths previously announced on Nov. 7 after determining the cause was not Covid-related, resulting in a one-day decrease. Jan. 7, 2021: Nebraska announced deaths that were removed the following day. Counts for Douglas County include cases brought to the state from the Diamond Princess cruise ship. The tallies on this page include cases and deaths that have been identified by public health officials as probable coronavirus patients through antigen testing. 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 Richardson County is at a very high risk level for unvaccinated people because there was an average of 10 daily cases per 100,000 people reported in the past two weeks and the test positivity was over 10 percent. The risk in Richardson County will decrease to high risk if the test positivity drops below 10 percent or the daily case rate drops to less than about 2.8 cases per 100,000 people over the past two weeks. 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: A 15-year-old boy has been charged after allegedly penetrating two 12-year-olds and possessing child pornography of the preteen girls. The boy appeared before Kalgoorlie Children's Court on Thursday after allegedly filming a sex act in the town of Goldfields in Kalgoorie, Western Australia, in October last year. The male student has been charged with indecently recording a child under 13 and with two charges of sexual penetration of a child under 13. A 15-year-old boy has been charged after allegedly penetrating two 12-year-olds and possessing child pornography of the preteen girls (stock) The boy appeared before Kalgoorlie Children's Court on Thursday after allegedly filming the pair while they performed a sex act on him in October last year in Goldfields, WA. Pictured: Kalgoorie Courthouse There had been a meeting about the alleged sexual relationship between the 15-year-old and the female children at their school last year, the court was told. In that meeting, parents of the three students, child protective services and the police had met to discuss different sexual misconduct allegations. The prosecutor said while there were no allegations of force more charges could be laid, reported the West Australian. The court was told by police officer Senior Constable Greg Pope that the boy made remarks indicating he wanted to reach out to one of the girls, concerning police. The trio will continue to go to school together as the boy was granted bail, but he cannot be within five metres of the girls while at school. Outside of school, he must stay 20 metres away and abide by any rules created by the school. He was also given a curfew and is not allowed to access the internet unsupervised, or use social media or pornography. Magistrate Genevieve Cleary told the boy if he didn't comply with the bail conditions he would go into custody. '[They're] going to sound frustrating and they're going to sound hard to comply with, but any breach of these will send you back into custody,' she said. Frontline workers at Covid testing centres have not yet been offered the vaccine because the government says they are not in 'close contact' with the virus and have appropriate PPE, MailOnline can reveal. Staff at centres around the country say they have not had the potentially life-saving jab, despite carrying out hundreds of tests for patients who swab positive for coronavirus. Workers at drive-through testing centres, who carry out PCR and lateral flow tests, routinely lean into cars to take swabs from people's throats and noses, while others carry out tests inside temporary Portakabins. Other frontline workers have now been offered the vaccine including NHS workers and care home staff. Police officers and teachers - other key workers - have yet to be given a time for when they will be inoculated. Number 10 is aiming to vaccinate 15million people in the top priority groups by mid-February, with the aim of gradually easing lockdown when enough of Britain's most vulnerable population has some protection. But the list doesn't include workers at testing sites across the UK, despite them coming into contact with people potentially-infected with the virus. It comes after jabs were offered to clerical staff at a hospital in Scotland ahead of nurses, and to NHS office staff in some parts of England before doctors and nurses on hospital wards. The Department of Health said they do not come into regular contact with the virus. But testers routinely lean into cars to take swabs from people potentially-infected with Covid-19. Above is a tester taking a swab at Chessington World of Adventures, near London The Department of Health said they have adequate PPE to protect them from the virus. Above is a tester taking a swab from a student in Newcastle A Covid tester leans into a car to take a swab at Chessington World of Adventures, near London WHO'S FIRST IN LINE TO GET THE VACCINE? Below is the Government's vaccination priority list, decided by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation: Residents in care homes for older adults and their carers; All those 80 years old and over, alongside frontline NHS and social care workers All those 75 years old and over All those 70 years old and over All those 65 years old and over All those aged 16 to 64 years old with underlying health conditions which put them at higher risk of serious disease and mortality All those 60 years old and over All those 55 years old and over All those 50 years old and over Advertisement One test centre worker from Merseyside said: 'It's a big slap in the face really, nobody seems to thank us for the work we do and it seems as though nobody wants us to give us the proper protection either. 'The NHS and hospital staff have done and are continuing to do a wonderful job as are care home staff and social workers but they've rightly been offered the vaccine. 'We are working in just as close contact to people with Covid as them. 'A lateral flow test is essentially a laboratory test being conducted in a Portakabin so if someone tests positive for coronavirus then that space is contaminated and all we have to protect ourselves is a visor, mask, gloves and gown. 'Test staff are falling ill with Covid all over the UK but it's being kind of swept under the carpet. Some workers are even hiding symptoms because they're on zero-hour contracts and if they have to self-isolate for ten days then they'll not get paid.' This week a testing centre in Warwickshire was temporarily closed due to a Covid outbreak with three workers testing positive for the virus on Wednesday. A similar closure happened last October at a testing centre near Liverpool. Test centre staff are prohibited from speaking to the media but a few have spoken anonymously to MailOnline to highlight their disappointment and fears of not being able to get the jab. One worker from the West Midlands said: 'I don't think its right that we aren't being given the same protection as other frontline Covid workers. 'We are testing thousands of people a day and a proportion of them prove to have the virus. 'How can it be right for an NHS office worker to be able to be given the vaccine when we can't? 'All that I and my colleagues have been given is the winter flu jab - nobody has even spoken to us about the Covid vaccine.' Private companies brought in by the government to manage the test centres including Serco, Sodexo, Mitie, G4S and Boots say they have not yet been given a date for staff to be vaccinated. A spokeswoman for Mitie said the matter was 'under consideration' by the government however it 'is something we'd like to get sorted quickly as safety of our staff is a priority.' 'Staff in COVID-19 test centres are working on the front-line of this pandemic, providing vital services as part of the UK's Coronavirus response,' she said. 'These individuals, who have shown such dedication in keeping Britain running and the public safe, deserve to be treated as equals to other healthcare colleagues.' A Department for Health spokeswoman said any testing staff who fell under the four categories those over 80, those over 70, NHS workers or the clinically vulnerable would be given the jab in the first wave. However she added: 'In line with the recommendations of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), other testing staff will not prioritised in phase one as they do not come in close contact with those being tested, testing sites are well-ventilated and staff are provided with appropriate PPE.' Star-Kid Krishna Shroff set the social media on fire with her latest Insta post. On her 28th birthday, the diva took to an image-sharing platform and shared a sexy mirror selfie flaunting her chiselled body. The picture went viral soon and made her fans drool over her flawless body. (Image: Instagram) More than 500 deaths related to Covid-19 occurred in January and health chiefs have said that "we can unfortunately expect this trend to continue" in coming days. The news came as the National Public Health Emergency Team confirmed there have been 51 further Covid-19 deaths in Ireland. There have also been 2,608 new confirmed cases of the virus here. Some 49 of these deaths occurred in January. The Department of Health stated that the median age of those who died is 80 years and the age range is 58-103 years. The vast majority of today's cases are in the capital with 1,019 cases in Dublin. There are 204 cases in Cork, 135 in Donegal, 132 in Galway, 131 in Kildare, and the remaining 987 cases are spread across all other counties. Of today's cases: 1,230 are men / 1,346 are women 55% are under 45 years of age The median age is 42 years old Dr Tony Holohan said there is still a "very large burden of infection" in the country. The Chief Medical officer 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 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 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 highlighted how there have been 532 Covid-19-related deaths so far in January and he said "we can unfortunately expect this trend to continue over the coming days". He said: "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. In a letter to the Health Minister written early this month, Dr Holohan warned that up to 1,000 deaths may occur this month. Professor Philip Nolan, Chair of the Nphet Irish Epidemiological Modelling Advisory Group, confirmed that the R number has fallen below 1. Incidence is gradually falling but remains very high across all age groups but particularly in those aged 85 and older, said Prof Nolan. 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 14-day incidence rate now stands at 1,141 cases per 100,000 population. The Department of Health also confirmed the HSEs publication of a study looking at antibodies to Covid-19 in healthcare workers in two Irish hospitals. The PRECISE study found that in St Jamess Hospital, 15% of staff had antibodies for Covid-19 while 4.1% of staff in University Hospital Galway had antibodies. The results of the study will help the health service in its response to Covid-19, said Dr Lorraine Doherty, National Clinical Director for Health Protection HSE, Health Protection Surveillance Centre. 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 figures come as clinical nurse manager Bernie Waterhouse spoke movingly earlier today of her 10 months so far working on a Covid-19 ward at St James Hospital. Among the challenges she described were the acuity of the Covid patients we are looking after on the wards; they deteriorate very quickly, they die very quickly or go to ICU very quickly. Days on the ward when a number of patients pass away or become so ill as to need ICU care are very difficult for the staff also, she said. On Thursday, Health Minister Stephen 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. A family devastated by a double coronavirus tragedy lost a brother and father in the space of seven months. Suzanne Selby has paid tribute to her brother Alan, 47, and father Karl, 74, and pleaded with the public to take the threat of the virus seriously. In May last year, Suzanne unexpectedly found her brother Alan dead at his home in Fleetwood, Lancashire. He worked as a chef in a care home and had no underlying health conditions that his family were aware of. Suzanne Selby (bottom right) has paid tribute to her brother Alan, 47, (top right) from Fleetwood, Lancashire, and father Karl, 74, (top left) from Heywood, Greater Manchester, after they died from coronavirus seven months apart The Army veteran had taken a week's holiday in the midst of the first wave of the coronavirus pandemic and was preparing to go back to work when he developed a cough. Suzanne believes around twenty residents in his care home had tested positive by this point. She said: 'My mum had phoned him and he didn't answer. 'We thought he must just be in bed and he lived alone. So I drove over and I found him on the bathroom floor.' Karl Selby, a much-respected and well-known member of the Heywood community It was only after a coroner's investigation began that the family discovered Alan had contracted coronavirus. His death aged 47 will be the subject of an inquest hearing later this year. Alan's dad Karl Selby, a much-respected and well-known member of the Heywood community, never got over the death of his son, Suzanne says. And then on Christmas Day evening, a fire broke out in the neighbouring property to Karl and wife Janet's home on Agincourt Street. At first, emergency services believed the elderly couple would be able to stay while the blaze was extinguished, but unfortunately it became more serious and late in the evening they had to be evacuated. The cause of the fire is the subject of a police investigation and the Selbys' home remains uninhabitable due to the damage. There has been an outpouring of support for Karl and Janet and a GoFundMe set up to help them with repairs. Suzanne, 42, said although her parents had home insurance, they have yet to receive a payout due to the ongoing police investigation. Matty Booth, who set up the fundraising page, said: 'My stepdad passed away in August and he always helped people, I just wanted to do something to follow in his footsteps. 'Karl and Janet are well known in the community, they've helped people all their lives.' Alan (pictured centre, when he became a God parent) worked as a chef in a care home and had no underlying health conditions that his family were aware of While the fundraising efforts have been successful, sadly there was another tragic twist of fate following the fire. Karl and Janet moved in with their daughter Suzanne, her husband and two children. Within days all four adults caught coronavirus. The two children tested negative. COVID-19 HAS AT LEAST 19 SYMPTOMS, EXPERT BEHIND UK SYMPTOM TRACKER APP SAYS Professor Spector and researchers from King's College London have developed a symptom-tracking app which has seen millions of Britons sign up and report their symptoms. The full list of symptoms, in order of how predictive they are of the disease, include: 1. Loss of smell/taste 2. Persistent cough 3. Fatigue 4. Loss of appetite 5. Skin rash 6. Hives 7. Fever 8. Severe muscle pain 9. Shortness of breath 10. Diarrhoea 11. Delirium 12. Abdominal pain 13. Chest pain 14. Hoarse voice 15. Eye soreness 16. Sore or painful throat 17. Nausea or vomiting 18. Headache 19. Dizziness or light headedness Advertisement Suzanne said: 'I was the one who kind of got off lightly. I was aching and tired, I've lost my taste and smell, but I was still able to cook for everyone and look after dad. 'My friend is a nurse and I asked 'is there anything we can do beyond paracetamol?' 'He [Suzanne's father] had a fever and loss of appetite. She recommended we got a pulse oximeter to test his oxygen levels. 'The first reading was really low, the minimum is supposed to be 93 and it was 68.' Karl Selby was admitted to Oldham Royal hospital at the start of the year and Suzanne said the care he received was fantastic. He eventually chose to be put on a ventilator but tragically he lost his fight with Covid on January 9 aged 74. 'The thing that gets to me is when people say 'it's only a cold what does it matter?' said Suzanne. 'There was four of us at the start of 2020 now there's two. It's not even a full year. People do get coronavirus and get over it. 'But it's wiped out 50 per cent of my family in seven months. My mum and dad wore a mask everywhere and gelled their hands all the time. 'I work as a nanny and my work hasn't got it - I don't think I got from there. When he goes shopping, my husband is very anal about gelling his hands and wearing a mask. 'We've been doing all that and we still ended up getting it. We don't know where it came from. We have been really careful and we can't pinpoint it.' Karl Selby was the chairman of Bullough Moor Bowling Club in Heywood and will be sorely missed by friends and colleagues. Heywood Bowls League said in a post on Facebook: 'It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Bullough Moor Chairman Karl Selby. 'Beyond being an absolute gentleman, Karl played a significant role in junior bowls in the Heywood area for decades, teaching youngsters how to play and getting them into the sport. 'He will be a huge miss to bowling, Heywood and the local community.' Karl's funeral will be held at St James Church in Heywood at midday on January 26. Due to Covid restrictions, only 30 people will be able to come into the church, however mourners are invited to line the streets outside. The pandemic has made identifying and reducing security gaps even more important for credit unions because COVID-19 has ushered in higher levels of fraud, identity theft and other cybercrimes which cybersecurity experts predict will continue to skyrocket. Many of these crimes can be prevented with the right approach to document management, ensuring that your credit unions sensitive information is not at risk. The following are three key areas that leave your credit union vulnerable in the context of pandemic-related security threats: Changes in your credit unions use of technology and operational workflow. Staff working conditions. Member exposure and behaviors. Cloud-based document management is a key component of credit union information security and can help you shore up your resources in all of these areas. Heres how: Tackle technology and workflow risks with active cybersecurity oversight. If your credit union was forced to make a sudden shift to the cloud and remote processing due to the pandemic, your tech stack may not be as secure as you think it is. Beware of security gaps created by fragmented workflows resulting from non-integrated solutions, especially where data is required to be migrated manually between applications in order to process loans and other services. If you are relying on locally hosted software or hardware, now is the time to make the move to get all your applications and files into the cloud. A cloud-based document management system such as SmartVault can provide the backbone for your credit unions plan to protect against cybersecurity threats in several ways. First, with built-in secure file sharing and granular user access permissions, you can collaborate with your staff, members and third-party partners online easily and securely. No more sending or receiving sensitive documents as unsecured email attachments (we should know by now how unsecure and risky that is), instead, documents and files can be shared in a private, password-protected document portal that only authorized users can access. Secondly, a cloud-based document management system has the ability to protect sensitive data by following advanced security protocol guidance from the National Credit Union Association (NCUA) and Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), making it easier for your credit union to stay in compliance with important industry regulations. In addition, it is important to review your tech stack for potential gaps and implement any needed integrations between solutions to reduce the risks related to data transmission vulnerabilities. The right document management platform should provide your credit union with high-level encryption for your data whether it is securely stored in the cloud or it is being transmitted over the internet. Ensure that your staff are security-savvy to prevent risk to your credit union. Human error (usually by omission) is often the driver of successful fraud attempts and cybercrimes. In fact, the perpetrators of these crimes leverage the trust, ignorance and preoccupation of their victims to their advantage. This is why, despite the risks related to phishing, malware, identity theft and other fraudulent activities being widely reported, there have been many victims, and security breaches are still prevalent. Many of these attacks will come as innocent emails from a seemingly familiar but fradulent sender, asking your internal staff to click on malicious links, or hand over sensitive information. This underscores the importance of training staff on how to avoid these scams as well as having the right process and platform in place for securely storing and sharing information internally and to external parties. With a cloud-based document management platform, you can monitor and control changes or access to information and real-time updating of files, preventing issues related to file security and integrity. Implement protocols to protect member data. In addition to the added risks your credit union faces during the pandemic from its own technology infrastructure and staff behaviors, perhaps the largest risk comes from the way you serve and interact with your members and their data. Your credit union likely handles thousands of pieces of Personally Identifiable Information (PII) related to its members. Consider the risk related to a data breach if you do not have the proper protocols in place for your members to use in order to share this information with you. By utilizing a secure, cloud-based document management platform, your members sensitive data is protected with practically impenetrable encryption during transit and at rest. Unless your internal IT or security team implement a similar level of encryption to your local network servers or extra stringent security measures for paper-based documents, your credit union will likely be liable when theres a data breach. However, when you use a cloud-based system, it will help to reduce the possibility of your credit union having liability related to a data breach involving your members. Pandemic security threats require a proactive response from your credit union. Given the increased risk of cybersecurity threats brought about by COVID-19 its imperative that your credit union takes action now to protect itself and its members from them. A comprehensive cloud-based document management system, like SmartVault provides the infrastructure necessary to build a solid response to these threats while also providing the foundation from which your institution can continue to build its protective processes and protocols for the future. Why North Star felt it was key to keep in-person education amid COVID The year 2021 marks the 100th anniversary of a fundamental discovery that's taught in every biochemistry textbook. In 1921, German physician Otto Warburg observed that cancer cells harvest energy from glucose sugar in a strangely inefficient manner: rather than "burn" it using oxygen, cancer cells do what yeast do -- they ferment it. This oxygen-independent process occurs quickly, but leaves much of the energy in glucose untapped. Various hypotheses to explain the Warburg effect have been proposed over the years, including the idea that cancer cells have defective mitochondria -- their "energy factories" -- and therefore cannot perform the controlled burning of glucose. But none of these explanations has withstood the test of time. (Cancer cells' mitochondria work just fine, for example.) Now a research team at the Sloan Kettering Institute led by immunologist Ming Li offers a new answer, based on a hefty set of genetic and biochemical experiments and published January 21 in the journal Science. It comes down to a previously unappreciated link between Warburg metabolism and the activity of a powerhouse enzyme in the cell called PI3 kinase. PI3 kinase is a key signaling molecule that functions almost like a commander-in-chief of cell metabolism. Most of the energy-costly cellular events in cells, including cell division, occur only when PI3 kinase gives the cue." Dr. Ming Li, Immunologist, Sloan Kettering Institute As cells shift to Warburg metabolism, the activity of PI3 kinase is increased, and in turn, the cells' commitment to divide is strengthened. It's a bit like giving the commander-in-chief a megaphone. The findings revise the commonly accepted view among biochemists that sees metabolism as secondary to cell signaling. They also suggest that targeting metabolism could be an effective way to thwart cancer growth. Challenging the textbook view Dr. Li and his team, including graduate student Ke Xu, studied Warburg metabolism in immune cells, which also rely on this seemingly inefficient form of metabolism. When immune cells are alerted to the presence of an infection, a certain type called T cells shift from the typical oxygen-burning form of metabolism to Warburg metabolism as they grow in number and ramp up infection-fighting machinery. The key switch that controls this shift is an enzyme called lactate dehydrogenase A (LDHA), which is made in response to PI3 kinase signaling. As a result of this switch, glucose remains only partially broken down and the cell's energy currency, called ATP, is quickly generated in the cell's cytosol. (In contrast, when cells use oxygen to burn glucose, the partially broken down molecules travel to the mitochondria and are further broken down there to make ATP on a delay.) Dr. Li and his team found that in mice, T cells lacking LDHA could not sustain their PI3 kinase activity, and as a result could not effectively fight infections. To Dr. Li and his team, this implied that this metabolic enzyme was controlling a cell's signaling activity. "The field has worked under the assumption that metabolism is secondary to growth factor signaling," Dr. Li says. "In other words, growth factor signaling drives metabolism, and metabolism supports cell growth and proliferation. So the observation that a metabolic enzyme like LDHA could impact growth factor signaling through PI3 kinase really caught our attention." Like other kinases, PI3 kinase relies on ATP to do its work. Since ATP is the net product of Warburg metabolism, a positive feedback loop is set up between Warburg metabolism and PI3 kinase activity, securing PI3 kinase's continued activity -- and therefore cell division. As for why activated immune cells would preferentially resort to this form of metabolism, Dr. Li suspects it has to do with the cells' need to produce ATP quickly to ramp up their cell division and infection-fighting machinery. The positive feedback loop ensures that once this program is engaged, it will be sustained until the infection is eradicated. The cancer connection Though the team made their discoveries in immune cells, there are clear parallels to cancer. "PI3 kinase is a very, very critical kinase in the context of cancer," Dr. Li says. "It's what sends the growth signal for cancer cells to divide, and is one of the most overly active signaling pathways in cancer." As with immune cells, cancer cells may employ Warburg metabolism as a way to sustain the activity of this signaling pathway and therefore ensure their continued growth and division. The results raise the intriguing possibility that doctors could curb cancer growth by blocking the activity of LDHA -- the Warburg "switch." 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. Honor just unveiled the V40 5G smartphone, marking its new beginning as a properly independent company. Following the announcement, the CEO George Zhao announced his team has signed partnerships with major chip suppliers MediaTek and Qualcomm. On top of that, it has also struck deals with AMD, Intel, Micron, Microsoft, Samsung, SK Hynix, and Sony, Reuters reports. Honor V40 5G is already selling in stores George Zhao commented the last five months have been an extremely difficult but meaningful time for Honor. The company felt expectations from partners and consumers as it is aiming to shake off the Huawei aftertaste. In its new venture, Honor will aim to move into the middle- and high-tier market and expand its overseas presence. Honor is also going to keep plugging itself into the Internet of Things market, using Huaweis terminology and strategy, but with its own spin. Analysts say the brand is aiming to provide the same quality people expect from the former parent company. While the brand will be based in Shenzhen, its 8,000 staff members have moved into a new HQ building. Source [January 22, 2021] Delaware Enhanced Global Dividend and Income Fund Appoints Benjamin Leung and Scot Thompson as Co-Managers Today, Delaware Enhanced Global Dividend and Income Fund (NYSE: DEX) (the "Fund"), a New York Stock Exchange-listed closed-end fund trading under the symbol "DEX," announced that, effective January 22, 2021, Benjamin Leung and Scot Thompson will be appointed as co-managers for the Fund. Mr. Leung and Mr. Thompson will join Asa Annerstedt, Adam H. Brown, Liu-Er Chen, Chris Gowlland, Jens Hansen, Allan Saustrup Jensen, Claus Juul, Nikhil G. Lalvani, Stefan Lowenthal, John P. McCarthy, Klaus Petersen, Michael G. Wildstein, and Jurgen Wurzer in making day-to-day investment decisions for the Fund. Benjamin Leung is the co-head of the Macquarie Systematic Investments ( MSI (News - Alert) ) team, a role he assumed in August 2014. In addition to the day-to-day management of the global portfolios, he is also the head of research, responsible for driving the continual evolution of the systematic investment process. Leung joined the MSI team in May 2005 as a quantitative analyst, where his responsibilities included the development and maintenance of various quantitative models. Following his successful efforts to expand the quantitative capability to international markets, he formed the foundation of the current systematic investment approach. Prior to joining the MSI team, he worked as a software engineer for Macquarie's Investment Banking Group Information Services Division in Sydney. Leung received a Bachelor of Engineering with Honours and a Masters in Commerce from the University of New South Wales. Scot Thompson is the co-head of the Macquarie Systematic Investments (MSI) team, a role he assumed in August 2014. His responsibilities include the day-to-day management of the global portfolios, oversight of the trading function, development of new strategies, and client engagement. From June 2003 to August 2014, Thompson was the equities head of product, responsible for product design, development, and client relationships for the firm's Australian and global equities product range. Before that, he was a member of the firm's private equity fund-f-fund and performance analytics teams. Prior to joining Macquarie in November 2001 as a quantitative performance analyst, he worked on the performance analytics team for Cogent Investment Administration, where he was responsible for investment performance and attribution reporting for a variety of clients over all asset classes. Thompson also work in civil engineering before moving to finance, working for several Australian companies as a project manager focusing on underground installations, quarrying, and mining. He received a Bachelor of Civil Engineering from the University of Sydney and a Master of Applied Finance from Macquarie University. The Fund's primary investment objective is to seek current income, with a secondary objective of capital appreciation. The Fund invests globally in dividend-paying or income-generating securities across multiple asset classes, including but not limited to: equity securities of large, well-established companies; securities issued by real estate companies (including real estate investment trusts and real estate industry operating companies); debt securities (such as government bonds; investment grade and high risk, high yield corporate bonds; and convertible bonds); and emerging market securities. The Fund also uses enhanced income strategies by engaging in dividend capture trading; option overwriting; and realization of gains on the sale of securities, dividend growth, and currency forwards. There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objectives. Under normal market conditions, the Fund will invest: (1) at most 60% of its net assets in securities of U.S. issuers; and (2) at least 40% of its net assets in securities of non-U.S. issuers, unless market conditions are not deemed favorable by the Manager, in which case, the Fund would invest at least 30% of its net assets in securities of non-U.S. issuers; and (3) the Fund may invest up to 25% of its net assets in securities issued by real estate companies (including real estate investment trusts and real estate industry operating companies). In addition, the Fund utilizes leveraging techniques in an attempt to obtain higher return for the Fund. About Macquarie Investment Management Macquarie Investment Management, a member of Macquarie Group, is a global asset manager with offices in the United States, Europe, Asia, and Australia. As active managers, we prioritize autonomy and accountability at the team level in pursuit of opportunities that matter for clients. Macquarie Investment Management is supported by the resources of Macquarie Group (ASX: MQG; ADR: MQBKY), a global provider of asset management, investment, banking, financial and advisory services. Advisory services are provided by Macquarie Investment Management Business Trust, a registered investment advisor. Macquarie Group refers to Macquarie Group Limited and its subsidiaries and affiliates worldwide. For more information about Delaware Funds by Macquarie, visit delawarefunds.com or call 800 523-1918. Other than Macquarie Bank Limited (MBL), none of the entities referred to in this document are authorized deposit-taking institutions for the purposes of the Banking Act 1959 (Commonwealth of Australia). The obligations of these entities do not represent deposits or other liabilities of MBL, a subsidiary of Macquarie Group Limited and an affiliate of Macquarie Investment Management. MBL does not guarantee or otherwise provide assurance in respect of the obligations of these entities, unless noted otherwise. 2021 Macquarie Management Holdings, Inc. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210122005470/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] 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. President Biden does not want the Senate to kill the legislative filibuster. White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki confirmed to RealClearPolitics during a Friday press briefing that the new president remains opposed to abolishing the parliamentary procedure that requires the Senate to meet a 60-vote threshold on most legislation. The presidents position hasnt changed, Psaki told RCP after dodging the same question on Thursday and as Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell remain stalled in negotiations over how best to share power in a chamber split 50-50. The president has weighed in personally on those negotiations, she added, saying that in conversations with both now-Leader Schumer and Senator McConnell that they need to have their conversations, of course, but he is eager to move his [COVID] rescue plan forward. What Psaki didnt say: Whether Biden would urge Democrats to take abolishing the filibuster off the table. They have balked at that request from McConnell so far, showing little interest in giving in to his demands as they take the reins of power. Chuck Schumer is the majority leader and he should be treated like majority leader. We can get s--- done around here and we ought to be focused on getting stuff done, Sen. Jon Tester told Politico. If we dont, the inmates are going to be running this ship, the Montana Democrat added. And Democrats really do want to get big things done. Along with Biden in the White House, they control both chambers of Congress for the first time in more than a decade. Immigration. Climate change. The economy. Those are just some of the areas where they hope to push big-picture policy reforms into law. Republicans see the filibuster as their best tool to slowing much of that agenda should compromises fail. Democrats, meanwhile, say they dont have concrete plans to get rid of the procedural tool but arent prepared to take it off the table. Because of the stakes, the subsequent debate has already been dubbed the defining battle of Bidens presidency. Psaki hesitated to weigh in on that contentious issue during her second briefing of the new administration. Reporters from both NBC and Politico pressed the newly minted press secretary on the question Thursday. "I don't think I heard an answer about whether the president supports keeping the filibuster, where he sits on that. Has he talked to Senator Schumer about that? asked Anita Kumar of Politico. Responded Psaki: The president has been clear he wants to work with members of both parties and find bipartisan paths forward. I dont have any more conversations to read out for you at this point in time." Pressed again, she added, "I dont think I have more to add to my answer. Biden has defended the traditions of the Senate, where he served for more than three decades. Asked during the campaign if he was open to ending the filibuster to circumvent Republican opposition, he told reporters, It is going to depend on how obstreperous they become. In an interview with the New York Times last year, Biden was asked point-blank about that issue and others: Speaking of those other candidates, several of them have proposed major structural reforms to our government and to our democracy. These include abolishing the Electoral College, expanding the size of the Supreme Court, setting term limits for justices, abolishing the legislative filibuster. Which, if any of these, do you support? His answer was one word: none. When RCP asked about this Times interview specifically, Psaki said, He has spoken to this many times. His position has not changed. After Bipartisan Uproar, Guardsmen in DC Return to Warm Quarters Democrats and Republicans in Congress dont agree on much these days, but putting National Guardsmen out in the cold quickly brought the politicians together late Thursday. Thousands of the guardsmen who have been protecting the Capitol Complex for more than two weeks since the Jan. 6 riot were told yesterday by the U.S. Capitol Police (USCP) to pack up and move out of the area they were guarding. The guardsmen were sleeping and resting at various points around the U.S. Capitol, including in congressional office facilities and the Capitol Visitors Center. The removal order meant retreating into nearby cold, unheated parking garages and elsewhere outside whenever guardsmen took breaks from their 12-hour duty stints. Many faced the cold night in facilities without adequate heat, electrical outlets, Internet reception or bathrooms. Word of the guardsmens plight spread quickly in the early evening thanks in part to a news story in Politico, with multiple Members of Congress registering their concern and springing into action. One guardsman told Politico that, yesterday dozens of senators and congressmen walked down our lines taking photos, shaking our hands and thanking us for our service. Within 24 hours, they had no further use for us and banished us to the corner of a parking garage. We feel incredibly betrayed. The USCP are under the direct control of congressional leaders, including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.). Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), an Iraq war veteran who lost both legs when a rocket-propelled grenade struck the U.S. Army helicopter she was piloting, tweeted at 9:02 PM (EST): Unreal. I cant believe that the same brave servicemembers weve been asking to protect our Capitol and our Constitution these last two weeks would be unceremoniously ordered to vacate the building. I am demanding answers ASAP. They can use my office. An hour-and-half later, Duckworth tweeted: I meant ASAP when I said it. Just made a number of calls and have been informed Capitol Police have apologized to the Guardsmen and they will be allowed back into the complex tonight. Ill keep checking to make sure they are. Finally, just past midnight, the Illinois Democrat tweeted: Update: Troops are now all out of the garage. Now I can go to bed. Duckworth was not alone. House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) went into action as soon as he heard of the order to the guardsmen. At 9:40 pm, he tweeted a photo of the troops in a parking garage and asked: Speaker Pelosi and Majority Leader Schumerwhy are American troops who are tasked with keeping security at the Capitol being forced to sleep in a parking lot? They deserve to be treated with respect, and we deserve answers. A little later, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) tweeted: Yeah, this is not okay. My office is free this week to any service members whod like to use it for a break or take nap on the couch. Well stock up on snacks for you all too. (Were in the middle of moving offices and its a bit messy so dont judge but make yourself at home!) Other House Republicans also swung into action, with Rep. Madison Cawthorn (R-N.C.) and his staff buying pizzas and delivering them to the guardsmen. In a tweet that included video of Cawthorn and staffers distributing the pizzas, the North Carolina Republican said: I just visited the soldiers who have been abandoned & insulted by our leaders. I brought them pizza and told them that they can sleep in my office. No soldier will ever, ever sleep on a garage floor in the US Capitol while I work in Congress. Our Troops deserve better. Other House and Senate members also offered the use of their offices, including Rep. Tony Gonzalez (R-Texas), who tweeted: To any members of the National Guard protecting our Capitol if you need a warm place to rest and recharge, my office is open to you. Mi casa es su casa. Beer & lunch meat are in the fridge, help yourself. The controversy late Thursday night capped a turbulent time since the Jan. 6 riot that saw hundreds of protestors taking advantage of a massive demonstration by supporters of President Donald Trump to force their way into the U.S. Capitol, including the Senate and House chambers and offices of top officials like Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.). Five people died during the riot, including a Capitol Police officer who was struck in the head with a fire extinguisher, a 14-year Air Force veteran among the demonstrators who was shot and killed by an officer, and three people who succumbed during medical crises occasioned by the days events. Upwards of 25,000 guardsmen were hurriedly dispatched to the nations capital in the wake of the riot, a large metal fence topped by razor wire was erected around the Capitol complex and access to the area was strictly regulated before, during and after the inaugural ceremonies. Dozens of individuals have since been arrested on a wide variety charges related to the riot, including people associated with Antifa and Black Lives Matter on the Left and the Proud Boys on the Right. Dozens of military aircraft that brought the guardsmen from their home states are now beginning the process of returning them. An estimated 10,000 guardsmen reportedly remain on duty, however. Early Friday morning, Mary Katherine Ham, a conservative book author and commentator, surveyed the scene and called the removal order to the guardsmen, a dumb, unexplained, disembodied decision that hurts the people who are protecting those who made the decision, & of course, no one takes responsibility. This is government whether the guy you like is running it or no. Theyre bad at doing things. Contact Mark Tapscott at Mark.Tapscott@epochtimes.com Millions of Sydneysiders will be welcomed back into Victoria as the state goes another day with zero local coronavirus infections. Victoria reported three Covid-19 cases in hotel quarantine on Saturday morning after 15,711 tests were conducted over the past 24 hours. The state has now gone 17 days without a locally acquired case of Covid-19. It comes as Victoria relaxed its border closures to Sydney at 6pm on Friday, with just one LGA - Cumberland in Sydney's west - still classed as a red zone. Millions of Sydneysiders will be welcomed back into Victoria as the state goes another day with zero local coronavirus infections . Pictured: Melburnians line up on a night out Victorian premier Dan Andrews (pictured above) announced the easing of restrictions on Friday to interstate guests With the exception of the Blue Mountains and Wollongong, the rest of regional NSW will now be a designated green zone. Premier Daniel Andrews told reporters on Friday health authorities had been reviewing the situation daily to evaluate what steps could be taken. 'Those steps, of course, have to be safe,' he said. 'I'm very pleased that, following further intensive work by our public health team, the chief health officer has recommended to me, and the cabinet have agreed to the following changes. 'From 6pm tonight, all but one of the Greater Sydney LGAs that are currently red will become orange. That is to say, with the exception of Cumberland, those nine shires, or local government areas Blacktown, Burwood, Canterbury Bay, Canterbury Bankstown, Fairfield, inner West, Parramatta and Strathfield they'll all move from red to orange.' People travelling to Victoria from an 'orange' zone will need to apply for a permit, get tested within 72 hours of their arrival and isolate until they receive a negative result. However they will not be barred entry. The Cumberland LGA takes in Berala, the centre of a 35-person virus cluster, and its residents will remain locked out of Victoria. All of Brisbane will also become a green zone, meaning residents can easily travel to Victoria. Following months of frustration, coronavirus restrictions are being eased across Australia this weekend. Most Sydneysiders will now be allowed to enter Victoria New Delhi, Jan 22 : The farmers stir against the three contentious farm laws is expected to reach its zenith with the #FarmersParade alongside the Republic Day parade on January 26 when they wish to showcase the might of the "kisan" along with the "jawans". For this they have been lining up tractors here sent from Punjab and other states in huge trolleys. The farm agitation entered the 58th day on Friday as the farmers rejected the Centre's proposal of suspension of the agri legislation for the time being following the 10th round of talks on Wednesday. Farmers have been demanding a complete roll back. In the various trolleys parked at the Singhu border in Delhi, there are two tractors on each trolley ready to roll out and make the 'Tractor rally' an absolute grand affair. On the other hand, the meeting of farmers organisations with the Delhi Police over the 'Farmer parade' announced earlier by them was inconclusive on Thursday. The Sanyukt Kisan Morcha said the police administration have urged the farmers to refrain from entering the national Capital in view of any disruption to the prestigious Republic Day parade on January 26. Farmers are firm on holding their parade on Delhi's Ring Road. On the occasion of the Republic Day, lakhs of farmers from all over the country are set to march towards Delhi. Farmer leaders have promised to keep it peaceful. The 11th round of talks between the Central government and farmer organisations are scheduled on Friday. Earlier, the proposal put forth by the government of staying the Union farm laws for 18 months was rejected by the farmers. The Sanyukt Kisan Morcha reiterated that the main demands of their agitation is a repeal of the three Central farm laws and fresh enactment of a law guaranteeing the Minimum Support Price (MSP) on all crops for all farmers. Theta Appoints Debt Advisor and Strengthens Execution Team Sydney, Jan 22, 2021 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Theta Gold Mines Limited ( ASX:TGM ) ( OTCMKTS:TGMGF ) is pleased to provide this corporate and operations update.The Company is pleased to confirm the appointment of experienced Sydney-based financial advisory firm Kamara Group to lead the debt financing efforts for Theta's Starter Open-pits project. Led by ex-Morgan Stanley banker, Mr John Kamara, the group has advised/closed many rounds of debt financing for ASX listed mining/resource clients, including New Century Resources ( ASX:NCZ ), Horizon Minerals ( ASX:HRZ ), Wiluna Mining ( ASX:WMX ) and Kin Mining ( ASX:KIN ).The Theta Starter Open-pits permitting amendment for MR83 is progressing through the normal government departments and is currently being reviewed by the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy ("DMRE") in consultation with other stakeholders. The Company will update shareholders as the permitting advances as and when information becomes available to the company.The Theta mine team is back onsite following the New Year break and has been strengthened by the appointment of two more ex-Harmony Gold mining experts, as referenced above, forming part of the mine build and execution team. A highly competent owners team (CEO, COO, Mine Manager, Project Portfolio Manager, Consulting Metallurgist and Consulting Engineer), together with various external specialists and design partners are working towards implementing the most appropriate plant solution, with the flexibility to treat various ore sources from open cast and underground mines.The Pre-Feasibility Study (PFS) on the potential underground mining operations is progressing well with many components of work already completed. The PFS, to be completed by Q1 2021, will produce the maiden underground mining reserve for the underground mines predominantly on granted Mining Right 83 (MR83).The first stage of the PFS is to match modern mechanized mining methods to the narrow, flat dipping reef systems. Mechanized Long Hole Stoping has been identified as the likely mining method which offers many advantageous.The Long Hole Mining Method allows for a reduced safety and health risk, as well as improved productivity. The major advantage is the improvement in grade due to better control of dilution, as only the channel width of the orebody is mined. This reduces ore transport costs, lengthens the tailings dam life and improves cost efficiency per ounce.Met 63 is supervising detailed metallurgical test work (Figure 1) at Dynamic Engineering's test plant for the underground ore feed. Scope of test work includes analysing:- crushing circuit, Dense Media Separation (DMS) (to reduce ROM feed to plant), milling curves (best grind size for gold liberation), carbon flotation, reagent selection, and build flowsheet for final design of gold plant.Theta Gold Chairman Bill Guy commented: "Theta is making good progress operationally and corporately. We are pleased to confirm the appointment of Kamara Group to drive debt funding discussions. They have an excellent track record in the resources sector and we are confident of securing the necessary financing on favorable terms.Work on the PFS is also advancing and this is adding considerable value to our asset base. Long Hole Stoping will open the whole goldfield to modern mechanized mining. The underground resource base will need to be recalculated at different cut-off grades and reduced dilution factors. The true nature of this goldfield is emerging, as it is no longer limited by outdated technology (mining by hand or using over-sized mining equipment), which were associated with high dilution, lower grades to mill, and low production rates.The Board is pleased with preliminary progress of the PFS and the insights by the team on the ground. Led by the new CEO and COO, the team have spent long hours accessing and investigating the underground workings, as well as studying the immense repository of historic information, in search of easily accessible gold. Their discovery of many kilometers of accessible, on-reef, pre-developed underground tunnels, and access to old mining faces, together with the introduction of modern mining methods, have brought about this accelerated effort to bring these mines into production as soon as possible.We look forward to delivering the PFS as well as delivering other key value-adding milestones, which will advance the Company through to first gold production and grow the production profile to full potential.To view tables and figures, please visit:About Theta Gold Mines Limited Theta Gold Mines Limited (ASX:TGM) (OTCMKTS:TGMGF) is a gold development company that holds a range of prospective gold assets in a world-renowned South African gold mining region. These assets include several surface and near-surface high-grade gold projects which provide cost advantages relative to other gold producers in the region. Theta Gold Mines core project is located next to the historical gold mining town of Pilgrim's Rest, in Mpumalanga Province, some 370km northeast of Johannesburg by road or 95km north of Nelspruit (Capital City of Mpumalanga Province). Following small scale production from 2011-2015, the Company is currently focussing on the construction of a new gold processing plant within its approved footprint at the TGME plant, and for the processing of the Theta Open Pit oxide gold ore. Nearby surface and underground mines and prospects are expected to be further evaluated in the future. The Company aims to build a solid production platform to over 100Kozpa based primarily around shallow, open-cut or adit-entry hard rock mining sources. Theta Gold Mines has access to over 43 historical mines and prospect areas that can be accessed and explored, with over 6.7Moz of historical production recorded. Communist China recently locked down 1.7 million of its people in Beijing as COVID 19 hit China's capital. On Jan. 19, the Chinese authorities locked down 1.7 million residents in Beijing as part of their efforts to contain the spread of a new Chinese coronavirus resurgence. The authorities barred the people in the capital of Communist China from leaving their homes. With the discovery of six new coronavirus infections, Daxing district in southern Beijing imposed a lockdown in order to prevent further spread across China's most important city. Beijing recorded a total of 23 positive cases on Jan. 20 while the country faced over a thousand new cases since the beginning of January. "The family cluster cases in Daxing has sounded the alarm that the epidemic situation is tough and complex," Xu Hejian, Beijing's municipal government spokesman said. "We cannot loosen up on preventing imported cases and a domestic rebound," he added, according to Breitbart. The district government immediately imposed a ban on residents from leaving their houses while all kindergarten, primary and secondary students were advised to study at home. Daxing also banned the gathering of more than 50 persons and weddings are ordered to be postponed. Funerals on the other hand were ordered to be simplified. Authorities prohibited people from leaving and entering the Daxing district unless they are able to secure special permission from the authorities. They must also test be tested negative of the Chinese coronavirus in the past three days, officials say. Beijing authority now requires everyone coming from overseas and trying to enter the city to undergo a 21-day quarantine in isolation, Bloomberg reported. Travelers will spend the first 14 days of quarantine at a centralized facility while the remaining seven days in their respective residences. After the seven-day stay-at-home requirement they will be allowed to roam around the city. They are, however, banned from joining public gatherings for another seven days, making for a total of 28 days. This is one of the longest and toughest restrictions the Chinese government has imposed on any major city. This is a part of China's preparation before cross country mass travel starts in observance of the Chinese Lunar New Year. Reports described the present COVID-19 case in China as the country's biggest coronavirus challenge since its Wuhan outbreak in 2020. The current spike is alarming because of its potential to spread to over 20 million people across China. The reported figures may seem smaller as compared to the recorded cases from Western countries, but it's worth noting that according to a recent study from Wuhan University, the government in 2020 reported far lower cases that there actually were on the ground. The number of actual cases was about three times higher than revealed. Meanwhile, in the alleged residence of the new six coronavirus patients, authorities shut down the transportation. Beijing's subway operator halted the Tiangong Yuan metro station in Daxing from operating. Reports revealed that the new wave of coronavirus cases surged on Jan. 5 after thousands of people attended an outdoor New Year's Eve celebration hosted by the central city of Wuhan. The gathering allegedly was to prove that the authorities successfully defeated the coronavirus that ravaged the community in late 2019. Chinese authorities blame the new spike as having been brought into the country from "abroad." New Jersey could see a brief bump in new coronavirus cases as early as Sunday before the spread of the virus begins to steadily decline under new predictive models from the state Department of Health. The scenarios show there could be 5,467 new cases and 3,796 people hospitalized as of Sunday under a moderate prediction. But as many as 6,833 new positive tests and 4,745 hospitalizations could also play out on the same day under the worst-case scenario. Either way, health officials are predicting the worst of the second wave could be behind us soon. But how long and at what levels the virus will stick around is an open question as vaccinations are dolled out around the state and concerns linger about a strain of the virus that is more easily transmissible. The models are regularly revised with new information. The moderate model shows a steeper decline in cases and hospitalizations over the coming months with the potential for around 500 new cases a day and about 375 people being treated in hospitals by the end of June. The seven-day average for new confirmed cases as of Thursday declined to 4,482, down 20% from a week ago, though still up 2% from a month ago. 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. Under the worst-case modeling scenario, however, the decline in cases and hospitalizations would be much slower. That model forecasts the state could still have 4,706 daily cases and 3,268 patients hospitalized by the end of June. Both forecasts predict a bump in cases and hospitalizations in the coming days. Much could depend on how quickly New Jersey receives and distributes vaccine doses. As of Thursday afternoon, the state has administered 455,965 vaccine doses with 398,862 first doses and 56,821 second doses. Gov. Phil Murphy has said he wants to have 70% of the states eligible population nearly 5 million people vaccinated by May. CORONAVIRUS RESOURCES: Live map tracker | Newsletter | Homepage 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. New Jersey has received nearly 900,000 doses from the federal government, according to a running tally from the CDC. Health officials have said the tot shots administered is likely an undercount and 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. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com Matt Arco may be reached at marco@njadvancemedia.com. " " Content on the dark web is deliberately hidden by its owners and requires special software specifically, a browser called Tor to access. ETham photo/Corbis/Getty Images Ever heard of the website Silk Road? The U.S. shut down this infamous online black market and prominent member of the dark web in 2013. Search engines don't index any of the websites on the dark web, which means you can't get there by using Google or Yahoo or your search engine of choice. The dark web is known as a place where illegal goods and services can be bought and sold, and for that reason, it's earned a reputation for being a little seedy and salacious. Sometimes people use the term deep web interchangeably with the dark web, but the two are not the same. The deep web also is inaccessible by search engine, but it's largely composed of sites and content that aren't public for reasons like paywalls or privacy concerns. You probably access the deep web regularly without even realizing it. For example, if you log on to your medical provider's website to send messages to your doctor or to check your latest test results, that's the deep web. Same goes for reading internal memos on your company's corporate intranet. Not because it's dark or dangerous, but because it's not available to see without proper login credentials. Deep web content makes up most of the internet by some estimates, 96 percent or more, says CSO Daily. The difference is that deep web content isn't accessible simply because it hides behind logins or paywalls, while dark web content is deliberately hidden by its owners and requires special software specifically, a browser called Tor to access. So, there are plenty of reasons to log on to the deep web, but are there legitimate reasons to seek out the dark web? Sure. Tor started out as a way for users to communicate while staying completely anonymous, by sending search requests through a vast network of proxy servers around the world, so that anything you view can't be traced back to your computer. Tor still works the same way, though enterprising individuals have taken advantage of the anonymity to buy and sell all manner of vices. Still, people have reasons to stay anonymous without engaging in crime. Tor is useful in countries where internet access is monitored or restricted. As CSO Daily points out, journalists and law enforcement agencies visit the dark web to stay ahead of the news, while lawyers may look for information on their legal opponents there and everyday citizens concerned about online privacy may meet up on the dark web as well. Advertisement Downloading Tor If you want to explore the dark web, head to the Tor Project's website to download Tor. Tor stands for "The Onion Router," with the onion serving as a reference for the different layers of the internet. It's available for Windows, Mac and Linux platforms, as well as Android and Apple mobile devices. In general, once you download and install Tor, you're good to go, though there are some things you should know. First, using Tor is slow, like the early days of dial-up internet, simply because it takes time to route your search requests through all those anonymizers. Second, accessing specific websites directly is a little different. Dark websites end with ".onion" instead of the typical ".com," ".edu," ".org" or whatnot. Also, sites don't have straightforward, easily memorized web addresses. Even if you're trying to get to the dark web version of Facebook (and yes, there is one), "facebook.onion" isn't going to get you there. There are random letters and numbers mixed in there, too. And finally, since the whole point of Tor is that no one knows who you are or where you're located, your search results might appear in a different language, because it'll assume you're somewhere else in the world based on the way the proxies happen to route your traffic. In most places, Tor is completely legal to use, though there are some exceptions, like in China and Venezuela. That doesn't mean you can legally partake in the dark web's illegal offerings; just that having or using Tor itself is no reason for you to get in trouble. Advertisement Staying Safe on the Dark Web Be wary of buying services or products, even those that aren't illegal, because the dark web's anonymity makes it a haven for scammers. Be wary of sites that may infect your computer with viruses or other malicious software that could give hackers access to your passwords, or, say, your webcam. Also, since illegal and disturbing content abounds, and it is still illegal to access illegal content even if it's harder for the authorities to track you down, click and surf with extreme caution. In addition to Tor's three layers of encryption, the browser also deletes your browsing history, erases your tracks and prevents sites from identifying and tracking you, explains Wired. Tor's security measures aren't foolproof, but they're pretty good. Keep in mind that if you use your real name, address, email address or other identifying information anywhere on the dark web, you're giving away the protections provided by Tor. The critical care capacity of one of the countrys busiest hospitals has been exceeded, staff were told today. Cork University Hospital (CUH) is now planning to open additional critical care beds on-site and has appealed for staff to volunteer for shifts to man the beds. The hospitals CEO, Ger OCallaghan, told staff there is now an urgent need for volunteers to man 12-hour shifts over the coming week. He said critical care experience is not necessary but familiarity with the intensive care unit environment would be welcome. A spokesman for the South-South West Hospital Group said there has been a good response to the call from staff so far. The latest HSE figures show that as of Thursday night, CUH was treating 158 people with Covid-19 the highest number of Covid patients of any Irish hospital, with 16 in the critical care unit. At the time, it had just one unoccupied critical care bed available and 28 general beds available. Earlier this month, CUH triggered its emergency escalation plan to face the increasing challenges of Covid-19, with a combination of rising case numbers and staff absences. Across the hospital sector, 6,000 staff are now out of work due to Covid-related reasons. Since COVID-19 struck, Bob Bruce has lost half of his business at the reassuringly old-school, 44-lane Astro Super Bowl on Harry Wurzbach Road, but he says hes still in the black and can hold on until things get back to normal. But normal for this former KTSA radio host who will turn 75 next month may be a lot harder to attain now that Donald Trump has lost his reelection bid to Joe Bidens substantial Electoral College margin and popular majority of more than 7 million votes. Like many Republicans, Bruce believes the election was stolen, despite the failure of 50 lawsuits attempting to make that argument, Republican judges who rejected some of those lawsuits and Republican elections officials who certified the results in several battleground states. I voted for Trump twice, said Bruce on Wednesday as Joe and Jill Biden rode down Pennsylvania Avenue to the White House and the exploding noise of bowling pins echoed around his house real bowlers dont say alley. His deep professional radio voice is measured, not shrill. Hes angry, but resigned to some level of political reality. Trumps hand has been played, but I would like to see him remain active (in national politics). Id like him giving the other side of the story. We wont be getting that from (former Senate Majority Leader) Mitch McConnell. Im done with that son of a bitch. A small sampling of local Republicans told the Express-News this week that they remained ardent supporters of Trump and do not know anyone in their group of friends who thinks the Republican brand has been damaged by the Trump-led violence at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, including the beating death of a police officer trying to stop the mob. Lynne Sladky /Associated Press On the contrary, they believe the Capitol storming, vandalism and deaths were orchestrated by the vaguely-defined anti-fascist group, antifa. Yes, absolutely, I believe that, said Stuart Knowlton, a former U.S. Army captain and electronics firm owner who now serves as an Atascosa County Commissioner. Interviewed on his way home, outside Jourdanton, Knowlton said video from the Capitol riot convinces him and other Republicans that the mob was not composed of legitimate Trump supporters. Look at their garb, he said. Ive been to a Trump rally. Ive been on a Trump Train down in the Valley. Ive never seen anyone dressed like these alleged rioters. Knowlton minimized the violence - It wasnt as bad as a normal night in Washington, D.C., he said, and was blown out of proportion by the liberal media. He chuckled at a popular Trump crowd taunt online: The 30,000 National Guard troops in Washington D.C. was the largest crowd Biden has ever drawn. What about the riots after Trump got elected in 2016? he asked. Was anyone asking if the burning of those buildings, all the breaking of windows, would damage the image of the Democratic Party? I agree that its bad some people got killed (at the Capitol), but the whole thing lasted less than three hours. Bruce concurred. They were infiltrated by antifa people. The people who support Trump are not for violence. I dont see any extremism in Trump. Show me the extremism. Hes just vocal. Whos the most vocal on the planet? The hard left. Black Lives Matter. Antifa. They have ugly things to say. On ExpressNews.com: San Antonio man charged in Capitol riot appears in federal court Bruce said he attended the University of Texas as part of a generation that marched with Martin Luther King, Jr. I dont remember anything as vividly as I remember the Seattle riots (last summer in protest of police killings). What Trump has done has been really productive. He has talked about criminal justice reform. Ive got a lot of black friends. Bruce said his two most trusted sources of news were the One America News Network, an eight-year-old California-based operation that bills itself as a supporter of Trump and traffics in falsehoods and conspiracy theories, and The Epoch Times, a pro-Trump, anti-China media outlet financed by members of Falun Gong, a religious movement persecuted in China for years. I will not watch CNN or MSNBC, Bruce said. Not watching any of the inauguration on TV - I was reading my Bible and the Constitution, - was Deana Abiassi, 58, a homemaker and mother of three who is now the communications director for the Bexar County Republican Party. She told a reporter seeking her views that she was recording the phone call. Theres been no proof (that the Capitol riot was connected to Trump supporters). It was well organized by a group (antifa) before that day, but not by any Republican Party groups. What happened has been widely condemned by leaders of the Republican Party. I condemn it personally. Destruction and mayhem is not a Republican principle. They support police and law and order. The assistant director of the Washington, D.C. field office of the FBI, Steven DAntuono, has said there was no indication of antifa supporters participating in the Capitol riot. The non-profit PolitiFact and major news organizations came to the same conclusion, that social media posts and public records show the overwhelming majority of those facing criminal charges are Trump supporters, including Republican officials and donors along with members of far-right militant and extremist groups. Texas Take: Get the latest news on Texas politics sent directly to your inbox every weekday The trio of local Republicans dont buy the notion that enough of the GOP was so repulsed by the behavior of Trump and his supporters that day that the party risks fracturing. But they do see some defectors. Knowlton said prominent Republicans who have recently decided to condemn Trump, such as McConnell, the Kentucky senator who is now the Senate minority leader, and U.S. Rep. Liz Cheney of Wyoming, were part of the swamp Trump once vowed to remove from Washington, no different from longtime GOP critics of Trump such as former U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell. We will lose the Rinos, absolutely, said Knowlton, using the acronym for Republicans In Name Only, a term that has long been applied to party moderates by those of its more conservative wing. The only reason country club Republicans expressed any support (for Trump) is because the grassroots were really for him. If they turn on Trump supporters, they are in deep trouble. Bruce doesnt know of any local Republicans jumping ship, and said he hopes to attend a February meeting of the GOPs congressional ultra-conservatives, the Freedom Caucus, in St. Petersburg, Fla. PETE MAROVICH /NYT Mitch McConnell and his political PAC are gonna lose some money for what hes done, he said. Four years from now, said Bruce, hed like to see Ted Cruz as President. Ditto for Knowlton, who said he thinks Cruz might have actually gained votes with his vocal support of Trumps claims of a fraudulent election. On ExpressNews.com: The Trump effect showed up in heavily Hispanic Texas border counties The bigger story in Texas is this, said Knowlton, I was riding that Trump Train in Roma, Texas, down to Rio Grande City and I heard a lot of young Hispanics telling me how they were gonna turn the Valley red for Trump. I thought they were crazy, but they almost did. Asked if she could accept that Joe Biden was fairly elected President, Abiassi paused and carefully phrased her response. I think Joe Biden is the elected President of the United States, she said. I respect the rule of law. She said she was saddened by the way Trump was treated and the loss of faith by some in the process of presidential elections. But Republicans have nothing to be ashamed of, she said, asserting without evidence that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and U.S. Rep. Maxine Waters of California have supported violence but that Democrats arent held accountable. Linking the violence of Jan. 6 to Republicans wont hold, Abiassi said. Theres been a lot of name-calling surrounding that day. That doesnt reflect on the Republican Party and what we stand forWe stand on principle. We always will. bselcraig@express-news.net Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Twenty-three minutes after assuming the presidency, Joe Biden demanded the resignation of Peter Robb, the notoriously anti-union general counsel of the National Labor Relations Board appointed by Donald Trump. Robb refused to resign, so Biden fired him. Alice Stock, another anti-union Trump appointee, then assumed the role of acting general counseland Biden demanded her resignation the next day. Stock also refused to resign, so Biden fired her, too. Both Robb and Stock, who relentlessly undermined unions ability to organize and bargain, are now complaining that Biden fired them without just cause. Stock went so far as to suggest that Robbs firing was illegal. She is wrong. Robb and Stock were at-will employees of the executive. Like the countless American workers whom they prevented from unionizing, they had no guarantee against termination without just cause. Biden did not violate any laws. He simply gave the nations chief union busters a taste of their own medicine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Subscribe to the Slatest newsletter A daily email update of the stories you need to read right now. We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again. Please enable javascript to use form. Email address: Send me updates about Slate special offers. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms Sign Up Thanks for signing up! You can manage your newsletter subscriptions at any time. Given his vocal support of unions on the campaign trail, its no surprise Biden acted quickly to clean house at the National Labor Relations Board, a federal agency tasked with enforcing labor law. The NLRB is governed by a five-person board and a general counsel. Its general counsel is immensely powerful: He has authority to interpret federal labor laws and decide which unfair labor practice charges the agency should prosecute. Robb, a management-side lawyer and longtime union foe, used his powers to hobble unions ability to organize and bargain while destroying the agency from the inside. Over the last two years, Robb slashed the NLRBs staff, hampering its ability to do its job, and attacked its own union. He championed the rights of managers to suppress free speech and refuse recognition of unions. Incredibly, Robb even prevented employers who support unions from helping their workers organize. During the pandemic, he has consistently ruled against employees ability to demand safer working conditions through collective action. The situation grew so dire that many unions stopped filing complaints with the NLRB for fear that Robb would exploit them to establish radical anti-labor precedents. Advertisement Conservative commentators have complained that Robbs ouster violated the cherished norm of presidents tolerating their predecessors NLRB appointees until their terms expire. But in reality, it was Robb who busted norms by subverting the agency. Federal law explicitly requires the NLRB to promote collective bargaining as the economic policy of the United States. Time and again, Robb brazenly defied this statutory mandate. Biden seeks to bring the agency back in line with the law, and Robb was clearly standing in the way. It was Robb who busted norms by subverting the agency he led. Yet when Biden requested Robbs resignation at 12:23 p.m. on Jan. 20, Robb insisted he should be allowed to carry out the 10 months remaining in his term. In a letter, he effectively accused the new president of firing him for partisan reasons without just cause. Robb charged Biden with violating his inaugural promise to adhere to the rule of law by denying him the independence, free from White House interference, to enforce the laws of the United States. He added that Biden had flouted Congress intent that the general counsel be independent from the executive branch. Republican lawmakers, including Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, seized on Robbs cause to accuse Biden of betraying his pledge to unify the country. Advertisement Contrary to Robbs claim, the NLRB general counsel is not, in fact, independent. The NLRB board is independent, as the president may only fire its members for neglect of duty or malfeasance in office. But Biden did not fire any members of the boardeven though it is currently dominated by anti-labor Republicans. He fired the general counsel. As labor law expert Brandon Magner has pointed out, Chief Justice John Roberts confirmed this fact while serving as associate White House counsel. In a 1983 memo, Roberts explained the clear rule that the NLRB general counsel serves at the pleasure of the President. He elaborated that the president does not need cause to justify the general counsels removal. Advertisement Advertisement Several Republicans have sought to bolster Robbs suggestion that Biden violated the spirit, if not the letter, of the National Labor Relations Act, which created the NLRB. Republican Rep. Virginia Foxx asserted that Robbs termination flouts the law, which is simply false. And Alice Stock, whom Trump installed as deputy general counsel at the NLRB, complained about the dubious legality of Bidens move. Indeed, Stock actually rejected Bidens request for her resignation on the basis that she did not accept the legality of Robbs firing. It is remarkable that the acting general counsel of the NLRB had such a profound misunderstanding of the laws she was tasked with enforcing. No matter: Stock, another management-side lawyer who helped Robb shred unions, served less than one full day as acting general counsel before Biden sacked her. Biden can now replace her with a pro-labor regional director at the NLRB or a current top official in the general counsels office. Advertisement The rabidly anti-union National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation whined about Robbs firing on Thursday, insisting that it was not anything actually he did as General Counsel. It also urged Stock to resist Bidens request for resignation. The foundation, along with Foxx, Stock, and other conservative activists, now apparently wishes that the NLRB general counsel had safeguards against removal for political reasonssomething akin to just-cause termination, which Robb and Stock tried to stop unions from obtaining for their members. Both officials, however, were at-will employees. And so they experienced a fate that nonunionized Americans suffer every day: abrupt dismissal by a boss who doesnt need a reason to kick his subordinates out on the street. President Biden, having vowed to undo Donald Trumps most controversial executive actions on immigration, sent an immigration bill to Congress on the day of his inauguration. That bill includes an eight-year pathway to citizenship for the roughly 11 million undocumented immigrants in the United States, complementing other legislation aimed at immigration reforms. While some changes can be made through executive orders immediately, the bulk of Trump's immigration policies will take months, if not years, to reverse in the courts and in Congress. But Bidens efforts on immigration reform come at a time when the American public is more favorably inclined toward immigrants and immigration reform than ever before. The most recent data from the 2020 Chicago Council Survey show that two-thirds of Americans believe unauthorized immigrants should be allowed to stay in their jobs and apply for citizenship, either without conditions (45%) or on condition of paying a penalty and waiting a number of years (23%). Indeed, support for allowing these immigrants to pursue citizenship rose during Trumps term in office, growing from 58% in 2016 to 68% today. And while Republicans and Democrats disagree about other immigration-related issues including funding for enforcement agencies and the threat posed by large numbers of immigrants and refugees coming into the country majorities of Republicans (52%), Democrats (84%), and Independents (68%) support a pathway to citizenship for unauthorized immigrants. Pew Research Center data from June similarly reveals majority support among both Republicans and Democrats for undocumented immigrants having a way to stay in the United States legally, if certain requirements are met. On top of this, majorities across party lines favor Congress passing a law that grants permanent legal status to immigrants who came to the United States illegally when they were children. It appears this public support will be met with legislation, as Biden has said he will expand protections for those in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program to include the ability to acquire a green card automatically upon completing an application, and thus a pathway to citizenship. Support for these specific reforms matches a general shift in the American mood on immigration in recent years. Gallup polling conducted this summer found that three-quarters of Americans see immigration as a good thing for the country today, continuing a long, slow rise in favorable views over the past two decades. At the same time, the Gallup poll found more Americans support increases to immigration (34%) over decreases (28%), the first time this has happened in the pollsters surveys dating back to 1965, the year in which the Immigration and Nationality Act passed Congress and dramatically overhauled the nations policies on entering the country. Joe Biden isnt the first Democratic president to take office with grand immigration reform plans, and the failure of the Obama administration to broadly succeed in that vein is surely a warning for the new administration. And the anti-immigrant attitudes that President Trump harnessed in 2016 have hardly dissipated among his core supporters. But as with many other issues, Trumps strong embrace of anti-immigrant rhetoric and policies drove more Americans away from his positions than he attracted. In doing so, he built instead a larger well of support for reforms, which Biden may be able to tap. Brendan Helm is a research assistant at the Chicago Council on Global Affairs. Karl Lagerfeld's chauffeur Sebastien Jondeau has revealed how the late designer was a 'warrior' in the face of his cancer battle and continued to work up until the end of his life. Sebastien Jondeau, 45, is among the seven people who were left a share of the Chanel and Fendi creative director's fortune, estimated to be 178million, when he died in February 2019. The Frenchman, who was bodyguard and chauffeur for the designer for two decades, has been hailed by French media as Lagerfeld's 'spirit heir' and is said to have 'held his hand' at the time of his death. Mr Jondeau is now releasing a tell-all book on 27 January to celebrate his mentor's life - revealing the close friendship the pair shared as well as the discovery of Lagerfeld's health problems, which began in 2015, and were known to very few. Speaking to WWD ahead of the publication of his French memoir - titled Ca va, cher Karl?, meaning 'How are you, dear Karl?' - Mr Jondeau insisted: '[Lagerfeld] was the Muhammad Ali of fashion. [He was] knocked out standing, until the last moment on the phone with Fendi in Milan.' Mr Jondeau claimed the designer suffered from prostate cancer, not pancreatic cancer, as has previously been reported. Sebastien Jondeau and Karl Lagerfeld pictured at the wedding of Prince Albert II of Monaco and Princess Charlene in 2011 Mr Jondeau told the publication about what a warrior Lagerfeld was in battling his illness and refusing to let it interrupt his creative work. The bodyguard describes how from his bed at the American Hospital in Paris, his voice weakened and his lungs filled with fluid, the designer stayed in constant contact with his Fendi team. He continued to work, he continued to do photoshoots, to do campaigns, to do collections everything. For me, Karl was kind of a hero to face it like this, said Mr Jondeau Karl Lagerfeld's chauffeur Mr Jondeau has revealed how the late designer was a 'warrior' in the face of his cancer battle. Pictured: Sebastien Jondeau, Karl Lagerfeld and Baptiste Giabiconi, who was also named by French media as one of the seven people who were left a share of Lagerfeld's fortune The recollections in his 272-page book, published by Flammarion, vary from a behind-the-scenes look at the designer's Paris Rive Gauche residence to Lagerfeld's health problems. KARL LAGERFELD'S 178M WEALTH Lagerfelds global assets were estimated at 178 million, though insiders say the figure is possibly double that. Chanel was said to pay him 9million a year and he had his eponymous fashion label. He was also creative director at Fendi, and had design contracts with other global brands, from Coca Cola to Diesel. Advertisement It doesn't follow a chronological order, and instead offers memorable moments from Mr Jondeau's friendship with his boss across almost three decades. Mr Jondeau, who continues to act as a contributor to Fendi and an ambassador for the Lagerfeld brand, was helped with compiling the book by French fashion journalist Virginie Mouzat. She took to her Instagram account to reveal the news earlier this month, writing: 'I am very excited and proud to announce the book I wrote for and with Sebastien Jondeau, personal assistant, bodyguard and closer-person to Karl Lagerfeld for 20 years,' The book is 'a rough and magic ride, from the 95 suburbs to the super luxurious Quai Voltaire, a story of fight, love, admiration and resilience,' she added. Nothing predestined Mr Jondeau to become the right hand man of one of France's most influential designers. From his early teens, he was known to get into fights often, and worked on several physical jobs, like moving furniture. That's how he met Lagerfeld, when the designer employed his team during a move in 1989. Ten years later, Jondeau was loading suitcases in Lagerfeld's private jet when the designer handed him a contract to be his bodyguard. Mr Jondeau, seen on December 12, 2019 in Paris, was bodyguard and chauffeur for the designer for two decades Just like that, the youngster's life changed, and he went from manual jobs and sweatpants to designer suits and rubbing elbows with the most fashionable celebrities. Earlier this month, Mr Jondeau revealed how he looked on the late designer as a father, despite the difficulties he faced working for the Chanel creative director, who could reduce people to tears with his outbursts. Speaking to French magazine Paris Match, Mr Jondeau admitted he saw Lagerfeld as his 'everything,' his only family, and said he 'fought for him like he was [his] own father.' However, he admitted his employment was a 'golden prison' were his whole life was controlled by the designer, leaving him struggling to fit friends and family into his busy schedule. The bodyguard has been hailed by French media as Lagerfeld's 'spirit heir' and is said to have 'held his hand' at the time of his death. Pictured at the A Visual Journey Karl Lagerfeld Photo Exhibition at the Pinacotheque in Paris in 2015 'Planning a dinner, I can't do it anymore. It scares me,' Mr Jondeau said, 'I dedicated 98 percent of my time to Karl. All his coworkers had families and went home, I didn't. My home was Karl's.' Mr Jondeau is now releasing a tell-all book (pictured) on 27 January to celebrate his mentor's life Mr Jondeau added that since the designer died, he's had an anxiety attack everyday at 5pm or 6pm without fail - the time when he and the German-born fashion icon and him would be hitting the town. When Lagerfeld was diagnosed with cancer - Mr Jondeau insists the designer suffered from prostate cancer and not pancreatic cancer, as has been reported - his employee and confidante admits he collapsed in his girlfriend's arms, devastated by the news. But there were some difficult times in their friendship - like when he saw the designer reduce people to tears on more than one occasion. 'He could be horribly tough. I saw him make people cry, I broke doors out of rage. Karl never said sorry, he apologised through his actions,' he said. Yet, Mr Jondeau looked after the designer's schedule until the very end, and his devotion remains intact now that he has gone, looking after Lagerfeld's will and settling some of his affairs. The letter was sent by President of the European Council Charles Michel and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has received a letter from heads of the European Union's institutions who assure Ukraine may count on the EU's solidarity in obtaining a COVID-19 vaccine. "The EU is taking steps to ensure Ukraine's access to vaccines as soon as possible," according to the letter from President of the European Council Charles Michel and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen following the 22nd Ukraine-EU Summit, which took place in Brussels on October 6, 2020, as reported by the president's press service. The letter addressed to the president outlines the steps taken by the European Union to implement the agreements reached during the summit, as well as a plan for cooperation for the current year. In particular, the European leaders emphasize the EU is willing to continue supporting Ukraine in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. Last year, EUR 190 million was allocated, in particular for the purchase of medical equipment. The first tranche of macro-financial assistance (MFA) worth EUR 600 million was also allocated last year. The EU institutions are ready to cooperate with Ukraine on meeting the criteria for the second MFA tranche. Read alsoEU eyes scheme to share surplus COVID-19 vaccines with poorer nations mediaThe two European officials note that a comprehensive revision of the Association Agreement will begin this year. It is planned to deepen sectoral cooperation, in particular in the digital and environmental sectors. The Agreement on the Common Aviation Area is being prepared for signing in the near future. A preliminary EU assessment mission started work in the context of the future Agreement on Assessment of Conformity and Acceptance of Industrial Products. "The leaders of the EU institutions note Ukraine's progress in implementing internal reforms despite the unfavorable situation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The EU is ready for further cooperation, in particular on anticorruption and judicial reform issues. The heads of the European institutions praise the urgent steps taken by the president of Ukraine in the context of the situation with the decision of the Constitutional Court," Deputy Head of the President's Office Ihor Zhovkva commented on the letter. Finally, the presidents of the European Council and the European Commission reaffirmed their strong support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, the Normandy format of negotiations, as well as Ukraine's diplomatic efforts to handle Russia's illegal annexation of Crimea. COVID-19 vaccine for Ukraine In February-March 2021, Ukraine expects the delivery of a vaccine against COVID-19. The first batch of a vaccine via the COVAX Facility will include 8 million doses, which will be enough to vaccinate 4 million people (two shots per person required). First to get vaccinated will be healthcare workers, the elderly, and seriously ill patients. On December 24, 2020, Health Minister Stepanov said that his ministry was working out a plan to increase the COVAX vaccine quota from 8 million to 16 million doses. On December 30, Ukraine signed a contract with China's Sinovac for the supply of 1.9 million doses of a coronavirus vaccine. On January 8, 2020, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) Tedros Ghebreyesus said that rich countries have the majority of the supply of a COVID-19 vaccine from the manufacturers Pfizer BioNTech, Moderna, and AstraZeneca. On January 13, Health Minister Stepanov said that his ministry planned to sign contracts in the coming days with new companies that produce the coronavirus vaccine. According to the WHO, 170 experimental vaccines are currently at the stage of preclinical trials, 65 are undergoing clinical trials, of which 15 are at the third, last stage. Reporting by UNIAN Janet Yellen, U.S. President-elect Joe Biden's nominee to be treasury secretary, speaks as Biden announces nominees and appointees to serve on his economic policy team at his transition headquarters in Wilmington, Delaware, U.S., December 1, 2020. REUTERS-Yonhap The Biden administration will prioritize domestic investments in workers and infrastructure before embarking on any new free trade agreements, Janet Yellen, U.S. President Joe Biden's nominee for Treasury Secretary, told lawmakers. Yellen also promised a comprehensive review of China's implementation of a Phase 1 trade deal, and said Washington would work more closely with allies to address "abusive" practices by the world's second-largest economy. The Senate Finance Committee will meet at 10 a.m. EST (1500 GMT) on Friday to vote on the nomination of the former Federal Reserve chair, paving the way for a potential vote by the full Senate later Friday or early next week. Asked about a possible trade deal with Taiwan, Yellen said: "President Biden has been clear that he will not sign any new free trade agreements before the U.S. makes major investments in American workers and our infrastructure. Our economic recovery at home must be our top priority." At the same time, she said the new administration planned to pursue "a robust trade agenda" and vowed to work closely with Biden to "reach out to our allies, rebuild bridges and pursue trade agreements that support American prosperity and put workers first," according to a copy of her written responses to lawmakers' queries after her confirmation hearing on Tuesday. Yellen said the Biden administration would undertake a comprehensive review of all aspects of former President Donald Trump's trade policies toward China, including Beijing's implementation of the interim trade deal signed in January 2020, Yellen said in the document, which was posted on the committee's website on Thursday afternoon. Janet Yellen, U.S. Treasury secretary nominee attends President-elect Joe Biden's inauguration ceremony, Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021, in Washington. AP-Yonhap Up to 90% of pubs in Belfast could be at risk as tenants face rent demands and landlords in turn come under pressure from banks. The hospitality sector will be shut until at least early March. Drink-only bars have had less than four weeks to trade during coronavirus lockdowns since last March. Many tenanted pubs were able to negotiate rent breaks or discounts for at least some of last year. And while grants and loans have been available, there is still fear for the future, even when trading resumes. One Belfast publican said he had been paying on average 40% of normal rent for most of last year after negotiations with his landlord. His business was due to pay full rent again in April this year but he was concerned about how he would make payments with no date yet for reopening. In most cases, amounts saved in breaks and discounts have to be repaid in future. A provision in the Coronavirus Act 2020 protecting businesses unable to pay rent due to the pandemic from eviction expires at the end of March. John Bittles, owner of Bittles Bar in Upper Church Lane in Belfast, said he had so far been able to keep up with the rent, with funds from his Christmas 2019 trading and a government-backed Bounce Back Loan. But he added: Really were looking at the possibility now where we mightnt be open until May, so we have February, March, April to think about. Im in the process of going to my landlord to say, I may not be able to pay this. In a Zoom meeting last month between politicians and business owners, a pub landlord described giving tenants discounts and deferrals while still having to repay their own loans. He said his bank advised him to instruct tenants to apply for the government-backed Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme. He told the meeting: Were now at the end of our cash surplus and weve nowhere to turn. Having done the right thing earlier in the year, were having to go back to the same people and start demanding money. One hospitality entrepreneur warned 80 to 90% of city centre pubs were at risk because even when trading resumes, many will not be able to afford to catch up on their unpaid rent. If a publican was faced with extra rent to pay over the last few years of their lease, that could prompt them to walk away. He added: A lot of bars might say theres no way we can do that and pull the plug. The tenants are not having those conversations yet but it will happen when bars start trading and thats going to be a serious problem for 80 to 90% of bars in the city centre which could be at risk in future. He said the onus was on the UK government to bail out the industry. I know for me its a matter of having to duck and dive and try to work out different agreements with various landlords some of whom are mortgaged to the hilt and havent had any respite themselves. Colin Neill, chief executive of Hospitality Ulster, said many landlords here were retired publicans themselves. He said the UK government should consider a crisis fund. The NI government doesnt have firepower to deal with this. He said more restaurants than bars were at risk, as at around 90%, a greater percentage of restaurants in Belfast were rented, compared to 40% of bars. The Department for the Economy has launched support for wet pubs, unable to trade for most of the last 10 months. It said: The first payments from the Wet Pubs Business Support Scheme issued on January 20 with a value of circa 70,000. A spokesman for Ulster Bank said it recognised the significant challenges facing the sector and was supporting customers with appropriate forbearance. It said it was using the CBILs and Bounce Back Loan Schemes. Bank of Ireland said it had a range of supports available for customers. East Londonderry Sinn Fein MLA Caoimhe Archibald, chair of the Assemblys economy committee, said: It is important that banks offer flexibility and support to those businesses which are impacted by ongoing closures to help them recover once the restrictions are lifted. In planning the economic recovery from Covid-19 there will need to be practical and financial supports for businesses to help them adapt to the new environment, the Economy Minister and Invest NI must ensure appropriate support is made available including to our pubs which play a key role in supporting other sectors, not least to tourism. The Department of Finance said it had now issued nearly 124m to over 11,300 businesses under its Localised Restriction Support Scheme (LRSS) which is supporting businesses which have had to close since lockdowns introduced from October. It said: Further payments will be automatically given to eligible businesses to cover additional periods of restrictions. FORT WORTH, TX., Jan. 22, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Sungrow, the global leading inverter solution supplier for renewables, announced that it has forged a contract to supply its fully integrated Energy Storage System to the 100 MWac Chisholm Grid project in Fort Worth, Texas. Chisholm Grid has been under construction since August of 2020 and will be one of the largest battery energy storage facilities in Texas when work onsite is completed this June. The facility, utilizing industry-leading NMC battery technology, will generate revenue from the sale of energy and ancillary services to the ERCOT wholesale electricity market. The Chisholm Grid Battery Energy Storage Project is owned by Astral Electricity, LLC, a privately-held energy storage power producer, and was developed by Able Grid Infrastructure Holdings, LLC, a joint venture between Able Grid and MAP RE/ES. Able Grid will provide operational asset management services for the site following commercial operations in mid-2021. Sungrow's ESS solution deployed for this project is the latest in a line of over 1,000 energy storage projects. At the heart of the technology are lithium-ion batteries, combined with Sungrow's advanced converters and controls. Sungrow Services will maintain the asset under a long-term services agreement, reducing operating costs and extending the life span of the assets. As an industry leading company, Sungrow must do everything possible to maintain its safety edge. "The safe operation of the project is of vital concern to us," said Neil Bradshaw, the Senior Technical Sales Manager. "Not only is every cell protected electrically in a three-tier BMS system with supervisory controls, but each small battery module has internal thermal barriers and suppression technology. With an untarnished thermal safety record on over 1,000 energy storage projects, Sungrow is eager to show the world that battery energy storage at this scale is a safe, reliable and sustainable solution to ensure grid reliability amidst demanding market operating conditions," he added. "Years of innovation by Sungrow as a global technology leader now allows companies like Astral Electricity to deploy market-driven solutions that will accelerate the decarbonization of electricity production while also improving grid resilience. Sungrow's highly-integrated offering and history of successful deployment in cooperation with leading global battery manufacturers were key factors in our supplier decision. We are looking forward Sungrow's product providing reliable operations for many years to come," commented Aaron Zubaty, CEO of MAP RE/ES. "The landmark Chisholm Grid energy storage project is another exciting milestone in the US energy storage market which is strongly positioned for immense growth," said Mizhi Zhang, Managing Director of Energy Storage, Sungrow Americas. "We're poised to pioneer more energy storage innovations backed by the industry's largest R&D team and 24-year proven track record. Our agile local team can offer responsive technical support, sales and industry-leading after-sales service," he added. As one of the key players in the energy storage market, Sungrow is an early entrant in the North American storage market with a deployment footprint spreading across multiple states including California, Massachusetts and Texas, achieving milestones both in the utility scale storage market as well as the C&I market where Sungrow currently maintains a strong position in North America. The Company acquired orders totaling 1.4 GWh in North America in 2020 including both standalone energy storage projects and storage in combination with power plants. About MAP RE/ES MAP RE/ES has been an innovating and leading investor in renewable energy projects since 2005 and has directly funded the development of more than 16,000 MW of operating wind and solar generating capacity located across the United States. In December 2020, Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP) Fund IV acquired 100% of the MAP RE/ES investment platform, energy storage, and renewable energy assets under management. About Astral Electricity, LLC Astral Electricity is a privately-held energy storage power producer that sees an opportunity where others see risk. Astral leverages decades of experience funding and developing wind and solar projects throughout the country to create a unique view on the future fabric of power generation, transmission and energy consumption. Astral's deployment of large-scale standalone energy storage systems provides a new dimension of market-based solutions that balance electricity grids while catalyzing electricity sector decarbonization. www.astralelectricity.com About Able Grid Energy Solutions, Inc. Able Grid Energy Solutions, Inc. ("Able Grid") is a utility-scale energy storage developer. In partnership with utilities, municipalities, communities, and leading corporate buyers, Able Grid is developing low-cost energy storage assets that provide reliable, emissions-free capacity to manage the physical and financial volatility of energy markets. We focus on investing in communities and markets where energy storage will provide long-term value to utilities managing a diverse energy portfolio to provide low-cost and sustainable power for their customers. www.ablegridenergy.com About Sungrow Sungrow Power Supply Co., Ltd ("Sungrow") is the world's most bankable inverter brand with over 120 GW installed worldwide as of June 2020. Founded in 1997 by University Professor Cao Renxian, Sungrow is a leader in the research and development of solar inverters, with the largest dedicated R&D team in the industry and a broad product portfolio offering PV inverter solutions and energy storage systems for utility-scale, commercial, and residential applications, as well as internationally recognized floating PV plant solutions. With a strong 24-year track record in the PV space, Sungrow products power installations in over 120 countries, maintaining a worldwide market share of over 15%. Learn more about Sungrow by visiting www.sungrowpower.com. SOURCE Sungrow Power Supply Co., Ltd Related Links http://www.sungrowpower.com Two men were arrested yesterday after a car crash in Derry. A PSNI spokesperson said Ballyarnett Neighbourhood officers attended a report of a collision on the Racecourse Road around 11.40am yesterday. "A 23-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of a number of driving offences as well as possession of Class B," the spokesperson added. "He was also arrested on breach of bail conditions and is expected to appear at court today. "A 22-year-old man was also arrested on suspicion of drug offences and criminal damage and remains in custody at this time." President Joe Biden sits in the Oval Office as he signs a series of orders at the White House after being sworn in at the US Capitol on Jan. 20, 2021. (JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty Images) Experts Warn of Devastating Economic Impact of Rejoining Paris Climate Accord Rejoining the Paris climate agreement as it stands now will have devastating economic consequences for the United States, with little actual environmental benefit, according to experts. President Joe Biden on Jan. 20 signed an executive order to rejoin the global pact, one of his first major moves as president. According to the United Nations, developed countries under the agreement should take the lead in providing financial assistance to countries that are less endowed and more vulnerable, while also encouraging voluntary contributions by other countries. While well intentioned, the agreement was flawed economically and environmentally from the get-go, according to Nicolas Loris, deputy director of the Thomas A. Roe Institute for Economic Policy Studies at the Heritage Foundation. It will be very costly for Americans families and business because 80 percent of our energy needs are met though carbon-emitting conventional fuels, Loris told The Epoch Times. Regulating them and subsidizing alternatives is going to harm American families and taxpayers. Because there is really no teeth to the Paris climate accord, developing countries are getting a free pass in terms of their emissions, he said. Its likely that the Paris climate accord is not going to reach its intended goal. The aim of the Paris Agreement is to limit the global temperature increase to below 2 degrees Celsius, preferably to 1.5 degrees Celsius, compared to pre-industrial levels. To achieve this long-term goal, according to the U.N., countries aim to reach global peaking of greenhouse gas emissions as soon as possible to achieve a climate neutral world by mid-century. A 2016 Heritage Foundation report authored by Loris and other experts explores the consequences the United States would face if part of the Paris Agreement. The report, titled Consequences of Paris Protocol: Devastating Economic Costs, Essentially Zero Environmental Benefits, analyzed the costs of the economic fallout as well as the impact it would have on reducing carbon emissions globally. Businesses are going to pass on these costs to the consumer, according to Loris. We estimate that over a 15-year period, youre talking about an aggregate loss of $20,000 per family of four, he said. If the cost of energy is increased, Americans not only have to pay more for electricity and at the pump, but they will also have to pay more for groceries, going out to eat, or buying clothes, as it all takes energy to make. The economic hit to families will be significant and would disproportionately impact the poor, who spend the highest percentage of their budget on energy costs, Loris said. Its a very regressive policy, rather than something that should be more proactive and innovation-focused that can lead to economic and environmental well-being, he said. This agreement really achieved neither The real bottom line is that its all economic pain and no real climate gain from a global perspective. Anthony Watts, senior research fellow of environment and climate at The Heartland Institute, said according to their analysis, the agreement would cost the United States about 2.7 million jobs by 2025 due to scaling back parts of industries. Now that would have been about 440,000 manufacturing jobs that we would have lost. The United States formally left the Paris accord in November 2020, though President Donald Trump had talked about leaving as early as 2017. Trump criticized the deal for negatively impacting the U.S. economy, while noting that some other countries wouldnt be held to the same standards. Under the agreement China will be able to increase these emissions by a staggering number of years13, Trump said. They can do whatever they want for 13 years. Not us. There are many other examples. China is the worlds largest financier and builder of both fossil fuel and renewable infrastructure worldwide, according to the Climate Action Tracker. It is the largest emitter of CO2 emissions in the world. Supporters of the Paris accord lauded the Biden administration for its move. Economic recovery and combating climate change go hand in hand, and President Biden has made these critical issues some of his top priorities upon taking office, said Heather Zichal, CEO of the American Clean Power Association, in a statement. For the world to overcome this challenge, our country must do more than simply play a part; we must lead, she said. Americas clean energy industries stand ready to invest in U.S. communities and the U.S. workforce as we work together to achieve a more prosperous and lower-carbon future. Meanwhile, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell called Bidens move a step in the wrong direction. He said the United States has already been reducing carbon emissions while China and other nations in the agreement have kept increasing theirs. 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, McConnell said on Jan. 21. Colorado Springs, CO (80903) Today Mostly sunny. High 76F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low 51F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Property sales in New York City plunged 46 percent in 2020 from the prior year's level, costing $1.6 billion in lost city and state tax revenue, according to an industry group. The report on Friday from the Real Estate Board of New York said that property sales in the city totaled $47 billion last year, down nearly half from the 2019 sales volume of $86 billion. The steep decline in real estate transactions came as residents fled the city in a mass exodus amid pandemic fears, punishing lockdowns and soaring crime. 'With this full scope of real estate activity in 2020, we can fully see the devastating economic impact the COVID pandemic has had on New York,' said REBNY President James Whelan in a statement to DailyMail.com. Property sales in New York City totaled $47 billion last year, down nearly half from the 2019 sales volume of $86 billion Manhattan is seen in a view from Midtown. New York City tax revenue totaled $1.9 billion in 2020, representing a 38 percent decline from 2019 The report estimated that New York city and state collectively lost $1.6 billion in tax revenue in 2020 due to these significant declines in real estate market activity. New York City tax revenue from real estate transactions totaled $1.9 billion in 2020, representing a 38 percent decline from 2019, while state tax revenue from such transactions totaled $785 million in 2020, a 32 percent drop. The real estate industry generates more than half of New York City's total annual tax revenue, while personal income tax accounts for just one-fifth of tax receipts. Desperate to plug the state budget gap, Governor Andrew Cuomo has demanded a $15 billion federal bailout from President Joe Biden's new administration. In an ultimatum, Cuomo has already threatened to sue if Washington does not deliver the funding he is requesting. Mayor Bill de Blasio has also called for federal funds to make up for the tax shortfall, and REBNY President Whelan echoed the appeal. 'Our City and State are in dire need for the new federal administration to step in with a stimulus package including state and local aid, rent relief and unemployment benefits that addresses our economy and helps all New Yorkers out of this crisis,' Whelan said. Desperate to plug the state budget gap, Governor Andrew Cuomo has demanded a $15 billion federal bailout from President Joe Biden's new administration NYC property sales volume (black bars) and tax revenue (red line) is seen by month in 2020 The REBNY report is based on official data from the NYC Department of Finance's ACRIS The REBNY report is based on official data from the NYC Department of Finance's Automated City Register Information System (ACRIS) and captures total sales volume, number of transactions and tax revenue. Last month, the group, whose members include nearly every major landlord and developer in the city, proposed dramatic changes to zoning rules to convert Midtown office buildings into apartments, according to the New York Times. Cuomo's office would say only that he would review the idea, while a spokesman for de Blasio welcomed the proposal. 'City Hall is always looking for sensible, equitable ways to deliver more housing,' said the spokesman, Bill Neidhardt. The radical proposal comes as many commercial landlords in Midtown face a harsh reckoning. The Manhattan skyline is seen above. In an ultimatum, Cuomo has already threatened to sue if Washington does not deliver the funding he is requesting In October, only 10 percent of Manhattan office employees had returned to the workplace after fleeing in the pandemic, according to a survey from the Partnership for New York City. What began as a stopgap measure looks increasingly like a long-term trend, as employers find that remote working has little impact on productivity and consider permanently downsizing their office footprint. The survey found that employers expect that two out of five of employees who return to the office in 2021 will continue to work remotely at least 50 percent of the time. Of the employers surveyed, the vast majority, 72 percent, had offices in Midtown. Highlights Googles parent company Alphabet has shut down project Loon that gave internet service from high-altitude balloons in under-connected areas. Loon was part of Moonshot until 2018 after which it moved on to become an independent company within Alphabet. According to X lead Astro Teller, Loons tech continues to live on in Project Taara that will use light to transmit information at super high speeds through the air. Google's parent company Alphabet has shut down project Loon that gave internet service from high-altitude balloons, after the unit failed to develop a viable business model, as per reports. The project was part of Alphabet's X team, the moonshot factory, that has designed projects like Tidal, which focuses on protecting the ocean and sustainable living. Loon was first unveiled in 2013 and aimed to give internet connections using giant balloons drifting on currents high in the stratosphere. Loon was part of Moonshot until 2018 after which it moved on to become an independent company within Alphabet. "While we've found a number of willing partners along the way, we haven't found a way to get the costs low enough to build a long-term, sustainable business. Developing radical new technology is inherently risky, but that doesn't make breaking this news any easier," Loon Chief Executive Officer Alastair Westgarth on Thursday wrote in a blog post. "Sadly, despite the team's groundbreaking technical achievements over the last 9 years doing many things previously thought impossible, like precisely navigating balloons in the stratosphere, creating a mesh network in the sky, or developing balloons that can withstand the harsh conditions of the stratosphere for more than a year the road to commercial viability has proven much longer and riskier than hoped. So we've made the difficult decision to close down Loon. In the coming months, we'll begin winding down operations and it will no longer be an Other Bet within Alphabet," Astro Teller, who leads X wrote in a separate blog post. Loon's first commercial internet service was launched in Kenya in July, consisting of a fleet of about 35 balloons that covered an area of around 50,000 square kilometers. Loon also gave internet services to areas affected by natural disasters, providing balloons to Puerto Rico following Hurricane Maria in 2017 and to Peru following an earthquake in 2019. An X spokesperson told The Verge that Loon's service in Kenya will run until March. Further, a small group of the Loon team will stay to ensure Loon's operations are wrapped up smoothly and safely this includes winding down Loon's pilot service in Kenya, according to Teller. Teller noted that some of Loon's technology like the high bandwidth (20Gbps+) optical communication links that were first used to beam a connection between balloons "bopping in the stratosphere already live on in Project Taara." Google is reportedly in talks with telecom companies Airtel and Jio to introduce high-speed internet and telecom connectivity using light beams that will be used in Project Taara. The tech uses light to transmit information at super high speeds through the air as a very narrow, invisible beam -- it is like fiber but without the cables, as per Project X. Advertisement Five children found dead after a West Virginia house fire late last month were shot dead by their mother, who then took her own life after drawing a red line on her face and writing a confession, in which she lamented she was not strong enough to defeat her 'demons.' Greenbrier County Sheriff Bruce Sloan revealed the harrowing details of the shootings and fire on December 8 at a news conference on Thursday. He said Oreanna Myers, 25, shot her three sons and two stepchildren from her husband's previous marriage at their home near Williamsburg. The children were identified as Shaun Dawson Bumgarner, 7, Riley James Bumgarner, 6, Kian Myers, 4, Aarikyle Nova Myers, 3 and Haiken Jirachi Myers, age 1. According to Sloan, Myers was upset that her husband had been staying with relatives during the work week for logistical reasons, instead of coming home to her. Scroll down for video Officials in West Virginia have revealed that Oreanna Myers, 25 (pictured), shot dead her three biological children and two stepchildren, before setting their home on fire and killing herself Pictured above are five the children who were killed: Shaun Dawson Bumgarner, 7, Riley James Bumgarner, 6, Kian Myers, 4, Aarikyle Nova Myers, 3 and Haiken Jirachi Myers, age 1 The murder-suicide and arson took place outside Williamsburg, West Virginia, on the afternoon of December 8 First responders were called to the family's home after getting reports of a fire. There, they found the bodies of the children and Myers The children's bodies were found with shotgun wounds to the head inside the home, while Myers was found outside near a picnic table, Sloan said. The shotgun used in the murders was discovered next to the mother. Sloan described how Myers was found, revealing that she was wearing a coat with a hood, and had a red line drawn across her face from ear to ear, reported MetroNews.com. The mysterious line was seen on surveillance video when Myers had gone to pick up two of her sons from the bus stop at the end of the school day. One of the boys asked her if it was blood on her face, but Myers replied she had just drawn the line. Greenbrier County Sheriff Bruce Sloan revealed details of the shootings and fire on Thursday An hour later, emergency dispatch got a 911 call about a house fire on Flynns Creek Road. When firefighters arrived on the scene just before 4pm, they found the residence engulfed in flames. The five-bedroom, one-bath house was built in 1888 and had an estimated value of $126,000. About 40 minutes later, Myers' body was found outdoors. Four of the children were found dead inside the house that same day, but the fifth child's body was only recovered from the debris four days later, reported WVNS-TV. Myers' husband, Brian Bumgarner, stayed with relatives instead of at home during the work week due to transportation issues, Sloan said. Text messages between Myers and her husband showed that his absence during the week had been 'a tremendous source of contention' between them. According to the sheriff, the woman grew more desperate after Bumgarner left the house on December 6 after dropping off groceries for his family. 'Youll have nothing to come back to but to corpse [sic]. No one cares why should I? Myers texted her husband. 'Money will come and go, once I go theres no replacing me. I beg and cry for help but never get it. Its my mental health that needs tending tohelp me I do not care anymore.' Myers was upset that her husband, Brian Bumgarner, had been staying with relatives during the work week for logistical reasons. Prior to the killings, Myers texted Bumgarner, warning him that he would come home to find a 'corpse' Bumgarner addressed the tragedy in a Facebook post two days after the fact without going into specifics Sloan said he was unaware of whether the woman was under treatment for any diagnosed mental illness at the time of the deaths. But in several notes she left before carrying out the murder-suicide and setting fire to her family home, Myers complained about the lack of treatment for mental illness, according to the sheriff. 'This is no ones fault but my own. My demons won over me. Sorry, I wasnt strong enough,' she wrote. Myers texted her husband the day of the shootings saying she left something for him in their vehicle. A letter addressed to him was found inside with a bloody fingerprint next to her initials, Sloan said. 'I'm so sorry Brian,' she wrote to her husband. 'I was not strong enough for you or this family. My head is so (expletive). Im sorry for my evil crime. I was not strong enough to fight these demons, Snap. Crunch, Boom. So depressed. Heart numb. Soul completely shattered. I am sorry I failed you. I am sorry I failed our handsome boys. I am so sorry I was not strong enough. OAM.' Myers left a confession and other notes addressed to her husband and relatives, blaming what happened on her 'demons' It took officials four days to find the body of one of the five children amid the debris The sheriff said the woman also placed three notes inside a plastic bag and taped them to a side-view mirror on the family vehicle, including phone numbers to reach relatives, a confession and a will. 'I had shot all of the boys in the head. I had set house on fire. I had shot myself in the head. Im sorry,' she wrote in her confession. 'Mental health is serious. I hope one day someone will help others like me. Mental health is not to joke about or taken lightly. When someone begs, pleads, cries out for help, please help them. You just might save a life or more lives. Thank you, OAM.' Also recovered from the vehicle were glass jar with a crystal and a cloth decorated with a spiral symbol. Two of the children who died - Shaun and Riley (top and bottom left) - Brian Bumgarner's sons from his first marriage Following Thursday's revelations, Shaun and Riley's birth mother, Raven Frisbie, wrote on Facebook, referring to Myers: 'She murdered my babies and now everyone knows it' According to a joint obituary for four of the children, Haiken, Kian and Aarikyle were Myers' biological sons, while Shaun and Riley were her husband's children from his marriage to Raven Frisbie. Following Thursday's press conference detailing the investigation into the murder-suicide, Frisbie wrote on her Facebook page: 'She murdered my babies and now everyone knows it. I've been more than patient waiting for this day and now that it's here there is nothing that is going to keep me quiet. I fought for them while they were alive and I will continue to do so after.' According to the obituary for the children, Shaun was a second-grade student at Frankford Elementary and wanted to be an astronaut. Riley was in kindergarten and loved sports. He was also interested in music and was learning to play the piano and the ukulele. 'Aarikyle loved painting, being a kid and was sneaky,' the obituary read. 'He loved Ninja Turtles and superheroes. Haiken being the youngest was spoiled by all and loved driving his toy cars.' Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Bob Avian, the Tony-winning choreographer of A Chorus Line, Ballroom, Miss Saigon, and a host of other productions, has died at the age of 83 in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Avian passed after suffering cardiac arrest, not related to the ongoing Covid-19 crisis. Born in New York City on December 26, 1937, Avian received his BA from Boston University College of Fine Arts and also studied at the Boston Ballet School. He danced in the original Broadway ensembles of West Side Story (playing Indio), Funny Girl (opposite Barbra Streisand), and Henry, Sweet Henry. Henry, Sweet Henry marked the first show of Avian's partnership with choreographer Michael Bennett, though the two met as dancers a tour of West Side Story. He became an integral part of Bennett's productions for the next two decades, serving as assistant choreographer and assistant director for projects ranging from Promises, Promises and Coco to Company and Follies. He won his two Tonys for co-choreographing Bennett's productions of A Chorus Line and Ballroom. He was a lead producer on the original and national touring companies of Dreamgirls. Avian worked with producer Cameron Mackintosh to choreograph the London premiere of Follies and the original West End and Broadway productions of Miss Saigon. His work also includes Martin Guerre, Putting It Together, The Witches of Eastwick, multiple revivals of A Chorus Line both on Broadway and the West End (notably documented in Every Little Step, a documentary about the 2006 Broadway production), and the recent production of Miss Saigon. Avian is survived by husband Peter Pileski, sister Laura Nabedian, and several nieces and nephews. He wrote about his career in his 2020 memoir Dancing Man: A Broadway Choreographer's Journey, penned with Tom Santopietro. He spoke with TheaterMania about the book, and you can watch the interview below: Former Senate staffer Tara Reade, 56, who came forward during the 2020 campaign with a sexual assault allegation against Joe Biden, has said it was 'exceptionally hard' to watch her former boss taking the oath of office on Wednesday. Reade who now identifies as a 'progressive independent' after previously describing herself as a lifelong Democrat, says she feels conflicted about Biden's presidency. 'Yesterday was exceptionally hard on many levels, because the media, certain media outlets made it so clear that I was to be smeared, ignored, and erased. And they were pretty successful in doing so,' Reade told Fox News on Thursday. Tara Reade, 56, has spoken out once again over her claims that Joe Biden sexually assaulted her Reade said that it was 'exceptionally hard' to watch Wednesday's inauguration 'To watch this powerful man who I've worked for, who I had admired when I first worked for him and then later became horrified of what he did, to watch him ascend to the most powerful job in the world. I can't really describe the feeling except I keep wanting to wake up from a nightmare.' Reade maintains that Biden 'sexually harassed and sexually assaulted me.' 'The Democratic Party continues to be complicit with sexual misconduct. It will only shine a light on it when it's a Republican or someone else,' Reade said. 'And until sexual misconduct is seen as non-partisan, institutionalized rape culture will stay in place and powerful men will continue to be able to get away with crimes. And not only get away with it but be rewarded with more power.' In March of last year, Reade alleged that in 1993, Biden who was a senator from Delaware at the time, sexually assaulted her. Tara Reade (pictured) claims that Biden sexually assaulted her in a Congressional hallway when she was working as a Senate staffer in 1993 She had also came forward in 2019 together with several other women who accused Biden of inappropriate touching. 'Coming forward about being sexually harassed and assaulted in 1993 when I was Joe Biden's staffer was excruciating on so many levels,' Reade told the Daily Caller 'Biden used his power and resources with certain media to erase me and silence me. 'I stand in solidarity with all survivors coming up against such power. I will not be silenced. Instead of talking about saving the country's soul he should be held accountable for his actions,' she continued. 'The hard part is I believe in many policies that will move forward as I am a progressive Independent but it is unspeakably hard to watch the man who assaulted me go to the most powerful position in the land. ' Reade said in 2020 that Biden digitally penetrated her and groped her in the basement of a Capitol Hill office building in spring 1993. Biden has vehemently denied her claims, and current and former Biden staffers say they cannot recall such an incident Reade has accused Biden of sticking his hand down her skirt and digitally penetrating her in a Congressional hallway when she worked for him as an aide in 1993, 27 years earlier. The allegations evolved from what Reade had told reporters in 2019 when a number of women came out and said Biden had touched them inappropriately, though not in a sexual way. Reade had previously claimed that Biden liked her legs and wanted her to waitress at a Capitol Hill cocktail party while she was on staff. Reade also complained that he was touchy-feely, putting his hands on her shoulders, neck and hair. Biden and his campaign have consistently denied her claims. Washington Rep. John Katko says he has received intelligence briefings that suggest the Jan. 6 storming of the U.S. Capitol was more than a spontaneous attack by an angry mob. Katko, the top Republican on the House Homeland Security Committee, said the briefings raised serious questions about how much planning went into the attack and the security lapses that allowed rioters to reach the House and Senate chambers. Ive had a lot of classified briefings on it, and its deeply troubling, Katko told syracuse.com in an interview Tuesday. I was left with a profound sense that it was much worse than people realized. Katko would not discuss any specific information he received. But he said the briefings from federal authorities were enough to convince him that Congress needs a 9/11-style commission to investigate and subpoena witnesses. There are a lot of unanswered questions here, from possible security lapses to who was involved and when they were involved, Katko said. We need to have a full stem to stern look back on this to see what happened, how it happened, the sequence of events, who contributed to it, and how we make sure it never happens again. Katko, R-Camillus, and two other House Republicans introduced a bill last week that would establish an independent panel modeled after the 9/11 Commission, which probed security weaknesses exposed in the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said last week that theres strong support among members of Congress for an independent commission to conduct a review. She didnt specify if she would support Katkos bill with Rep. Rodney Davis, R-Ill., or a similar Democratic proposal. Rep. Jamaal Bowman, D-N.Y., wants to establish a commission to investigate the security failures and find out if there are any ties between Capitol police officers and white supremacists. Other House Democrats have asked for a separate investigation to find out if those who breached Capitol security had insider help from House staffers or security personnel sympathetic to President Donald Trump. The FBI disclosed in court documents filed Tuesday that a Navy veteran made plans before Jan. 6 with a group of up to 40 people from Virginia, Ohio to storm the Capitol. The group entered the Capitol from opposite sides and communicated with each other about hunting for members of Congress, The Washington Post reported. Katko was among 10 House Republicans who voted to impeach Trump last week on a single charge for incitement of insurrection after the president encouraged a crowd to interrupt a joint session of Congress. The joint session was called to certify Joe Biden as the winner of the Electoral College vote for president. Five people, including a Capitol police officer, died in the ensuing violence. Katko, in his first interview with syracuse.com since the impeachment vote, said he was moved emotionally by the events of the day. Among the Capitol police officers hurt in the violence was Joshua Call, a former intern in Katkos congressional office. Katko brought him a care package from his mother after the attack. But Katko, a former federal prosecutor, said he didnt let those emotions influence his decision about the impeachment vote. The only thing that impacted me were the facts, but I will never forget talking to him, Katko said of Call. I will never forget giving him a hug and telling him hes going to be OK. I wont ever forget walking into the Capitol and seeing the destruction. I wont ever forget hearing about the officer who was killed by being beaten in the head with a fire extinguisher. But like I said, I am trained to lock that stuff out of my head and look at the facts objectively, and thats what I did, he said. The only thing that influenced me were the facts and nothing else. Katko said he was shaken as he returned to the House floor after the attack to certify the Electoral College vote. But he said it was uplifting to see Vice President Mike Pence and members of Congress determined to press on with the vote into the early morning hours. It kind of gave me a sense of comfort that we just took a punch in the face as a country right in the face and we got right off the mat and were back at it, doing what were supposed to do as a country, Katko said. We were certifying the election results. They werent able to stop us. The bad elements were overwhelmed by the better angels of society. And thats a good thing. READ MORE John Katkos guest at Biden inauguration: A Coleman who runs an Irish pub Katko wants national commission to investigate US Capitol attack Rep. John Katko among 10 House Republicans who vote to impeach Trump Got a tip, comment or story idea? Contact Mark Weiner anytime by: Email | Twitter | Facebook | 571-970-3751 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. When we look up into the sky, it looks like a huge never-ending expanse, occupied by stars and planets - millions of miles apart. Its difficult to comprehend an expanse this large becoming congested - but congested it is - and its becoming more so each year. A report by The Verge, says a researcher at the University of Texas at Austin, is on a mission. Moriba Jah wants to make the stakes of orbital congestion abundantly clear. Jah has built a visualizer called AstriaGraph, that displays the positions of all actively-tracked objects in the sky, The Verge reported. And there are thousands of them, with the number growing quickly. The report said there are currently about 3,000 active satellites in use. Companies like Starlink release up to 60 small satellites in a singular launch, so that number is rapidly changing. With 20,000 or so additional pieces of orbital debris being actively tracked by authorities, The Verge suggests that the image of a limitless expanse of space above the Earth begins to look somewhat different. With all of these objects whipping around the planet, sometimes at speeds 15 times faster than a bullet, how close do they get to one another, and what happens if they collide? The report said that Jah has designed a real-time graph that shows just how close these objects actually get to one another. The probable calamity motivating all these calculations, the report suggests, is a collision, in which two objects blast into one another at hypervelocity speed, sending out numerous pieces of new debris, which could go on to threaten other operational hardware. The possibility of such collisions increasing dramatically and wiping out entire orbits, - the Kessler Syndrome - is debatable, the report suggests. Although Jah, for one, isnt suggesting that an orbital apocalypse is around the corner, The Verge said, some kind of satellite-industry reckoning may need to be. A report by Silicon Hills, cites Jah, who said: People, in general, take for granted the number of services and capabilities every day that are space-based. And Silicon Hills warned that space junk poses a real threat to the U.S. and to communications satellites and the International Space Station and other endeavors in space. Silicon Hills cited Jah, who said: Space is like the Wild West. Space has become like squatters rights for those who get there first and new space companies are staking their frontiers. The astrodynamicist added, There is a potential to make lots and lots of money in space. Jah continued: There is a gold rush for what can I launch as soon as possible to lay my stake in space. Jah said, Space needs to be transparent; it needs accountability and it needs to be predictable, the report cited. Although Jah stated that there is nothing wrong with these endeavors, he added, But we need to proceed with the vision for long term sustainability of the environment, the Silicon Hills report cited. What sparked Jahs interest in space clutter? A report in UT News, said Jah, who is an expert on astrodynamics - the movement of objects in space, began his journey to becoming an expert on space clutter, while serving in the Air Force after he graduated from high school. The report stated that Jah recalls looking up into the sky while doing guard duty at night and seeing for the first time an obstructed view of the universe. UT News cited Jah, who said: Id look up and Id see these dots of light crossing the skies. What is that? Its not a plane. Its not a shooting star, he said. I realized that it was human-made stuff orbiting the Earth. And I was just able to see it with my naked eye. It planted the first seed of curiosity in my mind. That curiosity has proved a benefit to safety efforts in outer space. Silicon Hills reported that last year, Wired Magazine named Jah as one of the 25 people racing to save our planet. He was also selected as a 2019 TED Fellow. READ MORE: Member of Parliament for the Bia Constituency on the ticket of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Hon Richard Acheampong says the Minority Group in Parliament has no intention to waste time to challenge the Speaker of Parliament, Rt Hon Alban Bagbin on his ruling over the Majority and Minority Side of the House. According to him, the Minority Group of Parliament had every right to challenge the Speaker of Parliament for ruling that the NPP forms the majority group in Parliament on the account that the independent candidate has written to join the ruling NPP side in Parliament. Speaking on Okay FMs Ade Akye Abia Morning Show, Hon Acheampong argued that the ruling of the Speaker of Parliament is alien to the Standing Orders of Parliament and the Constitution of Ghana. He added that Right Hon. Speaker Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin simply introduced a new nomenclature to separate the House which is not based on the Standing Orders known to Parliament and the Constitution. We did not want to comment on the ruling of the Speaker of Parliament declaring the NPP side in Parliament as Majority group because the group is not known in our Standing Orders and it is not known by the Constitution. It is just a new nomenclature that the Speaker of Parliament introduced, he argued. He stressed that the issue of which side of Parliament forms the majority is part of the outstanding issues being contested in court by the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) to know if it will tilt towards the NDC or the status quo will remain as it is. With the issue of even number for both the ruling NPP and the opposition NDC side, Hon. Richard Acheampong described it as unique as it is the first of its kind since 1992 to see an independent candidate becoming relevant in Parliament enough to decide the majority side of the House. Since 1992, nobody envisaged that we will have both sides in Parliament with the same number of Parliamentarians and get an independent candidate who will be relevant in Parliament, he said in an interview on Okay FMs Ade Akye Abia Morning Show. We will take that this is a new normal where we need to adjust ourselves and deal with it because if you come to Parliament, the NPP has 20 women and the NDC also has 20 women. The NPP men in Parliament are 117 and the NDC has 117 men in Parliament; it has never happened before that the NPP will form a government and the NDC will win the Speakership, he noted. To him, inasmuch as this new normal in Parliament is confusing to many, it is a learning curve for both the NPP and NDC; thus, both sides of the House must learn a lesson and adjust how they will go about their normal politics as a lot of things will change. So, we should take it as it is and after the Speaker has given his ruling, if you disagree with him, you have to move a substantive motion to counter his ruling and if you are not successful, you may have to go to court but I dont think it is necessary for anyone to waste his time to challenge the ruling in court because the NPP number cannot make any difference, he stated. Source: Daniel Adu Darko/Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video A state committee responsible for recommending the order of coronavirus vaccinations narrowed its tentative list down to 60% of Oregonians Thursday, amid the first signs of tension about how best to battle historic inequities while being fair to all who need a vaccine. The latest iteration of the 27-member committees recommendations would include two distinct but overlapping groups that combined total more than 2.5 million Oregonians. If the recommendations stand, they would be vaccinated after the 1.4 million or so people the governor has already prioritized for shots. For now, the Vaccine Advisory Committee is recommending that BIPOC communities, numbering about 806,000, and people with underlying chronic conditions, numbering about 1.8 million Oregonians, get vaccinated next. They would follow health care workers, senior care residents and staff, inmates, teachers and some senior citizens who are or will soon be eligible. The result of Thursdays deliberations was a marginal winnowing of last weeks recommendations, which also included refugees, frontline workers and inmates. We have real work to do to prioritize this, Kalani Raphael, of the Oregon Pacific Islander Coalition, said of the groups original recommendations. Otherwise, were not going to get any priority, really. The group will re-consider and likely further narrow and then vote on the suggestions at its next full meeting Jan. 28. The committee has until mid-February to tell the Oregon Health Authority who should be vaccinated after the governors priority populations. The health authority created the group as part of Oregons stated 10-year goal to counteract generational racism by reshaping the health care system. The agency has said it would follow the committees recommendations, assuming they pass legal and practical muster as well as get the governors approval. But in a reflection of the extraordinary challenge behind fighting a concept as amorphous and simultaneously concrete as systemic racism, one of the two proposals Thursday is already top of mind for health experts and government officials: focus on people with chronic health conditions. The rationale presented by some of the proponents of the approach was that minorities are more likely than white people to suffer from chronic conditions that make a coronavirus infection particularly dangerous, such as diabetes, cancer or an HIV infection. But the proposal was hardly original, given that the federal government is already recommending that people with chronic conditions be vaccinated next, along with those 65 and older. Gov. Kate Brown has decided to not prioritize people with chronic conditions, allowing teachers to get vaccinated Jan. 25 and people 80 and older Feb. 8, with more seniors to become eligible on a weekly basis. In light of the committees fundamental purpose to help launch Oregons battle against historic inequities one of the committee members bristled when members proposed that people with health conditions be prioritized ahead of or instead of minorities. When those members objected, Kelly Gonzales all but accused them of being complicit in trying to maintain white hegemony. Were also dealing with our own conditioning of white supremacy as it is showing up in our decision making, said Gonzales, a member who represents Native Americans living in cities. Black, indigenous and other people of color were ultimately included in the list, above those with underlying conditions. Its unclear if the committee will ultimately recommend that BIPOC communities get vaccinated ahead of people with underlying conditions. Last week, the group began its discussions with an extremely broad list and asked the health authority to analyze how it could vaccinate: BIPOC communities, refugees, people 16 to 64 years old with chronic health conditions, people eligible for vaccines who are in jail or prison, frontline workers who werent already eligible, people in multi-generational homes and people under 65 living in low-income senior housing or other congregate care settings. A health authority official started Thursdays meeting off saying that perhaps the most practical way to meet the priorities the group outlined a week ago would be to target neighborhoods based on a combination of metrics such as demographics, prison population and occupational hazards. That would allow the health authority to target multiple committee priorities at once, said Rachael Banks, the agencys public health director. That idea didnt seem to get much traction with the group, particularly after one member pointed out that the vaccines are sensitive and getting them to the appropriate neighborhoods without wasting any doses could be a challenge. Whatever the contents of the final list the committee sends the state, its recommendations will have to work with three fundamental obstacles: the recommendations legal viability, Browns existing priorities and vaccine availability. To date, Oregon has administered about 254,000 vaccines out of 479,000 received. The state has already built a long queue, including an estimated 250,000 health care workers and senior care residents and staff who havent yet received a shot, 100,000 preschool, day care and K-12 workers and 768,000 Oregonians 65 and older. Oregon expects only 1.1 million vaccines doses total through February. Still, where exactly millions of Oregonians will stand in line behind them could depend on the committees upcoming decisions. -- Fedor Zarkhin 503-294-7674; fzarkhin@oregonian.com Senator Bill Hagerty hit the decision by President Joe Biden to extend the New START Treaty. He said, I am deeply troubled by the Biden Administrations decision to extend the New START Treaty for five years without any concessions from Russia. Even President Bidens own nominee for Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Victoria Nuland, previously said that Washington should not grant Moscow what it wants most: a free rollover of New START without any negotiations to address Russias recent investments in short- and medium-range nuclear weapons systems and new conventional weapons. "The Administration removed key leverage to press Russia to stop a massive nuclear weapons buildup that threatens the United States and our Allies. America lost a major opportunity today. Flensburg meteorite with black fusion crust: Parts of the fusion crust were lost during the flight through the atmosphere. The small fragment, weighing 24,5 grams, is about 4.5 billion years old. CREDIT A. Bischoff / M. Patzek, University of Munster 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. Astrobiology, Astrochemistry, Please follow Astrobiology on Twitter. New Delhi: CBSE was shown answer sheets where correct responses were given zero marks and a query was put to it saying, 'Why should you do away with re-evaluation?' A bench of justices Sanjeev Sachdeva and A K Chawla asked Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Sanjay Jain, appearing for the CBSE, how the Board will explain such 'apparent errors' in evaluation. It was not swayed by the claim of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) that the decision to scrap re-evaluation was taken due to minuscule number of errors in checking answer sheets. "Even if only one student is affected, the career of that student is at stake," the court said and added that even minuscule marks are of importance as it decides whether a student would get the college and course of his or her choice. The court's observation came while hearing several pleas by students, who gave the board exams in 2017, against the CBSE's decision to scrap its re-evaluation policy. The bench asked the Board to file on record its governing body and examination committee's reasoning behind the decision of October in 2016 and listed the petitions for hearing on June 23. Counting On stars Joe and Kendra Duggar have been laying low since season 11 came to close and the couple announced their third pregnancy. But the two recently celebrated Joes 26th birthday, which prompted Kendra to post a photo slideshow of her hubby. Still, viewers were completely taken aback by her lack of emotion in the post. Joe and Kendra Duggar | TLC/YouTube Joe and Kendra Duggar have been married since 2017 Kendra and Joe first met years ago when their families got to know one another at their Arkansas church. Since then, the Caldwells (Kendras family) have developed a close friendship with the Duggars, and for that reason, it was only a matter of time until a spark developed between Kendra and Joe. Joe is about four years older than Kendra, so for most of his life, he never saw her as more than a friend. But once she turned 18, he noticed the two shared the same interests and values, and he pursued a courtship. Kendras parents approved, and the two only courted for about two months before Joe proposed. The proposal happened at Joy and Austin Forsyths wedding in May 2017, and only four months after that, Joe and Kendra tied the knot. RELATED: Counting On: Kendra Duggar and Her Mother Are Pregnant At the Same Time Again Some viewers criticized Kendras birthday post to her husband The couple celebrated three years of marriage last fall, and theyve always been a bit more low key than some of the other Duggar couples. Joe and Kendra dont post regularly to Instagram; they typically only post content on special occasions. On January 20, Joe celebrated his 26th birthday, but the shows critics felt that her post fell a bit flat. Happy birthday Joe, the caption read, with a heart-eyed emoji. Celebrating you is so much fun!!! Fans felt the caption showed no depth and wasnt as heartfelt as other Duggar couples captions toward one another. Reddit users mocked Kendras words, sharing comparable phrases such as, It is your birthday and Or so Ive been told. [Joe and Kendras] marriage seems so boring, one user commented. I will never understand those who think these 2 have a good marriage, another person wrote. Still, others suggested that Kendra, who is a mom to two young kids, might have been running around throughout the day and not had enough time to write a lengthy, heartfelt post. Its also possible that Kendra simply doesnt express her love for Joe through social media posts. Joe and Kendra are expecting their third child this spring The couple has certainly been busy over the last few months. In late summer 2020, the two announced that theyre expecting their third child. Joe and Kendra havent wasted much time growing their family, as Kendra first became pregnant on their wedding night, and theyll welcome their third child within four years of marriage. The two recently announced that their tie breaker baby will be a girl, giving them two girls and one boy. By Aditya Kalra and Krishna N. Das NEW DELHI (Reuters) - An India trader group representing millions of brick-and-mortar retailers on Friday said it has received government assurances that stringent changes will be made to foreign investment rules for e-commerce, a move that could hit Amazon.com Inc. Reuters exclusively reported this week India was considering revising the policy after complaints from traders who accuse Amazon and Walmart Inc's Flipkart of creating complex structures to bypass investment rules. The U.S. companies deny any wrongdoing. The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) said in a statement that its delegation held a meeting late on Thursday with Indian Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal, who told them a "strenuous exercise" was underway to issue new foreign investment rules. "Mr. Goyal told us the government will address concerns about alleged violations of current rules. The new rules will be issued shortly," Praveen Khandelwal, secretary general of CAIT told Reuters. CAIT says it represents 80 million retail stores in India. India's ministry of commerce did not immediately respond to a request for comment on CAIT's statement. India's e-commerce retail market is seen growing to $200 billion a year by 2026, from $30 billion in 2019, the country's investment promotion agency Invest India estimates. Unhappy domestic traders say foreign e-commerce businesses indulge in unfair business practices that use steep discounts to target rapid growth, allegations the companies deny. Amazon and Flipkart were last hit in Dec. 2018 by investment rule changes that barred foreign e-commerce players from offering products from sellers in which they have an equity stake. Now the government is considering tweaks to prevent those arrangements even if the e-commerce firm holds an indirect stake in a seller through its parent, Reuters reported. The government is also considering prohibiting online sales by a seller who purchases goods from the e-commerce entity or its group firm, and then sells them on the entity's websites. Amazon and Flipkart did not respond to a request for comment. On Tuesday, reacting to the Reuters story, Amazon had said "any major alterations" to the investment policy will adversely impact small- and medium-sized businesses. (Reporting by Aditya Kalra and Krishna Das in New Delhi; editing by Emelia Sithole-Matarise) 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. Residents of Washington, D.C., neighborhoods such as Kalorama and Massachusetts Avenue Heights, which are popular with political operatives, ambassadors and well-heeled presidential appointees, are accustomed to sightings of Secret Service and high-level security on their streets. For the most part, their presence isnt bothersome, said Coe Magruder, an investor who recently sold his home on Woodland Drive, about 3 miles from the White House. But when a prominent official lives in a high-rise condominium, their presence can have a greater impact on the lives of their neighbors. In the days following the Nov. 4 election, residents of the Westlight condo complex in the districts West End, where Vice President Kamala Harris owns an apartment, received notice from building management of ramped up security at the complex. Among the changes: Before entering the garage, residents would need to turn off their vehicles and allow a K9 to make a sweep around it. A tent would be set up next to the garage entrance to serve as shelter for Secret Service agents in the case of inclement weather. All packages delivered by USPS, UPS, FedEx and DHL would be swept by the K9 before being brought into the building. There would always be more than one agent in the lobby. Concrete barricades would be placed around the intersection outside the building. A representative for the buildings developer didnt respond to a request for comment on how long the measures remained in place or whether they were still ongoing. Vice President Harris, who paid about $1.775 million for her apartment at the building in 2017, is widely expected to move to the US Naval Observatory, the vice presidents official residence after the inauguration. A spokeswoman for the Vice President didnt immediately respond to a request for comment on whether she would list her Westlight unit. The building, designed by Enrique Norten of TEN Arquitectos in Mexico City, has a distinctive cantilevered glass facade and a heated rooftop swimming pool. This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. A day after US President Joe Biden said that former president Donald Trump has left him a "very generous" letter in the Oval Office, there were queries if Biden will be calling Trump. However, the White House has said that the US President has no plans to call his predecessor Trump. "There's no call planned," White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki told reporters at a news conference on Thursday. She was responding to questions on the remarks made by Biden a day earlier when he said that Trump has left him a "very generous" letter in the Oval Office, and he plans to talk to him. Trump did not attend his inauguration, a rare for an outgoing president. "What he was conveying is that he didn't want to release a private note without having agreement from the former president. But I wouldn't say he's seeking it through a phone call, he was just trying to be respectful in that moment of a private letter that was sent," Psaki said. 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 skipping 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 had told reporters in the Oval Office of the White House on Wednesday. Tom Rodd is a retired attorney who lives in Preston County. Logan Thorne is a graduate student at West Virginia University. Rodd and Thorne serve on the Board of the West Virginia Center on Climate Change (WV3C) (wvclimate .org), an educational initiative of the conservation group Friends of Blackwater. On Jan. 25, the WV3C will host an expert-led Zoom webinar titled: What Now? Climate Solutions in 2021 and Securing a Just Transition for West Virginia. Registration is free. Bloomberg (Bloomberg) -- A century after automakers showed the world the value of assembly-line manufacturing, a shortage of semiconductors is teaching the industry a painful new lesson in what it takes to build a car.For most of its history, the industry has relied on a distinct approach to buying car parts, procuring components from suppliers right at the moment theyre needed. Its referred to as just-in-time manufacturing and is designed to streamline production and eliminate the costs of keeping warehouses stocked with parts waiting to be used.But the shortcomings of that system were made starkly clear this year as the automakers confronted a dearth of the chips they need to build advanced functions into their vehicles, and found themselves near the bottom of chipmakers customer lists because of their just-in-time approach. That shortage is threatening to cut $110 billion in sales from the industry, and forcing auto manufacturers to overhaul the way they get the electronic components that have become critical to contemporary car design.Customers need to change, said Hassane El-Khoury, chief executive officer of ON Semiconductor Corp., which gets more than a third of its revenue from the automotive market. That just-in-time mindset doesnt work.Semiconductor makers are demanding guaranteed, long-term orders rather than the short-term flexibility the carmakers are used to. The chipmakers assertiveness, even under pressure from lawmakers, underscores the rebalancing of power from the companies whose logos are on the cars to those that provide the advanced technology that runs them.As these components play a bigger role in everything from in-car entertainment to self-driving functions, chip manufacturers say theyre willing to invest in expanding production to head off a repeat of shortages that have forced the industry to mothball factories and furlough workers -- if the carmakers give them orders that cant be canceled and commit to long-term agreements.Why would I have invested a single dollar when my customer can cancel within 30 days and it takes me two years to build capacity? ON Semiconductors El-Khoury said.There are signs the industry is listening. Last week, Ford Motor Co. Chief Executive Officer Jim Farley indicated a new willingness to reverse decades of outsourcing for parts.As the industry changes, we have to in-source now, just like we in-sourced powertrains in the 20s and 30s, said Farley, who has shut down half his factories and seen his dealers lots emptying because of a dearth of chips.Most components used by the auto industry are part of a discrete food chain, and carmakers are at the top, able to orchestrate their suppliers actions in a system that delivers them a set of components that can be put together quickly and cheaply into a finished vehicle. Electronics makers, whove fared much better in the chip supply crunch, regard semiconductors as essential systems, and they work directly with chipmakers to secure products and often design their devices around the chips themselves.Automakers can no longer assume the dominance of an 800-pound gorilla in negotiations with chip companies and battery makers, said Mark Wakefield, head of the auto practice at consultancy AlixParters.Pioneered by Toyota Motor Corp. in the 1960s, just-in-time is a system where components suppliers are required to turn up with whatever the carmakers want at the last possible moment in a process that pares costs to the very minimum.That strategy has served the industry well, saving money and helping it organize a system for sourcing the 40,000 or so components that go into a modern vehicle, many of which can be made in a matter of days. But semiconductors -- the heart of sensors, engine management and battery controllers, infotainment and eventually systems that will pilot vehicles -- are created in a process that takes months. And building and equipping a factory to produce them requires years.Todays cars contain an average of 1,400 semiconductors -- and that puts the chipmakers at an advantage. Fords Farley said hes now negotiating contracts directly with chipmakers -- bypassing his traditional auto suppliers -- while building up inventory of the precious pieces and even redesigning models to accommodate the semiconductor companies.We have learned a lot through this crisis that can be applied to many critical components, Farley told analysts last month as he announced Ford would lose half its production in the second quarter and take a $2.5 billion hit to earnings this year, citing a lack of chips. Were also thinking about what this means for the world of batteries and silicon and all sorts of other components that are really mission critical for our company.Ford is not alone in seeking solutions that upend long-time industry practices. Automakers from General Motors Co. to Volkswagen AG to Tesla Inc. are looking for ways to get closer to the chipmaking process, which could include forming partnerships with semiconductor companies, bringing chipmaking in-house and even building their own foundries. Nothing is off the table.Cars are only going to get more technical and theyre going to need more chips, said Sam Fiorani, vice president of vehicle forecasting at consultant AutoForecast Solutions. All of the vehicle manufacturers are looking at every possible scenario for getting it solved for the long-term.But according to some chipmakers, the auto industry has embraced new technology but failed to understand those that supply it.There is a huge difference between manufacturing a car and manufacturing a chip, said Kurt Sievers, CEO of NXP Semiconductor NV, the biggest maker of auto chips. Weve been working for years closely with the auto OEMs directly when it comes to R&D and innovation -- however, not at all for supply chain and volume forecasting.Sievers said the chip industry wants specific forecasts that stretch out in years and binding commitments to buy chips that last that long. The way automakers, referred to as original equipment manufacturers or OEMs, and semiconductor vendors work together needs to change, he said.And the car companies have little choice but to do so. Consumers are increasingly choosing vehicles based on functions such as connectivity, entertainment and advanced automated safety features. The auto industry is steadily shifting away from gasoline to battery power. All of that requires more chips.Its no longer this subsystem that no one cares about, said Victor Peng, CEO of Xilinx Inc. a chipmaker whose products are uses in advanced driver-assistance systems. The electronics is really going to shape the customer experience.The semiconductor industry has plenty of other orders to fill. In 2020 automakers bought almost $40 billion worth of chips, little changed from the prior year, even amid the crash of the pandemic. By comparison, the computer industry bought 17% more chips than it did in 2019, for a total of $160 billion. Phone makers, meantime, provided the chip industry with $137 billion in revenue, a jump of 12%.Earlier this year, automakers lobbied U.S. lawmakers to intervene to help them with the shortage, arguing that chipmakers were unfairly prioritizing customers building less important consumer electronics over cars. The automakers argue their industry creates more than 7 million jobs in America and is critical to national security. And theyve found a sympathetic ear in President Joe Biden, who was supported by the United Auto Workers in the 2020 election, and is working to help the auto industry navigate the chip crisis.Still, consumer electronics buys $20 billion more chips a year than the auto industry, and Big Tech has plenty of clout in Washington, too.Chipmakers are also in no hurry to add new factories to meet this years chip rush. Though 2020 was a good year and 2021 is shaping up to be even better, they dont have to look back very far to be reminded of the difficulties of matching supply with short-term fluctuations in demand. In 2019 industry sales shrank 12% as customers slashed orders to work through stockpiles.Many investors and analysts are already concerned that what now looks like insatiable demand is customers double-ordering: asking for twice the amount they need so they can at least get the number they want. In the past, such heavy ordering has proved to foreshadow industry gluts, with demand eventually easing and buyers tapping the brakes as they worked down accumulated inventory.We came out of 2018 guns blazing, everybody hoarded, and then 2019 was an awful year of demand because they already had chips, said ON Semiconductors El Khoury. Here we are today with people looking at us and asking, why havent you invested?The type of chip automakers want also works against them. Much of what they use -- things such as sensors and power regulators -- can be made on whats called lagging nodes, or production technology that hasnt been state-of-the-art for years. While that makes it cheaper, chipmakers are reluctant to expand capacity of technology thats closer to being obsolete.The chips that the automotive industry uses are older than the ones youd find in your cell phones or in your video games, said AutoForecast Solutions Fiorani. That makes them less of a priority to the companies that produce them.Fiorani said carmakers would be better served forming joint ventures with chipmakers to tap their expertise and lock down a dependable source of supply. But doing that would involve going around traditional suppliers such as Continental AG and Robert Bosch AG and turning back the clock to a more expensive time when companies like Ford had to deal with suppliers for raw materials.Some auto suppliers are already taking steps to make sure they dont get cut out. Parts supplier Robert Bosch is opening a new chip factory in Dresden that it says is the first of its kind dedicated to manufacturing semiconductors for automotive uses. Still, some automakers are already talking openly about cutting out those middlemen in order to keep up with the speed of change.We will be the one who has the commercial relationship with the chipmaker, Volvo Cars CEO Hakan Samuelsson said at a mobility conference in Tel Aviv this month. When we want a change and you have to talk to suppliers, it is too slow.Fords Farley said hes consulted with tech companies and discovered how common it is in other industries to keep buffer stock and to buy directly from chip manufacturers.Even if the company still buys the components with chips on them from a supplier, they still negotiated a direct deal, he told analysts, describing something thats common practice for companies like Apple Inc. Ford learned that nine of its tier-one component suppliers rely on just one Renesas Electronics Corp. factory in Japan for chips, a plant that suffered a fire, he said.Some automakers have made rapid progress in understanding their newer suppliers and are negotiating long-term deals. Others are sticking to the belief that they can dictate how their suppliers should act, according to ON Semiconductors El-Khoudry.Learning from their current difficulties is the key to turning around the current crisis and avoiding the next, according to Xilinxs Peng. Toyota, the inventor of just-in-time, said it expects to return to pre-pandemic levels of profitability as soon as this year, helped by factories that continue to churn out vehicles because the company made the decision to accumulate stockpiles of chips.People have to think differently or theyre going to be left behind, Peng 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 woman was sent to prison for 15 years on Thursday for shooting and killing a man during a break-in after an emotionally charged sentencing hearing. Advertisement Advertise With Us A woman was sent to prison for 15 years on Thursday for shooting and killing a man during a break-in after an emotionally charged sentencing hearing. "I hope you rot in jail, no matter how much times goes by. I f---ing hate you, I hate you, I hate you, I hate you, you killed my father for drugs," the victims son said while reading his victim impact statement in court. Molly Syganiec, 24, pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the death of 62-year-old Leonard Maksymic in 2017. Crown attorney Michael Himmelman said on Nov. 25, 2017, Syganiec, along with two other co-accused, broke into Maksymics Neepawa residence in an attempt to steal morphine. One of the other co-accused handed Syganiec a double-barrelled shotgun before kicking in both doors of Maksymics house, he said. Kelsie LeSergent, who was sentenced to 12 years in prison in November 2019 for her role in the killing, told police Maksymic ran at them with what she thought was a knife, Himmelman said. Syganiec then shot him as she was startled and thought he wasnt able to walk. The three panicked and while running back to the car the gun broke, Himmelman said. Syganiec dropped a piece of it on nearby railroad tracks. The other co-accused then cut the gun up with an electric saw and put the pieces in a bucket with bleach, the Crown said. He also threw pieces of the gun out the window on the drive back to Brandon. Officers also found a piece of the firearm in a nearby ditch. Police never found a knife near Maksymics body, Himmelman said. The court heard the man struggled to walk as he used a walker to get around and had four strokes since 2011. Maksymics body was found in a pool of blood at approximately 3 a.m. after a neighbour went to check on him. Himmelman said he had a large wound in his chest and police found pellets and shotgun shell wadding inside his body. "Events happened so fast (Syganiec) didnt form the intent for murder. However, this was not an accident," said Himmelman. The three deliberately travelled to Neepawa in an attempt to rob Maksymic of pills and money the night of the shooting, he said. "The seriousness of what the accused did here cannot be overstated. Anyone would be shocked by the circumstances. This was a brazen, calculated attack on a vulnerable older victim who was specifically targeted because the co-accused knew he had mobility issues," said Himmelman. Defence lawyer Crystal Antila said Syganiecs life was one filled with disruptions and trauma when she was growing up. She spent time in 60 to 70 foster homes and lacked any kind of loving support from her family. "Ms. Syganiec eventually got into substance use: alcohol, drugs and most particularly, and most recently, methamphetamine was the drug of choice and that seems to be something that became part of her daily life," said Antila. Drug use compounded with mental health issues and the effect snowballed, she said. Both the Crown and defence jointly recommended a sentence of 15 years in prison. Antila said it wasnt a recommendation both sides came to at the last minute and it was a true plea bargain. Both Maksymics son and brother read victim impact statements in court. The victims brother, Ron, said Maksymic used to call their mother every day at 8:30 a.m., but Syganiec destroyed that bond. "He never stopped helping people no matter how hard it was for him. He never turned anybody away. He never gave up, then you came along and took that away from him," Ron said to Syganiec, who was seated in the prisoners box. "Every day, people stand right where I am today and say that you have to forgive the accused. Well, thats not going happen today. I can hate you with a passion and never forgive you for taking my brothers life, and that alone sets me free." Wearing an unbuttoned white collared shirt and a Nike T-shirt, Syganiec apologized for the killing from the prisoners box. "I think about that day every day I know I cant change the past, but I can try and make amends. Im so incredibly sorry," she said. Justice Scott Abel called Maksymics death "tragic and unnecessary" and went along with the recommended 15-year prison sentence. Abel said Syganiecs history of addiction doesnt excuse her behaviour, but hopefully the sentence can allow the process of healing to continue for the victims family. dmay@brandonsun.com Twitter: @DrewMay_ 'Priority is to stop BJP at all costs': RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav announces support to TMC BJP: Are not Tejashwi Yadav, other leaders from outside Bengal backing TMC outsiders? How a call from this neta left the Patna DM stumped India oi-Vicky Nanjappa Patna, Jan 22: The caller divulges his identity over the telephone, causing the voice of the peremptory bureaucrat on the line to quiver, as crowds erupt in cheers. The video of the telephonic exchange between RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav and Patna District Magistrate Chandrashekhar Singh, that took place on Wednesday night, has gone viral on the social media. It was a rare display of assertiveness in public by Yadav, who happens to be the unchallenged leader of the opposition in the state where the recent assembly elections saw him coming out of his father Lalu Prasad's shadow and steer his party to an impressive performance. The 31-year-old leader had dialled the officer's number from the Eco Park here, where hundreds of protesters, all Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) pass job aspirants, had gathered. Opposition in Bihar to hold week-long stir against farm laws: Tejashwi Yadav The agitators, who had cleared their tests in 2019, have been staging a protest for a number of days at Gardanibagh, which has been designated as a "dharna sthal" by the district administration. They were seeking appointment as government teachers, in accordance with a Patna High Court direction. On Wednesday, a skirmish had led to their being driven away from Gardanibagh and their food and other belongings, kept at a stadium nearby, were also allegedly thrown away. Learning that the agitators were squatting at the Eco Park, adjacent to the secretariat, in the thick of the winter night, Yadav who stays a kilometre away drove to the spot in a show of solidarity. He telephoned the DM and apprised him of the situation following which the officer asked him to send the details on WhatsApp. Yadav, who was making the call with his phone's loudspeaker on, asked the DM by what time could remedial action be expected. "What do you mean by what time? You have not even sent me the details so far," snapped the officer. Realizing that the DM was, perhaps unmindful of the identity of the caller's identity, Yadav said emphatically, "DM sahib, this is Tejashwi Yadav", evoking the word "sir" multiple times from the recipient of the call who obviously sounded spooked. The crowd clapped wildly and the enthused young leader spoke into the phone: "Please do the needful at the earliest else I will have to join these people in their dharna at the Eco Park". More claps and whistles followed. A video clip of the animated exchange has left the social media abuzz. Centre-farmers hold 11th round of talks, impasse over farm laws continues| Oneindia News At a press conference on Thursday, when asked about the incident, Yadav said, "The attitude of the officer was simply a reflection on the insensitivity of the Nitish Kumar government." "People do not get their rights unless they are ready to pay RCP tax," he quipped referring to his often repeated allegations against the Bihar Chief Minister's key aide and JD(U) president RCP Singh. "But we have a duty towards people as the opposition. We will make the government heed their voice," he asserted. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, January 22, 2021, 10:12 [IST] The government has sent notices to Chinese apps including TikTok and others, making the interim ban on these apps now permanent. "We are evaluating the notice and will respond to it as appropriate. TikTok was among the first companies to comply with the Government of India directive issued on June 29, 2020. We continually strive to comply with local laws and regulations and do our best to address any concerns the government may have. Ensuring the privacy and security of all our users remains to be our topmost priority," said a TikTok spokesperson. ALSO READ: Govt ... Chennai, Jan 22 : Six masked persons brandishing pistols on Friday barged into a Muthoot Finance branch in Tamil Nadu's Hosur on Friday and fled about 25 kg gold jewellery valued at about Rs 7.5 crore and Rs 96,000 cash, police said. The gang members held up the company staff and a couple of customers at gun point, and even assaulted some of the staffers. Police said the gang first attacked the security guard and forced him inside the branch while warning the staff not to raise any alert. The gang then looted the jewellery and cash and escaped. Police have started their investigation into the robbery. Five people were killed when a Netcare helicopter crashed near Winterton in KwaZulu-Natal. Image: Twitter Health care workers paying tribute to their fallen colleagues at Milpark Hospital in JHB. Two doctors, a nurse and a paramedic were killed when their helicopter crashed in KZN. Sad news. pic.twitter.com/m2ogxWJTZY Yusuf Abramjee (@Abramjee) January 21, 2021 The chopper was carrying the specialised Ecmo intensive care rapid transfer team en-route to transport a critically ill patient from Hilton near Pietermaritzburg to Netcare Milpark in Johannesburg.Our deepest sympathies are with the families, loved ones and colleagues of Dr Kgopotso Rudolph Mononyane, an anaesthetist, Dr Curnick Siyabonga (Sia) Mahlangu a cardiothoracic surgeon and Mpho Xaba, a specialist theatre nurse for cardiothoracic and transplant, all from Netcare Milpark Hospital; Sinjin Joshua Farrance, an advanced life support paramedic at Netcare 911, as well as the pilot of the helicopter, Mark Stoxreiter who worked for National Airways Corporation," said Dr Richard Friedland, CEO, Netcare.There are no words adequate to describe our sense of enormous loss and grief at this terrible time. On behalf of Netcare and Netcare 911 management and staff, I would like to extend our deepest sympathies to the families of our colleagues. Our thoughts and prayers are with them at this most difficult time, said Craig Grindell, managing director of Netcare 911.The cause of the crash is unknown, although an unconfirmed eyewitness report said the "exploded" in the air. The South African Civil Aviation Authority has dispatched a team to the scene to investigate. Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 Fatimatu Abubakar, a member of the legal team of the New Patriotic Party believes that the errors committed by lawyers of John Dramani Mahama in their petition to the Supreme Court over the outcome of the 2020 Presidential election is divinely orchestrated. According to her, God is hinting the NDC and its flagbearer that mistakes are part of the process and that the error made by the Electoral Commission (EC) in its declaration does not amount to a subversion of the will of Ghanaians as the NDC claims. Explaining proceedings so far, the legal practitioner noted that the NDC did not only make mistakes in its initial petition but that even the amended version was fraught with errors. The petition he (John Mahama) sent to the court had mistakes so he prayed the court to allow him correct them. Their request was granted by the Supreme Court despite objections from the EC and President Akufo-Addos lawyers. Even the application for amendment had errors. I think Gods exposing them. You are accusing the EC of making errors meanwhile in your petition, there are errors, she said on Net2. John Mahama, the flagbearer of the National Democratic says it was illegal for the EC to declare Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo as the winner of the December election so he has gone to the court seeking reversal of same. During the court's first sitting, Mahamas plea for amendment to his petition was granted by the Court. At the second sitting, a motion filed by his lawyers to interrogate the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission was flatly rejected by the seven-member panel. The third sitting was on Wednesday, January 2021 where the court announced the roadmap for adjudication of the case. Mahamas lawyers protested that the period given for the filing of witness statements was short but the court thought otherwise. 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 RTI Activists Enraged as Delhi HC Slaps Rs25,000 Penalty on Applicant for Not Giving Reason While Seeking Information As per Section 6 (2) of the Right to Information (RTI) Act, An applicant making a request for information shall not be required to give any reason for requesting the information or any other personal details except those that may be necessary for contacting him. However, in 2014 a High Court judgment had pronounced in its order that reasons or motives are required to be revealed by the RTI applicant, but withdrew that portion of the order immediately in a weeks time, after the judge realised the faux paus, as it does not apply to the applicant who is seeking information under the RTI Act. Moving forward to 12 January 2021, the petitioner Har Kishan, who filed a petition in the Delhi High Court after he was refused information by the Central Information Commission (CIC), has been slapped with a penalty of Rs25,000 to be deposited with the High Court. The order states that he has not revealed enough of his personal details and seemed to have an ulterior motive. The order states: For the act of the petitioner having concealed the material facts, including that his daughter had applied for appointment to the post of multitasking staff, the petition is dismissed with costs of Rs25,000 to be paid to the High Court of Delhi (Middle Income Group) legal Aid Society. The said costs shall be paid within two weeks. Mr Har Kishan had filed an RTI application at the Presidents secretariat at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, seeking the following information regarding certain appointments for multitasking staff at the presidential estate, Rashtrapati Bhawan. Incidentally, he had previously worked here and his daughter was one of the applicants for the post. So, he sought the following information: 1. A copy of the notification circular no.a-35011/7/16-admn. 2. Total no of candidates who filled the online application form of MTS (multi-tasking staff) examination, notification circular no.a35011/7/16-admn ,and also provide total no of candidates who appeared in this examination. 3. All the names and addresses of examination centres all over the India where the respective MTS examinations were held. 4. The information regarding the total no candidates as per every centre separately who appeared in this examination. 5.Complete name and address of the examination centres of all the candidates who have been selected for appointment to the post of multi-tasking staff, notification circular no.a35011/7/16-admn. 6. Complete residential addresses and fathers name of all selected candidates who have been appointed to the post of multi-tasking staff, notification circular no.a-35011/7/16-admn. He was given part of the information by the central public information officer (CPIO) of the Presidents office. Unsatisfied, he filed his first appeal after which he got all the information except personal details of all selected candidates (no 6 of his request). The first appellate authority (FAA) as well as the CIC denied information. Since the CIC had not mentioned why this information is out of the ambit of Section 8 of the RTI Act, he sought legal intervention. Incidentally, Mr Har Kishan had brought it to the notice of the Presidents secretariat that there was fraud in the selection process of the candidates of the multi-tasking staff. A committee was constituted to look into the matter and as per the observations in the HC order, the investigations are stated to have been completed in respect of 10 candidates, who were found to have obtained jobs on the basis of fake certificates, and their appointments have been terminated. However, the moot point of this HC order that has rattled RTI activists is, slamming the RTI applicant for not providing his personal information and having ulterior motive. The HC Order states: On a query from the Petitioner, it is revealed that the Petitioners daughter had also applied for an appointment as multi-tasking staff, in the Presidential Estate, Rashtrapati Bhavan. However, this fact does not find any mention in the present writ petition. A perusal of the writ petition also shows that the Petitioner himself was earlier working in the Presidential Estate on an ad-hoc basis, from 2012-2017. This Court is of the opinion that whenever information is sought under the RTI Act, disclosure of an interest in the information sought would be necessary to establish the bonafides of the applicant. Non-disclosure of the same could result in injustice to several other affected persons, whose information is sought. The present writ petition is cleverly quiet about the fact that the Petitioners daughter had applied for being considered for appointment for the post of multi-tasking staff at the Rashtrapati Bhawan. The seeking of the above information, especially after the Petitioners daughter did not obtain employment, clearly points to some ulterior motives. Former central information commissioner and RTI activist, Shailesh Gandhi says, In 2014, the judgment of the Madras High Court also asked the petitioner, who was denied information under the RTI Act, for the reason. In a weeks time that portion of the judgment was withdrawn as the judge realised his blunder. However, PIOs continue to quote that order in its original form to deny information. The same will be repeated for this order too. In the Subhashchandra Agrawal case, the Supreme Court had categorically said that no reason is required to be given for getting information under the RTI Act. Therefore, the present judgment is per incuriam (carelessly given) and unconstitutional. Courts should be very careful while giving such judgments as it affects the fundamental rights of the citizen under Article 19 1 (a). According to RTI activist Vijay Kumbhar, the judge seems to have treated this petition as a regular petition in which case it is compelling on the petitioner not to hide any information. "By penalising the petitioner, the basic reasons and objectives of the RTI Act has been defeated. Citizens are the owners and therefore the rightful custodians of public information. How can you penalise the owner? Its damaging to the transparency campaign," he says. Coronavirus vaccines will be available to immigrants in Canada Coronavirus vaccines will be available to immigrants in Canada Residency status is not a factor in Canada's vaccine distribution strategy. Coronavirus vaccines will be available to immigrants in Canada Residency status is not a factor in Canada's vaccine distribution strategy. Coronavirus vaccines will be available to immigrants in Canada Residency status is not a factor in Canada's vaccine distribution strategy. Shelby Thevenot Alexandra Miekus Aa Accessibility Font Style Serif Sans Font Size A A Immigration status will not be a factor in COVID-19 vaccine rollout, Canadas public health agency says. The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) told CIC News: COVID-19 vaccines will be made available to everyone in Canada for whom it is approved and recommended for use This applies to all persons in Canada whether or not they are citizens. Currently, Canada has approved the Pfitzer-BioNTech vaccine for people over age 16, and the Moderna vaccine for people over the age of 18. Priority for early vaccination will be given to residents and staff of care homes, adults over 70, health care workers, and adults in Indigenous communities. Canadas government webpage also says that as additional vaccines become available more populations will have access to the vaccine. These groups include residents and staff of shared living spaces such as housing for migrant workers, some essential workers, and health care workers who were not included in the initial rollout. Find out if youre eligible for Canadian immigration As of January 21, 2021, there have been 935,700 doses of the vaccine delivered to Canada. Of these, about 729,640 doses were administered as of January 21, according to the vaccine tracker run by a University of Saskatchewan student based on official updates from each province. Canadas federal, provincial and territorial governments are using the recommendations set out in the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) to help determine their vaccine distribution priorities. Immigrants are included in these recommendations, given a number of factors that put them at risk. For instance, many populations of migrants may have different exposure to the virus due to international travel or due to their occupations, and other factors. So, the NACI suggested a number of interventions to reduce inequity and improve access for migrants and other groups. Some of these suggestions include planning immunization programs with immigration and refugee departments, providing culturally appropriate educational materials in multiple languages, and having translators available in clinics. The provinces have publicly released their distribution plans on provincial vaccine pages. Quebec, and Manitoba spokespersons specifically told CIC News that migrants could receive the COVID-19 vaccination regardless of their status. A spokesperson from the Northwest Territories said in an email: Anyone with a valid NWT health care card will receive the voluntary Moderna vaccine as we exercise a phased rollout. Deliveries of Pfizer vaccine are expected to drop by 50 percent over the next four weeks as the company is struggling to meet global demand. The federal government still expects that everyone who wants to be vaccinated in Canada will be able to do so by September 2021. Find out if youre eligible for Canadian immigration CIC News All Rights Reserved. Visit CanadaVisa.com to discover your Canadian immigration options. 3 1 of 3 Eric Gay /Associated Press Show More Show Less 2 of 3 Eric Gay /Associated Press Show More Show Less 3 of 3 Texas and Florida are currently leading the nation among immigration detainee deaths as overall deaths continue to increase due to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a new study from the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles out last week. Since April 2018, 35 immigrants in total have died in Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention, per medical reports published by ICE: 26 of those deaths were cited as being caused from medical problems, and eight in total were attributed to COVID-10 in ICE reports, revealing the virus has accounted for over 72 percent of deaths since April of 2020. 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." We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form Joint efforts see help provided for Phuket people in financial distress PHUKET: Phuket Governor Narong Woonciew yesterday stepped up to announce more help being provided to help those suffering financial difficulties from the COVID-19 crisis. COVID-19economics By The Phuket News Friday 22 January 2021, 12:56PM Officials from Chalong Municipality visit homes of poor people in Chalong to help determine how much assistance they need. Photo: Chalong Municipality Officials from Chalong Municipality visit homes of poor people in Chalong to help determine how much assistance they need. Photo: Chalong Municipality Officials from Chalong Municipality visit homes of poor people in Chalong to help determine how much assistance they need. Photo: Chalong Municipality Officials from Chalong Municipality visit homes of poor people in Chalong to help determine how much assistance they need. Photo: Chalong Municipality Rice is handed out at an activity to help people in need at Chalong Municipality earlier this week. Photo: Chalong Municipality Rice is handed out at an activity to help people in need at Chalong Municipality earlier this week. Photo: Chalong Municipality Rice is handed out at an activity to help people in need at Chalong Municipality earlier this week. Photo: Chalong Municipality Chinese company One World One Home, through the Phuket Red Cross, held a food-donation campaign at the offices of the Cherng Talay Tambon Administration Organisation (OrBorTor) on Wednesday (Jan 20) where hundreds of bags of rice were handed out to people in need. Photo: Cherng Talay OrBorTor Chinese company One World One Home, through the Phuket Red Cross, held a food-donation campaign at the offices of the Cherng Talay Tambon Administration Organisation (OrBorTor) on Wednesday (Jan 20) where hundreds of bags of rice were handed out to people in need. Photo: Cherng Talay OrBorTor Chinese company One World One Home, through the Phuket Red Cross, held a food-donation campaign at the offices of the Cherng Talay Tambon Administration Organisation (OrBorTor) on Wednesday (Jan 20) where hundreds of bags of rice were handed out to people in need. Photo: Cherng Talay OrBorTor Chinese company One World One Home, through the Phuket Red Cross, held a food-donation campaign at the offices of the Cherng Talay Tambon Administration Organisation (OrBorTor) on Wednesday (Jan 20) where hundreds of bags of rice were handed out to people in need. Photo: Cherng Talay OrBorTor We have looked closely at each village on the island, and we now have a list of the people who are in trouble in every village, Governor Narong said. We are coordinating with many organisations in handling this issue to help those affected, people who have lost their jobs and their income due to the COVID-19 situation, he explained. Some people still have debt and house payments, car payments and need to send their children to school, so local government agencies and other organisations have to solve these problems together, he added. Among the examples cited Governor Narong yesterday was the Rotary Club of Andaman, which has taken 25 people into their care and provided training so they can regain employment. Many other government and other organisations were also coordinating efforts to provide more help and support for families in distress, he added. In addition, many government offices and charity organisations have stepped up to provide rice and other daily necessities, in Chalong and elsewhere on the island. Chinese company One World One Home, through the Phuket Red Cross, held a food-donation campaign at the offices of the Cherng Talay Tambon Administration Organisation (OrBorTor) on Wednesday (Jan 20) where hundreds of bags of rice were handed out to people in need. Through its campaign, the company is to hand out 5,888 bags of rice, totalling 29,440 kilograms of the staple in Phuket. Governor Narong along with Chalong Mayor Samran Jindapon yesterday (Jan 21) at the Phuket office of the Red Cross Society met with Taweep Mee Phan, the 57-year-old man from Chalong who recently tried to sell his left eye on Facebook to raise much needed funds to support his family. Also present was Khanong Iaddam, the 43-year-old father of Pornpiphat Mint Iaddam, the 20-year-old first-year student at Phuket Rajabhat University who collapsed and died after being told to keep running during a training session with the cheerleading squad in August last year. The focus of the discussion was how more help could be provided to the families of the two men. Mr Taweep has already been given a job so he can earn an income to help support his family, Mayor Samran said. For the case of the student, we will go to talk to the school director in order to discuss how to help them effectively, Mayor Samran added. This is not a new insight, but its worth repeating all the same, especially in light of President Bidens inaugural call for unity, decency and the common good. The Republican Party in 2021 is a party in near total thrall to its most radical elements, a party that in the main as we just witnessed a few weeks ago does not accept that it can lose elections and seeks to overturn or delegitimize the result when it does. It disseminates false accusations of voter fraud and then uses those accusations to justify voter suppression and disenfranchisement. It feeds lies to its supporters and uses those lies, as Senators Ted Cruz and Josh Hawley did, to challenge the fundamental processes of our democracy. When in power in Washington, the Republican Party can barely govern, and when out of power, it does almost everything it can to stymie the governments ability to act. And it was the partys nearly unbreakable loyalty to Trump that neutered the impeachment power and enabled his fight to overturn constitutional government, which ended on Jan. 6 with a deadly mob wilding through the Capitol. To even begin to fix American democracy, we have to make the Republican Party less dangerous than it is. The optimal solution would be to build our two-party system into a multiparty one that splits the radical from the moderate Right and gives the latter a chance to win power without appeal to the former. But this requires fundamental change to the American system of elections, which is to say, its not going to happen anytime soon (and may never). The only other alternative the only thing that might force the Republican Party to shift gears is for the Democratic Party to establish national political dominance of the kind not seen since the heyday of the New Deal coalition. Parties tend to change when they cant win power. Its part of the problem of our time that the Republican Party can win a large share of national power up to and including unified control of Washington without winning a majority of votes, because of its advantage in the counter-majoritarian elements of our system. Without that advantage, theres immediate incentive to do something different. This, too, is unlikely. Even if President Biden has a successful four (or eight) years in office, it is difficult to imagine anything that could prompt the kind of national realignment that would give the Democratic Party a durable advantage in the House, the Senate and the states. In a system that awards political power on the basis of land and boundaries as much as it does votes, Democrats would have to reverse the convergence of geography and partisan identity where rural and exurban voters mostly vote for Republicans while their urban and suburban counterparts mostly vote for Democrats in order to win the kind of victory that would force the Republican Party off its current path and into the wilderness. And even then, as the example of the California Republican Party and Kevin McCarthy, the minority leader of the House, demonstrates, theres no guarantee that the party will change its tune. The Trump stress test, in other words, has revealed a nearly fatal vulnerability in our democracy a militant, increasingly anti-democratic Republican Party for which we may not have a viable solution. With that said, I dont think were doomed to minoritarian rule by reactionaries. Political life is unpredictable, and theres no way to know what may change. Lofty dreams can enter reality and obvious certainties can vanish into thin air. But one thing is certain. The crisis of our democracy is far from over. The most weve won, with Trumps departure, is a respite from chaos and a chance to make whatever repairs we can manage. The Times is committed to publishing a diversity of letters to the editor. Wed like to hear what you think about this or any of our articles. Here are some tips. And here's our email: letters@nytimes.com. Follow The New York Times Opinion section on Facebook, Twitter (@NYTopinion) and Instagram. This is the first installment of a two-part look at the top 10 insurance regulatory developments of 2020 by attorneys at Locke Lord. The first part covers COVID-19, Insurtechs, Data Privacy, Race Equality and Pharmacy Benefit Managers. The second installment on Jan. 26 will look at Antitrust, Captives, Service Contracts, Travel Insurance and Surplus Lines. COVID19 Pandemic Turmoil The COVID-19 pandemic has had severe adverse consequences to virtually all U.S. businesses, including insurance. While the business interruption insurance coverage litigation dominated this years insurance news and impact on property and casualty insurers writing this type of coverage and their insured business customers, state insurance regulators also faced important challenges in the wake of the pandemic. Their responses included: Imposing moratoriums on cancellations and non-renewals of certain types of insurance policies for insureds failure to pay insurance premiums based on COVID-19 related financial hardships Requiring deferrals of insurers collection of insurance premiums Requiring refunds of auto insurance premiums based on reduced risk exposures because of shelter-at-home governmental state of emergency orders Facilitating remote testing and licensing of insurance agents Facilitating use of electronic signatures, remote online notaries and telehealth Requiring waivers of cost-sharing (deductibles and co-pays) under health insurance policies for COVID-19 testing Requiring early refills of prescription drugs covered under health plans Suspending deadlines for insurance claim filings and appeals Scrutinizing network adequacy requirements for health insurers All-in-all, state insurance regulators reacted swiftly and adroitly to the pandemic spurred challenges facing the insurance industry and the insurance customers they protect. On the federal side, the U.S. House of Representatives introduced in May the Pandemic Risk Insurance Act (PRIA), modeled after the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act of 2002, as amended (TRIA). PRIA has been characterized by Congresswoman Maxine Waters as a reinsurance program similar to [TRIA] for pandemics, by capping the total insurance losses that insurance companies would face. PRIA would require participating insurers to make available insurance coverage for a covered public health emergency, which includes any outbreak of infectious disease or pandemic on terms that do not differ materially from the terms applicable to losses arising from other events. Like TRIA, participating insurers would need to satisfy individual and industry-wide deductibles before seeking federal reimbursement for losses. Critically, however, as currently contemplated, participation in the Pandemic Risk Insurance Program would be voluntary in nature, whereas TRIA is a mandatory program applicable to certain commercial property and casualty insurance policies. InsurTech Growth and Regulatory Reaction Despite, or perhaps because of, the COVID-19 pandemic, no area of tech was hotter than insurtech in 2020. With multiple companies going public through both SPAC transactions (Clover and Metromile) or direct listings (Lemonade, Root and OSCAR), as well as investments valuing others at well over a billion dollars (Hippo), insurtech went from niche to mainstream fast, fueled in part by the sectors focus on automation, efficiency and digital platforms which allowed them to scale despite COVID-19 restrictions. Recognizing the rapid development of technology enabled insurance platforms, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), reacted with both reforms to previously outdated laws inhibiting these insurtech business models and increased focus on the potential future regulation of big data, artificial intelligence, machine learning and accelerated underwriting in the insurance space. On the reform side of things, the NAIC updated language in its Model Unfair Trade Practices Act regarding anti-rebating and inducement that previously restricted nearly all rebates and inducements to allow for the provision of certain services and items at reduced or no cost, if such items or services result in risk-mitigation, along with other accommodating revisions. This change has been the focus of insurtechs for a number years, and would allow, for example a commercial insurance carrier to offer its insureds a free water leak detection system, as a way of mitigating damage from burst pipe failures. As far as increased regulation of insurtechs, while the NAIC has not adopted or recommended any specific model laws or regulations with respect to artificial intelligence and machine learning, the Big Data and Artificial Intelligence Working Group adopted the Principles of AI, outlining the five principles it will use in evaluating regulation of AI, namely that the insurance industrys use of AI must be (i) fair and ethical, (ii) accountable, (iii) compliant, (iv) transparent and (v) secure, safe and robust. In addition, the NAICs Producer Licensing Task Force is in the process of finalizing a white paper on the role of chatbots and artificial intelligence (AI) in the distribution of insurance and the potential need for regulatory supervision of these technologies, something the insurtech industry will be keenly focused on in 2021, especially in light of the recent adoption of the B.O.T. Act by California. Similarly, the Casualty Actuarial and Statistical Task Force adopted a white paper on the regulatory review of predictive models, while the Accelerated Underwriting Working group continued its work on developing regulatory guidance regarding the use of external data and data analytics in accelerated life underwriting. Data Privacy and Security Regulation Expansion California Consumer Privacy Act Like all other businesses that collect or receive consumer non-public information about California residents, the insurance industry will be affected by the California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA). The CPRA, which was adopted in November 2020 by way of voters passage of California ballot initiative Proposition 24, augments and strengthens consumer privacy protections under the California Consumer Privacy Act, the enforcement date for which occurred on July 1, 2020. The CPRA, among other newly created consumer privacy rights, gives consumers the right to limit the use and disclosure of a new category of sensitive personal information, including health, financial, racial and precise geolocation data. It also allows consumers to correct inaccurate data about them and establishes the California Privacy Protection Agency, a new state agency that will enforce the CCPA in lieu of the California attorney general. National Association of Insurance Commissioners Data Security and Privacy Laws The NAICs Data Security Model Act, which is a cybersecurity breach law applicable to most insurance industry licensees, has now been adopted in one form or another in eleven states. During 2020, Indiana, Louisiana and Virginia became a part of this list, which is likely to expand in 2021. The NAICs Privacy Protections (D) Working Group, formed in late 2019, began its work in 2020 on reviewing the needs and area for modernizing the NAICs Insurance Information and Privacy Protection Model Act (created in 1982) and Privacy of Consumer Financial and Health Information Regulation (created in 2000 in the wake of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act). The potential upgrades to these two models may take the form of certain concepts from the CCPA and the European Unions General Data Protection Regulation. NY Department of Financial Services First Cybersecurity Regulation Enforcement In July 2020, the New York Department of Financial Services brought its inaugural enforcement action under its cybersecurity regulation against First American Title Insurance Company for alleged unauthorized access to hundreds of millions of documents containing consumers non-public personal information, due to a known vulnerability in the companys public-facing website making the data accessible without any login or authentication requirements. This case serves as a strong warning that the NYDFS will pursue other alleged violations of its cybersecurity regulation. Race Equality and Insurance In the wake of the national awakening regarding the impact of race on various institutions across the United States, the NAIC formed NAIC Special Committee on Race and Insurance (Special Committee), and asked itself, Does the disparate impact of risk-based pricing decisions constitute unfair discrimination? Nearly all states follow some version of the NAICs Unfair Trade Practice Act (Model Act), which prohibits, generally, the unfair discrimination of individuals or risks of the same class and of essentially the same hazard with respect to both rates and insurability. The Model Act further specifically prohibits taking into account sex, marital status, race, religion, or national origin of the individual, but only with respect to insurability, not as to the rates charged to such consumers (except in the case of race, which was prohibited pursuant to the Civil Rights Act of 1964). Notably, only a handful of states have explicit laws limiting the use of certain of these factors in certain lines of insurance (for instance, Michigan now prohibits all non-driving factors in the determination of personal auto insurance rates and New York, through its Circular Letter No. 1, now essentially requires life insurers to prove that all AI, machine learning and alternative data and their sources do not have a prohibited discriminatory disparate impact on protected classes). Instead, most states have not detailed with much specificity what constitutes unfair discrimination in their statutes or regulations The NAIC, state insurance regulators, consumer advocates, and the insurance industry as a whole are especially focused on the exponential growth of the industrys reliance on artificial intelligence, machine learning, and big data. Some observers have predicted the end of most risk-based underwriting and pricing as we now know it for much of the insurance industry in light of these issues, much in the same way health insurance underwriting was simplified via the Affordable Care Act. However, it is more likely that regulations will focus on monitoring to ensure such disparate impacts do not occur and will be promptly remedied when they do. Pharmacy Benefit Managers Regulation During the past few years, several states passed legislation aimed at regulating pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) for the protection of small or mom-and-pop pharmacies that, in some cases, were receiving from PBMs reimbursements for prescription drugs covered by health plans less than the pharmacies costs of purchasing these drugs. In December 2020, the Supreme Court, in Rutledge v. Pharmaceutical Care Management Assn. (an 8 to 0 opinion), ruled that an Arkansas PBM statute was not preempted by ERISA. The Arkansas law requires that PBMs (a) frequently publish their maximum allowable cost (MAC) lists for prescription drugs when their wholesale cost increases and (b) reimburse pharmacies for their purchases of prescription drugs at a price equal to or greater than their wholesale cost and allows pharmacies to refuse to sell a prescription drug if a PBMs reimbursement rate is lower than a pharmacys purchase cost. The Court found that ERISA did not preempt the Arkansas PBM law because, while the law did have the effect of increasing the costs of an employee benefit plan, the law did not force employer-sponsored group health plans to adopt any substantive plan changes, noting that not all states laws that affect an ERISA plan and the Arkansas PBM law does not refer to ERISA, does not apply exclusively to ERISA plans and applies to PBMs regardless of whether they manage an ERISA plan. This decision overturns a 2018 case from the Eighth Circuit that held ERISA preempted a similar North Dakota law and should forestall an appeal pending in the Tenth Circuit of an Oklahoma District Court case upholding an Oklahoma PBM law against an ERISA preemption challenge. Next: Antitrust, Captives, Service Contracts, Travel Insurance and Surplus Lines. Topics Legislation The relentless advance of the coronavirus in Spain is leading some regional governments to introduce even more severe restrictions on mobility. Madrid, the Basque Country and the Valencia region have all announced new measures that went into effect on Monday. Valencia On Sunday, Valencian authorities announced new measures to restrict social contacts in a region with the countrys third-highest coronavirus incidence rate 1,245 cases per 100,000 people in the last 14 days and where 59% of intensive care beds are occupied by Covid-19 patients. Starting on Monday, there is a two-person limit on public gatherings of members of different households. Larger meetings in public spaces are only allowed if everyone is part of the same living unit. In the private sphere, members of different households may no longer meet inside homes. This means that no social visits of any kind are allowed. Exceptions will be made in both public and private settings for work meetings, educational activities and caregiving for vulnerable people such as children, seniors or adults with need for daily assistance. Additionally, cities with populations of over 50,000 will be under perimetral lockdown on weekends and public holidays. This affects the following municipalities: Valencia, Alicante, Elche, Castellon, Torrevieja, Torrent, Orihuela, Gandia, Paterna, Benidorm, Sagunt, Alcoi, Sant Vicent del Raspeig, Elda-Petrer and Vila-real. The city limits will be sealed from 3pm on Fridays to 6am on Mondays. These new measures, as well as existing ones such as the complete closure of food and drink establishments, will be extended until February 15 at least. Regional borders will also remain sealed until that date. Regional premier Ximo Puig said that these measures are being taken after the worst week for the Comunitat Valenciana since the beginning of the pandemic. Today we are going one step further, we are taking a decisive step in restrictions that also apply to the private sphere, and we are doing so to reduce social contacts as much as possible, both in public spaces and inside the homes, which is where the great hub of contagion is. Galicia Galician premier Alberto Nunez-Feijoo has asked people to self-confine from 8pm. OSCAR CORRAL / EL PAIS On Monday afternoon, Galicia officials announced similar measures for the northwestern region. All municipalities are being sealed, food and drink establishments are closing down except for takeout and home deliveries, and non-essential retail stores must close by 6m. Additionally, people from different households are not allowed to meet. The restrictions go into effect on Wednesday and will be in place for the next three weeks at least. Regional premier Alberto Nunez-Feijoo has also asked people to self-confine by 8pm each day, even though the official starting time of the overnight curfew is 10pm. Several regional leaders last week asked the central government for permission to introduce earlier curfews, but the request was denied on the grounds that it is not allowed under the current state of alarm, approved by Spanish parliament in October to provide a legal framework for coronavirus measures. On Monday, Nunez-Feijoo insisted on the need for an earlier curfew, calling the request a clamor by the vast majority of regional governments, regardless of their political persuasion. It is not a whim, it is a necessary health decision. Andalusia In Andalusia, every city with a population of over 100,000 will now be under a perimetral lockdown starting on Wednesday, after Seville registered a 14-day incidence rate of over 500, the threshold established by the regional government. In locations with an incidence of over 1,000, there is an additional restriction: all non-essential businesses must close their doors. New additions to this list include Almeria, Marbella, Estepona and Jerez de la Frontera, among others. Andalusias deputy premier, Juan Marin, on Monday said that the government is not ruling out more restrictive measures due to the continuing increase in coronavirus cases. Madrid Elena Andradas, the director general of Madrids Public Health agency on Friday. EUROPA PRESS/J. Hellin. POOL / Europa Press In Madrid, deputy public health chief Antonio Zapatero announced more perimetral lockdowns, now affecting 56 basic health zones and 25 municipalities that are home to 24% of the regions residents but account for 30% of all coronavirus cases. The director general of the Public Health agency, Elena Andradas, said that nine basic health zones administrative areas that do not necessarily coincide with neighborhoods or districts and six municipalities have a 14-day cumulative number of cases per 100,000 inhabitants above 1,000 and will be subject to special restrictions on mobility. The decision expands on the list of health zones and municipalities that came under mobility restrictions last week. The new affected municipalities are Cercedilla, Navacerrada, Collado Villalba, Rivas-Vaciamadrid, Los Molinos, Quijorna, Serranillos del Valle and Colmenar de Oreja. The new affected health zones are Las Ciudades, in Getafe; as well as La Rivota, Ramon y Cajal, Doctor Trueta and Pedro Lain Entralgo, in Alcorcon. Additionally, the overnight curfew will begin at 10pm and businesses must close by 9pm, including food and drink establishments. Authorities are also banning meetings inside homes with members of other households, while the upper limit on the number of people from different households who may gather outside the home in food or drink establishments is now four, down from six. But there are exceptions to the ban on visiting other households. People who live by themselves may receive visits from another individual to check on them, or to provide assistance and company, said a spokesperson for the Madrid health department. A person living alone can form a support bubble with one other household and go visit its members, but it must always be the same household. These measures went into effect on Monday and will last at least two weeks. Basque Country Basque regional police officers control the perimetral lockdown of Bilbao. H.Bilbao / Europa Press Authorities in the Basque Country said they will seal off all of the regions 252 municipalities beginning on Monday. Social gatherings will be reduced to four people. The 14-day cumulative number of cases per 100,000 inhabitants in the region was above 500 cases on Friday, twice the figure considered an extreme risk scenario (which also takes into account other variables such as pressure on hospitals). Right now over 70% of Spains territory is in the extreme risk category. The Basque city of Bilbao and 50 other locations came under a perimetral lockdown in the early hours of Friday because of their high incidence rate. Starting on Monday, every other city, town and village in this region of 2.2 million people is sealed off as well. Only essential trips that can be justified will be allowed across municipal lines. This is on top of the provincial and regional lockdowns that are already in effect. The Basque health chief, Gotzone Sagardui, said the decision was a response to the worsening epidemiological figures. This is not the time to relax, but to act with utmost anticipation on preventive action, she said. The curfew starting time has not been altered, despite the Basque governments wishes to bring it forward to 8pm from the current 10pm. The move was debated on Wednesday at a meeting of central and regional health officials but did not gain support from the central government. Food and drink establishments must close at 8pm except in locations with an incidence rate of over 500, where they must close altogether. This is currently the case in Bilbao. The measures will be in effect for 20 days, subject to review. A home confinement cannot be legally imposed in Spain under the current emergency state approved by parliament in late October and due to expire in May. But the string of increasingly strict restrictions imposed by regional governments is coming close to a de facto lockdown. Murcia Murcia is also limiting meetings of people from different households, now capped at two people. And in eight municipalities with a 14-day incidence rate of over 2,000 per 100,000, non-essential businesses must close their doors by 6pm. The affected locations are Yecla, Moratalla, Albudeite, Mula, Fortuna, Caravaca, Ricote and Jumilla. English version by Susana Urra. A circulated memorandum has revealed that Saudi Arabia has suspended the work of the employees of the Syrian Negotiations Committee, claiming that no meetings are being held reports Alsouria Net. The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs sent a memorandum to the headquarters of the Syrian Negotiations Committee (SNC) in Riyadh, announcing its intention to suspend the work of committees employees in Saudi Arabia starting the end of this month, days before the fifth round of the Constitutional Committee meetings, which neither the Moscow Platform nor Jamal Suleiman will attend. An attachment to the Saudi letter, which was circulated by activists and media outlets, stated that, in light of the continued disruption of the work of the Syrian Negotiations Committee, it was decided to suspend the work of its employees at the end of January 2021, until the Committee resumes its activity. The Saudi Foreign Ministry called on the committee to take note of the memorandum and take the necessary measures. UN Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pederse, received a message on Jan. 13, 2021, from the National Coordination Committee for Democratic Change, the Moscow Platform, and figures from the Cairo Platform, asking him to act quickly and push for consensus within the SNC. Copies of the letter were sent to both Russian Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov, and his Saudi and Egyptian counterparts, Faisal bin Farhan and Sameh Shoukry, respectively. Meanwhile, representatives of the Cairo and Moscow Platforms will be absent from the Constitutional Committee meetings that will begin on Jan, 25, 2021. The spokesperson for the SNC, Yahya al-Aridi, explained to Alsouria Net that the Saudi Foreign Ministrys decision has nothing to do with the dispute taking place within the Cairo Platform about replacing someone on the Syrian Constitutional Committee, indicating that this matter [replacing someone] is legitimate and the platforms right. Aridi added that the Saudi decision came by virtue of the fact that no meeting of the committee has happened at its headquarters in Riyadh since 2019, noting that the committee had met in other locations, especially in light of the spread of the coronavirus and the preventive measures that accompanied it. Three employees (two women and a man) work in the committees headquarters in Riyadh. With no meetings taking place there since the end of 2019, the three employees are no longer needed, said Aridi, noting that the Saudi Foreign Ministrys decision is not recent, but was issued some time ago. 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. The logos of mobile apps Facebook and Google on a smartphone in Sydney, Australia, on Dec. 9, 2020. (The Epoch Times) Google Australia Threatens to Pull Search Engine as Battle With Govt Heats Up Google on Friday pulled its trump card against the Australian governments news media payment code, threatening to cut its search engine service from the country. Appearing at a Senate hearing, Google Australias Managing Director Mel Silva said: 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. Now 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, she said. Its not a threat. Its a reality, she added. After the hearing, Google published a video of Silva on YouTube, standing by the search giants earlier claims that the governments News Media Bargaining Code would break the way search engines work and that Australians would no longer enjoy a free and open web. Google Australia Managing Director Mel Silva in an online statement on Jan. 22, 2021 in Sydney, Australia (Screenshot) Prime Minister Scott Morrison refuted Silva saying: Australia makes our rules for things you can do in Australia. Thats done in our parliament. Its done by our government. We dont respond to threats, he told reporters in Brisbane. The heads of Google, Facebook, and news publishers appeared at a hearing before the Economics Legislation Committee to answer questions around the impending Media Code that will mandate how the tech giants compensate news companies for displaying content. Facebooks Australian Public Policy Vice-President Simon Milner stood by earlier statements that the social media company would remove news from user feeds. We clearly have been doing some work to figure out what that (would look like), he said. I can reassure the committee though this is not to mean that Facebook would no longer be available to the millions of people in Australia who love Facebook, he said. A Facebook user logs in on his mobile at a cafe in Hanoi, Vietnam, on Nov. 19, 2020. (Kham/Reuters) The great majority of people who are using Facebook would continue to do so, but we would no longer be able to provide news as part of the Facebook product, he added. The presiding senators were scathing. Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young accused Google of taking a my way or the highway approach. Thats a hell of a threat, she told Silva. Independent Senator Rex Patrick likened Google and Facebooks response to the Chinese Communist Partys (CCP) threats against Australia for calling for an inquiry into the origins of COVID-19. The Chinese response to that was to threaten our market, to threaten our trade, he told Silva. Rex Patrick speaks in the Senate at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia on July 4, 2019. (Tracey Nearmy/Getty Images) Weve got a similar situation here where the Australian Government is leading on a proposal in relation to the Wild West Web, he said. Our government steps out first, and the very large organisation that is Google threatens to leave our market. Do you think thats the proper conduct for a large international corporation like Google? The senators also rounded on the tech giants tax avoidance. I think youre verging on being morally bankrupt in the way in which these tax affairs are conducted, Patrick told Facebooks Milner. In 2019, Google Australias revenue was $4.8 billion, with $4.3 billion generated via advertising services. It paid $59 million in corporate tax. Dr. Rob Nicholls, associate professor at the University of New South Wales and competition law expert, said the Media Code would usher in a domino-effect of increasing regulation around the world for the tech giants. In France overnight, Google came to an agreement to pay for news from 300 French news businesses. What is happening here is that Google is trying to avoid coming to a deal with Australian news media businesses, he told The Epoch Times. A logo of Google is seen at the high profile startups and high tech leaders gathering, Viva Tech, in Paris, France May 16, 2019. (Reuters/Charles Platiau) (The Media Code) will also embolden other jurisdictions to push for a similar outcome as in France, or as proposed in Australia, he said. Nicholls also said threats to withdraw search engine services or news content would be a greater loss for the tech giants than users. The code will impose a small cost on Google The argument that the code will break search engines is incorrect. It will change Googles business model, he said. Microsoft is likely to gain market share with Bing if Google goes through with its threat. It is also likely that Facebook will be much less attractive without news sharing, he added. Alternate search engine services that would likely benefit from a Google-withdrawal include DuckDuckGo and Yahoo! Treasurer Josh Frydenberg unveiled the world-first Media Code in July giving the government power to mandate how Google and Facebook pay publishers for displaying news content on their search results or feeds. For years, the tech giants have generated web traffic and engagement from displaying news content at no cost. In turn, they monetised the traffic by selling advertising. The Code, which was unveiled following an 18-month investigation revealed the tech giants wielded tremendous market power to the detriment of local news media and journalism in Australia. As we celebrate the 125th birth anniversary of Netaji on Jan 23, it's time to give him and the INA their rightful place in the pantheon of freedom fighters by JS Rajput On January 23, India begins year-long celebrations of the 125th birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, an illustrious embodiment of courage and commitment. Bose rose as a colossus during the freedom struggle. He was with the Congress Party during 1921-1940, endearing himself to the young and old alike, and was elected its president twice. A brilliant student, he qualified in the ICS examination in 1921 but resigned to serve the motherland. When he met MK Gandhi for the first time in Bombays Mani Bhavan, the difference of approach was evident. Before this meeting, Gandhiji had declared that India should get swaraj within a year, and to get swaraj his stipulation was that 20 lakh spinning wheels should start working! The young and enthusiastic Bose also wanted this to happen but was not convinced that spinning wheels was the way. Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Afterwards, Bose met Deshbandhu Chittaranjan Das, who was to become his political guru. Bose was, right from the beginning, for total independence; no dominion status, no prolonged delays. When the resolution for civil disobedience and the launch of salt satyagrah was being passed in the Lahore session, only one person who else but Bose proposed an amendment: It should not be civil disobedience but a parallel government. Narayan Desai puts it in these words: The greatness of Subhas babu is that though he had proposed the amendment, when the salt satyagrah was launched, he said it was very good. We should put all our strength into it. This indicates the greatness of his persona, and also how much respect he had for Gandhiji and the party discipline. There were differences that eventually led to what could be termed parting of ways. However, the political maturity and single-minded focus of both on the target erased any possible bitterness. After a couple of years, Bose and Vithalbhai Patel issued a joint statement from Geneva asserting that our country had progressed a lot using non-violence but now it had stopped; hence a change of leadership is required! The hint was obvious; it was aimed at Gandhiji. At Gandhijis suggestion, Bose was elected the president of the Congress at the Vithal Nagar session. However, the working committee did not allow him to alter the path. Next year, things were strategically arranged against him but he won the election, defeating Pattabhi Sitaramayya. It was a sad moment in the freedom struggle when Gandhiji wrote that Pattabhis defeat is my defeat. Bose relinquished the post of the Congress Party president. The story of differences in approach and attitudes between the stalwarts has certain other dimensions that emerged after Boses great escape from house arrest to Afghanistan, Russia, Germany, and then to Japan. He raised the Indian National Army (INA) after successfully igniting the patriotic fervour among Indians in the South-East Asia. He founded the Government of India-in-exile. As Commander-in-Chief of the INA, he entered India from the Burmese border. It was for the independence of India and against the might not only of the British but the allied powers! Of the 60,000 INA personnel, 26,000 as per the official history were killed. Maulana Azad, in his book India Wins Freedom, writes about how Netaji s great escape and organisational acumen had impacted Gandhiji, who had different views on Bose: Gandhiji did not express any opinion about the outcome of the war but, during the discussions with him, I felt that he was becoming doubtful about the Allied victory. I saw that Subhas Boses escape to Germany had made a great impression on Gandhiji. He had not formally approved many of his actions, but now I found a change in his outlook. Many of his remarks convinced me that he admired the courage and resourcefulness Subhas Bose had displayed in escaping from India. His admiration for Subhas Bose unconsciously coloured his view about the war situation. Maulana Azad also mentions how a report (which was later found false) about Boses death deeply moved Gandhiji along with the entire country: He sent a condolence message to Subhas Boses mother in which he spoke of Subhas in glowing terms. Sir Stafford Cripps complained to Maulana Azad that he had not expected a man like Gandhi to speak in such terms about Subhas Bose. But India endorsed this tribute as culturally and ethically appropriate from a person of Gandhijis stature. India had fallen in love with Bose, had full faith in him, his strategy and the deep wisdom behind alliances, his countrymen endorsed his neeti and niyati without hesitation. Gandhijis message to Boses mother was picked up by the media, both nationally and internationally, for the obvious reasons. Louis Fisher, who wrote Gandhijis much-acclaimed biography, told him that all over the world, you have created the impression of being a person on the side of the Japanese. Gandhijis answer must have shocked some of his near and dear ones as well: Can you show me a greater patriot than him? What a great example of mutual affection; one calls him the Father of the Nation, the other says show me a greater patriot! Is there another such example in contemporary history? Todays leaders could learn a great lesson from this: You may differ but dont go against each other. It is indeed necessary to understand the chemistry between the two top heroes of the freedom struggle who had diametrically opposite views and approaches, but each knew how valuable the other was for the nation. There was no let-up in the display of greatness from either side. When Bose was in exile and someone close to him was to come to India, he advised the visitor: If you have any problem or are confused about something, I have just one piece of advice and that is you should go and meet Gandhiji. Bose had referred to Gandhiji as Unhi aamader jater janak; he is the father of our country. Recently, India celebrated 150th birth anniversary of Gandhiji; India now prepares to celebrate the 125th birth anniversary of Subhas Chandra Bose. It is time to seriously ponder over the contribution of Bose and the INA in the freedom struggle. Those who claim the mantle of Gandhian legacy and came to power after Independence were, obviously, not as magnanimous as Gandhiji. The way the history of our freedom struggle has been presented to the young and the old could only be cited as one-sided and ideologically constrained. Everyone knows what happened to history writing during the past five decades. Now that the official documents exchanged between top-level British officers serving in India are easily verifiable, several new facts and details are emerging which have the potential to put the roles of Bose and the INA in the right perspective. Was it all only ahimsa, civil disobedience and satyagrah? Was the role of revolutionaries, the young martyrs and the INA insignificant? People have made attempts to demand that history writing be freed from ideological constraints; it must re-examine facts that have been subverted and take note of details available through research, new technology and official documents being made public. An example of how important, relevant and necessary this change is could be comprehended by an incident cited in the book Bose: An Indian Samurai by Maj Gen (Retd) GD Bakshi. The final decision-maker on the withdrawal of the British rule from India was UK Prime Minister Clement Attlee. After demitting office, Attlee visited India in 1956 and was the guest of Justice PB Chakraborty, the then Governor of West Bengal. Justice Chakraborty asked Attlee that since the Quit India Movement had fizzled out by 1944, why did the British leave India after the war? Attlee replied that it was because of Boses INA and the mutinies it triggered in the British Indian armed forces. On what was the role of the Quit India Movement then, Attlees face twisted in a sarcastic smile and he said Minimal! Does one need to say more to prove how pivotal was the contribution of Bose and the volunteers and martyrs of INA in expediting the attainment of Independence for India! In a historic gesture, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is going to inaugurate a national museum devoted to Netaji and the INA in Kolkata. It would be a proud moment for all of us. The Netaji Subhas Bose-INA Trust a leading national organisation devoted to spreading the message, commitment and courage of Netaji among the future generations has grand plans to celebrate the anniversary. Its illustrious chairperson, Brig (Retd) RS Chhikara, repeatedly poses a query: Why dont we have a suitable memorial for Netaji and the INA at a prominent place in New Delhi where visitors from India and other countries could pay their respects to this great son of India and the brave men who laid down their lives at his call? I have no answer. Could we strive to get one? (The author works in education and social cohesion. The views expressed are personal.) You are the owner of this article. But the precedent of paying for journalism does not, in itself, seem to be the issue. A few hours before Google threatened to take away its search engine in Australia, the company agreed to pay news publications in France under an agreement that is likely to lead to more deals across Europe. The battle in Australia centers on power: who gets to decide the payments, what prompts a charge for the tech companies and when do they have to reveal changes in their algorithms. Australias assertive challenge to the online giants has placed it in the vanguard of a movement to bolster a traditional news media ecosystem that Americas trillion-dollar tech companies threaten with extinction. For Google and Facebook, their intense pushback has become a focal point of their global efforts to limit regulation, as governments around the world look to rein them in. Heres a summary of the fight. Rapid vs. Prolonged Negotiations Under Australias proposed legislation, if media companies and platforms like Google cannot agree on a price for news content, an independent arbitration body will resolve the dispute. That could amount to a first in the world. The agreement in France lets Google negotiate with publishers using criteria the company has established, such as the contribution to general discussion, publication volume and audience size. Disputes would most likely go to court, where they could be bogged down for years, delaying payment. Jammu, Jan 22 : Militants attacked a police party on Friday in Jammu and Kashmir's Kishtwar district as the authorities said except for minor injuries to one cop, others escaped unhurt. Police said militants hurled a grenade at a vehicle of J&K police special operations group (SOG) at Dad Peth in Chatroo area of Kishtwar district, 15km from the main town. "One police constable received minor injuries in this attack while others have escaped unhurt. "The area has been surrounded for searches," police said. Martin Shkreli arrives at federal court in New York. Seth Wenig/AP Christie Smythe quit her job and divorced her husband to pursue a romantic relationship with Shkreli. Shkreli reportedly stopped speaking to Smythe after her involvement in an Elle profile on the pair. Smythe told Fox News's Laura Ingle that the two are now back on speaking terms. Visit Insider's homepage for more stories. Christie Smythe still has hope for a future with convicted former pharmaceutical CEO, Martin Shkreli, according to a new Fox News report. "I would love Martin to get out," she told FOX News's Laura Ingle. "I would love him to start working on something productive that helps the world. And I'd like to play some sort of role in helping him get there. That's my dream." The former Bloomberg journalist made headlines back in December when Elle published a profile that detailed Smythe's decision to quit her job and get a divorce in order to pursue a romantic relationship with the disgraced Shkreli, a man she had once covered professionally. Smythe first became familiar with Shkreli as a reporter covering white-collar crime for Bloomberg News. In 2015, she broke the story that he was under federal investigation for breaking securities laws. Shkreli is currently about halfway through serving a seven-year sentence for the charges. He became infamous that same year in an unrelated matter, for hiking the price of Daraprim, an AIDS treatment drug, from $13.50 to $750 per pill. As Smythe continued to cover Shkreli for work, she became closer with him, visiting him in prison, and eventually divorcing her husband and freezing her eggs in order to start a family with Shkreli once he's out. She said she began to feel like "an advocate" for Shkreli while he was in prison. She challenged critical tweets of him online, and when her bosses called her in to discuss her "biased and unprofessional" behavior, she quit. Smythe told Ingle she's had to face criticism from fellow women journalists about the way Shkreli treated them, and while she said she doesn't support harassment, she does believe Shkreli felt his comments were justified. Story continues "He's just a very, very eccentric person. It doesn't play well in public, especially in negative light. He is phenomenally intelligent and charismatic, but also has no emotional intelligence and very little common sense and is very awkward," Smythe told Ingle on FOX. "And if you combine all of those things, you get kind of this public relations disaster." But when Shkreli found out about the Elle article, he reportedly stopped communicating with Smythe. She told journalist Stephanie Clifford that she believed he stopped talking to her out of concern for what the fallout of the article might mean for Smythe. When Elle reached out to him for comment on their story, his statement read: "Mr. Shkreli wishes Ms. Smythe the best of luck in her future endeavors." But according to Smythe, the two are now back on speaking terms. Smythe told Ingle that she and Shkreli have been talking via email and phone calls and are trying to figure out what comes next. A federal judge earlier this week rejected Shkreli's second request for an early prison release. The judge was skeptical about Shkreli's claim that the prison's lockdown due to the pandemic has caused his mental health issues to weaken his immune system, making him more susceptible to the virus, according to the Associated Press. Despite the roadblocks, Smythe told Ingle she doesn't feel like she threw her life away, as some headlines have suggested. "I chose a different path. And it wasn't for Martin specifically. Martin definitely was a catalyst, but helped kind of propel me in that direction," Smythe told Ingle. "But, you know, I chose freedom, essentially." Read the original article on Insider It was not clear whether Mr. Schumer would agree to Mr. McConnells request for an impeachment trial delay. Justin Goodman, Mr. Schumers spokesman, said the leader would review Mr. McConnells proposal and discuss it with him. In a statement, the Republican leader argued that the former presidents defense team needed a modest and reasonable amount of additional time to prepare a case for trial after the House raced to charge Mr. Trump with incitement of insurrection for his role in encouraging the violent mob that stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6. Mr. McConnell proposed that the House bring its case late next week and then give Mr. Trumps defense team to be led by Butch Bowers, a lawyer from South Carolina until Feb. 13 to begin oral arguments. At this time of strong political passions, Senate Republicans believe it is absolutely imperative that we do not allow a half-baked process to short-circuit the due process that former President Trump deserves, or damage the Senate or the presidency, said Mr. McConnell, who has told colleagues that he is open to convicting the president. Democrats had been preparing to begin a trial as soon as Monday, and hoped to reach a resolution in a week or less to try to minimize the effects of a divisive and all-consuming proceeding during Mr. Bidens first days in the White House. But they also want to claim that they held a fair trial, and they could end up embracing a delay to quickly confirm more of Mr. Bidens cabinet. Earlier on Thursday, Speaker Nancy Pelosi had declined to say when she planned to send the House impeachment charge to the Senate, which would immediately start the clock for beginning the trial. She said only that she would do so soon. Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and his Australian counterpart Scott Morrison had a telephone talk on January 21 to discuss bilateral relations as well as regional and international issues of shared concern. PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc talks on the phone with his Australian counterpart Scott Morrison (Photo: VNA) The Australian PM congratulated Vietnam on outstanding achievements the country gained in 2020 to become a rare model in COVID-19 pandemic control and socio-economic development amid the worst global economic depression in decades. He said he believes that the upcoming 13th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) will be a success. He also congratulated Vietnam on fulfilling the role of ASEAN Chair in 2020 with the successful signing of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). He thanked Vietnam for supporting turning the ASEAN-Australia Summit into an annual mechanism. PM Morrison said he hopes the Vietnam-Australia relations will be elevated to a strategic partnership in 2023 on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the bilateral diplomatic relations. PM Phuc suggested that the two sides optimise advantages and potential of cooperation so as to become one of top 10 trade partners of each other and double two-way investment flow, thus supporting the post-pandemic recovery. He mentioned the need to soon finalise and sign the Australia-Vietnam Enhanced Economic Engagement Strategy (EEES), while promoting cooperation in the framework of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and RCEP, thus further boosting trade and minimise disputes. He proposed that Australia continue giving technical support to Vietnam and further open its market for Vietnamese agricultural products such as fresh whole shrimp, longan, passion fruit, rambutan and star apple. Vietnam hopes that Australia will encourage large firms to invest in telecommunications, infrastructure, hi-tech agriculture, finance-banking, mining, energy, manufacturing, education, and tourism in Vietnam, while increasing the provision of ODA to Vietnam, focusing on infrastructure, agricultural, rural and mountainous development, poverty reduction, climate change response, and high-quality human resource training, PM Phuc told the Australian government leader. Both sides should also strengthen cooperation in military medicine, cyber security, and defence industry, Phuc said, asking the Australian side to continue to create favourable conditions for the Vietnamese community to settle in the country while keeping the Vietnamese cultural characteristics and language. The two PMs affirmed that friendship and mutual understanding and trust is a strong motivation for more effective, intensive and extensive cooperation between the two countries. PM Morrison agreed with PM Phuc on the need to continue deepening economic connectivity between the two countries, and pledged to provide Vietnam with more resources and support so that the country can access effective and safe vaccines. He also affirmed continued support for Vietnam in performing the role of a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council in 2021, and in conducting UN peacekeeping operations. Morrison confirmed that Australia will attend a conference on womens role in UN peacekeeping in 2021, and will work closely with Vietnam in implementing economic development programmes in the Mekong sub-region. Australia is willing to engage in tripartite cooperation mechanisms in the region involving Vietnam, Australia, Laos and Cambodia, he added. The two PMs also agreed to collaborate in bolstering the ASEAN-Australia partnership to make the ties more efficient and strengthening collaboration in international and regional mechanisms and forums. They reiterated the significance of strengthening cooperation and maintaining peace, stability, and maritime and aviation security, safety and freedom, as well as ensuring legitimate rights and interest as stated in the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) 1982. They underlined the need to settle disputes on the basis of international law, including the UNCLOS 1982, fully and effective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea and working to achieve an effective Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC) in line with international law, including the UNCLOS 1982. The Vietnamese PM lauded the outcomes of the Vietnam visit by PM Morrison in 2019, and invited the Australian PM to visit Vietnam again. PM Morrison accepted the invitation with pleasure, while expressing hope to welcome PM Phuc to his country in the near future./.VNA Berger said when he read the findings of the first probe, "it was pretty clear to me we needed to do a follow-on... Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. TDT | Manama The Daily Tribune www.newsofbahrain.com Indian Embassy will hold a flag hoisting ceremony at the Embassy complex on 26 January 2021 at 7:30 am on the occasion of 72nd Republic Day of India. The flag hoisting will be followed by Ambassador Piyush Srivastava reading a message of the President of India. The embassy will also virtually celebrate the Republic Day of India at 7.00 pm. The embassy statement said, Due to Covid-19 situation and the prevailing local guidelines regrind social distancing and restrictions of large gatherings, physical participation of the Indian community and friends of India in Bahrain in the celebrations would not be possible this year. The embassy, however, said it would telecast live the flag hoisting ceremony in the morning, and the virtual celebration in the evening on its social media accounts. Twitter - https://twitter. com/IndiaInBahrain Facebook- https://www. facebook.com/IndiaInBahrain Youtube - https://www. youtube.com/EmbassyofIndiaBahrain Boys & Girls Club names Youth of the Year Marcella Daniel was named Boys & Girls Club Youth of the Year on Monday. A 16-year-old junior from Hendersonville High School has earned the title of Youth of the Year at the Boys & Girls Club of Henderson County as well as a $1,000 college aid award from Hunter Subaru. Marcella Daniel, an 11-year member of the club, competed against four other talented teens in a virtual competition on MLK Day. Boys & Girls Clubs of Americas Youth of the Year program celebrates the nations most awe- inspiring young people, recognizing excellence in leadership, service, academic excellence and dedication to live a healthy lifestyle. Four other club teens participated in the 2021 local competition as well. Clara Hockenberry, Ali Garcia, Ivan Acosta and Cierra Burns joined Daniel in submitting portfolios to a panel of judges that detailed community service, academic standing and multiple essays. Each teen was extensively interviewed and delivered speeches describing the clubs impact on their lives. Daniel began attending the club as a member in the first grade. Since then, she has been a steadfast fixture in the club; serving in leadership programs, volunteering, and now working in the clubs youth job readiness and skills development programs, RISE and Junior Staff. Following graduation from high school, Daniel hopes to attend Appalachian State University where she plans to study to become a speech pathologist. This was a year of angst, grief, and loss, but through all the club has been a steady and constant source of support, Daniel remarked in her speech, noting new challenges of a post-Covid world like virtual school and social isolation. This year I lost motivation and fell behind in school. The sadness, anger, and anxiety made me feel like I carried bricks on my back. But the staff at the Club were there for me. I learned to open up and connect with others. At the Club I learned to take care of myself. Following the local level of the contest, Daniel advances to compete for the state title and a $5,000 college scholarship from Boys & Girls Clubs of America. If Daniel wins at the state competition, she will then compete at the regional level for an additional $10,000 college scholarship, renewable for four years up to $40,000. Five regional winners will advance to Washington, D.C. in September 2019, to compete for the title of Boys & Girls Clubs of Americas National Youth of the Year. The National Youth of the Year will receive an additional scholarship of $25,000, renewable each year up to $100,000. We are proud and thrilled to have Marcella represent our club and our community," Julia Hockenberry, Boys & Girls Club executive director, said. "She is outstanding a Club kid through and through. We celebrate her amazing potential and cant wait to see what the future has in store for her." Now that more than 140 pro-Trump rioters have been charged with crimes for their part in the Jan. 6 invasion of the Capitol, many of the participants in the days crimes are now groping for excuses to explain why they were present at an insurrection. For the many thousands of people on the Mall that day, it has been uniquely hard to deny that they were there because the siege has to be the most photographed mass crime ever committed. The rioters snapped pics and recorded themselves, streamed and tweeted one another, all the while creating a trove of damning evidence for prosecutors once the dust settled. Advertisement And its settled! Now that the potential prison time is rolling in, the excuses for being inside the Capitol on Jan. 6 are coming hot and heavy. Here are the main strands of responsibility shifting (so far): Advertisement Advertisement Trump sent me. This is a popular one that is going to be problematic for the former president. Its so popular, in fact, that the most recognizable face (and clothing) of the insurrection, QAnon Shaman Jacob Chansley, is now blaming Donald Trump. He listened to him, Chansleys lawyer explained. He felt like he was answering the call of our president. Lets roll the tape. Lets roll the months of lies and misrepresentations and horrific innuendo and hyperbolic speech by our president designed to inflame, enrage, motivate, Chansleys lawyer said. Whats really curious is the reality that our president, as a matter of public record, invited these individuals, as president, to walk down to the Capitol with him. Advertisement Subscribe to the Slatest newsletter A daily email update of the stories you need to read right now. We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again. Please enable javascript to use form. Email address: Send me updates about Slate special offers. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms Sign Up Thanks for signing up! You can manage your newsletter subscriptions at any time. I thought forcibly storming the Capitol was allowed. This line of defense dovetails nicely with the Trump sent/invited me to the Capitol. There was absolutely no indication that we were anything but welcome to check out certain places, Thomas Robertson, a member of Virginias Rocky Mount Police Department, told WSET about why he participated in the siege. I was actually a journalist, not a bigot. Thats the line Nick Ochs, a founder of Proud Boys Hawaii, is toeing. We didnt have to break in, Ochs told CNN. I just walked in and filmed. Earlier, Ochs tweeted a picture of himself smoking a cigarette in the Capitol with the tagline Hello from the Capital lol. I do what the bullhorn tells me. So say Kevin and Hunter Seefried. CNN reports the father-son duo had come to the Capitol on January 6 to hear Trump speak and they marched to the Capitol following a person with a bullhorn, they told the FBI. Advertisement Where am I again? I was at the wrong place at the wrong time, explained Brad Rukstales, the CEO of a Chicago-area marketing technology firm. I like art. And then theres nowformer Houston police Officer Tam Dinh Pham. When questioned by investigators shortly after returning home to Texas, Pham deployed the who, me? defense, denying that he had been present. When an agent asked to browse through Phams phone, the agent didnt find any pictures dated from the insurrection. That is, until the agent checked Phams deleted folder and found videos and images of him inside the Rotunda, including one shot of him posing in front of a statue of former president Gerald Ford affixed with a Trump 2020 flag, federal officials told the Washington Post. Faced with the photo evidence, Pham then allegedly admitted to climbing over torn-down fences to get inside. But still, he insisted his reasons were benign: He just wanted the rare opportunity to view historical art, investigators said. The historical art defense. Classic. Dr Colm Henry said its tragic that we are talking about school closures again. Stock image The country needs to reach a much lower level of transmission before staff and pupils begin mixing in schools, said Dr Colm Henry. However, the HSE chief clinical officer stated that he hopes priority status is given to special needs education. Speaking on RTEs Morning Ireland, he said its tragic that we are talking about school closures again. We learned in the first surge how much harm was done to children, especially early years children and special needs environments, and this is due to the pause of their education, Dr Henry said. Read More So, certainly no one wants to see this protracted like the first time. But, the transmission levels are currently too high, ten times what they were in early December. They need to reduce to a much lower level before we can add any additional risk to a crowding and mixing of people in school settings. Dr Henry said he hopes elements of education will be focused on, especially special needs who are perhaps much more vulnerable to the lockdown than other elements of education. He added: Our hope is that there will be some approach to giving priority status to certain elements of the education sector. In-person special education was due to resume yesterday, however, the Government was forced to abandon these plans in the face of union opposition. At the heart of the unions opposition are high Covid infection rates and what school staff see as a conflict in asking them to go back to work when the general public is told to stay at home. Education Minister Normal Foley said it was the first time that unions had refused to accept the advice provided by public health specialists. Talks resumed yesterday between the Department of Education, the Irish National Teachers Association (INTO) and SNA trade union Forsa on how to re-open special education with cooperation from union members. As many as eight people were killed in a mysterious blast that shook Karnataka's Shivamogga district on Thursday night and sent shockwaves in neighbouring Chikkamagaluru and Davangere districts. As per reports, the massive explosion took place near a gravel and boulder crushing facility at a stone mining quarry in Shivamogga. The possibility of subsequent blasts at the quarry at Hunasondi near village Abbalagere has not been ruled out by the state police since some dynamite sticks are still live. A bomb disposal squad has been rushed to the spot of the incident and the entire area has been sealed off. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences to the families of those killed in the explosion and wished a speedy recovery for the injured. Pained by the loss of lives in Shivamogga. Condolences to the bereaved families. Praying that the injured recover soon. The State Government is providing all possible assistance to the affected: PM @narendramodi PMO India (@PMOIndia) January 22, 2021 Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa wrote on Twitter: "I extend condolences to deceased members. Injured people are being treated. I've ordered high-level inquiry on this and strict action will be taken." No reports of earthquake While eyewitnesses say they felt tremors at the same time as the explosion, geologists had ruled out recording tremors in any of their observatories. So strong was the blast that window panes shattered while many houses and even roads developed cracks, said an eye-witness. "There was no earthquake. But an explosion did take place at Hunsur on the outskirts of Shivamogga under the Rural Police station limits," a police officer told news agency PTI. Another police officer said, "There has been a blast in a truck carrying gelatin. Six labourers in the truck were found dead. The vibrations were felt locally." Several locals took to Twitter to express their concerns after the blast incident. Huge sound and vibration reported in Shimoga, Karnataka at 10.20PM which was felt at about a 15-20KM Radius too - From Shimoga to Bhadrawati. People were on roads under panic. Was it an earthquake or something else? @pksalecha @DevinSalecha #earthquake #shimoga #shivamogga pic.twitter.com/aSlSBlI0Ly Akash Jain (@akash207) January 21, 2021 The blast was also heard across Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa's home district at around 10.15 pm yesterday night. The victims were reportedly transporting the explosives meant for mining when the explosion took place. The vehicle was badly mangled and the bodies of the victims were dismembered beyond recognition. With agency inputs Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. A local court on Friday sentenced a man to 20 months in prison for attacking passengers on the subway after he was asked to wear a face mask, on Aug. 27, 2020. / Screen captured from YouTube By Lee Hyo-jin A local court has sentenced a man to 20 months in prison for attacking other passengers on the subway after he was asked to wear a face mask. The Seoul Southern District Court handed down the ruling, Friday, to the 58-year-old man who was convicted of physical and verbal assault. The crime took place on Seoul's subway line 2 near Dangsan station around 7:25 a.m., Aug. 27, 2020. After a nearby passenger called out to the man, who was talking loudly without a mask, and asked him to wear one, he began to attack the passenger. The man slapped the victim's face with his slipper multiple times, and attempted to strangle another passenger who tried to intervene in the physical conflict. The victims were left with injuries requiring three weeks of medical treatment. A video of the incident immediately spread online, raising public anger over the man's violent behavior. During the trial, the accused asked the court for lenient punishment citing his medical record of mental illness, which was taken into consideration in the ruling. "The accused has not been forgiven by the victims. He caused damage not only to the two victims, but also to many other passengers by causing a disturbance when they were on the subway during their morning commute," said the court in its ruling. Flint chopping tools were used by early humans beginning 2.6 million years ago to break animal bones and release the high-calorie marrow inside, a study has found. Researchers led from Germany and Isreal analysed the function of 53 similar chopping tools found at the 400,000-year old site of Revadim, east of Ashdod. Each chopping tool featured one massive, flaked and sharp edge which would have been brought to bear on bones by holding the flint in one's grip. The team examined the wear traces and organic residues found on the tools to determine how their owners would have used them. They found that many of the artefacts had significant edge damage derived from chopping hard materials while others were coated in residues from animal bones. Next, they then made and tested out replicas of the tools on various animal bones including those of pigs, sheep and deer to see how well they worked. Finally, they were able to compared the wear and tear from their replica tools with the originals to confirm their hypothesis about how they were used. Flint chopping tools (pictured) were used by our early human ancestors 2.6 million years ago to break animal bones and release the tasty marrow inside, a study has found The researchers made and tested out replicas of the tools on various animal bones including those of pigs, sheep and deer to see how well they worked 'For years we have been studying stone tools from prehistoric sites in Israel, in order to understand their functions,' said paper author and archaeologist Ran Barkai of Israel's Tel Aviv University. 'One important source of tools is Revadim, an open-air site as opposed to a cave dating back to 500,000300,000 years before our time, and rich with remarkably well-preserved findings.' 'Over the years we have discovered that Revadim was a highly favoured site, re-inhabited over and over again by humans, most probably of the late Homo Erectus species,' he continued. 'Bones of many types of game, including elephants, cattle, deer, gazelles and others, were found at the site.' '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,' explained Professor Barkai. 'Large quantities of these tools have been found at almost every prehistoric site throughout the Old World in Africa, Europe, the Middle East and even China evidence 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.' 'For years we have been studying stone tools from prehistoric sites in Israel, in order to understand their functions,' said paper author and archaeologist Ran Barkai of Israel's Tel Aviv University, pictured here holding flints. 'One important source of tools is Revadim, an open-air site as opposed to a cave dating back to 500,000300,000 years before our time' Researchers led from Germany and Isreal analysed the function of 53 similar chopping tools found at the 400,000-year old site of Revadim (pictured), east of Ashdod '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,' explained Professor Barkai. '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,' he continued. 'This is apparently the reason for its enormous distribution over such a long period.' 'The present study has expanded our knowledge of the toolkit of early humans one more step toward understanding their way of life, tracking their migrations, and unravelling the secrets of human evolution.' The full findings of the study were published in the journal PLOS ONE. Researchers led from Germany and Isreal analysed the function of 53 similar chopping tools found at the 400,000-year old site of Revadim (pictured), east of Ashdod First, a funeral director found a stab wound in the neck of an 82-year-old woman who died in Apartment 6M in 2015. Four years later, the grandson of the 83-year-old woman in 11C found her strangled. Then on Friday, the son of an 78-year-old woman in 6A found her dead with a telephone cord wrapped around her neck. The killings cast a spell of grief and terror at the Carter G. Woodson Houses in Brownsville, Brooklyn, a public housing development for seniors where the women had lived and died at the hands of a killer who remained elusive until this week. Police announced on Thursday that they had arrested a 66-year-old man who was the womens neighbor in the Powell Avenue building in connection with the heinous crimes. Rodney Harrison, the chief of detectives, said forensic evidence tied the suspect, Kevin Gavin, to the women, but he did not elaborate. Chief Harrison did not reveal a motive for the crimes, but he said Mr. Gavin, who lived in apartment 6E, had befriended the victims and run errands for them. On Thursday evening, he was waiting to be formally charged with second-degree murder in Criminal Court in Brooklyn, one count each for killing Myrtle McKinney in November 2015, Jacolia James in April 2019 and Juanita Caballero last week. TAWAS CITY, MI - Nearly one mile of undeveloped Lake Huron coastline near Tawas City is slated to become home to a public park. The nonprofit northern Michigan conservation group Huron Pines purchased the wooded, 145-acre parcel of property along U.S. 23 from the U.S. Gypsum Co. for $2.5 million in a project dubbed the Lake Huron Coastal Preserve. The plan calls for Alabaster Township to assume ownership of the property in 2022 and turn it into a township park, with Huron Pines remaining in the picture to support the care and stewardship of the land. Its an extremely rare event when a small community is presented with such a remarkable opportunity, said Stephanie Wentworth, Alabaster Township supervisor. The property is situated just south of Tawas City and includes nearly a mile of Lake Huron frontage. The purchased acreage is split between U.S. 23, with the lakefront parcel coming in at about 68 acres and the remaining land sitting across from U.S. 23. The natural shoreline, mature hardwood forest and wetland ecosystem work together as a filter to help protect the water quality of Lake Huron and support diverse plant and wildlife species, according to Huron Pines. The vision right now is that the park would remain for relatively passive use, like hiking and walking trails; perhaps some access to Lake Huron. Thats not been well fleshed out yet. I think thats something the township is interested in being able to offer, said Heather Huffstutler, land protection director at Huron Pines. USG is still mining in the area and has an active plant to the west and north of the property. Over the past 3-5 years, USG has been trying to shed unneeded properties in the area. As a large landowner in Iosco County, USG takes tremendous pride in its land management and stewardship efforts, said USG Plant Manager Matt Craig. We protect public access to parcels we dont need for gypsum production, and whenever possible, we work with local government to release parcels were no longer using for the benefit of the community. The trailhead and parking area for the Alabaster Township Bike Path and Arboretum are located on the propertys south side and there is potential for future walking trails and public access to Lake Huron, said Huron Pines. Alabaster Township will seek funding from the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund to purchase the property from Huron Pines. The fund uses royalties from oil and natural gas leases on public lands to support land protection and outdoor recreation efforts. Huron Pines plans to help Alabaster Township submit the grant proposal in April. If we want to ensure a future with healthy water, protected places and vibrant communities we need to work in collaboration with communities to build trust, identify shared goals and develop solutions that everyone can support and sustain, said Huron Pines Executive Director Brad Jensen. This opportunity, to protect precious shoreline in the heart of a residential and commercial area, is a way to engage the community and its visitors in conservation for decades to come. The next step in the funding process is the collection of public comments on the proposal for property acquisition, through an Alabaster Township Public Hearing set for 5 p.m. March 8 online. In the meantime, Huron Pines is assessing the property so that it can be open for public use this spring. Public use outside of the bike trail will be restricted to foot traffic to ensure visitor safety and protect sensitive habitat, according to Huron Pines. The organization also plans to host a birding hike to experience the spring migration along Tawas Bay and introduce the public to the space. The connection from the bike trail is really important as well, said Huffstutler. The Lake Huron Coastal Preserve project is the newest environmental development and change happening at USGs Iosco County location. A large rock conveyor system that used to sit offshore in Lake Huron to load lake freighters was demolished in 2020. The structure was originally built in the 1920s to serve gypsum freighters and had sat dormant since 2000. USG Corp. is a manufacturer of building supplies and solutions across North America, with 38 plants and several offices in the United States, according to its website. The Alabaster quarry was one of the first locations that joined USG Corporation at its founding and is one of only three original locations that have operated continuously for the past century, according to USG. MLive reporter Garret Ellison contributed to this report. More from MLive Iconic Iosco County gypsum bin to be demolished offshore in Lake Huron Great Lakes fishing companies say Michigan DNR order pretty much puts us out of business Cat missing since spring flood in Michigan finds its way home 8 months later Large boxes of history regularly arrive at Julia Brennans doorstep in Washington. A delivery might contain the greatcoat Abraham Lincoln wore on the night of his assassination or a rhinestone-studded Sex Machine jumpsuit that once belonged to James Brown. A textile conservator, Ms. Brennan, 62, is a trusted resource for museums and collectors, who call upon her to soften the damage done by time, the elements and mishandling. In her meticulous hands, a tattered rabbis hat rises like a souffle; centuries-old emotional states and habits underarm stains on a wedding dress, cigar burns on a kimono that belonged to Babe Ruth are analyzed with care. Over the past five years, Ms. Brennan has also taught herself to conserve another kind of fabric the clothes left behind by mass atrocities. She has salvaged thousands of garments from a notorious Khmer Rouge prison in Cambodia, and a shipping containers worth of bloodstained clothing collected from victims of the Rwandan genocide. Textiles are so often forgotten, Ms. Brennan said over a recent video call, but even a simple T-shirt can lend human specificity to an unthinkable act of violence. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi helped cinch Beijings hold on Myanmar with a visit last week that saw the two countries agree to push ahead with a major transportation project and lock in a five-year trade and economic pact, analysts say. Wang also sought to remind Myanmar of Chinas steadfast support ahead of a new U.S. administration expected to pay more attention to a region the two superpowers are vying to influence, they add. Foreign Minister Wang Yi also pledged to move ahead on economic agreements. The January 11-12 trip made Wang the first senior foreign delegate to visit Myanmar since a November election that returned the National League for Democracy and the countrys de facto leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, to power for a second term. It also followed Chinese President Xi Jinpings high-profile visit a year ago, when he signed 33 bilateral deals. Wang left Myanmar with a more modest-sounding eight, but they may, on the whole, carry more weight, said Yun Sun, China program director at the Stimson Center, a Washington think tank. While Xis deals laid the groundwork for closer ties with Myanmar, it was really Wang Yis job to transpire them into reality, she said. Back on track Yun said the ministers visit may well have been the most substantive by a Chinese official in a decade. Key among the new deals is a feasibility study for the second half of a planned rail line bisecting Myanmar from its border with China in the east to its Bay of Bengal coast in the west. The line is part of the China-Myanmar Economic Corridor, an offshoot of Chinas Belt and Road Initiative and its bid for a second route to the Indian Ocean to bypass the Malacca Strait, a potential chokepoint for its oil and gas imports. A deep-water port on the coast is in the works and parallel oil and gas pipelines run the route already. Work on the corridor has been slowed by Myanmars fears of drowning in debt to China to pay for its share of the mega-projects, and concerns over Beijings sway in the country run deep. Yun said Chinas feasibility study for the first half of the rail line drew yet more blowback from locals in its path, making a deal to move ahead with the second half no mean feat. In terms of the political sensitivity associated with this and for all the political problems that we have witnessed about this, I think the fact that China is able to push this forward means that China is making significant progress on the ground, she said. Chinese authorities are putting up a barrier along their southeastern border with Shan State, a volatile part of Myanmar, media reports say. A Five-Year Plan for Economic and Trade Cooperation that Wang left Myanmar with also signaled a new level of trust that relations would stay strong, Yun added. For China and Myanmar to already have this blueprint at the beginning of the [NLDs] second term, I think that shows not only Myanmar is dependent on China, it also shows that China has specific strategic plans regarding the country, she said. A friend in need By sending Wang to Myanmar only a year after Xis visit, China also wants to remind the country of its all-weather friendship when the pandemic and politics in the U.S. may leave it feeling ignored by the West, said Herve Lemahieu, Myanmar analyst for Australias Lowy Institute. They certainly wanted to reinforce this image of being the external power with the greatest support for Myanmar, he said. Its to say basically its business as usual, everythings on track despite a very turbulent pandemic year, and that you can expect more diplomatic protection, he added. China is widely seen as using its deep pockets and permanent U.N. Security Council seat to shield Myanmar from fallout over its dismal human rights record, including what the U.N. itself has called the ethnic cleansing of the countrys Rohingya minority. Lemahieu said China has had relatively little competition for influence over Southeast Asia from the U.S. in recent years but may be expecting that to change under U.S. President Joe Bidens administration. That was another thing: Lets get in as the first foreign minister after the Myanmar elections and make sure that were still on good grounds just in case the Biden administration is going to push hard on Southeast Asia in the next coming months. So I think thats the other reasoning behind Wang Yis trip, not only to Myanmar but to the rest of Southeast Asia, he said. Wangs visit to Myanmar was the first stop on a swing through the region that also took in Brunei, Indonesia and the Philippines. China wants to make sure [of] its relations with the regional countries and confirm the policies of the regional countries before the new U.S. government is formed, agreed Khin Khin Kyaw Khee, China analyst at the Institute for Strategy and Policy, a Myanmar think tank. They want to take the advantage by talking to these countries before the [new] US government is formed and U.S. foreign policy toward this region is settled, she said. Damage control At the same time, the tour was damage control for a Beijing hoping to override claims by its critics, which it denies, that China inadvertently let the coronavirus pandemic sweep the globe by initially smothering local reports of the first outbreak in Wuhan, said Lemahieu. Office of High Commissioner for Human Rights criticizes notes internet shutdown remains in place in eight townships in Rakhine and Chin states, severely limiting ability of residents to exchange information. To that end Wang announced that China would be donating 300,000 doses of its leading COVID-19 vaccine CoronaVac to Myanmar, which is struggling to secure shots for its 54 million people. Three of Wangs stops Indonesia, Myanmar and the Philippines are straining under the highest COVID-19 caseloads in the region. In Myanmar and beyond, China is also aiming to repackage its Belt and Road projects, not as the debt traps some host countries fear them to be, but the spark that will reignite national economies brought down by the pandemic, Lemahieu added. He said China wants to convince them that its not just the source of the virus but its the source of the solution ultimately. The eleventh round of talks between protesting farmer unions and three central ministers got underway here on Friday to break the nearly two-month-long deadlock on the three new agri laws. In the last round of meeting held on Wednesday, the government yielded some ground in its bid to end the farmers' protest on various border points of the national capital. The Centre had offered to put on hold the three laws for 12-18 months and also set up a joint committee to find solutions. However, the farmer unions on Thursday rejected the government's offer and remained stuck to their two major demand -- repeal of three farm laws and legal guarantee of the minimum support price (MSP). Farmers group said they will continue protest and also hold tractor rally on January 26, the Republic Day. Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar, Railways, Commerce and Food Minister Piyush Goyal and Minister of State for Commerce Som Parkash are holding the talks with the representatives of 41 farmer unions at the Vigyan Bhawan here. "In a full general body meeting of the Samyukt Kisan Morcha..., the proposal put forth by the government...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," Samkyukt Kisan Morcha, an umbrella body of protesting unions, had said in a statement on Thursday. 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. On January 11, the Supreme Court had stayed the implementation of the three laws till further orders and appointed a four-member panel to resolve the impasse. Bhartiya Kisan Union president Bhupinder Singh Mann had recused himself from the committee appointed by the apex court. Shetkari Sanghatana (Maharashtra) president Anil Ghanwat and agriculture economists Pramod Kumar Joshi and Ashok Gulati, the other three members on the panel, started the consultation process with stakeholders on Thursday. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. The lawyer for a Harris County Public Health doctor fired and charged with theft for allegedly stealing a vial of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine in December said the doses would have gone to waste. Paul Doyle, attorney for Dr. Hasan Gokal, said the county is attempting to deflect blame of a haphazard rollout of its vaccine program onto his client. If these doctors are going to get criminally prosecuted for trying to use leftover vaccines, there is going to be more and more waste than there already is, Doyle said. Theyd rather have put (doses) in a trash can than face this public scrutiny. Gokal on Thursday was charged with a misdemeanor count of theft by a public servant. Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg said he had abused his position to place his friends and family in line in front of people who had gone through the lawful process. Doyle, who declined to make Gokal available for comment, offered a different version of events: Gokal was assigned to a vaccine distribution site on Dec. 29 in Humble, where Harris Countys health department offered the Moderna vaccine to elderly and at-risk patients. Each vial of that vaccine contains about 10 doses, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. Once a vial is punctured, the doses must be given within six hours. Doyle said doctors were preparing to close for the day around 6:30 p.m. when another eligible patient arrived. After vaccinating the man, Gokal had nine doses remaining but no additional patients, his lawyer said. Gokal offered doses to health workers and police officers on site, but failed to find any takers. He then asked a Health Department supervisor for help finding eligible patients but that effort was unsuccessful, as well. Without access to any patient lists, Doyle said Gokal used contacts on his cell phone to find eligible patients, including a 93-year-old homebound woman and an 86-year-old woman with dementia. After 11 p.m., with no other patients available and the vaccine about to expire, Gokal gave the final dose to his wife, who has a serious lung condition. He had about 15 to 30 minutes left or this dose is trash, Doyle said. Elizabeth Conley, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer Gokal entered the patients who received doses into a state database the following day, Doyle said. The doctor, who was hired by the health department last April, was fired Jan. 8 after he admitted to supervisors he took doses off-site. Doyle said that Gokals bosses said the doctor should have discarded the remaining doses instead. A senior Harris County official said Gokal was right to search for other eligible vaccine recipients on-site, but should have returned unused doses to his supervisor instead of administering them at other locations. The official said Harris County Public Health has administered around 20,000 doses and wasted 25, 20 of which were lost when two vials broke. The department did not provide a written statement of its vaccine distribution protocols. According to the charging documents, Harris County Public Health employees were worried the department would lose funding if it mishandled doses and also had in place procedures to ensure vials were not wasted. Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg did not comment on Gokals version of events Friday. He has admitted he stole the vaccine, which is as valuable as gold to many people in our society, and gave it to his own friends and family, said Ogg spokesman Dane Schiller. He now faces accountability under the law. Gokal, who has been practicing medicine in the United States for 21 years, surrendered to the authorities Wednesday morning, Doyle said. He faces up to a year in jail and a $4,000 fine. zach.despart@chron.com For many westerners, India is an exotic travel destination, offering colorful cultural sites and warm-hearted hospitable people. However, thanks to the new Hindu nationalist leadership of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), today's India is increasingly marred by religious conflict and Christian persecution. The Purty family's double tragedy serves as a sad example of this. And for some Indian Christians, their story is not so unusual. Chamu Hassa Purty was a Christian pastor from Sandih village in Jharkhand State. Late one night in October 2015, he was asked to pray for a sick child. He rushed to the family's home, prayed for the boy and helped the parents admit him to a local hospital. Shortly after Pastor Purty returned to his own home, eight armed men forced their way into his house. He and his wife urgently warned their daughters, Sharon and Neelam, to immediately leave the house through a back entrance. In an interview with Morning Star News, Sharon recalled, "As we were about to move, two of them held us and brought us back to the front room. They fired at my father many times..." Pastor Purty died of gunshot wounds that night. After the murder, the Purty family left their village and rarely returned. But recently, because of the coronavirus, it was necessary that they be reunited in their home. And very soon thereafter, on April 16, anti-Christian terrorists once again appeared at the Purty house. Sharon and her younger brother answered the door and found themselves confronted by two gunmen. "Is this the house of the pastor who was killed?" one of the intruders demanded. Sharon stared at him as he ranted, "That pastor was killed but you didn't learn your lesson. You're still assembling in large numbers for Christian prayers. And where's the woman who's working as a spy?" "There are no spies here..." At that moment Neelam, hearing angry voices, entered the room. The gunman shouted, "She's the one! She's the spy!" He aimed his gun and pulled the trigger. "Our father was shot to death in that same room," Sharon Purty said later. "We cried for help as the two gunmen jumped on a motorbike and fled." Neelam Purty sustained serious injuries and was bleeding heavily. She was rushed to a hospital, where it was determined that a bullet was embedded in her thigh and her thighbone was shattered. Only after major surgery was she able to begin her painful recovery. The police were notified. Evidence was recorded. But it should come as no surprise that there have been no reports of the gunmen being apprehended. Attacks like those against the Purty family are on the rise in India due to a dangerous ideology gaining steam in the world's largest democracyaHindu nationalism. It asserts that India is a nation for Hindus, marginalizing Christians and other minorities. This movement often inspires mob attacks against Christians. Such attacks, when committed by Hindus, are rarely rebuked by the present Indian government, and the legal system often fails to bring perpetrators of mob violence to justice. In one instance earlier this year, an Indian pastor was dragged out of his church mid-service by a mob of Hindu nationalists and beaten for hours. Yet when the police arrived, they charged the pastor with violating a blasphemy law rather than charge the radicals for their violent assault. Even Indian laws pose a threat to minorities, though according to the constitution, India is a secular country. Yet, anti-conversion laws remain on the books in several Indian states. These laws are intended to prevent forced conversions. In reality, they restrict the right to change one's faith and discourage conversion away from Hinduism. Some Hindu nationalist leaders are deeply paranoid about Hindus converting to Christianity or other religions. One former member of parliament and member of the BJP party called Christian missionaries "a threat to the unity of the country." Inflammatory rhetoric from national leaders, a growing exclusionary movement that ostracizes religious minorities, and draconian blasphemy and anti-conversion laws form a perfect storm for the persecution of Christians in India. India's dire religious freedom problems deserves far more international attention than they receive. India is the world's largest democracy and a strategic partner of the United States, so it is disappointing its government is failing to protect the fundamental human right to freedom of religion. This makes advocating for religious freedom in India a sensitive subject for some. But the United States has prioritized religious freedom in our foreign policy and must urge all governments around the worldawhether friend or foeato protect it. The United States has an obligation to speak up on behalf of religious minorities in India, even if it ruffles the feathers of our ally. Courtesy of The Christian Post U.S. President Joe Biden signed 10 executive orders Thursday as part of his plan to fight the coronavirus. Biden will establish a COVID-19 testing board to increase testing, deal with supply shortages, establish rules for international travelers and direct resources to hard-hit minority communities. The new president has promised to take more forceful measures to contain the virus than the Donald Trump administration. He faces major barriers, with the virus actively spreading in most states. Vaccinations have been slow in many places. It is also unclear whether congressional Republicans will help him pass a $1.9-trillion economic relief and COVID response bill. 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. Officials in the Biden administration say they were delayed by a lack of cooperation from the Trump administration during the change in presidency. They say they do not have a complete understanding of past actions on vaccine distribution. And they face accusations from states that say they are not getting enough vaccine even as they are being asked to vaccinate more people. Dr. Anthony Fauci is Bidens top medical adviser on COVID-19. He announced renewed U.S. support for the World Health Organization after the Trump administration left the United Nations health agency. Fauci said early Thursday that the U.S. will join the WHOs efforts to bring vaccines and treatments to people in need, whether in rich or poor countries. He added that the U.S. will again provide full financial and other support for the organization. A new face mask requirement for travel in the U.S. will apply to airports and airplanes, ships, city buses, trains and public transportation. Biden has also required masks on federal property. Travelers from overseas must provide a negative COVID-19 test before leaving for the United States and quarantine after arrival. Biden also is seeking to expand testing and vaccine availability, with the goal of giving 100 million shots in his first 100 days in office. Biden has directed the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to begin setting up vaccination centers. The aim is to have 100 centers open in a month. Biden is also ordering the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to begin a program to make vaccines available through local drugstores starting next month. And he is directing the Public Health Service to assist with vaccinations in some areas. There is also support for states. Biden is ordering FEMA to pay back states for the full cost of using their National Guards to set up vaccination centers. That includes the use of supplies and protective equipment as well as workers. Some independent experts say the new administration should set a higher goal for itself than 100 million shots. Dr. Christopher Murray is with the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation in Seattle, Washington. He said that during flu season, the country is able to vaccinate about 3 million people in a day. Given the number of people dying from COVID, we could and should do more like what were able to do on seasonal flu, Murray said. Biden has also set a goal of having most lower-level schools reopen in his first 100 days. He is ordering the departments of Education and Health and Human Services to provide clear guidance for reopening schools safely. But administration officials say that reopening schools safely depends on increased testing. We do not have nearly enough testing capacity in this country, Jeff Zients said. We need the money in order to really ramp up testing, which is so important to reopen schools and businesses. Efforts to reopen the economy will depend on how quickly lawmakers act on the $1.9 trillion bill proposed by Biden. The bill includes separate measures such as $1,400 in direct payments to people and a $15 minimum wage. There is also a measure to provide aid to state and local governments. Some Republican lawmakers see the measure as unnecessary for dealing with the health crisis. The Biden plan estimates that a national vaccination plan with increased testing requires $160 billion. The new president wants another $170 billion to help in the reopening of schools and universities. The proposal also calls for major investment in scientific research to track new forms of the virus. Experts are concerned that some mutations may spread more easily and also prove harder to treat. Im Jonathan Evans. Jonathan Evans adapted this story for Learning English based on reports from the Associated Press and Reuters news service. Ashley Thompson was the editor. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story apply v. to cause (force, pressure, etc.) to have an effect or to be felt capacity n. the ability to do something : a mental, emotional, or physical ability distribution n. the way that something is divided or spread out mask n. a covering used to protect your face or cover your mouth minimum wage n. an amount of money that is the least amount of money per hour that workers must be paid according to the law mutations n. a change in a gene or the resulting new trait it produces in an individual negative adj. not positive quarantine n. the period of time during which a person or animal that has a disease or that might have a disease is kept away from others to prevent the disease from spreading ramp up v. to buildup; to increase response n. something that is done as a reaction to something else Hundreds of people are protesting through the streets of Palma at the moment at the Balearic governments closure of bars and restaurants across the island. It is a "motorised protest" with demonstrators taking to their vehicles. Last week 3,000 people joined a similar protest with organisers receiving heavy fines. Cineworld is facing an investor backlash over plans to pay bonuses worth up to 65m to its chief executive despite receiving taxpayer cash to survive the pandemic. More than 5,000 staff have been furloughed while its 127 UK cinemas are shut. But next week the board will try to push through a pay policy and a long-term bonus scheme that could hand bosses up to 208m. Hard times: The latest James Bond film, No Time To Die (pictured left), was delayed again, but Cineworld boss Mooky Greidinger (right) and his brother Israel will receive 33m each Meanwhile, the cinema industry suffered another blow yesterday when the latest James Bond film, No Time To Die, was delayed again until the autumn. But if Cineworld's share price hits 190p within three years, close to its pre-pandemic level of 197p, the chief executive Mooky Greidinger (pictured below) and his brother Israel will receive 33m each. If the share price hits 380p, the brothers will be handed 65m each. Three top investor advisory groups have urged shareholders to vote against the scheme. The Greidinger family own a 20 per cent stake in Cineworld, leading one advisory group to question whether there was a 'genuine need to further incentivise' the owners. Cineworld declined to comment. Parler Decries Reprehensible Attack on CEOs Family, Wife After House Oversights FBI Demand Parler, a social media company favored by conservatives, has asserted that CEO John Matzes family and wife have been smeared after the House Oversight Committee sent a letter to the FBI requesting an investigation. 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, the company wrote in a post on its website on Thursday. The Nevada-based firm added: 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. House Oversight Chairwoman Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.) wrote in a letter that the FBI should carry out a robust investigation into whether Parler played a role in the Capitol breach on Jan. 6. 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. The firm confirmed that Parler is using its services, but it stipulated to The Epoch Times that Parler isnt using its hosting platform. 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. But Parler, which was de-platformed by Big Tech companies in recent weeks and has been attempting to find a hosting service, wrote that it stands behind its CEO and his wife. The Entire Parler Team stands behind John and Alina, the company wrote. 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 development came as a court in Washington state refused to order Amazon Web Services to reinstate Parlers service after Amazon suspended its hosting service about two weeks ago. Whats more, the lawsuit asserted that Amazon violated U.S. antitrust laws and breached its contract with Parler. Amazon, for its part, said that Parler failed to moderate violent threats before the Jan. 6 Capitol breach, although Parler, in another court filing, said that an Amazon representative only appeared to be concerned about whether former President Donald Trump would join the social media website. Andrew Korybko is a Moscow-based American political analyst. China sanctioned 28 members of the former Trump administration on Wednesday who "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." This was a reasonable decision timed with their leader's departure from office and intended to be mostly symbolic since those officials no longer play any official role in bilateral relations. It shows the high level of self-respect that China has that it won't permit them to set foot on its soil or conduct business with the country. Regrettably, however, the National Security Council spokeswoman of newly-inaugurated President Biden didn't see it that way. Emily Horne told Reuters that "Imposing these sanctions on Inauguration Day is seemingly an attempt to play to partisan divides. 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's wrong about China's intentions, but it's unclear whether it's just an innocent misunderstanding due to her team's limited communication with China or if she's being dishonest. About the second-mentioned possible explanation for her harsh statement, Horne might actually be the one playing partisanship here if she's attempting to bash China in order to earn Republican support for the Biden administration's forthcoming policy towards China, whatever it might end up being. After all, the Trump administration is already out of power and shouldn't officially have any influence on the new administration's policy formulation. This should make China's move more symbolic than substantive from the Biden administration's perspective. They could have therefore just ignored it and closed the chapter on that dark era. Instead, Horne sought to make a "friendly" pass towards her Republican colleagues for what seem to be public relations purposes. She knows that some of them bitterly detest President Biden's election, including those unelected officials employed in the country's massive permanent military, intelligence, and diplomatic bureaucracies ("deep state"). It might very well be the case that she didn't want to leave what they might regard as an "insult" unanswered in the hopes that they won't consider the Biden administration to be "soft on China", or worse, perhaps silently approving of China's sanctions against Trump-era officials. In any case, it was wrong for her to speculate about China's intentions when Beijing was crystal clear about why it imposed those sanctions. It had nothing to do with partisanship but everything to do with national self-respect. Unlike the U.S., China doesn't meddle in the domestic political affairs of other countries, though the Biden administration seems to be getting off on the wrong foot by projecting what might be its own intentions towards China. It should importantly be noted that Hsiao Bi-khim, the individual regarded by some anti-China hawks as Taiwan's unofficial so-called "ambassador to America", attended President Biden's inauguration. Commenting on this provocative move, Horne was quoted by Reuters as saying that U.S.-Taiwanese ties are "rock-solid", adding that "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." From this statement as well as the one regarding China's mostly symbolic sanctioning of Trump-era officials, it looks like the Biden administration doesn't really have any intention of changing the policy of hostility against China that it inherited. If anything, it seems like they just want to make it more bipartisan by having the Democrats lead it instead. It's still too early to confidently make that conclusion, however, which is why the aforementioned insight should only be considered as educated conjecture influenced by the new administration's first two statements of pertinence about China. Nevertheless, they still raise concerns about the direction that the Biden administration might be headed and whether it's even serious about truly reversing Trump's anti-Chinese policies. It can only be hoped that Horne's statements were shortsighted partisan opportunism for public relations purposes than a hint of an unproductive and cynical strategy that might soon be unveiled. MEDFORD, Ore. The Medford School District has revealed its plan for returning students to classrooms after gathering feedback from families and staff, laying out a gradual timeline for in-person learning that will unfold over the course of February and March. Governor Kate Brown announced last month that Oregon's coronavirus metrics for schools would become "advisory" instead of mandatory effective January 1. Many local school districts immediately began planning for a return to in-person learning, with classroom instruction underway by mid-January in some cases. Medford School District in-person timeline Elementary Kindergarten - Grade 3: All Day, Four Days a Week (Mon., Tues., Thurs., Fri.) Wednesday, Minimum of Two-Hours Synchronous Remote Learning Grades K-1 begins February 22 Grades 2-3 begins February 25 Student Orientations begin February 16 Grade 4 - Grade 6: Hybrid, A/B Schedule (Mon., Thurs. OR Tues., Fri.) Wednesday, Minimum of Two-Hours Synchronous Remote Learning Grades 4-6 begins March 1 Student Orientations begin February 22 Middle School Hybrid, A/B Schedule (Mon., Thurs. or Tues., Fri.) Wednesday, CDL Support Days Full Hybrid Begins March 29 Orientations and Hybrid Ramp-In Begins February 16 High School North Medford HS and South Medford HS Hybrid, A/B Schedule (Mon., Thurs. or Tues., Fri.) Every Other Wednesday In-Person Full Hybrid Begins March 29 Orientations and Hybrid Ramp-In Begins February 16 Central Medford High School: In-Person (Mon., Tues., Thurs., Fri.) Medford School District in particular has opted for a more cautious approach. The District issued a survey to parents and staff at the end of December, seeking feedback on the decision before moving forward. The plan released on Thursday continues to reflect that caution, with a phased return to hybrid learning set to unfold over the space of a month and not beginning until late February. Under the plan, elementary schools students would start heading back to the classroom on February 22, and high school students would not begin until after Spring Break, on March 29. "Our plan will be centered on prioritizing health and safety for all by following the guidance outlined in our safety standards," MSD said in a letter to families. "Please know if you plan to attend in-person (and we hope you do!), we will be asking families to agree to a social contract that will protect our friends and community that includes wearing face coverings as well as practicing physical distancing and hand-washing." Families that don't want to have their students return to the classroom will not have the option of continuing remote learning in the same way that they were before. Instead, they'll be referred to the Medford Online Academy, a separate online-only program that has been underway since the beginning of the school year. Those interested in the online-only option will have to fill out and return a transfer form by January 29. Under the Medford plan, grades K-1 will start February 22, followed by grades 2-3 on February 25. These students will be learning in-person four days per week, with at least two hours of remote learning on Wednesdays. Grades 4-6 will start a hybrid schedule on March 1, divided into two cohorts each group in the classroom two days per week. As with the younger kids, Wednesday has been set aside as a remote learning day for all students, with a minimum of two hours of synchronous learning. Middle school students will also be on a hybrid model, beginning March 29. Wednesdays will be comprehensive distance learning support days for all students. Students of North and South Medford High will begin hybrid learning on March 29, with in-person learning every other Wednesday for the two cohorts. Central Medford High students will be on a flat in-person schedule four days per week. "We know that there will be some difficult decisions for some of you to make in the next couple of weeks," Superintendent Bret Champion said. "Please know we are here to support you and we continue to be honored to serve your students, in all learning models!" MSD has published an FAQ page to cover some of the other details, and promises more information to come. Kaiser Permanente: planning expertise for mass vaccination clinics and distributing vaccines to health-care providers Microsoft: technical expertise and support Costco: vaccine delivery through pharmacies SEIU 1199NW: coordination of volunteer vaccinators to critical locations UFCW 21: staffing and training coordination of vaccinators WSNA: safety and health consultation for providers Sea Mar: a voice for historically underserved communities National Guard: logistics and infrastructure support In an effort to streamline the delivery of Washington state's COVID-19 vaccines , Washington Gov. Jay Inslee announced on Monday the states plan to create the Washington State Vaccine Command and Coordination Center to meet a goal of vaccinating 45,000 citizens per day.The center a statewide public-private partnership consisting of Washington corporations, labor unions, health-care groups and government entities will work together to coordinate all available resources to create an infrastructure to deliver vaccines across the state as efficiently as possible.The organizations working with the center include Starbucks, Microsoft, Kaiser Permanente, Costco, Service Employees International Union 1199NW, United Food and Commercial Workers 21, the Washington State Nurses Association, Sea Mar Community Health Centers and the National Guard.This is a massive effort, and as noble as any cause will be in 2021, because this is the year we choose to get vaccinated, Inslee said during a press conference on Monday. We are removing as many impediments as possible to Washingtonians getting vaccinated, and we are going to deliver every dose that comes into our state.We will still be dependent on the federal government for doses, he said, but we are doing everything we can once it gets here.As for how these organizations will play a role throughout this process, Inslees office said in a release that each organization will focus on a different facet of vaccine distribution, including logistic coordination, allocation strategies, infrastructure support and development, and cross-organizational and agency operational communications.For example, Starbucks, according to a news report by, will assign 11 employees with expertise in labor and deployment, operations and research and development to work full time on vaccine distribution, adding that the number of employees could change.The Starbucks employees assigned to work on vaccine distribution, according to the report, will use the companys computer simulation modeling system to find ways to expedite inoculations across the states 39 counties and 29 tribal nations.To test these computer simulation models, the coffee mogul is utilizing its Tryer Center, which is currently used to test ideas for new store designs and beverages, to create mock-up vaccination stations and simulations focused on different ways the COVID-19 vaccines can be administered.Essentially, Starbucks has said they will look at ways to efficiently get consumers (people being vaccinated) through vaccination sites appropriately and efficiently, Mike Faulk, a spokesperson from Inslees office, said in an email. Theyre taking the principles they apply to getting customers in and out and applying it to mass vaccination sites, with certain obvious adjustments to the uniquely different aspects of a vaccine site.Some people, Faulk said, might arrive with questions before theyre vaccinated, and others may be ready to go in and out, so Starbucks has talked about ways to funnel people through different lines so backups are less likely. People are also recommended to wait 15 minutes after the shot to be observed for any side effects, but that still needs to be done in a socially distant way that doesnt exceed capacity.The contributions being made by the other organizations involved in the center, according to Inslees office, include:Our state should be proud of the example we have set and, more importantly, the lives we have saved. It did not happen by accident, Inslee said in a release. It happened because of Washingtonians sound, science-based, responsible actions as individuals. Everyone can take some measure of pride in how well we have cared for others in these frightening times, and we will continue to lead. Jason Whitlock is speaking out against Black Lives Matter, calling it a "cleverly marketed slogan that provides cover for extremists to undermine racial progress and bully American citizens to support Democrat politicians." And that, Whitlock a journalist at Outkick.com and former Fox Sports commentator known for his controversial takes on sports and race issues said, is exactly what the Ku Klux Klan was all about. "Despite the sweet-sounding name, Black Lives Matter acts as a racial divider," Whitlock wrote in an email to IndyStar on Friday, "no different from the KKK." The rise of the Black Lives Matter social justice movement was spurred by the deaths of Black men, women and children across the U.S. during interactions with police officers, inspiring protests and calls for police reform. The Ku Klux Klan and other hate groups have terrorized Black communities, carrying out lynchings and destroying Black schools. Richard Pierce, a professor and historian at the University of Notre Dame, called Whitlock's comments a "provocative, inflammatory screed." Pierce, who studies twentieth century America and specializes in the urban experience of Blacks, told IndyStar he had no desire to break down point by point why Whitlock is wrong. "Nonetheless, I will say this. The KKK rioters commonly wore hoods to camouflage their identity and mimicked confederate general Nathan Bedford Forrest's marauding practices honed during the Civil War," he told IndyStar. "Their very anonymity added to their intimidation." Black Lives Matter events, by contrast, are permitted events which take place under the protection of the First Amendment, he said. "Protesters, prior to COVID-19 safeguard measures, were mostly unmasked," he said. "I've never seen a hooded Black Lives Matter protester." Pierce added that Black Lives Matter protest marches correlate more strongly with events of inequality rather than the public election cycle. Story continues Whitlock went on Fox News Wednesday night with Tucker Carlson. In that interview, he said Black Lives Matter and Antifa serve as the modern-day enforcement arm of the Democratic Party. Antifa short for "anti-fascist" is the name for loosely affiliated, left-leaning, anti-racist groups that monitor and track the activities of local neo-Nazis. The movement has no unified structure or national leadership but has emerged in the form of local bodies nationwide, particularly on the West Coast. Antifa: What is antifa and what does the movement want? TV: Tucker Carlson says claim that America is racist is 'poisonous,' condemns Republican senators When asked by IndyStar, part of the USA TODAY Network, to expound on his take comparing Black Lives Matter to the KKK, Whitlock said he preferred an email interview due to the "sensitive topic." "The Ku Klux Klan was founded on Christmas Eve 1865 by Confederate soldiers dedicated to undermining the racial progress sparked by the Civil War and Emancipation Proclamation," he wrote. Citing a History.com link, Whitlock talked of how it was at night when the KKK took part in terrorist raids against Blacks and white Republicans. He said they used intimidation, destroyed property, assaulted and killed in an effort to influence upcoming elections. Jason Whitlock (right) interviews President Donald Trump Oct. 21, 2020. George Floyd: Kanye, Banksy, Drake and more stars take action following George Floyd's death Federal agency: Supporting 'Black Lives Matter' isn't partisan or political Whitlock said he believes it is not a coincidence that "Black Lives Matter riots picked up during an election cycle and disappear after the votes have been counted." The U.S. Office of Special Counsel acknowledged in July that the Black Lives Matter movement, which focuses on issues of racism, has become a "hot-button issue," complicated by the use of "Black Lives Matter" as an umbrella term for social movement. As for his analogy comparing the KKK and Black Lives Matter being far fetched, Whitlock said it is not. "My analogy is far more substantive and accurate than pretending the events at the Capitol on Jan. 6 were an armed insurrection analogous to Pearl Harbor and 9/11," he said. "Black Lives Matter, founded by self-described trained Marxists, has a stated goal of disrupting Western Civilization traditions and values." In June, USA TODAY's Fact Check team labeled the claim that the Democratic Party founded the KKK as false, noting that the KKK was "founded by Democrats, but not the party." The KKK is almost a paramilitary organization thats trying to benefit one party. It syncs up with the Democratic Party, which really was a racist party openly at the time, Jon Grinspan, the Smithsonians National Museum of American History curator of political and military history, told USA TODAY. "But the KKK isnt the Democratic Party, and the Democratic Party isnt the KKK. Additionally, in the mid-20th century, both parties' stances on racial equity began to switch, as Democrats introduced policies to support voting rights and many racist voters who opposed the Civil Rights Act of 1964 left the Democratic Party to become Republicans. Fact check: Democratic Party did not found the KKK, did not start the Civil War Whitlock stirred controversy in 2018 when he said that in the immediate aftermath of the civil rights movement in the 1960s, the Democrats marketed liberalism as the solution to Black peoples problems. And liberalism now is like a cigarette. Its been marketed to us the same as the cigarette fashionable, sophisticated, he said. Its supposed to be liberating but I think it needs a surgeon generals warning: Hazardous to your families and all the values you were taught as a child. Whitlock said 95% of Blacks are afraid to even admit that we have conservative values. IndyStar has reached out to Black Lives Matter for comment. Follow IndyStar sports reporter Dana Benbow on Twitter: @DanaBenbow. Reach her via email: dbenbow@indystar.com. Contributing: Lorenzo Reyes, Doug Stanglin, Joel Shannon and Devon Link, USA TODAY This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Jason Whitlock speaks against Black Lives Matter, compares it to KKK Paducah Police: Missing Teen Returns Home By West Kentucky Star Staff PADUCAH - A girl who went missing earlier this week has been located.The Paducah Police Department said 14-year-old DeOnna Harper has returned home and is in good health.Police had been searching for Harper since Wednesday afternoon. File image: Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressing the nation while launching the COVID-19 vaccination drive (Image: YouTube/Narendra Modi) Prime Minister Narendra Modi will interact with COVID-19 vaccine beneficiaries and vaccinators in his Lok Sabha constituency of Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh on January 22 via video conferencing. Starting 1.15 pm, participants will share their experience of vaccination with the prime minister. "This interaction would give first hand opportunity to hear their experiences as well as feedback. I would urge you all to watch tomorrows interaction," PM Modi said in a tweet. The interaction comes at a time when some beneficiaries have shown hesitation to getting vaccinated citing one of the vaccines efficacy data and due to other rumours of the jabs being unsafe. The data was also questioned by some experts. The Centre and state governments are scrambling to increase awareness about the vaccines. Follow our LIVE blog for the latest updates of the coronavirus pandemic 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 PM Modi, while launching the worlds largest vaccination drive on January 16, asked people to be aware of propaganda and rumours about the efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccines that have been approved for public use in India. Our Indian scientists and experts have guaranteed the safety of the vaccine, so the people of the country must not listen to any kind of propaganda and rumours surrounding the COVID-19 vaccine, PM Modi said. Healthcare workers feel used as guinea pigs, hesitate to take Covaxin The Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) has approved two vaccines Serum Institute of Indias Covishield and Bharat Biotechs Covaxin for restricted emergency use. Beneficiaries will not be able to choose between the two jabs. Covaxin is still in the phase-3 clinical trial. COVID-19 Vaccine Tracker: All you need to know about manufacturing and pricing Priority is being given to healthcare and frontline workers, who had already been registered on the purpose-built CoWIN application. This would be sequentially followed by people with comorbidities, senior citizens and finally, the general public. The Centre is hoping to vaccinate 30 crore people by July, in a bid to stop the novel coronavirus pandemic. As of January 22, India had reported more than 1.06 crore confirmed COVID-19 cases. The death toll from the outbreak in the country stood at over 1.53 lakh. While more than 1.02 crore patients had recovered, 1.88 lakh cases remained active. Globally, more than 9.73 crore individuals have been infected by the virus and over 20.90 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. Several countries have already vaccinated a significant number of people from high-risk groups. Robert Kocharyan on years of his leadership in Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia Situation on Armenian-Azerbaijani border is still tense, more on COVID-19 in Armenia, May 28 digest "Armenia" alliance of political parties paying tribute to founder of First Republic Aram Manukyan (LIVE) Yerevan.today: Armenia acting PM not greeted at ruling party's headquarters, citizens call him 'capitulator' Russia MOD reports on maintenance of ceasefire regime in Nagorno-Karabakh Armenia acting MOD meets with Russian counterpart in Moscow Armenia 2nd President: I see possibility of restoring borders of Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast We can provide our army with some key, modernized weapons, says Armenia ex-President Kocharyan Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: Captives issue is not one that any opposition force can resolve OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs release statement on detention of 6 Armenian servicemen by Azerbaijan Armenian acting Deputy PM: Discussion on issues possible only after withdrawal of Azeri troops from Armenia's territory Armenia acting PM on Syunik roads, Russian military posts: This is only place where there are working nuances Armenia acting PM: Process of return of POWs will intensify after upcoming elections Putin congratulates Aliyev on Republic Day 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 ADVERTISEMENT The Governor of Zamfara State, Bello Matawalle, has accused some unnamed traditional rulers of sabotaging his governments peace efforts in the state. The governor, at a meeting with the heads of security agencies in the state on Thursday, said the traditional rulers were not playing their expected roles in the fight against banditry. He said this has led to the recent deterioration of insecurity in the state. The meeting was also attended by religious clerics, traditional rulers and journalists at the Government House in Gusau. Mr Matawalle said some traditional rulers were aiding the illegal activities of outlawed vigilante groups in their domains, which he said was provoking reprisal attacks by bandits. Angry governor The governor also condemned a statement by the chairman of the states traditional rulers council, the Emir of Anka, Attahiru Ahmad, in which he challenged the state government to allow citizens to bear arms for self defence, since the government had failed in protecting the citizens. The governor said it is discouraging to have a respected personality like the state chairman Council of Chiefs to grant an interview with journalists to challenge the efforts of the government and security operatives. Mr Matawalle said security is a collective responsibility and not that of the government alone. He said if the residents and traditional leaders are not interested in his administrations dialogue with the bandits, he would withdraw from it. Responding, however, Mr Ahmad said he was quoted out of context. He said he only appealed to the authorities to protect citizens across the country. Fighting banditry in Zamfara In October 2019, a committee set up by the governor to proffer solutions to banditry in Zamfara said some traditional rulers were colluding with bandits, and recommended to the governor to dethrone them. The committee, headed by a former Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Muhammad Abubakar, also disclosed the bandits had collected over N3 billion as ransoms from families of abducted persons in the state. The committee said 4,983 women had been made widows, 25,050 children orphans and 190,340 persons displaced by bandits from 2011 to 2019. While receiving the report, the governor promised to implement the recommendations of the committee. I would like to make it clear that personal relationship, sectional, geographical, religious and ethnic interests will have no role to play in the decision l will take with regard to recommendations of the committee, especially those that relate to the recommended sanctions and disciplinary measures, Mr Matawalle said. Years later, the governor has not implemented the major recommendation of the committee which was sanctions against those indicted in crimes across the state. Bloomberg (Bloomberg) -- A century after automakers showed the world the value of assembly-line manufacturing, a shortage of semiconductors is teaching the industry a painful new lesson in what it takes to build a car.For most of its history, the industry has relied on a distinct approach to buying car parts, procuring components from suppliers right at the moment theyre needed. Its referred to as just-in-time manufacturing and is designed to streamline production and eliminate the costs of keeping warehouses stocked with parts waiting to be used.But the shortcomings of that system were made starkly clear this year as the automakers confronted a dearth of the chips they need to build advanced functions into their vehicles, and found themselves near the bottom of chipmakers customer lists because of their just-in-time approach. That shortage is threatening to cut $110 billion in sales from the industry, and forcing auto manufacturers to overhaul the way they get the electronic components that have become critical to contemporary car design.Customers need to change, said Hassane El-Khoury, chief executive officer of ON Semiconductor Corp., which gets more than a third of its revenue from the automotive market. That just-in-time mindset doesnt work.Semiconductor makers are demanding guaranteed, long-term orders rather than the short-term flexibility the carmakers are used to. The chipmakers assertiveness, even under pressure from lawmakers, underscores the rebalancing of power from the companies whose logos are on the cars to those that provide the advanced technology that runs them.As these components play a bigger role in everything from in-car entertainment to self-driving functions, chip manufacturers say theyre willing to invest in expanding production to head off a repeat of shortages that have forced the industry to mothball factories and furlough workers -- if the carmakers give them orders that cant be canceled and commit to long-term agreements.Why would I have invested a single dollar when my customer can cancel within 30 days and it takes me two years to build capacity? ON Semiconductors El-Khoury said.There are signs the industry is listening. Last week, Ford Motor Co. Chief Executive Officer Jim Farley indicated a new willingness to reverse decades of outsourcing for parts.As the industry changes, we have to in-source now, just like we in-sourced powertrains in the 20s and 30s, said Farley, who has shut down half his factories and seen his dealers lots emptying because of a dearth of chips.Most components used by the auto industry are part of a discrete food chain, and carmakers are at the top, able to orchestrate their suppliers actions in a system that delivers them a set of components that can be put together quickly and cheaply into a finished vehicle. Electronics makers, whove fared much better in the chip supply crunch, regard semiconductors as essential systems, and they work directly with chipmakers to secure products and often design their devices around the chips themselves.Automakers can no longer assume the dominance of an 800-pound gorilla in negotiations with chip companies and battery makers, said Mark Wakefield, head of the auto practice at consultancy AlixParters.Pioneered by Toyota Motor Corp. in the 1960s, just-in-time is a system where components suppliers are required to turn up with whatever the carmakers want at the last possible moment in a process that pares costs to the very minimum.That strategy has served the industry well, saving money and helping it organize a system for sourcing the 40,000 or so components that go into a modern vehicle, many of which can be made in a matter of days. But semiconductors -- the heart of sensors, engine management and battery controllers, infotainment and eventually systems that will pilot vehicles -- are created in a process that takes months. And building and equipping a factory to produce them requires years.Todays cars contain an average of 1,400 semiconductors -- and that puts the chipmakers at an advantage. Fords Farley said hes now negotiating contracts directly with chipmakers -- bypassing his traditional auto suppliers -- while building up inventory of the precious pieces and even redesigning models to accommodate the semiconductor companies.We have learned a lot through this crisis that can be applied to many critical components, Farley told analysts last month as he announced Ford would lose half its production in the second quarter and take a $2.5 billion hit to earnings this year, citing a lack of chips. Were also thinking about what this means for the world of batteries and silicon and all sorts of other components that are really mission critical for our company.Ford is not alone in seeking solutions that upend long-time industry practices. Automakers from General Motors Co. to Volkswagen AG to Tesla Inc. are looking for ways to get closer to the chipmaking process, which could include forming partnerships with semiconductor companies, bringing chipmaking in-house and even building their own foundries. Nothing is off the table.Cars are only going to get more technical and theyre going to need more chips, said Sam Fiorani, vice president of vehicle forecasting at consultant AutoForecast Solutions. All of the vehicle manufacturers are looking at every possible scenario for getting it solved for the long-term.But according to some chipmakers, the auto industry has embraced new technology but failed to understand those that supply it.There is a huge difference between manufacturing a car and manufacturing a chip, said Kurt Sievers, CEO of NXP Semiconductor NV, the biggest maker of auto chips. Weve been working for years closely with the auto OEMs directly when it comes to R&D and innovation -- however, not at all for supply chain and volume forecasting.Sievers said the chip industry wants specific forecasts that stretch out in years and binding commitments to buy chips that last that long. The way automakers, referred to as original equipment manufacturers or OEMs, and semiconductor vendors work together needs to change, he said.And the car companies have little choice but to do so. Consumers are increasingly choosing vehicles based on functions such as connectivity, entertainment and advanced automated safety features. The auto industry is steadily shifting away from gasoline to battery power. All of that requires more chips.Its no longer this subsystem that no one cares about, said Victor Peng, CEO of Xilinx Inc. a chipmaker whose products are uses in advanced driver-assistance systems. The electronics is really going to shape the customer experience.The semiconductor industry has plenty of other orders to fill. In 2020 automakers bought almost $40 billion worth of chips, little changed from the prior year, even amid the crash of the pandemic. By comparison, the computer industry bought 17% more chips than it did in 2019, for a total of $160 billion. Phone makers, meantime, provided the chip industry with $137 billion in revenue, a jump of 12%.Earlier this year, automakers lobbied U.S. lawmakers to intervene to help them with the shortage, arguing that chipmakers were unfairly prioritizing customers building less important consumer electronics over cars. The automakers argue their industry creates more than 7 million jobs in America and is critical to national security. And theyve found a sympathetic ear in President Joe Biden, who was supported by the United Auto Workers in the 2020 election, and is working to help the auto industry navigate the chip crisis.Still, consumer electronics buys $20 billion more chips a year than the auto industry, and Big Tech has plenty of clout in Washington, too.Chipmakers are also in no hurry to add new factories to meet this years chip rush. Though 2020 was a good year and 2021 is shaping up to be even better, they dont have to look back very far to be reminded of the difficulties of matching supply with short-term fluctuations in demand. In 2019 industry sales shrank 12% as customers slashed orders to work through stockpiles.Many investors and analysts are already concerned that what now looks like insatiable demand is customers double-ordering: asking for twice the amount they need so they can at least get the number they want. In the past, such heavy ordering has proved to foreshadow industry gluts, with demand eventually easing and buyers tapping the brakes as they worked down accumulated inventory.We came out of 2018 guns blazing, everybody hoarded, and then 2019 was an awful year of demand because they already had chips, said ON Semiconductors El Khoury. Here we are today with people looking at us and asking, why havent you invested?The type of chip automakers want also works against them. Much of what they use -- things such as sensors and power regulators -- can be made on whats called lagging nodes, or production technology that hasnt been state-of-the-art for years. While that makes it cheaper, chipmakers are reluctant to expand capacity of technology thats closer to being obsolete.The chips that the automotive industry uses are older than the ones youd find in your cell phones or in your video games, said AutoForecast Solutions Fiorani. That makes them less of a priority to the companies that produce them.Fiorani said carmakers would be better served forming joint ventures with chipmakers to tap their expertise and lock down a dependable source of supply. But doing that would involve going around traditional suppliers such as Continental AG and Robert Bosch AG and turning back the clock to a more expensive time when companies like Ford had to deal with suppliers for raw materials.Some auto suppliers are already taking steps to make sure they dont get cut out. Parts supplier Robert Bosch is opening a new chip factory in Dresden that it says is the first of its kind dedicated to manufacturing semiconductors for automotive uses. Still, some automakers are already talking openly about cutting out those middlemen in order to keep up with the speed of change.We will be the one who has the commercial relationship with the chipmaker, Volvo Cars CEO Hakan Samuelsson said at a mobility conference in Tel Aviv this month. When we want a change and you have to talk to suppliers, it is too slow.Fords Farley said hes consulted with tech companies and discovered how common it is in other industries to keep buffer stock and to buy directly from chip manufacturers.Even if the company still buys the components with chips on them from a supplier, they still negotiated a direct deal, he told analysts, describing something thats common practice for companies like Apple Inc. Ford learned that nine of its tier-one component suppliers rely on just one Renesas Electronics Corp. factory in Japan for chips, a plant that suffered a fire, he said.Some automakers have made rapid progress in understanding their newer suppliers and are negotiating long-term deals. Others are sticking to the belief that they can dictate how their suppliers should act, according to ON Semiconductors El-Khoudry.Learning from their current difficulties is the key to turning around the current crisis and avoiding the next, according to Xilinxs Peng. Toyota, the inventor of just-in-time, said it expects to return to pre-pandemic levels of profitability as soon as this year, helped by factories that continue to churn out vehicles because the company made the decision to accumulate stockpiles of chips.People have to think differently or theyre going to be left behind, Peng 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. St. Ambrose, St. Anselm, Corpus Christi and St. Elizabeth will close for Sunday Masses, and the future of the buildings is yet to be determined. St. Thomas the Apostle will remain in its current structure, and there are no anticipated changes to Holy Angels or St. Thomas schools, officials said. You might have heard about HGK Racing before, as they have been building quite a few interesting cars over the years, like the BMW E92 Eurofighter or the BMW E46 , which Kristaps Bluss used to drive in Formula Drift . These guys are well known for their craftsmanship, as their top-tier vehicles all feature sequential gearboxes, extensively built motors, and highly modified chassis suited for the given application.After making a name for themselves with several BMW chassis, we're surprised to see them launching their new Eurofighter, which is based on the Toyota Supra A90. They have made extensive use of carbon fiber and kevlar on the body, which is reminiscent of their more recent F22 project. A set of carbon-kevlar doors alone will set you back $2,725 (2,240). The rear fenders will cost you another $1,192 (980).There are more goodies in the back, but don't be surprised if you'll end up paying an extra $2,434 (2,000) for a rear-mounted radiator kit with a carbon fiber shroud, carbon fiber rear firewall, and two high-flow Spal fans. Although the vehicle on display is fitted with a 2JZ-GTE engine capable of more than 1,000 horsepower, HGK has also thought about LS fanatics , and can provide an LS-based engine Front Motor Plate.Of course, with such a high horsepower build, a manual gearbox just wouldn't cut it, so a Samsonas Sequential Gearbox was installed instead. Both 4-speed and 5-speed variants are available, but you do need to consider the fact that this is a $10,471 (8,600) gearbox. And this is without even considering the rest of the drivetrain, including the engine, the clutch, the quick-change differential, the axles, or the driveshaft.All in all, we did the math by adding up all the products featured on the website, and got to a total of around $73,048 (59,960). This does not include the engine, the chassis, or the man-hours spent building the car. As of now, it is not clear if this actual vehicle will be competing in any professional drift series, be it with Kristaps Bluss or James Dean or anyone else for that matter. Still, we're bound to get a drift demo soon, and we'll be sure to give you a tip on that. LONDON Four smugglers convicted of killing 39 people from Vietnam who died in the back of a container truck as it was shipped to England were sentenced Friday to between 13 and 27 years in prison. The victims, ages 15 to 44, were found in October 2019 inside a refrigerated container that had traveled by ferry from Belgium to the eastern English port of Purfleet. The migrants had paid smugglers thousands of dollars to take them on risky journeys to what they hoped would be better lives abroad. Instead, Judge Nigel Sweeney said, all died in what must have been an excruciatingly painful death by suffocation in the airtight container. The judge sentenced Gheorghe Nica, 43, a Romanian described by prosecutors as the smuggling ringleader, to 27 years in prison. Eamonn Harrison, 24, a Northern Irish truck driver who drove the container to the Belgian port of Zeebrugge, received an 18-year sentence. A New York judge on Thursday ruled that the state's lawsuit to dissolve the National Rifle Association can go ahead. Judge Joel Cohen's decision will allow New York Attorney General Letitia James' lawsuit to move ahead in state court in Manhattan, rather than dismissing it on technical grounds or moving it to federal court, as the NRA's lawyers desired. James' lawsuit, filed last August, seeks the NRA's dissolution under state nonprofit law over claims that top executives illegally diverted tens of millions of dollars for trips, no-show contracts and other expenditures. The gun rights advocacy group filed for bankruptcy and announced a move to Texas last Friday. Normally, a bankruptcy filing would halt all pending litigation. James' office contends that its lawsuit is covered by an exemption involving a state's regulatory powers and cannot be stopped by bankruptcy. AG James is the states chief law enforcement officer and has regulatory power over nonprofit organizations incorporated in the state, such as the NRA, Judge Cohen said Thursday. 'It would be inappropriate to find that the attorney couldnt pursue her claims in state court just because one of the defendants wants to proceed in federal court,' Cohen said at a hearing held by video because of the coronavirus pandemic. Cohen also rejected the NRAs arguments that James lawsuit was improperly filed in Manhattan and should've been filed in Albany, where the NRAs incorporation paperwork lists an address. The NRAs arguments for dismissing the case did not involve the merits of the case. A New York judge on Thursday denied the National Rifle Association's bid to throw out a state lawsuit that seeks to put the powerful gun advocacy group out of business. New York State Attorney General Letitia James seeks the NRA's dissolution under state nonprofit law 'Todays order reaffirms what weve known all along: the NRA does not get to dictate if and where they will answer for their actions,' James said in a statement. The NRA has been incorporated in New York since 1871, though it is headquartered in Virginia and last week filed for bankruptcy protection in Texas in a bid to reincorporate in that state. In announcing its bankruptcy filing last Friday, the NRA said it wanted to break free of a 'corrupt political and regulatory environment in New York' and that it saw Texas as friendlier to its interests. 'Texas values the contributions of the NRA, celebrates our law-abiding members, and joins us as a partner in upholding constitutional freedom,' NRA CEO Wayne LaPierre said in a letter to members. 'We seek protection from New York officials who illegally abused and weaponized the powers they wield against the NRA and its members.' The NRA's lawyers said at a bankruptcy court hearing on Wednesday in Dallas that they would not use the Chapter 11 proceedings to halt the lawsuit. After Thursday's ruling, they said they were ready to go ahead with the case, including a meeting with lawyers from James office on Friday and another hearing in March. In a letter to Cohen in advance of Thursdays heading, NRA lawyer Sarah Rogers said the organization had no position on seeking to stay the case through bankruptcy, but that it reserved right to seek such orders from bankruptcy court in the future. The NRA, whose headquarters are in Virginia (above), said in a statement they were going to restructure as a Texas nonprofit to exit what it said was a 'a corrupt political and regulatory environment in New York' where it has been incorporated for 150 years President Trump is pictured above with NRA CEO Wayne LaPierre back in 2019. Trump had urged the group back in August to move to Texas to avoid legal hassles Assistant New York Attorney General James Sheehan said he hoped to bring the case to trial by early 2022. In seeking to dismiss or move the states lawsuit to federal court, Rogers argued that many of its misspending and self-dealing allegations were also contained in pending lawsuits in federal court - a slate of cases she described as a 'tangled nest of litigation.' Part of Rogers argument for moving the state lawsuit to federal court involved an error in the states original filing that she said altered the timeline of when it was filed. Jamess office filed its lawsuit on August 6, but later had to amend the complaint to include a part that was left. That same day, the NRA filed a lawsuit in federal court alleging James actions were motivated by hostility toward its political advocacy, including her comments in 2018 that the NRA is a 'terrorist organization.' Rogers contended that because of the filing glitch James lawsuit should be considered a counterclaim to the NRAs lawsuit and handled alongside of it in federal court. Cohen rejected that, saying Rogers was placing 'far too much weight on a non-substantive error that was quickly fixed.' 'The attorney general filed first,' he said. An attendee at a gun-rights rally wears a hat supporting the National Rifle Association, at the Capitol in Olympia, Washington. The NRA has been incorporated in New York since 1871, though it is headquartered in Virginia and last week filed for bankruptcy protection in Texas in a bid to reincorporate in that state COVID-19 has upended the NRA, which last year laid off dozens of employees, canceled its national convention and scuttled fundraising. Still, the NRA claimed in announcing the move that the organization was 'in its strongest financial condition in years.' In a statement announcing the changes, LaPierre said the move to Texas and the bankruptcy filing was part of a strategic plan. 'Obviously, an important part of this plan is 'dumping New York'. The NRA is pursuing reincorporating in a state that values the contributions of the NRA, celebrates our law-abiding members and will join us as a partner in upholding constitutional freedom,' LaPierre said. 'This is a transformational moment in the history of the NRA.' In the New York lawsuit filed last August, James, who is a Democrat, accused LaPierre and three of his current or former top executives of using the organization as their 'personal piggy bank' for years. The lawsuit alleged NRA leaders paid for family trips to the Bahamas, private jets and expensive meals that contributed to a $64 million reduction in the NRA's balance sheet in three years, turning a surplus into a deficit. She sought to have the organization dissolved over alleged self-dealing by top leaders of the group. The NRA angrily blasted the suit, saying at the time: 'You could have set your watch by it: the investigation was going to reach its crescendo as we move into the 2020 election cycle. It's a transparent attempt to score political points and attack the leading voice in opposition to the leftist agenda,' the group said. The NRA counter-sued James, alleging that her bombshell lawsuit 'was a baseless, premeditated attack on our organization and the Second Amendment freedoms it fights to defend'. The NRA accused James, a Democrat, of seeking a 'corporate death sentence' in a partisan push to fulfill a 'career goal.' Sixteen Republican attorneys general filed a brief supporting the NRA's case. President Trump subsequently urged the group to move to Texas to avoid future legal hassles, saying in August: 'I think the NRA should move to Texas and lead a very good and beautiful life'. Law Offices of Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik De Blouw LLP For more information about the class action lawsuit against AltaMed Health Services Corporation, 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 AltaMed Health Services Corporation, alleging the company violated Labor Code 2699, et seq. seeking penalties for DEFENDANTs alleged violation of California Labor Code 201, 202, 203, 204, 210, 226(a), 226.7, 351, 510, 512, 558(a)(1)(2), 1194, 1197, 1197.1, 1198, and 2802. The lawsuit against AltaMed Health Services Corporation is currently pending in the Los Angeles County Superior Court, Case No. 20STCV47464. To read a copy of the Complaint, please click here. The lawsuit filed against AltaMed Health Services Corporation 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 AltaMed Health Services Corporation, 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*** Two men jailed for contempt by the High Court over their interference with a bank's lawful takeover of a farm and house, which was the subject of an eviction in 2018, remain in prison, a judge was told on Friday. Michael Anthony McGann, who owns the property at Falsk, Strokestown, Co Roscommon, and Kevin Taylor, a retired garda of Dublin Road, Longford, were among three men arrested at the house last November for interference with efforts by KBC Bank's agents to secure the property following the eviction. They were found guilty of contempt a week later and lodged in Mountjoy Prison. On December 23 last, the third man, Colm Granahan from Ballina in Mayo, purged his contempt before the court and was released. The two others remained in prison and on Friday Ms Justice Leonie Reynolds was due to be given an update as to their position at a remote hearing. Rossa Fanning SC, for KBC, said there had been difficulties in producing the two for remote hearing at the prison end so the matter would have to be put back to give them an opportunity to purge their contempt. Mr Fanning said Mr McGann has continued in correspondence to contest the legality of the repossession order obtained by KBC arising out of a 431,000 debt on the property from a loan to Mr McGann, its registered owner. Ms Justice Reynolds put the case back to next month. She said Mr McGann and Mr Taylor were well aware they can apply to purge their contempt at any time. NEWS PROVIDED BY National Black Pro-Life Union Jan. 22, 2021 WASHINGTON, Jan. 22, 2021 /Standard Newswire/ -- The following is submitted by Day Gardner, President of the National Black Pro-Life Union, she is available for comment: We have learned recently that Wayfair, Kohl's and Bed Bath & Beyond will stop selling the My Pillow brand products due to My Pillow's CEO, Mike Lindell's, support of President Donald Trump. What these stores don't seem to get through their collective thick skulls is that more than 74 MILLION people voted for President Trump in the 2020 election. I, along with most of those people, believe that Joe Biden was elected through fraudulent ballots and/or shady events at voting places in at least six states. It started with big tech's Twitter, Facebook, Amazon and even Pinterest shutting down the voice of the President of the United States. So of course, namby-pamby, lilly-livered, scardy-cat companies decided to align themselves with big tech. Here's what they forgot...America has always been the greatest protector of free of speech. We all have a right to our own thoughts and opinions. That said, a few days ago, I purchased a rug from Wayfair, it was delivered yesterday. Then I heard Wayfair, Kohls and Bed Bath & Beyond decided to stop selling My Pillow because Mike Lindell is a Trump supporter. So, I called Wayfair and told them COME GET YOUR RUG!! They asked if I want to exchange. ME: Nope. THEM: We could give you a discount. ME: No thanks! THEM: Would you like a credit for future purchase, or refund. ME: Full refund! Come get your rug! I also added: "Oh and delete my account, permanently." I am sick of these companies trying to silence us. Mike Lindell has a great story. He's a Christian man that built a great company from nothing. My Pillow is an amazing product! ( I sleep very well NOW thanks to MY PILLOW). Needless to say, I'm boycotting all three Wayfair, Kohls and Bed Bath& Beyond... so far. I will never spend a penny at, nor set foot in, any of those stores. We have to draw a line in the sand somewhere. Here's mine: NO WAYFAIR NO KOHLS NO BED BATH BEYOND What we are seeing now is an attack on the one thing that certainly makes America the greatest and strongest nation in the world. Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey has threatened to silence more conservatives and Christians. In a video leaked to Project Veritas, Dorsey warned staffers that the social media giant's recent banning of President Trump's account will be "much bigger" than just that one account. Dorsey stated in the video meeting published by the conservative outlet last Thursday: "We are focused on one account right now, but this is going to be much bigger than just one account, and it's going to go on for much longer than just this day, this week, and the next few weeks, and go on beyond the inauguration." Twitter has suspended me here and there over the years but I want everyone to know as of today I have BANNED TWITTER from my life. Buh-bye Twitter! Poof, you're gone! Who's next, c'mon, step across the line...dare me! Republican lawmakers on Wednesday expressed their dismay and blasted Pres. Joe Biden's decision to cancel the permit for the Keystone XL pipeline construction. Cancellation of Permit For Keystone XL Pipeline Construction Pres. Joe Biden signed and issued not more than 17 executive orders as he took his oath as the country's 46th president. According to a recently published article in The Epoch Times, the executive actions include the cancellation of the permit of Keystone XL Pipeline construction that caught the attention of Republican lawmakers. It can be remembered that former Pres. Donald Trump issued the permit to the Keystone XL Pipeline construction in 2017. It ended 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. Trump issued another presidential permit for the project in March 2019. Read also: Pres. Biden's Executive Orders Put American Workers Last, Sen. Tom Cotton Says Republican Lawmakers Condemn the Cancellation of the Permit Republican lawmakers were not happy with Pres. Biden's decision to cancel the permit of Keystone XL Pipeline construction. Sen. Tom Cotton said revoking the Keystone XL Pipeline permit will prevent some 60,000 jobs from being created and lead to thousands of job losses that will add to the number of unemployed persons in the country, Latin Post reported. In a joint statement, House Minority Whip Steve Scalise and Reps. Markwayne Mullin and Jeff Duncan noted that Pres. Biden's decision to rescind an essential permit for the Keystone XL pipeline puts thousands of present and future union jobs at risk. They added that it also undermines the trust and relation of allies in Canada, who have invested billions of dollars in completing this vital pipeline. Mullin and Duncan are co-chairmen of the House Energy Action Team (HEAT), a GOP caucus that also includes House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy. Both Mullin and Duncan are also members of the House Energy and Environment Committee. In a separate statement, HEAT said: "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." Following the permit's cancellation, the country is more likely to rely on China, Saudi Arabia, and Russia. Economic Impact of Permit's Cancellation Republican Rep. Pete Stauber also criticized the executive order that cancels the permit of the Keystone. As he explained the economic impact of the president's decision, he said 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, which is very important in this time of the global pandemic. Besides creating jobs, Stauber noted that roughly $1.6 billion in construction contracts were recently awarded to companies in Wisconsin, Montana, and Texas. He said project expenditures are occurring with businesses in 29 states. Stauber added that the Keystone XL pipeline would generate over $100 million in annual property taxes for rural American communities to fund schools, infrastructure, and local services. But now, with Pres. Biden's decision to cancel the permit, the lawmakers feared that all of these might no longer happen. Bharat Biotech's Covaxin was granted restricted emegency use approval in 'clinical trial mode' on January 2. India has launched the worlds biggest vaccination drive while approving two COVID-19 vaccines - Covaxin developed by Bharat Biotech and Covishield from the Oxford/AstraZeneca stable being manufactured by the Serum Institute of India (SII) -- for emergency use in the country. However, many vaccine recipients are hesitant to roll up their sleeves for a jab of the indigenously-developed Covaxin, which received the approval for emergency use when it was still under "clinical trial mode", says a survey report by The Times of India. According to the TOI survey, some healthcare workers had a general feeling that they were being used as guinea pigs by administering Covaxin. Moneycontrol could not independently verify the report. The survey, conducted in six cities, further says that nowhere the percentage of healthcare workers going for the Covaxin reached 50 percent. 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 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. Follow our LIVE blog for the latest updates of the novel coronavirus pandemic Till January 19, Patna and Jaipur clocked the highest percentage of healthcare workers going for the Covaxin shot (49) while Mumbai and Delhi were at 31 percent and 33 percent, respectively, said the report. There is some hesitancy in taking Covaxin. We have seen some outright refusal too, Dr Lalit Sankhe, nodal officer for Covaxin at Mumbais Sir JJ Hospital, told the publication. Sir JJ Hospital is the only centre in Mumbai with Covaxin. In Delhi, there was a little higher hesitancy for Covaxin due to lack of efficacy data, said the report citing doctors. In the national capital, Covaxin is being administered in six central government-run hospitals while Covishield is being given in all state-run and private hospitals. This has led to confusion and dissatisfaction among healthcare workers, the report suggested. Follow our full coverage on COVID-19 here New cases of COVID-19 in Alabamas K-12 schools continued a downward trend, dropping to 2,155 this week from last weeks 3,071 reported new cases, according to data published on the Alabama Department of Public Healths dashboard, updated Friday. But while the number of new cases reported among students and staff is down in most districts, 11 of Alabamas 138 school districts reported their highest number of new weekly cases to date. The 11 school districts reporting their highest new weekly numbers to date are: Montgomery County schools (30,500 students and staff) reported 80 new cases, Lee County schools (10,300 students and staff) reported 64 new cases, Escambia County schools (4,700 students and staff) reported 38 new cases, Opelika City schools (5,300 students and staff) reported 19 new cases, Russell County schools (3,900 students and staff) reported 17 new cases, Brewton City schools (1,300 students and staff) reported 13 new cases, Dallas County schools (3,100 students and staff) reported 13 new cases, Geneva City schools (1,400 students and staff) reported 12 new cases, Thomasville City schools (1,200 students and staff) reported 12 new cases, Wilcox County schools (1,600 students and staff) reported 9 new cases, and Bullock County schools (1,600 students and staff) reported 6 new cases. Including those listed above, a total of 33 school districts and one charter school reported a higher number of new cases this week as compared with last week. Four districts and three charter schools reported zero cases, while three districts did not report any data, though reporting is required by the state department of education. The data does not differentiate between positive cases among students, teachers and staff nor does it indicate where the coronavirus was contracted. The state began posting schools COVID-19 data Oct. 30. The five school districts, all large county systems, which reported the highest number of new cases this week are: Jefferson County, with 39,000 students and staff, reported 98 new cases, Mobile County, with 58,000 students and staff, reported 96 new cases, Shelby County, with 23,000 students and staff, reported 89 new cases, Montgomery County, with 30,500 students and staff, reported 80 new cases, Baldwin County, with 33,600 students and staff, reported 79 new cases. Many districts have returned to at least some days of in-person instruction for students after easing back into school buildings after the holiday break, while others still offer only remote classes. No numbers are reported on the number of students and staff in quarantine due to being a close contact of someone with COVID-19, though some school districts publish their own dashboards including that information. Officials ask students and staff to voluntarily report coronavirus cases to schools in order to not only keep track, but also to ensure close contacts of those testing positive are quarantining for the appropriate amount of time, as currently required by the state health officer. For a look at the progression of cases reported by school officials since Oct. 30, check out the table below. Here's some good news for all you Sushant Singh Rajput fans. According to news reports, a stretch of road in Andrews Ganj in south Delhi will soon be named after the late actor, as the area's civic body has cleared a proposal for it, officials said on Thursday. Fox Star Studios Sushant, who would have turned 35 on Thursday, was found dead at his Bandra residence in Mumbai on June 14 last year. The Dil Bechara actor's fans and admirers from the B-Town took to social media to pay emotional tributes to the actor whose untimely demise was followed by a high-profile investigation. MensXP Reports suggest that 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. What Reports Suggest 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'. Instagram/Sushant Singh Rajput So, it is proposed that Road No 8 be named after the actor in his memory, Dutt had said. Meanwhile, most people on Twitter reacted to this development in a positive way: Areee wah di kya news sunai hai aapne proud moment for SSRians #SushantDay Anwesha || HBD Sushi || (@Sushi_Anwy) January 21, 2021 Accha birthday memorial gift Ty delhi U will be remembered forever for this beautiful gesture #SushantDay aashu || Justice For SSR (@Aashiga2) January 21, 2021 If that happens.. I will be proud Delhiite..#SushantDay Roshali (@Roshali14) January 21, 2021 However, there were also some who questioned this move: Crazy! These kind of things happen in India. What anyone need is a fair trail and justice for his suicide or alleged murder. Naming street after him is to get sympathy from the social media! Phani Raghavendra (@sanduriphani) January 22, 2021 How dumb is it to name a road after an actor? How can we build a great nation representing a great civilization if our minds are obsessed with films and celebrities? How? https://t.co/zfvFoi60nf Prasanna Karthik (@prasannakarthik) January 22, 2021 I agree. What happened to him was tragic, but what was his contribution to nation building? Rather name the road after an Indian army hero! Charu Pragya (@CharuPragya) January 22, 2021 On Thursday, Twitter was flooded with messages and wishes as people remembered Sushant, marking the late actor's 35th birthday. Ankita Lokhande, Sushant's ex-partner who dated him for over six years, shared a heart-warming video of the late actor where he can be seen playing with his pet dog. Ankita wrote that she will always remember Sushant as a happy, intelligent, romantic and adorable man. I dont know how to start and what to say but yes today Im 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 you Like this happy , intelligent,romantic,mad and adorable #HappyBirthdaySSR, read the caption of the video shared by the Manikarnika actor. I dont know how to start and what to say but yes today Im 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 you Like this happy , intelligent,romantic,mad and adorable #HappyBirthdaySSR pic.twitter.com/3xHpLNB20W Ankita lokhande (@anky1912) January 21, 2021 On the occasion of her brothers birth anniversary, Shweta Singh Kirti fulfiled his dream by announcing a scholarship worth USD 35,000 (Rs 25.5 lakh) for those who want to pursue Astrophysics at UC Berkeley. She also shared a few photos of the actor with his family. Nicola Sturgeon warned Scotland that life may not be 'back to normal' by the summer today as she damped the hopes of music festival-goers that they might take place. The First Minister said some coronavirus restrictions will have to remain in place even if the vaccination programme is able to suppress transmission rates. She told her daily televised briefing that this currently makes it impossible to say when large events will be permitted. It came as she told supermarket customers to wear a face mask over both their mouth and nose, shop alone and limit visits to once a week as she highlighted the Covid-19 risk in retail. The First Minister stressed the importance of wearing a face covering properly, as she announced a further 71 deaths and 1,480 positive coronavirus tests had been recorded in the past day. The Glastonbury Festival was cancelled yesterday for a second consecutive year due to the pandemic, but organisers of the TRNSMT festival - due to take place in Glasgow Green in July - still hope it can go ahead if restrictions are lifted in time. However, asked at the briefing today whether summer music festivals should simply be cancelled now, Ms Sturgeon said 'none of us' can say with certainty what the situation will be in six months' time, despite better weather and the vaccine rollout. 'We are still very much in the grip of a global pandemic and none of these things, in and of themselves, are going to necessarily create a completely back to normal environment in any walk of life,' she said. 'So I think organisations have to be aware of that.' The First Minister said some coronavirus restrictions will have to remain in place even if the vaccination programme is able to suppress transmission rates. Organisers of the TRNSMT festival - due to take place in Glasgow Green in July - still hope it can go ahead if restrictions are lifted in time. Pictured is the 2019 festival Despite the vaccination programme, she said, some 'mitigations' may be needed for some time to come. Public Health Scotland said 358,454 people in the country had received the first dose of a Covid-19 vaccine by 8.30am on Friday January 22, an increase of 23,583 from the previous day. It added that 4,689 people have received the second dose, an increase of 223. The number of people in hospital in Scotland with Covid has increased by 49 in 24 hours to 2,053, after a sharp drop in the daily figure on Thursday. The Covid-19 death toll under the daily measure - of people who first tested positive for the virus within the previous 28 days - now stands at 5,628. Ms Sturgeon told the daily coronavirus briefing that shopping for food is now 'one of the few reasons why we should be leaving our homes' - as she stressed it is not risk-free. 'The new variant is spreading faster and more easily so it is all the more important that when we do go to a shop... we take the necessary precautions,' she said. 'Remember, your face covering should be over your mouth and your nose. Lewis Capaldi performs on the Main Stage during the TRNSMT festival in Glasgow in 2019 George Ezra was also among the artists on the bill two years ago. But there are question marks over whether it will take place in 20201 'That's really vital to make sure it's giving you the protection that it's designed to do but also that it's giving the people around you maximum protection as well.' She asked people to order their groceries online for delivery if possible, to otherwise limit visits to shops to once a week, and not to go into a shop if it is busy. 'Shop alone if you can, ' she said. 'Don't go with other people.' The First Minister also announced extra funding to support health and social care workers. She said 500,000 will be given to health boards and health and social care partnerships to implement requests from staff, such as for free hot drinks or snacks during breaks. Ms Sturgeon said: 'I'm flagging this up today just as a way of underlining how much we owe our health and care workers, but also as an example of what we're trying to do to support them in practical ways while they continue to perform such an incredible service for all of us. 'I don't think we'll ever be able to repay those on the front line of health and social care for everything they have done and everything they have suffered over the duration of this pandemic. 'But in every way we can, it's important to support them and to show our gratitude.' 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. [January 22, 2021] Opportunities and Risks in the Mexico Cards and Payments Market to 2024 - ResearchAndMarkets.com The "Mexico Cards and Payments - Opportunities and Risks to 2024" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. This report provides detailed analysis of market trends in the Mexican cards and payments industry. It provides values and volumes for a number of key performance indicators in the industry, including cash, cards, credit transfers, direct debits, and cheques during the review-period (2016-20e). The report also analyzes various payment card markets operating in the industry and provides detailed information on the number of cards in circulation, transaction values and volumes during the review-period and over the forecast-period (2020e-24f). It also offers information on the country's competitive landscape, including market shares of issuers and schemes. This report provides top-level market analysis, information and insights into the Mexican cards and payments industry, including - Current and forecast values for each market in the Mexican cards and payments industry, including debit, credit, and charge cards. Detailed insights into payment instruments including cash, cards, credit transfers, direct debits, and cheques. It also, includes an overview of the country's key alternative payment instruments. E-commerce market analysis. Analysis of various market drivers and regulations governing the Mexican cards and payments industry. Detailed analysis of strategies adopted by banks and other institutions to market debit, credit, and charge cards. Scope To further capitalize on cashless payments, in September 2019 the central bank introduced CoDi, a digital payment platform enabling mobile instant payments via QR codes and NFC technology. Payments through this system are processed by Sistema (News - Alert) de Pagos Electronicos Interbancarios (SPEI). The maximum that can be transferred via CoDi is MXN8,000 ($424.22). CoDi enables users to make in-store and online purchases. As of November 2020, 39 banks were participating in the CoDi system, including leading banks such as BBVA, Citibanamex, Banorte, and Banco Azteca. In August 2020, BanCoppel launched the BanCoppel Express app, which supports CoDi payments. Larger retailers have responded to the growing popularity of CoDi. In November 2020, department store Coppel started accepting payments via CoDi at its 1,562 stores in Mexico. In March 2020, Visa received authorization from the central bank to establish and operate as a clearing house for card payments in Mexico. This allows Visa to provide domestic network processing services utilizing its international expertise. Mastercard previously received similar authorization in December 2018. Previously, domestic card payments were only processed via two clearing houses: PROSA (owned by Banorte, HSBC, Santander, Scotiabank, Banco Invex, and Banjercito) and E-Global (owned by BBVA and Citibanamex). To further strengthen their business, merchant acquirers are forming joint ventures and launching new business units. In June 2019, HSBC partnered with Global Payments to form a joint venture. HSBC Global Payments offers POS terminals and complementary software tools for businesses. Similarly, Santander expanded Getnet, the bank's Brazilian subsidiary, in Mexico in 2020. Key Topics Covered: Payment Instruments Card based Payments Merchant Acquiring E commerce Payments Buy Now Pay Later Mobile Proximity Payments P2P Payments Bill Payments Alternative Payments Job Analysis Payment Innovations Payment Infrastructure & Regulation Appendix Companies Mentioned BBVA BanCoppel Santander Banorte CF Credit Services Scotiabank Banco Inbursa Banco Azteca Citibank HSBC Visa Mastercard American Express (News - Alert) For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/1bg60w About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210122005129/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Stock Market News BAY Headlines - Vietnam s wonders honored on Google Arts Culture for the first time 22-01-2021 02:09 Stock News headlines are gathered from financial news sources around the web. Views and opinions on each item are from their respective authors and website. They are not opinions of LiveCharts.co.uk HARTFORD Work continued Friday on the Hartford pipeline bridge. The new bridge located just north of Rand Avenue will cross two Hartford streets, all four lanes of Illinois 3 and the industrial levee along Illinois 3. Workers have spent weeks pouring massive concrete and steel reinforced blocks to support the steel supports and bridge. Not far away, on the property of the geodesic railroad dome on Old St. Louis Road in Wood River, other construction workers are pre-assembling the galvanized steel sections of the bridge itself. More than 10 sections are on the property and nearly ready to make the trek to Hartford. When completed the highway bridge will be similar to the one carrying pipelines across Illinois 111 in Roxana. 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 family of a boy who was swept out to sea by a 'sneaker wave' is offering a $50,000 reward for his recovery as his father reveals how he only just managed to survive it. The U.S. Coast Guard called off its search for Arunay Pruthi, 12, who was swept out to sea from a Northern California beach on Monday. Arunay, his father and his 8-year-old brother were sitting on the sand at Cowell Ranch State Beach in Half Moon Bay when a rogue wave hit them and dragged them into the ocean on Monday. Arunay Pruthi, 12, was swept out to sea from a Northern California beach on Monday 'All of us basically managed to get back but he just drifted away,' said Tanur Pruthi, the boy's father, pictured above Arunay, his father and his 8-year-old brother were sitting on the sand at Cowell Ranch State Beach in Half Moon Bay The boy's father and younger brother made it to shore but the 7th grader was dragged beneath the water and out to sea, KTVU-TV reported. 'All of us basically managed to get back but he just drifted away,' said Tanur Pruthi, the boy's father. Pruthi said the family had taken advantage of the Martin Luther King holiday's warm weather to go to the beach, not realizing the danger of the surf which had waves as high as 15 feet. Speaking to CBS San Francisco, Pruthi said: 'We didn't expect it. The waves were pretty big. It threw me around for a while. I just managed to barely make it.' He added that his son was a 'reasonably good' swimmer. The family are offering a $50,000 reward for any 'boater, pilot or diver who locates Arunay', calling on the help of anyone with 'specialized equipment like boats, sonars, planes, submersible, diving/Scuba gear'. The Coast Guard searched until 1 am on Tuesday morning and again at day break, with crews looking for the boy about 10 miles from the shore to no avail. By 12pm, the Coast Guard had called off the search. The family are offering a $50,000 reward for any 'boater, pilot or diver who locates Arunay' 'This is a very difficult decision to suspend the search,' said Coast Guard member Howard Wright. 'The Coast Guard focuses on rescue activities to find a live person and we suspend the search when we are no longer confident that we're going to be able to rescue the victim.' Pruthi and his family created a Facebook page seeking tips about their son's whereabouts. 'We have to find him at least,' he said. There have been several cases of people in Northern California who have been swept off rocks and swept into the beaches in recent weeks, according to the Coast Guard. Earlier this month, two children, ages 4 and 7, were swept to sea in Sonoma County and are presumed dead. Their father drowned while trying to save them. TORONTO Were friends again! That was the prevailing mood in Canada this week after the inauguration of President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. After four years of being insulted, threatened, dismissed and slapped by the Trump administration, shellshocked Canadians felt the once-familiar warmth of their neighbor and closest ally, the United States. Of all the world leaders with whom Mr. Biden has to kiss and make up, Canadas prime minister, Justin Trudeau, was the first to get an official phone call, on Friday evening. During the call, which lasted more than 30 minutes, the leaders agreed to meet next month to advance the important work of renewing the deep and enduring friendship between Canada and the United States, according to a summary released by Mr. Trudeaus office. India Inc expects the government to continue with its policy focus on strengthening the manufacturing ecosystem, promoting research and development, and incentivising futuristic technologies New Delhi: The upcoming Budget must focus on creating demand, encouraging infrastructure spending and increasing outlays for the social sector, India Inc said in a survey released on Wednesday. India Inc expects the government to continue with its policy focus on strengthening the manufacturing ecosystem, promoting research and development, and incentivising futuristic technologies in the upcoming Budget, the survey by Ficci and Dhruva Advisors said. With the world's largest immunisation programme currently underway in the country, time is ripe to further accelerate efforts to reinvigorate the economy, it added. "The upcoming Budget must therefore focus on creating demand, encouraging infrastructure spends and increasing outlays for the social sector. These are the top three macro-economic themes, which members of India Inc would like to see in the upcoming Budget," the survey noted. According to the survey, while the growth trajectory has turned positive and the economy is looking up, the need for continuous support from the government remains. Demand has improved in a few sectors of the economy, but there is a need to watch this trend to see if the improvement continues in a sustained manner. "There are many other sectors that still require continued government support in the recovery process. Given this, strengthening demand should be a clear priority and the tax policy should be used to meet this objective," it said. According to the survey results, nearly 40 percent of the participants feel that 'personal tax relief' should be the key theme of direct tax proposals in this year's budget. Further, nearly 47 percent of the respondents have mentioned that their biggest ask from the government in respect of direct tax is 'widening of the tax slabs'. An area closely related to demand is employment, and the majority of the survey participants (nearly 75 percent) supported employment generation for which tax incentives and exemptions should be provided by the government. The other two areas which came up in the list of priorities for seeking tax incentives and exemptions are 'innovation' and 'exports', with 53 percent of the surveyed companies supporting these. The survey participants were also asked to highlight their current pain points from the taxation perspective and how the government can support them. Results show that 'timely receipt of refunds' is a key challenge faced by as many as 52 percent respondents. This is closely followed by 'tax compliances' and 'tax litigation' with 49 percent and 43 percent of the respondents, respectively, reporting the same. On the issue of stable tax policy, nearly 86 percent of the respondents highlighted that the government could promote this objective by bringing consistency at the tax administration level. Besides, an overwhelming 90 percent of the survey participants said that enhancing economic activity through greater consumption and investment demand should be the government's focus as it thinks of strategies to boost GST revenue. Better compliance, including addressing issuance of fake invoices, was another key suggestion made in the context of augmenting GST revenues and this was supported by 56 percent respondents. Ficci President Uday Shankar said the government's top priority for 2021 should be on pulling the nation through the final phase of the pandemic and enable quicker economic recovery to pre-COVID levels of growth. "Results of the survey show that the need for continuous handholding of the economy remains the top priority and Industry expects the Union Budget to include the next set of stimulus measures to spur demand. "The Budget must prioritise growth-oriented measures over fiscal considerations. It must focus on employment generation and on putting more money in the hands of consumers the twin engines that will boost demand and drive growth," he said. "Improving the ease of doing business, including ease of administration of the tax regime, are key asks of the industry to promote India as a global manufacturing hub. The Budget proposals will not only impact the near future but could also potentially shape India's long-term growth trajectory," Dhruva Advisors CEO Dinesh Kanabar said. Richwood, TX (77531) Today Cloudy skies early, followed by partial clearing. A stray afternoon thunderstorm is possible. High 86F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Partly to mostly cloudy with scattered showers and thunderstorms developing overnight. Low 73F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%. New Delhi, Jan 22 : The past two years have been tumultuous for law student Ankita Meena. Amid several legal adversities, she continued to put a brave face and cleared all the hurdles in finishing her law studies at Delhi University. In second year, she was not allowed to write her exams, as she missed classes due to the advanced stage of her pregnancy. Her miseries were quadrupled after her results for fourth, fifth and sixth semesters were also withheld. Yet she did not give up and continued the battle in the top court, which reached its finality on Friday. The Supreme Court has now directed the Delhi University to declare the fifth semester results, which would allow her to have a shot at a career in law. On Friday, a bench headed by Chief Justice S.A. Bobde and comprising Justices A.S. Bopanna and V. Ramasubramanian said: "The IA (intervention application) and the SLP (special leave petition) are disposed of, directing the university to declare the fifth semester supplementary examination results of the petitioner and issue the provisional degree along with necessary certificates, provided she had passed the examinations, subject to the petitioner clearing the other formalities." Meena joined the three-year LLB course at Law Centre II, Faculty of Law, Delhi University, in August 2016. By the time she joined the course, she was already married for about five months. She completed the first three semesters without any hindrance. However, she fell short of the required attendance mark during the fourth semester, due to two difficulties: One, she gave birth to a baby in February 2018; and second, the teachers' association went on strike in middle of March, hence classes were impacted. In May 2018, when she was in second year, the top court declined to give her permission to write her exams as she had missed her classes due to her pregnancy. The court noted that it was "very uncomfortable" to pass an order at 1 pm on her plea to sit in the exam scheduled an hour later. In October 2018, the top court permitted her to attend classes at her own risk on completion of the required formalities. In February 2019, the court directed the university to permit her to attend the classes for sixth semester as per its October 2018 order. On July 5, 2019, the Supreme Court directed the university to permit her to appear in the fifth semester supplementary examination scheduled the next day. In July 2020, the apex court directed that her results for fourth and sixth semesters be declared. Following these orders, Meena appeared for fourth, fifth and sixth semester exams. The university had declared the results of the fourth and fifth semester examinations, but did not declare the results for the fifth semester supplementary examination. The top court noted that Meena has completed the course in entirety and the results of all the semester examinations except the fifth semester supplementary examination have already been declared. Directing the university to declare the fifth semester results, the top court said: "This order is passed under the peculiar facts and circumstances of the case." President Joe Biden speaks about the CCP virus response before signing executive orders in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington, on Jan. 21, 2021. (Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images) Republican Lawmakers Call for Tough Biden Response After CCP Sanctions Trump Officials Top Republican lawmakers are calling on the Biden administration to take forceful measures against the Chinese regime, after Beijing slapped sanctions on former Trump administration officials, including former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. The sanctions were announced on Jan. 20, the same day that President Joe Biden was sworn into office. A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson accused the U.S. officials of carrying out a series of crazy moves that seriously interfered with Chinas internal affairs and seriously disrupted China-U.S. relations. So far, Emily Horne, the spokesperson for Bidens National Security Council, has said that the sanctions are unproductive and cynical. Sen. Jim Risch (R-Idaho), outgoing chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, took to Twitter to say that the ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP) was testing the Biden Admins resolve to continue a tougher, competitive approach towards China. Together, Republicans & Democrats must show Beijing we will not be deterred from defending U.S. interests, he said. Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas), the leading Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said via Twitter that the sanctions were a brazen & baseless attempt to silence & intimidate officials that hold the #CCP accountable for genocide & its takeover of Hong Kong. The Biden admin must immediately make it clear that coercion will not be tolerated, he added. On Jan. 19, Pompeo declared that the CCPs persecution against Uyghurs and other majority-Muslim ethnic minorities constitutes genocide and are crimes against humanity. Uyghur woman Mihrigul Tursun gives evidence to the China Tribunal on April 7, 2019. (China Tribunal/endtransplantabuse.org) Last year, the Trump administration took a number of actions to address the CCPs human rights abuses, including sanctioning six Chinese officials and a Chinese entity over their actions in Xinjiang, and one Chinese official for his involvement in the persecution against the spiritual group Falun Gong. The administration also introduced visa restrictions for Chinese officials believed to have engaged in human rights abuses. Also last year, the administration sanctioned 25 Hong Kong and Chinese officials, among them Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam, for their involvement in implementing Beijings draconian national security law, which punishes vaguely-defined crimes such as subversion and secession with a maximum penalty of life imprisonment. At least four pro-democracy activists in Hong Kong have since been charged for violating the new law, including Jimmy Lai, founder of the local newspaper Apple Daily, and former student activist Tony Chung. Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), in an interview with Fox News, said the Chinese sanctions were not geared so much against those [U.S.] officials, but a shot across the bow of Joe Bidens national security team. Cotton called for a response from the Biden administration and Congress, saying that the United States could not allow Beijing to continue its campaign of intimidation. Beijing stated that a total of 28 U.S. officials were sanctioned but has so far only named 10 of them, including former White House trade adviser Peter Navarro; former Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar; and Keith Krach, former undersecretary of state for economic growth, energy, and the environment. These sanctions are a badge I wear with honor, Krach told Fox in an interview. We should not bend the knee to the China bully. When you confront a bully, they back down. And they really, really back down if you have your friends by your side, he added. When asked about the names of the other 18 U.S. officials in a daily briefing on Jan. 21, Chinas foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying refused to share the information. Instead, she said: Those who are guilty know it only too well. Chinas state mouthpiece the Global Times in an article published on Thursday said the sanctions were a warning to the [U.S.] officials who want to be the next Pompeo. Read More Pompeo Tweets About Upholding Human Rights After Chinese State Media Publish Personal Attacks Over the last four years, Pompeo has often been the target of criticism by Chinas state-run media over his remarks and policies related to the CCP. For instance, Global Times called Pompeo a doomsday clown after his genocide designation. Under Pompeo, the United States lead the launch of an initiative called the Clean Network aimed at ensuring that communications networks, cloud-based systems, and mobile apps are free from the CCPs interference, such as by excluding Chinese tech giant Huawei from nations 5G networks. Beijing slammed the initiative, calling it a dirty network. On Jan. 15, Krach announced Eswatini as the latest country to join the initiative, which now includes 60 countries and regions. Saudi Arabia releases Egyptian fishing boat seized for illegal fishing, trespassing January 22,2021 | Source: MENA 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. 2010 Ahram Online Theme(s): Fishing Craft, Gear and Fishing Methods. This, too, is unlikely. Even if Biden has a successful four (or eight) years in office, it is difficult to imagine anything that could prompt the kind of national realignment that would give the Democratic Party a durable advantage in the House, the Senate and the states. In a system that awards political power on the basis of land and boundaries as much as it does votes, Democrats would have to reverse the convergence of geography and partisan identity where rural and exurban voters mostly vote for Republicans while their urban and suburban counterparts mostly vote for Democrats in order to win the kind of victory that would force the Republican Party off its current path and into the wilderness. And even then, as the example of the California Republican Party and Kevin McCarthy, the minority leader of the House, demonstrates, theres no guarantee that the party will change its tune. 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. One of Australia's top doctors has confirmed the government is keeping a close eye on a third variant of Covid-19. Deputy chief medical officer, Professor Michael Kidd said the new strain had mutated in Japan and Brazil and it shared similar characteristics to the strain identified in South Africa and England. While the third variant doesn't cause more disease, the strain is said to bring a higher risk of fast transmission which in turn can trigger more severe cases and fatalities. The third variant was first detected in the genomes of four international travelers in Japan who had arrived on a flight from South America The variant was first detected in four international travelers who tested positive for Covid-19 when they arrived in Tokyo on a flight from South America. Japan's National Institute of Infectious Diseases (NIID) said they would continue to investigate the genetic make-up of the strain, with the Professor Kidd saying the strain 'was cause for concern'. For people diagnosed with the new variant, Professor Kidd announced that isolation requirements have been modified due to the infectious nature of the strain. 'As a consequence we have increased the isolation requirements for people who are diagnosed with this new variant, from 10 days to 14 days before they get potential release from isolation'. It has been confirmed that Australia has access to 140 million doses of the vaccine. Health Minister Greg Hunt has said that Australia has one of the highest rates of doses per person in the world, enough to vaccinate the population three times over. Deputy chief medical officer, Professor Michael Kidd announced that isolation requirements would be extended for those diagnosed with the third strain, due to its infectious nature Prime Minister Scott Morrison recently said Australia had 'beaten the third wave' of Covid-19, however top doctors say mutated strain is 'cause for concern' and will be monitored closely It was recently announced that it will not be mandatory for aged-care workers to get the vaccine to go to work. However, Professor Kidd has said it will be 'strongly encouraged' for all workers and residents of aged-care facilities to get the vaccine. Aged care workers and residents will be prioritised to receive the first doses of the Pfizer campaign which is set to roll-out in the coming weeks. Mr Morrison has emphasised the importance of safety during the roll-out of the Covid-19 vaccination. 'We're not rushing this, nor are we delaying it. We're getting it right. That's what matters. We're getting it right'. Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Armenias Foreign Minister Ara Aivazian has begun his informal visit to Georgia, as reported the press service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia, according to Georgia News. Aivazian was received by his Georgian counterpart, Deputy Prime Minister Davit Zalkaliani. As reported, they met in the Tsinandali village of Kakheti region. During the informal meeting, the foreign ministers discussed the friendly-neighborly relations between Georgia and Armenia, the current cooperation agenda and the prospects for deepening of the relations. However, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia issued a press release stating that Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia Ara Aivazian is on a working visit to Georgia. In this regard, Vice-President of the Republican Party of Armenia Armen Ashotyan mentioned the following on his Facebook page: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia informed that the person working as foreign minister for the immoral scoundrel is on a working visit to Georgia. In its turn, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia lowered the level of the visit even more, referring to it as an informal visit, not a working one. This is a minor detail at first sight. In diplomacy, many things are seen via minor details. This is how it is going to be at all levels so long as they represent us Armenians, even with our neighbors. Thiruvananthapuram, Jan 22 : A three-member committee set up by the AICC will hold discussions on Friday evening and Saturday with state leaders on the prospects of the Congress as well as the United Democratic Front in the 2021 Assembly elections. Led by Rajasthan Chief minister Ashok Gehlot, the team constituted by the All India Congress Committee comprises former Goa Chief Minister Luizinho Faleiro and former Karnataka Deputy CM G Parameshwara. While Falerio and Parameshwara have already arrived in the state capital, Gehlot will reach here on Friday evening, accompanied by AICC General Secretary (Organisation) KC Venugopal. The meeting will be held thereafter. Falerio and Parameshwara have already met with the 'big three' in the state Congress -- KPCC President Mullappaly Ramachandran, former Chief minister Oomen Chandy, and opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala. KPCC General Secretary Manacadu Suresh told IANS: "Both Felerio and Parameshwara are here and meeting all senior state leaders. They will make a small presentation when Gehlot and Venugopal reach here by evening." While an informal meeting will be held after the arrival of the two senior leaders, a series of meeting are slated on Saturday to discuss the prospective party candidates in the Assembly elections likely to be held in May 2021 to elect 140 MLAs. As Congress Working Committee member and former Kerala Chief Minister AK Antony has openly called for fielding "new faces", the Congress will be forced to choose several youth leaders for party tickets. Gehlot and his team will have a close look at the strengths and limitations of the new faces proposed to be fielded by the state leadership. KPCC chief Ramachandran told IANS: "There will be an open meeting between AICC observers and the state leaders' team. We will discuss the election strategy, pros and cons of fielding new candidates, relations with coalition partners, and finances for the polls. All team members are senior politicians and we will make use of their vast experience and expertise in the run-up to the polls." The Congress contested 87 seats in 2016 elections but won only 22, while its United Democratic Front partner Indian Union Muslim League contested 25 seats and won 18. In the 2021 polls, the Congress is likely to contest 95 Assembly seats and is hoping to lead in 27 of them. The UDF will give two seats to the Communist Marxist Party (CMP), which has been with the UDF since its formation. Forward Block will get one seat while Kerala Congress splinter group led by PJ Joseph will get 7 to 9 seats to contest. U.S. Capitol Police abruptly relocated the break area for thousands of National Guard members providing security in Washington, D.C. off Capitol grounds today and into a crowded garage with limited restroom facilities, prompting an outcry from some troops. Roughly 26,000 Guard members were rushed into D.C. to support federal law enforcement for Wednesday's inauguration of President Joe Biden after a violent riot on Jan. 6 led to a breach of the Capitol. A week ago, Guard troops were photographed resting on the floors of the Capitol while on breaks during 12-hour guard-duty shifts. Politico reported that one day after the uneventful inauguration ceremony, Guard members were told to take their breaks in a parking garage "without internet reception, with just one electrical outlet, and one bathroom with two stalls for 5,000 troops." "Yesterday dozens of senators and congressmen walked down our lines taking photos, shaking our hands and thanking us for our service," one Guard member told Politico. "Within 24 hours, they had no further use for us and banished us to the corner of a parking garage. We feel incredibly betrayed." Read Next: Thousands of National Guard Troops to Begin Leaving DC This Weekend The news comes after the Guard announced today that 15,000 Guard members will be rapidly leaving D.C. to return to their home states over the next 10 days. The National Guard Bureau put out a statement Thursday night, stressing that the Guard continues to support the U.S. Capitol Police to secure the area around the Capitol and other monuments in D.C. "As Congress is in session and increased foot traffic and business is being conducted, Capitol Police asked the troops to move their rest area," according to the statement. "They were temporarily relocated to the Thurgood Marshall Judicial Center garage with heat and rest room facilities. "We remain an agile and flexible force to provide for the safety and security of the Capitol and its surrounding areas." Some troops seemed to take the move in stride, as one Guard member told Politico that there may be an "important reason for us to vacate, and it just hasn't been well communicated yet." Two soldiers were concerned about being in the tight space with just one restroom during the COVID-19 pandemic, and told Politico that "at least 100 Guard members had tested positive" for the virus. On June 15, District of Columbia National Guard officials said that 43 Guard members had tested positive for COVID-19, but were unable to confirm an updated number when contacted Thursday night. Now that the inauguration has passed, some Guard troops could begin leaving as soon as this weekend, Guard officials said today. Approximately 7,000 Guard troops are expected to remain in D.C. through the end of January. -- Matthew Cox can be reached at matthew.cox@military.com. Related: Guard Troops Photographed Napping in Capitol Were on Break, Army Official Says Ahead of the Budget for 2021-22, West Bengal finance minister has criticised the Centre for its supply-side stimulation of the economy at a time when the Covid-impacted system needs demand side booster dose. He wanted the Centre to correct this flaw in the policy. In a letter to union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Mitra suggested that the Centre follow Keynesian economics at this juncture instead of Say's law. "You may consider taking a Keynesian approach as was done by other nations rather than relying on Say's Law," Mitra suggested to Sitharaman. The Keynesian approach, named after British economist John Maynard Keynes' prescriptions, basically calls for boosting aggregate demand during a downturn and rejects the idea that free market economies have self-balancing mechanisms that lead to full employment. On the other hand, Say's law, named after French economist Jean-Baptiste Say, is based on the premise that supply creates its own demand. It is the claim that the making of a product creates demand for another product by providing something of value which can be exchanged for that other product. It is this law that Keynes had rejected. While thanking Sitharaman for holding pre-Budget meeting with state finance ministers last week, Mitra recalled, "I have publicly stated that demand-stimulation through cash in hand for the common people should have been the appropriate policy for getting the economy out of the slump hit by the pandemic. Most of the countries have adopted this policy." However, the Centre has followed supply-side stimulation by reducing corporate taxes and trying to facilitate credit to businesses rather than cash transfers for demand stimulation. ALSO READ: Budget 2021 must redirect govt focus on resolving demand-side issue: Ind-Ra "It is my considered view that the supply side stimulation being followed by your government is in error and it is failing to check the contraction of the GDP which probably stands at the highest for any nation in the world," Mitra wrote. India's GDP declined 23.9 per cent in the first quarter and 7.5 per cent in the second quarter of 2020-21. The economy is officially projected to shrink by 7.7 per cent in the entire year. Mitra suggested to Sitharaman that the Centre should borrow the entire Rs 1.82 trillion and lend it to the states as GST compensation shortfall for 2020-21 and not just Rs 1.10 trillion that it is doing currently. He also asked her to raise the state's fiscal responsibility and budget management (FRBM) limit to five per cent of their respective state GDPs without any condition and not continue with the current riders imposed on such a limit. States are allowed to borrow up to the point that their fiscal deficits do not breach three per cent of their respective GSDPs. However, for the current financial year, the Centre allows the states to borrow unconditionally up to four per cent. Beyond that, they can go up to one per cent of GSDP if they undertake reforms such as one nation one ration card etc. The West Bengal finance minister also asked Sitharaman to correct the Centre's recent stance of imposing more burden on states for centrally sponsored schemes in the upcoming budget. He also wanted the union finance minister to restore the date of devolution of funds to the states to first of every month from the current 20th. ALSO READ: Covid-19 cess, higher spending: Brokerages' expectation from Budget 2021 Mitra also raised some state-specific issues, saying these have ramifications for other states. For instance, he said the Centre has providing enough grants to the state for fighting Covid-19. The state has spent Rs 4,000 crore to combat Covid-19, but the state has received only Rs 279 crore from the Centre. Though the Centre has allowed the state to spend 50 per cent from the state disaster relief fund for this purpose, the allocation to this fund has not been increased from a mere Rs 1,000 crore this year. Mitra said the state would need Rs 11,387 crore to tackle the pandemic in the current financial year. He said the state has asked for Rs 35,000 crore from the Centre for a claim on destruction caused by cyclone Amphan and relief and rehabilitation work done by the state. However, only Rs 2,250 crore has been provided by the Centre. He has also asked the Centre to devolve the remaining amount of around Rs 10,000 crore to the states for April-December, 2020-21 period. GOODHUE COUNTY, Minn. - Authorities have identified the remains of a man found in a burnt car in southeastern Minnesota. The Goodhue County Sheriff's Office said the Southern Minnesota Regional Medical Examiners Office has positively identified the deceased in this case as Cory Lee Cassidy, 36, of Dodge Center. "Our investigation indicates that accidental carbon monoxide asphyxiation may have been the result. During this investigation, there has never been any indications of foul play," the sheriff's office said. "The investigation indicates the fire started in the area of the vehicle and spread to the home but the cause of the fire is unknown." The vehicle was found Dec. 31 in the 4500 block of Highway 56 Blvd. in Holden Township. The Congress on Friday decided that it will elect a new party president in June this year, and Sonia Gandhi will stay on as the interim party chief for the five state assembly elections to be held by May. The decision to further delay the elections for the top party post was taken at a meeting of the Congress Working Committee, where an argument reportedly erupted between two groups. AICC general secretary KC Venugopal, however, denied these reports and said senior leaders only wanted more "clarity" on the schedule. The CWC unanimously decided that the new elected Congress president should be in place by June 2021. The CWC considered the election schedule of May 29 proposed by the central election authority and unanimously agreed to extend the schedule until June as counting for five state elections could be happening in May, he said. Sources said that while senior leaders like Ghulam Nabi Azad, Anand Sharma, Mukul Wasnik and P Chidambaram asked for immediate organisational polls, Gandhi family loyalists like Ashok Gehlot, Amarinder Singh and AK Antony said the elections should be held after the assembly polls. The second group eventually prevailed as the Congress, which was earlier expected to hold the presidential elections by February, further delayed the polls. The next Congress president will be chosen at a time when the leadership of the Gandhis has come under unprecedented scrutiny, leading to attacks within. At the meeting, it is learnt that a senior leader belonging to the Gandhi camp ticked off the "dissenters" without naming them and said the party should be talking about fighting elections against the BJP, and not internal elections. "We should leave the party matters and decisions to the party president, this leader said. At this, Sharma retorted saying Gehlot had been disrespectful of people who have raised demands about the need for reforms. But party spokesperson Randeep Surjewala also denied any dissenting notes on the holding of elections. "There was no dissent at the meeting." He added that leaders like Ghulam Nabi Azad, Anand Sharma or P Chidambaram were not dissenters but senior members of the Congress party and were all unanimous in deciding to extend the election schedule a little. Sonia Gandhi took over as interim Congress president in August 2019 after Rahul Gandhi resigned in the wake of the party's Lok Sabha debacle in May 2019. There have been demands from a section of the Congress leaders for having a full-time and active party president and an organisational overhaul. The CWC had in its earlier meeting decided to hold organisational elections, following a storm in the party in August last year over a letter to Sonia Gandhi by a group of 23 leaders including Ghulam Nabi Azad, Anand Sharma, Bhupinder Hooda, Prithviraj Chavan, Kapil Sibal, Manish Tewari and Mukul Wasnik raising these issues. Sonia Gandhi had last month met some of these 'letter-writers' and discussed the issues raised by them. Mumbai: As her latest film Madam Chief Minister released in theatres on Friday, actor Richa Chadha once again addressed the controversy surrounding the movies poster and representation, saying that it is misdirected towards her. The films poster, which was released on January 5, was slammed by many on social media for apparently showing the Dalit community in a stereotypical way as Chadhas character is shown holding a broom in her hand. Some users had also taken umbrage over the use of the word untouchable in the poster. In her response, Chadha had called the gaffe an unintentional oversight. There was also criticism for the films lack of representation of people from the Dalit community. On Friday, the actor said that she is still receiving angry message from people on social media. I am listening, learning as I have been attempting to, for the past 2-3 years. Here, some thoughts on the representation debate, from my limited and self-admittedly privileged understanding.The anger is completely understandable, especially with the poster et al. I get it. I understand this anger. But as is often the case with anger, it is in fact misdirected since I am not the sole creator of this film. Hundreds if not thousands of people have worked on it. I cant undo historical caste injustices, or brutalisation dating back thousands of years, Chadha said in a statement. Madam Chief Minister is written and directed by Subhash Kapoor of Jolly LLB fame. Chadha said playing a Dalit person in a film does not make her an expert on the issue. Dont expect me to become a scholar or expert on the subject, by acting in one film, especially when it is as vast and complicated as caste and varna. I dont even contest the fact that my performance will never ever be able to replicate the lived experience of a DBA actor. I am aware of that and it only made me work harder, she added. Chadha said she has tried to play her character in the movie with utmost dignity, honesty and empathy. Produced by T-Series Films and Kangra Talkies, the film also features Manav Kaul and Saurabh Shukla. Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. 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. San Francisco Mayor London Breed said Friday that the city might be able to reopen soon because its coronavirus transmission rate has dipped. Breed tweeted that San Francisco could soon start to emerge from its state-ordered lockdown because the citys so-called reproductive rate is at 0.99. A reproductive rate represents how many people an infected person can transmit the virus to. That means for every person who gets COVID-19, on average theyre passing it to less than one other person. Were slowing the spread, Breed said. Anything less than 1, were doing OK, Dr. Lee Riley, an infectious disease expert at UC Berkeley told the Chronicle last year. But the speed of the reduction is certainly related to how far below 1 the reproductive number is. The lower the number, the faster the epidemic will finish. San Francisco can only start to reopen when the state gives a green light to the entire Bay Area. Californias guidelines say a region can reopen when its intensive care unit capacity is projected to hit at least 15% availability within a four week period. The Sacramento region was recently allowed to reopen based on those metrics. The Bay Areas ICU availability is currently 6.6%. Infections are falling across the region the seven-day average for new cases in the nine counties was 49.8 per 100,000 people on Jan. 21, down from 60.9 per 100,000 on Jan. 14. Breeds tweet comes hours after the city opened its first of three mass vaccination sites at City College on Ocean Avenue near Interstate 280. Breeds plan is to eventually administer 10,000 coronavirus vaccinations per day, with the goal of immunizing all eligible residents by June 30, but the city is a long way from hitting those daily goals because of a vaccine shortage. At a press conference at City College, officials said San Francisco expects to get less vaccine for the city-run health network next week than it did this week, when it came close to running out. Public Health Director Grant Colfax said things are headed in the right direction for now when it comes to cases. As of Friday, San Francisco has a 4.3% 7-day positivity rate. The citys seven-day average of new coronavirus cases per 100,000 people fell from 39.4 on Jan. 14 to 30 on Jan. 21. Currently, 234 people are hospitalized, down from a high of 259 on Jan. 12. Breed added that despite the encouraging signs, San Franciscans need to remain vigilant. But we all need to keep doing what we know slows the spread of this virus: wear a mask, avoid indoor gatherings with people you don't live with, ventilate indoor spaces when you're around other people, and wash your hands frequently, she tweeted. Let's keep this up! Chronicle staff writer Trisha Thadani contributed to this report. Jessia Flores is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jessica.flores@sfchronicle.com tthadani New Delhi, Jan 22 : Indian Navy's stellar role as a credible force during the 1971 India-Pakistan war will be showcased during the Republic Day parade on January 26 at the Rajpath in New Delhi. Talking about the Republic Day parade, Vice Admiral S.N. Ghormade said, "Traditionally, the Naval Tableau paraded during the Republic Day Parade is aligned with the Navy's theme for the year. This year's theme is Indian Navy - Combat Ready, Credible and Cohesive." He said that the nation is commemorating the golden jubilee of the victory in 1971 war as Swarnim Vijay Varsh and Indian Navy proved its mettle as a credible force to reckon in 1971 war proving its combat efficiency. So this year's tableau aims to showcase the Navy's role in 1971 Indo-Pakistan war. The forward part of the tableau showcases the attack on Karachi harbour by missile boats. "The attacks were undertaken as part of Operation Trident on 03th/ 04th December night and Operation Python on 08th/09th December night," the Vice Admiral said. The tableau depicts a missile boat firing the missile and also the route taken by the attacking units during both the operations as track charts on sides of the Tableau. The rear section of the tableau illustrates the Navy's aircraft carrier INS Vikrant conducting flying operations with Sea Hawk and Alize aircraft. The air operations from Vikrant led to sizeable damage to ships and shore installations of East Pakistan and contributed immensely towards the liberation of Bangladesh. "While we celebrate our victory, we also acknowledge the courage and sacrifice of the Naval personnel who wrote this glorifying chapter of the Naval history," the Vice Admiral said.A The tableau showcases photographs of eight naval awardees of Mahavir Chakra one of which was posthumous. On the sides of the trailer are murals depicting various ships that participated in the war, commando operations (Operation X) undertaken by the Navy along with MuktiBahini and the surrender ceremony at Dhaka. While the Navy has many other operations to its credit during the 1971 war, the paucity of space on the tableau precludes showcasing all those elements. The tableau is an attempt to highlight the most significant aspects of Naval operations conducted during 1971 war and pay rich tributes to those who were involved in these. "I sincerely hope the Naval tableau would evoke the spirit of pride and patriotism amongst the audience witnessing the parade and a sense of nostalgia amongst those who participated," he said. The Tableau commanders are Lt Cdr CS Ruben and Lt Cdr Surbhi Sharma. The Naval Contingent of 96 young sailors will be led by Lt Cdr Lalit Kumar as Contingent Commander and Lt Cdr Sune Phogat, Lt Aditya Shukla and Sub Lt Agastya Chaudhary as Platoon Commanders. The brass band of the Indian Navy will be led by Sumesh Rajan, Master Chief Petty Officer (Musician) Class II. HILLSIDE, NJ / ACCESSWIRE / January 22, 2021 / Integrated BioPharma, Inc. (OTCQX:INBP) (the "Company" or "INBP"), upgraded to the OTCQX Best Market from OTCQB Venture Market as of today. OTC Markets Group Inc. (OTCQX:OTCM) is an operator of financial markets for 11,000 U.S. and global securities. Integrated BioPharma, Inc. begins trading today on OTCQX under the symbol "INBP." U.S. investors can find current financial disclosure and Real-Time Level 2 quotes for the company on www.otcmarkets.com. "Moving from the OTCQB to the OTCQX Market is another great achievement for the Company as we continue to grow and strive to increase shareholder value," stated E. Gerald Kay, Executive Chairman of Integrated BioPharma, Inc. "Trading on OTCQX will allow the Company to efficiently expand access to its news and financial disclosure and to demonstrate to investors that the Company meets certain higher financial standards and follows corporate governance best practices," said Jason Paltrowitz, Executive Vice President of Corporate Services at OTC Markets Group. "We look forward to supporting Integrated BioPharma, Inc. and its shareholders in the public markets." Integrated BioPharma, Inc. is engaged primarily in manufacturing, distributing, marketing and sales of vitamins, nutritional supplements and herbal products. Based in Hillside, New Jersey, the Company has spent more than 50 years manufacturing, distributing, marketing and sales of vitamins, nutritional supplements and herbal products. For more information please visit www.ibiopharma.com. This document contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that involve risks and uncertainties, as well as assumptions, that, if they never materialize or prove incorrect, could cause the results of INBP to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements generally are identified by the words "expects," "anticipates," believes," intends," "estimates," "should," "would," "strategy," "plan" and similar expressions. All statements other than statements of historical fact are statements that could be deemed forward-looking statements and are not guarantees of future performance. Such statements speak only as of the date hereof, are subject to change and should not be relied upon for investment purposes. INBP undertakes no obligation to revise or update any statements for any reasons. The risks, uncertainties and assumptions include developments in the market and related products and services, risks associate with the outbreak and continued spread of COVID-19, the Company's ability to maintain the qualitative and quantitative continued trading qualifications of the OTCQX Best Market and other risks and uncertainties described in the section entitled "Risk Factors" in INBP's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and its subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. Accordingly, INBP cannot give assurance that any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will transpire or occur, or if any of them do so, what impact they will have on the results of operations or financial condition of INBP. CONTACT: Dina Masi, CFO Integrated BioPharma, Inc. investors@ibiopharma.com 888.319.6962 SOURCE: Integrated BioPharma, Inc. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/625405/Integrated-BioPharma-Announces-Upgrade-to-OTCQX Glancy Prongay & Murray LLP Announces Investigation of Guidewire Software, Inc. Glancy Prongay & Murray LLP ("GPM") announces its investigation of Guidewire Software, Inc. (NYSE: GWRE) concerning the Company and its directors' and officers' possible violations of state laws. If you purchased Guidewire stock, would like to learn more about these claims, or have any questions concerning this announcement or your rights or interests with respect to these matters, please contact Tom Kennedy, of GPM, 230 Park venue, Suite 530, New York, NY 10169 at tkennedy@glancylaw.com, or at 212-682-5340. If you inquire by email please include your mailing address, telephone number, and the number of shares purchased and held. 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/20210122005295/en/ Bay of Plenty Are you looking for a labouring job that has an immediate start date? Do you like to be active and engaged while working... View or Apply on GoodWork.co.nz The Ganges River - with the combined flows of the Brahmaputra and Meghna rivers - could be responsible for up to 3 billion microplastic particles entering the Bay of Bengal every day, according to new research. The study represents the first investigation of microplastic abundance, characteristics and seasonal variation along the river and was conducted using samples collected by an international team of scientists as part of the National Geographic Society's Sea to Source: Ganges expedition. Over two expeditions in 2019, 120 samples (60 each in pre- and post-monsoon conditions) were gathered at 10 sites by pumping river water through a mesh filter to capture any particles. The samples were then analysed in laboratories at the University of Plymouth with microplastics found in 43 (71.6%) of the samples taken pre-monsoon, and 37 (61.6%) post-monsoon. More than 90% of the microplastics found were fibres and, among them, rayon (54%) and acrylic (24%) - both of which are commonly used in clothing - were the most abundant. Combining predicted microplastic concentration at the mouth of the river (Bhola, Bangladesh) with the discharge of the river, scientists estimate that between 1 billion and 3 billion microplastics might be being released from the Ganges Brahmaputra Meghna River Basin every day. The research, published in Environmental Pollution, was led by researchers from the University of Plymouth's International Marine Litter Research Unit, working with colleagues from the Wildlife Institute of India, University of Dhaka, WildTeam, University of Exeter, National Geographic Society and the Zoological Society of London. Research Fellow and National Geographic Explorer Dr Imogen Napper, the study's lead author, was among the participants in the Sea to Source: Ganges expedition. She said: "Globally, it has been estimated that 60 billion pieces of plastic are discharged into the ocean from rivers worldwide each day. However, what has been lacking until now has been a detailed analysis of how microplastic concentrations vary along a river's course. By working with local communities and partners, this expedition always aimed to help us stem the flow of plastic entering the Gangetic basin. These results provide the first step in understanding how it, as well as other major rivers, may contribute to oceanic microplastic." The Ganges River rises in the Himalayas and runs through India and Bangladesh, where it joins the Brahmaputra and Meghna rivers shortly before reaching the Indian Ocean. The combined flows of the three rivers are the largest in South Asia and form the most populous basin in the world, with over 655 million inhabitants relying on the water it provides. The samples were collected during pre-monsoon (May to June 2019) and post-monsoon (October to December 2019), at sites ranging from Harsil closest to the source of the Ganges to Bhola in southern Bangladesh where it meets the Bay of Bengal. The sample sites were selected to ensure a mixture of rural, urban, agricultural, tourism and religious locations, with the highest concentrations found closer to the river's mouth at Bhola, in Bangladesh. Pre-monsoon samples collected there had four times as many particles as those taken at Harsil, while post-monsoon samples had double the amount. Professor Richard Thompson OBE, Head of the International Marine Litter Research Unit at the University and one of the study's co-authors, said: "We know that rivers are a substantial source of microplastics in the ocean. But the information like this can help identify the key sources and pathways of microplastic and hence inform management interventions. With this type of evidence, we can progress toward using plastics more responsibly so as to get the many benefits they can bring without unnecessary contamination of the environment." This study is the latest by the University in the field, with it being awarded a Queen's Anniversary Prize for Higher and Further Education in 2020 for its ground-breaking research and policy impact on microplastics pollution in the oceans. It is currently among the partners in Preventing Plastic Pollution (PPP), a 14 million project which aims to prevent plastic pollution from rivers entering the English Channel, and LimnoPlast, a 4.1 million project examining the distribution of microplastics in European rivers and lakes. ### Over 12.7 lakh healthcare workers have received Covid-19 vaccination until Friday evening, the Union Health Ministry said. As many as 2,28,563 people were vaccinated on the seventh day of the nationwide immunisation drive through 6,230 sessions, the ministry said, adding that the final report of cumulative numbers will be prepared by late in the night. "The Covid-19 vaccination programme was conducted successfully on the seventh day of the countrywide massive exercise," the ministry said. "The cumulative number of healthcare workers vaccinated against Covid-19 has surpassed 12.7 lakh (12,72,097) (till 6 pm today) through 24,397 sessions, as per the provisional report," it said. According to the ministry, 267 cases of adverse effect after vaccination (AEFI) have been reported till 6 pm on the seventh day of the vaccination drive. Since the launch of the nationwide anti-coronavirus vaccination drive, over 1,110 AEFI's have been reported till now. The total number of beneficiaries who have been vaccinated till 6 pm Friday since the drive was rolled out include 1,27,726 in Andhra Pradesh, 63,620 in Bihar, 46,970 in Kerala, 1,82,503 in Karnataka, 38,278 in Madhya Pradesh, 46,825 in Tamil Nadu, 18,844 in Delhi, 42,395 in Gujarat and 80,542 in West Bengal, according to the provisional report. In what was termed as the largest inoculation drive in the world, India started vaccinating its frontline workers on 16 January. The country holds the record for the highest number of vaccinations on day one, with more than 2.24 lakh people receiving the shots. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. SBI Cards and Payment Services reported 52% fall in net profit to Rs 210 crore on a 1% decline in net total income to Rs 2,540 crore in Q3 FY21 over Q3 FY20. Profit before tax in Q3 FY21 stood at Rs 283 crore, down by 51% from Rs 583 crore in Q3 FY20. Current tax expense during the quarter increased by 21.2% year-on-year (YoY) to Rs 190.17 crore. Card-in-force grew by 15% to 1.15 crore as of Q3FY21 compared with 1 crore as of Q3FY20. Spends grew by 8% at Rs 37,797 crore for Q3FY21 versus Rs 35,135 crore for Q3FY20. Receivables grew by 4% to Rs 25,749 crore as of Q3FY21 versus Rs 24,776 crore as of Q3 FY20. New accounts volume has increased by 8% to 918,000 accounts in Q3FY21 compared to 848K in Q3FY20. The company's market share Q3FY21 (available till November): card-in-force at 18.8% as against 18.1% in Q3FY20. Spends were at 20.2% for Q3 FY21 from 17.8% in Q3FY20. Earnings before credit costs shrunk by 3% to Rs 931 crore in the third quarter from Rs 959 crore in the same period last year. Impairment losses and bad debts jumped 72% to Rs 648 crore in Q3 December 2020 from Rs 376 crore in Q3 December 2019. Cost to Income ratio was at 59.1% in Q3 FY21 as compared to 49.3% in Q2 FY21 and 56.7% in Q3 FY20. On the asset quality side, the ratio of gross NPAs to gross advances stood at 1.6% as on 31 December 2020 as against 4.3% as on 30 September 2020 and 2.5% as on 31 December 2019. The ratio of net NPAs to net advances stood at 0.6% as on 31 December 2020 as against 1.5% as on 30 September 2020 and 0.8% as on 31 December 2019. SBI Card had offered moratorium on credit card dues to eligible borrowers till 31 August 2020 in accordance with board approved policy. Thereafter, the company has allowed one time resolution to eligible customers by offering them an option of converting credit card dues into EMIs of up-to 24 months. As of 31 December 2020, outstanding balance of such accounts was Rs 2,343.81 crore. The company has classified such balance under Stage 2 assets and holds adequate provision against such assets. The Supreme Court of India, in a public interest litigation vide an interim order dated 03 September 2020, has directed banks that accounts which were not declared NPA till 31 August 2020 shall not be declared as NPA till further orders. If the company had classified such borrower accounts as NPA [Stage 3] after 31 August 2020, the company's proforma Gross NPA and proforma Net NPA ratio would have been 4.51 % and 1.58%, respectively. Total balance sheet size as of 31 December 2020 was Rs 27,277 crore as against Rs 26,000 crore as of 31 December 2019. Total gross advances (credit card receivables) as of 31 December 2020 were Rs 25,749 crore, as against Rs 24,776 crore as of 31 December 2019. Net worth as of 31 December 2020 was Rs 6,186 crore as against Rs 4,829 crore as of 31 December 2019. As of December 31, 2020, the company's capital-to-risk weighted assets ratio (CRAR) was 23.7% compared to 19.2% as of 31 December 2019. SBI Cards and Payment Services is a non-banking financial company that offers extensive credit card portfolio to individual cardholders and corporate clients which includes lifestyle, rewards, travel & fuel and banking partnerships cards along with corporate cards covering all major cardholders' segments in terms of income profile and lifestyle. The scrip jumped 4.14% to Rs 1019.65. It traded in the range of 979.15 and 1024.90 so far during the day. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / January 22, 2021 / Sparta Group (TSXV:SAY) (the "Corporation" the "Company", "Sparta Group", "Sparta Capital", "SAY.V" or "Sparta") is glad to announce that more details about an upcoming property development in what has become Ontario's second wine country, Prince Edward County ("The County"), are beginning to be unveiled. Sparta Group recently reported that the Company's desire to transform the old, decommissioned WWII property, atop the picturesque MaCaulay Mountain in Picton, was coming to fruition thanks to the relationship with development partner, FLC Group. Now the public can get a sneak peek at the Vineridge housing plans by visiting www.vineridgetowns.ca Starting at just $275,000, the townhomes, which combine both traditional and modern design elements, are surrounded by carefully planned vast outdoor green zones, complete with streams and ponds. Greenspace is a priority to both Sparta and FLC, as it helps support a healthy environment. "When our team first came to look around The County, we were stunned at what we found. Over 35 quaint wineries, a large artist's community, lots of fantastic restaurants, outdoor events, Sandbanks Provincial Park, as well as miles of beautiful walking and biking trails. Who wouldn't want to live here?" Sparta President, John O'Bireck stated. While FLC Group does not plan to break ground until summer 2021, registration for the first phase of the development is open. About FLC Group For over four decades, FLC Group President Fred Heller has been at the forefront of real estate development and construction management. His extensive resume includes builder/developer of residential and commercial construction projects in South Africa; low and mid-rise residential projects for Sierra Building Group, LCL Builds and Trillium Housing in Southwestern Ontario; and development and project manager of The St. Regis Toronto, the second tallest building in Canada. Mr. Heller's widespread knowledge and expertise in real estate development, construction and project management coupled with his passion and hands-on approach have earned him recognition and respect in the building industry. About Sparta Sparta Group (a.k.a. Sparta Capital Ltd.) is a technology-based company that owns or holds a controlling interest in a network of independent businesses that supply energy saving technologies designed to reduce energy inefficiencies, achieve reduced emissions and increase operating efficiencies in various industries. In response to the COVID-19 crisis, Sparta has also expanded its scope to help facilitate supply of necessary materials while assisting talented inventors who are looking to introduce innovative technical solutions that will bring greater normalcy to the post COVID-19 world. Sparta's network of independent businesses provides a wide range of specialized energy capturing, converting, optimizing, and related services to the commercial sector. Sparta provides capital, technical and engineering expertise, legal support, financial and accounting knowledge, strategic planning and other shared services to its independent businesses. Sparta is a publicly traded company listed on the TSX Venture Exchange Inc. under the symbol "SAY" (TSX.V: SAY). Additional information is available at www.spartagroup.ca or on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. For further information please contact: John O'Bireck, President Email: jobireck@spartagroup.ca Telephone: (905) 751-8004 This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. When used in this news 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. Although the Corporation believes in light of the experience of its officers and directors, current conditions and expected future developments and other factors that have been considered appropriate that the expectations reflected in this forward-looking information are reasonable, readers are cautioned to not place undue reliance on forward-looking information because the Corporation can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements are made based on management's beliefs, estimates and opinions on the date of publication of this news release and the Corporation undertakes no obligation to update such forward-looking statements if these beliefs, estimates and opinions or other circumstances should change. Furthermore, the Corporation undertakes no obligation to comment on analyses, expectations or statements made by third parties in respect of the Corporation. These include, but are not limited to, the failure to obtain necessary regulatory approvals, necessary financing and risks associated with the environmental technologies industry in general. All forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this 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. SOURCE: Sparta Group View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/625423/Sparta-Provides-More-Detail-About-Picton-Property-Development Undated photos of people sentenced for Vietnamese lorry deaths in 2019, L: Ronan Hughes, Gheorghe Nica; R: Maurice Robinson, Eamonn Harrison; C: Christopher Kennedy, Valentin Colota, Alexandru Ovidiu in Essex, UK, on Jan. 22, 2021. (Courtesy of Essex Police) UK Lorry Deaths: 7 Men Jailed for Over 93 Years in Total Seven men involved in the deaths of 39 Vietnamese migrants were sentenced on Friday by a UK court to a total of 93 years and eight months in prison. The smugglers have been found guilty of manslaughter of 39 Vietnamese men, women, and children who suffocated to death in the back of a refrigerated truck as they tried to make their way to Britain on Oct. 23, 2019. Maurice Robinson, 26, pleaded guilty to 39 counts of manslaughter, conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration, and acquiring criminal property before the trial. He was sentenced on Friday to 13 years and four months. The Northern Irish man is one of the drivers of the lorry who found the bodies in Essex, England, when he opened the door to give [them] some air. He later called the police and pretended he had not known there were people in the trailer. Ronan Hughes, Robinsons 41-year-old boss who led the conspiracy, pleaded guilty to all offences and was sentenced to a total of 20 years in prison on Friday. Gheorghe Nica, 44, Hughes co-conspirator, was sentenced to 27 years in prison. He was found guilty last year of 39 counts of manslaughter and one count of conspiracy to assist illegal immigration following a ten-week trial at The Central Criminal Court of England and Wales, alongside another driver, Eamonn Harrison. Harrison, 24, was sentenced to 18 years in prison. He was the driver who loaded the migrants onto the airtight trailer and lock them in, before dropping the trailer at Zeebrugge, Belgium onto a ferry to England. Christopher Kennedy, a 24-year-old lorry driver, was sentenced to seven years in prison for conspiracy to assist illegal immigration. He transported migrants for Hughes and Nica on Oct. 11 and Oct. 18. Valentin Calota, 38, received four years and six months for his part in the conspiracy. Calota worked with Nica to transport migrants into London once they had arrived in Essex. Another onward driver, 28-year-old Alexandru Hanga, pleaded guilty last April to a count of conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration. He was sentenced to three years in prison. Chief Constable of Essex Police Ben-Julian Harrington, acknowledged the help from the public and other agencies in the investigation to bring justice to the victims. Weve managed to convict those who did not have the decency of entering guilty pleas, despite the overwhelming evidence against them, and today, weve seen the sentences passed down and justice done, Harrington said in a statement. Our thoughts and our prayers will always be with the families of the victims and well continue to support them in any way we can. The UKs Home Secretary Priti Patel also paid tribute to the victims. The pain and suffering endured by the families of the victims of this terrible tragedy is unbearable. They will always remain in my thoughts and prayers, Patel said. The inhumanity of these callous people smugglers and their dangerous organised criminal networks has rightly been reflected in the sentencing today, she added. Matthew Long, deputy director of the National Crime Agency (NCA), said that the tragedy is a demonstration of how dangerous the organised people smuggling networks are. As a result of the callousness and greed of these individuals, 39 men, women, and children lost their lives in the most horrific of circumstances, he said. The loved ones of those victims have to live with that every day, and I can only hope that with these sentences passed today they can at least feel that justice has been done. Long said the work doesnt stop here for the NCA. There are undoubtedly other criminal networks out there who seek to exploit migrants in just the same way, without care for their safety, putting lives at risk day in, day out, he said. Cases like this make us even more determined to do all we can to stop these gangs, and the NCA will continue to use the full range of tools at our disposal to disrupt and dismantle people smuggling networks impacting the UK, no matter where in the world they operate, he said. Reuters contributed to this report. India has welcomed Sri Lankas emergency use approval of Covishield vaccine which is being manufactured by the Serum Institute of India. Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan and the Maldives have already received Indias COVID-19 vaccines under grant assistance in sync with its Neighbourhood First policy. Indias High Commission here took to Twitter to welcome the emergency use approval by the Sri Lankan government. Welcome emergency use approval of COVISHIELD vaccines by Government of Sri Lanka. This clears the way for scheduling delivery of the vaccine from #India to #lka, it said in a tweet. Earlier on Friday, State Minister of Pharmaceuticals Supply Channa Jayasumana told reporters that the National Medicines Regulatory Authority has given regulatory clearance for the emergency use of Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine. The Attorney General's office has announced that clarifications have been sought on the purchase agreement of the vaccine from India. India this week announced that it will send COVID-19 vaccines under grant assistance to Sri Lanka and seven other countries -- Bhutan, the Maldives, Bangladesh, Nepal, Myanmar and Seychelles, Afghanistan and Mauritius. Supplies to Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and Mauritius will commence after confirmation of necessary regulatory clearances, it said on January 19. While the Oxford-AstraZeneca's Covishield is being manufactured by the Serum Institute, the Covaxin doses are being produced by Bharat Biotech. The approval came as Sri Lankas Director General of Health Services Asela Gunawardena on Friday said that it will conduct COVID-19 immunisation trial-runs on Saturday to help officials put in place an effective inoculation programme when the vaccines are made available for use. The vaccination drills will be conducted at two populous Colombo suburbs -- Piliyandala and Ragama. The coronavirus has so far killed 276 people, along with 56,076 confirmed cases, in the island nation. Gunawardena said over 52,000 of the total cases have been reported after October last year, part of the second wave of cases. He said in the last 24 hours, 887 new cases were reported, which is the highest number in daily cases. (Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com) Dr. Alan Kulberg, chairman of the Pittsfield Board of Health, readies a dose of COVID-19 vaccine last month, during a clinic for first responders at Berkshire Community College in Pittsfield. Seniors 75 and older are eligible to receive the vaccine under Phase Two of the states program. With the prospect of federal aid and higher-than-expected tax revenue, Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker plans to fully fund the states landmark education law in the 2022 fiscal year. Addressing the Massachusetts Municipal Associations annual meeting, Baker said he plans to file a budget plan that increases unrestricted local aid based on the states consensus tax revenue and fully funds the first year of the Student Opportunity Act. Were pleased to continue making these important investments in our schools and our communities, the Republican governor said Friday afternoon. The 2019 education law, which retooled the states funding formula, requires the state to offer $1.5 billion more in funding annually for the state public education system. But it first called for a seven-year phase-in period. Lawmakers and state officials planned to increase Chapter 70 funding last week to follow the new education law, but the coronavirus pandemic disrupted budget negotiations. As lawmakers spent months waiting for financial relief from Congress, the Baker administration and Legislature agreed to keep Chapter 70 mostly level. When asked about Chapter 70 funding, Baker says schools have received more money during the coronavirus pandemic than they would have if the state had simply increased Chapter 70 spending. But school officials say much of the funding districts have received was to offset mounting COVID-19 costs and that those awards were not disbursed based on the formula that was meant to ensure money was spread equitably. Baker also plans to file another bill authorizing $200 million in Chapter 90 funds, which would support local road and bridge repair projects. If approved, the Baker administration will have released more than $1.5 billion in Chapter 90 funding. Baker also touted his small business relief package and the increasing availability of COVID-19 vaccines, as well as the inclusion of his housing choice proposal in the $626 million economic development package he signed into law earlier this month. The governor addressed local officials by video Friday afternoon, lamenting he couldnt speak with them in person. You wouldnt get into local government, you wouldnt get into state government if you didnt like to be out and about with the people of your community, however you want to define it, he said. I can tell you that the lieutenant governor and I miss terribly those opportunities that we used to have every single day to be out somewhere in Massachusetts talking to either you or to your constituents about whatever it was that was on your minds and how we could work together to make things better. Related content: We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form FICTION Memorial Bryan Washington Atlantic, $29.99 Missionaries Phil Klay Canongate, $29.99 Should I be reviewing these two novels? As the I here is older, white, middle-class, female and Australian, reading these novels is a procession of tiny derailments. But, there is this: I wasnt always all of the above. Life is aspirational and transitional and reading is one way into mapping both. If I hadnt read the entire oeuvre of Mikhail Sholokhov when I was a 14-year-old outer suburban schoolgirl my life would have been different. Sholokhovs cossacks were nothing less than dynamite to a girlish mind at that particular time. I understood maybe half of it? Bryan Washington's experience writing short stories is reflected in the tightness of his first novel. Credit:Dailey Hubbard Bryan Washington is 27, gay, black, middle-class and from Houston, Texas. Memorial is his first novel. His essays and short stories are in a variety of publications, and Lot, his short-story collection has been attentively and widely honoured. Washingtons writing liquid, pared, thrilling is intersectionality in practice. Benson is in his 20s, Mike a few years older and they live in their one-bedroom Houston apartment. Mike cooks at a fusion coffee shop, Ben is a childcare worker at a specialised day centre. Both are from broken marriages, both have particularly difficult fathers. Mikes family have an additional complication because his Japanese parents had migrated to America when he was little and have now, separately, returned to Japan. CoStar Group Inc. and a private equity group led by Warburg Pincus are the final bidders competing for data provider CoreLogic Inc., according to people familiar with the matter. CoreLogic, which is evaluating the offers, is expected to decide in the coming weeks whether to proceed with a sale, said the people, asking not to be identified because the matter is private. No final decision has been made, and CoreLogic may choose to remain independent, they added. Representatives for CoStar, Warburg Pincus and CoreLogic declined to comment. CoreLogic rose as much as 6% Thursday in New York trading. The shares were up 1.2% to $76.62 at 3:22 p.m., giving the company a market value of about $6 billion. CoStar rose 1.1% to $909.23, giving it a market value of $36 billion. CoStar, based in Washington, provides data and analytics to the real estate industry. A takeover of CoreLogic would be its largest ever takeover, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. CoreLogic, which also provides data and analytics to the real estate and mortgage industry, has been in play for months. The Irvine, California-based company launched a strategic review in November in the midst of a boardroom battle with investors Cannae Holdings Inc. and Senator Investment Group. The duo subsequently won three seats on CoreLogics board. The investors had offered to buy the company in June but pulled out of the sales process after CoreLogic said it had received indications of interest at $80 or above. The duo, which said they werent interested in acquiring CoreLogic at that price, had offered $66 a share to buy the company. Its unclear what CoStar and Warburg Pincus have offered. Warburg Pincus had teamed up with GTCR to pursue CoreLogic, Bloomberg News has previously reported. A GTCR representative didnt respond to a request for comment. Top Photo: A contractor works on a house under construction at a KB Home development in Gibsonton, Florida, U.S., on Thursday, May 24, 2018. Photographer: Luke Sharrett/Bloomberg Copyright 2021 Bloomberg. Topics Mergers BOISE - Following President Joe Bidens executive order blocking construction of the Keystone XL Pipeline, Idaho Senators Jim Risch and Mike Crapo announced they will join Senator Steve Daines (R-Mont.) and several western senators in introducing legislation to authorize the continued construction of the Keystone XL Pipeline. Other cosponsors of the legislation will include Senators John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), James Inhofe (R-Okla.), and John Hoeven (R-N.D.). This day one move to block the Keystone XL Pipeline is flat wrong, said Risch. The Keystone project is the linchpin of Americas energy independence and job creation strategy. Shutting it down leaves us dependent on the likes of OPEC and Russia to help power the country and undermines the pact we made with our northern ally, Canada, which remains supportive of the project. This is compounded by the reality that stopping construction terminates thousands of jobs in the middle of a pandemic, no less. The proposed Keystone XL is a critical jobs-providing project that would also safely supply much-needed tax revenue to the states along its route, said Crapo. Moreover, the increase in the nations oil supply delivered by the Keystone pipeline will improve our nations energy security. This privately-funded project has already been delayed enough by continued partisan bickering in Washington, and I will continue to push for policies that bring energy costs down and further American energy independence. Its only day one, and with the stroke of a pen, Biden has already taken steps to kill American energy projects like the Keystone XL Pipeline which is critical to energy producing states like Montana, Daines said. This project will create thousands of jobs, generate tax revenue for local communities, promote North American energy security and independence, and it is the safest and most environmentally friendly way to transport oil. We must do all that we can to ensure construction moves forward. Drilling activity continued to move higher this month, recovering from last years activity collapse. Oilfield services firm Baker Hughes and data analytic firm Enverus reported Friday in their weekly rig count that the national tally rose five to 373, well above the record low 244 seen last August. The count is 416 rigs below the 794 reported at work last year. There were 289 rigs drilling for oil, up two but 387 below the 676 seeking oil a year ago. There were 88 rigs drilling for natural gas, up three but 27 below the 115 looking for natural gas last January. Texas added six rigs to 175 but is 222 rigs below the 397 rigs active in the state a year ago. Alaska, North Dakota, Ohio and West Virginia joined Texas in adding to their counts. New Mexico lost five rigs to 65. Pennsylvania was the other producing state to lay down a rig this week. The Permian Basin dropped one rig to 188 and is 217 rigs below the 405 reported last year. Lea County, New Mexico, was the most active county in the Permian with 35 rigs, unchanged for the week. Eddy County, New Mexico, followed with 29, down five and the steepest drop among Permian counties. Midland County, Martin County and Loving County each reported 19 rigs this week unchanged for Midland County and up one each in Martin and Loving counties. Howard County reported 17 rigs, unchanged for the week, and Reeves County had 13 rigs at work within county lines, down one. Winkler County saw no activity this week with the loss of its one rig. According to Enverus, the US rig count is up 6 percent in the last month but down 48 percent year-over-year. The company also said that, week over week, the Permian was the basin that added the most rigs, adding 12 active rigs over the last month. Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has read the riot act to a junior MP who was knocked out in a pub fight in Townsville, but that is as far as the punishment goes. Newly-appointed Mundingburra MP Les Walker was fined $800 and banned from Townsvilles Safe Night Precinct for 10 days over his involvement in a fight at the Mad Cow Tavern nightclub. Two other men, aged 19 and 21, were also fined and banned from the area. Speaking in Townsville on Friday, Mr Walker said he did not know the two other men involved and had been celebrating his birthday with his wife and his friends. Ahead of the Republic Day parade, members of the tableaux contingents from various states, ministries and government departments underwent COVID-19 tests at a cultural camp in Delhi Cantonment on Friday, officials said. On the sidelines of a media preview held at the camp, members belonging to different tableaux queued up in a corner where medical staff housed under two canopies collected samples from them for RT-PCR tests. An official from the diagnostic testing team said several members of different contingents had brought RT-PCR tests reports with them when they had arrived in Delhi and later joined the camp in the cantonment area, while others were tested for the coronavirus infection after their arrival here. Members of contingents in their colourful traditional costumes stood in two lines, one each in front of the two canopies, while wearing masks and maintaining social distancing. Some artistes, who got their swabs taken, were dressed up in dancing costumes, such as the ones from south India and Maharashtra contingents. "It is very amusing to see people in traditional costumes, getting their swabs taken, women from Karnataka and Maharashtra in beautiful sarees and make-up are standing in queue, and I am wearing my traditional Ladakhi dress," said Stanzin Dodon, a female member of the Ladakh contingent. Diksit Palmo, who hails from Leh, said, all the members of Ladakh contingent brought negative RT-PCR reports when they arrived in Delhi. "We came to the camp on January 10, and today we got our RT-PCR tests done too. All of us will be tested as we gear up for the parade," she said. Awareness posters on COVID-appropriate behaviours have been put up on tents across the camp, including at the makeshift canteen and washrooms. Delhi recorded 266 fresh COVID-19 cases and seven deaths on Friday, even as the positivity rate stood at 0.37 per cent. The tally of COVID-19 cases stood at over 6,33,542 in the city and the death toll mounted to 10,789, authorities said. Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain on Thursday had said the pandemic situation in the city was under control but people should continue to observe all safety norms. [January 21, 2021] WORLD WIFI FOUNDATION to develop 'HAI Talk' as the representative messenger of Indonesia SEOUL, South Korea and JAKARTA, Indonesia, Jan. 22, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- WORLD WIFI FOUNDATION (CEO: Byeon Young-oh) announced on January 21 that it has signed a business agreement with Redision, an activation partner of TELKOMSEL (IDX: TLKM) which has the largest telecommunications market share in Indonesia and will start developing HAI Talk, the representative messenger in the country. As a government-run company, TELKOMSEL has 165 million customers in Indonesia (population 270 million), and accounts for a 46% share of the wireless service market in Indonesia. Redision acquired the igital content business license from the Indonesian government. As the 1st vendor licensed enterprise of TELKOMSE, Redision monopolizes the mobile payment business for TELKOMSEL users. In addition, it provides the service of charging pre-paid cards for 200 million members of 'Pulsa', a pre-payment system. WORLD WIFI FOUNDATION will perform this development project together with Redision, the largest PG and online game agent in Indonesia. The project is aimed at developing a mobile messenger that can represent Indonesia with the fourth largest population in the world. WORLD WIFI FOUNDATION, which led this agreement, will provide equipment for a public WiFi network, one of the projects in Southeast Asia. Recently, the organization launched WiFi Coin as a virtual asset payment platform for blockchain based integrated management. WORLD WIFI FOUNDATION plans to export a variety of Korean content, including games, webtoons, and sound sources to the Southeast Asia market through this messenger development project. SOURCE WORLD WIFI FOUNDATION .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... Copyright 2021 Albuquerque Journal About 700 Albuquerque Public Schools employees thought they were going to get a vaccination for COVID-19 this week, but that didnt happen. And a drive-thru shot clinic was scheduled for 1,800 staff members in Rio Rancho Public Schools, Bernalillo Public Schools and nearby charter schools, but that wont happen either. The state Department of Health told the Journal that the school district vaccination events arent moving forward because New Mexico largely isnt vaccinating school staff yet, and is concentrating efforts on people 75 years and older and those who are at least 16 years old who have underlying medical conditions that increase risk from COVID-19. We are not yet vaccinating frontline essential workers, DOH spokesman Matt Bieber said in an email. New Mexico is approaching vaccine distribution in phases and isnt at the point where frontline essential workers including K-12 staff who cant work remotely are the focus. Bieber didnt answer questions about why other school staff in the state have reportedly received the vaccine. But DOH has said previously there are exceptions to the phases if a provider was to pull from the next priority group to make sure a vaccine didnt go to waste. ADVERTISEMENTSkip ................................................................ Still, the school leaders the Journal spoke with are openly disappointed. People that have talked to me are pretty clear that it was heartbreaking. That it was very difficult, APS Interim Superintendent Scott Elder said. He said APS was told by a provider they were initially allotted 2,000 vaccines. That was later dropped to 1,000 and the district prioritized them for staff in the district that make in-person small groups happen for students with disabilities, including teachers. Elder said a clinic was slated for the end of this week and the district didnt learn until Tuesday that it wasnt going to occur, he said. The APS event wasnt cancelled. It was never approved, because New Mexico isnt yet vaccinating teachers or education staff, Beiber wrote in the email. Rio Rancho Public Schools can relate. Superintendent V. Sue Cleveland told the Journal that staff was extremely distressed about the decision. In a memo to staff, she said the district and its partners had been transparent with DOH throughout the planning process. This is after Sandoval Regional Medical Center, Sandoval County and Rio Rancho Public Schools received permission from (DOH) to move forward with the event now, one day before the event, (DOH) has determined that they need to cancel, she said in the memo to staff. State Sen. Craig Brandt, R-Rio Rancho, had scathing words for DOH after learning the education staff wouldnt get the vaccines this week, calling it irresponsible and disastrous. Bieber didnt reply to questions on the disconnect in information that allowed these events to be planned in the first place. But he did stress New Mexico has to stick to the distribution sequence to ensure people most exposed and vulnerable to the coronavirus are protected. DOH understands that New Mexicans are eager for vaccine and we are eager to distribute vaccine. In fact, New Mexico is vaccinating its population faster than almost every other state and we could distribute significantly more. The issue is supply. Like all states, we depend on the federal government for our supply of vaccines, he said. Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 3 mesi fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. Market Reports on Saudi Arabia Provides the Trending Market Research Report on Pretzels (Savory Snacks) Market in Saudi Arabia - Outlook to 2024; Market Size, Growth and Forecast Analytics (updated with COVID-19 Impact) under Food category. The Pretzels (Savory Snacks) Market in Saudi Arabia is projected to exhibit highest growth rate over report offers a collection of superior market research, market analysis, and competitive intelligence and industry reports. Pretzels (Savory Snacks) Market in Saudi Arabia - Outlook to 2024; Market Size, Growth and Forecast Analytics (updated with COVID-19 Impact) is a broad level market review of Pretzels Market in Saudi Arabia. Pretzels - A glazed, brittle snack that is usually salted on the outside and baked. Made with unleavened dough and usually in the form of a loose knot or stick shaped. Pretzels market in Saudi Arabia registered a positive compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.68% during the period 2014 to 2019 with a sales value of SAR 4.42 Million in 2019, an increase of 6.67% over 2018. The market achieved its strongest performance in 2018, when it grew by 9.26% over its previous year and its weakest performance in 2017, when it increased by 4.40% over 2016. Request a free sample copy of Saudi Arabia Pretzels Market Report @ http://www.marketreportsonsaudiarabia.com/marketreports/sample/reports/2202216 The research handbook provides up-to-date market size data for period 2014-2019 and illustrative forecast to 2024 premised on Covid-19 hit, covering key market aspects like Sales Value and Volume for Pretzels and its variants . Furthermore, the research handbook details overall market sales by Distribution Channel (Dollar Stores, Variety Store & General Merchandise Retailers, Cash & Carries and Warehouse Clubs, Convenience Stores & Gas Stations, Department Stores, Drug Stores & Pharmacies, Chemists/Pharmacies, Parapharmacies/Drugstores, eRetailers, Food & Drinks Specialists, Health & Beauty Stores, Hypermarkets & Supermarkets, Direct Sellers, Others, On Trade, Vending Machines, Other Specialist Retailers, Tobacco Specialists) where ever applicable. Due to on going large scale uncertainties in the market due to COVID-19 pandemic, the research handbook acts as an essential tool for companies active or planning to venture in to Saudi Arabia's Pretzels (Savory Snacks) market. The comprehensive statistics within the research handbook provides insight into the operating environment of the market and also ensures right business decision making based on historical trends and industry model based forecasting. Sales Values in the handbook are depicted in USD ($) and local currency of country and Volumes are represented in M Kilograms. *Note: Certain content / sections in the research handbook may be removed or altered based on the availability and relevance of data. Scope - Overall Pretzels (Savory Snacks) market value and volume analytics with growth analysis from 2014 to 2024. - Distribution channel sales analytics from 2016-2019. Reasons to Buy - Get access to authoritative and granular data on the Pretzels (Savory Snacks) market and fill in the gaps in understanding of trends and the components of change behind them. - Enhance your understanding of the market to update your strategic and tactical plans based on volume and value changes and distribution trends. - Analyze the components of change in the market by looking at historic and future growth patterns. - Use the data to understand future patterns of the market trends from winners and losers to category dynamics and thereby quickly and easily identify the key areas in which you want to compete in the future. Browse our full report with Table of Contents: http://www.marketreportsonsaudiarabia.com/marketreports/pretzels-savory-snacks-market-in-saudi-arabia-outlook-to-2024-market-size-growth-and-forecast-analytics-updated-w/2202216 About Us Market Reports on Saudi Arabia provides you with an in-depth industry reports focusing on various economic, political and operational risk environment, complemented by detailed sector analysis. We have an exhaustive coverage on variety of industries ranging from energy and chemicals to transportation, communications, constructions and mining to Food and Beverage and education. Our collection includes over 2000 up-to-date reports all researched, analysed and published by top-notch international research firms. Contact us at: Market Reports On Saudi Arabia Tel: +91 22 27810772 / 27810773 Email: info@marketreportsonsaudiarabia.com Website: http://www.marketreportsonsaudiarabia.com Follow us on : Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 A man and a woman have spoken about how their parents duped them into moving from the UK to Africa as children in a phenomenon known as being 'tricked and shipped'. The approach is used by African parents living overseas who want to send their children back to their native country, but use false pretenses to get them on the plane, explained BBC World Service journalist Kim Chakanetsa in podcast The Comb. There are no official records on how many children have been 'tricked and shipped but Kim said she had come across 'dozens and dozens' of stories online. The reasons for the relocation vary. One woman named Hannah told how her parents sent her to Nigeria when she was 11 years old because they believed she needed more 'discipline' and wanted to 'protect the family name' after she was suspended from school. She boarded the plane believing she was going to stay with family in the US, only to discover moments before takeoff that she was destined for Lagos. She spent the next five years in Nigeria as a student at a strict boarding school where punishments included being flogged in front of her classmates until she bled. However the podcast also heard from a man named Arif who was sent to his father's native Uganda at the age of nine. His parents wanted him to learn more about his cultural and religious heritage, something so important that the family felt could not be gained from their life in the UK. A man and a woman have spoken about how their parents duped them into moving from the UK to Africa as children in a phenomenon known as being 'tricked and shipped'. Stock image 'I ONLY FOUND OUT WHEN I GOT ON THE PLANE' As a Year 7 student in London, Hannah described herself as 'mischievous, stubborn, but smart' and regularly found herself in trouble with teachers. 'I used to be very hotheaded,' she explained. 'I used to never tolerate anything. Patience was not in my vocabulary at all.' Bad behaviour including fighting or being disobedient regularly led to suspensions and her parents being called to school. She was suspended 13 times in the first term of Year 7 alone. Her parents warned her that they would send her to Nigeria, a country she had never visited, if she continued to misbehave but she simply told them she 'wouldn't go'. When Hannah was 11 years old, her parents told her she was going to stay with her cousins who lived in the US. It was a childhood dream for Hannah, who had visions of exploring New York and visiting the stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. It was only once she was on the plane that she found out where she was really going. 'My Dad was sitting by the window, I was sitting right next to him,' she recalled. 'They were doing the safety checks and everything. The teachers said they were going to flog me in the style of the Union flag because I was from the UK. I remember I was bleeding on my back Hannah As the plane was about to take off they said, "boarding to Lagos, Nigeria" and I said, "Daddy, I think we got on the wrong plane. I think we got on the wrong plane". And he was just looking out of the window.' Hannah recalled being 'slapped in the face' by the heat when she landed. 'I was thinking, "How am I going to run away? How am I going to get back to London?",' she recalled. Two weeks later, Hannah had started at a boarding school. 'It was a hard knock life,' she said. She recalled the first time she was flogged in front of the class: her Year 8 Maths teacher had called her out when she didn't stand up when he walked into the room. 'The first stroke, I started crying my eyes out. My hand started shaking.' On another occasion she was beaten in front of the whole school alongside a group of friends. She continued: 'Teachers would take it in turns and the students were just looking at us. And they said they were going to flog me in the style of the Union flag because I was from the UK. I remember I was bleeding on my back.' However she acknowledged there were some benefits to the experience, revealing how it completely changed her attitude towards learning. 'In the UK, if you were the dumbest kid, you were deemed the cool kid, the class clown,' she explained. 'If you were smart in the UK, you had to keep it on the low because people would make fun of you. [In Nigeria] I was surrounded by people who wanted to make sure their education was A1. It got to the point where I was striving to be the best in the class.' She added: 'I do appreciate it to an extent, because I might have turned out very, very bad here. But I still believe there could be another way around it, other than sending me to Nigeria.' 'THEY LEFT US AT THE SCHOOL AND DIDN'T LOOK BACK' Arif, now 24, was nine years old when he was unknowingly enrolled at a Ugandan boarding school with his brother. The family had travelled to Uganda, his parents' home country, for their annual winter break. One day the boys were brought to a local school for a visit. 'My mum said, "oh yeah, we're going to visit some schools". I think she said we had some cousins there or something that we hadn't met,' Arif recalled. The boys wandered off to explore, while his mother left to go speak to someone. 'We were on a veranda by the headteacher's office and the cars were parked in the middle of the school so you could see the cars pulling off. So as we were standing and wandering around the classrooms, we see their car's pulling off without us. 'My mum got in and didn't even look back as if she had forgotten us. So she's just walked off, not even turned around, not even once. My brother and I, we just started crying, we were so confused... The tears we cried that day were immense.' The podcast also heard from Arif's father, who has lived in the UK for 30 years. He explained he and his wife had always planned to send their sons back to Uganda at some point in their lives in order for them to properly understand their culture and language. He was also eager for the boys to receive a proper education in Islam, which he felt was not available near to where they lived in the UK. Speaking on why they decided to leave the boys that way, he said they were too young to properly understand the concept of leaving to attend boarding school anyway. 'It wouldn't have made much of a difference,' he said. 'All that we did was tell them that in a year they would be back to London... Eventually I spoke to the staff at the school and they had settle in.' For Arif and his brother, it was a steep learning curve. The boys had to collect their own water for cold water showers; had to learn a strict new set of rules, and found themselves being beaten when they stepped out of line. However there were major positives. Arif learned his parents' mother tongue and was given an understanding in religious principles that he carries with him today. For his father it was also a success. He told how the boys returned from Uganda more humble and better behaved. He said the key was to frame the experience as a positive, for their own betterment, rather than as a punishment for bad behaviour. Ahead of PM Modi's visit, tight security deployed in Kolkata India oi-Ajay Joseph Raj P Kolkata, Jan 22: Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Kolkata for the celebration of 'Parakram Diwas', the city has been turned into a fortress of sort by the city police and central security agencies. According to reports, PM Modi will commemorate the 125th birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose on Saturday. He will preside over the inaugural function of the 'Parakram Diwas' celebrations at Victoria Memorial in Kolkata. A cultural programme "Amra Nuton Jouboneri Doot", based on the theme of Netaji, is also scheduled to be held on the day. Coronavirus cases: India records 14,545 new COVID-19 cases, 163 deaths in last 24 hours It is also said that about 2,000 police personnel will be deployed across Kolkata to monitor security mechanisms. Sand bunker and quick response teams will also be arranged at the venue where the Prime Minister will visit. Drone cameras will also be used to keep an eye on the movements in and around the particular area. Meanwhile, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will also take out a rally from Shyambazar five-point crossing to Red Road on Saturday to celebrate Netaji's birth anniversary. The rally will start at 12 noon from Netaji's statue at the busy crossing. Centre-farmers hold 11th round of talks, impasse over farm laws continues| Oneindia News Reports stated that there will be naka-checking at several major traffic intersections of Kolkata from Friday night itself. Already the personal security team of the Prime Minister has arrived in Kolkata. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, January 22, 2021, 14:21 [IST] Come on Bollywood pull out a few cool 'vaxxie' looks. Airport looks are so 2020! I am all set for the jab. Hoping I will get it soonest. Admission: I am severely needle phobic, to the extent that I cannot watch someone else getting a prick even if it is on the screen. Despite that and several other reservations, I am consoling myself on many levels. I am all set to shoot my vaxxie -- for those asking, wat dat? -- a vaxxie is a selfie shot with the arm that is not going under the vaccinators needle. Right now, despite a slight tremor in my voice as I write these words, I am thanking my stars that I am not Norwegian. And that I am not yet 80. Chances are pretty high that Ill survive the jab and live to tell the tale. Besides and heres my biggest trump card -- I am 100 per cent Indian! Fully-fully desi, inside out! This is my biggest shield. Not being a scientist, my wonky reasoning does not have to make sense to anybody but myself, and a few crazies like me. Never before has being born an Indian and having lived my entire life in India been such a boon! Poochho kyon? Go on, ask, na? Look at our comparitively low numbers with Covid-19 deaths (approximately 165K). There has to be some explanation for this phenomenon. I seriously believe it is Indias dirt. I grew up in Mumbai, surrounded by germs and bacteria of every known description. I have happily eaten street food since my childhood. I played in and with mud, consuming some of it too. I did not wash my hands twenty times a day. But I did bathe regularly, okay? My home was scrupulously clean (my mother ensured that), but even she could not stop me from devouring roadside bhelpuri, paani puri, college canteen cutlets and exposed greasy snacks peddled by favourite vendors outside local train stations. This was true about all my friends back then -- we ate the most unhygienic food ever, and none of us fell seriously sick. Our stomachs, we joked, were zinc lined and our systems bug-proof. Lets loosely call this a vital immunity building exercise, for want of a better medical term. We ate and drank rubbish 00 who knows? These bad habits may have spared us from picking up the deadly coronavirus today. Nothing unique about our youthful experiences -- most of India conforms to this pattern. We are called filthy by the Western world. Our unsanitary existence is widely mocked -- but hey -- please explain how come we have not dropped like flies, like people in other, more developed countries? Is it our unique DNA structure thats helping Indians combat the global scourge better than most nations still reeling under fresh cases and strange variants of the virus? January 16, 2021 will always remain a red letter in Indias calendar. It was the one Saturday citizens had been impatiently waiting for ever since the world went into lockdown mode and everyday life came to a standstill. Its the day we kicked off the most challenging immunisation exercise in the history of the world. According to available data, over two lakh citizens were vaccinated on Day 1. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was justifiably proud when he addressed the nation at 10.30 am and said: We are launching the worlds biggest vaccination drive and it shows the world our capability. All our chests suddenly grew to 56 inches! It is an ambitious plan, involving thousands, as 300 million people hope to receive their jab in this phase, by the end of summer. These include 30 million doctors, nurses, police personnel and firefighters. The next lot, of 270 million, will reach all those over the age of 50 (me!), and those with other vulnerabilities. This impressive rollout is nothing short of a feat -- and must be acknowledged as such. For now, I am studiously ignoring the cynics and doomsday prophets who are pointing out all kinds of loopholes and deficiencies. Sanjiv Agarwal of Good Governance India Foundation is asking tough questions like: Does all of India need a vaccine? He believes that India has already achieved a high level of immunity and perhaps only the truly vulnerable need the jab. We are waiting for the ultimate photo-op that shows Prime Minister Narendra Modi pushing up his kurta sleeve and baring his upper arm for the shot. Yes, there are going to be hiccups and setbacks. Yes, we need more data, more time but can we afford to wait? In Mumbai, the drive was suspended for two days. Frankly, Im fine with the chief ministers decision to do so. There was talk of a server being down, and messages not going out on time. Apparently, the turnout was lower than expected, with genuine concerns about the vaccine getting wasted. But given the rumour factories at work, this is hardly surprising. Each vial can vaccinate 10 people. Once a vial is opened, it cannot be preserved for more than eight hours. Despite these early roadblocks, citizens are filled with confidence and hope that the timely delivery of the shots is definitely going to halt the coronavirus -- and hopefully, any mutant/variant as well. Being sentimental, superstitious and God-fearing, I loved the aartis, pujas and prayers that were conducted when the vaccines left the Serum Institute of India in Pune. Or later, when hospital employees greeted the health workers carrying the precious boxes to the designated venues with mithai and flowers. This is so endearing and such an Indian thing to do! Why not? I am prepared to pray to an icebox filled with life-saving vaccine vials without any self-consciousness! Vaccine hai, to hum hai! India is well and truly on its way to recovery from the deadly Covid-19 virus. As for me, I will time my blowdry with the jab. I cant afford to ruin my historic vaxxie! Come on Bollywood pull out a few cool vaxxie looks. Airport looks are so 2020! Authorities in Ho Chi Minh City have detected the shady practice of using industrial chemicals to increase snails' weight before distributing them to eateries and restaurants. Police officers uncovered the use of industrial chemicals on snails at a wholesale facility in District 8 on Wednesday, a source told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper on Thursday. Police raided the Ben Luc residential area in District 8 and found workers of a local facility soaking snails in synthesized liquids. The owner was later revealed to be H., who admitted that chemicals were used to cleanse the snails, shine their shells, and buff up their weight before distribution to markets and restaurants. Police seized nearly 500 kilograms of chemicals and over 1.3 tons of doused snails from the facility. They are also further investigating the case. Chemical-doused snails at a food supplier in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: A.X. / Tuoi Tre Cans of industrial chemicals at a food supplier in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: A.X. / Tuoi Tre Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-22 01:10:28|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close ACCRA, Jan. 21 (Xinhua) -- Ghanaian President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo will scrap eight ministries and 41 ministerial positions in his new cabinet, said a release here Thursday. The president will reduce the number of ministries to 26, down from the previous 38, and appoint 85 ministers instead of 126 during his first term, said the release signed by Eugene Arhin, the Director of Communication at the presidency. The ministries to be scrapped include the Ministries of Aviation, Business Development, Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, Inner City and Zongo Development, Regional Reorganization, and Special Development Initiatives, all special-purpose ministries Akufo-Addo created during his first term, said the release. "The president is realigning these special-purpose ministries because they have all achieved the purposes for which they were created," added the release. The president is expected to submit a list of 46 appointees in his first batch of ministerial appointments to parliament for vetting and approval. Enditem KIMT NEWS 3 - As the race to vaccinate Americans against COVID-19 continues, can employers make getting the shot mandatory? The answer is yes, your employer can force you to get a COVID-19 shot, but there are some exceptions. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission allows companies to make flu and other vaccines a requirement and they've said COVID-19 shots could fall under that guidance. University of Minnesota law professor Jill Hasday says workers who are disabled or have a religious objection might not be required to get the shot. Then your employer might have to provide an accomodation, possibly forcing you to work from home. "If you're someone who to do your job has to go to work, then it's unlikely that you would be able to get out of the vaccination," said Hasday. The biggest question would be, could you get fired if you don't get the vaccine? Hasday says that could be a possibility. A poll by Pew Research taken in December says 60% of Americans plan on getting the COVID-19 vaccine. Sonu Sood challenges Bombay High Court order that dismissed his appeal against BMC's notice over alleged illegal construction at his residential building in Mumbai''s Juhu area. Actor Sonu Sood moved the Supreme Court Friday challenging the Bombay High Court order which dismissed his appeal against a Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) notice over alleged illegal construction at his residential building in Mumbai''s Juhu area. Advocate Vineet Dhanda, who has filed the plea in the top court, told Press Trust of India that Sood has challenged the high court order. While dismissing the actor's appeal and application, the high court said, "Law helps only those who are diligent." Sood's lawyer had sought 10 weeks to comply with the notice issued by the BMC in October last year, and requested the high court to direct the civic body not to initiate demolition action. The high court, however, refused and said the actor had ample opportunity in the past, and if required, he could approach the civic body. Sood had approached the high court earlier this month challenging an order of a city civil court at Dindoshi that had dismissed his suit against the BMC's notice issued over the alleged illegal construction carried out by him. The actor in the high court interim application had sought an order restraining the BMC from taking any coercive action against his residential property in Juhu area. The petitioner (Sood) has not made any changes in the building that warrants permission from the BMC. Only those changes that are allowed under the Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning (MRTP) Act have been done," Sood's advocate had argued in HC. As per the BMC, the Bollywood actor had carried out structural changes in the six-storey residential building Shakti Sagar, and converted it into a hotel without taking requisite permissions. The BMC earlier this month also filed a complaint at the Juhu police station, seeking FIR against Sood for allegedly converting the residential building into a hotel without permission. The complaint letter was sent to the police after the BMC inspected the building and found that Sood had allegedly not complied with the requisitions and was continuing unauthorised construction even after the notice was served to him in October last year. The police is yet to register FIR in the case. Dublin Bus denied that anti-gay slurs were used by the driver Dublin Bus has been ordered to pay a gay passenger 7,500 compensation after a driver was alleged to have subjected the man to anti-gay slurs. In the case, the gay passenger alleged that the bus driver called him a "f**got" and "schizo" and told him "go on you queer" on different occasions in 2017 and 2018. Dublin Bus denied those terms were used and told a Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) hearing the driver had made a formal complaint to gardai concerning the passenger's behaviour and is awaiting the outcome of that complaint. The company said the passenger has 75,000 followers on his Instagram account and one of his videos posted online was of the driver finishing his shift at Talbot Street while the passenger stands on the pavement and shouts commentary about the driver. Dublin Bus told the hearing the driver felt threatened by the passenger videoing him and went on sick leave for three months. Harassment However, WRC adjudication officer Roger McGrath found the terms were used and the passenger was subjected to harassment on the grounds of sexual orientation. Mr McGrath found that "the interactions with the driver took place as described by the complainant". He added that respect between the passenger and driver was "sadly lacking". Mr McGrath said that he was making the 7,500 award taking into account the stress suffered by the passenger and the protracted nature of the difficulties encountered. The passenger alleged that the distressing and unwanted conduct he was subjected to had the purpose or effect of violating his dignity and creating an intimidating, hostile, degrading and offensive environment for him. Dublin Bus told the hearing that the incidents complained of by the complainant were investigated but it was deemed that no disciplinary action should be taken against the driver. The company denied that the anti-gay slurs were used but did say that relations between the driver and passenger became confrontational. A spokeswoman for Dublin Bus said it noted the WRC outcome. Cortical Dynamics Patent and Advisory Panel Appoint Update Perth, Jan 22, 2021 AEST (ABN Newswire) - BPH Energy Ltd ( ASX:BPH ) investee company Cortical Dynamics Ltd ("Cortical") is pleased to announce the issuance of European Patent Number 2088924 "Neurodiagnostic Monitoring and display System" in Belgium, France, Germany and United Kingdom.Cortical has developed an extensive patent portfolio encapsulating the BARM, providing critical patent protection across a number of key brain monitoring markets.Corticals' competitive advantage is underpinned by a strong patent position covered by six patent families and 26 granted patents.Currently, Cortical has patents awarded in Australia, New Zealand, Japan, the People's Republic of China, Europe and the United States.Advisory Panel AppointmentCortical has also confirmed the appointment of Jamie Stanistreet to the Cortical Dynamics Advisory Committee.From 2001-2018 Jamie was the Managing Director and Vice President of Medtronic Aust /NZ. Medtronic is currently ranked as the world's largest medical device company.Under his tenure Medtronic revenue grew 10-fold, and he managed over 950 employees. Medtronic's focus on Medical devices includes Cardiology, Spine, Surgery, Brain Modulation, ENT, Pain, Stroke & Diabetes.He was a member of the APAC Leadership Team. Jamie also served as Vice Chairman with the Medical Technology Association of Australia for several years.Jamie has over 40 years' experience in the Medical Device industry and is an accountant by trade.He was finalist in the CEO Magazine Executive of the year award 2014 - 2015 and won the Medical Technology Association of Australia inaugural Outstanding Achievement Award 2013.Jamie's experience, connections and knowledge will be invaluable to the commercial development of Cortical Dynamics.About BPH Energy Limited BPH Energy Limited (ASX:BPH) is an Australian Securities Exchange listed company developing biomedical research and technologies within Australian Universities and Hospital Institutes. The company provides early stage funding, project management and commercialisation strategies for a direct collaboration, a spin out company or to secure a license. BPH provides funding for commercial strategies for proof of concept, research and product development, whilst the institutional partner provides infrastructure and the core scientific expertise. BPH currently partners with several academic institutions including The Harry Perkins Institute for Medical Research and Swinburne University of Technology (SUT). Friday, January 22, 2021 The Nebraska Supreme Court has imposed a public censure and probation of an inactive attorney admitted in 2011 The formal charges generally allege violations stemming from the respondents being arrested in June 2018 and charged with one count of shoplifting (Class II misdemeanor) and one count of possession of a controlled substance (Class IV felony). On December 4, the respondent ultimately entered a plea of no contest to the amended charge of attempted possession of a controlled substance, a Class I misdemeanor. She was sentenced to 1 year of probation. She was granted early release from probation after 6 months. The formal charges also state that the respondent was previously convicted of a shoplifting charge in 2017, for which she was fined $200. The attorney conditionally admitted the misconduct The proposed conditional admission included a declaration by the Counsel for Discipline, stating that the respondents proposed discipline is appropriate in light of the fact that the conduct did not arise out of her duties as an attorney, the conduct did not involve clients, and the respondent is actively working on the personal behaviors that led to the charges. The case is State ex rel Disciplinary Counsel v. Nowak. (Mike Frisch) https://lawprofessors.typepad.com/legal_profession/2021/01/the-nebraska-supreme-court-has-an-attorney-admitted-in-2011-the-formal-charges-generally-allege-violations-stemming-from-the.html Justice Minister Stelian Ion said on Thursday evening that he does not obsess over undoing the court section for investigation of judicial crimes (SIIJ), adding that he will not turn the issue into a feather in his cap, according to AGERPRES. "Know that I have not turned and I will not turn it into a feather in my cap, and I do not obsess over it. It is not even a surprise (...), ever since its establishment I have criticized it. Its establishment happened at a time when justice legislation and criminal law procedure were being taken to an area where crime and pressure on justice would have been favoured. For instance, justice laws were changed, not as much as they would have liked to, but they managed to make some some harmful changes, in my opinion, and partly because the amendment of the Criminal Code and the Code of Criminal Procedure was not successful," Ion told a show on the TVR national public broadcaster asked about the abolition of the SIIJ. At a meeting on Wednesday, the government approved a memorandum saying, among other things, that a bill on the abolition of the section for the investigation of judicial crimes be adopted by the government by the end of February. "We have committed ourselves, in the government agenda, to meet these essential criteria for the rule of law in Romania. Subsequently, lifting the Co-operation and Verification Mechanism (CVM) will come as a consequence of our concerted efforts. Now is the time to repair everything that got broken in the last years, to put justice on the right path and to consolidate the rule of law and democracy in Romania," Ion is quoted as saying in a press statement released by the Justice Ministry (MJ). According to MJ, the memorandum is designed to prioritise steps necessary for the Co-operation and Verification Mechanism (CVM) being lifted - legislation in the field of justice, providing a timetable for the adoption by the government of bills of interest to the judiciary. The document provides for the government approving, as a matter of priority and by the end of February 2021, of a bill abolishing the SIIJ and its submission to Parliament for fast-track adoption. Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-22 05:55:09|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close ROME, Jan. 21 (Xinhua) -- Delays in the delivery of one of the two authorized vaccines against the coronavirus would continue affecting Italy's vaccination campaign in the short term, with a 20-percent shortfall expected next week, authorities said on Thursday. Up to Thursday, the vaccines have been administered to over 1.28 million people in Italy, and the number of people who were given both doses is 25,066, according to government data. The shots administered made 82.3 percent of 1,558,635 doses delivered so far, most of which provided by the pharmaceutical company Pfizer, which recently announced it would slow down its deliveries to European Union (EU) countries. "We have been told (by Pfizer) that we will receive 20 percent fewer doses next week," Italy's Extraordinary Commissioner for the Coronavirus Emergency Domenico Arcuri told a press conference. He said the country already suffered a 29-percent cut in Pfizer deliveries last week, adding that such delays were having a visible impact on the vaccination plan at a moment when some people began to be in need of receiving the second mandatory shot. The Pfizer vaccine has to be administered in two shots 21 days apart. "Up to last Saturday, the vaccine was administered to an average of 80,000 people per day," Arcuri said. "After Saturday, this average has dropped to some 28,000 people." As anticipated on Wednesday, the commissioner said the government was considering pursuing legal action against Pfizer for its unilateral move. For its part, Pfizer earlier this month had announced its deliveries to the EU would return to normal starting from the week Jan. 25-30. While the vaccination plan was marred by worries, Italy was seeing less pressure over its health system recently, and data on Thursday remained mildly encouraging. Another 14,078 COVID-19 cases were recorded on a daily basis, and active infections dropped by 6,985 to 516,568, according to the Health Ministry's data. Some 4.3 percent of those actively infected are currently hospitalized, while some 0.5 percent are in intensive care units (ICUs). "The pressure on ICUs and on normal hospital wards has been softening for the last few days; this suggests the tightening of restrictions shortly before Christmas is having some effects," Arcuri noted. People who recovered grew by 20,519 to 1,827,451, while the death toll rose by 521 to 84,202. Overall, the country's COVID-19 cases reached 2,428,221. Of the second vaccine authorized in Italy -- the one developed by Moderna -- only some 46,800 doses have been distributed so far, according to the commissioner's office. Several national campaigns with authorized COVID-19 vaccines are now underway around the world, and a further 237 candidate vaccines are being developed -- 64 in trial phase -- in several countries including China, Britain, the United States, and EU member states such as Italy and Germany. Enditem Denton, TX (76205) Today Cloudy this morning. A few showers developing during the afternoon. High 79F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 30%.. Tonight Cloudy this evening with showers after midnight. Low 63F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%. When the Pearl Fincher Museum of Fine Arts engaged with a headhunting firm in search of a director, Courtney Gardner was thrilled to be considered. In addition to announcing their latest spring exhibition and virtual gala, Pearl Fincher Museum of Fine Arts revealed this week that theyve selected Gardner of Virginia as the museums new director. On HoustonChronicle.com: Tomball library continues services as HCPL system celebrates centennial Gardner said shes looking forward to the opportunity to work with partners and residents to take the museum to new heights of success. I just see this as a real opportunity. This area is one of the fastest-growing areas in the country and you got a lot of different people coming in and out of this area, she said. How exciting is that? How much that contributes to the vibrancy of a community and to be a part of that, I am so looking forward this. The Pearl Fincher Museum of Fine Arts is a nonprofit corporation that opened to the public in 2008 on Cypresswood Drive and is part of the Cypress Creek Cultural District. The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Gardner relocated from Newport News, Virginia where she was executive director of the Peninsula Fine Arts Center since 2011. She has leadership experience in fundraising, fiscal management, handling exhibitions and educational activities. On HoustonChronicle.com: Spring Interfaith Council adjusting operations to support community online during the pandemic About 16 years ago, Gardner had the opportunity to train in Houston for the Association of Junior Leagues International. When having the chance to come back and visit the museum prior to being informed of her new role, Gardner said she was stunned and amazed at the growth shed seen all around since. Houston is a very large area so its really exciting to come to a city thats clearly growing and has a lot of diversity and vibrancy, Gardner said. Gardner has a long history and passion of using arts as a vehicle for social change and community building from her time in Virginia. Now, she is looking forward to working with partners in Harris County and Spring to be able to serve school children, parents and individuals that share her passion for the social arts. In terms of operations, Gardner said the museum has been challenged with trying to get through COVID-19 like everyone else. My number one goal is to have the resources necessary to be able to accomplish the work that we set out to accomplish, she said. Creative industry In Virginia, Gardner said she had the chance to work collaboratively to serve veterans and had unique partnerships with school systems and organizations like the Alzheimers Association. She wants to bring those same partnerships to Texas so that the museum can continue to serve a wide range of people within the community. I have seen firsthand the healing power of the arts and Im really excited about the opportunity to build those kids of partnerships, Gardner said. Gardner said the Pearl School of Art, which was started before she arrived, is really growing and there has been a 38 percent increase in student enrollment since the launch of the program. She thinks the rise in registration speaks to the fact that its been a difficult time for people trying to maintain social distancing but still find an opportunity to unwind. I really think that that is the role of art museums, Gardner said. You can come in, its safe but you can just sit down in the galleries and you can sort of take a deep breath and just reflect and really look at something pretty. I think that serves a really important role during this challenging time. She said staff prides itself in making sure the museum feels safe as far as following guidelines and protocols. In addition to the health risks of COVID-19, Gardner said one of the reasons the pandemic has been impactful is because businesses have experienced a reduction in resources. She said theyve all felt those impacts but is hopeful for the future and optimistic for the role that an art museum can play as they navigate uncharted territory. I think thats one of the great things about being in the creative industry were resilient, she said. If we cant go right, we go left. If we cant go up, we go down, and so that really differentiates us. Ive seen performing arts venues and everyone else just get really creative in how they continue to serve their core constituencies and communities and I just think thats really fundamentally what we have to continue to do to navigate the waters of COVID. Gardner said she also wants to be part of conversations to make sure theyre inclusive of everyone and have an arts-for-all approach as they work with area school systems and surrounding residents. Here to serve Gardner said the museum continues to be open and serve the community even during exhibition show changes. Spring exhibitions will open on Jan. 30 to the public and run through May 1 and the annual Pearls of Art Gala is scheduled for April 10. In addition to the school of art, the museum also hosts adult workshops and professional development opportunities for teachers. Were working hard; the numbers are certainly lower because we got to keep people safe as we continue to work in a community, she said. There are also art activities posted for kids on the museums Facebook page that are simple and can be done from home, and more complex activities for older children and families to do together online. Whether you want to come in here with masks and proper social distancing and look at some pretty art or you just are looking for something fun and engaging to do at home with your children, we offer both of those opportunities, she said. Gardner also expressed how the nonprofit museum needs donations now more than ever to help them get through this challenging time by working together with the community. First and foremost, were here to serve, she said. Im one of those people that my hand is always out I want to work with everyone and do what we can to serve here in Spring and broaden our partnerships even outside of the general geography and to work throughout the community. alvaro.montano@chron.com Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. A 14-year-old boy has been arrested in relation to a brutal stab attack which led to a 48-year-old woman requiring life-saving surgery after she was stabbed in the neck. The teenager is being questioned today by detectives at Store Street Garda Station after his arrest last night. He is from the capitals north inner city and despite his young age has had previous interactions with gardai. The woman who is originally from an Asian county remains in a critical condition in the Mater Hospital. She is a mother of at least two children and has been living in Dublin for a number of years. Senior sources say that there are grave fears that she may not survive the knife attack as she continues to be treated today by specialist medics. Gardai are not looking for anyone else in relation to the savage attack and a decision must be made to charge or release the teenager. Gardai in Store Street investigating the serious assault that occurred on the pedestrian walkway, between Georges Dock and Custom House Quay, IFSC, Dublin 1 on Wednesday night 20th January, 2021 have made an arrest, a garda spokeswoman said. A juvenile has been arrested and is currently detained at Store Street Garda station under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984, she added. The shocking incident unfolded at 9.30pm on Wednesday near the CHQ building at Custom House Quay. A lone male on a bicycle approached the woman who was walking home from work. Senior sources say that the thug demanded money from the woman who is an office cleaner. However he then stabbed her in the neck without warning in an incident that caused huge blood loss. The male then cycled from the scene towards the Quays without obtaining any money from his victim. Despite the horrific nature of her injuries, the woman remained conscious and was able to call emergency services from her mobile phone. Gardai and ambulance personnel were quickly on the scene and she was rushed to the Mater Hospital where she underwent life saving surgery later on Wednesday night. The area is covered by excellent quality CCTV and gardai were able to make rapid progress in the case. This lady is very, very lucky to be alive and this was a very savage crime. She didnt even put up a fight and was no threat to him, a senior source said. The area was pretty deserted at the time because of all the travel restrictions and the victim was on her way home from work when she was attacked, the source added. Gardai continue to appeal for witnesses in the shocking case. Gardai are appealing for any persons who may have witnessed the incident or who were in the vicinity of Custom House Quay, George's Dock, Harbourmaster Place or Connolly Train station, Amiens Dublin 1 between 9.15pm and 10pm on the night of Wednesday 20th January 2021 to contact Gardai and also any individuals that may have camera footage of this incident or surrounding locations to make this footage available to Gardai, a garda spokeswoman said this morning. In Cerys Matthews' native Welsh, the word 'cerdd' can refer to both poetry and song. This juncture forms the beating heart of the BBC Radio 6 Music presenter and musician's latest project - an album that uses both to dig deep into the British psyche. She takes my call in a less than rock and roll setting - a local climbing centre (we speak in late 2020 when coronavirus restrictions allowed such things). "Poetry feels different at the moment," the Cardiff native declares in her bright, husky, radio-friendly voice. "It feels like it's not just an academic endeavour, it's not just for the establishment, it's not just for things to be written, to be hidden in books, to be learnt by rote, or by force. "The way people respond to the world around them, the way the young voices and the new generations are doing it - you don't have to just call it poetry. "It's in slogans, in mantras, in songs, in hip hop, slang and spoken word, monologues. "I've never seen poetry as just a thing on the page. I've always felt like they were siblings with songs." As if balancing parenting with her radio shows during the first lockdown was not enough, Matthews (51) continued to work away at her first studio album in more than five years, adding the finishing touches from her west London home. As its bold, evocative album sleeve points out, We Come From The Sun also features Joe Acheson of Hidden Orchestra and 10 poets. These include the official poet of the 2012 London Olympics Lemn Sissay, multi-disciplinary artist Imtiaz Dharker and Adam Horovitz (the poet, not the Beastie Boy). February last year saw each record their pieces at Abbey Road Studios in London, before Matthews and Acheson wrote and recorded accompaniments, often remotely during lockdown. The album, Matthews explains, is a direct reaction to a world "changing faster than I can remember". She's talking about "Isis, Syria, Yemen, climate change, Brexit, tribalisation, polarisation". This, she explains, is important stuff. Matthews rejects the idea that poetry is disconnected from real life and lacks the oomph to make change. "In my language, one word covers song and poetry," she explains. "And I've been brought up in the Welsh culture, which means I've known about my forefathers and ancient fathers who would recite these poems to mobilise armies or to motivate communities to invest a change, with music or with accompaniment." Putting together an album during lockdown might seem an unhealthy or unrealistic target for most. But for Matthews it offered respite from the busyness of the home she shares with her husband and manager Steve Abbott, and her three children. "It was a beautiful escape to be honest," she admits. "Because to have three children full-time at home with their school work happening - Zoom lessons, their instruments. We have been grateful to work. "But it was b***** noisy and then in the middle I'm trying to do this album and then the radio show as well. It was intense." Unsurprisingly, the spectre of home schooling loomed large. "I'm so grateful to teachers and schools and to hand them back over," she adds with a sigh. "I was the worst home schooler, I was awful." Her day-to-day is a far cry from her time as frontwoman of Cardiff rockers Catatonia in the Nineties. She rubbed shoulders with some of the biggest stars of the era and alongside Welsh bands such as Manic Street Preachers helped create the so-called Cool Cymru movement. "We had a great time," she recalls fondly. "You start touring at the same time as The Stone Roses or Happy Mondays and end up at breakfast in Japan together and saying, 'Oh hi!' "But it's funny, that's a long time ago now, and time keeps marching on." The Middle East Donald Trump inherited from his predecessors in January 2017 was a place in tatters. The Islamic State (IS) was in control of large swathes of Iraq and Syria. Civil wars raged in Yemen and Libya. Iran and Turkey, each dreaming of hegemonising the Arab world, meddled in conflicts all across it. And Israel, feeling no restraint, went on oppressing Palestinians and consolidating its control over the West Bank. But instead of resuming Obamas efforts to defeat IS or reversing the regional dynamic, the Trump administration pursued a series of short-sighted, piecemeal policies. Rather than playing a leadership role in reducing and resolving them, Washington became an active participant in many tensions and conflicts, making them even more intense. In Iraq and Syria IS may now be dismantled, but deep sectarian tensions remain and extremist forces continue to pose dangers. Wars in Syria, Yemen and Libya have become internationalised with multiple regional and global actors lining up on opposite sides of each conflict. Though weakened by coronavirus and US sanctions and embittered by Washingtons withdrawal from the nuclear deal, Iran continues to wreck regional havoc. Turkey and its ally, Qatar, have come play an increasingly dangerous role in supporting politicised Sunni groups especially, but not exclusively, in Syria, Palestine and Libya, while regional anti-Iran alliances are forming between Israel and the Sunni states. Emboldened by the carte blanche that the Trump administration gave it, Israel has felt free to strike Iranian and pro-Iranian targets in Syria, Lebanon and even within Iran. It has also aggressively expanded its colonial presence in the West Bank, making the once dreamed-of Palestinian State almost impossible to imagine. And, dependent on the whims of the occupier and divided between Hamas and the Palestinian Authority, Palestinian leadership has been unable to project a liberation strategy. As we enter the centurys third decade we are thus still paying the prices of Bushs devastating Iraq war and the inability of the Obama and Trump Administrations to undo the damage. This is compounded by the impact of the pandemic on the people of the Middle East and the inability of weaker states to deal with it. As the incoming Biden administration begins to map out its approach to the region, it should be clear that it is simply not possible to return to the status quo ante, resurrecting the nuclear deal or restarting the Israeli-Palestinian peace talks. New realities must be recognised and the lessons of past failures taken into account. Washington retains significant strengths and resources but not its dominant leadership role of two decades ago, and whatever its approach it is no longer possible deal with issues piecemeal. All of the regions players are engaged, in varying combinations of ways, in each of the regions upheavals. What is happening across the Middle East may not be of the magnitude of the two wars that ravaged Europe in the last century, but it is time we addressed it as the equivalent of a world war. If the US were to play any constructive role, it would ideally begin by building a broad international effort laying the groundwork for a comprehensive resolution to the crises tearing the Middle East apart. The immediate goal would be to convene an all-party international peace conference under the auspices of the United Nations. The main item on that conferences agenda would be the creation of a regional framework like the OSCE to provide all states with a platform for dialogue to discuss regional security guarantees and commitments to non-intervention and non-aggression. It would also lay the groundwork for regional trade and investment to advance greater economic integration and prosperity. Such an international conference would necessarily divide into working groups in which the relevant participants addressed issues of concern. For example, there would be focused discussions on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the wars in Syria, Yemen and Libya, the elimination of weapons of mass destruction, and the role played by sectarian religious extremism. Such an approach is difficult, and will no doubt be quickly rejected by hardliners in some countries. But it holds clear advantages over the alternatives. Since each of these conflicts involves competing regional players, addressing them piecemeal as if they were products of local unrest can only lead to a dead end. A comprehensive approach by the P5+1 countries would make far better use of their combined strength and influence, and promoting a compelling vision of a peaceful Middle East that shows people the possibilities of a promising future may be what inspires the regions leaders and opinion shapers to stop current downward spiral. What our polling tells us is that the peoples of Middle East want regional unity and investment in a future that can bring peace and prosperity, stable employment, education, health care and a better future for their children. It is time we started listening. *The writer is president of the Arab American Institute. *A version of this article appears in print in the 21 January, 2021 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly. Short link: Purchases made via links on our site may earn us an affiliate commission United CEO Scott Kirby says he's considering making the COVID-19 vaccine mandatory among staff United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby has announced he's in favor of a mandatory COVID-19 vaccine policy for all employees and says other companies should follow suit. Kirby on Thursday spoke during an employee town hall meeting where he informed staff he is strongly considering the move. 'The worst thing that I believe I will ever do in my career is the letters that I have written to the surviving family members of coworkers that we have lost to the coronavirus,' he said, according to a transcript obtained by CNBC. 'And so, for me, because I have confidence in the safety of the vaccine and I recognize it's controversial I think the right thing to do is for United Airlines, and for other companies, to require the vaccines and to make them mandatory.' Legally, private US companies can require employees to get vaccinated against COVID-19, but are unlikely to do so because of the risks of legal and cultural backlash, experts have said. A United Airlines attendant is pictured during in-flight service amid the coronavirus pandemic , when both workers and passengers have been required to wear masks amid more stringent aircraft cleaning requirements CAN MY EMPLOYER MAKE ME TAKE THE SHOT? US employers can legally require their workers to get vaccinated for COVID-19. It's likely, though, most will make the shot optional, employment lawyers say. Even though employers can mandate vaccinations, there are exceptions and variations depending on the case and jurisdiction - meaning imposing a mandatory policy can present a difficult and time-consuming legal challenge for employers. And legal experts also say employers are likely to stay away from a mandate because in many cases they could be liable if an employee suffered an adverse reaction. Workers also have the right to object to mandatory vaccinations under anti-discrimination laws such as Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, which allows employees to be exempt if it goes against a 'sincerely held religious belief'. Personal or ethical objections or personal anti-vaccination positions are not covered by this law. Those with medical disabilities also can request an exemption under the Americans with Disabilities Act, or ADA. If using the ADA to request an exemption from an employer mandate, a worker is required to prove they have a medical condition that makes it unsafe to get a vaccine. Advertisement Meanwhile, Kirby's remarks are the first time a major US carrier has announced plans to make the shot obligatory for staff. Rival airlines American and Southwest have so far only strongly encouraged employees to get vaccinated. The latest poll from Pew Research indicates that 60 percent of Americans say they would definitely or probably get a coronavirus vaccine if it were available to them today. That was up from 51 percent who said the same in September. However, about four out of 10 still say they definitely or probably would not get a vaccine. A United spokeswoman confirmed in a statement Friday that the company was 'strongly considering' making vaccines compulsory, though it isn't a policy yet. 'If others go along and are willing to start to mandate vaccines, you should probably expect United to be amongst the first wave of companies that do it,' Kirby told employees. 'I don't think United will get away with and can realistically be the only company that requires vaccines and makes them mandatory. 'We need some others. We need some others to show leadership. Particularly in the healthcare industry,' he added. United Airlines was the largest US operator of international flights before the pandemic thwarted global travel and effectively crippled the airline industry. By the end of 2020, United had more than 60,000 active employees in the US. It has since issued recall notices to 17,000 workers who were furloughed earlier in the year. As for vaccines, employees can potentially object to mandatory ones by requesting an exemption under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act or the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Companies are still in the early stages of navigating access and distribution of the virus vaccines, but inoculation is considered the key to safely resume operations at crowded warehouses, factory lines and on sales floors. On Thursday, Southwest Airlines announced it would vaccinate its employees against COVID-19 for free once a vaccine has been made widely available in the United States, but is yet to disclose plans to make it mandatory. The airline said its employees were strongly encouraged to get vaccinated against COVID-19. 'We have teams working to identify third parties who can provide vaccines to our employees as soon as they are able to do so - likely during later phases in the vaccine roll-out plan,' Southwest said in a statement. The vaccines are paid for by the federal government and the administrative fees will be covered for Southwest employees under its health plans, the company said. United is among US airlines actively lobbying the new Biden administration to reopen borders for people who test negative for COVID-19 before travel or have been vaccinated. President Joe Biden has indicated he plans to maintain a ban on most travelers from Europe and Brazil and require a quarantine for all international air passengers upon US arrival, but moved swiftly on Thursday to address the COVID-19 pandemic with steps to expand testing and vaccinations and increase mask-wearing. (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) For some Bakersfield residents, a temporary restraining order blocking an ordinance allowing hens to be raised in backyards is more than an in New Delhi: Filmmaker Ali Abbas Zafar's debut web-series 'Tandav' has found itself in a middle of controversy pool, after a section of people alleged that it hurt their religious sentiments. After receiving ample complaints about the political drama, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has directed the makers of 'Tandav' to delete the controversial scenes. This is for the first time that changes have been implemented in the content of an OTT release. There has been much talk about self-regulation code on OTT content. If the digital platforms fail to form a self-regulatory code of conduct for their content, then the government will have to intervene, as per sources. It has been learnt that the MIB in a meeting discussed that along with freedom of speech, it is also a moral responsibility of the makers to be careful when handling such sensitive topic. Nobody should hamper the law and order of the country in the name of creative freedom. The Information and Broadcasting Ministry believes that because due to the deadly novel coronavirus pandemic, most of the movies and shows released on OTT platforms. Had such content been released on big screens, the makers would have to follow the CBFC and Cable TV Regulation Act guidelines. This means there can not be a different set of rules for theatres and OTT platforms. 'Tandav' has become the first web-series which has been guided by the MIB to regulate its content. Although the central government is backing the move to form a separate self-regulatory board for OTT content. Earlier, an FIR was registered at Lucknows Hazratganj Kotwali against Amazon Primes India head of original content, Ali Abbas Zafar, producer of the show Himanshu Krishna Mehra, writer Gaurav Solanki and others for allegedly hurting religious sentiments. After Lucknow, a fresh FIR was filed against the makers and actors of the show in Mumbai's Ghatkopar. The FIR has been registered under section 153 (A) 295 (A) 505 of the IPC. The complaint addresses five people including director Ali Abbas Zafar, Himanshu Mehra, Gaurav Solanki, Aparna Purohit and Amit Aggarwal. After multiple FIRs were registered against Ali Abbas Zafar's 'Tandav' web-series for allegedly hurting the sentiments of a particular community, another web-show 'Mirzapur' came under the scanner. The Supreme Court on Thursday issued a notice on a petition filed by a Noida-based lawyer alleging that the show 'Mirzapur' is maligning the image of the place in Uttar Pradesh. The SC notice has been issued to Amazon Prime. Previously, web-series 'A Suitable Boy' by Mira Nair irked many for hurting religious sentiments. The tightly-run ship at Warrawee Farm in Rockwood, Ont., continued to operate through the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, although its chief operators were left stuck in a whole different country more than 14,000 kilometres away. Dr. Mike Wilson and Dr. Julie Yager make annual trips down under to New Zealand, escaping the colder months of the north with their stay from November through into the new year. However, by January 2020 the coronavirus began to spread to other nations and eventually spiraled into a pandemic by March, leaving Dr. Wilson and Dr. Yager exiled while Warrawee Farms manager, Duane Avery, ensured the farm maintained its high standards. It actually went fairly smooth, Avery said of running the farm with its main owners remote. It was definitely different not having Mike here, having the spur of the moment chats you know? But we kept in contact -- especially during the summeraround three to four times a week on FaceTime. So wed have some good talks there. They didnt really have a choice, it kind of hit because New Zealand shut down everything so quickly in the spring time, Avery also said of Dr. Wilson and Dr. Yager getting stuck in New Zealand. So they didnt really have a choice for the longest time, and then there were a lot of hurdles to get back here. And it was just coming into spring over there, and they decided it was definitely safer to stay. I think it was a couple weeks ago they mentioned that they hadnt had any cases near them at all for six weeks, so thats going on two months now. And though North America grappled to control the virus through 2020, the harness racing season nonetheless pressed forward and the strong bloodlines from Warrawee Farm made themselves evident. Last year saw the return of Warrawee Ubeaut as a four-year-old, and the Ron Burke trainee who set a world record of 1:48.3 as a freshman at Lexington managed to make herself competitive in a generationally-strong group of aged pacing mares. Thanks to a win in the $290,000 Roses Are Red final, Warrawee Ubeaut boasts 21 from 45 starts with earnings of $1,948,175. Warrawee Ubeaut winning the 2020 Roses Are Red Warrawee Ubeaut winning the 2020 Roses Are Red Ubeaut...its hard to say she had a down year, but expectations were so high with her all along that she still had a great year. Shes raced hard at two and three and danced all the dances then. That four-year-old year is always hard for some of them. And she still made $300,000 or close to it and won the Roses Are Red. So yeah it wasnt a bad year at all. Warrawee Ubeaut stands as just one from a line of successful foals out of the Warrawee broodmare Great Memories, a now 20-year-old daughter of Apaches Fame who finished second in 2020 Dan Patch Pacing Broodmare of the Year voting. 'Ubeaut' is the second millionaire and world champion out of the mare -- the first being her half-brother Warrawee Needy, a 1:46.4 winner by E Dees Cam with $1,255,384 earned. More recently, the talent from Ubeauts other half sibling Warrawee Vital has manifested, with the Captaintreacherous colt pacing a 1:47.1 mile at Lexington while also scoring wins in the Simcoe and Somebeachsomewhere. Warrawee Vital setting a stakes record in the Simcoe Warrawee Vital setting a stakes record in the Simcoe Its hard to believe shes got the fastest foal out of E Dees Cam, the fastest filly out of Sweet Lou, and the fastest Captaintreacherous, Avery said of Great Memories. You come and look at the mares in the field, shes on the smaller side of what we have for broodmares. I guess she had a sinus infection at two or three and they drilled a hole to clean it out, so her one side of the face is in a bit. And shes had one ovary removed, and shes still producing at 20. In 2020, Great Memories foaled another full sister to Warrawee Ubeaut with Warrawee Youknow, a highlight on the year for Dr. Wilson. On top of that, the Great Memories bloodline will try to continue with Warrawee Yankee, a three-quarter brother to Warrawee Ubeaut out of the Sportswriter mare Warrawee Quick. Definitely during the summer time, you could tell the anxiousness with Mike to see how the yearlings were, how the foals were growing, Avery said. He wouldnt be able to go out and see them play, [but] we have cameras set up in most of our stalls so theyre able to see them. I think they actually saw some of the births there this year, but you can definitely tell he wanted to be here as the summer went on with the foals outside, so he didnt get to see them as much. With as many high-caliber prospects as Warrawee Farm has put out over the years, the operation has managed to do so on a small scale of about 15 broodmares. In the last 10 years, Warrawee Farm has been nominated for OBrien consideration on four occasions, and earned the honour for Breeder of the Year in 2011. Its still an accomplishment; theres a lot of good horses, good breeders out there, Avery said. To be put in that class is always a compliment for sure. Hopefully we do a good job here and they go to a place where the trainer gets along with them. There are a lot of good trainers out there, but not everybody gets along with certain types of horses. So everything has to fall in place for sure. Both Avery and Dr. Wilson accredited the success seen by the farm in part to a number of Warrawee employees: most notably Michelle Coupland, Brooke Dean and Monica Ryiski. Dean also help manage the farm's digital presence in addition to her hands-on work with the horses that Avery notes all three individuals take a genuine interest in day in and day out. As we advance through 2021, the point at which Dr. Wilson and Dr. Yager can return to North America remains uncertain. Access to the vaccine in both countries has been increasing while case numbers continue to rise. The pandemic continues to rage in North America, prompting this years OBrien Awards to a virtual showcase while the numbers in New Zealand are currently much less dire. We wont be returning until we are vaccinated and the disease dies down a bit more in North America, Dr. Wilson said. There are zero cases in New Zealand community, several in quarantine. Been like that for quite a while. We have been here since February 2020 and have no idea when we will be back, but it's a wonderful place to be stuck. We are sad that we wont be able to attend to support nominees and to congratulate winners. As a COVID refugee stranded in New Zealand I will be watching. Avery will also be taking in the awards remotely, and the longtime horseman admits this form of ceremony suits him just fine. Id be lying if I said Im not going to miss it a whole lot, Avery said of the OBrien Awards. Working on the farm, the only time you get to see people on a regular basis is yearling season. I do enjoy talking to people you dont see every year down there. But staying home isnt going to hurt me that much. The 2020 Virtual OBrien Awards Gala takes place on Sunday, January 31, 2021 and will be available for viewing on standardbredcanada.ca from 7:00 8:30 p.m. (EST). (Photo in headline image of Great Memories and Michelle Coupland at Warrawee Farm: Dave Landry Photo) Bengaluru, Jan 22 : President Ram Nath Kovind, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other leaders on Friday expressed grief over the death of several labourers in an explosion at a stone quarry in Karnataka's Shivamogga. Kovind tweeted that the news about loss of lives in the explosion was unfortunate and tragic. "My thoughts and prayers are with the victims' families and loved ones during this difficult hour. I wish speedy recovery to the injured," he said. Modi also expressed anguish at the loss of lives and assured that the state government was providing all assistance to the affected. The Prime Minister's Office quoted Modi as saying: "Pained by the loss of lives in Shivamogga. Condolences to the bereaved families. Praying that the injured recover soon. The state government is providing all possible assistance to the affected." In the explosion reported around 10.20 pm on Thursday, the number of casualties remained unclear, with reports claiming that at least 15 persons were killed. State Home Minister BS Bommai said that seven persons were killed whereas Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa pegged the death toll at five. Authorities did not rule out the possibility of increase in the death toll. Expressing grief, former Congress President Rahul Gandhi demanded an 'in-depth probe' into the Shivamogga blast. "Condolences to the families of the victims. Such incidents call for in-depth investigation so that similar tragedies can be avoided in the future," he said. Karnataka Leader of the Opposition Siddaramaiah appealed to Yediyurappa to order an impartial inquiry and ensure punishment to the guilty. "Very pained to know about the death of labourers in Shivamogga due to explosion on a truck carrying gelatin. My deepest condolences to the family members of the victims," he tweeted. Former Chief Minister and Janata Dal-Secular leader HD Kumaraswamy too urged for an inquiry and demanded strict action against the guilty. "The tragic death of many workers in Kalukwari village of Abbalagere in Shivamogga has killed many workers. May the soul of the dead find peace. The state government should investigate the blast at the quarry. Strict action must be taken against those responsible. Care should be taken that such incidents don't recur," he said. Huang Yi Liang leaving the State Courts on 29 November 2019 after he was charged for assault. (PHOTO: Yahoo News Singapore/Wan Ting Koh) SINGAPORE Former Mediacorp actor Ng Aik Leong, known by his Chinese name as Huang Yiliang, was found guilty of assaulting a worker in his employ with a metal scraper. Ng, 59, was convicted after trial of using the weapon against Bangladeshi national Jahidul, who only goes by one name, twice on his head and once on the abdomen at the canteen of Singapore Islamic Hub on 11 December 2018. The prosecution told the court that Ng had relentlessly verbally abused Jahidul for months. Jahidul had arrived in Singapore on 14 October 2018 to work for Ng at his firm, HYL Enterprises. He stayed at Ngs house and slept in a room where the tools were kept. According to Deputy Public Prosecutor Chong Kee En, Ng would often enter Jahiduls room at night, turn on the lights and hurl vulgarities at him. Even though Jahidul indicated he wanted to resign, he felt threatened by Ngs threat to falsely report him to the Manpower Ministry so that he could never return to Singapore. Two audio recordings produced in court captured incidents before 11 December 2018 where Ng was also abusive. One of these recorded an exchange on 26 November 2018, where Ng had also attempted to kick and attack Jahidul with a hammer, after the worker failed to take a photo of a water tank to his satisfaction. Jahidul ran away from Ng crying and tried to seek help from someone at Sim Lim Square to no avail. In the other recording, Ng could be heard verbally abusing Jahidul for buying cable ties for 50 cents more. The final straw occurred on 11 December 2018, when Jahidul was finishing cleaning works at the Singapore Islamic Hub, said the prosecution. Upset with the victim, Ng took a heavy scraper with a 40cm-long wooden handle and a 15cm rusty, sharp metal tip and thrust it at Jahidul. Ng then brought the scraper over his head and brought it down on Jahiduls head, causing a bruise on the left of the victims scalp. As part of his defence, Ng, who was unrepresented, had claimed that Jahidul would often fake forgetfulness as if he were a child and asked to be hit as part of his learning process. He maintained that Jahidul had asked to be hit under an agreement in order to help him remember important things. Story continues So (Jahidul) acted blur every day, and reminded me to hit him. He will tell me hes sorry every day, and acted that he was very apologetic, Ng testified during his trial. Ng claimed that Jahidul was simply waiting for a moment to call the police so that he could leave his contract. In convicting Ng, District Judge (DJ) John Ng said that the prosecution had proven its case beyond a reasonable doubt. Ng will return to court on 26 February to be sentenced for this charge. Ng faces a pending charge of fighting with a man, Mogana Raj Saravanan, along Buffalo Road and hitting him on the back of his head with a mobile phone on 9 June last year. Ng denied the elements of the charge to DJ Ng, who sent the case back to pre-trial conference. With the decision, Ng will undergo another trial for this charge. Stay in the know on-the-go: Join Yahoo Singapore's Telegram channel at http://t.me/YahooSingapore Other Singapore stories: PM Lee, President Halimah congratulate US President Joe Biden on inauguration 38 new COVID cases in Singapore, including 4 in community Drug abuser who drove away and dragged traffic police officer jailed Robert Kocharyan on years of his leadership in Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia Situation on Armenian-Azerbaijani border is still tense, more on COVID-19 in Armenia, May 28 digest "Armenia" alliance of political parties paying tribute to founder of First Republic Aram Manukyan (LIVE) Yerevan.today: Armenia acting PM not greeted at ruling party's headquarters, citizens call him 'capitulator' Russia MOD reports on maintenance of ceasefire regime in Nagorno-Karabakh Armenia acting MOD meets with Russian counterpart in Moscow Armenia 2nd President: I see possibility of restoring borders of Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast We can provide our army with some key, modernized weapons, says Armenia ex-President Kocharyan Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: Captives issue is not one that any opposition force can resolve OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs release statement on detention of 6 Armenian servicemen by Azerbaijan Armenian acting Deputy PM: Discussion on issues possible only after withdrawal of Azeri troops from Armenia's territory Armenia acting PM on Syunik roads, Russian military posts: This is only place where there are working nuances Armenia acting PM: Process of return of POWs will intensify after upcoming elections Putin congratulates Aliyev on Republic Day 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 Bangkok, Thailand -- (SBWIRE) -- 01/21/2021 -- AMM Interior, Bangkok's reputed and leading home interior decoration company is pleased to present a wide range of services for their customers. Decorating residential spaces, offices, studios, salons, coffee shops, bakeries, kiosks, retails stores and condos is their foray; and the design team at AMM's does it with utmost perfection and impeccability. Those who wish to get inspired can visit the portfolio of the previous projects on the website. The team comprises of experienced, talented, qualified and creative designers. The team doesn't just design a space but brings the dreams into reality. Owning a dream home is one achievement but making that home truly livable and enjoyable is only possible with the professionals at work. AMM Interior ensures that in every project that they handle. They strictly adhere to the quality standards, delivery timeline and most importantly the budget. From design to decoration, these experts can do an incredible job delivering a dream space. To know more visit https://amminterior.com/ About https://amminterior.com/ AMM Interior Co. Ltd. is a Thailand based interior design company established in 2015. The company offers interior design and interior decoration services for individual houses, apartments, condominiums and other retail spaces. Media Contact Mrs. Amm - AMM Interior Co., Ltd. Address: Thailand, Bangkok Phone: +66-87-8130620 Website: https://amminterior.com The government offered to put the implementation of the farm laws on hold for 2 years and said the next round of meeting will take place only if the farmer unions accept the proposal. 11th round of talks between the Centre government and the Farmers union took place at Vigyan Bhawan today to discuss the proposal of suspending the farms laws for 18 months and setting up a committee put forward by the government. The government offered to put the implementation of the farm laws on hold for 2 years and said the next round of meeting will take place only if the farmer unions accept the proposal. No date for the next round of talks has been kept as the farmers contemplate the offer. According to reports, farmers union had rejected the governments initial proposal to defer the farm laws for 18 months and established that they will not settle for anything other than the repeal of the laws. In addition, the meeting between farmers and the Delhi police have remained inconclusive as the farmer unions declined the polices offer to take out their rally on the KundliManesarPalwal Expressway instead of Outer Ring Road. The farmers union maintains that instead of stopping their march. The police should facilitate their peaceful rally. During the 10th meeting the government also offered to amend the laws but the farmer unions claim that the government is dodging the discussion on legal guarantee on MSP. The second meeting with the police is scheduled to take place on 23rd January. Also Read: Battle lines drawn between TMC vs BJP ahead of polls: All eyes on PM Modis visit tomorrow Also Read: Fire at Serum Institute Of India: Is there a conspiracy at play? As per latest developments, Rakesh Takait, Spokesperson, Bhartiya Kisan Unions has announced that the rally will take place on 26th January as planned. The Supreme Court appointed committee is also to meet with farmer unions to know their point of view. A panel member- Bhupinder Singh Mann has resigned from the committee. The apex court held a hearing on application put forward by Bhartiya Kisan Party to fill the vacancy in the committee. Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-22 23:20:03|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close JOHANNESBURG, Jan. 22 (Xinhua) -- South Africa is on high alert for tropical storm Eloise after the South African Weather Service (SAWS) warned that it will hit the country this coming weekend. The SAWS said Eloise already started to affect the coastal regions of Mozambique and is expected to become a tropical cyclone on Friday night. As she makes landfall and moves southwest overland this weekend, the system will rapidly weaken into a depression and reach the Limpopo River Valley by Sunday, bringing heavy downpours and damaging winds to the northern and eastern parts of South Africa. The SAWS has issued an L4 Yellow warning for disruptive rain possible over Mpumalanga and Limpopo on Sunday into Monday. Kruger National Park (KNP) said they are on high alert and working with scientists from SAWS who will advise if they have to evacuate camps in the affected areas or not. "Emergency teams are on standby in the park monitoring the situation and will be activated if there is any danger. We urge tourists to be extra cautious during this period. As a precautionary measure, we have already closed all gravel roads and some facilities in the Pafuri area after heavy rains which fell in the evening of Jan. 20," said KNP managing executive Gareth Coleman. KwaZulu-Natal member of the executive council for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Sipho Hlomuka said disaster management teams are on alert to respond to incidents related to the storm. "As a precaution, communities situated in the low-lying areas are being warned to be on high alert. We have placed disaster management teams on high alert. The teams will be monitoring areas in the uMkhanyakude district that are prone to weather-related incidents so that they can provide assistance to communities should the need arise," Hlomuka said. Enditem Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell is proposing to start Donald Trump's impeachment procedure next month to give the former president a chance to review the case. House lawmakers voted 232 to 197 to impeach Trump last week for allegedly inciting the Capitol riot on Jan. 6 that claimed five people's lives. House Democrats earlier suggested moving immediately to trial as President Joe Biden begins his time in office. The Democrats said that a full decision is necessary so the country and the Congress can move on. However, McConnell told his fellow GOP colleagues on a call on Thursday that a delay would give Trump time to prepare his legal team and ensure proper procedures, according to an Associated Press report. In a statement released on Thursday evening, the senator provided a timeline that would see the House transmitting the impeachment article on Jan. 28, launching the first phase of the trial. McConnell said the Senate would then give Trump's defense team and House prosecutors two weeks to file briefs, adding that arguments in the trial would likely begin in mid-February. Indiana Sen. Mike Braun echoed McConnell's statement, saying that the trial might not begin until in the middle of 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 for a defense in a Senate trial," Braun said in the report. Related story: McConnell Approves of Second Impeachment Efforts Against Trump Trump Prepares for the Upcoming Impeachment Trial As part of his preparation for the Senate impeachment trial, Trump has tapped South Carolina-based lawyer Butch Bowers to represent him in the trial. Reuters reported that Bowers served in the U.S. Justice during former president George W. Bush's administration. One source familiar with the matter said that Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, a Trump ally, recommended Bowers for the post. Graham noted that Bowers has already agreed to represent Trump in the case. According to a Democrat former South Carolinian politician, Bakari Sellers, Bowers was known to be a very good lawyer. CNBC reported that Bowers previously defended former South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford when he faced a possible impeachment for leaving the state without notice to visit his Argentine mistress. Trump's other lawyers had already refused to represent him in his second impeachment trial. One of Trump's lawyers, Rudy Giuliani, said he was a witness which prohibited him from defending Trump in the Senate impeachment trial. Bowers remained mum on the report. There is no assurance that Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer will agree to McConnell's proposed timeline. Schumer's spokesperson Justin Goodman said they received McConnell's proposal, and they will review it before discussing it with him. Other Lawmakers May Be Charged Meanwhile, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi earlier said that any lawmakers found to have assisted rioters in the attack on the U.S. Capitol may be charged criminally. Democrats have raised suspicions that some Republicans might have assisted the rioters logistically in the days leading up to the violent event, The Hill reported. Pelosi said that allegations would be investigated and could lead to prosecutions of sitting lawmakers. On Wednesday, some 30 Democrats called for an investigation into suspicious behavior and access facilitated by some GOP members the day before the Capitol breach. In a letter to the acting House and Senate sergeants-at-arms and the Capitol Police, the group said rioters who attacked the Capitol seemed to have a detailed knowledge of the Capitol complex's layout. Related story: Pelosi Calls for Trump Impeachment in Fear He'll Pardon Capitol Rioters Sushant Singh Rajput Marg: Street In South Delhi To Be Named After The Late Actor 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. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sushant Singh Rajput (@sushantsinghrajput) 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. GENEVA: The World Health Organization said on Friday it had reached an agreement with Pfizer/BioNTech for 40 million doses of its COVID-19 vaccine and should be able to start delivering vaccines to poor and lower-middle income countries next month under its COVAX programme. The COVAX scheme, led by the WHO and the GAVI vaccine alliance, signed deals for hundreds of millions of doses to vaccinate people in poor and lower-middle income countries, but vaccinations have yet to start. Pfizers vaccine is so far the only one that has WHO emergency approval. In this world we are as protected as our neighbour," said Pfizers CEO Albert Bourla, officially announcing the deal which Reuters reported on Thursday. Bourla said the 40 million doses, a fraction of the companys total 2021 production estimate of 2 billion, would be sold on a non-profit basis. He described it as an initial agreement, and said more doses could be provided through the COVAX programme in future. The deal comes amid growing criticism of vaccine inequity from both the WHO and others as wealthy countries inoculate millions of people using shots procured through bilateral deals. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that the new agreement with Pfizer should allow vaccinations to begin in February for health workers, although details of supply arrangements are still being finalised. He said he hoped the agreement would also encourage other countries to donate more of their Pfizer shots to support rapid roll-out, like Norway has. The commitment of the (United States) to join COVAX, together with this new agreement with Pfizer/BioNTech, mean that we are closer to fulfilling the promise of COVAX," he said. U.S. President Joe Bidens chief medical adviser Anthony Fauci said on Thursday the United States intended to join the facility. Bidens predecessor Donald Trump had halted funding to the Geneva-based body and announced a withdrawal process. The WHO said earlier this week it planned to deliver 135 million vaccines in the first quarter of 2021, without giving a breakdown by supplier. GAVIs CEO Seth Berkley said in the same briefing that countries would receive dose estimates for the early part of this year in about a weeks time. 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 Belfast Trust will take no action against Northern Ireland's chief scientific adviser after he was accused of misleading a coroner investigating the death of a child, it can be revealed. It has emerged that the trust, acting as Professor Ian Young's employer, carried out an investigation into allegations made by a public inquiry into his work. However, it subsequently decided no further action was required. Prof Young was informed of the decision on March 5, 2019, but it has now become public after it was revealed during a court hearing last week. Prof Young, a member of advisory group Sage, who is playing a key role in our pandemic response, has mounted a High Court bid to stop an official probe into "serious criticism" of his work by the Hyponatraemia Inquiry. Claire Roberts was nine when she died from hyponatraemia caused by fluid mismanagement at the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children in 1996. She was one of five children whose deaths were examined by the inquiry, which blasted the health service for its culture of defensiveness and secrecy, and described her death as preventable. The inquiry report accused Prof Young, who carried out an independent review of her treatment for the Belfast Trust, of "misleading" the coroner at an inquest into her death in 2006. The inquiry chair also found that Prof Young "shifted from his initial independent role to one of protecting the hospitals and its doctors", and that he did not tell Claire's parents about failings in her treatment. Prof Young is challenging a decision by his professional regulatory body, the General Medical Council (GMC), to overturn an earlier decision not to investigate the "serious criticism" of his work. Read More During an outline of the case last week, counsel for the GMC explained it contacted Prof Young in November 2018 to inform him it would not be proceeding with an investigation into the allegations. The lawyer continued: "In March 2019, Prof Young's employers followed suit, the Belfast Health & Social Care Trust, again considered the contents of the inquiry's report in detail and having taken their own external advice, decided that no further action was required, and that was communicated on March 5, 2019. That decision of the GMC was then reversed and substituted by the GMC in decisions dated January 9, 2020 and March 27, 2020, and those of course are the decisions which are under challenge." The Hyponatraemia Inquiry was announced in 2004 following a television documentary about the deaths of three children, which alleged they all died as a result of mistakes by hospital staff. By 2008 the inquiry was extended to include two more children, one of which was Claire. Following the publication of the Hyponatraemia Inquiry report in January 2018, a fresh inquest was ordered into Claire's death after the inquiry chair said there had been a cover-up to "avoid scrutiny". A spokesman from the Belfast Trust said: "We're unable to comment on an ongoing judicial review." Ziems gave the Narcan dose, but Molden never woke up, documents show. She called several people panicking about the situation and was told not to take Molden to the hospital, because she would be in big trouble, records show. Ziems drove all night with the womans body in the back crying and unsure of what do to, charges state. Most of the world's nearly 59,000 big damsconstructed between 1930 and 1970were designed to last 50 to 100 years By 2050, more than half the global population will live downstream from tens of thousands of large dams near or past their intended lifespan, according to a UN report released Friday. Most of the world's nearly 59,000 big damsconstructed between 1930 and 1970were designed to last 50 to 100 years, according to research from the UN University's Institute for Water, Environment and Health. "This is an emerging global risk that we are not yet paying attention to," co-author and Institute director Vladimir Smakhtin told AFP. "In terms of dams at risk, the number is growing year by year, decade by decade." A well-designed, constructed and maintained dam can easily remain functional for a century. But many of the world's major dams fail on one or more of these criteria. Dozens have suffered major damage or outright collapse over the last two decades in the United States, India, Brazil, Afghanistan and other countries, and the number of such failures could increase, the report warned. Compounding the risk in ways that have yet to be fully measured is global warming. "Because of climate change, extreme rainfall and flooding events are becoming more frequent," lead author Duminda Perera, a researcher at the University of Ottawa and McMaster University, said in an interview. This not only increases the risk of reservoirs overflowing but also accelerates the build up of sediment, which affects dam safety, reduces water storage capacity, and lowers energy production in hydroelectric dams. A well-designed, constructed and maintained dam can easily remain functional for a century, but many of the world's major dams fail on one or more of these criteria 'Catastrophic consequences' In February 2017, the spillways of California's Oroville Damthe tallest in the USwere damaged during heavy rainfall, prompting the emergency evacuation of more than 180,000 people downstream. In 2019, record flooding sparked concern that Mosul Dam, Iraq's largest, could fail. Ageing dams not only pose a greater risk to downstream populations, but also become less efficient at generating electricity, and far more expensive to maintain. Because the number of large dams under construction or planned has dropped sharply since the 1960s and 1970s, these problems will multiply in coming years, the report showed. "There won't be another dam-building revolution, so the average age of dams is getting older," said Perera. "Due to new energy sources coming onlinesolar, winda lot of planned hydroelectric dams will probably not ever be built." A global fleet of nearly 60,000 ageing dams also highlights the challenge of dismantlingor "decommissioning"those that are no longer safe or functional. Dozens of large dams worldwide have suffered major damage or outright collapse over the last two decades More than 150 years old Several dozen have been torn down in the United States, but all of them small, Smakhtin said. More than 90 percent of large damsat least 15 metres from foundation to crest, or holding back no less than three million cubic metres of waterare located in only two dozen countries. China alone is home to 40 percent of them, with another 15 percent in India, Japan and Korea combined. More than half will be older than 50 within a few years. Another 16 percent of the world's dams are in the United States, more than 85 percent of them already operating at or past their life expectancy. It would cost some $64 billion to refurbish them, according to one estimate. In India, 64 big dams will be at least 150 years old by 2050. In North America and Asia, there are some 2,300 operational dams at least 100 years old. Worldwide, there is about 7,500 cubic kilometres of waterenough to submerge most of Canada by a metrestored behind large dams. Explore further Aging dams pose growing threat: UN 2021 AFP Today Partly cloudy skies this morning will become overcast during the afternoon. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 76F. Winds NW at 10 to 15 mph. Tonight Cloudy skies this evening will become partly cloudy after midnight. Low around 45F. WNW winds at 15 to 25 mph, decreasing to 5 to 10 mph. Tomorrow Sunshine and clouds mixed. High around 65F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. Robert Kocharyan on years of his leadership in Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia Situation on Armenian-Azerbaijani border is still tense, more on COVID-19 in Armenia, May 28 digest "Armenia" alliance of political parties paying tribute to founder of First Republic Aram Manukyan (LIVE) Yerevan.today: Armenia acting PM not greeted at ruling party's headquarters, citizens call him 'capitulator' Russia MOD reports on maintenance of ceasefire regime in Nagorno-Karabakh Armenia acting MOD meets with Russian counterpart in Moscow Armenia 2nd President: I see possibility of restoring borders of Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast We can provide our army with some key, modernized weapons, says Armenia ex-President Kocharyan Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: Captives issue is not one that any opposition force can resolve OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs release statement on detention of 6 Armenian servicemen by Azerbaijan Armenian acting Deputy PM: Discussion on issues possible only after withdrawal of Azeri troops from Armenia's territory Armenia acting PM on Syunik roads, Russian military posts: This is only place where there are working nuances Armenia acting PM: Process of return of POWs will intensify after upcoming elections Putin congratulates Aliyev on Republic Day 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 REDMOND A hospital in Central Oregon is reporting a COVID-19 outbreak among workers. The St. Charles Redmond hospital said late Wednesday that 31 people have tested positive, and the Deschutes County Health Services and the Oregon Health Authority are investigating, KTVZ-TV reported. Its unclear how the outbreak occurred. St. Charles Health System, Inc., is headquartered in Bend. They own and operate St. Charles Bend, Madras, Prineville and Redmond. Iman Simmons, St. Charles chief operating officer, said Wednesday evening that 10 of the 31 caregivers had received the first of two doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. She said some may have gotten the second dose, but could not confirm that. She said the 31 people infected will be on paid furlough for two weeks, and that they must be symptom-free and test negative for the virus before returning to work. New precautions are in place at the hospital, such as testing all caregivers and increasing air exchange. They are also limiting visitors. --The Associated Press Lauren Wolfe is said to have had her contract terminated by the New York Times The New York Times reportedly canceled an editor's contract after she tweeted that she had 'chills' watching Joe Biden land at Joint Base Andrews the day before the inauguration and slammed Trump for not sending him a government plane. Lauren Wolfe tweeted on Tuesday: 'Biden landing at Joint Base Andrews now. I have chills. 'The pettiness of the Trump admin not sending a military plane to bring him to D.C. as is tradition is mortifying. 'Childish,' she wrote. HuffPost contributor Yashar Ali tweeted later that he had been told by two sources Wolfe had her contract ended over it. Wolfe was a senior editor at the Times and edited stories that appeared on its Live page, Ali said. After posting her first tweet, she was roasted by fellow journalists. Wolfe hit back angrily, saying she was merely excited and 'interested' in historical moments like the transition of power. She has since deleted all of the tweets. The New York Times did not immediately respond to inquiries about her contract on Friday morning and Wolfe is yet to confirm that it was terminated. Her comments are among the enormous outpouring of love for Biden from the media since the start of the week. Wolfe tweeted that she had chills watching Biden Land at Joint Base Andrews the say before the inauguration, and that it was 'mortifying' and 'childish' Trump did not send a plane for him 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.' Varun Dhawan is all set to tie the knot with his childhood sweetheart Natasha Dalal in an intimate ceremony in Alibaug on Sunday (January 24, 2021). The actor's uncle Anil Dhawan, recently confirmed that his nephew is getting hitched. While the rest of the Dhawan family are tight-lipped about Varun's D-day, various speculations about Varun-Natasha's wedding have been doing the rounds on the internet. One such report stated that the guest list for Varun Dhawan-Natasha Dalal's wedding will be small keeping the global COVID-19 pandemic in mind, and only the family members of the bride and the groom will be present. A source close to Varun told IANS, "It will be around 40 people from both the family gather for the occasion. They will stay in a resort in Alibaug from January 22 to January 26 and then the family and the couple return to Mumbai. So far, that is the information I can share. As far as I know, no Bollywood celebrity will be attending the ceremony now because then the guest list would have to cross 500, which is not practically possible, keeping COVID-19 in mind." "I know there is a lot of news floating around about the guest list and the ceremonies, but the families of Varun and Natasha will be leaving for Alibag on January 22. The young couple will tie the knot on January 24," the source further told the news agency. The report further stated that Varun and Natasha's families might host a wedding reception on a latter date for the film fraternity. Buzz is that the lovebirds will be getting hitched at The Mansion House resort in Alibaug. Earlier in an interview with Filmfare magazine, Varun had hinted that he mighted get hitched to Natasha in 2021. "Everyone is talking about this (his marriage) for the last two years. There is nothing concrete right now. There is so much uncertainty in the world right now, but if things settle down, then maybe this year. I mean... I am planning for it definitely soon. But let there be more certainty," the Coolie No.1 actor was quoted as saying. ALSO READ: Varun Dhawan-Natasha Dalal's Wedding Is On January 24, Confirms Uncle Anil Dhawan ALSO READ: Anil Dhawan Has An Epic Reaction To Reports Of Varun Dhawan-Natasha Dalal's Wedding In Alibaug (JTA) Two days after his election to the Senate helped tip the balance of power in Washington, Georgia Democrat Jon Ossoff found another historical echo in his victory. In a Twitter thread, Ossoff described his trajectory from a teenage intern for John Lewis, the Georgia congressman and civil rights hero who died last year, to U.S. senator. And now a Jewish man he mentored and a Black man who was his pastor have been elected to represent the State of Georgia in the U.S. Senate, Ossoff said. I know Congressman Lewis is looking down on us today beaming with optimism. Lewis is... A Texas state representative has called for the arrest of Midlander Jenny Cudd following a viral Facebook live video in which she said she was among the rioters who stormed the U.S. Capitol Wednesday. You should be arrested and prosecuted, Ms. Cudd, Rep. Jeff Leach posted on Twitter Thursday night. And Im confident you will be. Leach, a Republican from Plano, has been the state representative for District 67 since 2013. In his post, he linked to an excerpt from Cudds video that has received more than 5 million views on Twitter. We did break down Nancy Pelosis door and somebody stole her gavel, Cudd says in the video. Leach joins a growing list of notable persons calling for Cudds arrest, including actors Jane Lynch and Patton Oswalt, author Don Winslow and former Congressional candidate from Florida Dr. Dena Grayson. Lynch retweeted Cudds video and said, Arrest the dope. Winslow also shared Cudds video and tagged the FBI before writing, What else do you need to make an arrest? When asked if U.S. Rep. August Pfluger, whose district encompasses Midland and Odessa, would call for Cudds arrest, a spokeswoman said, Congressman Pfluger has said repeatedly that anyone who broke the law should be prosecuted. Cudd denied doing anything unlawful during Wednesdays riots in an interview with the Reporter-Telegram on Thursday. She said Antifa broke through the Capitols barriers and assaulted police officers before she arrived. She said she then walked into the Capitol with a large group and took pictures inside the rotunda for about 15 minutes before leaving. Cudd denied going onto the House or Senate floors or into any lawmakers' offices. Three men have been killed after a large wave broke onto a group of people, knocking several of them into the surf at Port Kembla, south of Sydney. A fourth mans body has been recovered after he was swept off a breakwall at Coffs Harbour in the states north on Thursday night. Only 24 hours later, tragedy struck again as the huge swells pounded a popular rock fishing spot known as Hill 60 at Port Kembla, south of Wollongong. Police have been told by witnesses that a group of fishermen were standing on rocks about 10pm on Friday when a large wave broke onto them, knocking several people into the water. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has paid tribute to President of the Ukrainian People's Republic Mykhailo Hrushevsky and laid flowers at the monument to him in Kyiv. Verkhovna Rada Chairman Dmytro Razumkov, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal and Head of the President's Office Andriy Yermak also took part in the flower-laying ceremony on the occasion of the Day of Unity of Ukraine, according to the presidential press service. "Volodymyr Zelensky laid a bouquet of flowers at the foot of the monument to a prominent statesman. A basket of flowers was also left near the memorial," the President's Office said. In addition, the President's Office noted that in connection with the anniversary of the tragic death of activists of the Revolution of Dignity Serhiy Nigoyan and Mikhail Zhiznevsky, the president laid flowers at the sites of the death of the Heroes of Ukraine on Hrushevskoho Street in Kyiv. On the Alley of Heroes of the Heavenly Hundred, a basket of flowers was put on behalf of the head of state to the memorial cross at the site of the death of the Revolution of Dignity activists. On January 22, Ukraine marks the Day of Unity. On this day in 1919, the Act of Unification of the Ukrainian People's Republic and the Western Ukrainian People's Republic was proclaimed. op Mumbai: India has developed two vaccines against coronavirus. India is also helping other countries by providing the corona vaccine. Indian Navy P-8I maritime reconnaissance aircraft is all set to supply vaccine to Mauritius and Seychelles. These countries are all set to receive the Covishield vaccine, manufactured by Serum Institute of India. A consignment of 100,000 (1 lakh) doses of the Covishield vaccine is slated to arrive in Mauritius on January 22. A consignment of 50,000 doses of the Covishield vaccine is scheduled to reach Seychelles on January 22. Seychelles has around 1 lakh inhabitants and the 50,000 doses will thus be able to cover nearly 25 per cent of the total Seychelles population. Earlier, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced that India will be supplying vaccines on a gratis basis to Bhutan, Maldives, Bangladesh, Nepal, Myanmar and Seychelles from January 20 onwards, according to an earlier statement by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). Also Read: India Vaccination Update: recipient surpasses over 10 lakh In past year, Guru Randhawa reduced 15 kg weight TN Health Minister Vijayabhaskar receives COVID-19 jab Russian cyberattack, President Joe Biden ordered a sweeping analysis of American intelligence on Russia's role in highly sophisticated hacking of government. Hacking also includes corporate computer networks and what Biden's spokesman called the "careless and adversarial actions" of Moscow internationally and against dissidents within the country. The brand new national intelligence chief Avril D. Haines faces the leading question of whether or not the operation is limited to spying or not 'back doors' positioned in authorities. Company strategies give Russia new skills to alter information or completely shut down computer networks. On Thursday, President Joe Biden also instructed Ms. Haines to provide him with an assessment of the Kremlin's attempt to use a chemical weapon against Russia's key opposition politicians, Aleksei A. Navalny. Navalny, who survived the attack, was arrested when he went back to Russia this week. Ms. Haines was also asked to analyze intelligence that generated evidence that Russia had put a "bounty" on American soldiers' lives in Afghanistan. Simultaneously, officials from the White House said the president would pursue a clean, five-year extension of the two countries' last remaining nuclear weapons deal, which expires in two weeks. Although the extension has long favored Biden, there was controversy over how long it should be among his top aides. In the hope, his aides said, of preventing a nuclear arms race at a time when the new president expects to be in a state of near-constant, low-level rivalry and conflict with Moscow around the world, and particularly in cyberspace, he chose the most time available under the terms of the treaty. The combined announcements illustrate the difficulty of Biden's two-step approach to containing Russia's President Vladimir Putin's actions. Biden's aides have said that they have little interest in a "reset" of the kind of ties that President Barack Obama and his then-Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, had attempted a dozen years earlier. But that places Biden in the uncomfortable position of trying to prolong the nuclear deal, which Putin has already said he is prepared to renew while debating very publicly the need to make Russia pay the hacking price. There are few options: if the deal is not extended, both countries will be able to deploy as many nuclear arms as they want from Feb. 6. But Biden's aides have privately warned that his options for retaliation are limited in response to the assault on the "supply chain" of software used by the government and private industry. In part, because the evidence so far gathered indicated that the Russian cyberattack primarily used their clandestine access to conduct espionage, something that all nations participate in, and that the United States works against Russia all the time, mostly by manipulation of software. Donald Trump tended to support Putin's denial that Moscow had anything to do with the 2016 attempt to manipulate the presidential election, and Trump advised in December that China, not Russia, maybe behind the hacking strategies of the authorities. He was refuted by his intelligence officers within days and did little to respond to the Russian cyberattack, as far as it is understood. On Congressional intelligence committees, the Prime Democrats confirmed that the brand new order was timed correctly and was one thing they had long sought from the spy companies. Virginia Democrat Senator Mark Warner, who will become the chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, said Biden was ordering an extensive new Russian cyberattack intelligence assessment and, in particular, a better understanding of the hacking of SolarWinds. READ MORE: Man With Unauthorized Inauguration Credentials and Loaded Handgun Arrested by US Capitol Police @ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Contributed by Bruce Hedge Wow...a huge new area of photography has developed (ouch!) in only about eight years. I've had a business doing aerial photography in Central Victoria, Australia, since the mid 1980s. The main platform was a Cessna 172 from the local Aero Club, flown by an exceptionally skilled pilot. I looked at helium balloons as a platform, but they were not practical in any sort of wind, and had all sorts of other complications, so I gave that a pass. For some jobs, I jumped in a Bell Jet Ranger helicopter, but the cost per hour and the float fee generally prohibited that option. Roll on 2013, and the first DJI Phantom came on the market. I immediately saw the potential to use it as an aerial photography tool, but it did not have a camera attached. After a bit of research, I settled on the Nikon J1 camera with 10mm (28mm equivalent) lens. It had the required quality sensor, weighed only 300 grams, and, most importantly, could be set to take a photo every five seconds. I rigged up a Heath Robinson plywood and styrofoam platform underneath to hold the camera pointing forward and slightly down, not having a clue about the potential aerodynamic effects. I was very pleasantly surprised at the results. What a game-changer in my aerial photography business! The DJI was deployable anywhere, (my Royal New Zealand Air Force piloting in a previous life meant I was fairly sensible about how, when and where I flew until rules were developed very quickly by the Australian Civil Aviation Safety Authority). I set the camera to take a pic every five seconds, took off, eyeballed the position, and got good at positioning the camera to take fantastic unique photos of properties for local real estate agents at a cost much less than photos taken from aircraft. The flight time of those early DJIs was only about seven minutes without the camera, and it dropped drastically to about four minutes carrying the 300g payload, but most flights produced at least one usable photo out of the 50 or so taken. (There was no remote video vision to guide you in those days!) I bought another eight batteries, and used the setup for three years, even at weddings, where it created quite a talking point! I had three first generation DJIs, crashing two, and cobbling together one last one out of the bits from broken ones. As the technology raced ahead I fell behind, and finally realised the competition was using state-of-the-art DJI Mavic Pro and better units. They had such luxuries as collision avoidance, much longer flight times, and absolutely astounding photo quality from very small sensors, plus, of course, ability to see where the camera was pointing. Extraordinary gimballed image stabilisation and amazing video (from which you could extract frames) were the icing on the cake. I've also discovered the artistic side of low-level aerial photography, being able to get previously impossible photos. Most TV docos, adverts, and travel movies have a significant number of drone sequences, but the restrictions about where you can fly them have limited some otherwise great pics. Unfortunately, idiots will always be with us. When I think of the "Model T Ford" DJI I started with, and what is now available on the amateur market, I wonder what will happen in the next eight years. We live at an amazing time! Bruce Book o' This Week: Peter Lindbergh On Fashion Photography, with text in English, French, and German. Original coffee table version or small 40th Anniversary version, take your pick. Both are hardcovers. The links above will fly you through the air to Amazon. Original contents copyright 2020 by Bruce Hedge. All Rights Reserved. Links in this post may be to our affiliates; sales through affiliate links may benefit this site. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. (To see all the comments, click on the "Comments" link below.) Featured Comments from: A family living in the UK is seeking information on roots in Kildare. Fleur Lloyd is trying to help her grandmother (81) trace family links in Ireland. Fleur said some of her ancestors have links to Co Kildare as well as Dunlavin and Blessington. Fleur's Nana Annie Winnifred and her mother Bridget in the 1950s Fleur said: "I am desperately trying to help my 81 year old mother trace her family in Ireland. "I know it is a long shot but wondered whether you might be able to help? I have drawn a blank wherever I look. "The family name is Hartigan and I know my great grandmother Bridget Sisleen Hartigan was born in Tober in 1880. "Her father John was born in Co Wicklow around 1843 and married Anne Jennings from Co Mayo. "My great aunt told us that the family were from Blessington, and that one of Bridgets brothers was master of the Kildare Hounds. "I can see a record that there was involvement with the Dunlavin church. "In 1901 and 1911 the family were living in Tober. "This is all I know. I have traced all of her female siblings over to London, but can find no surviving family members. "We would so love to know if any of the Hartigans in the Kildare area are related to this family and if they have any more information they can provide. "I believe there was a scandal of some sort, possibly involving my great grandmother, but I cannot substantiate anything. "As an only child, it was a big regret of my mother's that she did not manage to find any family prior to her mother's and grandmother's deaths in the 1970s. I dont know if there is anyone you could suggest to help?" Children of John and Anne: Denis born 1874 Mary Anne born 1876 - Moved to London Michael born 1878 Bridget born 1880 - Moved to London Richard born 1882 Julia born 1885 - Moved to London Patrick born 1885 Kate born 1887 - Moved to London James born 1892 Jas / Jack? born 1894 Le Cabinet des Ministres a donne le feu vert pour commencer lebauche de ce projet de loi qui sera presente par la ministre de la Securite Sociale au parlement dans les prochains mois. Cabinet has agreed to the Ministry of Social Integration, Social Security and National Solidarity conveying drafting instructions to the Attorney Generals Office for the preparation of a Disability Bill. The Disability Bill would provide, inter alia, for the following: (a) the incorporation in the domestic law of the Articles of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities to which Mauritius is a party as far as possible; (b) the promotion of full enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms by persons with disabilities; (c) the accessibility to physical, social, economic and cultural environment and to health, education, information, communication and technology for persons with disabilities; (d) the provision for the regulation and registration of organisations that provide services to persons with disabilities; and (e) the establishment of a National Agency for Persons with Disabilities which would bring under a single umbrella the existing Training and Employment of Disabled Persons Board, the National Council for the Rehabilitation of Disabled Persons and the Lois Lagesse Trust Fund. In our quite unstable time of the pandemic, we are recommended to stay at home. During almost the entire year of 2020, we tried our best to obey those rules. Nevertheless, the desire to explore the world and develop ourselves in the process has never disappeared. We may be looking for the best services, but health security issues have taken precedence. Managers from the Altezza traveling agency are there to help you and give advice on how to choose the travel agency most suitable for your needs if you are going to Africa. What to Pay Attention to When you are looking for the best travel agency to travel anywhere, you should, first of all, pay attention to reviews, both negative and positive ones. A company that has no negative reviews looks suspicious - after all, no business is perfect from all angles. If You are Looking to Get Off the Beaten Track We recommend taking a good look at Botswana, Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. These regions are famous for the spectacular views and impressions you will never forget. It is perfect for active holidays with friends and romantic honeymoons. Uganda and Rwanda, according to the TourRadar independent resource, are the best places for safaris. Before heading to Africa, you should have in mind that this land is quite expensive to visit, even if you go on a budget tour. The lack of infrastructure and complicated logistics just adds up to the total amount of money you are going to spend. Still, Africa can provide you with memories and adventures that are extraordinary and worth every penny. What to Avoid Try to avoid companies that have just launched. Of course, later, they might become reputable providers of unforgettable holidays, but any company could make mistakes initially. When you are going to Africa - a continent that differs so much from things we are used to - you must be sure that everything will go according to plan. According to the Wanderlust online magazine, people often choose the wrong group to explore Africa with. We really doubt that you want to be the oldest or the younger person in the whole gang, so do some research and choose wisely. The second mistake is choosing the wrong style of your holiday. Are you really up to active holidays, or do you prefer lying on the beach with occasional excursions? Your vacation is supposed to bring joy to you, so think about what you would like to do beforehand. According to your plans, choose the appropriate time of your visit. People are usually recommended to spend at least two weeks to have the best experience in Africa. Best 5 Travel Agencies According to Our Opinion Altezza Travel Acacia Adventure Holidays Absolute Africa Dragoman Intrepid These are the companies that are famous for their safari tours and trips to Tanzania and South Africa. Find what is best for you. Look through some tours that the company offers, and maybe it will inspire you to plan an itinerary of your own! We Wish You a Happy Holiday! Whatever agency you choose, we hope you will enjoy your stay in this wonderful, astonishing, and gorgeous continent of Africa. There plenty of things, events, and places to check out. Let 2021 be full of new experiences for you! Even during this complicated and stressful period, you still can - and must - enjoy your life. 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. Another 10 businesses have been cited for a lack of pandemic precautions in the workplace, according to a news release from the Michigan Occupational Health and Safety Administration on Friday, Jan. 22. The workplaces violated COVID-19 safety precautions like not having a preparedness plan, not mandating masks or not cleaning and disinfecting the facility. So far, 67 businesses have been cited by MIOSHA for COVID-19 safety violations. The Michigan Liquor Control Commission and Michigan Department of Health and Human Services are also penalizing businesses not following health orders. MIOSHA can fine businesses up to $7,000 per violation. Employers must provide proof to MIOSHA the problems have been fixed. Workplaces have 15 working days after the receipt of the violation to contest the citation, or can enter a deal to abate the hazards for a 50% reduction in penalties on the condition of not appealing. Employers and employees with questions about COVID-19 workplace policies can call the MIOSHA hotline at 855-723-3219. To file a complaint against a workplace, go to Michigan.gov/MIOSHAcomplaint. Most of the inspections that led to the 10 citations were triggered by complaints to MIOSHA from employees. Six of the 10 citations also include fines. Heres the list of the latest organizations cited by MIOSHA. Click the name to view the full citation document. Tri-Unity Christian School Location: Wyoming Fine: $2,000 Reasons: Failing to conduct the daily health screening including a questionnaire, failure to require face coverings when social distancing could not be maintained, failure to place posters in the workplace that encourages staying away from work when sick and failing to maintain or retain documentation for training and entry screening. The inspection was initiated by a complaint from an employee representative. BC&F Tool Company Location: Oak Park Fine: Was cited, but not fined Reasons: Not developing a written COVID-19 preparedness and response plan. An employee complaint triggered the inspection. United Resin Corporation Location: Royal Oak Fine: Was cited, but not fined Reasons: Not developing a written COVID-19 preparedness and response plan. The inspection was spurred by an employee complaint. Commercial Fabricating and Engineering Location: Highland Fine: $14,700 Reasons: Not developing a written COVID-19 preparedness and response plan and violating other non-COVID-19 workplace safety regulations. This inspection was initiated by a reinspection assignment. AIS Automation Systems Inc. Location: Rockwood Fine: Was cited, but not fined Reasons: Not developing a written COVID-19 preparedness and response plan. This inspection was initiated by an employee complaint. Michigan Die Casting Location: Dowagiac Fine: $16,800 Reasons: A lack of a COVID-19 preparedness and response plan, failure to train employees on the workplace controls for COVID-19, failure to implement a self-screening protocol for COVID-19, a lack of increased cleaning or disinfecting of the facility, not providing face coverings and not enforcing the use of face coverings. An employee complaint triggered the inspection. J. Manufacturing Co. Inc. Location: Madison Heights Fine: Was cited, but not fined Reasons: Not developing a written COVID-19 preparedness and response plan. The inspection was part of a programmed inspection assignment. Powerhouse Gym Troy Inc. Location: Troy Fine: $700 Reasons: Lack of a preparedness and response plan, failing to conduct the daily health screening including a questionnaire and failure to require face coverings when social distancing could not be maintained. The inspection was initiated by a referral to MIOSHA. K2 Holdings LLC Location: Fenton Fine: $2,100 Reasons: Failing to train employees on COVID-19, failing to conduct the daily health screening including a questionnaire, failing to require face coverings when social distancing could not be maintained and failure to use signs, tape marks, or other visual cues where people (workers, customers, and visitors) are to stand. The inspection was spurred by an employee complaint. Plastic Development Group LLC Location: Southfield Fine: $2,100 Reasons: Lack of a preparedness and response plan, failing to conduct the daily health screening including a questionnaire and failure to require face coverings when social distancing could not be maintained. An employee complaint triggered the inspection. RELATED STORIES Bars, restaurants will have 10 p.m. curfew when indoor dining reopens Feb. 1 Michigan loses estimated 60,000 leisure, hospitality jobs in December Bowling centers, roller rink sue Whitmer for damages caused by shutdown Investigators bust more restaurants illegally serving alcohol during dine-in ban School district, fire department fined by Michigan for COVID-19 violations What would you do if you found a bag full of money during this pandemic just when you were at your savings had been spent and you were trying to make ends meet? Would you keep it? Would you understand why Balram does what he does? Is it justified? Would you hand it over to the police who may keep it for themselves? The trouble with movies made from books is that most of them are teeth-gritting awful. Only a handful of books, and I include The English Patient and The Matrix among those whose cinematic adaptations are far superior to the books. Danny Boyle gave us the India-centric game-show movie - Slumdog Millionaire - which will make you shudder involuntarily because the only thing that is memorable is the disgusting, unforgettable image of ambition emerging through faeces. I did not want to read Aravind Adigas The White Tiger because it looked like a similar mirror to ambition. I did eventually, because I chanced on this passage at the bookstore while waiting in the queue for another bunch of books. So I stood around that big square of books. Standing around books, even books in a foreign language, you feel a kind of electricity buzzing up toward you, Your Excellency. It just happens, the way you get erect around girls wearing tight jeans. Except here what happens is that your brain starts to hum. I loved the content, I just hated the format: a story told in letters to the Chinese premier. Thankfully writer-director Ramin Bahrani gives the story more prominence than the letter format. Although the constant inner monologue that is happening inside Balrams head gets annoying after a while. So, the story has a running metaphor of chickens (roosters he says) in a smelly, bloody coop, unable to rebel against a certain fate. Fair warning, the literal showing of the butcher hacking away at the chickens is just plain awful. The first half of the film where Balram sees his salvation in the form of the younger son Ashok (played rather well by Rajkummar Rao) of the zamindar (called The Stork, essayed by Mahesh Manjrekar). Ashok has returned from New York with his Christian wife, hence in pants always (their observation!) played rather well by Priyanka Chopra who also produces the film. Priyanka Chopra is called Pinky Madam and becomes Balrams connection between the darkness and the light. The book goes on and on about this metaphor, but thankfully the film simply shows the contrast better: The sahebs live in well lit, hi-rise apartments, while the drivers live in the belly of the beast, in darkness, in the flickering lights of the tube lights, with mosquitoes and cockroaches Both Priyanka Chopra and Rajkummar Rao do not seem to fit in this world where drivers are treated like indentured servants and made to do everything from cleaning the house to cleaning up after their masters. The scene where Balram - played wonderfully by Adarsh Gourav - is made to sign a confession in the presence of the family lawyer, the zamindar, his nasty older son (nicknamed the Mongoose, played by Vijay Maurya) and the contrite Ashok, is so amazing that you suddenly realise that Balram is well cast! He is at once vulnerable and helpless and frustrated too because he knows what is being done to him is wrong. The book has Pinky madam speak scathingly about the chandelier that Balram aspires to own. And, that was the essence of social climbing for me. What the new rich aspire to (gold bathroom fittings for some people!) is considered tacky by some who know "showing off their wealth is bad". It is missing in the movie, but she does teach him the value of cleanliness. Balram looks at the mirror the first time he brushes his teeth, and instead of being put off, it made me run for cover to get a cup of tea really and not find parallels with my own past. How many of us want to acknowledge the ghastly people associated with our lives and our pasts. I empathise with Balram who does not want to be associated with the vitiligo affected driver or his awful granny Kusum and I understand why he does not want to get married to someone in the village. The chandelier matters to Balram because it is his place under the light. But the darkness of his soul remains, I suppose "We have your confession letter, and it will always be with us," The Mongoose says that to Balram as he leaves for Dhanbad. "You were looking for the key for years, but the door was always open," Pinky madam says, as she is leaving for good. What will Balram choose? This part of the movie seems terribly hurried and hasty. As if the filmmakers did not like turning the vulnerable Balram into this unconscionable creature. I hated the predictability of Ashoks drunken stupor, the singing, the confession, "I wish my life were as simple as yours". The never-ending monologue was necessary, I guess, because the book is in the form of letters to the Chinese premier who is about to visit India. The book is sharp and critical of the Indian mentality that smacks of servitude mixed with hate. The film surprisingly captures that well without showing Balram spitting in Mongooses food. The crass brown man, yellow man type of dialogue is jarring to hear but apt, I suppose in Balrams context. The concept that drivers learn to lip read and learn from the masters is not new to cinema. In fact every version of the film Sabrina (first starring Humphrey Bogart and the second with Harrison Ford) has the scene where the driver says, "I learned to listen. When he (the master) bought (stocks), I bought, when he sold, I sold." Thankfully, the story is set in 2008 and in Delhi. Bombay drivers make it very clear, "I am a driver. I will not run errands for you or pick up the dry cleaning," when they are joining, and end up bringing fish curry made by their wife for your child because, "Kya madam, aap vegetarian kyon hain?!" The movie does offer a flight out of the rooster coop to Balram. But it is not the solution that an enlightened audience likes. After talking about moving into the light that he hankers for, the journey out of darkness is not a good one. Movies adapted from books rarely live up to expectations. But, this - like its title - is like that rare sighting: a white tiger. The White Tiger Cast & Crew : Aravind Adiga (book), Ramin Bahrani (screenplay): Mukul Deora, Ramin Bahrani, Prem Akkaraju Director: Ramin Bahrani : Danny Bensi, Saunder Jurriaans Cinematography: Paolo Carnera Editing: Ramin Bahrani, Tim Streeto Cast:Priyanka Chopra, Rajkummar Rao, Adarsh Gourav, Mahesh Manjrekar India will begin commercial shipments of Covid-19 vaccines to Brazil and Morocco Friday, followed by Saudi Arabia and South Africa, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi attempts to burnish his credentials as a key global leader. "Theres huge international demand for our vaccines," Foreign Secretary Harsh Shringla told Bloomberg TV in an interview. We expect to see more global players cooperating with their Indian counterparts in the pharma and healthcare sectors. This is likely to go beyond shifting parts of supply chains to India. We expect to see collaborations, manufacturing and R&D tie ups in this field." The inoculations being exported so far have been manufactured by the Serum Institute of India Ltd. -- the worlds biggest vaccine manufacturer by volume -- which has partnered with AstraZeneca Plc to make at least one billion doses of their shot. Brazil has the worlds third largest coronavirus epidemic, behind India and the U.S. and has made a late start to its vaccination campaign, lagging Latin American peers including Mexico and Argentina. Supply Chains India expects to house global supply chains for medicines and will work with President Joe Bidens administration on building trade and security ties, Shringla said. Last year, Modi vowed Indias vaccine delivery and manufacturing capacity would be used to help all of humanity to fight the Covid-19 pandemic and its in keeping with this vision that we have responded positively to requests for supply of Indian manufactured vaccines from countries all over the world," Shringla said. India began its domestic coronavirus vaccine roll-out on Jan. 16 using both Serums Covishield and its indigenously-developed inoculation from Bharat Biotech International Ltd. and on Wednesday began shipping out vaccines to six neighboring countries -- Bhutan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Myanmar, Maldives and Seychelles. It is also waiting for regulatory clearances from Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and Mauritius to send out the shots, the Indian foreign ministry said in a statement Tuesday. India says it can increase its production of Covid-19 vaccines to 500 million per month for export, as it fields interest from the U.K., Belgium, and countries across the Middle East and Africa seeking access to cheaper inoculations. Trade Talks Commercial supplies of Indian vaccines will go out several other countries in Africa, Latin America, the Pacific Island states and to the United Nations, Shringla said. While the initiative is part of Indias economic campaign of self-reliance," the country expects to partner with the U.S. on building supply chains for medicines, sensitive technologies and minerals." India expects to restart talks on trade with the U.S. and is keen to look at a limited trade deal" followed by comprehensive one, the foreign secretary added. The U.S. is Indias biggest trading partner with bilateral trade touching $150 billion in 2019. New Delhi also hopes to work with Biden on strengthening maritime security in the Indo-Pacific and on countering terrorism, said Shringla. India is in talks with China to effect a possible disengagement. That process is on at the moment," he said. We are clear at the level of our senior leadership that we will do whatever we can to maintain that dialog and do whatever we can to secure a resolution that is in the best interest of both the countries" Indias border conflict with China with thousands of troops stationed on their Himalayan borders, has been in a stalemate since May last year with no resolution despite several rounds of military and diplomatic level talks. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. 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. COMMENTARY BY THE INNU, ATIKAMEKW, ANISHNABEG COALITION ABOUT HYDRO QUEBEC'S HYDROELECTRICITY EXPORT PROJECT TO THE UNITED STATES KITCISAKIK, QC, Jan. 22, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - Once again Hydro-Quebec has celebrated a premature victory regarding the interconnection line it plans to build through the State of Maine to Massachusetts. In a press release published Friday January 15, 2021, in the Province of Quebec, the state-owned corporation indeed announced that "The Federal Department of Energy (US-DOE) has granted the presidential permit to the New England Clean Energy Connect transmission line project (NECEC). According to the document All regulatory authorizations necessary for the realization of the project have therefore been obtained in the United States." Not so fast! On that same Friday January 15, the United States Court of Appeals issued an injunction to block the start of construction, thus suspending the application of the presidential permit. Hydro-Quebec was careful not to publicize this setback. The state-owned corporation also neglected to mention that a referendum is due to be held in Maine in 2021 with an aim of blocking the project. The situation is not under control! Following steps taken by a number of U.S. environmental and political circles actively supported in Canada by our coalition of five indigenous communities, namely the First Nations of Pessamit, Wemotaci, Pikogan, Lac Simon and Kitcisakik, it is estimated that a growing portion of the population in the State of Maine now oppose the Hydro-Quebec project. If opponents to this project win the referendum, Hydro-Quebec could see its dream of massive exportation to Massachusetts collapse. It could also be forced to reassess its position regarding the constitutional rights of the Innu, Atikamekw and Anishnabeg people from whose territories 36% of this electricity is being produced and whose lands suffer dire consequences. A questionable communications approach "Already in 2016, Hydro-Quebec made similar claims in the case of the Northern Pass line meant to transit through New Hampshire to Massachusetts, says Regis Penosway, Chief of the Anishnabeg of Kitcisakik. But as a result of pressure exerted by our American allies with our support, Hydro-Quebec was forced to back down and the project collapsed. Regarding its current project, the state-owned corporation had already prematurely cried victory in 2020 and did so again in 2021, with new fallacious statements aimed at the Quebec media. Just recently, Hydro-Quebec announced its intention to launch a new interconnection line project, this time to New York City, and will no doubt continue to use the same kind of information strategy. But once again, it will have to face our opposition." Half-truths The Hydro-Quebec press release says that on the Quebec side of the border, "... regulatory assessments are continuing with regards to the Canadian portion of the project. So far, the transmission line project has obtained approvals from the Quebec agency responsible for energy and the protection of agricultural land." However, the press release neglects to mention that the export project is neither approved by the government of Quebec nor by the government of Canada. The coalition of our five First Nations has formally notified the Canada Energy Regulator (CER) of its opposition to this project. By virtue of our constitutional rights recognized by the CER, we will therefore be actively involved in the ongoing process which will continue until spring 2021. Serious discussions For decades, Hydro-Quebec has been ignoring the constitutional rights of our First Nations and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Quebec Premier, Francois Legault, must recognize the reality of systemic racism within his government and engage in a process of reconciliation. As long as he persists in considering the future of his state-owned corporation without consulting our First Nations, without obtaining their consent, without compensation and without partnerships with them, Hydro-Quebec's projects in the United Stated will be doomed to failure. The time has come for serious discussions! SOURCE Innu-Atikamekw-Anishnabeg Coalition Rights groups emphasize that the return must be up to the individual refugee, not only the two governments. Myanmar has called on Bangladesh to repatriate more than 400 Hindu refugees who were among the 2017 exodus of 740,000 Rohingya fleeing a brutal army campaign in Rakhine state, a spokesman of Naypyidaws Ministry of Foreign Affairs told RFA. The demand came during a meeting between Myanmar, Bangladesh and China Tuesday that was conducted online due to COVID-19 concerns. Myanmar urged that verified refugees, including the Hindus, be returned in the first phase of repatriations after the coronavirus pandemic subsides. About a million Rohingya have fled Myanmar to Bangladesh, most living 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. In late 2017, Bangladesh and Myanmar officials agreed to begin repatriating Rohingya in early 2018. The countries had set two dates to begin the repatriation November 2018 and August 2019 but the Muslim Rohingya refugees were unwilling to return to what they said was a hostile environment in Rakhine. Hindu religious leaders in Myanmar, however, are urging both governments to come to an agreement, saying that the refugees suffer in unsafe conditions and are at high risk of abuse. We requested the repatriation of Hindus as early as possible, but not only them. We requested all the verified refugees, Aung Ko, the director general of Myanmars Ministry of Foreign Affairs told RFAs Myanmar Service. We did not single them out specifically, but they are part of the refugees verified by our government who should be repatriated as soon as the process resumes, said Aung Ko. The ministry said in 2019 that there were 444 Hindus among the refugees. They are believed to have taken shelter in Kutupalong refugee camp in Coxs Bazar. A Hindu community leader in Rakhines Maungdaw township told RFA that the refugees long to return to their homeland. The Hindus over there want to come back to our side as soon as possible. They want to come home. They have expressed their wishes to return to Myanmar to the Bangladeshi authorities, said Ni Maw. They expressed this to the Myanmar authorities too. We also want them to be repatriated and have the people of our ethnic group back in their homeland, Ny Maw said. But a Yangon-based Rakhine Hindu humanitarian group told RFA that the decision to repatriate should be made on a case-by-case basis. Those who dont want to return have rights not to return. Those who want to return should come home after negotiations, said Rague Nay Myint, the humanitarian groups leader. Over 400 Hindus in Bangladesh have been longing to return to Myanmar for quite some time. We want the authorities to repatriate the people who completed their verifications. We have been appealing that they are allowed to return. Thats all, he said. The Rohingya issue came up twice recently at a U.N. General Assembly committee tasked with discussing social and humanitarian affairs and human rights issues around the world. At meetings in November, the committee approved a draft resolution on Myanmar, expressing grave concern at reports of serious rights violations by the military and security forces against the Rohingya. The draft resolution was passed with 131 countries voting in favor. The nine nations who voted against it included Myanmar and China. The resolution drew attention specifically to reports of rights violations in Myanmars Kachin, Rakhine, and the southern Chin and Shan states, leading to the forced displacement of more than 860,000 Rohingya and other minorities to Bangladesh. RFA attempted to contact the Bangladeshi embassy in Yangon for comment on claims by the Myanmar government and Hindu groups that the Dhaka government has delayed the repatriation of Hindu refugees but did not receive a reply. The Chinese embassy in Yangon was not available for comment, but in a press statement said the participants agreed to hold more tripartite meetings and to go forward with the first batch of repatriations as soon as possible. Myanmars deputy minister for International Cooperation Hau Do Suan urged Bangladesh to comply with the bilateral agreements between two countries on the repatriation process while Myanmar prepares to receive the refugees. According to government announcements, more than 170 men and 290 women have returned to the Nga Khu Ya refugee welcome center in Maungdaw between 2018 and October last year but none of the repatriated refugees were Hindu. Reported by Kyaw Lwin Oo for RFAs Myanmar Service. Translated by Ye Kaung Myint Maung. Written in English by Eugene Whong. Renault's 5 EV concept may signal another round of innovative new models with retro styling Modern vehicles are as reliant on computer chips as they are on their engines and chassis. Most come fitted with a number of chipsets to handle on-board functions, power infotainment systems, and to monitor and perform driving functions including advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and semi-autonomous operation in limited circumstances. The electronic content in modern vehicles is estimated to account for some 30% of a bill of materials, with the prospect of increasing to 50% by 2030. As a result, automotive production is as reliant on computer chips as the consumer electronics industry. So, one guess what automakers are running short of? At the onset of the pandemic, when automotive production was shut down, chip suppliers pivoted to prioritise the supply of consumer electronics (think games consoles, smart tvs, Blue Ray players and pay-tv set-top boxes, smartphones and tablets) where demand remained stable, or increased, due to lockdowns and the requirement to work from home (laptop and desktop PCs). Now, with the automotive sector looking to ramp up production, it has found itself at the back of the queue for chips. Consumer electronics present a higher volume opportunity for chipmakers than cars and, like cars, chip content of consumer electronics is also increasing. See also our bundled articles on this developing challenge for suppliers and automakers. After a tumultuous election process in 2020, president-elect Joe Biden was sworn into office this week. From the outset of his campaign for office, Biden has made it clear that he intends to introduce some significant policy shifts in an effort to reverse some of the changes introduced by the outgoing Trump administration. While businesses were yet to be briefed on all the changes, many were hoping for a period of greater political stability after recent unrest in the US. The now-gone Trump administration campaigned on a platform of deregulation, especially for environmental issues. This led to disagreement within the US industry as some manufacturers agreed with the reduced environmental requirements to reduce production costs, while others objected on the grounds that it would make US-made vehicles less competitive in export markets with stricter emissions and economy requirements. Now, with the incoming administration promising to tighten regulations again, we look at what auto companies can expect from the beginning of Joe Biden's presidency. Forget what is under the hood, the battleground has shifted to what is inside the cockpit. Market leader Visteon has developed lots of cool new technologies to augment the cockpit electronics space, including large, curved, automotive-grade displays and its microZone technology that offers higher graphics performance than traditional LCD displays. To learn more, Matthew Beecham caught up with Sachin Lawande, president and CEO of Visteon. With 12,100 registrations and a year-on-year rise of 157%, Genesis became South Korea's number three brand in 2020, gliding past Mercedes-Benz, Chevrolet-Cadillac, SsangYong and Samsung. Sales are also rising in Canada, the US, Australia and a handful of other countries. Next - this year - the brand pushes into Europe, and then surely China must be next. Glenn Brooks took a look at the premium marque's latest and future models. Also from our new and future products guru: Strong in the USA, Europe, Russia and the Pacific Rim, as well as South Korea of course, Hyundai Motor Group still under-achieves in China. Even with that giant market expanding for many months now, neither Kia nor Hyundai has been able to make much headway. Might a raft of new vehicles change things? This first of three features on HMG considers the Hyundai brand's global next generation models. Following four groundbreaking generations of the vehicle, countless industry accolades and nearly 7m in global sales, the Jeep brand continues to shatter expectations of the full-size SUV segment with the all-new 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L. The newest iteration is designed and engineered to deliver an unmatched combination of even more legendary 4x4 capability, superior on-road refinement, premium styling and craftsmanship inside and out, and a host of advanced safety and technology features. The result is the all-new 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L, for the first time ever with seating for six or seven. The new corporate entity - Stellantis - resulting from the merger of Peugeot-Citroen (PSA) and Fiat-Chrysler (FCA) has now come into being, the full merger completed. Stellantis announced the merger was completed on Saturday, 16 January, when a board was also appointed and articles of association became effective. As previously announced, the board is composed of two executive directors, John Elkann (chairman) and Carlos Tavares (CEO), and nine non-executive directors, Robert Peugeot (vice chairman), Henri de Castries (senior independent director, acting as the voorzitter under Dutch law), Andrea Agnelli, Fiona Clare Cicconi, Nicolas Dufourcq, Ann Frances Godbehere, Wan Ling Martello, Jacques de Saint-Exupery, and Kevin Scott. Renault's management team took to the stage last week to present the brand's bold new business plan, dubbed 'Renaulution'. The new strategy is built around the understanding that the company will now chase value rather than volume, aiming to make more profit from each sale rather than simply push for as many sales as possible. Tesla is considered by many - including industry analysts and investors - to be the automaker of the future, with its emphasis on smarter and cleaner mobility. The company's innovation-driven approach and its high expenditure on capital ensures that it stays ahead of its peers. A continuing focus on new product development and product scaling, along with its plan to enter emerging markets, such as India, will help the company sustain its status as a leader in the coming years, according to analysts at GlobalData. Renault caused a stir last week by announcing its bold new business strategy aimed at reducing costs and increasing profitability as it transitions to electrified vehicles and new mobility. Among a brace of new strategy directions were a number of new model announcements including a three-vehicle line-up for performance brand Alpine and the C-segment Dacia Bigster SUV concept. However, the model that immediately started making headlines was the new Renault 5 EV concept. This compact supermini features a modern battery-electric powertrain but exterior styling that's strongly reminiscent of its namesake predecessor launched in 1972. From the trapezoid headlights, to the simple, timeless bodyshape, to the blistered wheelarches and contrast roof details that recall the Renault 5 Turbo rally legend, it's unmistakably retro in flavour. Have a nice weekend Graeme Roberts, Deputy Editor, just-auto.com Chinese President Xi Jinping will attend the Davos Agenda of the World Economic Forum (WEF) on Jan. 25 from Beijing via video link and deliver a special speech, at the invitation of Klaus Schwab, founder and executive chairman of the WEF. The world is in urgent need of cooperation to fight COVID-19 and recover economy, as the disease is still rampant around the globe, plunging the world economy into a deep recession. At the moment, China is widely expected by the world to contribute its wisdom and power at the WEF. The world needs to find a correct direction this year to walk out of the COVID-19 shadow and turn around the economy. The theme of the forum A Crucial Year to Rebuild Trust - demonstrates participating parties' clear recognition for the urgent demand for cooperation to cope with global challenges. At the event, over 1,500 business, government and civil society leaders from over 70 countries and regions will discuss how the world shall build a resilient, sustainable and cohesive economic system, promote responsible industrial reform and growth, improve governance of global commons, make use of the Fourth Industrial Revolution results and promote global and regional cooperation. They will try to formulate innovative and bold solutions to simultaneously advance economic recovery and combat the COVID-19 pandemic. Whether you like it or not, the global economy is the big ocean that you cannot escape from. Any attempt to cut off the flow of capital, technologies, products, industries and people between economies, and channel the waters in the ocean back into isolated lakes and creeks is simply not possible. Indeed, it runs counter to the historical trend. Pursuing protectionism is like locking oneself in a dark room. While wind and rain may be kept outside, that dark room will also block light and air. In the face of both opportunities and challenges of economic globalization, the right thing to do is to seize every opportunity, jointly meet challenges and chart the right course for economic globalization. These remarks were made by Xi four years ago when he attended the Opening Session of the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2017 themed Responsive and Responsible Leadership in Davos, Switzerland. He explained Chinas understanding and proposals of economic globalization and made a strong voice to support it, receiving warm response from the international society. Schwab remarked that the Chinese Presidents speech was thought-provoking, hailing it as a highlight in the WEF history that would chart the course of global economy. Today, the world is once again at a crossroad, like it was 4 years ago. It should be recognized that no country, organization or individual can cope with economic, environmental, social and technical challenges alone when they are situated in a complicated but interdependent world. To seek prospects in adversity, the world shall uphold the vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind, enhance cooperation and solidarity, and make joint efforts to tackle challenges. Its obvious for all that Chinas visions and practices are currently playing an important role in the world in promoting solidarity, building joint strength, and reinforcing confidence. China believes the world shall act as a whole when combating the coronavirus pandemic. It is not only being responsible for the life and health of the Chinese, but also doing its best to support global public health. The country has launched its most intensive and largest-scale emergency humanitarian assistance mission since 1949, injecting ceaseless power into global anti-pandemic efforts and vividly explaining its major country responsibility in advancing the building of a community with a shared future for mankind. China delivered extremely extraordinary economic performance in the unusual year of 2020, expanding its economy by 2.3 percent from a year ago. It was the only major economy that secured positive growth last year. The international society believes that Chinas faster-than-expected economic growth has shed light on global recovery. The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development predicted that China will remain a major growth engine for world economy in 2021. The world is anticipating hearing Chinas voice at the Davos Agenda of the WEF. To grasp the crucial year calls for wisdom and strength. Only by upholding the vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind, upholding multilateralism, staying committed to building an open world economy, and making economic globalization more open, inclusive, balanced and beneficial for all, can the world defeat the pandemic and recover economy. Navalnys associate fined $3,400 for calls for participation in illegal rally facebook 17:38 22/01/2021 MOSCOW, January 22 (RAPSI) The Simonovsky District Court of Moscow on Friday fined Lyubov Sobol, an associate of Alexey Navalny, 250,000 rubles (about $3,400) for calls to participate in an unauthorized rally, the courts press service told RAPSI. She was found guilty of the repeated violation of the rally holding order. Sobol failed to appear in court. Ealier, Russias Prosecutor Generals Office and police warned of the consequences of the calls for illegal walkout. US President Joe Biden signs executive orders during his first minutes in the Oval Office, Washington, Usa - 19 Jan 2021 - EPA So much for the grand promise of unity. Joe Biden's rush to erase Donald Trump from history delivered a forceful poke in the eye - some would say worse - to the 74 million people who voted for the other guy. Ironically, while the US Capitol riots were a disaster for Mr Trump and his legacy, they have also undermined Mr Biden's chances of bringing the country together in a post-Trump world. Cheered on by an increasingly noisy left wing of the Democrat party, demanding that all things Trump be cancelled, the new president spent his first hours in office doing just that. He is using everything available to him under his executive powers - what he can do without the approval of Congress - to wipe clean the last four years. But in doing so there has been no attempt to offer an olive branch to Republican voters, or their representatives in Congress. Senior Republicans have been taken aback by the extent of Mr Biden's opening measures, especially on immigration and climate change. Some took it as confirmation of their fears that the new president, a moderate Democrat, would end up a passenger in a party careering left. Mr Biden promised Mr Trump's voters he would work for them too. But so for there is little sign of it. And Republicans in Congress are nervous. Mr Biden is demonstrating a near-total break with his predecessor - Bloomberg Mr Trump may have thought he had made some permanent changes that many Republicans supported, such as overhauling the US immigration system, and ending America's involvement in various multilateral agreements. But on entering the Oval Office for the first time as president Mr Biden began a policy bonfire. With the stroke of a pen he ended funding for Mr Trump's wall on the Mexico border. Seconds later, another swish of his pen sent the US back into the Paris climate accord. Swish went the pen again. That was the US back in the World Health Organisation. And so it went on. Mr Biden signed over a dozen such orders on his first night in the White House. There will be many more to come over the next week or so. Story continues It was a faster start to eviscerating a predecessor's legacy than any other president in living memory. And it was symbolic, showing his absolute determination to roll back vast swathes of what Mr Trump did. At no time did Mr Biden acknowledge that roughly half the country had voted for the policies he was striking out. He particularly zeroed in on immigration, an issue which propelled Mr Trump to the White House four years ago. Mr Biden signed half a dozen orders contributing to a relaxation of the US immigration system. Ultimately, many major immigration changes he wants to make will need legislation backed by Congress. But his opening salvo has made finding Republican support improbable. On his first day the bill Mr Biden chose to send to Congress was one that proposes an eight-year pathway to citizenship for many of America's estimated 11 million illegal immigrants. He might as well have kicked Republicans in the shins. The bill will not pass and was instead a statement of intent to his own party. Marco Rubio, the Republican senator, said it was a "non-starter". He added: "It's a blanket amnesty for people who are here unlawfully". Marco Rubio does not support Mr Biden's immigration plan - GETTY IMAGES Mr Biden's executive orders on climate change also alarmed Republicans as a sign of what is to come, and made their cooperation less likely. One established a temporary moratorium on new oil and gas leasing in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, which had been opened up by Mr Trump. Another revoked a presidential permit, issued under Mr Trump, for the Keystone oil and gas pipeline. Mr Biden will have some explaining to do on the pipeline when he speaks to a "disappointed" Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau on Friday. Thousands of workers face being laid off from the $8 billion project involving the US and Canada. Mr Biden's actions are already having a real-world impact. Thousands of Hondurans joined a caravan in recent days hoping to reach what they believe will be a newly welcoming United States. Meanwhile, left-wing rioters smashed windows at the Democratic Party headquarters in Oregon while carrying anti-Biden signs and demanding he back the Green New Deal. Back in Washington senior Republicans, newly concerned about Mr Biden's political direction, have an unexpected ace up their sleeve - thanks to Mr Trump. On the near horizon there looms Mr Trump's Senate impeachment trial. While Senate time is taken up with that, Mr Biden will find it difficult both to get his cabinet nominees approved, and to have legislation passed. Although some Republicans in Congress want the impeachment process over quickly, others are beginning to see a lengthy trial of their own former president, Mr Trump, as an opportunity to slow Mr Biden down. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday carried out searches at five locations here, including the premises of Mehul Thakur in connection with its money laundering probe into the PMC Bank scam case, sources said. According to ED sources related to the probe, the financial probe agency started the searches on Friday morning at three locations linked to Thakur and two places linked to chartered accountants. Thakur is the owner and director of Viva Homes -- a part of the Viva group of companies. The ED officials, however, remained tight-lipped about sharing any further details. An ED source said that the agency had got some links that amounts in crores of Rupees were transferred from the HDIL to the Viva group trust and companies, which is controlled by the family members of Thakur. Earlier this month, the ED had questioned Shiv Sena Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Raut's wife Varsha Raut in connection with the case. The Rays have signed right-hander Yacksel Rios to a minor league contract, agent Gavin Kahn announced Thursday (h/t: Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times). The deal includes an invitation to major league spring training. Rios was a 12th-round pick of the Phillies in 2011 who divided the first four years of his big league career between Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. After Rios put up a 6.38 ERA with a 21.4 strikeout percentage and 10.5 walk percentage in 55 innings as a Phillie from 2017-19, the team designated him for assignment. Rios joined the Pirates on waivers in August 2019, but he didnt see much action with the club. Thanks in part to shoulder problems, Rios totaled only four innings last season, after which the 27-year-old elected free agency. Rios, who averages about 95 mph on his fastball, has been more successful in the minors than the majors, though he also hasnt dominated at the lower levels. He owns a 4.58 ERA through 90 1/3 Triple-A innings. New Delhi: The 11th round of talks between the government and representatives of protesting farmer unions on three new farm laws remained inconclusive on Friday (January 22). The government, however, fixed no date for the next round of meetings, telling the unions that all possible options have been given to them, and they must discuss internally the proposal of suspending laws. Two days ago, the Centre had proposed to suspend the agricultural laws for one and half years and had set up a joint panel to discuss the Acts to end the stalemate. Farmer leaders told reporters that the meeting may have lasted for nearly five hours, but two sides sat face to face for less than 30 minutes. Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar is learned to have told farmer unions that the government is ready for another meeting if farmers want to discuss the proposal on suspending laws. Tomar thanked unions for cooperation, saying there are no problems with the new laws, but the government offered to suspend them with respect for farmers. Live TV Farmer unions, however, told the government they want a complete repeal of three contentious farm laws even as the Centre asked them to reconsider its proposal for putting the Acts on hold for 12-18 months, as the two sides met for their 11th round of talks to resolve the nearly-two-month long deadlock. "No date for the next meeting has been fixed by the government," Surjeet Singh Phul, State President of BKU Krantikari (Punjab), told reporters. Rakesh Tikait, spokesperson, Bhartiya Kisan Union, said, "During the meeting, the government offered to put the implementation of the farm laws on hold for two years and said that the next round of meeting can take place only if farmer unions are ready to accept the proposal." Tikait, however, said that the tractor rally will take place on January 26, as planned. Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee leader SS Pandher said that the minister made us wait for three and a half hours, adding "This is an insult to farmers. When he came, he asked us to consider the govt's proposal and said that he is ending the process of meetings... The agitation will continue peacefully." On wednesday, the government had offered to put on hold the three laws and set up a joint committee to find solutions. The farmer unions, however, decided to reject the offer and stick to their two major demands -- the repeal of the three laws and a legal guarantee of the minimum support price (MSP). "We told the government that we will not agree to anything other than the repeal of the laws. But the minister asked us to discuss separately again and rethink on the matter and convey the decision," farmer leader Darshan Pal told PTI during a break after the first session. The eleventh round of talks between protesting farmer unions and three central ministers began at around 1 pm, but not much headway was visible in the first few hours of the meeting. Some leaders had apprehensions that the movement will lose its momentum once the farmers go away from Delhi borders. Along with Union Agriculture Minister Tomar, Railways, Commerce and Food Minister Piyush Goyal and Minister of State for Commerce Som Parkash are also participating in the talks with representatives of 41 farmer unions at the Vigyan Bhawan here. In a full general body meeting on Thursday, Samyukt Kisan Morcha, the umbrella body of the protesting unions, rejected the government's proposal. "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 Morcha said in a statement. Notably, 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 new farm laws. (With Agency Inputs) 1776 Commission Chairman: The Founding Principles Offer the Only Hope of National Unity The 1776 Commissions first and last report, despite being banished by the Biden administration, will endure because it upholds the founding principles of the United States, the advisory commissions chairman said. The 1776 Commission, appointed by President Donald Trump for two years, was tasked with producing a report on the nations founding principles while providing guidance on how the federal government could promote those principles in public education. It is commonly seen as a counter to The New York Times 1619 Project, which has been pushed by educators who teach the American story as one thats based upon racial oppression. In one of his first actions as president, Joe Biden dissolved the 1776 Commission and tossed whats known as the 1776 Report, just two days after its publication. The Biden Administration claimed in a press release Wednesday that the commission has sought to erase Americas history of racial injustice. The 1776 Commissions chairman, Larry P. Arnn, president of Hillsdale College, issued a statement along with Vice Chair Carol Swain and Executive Director Matthew Spalding, saying that the 1776 Report merely called for a return of ideas that bound Americans together as a nation. The report calls for a return to the unifying principles stated in the Declaration of Independence, Arnn wrote. It quotes the greatest Americans, black and white, men and women, in devotion to these principles. It acknowledges the many ways we have fallen short of them even as it celebrates, following Abraham Lincoln, the influence for good that they exercised to the benefit of all. It acknowledges the way we fall short of them today and argues that it is only by returning to them that our current evils can be corrected. It calls for a civics education that fosters reverence for these principles, beginning with an accurate and honest teaching of American history, he continued. It is not a partisan document. Arnn noted that the Report received both positive and negative media coverage. The CNN labelled the report as a racist school curriculum report in the headline of a news article, while The Washington Post characterized it as largely an attack on decades of historical scholarship. The New York Times claimed that the 1776 Commission includes no professional historians but a number of conservative activists, politicians, and intellectuals. However Arnn, as well as commissioners Victor Davis Hanson and Charles R. Kesler, are noted scholars and authors on U.S. history. I think the report will endure because it speaks of principles that are fixed and enduring, Arnn wrote. At a time of such deep division in our country, these principles offer the only hope of uniting all Americans. The 1776 Report was removed from the White House website following the presidential transition. It can still be found on the publicly archived Trump White House and Hillsdale College websites. This news release is not for distribution or dissemination in the United States of America TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / January 22, 2021 / GreenBank Capital Inc. (CSE:GBC) (the "Company") is providing this biweekly default status report in accordance with National Policy 12-203 - Management Cease Trade Orders ("NP 12-203"). GreenBank is pleased to report that on January 21, 2021 the Company filed its audited financial statements for the year ended July 31, 2020, the related Management's Discussion and analysis, and CEO and CFO certifications (the "Annual Filings") as required. As of today's date, the Company has yet to file its unaudited interim financial statements for the three months ended October 31, 2020 and the related management's discussion and analysis and officer certifications (the "Q1 Filings") as required by National Instrument 51-102 - Continuous Disclosure Obligations. GreenBank reports that it is close to completing the Q1 Filings and it is expected that GreenBank will file them by February 1, 2021. In its previous press releases dated November 13, 2020, December 1, 2020, December 16, December 28, 2020, and January 8, 2021 the Company indicated that it had not yet filed its Annual Filings which were required to be filed on November 30, 2020. These press releases disclosed that the Ontario Securities Commission (the "OSC"), GreenBank's principal regulator, has accepted the Company's request for, and the OSC has granted, a management cease trade order (the "MCTO") against the Company's chief executive officer and acting chief financial officer on December 1, 2020 in respect of the Annual Filings. As of today's date, and as indicated above, the Annual Filings have now been filed. Separately, in its previous press release dated January 8, 2021, the Company indicated that it had not yet filed its Q1 Filings as required. As of today's date, and as indicated above, the Q1 Filings are nearing completion but have yet to be filed. Pursuant to the requirements of section 10 of National Policy 12-203 (the "Alternative Information Guidelines"), the Company reports the following: there have been no material changes to the information contained in the press release announcing the application for the MCTO on November 13, 2020 that have not been disclosed by the Company through press releases filed on SEDAR; there has not been any failure by the Company in fulfilling its stated intentions with respect to satisfying the provisions of the Alternative Information Guidelines; there has not been, nor is there anticipated to be, any specified default subsequent to the failure of the Company to file the Q1 Filings; and there is no other material information about the affairs of the Company that has not been generally disclosed. The Company confirms that it intends to satisfy the provisions of the Alternative Information Guidelines for so long as it remains in default of the filing requirements set out herein. About GreenBank GreenBank is a merchant banking business listed on the Canadian Securities Exchange (trading symbols CSE: GBC and OTCMKTS: GRNBF and FRA: 2TL). GreenBank's 100% subsidiary GreenBank Financial Inc. is a merchant bank. GreenBank has a multi-sector, multi-stage investment thesis with a global remit. GreenBank's investment approach is to identify companies with the capacity for rapid growth with a strong management team, that can be scaled and prepared for a public listing over a period of 6-24 months. GreenBank's portfolio companies comprise equity investments in 11 small cap businesses, namely; 19% of Staminier Limited, a United Kingdom Merchant Banking firm; 59.5% of Kabaddi Games Inc, developers of a mobile application game based on the sport of Kabaddi; 52.5% of Blockchain Evolution Inc, owners of the world's first identification based blockchain, 21.4% of Ubique Minerals Limited, a zinc exploration company in Newfoundland, Canada; 47.5% of GBC Grand Exploration Inc, a gold exploration company in Newfoundland, Canada; 19% of Inside Bay Street Corporation, a financial news communications company; 34.8% of Gander Exploration Inc, a minerals exploration company; 10% of Reliable Stock Transfer Inc, a Canadian small cap transfer agency; 25.2% of Buchans Wileys Exploration Inc, a minerals exploration company; 10% of The Lonsdale Group LLC, a USA based private equity company focused on small cap investments; and 8.3% of Minfocus Exploration Corp (TSXV: MFX), a mineral exploration company. For more information please see www.GreenBankCapitalInc.com, or contact Mark Wettreich at (647) 693 9411 or by email Mark@GreenBankCapitalinc.com Forward-Looking Information: This press release may include forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation, concerning the business and trading in the common stock of GreenBank Capital Inc., the raising of additional capital and the future development of the businesses comprising GreenBank's investment portfolio. The forward-looking information is based on certain key expectations and assumptions made by the company's management. 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 GreenBank can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this press release and GreenBank disclaims any intent or obligation to update publicly 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. Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. SOURCE: GreenBank Capital Inc. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/625401/GreenBank-Capital-Files-Annual-Audited-Filings-and-Provides-Update-on-Management-Cease-Trade-Order YEREVAN -- The Armenian parliament has installed two new members at the state body that nominates, sanctions, and dismisses the South Caucasus countrys judges, amid tensions between the government and judiciary. Gagik Jahangirian and Davit Khachaturian were appointed to fill vacant seats at the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) in a vote on January 22 that was boycotted by the opposition, following their nomination by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinians My Step bloc. Taron Sahakian of the Prosperous Armenia Party (BHK) said it would not take part in the vote because the opposition has been barred from participating in judicial reforms. Civil activists have accused Jahangirian of covering up crimes and abetting other abuses in the Armenian armed forces throughout his tenure as chief military prosecutor from 1997-2006 -- allegations he has denied. Khachaturian is a former chairman of the board of the Armenian branch of U.S. billionaire George Soross Open Society Foundation. His brother Sasun Khachatrian heads the Special Investigative Service. In recent months, Armenian judges have opposed the arrests of dozens of leaders and members of the opposition, as well as anti-government activists who have been prosecuted in connection with street protests that followed the September-November 2020 fighting in and around the breakaway Nagorno-Karabakh region. Pashinian charged last month that Armenias judicial system has become part of a pseudo-elite that is trying to topple him after a Moscow-brokered cease-fire agreement put an end to six weeks of fighting between Armenian and Azerbaijani forces on November 10, 2020. SJC chairman Ruben Vartazarian rejected the criticism. Addressing parliament before the January 22 vote, he accused Pashinians political team of failing to purge the judiciary and urged lawmakers to pass legislation to get rid of judges who committed blatant human rights violations. A desperately-needed global movement to push for religious freedom rights worldwide has begun, U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for Religious Freedom Sam Brownback said last Thursday at a United Nations event focused on religious freedom. Hosted by the U.N. NGO Committee on Freedom of Religion or Belief, an event titled International Religious Freedom: A New Era for Advocacy in Response to a New Age of Challenges and Threats was held at the U.N. headquarters in New York City last week. Along with Brownback, respected religious freedom advocates from around the world were invited to speak about religious freedom issues impacting their communities. The event was kicked off by moderator Monsignor Tomasz Grysa, the deputy permanent observer of the Holy See to the U.N. He laid out the troubling landscape for religious freedom worldwide and said there has been a steady rise in persecution and discrimination against Christians, Muslims, Jews and other religious followers across the globe. Brownback, a former U.S. senator and governor of Kansas, followed Grysa by asking specifically why there continues to be an increase in religious persecution worldwide when most countries in the world have agreed to the U.N. Universal Declaration of Human Rights that is supposed to protect an individual's right to religious freedom. "Eighty percent of the world's population lives in a religiously restricted atmosphere," Brownback said. "How can we tolerate this continuing situation? You just heard a series of countries and places and faith communities that are in some sort of difficulty or persecuted when, in fact, they are guaranteed this right in most constitutions and by the U.N. Charter." "Why do we tolerate this situation?" the 62-year-old asked. "We need a global movement [for religious freedom]. The good news is one has started. It is starting here today." Brownback challenged those in attendance to create some kind of body that will incentivize countries to respect the religious freedom rights of its citizens. As noted by Grysa, a 2018 U.N. report found that there are 24 nations with official state religions that impose "very high" or "high" levels of restrictions on religious practices while another 11 countries with "favored religions" have similar religious restrictions. "This is something that needs to take place out of this body and out of people that are here to push for religious freedom," Brownback contended. "We need a global organization, maybe not out of the U.N. but out of some other place that has advantages [to joining]. There is a basic standard of religious freedom that [countries] must comply with [to get] the advantages of joining the organization and if you don't comply [with minimum standards], there are teeth to it that ... can be used to remove the benefits that you have." Brownback stressed that there are "dire situations" facing many religious minority communities in countries that have agreed to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Such examples are the 1 million Uighurs imprisoned in China and the nearly 1 million Rohingyas pushed out of their homelands by security forces in Myanmar in an apparent genocide. Brownback also mentioned injustices facing religious minorities in Iran and the genocide perpetrated against Christians and Yazidis in Iraq by the Islamic State. "We need your advocacy. The situation is dire and we can't just keep talking about it," Brownback told the international community as he pounded on the table. "We got to do something. We need to have carrots and teeth associated with it." Brownback then detailed the movement that is already taking shape across the globe to push for more religious freedom. In addition to the U.S. State Department hosting its second-annual Ministerial to Advance Religious Freedom on July 16-18, Brownback said that a series of regional religious freedom summits kicked off in February. The first one was held in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, last month. "The topic was textbook materials," said Brownback, who attended the summit. "Because unfortunately in a number of countries [such as Saudi Arabia and Pakistan], the textbooks will put in material and even hateful toward religious minorities. This has to stop where governments are actually funding textbooks to persecute religious minorities or put in the minds of young people that the persecution is fine." Brownback said that another regional religious freedom summit will take place on March 10-12 in Taiwan. That gathering will focus on bringing together civil society groups in order to talk about what they can do to advocate for religious freedom in their countries. The ambassador added that there will likely be a future regional summit in the African nation of Morocco that will focus on the importance of preserving religious heritage sites. Brownback warned that such sites are being destroyed because of their faith orientations. The East Asian nation of Mongolia also plans to host a regional summit primarily of Buddhist majority countries, while another regional summit will likely be held in Europe. "I appreciate and support strongly the efforts of countries here at the U.N. to start a 'Friends of Freedom of Religion or Belief' group here at the United Nations," Brownback said. "I understand Poland is leading that effort and that Hungary is going to be a part of it and hopefully others will join that effort to push for religious freedom at the United Nations." Brownback said that the U.S. is working with six different countries that are launching their own religious freedom roundtables similar to the one hosted by the U.S. government every week. In Washington, D.C., religious freedom advocates gather every Tuesday from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. to discuss religious freedom topics with Brownback on Capitol Hill. Countries looking to launch their own roundtable are Iraq, South Korea, Taiwan, Hungary and Kazakhstan. According to Brownback, those roundtables will hopefully spark advocacy groups in those countries to advocate for religious freedom. "We just got to do this," Brownback said. "The situation is deadly in many places around the world. There are people imprisoned for their faith that should not be there. There is deadly violence that happens on the street in social settings toward minority religions in way too many countries." Additionally, a group of parliamentarians who support religious freedom has launched the informal cross-party group All Party Parliamentary Group on International Freedom of Religion or Belief to push for religious freedom worldwide. Thomas Farr, president of the Washington-based think tank Religious Freedom Institute who also served as the first director of the U.S. State Department's Office of International Religious Freedom, said during the event that there were "very few civil society organizations fighting for international religious freedom" when he first began his career in religious freedom advocacy. "There were even fewer governments engaged in that fight," Farr stated in his written remarks. "Today, happily, that situation is changing. In 2019 there are literally scores of civil society organizations working in the field. And more governments are incorporating religious freedom into their respective foreign policies." Grysa explained that because of the rise of religious intolerance and oppression in the world, "the protection of the right to religious freedom must be one of the most urgent responsibilities of the international community." Courtesy of The Christian Post Ryan Jarvi 517-599-2746 Attorney General January 22, 2021 LANSING Millions of dollars in annual funding for Michigan schools and first responders derived from lottery revenues have been preserved by a federal First Circuit Court of Appeals decision in the case New Hampshire Lottery Commission, et. al. v. United States Department of Justice, et. al., Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced today. In agreeing with the lower courts ruling, the First Circuit Court on Thursday ruled that the U.S. Department of Justices (DOJ) interpretation of the Wire Act was incorrect and that the law should be construed to only prohibit interstate wire communications of sports-related bets. Nessel and a 17-jurisdiction coalition filed a brief in March 2020 with the appellate court, supporting the New Hampshire Lottery Commission and two of its vendors NeoPollard Interactive LLC and Pollard Banknote Limited and asking the court to affirm the lower court decision vacating the DOJ opinion that would encompass all types of bets and wagers in the federal Wire Acts prohibitions. The appellate court, in its decision, noted that the DOJs 2018 interpretation would lead to odd and seemingly inexplicable results. After a review of the legislative history demonstrated that Congress did not intend such an odd result, the First Circuit Court adopted the lower courts more natural reading of the Wire Act as applying solely to interstate wire communications of sports-related bets. This is a major victory for state lotteries across the nation that raise millions of dollars in revenue which directly supports our schools, emergency personnel and other fundamental services for residents, Nessel said. Preserving this critical revenue stream is incumbent on me as Attorney General of Michigan, and I am grateful for the bipartisan effort to achieve that. Ensuring our schools and first responders have funding to perform their duties should not be an issue divided by politics and party affiliation. In Fiscal Year 2018-19, the state School Aid Fund received a disbursement of more than $1 billion from the Michigan Lottery program. The Michigan Bureau of State Lottery (MBSL) and the nations 46 other government-operated lotteries raised more than $80 billion in gross revenues in 2017. In Michigan, the net proceeds of those monies provide critical support for public education, but the money is also used elsewhere for college scholarships, environmental protection, senior citizens, first responders and infrastructure projects, among other things. Michigan filed the lead amicus brief supporting the New Hampshire Lottery Commission, and was joined by 17 jurisdictions: Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Idaho, Kentucky, Maryland, Minnesota, North Carolina, Ohio, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia and Wisconsin. 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. In her victim impact statement the woman 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. She encouraged victims of domestic violence to seek help from service's such as Woman's Aid and said they would be heard. 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. Prior to sentencing today, Thursday, Kerida Naidoo SC, prosecuting, said that prior to the trial an order was made that neither the defendant or the complainant 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. The prosecution came after the first circuit court trial for offences under this law. Judge Elma Sheahan sentenced Kane to a 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. A detective sergeant told Mr Naidoo, that on September 22, 2019, he received a phone call from a doctor working in a Dublin hospital who had concerns about the relationship the victim was in and believed there was a real and substantial threat to her life. The sergeant said the victim gave evidence during the trial of ongoing violence of different degrees. She described that at particular times the violence was particularly intense. The relationship began around April 2018 when the victim was looking for a place to live and was introduced to Kane. She moved into his apartment and they became romantically involved. As well as physical assaults, she described emotional abuse in the form of him saying demeaning things, using aggressive language and specific incidents of humiliating conduct such as being made to sit naked in a room while he berated her. The victim gave evidence of him interfering with her relationship with her family and her access to her friends. She said the conduct had a serious effect on her, that she became meek and submissive and that she was walking on eggshells waiting for the next act of violence. She said that waiting for the next act of violence was almost worse than when the next act of violence happened. Kane was arrested and charged with several counts of assault. He continued to be in contact with the victim after being charged with these offences. During this period of contact he threatened to send sexually explicit images of the victim to her father and brother if she did not withdraw the charges. The garda sergeant said that the count of perverting the course of justice arose from the victim swearing an affidavit in which she said she wished to withdraw all charges and not give evidence during a trial. An investigation was launched and recordings were obtained of 146 phone calls made by Kane to the victim while he was remanded in custody. During these phone calls Kane made numerous attempts to get her to withdraw her complaints, making threats he would either self-harm or be harmed if he remained in custody and encouraging her to write a letter saying he had never coercively controlled her. In one call Kane can be heard claiming another prisoner shouted that he was dead and then telling the victim there were things she needed to do if she did not want him dead. In another call he can be heard encouraging her to change her statement and saying they cannot do anything to her if she did change the statement. In her victim impact statement, which was read before the court by a detective garda, the woman said her former partner sucked the life and soul of confidence out of her and wanted her not to have contact with anyone else. She said she often ran away from the defendant and slept rough out of fear. She said he always persuaded her that it would never happen again and he had such control over her that she always believed him and went back. The woman said she tried to kill herself a few times as she did not want him to have the satisfaction of him doing it. She described Women's Aid as an amazing service and said she did not realise there was so much help available for people in her situation. The woman said she would have gone back to her former partner if not for doctors and gardai removing her. She said it was the best thing that ever happened to her and otherwise she might be dead or in a vegetative state. She said she did not know what domestic violence was until I got chipped away piece by piece and there was nothing left but tears. The woman encouraged people that they always have a place to go and said they will be heard and helped by the services. She urged people not to leave it too late for you and your kids. The detective sergeant agreed with Seamus Clarke SC, defending, that his client's previous convictions stems from alcohol abuse and that alcohol abuse was a recurrent theme in his life and the life of the victim. He agreed the victim gave evidence that there were periods of sobriety in the relationship during which there did not appear to be the same level of abuse. Mr Clarke said his client has two children from a previous relationship. He said his client has had ongoing caring roles with both of his parents. Counsel said his client has been in custody since March 2020. During the sentencing hearing, the court heard evidence that relatively early in their relationship, Kane burned the victim's foot with a cigarette leaving a permanent scar. During a later incident Kane grabbed her around the throat and choked her, leaving cuts and bruises. The victim gave evidence that incidents of that kind were so common they tended to meld together. Further incidents included him cutting her with a pizza slicer, punching her in the face with an open hand and pulling her around the apartment by her hair. The latter incident occurred in early 2019 when the violence began escalating. The victim made a 999 call in January 2019 during which she was very upset and said she was hiding in a toilet in the apartment unable to leave because Kane was present. During another incident Kane headbutted her in the face while she had been recovering from surgery on her nose. She attended hospital and was identified as having a new injury to her nose. Kane banged the victim's head on a solid surface in the apartment on one occasion and on another he banged her head against the railings of a bridge. The victim required seven staples to her head following the latter assault. On another occasion Kane stamped on her head while she was on the ground. He later stamped on her arm causing multiple fractures and strangled her leaving fingermarks which were noted by doctors when she attended hospital. The final assault occurred in January 2020 after Kane had already been charged with many of the other offences. He lunged at the victim and grabbed her by the face while she was in his apartment. Hitesh Tulaskar is a Creative Director with more than nine years of experience in advertising. He joins FreshBox Media, a full-service digital marketing agency in Thane with an extensive background in creative design, strategy, and brand vision. Being one of the youngest Creative Directors in the industry, he believes, Observation is the key . Human brain cannot create anything new at it's own. It requires some inspiration and experience to create something. And advertising is all about creating connections, marrying two or more scenarios to make the message more understandable. So to create something unique, we must be able to observe the minute elements. After all, most of the successful campaigns till now were based on the smallest of details and observations. Before coming to FreshBox Media, Hitesh devoted his time, building campaigns for the British Council, Lodha Xperia, Zee Media, Zee Arth, DKids channel, Johnson Tiles, RBL Bank, Sbarro Pizza, Prive, Phoenix Marketcity, Anchor Group, Saraswat Bank, and more. Speaking on the association, Kajal Kothari, the Director of FreshBox Media said, His solution driven mind ensures that the core essence of advertising and creative development lies under systematic approach of creative building, understanding and presenting. He is ambitious and passionate about everything creative- especially digital solutions and branding for both existing and new brands. For him, great work comes from bridging the cultural divide between different backgrounds of creativity and opinions. FreshBox Media has helped brands and businesses flourish since its inception. The team recognises the value of good design and the role of content in marketing. We look forward to working with Hitesh and creating a fresher spin to our way of working! said Susheel Garg, the Director of FreshBox Media. Hitesh is excited to embark on this creative journey and help FreshBox become one of the most trusted and renowned digital marketing agencies of India. The upcoming Budget is geared to be a pivotal moment in determining the future of the Indian economy. The economy appears to be recovering from the financial turmoil caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. While there is no certainty on how things will eventually pan out over the next few months, the finance ministers promise of a never before like Budget has fuelled expectations towards significant reforms aimed at reviving the economy. From a direct tax perspective, the general trend of Budget reforms over the past few years has been to rationalise tax rates, accompanied by phasing out of exemptions. The advent of the unprecedented pandemic may, however, force policymakers to rethink this strategy. This may present an interesting dichotomy whether the government should continue with the same line of thinking of phasing out exemptions, or whether some key tax incentives be brought back or broadened, with a view to giving the economy a much-needed fillip. Prime Minister Narendra Modis vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India) for combating the pandemic through a series of policy measures coupled with income tax reforms has garnered significant attention. One of the key expectations is that the upcoming Budget will bolster this initiative and stimulate growth. At the minimum, the government is expected to focus on stepping up spending in priority sectors such as infrastructure, healthcare, etc. It may also be necessary for the government to mull over direct tax exemptions that have the potential to provide an impetus to the industry, some of which are as follows: Investment-linked deduction for installation of new plant and machinery to incentivise capacity building in the manufacturing sector Broadening the scope of deduction in respect of employment of new workforce (currently this deduction is available only in respect of employees whose salary is up to Rs 25,000 per month) Weighted deduction for expenditure incurred on research and development to promote the development of indigenous technology Tax holiday and incentives that will boost investment in sectors such as infrastructure, automotive, real estate, travel and hospitality, etc. that were heavily impacted by the pandemic Tax holiday for exporters located in Special Economic Zones (SEZs) in order to encourage export of domestically manufactured products Another area that has generated significant traction in recent times is the Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City), Indias first smart city and international financial services centre (IFSC). With the setting up of the IFSC Authority, regulations have been introduced over the past couple of months for global in-house centres, banking and bullion exchange and draft regulations have been circulated in respect of aircraft leasing. The top asks include extending the period of tax holiday from the existing 10 years and exempting tax in the hands of shareholders in respect of dividends distributed by units located in GIFT city. In a bid to incentivise household spending and stimulate demand, the Budget could introduce innovative tax incentives linked to consumption. For instance, the recent LTC Cash Voucher Scheme permits employees to claim tax exemption in lieu of leave travel allowance by purchasing qualifying goods and services carrying GST rate of at least 12 percent, subject to conditions. Tax benefits on these lines would clearly be in line with the never before theme of the upcoming Budget. There is also high expectation amongst taxpayers for rationalisation of the personal taxation regime, in order to enable the common man to mitigate the financial burden pursuant to the pandemic. In this respect, a deduction for COVID-19 related medical expenses may be a welcome move. Another viable option may be to increase the amount of standard deduction to cover medical as well as work-from- home-related expenses such as internet charges, furniture, etc. On the digital taxation front, a much-awaited clarity is needed on equalisation levy on the online supply of goods or services by non-resident e-commerce operators, in relation to the scope of the provisions, potential double taxation, etc. To conclude, the upcoming Budget is geared to be a pivotal moment in determining the future of the Indian economy. The government will hopefully be successful in its endeavour to reverse the economic downturn induced by the pandemic and enable India to continue its journey as one of the fastest-growing economies of the world. The author is Partner, Deloitte Haskins and Sells LLP. Rukhshana Patwa, Manager, Deloitte Haskins and Sells LLP also contributed to this article I t has been quite a tumultuous time in the United States of late, hasnt it? A rampaging pandemic, mass protests over police killings and now an outgoing president impeached for a second time. While next weeks inauguration of Joe Biden will take place amid unprecedented security, it should also be a moment of celebration that a more unifying and rational figure is entering the Oval Office, while a black woman, Kamala Harris, will become vice president. So what better time to recommend a selection of fine Californian wines, to toast the new administration and perhaps look forward to a more peaceful partner across the pond? While there are great wines being produced in Washington state, Oregon and New York, their overall production is miniscule compared with California, and the wines are much less readily available in the UK. So instead lets turn to the four grapes for which California is best known and on which its reputation is founded. Next week Ill be recommending some less well-known wines that hold exciting promise for a more diverse picture of Californian wines in the future. We are committed to getting these vaccines in the arms of residents as quickly as we receive them, she said. We anticipate our weekly allocation to increase as time goes on to allow us to more quickly get vaccine to residents. During his visit to Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan's Minister of Foreign Affairs Jeyhun Bayramov met Turkmenistan's Minister of Foreign Affairs Rashid Meredov both one-on-one and in an expanded format with the participation of delegations, the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry's press service reported. At the meeting, the parties exchanged views on a wide range of issues, including on further strengthening mutually beneficial cooperation in political, economic, energy, transport and logistics, cultural, humanitarian, and other spheres. The signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the governments of the two countries on joint exploration and development of the Dostlug field in the Caspian Sea was noted as a clear example of expanding cooperation between the two countries, as well as in the Caspian region and strengthening energy security. It was noted that the agreement designated the Caspian Sea as a sea of peace, good neighborliness, and friendship and contributed to strengthening the atmosphere of cooperation and mutual trust in the Caspian. The parties discussed issues of regional cooperation, including in a trilateral format. Referring to the roadmap signed on January 16 on expanding and deepening cooperation in trade, investment, energy, transport and logistics, telecommunications and information technologies, customs, and border issues between Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, and Afghanistan, they discussed the implementation of measures in this regard. The parties exchanged views on cooperation between the two countries within the framework of international organizations and mutual support, as well as on regional issues of mutual interest. Faridabad: In a rare surgery, a cyst of the shape of egg was removed from the brain of a woman at a hospital in Faridabad. The cyst weighed almost 200 gm. Forty-one-year-old Shanti Devi, a native of Ballabhgarh in Haryana, had approached the doctors with complaints of severe headache and weakness on the right side of her body. She was unable to stand or walk without support. The doctors at the Asian Institute of Medical Sciences (AIMS) advised MRI of her head and she was diagnosed to be having a large hollow stone like cyst inside her brain. It had taken the shape of an egg whose external structure was hard. It was surrounded by the brain all over, said Dr Kamal Verma, Director, Department of Neurosurgery at AIMS. "It was a challenging surgery as we had to remove this egg-shaped cyst completely and in one piece, without causing any damage to the brain. It was about 200gm in weight," Verma said. The doctors termed it as a high-risk surgery as the cyst was on the left side of the frontal brain that controls speech and movement. The surgery last for four hours. "The laboratory tests confirmed it to be benign," Verma added. Tests revealed the cyst was caused by some parasite. Such parasites in the brain are known to cause soft balloon like cysts in some patients, but this type of hard structure and size has never been reported in medical literature, said Dr Mukesh Panday, Senior consultant, neurosurgeon at AIMS. Doctors had to be extra careful in removing the cyst as it contained thousands of parasites and toxic fluids. "Had the fluid leaked out into the brain it could have caused severe reactions or formed more cysts which could have killed the patient," said Pandey. Shanti Devi is recovering well and now carries out her daily chores smoothly. Her speech has also improved. The baby. Interesting that she didnt say your baby, the way other doctors had before. It already felt as if he was slipping away from me. Another thing that slipped away from me in that moment was certainty. Specifically, the certainty that having an abundance of something at 22 meant being able to count on it at 32. But bodies arent like that. And womens bodies, understudied and misunderstood as they often are, frequently defy easy explanation. Just as the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists reported that 50 to 75 percent of women who suffer from recurrent miscarriages will never know why, and the Obstetrical and Gynecological Survey found that as many as 30 percent of couples who struggle to conceive are diagnosed only with unexplained infertility, I couldnt draw a definitive line between the eggs I traded so cavalierly and the baby barely surviving inside me. But after my sonogram, as the cab carrying me and Emmett home came to rest, briefly, in front of the entrance to the egg donor clinic I had frequented so many years ago, I didnt feel like being fair-minded. Instead, my eyes narrowed, as if looking askance at an enemy. You did this, I thought. It was you who cranked up my hormones. You who sucked the stuff of life out of me. You who made me flippant about my fertility. I nearly hissed these accusations aloud. But then I imagined the cool glass and chrome of the clinics revolving doors hissing back. Saying: Anything could have caused this. Saying: Without me you wouldnt have met your husband. Saying: You should be thanking me that youre pregnant at all. It was so vivid I could practically picture the revolving doors slinging words as they spun. And the doors would have been right. I spent the next four months on bed rest lying on my left side, drinking gallons of water a day. And though my fluid levels didnt rise, they didnt fall either. My son and I persisted in the liminal space between life and death, right on the razor-thin edge of viability, watching time tick away. I tracked the passage of that time not only by how far along I was, but also by how old my egg donor children might have been. They could have been in the fourth grade. They could have been old enough to ride the subway alone. They could have been clipping me with their bike wheels as they rounded a street corner near my home in Flatbush. A fast-spreading coronavirus variant has been reported in at least 10 states and health officials are warning it could likely become the dominant type of the illness in the U.S. The variant, officially known as B.1.1.7, is estimated to be 50% more easily transmittable though it doesnt seem to be more severe. These variants seem to spread more easily and quickly than other variants, which may lead to more cases of COVID-19. Currently, there is no evidence that these variants cause more severe illness or increased risk of death, the CDC said. However, an increase in the number of cases will put more strain on health care resources, lead to more hospitalizations, and potentially more deaths. There are steps you can take to help protect yourself from COVID and the new variant in particular. Experts said the same things you do to protect yourself now thorough handwashing, social distancing and wearing a face covering can help prevent the spread of the COVID variant. The first thing I say to people is that its not a different virus. All the things we have learned about this virus still apply, Dr. Ashish K. Jha, dean of the Brown University School of Public Health told The New York Times. Its not like this variant is somehow magically spreading through other means. Anything risky under the normal strain just becomes riskier with the variant. What type of mask is best? A two or three-layer mask is the best to wear to protect yourself, experts said. The best ones have three layers with two tightly woven cloth layers and a filter in between, The Times reported. Masks should also be fitted around the bridge of the nose with no gaps around the sides. The CDC recommends washing a cloth mask when it gets dirty or at least daily. Wet or dirty masks should be stored in a sealed plastic bag and washed as soon as posible to prevent them from becoming moldy. Clean masks should be stored in dry, breathable bags, such as a paper or mesh fabric bag. Another important step - Make sure youre washing your hands before putting on or taking off your mask. You can see more mask care tips here. ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 22nd Jan, 2021 ) :A three-member delegation of Senate is set to depart 4-day official visit to Djibouti from January 25 to 28, on the invitation of the President of Djibouti National Parliament and Acting Chairman of the African Union Parliament Mohammed Ali Houmed. The delegation comprising of Secretary-General International Parliamentarians' Congress (IPC) Senator Muhammad Ali Saif, Senator Mirza Mohammad Afridi and Fayaz Thaheem, Manager (Procurement & Coordination), IPC, said a statement issued here Friday. The delegation would meet with the President of Arab Parliament, it further said. During the visit, delegation would also call on Prime Minister Djibouti, President of the Arab Parliament, President of Chamber of Commerce, and with the Ministers for Foreign Affairs, Commerce, and Budget. This is the first official visit of a delegation from Pakistan to Djibouti to establish Pakistan's "Engage Africa" policy, which aims at rooting its ties with the African continent by intensifying Islamabad's diplomatic footprint in the region and expanding economic engagement. Moreover, meeting with the President of the Arab Parliament and his delegation will also strengthen the bilateral ties between Pakistan and the Arab world. The need for devising a special package for Pakistani investors and entrepreneurs looking to invest and provide quality services in the Djibouti International Free Trade Zone (DIFTZ) was expressed by President International Parliamentarians' Congress (IPC), Senate Chairman Muhammad Sadiq Sanjrani during a meeting with the Djibouti Delegation. 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. Burma NLD Poised to Impose Chief Ministers on States and Regions Dr. Zaw Myint Maung at a ceremony to honor health workers working at fever clinics in Mandalay on Jan. 21, 2021. / Zaw Zaw / The Irrawaddy Yangon Despite the National League for Democracy (NLD)s ongoing talks with ethnic parties on forming a national unity government, the party said it would select regional and state chief ministers without consultation. As the NLD has secured an electoral landslide to form the government, it is very likely that the chief ministers will be from the party. We did the same [after the 2015 victory]. We followed the 2008 Constitution and it is not that we forcibly took the decision, NLD vice-chair Dr. Zaw Myint Maung said. Under Article 261 of the 2008 Constitution, chief ministers are appointed by the president, allowing the party that won the election at the national level to pick its appointees, regardless of election results in regions and states. The military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party last year submitted a proposed amendment to Article 261 to allow chief ministers to be selected by state and regional parliaments rather than by appointment by the president. The proposal was rejected. NLD central executive committee member Dr. Myo Nyunt recently said the party leadership has candidates in mind for the union ministers, parliamentary speakers and their deputies. When asked if ministers will be picked from ethnic political parties, Dr. Zaw Myint Maung gave a vague answer. They were appointed in previous governments but cant say about the incoming government. They are likely to be appointed because ethnic affairs ministerial positions must be handed to politicians from ethnic minorities, he said. In the current NLD Union government, Naing Thet Lwin, the ethnic affairs minister, is the only minister from an ethnic political party, the Mon National Party. Since its second consecutive landslide victory in November, the NLD has sent a delegation to states to hold talks on forming a national unity government with ethnic political parties as a step towards establishing a federal union. Dr. Zaw Myint Maung said the talks were a success. However, after the delegations first meeting with ethnic parties in Kachin State, planned meetings with the Mon Unity Party and later with the Kayah State Democratic Party were aborted, as the NLD insisted the talks were held at its offices in Mon and Kayah states, venues rejected as unacceptable by the other parties. Last week, the NLD delegation held talks with ethnic parties in Shan State. The trip was good. What we offered was successful. [Parties in] Shan and Kachin states welcomed us. There was a misunderstanding in Kayah [and Mon states]. But we can hold talks again and it will be successful when we reach an understanding, said Dr. Zaw Myint Maung. He said the party will continue to settle political problems through dialogue and believes it will be able to find an answer with ethnic parties. Translated from Burmese by Thet Ko Ko You may also like these stories: Myanmar Authorities Seize 34 Rohingya in Ayeyarwady Region Myanmars Rights Groups Call for Long-Delayed Justice for Kachin Teacher Murders Myanmars Military Asked to Ensure Rakhine IDP Safety Police and workers arrange buses to remove all residents at a neighborhood in Huangpu district to quarantine centers, in Shanghai on Jan. 21, 2021. (AFP via Getty Images) Updates on CCP Virus: German Death Toll Tops 50,000 The death toll from the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, commonly known as the novel coronavirus, in Germany has passed 50,000, a number that has risen swiftly over recent weeks even as infection figures are finally declining. The countrys disease control center, the Robert Koch Institute, said Friday that another 859 deaths were reported over the past 24 hours, taking the total so far to 50,642. Hundreds of deaths, sometimes more than 1,000, have been reported daily in the country of 83 million people over recent weeks. Germany hit the 40,000 mark on Jan. 10. US Driving Falls 11.1 Percent in November as Cases Rise Travel on U.S. roads fell 11.1 percent in November, a steeper decline over October road use as CCP virus cases increased, the U.S. Transportation Department said Friday. The U.S. government said drivers logged 231.6 billion vehicle miles in November, down from 260.5 billion in the same month in 2019. By comparison, October driving fell by 8.8 percent. For the first 11 months of 2020, U.S. drivers logged 410 billion fewer miles, down 13.7 percent, to 2.58 trillion, the lowest figure for that period since 2001. Japan, IOC Deny That Olympics Will Be Cancelled Japan and the IOC stood firm on Friday on their commitment to host the Tokyo Olympics this year and denied a report of a possible cancellation, although the pledge looks unlikely to ease public concern about holding the event during the pandemic. Though much of Japan is under a state of emergency due to a third wave of COVID-19 infections, Tokyo Olympic organizers have vowed to press ahead with the re-scheduled Games, which are due to open on July 23 after being postponed for a year because of the CCP virus. US to Require Quarantine for All International Air Travelers President Joe Biden on Jan. 21 issued an executive order that would require international air travelers to quarantine upon arrival to the United States. It doesnt elaborate on how the latest requirements will be enforced, but directs the secretary of Homeland Security to promptly develop a plan for a self-quarantine requirement. The executive order, which is set to go into effect on Jan. 26, also states that people traveling to the United States should test negative before departure. Anyone traveling to the country by plane will need to test before they get onto that plane before they depart and quarantine when they arrive in America, Biden told reporters at a press conference. Turkeys Erdogan Says Extra 10 Million Doses of Chinese Vaccine Due Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Friday that a further 10 million doses of the Chinese CoronaVac vaccine could arrive in Turkey by this weekend. Speaking after prayers in Istanbul, Erdogan said delivery of a second batch of the vaccine had been approved by China. Turkey has so far received 3 million doses and has vaccinated nearly 2 million people, prioritizing health workers and the elderly, since its program started a week ago. Erdogan has said he expects a Turkish-developed vaccine to be available in May. Fauci Says Mutations Far More Transmissible but Vaccines Can Slow Them Down Infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci said at a Jan. 21 press briefing that, while new mutations of the CCP virus are far more transmissible than the original variants, vaccines can reduce their spread and impact their ability to mutate. Ramping up COVID-19 vaccinations will not only help stop the virus from spreading, but they will also reduce the diseases ability to mutate into new variants, Fauci said. While the United States may be seeing a plateauing in its COVID-19 infection numbers, new virus mutations are a cause for concern, Fauci said. UK Police Break up 400-Person Wedding Party British police broke up a wedding party held at a Jewish school in London on Thursday evening, which was attended by around 400 people in breach of CCP virus restrictions. The Metropolitan Police said it received a call at 21.14 GMT on Thursday, reporting a large gathering at a school in Egerton Road, Stamford Hill, north London. Officers found around 400 people inside the venue, many of whom left as police arrived, the Met said in a press release. The police are considering issuing a 10,000 ($13,641) fine to the organizer of the event, in accordance with government rules on COVID-19 breaches. Five attendees of the wedding party were issued with 200 ($273) fixed penalty notices. Alexander Zhang, Tom Ozimek, Zachary Stieber, Reuters, and The Associated Press contributed to this report. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) Dr. Nathalie Verceles of the University of the Philippines Center for Womens and Gender Studies says it is about time to break the dichotomy between masculinity and femininity. In a webinar by CNN Philippines and San Mig Light called Detox Masculinity: Mahaba-habang usapan on how to beat gender stereotypes, three panelists, including Verceles, discussed a range of topics on shattering gender norms and stereotypes. According to the director of the UP Center for Womens and Gender Studies, it is important not to box people based on their genders. She said that there are good characteristics in both being masculine and feminine. Dont dichotomize. Teach people to be compassionate, to be in touch with their emotions. Teach them to be good people. Verceles said that to be less toxic, you have to be more feminine. She said that one reason why toxic masculinity is harmful is that it completely throws away anything that has to do with femininity, like showing emotions and vulnerability. The problem would be adhering to masculine norms such as the demonstration of power and control, and strength... It is so easy to crossover to the dark side of toxic masculinity. Another panelist, poet, and rapper Meta Sarmiento is an example that toxic masculinity is something learned and is not innate in men. Sarmiento said that his idea of manhood started to be toxic when he joined a gang in the United States. This is after his two siblings went to college, and he had no role models to look up to. The idea of manhood and masculinity was really shaped by my experiences with other boys in my neighborhood, he said. I learned early on that to be a man means to have almost an obsession with violence and over aggression, and destructive behaviors. Early on, thats where my idea of masculinity was rooted in. On the other hand, another poet and essayist Gian Lao said he came from an all-boys school here in the Philippines. He pointed out that boys were not educated to feel certain emotions, such as love. No one educates us to find love and do it in a healthy way. There is no course on how to express love in a proper way and have a healthy relationship, Lao said. He added that raising boys to be in touch with their feelings has to be institutionalized in schools aside from their own homes. Verceles also noted that younger men are more empathetic and sensitive than men who came from the boomer generation. She said she sees so much hope in this. Toxic masculinity is not only harmful to society but also men themselves, said Verceles. Covaxin not for people with medical conditions: Bharat Biotech Bharat Biotech, the developer of coronavirus vaccine, Covaxin, has advised people with weak immunity and other medical conditions, including allergies, fever or a bleeding disorder to consult a doctor before getting the shot and if needed avoid a vaccine jab. While these precautions apply to most vaccines, Bharat Biotech seems to have taken extra care to ensure that its vaccine candidate is not subjected to unnecessary criticism. The company on Tuesday said those receiving its Covaxin shots should disclose their medical condition, medicines they are taking and any history of allergies. In extreme cases of vaccine reactions, Bharat Biotech said there could be manifestation of severe allergy among vaccine recipients, which may include difficulty in breathing, swelling of the face and throat, rapid heartbeat, body rashes, dizziness and weakness. The directive comes after the government started a nationwide vaccination campaign involving Serum Institute of Indias Covishield and Bharat Biotechs Covaxin as the mainstay. On Saturday, AIIMS director Randeep Guleria also received a dose of Bharat Biotech's Covaxin amidst opposition criticism over the status of Covaxin, which, they say, is yet to complete the mandatory Phase III clinical trials. It may be noted that the government is using Covaxin as a possible supplement to Covishield as it embarked on a massive exercise to inoculate its population against the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) which has claimed more than 1.5 lakh lives in the country. The vaccination drive that began on 16 January, is using the vaccines - Covishield made by Serum Institute of India (SII) and Covaxin manufactured by Bharat Biotech but has not reported any serious vaccine-related adverse effects. Bharat Biotechs advisory can be seen as a extension of its Phase III clinical trials using Covaxin. A fact sheet on the vaccines clinical trials posted on Bharat Biotech's website, also advises subjects not to take the vaccine if he or she has allergies, fever or bleeding disorder or is on a blood thinner. It also said that pregnant and breastfeeding women should also avoid taking Covaxin. Those who are immune-compromised or are on medicine that affects immune system, and those who have received another Covid-19 vaccine should also not get the Bharat Biotech's medicine, the company said. The government has also issued a similar advisory stating who should and who should not get vaccinated against coronavirus Bharat Biotech said the process of informed consent for participants in clinical trials is covered under Section 2 of the New Drugs and Clinical Trials Rules, 2018. It is a process whereby a potential clinical trial participant is informed by the study team conducting the clinical trial of all the details of the study prior to participation. The rules clearly lay down the process to be followed for consenting a participant in a clinical trial, including participants who are not able to read/write. The Informed Consent Form must be signed by the trial participant and investigator prior to the subjects participation in a study. The process to be followed by participants who are illiterate is mentioned in the rules, it added. The vaccine maker has sought to confirm that the Informed Consent Form, as defined in the study protocol and approved by Institutional Ethics Committee, and the Informed Consent process as defined in the New Drugs and Clinical Trials Rules, 2019, were followed for all participants of the Covaxin Phase III study. These are documented and all copies are with the site, it pointed out. "Individuals who are prioritised under the public health program of the ministry of health and family welfare, will be covered under this endeavour. Informing the individuals about the offer for vaccination with Covaxin will rest with the respective government program officials. Those offered Covaxin at pre-specified booths will have the options to receive or reject administration of the vaccine," the fact sheet said. The company document further described the ingredients in the Covaxin. It contains 64g of whole-virion inactivated SARS-CoV-2 antigen (Strain: NIV-2020-770), and the other inactive ingredients such as aluminum hydroxide gel (250 g), TLR 7/8 agonist (imidazoquinolinone) 15 g, 2-phenoxyethanol 2.5 mg, and phosphate buffer saline up to 0.5 ml. "The vaccine thus has been developed by using inactivated/killed virus along with the aforementioned chemicals," said Bharat Biotech. Covaxin is administered as an injection into the deltoid muscle of the upper arm. It is a two-dose series given four weeks apart, Bharat Biotech further said. Minister Byrne participates in UN Security Council Arria Formula Meeting on Media Freedom in Belarus Press release Minister of State for European Affairs, Thomas Byrne T.D., spoke today at an informal meeting of UN Security Council members on the issue of media freedom in Belarus. The Minister underlined Irelands concern at the ongoing and grave violations of media freedoms in Belarus since the fraudulent Presidential elections in August 2020, stating: Ireland again calls on the Belarusian authorities to allow journalists and media organisations to conduct their important work free from harassment, intimidation and fear. We also call for an end to indiscriminate detentions and for the immediate and unconditional release of all those who have been unjustly detained, including journalists and political prisoners. Minister Byrne also outlined the importance of a free and independent media, saying: The future of Belarus is for its people to decide, without external interference. To do that, they need access to the information provided by journalists and media organisations who can carry out their work free from fear and intimidation. Finally, I want to reaffirm Irelands unwavering support for a sustainable, democratic and peaceful resolution of the current crisis. ENDS Press Office 22 January 2021 Previous Item | Next Item A Good Weekend analysis of winners over the 45-year life of the awards shows that a quarter of the top 200 on The Australian Financial Reviews 2019 Rich List have an Order of Australia, and they overwhelmingly have the higher-level honours. Australians like to think of themselves as great egalitarians. But the Order of Australia created in 1975 by then-prime minister Gough Whitlam to replace the politicised British Imperial honours system is arguably just as class-based as ever. Doled out on Australia Day and the Queens Birthday, the honours are arranged according to a strict hierarchy: the highest is the Companion of the Order (AC), then comes Officer of the Order (AO), Member of the Order (AM) and Medal of the Order (OAM). It did. A Good Weekend analysis of the Order of Australia honours system highlights just how unusual a candidate Bates was for the revered ranks of the AO the second-highest honour, granted to Australians who have been of distinguished service of a high degree to Australia or to humanity at large. Her 2018 award bucks the general trend towards granting the highest honours overwhelmingly to the rich, the powerful, the well-connected and the male. After the Government House ceremony, you go to a lunch at Parliament House in Sydney, says Bates, who lives in Sydneys inner suburbs. At my table were Mr and Mrs Whoever and theyd won their award for scouting sitting next to an old hooker. I think my award broke the mould somewhat, and I hope it did. Bates, a straight-talking bottle-blonde who worked for decades as a sex worker before sex work was decriminalised, was used to being on the other, non-establishment side of the law. Suddenly, here was the Queen through her Australian representative, then-governor-general Peter Cosgrove appointing her an Officer in the Order of Australia for her services to sex workers and drug users. The AO was a great surprise and a big deal. The crown came up and I thought, What is that? What have I done now? she recounts. And it was, Miss Bates, we are in the process of giving you an AO. Julie Bates well remembers the morning in 2018 when she saw something that made her worry the law was onto her. Drinking coffee in bed in her pyjamas, and scrolling through her emails, she caught sight of a crown insignia. Her chest clenched. Former Australian of the Year and domestic and family violence campaigner Rosie Batty said at the time that she was sickened by Arndts honour. It makes me question the legitimacy of the awards system in the entirety across the spectrum, Batty told News Corp. While Arndt has made a significant contribution to sex education and was a strong Australian voice in the 1970s sexual revolution, more recently she stirred controversy with her sympathetic 2017 interview with convicted paedophile Nicolaas Bester for her YouTube channel, and prior to that, her description of a scout master who sexually abused boys as a good bloke. Controversial 2020 honours recipients included former Speaker of the House and lifelong Liberal politician Bronwyn Bishop, who left politics following an expenses scandal. Also honoured was Graham Richardson, the former Labor politician and notorious factional headkicker once known as the Senator for Kneecaps. Eyebrows were also raised at the honouring of retired broadcaster Mike Carlton, who often turns the air blue with abuse of his ideological foes on Twitter. But by far the most controversial honour went to Bettina Arndt , the sex therapist and media commentator associated with the mens rights movement. Arndt was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for her work on gender equity through advocacy for men. The statistics paint their own picture, but the last Australia Day honours list, released just before the pandemic distracted everyones attention, rendered the idiosyncrasies of the system in technicolour. That list lost people, says one former Council for the Order of Australia insider. It cracked open peoples uncertainty about the honours. It had a few too many rich people and a few too many pollies. More than 320 state and federal politicians have been honoured with the higher-level awards (AM, AO, AC), with a record 20 bestowed with gongs in 2020, more than half of them from the conservative side of politics. Women account for only 31 per cent of Order of Australia appointments. No statistics exist on the percentage of Indigenous nominees or recipients, but the Council for the Order of Australia, which selects the recipients, has not had an Indigenous community member since 2012. About 130 directors of boards of ASX 300 companies have an Order of Australia, and the suburbs AC and AO recipients are most likely to live in are Toorak in Melbourne (which boasts 67 of them) and Mosman in Sydney (57), followed by Melbournes South Yarra (45) and Kew (34). Sydneys exclusive Vaucluse has 39 ACs and AOs. The highest-level award, the AC, has never been given to anyone in the Multicultural or Disabled fields of endeavour, but of the 30 fields awards are given to, the Parliament and Politics category boasts 42 ACs, while Business and Commerce leaders have collected 48 of them. These are awards from the bottom up individuals are neither qualified nor disqualified on the basis of their political leanings, social views or religious convictions. Many months later, in September , Council for the Order of Australia chair Shane Stone himself an AC issued a statement saying the council had considered requests for the cancellation of appointments to the Order of Australia of Ms Bettina Arndt AM and Mr Mike Carlton AM and will make no further recommendations to the Governor-General. Further, the statement said, unanimous community approval is not a criteria for Council to make a recommendation. The symbolic motion was supported by all senators except One Nations Pauline Hanson and Malcolm Roberts. Then Victorian attorney-general Jill Hennessy wrote to Governor-General David Hurley asking the council to consider cancelling Arndts honour on the basis it brought the Order of Australia into disrepute. The outrage was swift. Victorian Liberal senator Sarah Henderson wrote to the Council of the Order of Australia urging it to revoke the AM, saying Arndt had seriously crossed the line and that it was no longer appropriate she be honoured. Labor senators Kristina Keneally and Penny Wong moved a Senate motion calling Arndts comments reckless and abhorrent and not consistent with her retaining her Order of Australia. Weeks after her award was announced, Arndt tweeted in support of Queensland man Rowan Baxter, who burned to death his estranged wife Hannah Clarke and their three young children, then killed himself. Appointed for renewable two-year terms, its members are a mix of the community representatives (currently including top-end-of-towners Melbourne philanthropist Rupert Myer AO and Sydney corporate board member Jillian Segal AO) and appointees from the states and territories usually the secretary to the governor or the chief public servant in the premiers department. It also includes three ex-officio public officer holders the Deputy Secretary of Governance from the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, the Chief of the Australian Defence Force, and the Vice-President of the Federal Executive Council (the governmental body empowered to advise the Crown, via the governor-general). The chair and seven community representatives are chosen by the prime minister and officially appointed by the governor-general. One of the big problems we suffer from is awareness of the system itself. I am aware of the criticisms that have been raised. There are considered criticisms of the system that are valid and need to be addressed. The Order of Australia is the highest form of recognition for Australians, says Hurley over the phone. It is a recognition of significant contribution to the life of Australia at the community, national and global levels. Hurley rarely gives media interviews and his willingness to discuss the honours is indicative of a soft push for change from within. Twice a year, the 19-member Council for the Order of Australia gathers in a nondescript building on the sprawling grounds of the Governor-Generals official residence in Yarralumla, home to the grandly titled Honours and Awards Secretariat of the Office of the Official Secretary to the Governor-General. While its run under the auspices of the governor-general, the governor-general has no role in its decisions. That said, incumbent David Hurley is vitally interested in the process and public perceptions of it. Much of the current systems imbalance comes down to who has the resources to nominate deserving others, notes one observer: If youre trying to stand up your fences and tend your crops, you dont have time. Credit:Getty Images The decision of the council was final. But the whole saga led many to ask: how do these people get an Order of Australia in the first place? And, for that matter, how does anyone? The officials might put the applications into loose groupings of the level of order AC, AO, and so on. But the council will make the decision, sometimes thrashing it out and even taking a vote. For example, it is understood Julie Bates nomination was upgraded from a lower honour to an AO on the urging of some council members who pointed out the number of lives she must have saved through her HIV-prevention work. It was always interesting that the professionals generally got the higher awards, says Brady. But the OAM recipients usually were the ones who would say, I dont deserve this, when they had in fact done remarkable work for the community. Julie Bates was appointed an Officer in the Order of Australia for her services to sex workers and drug users: I think my award broke the mould somewhat. Credit:Dominic Lorrimer Stephen Brady, a former secretary of the council and official secretary to the governor-general, explains: The secretariat does 12 to 18 months of research on each application, validating the information. One of their roles is to approach people who are not on the nomination form as referees. They seek more detail or corroboration those contacted will often be very honest. Every so often youll get a recipient who is criticised. People will wring their hands and say, How did that happen? But we see the whole picture of someone, he says. The 19 people on the council come from across the political spectrum. You have a full suite of opinions of the nominee and their merit, and Ill keep coming back to that word, merit, because its about merit, not quotas. Stone says he does get calls from people who have nominated others, asking after the status of the application, but he refers them back to the secretariat. The current chair, Shane Stone, is a former Liberal Party president and one-time Northern Territory chief minister. Described by one former council member as a traditional bloke from the Northern Territory and a really decent human being, Stone is in Queensland when I speak to him he travels widely through regional and remote Australia in his other role as Coordinator-General of the National Drought and North Queensland Flood Response and Recovery Agency. He moves out of the wind to make himself heard on his mobile. The councils deliberations are confidential, no reasons are given for the rejection of applications, and there is no avenue for appeal. The sessions run all day, sometimes spilling over two days, and for some sessions you might be looking at 800 or 900 people, according to one person familiar with the meetings. Former Victorian College of the Arts CEO Andrea Hull AO served on the council as a community representative from 2008 to 2014. The secretariat is independent in its research and they have a register of people they will go to, she says. Occasionally its obvious that a person has self-nominated, which is not comme il faut. Then there are the highly networked individuals who nominate each other, not realising their swollen vanity may be exposed. You could see the email chain it begins with, You nominate me, Ill nominate you, and here is who you should approach as referees, Hull says. The debates were robust. There was never any sense at the table that people were being pressured to accept certain nominations. Professional and industry associations will frequently organise and draft nominations for leaders in their field surgeons and lawyers are well-resourced in this respect. Some former politicians might be officially nominated by an eminent person, but the application bears all the hallmarks of being filled out by party HQ. I can remember a couple of politicians who were not given awards, Hull says. There was one in particular I had knowledge of who absolutely did not warrant an award. She wont say who it is, only that she is keeping an eye out for that person, to see if they end up getting one. Loading Human rights lawyer Moira Rayner is a long-time feminist and activist who clashed with Victorian premier Jeff Kennetts government in the 1990s over the issue of womens prisons. In the 1990s she was nominated for an Order of Australia by Father Julian Punch, a Catholic priest who she got to know while working on an inquiry into homeless children in the 1980s. Rayners nomination was not successful. I thought Gough Whitlam was a wild optimist in trying to clean up the Imperial honours system, because inevitably it gets down to who does the picking, Rayner says. The political nature of many recent appointments has been embarrassing. Its not reflective of merit at all, its reflective of who you know. Rayner believes the system should be taken apart and looked at carefully, and re-established with new guidelines so the networks of those privileged ones fall apart. As for the likelihood of her getting an award now that shes criticised the system: Ill never be nominated again. In 1974, before relations between Gough Whitlam and the Crown soured, the Australian prime minister visited the Queen at Buckingham Palace. Whitlam used the meeting to outline his proposal for a new, native Australian honours system. She was happy with the concept, he recounted in a 1983 speech. Previously, eminent Australians had been recognised under the British Imperial system, which Whitlam considered inappropriate. He was impressed by the Canadian honours system, established in 1967, and sought to model ours on it. On Australia Day 1975, the Order of Australia came into being. Knighthoods and damehoods did not figure in Whitlams reimagining of Australian honours he wanted the Companion of the Order of Australia to be the highest honour the country could bestow. Not only that, but the Companion, or AC, would rank above all Australian knights and dames previously anointed under the British Imperial honours system. But Whitlams republican-spirited changes were short-lived, and we have seen an unedifying back-and-forth on Australian knighthoods ever since. When Malcolm Fraser succeeded Whitlam as prime minister, he added a knighthood and a damehood to the Order of Australia. In 1986, then-Prime Minister Bob Hawke abolished them again. Then Tony Abbott was elected in 2013, and he re-introduced knighthoods and damehoods unilaterally as prime minister, with no oversight from the council. Already trailing in the polls, when Abbott announced on Australia Day 2015 that Prince Philip would be made a Knight of the Order of Australia, he lost both the public and his party room, commencing a chain of events that led to Malcolm Turnbull toppling him in September that year. There were other noses out of joint, too. When Prime Minister Abbott reintroduced knighthoods and dames, he didnt foresee the level of anger from the ACs, says former governor-general secretary Brady. Many of them contacted Government House, commenting sharply that they had accepted what they thought was the highest honour! Turnbull duly abolished the knights and dames category, although the changes were not backdated Prince Philip may well have been baffled to receive an Australian knighthood, but he got to keep it. The unused medals left over from Abbotts ill-advised reintroduction of knights and dames cost taxpayers about $135,000, it emerged at a Senate estimates hearing in October 2020. This sort of political tinkering was out of keeping with Whitlams original vision, which was for an honours system that would be out of the hands of politicians and in those of a widely representative council that would reflect community values. The Order of Australia is different from Imperial Orders in an important aspect: the method of selecting recipients, he said in his 1983 speech. It is not unkind but factual to say that the Imperial Awards are made on the recommendation of politicians there have been constant cases of political favours in appointments in Imperial Orders. There cannot be such cases in the Order of Australia. Credit:Edwina Pickles; Natalie Boog; Joshua Morris; Brook Mitchell; AAP So how well has the Order of Australia lived up to Whitlams dream of a non- political process? Good Weekends analysis shows politics and politicians still have plenty of involvement in the modern honours system. Former senior politicians are highly likely to be honoured with awards, compared to disability advocates or environmental crusaders or just about anyone else. While many awards go to community workers, when politicians get gonged, it tends to be at the highest level 40 per cent of politicians with an Order of Australia are at the AC and AO level. There is a skew to conservative politicians 165 Coalition members have received gongs, compared to 130 Labor politicians. (Some high-profile Labor people, notably former Labor prime minister Paul Keating and former Labor minister Jim McClelland, have refused honours.) And you dont have to have served in parliament to get a gong for services to politics former Liberal party federal directors Tony Nutt and Brian Loughnane have AOs, and former Labor party national secretary George Wright was made an AO in the Australia Day list in 2020. Former Nationals federal director Paul Davey was given an AM in 2019, and former Nationals federal president Christine Ferguson got the same gong in 2018. Some years the party-political bias has been stark in 2005, when John Howard was prime minister, the Liberals got 14 awards, and just one Labor politician was honoured. Then there are the former pollies on the council itself alongside Country Liberal Shane Stone as chair, another of its community representatives Cheryl Edwardes AM is a former West Australian Liberal attorney-general who has worked as a mining company executive, including for Gina Rineharts Hancock Prospecting. Stone says neither he nor Edwardes is actively involved in politics. We are two people out of 19, he says. I can assure you that the state representatives, particularly the Labor states, wouldnt tolerate that for a minute and theres more of them than there are conservatives. I say to people, We leave politics at the door. We dont talk politics in here, we talk contribution. We assess people on their merits. "I say to people, 'We leave politics at the door. We dont talk politics in here, we talk contribution. We assess people on their merits. According to Brady, the wall between the council and the prime ministers office was guarded ruthlessly during his time. A prime minister could ask how a particular application was going, but that was about it. Stone agrees: The Governor-General and the Prime Minister would not ring me and say, We think so-and-so should get one. That might be so, but there are other ways to influence an outcome, and taken historically, its clear the community representatives have not been overly representative. Since 1975, three in every four members of the council have been men, and 96 per cent of ex-officio members since inception have been male. Women have been selected more often more recently, reflecting a general social shift towards more women in leadership roles. Yet since the election of Tony Abbott in 2013, there have been no Indigenous Australians appointed to the council. Stones great frustration with criticism of the honours system is that many critics never nominate anyone themselves. Prior to his appointment as council chair, he nominated 74 people, he says, and as chief minister he appointed a public servant to lead nominations for the Northern Territory. He particularly wanted more Indigenous and migrant citizens honoured. I nominated the first Muslim in the Territory, Stone says. He was a meat-worker turned imam and a bloody good bloke. Stone regularly takes people aside in his stead as flood response coordinator, and tells them to nominate the ordinary people doing extraordinary things in flood and drought recovery on the land. I am passionate about the whole thing. I have lived and breathed it. I believe there is huge merit in the way we recognise people, he says. No one is standing there saying, Hey, its perfect. Nothings perfect, we strive to do better. We are conscious we dont get as many nominations for women as we would like. Its not as if we dont try. Stone defends the honouring of former politicians something that grinds many peoples gears, particularly given the generous parliamentary pensions many ex-MPs benefit from. There are plenty of former politicians who are passed over, I can assure you. Its not an entitlement to an award, he says. We try to recognise those who have served their time then re-entered the community to work, when what theyve done post-politics is hugely commendable. Thats what you want, particularly among those who have the benefit of a parliamentary pension. He argues that relative to the overall number, theres not that many honours to former pollies, but concedes some classes of people have more time and resources to nominate people than others. Its almost an urban luxury to sit around on a Sunday afternoon and say, Ill do a nomination. But if youre trying to stand up your fences and tend your crops, you dont have time. Certainly time, resources and expertise with government processes is a plus. An inherent weakness of the system is that the professions are able to draw on high-level referees in a way ordinary folk cant, says one former council insider. Most people might struggle to bring together five really good referees. Whereas if your nominator is John Howard and its co-sponsored by Kim Beazley, your application jumps off the page. This one-time insider says the OAM the lowest-order community honour runs the risk of putting ordinary people at the bottom of the honours system, where sometimes their nobility and real sacrifice is equal to or greater than that of your well-paid surgeon. It is almost like the British class system. Credit: ASX data: opendirector.com.au Carol Kiernan is an intelligence and communications consultant who has worked with the Australian Federal Police. She was living with her husband in Washington, D.C., working for the World Bank, when a 2017 visit home coincided with the announcement of the Queens Birthday honours list. What the 63-year-old read enraged her. There were 14 men and one woman [who] got a Companion. That woman was Cate Blanchett, Kiernan recalls. I felt like I was stepping back into the 50s with women being so grateful for everything. I had been overseas for a number of years, and I thought, Whats going on here? We dont recognise that 50 per cent of the population are women. On a flight from Melbourne to Sydney a few days later, still fuming, Kiernan picked up a copy of The Age and read a letter to the editor from education academic Dr Elizabeth Hartnell-Young, in which she too complained of the gender disparity in the honours list. Kiernan contacted her, and soon after they met in a Melbourne cafe to discuss what they could do. Hartnell-Young roped in Ruth McGowan, a former country mayor and champion of rural Australia, and after a brainstorming session involving lots of butchers paper, the trio founded the Honour a Woman group. Short and sharp, says Kiernan of its 2017 launch. We just went all day and said, What are we angry about? What steps do we want to take? How can we get there? As a movement rather than an organisation, it has 70 ambassadors from public life and the media. Its goal is to raise awareness and lobby governments for structural change to the honours system. The gender disparity in the awards system is stark a breakdown of all recipients between 1975 and 2016 shows 70 per cent were male and 30 per cent female. Kiernan says it is accepted that women have generally been given the lower awards. Only since 2017 has the secretariat published a gender breakdown of which level awards women are mostly honoured with, but they show she is right. Between 1975 and 2019, women received only 19 per cent of ACs, 21 per cent of AOs and 24 per cent of AMs. They were better represented among the lowest community level honour, the OAM, where they made up 35 per cent of recipients. Lobbying governments and the Governor-General, Honour a Woman wants nothing less than 50-50 gender parity. Things improved in the Australia Day 2020 list 41 per cent of recipients were female, and women received 62 per cent of ACs. But, Kiernan points out, only eight of the maximum of 35 ACs were awarded in 2020, so the sample was small. An investiture ceremony at Government House. They really are a joyous occasion, says Governor-General David Hurley (at far right). Governor-General David Hurley does not dispute that the Order of Australia has a woman problem. The data supports it, he says. You cant walk away from that. I dont think its appropriate, I dont think its right, and I want to change it. We need to ensure we have a system thats sustainable, that attracts the nominations of women. Hurley has met with the Honour a Woman group, and while he doesnt agree with their proposal of a quota for female recipients, he is working to boost nominations of women from the grassroots. In recent years we have worked hard to redress that balance and the numbers have changed. To this end, Hurley has written to 59 peak bodies in Australia over the past few months, armed with data on their 20-year history of male versus female nominations, encouraging them to examine their nominations process for gender balance. To some of them, I have said quite candidly, I dont think youre doing well enough. Now shes been radicalised, Kiernan sees Order of Australia injustice everywhere she goes. She rattles off a list of eminent women whove never been honoured as their male peers have, including former Western Australian premier Carmen Lawrence, anti-nuclear campaigner and Nobel Peace Prize nominee Helen Caldicott, who has 21 honorary degrees (her nomination for an Order of Australia in 2020 was rejected), and the recently deceased Helen Reddy. I did a quick check of other musicians of her era and found that her male colleagues were not forgotten, Kiernan says. Normie Rowe AM, Ronnie Burns AM, Glenn Shorrock AM, John Farnham AO, Angry Anderson AM, Slim Dusty AO MBE, Brian Cadd AM, Smoky Dawson AM, Athol Guy AO, Keith Potger AO and John Williamson AM. The Gibb brothers got CBEs [Commanders of the Orders of the British Empire]. None of them are feminist icons! Elizabeth Broderick has spent a lifetime fighting for gender equality, as Australian Sex Discrimination Commissioner and Chair-Rapporteur of the UN Working Group on Discrimination against Women and Girls. She is an Officer of the Order of Australia and a former Australian of the Year. She recently stepped down from the Council of the Order of Australia after four years service and says the council does need people arguing the toss for women. In many of the award categories, she notes, professional associations predominantly put men forward. Some progress has been made by state governments like Victoria, which in 2017 appointed a public servant within the Department of Premier and Cabinet to actively search for female nominees, but theres clearly more work to be done. The question is, how do we get more nominations for women? You can only make decisions based on the nominations you have in front of you. The question is, how do we get more nominations for women? You can only make decisions based on the nominations you have in front of you. There may be a new sense of activism around the awards, but criticism of the system dates back decades. In 1994, the Keating government commissioned an inquiry into the Order of Australia system. Frank Walker, then Minister for Administrative Services, spoke of complaints that the system is one for the elite groups in society that to be recognised you need to be a doctor, a lawyer, a business leader or senior government official. He noted the view that not enough women are receiving recognition through the system. Led by Clare Petre, who has held various leadership positions in the not-for-profit community sector, the inquiry found that Australians value their honours system as a signpost to our national identity, our values, our aspirations and our heroes but that access to awards is currently seen mainly as the preserve of organisations and powerful or well-connected individuals. I track Petre down and she invites me to her Coogee home in Sydneys east to pick up a copy of her report, A Matter of Honour. She seems glad someone is taking an interest. Petre says many members of the inquiry committee went in wondering whether we needed an honours system at all. They heard from thousands of Australians in every state and territory, through submissions, public forums, and face-to-face meetings with community and interest groups. The response from the community was, Yes, we do. The main thing was people thought it should reflect community values and be above and beyond what was your job. Petres report found many Indigenous people objected in particular to the Queens Birthday honours announcements. People in the Indigenous community did not relate to the system. There was a failure of the honours to reflect Indigenous values. University of Canberra chancellor Tom Calma received an AO in 2012 for his service to the Aboriginal community. As a recipient, I am also a supporter of it, he tells me. But there is not a great representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, particularly in the higher-order awards. Professor Marcia Langton was made an AM in 1993, and upgraded to an AO in 2020. The main reason she accepted the honours, she says, was to be gracious towards those very kind people who noticed my unpaid, voluntary work, and took the time to nominate me an onerous task that involves a lot of work on their part. When asked if Indigenous Australians have been well represented in the honours, Governor-General Hurley is frank. No, they havent been, he says. Its not easy. Ive had conversations with Indigenous leaders. Some are of the view that this is not a system for them. Some are of the view that, We dont recognise people as individuals. So should an Indigenous person be appointed to the Council for the Order of Australia? I think it would be useful, Hurley responds. You need the perspective. Says Petre: If you took this 25-year-old report, I fear it would be no different today. The top awards would be dominated by professionals. I look and still see all the people who have been awarded for community services are at the OAM level. She notes that lots of ex-politicians still receive the awards, so there is a system there that operates at a political level. It is an important system, the community does value it, but the accessibility of it still needs to be addressed. What is an honours system for? Most countries have some form of it. In India they give out the delightful-sounding Jewel of India (Bharat Ratna). South Africa created the Star of South Africa in 1975 knights are called ritters in Afrikaans. The US has its Medal of Honor, Presidential Medal of Freedom and Legion of Merit (recently awarded to Scott Morrison by Donald Trump). Indonesia has the Star of the Republic of Indonesia and France has the highly coveted Legion dHonneur. Some scoff at honours altogether. Says former foreign minister and NSW premier Bob Carr: Ive always been struck by how distressed people get that their award is inferior to that of a colleague or acquaintance. So often theyre deeply unhappy. Still, as Napoleon said, Men are led by baubles. He notes that aside from the above-mentioned medals, the US republic doesnt do them. That just strikes me as interesting ... [they] probably view them historically as a residue of monarchy. Certainly, the brandishing of Order of Australia pins is a subject of mockery or pride, depending on your audience. There are official guidelines on how to wear the medals and pins, and while recipients are not mandated to wear them, they are encouraged to be proud of their honour. The ACs and the AOs get round-the-neck medals, says the former council insider. You can only really wear them once, at your investiture, so the pin is the thing. In the Qantas Chairmans Lounge, the eyes are looking. Such cynicism aside, former governor-general secretary Stephen Brady says the investiture ceremonies bolster faith in the system. The longer I was there, the less ambivalent I became as I saw the great pleasure at the investitures the joy was always greater, the lower the award, he says. And it is always the OAMs who get the loudest clap. He recalls seeing the recipients spill out across the lawn of Government House, following their ceremony. It was the epitome of Australian egalitarianism, recipients feeling acknowledged by their country, surrounded by their family, wanting a photo with the governor-general. Governor-General Hurley says those ceremonies are the highlights of the year for him and his staff. They really are a joyous occasion where youre celebrating so much thats good about Australian life. There are signs of change. The emergence of awareness-raising by groups like Honour a Woman has meant there was a significant increase in the number of nominations made in the Order of Australia during 201819: a total of 2909 nominations were submitted. When it works well, its as good a system as anybody could conceive, says Brady. Confidentiality is key, but ultimately whether or not the community accepts the awards system depends on the calibre and impartiality of the council. Loading Governor-General Hurley concedes there are valid criticisms of the system. You would be foolish to say there werent, there are, he says. We can correct them, theyre solvable. Former Liberal Victorian premier Ted Baillieu believes the system generally does work well. He concedes there may be some gender disparity, but puts that down to the lack of women nominated in the first place. There are women all around leading things. I would not walk into a room and think, Oh my god, theres a whole lot of women, he says. The presence of women in senior roles is all around us. I would hope the number of nominations grows. Baillieu received his own AO in the Australia Day honours in 2020, even though, he says, Ive never been much of a gong person myself. As we speak on the phone, more than six months later, he rummages in his desk and unwraps his Order of Australia pin for the first time. Its plastic sleeve makes a satisfying crunching sound. I dont wear jewellery at all, he says, not even a watch. Baillieu believes the hundreds of worthy honours recipients announced every year are overlooked because of a few controversial awardees. Way too much criticism is earmarked at the awards system based on some names which might be controversial for some people who have high media profiles. As for any perceived biases in the system, the former premier has a simple message. Its easy to do something about it. Just nominate someone. Jacqueline Maley is an Honour a Woman media ambassador. Statistical analysis by Nigel Gladstone. To read more from Good Weekend magazine, visit our page at The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age and Brisbane Times. Kolkata: The full bench of the Election Commission of India (ECI), which has arrived in West Bengal to review preparations for the upcoming assembly election in the state, will hold a press conference on Friday during which major announcements are likely to be made. According to reports, the poll panel will hold its press conference around 1 PM. Prior to that, the full bench of the Election Commission will hold talks with states Chief Secretary Alapan Bandyopadhyay, Home Secretary HK Dwivedi, DGP Virendra and other senior officials. The poll panel has directed the state police to execute all pending non-bailable warrants (NBWs) within this month and to contain violence before the announcement of assembly poll dates. An official of the Chief Electoral Officers office was quoted as saying by the news agency PTI. Eyeing to conduct the coming assembly polls in West Bengal peacefully, the ECI is also mulling the option of deploying around 25 per cent more security personnel than that used in holding the 2019 Lok Sabha election, he said. The full bench of the ECI, which is currently in the state to review preparedness for the assembly polls due in April-May, held a meeting with the nodal officer of the state police, ADG (Law and Order) Gyanwant Singh, and expressed discontent with the execution of 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 to follow its directives effectively," he said. Singh informed Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora, Election Commissioners Sushil Chandra and Rajeev Kumar that the COVID-19 pandemic and the devastation caused by cyclone Amphan created hindrances in the proper execution of NBWs. However, the police executed nearly 12,000 of the pending 50,000 NBWs in the last four days. At the meeting, the IPS officer presented a list of criminals who can create trouble even from inside correctional homes. The full bench of the ECI is also thinking of deploying personnel of the Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) on a massive scale, the officials 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. The ECI 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. 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 Commission also directed them to keep air ambulances and helicopters ready in remote areas to address emergency cases during the pandemic. Meanwhile, the BJP unit has written a letter to the Election Commission of India (ECI), urging that the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) must be deployed at least 15 days before polling day. The party also said that live webcasting should be made available inside critical polling stations and its feed should be made available to political parties. On the current law and order situation in the state, the BJP West Bengal Unit stated, "State-sponsored, legitimised fear, anarchy and lawlessness by the state police at the behest and bidding of AITC negates the very role of police for providing safety and security to its people. Live TV Doctors on Vodafone Healthline, the multiple award-winning health and wellness show, have debunked the popular notion that regular consumption of groundnuts leads to pimples, a common skin disorder. The regular panellists Dr. Kwekuma Yalley, a general practitioner and Dr. Aba Folson, a senior physician, took turns to explain why the widely held belief is a myth. Dr. Yalley stated that there is no causative relationship between regular consumption of groundnuts and the break-out of acne or pimples on the skin. According to him, general pathophysiological processes predominantly cause pimples on the skin. Dr. Folson also added that some hormonal activities, as well as infections from dirt on the face that occur when touched with unclean hands, are the major causes of pimples. There are glands under the skin that produce oils and other substances to moisturize the skin and the infection of these glands could cause pimples. These glands get infected by the transfer of dirt and germs from surfaces unto the face by our hands, she said. Both panelists further cautioned against the popping of pimples, explaining that the act tends to worsen the situation by inflaming the skin around the pimple thereby creating favourable conditions for the occurrence of more pimples on the face. This edition of Vodafone Healthline also highlighted the many interventions of the telecommunication giant in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Notable among these interventions are the donation of Personal Protective Equipment to various health facilities across the country; the waiver of transfer charges across networks on the Vodafone Cash platform; and the establishment of the Vodafone Healthline Call Centre, which was set up to provide Ghanaians with credible information on COVID-19 and other health issues. The Healthline call centre can be reached toll-free via 255 for Vodafone Customers and 050 9999255 on other networks. Vodafone Healthline has won over 80 local and international awards. The programme was recently awarded the CIMG TV Programme of the Year at the recent CIMG 2020 awards. Through this initiative, Vodafone has paid the full cost of surgeries for hundreds of Ghanaians across the country. Season 9 of the show is currently airing on TV3, UTV, GHOne, Joy Prime, Adom TV, Family TV, Amansan TV, DGN and SBN. Source: Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video [January 22, 2021] AppHarvest Makes Initial Donation of 2,500 Pounds of Tomatoes to God's Pantry Food Bank AgTech leader AppHarvest today announced it has delivered 2,500 pounds of Beefsteak tomatoes from its first harvest this week to God's Pantry Food Bank, which will distribute them to those in need. Through its 400-plus distribution partners, God's Pantry Food Bank provides food to residents of 50 Kentucky counties, focused on Eastern and Central Kentucky. The organization, which operates a distribution center in Morehead - the home of AppHarvest's 60-acre indoor farm - distributed nearly 14 million pounds of fresh fruits and veggies and more than 41 million pounds of food overall during its most recent fiscal year. "The faith and grit of Eastern Kentuckians has built one of the world's largest high-tech greenhouses, and we appreciate the opportunity to share what we're growing with those in need as we all work to create a resilient food system," said AppHarvest Founder & CEO Jonathan Webb in delivering the donated tomatoes on Friday. "We're working to create America's AgTech capital here in Appalachia to provide affordable, nutritious and delicious fruits and veggies that will help reduce hunger and food deserts." "God's Pantry Food Bank is thrilled to engage with AppHarvest to nourish more lives through sustainable agriculture," said CEO Michael Halligan. "There are more than 250,000 kids, adults and seniors across Central and Eastern Kentucky who are not sure when they might have their next meal. Imagine the impact of now having a sandwich with a fresh, Kentucky-grown slice of tomato on the top." The donation is one of many steps AppHarvest is taking to address America's food crisis. In Kentucky alone, 20 percent of children and nearly 15 percent of adults experience food insecurity.1 Nationally, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has found only one in 10 adults eat enough fruits and veggies.2 By building closer to consumers, AppHarvest provides fresher fruits and vegetables at affordable prices. The company is also focused on helping students grow their own food through its high-tech educational container farm program. Started in 2018 prior to the company's operations commencing at its indoor farm in Morehead, the program retrofits shipping containers with high-tech farming equipment to teach students to grow healthy leafy greens. The program started at Shelby Valley High School in Pike County and has since expanded to Rowan and Breathitt counties, with additional units planned. AppHarvest also recently partnered with Save the Children to provide more than 1,600 leafy green growing kits to Kentucky kids in need. "AppHarvest was founded as a benefit corporation and has also been certified as a B Corp by the independent non-profit B Lab, because we believe companies should be in the business of doing good," said Amy Samples, AppHarvest's Director of Community Outreach and People Programs. "We're building America's AgTech capital from within Appalachia and know that education is core to achieving that." Shipments from AppHarvest's first harvest this week are now available at select national retailers such as Kroger, Publix, Walmart, Food City and Meijer. The company's Morehead facility alone is expected to produce about 45 million pounds of tomatoes annually from about 720,000 tomato plants, a mix of Beefsteak and "Tomatoes on the Vine." AppHarvest has two more facilities under construction-a similar 60-plus acre facility outside Richmond, Ky., and a 15-acre facility to grow leafy greens in Berea, Ky. AppHarvest also is planning for more facilities across Kentucky and Central Appalachia, with the goal of 12 total farms by the end of 2025. About AppHarvest AppHarvest is an applied technology company building some of the world's largest indoor farms in Appalachia. The Company combines conventional agricultural techniques with cutting-edge technology and is addressing key issues inclding improving access for all to nutritious food, farming more sustainably, building a home-grown food supply, and increasing investment in Appalachia. The Company's 60-acre Morehead, KY facility is among the largest indoor farms in the U.S. For more information, visit https://www.appharvest.com/. 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 generally are 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. All statements, other than statements of present or historical fact included in this press release, regarding Novus Capital's proposed acquisition of AppHarvest, Novus Capital's ability to consummate the transaction, the benefits of the transaction and the combined company's future financial performance, as well as the combined company's growth plans and strategy, future operations, estimated financial position, estimated revenues and losses, projected costs, prospects, plans and objectives of management are forward-looking statements. These statements are based on various assumptions, whether or not identified in this press release, and on the current expectations of AppHarvest's management 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 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 AppHarvest. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including those discussed in Novus Capital's registration statement on Form S-4, filed with the SEC (News - Alert) on October 9, 2020 (the "Registration Statement"), under the heading "Risk Factors," and other documents Novus Capital has filed, or will file, with the SEC. 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. In addition, forward-looking statements reflect AppHarvest's expectations, plans, or forecasts of future events and views as of the date of this press release. AppHarvest anticipates that subsequent events and developments will cause its assessments to change. However, while AppHarvest may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, AppHarvest specifically disclaims any obligation to do so. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing AppHarvest'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. Important Information for Investors and Stockholders In connection with the proposed transaction, Novus Capital has filed the Registration Statement with the SEC, which includes a preliminary proxy statement to be distributed to holders of Novus Capital's common stock in connection with Novus Capital's solicitation of proxies for the vote by Novus Capital's stockholders with respect to the proposed transaction and other matters as described in the Registration Statement, as well as the prospectus relating to the offer of securities to be issued to AppHarvest's stockholders in connection with the proposed transaction. After the Registration Statement has been declared effective, Novus Capital will mail a definitive proxy statement, when available, to its stockholders. Investors and security holders and other interested parties are urged to read the proxy statement/prospectus, any amendments thereto and any other documents filed with the SEC carefully and in their entirety when they become available because they will contain important information about Novus Capital, AppHarvest and the proposed transaction. Investors and security holders may obtain free copies of the preliminary proxy statement/prospectus and definitive proxy statement/prospectus (when available) and other documents filed with the SEC by Novus Capital through the website maintained by the SEC at http://www.sec.gov, or by directing a request to: Novus Capital Corporation, 8556 Oakmont Lane, Indianapolis, IN 46260. The information contained on, or that may be accessed through, the websites referenced in this press release is not incorporated by reference into, and is not a part of, this press release. Participants in the Solicitation Novus Capital and its directors and officers may be deemed participants in the solicitation of proxies of Novus Capital's shareholders in connection with the proposed business combination. Security holders may obtain more detailed information regarding the names, affiliations and interests of certain of Novus Capital's executive officers and directors in the solicitation by reading the Registration Statement and other relevant materials filed with the SEC in connection with the business combination when they become available. Information concerning the interests of Novus Capital's participants in the solicitation, which may, in some cases, be different than those of their stockholders generally, is set forth in the Registration Statement. ________________________ 1 Feeding America 2 U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210122005471/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] MUSKEGON, MI As the COVID-19 vaccine begins to flow into West Michigan, those who are at least age 65 are encouraged to sign up to get the shot. It may take a while to get an appointment, but filling out a vaccination interest form is the first step to receiving one. Muskegon and Ottawa county health departments have online forms for getting on a vaccine list. North Ottawa Community Health System also has online signup and Mercy Health is working with Muskegon County to distribute its vaccine. Vaccination interest forms can be found online at https://vaccinatewestmi.com/register. Others besides senior citizens who are eligible for the vaccine and should fill out a form if they havent received it are essential frontline workers, teachers and childcare workers. Once a form is filled out, an individual will be contacted by phone in Muskegon County when an appointment is available. Kathy Moore, Muskegon Countys public health director, said the county has vaccinated most people over 85 on its list and is moving on to those who are 75 and older. The direct link to the Muskegon County form is https://lfforms.healthwest.net/Forms/muskegonvaccinereq. Those who dont have Internet access or who need help filling out the form can call the Muskegon County health department at (231) 724-8856. Moore said Muskegon County is hoping to schedule some community vaccination clinics, but cant do that until delivery of vaccine speeds up. She advised those seeking a vaccination to fill out multiple forms. I am not discouraging anybody from trying to sign up and get it anywhere they can, she said. I cant say thats wrong. In Ottawa County, individuals needing help filling out the health department and NOCH forms can call 2-1-1. The direct link to the Ottawa County form is https://ottawacounty.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_9NX1bJKKwiiIMMl. The NOCH form is available at https://hipaa.jotform.com/210114456466047. Ottawa also has a form for businesses considered essential to request vaccination clinics for their employees. That form is at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/EssentialEmployerVaccinationIntakeForm. Also on MLive: COVID deaths, hospitalizations arent slowing in Muskegon area even though new cases are 6% of Michigan adults vaccinated against COVID-19 so far; see numbers in your county Muskegon organization ramping up eviction prevention efforts Gia Baker, a former educator and special education facilitator in St. Tammany Parish public schools, was selected by the St. Tammany Parish School Board on Thursday to fill that bodys vacant District 9 seat until a public election can be held in October. The post came open following last months resignation of Sharon Drucker, who was arrested and accused of shoplifting for the second time in 18 months. Baker was one of five residents of District 9, which is in the Madisonville area, to apply for the open position on the school board. The others were Dr. Judith Champagne, Lora Haddox, Doris Heckert and Lance Lalanne. Each applicant gave an introductory speech during the School Boards regular meeting on Thursday. They also answered a handful of questions by School Board President Brandon Harrell, including ones about involvement in community organizations, as well as how each would work with other board members to make the best decisions for the school district. Baker is board president at Childrens Advocacy Center/Hope House, which provides forensic interviews and therapy for local victims of child abuse. She previously taught Language Arts at Little Oak Middle and Mandeville Junior High, was a special ed coordinator at Covington High, her alma mater, and spent 10 years as a special education facilitator for the entire parish. School Board members nominated their picks following the applicants presentations, with four of the five receiving nominations. Only Lalanne failed to receive a bid. St. Tammany top stories in your inbox A weekly guide to the biggest news in St. Tammany. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up District 3 member Michael Dirmann nominated Baker, and she received votes from five of the 12 School Board members in the first round of voting Thursday. Champagne, a medical doctor whose children attend District 9 schools, received three votes, with Haddox and Heckert each receiving two. Board members then held a second vote between Baker and Champagne to determine which woman would get a majority of votes. In that round, Baker earned eight votes, one each from Dirmann, Matthew Greene, Beth Heintz, Jack Loup, Harrell, Michael Nation, Tammy Lamy and Lisa Page. Champagne was chosen by four board members, including Shelta Richardson, Michael Winkler, Ron Bettencourtt and Dennis Cousin. Baker was sworn into interim office immediately following the vote and sat with fellow board members for the remainder of the meeting, though she abstained on votes pertaining to the business of the boards committee as a whole meetings held Jan. 14. Baker did, however, join unanimous votes accepting an $11.93 million base bid by DonahueFavret Contractors, Inc. for improvements at Little Oak Middle School, and $1.66 million to Brunt Construction, Inc. for improvements at Folsom Elementary. Baker is not prevented from seeking the District 9 seat when qualifying is held in July 14-16. The election to fill Druckers expired term is scheduled for Oct. 9 with a runoff on Nov. 13, if necessary. The term ends Dec. 31, 2022. Also on Thursday, St. Tammany Parish Public Schools received a clean independent audit of its financial report for the 2019-20 fiscal year. Its the 32nd consecutive year that the school district received a certification of achievement in financial reporting from the Government Finance Officers Association of Louisiana. [January 22, 2021] Document Security Systems, Inc. Closes $24.0 Million Upsized Public Offering of Common Stock ROCHESTER, N.Y., Jan. 22, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Document Security Systems, Inc. (NYSE American: DSS) (the Company), a multinational company operating businesses focusing on brand protection technology, blockchain security, direct marketing, healthcare, real estate, and securitized digital assets, today announced the closing of an upsized underwritten public offering with gross proceeds to the Company of approximately $24.0 million, before deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and other estimated offering expenses payable by the Company. The Company issued 6,666,666 shares of common stock at a price of $3.60 per share. The Company intends to use the net proceeds from this offering, together with existing cash, to fund the development and growth of new business lines, acquisition opportunities, and general corporate and working capital needs. The Company has also granted the underwriters a 45-day option to purchase up to an additional 15% of shares of common stock offered in the public offering to cover over-allotments, if any, which would increase the total gross proceeds of the offering to approximately $27.6 million, if exercised in full. Aegis Capital Corp. acted as sole bookrunner for the offering. A registration statement relating to the shares of common stock being sold in this offering was declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") on January 19, 2021. The offering was made only by means of a prospectus. Copies of the final prospectus may be obtained on the SEC's website, www.sec.gov, or by contacting Aegis Capital Corp., Attention: Syndicate Department, 810 7th Avenue, 18th Floor, New York, NY 10019, by email at syndicate@aegiscap.com, or by telephone at (212) 813-1010. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offerto buy these securities, nor shall there be any sale of, these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction. About Document Security Systems, Inc. DSS is a multinational company operating businesses focused on brand protection technology, blockchain security, direct marketing, healthcare, real estate, and securitized digital assets. Its business model is based on a distribution sharing system in which shareholders will receive shares in its subsidiaries as DSS strategically spins them out into IPOs. Its historic business revolves around counterfeit deterrent and authentication technologies, smart packaging, and consumer product engagement. DSS is led by its Chairman and largest shareholder, Mr. Fai Chan, a highly successful global business veteran of more than 40 years specializing in corporate transformation while managing risk. He has successfully restructured more than 35 corporations with a combined value of $25 billion. Investor Contact: Dave Gentry, CEO RedChip Companies Inc. 407-491-4498 Dave@redchip.com Safe Harbor Disclosure This press release contains forward-looking statements that are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions 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. Such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements related to the Company's ability to complete the financing, its intended use of proceeds and other statements that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements are based on managements current expectations and are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those projected. These risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control, include: the risk that the public offering of common stock may not close; risks relating to our growth strategy; our ability to obtain, perform under and maintain financing and strategic agreements and relationships; risks relating to the results of development activities; our ability to attract, integrate and retain key personnel; our need for substantial additional funds; patent and intellectual property matters; competition; as well as other risks described in the section entitled Risk Factors in the prospectus and in our other filings with the SEC, including, without limitation, our reports on Forms 8-K and 10-Q, all of which can be obtained on the SEC website at www.sec.gov. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date on which they are made and reflect managements current estimates, projections, expectations and beliefs. We expressly disclaim any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in our expectations or any changes in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based, except as required by law. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] 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. it listed the matter for completion of pleadings before the joint registrar on March 22. The film The White Tiger is based on the book The White Tiger which was released in March 2008. The film features Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Rajkummar Rao and Adarsh Gourav in the lead role. The court said, It is not possible for this court to come to the finding, based on the material on record, that by making and releasing the film, the defendants have indulged in copyright infringement. The court said Deora and Netflix are allowed to release the film and are directed to keep detailed accounts of the film so that if at a later stage, Hart Jr succeeds, the court can determine the monetary compensation. It also said that on a holistic consideration of facts, especially as the plaintiffs have chosen to approach the court less than 24 hours before the release of the film, they have not been able to make out a case for an ad-interim injunction on release of the movie. Advocate Kapil Sankhla, representing Hart Jr, said that a literary auction agreement was executed between him and author of the book Aravinda Adiga in March 2009 and he had to make it an Oscar worthy film to be released in Hollywood. He said it was only in October 2019, that he came to know that Netflix was in the process of making and releasing the film on Over The Top (OTT) platform and this resulted in sending a legal notice to Deora and Netflix to seize and desist from any such act. Sankhla, also representing Sonia Mudbhatkal who runs a US Production Company, said his clients were never given an impression that shooting of a film was going on in 2020 as all such works were put on hold abroad due to the COVID-19 pandemic and this resulted in copyright infringement. He sought to stay the release of the film saying it will not cause any serious financial ramifications to the defendants as the movie is to be released on OTT and not on theatres. Senior advocate Sandeep Sethi, representing Deora, opposed the suit saying the cause of action arose in October 2019 itself and the plaintiffs have approached the court at the 11th hour which is not permissible. He added that Hart Jr has concealed various relevant documents from the court and placed a one sided story and that no cause of granting ad-interim injunction was made out. Advocate Saikrishna Rajagopal, representing Netflix, adopted the arguments advanced by Sethi and added that the OTT film release involves huge finances and goodwill and no stay should be granted. After hearing all the parties, the court said it cannot arrive at a view that the defendants have prima facie infringed the copyrights of plaintiffs by making and releasing the film. I am prima facie inclined to agree with Mr. Sethi that if release of the movie is stalled at this stage, it will cause serious and irreparable consequences to the defendants, the judge said. Is the next head of NASA going to be a woman? the last NASA chief Jim Bridenstine has officially stepped down from his role as the administrator of the US space agency as US Joe Biden takes the president's office. 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 @NASA 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." President Biden is expected to pick a woman to fill the NASA administrator role, which has only been occupied by men since the agency's founding in 1958. At the moment, President Joe Bidens administration has appointed Steve Jurczyk to serve as acting administrator until the role is permanently filled, reports Scientific American. Jurczyk has been the agencys associate administrator since May 2018, according to his NASA biography; all told, he has worked at NASA since 1988. Jurczyk is one of 34 acting leaders announced by Biden and his vice president, Kamala Harris, hours after their inauguration. Will the role permanently feature a woman? Biden-Harris' diverse cabinet features a record number of women. Twelve of Biden's nominations for Cabinet and Cabinet-level positions are women, including eight women of color, and if they're all confirmed it would shatter former President Bill Clinton's record of nine women serving concurrently, which happened during his second term. Jack Burns, a professor of astrophysics and planetary science at the University of Colorado, and has served on a number of NASA panels, and four years ago he was a member of the transition team that helped get the incoming Trump administration up to speed on NASA's tasks, tells Space "I think the Biden-Harris administration would very much like to name from everything I understand here the first woman NASA administrator, and that would be very exciting, long overdue," he said. "And some of the names that have been put forward are extremely well qualified." Burns did not reveal any of the names being for NASA chief. However, some eminently qualified women Ellen Stofan and Pam Melroy, for example are already working with the Biden administration, as members of the current eight-person NASA transition team. Stofan is a planetary geologist, served as NASA's chief scientist from August 2013 to December 2016. And she has already made history as the first woman to direct the Smithsonian Institution's National Air and Space Museum, her current gig. Melroy is a retired U.S. Air Force officer and former NASA astronaut with three space shuttle missions under her belt. She also served as deputy director of the Tactical Technology Office at the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. The other three women on the NASA transition team climate scientist Shannon Valley, technology and policy analyst Bhavya Lal, and astrophysicist Jedidah Isler are also extremely accomplished. But it may be a while before the NASA chief is announced, as Biden-Harris are faced with a pandemic, a crippling economy and a divided country. The last NASA chief, Bridenstine, didn't come aboard until about 18 months into the Trump presidency. It may be well into mid-2021 before a name is announced. (With inputs from IANS) UFC fighter Conor McGregor has described a multi-million euro lawsuit lodged against him this week 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. A second, smaller claim, also a personal injuries action, has been lodged by the woman's 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. "It's old news, it was investigated thoroughly over the course of two long years and I was cleared of any wrongdoing, and that's it," he said. "I have so much positivity in my life, I have got a great challenge ahead of me on Saturday night and I'm very excited to get in there." The matter was previously the subject of an extensive investigation by the Garda. However, the DPP in the Republic decided no charges should be brought. In a statement to the Irish Independent this week, Mr McGregor's 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. Partner Dave Coleman said: "Proceedings have been served. We can make no further comment as the matter is before the courts." The two women are looking for two separate trials. It is thought each trial would involve several witnesses. McGregor will return to the octagon in Abu Dhabi on Sunday when he squares off against Dustin Poirier in a lightweight bout. In 2019 the Irishman was fined 1,000 for punching a man in the face at a pub, with the assault recorded on video. In 2018 McGregor was arrested in Brooklyn after throwing a dolly at a UFC bus containing several fighters. A former north Iowa doctor in Iowa is now voluntarily surrendering his license in Minnesota. Dennis E. Colby was a licensed physician and surgeon and practiced at the Belmond Medical Center. Upon his annual license renewal in Oct. of 2017, he notified the Minnesota Board of an investigation by the Iowa State Medical Board. According to public documents, the Board received the following complaints: The Respondents prescribing practices related to antibiotics and controlled substances were dangerous. The Board received a complaint alleging Colby violated federal transportation regulations as a certified medical examiner for 15 patients and that he was evaluated for risk by his employer in 12 cases. The investigation revealed concerns with his patient care, documentation and prescribing. This month, the Minnesota State Board said he should voluntarily surrender his license to practice medicine and surgery in the state of Minnesota. Colby began practicing medicine in 1981. Former Central Bank of Ireland governor Philip Lane has come under pressure to explain calls. Photo: Aidan Crawley/Bloomberg THE European Central Bank (ECB) is reconsidering the format of controversial telephone calls chief economist Philip Lane holds with senior private sector bankers, according to its chief Christine Lagarde. She defended the calls in identical letters sent yesterday to two MEPs who had raised concerns; Sinn Fein's Chris MacManus and Dutch MEP Derk Jan Eppink. The letters were published on the ECBs website. The direct telephone calls with Prof Lane made headlines last year, when it was reported that he spoke with senior private sector bankers and investors after policy decisions had been taken and announced by the bank. The Wall Street Journal reported in December that Prof Lane, a member of the ECB's influential Executive Board and the former governor of the Central Bank of Ireland,had made dozens of these calls last year to the likes of Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan and Deutsche Bank. The calls with chief economists and research directors at big finance houses had caused disquiet because any real or even perceived privileged access to top ECB policy makers could be seen as a market advantage. The ECB said they were part of its communication to ensure markets understand actions taken by policy makers. "The ECB is continuously learning and reviewing its policies and practices with a view to making them as effective as possible this is also true for the field of communication. To this end, the format of the calls you referred to is also being reconsidered, Ms Lagarde wrote to the MEPs. Ms Lagarde said the calls had been fully disclosed because they are included in the regular publication of diaries,they took place after important policy decisions had been announced and were part of the ECBs communications practices. She said ECB staff members were always present during the entirety of the calls, and that the market players selected to get a call were on a rotation principle across analysts who are regular ECB watchers and represent leading European and global financial market participants. "Through this rotation, the ECB allows a wide range of institutions to participate, with the aim of fulfilling the requirements of a level playing field and equal access over time, she said. Media reports late last year about the discussions sparked unease about the institutions communication strategy. Prof Lanes diary showed 11 such talks in the hours following a market-moving misstep by President Lagarde at the March 12 press conference. A blog post by the former Central Bank of Ireland governor that was posted to the ECB website was credited at the time at steering the market to better understand the central banks position but it is unclear if calls with banks played any role. The most recent published diary recorded calls with eight banks after a policy update on October 29 including Bank of America, Barclays, Credit Suisse, Societe Generale, and UniCredit. The ECB held a meeting last Thursday. 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. Over 500 bandits have agreed to lay down their arms after a peace deal that was struck by Ahmad Gumi, a prominent Islamic cleric, Desert H... Over 500 bandits have agreed to lay down their arms after a peace deal that was struck by Ahmad Gumi, a prominent Islamic cleric, Desert Herald is reporting. The bandits are said to be those terrorising Zaria-Giwa roads as well as Birnin Gwari area in Kaduna state. The cleric reportedly held a preaching session in Sabon Garin Yadi, a remote area in Giwa local government area of Kaduna. Many reportedly gathered to listen to what Gumi had to say in the area which has large Fulani settlements. Gumis carrot approach and confidence building has the backing of the federal government and the police, the online publication said. Virtually all the top armed commanders were freely given the chance to address the session with almost all of them lamenting the condition they were subjected to and expressed the frustrations that led them into kidnapping and banditry, the report said. Most of them were unanimous in their submissions. They told Sheikh Gumi and CP Umar Muri that they were forced into taking up arms. They said over the years they were subjected to constant humiliation, harassment, arbitrary arrests, extortion and even killings of innocent ones by law enforcement agents. They lamented that security personnel have killed many of their family members with many of them losing virtually all their possessions through cattle rustling, extortion by security agents and through military bombardments. As a result they lamented that thousands of their youths do not have anything to do and there is no means of livelihood hence their decision to go into arms struggle. They also complained of lack of governments presence and the absence of basic necessities like water, schools, clinics etc in all their localities and vowed that as long as government and the society did not change their attitudes towards them, there will never be peace. They accused the government of not being sincere in ending instances of banditry and kidnappings. While noting their concerns, Gumi reportedly told them to be patient. The cleric asked them to stop acts of crime as he would make a case for them when he meets with President Muhammadu Buhari. Commanders of the militia reportedly promised to cease hostilities and pledged to work with the cleric. BATTLE CREEK, MI -- A Calhoun County sheriffs deputy has been terminated after he arrested a Black man collecting signatures to start a tenants association in his neighborhood. Calhoun County sheriffs administrators announced the termination Friday, Jan. 22 but did not name the deputy. He had served in the department for more than four years. The deputy arrested LaRon Marshall on Jan. 2 as he was at a neighbors doorstep in the Springfield area. Marshall was approached by two deputies and one told him they had received a call about a suspicious person going door-to-door soliciting. Marshall told the deputies he wasnt soliciting, only collecting signatures. One of the deputies arrested him for not providing an ID. Related: Racial profiling needs to stop, says Black man arrested while collecting signatures Marshall told MLive earlier this month that he believed it was racial profiling and he felt targeted. A neighbor recorded cell phone video of the interaction between Marshall and the deputy who made the arrest. After the incident, the deputy initially was placed on leave and the charges against Marshall were dropped. Sheriff Steven Hinkley and Undersheriff Timothy Hurtt gave an apology. In a statement issued Friday, sheriffs administrators were frank about an investigation into the incident. It was conducted by the sheriffs Office of Professional Standards. We hold ourselves to high standards of professionalism to the communities we protect. When we are right, we are right. When we are wrong, we admit we are wrong. On January 2, we were wrong, according to the statement. Transparency and honesty to our community is the foundation to all of our success. The conduct and actions of this case, in which Mr. Marshall was collecting signatures, does not represent our commitment to our community. The actions that Mr. Marshall took that day of circulating a petition are protected by our constitution. While some ordinances in communities, even within Calhoun County, prohibit vendors from selling items without a permit, no law local, state or federal prohibited Mr. Marshall from exercising his constitutional rights on January 2., the sheriffs statement said. Related: Calhoun County deputy placed on administrative leave after arresting man collecting signatures Sheriffs administrators said they are reviewing the departments police and procedures and training to ensure our community receive the best services from our department. More from MLive Judge jails Michigan man in Capitol insurrection over guns, Facebook statements Michigan health director abruptly resigns, replaced by deputy Donald Gus Dougherty, a close associate of Philadelphia union leader John Johnny Doc Dougherty, pleaded guilty Thursday in federal court to tax fraud and theft of employee benefits. First Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Arbittier Williams said that the 54-year-old Gus Dougherty who is not related to the politically powerful union leader but has been a lifelong friend agreed to pay $92,913 in taxes due to the IRS as a result of false business deductions for what were actually expenditures for Doughertys personal benefit. Williams said Dougherty, the owner of Dougherty Electric Inc., also agreed to pay $266,000 in restitution to the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local Union 5 in Pittsburgh because he failed to make $266,000 in contributions to Local 5s employee benefit funds in violation of the collective bargaining agreement between Dougherty Electric and Local 5. Dougherty, of Philadelphia, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Michael M. Baylson to one count of filing a false federal income tax return and one count of theft of employee benefit funds. In 2008, Dougherty pleaded guilty to defrauding John Doughertys IBEW Local 98 out of more than $500,000, and for providing $115,000 worth of free renovations to John Doughertys Philadelphia home. Part of that plea deal included a provision to avoid testifying against John Dougherty. After Gus Dougherty was released from prison in 2010, Local 98 continued to provide his company funding. Prosecutors objected to the payments at the time, saying they appeared to be an attempt to help Gus Dougherty pay off his restitution debts. On Thursday, Gus Dougherty agreed to pay all restitution still owed in the previous case. Donald Dougherty has a track record of trying to skirt the law and defraud hard-working individuals, Williams said in a statement. But the government also has a track record of convicting Dougherty for his crimes. And we will continue to do just that with every criminal who attempts this kind of scheme. Gus Doughertys plea deal follows his indictment less than two months ago. His attorney, Eric W. Sitarchuk, declined to comment on the plea. Sitarchuk said he may comment after Doughertys sentencing, which is tentatively scheduled for May 18. 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. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 22) The Department of Science and Technology on Friday identified the target sites for the three vaccine makers allowed to conduct clinical trials in the country. DOST Undersecretary Rowena Guevara said there is no definite date yet for the start of the phase 3 trials of Belgium-based Janssen Pharmaceuticals and Chinese companies Clover Biopharmaceuticals and Sinovac Biotech. "They intend to start the soonest when the process of determining and preparing their trial sites are complete," she said in a media briefing. Below are their target areas for clinical trial: Janssen: San Pablo, Laguna; Cabuyao, Laguna; Makati City; La Paz, Iloilo; Bacolod City; and Metro Manila Clover: Quezon City; Makati City; Manila City; Taguig City; Las Pinas City; Muntinlupa; Calamba, Laguna; and Dasmarinas, Cavite Sinovac: Quezon City; Marikina City; Pasay City; and Alaminos, Laguna Guevara said they gave the names of specific barangays where these companies can test out their vaccine to a larer group of volunteers. Volunteers in the trial will either be given the vaccine or a placebo, a harmless substance similar to the actual vaccines. The participants still need to observe minimum health standards for the duration of the trial to protect themselves from the virus, Guevara stressed. Health Secretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said participants will be informed at the end of the study which one they have been injected with. The Philippines' Food and Drug Administration has only approved the clinical trial applications of Janssen, Clover, and Sinovac. Bharat Institute in India has submitted its application, but it needs to submit the data from its clinical trials. The newly developed shape memory polymer resist which allows for high-resolution 4D printing, promises a platform for information hiding for optical anti-counterfeiting and tunable photonic devices The Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD) and its research collaborators have successfully demonstrated the four-dimensional (4D) printing of shape memory polymers in submicron dimensions which are comparable to the wavelength of visible light. This novel development has allowed researchers to now explore new applications in the field of nanophotonics. 4D printing enables 3D printed structures to change its configurations over time and is used in a wide variety of fields such as soft robotics, flexible electronics, and medical devices. Different materials such as hydrogels, liquid crystal elastomers and magnetic nanoparticles embedded resists along with corresponding printing methods like Direct Ink Writing (DIW), Polyjet, Digital Light Processing (DLP) lithography and Stereolithography (SLA) have been developed for 4D printing. However, the material and patterning challenges inherent to these methods limit the resolution of 4D printing to ~10 m at best. To improve the resolution of 4D printing, the research team developed a shape memory polymer (SMP) photoresist suitable for two-photon polymerization lithography (TPL). Integrating this newly developed resist with TPL, they investigated submicron 4D printing of SMPs at which scale the printed structures can interact strongly with visible light. By programming with pressure and heat, the submicron structures can switch between colourless and colourful states (see image). "It's remarkable that these 3D printed nanostructures are able to recover their shapes and structural colour after they've been mechanically flattened into a colourless, transparent state. This new resist that we've concocted allows for really fine structures to be printed while still retaining their properties as a shape memory polymer," said Associate Professor Joel K. W. Yang, principal investigator of the team from SUTD. "By characterizing the photoresist, we printed the SMPs with ~300nm half pitch. The resolution is an order of magnitude higher than traditional high-resolution printing methods such as DLP and SLA. The dimensions of the structures can be conveniently controlled by varying the printing parameters such as laser power, write speed and nominal height," added Wang Zhang, first author and PhD student from SUTD. ### This study was published in Nature Communications, a multidisciplinary journal that publishes high-quality research from all areas of the natural sciences. Apropos for #TBT . . . The memory of a local solider was sparked by recent global events as he shares a fascinating story from his life journey. Even better, the narrative reminds us that a brutal dictator was formerly a U.S. ally. This is important given that American news wants to keep us all dumb about the NEXT potential conflict on the horizon: ExpressUK: Iran on brink of war with US as Tehran vows to 'crush aggressors' in stark Biden warning Meanwhile, there are anywhere from 5,000 - 3,000 troops still occupying Iraq after a war that was started over one of the egregious misrepresentations in modern world history. Still, this cowtown report is a great read for our fellow night owls . . . Police believe remains found in a station wagon pulled from a New York reservoir this week belong to a mom who went missing in 1989 after following an alleged cult leader. Officials have since reopened a missing person's case for Brenda Kerber, 40, who disappeared from her White Plains home around September 28, 1989 and was a follower of Frederick P. Lenz III, according to The Journal News. Cops did not reveal Kerber's name and said that confirmation the remains found in the station wagon belong to 'the missing party in question' is pending forensic examination and family notification, according to a press release. The car was found submerged in the Muscoot Reservoir off Route 100 in Somers during a recent study of the reservoir bottom conducted by the New York City's Department of Environmental Protection. Cops found a car believed to belong to Brenda Kerber during a recent environmental study of the reservoir bottom Divers with New York State Police recovered the 1982 Ford Granada on Tuesday Kerber's car went missing with her in 1989, but officials found her identification and diaries at her home Divers with New York State Police recovered the 1982 Ford Granada on Tuesday, cops said. DailyMail.com has reached out to surviving family members for additional comment. Brenda Kerber was born in 1949 in Corvallis, Oregon and had 'a normal life through grade school,' according to a letter published to ex-cult.org by her parents who are now deceased. She married her high school sweetheart with whom she had a daughter named Shannon, according to The Journal News and the ex-cult-org letter. The 1982 Ford Granada was recovered from the Muscoot Reservoir The couple divorced and Kerber married her college sweetheart, Michael Kerber, with whom she had a son named David Kerber and who adopted her daughter. Kerber's second marriage eventually broke down over 'lack of communication' and she 'became enamored with a young minister, Tony Chester, and his "Church of Science",' according the letter. Eventually, Kerber became active in the Zen Buddhism movement while living in Menlo Park, California, and showed her family members 'large multi-colored brochures that Lenz used in his recruitment advertising at that time.' Kerber was a follower of Frederick P. Lenz III, who went by Zen Master Rama Lenz was the head of a group considered by some former members and experts to be a cult 'She told us she wanted to go to New York for his advanced classed if he would accept her,' her family seemingly wrote. Kerber's father, Jim Barratt, told The Washington Post before his death that he believed his daughter committed suicide, and blamed Lenz. Lenz, known as Zen Master Rama, was the head of a group of computer programmers considered by some former members and experts to be a cult, according to The Journal News. 'He's a son of a b***h, any way you look at it,' Barratt told the outlet. Kerber moved with her friend Tony Chester in January 1989 to be close to Lenz, and rented a room from an elderly woman in Mt. Kisco. She started to distance herself from her family. 'Our problems began to multiply at this time,' Kerber's family wrote in the letter. That spring, Kerber moved to White Plains where she rented a room from Gerald Desharnais who reported her missing on October 10. Kerber was last seen by a former friend on September 28, 1989, according to The Journal News. The friend told White Plains police he also talked to her three or four days later. In her apartment, cops found two diaries that detailed her obsession with Lenz and her personal identification papers inside a pocketbook. Cops noted that her station wagon was missing. 'Rama is my true love. He makes me feel like an a**,' Kerber wrote in the diary. 'This is the end of the fairy tale. Good night.' According to The Journal News, Lenz died in April 1998 at the age of 48 after taking barbiturates and either fell or jumped off the dock of his home. by Melani Manel Perera The dioceses of Colombo, Kurunegala and Jaffna celebrated a prayer service on Monday. Jaffna will continue until 25 January. Participation in celebrations was limited to 50 people. Colombo (Asia News) Christians in Sri Lanka are taking part in the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, which began on Monday, but other Christian denominations appear more involved in observing the event than Catholics. The Archdiocese of Colombo held a prayer service on the first day, while the Diocese of Jaffna is holding prayer services for the whole week, from 18 to 25 January. Because of the COVID-19 epidemic, few people from the various denominations could gather in prayer in Anglican and Methodist churches on Monday. The maximum number of participants was 50. The dioceses of Colombo, Kurunegala and Jaffna held prayer services on Monday, but Jaffna will continue until 25 January, when the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity ends. The theme of this year's Week is Abide in my love and you will bear much fruit, taken from John 15:5-9, the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity said. Most of the time, the Week in Sri Lanka is organised by non-Catholic Churches. We participate in the prayer service, said an elderly Catholic priest, speaking to AsiaNews. In the Diocese of Colombo, only one prayer meeting was held on the first day. We are one in the Lord, we are Christians for your love, sang the Christians in Colombo at the Anglican Christ the living Saviour Cathedral at 4.30 pm on Monday, the first day of the Week. The National Christian Council of Sri Lanka and the National Catholic Commission for Ecumenical and Interreligious Dialogue organised the celebration, attended by a number of high-ranking Christian clerics, including Norbert Andradi, Catholic Bishop of Anuradhapura; Maxwell Silva, Catholic Auxiliary Bishop of Colombo; and Dushantha Rodrigo, Anglican Bishop of Colombo. Speaking to AsiaNews, Anglican Rev Samuel J Ponniah, Archdeacon of Jaffna, said that prayers will be recited for the whole week in several churches. The prayer service together with the sermon will be conducted on behalf of all Christian churches in the Diocese of Jaffna, Fr Samuel said. The service starts at 5 pm and will last almost an hour. Only 50 people will be able to participate. Five Christian denominations the Roman Catholic Church, the Anglican Church, the CIS Church, the Methodist Church, the Salvation Army will sit together for the whole Week. We started Unity Week prayer meetings on Monday at the Salvation Army and the sermon was delivered by Rev Grace Devamani of the Methodist Church on the theme We are called by God, you did not choose me but I chose you, said Fr Samuel. We shall conclude the prayer for Unity on the 25th in the Anglican church. The Bishop of Jaffna, Justin Gnanapragasam. will deliver the sermon. On the 24th the prayer meeting will be at Our Lady of Refuge Catholic Church and I will be the one to give the sermon. Tomorrow we will be at the Ashram in Mardaanamadam and the sermon will be given by CIS priest Rajkumar. Today in the Methodist Church of Puttur, Catholic Father Dayabaran will deliver the sermon. We did not advertise the prayer service due to the epidemic; otherwise, we might have had a large crowd, said Fr Samuel Ponniah. We thank God for giving us a good chance to at least hold our prayer gathering during this pandemic situation. God is light, said Rev Maxwell Doss, director of the National Christian Council (NCC), at the start of the candle lighting ceremony. As an expression of our Unity in Christ, we can draw on the element of light in the central candle from where four heads of Churches will light their candles and go down the aisle lighting the candles of those present, so that in the end we can, in the splendour of Christ, pray to the Lord together. Newbridge landslide and Bangor on Dee riverbanks set for inspections This article is old - Published: Friday, Jan 22nd, 2021 Recovery work is ongoing in the area to deal with ongoing flooding, and damage left after storm Christoph. In an update late into the evening last night Cllr David A Bithell Lead Member Environment and Transport at Wrexham Council detailed how the water levels in Bangor on Dee peaked at a record level and have been reducing, though slowly. Natural Resource Wales are due to inspect the river embankment during this morning. Cllr Bithell added that no residents are currently using Splash Magic rest centre and the Council support team has been stood down and when it is safe to return to homes the council will work with partners to communicate with all the displaced residents, and the wider community. The above and below pictures show damage after a landslide by Newbridge, with the B5605 near Cefn Mawr closed due to uncertainty over stability of the land. The area has been fenced off due to continuing slippage. Cllr Bithell has said closures are likely to continue for a week while it is assessed by structural engineers. Clwyd South MP Simon Baynes has paid tribute to the local efforts, I want to thank all the staff at Wrexham and Denbighshire Councils and emergency service personnel who have done such a fantastic job in helping people across Clwyd South during the terrible flooding that we are experiencing. As well as the many residents who have helped their friends and neighbours affected by the flooding. I have received and read many reports and first-hand accounts of the way in which they have gone above and beyond to help people. And this excellent service and kindness is on top of the exceptional demands created by the Coronavirus crisis. My constituency team has been very busy providing help to people affected by flooding and please dont hesitate to contact us if we can be of help by emailing simon.baynes.mp@parliament.uk or phoning 01978 810319. Brexit's impact on Ireland's border milk pool is a real problem that cannot be easily solved, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Simon Coveney has said. More than a third of Ireland's total milk pool could be ineligible for critical EU supports and may be locked out of lucrative Third Country markets due to Brexit. Close to 4.0 billion litres of milk from farms in the Republic and Northern Ireland is currently processed in unison for produce such as butter, specialised nutrition powders and cream liquors. However, this produce will be excluded from EU supports such as Private Storage Aid (PSA), and from some emerging markets in Africa and Asia. Read More "It is a real problem, Minister Coveney told the Dail this week adding that "I do not want to pretend it will be solved easily". Expand Close Over 33,000 milk lorries cross the border every year. / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Over 33,000 milk lorries cross the border every year. He explained that about 900 million litres of milk come south from Northern Ireland farms to be processed each year. "Lakeland Dairies is probably the best example of a processor which has a very significant percentage of its milk pool coming from the North, but Glanbia and others do too. "The challenge is that one can sell milk that has been sourced on a Northern Ireland farm across the EU as if it is produced in the EU, but if one is selling a product that has been processed with that milk pool from Northern Ireland to a third country that is subject to a trade agreement that the EU has put in place, that milk is sourced outside the EU, even though it is at equivalent to EU standard, under country of origin rules. "It is seen as UK milk rather than Irish or EU milk. As a result, there is a problem with EU trade agreements in different parts of the world and selling Northern Ireland milk as EU milk," he said. According to Minister Coveney, the only way to change that is by changing the trade agreements to insert an asterisk to say "EU and Northern Ireland products" which he said is something Ireland would like to do. "I have campaigned for that with the European Commission, with Michel Barnier and his task force and with Maros Sefcovic, who will be a key figure in EU-UK relations. "We will continue to do that, but it will take time and a lot of goodwill on the EU side to be willing to do that," he said. The Minister was responding to questions from Tipperary TD Jackie Cahill who said milk is processed on a 32-county basis and this has been the case for decades now. "There must not be any barrier erected in the milk industry between the two jurisdictions north and south. "The versatility of product and access to these third country markets during any future economic downturn would be necessary and the time to ensure we have this access is while the markets and economy are performing well. Now is the time to act on this. Segregation is not an option for processors," he said. Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 3 mesi fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. Ducktales Remastered trades heavily in Cheapest wow classic gold nostalgia, treating the source material with great care while translating it to the present day. The accessible gameplay might be enough to entice new fans, although the dated gameplay may not hold their attention for very long. But for those of us who grew up with the cartoon and NES classic, Remastered is a fond and worthwhile trip down Memory Lane. LFR has been controversial because in the last expansion and the one before, it dropped gear that, while it was lower level, held the same tier bonuses (bonuses for wearing matching pieces of a set) meaning that many felt obligated to run LFR for tier before making their way into normal/heroic raiding. However, LFR has been marked by the devs as the mode as of late, meaning that fight mechanics are markedly simpler and much less lethal. You see the fight, hit the boss a lot, it falls over, and you get some moderate loot for your effort. Many individuals feel burnt out to run so many difficulties of raiding. My name is Linda Benson Kusumoto. I am a Tsimshian Native, from Metlakatla, Alaska. I lived part of my life in Portland, Oregon, where I found your wool and studied our traditional arts. Benson is my maiden name and is a Tsimshian family name. When our tribe moved to Alaska, transitioned by Father Duncan (a missionary from England), the individuals were given English names. My grandparents were given the name of Benson. Around 11,400 people were killed and 8,800 young men and women were butchered. There were no food, water, and electricity at the time of genocide. The people made 840m long tunnel for own survival. Susic Sejo, assistant professor at the Department of Law in the International Islamic University, Islamabad, said the Bosnian Serb forces seized Srebrenica on July 11, 1995, and in the next one week, they executed more than 8,000 Bosnian Muslims. There are a wide variety of treatments for Autism spectrum disorder in children. While there is no known cure for autism, there are treatment and education approaches that can address some of the challenges associated with the condition. Researching your options is a necessary part of the process, and consulting with a healthcare professional is an important step to help guide your decision making based on your child specific needs. It is difficult to speculate on the policy implications of an appointment such as this, not least because Mr. Carney will have only one vote (of nine) on the MPC. But the BoC Governor has a reputation for being a policy pragmatist and innovator (under his tenure, the BoC was the first G7 central bank to introduce the conditional rate commitment in 2009). Relative to the conservative approach towards credit easing that the BoE has adopted under Governor King stewardship, it is also possible that Governor Carney may be prepared to engage in more forms of QE. Mr. his relatively dovish stance reflected the weak state of the global economy during his tenure at the BoC). Guys, WOWclassicgp decides to conduct a promotion from Jan. 26-Feb.4 . Within this promotion, all of you can buy wow classic gold with Up to $10 off. More https://www.wowclassicgp.com Code WCA3 to Save $3 Off for Order $40+! Code WCA7 to Save $7 Off for Order $80+! Code WCA10 to Save $10 Off for Order $110+! By Ritah Kemigisa The executive director, center for constitutional governance, Sarah Bireete has asked the opposition not to completely lose hope in court procedures. This comes at a time former presidential candidates including NUPs Robert Kyagulanyi and independent Rtd Lt Gen Henry Tumukunde have vowed to contest Yoweri Musevenis 6th term win in court citing a number of irregularities. However other candidates like FDCs Patrick Amuriat together with other Ugandans think its a waste of time. Bireete tells Kfm that court is the most legal way to challenge an election outcome adding that previous rulings should not discourage anyone. She meanwhile says they are yet to release a comprehensive report on the just concluded presidential and parliamentary polls which she thinks were not transparent enough. Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. A man was allegedly stabbed in the throat at a Newbridge business premises. Before Naas District Court on January 21 was Eryk Stefaniak, 24, whose address was given as 14A Eyre Street, Newbridge. The defendant is being prosecuted for assault causing harm on November 30 last at Eyre Street, Newbridge. Read more County Kildare news It was alleged by Sgt Brian Jacob during the brief hearing that the defendant had a knife went into an off licence premises and attacked a customer stabbing him in the throat, slicing his hand and slicing the back of his head. Sgt Jacob said the motive for the alleged assault has to be investigated. Judge Desmond Zaidan adjourned the matter until April 22 and the defendant was remanded on continuing bail to that date3. Solicitor David Powderly said the defendant and the injured party are not known to each other. OneUI 3.1 and Android 11 right out of the box The Galaxy S21 launches straight on Android 11, and with Samsung's recent promise for 3 major OS updates, that means your new Galaxy should be eligible to receive Android 14 in 2023 (presuming we make it that far as a species). The Samsung layer on top of Google's OS is OneUI 3.1 - that's 0.1 more than what we got with the recent updates to Android 11 on last year's Galaxies. The 0.1 increment makes for a subtle difference, not to mention that going from 2.5 to 3 wasn't strictly a leap either, but let's still have a look at the software on the Galaxy S21 family here. The UI basics are generally similar to previous iterations though you can spot the occasional change here or there. For example, the default lockscreen shortcuts - dialer and camera, are now monochrome - they used to match the respective apps' colors. Oddly enough, if you pick different apps, they will keep their colors - it's not really a first-party vs. third-party type of differentiation either. Among the functional changes on the lockscreen is the added wellbeing widget - you can now keep track of how much time you spend on your phone without even unlocking it. Meanwhile, the always-on display settings have been simplified. Lockscreen Unlocking the phone is best done using the fingerprint reader embedded in the display, and we did mention its improved performance already. With the new-gen hardware, the software needs fewer taps to register a print, and that's welcome if minor refinement. The option is there if you want to use face unlock - it can be more convenient in certain situations, if generally less secure since it's just based on the selfie camera. Fingerprint enrollment Another notable change is that pulling the notification shade covers the entire screen underneath, even if there's just one notification card or none at all. Previously, the portion of the screen below the last notification would remain visible if darkened. While we're here, the quick toggles can now be edited directly from the plus button at the end of the list instead of going into the menu. Coming courtesy of Android 11, there is now Notification history, too. It's accessed from the Settings menu, so it's not within immediate reach, but it's there for those occasions when you dismissed a notification too quickly and you can't seem to find what it was about. Just make sure to enable it, because it's off out of the box. Notifications Android 11 has a new way of handling notifications for instant messenger apps called Bubbles, and One UI 3 adopts it, too. That's in addition to a previously available similar feature offered by Samsung by the name of Smart pop-up view. You'll find these settings under the 'Floating notifications' submenu, where you can alternatively turn both of them off and opt for the old-school cards only interface. Bubbles is an extension of the Conversations feature, another new development. You tap on an icon in the initial incoming message notification. It turns into a conversation that you can then minimize to a bubble, or what was known as a 'chat head' - originally Facebook Messenger's default way of dealing with chats. Smart pop-up view is one of One UI's lesser-known proprietary features. In the pre-Bubbles days, it used to add the chat head functionality to any application of your choosing. Tapping the hovering 'head' icon opens the app in a floating window, which you can further maximize to fullscreen or minimize it again to an icon. Sort of like Bubbles, only slightly different. Floating notifications Introduced with Google's latest OS version, the new media controls have been implemented in One UI as well. You get a stack of the active audio playback apps right below the quick toggles and swiping to the side switches between the apps. The Media screen was already available on One UI 2.5 pre-Android 11, and it offers similar functionality for picking the output device or using Samsung's Music share feature. The volume control panel has gotten a makeover too, and now the four sliders are vertical instead of the horizontal ones of OneUIs past. Media Yet another of the native Android 11 improvements that Samsung also includes in OneUI 3 is the ability to pin apps to the top of the sheet with Share options. It's one of those things that make you wonder how come it had to wait until v11 for us to get there. Things are much better now, but still, we'd like to remove options too, because that list could sure use some decluttering. One more thing that Google tweaked in this year's release is the permission handling, and Samsung's implemented it in One UI 3. With this version, you will now see a new prompt for permissions every time an app requests it, letting you deny permission, allow it only while using the app, or just for this one time. If an app requires constant access to permission, you also get a fourth option that takes you to a setting page where you can provide it. This is done prevents the user from accidentally selecting this option while blazing through the permission dialogs. Share options pinning Permissions handling The settings menu has seen a subtle but meaningful makeover. Subcategories are made more legible by using a dot separator and extra intervals, while recent searches are now shown as bubbles instead of a list. Additionally, there's a newly added feature to search settings by hashtags - for conceptually related things but found in different places in the menu. Settings The dialer comes with a bunch of cosmetic changes itself. You get to pick one of two layouts for the in-call screen. You can also set up a background image or video for that screen, though it's going to be all the same for all of your calls - you can't have a different one on a per-person basis. Dialer You get a whole bunch of options for using your Galaxy with other devices to enable various use cases. DeX is the proprietary feature that lets you use the phone as the 'computer' and add a monitor and a keyboard for added productivity - it works wirelessly or over HDMI. Alternatively, the Link to Windows feature provides you with an interface to your phone from your computer so you can copy images to and fro, manage notifications on your PC or even make calls from it. Another option along those lines but with more limited potential is Continue apps on other devices. This requires you to be logged in to your Samsung account on both devices, hook them up to the same Wi-Fi network with Bluetooth enabled and use Samsung Internet browser or Samsung Notes. You'll then be able to copy and paste text and images across and open the same tabs in the browser. DeX Continue apps on other devices Link to Windows Other staples of proprietary Samsung software include the Edge panels - the panes that show up when you swipe in from the side and provide tools and shortcuts to apps and contacts. Game launcher, the hub for all your games, which also provides options for limiting distraction when gaming is here to stay as well. Synthetic benchmarks In typical Samsung fashion, the Galaxy S21 family's phones exist in 2 chipset variants with specific regions getting one or the other. North America and China receive the Snapdragon 888 from Qualcomm, while handsets for the rest of the world are equipped with Samsung's own Exynos 2100 SoC. This divide has exposed Samsung to criticism in the past because of certain disparities between the performance and battery life of the two versions. These have often resulted in academic disputes and comment section wars with little bearing on real-life. Still, objectively measurable data has shown top-end Snapdragons are slightly better than Exynoses in recent years. That shouldn't be the case with the 2021 models with Samsung dropping their custom CPU designs (supposedly what held Exynos back) in favor of Arm's and the two platforms converging in architecture. The CPUs in both chips have a tri-cluster arrangement and use the same cores (nominally, that is - Qualcomm is said to have tweaked things in the prime core). Headlining these processors is Arm's Cortex-X1, a no-compromise performance-focused design based on the Cortex-A78. Next up is a trio of Cortex-A78s, regular ones, while four Cortex-A55s for more mundane tasks take the total core count to eight. For all the sameness in the setup, there is a difference in the clock rates, which is somewhat significant. The Exynos numbers read 1x2.9GHz + 3x2.8GHz + 4x2.2GHz, while the Snapdragon spec sheet says 1x2.8GHz + 3x2.4GHz + 4x1.8GHz, and the higher rates may give the Samsung chip advantage for applications that can make good use of multiple cores. For comparison, the Kirin 9000 uses the older Cortex-A77 cores in the performance cluster, but its prime core is ticking higher than either the SD888's or the E2100's (1x3.13GHz Cortex-A77 + 3x2.54GHz Cortex-A77 + 4x2.05GHz Cortex-A55). On the GPU front, the Snapdragon comes with the Adreno 660 GPU, which Qualcomm says is 35% faster and 20% more energy-efficient than last year, and while it does list some other key improvements, it doesn't disclose core count or clock speeds. The Exynos 2100, on the other hand, employs a Mali-G78 GPU with 14 cores and promises 46% improvement over the last generation. The GPU in the Kirin 9000 has the same Mali GPU but in a maxed-out 24-core configuration, though at a lower clock rate, we're speculating. Not that anyone is listing GPU clock rates anywhere! Urgh. Both the SD888 and the E2100 are manufactured by Samsung on a 5nm fabrication line - Qualcomm switched from TSMC to Korean foundries for this year's chips' production. RAM is LPDDR5 on either version, and all S21 and S21+ units have 8GB of it. If you specifically want more, you need to step up to the S21 Ultra. Storage is UFS 3.1, and two options are available - 128GB or 256GB. Our Galaxy S21 review unit has the Exynos chipset inside and has 256GB of storage. Under single-core CPU load in GeekBench, the S21 proved superior to the Mate 40 Pro, the one current-gen Android we've tested - no Snapdragon 888s have stepped through our doors. Cross-platform comparisons are frowned upon, but the iPhone 12 does pump out much higher figures in this test. GeekBench 5 (single-core) Higher is better Apple iPhone 12 Pro 1611 Apple iPhone 12 1605 Galaxy S21 5G 1032 Galaxy S20 (60Hz, 1440p) 931 Huawei Mate 40 Pro 920 OnePlus 8T 893 Galaxy Note20 Ultra 5G 880 Under multi-core loads, the Mate 40 Pro inches ahead of our S21, with a slightly wider gap ahead of the OnePlus 8T with last year's Snapdragon 865. SD865+ handsets, on the other hand, rank even higher, while the iPhones remain in the lead here as well. GeekBench 5 (multi-core) Higher is better Apple iPhone 12 4067 Apple iPhone 12 Pro 4056 Asus ROG Phone 3 (144Hz) 3357 Asus Zenfone 7 Pro 3302 Huawei Mate 40 Pro 3275 Galaxy S21 5G 3238 OnePlus 8T 3126 Galaxy S20 (60Hz, 1440p) 2750 Galaxy Note20 Ultra 5G 2603 The S21's Antutu result is more or less in the ballpark of what we've gotten from Snapdragon 865 devices and a bit lower than SD865+ one - so it's not amazing if you're expecting the Exynos to wipe the floor with the competition in 2021. It is a bit of an increase compared to last year's model, so there's that. AnTuTu 8 Higher is better Asus Zenfone 7 Pro 602934 Asus ROG Phone 3 (144Hz) 601858 Apple iPhone 12 Pro 596244 Galaxy S21 5G 584055 Apple iPhone 12 579048 OnePlus 8T 576625 Huawei Mate 40 Pro 531270 Galaxy S20 (120Hz, 1080p) 525029 Galaxy S20 (60Hz, 1440p) 515538 Galaxy Note20 Ultra 5G 508760 One area that the S21 does excel in is the onscreen tests in GFXBench. Admittedly, in the absence of any SD888 competition, it's consistently on top of the charts, and no SD865+ or Kirin 9000 can match it. GFX Manhattan ES 3.0 (onscreen) Higher is better Galaxy S21 5G 118 Asus ROG Phone 3 (144Hz) 111 Galaxy S20 (120Hz, 1080p) 93 Asus Zenfone 7 Pro 89 Galaxy Note20 Ultra 5G 88 Huawei Mate 40 Pro 78 OnePlus 8T 60 Apple iPhone 12 60 Apple iPhone 12 Pro 60 Galaxy S20 (60Hz, 1440p) 58 GFX Manhattan ES 3.1 (onscreen) Higher is better Galaxy S21 5G 95 Asus ROG Phone 3 (144Hz) 82 Galaxy S20 (120Hz, 1080p) 79 Asus Zenfone 7 Pro 78 Galaxy Note20 Ultra 5G 76 Huawei Mate 40 Pro 64 OnePlus 8T 60 Apple iPhone 12 60 Apple iPhone 12 Pro 60 Galaxy S20 (60Hz, 1440p) 45 GFX Car Chase ES 3.1 (onscreen) Higher is better Galaxy S21 5G 60 Apple iPhone 12 58 Apple iPhone 12 Pro 58 Asus ROG Phone 3 (144Hz) 48 OnePlus 8T 46 Asus Zenfone 7 Pro 46 Galaxy S20 (120Hz, 1080p) 44 Galaxy Note20 Ultra 5G 42 Galaxy S20 (60Hz, 1440p) 26 Huawei Mate 40 Pro 25 That's half the truth, however, for a couple of reasons. Number one, iPhones don's do go above 60Hz (and who's responsible for that), so whatever raw power their GPUs have, and it's a lot, goes to waste - as the offscreen results show. Number two, the 1080p resolution of the S21 does it a favor against higher-res competitors like the ROG Phone 3, and the Huawei Mate 40 Pro and those two show they're as capable as the Exynos Galaxy when it comes to raw performance at a level playing field. GFX Manhattan ES 3.0 (offscreen 1080p) Higher is better Apple iPhone 12 Pro 199 Apple iPhone 12 195 Galaxy S21 5G 143 Huawei Mate 40 Pro 135 Asus Zenfone 7 Pro 128 OnePlus 8T 127 Galaxy S20 (60Hz, 1440p) 126 Galaxy S20 (120Hz, 1080p) 125 Asus ROG Phone 3 (144Hz) 123 Galaxy Note20 Ultra 5G 116 GFX Manhattan ES 3.1 (offscreen 1080p) Higher is better Apple iPhone 12 132 Apple iPhone 12 Pro 132 Galaxy S21 5G 97 Huawei Mate 40 Pro 97 Asus ROG Phone 3 (144Hz) 92 Asus Zenfone 7 Pro 90 OnePlus 8T 88 Galaxy S20 (60Hz, 1440p) 87 Galaxy S20 (120Hz, 1080p) 86 Galaxy Note20 Ultra 5G 80 GFX Car Chase ES 3.1 (offscreen 1080p) Higher is better Apple iPhone 12 Pro 64 Huawei Mate 40 Pro 56 Asus ROG Phone 3 (144Hz) 56 Galaxy S21 5G 54 Asus Zenfone 7 Pro 54 OnePlus 8T 53 Apple iPhone 12 53 Galaxy S20 (60Hz, 1440p) 51 Galaxy S20 (120Hz, 1080p) 51 Galaxy Note20 Ultra 5G 50 Moving on, in 3DMark, the Galaxy S21 showed a middling performance. While it did outscore the Mate 40 Pro, its results were around the ones we got of the Note20 Ultra and substantially lower than the SD865+ bunch, with even the non-pluses being ahead. 3DMark SSE ES 3.1 (offscreen 1440p) Higher is better Asus Zenfone 7 Pro 7687 Asus ROG Phone 3 (144Hz) 7645 OnePlus 8T 7194 Galaxy S20 (60Hz, 1440p) 6723 Galaxy S20 (120Hz, 1080p) 6610 Galaxy S21 5G 6569 Galaxy Note20 Ultra 5G 6543 Huawei Mate 40 Pro 5377 3DMark SSE Vulkan 1.0 (offscreen 1440p) Higher is better Asus Zenfone 7 Pro 7002 OnePlus 8T 6632 Galaxy S20 (120Hz, 1080p) 6398 Galaxy S20 (60Hz, 1440p) 6248 Galaxy Note20 Ultra 5G 6248 Galaxy S21 5G 6132 Huawei Mate 40 Pro 4782 Overall, the Galaxy S21 we've reviewed in Exynos trim is a powerful but, ultimately, unimpressive performer. Benchmark scores show a significant generational improvement for the E2100 over the E990, but the SD865s held their ground, so we can assume the SD888 will comfortably outperform the new Exynos. Now, a case could be made that the smallest of the high-end Galaxies is more thermally constrained than what a larger volume handset would be, and the S21+ or S21 Ultra could score higher. The phone did get warm after repeated benchmark runs, but not really hot, so maybe it's a matter of the plastic back not dissipating heat efficiently. Or, and that's not entirely inconceivable either, our review unit isn't strictly final - the S21 Ultra that arrived together with the S21 got a 1GB update when we took it out of the box, the plain S21 didn't, and we're looking at a December 1 security patch on it. We don't mean to negate the S21's comparatively... dispirited benchmark results, but in practice, using it was nothing short of pure pleasure. Coupled with the high refresh rate, the top-of-the-shelf silicon allows for nicely fluid interaction with the phone. Still, it's not looking good if the phone that's just been released is bested by last year's hardware. PARIS, Jan. 22, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- (S&P Global Ratings) S&P Global Ratings said today that ING Groep N.V. (ING) scored 83 in its ESG Evaluation. On our scale, 100 indicates the lowest risk and 0 the highest. The company's ESG Evaluation score is the result of an ESG profile of 76 combined with strong preparedness. ESG Evaluation: ING Groep N.V. Headquartered in the Netherlands, ING is one of the 10 largest European banks. It provides a wide range of financial services to retail, midsize, and large corporate customers. The bank operates in about 40 countries, but has a particularly strong competitive position in the Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany. ING benefits from an advanced digital business model. In 2019, ING generated about 18.3 billion of revenues and 4.8 billion of net profit. Our ESG Evaluation score of 83 on ING mainly reflects our belief that the bank is among the strongest players in the banking industry in terms of its ability to leverage its role as financier to influence society's transition to a more sustainable and low-carbon economy. The breadth and depth of ESG integration allows the bank to manage ESG risks and opportunities along the entire value chain. In addition, the bank aims to progressively decarbonize its entire loan portfolio, in line with the objectives of the Paris Agreement. We think ING's climate strategy and implementation frameworks, known as the Terra approach, enables the bank to meet this goal in a structured manner. Policies and measures addressing the social challenges that its large workforce and customer base pose are robust. This is crucial as the banking industry is facing profound changes in customer and employee behavior. Our ESG Evaluation score also reflects some governance deficiencies that have come to light recently, such as a money-laundering case finally settled in 2018, and a series of unexpected changes among the bank's senior management team over the past two years. ING's preparedness to face long-term risks and potential disruptions is strong, reflecting stronger-than-average awareness, action-planning capabilities, and decision-making, as management has demonstrated its ability to make choices aligned with the long-term strategic goals. Standard & Poor's Financial Services LLC or its affiliates (collectively, S&P) receives compensation for the provision of the S&P Global Ratings ESG Evaluation product, including the report (Product). S&P may also receive compensation for rating the entity covered by the Product or for rating transactions involving and/or securities issued by the entity covered by the Product. The Product is not a credit rating, and is not indicative of, nor related to, any credit rating or future credit rating of an entity. The Product provides a cross-sector, relative analysis of an entity's capacity to operate successfully in the future and is grounded in how ESG factors could affect stakeholders and potentially lead to a material direct or indirect financial impact on the entity. ESG factors typically assess the impact of the entity on the natural and social environment and the quality of its governance. The Product is not a research report and is not intended as such. S&P's credit ratings, opinions, analyses, rating acknowledgment decisions, any views reflected in the Product and the output of the Product are not investment advice, recommendations regarding credit decisions, recommendations to purchase, hold, or sell any securities or to make any investment decisions, an offer to buy or sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy or sell any security, endorsements of the suitability of any security, endorsements of the accuracy of any data or conclusions provided in the Product, or independent verification of any information relied upon in the credit rating process. The Product and any associated presentations do not take into account any user's financial objectives, financial situation, needs or means, and should not be relied upon by users for making any investment decisions. The output of the Product is not a substitute for a user's independent judgment and expertise. The output of the Product is not professional financial, tax or legal advice, and users should obtain independent, professional advice as it is determined necessary by users. While S&P has obtained information from sources it believes to be reliable, S&P does not perform an audit and undertakes no duty of due diligence or independent verification of any information it receives. S&P and any third-party providers, as well as their directors, officers, shareholders, employees or agents (collectively S&P Parties) do not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, timeliness or availability of the Product. S&P Parties are not responsible for any errors or omissions (negligent or otherwise), regardless of the cause, for reliance of use of information in the Product, or for the security or maintenance of any information transmitted via the Internet, or for the accuracy of the information in the Product. The Product is provided on an "AS IS" basis. S&P PARTIES MAKE NO REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTY, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDED BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE ACCURACY, RESULTS, TIMLINESS, COMPLETENESS, MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PARTICULAR PURPOSE WITH RESPECT TO THE PRODUCT, OR FOR THE SECURITY OF THE WEBSITE FROM WHICH THE PRODUCT IS ACCESSED. S&P Parties have no responsibility to maintain or update the Product or to supply any corrections, updates or releases in connection therewith. S&P Parties have no liability for the accuracy, timeliness, reliability, performance, continued availability, completeness or delays, omissions, or interruptions in the delivery of the Product. To the extent permitted by law, in no event shall the S&P Parties be liable to any party for any direct, indirect, incidental, exemplary, compensatory, punitive, special or consequential damages, costs, expenses, legal fees, or losses (including, without limitation, lost income or lost profits and opportunity costs or losses caused by negligence, loss of data, cost of substitute materials, cost of capital, or claims of any third party) in connection with any use of the Product even if advised of the possibility of such damages. S&P maintains a separation between commercial and analytic activities. S&P keeps certain activities of its business units separate from each other in order to preserve the independence and objectivity of their respective activities. As a result, certain business units of S&P may have information that is not available to other S&P business units. S&P has established policies and procedures to maintain the confidentiality of certain nonpublic information received in connection with each analytical process. Copyright 2020 by Standard & Poor's Financial Services LLC. All rights reserved. This report does not constitute a rating action. The report is available to subscribers of RatingsDirect at www.capitaliq.com. If you are not a RatingsDirect subscriber, you may purchase a copy of the report by calling (1) 212-438-7280 or sending an e-mail to [email protected]. Ratings information can also be found on S&P Global Ratings' public website by using the Ratings search box located in the left column at www.standardandpoors.com. Members of the media may request a copy of this report by contacting the media representative provided. This report does not constitute a rating action. The report is available to subscribers of RatingsDirect at www.capitaliq.com. If you are not a RatingsDirect subscriber, you may purchase a copy of the report by calling (1) 212-438-7280 or sending an e-mail to [email protected]. Ratings information can also be found on S&P Global Ratings' public website by using the Ratings search box located in the left column at www.standardandpoors.com. Alternatively, call one of the following S&P Global Ratings numbers: Client Support Europe (44) 20-7176-7176; London Press Office (44) 20-7176-3605; Paris (33) 1-4420-6708; Frankfurt (49) 69-33-999-225; Stockholm (46) 8-440-5914; or Moscow (7) 495-783-4009. Copyright 2021 by Standard & Poor's Financial Services LLC. All rights reserved. No content (including ratings, credit-related analyses and data, valuations, model, software or other application or output therefrom) or any part thereof (Content) may be modified, reverse engineered, reproduced or distributed in any form by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior written permission of Standard & Poor's Financial Services LLC or its affiliates (collectively, S&P). The Content shall not be used for any unlawful or unauthorized purposes. S&P and any third-party providers, as well as their directors, officers, shareholders, employees or agents (collectively S&P Parties) do not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, timeliness or availability of the Content. S&P Parties are not responsible for any errors or omissions (negligent or otherwise), regardless of the cause, for the results obtained from the use of the Content, or for the security or maintenance of any data input by the user. The Content is provided on an "as is" basis. S&P PARTIES DISCLAIM ANY AND ALL EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, ANY WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR USE, FREEDOM FROM BUGS, SOFTWARE ERRORS OR DEFECTS, THAT THE CONTENT'S FUNCTIONING WILL BE UNINTERRUPTED OR THAT THE CONTENT WILL OPERATE WITH ANY SOFTWARE OR HARDWARE CONFIGURATION. In no event shall S&P Parties be liable to any party for any direct, indirect, incidental, exemplary, compensatory, punitive, special or consequential damages, costs, expenses, legal fees, or losses (including, without limitation, lost income or lost profits and opportunity costs or losses caused by negligence) in connection with any use of the Content even if advised of the possibility of such damages. Credit-related and other analyses, including ratings, and statements in the Content are statements of opinion as of the date they are expressed and not statements of fact. S&P's opinions, analyses and rating acknowledgment decisions (described below) are not recommendations to purchase, hold, or sell any securities or to make any investment decisions, and do not address the suitability of any security. S&P assumes no obligation to update the Content following publication in any form or format. The Content should not be relied on and is not a substitute for the skill, judgment and experience of the user, its management, employees, advisors and/or clients when making investment and other business decisions. S&P does not act as a fiduciary or an investment advisor except where registered as such. While S&P has obtained information from sources it believes to be reliable, S&P does not perform an audit and undertakes no duty of due diligence or independent verification of any information it receives. Rating-related publications may be published for a variety of reasons that are not necessarily dependent on action by rating committees, including, but not limited to, the publication of a periodic update on a credit rating and related analyses. To the extent that regulatory authorities allow a rating agency to acknowledge in one jurisdiction a rating issued in another jurisdiction for certain regulatory purposes, S&P reserves the right to assign, withdraw or suspend such acknowledgment at any time and in its sole discretion. S&P Parties disclaim any duty whatsoever arising out of the assignment, withdrawal or suspension of an acknowledgment as well as any liability for any damage alleged to have been suffered on account thereof. S&P keeps certain activities of its business units separate from each other in order to preserve the independence and objectivity of their respective activities. As a result, certain business units of S&P may have information that is not available to other S&P business units. S&P has established policies and procedures to maintain the confidentiality of certain non-public information received in connection with each analytical process. S&P may receive compensation for its ratings and certain analyses, normally from issuers or underwriters of securities or from obligors. S&P reserves the right to disseminate its opinions and analyses. S&P's public ratings and analyses are made available on its Web sites, www.standardandpoors.com (free of charge), and www.ratingsdirect.com (subscription), and may be distributed through other means, including via S&P publications and third-party redistributors. Additional information about our ratings fees is available at www.standardandpoors.com/usratingsfees. STANDARD & POOR'S, S&P and RATINGSDIRECT are registered trademarks of Standard & Poor's Financial Services LLC. SOURCE S&P Global Ratings 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. Thank you for reading! Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. If you have a subscription, please log in or sign up for an account on our website to continue. The New Jersey county with the states highest coronavirus vaccination rate is seeking to open a second site as it looks ahead at the summer tourism season. Cape May County is hopinh to administer up to 1,000 doses per day. Thats about the number of doses it is receiving in a week, officials said on Thursday. Commissioner Jeff Pierson said the county has secured a second location, which he did not identify, to supplement the county-run site at Avalon Community Hall. There, the countys health department with the assistance of the Cape May County Technical Schools licensed practical nurse program has administered more than 2,600 doses since Dec. 28. We must rely on the state to supply us with vaccine and the state tells us that the supply from the federal government is not flowing. Nevertheless, we will be ready when they open the spigot to get all of our residents vaccinated as quickly as possible, Pierson said in a joint statement from the commissioners provided Thursday to NJ Advance Media. Commissioner Will Morey, referencing the summer tourism season, said the county is in a race against the clock. The more progress we make in resident vaccinations, the more likely our businesses are to open in a more traditional manner, Morey said. Adding to the challenge, Cape May Countys public health director says those with summer homes at the Jersey Shore, including out-of-state residents, might start seeking out the vaccine and driving up demand in the states second least-populated county. The county, home to about 92,000 permanent residents, has a vaccination rate of 2,257 per 100,000 residents currently, the highest in the state with Morris County behind them at 2,071 doses per 100,000 residents. Kevin Thomas, the health director, said the low population is whats driving their success so far, so much that people are coming from other counties in New Jersey to get vaccinated. Thomas said a worker told him about a visitor earlier this week who drive 2 1/2 hours from Bergen County to get vaccinated. Thomas said he fears theyll see demand increase, potentially from residents in nearby states like Pennsylvania, who own homes down the shore. As of last week, more than 4 million people in New Jersey who live, work or study here are eligible for the vaccine: health care workers, police and fire personnel, anyone over the age of 65 and people ages 16 to 64 with specific medical conditions. It wasnt until Tuesday that Pennsylvania expanded its vaccine eligibility to include everyone over 65 and all others with chronic illnesses, according to Lehighvalleylive.com. A lot of people are second homeowners here. Thats going to be a problem, Thomas said, adding that Cape May is following all state guidelines in accepting applications for the vaccine. For the vaccine, applicants are given a set time to appear. The longest line we had was maybe 10 minutes, Thomas said. Thats in contrast to the 7-hour waits some experienced Wednesday in Paterson, more than two hours away in Passaic County, where hundreds lined up and no appointments were taken. That site, however, is one of the few if not only site in New Jersey accepting only walk-ins. Across the state, there are more than 130 vaccination sites, but most people have reported confusion and difficulty finding any available appointments as the demand for the vaccine has far outpaced the states supply of about 100,000 doses per week from the federal government. Thomas said he wished they could focus first on older residents, particularly those over age 75. He said about a third of the countys residents are 65 or older. Overall, New Jersey has administered 421,297 doses as of Wednesday, according to the states COVID-19 tracking dashboard. The state reached a single-day high of 28,851 doses on Jan. 14. Cape May County also is focusing on getting the coronavirus vaccine to lower-income residents, shut-ins and the homeless, according to the joint statement from the commissioners. Please subscribe now and support the local journalism YOU rely on and trust. Rob Jennings may be reached at rjennings@njadvancemedia.com. Democrats efforts to quickly confirm President Bidens cabinet nominees and move forward with his legislative agenda collided with the reality of a narrowly divided Congress, with Senate Republicans refusing to agree to a power-sharing agreement unless Democrats promise to preserve a 60-vote threshold to advance most bills. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R., Ky.) and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D., N.Y.) remain at loggerheads, and it isnt known when they will next meet to continue negotiations over an organizing resolution that would set the guidelines and committee assignments for the new session. The Democratic and Republican caucuses each have 50 members, although Democrats hold the Senate majority because Vice President Kamala Harris can break any ties. The standoff comes as Democrats are trying to confirm Mr. Bidens cabinet picks, courting Republicans to support another Covid-19 relief package and broad immigration legislation, and bracing for a second impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump. In the power-sharing talks, Senate Republicans want Democrats to agree to preserve the legislative filibustera longstanding rule that enables the minority party to block most legislationfor at least the next two years. Democrats say such demands dont belong in an organizing deal. But without one, Republicans technically remain in control of most Senate committees, despite now being the minority party. For now, the only way to get things done in the Senate is through the GOP-held committees or through a unanimous consent motion to bring a nominee or bill directly to the floora move that any single senator can block. Some Senate Republican chairs are cooperating with Democrats pending the passage of an organizing resolution, and are holding hearings or votes on some nominees. The lack of a power-sharing agreement injected unexpected confusion into the new Senate majoritys first days. Sen. Dick Durbin (D., Ill.), in line to lead the Judiciary Committee, said its chairman could be one of three people as of current talks, with Republicans also rotating the top GOP slot between two lawmakers. Committee aides emailed reporters saying that incoming Democratic chairmen hadnt secured that title just yet. Another contentious issue is the expected Senate trial of Mr. Trump, after the House impeached him earlier this month on a charge of inciting insurrection, citing his egging on supporters who stormed the Capitol. One possibility has been to bifurcate the Senate day and use just half of it for the impeachment trial so that other business can still be conducted. Multiple Democratic and Republican aides have said that would require GOP consent. So far, Republicans have declined to agree to splitting up the Senates day. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D., Calif.) declined to say Thursday when she would send the article of impeachment to the Senate. Late Thursday, Mr. McConnell proposed starting the impeachment trial in mid-February to give Mr. Trumps legal team and Democratic impeachment managers time to prepare. A spokesman for Mr. Schumer said he would review the proposal. Mr. Trump told associates he has picked Butch Bowers, a South Carolina attorney, to represent him in the trial, according to a person familiar with the matter. Topping Democrats legislative agenda, Mr. Biden has proposed a $1.9 trillion Covid-19 relief plan that calls for a round of $1,400-per-person direct payments to most households, a $400-a-week unemployment insurance supplement through September, expanded paid leave and increases in the child tax credit. White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Mr. Biden would increase his engagement with Congress now that the inauguration is behind him. I expect hell be rolling up his sleeves and be quite involved," she told reporters Thursday. White House National Economic Council Director Brian Deese is planning to meet with lawmakers in the coming days about the presidents coronavirus relief proposal, she said. Mr. Biden also sent a wide-ranging immigration bill to Congress on Wednesday that includes an eight-year path to citizenship for the 11 million immigrants in the U.S. who lack permanent legal status. Past presidents have failed to pass comprehensive immigration legislation, and Mr. Bidens proposal will likely face opposition from many Republicans. Mr. Biden notched one early victory Wednesday night when the Senate confirmed his first cabinet-level pick, Avril Haines, for director of national intelligence. On Thursday, the Senate Armed Services Committee, still led by Republican Sen. Jim Inhofe of Oklahoma, advanced the nomination of Lloyd Austin to serve as secretary of defense by bipartisan voice vote. The Senate and House then approved a resolution allowing the Army general to hold that civilian post, clearing the way for his confirmation. In remarks on the Senate floor Thursday, Mr. Schumer stressed the importance of confirming more cabinet secretaries as quickly as possible, specifically secretaries of Defense, State, Homeland Security and Treasury. Let the first week of this Congress be a collaboration between our two parties to confirm President Bidens cabinet," he said. He later pointed to a 2001 power-sharing agreement as a model for 2021 and reiterated to reporters that Democrats are strongly opposed to any extraneous provisions." The 2001 agreement gave the parties equal seats on committees and let nominees and bills advance to the floor even if a committee vote was tied. Mr. McConnell, in his own floor remarks, agreed that the 2001 agreement is a good guide but said it needs to add protections for the filibuster. Certainly 20 years ago there was no talk, none whatsoever, of tearing down longstanding minority rights on legislation," he said. I cannot imagine the Democratic leader would rather hold up the power-sharing agreement than simply reaffirm that his side wont be breaking this standing rule of the Senate." The legislative filibuster rule requires 60 votes for most bills to advance in the Senate, meaning that some Republicans would have to support the measures. But there is momentum among some Democrats and progressive activists to eliminate the legislative filibuster, which would lower the threshold for advancing bills to a simple majority, or 51 votes. A handful of Democrats have said they are wary of making such a change. The organizing resolution itself is subject to filibuster, so it will need at least 60 votes to advance without a bipartisan agreement. Democrats said Republicans were overplaying their hand. Its an absolutely unprecedented, wacky, counterproductive request," Sen. Brian Schatz (D., Hawaii) tweeted. We won the Senate. We get the gavels." Ms. Psaki told reporters that Mr. Biden spoke to lawmakers of both parties Wednesday about quickly confirming his cabinet. The desire to get his cabinet in place and to get his team confirmed is front and center for the president," she said. Although it often takes the consent of the Senate to speed up consideration of nominees, they can clear procedural hurdles with just a simple majority. Sen. Rob Portman (R., Ohio) said he has talked to some of Mr. Bidens team and has reached out to the president on nominees. Mr. Portman, who is poised to be the top Republican on the Senate Homeland Security Committee, said he thought it could be another week before Alejandro Mayorkas is confirmed to the post of secretary of homeland security. The Senate needs unanimous consent to fast-track Mr. Mayorkass nomination for a floor vote, however, and Sen. Josh Hawley (R., Mo.) said he would object. Mr. Portman said that delay means Mr. Mayorkas must first clear a committee vote, which has yet to be scheduled. Mr. Biden also faces an unclear path to passing additional coronavirus relief this yearat least with bipartisan support. The new administration has made clear it plans to attempt first to pass new stimulus measures with GOP votes before switching to other strategies that require a lower threshold and could be passed with just Democrats. Republicans this week signaled some unease with the $1.9 trillion price tag of Mr. Bidens new proposal so soon after the last package. I suspect the whole package is a nonstarter, but its got plenty of starters in it," Sen. Roy Blunt (R., Mo.) said Thursday. Were ready to look at what it takes to move forward, as effectively and quickly as we can, on vaccine distribution" and other issues, he said. Mr. Durbin said a bipartisan group of 16 senators had been discussing what the next stimulus package should look like and whether there should be new, more targeted criteria for another round of direct payments. This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Joe Biden was sworn in as the 46th President of the United States of America on January 20 after quite a struggle with former president Donald Trump and his supporters. While Trump kept rejecting the election results as fake till the last minute, his supporters stormed the US Capitol and broke into riots weeks before Trump was to leave his office. Trump supporters may say Biden is not their president for reasons known to them. But #JoeBidenIsNotMyPresident is trending on Twitter in India and he actually is not the president of India. The trend has caught attention of several people and there is one social media user who triggered this trend. Just ahead of his swearing in, Biden had tweeeted that it is a new day in America. To this, Twitter user from India, Prayag Tiwari, replied that Biden is not his president. Many in the comments thought he was a Trump supporter. But Tiwari cracked up everyone when he said that Biden is not his president because he is from India. Tiwari's wit has caused a laughter riot on Twitter and #JoeBidenIsNotMyPresident is trending on the microblogging site! Now I know why #JoeBidenIsNotMyPresident is trending Lol pic.twitter.com/Bh3UQNKyFE Shashi Shivratri (@ShashiShivratri) January 22, 2021 He is not my president cause we have Prime Minister #JoeBidenIsNotMyPresident itsmepahadi (@GouravBist7) January 22, 2021 Youd be hard pressed to find a country that was more supportive of Trump than India. Today, with some quite am using tweets, #JoeBidenIsNotMyPresident is trending here https://t.co/CgaMcOAND2 Joe Wallen (@joerwallen) January 22, 2021 Meanwhile, Biden has safely made it 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. Some right-wing extremist groups had vowed to disrupt Biden's inauguration following the Jan. 6 attack, but only scattered protests emerged on Wednesday. The US Secret Service, which ran the security operation, reported one arrest, a person who tried to enter a checkpoint to a restricted area near the White House carrying loose, unregistered ammunition. DC Police and Capitol Police reported no arrests. This story was published in partnership with New York Focus. As COVID-19 rampages across New York, many localities are confronting another public health disaster: drastic spikes in drug overdoses and new cases of HIV. Fatal overdoses have doubled relative to last year in Albany and Onondaga County, and in 2020 the Rochester area reported more new cases of HIV than had been reported during the previous four years. Yet medical professions say that widespread access to sterile syringes, a key tool for combatting both problems, is greatly hampered by the fact that the vast majority of New Yorkers cannot legally possess syringes. Under New York law, syringe possession is a class-A misdemeanor, punishable by up to a year in jail and a monetary fine. Thousands of New Yorkers have been arrested for syringe possession over the past decade, mostly on Long Island and upstate, according to data obtained by New York Focus/City & State from the Division of Criminal Justice Services. Public health experts and harm reduction advocates say that these arrests, and the fear and stigma they perpetuate, are major obstacles to efforts to curb the spread of infectious disease, protect the health of drug users, and connect users with services to help them break their addictions. Harm reduction and public health advocates have long pushed to decriminalize syringe possession, arguing that keeping syringes illicit discourages drug users from enrolling in syringe exchange programs or otherwise obtaining sterile syringes. Syringe possession is legal for individuals enrolled in a syringe exchange program, or who have been prescribed syringes by a doctor, but is otherwise prohibited.After urging from advocacy groups, the New York Department of Health included syringe decriminalization as one plank of its 2015 plan to end the AIDS epidemic by 2020. But that non-binding recommendation was never passed into law. Republican opposition left legislation to decriminalize syringes dead in the water until 2019, when the state Senate flipped to Democratic control. As Democrats prepare their 2021 legislative agenda, some legislators and harm reduction advocates are pushing to include decriminalization as a priority. This is a moment where we have to think about those who are most vulnerable, and make sure that we serve them. And this doesnt serve them, said Gustavo Rivera, chair of the State Senate health committee and lead sponsor of the Senate bill to decriminalize syringes. Every single one of those (arrests) is a policy failure. Decriminalization wouldnt be a panacea to syringe access problemsin California, syringe possession has been legal since 2011, but other obstacles to obtaining syringes, such as pharmacies not stocking the correct sizes of syringe, have persisted. But public health professionals said it would have a major impact, particularly in encouraging drug users to enroll in New Yorks 24 syringe exchange programs. Syringe exchange programs provide sterile syringes to people who use intravenous drugs. The programs both increase the chance that drug users will cease using drugs and decrease the risk of infectious disease spread, overdose, and other health issues associated with repeated syringe use, studies show. A 2014 report from the New York State Department of Health found that syringe exchange is the one intervention which could be described as the gold standard of HIV prevention. Though syringe possession is legal for exchange participants, many drug users are unaware of this exemption, providers said. My experience is that folks dont know that its legal to possess syringes if youre enrolled in a program, Fabian said. We might have a guy come in to enroll and say Yeah, my friends been trying for two years to get me to enroll, but I was afraid, I didnt trust it, said Diana Agugila, regional director at the Alliance for Positive Health. Theyre just very fearful of the consequences. The fear is often warranted, health professionals said, because police are not always aware of the exemption either and syringe exchange participants are regularly arrested despite being exempt from the law on paper. Upon enrolling in a syringe exchange, participants are given a card certifying their participation in the program, meant to act as a pass should participants come into contact with law enforcement while in possession of syringes. Rheannon Croy, program manager at the Alliance for Positive Health in New Yorks North Country, said that while some police officers respect the cards, several of her clients recount every year having their syringe exchange cards confiscated or destroyed by police. It just further stigmatizes them and makes them trust (us) less, trust police officers less, it makes them feel shameful, and Im sure its just traumatizing, Croy said. Ive heard countless stories of individuals not being protected by the card, said Emma Fabian, vice president of harm reduction at Evergreen Health in Buffalo. The Buffalo police department noted in response that it arrested only 25 people for syringe possession in 2020. When his participants are arrested, Roberto Gonzalez, director of the syringe exchange program at ACR Health, writes letters to the arraignment judge informing them of his participants enrollment in a syringe exchange program. Gonzalez said that his letters are always able to get charges dropped. But he emphasized that the arrests still have negative effects, both for the arrested individuals and for drug users in their networks who may be turned off from accessing syringe exchanges. In 2019, at least 549 individuals were arrested statewide for illegal syringe possession, according to data provided by the state Department of Criminal Justice Services. Since the state records arrests by top charge only, this number does not include individuals also facing higher charges. That same year, 322 individuals were convicted of illegal syringe possession and sentenced to jail, probation, fines, or other punishments. In 2020, there were 298 arrests for syringe possession through October, with data on convictions unavailable at the time of writing.Arrests for syringe possession are concentrated in upstate New York and on Long Island, with New York City representing fewer than 6 percent of arrests in 2019. If syringes were decriminalized, Gonzalez said, More people would be up for coming down and enrolling in the program, and getting the services that they need without fear, because they know that they wont be charged for syringes. They know that they wont be harassed. Decriminalization could also increase the frequency of peoples visits to exchange programs and thereby decrease syringe reuse, multiple providers said. When its criminalized, people will just carry one syringe for the next year straight, because theyre afraid to carry more because itll be harder to conceal, said Mike Selick, associate director of the National Harm Reduction Coalition. Ive had people come into the program and say I know its time to get a new one when the numbers rub off. Connecting drug users to syringe exchanges is often the beginning of a much wider engagement with health and social services, Zach Ford, a project manager at the Syringe Access Fund, noted. The syringe is whats creating the trust between folks to keep that person coming back, Ford said. When that person wants to seek other types of medical services, when that person wants to seek employment services or social services, or behavioral health services, or substance use disorder treatment, they are engaged in a community of people who know how to go about finding them those things. The criminalization of syringes also poses serious obstacles to what harm reductionists describe as one of the most effective methods for promoting safe injection: secondary exchange, the process in which syringe exchange participants distribute clean syringes to fellow drug users not enrolled in an exchange program. As harm reductionists, we really encourage secondary exchange, said Jasmine Budnella, drug policy coordinator at VOCAL-NY. But if youre doing that, those people wont have a card. Those who receive clean syringes from an exchange participant, but are not themselves enrolled in an exchange, remain exposed to risk of arrest and conviction for syringe possession. Agugila said that participants often ask for syringes to give to a friend. Well ask, Is your friend enrolled? And if they say no, well remind them that, You know, I cant tell you what to do, but Ill tell you that if you give these syringes to your friend and theyre caught with them, they could get busted for it. The effect of decriminalization would be dramatic, Agugila said. If we started asking every participant, Do you have any friends who are afraid to come here?, every single one would say Oh yeah, at least one or two people, she said. I bet [enrollment] would grow by 50 percent. A bill to decriminalize syringe possession has been pending in the Legislature for several years, and was reintroduced this week for the 2021 legislative session." The bill, sponsored by Rivera in the state Senate and Assembly Health Committee Chair Richard Gottfried in the lower chamber, would fully decriminalize syringe possession. It would also take several other measures to promote clean syringe usage, such as repealing the ban on pharmacies advertising syringe sale, decriminalizing the possession of drug residue in used syringes, and removing the limit on the number of syringes that can be sold at once, currently set at 10. In July 2019, Senate leadership convened a bipartisan task force, co-chaired by Rivera, to study addiction and overdoses. The task forces first report, issued in early 2020, stated that while the chairs of the task force and some members expressed support for syringe decriminalization, the Task Force as a whole was unable to reach consensus. Sen. Patrick Gallivan, a Republican from Erie County, was one of the task force members opposed to syringe decriminalization. In a statement to New York Focus and City & State, Gallivan said, "I remain opposed to the decriminalization of syringes. I believe it would present an unwarranted danger to the health and safety of the individual and the public at large." Supporters of syringe decriminalization counter that the danger to public health and safety is already here, in the form of overdoses and rising rates of HIV and Hepatitis C infection. In where were at in the overdose crisis, we need evidence-based solutions, and this is low-hanging fruit, Budnella said. Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie and state Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins did not respond by press time to an inquiry as to whether the decriminalization bill will be brought to a vote in this session. Both Rivera and Gottfried said that public health conditions amid COVID-19 accentuate the importance of the bill. The COVID-19 fiscal crisis is devastating funding for syringe exchange programs and making it more difficult to access clean, safe syringes. This makes it more important than ever that New Yorkers can get syringes from expanded locations without being criminalized, Gottfried said. I hope the increased urgency of the issue will help us get it done this year. Correction: The Division of Criminal Justice Services was originally misidentified. Correction: The bill to to decriminalize syringe possession has been reintroduced. New York Focus is an independent investigative news publication covering New York state and city politics. Sign up for their newsletter here. 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. But there just isn't much out there for evidence-based messaging, especially not for what might motivate people to wear face coverings." Allison Lazard, Associate Professor, UNC Hussman School of Journalism and Media 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. You are here: Business 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. Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-21 23:57:33|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIRUT, Jan. 21 (Xinhua) -- Lebanon's Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the two suicide bombing attacks in the Iraqi capital Baghdad on Thursday, the National News Agency reported. The ministry renewed Lebanon's "full solidarity and sympathy with Iraq, the people and the government, following this tragic attack," and it offered its condolences to the Iraqi people in general and the families of the victims in particular, and wished for a speedy recovery for the wounded people. Twin suicide bombings ripped through a busy market in Baghdad Thursday, killing at least 32 people and wounding 110 others. Enditem Infosys Q3 net profit vaults 16.6% to Rs5,197 cr, revenue grows 6.6% Infosys, Indias second-largest IT services provider, and a global leader in next-generation digital services and consulting, has reported its highest sequential growth in eight years, with net profit growing 16.6 per cent to Rs5,197 crore in the October-December quarter. Bengaluru-based IT major said its revenue grew 6.6 per cent year-on-year to Rs25,927 crore with digital revenues growing by 31.3 per cent and overall digital revenue crossing more than half of total revenues. On a sequential basis, revenues grew 5.3 per cent in constant currency terms in Q3 of fiscal 2020-21- the highest in 8 years. Infosys also reported large deal TCV, which was at all time high of $7.13bn with 73 per cent being net new. Strong and steady operating margin at 25.4 per cent. Revenue and margin guidance band increased to 4.5-5.0 per cent and 24.0-24.5 per cent, respectively, on the back of continued strong performance. The Infosys team has delivered another quarter of excellent results. Execution of client relevant strategy focused on digital transformation continues to drive superior growth, well ahead of the industry. The scale of new client partnerships with leading global companies such as Vanguard, Daimler and Rolls-Royce demonstrate the depth of digital and cloud capabilities of Infosys. The commitment and skills of our employees to support and drive the digital journey of clients are matters of great pride for me, said Salil Parekh, CEO and MD. With the intense focus on client needs and the comprehensive foundation built on differentiated capabilities, I remain confident about the future, he added. Infosys reported continued strong Q3 free cash flow at Rs5,683 crore - an year-on-year growth of 19.4 per cent. For the first nine months of the fiscal, Infosys said revenues grew 9.8 per cent to Rs74,161 crore, while operating profit jumped 25.9 per cent to Rs18,182 crore. Basic EPS grew 16.9 per cent to Rs33.65. Employee attrition for IT services declined to 10 per cent from 15.8 per cent in Q3. In Q3, Infosys further enhanced its digital investments in Infosys Cobalt - the cloud services, platforms and solutions portfolio launched last quarter. The company expanded the Infosys Cobalt portfolio by unveiling Infosys Modernisation Suite to help enterprises modernise their legacy systems and Infosys Live Enterprise Application Management Platform to deliver cloud-powered, managed services for IT operations. Infosys said it has reached a significant milestone in its ESG journey by becoming carbon neutral in 2020, thirty years ahead of 2050, the timeline set by the Paris Agreement. Infosys reiterated its commitment to environment, social and governance causes by announcing its ESG 2030 vision and ambitions. The resilience of Infosys has been severely tested over the past several quarters and I am delighted with our response marked by strong revenue performance, large deal wins, healthy operating metrics and continued low attrition, said Pravin Rao, COO. This outstanding performance has been made possible by reimagining Infosys, over the last three years, as a live enterprise with fully transformed digital infrastructure Infosys Lex for learning, InfyMe for employee engagement, Infosys Meridian for collaboration, and Infosys DevSecOps platform to empower application teams to rapidly build and deploy new features. These highly differentiated systems and processes, redesigned for a digital-first world, are built on a strong foundation of robust connectivity to customer networks and fully secured personal devices, he added Infosys formed a strategic partnership with Daimler AG, one of the worlds most successful automotive companies, to support a technology-driven IT infrastructure transformation. Software becomes modular and IT infrastructure becomes big. Daimler will take three steps at once to transform its IT infrastructure: consolidation, scaling and modernisation. We need to think infrastructure beyond the size of our company. With Infosys we found a partner to scale, to innovate and to speed up, Jan Brecht, chief information officer, Daimler and Mercedes-Benz, said. Infosys was also selected by El Paso Water, a municipal utility in El Paso, Texas, to transform its legacy customer information systems (CIS) with Oracle Utilities Customer to Meter (C2M), besides other major deals. .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... Copyright 2021 Albuquerque Journal SANTA FE Newly-elected Senate President Pro Tem Mimi Stewart, D-Albuquerque, said there was no deal-making involved in her decision-making about new committee leaders. In particular, the appointment of Sen. George Munoz, D-Gallup, to lead the Senate Finance Committee has rankled some progressives after an election cycle in which several incumbent Democrats were ousted by more liberal primary election foes. ADVERTISEMENTSkip ................................................................ But Stewart described suggestions that her choice of Munoz as committee chairman was the result of a deal tied to her election as president pro tem as absurd, saying her picks for four open chairmanships were based on extensive interviews. It took me six weeks to make these decisions, but I stand by them, Stewart told the Journal. She also said that vice chair status held significant weight in her decision-making, as Munoz and others picked for open chairmanships had previously occupied such second-in-command roles. Committee chairmanships are important in the Legislature, as its often up to chairs to decide when and whether to hold hearings on bills assigned to their panels. Munoz broke ranks with most fellow Democrats in voting during recent legislative sessions against bills dealing with expanded firearm background check requirements and repealing a long-dormant abortion ban. But Stewart said he had expressed an openness to another top Democratic priority taking more money out of New Mexicos largest permanent fund for early childhood programs that had been bottled up in some recent years by former Senate Finance Committee Chairman John Arthur Smith. Smith, a Deming Democrat, was among seven incumbent senators defeated in the June primary election. For his part, Munoz, who withstood a primary challenge, said he does not harbor any election-related grudges. However, he said he would take a cautious approach to year-over-year spending increases when it comes to crafting a new state budget bill. We dont want to go through furloughs and layoffs, Munoz said in an interview this week. We want to get New Mexico so its in recovery mode. Forward-looking: Will there ever be another Galaxy Note? What once seemed like an improbable scenario has been looking more likely over the last few years as the increasingly large S series makes Samsungs other main flagship less relevant. With the Galaxy S21 Ultra offering S-Pen support, some analysts and leakers believe we wont see a Galaxy Note 21. Rumors that Samsung could discontinue its long-running Galaxy Note series arrived last Summer. With a crowded high-end lineup that includes the Flip and Fold handsets, the company is reportedly looking to streamline its flagship offerings. It used to be that the Note series, with its larger display and included stylus, was the preferred choice for professionals, but the S series has been growing ever similar to its sibling in terms of size and specs. The only real difference had been support for the S-Pen, but that changed with the the Galaxy S21 Ultrathough the stylus is an optional extra. It will also be supported on other future Samsung devices. One person who believes the Galaxy Note brand has been discontinued is renowned and reliable leaker Ice Universe. They tweeted a simple The End card with the words Galaxy Note above it (via Tom's Hardware). Ice Universe isnt alone in his belief. Other analysts agree that the Note series is over, though some think Samsung will release an FE version of the Note 20, just as it did with the Galaxy S20 FE. 1) We now see Oppo and Xiaomi each launching a flagship using a Samsung LTPO panel in 1H'21. 2) Although now there is no Note 21 coming, we may see a Note 20 FE... 3) The lack of a Note 21 series means the S21 series will sell at higher volumes for longer and could outsell S10.. Ross Young (@DSCCRoss) January 21, 2021 Not all reports point to the brands demise. Yonhap News last month wrote that Samsung is preparing to release the next Galaxy Note, in 2021, citing an anonymous official within the firm. As someone whos been a Note user since the Note 3, it would be sad to see the series come to an end. But all signs point toward its death. Radio host Kyle Sandilands has sensationally claimed he once turned down Jessica Alba, who is widely considered one of the most beautiful women in Hollywood. The 49-year-old made the admission during an interview with Guy and Jules Sebastian on The Kyle and Jackie O Show on Friday. Guy, 39, revealed that Jessica was his celebrity 'hall pass', which prompted Kyle to say he'd once had a 'moment' with the Sin City star years before she married her husband, Cash Warren. What could've been? Kyle Sandilands (left) has sensationally claimed he once turned down Jessica Alba (right), who is widely considered one of the most beautiful women in Hollywood 'Well, I don't want to bring up my story, because that might crush you... Nothing happened, but it could have happened. It was on offer,' Kyle began. A stunned Guy asked Kyle to elaborate, and his co-host Jackie 'O' Henderson jumped in to explain they'd interviewed Jessica, 39, and 'there was a vibe'. Jackie, 45, said they then attended the Logie Awards a few nights later, and Jessica also happened to be there. Crush: Kyle made the admission during an interview with Guy (right) and Jules Sebastian (left) on Friday. Guy, 39, revealed Jessica was his celebrity 'hall pass', which prompted Kyle to say he'd once had a 'moment' with her years before she married her husband, Cash Warren 'She made a beeline for Kyle, pointed to him and asked him to come over and gave him the smile...' she recounted. 'I don't know, there was something about him that she must've remembered and liked, put it that way.' But Jackie said she and Kyle were working at the event, and she refused to let him leave to go off with the actress. Flirtation: A stunned Guy asked Kyle to elaborate, and his radio co-host Jackie 'O' Henderson (left) explained they'd interviewed Jessica and 'there was a vibe' Kyle said he saw the Fantastic Four star six months later at another red carpet event in Los Angeles, and she accused him of brushing her off. 'She was walking down the wall, not talking to anyone, and I called out to her, and she turned around to sort of wave and then saw us and came over,' he revealed. 'She was like, "I remember you... I wanted to hang out and you snubbed me!" I was gobsmacked.' BRUSSELS - NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg met with Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu on Friday and said he welcomed the continuation of NATO-brokered talks between Turkey and Greece on a military deconfliction mechanism in the Eastern Mediterranean, said a statement released by NATO. "The de-confliction mechanism" sponsored by NATO "has helped to reduce tensions and create the space for political discussions to resolve the underlying issues," Stoltenberg said, adding that he welcomes "the exploratory talks" between the two countries "taking place in Istanbul next week". Stoltenberg and Cavusoglu also discussed Afghanistan and Libya. In particular, on Libya the secretary general expressed his concern about the situation and restated the long-standing NATO position that the Alliance remains committed to providing advice in the area of defence and security institution building. Alabamas policy requiring a transgender person to undergo full gender reassignment surgery before they can change the sex on their drivers license is unconstitutional, a federal judge ruled Friday. U.S. District Judge Myron Thompson said Alabama policys that people can only change the sex designation on their driver licenses only by changing their genitalia is unconstitutional. He directed the state to give new licenses to the three transgender women who filed the lawsuit reflecting that they are women. The federal judge said the policy subjects people to harassment and even the risk of violence when they have a license that does not match their daily appearance. In 2019 arguments in the case, Thompson said Alabama was essentially marking people with a scarlet T. The alternative to surgery is to bear a driver license with a sex designation that does not match the plaintiffs identity or appearance. That too comes with pain and risk, Thompson wrote. Alabama therefore may no longer make peoples genitalia determine the contents of their driver licenses, Thompson said. The American Civil Liberties Union, which is representing the plaintiffs, has said Alabama is one of about nine states that require proof of surgery to change the gender identification on a state ID. I know who I am, and finally the state of Alabama will be required to respect me and provide an accurate drivers license, Darcy Corbitt, one of the plaintiffs in the case, said in a statement issued through the ACLU. The Alabama attorney generals office did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment. The court rightfully saw that the state does not have a right to determine which medical procedures a person has, nor can they force surgery on an entire class of people, Tish Gotell Faulks, legal director for the ACLU of Alabama, said in a statement. During a previous hearing, Corbitt and others described discrimination faced when licenses didnt match their appearance. Corbitt said a license clerks friendliness evaporated when she saw her previous Alabama license listed male under gender and then began referring to her as it and he. Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Personal Auto Alabama BAGHDAD, Jan. 21 (Xinhua) -- A rare twin suicide bomb attacks in central Baghdad on Thursday morning killed up to 32 and wounded 110 others, breaking months of relative calm in the Iraqi capital, security sources and Iraqi Health Ministry said. An Interior Ministry source anonymously told Xinhua that a suicide bomber blew up his explosive belt in a crowded market in Bab al-Sharji area, and a second one detonated his a few minutes later in the same market. Further details appeared later when Interior Ministry spokesman Khalid al-Mahana said in a press release that the first suicide bomber blew up his explosive belt in a bustling outdoor market for second-hand clothes in Bab al-Sharji area after he claimed he was sick and people gathered to help him. The second suicide bomber detonated his explosive belt a few minutes later in the same market as people gathered to evacuate the victims of the first blast, al-Mahana said. Iraqi Health Minister Hassan al-Tamimi said in a statement that Baghdad's hospitals received 32 bodies, while 110 wounded people were admitted for treatment. "Most of the wounded received treatment and left the hospitals, and only 36 remain for further treatment," al-Tamimi added. Iraqi security forces cordoned off the area and blocked many streets leading to the scene, while ambulances and civilian cars evacuated the wounded to nearby hospitals and medical centers. Yahia Rasoul, spokesman of the commander-in-chief of the Iraqi forces said in a press release during his visit to the wounded in Baghdad hospitals that "the security forces have information about the suicide bombers and have been chasing them before the explosions, but it seems that this is what prompted them to quickly blow themselves up." Rasoul pledged to reach those who planned and prepared for the suicide attacks. Meanwhile, Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi, also commander-in-chief of the Iraqi forces, chaired an emergency meeting with security and intelligence commanders at Baghdad Operations Command to discuss the recent security breach, according to al-Kadhimi's media office. Al-Kadhimi launched an investigation into the incident and ordered to hunt down the terrorist cells that facilitated the arrival of the suicide bombers, the statement said. He said that the attack on civilians "confirms the continuation of our war against terrorism and that there is no retreat in the fight to eliminate its remnants in every inch of Iraq," the statement said. Al-Kadhimi pledged to make changes in the security forces responsible for the security breach in Baghdad, it added. Iraqi President Barham Salih said in a tweet on Twitter that the timing of these two "terrorist attacks confirms the terrorist groups' efforts to target the country's major political steps," referring to the country's early elections slated for Oct. 10, 2021. For his part, Iraqi Minister of Foreign Affairs Fuad Hussein said in a press release, after the suicide bombings in Baghdad, "the continuing regional tension affects the internal security situation in Iraq." He said that the militants of the extremist Islamic State (IS) group "are actively moving in several Iraqi areas, and the internal threat is still present." No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, but the militants of the extremist Islamic State (IS) group, in most cases, are responsible for such suicide attacks targeting security forces and crowded areas including markets, cafes, and mosques across Iraq. After years of deadly violence in Iraq after the U.S.-led invasion in 2003, massive suicide bombings have become rare in Baghdad, as the security situation has relatively improved in Iraq since the Iraqi security forces fully defeated IS militants across the country late in 2017. However, sporadic deadly incidents still occur in the war-ravaged country as IS remnants have since melted into urban areas or deserts and rugged areas, carrying out frequent guerilla attacks against security forces and civilians. PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 22, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- VBit Technologies, one of only a few US-based hosting hardware mining companies, unveiled its new branding that will be more in line with their ongoing business diversification set to roll out in 2021. After three years of serving as the ultimate symbol of VBit Technologies' mission, their first logo is being retired. A new group of VBit logos is being introduced- one variation for each of their services within the crypto industry. VBit Technologies "VBit is a brand that moves with the times, and we have evolved dramatically over the few years from a company that was known primarily for selling mining equipment to a name that is connected with broader services within the crypto value chain," Danh Vo, CEO and founder, said. They further stated that their mission is to accelerate the financial technology revolution by advocating the incredible potential of blockchain technology to a bigger audience and developing cutting-edge products and services, and they wanted their logos to reflect exactly that. VBit Technologies will remain the leading brand - gathering all VBit specific service brands under its umbrella. Mr. Vo shared more details: "Crypto as an industry has now come of age, and is now firmly in the mainstream -it is here to stay and so is VBit Technologies. Our infinity-inspired logo is implicating our stability and futuristic aspirations." VBit Mining brand will represent the company's mining hardware distribution branch - a trusted retailer of the Antminer ASIC miners, the most popular Bitcoin mining hardware globally. VBit Data Centers logo will be hanging in the rafters of their US and Canada data center facilities, which are servicing thousands of people worldwide, and are on their way to becoming one of the largest bitcoin mining operations in the world. They hinted that other brands would be presented later this year, as the company plans to develop additional service branches as their "...Ultimate goal is enabling acceptance of crypto-based tools and operations in the everyday lives of people across the globe, and the new logo design marks the start of the new era for VBit." Contact: [email protected] Related Images new-vbit-logo.jpg New VBit Logo SOURCE VBit Technologies DETROIT -- Rick Wershe, better known as White Boy Rick, is speaking out on behalf of former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick after the disgraced mayors prison sentence was commuted earlier this week by former President Donald Trump. In an interview with WXYZ Detroit, Wershe, the longest-serving, non-violent juvenile offender in Michigan history, says he met with Kilpatrick in prison and says the ex-mayor is remorseful and not the arrogant person hes perceived to be. I think he can do a lot of good. What the President did was good for him and his family, Wershe said. Wershe himself was released from prison in July after spending nearly 30 years behind bars. Since his release, Wershe spends his time working on prison reform. Now that hes also free, Wershe believes Kilpatrick can be a mentor to young people in the community and work to reform the prison system. The now 50-year-old Kilpatrick was sentenced to 28 years in prison after he was convicted in 2013 on 24 charges including racketeering, bribery and extortion. Kilpatrick only served seven of the 28 years he was sentenced before Trump commuted the sentence the day before the former president left office. And while Wershe is pleased with Kilpatricks early release, others dont believe Kilpatricks attitude has changed. My position on the disgraced former Mayor of Detroit has not changed. Kwame Kilpatrick has earned every day he served in federal prison for the horrible crimes he committed against the people of Detroit, U.S. Attorney Matthew Schneider said of Kilpatricks commutation. He is a notorious and unrepentant criminal. He remains convicted of 24 felonies. Kilpatrick has served only one quarter of the sentence that was very appropriately imposed. Thankfully, under Michigan law, he cannot hold state or local public office for 20 years after his conviction. READ MORE: Kilpatricks decent into corruption Kilpatrick sentenced to 28 years Kilpatrick denied early release Court: Kwame Kilpatrick didnt cause Detroit bankruptcy, but atmosphere of corruption didnt help Kwame Kilpatricks son pleads with President Trump to commute ex-Mayors sentence Ex-Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick denied release from prison again Report: Kwame Kilpatrick asks President Trump to commute his sentence Forward-looking: The pandemic has made people more hygiene-aware, especially as Covid-19 can survive on surfaces for several hours. Some objects are touched by numerous people every day, such as elevator buttons, and not everyone remembers to wash their hands afterward. But one company has an idea about how to address the problem: touchless technology that replicates real actions. As reported by Engadget, Singapore-based studio Stuck Designs Kinetic Touchless is described as Tactile responsive tech without the need for touch. It goes beyond usual motion detection by replicating the effect of a users interaction. In the example of elevator buttons, a person just needs to move a finger toward their floor number to activate the sensor. The button sinks inwards without physical contact as the hand gets closer, before returning to its original position. Stuck Design says that Kinetic Touchless can be applied to more than just poking movements. It also works with gestures such as pushing, pulling, and even sliding. With contactless interactions on the rise in the face of COVID-19, most touchless tech tends towards a static sensor with a light or buzz to indicate an activated button, greatly diminishing the push button interaction, writes the company. By going beyond the expected feedback of light and sound, Kinetic Touchless provides a surprisingly delightful and yet newly familiar way to interact with contactless technology. It certainly looks like the ideal technology to introduce during a pandemic, but while a working prototype has been created, it could be some time before we see Kinetic Touchless tech in elevators. New York, Jan. 22, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Public Safety & Security Analytics Market Research Report by Type, by Component, by Function, by Deployment, by Application - Global Forecast to 2025 - Cumulative Impact of COVID-19" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p05989787/?utm_source=GNW Market Statistics: The report provides market sizing and forecast across five major currencies - USD, EUR GBP, JPY, and AUD. This helps organization leaders make better decisions when currency exchange data is readily available. 1. The Global Public Safety & Security Analytics Market is expected to grow from USD 7,912.05 Million in 2020 to USD 17,873.01 Million by the end of 2025. 2. The Global Public Safety & Security Analytics Market is expected to grow from EUR 6,937.43 Million in 2020 to EUR 15,671.39 Million by the end of 2025. 3. The Global Public Safety & Security Analytics Market is expected to grow from GBP 6,167.39 Million in 2020 to GBP 13,931.90 Million by the end of 2025. 4. The Global Public Safety & Security Analytics Market is expected to grow from JPY 844,416.32 Million in 2020 to JPY 1,907,503.28 Million by the end of 2025. 5. The Global Public Safety & Security Analytics Market is expected to grow from AUD 11,489.35 Million in 2020 to AUD 25,953.99 Million by the end of 2025. Market Segmentation & Coverage: This research report categorizes the Public Safety & Security Analytics to forecast the revenues and analyze the trends in each of the following sub-markets: Based on Type, the Public Safety & Security Analytics Market studied across Descriptive Analytics, Predictive Analytics, and Prescriptive Analytics. Based on Component, the Public Safety & Security Analytics Market studied across Devices, Networks, and Software & APIs. Based on Function, the Public Safety & Security Analytics Market studied across Connected Intelligence, Data Governance for Video Security, Investigative Insights, and Situational Awareness. Based on Deployment, the Public Safety & Security Analytics Market studied across On-Cloud and On-Premise. Based on Application, the Public Safety & Security Analytics Market studied across Border Management, Crisis & Safety Management, Cyber Security, Fighting Fraud & Corruption, Justice & Law Enforcement, and National Security. "The Asia-Pacific is projected to witness the highest growth during the forecast period" Based on Geography, the Public Safety & Security Analytics Market studied across Americas, Asia-Pacific, and Europe, Middle East & Africa. The Americas region surveyed across Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, and United States. The Asia-Pacific region surveyed across Australia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, South Korea, and Thailand. The Europe, Middle East & Africa region surveyed across France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Spain, United Arab Emirates, and United Kingdom. The Europe, Middle East & Africa commanded the largest size in the Public Safety & Security Analytics Market in 2020. On the other hand, the Asia-Pacific is expected to grow at the fastest CAGR during the forecast period. Company Usability Profiles: The report deeply explores the recent significant developments by the leading vendors and innovation profiles in the Global Public Safety & Security Analytics Market including Accenture, Assuria, AVEVA Group plc, BAE Systems, CENTRALSQUARE ALL, Cisco, ESRI, Fortinet, Haystax, Hexagon AB, Hitachi, Ltd., IBM, NEC, Nice Systems, Panasonic Corporation, PredPol, SAP, SAS, Splunk Inc., T-Systems, and Verint Systems. Cumulative Impact of COVID-19: COVID-19 is an incomparable global public health emergency that has affected almost every industry, so for and, the long-term effects projected to impact the industry growth during the forecast period. Our ongoing research amplifies our research framework to ensure the inclusion of underlaying COVID-19 issues and potential paths forward. The report is delivering insights on COVID-19 considering the changes in consumer behavior and demand, purchasing patterns, re-routing of the supply chain, dynamics of current market forces, and the significant interventions of governments. The updated study provides insights, analysis, estimations, and forecast, considering the COVID-19 impact on the market. 360iResearch FPNV Positioning Matrix: The 360iResearch FPNV Positioning Matrix evaluates and categorizes the vendors in the Public Safety & Security Analytics Market on the basis of Business Strategy (Business Growth, Industry Coverage, Financial Viability, and Channel Support) and Product Satisfaction (Value for Money, Ease of Use, Product Features, and Customer Support) that aids businesses in better decision making and understanding the competitive landscape. 360iResearch Competitive Strategic Window: The 360iResearch Competitive Strategic Window analyses the competitive landscape in terms of markets, applications, and geographies. The 360iResearch Competitive Strategic Window helps the vendor define an alignment or fit between their capabilities and opportunities for future growth prospects. During a forecast period, it defines the optimal or favorable fit for the vendors to adopt successive merger and acquisition strategies, geography expansion, research & development, and new product introduction strategies to execute further business expansion and growth. The report provides insights on the following pointers: 1. Market Penetration: Provides comprehensive information on the market offered by the key players 2. Market Development: Provides in-depth information about lucrative emerging markets and analyzes the markets 3. Market Diversification: Provides detailed information about new product launches, untapped geographies, recent developments, and investments 4. Competitive Assessment & Intelligence: Provides an exhaustive assessment of market shares, strategies, products, and manufacturing capabilities of the leading players 5. Product Development & Innovation: Provides intelligent insights on future technologies, R&D activities, and new product developments The report answers questions such as: 1. What is the market size and forecast of the Global Public Safety & Security Analytics Market? 2. What are the inhibiting factors and impact of COVID-19 shaping the Global Public Safety & Security Analytics Market during the forecast period? 3. Which are the products/segments/applications/areas to invest in over the forecast period in the Global Public Safety & Security Analytics Market? 4. What is the competitive strategic window for opportunities in the Global Public Safety & Security Analytics Market? 5. What are the technology trends and regulatory frameworks in the Global Public Safety & Security Analytics Market? 6. What are the modes and strategic moves considered suitable for entering the Global Public Safety & Security Analytics Market? Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05989787/?utm_source=GNW About Reportlinker ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place. __________________________ ROTTERDAM, Netherlands, Jan. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, five Nobel Laureates and more than 3,000 scientists from over 100 countries signed up to the "Groningen Science Declaration" calling on world leaders, decision-makers and investors, to change the way we understand, plan and invest for a changing climate to ensure we limit future damage. The signing took place ahead of the virtual Climate Adaptation Summit (CAS 2021) on 25th-26th January. The statement, initiated by Patrick Verkooijen, CEO of Global Center on Adaptation (GCA), is released as figures from the first "GCA State and Trends in Adaptation 2020" report show that climate adaptation is likely to have suffered a single-digit percentage fall in 2020 and that global climate adaptation funding needs to increase ten-fold, to US$300 billion a year, to meet estimates of what is needed to respond to escalating climate risks. In the Groningen Science Declaration the scientists state that "our failure to adapt and mitigate Covid-19 parallels the disruption to come if we do not act immediately to mitigate and adapt our world in response to our changing climate [.] unless we step up and adapt now the results will be increasing poverty, water shortages, agricultural losses and soaring levels of migration with an enormous toll on human life." Ban Ki-moon, 8th Secretary General of the United Nations and Chair of the Global Center on Adaptation, speaking during the launch said: "Even if mitigation targets outlined in the Paris Agreement are reached, it still won't be enough. Climate change is already happening and so we must adapt to its impacts. The Groningen Scientific Declaration makes it clear that we, as humans, have caused climate change and so we must accelerate adaptation to ensure we can all live in a sustainable and resilient world that leaves no-one behind." Patrick Verkooijen, CEO of the Global Center on Adaptation said: "As a result of the pandemic we are facing interlinked health, economic and climate crises. We must implement interventions to support a resilient recovery and we must act now before climate change accelerates beyond the capabilities of nature and humans to adapt. The science community, in signing this declaration, know the stakes could not be higher." Dr. Tawakkol Karman, Nobel Peace Prize 2011 said: "Our climate emergency poses the severest threat to peace and security. As extreme weather events continue to accelerate and sea levels rise, people have to compete over scarce resources and deal with the accelerated degradation of the environment around them. If we don't act and adapt and soon, we will inevitably see greater instability, conflict and increased migration." Professor Sir Christopher Pissarides, The Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel 2010 said: "The Covid-19 crisis has devastated our economies but it will soon be history; the climate-related disasters that are occurring with increasing frequency will only get worse, if we don't do anything about it. Our economies are as vulnerable to them as they were to Covid-19. We need to improve the way we manage such disasters and take steps to reduce them. Investments in sustainability should be given priority: they should, and usually do, give higher returns in the longer term. We need to focus on inclusive green job creation, to help families in need and prepare ourselves better for the future. It is of paramount importance that governments, through their Covid-19 recovery packages, invest in climate adaptation and resilience against multiple shocks, focused on green job creation and long-term sustainable growth." Professor Brian Schmidt, Nobel Prize in Physics 2011 said: "COVID-19 has shown just how brittle our environment is that our world and way of life can be upended so fundamentally and so quickly. But the pandemic has also shown governments all across the world can listen to science and expert advice, to protect their people and their societies. They are doing the same with the science of climate change. Now is the time to invest in and drive the innovative climate solutions we already have at our disposal to create new jobs, to stimulate our economies, to develop the industries and products of tomorrow, while at the same time building a climate resilient, a climate smart and a climate just future." Professor Donna Strickland, Nobel Prize in Physics 2018 said: "I believe that climate change adaptation requires the depth and breadth of expertise best achieved through interdisciplinary collaborations and engagement with policy-makers. Working with the Optical Society, together we have communicated to those in public policy the vital role optics can play in measuring the effects of climate change and the effectiveness of remediation efforts. If scientists and engineers worked together on developing innovative sensor technologies with the support of governments, the resulting innovation could be a milestone achievement in addressing climate change." Prof Hoesung Lee, Chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) also present at the virtual launch event said: "The climate is already changing, and we will have to adapt to address the further global warming that is coming because of past emissions of greenhouse gases. But we must also understand that there are limits to adaptation, and the more we can limit future warming the greater the scope for successful adaptation measures." Professor Jouke de Vries, President of the University of Groningen said: "Our University and the city of Groningen are proud to host the Science Declaration and the launch event with Nobel Laureates and other distinguished guests. Our professors, researchers, educators and students work tirelessly with national and international partners towards the local, regional and global Green Transition. It is clear that mitigation of climate change goes hand-in-hand with adaptation, and our research and Master Degree programs reflect this, with a focus on human health, behavioural sciences, climate law and clean energy." Prof. Joseph Stiglitz, The Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel 2001 also signed the Groningen Science Declaration during the virtual launch. Contact Alexandra Gee Global Center on Adaptation [email protected] +447887 804594 SOURCE The Global Center on Adaptation Related Links https://gca.org/home Vijay Mallya Vijay Mallya has applied to Home Secretary Priti Patel for "another route" to be able to stay in the UK, the liquor tycoon's barrister representing him in bankruptcy proceedings in the High Court of London confirmed during a remote hearing on Friday. The 65-year-old businessman, whose legal challenge to the Indian government's extradition request was turned down at the Supreme Court level in the UK last year, remains in Britain on bail until Patel signs off on the order for him to be extradited to India to face charges of fraud and money laundering related to the now-defunct Kingfisher Airlines. The UK Home Office has so far only confirmed on background that a confidential legal process remains ongoing before the extradition order can be executed. This had raised widespread speculation that Mallya had sought asylum in the UK, details of which are neither confirmed nor denied by the Home Office in Britain while an application is pending. The extradition was upheld but he [Mallya] is still here because as you know there is another route for him to apply to the Secretary of State [Patel] for status, said Mallya's barrister Philip Marshall, when specifically asked by Deputy Insolvency and Companies Court Judge Nigel Barnett about the status of the extradition proceedings. It is likely that the reference is to an asylum route which, according to legal experts, would depend upon whether Mallya applied for asylum prior to the extradition request or after. He would need to argue much stronger grounds. There are specific rules that detail when asylum is a bar to extradition, it is clear that claiming asylum after all appeals have been exhausted is unlikely to be considered a valid claim to asylum protection, explains Toby Cadman, co-founder of Guernica 37 International Justice Chambers and a UK-based extradition specialist. The court on Friday also heard how Mallya, who submitted written evidence for the hearing, was in a "constrained" position as a close relative had passed away as a result of COVID-19. The remote hearing in the commercial division of the High Court in London was to establish whether the court can sanction substantial sums towards Mallya's living expenses and legal fees from the sale of a French luxury property Le Grand Jardin last year. The money is held in the UK's Court Funds Office (CFO) as part of bankruptcy proceedings brought by a consortium of Indian banks led by the State Bank of India (SBI) in pursuit of unpaid loans. Mallya's legal team argues that he should be sanctioned the required funds to meet mounting legal costs in India and the UK, which includes costs to be paid to the UK's Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) which argued the extradition proceedings on behalf of the Indian authorities. The lawyers for the banks have challenged this as it would dissipate the funds owed to his creditors towards speculative and "unreasonable" costs while other sources of funds remain available to the businessman. The hearing forms part of a series as both sides make arguments for and against a bankruptcy order against Mallya in the UK. Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. 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. Sushant Singh Rajputs death by suicide last year came as a shock for millions of people. What followed was a flush of opinions, baseless rumours and an endless blame game. However, the CBI stated that there was no foul play in his demise. Yesterday was his birth anniversary and a big news came on that day itself. A road is all set to be named after the actor in New Delhi. In Andrews Ganj,. South Delhi Municipal Corporations Congress councillor Abhishek Dutt in September 2020 had put in this proposal as he said that many people of that area are Biharis and were demanding the same. The request was finally sanctioned yesterday on the actors birthday and now the lane will be called Sushant Singh Rajput Marg. Handout/Biden Inaugural Committee via Getty ImagesThe Celebrating America inauguration special on Wednesday night featured a star-studded lineup that included Jon Bon Jovi, Bruce Springsteen and other big-name music stars. But now it appears that the Bon Jovi frontman's performance may not have been entirely as advertised. While Jon and his backing band's performance of The Beatles' "Here Comes the Sun" was introduced as taking place in Miami, ABC-TV affiliate WPLG reports that permits were obtained at multiple locations across South Florida to film it, including the iconic pier in the town of Dania Beach. In fact, many viewers took to social media to note that the dramatic pier location did not resemble Miami at all, and several guessed that it had been filmed on the Dania Beach Pier. While it's possible that the video included images shot elsewhere, WPLG has confirmed that Bon Jovi's performance was actually filmed at sunrise on January 15 in that town, which is located about 23 miles north of Miami. Dania Beach posted a statement acknowledging the performance, writing, "We are extremely proud that the beautiful City of Dania Beach Pier was chosen as one of the locations for Jon Bon Jovi...to sing...to celebrate the Inauguration 2021." The statement adds, "The Dania Beach Pier is the gem of our city and we are very grateful to see it shine on such a momentous day." By Andrea Dresdale Copyright 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved. Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Tony Holohan has criticised adverts from Ryanair encouraging people to book flights for the summer for being not very responsible. The companys campaign that uses the tagline jab and go, encourages people to engage in air travel as Covid-19 vaccinations are being rolled out. It was reported that the advert garnered 1,600 complaints since airing, according to the UK's Advertising Standards Agency. Dr Holohan says he'd welcome "every possible deterrent" to stop people travelling in and out of Ireland - and urged people to do the responsible thing. There may be inducements for people which I don't think are particularly responsible in terms of some of the advertising we've heard about, you know, people can think about doing now that we've got vaccines on the horizon. We urge people to avoid all non-essential travel. This news comes as the European Union strongly discouraged non-essential and domestic travel. The EU is proposing a more co-ordinated approach to travel restrictions across the bloc due to the emergence of Covid-19 variants. Charles Michel, president of the European Council, said: "It will be probably necessary to take additional restrictive measures in order to limit the non-essential travels and that is the orientation that we are taking." When asked about EU collective travel restrictions, Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney said that, at the moment, it was not possible to move in concert on this island, so it could be difficult to achieve collective agreement at EU level. Ideally, yes, Id like to see collective action. Stills of "We, Again: The Ballet" Courtesy of KBS By Park Ji-won The Korean National Ballet (KNB) and public broadcasting network KBS, have come under fire for filming dancers in dangerous locations for a ballet program. According to documents acquired by Rep. Jeon Yong-gi of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea, the labor union of dancers at KNB said they were treated badly and some of them were injured due to the dangerous locations for the filming of KBS's special one-off program "We, Again: The Ballet," which aired on Dec. 24. The labor union criticized the dance company and the network for failing to protect the health and safety of the cast. The show was a joint project organized by the dance company and the network aimed at giving hope to those who are suffering from the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic by showing the dancers performing in various places in Korea. Filming took place in seven different locations, including a salt pan, airstrip, and forest. "Dancers had to jump on an asphalt airstrip at Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) in Sacheon, South Gyeongsang Province, and one of them was injured while filming Also, the filming worsened the pain in a dancer's leg, which had already been smarting One day after the filming, more dancers felt pain in their legs," the union's document said. "On a saltern, dancers were so worried about the injuries because the ground was very slippery. In the forest, dancers were afraid of hurting their ankles because the ground was basically made up of soil, stones, and leaves When one dancer complained about the ground conditions, a KBS staffer said 'You are a professional dancer. Why don't you avoid it professionally?' and the ballet company didn't take any proper measures to deal with the situation "Dancers had to wait and film in very cold weather without any proper heaters to warm them. So many of them had to suffer from frozen muscles and had to rest the next day." The union also claimed that KBS filmed dancers changing their clothes without permission. The dance company said in the document, "We took into consideration the health and safety of the dancers, while filming proceeded after gaining the approval of the dancers. There is one scene showing the dancers shivering after their perspiration evaporated, but it was not as bad as it looks." As soon as a teaser video was released, however, the dance company faced criticism, while the broadcaster was also blamed for failing to protect the health and safety of the dancers. Others, however, said the scenes were beautiful. A comment reads, "It is abuse committed in the name of art. No one would have come up with that program if the health and safety of the dancers were taken into account." "The program does not aim to show hope, but to show the despair of the dancers. Pointe shoes on the pavement is not something to brag about," wrote another. Yun Dan-woo, a dance critic, said on Twitter, "Even though the person in charge got the approval from the dancers and offered some favors, if the filming location was dangerous, the person who is responsible should have given up filming and come up with a plan B. The moment a dancer gets injured, there should be no excuses." 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 A man who went by the username Kiwipedo on the dark web has been jailed after he tried to buy a girl under the age of seven for $15,000. Aaron Joseph Hutton, 36, was jailed for five years after fronting Auckland District Court, in New Zealand, on Friday. He had pleaded guilty in July 2020 to attempting to deal in someone under the age of 18 for sexual exploitation and possessing 417 pieces of objectionable material, Stuff reported. Court documents claim Hutton spoke to paedophiles and was looking for someone who could 'traffic children internationally' on the dark web. Court documents claim Aaron Joseph Hutton (pictured, at Auckland District Court) spoke to paedophiles and was looking for someone who could 'traffic children internationally' on the dark web The dark web was designed for the United States military, but has been overrun by criminals because they can conceal their identity on the platform. A Department of Internal Affairs agent posed as a dark web user and exchanged a series of messages with Hutton. Hutton asked the agent how the 'search' was going and said in another message: 'As for the trafficking still keen just trying to organise my life so I can accept the item.' The court heard Hutton had been speaking with another agent and planned to arrange to meet a seven-year-old girl. Police used a tracing device that led them to Hutton's workplace in August 2015. They also searched his home and hard drives where they found folders titled 'Pure Evil and Darkness' and 'Sick and Twisted'. Further details of Hutton's arrest have been suppressed on court orders. Hutton said he had no intention to commit a crime and that he did not have paedophilic tendencies. Aaron Joseph Hutton, 36, was jailed for five years after fronting Auckland District Court, in New Zealand, on Friday He said he also knew he was speaking to a DIA agent and he was simply engaging in a game of 'cat and mouse'. Crown prosecutor Sam McMullan said Hutton thought it was some kind of joke after he pleaded guilty. Judge Roberts said Hutton had a 'dreadful purpose' and that he harboured an 'unhealthy interest' in young girls. Euphoria is the HBO show the blew up among Millennials and Gen Z, especially when it comes to TikTok. From the makeup and the music, especially the stars of the show, Euphoria has fans attention. And even though COVID-19 has shut down a lot of productions or delayed them, Zendaya, Hunter Schafer, and others were able to work on smaller portions of the show. These special episodes are the same length as a regular one, but theyre spread out. The first part premiered before Christmas, and the second half is coming out Jan. 22 on HBO Max. One special thing about this upcoming episode is that Schafer co-wrote it with creator Sam Levinson. She actually did that instead of go to a mental hospital during quarantine. Hunter Schafer hit a low point during quarantine and researched mental hospitals before Sam Levinson called her Hunter Schafer on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on Jan. 20, 2021 | Andrew Lipovsky/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images RELATED: Euphoria: Hunter Schafer Revealed Theres a Shonda Rhimes Connection in Her Special Episode While on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Schafer talked about her truck and about the pandemic a little. And when she talked about this episode, she touched on how she wasnt doing well when approached with the Euphoria episode. I have to be honest, I was not doing super well mentally at that time, you know, as quarantine has put a lot of us in that place, Schafer said. I had taken it upon myself to research mental hospitals in North Carolina, I was like, It might be a good decision to do that with where I was at. At the time, she road-tripped in her truck to North Carolina and while staying there, as her mental health got worse, she started to seriously consider going to a facility. She researched them on Google, but there were a lot of bad reviews. Levinson ended up calling her that very day, though, about writing an episode. Sam called me later that day and I was like, Sam, Ive been researching mental hospitals for, like, two hours. Like, why do they all have terrible reviews? Like, I cant find any that are good,' Schafer remembered. And he was like, Well, Hunter no one likes being at mental hospitals. No one is going to leave a good review for a mental hospital.' She didnt end up going to a mental hospital, which shes grateful about. Although she did note the imporantance of them for those that do need to go. She was happy she was able to put her energy into something creative instead. Levinson was inspired by a poem Schafer wrote and so he asked her to co-write the episode part two: jules stream it early friday at 9pm et/6pm pt on @hbomax. pic.twitter.com/DOpixn4itM euphoria (@euphoriaHBO) January 19, 2021 Initially when Levinson called, it didnt seem like he was going to have her write it with him right away. However, in an interview with GQ after Part One came out, he revealed that after talking with her, they got caught up in a conversation for several hours and he got stuck on a poem of hers. We were talking and she said something that was based on a poem she had written when she was sixteen about the ocean and its femininity and strength, Levinson said. And I said, Well, this ought to be actual dialogue. Do you want to just write this thing together? Four days later, we had a draft of the episode that we co-wrote. In the teaser clip Fallon showed, Jules talks about how being transgender is spiritual but not religious. It belongs to just her and its all just been about staying alive for her. The ocean is heavily featured in the trailer for the episode as well, so, again, Schafers poem and real life will play a major role. Levinson also said he wanted to explore a side of Jules that showed viewers, once and for all, that shes not a villain In the same GQ piece, Levinson said that once it became apparent that the pandemic would alter the way Season 2 was supposed to originally go, he came up with the two-part plan that fans are currently seeing. And the plan always focused on Rue and Jules, arguably the most important pair on the show. However, Levinson described that one time he saw Jules trending on Twitter, with a chunk of people talking about how shes a villain. He was taken aback by that and set out to right that. The idea that people could watch the show and walk away feeling that she was a villain was so appalling to me that I thought, Im gonna write an episode that forces the audience to look at the world through her eyes and understand the burden of loving an addict, he said. RELATED: Euphoria: A Poem Hunter Schafer Wrote Inspired Jules Special Episode Retired Gen. Lloyd Austin speaks after being formally nominated by President-elect Joe Biden to be secretary of defense, in Wilmington, Del., on Dec. 9, 2020. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) House, Senate Approve Waiver for Bidens Pentagon Nominee Both chambers of Congress on Thursday approved a waiver for President Joe Bidens secretary of defense nominee. Federal law prohibits the appointment of a secretary of defense within seven years of him or her being on active duty. Congress passed a bill carving out an exception for Bidens nominee, retired Gen. Lloyd Austin. Austin retired from the U.S. Army on May 1, 2016. The House passed the bill, H.R. 335, 326-78. Over 100 Republicans voted yes, along with 205 Democrats. Fifteen Democrats voted no, as did 63 Republicans. Rep. Chris Smith (R-N.J.) said on the House floor before the vote that Austin is highly qualified and has assured legislators that he understands the importance of civilian control of the military. He has met with us, he has showed us that he respects what is really one of the cornerstones of civilian control of the military and that is the House and the Senate. We are the ones who have oversight of the pentagon. Hes shown that he respects that. So I can tell you and all members voting, without a shadow of a doubt, I have no concern whatsoever about Lloyd Austin upholding civilian control of the military, Smith said. The lawmaker, who voted to approve the bill, also said the fact that Austin is African-American would help deal with the rise of white supremacy and white nationalism within the military. Rep. Chris Smith (R-N.J.) speaks at a rally on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol in Washington on June 4, 2019. (Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times) Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-Wis.), among the no votes, said he opposed the measure because it would be the second time in five years that Congress carved out an exception to the law, effectively destroying the historical precedent against such exemptions. We will also invert the congressional intent in the underlying national security act by setting the precedent that the presumption is for approval, not the disapproval, of recently retired officers, he said. Following the Houses approval, the Senate voted 69-27 to pass the exception. Democrats and Republicans were split, with some members voting each way. I am confident that Mr. Austin will bring steadiness, leadership, and respect to this indispensable American institution, Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) said on the Senate floor, referring to the Pentagon. Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) said in a statement that she voted against the waiver because of concerns about erosion of civilian control over the U.S. military. I cannot support continuing to erode civilian control over our military, which is a foundational principle of our democracy, she said. To be clear, I respect my colleagues decision to move forward with his confirmation. In the coming days, I will speak with General Austin about Nevadas national security priorities and continue to evaluate his record independent of my vote today. The Senate will vote on the actual nomination at a later date. Austin told senators during his recent confirmation hearing that he understood the reservations some of them had about having another recently retired general head the Pentagon, after retired Gen. James Mattis did so under former President Donald Trump. The safety and security of our democracy demands confidence and civilian control over armed forces, the subordination of military power to the civil. I spent my entire life committed to that principal. In war and in peace, I implemented the policies of civilians, elected and appointed over me, he said. And I know that being a member of the presidents cabinet, a political appointee, requires a different perspective and unique duties from a career in uniform. I intend to surround myself with and empower experienced, capable civilian leaders who will enable healthy civil-military relations grounded in meaningful oversight. A seven-member team of jurors has been empaneled to assist the Commercial Division of the Accra High Court to conduct trial of the case in which Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Benjamin Agodzor, Dr. Frederick Yaw Mac-Palm, and eight others are standing trial for alleged treason. In open court for the first time, this year, the court presided over by Justice Samuel Asiedu, Justice of the Court of Appeal sitting with additional responsibility as a High Court judge empaneled the jury which paves the way for the trial to commence. A total of 15 persons who were seconded from their various organizations to serve as jurors had their names mentioned in court but eight of them were rejected by the accused persons in the process leading up to the empanelling of the seven as required by the law for the case to start. The Prosecution led by Hilda Craig, Senior State Attorney in her opening address to the court said ACP Agodzor, Dr. Frederick Yao Mac Palm, and eight others who have been held for allegedly plotting to destabilise the state. According to her, ACP Agodzor, and Dr. Mac Palm, the man accused of masterminding the alleged plot; together with eight others have been slapped with six separate charges including treason felony. She said the prosecution will be calling 19 witnesses and they will also rely on documentaries, audio recordings, and exhibitions to prove their charges. Dr. Mac-Palm, Dornyor Kafui, Allan Debrah Ofosu, Dekuwine, Abubakar, L/Cpl Akanpewon, and Zikpi are on charges of conspiracy to commit treason felony and treason felony. Dr. Mac-Palm and Kafui have been separately charged with conspiracy to possess explosives and ammunition without lawful excuse and possession of explosives and ammunition without lawful excuse. She told the court that, Col Gameli and ACP Dr Agordzo will face the charge of abetment to treason felony. All the accused persons including Colonel Samuel Kodzo Gameli, Donya Kafui, Bright Alan Debrah Ofosu, Johannes Zikpi, Corporal Seidu Abubakar, Lance Corporal Ali Solomon, and Corporal Sylvester Akanpewon denied any wrongdoing. So far, ACP Agodzor, WO11 Esther Saan, and two others have been able to meet their bail conditions. While the remaining six are still in custody. The case has been adjourned to February 16, 2021 for the trial to start. Source: kasapafmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Editor: Some pundits and politicians call the Capitol riot former President Trumps fault. I blame news media and social media. Blatant bias in mainstream media, medias censorship and lies of omission, Facebook and Twitter caused the riots. Average Americans have been talked down to, lied to and deceived by politicians. When Black Lives Matter burned America, media were silent. The riot was not a random incident due to right-wing nut jobs. This is the first skirmish in a future civil war. The left wants to suppress anyone who does not agree with the socialist agenda. America is no longer free. There are remedies: Term and age limits for politicians. Almost 200 members of Congress are over 65. Almost a dozen are over 80. Lobbyists should be required to wear orange construction vests so anyone can see when politicians make deals. Any government employee that accepts anything from lobbyists should be prosecuted for bribery. Change libel and slander laws. No one should be exempt from being prosecuted, especially news media and politicians. If you call someone a liar or racist you better be able to prove it. Media should be prosecuted for false and misleading stories. Lies by omission should be prosecuted. Remove any licenses giving media companies authority, including Google, Facebook and Twitter. Any censorship should be prosecuted. It violates the First Amendment. I doubt any politician will institute these proposals. They are corrupt to the core. The longer they are in office the more corrupt they become. America is at an inflection point. The left is eroding our rights. The push to silence free speech by removing social networking service Parler and other opposing voices and persecuting former President Trump is criminal. If President Biden continues the socialist agenda, then democracy is truly dead. ROBERT DiGIAMBATTISTA NEW MILFORD, SUSQUEHANNA COUNTY Editor: Our founding fathers created checks and balances for our government because they wanted our democracy to last. The greatest enemy to our democracy recently has been the lies spread by our former president, his allies in Congress, far-right talk show hosts and social media. All of them are to blame for the attack on our Capitol on Jan. 6 by gullible, naive supporters of former President Trump. The challenge for us is to find a solution to prevent this from happening again. Freedom of speech gave the president and his allies the right to spread lies, but it is good to learn that Twitter and other social media companies may restrict those accounts that may lead to insurrections and dwell on conspiracy theories detrimental to our democracy and the safety of our elected officials. If we cant stop those elected to government positions from telling lies, then the solution appears to be teaching our citizens the process of critical thinking: the unbiased analysis and evaluation of facts. When the president says the election was rigged against him, we must demand factual proof before we believe him. Trumps team filed dozens of lawsuits challenging the 2020 election results and they lost every one due to a lack of evidence. Many adults who believe conspiracy theories may be beyond help, but we may succeed if critical thinking and reliable sources for facts are taught in our high schools. Please contact officials in your school district to learn what they are doing to prepare their students to be aware of alternative facts and conspiracy theories. Democracies effectively have ended in Hungary and Poland. Lets stop that from happening here. JOE CZARNECKI DALLAS Editor: Many congressional representatives spoke out against the impeachment of former President Trump, reasoning that it would only serve to further divide the country. I found that quite laughable. If anyone listens to a report about most congressional activity, the next line will usually be that the vote was straight down party lines. This not only happens in Washington, but in many votes in state legislatures. When we voters send someone to Washington or our state capitals, we expect them to vote in our best interest. This may have been the way it was intended to work, but it is no longer the case. Republicans vote the way Republican leaders tell them to vote. Democrats vote the way their leaders tell them to vote. How much more divided can we get? The parties are run by big money. If you want proof, just think of the fact that more than $830 million was spent in Georgias recent Senate races, between the candidates and their supporters. Just think how much that even half that much money could have helped the Georgia school system. Our government is totally divided. The parties and big money are on one side and the people on the other. Until people get out and vote, in numbers like we did in this past election, instead of sitting on the round oversize part of our bodies, and we show politicians that we actually have control, unity will be a pipe dream. It will be our fault and not the politicians who merely take advantage of our ignorance and laziness. JOE SKINNER CLARKS SUMMIT Editor: The Jan. 6 debacle during the ratification of the 2020 presidential electoral count caused our Constitution to be stomped upon by Republican politicians. Their footprints are all over it. The Russians have nothing over us. They had Ivan the Terrible, we had Trump the terrible. We also have Donald Trumps political followers who willingly trampled on our legacy of devotion to the rule of law. What Republicans did to subvert the election on Jan. 6 dishonors their party. For this, the first line in the obituaries of those dishonorable politicians should shame their memories forever. These politicians put politics and party before the Constitution and the good of the country. ELLEN GIBLIN-BIDWELL COVINGTON TWP. Mekong Maternity Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City fired one of its doctors after a 29-year-old pregnant woman claimed the institution had ignored her allergy to anesthetics, causing her to become paralyzed after giving birth. N.T.T.T., a 29-year-old from the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong, and her family met representatives from the Mekong Maternity Hospital in Tan Binh District three times for resolving the issue. According to her complaint, T., in the company of her husband, was admitted to the hospital on November 2, 2020. The couple requested a cesarean section due to a variety of pre-existing conditions, including gestational diabetes, an allergy to anesthetics, and a narrow pelvis. T. informed a nurse at the hospital of her allergic reactions to local anesthetics during prior surgeries on her legs and teeth. She was then marked with a sticker to alert medical staff of the condition. While in the preoperative room, T. reminded medical staff of her allergy to local anesthetics again. Doctors then suggested T. undergo general anesthesia for the caesarean section. However, once in the operating room, Dr. Le Quoc Hai, head of the hospitals resuscitation anesthesia department, changed the general anesthesia plan to local anesthesia, disregarding T.s medical history of allergic reactions and the preoperative diagnosis results, and without her familys consent, T. said. According to T.s family, Dr. Hai gave T. a local anesthetic even though she begged him not to. After being injected with local anesthetics into the spinal cord, T. had strong convulsions and vomited during the surgery. The left half of her body was completely paralyzed after the cesarean section. The Mekong Maternity Hospital consulted Gia Dinh Peoples Hospital in Binh Thanh District and sent T. for specialized tests, the results of which showed that she had no problem. Two days later, T. returned to the Mekong Maternity Hospital for postnatal care. By that time, her maternity clothes from the preoperative period, including the one marked with a sticker, had been taken away. According to the woman, the doctor did not give her constant physical therapy, which slowed her recovery. Currently, T. is still suffering from paralysis on the left side of her body, trauma, insomnia, and panic at night. Dr. Le Minh Nguyet (right) and Dr. Nguyen Hoang Tuan, head and deputy head of the Mekong Maternity Hospitals department of general planning, speak at a press briefing at the hospital in Ho Chi Minh City, January 20, 2021. Photo: Xuan Mai / Tuoi Tre Hospital taking fault Dr. Le Minh Nguyet, the Mekong Maternity Hospitals head of the general planning department, told reporters on Wednesday afternoon that the hospital had accepted blame for what they called a medical incident. As soon as the incident occured, the hospital reported it to the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health, then convened a professional medical meeting and reported its findings to the municipal health department, Nguyet said. Accordingly, the hospital acknowledged T.s allergy to local anesthetics. As Dr. Hai had been undecided about general anesthetic and local anesthetic for the injection to the pregnant woman, he conducted a drug allergy test and chose the local anesthetic. Dr. Hai wanted the best for the woman but his judgment was inaccurate, causing unexpected problems, Dr. Nguyet said. The members of the hospital's professional board concluded that Dr. Hai was at fault." Meanwhile, the hospitals obstetricians have full confidence in its anesthetists anesthesia plan, except for special contraindications, as well as the medical team in charge of T.s caesarean section, Nguyet emphasized. Nguyet denied T.s report that Dr. Hai insisted the local anesthetic injection despite the womans pleas, as well as the claim that nurses collected her preoperative clothing. This is the hospitals fault and negligence, but at no point did the hospital ignore the patient, Dr. Nguyet said. According to Nguyet, the doctors have yet to find the reason for T.s paralysis, despite the conclusion of the Gia Dinh Peoples Hospital that she had no problem. There had been cases of abnormal complications similar to T.s, but to a less serious degree, Nguyet said. It is also not clear when T. will totally recover from her condition. The hospital will support Mrs. T. with physical therapy until she recovers," Dr. Nguyet said. "We love T. very much and sincerely apologize. "We are willing to listen to and work with T. and her family. At the end of Wednesdays press briefing, the hospital announced that it had asked Dr. Hai to resign. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Rep. Annette Glenn, R-Midland, was pointed to lead a panel of the Michigan House Appropriations Committee focused on energy, the Great Lakes and the environment. This is a leadership role that will help me continue the fight to improve Michigans future, Glenn stated in a news release. I will continue to be focused on dam restoration and repair, energy development and protecting our natural resources through smart investments in our state budget. This is an exciting challenge and I look forward to serving our community from this key position. Joan Miro (Spanish, 1893-1983) was an influential 20th Century, avant-garde Catalan painter who combined abstract art with Surrealist fantasy. His innovative use of lines, organic shapes, and color formed a major contribution to Modern Art. Though he was famous for his paintings, he was also a prolific printmaker, creating over 1,000 lithographs in his lifetime. From 1954 to 1958, Miro nearly gave up painting altogether to focus on printmaking. Some of his prints recreated his paintings on paper, while others were entirely new designs, which explored the possibilities of the lithograph technique. Miros paintings are not commonly traded among the public and general pool of collectors, having already found prestigious homes in museums and private art collections around the world. His prints, however, are popular in the market and are, to this day, being traded continually at auction and sold by dealers. Because the prints are created as multiples in a set number of editions, and each original is signed and numbered by the artist, they have made it possible for collectors and art enthusiasts to own a Miro without spending millions. As is common with the works of other sought-after Modern artists of his time, such as Salvador Dali and Marc Chagall, forgeries abound and have been sold to unsuspecting buyers for decades. The Situation We recently received a claim assignment for a signed Miro lithograph which was accompanied by a certificate of authenticity (COA) from an unknown dealer. Typically, a valid COA is one signed by an established expert on the artist, a publisher, or even the artist themself. A COA contains verifiable and documented proof, references, and explanations as to why the art is genuine. Cracking the Case The first clue something was amiss was the COA for the signed Miro did not provide details regarding the year of the work, the signature, the edition size, the printer, the publisher, or the provenance, and was signed by an unknown source. It also lacked any detail relating to the print. Furthermore, it listed the work as Lonely Bird, which we found to be erroneous. Through their research and knowledge of Joan Miros graphic works, we identified this print as Hommage a Masson, a lithograph in colors created by Miro in 1977 on Arches paper, signed in pencil on the lower right, from a numbered edition of 100. The insureds version of the print was upside-down: the birds beak faced to the left and not to the top of the work as originally printed. Because Miros work is abstract in nature, the incorrect orientation was not displeasing, which helped it pass as an original. It was also signed in the incorrect location and was marked HC (hors commercea proof aside from the editioned prints). Because Miro hand-signed his originals and would never have signed a print in the improper orientation, the signature was deemed fraudulent. To further their research into the matter, we consulted Joan Miros catalogue raisonne of lithographs, produced by Miros publisher Maeght, of Paris, in six volumes. A catalogue raisonne is a comprehensive, annotated listing of all the known artworks by an artist either in a particular medium or all media. The Hommage a Masson lithograph was located in Volume VI, listed as catalog raisonne number M.IIII. The illustration of the print showed the work in the proper orientation, with the birds beak facing upwards. The entry stated: an unknown number of fake copies of this lithograph exist, with fake signatures and numbering. In this instance, the claimed Miro was one of these fakes. Unfortunately, it is very common for dealers to provide misleading COAs to accompany their fraudulent prints to entice buyers and close a sale. It is also possible dealers may not be aware they are selling a fraudulent work, though if they had referenced the catalog raisonne, they may have ascertained, as Enservio Art Specialists did, that this was a forgery. Buyers, too, can use an artists catalog raisonne to ensure they are buying a legitimate work of art; while the catalog raisonne volumes are costly, the majority can be found in the reference section of most art libraries. The Result While auction houses Christies, Sothebys, and other major print auctions have sold authenticated prints of Miros Hommage a Masson in the recent past for $5,000-$9,000, the subject reproduction print in the improper orientation with the fake signature would not be comparable to these sales. Because the print could not be attributed to Miro, the appraisers could not value the print as such. With the forged signature in the incorrect location, it was classified as black market art, which has a replacement value of $0, compared to the claimed $10,000 value. To avoid this situation, the buyer should beware of any COA accompanying a modern art print which is incomplete and signed by an unreliable source. Furthermore, all parties should reference the artists catalogue raisonne for verification or employ a qualitied appraiser on their behalf. About the photo: The insureds forged print, with signature in lower right, is shown. Geir Pedersen has announced that the Constitutional Committee will resume talks in an effort to find a political solution to the crisis in Syria reports Al-Araby Al-Jadeed. The UN special envoy for Syria announced Wednesday that the next round of talks toward revising the war-battered countrys constitution will start in Geneva on 25 January and urged the parties to move to actual drafting. Geir Pedersen told the UN Security Council he views the meeting of delegations from Syrias government, opposition and civil society as very important. He said many subjects have been discussed for more than a year and its now time for the Constitutional Committee to ensure that the meetings are better organised and more focused. I believe that we need to ensure that the committee begins to move from `preparing a constitutional reform to `drafting one, as it is mandated to do, he said. Pedersen said the committee can start considering specific constitutional issues and draft provisions and agree on future meetings on specific topics. And there needs to be more urgency in the process, he said. I believe that these are reasonable goals, but I cannot assure the council that they will be met this time, he said, appealing to the committee to be ready to move to a new phase of work in this next session 25-29 January. The United States and several Western allies have accused Syrias President Bashar Assad of deliberately delaying the drafting of a new constitution to waste time until presidential elections this year and avoid UN-supervised voting as called for by the UN Security Council. According to Syrias elections law, presidential elections are scheduled to take place between April 16 and May 16, at least 90 days before Assads seven-year term expires. A council resolution adopted in December 2015 unanimously endorsed a road map to peace in Syria that was approved in Geneva on June 30, 2012 by representatives of the United Nations, Arab League, European Union, Turkey and all five permanent Security Council members the US, Russia, China, France and Britain. It calls for a Syrian-led political process starting with the establishment of a transitional governing body, followed by the drafting of a new constitution and ending with UN-supervised elections. The resolution says the free and fair elections should meet the highest international standards of transparency and accountability, with all Syrians including members of the diaspora eligible to participate. At a Russian-hosted Syrian peace conference in January 2018, an agreement was reached to form a 150-member committee to draft a new constitution, which took until September 2019. A 45-member committee known as the Small Body will be holding its fifth meeting starting next week. Pedersen, who has been overseeing the talks, told the Security Council that under the UN resolution it is clear that the political process must be Syrian-owned and led, but the conflict is highly internationalised, with five foreign armies active in Syria. The world cannot pretend that the solutions are only in the hands of the Syrians, or that the UN can do it alone, he said. Pedersen urged a more serious and cooperative international diplomacy saying despite their differences key countries are committed to the UN resolution. 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. 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. Laxman Pai, Opalesque Asia: Canadian asset manager Vivid Capital Management said that its hedge fund Vivid Energy Fund returned 116% in 2020 with bets on solar power and other clean energy stocks. According to a press release from the Toronto-based asset manager, it has repositioned its energy fund to gain exposure to the clean energy transition since late 2019. "Focused on navigating the energy transition through the right mix of growth, technological innovation, undervalued hydrocarbons, and supply chain raw materials, the recalibrated Vivid Energy Fund will continue to operate under an open energy and transportation-focused mandate," said the release. The fund allocates capital across the energy industry in such a way that reflects both where the global energy market is today, through free cash flow generative hydrocarbon industries, and the direction it is heading in the future, through growth-oriented renewables and zero-carbon energy and transportation, it added. "By 2050 the world's energy demands are expected to be more than 50% greater than they are today. To meet that demand, we need to use all energy sources in their most efficient and effective applications," James Bradford, Vivid Capital Founder, and Sr. Portfolio Manager said. "This will spawn some very high growth industries in renewables and spectacular investment opportunities along the way, but at the same time it appears as though in 2050 we'll be using about the same amount of hydrocarbons as we are today, which potentially offers decades of free cash flow from the hydrocarbon industry which is also attractive," he added. Globally, more than half of GDP, 2.6 billion people, and a quarter of total carbon emissions are covered by a national net-zero target - and over time those figures are only going to rise. The investment opportunity this global transformation has created is historic in scope; Vivid is poised to capitalize on this transformation, which will be further boosted by an incoming Biden administration with a clearly defined energy mandate which similarly focuses on clean and renewable energy. A day ahead of Subhas Chandra Bose's 125th birth anniversary, Prime Minister on Friday paid rich tributes to the preeminent freedom fighter and wished his thoughts and ideals inspire a strong, confident and self-reliant India that he would be proud of. In a series of tweets, Modi recalled the association of Netaji, as he is fondly known, with Haripura in Gujarat and urged people to watch a special programme being held there on Saturday afternoon. He noted that it was at the historic Haripura session of 1938 that Bose was elected Congress president. "On the eve of Netaji Bose's Jayanti, my mind goes back to 23rd January 2009- the day we launched e-Gram Vishwagram Project from Haripura. This initiative revolutionised Gujarat's IT infrastructure and took the fruits of technology to the poor, in the remotest parts of the state," Modi said. Modi said hecan never forget the affection of the people of Haripura who took him through an elaborate procession on the same road as Bose was taken in 1938. Bose's procession included a decorated chariot drawn by 51 bullocks, the prime minister noted. "May the thoughts and ideals of Netaji keep inspiring us to work towards building an India that he would be proud ofa strong, confident and self-reliant India, whose human-centric approach contributes to a better planet in the years to come," he said. Modi will be in West Bengal on Saturday to address 'Parakram Diwas' celebrations in Kolkata to commemorate Bose's birth anniversary. Bose conjures deep emotional connect in his home state where both the ruling Trinamool Congress and the BJP are pulling out all the stops to associate themselves with his legacy ahead of the assembly polls there. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A man has been killed in a workplace accident involving heavy machinery in the early hours of Friday morning. Queensland Police rushed to an excavation equipment business at Pinkenba, in Brisbane's east, about 2.30am after reports a man had been injured. The man was treated but died at the scene. The incident happened at GLB Equipment Pty Ltd which sells excavators and other earthmoving vehicles (file image) The incident is understood to have been at GLB Equipment Pty Ltd which sell earthmoving vehicles such as excavators. Police and Workplace Health and Safety have begun investigations into the incident but it is not being treated as suspicious at this stage. The incident is the second serious workplace accident in Queensland this week after there was an explosion on a Gold Coast rooftop. Two men were installing solar panels on the roof of a retail complex in Ashmore when the flash explosion was triggered. One man remains in serious condition in Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital and another man was released from Gold Coast University Hospital. The men were understood to have been working on the building's electricity. Workplace Health and Safety are also investigating this incident. Gov. Kate Brown held a press conference Friday to discuss her legislative agenda as outlined in her State of the State address and Oregons ongoing response to COVID-19. But the event centered almost entirely on one controversy: Browns decision to delay vaccinating senior citizens, starting with those aged 80 and older, by two weeks in order to allow all teachers, school employees, child care workers and preschool employees to get vaccinated first. She said the urgency of getting Oregon children and youth back in school, along with the fact that the educator workforce is small enough that it can be substantially vaccinated in three weeks, drove her decision. If Oregon started vaccinating its seniors immediately, she said, it wouldnt be able to complete that task until early to mid-May due to the limited supply of vaccines available, she said. That would be too late to start vaccinating teachers in time to reopen schools this school year. The Oregon Health Authority on Thursday reported 849 new confirmed or presumptive coronavirus cases and 11 more fatalities as cases and hospitalizations continued a slow downward trend. Thursday marked the fifth day in a row with fewer than 850 cases. The positive trajectory stands in stark contrast to state modeling two weeks ago that suggested cases could rise this month. The state is making progress vaccinating more Oregonians, with 253,711 shots administered. But Oregon will be one of the last states in the country to make seniors eligible, a review by the newsroom found. Brown was joined by representatives from the Oregon Health Authority, the Oregon Department of Education, and Kaiser Permanente Northwest. --The Oregonian/OregonLive NEW YORK, Jan. 22, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Decisive Point, a venture capital and advisory firm focused on investing in technology for government, public safety, and defense has announced the initial close of Decisive Point Ventures Fund I, LP. ("Fund I") with a final closing anticipated to occur later in the year for a total of $10 million. Fund I will invest in early-stage companies with dual-use applications in both the government and commercial markets. Decisive Point supports mission-driven founders and teams, both as a strategic advisor and investor, as they build solutions that serve the Nation. Through its advisory practice, Decisive Point has built a portfolio of early-stage technology companies by serving as a trusted advisor and partner in capturing federal business. Decisive Point's advisory business creates meaningful value for companies and unique insights into each of its portfolio companies. Decisive Point currently employs a growing team of seven professionals. The team consists of experts from both government and the private sector, with backgrounds in federal procurement, government contracting, venture capital, as well as seasoned combat veterans from the U.S. military. Thomas Hendrix, Co-Founder of Decisive Point, commented, "Decisive Point invests more than just capital in the companies we partner with. We invest our time in supporting great founders and teams as they seek to solve the hard problems facing their communities and our country. We are mission driven and believe that America's national security is worth investing in." About Decisive Point Decisive Point is a venture advisory and investment firm focused on technology for government, public safety, and defense. Our mission is to support founders with the guts to try; the ones who look at challenges facing the country and our communities and see problems worth solving. We support our portfolio companies as they navigate the federal market and invest in those that deliver solutions to both commercial customers and the nation. Our efforts serve the interests of the United States and create long-term value for our investors. For more information, visit www.decisivepoint.com SOURCE Decisive Point Group, LLC Related Links https://www.decisivepoint.com Over the past few years I have worried about the Jewish Federation of Greater Orlandos occasional but damaging engagement in partisan activities (I use partisan loosely and not to suggest that the Federation is in danger of losing its tax exempt status). This political action has increased divisions in our community and undermined the effectiveness of the Federation. Since this problematic work has been carried out by the Federations public affairs arm, the Jewish Community Relations Council, or JCRC and years ago I was a member of the JCRC I rejoined the JCRC in December... A shocked man has been filmed pulling a turkey out of the grill of a car and his amazement as the bird begins running around still alive, On January 11, Heather Clark, from Oakland, Oregon, filmed the moment her dad Jack rescued a turkey, after the bird got stuck in the grill on the front of her car. Jack held the turkey by one of its wings and pulled it out from inside the vehicle. A man has been filmed pulling a live turkey out of the grill of a car in a video which has gone viral online 'Watch out!' the man is heard yelling in the video as turkey runs off after realising it had been freed. Heather said: 'It was foggy and I was going at about 50 mph when I heard and felt a jolt of some kind in the front of my car. 'I pulled over to see what it was and I noticed I must have hit a bird of some kind. 'So I went back home to wake my dad up and asked for his help to get the bird out of the front grill of my car. 'He helped me and as you can see on the video it was a turkey and it was alive!' The Telegraph The list of Donald Trump associates who have attempted to bring down the former president is as long as it is varied: from his lawyer, to his closest advisor, his ex-wife and his alleged lover. But like many powerful figures before him, it may well be his accountant that would be his undergoing. Allen Weisselberg, the little-known 73-year-old chief financial officer for the Trump Organisation, has worked for the Trump family as far back as the early 1970s under Donalds father Fred. Some say he is closer to Mr Trump than he is to his own children. As one former employee put it, he knows where the bodies are buried". In recent weeks New York prosecutors investigating Mr Trumps tax affairs have been turning the screws on Mr Weisselberg in the hope of flipping him to testify against his boss. Cyrus Vance, the Manhattan District Attorney, is looking into everything from hush-money payments paid to women on Mr Trump's behalf, to property valuations and employee compensation. Speculation is mounting that his office may be able to turn Mr Weisselberg, who has not been accused of any wrongdoing, as it pulls together a grand jury to decide whether to indict. The F150Gen14.com forum has confirmed the EcoBoost V6 as the base engine for the off-road truck, and its exactly what most of us were expecting. As much as I like the Coyote V8 and Predator V8 in the Mustang GT and Shelby GT500, Ford would have been wrong to phase out the twin-turbo sixer after spending a lot of money on marketing the EcoBoost line.Just like the 2020 model year, the 2021 Ford F-150 Raptor will use the high-output engine. In the outgoing truck, the six-cylinder mill cranks out 450 horsepower and 510 pound-feet (691 Nm) of torque. By comparison, the lower spec of the EcoBoost V6 delivers 400 horsepower and 500 pound-feet (671 Nm) of torque. Unfortunately yet somehow expected, the hybrid PowerBoost V6 isnt listed in the screenshots posted on the cited forum.Fret not, however, because we do know a few other things about the all-new Raptor. Take, for instance, the exterior color palette. In no particular order, the paint finishes are Agate Black, Velocity Blue, Rapid Red, Antimatter Blue, Code Orange, Iconic Silver, Lead Foot, as well as Oxford White. The F-150 Raptor will be offered exclusively with the largest cabin, and V8-engined prototypes have been spied testing on a couple of occasions in Dearborn, Michigan.Theres even video evidence of the eight-cylinder soundtrack , but nobody knows for sure what V8 is hiding under the hood and when it will be added to the configurator. The worst-case scenario would be for the Blue Oval to roll out a limited edition instead of adding the V8 engine to the options list.At the present moment, there are three contenders to speak of. The 5.2-liter supercharged Predator is the most obvious candidate, followed by the 7.3-liter aspirated Godzilla that belts out 430 horsepower and 475 pound-feet (644 Nm) of torque. As for the final nominee, that would be the 6.8-liter V8 that Ford will manufacture at the Windsor powertrain facility in Ontario. Maruti Suzuki commences export of India-made Jimny ahead of domestic launch Maruti Suzuki India Limited commenced export of Suzukis celebrated compact off-roader Jimny from India. The first shipment of 184 units left from Mundra port to Latin American countries such as Columbia and Peru. The iconic three-door Suzuki Jimny will be exported to Latin America, the Middle East and African markets from India. Known as the authentic off-roader, the all-terrain vehicle has a legacy of over 50 years, catering to customers worldwide. The current generation of Jimny was launched in 2018 by Suzuki Motor Corporation in Japan and has emerged as a popular choice globally. Customers like its appeal for city driving too. The Jimny has been a fabled nameplate for decades for Suzuki across the globe and is popular in Japan, Europe and other developed nations. Jimny was also conferred the prestigious World Urban Car Award in the 2019 World Car Awards announced at the New York International Auto Show. The fourth generation Jimny was brought on to the scenes as a major upgrade in two decades in 2018. The demand for the latest Suzuki Jimny soared in the international markets ever since it went on sale as the production was ramped up to met the requirements. With India as a production base for Jimny, Suzuki aims to leverage Maruti Suzukis global production stature. As there is a large customer demand worldwide well beyond Suzuki Japan capacity for this model, Indian manufacturing will supplement capacity to meet this global demand. Speaking on the occasion, Kenichi Ayukawa, managing director and CEO, Maruti Suzuki India Limited, said, Jimny will fulfill aspirations of customers throughout the world. Jimny manufactured at Maruti Suzukis Gurugram plant shares the same specification as the export models produced at the Suzuki Motor Corporations Kosai plant in Japan. We are confident with Jimny we will be able to enhance our overall exports. Maruti Suzuki is reported to be preparing to launch a five-door version of the Jimny for the India market, which is expected to happen in the near future. Indians are looking for lifestyle family vehicles and the 5-door off-roader would be a better proposition for the domestic market, the company feels. Jimny for the domestic market is expected to be powered by the 1.5-litre K15B mild-hybrid petrol motor developing 104.7 PS and 138 Nm, as the same engine can be found in a variety of Maruti Suzuki models. Witnessing history, from a different point of view. Chrissy Teigen opened up about her experience attending the inauguration of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris on Wednesday, January 20 and she did it while sober. Read article The Cravings author, 34, took to Twitter on Wednesday to share a photo of her facing the Washington Monument with her husband, John Legend, and their two children, Luna, 4, and Miles, 2. Gregory Pace/Shutterstock Ran our asses up the stairs for this shot. Just incredible to be here. Sober, she wrote in her tweet. I know thats weird but its like a different world for me. Everything is new and better. Very happy. The most happy, bigly happy. Read article Hours before, Teigen came under fire over her familys decision to travel to the Nations Capitol amid the COVID-19 pandemic. A troll slammed her for being tone deaf for taking a happy trip [that] minimizes what DC is going thru. The businesswoman, whose husband performed at the Celebrating America inauguration event later that day, replied, For fks sake why are you guys always, always made [sic] at me, all I wanna do is make you happy or at least leave you with a neutral feeling of indifference. Matt Slocum/AP/Shutterstock Before the new year, Teigen revealed in December 2020 that she had chosen to get sober. As she posted a video on Instagram of herself dancing around, a fan jokingly commented about needing whatever drugs she was on. The Chrissys Court star said in her response that she is 4 weeks sober. The Sports Illustrated Swimsuit model later credited writer Holly Whitakers book, Quit Like a Woman, for pushing her to seek sobriety. One month ago, on my birthday, I got this book from my doctor and friend, she wrote via her Instagram Stories on December 30. I was done with making an ass of myself in front of people (Im still embarrassed), tired of day drinking and feeling like shit by 6, not being able to sleep. Read article The Utah native continued, I have been sober ever since. And even if you cant see yourself doing or just plain dont want to, its still an incredible read. Teigens sobriety comes after she suffered a pregnancy loss in September 2020 due to placenta abruption complications. During a Good Morning America appearance that November, she credited her children for helping her through the hard time, saying, You dont want to be stuck in bed when you hear the laughter downstairs. It helps so much. Five individuals were killed due to the fire that erupted at one of the biggest vaccine-making facilities in the world, a complex of Serum Institute of India, which is producing millions of doses of coronavirus vaccine of the Oxford/AstraZeneca. Based on a report, the fire broke out in a building that is still under construction on Thursday afternoon inside the 100-acre site in Pune, which is a southwestern city in the country. According to CBS News, despite the quick response coming from the authorities as they were able to put the fire under control on Thursday evening, still, at least two of the top floors were gutted of the five-story building. The CEO and the owner of the Serum Institute of India, Adar Poonawalla shared in a statement that they are all in extreme sorrow at Serum Institute of India after what happened. Poonawalla also mentioned that regrettably, there were losses of lives in the fire, but he shared that the families of the victims would be offered compensation of around $34,000 each aside from the mandated payout that they are about to receive. Murlidhar Mohol, the Mayor of Pune has confirmed that five individuals have died in the fire incident and the victims' bodies were recovered from the charred floors of the building. Earlier in the day, the CEO and the owner of the Serum Institute of India, Poonawalla mentioned that the production of the COVID-19 vaccine that is produced in India under the brand name of Covishield, will not be affected by the fire. According to the Police and fire officials, they will be further investigating the fire as the cause of it was not immediately identified. Last week, the Serum Institute started to ship out hundreds of thousands of Covishield and the company has mentioned that they are targeting at least 100 million doses produced by March. On Saturday, India launched what has been described as the biggest mass-vaccination in the world as the government plans to immunize a target of 300 million individuals by July. Along with the Covishield shots, India will also be using Covaxin, which is a domestic vaccine that is produced by Bharat Biotech. The company Serum Institute of India is the largest vaccine manufacturer by volume as the facility can produce 1.5 billion doses yearly of drugs to fight a range of diseases which includes diphtheria, hepatitis B, tetanus, rubella, measles, and mumps, Reuters reported. The company's products are exported to more than 170 countries across the world. Numerous middle- and low-income nations are relying on the Institute to supply the coronavirus vaccine stock of their country through the global, WHO-backed, or World HEalth Organization-back, COVAX plan. The said project which aims to ensure the fair distribution of COVID-19 vaccines across the world has secured an order of 200 million doses from the facility of Serum. Several African and Central Asian countries are expecting to get their first shipments of Covishield in the next few weeks, including Nepal and Bangladesh, New York Post reported. The country of India had exported the first batches of the Oxford-formulated vaccine from Serum to Bhutan and the Maldives on Wednesday. @ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Sorry! This content is not available in your region Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-22 01:34:44|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, Jan. 21 (Xinhua) -- Former U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Tuesday made an announcement in the name of U.S. Department of State, once again maliciously attacking China's Xinjiang policies and attempting to meddle in China's internal affairs under the pretext of human rights. Such anti-China moves are to provoke hatred among ethnic groups in Xinjiang, undermine stability in the region and mislead the international community to leave behind a so-called "political legacy" on China policy. Facts about Xinjiang have already been told to the world with many solid figures and examples. So far, China has issued eight white papers on Xinjiang, and the government of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region has held over 20 press conferences to show the truth. However, Pompeo and his likes, with their minds deeply entrenched in the obsolete Cold-War thinking, have turned a blind eye to basic facts, and fabricated and sold a stack of rumors to smear China and the Communist Party of China. Their sinister intentions to undermine China's stability and contain China's development are too obvious. The U.S. side's groundless designation of China on committing a so-called "genocide" in Xinjiang is an outright pseudo-proposition concocted maliciously by individual anti-China and anti-Communist forces represented by Pompeo, and resides in nowhere but the hideous political schemes and ludicrous fantasies of Pompeo and his likes. Just like Foreign Policy magazine said in an article published Tuesday, such a designation "is a political act, not a legal finding, and its impact therefore depends entirely on the reputation and credibility of the speaker," of which both Pompeo and the United States have "very little." In other words, this farce, directed by a handful of dishonest "political clowns" in an attempt to kidnap the new U.S. administration's policy toward China, will never be added to their so-called "political legacy." At present, Xinjiang enjoys sustained economic development, social stability, well improved people's wellbeing, unprecedented cultural prosperity, and religious harmony. At the same time, people of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang are staying united. It is the best of time for the region in history. In face of the solid facts that Xinjiang enjoys prosperity and stability, Pompeo's so-called designation is merely a piece of wastepaper. Over the past 60 years, the average life expectancy has increased from 30 to 72 years old in Xinjiang. From 2010 to 2018, the Uygur population increased by 25.04 percent, higher than the region's overall growth of 13.99 percent and much higher than the 2 percent of the ethnic Han population. People of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang, including Uygurs, enjoy the right to subsistence and development, and all other rights, such as using and developing their own spoken and written languages, and preserving their traditional cultures and customs. Xinjiang has well implemented the United Nations' Plan of Action to Prevent Violent Extremism, and taken a series of preventive counter-terrorism and de-radicalization measures, which are widely supported by its people and have yielded good results. For the past four years, Xinjiang has not seen a single terror incident. China has also made all-out efforts to better protect the labor right of the people in Xinjiang by offering education, training, and job opportunities, which have ensured that the people can improve the well-being through their own work. From 2014 to 2019, a sound economic momentum was sustained in Xinjiang with an average annual gross domestic product growth rate of 7.2 percent. Life of local people has significantly improved with an average yearly growth of 9.1 percent in residential per capita disposable income. Last year, all remaining poverty-stricken counties in the region shook off poverty. The solid achievements made in Xinjiang's human rights cause and socio-economic development are clear to all. A record number of 200 million tourists travelled to Xinjiang in 2019. China maintains its openness and transparency by, among other things, inviting over 1,200 diplomats, journalists and religious personages from more than 100 countries to visit Xinjiang, and they have been amazed at its remarkable achievements. Facts speak louder than words. No slander can stop the people in Xinjiang from uniting and forging ahead. No rumor can obliterate Xinjiang's human rights progress. And no plot can endanger Xinjiang's development and prosperity. Pompeo's vicious attacks on China will in no way fool the world, nor will they have even the slightest chance to demonize China or impede China's development. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-21 20:45:34|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Passengers of an Oman Air flight wait in line to exchange money after arriving at the Bandaranaike International Airport in Katunayake, Sri Lanka, on Jan. 21, 2021. Sri Lanka fully reopened its borders to tourists and international arrivals from all countries on Thursday. (Xinhua) COLOMBO, Jan. 21 (Xinhua) -- 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 Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) Chairperson Kimarli Fernando said that the tourism ministry has formulated detailed safety protocols and procedures in consultation with the health ministry and the presidential task force on COVID-19. "With all these measures, processes and protocols sat in place, Sri Lanka is ready and Sri Lanka is open to welcome back our visitors," Fernando said. Sri Lankan tourism has created an online information portal and a 24-hour operational center contactable via phone or e-mail, with which tourists can have access to support and information updates. Sri Lanka currently has a PCR testing capacity for 2,500 tourist arrivals per day. Tourists will have to purchase insurance and pay for their own PCR tests. Currently, there is no quarantine period or minimum stay set for visiting tourists. The Bandaranaike International Airport in the country's west and the Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport in the south are both currently opened to scheduled and chartered flights from at least eight airlines including Sri Lanka's national carrier SriLankan Airlines. Enditem Public health experts Thursday blamed COVID-19 vaccine shortages around the U.S. in part on the Trump administrations push to get states to vastly expand their vaccination drives to reach the nations estimated 54 million people age 65 or over. The push that began more than a week ago has not been accompanied by enough doses to meet demand, according to state and local officials, leading to frustration and confusion and limiting states ability to attack the outbreak that has killed more than 400,000 Americans. During the past few days, authorities in California, Ohio, West Virginia, Florida and Hawaii warned that their supplies were running out. New York City began canceling or postponing shots or stopped making new appointments because of the shortages, which President Joe Biden has vowed to turn around. The vaccine rollout so far has been a major disappointment, said Dr. Eric Topol, head of Scripps Research Translational Institute. Problems started with the Trump administrations fatal mistake of not ordering enough vaccine, which then was snapped up by other countries, Topol said. Opening the line to senior citizens then set people up for disappointment because there wasnt enough vaccine, he said. The Trump administration also left crucial planning to states and didnt provide the necessary funding. It doesnt happen by fairy dust, Topol said. You need to put funds into that. Last week, before Biden took over as president, the U.S. Health and Human Services Department suggested the frustration was the result of unrealistic expectations among states as to how much vaccine was on the way. But some public health experts said the states have not been getting reliable information on vaccine deliveries and the amounts they have been sent have been unpredictable. That, in turn, has made it difficult for them to plan how to inoculate people. Its a bit of having to build it as we go, said Dr. George Rutherford, an epidemiologist at the University of California, San Francisco. Its a front-end supply issue, and unless we know how much vaccine is flowing down the pipe, its hard to get these things sized right, staffed, get people there, get them vaccinated and get them gone. State health secretaries have asked the Biden administration for earlier and more reliable predictions on vaccine deliveries, Washington state Health Secretary Dr. Umair Shah said. Dr. Marcus Plescia of the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials also was among those who said opening vaccinations to senior citizens was done too soon, before supply could catch up. We needed steady federal leadership on this early in the launch, Plescia said. That did not happen, and now that we are not prioritizing groups, there is going to be some lag for supply to catch up with demand. Supply will pick up during the next few weeks, he said. Deliveries go out to the states every week, and the government and drugmakers have given assurances large quantities are in the pipeline. The rollout has proceeded at a disappointing pace. The U.S. government has delivered nearly 38 million doses of vaccine to states, and about 17.5 million of those have been administered, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About 2.4 million people have received the necessary two doses, by the CDCs count well short of the hundreds of millions who will have to be inoculated to vanquish the outbreak. Biden, in one of his first orders of business, signed 10 executive orders Thursday to combat the coronavirus pandemic, including one broadening the use of the Defense Production Act to expand vaccine production. The 1950 Korean War-era law enables the government to direct the manufacture of critical goods. He also mandated masks for travel, including in airports and on planes, ships, trains, buses and public transportation, and ordered the Federal Emergency Management Agency to set up vaccination centers and the CDC to make vaccines available through pharmacies starting next month. Biden has vowed to dispense 100 million shots in his first 100 days. Well move heaven and earth to get more people vaccinated for free, he said. . Total cases in west-central Illinois counties as of Thursday, according to individual county health departments, were: Brown County 610 total, 519 recovered, seven deaths Cass County 1,783 total, 1,706 recovered, 30 deaths Five new cases. Greene County 1,256 total, 1,180 recovered, 41 deaths Six new cases. Jersey County 2,242 total, 2,100 recovered, 42 deaths Macoupin County 4,079 total, 2,758 recovered, 96 deaths 38 new cases. Morgan County 3,362 total, 3,158 released from restrictions, 93 deaths Nine new cases and two additional deaths, those of a man in his 60s and a man in his 80s. Pike County 1,563 total, 1,475 recovered, 42 deaths Five new cases and two additional deaths, those of a man in his 60s and a woman in her 80s. Sangamon County 14,658 total, 201 deaths 53 new cases and two additional deaths, those of a woman in her 50s and a man in his 90s. Schuyler County 621 total, 575 recovered, 16 deaths Six new cases and one additional death. Scott County 386 total, 354 recovered, one death Statewide, 4,979 new cases of coronavirus disease and 123 deaths were reported Thursday, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health. There have been 1,086,333 cases and 18,520 deaths in Illinois. ina Lovisa Nilsson captured the video below the Louvre Museum on Wednesday This is the incredible moment a huge catfish dubbed the 'Loch Ness of La Seine' is pulled from the water in Paris city centre. Footage shows a man fishing the creature out of the water before laying it on the riverside as crowds gather around him to take a peek. Lina Lovisa Nilsson, who lives nearby, captured the clip on her mobile phone below the Louvre Museum in France's capital city on Wednesday. The massive catfish, which was nicknamed an 'ancient dinosaur' and 'monster', was released back into the river afterwards. Footage shows a man fishing the huge catfish out of the water below the Louvre Museum on Wednesday before laying it on the riverside as crowds gather around him to take a peek In the video, onlookers can be heard gasping in astonishment while one says 'what a beast' as the fish is pulled from the water. Ms Lovisa Nilsson told MailOnline: 'I have never seen anything like this in any major city I have visited. 'People shouted "Loch Ness of La Seine" and called it an ancient dinosaur and "monster".' She added: 'I have seen people fishing in La Seine, but this fish was maybe one of the largest ever caught in the city centre. 'The biggest catfish ever caught in La Seine measured 1.90 metres and this was about the same size.' A fisherman, Dino Ferrari, was previously filmed catching a giant 8ft 9in long wels catfish weighing 19 stone in Po Delta, Italy, in 2015. The fisherman is pictured pulling the huge catfish from the water in Paris city centre. In the video, onlookers can be heard gasping in astonishment The catfish was laid on the riverside by La Seine, left and right, and was dubbed an 'ancient dinosaur' and 'monster' by watching crowds Lina Lovisa Nilsson, who filmed the footage, said: 'I have seen people fishing in La Seine, but this fish was maybe one of the largest ever caught in the city centre' In December 2014 schoolboy Sam Lee, 14, caught an 8ft 14 stone catfish while on a fishing holiday in Spain with his father Peter. The giant catfish immediately bolted 100 metres downstream, but Sam, from Chester, hung on and after a 35 minute battle finally landed the 2.5 metre-long fish. In October 2014 a Cornish pensioner caught an 8ft-long, 15 stonepart-albino catfish, thought to be the biggest of its kind ever caught. Tom Herron, 68, from Launceston, battled the cream-coloured monster fish in the River Segre, Mequinenza, Spain, for 40 minutes before finally hauling it in. According to the International Game Fish Association (IGFA), the heaviest recorded blue catfish in the world weighs 64.86kg (143lb) and was caught by Richard Nicholas Anderson in Virginia, USA, in June 2011. MASON CITY, Iowa - Standing in the shadow of Downtown Mason City is North Iowa's newest housing development. And during Thursday morning's ribbon cutting, those involved with the development says it fits right at home with the overall River City Renaissance project. Talon Development of Sioux Falls planned and constructed the 133-unit River apartment and townhome complex development that sits on the site of a former parking lot just south of Southbridge Mall. President Steve Boote says a lot of research went into how the complex would fit in the area, citing a gap of market-rate housing, or as he terms it, 'workforce housing.' "There was a need somewhere between 200-300 for roughly this type of housing in this rent profile cost per square foot." He credits the city's strong leadership to make the development happen. "We try to work with that leadership in that community to figure out how we can make this work. That's what happened here, that's what our company does." Ben Lauer with Real Property Management Express notes pocket markets in the Midwest like Mason City lack nicer, newer housing. And with a near 70% occupancy rate reflecting this demand, it's higher than similar developments. "I think the leasing and occupancy has reflected that, and we're so excited to welcome new residents in the community." With the gap still open, Boote says there is a possibility of Talon constructing a similar development within the next 3-5 years. A couple of sites being considered include downtown and the western retail corridor along Highway 122. "I think Mason City is ready for some more, and we're certainly going to look." | Welcome Guest! You Are Here: GST Council to hold special session to discuss extending paying compensation to states beyond 2022, says finance minister. Centre to borrow Rs 1.58 lakh cr to compensate states for loss of revenue from GST, says FM Sitharaman after GST Council meeting. FM Sitharaman announces amnesty scheme for small GST taxpayers, allowing filing of returns with reduced late fee. Lawyers for Uganda's Bobi Wine were one again blocked from visiting the opposition leader on Thursday. Security forces have surrounded Wine's home in the capital Kampala since last week's election with the military saying it is for his own safety. Related Displaced sighs at GFF: From 'The Man Who Sold His Skin' to 'Listen' and beyond The Man Who Sold His Skin written and directed by Tunisian filmmaker Kaouther Ben Hania won Best International Co-production at the 26th edition of France's Lumieres Awards that closed on 19 January. The film had its world premiere as part of the Horizon section of the 77th Venice Film Festival 2020, where it won Best Film and Best Actor (Yahya Mahayni). Director Kauther Ben Hania also won the Edipo Re Award. The film also won Best Arab Film in the Feature Narrative Competition of Gouna Film Festival 2020 and Best Screenplay at Stockholm Film Festival 2020. The Man Who Sold His Skin is loosely inspired by the legend of Faust, with the script revolving around the love story of a Syrian couple, Sam Ali (Yahya Mahayni) and girlfriend Abeer (Dea Liane). Ali, a sensitive and impulsive young Syrian, moved to Lebanon to escape the war and has covered his body in tattoos in an attempt to access Europe. France's Lumieres Awards was first held in 1996, celebrating French cinema. The prizes are awarded by Academie des Lumieres, which is composed of international journalists based in France. The Lumieres' 26th edition was televised with its President American Journalist Lisa Nesselson and the voting members seated in the studio. The event was hosted by French Journalists Laurie Cholewa and Laurent Weil. For more arts and culture news and updates, follow Ahram Online Arts and Culture on Twitter at @AhramOnlineArts and on Facebook at Ahram Online: Arts & Culture Short link: The Arad border police caught 13 migrants from Afghanistan, Syria, Congo and Cameroon, who tried to leave Romania hidden in two trucks or crossing a field on foot, in the past 24 hours, according to AGERPRES. Five migrants from Afghanistan and Syria, four adults between the ages of 18 and 37 and a 16-year old child, were found in a truck driven by a 37-year-old Turkish, checked at the Nadlac II Border Crossing Point (PTF). They were hidden among the boxes with spare parts for cars, which were to be transported to Poland, the Arad Border Police informed on Friday. Also, six Afghans, four adults aged between 18 and 26, and two children of 15 and 16 years old respectively, were discovered in another truck driven by a Turkish citizen, at the PTF Nadlac I, during the check-out upon their exit from the country. In the area of Varsand, about 300 metres from the border with the neighbouring state, two people were caught crossing the field to enter Hungary on foot. Following the checks, it was established that they are citizens of Cameroon and Congo, a 28-year-old woman and a 39-year-old man. In all these cases, the border police are investigating an attempt to cross the state border illegally, and Turkish drivers could be prosecuted for trafficking in migrants. Evan Sernoffsky / Evan Sernoffsky Leonid Yamburg walked to the front doors of the Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety Wednesday afternoon. Unable to enter the lobby due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Bay Area News Group first reported, he spoke to a records clerk on a phone outside the lobby. According to police, he told the government employee that he killed his wife, Svetlana Nikitina. The 51-year-old software engineer was promptly detained. Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 Robert Kocharyan on years of his leadership in Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia Situation on Armenian-Azerbaijani border is still tense, more on COVID-19 in Armenia, May 28 digest "Armenia" alliance of political parties paying tribute to founder of First Republic Aram Manukyan (LIVE) Yerevan.today: Armenia acting PM not greeted at ruling party's headquarters, citizens call him 'capitulator' Russia MOD reports on maintenance of ceasefire regime in Nagorno-Karabakh Armenia acting MOD meets with Russian counterpart in Moscow Armenia 2nd President: I see possibility of restoring borders of Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast We can provide our army with some key, modernized weapons, says Armenia ex-President Kocharyan Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: Captives issue is not one that any opposition force can resolve OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs release statement on detention of 6 Armenian servicemen by Azerbaijan Armenian acting Deputy PM: Discussion on issues possible only after withdrawal of Azeri troops from Armenia's territory Armenia acting PM on Syunik roads, Russian military posts: This is only place where there are working nuances Armenia acting PM: Process of return of POWs will intensify after upcoming elections Putin congratulates Aliyev on Republic Day 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 The Armenian parliament appointed Gagik Jahangirian, a controversial former prosecutor, and legal expert Davit Khachaturian to vacant seats in the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) in a vote boycotted by its opposition minority. We do not find it politically expedient to take part in the vote, Iveta Tonoyan, a senior lawmaker from the opposition Prosperous Armenia Party (BHK), told reporters. She said her party also has reservations about both candidates nominated by My Step. In the professional sense we have no problem with the candidates, said Taron Sahakian of the opposition Bright Armenia Party. Our decision is political and results from the fact that the opposition has been barred from participating in judicial reforms. Jahangirian served as Armenias chief military prosecutor from 1997-2006 and was accused by civil activists of covering up crimes and abetting other abuses in the Armenian armed forces throughout his tenure. He always denied those allegations. Khachaturian is the former head of the governing board of the Armenian branch of U.S. billionaire George Soross Open Society Foundations. His brother Sasun Khachatrian runs Armenias Special Investigative Service, a law-enforcement agency. The two men joined the SJC amid tensions between Armenias government and judiciary. Critics of the government say that Pashinian expects them to help increase his influence on courts. In recent months Armenian judges have refused to allow law-enforcement authorities to arrest dozens of opposition leaders and members as well as other anti-government activists. Virtually all of those individuals are prosecuted in connection with angry protests sparked by the Pashinian administrations handling of the autumn war in Nagorno-Karabakh. Pashinian charged last month that Armenias judicial system has become part of a pseudo-elite which is trying to topple him after the disastrous war. Ruben Vartazarian, the chairman of the SJC, rejected the criticism. Jahangirian criticized Pashinians political team for not purging the judiciary when he spoke in the parliament before Fridays vote. He said the government-controlled parliament should pass legislation to get rid of judges who committed blatant human rights violations. Pashinian accused judges of remaining linked to Armenias former leadership and controversially urged supporters to block court buildings after a Yerevan court released former President Robert Kocharian from custody in May 2019. His government subsequently abandoned plans for a mandatory vetting of the judges at the urging of European legal experts. Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. 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. Brands are accused of deriving profits from a system of poverty pay and exploitation Non-enforceable initiatives and voluntary commitments by garment brands have failed to protect workers' human rights, according to a new report that is calling for mandatory and comprehensive human rights due diligence covering the entire value chain. The just-released 'Fashioning Justice' publication from the Clean Clothes Campaign (CCC) says brands' unfair purchasing practices are at the root of human rights violations. It also puts the spotlight on brands' reliance on what it describes as the flawed social auditing system; the lack of occupational safety; gender inequality; poverty wages even with overtime work; persistent attacks on freedom of association; the acute lack of value chain transparency; and lack of effective remedy in cases of human rights violations. "Garment brands are heavily implicated in the pervasive human rights violations in their value chains that we expose in this paper. As one example, they abuse their market power to push for ever-lower prices so that garment factories operate on razor-thin margins and cut corners on workers' rights," says Neva Nahtigal of Clean Clothes Campaign international office. "Meanwhile, brands pay out millions to their shareholders. Brands' ruthless profit-maximising practices also make governments reluctant to introduce and enforce proper labour protections, as those inevitably increase production costs." The publication calls for binding rules so that responsible business conduct is "no longer just a matter of choice of a few businesses that are then disadvantaged through market competition with the laggards." Muriel Treibich, also from the Clean Clothes Campaign international office, adds: "Above all, we appeal to policy-makers to adopt a comprehensive approach. Human rights due diligence requirements must cover entire value chains, including semi-formal and informal working schemes as well as unofficial subcontracting and home-based work. "Furthermore, we are calling for clear enforcement mechanisms, for adequate sanctions for shortcomings and for civil and criminal liability provisions. Workers whose rights are violated must be granted access to effective remedy. We are also calling for mandatory transparency and a range of other complementary measures." Responsibility for workers The CCC says by changing their own practices, brands and retailers can and should take responsibility for workers. They should not use lack of regulation or lack of enforcement of labour laws and regulations in supplier countries as an excuse for human rights violations in their value chains. They are also advised to stop threatening to move production to other countries should governments or trade unions signal an intention to increase minimum wages or strengthen labour rights protections, even if these actions may translate to higher production costs. Also on the list of expectations for brands and retailers is to "fill the gaps" in human rights protections at state level by concluding value chain Enforceable Brand Agreements on core issues such as wages, gender-based violence, freedom of association, and health and safety. They should also appoint independent organisations to investigate complaints and determine remedies. The publication is co-funded by the European Commission (DG DEVCO), as part of the three-year project 'Filling the Gap: Achieving Living Wages through improved transparency.' Click here to access the report in full. Events this week have somehow prompted Ammo Grrrll to provide A HISTORY LESSON ABOUT CADAVERS. She writes: I am completing this column on Tuesday night, to be sent off early Wednesday morning for editing. So if there has been a major development with the massive military presence in Washington, or if The Big Guy calls the oath-giver a Dog-Faced Pony Soldier, bites Dr. Jills finger again, or sniffs a random tot, this column will not cover that. MY beloved and excellent President is gone, but still firmly in residence in the heads of the totalitarians who hated him with the white hot heat of a thousand suns for his getting between their power and us nobodies. Their unhinged behavior with this insane late impeachment (or we should probably say the LATEST impeachment) gives a whole new meaning to Trumped up charges. It reminds me of something called The Cadaver Synod. Max Cossack, who watches multi-part historical lectures for fun, brought it to my attention. It is not my intention to pick on the Catholics. As the time-honored cliche to prove you arent a bigot goes, some of my best friends are Catholics. They really are. In fact, except for a handful of Jewish commenters, and a couple Jewish friends from college, all my closest friends are Christians, in part because very few American Jewish women are pro-life conservatives who enjoy guns. I have recently connected with one beautiful Jewish artist who is not just a gun aficionado but also a national champion trapshooter! Should be fun. So Catholics, no offense intended, but Holy Cow. Papal History does not shed a lot of glory on your faith. A great deal of what I am about to tell you comes from an April 24, 2020 article by one Carrie Whitney, Ph.D. on a site called How Stuff Works. I will be paraphrasing her excellent research, but rest assured, quoted directly or paraphrased, I have relied heavily on her work and the Great Trials of World History television lecture series by Professor Douglas O. Linder. The story is almost unbelievable and terribly complicated. I have tried to synthesize and condense it or it would run to several column feet. Any errors are my own. Dr. Whitney writes: The Cadaver Synod took place during a time when political machinations ruled the papacy, long before 11th-century reforms regulated papal elections. Popes during the Middle Ages could dispense favors. So, it was a prize for a family to be aligned with the Pope, and there were lots of rivalries. Like many stories, this one begins with the end of a great ruler. Charlemagne was crowned emperor over the Roman Empire in 800 C.E. He was a very capable ruler whose reign produced political stability. But there is nothing new under the sun. And, like the spoiled and greedy spawn of so many of Americas corporate giants, his son was far less capable. His grandsons, including one named Charles the Bald, were obviously yet more hopeless, if being bald were the most salient fact about Chuck. The soon to be a famous cadaver Formosus was an ambitious Bishop whose growing influence eventually led to his excommunication by John VIII in 876 C.E. Charges against Formosus included an attempt to become bishop of Bulgaria, being a traitor to Charles the Bald, and coveting the papacy. Sure, those things were bad and were undoubtedly trumpeted far and wide by the medieval equivalent of CNN. But evidently even Formosus never phoned anybody in the Ukraine to ask about obvious influence peddling or said to a gathered throng, Lets go peacefully raise our voices. High crimes like that clearly cannot go unpunished. Luckily for Formosus, John VIIIs pontificate ended when he was assassinated in 882 and Pope Marinus I reinstated Formosus, who returned to his bishopric in Porto. Marinus I lasted two years, his successor St. Adrian III just one, and Stephen V about six years. One really does need a scorecard to keep track of it, but, unlike Hillary, who will NEVER be President, the scrappy Formosus was finally made Pope in 891. Livin the dream. Stay with me here. Pope Formosus, who seemed to have the same knack for aligning with the wrong political faction that I have for picking the wrong cashiers line at Bashas, got involved in a number of fractious disputes. The Lord called him home in 896 via a stroke. The End, eh? Not so fast. The world was not done with him any more than the Left is done with President Trump. Pope Stephen was determined to revisit the crimes of his predecessor Formosus. It wasnt enough simply to accuse him or smear his name. Sound familiar? President Trump will be hounded, slandered, and sued in perpetuity. Without hatred of Trump to unite the Left, each loot-grubbing mini-tribe will fight all the others for the most lucrative seat at the public trough. But every obscenity they think up to torture Trump will pale next to what happened to Pope Formosus. He was DUG UP, disinterred, and PUT ON TRIAL. Yes. The cadaver was dressed in his papal vestments and put on the witness stand. Can you imagine the stench? Worse than Eric Swalwell in an unguarded moment on television. Worse than Jerrold Nadler when, well, forget about it. AN ACTUAL DEAD BODY IN THE COURTROOM. Billionaire social media tyrant Jack Dorsey is taking no chances that little David Parler could emerge as a voice for Deplorables against his Twitter Goliath. Parler had to be destroyed. And, likewise, Pope Stephen could take no chances that the dead Formosus could somehow win at trial. He appointed a teenage deacon to be the dead Popes defender. As Stephen screamed at Formosus, the poor young deacon tried like heck to convince the Pope to tell his side of the story. Often in modern jurisprudence, the defendant will claim the notorious Some Dude Defense, as in, some dude did it. But, alas, Dead Pope Formosus did not even have the wherewithal to try that. He came up with no good answers at all and surprise! was FOUND GUILTY! Maybe Stacy Abrams genealogy shows another relative who was a judge. Sentence was pronounced and the Dead Pope had the three fingers with which he blessed people cut off. Then he was thrown into the Tiber River. Oh, do you think the story ends there? HaHa! Like bass solos in jazz, the bell choir in church, dance recitals of small girls, or the Deep State hatred for President Trump and his voters, some things never end. Pope Formosus was dragged from the river and buried properly and then like a second, third, fourth, whatever, impeachment of President Trump by rabid Democrat weasels dug up and thrown into the Tiber AGAIN. I conclude with two thoughts. First, even DEAD, President Trump would run circles around the cretins and Obama-era retreads now in charge of our beloved country. And two, the people of Rome were disgusted by the trial and a few months later there was a riot. Stephen VI was imprisoned and strangled to death. Oopsie. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said no tsunami warning was issued, but warned of aftershocks Manila: A 7.0-magnitude earthquake struck off the southern Philippines Thursday, the US Geological Survey said, but there were no immediate reports of damage and a tsunami warning was not issued. The quake hit about 310 kilometres (193 miles) southeast of Davao city on the main southern island of Mindanao at a depth of 95 kilometres at 8.23 pm local time (1223 GMT), according to USGS. Residents in the town of Jose Abad Santos, near the southern tip of the island, lost electricity for about 15 minutes after the quake shook the region but there was no damage, police chief Captain Glabynarry Murillo told AFP. "From our vantage point at the police station we saw many residents rushing outside," said Murillo. "We also rushed outside because the police station is a three-storey building." The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology warned of aftershocks but said damage was not expected. "It was felt extensively because it's a major earthquake but it's deep so it won't be damaging to the infrastructure because it's considerably far (from the island)," Renato Solidum, director of the institute, told DZBB radio station. The quake was felt on the northern Indonesian island of Sangihe, but similarly there were no injuries or damage reported. "Here in Sangihe capital, Tahuna people were panicking for a while and they fled home because the quake was quite long and strong," Rivolius Pudihang, head of the disaster mitigation agency in Sangihe, North Sulawesi, told AFP. "But now things have returned to normal, people have returned home and all is safe." The Philippines and Indonesia are regularly rocked by quakes due to their positions on the Pacific "Ring of Fire", an arc of intense seismic activity that stretches from Japan through Southeast Asia and across the Pacific basin. Following community outcry against plans to keep the Paul Nelson Aquatic Center closed through 2021, the pool now is set to partially reopen t CHENGDU, China, Jan. 22, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Mhome Group (000667.SZ), a leading Chinese real estate developer headquartered in Wuhan, has acquired a premium land parcel in Chengdu, Sichuan Province for CNY180 million ($US27.83 million). It is the company's first property in the southwestern Chinese city and will be developed as an A-grade prefabricated construction project, the first in Sichuan. Mhome will utilize Building Information Modelling (BIM) and other digital and intelligent technologies to develop the residential project adhering to the highest standards, and all houses will be fully furnished. The move-in ready prefabricated residential properties have been very popular in the domestic market. Mhome's prefabricated housing project Mhome 1 Yungu Road in the capital city of Anhui Province sold out 306 properties on the opening day of December 18, 2020, for a total sales volume of CNY430 million ($US66.44 million). The additional properties up for sale sold out in under one minute on January 15, 2021, breaking the sales volume of CNY100 million ($US15.45 million). Following a series of successful New Year flash sales events, Mhome recorded CNY400 million ($US61.8 million) in sales within four days over the New Year holiday, setting fresh sales records in the last month of 2020. "The steady performance improvement of Mhome demonstrates the success of our integrated business model for smart housing manufacturing as well as the market's full recognition of our products and services," said Liu Daoming, Chairman of Mhome. In 2020, as a top 100 real estate developer in China, Mhome won 14 awards in the fields of capital market, real estate development, housing construction and social responsibility, which include Blue Chip Enterprise Award at the 17th Blue Chip Real Estate Annual Meeting, Industrial Prosperity Grand Case Award at the 2020 China Real Estate Annual Meeting. Mhome also received a brand value of 6.6 billion yuan ($US1.02 billion) in 2020, a 37.5 percent year-on-year increase. The digital, intelligent, and environmentally-friendly advantages of prefabricated building offer a new mode of production for the housing construction industry, as China continues to promote two strategic goals in 2021; coordinated development of intelligent manufacturing and building industrialization and reaching CO2 emissions peak and achieving carbon neutral. "Looking forward to 2021, Mhome will conform to the trend of smart, green and sustainable building while strategizing new development models for accelerated growth," said Liu Daoming. About Mhome Group Established in 1989, Mhome Group (000667.SZ) is a developer of residential and urban home properties and provider of urban and rural construction services. Headquartered in Wuhan, China, Mhome is now a listed company with a prominent presence in multiple industries including smart housing manufacturing, modern agriculture, and industrial revitalization of small towns. SOURCE Mhome Group 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. Saudi Arabias top diplomat Prince Faisal bin Farhan Thursday said the kingdom will re-open within days its mission in Doha, Qatar, following the agreement earlier this month to re-establish ties between the two countries. Saudi Arabia, UAE, Bahrain and Egypt in 2017 severed ties with Qatar over Qatars alleged terrorism sponsorship and its close relations with Iran. Early this month, ties between the feuding sides were thawed during the 41th summit of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) held at Al Ula, Saudi Arabia. The Al Ula agreement signed during the GCC summit will be a strong basis for Gulf and Arab coordination and has laid the foundation for solving all outstanding problems between the countries, Prince Faisal said. Saudi Arabia, hours ahead of the summit, re-opened its borders with Qatar. Egypt and UAE also re-opened their airspaces to Qatari aircraft. On Wednesday, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry also announced that Cairo and Doha have exchanged two official memoranda, according to which the two countries agree to resume diplomatic relations, effective January 20. The French doctor who discovered Down's syndrome was tipped for sainthood by the Vatican on Thursday. Pope Francis recognised the 'heroic virtues' of the 'venerable' Professor Jerome Lejeune, who died in 1994 aged 67 after years campaigning against the abortions which his discovery had wrought. The Vatican will now assess whether two miracles can be attributed to his work; the first to confer beatification and the second, sainthood. In 1958, while studying the DNA of a child, Lejeune discovered an extra chromosome on the 21st pair - establishing for the first time ever a link between a mental disability and a chromosomal anomaly. But in a bitter irony for the devout Catholic, his discovery led to parental diagnosis of chromosomal abnormalities and abortions of affected pregnancies. French pediatrician and geneticist Jerome Lejeune, who discovered the gene that causes Down syndrome, with one of his patients in Paris Pope John Paul II (pictured in 1982) became a close friend of Lejeune's and named him the first chairman of the Pontifical Academy for Life in 1994 It caused Lejeune spiritual turmoil and in 1974, while receiving the prestigious William Allan Memorial Award for his work, instead of giving the customary lecture on his field, he launched into an impassioned speech against abortion. 'Geneticists have not broken the secret of the human condition, and scientific arguments are of little help in ethical issues,' he told the audience. Returning home to his wife that night, he remarked: 'Today, I lost my Nobel Prize in medicine.' Lejeune never did receive the call from Stockholm but that year Pope Paul VI appointed him to the Pontifical Academy of Sciences. He worked closely with the Vatican to campaign against abortion and later became great friends with Pope John Paul II. While receiving awards around the world and speaking at conferences, Lejeune never lost touch with the Down's children he treated and their families. In 1994, John Paul named him the first chairman of the Pontifical Academy for Life, the Holy See's main bioethics advisory commission. Lejeune died in April of that year, anxious before his passing he said: 'I was a physician who should have cured them and I am leaving them. 'I have the impression I am abandoning them.' His wife Birthe said he was worried about who would continue the fight against abortion. Lejeune in 1984 (left) and in an undated photo (right) John Paul visited Lejeune's grave during the Paris World Youth Day in 1997 (pictured) French pediatrician and geneticist Jerome Lejeune, who discovered the gene that causes Down syndrome, in Paris in 1962 'Although the results of his research should have helped medicine to advance toward a cure, they are often used to identify children carrying these diseases as early as possible, usually with the aim of terminating pregnancy,' the Jerome Lejeune Foundation wrote in its biography. 'As soon as the pro-abortion laws were drafted in western countries, Lejeune began advocating for the protection of the unborn with Down syndrome: he gave hundreds of conferences and interviews across the globe in defence of life,' the group said. John Paul visited Lejeune's grave during the Paris World Youth Day in 1997. Though John Paul made the church's firm opposition to abortion a hallmark of his quarter-century papacy, Francis too has strongly denounced what he calls today's 'throwaway culture' that considers the weak, disabled or sick disposable. He has likened abortion to hiring a 'hit man' to take care of a problem. The Jerome Lejeune Foundation continues to support research and treatment for genetic intelligence disorders, and is engaged in anti-abortion advocacy. New Delhi, Jan 22 : Dubbed the "greatest literary show on Earth", the Jaipur Literature Festival (JLF) returns in a virtual avatar from February 19-28 featuring a spectacular line-up of speakers from across the world, consisting of writers, poets, playwrights, thinkers, politicians, journalists, cultural icons and recipients of major literary awards including the Man Booker, the Pulitzer, JCB Prize for Literature, Commonwealth, European Union Prize, the DSC Prize for South Asian Literature and the PEN Award for Poetry in Translation. The programme is vast and kaleidoscopic, with themes ranging from Technology & AI, Politics & History, Environment & Climate Change, Mental Health, Economics, Translations, Poetry & Music, Food & Literature, Geopolitics, Science & Medicine, Democracy & Constitutions, Water & Sustainability, Historical Fiction and Travel et al. Some highlights from the programme include Glasgow-born author Douglas Stuart whose 2020 Booker Prize-winning debut novel "Shuggie Bain" evokes the essence of addiction, parenthood, courage and love. Following the bond between a son and his mother, fractured by alcoholism, poverty, aspiration and human misery, the novel graphs an intimate devastating yet ultimately hopeful journey through their lives. In conversation with writer and playwright Paul McVeigh, Stuart will unravel the thought and process behind bringing this heartbreaking story out into the world. Celebrated American linguist, philosopher, cognitive scientist, historian, social critic, and political activist Noam Chomsky's latest book, "Requiem for the American Dream: The 10 Principles of Concentration of Wealth & Power", sharply questions the utopian idea of neo-liberalism and the consequences of markets dictating all aspects of society. Evaluating the ten principles that have fuelled this idea, he will unravel its roots and its troubling impact on American society, culture and politics, in conversation with journalist Sreenivasan Jain. Covering the ongoing pandemic, doctors and co-authors Randeep Guleria, Chandrakant Lahariya and Gagandeep Kang will discuss their exciting new project in conversation with award-winning journalist Maya Mirchandani. The focus of the session will revolve around whether India wins the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic. Award-winning Irish writer Colm Toibin will take us through the rhythm and roots of his writing process and celebrated career. A master of expression and text, Toibin possesses a unique ability to inhabit and blend through his words an expansive universe of fiction, non-fiction and poetry. Marina Wheeler, a Queen's Counsel in England, opens the portals of memory as the daughter of a woman traumatised by the Partition of 1947 that divided British India into Pakistan and India. Wheeler follows her mother's buried past, her marriage and move to England where she refuses to look over her shoulder at a lost world. In conversation with Navtej Sarna, the former High Commissioner of India to the United Kingdom, she will explore the meaning of the Punjabi Sikh identity as it survives through cultural transitions. In a special session, director and writer Devashish Makhija's latest book, "Oonga" will be launched followed by a conversation exploring the book. The book is a powerful novel based on his film of the same name. Capturing the inherent paradox between dystopian 'development' and utopian ideologies, the book narrates the journey of a little boy in the midst of a clash between Adivasis, Naxalites, the CRPF and a mining company. Journalist and writer George Packer's "Our Man: Richard Holbrooke and the End of the American Century" is an enduring account of the force behind the Dayton Accords which famously ended the Balkan wars. Packer's sweeping diplomatic history is based on Holbrooke's diaries and papers and gives a peek into the life of a man equally admired and detested. In conversation with journalist and writer Basharat Peer, Packer will dive into the life and career of an extraordinary and deeply flawed man and the political and social circles he inhabited. Journalist and writer Meenakshi Ahamed's latest book, "A Matter Of Trust", charts the complex relationship between India and the United States from the years following Indian Independence to today's evolving politics. Based on her research of presidential papers newly declassified documents, memoirs and interviews, the book evaluates the dynamics between the people in power in both countries against the backdrop of constantly developing socio-political-economic changes. Tripurdaman Singh's latest book "Sixteen Stormy Days: The Story of the First Amendment" of the Constitution of India is a fascinating look into the turbulent history and contentious legacy of the First Amendment of the Constitution. In conversation with journalist and writer Karan Thapar, Singh will explore the nascent years of India in the context of what he calls 'the first great battle of ideas.' The Festival continues its rediscovery of the vast heritage of India's languages. In a session focused on Hindi poetry, scholar and academic Rupert Snell will speak of the enduring legacy of the 17th century Bihari Satsai with its evocative romantic imagery and visual vocabulary, in conversation with fellow scholar, academic and translator Harish Trivedi. "The first Bhojpuri novel to be translated into English, "Phoolsunghi", is a period piece about the life of a tawaif in the late 19th century in colonial Bihar. Though Bhojpuri songs and cinema have gained popular appeal, the richness of Bhojpuri literature is not widely known. Gautam Choubey, an academic and a columnist, has innovatively translated this modern classic and rendered it with cultural nuances and poetry. Academic and author Francesca Orsini is Professor of Hindi and South Asian Literature at SOAS, University of London. In conversation with academic and award-winning translator Jatindra Kumar, the festival will remember legendary Indian actress Devika Rani through award-winning author and playwright Kishwar Desai's book "The Longest Kiss: The Life and Times of Devika Rani" which charts the life and career of the celebrated actress. Based on her personal letters and documents, the book narrates her journey through the creation of Bombay Talkies, India's first professional studio, her marriages to Himanshu Rai and Svetoslav Roerich, and the struggle of being a woman in the entirely male-dominated world of Indian cinema. Speaking on the programme, author and Festival Co-Director Namita Gokhale said: "It's been a joyous challenge to work on the programming for Jaipur Literature Festival 2021. We look at our transformative times and try to understand the future through the lens of the present and the past. Our hybrid digital outreach has opened up a new universe of possibilities. Sanjoy K. Roy, Managing Director of Teamwork Arts, producer of the Jaipur Literature Festival, said: "A year after the world was felled by the pandemic, we have persevered and shown that human endurance can and will prevail, fuelled by knowledge and information, empathy and the right to justice. The Jaipur Literature Festival is representative of these ideals and will continue to be a platform to celebrate the joy of knowledge." 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. One source said the reason for the limited volume was that the doses were primarily meant for healthcare workers in the countries that COVAX serves. BioNTech declined to comment while Pfizer did not respond to requests for comment. Spokespeople for the WHO and the GAVI vaccine alliance, which co-leads the COVAX scheme, also declined to comment. Senior WHO adviser Bruce Aylward said on Monday the COVAX scheme was in "very detailed discussions" with Pfizer, which has already committed hundreds of millions of doses this year to several wealthy nations, and expected to be able to include the vaccine in COVAX "very soon". The COVAX scheme is set to start distributing Covid-19 vaccines to poor and middle income countries in February. Ukraine said earlier on Thursday that its first delievery of Covid-19 vaccine under the COVAX scheme could arrive in the first half on February - with 210,000 doses of either the Moderna, Pfizer or AstraZeneca vaccines. COVAX has said it hopes to deliver more than 2 billion Covid-19 doses across the world this year. In an updated forecast published on Thursday, it said it planned to deliver around 1.8 billion doses in 2021 to 92 poorer countries, covering around 27% of their populations. The scheme - led by the WHO, the GAVI vaccine alliance and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI)- was set up last year amid concerns that poorer nations would lose out while rich countries scrambled to procure Covid-19 vaccines to inoculate their populations. COVAX has so far secured future vaccine suplies from AstraZeneca, working with Oxford University; the Serum Institute of India (SII) as well as with Sanofi and its partner GSK. It also has a memorandum of understanding over deliveries from Johnson & Johnson. The Pfizer deal would be COVAX's second, after the one with AstraZeneca, that covers a product with regulatory approval in some countries. The additional commitment by Pfizer comes as frustration grows in European countries over the US drugmaker's unexpected cut in supplies. Pfizer said last week it would reduce deliveries until early February to upgrade production capacity for a later output boost. The Pfizer and BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine is the only shot so far to have WHO emergency use listing approval. On Wednesday, Reuters reported that the WHO plans to approve several Covid-19 vaccines from Western and Chinese manufacturers in the coming weeks and months as it aims for rapid rollouts in poorer countries. BioNTech and Pfizer said this month they were aiming to deliver 2 billion vaccine doses this year, up from a previous goal of 1.3 billion. Their shot is more complicated to transport and store, requiring ultra-cold freezers, which may not be practical for poorer countries with hot climates. Also read: COVID-19 vaccine: Bharat Biotech seeks nod to conduct COVAXIN trials in Bangladesh We have used your information to see if you have a subscription with us, but did not find one. Please use the button below to verify an existing account or to purchase a new subscription. Dr. Anthony Fauci, Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, speaks during a White House press briefing, conducted by White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki, at the James Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House in Washington on Jan. 21, 2021. (Alex Wong/Getty Images) Fauci Contradicts CNN Report, Says Bidens Vaccine Distribution Not Starting From Scratch Infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci said on Jan. 21 that the Biden administration is not starting its COVID-19 vaccine distribution plan from scratch, contradicting a CNN report that claimed they were not given a plan by Trump officials. Fauci, head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, debunked a CNN report that was published hours earlier, citing unnamed Biden administration officials claiming, There is nothing for us to rework. We are going to have to build everything from scratch. The report by CNNs White House correspondent MJ Lee cited unnamed sources that alleged that the Biden administration would have to start its COVID-19 vaccine rollout from square one. Hillary Clinton responded to the reports allegations on Twitter, calling the claims appalling but not surprising. But Fauci told reporters, We certainly are not starting from scratch because there is activity going on in the distribution during an appearance in the White House briefing room, indicating that Biden officials will continue to build on and adjust as needed the blueprint left by the Trump administration. Fauci went on to tout President Joe Bidens plans for pharmacy buy-in, vaccine centers, and targeted use of the Defense Production Act to manufacture vaccines, tests, and personal protective equipment. Former President Donald Trump used the act last year to compel businesses to manufacture ventilators and other items. Were coming in with fresh ideas, but also some ideas that were not bad ideas with the previous administration. You cant say it was absolutely not usable at all, Fauci said. Its taking whats going on, but amplifying it in a big way. Lee defended her reporting on Twitter, calling Fauci a holdover from the Trump administration. Meanwhile, Sen. Lindsay Graham (R-S.C.) said reports claiming that the Biden administration is starting from square one on its COVID-19 vaccine distribution is a lie. The media should not buy the false narrative from the Biden Administration that they are starting from scratch on vaccine distribution, Graham wrote on Twitter. Thats a lie. Dont believe me, listen to Dr. Fauci. CNN didnt immediately respond to a request for comment by The Epoch Times. Bidens COVID-19 Strategy Biden has vowed to vaccinate 100 million Americans in his first 100 days in office against COVID-19, the disease caused by the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 37.9 million doses have been distributed as of Jan. 21 but just 17.5 million have been administered. A day after taking office, Biden released a national COVID-19 strategy that includes working to get Americans vaccinated against COVID-19, increasing the number of tests, requiring masks in more places, reopening schools, and rejoining the World Health Organization, which Trump left because of their failure to be transparent about the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in the early days. Some states have struggled to quickly administer doses theyve received from the federal government. One way the Biden administration hopes to clear the logjam is by creating more venues where people can get vaccinated, including stadiums, conference centers, and retail stores. Along with more vaccinations, the strategy also calls for an increase in testing, calling it part of a comprehensive national public health effort to control the virus. The government is aiming to up the number of tests manufactured in America, with the hope of doubling test supplies. Biden is asking Congress for $1.9 trillion to implement his plan. Zachary Stieber contributed to this report. Colombia's Ministry of Health officials said that they are ready to distribute millions of COVID-19 vaccines once the shots arrive in the country. A temperature-controlled warehouse has been shown publicly in Bogota, which can house up to 50 million vaccine doses. The health officials also displayed brand new freezers that can keep vaccines at ultracold temperatures of -80 degrees Celsius, according to an Associated Press report. The Ministry of Health says similar warehouses have been installed at provincial capitals to ensure that vaccines will not be spoiled as they travel through the country. Over 3,000 portable containers will be used to keep the vaccines cold as they are being distributed to remote towns and villages. Gerson Bermont, a Ministry of Health official, said that they are logistically prepared. "We will take the vaccine to the farthest village and the last health post in Colombia," Bermont was quoted on a report. Related story: COVID-19 Vaccine Begins To Rollout in Latin American Countries Colombia's Vaccination Program Ministry of Health said last month that the country will receive its first batch of 1.7 million COVID-19 Pfizer Pharmaceuticals in February, according to Anadolu Agency report. Healthcare workers and people over 80 years old will be the prioritized group to get the vaccine. This will be followed by a group of individuals aged between 60 and 79 years of age. People with pre-existing conditions, such as hypertension, HIV, and diabetes will also be part of the priority group that will get the COVID-19 vaccine doses. Colombians will not be able to choose the brand of vaccine they will receive, according to Health Minister Fernando Ruiz. Ruiz said that people will be vaccinated as the vaccines arrive in the country. Colombia had vaccine supply deals with drug-making companies such as Pfizer, AstraZeneca, and the COVAX mechanism. Pfizer and AstraZeneca will provide 20 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines, according to President Ivan Duque. Colombia is also set to receive 20 million doses through the COVAX mechanism. In total, the 40 million doses will cover 20 million people. Venezuelan Refugees Excluded However, Venezuelan immigrants face a problem as Colombia will refuse to vaccinate the refugees within its borders. Duque said on Monday that Venezuelans with dual nationality or formal migratory status will have access to a vaccine once it is readily available, according to The Guardian report. Migration authorities said that Colombia currently holds 1.7 million Venezuelans who fled their country due to political repression, economic ruins, and rampant food and medicine shortages. Out of those numbers, only about 45 percent have a formal status. Hundreds more cross the border unofficially every day. Duque said that the decision was made to prioritize Colombians and avoid a surge on the border. "We would have calls to stampede the border as everyone crosses asking for a vaccine," Duque was quoted on a report. Duque's decision caused criticisms among the migrant rights group. Juan Viloria, a Venezuelan doctor in Colombia said that now is the time to show solidarity. Viloria added that vaccinating migrants and refugees costs less than their hospitalization and intensive care unit. Viloria is also the coordinator for the migrant rights group Coalition for Venezuela. Read also: U.S., Pfizer Seal New Vaccine Deal for 100 Million More Doses Crestwood students with special needs would return to classes in February, followed by elementary students in March and junior and senior high school students in April, according to a plan that Superintendent Bob Mehalick outlined Thursday. The ultimate goal here is to keep everyone safe ... to bring back our students in the most consistent manner, Mehalick said during a school board meeting. Beginning Feb. 8, elementary students in autistic support and life skills classes would be the first to return to classes in person in Crestwood, where everyone has been studying from home since December because of the pandemic. Most of their teachers will have vaccinations against COVID-19 by then, which will, I believe, give everyone a layer of confidence, said Mehalick, adding some teachers have been vaccinated already. On Feb. 17, elementary students in learning support classes would be the next students to return. Elementary students from kindergarten to second grade would start attending classes on March 1, as would high school students with special needs. The elementary students would follow a hybrid schedule in which they attend a few days in person and study from home the rest of the week. Students in grades three to six would resume classes with a hybrid schedule on March 8. On April 6, secondary students from grades seven to 12 would return with hybrid schedules. But our hope would be at that time that we could be full time, Mehalick said. The board didnt vote on the return plan during the meeting, which was streamed live on social media, but Mehalick said classes can resume without the boards approval when the district updates documents with the state. In a comment emailed to the board, one parent said hybrid schedules dont work. Mehalick said if all students returned full-time now, classrooms would be too crowded to provide 6 feet between each student or teacher. Thats in every guideline, Mehalick said. There really is no wiggle room around that. In another month, if the infection rate drops and more people are vaccinated, students might spend more days a week in classes or return to classrooms earlier, he said. If we see that rate of infection lessen sooner than we anticipate, that March 1 date, which is the return date for our elementary students, we will absolutely bring them back sooner, Mehalick said. Another email pointed out that the state Department of Education recommended that elementary students return for the second semester, which starts Feb. 1 in Crestwood. It also was recommended, Mehalick replied, that every district would look at their specific situation and make the best decision for the district. He said Luzerne Countys infection rate remains high, and he seeks a plan that gives students the best chance to come back and stay healthy and keep students, faculty and community members safe. In an email read later, a resident pointed to statistics from the American Academy of Pediatrics that said the 211,466 new cases of COVID-19 detected among children between Jan. 7 and 14 are the most from any week so far. Even when students return, the experience of being in school will differ from before the pandemic because students will still wear masks, maintain a physical distance, and many of them will choose to continue studying from home, Mehalick said. Its not what a lot of students remember. It wasnt as fun as it was prior to last March 13, he said. Kelsey Rinehimer, a junior, said she misses school. I just cannot wait to go back in person, she said in an email. Whether its hybrid or full, virtual just doesnt work as well. Mehalick encouraged her and said he also wants classes to restart. Kelsey, right now April 6, and it sounds far away, and Im hoping its sooner, but it will be no later, he said. Please, Kelsey stay positive ... we are so close to all being back to as normal as this is going to let us be. Highlights Google has threatened to pull its search engine from Australia. The threat has been issued over a proposed media law. Australian govt has proposed Google pay news publishers for their content. The standoff between Google and Australian authorities appears to be getting serious as the company has threatened to stop making its popular search engine available in Australia if a proposed law by the Australian government is brought into effect. This proposed law has become such a flashpoint as it would see Google forced to pay news publishers for their content -- the first for the tech giant across the globe. The proposed law which will also see Facebook pay publishers is largely seeing a pushback from Google which has made its views on the matter clear. Google's Australia managing director Mel Silva even told a Senate hearing earlier that the proposed news media law will be "unworkable", and the company is prepared to exit the Australian market. "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," Silva told the inquiry. If it actually manages to go ahead with it this threat to disable its search function in Australia will come as a major statement by Google which sees billions of people daily throng to its search portal for answers to some of the most common queries. Australian government responds The Australian government itself has been very clear on how it plans to take things forward. Responding to Google's statements, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the government would not respond to threats. Talking to the media, he said, "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... People who want to work with that, in Australia, you're very welcome. But we don't respond to threats." However, Google has remained adamant with Silva describing the government's stance as the "worst-case scenario" while claiming that Google's statement on the matter is not a threat but reality. "We have had to conclude after looking at the legislation in detail we do not see a way, with the financial and operational risks, that we could continue to offer a service in Australia... This provision in the code would set an untenable precedent for our businesses and the digital economy. It's not compatible with how search engines work or how the internet works," she said. Google to pay news publishers in France But even as Google fights the Australian government over the proposed media law, the company has come to a revenue-sharing agreement with the French Alliance de la Presse d'Information Generale -- an organization representing news publishers in France. As per CNBC, Google has accepted a process for paying news publishers on varied criteria including "daily volume of publications or the monthly Internet audience." Reacting to the development, Sebastien Missoffe, Managing Director of Google France said, "This agreement is a major step for Google. It confirms our commitment to press editors within the framework of the French law on neighboring rights. It opens up new perspectives for our partners, and we are happy to contribute to their development in the digital age and support journalism." The 2021 GCS International's board of directors meeting was held Jan. 21 at the organization's headquarters in Seoul's Jongno District, and saw four board members reappointed to serve for another three years. They include GCS International President Choue Chung-won, third from left, and The Korea Times Chairman Seung Myung-ho, fourth from left. Courtesy of GCS International By Ko Dong-hwan Global philanthropic campaigner Goodwill Cooperation Service International's board of directors meeting for this year was held at the organization's headquarters in Seoul's Jongno District, Jan 21. GCS International President Choue Chung-won said in the meeting's opening remarks that 2021 marks the 40th anniversary of the establishment of the U.N. International Day of Peace, and the organization plans to organize several commemorative events. Choue, also the president of World Taekwondo, said the projected taekwondo-Korean language online training program for GCS International's member countries will greatly help the club. Secretary-General Kang Seok-jae said the organization will launch the program this year, together with the Asia Development Foundation and the King Sejong Institute Foundation. "I hope that the number of GCS national chapters to increase to more than 100 by October this year, when the 2021 GCS International Convention takes place in Wuxi, China," Choue said. Kang also mentioned the organization's aims to increase the number of member countries from 58 to 100 by October; and Selma Li, president of GCS International Portland in the United States who joined the meeting online, said he will add 15 more Pan American countries this year. Other major GCS International events for 2021 are an international world peace concert in Seoul, Sept. 10; a DMZ Peace Festival in Paju, Gyeonggi Province, June 5, together with the Kookmin Daily newspaper; and a peace concert in Namyangju, Gyeonggi Province, May 26 to commemorate the centenary of the birth of GCS founder Choue Young-seek. The meeting participants also confirmed the reappointment of four board members of GCS International for three more years, including Choue and The Korea Times Chairman Seung Myung-ho. 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. Advertisement Since the first cases of coronavirus were identified in the U.S., California and Florida have stood out for taking very different approaches to the crisis. Over the course of the last year, California Gov Gavin Newsom has ordered businesses such as bars and indoor dining in restaurants to be shut down due to a rising number of cases and hospitalizations, and has imposed mask mandates. The state's schools have also been largely remote since March and most residents are under lockdown orders. By comparison, Florida Gov Ron DeSantis has issued very few closures, lifting restrictions bars, restaurants and virtually every other business in September. DeSantis has refused to shut down schools statewide and has said a mask mandate is 'off the table.' Two months ago, he even criticized states like California with harsher restrictions and said he trusted his residents to 'use common sense'. 'How has that worked out in the states that have done it?... What about all these states where you have an explosion in cases?' DeSantis told reporters. 'At some point, does the observed experience matter? I'm opposed to mandates. Period. I don't think they work.' Despite these different approaches, both states ended up with the same outcome. A DailyMail.com analysis shows that, over the course of one year, both state have near-identical rates of cases, deaths and hospitalizations. California has had a slowly increasing hospitalization rate of 150 hospitalizations per million people to nearly 600 per million and Florida (right) has seen increasing hospitalization rate of 100 hospitalizations per million people to nearly 400 per million. The curves bear a striking resemblance to each other. The dashed line represents the national seven-day average and the solid line represents California's and Florida's seven-day averages California (left) is seeing an average of about 10 deaths per million people while Florida (right) is experiencing an average of six deaths per million people. Both states have very similar curves. The dashed line represents the national seven-day average and the solid line represents California's and Florida's seven-day averages California (left) and Florida (right) are both reporting an average of between 500 cases and 1,000 cases per million people, and each seeing a decline in the latter part of January. The dashed line represents the national seven-day average and the solid line represents California's and Florida's seven-day averages. When looking at the raw numbers, California has the edge. The Golden State has 3,039,044 total cases and 35,004 total deaths - both figures are the highest in the nation. By comparison, Florida is reporting 1,613,884 total infections and 24,739 fatalities. However, population size must be taken into consideration. California has about 40 million residents and Florida has about 22 million. When adjusted for this metric, the edge shifts to Florida, but just slightly. Florida has about 5,043 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents while California has about 4,595 per 100,000, according to The Tampa Bay Times and a DailyMail.com analysis. According to The COVID Tracking Project, California and Florida are both reporting an average of between 500 cases and 1,000 cases per million people, and each are seeing a decline in the latter part of January. For deaths, California is seeing an average of about 10 deaths per million people while Florida (right) is experiencing an average of six deaths per million people, The Tracking Project found. However, both states are following a similar curve with a spike in cases around January 1 and infections starting to tail off and deaths both increasing. How about when adjusted for the last 90 days? The Times notes that COVID cases in the last 90 days when adjusted for population is higher - but not by much- in Florida than in California at 1,903 per 100,000 compared to 1,629 per 100,000, near identical. Deaths tells a similar story. Over the last 90 days, Florida has recorded 33 deaths per 100,000 in comparison with 15 deaths per 100,000. Once more their curves appear similar with fatalities spiking around mid-January. California Gov Gavin Newsom has issued very strict orders during the coronavirus pandemic (orange lines) such as bars and indoor dining shuttered and gradually loosening as cases decline (blue lines). Once rates increase, he issues lockdowns again Florida Gov Ron DeSantis as issued very few closures (orange lines) and has been very critical of states like California with harsh restrictions, with both states following similar curves, In fact, even with rising rates, he has chosen to reopen (blue lines) much of his state Hospitalizations for the two states over the last several months show they have been following the same curve with around 30 per 100,000 last month for California and 21 per 100,000 last month for Florida How do the states compare when it comes to COVID-19 hospitalizations? The COVID Tracking Project, which has been recording hospitalizations in every state, does not have a figure for all hospitalizations ever reported in California while, in Florida, this data was not made publicly available until July. At its peak on January 12, California reported a single-day total of 22,665 people hospitalized due to the virus while Florida reported 7,762 people on January 14. When adjusted for 100,000, California still has a higher hospitalization rate. California has a rate of about 56 hospitalizations per 100,000 while Florida has about 35 per 100,000. However, The Tampa Bay Times, notes that Florida's rate has been historically higher until recently. For example, in late July, Florida was reporting about 44 hospitalizations per 100,000 while California has about 22 per 100,000. Overall, the two states are quite similar with California having higher total numbers but Florida having a higher rate of cases and deaths when accounting for population, with both states now trending downward Despite Florida and California's very different approaches, the curves of their death rates are near-identical. Florida's orange lines represent closures while the blue lines represent reopening. Even with rising rates, DeSantis has closed very little. California (above) and Florida shows a peak around mid-April, again around mid-July and another peak during the holiday season. The only difference is during each peak, California has ordered a restriction or closing (orange lines) Worth noting when it comes to hospitalizations is age. More than one-fifth of, or 21 percent, of Florida's population is at least 65 years old with at least 4.6 million out of the state's 22 million identifying as senior citizens. Comparatively, just 15 percent of California's population is elderly with six million out of 40 million aged 65 and up. This means more residents in Florida are susceptible to a virus that preys on the elderly. Overall, the two states are quite similar despite their different approaches with California having higher total numbers but Florida having a higher rate of cases and deaths when accounting for population, with both states now trending downward. DeSantis has refused to shut down schools statewide and said he trusted his residents to 'use common sense'. Pictured: DeSantis speaks at a COVID-19 testing site, January 6 Newsom has ordered schools to be largely remote since March and most residents are under lockdown orders due to rising rates. Pictured: Newsom addresses a news conference held at the launch of mass COVID-19 vaccination site at Dodger Stadium, January 15 Additionally, Florida has had higher hospitalization rates historically but has recently been overtaken by California, and both are on a similar curve. Dr Brad Pollock, associate dean for Public Health Sciences at the UC Davis School of Medicine, told the Sacramento Bee there are some factors out of politicians' control when it comes to transmission. This includes population density, the number of multi-generational households and the public cooperating with state laws and mandates. 'The epidemic has not been uniform across the country,' he said. 'Some of the differences can be attributed to policy-making. Some of them are just bad luck.' She is usually seen strutting her stuff on the world's hottest catwalks for the most prestigious fashion houses as an in-demand model. But Kaia Gerber still managed to look effortlessly chic in gym gear as she picked up post-workout drinks in Los Angeles on Thursday. The supermodel, 19, cut a casual figure in a cropped black hoodie, showing off her toned physique as she grabbed a coffee. Casual chic: Kaia Gerber still managed to look effortlessly chic in gym gear as she picked up post-workout drinks in Los Angeles on Thursday The teen catwalk queen showcased her slender legs in black gym leggings which gradually got lighter below her knees. To complete her casual chic ensemble, Kaia wore bright white gym socks pulled up to her calves. The beauty tied the whole look together with a pair of tan UGG boots, which she matched with a brown purse tucked under her arm. The model's shoulder-length tresses were parted down the middle and she covered her face in a black mask. Legs for days: The supermodel, 19, cut a casual figure in a cropped black hoodie, showing off her toned physique as she grabbed a coffee Kaia - the daughter of supermodel Cindy Crawford and businessman Rande Gerber - held sunglasses and a bottle of water in her hand on her way to get coffee. Earlier in the day, the cover girl headed for a coffee with a friend after being overwhelmed with pride as she tuned into Joe Biden's inauguration ceremony on Wednesday morning. She was especially overcome with emotion regarding Kamala Harris' status as the first woman and person of colour to become Vice President of the United States. Coffee run: The teen catwalk queen showcased her slender legs in black gym leggings which gradually got lighter below her knees Writing on her Instagram, Kaia said: 'This morning we watched @kamalaharris being sworn in. such a huge moment for women of all ages, but especially for young people.' 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.' She added: '[I am ] excited to see this country turning around... i'm 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.' (sic) Inspiration: Kaia was overwhelmed with pride as she tuned into President Joe Biden's inauguration ceremony on Wednesday morning Kaia, like many, has been doing her best to quarantine as the coronavirus continues to run rampant in Los Angeles. At the height of lockdown, Gerber decided to adopt pet 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.' Since then, Milo has been featured in many of her posts, including a sweet snapshot last week where she described their bond as 'two peas [in a pod].' 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 When she is not cuddling in bed with Milo or communicating with her Instagram following, Kaia is spending quality time with her actor boyfriend Jacob Elordi. The pair confirmed their romance in October 2020, by posting photos of themselves sharing a kiss in their Halloween costumes to their respective Instagram pages. The Australian actor, 23, is known for his roles in HBO's Euphoria and the popular Netflix film series The Kissing Booth. The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) said that 357,450 South Sudanese refugees have returned home from other regional countries since November 2017. Robert Kocharyan on years of his leadership in Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia Situation on Armenian-Azerbaijani border is still tense, more on COVID-19 in Armenia, May 28 digest "Armenia" alliance of political parties paying tribute to founder of First Republic Aram Manukyan (LIVE) Yerevan.today: Armenia acting PM not greeted at ruling party's headquarters, citizens call him 'capitulator' Russia MOD reports on maintenance of ceasefire regime in Nagorno-Karabakh Armenia acting MOD meets with Russian counterpart in Moscow Armenia 2nd President: I see possibility of restoring borders of Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast We can provide our army with some key, modernized weapons, says Armenia ex-President Kocharyan Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: Captives issue is not one that any opposition force can resolve OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs release statement on detention of 6 Armenian servicemen by Azerbaijan Armenian acting Deputy PM: Discussion on issues possible only after withdrawal of Azeri troops from Armenia's territory Armenia acting PM on Syunik roads, Russian military posts: This is only place where there are working nuances Armenia acting PM: Process of return of POWs will intensify after upcoming elections Putin congratulates Aliyev on Republic Day 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 We are grateful for Ians professional leadership and dedication to help grow Indianas economy through notable project cargo shipments, environmental stewardship and partnership opportunities throughout the northwest Indiana port, said Vanta E. Coda II, CEO of Ports of Indiana. As we work through this transition, we are confident our staff will continue delivering exceptional service to our port companies. We wish Ian the best of luck in his next endeavor. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 22) The old terminal of the Clark International Airport may be transformed into a mass COVID-19 vaccination facility, its operator Luzon International Premier Airport Development (Lipad) Corp. said Friday. This as the consortium targets to make the new terminal operational by July of this year, its chief Bi Yong Chungunco said during the handover ceremony of the Clark International Airport's new passenger terminal building. The group is composed of conglomerates JG Summit Holdings and Filinvest Development Corp. in partnership with a unit of Singapore's Changi Airport. "While we look forward to travel, returning with a vengeance and working towards the operationalization of the new terminal. We thought long and hard, what are we going to do with the existing terminal when we move to this terminal?" Chungunco said. "Similar to our support in bringing home our kababayans, we are committed to offer the existing terminal to be used as a mass vaccination facility," she added. She said the old terminal, which has a floor area of 25,000 square meter, can vaccinate more than 10,000 people a day. According to Chungunco, the move will be efficient as this will require minimum logistics requirements. "Because what can be more perfect than having Clark International Airport as a vaccine hub and have a vaccination center right next door," the official said. "Imagine, vaccines arriving, unloading. In five minutes, they will be in cold storage, controlled temperature. And when you need the vaccines, in five minutes, they will be in vaccination center," she said. The government earlier said vaccines from pharmaceutical giants Pfizer and Sinovac are expected to arrive in the country by February 20. Lucknow, Jan 22 : The Yogi Adityanath government will launch the 'Udyam Sarathi App' on January 24 which will provide every information related to self-employment and the job industry at one click. The Chief Minister will unveil a high-tech platform for the youth on the occasion of the 'UP Diwas'. The app, prepared under the ODOP scheme, is said to be a master-key for exploring self-employment opportunities for the youth. Through the Udyam Sarathi app, youth will easily be able to get a varied range of business opportunities in different departments and sectors which will even include the state and Central governments, anywhere and at any time. The app will also provide assistance by the state government, opinion of experts as well as the entire process of loan availability for the youth to start self-employment. In addition to this, details of market availability, information regarding business models and strategies for development will also be present on the app. 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 government watchdog is investigating the abrupt resignation of the US attorney in Atlanta, says a report. Byung J Pak quit his position after then-president Donald Trump criticised officials for not doing enough to find election fraud. The Justice Departments inspector general Michael Horowitz is in the early stages of looking into the sudden departure of Mr Pak, according to the Washington Post. Investigators have reportedly not yet interviewed Mr Pak, who surprisingly announced on 4 January he was leaving as the US attorney for the Northern District of Georgia. Mr Paks top deputy was bypassed by Mr Trump as he picked a temporary replacement. The resignation came the day after the Washington Post reported that Mr Trump had called Georgias secretary of state, Brad Raffensperger, and demanded he find enough votes to overturn his defeat to Joe Biden. Observers have suggested that the call may result in criminal investigation of the former president for breaking the states laws on interfering in election results. Mr Pak, who was appointed by Mr Trump in 2017, has returned to an Atlanta law firm as a partner in litigation and trial practice. He reportedly left after receiving a call from a senior Justice Department official that led him to believe he should resign, according to the Washington Post. Mr Trump had refused to concede his defeat to Mr Biden at the time, and was falsely claiming widespread voter fraud in the state. The former president was reportedly angry that Mr Paks office and other agencies in the state were not doing more to help him prove his claims. Meet the New York City real estate agent Clare Crawley allegedly believes her fiance Dale Moss had been cheating on her with. Eleonora Srugo is an accomplished real estate agent who has been in contact with Moss since 2019, and is the woman Crawley suspects her ex had been seeing during their engagement, according to E!. However, reps for Srugo deny she is in any romantic relationship with Moss, and insist they are only friends. At the heart of allegations: Eleonora Srugo is the woman Clare Crawley reportedly believes her fiancee Dale Moss has been seeing during their engagement Happier times: Crawley and her fiance Dale Moss met on The Bachelorette and quickly became engaged 'Dale and Eleonora are, and have been platonic friends for a few years. They have never been romantically involved in any way. She was excited for his engagement and only wishes him all the best. They have never been involved dating, or romantically in any way whatsoever. Any claims they have dated or were romantically involved are blatant lies,' a rep for Srugo told DailyMail.com. A graduate of Boston University's Questrom School of Business, Srugo has been ranked as one of Douglas Elliman's top agents ever since joining the real estate company in 2009, according to her bio on their website. Srugo was raised in the New York City neighborhood of SoHo, and currently resides in stylish Greenwich Village. She is fluent in English and Hebrew, and is also proficient in Spanish and German. Making a splash: Eleonora pictured laying in an infinity pool in her white bikini Class act! A graduate of Boston University's Questrom School of Business, Srugo has been ranked as one of Douglas Elliman's top agents ever since joining the real estate company in 2009 In addition to her professional accolades, she has also found time to give back to her community as the founder of the Stuyvesant High School Alumni Mentoring Program. 'My goal is to have them visualize their professional futures, give them tools to achieve that vision, and a network of alumni and professional volunteers to support them,' Srugo told Elliman Insider. Srugo has been friends with Moss for a number of years, and sources told E! she was helping him find a larger apartment 'for when Clare would eventually move to New York.' Fun in the sun! Srugo enjoys posting a slew of stunning snaps to her account Doing good: In addition to her professional accolades, she has also found time to give back to her community as the founder of the Stuyvesant High School Alumni Mentoring Program Long-time friends: Moss shared a photo of himself with Srugo back in December 2019, almost a year before he met Clare on The Bachelorette 'He has known the girl for way longer than he has known Clare,' the source said, adding: 'So of course they would be in touch.' Evidence of the long-time friendship is visible on Instagram, where Moss has been 'liking' many of Srugo's posts. He even shared a snap of himself with her during a group outing in December 2019, nearly a year before meeting Crawley on The Bachelorette. However, the friendship did not sit well with Crawley, who allegedly believed Dale had been cheating on her with Srugo. Dangerous curves ahead! Srugo posted about learning to 'swerve' at life's curve balls with this gorgeous snap It's over: Clare and Dale ended their engagement after just five months together 'Clare has always been skeptical,' an insider alleged to E!, noting the male model and Eleonora, who works for the company Douglas Elliman, 'would sneak around New York City, on trips Crawley was not present.' 'She never trusted the friendship and thought it was shady,' a source added. However, sources close to Moss insist the cheating speculation is all false. 'There is zero truth to the romance rumors,' the insider said. 'Dale was faithful to Clare throughout their entire relationship.' The news comes after just hours after Crawley broke her silence about their split for the first time, after Moss first confirmed their breakup over Instagram on Tuesday. Love at first sight: Crawley was insistent Dale was the one for her right from the start Just five months after prematurely exiting her season of The Bachelorette to accept a proposal from the retired athlete, 32, Crawley claimed she only learned Moss would be announcing the devastating news after he posted about it. 'I was made aware of a 'mutual' statement at the same time you all were, so I've needed some time to really digest this,' she told her one million followers. She continued: '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,' the Sacramento-born beauty explained. '2020 was one hell of a year, with COVID, battling severe anxiety post-show, balancing a public new relationship, all while slowly losing my mother. It hasn't been ideal circumstances, but that is life right. I have been looking forward to the light at the end of the tunnel.' While Crawley pointed out their 'relationship was not perfect,' she said she 'was genuinely invested with all of my heart.' 'I may not have all the answers, but I do know this I will continue to show up, stand by my word, and be committed to love,' she concluded. 'XO Clare.' Cases have stayed about the same over the past week and are still high. The numbers of hospitalized Covid patients and deaths in the Natrona County area have also remained at about the same level. The test positivity rate in Natrona 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 Natrona 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 Natrona 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 6 cases per day were reported in Natrona County, about the same as the average two weeks ago. Since the beginning of the pandemic, at least 1 in 10 residents have been infected, a total of 8,099 reported cases . About the data In data for Wyoming, The Times primarily relies on reports from the state. The state does not update its data on weekends. Prior to February 2021, it released new data daily. 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: March 17, 2021: The daily testing count includes many older tests. The daily testing count includes many older tests. Jan. 23, 2021: Wyoming did not announce new data because of system maintenance. Wyoming did not announce new data because of system maintenance. Nov. 27, 2020: Wyoming reported data for Nov. 26 and Nov. 27 after reporting no data on Thanksgiving. Wyoming reported data for Nov. 26 and Nov. 27 after reporting no data on Thanksgiving. Aug. 10, 2020: Wyoming removed 40 probable cases after reviewing records. Wyoming removed 40 probable cases after reviewing records. April 9, 2020: Wyoming began reporting probable cases and deaths. 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 Natrona County is at a high risk level for unvaccinated people because there was an average of 8 daily cases per 100,000 people reported in the past two weeks. The risk in Natrona 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: The minister has urged Ukrainians to test for COVID-19 even if there are flu symptoms. Ukrainian Health Minister Maksym Stepanov has said the COVID-19 epidemic in Ukraine may significantly weaken by late 2021. "It is clear we would like it to happen sooner. But a set of measures, including those related to [COVID-19] vaccination, I very much hope we will see great improvements as early as this year. My great wish is that we could enter this summer with [minor] restrictions, perhaps with face masks, but with everything else getting back to normal," he said on the air of TV Channel Ukraina, according to the online newspaper Segodnya. Read alsoPreliminary results: Minister Stepanov updates on impact of new lockdown on COVID-19 casesIn addition, Stepanov has urged Ukrainians to undergo tests for COVID-19 even if there are flu symptoms. Other related news reports Reporting by UNIAN Massachusetts dentists got the green light Thursday to start getting the COVID-19 vaccine as Gov. Charlie Baker announced all groups in Phase 1 of the states vaccination plan may get inoculated, but the professional organization representing the dental industry says the access came too slowly. Dentists, dental hygienists, assistants and others within the industry were placed in the last category of Phase 1, as non-COVID-facing health care workers, despite being one of the only health care workers who have to work with unmasked patients, said Dr. MaryJane Hanlon, president of the Massachusetts Dental Society. Were working on somebodys mouth. They dont have a mask on, she said. We are not protected the same way that a physician or a nurse would be protected ... patients are wearing masks all the time in a hospital. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended on Dec. 28 that dental workers get vaccinated in the first phase just like other health care workers, such as physicians, technicians, nursing assistants and emergency medical service personnel. The Massachusetts vaccination plan places all healthcare workers in Phase 1, but the plan prioritized COVID-facing workers or doctors and nurses that treated COVID-19 patients, followed by first responders, people in congregate settings and then other health care workers. Dentists were put at the end of Phase 1 without having a seat at the table, Hanlon said. The advisory board behind the vaccination plan did not include a dental industry leader. She said the result was a prioritization list that did not take into account the level of exposure people in dentistry might have compared to other health care workers. Hanlon expected dentists would have to wait until February to be offered the vaccine. She welcomed the news that all health care workers could get vaccinated as soon as Thursday. Delta Dental of Massachusetts, which asked the state Department of Public Health to immediately offer the vaccine to dentists, praised the Baker administrations announcement. We want to thank Governor Baker for this is welcome news for the oral health community and the work to combat the coronavirus here in Massachusetts, DDMA wrote. Dentists are an essential part of our health care community and play a pivotal role in keeping people healthy throughout this crisis and beyond. Before Thursdays announcement, Hanlon was among a handful of dentists who were cleared to get vaccinated early. The associate dean for clinical affairs at Tufts School of Dental Medicine, she could have gotten a shot through the university. But she declined. Hanlon, who oversees dentists and doesnt see patients, said she wanted to wait until all dentists have the ability to get vaccinated. The bottom line is, Im not taking advantage of what my position is, said Hanlon, noting that private practitioners dont have the same access as dental workers affiliated with large hospital systems. Some dentists were able to work with hospitals in their community to get vaccinated in Berkshire County, Hanlon said, but those options havent been available across the state. Having heard Gillette Stadium is starting to take appointments for dentists, Hanlon encouraged South Shore dentists to go to Foxborough to get their shots. In the meantime, Hanlon said she coordinated with dentists to get their entire team inoculated when the vaccines become available, from the dentist to the front desk worker to the lab technician who creates dentures and crowns. Dentists are also preparing to help administer the COVID-19 vaccines, Hanlon said. Health care workers have to undergo training and then can volunteer to vaccinate people. While dentists now have access to the vaccine in Massachusetts, Hanlon said she hopes dentistry leaders can play a larger role in state-level discussions about access to COVID-19 resources. We deserve to be at the table with all the other doctors and weigh in on what the impact is so we can educate them on what the impact is to our profession, Hanlon said. Not being asked didnt allow us to even give an opinion. They dont have to follow. They can still do their own thing, but work with all the knowledge you have access to. Related content: Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-22 19:54:35|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close A boy wearing a mask flies his kite on the bank of Inya Lake in Yangon, Myanmar, Dec. 18, 2020. (Xinhua/U Aung) -- 1st batch of COVID-19 vaccine arrives in Myanmar's Yangon; -- Sri Lanka grants approval for emergency use of Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine; -- Indonesia reports 13,632 new cases, 250 new deaths; -- Australian arrival caps to remain unchanged despite 3rd wave of pandemic subsiding: PM HONG KONG, Jan. 22 (Xinhua) -- The following are the latest developments of the COVID-19 pandemic in Asia-Pacific countries on Friday: YANGON -- The first batch of COVID-19 vaccines arrived at Myanmar's Yangon International Airport. On the government-to-government basis, a total of 1.5 million doses of the Covishield vaccine, manufactured by Serum Institute of India (SII), arrived in the country and were handed over to the Medical Research Department under Myanmar's Ministry of Health and Sports. A health worker conducts a COVID-19 rapid antigen test for a vendor at an urban park in Colombo, capital of Sri Lanka, on Dec. 29, 2020. (Xinhua/Tang Lu) COLOMBO -- Sri Lankan authorities granted approval for the emergency use of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine for COVID-19, Minister for Pharmaceutical Production and Regulation Channa Jayasumana told local reporters. Health workers disinfect survivors of a 6.2-magnitude earthquake in Mamuju, West Sulawesi Province, after landing at Adi Soemarno Airport in Surakarta, Central Java, Indonesia, Jan. 21, 2021. (Photo by Mardi/Xinhua) JAKARTA -- The COVID-19 cases in Indonesia rose by 13,632 within one day to 965,283, with the death toll adding by 250 to 27,453, the country's health ministry said. A health worker prepares a dose of the COVID-19 vaccine Covishield for health workers of the Border Security Force at Agartala, the capital city of India's northeastern state of Tripura, Jan. 21, 2021. (Str/Xinhua) NEW DELHI -- India's COVID-19 tally rose to 10,625,428 as 14,545 new cases were registered during the past 24 hours, said the latest data from the federal health ministry. According to the official data, the death toll mounted to 153,032 as 163 COVID-19 patients died since Thursday morning. The Indian government said on Friday that over 1 million healthcare workers have been vaccinated against COVID-19. A man wearing face mask walks in a clothing market in Bangkok, Thailand, Jan. 21, 2021. (Xinhua/Rachen Sageamsak) BANGKOK -- Thailand confirmed 309 new coronavirus cases, mostly via active testing, according to Center for the COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA). Of the new cases, 297 were domestic ones while 12 others were those who had returned from abroad, CCSA spokesman Taweesin Visanuyothin said. Health workers wearing protective face masks participate in a COVID-19 vaccination simulation exercise in Manila, the Philippines, Jan. 19, 2021. (Xinhua/Rouelle Umali) MANILA -- The Department of Health (DOH) of the Philippines reported 2,178 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total number of cases in the Southeast Asian country to 509,887. The death toll climbed to 10,136 after 20 more patients died from the viral disease, the DOH said. People walk past the Sydney Opera House in Sydney, Australia, Jan. 14, 2021. (Xinhua/Bai Xuefei) CANBERRA -- Prime Minister Scott Morrison has declared that Australia has beaten a third wave of coronavirus infections. Morrison held a meeting of the National Cabinet, which consists of the prime minister and state and territory leaders, to discuss Australia's ongoing response to the pandemic. Following the meeting he told reporters that the cap on international arrivals to Australia would not be lifted until Feb. 15. A delegate takes a face mask at the entrance to the venue of the 11th Congress of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP) held in Lao capital Vientiane, Jan. 13, 2021. (Photo by Kaikeo Saiyasane/Xinhua) VIENTIANE -- Laos has detected two more COVID-19 cases, with its total number rising to 43. Lao Deputy Minister of Health Phouthone Meaungpak told a press conference in Lao capital Vientiane that the two new cases include a 33-year-old woman living in southern Laos' Champasak province, who returned to the country from Thailand. Photo taken on Dec. 11, 2020 shows houses in suburbs of Wellington, New Zealand. (Xinhua/Guo Lei) WELLINGTON -- New Zealand reported nine cases of COVID-19 in managed isolation since the last media statement on Wednesday. There are no new cases in the community. People wearing face masks walk in a market in Seoul, South Korea, Jan. 6, 2021. (Xinhua/Wang Jingqiang) SEOUL -- South Korea reported 346 more cases of COVID-19 compared to 24 hours ago, raising the total number of infections to 74,262. The daily caseload fell below 400 in three days, staying below 500 for five straight days. It peaked at 1,240 on Dec. 25. There were calls for resignations on Thursday this week after it emerged that the minister for Health in the Murcia Region, Manuel Villegas, had been vaccinated against Covid-19 despite apparently not falling into one of the priority categories. As well as the ministers, several high-ranking officials along with some staff in his offices had also had the jab, it was reported. Villegas, who announced his resignation on Wednesday, admitted that he had the first injection "last week" as he is a qualified doctor and the ministry has said that only qualified health workers in his team have had it. The UGT union had reported that some office workers at the regional health service itself had been vaccinated ahead of frontline staff. Mayors suspended The events in Murcia came after last week it emerged several local mayors across Spain had been vaccinated ahead of priority groups in their municipalities. Four were suspended by the Socialist party this week. The majority claim that they took the vaccine to save a spare dose going to waste. Gov. Greg Abbott steered clear this week of endorsing bail reforms such as those in Harris County aimed at reducing the number of people stuck in jail simply because they cannot afford to pay to get out. During a news conference on criminal justice priorities in Austin on Thursday, Abbott acknowledged that there are people in jail for low-level crimes simply because they have no money for bail. But while he says he expects debate on legislation to address that problem, he made it clear that his priority is pushing a separate bail reform plan that would make it harder for people to make bail if they have a history of violence. The fact is Texas has a broken bail system that allows dangerous criminals to go free, Abbott said. Abbott said hell push the Legislature to again try to pass legislation that would require judges to take more into account before setting bail. Abbott pointed to the killing of state Trooper Damon Allen on Thanksgiving 2017 in Freestone County. The suspect in Allens shooting death was out of jail on $15,000 bail, despite previous violent run-ins with police. TEXAS TAKE: Get political headlines from across the state sent directly to your inbox In 2019, a bill named after Allen passed the Texas House but failed to get out of the Texas Senate. Criminal justice reform advocates say they are heartened that Abbott, a former judge, is acknowledging the problem of poor people, despite being presumed innocent, being left behind bars while wealthier suspects go free. What is pervasive is how the system traps poor people in jail before they have been convicted of any offense, said Chris Harris, director of the Criminal Justice Project for Texas Appleseed. Harris said the problem with being left in jail is that it creates more problems for society and the individual incarcerated. Every extra day in jail, a defendant is not working or helping their family. And each day behind bars increases the likelihood that a person will have future run-ins with the criminal justice system, studies have shown. Bail reform has been a big priority for state Sen. John Whitmire, D-Houston. He said that after watching legislation die in two consecutive sessions, hes in communication with Abbotts office and Texas Supreme Court Justice Nathan Hecht for a new bill. Its not easy, Whitmire said. But it needs to get done. IN-DEPTH: Federal judge gives final approval to Harris County bail deal Hecht has advocated for reforms for years, similarly concerned about poor defendants being held in jail simply because they dont have money. Hes advocated for a risk assessment tool to let judges make more informed decisions about bail. Instead of setting a bail amount based on the criminal charge, he and others say risk assessment tools would look at the defendants criminal history and other factors. Abbotts comments Thursday are part of a series of news conferences hes held to outline key objectives he wants the Legislature to take up. The biennial legislative session started just over a week ago. Typically, the governor designates priority items that get more attention from the Legislature than other issues. On Thursday, Abbott also said hell push lawmakers to take action against local governments he said are defunding the police. He pointed to the city of Austin, which cut its police budget and redirected some of that funding to social service programs. Some cities are turning their backs on law enforcement officers, Abbott said Thursday. Texas is a law and order state. When Austin made its cuts, it had one of the biggest metro police budgets in Texas. In 2020, the Austin Police Department cost more per capita than those in Houston, San Antonio or Dallas, budget records show. jeremy.wallace@chron.com Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has held a meeting on priority issues put on the agenda of the Ukrainian authorities in 2021, the presidential press service has reported. The meeting was attended by Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, Verkhovna Rada Chairman Dmytro Razumkov, MPs and heads of parliamentary committees, Head of the President's Office Andriy Yermak, his deputies, and advisers. "Among other things, [participants in the meeting] discussed changes in the country that are taking place in connection with the pandemic. They emphasized the importance of voting on priority laws aimed at implementing reforms that will promote macroeconomic growth," the statement said. According to the statement, the meeting participants focused on support for businesses and the population. Much of the meeting concerned the economy. The meeting participants noted that economic growth is expected in 2021 and a number of steps and initiatives are to be taken to bring domestic legislation into line with European legislation, as Ukraine plans to revise the provisions of the Association Agreement with the EU. "Cooperation with international partners has become an important focus," the statement said. Shmyhal said that the government was working on the implementation of the president's initiative on mortgage loans for young people at 7%. There are also plans to introduce nominal scholarships for students and special awards. "When we participated in the elections, we promised to simplify the conditions for doing business, to provide affordable loans and mortgages to young families, and to increase material security. Of course, the coronavirus pandemic has made its adjustments and posed new and unexpected challenges that needed to be addressed immediately. But we must not forget our promises and what people expect of us. This year, we must continue to move towards the implementation of our program provisions to build a successful country of happy people," Zelensky said. op (@ChaudhryMAli88) Slovenia believes that the Open Skies Treaty should be universalized, rather than questioned, upon the withdrawal of Russia and the United States, the country's foreign ministry told Sputnik on Monday MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 18th January, 2021) Slovenia believes that the Open Skies Treaty should be universalized, rather than questioned, upon the withdrawal of Russia and the United States, the country's foreign ministry told Sputnik on Monday. The Russian Foreign Ministry said last week it was starting the procedure of withdrawal. The United States left in November 2020. "As stated by the Slovenian side on 7 October 2020, at the 4th Review Conference of the Open Skies Treaty, it represents a vital confidence- and security-building measure in the Euro-Atlantic area. Instead of questioning its merits, we should rather think about its universalization. A good place to start would be the [Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe] OSCE area," the press service of the ministry said. Dublin, Jan. 22, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Direct to Consumer Testing Industry: Global Markets" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. This report provides a comprehensive analysis of the DTC testing market in a global context, including market forecasts and sales through 2025. The report analyzes the market by segmenting it into the different test categories: health and wellness tests, ancestry tests, genetic health risk tests, pharmacogenetics tests, carrier screening tests, overall tests, and others. This study segments the DTC testing market by distribution channel into online, retail, and diagnostic labs. The market is also assessed in all of the geographic regions, including North America, Europe, and emerging markets. The emerging markets include countries and regions like India, China, Korea, Taiwan, Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and Latin America. The report features new product developments and patents boosting the growth of this market in the global context. This report provides comprehensive profiles of market players in the industry. The industry structure chapter focuses on the changing market trends, market players, and their leading products. This chapter also covers the mergers and acquisitions and any other collaborations or partnerships that happened during the evaluation period of this report that is expected to shape the industry. The factors such as strengths, weaknesses, threats, and opportunities that are expected to play a role in the DTC testing market are evaluated in detail. The report excludes at-home pregnancy and fertility tests. COVID-19 tests are covered, but not their sales. Provider-dependent at-home tests are not included in this report. The Report Includes: 29 data tables and 40 additional tables An overview of the global market for Direct-to-consumer (DTC) testing, and discussion on its technology background Estimation of the market size and analyses of global market trends, with data from 2018, 2019, estimates for 2020, with projections of compound annual growth rates (CAGRs) through 2025 Comparative study on traditional vs. DTC testing and identification of new opportunities, challenges, and technological changes within the industry Market share analysis of DTC testing based on type, applications, and distribution channel and evaluation of market size, market forecast, and regulatory landscape of DTC testing industry Impact analysis of COVID-19 on Direct-to-consumer (DTC) testing industry Coverage of events like mergers & acquisitions, joint ventures, collaborations or partnerships, and other key market strategies and details of the investments and new product launches in the market Comprehensive company profiles of market-leading participants, including 23andMe, EasyDNA, Ancestry, Color Genomics, Full Genomes, and Genesis HealthCare Traditionally, diagnostic tests are prescribed by medical practitioners, approved by healthcare providers, and the results are discussed with the patients. The direct-to-consumer (DTC) or at-home tests have transformed conventional testing and have enabled consumers to order their tests from the convenience of their homes, at any time. With no physician approval required, the DTC tests provide the consumers with the freedom to order any test at an affordable cost. Moreover, they have access to the test results, which they can then share with their physicians if they wish to. There are several DTC companies across the globe that offer various types of personalized testing. While the majority of these tests are genetic tests, routine biomarker tests and novel microbiome tests have also entered this booming market. The applications of DTC tests range from ancestry and genealogy testing to screening for diseases in couples, to identification of genes associated with certain heritable diseases and cancers. Advances in genotyping custom arrays have enabled the identification of traits that are linked to fitness, allergies, sleep disorders, neurological diseases, and many other health and wellness aspects. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) techniques and reducing costs of genetic sequencing have led to significant adoption of whole-genome sequencing (WGS) for routine testing. Companies such as Veritas and Nebula Genomics now offer DTC WGS products. Leading players, such as 23andMe, are strategizing new business models to foster growth in this market. Partnerships with healthcare and pharmaceutical companies to drive research in disease pathogenesis and drug discovery are accelerating. Also, many companies have partnered with large healthcare networks such as PWN Health to provide in-house licensed physicians, and thereby, add reliability to their products. The DTC testing market is driven by increasing consumer demand for at-home testing kits, expanding access to these products through online and retail options, decreasing test costs, and expanding applications of these tests. The market is, however, restrained by a lack of proper regulation for DTC tests. Data privacy and security are ongoing challenges. Lack of population-specific databases has also delayed the adoption of tests by many populations. As new players enter the emerging markets and population-based projects also expand, the DTC testing market is expected to have new opportunities in these regions. Growing consumer awareness and improving lifestyles are also expected to contribute to the further growth of this market. Many players, including Quest Diagnostics, EverlyWell, and many others, launched COVID-19 at-home testing kits. Sales from these kits are expected to boost the market growth in the coming years. Key Topics Covered: Chapter 1 Introduction Study Goals and Objectives Reasons for Doing This Study Scope of Report Information Sources Methodology Geographic Breakdown Analyst's Credentials Custom Research Related Reports Chapter 2 Summary and Highlights Key Highlights Chapter 3 Market and Technology Background History of DTC Testing Difference between Traditional and DTC Testing Types of DTC Tests Genetic Tests Biomarker-based Tests Microbiome Tests Population Databases or Biobanks Applications of DTC Testing Health and Wellness Ancestry and Genealogy Testing Carrier Screening Disease Risk Assessment Pharmacogenetics Whole Genome Sequencing Others Regulatory Landscape of the DTC Testing Industry Role of Federal Agencies in the DTC Testing Industry Data Privacy and Security Chapter 4 Market Breakdown by Technology Type of Test COVID-19 and DTC Testing At-Home COVID-19 Test Process At-Home COVID-19 Tests Global Market for DTC Tests by Type Market Overview Market Revenue Market Shares DTC Genetic Testing DTC Biomarker-Based Testing DTC Microbiome Testing Chapter 5 Market Breakdown by Distribution Channel Global Market for DTC Tests by Distribution Channel Market Overview Market Revenue Market Shares Online Channel Retail Channel Chapter 6 Market Breakdown by Application Global Market for DTC Testing by Application Market Overview Market Revenue Market Shares Health and Wellness Testing Ancestry and Genealogy Tests Disease Risk Assessment Carrier Screening Pharmacogenetic Testing Whole Genome Sequence-based DTC Testing Other DTC Tests Chapter 7 Industry Structure Business Models in DTC Testing Traditional Business Model of DTC Testing Emerging Business Models of DTC Testing Grants and Funding in the DTC Testing Industry Collaborations and Partnerships Mergers and Acquisitions Leading Market Players in the DTC Testing Industry Leading Market Players in Genetic DTC Tests Market Leading Players in the Market for Biomarker-based DTC Tests Leading Players in the Market for DTC Microbiome Tests Chapter 8 Patent Review/ New Developments Patent Analysis Patents by Year Patents by Type Patents by Company Patents by Country Patents by Assignee Chapter 9 Analysis of Market Opportunities Strengths of the Global DTC Testing Market Increasing Consumer Awareness Decreasing Costs of Genetic Sequencing Improvized Business Models and Marketing Challenges within the Global DTC Testing Market Lack of Regulatory Guidance False Positives Saturation in Product Offerings Ethical and Data Privacy Issues Opportunities within the Global DTC Testing Market Emerging Markets Pharma Tie-ups Growing Number of Applications Covid-19 Pandemic Threats within the Global DTC Testing Market Competition Regulatory Constraints Chapter 10 Company Profiles 23Andme Ancestry.Com Llc Chengdu Twenty-Three Rubik Cube Biotechnology Co. Ltd. (23Mofang) Circle DNA (Prenetics Ltd.) Color Genomics Inc. Dante Labs Easydna Everlywell Inc. Fitness Genes Ltd. Full Genomes Corp. Helix Opco Llc Identigene Llc (Acquired By DNA Diagnostics Center) Karmagenes Sa Laboratory Corp. Of America Holdings Letsgetchecked (Privapath Diagnostics Ltd.) Living DNA Ltd. Mapymygenome India Ltd. MyHeritage Ltd. Microbiome Labs Llc Nebula Genomics, Inc. Omecare (Formerly Known As Pathway Genomics) Psomagen Inc. Quest Direct Thryve (Quantbiome Inc.) Veritas Genetics International Ltd. Viome Inc. Chapter 11 Appendix: Acronyms For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/4z82uc YEREVAN, JANUARY 22, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU) will provide scholarship for one graduate student per year for five years pursuing a masters degree in Classical Armenian Studies at Oxford University, ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of the AGBU. In keeping with its core commitment to advance Armenian education, the Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU) London Trust recently made a substantial gift to support a scholarship programme for graduate students pursuing a masters degree in Classical Armenian Studies at Oxford University. It is the leading university for Armenian studies in the UK and has pursued the subject since the mid-nineteenth century. By providing support for one graduate student per year for five years, the new scholarship programme will play a key role in helping to foster greater understanding of Armenian culture and heritage. The first scholarship will be awarded in October 2021, with the programme running through to 2026. Scholars studying for the MSt in Classical Armenian Studies gain experience in reading and interpreting a wide range of Armenian texts, thus enabling them to develop a critical understanding of the literary culture and historical background of their chosen period. During their time at Oxford, students will have access to the Bodleian Librarys unique collection of Armenian manuscripts, which includes a very rare copy of the first book printed in Iran: an Armenian Psalter from New Julfa. The course is directed by Professor Theo Maarten van Lint, who holds the Calouste Gulbenkian Professorship of Armenian Studies. He says: Funding is an indispensable element in offering worthy candidates access to the Masters in Classical Armenian Studies. Therefore I am extremely grateful to Joseph and Jenny Oughourlian and the AGBU for this generous and strategic donation. The creation of the AGBU London Trust Scholarship represents the next stage in an already fruitful partnership between the organization and Oxford, which for the past seven years provided financial support to Armenian students reading a range of subjects at the University. The new scholarship programme, which will be open to students from all over the world, aligns with the AGBUs mission to uphold Armenian heritage through educational, cultural and humanitarian spheres. Joseph Oughourlian, AGBU London Trust Chairman and Vice-President of the AGBU Central Board said: AGBU is absolutely honoured to partner with the prestigious global institution that is the University of Oxford. The University's Faculty of Oriental Studies has been thriving for years and as the world's largest Armenian organization, it is a logical development for AGBU to support the facultys MSt in Classical Armenian Studies. We deeply thank Professor van Lint and his team for allowing this cooperation to happen'', reads the statement. 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 Good Weekend analysis of winners over the 45-year life of the awards shows that a quarter of the top 200 on The Australian Financial Reviews 2019 Rich List have an Order of Australia, and they overwhelmingly have the higher-level honours. Australians like to think of themselves as great egalitarians. But the Order of Australia created in 1975 by then-prime minister Gough Whitlam to replace the politicised British Imperial honours system is arguably just as class-based as ever. Doled out on Australia Day and the Queens Birthday, the honours are arranged according to a strict hierarchy: the highest is the Companion of the Order (AC), then comes Officer of the Order (AO), Member of the Order (AM) and Medal of the Order (OAM). It did. A Good Weekend analysis of the Order of Australia honours system highlights just how unusual a candidate Bates was for the revered ranks of the AO the second-highest honour, granted to Australians who have been of distinguished service of a high degree to Australia or to humanity at large. Her 2018 award bucks the general trend towards granting the highest honours overwhelmingly to the rich, the powerful, the well-connected and the male. After the Government House ceremony, you go to a lunch at Parliament House in Sydney, says Bates, who lives in Sydneys inner suburbs. At my table were Mr and Mrs Whoever and theyd won their award for scouting sitting next to an old hooker. I think my award broke the mould somewhat, and I hope it did. Bates, a straight-talking bottle-blonde who worked for decades as a sex worker before sex work was decriminalised, was used to being on the other, non-establishment side of the law. Suddenly, here was the Queen through her Australian representative, then-governor-general Peter Cosgrove appointing her an Officer in the Order of Australia for her services to sex workers and drug users. The AO was a great surprise and a big deal. The crown came up and I thought, What is that? What have I done now? she recounts. And it was, Miss Bates, we are in the process of giving you an AO. Julie Bates well remembers the morning in 2018 when she saw something that made her worry the law was onto her. Drinking coffee in bed in her pyjamas, and scrolling through her emails, she caught sight of a crown insignia. Her chest clenched. Former Australian of the Year and domestic and family violence campaigner Rosie Batty said at the time that she was sickened by Arndts honour. It makes me question the legitimacy of the awards system in the entirety across the spectrum, Batty told News Corp. While Arndt has made a significant contribution to sex education and was a strong Australian voice in the 1970s sexual revolution, more recently she stirred controversy with her sympathetic 2017 interview with convicted paedophile Nicolaas Bester for her YouTube channel, and prior to that, her description of a scout master who sexually abused boys as a good bloke. Controversial 2020 honours recipients included former Speaker of the House and lifelong Liberal politician Bronwyn Bishop, who left politics following an expenses scandal. Also honoured was Graham Richardson, the former Labor politician and notorious factional headkicker once known as the Senator for Kneecaps. Eyebrows were also raised at the honouring of retired broadcaster Mike Carlton, who often turns the air blue with abuse of his ideological foes on Twitter. But by far the most controversial honour went to Bettina Arndt , the sex therapist and media commentator associated with the mens rights movement. Arndt was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for her work on gender equity through advocacy for men. The statistics paint their own picture, but the last Australia Day honours list, released just before the pandemic distracted everyones attention, rendered the idiosyncrasies of the system in technicolour. That list lost people, says one former Council for the Order of Australia insider. It cracked open peoples uncertainty about the honours. It had a few too many rich people and a few too many pollies. More than 320 state and federal politicians have been honoured with the higher-level awards (AM, AO, AC), with a record 20 bestowed with gongs in 2020, more than half of them from the conservative side of politics. Women account for only 31 per cent of Order of Australia appointments. No statistics exist on the percentage of Indigenous nominees or recipients, but the Council for the Order of Australia, which selects the recipients, has not had an Indigenous community member since 2012. About 130 directors of boards of ASX 300 companies have an Order of Australia, and the suburbs AC and AO recipients are most likely to live in are Toorak in Melbourne (which boasts 67 of them) and Mosman in Sydney (57), followed by Melbournes South Yarra (45) and Kew (34). Sydneys exclusive Vaucluse has 39 ACs and AOs. The highest-level award, the AC, has never been given to anyone in the Multicultural or Disabled fields of endeavour, but of the 30 fields awards are given to, the Parliament and Politics category boasts 42 ACs, while Business and Commerce leaders have collected 48 of them. These are awards from the bottom up individuals are neither qualified nor disqualified on the basis of their political leanings, social views or religious convictions. Many months later, in September , Council for the Order of Australia chair Shane Stone himself an AC issued a statement saying the council had considered requests for the cancellation of appointments to the Order of Australia of Ms Bettina Arndt AM and Mr Mike Carlton AM and will make no further recommendations to the Governor-General. Further, the statement said, unanimous community approval is not a criteria for Council to make a recommendation. The symbolic motion was supported by all senators except One Nations Pauline Hanson and Malcolm Roberts. Then Victorian attorney-general Jill Hennessy wrote to Governor-General David Hurley asking the council to consider cancelling Arndts honour on the basis it brought the Order of Australia into disrepute. The outrage was swift. Victorian Liberal senator Sarah Henderson wrote to the Council of the Order of Australia urging it to revoke the AM, saying Arndt had seriously crossed the line and that it was no longer appropriate she be honoured. Labor senators Kristina Keneally and Penny Wong moved a Senate motion calling Arndts comments reckless and abhorrent and not consistent with her retaining her Order of Australia. Weeks after her award was announced, Arndt tweeted in support of Queensland man Rowan Baxter, who burned to death his estranged wife Hannah Clarke and their three young children, then killed himself. Appointed for renewable two-year terms, its members are a mix of the community representatives (currently including top-end-of-towners Melbourne philanthropist Rupert Myer AO and Sydney corporate board member Jillian Segal AO) and appointees from the states and territories usually the secretary to the governor or the chief public servant in the premiers department. It also includes three ex-officio public officer holders the Deputy Secretary of Governance from the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, the Chief of the Australian Defence Force, and the Vice-President of the Federal Executive Council (the governmental body empowered to advise the Crown, via the governor-general). The chair and seven community representatives are chosen by the prime minister and officially appointed by the governor-general. One of the big problems we suffer from is awareness of the system itself. I am aware of the criticisms that have been raised. There are considered criticisms of the system that are valid and need to be addressed. The Order of Australia is the highest form of recognition for Australians, says Hurley over the phone. It is a recognition of significant contribution to the life of Australia at the community, national and global levels. Hurley rarely gives media interviews and his willingness to discuss the honours is indicative of a soft push for change from within. Twice a year, the 19-member Council for the Order of Australia gathers in a nondescript building on the sprawling grounds of the Governor-Generals official residence in Yarralumla, home to the grandly titled Honours and Awards Secretariat of the Office of the Official Secretary to the Governor-General. While its run under the auspices of the governor-general, the governor-general has no role in its decisions. That said, incumbent David Hurley is vitally interested in the process and public perceptions of it. Much of the current systems imbalance comes down to who has the resources to nominate deserving others, notes one observer: If youre trying to stand up your fences and tend your crops, you dont have time. Credit:Getty Images The decision of the council was final. But the whole saga led many to ask: how do these people get an Order of Australia in the first place? And, for that matter, how does anyone? The officials might put the applications into loose groupings of the level of order AC, AO, and so on. But the council will make the decision, sometimes thrashing it out and even taking a vote. For example, it is understood Julie Bates nomination was upgraded from a lower honour to an AO on the urging of some council members who pointed out the number of lives she must have saved through her HIV-prevention work. It was always interesting that the professionals generally got the higher awards, says Brady. But the OAM recipients usually were the ones who would say, I dont deserve this, when they had in fact done remarkable work for the community. Julie Bates was appointed an Officer in the Order of Australia for her services to sex workers and drug users: I think my award broke the mould somewhat. Credit:Dominic Lorrimer Stephen Brady, a former secretary of the council and official secretary to the governor-general, explains: The secretariat does 12 to 18 months of research on each application, validating the information. One of their roles is to approach people who are not on the nomination form as referees. They seek more detail or corroboration those contacted will often be very honest. Every so often youll get a recipient who is criticised. People will wring their hands and say, How did that happen? But we see the whole picture of someone, he says. The 19 people on the council come from across the political spectrum. You have a full suite of opinions of the nominee and their merit, and Ill keep coming back to that word, merit, because its about merit, not quotas. Stone says he does get calls from people who have nominated others, asking after the status of the application, but he refers them back to the secretariat. The current chair, Shane Stone, is a former Liberal Party president and one-time Northern Territory chief minister. Described by one former council member as a traditional bloke from the Northern Territory and a really decent human being, Stone is in Queensland when I speak to him he travels widely through regional and remote Australia in his other role as Coordinator-General of the National Drought and North Queensland Flood Response and Recovery Agency. He moves out of the wind to make himself heard on his mobile. The councils deliberations are confidential, no reasons are given for the rejection of applications, and there is no avenue for appeal. The sessions run all day, sometimes spilling over two days, and for some sessions you might be looking at 800 or 900 people, according to one person familiar with the meetings. Former Victorian College of the Arts CEO Andrea Hull AO served on the council as a community representative from 2008 to 2014. The secretariat is independent in its research and they have a register of people they will go to, she says. Occasionally its obvious that a person has self-nominated, which is not comme il faut. Then there are the highly networked individuals who nominate each other, not realising their swollen vanity may be exposed. You could see the email chain it begins with, You nominate me, Ill nominate you, and here is who you should approach as referees, Hull says. The debates were robust. There was never any sense at the table that people were being pressured to accept certain nominations. Professional and industry associations will frequently organise and draft nominations for leaders in their field surgeons and lawyers are well-resourced in this respect. Some former politicians might be officially nominated by an eminent person, but the application bears all the hallmarks of being filled out by party HQ. I can remember a couple of politicians who were not given awards, Hull says. There was one in particular I had knowledge of who absolutely did not warrant an award. She wont say who it is, only that she is keeping an eye out for that person, to see if they end up getting one. Loading Human rights lawyer Moira Rayner is a long-time feminist and activist who clashed with Victorian premier Jeff Kennetts government in the 1990s over the issue of womens prisons. In the 1990s she was nominated for an Order of Australia by Father Julian Punch, a Catholic priest who she got to know while working on an inquiry into homeless children in the 1980s. Rayners nomination was not successful. I thought Gough Whitlam was a wild optimist in trying to clean up the Imperial honours system, because inevitably it gets down to who does the picking, Rayner says. The political nature of many recent appointments has been embarrassing. Its not reflective of merit at all, its reflective of who you know. Rayner believes the system should be taken apart and looked at carefully, and re-established with new guidelines so the networks of those privileged ones fall apart. As for the likelihood of her getting an award now that shes criticised the system: Ill never be nominated again. In 1974, before relations between Gough Whitlam and the Crown soured, the Australian prime minister visited the Queen at Buckingham Palace. Whitlam used the meeting to outline his proposal for a new, native Australian honours system. She was happy with the concept, he recounted in a 1983 speech. Previously, eminent Australians had been recognised under the British Imperial system, which Whitlam considered inappropriate. He was impressed by the Canadian honours system, established in 1967, and sought to model ours on it. On Australia Day 1975, the Order of Australia came into being. Knighthoods and damehoods did not figure in Whitlams reimagining of Australian honours he wanted the Companion of the Order of Australia to be the highest honour the country could bestow. Not only that, but the Companion, or AC, would rank above all Australian knights and dames previously anointed under the British Imperial honours system. But Whitlams republican-spirited changes were short-lived, and we have seen an unedifying back-and-forth on Australian knighthoods ever since. When Malcolm Fraser succeeded Whitlam as prime minister, he added a knighthood and a damehood to the Order of Australia. In 1986, then-Prime Minister Bob Hawke abolished them again. Then Tony Abbott was elected in 2013, and he re-introduced knighthoods and damehoods unilaterally as prime minister, with no oversight from the council. Already trailing in the polls, when Abbott announced on Australia Day 2015 that Prince Philip would be made a Knight of the Order of Australia, he lost both the public and his party room, commencing a chain of events that led to Malcolm Turnbull toppling him in September that year. There were other noses out of joint, too. When Prime Minister Abbott reintroduced knighthoods and dames, he didnt foresee the level of anger from the ACs, says former governor-general secretary Brady. Many of them contacted Government House, commenting sharply that they had accepted what they thought was the highest honour! Turnbull duly abolished the knights and dames category, although the changes were not backdated Prince Philip may well have been baffled to receive an Australian knighthood, but he got to keep it. The unused medals left over from Abbotts ill-advised reintroduction of knights and dames cost taxpayers about $135,000, it emerged at a Senate estimates hearing in October 2020. This sort of political tinkering was out of keeping with Whitlams original vision, which was for an honours system that would be out of the hands of politicians and in those of a widely representative council that would reflect community values. The Order of Australia is different from Imperial Orders in an important aspect: the method of selecting recipients, he said in his 1983 speech. It is not unkind but factual to say that the Imperial Awards are made on the recommendation of politicians there have been constant cases of political favours in appointments in Imperial Orders. There cannot be such cases in the Order of Australia. Credit:Edwina Pickles; Natalie Boog; Joshua Morris; Brook Mitchell; AAP So how well has the Order of Australia lived up to Whitlams dream of a non- political process? Good Weekends analysis shows politics and politicians still have plenty of involvement in the modern honours system. Former senior politicians are highly likely to be honoured with awards, compared to disability advocates or environmental crusaders or just about anyone else. While many awards go to community workers, when politicians get gonged, it tends to be at the highest level 40 per cent of politicians with an Order of Australia are at the AC and AO level. There is a skew to conservative politicians 165 Coalition members have received gongs, compared to 130 Labor politicians. (Some high-profile Labor people, notably former Labor prime minister Paul Keating and former Labor minister Jim McClelland, have refused honours.) And you dont have to have served in parliament to get a gong for services to politics former Liberal party federal directors Tony Nutt and Brian Loughnane have AOs, and former Labor party national secretary George Wright was made an AO in the Australia Day list in 2020. Former Nationals federal director Paul Davey was given an AM in 2019, and former Nationals federal president Christine Ferguson got the same gong in 2018. Some years the party-political bias has been stark in 2005, when John Howard was prime minister, the Liberals got 14 awards, and just one Labor politician was honoured. Then there are the former pollies on the council itself alongside Country Liberal Shane Stone as chair, another of its community representatives Cheryl Edwardes AM is a former West Australian Liberal attorney-general who has worked as a mining company executive, including for Gina Rineharts Hancock Prospecting. Stone says neither he nor Edwardes is actively involved in politics. We are two people out of 19, he says. I can assure you that the state representatives, particularly the Labor states, wouldnt tolerate that for a minute and theres more of them than there are conservatives. I say to people, We leave politics at the door. We dont talk politics in here, we talk contribution. We assess people on their merits. "I say to people, 'We leave politics at the door. We dont talk politics in here, we talk contribution. We assess people on their merits. According to Brady, the wall between the council and the prime ministers office was guarded ruthlessly during his time. A prime minister could ask how a particular application was going, but that was about it. Stone agrees: The Governor-General and the Prime Minister would not ring me and say, We think so-and-so should get one. That might be so, but there are other ways to influence an outcome, and taken historically, its clear the community representatives have not been overly representative. Since 1975, three in every four members of the council have been men, and 96 per cent of ex-officio members since inception have been male. Women have been selected more often more recently, reflecting a general social shift towards more women in leadership roles. Yet since the election of Tony Abbott in 2013, there have been no Indigenous Australians appointed to the council. Stones great frustration with criticism of the honours system is that many critics never nominate anyone themselves. Prior to his appointment as council chair, he nominated 74 people, he says, and as chief minister he appointed a public servant to lead nominations for the Northern Territory. He particularly wanted more Indigenous and migrant citizens honoured. I nominated the first Muslim in the Territory, Stone says. He was a meat-worker turned imam and a bloody good bloke. Stone regularly takes people aside in his stead as flood response coordinator, and tells them to nominate the ordinary people doing extraordinary things in flood and drought recovery on the land. I am passionate about the whole thing. I have lived and breathed it. I believe there is huge merit in the way we recognise people, he says. No one is standing there saying, Hey, its perfect. Nothings perfect, we strive to do better. We are conscious we dont get as many nominations for women as we would like. Its not as if we dont try. Stone defends the honouring of former politicians something that grinds many peoples gears, particularly given the generous parliamentary pensions many ex-MPs benefit from. There are plenty of former politicians who are passed over, I can assure you. Its not an entitlement to an award, he says. We try to recognise those who have served their time then re-entered the community to work, when what theyve done post-politics is hugely commendable. Thats what you want, particularly among those who have the benefit of a parliamentary pension. He argues that relative to the overall number, theres not that many honours to former pollies, but concedes some classes of people have more time and resources to nominate people than others. Its almost an urban luxury to sit around on a Sunday afternoon and say, Ill do a nomination. But if youre trying to stand up your fences and tend your crops, you dont have time. Certainly time, resources and expertise with government processes is a plus. An inherent weakness of the system is that the professions are able to draw on high-level referees in a way ordinary folk cant, says one former council insider. Most people might struggle to bring together five really good referees. Whereas if your nominator is John Howard and its co-sponsored by Kim Beazley, your application jumps off the page. This one-time insider says the OAM the lowest-order community honour runs the risk of putting ordinary people at the bottom of the honours system, where sometimes their nobility and real sacrifice is equal to or greater than that of your well-paid surgeon. It is almost like the British class system. Credit: ASX data: opendirector.com.au Carol Kiernan is an intelligence and communications consultant who has worked with the Australian Federal Police. She was living with her husband in Washington, D.C., working for the World Bank, when a 2017 visit home coincided with the announcement of the Queens Birthday honours list. What the 63-year-old read enraged her. There were 14 men and one woman [who] got a Companion. That woman was Cate Blanchett, Kiernan recalls. I felt like I was stepping back into the 50s with women being so grateful for everything. I had been overseas for a number of years, and I thought, Whats going on here? We dont recognise that 50 per cent of the population are women. On a flight from Melbourne to Sydney a few days later, still fuming, Kiernan picked up a copy of The Age and read a letter to the editor from education academic Dr Elizabeth Hartnell-Young, in which she too complained of the gender disparity in the honours list. Kiernan contacted her, and soon after they met in a Melbourne cafe to discuss what they could do. Hartnell-Young roped in Ruth McGowan, a former country mayor and champion of rural Australia, and after a brainstorming session involving lots of butchers paper, the trio founded the Honour a Woman group. Short and sharp, says Kiernan of its 2017 launch. We just went all day and said, What are we angry about? What steps do we want to take? How can we get there? As a movement rather than an organisation, it has 70 ambassadors from public life and the media. Its goal is to raise awareness and lobby governments for structural change to the honours system. The gender disparity in the awards system is stark a breakdown of all recipients between 1975 and 2016 shows 70 per cent were male and 30 per cent female. Kiernan says it is accepted that women have generally been given the lower awards. Only since 2017 has the secretariat published a gender breakdown of which level awards women are mostly honoured with, but they show she is right. Between 1975 and 2019, women received only 19 per cent of ACs, 21 per cent of AOs and 24 per cent of AMs. They were better represented among the lowest community level honour, the OAM, where they made up 35 per cent of recipients. Lobbying governments and the Governor-General, Honour a Woman wants nothing less than 50-50 gender parity. Things improved in the Australia Day 2020 list 41 per cent of recipients were female, and women received 62 per cent of ACs. But, Kiernan points out, only eight of the maximum of 35 ACs were awarded in 2020, so the sample was small. An investiture ceremony at Government House. They really are a joyous occasion, says Governor-General David Hurley (at far right). Governor-General David Hurley does not dispute that the Order of Australia has a woman problem. The data supports it, he says. You cant walk away from that. I dont think its appropriate, I dont think its right, and I want to change it. We need to ensure we have a system thats sustainable, that attracts the nominations of women. Hurley has met with the Honour a Woman group, and while he doesnt agree with their proposal of a quota for female recipients, he is working to boost nominations of women from the grassroots. In recent years we have worked hard to redress that balance and the numbers have changed. To this end, Hurley has written to 59 peak bodies in Australia over the past few months, armed with data on their 20-year history of male versus female nominations, encouraging them to examine their nominations process for gender balance. To some of them, I have said quite candidly, I dont think youre doing well enough. Now shes been radicalised, Kiernan sees Order of Australia injustice everywhere she goes. She rattles off a list of eminent women whove never been honoured as their male peers have, including former Western Australian premier Carmen Lawrence, anti-nuclear campaigner and Nobel Peace Prize nominee Helen Caldicott, who has 21 honorary degrees (her nomination for an Order of Australia in 2020 was rejected), and the recently deceased Helen Reddy. I did a quick check of other musicians of her era and found that her male colleagues were not forgotten, Kiernan says. Normie Rowe AM, Ronnie Burns AM, Glenn Shorrock AM, John Farnham AO, Angry Anderson AM, Slim Dusty AO MBE, Brian Cadd AM, Smoky Dawson AM, Athol Guy AO, Keith Potger AO and John Williamson AM. The Gibb brothers got CBEs [Commanders of the Orders of the British Empire]. None of them are feminist icons! Elizabeth Broderick has spent a lifetime fighting for gender equality, as Australian Sex Discrimination Commissioner and Chair-Rapporteur of the UN Working Group on Discrimination against Women and Girls. She is an Officer of the Order of Australia and a former Australian of the Year. She recently stepped down from the Council of the Order of Australia after four years service and says the council does need people arguing the toss for women. In many of the award categories, she notes, professional associations predominantly put men forward. Some progress has been made by state governments like Victoria, which in 2017 appointed a public servant within the Department of Premier and Cabinet to actively search for female nominees, but theres clearly more work to be done. The question is, how do we get more nominations for women? You can only make decisions based on the nominations you have in front of you. The question is, how do we get more nominations for women? You can only make decisions based on the nominations you have in front of you. There may be a new sense of activism around the awards, but criticism of the system dates back decades. In 1994, the Keating government commissioned an inquiry into the Order of Australia system. Frank Walker, then Minister for Administrative Services, spoke of complaints that the system is one for the elite groups in society that to be recognised you need to be a doctor, a lawyer, a business leader or senior government official. He noted the view that not enough women are receiving recognition through the system. Led by Clare Petre, who has held various leadership positions in the not-for-profit community sector, the inquiry found that Australians value their honours system as a signpost to our national identity, our values, our aspirations and our heroes but that access to awards is currently seen mainly as the preserve of organisations and powerful or well-connected individuals. I track Petre down and she invites me to her Coogee home in Sydneys east to pick up a copy of her report, A Matter of Honour. She seems glad someone is taking an interest. Petre says many members of the inquiry committee went in wondering whether we needed an honours system at all. They heard from thousands of Australians in every state and territory, through submissions, public forums, and face-to-face meetings with community and interest groups. The response from the community was, Yes, we do. The main thing was people thought it should reflect community values and be above and beyond what was your job. Petres report found many Indigenous people objected in particular to the Queens Birthday honours announcements. People in the Indigenous community did not relate to the system. There was a failure of the honours to reflect Indigenous values. University of Canberra chancellor Tom Calma received an AO in 2012 for his service to the Aboriginal community. As a recipient, I am also a supporter of it, he tells me. But there is not a great representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, particularly in the higher-order awards. Professor Marcia Langton was made an AM in 1993, and upgraded to an AO in 2020. The main reason she accepted the honours, she says, was to be gracious towards those very kind people who noticed my unpaid, voluntary work, and took the time to nominate me an onerous task that involves a lot of work on their part. When asked if Indigenous Australians have been well represented in the honours, Governor-General Hurley is frank. No, they havent been, he says. Its not easy. Ive had conversations with Indigenous leaders. Some are of the view that this is not a system for them. Some are of the view that, We dont recognise people as individuals. So should an Indigenous person be appointed to the Council for the Order of Australia? I think it would be useful, Hurley responds. You need the perspective. Says Petre: If you took this 25-year-old report, I fear it would be no different today. The top awards would be dominated by professionals. I look and still see all the people who have been awarded for community services are at the OAM level. She notes that lots of ex-politicians still receive the awards, so there is a system there that operates at a political level. It is an important system, the community does value it, but the accessibility of it still needs to be addressed. What is an honours system for? Most countries have some form of it. In India they give out the delightful-sounding Jewel of India (Bharat Ratna). South Africa created the Star of South Africa in 1975 knights are called ritters in Afrikaans. The US has its Medal of Honor, Presidential Medal of Freedom and Legion of Merit (recently awarded to Scott Morrison by Donald Trump). Indonesia has the Star of the Republic of Indonesia and France has the highly coveted Legion dHonneur. Some scoff at honours altogether. Says former foreign minister and NSW premier Bob Carr: Ive always been struck by how distressed people get that their award is inferior to that of a colleague or acquaintance. So often theyre deeply unhappy. Still, as Napoleon said, Men are led by baubles. He notes that aside from the above-mentioned medals, the US republic doesnt do them. That just strikes me as interesting ... [they] probably view them historically as a residue of monarchy. Certainly, the brandishing of Order of Australia pins is a subject of mockery or pride, depending on your audience. There are official guidelines on how to wear the medals and pins, and while recipients are not mandated to wear them, they are encouraged to be proud of their honour. The ACs and the AOs get round-the-neck medals, says the former council insider. You can only really wear them once, at your investiture, so the pin is the thing. In the Qantas Chairmans Lounge, the eyes are looking. Such cynicism aside, former governor-general secretary Stephen Brady says the investiture ceremonies bolster faith in the system. The longer I was there, the less ambivalent I became as I saw the great pleasure at the investitures the joy was always greater, the lower the award, he says. And it is always the OAMs who get the loudest clap. He recalls seeing the recipients spill out across the lawn of Government House, following their ceremony. It was the epitome of Australian egalitarianism, recipients feeling acknowledged by their country, surrounded by their family, wanting a photo with the governor-general. Governor-General Hurley says those ceremonies are the highlights of the year for him and his staff. They really are a joyous occasion where youre celebrating so much thats good about Australian life. There are signs of change. The emergence of awareness-raising by groups like Honour a Woman has meant there was a significant increase in the number of nominations made in the Order of Australia during 201819: a total of 2909 nominations were submitted. When it works well, its as good a system as anybody could conceive, says Brady. Confidentiality is key, but ultimately whether or not the community accepts the awards system depends on the calibre and impartiality of the council. Loading Governor-General Hurley concedes there are valid criticisms of the system. You would be foolish to say there werent, there are, he says. We can correct them, theyre solvable. Former Liberal Victorian premier Ted Baillieu believes the system generally does work well. He concedes there may be some gender disparity, but puts that down to the lack of women nominated in the first place. There are women all around leading things. I would not walk into a room and think, Oh my god, theres a whole lot of women, he says. The presence of women in senior roles is all around us. I would hope the number of nominations grows. Baillieu received his own AO in the Australia Day honours in 2020, even though, he says, Ive never been much of a gong person myself. As we speak on the phone, more than six months later, he rummages in his desk and unwraps his Order of Australia pin for the first time. Its plastic sleeve makes a satisfying crunching sound. I dont wear jewellery at all, he says, not even a watch. Baillieu believes the hundreds of worthy honours recipients announced every year are overlooked because of a few controversial awardees. Way too much criticism is earmarked at the awards system based on some names which might be controversial for some people who have high media profiles. As for any perceived biases in the system, the former premier has a simple message. Its easy to do something about it. Just nominate someone. Jacqueline Maley is an Honour a Woman media ambassador. Statistical analysis by Nigel Gladstone. To read more from Good Weekend magazine, visit our page at The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age and Brisbane Times. Soon Raja Ali Ejaz, Pakistans envoy to Riyadh, will be packing his bags to fly back home to Islamabad, as the GHQ, the Pakistani military headquarters, approved Lt. Gen. (Retired) Bilal Akbar boards his flight to take charge as the new Pakistani Ambassador to the Royal Kingdom. This might look like a significant move by the Pakistani military establishment towards mending the badly dented relations between Islamabad and Riyadh, but, in my opinion, the significance of this appointment lies elsewhere. That is because Imran Khan was carried like a baby to the corridors of power and made Prime Minister of the country by the military establishment. This baby has not only failed to learn how to walk but has also been unable to learn how to talk. At every major step in the way of turning around a gravely troubled economy, he has stumbled and his political vocabulary has not expanded beyond the anti-India demagogy taught to him by his masters at the ISI during the election campaign. Hence, this pick of the Pakistani military establishment has proved that he suffers from political and economic infantilism. It did not take long for the Generals to realise that Imran Khan would create a mess and so, he was presented with members of former Pakistan President Pervez Musharrafs Cabinet in order to form a PTI (Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf) government. Even that did not work and soon the Cabinet also realised that their role as ministers was not to run the country, but to manage Imran Khan as a nanny would nurse a child. The Kinder-Egg Prime Minister No sooner had he assumed office as the Prime Minister of Pakistan, he forgot all the promises made during the election campaign. The Generals were not in a mood to build five million houses or create 10 million jobs. They wanted him to become the extended arm of a begging campaign. Imran Khan flew to Saudi Arabia barefoot, and much to the embarrassment of his country folks, he was seen on national television wearing socks while being greeted by the members of the Saudi royal family. ALSO READ| Pakistan Accusing India of Terrorism is a Classic Case of Pot Calling the Kettle Black He claimed that the holy land of Muslims was too sacred for him to walk on with shoes. This gesture of utter submission helped him win a $3.2-billion oil credit line with deferred payments and an extra $3 billion to stave off a balance-of-payments crisis. He got a pat on his shoulder from the establishment, but the nation was stunned that the guy who, until entering the PM House, remained adamant that a country which borrows money ends up losing its sovereignty, was beaming on national television over his successful procurement of the Saudi loan. Buoyed by his achievement in Saudi Arabia, this prodigy never stopped trotting the globe, begging for more. Forgetfulness was the first visible sign of infantilism that Khan displayed. As everyone knows, toddlers have a very short attention span. The second symptom he displayed was poor judgement. In his recent speeches, he has admitted that he never knew that the country was in such a bad state, and he had no clue about how to run a government, and that it took him three months to just figure out its workings. A third symptom, that of being a political pre-schooler, was revealed when he impulsively began sacking his advisers and ministers, especially his Information Adviser, the de facto Minister for Information, Firdous Ashiq Awan and replacing her with the most corrupt military general of recent times, Asim Saleem Bajwa. He is also a very slow learner. Imran Khans problems were compounded when on August 5, 2019, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi abrogated Articles 370 and 35A which gave the state of Jammu and Kashmir its so-called special status. The Kinder-Egg Prime Minister had earlier gone on record, stating that Modi winning a second term would be better for settling the Kashmir issue. However, after the Modi governments move, Imran Khan began calling the Indian Prime Minister a fascist. It was then that, on cue, the military establishment gave him the boot and forced him to send his Foreign Minister, Shah Mehmood Qureshi, knocking on the doors of the United Nations Security Council, asking it unequivocally to condemn India and its fascist Prime Minister. Not a single country agreed to call a special session of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation. In desperation, and on the advice of the neo-natal prime minister, Shah Mehmood Qureshi held a press conference and threatened the OIC by extending an invitation to like-minded Islamic countries to hold a separate session on Kashmir. This infuriated the Saudis. Without any delay, they asked Pakistan to pay the $1-billion it owes to the Royal Kingdom. They even cancelled the $3 billion oil credit facility to Pakistan. The Army Chief travelled to Saudi Arabia, but to no avail. Perhaps he should have gone, barefoot. But then, how can a general be a general without his boots? Chaos turning into anarchy? Meanwhile, and to the envy of the Pakistani military establishment, Saudi Arabia and India together established the Strategic Partnership Council, which now oversees their new friendly relationship and their mutual business interests. Not only has this Primary School Premier failed to garner any international support against India, something which is vital to sell the anti-India hate narrative to his people, he has also turned the public opinion against the military. For the first time in the countrys history, slogans against the army, such as ye jo dehshat gardi hai, is kay pechay wardi hai (the army is behind terrorism), are echoing through the land. ALSO READ| 'Record 4,052 Ceasefire Violations by Pakistan During January-November 2020, Highest in 17 Years' The military gradually is taking over from the civilian government. It has begun deployment of large Frontier Constabulary troops in Gilgit-Baltistan, large-scale military action is currently underway in Balochistan, forced disappearances of nationalists in Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are on the rise, and the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor is effectively under the direct command of the pizza-selling General, Asim Saleem Bajwa, and finally in Pakistani-occupied Kashmir, the military has taken over almost every single village and town along the Line of Control. The question is, would this new manoeuvre by the Pakistani military establishment work in Saudi Arabia? Would the appointment of a retired three-star General help mend the dent in the Pakistan-Saudi relationship? I seriously doubt it. Pakistan is slipping into a stage where chaos turns into anarchy. As economic chaos deepens and the political and diplomatic isolation of Pakistani establishment increases, the rogue Islamic state seems to be moving in the direction of disintegration. They know it and the Saudis know it as well. The United Nations Libya mission said on Thursday that nominations for leadership of a new unified transitional government must be made within a week and voting on candidates would take place in early February. The UN in November gathered 75 Libyan participants in a political dialogue in Tunis aimed at setting a roadmap to national elections that they set for late December. After weeks of wrangling, the dialogue members this week agreed on rules for selecting a new three-member presidential council and a prime minister to oversee the run-up to the election. The UN said on Thursday that dialogue members would vote on candidates for the new government's leadership positions in Switzerland from Feb. 1-5. Libya has been divided between two authorities in Tripoli and Tobruk for six years. Commander Khalifa Haftar's Libyan National Army (LNA) controls the east and is allied to the Tobruk-based House of Representatives. The LNA is backed by Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, France, and Russia. Meanwhile, the Government of National Accord (GNA) in Tripoli is supported by Turkey and Qatar. On 22 August, both parties to the conflict declared a ceasefire that ended fears about possible GNA aggression against the port city of Sirte, 370 kilometres east of the capital Tripoli and Jufra, which has a major military airbase. The ceasefire has been followed by rounds of peace talks in Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia and Switzerland to discuss post-war arrangements. So far, the Libyan parties agreed to hold national elections in December 2021, develop "criteria, transparent mechanisms, and objectives" for key power positions, work on the release of all prisoners, protect oil and gas facilities and completely resume production and export activities. *This story was edited by Ahram Online Short link: Chinese billionaire Jack Ma, once the richest man in the country, has resurfaced after being out of the public eye for months. But his real troublesand those of his business empiremay be just beginning. Mr. Ma made his first public appearance in nearly three months on Wednesday, speaking to a group of rural teachers in an online philanthropic event. Speculation about his whereabouts has been rife since his last public appearance in October, when he gave a speech that angered regulators. Since then, the record initial public offerings of fintech firm Ant Group, which Mr. Ma controls, were both pulled at the last minute. Chinas antitrust regulator launched a probe into the business practices of e-commerce giant Alibaba, another company in Mr. Mas empire, last month. Investors took Mr. Mas reappearance as an auspicious signAlibabas Hong Kong-listed shares jumped 8.5% Wednesday. They may have inferred that Mr. Ma is now back in Beijings good graces and the regulatory storm will be over. But there doesnt seem to be a letup: on the same day Mr. Ma made his public appearance, Chinas central bank released draft rules governing nonbank payment systems, in which Ants Alipay is a major player. There are still uncertainties about what some of the draft rules mean. The rules, for example, say if two players have more than half of the nonbank payment marketsAlipay and Tencents WeChat Pay dominate Chinas mobile and internet paymentsthen the central bank would hold talks with the companies. Its unclear what the exact consequences or remedies would be after such warnings, though. The rules also seem to use a broader definition of marketpossibly including some traditional payment channelsto determine whether a payment company is market-dominating. But the overall direction seems clear: the government wants stricter regulation of fast-growing online financial services, which could add systemic risks to the countrys state-dominated financial system. Beijing likely views Chinas ubiquitous mobile payment systems as a positive contribution to society, but it is more skeptical when companies like Ant leverage their user base and consumer data to jump into online lending. Mr. Mas latest public appearance is a new episode in the continuing saga, but the drama is far from over. This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Get well soon. Dave Chappelle is isolating and recovering after testing positive for COVID-19. Read article The stand-up comedian, 47, canceled his upcoming shows at Stubbs Waller Creek Amphitheater in Austin, Texas, after learning he had contracted the virus. His rep confirmed the news in a statement to TMZ, which first reported on his condition, on Thursday, January 21. Chappelle performed the first of his five shows on Wednesday night and was due to perform more shows through Sunday. John Salangsang/Invision/AP/Shutterstock Dave Chappelle is quarantined after testing positive for COVID-19. His remaining shows at Stubbs Waller Creek Amphitheater in Austin, Texas, have been cancelled and ticket holders should contact their point of purchase for refund, the Sticks and Stones stars rep confirmed via Deadline. Chappelle has safely conducted socially-distanced shows in Ohio since June 2020 and he moved those shows to Austin during the winter. Chappelle implemented COVID-19 protocols which included rapid testing for the audience and daily testing for himself and his team. His diligent testing enabled him to immediately respond by quarantining, thus mitigating the spread of the virus. Chappelle is asymptomatic. Read article Of the comics remaining shows, two were set to feature Joe Rogan. TMZ noted that Chappelle was photographed spending time with the Joe Rogan Experience podcast host, 53, Elon Musk and Grimes ahead of his COVID-19 diagnosis. Other comedians were scheduled to perform as well, though it wasnt revealed who. The remaining shows were billed as Dave Chappelle and Friends. Musk, 49, tested positive for COVID in November 2020. The Tesla founder also received a negative test result at the time. He said in a tweet it feels just like a regular cold, but more body achy & cloudy head than coughing/sneezing. Grimes, 32, whom he shares a child with, revealed that she had finally tested positive earlier this month. The musician said at the time she was weirdly enjoying the DayQuil fever dream. In May 2020, Chappelle returned to the stage amid the pandemic, with a series of socially distanced shows in his hometown of Yellow Springs, Ohio. In October, he reached out to local authorities to get the OK to do more shows according to YSNews. The extension was granted in November. The events grew, with other comics including The Daily Show host Trevor Noah, Sarah Silverman, Tiffany Haddish and more eventually joining him at Wirrig Pavillion through the fall. Those events included COVID safety measures like masks and rapid testing for performers and attendees. The Chappelle Show alum brought David Letterman to his hometown for an episode of My Next Guest Needs No Introduction. U.K. government officials have suggested paying people to stay home if they test positive for coronavirus, amid concerns too many are failing to get tested or comply with the lockdown rules. While the plan has not been given final approval, a draft government policy paper proposed payments of 500 pounds ($685). Currently only those on the lowest incomes receive support at this level if they're told to quarantine. The policy, which would cost about 2 billion pounds a month, would be designed to overcome people's fear of losing income if forced to self-isolate by a positive test, according to a document dated Jan. 19 obtained by the Guardian and confirmed to Bloomberg by a person familiar with the matter. Environment Secretary George Eustice called the idea "speculation" and said "no decisions have been made" when asked about the proposal in broadcast interviews on Friday. A person familiar with Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak's thinking said the payments won't happen and the proposal hadn't been run past the Treasury. "We do want to improve compliance rates with self-isolation for people who have been in contact with somebody who has tested positive, for instance, and we do want people to get that test if they have symptoms of the virus," Eustice told LBC radio. "But this would also be a huge cost." Millions of Britons would struggle without their full paycheck, and statutory sick pay is 95.85 pounds per week -- a figure that compares poorly with the median household income of 575 pounds a week. Moreover, in the second quarter of last year, 1.1 million people, or 3.3% of total employment, were in employment on a zero-hours contract, meaning they don't get paid if they don't go to work. The U.K. is in its third national lockdown with the highest death toll in Europe. The latest figures show 94,580 people have died in the U.K. within 28 days of testing positive for Covid-19. The desire to avoid isolation is the biggest barrier to requesting a test and only 17% of people with symptoms are coming forward for testing, according to the Jan. 19 policy paper. Only a quarter of people reported compliance with self-isolation rules, while 15% are still going to work as normal, the Guardian cited the document as saying. Ministers have been increasingly concerned over a lack of compliance by a minority of people and on Thursday announced new fines of 800 pounds for anyone attending a house party. Johnson also signaled the lockdown could last until summer, despite demands from members of his Conservative Party for a plan to ease the restrictions from mid-February. The government aims to vaccinate the 15 million most vulnerable people by Feb. 15 and has previously promised to review the rules at that point. Shops, restaurants and schools are closed, and people have been told to stay at home unless absolutely necessary. The restrictions threaten to push the economy into another recession, after suffering its worst decline in three centuries. (Natural News) Three mysterious helicopters were seen hovering around downtown Los Angeles last week, landing briefly on rooftops in what is suspected to be a military exercise in preparation for urban warfare. The helicopters, all dark gray Bell 407s equipped with unusual antennas, took off from the Hollywood Burbank Airport (also known as Bob Hope Airport) located north of Los Angeles at around six in the evening on Jan. 14, according to online flight tracking data from ADS-B Exchange. The Bell 407s, which have the serial numbers 12-1141, 12-1142, and 12-1143 painted on their tail booms, arrived at the airport two days before that and since then were seen making multiple flights in the area. Two of them, 12-1141 and 12-1142, landed multiple times on the rooftops of the James K. Hahn City Hall East and the privately-owned California Plazas, all in L.A. Because of the brief nature of the landings and the helicopters strange design, the aerial activity was suspected to be an urban training exercise like the ones conducted before by special military units in the same area. LA a perfect spot for urban military exercise The three helicopters ventured together to Long Beach, and before long, 12-1143 turned straight back for Burbank for unclear reasons. 12-1141 and 12-1142 flew routes that took them down the coast to Laguna Beach and eventually back to downtown L.A. All flights followed major freeways and flew at altitudes below 1,000 feet. The two remaining helicopters touched down briefly on the helipads of the James K. Hahn City Hall East and Two California Plaza. 12-1142 also landed on the roof of One California Plaza. The military previously did similar aerial exercises in downtown L.A. In 2019, a fleet of military helicopters was seen flying low in between buildings around the same area. The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) said that the helicopters were part of the Armys training exercise that teaches soldiers how to navigate a war-torn city. LAs local terrain provides an environment that deployed units may encounter in actual warfare, according to the LAPD. (Related: Nuclear war or civil war: The big cities will become cauldrons of violence and death but you CAN survive.) This training is coordinated with the appropriate state, county, and city officials as well as private property owners. Safety precautions have been implemented to prevent unnecessary risk to both participants and/or area residents and property, the LAPD said in a statement. News outlets have tried to reach out to the LAPD regarding the recent aerial activities, but the department has not yet responded. Helicopters likely manned by top-secret operations unit The helicopters are suspected to belong to a secretive U.S. government entity conducting military training or testing new weapons. As news outlet the War Zone reported, Armys secretive Aviation Technology Office (ATO) operates Bell 407s. Previously known as the Flight Concepts Division, the ATO has deep ties to the Central Intelligence Agency and is based at the Felker Army Airfield at Fort Eustis in Virginia. The helicopters routes before arriving in California also seem to suggest that they came from that direction. Flight tracking data indicated that the choppers flew all the way across the country starting over the weekend or late last week. Before arriving in Burbank, they stopped at Addington Field/Elizabethtown Regional Airport in Kentucky, Albuquerque International Sunport in New Mexico, Flagstaff Pulliam Airport in Arizona and Lake Havasu City Airport in Arizona, among other places. If the ATO turned out to be manning the helicopters, they are understood to be conducting an urban military exercise or testing new equipment under realistic conditions using Bell 407s. Learn more about the militarys covert warfare preparations at NationalSecurity.news. Sources include: StrangeSounds.org ABC7.com The World Health Organization said it sees no evidence that Pfizer Inc. and BioNTech SEs Covid-19 vaccine contributed to the deaths of elderly people and urged that the shot still be used. Reports of deaths are in line with the expected, all-cause mortality rates and causes of death in the sub-population of frail, elderly individuals, and the available information does not confirm a contributory role for the vaccine in the reported fatal events," the WHO Global Advisory Committee on Vaccine Safety said in a statement on Friday. The risk-benefit balance of the vaccine remains favorable in the elderly." The panel met on Tuesday to review reports that some very sick older people had died after getting the vaccine. Initial cases reported last week in Norway had raised alarm, with authorities saying it was possible that vaccine side-effects could aggravate underlying illnesses even as they expected some nursing-home residents to die shortly after being vaccinated due to their frail underlying health. Norway moved to calm that anxiety on Monday, with the Norwegian Medicines Agency saying that Covid-19 is more dangerous to most patients than vaccination. This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Never miss a story! Stay connected and informed with Mint. Download our App Now!! Topics [January 22, 2021] Bank of America Announces Redemption of 2.0 Billion of Floating Rate Senior Notes, due February 7, 2022 and 1.25 Billion of 0.736% Fixed/Floating Rate Senior Notes, due February 7, 2022 Bank of America Corporation announced today that it will redeem on February 7, 2021 (i) all 2,000,000,000 principal amount outstanding of its Floating Rate Senior Notes, due February 7, 2022 (ISIN: XS1560862580; Common Code: 156086258) (the "Floating Rate Notes") and (ii) all 1,250,000,000 principal amount outstanding of its 0.736% Fixed/Floating Rate Senior Notes, due February 7, 2022 (ISIN: XS1560863554; Common Code: 156086355) (the "Fixed/Floating Rate Notes" and together with the Floating Rate Notes, the "Notes"). Each series of the Notes was issued under the Bank of America Corporation U.S.$65,000,000,000 Euro Medium-Term Note Program. The redemption price for each series of the Notes will be equal to the Optional Redemption Amount of 1,000 per 1,000 Calculation Amount (as specified in the applicable Final Terms dated February 3, 2017), plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the redemption date of February 7, 2021. Since February 7, 2021 is not a business day, the redemption price for each series of the Notes will be paid on the next succeeding business day, February 8, 2021. Interest on each series of the Notes will cease to accrue on the redemption date. Payment of the redemption price for each series of the Notes will be made in accordance with the applicable procedures of Euroclear Bank SA/NV and Clearstream Banking, S.A. Bank of America, N.A. (operating through its London Branch) is the Principal Agent for each series of the Notes and Bank of America Europe DAC (formerly known as Bank of America Merrill Lynch International DAC) is the Registrar for each series of the Notes. Bank of America Corporation will request the Financial Conduct Authority to cancel the listing of each series of the Notes and the London Stock Exchange plc to cancel the admission to trading of each series of the Notes on or around the business day following the redemption date. Bank of America Bank of America is one of the world's leading finanial institutions, serving individual consumers, small and middle-market businesses and large corporations with a full range of banking, investing, asset management and other financial and risk management products and services. The company provides unmatched convenience in the United States, serving approximately 66 million consumer and small business clients with approximately 4,300 retail financial centers, including approximately 2,700 lending centers, 2,600 financial centers with a Consumer Investment Financial Solutions Advisor and approximately 2,400 business centers; approximately 17,000 ATMs; and award-winning digital banking with approximately 39 million active users, including approximately 31 million mobile users. Bank of America is a global leader in wealth management, corporate and investment banking and trading across a broad range of asset classes, serving corporations, governments, institutions and individuals around the world. Bank of America offers industry-leading support to approximately 3 million small business households through a suite of innovative, easy-to-use online products and services. The company serves clients through operations across the United States, its territories and approximately 35 countries. Bank of America Corporation stock (NYSE: BAC) is listed on the New York Stock Exchange. Forward-looking statements Certain information contained in this news release may constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are not guarantees of future results or performance and involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions difficult to predict or beyond our control. You should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statement and should consider the uncertainties and risks discussed under Item 1A. "Risk Factors" in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019, under Part II, Item 1A. "Risk Factors" in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2020, June 30, 2020 and September 30, 2020, and in any of our subsequent Securities and Exchange Commission filings. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and we undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect the impact of circumstances or events that arise after the date the forward-looking statement was made. For more Bank of America news, including dividend announcements and other important information, visit the Bank of America newsroom. Click here to register for news email alerts. www.bankofamerica.com View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210122005017/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] William Campbell/Getty Images En espanol | Properties and lands controlled by the federal government including iconic monuments such as the Statue of Liberty and national parks such as the Grand Canyon will require those who visit or work there to wear masks. Masks also must be worn by everyone age 2 and older on public transportation (planes, trains, ferries, buses) and at transportation hubs like airports. In an executive order he signed on Jan. 21, President Joe Biden made masking up a signature piece of his pandemic-ending plan, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has made the rules effective today. Refusing to wear a face covering in these settings is therefore now a violation of federal law, and could result in a $250 fine and up to $1,500 for repeated violations. Travelers arriving from other countries, meanwhile, are required to show proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours of departure and to quarantine once they arrive, according to new CDC guidelines. (The CDC suggests a seven-day quarantine for those arriving from outside the U.S.) The directive calls on federal agencies to begin discussions with the governments of Mexico and Canada about possible infection-prevention protocols for entry by land, as well as a plan from the Department for Homeland Security for safe entry by sea. The CDC has long recommended that the federal government implement mask requirements as an effective way to prevent the spread of COVID-19, which has now claimed more than 463,000 lives in the U.S. The new requirements part of the White Houses 100 days mask challenge to slow the spread of the coronavirus are one element of a national plan thats billed as a road map to guide America out of the worst public health crisis in a century. Along with mask wearing for infection prevention, the plan includes strategies to accelerate the pace of vaccinations. Heres a breakdown of the rules for travelers. National parks Visitors to all 423 sites managed by the Department of the Interior, including national parks and monuments such as Mount Rushmore, will need to wear face coverings. Previously, there was no blanket mandate, only strong encouragement that visitors wear masks. The National Park Service (NPS) clarified the order with a statement on Feb. 2, noting that masks are not only required in NPS-managed buildings but also outside when physical distancing cannot be maintained, including narrow or busy trails, overlooks and historic homes. Air Travel Because airlines already require that passengers and crew members wear masks, it may not seem like much will change for travelers who fly. But flight attendants and pilots unions have asked for a federal requirement to add teeth to their own rules. While the majority of travelers follow mask rules, there have been hundreds whove refused, according to airlines; in December, Delta reported that it had banned nearly 700 people from future flights for refusing to wear masks. There have also been reports of flight attendants being harassed and threatened while trying to enforce their airlines mask requirements. I recently had the unique opportunity to sit down with Tricia McGrath-Hess, a lead recruiter at Google, to discuss military-to-civilian transition and the job search. In this Talks at Google, we reviewed the key steps to discovering your job opportunities as you exit the military, positioning yourself for success in your career, and ways to get the attention of recruiters and hiring managers. We discussed the research veteran job seekers should do prior to an interview, what recruiters like to hear and what frustrates them. Hands down, doing research before an interview is critical. When candidates are ill-informed, unprepared or overly casual, the recruiter can become frustrated or uninterested. There are two distinct types of research all candidates (including transitioning military personnel) should do prior to interviewing: online research and informational interviews. Online Research On a company's website, LinkedIn profile and in their media mentions, companies often promote their values, culture, business nature and work style. To be well informed, candidates should research who the company claims to be, how their employees speak about them and what their competitors say about the company. No candidate should ever ask a recruiter in an interview, "What do you guys make here?" because there is so much information online. Look at the company website and see what values are promoted, how they speak of their past history and future goals, and who they identify as their customers or clients. Then, see if you can find additional supporting evidence of the company's ability to live up to its values and support its goals by reading media reports or industry news, seeing what their customers and employees say about the company on review sites and social media sites, and how they are positioned. This gives you an idea of whether you'd fit in with the company culture and support its values. It might also spark some informed and pertinent questions you can bring up in the interview. Informational Interviews Equally important are interviews and conversations with people who can offer insight, information and guidance about an industry, company and their own career experience or job. When doing an informational interview be sure to: Ask for a specific amount of time. Be clear whether you are requesting an hour or 15 minutes (the latter is preferred). This helps set expectations about what time commitment is needed from the recipient. Be clear whether you are requesting an hour or 15 minutes (the latter is preferred). This helps set expectations about what time commitment is needed from the recipient. Be clear about your goals and intent. An informational interview is not a job interview, so you'll need to clarify whether you're interested in learning more about the industry a company operates in, the company itself (i.e., "what's it like to work at Google?") or the interviewee's career path or type of job. This also helps set expectations for the person you'll be interviewing, so they can be prepared for the call. An informational interview is not a job interview, so you'll need to clarify whether you're interested in learning more about the industry a company operates in, the company itself (i.e., "what's it like to work at Google?") or the interviewee's career path or type of job. This also helps set expectations for the person you'll be interviewing, so they can be prepared for the call. Choose your interviewee correctly. If you ask someone about their industry but they are new to the field, they might be reluctant to share insights with you. Similarly, if you're curious about a company (and its culture, how it hires and what it takes to succeed there) ensure you're asking someone who's informed enough to provide good insight. If you ask someone about their industry but they are new to the field, they might be reluctant to share insights with you. Similarly, if you're curious about a company (and its culture, how it hires and what it takes to succeed there) ensure you're asking someone who's informed enough to provide good insight. Use set questions. I've found it most helpful to ask the same set of questions of each person you interview, while still allowing for natural conversation. This ensures you are collecting insight and data you can compare as you prepare for your own interview at the company. The research you'll do in advance of an interview ensures that you appear informed, focused and excited about the industry, company and the position. Without advanced research, you risk giving a poor answer when the recruiter asks, "Why do you want to work here?" Tricia offered one of her least favorite responses to that question: "Who doesn't want to work at Google?" Be prepared, informed and passionate about the role, and the recruiter will pay more attention to your application. 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. on Friday threatened to make its search engine unavailable in if the government went ahead with plans to make tech giants pay for news content. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison quickly hit back, saying we don't respond to threats. makes our rules for things you can do in Australia, Morrison told reporters in Brisbane. That's done in our Parliament. It's done by our government. And that's how things work here in Morrison's comments came after Mel Silva, the managing director of Australia and New Zealand, told a Senate inquiry into the bill that the new rules would be unworkable. If this version of the code were to become law, it would give us no real choice but to stop making search available in Australia, Silva told senators. And that would be a bad outcome not only for us, but also for the Australian people, media diversity, and the small businesses who use our products every day. The mandatory code of conduct proposed by the government aims to make Google and Facebook pay Australian media fairly for using news content they siphon from news sites. Silva said it was willing to pay a wide and diverse group of news publishers for the value they added, but not under the rules as proposed, which included payments for links and snippets. She said the code's biased arbitration model also posed unmanageable financial and operational risks for Google. She suggested a series of tweaks to the bill. We feel there is a workable path forward, Silva said. Like in many other countries, Google dominates internet searches in Australia. Silva told senators about 95% of searches in the nation are done through Google. Asked by one senator how much tax it pays, Silva said last year it paid about 59 million Australian dollars ($46 million) on revenues of AU$4.8 billion ($3.7 billion). Facebook also opposes the rules and has threatened to remove news stories from its site in Australia. Simon Milner, a Facebook vice president, said the sheer volume of deals it would have to strike would be unworkable. The Australia Institute, an independent think tank, said lawmakers should stand firm against Google's bullying. Google's testimony today is part of a pattern of threatening behaviour that is chilling for anyone who values our democracy, said Peter Lewis, the director of the institute's Centre for Responsible Technology. (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.) Please purchase a subscription to continue reading. If you have a subscription, please Log In . Your current subscription does not provide access to this content. If you believe you've gotten this message in error, please Log In. A sharp uptick in inter-communal violence in Sudan's Darfur region has left 250 people dead and forced more than 100,000 people to flee their homes in search of safety, including many into neighbouring Chad, the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, reported on Friday UNITED NATIONS, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 22nd Jan, 2021 ) :A sharp uptick in inter-communal violence in Sudan's Darfur region has left 250 people dead and forced more than 100,000 people to flee their homes in search of safety, including many into neighbouring Chad, the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, reported on Friday. Among those killed in the clashes that started on January 15 in West Darfur province and spread to South Darfur the next day were three humanitarian workers, according to the agency. The violence is occurring a couple of weeks after the African Union-United Nations hybrid peacekeeping mission in the region (UNAMID) ended its operations at the end of 2020. UNAMID is currently drawing down and the process is expected to complete by the end of June 2021. Out of the 6,000-plus military and police in the 13-nation Darfur contingent, Pakistan had 1,075 personnel. The vast Darfur region, roughly the size of Spain, has been plagued by conflict and inter-communal tensions for years. Millions have been displaced by the violence. Meanwhile, Boris Cheshirkov, a UNHCR spokesperson, told journalists at a regular press briefing in Geneva on Friday, that about 3,500 new Sudanese refugees have arrived in eastern Chad. "These refugees the majority of them women and children have been hosted in four very remote locations that lack basic services or public infrastructure, where they have been sheltering under trees," he said. "Due to the COVID-19 situation, Chadian local authorities are directing the new arrivals to a transit site, where they will undergo quarantine before being relocated to an existing refugee camp, away from the border," the UNHCR spokesperson added. He said that the UN agency is rushing supplies to the area to respond to their needs, as well as mobilizing resources as part of an inter-agency response. Authorities in the region have been attempting to contain the situation and have deployed security forces to the area but "severe gaps" in protection remain, according to the UN human rights office. However, an "imminent risk" of further violence remains, in an environment "where decades-old ethnic and tribal tensions that were further stoked by the previous regime continue to fester", OHCHR spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani said at the same briefing. There are reports that local health facilities are unable to cope with the high number of casualties, she added. The OHCHR spokesperson called on the Government of Sudan to protect of civilians as well as restore public order and the rule of law in Darfur. She also called for thorough and effective investigations into the violence to bring the perpetrators to justice and "to break the cycle of armed citizens taking the law into their own hands to avenge attacks on members of their communities." A day after deadly dual bombings tore through a crowded market in central Baghdad, Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi promised that the intelligence failure "would not be repeated." Kadhimi said during an urgent meeting of the National Security Council that his government was working to develop a comprehensive and effective security plan to meet the coming challenges" that he would personally oversee. "What happened yesterday is a breach that we do not allow to be repeated. We promised our people to provide security," said Kadhimi, who tweeted the day before that Iraqs response would be bold and earth-shattering. Two suicide bombers detonated their explosive vests in the busy Bab al-Sharqi outdoor market in central Baghdad on Thursday, killing at least 32 people and injuring 110. In a statement posted to messaging app Telegram, the Islamic State took credit for the bombings, which the Sunni terrorist group said were meant to target Shiite Muslims. In response to the attacks, Kadhimi fired the commander of the federal police forces, the deputy interior minister for intelligence affairs and a handful of other Iraqi security officials on Thursday, according to tweets from spokesman Yahia Rasoul. The twin bombings the first large-scale attack in Baghdad in three years occurred in the same clothing market near Tayaran Square, where an IS-claimed attack killed 27 people in January 2018. Iraqi declared victory over IS in December 2017, more than three years after the group overran the second-largest city of Mosul before capturing about a third of Iraqs territory. In the years since its defeat, remnants of the group that remain in Sunni-dominated northern and western Iraq have continued to wage a low-level insurgency targeting security forces. About 2,500 US troops remain in Iraq as part of the counter-IS coalition advising and training Iraqi security forces. Daniel Smith, the Joe Biden administrations acting secretary of state, condemned the Baghdad attacks in a statement Thursday. They were vicious acts of mass murder and a sobering reminder of the terrorism that continues to threaten the lives of innocent Iraqis, he said. The National Guard has released the identities of the three service members killed this week when their helicopter crashed in an upstate New York field during a training exercise. All three were experienced pilots with past deployments to Afghanistan, officials said Friday. They have been named as Chief Warrant Officer Steven Skoda, 54, of Rochester; Chief Warrant Officer Christian Koch, 39, of Honeoye Falls; and Chief Warrant Officer Daniel Prial, 30, of Rochester. Skoda was a 35-year Army veteran who served in from 1985 to 1987 and joined the National Guard in 1987. He was also a veteran of the Afghanistan War and was deployed there in 2013 and 2019. The victims have been named as Chief Warrant Officer Steven Skoda, 54, of Rochester (pictured left); Chief Warrant Officer Christian Koch, 39, of Honeoye Falls (pictured center); and Chief Warrant Officer Daniel Prial, 30, of Rochester (pictured right) An Army Safety Investigation team arrived at the site Thursday from Fort Rucker in Alabama as the investigation into the crash continues. The FAA is also assisting with the probe They died after the UH-60 Black Hawk medical evacuation helicopter they were traveling crashed in a farmer's field near Mendon, south of Rochester, around 6:30 p.m. Wednesday According to NBC News, Skoda started to fly UH-1 helicopters from the Army Aviation Support Facility in Rochester when he became a pilot in 1992. Koch, a 20-year member of the Guard, served in the war in Afghanistan between 2013 and 2019 and the war in Iraq. The National Guard said he was a mentor to soldiers of all ranks throughout his career and was an experienced helicopter pilot and instrument flight instruction. He had served with them for 20 years after joining as an infantryman in A Company of the 2nd Battalion, 108th Infantry. Firefighters salute as a motorcade containing the body of one of the National Guard soldiers killed in the helicopter crash on Wednesday evening is taken to the medical examiner's office The 39-year-old was also a civilian pilot for the New York State Police since 2016. 'The New York State Police thank him for his service to his country, and to the people of the State of New York,' they said in a statement. In June 2020, Koch was honored by the Red Cross of Western New York for his role in the rescue of an 11-year-old boy, according to CBS New York. Koch worked to hoist the boy more than 100 feet from a gorge and take him for medical care. He is survived by his wife and four children. Prial served in the Army after earning a commission at the United States Military Academy at West Point in 2012. He served as a medical evacuation platoon leader with the 82nd Airborne Division's 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade and deployed to Afghanistan in 2014 and 2015. The wreckage of the UH-60 Black Hawk medical evacuation helicopter on Thursday Investigators confer near the wreckage of the crash on Thursday morning Prial became a captain before accepting an appointment as a warrant officer in the Guard so he could continue to fly, officials said. He was described as extremely humble and family-centric by fellow soldiers, the National Guard statement said. Between them the three service men had won a long list of awards, including the Meritorious Service and NATO medals, Coast Guard Presidential Unit Citation and Army Commendation, Army Achievement, Global War on Terrorism Service and National Defense Service medals. They died after the UH-60 Black Hawk medical evacuation helicopter they were traveling crashed in a farmer's field near Mendon, south of Rochester, around 6:30 p.m. Wednesday. There were no survivors. The group had been conducted a routine training mission on night vision goggle proficiency training at the time of the accident. It had flown 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, Durr said. Monroe County Sheriff Todd Baxter said at a news conference Wednesday that witnesses who called 911 reported hearing the sounds of an engine sputtering and said the aircraft was flying very low. Pictures from the scene show the helicopter in flames in a farmer's field. As the bodies of the victims were moved to the Monroe County Medical Examiner's Office in Brighton on Thursday, first responders lined part of the way in tribute. 'These Soldiers were a part of our National Guard family and we mourn their loss, alongside their family members and loved ones,' the New York National Guard said Friday. 'The New York National Guard will be there for these family members as they navigate these trying times. Our chaplains and casualty assistance officers will be with them whenever needed.' 'Our service members wish to extend their heartfelt thanks to the members of law enforcement, first responders, and the community at large for their support and sympathy during this trying time.' New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said in a tweet on Wednesday that flags on state buildings would be lowered to half-staff on Thursday to pay tribute to the troops New York Governor Andrew Cuomo also ordered for flags on state buildings to be lowered to half-staff in tribute to the troops on Thursday. 'Tonight we are devastated by the crash of a New York Army National Guard helicopter in the town of Mendon that killed three of New York's bravest during a training mission,' he said. '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.' An Army Safety Investigation team arrived at the site Thursday from Fort Rucker in Alabama as the investigation into the crash continues. As of Friday morning, the road along the crash site remains closed. The FAA is also assisting with the probe. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has formally invited South Korean President Moon Jae-in to an in-person G-7 summit, scheduled to be held in June, via a personal letter, Cheong Wa Dae said Friday. Moon plans to reply it, expressing his commitment to making contributions so that this year's summit of the G-7 nations can produce a significant accomplishment, according to Cheong Wa Dae spokesman Kang Min-seok. A presidential official later told reporters that they may construe the message as acceptance of the invitation. In the letter, Johnson was quoted as pointing out that it is important for "the voice" of South Korea to be reflected in global efforts to terminate the COVID-19 situation and prevent another pandemic as well as to protect free trade and respond to climate change. The prime minister earlier stated that Britain would play host to a physical summit session of the G-7 in June, with South Korea, Australia and India invited as guest nations. 0 Meanwhile, Johnson promised to attend the second P4G summit on green growth and sustainable development, which is supposed to take place in Seoul in May, Kang said at a press briefing. (Yonhap) 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 Duke of Cambridge heard stories of care home residents crying with joy and clapping for each other after having the Covid-19 jab, during a chat with medical staff involved with the vaccine roll-out. Dr Lauren Dixon, a GP from Cumbria, told Prince William about the happy scenes she had witnessed and how care home residents viewed the vaccine as their 'ticket' to see family again after months apart. The duke, 38, spoke to NHS workers across the four nations to learn about the programme to inoculate millions of the elderly and vulnerable on Thursday. The Duke of Cambridge (pictured) heard stories of care home residents crying with joy and clapping for each other after having the Covid-19 jab, during a chat with medical staff involved with the vaccine roll-out During a break from vaccinating residents Dr Dixon, from the Bridgegate Medical Centre in Barrow-in-Furness, spoke of her surprise at being chosen to speak to the duke via telephone. She said: 'I was just completely shocked, really nervous and he was just lovely and just really kind and grateful, and saying a really big thank you to everybody that's in our area that have really pulled together to make the vaccination effort go as well as it has. 'He asked how the roll-out had gone, he asked what it was like going into the care homes and how did they receive us arriving with the vaccine.' Dr Lauren Dixon (pictured left), a GP from Cumbria, told Prince William about the happy scenes she had witnessed and how care home residents viewed the vaccine as their 'ticket' to see family again after months apart. Pictured right: Care home resident Michael Starr, 78, receives his vaccine on January 13 at Andrew Cohen House in Birmingham Dr Dixon's practice is one of 10 that form the Barrow and Millom Primary Care Network that has completed inoculations for all its residents aged over 80 and 75, as well as care home residents, after beginning vaccinations in mid-December. She added: 'The care homes have had an absolutely awful time, they've really been through the mill over the last year. 'Some of their staff have just gone above and beyond for their residents, stayed all weekend sometimes because that's what they've needed to do. 'So, I think for us, as soon as we had the opportunity to get out to the care homes we felt really excited. And then when we got there, you know the residents were just so happy.' The 42-year-old married mother-of-two, who lives in her hometown of Barrow-in-Furness, added: 'They've been seeing their relatives maybe on videos, if they're lucky, and sometimes through the window. 'But they all were just kind of like "this is our ticket to being able to see our family again". 'So we had tears, they were clapping each other when they got the vaccines and it was just a real privilege actually to be able to support them with that.' Dr Dixon, in her role as GP Executive Lead - Integrated Care for NHS Morecambe Bay Clinical Commissioning Group, has also been supporting the vaccination programme across the Morecombe Bay area. WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown of Ohio on Thursday joined several Democrats in the U.S. Senate in filing a Senate Ethics Committee complaint against Republican Senators Ted Cruz of Texas and Josh Hawley of Missouri for their behavior related to the deadly Jan. 6 U.S. Capitol riot by supporters of ex-President Donald Trump. Brown and six other Senate Democrats contend that Cruz and Hawleys decision to object to counting electoral votes from states whose balloting Trump had unsuccessfully disputed in court lent legitimacy to the cause of a mob that stormed the Capitol, ransacked the building, stole property and openly threatened Congress members and former Vice President Mike Pence, and made future violence more likely. The Senate Ethics Committee should determine if Senators Cruz and Hawley failed in their duty to [p]ut loyalty to the highest moral principles and to country above loyalty to persons, party, or Government department or otherwise engaged in improper conduct, their complaint says. Multiple crimes were committed on January 6, for which culpability may be assessed under doctrines of conspiracy, aiding and abetting, accessory, or providing aid and comfort. Disciplinary action may be necessary to protect the integrity of the Senate and ensure public trust and safety. The Senate Ethics Committee has jurisdiction over such determinations. The complaint Brown filed with Rhode Islands Sheldon Whitehouse, Oregons Ron Wyden, Minnesotas Tina Smith, Connecticuts Richard Blumenthal, Hawaiis Mazie Hirono, and Virginias Tim Kaine says that while Senators have a right to object to acceptance of states electoral votes, Hawley and Cruz announced their intention to object to the electors after baseless claims of election fraud, which upon information and belief they knew to be baseless, had led to threats of violence. Both senators persisted in their objections after those threats came to fruition, says the complaint. Their actions lend credence to the insurrectionists cause and set the stage for future violence. And both senators used their objections for political fundraising. The attack at the Capitol was a despicable act of terrorism and a shocking assault on our democratic system. We must come together and put this anger and division behind us. We must, and I am confident we will, have a peaceful and orderly transition of power. My full statement: pic.twitter.com/84HHQdpMZd Senator Ted Cruz (@SenTedCruz) January 7, 2021 Cruz has described the attack on the Capitol as a despicable act of terrorism and a shocking assault on our democratic system. A statement from Hawley described the Democrats complaint as a flagrant abuse of the Senate ethics process and a flagrant attempt to exact partisan revenge. Democrats appear intent on weaponizing every tool at their disposal including pushing an unconstitutional impeachment process to further divide the country, Hawley continued. Brown, who suggested that Hawley and Cruz should resign in the wake of the violence, has also criticized Trump for inciting the violence. On Thursday, he told reporters that when House Speaker Nancy Pelosi sends the impeachment articles it passed last week against Trump, were obligated to move almost immediately on it. Theres no reason this impeachment trial should take very long, simply because weve seen the evidence, said Brown. We heard the presidents speeches. Weve heard Senator (Mitch) McConnell say he incited violence. Weve seen the damage... The evidence is clear. Read more: Ohio Congress members at President Joe Bidens inauguration hope for new era of cooperation Several Ohio Congress members will skip Joe Bidens inauguration amid unprecedented security measures Rep. Bob Gibbs and other Ohio Republican Congress members object to metal detectors to access House floor Rocky River Republican Anthony Gonzalez votes to impeach President Donald Trump House votes to impeach President Trump after last weeks U.S. Capitol riot, with all Ohio Democrats and one Ohio Republican in the majority What Ohios Jim Jordan said as he led President Trumps impeachment defense on the House floor Sen. Rob Portman urges President Trump to address the nation to explicitly urge that his supporters refrain from violence, or bear responsibility Ohios Sherrod Brown plans to take on corporations as chair of Senate Banking Committee U.S. Capitol Police officers are being disciplined for cooperating with rioters, U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan says What Ohios Jim Jordan said before, during and after the riot at the U.S. Capitol Joe Biden names former KeyBank official Don Graves his Deputy Commerce Secretary Capitol riot prompts Democrats in Congress to seek Trumps removal before Bidens inauguration Angered by attempted coup at the Capitol, Rep. Tim Ryan wants to probe Capitol Police force and remove President Trump from office A terrifying species of wasp has been pictured paralysing a huntsman spider in order to drag it back to its nest and lay eggs inside it. The insect battled the arachnid on the outside of a window in Australia before a Reddit user took a picture from inside their house and posted the picture online on Thursday. 'Classic Australia! A wasp eating a huntsman spider. What a nice thing to wake up to,' the post was captioned. A tarantula hawk wasp is pictured paralysing a huntsman spider on a window while the house owner's reflection can be seen taking a photo of the battle at an Australian home The pictured wasp was a spider wasp, specifically a tarantula hawk wasp, which get their name from the fact they prey on large spiders. Tarantula hawks immobilise their spider prey with a sting and before dragging them back to their nest. There the female wasp uses the spider's body as a living host. It lays an egg inside the alive spider which hatches. The larva then eats it alive from inside out. The wasps are incredibly strong and can drag a spider twice their own weight. An equally impressive image showed a tarantula hawk wasp dragging a huntsman spider in Bronte in Sydney's eastern suburbs in December 2019 In this case, the spider may have been damaged before it made it back to the nest. 'It (the spider) did a splat on the ground when the wasp dropped it!! Gross,' the original user commented. The post has since been upvoted almost 300 times in the WTF subreddit. An equally impressive image showed a tarantula hawk wasp dragging a huntsman spider in Bronte in Sydney's eastern suburbs in December 2019. Earlier in 2019, a video went viral showing a black species of spider wasp dragging a similarly-sized huntsman up the netting of a door. [January 22, 2021] Biotechnology Institute Launches BioDiversity Winter Institute This week, the Biotechnology Institute announced the launch of a new online afterschool STEM education program "BioDiversity" for 3rd - 8th graders. The fundamental objective of BioDiversity is to engage, excite and educate students of ethnic and cultural backgrounds that are under-represented in the scientific community about their potential to successfully pursue career paths in science. While students will focus on core STEM principles, significant emphasis will be placed on the biological sciences and the potential for biotechnology to help solve some of our most challenging global problems in healthcare, food sustainability and the environment. The inaugural Winter 12-week program will enroll more than 100 students from East Orange (News - Alert) and Camden City, NJ, and the Philadelphia area due to support from Johnson & Johnson. "We are enthusiastic about the launch of the BioDiversity Winter Institute in our surrounding communities," said Seema Kumar (News - Alert) , Global Head, Office of Innovation, Global Public Health and Scientific Engagement at Johnson & Johnson. "Engaging young people from every background in science at the earliest ages is criticalto the future of innovation and discovery. Good health and a sustainable future depend on it." The Institute has engaged teachers with both educational and industry experience to develop grade appropriate curricula in STEM that includes hands-on experimentation and encourages community engagement through health education and skills development. Classes are delivered five days each week with a mix of programmed and live teacher sessions. Parents, an integral part of the students' support network during classes, are provided background materials for assistance. Students requiring online access to the program are provided with the necessary technology resources. "We don't know why exactly and when any particular student gets excited about science," said Dr. Larry Mahan, President, Biotechnology Institute. "What we do know is that exposure and experiences need to start at the earliest ages." With future support from other biotechnology industry leaders, the Institute intends to expand BioDiversity nationwide to include both winter and summer programming in some of the most deserving communities. ### About the Biotechnology Institute The Biotechnology Institute is an independent, national nonprofit organization dedicated to education about the present and future impact of biotechnology. Its mission is to engage, excite and educate the public, particularly students and teachers, about biotechnology and its immense potential for solving our most pressing problems in human health, food sustainability and the environment. For more information, visit www.biotechinstitute.org. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210122005086/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] ADVERTISEMENT At least four suspected kidnappers have been arrested by the Ekiti State Security Network Agency codenamed Operation Amotekun. The arrest was confirmed to journalists in Ado Ekiti, the state capital, on Friday, by the Corps Commander, Joe Komolafe. He said the suspects were captured in Eda Oniyo, Ilejemeje Local Government Area of the state during a routine patrol by the security operatives. The arrested persons: Abubakar Sule, Sheu Usman, Abubakar Babangida, and Sheu Mamuda reportedly confessed to be herdsmen from Sokoto state carrying out professional kidnapping in Southwest. Our men on routine patrol intercepted these four persons suspected to be kidnappers on Friday morning. They claimed to have come from Sokoto state. Upon questioning, they said they were heading to Akungba Akoko in Ondo state but with no clear mission here. What we found on them clearly gave them away as suspected kidnappers and also with their confession, he said. Mr Komolafe said the suspects would be handed over to the police for further investigation. The state police spokesperson, Sunday Abutu, could not be reached as of the time of this report. He did not respond to calls and text messages seeking enquiries. This newspaper has been reporting how kidnapping for ransom has been the order of the day in most parts of Nigeria. In some cases where families of kidnap victims are unable to get funds for their release, they get killed. In spite of the efforts of the police and other security operatives to tackle these security challenges, insecurity keeps gaining more momentum across the country. BERGEN COUNTY, NJ New Jersey continued expansion on the number of publicly listed COVID-19 vaccination sites this week, announcing one new site in Bergen County (see the county's list of vaccine sites below). The state Department of Health announced the opening of a vaccination site at Ridgewood Village Hall this week, making it the latest addition to the growing list. Valley Hospital will assist the village with operations at the site. "Valley's Department of Health and Community Benefit is partnering with the Ridgewood Dept of Health on these clinics. Our team helps organize and administer the vaccine," said Valley Health spokesperson Maureen Kleinman. The Richard Rodda Center in Teaneck was added to the list last week, and Holy Name Medical Center staffers have begun giving vaccines. Teaneck officials said 1,000 appointments were available Friday. READ MORE: NJ Adds Ridgewood COVID Vaccine Site To Growing List READ MORE: 1K Appointments Available At Teaneck Vaccine Clinic Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli said the state plans to increase the number of vaccination sites beyond 300. State officials have said the goal is to vaccinate 70 percent of the adult population by the spring. Gov. Phil Murphy also has announced that the state just exceeded 200,000 vaccinations statewide. He also announced that New Jersey has created a county-by-county vaccine hub that reports the number of immunizations across the state. "We're working strategically and efficiently to vaccinate our frontline health care workers, law enforcement and fire professionals and long-term care center residents and staff," he said. Murphy was on-hand recently at Bergen New Bridge Medical Center for vaccination efforts at the Annex facility there. READ MORE: Gov. Murphy Visits Bergen New Bridge Vaccination Site Health officials said not all sites are publicly listed because some are not open to the public, such as prisons and psychiatric hospitals. Story continues Persichilli said New Jersey currently doesn't have a lot of vaccine availability, but she expects that to change soon. The incoming Biden presidential administration has said that it plans to greatly expand the number of vaccine doses available to the American public. New Jersey recently expanded the list of eligible people, allowing police and fire professionals and people older than 65 to get the vaccine. Read more: NJ Expands COVID Vaccine To 65 & Older, Those With Medical Issues Persichilli said the state has administered at least 36 percent of vaccine doses allocated. Hospitals have administered vaccines at least 50 percent of their health care workers. Her hope is to continue to expand the number of "mega-sties" in convention centers and large spaces, aiming for 1,000 people vaccinated a day. You can find out if you qualify by going here: When Can You Get COVID-19 Vaccine In NJ? Here's The New 2021 List Still, many questions remain about the rollout of vaccine sites, availability and does, namely, when residents can get inoculated themselves. Patch has some answers. READ MORE: 9 Questions About Getting COVID-19 Vaccinations In New Jersey Here are the currently listed public vaccine sites in Bergen County: Valley Hospital 223 North Van Dien Ave. Ridgewood, NJ 201-447-8643 https://www.valleyhealth.com/c... North Hudson Community Action Corporation (Three Locations) 197 S. Van Brunt St., Englewood, NJ 535 Midland Ave., Garfield, NJ 25 E. Salem St., Suite 600, Hackensack, NJ Telephone for all locations 201-210-0200 nhcac.org Ridgewood Village Hall 131 N. Maple Ave. Ridgewood, NJ Click here to preregister Bergen New Bridge Medical Center Annex 230 East Ridgewood Avenue Paramus, NJ07652 Bergen 18 years (800) 730-2762 http://www.bergencovidvaccine.... Hackensack Meridian Health System Multiple Locations Bergen 18 years (833) 565-0404 hackensackmeridianhealth.org/covid19 Holy Name Medical Center Richard Rodda Community Center Teaneck, NJ Bergen 18 years holyname.org -- teanecknj.gov Paramus Board of Health 1 Jockfish Square Paramus, NJ Bergen 18 years (201) 265-2100 paramusborough.org/ ShopRite Pharmacy #169 40 Nathaniel Place Englewood NJ 07631 Bergen 18 years (856) 627-8137 vaccines.shoprite.com ShopRite Pharmacy of Rochelle Park 220 West Passaic St. Rochelle Park, NJ 07662 Bergen 18 years (856) 627-8137 vaccines.shoprite.com Haworth Apothecary 169 Terrace Street Haworth, NJ 07641 Bergen 18 years (201) 384-7171 haworthapothecary.com/covid-19-vaccine This article originally appeared on the Paramus Patch Following Jamils death, his father, Moustafa Sayour, who was the remaining shareholder in the Arncliffe joint venture with Mr Deiri, began legal action after uncovering what the court heard were unusual financial transactions involving his son and Mr Deiri. Mr Sayour, 71, who runs a biomedical company, is the uncle of John, Fadi, Sam and Michael Ibrahim and their sister Maha Sayour (now known as Jazz Dior). Ms Dior, who has a conviction for conspiring to supply firearms, is Mr Kanjs mother-in-law. While Mr Sayours son Jamil was close to his Ibrahim cousins, Mr Sayour was not. Mr Deiri told the court that he met with Jamil on 30 September 2015, after he was discharged from hospital to fly overseas for medical treatment. The 40-year-old died in Germany five days later. The developer said that Jamils dying wish was that Mr Deiri honour his promise to pay two men almost $16 million in spotters fees. Mr Deiri said in March 2018, as the project was near completion, Mr Kanj, a finishing foreman at Deicorp, and Mr Zafiropoulos identified themselves as the people to whom Jamil had promised fees for identifying the Princes Highway site. The promise to pay such vast sums for finding a site for a block of apartments was inherently implausible, Justice Ward has found. Mr Deiri said that Jamil also agreed to Mr Deiri charging a development management fee, which ended up being $5.3 million. The payment of these $21.7 million fees wiped out the profits for Mr Sayour and Mr Deiris joint venture company, the court heard. Developer Fouad Deiri, managing director of Deicorp, with Sydney's Lord Mayor Clover Moore (left). Credit:Facebook Mr Sayours lawyers submitted that it strained credulity to think that a tough, experienced businessman such as Mr Deiri would agree to sign away almost $16 million to unknown persons, without obtaining legal advice, simply because he didnt really know what was going on. Car dealer Rodney Dale, who owned the Arncliffe site, said he discussed the site with Jamil in October 2013 following Jamils purchase of a Range Rover. Within about two weeks Jamil had introduced him to his partner, Mr Deiri. For his part, Mr Zafiropoulos insisted that he introduced the site to Jamil after being introduced to it himself by Zouheir Bazzi, who was called to give evidence to support the dentists account. Mr Bazzi, 71, has since been arrested and charged with supplying cocaine from his Rockdale metalwork factory. Shortly after his company Zapphire received the spotters fee, Mr Zafiropoulos transferred $5.45 million to a company run by Ben Scott, 42, who is a business partner of Fadi Ibrahims and the half-owner of Fadis Dover Heights home. The Sayour case, said the judge, was that Fadi Ibrahim, 46, introduced Mr Zafiropoulos to Jamil, and brokered every step of Mr Zafiropoulos dealings with Jamil, and then Mr Scottended up with nearly $5.5 million of the proceeds. In discussing the role of the missing Fadi Ibrahim in the proceedings before her, Justice Ward said he was certainly a person that one might have expected the dentist to call to give evidence since Mr Zafiropoulos places him as being present at a number of relevant conversations for his case. Fadi Ibrahim Credit:Daniel Munoz The judge said she did not accept Mr Zafiropoulos excuse for not calling him due to Mr Ibrahims reported (and cryptic) unwillingness to give evidence because it would cause a lot of problems for his family. Mr Kanj set up a company Konstructions just prior to it receiving almost $8 million. Although it was initially claimed that Mr Kanj had helped identify the site as the reason the payment, Mr Kanj later offered that the fee was compensation for being passed over as Jamils partner in the development for Mr Deiri. In December 2019 Mr Kanj gave evidence that his company Konstructions transferred his $7.9 million to Pasloc to pay another company Permaform for concrete blocks. On the morning of his court appearance, his lawyer broke the bad news to him that Pasloc had gone bust and his hopes of owning the equivalent of 50 semi-trailer loads of concrete blocks had gone with it. In his report on Paslocs collapse, the liquidator said, It is difficult to imagine that a supplier would effectively pre-pay $7.92m for the delivery of formwork. Pasloc has subsequently been revealed to be the money laundering entity for a criminal syndicate headed by colourful construction identity George Alex and Michael Ibrahim. Mr Alex was arrested and charged with money-laundering offences in July 2020. It is also alleged that Mr Alex and Michael Ibrahim secretly controlled Permaform and that payments to that entity were disguised as investments, according to court documents. Court documents in that matter also indicate that $1.2 million of laundered money was allegedly channelled to Michael Ibrahims partner Caitlin Hall. When she failed to pay tax on the amounts, the ATO hit her with tax assessments. On 11 July, 2019 Michael Ibrahim phoned Mr Alex from jail to discuss the ATO action against his partner. Were new to this, were not used to paying tax, Ibrahim said. Caitlin Hall with her husband, convicted drug boss Michael Ibrahim. Credit:Facebook A week later an accountant was heard on phone intercepts talking to Palsocs director Pasquale (Peter) Loccisano to discuss the ATO action against Hall. Loccisano explained that the money provided to Hall was from Konstructions through Pasloc, and that they would try to characterise this money as a loan to minimise tax. Loccisano and Hall have also been charged with money laundering offences. Last month Justice Ward ordered Mr Zafiropoulos, Mr Kanj, and Mr Deiri, to repay the $16 million. Mr Deiri, who was found to have breached his directors duty in authorising the payments, was also ordered to refund his $5.3 million management fees. Robert Kocharyan on years of his leadership in Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia Situation on Armenian-Azerbaijani border is still tense, more on COVID-19 in Armenia, May 28 digest "Armenia" alliance of political parties paying tribute to founder of First Republic Aram Manukyan (LIVE) Yerevan.today: Armenia acting PM not greeted at ruling party's headquarters, citizens call him 'capitulator' Russia MOD reports on maintenance of ceasefire regime in Nagorno-Karabakh Armenia acting MOD meets with Russian counterpart in Moscow Armenia 2nd President: I see possibility of restoring borders of Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast We can provide our army with some key, modernized weapons, says Armenia ex-President Kocharyan Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: Captives issue is not one that any opposition force can resolve OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs release statement on detention of 6 Armenian servicemen by Azerbaijan Armenian acting Deputy PM: Discussion on issues possible only after withdrawal of Azeri troops from Armenia's territory Armenia acting PM on Syunik roads, Russian military posts: This is only place where there are working nuances Armenia acting PM: Process of return of POWs will intensify after upcoming elections Putin congratulates Aliyev on Republic Day 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 Mukbang videos and vloggers have become increasingly popular over the years, with tons of content creators on various platforms, most especially Youtube. Hamzy's Controversy Among them is Hamzy, a Youtube personality with over 5 million subscribers, who is now in the middle of a controversy between South Korea, China, and the fermented cabbage side dish known as kimchi. According to CGTN, it all started when Hamzy uploaded a video on her Youtube account where she was eating a "Super Spicy Octopus Bibimbap," which featured some fried eggs and kimchi. The video was published on January 15, 2021, and has now garnered over 2.8 million views. In the comments section, one of Hamzy's followers commented: "It's really disappointing coz these days China says that Ssam is theirs too." For those who are unaware, Ssam is a Korean word that means "wrapped" and refers to the way a piece of leaf, oftentimes lettuce, is wrapped around a piece of meat and a small portion of kimchi. According to the report, Hamzy "liked" the comment, which infuriated her Chinese fans who took the action as an offense and left harsh comments on her videos, so Hamzy and her Chinese agency that handled the Youtuber's promotion in the mainland had no choice but to apologize to the fans. Read More: [Viral] Uncle Roger Roasts Vegans While Reacting to 28 Days MSG Dry Aged Steak Chinese Agency Drops Vlogger Nevertheless, the harsh comments continued, especially when Hamzy posted a note on her Youtube page where she said that "liking" the comment did not mean anything. "If Chinese subscribers feel offended and betrayed because I appeared to approve the comment by pressing the 'like' button, then I apologize," Hamzy wrote. Due to the events that transpired, the Youtuber revealed that her Chinese agency canceled her contract, but despite everything, Hamzy remains firm in her belief that both Ssam and kimchi are traditional Korean food and that "does not change." The South Korean mukbang vlogger also said that she would not call any traditional South Korean dish as Chinese food only to work in China and that it should be the same with Chinese people. "They should not call a Chinese food a Korean food to work in Korea. That I am sure Chinese people can understand well," she concluded. The Mukbang Trend As of writing, Hamzy has over 5.3 million subscribers on Youtube. As a mukbang vlogger, her content centers on eating various types of food, often with an ASMR aspect, wherein she focuses on making munching and slurping sounds, which some people find interesting and even relaxing. Hamzy is also one of the biggest internet celebrities in South Korea. Mukbang is a Korean word that translates to "eating broadcast," as per Today, wherein people such as Hamzy sit in front of the camera and eat various kinds of foods. It is a popular trend back in South Korea, but as the years passed, the trend was picked up worldwide and many have begun creating their own mukbang channels, where they eat tons of food that may or may not be Korean of nature--and usually with ASMR. Related Article: YouTube Tests New Feature Allowing Users to Buy Products Seen in Vdieos: New Shopping Bag Icon? This article is owned by Tech Times Written by: Nhx Tingson 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. MISSAUKEE COUNTY, MI A Wisconsin man who allegedly rammed a patrol car and injured a trooper while fleeing last week is charged with three felony counts. Jonah Vaughn, 36, of Wisconsin, allegedly attempted to flee from Michigan State Police again when troopers caught up with him two days later, according to an MSP news release. He allegedly assaulted a police dog during that incident. Vaughn was arraigned Thursday, Jan. 21, on three felony counts: one count of assaulting, resisting, causing injury to police officer, a 15-year felony; one count of third-degree flee and elude, a five-year felony; and one count of unlawful driving away of an automobile, a five-year felony, police said. His bond was set at $250,000; he is lodged in Missaukee County Jail. Vaughn was arrested on Friday, Jan. 15, after the MSP Seventh District Fugitive Team and troopers from the MSP Cadillac Post located him near a residence in the Marion area, police said. However, he allegedly did not go without incident. Vaughn allegedly fled from troopers on a utility terrain vehicle (UTV). When the UTV got stuck, Vaughn allegedly continued on foot amid orders to stop. An MSP K9 was released and caught up with Vaughn. He allegedly struck the K9 and continued to ignore commands. Vaughn was finally arrested after a trooper deployed a Taser. RELATED: State Police arrest fugitive said to have rammed patrol car, injured trooper and fled MSP first had contact with Vaughn on Wednesday, Jan. 13, in Missaukee County. An MSP trooper was assisting the fugitive team in a search for a suspect. The trooper stopped a Dodge pickup truck on Maple Street in McBain. Two men were in the vehicle. The driver was asked to exit the vehicle to speak with the fugitive team; he complied. While the driver was outside the vehicle speaking with the fugitive team, the trooper began questioning a man believed to have been Vaughn, who was in the passenger seat. Police said Vaughn refused to provide the officer with identification and when asked to take the keys out of the ignition, Vaughn slid into the drivers seat and sped off. The trooper hopped in his patrol vehicle and pursued Vaughn, who then allegedly rammed into the patrol vehicle twice. The second, the patrol car went into a ditch where it became disabled. The trooper suffered minor injuries and was treated at a local hospital, police said. The pickup was later found on Fourth Street in Marion. RELATED: MSP trooper injured after suspect rams patrol vehicle into ditch in McBain Vaughns next scheduled court appearance is on Thursday, Feb. 8, in the 84th District Court in Missaukee County. READ MORE: Body recovered from Lake Michigan bay in Upper Peninsula Bars, restaurants will have 10 p.m. curfew when indoor dining reopens Feb. 1 6% of Michigan adults vaccinated against COVID-19 so far; see numbers in your county Northern Michigan official holds rifle during public comment about gun violence concerns Dearborn Heights man charged with murder of stepbrother, 23 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. YEREVAN, JANUARY 22, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian Parliament will convene an extraordinary session today at 12:00. The lawmakers will debate the election of members of the Supreme Judicial Council. The ruling My Step faction has nominated Gagik Jhangiryans and Davit Khachaturyans candidacies for the members of the Supreme Judicial Council. Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan At the July funeral service for Rep. John Lewis, President Barack Obama called on elected leaders to fulfill the civil rights legends vision of expanding and protecting our democracy for all Americans. He recognized the obstacles but insisted that we move forward to challenge failed practices and old policies that have stood in the way. And if all this takes eliminating the filibuster, another Jim Crow relic, in order to secure the God-given rights of every American, said Obama, then thats what we should do. With Democrats Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff just sworn in as Georgias new senators, the question of abolishing the filibuster is percolating again, though it would require all 50 Senate Democrats to vote in favor of elimination, something that may prove impossible. The Inquirer turned to two legal experts to weigh in: With Democrats back in control of the Senate, is it time to abolish the filibuster? Yes: Abuse of the filibuster means just one senator can stop legislation. By Caroline Fredrickson Our democracy has been put to the test. President Donald Trumps unfounded attacks on the legitimacy of the 2020 presidential election, active efforts to subvert the counting of legally cast votes, and Jan. 6s violent insurrection in the U.S. Capitol have all shaken the core of our system. As we strive to rebuild and strengthen democratic processes, not to mention repair a broken economy and attend to the critical health-care needs of all Americans in a pandemic, we need a Congress that can function especially in these core areas. But right now, it cannot because of the ability of just one senator to stop legislation necessary for all of us. The filibuster was designed and used for decades to thwart civil rights legislation. In recent years, its use and abuse has only grown. Sixty votes are routinely needed in the Senate for even the most minor matters, making it nearly impossible to legislate in the national interest or find common ground. An obstreperous minority has the ability to grind the Senate, and Congress more generally, to a halt. To a greater degree than is commonly realized, this is a relatively new phenomenon. During the Obama administration, Senate Republicans took obstruction to a new level, using the filibuster more than ever in history. But the use of the tactic had been climbing even before Obama became president, prompting recent presidents of both parties to use executive orders and other administrative tools to circumvent Congress. The Senate is already minoritarian because of the overrepresentation of small and rural states in the body. For example, California, with 39 million people, gets two senators in Washington, the same as Wyoming, Vermont, and Alaska, each of which is home to fewer than a million people. And by 2040, given projected population growth, two-thirds of Americans will be represented by just 30% of the Senate. Given that the executive branch has increasingly moved away from legislative initiatives because of Senate obstruction, the filibuster continues to undermine a real democracy. If we are to take the steps that are urgently needed to save our democracy, we at long last must abolish the filibuster. Caroline Fredrickson Today, our country has urgent needs. As we honor the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., we need to ensure that the struggle for democracy and racial justice is at the heart of our politics. Chief among these goals must be the repair of our democratic systems, which, this pandemic and the presidency of Donald Trump have revealed, are so evidently in need of renewal. Millions of Americans are calling for major reforms to ensure our democracy continues to function overhauling our elections, creating stricter ethics rules for elected and appointed officials, limiting the poisonous influence of money in politics, and ensuring that voters choose their elected officials rather than the reverse. These reforms will make our institutions responsive to the popular will. Under current Senate rules, however, a minority can stymie efforts to fix our broken system. Not slow those reforms, not deliberate, not debate, but simply block them. For that reason, democracy advocates and their elected champions must demand that the filibuster be eliminated. If we are to take the steps that are urgently needed to save our democracy, we at long last must abolish the filibuster. Caroline Fredrickson is a senior fellow at the Brennan Center for Justice, a visiting professor at Georgetown Law, and author of several books, including The Democracy Fix and Under the Bus: How Working Women Are Being Run Over. No: Reform the filibuster instead of killing it. By Mark Strand Emboldened by their double victory in Georgia, the new Democratic majority in the Senate is poised to make good on its threat to do away with the filibuster. While both parties dislike the filibuster whenever they are in the majority, the wiser course of action would be to reform it. Our Founding Fathers deliberately differentiated the roles of the U.S. House a majoritarian body where a cohesive majority, elected every two years, can legislatively work its will and the Senate, designed to empower the political minority by giving them tools that provide a greater say in legislation. The filibuster is one of these tools. This tactic was not always the legislative grim reaper it is today. In the early 1970s, then-Majority Leader Mike Mansfield (D., Mont.) devised a two-track system to handle controversial bills being filibustered separate from other business. At least 60 senators have to agree to end debate and proceed to a vote, so under this system, Mansfield could move less controversial legislation while he hunted for votes on bills that were stuck. Reform starts with making it more difficult to conduct a filibuster by eliminating the two-track system, forcing senators to remain on the floor and taking up precious time. Mark Strand This, though, made filibustering easier for senators since they werent required to be on the floor talking through a filibuster, a la Mr. Smith Goes to Washington. Take away the talk-a-thon and the filibuster becomes an invisible death sentence for legislative ideas. Reform starts with making it more difficult to conduct a filibuster by eliminating the two-track system, forcing senators to remain on the floor and taking up precious time. Senators would still use the filibuster, but they would use it much more sparingly, especially at the prospect of having to talk themselves hoarse. Before the Senate votes on legislation, there are two important hurdles to overcome. The first is whether to proceed to debate. The second is closing debate and moving to a vote. The majority leader can ask for unanimous consent to proceed directly to debate. If that cannot be achieved, lawmakers vote on whats called a motion to proceed, which can be filibustered. An important reform would be to make the motion to proceed nondebatable in all circumstances or changing the rules to impose a time limit on this debate. This would allow a simple majority to bring up bills for consideration, and senators would still have the ability to filibuster the actual bill once debate begins. Democrats would have to employ the nuclear option to attack the filibuster. This is a highly divisive measure that flies in the face of Senate tradition by allowing a simple majority to railroad the minority by altering how the rules are interpreted. As senators who supported Majority Leader Harry Reids initial use of the nuclear option discovered when his successor, Sen. Mitch McConnell, used the same technique to allow simple majority votes on Supreme Court nominees, abandoning the protection of the Senates political minority tends to backfire, often much sooner than they think. The Senate has long been heralded as the worlds greatest deliberative body because of the right of unlimited debate. By returning to the centuries old tradition of compromise, respect for the institution, and respect for ones colleagues, the Senate can go a long way toward recovering its tarnished reputation. Reforming the filibuster would strengthen the Senate by creating an environment of comity that will never be achieved through nuking minority rights. Mark Strand is president of the Congressional Institute, a nonprofit organization that looks at the operations of Congress and how reforms can make it effective. The president expressed his condolences to the families of the victims. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has announced January 23 as a day of national mourning for those killed in a fire in a Kharkiv-based home for the elderly. He made this announcement a briefing in Kharkiv on January 22. "I will sign the decree, tomorrow will be a day of mourning at the national level," he said. Zelensky noted that police and the State Emergency Service had updated him on the situation. Read alsoFire in Kharkiv nursing home kills 15 (Photo, video) "Conclusions should be drawn after all the details have been collected," he said. "Let me again express my condolences to all families, near and dear [of the victims]. Unfortunately, in the recent year, the reasons for [my] visits to Kharkiv aren't very good. But we'll find out all the details. We are aware there will be very serious challenges." Kharkiv fire: Known details On January 21, a fire broke out in a two-storied residential building in Kharkiv, which was used as a home for the elderly. Fifteen people died and five more were hospitalized. According to preliminary data, the cause of the fire was careless handling of electric heating devices. Police opened a criminal case under Part 2 of Article 270 (violation of the fire safety rules) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. The Cabinet of Ministers set up a government commission chaired by Minister for Communities and Territories Development Oleksiy Chernyshov to probe into the causes of the fire. Interior Minister Arsen Avakov said the police would decide whether to arrest the owner of the house where the fire broke out. Kharkiv Regional State Administration reported that the facility had been working illegally. Kharkiv's local authorities announced January 22 as a day of mourning in the city for the victims. Reporting by UNIAN GETTY Despite over 100,000 Ontario students returning to in-class schooling on Jan. 25, many more will continue learning online at home. For those, experts say a few simple solutions can create a smoother learning experience. One of the most critical is how to deal with technical difficulties like the recent video-call disruptions that affected various schools across the Greater Toronto Area. Hardwiring a childs computer through an ethernet cable to your WiFi router is the most effective way to avoid internet disruptions. But if your home doesnt allow for that setup Daniel Bader, a tech expert and managing editor of Android Central, says a mesh WiFi router system can help your WiFi run effectively throughout your home. In a mesh router system, theres a main router and a second or third satellite that expands the power of the WiFi signal, Bader explained in an interview. The reason this system is important is that if you have an office or a table in your basement or in a bedroom upstairs, the likelihood of WiFi dropouts reduces dramatically, he said. Bader warned against getting a WiFi extender, which many people end up getting. He explained many people will get a WiFi extender and place it where theres a dead spot in their home to hopefully get a better signal. That is a very limited solution and does not fix the fundamental problem of not having enough WiFi power throughout your house, he said, noting that a mesh system is also cheaper. Bader added that you can get the Eero on Amazon for $279, or the Google Nest for $349. Equally important is ensuring your child has the right hardware for school work, he added. Depending on their age, Bader noted that a Google Chromebook is built for kids and lightweight. Many Ontario school districts already issue a Chromebook to students, he noted. Theyre just very difficult to mess up. Its basically an internet browser and has a few apps, he said. Bader noted parents can install specific software, like Family Link, to help monitor their kids internet usage. Story continues These are specific to kids who use a laptop for school and then they take it back into their room and use it as their primary computer outside of school, he said. Bader added that ensuring your kid is in a well-lit area and seated at a desk so they dont slouch is also important. It can also help to get them a mouse pad, an external keyboard, headphones, and a comfortable chair. Dont expect learning at home to be the same as in-person Ramona Pringle, a tech expert and associate professor at Ryerson University, says that while we are a year into the COVID-19 pandemic and some parents have struggled to support their kids learning from home, they need to remember not to have the same expectations as in-person learning. Dont assume its going to be one-to-one. A school day that went from 9 am to 3:30 pm in-person isnt going to be the same in front of a computer, she said, adding that kids will find it harder to focus when all of their learning is coming from a digital screen instead of in-person. Its too much of an expectation to think that kids can focus for a full day being in front of a computer screen. We know the toll it takes on us as adults, and that means theres going to be a lot of other things you need to be doing to keep the day busy, she said. Pringle said that so much of a seamless experience for your child is dependent on their age. The younger they are, the more a parent will have to do to ensure their learning experience goes well. But it doesnt mean that it has to be exhausting. If your kid is young, youre going to be with them and youre going to be helping them because they cant focus for a long time and they press a lot of buttons and you know youre going to be there overseeing their engagement with the computer, she said. But as kids get older, parents can start to teach kids about the technology theyre using, Pringle noted. Theres a lot to be said about using this as an opportunity for them to learn new skills and gain new skills, she said. Parents can teach kids what to do when computers need to be charged, what they look for on computers when something goes wrong and safely troubleshooting, she added. On the advice from the Chief Medical Officer of Health, Education minister Stephen Lecce announced on Wednesday that the following school boards will go back to in-person education: Limestone District School Board, Renfrew County District School Board, Hastings and Prince Edward District School Board, Bruce-Grey Catholic District School Board, Renfrew County Catholic District School Board, Algonquin and Lakeshore Catholic District School Board, and Bluewater District School board. (Natural News) President Joe Biden on Wednesday, Jan. 20, signed an executive order to rejoin the Paris climate agreement. It was one of his first moves as president and it could prove devastating to the economy of the United States. Nicolas Loris, deputy director of the Thomas A. Roe Institute for Economic Policy Studies at the Heritage Foundation, said that the agreement is flawed economically and environmentally from the beginning. It will be very costly for American families and businesses because 80 percent of our energy needs are met [through] carbon-emitting conventional fuels, Loris told The Epoch Times. He warned that regulating carbon emissions and subsidizing alternatives would harm U.S. taxpayers. The accord, which was signed 2015, tasks signatory countries with putting forward plans to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. It aims to limit the global temperature increase preferably to just 1.5 degrees Celsius compared to pre-industrial levels. According to the United Nations, countries should aim to limit their carbon emissions in order to achieve a climate neutral world by mid-century. Loris believes that goal will be hard to reach because the Paris accord has no teeth and the developing countries are getting a free pass when it comes to their greenhouse gas emissions. Paris accord will make the economy take a hit In a 2016 Heritage Foundation report titled Consequences of Paris Protocol: Devastating Economic Costs, Essentially Zero Environmental Benefits, Loris and other experts analyzed the costs of the economic fallout as well as the impact the Paris climate agreement would have on reducing carbon emissions globally. The report also explored the consequences the U.S. would face if the country is part of the accord. We estimate that over a 15-year period, youre talking about an aggregate loss of $20,000 per family of four, he said. If the cost of energy is increased, Americans not only have to pay more for electricity and at the pump, but they will also have to pay more for groceries, going out to eat, or buying clothes, as it all takes energy to make. Poor families are going to be hit hard because they spend the highest percentage of their budget on energy costs. But consumers, in general, will shoulder much of the burden because businesses will pass on them the additional expenses if the cost of energy is increased. (Related: Why exiting the Paris Climate Accord helps Americas poorest.) Its a very regressive policy, rather than something that should be more proactive and innovation-focused that can lead to economic and environmental well-being, he said, noting that the agreement fails to achieve both. A similar analysis by The Heartland Institute shows that The Paris climate agreement will cost the U.S. about 2.7 million jobs by 2025 due to scaling back certain of industries. If the U.S. continues to be part of the accord, that same analysis revealed that the country would see significant decreases in the production of iron, steel, natural gas in coal by 2030. By 2040, the U.S. would see a loss of 3 trillion dollars worth of gross domestic product (GDP) and 6.5 million jobs lost in the industrial sector. World leaders laud Bidens move World leaders and Paris climate agreement supporters lauded Biden for rejoining the accords. Both British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and French President Emmanuel Macron welcomed Bidens decision in their respective Twitter accounts. Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo, on the other hand, said the departure from the accord of the U.S. under Trump has diminished their capacities to change things. 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 U.S., a voice that is very powerful on the international level, she said. Bidens move also found domestic support. Economic recovery and combating climate change go hand in hand, and President Biden has made these critical issues some of his top priorities upon taking office, said Heather Zichal, CEO of the American Clean Power Association, in a statement. Americas clean energy industries stand ready to invest in U.S. communities and the U.S. workforce as we work together to achieve a more prosperous and lower-carbon future, she stated. For more on Bidens moves to undo many of the policies enacted by President Donald Trump, follow JoeBiden.news. Sources include: WhiteHouse.gov TheEpochTimes.com 1 TheEpochTimes.com 2 USNews.com A Russian Yars intercontinental ballistic missile system drives during the Victory Day Parade in Red Square in Moscow, Russia, June 24, 2020. (Host photo agency/Iliya Pitalev via Reuters) Biden Seeks 5-Year Extension of Nuke Treaty With Russia: Pentagon President Joe Biden made a decision to propose to Russia a five-year extension of the New START treaty that limits the number of U.S. and Russian strategic nuclear weapons, John Kirby, chief Pentagon spokesman said in a statement on Thursday. The treaty, which restricts the United States and Russia to deploying no more than 1,550 strategic nuclear warheads each, is due to expire on Feb. 5. We cannot afford to lose New STARTs intrusive inspection and notification tools, the statement said. 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, Kirby said in the statement. The extension and further exploring of new arms control arrangements will be carried out by the State Department, according to the statement. A far better approach would be a short, 6-month extension conditioned on finalizing the warhead cap to which Putin agreed. That would stop the massive Russian build-up of non-strategic warheads and also keep the world focused on China. Instead, we are getting nothing for extending, former U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Arms Control Marshall Billingslea, who negotiated nuclear arms control with Russia on behalf of the Trump administration, said Thursday on Twitter. A far better approach would be a short, 6 month extension conditioned on finalizing the warhead cap to which Putin agreed. That would stop the massive Russian build-up of non-strategic warheads & also keep the world focused on China. Instead we are getting nothing for extending USArmsControl (@USArmsControl) January 21, 2021 NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg on 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 treatys lapse would end all restraints on deployments of U.S. and Russian strategic nuclear warheads and the delivery systems that carry them, with the potential to fuel a new arms race, policy experts have said. Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks on the signed deal on a complete stoppage of combat actions over the Nagorno-Karabakh region at the Novo-Ogaryovo state residence outside Moscow, Russia, on Nov. 10, 2020. (Sputnik/Aleksey Nikolskyi/Kremlin via Reuters) The Kremlin said on Wednesday it remained committed to extending New START and would welcome efforts promised by the Biden administration to reach an agreement. Russia and its president are in favor of preserving this agreement, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on a conference call. If our American colleagues will in fact demonstrate a political will to preserve this pact by extending it, this can only be welcomed. But the New START treaty may not be fit for purpose in 2021. The treaty constrains more than 90 percent of the U.S. nuclear deterrent, less than half of Russias, but none of Chinas, Billingslea said in October at an event held by the Washington-based Heritage Foundation. Russia and the United States together possess more than 90 percent of the worlds total nuclear warheads in 2020, according to the Federation of American Scientists, which tallied 6,372 warheads for Russia and 5,800 for the United States. While it counted China as having 320 nuclear warheads. The actual number held by the communist regime isnt known. Russian a rocket launches from missile system as part of the drills, a ground-based intercontinental ballistic missile was launched from the Plesetsk facility in northwestern Russia, on Dec. 9, 2020. (Russian Defense Ministry Press Service via AP) The New Start treaty is flawed, and has allowed Russia to build up its nuclear forces without violating the treatys terms. It also does not include China, which continues to increase its nuclear forces unconstrained, wrote Patty-Jane Geller, the policy analyst for nuclear deterrence and missile defense at the conservative think tank The Heritage Foundation. For example, the New START counts one bomber as one warhead regardless of how many warheads a bomber can carry, enabling Russia to surpass New START limits legally, Geller wrote for The Heritage Foundation. Agreeing to an unconditional extension of five years would maximize Russias and Chinas time to advance their forces not limited by the treaty and remove a key incentive for Putin to negotiate an improved agreement, Geller added. Geller also pointed to the weak verification system of New START, which allows any number of warheads per any missile. The mere 10 inspections allowed each year make it impossible to determine if Russia abides by warhead limits, she added. China was invited to join nuclear disarmament talks held by the United States and Russia in June 2020 but the Chinese regime declined the invitation. Geller recommends rejecting an unconditional five-year extension of New START and pushing Russia to agree to a nuclear stockpile cap in exchange for a short-term (under five years) New START extension. The New START treaty was signed in 2010 by then-U.S. President Barack Obama and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev. The pact limits each country to no more than 1,550 deployed nuclear warheads and 700 deployed missiles and bombers, and envisaged sweeping on-site inspections to verify compliance. After both Moscow and Washington withdrew from the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty in 2019, New START is the only remaining nuclear arms control deal between the two countries. Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this report. A moose, a goose, and a mouse ride a loose caboose to find the perfect house in Moose, Goose, and Mouse, a picture book written by the late Mordicai Gerstein and illustrated by Gerstein and Jeff Mack. Released this month by Holiday House, the book has a bittersweet back story involving the collaborators chance meeting, a fast friendship between two kindred spirits, an unexpected working partnership, and a rewarding cap to a distinguished career for Gerstein, winner of the 2004 Caldecott Medal for The Man Who Walked Between the Towers, who died in September 2019. Gerstein and Mack initially crossed paths at an event in Northampton, Mass., in 2009, the year after Mack had published his first solo work, Hush Little Polar Bear, with Roaring Brooks Neal Porter Books. Id never met Mordicai, but I knew of him, and knew that he had been published by Roaring Brook, Mack recalled. I went up to him and said, I think we might have the same editormine is Neal Porter. And he looked at me and said, Oh, mine is Simon Boughton. That was the end of the conversation. Fortunately, it was not their last exchange. Not long after that encounter, Gerstein emailed Mack saying he was looking for a new writers group on their shared western Massachusetts home turf and asked if he knew of any. I told him I had been part of a group for a few years, and invited him to join us, Mack said. He did, and there was an instant chemistry among us. Some five years after Gerstein became a member of the writers group, Mack added, It became clear to Mordicai and me that we had many similar tasteswe liked the same music, artists, and books, as well as traveling and food, so we started getting together for lunch and for trips to MASS MoCA for concerts and art exhibits. We became close friends. Sharing an especially fond memory, Mack noted, At the end of our last drive together, he turned to me and said, You know what? We sure can talk. He was so right. An Unexpected Closing Act For executive editor Grace Maccarone, who first worked with Gerstein on The Sleeping Gypsy (Holiday House, 2016), learning that the author wanted to tackle a new book came as a happy surprise. She had most recently edited Gersteins 2019 graphic novel, I Am Hermes! There are about 250 illustrations in that book, she explained. Mordicai worked on it for a long time, and it took a lot out of him. When he brought the final art into the office, we spread it out for everyone to see and there was quite the celebration. He was very proud of it, but he told me that it was probably his last book. When Gerstein had a change of heart and approached Maccarone about doing a new bookone less extensive than Hermesshe suggested he try a light story, perhaps one in the publishers I Like to Read format. Instead he proposed Moose, Maccarone said, and I was thrilled. Its a joyful romp with wonderful characters. The story really is about going on a journey with friends and ending up at a better place. There was a deep spiritual side to Mordicai, and I always wondered if he was thinking about his own journey to a special place as he created the book. After Gerstein decided that he was interested in illustrating Moose in collage stylea first for himhe reached out to Mack for guidance. Mordicai remembered my collage art in The Things I Can Do, Mack explained, and he said, Would you be willing to show me some of the digital tricks you did to make those collages work? Mack said he went over to Gersteins studio and scanned some sample abstract drawings he had made, and used the computer to collage them. Mordicai had experimented on the computer before, but this was the first time he dove in head-first, making all of the art for a book digitally. We played around and got the technique down, and after a few follow-up phone calls, when I talked him through the process again, he figured it out. In a subsequent phone conversation, Gerstein (who had successfully battled cancer in the past, but it had returned) shared some somber news. The author told him that he was not feeling well, and asked Mack if he would help him complete the art for Moose. He also wondered if I would be willing to finish the book if he was not able to do any more work on it, Mack said. All Hands and Hearts In Mack agreed, and Gerstein brought his sketches and drawings to Macks studio and the two scanned them into his computer. As time went by, I would bring my laptop to Mordicais house and sit at his bedside, Mack said. Wed make adjustments here and there in the color, and hed email me with his feedback. And when had got through half of the book, he told me, OK, youre on your own. Gerstein passed away several weeks later. Back when Gerstein had told Maccarone that he was not able to finish the book, but she need not worry since Mack was going to complete it, she sensed that Moose was in good hands, Mordicai told me that Jeff knew exactly where to take the book, and he was right, she said. Jeffs finished art was exactly what I expected. He had worked so closely with Mordicai that he was able to execute his wishes seamlessly. The book is totally Mordicais vision and he would have loved it. He really trusted Jeffthey had a lovely friendship. Grateful for the Holiday House teams support after he took over the reins of Moose, Mack noted, Grace deserves a lot of credit for facilitating the process and making the book happen. It was a labor of love for us all, and for me, getting to know Mordicai even better and being able to help him out with his last book was an important, meaningful thing in my life. I am honored that he had faith in me and trusted my judgment to finish his work. I think hed be really happy with his final bookit so perfectly represents his playful personality. Mack observed that Gersteins tackling of a new art medium at the end of his life was entirely in character. Mordicai believed in trying everything out to see what he likedin all aspects of his life, he said. The last time we went to MASS MoCA, we were in the gift shop, and I turned around to find him with a furry blue monster mask on. So, I picked up a pink one and we posed for a photo. Im sorry to say that this is the only picture I have of the two of us togetherId love to have one showing our faces. He was a creative, intelligent adult with a willingness to be a kid, which is something I will always remember. Moose, Goose, and Mouse by Mordicai Gerstein, illus. by Gerstein and Jeff Mack. Holiday House, $18.99 Jan. ISBN 978-0-8234-4760-2 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. If you'd like to leave a comment (or a tip or a question) about this story with the editors, please email us We also welcome letters to the editor for publication; you can do that by filling out our letters form and submitting it to the newsroom. [January 21, 2021] 'Gold VS Bitcoin: Historical Investments' from the unreleased book 'Bitcoin Simplified' London, UK, Jan. 21, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Many people often link Bitcoin to Gold. It is because many perceive both as being a safe investment. Despite being similar, due to Gold and Bitcoin being finite resources, they also differ in many ways such as physicality and volatility of the price. The article reveals an exert from the soon to be released book, 'Bitcoin Simplified' by Naseeff Ramzi in which the author discusses the intricacies and complexities of the mechanisms behind Bitcoin that have been attributed to its success. The book is highly anticipated especially from the followers of the blog, YouTube channel, Social media and the content on the website. Bitcoin and Gold alike, are sourced through mining; however, mining gold is very different from mining Bitcoin. Gold is located and excavated from the ground and then forged in flames. Bitcoin is created by computers solving complex equations. Many refer to this as 'Bitcoin mining'. And although these processes comparatively differ, they share some common ground. Bitcoin is regarded as the decade's best investment, whereas Gold is considered one of the safest investments. As previously mentioned, Gold and Bitcoin are limited in supply; they are finite resources. The prime derivative of price and appeal to investors is mining them to increase circulation, thus influencing market value. Looking at the sustained growth and establishment of these markets, it is evident that both Gold and cryptocurrencies will continue to grow and amount value for the foreseeable future. Bitcoin connects people via the internet, anywhere in the world. The blockchain model and coding behind Bitcoin uses cryptography, computer science, and mathematics to protect electronic communication and ensure coins cannot be copied or forged, the same way one cannot copy Gold. Unlike Gold and physical cash, one can trade and receive Bitcoin instantaneously without restriction. Both Gold and Bitcoin share the trait of finiteness, meaning no individual can conjure anymore into existence. The Bitcoin market cap is over $154 billion (120 billion). At this moment in time, Bitcoin's price is currently around $40,696 (30,000), which is an ATH (All-Time-High). The daily volume for Bitcoin is $8 billion (6.2 billion) in tracked exchanges. Many believe that Bitcoins market cap will become hundreds of trillions in years to come. And this has resulted in an exponential increase in Bitcoin's recent price, driven by increased purchasing. It has many people investing with the prospects of making a geat return on investment within a couple of years. Comparatively, the gold market is at $7 trillion (6 trillion), and the daily volume of exchanges is estimated to be around $109 billion (85 billion) to $231 billion (180 billion) a day. The total amount of Bitcoin that can be mined is capped at 21 million, the coding behind Bitcoin is programmed so that it gets harder to mine over time (there is a smaller reward per mathematical equation that is solved). But how much Bitcoin has been mined already? Around 18.5 million Bitcoins are in circulation now. It means that about 80% of all Bitcoin has gone through the mining process already. When a mathematical equation is solved, miners receive Bitcoin as a reward. The amount of Bitcoin issued upon solving an equation is 'the reward per block'. The reward is cut down in half per block every four years (this occurs every 210,000 blocks, blocks go through mining on an average one every 10 minutes). The figure remains consistent because the coding behind these equations is a self-adjusting mechanism, which self regulates the rate it solves the equations. Due to the diminishing rate of Bitcoin mining, the last of it will be in 2140. Recent data states that approximately 165,000 tonnes of gold have been mined and exists above ground today. And at least 4,500 tonnes get mined a year, but it is unknown how much of the mining remains. Another key difference between Gold and Bitcoin is how it is stored. Gold is not convenient to store and can easily be stolen or lost. Bitcoin can be stored in a digital wallet, hosted by various online services capable of storing Bitcoin safely, meaning no one can steal it. However, if passwords are lost, one cannot recover the Bitcoin. Even though most gold investors store Gold in secure vaults, there will be an ever-present threat of theft. A key aspect to consider is that Gold has been used as currency and for trading for over 2,000 years, whereas Bitcoin has only been in existence since January 2009. Within 11 years, Bitcoin has earned the title of being a nationally recognized safe-haven asset. Within a decade, Bitcoin's introduction and impact have echoed throughout the trading industry and will continue to shape the future of economics as we know it. The chart compares the price of Gold and Bitcoin before it hit its peak in December 2017. That is when Bitcoin reached its all-time high. The graph demonstrates that Gold's value slowly and consistently increases throughout the year, around the same rate at which the value of money appreciates. Conclusively, it is a safe asset to invest in. However, now consider the rate at which Bitcoin's value has increased. The data illustrates a 20-fold increase within one financial year (from $1,000 in 2016 to over $20,000 in 2017). It is a clear indication that over this period, Bitcoin was a significantly more profitable investment. Not everyone can invest in Gold because billions of people worldwide lack access to banking infrastructure. But to access and buy Bitcoin, all that is needed is a connection to the internet. Bitcoin came in place to tackle these issues by sending value across the globe with near enough no fees. Both Bitcoin and Gold have very liquidated markets which many can trade with fiat money. Gold is more of a safe asset to invest in as Bitcoins price is highly volatile, as seen when Bitcoins price went from less than $1,286 (1000) to over $19,302 (15,000) in just one year. However, volatility works both ways because Bitcoins price dropped in 2018 to around $6,430(5,000) and slowly started to rise. People often view Bitcoin as gold 2.0 since they both share very similar properties, neither require an authoritative governing body to operate and have associated value, and both have limited supply. If curious about the similarities and differences between Gold, fiat, and bitcoin, refer to the chart below. To stay up to date with the blogs, YouTube videos, and other content, make sure to refer to the website https://bitcoinsimplified.live, and for any further information contact directly through the email address: info@bitcoinsimplied.live Weekly industry updates and insights are posted weekly so stay tuned for further information. The highly anticipated book 'Bitcoin Simplified' will be released soon which will discuss the intricacies and complexities of the mechanisms behind Bitcoin that have been attributed to its success. Make sure to check out social media accounts for further information and industry secrets! Instagram: Bitcoin Simplified (@bitcoinsimplified) Twitter: Bitcoin Simplified (@btcsimplified) Media Details Company: Bitcoin Simplified EMail: Info@bitcoinsimplified.live Website: https://bitcoinsimplified.live [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Based only on what I know from this post, that seems fair to me. Reply Thread Link This is what happens when you dont just sit there and eat your food. Reply Thread Link So well deserved! Reply Parent Thread Link there is something about being deported back to the USA that just lol Reply Thread Link that was me when a (american) girl I know tried to go to Greece in like July 2020 and she was deported lmao Reply Parent Thread Link when you do clownery..... Reply Thread Link The clown comes back to the USA Edited at 2021-01-22 04:17 am (UTC) Reply Parent Thread Link pennywise gets at that wig Reply Parent Thread Link This comment deserves all the praise. Reply Parent Thread Link Comment of the year 2021 Reply Parent Thread Link ...the clown comes back to bite your colonizer visa Reply Parent Thread Link good Reply Thread Link Idiot. Shoulda just sat there and ate your illegal food. Reply Thread Link byeeeeeeee Reply Thread Link Well, goddamn. This whole story was a mess. This really goes to show how privilege is multi faceted and context dependent sometimes. I do think there is truth in her LGBTQ played a role in her deportation, but she tried to take advantage of the system, advertised it and tried to profit from it. Not to mention her ignorantly claiming Indonesia was LGBT friendly. Thats wrong as fuck too. Other countries, especially poorer countries, and not long term vacation resorts for citizens of first world countries who profit from the cheap labor they find abroad as they increase the cost of living for natives to an untenable degree. This isnt medicine or paradise - its a real place with real people. Edited at 2021-01-22 03:58 am (UTC) Reply Thread Link Her ignorantly claiming Indonesia was LGBT friendly One of my friends is from Jakarta and would like to argue against that hard. Reply Parent Thread Link Indonesian (American) lesbian who can't come out to most of my friends and family back home and can confirm lol Reply Parent Thread Expand Link lol Indonesia is LGBT friendly just like Malaysia is LGBT friendly (Malaysia if you didn't know, in the middle of this pandemic with daily cases records keep getting broken daily, had a religious minister announce that the best course of action for this country is to have stricter anti-LGBT rules - like that has any fucking thing to do with anything going on in the country). Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Exactly, in most parts of indonesia it's extremely conservative too. I know people that had to prove that they are straight people married to stay in a hotel. It's awful. So openly LGBT is a no go definitely. Reply Parent Thread Link I mean...if you're living in any country as a foreigner and then write a book about how to avoid paying taxes there....what did they think was gonna happen lol. Reply Parent Thread Link What I find frustrating is that it sounds like she hasn't taken responsibility at all for her actions. Instead, she believes she was only deported because she is LGBT (which no doubt was a factor but not the only one) and not because of her harmful and entitled behaviour. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link lol Reply Thread Link that six month ban is SO generous too smh, idiots Reply Thread Link same i was expecting to read something way longer Reply Parent Thread Link in my head (and experience) Deported means for life so this whole post is teaching me a... lot. Reply Parent Thread Link Bahahaahahahahahahaahhaahhh Ngl, when i first saw this I was like, yeah i love bali and it would be cool to stay there. Then i read further, everything they said is wrong. And all their actions are stupid and they can gtfo. If only they kept quiet, they'll still be living there. Reply Thread Link l o l Reply Thread Link oh Kristen Columbus Reply Thread Link Also the racism Ive seen stemming from this has been WILD. The anti-black and anti-Asian sentiments Ive seen on Twitter were honestly shockingly disgusting and its double whiplash when they come from POC. Like, some of those people were complaining about racism against themselves but the next tweet were calling each other monkeys and cat eaters like???? Oh my God. Why am I even surprised to see racism on the internet tho Reply Thread Link Gentrification is a many-layered thing. In this case, we criticize an American citizens role in perpetuating it. Aside from that, we also have to criticize the governments as well as the urbanized locals who want to seek profit from the tourist-centered economy of Bali. pic.twitter.com/ian0HMcSVO Grand Dementor (@janpiterjonkun) January 17, 2021 Lol good. This whole saga was such a ride. And thanks to it I read a lot of informative Twitter threads from Indonesians. This image in one of them really drove it home: Reply Thread Link lol at there specifically being an Aussie bar. Honestly the only things I really know about Bali is that it looks pretty and that Australians flock there to be assholes. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Its true, I unfortunately know quite a few Bali bogans who go there every year to get shitfaced and feel smug when they haggle down the already nothing price of a t-shirt with someone who probably makes about ten bucks a week. Its one of my barometers for judging people I meet. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Yes, the aussies in bali assholery is real. I've been there once when it was peak season and it was horrible. Just so much vomit and drunkenness and people running around the hotel corridors. And don't get me started on how they treat people. Reply Parent Thread Link I won't go there simply because I know the type of Aussie arsehole who does Edited at 2021-01-22 06:21 am (UTC) Reply Parent Thread Link Yep. I've only been once for my mum's 50th. So many go there because flight is usually cheaper than flying elsewhere in Australia (depending where you live - mostly Perth) We went during a quieter time so there were fewer bogans there - except at the beaches, which we made sure to avoid as much as possible. Reply Parent Thread Link omg i went to Bali like 2 years ago and expected to just be surrounded by balinese people and i would escape Australia...once we landed i was shook at how many australians were there and the funny thing is they only stay in the tourist hotspots, you dont see them outside of it Reply Parent Thread Expand Link This is the sickening scar left by Hollywood star Armie Hammer on his young lover after he branded her just millimeters away from her private parts. Using a sharp knife Hammer cut his first initial 'A' into her skin during a kinky sex game, which ex-lover Paige Lorenze insists got out of control. Seconds later the 6ft 5' inch screen idol - who has claimed he's '100% a cannibal' in vile Instagram messages to other women - then licked the blood from the wound. Lorenze shared the exclusive image with DailyMailTV as a stark warning to other women who might be seduced and manipulated by Hammer. The 22-year-old former professional skier turned Instagram model is speaking out about the deeply traumatic four month relationship, which left her emotionally and physically scarred. And Lorenze exposes Hammer as an out of control narcissistic sexual deviant, whose wild fantasies and BDSM fueled desires which she says could seriously injure another woman. The blond beauty reveals that Hammer was fixated on biting her body, begging that she allow him to take lumps of flesh from her arm, before consuming them. Father-of-two Hammer, 34, urged his lover - 12 years his junior - to participate in role play sex. Even on their first night of intimacy, Lorenze revealed Hammer insisted: You can either call me daddy or sir. Model Paige Lorenze, a former professional skier turned Instagram mode,l is speaking out about the deeply traumatic four month relationship she had with Armie Hammer, which left her emotionally and physically scarred Using a sharp knife Hammer cut his first initial 'A' into her skin during a kinky sex game, which ex-lover Paige Lorenze insists got out of control. Seconds later the 6ft 5' inch screen idol - who has claimed he's '100% a cannibal' in vile Instagram messages to other women - then licked the cuts' from the wound The blond beauty reveals that Hammer was fixated on biting her body, begging that she allow him to take lumps of flesh from her arm, before consuming them. Father-of-two Hammer, 34, urged his lover - 12 years his junior - to participate in role play sex The actor often tied up Lorenze, hit her with paddles and planned out high protocol nights of painful sexual moves, which often left her covered in bruises. Lorenze described their time together in Los Angeles as like a real life 50 Shades Of Grey without the love. Laying out more of his sick fantasies, Hammer begged the Instagram model to have her ribs removed, so that he could barbecue them. Even with his family at Thanksgiving, Hammer took along his leather bound BDSM case for kinky sex games. In a photo shared exclusively with DailyMailTV Hammer is seen posing with Lorenze and his mother Dru Ann during the holidays, which they celebrated in Dallas, Texas. In another exclusive photo the former couple are seen shirtless on a moped in the desert, Hammer smiling and wearing a cowboy hat. Lorenze told DailyMailTV: I want Armie to address his demons, see the pain and trauma that he has caused me and other women. He told me theres a whole community that will do this stuff, that it was not criminal. 'He really thought that his fantasies were normal behavior in the BDSM, non-normative, sexual kink community. I thought that this is what it was. I thought I was safe. But any man who is fantasizing about crushing bones, eating them, having sex with female limp bodies is a danger to all women. 'And this is not me kink shaming, I want that to be clear. His actions and behavior are dangerous and emotionally and psychologically damaging. He is saying people are kink shaming him and should not comment on his sex life, but BDSM is a smoke screen for him wanting to hurt women. You can be just as traumatized by consensual sex. Its unacceptable that he coerces women into agreeing to let him hurt them.' In a statement to DailyMail.com, Hammer's lawyer said: These assertions about Mr. Hammer are patently untrue. Any interactions with this person, or any partner of his, were completely consensual in that they were fully discussed, agreed upon, and mutually participatory.' Even with his family at Thanksgiving, Hammer took along his leather bound BDSM case for kinky sex games. In a photo shared exclusively with DailyMailTV Hammer is seen posing with Lorenze and his mother Dru Ann during the holidays, which they celebrated in Dallas, Texas Even on their first night of intimacy, Lorenze revealed Hammer insisted: You can either call me daddy or sir. Pictured: Hammer grabbing Lorenze's inner thigh in a photo posted to her private Instagram account Lorenze told DailyMailTV: I want Armie to address his demons, see the pain and trauma that he has caused me and other women. But any man who is fantasizing about crushing bones, eating them, having sex with female limp bodies is a danger to all women' Lorenze says she never considered raising the alarm or going to the police because naively she believed Hammer's assurance it was normal. 'I want him to get help more than be put behind bars, because I did see a loving, caring side to him,' she explains. It made me think that there is maybe hope for him to heal and move on from this. I was in love, orchestrated by him to make me be completely obsessed, feeling as if I would never be with anyone who was better than him,' she explains. I trusted him based on his experience, age, and the fact that I was being taken care of by him. But I really wasnt - I was being hurt by him. He put me in a role, complimented me in ways Ive never experienced, but he wanted control in sex - and I allowed him that. Lorenze says Hammer was focused on pushing boundaries with her from the first night they spent together. He first contacted Lorenze on Instagram, before insisting he would welcome her to LA when she moved there from New York in September. Hours after landing, he and some friends met Lorenze at a West Hollywood BnB. Within a few hours, the celebrated actor seduced the blond and then took her back to a friends home, where he stayed. During their first intimate moment he detailed his unusual desires. Lorenze's body appeared to be covered in bruises during the few months she was dating Hammer. Pictured: The model appears to have a discolored mark on her chest in an Instagram picture posted in late October Lorenze said: I had bad bruises all over me when we were together. I was left with marks from him using a paddle. I was his own real life Christian Grey fantasy. There were teeth marks and bite marks all over me' She added: 'He was completely obsessed with biting me. He told me be proud as they were just love bites.'' Once he said, ''If you did not tell me to stop I would eat a piece out of you.'' And he was serious too. It was like he actually wanted to eat my flesh away' She said: That first night, Armie told me he was a sadomasochist. I had no idea what he meant and thought it was a cult thing like Scientology. Armie made me watch the movie Secretary with Maggie Gyllenhaal. He wanted me to relate to her emotional problems in the way she finds purpose in life through a dominant partner and BDSM. Then he asked for high protocol nights, which is a standard trait in BDSM, where one partner sets out the nights activities from outfits to what we do sexually. We did a lot of those nights, which became darker and darker. It was what I had to do to please him. I didnt enjoy any of it, but Armie took advantage of me. I would have done anything to please him and make him feel happy and satisfied. Hammer introduced her to his BDSM toys carried in a brown leather case, which contained ropes, small sharp knives, clothes pins, whips and paddles. After trying various erotic situations using his bags toys, Hammer kept pushing the boundaries of pain for Lorenze. During a night in late November, Hammer went further than ever with a set of custom made razor sharp hand knives as she laid bound by ropes at his mercy. He would love to do knife play, where he would wave the blade above me or glide it across my skin. He was obsessed with it and usually he did not cut me. 'However that night he decided he wanted to brand me as his property and carve his name on my body. He tried to rationalize it as his gesture of his commitment to us being together for the long term. 'I wasnt sure he was serious, as he looked over my body and said: where should I carve an A on you? Before I could process it, he plunged the tip of the knife into my flesh just above my vagina.' Lorenze described their time together in Los Angeles as like a real life 50 Shades Of Grey without the love. Laying out more of his sick fantasies, Hammer begged the Instagram model to have her ribs removed, so that he could barbecue them Lorenze claims the actor is a heavy drinker and enjoyed taking hallucinogens as well as party substances, during their time together. Pictured: The 34-year-old posted to his secret Instagram account 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' DMT is a hallucinogenic drug She continued: 'The pain was excruciating, but I did not want to seem weak, despite the discomfort. I froze as he smiled at his work. He then said the cut was not deep enough, even though it was about an inch - the whole tip of the blade. He said he wanted to collect a kitchen knife to make it bigger, but then as it bled, he started licking it. This continued for a few minutes. And I kind of blanked it all out. I was concerned that the wound was going to get infected. I had to clean it and put a bandaid on afterwards. Traumatized, Lorenze still trembles recalling the night in detail, but revealed: He knew I was upset, but did not say sorry. The next day he even told people about what he had done. I was upset, embarrassed and humiliated, but he insisted: "You should be proud of it. I would not tell anyone who did not think it was awesome". I rationalized it with his logic of us being a couple, to mask the truth - but I was completely manipulated. Its humiliating as it will haunt me forever. I will have laser treatment to get rid of the scar. Hammer, who often drank neat vodka or whiskey, adored their hour long BDSM sessions, calling them 'beautiful'. Lorenze said: I had bad bruises all over me when we were together. I was left with marks from him using a paddle. I was his own real life Christian Grey fantasy. There were teeth marks and bite marks all over me. He was completely obsessed with biting me. He told me be proud as they were just love bites. Once he said, If you did not tell me to stop I would eat a piece out of you. And he was serious too. It was like he actually wanted to eat my flesh away.' Hammer often enjoyed sex several times daily, but Lorenze recalls: We never had completely normal sex because he always wanted something kinky' Lorenze says Hammer even spoke about wanting a sex dungeon room similar to one seen in the movie 50 Shades of Grey. Hammers obsession with her body and living out his sick cannibal fantasies did not stop there. He wanted to find a doctor in LA, so that he could remove one of my ribs, as you do not need it; and then barbecue it and eat it while I watch,' she said. 'He said that more than once. He was very serious.' Hammer often enjoyed sex several times daily, but Lorenze recalls: We never had completely normal sex because he always wanted something kinky. He liked role play, where I pretended to be a student and he was my professor.' Up until 2020 Hammer was regarded as one of the most suave, handsome and brightest stars and family men in Hollywood. But behind closed doors, Lorenze saw a broken side of the actor, famous for films like The Lone Ranger, Social Network and Call Me By Your Name. Armie is deeply insecure. He really opened up at times about his marriage break-up and family issues,' she said. He would cry in my arms, about how he loved his kids and felt Elizabeth was a great mother. But then would villainize his wife at other times. Despite issues with his family Hammer still took Lorenze to visit his mother Dru Ann for Thanksgiving in Dallas. Lorenze says that 'money problems' meant the pair drove 1400 miles from LA to Dallas for the family gathering And he also talked about all the women that he had been with, which made me think he cheated all the time. There are issues too with his parents, which haunt him. I didn't ask questions, I just listened, because I felt we had an instant trust. Now I think a lot of it was an act, attention seeking and part of his mind games. It was an Oscar winning performance.' Despite issues with his family Hammer still took Lorenze to visit his mother Dru Ann for Thanksgiving in Dallas. Lorenze says that 'money problems' meant the pair drove 1400 miles from LA to Dallas for the family gathering. It was a rare moment when I felt like we were in a normal relationship, because he felt we were serious enough to meet his family,' she recalls. I immediately bonded with his mom, who was super kind and considerate. Even around them Armie would call me his "little pet".' But Lorenze sensed the tension between mother and son. He told me that his mother poured oil on his head one night speaking in tongues, claiming he had demons inside of him. That seemed weird, but she seemed a sweet traditional and Christian woman. But I feel now she knew he had a dark side. Hammer even took his BDSM leather case on the trip, but Lorenze refused to have sex out of respect to his mom'. Just days after returning home, in early December, Lorenze, still recovering from his branding, decided to call off their romance. 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 It was too much. I felt sick to my stomach, insecure and no longer attracted to him - and he was getting stranger,' she said. I texted him that morning to say I do not think we can see each other anymore. Perhaps I hoped he would change or try to make things right, but instead he replied: "okay I understand". 'He left soon after to see his family in the Cayman Islands for Christmas, but told me he did not want to go as he was lonely and sad. 'It will take me a long time to get over this. It still feels like a fever dream and not real. Hammers romance came as he and ex wife Elizabeth Chambers attempted to work out joint custody of their children and requested that she return to the US to arrange a custody schedule. In September, the actor told British GQ his separation from Chambers, whom he married in 2010, was a 'seriously seismic event'. 'I don't think you'll find anyone in the world who would ever say what Im going through is an easy thing to go through,' he said. Hammer said when he and Chambers discussed their separation, they kept their focus on what was best for their kids. Lorenze added: 'Elizabeth is a really smart loving caring person and he is doing all of this with no regard to his family, 'We have been in touch. Elizabeth has been nothing but supportive of me and she wants me to get my truth out. I cannot thank her enough. 'I feel this is so hard for her, she has been through hell with him.' She concluded: People who know Armie say he already has three new "pets", one aged 19. 'I am worried for her safety. After what happened to me, I cannot imagine what she is going through, even though she may not realize the physical and mental trauma. Lorenze plans to use her platform to support women, who are victims in abusive relationships. Richa Chadha is one of the lucky ones to see her second film releasing in theaters amid the coronavirus scare. After Shakeela, Madam Chief Minister arrives on January 22. She plays the role of a girl from an oppressed community, who, after accidentally entering the world of student politics, rises up the ranks and becomes Chief Minister of a state. How a reformist moulds her and what changes occur in her life also form the part of the narrative. About the kind of reaction she is expecting, Richa says, "It is a very different film for me. I hope people are able to engage with it and find it entertaining. It's been made keeping a commercial point-of-view in mind. If there is a message in the story, if people feel it is an attack on the caste system or oppression of a gender, then it will be a bonus for us." Madam Chief Minister has also become a hot topic of discussion for those seeking representation of marginalised communities, both on and off camera, in projects that concern them directly. Richa compares her movie with those that preceded it and says, "I did not see the same outrage or criticism when my colleagues play someone from an underprivileged background or a certain community. Why am I being set to a higher standard?" To those questioning the choice of cast and representation in her film, Richa says, "Who are these people trying to police an individual's choice about what you can wear or cannot? You can't wear an Ambedkar T-shirt but people can happily carry his posters during protests and at that time it is not termed as appropriation. This film is a learning process for me and it is an ongoing one. By shaming me, it isn't like I can learn any faster." Directed by Subhash Kapoor, Madam Chief Minister has been shot in Lucknow. It also stars Akshay Oberoi, Manav Kaul and Saurabh Shukla. The death has occurred of Fiona CLEMENTS Eadestown, Naas, Kildare / Arklow, Wicklow Sadly missed by her loving daughter Becky, son Leo, parents Joanne and Marcus, sister Selina, brothers Charlie, Nat and Hal, son-in-law Stephen, granddaughters Freya and Mila, aunt Kate, sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, relatives and friends. "Peace Perfect Peace" Due to current Government guidelines regarding public gatherings, a private family funeral will take place in Mount Jerome Crematorium on Saturday afternoon at 2.30pm with web-streaming from there on the link www.mountjerome.ie. 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. The death has occurred of Philip Finlay Canning Place, Newbridge, Kildare / Monasterevin, Kildare Formerly of Monasterevin. Sadly missed by his loving son Emmett and Emmett's partner Michelle, sisters Mai and Jacqueline,, brothers Tony and Christy, brother Mick(R.I.P.), sisters Ann(R.I.P.) and Jane(R.I.P.)brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, relatives, neighbours and friends. May Philip Rest In Peace Funeral Arrangements Later The death has occurred of John Hynes Woodlands, Tipper Road, Naas, Kildare / Athlone, Westmeath Formerly of Athlone, Co. Westmeath. Peacefully at home surrounded by loving family. Sadly missed by his loving wife Mavis, sons Andrew and James, daughters-in-law Jen and Barbara, sisters Mary, Olive, Evelyn and Fiona, brother Tony, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, relatives, neighbours and friends. May John Rest In Peace Funeral Arrangements Later he death has occurred of Mary Jacob (nee Coffey) Allenwood South, Allenwood, Kildare Predeceased by her loving husband Michael. Deeply regretted by her loving family, sons Joe and Bicky, daughters Breda, Nelly, Catherine and Bernadette, sisters, Breed and Chris, sons-in-law, daughters-in-law, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nephews, nieces, neighbours and friends. Mary will be reposing Thursday in her daughter Breda's house. Removal on Friday evening at 6.15pm to arrive at the Church of The Immaculate Conception, Allenwood at 7pm. Burial in Saturday morning after 11am Requiem Mass in Allen Cemetery. May Mary Rest In Peace. Strict Covid restrictions will be in place. All those who wish to join in can do so by clicking on the parish webcam Facebook page. Due to Government advice and restrictions regarding public gatherings and to protect our most vulnerable family members and friends, 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. The death has occurred of Myles Keogh Moyle Abbey, Ballitore, Athy, Kildare Myles Keogh, Moyle Abbey, Ballitore, Athy, Co. Kildare. January 19th 2021 At Naas General Hospital. Beloved Son of the late James and Agnes and brother of the late Jimmy. Sadly missed by his loving Sisters Anne, Agnes and Geraldine and Brothers John and Pat, nieces nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews, relatives and friends. Requiem Mass will take place on Saturday morning, 23rd January, at 11am in The Church of S.s. Mary and Laurence, Crookstown, followed by burial in the adjoining cemetery. Due to to current guidelines regarding public gatherings a private funeral will take place restricted to 10 people in church. Those who would have liked to attend the funeral but due to current guidelines cannot please feel free to leave a message of condolence for Myle's family at the bottom of the page. The funeral mass will be live streamed on http://www.narraghmoreandmoone.ie/ May Myles Rest In Peace The death has occurred of Leslie Naghten Stanaway, Crumlin, Dublin / Athy, Kildare / Banagher, Offaly Retired fire fighter and paramedic (Dolphin's Barn). Deeply regretted and missed by his daughter Gillian and family, his wife Marlene, daughters Emma and Susan , son Barry, brother Alan and sister-in-law Nancy and family. Also remembered by his long term friend Colm Lynch and wife Debbie, nieces, nephews, relatives and friends. Due to government restrictions a private family Requiem Mass will take place at 10am on Friday morning (22nd Janurary) in St. Agnes' Church, Crumlin, limited to 10 people. A private cremation will take place afterwards. The cremation service will be livestreamed at 12 noon, see link www.vimeo.com/event/139693. Those who would have liked to attend the funeral but cannot due to current restrictions may leave a message in the 'Condolences' section below. The 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. The incidents occurred a little more than two hours after a 60-year-old driver had her purse stolen at gunpoint on the 8000 block of Ballard Road, east of Milwaukee Avenue, in Niles, and a 73-year-old woman had her purse stolen, also at gunpoint, in what was described as an attempted carjacking of a Bentley in the garage of a Morton Grove home, several blocks north of Ballard. Boris Johnson: The new strain of coronavirus and the fresh set of crises brought forth by it for the United Kingdom apart, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson hasn't been viewed too positively for his handling of the pandemic, if reports are to be believed. In March he had said that he is shaking hands "continuously" and that he did, in fact, shook hands "with everybody" at a hospital with coronavirus patients. By the end of that month, he had tested positive for the virus, and was hospitalised in April. Ever since, 2020 has been a year of intermittent lockdowns for the UK, with the latest lockdown being imposed after a fast-spreading variant of coronavirus was detected. It is too early to say when the national COVID lockdown in England will end, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Thursday, adding that persistently high infection levels demonstrated how infectious a new variant was. "I think it's too early to say when we'll be able to lift some of some of the restrictions," Johnson told broadcasters. "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." All my adult life Ive had a passion for red meat. Indeed, there is nothing I enjoy more than a thick, juicy steak bien saignant, as the French say good and bloody. So it was that, for many years, Saturday night in the Utley household was steak night, my weekly treat to reward me for bringing home the bacon, as it were. That was until around the time of my semi-retirement in 2018, when Mrs U broke it to me gently that she wasnt, actually, all that keen on steak herself. Although this was a savage blow to me, I cant pretend it came as a complete surprise. After all, she had always preferred her steak bien cuit well done which seemed to me to ruin the point of it. Anyway, ever since then Ive been enough of a gentleman (all right, enough of a coward, terrified of Mrs Us displeasure) to recognise what is required of me. So when its my turn to do the shopping these days, I never buy steak. All my adult life Ive had a passion for red meat. Indeed, there is nothing I enjoy more than a thick, juicy steak bien saignant, as the French say good and bloody Bless her heart, though, she still buys and cooks it once in a while, just to please me. But she eats the tiny piece she prepares for herself with such an insufferable air of saintly martyrdom that I sometimes wish shed feed us something else instead. Ah well, I count myself fortunate that we still have our Sunday roasts ringing the changes between pork, chicken and even occasionally beef. But for how much longer? Veganuary I have to say that it chilled my blood when one of our sons gave her a vegetarian cookbook for Christmas, apparently at her own request. It worries me, too, that at lunchtime throughout lockdown, she has chosen to eat bread and hummus or Sainsburys tomato and red pepper soup, while Ive tucked into my ham sandwiches and pork pies. Is the writing on the wall for me? Will I be doomed to spend however much time is left to me munching miserably on carrots and lettuce leaves, veggie burgers and soya-bean bangers? What is quite clear is that the tide of history is turning against us carnivores. Vegetarian cookbooks are flying off the shelves. Every supermarket in the land now sells special veggie ranges and we meat-eaters are blamed for all manner of evil, from animal cruelty to flirting with heart disease and destroying the planet. (Animals reared for food, apparently, emit countless tons of greenhouse gases from their backsides, while zillions of acres of rainforest have to be cleared every year to provide them with grazing land.) At lunchtime throughout lockdown Ive tucked into my ham sandwiches and pork pies Indeed, just this minute as I write, an umpteenth email has popped into my inbox from a public relations company, informing me of the benefits to be gained from forsaking all animal products not just meat but fish, eggs, butter, milk and proper cheese as well. Hi there, gushes Henrietta Talbot of Spider PR. Im getting in touch with NEW research from Merchant Gourmet showing that eating plant-based meals saves 78 per cent carbon emissions on average in comparison to their meat alternatives . . . The research also shows that 36 per cent would consider taking part in Veganuary, with health (68 per cent) and environment (54 per cent) as the two main factors motivating respondents. And there is another benefit, too, she says. Going vegan could also save you THOUSANDS on your yearly shopping bill, with plant-based meals costing a staggering 40 per cent less than those that contain meat, fish and dairy. Would I like, Henrietta wonders, to try some Merchant Gourmet samples? Frankly, dear Ms Talbot, I cant think of many things Id like less. But please, whatever you do, dont pass on the offer to my wife! This week, we saw yet another straw in the wind when a vegan restaurant became the first of its kind in France to win a star from the gourmets bible, the Michelin Guide. Remarkably, the restaurant in question ONA (which stands for Origine Non-Animale) is in Ares, near Bordeaux, which is perhaps the most carnivorous and seafood-relishing region in a country never noted for its respect for the finer feelings of animals. The South-West of France, after all, is widely regarded as the home of the worlds best foie gras that supreme delicacy, made by force-feeding ducks or geese to distend their livers which even I avoid, on account of the cruelty said to be involved in its production (and, OK, partly also because its so pricey). The fact is that eating meat of any sort is going out of fashion at a quite astonishing rate. Unfashionable Born in 1953, Im quite old enough to remember when vegetarians never mind vegans were seen as wildly cranky, bohemian types who probably went to Stonehenge on Midsummers Day to watch the sunrise and pray to pagan gods. Though it was a mercifully rare occurrence, it was a real pain when someone wed asked to dinner tipped us off that she didnt eat meat. This would mean preparing at least one dish especially for her usually ratatouille, stuffed mushrooms or something equally bothersome (of which vegetarians, I imagine, must have grown heartily sick). Even worse was when the guest arrived without warning us in advance of her vegetarianism, then spent the evening pushing a desultory brussels sprout around her plate, pretending to be having a lovely time. Will I be doomed to spend however much time is left to me munching miserably on carrots and lettuce leaves, veggie burgers and soya-bean bangers? But in the 21st century, all that is changing fast. These days (Im thinking of that distant time before the lockdown, when we were still allowed to entertain friends) it is becoming almost as likely as not that at least one guest at any middle-class dinner party will prefer not to eat meat. How much longer, I wonder, before my love of rare steak becomes as unfashionable and as generally reviled by the bien pensants as some of my other neanderthal tastes and views? For example, I still believe that the British Empire wasnt all bad; that sex is a question of biological fact, not personal choice; that Raphael was a much better artist than Francis Bacon; and that Brexit was, by and large, a good thing. All of which brings me to abortion. Please dont groan, because Im about to argue against myself. And please dont say, as my critics often do, that I have no right to an opinion on the matter, since I am a man. Pleasures As regular readers will be painfully aware, this is the subject about which I feel more strongly than any other. It is also a preoccupation that I share with Mrs U, who (full disclosure) works for the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children. Yes, I know that unwanted pregnancies can cause terrible grief and not just inconvenience. But it has always struck me that the onus is entirely on people who regard abortion as morally acceptable to explain why they think unborn foetuses are not human lives. By any reading of science, surely, that is just what they are. How do they convince themselves that the creature growing in the womb, with all the DNA of a human being, becomes truly human only by some mystical process when it passes through the birth canal? Dont tell me it has anything to do with viability. Thats just sophistry. Im hardly viable myself, in that I wouldnt fancy my chances of survival if others didnt provide me with food and drink. As for my 98-year-old mother-in-law, she wouldnt last a day without support from those who love her and care for her. But that doesnt mean its OK to kill her, surely? My point is that, just as its up to pro-abortionists to explain why they think its all right to kill foetuses I regard as human, the onus is surely on us carnivores to show why we believe its all right to kill cattle, just because we happen to love juicy steaks. Indeed, the more we learn about the astonishing similarities between animals and human beings, the harder I find it to justify eating meat. Though it grieves me deeply to say it, vegetarians and vegans may have a good point. Mind you, Im far too fond of my pleasures to turn vegan myself. But I wish somebody would furnish me with a respectable reason for enjoying my steak without guilt. He's a down-to-earth Hollywood icon. Leonardo DiCaprio, 46, belied his A-list status by opting for comfort over fashion this week when he was spotted to heading to work in Boston. The Oscar-winner sported some sweats and slipped before getting into hair and makeup for a day of filming his upcoming disaster comedy Don't Look Up with Jennifer Lawrence. Off duty: Leonardo DiCaprio, 46, belied his A-list status by opting for comfort over fashion this week when he was spotted to heading to work to film Don't Look Up with Jennifer Lawrence Stepping out in a translucent protective face shield, Leo looked relaxed arriving to set for what would likely shape up to a long day of work. Under the shield, DiCaprio's scruffy brown beard was visible and he looked handsome in black rimmed eyeglasses. The star wore baggy grey sweatpants, a with a white T-shirt and a black puffer coat as well as a pair of navy blue slip on shoes. World renowned for his dramatic work, Leo is planning on flexing his comedic muscles in the upcoming film co-starring Jennifer Lawrence. Low-key: Stepping out in a translucent protective face shield, Leo looked relaxed arriving to set for what would likely shape up to a long day of work with Jen Lawrence and DiCaprio were spotted later in the day on Friday shooting outside in Boston which was actually transformed into New York City for the film. A professorial Leo, looking nothing like his usual heartthrob self, was filmed rushing down the street alongside Jennifer. He was dressed in a beige-toned suit and a blah looking blue plaid button up and some wire rimmed eye glasses. Jen, meanwhile, looked totally different than her real life self, wearing a burgundy wig with ultra short bangs. On set: Lawrence and DiCaprio were spotted later in the day on Friday shooting outside in Boston which was actually transformed into New York City for the film The story follows Kate Dibiasky and Dr. Randall Mindy, described as, 'two low-level astronomers' who are tasked with embarking on a 'giant media tour to warn mankind of an approaching comet that will destroy planet Earth.' It's being produced by Netflix and has been described as a political satire and a disaster comedy. Don't Look Up also stars Rob Morgan, Jonah Hill, Tyler Perry, Timothee Chalamet, Ron Perlman, Cate Blanchett, Meryl Streep, Chris Evans, Ariana Grande and Kid Cudi. Adam McKay directs from his own original screenplay, while also producing alongside Kevin J. Messick. New Leo: World renowned for his dramatic work, Leo is planning on flexing his comedic muscles in the upcoming film which is a political satire and disaster comedy (pictured in 2019) Filming had been scheduled to start in February of 2020 but the coronavirus pandemic forced the production to delay until April. It's expected to wrap up next month. The film is slated for release in 2021 but an exact date hasn't been set yet. Netflix released a brief trailer for the film, focusing on JLaw's character Kate Dibiasky and Leonardo DiCaprio's Dr. Randall Mindy. They're both seen standing at the edge of an empty cargo plane, holding their own roller bags as the bay doors begin to open. Mindy, sporting dark hair and beard with wire-rimmed glasses, shoots a nervous glance towards Dibiasky, a redhead with a nose piercing, who looks calm as can be. The sneak peek ends with both characters walking off of the plane, which will likely be the last sneak peek we'll see for quite some time. Mysteriously Rapid Increase of Chinese Patent Filings Addressed in US Government Report Non-market factors, such as government mandates and subsidies, caused a rapid increase in patent filings in and from China, according to a just-released report from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). In 2019, 1.5 million utility patent applications and 7.8 million trademark applications were filed in China, accounting for nearly half of global totals. In the same year, China also knocked the United States from the top spot in international patent filing for the first time. Behind the rapid growing number of patent filings, the Chinese government, according to the report, plays a big role with government mandates and subsides of various types. The Chinese government establishes patenting targets for state-owned enterprises, universities, public research institutions, and even government officials. The report gives an example that on March 11, 2020, China directed its 128 centrally owned enterprises to double their holdings of U.S. and other foreign patents by 2025. The report also points out that all 31 provinces/municipalities in mainland China have a patent subsidy scheme. For example, the Beijing and Shanghai city governments subsidize about $7,500 for each international patent filing. Since the Chinese government mandates the number, rather than quality, of the patent filings, and since big government subsidies eventually turns patent filing itself into a lucrative business, a large number of patent applications with low quality have fueled the explosion in the quantity of patent filings in and from China in recent years. While the Chinese governments behavior is unusual and hard to understand for most observers, they are actually common sense for people who know how the Chinese government works. Not having been truly elected by the Chinese people, the Chinese regime has been eager to prove its legitimacy. Economic and technical achievements are some of the most important tools the regime has been using to demonstrate its leadership and its legitimacy to govern. The large number of patent filings can be portrayed, without huge difficulty by a government propaganda department, to be a big technical achievement. It also helps fend off the accusations of intellectual property (IP) theft alleged by western countries. Andrei Iancu, USPTO director, in a speech delivered on Jan. 19 at a U.S. Chamber of Commerce event, called to put an end to state-sponsored theft of IP. He emphasized the importance of USPTO efforts to create a broad coalition of partners to elect new, pro-innovation leadership at the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) last year.Last year, Daren Tang, head of Singapores IP office, was eventually elected as WIPOs director-general, following a U.S. campaign against a Chinese candidate. Alexander John has 20-plus years experience working in the intellectual property field and high-tech industries. The proposed development on the RTE campus is made up of apartments, townhouses, cafes and a creche. Planning permission has been quashed for a massive development on part of the RTE campus in Dublin 4 after a judicial review taken by local residents. Last September, developer Cairn Homes secured fast-tracked planning permission for 611 apartments as well as town houses, cafes and childcare facilities on the site. Cairn paid RTE 107.5m for the 8.7 acre site in 2017 - one of the steepest prices paid for property since the boom. Challenge Cairn Homes was granted full planning permission by An Bord Pleanala in September 2020. However, three residents living close to the development applied for and were granted leave for judicial reviews by the High Court. The residents have also taken a constitutional challenge against the Government's Strategic Housing Development planning legislation - which allows for fast-track planning of big residential schemes. Yesterday An Bord Pleanala advised the High Court that it will consent to an order quashing the decision to grant the planning permission due to a recently identified internal administrative issue relating to its processing of the application. Cairn Homes has said the Montrose scheme was not due to begin work this year and it is expected to reapply for the same planning - the details of which were not at issue. The developer originally planned to build around 500 units on the site but, as part of a successful pre-planning consultation with An Bord Pleanala that concluded in 2019, increased the scope of its design and layout. Applying under the State's strategic housing rules - permitted for proposed developments offering more than 100 residential units - can bypass local authority scrutiny and receive a quicker ruling. The proposed development includes 611 apartments, three townhouses, two cafes and a creche. A protected structure, Mount Errol House, would be converted into a residential facility and public space, while adjoining stables would become a cafe. Bloomberg (Bloomberg) -- A century after automakers showed the world the value of assembly-line manufacturing, a shortage of semiconductors is teaching the industry a painful new lesson in what it takes to build a car.For most of its history, the industry has relied on a distinct approach to buying car parts, procuring components from suppliers right at the moment theyre needed. Its referred to as just-in-time manufacturing and is designed to streamline production and eliminate the costs of keeping warehouses stocked with parts waiting to be used.But the shortcomings of that system were made starkly clear this year as the automakers confronted a dearth of the chips they need to build advanced functions into their vehicles, and found themselves near the bottom of chipmakers customer lists because of their just-in-time approach. That shortage is threatening to cut $110 billion in sales from the industry, and forcing auto manufacturers to overhaul the way they get the electronic components that have become critical to contemporary car design.Customers need to change, said Hassane El-Khoury, chief executive officer of ON Semiconductor Corp., which gets more than a third of its revenue from the automotive market. That just-in-time mindset doesnt work.Semiconductor makers are demanding guaranteed, long-term orders rather than the short-term flexibility the carmakers are used to. The chipmakers assertiveness, even under pressure from lawmakers, underscores the rebalancing of power from the companies whose logos are on the cars to those that provide the advanced technology that runs them.As these components play a bigger role in everything from in-car entertainment to self-driving functions, chip manufacturers say theyre willing to invest in expanding production to head off a repeat of shortages that have forced the industry to mothball factories and furlough workers -- if the carmakers give them orders that cant be canceled and commit to long-term agreements.Why would I have invested a single dollar when my customer can cancel within 30 days and it takes me two years to build capacity? ON Semiconductors El-Khoury said.There are signs the industry is listening. Last week, Ford Motor Co. Chief Executive Officer Jim Farley indicated a new willingness to reverse decades of outsourcing for parts.As the industry changes, we have to in-source now, just like we in-sourced powertrains in the 20s and 30s, said Farley, who has shut down half his factories and seen his dealers lots emptying because of a dearth of chips.Most components used by the auto industry are part of a discrete food chain, and carmakers are at the top, able to orchestrate their suppliers actions in a system that delivers them a set of components that can be put together quickly and cheaply into a finished vehicle. Electronics makers, whove fared much better in the chip supply crunch, regard semiconductors as essential systems, and they work directly with chipmakers to secure products and often design their devices around the chips themselves.Automakers can no longer assume the dominance of an 800-pound gorilla in negotiations with chip companies and battery makers, said Mark Wakefield, head of the auto practice at consultancy AlixParters.Pioneered by Toyota Motor Corp. in the 1960s, just-in-time is a system where components suppliers are required to turn up with whatever the carmakers want at the last possible moment in a process that pares costs to the very minimum.That strategy has served the industry well, saving money and helping it organize a system for sourcing the 40,000 or so components that go into a modern vehicle, many of which can be made in a matter of days. But semiconductors -- the heart of sensors, engine management and battery controllers, infotainment and eventually systems that will pilot vehicles -- are created in a process that takes months. And building and equipping a factory to produce them requires years.Todays cars contain an average of 1,400 semiconductors -- and that puts the chipmakers at an advantage. Fords Farley said hes now negotiating contracts directly with chipmakers -- bypassing his traditional auto suppliers -- while building up inventory of the precious pieces and even redesigning models to accommodate the semiconductor companies.We have learned a lot through this crisis that can be applied to many critical components, Farley told analysts last month as he announced Ford would lose half its production in the second quarter and take a $2.5 billion hit to earnings this year, citing a lack of chips. Were also thinking about what this means for the world of batteries and silicon and all sorts of other components that are really mission critical for our company.Ford is not alone in seeking solutions that upend long-time industry practices. Automakers from General Motors Co. to Volkswagen AG to Tesla Inc. are looking for ways to get closer to the chipmaking process, which could include forming partnerships with semiconductor companies, bringing chipmaking in-house and even building their own foundries. Nothing is off the table.Cars are only going to get more technical and theyre going to need more chips, said Sam Fiorani, vice president of vehicle forecasting at consultant AutoForecast Solutions. All of the vehicle manufacturers are looking at every possible scenario for getting it solved for the long-term.But according to some chipmakers, the auto industry has embraced new technology but failed to understand those that supply it.There is a huge difference between manufacturing a car and manufacturing a chip, said Kurt Sievers, CEO of NXP Semiconductor NV, the biggest maker of auto chips. Weve been working for years closely with the auto OEMs directly when it comes to R&D and innovation -- however, not at all for supply chain and volume forecasting.Sievers said the chip industry wants specific forecasts that stretch out in years and binding commitments to buy chips that last that long. The way automakers, referred to as original equipment manufacturers or OEMs, and semiconductor vendors work together needs to change, he said.And the car companies have little choice but to do so. Consumers are increasingly choosing vehicles based on functions such as connectivity, entertainment and advanced automated safety features. The auto industry is steadily shifting away from gasoline to battery power. All of that requires more chips.Its no longer this subsystem that no one cares about, said Victor Peng, CEO of Xilinx Inc. a chipmaker whose products are uses in advanced driver-assistance systems. The electronics is really going to shape the customer experience.The semiconductor industry has plenty of other orders to fill. In 2020 automakers bought almost $40 billion worth of chips, little changed from the prior year, even amid the crash of the pandemic. By comparison, the computer industry bought 17% more chips than it did in 2019, for a total of $160 billion. Phone makers, meantime, provided the chip industry with $137 billion in revenue, a jump of 12%.Earlier this year, automakers lobbied U.S. lawmakers to intervene to help them with the shortage, arguing that chipmakers were unfairly prioritizing customers building less important consumer electronics over cars. The automakers argue their industry creates more than 7 million jobs in America and is critical to national security. And theyve found a sympathetic ear in President Joe Biden, who was supported by the United Auto Workers in the 2020 election, and is working to help the auto industry navigate the chip crisis.Still, consumer electronics buys $20 billion more chips a year than the auto industry, and Big Tech has plenty of clout in Washington, too.Chipmakers are also in no hurry to add new factories to meet this years chip rush. Though 2020 was a good year and 2021 is shaping up to be even better, they dont have to look back very far to be reminded of the difficulties of matching supply with short-term fluctuations in demand. In 2019 industry sales shrank 12% as customers slashed orders to work through stockpiles.Many investors and analysts are already concerned that what now looks like insatiable demand is customers double-ordering: asking for twice the amount they need so they can at least get the number they want. In the past, such heavy ordering has proved to foreshadow industry gluts, with demand eventually easing and buyers tapping the brakes as they worked down accumulated inventory.We came out of 2018 guns blazing, everybody hoarded, and then 2019 was an awful year of demand because they already had chips, said ON Semiconductors El Khoury. Here we are today with people looking at us and asking, why havent you invested?The type of chip automakers want also works against them. Much of what they use -- things such as sensors and power regulators -- can be made on whats called lagging nodes, or production technology that hasnt been state-of-the-art for years. While that makes it cheaper, chipmakers are reluctant to expand capacity of technology thats closer to being obsolete.The chips that the automotive industry uses are older than the ones youd find in your cell phones or in your video games, said AutoForecast Solutions Fiorani. That makes them less of a priority to the companies that produce them.Fiorani said carmakers would be better served forming joint ventures with chipmakers to tap their expertise and lock down a dependable source of supply. But doing that would involve going around traditional suppliers such as Continental AG and Robert Bosch AG and turning back the clock to a more expensive time when companies like Ford had to deal with suppliers for raw materials.Some auto suppliers are already taking steps to make sure they dont get cut out. Parts supplier Robert Bosch is opening a new chip factory in Dresden that it says is the first of its kind dedicated to manufacturing semiconductors for automotive uses. Still, some automakers are already talking openly about cutting out those middlemen in order to keep up with the speed of change.We will be the one who has the commercial relationship with the chipmaker, Volvo Cars CEO Hakan Samuelsson said at a mobility conference in Tel Aviv this month. When we want a change and you have to talk to suppliers, it is too slow.Fords Farley said hes consulted with tech companies and discovered how common it is in other industries to keep buffer stock and to buy directly from chip manufacturers.Even if the company still buys the components with chips on them from a supplier, they still negotiated a direct deal, he told analysts, describing something thats common practice for companies like Apple Inc. Ford learned that nine of its tier-one component suppliers rely on just one Renesas Electronics Corp. factory in Japan for chips, a plant that suffered a fire, he said.Some automakers have made rapid progress in understanding their newer suppliers and are negotiating long-term deals. Others are sticking to the belief that they can dictate how their suppliers should act, according to ON Semiconductors El-Khoudry.Learning from their current difficulties is the key to turning around the current crisis and avoiding the next, according to Xilinxs Peng. Toyota, the inventor of just-in-time, said it expects to return to pre-pandemic levels of profitability as soon as this year, helped by factories that continue to churn out vehicles because the company made the decision to accumulate stockpiles of chips.People have to think differently or theyre going to be left behind, Peng 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. Denzel Washington said he's not worried about getting older. Nor is he envious of the leading men lining up behind him (his son John David Washington is in the queue). And he doesn't care if he no longer cuts the svelte figure he did when Geena Davis handed him his first Oscar statuette three decades ago. He is happy, he said, to be the 'over-the-hill fat guy'. When I mentioned to my son's girlfriend that I was interviewing the 66-year-old Hollywood legend about his new film, psychological thriller The Little Things, her reaction was not what you'd expect for a chat with an over-the-hill fat guy. Denzel Washington said he's not worried about getting older. Nor is he envious of the leading men lining up behind him (his son John David Washington is in the queue) Did she, I wondered, still consider him ... hot? 'Oh yeah!' came back the response. More so, she added, now he's older. I relayed that sentiment back to Washington. 'She means from what she remembers of me in the earlier films, right?' he asked. No, I said. She saw you in August Wilson's Fences, opposite Viola Davis. 'Really?' he mused. 'I was overweight in Fences.' And then he cracked up. 'I've finally made it as an over-the-hill fat guy...and they still love me!' He paused. 'Either that, or they just feel sorry for me.' I seriously doubt it. In a career stretching back nearly 50 years, Washington has pretty much done it all from starring in medical drama St. Elsewhere on television to Tony Award wins on Broadway and two Academy Awards. 'She means from what she remembers of me in the earlier films, right?' he asked. No, I said. She saw you in August Wilson's Fences, opposite Viola Davis (above). 'Really?' he mused. 'I was overweight in Fences.' And then he cracked up In a career stretching back nearly 50 years, Washington has pretty much done it all. He is pictured above playing Frank Lucas in American Gangster (2007) with Lymari Nadal as Eva The first was for Glory, in which he played a former slave who joins the ranks of the first black infantry regiment fighting for the Union side in the Civil War; the second for his utterly corrupt detective in Training Day. And in John Lee Hancock's neo-noir psychological crime thriller The Little Things, he's on top form again, playing Joe Deacon ('Deke'), a uniformed policeman with, as Hancock put it, 'a lot of haunting darkness that follows him like a cloud'. Elsewhere on television to Tony Award wins on Broadway and two Academy Awards, including the second for his utterly corrupt detective in Training Day On a routine official visit to his old police station, Deke becomes caught up in a series of killings being investigated by a detective played by Rami Malek. Another important role is taken by Jared Leto. 'It absolutely energised me, having those two on the film,' Washington said of his younger co-stars (both Oscar winners themselves). 'I'm like: 'Uh-oh. I'd better read the script,' he quipped, quickly adding: 'Obviously joking!' Washington seems to take genuine delight in the success of the next generation he said he found it 'inspiring' and he is clearly proud of his son, John David (so good in Tenet, BlacKkKlansman and scorching upcoming Netflix film Malcolm & Marie, with Zendaya). But he saved special praise for the late Chadwick Boseman, whom he worked with when he produced Ma Rainey's Black Bottom Boseman's last film. He was, Washington said, a 'brave man' for keeping details of his illness secret when they filmed. 'He kept it to himself, and didn't complain,' he told me. Even though, by that stage, 'he knew he wasn't going to make it'. In The Little Things, Washington demonstrates that he's still got that Denzel magic. In one scene, he has to clamber up a drainpipe and run across a rooftop. When I dared to suggest that he might be past doing that kind of thing, he agreed. 'There comes a time in one's life where you're just not the guy running across the rooftop. 'I said to Rami: 'You go run across the rooftop!' ' Denzel Washington is pictured above playing Malcolm X in the 1992 film. These days he also produces and directs. In fact, he was calling from the set of a new film he's directing called A Journal For Jordan Denzel Washington is pictured above with Tom Hanks in Philadelphia (1993) And yet, he did the scene. Director Hancock said: 'I kept expecting Denzel to say we're doing the scene in a different way.' Stunt co-ordinators were on standby, prepared to have a safe rooftop built in the studio for him to stagger over. But no. Washington got up onto a real roof (a stunt double did the long shots). 'Hopefully it was age-appropriately awkward,' Hancock said. 'Because he's not 25-year-old Joe Deacon or 25-year-old Denzel Washington. So he had to be seen to struggle up there.' Washington laughed and said though maybe not so nimble, he's still capable of delivering 'the good stuff'. And not just in front of the cameras. These days he also produces and directs. In fact, he was calling from the set of a new film he's directing called A Journal For Jordan, based on an article by Dana Canedy called From Father To Son, Last Words To Live By, about letters her soldier husband wrote for his son. That film stars Michael B. Jordan, who was villain Erik Killmonger in Black Panther alongside Boseman. He's 33 'and he's incredible', Washington said. The Little Things will be released in the UK this spring. (It will be shown on HBO Max and in U.S. cinemas from January 29.) 1. Yes. The public must have assurances that ethical standards are met by everyone. 2. Yes. As long as an independent board hears the grievances, its a worthwhile idea. 3. No. The concept is too broad. It should be limited to the citys elected officials. 4. No. There are plenty of stipulations in place already. An ordinance is a waste of time. 5. Unsure. Its hard to say without seeing how it would be structured and applied. Vote View Results A San Antonio police officer and Bexar County sheriff's deputy have died from COVID-19, according to officials. The police officer, who has not been identified, had been with the San Antonio Police Department since 1985. Mayor Ron Nirenberg noted his death during a briefing about the virus Thursday evening. We've lost too many of our neighbors and friends and family members to this virus," said Nirenberg. "I also want you to join us in mourning the loss of one of our SAPD veteran officers today as well from COVID-19. So please keep our entire city family in your prayers." During a news conference Friday, Sheriff Javier Salazar said Jesse Zamarron, a 23-year veteran of the sheriff's Office, died earlier that day. He was 68 and is survived by two adult children. According to Salazar, he was exposed to a COVID-positive family member in late December and placed on leave as a precaution. He tested negative for the virus on Jan. 4, tested positive on Jan. 11 and was admitted to hospital on Jan. 13. While Zamarron had been scheduled to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, he did not get the shot before he was exposed to the virus. Officials are waiting for a ruling from the Medical Examiner's Office but believe the virus was a contributing factor in his death. There are currently 77 inmates infected with COVID-19 at the Bexar County jail, for a cumulative total of 1,161. Early in the pandemic, state officials were not accepting local inmates to the state prison system, which may have contributed to the spread of the virus at the jail. That has changed, and the number of inmates awaiting transfer has returned to pre-COVID levels. As of Friday, 52 detention deputies had the virus, along with 12 law enforcement deputies and 11 civilian employees. Since the beginning of the pandemic, 307 detention deputies, 71 law enforcement deputies and 67 civilian employees have tested positive. Most of the deputies who have contracted the virus recently were exposed by family members, Salazar said. He warned that San Antonio residents could be most vulnerable at home, where they think they're safest. On Thursday, officials reported 2,507 new infections and 17 deaths in San Antonio. To date, the virus has killed at least 1,857 residents. 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. Police have revisited the scene of an arson attack at a property used by the Belfast Multi-Cultural Association. A fundraising campaign launched following the fire last Friday at the charitys premises on Donegall Pass has raised more than 69,000 to help them continue their work. Police are investigating the attack as a racially motivated hate crime. The building was being used as a food bank, with volunteers distributing packages to vulnerable people during the Covid-19 pandemic. Chief Inspector Gavin Kirkpatrick said: As part of our investigation, which has included door to door enquiries, community engagement and a review of CCTV, we are continuing to appeal for information. Officers on Thursday night were stopping and speaking with motorists and any pedestrians who may have been in the area at the same time last week to see if anyone has any information that could help identify those involved. Expand Close Police carry out follow up enquiries following a fire at the Multi Cultural Association on Donegal Pass on January 21st 2021 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Police carry out follow up enquiries following a fire at the Multi Cultural Association on Donegal Pass on January 21st 2021 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) The PSNI said officers were in appropriate PPE and mindful of current regulations to keep themselves and the public safe. Chief Inspector Kirkpatrick added: I am also grateful to the independent charity Crimestoppers, who are offering a reward of up to 5,000 to anyone providing information directly and anonymously to Crimestoppers which leads to the arrest and conviction of any person or persons linked to this incident. This fire, which resulted in serious damage to the building, took place on Thursday evening, 14 January. Its believed the fire was started deliberately, and we are treating it as a hate crime. Those who worked in or volunteered in the centre were providing much needed support to the local community. This criminal incident is unacceptable and we are working tirelessly to identify those responsible and put them before the courts. Expand Close Police carry out follow up enquiries following a fire at the Multi Cultural Association on Donegal Pass on January 21st 2021 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Police carry out follow up enquiries following a fire at the Multi Cultural Association on Donegal Pass on January 21st 2021 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) It comes as a Belfast City Council committee has also agreed to engage with the Waterfront Hall to allow the BMCA temporary accommodation. Green Party Councillor Anthony Flynn forwarded a motion at the Belfast Waterfront and Ulster Hall Ltd Shareholders Committee meeting this week. The committee agreed, and it will go now to the full council in February for ratification. Councillor Flynn said: This was a disgusting attack on an association doing good work for people across our city. Just hours before the arson attack, volunteers were working within the BMCA premises to put together food parcels for others within our community. Expand Close Police carry out follow up enquiries following a fire at the Multi Cultural Association on Donegal Pass on January 21st 2021 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Police carry out follow up enquiries following a fire at the Multi Cultural Association on Donegal Pass on January 21st 2021 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Its right that our council shows solidarity with the staff and volunteers of the BMCA and by extension, black and minority ethnic people across the city. I have suggested that council officers explore the feasibility of making the Ulster Hall or Waterfront Hall available to the BMCA on a temporary basis. The council is exploring the idea at present and continuing to engage with the BMCA on what their needs are, as they attempt to get back on their feet and continue their vital work. Im really encouraged by how our city and its citizens have responded to this horrible attack. Those who carried out the attack dont represent us the outpouring of support since Friday shows the true spirit and nature of the people of our city. The motion reads: This council recognises the important work of the Belfast Multi Cultural Association in delivering vital services to communities across Belfast, and expresses its solidarity after the racist attacks on their premises. Expand Close Police carryout followup enquiries following a fire at the Multi Cultural Association on Donegal Pass on January 21st 2021 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Police carryout followup enquiries following a fire at the Multi Cultural Association on Donegal Pass on January 21st 2021 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) A statement on the BMCA Facebook page expressed thanks for the outpouring of support. This past week we have received a lot of support. We want you all to know we are greatly touched, it read. BMCA has promised to keep doing what we have been doing. Whilst we do not have our communal space to congregate and to offer support to each other. We are doing our best to ensure the people we engage with are supported as best as possible. Quoting the American Poet Laureate Amanda Gormans performance at this weeks Presidential inauguration, the statement added: There is always light if only were brave enough to see it, if only were brave enough to be it. Anyone with information can contact the PSNI on 101 quoting 1626 of 14/01/21. Or via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 Bluebell Capital has piled pressure on Danone CEO Emmanuel Faber An activist investor has added to the pressure at Danone which is embarking on a transformation strategy by chairman and chief executive Emmanuel Faber by calling for the CEO to step down. Simon Harvey assesses whether the proposals are valid. Views are emerging the time might be right for Danone chairman and chief executive Emmanuel Faber to step down after a number of years of fairly stagnant top-line sales and, more recently, a drop in profits, too. And the pressure is building with an activist investor appearing on the scene in the form of London-based hedge fund Bluebell Capital Partners, which took an undisclosed stake in the French food giant soon after the fund's formation in November last year, and is calling for change. Top of the list is the removal of Faber as chief executive, and the separation of the chairman and CEO functions, requests put forward by Bluebell in a letter to Danone's management. "If the CEO is also the chairman, that means the CEO sets the agenda for the group of people that are meant to hold him to account. Clearly, there is a conflict," Bruno Monteyne, an analyst at US investment bank AllianceBernstein, tells just-food. "Having an independent chairman ensures that the board can more easily decide what they want to review and discuss ...That in turn makes it more likely that if/when a particular strategy isn't working, the board can find out more quickly and take remedial action more quickly." And AllianceBernstein believes time is starting to run out for Faber as CEO, a role to which he was promoted in 2014. "We would think there is at most one year left. Obviously if results improve materially, then there could be many more years left," Monteyne says. Danone's board reviews the CEO/chairmanship set-up annually, with the last conducted in 2020, and members take a "pragmatic" approach to the dual roles, a source familiar with the situation told just-food, adding there are no plans to make a change at this stage. In a response to the public pronouncements from Bluebell earlier this week, a snippet from Danone's statement read: "The leadership team of the company is highly focused on delivering long-term sustainable value for our shareholders. We value constructive dialogue with all our shareholders." Meanwhile, Bluebell didn't respond to a request for comment on more detailed information behind its proposals. Deflated shares Faber has recognised Danone is behind the curve with respect to its peers. In November, when the CEO unveiled a new strategy dubbed Reinventing Danone, he said: "Many of them [peers] have gone through heavy restructuring and significant reorganisation plans over the last five, two, three years, and we have not. And it is high time we do." Nevertheless, members of the investment community, including Bluebell, were not overly impressed by Faber's new strategy, which is designed to reinvigorate margins and breathe more life into sales and net profits. At its core, the plan is to focus on innovation through six new geographically-centred business zones at the same time as eliminating around 2,000 underperforming SKUs, or about 20% of the portfolio, as well as the prospect of up to 2,000 job cuts through a cost-cutting exercise. At the heart of the concerns is the deflated share price linked to Danone's recent financial performance, which has undermined investor confidence in the Alpro and Activia brand owner, and the CEO himself. The stock was trading at EUR54.72 today, relatively flat on the year so far but down 25% in the past 12 months. Even five years ago, the shares were not far off what they are today at EUR59.61. Those sort of valuations leave Danone open to a takeover, according to investment bank and financial service firm Stifel, and that pressure intensifies the longer management fails to act in disposing of underperforming assets. "Danone has suffered many years of operational disappointments, sending its relative valuation to historical lows versus its peers," Stifel analyst Alain Oberhuber wrote in a research note this month. "We believe Danone is now close to triggering long overdue change, either on its own accord or under activist pressure." Frequent management changes over the past 18 months also tend to undermine confidence in Danone and its leadership, Oberhuber tells just-food. CFO Cecile Cabanis and Francisco Camacho, who was the executive vice president of the international division of the Essential Dairy and Plant-Based (EDP) business, have recently departed executive roles. However, in a surprise move, Cabanis, who stepped down in October, has been appointed vice chair of the board in a non-executive capacity. AllianceBernstein's Monteyne wrote in a research note: "Danone management is starting to lose control over the investment story. Management wants to engage on the new structure, cost-cutting and soon engage investors on how to drive growth. Instead of keeping the focus on 'can/will this work', the debate will shift towards 'how long can the CEO last what does he need to do push this away'? "That will be unhelpful for keeping the company focused. Maybe having the ex-CFO stay as vice-chairman may be useful after all." "Muddling through" Stifel has painted four possible avenues Danone could take but, ultimately, Oberhuber agrees the departure of Faber would be a valid proposition. However, Faber is most likely to stay as chief executive and nominate a chairman, although investors and activists will be more inclined to press for his removal, Oberhuber says. "Muddling through" is Danone's most likely course, according to Stifel, which it puts at 40% odds, followed by the divestment of "all" underperforming assets (30%) the 'X scenario' and then the disposal of "all" of Danone's waters business (20%), dubbed the 'waterfall scenario'. The final and less likely outcome (10%) is what the financial services company deems as the activist scenario, where Danone becomes an investment target and the business gets split up, with competitors waiting eagerly on the sidelines to take up those opportunities. "We conclude that while a status quo would keep shares under pressure, the risk-reward for more widespread action appears very appealing, and while the downside looks limited," Oberhuber wrote in his note to clients, adding Danone's management maybe unwilling to sell off all of the water business. "Therefore, we see a higher probability that Danone could be willing to make even deeper cuts to the portfolio. We find the 'X' or the 'waterfall' scenario the most interesting from an investor risk-reward perspective." At the end of the day, the share price is the contentious issue and "there are a lot of weaknesses in the portfolio that they should get rid of", Oberhuber tells just-food, many of which have been "a drag for many years". Jon Cox, an analyst at finance house Kepler Cheuvreux, has a mixed view. "Danone has what I regard as the healthiest portfolio in diversified food and it has strong environmental and sustainability credentials. However, it has not been able to really leverage that great position to deliver on a consistent basis and there is some fatigue among investors." Stifel has gone to some length to point out potential disposal targets, which it estimates could raise as much as EUR2.6bn (US$3.1bn), including EUR1.7bn from "some underperforming assets" in water, and EUR400m from dairy brands, where it expects "only smaller divestments in EDP" but, excluding key brands like Activia, Danone and Actimel. "Smaller" disposals in underperforming infant-formula brands could reap another EUR1.85bn, while finding a buyer for the Vega brand, which Danone put under review last year, along with its Argentina business, could bring in EUR100m, Stifel estimates. If Danone comes good on its commitment to trim less productive SKUs, then it can "absolutely" achieve its margin targets but, should Faber adopt the so-called muddling through approach, then margins and organic sales could be put at risk, Oberhuber says. Lagging peers Danone's financial performance came under the spotlight when it reported like-for-like sales fell 1.6% in the first nine months of its current fiscal year and margins dropped to 14%. "The margin this year is not going in the right direction, and there is no way we can reconstruct our agenda without a significant margin improvement in the years to come," Faber said when those results were reported in October. The Cow & Gate baby-food owner is aiming for a recurring profit margin above 15% in 2022, from the expected 14% for the current year, which would only put it on par with the 2019 print of 15.2%, albeit above the 13.85% average seen from 2015 through 2018. And a mid-term target of "mid to high teens" would only put the margin around the 15-16% area. Meanwhile, sales have been chugging along, growing on a like-for-like basis of 2.5% or slightly above from 2015 to 2019, below a mid-term target of 3-5%. And net profits have been on the decline, falling 17.9% in 2019, based on sales of EUR25.3bn, and they were down 4.1% the previous year. "Our margin has expanded faster than ever but it is still lagging behind a series of our peers," Faber said in November when he announced the restructuring programme, which also seeks to realise EUR1bn in cost-savings by 2023, with a plan to reinvest 20-25%. "The share price is not where we believe it should be," he complained. And the performance is a concern for Bluebell too, which cited "a poor operational record and questionable capital allocation choices", behind its decision to press for change. Cox at Kepler Cheuvreux says: "The company has a new margin improvement plan and execution on that plan is going to be key for the current team. The company has said all of its portfolio is up for review as part of the new plan. "I would expect piecemeal disposals of businesses and lines that are not contributing to growth and profitability but not an outright disposal of any of its divisions. I suspect there will be disposals in parts of water where its portfolio is more commoditised, and a similar thing for dairy." What might a new CEO bring? Monteyne says Faber is too engrossed on cost-cutting, Danone's responsibilities related to environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG), including its status as a B-corp business, and reorganising the company. The "main thing is to reset priorities", he tells just-food. A new chief should be focused on growth, while "being ESG-responsible". "Invest the cost-cutting into higher brand support, more innovative products, and more support for growth," he says. Elaborating on the theme, Monteyne wrote in a research commentary, which highlighted the difficulties Danone is having in China in relation to its infant-nutrition sales amid a reduction in tourism linked to Covid-19: "In the short term, discussion of a potential CEO change drives up the shares. However, that will be short-lived. The reason the results are disappointing is because the company is in such difficult categories, with weak brands and accumulated under investments in brands and innovation, with a strategy that is (wrongly) focused on margin expansion through cost-cutting. "A potential new CEO might quickly build on the H1 margin cut, and lead to lower margins and potentially painful M&A to rectify past issues or to deal with China infant nutrition. It may be years of pain before investors will know whether that new plan is any better than the old one." Asset disposals under Stifel's 'X recommendation' "would have a positive impact on growth, margins and returns, leading to a focus on higher growth brands", Oberhuber wrote, adding his firm has price target of EUR76 a share on Danone. "We conclude that the 'X' scenario would clearly improve the attractiveness of the company and would lead to a fair value of EUR76 per share. We highlight that in our 'X' scenario, Danone would have a significant improvement of its operating free-cash flow of around 10% per annum. As a consequence, returns would see a strong improvement and warrant higher valuation multiples." Danone, and in the same breath Faber, have shown they are serious about addressing the current issues with the recent formation of a strategy and transformation committee to support the new initiatives. And it will be "in charge of monitoring progress on [the] portfolio review and execution of the growth and efficiency plan" under the leadership of Benoit Potier, who will retire from the board after 18 years in April. For now, eyes will be on Faber's future and his success in executing the new strategy but having an activist investor on the sidelines pressing for change could lead to a period of uncertainty, as Danone rival Nestle itself found out a few years ago. Plans to expand on-campus activities at Cleveland State Community College are underway for Fall 2021. With COVID-19 vaccinations rolling out nationwide, the college is developing strategies to hopefully return to a more face-to-face educational option later this year. After leading the way with educational adjustments due to COVID-19 in 2020, more courses are now offered online than ever before by the Tennessee Board of Regents institution. Plans are being developed to lead the way to a more physical return to campus life at Cleveland State. The implementation of these plans are dependent on the success of the nations vaccination efforts. We have been very successful in doing our part to help fight the virus this past year," said Dr. Bill Seymour, president of Cleveland State Community College. "Now, we are planning carefully in preparation for a balanced and more traditional fall semester in 2021." The Spring 2021 semester for Cleveland State is now underway. With a majority of the colleges courses being offered this semester in an online or hybrid fashion, the popularity of this style of education definitely has administrators developing ways to continue the remote instructional options long after a traditional return to campus takes place. An added tool also in place this term is the Short Term Class option; seven-week long classes available online and on-campus. As for any business with the colleges Admission Office, Financial Aid Office, Student Success Center, Bookstore, and other administrative functions, office hours are available from 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Monday through Thursday. Staff and faculty serve the students and the community remotely on Fridays and are available from 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. via phone and e-mail. Providing every student with many options to control their future is a priority, added Dr. Seymour. We hope to return to a level of engagement that is closer to what we had before the pandemic. Although plans for fall will hopefully see the reduction of mask and social distancing mandates, the colleges current Phase IV Return To Campus plan still requires all students, employees, and visitors to wear masks and be socially-distant at all times. This plan also requires the continued participation in a short health screening survey available at MyCS.cc/c19q. Those planning to enroll in the upcoming summer or fall semesters at Cleveland State, the deadline to apply is May 19. Apply now at MyCS.cc/ApplyNow. For the very latest on how Cleveland State is dealing with the virus, please visit MyCS.cc/COVID19. For more information on Cleveland State Community College, call 472-7141 or visit the college at ClevelandStateCC.edu. Students are currently enrolled online and on-campus through the CSCC main campus in Cleveland, as well as CSCCs Athens Center in Athens, Tn. and Monroe County Center in Vonore, Tn. Nigeria recorded 1,964 new COVID-19 cases on Monday its highest ever daily case count, overturning its previous record of 1,664 daily infections reported on January 7. The latest figure, recorded in 24 states across the country, has raised the total number of infections to 116,655. While the high numbers of cases and deaths may be in part due to a marginal improvement in testing, health experts believe the relaxing of guard, weak enforcement of protocols especially in the countrys two major airports in Abuja and Lagos and massive gatherings that proceeded the new year were responsible for the spike. The death tally from the COVID-19 disease in Nigeria increased to 1,485 with seven additional deaths reported Thursday, according to an update by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) Thursday night. As Nigeria continues to record more coronavirus infections during this second wave of infection, the direct adverse impact has been more fatalities, a situation health officials blamed on the late referral of patients. Within the last five days, a total of 65 lives have been lost to COVID-19 complications in Nigeria. On Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday 15, 14, 15, and 14 daily deaths were recorded respectively. Last Friday, Nigeria announced its deadliest day of the pandemic with 23 lives lost, the countrys highest daily fatality toll. In the past four weeks, there have been over 200 fatalities from COVID-19 complications in Nigeria. Second wave 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 in oxygen supply in some of the foremost isolation centres in the country. On Thursday, the federal government approved over N6 billion for the provision of oxygen tanks in 38 places across Nigeria. 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 116, 000 cases so far, 93, 646 patients have been discharged from hospitals after treatment. Specifics The 1,964 new cases were reported from 24 states Lagos (824), FCT (246), Plateau (166), Kaduna (128), Ogun (76), Nasarawa (74), Anambra (69), Edo (50), Rivers (45), Ondo (44), Niger (40), Oyo (38), Adamawa (35), Kano (31), Akwa Ibom (27), Gombe (19), Kwara (13), Ekiti (12), Delta (6), Kebbi (6), Bauchi (5), Ebonyi (4), Osun (3), and Zamfara (1). Lagos, again led with 824 new cases on Thursday, nearly half of the daily tally. The commercial city is Nigerias coronavirus epicentre with a total of over 43,000 confirmed cases and over 280 deaths. The Minister of State for Health, Olorunnimbe 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. ADVERTISEMENT So far, Nigeria has conducted over 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. Lewis Hamilton is "at a crossroads" in his Formula 1 career, according to a well known F1 commentator. Alexey Popov, the voice of Russian broadcaster Match TV's coverage, said the seven time world champion is now the focus of media attention as his long-delayed contract negotiations with Mercedes reportedly stall. "The British press writes about him every day," he told his podcast. "The Italians, the Dutch too. Eddie Jordan says he wouldn't take it, Ecclestone has talked about it. Everyone is trying to figure out what he wants," Popov added. Hamilton is reportedly not only demanding a pay-rise, he wants a share in the political and financial power of the dominant Mercedes team too, Popov said. "The head of Ineos, Ratcliffe, is also a sir, as is Hamilton now," said the Russian. "Lewis probably thinks that if Mercedes can't pay him in full, Ratcliffe - one of the richest men in the UK - will cover the difference." Former F1 driver Christijan Albers this week said the affair is hurting Hamilton's image - and could even cost the 36-year-old driver his plum seat. "Try to explain to the CEO of Daimler, one of the largest automakers in the world, why Lewis Hamilton is so special when George Russell is squeezed into a seat he doesn't fit in and performs like that," he told De Telegraaf. "Surely it makes Ola Kallenius think 'What's going on there?' If Lewis had signed four months ago, this wouldn't have happened. It's the risk he has taken in asking for more money," said Albers. Respected F1 writer Pino Allievi, however, has joined former F1 supremo Ecclestone in thinking that the contract affair is "just a show with a happy ending". "We might assume that an agreement was already reached in Abu Dhabi," he told Italy's Autosprint. "Do you really think a major player like Ineos would enter the market without the guarantee of Hamilton's contract extension?" (GMM) LONDON - British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Friday that the variant of the coronavirus first detected in England - and spreading around the world, including in the United States - "may be associated with a higher degree of mortality." The new strain was already known to be more infectious than the original virus. Studies have suggested it is 30 to 70 percent more transmissible. At a Friday news briefing at 10 Downing Street, Johnson and his advisers gave the first indication that the strain might also be more deadly. England's chief scientific adviser, Patrick Vallance, offered an example. He said that among 1,000 men in England age 60 years or older, the original virus would kill 10. The new variant, he said, would kill 13 or 14. That would represent a 30 percent rise in mortality, though it is important to note that absolute risk of death remains low. Since the new variant was discovered in Britain last year, public health officials had stressed that the mutated virus did not appear to make people sicker or increase deaths. So this small but measurable uptick in mortality is potentially worrying. Vallance did not explain why the variant might be linked to more deaths - whether that might relate to something inherent in the strain or to overwhelmed health systems being unable to prevent otherwise survivable cases from becoming deadly. The calculation that the variant might be more lethal came from the government's New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats Advisory Group, which examined several surveillance studies. Vallance called the new data preliminary. "I want to stress that there's a lot of uncertainty around these numbers, and we need more work to get a precise handle on it," he said. "But it obviously is a concern that this has an increase in mortality as well as an increase in transmissibility." The variant has been detected in more than 50 countries, and is the dominant strain in United Kingdom. Scientists at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say it could also become predominant in the United States within two months. Johnson and his science adviser repeated assertions that existing vaccines remain effective against the original virus and the variant. Ian Jones, a virologist at the University of Reading, told science reporters, "As grim as it sounds, whether the fatality rate is 1 percent or 1.3 percent doesn't really change the fact that for a minority of people, this is a very dangerous virus that is best avoided." Paul Hunter, a professor of medicine and infectious-disease expert at the University of East Anglia, called the evidence of a slight increase in mortality "really disappointing," but said it would not change how Britain is fighting the pandemic via a combination of national lockdown and mass vaccinations. The coronavirus, like all viruses, is replicating and changing all the time - with errors and mutations in its genetic material. Most of those mutations are not important, but some could lead a virus to become more or less infectious, or make people more or less sick. In addition to the so-called "U.K. variant," new mutations discovered in South Africa and Brazil are being watched closely, as the changes in their genetic makeup might help them elude antibodies produced to fight the original virus. Vallance said, "They have certain features which means they might be less susceptible to vaccines." A commercially sensitive issue involving NAMA is thought to be holding up progress on three planned new schools for Celbridge, a Kildare County Council meeting has been told. At the Celbridge-Leixlip Municipal District meeting on January 22, Cllrs Ciara Galvin and Nuala Killeen asked council officials to outline specific reasons for the delay in progressing the three schools campus in Celbridge and work to accelerate the outstanding issues with all stakeholders. They and other councillors are concerned about delays and the councillors agreed to contact both NAMA and the Department of Education about meeting them as well as meeting representatives from the planned schools, St. Raphael's Special School, Celbridge Community School and St. Patrick's National School. Cllr Galvin said that after meeting with school reps, frustration was palpable and they needed to get to the root of the commercially sensitive matter In a report to members, Director of Services, Planning, Eoghan Ryan said: The Receiver, in association with NAMA, commissioned a Draft Masterplan for the Ballyoulster Key Development Area (as identified in the Celbridge Local Area Plan (LAP). It outlines a key school campus site to facilitate the three schools, in addition to the development of new residential areas and parklands. The Masterplan also provides the framework for the phased development of the overall area, and the schools sites have been identified in Phase 1. The council has reviewed the Masterplan and feedback has been provided and subsequently, the Receiver/NAMA and their consultants have come back with clarifications which have been reviewed and additional comments have recently been provided. From the councils perspective, however, the need to accommodate the three schools is of paramount importance and is not dependent on any masterplan. Mr Ryan continued: There were some technical challenges to be teased out in relation to the development objective contained within the LAP, for an upgrade to the existing pedestrian/cyclist footbridge and/or a new pedestrian/cyclist bridge in the town centre and a mechanism for its delivery/funding and the phasing of overall development. These are now resolved to the councils satisfaction. The meeting heard the Director of Services for Planning and Strategic Development has been in contact with the receiver. He understands that there is an issue of a commercially sensitive nature which is also impeding progress, but solutions are being explored with the full cooperation and support of Kildare County Council. Cllr Galvins proposal that they invite NAMA to meet them over the delays but Mr Ryan said this was unlikely to be of any real benefit as they will not be at liberty to discuss any matter of a commercial nature which the Receiver, as charge-holder, has an interest in resolving. Cllr Michael Coleman said he believed Kildare County Council and the Department of Education is doing all it can but the schools are not a priority for the Receiver. I dont see anything happening there with NAMA. It is very secretive. He said the schools did not require a master plan Cllr Vanessa Liston agreed with Cllr Coleman. Cllr Bernard Caldwell said they should contact the Minister for Education as NAMA was a law onto its own. He said NAMA will look for the highest bidder for the land. Council planner, Caroline ODonnell said they wanted the three schools built as part of phase one of the plan for the area. Regarding the schools, in the Dail recently, Minister for Education, Norma Foley, told Kildare North TD, Bernard Durkan: It is proposed to accommodate the three schools, St Raphael's Special School, Scoil Naomh Padraig and Celbridge Community School on a campus development in order to cater for the permanent needs of the schools. The Department is presently at a very advanced stage in the process of acquiring a suitable site, located at Donaghcumper. As part of the Departments appraisal, traffic management analysis is being examined and my officials are continuing to actively engage regularly with both Kildare County Council and the landowner on all aspects of the future operation of the proposed site. The telecom industry has expressed to the government its concerns against the proposed new communication security certification (Comsec). The Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) has written a strongly worded communication on the matter to the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), Business Standard reported. In the communication, the COAI has stated that multiple testings of specified telecom equipment and mobile devices will lead to overlaps in testing, increase costs for OEMs (original equipment manufacturers), the report said. These costs for OEMs could potentially run into crores and hurt ease of doing business, the COAI said. Moneycontrol could not independently verify the story. The COAI also said that the new Comsec certification could delay launch of new mobile phones, Business Standard reported. The industry body has also sought single-window clearance for testing and security certification of equipment and devices. At present, telecom equipment and mobile devices require certification from the Wireless Planning and Coordination (WPC) wing of the DoT and then get mandatory testing and certification from the Telecommunication Engineering Center (TEC) wing. However, with Comsec, there is an extra layer of certification required from the National Centre for Communication Security (NCCS), which is also a wing of the telecom regulator. Additionally, mobile devices require a fourth level of certification from the Bureau of Indian Standards. Chinese budget phone maker Honor has signed partnerships with major chip suppliers such as Intel and Qualcomm after being spun off from under-fire parent Huawei Technologies in a bid to save it last year, it said on Friday. Huawei had sold Honor to a consortium of 30 of the sub-brand's agents and dealers in November to help it resume sourcing components restricted by U.S. sanctions. As Chief Executive George Zhao launched its first phone model since the split, Honor said in a statement it now has its own deals with some tech firms. These include AMD, MediaTek, Micron Technology, Microsoft, Samsung, SK Hynix, and Sony. Dubai claims a first with aluminium production using solar power The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has claimed to be the first country in the world to produce certified solar-powered aluminum, thanks to the 1,013 MW Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park south of Dubai. A press release issued by state-owned entities the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) and Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) on Monday said the state-owned aluminium manufacturer was already producing CelestiAL' metal using power supplied by DEWA from the mammoth solar park. Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) and Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) on Monday announced the signing of an agreement under which DEWA will supply EGAs smelter with solar power from the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park. The milestone supports the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to make Dubai the most sustainable city in the world and become a global leader in the development and application of scientific and technological advances in the energy sector, the release stated. DEWA will supply EGAs smelter with 560,000 megawatt hours of solar power annually from the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, sufficient to make 40,000 tonnes of aluminium in the first year with the potential for significant expansion. EGA will supply solar aluminium to global customers under the new product name CelestiAL. This global achievement of both DEWA and EGA confirms our firm commitment to achieving the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, in building a green economy in UAE, and achieving the goals of the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050 in diversifying energy sources and providing 75 per cent of Dubai's energy production capacity from clean energy sources by 2050. To achieve these goals, we have launched many initiatives and projects, most notably the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, which is the largest single-site solar energy project in the world with a capacity of 5,000 megawatts by 2030, Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, managing director and CEO of DEWA and Vice Chairman of EGA, said. Aluminium is a lightweight, strong and infinitely recyclable metal and these properties mean that as a material it plays a vital global role in the development of a sustainable future. However, it also matters how sustainably aluminium is made. CelestiAL aluminium made in the UAE with solar power, will support modern life for people around the world while also protecting our planet for future generations. This is a great milestone for the UAE and our industry, Abdulnasser bin Kalban, chief executive officer of EGA, said. Aluminium is used in products and infrastructure from smartphones to skyscrapers. Its uses include applications that contribute to a more sustainable environment from wind farms to electric vehicles, and mass transit to solar panels. The availability of solar power on the scale needed for aluminium smelting has been made possible by the UAEs significant investment in solar power, including in Dubai by DEWA and its Independent Power Producer (IPP) partners. The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, located in Dubai, has a current installed capacity of 1,013 megawatts using photovoltaic solar panels. DEWA is implementing an additional 1,850 megawatts of projects using solar panels and Concentrated Solar Power (CSP). Eventually, this capacity will reach 5,000 MW by 2030. EGAs sourcing of solar power from Dubais electricity grid will be tracked and traced through the use of the International Renewable Energy Certification System, ensuring that the energy used to produce EGAs CelestiAL solar aluminium has been sourced from the sun. Police personnel inspect the site of the dynamite blast in Shivamogga, Karnataka. "It is suspected that gelatin sticks in a truck near the stone quarry exploded, killing the labourers from Bihar," Nirani tweeted. At least six people were killed in a major dynamite blast near Shimoga city in central Karnataka late on Thursday when a lorry carrying gelatines and a huge quantity of dynamites exploded near a stone quarry around 10:30 pm. Tremors were felt and a loud sound was heard across the hilly Shimoga, parts of Chikmagalur and Uttara Kannada districts, triggering panic. Officials at the local Natural Disasters Monitoring Centre said the impact of the blast may have led to tremors as it happened at a shallow depth. Initially the people, who were about to go to bed, thought that it was an earthquake and started rushing out of their homes. The 11 pm data from the local seismological observatories around the area, however, did not record any seismic activity or tremors (these are usually recorded at a depth of 15 to 20 kms below the earth's surface). After some time the district administration came to know that it was a huge blast of the explosives used for quarrying. Some claim that about 50 dynamites exploded one after the another, killing at least 15 people on the spot. The lorry that was carrying was destroyed completely. Ashok Naik, Shimoga Rural MLA, told mediapersons that he too had heard the sound and the tragic incident had taken place in his constituency. "There is a thick smoke everywhere. Can't see anything. At least 15 people have died. It could be more. I can't confirm anything right now," he said. While pictures of bodies strewn around did emerge from the site as local first-responders shared them, police said, it would take time for a detailed probe and assessment. The officials have rushed to the accident site. But fearing more blasts, they are moving cautiously, say the locals. According to some sources, the quarrying was happening for the railway work. However, no clarity yet on what caused this huge blast. Shimoga happens to be the home town of Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa and he has been informed about the tragedy. Illegal quarrying is common in this region. Condoling the deaths, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the state government is providing assistance to the affected. "Pained by the loss of lives in Shivamogga. Condolences to the bereaved families. Praying that the injured recover soon. The State Government is providing all possible assistance to the affected." he tweeted. (With inputs from Deepa Balakrishnan, DP Satish in Bengaluru) The murder of a young Alabama mother nearly 30 years ago will be featured this weekend on CBSs 48 Hours. The 30-Year Secret The Tracey Harris Murder will include an interview with the victims friend who is speaking publicly for the first time after information she supplied to investigators drastically changed the direction of the case. It will air at 9 p.m. Saturday. This one was a complete roller-coaster ride towards the end as far as an emotional situation, this was by far the toughest one, Dale County District Attorney Kirke Adams told 48 Hours. The body of Tracey Harris was discovered March 14, 1990, about a week after she disappeared, near Woodhams Bridge in the Choctawhatchee River just off County Road 20 in Dale County. An autopsy determined she was drowned, and bruises on her neck showed signs of strangulation. Her killer was never found. Then, in 2016, Ozark police announced the arrest of Traceys ex-husband, 51-year-old Carl E. Harris Jr. The couple had recently divorced at the time of her murder, Carl had a girlfriend and witnesses reported that he abused Tracey. Ozark police Chief Marlos Walker said investigators had launched a review of their cold cases. He said they considered the potential for solvability in those cases and determined they had enough to proceed with reopening the Harris case. Investigators were able to locate multiple witnesses that led them to Carl as a person of interest. They also were able to track the last 24 to 48 hours that Tracy Harris was seen alive, the chief said. He had always denied any role in his ex-wifes death. Carl was arrested in South Carolina, where Walker said the suspect had started a new life. Its a very rewarding feeling to know that we were able to close the case, Walker said, and bring some closure to the family. But a before Carl was set to go on trial, new information surface. Prosecutors reached out to Traceys friend, Dawn Beasley, who was sought to testify to a statement she gave in 1990 describing abuse she said she witnessed. At first, she refused to testify at Carl Harris trial. She said she was busy. But then, she said something else, 48 Hours reports. The most important reason I cant testify is because you have an innocent man on trial, Beasley says she told them. I kept the secret for 30 years. In January 2020, the charges against Carl were dropped and 54-year-old Jeff Beasley, Dawn Beasleys ex-husband, instead was arrested in the case. He confessed to the crime and in July 2020 pleaded guilty. He was sentenced to 30 years in prison. The 48 Hours episode will include interviews with Carl Harris and the Harris daughter, Carolyn Aznavour. Ive thought about a thousand times the what-ifs, prosecutor Jordan Davis told 48 Hours of almost taking the wrong man to trial. And thats kind of nauseating that we were that close. 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. Featured Video Actor Saif Ali Khan, who is lauded for his roles in films and shows such as Tandav, Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior, Jawaani Jaaneman and more, has many upcoming films in his kitty. The actor has also resumed work as is shooting the last leg of his much-awaited film Bhoot Police in Jaisalmer. Reportedly, this horror-comedy was among the first Bollywood films to go on floors post-pandemic lockdown. The actor recently opened up in an interview about resuming work post lockdown, upcoming projects, and much more. During an interview with Mid-Day, Saif Ali Khan revealed about getting back to work post lockdown. He said that getting back to work was very scary at the beginning. The producers have also done their best to maintain a safe environment on-set. The actor also spoke about his upcoming projects Vikram Vedha and Adipurush. In the film Vikram Vedha, Saif Ali Khan revealed that he will essay the role of an idealistic cop, so he will have to find a way to make the role fun. He also added that it will be a refreshing change to portray the good guy. The film is an official remake Tamil thriller movie of the same name that released in 2017. The movie is expected to begin shooting from mid-2021. As per reports, 3 Idiots actor Aamir Khan was approached to play the role of Vedha; however, there have been rumours that Hrithik Roshan is approached for the same. Also read | Saif Ali Khan To Be With Wife Kareena Until March; Will Film 'Adipurush' Post Her Delivery Saif Ali Khan will also star in Om Rauts much-awaited film Adipurush, which is an adaptation of the Ramayana. The actor will be portraying the role of Lankesh, while Prabhas, on the other hand, will essay the role of Lord Ram. Talking about his role, the actor said that he has always enjoyed grey roles more than milky white characters. He added that he is playing the ultimate negative character in the film. He revealed that after a point, it gets depressing if one is constantly playing wicked roles. He said that the only thing he worries about is being repetitive as he always wants to channel different energies. Also read | Saif Ali Khan Opens Up On Embracing Parenthood At 50, Says 'I'm Very Excited' Also read | Saif Ali Khan's 'Tandav' Features Adapted Version Of THIS Iconic AR Rahman Song Also read | Saif Ali Khan Gets Extra Police Security At His House Amidst 'Ban Tandav Controversy' Get the latest entertainment news from India & around the world. Now follow your favourite television celebs and telly updates. Republic World is your one-stop destination for trending Bollywood news. Tune in today to stay updated with all the latest news and headlines from the world of entertainment. Samsung phones are expected to drop up to 21 per cent of their resale value in the next few weeks, new data has revealed. If you have an old Samsung handset lying around, now could be the time to sell - as the price they command is set to plummet in the coming days and weeks, according to research from Music Magpie. The technology resale website found that Samsung devices could lose up to 12 per cent of their value following the first month of a new model being released, and up to a further 21 per cent after three months. The new Samsung Galaxy S21 smartphone is due to be released on 29 January in the UK Therefore, with the launch of the Samsung Galaxy S21 on 29 January, customers are being encouraged to sell now if they want to secure the best deal. If sold soon, customers trading in a Samsung Galaxy S20 can expect to earn up to 310, while those with a Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra could get up to 364. However, these phones might only be worth 245 and 288 in three months' time. It is worth pointing out there though that many people will be happy with their S20 and won't feel the need to simply bag the latest smartphone. The Galaxy S20 was launched just under a year ago in March 2020. Those who have older Samsung models can expect to get much less for their phones, with Samsung Galaxy S8 holders likely to get 90. People may also want to reconsider buying a new phone as soon as it is released given that, on average, new Samsung models lose 64 per cent of their value after being on sale for 12 months and then 74 per cent after 24 months. SAMSUNG TRADE IN PRICES Samsung model Maximum trade-in price as of 11 January 2021 Galaxy S8 90.00 Galaxy S8+ 95.00 Galaxy S9 125.00 Galaxy S9+ 140.00 Galaxy S10 210.00 Galaxy S10+ 230.00 Galaxy S20 310.00 Galaxy S20 Ultra 364.10 Galaxy Note 8 185.00 Galaxy Note 9 200.00 Galaxy Note 10 302.00 Galaxy Note 20 430.00 Source: Music Magpie (prices correct as of January 2021) It can happen even sooner, however. Last year, the Samsung Galaxy Fold and Samsung Galaxy Flip saw huge decreases in value after only one month on the market following faults with the display when the screen was folded. One month after launching, the Galaxy Fold's value dropped by a huge 75 per cent and the Galaxy Flip dropped by 73 per cent. Liam Howley, chief marketing officer at Music Magpie, said: 'With the imminent launch of the Samsung Galaxy S21, lots of people are planning to upgrade. 'From our data, it's clear that those people should sell their old phone now rather than wait around to get the best price for it. 'Trading in your old phone is good for the environment too, and encourages a circular economy whereby phones are recycled, refurbished and reused - so it's something anyone planning to upgrade should consider.' Which phones depreciate in value the most? Music Magpie hasn't just looked at Samsung devices, however. It has also used its data to see how different brands of smartphone retain their value. It found that, while the price of a new phone was increasing, pricier handsets were retaining their value much better than cheaper models. For example, the iPhone 11 and 11 Pro managed to retain their value the most in the first six months after release. The value of an iPhone 11 dropped by 34 per cent, falling from 729 to 481, while the price of an iPhone 11 Pro fell by 35 percent, from 999 to 649. Meanwhile, cheaper models such as the Google Pixel 3a lost almost twice that amount. The phone, which cost just 399 on release, saw its value drop by 64 per cent. The iPhone 11 and 11 Pro retained their value the most out of the phones examined On the whole, iPhone was the brand that retained the most value. On average, the Apple handsets lost 43 per cent of their value in the first 12 months, and 61 per cent by the end of a standard 24-month contract period. However, Apple's newest model is faring less well than the iPhone 11. The iPhone 12, which has been on the market for three months, has lost 40 per cent of its value so far. Samsung shares the number two spot with OnePlus in this years report, with Galaxy and OnePlus handsets losing an average of 64 per cent of their value after being on sale for 12 months. The Samsung Galaxy Note 10 5G has had one of the worst depreciations for the brand, losing 71 per cent of its value 12 months after release. Google came in third, as its phones depreciated by an average of 72 per cent in the first 12 months after their release, and by 79 per cent after 24 months. The Google Pixel 3a and Google Pixel 3aXL depreciated the most out of all the Google handsets, with a loss of 72 per cent in the first 12 months after release. The Google Pixel 2, an older model, lost just 59 per cent of its value in the same amount of time. Meanwhile, Music Magpie found that Huawei models depreciated by 74 per cent on average in the first 12 months, and by 88 per cent in the 24 months after release. One of its pricier handsets, the Huawei Mate 30 Pro brought out in 2019, had a purchase price of 899.99 on release, but just six months later it was worth less than 144. The most commonly traded-in handset on the Music Magpie website in the 12 months up to August 2020 was the iPhone 7. The handset also only dropped in value by 44 per cent in the first year of its release in 2016. The second most-sold model was the iPhone 8, which also retained its value well, losing just 41 per cent in the first 12 months of release the following year. Music Magpie calculated its data using its average trade-in prices across each of the models over a period of time. Data for the iPhone 12 and all Samsung models, excluding the Samsung Galaxy Fold and Samsung Galaxy Flip, is accurate as of January 2021. All other models are accurate as of August 2020. MUMBAI: Infrastructure Leasing and Financial Services (IL&FS) will launch its infrastructure investment trust (InvIT) soon, wherein it will convert the debt owed to banks in 10 road projects into units of the trust. The InvIT has received all approvals for the launch, a source close to the development told Mint. IL&FS has got the approval from its committee of creditors for its InvIT. It has also completed the green channel filing with the Competition Commission of India and obtained the final registration from the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi). It will make a formal announcement soon," the person mentioned above said. An IL&FS spokesperson confirmed the development. The units of the InvIT are expected to be distributed to lenders, including State Bank of India, Punjab National Bank, Canara Bank, Bank of India, and Indian Overseas Bank. The company did not provide details on how the InvIT will be structured or listed. In September, when the bankrupt infrastructure and financing major had issued its last update, the Uday Kotak-led board of directors had reported that only a fraction of the companys outstanding debt of more than Rs1 trillion had been resolved. The aggregate value of debt being addressed is pegged at Rs56,300 crore, the company said. Of this, more than Rs50,000 crore is likely to be addressed by March 2021. The delay has been mainly "on account of the significant impact of covid-19, which has added time and logistical complexities in the process of completing discussions with stakeholders and in obtaining approvals from lenders, regulators, and judicial authorities", the company said. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. National Guard troops around the U.S. Capitol, in Washington on Jan. 21, 2021. (Rebecca Blackwell/AP Photo) US Capitol Police Denies Relocating National Guard Troops From Capitol to Garage U.S. Capitol Police officials denied vacating National Guard troops to a garage amid a public relations disaster that prompted White House officials to apologize. I want to assure everyone that, with the exception of specific times on Inauguration Day itself while the swearing-in ceremonies were underway, the United States Capitol police did not instruct the National Guard to vacate the Capitol Building facilities, Acting Capitol Police Chief Yogananda Pittman said on the departments website. And on Inauguration Day, the Guard was notified and encouraged to reoccupy the spaces in the Capitol and CVC at 2 p.m. Pittman added, It was brought to our attention early today that facility management with the Thurgood Marshall Judicial Office Building reached out directly to the National Guard to offer use of its facilities. It came after the National Guard on Friday said the U.S. Capitol Police ordered its troops to move its break area from inside the Capitol to a nearby parking garage. As Congress is in session and increased foot traffic and business is being conducted, Capitol Police asked the troops to move their rest area, the D.C. National Guard said in a statement. They were temporarily relocated to the Thurgood Marshall Judicial Center garage with heat and restroom facilities. Thousands of National Guard members were deployed in Washington after a group of people breached the Capitol building on Jan. 6 during the Joint Session of Congress. National Guard members get instructions as others stand guard near the White House ahead of President-elect Joe Bidens inauguration, in Washington on Jan. 19, 2021. (Eduardo Munoz/Reuters) National Guard members patrol the National Mall in Washington on Jan. 19, 2021. (Stephanie Keith/Getty Images) Two top senators said Friday that the order for the National Guard to move from their rest area on Capitol grounds to the parking garage appeared to be a mistake made lower in the Guards chain of command. There was one uniformed police officer who issued an order without authority or without going through the chain of command and Im glad the Capitol Police and the Guard are talking and trying to figure this out, Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.) said, as reported by Fox News. We are going to be able to identify who that person was. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) added, No one from anyone on high, but a few people said they had to leave. No one understood why. But its gone. And they all had a nice place to stay What happened was an outrage and it will not happen again. President Joe Biden on Friday called the head of the National Guard to apologize after the fracas, according to reports. Meanwhile, First Lady Jill Biden thanked the Guard stationed at the Capitol. The National Guard will always hold a special place in the hearts of all the Bidens, the first lady, sporting a mask, told the service members, according to a White House press pool report. On Friday, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, both Republicans, ordered their National Guard members home. Canadian faith leaders have an important role to play in promoting COVID-19 vaccines, including helping their members overcome vaccine hesitancy. Canadian faith leaders have an important role to play in promoting COVID-19 vaccines, including helping their members overcome vaccine hesitancy. That was the message Dr. Theresa Tam, Canadas chief public health officer, delivered to more than 1,300 participants of an online information event Wednesday. The event was arranged by the Canadian Council of Churches, Canadian Interfaith Conversation and Canadian Multifaith Federation, at the request of the Privy Council and Public Health Agency of Canada. In her remarks, Tam said combatting the novel coronavirus is a "whole of government, whole of society effort." As "trusted voices" in their communities, faith leaders are "instrumental" in that effort, since they "know the hearts and minds of their members" and are often "called on for guidance." Faith groups can help battle the virus by sharing credible information about vaccines with their members, she said, including dispelling fears about their safety. They can also help by staying "vigilant" and encouraging congregations to maintain safe practices (social distancing, hand hygiene and mask wearing). By doing this, it will not only help prevent the spread of virus, it will also give vaccines a "bit of a runway" to get going, she added. Tam said faith groups also have an important role to play by supporting members who are struggling due to the pandemic, especially those who are elderly, vulnerable or dealing with mental health issues. "Maintaining social, and emotional and spiritual closeness is more important than ever," she said. "Your leadership is vital for supporting and building resilience in your communities as we move through this pandemic and beyond." Noting some communication materials about vaccines might need to be translated or adapted for different faith and cultural groups, Tam said the federal government is open to providing financial support in such efforts. She also said Ottawa is open to working with faith groups to use their facilities as vaccination sites. However, she added, its not practical now, since the "first two vaccines are tricky to handle... maybe in the future as more vaccines become available." As to whether clergy might be put on a priority list for getting the vaccine, Tam said it might be possible, if they are involved in supporting people in long-term care homes, homeless shelters or other services to marginal and vulnerable people. She also assured faith leaders no animal products or fetal cells were used in the production of the two current vaccines. When asked when religious groups might see a return to in-person worship services, Tam noted the decision is up to provincial public health authorities. Her own view is "right now is definitely not the time," with the pandemic surging in some parts of the country. "Its really important to follow local public health advice," Tam said, adding: "The best thing to do is to reduce the number of contacts." All pandemics come to an end, she said, "and this one will as well." In remarks at the conclusion of the event, Ian Shugart, Clerk of the Privy Council, noted faith groups can contribute to dealing with the pandemic by "inspiring people to action on behalf of others" while showing "none of us is self-sufficient." faith@freepress.mb.ca By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 01/21/2021 ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade. star Clare Crawley has broken her silence about her so-called "mutual" split from fiance Dale Moss , and she admits she's "crushed."Dale announced Tuesday night on Instagram that he and Clare had arrived at "the healthiest decision" for the "both" of them to go their separate ways.Clare initially had no comment on the breakup as sources claimed Dale officially "broke it off" with Clare and left her "completely devastated," but now the former Bachelorette has broken her silence."I was made aware of a 'mutual' statement at the same time you all were, so I've needed some time to really digest this," Clare began in a Thursday Instagram post."Speaking for myself, my intentions with this relationship have always been very clear, so the truth is I am crushed."Clare said she wanted to get married and have children in the near future, but a source told E! News earlier this week that Dale wasn't ready for that level of commitment and wasn't willing to move to Sacramento, CA, for his fiancee."This was not what I expected or hoped for and am still trying to process this," Clare continued in her post."2020 was one hell of a year, with COVID, battling severe anxiety post-show, balancing a public new relationship, all while slowly losing my mother. It hasn't been ideal circumstances, but that is life right."Clare is apparently trying to focus on herself right now and mend her broken heart."I have been looking forward to the light at the end of the tunnel," Clare wrote."Our relationship was not perfect, but I can say that I was genuinely invested with all of my heart. I may not have all the answers, but I do know this -- I will continue to show up, stand by my word, and be committed to love."Clare signed off her post with, "Xo Clare."After reports swirled earlier this week that Dale and Clare were fighting all the time and decided to take some time apart in order to figure out their relationship, Dale released his statement on Instagram."I wanted [to] share with you all that Clare and I have decided to go our separate ways. We appreciate the love and support we've received from so many people, but this is the healthiest decision for both of us at this time," Dale wrote in a since-deleted post."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."The E! News source said Dale "didn't feel right" about where his relationship with Clare was headed because they're "in different places in life" right now.Clare and Dale portrayed a picture-perfect life after getting engaged on 's sixteenth season last year.But an insider revealed, "Dale wants to be in a lively city and focus on his career, and Clare is rooted in Sacramento to help care for her mom. It's been very tense recently between them," E! News reported.In fact, the couple's recent Instagram activity had suggested Dale was spending time alone in New York City while Clare was close to home in Northern California.Late last week, Clare revealed she had a "hard day" and was thankful to have her mother -- who is battling Alzheimer's disease and dementia -- to help her through it."I'm so thankful to be able to see my mom in person now," Clare said, referencing how coronavirus had physically kept them apart for quite some time.She added at the time, "She has good days and bad, Just like we all do. Well today I couldn't hide my hard day. A mother always knows. Without saying a word, she reached in her pocket and pulled out this tissue and just squeezed my hand."Clare and Dale last posted photos of each other on Instagram on January 9, when the couple's relationship seemed to be in good standing.Clare posted a photo with her man by the beach in La Jolla, CA, at the time and captioned it, "Let's never leave."And Dale also posted a photo of himself in the water in La Jolla on the same day.The couple also appeared to have a wonderful time ringing in the New Year together with Clare's two beloved dogs.Clare was convinced she had met her future husband when Dale stepped out of a limo on Night 1 of 's sixteenth season and took her breath away.It took less than two weeks for Clare to determine Dale was the guy she wanted to be with forever, and so she dumped all of her other bachelors to pursue that one relationship.Clare's journey on the show therefore ended prematurely with a steamy overnight date with Dale that led to Dale getting down on one knee and proposing marriage seemingly the next day.Once Tayshia Adams took over Clare's season, Clare and Dale sat down with host Chris Harrison during a November episode to talk about their surprising love affair."It's just been a dream come true," Clare gushed of her relationship with Dale on the show."Every time I wake up, my mind almost reverts to old patterns of like, 'What did I do to deserve this, this man?' And I look over and he's like, 'I love you.' I then change my thought to, 'I've waited my lifetime for this.'"Dale added, "It was hands down love at first sight ... At the base of everything with her, in its truest form, we love each other. We had that, and it was undeniable."When Chris asked what was next for the couple, Clare immediately shouted, "Babies!"But Dale noted he'd like to get married before welcoming children.While many fans had been critical of Clare and Dale's quick-moving romance and whether it would last , the lovebirds initially felt no shame or embarrassment about getting engaged in less than a month of knowing each other."For me personally, there is no explanation needed. I've never been afraid of commitment. And when I met Clare, I knew I was all in. She lights a fire in me that I was missing for so long," Dale told People in a joint interview with Clare late last year."It may be fast for some people," Clare added, "and that's okay. But for us, it's working."Dale recently claimed he had turned down the opportunity to compete on multiple times after being nominated for the show but changed his mind once Clare was announced as the show's sixteenth-season star in March 2020.Prior to getting involved with Dale, Clare had been engaged to The Bachelor Winter Games bachelor Benoit Beausejour-Savard Clare and Benoit announced their decision to split in April 2018 after being engaged for only a month and a half.Interested in more The Bachelor news? Join our The Bachelor Facebook Group Bosnias war crimes court on Friday jailed Bosnian Muslim wartime commander Sakib Mahmuljin for 10 years for failing to prevent or punish atrocities against Serb prisoners by foreign Islamists who fought in the 1990s conflict. Hundreds of Islamist fighters, or mujahideen, came from North Africa and the Middle East to help the mainly Muslim Bosnian government forces fight separatist Orthodox Serbs and Catholic Croats during the war, in which 100,000 people died. Mahmuljin, 68, was convicted in a five-year-long trial of failing to prevent or punish killings and inhumane treatment of Serb prisoners of war, some of whom were wounded or ill, and some Serb civilians, the Sarajevo court said. In its verdict, the court said it determined that foreign Islamists murdered 53 Serb prisoners of war from July to October 1995, towards the end of the war. During this period, they tortured some prisoners and decapitated one of them, it said. Mahmuljin, who commanded the Bosnian armys 3rd Corps, may appeal the verdict. The court was set up in 2005 to ease the burden of cases taken by the United Nations war crimes tribunal in The Hague. The war erupted when Bosnian Serbs, rejecting the proclamation of independence of Bosnia from Serbian-led federal Yugoslavia, attacked cities and villages across the country in a bid to carve out territory for an exclusive Serb state. The U.S.-sponsored Dayton peace agreement ended the conflict in December 1995 by splitting Bosnia into two largely autonomous regions along ethnic lines. After the war ended, foreign Islamists were ordered to leave Bosnia under U.S. pressure and most did, including those who married local women but then had their citizenship revoked. Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - January 21, 2021) - CHC Student Housing Corp. (TSXV: CHC.H) ("CHC" or the "Company") announced today that it is restating its previously issued financial statements for the interim periods ended March 31, 2020, June 30, 2020 and September 30, 2020 and related management's discussion and analyses (collectively, the "Restated Documents"). The restatement of the Restated Documents was made as a result of review of the Company's previously filed unaudited interim financial statements for the interim period ended September 30, 2020 by management and the Company's auditors in connection with the Company's previously announced proposed reverse-takeover transaction with 2294253 Alberta Ltd. and its shareholders. In connection with the transaction, the Company engaged its auditors to perform a review of these financial statements and as a result of this review, certain amendments to the financial statements and the Company's previously filed financial statements for the interim periods ended March 31, 2020 and June 30, 2020 were identified. In particular, due primarily to changes in the application of accounting treatments related to certain transactions involving certain statute barred liabilities of the Company, the previously issued financial statements for the interim periods ended March 31, 2020, June 30, 2020 and September 30, 2020 and related management's discussion and analyses have been restated and reissued to reclassify these liabilities, which were previously reduced as at March 31, 2020, to "Other Liabilities". The effect of the restatements does not impact the Company's ongoing operations, cash position, or the expected closing of the Company's proposed reverse take-over transaction with 2294253 Alberta Ltd. and its shareholders. The Restated Documents are available under CHC's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. The Restated Documents will replace and supersede the respective previously-filed financial statements and management's discussion and analyses for such periods (collectively, the "Previous Documents"). The Previous Documents should no longer be relied upon. Non-IFRS Performance Measures The Company's consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS"). The following measures: net operating income (or "NOI"), funds from operations (or "FFO"), FFO per share, adjusted funds from operations (or "AFFO") and AFFO per share, are not measures recognized under IFRS and do not have standardized meanings prescribed by IFRS, and should not be compared to or construed as alternatives to profit/loss, cash flow from operating activities or other measures of financial performance determined in accordance with IFRS. However, these non-IFRS measures are recognized supplemental measures of performance for real estate issuers widely used by the real estate industry, particularly by those publicly traded entities that own and operate income-producing properties, and the Company believes they provide useful supplemental information to both management and readers in measuring the financial performance of the Company. Further details on non-IFRS measures are set out in the Company's restated management's discussion and analysis for the three months ended September 30, 2020 and the Company's management's discussion and analysis for the year ended December 31, 2019 which are available under the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Forward Looking Information Information set forth in this news release contains forward-looking statements. These statements reflect management's current estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations regarding the future, including, but not limited to, CHC's proposed reverse take-over transaction with 2294253 Alberta Ltd. and its shareholders. Such statements are not guarantees of future performance. They are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results, performance or developments to differ materially from those contained in the statements, including risks related to factors beyond the control of CHC. No assurance can be given that any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will occur or, if they do occur, what benefits CHC will obtain from them. Except as required under applicable securities legislation, CHC undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking information. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange ("TSXV") nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. For further information please contact: CHC Student Housing Corp. Ron Schwarz Acting CEO and CFO (416) 593-7085 To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/72592 Police escort Islamic cleric Aman Abdurrahman (center) from the South Jakarta District Court after he was sentenced to death for his role in a 2016 suicide bombing, June 22, 2018. Support for the Islamic State militant group is on a downward slope in Indonesia and its main local affiliate has become largely inactive, yet local extremists still are splintering into new cells, according to a think-tank report released Thursday. The arrests of some 70 suspected leaders among pro-IS Indonesian groups and the defeat of IS in Iraq and Syria have diminished its allure and severely weakened it, according to the study by the Jakarta-based Institute for Policy Analysis of Conflict (IPAC). Support for Islamic State is declining among Indonesian extremists, and Jemaah Ansharul Daulah (JAD), once the largest of the countrys many pro-ISIS groups, has become largely inactive, IPAC said in a statement accompanying the report, using another acronym for IS. At the same time, a process of regrouping and splintering is producing new cells, and some Indonesians believe their oath of loyalty to ISIS leaders obliges them to continue fighting in any way they can. IPAC rated the threat IS current threat as manageable although, it said, there was no end in sight to the emergence of small, poorly trained groups with the intention to do harm. There are no extremist groups operating in Indonesia today that present a serious threat to Indonesian stability or that are beyond the capacity of the police to manage, IPAC director Sidney Jones said. Defections of top leaders along with realization by extremists that the cost of supporting IS outweighed the benefits have weakened the organization. In addition, COVID-19 pandemic travel restrictions also contributed to JADs decline, IPAC said. A few clerics are still preaching the ISIS line but lack the charisma of their imprisoned colleagues, it said. Many former prisoners have declared their allegiance to the Indonesian state and are now engaged in a range of economic activities. When contacted on Thursday, Brig. Gen. Ahmad Nurwakhid, director of prevention at the National Counterterrorism Agency (BNPT), said he could not comment immediately on IPACs findings. I havent read the report, so I cant say much, he told BenarNews. He noted that BNPT continued to contain the development of radical groups in Indonesia, adding that de-radicalization programs have been effective. Islamic boarding schools and religious schools are important places to shares ideologies. Because of that, efforts to contain radical ideologies must be carried out from an early age in these institutions, Nurwakhid said. According to the Center for Radicalism and Deradicalization Studies (PAKAR), another Indonesian think-tank, JAD has branches in at least 13 Indonesian provinces but has fewer than 1,000 members. The group has had no overall leader after Aman Abdurrahman, who founded JAD, was sentenced to death by a local court in 2018 for his role in a January 2016 terrorist attack in Jakarta. Earlier this month, police in Makassar, South Sulawesi, shot and killed two JAD suspects allegedly linked to Indonesian suicide bombers who attacked a church in the southern Philippines in 2019. Officers also arrested more than a dozen others from the same house. Police said the dead suspects and their relatives had tried to travel to Syria in 2016 to join IS, but were stopped at the airport in Jakarta. Last June, Boy Rafli Amar, the incoming chief of the BNPT, sought congressional backing for a 65 percent hike in his agencys budget. He said the agency needed more cash and resources, as he warned that militants were looking to increase recruitment during the coronavirus pandemic. Radical groups are still actively carrying out recruitment propaganda both online and offline during the COVID-19 pandemic, Boy said at the time. We are seeing today the rampant abuse of the cyberspace to spread the ideology of terrorism. Terrorism has not gone away IPAC, in its latest report, warned about the emergence of small extremist cells. [T]errorism has not gone away, and there will be ongoing efforts of small cells to regroup, recruit and regenerate with the aim of conducting jihad operations. The likelihood of arrest is not necessarily a deterrent, according to an excerpt from the report. On the contrary, weakness can be an incentive to attack, as would-be fighters heed the slogan, Better to be a lion for a day than a sheep for the rest of your life. It said case studies showed that it is easy for new cells to form but most are weak and their members have few skills, resources or strategy. The new cells can be triggered by the loss of leaders or the collapse of established organizations. Cells may also form as individuals search for material on the Internet and become attracted to pro-IS videos and other propaganda, IPAC said. 200 arrests in 2020 Of the more than 200 terrorist suspects arrested in 2020, more than half were affiliated with pro-IS cells that had no connection to either JAD or the Eastern Indonesian Mujahideen (MIT), a pro-IS group based in Poso regency in Central Sulawesi province, the report said. Police said MIT militants killed four Salvation Army followers including beheading one victim and torched their homes during an attack of a remote village in Sigi regency in Central Sulawesi in November. IPAC argued that recent attacks blamed on MIT were not evidence of increased strength, but of weakness. By this month, MIT was down to 11 members equipped with one rifle, one pistol and a few hundred bullets, according to the report. This may explain why several of their attacks have been with machetes, it said. It also may explain why police remain such a top target, because a successful attack could not only fell an enemy but gain access to a weapon. Meanwhile, with about 250 people convicted of terrorism expected to be released this year, there are concerns that they will return to their old networks. IPAC said while regeneration remains a concern, some local initiatives have succeeded in replacing pro-IS leaders at extremist schools and mosques with neutral or anti-IS clerics. In such cases, it takes constant nurturing and attention and sometimes significant outlay of funds to prevent backsliding, and it is always possible for radical teachers displaced from one institution to simply move to another a short distance away, the report said. IPAC recommended that the government map locations where known extremists, convicted terrorists and ex-prisoners send their children to school and ensure that teachers and teaching materials have been thoroughly vetted. Last year, security analysts told BenarNews that IS members were stepping up recruitment efforts in Indonesia. In September, Jones said that the IS threat persisted in Indonesia. She noted then that several pro-IS cells were active in Java, Sumatra and Sulawesi, as was the pro-IS Eastern Indonesia Mujahideen, or MIT, in the jungles of Poso. A PAKAR senior research, meanwhile, discussed efforts by his group to track Jamaah Ansyaarut Khalifah (JAK), which is active in the Javanese cities of Solo and Bekasi, and Palembang, a city in southern Sumatra. This moderate group has hardly ever engaged in violence or planned attacks but that does not mean they are harmless, Muhammad Taufiqurrohman told BenarNews. They have been focused on dawah [preaching] and recruitment, but now they are drawing up plans to send jihadists to the Philippines. In the long run, JAK is more dangerous because it is organized and has a wider network. Priti Patel Publishes New National Strategy to Go After Child Sexual Abusers Including Grooming Gangs Britains Home Secretary Priti Patel on Friday published a first of its kind national strategy to combat child sexual abuse. It will tackle and respond to all forms of child sexual abuse, relentlessly going after abusers, whilst better protecting victims and survivors, Patel said in a statement. The strategy which will invest in the countrys world-leading Child Abuse Image Database, comes a month after Patels publication of a long-awaited paper on the racial and other characteristics of child sex grooming gangs (pdf) following both recent and non-recent high-profile cases. Today @PritiPatel has published a first-of-its-kind national strategy to protect children from all forms of child sexual abuse. The government will relentlessly pursue offenders whilst protecting more victims and survivors. https://t.co/RbZqOwEbdT pic.twitter.com/wHM9NaLgrx Home Office (@ukhomeoffice) January 22, 2021 Patel said at the time that the Victims and survivors of group-based child sexual exploitation have told me how they were let down by the state in the name of political correctness. She said that she is now determined to put this right and tackle the abuse that has blighted many towns and cities across our country. Non-Recent Sexual Offenses The long-standing issue of group-based or grooming gang related child sexual abuse re-emerged in December last year when thirty-two men were charged with over 200 non-recent sexual offenses against eight girls in West Yorkshire. The victims were allegedly abused over a 13-year period between 1999 and 2012. That case followed the discovery in 2018 that an estimated 1,500 children, most of them white girls, were sexually abused in Rotherham, South Yorkshire between 1997 and 2013, despite police and local lawmakers being made aware of the abuse. A teenage girl, who claims to be a victim of sexual abuse and alleged grooming, poses in Rotherham, South Yorkshire on Sept. 3, 2014. (Christopher Furlong/Getty Images) In 2015, the National Crime Agency (NCA) set up the largest operation of its kind to investigate 16 years of abuses in Rotherham but did not secure its first convictions until 2017. Children were groomed, trafficked, and raped across the UK, but offenders were not prosecuted reportedly owing to fears around race. In Halifax, West Yorkshire, it was estimated that as many as 100 men of British-Pakistani origin could have been involved in child abuse between 2006 and 2011. But, citing a 2020 NCA assessment that there are at least 300,000 people posing a sexual threat to children in the UK, Rob Jones, the agencys Threat Leadership director, said Patels strategy came at a time when the threat to children is more severe than it has ever been. Tech Companies to be Held Accountable Susie Hargreaves, Chief Executive of the Internet Watch Foundation meanwhile welcomed the strategy, which introduces the Online Safety Bill to hold tech companies accountable for content on their sites that compromises childrens safety. There have been increases in the online sexual abuse of children, she said, due to people spending more time online during the CCP virus pandemic. In 2020, we removed more criminal videos and images of children than ever before, she said. Peter Wanless CEO of the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) wrote on Twitter that the strategy must be backed up with serious investment in support for victims, but welcomed it because it rightly puts the emphasis on early intervention and action. The new strategy also pledges a review of the Child Sex Offender Disclosure Scheme, commonly known as Sarahs Law, to make it easier for parents and carers to ask police about criminals that may pose a threat to their children. Sarahs Law which provides a legal pathway for such information to be divulged was enacted in 2011 following the murder of eight-year-old Sarah Payne by a previously convicted pedophile in July 2000. Simon Veazey contributed to this report. Many people are exuberant that Donald Trump has been impeached again. Wikipedia joined in giddily updating the First Impeachment of Donald Trump with the following alert: Not to be confused with Second Impeachment of Donald Trump. What is more historic is that Democrats have become the first political party to project their own Treason, Bribery, and other High Crimes and Misdemeanors onto a sitting President of the opposite political party not once, but twice. The Democrats first impeachment included two articles: (i) Abuse of Power and (ii) Obstruction of Justice. The Abuse of Power article centered around Trumps phone call with Ukraine. Trump requested assistance to investigate Joe Biden. Quid pro quo was the phrase of the month, with the implication that any tit-for-tat exchange between the two nations was somehow unfathomable. How could Trump hold up $400,000 of necessary and Congressionally-approved foreign aid!?!, bemoaned many. Inconvenient for Trump, but necessary to the alleged corruption fact pattern, it was Trumps political opponent who was being investigated. At the time, Bidens son Hunter was allegedly under investigation by a Ukrainian prosecutor. Hunter was handsomely paid by a corrupt Ukrainian oil company. His only qualification: the spelling of his last name. Joe Biden is on video boasting about threatening the loss of $1,000,000,000 of necessary and Congressionally-approved funding if the Ukraine prosecutor investigating his son was not fired. Well, Son-of-a-B*tch, as a result of Joe Bidens quid pro quo, the Ukrainian prosecutor was fired and Bidens son was off scot-free. Trump had no choice but to work with Ukraine to obtain evidence of apparent corruption, and quid pro quos are how foreign relations get done. The key difference is Trump did not have any on-the-surface improper familial relations with Ukraine. Further, the amount Trump initially withheld from Ukraine was 2,500 times less than what Biden withheld. Finally, Ukraine was not even aware of Trumps temporary withholding. Yet all Democrat Representatives impeached a Republican president based on projections of the Biden familys on-the-record and dubious conduct in Ukraine. The Obstruction of Justice article focused on Trumps asserting Executive Privilege. Despite live legal challenges over Trumps assertion, Democrats could not wait for resolution in the courts before impeaching Trump. He was imperiling the Union. This rationale was contradicted when Pelosi decided to hold on to the Articles of Impeachment for many weeks. During this wait, Pelosi blackmailed the co-equal other half of the Legislature to attempt to modify the Senates impeachment trial rules to her liking. Democrats should be quite familiar with inappropriate Executive Privilege assertions. Attorney General Holder refused to provide Congressionally requested Fast and Furious documents. This operation ended in the murder of a US Border Patrol agent with a gun from Holders Justice Department. Holder became the first Attorney General held in contempt of Congress with a bipartisan vote. The dissenting Democrats, notably led by now-Speaker Pelosi, marched out of the House to protest the actions of the Republicans (and 17 Democrats) who held Obamas wingman in contempt. In the second impeachment, consisting of a single article, the Democrats (and 10 Republicans) stated that Trump incited violence against the Government of the United States. The article selectively quotes Trump as saying, if you dont fight like hell youre not going to have a country anymore. The article omits quoting Trump saying, everyone here will soon be marching over to the Capitol building to peacefully and patriotically make your voices heard. In attempting to fact-check if Trump directed the protestors to be peaceful and patriotic, Newsweek begrudgingly awarded a Mostly True rating, mixing in Trumps claims of a stolen election. The list of Democrats projecting their own incitement into the impeachment articles includes Kamala Protesters Should Not Let Up Harris, Hillary You Cant Be Civil Clinton, Cory Get Up in the Face Booker, Eric When They Go Low, We Kick Them Holder, and Nancy Be Ready to Throw a Punch Pelosi (a.k.a. Nancy I Just Dont Know Why There Arent Uprisings All Over the Country Pelosi), among many others. The single article of the Democrats second impeachment also suggests that Trump threatened a co-equal branch of the government by urging the Legislature not to certify the election. Most hypocritically, the Democrats second impeachment was immediately preceded by Nancy Pelosi passing a House Resolution to blackmail (a recurring theme for Pelosi) Vice President Mike Pence to enact the 25th Amendment (a wholly Executive-branch-initiated process) to remove President Trump under threat of Impeachment. Further, Representative Pelosi and Senators Markey and McGovern pressured military leaders to remove Trumps constitutionally appointed powers as Commander in Chief of the military. Specifically, Legislators directly pressured military generals to attempt to remove the Commander in Chiefs ability to use the nuclear arsenal. The ability to use a nuclear arsenal is a necessary requirement of the Mutually Assured Destruction philosophy that has kept the world safe from total destruction for the entire nuclear age. Still, Pelosi was fine increasing the risk of global Armageddon based on her politically motivated misinterpretation of Trumps role in the January 6 Capitol invasion. Finally, getting the award for Most Patience is Democratic Representative Jamie Raskin, the lead manager of the second impeachment. Raskin waited nearly four years to decertify Trump as President since he first objected to cetifying Floridas 29 Electoral votes in favor of Trump. The Democrats second impeachment could not have removed President Trump from office before the scheduled inauguration and will thus be moot. Nor do the facts support any legal definition of the crime of incitement to violence. Yet the Democrats, joined by a handful of Republicans this time, voted to impeach Donald Trump, again. Because there was no hope of removal in either impeachment it begs the question if the dual impeachment of Trump was wholly politically motivated virtue signaling. Democrats should worry about the precedent of this second impeachment. Namely, Georgias Stacey Abrams may have set herself up for political retribution after challenging her states rigged gubernatorial election and encouraging marginalized groups to fight in politics as the most effective method of revolt. IMAGE: Internet meme, edited by Andrea Widburg The central government kickstarted the world's biggest inoculation drive to mitigate the spread of coronavirus on January 16. According to the India Today Mood of the Nation poll, 92 per cent of Indians want coronavirus vaccines should be free of cost for common people. Merely 7 per cent of respondents said they don't want vaccine for free. As per the government, in the initial phase, the vaccine shots will be given to 1 crore healthcare workers, and around 2 crore frontline workers. And as per the prime minister's announcement on the launch day of the vaccination, the inoculation of these 3 crore individuals will be free of cost. The COVID-19 vaccines will get administered to people above 50 or younger than 50 years of age with associated comorbidities in later stages. As per the deal between vaccine making firms and the government, the Serum Institute of India's Covishield will be available at Rs 200 per dose for common people, and Bharat Biotech's Covaxin is priced at Rs 295 per dose. The government is sourcing a total of 55 lakh doses from Bharat Biotech. Out of these doses, Bharat Biotech has said that it will supply 16.5 lakh doses free of cost, and for the remaining 38.50 lakh doses, Bharat Biotech is charging the government Rs 295 per dose. But health ministry informed that considering the total procurement is 55 lakh doses, the price has come down to Rs 206 per dose. Further, the survey also found that only 76 per cent of respondents were willing to take the COVID-19 jab and 21 per cent still doubts about the efficacy of the vaccines. The Mood of The Nation survey has found that 73 per cent respondents have said they are satisfied with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic in the country. As per the MOTN survey, 50 per cent of respondents said the government's handling of COVID-19 crises was 'good', while 23 per cent called it 'outstanding'; seven per cent said 'poor' and two per cent called it 'very poor'. The Mood of the Nation poll was conducted by Karvy Insights, a market research agency. The poll was held between January 3, 2021 and January 13, 2021. A total of 12,232 interviews were conducted--67 per cent in rural and 33 per cent in urban areas--spread across 97 parliamentary constituencies and 194 assembly constituencies in 19 states. Also read: COVID-19 vaccine: Russia's Sputnik V to cost less than Rs 730 in India Also read: 66% reported salary cut, 19% lost jobs amid COVID-19, finds MOTN poll 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 Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 Letters: Trump was not without accomplishments but his personality got him into trouble The Memorandum of Understanding between Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan on joint exploration, development of hydrocarbon resources of the Dostlug field in the Caspian Sea has begun a new era in the history of the development of hydrocarbon deposits in the Caspian Sea, Professor of the Western Caspian University, political scientist Fikret Sadykhov said today, commenting on the signing of the document. President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov signed the memorandum at the videoconference meeting on January 21. For many years after the collapse of the Soviet Union, Baku and Ashgabat were at odds over the ownership of the undersea field. The field used to be called Kapaz by Azerbaijan and Serdar by Turkmenistan. Not it is called Dostluq (Friendship). Fikret Sadykhov first of all stressed that this document is a success for both Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan. "The Memorandum of Understanding and Joint Use of the Dostlug Field meets the interests of both our states. It is symbolic that soon after the resolution of the 30-year-old Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Azerbaijan signed this historic agreement," he said. "Dostlug's oil and gas reserves are estimated at 100 million tons. According to experts, at least 50 million tons can be extracted using modern technologies. These are significant reserves, and therefore the agreement on its joint use is called historical for a reason. It is the result of joint efforts of our two states, many years of mutual visits and negotiations, during which the necessary compromise was found," Fikret Sadykhov said. "Now both Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan will be able to fully implement their oil and gas strategies. This will allow Azerbaijan to maintain its geopolitically important position as one of the key hydrocarbon developers in the Caspian Sea. The role of Azerbaijan as a transit country will also increase, since the resources extracted at Dostlug will be exported through Azerbaijan's pipelines," the expert said. "The disputes that previously had a negative impact on relations between Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan in all spheres now have become a thing of the past. The Memorandum gave great opportunities for the implementation of both energy and transport communication projects in the Caspian region," the professor of the West Caspian University concluded. The Unification Ministry delivered a New Year briefing on Thursday and proposed to come up with means to resume cross-border communications. There was no mention of the fact that North Korea violently blew up a cross-border liaison office in Kaesong that had just been refurbished with billions of South Korean taxpayers' money. The ministry also made no mention of the fact that the North shot and incinerated a South Korean fisheries official at sea. The Foreign Ministry in its own briefing showed itself to be equally divorced from reality, saying it will now focus on the resumption of U.S.-North Korean dialogue. North Korea did not scrap a single nuclear weapon after the 2018 summit in Singapore between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un that South Korea brokered. Instead it drastically bolstered its nuclear arsenal. The Joe Biden administration has said it wants to re-evaluate its negotiating approach to the North, but the South Korean government insists that everything has worked out just fine so far. The Defense Ministry, meanwhile, said it is open to discussing with North Korea the fate of joint military exercises with the U.S. South Korea is probably the only country in the world that wishes to discuss details of its military defense drills with the enemy. The ministry cited as its key achievement last year "stable" relations with Japan, which were then at their absolute lowest ebb since the war. One presidential adviser at the National Unification Advisory Council said the U.S. could accept that North Korea has a limited number of nuclear weapons and try to contain a further expansion, and that would enable the U.S. to sell more weapons to South Korea. In other words, recognizing North Korea as a nuclear power will benefit the U.S. It is incomprehensible why the government persists in these fantasies. Nobody can be stupid enough actually to believe them, so what are they for? Moldova's Party of Socialists hopes that the parliament will re-adopt a law on granting a special status of interethnic communication to the Russian language, Vlad Batryncha, the party member and the deputy speaker of the Moldovan parliament, said on Friday during a briefing CHISINAU (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 22nd January, 2021) Moldova's Party of Socialists hopes that the parliament will re-adopt a law on granting a special status of interethnic communication to the Russian language, Vlad Batryncha, the party member and the deputy speaker of the Moldovan parliament, said on Friday during a briefing. On June 4, 2018, the court declared the law on the functioning of languages, which was approved during the Soviet era, outdated. This document stated that Russian had a status of the language of interethnic communication in Moldova. In late 2020, the parliament of Moldova adopted a new law on the functioning of languages and returned the status of the language of interethnic communication to Russian. In addition, state bodies were obligated to provide citizens with information in Russian. On Thursday, the court declared the newly adopted law unconstitutional. "We will not allow the Constitutional Court to replace the country's parliament, the country's parliament will consider and re-adopt the law on the functioning of languages in a new form," Batryncha said, adding that his party's goal is to ensure that all Moldovan citizens have equal rights. In addition, acting Justice Minister Fadei Nagacevschi called the court's decisions "a slap in the face" of Moldovan society and said that the language law was aimed at protecting the fundamental rights of citizens. A medical staffer takes care of a patient in the intensive care unit (ICU) at the Severance Hospital in Sinchon, Seoul, in this March 21, 2018 photo. / Korea Times file About 800,000 people sign advance directive refusing life-prolonging treatment By Lee Hyo-jin Three years have passed since the so-called "Death with Dignity Act" came into effect here in February 2018, which enabled people to make a choice about ceasing life-prolonging medical treatment. During this period, nearly 800,000 individuals have signed up for the program by submitting an advance directive forgoing life sustaining treatment in the event they fall terminally ill with no chance of recovery. Park Jin-sook, 56, a medical staffer at a nursing hospital in Seoul, is one of them. She has seen many deaths throughout her three decades working in the medical sector, making her frequently imagine the last moments of her life. But what she feared more than death itself was the "meaningless" end-of-life care she could receive lying in coma in an intensive care unit bed, incapable of expressing her own wishes. "Ever since I came across the end-of-life program back in 2019, I thought that signing the form would relieve some of my concerns. After deep consideration and discussions with my family, I finally completed the form last November," Park said. With her documents registered in a government databank shared by hospitals and public health institutions, life-extension treatment if Park falls terminally ill can be halted under several conditions: confirmation by a family member, approval from the ethics committee at the medical institution, and a prognosis from two doctors confirming her as a terminal patient. Currently, four types of treatment cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), use of artificial respiration, hemodialysis, and administration of anti-cancer drugs are categorized by the government as life-extension care. Any person above the age 19 can register the advance directive, which they can also withdraw at any time. Since its launch in February 2018, a total of 790,193 people have signed up for the program, according to recent data from the National Agency for Management of Life-Sustaining Treatment, which runs the program. More specifically, 105,529 people registered in 2018. The number surged to 432,138 in 2019 and fell to 257,526 in 2020. About 88 percent of the registration were made by people over 60. A survey conducted in December by the Korea National Institute for Bioethics Policy (NIBP) showed that a vast majority, or 91 percent of 300 respondents, were aware of the program. About 81 percent said they had a positive view on it, while 60 percent replied they were willing to register in the future. Kim Myung-hee, head of the NIBP, said there were multiple reasons as to why the program had gained a lot of public attention. "It reflects the not-so-sudden public interest in death with dignity," Kim said during a phone interview with The Korea Times. "Since a local court's landmark ruling in 2009 allowing euthanasia for an elderly woman surnamed Kim, the idea of death with dignity has emerged as a trend. Many people have wanted the legal grounds to allow the act and a government plan to formally guarantee their right to it," she explained. She added that active campaigns held by civic groups promoting the program has also encouraged people to register. Kim saw that the decrease in numbers in 2020 as possibly attributable to the COVID-19 pandemic. "Those who are mostly interested in the program are elderly citizens over age 70, but their outdoor activities have been highly limited since the coronavirus outbreak," she said. However, despite rising demand, the actual ending of life extension treatment is not easily carried out in medical institutions, mainly due to the absence of an ethics committee. About half of 320 general hospitals nationwide have such a committee, but only 4 percent of 1,585 nursing homes have one, according to government data. Kim stated that the government is trying to expand the program especially at nursing homes, by engaging in continuous talks with medical organizations. For those who are considering or planning to sign the advance directive, Kim advised a prudent approach in making the "life-and-death" decision. "It is important to frequently think about death in our daily life, which is the inevitable ending of life, and how one wants to be prepared for it," she said. "Also, it should be thoroughly discussed with family members, relatives or friends, as they will be deeply involved in carrying out the subsequent actions," Kim advised. Vietnams leading private conglomerate Vingroup has started discussion for acquiring part of LG Electronics Inc.s smartphone business to bolster its high-tech businesses, according to South Korean media. The report came shortly after LG Electronics Chief Executive Kwon Bong-seok said that the home appliance maker is considering selling the loss-making smartphone division. Business Korea on Thursday reported that LG Electronics has decided to sell off its smartphone business piece by piece as selling the entirety is infeasible. Among the companies that covet the South Korean multinational electronics companys smartphone business is Vingroup that has put forward the most attractive offer. In particular, the Vietnamese conglomerate is eyeing taking over LG Electronics smartphone business in the U.S. as it is seeking to advance into the U.S. market through the acquisition, according to Business Korea. LG Electronics held a 12.9-percent share in North Americas smartphone market last year, The Korea Economic Daily cited Strategy Analytics, a market research firm. Meanwhile, NewsPim, a South Korean news provider, reported on Wednesday that Vingroup is targeting the LG smartphone business sales networks, after-sales services and research & development staff, as well as plants in Central and South America. On the other hand, The Korea Times reported on Thursday that Vingroup is set to acquire all of LG Electronics' smartphone manufacturing plants in Vietnam, China, and Brazil. 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 South Korean senior industry official told The Korea Times. In a related development, LG Electronics CEO Kwon sent out an e-mail on Wednesday acknowledging there would be large-scale restructuring efforts. Vingroup is a large conglomerate in Vietnam with a market capitalization of US$16.5 billion as of the end of 2020, accounting for 14 percent of the total market cap of Vietnamese listed companies. The company is engaged in diverse business areas, including hotels and tourism, real estate, distribution, construction, automobiles, and mobile phones, but its presence is still modest on the global stage. Vingroup entered the smartphone business in 2018. It has been producing smartphones under an original design manufacturing (ODM) contract with LG Electronics. Currently, it is the third-largest smartphone producer in Vietnam after Samsung Electronics and Oppo. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Over the last seven days, 86,230 more doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been given to Massachusetts residents as state health officials continue to ramp up vaccination efforts. So far, 359,919 doses have been administered across Massachusetts since Dec. 15 when vaccinations began. The new vaccination data released by health officials Thursday came hours after Gov. Charlie Bakers administration announced the remaining groups prioritized in Phase 1 of the vaccine distribution plan are now able to receive the vaccine. Frontline medical workers were first, followed by residents and staff of long-term care facilities. Current COVID-19 vaccines made by Moderna or Pfizer-BioNTech, require two doses for a person to become fully vaccinated. A total of 51,547 people have received both doses. So far 207,675 Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines have been shipped into the state and 384,100 of the vaccine from Moderna. Over 60% of vaccinations being given to frontline hospital staff. This accounts for 231,930 of those working in hospitals having at least their first injection. The largest age group to receive vaccinations are 30 to 49-year-olds. Over 43% of those able to receive the dose have been fully vaccinated and 36% have received the first dose. At least 109,657 individuals in their 50s and 60s have received their first dose and 19,022 or 36.9% of the same age group have been fully vaccinated, according to the DPH. The smallest group by race has been Black Americans with 10,365 in total receiving a vaccination. The first dose has been given to 8,923 in this group and 1,442 have a full vaccination as of Thursday. Vaccinations for white frontline medical staff account for over 50% being fully vaccinated and 41% have received their first dose. Suffolk County has seen the most people vaccinated with 245,275 people receiving doses. Health officials note that 30% of the countys Phase 1 population has been vaccinated. Boston is approaching a cumulative total of 50,000 COVID-19 cases. On Friday, officials urge residents to get vaccinations as soon as they are available. Middlesex has seen 77,625 people receive doses and 69,825 in Worcester. Related Content: In a policy speech on Wednesday, Labor leader Anthony Albanese trumpeted his partys commitment to the US-Australia military alliance and its support for Washingtons escalating confrontation with China. Timed to occur the same day as Joseph Bidens inauguration as president, the speech had the character of a pitch to the US and Australian ruling elites. Albaneses line was that a Labor government would be best placed to deepen the alliance under the new Democratic Party administration, as it seeks to ensure American hegemony in the Asia-Pacific and undermine Chinas growing influence in the region. Australian Labor Party Leader Anthony Albanese (Photo: Twitter) The venue at which Albanese spoke was intended to drive home this message. His speech was delivered to the USAsia Centre in Perth, a think tank funded by the US State Department. Established in 2012 on the initiative of Barack Obamas administration, in which Biden was vice-president, it was opened with a speech by then Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. The centre was set-up as an ideological and political beachhead of the anti-China campaign in Perth, which is located on the coast of the geo-strategically critical Indian Ocean and hosts Australias important HMAS Stirling Naval Base. Albanese hailed Bidens presidency as a new chapter in international relations and American democracy that would radiate throughout the world. He made reference to the January 6 coup attempt, in which Donald Trump sought to overturn the presidential election result by inciting a fascist mob to attack the Capitol. US democracy had been brought to the brink, Albanese said, but it had shown its resilience. Attempts to undermine it have failed. The Labor leaders paen to American democracy had a delusional character. Biden assumes office after a section of the ruling elite sought to overthrow his presidency and establish a dictatorship. He has responded by appealing for unity with his Republican colleagues, including those involved in the coup plot, in a bid to paper over divisions within the state apparatus that threaten the political structures of American capitalism. Biden will do nothing to seriously address the pandemic and his pro-business policies will intensify the deep social inequality that underlies the breakdown of democratic norms. Albaneses Panglossian optimism reflected fears within the ruling elite over the international implications of the crisis in the US. The great tragedy of the recent past is the power of Americas example has been diminished from within, Albanese said, weakening US international leadership and its rules-based order, codewords for the dominance of American imperialism. In a related argument, Albanese condemned Prime Minister Scott Morrison for too closely identifying his government with Trump. Albanese noted that Morrison had addressed what was effectively a Trump campaign rally in 2019 and had refused to criticise Trumps role in the January 6 coup. Morrison had also tolerated Liberal and National backbenchers, who openly promoted the Republican Partys lies about a stolen election. This, Albanese warned, could create complications in Australias relationship with the new administration. Scott Morrison will have his work cut out given his attendance at partisan events with Donald Trump and his failure to build any connections with the Democrats, he said. Albaneses own condemnations of Trump have a decidedly latter-day character. He largely refrained from criticising the then US president after being installed as Labor leader in May 2019, until Trumps election defeat last November. Throughout, Albanese has been at pains to stress his commitment to the alliance and has marched in lockstep with the government on foreign policy and national security questions. Even in his speech, Albanese noted that he and his Labor colleagues had held private meetings with Trumps Vice President Mike Pence, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Defence Secretary Mark Esper, during their visits to Australia, all of which were aimed at ratcheting up the campaign against China. The US diplomatic, economic and military confrontation with Beijing was initiated by the Obama administration, deepened under Trump and will be further expanded by Biden, who pitched himself as the most hawkish candidate on China during the presidential election. To the extent that Albanese criticised Trumps foreign policy during the speech, it was not for his administrations many anti-China provocations. The Labor leaders retrospective complaint was that Trumps America First program, involving trade sanctions, not only on China, but also nominal allies in Europe, and attacks on multilateral organisations, had weakened the US-led alliance network. Albanese also bemoaned the blowback of Chinese trade sanctions on some Australian exporters, and declared that Trump had largely been indifferent to this. The Chinese measures have been in retaliation for Australian tariffs and restrictions on investment directed against Beijing, as well as its McCarthyite campaign over supposed Chinese foreign interference. The Labor leader forecast that the bipartisan shift in Washington towards strategic competition with China is likely to endure. But he declared that under Biden, this would involve greater collaboration with alliance partners and the strengthening of international institutions, which have entrenched US geo-strategic dominance since the end of World War II. Labor sees the need for a US regional strategy that strengthens the international rules, provides credible offers of support to regional countries, and boosts prosperity, he stated. Albanese favourably sketched out an all-sided escalation of the US confrontation with China by the Biden administration. From promoting human rights and the rule of law, investing in defence and broader technological capability, defending against threatsphysical and grey-zoneand identifying areas of cooperation, Bidens approach to the China relationship will have global and local implications. The reference to cooperation notwithstanding, Albanese was speaking of bogus US human rights campaigns, aimed at ramping up the pressure on China, aggressive attempts to undermine Beijings influence in the region based on hypocritical invocations of the rule of law, military provocations in the South China and East China Seas and outright preparations for military conflict. This would receive Labors full support. Australias interests call for greater, more strategic effort from the US in Southeast Asia, Albanese declared. It has been reassuring to see the extent to which the Biden team has already acknowledged the imperative of strategic engagement and leadership in the Indo-Pacific region. At the same time, Labor would advocate a greater Australian orientation to South East Asian nations. Australia will need to lift its game in the region, Albanese declared, accusing Morrison of having failed to pay sufficient attention to nations such as Indonesia. Albanese was effectively sketching out a return, at a higher level, to the US pivot to Asia, as it was pursued under the Obama administration, with the full support of the then Labor government of Prime Minister Julia Gillard. Rather than unilateral trade measures and other America First policies associated with Trump, this would involve a greater focus on mobilising countries throughout the region against China, carrying out diplomatic provocations through institutions such as the United Nations, and further building-up military capabilities. Albaneses speech again underscored that Labor is a party of imperialist aggression and militarism. Having placed Australia on the frontlines of the US war drive against China, it is now calling for even greater involvement in an escalation of hostilities with Beijing that will be carried out by the Biden administration. An Iranian "Shahed 129" unmanned aerial vehicle at the Eqtedar 40 defense exhibition in Tehran, Jan. 30, 2019. (Israel Hayom via JNS) - As tensions escalate in the Red Sea region, Iran has sent several Shahed-136 loitering munitions, known as "suicide drones," to its proxies in Yemen, Newsweek reported on Thursday. According to the report, satellite footage from Dec. 25 shows that Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps sent the drones to the Al-Jawf province in northern Yemen, an area controlled by the Houthi rebels. These drones are capable of reaching destinations 2,200 kilometers (1,400 miles) away and can therefore reach Israel. Meanwhile, the Iranian army is conducting naval exercises in th... Eight Antifa rioters accused of smashing windows at Portland's Democratic Party headquarters hours after President Joe Biden was sworn in have had their mugshots published together with the weapons they allegedly used in the assault. Police have arrested 15 total suspects out of a mob estimated to be 200 people. Among the arrested are: Jovanni Garcia of Beaverton, Oregon, 24; Justin Bowen of Portland, Oregon, 25; Andre Marks of Vancouver, Washington, 20; Christopher Lundrigan of Portland, 26; Theodore Matthee-O'Brien of Portland, 22; Trevor Colter, 26; Gregg Ian Tully of Portland, 44; Kyle Romstad of Portland, 22; Kaiave Douvia of Portland, 22; Jean V. Paris of Albany, 18; Alyssa Hartley Davis of Albany, 18; Austin N. Nuchraska of McMinnville, 25; Nicole Aria Rose of Portland, 25; Darnell Kimberlin of Portland, 31; and Davis Alan Beeman of Vancouver, 38. All face a variety of charges from reckless endangerment, disorderly conduct, resisting arrest and assaulting a peace officer. Booking photos clockwise, starting upper left) Nicole Aria Rose, Austin N. Nuchraska, Jean V. Paris, Kaiave Douvia, Darrell A. Kimberlin, Davis Alan Beeman, Alyssa Hartley Davis and Kyle Romstad Federal police deployed 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, according to authorities A group of protesters shield themselves from chemical irritants fired by police during protests in Portland, Oregon Portland Police confiscated knives as part of a multitude of weapons taken This metal baton and bullet proof vest was also held by police from those arrests Various baton, pepper spray and flick knives were found on those who were arrested A crow bar, spray paint and a pair of pliers were found in one protester's backpack Homemade firebombs were also among those items taken by police during the arrests Smoke bombs, tear gas, bear spray and a knife were also taken by police from the protesters Out of the 15 apprehended, seven had already been arrested during earlier Antifa riots. The rest of the group of 200 people quickly vanished into nearby neighborhood streets. Black Lives Matter-Antifa had already announced they were to host a January 20th riot and it saw 150 Antifa dressed in black march through the city streets. The group stopped traffic as they headed to the headquarters of the Democratic Party of Oregon carrying a large banner stating: 'WE DON'T WANT BIDENWE WANT REVENGE!' in response to 'police murders' and 'imperialist wars.' Using hammers and batons, the mob smashed the windows to offices before dragging dumpsters onto the street setting fire to them. During the arrests, Portland Police confiscated knives, batons, a crowbar, pepper spray and homemade firebombs. Police officers respond to protesters rallying against the new Biden-Harris administration and to call upon them to abolish ICE in Portland, Oregon on Wednesday night Antifa members dressed in black are seen smashing windows of the Democratic Party of Oregon headquarters in Portland Later on Wednesday night, the group came together once more at a second gathering southwest Portland chanting 'F*** Joe Biden' as they marched to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility. They brandished shields, batons and rocks while dressed in riot gear. The mob gathered outside ICE 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. 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 ICE building. Protesters were fired with tear gas during a rally outside the ICE building in Portland, Oregon after Biden's inauguration Federal authorities use tear gas and flash bangs in an attempt to disperse rioters outside the ICE building in Portland, Oregon, on Wednesday Police armed with riot gear fired tear gas into the crowds of protesters in Portland, Wednesday A protester puts out a police smoke grenade during demonstrations in Portland, Oregon, on Wednesday Video posted to social media show flash bangs exploding as federal authorities attempted to quell the unrest using tear gas. 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 struck Portland and Seattle just hours after US President Joe Biden's inauguration, police said Thursday, with Democratic Party and federal immigration offices vandalized and reports of tear gas and stun grenades used. The Pacific Northwest region emerged as a hotbed of demonstrations last year, but any hopes that the end of Donald Trump's term in office would quickly halt violent unrest tied to far-left groups were dashed Wednesday. Around 150 people vandalized Oregon's Democratic Party offices Wednesday afternoon, before a similarly sized group descended on the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement building in Portland late evening. Antifa members spray-painted anti-Biden graffiti while vandalizing the headquarters of the Democratic Party of Oregon in Portland on Wednesday, hours after Biden's inauguration Police in Portland made several arrests just hours after Biden was inaugurated as the 46th president on Wednesday One of the signs read 'We don't want Biden, we want revenge!' in response to 'police murders' and 'imperialist wars' A protester is seen above during demonstrations in Portland, Oregon, just hours after Biden was sworn in as president 'Some of the crowd had pepperball guns, electronic control weapons, large fireworks, shields and rocks,' said Portland police spokesman Kevin Allen. 'Federal officers launched crowd control munitions,' he added, without specifying the type. At least eight people were arrested. Local CBS affiliate KOIN 6 News witnessed 'what appeared to be tear gas, as well as stun grenades and less-lethal munitions like pepperballs.' The violence and vandalism emerged on a day when several far-left demonstrations were planned to put pressure on the new administration to swiftly introduce immigration, racial justice and policing reforms. According to the New York Times, one flier handed out at the Seattle demonstration attacked Biden over 'his stupid' crime bill passed in 1994, which was blamed for leading to mass incarcerations. An estimated 200 people protested in Portland late on Wednesday - hours after President Joe Biden's inauguration, but just 15 were arrested from the mob Federal law enforcement officers guard an ICE facility during a rally to abolish ICE after Biden's inauguration Within hours of taking office Wednesday, Biden signed a raft of executive orders, including measures to give millions of undocumented migrants a path to citizenship that the Trump administration denied. The Democratic Party of Oregon said in a statement to AFP it was 'frustrated and disappointed' by the damage to its offices -- which were empty -- but would not be deterred 'from our important work.' 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. Inflamed by the arrival of federal officers and right-wing militias, including the so-called Proud Boys, protests turned deadly. While the development of an accurate, rapid and relatively affordable COVID-19 test is a remarkable achievement, its the community impact and benefit of any innovation that is the truest measure of its success. In the case of Community Labs, the nonprofit co-founded by Graham Weston, J. Bruce Bugg Jr. and J. Tullos Wells, that measure is off the charts in a very short time. Its impossible to overstate the significance of Community Labs innovative work for San Antonio and Texas. Perhaps at the most basic level, Community Labs work to develop and distribute rapid COVID-19 testing has the potential to limit community spread of the disease from so-called silent spreaders, asymptomatic carriers of this insidious virus. It also has allowed faculty and staff at schools to feel more comfortable about returning to the classroom and for parents to feel more at ease about having their students attend school in person. These are not antigen tests but far more accurate PCR, or polymerase chain reaction, tests. As Saul Hinojosa, superintendent of Somerset ISD, which hosted the first pilot of Community Labs tests last semester, recently told this Editorial Board, the testing has helped boost district in-person enrollment. It was a point seconded by Edgewood ISD Superintendent Eduardo Hernandez, and its one reason testing will be expanded to all San Antonio ISD campuses this spring. Having this as part of our safety procedures is a game-changer, SAISD Superintendent Pedro Martinez told us. What that means is parents, faculty and staff can embrace in-person learning with more confidence that schools are safe during this pandemic and learning can occur more equitably. This aligns with President Joe Bidens COVID-19 plan, which includes funding for expanded testing to keep kids in schools. One of the paradoxes of the pandemic has been that while students in wealthier school districts where internet connections are mostly a given have returned to in-person learning in greater numbers, students in lower-income districts, where internet connections are not assured, have often stayed home, potentially falling behind, with long-term consequences. Many of our families that are high income, they are in schools, Martinez said. They are in schools and their kids are in person. Why? Because they know that the schools are safe. But that cant always be said about homes. As Hernandez told us: The other thing this pandemic has done is that it has actually shown our teachers what our kids are dealing with every day. He said teachers hear profanity, yelling and screaming in homes during virtual learning sessions, and now they cant unhear and cant unsee what they have witnessed. At a time when the nation is struggling with vaccine distribution, new COVID-19 variants are emerging and it will be many months until a vaccine is available to children, expanded testing is crucial to have as many students in school as possible. Community Labs is a model. We want to be clear. Testing in schools is not a solution to the digital divide in our community. When schools closed in the spring a necessary, given how little we knew about the novel coronavirus, and the shortage in personal protective equipment laptops were distributed to families who lacked internet connections. Students struggled to keep pace with online learning. Teachers struggled to connect with students. Those challenges remain for many families. The solution is to ensure all households in San Antonio have access to reliable high-speed internet. What Community Labs testing offers isnt a bridge to this divide, but an assurance that children and parents in San Antonio hopefully all can resume with in-person learning with a high degree of confidence regardless of income or geography. Our call to Bugg, Weston and Wells is to please keep going. To not only expand testing, but pursue collaborations long after the pandemic to address our digital and learning divides. To view this remarkable achievement for testing as a beginning to even greater collaborative work and innovation. The woman behind the mittens worn by Bernie Sanders during US President Joe Biden's inauguration has sold out of the hand-warmers. The 79-year-old Vermont senator became an overnight meme sensation after he was pictured wearing a light-brown jacket and the over-sized mittens to Biden's inauguration ceremony on Wednesday. Vermont school teacher Jen Ellis gifted Saunders the unique mittens on the campaign trail in 2016. She claims the gloves have proved so popular that she has been inundated with hundreds of requests, but no longer has any for sale. The world is smitten with Sen. Bernie Sanders' mittens from the inauguration! Vermont teacher Jen Ellis handmade the eco-friendly mitten and gave to the senator 5 years ago. She tells @tjholmes she is "flattered" her gift has gone viral. https://t.co/i9rZzYvW4s pic.twitter.com/gY5th2LeqG Good Morning America (@GMA) January 22, 2021 Jen Ellis, the woman behind the mittens worn by Bernie Sanders during US President Joe Biden's inauguration, has sold out of the hand-warmers Vermont school teacher Jen Ellis gifted Saunders the mittens on the campaign trail in 2016 The 79-year-old's wool mitten and signature brown coat stood in stark contrast to the long flowing overcoats and leather gloves at the Capitol The second grade teacher took to Twitter to announce: 'Thanks for all the interest in Bernie's mittens! It truly has been an amazing and historic day! 'I'm so flattered that Bernie wore them to the inauguration. Sadly, I have no more mittens for sale.' However, she added: 'There are a lot of great crafters on ETSY who make them.' Ellis gave Sanders the patterned, hand-knit 'smittens', which are part mittens, part sweater, during his campaign trail in 2016, but did not expect him to start wearing them at high-profile events. The mittens' uniqueness comes from the fact that they are environmentally friendly and made from repurposed wool sweaters. They are also lined with fleece made from plastic bottles. Speaking to the Jewish Insider, Ellis said that every time she checks her email, another several hundred people have emailed her asking about the special mittens. 'I hate to disappoint people, but the mittens, they're one of a kind and they're unique and, sometimes in this world, you just can't get everything you want,' she said. The second grade teacher took to Twitter to announce: 'Thanks for all the interest in Bernie's mittens! It truly has been an amazing and historic day!' Speaking to Gayle King following the ceremonies, and after people flocked to Twitter to share their admiration for his mittens and signature brown coat, the 79-year-old said that people in Vermont weren't as concerned about their fashion 'I hate to disappoint people, but the mittens, they're one of a kind and they're unique and, sometimes in this world, you just can't get everything you want,' she said Meanwhile, Sanders has laughed off his status as a viral meme, telling a CNN reporter on Thursday that it 'makes people aware there are good mittens in Vermont.' 'We have some good coats as well,' he added. Speaking to Gayle King following the ceremonies, and after people flocked to Twitter to share their photoshopped creations featuring for his mittens and signature brown coat, the 79-year-old said that people in Vermont weren't as concerned about their fashion. 'In Vermont, we know something about the cold,' Sanders said, 'and we're not so concerned about good fashion. 'We want to keep warm. And that's what I did today.' King quickly replied with a laugh: 'Mission accomplished.' While the women at the inauguration were lauded for their impeccable style choices, Senator Bernie Sander's (VT-D) mittens became the talk of the town as the best sensible fashion at the Capitol. Sanders' wool mitten and signature brown coat stood in stark contrast to the long flowing overcoats and leather gloves sported by many in Washington on Wednesday, but social media quickly deemed his look just as trendsetting. Even Rashida Tlaib (MI-D) shared that she wanted a pair of the mittens. Twitter users also fell in love with Sanders' outfit with many joking that he looked like he was heading to the post office as he clutched a manila envelope. Others photoshopped Sanders into movie scenes and on everything from the New York Subway to manning a hotdog stand. The image of Sanders is proving a lucrative business opportunity, with the photograph being sold on T-shirts, mugs and other items. A bus driver who killed a 'promising' academic from China and seriously injured another student after crashing his double-decker into a railway bridge has been jailed. Eric Vice, 64, was driving the service to Swansea University when its upper deck collided with a bridge as he took a detour from his usual route to 'beat a few minutes'. Jessica Jing Ren, 36, a visiting lecturer from Huanghuai University in China, was one of a dozen people injured when the bridge tore into the bus's upper deck. Eric Vice, 64, (pictured left) took the detour to avoid a few minutes' delay he had experienced earlier in the day as he drove the bus. Mother Jessica Jing Ren, 36, (pictured right), who was sitting on the front seat of the top deck was airlifted to hospital but died 11 days later The double-decker bus crashed into a railway bridge in Swansea, South Wales She died from her injuries 11 days later. Today Vice pleaded guilty at Swansea Crown Court to causing death by dangerous driving. He also pleaded guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving in relation to aerospace engineering student Richard Thompson, 20, who required facial reconstruction after the incident. Ms Wren, who had a five-year-old son with her Chinese lecturer husband, was unconscious and cut out of the bus 90 minutes later by firefighters. She was airlifted to the University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, with spine injuries, leg fractures, lacerations, and a severe brain injury resulting in brain stem death. The top deck of the bus was crumpled - with a section of the roof being thrown onto the rail line above the bridge Prosecutor Carina Hughes said Vice had taken a different route to the university's Bay Campus while transporting 21 passengers after encountering morning traffic on December 12, 2019. She said Vice drove past two height restriction warnings on a route used by the city's single decker park-and-ride buses as he headed for the stone arch bridge on Neath Road. But the lower steel railway bridge further inside the opening collided with the bus and tore through the upper deck, as screaming passengers were thrown forward and the vehicle came to a halt. Ms Wren, a lecturer from China who was studying and researching at the university, was sat in the front row of the upper deck at the time of the crash. Pictures taken on-board show the black and yellow markings of the bridge coming through the bus's top deck. It sheared off the roof of the bus over the first half a dozen rows of seats Among the passengers was American Olympic gold medallist Kevin Young, a masters student who suffered a head wound and two broken ribs, who described seeing Ms Wren hit the front windscreen. The prosecutor said trapped passengers covered in debris had to crouch down in the flattened upper deck while they waited to be rescued, while Mr Young described smashing parts of the windscreen which were lying on Mrs Ren's legs. She added: 'Mr Young says she was slowly trying to mouth some words to him, but it was inaudible. 'He described that he held her hand to try and comfort her until the police and paramedics arrived.'. After the crash, witnesses described Vice going up and down the bus's stairs 'asking passengers if they were OK', and escorted aerospace engineering student Mr Thompson down them. Seven other passengers were injured on the X10 service on December 12 last year Mr Thompson lost teeth in the crash, as well as severe wounds which required facial reconstructive surgery and dental treatment, but was said to now be 'coping generally well'. Vice told police at the scene he had regularly driven under the bridge with single decker buses in the past, and that when he hit the steel part of it 'it was too late'. Ian Ibrahim, defending, said Vice was a 'kind, considerate and compassionate gentlemen', and that his decision to take the detour was 'without doubt a catastrophic error of judgment.' Judge Geraint Williams said Vice's detour 'would have gained but minutes' in time. He said: 'That fatal error of yours resulted in the death of a promising young academic. 'Your delay in travelling through the city centre brought about an uncharacteristic but nonetheless significant impatience in you. 'The stark reality in this case is that your impatience that day robbed you of the care which ordinarily you applied to your professional driving.' Vice, from Dunvant, Swansea, was sentenced to two years and six months in jail. He was also disqualified from driving for five years and three months, and will not be able to drive unless an extended driving test is taken. There appear to be several factors contributing to the resurgence of carjacking, according to Deenihan. The COVID-19 epidemic is one because it gives villains an edge: They can cover their faces without arousing suspicion. If you see a group of three or four people walking down the street with masks up and hoodies tied around their heads like theyre going to rob a bank in the movies, now thats just a group of three people walking down the street. After months of protests across the state and country demanding racial equality, New Jersey Lt. Gov. Sheila Oliver said Thursday its time for state officials to abandon bureaucratic red tape and pass more far-reaching racial justice policies. Oliver, a Democrat, made the remarks at an annual meeting for the New Jersey Institute For Social Justice (NJISJ) Thursday evening, where leaders discussed the institutions goals for the new legislative session, which began on January 14, and is scheduled to run through late January 2022. As a state governmental leader, weve got to abandon the old ways of going through bureaucratic kinds of experiences. Weve got to cut out the red tape, cut out the bureaucracy, Oliver said. If you want to get something done, I believe, like Nike says, you just do it. At the meeting, which was held on Zoom and attended by some state legislators and members of the public, NJISJ leaders put forth the organizations 2021 action agenda for social justice. The group is one of the most vocal advocacy groups for racial justice causes in the state. This year, it says it will commit to five goals: closing New Jerseys racial wealth gap; transforming the youth justice system; ensuring democracy for everyone; repairing the harm of racism and keeping communities safe. The progressive institution, which lobbied to secure the right for people on parole or probation to vote in New Jersey (A5823) in 2019, recommended its solutions to the challenges, many of which Oliver signaled her support for at the meeting. Oliver is the first Black woman to serve as New Jersey lieutenant governor. And the meeting comes in an election year in which every legislative seat in New Jersey is up for grabs. Democrat Gov. Phil Murphy is also up for re-election in 2021. NJISJ is calling for several measures to narrow New Jerseys racial wealth gap, including Gov. Murphys baby bond proposal, which would have invested $1,000 on behalf of every baby born in 2021 to families earning less than 500% of the federal poverty level. It also called for pilot programs that explore guaranteed basic income, push for expanded home ownership programs and the cancel of students loans. Oliver commented on New Jerseys failure last year to pass the bond proposal: We didnt get there. But it doesnt mean we wont get there. We have to begin to look at more creative ways of building wealth in our communities and doing it in novel, new ways. To address criminal justice reform, the institute wants the state to close three juvenile detention centers and spend more funds on community initiatives it said will more effectively prevent crime, like improving access to education. Black youth are 21 times more likely to be incarcerated in New Jersey than white youth, according to a 2020 report by NJISJ titled Beyond The Hashtag. It said it will push for more election reform and threw its support behind a bill introducing a reparative task force, which would explore reparations for New Jerseys role in the American system of slavery. Its not a New Jersey issue. Its, you know, 403 years of systemic racism. And thats where the financial gap in wealth continues today, said Assemblyman Benjie Wimberly (D-35), who sat on the meetings panel. (There are) so many issues that have put us behind the eight ball. That is proof that were not looking for a handout, when were talking about reparations, its a reality that we are owed. This country was built on our backs. New Jersey was built on our backs. Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a subscription. Tennyson Donyea may be reached at tcoleman@njadvancemedia.com. Senate Leaders Strike Deal to Delay Trumps Impeachment Trial The former presidents trial will begin the week of Feb. 8. President Biden issued orders to address the pandemics fallout, and his Education Department moved to cut ties with an accrediting body linked to a fraud scandal. This briefing has ended. Follow our latest coverage of the administration. Two Trump appointees are being investigated for posting reports denying climate change. David Legates, a climate denialist who joined the Trump administration last year as head of the United States Global Change Research Program, at a Senate hearing in 2014. Credit... C-SPAN.org The Commerce Departments Office of Inspector General said it will investigate an incident earlier this month in which two former Trump appointees posted debunked scientific reports denying the existence and significance of man-made climate change, purportedly on behalf of the United States government. Senator Mazie K. Hirono, Democrat of Hawaii, along with four other Senate Democrats, had requested the inquiry into potential wrongdoing around the postings and improper use of government logos. In a letter Friday to the senator, the compliance and ethics staff of the inspector generals office wrote, After careful consideration, we decided to review this matter further. Days before the end of the Trump administration, David Legates, who served as the head of the United States Global Change Research Program, and Ryan Maue, a senior official at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (O.S.T.P.), were reassigned after they posted reports on a climate denialism website. The Commerce Department is conducting the review because the two were on detail from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which is part of the Commerce Department. The reports were largely discredited theories, including one claiming the sun and not human-caused pollution is responsible for recent warming, and bore the logo of the executive office of the president. It also purported to be the copyrighted work of the O.S.T.P., representing the current state-of-the-science on climate change. The head of that agency under Mr. Trump, Kelvin Droegemeier, said in a statement at the time that the postings had been done without his knowledge or consent. In requesting the investigation, Sen. Hirono along with Senators Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island, Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, Edward J. Markey of Massachusetts and Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut said they worried that the departure of the two appointees presents an opportunity for this issue to fall through the cracks. Beyond disseminating dangerous information, the senators wrote, the use of O.S.T.P.s logo and copyright without permission is illegal under federal law. Not holding those involved accountable sets a bad precedent for future instances along those lines, they said. Mr. Legates did not immediately respond to a request for comment and Mr. Maue declined to comment. A spokesman for the Biden administration did not respond to a request for comment. But President Biden has been outspoken about bringing science back to the federal government, and on Wednesday the White House is expected to issue a sweeping agencywide memorandum on scientific integrity, according to an internal planning document obtained by The New York Times. The House will transmit its impeachment article on Monday, but Trumps trial will wait two weeks. Video transcript Back bars 0:00 / 1:40 - 0:00 transcript Senate Will Receive Impeachment Article Monday, Schumer Says Senator Chuck Schumer, the Senate majority leader, said the House will deliver the article of impeachment to the Senate on Monday, charging former President Donald J. Trump with incitement of insurrection. The Senate will also conduct a second impeachment trial for Donald Trump. Ive been speaking to the Republican leader about the timing and duration of the trial. But make no mistake, a trial will be held in the United States Senate, and there will be a vote on whether to convict the president. Ive spoken to Speaker Pelosi, who informed me that the articles will be delivered to the Senate on Monday. Now, Ive heard some of my Republican colleagues argue that this trial would be unconstitutional because Donald Trump is no longer in office, an argument that has been roundly repudiated, debunked by hundreds of constitutional scholars left, right and center, and defies basic common sense. It makes no sense whatsoever that a president or any official could commit a heinous crime against our country, and then be permitted to resign so as to avoid accountability and a vote to disbar them from future office. By Senate rules, if the article arrives, well start a trial right then. This impeachment began with an unprecedentedly fast and minimal process over in the House, the sequel cannot be an insufficient Senate process that denies former President Trump his due process or damages the Senate or the presidency itself. Senate Republicans strongly believe we need a full and fair process where the former president can mount a defense, and the Senate can properly consider the factual, legal and constitutional questions. Senator Chuck Schumer, the Senate majority leader, said the House will deliver the article of impeachment to the Senate on Monday, charging former President Donald J. Trump with incitement of insurrection. Credit Credit... Erin Schaff/The New York Times Senate leaders struck a deal on Friday to delay former President Donald J. Trumps impeachment trial for two weeks, giving President Biden time to install his cabinet and begin moving a legislative agenda before they begin a historic proceeding to try his predecessor for incitement of insurrection. The House still plans to deliver its impeachment charge at 7 p.m. Monday evening and senators will be sworn in for the trial the following day. But Senator Chuck Schumer, Democrat of New York and the majority leader, said the chamber would then pause until the week of Feb. 8 to give the prosecution and defense time to draft and exchange written legal briefs. During that period, the Senate will continue to do other business for the American people, such as cabinet nominations and the Covid relief bill, which would provide relief for millions of Americans who are suffering during this pandemic, Mr. Schumer said in a speech on the Senate floor. The delay represented a compromise between the two party leaders in the Senate. Senator Mitch McConnell, Republican of Kentucky and the minority leader, had initially proposed delaying another week, until Feb. 15, to get the trial underway in person. He had cited the need for Mr. Trumps legal team, hired only on Thursday, to prepare to give a full defense. Democrats were weighing competing interests, including Mr. Bidens agenda, a desire to dispatch with the trial of his predecessor quickly and to force Republican senators to go on the record with regard to Mr. Trumps actions as soon as possible after the Jan. 6 siege at the Capitol, carried out by a mob of his supporters whom he had exhorted to fight back against his election defeat. Mr. Biden, who has tried to steer clear of the trial, said earlier on Friday that he was in favor of a delay as the Senate worked to confirm members of his administration and start considering another coronavirus relief bill, his top priority. The more time we have to get up and running to meet these crises, the better, he said. Mr. Trumps trial, the second in a little over a year, presents a number of novel questions for senators. No president has ever been impeached twice and no former president has ever been put on trial. Doug Andres, a spokesman for Mr. McConnell, said the leader was glad Democrats had agreed to a slower timeline. Especially given the fast and minimal process in the House, Republicans set out to ensure the Senates next steps will respect former President Trumps rights and due process, the institution of the Senate, and the office of the presidency, he said. That goal has been achieved. This is a win for due process and fairness. Advertisement Continue reading the main story Giuliani concedes that an associate did ask for $20,000 a day to help Trump post-election. Rudy Giuliani, the former mayor of New York and the personal lawyer for former President Donald J. Trump, speaking during a news conference about the results of the 2020 presidential election at the RNC in Washington, D.C., on Nov. 19, 2020. Credit... Erin Schaff/The New York Times Rudolph W. Giuliani, former President Donald J. Trumps personal lawyer, conceded on Friday night that an associate had sent an email to campaign officials asking that Mr. Giuliani be paid $20,000 a day for his work after the Nov. 3 election, but he insisted he was unaware of it at the time. Mr. Giuliani acknowledged in a brief phone interview that his associate, Maria Ryan, had sent the email shortly after Election Day. But he maintained that she consulted with another associate, Larry Levy, about what Mr. Giuliani should ask for from the campaign while Mr. Giuliani was out of town. A copy of the email, reviewed by The New York Times, showed that she sent it from a Giuliani Partners email account. Mr. Giuliani began working the case in the wee hours of the morning on November 4, Ms. Ryan wrote. He has a team in Washington working out of rented hotel rooms. She wrote that the company was working on an engagement letter, and that instead of $2,000 an hour, we will contract for $20,000 a day which will include all of the expenses for Mr. Giuliani and his staff. The request was sent to at least three campaign officials, at a time when the campaign was raising expansive amounts of money for a legal fund to fight the election results. When The Times asked about the fee request in November, Mr. Giuliani denied it. He has continued to maintain it was a lie that he requested such a fee from the president, saying it as recently as Friday afternoon on his radio show. I did not do that, he said. In the phone interview on Friday night, after The Times asked his spokeswoman about Ms. Ryans email, Mr. Giuliani said that he told both the White House chief of staff, Mark Meadows, and Mr. Trump, Its ridiculous, I dont want to be paid. Mr. Giuliani said he did not recall precisely when he had that conversation. And it was unclear whether he was aware that Ms. Ryan had sent the email when The Times first asked him about the fee request. I never had a single expectation of being paid a penny, Mr. Giuliani said, adding that hes had a few expenses reimbursed but nothing more. He faulted Mr. Trumps other advisers and blasted them as incompetent in the lead-up to the election. I feel extremely bad that Im portrayed as some kind of money-grubbing ambulance chaser, Mr. Giuliani said. I represented him out of my sense of commitment, he continued. I didnt see anything about this that was going to lead to great wealth. I did see a lot about this that was going to lead to great torture. Biden keeps his focus on the pandemic, with more executive orders planned at delivering aid. Video transcript Back bars 0:00 / 2:04 - 0:00 transcript Biden Calls Coronavirus Aid an Economic Imperative President Biden signed two executive orders Friday, directing more federal aid to Americans struggling due to the coronavirus pandemic and laying the groundwork to institute a $15 minimum wage for federal employees. We remain in a once-in-a-century public health crisis thats led to the most unequal job and economic crisis in modern history. And the crisis is only deepening, its not getting better. Its deepening. We can not, will not let people go hungry. We can not let people be evicted because of nothing they did themselves, and can not watch people lose their jobs. And we have to act. We have to act now. Its not just to meet the moral obligation to treat our fellow Americans with the dignity, respect they deserve. This is an economic imperative. Im signing an executive order that directs the whole of government, a whole of government effort, to help millions of Americans who are badly hurting requires all federal agencies to do what they can do to provide relief to families, small businesses and communities. And in the days ahead, I expect agencies to act. Let me touch on two ways these actions can help change Americans lives. The Department of Agriculture will consider taking immediate steps to make it easier for the hardest-hit families to enroll and claim more generous benefits in the critical food and nutrition assistance area. I expect the Department of Labor to guarantee the right to refuse employment that will jeopardize your health, and if do so, youll still be able to qualify for the insurance. Thats a judgment. the Labor Department will make. Were in a national emergency. We need to act like were in a national emergency. So weve got to move with everything weve got. Weve got to do it together. The first one is the economic relief related to Covid-19 pandemic. Second one is protecting the federal workforce. President Biden signed two executive orders Friday, directing more federal aid to Americans struggling due to the coronavirus pandemic and laying the groundwork to institute a $15 minimum wage for federal employees. Credit Credit... Anna Moneymaker for The New York Times After issuing a series of executive orders on his first full day in office and pledging a full-scale wartime effort to combat the coronavirus pandemic, President Biden on Friday continued apace with two more executive orders aimed at steering additional federal aid to families struggling to afford food amid the pandemic and helping workers stay safe on the job. Mr. Biden, who has vowed to use the power of the presidency to help mitigate economic fallout from the pandemic, directed the Treasury Department to find ways to deliver stimulus checks to millions of eligible Americans who have not yet received the funds. Mr. Biden also signed a second executive order that will lay the groundwork for the federal government to institute a $15 an hour minimum wage for its employees and contract workers, while making it easier for federal workers to bargain collectively for better pay and benefits. The crisis is only deepening, Mr. Biden said during remarks at the White House, calling the need to help those out of work and unable to afford enough food an economic imperative. We have the tools to help people. So lets use the tools. All of them. Now, he said. The executive actions are part of an attempt by Mr. Biden to override his predecessor, former President Donald J. Trump, on issues pertaining to workers, the economy and the federal safety net. The orders Mr. Biden signed on Friday are a break from the Trump administrations attempts to limit the scope of many federal benefits that Trump officials said created a disincentive for Americans to work. The orders follow an ambitious raft of measures Mr. Biden took on his first full day in office, on Thursday. He signed a string of executive orders and presidential directives aimed at combating the worst public health crisis in a century, including new requirements for masks on interstate planes, trains and buses and for international travelers to quarantine after arriving in the United States. Listen to The Daily: Bidens Executive Orders On his first day, President Biden reversed some of his predecessors most divisive policies. But governing by decree can be fraught. transcript Back to The Daily bars 0:00 / 24:59 - 24:59 transcript Listen to The Daily: Bidens Executive Orders Hosted by Michael Barbaro; produced by Sydney Harper and Eric Krupke; edited by Lisa Chow; and engineered by Chris Wood. On his first day, President Biden reversed some of his predecessors most divisive policies. But governing by decree can be fraught. michael barbaro From The New York Times, Im Michael Barbaro. This is The Daily. [music] Today: In his first hours as president, Joe Biden signed a flurry of executive orders, reversing the legacy of President Trump. White House reporter Mike Shear on whats in the orders and the upside and downside of governing by executive action. Its Friday, January 22. archived recording (president biden) Well, this is going to be the first of many engagements were going to have in here. And I thought michael barbaro Mike, I wonder if you can set the scene for us a man, a plan, a pen. michael d. shear Right. So the scene is the Oval Office. This is late afternoon on the 20th. So Joe Biden has been inaugurated under high security, under threat of a pandemic. archived recording (president biden) And I thought with the state of the nation today, theres no time to waste get to work immediately. michael d. shear Now, hes sitting at the Resolute desk in the Oval Office, looks very different already than President Trump. Theyve already redecorated a little bit. Theyve hung different curtains, got a different carpet. Theyve put up photos of Joe Bidens family, bust of Cesar Chavez behind him. So the visuals already look a little bit different than weve come to be used to for the last four years. archived recording (president biden) Were going to be signing a number of executive orders over the next several days of a week. And Im going to start today on the compounding crisis of Covid, Covid-19, along with the economic crisis following that. michael d. shear Sitting next to him is a huge stack of folders with the seal of the presidency on it, each one containing a different executive order, executive action, some kind of memo that hes going to sign. And cameras are rolling. He takes one and begins to sign them. archived recording Mr. President? archived recording (president biden) Thank you. archived recording Mr. President? michael barbaro And just as a civics reminder here, executive orders are actions that require nothing but a presidential signature. Theyre kind of unique in how we govern. michael d. shear Thats right. And theres a lot that presidents have to do with others in our form of government. The Constitution was very clear. Congress controls the purse. Congress controls spending. So there are limits on what a president can do in terms of spending money. But executive orders are actions that the president can direct the government to take on his authority alone. michael barbaro And my sense is that the last president, Donald Trump, made very liberal use of executive orders in a way that was quite unpopular with Democrats. michael d. shear Yeah, absolutely. I mean, look, presidents turn to executive orders, they turn to the power of their office, when they get stymied in other ways, when they cant work with Congress. Donald Trump obviously had a very volatile and difficult relationship with Congress. And so you saw him in all sorts of ways. He issued executive orders directing the Census not to count certain individuals undocumented immigrants. You saw him issuing executive orders about what federal architecture should look like in Washington, D.C., because he didnt like certain buildings. You saw him shut down the border with Mexico at various times to asylum-seekers. It was a kind of never-ending barrage of executive orders, big and small. Some of them had huge impact, some of them less so. But that was essentially the way he governed. michael barbaro Right. And among the critics of those Trump executive orders was Joe Biden, not yet president. And the critique of the executive orders, and I remember it very vividly, was that they represent the imperial presidency government by executive fiat. No effort to work with Congress or create consensus, but just one leaders view suddenly turning into the full force of the American government. michael d. shear Right. And I think for Biden, that was an especially powerful critique, because that argument played into exactly the caricature of Donald Trump that we all saw over these last four years somebody who thinks he knows best and isnt interested in finding some sort of common ground. Rather, he wants to impose his view, and thats what he did through the use of these executive orders. michael barbaro OK, so with that in mind, how much thought did President-elect, now President, Joe Biden and those around him put into the question of how aggressively they would or should use executive orders? michael d. shear So I think they are mindful of the critique, especially of the hypocrisy that they will be accused of, given the path that theyre taking. But I think they draw a distinction or at least they give themselves a pass because their thinking, in the conversations that Ive had with them, is that Donald Trump gave them an opening by putting in place so much of his agenda through executive orders. By not making the changes that Donald Trump wanted to make permanent through legislation, they gave the incoming administration an opportunity to move much more quickly to reverse things than would have been the case if all of these changes had been done through legislation. If Donald Trump, for example, had made some big, sweeping changes to immigration policy by law, and had gotten a bipartisan consensus, in order to roll that back, the Biden Administration would have had to do the same. Instead, they can act in the same way as the Trump Administration did, only reverse. michael barbaro Right. So their internal argument and rationale is, he did it, so we get to do it. Its a little bit of a playground-level version of government, but there is some logic to it. michael d. shear Well, and lets not forget, I mean, while Donald Trump was probably the most aggressive user of executive action that weve seen in the last number of presidents, hes not the first. Barack Obama used executive action pretty aggressively as well, especially towards the end of his eight years, when the Senate and the House were not in his camp. And so its been a ping pong ball for a while. michael barbaro OK, so given all that, Mike, lets talk about these executive orders that President Biden signs in the Oval Office in his opening hours of his presidency. michael d. shear Right. So the executive orders and various different actions that he took all fell into a series of buckets. You had executive actions that the president took on Covid and the pandemic. You had another set that were largely around climate change and the environment and rolling back some of President Trumps policies there. And then you had a third really big bucket on immigration and pushing back against President Trumps policies at the border and with enforcement inside the country. michael barbaro Got it. So lets start with the pandemic. What were those executive orders? michael d. shear So the first one is he issued an executive order that mandated the wearing of masks. Now, it wasnt a federal mandate across the country. The president does not have the power to order everybody in the country to wear masks all the time. But he does have the power to make people on federal property, federal employees, wear a mask when theyre on the job. So for example, you think about the Post Office, right? michael barbaro Right. michael d. shear Whenever anybody goes in there, it will now be law you have to wear a mask. michael barbaro So theres both a practical impact of that if you dont wear a mask youre in trouble with the federal government, your boss. But theres also the symbolism of saying to the country that the government and its employees are going to lead by example when it comes to wearing masks. michael d. shear Absolutely. And the executive order I think they understood the limited practical impact of this order. But I think President Biden definitely understood the dramatic contrast that he was drawing with President Trump, who had so resisted to the last day, frankly ever pressuring people or modeling for the American public the idea that a mask is an important thing to do. And so I think the Biden Administration and President Biden were thinking, look, lets do what we can to send that message. They also tried to do some steps to address the economic fallout from the pandemic. Obviously, theres going to be a big fight in Congress over some of the biggest economic ways that they can help people. But one thing they did do through executive order was to extend a moratorium on foreclosures and evictions, which is aimed at helping people who might have lost their job because of the pandemic, cant pay the rent. This was a bipartisan effort that had been put in place before and needed to be extended. And so the president was able to extend it with an executive order. They also won one more. They rejoined the World Health Organization, which youll remember President Trump had pulled the United States out of the World Health Organization after concluding that he thought the World Health Organization was too friendly to China. That was seen as a mistake, I think. frankly all over the world by health officials. And the Biden folks made sure that was reversed on day one. michael barbaro Got it. OK, lets now turn to the Biden executive orders on climate. What did he do there? michael d. shear So probably the best-known executive order that he did was rejoining the Paris Climate Accords. Remember, this was this global agreement that the United States had been a leader in during President Obamas time to corral the nations of the world to fight climate change and to reduce emissions as a globe, as a world of nations. President Trump very famously took the United States out of the Accord basically said were not part of this anymore early in 2017. President Biden had long said that was a mistake. And with the stroke of a pen, were back in. [music] michael barbaro And finally, that brings us to immigration. michael d. shear Look, immigration was at the heart of what the Trump presidency was all about. He campaigned on building the wall across the southern border. He used really harsh immigration rhetoric. And so if I had to pick one area, this was where President Bidens actions on the 20th really took aim at unraveling and pushing back against Donald Trumps legacy in a really big way. [music] michael barbaro Well be right back. So Mike, describe these executive orders by Biden that started to dismantle Donald Trumps legacy on immigration. What were they? michael d. shear So I think the most dramatic was probably Joe Bidens revocation of Donald Trumps Muslim travel ban. President Trump, when he was a candidate, had literally campaigned on keeping Muslims out of the country. And so when Donald Trump got into office, the first week, the travel ban he put in place limited entry into the United States from a bunch of countries Muslim countries Somalia, Yemen, some other countries as well. So I think in some ways Joe Bidens revocation of that travel ban had both practical implications for the people in those countries who, going forward, will now be able to come into the United States. But it also had a really symbolic feature, which is a rejection of that kind of rhetoric that Donald Trump had sent the message that we dont want those people coming in. And I think it was important for Joe Biden to deliver the reverse message that no, were not a country that bans people on the basis of their ethnicity or their race or because theyre from a country that we dont like. michael barbaro OK. What else did Biden do via executive order on immigration? michael d. shear Let me tick through a couple of these. He stopped construction of Trumps border wall. Remember, that was something that President Trump had advocated since from day one of his presidency and had fought with Congress for the money to do it, and ultimately managed to get various pots of money to construct about 200 or 300 miles worth of border wall along the southern border. President Biden said, you know what? Were going to stop construction. We want to look at whether or not the money that President Trump used for construction was legal and appropriate, and whether or not they want to look into the contracts that were signed with companies to build the wall. And so thats paused. He also repealed one of the most controversial executive orders that President Trump had issued was one on what they call interior enforcement, which is essentially directing the immigration agents throughout the country, not necessarily on the border, but in the rest of the country, to be more aggressive to find and deport any immigrant that is undocumented, that doesnt have the valid papers to be in the United States, even if those people arent violent, even if theyve only committed a misdemeanor. Essentially, that had been a kind of effort by the Trump administration to really get aggressive on deporting and kicking people out of the country. And the Biden executive order on Wednesday will reverse that will essentially go back to a policy in which immigration agents have more of a sense of prioritization. You know, were going to go after the real bad guys, but were not going to spend a lot of time going after people who arent hardened criminals. michael barbaro Mike, the unmistakable theme here, and youve talked about it throughout this conversation, is that these executive orders most of them they either reverse President Trumps actions, or they rebuke his policy approach. So given that, how did these executive orders from Biden on day one how do they fit with his message from that inaugural stage of unity? And we talked to our colleague yesterday, Astead Herndon, about how deeply Joe Biden believes in bipartisanship, in working with Republicans. And that was the absolute core of his message. And so is signing these executive orders in conflict with that? And I ask that because several Republicans certainly see it that way. michael d. shear Yeah, so, look, I think you can look at that question through two different lenses, one philosophical and one pragmatic. So I think from a philosophical standpoint, President Biden would say this doesnt conflict with that message because so much of the substance of what his executive orders are trying to achieve is a rejection of the divisiveness of Donald Trump. So if you look at the immigration executive orders, hes trying to get the country back to a place where were not pitting us against them, the insider against the outsider, us versus the other, right? Through that lens, it is not in conflict. But I think from the pragmatic side, a lot of the last four years a lot of Republicans liked. They might not have liked everything, but in terms of the presidents economic policies, in terms of his border security policies, there was a lot that Republicans liked. And I think that one of the things that President Biden is going to have to confront over the next 100 days, lets say, is how much does the quick pace of these executive actions and the extent to which hes trying to quickly erase the Trump legacy how much does that leave a bad taste in the mouth of Republicans, especially in the Senate, where hes got a 50-50 split? Hes going to need Republicans to pass any kind of big, broad agenda. And a lot of them, as I think you hinted a minute ago, a lot of them wont see this as unity. They wont see this as unifying. They will see this as unilateral and acting without the kind of consultation and cooperation and compromise that is part of his shtick. And so my sense is that as he pursues this goal of repairing the soul of the nation, purging the last four years of divisiveness and anger, that he will accept some cost to that, and that some cost of that might be a political cost. And well just have to see. michael barbaro So I want to zoom out for just a moment to this question we started with, which is this history of presidents using executive orders over and over again, and where its left us as a government. Because we now have a President Biden having reversed many of the actions of a President Trump in 24 hours, and so weve now entered a pretty clear cycle of one president using executive orders to theatrically wipe away the legacy of a last president. And is that any way to govern? michael d. shear I covered Obama for eight years and Trump for four years. And for most of that time, weve been locked in this cycle of impermanence, where everything is temporary. Everything is a sort of quick reaction to what can I do quickly because I cant accomplish anything thats really substantive and thats really permanent? And look, the only thing that is permanent in our way of governance is if you can get a big piece of legislation passed through the House, through the Senate, with bipartisan majorities, where theres an actual consensus among the people who are our representatives, and then signed by the President of the United States. And if you can get that, that can be a permanent, lasting legacy which lasts generations. If you dont, then were locked into what weve had now, where businesses have trouble knowing what the road map is. The countries around the world dont know who to believe in terms of which way the United States is going because it could go one way one day and the other way a different day. And I think thats where we are right now. michael barbaro Right. Just to highlight the point you made, I think of the Affordable Care Act, for example passed into law by the House of Representatives, the United States Senate, signed into law by President Obama. There have been dozens of efforts to repeal it, to chip away at it, to sue it out of existence. But because its a law, it has pretty much remained with modification in place since it was passed 10 years ago. And that is probably going to be true for several of the pieces of legislation that Donald Trump passed his tax cuts, for example, or his criminal justice reform. michael d. shear Absolutely. I was there at the White House the night that the Affordable Care Act passed. I remember it feeling like a historic moment, a permanent moment. And I think the question for Joe Biden, and the thing that he sold to voters is that hell get us back there. Hell get his back to a place where, for example, he submitted an immigration overhaul bill to Congress on his first day, saying not only do I want to do these executive orders, but I want the Congress to come together and say, lets design a new immigration system for the country. And well see. I mean, thats been tried for decades, and the country hasnt been able to get there. michael barbaro But he sent it to Congress, so we know that he wants a legislative solution, not just an executive order. michael d. shear Right. And the question is, can he deliver it? [music] Can he help get us past this place in American politics that weve been for these last number of years, where those kinds of big things get jammed up and dont go anywhere? And if he can, then that legacy will be a whole lot longer lasting and will be much harder for the next president to unravel, because itll not just be another executive order that can be wiped away with a pen. michael barbaro Right. It will be law. michael d. shear Yeah, exactly. [music] michael barbaro Thank you, Mike. Appreciate it. michael d. shear Sure, happy to do it. michael barbaro Well be right back. Heres what else you need to know today. archived recording (president biden) Let me be very clear. Things are going to continue to get worse before they get better. michael barbaro On Thursday, President Biden warned Americans that the death toll from the coronavirus would likely reach 500,000 by next month. The prediction came after the United States reported 4,367 deaths on the day of Bidens inauguration, one of the highest daily death tolls since the start of the pandemic. And The Times reports that Senator Mitch McConnell, the Republican minority leader, plans to ask Democrats to delay the start of President Trumps impeachment trial until February to give Trumps lawyers time to prepare a defense. archived recording (nancy pelosi) I dont think its very unifying to say, oh, lets just forget it and move on. Thats not how you unify. michael barbaro During a news conference, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi defended the plan to pursue a trial in the Senate and rejected claims from Republicans that it would detract from Bidens calls for unity. archived recording (nancy pelosi) And just because hes now gone thank God you dont say to a president, do whatever you want in the last months of your administration, youre going to get a get-out-of-jail card free because people think we should make nice-nice and forget that people died here on January 6. I think that would be harmful to unity. michael barbaro Todays episode was produced by Sydney Harper and Eric Krupke. It was edited by Lisa Chow and engineered by Chris Wood. Thats it for The Daily. Im Michael Barbaro. See you on Monday. During the presidential campaign, he had called for using the Korean War-era law to increase the nations supply of essential items like coronavirus tests and personal protective equipment. On Thursday, he signed an executive order directing federal agencies to make use of it to increase production of materials needed for vaccines. With thousands of Americans dying every day from Covid-19, a national death toll that exceeds 400,000 and a new, more infectious variant of the virus spreading quickly, the pandemic poses the most pressing challenge of Mr. Bidens early days in office. How he handles it will set the tone for how Americans view his administration going forward, as Mr. Biden himself acknowledged. In a 200-page document released earlier Thursday called National Strategy for the Covid-19 Response and Pandemic Preparedness, the new administration outlined the kind of centralized federal response that Democrats have long demanded and that Mr. Trump had refused. But the Biden plan is in some respects overly optimistic and in others not ambitious enough, some experts say. It is not clear how he would enforce the quarantine requirement. And his promise to inject 100 million vaccines in his first hundred days is aiming low, since those 100 days should see twice that number of doses available. Efforts to untangle and speed up the distribution of vaccines perhaps the most pressing challenge for the Biden administration that is also the most promising path forward will be a desperate race against time, as states across the country have warned that they could run out of doses as early as this weekend. Maggie Astor and Alan Rappeport contributed reporting. Jim Tankersley and Lloyd Austin is confirmed, becoming the first Black defense secretary in U.S. history. Video transcript Back bars 0:00 / 2:06 - 0:00 transcript General Austin Becomes First Black Defense Secretary in U.S. History The Senate confirmed Gen. Lloyd J. Austin III as defense secretary in a 93-2 vote, filling a critical national security role in President Bidens cabinet and making him the first Black Pentagon chief. This morning, the Senate will vote to confirm President Bidens nominee for secretary of defense, Lloyd Austin. Mr. Austin will be the first African-American to ever helm the Defense Department in its history, a powerful symbol of the diversity and history of Americas armed forces. Mr. Austin has a storied career in the Army, but those days are behind him. As secretary of defense, he promised to empower and lift up his civilian staff. And I believe he will be an outstanding secretary of defense for everyone at the Pentagon, service members and civilian employees alike. General Austin is an exceptionally qualified leader with a long and distinguished career in the United States military. Hes served at the highest echelons of the Army and capped his service as the commander of U.S. Central Command. His character and integrity are unquestioned, and he possesses the knowledge and skill to effectively lead the Pentagon. We have China and Russia out there with capabilities that we didnt really believe we would find ourselves with. So thats going to be the primary concern of this new administration. And I cant think of a better person to take the helm than General Austin. The yeas are 93, the nays are two, and the nomination is confirmed. Under the previous order, the motion to reconsider is considered made and laid upon the table, and the president will be immediately notified of the Senates actions. Hello everybody. Reporter: Mr. Secretary, how does it feel to be back in this building? Good to see you guys, and thanks for being here. I look forward to working with you. See you around campus. Reporter: What are your priorities, Mr. Secretary, at the start? The Senate confirmed Gen. Lloyd J. Austin III as defense secretary in a 93-2 vote, filling a critical national security role in President Bidens cabinet and making him the first Black Pentagon chief. Credit Credit... Jim Lo Scalzo/EPA, via Shutterstock The Senate on Friday confirmed Lloyd J. Austin III as defense secretary, filling a critical national security position in President Bidens cabinet and elevating him as the first Black Pentagon chief. The 93-2 vote came a day after Congress granted Mr. Austin, a retired four-star Army general, a special waiver to hold the post, which is required for any defense secretary who has been out of active-duty military service for less than seven years. It reflected a bipartisan consensus on Capitol Hill that it was urgent for Mr. Biden to have his defense pick rapidly installed, a step normally taken on a new presidents first day. Its an extraordinary, historic moment, said Senator Jack Reed, Democrat of Rhode Island and the chairman of the Armed Services Committee. A significant portion of our armed forces today are African-Americans or Latinos, and now they can see themselves at the very top of the Department of Defense, which makes real the notion of opportunity. Mr. Austin, 67, is the only African-American to have led U.S. Central Command, the militarys marquee combat command, with responsibility for Iraq, Afghanistan, Yemen and Syria. He retired in 2016 after 41 years in the military, and is widely respected across the Army. Lawmakers in both parties initially had been uneasy at the prospect of granting Mr. Austin an exception to the statutory bar against recently retired military personnel serving as Pentagon chiefs, a law intended to maintain civilian control of the military. They had already done so four years ago for President Donald J. Trumps first defense secretary, Jim Mattis, a retired four-star Marine officer, and many had vowed not to do so again. But facing intense pressure from officials from Mr. Bidens transition team and top Democrats, and after receiving assurances from Mr. Austin that he was committed to the principle of civilian control, lawmakers rallied behind a barrier-shattering nominee. Two Republicans, Senators Josh Hawley of Missouri and Mike Lee of Utah, voted against the confirmation. Even though 43 percent of the 1.3 million men and women on active duty in the United States are people of color, the leaders at the top of the militarys chain of command have remained remarkably white and male. When President Barack Obama selected Mr. Austin to lead the United States Central Command, he became one of the highest-ranked Black men in the military, second only to Colin L. Powell, who had been chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Mr. Austin will be the first Black Pentagon chief since the position was created in 1947 just nine months before President Harry S. Truman ordered the desegregation of the armed forces, Representative Anthony Brown, Democrat of Maryland and a Black retired colonel in the Army Reserve, noted. Secretary Austins confirmation is a historic first and symbolizes the culmination of the nearly 75-year march toward genuine integration of the department, Mr. Brown said. He is well positioned to draw upon his experiences as a seasoned military commander, respected leader and as a Black man who grew up amid segregation to drive progress forward as our next Secretary of Defense. Advertisement Continue reading the main story White House orders intelligence agencies to look at violent extremism in the U.S. Video transcript Back bars 0:00 / 1:22 - 0:00 transcript White House Discusses Rising Threat of Domestic Extremism The White House press secretary, Jen Psaki, discussed the Biden administrations plans to combat domestic violent extremism and other threats to the country. The rise of domestic violent extremism is a serious and growing national security threat. The Biden administration will confront this threat with the necessary resources and resolve. We are committed to developing policies and strategies based on facts, on objective and rigorous analysis, and on our respect for constitutionally protected free speech and political activities. Our initial work on D.V.E. will broadly fall into three areas. The first is a tasking from President Biden sent to the O.D.N.I. today, requesting a comprehensive threat assessment coordinated with the F.B.I. and D.H.S. on domestic violent extremism. The key point here is that we want fact-based analysis upon which we can shape policy. So this is really the first step in the process. And we will rely on our appropriate law enforcement and intelligence officials to provide that analysis. The second will be the building of an N.S.C. capability to focus on countering domestic violent extremism. As a part of this, the N.S.C. will undertake a policy review effort to determine how the government can share information better about this threat, support efforts to prevent radicalization, disrupt violent extremist networks and more. Theres important work already underway across the interagency in countering D.V.E., and we need to understand better its current extent and where there may be gaps to address so we can determine the best path toward. The White House press secretary, Jen Psaki, discussed the Biden administrations plans to combat domestic violent extremism and other threats to the country. Credit Credit... Anna Moneymaker for The New York Times The White House has ordered the Office of the Director of National Intelligence to work with the F.B.I. and the Department of Homeland Security to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the threat from domestic violent extremism. The new task for the intelligence community comes only days after Avril D. Haines, the director of national intelligence, pledged to members of Congress during her confirmation hearing that she would do just such an assessment. Jen Psaki, the White House press secretary, announced the assessment at her regular briefing. It is the second request to Ms. Haines in as many days. On Thursday, the White House ordered a new intelligence look at Russia and the broad hack of government computers. This intelligence assessment, looking at domestic extremism, is less of an area of expertise for the intelligence agencies but shows the Biden administrations focus on homegrown threats. This assessment will draw on the analysis from across the government and, as appropriate, nongovernmental organizations, Ms. Psaki said. The key point here is that we want fact-based analysis upon which we can shape policy. The request will be tricky for the intelligence agencies, which by law cannot collect information on Americans, and must work with the F.B.I. and the Department of Homeland Security. But senior intelligence officials have said privately that just as the F.B.I. and C.I.A. began to work more closely on the threat of global terrorism after the Sept. 11 terror attacks, there is more the intelligence agencies can do to improve cooperation and information sharing with domestic law enforcement agencies. With domestic violent groups, the main focus of the intelligence agencies is to monitor the efforts of foreign powers, including Russia and others, to push the groups to more extremist positions. While traditional intelligence teams focused on Russia have tracked Moscows work in recent years, the C.I.A. also has officers in its counterterrorism mission center who specialize in tracking racially-motivated violent extremists overseas. Murkowski rules out switching parties to join Democrats, saying, I cant be somebody that Im not. Senator Lisa Murkowski, who is up for re-election in 2022, has long upheld an independent streak in the Republican conference. Credit... Anna Moneymaker for The New York Times Senator Lisa Murkowski, Republican of Alaska, said on Friday that she was committed to remaining a Republican, calling liberal aspirations that she might switch parties and hand Democrats an edge in the evenly divided Senate a dream by some that will not materialize. Ms. Murkowski, a vocal critic of former President Donald J. Trump who has indicated she is open to convicting him at his impeachment trial for his role in egging on the violent mob that stormed the Capitol, had raised questions about whether she might defect from the G.O.P. when she told a home state newspaper that she had doubts about her place in the party. Days after the Jan. 6 assault, she told The Anchorage Daily News that, if the Republican Party has become nothing more than the party of Trump, I sincerely question whether this is the party for me. Speaking to reporters at the Capitol on Friday, Ms. Murkowski expressed the same sentiment, but added that she had absolutely no desire to move over to the Democratic side of the aisle I cant be somebody that Im not. As kind of disjointed as things may be on the Republican side, there is no way you could talk to me into going over to the other side, she added. Thats not who I am, thats not who I will ever be. Ms. Murkowski, who is up for re-election in 2022, has long held an independent streak. She voted against the confirmation of Justice Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court, helped shut down the Republican effort to repeal the Affordable Care Act and was one of the first in her party to recognize President Bidens victory when a majority of her colleagues refused to do so. On Friday, she confirmed that she had not voted for Mr. Trump, though she would not divulge the name of the person whose name she wrote in instead. Even as she vowed to remain a Republican, Ms. Murkowski conceded that her party was having difficulty coalescing around an identity in the aftermath of Mr. Trumps presidency. I think in many ways we are a party that is struggling to identify, Ms. Murkowski said. We have some that have solidly identified with Trump, and probably will continue to identify for years going forward. But you have a lot of other people that were not really sold, but they absolutely embraced the policies. Asked what role she planned to play as the party struggles to recalibrate after losing control of both the White House and the Senate, she said she would remain a senator that is not afraid to be in the middle, even if theres not a lot of people there that are with me. Advertisement Continue reading the main story Biden apologizes after some National Guard troops were told to sleep in a parking garage. National Guard members toured the Rotunda of the Capitol on Friday. Credit... Erin Schaff/The New York Times President Biden on Friday called the chief of the National Guard Bureau to apologize after troops who had been brought in to protect his inauguration were ordered to sleep in an unheated parking garage after they were booted from the Capitol on Thursday, administration officials said. The issue has generated controversy in the first days of Mr. Bidens term. Several governors and members of Congress have criticized the move, even as the reasons for the troops relocation remain murky. In the telephone call with Gen. Daniel R. Hokanson, the head of the National Guard Bureau, Mr. Biden apologized and asked what he could do, the officials said. Jill Biden, the first lady, visited some of the troops stationed outside of the Capitol on Friday afternoon, thanking them for their work and handing out chocolate chip cookies. The National Guard will always hold a special place in the hearts of all the Bidens, she said, noting that their son Beau, who died in 2015, was a member of the Delaware Army National Guard. Photographs of the troops sleeping on the floor of the parking garage on Thursday night at the Thurgood Marshall Federal Judiciary Building, where they had scant toilet facilities and were breathing in exhaust fumes, have sparked an uproar. The governors of Texas, Florida, New Hampshire and Montana said they had ordered their National Guard troops to return home from Washington, D.C., with some directly criticizing their move to the garage. Theyre soldiers, theyre not Nancy Pelosi's servants, Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida, a Republican, said on Fox and Friends on Friday morning. This is a half-cocked mission at this point, and I think the appropriate thing is to bring them home. Gov. Chris Sununu of New Hampshire, also a Republican, wrote on Twitter that the troops should be graciously praised, not subject to substandard conditions. Only some states troops were left to sleep in the parking garage. Gov. Phil Murphy of New Jersey, a Democrat who attended Mr. Bidens inauguration, said on Friday afternoon that he had been angered by the photographs he saw, but that New Jersey officials had ensured that all of his states troops had hotel rooms to sleep in. This is no way for our heroes to be treated, Mr. Murphy said. The troops were eventually moved back into the Capitol, Capt. Edwin Nieves Jr., a spokesman for the Washington, D.C., branch of the National Guard, said early on Friday morning. He said the troops had been moved out of the Capitol on Thursday afternoon at the request of the Capitol Police because of increased foot traffic as Congress came back into session, but a statement from the acting chief of the Capitol Police on Friday sought to distance the beleaguered agency from the decision. Chief Yogananda Pittman said that the Capitol Police had not told the troops to leave the Capitol except for certain times on Inauguration Day, and that even then, the troops were encouraged to return to the building by 2 p.m. that day. She said the managers of the office building whose parking lot the troops were using had reached out directly to the National Guard to offer use of its facilities. Following the back-and-forth, the National Guard Bureau and the Capitol Police issued a joint statement on Friday afternoon saying they were united in the common goal to protect the U.S. Capitol and the Congress but shedding no more light on how or why some of the troops had ended up in the garage. Many troops were already leaving the city, their mission concluded after Mr. Biden was successfully sworn in on Wednesday. The Pentagon said Friday that 19,000 of the nearly 26,000 National Guard troops who had helped secure the event were beginning to return to their home states, a process that will take about five to 10 days and include coronavirus screenings. On Friday evening, a defense official said nearly 200 of the Guard troops in Washington had tested positive for Covid-19. About 7,000 troops are expected to stay in Washington through January. Nicholas Bogel-Burroughs, Helene Cooper, Eric Schmitt and Bidens Education Department moves to cut ties with an accrediting body linked to a fraud scandal. The Education Department on Friday recommended terminating federal recognition of a group that oversaw the collapse of two for-profit university chains. Credit... Stefani Reynolds for The New York Times The Biden administrations Education Department is moving to cut ties with an organization that was thrown a life raft under the Trump administration even though it was at the center of an enormous fraud scandal related to for-profit colleges. The department said late Friday that it recommended terminating federal recognition of the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools, or Acics. The organization is infamous for having overseen the collapse of two for-profit university chains, Corinthian Colleges and ITT Tech, whose bankruptcies left tens of thousands of students with worthless degrees and mountains of debt. The decision to end the groups federal recognition would be based on a review by the National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity, an independent panel that advises the secretary of education. The group is scheduled to meet next month to deliberate the accrediting bodys future. A senior department official will ultimately decide its fate. The Obama administration stripped Acics of its accrediting powers in December 2016, saying it had allowed the chains to employ predatory recruitment practices and encourage students to take on debt based on false promises including the claim that they would be guaranteed jobs after graduation. President Donald J. Trumps education secretary, Betsy DeVos, reinstated the accrediting body in 2018, citing a federal courts opinion that found the Obama administration had not allowed it to properly defend itself. Ms. DeVos did so over the objections of her own staff, who issued a 244-page report detailing how the body had failed to meet dozens of federal standards. The reinstatement allowed Acics to keep operating as a watchdog for the Education Department and a gatekeeper of billions in federal financial aid dollars. At the time, the group said that it had made drastic improvements to its operations. Career staff members at the department who have monitored the groups compliance since then disagree. The departments announcement on Friday said that the accrediting body had failed to demonstrate that it has competent and knowledgeable individuals who were trained in the agencys own standards, policies and procedures. Heres a look at Bidens pandemic-focused executive orders. A Covid-19 testing site at Beltzville State Park in Pennsylvania on Wednesday. Credit... Hilary Swift for The New York Times President Joseph R. Biden Jr. on Thursday revealed a slate of new executive orders and presidential directives intended to speed up production of Covid-19 supplies, increase testing capacity and require mask wearing during interstate travel part of a sprawling 200-page national pandemic strategy he announced at a White House event. He is expected to sign more orders on Friday. Taken together, the orders signal Mr. Bidens earliest priorities in mounting a more centralized federal response to the spread of the coronavirus. Some of them mirror actions taken during the Trump administration, while most look to alter course. Heres what the orders aim to do. Ramp up the pace of manufacturing and testing. One order calls on agency leaders to check for shortages in areas like personal protective gear and vaccine supplies, and identify where the administration could invoke the Defense Production Act to increase manufacturing. Another order establishes a Pandemic Testing Board, an idea drawn from President Franklin D. Roosevelts War Production Board, to ramp up testing. The new administration is promising to expand the nations supply of rapid tests, double test supplies and increase lab space for tests and surveillance for coronavirus hot spots. Require mask wearing during interstate travel. Mr. Biden has vowed to use his powers as president to influence mask wearing wherever he is legally allowed to, including on federal property and in travel that crosses state lines. An order issued Thursday requires mask wearing in airports and on many airplanes, intercity buses and trains. The same order also requires international travelers to prove they have a recent negative Covid-19 test before heading to the United States and to comply with quarantining guidelines issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention once they land. Publish guidance for schools and workers. Mr. Biden issued an order meant to protect the health of workers during the pandemic, telling the Occupational Safety and Health Administration to release new guidance for employers. The order also asks the agency to step up enforcement of existing rules to help stop the spread of Covid-19 in the workplace. The president also directed the departments of Education and Health and Human Services to issue new guidance on how to safely reopen schools a major source of controversy over the summer when White House and health department officials pressured the C.D.C. to play down the risk of sending students back. Find more treatments for Covid-19 and future pandemics. The Biden administration is calling on the health and human services secretary and the director of the National Institutes of Health to draft a plan to support the study of new drugs for Covid-19 and future public health crises through large, randomized trials. Advertisement Continue reading the main story Biden wants to raise some taxes, but many of his predecessors cuts are here to stay. President Biden could end up cementing as many of former President Donald J. Trumps tax cuts as he rolls back. Credit... Doug Mills/The New York Times Democrats have spent years promising to repeal the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which Republicans passed without a single Democratic vote and was estimated to cost nearly $2 trillion over a decade. But President Biden appears more likely to tinker with it, despite saying during a presidential debate that he was going to eliminate the Trump tax cuts. Mr. Biden and his aides are committing to only a partial rollback of the law, with their focus on provisions that help corporations and the very rich. Its a position that Mr. Biden held throughout the campaign, and in the September debate he promised to only partly repeal a corporate rate cut. In some cases, including tax cuts that help lower- and middle-class Americans, the Biden administration is looking to make former President Donald J. Trumps temporary tax cuts permanent. Mr. Biden still wants to raise taxes on some businesses and wealthy individuals, and he remains intent on raising trillions of dollars in new tax revenue to offset the federal spending programs that he plans to propose, including for infrastructure, clean energy production and education. Much of the new revenue, however, could come from efforts to tax investment and labor income for people earning more than $400,000, in ways that are not related to the 2017 law. Mr. Biden did not include any tax increases in the $1.9 trillion stimulus plan he proposed last week, which was meant to curb the pandemic and help people and companies endure the economic pain it has caused. His nominee for Treasury secretary, Janet L. Yellen, told a Senate committee this week that the president would hold off on reversing any parts of the tax law until later in the recovery, which most likely means as part of a large infrastructure package that he is set to unveil next month. After an unruly passenger was escorted off a flight, an officer identified him as a Capitol rioter. The pro-Trump mob outside the Capitol this month. Credit... Kenny Holston for The New York Times Two days after the riot at the Capitol, a man was making such a ruckus aboard a plane on the tarmac at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport that the crew turned the flight around in order to escort him off. It was a U-turn that quickly brought him to the attention of the authorities. The man, John Lolos, had been shouting Trump 2020! and disturbing his fellow passengers, according to a court filing. An airport police officer was alerted to his arrival back at the gate, where he would await another flight. About 45 minutes later, that same officer was scrolling through his personal Instagram feed and spied a video that appeared to show Mr. Lolos exiting the Capitol on the day of the attack, according to an affidavit from a Capitol Police special agent. Mr. Lolos was wearing the same shirt he had on at the airport and was waving a red Trump 2020 Keep America Great flag that was hooked to an America flag, according to the affidavit. We stopped the vote! an individual on the video says. According to the special agents account, Mr. Lolos replies, We did it, yeah! With that, Mr. Lolos joined the scores of people who have been identified through social media videos as participants in the Jan. 6 riot. As law enforcement officials scour the internet, Instagram and other social media sites have become a key tool to identify those who stormed the Capitol and to charge them with federal crimes. When the airport officer realized that the unruly passenger appeared to be a participant in the riot, he alerted other officials. Law enforcement officials detained Mr. Lolos, brought him to a holding room at the airport and placed him under arrest. Amid an inventory of his property during the arrest, a Capitol Police special agent found the flags that appeared in the video, still connected. Texas sues the Biden administration over pause in deportations. The Texas attorney general, Ken Paxton, last month filed a lawsuit challenging President Bidens election victory. Credit... Jacquelyn Martin/Associated Press AUSTIN, Texas Days into President Bidens term, Attorney General Ken Paxton of Texas sued the new administration for what he called an unconstitutional breach of immigration policy, ushering in a return to the days of legal warfare between the state and Washington under the last Democratic president, Barack Obama. Mr. Paxton, who is under federal investigation for bribery and abuse of power allegations raised by former aides, filed the suit in a U.S. district court in Texas on Friday after threatening the legal action a day earlier. The suit challenges the Department of Homeland Securitys plans to pause the deportation of undocumented immigrants, saying it is an abdication of the departments obligation to enforce federal immigration law. The halting of deportations, which took effect on Friday and will last 100 days, is meant to help the agency focus its resources on the most pressing challenges that the United States faces, the agency said in a statement. Mr. Paxton called the plan a complete abdication of the Department of Homeland Securitys obligation to enforce federal immigration law that would seriously and irreparably harm the State of Texas and its citizens. He earlier gained national attention by suing to overturn the 2020 election results, but the Supreme Court said Texas had no standing to bring the case. His latest legal threat harkened back to the days when Mr. Biden served as vice president under Mr. Obama. During that time, Texas leaders sued the Democratic administration over a variety of fronts, from clean air to immigration. Gov. Greg Abbott, who served as attorney general before Mr. Paxton, campaigned for office by boasting of the number of lawsuits he had filed against the Obama administration. Under the two attorneys general, Texas lodged nearly four dozen suits during Mr. Obamas eight years in office. Mr. Paxton had hinted at a revival of that strategy on Wednesday, the day of Mr. Bidens inauguration. In a tweet, he congratulated the new president but declared that he was prepared to challenge federal overreach that threatened Texas and would serve as a major check against the administrations lawlessness. Texas First! Law & Order always! he declared. Advertisement Continue reading the main story Academy winner Lupita Nyongo has all but called bs on the claims by Tourism Cabinet Secretary Najib Balala that she has been inaccessible. Yesterday, Balala defended their decision to award a Magical Kenya ambassadorial role to British Supermodel Naomi Campbell. When the partnership was announced, Kenyans were left wondering why a Kenyan face like Lupita was not given the gig. Balala said that they had in fact been trying to get a hold of Lupita for the last 5 years, but she has not been reachable. Essentially, she has snubbed them. Read: Balala: Lupita Has Snubbed Us for 5 Years, So We Went With Naomi Campbell Now, the Hollywood actress has responded, somewhat. Writing on Twitter, Lupita implied that Balala is peddling alternative facts. A polite way of calling someone a liar, popularized by president Trumps press team. She added using a hashtag that she is right there, meaning she is available. Heres the tweet. Britain faces becoming a global pariah as countries around the world consider tougher travel restrictions in a bid to keep out Britain's 'more deadly' Covid strain. EU leaders are said to be drawing up a blue-print which could see travel banned from the UK to all of the union's member states. It come as the Netherlands is set to ban all passenger flights and ferry travel from the UK tonight. Portugal last night banned travel both to and from Britain due to fears over the new variant. And more countries could now follow suit after Boris Johnson and top scientific advisers warned the UK's mutant strain could be 30 per cent more deadly than older versions of the virus. Meanwhile, cases of the UK variant have today been confirmed in both America and Canada. Officials in the Philippines, which had banned incoming UK flights over Christmas, said 16 cases of Britain's mutant strain had also been discovered. EU leaders are said to be drawing up a blue-print which could see travel banned from the UK to all of the union's member states. Pictured: The UK Border at Heathrow was busy today despite various travel restrictions It come as the Netherlands is set to introduce new restrictions from tonight on UK travel into the country, while Portugal last night banned travel both to and from Britain due to fears over the new variant. Pictured: Travellers at the departure area at Heathrow today One case of the UK strain had previously been detected on the South East Asian islands, the country's Department of Health said. Which European countries are currently imposing travel restrictions on the UK The EU is considering proposals which could see travel from the UK banned due to its Covid strain. Here's a list of the European countries which are already imposing restrictions: Austria: All flights from the UK are banned until January 24. Albania: All flights from the UK are banned until at least February 1 Belgium: Travellers from the UK are only allowed for 'essential reasons' Bulgaria: Travellers from the UK are only allowed for 'essential reasons' Bosnia and Herzegovina: Travellers from the UK must provide a negative Covid test 48 hours before travel Belarus: UK arrivals must quarantine for 10 days Croatia: Travel from the UK is banned Cyprus: Travel only permitted for nationals and families of nationals Czech Republic: Travel from the UK is banned to all but to Czech nationals and those with residency status Denmark: Travellers from the UK are only allowed for a small number of essential reasons Estonia: Travellers from the UK must provide a negative Covid test 72 hours before departure Finland: Travel from the UK is banned France: Only essential travel. Those travelling from the UK must provide a negative test taken up to three days before departure Georgia: UK citizens are not permitted to enter Germany: Travellers from the UK are only allowed for 'essential reasons' Greece: Travel for UK citizens is banned. Nationals can return, but must take a Covid test 72 hours before travel Hungary: Travellers from the UK are only allowed for 'essential reasons' - including for business or sporting events. Iceland: Travellers from the UK are only allowed for 'essential reasons' Italy: Travellers from the UK are only allowed for 'essential reasons' or if they are residents Kosovo: Restrictions were announced at the end of 2020 but details are not listed on the Foreign Office website Liechtenstein: Only residents are allowed to return from the UK Luxembourg: Travel from the UK is banned Malta: Travel from the UK is banned, apart from for Maltese citizens Moldova: Flights are allowed but a 14 day period of isolation is required Netherlands: All flights and ferry services from the UK are banned Norway: UK nationals are banned apart from for exceptional reasons Portugal: All flights to and from Portugal are banned Romania: Travel is only allowed for essential reasons - this can be overturned if a person has had a vaccine more than 10 days before Russia: Flights from the UK to Russia are banned Switzerland: Travel is only allowed for Swiss residents Slovakia: Travel is only allowed for essential reasons Spain: Travel is allowed, but you must have a negative PCR test up to 72 hours before flying Sweden: Travel from the UK is banned apart from exceptions Ukraine: Those travelling from the UK must provide a negative test taken up to 48 hours before departure Advertisement But officials say a further 12 cases have now been found in the Bontoc Mountain region, one case in the La Trinidad area and one case in Calamba City. Another two cases are said to have been brought in from Lebanon, health officials say. In Canada's Nova Scotia region health chiefs have today reported one confirmed case of the UK variant and another of the South African variant. In New Jersey, US, officials today reported their first two cases of the UK Covid strain. Meanwhile EU leaders have reportedly drawn-up a travel blueprint that could lead to a ban on passengers from the UK. EU officials held discussions this week over border controls, including between member states, with new measures set to be announced on Monday. These could include bans on travel from countries outside the bloc, such as the UK. The European commission president Ursula von der Leyen said member states were 'free to impose further-reaching temporary bans on entry and on transporting passengers entering from third countries with virus variant areas'. The Netherlands are one country to impose tighter restrictions - banning passenger flights and ferries from the UK and Northern Ireland from tonight. A statement on the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs said today: 'This is one of the measures taken by the cabinet to prevent the spread of new variants of the corona virus from abroad. 'This means that after that time you can no longer fly directly to the Netherlands. 'From that date, passengers can no longer travel by ferry from England to the Netherlands. 'This ban on flying and mooring will probably be lifted when quarantine becomes mandatory by Dutch law.' Dutch airline subsequently axed flights between the UK and the Netherlands. A statement from KLM posted on Twitter said: Following the announcement from the Dutch Government of further travel restrictions for passengers arriving into the Netherlands from the UK, KLM has had to make the difficult decision to adapt our flight schedule to ensure all requirements are adhered to. The airline said all flights from today to January 27 inclusive had been scrapped. On Thursday, Portugal suspended all flights to and from the UK. It comes as the Prime Minister and his science chiefs tonight made the shocking claim that the Kent variant of the coronavirus could be 30 per cent more deadly than older versions of the virus. The trio presented a mixed bag at the Downing Street press conference tonight as they sounded optimism about a recent decline in infections but warned the new variant could lead to higher death rates in the coming weeks and months. Explaining the risk change out loud without presenting data to prove the terrifying development after it was leaked to ITV political editor Robert Peston before the briefing, chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance said that hospital data had suggested the variant could increase the risk of death for a man his 60s from 1 per cent to 1.3 per cent, but he admitted 'the evidence is not yet strong'. A 30 per cent increase in the risk of death does not mean 30 per cent of people will die, but is a relative increase, Sir Patrick explained. The doom-mongering came despite an array of statistics that showed the second wave appears to have peaked already and be coming under control, although SAGE warned there are still 'dangerously high' levels of infection. SAGE today said Britain's R rate has fallen below the crucial level of one as separate experts estimated daily cases have halved in a fortnight and the Department of Health's own statistics show daily infections have fallen every day for almost two weeks. Another 40,261 positive tests were recorded today, down almost 30 per cent in a week. Officials also recorded 1,401 fatalities, up just 9.5 per cent on last Friday. Defying mounting pressure to commit to easing the current measures, Mr Johnson warned today that the NHS is still under huge pressure and the curbs will only be lifted when it is 'safe'. Downing Street was warned it faces the 'mother of all battles' next month when it has to discuss relaxing the restrictions. The change of tone in Government messaging comes as, Prime Minister Mr Johnson, England's Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty, and Chief Scientific Adviser to the Government Sir Patrick Vallance presented a mixed bag of news at the Downing Street press conference tonight The 70-strong Covid Recovery Group of Conservative MPs is urging the government to start lifting the lockdown no later than March 8 - when vaccines given to the most vulnerable groups should have taken effect. But No10's refusal to give an exact day for when lockdown will end may have been fuelled by worrying findings from scientists feeding into SAGE who sounded the alarm about the possible increased death risk of the variant. 'Professor Lockdown' Neil Ferguson, the Imperial College London epidemiologist whose grim modelling warned hundreds of thousands of Britons could die without action back in March, told ITV it is a 'realistic possibility' the new variant increases the risk of death. The variant has already been spotted in 60 countries, including the US, Australia, India, China and Saudi Arabia. But the Government's top scientific advisers believe the current crop of vaccines will work against the variant - but may be less effective against other South African and Brazilian mutations. Health Secretary Matt Hancock has sensationally claimed to travel agents in a private zoom call that vaccines may be 50 per cent less effective on the South African variant, claiming that the information was in the public domain but admitted 'I wouldn't say this in public' as he failed to provide evidence, MailOnline revealed today. And grim figures laying bare the other economically-crippling side of lockdown reveal business activity has fallen even more than expected this month, leaving the UK looking down the barrel of a double dip recession. Number 10 borrowed more than 34billion in December - the third highest monthly total ever - as it scrambles to keep millions of jobs and stricken firms afloat while tax revenues dwindle. Instead Cabinet ministers are embroiled in an unseemly squabble over whether to pump up financial support further and toughen rules at UK borders. A leaked plan from Matt Hancock's Department of Health would see everyone who tests positive for coronavirus given 500 in cash to self-isolate. The idea, which could cost half a billion pounds a week, is meant to bolster low levels of compliance - but officials at Rishi Sunak's Treasury branded it 'bonkers', while No10 effectively disowned the proposal, saying the PM had not seen it. Meanwhile, the powerful Covid O Cabinet committee is due to made a decision on introducing 'quarantine hotels' next week - with all arrivals potentially forced to isolate for 10 days at airports in a bid to prevent more Covid 'super-strains' being imported. For full access, please log in, register your subscription or subscribe. Try for 99 a month for two months, cancel or pause anytime. Quick action by U.S. Border Patrol agents assigned to the horse patrol unit resulted in the discovery of a stash house with 30 immigrants who had crossed the border illegally. On Wednesday afternoon, horse patrol agents responded to a smuggling attempt near a ranch south of Rio Bravo. Agents tracked a group of individuals to Espejo Molina Road, where they observed the group getting into a black minivan. By Ludwig Burger FRANKFURT (Reuters) - AstraZeneca has informed the European Commission that it will initially not be able to deliver the agreed volumes of its COVID-19 vaccine when it obtains regulatory approval for the bloc, which is expected by end-January, German newspaper Bild reported on Friday, citing company sources. An AstraZeneca spokesman did not have an immediate comment when contacted by Reuters. Austrian news site OE24 also reported of the looming delivery delays, saying that Astra had told the EU's vaccination coordinators on Thursday that planned deliveries would be considerably below target during the first quarter. Without specifying its sources, OE24 reported that Austrian coordinator Martin Auer told regional states in the country that Austria's allotments for the first quarter had been cut to 500,000 to 600,000 doses from 2 million previously planned. (Reporting by Ludwig Burger; editing by Thomas Seythal and Edward Taylor) Robert Kocharyan on years of his leadership in Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia Situation on Armenian-Azerbaijani border is still tense, more on COVID-19 in Armenia, May 28 digest "Armenia" alliance of political parties paying tribute to founder of First Republic Aram Manukyan (LIVE) Yerevan.today: Armenia acting PM not greeted at ruling party's headquarters, citizens call him 'capitulator' Russia MOD reports on maintenance of ceasefire regime in Nagorno-Karabakh Armenia acting MOD meets with Russian counterpart in Moscow Armenia 2nd President: I see possibility of restoring borders of Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast We can provide our army with some key, modernized weapons, says Armenia ex-President Kocharyan Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: Captives issue is not one that any opposition force can resolve OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs release statement on detention of 6 Armenian servicemen by Azerbaijan Armenian acting Deputy PM: Discussion on issues possible only after withdrawal of Azeri troops from Armenia's territory Armenia acting PM on Syunik roads, Russian military posts: This is only place where there are working nuances Armenia acting PM: Process of return of POWs will intensify after upcoming elections Putin congratulates Aliyev on Republic Day 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 Local Branch President Ann Pierre said, we are extremely excited to host the first of two forums for the large field of candidates for Mayor of Chattanooga, Tennessee. The community is invited to post their questions for the candidates during the forum, which will be selected and answered after the prepared questions. Additional forums for City Council candidates and the remaining field of mayoral candidates are scheduled weekly until all candidates are presented prior to early voting February 10 thru 25, 2021. The individual participants of the first mayoral forum are: Monty Bruell, Christopher Dahl, Wade Hinton, Tim Kelly, Erskine Olgesby, Jr. and Kim White. The webinar will stream live on the Chattanooga NAACP Facebook page, but you must log on to Zoom to place your question in the Q&A. You may join Zoom by computer, or any supported device and by telephone at 301-715-8592 or 312-626-6799. The Webinar ID for entry by computer of telephone is: 880 2512 6776no passcode needed. Founded in 1909, the NAACP is the nations oldest and largest nonpartisan civil rights organization. Its members throughout the United States and the world are the premier advocates for civil rights in their communities. Visit us at www.naacp.org. Phuket air quality still good, assures health official PHUKET: The Phuket Provincial Public Health (PPHO) Office has maintained that the air quality across the island is healthy, despite a light haze covering the island and a government agency under the Pollution Control Department reporting a red Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups warning with PM2.5 reading of 149 at Chalong Circle this morning (Jan 22) pollution By The Phuket News Friday 22 January 2021, 03:20PM Plerndow Thongnunui, an environmental health official at the PPHO, told The Phuket News today, Phuket air quality is still good. People on the island can see the air quality report from Air4Thai, either through its website or application. Air4Thai is reliable because it is provided by the Pollution Control Department of Thailand. So please do not worry about the mild haze over Phuket today, the quality is healthy, Ms Plerndow said. Ms Plerndows was unable to explain why the Air Pollution Real-time Air Quality Index (AQI) posted on aqmthai.com provided very different readings. AQMThai readings are also created from data provided by the Division of Air Quality Data of the Air Quality and Noise Management Bureau, which operates under Thailands Pollution Control Department. AQMThai issued a red Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups notice with a PM2.5 reading of 149 at Chalong Circle at 8am today. It also issued an orange Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups notice for both Patong Beach with a PM2.5 reading of 119 at at 8:43am, and for Saphan Hin with a PM2.5 reading of 114 also at 8:43am. AQMThai also reported a PM2.5 reading of 95 for the Municipal Health Center 1 in Phuket Town at 8am. The Air4Thai web portal, however, gave a healthy green reading of just 37 at 8am today. Please ignore this reading from this website. It is not reliable, Ms Plerndow said. Asked specifically why the AQMThai readings, also issued by the Pollution Control Department, were to be ignored, Ms Plerndow was silent. Please use Air4Thai only, because there is an update every hour from Thailands Pollution Control Department, was all she would say. The air quality is still at a good level and we can handle the situation, Ms Plerndow assured. If the air pollution gets worse, there will definitely be a caution issued. We do advise people to wear a mask to protect themselves from the pollution, and the pollution clinic [sic] will open at Vachira Hospital when the forecast from Air4Thai remains at a high of 76 for three consecutive days, she noted. Rahul Gandhi stoking fear on vaccine, all will be vaccinate by December: Union Minister 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? Coronavirus cases: India records 14,545 new COVID-19 cases, 163 deaths in last 24 hours India oi-Ajay Joseph Raj P New Delhi, jan 22: Union health ministry on Friday said that India's COVID-19 caseload rose to 1,06,25,428 with 14,545 people testing positive for coronavirus infection in a day. The death toll increased to 1,53,032 with 163 fresh fatalities, the health ministry said. The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 1,02,83,708 pushing the national COVID-19 recovery rate of 96.78 per cent, while the COVID-19 case fatality rate stands at 1.44 per cent. The COVID-19 active caseload remained below 2 lakh for the third consecutive day. COVID-19 vaccine: Tamil Nadu health minister takes coronavirus jab There are 1,88,688 active coronavirus infections in the country which comprise 1.78per cent of the total caseload,the data stated. Earlier, India's COVID-19 tally had crossed the 20-lakh mark on August 7, 30 lakh on August 23, 40 lakh on September 5 and 50 lakh on September 16. It went past 60 lakh on September 28, 70 lakh on October 11, crossed 80 lakh on October 29, 90 lakh on November 20 and surpassed the one-crore mark on December 19. Centre-farmers hold 11th round of talks, impasse over farm laws continues| Oneindia News A total of 1,53,032 deaths have been reported so far in the country including 50,634 from Maharashtra followed by 12,299 from Tamil Nadu, 12,187 from Karnataka, 10,782 from Delhi, 10,089 from West Bengal,8,597 from Uttar Pradesh and, 7,142 from Andhra Pradesh. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, January 22, 2021, 12:14 [IST] The mystery of what happened to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose and how did he die continues to persist, even 75 years after he supposedly perished in an air crash in Taipei. Even though Justice MK Mukherjee, who was the one-man commission to inquire about the ultimate fate of Netaji, reported (in 2005) that he did not die in the so-called air crash, the commission could not conclude about his ultimate fate. Lately Netajis grand-nephew Surya Kumar Bose and grand-niece Madhuri Bose have raised an objection to Justice Mukherjees report and vociferously declared that Netaji had perished in the air crash. The declaration comes even as Bengali commercial movies on Gumnami Baba hit the screen last year. Gumnami Baba, a so-called holy man lived in Faizabad (the twin city of Ayodhya) from the 1960s onward till 1987 when he died. Gumnami Baba lived in isolation and he had a handful of disciples who believed that he was Netaji living incognito. Who was Gumnami Baba? Three years ago, a commission set up by the UP government to figure out who Gumnami Baba was, submitted its report. Though the report is kept under wraps, many feel that Gumnami Baba was put up by the Intelligence Bureau (IB) to confuse matters. Then IB director BN Mallik (who served in the high office for two decades) was close to Nehru. He put up various holy men at various places to masquerade as Netaji in a political move that could benefit Nehru. At that time there were rumours that Netaji was in hiding in the USSR. It was feared that he could land in India and his presence would destabilise the political set-up in the country. Gumnami and other babas would in that case stand up and make their own claims to confuse matters. Gumnami Baba proved to be the most everlasting of all the holy man set-up. Others like Shaulmari baba who lived in an ashram close to Farakka, was discovered to be a displaced person from Dhaka. The Big Question All this begs the question: what happened to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose? Iqbal Chand Malhotra, a documentary filmmaker and researcher from Delhi is of the firm belief that with the Second World War ending in favour of the Allied Forces, Netaji made his escape. He did not escape from Saigon on board a Japanese bomber that is supposed to have crashed in Taipei (which is the general belief among those who believe that Netaji survived) but on a German submarine from Singapore that carried him to Vladivostok. From here, Subhas Bose made his way to inland USSR. The submarine, which contained gold and precious stones, then sailed to Tokyo. According to Malhotra, the submarine was part of the Monsun grupe that was deployed in south-east Asia courtesy the Germans. The 33rd flotilla was based in Penang and had 34 German U boats and 7 Italian transport submarines. But it continued operations even after the Germans surrendered in May 1945. The gold and precious stones had been picked up from Penang in Malaysia which had fallen to the Japanese. They had been processed at a refinery and much of it comprised donations by Indians to fight the British. What happened to Netaji after he disembarked at Vladivostok cannot be said with precision. However, Purabi Roy, an Indian researcher who spent long years in Russia, came to know about a document in the archives of GRU (an intelligence agency) in Padolsk near Moscow that refers to a meeting between Joseph Stalin and his three aides (Vyacheslav Molotov, Andrey Vyschinsky and Yakov Malik) in October 1946 where they were discussing where to keep Chandra Bose. The document was seen by Major General Aleksander Kolesnikov who had been befriended by Roy and sent to the archive. The archive is only accessible to Russian citizens and therefore Roy (although she knows Russian) could not go in. In 1998, when the MK Mukherjee inquiry commission on Netaji went to Moscow to record evidence, Kolesnikov then serving in Istanbul and did not appear before it. Therefore his findings shared with Purabi Roy could not be taken cognisance of. An artist's impression of Netaji's plane crash site. However, two decades later in 2016, Kolesnikov appeared in a documentary produced by the aforementioned Iqbal Malhotra where he mentioned about the document he found in GRU archives where Stalin and his aides were discussing on what to do with Bose. This lead has however not been seriously pursued by the Indian government. Incidentally, when documents relating to Netaji were declassified in 2016, a file tumbled out which showed that Subhas Bose had broadcast three times from overseas between December 26, 1945, and February 1946. The broadcasts were caught by an IB station in Governors House Calcutta and Netaji promised that he would come back and that freedom was close at hand. But Netaji never turned up and no confirmed information surfaced about him again. But the declassified files had a note addressed by the Viceroy of India to the British PM asking about the policy about Bose. On October 25, 1945, the British PM convened a meeting where it was decided to allow Subhas Bose to remain where he was. Speculation is that Stalin may have kept Netaji alive as a force which could be deployed against Nehru and other leaders who he considered as British agents. But Stalin died in 1953 and the new leaders of the Soviet Union having made up with Nehru dispatched Netaji to Siberia, per the rumours. Robert Kocharyan on years of his leadership in Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia Situation on Armenian-Azerbaijani border is still tense, more on COVID-19 in Armenia, May 28 digest "Armenia" alliance of political parties paying tribute to founder of First Republic Aram Manukyan (LIVE) Yerevan.today: Armenia acting PM not greeted at ruling party's headquarters, citizens call him 'capitulator' Russia MOD reports on maintenance of ceasefire regime in Nagorno-Karabakh Armenia acting MOD meets with Russian counterpart in Moscow Armenia 2nd President: I see possibility of restoring borders of Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast We can provide our army with some key, modernized weapons, says Armenia ex-President Kocharyan Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: Captives issue is not one that any opposition force can resolve OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs release statement on detention of 6 Armenian servicemen by Azerbaijan Armenian acting Deputy PM: Discussion on issues possible only after withdrawal of Azeri troops from Armenia's territory Armenia acting PM on Syunik roads, Russian military posts: This is only place where there are working nuances Armenia acting PM: Process of return of POWs will intensify after upcoming elections Putin congratulates Aliyev on Republic Day 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 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. Haiti - Justice : Arrest and release of former Senator Lavalas Nenel Cassy On Thursday afternoon, former Senator Lavalas Nenel Cassy was arrested by the police on the order of the Miragoane Government Commissioner, Me Jean Ernst Muscadin. The former parliamentarian was arrested after participating in a demonstration against the ruling power and the respect for the Constitution, when he went to the city police station to demand the release of 12 activists from the opposition apprehended aboard a bus who had just participated in the demonstration. Reacting to this arrest Me. Andre Michel declared Thursday "[...] Nenel Cassy has just been arrested in Miragoane at the office of the Departmental Director of Police, in accordance with the instructions of President Jovenel Moise. The battle for respect for the Constitution must gain momentum. Unacceptable! Bloke peyi a." Me Jean Ernst Muscadin denied the words of Andre Michel suggesting that the arrest of Nenel Cassy had been made on the instructions of President Jovenel Moise, specifying that the former Senator was arrested on charges of illegal possession of weapons, vandalism and theft and was accompanied by "four police officers" carrying illegal weapons including assault rifles. President of the Senate Joseph Lambert also reacted, "I have heard the unpleasant news of the arrest of Senator Nenel Cassy. The competent authorities should assess the advisability of such an act. Democracy is too fragile. We must preserve it." For its part, the radical Political Direction of the so-called Democratic Opposition (DIRPOD) has launched an appeal for rebellion "[...] The dictatorship is on the march. The DIRPOD calls on the population to a legitimate rebellion against this arbitrary act and for the defense of democracy." Thursday evening Nenel Cassy was released along with the 12 opposition activists. Reacting to this release Jospeh Lambert declared "The President of the Senate acknowledges the judicial authorities who have reassessed the arrest of Senator Nenel Cassy. The position of the Senate was clearly stated in favor of individual liberty. Haiti has chosen democracy." However, according to Me Andre Michel, Enold Florestal, an official of the sector of the radical opposition called "Democratic and Popular" was arrested in Lalue by police officers from the General Security Unit of the National Palace (USGPN). SL/ HaitiLibre The Hindi version of Vijay's Master released on January 14. Before 2020 or before the coronavirus outbreak, films doing business of Rs 100 crore was a common occurrence. In fact in 2019 alone, there were as many as 17 Hindi films that entered the Rs 100 crore club, up from 13 in 2018. In 2019, the Indian film industry made another record with six films entering Rs 200 crore club, according to EY 2020 report. However, in times of the COVID-19 pandemic, theatre owners are rejoicing even when a film does a business of Rs 10 crore. But now a film has not only entered the Rs 100 crore club, it is also helping exhibitors see some profits after a year-long struggle. It is south superstar Vijay's Master that made a century in five days of its release. The film's Tamil version had released on January 13 and Vijay The Master, the Hindi version released on January 14 in theatres. 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 In five days of its release, the film collected Rs 89 crore in Tamil Nadu. Out of the Rs 89 crore, Rs 49 crore is the distributor share, pointed out Karan Taurani, Vice-President, Elara Capital. So, the remaining share will go the exhibitors. The film earned Rs 20 crore in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana and the distributor share is Rs 11.6 crore. In Karnataka and Kerala, Master grossed Rs 13 crore and Rs 8 crore and the distributor share is Rs 5.5 crore and Rs 4 crore, respectively. In North India, the film collected around Rs 4 crore. During the same period, the film minted over Rs 33 crore from overseas market. Overall, in five days Master's worldwide business reached over Rs 164 crore. "Master has rejuvenated the south film industry. Tamil Nadu is going to hit Rs 100 crore net. There are around 800 cinemas in the state and they are contributing Rs 100 crore. So, you can estimate the kind of money that has flowed into the industry," Vishek Chauhan, a single-screen exhibitor who runs Roopbani Cinemas in Bihar, told Moneycontrol. "Andhra Pradesh/Telangana have done very well. Along with Master, they have movies like Krack and Red which have performed well. Karnataka was slow, but it has picked up after Master and Kerala opened with the film and they have exploded," he added. Another exhibitor who runs multiplexes in Bengaluru said he was seeing strong profits post Master's release. "I am seeing houseful shows (at 50 percent capacity). In all the screens, we are running Master. So, number of shows have doubled for the film. Pre-COVID the film would have got 10 shows but now I am having around 20 shows of the film in a day. Thanks to Master I am seeing similar profits as I used to see in the pre-COVID period," said the Bengaluru exhibitor on condition of anonymity. Kaimal Kumar, who owns Priyadarsini Cinemas in Kerala said he had earned around Rs 7 lakh in nine days after Master's release. However, he said are there many expenses that he has to take care of. Chauhan noted that along with strong business in south, Master's Hindi version despite no promotion is seeing good traction. "In Bombay, there were houseful shows in Gaiety Galaxy. In my cinema too on Sunday (January 17) we had strong footfalls. Even the Hindi version in its capacity has done reasonably well." He added that since reopening, Master (Hindi) has done second best business after Wonder Woman 1984 (WW84). "When the history of film exhibition will be written, Master will occupy a prominent place. Master has shown that theatrical business is here to stay," said Chauhan. In the first week of its release, the film has collected over Rs 125 crore, and it is expected that the worldwide total would be around Rs 200 crore. "Along with money, it is the strong sentiment the film (Master) has brought back in the industry," said Chauhan. SCOTTSDALE, Ariz, Jan. 22, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - As schools around the world continue to embrace virtual schooling, the demand for online tutors, certified teachers and qualified online ESL teachers continues to grow. While online English teaching is by no means a new way for people to make additional income from home , it's one that's increasing in popularity. Major news outlets like ABC continue to produce segments like pandemic career pivots that may help you and your bank account , seen earlier this week on Good Morning America, which showcase people's opportunity to take advantage of the unprecedented remote working situation to change their career paths. As recent TEFL graduate Caitlyn Causey notes in the segment, her reason to pursue a Teach English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) certification is that "it's a great way to supplement my income right now." And her focus is one many people can relate to as we work through these difficult times, "I'm just trying to help my family," she tells the camera. But supplementary income is just one reason people are looking to pivot their careers to the education sector. Since the onset of the pandemic, Teach Away, a mission-driven education company working to solve the global teacher shortage, has seen teacher training enrollments soar to 3x that of pre-pandemic, including in their online alternative pathway to a teaching license in the US . Scott, a recent graduate of the Teacher Certification Program in Hawai'i, was already considering a career change before the onset of the pandemic. A former attorney, he decided to pursue a teacher's license because he had a desire to do meaningful work in education. He made that leap at the right time, working through the online coursework while the world was in lockdown. He's now ready to start his teaching practice next month in Hawai'i. While education may have been one of the sectors most disrupted by the pandemic, it is also one that has the most opportunity, as the demand for great teachers who can and are willing to adapt to a remote learning environment continues to rise. Leanna Archambault, an associate professor at the Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College at Arizona State University, is quoted in EdSurge as stating, "If you can focus on silver linings, I think colleges of teacher education are going to realize the importance of preparing teachers for remote settings. It's not an option; it's going to be an imperative." Dave Frey, CEO of Teach Away, offers: "People turning to teaching as a career option during times of crisis is not uncommon. We saw a similar trend during the 2008 recession as well. Online teaching, particularly online English teaching, has been a steadily growing economy for years. In the wake of the pandemic and school closures that have driven education to adopt a virtual reality at an accelerated pace, it just makes sense that more and more people will take advantage of the chance to do meaningful work online." In particular, this can be a great chance for new graduates entering the workforce at this challenging time to earn an income and garner valuable working experience by becoming an ESL teacher or online tutor. Skooli.com, Teach Away's sister company, offers 1:1 online academic support from licensed teachers through a virtual tutoring platform. Since May of 2020, Skooli has seen unprecedented growth. Traffic increased nearly % with an influx of new clients who run from School Districts to major corporate firms looking to support employee parents juggling remote working and learning in one household with better 1:1 online learning. As the U.S. enters a new era in leadership, the Teach Away and Skooli teams are optimistic, even excited, to see more and more people look to the education sector as a point of resilience and opportunity for a rewarding career. About Teach Away Founded in 2003, Teach Away has been on an epic journey to solve the global teacher shortage with amazing teachers. From our beginnings as an international teacher recruitment startup to today, we've stayed true to our vision of a world where every student experiences the power of a great teacher. Teach Away is currently a global leader in international teacher recruitment and certification. We are home to the largest online community of international educators worldwide. We believe in one critical factor to student successthe power of a great teacher. And we believe that technology is important to solving the global teacher shortage and connecting students to great teachers. TEACH AWAY Media Department Sarah Plummer Email: [email protected] SOURCE Teach Away Related Links http://www.teachaway.com Queensland authorities will prepare a formal proposal for Australians returning from overseas to quarantine in regional centres, after Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk pitched the idea to the Prime Minister on Friday. The idea to move the states quarantine arrangements out of hotels in Brisbanes CBD came after an outbreak at a hotel in the capital plunged the city into a three-day lockdown this month. We have seen what has happened with the British strain of COVID, we are really concerned about that and the impact it can have on large populations, Ms Palaszczuk said after national cabinet met in Brisbane on Friday. The details of the proposal will be going more formally to the Prime Minister, but we looked at a number of options involving both Gladstone and Toowoomba. MPV SUV Sadly, if you lived anywhere but in South America, Renault never really delivered. The Renault Duster Oroch was only available there, while the rest of the world had to settle for the single-cab version of the Duster pickup, significantly reducing its applications (and, therefore, its success).Now, Renault has come up with the Bigster Concept that, as the name suggests, is a larger vehicle than the Duster. The Bigster should get a third row of seats, essentially confirming the rumors saying the Lodgywould get anreplacement. This, though, looks much cooler than anything we could have expected.The designers have gone for an edgy, rugged, blocky design, mixed with a few modern elements - particularly the lights. The Bigster isn't afraid to show its plastic on the outside, and even though that's usually considered "cheap" in the automotive world, Dacia's models have managed to own it so far. Besides, they are cheap, so at least the actual price reflects the looks.With a description like that, Renault and Dacia would be mad not to offer the Bigster as a pickup sometime in the future on all markets. Many people who buy this type of vehicle care more about its value-for-money than the plushness of its interior materials and whatnot. When it comes to the good old bang-for-buck, you can hardly do better than Dacia.However, there is one thing standing in the Bigster Pickup's way, and it's called the Renault Alaskan . Based on the Duster, the pickup version wouldn't have overlapped with the bigger Renault model, but the Bigster would be right up there, stepping on its toes and telling everyone how of a better deal it is compared to the all-French alternative. Well, we say "all French," but that's actually a Nissan Navara, so...Looking at this rendering (by KDesign AG ), though, and then at the Renault Alaskan, it's instantly obvious which of the two models the French giant should go for. At the same time, if the Bigster pickup were based on the SUV platform, then serious buyers looking for a workhorse might pass it.Those people want leaf springs at the back and high payload limits, and an SUV chassis won't be able to offer that. And while rebadging and restyling the Navara to look like a Bigster would technically work, it would also push the price up significantly, negating one of the Romanian brand's main advantages. It's never that easy, which is why some of these cool renderings never become anything more than that. The development comes after Owaisi visited Furfura, located in Jangipara subdivision of Hooghly district, earlier this month and declared his intention to back Siddiqui in the 2021 Assembly polls Ahead of the West Bengal Assembly elections, Abbas Siddiqui, the cleric of Furfura Sharif in Hooghly district, announced his political outfit Indian Secular Front (ISF) on Thursday. Furfura Sharif is the state's most prominent medieval shrine and holds influence over Muslims in south Bengal. His brother Nausad Siddiqui will be the chairman of the party while Simul Soren was named its president, Indian Express reported. "We have announced our party today. We will now sit for talks with other parties like AIMIM and then decide in how many seats we will field candidates. At present, we are considering all 294 seats," said the 34-year-old cleric. Siddiqui's ISF includes at least 10 more tribal and Dalit groups from several districts of Bengal, and has tied up with Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi's AIMIM to contest at least 70 of the total 294 seats this year, according to The Print. He also said that the number could go up if the alliances agree. Some of the goals of the new party are: upliftment of backward masses Muslims, tribals and Dalits. But its emergence is driven by disaffection with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. "We, the Muslims of West Bengal, misjudged Mamata Banerjee. We trusted her and supported her, but now we feel deceived. Our party will fight for the deceived, deprived and downtrodden people of Bengal," said Siddiqui. The development comes after Owaisi visited Furfura, located in Jangipara subdivision of Hooghly district, earlier this month and declared his intention to back Siddiqui in the 2021 Assembly polls. One of the descendants of the late Pir Abu Baqar Siddiqui of Furfura Sharif, Siddiqui said that he wants to be a king maker and will not contest polls. "I want to be the king maker. I will not contest polls. But will do everything possible for the party. We will work for the betterment of Muslims, Dalits and poor people. Our party is for all," he said. According to political observers, his faction may emerge as a key factor in division of Bengali speaking Muslim votes which, so far, was with TMC in south Bengal and with Congress in parts of north Bengal. "Years of Congress rule, then that of CPM and then Trinamool Congress in Bengal did nothing for the Muslims or the poor people," added Siddiqui. Responding to the allegations that his outfit is a ploy to split the Muslim vote and help the BJP, Siddiqui made an oblique reference to the Trinamool Congres and said: "There was no BJP before the 2011. Who is to be blamed for the rise of the BJP?" He accused the ruling party of not fulfilling the promises made to the minorities in the state. "It was Trinamool Congress which allowed BJP to get into Bengal and win 18 Lok Sabha seats. I have a constitutional right to announce a political party," said Siddiqui. Muslims constitute 27.01 percent of the population in West Bengal and they have since 2011 been voting overwhelmingly in favour of TMC. A split in Muslim votes is likely to split Mamata's so-called vote bank in the state. WASHTENAW COUNTY, MI Washtenaw County is slowly ramping up efforts to administer the COVID-19 vaccine, despite being forced to postpone two clinics in the last five days due to low supply. The Washtenaw County Health Department is currently scheduling vaccinations for older adults without a primary health care provider, as well as a few designated essential workers, such as first responders. According to state guidance, 75% of the vaccine is designated for older adults, officials said. There are currently three places administering the COVID-19 vaccine in Michigan -- local health departments, health systems and pharmacies, such as CVS and Walgreens which are administering vaccines at long-term care facilities. The Washtenaw County Health Department also now is conducting a vaccination clinic at Eastern Michigan Universitys Convocation Center. Area health care providers are contacting patients age 65 and older as they have appointments available, officials said. The health department has an individual vaccine appointment request survey for those without a primary health care provider, or who are eligible because of employment. The request survey puts people in line for a vaccination appointment with the health department. Those completing it will be contacted when an appointment becomes available, officials said. Those employed by a Washtenaw County school district, will receive appointment information from their district when available, health officials said. Health department officials are warning residents that it may be several weeks before people are contacted with an available appointment. Appointments are being filled by randomly selecting from among eligible individuals, officials said. Residents should go to www.washtenaw.org/covid19vaccine to find out if they are eligible or to make an appointment. If you cannot complete Washtenaw Countys eligibility survey online, call 734-544-6700. Despite vaccination efforts, people still need to continue using prevention strategies, such as wearing masks and practicing social distancing and quarantining when necessary, health officials said. READ MORE FROM THE ANN ARBOR NEWS: For Michiganders anxious to be vaccinated against COVID-19, demand far outstrips supply Limited COVID-19 vaccine supply postpones another Washtenaw County vaccination clinic Michigan reports 2,031 new coronavirus cases, 40 new deaths Ukraine calls on the OSCE participating states to condemn the political persecution of Ukrainians by the Russian occupation administration in Crimea. "We call on the participating states to condemn Russia's political persecution of Ukrainian citizens and to step up political and diplomatic pressure on the aggressor state," Permanent Representative of Ukraine to International Organizations in Vienna Yevhenii Tsymbaliuk said at the OSCE Permanent Council meeting, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. During the meeting, the Permanent Representative of Ukraine, in particular, drew the attention of foreign diplomats to one of the latest violations of international humanitarian law on the occupied peninsula prison sentences given to three Crimean Tatars. Tsymbaliuk reminded that on January 12, the Southern Military District Court [in Rostov-on-Don, Russia] sentenced three Ukrainians to various terms in a maximum security colony: Enver Omerov was sentenced to 18 years, Ayder Dzhapparov to 17 years, Riza Omerov to 13 years. "As it happened many times before, the pre-trial investigation and trial were conducted with numerous procedural violations, and the evidence presented by lawyers, proving the non-involvement of the defendants in the incriminated actions, was completely ignored," Tsymbaliuk said. He also added that the day before, more than 100 Crimean Tatars, who tried to get to court and express support for the illegally accused, were illegally detained and held in the cold for almost 9 hours. As reported, the Southern Military District Court in Rostov-on-Don (Russia) ruled on January 12 to sentence Enver Omerov to 18 years, Riza Omerov 13 years, Ayder Dzhapparov to 16 years in a maximum security penal colony. All three men are residents of Bilohirsk district of Crimea and were detained on June 10, 2019. They were charged with "conducting terrorist activities" and participating in the activities of the Islamic organization Hizb ut-Tahrir. ol Absence rates for primary school teachers with Covid-19 were six times higher in England than for children in the same settings, an analysis suggests. Teacher absences due to a confirmed case of coronavirus were up to three times higher in secondary schools than those of pupils, according to research from the Education Policy Institute (EPI) think tank. It is 'highly likely' that more teachers had a confirmed case of Covid-19 during the autumn term than the wider adult population, but more government data is needed to confirm this, the report says. Approximately 0.5 per cent to 0.9 per cent of primary teachers in England were absent due to a confirmed Covid-19 case during the autumn term. This is compared to between just 0.05 per cent to 0.15 per cent of primary pupils, the analysis finds. The highest teacher absence rate - of 3 per cent - was found in Bury, Greater Manchester. The lowest rates - which were close to zero - were seen in the Isle of Wight and Hertfordshire. The research comes after a study showed children are unlikely to have played a significant role in the spread of coronavirus during the first wave last year. Absence rates for primary school teachers with Covid-19 were six times higher in England than for children in the same settings, an analysis suggests About 0.6 per cent to 1 per cent of secondary teachers were absent compared with 0.2 per cent to 0.3 per cent for secondary pupils. The analysis suggests that teacher absence rates due to contracting Covid-19 ranged significantly across the country. The absence rate ranged from between 2 and 3 per cent of all secondary school teachers in Bury in Greater Manchester, Hartlepool in Co Durham, Thurrock in Essex, Calderdale in West Yorkshire, Blackburn in Lancashire and Salford in Greater Manchester, to almost none in the Isle of Wight and Herefordshire. Teacher absences due to a confirmed case of coronavirus were up to three times higher in secondary schools than those of pupils, according to research from the Education Policy Institute (EPI) think tank Teacher absence by region Teacher absence rate due to confirmed cases (%) LA Name Primary schools Secondary schools Bury 2.0 3.0 Blackburn with Darwen 1.8 1.9 Oldham 1.7 1.9 Wigan 1.7 1.8 Bradford 1.6 1.8 Bolton 1.5 1.8 North Lincolnshire 1.5 1.8 Rochdale 1.4 1.7 Havering 1.4 1.7 Medway 1.4 1.7 Luke Sibieta, research fellow at the EPI, said: 'This research shows that a far greater share of teachers missed school due to a positive Covid-19 test compared with pupils. Children did NOT play a key role in spreading coronavirus during the first wave of the pandemic Children are unlikely to have played a significant role in the spread of coronavirus during the first wave last year, a study shows. Throughout the pandemic it has become increasingly evident children are less affected by Covid-19; symptoms, severe disease and death figures in children are all much lower than would be expected when compared to the rest of the population. Figures from Public Health England (PHE) show the current risk of dying from coronavirus if infected is 1,513 per 100,000 people for over-80s, but for children aged five to nine, this is just 0.1 per 100,000. The exact reason for this discrepancy remains unknown, but a leading theory states youngsters have fewer receptors which the virus uses to enter cells, making it harder for the virus to infect children. These receptors become more abundant with age. The new study from Germany enrolled parents and children from families in a trial which ran between April and May 2020 - before new variants, which may be better at infecting children, emerged. The researchers, from Germany's University Children's Hospital, Im Neuenheimer Feld in Heidelberg and Ulm University Medical Centre also found children were far less likely get infected than their guardians and are also less likely to pass it on to someone in their household. Advertisement 'We find that Covid-19 absence rates in England were three times higher for teachers than for pupils in secondary schools and six times higher in primary schools - though there was significant variation across the country. 'Our analysis indicates that teachers are likely to have seen higher Covid-19 case rates than the adult population as a whole - but we need to see more data released by the Government in order to confirm this, and to inform any forthcoming decisions on vaccination prioritisation. 'The Government should be looking at this very closely ahead of the potential reopening of schools next month.' The analysis has reignited calls from education unions for school staff to be urgently prioritised for vaccinations amid concerns about their safety. Paul Whiteman, general secretary of school leaders' union NAHT, said: 'We have been calling for school staff to be prioritised for vaccinations for some time and we believe this new analysis shows that the Government should now confirm that it will take this step. 'This data shows that absences due to Covid-19 are almost certainly higher for school staff than other adults generally and that each staff absence has an impact on dozens of pupils at a time. 'Vaccinating the workforce therefore has the dual benefit of protecting their health whilst also preserving the education of their pupils. It is difficult to see any reason not to vaccinate staff now.' Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said: 'It is very worrying to see research which suggests that teachers are at greater risk of contracting coronavirus than the wider population, and there is clearly a moral imperative to prioritise the education workforce for vaccinations. 'Schools and colleges have worked extremely hard to create environments which are as safe as possible, but the reality is that, when fully open, they are inherently busy and crowded places, and high infection rates in the wider community inevitably mean more risk. 'The Government must commit to prioritising education workers in the next phase of the vaccination programme and it must set out a clear timetable. 'In particular, it must prioritise staff in specialist settings whose roles are often akin to those of care workers.' A Department for Education (DfE) spokeswoman said: 'The Government rightly did everything possible to keep schools open for all pupils, as they are the best place for young people's education, development and wellbeing, and all safety measures in place over the autumn term remain in place to help protect staff and students, while the national lockdown helps reduce transmission in the wider community. 'We regularly review evidence and advice from sources including Sage, PHE and ONS, to ensure our policies are guided by the most up-to-date scientific and medical understanding.' Oil traders are mixing additives into Venezuelan crude to disguise its origin so they can sell it to Chinese refiners without either party getting stung by U.S. penalties for sanction violation, Bloomberg has reported. The doping takes place at a mid-point between Venezuela and China, the report notes, and the name of the crude is changed in official documents to ones that would not suggest where the cargo comes from. According to Bloomberg, millions of barrels of Venezuelan oil have reached Chinese refiners this way. This is on top of ship-to-ship transfers that are also a common method of skirting U.S. sanctions against Caracas, as well as satellite silence from tankers carrying Venezuelan crude to buyers. There are so many ways to circumvent sanctions, the managing director of Rapidan Energy Advisors, Scott Modell, told Bloombergs Lucia Kassai. There are many people willing to take the risk because theres so much money to be made. Swapping oil for food and water is another way around sanctions, and this is what a private Mexican company did for a while, exchanging corn and water for several million barrels of Venezuelan crude. Since there was no money involved in the transaction, sanctions were not applicable. Yet the company, Libre Abordo, folded last July. In recent months (we) have faced excessive challenges, from the oil price fall... to pressure from the U.S. government aimed to stop our operations, the company said in the press release declaring its bankruptcy. Others, however, probably continue to do surreptitious business with Venezuelan oil, the Bloomberg reports suggest, citing documents showing that one Swiss trading firm, Swissoil, alone sold about 11.3 million barrels of Venezuelan oil to China in 2020. The company has denied it trades Venezuelan crude. The outgoing U.S. administration recently added more companies and tankers to its blacklist of entities working with Venezuelas state oil company PDVSA to market its oil. Even so, chances are Venezuelan crude will continue flowing to buyers thanks to stable appetite from refiners and the promise of profits for all involved. By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: The decibel levels of a campaign that the Working President of the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) and IT Minister Kalvakuntla Taraka Rama Rao (KTR) will take over the reins of the state from his father and TRS patriarch K Chandrashekar Rao, the Chief Minister of Telangana, have suddenly soared to a new high. Though there have been many occasions earlier when such campaigns were unleashed in the last four years, it was all trashed by the leadership. Also, such speculation has always turned out to be the handiwork of mischief-mongers within the TRS and also some detractors outside the party. However, this time around, the seriousness of the prospect of KTR becoming the Chief Minister peaked with substantive credibility, for there have been enough hints from the top echelons of the TRS. As latest on January 21 (Thursday), Deputy Speaker of the Telangana Legislative Assembly G Padma Rao almost made an unofficial announcement about the prospect of KTR becoming the Chief Minister very soon. What lends credence to his words is the stoic silence maintained by KTR himself, who was present at a function marking the inauguration of an office building of South Central Railway Employees Sangh. Padma Rao said, I congratulate KTR, who is going to become the Chief Minister very soon, on behalf of the Assembly and railway employees. I wish KTR should safeguard the interest of the railway employees after becoming the Chief Minister. The seriousness of the prospect of KTR becoming the Chief Minister has peaked with substantive credibility. (Photo: Facebook/ @KTRTRS) Padma Rao said this in the presence of two other Ministers Srinivas Goud and Puvvada Ajay Kumar who on earlier occasions too had said that KTR should be made the Chief Minister. Whats even more interesting was the statement of Medical and Health Minister Etala Rajender just a day before. The Health Minister, a trusted lieutenant of Chief Minister KCR, had said that the likelihood of a change of guard in Telangana was imminent and that KTR had all the qualifications to lead the state. He almost indicated that time was ripe for KCR to hand over the reins to KTR. Buttressing the suggestion of the Health Minister, another minister Talasani Srinivas Yadav and a few MLAs, including Bajireddy Govardhan (Nizamabad rural MLA) and Shakeel Ahmed (Bodhan MLA), joined the chorus to amplify the volume of the desire to see KTR as the Chief Minister. A lot of TRS leaders are saying that its just a question of the right muhurtham (auspicious hour) for the coronation that the Chief Minister KCR is waiting for. In fact, KCR has almost prepared the ground for his son to take over the reins from him by silencing or convincing Finance Minister T Harish Rao, who is also KCR's nephew, even before the 2018 early election to the Telangana Assembly. So, there may not be much opposition from any quarter within the TRS, if the predilection of a large number of legislators is honoured by the Chief Minister and the baton passed on to the young leader. How well such a change would go down with the cadres and other leaders on record as well as off the record will be interesting to watch. Why the change of guard now? The TRS leadership has been prompt in silencing such speculation whenever it surfaced. In fact, Chief Minister KCR himself asked journalists in a lighter vein, Dont you want me to continue as the Chief Minister? He had also clarified on the floor of the Assembly last year that he would continue for another 10 years at least in the position. Even KTR scoffed off the speculation as a figment of the fertile imagination of a few overenthusiastic leaders and news manufacturers. However, there seems to be a change in track, of late. New leadership could give a new dimension to governance and KTR could infuse the much-needed youthfulness into the processes, while continuing the old-world charm of KCRs governance. The blend of classic and contemporary vision and new dynamics, the party leaders and cadre expect, would work in favour of the TRS. KCR has been contemplating this idea for quite some time now. Initially, he thought of a national role for himself by cobbling up a Federal Front, which doesnt seem to become a reality now. KCR, who had opposed the three Farm Bills of the Union Government, openly on the floor of Lok Sabha and also had his party participate in the Bharat Bandh. However, KCR made a three-day Delhi tour and had called on all the big guns including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah. Soon enough, KCR made the proverbial volte-face on the Farm Bills without appearing to be bending backwards. New leadership could give a new dimension to governance and KTR could infuse the much-needed youthfulness into the processes, while continuing the old-world charm of KCR's governance. (Photo: Facebook/ @trspartyonline) The Chief Minister has eventually endorsed the content of the Farm Bills and how they could be benefitting the tillers, much to the chagrin of the local BJP unit of Telangana. For the BJPs state unit was caught in a bind whether or not to take on KCR vociferously. Though the State BJP president Bandi Sanjay, who hauls the Chief Minister over the coals, continues his string of charges, they are unable to find currency with the people. The joy of winning Dubbaka Assembly by-election and stopping the TRS juggernaut in its tracks in the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation elections is short-lived in the BJP. The political trickery of KCR is unfathomable, for he mastered the art for four decades now and perfected it in the last two decades. While the inevitability of the change of guard is being officially speculated like never before, the trainee Chief Minister is already in charge of almost everything in the state government. The official calling-on of KTR by the Chief Secretary and the Director-General of Police on New Years Day raised many an eyebrow. This time, KCR may not disappoint his son. However, the Chief Minister may consider putting off the elevation of his son to a later date, precisely after the upcoming elections to some civic bodies and by-election of Nagarjunasagar Assembly seat. The moment the TRS patriarch, who alone knows the answer to the million-dollar question of when, opens his fist, the proverbial cat will be out of the bag. Also Read: How Telangana CM's son KTR became the 'Agony Anna' of his state Thank you for reading! Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. If you have a subscription, please log in or sign up for an account on our website to continue. Keith Lamb is a University of Oxford graduate with an MSC degree in Contemporary Chinese Studies. His primary research interests are China's international relations and "socialism with Chinese characteristics." Recently, the Chinese Embassy in the U.S. had their account locked for tweeting: "The minds of Uygur women in Xinjiang were emancipated and gender equality and reproductive health were promoted, making them no longer baby-making machines." Twitter said: "We prohibit the dehumanization of a group of people based on their religion, caste, age, disability, serious disease, national origin, race, or ethnicity." In response, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying replied on January 21: "There are many conspiracy theories and disinformation on American social media relating to Xinjiang that are not true. It's a responsibility for our embassy in the U.S. to clarify them." She might as well have spared her breath as these conspiracy theories didn't originally arise from social media. Twitter along with the rest of the West propagandized by "evidence" paid for by Washington and "independent" think-tanks, funded by the military-industrial complex, has already convinced many that concentration camps and genocide are standard fare in Xinjiang. As such, Twitter probably believes they are acting justly. Indeed, Xinjiang has suffered from extreme terrorist acts in the past. Consequently, deradicalization centers have been the means China has chosen to combat this extremism. Undoubtedly, this is not an ideal state of affairs but neither is having a campaign of violent extremism launched upon Chinese citizens. The fact is, deradicalization centers have been used by France (unsuccessfully) and have also been used in Indonesia and lauded in the Western press. China's methods, for better or worse, are far more desirable than a never-ending Western war on terror that fills the pockets of the military-industrial-complex and has so far killed over 800,000 people. Considering that the Uygur population among the fastest growing population in China, claims of genocide are ridiculous. The oft-reported 3 million in camps also makes little sense considering this is nearly one-fourth of the Uygur population. Take away old people and take away children, which make up a bigger proportion of the Uygur ethnicity than other Chinese ethnic groups, then the figure of 3 million sounds even more incredulous. Now no doubt, many will not agree with the methods China uses. Often China's methods employed on a grand scale may clash with Western sensibilities. The locking down of Wuhan due to COVID-19 that led to cries of abuse by the West is enough to demonstrate this. Certainly, some will say deradicalization centers go against human rights. If so, I would urge Western governments to raise their point with China. However, when doing so they should come to the table humbly. They should be fully cognizant that their policies to combat terror have killed far more innocent lives than terrorism itself. They should be acquainted with the fact that their invasion of Iraq based on false claims of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and Saddam Hussein's involvement with 9/11 were cleverly fabricated and propagated throughout their media apparatus. Even the events of 9/11, as detailed by Architects and Engineers for 9/11 Truth, are questioned by scientific analysis. If their ignored evidence, backed by over 3,000 architects and engineers is true then the Western powers that be who were responsible for the invasion of Afghanistan, and whose consequences play out in Xinjiang today, are responsible for an even greater injustice. The Twitter block on the Chinese Embassy reveals what has always been the case. There is a highly organized media apparatus, controlled by neoliberal capital, that distorts reality and controls the grand narrative when it comes to significant international affairs especially ones that justify violent responses. Hua claims there are numerous conspiracy theories surrounding Xinjiang as such. She is merely, through Twitter, setting forth China's position. However, just like 9/11 Architects, and Engineers and just like those who rallied against the false claims of WMD, her words will be neglected because they go against the interests of a deep state whose only long-term strategic goal is belligerence. Indeed, the Chinese Embassy's Twitter ban should raise further questions about other conspiracies. After all, if a narrative can be so easily controlled to turn deradicalization centers that grew up in response to terrorism, influenced by Afghanistan, into genocide and concentration camps then would it not be just as easy for the media to hide a stolen election from the public? For all those who buy into the dream that the U.S. media is "free", the recent Twitter bans show that the U.S. media is in-fact controlled by neoliberal monopolists who are the gatekeepers to information and who have no responsibility to anyone except to their own class interests. Part of these class interests is to turn a profit. War, which leads to the looting of resources and weapons sales, is just another business venture that needs to be advertised to the public through atrocity propaganda, where competing voices will be silenced. At the end of the day, with the revelations that internet media is easily controlled by the whims of a small monopolistic class-conscious elite, it becomes increasingly urgent in our emerging multi-polar world for other poles, who have undeveloped internet industries, to spur on development in this field so that they are not subject to a future monopolistic blockade. Cambridge Analytica markets itself as providing consumer research, targeted advertising and other data-related services to both political and corporate clients. Cambridge Analytica is in the news again as the Central Bureau of Investigation has booked the UK based firm along with Global Science Research Limited for collecting and harvesting unauthorised data of Indians from Facebook. The FIR comes after two years of preliminary enquiries into the companys involvement in India based on a complaint raised by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology. The enquiry found that Cambridge Analytica had created an app called thisisyourdigitallife. This app was authorised to collect specific data of its users in Facebook. According to the enquiry, 335 Indians had installed the app which then went on to illegally collect data of approximately 5.62 lakh Facebook friends. Cambridge Analytica first came into the spotlight approximately three years ago when the company was accused of harvesting data on people from Facebook and then using it to sway election results in the US, more specifically, the 2016 elections and assisting the Donald Trump campaign. Cambridge Analytica markets itself as providing consumer research, targeted advertising and other data-related services to both political and corporate clients. The companys corporate clients were not listed on its website, but describes them as including a daily newspaper that wanted to know more about its subscribers, a women's clothing brand that sought research on its customers and a US auto insurer interested in marketing itself. Britain's Channel 4 News reported in 2018, based on secretly recorded video, that Cambridge Analytica secretly stage-managed Kenya President Uhuru Kenyatta's campaigns in the hotly contested 2013 and 2017 elections. Cambridge Analytica denied the report. After Trumps victory in the 2016 elections, Cambridge Analytica CEO Alexander Nix pitched his services to more clients boasting the company could develop psychological profiles of consumers and voters and could use it to sway them more effectively than traditional advertising. The case has now been registered under IPC section 120(B), along with sections 66B, 85, 43(a) and 66 of IT Act 2000. (@ChaudhryMAli88) Sarajevo, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 22nd Jan, 2021 ) :A former Bosnian army general was sentenced to 10 years in prison Friday for failing to stop killings and torture carried out by foreign jihadists who joined his troops during Bosnia's 1990s war. Sakib Mahmuljin, 68, was deemed responsible for the deaths of more than 50 ethnic Serb prisoners in the northeast regions of Vozuca and Zavidovici towards the end of the conflict in 1995, the Sarajevo court ruled. The victims were killed by members of the "El Mujahid" -- a notorious unit of mainly foreign Islamist fighters from North Africa and the middle East, though also from some Western countries, who fell under Mahmuljin's command of the army's third corps. Mahmuljin "failed to prevent the crimes of murder and inhuman treatment from being committed... and also to act in such a way that the perpetrators of these crimes are punished," the Sarajevo court said in a statement. The crimes committed under his watch also included torture of several civilians, wounded and prisoners of war, the court said. Mahmuljin is one of few top Bosnian Muslim army officials to be convicted for the 1992-1995 war that pitted Muslim, Croat and Serb communities against each other, leaving more than 100,000 dead. His defence lawyers, who can appeal the verdict, argued during the trial that he "had no effective control over the unit."Most of the foreign Islamist fighters who joined Bosnia's conflict left after war ended with a US-brokered peace deal in 1995. Some, however, remained in the country where the vast majority of the Muslim population, who make up some 40 percent of the 3.8 million inhabitants, practice a moderate form of islam. Unprecedented temperatures across the continent made the bushfires in Australia particularly deadly bringing apocalyptic scenes to an area roughly twice the size of Belgium. Reuters A new study published reveals "massive concerns" about the long-term recovery of Australian forests from the devastating 2019-20 Black Summer bushfires. It found that the drought that preceded the 2019-20 bushfire season was so severe that it reduced the forests' capacity for regrowth. Also Read: Australian Bushfires Caused Massive Damage To Wildlife And The Impact Is Only Being Felt Now According to a research paper on The Conversation, although fires are natural in Australia, theyre now occurring at an unprecedented frequency and intensity in areas that, historically, did not burn. This new regime does not allow the effective recovery of natural systems to their pre-fire state, says the report. More than 18.6 million hectares of land, mostly on Australia's east coast, were burned by fires that raged for more than half a year. Reuters A University of Sydney study estimates that 480 million animals have been killed in just the state of New South Wales (NSW) since September 2019. Koala populations have been hit particularly hard because they live in trees, and feed only on certain types of eucalypts. Also Read: Devastating Australia Floods Bring Crocodiles, Snakes To The Streets According to researchers,recovery depends on factors including rainfall, climate and logging, and it could take up to 40 years for habitats to return to normal. It's wonderful to see the green growth back in the forests," said co-author David Lindenmayer from ANU. Twitter "But there are some underlying issues that are creating real problems and I have massive concerns about what we will see there in 20 years time." "Our ecosystems have not been geared up to deal with the high frequency and severity of these disturbances. It's burning far too often now," he said. Forests in the northeast of Victoria and south of New South Wales (NSW) were hit hardest by the fires. Also Read: After Being Taken Care Of For Months, Koalas Rescued From Bushfires To Be Released In The Wild A forests' ability to recover from fires is largely dependent on big trees that produce a majority of seeds, pollen, flowers and nectar. "There's a big risk now the wetter forests across huge swathes of Victoria and southern NSW won't be able to recover," Lindenmayer said. The "Black Summer" fire season destroyed thousands of homes and claimed 33 lives, including nine firefighters. Nearly 3 billion animals were also killed or displaced, and the fires harmed many threatened species and ecological communities. All Inputs IANS The comedian Dave Chappelle has tested positive for the coronavirus and has canceled several upcoming shows at the Stubbs Waller Creek Amphitheater in Austin, Texas, a spokeswoman told The Associated Press. The venues website showed cancellations for four shows through Tuesday. Mr. Chappelle, who had been hosting socially distanced shows in Ohio since June, with rapid testing for audience members and himself, moved his shows to Austin during the winter, the spokeswoman said. Mr. Chappelle is asymptomatic and quarantining, she said. Joe Rogan, a comedian and podcast host who had been scheduled to perform with Mr. Chappelle on Friday and Saturday, apologized for the cancellations. Well reschedule them as soon as we can, Mr. Rogan said early Friday in an Instagram post. Mr. Chappelles positive test result came about three months after he hosted Saturday Night Live and commented on the pandemic in a monologue that also heavily touched on the presidential election. President Bidens inaugural address on Wednesday attracted about a million and a half more viewers than tuned in for Donald J. Trumps inaugural speech four years ago, according to preliminary data from Nielsen. Nearly 40 million people watched Mr. Bidens address on the major cable news stations and the three big broadcast networks. In 2017, 38.3 million viewers watched his predecessors first speech as president, the Nielsen data shows. CNN was the ratings leader, drawing roughly 10 million viewers from roughly 11:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m., when Mr. Biden took center stage. Only 2.7 million watched Mr. Bidens address on Fox News, the lowest of the major networks and a sharp reversal from four years ago, when nearly 12 million viewers tuned in to Mr. Trumps preferred cable news network. Although significantly pared down because of the coronavirus pandemic, the ceremony had more star power than in 2017. Lady Gaga sang the national anthem, and Jennifer Lopez performed This Land Is Your Land shortly before Mr. Biden was sworn in by Chief Justice John Roberts. Jackie Evancho, a former contestant on NBCs Americas Got Talent, sang the national anthem at Mr. Trumps inauguration four years ago. Dr. Anthony Fauci said Friday that the Trump administration likely cost American lives during the coronavirus pandemic with its false facts and messages. In a candid interview with CNN's John Berman, Fauci said trust had to be restored with the American people now that President Donald Trump has left office. 'People were not trusting what health officials were saying. There was great divisiveness. Masking became a political issue,' Fauci said on CNN's 'New Day. When Berman asked him if the lack of candor during the Trump administration cost lives, Fauci said yes. 'You know, it very likely did. I don't want that, John, to be a sound bite, but if you just look at that, you can see that when you're starting to go down paths not based on any science at all -- and we've been there before. I don't want to rehash it. That is not helpful at all. Particularly when you're in the situation of almost being in a crisis with the number of cases and hospitalizations and deaths we have,' the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases said. Dr. Anthony Fauci said Friday that the Trump administration likely cost American lives during the coronavirus pandemic with its false facts and messages The lack of candor and facts likely did cost lives last year, Dr. Fauci says. Theres no secret. Weve had a lot of divisiveness, weve had facts that were very, very clear, that were questioned. People were not trusting what health officials were saying. pic.twitter.com/naqYQhvgJK New Day (@NewDay) January 22, 2021 Fauci was 'knocked out for 24 hours' after second vaccine dose Dr Anthony Fauci has admitted he was 'knocked out' for a full day by his second dose of COVID-19 vaccine. 'I was hoping that I wouldnt get too knocked out. I did for about 24 hours. Now Im fine,' Dr Fauci said during a Thursday White House press briefing when asked if he'd had his booster shot. Dr Fauci received his first dose of the vaccine on live television on December 22, in an effort to instill confidence in the shot in Americans The nation's top infectious disease doctor said he was 'fatigued. A little achy. You know. Chilly,' but 'no sick' after his second dose of Moderna's coronavirus vaccine. Those are among the most common side effects of either of the two shots authorized in the US, made by Pfizer and Moderna. But Dr Fauci continued to remind Americans that those side effects are not illness triggered by the vaccine, but the immune system ramping up to fend off the virus. Dr Fauci revealed he got his second dose of the vaccine on January 19. It came 28 days after he received his first dose of the shot on December 22, on live television. Advertisement President Trump rarely wore a face mask as coronavirus cases rose across the country. He continued to hold campaign rallies - although he moved most of them outdoors - but he also held fundraisers and roundtables inside where there was little mask wearing or social distancing. Trump also touted false medical theories, including his infamous comment about injecting a disinfectant like bleach to fight the virus, which medical experts quickly warned people not to do. Trump later said he was being sarcastic. He also repeatedly said the virus would disappear on its own. The United States now has more than 24.7 million cases and more than 410,000 deaths. Fauci now speaks with the authority of the White House again. On President Joe Biden's first full day in office, Fauci had a packed schedule of administration events. His day began with a 4 a.m. virtual meeting with officials of the World Health Organization, which is based in Switzerland, included his first in-person event wiht Biden and stretched past a 4 p.m. appearance in the White House briefing room with TV appearances in between. And a liberated doctor made it clear Thursday he's happy to be working for President Biden and took a few pot shots on what it was like working under 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.' A woman has been charged with murder due to the death of a toddler girl last November. After spending four days on life support, 15-month-old Meka Ducheneaux was pronounced dead on Nov. 24. The toddler became unresponsive on Nov. 20 when she was left in the care of a long-time family friend, according to a People report. The police identified the alleged suspect as 37-year-old Brandi Adeleke of North Dakota. Cass County Jail records stated that Adeleke has been charged with murder and one count of felony child abuse. Related story: Brazilian Toddler Survives Five Days Alone in the Rainforest Victim's Family Speaking Out Meka's aunt Amanda Carillo was the girl's primary caregiver. Carillo alleged that while Meka was in the family friend's care, she has been horribly abused, burned with chemicals, given alcohol, battered, and raped. Adeleke often watched Carillo's children including Meka. The suspect had invited Meka over for a Halloween sleepover at her Fargo apartment, according to a Valley News Live report. "What did my niece do to you, but love you? She loved you so much. What did she do to you to make you so mad? And why didn't you bring her home? When did you stop loving her?" Carillo was quoted on a report. Carillo said that her niece was a good baby and loved hugs and kisses. Carillo said that at the end of the weekend when Meka was expected to be back home, Adeleke said that her home was infected with COVID-19 and that Meka would have to quarantine with her. However, Carillo and Fargo Police later learned that this was a lie. Carillo said that when Adeleke came over on Nov. 20, she knew that something was wrong. Adeleke was calm when she told Carillo that Meka was in the hospital, according to Carillo. With this, Carillo said that she assumed that it was due to COVID-19. Carillo said that when she entered the hospital, she saw the rulers that are used to measure bruises. She then asked Adeleke what she did to Meka, to which Adeleke replied, "She's just sick, Amanda. She's fine. She's going to be fine!" Autopsy Based on the autopsy conducted by Fargo Police, Meka had numerous blunt force injuries. Court documents also added that Adeleke gave Meka a bath, but left the child unattended and went underwater for an unknown but brief amount of time. Carillo asked how high did Adeleke have the bathwater, adding that her niece already knew how to sit down. Adeleke also admitted to pinching and slapping Meka's face when she was unresponsive and tried to wake her up, according to court documents. Adeleke was arrested and charged with murder and child abuse charges. She remains to be in prison with a $1 million bail amount, according to a Crime Online report. Carillo said that she is glad Adeleke is not behind bars, adding that she hopes she never gets to see the light of day again. The Carillos said that they are planning to hold a public memorial for the toddler within the next few weeks. Related story: Oregon Toddler Shot Himself Dead While Playing with Loaded Gun: 'It's Tough' Runners: Get your summer program off on the right foot With truth famously known as the "first casualty of war," a Norwegian parliamentarian announced Thursday that she is nominating "fact-checkers" for this year's Nobel Peace Prize Oslo, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 21st Jan, 2021 ) :With truth famously known as the "first casualty of war," a Norwegian parliamentarian announced Thursday that she is nominating "fact-checkers" for this year's Nobel Peace Prize. Announcing the nomination on Twitter, Trine Skei Grande, a former leader of Norway's Liberal Party, noted that "we live in a time when fighting lies is so important that @JoeBiden mentioned it in his speech yesterday". "This year, I have nominated fact checkers for the Nobel Peace Prize. They need our support," Skei Grande added. Specifically, she proposed the International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN) for the famous peace prize. The IFCN is a network of several dozen media and organisations -- including AFP -- active in fact-checking worldwide. In his inaugural speech on Wednesday, the new US president Joe Biden spoke of an "attack on democracy and on truth," and said citizens and "leaders" have a duty to "defend the truth and to defeat the lies. " Biden also spoke of a "painful lesson" from recent weeks and months saying "there are truths and there are lies," a rejection of his predecessor Donald Trump, who repeatedly disputed the results of the presidential election and popularised the expression "fake news" when speaking of media outlets. According to its website, the IFCN currently brings together 79 certified organisations that have signed on to its code of principles. In addition to AFP's fact-checking service, the Washington Post Fact Checker and Reuters are also signatories, as well as South African website Africa Check and fact-checking organisations in Asia and South America. Tens of thousands of people, among them are parliamentarians and ministers from all countries, former laureates and certain university professors, are eligible to submit a nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize. The Nobel Institute in Oslo accepts all valid nominations sent in before the January 31 deadline. 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. Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain The vaccine rollout may not signal an immediate end to the COVID-19 epidemic, according to latest modeling from Imperial's COVID-19 Response Team. Interim results from the team's model suggests that the timing of relaxing non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs), such as social distancing, while managing the impact on hospitals, will depend on the speed and uptake of the vaccine rollout. Imperial's researchers say that lifting COVID restrictions with the current number of hospital patients could lead to hospitals continuing to be overwhelmed for several weeks. The researchers estimate that in all scenarios, full-lifting of restrictions before the summer will lead to prolonged and potentially multiple periods of pressure on hospitals, and substantial additional deaths. The researchers say that partial lifting of NPIs before patient numbers in hospital have dropped significantly will have the same consequences. The team say that COVID is currently overwhelming hospitals and there is a severe shortage in resources, including beds and staff. There are nearly 40,000 COVID patients currently in hospital and the researchers say that this number will take some time to fall significantly. The researchers warn that UK population immunity is still low and current level of infections, hospitalisations and deaths are still very high. Imperial's researchers were speaking at a Science Media Centre briefing, alongside academics from the University of Edinburgh and University of Warwick. How many people need to be vaccinated to achieve 'herd immunity'? Dr. Marc Baguelin, from the School of Public Health, said: "Despite the large number of deaths already, population immunity is still limited. We estimate around 19% of the UK population had been infected by mid-January. "With the previous coronavirus variant we estimate that we needed 60% of the population to be protected to bring R below 1, whether through natural infection or immunization. "This might be difficult to be reached as efficacyin particular against infectionmeans that we would need to vaccinate even more people to get this level of protection at the population level. "The emergence of the new variant, which is more transmissible, means that this level needs to be even higher and that it might not even be possible to bring R below one." How long will the vaccine rollout take? Dr. Anne Cori, from the School of Public Health, said: "It's important to highlight that the vaccine rollout will take a lot of time, even in most optimistic scenario it would take until late April to give only one dose to everyone eligible in the UK population." What impact will the vaccine rollout have and when can restrictions be relaxed? Dr. Cori said: "The impact of the vaccine will not be instantaneous, and will only be seen once we get high coverage of the vaccine. This depends on how fast it can be rolled out and how many people take it. "We used our model to explore a large number of scenarios with respect to the roll-out and impact of vaccination. In all scenarios, our model suggests that full-lifting of NPIs before the summer will lead to prolonged and potentially multiple periods of pressure on hospitals, and substantial additional deaths. "Lifting NPIs while managing the impact on hospitals will take weeks to achieve. "One of the key unknowns is the efficacy against infectionif this is low you might still have a lot of transmission going on. "The extent to which we can relax NPIs needs to be done gradually and depends on the proportion of the population protected, and the effectiveness of the vaccines." Dr. Baguelin added: "We want to stress that this is not the end of the story, and there needs to be a lot of thought about the future vaccination strategy. "There also remain questions about long-COVID and the future of the epidemic." Dr. Cori added: "In the short term, it is critical that everyone, including those who have received the vaccine, maintain distancing measures as much as possible to reduce deaths." Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak COVID-19 Vaccination Programme Continues "in Earnest" The GHAs COVID-19 vaccination process starts again in the early hours of each morning, when the pharmacy team begin the process to thaw the Pfizer vaccine at 5:00am in order to prepare for a busy day of vaccination ahead. The strategy to vaccinate as many of our population as quickly as possible requires two parallel teams working in tandem. Front line workers are vaccinated at the GHA vaccination centre at St Bernards Hospital whilst the Public Vaccination Centre in the ICC continues to vaccinate individuals over the age of 65 and those who are clinically vulnerable. The GHA reminds anyone over the age of 65 who has not yet been invited for vaccination and who has not previously registered, to do so using the online form at https://www.gha.gi/registration-for-over-65/ or contact Tel 200 66966 for an appointment. Minister for Health, Samantha Sacramento MP, said: The vaccination centres have been working non-stop since last week. There was a brief break yesterday while they awaited the arrival of more vaccines. We are very fortunate that we have received a second consignment of the vaccine so soon after the first, and this means that we are able to seamlessly continue with our programme to vaccinate our community against this terrible virus. Thanks to everyone involved in this continuous operation, especially to the teams involved in the incredibly early starts every morning. Robert Kocharyan on years of his leadership in Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia Situation on Armenian-Azerbaijani border is still tense, more on COVID-19 in Armenia, May 28 digest "Armenia" alliance of political parties paying tribute to founder of First Republic Aram Manukyan (LIVE) Yerevan.today: Armenia acting PM not greeted at ruling party's headquarters, citizens call him 'capitulator' Russia MOD reports on maintenance of ceasefire regime in Nagorno-Karabakh Armenia acting MOD meets with Russian counterpart in Moscow Armenia 2nd President: I see possibility of restoring borders of Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast We can provide our army with some key, modernized weapons, says Armenia ex-President Kocharyan Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: Captives issue is not one that any opposition force can resolve OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs release statement on detention of 6 Armenian servicemen by Azerbaijan Armenian acting Deputy PM: Discussion on issues possible only after withdrawal of Azeri troops from Armenia's territory Armenia acting PM on Syunik roads, Russian military posts: This is only place where there are working nuances Armenia acting PM: Process of return of POWs will intensify after upcoming elections Putin congratulates Aliyev on Republic Day 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 One of Laredos most prominent doctors shared on Thursday night his thoughts on the lack of success locally in the fight against COVID-19, asking the city to take much more drastic measures and sending a piercing message directed at Texas government officials. A leading cardiologist in the city helping to battle the coronavirus, Dr. Ricardo Cigarroa addressed the massive coronavirus surge that has occurred the past few months providing a firsthand view at the frontlines of the pandemic. At Laredo Medical Center, which holds 280 beds, 131 are occupied by COVID patients. Cigarroa elaborates that 42 are in the intensive care unit and 34 are intubated. And we all now know how difficult it is once you become intubated, he said. I dont know how else to convey the urgency to all of those that have the authority to help us. Cigarroas somber tone and defeated body language is far different from last year, when he was dubbed the Dr. Fauci of South Texas by Texas Monthly. At the time, despite the wave of uncertainty the virus started with, there was still optimism. In light of the current COVID update, it seems that optimism if waning. I am signing five to seven death certificates every day, Cigarroa said. To put it simply, I think that before these next five months are up, 1 in 250 Laredoans will die. With approximately a 280,000 population, he believes many more deaths will come over the following two months. According to a New York Times data compilation, Laredo ranked No. 1 in average daily cases over the past two weeks with an average of 229.9. Cigarroa reminded residents that going to the doctor later in the disease process will be of no help, as he said that many are going to the doctors between 12 to 14 days after the virus is contracted. So I would like to emphasize to everybody that if you develop COVID-19, make sure you see your doctor by the fifth day of the symptoms, he said. Make sure that youre going to be in the low-risk profile, because if youre in the high-risk profile, there are things we can do to help you, but you have to get to us early. To local and state government officials, Cigarroa made his message clear: help is needed now. To our city government, to our state officials, to our governor: You are failing us. You are failing us in a big way, he said. It is time to close the city for two weeks, maybe three. Cigarroa said that when LMC was first at capacity last year, the three-week lockdown helped reduce the number of COVID patients to just three. However, while it may not stop COVID, he believes the lockdown would reduce the number of deaths. With the number of COVID patients overwhelming the number of medical staff at LMC, COVID patients are not getting the full attention and resources they desperately need. To the governor: Its OK to swallow your pride. Its OK to say that youre not going to do it, and then do it to save lives, Cigarroa said. If government doesnt work, if it doesnt assist us, if it makes decisions based on economy instead of based on life, then it fails us. After chastising the government, he spoke of civil disobedience and the concerns of business owners, alluding to a closure despite the mandate by the state government. I understand business owners worry for their business. I worry for mine, Cigarroa said. But I promise you this: The 600 families that have experienced a death, the 130 families that are in our hospital just at Laredo Medical Center, the 34 patients who are intubated, and their families they have no doubt that they shouldve stayed home, that the city should have been closed. Cigarroa said that he has received requests and pleads from teachers and city employees to convince city officials to request a stay-at-home order. He said, If all of you stay home, they cant fire you. The only thing that will save lives at this point will be staying home and shutting down the city, Cigarroa said. So I challenge each and every one of you to discuss this with your loved ones and to make the right the decision. For families who need continued income to survive, he answered that in the last day, he has admitted two 22-year-old patients with no other illnesses. Both are currently fighting for their lives against COVID. Cigarroa then said for those still looking to go out to work and open their business to ask their parents what the right decision is. As I said many times, think for yourself, Cigarroa said. Look at your husband, look at your wife, look at your father and mother, look at your child. Imagine them intubated in the intensive care unit, and then answer that question. cocampo@lmtonline.com The Kaneshie District Court has issued a warrant of arrest for one Mr Daniel Ackom Dompreh for alleged fraud. In a public announcement published in the Thursday, January 21, 2020 edition of the Daily Graphic newspaper, the Head of Public Affairs Unit/CID, Deputy Superintendent Ms Juliana Obeng said the suspect is wanted for the offence of defrauding by false pretence which is contrary to section 131(1) of the Criminal and Other Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29). The Kaneshie District Court, Accra has issued warrant of arrest number 031/2020, dated 5th May, 2020 for the immediate arrest of suspect Daniel Ackom Dompreh. He is wanted for the offence of Defrauding by False Pretence contrary to section 121(1) of the Criminal and Other Offences Act, 1960 (Act 129), it said. According to the statement, the suspect in the month of April, 2018 demanded and collected an amount of $210,000 from his victim under the pretext of selling him a gold concession, as well as secure him a document from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to cover the mining concession located at Akropong. It said however that the suspect failed to fulfil his side of the deal and has gone into hiding. Suspect The suspect is a 39-year old businessman and a native of Akim Awisa in the Eastern Region. He is 5.7 feet tall, dark in complexion, has black hair, medium eyes and medium ears. He is stoutly built. The statement said he was last seen on January 30, 2020 in a green long sleeve shirt on a pair of black trousers. He is believed to be hiding in Koforidua, Akim, Awisa, Akim Oda, Ofankor in Accra and Aburi Akuapim in the Eastern region. Contact The statement directed anyone with information that would be lead to the arrest of the suspect to kindly contact the following numbers; 0244206888, 0240722972 or contact Police Command Centre number 191 on all networks or report to the nearest Police Station. Source: graphiconline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The Telegraph The list of Donald Trump associates who have attempted to bring down the former president is as long as it is varied: from his lawyer, to his closest advisor, his ex-wife and his alleged lover. But like many powerful figures before him, it may well be his accountant that would be his undergoing. Allen Weisselberg, the little-known 73-year-old chief financial officer for the Trump Organisation, has worked for the Trump family as far back as the early 1970s under Donalds father Fred. Some say he is closer to Mr Trump than he is to his own children. As one former employee put it, he knows where the bodies are buried". In recent weeks New York prosecutors investigating Mr Trumps tax affairs have been turning the screws on Mr Weisselberg in the hope of flipping him to testify against his boss. Cyrus Vance, the Manhattan District Attorney, is looking into everything from hush-money payments paid to women on Mr Trump's behalf, to property valuations and employee compensation. Speculation is mounting that his office may be able to turn Mr Weisselberg, who has not been accused of any wrongdoing, as it pulls together a grand jury to decide whether to indict. HARRISBURG, Pa. - A Pennsylvania woman accused of helping to steal a laptop from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's office during the attack on the U.S. Capitol was ordered released from detention on Thursday and placed in her mother's custody. Riley June Williams, 22, must stay in the home she shares with her mother and abide by other conditions of release, including avoiding contact with any witnesses or victims of the Jan. 6 Capitol storming. Federal Magistrate Judge Martin Carlson said he was releasing Williams in part because she had no prior criminal record, but he warned her that her mother, Wendy Williams, could be criminally charged if she fails to report to the court any violations of the conditions of release. "Your mother is making an enormous leap of faith on your behalf, and you are the one person in this courtroom who can make sure your mother doesn't have to choose between her love for you and her duty to this court," Carlson told the defendant. Although a federal prosecutor argued earlier this week that Williams should be detained, he and Williams's public defender said Thursday that they had reached an agreement on release. Williams faces two felony charges punishable by decades in prison, as well as two misdemeanors, according to charging documents. An updated affidavit filed Tuesday accuses her of filming and then sharing a video of someone else picking up an HP computer from a desk in Pelosi's office. A user named "Riley" later posted on the social media platform Discord that they "STOLE S - T FROM NANCY POLESI," the affidavit says. Williams was first charged with trespassing as well as violent entry to and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds. Prosecutors then added the felony charges: aiding or abetting the theft of government property and obstructing, influencing or impeding an official proceeding. As bailiffs escorted her into court on Thursday, Williams whispered "Hi, Mom" to her mother, who was seated at the defense table. Williams sat erect throughout the hearing and answered Carlson's questions succinctly and without emotion. Her public defender, Lori Ulrich, acknowledged that Williams entered the Capitol during the attack and said it was "regrettable that Ms. Williams took the president's bait." In a speech to thousands of supporters before the storming, then-President Donald Trump encouraged them to "fight" and "show strength." But Ulrich argued without further explanation that the charges against Williams were "overstated." She also sought to characterize allegations that Williams changed her phone number after the riot as an attempt to protect herself from an abusive ex-boyfriend, rather than an effort to escape authorities. While the FBI wrote in the affidavit that Williams appeared to have fled, Ulrich said a police officer investigating the former boyfriend's alleged abuse directed her to change the number. That ex-boyfriend was a key witness in the FBI's investigation. He told authorities that Williams's friends played a video of her stealing a hard drive or computer from Pelosi's office. Williams planned to send the device "to a friend in Russia, who then planned to sell the device to SVR, Russia's foreign intelligence service," the former boyfriend said, according to the affidavit. The FBI said that "the transfer of the computer device to Russia fell through for unknown reasons" and that Williams either destroyed the laptop or still has it. The stolen laptop, "only used for presentations," was taken from a conference room, Drew Hammill, Pelosi's deputy chief of staff, has said. In video clips allegedly live-streamed from the Capitol by Williams, a female voice that the FBI believes is hers instructs someone else in Pelosi's office to put on gloves. A black-gloved hand then takes a computer off a table as a caption on the video says, "they got the laptop." Another video, published by ITV News and posted to YouTube, shows Williams directing people up a staircase in the Capitol toward Pelosi's office, the affidavit says. "Up the stairs! Up the stairs!" she allegedly yells. "Go! Go!" The FBI said they determined that Williams drove to and from Washington for the "Stop the Steal" demonstration with her father, but that the pair separated during the event. Wendy Williams later told an ITV News reporter that her daughter had suddenly become interested in Trump's politics and "far-right message boards," according to the affidavit. Williams "took off" in expectation of law enforcement looking for her, her mother told ITV News. The defendant surrendered to authorities on Monday, a day after she was charged. Williams, her mother and her father, who also attended Thursday's hearing, declined to answer questions from reporters afterward. Williams is scheduled to appear in court on Jan. 25 at a virtual hearing in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. Before Williams was brought back to Dauphin County Prison to be processed for release, Carlson gave a pointed speech about the allegations that she had tried to interfere with Congress's constitutional obligation to certify the electoral college results. Calling her alleged actions "antithetical to these constitutional values," Carlson said Williams was being released from custody because her public defender and the assistant U.S. attorney on the case fulfilled their constitutional obligation to pursue justice. "Your freedom, conditioned as it is by the orders that I have entered, is the result of the prevailing of the Constitution," Carlson said. " . . . The Constitution prevails here today. And the Constitution will always prevail in this country." - - - The Washington Post's Christine Spolar, Hannah Knowles and Spencer S. Hsu contributed to this report. Sebastian Vettel visited the headquarters of his new Formula 1 team for the first time this week, according to multiple media sources. The sources report that the former Ferrari driver was at Aston Martin's Silverstone factory where he had a seat fitting and spent several hours in the simulator. He then returned to his home in Switzerland. Former F1 driver Ralf Schumacher told Sky Deutschland that he is "glad" his fellow German, four-time world champion Vettel, "has a team that is behind him again". However, he warned: "There are still some deficits in that team. You don't turn a cow into a tiger overnight." (GMM) [January 22, 2021] GetSwift to Host Business Update Conference Call on Thursday, January 28, 2021 at 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time GetSwift Technologies Limited (NEO: GSW) ("GetSwift" or the "Company"), a leading provider of last mile SaaS (News - Alert) logistics technology, will hold a conference call on Thursday, January 28, 2021 at 4:30 p.m. Eastern time to update shareholders on recent NEO stock exchange listing and 2021 business initiatives. GetSwift Chief Executive Officer Bane Hunter will host the conference call, followed by a question-and-answer session. Interested shareholders can submit their questions ahead of the call via email to GSW@mzgroup.us and management will answer them during the Q&A period. The conference call will be accompanied by a presentation, which can be viewed during the webcast or accessed via the investor relations section of the company's website here. To access the call, please use the following information: Date: Thursday, January 28, 2021 Time: 4:30 p.m. EST, 1:30 p.m. PST Toll Free dial-in number U.S. and Canada: 1-877-407-4018 Toll Free dial-in number Australia: 1 800 687 004 Toll/International dial-in number: 1-201-689-8471 Conference ID: 13715600 Please call the conference telephone number 5-10 minutes prior to the start time. An operator will register your name and organization. If you have difficulty connecting with the conference call, please contact MZ Group at +1 (949) 491-8235. The conference call will be broadcast live and available for replay at http://public.viavid.com/index.php?id=143205 and via the investor relations section of the company's website here. A replay of the call will be available for one month following the conference. Toll Free Replay Number: 1-844-512-2921 International Replay Number: 1-412-317-6671 Replay ID: 13715600 About GetSwift Technologies Limited GSW is a technology and services company that offers a suite of software products and services focused on business and logistics automation, data management and analysis, communications, information security, and infrastructure optimization and also includes ecommerce and marketplace ordering, workforce management, data analytics and augmentation, business intelligence, route optimization, cash management, task management shift management, asset tracking, real-time alerts, cloud communications, and communications infrastructure (collectively, the "GetSwift Offering"). The GetSwift Offering is used by public and private sector clients across industries and jurisdictions for their respective logistics, communications, information security, and infrastructure projects and operations. GetSwift is headquartered in New York City and is listed on the NEO Exchange (NEO: GSW). For further background, please visit www.getswift.co. GetSwift is an emerging growth company and is subject to a variety of risks. The Company is not yet profitable, and there can be no assurance that it will achieve profitability. The Company's business and a variety of investment considerations are discussed in more detail in the Company's filings with the NEO Exchange (NEO). Investors are encouraged to review the more complete information contained in such filings. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210122005473/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Rising stock and real estate markets have lifted the Board of City Trusts, the obscure agency with more than a half-billion dollars in investments and a mission of overseeing institutions and activities ranging from Girard College to one of the nations premiere eye hospitals. Now with the death of its long-term chairman, it has a new board leader who says he has some modest but firm ideas about modernizing its operation and boosting its image. The payoff, he says, will be a fresh round of benefactors. As the Board of City Trusts becomes more public, Bernard W. Smalley Sr., the new chair, told me. I think its a matter of time until more people who want to leave money in their wills will fit us into that mix. Smalley, 70, long a volunteer board member at the trust, stepped up to the unpaid top post after the chairman since 2012, Ronald Donatucci, the Philadelphia register of wills for 40 years and a Democratic Party power, died on Election Day in November. He will help direct the trusts $629 million in stocks, bonds and other securities up a third from $468 million in just five years as well as help manage its massive real estate holdings, worth hundreds of millions more. Notably, the trust also oversees Wills Eye Hospital at Eighth and Walnut Streets, affiliated with Jefferson Health. Though it controls 120 individual trusts, more than half its assets are committed to Girard College, the walled, 42-acre free boarding school a few blocks north of Center City in gentrifying North Philadelphia. The schools enrollment, which approached 1,000 at its modern peak, was cut to about 300 a decade ago and has remained at that level. Students live on campus during school days, but go home for weekends. Smalley says he expects to be able to boost enrollment, though not necessarily to reopen weekend dorms. He also hopes to see the college partner with other institutions that could use parts of the campus and provide programs beyond its walls. Girard officials have long lamented that founder Stephen Girard, the trader-banker-investor who died in 1831, had invested heavily in Pennsylvania coal fields, pouring money into a once-lucrative fuel that paid for the campus but has since lost its luster. A luckier bet might have been in chocolate the focus of a later Pennsylvania millionaire, Milton Hershey, who patterned the Hershey School on Girard College. His endowment is now worth $17.4 billion, which is more than Penns ($15 billion). Though the school remains tied to its expensive-to-maintain campus, Smalley says college president Heather Deneen Wathington, in her third year, has improved student life by firming up partnerships with Curtis Institute of Music and other institutions and by increased mentoring. With adjacent North Philadelphias undergoing a real estate boom and institutional space diminishing in Philadelphia, he says, This is an institution folks are looking to partner with. The key is to find the right partner. Under Wathington, the school has convinced employees at Comcast and other companies to donate through a state program to encourage giving to private schools in return for a tax credit. Such contributions topped $1 million last year. In a troubling piece of Philadelphia history, Girard, a slave owner, limited college admission in his will to white, male orphans, restrictions that were lifted as a result of lawsuits and vigorous civil-rights protests starting in the 1950s. Even so, the college didnt admit its first Black student until 1968. Some critics say Girard should be closed and its money used to fund students at the private schools of their choice. Such a move was approved by trustees of the Charles Ellis Trust for Girls, once Girards sister school, nearly 50 years ago. Smalley, whos also on the board of the Ellis program (not part of the Board of City Trusts), remains a booster of the boarding-school concept. As for other parts of the Trusts empire, he notes that Wills Eye with its research labs and the emergency services it provides for neighboring Jefferson hospital is rated second only to Bascom Palmer Eye Institute in Miami, among U.S. vision hospitals by U.S. News & World Report. Were a breath away from being rated number one. Under Julia Hallers leadership, its going to happen, he says. Haller is ophthalmologist-in-chief at Wills and chair of Jeffersons eye department. Smalley traces the roots of his career to his childhood in the 1960s, when he was a kid helping at his dads barbershop at 43rd and Lancaster in West Philly, shining shoes and carrying coats and selling water ice. He spent his time listening, watching and learning from the men who frequented the shop. They came from all walks of life, from stevedores to city workers, from business owners to judges. My father cut their hair every week, and he was their counselor, Smalley says. It was a place an African American man could feel free to talk about the issues he faced all that week, in life and at home. H. Patrick Swygert, later dean at Temple Law and president of Howard University; Ron Davenport, who would become dean at Duquesne Law; and future federal appeals Judge William H. Hastie Jr. were among his fathers customers. Its no great surprise then that after finishing Temples journalism program, Smalley turned down a job offer from the Cleveland Plain Dealer. Instead, he chose to work in the Philadelphia courts, rising to become deputy court administrator. He graduated from Delaware Law School in 1980 and has worked as a trial lawyer ever since. He is with the Philadelphia firm of Raynes McCarty, representing people hurt on the job or in hospital mistakes. With its unusual oversight structure its unpaid board is dominated by elected pols and other insiders the Girard empire has long drawn criticism, with skeptics wondering whether there were less politicized ways to spend on behalf of the citys poor. I asked Smalley whether he would rationalize the boards idiosyncratic investment program, which includes payments to private money managers, a portfolio of legacy real estate from the 1800s, and seemingly ad hoc loans to favored Philadelphia developers. Smalley pledged to increase transparency of the boards investments and its decisions. He invited me to review the books. He hopes to increase the modest flow of new investments that citizens entrust to the board, a harder pitch now that donors have many private-sector choices for legacy management. We are carefully moving forward, he says. San Francisco Mayor London Breed said Friday that the city might be able to reopen soon because its coronavirus transmission rate has dipped. Breed tweeted that San Francisco could soon start to emerge from its state-ordered lockdown because the citys so-called reproductive rate is at 0.99. A reproductive rate represents how many people an infected person can transmit the virus to. That means for every person who gets COVID-19, on average theyre passing it to less than one other person. Were slowing the spread, Breed said. Anything less than 1, were doing OK, Dr. Lee Riley, an infectious disease expert at UC Berkeley told the Chronicle last year. But the speed of the reduction is certainly related to how far below 1 the reproductive number is. The lower the number, the faster the epidemic will finish. San Francisco can only start to reopen when the state gives a green light to the entire Bay Area. Californias guidelines say a region can reopen when its intensive care unit capacity is projected to hit at least 15% availability within a four week period. The Sacramento region was recently allowed to reopen based on those metrics. The Bay Areas ICU availability is currently 6.6%. Infections are falling across the region the seven-day average for new cases in the nine counties was 49.8 per 100,000 people on Jan. 21, down from 60.9 per 100,000 on Jan. 14. Breeds tweet comes hours after the city opened its first of three mass vaccination sites at City College on Ocean Avenue near Interstate 280. Breeds plan is to eventually administer 10,000 coronavirus vaccinations per day, with the goal of immunizing all eligible residents by June 30, but the city is a long way from hitting those daily goals because of a vaccine shortage. At a press conference at City College, officials said San Francisco expects to get less vaccine for the city-run health network next week than it did this week, when it came close to running out. Public Health Director Grant Colfax said things are headed in the right direction for now when it comes to cases. As of Friday, San Francisco has a 4.3% 7-day positivity rate. The citys seven-day average of new coronavirus cases per 100,000 people fell from 39.4 on Jan. 14 to 30 on Jan. 21. Currently, 234 people are hospitalized, down from a high of 259 on Jan. 12. Breed added that despite the encouraging signs, San Franciscans need to remain vigilant. But we all need to keep doing what we know slows the spread of this virus: wear a mask, avoid indoor gatherings with people you don't live with, ventilate indoor spaces when you're around other people, and wash your hands frequently, she tweeted. Let's keep this up! Chronicle staff writer Trisha Thadani contributed to this report. Jessia Flores is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jessica.flores@sfchronicle.com tthadani Regulatory News: Genkyotex (Paris:GKTX) (Brussels:GKTX) (Euronext Paris Brussels: FR0013399474 GKTX), a biopharmaceutical company and the leader in NOX therapies, today announced clinical and governance updates. Clinical update Following the positive results from the Phase 1 study announced in January of 2021, which evaluated higher doses of setanaxib in healthy subjects, Genkyotex is planning to initiate a pivotal Phase 2/3 study in primary biliary cholangitis (PBC), starting in the 2nd half of 2021, with final design and protocol details subject to feedback from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). In addition, the Company plans to initiate this year a Phase 2 proof-of-concept study in patients with head and neck cancer. The trial will evaluate administration of setanaxib, targeting cancer associated fibroblasts (CAFs), in conjunction with immunotherapy. Governance Dr. Philippe Wiesel, Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer of Genkyotex, has left the Company to pursue new professional projects. He will remain as a consultant by Calliditas Therapeutics. "I would like to thank Philippe for his significant contribution to the development of Genkyotex over the past years. The Company has been a pioneer in the development of NOX therapies which, in combination with promising clinical data and regulatory progress as well as recent positive Phase 1 data, has translated into Calliditas Therapeutics showing strong commitment to the continuation of our development projects. Given the sound clinical data obtained to date with setanaxib, we are in a very strong position to create further value through a pivotal trial in PBC that is expected to start in the 2nd half of this year", said Elias Papatheodorou, CEO of Genkyotex. About Genkyotex Genkyotex is the leading biopharmaceutical company in NOX therapies, listed on the Euronext Paris and Euronext Brussels markets. Its unique platform enables the identification of orally available small-molecules which selectively inhibit specific NOX enzymes that amplify multiple disease processes such as fibrosis, inflammation, pain processing, cancer development, and neurodegeneration. Genkyotex is developing a pipeline of first-in-class product candidates targeting one or multiple NOX enzymes. The lead product candidate, setanaxib (GKT831), a NOX1 and NOX4 inhibitor has shown evidence of anti-fibrotic activity in a Phase II clinical trial in primary biliary cholangitis (PBC, a fibrotic orphan disease). Based on its positive Phase II results, a phase 3 trial with setanaxib in PBC is being planned. Setanaxib is also being evaluated in an investigator-initiated Phase II clinical trial in Type 1 Diabetes and Kidney Disease (DKD). A grant from the United States National Institutes of Health (NIH) of $8.9 million was awarded to Professor Victor Thannickal at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) to fund a multi-year research program evaluating the role of NOX enzymes in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), a chronic lung disease that results in fibrosis of the lungs. The core component of this program is a Phase 2 trial with setanaxib in patients suffering from IPF for which the first patient has been enrolled in September 2020. This product candidate may also be active in other fibrotic indications. Genkyotex also has a versatile platform well-suited to the development of various immunotherapies (Vaxiclase). A partnership covering the use of Vaxiclase as an antigen per se (GTL003) has been established with Serum Institute of India Private Ltd (Serum Institute), the world's largest producer of vaccine doses, for the development by Serum Institute of cellular multivalent combination vaccines against a variety of infectious diseases. For further information, please go to www.genkyotex.com Disclaimer This press release may contain forward-looking statements by the company with respect to its objectives. Such statements are based upon the current beliefs, estimates and expectations of Genkyotex's management and are subject to risks and uncertainties such as the company's ability to implement its chosen strategy, customer market trends, changes in technologies and in the company's competitive environment, changes in regulations, clinical or industrial risks and all risks linked to the company's growth. These factors as well as other risks and uncertainties may prevent the company from achieving the objectives outlined in the press release and actual results may differ from those set forth in the forward-looking statements, due to various factors. Without being exhaustive, such factors include uncertainties involved in the development of Genkyotex's products, which may not succeed, or in the delivery of Genkyotex's products marketing authorizations by the relevant regulatory authorities and, in general, any factor that could affects Genkyotex's capacity to commercialize the products it develops. No guarantee is given on forward-looking statements which are subject to a number of risks, notably those described in the universal registration document filed with the AMF on April 30, 2020 under number D.20-0434, and those linked to changes in economic conditions, the financial markets, or the markets on which Genkyotex is present. Genkyotex products are currently used for clinical trials only and are not otherwise available for distribution or sale View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210121006029/en/ Contacts: GENKYOTEX Alexandre Grassin CFO Tel.: +33 (0)5 61 28 70 60 investors@genkyotex.com NewCap Dusan Oresansky Tel.: +33 1 44 71 94 92 genkyotex@newcap.eu Donald Trump fell victim to a hoax caller who pretended to be Piers Morgan, the Good Morning Britain presenter said (GQ/PA) Donald Trump fell victim to a hoax caller who pretended to be Piers Morgan, the Good Morning Britain presenter said. Morgan told the BBCs Americast podcast the prankster rang the then-president in October when he was on Air Force One. It only emerged when Mr Trump rang the real Morgan out of the blue while on his way to vote in Florida. Expand Close Piers Morgan said a prankster impersonated him and spoke to Donald Trump on the phone (Ian West/PA) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Piers Morgan said a prankster impersonated him and spoke to Donald Trump on the phone (Ian West/PA) The pair had fallen out over Morgan criticising Mr Trumps handling of the pandemic. Morgan described the prank call as an hilarious story, adding somebody had called him pretending to be me the day before and got through to him on Air Force One and they had a conversation with Trump thinking he was talking to me. The identity of the alleged prankster is unknown. If Mr Trump was duped, he would not be the first prominent figure to be fooled. In March last year the Duke of Sussex was reportedly tricked into speaking about his decision to quit the royal family by Russian hoaxers posing as activist Greta Thunberg. Morgan, 55, is a long-time acquaintance of Mr Trump, 74, and in 2008 won a series of Celebrity Apprentice, a show hosted by the billionaire businessman. They had been friendly during Mr Trumps time in the White House before their fallout last year. Morgan said Mr Trump was a useless leader because of his character flaws the chronic narcissism, the desire to make everything about himself. Credit: Photoroman, Bigstockphoto Fauna & Flora International (FFI) has made a habit of bucking the trend by working to safeguard neglected landscapes that are not necessarily a priority for other conservation organizations. Arguably one of the least familiar and most threatened habitat types is limestonealso known as karst. What is karst? Karst is actually the name of a rocky limestone region in Slovenia, but is used as a generic term to describe this type of landscape wherever it occurs throughout the globe. Although relatively unfamiliar, karst is far more widespread than you might imagine, covering an estimated 20% of the world's land surface. It is characterized by spectacular rock outcrops, pinnacles and cave systems, which are formed over millennia by the actions of water on limestone. Why is it important? Leaving aside the enormous cultural, social and economic value of caves and karst, their biological importance cannot be overstated. They are home to an incredibly rich diversity of animals and plants, above and below ground, many of which occur nowhere else on the planet. These range from bizarre creepy crawliesblind fish, bat-eating snakes, dwarf geckos and ghost snailsto charismatic and critically endangered primates. Owing to their steepness and relative inaccessibility, karst landscapes act as natural refuges for species that have disappeared elsewhere as a result of hunting and habitat loss. They also harbor countless unique life forms that have evolved in isolation and adapted to their own chosen niche within the wider limestone landscape. Credit: pyty bigstockphoto What are the threats? Limestone landscapes are highly sensitive to disturbance. They are under increasing pressure from a broad spectrum of human activities ranging from minor damage at the hands of careless visitors to irreparable, industrial-scale destruction caused by mining for cement. Many of the species that make up these karst communities have an extremely limited range, often confined to a single hilltop or cave. A single misjudged blast as part of quarrying activity could wipe an entire species from the face of the Earth. What action are we taking? Limestone rock is a dominant feature of the landscape in many parts of the world where FFI has been working for a number of years, including Myanmar and Vietnam. In these countries, and elsewhere, we are aiming to focus global attention on the importance of conserving limestone habitats and the innumerable uniquely adapted plants and animals they harbor. In particular, we make a point of intervening to safeguard neglected species that might otherwise fall through the fissures. Quarrying for cement causes irreparable damage to fragile karst habitats. Credit: Louis Deharveng Myanmar's myriad marvels The karst ecosystems of Myanmar are only just beginning to reveal their secrets, but there is already ample evidence that they are home to large numbers of species that occur nowhere else in the world. The entire world population of the newly described Popa langurcomprising no more than 250 individualsis restricted to four fragments of forest-clad limestone habitat in an area of Central Myanmar that is ripe for exploitation by commercial interests. Geckos galore All 24 of the new gecko species recently discovered in Myanmar are believed to be confined to the individual limestone outcrops where they were found, underlying the importance of protecting every single one of these precious islands of habitat from the worst impacts of quarrying activities. FFI is working closely with the authorities, cement mining companies and other commercial interests to ensure that the damage to these fragile habitats is minimised. The limestone forest habitat of the newly discovered Popa langur is under severe threat. Credit: Thaung Win Vanishingly rare in Vietnam When it comes to primates, Vietnam has an embarrassment of riches, but the majority of the 25 species found within its borders are staring down the barrel. The critically endangered Tonkin snub-nosed monkey, which has been hunted to the brink of extinction, is entirely dependent on dwindling tracts of limestone forest habitat for survival. Another primate clinging to survival by its hooked fingertips within its karst haven close to the border with China is the cao vit gibbonalso known as the eastern black crested gibbonthought to be extinct until its rediscovery by FFI scientists in 2002. Delacour's langur completes a trio of critically endangered, limestone-loving Vietnamese primates that FFI is working to safeguard, primarily through habitat protection measures. One of the many limestone-dependent geckos recently discovered in karst-rich central Myanmar. Credit: Dr L. Lee Grismer Limestone langur Delacour's langur is confined to small pockets of rugged limestone habitat in northern Vietnam. This elegant leaf-eating monkey is perfectly adapted to its surroundings, with tough pads on its hand, feet and rump that enable it to run, jump and sit on the razor-sharp rock. In 2016, scientists from FFI discovered the world's second-largest population of this gravely threatened primate, comprising an estimated 40 individuals, in Kim Bang district. A more recent follow-up survey, supported by FFI, confirmed the presence of 73 Delacour's langurs in 13 separate groups. With several other groups reported, there could be up to 100 monkeys in total. This populationone of only two viable ones left in the world, is crucial to the species' survival. Following recommendations from FFI, the Vietnamese government is set to establish a new protected area specifically to safeguard this charismatic monkey and its limestone home from the threat posed by cement mining. Northern Vietnams forest-clad limestone peaks are the last refuge of the Tonkin snub-nosed monkey. Credit: Le Khac Quyet/FFI Preventing further erosion Without urgent intervention to safeguard the world's limestone landscapes and the vast array of endangered species that depend on them for survival, extinctions are inevitable. FFI now has a dedicated program that aims to put karst conservation front and center at priority sites across the globe, including the Maros cave complex in south Sulawesi, site of the sensational discovery of the world's oldest animal cave painting. Much remains to be done to secure the future of these unappreciated natural treasure houses and the biological gems that they containmany of which are yet to be revealed. FFI's commitment to conserving these landscapes remains rock solid. And we will leave no stone unturned in our quest to secure the funding required to support the expansion of this vital program of work. Explore further 15 new gecko species discovered in Myanmar Ahead of the eleventh round of meetings between the farmers and the Centre, a crucial meeting of the (CWC) began here on Friday to discuss the farmers' agitation among other issues. Also likely to be discussed is the schedule of the election of a new party president. Congress General Secretary and media in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala said, "CWC meeting begins. Congress President addresses the CWC." According to party sources, the virtual meeting being chaired by will discuss Arnab Goswami's alleged chat leak related to the security, the Covid-19 situation apart from the ongoing farmers' agitation. Sources also said that during the meeting, the schedule of election for the new party chief will also be discussed. Thousands of farmers have been protesting against the three farm laws on the borders of the capital since November 26 last year, demanding that the three laws be repealed. On Tuesday, former Congress chief slammed the government over the three farm laws, saying they were introduced to destroy the Indian agricultural sector. On Wednesday, the Congress fielded former Defence Minister A.K. Antony, former Home Minister Sushil Shinde, former Law Minister and External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid and leader of opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad to corner the government over the alleged chat leaks involving Goswami. The Congress described the leak of secret information as treason and demanded an immediate enquiry into the matter. --IANS aks/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.) ST. GEORGE, Utah (AP) Makuach Maluach had a season-high 25 points as New Mexico defeated San Jose State 67-51 on Thursday. The game was played at the home of Dixie State due to COVID-19 concerns in New Mexico. The lobos have been based in St. George, Utah, since playing the Thunderbirds on Jan. 13. So far they have played all games on the road but after facing the Spartans again on Saturday the Lobos have been cleared to return to practice in Albuquerque. Rod Brown had 15 points for New Mexico (5-8, 1-8 Mountain West Conference). Kurt Wegscheider added six rebounds. San Jose State totaled 21 first-half points, a season low for the team. Ralph Agee had 14 points for the Spartans (2-11, 0-9), whose losing streak reached five games. Jalen Dalcourt added 10 points. Caleb Simmons had six rebounds. ___ For more AP college basketball coverage: https://apnews.com/Collegebasketball and http://twitter.com/AP_Top25 ___ This was generated by Automated Insights, http://www.automatedinsights.com/ap, using data from STATS LLC, https://www.stats.com Irbil (Iraq): The Islamic State group destroyed Mosuls 12th century al-Nuri mosque and its iconic leaning minaret known as al-Hadba, when fighters detonated explosives inside the structures last night, Iraqs Ministry of Defense said. Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi tweeted early today that the destruction was an admission by the militants that they are losing the fight for Iraqs second-largest city. Daeshs bombing of the al-Hadba minaret and the al-Nuri Mosque is a formal declaration of their defeat, al-Abadi said, using the Arabic acronym for the Islamic State group. The mosque, which is also known as Mosuls Great Mosque, is where IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi declared a so-called Islamic caliphate in 2014 shortly after Mosul was overrun by the militants. The minaret that leaned like Italys Tower of Pisa had stood for more than 840 years. The IS group blew up the mosque during the celebrations of Laylat al Qadr, the holiest night of the year for Muslims. The Night of Power commemorates the night the Quran was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which is now underway. An IS statement posted online shortly after the Ministry of Defense reported the mosques destruction blamed an airstrike by the US for the loss of the mosque and minaret. The US-led coalition rejected the IS claim. A coalition spokesman, US Army Col. Ryan Dillon, told The Associated Press that coalition aerial surveillance confirmed the mosque was destroyed, but he said a US strike was not the cause. We did not conduct strikes in that area at that time, Dillon said. ALSO READ | Islamic State blows up Mosuls iconic Al-Hadba minaret and Nuri mosque where Baghdadi declared himself caliph IS fighters initially attempted to destroy the minaret in July 2014. The militants said the structure contradicted their fundamentalist interpretation of Islam, but Mosul residents converged on the area and formed a human chain to protect it. IS has demolished dozens of historic and archaeological sites in and around Mosul, saying they promoted idolatry. This is a crime against the people of Mosul and all of Iraq, and is an example of why this brutal organization must be annihilated, US Maj. Gen. Joseph Martin, the commander of coalition ground forces in Iraq, said in a written statement. The responsibility of this devastation is laid firmly at the doorstep of ISIS, he added. ISIS is another acronym for the Islamic State group. The mosque sat on the southern edge of the Old City, the last IS stronghold inside Mosul. Iraqi forces launched a push into the Old City earlier this week, but have made slow progress as the last IS fighters there are holed up with an estimated 100,000 civilians according to the United Nations. Brett McGurk, the US envoy for the global coalition against IS, also criticized the destruction at the hands of the militants in comments today at an annual security and policy conference in Herzliya, Israel. In June 2014, Mosul, a city of nearly 2 million people fell to ISIS and its leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi declared a caliphate from the mosque, the grand mosque of al-Nuri in Mosuls Old City, he said. ALSO READ | Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi: Not his first death, know about past claims on his life by various nations And late yesterday, as Iraqi security forces closed in on that mosque about a hundred meters away, ISIS blew it up, a mosque that sat there since the 12th century, ISIS blew it up. Earlier this month Mosul residents reported IS fighters began sealing off the area around the mosque. Residents said that IS fighters ordered families living in the area to evacuate in preparation for a final stand. The fight to retake Mosul was launched more than eight months ago and has displaced more than 850,000 people. While Iraqi forces have experienced periods of swift gains, combat inside the city has been grueling and deadly for both Iraqi forces and civilians. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Copper Copper prices shed over 2 percent to Rs 597.95 per kg on January 22 as the buzz around US stimulus eased and worries over rising COVID-19 cases in China deepened. The base metal extended decline and trade at days low after a gap opening. The red metal prices were under pressure on jump in Chinas output. However, falling inventory at LME and ShFE-accredited warehouses capped the downside. The US dollar traded firm at 90.23 in the evening session. Kshtij Purohit, Product Manager Currency & Commodities, CapitalVia Global Research said, MCX February Copper bounced back from the resistance of Rs 617-619 levels in the previous session and has declined more than 2 percent since morning. It has already tested the support levels of Rs 600-606 and we may expect a bounce back from these levels in the evening session. MCX iCOMDEX Base Metal Index declined 246.35 points, or 1.78 percent, at 13,600.27 at 18:23. In the futures market, copper for January delivery touched an intraday high of Rs 607.80 and a low of Rs 595.35 per kg on the MCX. So far in the current series, the base metal has touched a low of Rs 548 and a high of Rs 631.20. Copper delivery for January edged lower Rs 12.70, or 2.08 percent, to Rs 597.95 per kg at 18:25 hours with a business turnover of 725 lots. The same for February contract slipped Rs 12.55, or 2.04 percent to Rs 602.30 per kg with a turnover of 3,859 lots. The value of January and Februarys contracts traded so far is Rs 280.18 crore and Rs 1,334.04 crore, respectively. MCX Copper has immediate support at Rs 600 whereas resistance is at Rs 605.80-609, said Motilal Oswal. The broking firm said selling on a sustained break below support will be recommended for a target of Rs 594. At 1258 (GMT), the red metal price was down 1.89 percent quoting at $7,884.50 per tonne in London. For all commodities-related news, click here : 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. Centre-farmer talks end in deadlock again, Centre says external forces at play India oi-Deepika S New Delhi, Jan 22: The 11th round of talks between the central government and the farmers' union leaders ended in yet another deadlock on Friday as farmers again rejected the government's proposal to hold-off farm laws for 18 months while the Centre said it was the best it can offer. Unlike earlier talks, no date was set for the next meeting, with the government saying its proposal to stay the implementation of the laws for 18 months "was its best and last offer" and asked the protesting farmers to reconsider the proposal. This followed a big climbdown made by the Centre in the last round of talks on Wednesday when it offered to suspend the laws for 1-1.5 years and form a joint committee to find solutions, in return for protesting farmers going back to their respective homes from Delhi borders. Farmer leaders, however, said they would settle for nothing less than a complete repeal of the laws, enacted in September last year, which they find pro-corporate, and a legal guarantee for the procurement of crops at government-fixed MSP (minimum support price). WB minister breaks down | Rajib Banerjee resigns from TMC | Oneindia News The unions said they will intensify their agitation now and alleged that the government''s approach was not right during the meeting. They also said their tractor rally will go ahead as per the plans on January 26 and unions have told the police that it is the government''s responsibility to maintain peace. Farmers at Singhu border allege conspiracy to kill 4 leaders on Republic Day While the meeting lasted for almost five hours, the two sides sat face to face for not even half an hour. In the very beginning, the farmer leaders informed the government that they have decided to reject the proposal made in the last round of talks on Wednesday. The three central ministers, including Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar, urged the union representatives to reconsider their stand, after which the two sides went for a break that lasted for more than three hours. The break, during which the farmer leaders had their langar (community kitchen) food, also saw the 41 farmer leaders holding consultations among themselves, at times in smaller groups, while the three central ministers waited in a separate room at Vigyan Bhawan. After the meeting, Bharatiya Kisan Union (Ugrahan) leader Joginder Singh Ugrahan said the discussions have broken down as the unions rejected the government''s proposal. Another farmer leader Rakesh Tikait said the ministers said the suspension period can be increased to up to two years, but the unions remained firm on their demand for a complete repeal and a legal guarantee for MSP. The ministers told the unions that they have been given all possible options and they must discuss internally the proposal of suspending the laws. Talking to reporters after the meeting, Tomar said the government has always maintained a sensitive approach towards farmers and their interest, but some forces were definitely at works to keep the agitation on and those forces certainly do not want farmers to benefit. "No resolution is possible when the sanctity of an agitation is lost," he said while adding that no decision can be reached in the interest of the farmers if vested interests get an upper hand. On whether he saw any division among the union leaders on the government proposal, Tomar did not give a direct reply but said, "We thanked all farmer leaders, including those who support our proposal and those who are against it." There have been reports that some unions were in support of the government''s proposal, but they decided to go with the majority view to reject the offer. Tomar said the government will wait if there are some who think about the interest of the farmers and consider our proposal, the talks can be taken forward. Asserting that the agitation involved people mainly from Punjab and some from a few other states, Tomar said the government always tried to respect farmer unions and wanted the discussion to continue in the right direction. He said 11 rounds of talks have been held so far, including one by the government officials and the rest by three ministers. "While farmer leaders were adamant on their demand for a repeal of the laws, the government tried to identify their concerns and offered one after other many proposals, including some amendments to the laws," he said. "While the dignity was maintained during the talks, a sense to take a decision in the interest of farmers was lacking on the part of the unions. Therefore, the talks could not reach a decision. I also regret it," he said. Asked what options the government has if the unions do not reconsider the offer and intensify their protest, Tomar said, "We have given them all possible options. If they have a better option, except for the repeal, they can tell us," he said. Asserting that there cannot be a better proposal than the one made by the government, Tomar said, "We told the unions that they should re-consider it as this proposal is in the interest of farmers and of the country. Therefore we said we conclude the talks today. If you arrive at any decision, tell us tomorrow. We can meet at any place to announce that decision." The minister said the farm reform laws were passed in Parliament to bring a transformation in the agriculture sector, make farming profitable, end corruption and eliminate middlemen, help farmers grow high-value crops, and use new technologies to earn good profit. On reports about the attack on farmers and their proposed tractor rally, the minister said, "I have been thanking farmers unions through media as well as in the meetings for holding a peaceful protest. I have expressed hope that the protest in the future should not be violent and there should not be any untoward incidents and they maintain discipline. This would be my expectation." Asked if the government is hopeful that farmer unions will come again for talks, Tomar said, "I believe one should always be hopeful. Asha se hi aasman tika hai (Hope holds the world together)." On whether he sees the deadlock ending anytime, Tomar said: "What will happen tomorrow, I cannot speculate. I am not an astrologer. I am hopeful that farmer unions will consider our offer positively." Coming out of the meeting venue, farmer leader Shiv Kumar Kakka said there was no headway in the discussions. He was the first to leave the meeting, but said it was for "some personal reasons". Some leaders expressed apprehensions that the movement will lose its momentum once the farmers go away from Delhi borders. Harpal Singh, President of Bhartiya Kisan Union -- Asli Arajnaitik (Real Apolitical), said, "Even if we accept the government''s offer, our fellow brothers sitting at Delhi borders will not accept anything other than a repeal of the laws. They will not spare us. What achievement will we show to them?" He also questioned the government''s credibility, alleging it was difficult to believe that they will keep their word on putting the laws on hold for 18 months. "We will die here but we will not return without getting the laws repealed," Singh said. Along with Union Agriculture Minister Tomar, Railways, Commerce and Food Minister Piyush Goyal and Minister of State for Commerce Som Parkash are also participating in the talks with representatives of 41 farmer unions at the Vigyan Bhawan here. 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. On January 11, the Supreme Court stayed the implementation of the three laws till further orders and appointed a four-member panel to resolve the impasse. Bhartiya Kisan Union president Bhupinder Singh Mann had recused himself from the committee appointed by the apex court. Shetkari Sanghatana (Maharashtra) president Anil Ghanwat and agriculture economists Pramod Kumar Joshi and Ashok Gulati, the other three members on the panel, started the consultation process with stakeholders on Thursday. Netflix recently released a new eight-part series, Bridgerton which will enable you to travel into the world of Regency London as Daphne tries to find a man to marry. Also, there is a twist when Lady Whistledown writes society scandals that changes the fortunes of powerful families within minutes. This show is not just another random love story. There is so much more to it as the show is set in an era where Daphne is presented in front of the queen which is a legit marriage market. She is supposed to impress suitors for the weddings and thereon, get married to a suitable boy. Now, the show is returning for its second season. Netflix recently announced that the show will come back with its brand new season. The streaming giant shared a short clip featuring scenes from the first season that ended with the caption Season 2 is Coming. Prepare for another social season. Bridgerton is returning for season two, only on Netflix. pic.twitter.com/yqapEULKz4 Bridgerton (@bridgerton) January 21, 2021 Within days of the shows release, it got extremely popular and also became the most talked-about show majorly due to its extraordinary chemistry between its lead characters Daphne Bridgerton and Simon Basset. The show is a magnificent and the dramatic representation of 19th century Britain and how romance found its way at that time. Prepare for another social season! @Bridgerton shall be back for Season 2! pic.twitter.com/cYbgIhPUbC Netflix (@netflix) January 21, 2021 Heres how excited people on Twitter are for Bridgertons season 2. WHICH SIBLING WILL THE NEXT SEASON ABOUT JUST TELL US bia / slow / (@ARKIVE94) January 21, 2021 ANTHONY, ANTHONY, ANTHONY! My day has been made. Thank you, dear author! Miss Chanandler Bong (@MaddieWali) January 21, 2021 I AM SO READY Janel Parrish Long (@JanelParrish) January 21, 2021 YAYYYY! So excited to hear that Amrita Bhortake (@AmritaBhortake) January 21, 2021 Soon please ! Ana (@staffordana) January 21, 2021 Sooo ready for this! Santa Byrnes (@santasmbslt) January 21, 2021 The announcement clip also hints that this season is going to be about Anthony Bridgerton and the audience is excited to see whats in store for us. In the first season, audience found the story of the show extremely addictive and the thrill kept us all hooked to the screen. Throughout the eight-part series, Lady Whistledown will keep you on the toes and excited. Along with all the characters Lady Whistledown is an anonymous writer who can destroy a family by revealing the intimate family secrets of powerful people. Her words are read by everyone in the town and are believed. Her gossip sheet is something everyone is curious about. Are you excited for season 2? Let us know in the comments section below! As Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is set to present Budget 2021 in the backdrop of COVID-19 pandemic, Indias combined public health expenditure would be increased to 2.5 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) by 2023-24 while the health outlay is set to see a considerable increase for FY22. The 15th Finance Commission has recommended that Indias combined public health expenditure be increased to 2.5 percent of gross domestic product by 2023-24, nearly double of 1.26 percent health outlay by central and state governments in 2019-20, as per an assessment by Niti Aayog. The Centre is also planning to considerably increase its own outlay in health for 2021-22, which would be separate from what the states would allot to the sector. In its report for 2021-22 to 2024-25, the 15th Finance Commission has also likely recommended that governments move to a fiscal deficit target range rather than a fixed number, and the creation of a separate central cadre for doctors and medical professionals, to combat the issue of shortage of essential personnel. Budget 2021 wishlist: What homebuyers want from FM Nirmala Sitharaman 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 In Budget 2020-21, the central government made a total allocation of Rs 67,111.80 crore for the health sector, against Rs 64,559.12 crore in 2019-20 budget. India ranks 184th out of 191 nations in terms of healthcare spending as percentage of GDP, as per the World Health Organization. The one-time provisioning and additional expenditure on healthcare will impact the centres fiscal deficit. However, as FM Sitharaman has made it clear publicly, these considerations take a back seat compared to the need to ramp up public spending. The team behind Union Budget 2021-22 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. A total of 9,99,065 beneficiaries have so far been vaccinated for COVID-19 through 18,159 sessions held till the evening of January 21, the sixth day of the immunisation drive, according to a provisional report of the Union Health Ministry. 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 (SII) -- for emergency use in the country. 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. Irish Water has extended the statutory consultation period of the countrys first National Water Resources draft Framework Plan (NWRP) and associated SEA Environmental Report and Natura Impact Statement (NI). Irish Water is now inviting feedback on the Plan and associated environmental documents which was published for statutory consultation on the Tuesday 8 December, until Monday 1 March 2021. The NWRP is Irish Waters plan to identify how we will provide a safe, sustainable, secure and reliable water supply to our customers for now and into the future whilst safeguarding the environment. The NWRP will set out how we will balance the supply and demand for drinking water over the short, medium and long term. It is a 25-year strategy to ensure we have a safe, sustainable, secure and reliable drinking water supply for everyone. The development of the NWRP will take place in two phases. Phase one the draft Framework Plan identifies how we assess needs across all of our water supplies, and the process that we will use to find solutions to address those needs. The NWRP draft Framework Plan is published with an accompanying Strategic Environmental Assessment Environmental Report and Natura Impact Statement, which look at how our Plan considers its impact on the environment. This an opportunity to feed into the process of how Irish Water identifies the issues and opportunities for the water supply in your area and how solutions are found, before they are applied to your Region as part of the second phase of the NWRP. The NWRP draft Framework Plan and associated environmental reports can be viewed and downloaded at www.water.ie/nwrp and at local authority's planning office or County Library (depending on the local authority and subject to Covid-19 restrictions). We have also published a consultation leaflet. Irish Water is hosting a webinar next Wednesday, January 27 at 2.30pm where there will be an opportunity to engage with the NWRP team and have any questions you may have answered. To register your attendance please click here Robert Kocharyan on years of his leadership in Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia Situation on Armenian-Azerbaijani border is still tense, more on COVID-19 in Armenia, May 28 digest "Armenia" alliance of political parties paying tribute to founder of First Republic Aram Manukyan (LIVE) Yerevan.today: Armenia acting PM not greeted at ruling party's headquarters, citizens call him 'capitulator' Russia MOD reports on maintenance of ceasefire regime in Nagorno-Karabakh Armenia acting MOD meets with Russian counterpart in Moscow Armenia 2nd President: I see possibility of restoring borders of Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast We can provide our army with some key, modernized weapons, says Armenia ex-President Kocharyan Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: Captives issue is not one that any opposition force can resolve OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs release statement on detention of 6 Armenian servicemen by Azerbaijan Armenian acting Deputy PM: Discussion on issues possible only after withdrawal of Azeri troops from Armenia's territory Armenia acting PM on Syunik roads, Russian military posts: This is only place where there are working nuances Armenia acting PM: Process of return of POWs will intensify after upcoming elections Putin congratulates Aliyev on Republic Day 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 The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine is ready to increase funding for promising projects of Ukrainian missile program. Ukrainian Defense Minister Andrii Taran said this following a visit to strategic enterprises of the domestic rocket and space industry - Pivdenmash (Yuzhmash) State Enterprise and Pivdenne Design Bureau, the Defense Ministry's press service reported. "The Ministry of Defense has recently stepped up work on building up our missile shield. Therefore, among other things, here in Dnipro, we are interested in promising developments in the field of rocket and missile systems for the Armed Forces of Ukraine. For this, the Ministry of Defense is ready to expand funding for the Ukrainian missile program," Taran said. The Ukrainian missile program is a set of actions aimed at restoring Ukraine's missile potential. It is being actively implemented and developed after the start of Russia's military aggression. Pivdenne Design Bureau, in particular, is implementing about 10 projects to develop military missile and jet technology for the needs of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. ish Irrfan Khan's wife, Sutapa Sikdar, got emotional talking about the late actor at the ongoing International Film Festival of India (IFFI), and said his finish line came too soon. The 51st edition of IFFI paid homage to the late actor, and Sutapa along with son Babil Khan was present at the event. Irrfan's acclaimed hit "Paan Singh Tomar" was screened on the occasion. The 2010 release won Irrfan the Best Actor trophy at the 60th National Film Awards, while the Tigmanshu Dhulia directorial was declared Best Film. "It was a very brave decision to step out of home and attend the festival. One needs closure to walk ahead and IFFI is a closure for me, it is like being there for what we have done 30 years ago as students. It feels nice to be here together to celebrate the person and IFFI couldn't have chosen a better film because this film talks about a race and reaching the finishing line. Irrfan's finish line came too soon, but we are proud of him," said Sutapa. Irrfan is known for signature screen presence that his films memorable. "Paan Singh Tomar" apart, his unforgettable performances include "The Lunchbox", "Maqbool", "Qissa", "The Namesake", "Haasil", "Life In A... Metro", "Hindi Medium", and "Angrezi Medium". The actor battled neuroendocrine tumour for around a year and received treatment in the UK. He returned to India in February 2020, just before the release of his final film, "Angrezi Medium" in March. Irrfan passed away on April 29, 2020. He was 53. The Family Service Association of Northeastern Pennsylvania announced that a law firm made a gift of $10,000 to FSA as a part of its 125th Anniversary Annual Giving Campaign. Services provided by FSA, which is based in Wilkes-Barre, include the PA 2-1-1 Northeast/Help Line. Selingo Guagliardo is an excellent firm that delivers solid results for its client and is generous with both volunteerism and philanthropy in the community, said Gertrude C. McGowan, FSA chief executive officer. FSA appreciates this generous contribution. David Selingo, managing member of Selingo Guagliardo LLC, Kingston, added that for 125 years, FSA has been empowering people and improving lives in our community by assisting children, seniors and families that need a hand. Our firm couldnt think of a better way to enhance the health and welfare of our region than to support this organization, he said. The Family Service Association of Northeastern Pennsylvania was established in 1895 by community members to provide diverse services to children, individuals, seniors and families to empower them to achieve their potential through building healthier relationships and stronger communities. Everyone keeps telling me I need to move on. But I don't think I can, nor do I think the conservative movement can. For the past four years, a largely anonymous group on the internet has been seeding a global conspiracy that claimed an international group of child sex traffickers was scheming with the American political deep state and former President Donald Trump intended to destroy it as God's chosen. When the Capitol was stormed on Jan. 6, 2021, people were carrying signs about saving the children. People went looking not just for members of Congress they thought were complicit in stealing election but also for those they thought were complicit in a globally coordinated human trafficking ring. Over the last two weeks, QAnon voices have insisted Trump would remain President. Rumors spread that the President and military would work together to round up the bad guys. Some said the President would allow President Joe Biden's inauguration to go forward and then storm Washington with soldiers after all the bad guys had exposed themselves. Elderly Americans, fueled by internet gossip, were filling up bathtubs with water to protect from coming power outages. My sister's neighbor in Tennessee was telling the neighborhood to stock up with food. A listener in Atlanta said his mother was withdrawing large sums from the bank for when Trump shut them all down. A pastor called me concerned with members of his congregation sending him things that seemed very off. They were conspiracy theories related the President derived from QAnon. This is far more pervasive than I thought, and it has seeped into the conservative movement. North Georgia voters elected a congresswoman who thought a school shooting was a false flag, 9/11 was an inside job and who believed the QAnon nonsense. Last week, driving to Atlanta, I passed two vehicles. One had a Q sticker, and another had a homemade sticker reading "WWG1WGA," which is a QAnon slogan for, "Where We Go One, We Go All." Hosts on news outlets and talk radio promised krakens, a coming storm, and told people to trust the plan. A mob stormed the Capitol looking to hang former Vice President Mike Pence as a traitor on the words of QAnon anonymous accounts and Trump's claims of betrayal. A group of conservatives requested Republicans in Congress reject the Electoral College votes from several states and instead allow state legislatures to replace those votes. Just ask yourself what the conservative reaction would have been had Biden done that. The conservative movement cannot get back on its feet unless there is an accounting for this stuff. The conservative movement needs to clean itself up. This is not something for the outside, the media, the left or any one person. The left wants to purge anyone from polite society who supported Trump. This is unacceptable and as authoritarian as the left claimed Trump was. But conservatives need to deal with this lunacy in-house. There has been a sustained effort to lie to Americans and, in particular, conservatives and Trump supporters. Many so internalized it that they thought God would grant a miracle last week and keep Trump as President. Some still think he is coming back. One QAnon adherent, on a chat board, speculated that, like Jesus, Trump would return in three days. More than one pastor has told his congregation that Trump would remain as President because God willed it. None of what was predicted was true. Goal posts kept being moved. People kept getting angrier. Some in the conservative movement tried to harness or direct the anger and energy. It all turned out badly on Jan. 6, and now no one wants to make eye contact with what happened. A political movement this unhealthy and this wedded to lie cannot and should not survive. There must be an internal accounting within the conservative movement, and the people who pushed the kraken nonsense and the QAnon nonsense need to repent. We conservatives must clean up our own house, or the voters will do it for us. COPYRIGHT 2021 CREATORS.COM Grasim Industries, a part of Aditya Birla Group, on Friday announced it has entered into the paints business, which is currently dominated by established players like Asian Paints and Nerolac. The company will make an initial investment of 5,000 crore over the next 3 years, primarily towards capital expenditure. The textile manufacturer says that its entry in the paints sector will add size, scale, diversity and stability to cash flows of the existing business portfolio of the company. The Aditya Birla Group flagship company believes that this sector is likely to be value accretive to its shareholders. "The Board at its meeting held today, inter alia, considered and approved, entering in paints as a new line of business and subject to the approval of the shareholders, alteration of the Object Clause of the Memorandum of Association of the Company to include the new line of business," Grasim Industries said in a regulatory filing. Grasim will seek the approval of the shareholders at the ensuing Extraordinary General Meeting to be held on February 22, 2021, for alteration of the Object Clause of the Memorandum of Association of the company. The entry of Grasim in the paints sector will offer a wide choice to Indian consumers as the company plans to introduce the latest range of paint products in line with global mega-trends. The company's entry into this high growth sector will help painters, applicators and all traditional and emerging channel partners across India to expand their existing business and grow, it said. Grasim said that this move will also provide an impetus to the government's vision of 'Atma Nirbhar Bharat' and supports the supplier ecosystem of MSMEs by helping them expand their existing raw material manufacturing capacities. Commenting on the development, Kumar Mangalam Birla, Chairman, Aditya Birla Group said: "The foray into paints is a strategic portfolio choice for Grasim as it looks to identify new growth engines. Grasim's strong balance sheet will facilitate this entry, which will add size, scale and diversity to its existing portfolio of established standalone businesses. The company endeavors to invest in businesses that have the potential to be a leader in their addressable markets; have the ability to achieve scale and generate consistent and attractive returns in the long term. The paints industry presents a high-growth option for Grasim." The sector has registered a revenue CAGR of around 11 per cent during FY14 to FY19, and given the value migration from the unorganised to the organised market, the outlook remains robust, providing the space for a quality new player Incorporated in 1947, Grasim Industries started as a textiles manufacturer in India. Over the years, it has evolved into a leading diversified player with leadership presence across many sectors. It is a leading global producer of Viscose Staple Fibre, the largest Chlor-Alkali, Linen and Insulators player in India. Through its subsidiaries, UltraTech Cement and Aditya Birla Capital, it is also the India's largest cement producer and a leading diversified financial services player. Also Read: 'Volatility is froth', focus on core economic, business variables: KM Birla Also Read: Recovery strong; a quarter before we know if booming markets will sustain: Kumar Birla India and Sri Lanka: India lodges protest after fishermen die in crash with Sri Lankan naval craft January 22,2021 | Source: The Hindustan Times India on Thursday lodged a strong protest with Sri Lanka over the death of three fishermen from Tamil Nadu in a collision between their vessel and a Lankan naval craft, saying Colombo should take steps to prevent the recurrence of such incidents. Four fishermen from Ramanathapuram district in Tamil Nadu had been reported missing on January 19. They were out fishing in a mechanised boat along with many other vessels from the same area. The Sri Lankan Navy initially said an Indian boat, with four fishermen on board, sank when patrol vessels sought to apprehend it with other fishing boats that were allegedly poaching in Sri Lankan waters. We are shocked at the unfortunate loss of lives of three Indian fishermen and one Sri Lankan national following a collision between their vessel and a Sri Lankan naval craft, the external affairs ministry said in a statement. Our strong protest in regard to this incident was conveyed by our high commissioner to the Sri Lankan foreign minister (on Thursday). A strong demarche was also made to the Sri Lankan acting high commissioner in New Delhi, it said. The Indian side expressed deep anguish at the loss of lives and emphasised the need to deal with issues related to fishermen in a humanitarian manner, the statement said. Existing understandings between the two governments in that regard must be strictly observed. Utmost efforts should be made to ensure that there is no recurrence, it said. According to media reports, the bodies of the four fishermen were recovered in the Palk Strait by the Sri Lankan navy. The issue triggered protests by fishermen in Tamil Nadu on Thursday. Tamil Nadu chief minister EK Palaniswami announced compensation of Rs.10 lakh each for the families of the fishermen and accused the Sri Lankan navy of destroying the livelihood of fishermen from the state. External affairs minister S Jaishankar had raised the issues of Indian fishermen during a visit to Sri Lanka this month. The bilateral joint working group on fisheries recently discussed outstanding issues were discussed, and Jaishankar said the Indian side was looking forward to the early return of fishermen detained in Sri Lanka. 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. The World Health Organization said Friday it had no plans to change its guidance recommending fabric facemasks as new coronavirus variants spread, because the mutated strains are transmitted in the same way. Germany and Austria have made medical masks mandatory on public transport and in shops -- allowing only surgical or FFP2 masks, rather than fabric -- amid concerns over the threat posed by the rapidly-spreading new virus mutations. Maria Van Kerkhove, the WHO's Covid-19 technical lead, said some of the new variants "may have increased transmissibility", but that from studies in Britain and South Africa of the mutations detected there, "we have no indication that the modes of transmission has changed. It spreads the same way". The WHO advises that "non-medical, fabric masks can be used by the general public under the age of 60 and who do not have underlying health conditions". Meanwhile it recommends medical masks for health workers in clinical settings; anyone feeling unwell, awaiting Covid-19 test results or having positive; and people caring for a suspected or confirmed case. They are also recommended for people aged 60 or over, or with underlying conditions, due to their higher risk of serious illness. Van Kerkhove told a press conference in Geneva that the UN health agency does not plan to shift its position. "Countries are free to make decisions as they see fit," she said. "We will continue to look at the evidence that we have seen, but from the data that we have seen from the countries that have these virus variants, there is no change in the modes of transmission. "If anything changes, we will modify and we will update (guidance) accordingly." She said fabric facemasks should be made of three layers to provide adequate protection. The inner layer should be water-absorbent, such as cotton; the middle layer should be from a material like non-woven polypropylene, and acts as a filter; while the outer layer should be water-resistant, such as polyester, according to WHO guidance. Story continues But such facemasks are only one tool in reducing the spread of the virus, and no one solution alone would get the pandemic under control, Van Kerkhove said. As for medical masks, required by health workers, she said global shortages remained a concern. "The shortage issue has improved over time, but it is still not completely fixed," she said. rjm/tgb Please purchase a subscription to continue reading. If you have a subscription, please Log In . Your current subscription does not provide access to this content. If you believe you've gotten this message in error, please Log In. Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) who came to visit India before the COVID-19 outbreak and got stuck in the country due to the nationwide lockdown and other pandemic restrictions for the whole of the current financial year are grappling with a strange situation. They may now have to pay tax in India in the financial year 2020-21 as their period of stay has overshot the limit of 120 days prescribed under section six of the Income Tax Act, 1961. Chartered accountants and tax lawyers agree that this is a challenging situation for the NRIs who got stuck in India due to the lockdown in the wake of the pandemic. No one knows the challenge and pain better than Delhi's Sajeel Khanna, who runs a sole proprietorship firm dealing in architecture engineering in New Jersey in the US. After being blessed with a baby girl in November 2019, Khanna was looking forward to meet his parents in India. When he landed in Delhi on December 29 that year, he had not imagined that his two-and-a-half month trip will turn into an endless wait. "We were supposed to go back to New Jersey in March last year after Holi," Khanna told Business Today. Next came the tax blow. "For the year 2019-20, my effective tax rate in the US was 18 per cent. In India, however, I came under higher bracket. So, I had to pay the differential tax of about 7 per cent," Khanna said. Till the previous financial year, as per the tax residency rules under section six of the Income Tax Act, 1961, a person of Indian origin who comes to visit India qualifies as a non-resident in India for tax purpose if the person is present in India for less than 182 days. Any stay beyond the period makes the person liable to pay tax in India. This rule was applicable till financial year 2019-20. It may be noted that the apex tax body, Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), vide circular dated 8 May last year, exempted the period between March 22 and March 31 from residency rules for all those who could not leave on time due to lockdown. According to the circular, all those who were quarantined and left on or before March 31 last year or could not leave before March 31, were exempted from residency rule for the period between start of quarantine and March 31. Even though Khanna's stay was less than the then rule of 182 days in 2019-20, he was made to pay the tax as according to his tax adviser he was not fulfilling the other rule of 60 days in the given financial year plus 365 days in four preceding financial years. According to the 60-day rule, an individual is cosidered to be a resident in a given year if the person is physically present in India for 60 days or more in that year and a total of 365 days or more in four years preceding that year. "My chartered accountant advised me to pay. The idea was to avoid the hassle of tax notice and penalty," Khanna said. Interestingly, in last year's Budget, this threshold period was reduced from 182 days to 120 days for the current financial year. However, with the pandemic hitting the country immediately after the Budget, and a nationwide lockdown in place, many NRIs could not go back and are now staring at tax liability this year too unless the government comes out with a clarification. "For the current financial year too, I may have to pay colossal taxes to the Indian authorities. It may be to the tune of Rs 10 lakh as deductions given to the sole proprietorship firms in the US will not be considered here. I will also lose out on the incentives that I would have got in the US for converting partnership to a sole proprietorship," Khanna said. Experts say that it is expected that the government may take some steps to address the matter. "Measures have been taken by various governments across the globe amid the pandemic to address problems like these. India has also done to some extent. There is no reason why the government won't provide relaxation for the current financial year to address the genuine cases of hardship related to Covid," Akhilesh Ranjan, former member, Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) told Business Today. He is now associated with PWC. Chartered accountants say they are receiving a number of queries on the matter. "There is a lot of confusion. The NRIs who are stuck want to know whether they will be taxed in India as they overshot their prescribed stay in the current financial year due to the pandemic," CA Gaurav Mohan told Business Today. "The government needs to clarify. One aspect that needs to be kept in mind before any clarification is issued is that a large number of people may not want to take travel risk for few more months. It needs to be factored in while providing any exemption," Mohan added. Ashok Shah, partner at NA Shah Associates, said, "For financial year 2019-20, the Indian government has given relief by clarifying that prolonged stay won't be counted while determining one's residential status. Taxpayers are expecting some similar clarity for the current financial year as well from the government." Also Read: Infographic: Sensex at 50,000 - The journey Also Read: RIL Q3 results: Profit rises 12.5% to Rs 13,101 crore, revenue down 22% Also Read: Reliance Jio Q3 results: Net profit jumps 15.5% to Rs 3,489 crore 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. Starnes said he lost much of the use of his right hand when he was shot. He said he swerved off the Dan Ryan once the gunman stopped firing and drove to the University of Chicago Medical Center, where he spoke with state police for the first and only time. Vietnamese Facebook user Dinh Thi Thu Tuy, now jailed for seven years on a charge of opposing the state, is shown in an undated photo. A court in southern Vietnams Hau Giang province jailed a Vietnamese Facebook user this week for seven years for posts satirizing and offending Vietnamese political leaders, sources in the country said. Dinh Thi Thu Thuy, an aquaculture expert born in 1982, was accused of anti-state activity under Article 117 of Vietnams Penal Code, but denied the charges, saying she had intended only to voice her concerns over social issues in the one-party communist state, her lawyer told RFA on Jan. 20 after Dinhs trial. Five stories posted by Dinh on her Facebook page and attracting 131 comments and 50 shares were deemed by the court to have satirized, ridiculed, and offended party and state leaders, defense attorney Nguyen Van Mieng said. The judges based their decision on three appraisals, called judicial assessments, of [Dinhs] ideology, with two of those three articles appraised by the Department of Culture, Sport and Tourism, Nguyen said. But according to regulations, that department has no role to play in assessing materials related to national security cases, he said. Dinhs defense team asked the court to summon the person who had appraised Dinhs postings, but the court would not call them in, Nguyen said, adding that the two appraisals submitted to the court did not reach the standard required for judicial assessments. But they concluded anyway that Dinh Thi Thu Thuy was guilty of a crime and convicted her for offenses in accordance with Article 117, Nguyen said. Dinh admitted at her trial to writing the offending stories and posting them on her Facebook page, but said she had done this only to voice her concerns over environmental pollution and other social and educational issues in Vietnam, and had never intended to oppose the state, Nguyen said. In a statement released before Dinhs trial, Human Rights Watch Asia advocacy director John Sifton called the charges against Dinh overbroad and vague criminal provisions, which allow the government to try and convict anyone who speaks critically about their rule. Yet again, we will likely see a Vietnamese citizen sent to prison for doing what millions of people around the world do every day: posting their views on Facebook, Sifton said. Tightened security in Hanoi Dinhs sentencing came as authorities in Vietnams capital Hanoi further tightened security in the city in advance of the ruling Communist Partys 13th National Congress, a meeting held every five years to select top leaders and approve economic policies for the next five years, and scheduled to run this year from Jan. 25 to Feb. 2. City authorities on Jan. 21 directed officials to resolve outstanding cases of petitioner complaints at Hanois central office, calling on police at the same time to disperse large public gatherings likely to cause security problems during the politically sensitive event. Controls were also strengthened on Wednesday at Ho Chi Minh Citys Tan Son Nhat International Airport, which saw mass demonstrations affecting security operations in June 2018 and was bombed in a terrorist attack in April 2017, state media said. Writing in a Jan. 20 statement, rights group Amnesty International called on Vietnams next leadership group to reverse the countrys sharp decline in recent years of human rights, which the rights group said has seen the number of prisoners of conscience held in Vietnams jails double from 84 to 170 since the last Party Congress was held in 2016. The nomination of new national leaders provides an invaluable opportunity for Viet Nam to change course on human rights, said AIs Asia-Pacific Director Yamini Mishra. Vietnam has made some strides in helping to realize economic and social rights for many of its people, but this progress has been severely undermined by its continued repression of freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly. As Viet Nam increasingly opens to global trade, its prison gate are slamming shut on an over-rising number of peaceful individuals, Mishra said. Reported by RFAs Vietnamese Service. Translated by Huy Le. Written in English by Richard Finney. Jaipur, Jan 22 : Indian Air Force Flight Lieutenant Swati Rathore, who hails from Rajasthan, will script a new chapter in the history of woman empowerment by becoming the first woman to lead the flypast on the main Republic Day parade at Delhi's Rajpath. Her proud father, Dr Bhavani Singh Rathore said: "My daughter has let me hold my head high. I am overwhelmed as the dream which she saw has turned into reality." Rathore, who is a Deputy Director in the state's Agriculture Department, also appealed all parents to help their daughters fulfil their dreams. Born in a small village in Rajasthan's Nagaur district, Swati did her schooling from Ajmer. During her childhood, she made a tricolour in a painting competition, making evident her ardent love for her nation. Eventually, her parents pushed her to realise her dream and post schooling, she joined the NCC Air Wing. Swati had cherished the dream to become a pilot and was selected in the IAF in her first attempt in 2014. Her brother is posted in the Merchant Navy. Her mother Rajesh Kanwar says that she never treated her son and daughter differently, and this is the reason that her daughter is going to create history. In 2013, Swati appeared in the Air Force Common Admission Test. After clearing it, she was called for an interview by the Air Force Selection Board, Dehradun, in March 2014. According to Swati, there were around 200 female students from all over the country, out of which 98 were selected for screening. Only five students were left after the screening, in which only she was selected for the flying branch. Her achievement drew praise from the state's leaders. Former Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje, in a tweet, said: "It is a matter of pride for all of us that the daughter of Veerbhoomi #Rajasthan and Flight Lieutenant of Air Force #SwatiRathore will lead the 'Fly Past' in the parade on Rajpath on the occasion of Republic Day. I wish her a bright future!" Former Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot said: "My best wishes to Flight Lieutenant Swati Rathore, of the Indian Air Force, who will be the first woman to lead the flypast in the Republic Day parade this year. By this achievement, she has not only enhanced the pride of the state but has also set a unique example of women empowerment." Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-22 06:27:08|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close RIO DE JANEIRO, Jan. 21 (Xinhua) -- Rio de Janeiro Mayor Eduardo Paes announced on Thursday the cancellation of this year's carnival due to the COVID-19 pandemic. "I have never hidden my passion for Carnival and the clear vision I have of the economic importance this cultural expression has for our city. However, it seems pointless to me to imagine that we will have the conditions to hold Carnival in July," Paes wrote on his Twitter account. The carnival was originally scheduled for Feb. 13-16, but was postponed to the middle of the year due to the pandemic. "This celebration requires a great deal of preparation on the part of public organs and the guilds and institutions linked to samba. Something impossible to do at this moment," Paes said. However, the mayor assured that if mass vaccination against COVID-19 works, in 2022, "we will be able (all properly vaccinated) to celebrate life and our culture with all the intensity we deserve." Rio de Janeiro's Carnival is considered the world's largest open-air party, attracting millions of people annually, both Brazilians and foreigners. It consists of hundreds of troupes playing music in the streets followed by large crowds, and the traditional parade of samba schools in the Sambodromo. Enditem Sorry! This content is not available in your region Palmdale, CA (93550) Today A mix of clouds and sunshine with gusty winds developing this afternoon. High near 90F. WSW winds at 5 to 10 mph, increasing to 20 to 30 mph.. Tonight A few passing clouds. Low around 60F. Winds SW at 15 to 25 mph. European carmaker PSAs Citroen brand has grand plans for India. The company plans to be one of the top players in the market which is currently dominated by Maruti Suzuki and Hyundai. The Citroen brand recently announced the launch of its global "La Maison Citroen" meaning the home of Citroen, retail network in India. The company announced that it plans to launch one model every year. It also aims a "localisation level close to 100 per cent" to meet its ambitions in the country. The company announced that the first model that will be launched in India will be C5 Aircross SUV. The car is expected to be introduced as early as the first quarter of 2021 to kick off its India journey. According to a PTI report, Citroen India Senior Vice President, Sales & Marketing Roland Bouchara said, "India is a tough market because two major players are representing approximately 65 per cent of the market for quite a long time, Maruti Suzuki and Hyundai...then there are many brands which have been here for more than 10-15 years have market share between 2-3 per cent." Bouchara claimed that the dominance of the two companies is based on the fact that the hatchback segment is representing probably 50 per cent of the market at this stage, and Maruti Suzuki and Hyundai represent around 80 per cent of the segment. He further said,"I believe the segments will evolve as well. If you consider last year, the SUV market is representing 25 per cent of the market which was not the case five years ago." He believes that the overall structure of the market will change and the hatchback segment will probably reduce while others like SUVs will gain share. "We believe that with this kind of segment evolution, we believe with our portfolio of products, notably we will be one of the major players through the segment evolution. We will be right within this kind of segment evolution which is going to happen," he said when asked about Citroen's ambition in India in the medium to long term. Bouchara further stated,"There are not so many OEMS, who came to India with new platform, meaning not one model but a new platform with many models. With this platform (C-Cubed) we will launch one model every year for several years." He believes that the Indian market will start to grow again after COVID-19 impact and claims the market is on the track "to achieve in the next 4-5 year TIV (total industry volume) of 5 million" and be among the top five markets of the world. He further said that the company has focussed on high localisation unlike some of the other OEMs that entered India, by locally producing even key parts such as powertrain and gearbox to have cost advantage. Commenting on the introduction of Citroen's global retail concept 'La Maison Citroen' in India, Bouchara said,"... the Ahmedabad showroom pilot is an important milestone for Citroen India as we gear up towards the launch of our first car C5 Aircross SUV in Q1 2021." The showroom will have numerous screens, debuting the ATAWADAC (AnyTime AnyWhere AnyDevice AnyContent) and phygital (physical as well as digital) ecosystems in India, allowing customers to explore and sample the Citroen brand, products and services seamlessly, he added. To start with, the company will have such showrooms in 10 main cities in India, including Delhi, Gurugram, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bengaluru and Chennai, and gradually expand as it goes along. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. We selected Avenus Record Management System because it gave us the most comprehensive system for the best value. The system provides our office with an enormous time-savings and streamlines our processes so that we can better serve our constituents. Avenu Insights & Analytics (Avenu) recently announced that Nassau County, New York has contracted with the company to implement Avenus Records Management System in its County Clerks Office. The system uses a modern and intuitive interface and is known in the industry for its speed and versatility and offers document imaging and flexible workflow solutions. The County Clerks Office has been an Avenu client since 2014 and chose their new system to improve efficiencies and increase security through the systems e-recording and property fraud alert features. The e-recording feature exponentially increases the speed in processing real estate filing and reduces errors by automatically calculating fees. This feature also allows Nassau County to receive funds more rapidly through electronic deposits. The property fraud alert notification will allow Nassau County residents and property owners to be able to be sign up free of charge and be alerted when any sort of filing is presented at the county that effects their name or property. Nassau County Clerk, Maureen OConnell, is known for utilizing technology to modernize the County office. Ms. O'Connell shared that, I continually look for cost-efficient ways to enhance the level of service provided by the County Clerk's Office to the public. After reviewing several options from different providers, we selected Avenus Record Management System because it gave us the most comprehensive system for the best value. The system provides our office with an enormous time-savings and streamlines our processes so that we can better serve our constituents. Avenus CEO, Paul Colangelo, shared the following, Avenu is dedicated to serving local governments. We have maintained a close working relationship with the Nassau County over the years which has given us a deep understanding of the needs of the Clerks Office. We are happy to provide a system that will serve them for years to come and that will position Nassau County for continued and future success. About Avenu Insights & Analytics Over 3,000 state and local governments have partnered with Avenu to drive positive results for their communities through software administration and revenue enhancement solutions. Avenus comprehensive software solutions digitally transform government by modernizing processes, providing online access to records, and reducing costs. Avenu also provides a robust ecosystem of revenue management services that identify and recover untapped revenue. State and local governments work closely with Avenu to increase revenue without raising taxes, streamline internal operations, and improve services by enhancing connectivity for constituents. Avenu is a portfolio company of Mill Point Capital. To learn more, visit http://www.avenuinsights.com. About Mill Point Capital Mill Point Capital is a middle-market private equity firm focused on control-oriented investments in the business services and industrial sectors. The firm works with executive partners to leverage its investment professionals' experience, while providing strategic and operational guidance designed to drive long-term value creation in its portfolio companies. Mill Point is based in New York. The body grew still and cold in a filthy concentration camp barracks. Irving Levine watched his father take his final breath, then lay beside the corpse for hours on a freezing winter night in 1943. He couldnt cry. He couldnt speak. Levine couldnt make a sound, knowing the sadistic Nazi guards might hear him. All he could do was wait for morning. He was just 16 years old and all alone in Dachau, one of Germanys horrific factories of death. He got weak. And he died 10 oclock at night, Levine said of his father, David, recounting the grisly memories Thursday at Holy Name Medical Center in Teaneck. Nearly eight decades later, the carnage of the COVID-19 pandemic brought back memories of the atrocities he witnessed as a young Polish Jew during the Holocaust. But Irving, 93, is a survivor. He survived the Nazis. And he plans on surviving the worst pandemic in a century. The Teaneck resident traveled to the hospital Thursday to receive his first dose of the two-shot Moderna coronavirus vaccine. The vaccine is another liberation where he can get on with his life, as many years as he has left, said Dr. Selwyn Levine, his son and a pulmonologist at Holy Name, to be with his family and start engaging with his family and living life and actually telling his story. Joy pervaded the hospitals vaccination room. Selwyn Levine, who goes by Sel, stood by his fathers side. So did two grandchildren and Irvings second wife, Esther, who also received the vaccine. The Holocaust robbed Irving of his parents, his home and his innocence. And now in his later years, the pandemic has rendered him lonely, isolating him from the people he cherishes. They took away many, many years of his youth his whole teenage life was disrupted, Sel Levine said. And now, again, for the last year, life has been disrupted. Hes really been separated and very distant. Irving has experienced it before. The Germans separated Irving and his father from the family and sent them to Dachau. They shipped his mother, Meryl, and sister, Ruth, to another concentration camp. His brother, Shlomo, had already been killed in their hometown of Oszmiana, Poland (now called Ashmyany, part of Belarus). Irving witnessed many atrocities at the camp, an overcrowded complex of buildings, barracks and a crematorium sitting just outside Munich, Germany. Dachau became notorious for its horrors, the site of unspeakable crimes and suffering. Within its barbed wire fences, 30,000 prisoners slowly starved, leaving piles of emaciated corpses and walking skeletons. Countless others were slaughtered. Irvings father gave his son his rations of bread, which were meager to begin with. David Levine grew weaker and weaker. Eventually, his body gave out. His corpse was removed the morning after he died. He saw that his fathers dead body was taken from the barracks, Sel Levine said. They removed many bodies every morning. Two more hellish years would pass before Irving was liberated in the spring of 1945. He would settle in Brooklyn, marry his first wife, Corinne, and start a family. He created a life out of the ashes of cruelty and genocide. Irving Levine was taken to Dachau, a concentration camp near Munich, Germany at the age of 16. Photo by Andre Malok | NJ Advanc Hope amid horror Irving and Esther sat together Thursday, waiting to be called into the vaccination room. He was dapperly dressed in blue slacks, brown jacket, black sweater vest, and a white button-down shirt and tie. Wearing a yarmulke, he sat quietly, his hands folded together. Sel Levine soon arrived wearing a white medical coat and black yarmulke. The vaccine has brought hope hope that Irving can see his family once again. When he was called, he got up, and with the help of his walker, headed to the vaccination room. He eventually ended up at a station affixed with a Moderna sign. Other stations said Pfizer. He rolled up his left sleeve, got his shot and said to the nurse, Thats it? At least 475,704 doses of the vaccine have been administered in New Jersey as of Thursday, according to the states COVID-19 dashboard. It has received nearly 900,000 doses from the federal government, according to a running tally from the CDC. Many residents have grown desperate for a vaccine appointment, as demand far outweighs supply, especially among the elderly and those with health conditions that make them especially susceptible to the complications of COVID-19. Like Irving, they just want to live. Normally a stoic man, he beams when he talks about his children and grandchildren, sharing their accomplishments with pride. But his words grow emotionless and matter-of-fact when the discussion turns to the Holocaust. Sel Levine knows theres numbness there. His father rarely shared what he had endured until Sel was an adult, he says. Irvings heartache began in 1941 when the Germans seized Oszmiana. The Jews were forced to relocate to a ghetto for six months. Then Irving and his father were herded to Dachau. He would not learn of the fate of his mother and sister for years. He toiled at the camp until the Germans abandoned it in April 1945 as the U.S. Army approached. With nothing but the striped prison uniform he wore, Irving slept in the nearby woods for a few days. He knocked on the doors of surrounding homes, but German residents saw his striped uniform and refused to take him in. Finally one day, he encountered an older woman who was about 80 years old, who agreed to help. She said to me, Ill tell you what: I know the Americans are gonna be here either tonight or tomorrow. Stay there, Irving said. Ill bring you food once in a while. He stayed for three days. Then she came to him and said, The Americans are here, Irving said. Still a teenager, he was free, but on his own. There was no plan, no support system for concentration camp survivors. Many found themselves hundreds of miles from home, with no money and no idea if their family members were alive. One American soldier spoke Yiddish to Irvings amazement. He told him the following day that hed take him to any house to pick out a suit. But Irving was afraid to change out of his prison uniform. My father was then thinking about it and said, How will they know who I am? How will they recognize me? Sel Levine said. The soldier ripped off the uniform and demanded Irving put on the suit. He was yelling at my father, Those days are over. Thats it, Sel Levine said. Soon Irving began the search for his family. He learned that an outbreak of typhus spread through the camp where his mother had been held. Meryl was infected and died. The Nazis stacked her body in a barn with other victims and burned it. Irving also heard that his sister was in Warsaw, Poland roughly 700 miles away. He hopped on a train and found the house where she was said to live. He knocked on the front door, and Ruth opened it. She was alive. He eventually found his way to a displaced persons camp in Austria, where he remained until he emigrated to the United States in January 1949. Irving worked in mirror and table manufacturing and had two children with Corinne Sel and his twin sister, Carol Smilow, a pharmacist in New Jersey. Irving watched his children grow up, become successful and have kids of their own. Corinne Levine died of cancer in the mid-2000s, and he moved to Teaneck to be closer to Sel and Carol. Irving doesnt shy away from his age. He knows his time is short. His first wife is gone and so are many of his friends, he said casually. But the vaccine gives him hope. Hope for more life. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Spencer Kent may be reached at skent@njadvancemedia.com. The Type Directors Club, the leading global typography organization, has enhanced diversity within its leadership with the announcement of a new TDC Advisory Board. The Advisory Board, which includes five new members, is the first elected by TDC membership since the organization became part of The One Club for Creativity last October. The merger provides TDC with resources and infrastructure to broaden and grow its programming and aligns with TOCCs existing emphasis on promoting diversity and inclusion. Joining as new members are: Cey Adams , artist, designer, Cey Adams Studios, Brooklyn , artist, designer, Cey Adams Studios, Brooklyn Dr. Nadine Chahine , director, ArabicType Ltd, London , director, ArabicType Ltd, London Manija Emran , founder, creative director, Me & the Bootmaker, Los Angeles , founder, creative director, Me & the Bootmaker, Los Angeles Zelda Harrison , principal, ZHarrison & Associates/ZELDESIGN, Los Angeles , principal, ZHarrison & Associates/ZELDESIGN, Los Angeles Saki Mafundikwa, founder, director, Zimbabwe Institute of Vigital Arts (ZIVA), Harare Returning to the TDC Advisory Board are: Elizabeth Carey Smith (chair), designer director, Saturday Design, New York (chair), designer director, Saturday Design, New York Paul Carlos , principal, Pure+Applied, New York; adjunct faculty, Parsons School of Design, The New School , principal, Pure+Applied, New York; adjunct faculty, Parsons School of Design, The New School Liz DeLuna , principal, main5design, New York; professor, Graphic Design, St. John's University , principal, main5design, New York; professor, Graphic Design, St. John's University Carrie Hamilton , designer, Carrie Hamilton Design, New York; instructor, The City College of New York , designer, Carrie Hamilton Design, New York; instructor, The City College of New York John Kudos , managing partner, KUDOS Design Collaboratory, KASA Collective, New York , managing partner, KUDOS Design Collaboratory, KASA Collective, New York Bobby C. Martin, Jr. , founding partner, Champions Design, New York , founding partner, Champions Design, New York Joe Newton , designer, illustrator, educator, Anderson Newton Design, New York , designer, illustrator, educator, Anderson Newton Design, New York Juan Carlos Pagan , founding partner, executive creative director, Sunday Afternoon, New York , founding partner, executive creative director, Sunday Afternoon, New York YuJune Park , partner, cofounder, Synoptic Office, New York; assistant professor, Communication Design, Parsons School of Design, The New School , partner, cofounder, Synoptic Office, New York; assistant professor, Communication Design, Parsons School of Design, The New School Christopher Sergio, vice president, group creative director, Henry Holt & Co/Macmillan Publishers, New York Christopher Sergio has also been appointed to represent TDC on The One Club Board of Directors. Carol Wahler continues in her role as TDC executive director. TDC will continue to be run as an autonomous, committee-based organization, with the Advisory Board responsible for all TDC programming, effective January 2021. A top priority of the new TDC Advisory Board is to take action on how to authentically address the industrys stark inclusion and diversity problems through representation, membership and programming. The new members bring a wealth of experience and diverse perspectives to the TDC Advisory Board, helping us create new paths forward in the creative community and maintaining our commitment to celebrating typographic excellence, said Elizabeth Carey Smith, TDC past-president who will serve as board chair. Established in New York in 1946, TDC celebrates and amplifies the power of typography and serves as a global community united by the shared belief that type drives culture and culture drives type. The organization runs the esteemed TDC Communication Design and TDC Typeface Design competitions, produces The Worlds Best Typography annual, coordinates traveling global exhibitions of award-winning work, offers scholarship programs and hosts conferences, classes, workshops, Type Salons and a design jobs board. The One Club is the worlds foremost non-profit organization whose mission is to support the global creative community. The club takes revenue generated from entries to its global awards shows -- including The One Show, ADC Annual Awards, Young Ones Student Awards, Young Guns and others -- and puts it back into the industry to fund programs under its four pillars: Education, Inclusion & Diversity, Gender Equality and Professional Development. These programs include the annual Where Are All The Black People diversity conference and career fair, ONE School free portfolio program for Black creatives, Creative Boot Camps for diverse college students, Right the Ratio Summits addressing gender equality, 2nd Skill to train traditional creatives on UX, UI and content strategy to upskill and future-proof them for the second creative career, Global Educators Summits, Creative Leaders Retreats, mentorship programs for more than 200 young creatives each year, bi-annual Saturday Career Workshops for high school students, and more. The One Club for Creativity, producer of The One Show, ADC Annual Awards , Type Directors Club Communication Design and Typeface Design awards, Young Guns and Creative Week, is the world's foremost non-profit organization whose mission is to support and celebrate the success of the global creative community. The One Show is a top global awards show for advertising, design and digital marketing, focusing on the creativity of ideas and quality of execution. The global ADC Annual Awards honors creative excellence in craft, design and innovation across all disciplines. Creative Week takes place in New York every May, and is the preeminent festival celebrating the intersection of advertising and the arts. The West Bengal Police Department through the West Bengal Police Recruitment Board (WBPRB), under Govt. of West Bengal, has called for applications through online as well as offline mode from eligible and interested candidates for filling Eight Thousand Six Thirty-Two (8,632) vacancies to the post of Constables and Lady Constables 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 Constables and Lady Constables in the West Bengal Police Organisation West Bengal Police Recruitment Board (WBPRB) Educational Qualification Madhyamik Examination or equivalent and should be able to speak, read and write in Bengali language Experience Freshers can apply Job Responsibilities null Skills Required Physical and Medical Fitness Job Location Across West Bengal Salary Scale Rs. 22,700 to Rs. 58,500 per month 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 West Bengal Police Jobs 2021 through West Bengal Police Recruitment 2021 must have completed 18 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 Constable Recruitment 2021 Notification. Candidates (Gen/UR/OBC) must pay a prescribed amount of Rs. 150 + Rs. 20 and Rs. 20 only (SC/ST- processing fee only) respectively as application + processing fee for WBPRB Police Jobs 2021 either through online (net-banking/credit/debit) mode or offline Challan mode as detailed in West Bengal Constable Recruitment 2021 Notification. Also Read: West Bengal Police Recruitment 2021 For 1,088 Sub-Inspectors And Lady Sub-Inspectors, Apply Before February 20 West Bengal Police Recruitment 2021 Vacancy 2021 Details Post Name No. Of Vacancies Constables 7,440 Lady Constables 1,192 Total 8,632 West Bengal Police Recruitment 2021: Eligibility Desirous candidates applying for WBPRB Constable Jobs 2021 through West Bengal Police Recruitment 2021 must have passed Madhyamik Examination or equivalent from the West Bengal Board of Secondary Education, and meet the required Physical and Medical Fitness criteria as detailed in the West Bengal Constable Recruitment 2021 notification. Candidates should be able to speak, read and write in Bengali language as specified in the West Bengal Constable Recruitment 2021 notification. West Bengal Police Recruitment 2021: Selection And Pay Scale The selection of candidates to WBPRB Constable Jobs 2021 through West Bengal Police Recruitment 2021 will be done through Preliminary Written Test, Physical Measurement Test (PMT), Physical Efficiency Test (PET), Final Written Examination and Interview as notified in the West Bengal Constable Recruitment 2021 notification. Candidates selected as West Bengal Police Jobs 2021 through West Bengal Police Recruitment Board will be paid emolument in the scale of Rs. 22,700 to Rs. 58,500 per month. 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: How To Apply Candidates applying for West Bengal Constable Jobs 2021 through West Bengal Police Recruitment 2021 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 Constable Recruitment 2021 notification. Download Short West Bengal Police Recruitment 2021 Notification PDF for Constables and Lady Constables posts Download West Bengal Police Recruitment 2021 Notification PDF for Sub- Constables and Lady Constables Online posts Download West Bengal Police Recruitment 2021 Notification PDF for Sub- Constables and Lady Constables Offline posts .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... In a politically explosive new lawsuit, the husband of a woman gunned down in her West Side driveway in 2019 contends her senseless death would never have happened but for Albuquerques sanctuary policy, which bars city police coordination with federal immigration officials. The Nov. 19, 2019, shooting death of Jacqueline Jacque Vigil, 55, came just weeks after Albuquerque police responded to a series of auto burglaries and a shooting incident allegedly involving Luis Talamantes-Romero, a Mexican national in the United States illegally who was charged last November in her slaying. He is incarcerated and awaiting sentencing in Texas on illegal re-entry charges. This senseless death was the result of the Defendants indifference regarding an escalating pattern of criminal violence by known illegal aliens states the wrongful death lawsuit filed Thursday by her husband Sam Vigil in state District Court in Albuquerque. ADVERTISEMENTSkip ................................................................ Vigils lawsuit also alleges that Albuquerques sanctuary policy enabled Talamantes-Romero, his family and his associates to use the city as a home base for crime. Vigil was in her car headed to the gym when she was shot to death in the pre-dawn hours. She was the mother of two New Mexico State Police officers and worked at a child day care center. She legally immigrated to the U.S. two decades earlier from Colombia and married Vigil. Defendants named in the lawsuit include Mayor Tim Keller and the city of Albuquerque. Also named is an Albuquerque police officer, Cody Tapie, who investigated an incident a month before Vigils slaying in October 2019, in which two men shot at a dwelling and chased and shot at a car driven by a young man, who was uninjured. Talamantes-Romero, aka Pelon, was identified as the prime suspect in that earlier West Side Albuquerque shooting incident, along with an associate, Eduardo Aguilar. Aguilar is also an undocumented immigrant with a history of committing violent felony offenses with a firearm, the lawsuit states. No criminal complaint was filed in that incident and no arrests were made. But the investigation should have put the APD on notice that Talamantes-Romero was the perpetrator, the lawsuit alleges. After this gangster-style shooting, no steps were taken by APD to apprehend Talamantes-Romero or Aguilar and APD did not inform federal law enforcement that Talamantes-Romero or Aguilar had illegally re-entered the country and committed multiple felony offenses. APD ignored this gift from God to avert tragedy and continued to value political principles over the safety and welfare of the citizens of Albuquerque, the lawsuit alleges. The lawsuit also alleges that APD missed a chance to arrest Talamantes-Romero in a September 2019 burglary of a truck at a hotel parking lot. His blood and fingerprints were found in the vehicle, in which several firearms were stolen, court records show. Talamantes-Romero has a lengthy criminal record in Albuquerque and elsewhere. Had he been arrested, charged and convicted in either of two prior crimes, federal immigration officials could have been notified and he would have been taken off the streets and charged with illegal re-entry, which carries up to a 20-year prison sentence if an aggravated felony has occurred, Vigil alleges. The FBI has alleged that before Vigil was killed, Talamantes-Romero, along with another man in his Jeep, were lurking in Vigils Las Lomitas neighborhood, looking for items to steal from cars. They noticed Vigil attempting to leave in her Cadillac and Talamantes-Romero allegedly jumped out with a firearm and shot her through the drivers window before the two fled. Sam Vigils legal team includes Albuquerque attorneys Robert Gorence and Jason Bowles, both former federal prosecutors. According to a statement from his attorneys, the lawsuit is aimed at making the city accountable for Jacqueline Vigils death. In addition, the statement said, Sam wants it known that this case is not about politics. Politics to Sam is resolving the status of our many Dreamers fairly and with compassion. Bad policy is when the City orders that sickening criminals who dream only to kill, maim and rob are shielded from federal law and swift and sure incarceration and deportation. The federal public defender for Talamantes-Romero has not responded to requests for comment. APD spokesman Gilbert Gallegos responded to the lawsuit by saying in an email, Our hearts have always gone out to the Vigil family, and our officers and detectives worked with law enforcement partners to bring justice in this case. Police work hard to investigate violate crime which is what they have done in this case. City Attorney Estaban Aguilar Jr. said in an email, There is no city ordinance that prevents local law enforcement or the Federal government from arresting violent felons, immigrant or otherwise. Sanctuary city Keller signed off on the sanctuary city policy in April 2018, after the City Council by a 6-3 vote approved the measure to make Albuquerque immigrant friendly. That policy prohibits city employees, including police officers, from collecting information regarding a persons immigration status, the lawsuit states. It also bars the city from disclosing information it possesses regarding national origin absent a valid judicial warrant for such information. Such policies have been controversial in other cities, such as after the fatal shooting of a woman in San Francisco in 2015 by an undocumented immigrant, who was acquitted of murder but found guilty of a lesser charge of felony possession of a firearm. The lawsuit alleges that Albuquerques policy frustrated the enforcement of federal law and increased the danger that illegal aliens, including repeat violent felony offenders and members of illegal street gangs like Talamantes-Romero and Aguilar would be able to commit criminal acts in Albuquerque without risk that they would be subject to deportation for federal crimes. Many other similarly situated individuals have also been harmed due to the policies in place which prohibit City employees from coordinating with federal law enforcement to keep dangerous illegal aliens off of the streets in Albuquerque. After serving a federal prison sentence after his last illegal entry, Talamantes-Romero was deported back to Mexico in early September 2019. Immediately after he was deported, the lawsuit alleges, he made a beeline to Albuquerque to live with his two sisters, who are also illegal aliens with criminal records. Political overtones The case has had political overtones since last summer when former President Donald Trump at a press conference announcing a new national federal initiative, Operation Legend, targeting violent crime in several cities, including Albuquerque. Vigil, a registered Democrat, spoke of his wifes fatal shooting. At the time, APDs investigation into the Vigil slaying had stalled, even though Talamantes-Romero had been picked up by immigration officials months earlier in Texas. The arrest came after tips to Albuquerque Crimestoppers identified him as a suspect in Vigils death. Under Operation Legend, the FBI joined the investigation in late July, and helped uncover evidence about the fatal shooting and an alleged criminal network that involved Talamantes-Romero and his two sisters, who are also undocumented immigrants from Mexico. One allegedly helped him flee New Mexico after the Jacqueline Vigil shooting and the other helped in the cover-up, which involved cleaning up Talamantes-Romeros Jeep, which was seen leaving the Vigil residence after the slaying. A total of eight people have been charged with crimes ranging from drug offenses to illegal re-entry in that FBI investigation. The wrongful death lawsuit alleges that Talamantes-Romeros sister, Elizabeth Talamantes, was in APD custody in 2018 as was Aguilar. But their immigration status was not communicated to federal immigration. The Defendants failure to investigate the criminal acts described in this complaint and (their) failure to act in a reasonable prudent manner placed Ms. Vigil at serious risk. This risk was obvious and known the totality of the circumstances are conscience shocking. 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. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 22) The Inter-Agency Task Force will implement a stricter testing protocol for travelers arriving from jurisdictions with confirmed cases of new, more transmissible COVID-19 variants, COVID-19 task force spokesperson Harry Roque announced on Friday. Roque said the mandatory completion of the 14-day facility-based quarantine for arrivals will be replaced with testing the passengers upon arrival then another test during their fifth day of quarantine. If their second RT-PCR test yields a negative result, they can be sent home. It was not immediately clear how long quarantine would be for those whose second swab test comes out positive. "For passengers coming from, or transiting through, countries where travel restrictions are in place due to new COVID-19 variants, these incoming passengers shall be tested upon arrival and shall be quarantined until the result of the subsequent test administered on the fifth day is released," he said in a statement. Health spokesperson Maria Rosario Vergeire said the passengers will be turned over to their respective hometowns after their negative result, but they will have to complete their two-week quarantine at home. She added the new testing rules will take effect after agencies issue guidelines. "Critical dito ang hand off at proper endorsement to the LGU [Proper endorsement to the LGU is critical]," she said in a media briefing. "The local government unit has to ensure that the 14-day home quarantine will be implemented properly," The coronavirus infection'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. The IATF previously required passengers to take a swab test upon arrival then they are allowed to go home after completing their two-week quarantine at a government-accredited facility. The Department of Health recommended for inbound passengers regardless of country of origin to undergo the second round of swab test five days into their quarantine. The government is imposing travel restrictions on select foreigners coming from 35 countries and territory with confirmed cases of COVID-19 variants until Jan. 31. The IATF, however, is now allowing the entry of foreign nationals with valid visas and spouses and children of Filipino citizens traveling with them to enter the country despite restrictions. Trenton, NJ -- (SBWIRE) -- 01/22/2021 -- Homeowners thinking about remodeling their kitchen are often concerned about the massive task of cleaning up debris, old cabinetry, and excess materials after the job is done. Many assume that the only option is to hire a professional debris removal service or manually haul their construction remnants to a disposal center or dump. Now, there's a streamlined and affordable way for homeowners to make post-renovation cleanup a snap residential dumpster rentals in Burlington County and beyond from Horizon Disposal Services. Horizon Disposal Services makes cleaning up after a significant home improvement or repair project simple. Their team offers a wide range of dumpster sizes, allowing homeowners to balance special needs and costs based on their individual projects. Horizon Disposal Services works with homeowners to set pick-up and drop-off times suitable for their needs, and they now offer same-day service for residential dumpster rentals. All homeowners need to do is schedule their service, fill the dumpster with debris from their home improvement project, and allow the team at Horizon Disposal Services to take care of the rest. Cleaning up after a renovation doesn't need to be a major hassle when homeowners choose to schedule a residential dumpster rental in Mercer County from Horizon Disposal Services. Anyone interested in learning more about the team at Horizon Disposal Services or who would like to make their appointment for dumpster services is encouraged to call their team today at 609-245-6243 or visit them online at https://horizondisp.com/. About Horizon Disposal Services Since 2000, the team at Horizon Disposal Services has offered dumpster and container rental for home and commercial construction projects. Servicing Central New Jersey and the Bucks County area of Pennsylvania, Horizon Disposal Services has proudly served the Greater Philadelphia area for almost two decades. Known for being a proud member of the USGBC, a member of the LEED program and convenient same-day service. More information can be found by visiting their website at http://horizondisp.com/. WASHINGTON Lloyd J. Austin, a West Point graduate who rose to the Armys elite ranks and marched through racial barriers in a 41-year career, won Senate confirmation Friday to become the nations first Black secretary of defense. The 93-2 vote gave President Joe Biden his second Cabinet member; Avril Haines was confirmed on Wednesday as the first woman to serve as director of national intelligence. Biden is expected to win approval for others on his national security team in coming days, including Antony Blinken as secretary of state. Biden is looking for Austin to restore stability atop the Pentagon, which went through two Senate-confirmed secretaries of defense and four who held the post on an interim basis during the Trump administration. The only senators who voted against Austin were Republicans Mike Lee of Utah and Josh Hawley of Missouri. Before heading to the Pentagon, Austin wrote on Twitter that he is especially proud to be the first Black secretary of defense. Lets get to work, he wrote. And a short time later he arrived at the Pentagons River Entrance, where he was greeted by holdover Deputy Defense Secretary David Norquist, who has been the acting secretary since Wednesday, and Army Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He was sworn in and was to receive an intelligence briefing, then confer with senior civilian and military officials on the COVID-19 crisis. He also planned to speak by phone with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and to receive briefings about China and the Middle East. Some of the global problems on Austins plate are familiar to him, including one of the thorniest Afghanistan. The White House said Bidens national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, told his Afghan counterpart in a phone call Friday that the new administration will review the February 2020 deal that the Trump administration struck with the Taliban that requires the U.S. to withdraw all of its troops by May. Trump ordered U.S. troops levels in Afghanistan cut to 2,500 just days before he left office, presenting Biden with decisions about how to retain leverage against the Taliban in support of peace talks. Austins confirmation was complicated by his status as a recently retired general. He required a waiver of a legal prohibition on a military officer serving as secretary of defense within seven years of retirement. Austin retired in 2016 after serving as the first Black general to head U.S. Central Command. He was the first Black vice chief of staff of the Army in 2012 and also served as director of the Joint Staff, a behind-the-scenes job that gave him an intimate view of the Pentagons inner workings. The House and the Senate approved the waiver Thursday, clearing the way for the Senate confirmation vote. Austin, a large man with a booming voice and a tendency to shy from publicity, describes himself as the son of a postal worker and a homemaker from Thomasville, Georgia. He has promised to speak his mind to Congress and to Biden. At his confirmation hearing Tuesday, Austin said he had not sought the nomination but was ready to lead the Pentagon without clinging to his military status and with full awareness that being a political appointee and Cabinet member requires a different perspective and unique duties from a career in uniform. READ MORE: Welcome to the presidency, Joe Biden. Please solve all these crises. As vice president, Biden worked closely with Austin in 2010-11 to wind down U.S. military involvement in Iraq while Austin was the top U.S. commander in Baghdad. American forces withdrew entirely, only to return in 2014 after the Islamic State extremist group captured large swaths of Iraqi territory. At Central Command, Austin was a key architect of the strategy to defeat IS in Iraq and Syria. Biden said in December when he announced Austin as his nominee that he considered him the person we need at this moment, and that he trusts Austin to ensure civilian control of the military. Critics of the nomination have questioned the wisdom of making an exception to the law against a recently retired military officer serving as defense secretary, noting that the prohibition was put in place to guard against undue military influence in national security matters. Only twice before has Congress waived the prohibition in 1950 for George C. Marshall during the Korean War and in 2017 for Jim Mattis, the retired Marine general who served as President Donald Trumps first Pentagon chief. Austin has promised to surround himself with qualified civilians. And he made clear at his confirmation hearing that he embraces Bidens early focus on combatting the coronavirus pandemic. I will quickly review the departments contributions to coronavirus relief efforts, ensuring we are doing everything we can and then some to help distribute vaccines across the country and to vaccinate our troops and preserve readiness, he told the Senate Armed Services Committee. Under questioning by senators, Austin pledged to address white supremacy and violent extremism in the ranks of the military. The Defense Departments job is to keep America safe from our enemies, he said. But we cant do that if some of those enemies lie within our own ranks. Austin said he will insist that the leaders of every military service know that extremist behavior in their ranks is unacceptable. He offered glimpses of other policy priorities, indicating that he embraces the view among many in Congress that China is the pacing challenge, or the leading national security problem for the U.S. Authorities in Shanghai have confirmed at least six new cases of COVID-19, imposing a localized lockdown on a residential compound in downtown Huangpu district, local health officials and residents said on Friday. Municipal health authorities are currently tracking close contacts of the confirmed cases, the state-run Global Times newspaper reported, adding that more than 15,000 people "might have come into contact with them or had overlapping travel histories." Of those, 74 people have tested negative for COVID-19, it said, while three cases imported from overseas were also reported. The Zhaotong residential compound in Huangpu district has been placed under lockdown by health officials, with nobody allowed in or out and all nearby shops closed, according to video posted to social media from the scene on Friday. Residents are currently being tested, and will be sent to hotels for self-isolation if found to have COVID-19, according to a Shanghai resident surnamed Cheng. "[Some] residents are now staying in hotels under quarantine, under restriction," Cheng said. "There is no outbreak in the district where I live ... but you have to wear a mask in Shanghai now when you go to supermarkets, and to residential communities." "They [also] take your body temperature when you go to buy groceries," she said. Outbreak in northern China The Shanghai outbreak comes amid a new wave of COVID-19 cases in northern China, with 47 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in the northeastern province of Heilongjiang on Thursday, 35 of which were in Wangkui county. The health authorities also reported 88 asymptomatic cases across the province, with 19 COVID-19 cases reported in neighboring Jilin province, seven of which were asymptomatic. The northern province of Hebei, which surrounds Beijing, reported 18 new cases, three of which were asymptomatic. Authorities in the northern port city of Tianjin are particularly worried that the Hebei cases will spread to the densely populated city, and have shut down transportation routes coming into the city. A Tianjin resident surnamed Tang said no cases had yet been reported in the city. "There are definitely no cases [reported] in Tianjin, but there were two cases in Daxing district of Beijing reported yesterday," she said. "Wangkui county in Heilongjiang has a high infection rate, too." Emergency orders limit travel The resurgence of the pandemic in China led the country's cabinet, the State Council, to issue emergency orders requiring anyone traveling home ahead of Lunar New Year on Feb. 12 to show a negative COVID-19 test taken in the past seven days, and submit to a 14-day quarantine period on arrival. A Beijing resident surnamed Wang said this effectively scuppers many people's plans to return home, as is traditional for the Lunar New Year celebrations. "This way, nobody can go home for the New Year," Wang said. "Even if you go, you will have to be inside in isolation for 14 days for a seven-day holiday; they won't let you out of the door." In contrast with last year's emergence of the coronavirus pandemic in the 11-million strong city of Wuhan, much of the outbreak this year has hit rural counties harder, official media reported. State broadcaster China Radio International (CRI) reported on its website recently that more than 20,000 villagers had been evacuated from 12 villages near Hebei's provincial capital, Shijiazhuang. If the authorities merely cut off the villages from the outside world, the virus would still spread between households, eventually spreading to everyone in those communities, it quoted health expert Tong Zhaohui as saying. Reported by Qiao Long and Gigi Lee for RFA's Mandarin and Cantonese Services. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie. New Delhi, Jan 22 : History was made at the US presidential inauguration last night and it wasn't just about an outgoing President not attending the ceremony for the first time in 152 years. As Hsiao Bi-khim entered the Capitol building, Taiwan was represented in an official capacity at the US presidential inauguration for the first time since 1979, the year which saw a break in diplomatic relations between Washington and Taipei. "Honoured to represent the people and government of Taiwan here at the inauguration of President Biden and Vice President Harris. Democracy is our common language and freedom is our common objective. I look forward to working with the next US administration in advancing our common values and interests," Hsiao said in a video message posted on Twitter while standing in front of the West Front. It was in 1979 that the Jimmy Carter administration had switched diplomatic relations from Taipei to Beijing. China treats Taiwan as a breakaway province and continues to make provocative moves in the region. For nearly four decades, the US policy has been guided by the Taiwan Relations Act of 1979, the three joint communiques between Washington and Beijing, and the Six Assurances provided by President Reagan to Taipei in 1982. And while, in spite of severe pressure from mainland China, Taiwan did win support from the US - in 2002, Secretary of State Colin Powell said that Taiwan is "a success story of democracy" and in March 2008, President George W. Bush said: "Taiwan is a beacon of democracy to Asia and the world" - representatives of Taiwan were able to attend the ceremony only after being handed over admission tickets by Congress members. The Inauguration and Swearing-In ceremonies are managed by the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies (JCCIC). This time, the Committee had announced that due to Covid-19 pandemic restrictions, tickets will not be allotted to Congressional Offices to attend the 59th Inaugural ceremonies. Taipei was thus doubtful of getting an invite but was pleasantly surprised as Hsiao was formally invited by the JCCIC to participate in the inauguration. "The invitation to Taiwan's Representative to the US to attend the Inaugural Ceremonies, the most significant event celebrating US democracy, highlights the close and cordial ties between Taiwan and the United States based on shared values," Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement earlier this week. "The government will build on existing solid foundations and work with the Biden administration to further promote exchanges and cooperation in all areas and at all levels, so as to strengthen the comprehensive cooperative partnership between Taiwan and the US," it added. Taiwan has for years maintained that it is under tremendous pressure against China's pervasive military, economic, and political coercion and needs clear and concrete support from the US and like-minded countries. The move, which would have certainly rattled Beijing, has been welcomed by many top US politicians, including the Idaho Senator James Elroy Risch who also heads the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Risch has been raising grave concerns about China's human rights violations in Xinjiang terming it as a genocide and urging the world to hold Chinese Communist Party (CCP) accountable for the unspeakable crimes against humanity. "I was gratified to see Taiwan represented at the inauguration for the first time since 1979 today. I commend the new administration for this invitation, & encourage them to build upon the progress made on US-Taiwan relations to reflect the challenges & geopolitical realities we face," he said. Taiwan is hoping that the principles of mutual trust, reciprocity, and mutual benefit will steadily deepen its partnership with the US. Last month, former US President Donald Trump had signed into law the Taiwan Assurance Act of 2020, a broad piece of legislation that covers support for regularized US arms sales to Taiwan, enhancing its self-defenve capability and Taipei's meaningful participation in international organizations. There's some more good news in store for Taipei. Immediately after being sworn into office, the Joe Biden administration has signalled that the US commitment to Taiwan will continue to be "rock solid". "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," Reuters quoted Emily Horne, spokeswoman for the White House National Security Council, as saying. (This content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com) 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 Safehaven.com: NEW HARTFORD, N.Y. New Hartford police arrested a Rome man who allegedly stole merchandise from Boscovs in Sangertown Square Thursday afternoon. Officers were called to the mall just after 2 p.m. after the loss prevention team reported they were following a man suspected of stealing from the store. Police found the suspect, 32-year-old Kyle Moroughan, behind the Price Chopper plaza on Commercial Drive, and took him into custody. Moroughan is also accused of having a physical altercation with a loss prevention worker during the incident. Moroughan, who is currently on parole, was charged with third-degree robbery, which is a D felony. He was processed and remanded to the Oneida County jail without bail. [January 22, 2021] SelectQuote, Inc. Hires Scott Dikeman to Bolster Health Care Business SelectQuote, Inc. (NYSE: SLQT) announced the hiring of long-time Cerner (News - Alert) executive Scott Dikeman. Dikeman recently joined SelectQuote as the Vice President, Strategic Accounts, where he will work on emerging B2B opportunities in health care. He comes to SelectQuote from Cerner, a leading health care and information technology company, where he most recently led their Venture Capital portfolio, business development for strategic partnerships, code Program, Cerner's open/interoperability strategy for health care and a key contributor to annual strategy and planning. "Adding Scott to our team will help us continue to grow our health care business, while also continuing to improve our current business," said Bob Grant, President, SelectQuote Senior. "Scott has worked with several emerging businesses during his career and his entrepreneurial spirit will be an asset to SlectQuote." He graduated from Kansas State University with a business administration degree, and earned his Masters of Business Administration from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. He currently serves as executive mentor in the College of Business Administration at Kansas State, and is an active supporter of the Boy Scouts of America and American Royal. About SelectQuote: Founded in 1985, SelectQuote (NYSE: SLQT) provides solutions that help consumers protect their most valuable assets: their families, health and property. The company pioneered the model of providing unbiased comparisons from multiple, highly-rated insurance companies allowing consumers to choose the policy and terms that best meet their unique needs. Two foundational pillars underpin SelectQuote's success: a strong force of highly-trained and skilled agents who provide a consultative needs analysis for every consumer, and proprietary technology that sources and routes high-quality leads. The company has three core business lines: SelectQuote Senior, SelectQuote Life and SelectQuote Auto and Home. SelectQuote Senior, the largest and fastest-growing business, serves the needs of a demographic that sees 10,000 people turn 65 each day with a range of Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplement plans. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210122005404/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] MAPLE HEIGHTS, Ohio -- The Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner has identified two men who died during a shootout early Wednesday morning. Anthony Randolph Jr., 23, of Cleveland and Canen Summerville, 20, of South Euclid died in the incident that happened just before 4 a.m. on Elmwood Avenue near Waterbury Avenue, according to police and the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiners Office. The medical examiner has ruled both of the mens deaths a homicide. An unknown caller told police about someone who was shot and might be dead, according to a news release from Maple Heights police. Officers found two men, later identified as Randolph Jr. and Summerville, each with a single gunshot wound to the chest. Paramedics took Randolph Jr. to Cleveland Clinic -- Marymount Hospital in Garfield Heights, while Summerville was taken to University Hospitals Bedford Medical Center, according to the medical examiner. Investigators learned that Randolph Jr. and Summerville got into an argument and started shooting at each other, police said. Anyone with information or who was a witness to the incident is asked to call Maple Heights detectives at 216-587-9624 or Detectives@mhpd-ohio.com. Read more crime stories on cleveland.com: Two men die after exchanging gunfire in Maple Heights shootout, police say Feds arrest suspect in Lorain shooting Shooting in Akron leaves 1 man dead Judge hands down prison sentence to ex-Bedford High School teacher who sexually abused two students Cuyahoga County grand jury indicts man accused of cutting Broadview Heights police officer before being shot in pursuit Due to COVID-19 safety norms gravity-defying stunts by motorcycle-borne men, a major attraction for the crowd at celebrations on the Rajpath, will be missing this year, while the spectator size too has been reduced to 25,000, officials said on Friday. Besides this, the parade of gallantry awardees and children who have earned bravery awards will also not be there at the 72nd event, on account of social distancing, they said. Also, there will be no chief guest at the event this year. "This year's is very different as it is happening amid the coronavirus pandemic. Like in Independence Day, all chairs in enclosures will be placed following social distancing norms. So the crowd size has come down to 25,000 this time from around 1.25 lakh last year or some of the previous years. "The number of enclosures has also been halved to just 19," said a senior official who is privy to the arrangements. Due to the same reason, the popular motorcycle stunts performed by army or paramilitary personnel, which draw loud cheers from the crowd every year, will not be happening this year, he said. "These decisions have been taken because it is not possible to maintain social distancing while performing group stunts or awardees riding a jeep together during the parade," the official said. The number of mediapersons invited to the ceremonial event has also been reduced, he added. A total of 32 tableaux -- 17 of various states and UTs, nine of ministries and six from defence arm -- will roll down Rajpath. The contingents will stop at Stadium this year instead of following the regular route all the way to the Red Fort, officials said. "Also, the size of marching contingents has been reduced from regular 144 to 96 so that they can maintain social distancing," the senior official said. Members of the tableaux contingents from various states, ministries and government departments underwent COVID-19 test at a cultural camp in Delhi Cantonment on Friday, officials said. COVID-19 safety norms will be strictly in place throughout the event. A military band from the Bangladesh Army will also take part in the parade. This year, Bangladesh marks the 50th anniversary of its Independence. Tableau from a total of 17 states and UTs, including, Gujarat, Assam, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Punjab, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Ladakh and Delhi will be part of the parade. The Gujarat contingent is lead by Pankaj Modi, who is the Deputy Director in the Gujarat government's Information Department and also the younger brother of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The young union territory of Ladakh is all set to make its debut in the extravaganza on Rajpath with a beautiful tableau depicting the iconic Thikse Monastery and its rich cultural heritage. "There will be nine tableau from ministries, including Ministry of Culture, Ministry of Electronics and IT, Ministry of Ayush, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting; and six from the defence arm, including of IAF, Navy, Indian Naval Coast Guard, two from the DRDO and one from BRO (Border Roads Organisation)," the official said. The tableau of the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) will showcase the efforts made by scientists to manufacture COVID-19 vaccine indigenously. The tableau would depict various stages of pre-trial and trial phases of vaccine, a scientist from the DBT said during a media preview held at a camp at Delhi Cantonment. The Ministry of Information and Biotechnology will depict the 'Vocal for Local' initiative of the government. The tableau of Indian Sign Language Research and Training Centre (ISLRTC), under the department of empowerment of persons with disabilities of the ministry of social justice and empowerment, will showcase the unifying nature of the sign language. The heritage of the Ayodhya, a replica of the Ram temple being built, a glimpse of 'Deepotsav' and various stories from Ramayana epic will be showcased in the tableau of Uttar Pradesh. Punjab tableau will depict the 400th anniversary of Sikh Guru Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur while and Gujarat tableau will showcase the ancient Sun temple of Modhera in Mehsans district near Gandhinagar. Delhi tableau will depict the pedestrianisation work carried out under a project of the Shahjehnabad Redevelopment Corporation. (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 Ghana Medical Association (GMA) has described as shameful reports of a child trafficking syndicate. The police and EOCO have reportedly arrested two medical doctors, four nurses, two mothers, two social welfare officers, and a traditional birth attendant. A release from EOCO, says babies under the syndicate were sold to potential buyers for between GH28,000 and GH30,000. Dr. Frank Ankobea, President of the GMA speaking in an interview on Peace FM morning show 'Kokrokoo' said for now the reports are allegations and that the association will take an action after it has been proven that they are guilty. "...we wait until it goes to court and if they are proven guilty, then we will also act but we can assure that no one will be shielded. Such acts make the public lose trust in us...I'm only praying and hoping that it won't be true, but if it ends up true, they will be dealt with," he assured. Meanwhile, the Medical and Dental Council of Ghana has reportedly revoked the license of the two medical doctors involved. Source: Rebecca Addo Tetteh/Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Born on the January 24 1921, Sybil Connolly was an innovator, an influencer, an entrepreneur in the world of fashion and design and in this centenary year of her birth the Hunt Museum will release a series of Instagram stories looking at her techniques, colours, patterns, entrepreneurism and influencer skills. We will add to the sum of knowledge about her via our wiki-commons contributions, hold kids clubs to make her wallpapers and textiles, and have some open conservation sessions 2 on some of design pieces we hold in our Sybil Connolly Collection, the largest in the world, bequeathed to us by her nephew, John Connolly. She was a woman ahead of her time and, while not forgotten, she is maybe not recognised for all that she brought to the world from the 1950s to the 1980s. When her fashions became outmoded by the shortening of skirts she changed track becoming a designer of glass and ceramics, wall papers and textiles. She gave new life to traditional Irish fabrics using the red flannel of Connemara petticoats to form a billowing peasant skirt. She is credited with the reimagination of Donegal Tweed Perhaps her most distinctive contribution to fashion was pleated handkerchief linen as worn by Jackie Kennedy in the official White House portrait it took up to nine yards of Irish linen handkerchiefs to create one yard of the uncrushable pleated fabric that she pioneered. Issy Miyake 50 years later uses the technique in his Pleats Please Collection. A 1950s influencer she also dressed Elisabeth Taylor and Julie Andrews and exported to the US from Ireland, eventually supplying Tiffanys with her ceramics and glass. By the late 1950s she was employing over 100 women, many working from their homes across Ireland, making tweeds and lace. Alisson Rocha, Marketing Manager at the Hunt Museum says: we want to create a following for Sybil, her designs, techniques and innovations on Instagram, inspiring others with herstory, a woman innovator in 1950s Ireland, where, in many ways fashion was just her medium. Each month a new story will be released focusing on her innovative techniques, her entrepreneurial drive, her influencing skills and of course her very distinctive dresses still worn by the likes of Gillian Anderson in the 2012 BAFTAs and Anna Clarke wore First Love her grandmothers dress for her wedding in Dublin in 2013. Her grandfather Jack Clarke ran Richard Allens where Sybil Connolly worked in the 1950s. We start on the anniversary of her birthday with Sybil the Innovator in Fashion of the 1950s. TAIPEI and SAN DIEGO, Jan. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Senhwa Biosciences, Inc. (TPEx: 6492), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on next generation DNA Damage Response (DDR) therapeutics for the treatment of cancer, today announced that the first patient has enrolled into an investigator-initiated trial (IIT) of its investigational drug, Silmitasertib, as a treatment for hospitalized COVID-19 patients at Banner Health-University Medical Center in Phoenix, Arizona (BUMCP). This IIT is a Phase II multi-center, open-label, randomized, controlled interventional prospective study. BUMCP intends to enroll 40 patients with severe COVID-19, where half will receive Silmitasertib for 14 days. Senhwa's Silmitasertib is an oral medication, targeting the host protein kinase CK2 (casein kinase 2), where virus mutations are unlikely to affect its anti-viral and anti-inflammatory efficacy. It is thought that Silmitasertib challenges the virus' ability to replicate quickly and spread to nearby healthy cells. "Silmitasertib's mechanism of action by CK2 inhibition is a unique pathway to target a SARS-CoV-2 infection which is a promising approach to combating COVID-19," said Dr. Marilyn Glassberg Csete, the Principle Investigator of this BUMCP IIT trial. The study's objectives are to assess Silmitasertib's safety and tolerability as well as time to recovery and clinical benefits for the patients treated with Silmitasertib. "We were encouraged by the quick recovery (discharged from hospital in 5 days)[1] of the first hospitalized patient with severe COVID-19 who received Silmitasertib under an emergency IND with Dr. Esa Rayyan. Now, with the remarkable job done on this IIT trial by Dr. Glassberg Csete's team, we hope this trial will also demonstrate the clinical benefits of Silmitasertib for hospitalized patients," said Dr. John Soong, Chief Medical Officer of Senhwa Biosciences. A separate Phase II IIT for outpatient adult subjects with moderate COVID-19 is currently underway and is being led by Dr. Chris Recknor at the Center for Advanced Research and Education (CARE) in Gainesville, Georgia. Dr. Recknor's trial enrolled their first patient on December 3, 2020. About Silmitasertib Silmitasertib is a first-in-class small molecule drug that targets CK2 and acts as a CK2-inhibitor. Silmitasertib is safe and well-tolerated in humans. To date, three Phase I trials of Silmitasertib in cancer patients have been completed; currently, there is one ongoing Phase I and two ongoing Phase II studies. In December 2016, Silmitasertib was granted Orphan Drug Designation by the U.S. FDA for the treatment of Cholangiocarcinoma. In July 2020, Silmitasertib was granted Rare Pediatric Disease Designation (RPD) to treat Medulloblastoma by the U.S. FDA. An eIND was granted by the U.S. FDA on August 27, 2020, to Dr. Rayyan at BUMCP to treat a patient with severe COVID-19. About Senhwa Biosciences Senhwa Biosciences, Inc. is a leading clinical-stage company focusing on developing first-in-class, next-generation DDR therapeutics for patients with unmet medical needs in oncology. Headquartered in Taiwan, with an operational base in San Diego, California, Senhwa is well-positioned to oversee the development of its compounds. Development is currently focused on two lead products: Silmitasertib (CX-4945) and Pidnarulex (CX-5461), both with novel mechanisms of action and for multiple indications. Clinical trials are currently ongoing in Australia, Canada, United States, Korea, and Taiwan. Visit Senhwa Biosciences for more details: www.senhwabio.com SOURCE Senhwa Biosciences Related Links http://www.senhwabio.com She is known for showing off her stunning figure on social media. And Ronan Keating's daughter, Missy, 19, was once again heating things up as she wowed in magenta lingerie from PrettyLittleThing. The celebrity offspring and influencer looked amazing in the satin underwear with a matching lip colour as she preened and posed in the snaps. Stunner: Ronan Keating's daughter, Missy, 19, was once again heating things up as she wowed in magenta lingerie from PrettyLittleThing Missy looked incredible wowed in the ensemble which perfectly coordinated with her pout to draw the eye to her stunning good looks. The Instagram star and her brother Jack, 21, spent the Christmas period with her father Ronan, 43, and step-mother Storm, 39, in addition to their children Cooper, three, and Coco, ten months. In June, the beauty documented the moment she first met Coco. during a trip to her dad's house for Father's Day. The social media influencer was joined her siblings Jack and Cooper while her sister Ali, 14, was absent, as they documented the meeting in a vlog shared to Missy's Instagram account. Hot stuff: The celebrity offspring and influencer looked amazing in the satin underwear with a matching lip colour as she preened and posed in the snaps Sizzling: In June, the beauty documented the moment she first met Coco. during a trip to her dad's house for Father's Day Love You Anyway hitmaker Ronan previously revealed his three eldest children sadly hadn't been able to meet Coco after she was born during lockdown. Speaking previously about his youngest child's arrival, he said on Good Morning Britain: 'None of Coco's brothers or sisters could be there, but I was there, it was different because of the circumstances we were in, but it was very special. 'Luckily Storm's mum was here. Mine was with Coop[er] in the house, she got here before lockdown, but it was amazing Coco she is flying... 'The older kids are in Ireland, they've been over here when lockdown began, but please god if things settle soon, they'll be able to get over and see their new baby sister.' A vision: Missy looked incredible wowed in the ensemble which perfectly coordinated with her pout to draw the eye to her stunning good looks Missy previously lived in Dublin with her boyfriend Mark Elebert, however, it was reported she has now moved back to London. She spoke to RSVP Live about moving out last year: 'I have definitely needed to grow up a lot and adapt to doing a lot of adult things like paying bills but it has been an adventure the whole time. 'I am constantly learning things and meeting a lot of really cool people, so life is definitely good for me right now. I feel like I started 2020 off right with a good mind set and a plan for the exciting year ahead!' You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close 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) Kerri-Anne Kennerley is heading back to Pippin, three weeks after breaking her collarbone on stage. According to the Daily Telegraph, the 67-year-old will return to the stage to greet the audience during the show's final curtain call this weekend. 'She remains a much-valued, though injured, member of the company,' a theatre source told the publication. She's back! Kerri-Anne Kennerley is heading back to Pippin, three weeks after breaking her collarbone on stage Kerri-Anne was left with a broken collarbone after falling from a trapeze in the stage musical Pippin back on December 30. The show business veteran was recovering after undergoing surgery at St Vincent's Hospital in Sydney last week. According to The Sydney Morning Herald's Private Sydney, the beloved entertainer had a metal plate and 10 screws inserted on her collarbone. Injured: Kerri-Anne was left with a broken collarbone after falling from a trapeze in the stage musical Pippin back on December 30 Kerri-Anne will now have to undertake 'extensive physiotherapy' over the next few months, in order to make a full recovery. She also revealed to Private Sydney that her doctors told her that she would be left with a scar after surgery. 'Apparently I don't have enough fat on my clavicle... I suggested they could take some off my bum to make up for it,' she joked. The cost of the surgery was covered by industry insurance company WorkCover, the Daily Telegraph reported. KAK had previously taken out her own insurance policy ahead of the musical. Recovery: Kerri-Anne is set to endure months of 'extensive physiotherapy' after having surgery on her broken collarbone following her Pippin trapeze fall Last month, Kerri-Anne broke her ankle and collarbone after suffering a horrific fall from a trapeze during a performance of Pippin at Sydney's Lyric Theatre. She was rushed to St Vincent's Hospital 'as a precaution' and bowed out of the musical. Footage obtained by Daily Mail Australia showed the shocking moment the former Studio 10 host dropped to the floor as the audience gasped in horror. Horrific: Last month, Kerri-Anne broke her ankle and collarbone after suffering a horrific fall from a trapeze during a performance of Pippin at Sydney's Lyric Theatre An X-ray also showed the full extent of her injuries, which left her in a 'significant amount of pain'. In a statement released by her management at the time, Kerri-Anne confirmed she would no longer be starring in the stage production. 'Good riddance to 2020,' she said. 'Pippin has genuinely been one of the great experiences of my life exceeding all my expectations.' Poor KAK! An X-ray also showed the full extent of her injuries, which left her in a 'significant amount of pain' She added that she loved the cast 'more than ever', before saying of the accident: 'What happened is just a random misstep in the trapeze and circus world. 'I've always felt safe in their hands but accidents just happen. I was trained well and loved getting stronger and the routine smoother. 'I'm devastated that I can't finish the run. It was just so much fun. I broke my collarbone quite severely and have a slight chip of my ankle bone.' She concluded: 'I'm hoping my injury will heal in the natural course of time, but for now I have to bow out. I will miss my Pippin family!' Kerri-Anne was playing the supporting character Grandma Berthe in Pippin, and her signature song involved climbing atop a 15ft (4.5m) trapeze. Reuters | Baghdad The Daily Tribune www.newsofbahrain.com Islamic State claimed responsibility for an attack in a crowded Baghdad market on Thursday, killing at least 32 people in Iraq's first big suicide bombing for three years, authorities said, describing it as a possible sign of the reactivation of Islamic State. Islamic State claimed early on Friday that two of its men blew themselves up in Tayaran Square in the centre of Baghdad, according to a statement posted on the group's Telegram communications channel. Reuters journalists arriving after the blasts saw pools of blood and discarded shoes at the site, a clothing market in Tayaran Square in the centre of the city. Health authorities said at least 110 people had been wounded. "One (bomber) came, fell to the ground and started complaining 'my stomach is hurting' and he pressed the detonator in his hand. It exploded immediately. People were torn to pieces," said a street vendor who did not give his name. Suicide attacks, once an almost daily occurrence in the Iraqi capital, have halted in recent years since Islamic State fighters were defeated in 2017, part of an overall improvement in security that has brought normal life back to Baghdad. "Daesh terrorist groups might be standing behind the attacks," Civil Defence chief Major General Kadhim Salman told reporters, using an Arabic acronym for Islamic State. A video taken from a rooftop and circulated on social media purported to show the second blast scattering people gathered in the area. Images shared online, which Reuters could not independently verify, showed several dead and wounded. Thursday's attack took place in the same market that was struck in the last big attack, in January 2018, when at least 27 people were killed. Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi held an urgent meeting with top security commanders to discuss Thursday's attacks, the premier's office said in a brief statement. Iraqi security forces were deployed and key roads blocked to prevent possible further attacks. Following the urgent meeting, Kadhimi sacked key security and police commanders, deputy interior minister for intelligence affairs, director of counter-terrorism and intelligence in the interior ministry and commander of federal police forces, said a military spokesman in a statement. Suicide attacks against civilian targets were a near-daily tactic of mainly Sunni Muslim insurgents during the USd occupation of Iraq after the invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein in 2003 and was later employed by Islamic State, whose fighters swept across a third of the country in 2014. By 2017 the fighters had been driven from all territory they held, although they have continued to wage a low-level insurgency against Iraqi forces and attack officials mainly in northern areas. Meanwhile, Bahrain condemned the incident with the Foreign Affairs Ministry expressing deep condolences to the families and relatives of the victims, the government and the brotherly Iraqi people and wishes a speedy recovery for the injured. The ministry affirmed Bahrains solidarity with Iraq in its war against terrorism, reiterating the Kingdoms unwavering position that rejects violence and extremism of all forms and manifestations, irrespective of the motives and justifications. It calls for the need to join hands in order to confront these heinous terrorist acts that target the lives of safe civilians and seek to destabilize security and stability. COVAX could begin delivering doses in February. Director General of the World Health Organization (WHO) Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has said the COVAX (the COVID-19 Vaccine Global Access Facility), the global pooled procurement mechanism for COVID-19 vaccines, may be launched as early as February. "That's why today I'm glad to announce that COVAX has signed an agreement with Read alsoUkraine may count on EU in obtaining COVID-19 vaccine Letter to ZelenskyPfizer/BioNTech for up to 40 million doses of its COVID19 vaccine" the WHO press service quoted him as saying on Twitter, January 22. "Additionally, pending WHO emergency use listing, we expect almost 150 million doses of the AstraZeneca/Oxford COVID19 vaccine to be available for distribution by COVAX in the first quarter of this year," he said. "Together, these announcements mean COVAX could begin delivering doses in February, provided we can finalize a supply agreement for the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine, and emergency use listing for the AstraZeneca/Oxford vaccine," he added. COVID-19 vaccine for Ukraine In February-March 2021, Ukraine expects the delivery of a vaccine against COVID-19. The first batch of a vaccine via the COVAX Facility will include 8 million doses, which will be enough to vaccinate 4 million people (two shots per person required). First to get vaccinated will be healthcare workers, the elderly, and seriously ill patients. On December 24, 2020, Health Minister Stepanov said that his ministry was working out a plan to increase the COVAX vaccine quota from 8 million to 16 million doses. On December 30, Ukraine signed a contract with China's Sinovac for the supply of 1.9 million doses of a coronavirus vaccine. On January 8, 2020, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) Tedros Ghebreyesus said that rich countries have the majority of the supply of a COVID-19 vaccine from the manufacturers Pfizer BioNTech, Moderna, and AstraZeneca. On January 13, Health Minister Stepanov said that his ministry planned to sign contracts in the coming days with new companies that produce the coronavirus vaccine. According to the WHO, 170 experimental vaccines are currently at the stage of preclinical trials, 65 are undergoing clinical trials, of which 15 are at the third, last stage. Reporting by UNIAN .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... SANTA FE, N.M. The New Mexico Attorney Generals Office has charged a former security guard at a Las Vegas school in the repeated sexual assault of an eighth grade girl in the spring of 2019. Abran Ulibarri, 52, is charged with criminal sexual penetration of a minor, criminal sexual contact of a minor, false imprisonment and bribery or intimidation of a witness and criminal solicitation to commit tampering with evidence. Ulibarri, who worked at West Las Vegas Middle School until May 2019, was booked into the San Miguel County Detention Center on Thursday. It is unclear if he has an attorney. ADVERTISEMENTSkip ................................................................ According to court records, a 14-year-old student at the school went to Ulibarri for solace when she started having panic attacks in early 2019 and he began sexually assaulting her soon after. The abuse went on for more than a month before an anonymous Facebook message was sent to the girls father in May outlining the abuse and the Las Vegas Police Department opened an investigation. According to an arrest warrant affidavit filed in Magistrate Court: The girl told police she had been regularly going to Ulibarris office when she would get anxious and he would talk her through it. She said things changed sometime after March 2019, when Ulibarri gave her his phone number and the two began texting. Between then and May 2019, the girl told police she would be in Ulibarris office daily and more often than not he would sexually assault her. The girl said she felt Ulibarri took advantage of the times she was anxious or upset one instance was when her grandmother was in the hospital. The girl told police she felt paralyzed and was scared when Ulibarri assaulted her and, after multiple incidents, she was beating herself up for not stopping Ulibarri and for not telling someone what was happening to her. Throughout this period, prosecutors say the two exchanged thousands of text messages and the girl told them Ulibarri would regularly send her sexually explicit texts, including asking her for nude photos. She said Ulibarri would tell her to delete them afterward, saying they would both get in trouble if anyone found out. Ulibarri was placed on administrative leave in May 2019 after the allegations surfaced in an anonymous Facebook message to the girls father. The girls family got a restraining order against Ulibarri in July. When investigators with the AGs Office spoke with Ulibarri in October 2020, he denied the allegations. Ulibarri said the two talked over text often but she only visited his office a handful of times. Ulibarri told investigators the two would have sexual conversations but the physical contact between them didnt go beyond one time he kissed her neck. He said she also sent him unsolicited photos of her in her underwear. Ulibarri told investigators he believed the girl was making up the allegations to get money from him. CLEVELAND, Ohio The Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court wants to continue holding socially-distanced court proceedings at the Global Health Center for Innovation through June, according to the nonprofit that manages the Global Center on behalf of the county. If the plan goes forward, it would be an extension of an agreement struck last year that allowed the court to use the county-owned Global Center for proceedings involving large numbers of people from September through December. The county paid the Global Center about $1 million for use of the space for the four months. The money came from $215 million in coronavirus aid provided to the county by the federal government. No financial agreement has been reached for the courts use of the space in 2021, county and Global Center officials told The Plain Dealer and cleveland.com on Friday. Its also unclear how much space the court will need. A large portion of the space in 2020 was used for jury trials, but the court has suspended all jury trials through March 1, 2021 due to the spike of COVID-19 infections. The county also has yet to determine how it will pay for use of the space, as it has already spent all of its federal aid. The board members that oversee the convention and Global Center on behalf of the county were told during a Friday meeting that the complex doesnt expect to resume convention-related events until at least July, though that could change depending on how soon the state of Ohio lifts its ban on mass gatherings. Meanwhile on Friday, board members received an update on health-related safety upgrades made at the convention and Global centers during the last few months of 2020. The improvements cost about $2.2 million, and were also funded with the countys federal coronavirus aid. They include: *Upgrades to the air ventilation system *Air-cleaning technology for elevators *Anti-microbial escalator handrails that are also sanitized with ultraviolet-C light *Automatic doors for restrooms and the entrance to the attached Downtown Cleveland Hilton hotel *Self-cleaning film for high-touch surfaces, such as restroom door handles and elevator buttons *Temperature-scanning equipment for visitors and staff *An on-site system that produces hypochlorous acid, which is a cleaning solution Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, speaks during a White House Coronavirus Task Force press briefing in the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House in Washington on Nov. 19, 2020. (Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images) Biden to Reverse Trumps Policy Blocking Funding for Foreign NGOs That Perform, Promote Abortions President Joe Biden will roll back a Trump administration policy that bans taxpayers dollars from going to foreign non-governmental organizations (NGO) that perform or actively promote abortion as a method of family planning, Dr. Anthony Fauci said on Thursday. It will be our policy to support womens and girls sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights in the United States, as well as globally, Fauci, who is the newly appointed chief medical adviser to the president, said in remarks to the World Health Organization. To that end, President Biden will be revoking the Mexico City Policy in the coming days, as part of his broader commitment to protect womens health and advance gender equality at home and around the world. Former President Donald Trump in 2017 had reinstated the so-called Mexico City Policy, a Reagan-era rule that prohibits the United States from providing financial support to abortion centers and programs overseas. He later expanded it to cover all global health assistance, including funding for HIV, maternal and child health, and malaria. The policy was also expanded to refuse funding to foreign NGOs that provide funding to other overseas groups that support or promote abortions, in what has been described as backdoor funding schemes. As a result of my decision today, we are also making clear, we will refuse to provide assistance to foreign NGOs that give financial support to other foreign groups in the global abortion industry, former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in March 2019. We will enforce a strict prohibition on backdoor funding schemes American taxpayer dollars will not be used to underwrite abortions. Biden during his campaign had vowed to rescind the policy, according to his campaign website. It is not unusual for a Democratic president to rescind the policy. For decades, Republican presidents would restore the rule, while Democrat presidents would lift it. President Barack Obama overturned the Reagan rule in 2009. Trump was a strong advocate for pro-life and religious freedoms during his presidency, issuing orders and proclamations that required his administration to protect the sanctity of life and unborn children, as well as ensure religious exemptions in policies. In contrast, Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris have both expressed support for abortions, and are seeking to roll back Trump policies restricting abortions. During their campaign, they have signaled that they would push to codify the Supreme Court case Roe v. Wade, which legalized abortions in all 50 states. During his campaign, Biden promised to expand access to contraception as well as protect the constitutional right to an abortion. He also supports repealing the Hyde Amendment that blocks federal funds from being used in abortion services. He had also vowed to reverse other Trump administration policies that put restrictions on abortions and restore funding for Planned Parenthood, which was blocked by the Trump administration. 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, including forcing people of faith to perform medical procedures or religious employers to provide health insurance in areas that contravene their religious beliefs. On Bidens first day, he signed an executive order that codifies the 2020 Supreme Court ruling Bostock v. Clayton County, which found Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Acts definition of sex discrimination in hiring covers sexual orientation and gender identity. The ruling was criticized by many religious conservatives, who warned about the realistic risks religious employers and non-profits would face when making hiring decisions. Rahul Gandhi stoking fear on vaccine, all will be vaccinate by December: Union Minister 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? India, a true friend, using its pharma to help global community flight coronavirus: US International oi-Deepika S New York, Jan 22: The Joe Biden-led US government has applauded India for sending supplies of COVID-19 vaccine to a host of South Asian nations, calling India "a true friend" who is using its pharmaceutical sector to help the global community. "We applaud India''s role in global health, sharing millions of doses of COVID-19 vaccine in South Asia. India''s free shipments of vaccine began with Maldives, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Nepal and will extend to others. India''s a true friend using its pharma to help the global community," the US State Department's account for the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs tweeted on Friday. Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan and the Maldives have received India''s COVID-19 vaccines under grant assistance in sync with its "Neighbourhood First" policy. India has already rolled out a massive coronavirus vaccination drive under which two vaccines, Covishield and Covaxin, are being administered to its frontline health workers across the country. India has sent 150,000 doses of Covisheild vaccine to Bhutan and 100,000 doses to the Maldives, while over 2 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines were provided to Bangladesh and 1 million doses to Nepal. In keeping with India''s stated commitment to use its vaccine production and delivery capacity to help all of humanity fight the COVID-19 pandemic, supplies under grant assistance to Bhutan, Maldives, Bangladesh, Nepal, Myanmar and Seychelles began from January 20. No COVID-19 vaccine request from Pakistan: India Sri Lanka has approved emergency use India''s of Covishield vaccine which is being manufactured by the Serum Institute of India. Supply of immunisation doses to Afghanistan are pending approval from the host nation. The Ministry of External Affairs has said, in an ongoing effort, India will continue to supply countries all over the world with vaccines. "This will be calibrated against domestic requirements and international demand and obligations, including under GAVI's Covax facility to developing countries," the MEA had said in a statement. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, January 22, 2021, 23:42 [IST] 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: Dr Anthony Fauci gets his first dose of the Moderna jab last December. Photo: Patrick Semansky/Reuters Joe Biden likened Americas struggle against Covid-19 to a war yesterday as he warned deaths in the US were likely to exceed 500,000 next month. The virus has killed 405,000 people and infected more than 24 million in the United States the highest numbers anywhere in the world. The new president announced a blitz of new policies and vowed to be led by science, not politics. In an address to the nation on his first full day as president, Mr Biden said: Were in a national emergency and its time we treated it like one. He announced that anyone flying into the US will soon be required to take a Covid-19 test before take-off and to quarantine once they arrived in the US. Mr Biden unveiled a new national strategy for rolling out the vaccines as his top coronavirus adviser expressed shock at the poor plan inherited from Donald Trumps team. The president signed a slew of executive orders with the cameras rolling as he said every state would have a point person at the US government to ensure better cooperation. One of the orders told people to wear face masks on planes, buses, trains and at airports. He urged Americans to wear masks for the next 99 days, calling it a patriotic act and saying 50,000 lives could be saved by April if the plea was followed. Read More This is a wartime undertaking, Mr Biden said, noting that the 400,000 US deaths from Covid-19 exceeds the number of Americans killed in the Second World War. It was one of a number of stark warnings to America about the state of the challenge ahead a contrast to Mr Trumps often repeated comment that the virus would one day disappear. Its going to get worse before it gets better, Mr Biden warned at one point, saying that it would be months before a majority of Americans were vaccinated. Historys going to measure whether were up to the task. The health of the nation is literally at stake. Its not hyperbole. Its going to take months for us to turn things around. Let me be clear: we will get through this, we will get through this pandemic. Help is on the way, he said. Mr Biden called the Trump administrations efforts to roll out the vaccines approved in recent months a dismal failure. The 78-year-old said his coronavirus strategy would be based on truth, not denial and repeatedly stressed science, not politics, would dictate decisions. He also said his administration would always be honest and transparent with you about the good news and the bad, adding: We will level with you when we make a mistake. Well straight up say what happened. There was also a recommitment of the Democrat campaign target to get 100 million vaccine doses administered in his first 100 days in the White House. Earlier Mr Bidens top coronavirus advisers publicly pointed the finger of blame at his predecessor for what was called a substandard plan for rolling out the vaccine. Jeff Zients, Mr Bidens coronavirus response coordinator, said: What were inheriting is so much worse than we could have imagined. He said they had discovered there was no coordinated national effort on rolling out the vaccines, adding: Its been all breakthrough and no follow-through. About 16.5 million vaccine doses had been administered by January 20 which is 20 million short of the goal by the end of 2020. Dr Anthony Fauci, the top US infectious disease official who was publicly maligned by Mr Trump, was placed front and centre of the US government response again. Dr Fauci delivered a speech to the World Health Organisation yesterday after Mr Biden used his executive powers to return the US to the body. He said Mr Bidens administration would join WHO-led efforts to equitably distribute vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics across the globe. Dr Fauci said: I join my fellow representatives in thanking the World Health Organisation for its role in leading the global public health response to this pandemic, under trying circumstances. ( Telegraph Media Group Ltd 2021) Read More Telegraph Media Group Limited [2021] Advertisement A SAGE warning revealing that scientists are only 50% sure the Kent strain of coronavirus could be more deadly was handed to ministers just hours before last night's 'scare-mongering' press conference, it has been revealed. Ministers were only informed about the development yesterday morning after scientists on the New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats Advisory Group (Nervtag), a subcommittee of Sage, discussed the issue on Thursday. The group concluded there was a 'realistic possibility' that the variant resulted in an increased risk of death when compared with the original strain. Evidence for increased mortality remains thin Nervtag papers reveal that the term 'realistic possibility' is used when scientists are only 40 to 50 per cent confident something is true. But the decision to reveal the new information just hours after learning of the development is a yardstick of how alarmed ministers are. It came after some critics accused ministers of 'scaremongering' by announcing their fears that the Kent strain is more deadly at short notice without strong supporting evidence. Chief Scientific advisor Sir Patrick Vallance said during the press conference that evidence the strain is indeed more deadly is still 'weak'. Earlier yesterday, SAGE said the R rate was between 0.8 and 1. That is down sharply from last week, when it was between 1.2 and 1.3. And cases are also still falling, down 27% yesterday compared to last week with 40,261 new cases and 1,401 new deaths. And even a 30-40% increase in the risk of death from the new strain would result in a small increase in fatalities. The SAGE paper states that 'it should be noted that the absolute risk of death per infection remains low'. Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty said that if the evidence is correct it would mean three to four more deaths per 1,000 cases. The Covid Recovery Group of Tory backbenchers and business chiefs are growing increasingly alarmed at suggestions lockdown could stretch well into summer despite Britain's vaccination programme Tory backbencher Craig Mackinlay told MailOnline some of the scientific warnings were reminiscent of Project Fear and every time there was hope of easing lockdown there was 'a new twist'. 'It seems to me we are now being held hostage to a zero Covid policy which is completely unattainable or if you do attain it we are going to be in lockdown for an incredibly long period. That just cannot be,' he said. The SAGE paper was released last night after being handed to ministers on Thursday. It cited three studies of the risk of death associated with the new strain: A London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine study that said the hazard of death within 28 days of test for the mutant strain compared with non-mutant strains was 1.35 times higher. This was based on a study of 2,583 deaths among 1.2 million tested individuals; An Imperial College London study of the Case Fatality Rate of the new mutant strain that found the risk of death was 1.36 times higher. This study used mathematical analysis to look at all cases of new variant but the total number was not revealed in the papers. The SAGE paper said its data is based on just 8% of the total deaths occurring during the study period; A University of Exeter study that suggested the risk of death could be 1.91 times higher. This study matched those with the new variant to those of a similar demographic. The SAGE paper did not reveals its sample size, but its analysis was again based on 8% of the total coronavirus deaths during the study period. But the SAGE scientists admit that there are problems with the data of each study meaning they are only 50% sure that the new mutant strain carries a higher risk of death. These include the fact that: The base data used by all three studies is based on just 8% of the total deaths occurring during the study period. SAGE states 'the results of all studies may not be representative of the total population'; Some of the analysis might be comparing frail elderly people in nursing home outbreaks of the Kent variant, which is more transmissible, with healthier elderly people infected with other strains in the community; An increase in the severity of infection with the variant would likely lead to an increased risk of hospitalisation, which there is currently no evidence of in individuals suffering from the strain; Analysis has not identified an increased risk of death in hospitalised cases of the variant. The SAGE paper cited three studies of the Kent strain: A London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine study (left) based on 2,583 deaths that said the hazard of death within 28 days of test for the mutant strain compared with non-mutant strains was 35% times higher An Imperial College London study (centre) of the Case Fatality Rate of the new mutant strain that found the risk of death was 36% times higher A University of Exeter study (right) that suggested the risk of death could be 91% higher. Both the Exeter and the Imperial studies were based on just 8% of deaths during the study period Nervtag concluded there was a 'realistic possibility' - detailed on the yardstick above as a probability between 40 and 50 per cent - that the variant resulted in an increased risk of death when compared with the original strain Public Health England chief Dr Susan Hopkins cautioned people from reading too much into the findings and suggested the evidence was still murky. She added: 'There is evidence from some but not all data sources which suggests that the variant of concern which was first detected in the UK may lead to a higher risk of death than the non-variant. Evidence on this variant is still emerging and more work is underway to fully understand how it behaves.' Kit Yates, a mathematical biologist at the University of Bath, slammed the Government for causing confusion and panic about the variant. He tweeted: 'I really dislike the way the news about the increased lethality of B1.1.7 was leaked out and then discussed in a press briefing. Where is the data? We want to be able to scrutinise it and to understand the detail, not just the summary.' However, the long time lag from infection to hospitalisation means there isn't a huge amount of data available on the variant, with Nervtag saying analyses will become more definitive over the coming weeks. One theory as to why it may be more lethal, however, is the stickiness of the mutation and the way it gets into cells and replicates - a behaviour that also makes the variant more easy to transmit, the Telegraph reports. The Prime Minister told the Downing Street briefing: 'We've been informed today that in addition to spreading more quickly it also now appears that there is some evidence that the new variant first identified in London and the Kent may be associated with a higher degree of mortality.' Sir Patrick said that even now the science is at an early stage. 'These data are currently uncertain and we don't have a very good estimate of the precise nature or indeed whether it is an overall increase, but it looks like it is,' he added. He said for men in their 60s, the average risk was that for 1,000 who got infected, roughly ten would be expected to die, but with the new variant it might be 13 or 14. That equates to an increased relative risk of 30 to 40 per cent. Sir Patrick noted that estimates vary and stressed some concluded there was no additional risk but said his best guess was that deaths increase by about 30 to 40 per cent. He added: 'The death rate is awful and it's going to stay, I'm afraid, high for a little while before it starts coming down that was always what was predicted from the shape of this.' Nervtag, with Professor Peter Horby of Oxford University as chairman, concluded that death rates have not increased among those in hospital. But evidence suggests it raises the risk of being hospitalised in the first place, driving up the overall death figures. It comes as the public will be faced with a set of hard-hitting new adverts warning people to stay home as part of a change of tack in the bid to ensure people obey lockdown rules. With close-ups of frontline medical practitioners and Covid-19 patients' faces, the advert will ask: 'Can you look them in the eyes and tell them you're helping by staying at home?' The public will be faced with a set of hard-hitting new adverts warning people to stay home as part of a change of tack in the bid to ensure people obey lockdown rules Boris Johnson and Sir Patrick Vallance said at a Downing Street press conference tonight that the variant of the coronavirus that emerged in the UK may be more deadly than the previous version of the virus that it is competing with How deadly is the Kent Covid variant? Confusion mounts as scientists offer wildly different estimates There was confusion tonight about how deadly the Kent coronavirus variant really is after 10 SAGE studies came to wildly different conclusions about its lethality and the World Health Organization said it still hadn't seen any convincing data. Boris Johnson and his science chiefs tonight made the claim that the strain called B.1.1.7 could be 30 per cent more deadly than older versions of the virus without presenting any evidence to back up the terrifying development. The announcement came after 10 studies submitted to SAGE overwhelmingly suggested that the strain was more lethal than past variants. But there are question marks over the findings because the estimates varied vastly and one study even found the strain was less deadly than the older version. The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine estimated the risk of death from the new variant could be 1.35 times greater, Imperial College London said it was between 1.29 and 1.36 times, Exeter University found it may be 1.91 and Public Health England said it could be as high as 1.6. But there are further questions over the reliablity of the data because the research was only based on a few hundreds deaths. Advertisement Despite acknowledging that cases are falling across the UK, the Prime Minister accompanied by Sir Patrick Vallance and Professor Chris Whitty decided to hone in on early analysis by a sub-group of SAGE that suggested the highly-infectious Kent mutation was more lethal. But the trio resorted to explaining the risk out loud during tonight's Downing Street press conference, failing to offer any actual proof to back their terrifying claim. World Health Organization bosses claimed they had seen no evidence on the variant's lethality during a simultaneous briefing. Dr Mike Ryan - head of the WHO emergency programme - urged people to 'remain calm around the issues of these variants'. He added: 'There is a big difference between the lethality of a virus, how many people on average a virus kills, versus the morality of the virus. If I have one million people infected and my lethality is 1 per cent, or two million people infected with a lethality of 1 per cent, twice as many people will die. 'We are not seeing so far, but we will wait to see, that the disease is more lethal. We are seeing that... increasing incidence leads to increasing mortality. If your cases get out of control, your deaths will get out of control as your health system is overwhelmed,' Dr Ryan said. Professor Whitty, England's chief medical officer, claimed the findings showed a 60-year-old man faced a 1.3 per cent risk of dying of the Kent Covid variant, compared to the usual 1 per cent. But a 30 per cent increase in the risk of death means 13 out of 1,000 men in their 60s will succumb to the illness, instead of 10. Professor Whitty himself admitted the evidence was 'not yet strong'. Data on the lethality of the Kent variant, which has been spotted in 60 countries around the world, was first leaked to the press ahead of Mr Johnson's TV appearance. ITV's political editor Robert Peston was told by Professor Neil Ferguson that there was a 'realistic possibility' that the variant was deadlier. No10 insiders dismissed claims 'Professor Lockdown' the Imperial College London epidemiologist whose grim modelling that hundreds of thousands of Britons could die without action spooked ministers into lockdown last March had 'bounced' the Government into revealing NERVTAG's new evidence. The doom-mongering came despite an array of statistics that showed the second wave has peaked already and may finally be coming under control. SAGE yesterday claimed Britain's R rate has fallen below the crucial level of one and separate surveillance studies estimated daily cases have halved in a fortnight. Department of Health figures mirrored the trend, with infections falling by 30 per cent week-on-week as health chiefs announced another 40,261 cases. Officials also posted 1,401 deaths, up just 9.5 per cent on last Friday. But experts warned the fatality toll will continue to rise for at least another week because of how long it takes for infected patients to become severely ill. Defying mounting pressure to commit to easing the current measures, Mr Johnson warned yesterday that the NHS is still under huge pressure and the curbs will only be lifted when it is 'safe'. The PM even set the scene for tougher restrictions tonight, warning: 'We may need to go further to protect our borders.' Nicola Sturgeon warned Scotland that life may not be 'back to normal' by the summer, in another sign that the UK won't be freed from the draconian restrictions from mid-February. The 70-strong Covid Recovery Group of Conservative MPs is urging the government to start lifting the lockdown no later than March 8 - when vaccines given to the most vulnerable groups should have taken effect. But No10's refusal to give an exact day for when lockdown will end may have been fuelled by the new variant findings. The variant has already been spotted in 60 countries, including the US, Australia, India, China and Saudi Arabia. But the Government's top scientific advisers believe the current crop of vaccines will work against the variant - but may be less effective against other South African and Brazilian mutations. MailOnline also revealed that Health Secretary Matt Hancock claimed vaccines may be 50 per cent less effective on the South African variant. He warned allowing the variant to become the dominant strain in the UK could ruin Britain's vaccination drive - which yesterday saw a record 400,00 doses administered in one day. And grim figures laying bare the economically-crippling side of lockdown revealed business activity has fallen even more than expected this month, leaving the UK looking down the barrel of a double dip recession. Number 10 borrowed more than 34billion in December - the third highest monthly total ever - as it scrambles to keep millions of jobs and stricken firms afloat while tax revenues dwindle. In a dramatic sign that the outbreak could be flattening out, SAGE said the R rate was between 0.8 and 1. That is down sharply from last week, when it was between 1.2 and 1.3 Worrying strains around the world: Since the Covid pandemic began there have been at least six new stains which appear more infectious and have mutations that open the door to vaccine resistance The ONS report today said the number of people likely to test positive for coronavirus came down from 1.122million on January 2 to 1.023million on January 16 Passengers wait at Heathrow Airport today as ministers mull even tighter rules The number of people developing Covid-19 every day appears to have halved in a fortnight from 70,000 on January 8 to 34,000 today, according to the Covid Symptom Study, which uses self-reported symptoms through a mobile app used by around a million people Grim figures published today showed government borrowing soared to 34.1billion in December - the third highest monthly figure on record - amid growing fears about the UK's debt mountain Closely-watched PMI data for the private sector showed a reading of 40.6 so far in January - with anything blow 50 pointing to a contraction Has the UK passed the worst of second peak? The UK's R rate has dropped below one in a dramatic sign that the peak could have been passed. Scientists said the level was down to between 0.8 and 1, compared to 1.2 and 1.3. The number represents how many people an infected individual passes the disease on to, and anything below one means the outbreak is shrinking. Meanwhile, the Office for National Statistics said the total number of people with coronavirus dropped last week - but there were still more than a million people infected. And the symptom-tracking Covid Symptom Study estimates that the number of people developing symptoms each day has halved in a fortnight, down to 34,000 a day from 70,000 on January 8, while official death counts show fatalities appear to be declining in London. Numbers of people testing positive through NHS Test and Trace have also tumbled for twelve days in a row, with the daily average tumbling from 60,000 on January 10 to 40,000 yesterday. And an array of other data also suggests the epidemic is coming under control, with Public Health England figures showing positive test rates are down in all regions and age groups. London's average daily death count fell from 169 to 163 in the most recent four days of data and could be set to fall further as official statistics remain lower than they were at the start of this month. Professor Tim Spector, a King's College London epidemiologist, said today that the 'signs are hopeful we're on our way out of this situation'. But he cautioned the virus is still widespread all over the country, with huge numbers of people infected. NHS hospitals are under immense strain and intensive care wards twice as busy as last year, despite thousands of extra beds. Advertisement In another whirlwind day of developments in the coronavirus crisis: Nicola Sturgeon has warned there is no guarantee life will be 'back to normal' by the summer; Police raided a lockdown-busting wedding at a Jewish girls' school last night - 10 months after its principal died of Covid; A group of 26 British skiers is in isolation in a French resort after 16 tested positive for Covid; Passengers at Heathrow have vented anger at delays and plans for enforced quarantine as the travel industry warned of looming catastrophe; An official survey revealed 98 per cent of adults aged 70 or over would show up to a vaccination appointment, but the figure is far lower for younger people. No10 insiders flatly dismissed the idea that Prof Ferguson had been told to brief Peston and said the suggestion he 'bounced' them into the announcement was 'rubbish'. Sources suggested Prof Ferguson is on Nervtag and knew the announcement was going to be made. The Nervtag report with the evidence on lethality is understood to have landed on the PM's desk this morning, and he was given a 'detailed briefing' on the content by Patrick Vallance. 'The PM has always been very clear that we have to be transparent with people about the information we had on the variants,' one source said. 'The idea that we could have done the press conference without giving the public the information would have been the wrong thing to do.' Tory backbencher Craig Mackinlay told MailOnline some of the scientific warnings were reminiscent of Project Fear and every time there was hope of easing lockdown there was 'a new twist'. 'It seems to me we are now being held hostage to a zero Covid policy which is completely unattainable or if you do attain it we are going to be in lockdown for an incredibly long period. That just cannot be,' he said. 'The next thing will be 'oh dear, this new variant from Timbuktu is not responsive to the vaccine', or 'the vaccine doesn't work against it'.' The South Thanet MP, a member of the CRG, went on: 'Because Covid has been with us now for a year it is not at all surprising if the evolution or mutation is going to be towards a different type of which these vaccines can't work against. 'That doesn't matter as such because you then need to formulate a new vaccine. But we are just adding more delay.' Matt Hancock claims South African variant may make vaccines 50% less effective The mutant South African coronavirus variant may make the current crop of vaccines 50 per cent less effective, Matt Hancock has sensationally claimed. In footage obtained by MailOnline, the Health Secretary warned allowing the variant to become the dominant strain in the UK could ruin Britain's vaccination drive and send the country 'back to square one'. Mr Hancock is understood to have made the astonishing comments during an online webinar with travel agents this week, to the shock of everyone on the call. He said there was 'evidence in the public domain' that the South African variant reduces vaccine efficacy by 'about 50 per cent'. Although he followed up by saying: 'We are not sure of this data so I wouldn't say this in public.' The South African strain called B.1.351 has key mutations on its spike protein which scientists fear might make it difficult for the immune system to recognise. These alterations open the door to it being resistant to vaccines, which train the body to spot the spike protein, or natural immunity from previous infection. It comes after South African scientists found that 48 per cent of blood samples from people who had been infected in the past did not show an immune response to the new variant - raising red flags about possible vaccine resistance. The South African version is also though to be at least 60 per cent more infectious than regular Covid and even more transmissible than the Kent variant that ripped through the UK and plunged England into its third national lockdown. The South African strain has already been spotted in the UK 73 times, according to the Covid-19 Genomics Consortium UK (COG-UK). Although it is likely to be far more widespread because COG-UK only analyses 10 per cent of random positive samples. Advertisement Mr Mackinlay said: 'There has got to be a time when you have done the elderly, you've done the vulnerable but the words I seem to be hearing is that this lockdown has got no end to it, because there always seems to be a new twist and turn a reason why it should continue.' He said: 'It does seem to me that scientists are in control of this. I know you wouldn't put an economist in charge of vaccine control, but you wouldn't put these scientists in charge of the economy.' Speaking at this evening's Downing Street press conference, Mr Johnson said: 'We've been informed today that in addition to spreading more quickly it also now appears that there is some evidence that the new variant, the variant that was first identified in London and the South East, may be associated with a higher degree of mortality.' And the PM handed over to his chief scientific adviser, Sir Patrick Vallance, who added: 'If you took a man in their 60s, the average risk is that for a thousand people who got infected, roughly 10 would be expected to, unfortunately, die with the new variant, for a thousand people infected, roughly 13 or 14 people might be expected to die. 'That's the sort of change for that sort of age group.' He added: 'I want to stress that there's a lot of uncertainty around these numbers and we need more work to get a precise handle on it, but it obviously is of concern that this has an increase in mortality as well as an increase in transmissibility, as it appears of today.' The estimates for R and the growth rate are provided by the Scientific Pandemic Influenza Group on Modelling (Spi-M), a sub-group of Sage. The growth rate, which estimates how quickly the number of infections is changing day by day, is between minus 4 per cent and minus 1 per cent for the UK as a whole. It means the number of new infections is shrinking by between 1 per cent and 4 per cent every day. Scientists advising the Government said that all regions of England have seen decreases in the R number and growth rate estimates compared with last week, and R is below or around 1 in every region. However, they warned that despite the reductions, case levels 'remain dangerously high and we must remain vigilant to keep this virus under control, to protect the NHS and save lives'. Sage scientists said: 'Cases remain dangerously high and we must remain vigilant to keep this virus under control, to protect the NHS and save lives. 'It is essential that everyone continues to stay at home, whether they have had the vaccine or not. 'We all need to play our part, and if everyone continues to follow the rules, we can expect to drive down the R number across the country.' What do we know about the Kent variant? Name: B.1.1.7, formerly VUI-202012/01 Where did it come from? The variant was first found in Kent and can be traced back to September 2020. Scientists noticed that it was spreading in November and it was revealed to the public in December. What makes it new? The variant, which is a version of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus that causes Covid-19, has a series of mutations that change the shape of the spike protein on its outside. The main one is known as N501Y. This appears to make it better able to stick to the cells inside the body and makes it more likely to cause infection and faster to spread. How did that happen? Viruses, particularly ones spreading so fast and in such huge numbers, mutate all the time. To reproduce they basically force living cells to copy and paste the viral genetic code, and this can contain errors that lead to slightly different versions of the virus. Often these mutations make no difference but, if they make the virus stronger, they can stick around for further generations and become the norm. What can we do about it? Nothing much. People who catch the virus won't know which type they have, and it will still cause the same symptoms and illness. Officials can try to contain it by locking down the areas where it is most prevalent, but if it is stronger than other versions of the virus it will eventually spread everywhere and become dominant as long as people continue to travel. Will it make Covid-19 worse? Scientists aren't sure whether it affects the severity of the disease. Because it is so new, no official data yet exists to track if it is more deadly. If it is, it may be the first of thousands of mutations since the start of the pandemic to increase the risk of death. Will our vaccines still work? Yes, it's very likely they will. Scientists on SAGE are fairly sure the mutations the Kent variant carries do not significantly affect how well the immune system can handle it. People who have a vaccine modelled on an older version of the virus, or who have been infected with Covid-19 before, are likely to be immune to it. This is because the main mutations are only on one part of the spike protein, whereas the immune system is able to target various other parts of the virus. Advertisement Professor Sir David Spiegelhalter, from the maths faculty at the University of Cambridge, said the drop in R was 'very encouraging news'. He said the decline in positive cases has been slow but cases are 'nearly half what they were three weeks ago, which is enormously hopeful'. Sir David told the BBC that, by next month, the UK will start seeing the benefits of the vaccine rollout. But he also gave a stark vision of the competing concerns that the government is wrestling with. 'The one thing I can be absolutely confident about is that, by this time next month, there is going to be the mother of all argument,' he said. 'Because it's quite feasible that deaths will have come down considerably, infections should have come down considerably, hospitalisations and ICU will still be under a lot of pressure. 'There will be enormous pressure to loosen things up. 'Loosening it up will inevitably lead to an increase in cases, a resurgence of the pandemic among younger groups, and we can see then that does seep through into hospitalisations. 'So there's going to be a real battle going on.' Hopes have been fuelled that the UK might have passed the worst of the second wave, with the Office for National Statistics saying the total number of people with coronavirus dropped last week - but there were still more than a million people infected. And the symptom-tracking Covid Symptom Study estimates that the number of people developing symptoms each day has halved in a fortnight, down to 34,000 a day from 70,000 on January 8, and that the R rate of the virus in the UK is just 0.8, while official death counts show fatalities appear to be declining in London. Numbers of people testing positive through NHS Test and Trace have also tumbled for twelve days in a row, with the daily average tumbling from 60,000 on January 10 to 40,000 yesterday, and Public Health England figures show positive test rates were down in all regions and age groups last week. Professor Tim Spector, a King's College London epidemiologist, said today that the 'signs are hopeful we're on our way out of this situation'. London's average daily death count fell from 169 to 163 in the most recent four days of data and could be set to fall further as official statistics remain lower than they were at the start of this month. But he cautioned the virus is still widespread all over the country, with huge numbers of people infected. NHS hospitals are under immense strain and intensive care wards twice as busy as last year, despite thousands of extra beds. Kent variant timeline September 20 - Variant emerges in a chronically ill Covid-19 patient in Kent November 6 - Infected person takes the new strain to California November 2020 - Spike in cases occurs in Kent and Medway despite national lockdown squashing case numbers in the rest of the country November 23 - Air passenger brings new variant to Florida December 11 - SAGE tells the Government about the new variant December 14 - Authorities of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland reported to WHO that new SARS-CoV-2 variant was identified through viral genomic sequencing Matt Hancock tells MPs about the new variant December 18 - SAGE tells the Government they are concerned about the new variant and its transmissibility December 20 - London, South East and East of England go into new Tier 4 restrictions due to spike in cases due to new variant December 21 - More than 40 countries halt flights from UK due to new variant December 29 - First case is spotted in the US All dates are for the year 2020 Advertisement More than 20,000 people have died since January 1 and thousands more will die in the coming weeks even with cases continuing to fall because it can take weeks for infected patients to become severely ill. Almost 40,000 Britons are currently in hospital with Covid. Despite the flattening, the direction of travel in government seems to be towards tightening lockdown even further. And No10 delivered a rebuke this afternoon to Tory MPs urging the government to release a blueprint for how lockdown will be eased when the first phase of vaccine rollout is complete. The PM's spokesman said: 'It's important that we continue to monitor the latest situation. 'You see the latest figures that we publish on a daily basis which clearly show that transmission rates of the virus remain high. 'The NHS continues to be under pressure and the number of patients admitted to hospital remains at a high level. 'It's obviously the case that we want to see the transmission rate of the virus come down and therefore the pressure on the NHS eased. 'The Prime Minister has been clear that we will lift restrictions as soon as we can but only when it is deemed safe to do so.' Signs are promising that the vaccine programme is progressing well. More than 400,000 Britons were vaccinated against coronavirus on yesterday, official figures show, as the NHS drive to inoculate the most vulnerable continues to gather steam. Department of Health figures published today reveal 412,615 jabs were carried out on Thursday, marking the third day in a row the scheme has picked up the pace. The Government is aiming to vaccinate all 15million in the top priority groups - over-70s, NHS staff, vulnerable and care home residents - by mid-February, meaning they will need to get jabs into the arms of 350,000 people a day. 400,000 Britons are vaccinated in record day More than 400,000 Britons were vaccinated against coronavirus on yesterday, official figures show, as the NHS drive to inoculate the most vulnerable continues to gather steam. Department of Health figures published today reveal 412,615 jabs were carried out on Thursday, marking the third day in a row the scheme has picked up the pace. The Government is aiming to vaccinate all 15million in the top priority groups - over-70s, NHS staff, vulnerable and care home residents - by mid-February, meaning they will need to get jabs into the arms of 350,000 people a day. But today's figures show the daily target was exceeded, sparking hopes the Government will make good on its promise which will pile pressure on ministers to end the brutal lockdown sooner. Overall, more than 5.3million Britons have been vaccinated against the virus since the scheme began. In Wales 21,901 jabs were administered yesterday, official figures reveal. The nation has vaccinated 212,700 people in total, including giving 212,317 first doses and 415 second doses. In Scotland 23,800 jabs were completed bringing its total to 363,143 including 358,000 first doses and 4,600 second doses. And in Northern Ireland almost 7,000 jabs were done on January 21. In total it has completed 173,500 jabs including 150,000 first doses and 22,510 second doses. Advertisement But today's figures show the daily target was exceeded, sparking hopes the Government will make good on its promise which will pile pressure on ministers to end the brutal lockdown sooner. Overall, more than 5.3million Britons have been vaccinated against the virus since the scheme began. In Wales 21,901 jabs were administered yesterday, official figures reveal. The nation has vaccinated 212,700 people in total, including giving 212,317 first doses and 415 second doses. In Scotland 23,800 jabs were completed bringing its total to 363,143 including 358,000 first doses and 4,600 second doses. And in Northern Ireland almost 7,000 jabs were done on January 21. In total it has completed 173,500 jabs including 150,000 first doses and 22,510 second doses. There were reports today that ministers are already in talks with hotel chains over plans to force UK arrivals to quarantine at airports. Travellers could be prevented from using their own accommodation under the proposals being put together by the government. Using GPS tags to ensure compliance is also believed to have been considered. The draconian 'quarantine hotel' system, similar to that used in Australia and New Zealand, is a prospect amid rising fears about the spread of Covid variants around the globe. Arrivals would potentially have to pay for their stays while they self-isolate for 10 days, or even a fortnight. There are reports today that negotiations are already taking place with hotel chains, while London Mayor Sadiq Khan said he was in favour. The powerful Covid O Cabinet sub-committee is due to discuss the ideas over the coming days - although a final decision is not likely until next week. Environment Secretary George has refused to rule out even more drastic action, with foreigners barred from coming to the UK altogether. Asked about the possibility in a round of interviews, Mr Eustice told Sky News: 'We always keep these things under review. And it has been considered. Boris refuses to rule out tough new border curbs Boris Johnson set the scene for tougher restrictions on travel into the UK tonight as he warned: 'We may need to go further to protect our borders'. The Prime Minister refused to rule out tough new measures including enforced quarantine in specially designated hotels as he led a press conference this evening. Amid fears that a strain of coronavirus that originated in South Africa may be more resistant to vaccines he told the nation making it too easy for it and other variants to enter would under all the hard work put in by locked down Britons. Desperate wrangling is going on within Cabinet over the shape of the restrictions, set to be finalised at a meeting of the core Covid O sub-committee on Monday. A range of escalations are being considered to combat the global spread of variants, with a full border closure to foreign nationals still on the table. However, the most likely outcome is a version of the enforced isolation system used by countries such as Australia and New Zealand. Asked whether new border measures were coming, at the press conference, Mr Johnson said: 'I really don't rule it out, we may need to take further measures still. 'We may need to go further to protect our borders. 'We don't want to put that [all the effort to control the virus] at risk by having a new variant come back in.' Advertisement 'There is concern at the moment about the number of mutant strains.' 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 yesterday 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'. The proposal to hand out 500 to everyone who tests positive for coronavirus has surfaced amid efforts to increase compliance - with many believed to dodge the rules because they cannot afford to stop working. 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. Sage warns lockdown must not be lifted too soon The Government will have a fierce battle with SAGE on its hands if it wants to lift lockdown rules in February or mid-way through the vaccine rollout, meeting records show. Files from the scientific advisers show they have repeatedly warned that ministers face another epidemic and 'very many hospital admissions and deaths' if they jump the gun. A batch of papers from SAGE, published today, revealed: There were staggering 117,000 to 287,000 new coronavirus infections per day before the third lockdown, SAGE estimated; It was 'not clear' on January 6 whether this lockdown would work at keeping the virus under control. The new variant will undoubtedly make it slower to take effect and the NHS should expect the same level of pressure, or more, into the middle of February; The impact of the vaccines on the R rate in the UK will be 'modest' by mid-February, and lockdown should only be relaxed when virus prevalence and hospital pressure are both low; It is critical to get 'extremely high' vaccine coverage in vulnerable people before lockdown rules are loosened; If lockdown rules are loosened mid-vaccine rollout there will be another full-blown epidemic with 'very many hospital admissions and deaths'; The Kent variant, also known as B.1.1.7, may be more transmissible because it 'grows well in the airways'; NERVTAG said in December that it expected data on whether Kent variant was more deadly 'in the next few days'; Variants of the virus will very likely emerge, SAGE warns, and this becomes more likely as more people develop immunity and the virus faces pressure to evolve to survive. Advertisement Mr 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'. The wrangling came as as grim figures showed business activity plunging into the red again this month. Closely-watched PMI data for the private sector showed a reading of 40.6 so far in January - with anything below 50 pointing to a contraction. It was significantly worse than the expectations of analysts, who had predicted 46.1, underlining the devastating impact of the pandemic. Economists warned that a double-dip downturn is now firmly 'on the cards' after the fledgling recovery from the worst recession in 300 years was strangled by action to control a surge in cases. Figures last week showed GDP dropping 2.6 per cent in November during the second England-wide Covid lockdown. Any December rally will have been smothered by the harsh 'tier' controls in England, and the renewed blanket curbs in January. In more signs of the huge problems facing the country, figures have revealed public borrowing hit 34.1billion in December - the third highest monthly figure on record. And retail sales saw the largest fall since records began last year, even though there was a slight uptick in December. However, separate PMI released for the Eurozone show the UK is far from alone, with France and other major players also facing GDP going into reverse again. Chris Williamson, Chief Business Economist at IHS Markit, said its 'flash' PMI for this month showed the crucial services sector had been hit 'especially hard'. However, in a crumb of comfort, he said the scale of the downturn was far less dramatic than last spring. 'A steep slump in business activity in January puts the locked-down UK economy on course to contract sharply in the first quarter of 2021, meaning a double-dip recession is on the cards,' he said. 'Services have once again been especially hard hit, but manufacturing has seen growth almost stall, blamed on a cocktail of COVID-19 and Brexit, which has led to increasingly widespread supply delays, rising costs and falling exports. 'Worryingly, January also saw companies reduce headcounts at an increased rate again albeit less so than seen between March and November. The steepest loss of jobs was recorded in the hotels, restaurants, travel and leisure sectors, reflecting the new lockdown measures. 'Encouragingly, the current downturn looks far less severe than that seen during the first national lockdown, and businesses have become increasingly optimistic about the outlook, thanks mainly to progress in rolling out COVID-19 vaccines. 'Business hopes for the year ahead have risen the highest for over six-and-a-half years, boding well for the economy to return to solid growth once virus restrictions ease.' Government borrowing soared to 34.1billion in December - the third highest monthly figure on record - amid growing fears about the UK's debt mountain. UK faces double-dip recession as business activity slumps in January Britain is facing a double-dip recession as grim figures showed business activity plunging into the red again this month. Closely-watched PMI data for the private sector showed a reading of 40.6 so far in January - with anything below 50 pointing to a contraction. It was significantly worse than the expectations of analysts, who had predicted 46.1, underlining the devastating impact of the pandemic. Economists warned that a double-dip downturn is now firmly 'on the cards' after the fledgling recovery from the worst recession in 300 years was strangled by action to control a surge in cases. Figures last week showed GDP dropping 2.6 per cent in November during the second England-wide Covid lockdown. Any December rally will have been smothered by the harsh 'tier' controls in England, and the renewed blanket curbs in January. In more signs of the huge problems facing the country, figures have revealed public borrowing hit 34.1billion in December - the third highest monthly figure on record. And retail sales saw the largest fall since records began last year, even though there was a slight uptick in December. However, separate PMI released for the Eurozone show the UK is far from alone, with France and other major players also facing GDP going into reverse again. Advertisement The number for the last month of 2020 was 28.2billion higher than the equivalent period in 2019 as the pandemic wreaked havoc on the economy and ministers lashed out on massive bailouts such as furlough. It pushed total borrowing for the first nine months of the financial year to 270.8billion, the peak for any April to December period since records began in 1993. There are fears the full-year figure will top 400billion. Even in the aftermath of the credit crunch, borrowing only hit 158billion in 2009-10. The UK's debt pile reached 2.13trillion by the end of 2020, around 99.4 per cent of GDP - the highest debt to GDP ratio since 1962. Other PMI produced by IHS Markit today showed a double-dip recession in the Eurozone is 'increasingly inevitable', with France among the countries most seriously hit. The slowdown among business activities in the currency area intensified in January as the pandemic continued to batter the continent. 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. 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.' 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. There are early signs in Government data that number of people dying each day in London has turned a corner and started to decline in mid-January, with the daily average declining from 169 to 163 and falling for four days in a row between January 10 and 14 Hancock faces backlash over 'bonkers' plan to give people 500 when they test positive for Covid 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'. Advertisement 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. '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 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. WASHINGTON - Opening arguments in the Senate impeachment trial for Donald Trump over the Capitol riot will begin the week of Feb. 8, the first time a former president will face such charges after leaving office. FILE - In this Jan. 6, 2021, file photo rioters try to break through a police barrier at the Capitol in Washington. (AP Photo/John Minchillo, File) WASHINGTON - Opening arguments in the Senate impeachment trial for Donald Trump over the Capitol riot will begin the week of Feb. 8, the first time a former president will face such charges after leaving office. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer announced the schedule Friday evening after reaching an agreement with Republicans, who had pushed for a delay to give Trump a chance to organize his legal team and prepare a defence on the sole charge of incitement of insurrection. The February start date also allows the Senate more time to confirm President Joe Biden's Cabinet nominations and consider his proposed $1.9 trillion COVID relief package top priorities of the new White House agenda that could become stalled during trial proceedings. We all want to put this awful chapter in our nations history behind us, Schumer said about the deadly Jan. 6 Capitol siege by a mob of pro-Trump supporters. But healing and unity will only come if there is truth and accountability. And that is what this trial will provide. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi will send the article of impeachment late Monday, with senators sworn in as jurors Tuesday. But opening arguments will move to February. On the first full day of the new Democratic majority in the Senate, Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., the top Republican, walks to the chamber for the start of business as the minority leader, at the Capitol in Washington, Thursday, Jan. 21, 2021. There is now a 50-50 split between Republicans and Democrats, but with Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris as the tie-breaker, the majority shifts by the slimmest of margins. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) Trump's impeachment trial would be the first of a U.S. president no longer in office, an undertaking that his Senate Republican allies argue is pointless, and potentially even unconstitutional. Democrats say they have to hold Trump to account, even as they pursue Biden's legislative priorities, because of the gravity of what took place a violent attack on the U.S. Congress aimed at overturning an election. If Trump is convicted, the Senate could vote to bar him from holding office ever again, potentially upending his chances for a political comeback. The urgency for Democrats to hold Trump responsible was complicated by the need to put Biden's government in place and start quick work on his coronavirus aid package. The more time we have to get up and running ... the better, Biden said Friday in brief comments to reporters. Republicans were eager to delay the trial, putting distance between the shocking events of the siege and the votes that will test their loyalty to the former president who still commands voters attention. Negotiations between Schumer and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell were complicated, as the two are also in talks over a power-sharing agreement for the Senate, which is split 50-50 but in Democratic control because Vice-President Kamala Harris serves as a tie-breaking vote. McConnell had proposed delaying the start and welcomed the agreement. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of N.Y, takes the elevator in the U.S. Capitol , Friday, Jan. 22, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta) Republicans set out to ensure the Senates next steps will respect former President Trumps rights and due process, the institution of the Senate, and the office of the presidency, said McConnell spokesman Doug Andres. "That goal has been achieved. Pelosi said Friday the nine House impeachment managers, or prosecutors, are "ready to begin to make their case against Trump. Trumps team will have had the same amount of time since the House impeachment vote to prepare, Pelosi said. Democrats say they can move quickly through the trial, potentially with no witnesses, because lawmakers experienced the insurrection first-hand. One of the managers, California Rep. Ted Lieu, said Friday that Democrats would rather be working on policy right now, but we can't just ignore" what happened on Jan. 6. This was an attack on our Capitol by a violent mob, Lieu said in an interview with The Associated Press. It was an attack on our nation instigated by our commander in chief. We have to address that and make sure it never happens again. Trump, who told his supporters to fight like hell just before they invaded the Capitol two weeks ago and interrupted the electoral vote count, is still assembling his legal team. White House press secretary Jen Psaki on Friday deferred to Congress on timing for the trial and would not say whether Biden thinks Trump should be convicted. But she said lawmakers can simultaneously discuss and have hearings on Biden's coronavirus relief package. We dont think it can be delayed or it can wait, so theyre going to have to find a path forward, Psaki said of the virus aid. Hes confident they can do that. Democrats would need the support of at least 17 Republicans to convict Trump, a high bar. While most Republican senators condemned Trump's actions that day, far fewer appear to be ready to convict. A handful of Senate Republicans have indicated they are open but not committed to conviction. But most have come to Trump's defence as it relates to impeachment, saying they believe a trial will be divisive and questioning the legality of trying a president after he has left office. South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham, a close Trump ally who has been helping him find lawyers, said Friday there is a very compelling constitutional case on whether Trump can be impeached after his term an assertion Democrats reject, saying there is ample legal precedent. Graham also suggested Republicans will argue Trump's words on Jan. 6 were not legally incitement. On the facts, theyll be able to mount a defence, so the main thing is to give him a chance to prepare and run the trial orderly, and hopefully the Senate will reject the idea of pursuing presidents after they leave office, Graham said. Other Republicans had stronger words, suggesting there should be no trial at all. Wyoming Sen. John Barrasso said Pelosi is sending a message to Biden that my hatred and vitriol of Donald Trump is so strong that I will stop even you and your Cabinet from getting anything done. Wisconsin Sen. Ron Johnson suggested Democrats are choosing vindictiveness over national security as Biden attempts to set up his government. McConnell, who said this week that Trump provoked his supporters before the riot, has not said how he will vote. He said Senate Republicans "strongly believe we need a full and fair process where the former president can mount a defence and the Senate can properly consider the factual, legal and constitutional questions. Trump, the first president to be impeached twice, is at a disadvantage compared with his first impeachment trial, in which he had the full resources of the White House counsels office to defend him. Graham helped Trump hire South Carolina attorney Butch Bowers after members of his past legal teams indicated they did not plan to join the new effort. Associated Press writers Aamer Madhani in Washington, Meg Kinnard in Columbia, South Carolina, and Jill Colvin in West Palm Beach, Florida, contributed to this report. Dear Reader, Business Standard has always strived hard to provide up-to-date information and commentary on developments that are of interest to you and have wider political and economic implications for the country and the world. Your encouragement and constant feedback on how to improve our offering have only made our resolve and commitment to these ideals stronger. Even during these difficult times arising out of Covid-19, we continue to remain committed to keeping you informed and updated with credible news, authoritative views and incisive commentary on topical issues of relevance. We, however, have a request. As we battle the economic impact of the pandemic, we need your support even more, so that we can continue to offer you more quality content. Our subscription model has seen an encouraging response from many of you, who have subscribed to our online content. More subscription to our online content can only help us achieve the goals of offering you even better and more relevant content. We believe in free, fair and credible journalism. Your support through more subscriptions can help us practise the journalism to which we are committed. Support quality journalism and subscribe to Business Standard. Digital Editor Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-22 11:21:56|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close WINDHOEK, Jan. 22 (Xinhua) -- Namibia's hotel occupancy rate fell to an average 16.08 percent in 2020, down from 53 percent a year earlier due to a ban on international travel to contain the COVID-19 pandemic, Gitta Paetzold, CEO of the Hospitality Association of Namibia (HAN), said on Thursday. "The low 16 percent clearly shows that despite all good intentions, the Namibian tourism industry is in a very precarious state financially and the continued limitations and restrictions on international and regional travel aimed at curbing the spread of the coronavirus, are virtually strangling the tourism sector," Paetzold said. Namibia closed its borders at the end of March until September in 2020 in a bid to curb the further spread of the virus, which has since infected 31,515 people and killed 310 others in the country. Paetzold said accommodation establishments in Namibia saw an occupancy rate of 5-8 percent when the borders were closed. The Bank of Namibia expects the local economy, which relies heavily on mining and tourism, to contract by a record 7.3 percent in 2020 after being pounded by business and social restrictions to contain COVID-19. Enditem Photo: The Canadian Press British Columbia's Liberal party took the first steps Thursday towards selecting a new leader while also addressing a constitutional technicality that still has Andrew Wilkinson as party leader. The party appointed former cabinet minister Colin Hansen as co-chair of an organizing committee to oversee the campaign. A date hasn't been set yet to choose a new leader. Hansen, known as a stalwart in the governments of former premier Gordon Campbell, will co-chair the seven-member committee with Victoria lawyer Roxanne Helme. Interim Liberal Leader Shirley Bond said she is energized by the formation of the campaign oversight committee and downplayed the fact Wilkinson hasn't followed the protocol to resign under the party's constitution. "I just have to say this, that British Columbians this morning didn't wake up and worry about whether or not there was constitutionally a technical issue with who's the leader of the B.C. Liberal Party," she said at a news conference. Wilkinson announced his resignation after the Liberals lost the election last fall and dropped seats that were once considered safe for the party. In the days following the Oct. 24 election, Wilkinson held a brief news conference where he said he planned to resign, but would remain leader until a replacement is chosen. About one month later he posted on Facebook: "It is now time for me to leave the role as Opposition leader as voters in B.C. have made their preference clear." Although Wilkinson hasn't official resigned, Bond said she is leading the Liberals. "I'm speaking to you today as the leader of the Opposition, make no mistake about that," she said. Wilkinson is not receiving any leadership benefits from the party and he has no leadership responsibilities, Bond said. "I can assure you this, Andrew Wilkinson is focusing on his role as an MLA," she said. "He has no responsibilities, no stipend, nothing like that related to the B.C. Liberal Party. We certainly expect a letter of resignation at some point in the next few weeks, but the fact of the matter is I lead the official Opposition." Wilkinson was not immediately available for comment. Bond, who has already ruled herself out of the Liberal leadership race, said 2021 will be a year of reflection, renewal and rebuilding for the party. "In the meantime, the party will continue to create and unveil the leadership contest rules and how it will work," she said. "I'm quite energized looking at what candidates might emerge and eventually they will transition to take on the role that I have now." Other members of the organizing committee to help pick a leader include legislature members Jackie Tegart, Derek Lew, Sarah Sidhu, Don Silversides and Cameron Stolz. The committee's mandate includes determining the timeline for the leadership election, establishing the campaign's rules and implementing the election process for party members. Marcella is back, but as youve never seen her before. Played by Anna Friel, troubled detective Marcella Backland returns with a new look and a new identity for series three of the dark crime drama this week, to go undercover in Northern Ireland and bring down a family who could teach the Shelbys in Peaky Blinders a thing or two when it comes to illegal money-making schemes and sheer ruthlessness. The Maguires, ruled by cold-hearted matriarch Katherine (Amanda Burton), order the assassination of a close associate with a single shot to the head when its discovered hes been embezzling company money. Their stock-in-trade is extortion and intimidation, and theyre responsible for the ten trafficked workers found dead in a sealed lorry at Belfast docks. Anna Friel stars as detective Marcella Backland who takes on a new identity as Keira in series three of ITV's Marcella. Pictured: Anna as Marcella, going undercover in the new series Clinical efficiency, Maguire-style, comes courtesy of Rory Maguire, the familys brilliant lawyer whose fear of disease prompts him to wash his hands constantly and impose his own personal lockdown, rarely leaving the family mansion except in dire emergencies. Hes obsessed by hand sanitiser and wont let anyone near him, says Anna. But the character was created by our series writer Hans Rosenfeldt two years ago, pre-pandemic; what did he know that we didnt? To bring Rory and the rest of the Maguire clan to justice, Marcella must make them feel shes one of their own and she goes at it full tilt. She enjoys the challenge, and the luxury lifestyle that comes with it, says Anna. In fact, shes arguably enjoying life with the Maguires the cars, the clothes, the passionate encounters with gangster lover Finn Maguire just a little bit too much. Thats one of the themes of the series. Has she been seduced by the criminal high life? Has Marcella or should I say Keira crossed over to the other side and is she now on the wrong side of the law? Keira is Marcellas alias, the identity she takes on in order to infiltrate the Maguires. As far as the family is concerned, shes a former police officer drummed out of the force in Manchester after she was found to be corrupt whos now back in her native Northern Ireland. In the previous series Marcella was prevented from committing suicide by DCI Rav Sangha. Pictured: DCI Sangha (right) with his colleague DC Lyons in series three Its a persona and a story shes happy to take on and not just for professional purposes, explains Anna. She doesnt want to be Marcella any more, thats a past life containing terrible old memories. Those who watched the previous two series of Marcella will be well aware of how awful those memories are. She was scarred both mentally and physically as she investigated crimes involving serial killers, paedophiles and witchcraft. Her husband Jason cheated on her then left her, and later gained custody of their children Edward and Emma when Marcella became aware that she was a danger to them because of her unpredictable periods of amnesia. Spookily prophetic The presence in the new series of Marcella of gangster Rory Maguire, whos obsessive about cleanliness and reluctant to leave his home, is chillingly prescient in these Covid times. Pictured: Finn, Katherine and Rory Maguire in Marcella But the tragic scenes that show a lorry at Belfast docks containing the bodies of ten dead trafficked workers draw on a news story that preceeded the horrifying incident of 39 Vietnamese immigrants found dead in a truck in Essex in 2019. I wrote that part of the story two years ago, and in my mind was an event from 2015, explains series co-creator Hans Rosenfeldt. A group of immigrants was discovered dead inside a lorry in Austria. The link between the storyline in Marcella and the terrible discovery in Essex is entirely coincidental. Advertisement Tragically, under hypnosis, she also discovered that she was responsible for the accidental death of her baby daughter Juliet. Simply unable to cope with being Marcella any more, she was only prevented from committing suicide when colleague and friend DCI Rav Sangha talked her down from the roof of the police station as she gazed over the edge. Given a second chance, she reached out for a new life and a new identity and got lucky. The woman shed swapped DNA cheek swabs with in series one died in a fire, just as Marcella disappeared off the radar and started to live rough. Badly burnt, the woman could only be identified by the DNA that was thought to be hers, which meant Marcella was declared legally dead and therefore free to reinvent herself as a different person. Thats when, at the end of the last series, Frank Young (Hugo Speer) invited her to join his undercover police unit. Fast forward to the present day and its Frank who waits nervously back at base while Marcella now Keira and blonde rather than brunette infiltrates the Maguire family at their sumptuous home outside Belfast. Her new alias may have allowed her to escape from her former life in London, but the mental scars remain red raw. Shes haunted by what happened to Juliet and is suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, explains Anna. The fact that the loss of a child forms part of the storyline is no coincidence. Anna told the scriptwriters about a similar experience in her own life, and the trauma she and others suffered as a result. She hopes that shining a light on the PTSD caused by the loss of a child may help others come to terms with their grief. There was a family tragedy involving somebody very, very close to me the loss of a baby at full term, reveals Anna. I dont want to go into it too much but I saw it happen with my own eyes. Its why its very important that I represent the PTSD endured by Marcella in as truthful and accurate a manner as I possibly can. Reliving a personal tragedy for the sake of a TV drama is brave indeed, and its one of the reasons filming this latest series of Marcella took a huge toll on Anna. She had her 15-year-old daughter Gracie, from her relationship with Harry Potter actor David Thewlis, for company while filming in Belfast but enjoyed limited downtime with her during a shoot that lasted for eight months and frequently involved 12-hour working days. It was intense, not least because the character I play is so troubled, says Anna. There was one day of filming when I got myself into such a state that I had to rush back to my trailer and throw up, my body was being so poisoned by the stress of what Marcella was going through. Anna said there was a day during filming when she had to throw up after giving everything to the character of Marcella. Pictured: Anna as she usually looks 'But I accept that. I give everything to the character, I become her, to some extent. Im aware that Marcella has taken over my life whenever I play her. Former Brookside star Anna, 44, whos single since breaking up with Regimental Corporal Major Mark Jaworski towards the end of last year, has spent the past five years inhabiting Marcella, and yet she almost turned the role down. The truth is I didnt think I could offer anything new or different to the world of TV detectives, she explains. But the director said, Lets start and youll see how you can do it and, gradually, I became more confident about making Marcella significantly different. Key to the portrayal was emphasising her unpredictability, her fearlessness and the fact that shes so lonely and doesnt think shes good at anything apart from her job. 'But it was a close call. I often convince myself I cant do a job and I almost talked myself out of this one. Anna may not be finished with the role that she so very nearly said no to. Although Marcella was originally written as a three-series trilogy, the shows Swedish co-creator Hans Rosenfeldt hints that there might be more. This new series has a definite ending audiences wont be left guessing, he says. But theres an opening there for it to continue. So maybe we will see Marcella again... Marcella returns on Tuesday, 9pm, ITV. Bernie Sanders and his mittens stole the show during Joe Bidens inauguration on Wednesday, January 20. Instead of wearing formal outerwear for the occasion, Sanders opted to make warmth his priority. The Vermont Senator showed up in a puffy Burton GORE-TEX parka and mittens. And the image of him casually sitting in a socially-distanced folding chair all by himself with his legs and hands crossed has now appeared in an infinite number of memes across the internet. Sanders is not going to let this moment go to waste. Instead, he is making the most out of his mittens going viral. Bernie Sanders | BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images A Vermont school teacher made Bernie Sanders cozy mittens According to CNN, Vermont school teacher Jen Ellis is the person behind Sanders cozy mittens. Ever since Inauguration Day, Ellis says shes been flooded with requests from people interested in buying a pair. But, the mittens are no longer for sale. Thanks for all the interest in Bernies mittens! Ellis wrote on Twitter. Im so flattered that Bernie wore them to the inauguration. Sadly, I have no more mittens for sale. There are a lot of great crafters on ETSY who make them. Theyre made from recycled sweaters, and no, shes not selling them anymore. https://t.co/YCYJzrjO9F Slate (@Slate) January 22, 2021 The second-grade teacher gave Sanders the patterned smittens part mittens, part sweater when he was on the campaign trail a few years ago. But, she never dreamed the Senator would wear them at such a high-profile event. Ellis says she made the mittens from repurposed wool sweaters and lined them with fleece made from recycled plastic bottles. The accessory has now become iconic, along with Sanders puffy jacket and blue mask. Sanders and his mittens have been photoshopped into absolutely everything you can imagine In just a matter of hours, internet users across the world have photoshopped Sanders and his mittens into every image imaginable. Hes been on throne from Game of Thrones, and hes been the subject of a Bob Ross painting. Sanders and his mittens have also been placed in historical photographs. Hes also made it onto the door with Rose at the end of Titanic, And, with a new app, you can find the warm and cozy Senator outside your doorstep via Google Maps. Yes, @BernieSanders has seen your memes. pic.twitter.com/EL6jXzWssX Late Night with Seth Meyers (@LateNightSeth) January 22, 2021 RELATED: SNL: Are Bernie Sanders and Larry David Related? According to People magazine, the image has also become a merchandising cash cow, with Etsy sellers putting it on everything from t-shirts to bobbleheads. And, as Ellis noted, many sellers on Etsy are selling Bernie-inspired mittens of their own. Theres no possible way I could make 6,000 pairs of mittens, and every time I go into my email, another several hundred people have emailed me, Ellis said. I hate to disappoint people, but the mittens, theyre one of a kind and theyre unique and, sometimes in this world, you just cant get everything you want. Bernie Sanders mittens have their own Twitter account For fans who want to know about Bernies mittens, they can follow the @BerniesMittens Twitter account. The page dedicated to the mittens began in 2020 after the Senator wore them to a Womens March in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. In response to all of the memes, Sanders told CNN that it makes people aware that we make good mittens in Vermont. We have some good coats as well. With proceeds going to charity. https://t.co/YmbJlDVka7 Jane O'Meara Sanders (@janeosanders) January 22, 2021 Sanders and his team are now using the image for a good cause. His wife Jane tweeted that the proceeds from a $45 dark-gray sweatshirt that features Sanders and his mittens that they are selling on his online campaign store are going to charity. The unisex sweatshirt is made in the USA and the description says it is crafted from 100 percent combed ring-spun organic cotton fleece. However, because of the overwhelming demand, the website warns it might take a few weeks to receive your sweatshirt. In Vermont, we know something about the cold, and were not so concerned about good fashion, we want to keep warm, the senator told Gayle King on Wednesday. And thats what I did today. photo: Declan Gallen Michelle Gallen was born in County Tyrone in the mid 1970s and grew up during the Troubles a few miles from the border between what she was told was the "Free" State and the "United" Kingdom. She studied English literature at Trinity College Dublin and won several prestigious prizes as a young writer. Following a devastating brain injury in her mid-20s, she co-founded three companies and won international recognition for digital innovation. She lives in Dublin with her husband and kids. Big Girl, Small Town (Algonquin, December 1, 2020) is her first novel. On your nightstand now: I usually read myself to sleep, and then read some more when I wake in the middle of the night. I'm bouncing between two books. I'm reviewing a final draft of my second novel in reader, rather than writer, mode, trying to tighten up the manuscript before I submit it to my agent. When this melts my brain, I take refuge in the 2019 Booker Prize-winning novel Girl, Woman, Other by Bernardine Evaristo. It's a funny, smart and energetic book that makes me miss London, the theatre, pubs and people. But it's also a comfort. The book transports me to pre-lockdown days, when I used to magic my way into a conversation with strangers who sometimes spilled their secrets and adventures as I listened, rapt. I try not to contrast my current manuscript to this work of genius! Favorite book when you were a child: I was a voracious and precocious reader as a child. I was 11 when I plucked Down All the Days from my mother's bookshelf. When she caught me reading it, she told me I was too young to read the likes of Christy Brown, and she confiscated the novel. Because nothing is as alluring as a forbidden book, I smuggled Down All the Days back off the shelf and read it in secret. This riotous, filthy, lyrical and heartbreaking book--written by someone almost completely paralyzed by cerebral palsy--seared itself into my consciousness and taught me lessons about endurance, joy and resilience that have helped me navigate my darkest days. Flawed, bawdy and brilliant--it's most definitely not a children's book--but I love the characters' zest for life despite incredibly tough circumstances. Your top five authors: Oh, I hate this question. Naming a top 5,000 authors wouldn't do the world of words justice. But if I must: Elena Ferrante Marieke Lucas Rijneveld Shakespeare Alice Walker Seamus Heaney Book you've faked reading: I am horrified by this question. People fake reading books?!? The closest I've come to that was when my book group voted on our next book after I'd sunk several glasses of wine. I woke the next day, fuzzy on which book we'd agreed on, but too embarrassed to admit I'd forgotten. I knew the title was 'American Something to Do with Weddings,' so I did a quick search and found An American Marriage by Tayari Jones. It seemed to tick all the boxes, so I quickly read it. Growing up, injustices such as the wrongful imprisonment of the Birmingham Six and the Guildford Four by the British were powerful reminders that Irish citizens could not rely on justice to be blind, so An American Marriage resonated with me. I bumped into a book group friend the day before our meet up. We then had an enormously strange conversation in which her opinion of An American Marriage was entirely different to mine. Towards the end of the conversation I realized that I'd read the wrong book--they were reading American Wife by Curtis Sittenfeld! I had to speed read American Wife overnight. I guess I temporarily faked reading American Wife, but I did read it in the end. Fast. Book you're an evangelist for: I absolutely love Oona by Irish-American poet Alice Lyons. It's an account of a first-generation immigrant girl, growing up in an affluent New Jersey suburb. She loses her mother at an early age, and this void shapes her journey through adolescence and her development as an artist. Oona engages with white privilege and the conspicuous consumption of 1950s America in contrast with a much poorer, though culturally rich Ireland. The book is written without using the letter "O"--a technical feat that makes "normal" texts look oddly fat by comparison. Book you've bought for the cover: I read the e-book of Crissy Van Meter's gorgeous debut, Creatures, and because the cover was so beautiful, I had to buy a copy for my bookshelf. It's one of those rare covers that manages to capture the book's atmosphere. I suspect that if I licked the jacket, I'd taste salt. Book you hid from your parents: My uncle, a nurse, gave me I'm Done Crying by Louanne Ferris when I was around 12 years old. I kept it hidden because I'm Done Crying is an eye-opening account of Louanne's experience as a Black woman working as a nurse's aide in a hospital in Birmingham, Ala. The author was married at 15 years old to a rather feckless man, and raises her children in condemned housing while working at a hospital staffed by burnt out, indifferent medical staff. I will forever remember the scene where the narrator spots that her baby has something in his mouth. She hooks a finger inside to extract the object, and pulls out a live cockroach. The level of poverty and deprivation detailed in I'm Done Crying--as well as Louanne's dignity and devotion to others--reminds me of mother's stories of teaching in a deprived part of Derry city in the late 1960s. Book that changed your life: The summer before I started college, I read Robert McLiam Wilson's Ripley Bogle in one sitting. It was the first time I read a Northern Irish book that wasn't a cheap soap opera involving the IRA, the British army and a bomb or gun attack. The book unfurls over four days, during which a homeless former Cambridge student tramps London, remembering his childhood and education in West Belfast. Angry, funny, obscene and insistent--Ripley Bogle showed me that oddball narrators and the ordinary horror of Northern Irish life--are compelling. Favorite line from a book: "Good writing is supposed to evoke sensation in the reader, not the fact that it's raining, but the feeling of being rained upon." --E.L. Doctorow Five books you'll never part with: The Art of the Glimpse, edited by Sinead Gleeson--a door-stopping collection of over 100 Irish short stories. The Rattlebag, edited by Ted Hughes and Seamus Heaney--an eclectic and wide-ranging collection of Hughes and Heaney's favorite poems. Milkman by Anna Burns--I was taken hostage by this 2018 Booker Prize-winning novel. I could read it 10 times over and still find something extraordinary to mull over. Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys--a feminist and anti-colonial riposte to Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre that gives a voice, history and dignity to the madwoman in the attic. Not Now, Bernard by David McKee--a children's classic that reminds me of the chasm between my kids' wild and precious world view and my own blinkered experience. Book you most want to read again for the first time: I wish I could experience A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving for the first time again. I've never fallen so deeply in love with a character, and I've never cried so hard at a book's conclusion. I can't wait until my kids are old enough to read it. She's the niece of the late Steve Irwin who is known for her racy Instagram posts. And on Friday, Rebecca Lobie showed off her sizzling physique in another photo shared to the social media site. The 33-year-old drew attention to her eye-popping cleavage in a red bodysuit, as she posed inside a vehicle in her hometown of Queensland. Va va voom! Steve Irwin's 'hot niece' Rebecca Lobie, 33, flaunted her eye-popping cleavage in a red bodysuit as she posed inside a vehicle, for a sizzling photo shared to Instagram on Friday Rebecca raised one arm, drawing attention to her pale pink manicure, and smiled for the camera, showing off her pearly whites. Her platinum locks were styled out and straight, and her makeup included bold brows, a false set of lashes and a slick of gloss on her pout. 'My fav piece of active wear (sic),' Rebecca captioned the post with her fans. Family connection: The blonde bombshell is the daughter of Frank Muscillo, who is married to Steve Irwin's sister Joy Her followers flocked to the comments section with the likes of 'gorgeous' and 'beautiful'. Rebecca is the daughter of Frank Muscillo, who is married to Steve Irwin's sister Joy. Steve, known to millions around the world as 'The Crocodile Hunter', died in September 2006 at the age of 44. Change of pace: Rebecca was previously the managing director of the Irwin family business, Australia Zoo, but left in December 2015 He was pierced in the chest by a stingray barb while filming a wildlife documentary in Batt Reef, Queensland. Rebecca was previously the managing director of the Irwin family business, Australia Zoo, but left in December 2015. Her cousin Bindi Irwin, Steve's daughter, continues to run Australia Zoo's operations, alongside mother Terri Irwin and brother Robert Irwin. An award-winning English filmmaker has made a documentary highlighting the plight of abused and unwanted animals in Vietnam. Elizabeth Homfray, founder of Laws for Paws Vietnam (right) and Dr. Nguyen Van Nghia (centre) examine a cat at the Saigon Pet Veterinary Clinic. Photo Louis Corallo Louis Corallo, 35, has produced Laws for Paws Vietnam, a 30-minute film focusing on the efforts of animal lovers in HCM City and the work they do to save neglected dogs and cats. The documentary premieres on Monday during a fundraising event at the Soma Art Centre in HCM City. Louis, who has made movies, documentaries and music videos during five years living in Vietnam, had the idea for this latest feature not long after arriving in the country. At that time, I was new to the culture and so, therefore, came across a lot of new things, both good and bad, he said. After encountering a badly injured dog during his early days in Vietnam, Louis began to take a serious interest in animal welfare, and a seed was planted to bring the plight of the abused animals to the big screen. It was the worst thing I had ever seen up until that point, he added. That was when I found out that this occurrence is rather common due to the criminal efforts within the dog meat industry. That was the dark side of Viet Nam that I was warned about. From there, I began to learn about animal welfare, or rather the lack it. It was then he met Elizabeth Homfray, an Australian who founded Laws for Paws Vietnam. She would eventually become central to the production. Louis said: I have to thank Elizabeth for allowing me to share her story. We ended up shooting for a whole week covering a number of things that are typical of Elizabeths schedule. I cant say we planned anything in particular because how can you predict when a dog needs to be rescued or treated? In some ways, I was at the mercy of the film gods and could only hope to be available when the story happens. In front of the camera, Elizabeth provided context and did a brilliant job for someone so raw, but up for it. I found her to be incredibly charismatic, humble, emotional and surprisingly not at all judgmental, but rather someone who aims to understand so that she may reach a solution. Filmmaker Louis Corallo. Also featured in the documentary is Vietnamese veterinarian Nguyen Van Nghia from Saigon Pet Veterinary Clinic, who has dedicated his life to helping neglected animals. He is what happens when you blend Dr Doolittle with Vietnam, said Louis. He is a deeply impressive and extremely intelligent man. I found him to be friendly, funny and quirky, like a mad cocktail blended with an intense generosity towards animals. I am so incredibly appreciative of his surgical skills. It is a real sight to behold when a man as gifted and humble-living as Dr Nghia undertakes keyhole surgery for injured dogs. Tackling the issues surrounding Vietnams dog meat trade can often meet with a negative reaction from locals, especially when the subject is approached by foreigners. Being a guest does not mean I should maintain silence, he said. This kind of response usually comes from people who get offended because they are uninformed and wont allow themselves to learn because their ego is at stake, so they try to disqualify a person rather than try to understand a point of view that could actually help them. I am not dictating anything. What I am doing is showing. After that, it is up to the viewer what they want to do with that information. The end goal for the documentary was always to improve animal welfare in Vietnam. And while Louis knows that will be an uphill struggle, he hopes by making this movie, more eyes will be opened to the pain and suffering of animals. He said: Both Elizabeth and Dr Nghia have put into action some really inspiring work, but it is in the hands of the Vietnamese to decide in which direction they want their culture to grow. I do believe that the work of Laws for Paws Vietnam will have a big say in that growth since the evidence of change over the years is already there to be seen. Laws for Paws Vietnam will be screened on Monday at the Soma Art Lounge at 6 Le Van Mien Street, Thao Dien Ward, District 2 from 8.30pm. VNS Paul Kennedy Conservation scientist aims to inspire people to protect wildlife Young wildlife conservation scientist Trang Nguyen, full name Nguyen Thi Thu Trang, has dedicated herself to protecting our wonderful world. She talks to Minh Thu about the ambition and enthusiasm. You can pick up all the ingredients for this humble pot roast at your local farmers market. (Andrea Bemis) Farmers Pot Roast What I love about a simple pot roast is that you can usually pick up all the ingredients at your local farmers market. Its a meal that most of the community has contributed to. Our pot roast features meat from our ranching friends Tim and Keely Jefferies, vegetables from our farm and neighboring farms, and wine from a local winemaker. When [my husband] Taylor and I sit down to this humble meal, we feel the company of the familiar faces and voices of everyone who has contributed to our dinner. Localize It: Any root vegetables will work herebeets, sweet potatoes, rutabagas, turnips, or celery root. Serves 4 to 6 2 tablespoons cooking fat 1 (3-pound) bone-in chuck roast, trimmed 1 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 2 large onions, chopped 2 teaspoons dried thyme 1 cup dry red wine (like a Cabernet or Pinot Noir) 6 cloves of garlic, chopped 2 cups beef broth 2 bay leaves 2 large carrots, cut into 1-inch pieces 2 parsnips, cut into 1-inch pieces (no need to peel) 2 pounds potatoes, cut into 2-inch pieces Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. In a large Dutch oven or other heavy-bottom lidded pot, heat the cooking fat over medium-high heat. Sprinkle the chuck roast with the salt and pepper. Add the roast to the pot; cook for about 5 minutes, turning it to brown it on all sides. Remove the roast to a plate and set aside. Reduce the heat to medium-low and add the onions and thyme to the pot. Saute until they are translucent and beginning to soften, about 8 minutes. Return the roast to the pot. Add the red wine, garlic, beef broth, and bay leaves; bring the mixture to a simmer. Place the lid on the pot and transfer it to the oven. Cook for 1 1/2 hours or until the roast is almost tender. Add the carrots, parsnips, and potatoes to the pot. Cover and bake for an additional hour or until tender. Remove and discard the bay leaves. Shred the meat using two forks. Serve the roast over the vegetables, drizzled with the cooking liquid. Excerpted from the book Local Dirt by Andrea Bemis. Copyright 2020 by Andrea Bemis. Published on October 13, 2020 by Harper Wave, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers. Reprinted by permission. warned the nation to prepare for its darkest days in the yearlong pandemic, predicting that as many as 100,000 more Americans will die over the next month as he overhauls the federal response and presses Congress for more aid. More than 400,000 people have died from Covid-19 in the United States since the pandemic began. But Bidens plea for the nation to assume a wartime footing did not immediately sway a recalcitrant Congress, where Republican opposition to his $1.9 trillion pandemic relief plan only hardened. Even some liberal Democrats made clear they would not rubber-stamp the new presidents approach. Highlighting the enormous stakes for his presidency, Biden unveiled the new administrations 200-page blueprint for battling the pandemic on Thursday, his first full day in office. He emphasised that scientists and doctors would lead the effort a rebuke of his predecessor, Donald Trump, who sidelined many of the governments medical experts and instead surrounded himself with advisers who encouraged his disregard for public health precautions. Biden will mark his third day in office with executive actions to boost food assistance for impoverished Americans and use federal contracts as a step toward his proposed nationwide minimum-wage hike, seeking immediate help for an struggling to cope with Covid-19. The executive actions Biden signs on Day 3 also include a restoration of rights for federal workers that were stripped by his predecessor Trump. While consequential for those affected, the measures offer a shadow of the relief included in Bidens $1.9 trillion Covid-19 aid plan. That package faces challenges in Congress after moderate Republicans this week said they saw no need to rush on another big spending bill after last months $900 billion effort. Senator Susan Collins of Maine became the latest to express opposition to the idea of a big new package, while Senator Roy Blunt, a member of GOP leadership, called it a non-starter. 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. Side-specific biological aging of the colon might emerge as a novel biomarker to guide the development of personalized prevention and intervention strategies." Li Li, Leader of the Cancer Control and Population Health Program, UVA Cancer Center 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). Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. San Diego: In the days before Joe Biden became US president, construction crews worked quickly to finish Donald Trump's wall at an iconic cross-border park overlooking the Pacific Ocean, which then-first lady Pat Nixon inaugurated in 1971 as a symbol of international friendship. Biden on Wednesday ordered a pause" on all wall construction within a week, one of 17 executive orders issued on his first day in office, including six dealing with immigration. The order leaves billions of dollars of work unfinished - but still under contract - after Trump worked feverishly last year to build more than 450 miles (720 km), a goal he said he achieved eight days before leaving office. As of January 15, the government spent $6.1 billion of the $10.8 billion in work it signed contracts to have done, according to a Senate Democratic aide with knowledge of the contracts who spoke on condition of anonymity because details have not been made public. The full amount under contract would have extended Trump's wall to 664 miles (1,069 km). Biden, seeking to fulfil a pledge not to build another foot," gave his administration two months to determine how much it would cost to cancel contracts and whether money could be spent elsewhere. The Senate aide said fees would be negotiated with contractors and the administration would seek to spend whatever's left on related uses on the border, such as roads, lights, sensors and other technology. Publicly, the Trump administration said it secured $15 billion for the wall. The Senate aide said it was actually $16.45 billion as of Wednesday, $5.8 billion of which was appropriated by Congress and the rest diverted from the Defence and Treasury departments. The Trump administration notified the Senate aide on January 14 that it was moving ahead with a contract for $863 million, but it was not awarded. The Army Corps of Engineers, which has awarded wall contracts with Defence Department money, said Thursday that it told crews not to install any additional barriers and to limit activity over the next few days to what is necessary to safely prepare each site for a suspension of work." John Kurc, an activist who posts videos of dynamite blasts by wall construction crews, said he saw one dynamite charge being set Wednesday afternoon in Guadalupe Canyon in easternmost Arizona, even as the inauguration was playing out in Washington. Heavy machines have been crawling over roadways gouged into rocky mountainsides, tapping open holes for posts on US Bureau of Land Management property. Advocates in Texas' Rio Grande Valley, the busiest area for illegal crossings, and near Nogales, Arizona, saw idle construction equipment Thursday. But in San Diego, crews were out replacing a steel fence with imposing, tightly spaced poles topped with flat steel plates rising 30 feet (9 metres), said Dan Watman of Friends of Friendship Park, a group that promotes public access to the cross-border park overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Contractors began last week, said Watman, who was informed of the project in a December conference call with Border Patrol agents but got no explanation for it. The agency referred questions to the White House, which had no immediate comment. Trump said the border wall would be virtually impenetrable" and paid for by Mexico, which never happened. While the wall is much more formidable than the barriers it replaced, it isn't uncommon for smugglers to guide people over or through it. Portions can be sawed with power tools sold at home improvement stores. Despite Trump's bravado, Border Patrol officials have said the wall was never meant to stop everyone but rather to slow their advance. Jose Edgar Zuleta, whose business selling religious jewelery in the Mexican city of Puebla dried up during the coronavirus pandemic, cleared two walls in Friendship Park in October with a special ladder. He moved through brush in a heavily patrolled area for about half an hour before getting caught. His 21-year-old son, who went ahead of him, got picked up hours later. The cross-border park has hosted yoga classes, concerts and countless news conferences, including one in 2018 with then-Attorney General Jeff Sessions to announce a zero tolerance" policy that caused thousands of children to be separated from their parents at the border. Since 2012, after construction of a double wall at the park, the Border Patrol has opened a gate many weekends for up to 10 people at a time to exchange words with those in Mexico. SLSCO Ltd. of Galveston, Texas, won contracts to build double walls blanketing 14 miles (22 km) in San Diego. Company spokeswoman Liz Rogers said work at Friendship Park is separate and done by another company. The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear arguments next month on whether the government' illegally diverted billions of dollars from the Defence Department to build the wall after Congress denied money that Trump sought, triggering a 35-day government shutdown in 2017. It is unclear if Biden will adopt Trump's position before the Supreme Court. The government's brief is due February 11. Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador welcomed Biden's decision to stop wall construction but, in defence of Trump, noted that US presidents going back to 1990s built border barriers. He displayed a chart to prove his point. This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. HYDERABAD: AICC spokesperson Dr Sravan Dasoju on Friday took potshots at English and Foreign Languages University (EFLU) and other institutions, which have been deliberately violating OBC reservation system in recruitment of faculty rendering injustice to the other backward classes (OBCs). Sravan lamented that despite Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself belonging to OBCs, it is unfortunate that the Central Universities were making a mockery of constitutional rights. He warned the Vice-Chancellor of EFLU that the Congress won't spare any such irregularities going forward and will fight at any level to protect the interests of OBC candidates who have been deprived of their due share in the roaster system. The AICC leader called on Talloju Achary, member of National BC Commission, in Hyderabad and submitted a memorandum on the deliberate violations taking place in universities. He urged Achary to take necessary action against the universities, which are following illegal and unconstitutional recruitment practices. Later, talking to the media, he stated that not only EFLU or HCU, but also Kaloji Narayana Rao University of Health Sciences has been following the same faulty recruitment practices to snub OBCs. Sravan appealed to the Governor and Union HRD Minister to intervene and take appropriate action against the fraudulent officials. Joe Biden Pennsylvania Gene Yaw Center for Rural Pennsylvania Pennsylvania State University Federal Communications Commission's Wyoming Sullivan Northeastern Pennsylvania Romania Sascha Meinrath Barack Obama Donald Trump FCC Gigi Sohn Georgetown Law Institute for Technology Law & Policy FCC Pennsylvania Donna Iannone Sullivan County (TNS) In his inaugural speech Wednesday, Presidentnoted 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," said State Sen., chairman of the. "The issue is not controversial, nonpartisan, and needed."researchers found certain areas of the state have internet speeds far below the25 megabits-per-second benchmark for "high speed."andCounties are among the worst inhas better connectivity than we do and they had no connectivity 20 years ago," said, the Palmer Chair in Telecommunications at Penn State.Meinrath consulted with Biden's team about the issue, as he did for former Presidentsand"There's no honeymoon on this," he said. "We'll 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."Biden's 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," Biden's site said.Meinrath said the first step for the Biden administration should be an accurate assessment of internet speeds nationwide. He and others believeestimations of speed are inaccurate and skew higher than they really are., a distinguished fellow at, said thehas 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."It's 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, 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., a commissioner in, 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. "It's as important as electricity or telephones. We'll have to wait and see if they finally treat it that way." Rumors blaming foreign missionaries visiting local churches in China as the source of the new COVID-19 variant have spread online and it's escalating. Early this Jan., the Chinese government imposed travel restrictions and border monitoring on provinces affected by the recent COVID-19 outbreak. Following these prevention measures, a post circulated online that was meant to pin the blame on religious activities particularly those attended by visiting missionaries. On Jan. 12, the identity of the person behind the provocative post was traced to Mr. Kai Lei of Wen Wei Po. He is a reporter for the official state media. On Jan. 6, Mr. Kai Lei published a post on Weibo, China's social media platform, stating that "missionaries visiting a church near the airport in Beiqiaozhai Village, one of 15 Catholic churches in Gaocheng District, Shijiazhuang City, may have caused the outbreak," per report of China Aid. China's netizens went on a frenzy prompting CCP officials to halt all religious gatherings and closing all venues intended for religious activities throughout the Hebei province. On Jan. 8, Beijing, Hebei Province's neighboring city, also followed suit closing 155 religious venues. None of the 840 religious personnel in Beijing, however, was found to be infected by COVID-19. On Jan. 9, Hebei's provincial officials held a press conference to discuss prevention measures and efforts to combat the latest COVID-19 variant. Concerning online rumors linking the outbreak to the presence of foreigner missionaries in Gaocheng, the officials dismissed it since there's no substantial evidence to prove reporter Kai Lei's suspicions. Probable Cause for the Spread of Misinformation Against Religious Groups Statistically, there are over one million Catholics in Hebei province particularly in the Gaocheng District. When the CCP assumed power in the government, some Catholic churches allied with them and declared independence from the Vatican, thus, forming the "Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association." The rest of the Catholic believers refused to join the association and maintained connections with the Vatican. These groups of believers became known as the "underground church" and have continued to grow both in numbers and faith. In 2018, both the Meihua Town Government and the Meihua Public Security Bureau of Gaocheng District in Hebei made a proclamation to "govern the power of the underground church according to the law." False claims and infodemics are widespread online. Sadly, even a national health emergency is used as a smokescreen to cover CCP's agenda to either subject Christ's church in China under the Communist government or suffer consequences. Blaming Other Foreign Entities Last year, certain government officials pointed their fingers at the U.S. army as responsible for 'planting the coronavirus' in China, The Scientist News reports. In mid-October of 2019, 300 U.S. military soldiers were present in Wuhan for the Military World Games. In February, Zhong Nanshan, a Chinese respiratory specialist, said at a press conference that "though the COVID-19 was first discovered in China, it does not mean that it originated from China." On March 12, Zhao Lijian, the spokesperson of China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, posted on Twitter saying, "When did patient zero begin in U.S.? How many people are infected? What are the names of the hospitals? It might be U.S. army who brought the epidemic to Wuhan. Be transparent! Make public your data! U.S. owe us an explanation!" This conspiracy theory has also spread in China through one of their biggest social media platforms, Weibo. Earlier, Chinese authorities blamed Christians for spreading COVID-19 by gathering in the village of Xiao Guozhuang in December last year. A local priest denounced these accusations and said there never was such a gathering because churches in Shijiazhuang area were already prohibited from doing so. Moreover, while there was indeed a Christmas Eve mass, only one person was there to celebrate it - the officiating priest. Recently, scientists from Wuhan University revealed that the Chinese Communist government reported far less COVID-19 cases than there actually is. According to their findings, the number of real cases is up to three times more than the government chose to reveal, indicating an attempt to suppress truth. And despite the CCP's attempts to pin the blame on others, reports indicate that there's a growing amount of evidence that COVID-19 really came from China - particularly from a laboratory in Wuhan, the place where it began. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 22) A spike in coronavirus cases has been observed in several provinces outside Metro Manila, including those along the northern regions, according to independent research group OCTA. In its January 22 report, the OCTA group said the provinces of Cebu, Benguet, Leyte, Zamboanga Del Sur, Mountain Province, Cagayan, and Kalinga all listed a post-holiday surge, recording an increase of more than 30% in new virus cases compared to the previous week. OCTA Research fellow Professor Guido David particularly raised concern over the situation in the northern provinces, saying the pattern of increase in some areas is somewhat similar to those of countries that have reported cases of the new coronavirus variant. Were not saying that the variant is there, but were just saying that the patterns of increase are similar, David told CNN Philippines The Source. And this is especially true in the northern provinces like Cagayan. We must note that the Filipina who was identified with the variant in Hong Kong came from Cagayan. Although we know they have done sequencing in Cagayan, and found no evidence of the variant, but still, the case increases there are somewhat concerning, he added. According to David, OCTA has monitored a 20% positivity rate in the Cordillera Administrative Region much higher than the 5% standard recommended by the World Health Organization. Cagayan Valley, on the other hand, has reported around 15% and up positivity rate, he added. The OCTA fellow also underscored the importance of scaling up the COVID-19 testing in the said areas, noting its possible that cases may have been underestimated. We need to scale up the testing there, because we need to identify if there are more cases there than what were seeing, David said. Meanwhile, OCTAs latest report also noted that while Cebu and Zamboanga del Sur saw a spike in cases, the areas reported low attack rates and positivity rates. The increase in coronavirus infections in Metro Manila has also leveled off, OCTA added, but stressed anew the importance of compliance with the minimum health protocols. The Missourians Opinion section is a public forum for the discussion of ideas. The views presented in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Missourian or the University of Missouri. If you would like to contribute to the Opinion page with a response or an original topic of your own, visit our submission form Photo: Cook County Sheriff's Office Louis Capriotti An Illinois man was ordered held without bond Thursday for allegedly threatening the lives of President Joe Biden and other Democrats before this week's inauguration. U.S. Magistrate Judge Gabriel Fuentes rejected a defence argument that there was no evidence Louis Capriotti had any real plan to act on the threat. Capriotti, 45, of Chicago Heights faces a federal charge of transmitting a threat in interstate commerce. In rejecting bail for Capriotti, Fuentes said it was concerning Capriotti continued to make threats of violence to members of Congress even after the FBI told him a year ago to stop making threats. Threats hurt people, Fuentes said at the end of a nearly 90-minute hearing. They terrorize people. They make people afraid. Theres an argument to be made thats what theyre intended to do in the first place. During the hearing, prosecutors played an excerpt of the Dec. 29 call at the heart of the criminal complaint, left on the voicemail of an unidentified New Jersey congressman. The message was peppered with obscenities. If they think that Joe Biden is going to put his hand on the Bible and walk into that (expletive) White House on January 20th, theyre sadly (expletive) mistaken, a man alleged to be Capriotti can be heard saying. A similar threat was made concerning now Vice-President Kamala Harris. The arrest of Capriotti came less than a week after supporters of then-President Donald Trump stormed the U.S. Capitol to stop Congress from ratifying the electoral vote for Biden, leading to the deaths of a police officer and four others. Capriottis lawyer, Jack Corfman, argued home detention would be sufficient to ensure the safety of the community, especially since Biden's and Harris' inaugurations passed and went smoothly. Assistant U.S. Attorney William Dunn disagreed, saying Capriotti has a long history of ignoring court orders and only needs a phone to continue his campaign of harassment. Today I addressed the OSCE Chairman-in-Office, the UN and the CoE Secretary Generals, the UN and the CoE Commissioners for Human Rights, the PACE and the OSCE PA Presidents, the ECHR President, the PACE Co-Rapporteurs on Azerbaijan and Armenia, as well as other partners, including several ombudspersons and their associations with questions on the illegitimacy of the process of determining Armenia's state borders and gross human rights violations. The Human Rights Defender (Ombudsman) of Armenia, Arman Tatoyan, on Friday wrote this on Facebook. The letters state that the process of determining Armenia's borders with Azerbaijan is being carried out by Azerbaijan under open threats of war against the entire population of Armenia. The President of Azerbaijan speaks about the Armenian people worldwide and the population of Armenia in the language of ethnic cleansing and open threats of genocide, as does the President of Turkey. Following the example of the President of Azerbaijan, in general, public figures openly insult the dignity of the Armenian people and incite hostility on the basis of ethnicity (specific evidence is attached). As a result, the border demarcation process in specific settlements of Syunik and Gegharkunik regions of Armenia has already led to gross violations of internationally recognized human socio-economic [property, etc.] rights and seriously endangered people's rights to life and physical immunity. The best interests of children to live and develop in a peaceful, non-violent environment have been violated. The security of the state borders of the Republic of Armenia has been endangered. In other words, the process is unaccompanied by the requirements of the rule of law and as thus, it has absolutely no legitimacy. Therefore, it should be stopped immediately and be subject to a fundamental review. The letters of the Human Rights Defender of Armenia emphasize that internationally absolutely unacceptable mechanical approaches are the only methods being used in the process of determining the borders, including the use of a GPS or Google Map application of a private company. No internationally recognized criteria are taken into account. There are no professional approaches at all, no commission work is carried out, no preliminary inventory and assessment of people's needs is carried out, and there are no proper legal bases. In the immediate vicinity of the civilians of Armenia or in the settlements themselves [For example, in the large communities of Goris and Kapan, Syunik region, on interstate or intercommunity roads, or directly on the sidewalk, directly in the settlement], Azerbaijani soldiers, i.e. armed men, were deployed. The tripartite declaration of November 9, 2020 or any other document does not set an accessible and predictable schedule for the people on the process of determining the state borders of the Republic of Armenia. Due to all of this, the impermissible speed of the border demarcation process and especially the lack of proper information directly related to the rights of border residents has led to uncertainty and unpredictable situations. The ombudsman's letters state that any human rights process must be based on the rule of law and, consequently, on internationally recognized human rights [which are also guaranteed by the Constitution within our country]. This is a fundamental principle of democracy. It is obvious that in the current situation, the entire process of determining the borders of the Republic of Armenia as described above undermines the foundations of the international human rights system, and completely contradicts the very basic principles for which modern international law has been established since World War Two: to guarantee human rights and peace. Individually signed letters are sent to each of the international organizations and colleagues, in accordance with the jurisdiction vested in each recipient, with each correspondence supported by detailed analysis, Tatoyan added. Alexei Navalny and his wife, Yulia, on the plane prior to their flight to Moscow (Mstyslav Chernov/AP) Russian authorities have taken elaborate measures to curb protests against the jailing of opposition leader Alexei Navalny which have been planned for Saturday. Mr Navalnys associates in Moscow and other regions have been detained in the lead-up to the rallies in more than 60 Russian cities. Opposition supporters and independent journalists have been approached by police officers with official warnings against protesting. Universities and colleges in different Russian regions have urged students not to attend rallies, with some saying students may be subject to disciplinary action, including expulsion. Expand Close Opposition leader Alexei Navalny, centre, signals to onlookers as he is escorted hand-cuffed after a court hearing in Moscow (Pavel Golovkin/AP) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Opposition leader Alexei Navalny, centre, signals to onlookers as he is escorted hand-cuffed after a court hearing in Moscow (Pavel Golovkin/AP) Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Friday that it is only natural that there are warnings about the possible consequences related to noncompliance with the law since there are calls for unauthorised, unlawful events. Mr Navalny, an anti-corruption campaigner and the Kremlins fiercest critic, was arrested on Sunday when he returned to Russia from Germany, where he had spent nearly five months recovering from nerve-agent poisoning that he blames on the Kremlin. On Monday, a judge ordered Mr Navalny to be jailed for 30 days. He faces a years-long prison term, as authorities accused him of violating the terms of a suspended sentence in a 2014 conviction for financial misdeeds, including when he was convalescing in Germany. Mr Navalnys supporters have called for nationwide demonstrations on Saturday to pressure the government into releasing the politician but have come under pressure themselves. On Thursday evening, police in Moscow detained three top associates of Mr Navalny. His spokeswoman Kira Yarmysh on Friday was ordered to spend nine days in jail, his close ally Lyubov Sobol was released on Thursday night and is facing a fine and Georgy Alburov is in detention awaiting court. Expand Close Lyubov Sobol, a lawyer for Navalnys Fund for Fighting Corruption, was among those arrested (Denis Kaminev/AP) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Lyubov Sobol, a lawyer for Navalnys Fund for Fighting Corruption, was among those arrested (Denis Kaminev/AP) More than a dozen activists and Navalny allies in several Russian regions have been detained as well. The Prosecutor Generals office and police have issued public warnings against attending or calling for unauthorised rallies. The prosecutors have also demanded Roskomnadzor, Russias media and internet watchdog, to restrict access to websites containing calls to protest on Saturday. On Friday, Russias largest social network VKontakte blocked all the pages dedicated to the rallies. Roskomnadzor also announced that it would fine social media companies for encouraging children to participate in the protests. The move came amid media reports of calls for demonstrations and videos of school students replacing portraits of President Vladimir Putin in their classrooms with that of Mr Navalny going viral among teenagers on social network TikTok. Expand Close Police officers detain a supporter of opposition leader Alexei Navalny during a rally in St Petersburg (Dmitri Lovetsky/AP) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Police officers detain a supporter of opposition leader Alexei Navalny during a rally in St Petersburg (Dmitri Lovetsky/AP) Russias Education Ministry has issued a statement urging parents to shield their children from the events on Saturday, stating that no one has the right to drag young people into various political actions and provocations. Mr Navalnys allies told supporters not to be discouraged and show up on Saturday. Dont be afraid. Leave it to the Kremlin. Were in the right, and were the majority, Ms Sobol wrote in a Facebook post. Dozens of influential Russians, including actors, musicians, journalists, writers, athletes and popular bloggers, have come out with statements in support of Mr Navalny, and some promised have to attend the demonstrations. Taken together, the paired announcements make clear the complexity of Mr. Bidens two-step approach to contain the actions of President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia. Mr. Bidens aides have said they have no interest in a reset in relations of the kind that President Barack Obama and his secretary of state at the time, Hillary Clinton, tried a dozen years ago. But that puts Mr. Biden in the awkward position of seeking to extend the nuclear treaty which Mr. Putin has already said he is willing to renew while very publicly discussing the need to make Russia pay a price for the hacking. He has few alternatives: If the treaty is not extended, both countries would be free to deploy as many nuclear weapons as they want starting Feb. 6. But Mr. Bidens aides have privately cautioned that his options for retaliation in response to the attack on the supply chain of software used by the government and private industry are limited. In part because the evidence amassed so far suggested the Russians used their covert access chiefly to conduct espionage something that all nations engage in and that the United States conducts against Russia all of the time, often through software manipulation. Mr. Bidens order for a study of the SolarWinds hacking named for the Texas company whose widely used network management software was one way Russian hackers gained access comes as intelligence officials have quietly concluded that more than a thousand Russian software engineers were most likely involved in it, according to people involved in the investigation. That suggests it was a far larger and stealthier operation than first known and raises anew questions about why the National Security Agency and its military counterpart, United States Cyber Command, missed it. The Russians were active for nine months in those networks before a cybersecurity firm, FireEye, and Microsoft Corporation alerted the government, and then the public, about the hacking. COVIVAC vaccine is proceeding to human trials The COVIVAC vaccine has been developed by the Institute of Vaccines and Medical Biologicals (IVAC) since May 2020. IVAC has carried out a number of preclinical studies for the vaccine in India, the US, and Vietnam, with results showing that the injection is both safe and meets the relevant criteria to proceed to human trials. Clinical trials will be carried out by the Central Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology and Hanoi Medical University at Hanoi Medical University. The launching ceremony of clinical trials for the COVIVAC vaccine The first phase will be conducted on 120 healthy volunteers who will be separated into five groups, receiving three doses of 1mcg, 3mcg, 10 mcg, and 1 mcg with a supplementary dose for placebo use, respectively. The vaccination will consist of two injections administered 28 days apart, with the first volunteer set to be vaccinated in February. After compiling research results from its initial phase, providing the vaccine meets safety standards and shows signs of strong immunity, the second phase will be conducted with a larger sample size. COVIVAC vaccine is the second Vietnamese-made COVID-19 vaccine, following NanoCovax produced by Nanogen Pharmaceutical Biotechnology JSC that is now entering human trials. A man who poisoned a gifted dancer with a date-rape drug known as 'devil's breath' in order to rob him after entrapping him using a fake dating app profile has been handed a life sentence with a minimum term of 32 years. Joel Osei, 26, killed 43-year-old Irishman Adrian Murphy in summer 2019 with an overdose of scopolamine - a substance from the deadly nightshade family of poisons commonly used in rapes and kidnappings in South America. Mr Murphy had worked as a dance teacher and a choreographer at the Royal Academy of Dance, but was on a year-long sabbatical at the time of his death. Osei and his ex-girlfriend and co-defendant Diana Cristea, 19, targeted gay men on Grindr in order to rob them of their valuables and drain their bank accounts. Cristea and Osei, who was previously living at Kerswell Close in Seven Sisters, north London, but is now of no fixed abode, were both convicted of murder following a trial at Croydon Crown Court. Cristea, of Langley Park, Mill Hill, Barnet, north London, will be sentenced at a later date. Joel Osei (left), 26, who killed 43-year-old Irishman Adrian Murphy in summer 2019 with an overdose of date rape drug 'devil's breath' has been handed a life sentence with a minimum term of 32 years. His co-defendant, Diana Cristea, 19, was also convicted and will be sentenced at a later date After killing Mr Murphy, the couple attempted to buy 80,000 US dollars (62,000) worth of diamonds from a jeweller in New York. The pair were further convicted of poisoning a second man with the same drug two days earlier. The victim, who cannot be named due to a reporting restriction, survived the incident but was taken to hospital after being found by a neighbour almost naked, extremely agitated and confused. Mr Murphy is thought to have died sometime between meeting Osei on June 1 and his body being discovered by his best friend and former partner on June 4. His phone had been thrown down the toilet, while a can of Coca-Cola was found to contain traces of scopolamine and Osei's fingerprints were discovered on a bottle of whisky left at the scene. Toxicology tests revealed the concentration of scopolamine in Mr Murphy's body was many times the level consistent with a fatal overdose. Osei stared at the floor when the verdict was announced at Croydon Crown Court. Mr Justice William Davis said: 'You left him either dying or dead. What did you do then? Osei, 26, killed 43-year-old Irishman Mr Murphy in summer 2019 with an overdose of scopolamine - a substance from the deadly nightshade family of poisons commonly used in rapes and kidnappings in South America 'You set about using his debit and credit card which you stole. That included an attempt to buy diamonds, admittedly unsuccessfully, worth 80,000. 'You murdered Mr Murphy for gain. As if self-evident, once you killed him you committed fraud by using his property. 'The killing of Mr Murphy is made worse by the fact there was significant planning involved. He was vulnerable, in the sense you assumed he would be unwilling to report what had happened if he survived. Colombian 'Devil's Breath' date rape drug Scopolamine, also known as hyoscine or 'Devil's Breath', is made from Borrachero trees in Colombia, and used throughout the country to aid sexual predators and robbers. The odourless powder is blown into people's faces, which once inhaled can cause victims to lose their memory, free will, and in high enough doses, can even kill. It has been described as 'the most dangerous drug in the world'. In the past two years cases have been reported in Spain, France and the US. But last month, UK actor Robert Lindsay told Met Police a young woman he knew was attacked with a substance bearing a chilling resemblance to 'Devil's Breath' outside a London night club. The drug, also referred to as Burundanga in its native Colombia, is almost impossible to detect, as it disappears from the blood stream in two to six hours and can only be found in urine samples within 12. This makes it extremely difficult for victims to prove they have been given it as they don't remember anything and it's untraceable in their system. Advertisement 'You were the principal and would have done this come what may.' Osei was also given a concurrent sentence of five years in prison for administering a poison or noxious substance so as to endanger life against the surviving victim, and no separate penalty for multiple counts of theft and fraud. The surviving victim met with Osei on May 30 believing he was called 'Remy' and invited him back to his London property for sex. He passed out after drinking a glass of orange juice Osei poured for him and woke up in hospital. Items including his wallet, bank cards and two laptops worth about 2,000 had been stolen. Osei had used the same phone number to contact both victims, and was later identified by the surviving man. Analysis of Osei's phone and laptop linked Cristea to the crime, and revealed he had purchased the scopolamine online in early May. Cristea, of Langley Park, Mill Hill, Barnet, north London, will be sentenced for murder, two counts of theft and eight counts of fraud at a later date. The couple had a 'tempestuous' relationship but regarded each other as soul-mates with 'big plans for their future.' Crispin Aylett, prosecuting, said: 'Even after everything that had happened and even after Osei had been charged and remanded in custody, he was writing to her and addressing her as 'My Romanian Goddess Wife'. 'He signed another letter to her as 'Your Husband & King'. 'For her part, Ms Cristea wrote to Mr Osei telling him 'you are my half that I found. Never in my life can get on so well and love anyone this much'. Mr Aylett said they were 'a pair of ruthless grifters, scammers looking to make easy money at whatever cost to their victims.' 'Each of the two victims had met up with Joel Osei, each of them had been drugged and from each of them Osei had stolen whatever he could find for Diana Cristea to sell.' The 40-year-old man, who cannot be named, had met someone on Grindr calling himself 'Remy' and agreed to pay for an Uber to collect him from an address in Tottenham. on May 30, 2019. Mr Aylett said: 'When Remy arrived, the man was disappointed to find that his guest did not seem to be particularly interested in sex. 'After a while the man went to the lavatory. When he came back, he found Remy had poured him a drink. Thinking it was orange juice from his own fridge the man drank it. 'The next thing the victim remembers is feeling breathless and, as he told the police: 'My head felt like this darkness coming over me" then he passed out. Mr Murphy is thought to have died sometime between meeting Osei on June 1 and his body being discovered by his best friend and former partner on June 4 Osei and Cristea poisoned Mr Murphy by lacing his Coca-Cola with the 'devil's breath' drug 'When he came round, he was in hospital.' Giving evidence the man said: 'Everything started going fuzzy. My legs felt like they had been injected with solid rock or something.' He said: 'All I remember is saying something along the lines of what's happening - then passing out, waking up, and a doctor telling me "you're lucky to be alive." 'I was absolutely out of it, I didn't know I was saying - I was speaking gibberish.' After the man was discharged from hospital he discovered that Osei had helped himself to property worth about 2,000: a wallet, bank cards, sun-glasses, two laptops and other devices including his Alexa and Sony Playstation. Osei was picked up by CCTV cameras at the luxury apartment block in Lombard Wharf on June 1 where Mr Murphy was staying. He entered the building and took the lift to the 17th floor at 22:26 and was again picked up by CCTV as he left the flat with a Louis Vuitton holdall. Mr Murphy was found dead in his flat on June 4 of last year. He was laid to rest in his native County Kilkenny beside his parents on July 17 Cristea had been 'following the events closely' as she maintained contact with Osei throughout the night. Mr Murphy, was a seven-time All-Ireland Irish dancing champion who produced and choreographed numerous Irish dance shows, including Feet of Fire, and FireDance The Show. His best friend, who owned the apartment in Battersea, found him lying motionless on the bed there on June 4. 'It was obvious that he was dead - and that he had been dead for some time,' said Mr Aylett. 'Again it soon became apparent that things had been stolen: a Louis Vuitton bag and wallet. A laptop was also missing. Again the overall value was about 2,000.' 'In the course of the post-mortem examination of Adrian Murphy's body, blood and urine samples were taken. From these, the toxicologist identified traces of a drug called Scopolamine. 'When the police searched Mr Murphy's flat, among the items seized were a can of Coca-Cola and a glass tumbler. Both were found to have traces of Scopolamine. Cristea took photos of Mr Murphy's Louis Vuitton bag before advertising it for sale online for 300 along with five Dolce & Gabbana belts for 200. The couple booked a hotel on the same day through Booking.com for 180 and spent $2,995 (2,190) on software from Chief Architects using Mr Murphy's card. They stayed on and off at the Simpson Street hotel during the following days while they made several purchases on different cards belonging to Mr Murphy. The couple also tried to buy $80,049 (61,000) worth of stones from Padmavati Diamonds Company based in New York using Mr Murphy's Barclays Delaware MasterCard. The lovers then tried to use the 43-year-old's credit card to buy 62,000 worth of diamonds from a New York jewellers. Pictured: Dancer Mr Murphy Osei told jurors Cristea knew nothing about the plan and never mentioned the use of Scopolamine to Cristea. Osei said: 'She was doing it for me. What I'm saying is that she wasn't in on it. She was angry with the method. 'I told her that the guy had been knocked out and I took his stuff.' Mr Murphy's brother Robert Murphy said in a statement: 'Adrian brought the love and art of dance to thousands of young people all over the world. 'Our family are heartbroken that Adrian is no longer with us. He has left a huge void within our family and the fact we can no longer see or hear from him makes his absence felt all the more. 'Adrian's legacy is that of a hero and hopefully his tragic death has stopped this happening to any other innocent victim 'He is now dancing amongst the stars. 'May he rest in peace.' Osei, of Kerswell Close, Seven Sisters, admitted manslaughter, seven counts of fraud, and an alternative charge of administering poison, with intent to injure, aggrieve, or annoy any other person. Cristea, of Springfield Road, Tottenham Hale, pleaded guilty to one count of fraud and two counts of handling stolen goods. The pair were convicted of murder, poisoning by administering a substance to endanger life, two counts of theft, and eight counts of fraud by a unanimous jury verdict. The Bombay High Court on Thursday (January 21), dismissed the appeal and an interim application filed by Sonu Sood. Sood is currently amidst a legal battle with the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). The civil body has alleged that the Bollywood actor has carried out illegal construction and turned his residential building into a hotel. On Thursday, the court proceeding led by Justice Prithviraj Chavan said, "Law helps only those who are diligent," while dismissing the actor's appeal and application. While Sood through his lawyer Amogh Singh sought for time of 10 weeks to comply with the notice issued by the BMC, the court stated that the actor had ample opportunity in the past and if required, he could approach the civic body. "You (Sonu Sood) are too late. You had ample opportunity. The ball is now in the office of the BMC...you (Sonu Sood) may approach them," Justice Chavan said. Earlier this month, Sood approached the high court after the city civil court at Dindoshi had dismissed his suit against the BMC's notice. In the interim application, Sonu Sood had sought an order from the high court restraining the BMC from taking any coercive action against his residential property in Juhu area. BMC Has Claimed Sonu Sood Is A Habitual Offender BMC has claimed that Sonu Sood at his Juhu property in Mumbai, has carried out structural changes in the six-storey residential building named Shakti Sagar. The civil body also claimed that the residential building has been converted into a hotel without taking requisite permissions. Sonu Sood Has Denied BMC's Allegations Meanwhile, Sood's advocate Amogh Singh argued, "The petitioner (Sonu Sood) has not made any changes in the building that warrants permission from the BMC. Only those changes that are allowed under the Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning (MRTP) Act have been done." Singh revealed to the court that the property has not been used as a hotel but the actor does rent the residential flats in the building. Sood Claimed He Does Not Run A Hotel In Juhu According to reports, earlier this month, BMC filed a written complaint at the Juhu police station, seeking an FIR to be lodged against the Bollywood actor for allegedly converting the residential building into a hotel without permission. The police are yet to register the FIR in the case. ALSO READ: Sonu Sood Inspires More Selfless Acts: Swimmer Who Saved 100s Of Lives Starts Ambulance Service In Sood's Name ALSO READ: Sonu Sood Reacts To BMC Calling Him A 'Habitual Offender': I Will Obey All Laws And Regulations Commending the remarkable progress in the process of peacebuilding in Colombia, India on Thursday said it is willing to support Bogota in its journey towards peace, progress, and prosperity. Speaking at United Nations Security Council's (UNSC) meeting on Colombia, TS Tirumurti, Indian Ambassador to the United Nations, said democracy in Colombia is deepening through increased political participation and applauded the efforts of the people and the Government of Colombia in realising the achievements of the last four years. A peace deal was signed between the previous Colombian government of Juan Manuel Santos and the left-wing Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) in November 2016. The deal was meant to put an end to a bloody 50-year armed conflict that killed over 260,000 and displaced millions in Colombia. "Colombia is witnessing remarkable progress in the implementation of the Final Agreement for Ending the Conflict and Building a Stable and Lasting Peace. The denouncement of violence, laying down of arms by the FARC-EP and its transformation into a political party; the commitment and resolve of the Government of Colombia to the Agreement and the central role of the UN in its implementation, have all positively contributed to the process of peacebuilding in Colombia," Tirumurti said. "The conflict-affected communities are witnessing the fruits of long-overdue investments in their regions, contributing to socio-economic development. The extent of violence of this decades-long armed conflict is decreasing, and security situation is slowly improving in the rural areas," he added. India noted that the implementation of the Peace Agreement has gained further ground in the last four months despite challenges, including those posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Tirumurti said that the Colombian leadership and authorities have continued to engage with former FARC combatants to address problems in the re-integration progress. "...The process of purchase of land for former combatants living in the erstwhile Territorial Areas for Training and Reintegration (TATR) has gained momentum; and the Reintegration Council has started holding sessions at the regional level. The Commission on Security. We, therefore applaud the efforts of the people and the Government of Colombia in realizing the achievements of the last four years," he said. As path ahead in the implementation of the Peace Agreement remains both complex and challenging, he emphasised the following points including that the Transitional Justice Mechanism should be more responsive to securing justice for the victims of the conflict. "The longstanding gap in the integrated presence of the State between urban and rural areas, especially those affected by the conflict needs to be addressed more effectively. There have been reports that suggest that during the pandemic, security vulnerabilities have increased, especially in remote areas where State presence is limited. The enhanced presence of the State authorities will help tackle the challenges posed by organised criminal groups and drug traffickers," he said. "The recent killings of former combatants, social leaders, and human rights defenders necessitates the strengthening of the Tripartite Protection and Security Mechanism. The Transitional Justice Mechanism should be more responsive to securing justice for the victims of the conflict. Strengthening local judicial capacity, particularly in the regions most affected by the violence, is also key to combating such violence. The work of the Special Investigations Unit (SIU) of the Attorney-General's Office, created by the Peace Agreement, therefore, remains critical," he added. India has special relations with Colombia. Both the countries celebrated 60 years of establishment of diplomatic relations in 2019, said the Envoy. "As Colombia marches ahead as one of the major economies in Latin America, India as a long-standing partner, remains willing to support Colombia in its journey towards peace," he added. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-22 11:33:23|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, Jan. 22 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Thursday that the world is caught between profound changes unseen in a century and the once-in-a-century COVID-19 pandemic, but no matter how the world situation changes, China-Pakistan friendly cooperation will move forward firmly. Wang made the remarks in a telephone conversation with Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi. The time-tested and rock-solid friendship between China and Pakistan has become the most precious strategic asset of both sides, he said. This year marks the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Pakistan, and the two sides should coordinate to make celebration plans so as to lift the China-Pakistan all-weather strategic cooperative partnership to a new level, Wang said. He noted that the construction of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a focal point for building a closer China-Pakistan community with a shared future, has entered a new stage of high-quality development. China, Wang said, supports the early holding of the 10th CPEC Joint Cooperation Committee meeting to inject new impetus into China-Pakistan practical cooperation. Meanwhile, he said fighting the pandemic is a top priority for the international community. Chinese President Xi Jinping has repeatedly said that the Chinese COVID-19 vaccines, once developed and put into use, will be global public goods, Wang recalled. China has not only made promises, but also taken concrete actions to fulfill them by vigorously promoting vaccine cooperation with other countries, in particular, offering assistance and support to developing countries, Wang said. Noting that Pakistan is China's all-weather strategic cooperative partner, the Chinese foreign minister said that the two sides enjoy a fine tradition of supporting and helping each other. When one side is in trouble, the other side will always lend a helping hand without hesitation, he added. The Chinese government, Wang noted, has decided to assist the Pakistani side on vaccine and actively coordinated with Chinese enterprises to accelerate the export of vaccines to Pakistan. On behalf of the Pakistani government and people, Qureshi expressed gratitude to the Chinese government for its decision to provide vaccine aid and procurement facilitation to Pakistan. He said Pakistan has approved a vaccine by China's Sinopharm for emergency use and will actively consider granting market access to other China-developed vaccines. Qureshi also suggested the two sides strengthen communication to ensure successful celebrations of the 70th anniversary of the bilateral ties and hold the 10th CPEC Joint Cooperation Committee meeting at an early date, so as to push for greater progress in bilateral relations. Enditem Jorge Riley, a Sacramento man who boasted about the Jan. 6 Capitol riots in a viral video, has been arrested by federal officials. According to an FBI affidavit dated Jan. 18, Riley could face charges of obstructing an official proceeding, knowingly entering or remaining in a restricted building without lawful authority and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds. In a video that was posted to Reddit, Riley can be seen describing the riots and bragging about getting into House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's office. After he was identified, he was forced out of his leadership position at the California Republican Assembly (CRA), a conservative activist group that is chartered by the California Republican Party. The FBI noted that Riley posted more than 150 messages, photos and videos to his Facebook page between Jan. 6 and Jan. 8. One such post read, "Hey We're storming the Capitol.... what are you doing?" Riley also posted numerous selfies from the Capitol, including one of him standing in the middle of a crowd of Trump supporters with the caption, "I'm in the front where do you think I am." In the video, Riley described a shoving match with Capitol police, stating, "They set up like this line, and they were trying to push us out of the room for like a long time, it was like a hella long power struggle and we were pushing back and forth on each other." No assault charges were brought against Riley. Some individuals have been charged with assaulting Capitol police, while others received property damage charges. Former US first lady Melania Trump was filmed walking away from her husband Donald Trump moments after they landed in Florida to begin their life outside of the White House, in footage that has been viewed millions of times. When they landed in Florida, to move in to Mr Trumps Mar-a-Lago resort, Joe Biden was less than an hour away from taking the oath of office to succeed him as US president. Mr Trump waved and smiled at the waiting press when he exited the plane, but Ms Trump appeared to grimace as she walked out of shot while being filmed for the final time as the US first lady. The footage of Ms Trump walking away from her husband on the tarmac in Florida has been viewed more than four million times in the day since it was posted online. The Lincoln Project captioned the clip: If Im over it were a person. That sentiment was echoed by numerous other Twitter users, with @FESAUGUSTOS captioning the clip: Melania said: My contract to pretend ended 7 min ago. User @diegoebarros wrote: Melania is totally done. She already quit posing, while GQ correspondent Julia Loffe joked: Who knew Melania had such excellent comic timing. Other clips and images of Ms Trump from Wednesday caused a stir on social media. Several images showing Donald Trump Jr, Eric Trump and Ivanka Trump emotional while watching their fathers farewell address were shared on social media, while Ms Trump was seen smiling as they boarded Air Force one to leave for Florida. Twitter user @roflo83 reacted to Ms Trump smiling, by writing: She looks so happy, while @chronicann tweeted: Melania with a genuine smile. Numerous users placed the images of Mr Trumps children looking emotional and Ms Trump smiling next to each other to show the seemingly different emotions on the day. Ms Trump was also seen smiling as she walked down the steps of Air Force One for the final time as the couple touched down in Florida. She had changed her outfit on the plane from an all-black ensemble to an orange-emblazoned Gucci dress. Wednesday was not the first time Melania had caused a stir with a smile, as Mr Trump appeared to ask her to grin while visiting a church in June. In footage taken of the visit to the Saint John Paul II National Shrine in June, Mr Trump was filmed briefly saying something to Ms Trump, before smiling for the photographers who were documenting their visit. He then seemed to notice that she was not smiling, and spoke to her again before Ms Trump then forced a quick smile and walked away with her husband. Ms Trump was also filmed on multiple occasions refusing to hold her husbands hand, causing him to be repeatedly mocked on social media. The former president and former first lady were the first outgoing couple from the White House to not attend their successors inauguration in nearly 160 years, as they decided to skip it on Wednesday morning. Mr Trump is expected back in Washington, DC in the coming months, as he faces a Senate impeachment trial for his role in inciting the Capitol riots on 6 January. TDT | Manama The Daily Tribune www.newsofbahrain.com A wanted man in Bahrain has been arrested in a joint operation by Interpol and the Department of International Affairs. The Director-General of the General Department for Combating Corruption and Economic and Electronic Security said the 26-year-old Asian man landed in police net from a neighbouring country. He is a suspect in several cheque fraud cases committed inside the Kingdom. Sonia Gandhi (Image: PTI) Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Friday launched a fierce attack on the Centre over the farmers' agitation and said the government has shown "shocking insensitivity and arrogance going through the charade of consultations". Addressing a crucial meeting of the Congress Working Committee, she alleged that it was now abundantly clear that the three farm laws were prepared in haste and Parliament was consciously denied an opportunity to examine in any meaningful detail their implications and impacts. "The agitation of farmers continues and the government has shown shocking insensitivity and arrogance going through the charade of consultations," she said. The crucial meeting, being held virtually, will also finalise the plan for organisational elections, including that of the next Congress president. Gandhi said the Congress position on the issue of the farm laws has been clear from the very beginning. "We reject them categorically because they will destroy the foundations of food security that are based on the three pillars of MSP, public procurement and PDS." Discussing the budget session of Parliament, she said there are many pressing issues of public concern that need to be debated and discussed, but it remains to be seen whether the government will agree to a discussion. On the purported WhatsApp chat leaks of Arnab Goswami, she said, "There have been very disturbing reports on how national security has been so thoroughly compromised." "The silence from the government's side on what has been revealed has been deafening. Those who give certificates of patriotism and nationalism to others now stand totally exposed," she said. Gandhi expressed the hope that the process of the COVID-19 vaccination drive will continue and be completed to the fullest extent. The government, she added, has inflicted untold suffering on the people of the country by the manner in which it has managed the COVID-19 pandemic. "It will take years for the scars to heal," she alleged. The economic situation remains grim and large parts of the economy like MSME and the informal sector have been decimated with the government refusing to extend a lifeline, the Congress president said. "When public expenditure has to be carefully prioritized, it is very painful to find huge amounts of money being allocated and spent on initiatives that can only be described as 'personal vanity projects'," she said. "Panic privatization has gripped the government and this is something that the Congress party can never accept and support," Gandhi added. The Congress chief also asked the party office bearers to list the schedule and modalities for organizational elections that has to get the CWC's approval. Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-22 15:54:51|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close ULAN BATOR, Jan. 22 (Xinhua) -- The ruling Mongolian People's Party on Friday decided to nominate Luvsannamsrai Oyun-Erdene, chief cabinet secretary, as the country's next prime minister. Oyun-Erdene received full support from members of the party who attended an online conference on Friday to select a nominee for the next prime minister after the resignation of the government. The 41-year-old has served as a member of parliament since 2016. The nomination will be submitted to President Khaltmaa Battulga and approved by parliament. On Thursday, Mongolian Prime Minister Ukhnaa Khurelsukh proposed the resignation of his entire government after two ministers quit amid social pressure and public protests, and the parliament accepted his proposal. Protests were triggered in the capital city of Ulan Bator by TV footage showing a COVID-19 patient who had just given birth being transferred from a maternity hospital to a quarantine facility, wearing only hospital pajamas and plastic slippers in freezing weather, with her newborn baby on Tuesday night. Enditem How do you kick off a cold winter morning full of energy and passion for the days work that lies ahead? A hot bowl of soup for breakfast might be the answer in Luoyang, central Chinas Henan Province. Luoyang locals are food connoisseurs when it comes to various soups, which exemplifies the most striking feature of Luoyang cuisine. Have you drunk soup today? also becomes the way for Luoyang people to greet each other. Majieshan Beef Soup Restaurant has been open for nearly 170 years. The founder launched the business in the Qing Dynasty, and Ma Jiaming, the current owner of the restaurant, is the sixth-generation inheritor. To present the soup with perfect flavor, the staff starts cleaning and cooking the fresh beef at 3 a.m. every morning. To make the broth, the beef bones are boiled and then simmered for nearly two hours with homemade spices. I am very proud and honored to have a chance to make this meal for our Luoyang people, and hopefully one day we can make this meal for the world, Ma told Peoples Daily Online. With the sound of clappers and the chant yelling serve up, the Luoyang water banquet, a set of dishes comprised of eight cold and 16 warm dishes, is unveiled. Originating in Luoyang, a city with a dry climate and mountainous terrain, the water banquet is widely welcomed because of its soup-based meals. Starting in the Tang Dynasty, the water banquet gets the name as each warm dish is cooked in broths, and each dish is served in sequence, like the flow of water. Made of turnips and other vegetables, with a carved peony in the center of the dish, the Peony Swallow Dish is the most famous and striking out of the 24 dishes. The dish was said to be complimented by Wu Zetian, the only female monarch in the history of China. Along with the peony and the Longmen Grottoes, the water banquet is considered one of the Three Wonders of Luoyang, with Luoyang residents regarding it as a unique feast to treat important guests or for celebrations. The various soups, whether served as street food for a late-night snack or tasted at the historic and exuberant water banquet, have once again stolen the show and will surely haunt tourists taste buds for years to come. WASHINGTON, Jan. 22, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- PACEM Solutions International and PACEM Defense LLC, are proud to announce the appointment of Andrew Knaggs to Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately. Mr. Knaggs has been the company's Chief Operating Officer since 2020 and succeeds Cory Mills who will continue as Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors and will play an integral role in the company's long-term strategy. In congratulating Mr. Knaggs, Mr. Mills stated, "Andrew is an exceptional leader with a keen understanding of our customers, our offerings, and the geopolitical environment that we operate in. There is no one better suited to lead PACEM's continued growth." Mr. Knaggs commented, "I am honored to assume this new role as CEO. PACEM is truly exceptional and our prospects for the future are incredible. I look forward to working with the Board and our executive leadership to continue providing the highest quality products and services while also building upon our strengths to capitalize on growth opportunities." Mr. Knaggs has led a diverse career with a broad range of executive leadership experiences. He has been a candidate for U.S. Congress, a Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense, the founder of a Washington, D.C.-based corporate law firm, a decorated combat veteran, and a U.S. Army Special Forces officer. He is also currently an adjunct professor at George Washington University Law School and a member of the advisory board of Evolution Metals Corporation. Mr. Knaggs earned a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the United States Military Academy at West Point and a Juris Doctor degree from William & Mary Law School. He is a member of the District of Columbia Bar. About PACEM PACEM Solutions International and PACEM Defense LLC are headquartered in Falls Church, Virginia. PACEM Solutions offers cutting-edge approaches to consultancy, training, and risk management. PACEM Solutions' state-of-the-art training and range complex in Perry, Florida features a 2,000-meter sniper range, Close Quarters Battle shoothouse, pistol/rifle ranges, 600-meter demolition range, breaching door courses, one-mile obstacle course, and bunkhouse for up to 52 students. PACEM Defense manufactures state-of-the-art munitions, including less-lethal munitions through its subsidiary ALS, Inc. Our highly qualified munitions/ballistics/chemical experts, specialized engineering, and substantial financial resources ensure that we produce and deliver the highest quality, most reliable products, on time to our clients globally. We maintain all Department of Defense; Department of State; and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) compliance/licensing. PACEM Solutions is registered with the State Department's Directorate of Defense Trade Control (DDTC) as a broker; PACEM Defense is registered as both a manufacturer and exporter. Contact Person: Cory Mills Company Names: PACEM Solutions International & PACEM Defense LLC Telephone Number: 571-385-0299 Email Address: [email protected] Web site addresses: www.pacem-solutions.com ; www.pacem-defense.com SOURCE PACEM Solutions International LLC Related Links pacem-solutions.com Using single atoms lowers the cost of catalysts. Credit: Vienna University of Technology For years, the metal nanoparticles used in catalysts have been getting smaller and smaller. Now, a research team at TU Wien in Vienna, Austria have shown that everything is suddenly different when you arrive at the smallest possible size: a single atom. Metals such as gold or platinum are often used as catalysts. In the catalytic converters of vehicles, for example, platinum nanoparticles convert poisonous carbon monoxide into non-toxic CO 2 . Because platinum and other catalytically active metals are expensive and rare, the nanoparticles involved have been made smaller and smaller over time. Single-atom catalysts are the logical end point of this downsizing: The metal is no longer present as particles, but as individual atoms that are anchored on the surface of a cheaper support material. Individual atoms can no longer be described using the rules developed from larger pieces of metal, so the rules used to predict which metals will be good catalysts must be revampedthis has now been achieved at TU Wien. As it turns out, single atom catalysts based on much cheaper materials might be even more effective. These results have now been published in the journal Science. Smaller is sometimes better Only the outer atoms of the piece of metal can play a role in chemical processesafter all, the atoms inside never come into contact with the environment. In order to save material, it is therefore best to use tiny metal particles instead of large lumps, so that a greater proportion of the atoms reside at the surface. If we go to the ultimate limit and use individual atoms, every single atom is chemically active. Over the last decade the field of "single atom" catalysis has grown dramatically, achieving great success. Wrong model, right solution "The reasons why some precious metals are good catalysts was already researched in the 1970s," says Prof. Gareth Parkinson from the Institute for Applied Physics at TU Wien. "For example, Gerhard Ertl was awarded the Chemistry Nobel Prize in 2007 for providing atomic-scale insights into catalysis." In a piece of metal, an electron can no longer be assigned to a specific atom; the electronic states result from the interaction of many atoms. "For individual atoms, the old models are no longer applicable" says Gareth Parkinson. "Individual atoms do not share electrons like a metal, so the electron bands, whose energy was key to explaining catalysis, simply do not exist in this case." Gareth Parkinson and his team have therefore been intensively investigating the atomic mechanisms behind this single-atom catalysis in recent years. "In many cases the metals that we think of as good catalysts remain good catalysts in the form of individual atoms" says Gareth Parkinson. "In both cases it is the same electrons, the so-called d electrons, that are responsible for this." Customized properties through tailored surfaces Entirely new possibilities arise in single-atom catalysis that are not available when using ordinary metal particles: "Depending on the surface on which we place the metal atoms and which atomic bonds they form, we can change the reactivity of the atoms," explains Parkinson. In some cases, particularly expensive metals like platinum are no longer necessarily the best choice. "Individual nickel atoms show great promise for carbon monoxide oxidation. If we understand the atomic mechanisms of single atom catalysis, we have a lot more leeway to influence the chemical processes," says Parkinson. Eight different metals were precisely analyzed in this way at TU Wienthe results fit perfectly with the theoretical models that have now been developed in a collaboration with Prof. Cesare Franchini at the University of Vienna. "Catalysts are very important in many areas, especially when it comes to chemical reactions that play a major role in attempts to develop a renewable energy economy," emphasizes Gareth Parkinson. "Our new approach shows that it doesn't always have to be platinum." The decisive factor is the local environment of the atomsand if you choose it correctly, you can develop better catalysts and at the same time save resources and costs. Explore further Single atoms as catalysts More information: Jan Hulva et al. Unraveling CO adsorption on model single-atom catalysts, Science (2021). Journal information: Science Jan Hulva et al. Unraveling CO adsorption on model single-atom catalysts,(2021). DOI: 10.1126/science.abe5757 Agence France-Presse Central Europeans of the Bronze Age used bronze rings, ribs and axe blades that were roughly standardized in their shape and weight as an early form of "euros," according to a new study. The paper by researchers at Leiden University in the Netherlands appeared in the journal PLOS ONE on Wednesday. Money is a defining aspect of modern life, and standardization of currency is one of its key features. But since ancient people lacked precise forms of measurement, archaeologists had disagreed about whether bronze items discovered in "hoards" in modern-day Germany, Austria, the Czech Republic and other places were real currency or just metal blocks for melting into other products. These objects date back to around 4,000 years ago when Central Europeans lived in farming societies characterized by the use of bronze tools, weapons, armour, building materials and more. Lead author Maikel Kuijpers, an assistant professor in European Prehistory, told AFP the research was based on a new methodology he had developed "that is more attuned to how people would weigh items in the Bronze Age." He and his co-author Catalin Popa studied more than 5,000 objects from over 100 ancient hoards. Rather than measuring the items by weighing scales alone, they statistically compared their weight using a psychology principle known as the "Weber fraction." This quantifies the concept that if objects are similar enough in mass, people weighing them by hand can't tell the difference. They found that around 70 percent of rings, which averaged around 195 grams, were similar enough in weight to have been indistinguishable by hand. These pieces aren't the world's oldest money by a long way people in Mesopotamia developed coins some 5,000 years ago but Kuijpers said the methodology devised could have wider uses for investigating objects of the ancient world. As to how much each individual object might be worth in today's money and what items they might have been used to buy cattle, weapons, etc it's impossible to know for certain. But "it's a material that they really that they valued a lot, that much is clear," said Kuijpers. The European Union is taking steps to ensure Ukraine's early access to vaccines and Ukraine can count on the EU's solidarity in obtaining a vaccine against coronavirus, according to a letter from President of the European Council Charles Michel and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen to President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky. In a letter following the results of the 22nd Ukraine-EU summit, held on October 6, 2020 in Brussels, European leaders emphasize that the EU is ready to continue supporting Ukraine in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, the website of the head of the Ukrainian state said on Thursday. Last year, EUR 190 million was allocated, which was used, in particular, for the purchase of medical equipment, and the first tranche of macro-financial assistance in the amount of EUR 600 million. The message says that the EU institutions are ready to cooperate with Ukraine on the fulfillment of the criteria for the provision of the second tranche of macro-financial assistance. The heads of the EU institutions note that a comprehensive revision of the Association Agreement will begin in 2021: it is planned to deepen sectoral cooperation, in particular in the digital and environmental spheres, an agreement on a joint aviation space is being prepared for signing in the near future, the work of the previous EU assessment mission in the context of the future Agreement on Conformity Assessment and Acceptance of Industrial Products. "The leaders of the EU institutions note the progress of Ukraine in the implementation of internal reforms despite the unfavorable situation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The EU is ready for further cooperation, in particular on issues related to the fight against corruption and judicial reform. The leaders of the European institutions appreciate the urgent steps, which were adopted by the President of Ukraine in the context of the development of the situation with the decision of the Constitutional Court," Deputy Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Ihor Zhovkva commented the letter. Britains online shoppers have expressed their dismay after been hit with unexpectedly high post-Brexit charges on items ordered from countries in the EU. Consumers have been asked to pay up to one-third extra in customs duties, VAT and additional delivery charges once they arrive in the UK. One UK retail boss said British firms were considering abandoning or even burning goods returned by their EU customers who were also unhappy about unexpected charges, due to the costs involved in bringing the items back to Britain. One shopper, Ellie Huddleston from London, told the BBC she had been asked to pay 140 in unexpected costs from couriers DPD and UPS after buying a coat and blouses from EU retailers at 380. I sent both back without paying the extra fees and wont be ordering anything from Europe again any time soon, the 26-year-old said. Recommended UK retailers consider burning goods stuck in EU as costs soar Customers have complained that they are not being told by online retailers that they will be liable for the extra costs forcing many to refuse to pay when delivery companies turn up at their door. One British shopper was asked to pay 77 in extra charges on clothes costing 245, bought from a French retailer. Louisa Walters told The Times: DPD offered me two options pay the fees or return the package. There was no way I was paying 77 so I clicked to not accept the package. I was very disappointed. Some UK retailers said they were considering giving up on many of the goods which EU customers had asked to be returned over the costs and paperwork involved in bringing them back into Britain. Parcels prepared for dispatch at Amazon warehouse in Peterborough (PA) Like British shoppers, many European customers have also been rejecting goods bought and imported from the UK after being presented with unexpected charges when signing for them. Adam Mansell, chief executive of the UK Fashion and Textile Association, told the BBC it was cheaper for retailers to write off the cost of the goods than dealing with it all, either abandoning or potentially burning them. He said: Its part of the ongoing small print of the deal. If youre in Germany and buying goods from the UK you then have a courier company knocking on the door giving you a customs clearance invoice that you need to pay to receive your goods. Mr Mansell said further customs paperwork facing UK retailers when goods are returned included an export clearance charge, import arrival charge, import VAT charge and, depending on the goods, a rules of origin document. "Lots of large businesses dont have a handle on it, never mind smaller ones, he said. When the UK was in the single market and customs union, British consumers were covered by the EUs distance selling regulations for the charging of VAT, the levy that all EU countries impose on sales. However, since 1 January, goods bought online from the EU are now treated identically as items purchased from everywhere else in the world. Since the trade deal came into force, UK shoppers ordering items from Europe costing more than 39 are likely to be given a VAT bill. And for items costing more than 135, some customs duties might also apply. Asked about the problems getting goods in and out of Britain on Friday, environment minister George Eustice said it would be fine once businesses had adapted to the new requirements. There is a familiarisation cost there, but once people get used to it, I think it will work fine, he told Times Radio. Pennsylvania is now allowing smokers to be at the front of the line for COVID-19 vaccinations alongside nurses, doctors and nursing home residents. Smokers became eligible to receive the doses first in the state after the Pennsylvania Department of Health added those with 'high-risk medical conditions' to the first phase of the vaccine rollout. Smoking is among the conditions deemed to be high risk. The state is currently still in its first phase of the rollout, which includes Health care personnel, those aged over 65 and those aged between 16-64 with high-risk conditions. So far, Pennsylvania has given out 643,000 of its 1.3 million doses. Pennsylvania is now allowing smokers to be at the front of the line for COVID-19 vaccinations alongside nurses, doctors and nursing home residents Among the other high risk conditions are cancer, chronic kidney disease, Down Syndrome, heart conditions, obesity and pregnancy. Under the changes, smokers are now eligible to receive the vaccine ahead of first responders, correctional officers, teachers, grocery store workers and public transit workers. So far, Pennsylvania has given out 643,000 of its 1.3 million doses. The state administered 21,000 first doses and 4,400 second doses on Thursday. The state's health department said smokers were now included because they are considered to be at greater risk of becoming seriously ill if they contract COVID-19. NUMBER OF VACCINATIONS: So far, Pennsylvania has given out 643,000 of its 1.3 million doses. The state administered 21,000 first doses and 4,400 second doses on Thursday Those aged in the 55-59 age category are the largest proportion to be vaccinated in Pennsylvania so far 'Pennsylvania has chosen to follow the CDC's recommendations and include smoking among the list of medical conditions putting individuals at greater risk,' a spokesperson said. To date, there has not been any widespread study done on how smokers are worse affected by COVID. Pennsylvania's decision comes a week after New Jersey also changed its rules to include smokers. It is not yet clear how they prove whether or not someone is a smoker if they show up to get the vaccine. Dr. Amesh Adalja, a infectious disease expert and critical care physician in PIttsburgh, said smoking was associated with increased severity of the virus and could lead to hospitalizations. 'When people look at a vaccine allocation decision, it's really being driven by what's going to keep people out of the hospital,' Dr Adalja told WTAE-4. Flawed data collection concerning the race of coronavirus vaccine recipients in Louisiana has made it hard for state officials to understand if initial doses have been distributed fairly to the states residents. A little over a month since vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna began reaching Louisiana, the majority of people who have received the shot have been marked other or unknown on forms that hospitals and pharmacies are required to submit to the Louisiana Department of Health. Roughly 36% were marked other and 20% were marked unknown, according to the data unveiled Friday by Gov. John Bel Edwards. That means the state doesn't know the race of more than half the roughly 300,000 doses administered to date. Of the recipients who were tabulated by race, 33% were White, 10% were Black, 0.85% were Asian, 0.1% were Native Hawaiian and 0.12% were American Indian. Louisiana coronavirus: 1,796 more confirmed cases, 36 deaths reported Friday; see latest data The Louisiana Department of Health reported 1,796 more confirmed coronavirus cases and 36 more confirmed deaths in its noon update Friday. At a press conference Friday, Edwards called the data a "bit of a problem" and said the state would "make every effort to make sure providers" are submitting complete data. The lack of data on race paints an imprecise picture of who is getting vaccines in the state. It could also undermine efforts by Edwards as well as federal officials to distribute vaccinations equitably after the virus itself took a disproportionate toll on Black and Latino communities. "It means we don't know what the information we've got really means," said Susan Hassig, an epidemiologist at Tulane University. "If [the unknown] is anywhere above 10 or 15 percent, it becomes really problematic." Louisiana and 17 other states are publicly reporting vaccine data on race and ethnicity, according to an analysis by the Kaiser Family Foundation. Of those, not all appear to have the same data collection problem. Florida, for example, had 18% of its inoculated group marked as "other" with 15% "unknown." Florida, along with most states, tracked ethnicity separately, allowing patients to mark whether they are Hispanic or non-Hispanic. Louisianas dashboard does not track ethnicity. Of all states with demographics available, Louisiana has the highest portion of "other" reported for race. Louisiana is one of eight states with more than 20% of race reported as "unknown." In three states Tennessee, Virginia and Pennsylvania the unknown category made up more than half of those vaccinated. "Unknown" typically means the race was left blank. "Other," however, is an option chosen by the provider or patient. And while some vaccinated people may have chosen "other," the data do not match up with population-level data. According to U.S. Census data from 2019, 1.8% of Louisiana residents selected two or more races and 5.3% selected Hispanic or Latino. The rest chose one race. 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 The flaw may stem from the way the data is collected, said Hassig. Many states require people to register ahead of time online using one main portal. Louisiana has a more disjointed process of getting a vaccine, leaving the distribution up to a network of pharmacies meant to address a broad geographic area. Some, like Walgreens, ask patients to provide their own race data when making the appointment online. But others might have left selection of race up to providers, which isnt always effective. If its a form (patients) fill out themselves, theyre more comfortable filling out the information, said Hassig. At a meeting of the Louisiana COVID-19 Health Equity Task Force on Friday, members said one large provider in particular only collected ethnicity data, and the choice was listed as "African" rather than by race. Other patients reported they were offered "European" as a choice. In those cases, many patients may have chosen "other." Officials did not name that provider. To collect the most accurate information, especially in a diverse population, the intake form should have multiple options. Asking questions to categorize based on race gets really complicated really fast, said Hassig. Look at our vice president. She is half Black, half Asian. Shes claimed as Black, shes claimed as Asian. The most precise way would be to have multi-combinatory options. There could be reasons for the choice of "other," said Thomas LaVeist, dean of the Tulane University's School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine and member of the state's COVID-19 Health Equity Task Force. For instance, it could be that people of color are getting vaccinated at a higher rate but don't want to indicate their race out of concern they may be treated differently. It could also be that employees distributing the vaccine lack training on the significance of collecting race data, he said. +2 Replay: John Bel Edwards shares latest vaccine, coronavirus updates Gov. John Bel Edwards is scheduled to share the latest news on coronavirus in Louisiana on Friday morning. "Sometimes people in health care wouldn't complete data on race because they didn't see the importance, said LaVeist. "But for something like this, race is an extremely important variable to have because it allows us to monitor how are we doing, are we reaching the full population." The data release Friday follows a stern memo from Louisiana's top coronavirus response official, Interim Assistant Secretary of the Office of Public Health Dr. Joe Kanter, that said providers cannot discriminate by reserving shots for existing patients. A letter released the same day also addressed the selection of other, as race. "Routinely selecting 'other' as a default in the race field is not acceptable and will hinder the state's ability to understand and address inequities in vaccine distribution," the letter says. Replay: How fast will Louisiana economy recover from coronavirus pandemic? Watch our panel The Times-Picayune and The Advocate held a virtual economic outlook summit Friday morning looking at the Louisiana economy for 2021. The state plans to add granularity to the dashboard in the future and called the data "frustrating." "Fifty-six percent are either "unknown" or "other" race, which of course is not accurate for the state," said Kanter on Friday. "We have a lot of work to do on our end to reach out to providers to ask that they pay more attention to entering in that data field." PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 22, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- In September 2020, the parties to litigation involving certain LG refrigerators announced a class action settlement. The details regarding the settlement, including a detailed description of the settlement and instructions on how to submit a claim form, are at www.LGFridgeSettlement.com. The District of New Jersey has now granted final approval of the settlement in Bentley, et al. v. LG Electronics U.S.A., Inc., No. 2:19-cv-13554-MCA-MAH (D.N.J.), and the settlement administrator, Angeion Group, LLC, is currently accepting claim forms. The extended deadline to submit claims for cash relief for past cooling events is February 5, 2021 . The settlement applies to owners of certain models of LG refrigerators manufactured between January 1, 2014 and December 31, 2017 and resolves the claims that the refrigerators experience No-Cooling Events, and regarding LG's warranty and repair service. LG Electronics denies the allegations but agreed to the settlement in the interest of customer satisfaction and to avoid further litigation costs. Consumers can visit the Settlement Website, www.LGFridgeSettlement.com, or call the LG Settlement Toll-Free Number: (855) 918-4661, to obtain further details about the settlement, but must submit their claim for past losses by February 5, 2021. The Settlement Website includes the list of LG refrigerator models covered by the settlement, all relevant dates and deadlines, access to relevant court documents, and answers to frequently asked questions. Claim Forms are available at and can be submitted to www.LGFridgeSettlement.com, or by email to [email protected], or by mail to LG Fridge Settlement, Attn: Settlement Administrator, 1650 Arch Street, Suite 2210, Philadelphia, PA 19103. For any questions, please visit www.LGFridgeSettlement.com or contact: Daniel Girard, Esq. Shanon J. Carson, Esq. Girard Sharp, LLP Berger Montague PC 601 California Street, Ste 1400 1818 Market Street, Suite 3600 San Francisco, CA 94108 Philadelphia, PA 19103 Telephone: (415) 981-4800 Telephone: (215) 875-4656 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] SOURCE Angeion Group Related Links http://www.angeiongroup.com GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- DeVos Place will host a large-scale, community vaccine clinic starting Monday, Jan 25. Individuals in Phase 1A and 1B will be eligible for vaccine appointments at the event center, 303 Monroe Avenue in Grand Rapids. The event center was chosen given its ability to host a large-scale operation. DeVos Place has a 162,000-square-foot Exhibit Hall in addition to its ballroom and meeting rooms. However, appointments will still be dictated by vaccine supply which is not large enough to use the entirety of the place, according to a press release from Grand Rapids-area health officials. To start, the clinic will offer a small number of appointments consistent with the amount of vaccine available with the goal of growing in scale as supply grows, according to the release. The clinic is a partnership between The Kent County Health Department, Spectrum Health and Mercy Health. The healthcare entities will continue to offer vaccine clinics at their respective locations across the region and will continue to increase appointments at those sites based on availability of vaccine, according to the press release. To register for a vaccine appointment at DeVos Place, residents can sign up at wmvaccineclinic.org. They will be notified when they are able to schedule an appointment. West Michigan Vaccine Clinic urges residents to use the online portal as call volumes are extremely high. For those unable to use the online tools, registration can be completed by calling 833-755-0696. Those who filled out the questionnaire form through Spectrum Health are already registered and do not need to fill out the form again. Those eligible for the vaccine in Phase 1A and 1B include: Those age 65 and older Teachers for preschoolers through grade 12. Police officers, first responders, jail and prison staff. Childcare providers Health care workers, doctors, dentists and their staff. Kent County is among three counties in the state above the moderate level of vaccine distribution, according to Michigan Department of Health and Human Services data from Jan. 20. Across the county, 72,075 doses of the coronavirus vaccine have been distributed. Of those doses shipped to the county, 51,154 doses have been administered to residents. Statewide, 598,127 doses have been administered. The largest age group receiving the shot has been 50-64 year-olds, according to MDHHS data. More on MLive: For Michiganders anxious to be vaccinated against COVID-19, demand far outstrips supply Whos eligible for COVID-19 vaccine and what else to know about program expansion How much should new coronavirus variant worry Michiganders? Representative image A total of 9,99,065 beneficiaries have so far been vaccinated for COVID-19 through 18,159 sessions held till the evening of January 21, the sixth day of the immunisation drive, according to a provisional report of the Union Health Ministry. 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 (SII) -- 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 India, one of the world's biggest drugmakers, has been approached by numerous countries for its anti-coronavirus doses. The country has delivered two million vaccine doses to Bangladesh under the grants assistance programme on January 21. The country sent 1,50,000 doses of Covishield vaccines to Bhutan, 1,00,000 doses to the Maldives on January 20 and 1 million doses of Covishield vaccine to Nepal, to which Nepal Prime Minister KP Oli has thanked the Indian government. Here are all developments related to the COVID-19 vaccine in India: > Altogether 3,091 beneficiaries received COVID-19 vaccine shots in Assam on January 21, taking the total number of inoculated people in the state to 10,676, the National Health Mission (NHM) said. > At least 7,692 people received shots of 'Covishield' vaccine on the day at 94 centres across West Bengal, according to a senior health department official. > Over 5,900 healthcare workers received COVID-19 vaccine shots in Delhi on the day, the fourth scheduled day of the inoculation exercise in the city, while two persons needed hospitalisation after adverse events following immunisation, according to data shared by officials. > As many as 696 healthcare workers in Himachal Pradesh were administered COVID-19 vaccine shots on the day, a health official said. > The total number of persons who got the coronavirus vaccine administered in Andhra Pradesh crossed the one lakh mark on the day as 23,338 underwent the process on the sixth day. > SII, the world's biggest vaccine maker, has said that production of the AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine would not be affected by a deadly fire at its headquarters in Pune, Maharashtra. > COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy is as high as 39 percent in the Delhi-NCR with about one-fifth of the respondents saying that they will not take the jab, according to a telephonic survey conducted by the NCAER. States Total Beneficiaries Andhra Pradesh 15,507 Bihar 15,798 Chhattisgarh 5,788 Karnataka 16,103 Kerala 10,266 Madhya Pradesh 7,117 Tamil Nadu 6,497 Telangana 26,441 West Bengal 7,187 Chandigarh 284 Odisha 26,558 Punjab 4,832 Haryana 15,491 On January 21, 1,92,581 beneficiaries were vaccinated till 6 pm through vaccination 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 President Joe Biden has signed numerous executive orders on his first day in office, including an order stopping the construction of the U.S.-Mexico border wall. The Defense Department said Thursday it would pause construction as it reviews Biden's order. A spokesperson for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Raini W. Brunson, said the agency is following the direction provided in the executive order regarding implementing the pause, U.S. News reported. Brunson said the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, who oversees the border wall contracts, would take the appropriate actions in complying with the order. He added that they would also coordinate their acts with the Department of Defense and their partners at the U.S. Customs and Border Protection or the Department of Homeland Security. On Wednesday, Biden ordered a postponement on all wall construction within a week. According to a PBS report, with Biden's order, the project is left unfinished but still under contract. The Trump administration has managed to build 450 miles of the wall, which former president Donald Trump said he achieved eight days before leaving the office. Related article: Trump's Military Fund Diversion for Border Wall 'Unlawful,' Appeals Court Says Border Wall Cost The Trump administration said that it had identified $15 billion to build a total of 738 miles. However, it is still unclear how many of those additional miles are under contract. It is also unknown what cancellation fees Biden would pay to fulfill his promise of not building "another foot" of the wall. Biden wanted answers in two months on how much the government committed, as well as the cost it would need to extricate itself. The president also wanted to know if the contracts could be reused for other purposes. Meanwhile, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers claimed that Biden could save $2.6 billion by stopping the wall's construction. However, according to a Government Executive report, the financial costs of deciding to stop work have not been publicly disclosed. The White House did not immediately respond to comment on the issue. But Biden advisors earlier said the wall was "wasteful" and possibly an illegal diversion of funds from other programs. According to a Los Angeles Times report, Trump reallocated that money from military accounts after declaring a national emergency when Congress bipartisan votes shelved his full requests to fund the wall. The Trump administration was also scrutinized for costing taxpayers much more than anticipated for the wall, waving regulations to speed up construction, and allegedly manipulating a $400 million contract. The federal government has spent $6.1 billion as of Jan. 15., out of the $10.8 billion in work it signed contracts to have done, said a Senate Democratic aide familiar with the deals. The aide, who spoke on the condition of anonymity as details have not been made public, said the full amount under contract would have extended the wall to 664 miles, the Associated Press reported. On Jan. 14, the Senate aide said the Trump administration notified them that it was pushing ahead with an $863 million contract. However, the said contract was not awarded. Read also: Congress to Approve $1.3 Billion for Border Wall on Monday Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 Other community groups that include CPS parents have mostly been more aligned with CTUs interests regarding school reopening plans, which have been delayed several times amid ongoing union opposition. Raise Your Hand, a group of parents and other residents, has criticized CPS push to reopen and so has the new Chicagos Grassroots Education Movement, which bills itself as an organization of parents, community members, teacher organizations and unions. And dozens of Local School Councils have sent out letters decrying the reopening plan. A majority of aldermen have also come out against it. Vietnam can seek sustainable development solutions from its students ideas, Louise Holmsgaard, Deputy Head of Mission at the Danish Embassy, said at the launch of the Denmark in Your Eyes 2021 Painting Competition on Thursday. Themed 'Green Living,' the competition is the first event in a series of activities celebrating the 50th anniversary of Vietnam-Denmark diplomatic relations, according to information released at the launch at Nguyen Sieu School in Hanoi. Green growth, along with a green transition, is one of the top priorities in the two countries long-term cooperative efforts. Deputy Head of Mission at the Danish Embassy Louise Holmsgaard delivers her remarks at the launch of the Denmark in Your Eyes 2021 Painting Competition.' Photo: Khoa Thu / Tuoi Tre Impressed by Vietnams rapid growth, Holmsgaard explained that, besides economic indicators, the Vietnamese government must pay more attention to its sustainable development initiatives, especially in renewable energy one of the countrys greatest potentialities. This overarching aim has been fully reflected in our cooperation including in the annual Denmark in Your Eyes Competition," said the diplomat. "The contest will be a platform for the young generation to voice and share their thoughts, concerns, hopes, and ideas on how we together can make our planet a prosperous and sustainable home for the well-being of all, through what could be daily simple and humble deeds. Nguyen Sieu School students speak with their teacher about what they want to draw. Photo: Khoa Thu / Tuoi Tre Stressing that 2021 marks half a century of the Denmark-Vietnam ties, Holmsgaard expressed her hope that the friendship between the Vietnamese and Danish peoples will last forever. Homsgaard also recommended that the young competitors speak with their friends, teachers, and families about how to live greener and more sustainable lives. Student Dang Anh Kiet draws on marine debris. Photo: Khoa Thu / Tuoi Tre Dang Anh Kiet, a sixth grader of Nguyen Sieu School, told Tuoi Tre News about his concerns over Vietnams poor waste sorting practices while drafting a picture on marine debris. A lot of people simply put waste into trash bins without an attempt to classify, causing difficulties to the processing step," he said. "The practice will lead to tons of trash piled up in landfills, or worse, discharged to oceans." Louise Holmsgaard poses with a young competitor. Photo: Khoa Thu / Tuoi Tre Meanwhile, Luong Trung Hieu, another sixth grader, wanted to deliver a message of renewable energy by drawing a wind turbine beside the national flags of Vietnam and Denmark. This years competition, co-hosted by the Embassy of Denmark and the Vietnam-Denmark Friendship Association, is open to all Vietnamese elementary and middle school students. The winners will be announced in May. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! "I'm thanking Prime Minister Modi for sending the vaccine as a gift, I do expect that Bangladesh will get rid of the Covid-19 pandemic," Hasina said on Thursday while thanking Modi for sending the Covid-19 vaccines to Bangladesh. Dhaka: Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has thanked her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi for sending 20 lakh doses of Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccines to assist the country in its fight against the novel coronavirus. Hasina and Modi also discussed the ongoing bilateral collaboration between the private sectors. "We've taken all the steps to face the Covid-19 situation in the country," she said. Bangladesh has already planned to proceed with the vaccine, she said while virtually addressing an international conference on 100 Years of the University of Dhaka. On Thursday afternoon, Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Vikram Kumar Doraiswami handed over the Covid-19 vaccine to Bangladesh Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen and Health Minister Zahid Maleque. Doraiswami said: "It is part of commitment made at the highest level -- Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi -- and as part of 'Neighbourhood First' policy." Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar tweeted on "VaccineMaitri", saying India reaffirms the highest priority to its relations with Bangladesh. Doraiswami also said that Bangladesh and India will fight the disease together as friends. At least 50 lakh doses of the vaccine from India are expected to arrive within this month while another 50 lakh doses of the vaccine are scheduled to arrive in each of the next six months as per the agreement. On December 17 last year, Indian Prime Minister Modi assured that vaccines would be made available to Bangladesh as and when produced in India. Abdul Momen said the arrival of 20 lakh doses of the vaccine from India shows the sign of strong relations and goodwill between Hasina and Modi. "Today's gift from India is the sign of partnership, cooperation and collaboration," he said. After receiving the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine as 'gift' from India, the Bangladesh Foreign Minister said: "It's a historic day. They've (Hasina and Modi) achieved such a goodwill and strong relations! It shows the sign of that bonding." Momen said many developed countries are yet to get the vaccine and Bangladesh is one of its earliest recipients in the world. Early elections are arriving late to Baghdad, as Iraqs Cabinet voted on Tuesday to postpone the general election from June 6 to Oct. 10. The decision was issued after a proposal submitted by Iraqs Electoral Commission to the Council of Ministers earlier this week to resolve technical needs to ensure a transparent electoral process, according to the office of Iraqs Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi. Without providing details on what those issues are, the statement read that resolving the issues would ensure the integrity of the elections and equal opportunities for everyone to run in the elections freely and fairly. But time is running out for activists who are growing disillusioned about Iraqs electoral process and frustrated that the governments stalling is an attempt to ignore their demands. Last July, Kadhimi set the ambitious goal of June 6, 2021, as the date for the general election, almost a year ahead of schedule. The decision was seen by observers as a move to appease a key demand of anti-government protesters. Large demonstrations across the country erupted in October 2019 and appealed for, among other issues, fairer elections and changes to Iraqs voting process and elections committee. Activists cited widespread fraud in the 2018 nationwide vote and some Iraqis now say they have little faith in Iraqs electoral system. On Jan. 14, Kadhimi, President Barham Salih, parliament Speaker Mohammed al-Halbusi and head of the Supreme Judicial Council Faiq Zaidan met with officials from the Electoral Commission and United Nations representative Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert to discuss the elections. A statement after the meeting indicated that postponing the process would give time for candidates, political alliances, new political forces and young people to register and submit candidate lists. Part of the meeting was also dedicated to including international efforts to monitor the vote. The decision to host early elections was initially met with praise from the global community. The United Nations said the early elections would promote greater stability and democracy. A major hurdle to holding the early elections was cleared in October when Iraqs parliament passed the final version of its legislative electoral law. But a number of prerequisites still need to be achieved. Parliament needs to pass the Federal Court Act and implement Article 64 of the constitution, which would disband the Council of Representatives in preparation for an early vote. And the government still has to replace the Federal Court with a constitutionally mandated panel or at least fill vacant seats on the bench. The court, responsible for validating election results and hearing appeals about those results, is currently unable to operate after a judge retired. Without this body, the results of any general vote will not be approved. India, Japan to enhance cooperation in 5G, ICT and smart cities India and Japan on Friday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to enhance cooperation in the field of information and communications technologies. Union minister for communications, electronics and IT Ravi Shankar Prasad and the Japanese minister for internal affairs and communications Takeda Ryota signed the MoU and exchanged the documents through a video conference. As per the MoU, Indias Department of Telecom and Japans ministry of communications will enhance mutual cooperation in the field of 5G technologies, telecom security, submarine optical fiber cable system to islands of India, spectrum management, smart cities, high altitude platform for broadband in unconnected areas, disaster management and public safety etc. Further, It has been agreed that Indian government organisations such as C-DOT and ITI Limited and industry partners from Japan will also be part of this cooperation. Speaking on the occasion, communication and ICT minister Ravi Shankar Prasad highlighted the timely execution of submarine optical fiber cable connection of Andaman and Nicobar Islands with the mainland as a great example of cooperation between India and Japan. He also highlighted the great potential India holds for Japanese investors in the field of 5G and 5G based services, Internet of Things, digital health technologies etc, adding that due to attractive polices like PLI and SPECS large amount of investments have already come to India in the field of electronics manufacturing. Japanese minister Takeda Ryota expressed happiness on signing of MoU between India and Japan and expressed the commitment of Government of Japan towards mutual cooperation and investments in India. .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... HOUSTON A Houston area health department doctor accused by prosecutors of stealing nine doses of coronavirus vaccine from a damaged vial and administering them to family and friends insists he did nothing wrong and was only trying to ensure the vaccine was not wasted, his attorney said Thursday. Authorities allege that Hasan Gokal, who worked for Harris County Public Health, stole a vial of the Moderna coronavirus vaccine while working at a vaccination site at a suburban Houston park on Dec. 29. Gokal told a health department employee earlier this month that he had taken a punctured vial of the Moderna vaccine at the end of operations and that he took the vial offsite and vaccinated his friends and family, according to a probable cause complaint. Prosecutors determined Gokal, 48, had given the vaccine to nine individuals, including his wife, according to the complaint. ADVERTISEMENTSkip ................................................................ He abused his position to place his friends and family in line in front of people who had gone through the lawful process to be there, said Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg. What he did was illegal and hell be held accountable under the law. Paul Doyle, an attorney for Gokal, called his client a dedicated public servant who ensured that COVID-19 vaccine dosages that would have otherwise expired went into the arms of people who met the criteria for receiving it. Harris County would have preferred Dr. Gokal let the vaccines go to waste and are attempting to disparage this mans reputation in the process to support this policy. We look forward to our day in court to right this wrong, Doyle said in a statement. Gokal was fired after an internal investigation by the health department. Authorities said Gokal disregarded rules related to punctured vaccine vials with viable doses that direct employees to ensure that such doses are brought back to the main office so they can be administered to at-risk front-line workers, including health care employees and police officers, and to vulnerable populations. The mishandling of vaccine can result in the loss of government funding to the county, according to the health department. Gokal is facing a misdemeanor charge of theft by a public servant. If convicted, he faces up to a year in jail and a $4,000 fine. In Wisconsin, a pharmacist was arrested in December after being accused of ruining 57 vials of the Moderna vaccine because he allegedly believed the vaccine would mutate recipients DNA. ___ Follow Juan A. Lozano on Twitter: https://twitter.com/juanlozano70 Scott Morrison has hit back at Google's warning that it will remove search functions for Australia if forced to pay for media content - saying 'Australians don't respond to threats'. Speaking after the National Cabinet meeting on Friday the Prime Minister said that Google would have to play by Australia's rules. The tech giant has threatened to disable its search engine in Australia if new media laws are passed. 'Let me be clear. Australia makes our rules for things you can do in Australia. That's done in our parliament. It's done by our government.' Mr Morrison said. '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.' The PM said on Friday Australia 'does not respond to threats' after the search giant Google threatened to remove its search function from Australia The federal government has introduced a world-first law to make Google and Facebook pay news organisations for their content The PM's stoush with Google has been prompted after the company threatened to remove its search function in Australia if rules requiring news organisations to be compensated for content 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. Under the world-first code, 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. 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 and Brussels, where concerns have been raised over the 'advertising duopoly' of Google and Facebook. Pictured is the Melbourne office of Google. The company has threatened to pull its search function from Australia 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 and New Zealand, said Google 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.' 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 . All 77 BJP MLAs in Bengal to have central security cover Have zero-tolerance to money and muscle power: Election body chief India oi-Deepika S Kolkata, Jan 22: With political parties apprehending violence and unrest in poll-bound West Bengal, Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora on Friday said the poll panel has zero-tolerance to money and muscle power and misuse of the government machinery. The CEC also said no civic police volunteers will be deployed for the polling exercise. "The commission has zero-tolerance to money and muscle power or misuse of government machinery," the CEC told reporters. The full bench of the ECI, which is currently in the state to review preparedness for the assembly polls due in April-May, held meetings with representatives of political parties, senior government officials and police officers. He said that the EC's expenditure observer will take steps to prevent misuse of money power. Claiming that West Bengal is witnessing political violence in the run-up to the elections, opposition parties have urged the full bench of the EC to ensure that free and fair polls are held in the state. West Bengal Elections 2021: AIMM exposed after Bihar polls says Mamata Describing allegations made by a political party against the Border Security Force (BSF) as "unfortunate", Arora said that it is one of the finest forces in the country. He said the political party concerned should come up with facts to support its allegations. The ruling Trinamool Congress 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. Centre-farmers hold 11th round of talks, impasse over farm laws continues| Oneindia News He said the full bench of the EC asked the state's chief secretary and home secretary to look into the issues of fake information in the social media raised by political parties. The CEC said that the chief secretary and the home secretary of the state said that they are following the EC's guidelines in letter and spirit. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, January 22, 2021, 16:43 [IST] NEW YORK, Jan. 22, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- OTC Markets Group Inc. (OTCQX: OTCM), operator of financial markets for 11,000 U.S. and global securities, today announced AiXin Life International, Inc. (OTCQX: AIXN), focused on providing nutritional products in China and advertising and marketing services to distributors of nutritional products in China, has qualified to trade on the OTCQX Best Market. AiXin Life International, Inc. upgraded to OTCQX from the OTCQB Venture Market. AiXin Life International, Inc. begins trading today on OTCQX under the symbol "AIXN." U.S. investors can find current financial disclosure and Real-Time Level 2 quotes for the company on www.otcmarkets.com. The OTCQX Market provides investors with a premium U.S. public market to research and trade the shares of investor-focused companies. Graduating to the OTCQX Market marks an important milestone for companies, enabling them to demonstrate their qualifications and build visibility among U.S. investors. To qualify for OTCQX, companies must meet high financial standards, follow best practice corporate governance, and demonstrate compliance with applicable securities laws. Quanzhong Lin, Chairman and CEO of Aixin Life commented "Aixin Life is proud to make this step up to the OTCQX. The Company and I will continue to strive to adopt corporate governance practices that will ensure that we are doing our utmost to provide investors with all appropriate information regarding our company. As our business grows in China, we will seek to increase our visibility in the United States to appeal to a more diverse investor base. I personally am honored by OTCQX's recognition of the quality of our company and management team." Mandelbaum Salsburg P.C. acted as the company's OTCQX sponsor. About AiXin Life International, Inc. AiXin Life International, Inc., is engaged in providing nutritional products in China. The Company offers Milk Powder and other nutritional supplements. The Company sells the products through exhibition events, conferences, as well as person-to-person marketing. 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. Subscribe to the OTC Markets RSS Feed Media Contact: OTC Markets Group Inc., +1 (212) 896-4428, [email protected] SOURCE OTC Markets Group Inc. Related Links http://www.otcmarkets.com Mike Sutter /Staff More locations of the Austin-based Torchy's Tacos are opening in San Antonio soon. The popular restaurant chain is planning to invite guests into its fourth location at 8435 Wurzbach Road next month, the company told MySA.com via email Friday. A fifth Torchy's Tacos in San Antonio is planned for the Loop 1604 and Bandera Road as early as summer of this year. 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 man told Laredo police that he was tasked with delivering approximately five pounds of cocaine at a local McDonalds, state an arrest affidavit. Antonio De Jesus Lopez Juarez was arrested and charged with possess with intent to distribute cocaine and conspire to possess with intent to distribute the cocaine. At about 1:38 p.m. Jan. 19, a Laredo police officer pulled over a vehicle in the 2500 block of South New York Avenue for failure to stop at a designated point of stop and for defective tail lamps. In addition, he did not have a drivers license. LPD would identify the driver as Lopez Juarez. Lopez Juarez allegedly allowed officers to search his vehicle. During an investigation, a K-9 officer alerted to possible contraband inside the vehicle. Further search of the vehicle yielded an open cardboard box with a blue gift bag containing two square shaped bricks wrapped in duct tape. The bricks contained five pounds of cocaine, according to court documents. Police cited Lopez Juarez for the traffic violations before Drug Enforcement Administration special agents took over the case. He allegedly agreed to provide a post-arrest statement. Lopez Juarez admitted to knowingly transporting two kilograms of cocaine to be sold to an unknown subject at $25,500 per kilogram at the McDonalds on Sierra Vista next to the Valero gas station, states the affidavit. Five pounds is roughly 2.27 kilograms, making the cocaine worth around $57,885. Lopez Juarez further stated that a person provided him a location on where to meet and pick up the cocaine. He added he picked up the cocaine from a man he identified as Franky. Lopez Juarez further admitted to transporting cocaine in this manner at least six times. He then retracted his statement saying it was three times, states the affidavit. The controversy engulfing Clackamas County Commissioner Mark Shull deepened Thursday amid his latest inflammatory remarks about Muslims. Newly released emails to constituents also show Shull believes calls for his resignation amount to cancel culture as he commiserates with former President Donald Trump. He described his situation in one email exchange as a real mess. Earlier Thursday, Shull tried to deflect criticism by noting during a Board of Commissioners meeting that he met with local Muslim leaders this week at their invitation after last weeks media storm regarding comments I had made about Islam. At the end of the session, Shull read a statement saying, inaccurately, that the Muslim community believes in shariah law over the U.S. Constitution and supports open borders instead of immigration regulation. Shariah law is a wide-ranging set of rules and customs that govern aspects of Islamic life. Shull said he and representatives of the local Muslim community agreed on the need to build community but said there are topics that need to be discussed further. I believe that the U.S. Constitution and our laws must be adhered to in order to sustain our Nation, he said in the statement. The Muslim community believes that the Koran and its provisions for Sharia law is the only way that good government can be achieved. He also said he believes in controlled immigration and controlled borders. The Muslim leadership believes that national borders are wrong and that open borders should be implemented, he said. Imam Najieb of the Muslim Community Center of Portland said shariah practices influence the lives of Muslims. Shariah orients our lives, he said. We dont impose our laws on anyone who does not want to accept that themselves. He said adhering to those religious customs doesnt undermine the Constitution. We dont find any conflict in the Constitution or the laws that govern this nation, he said. I dont know what Mr. Shull is making reference to. Muslims make up about a quarter of the global population and are the second-largest religion after Christianity, according to the Pew Research Center. The U.S. is home to an estimated 3.45 million Muslims, making it the third-largest religion, the center says. According to the Institute for Social Policy and Understanding, an organization focused on the experience of American Muslims, Muslims and Jews were the most likely groups to report experiencing religious discrimination last year. Half of Muslim parents reported that their children had been bullied at school in the past year because of their faith, the organization found. In 2017, the Pew Research Center surveyed Muslims in 39 countries and asked whether Muslims wanted sharia law. Responses ranged from near-total approval in places like Afghanistan and Iraq to relatively low support in other parts of the globe. The U.S. was not part of the survey. The Muslim community is not a monolith, said Seemab Hussaini, a board member of the Oregon chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations. Hussaini said he was horrified by Shulls latest claims. It is absolutely proof that this person is mentally unfit to hold office and to be able to represent constituencies in his district with equity, he said. Shull was elected in November and as commissioner is paid $104,475 a year. It wasnt until recently that his record of xenophobic remarks came to the publics attention. Cris Waller, a Clackamas County resident and a leader in the countys Democratic Party, brought Shulls previous statements to light. Screenshots of Shulls now-shuttered Facebook page showed he had made comments as recently as 2020 about Islam, Muslim people, transgender people and the Black Lives Matter movement, which he called a pawn for the rise of neo Marxism. A long list of elected officials in Clackamas County and across the metro region have called for his resignation demands echoed by a handful of residents who attended Thursdays virtual board meeting. Shull said told them: If my comments from the past have caused pain and concern, that I am very sorry. Shull has not agreed to an interview or answered written questions about his past statements or his future plans. Waller has moved ahead with plans to recall Shull, a step that cannot begin for another six months. However, his work emails shed some light on his thinking. He views the effort to push him to resign as the result of cancel culture, according to an email he sent to a constituent last week. That email and others Shull has sent in his brief tenure were released to The Oregonian/OregonLive in response to a public records request. Last week, the constituent thanked Shull for help with a complaint about one of the county departments. The resident signed off with a message about working together to defeat the idiots that the democrap sheeple elect to office. Shull told the resident he had been fighting an issue started by the cancel culture regarding my old comments about radical Islam. He added: Now I know what trump (sic) went through. This week has been like combat. In another email to the same constituent, he wrote: Working on damage control. Politics is worse than being in Iraq, he wrote. Shull served in the Middle East in the military, he says on his campaign page. The resident in his reply mentioned the protest-related arrest last fall of the legislative director for House Speaker Tina Kotek, D-Portland, for allegedly interfering with a peace officer because she did not leave when the crowd was told to do so. Shull replied: They let the leftist go free and then try hammer people like us. The tone of the exchange between the men shifted this week after the news organization filed a public records request for Shulls emails. After the constituent used a slur to refer to Muslims, Shull wrote: All comments made in the county emails are subject to freedom of information act disclosure to the public, so we must ensure any terms that are offensive are not used. -- Noelle Crombie; ncrombie@oregonian.com; 503-276-7184; @noellecrombie A homeless charity founder and Young Australian of the Year finalist who was sacked over fraud allegations has been labelled a 'trickster' by the Fair Work Commission - despite all her charges being dropped. Street Swags founder Jean Madden started providing lightweight and waterproof sleeping bags for the homeless in 2005 after learning about the health effects on those sleeping rough. Her charity, Street Swags, distributed 13,000 mobile beds by 2010 - the year Ms Madden was awarded Queensland Young Australian of the Year and went on to become a national finalist. But Ms Madden was in 2016 sacked by the charity she founded, accused of racking up more than $440,000 in unauthorised expenses throughout the preceding year. Street Swags founder Jean Madden leaves the Magistrates Court in Brisbane in February 2017 Ms Madden, who was sacked over fraud allegations, has been labelled a 'trickster' by the Fair Work Commission The mother-of-two was two months later charged by police with a raft of fraud offences, but they were eventually dropped and no evidence was ever offered. Ms Madden took her 'harsh, unjust and unreasonable' Street Swags termination to the Fair Work Commission for unfair dismissal. In a decision handed down on January 14, Commissioner Jennifer Hunt dismissed Ms Madden's claim, declaring her to be a 'trickster'. 'Ms Madden, is, I have observed, an interesting person. She appears to me to be a chameleon; being able to charm many with gushing enthusiasm and purported facts or statements,' Commissioner Hunt said in her decision. 'Throughout the hearing and on careful examination of the evidence and material before me, I have caught Ms Madden out with complete and obvious untruths. 'Her trickery and charisma would lead a hurried person to accept her explanations of ''Oh, that wasn't paid'' or ''I had deductions to cover that payment''. Ms Madden began to provide lightweight and waterproof sleeping bags for the homeless in 2005 after learning about the health effects on those sleeping rough 'Ms Madden is, in my view, a trickster and has the capacity, audacity and gall to have fooled many around her.' Commissioner Hunt said Ms Madden established a 'fan base' and led them to believe Street Swag directors Adrian De Maria and Brian O'Reilly 'were on some power trip to improperly overthrow a hard-working and diligent CEO from the charity she founded'. Commissioner Hunt also detailed how Ms Madden sent $14,400 to her personal lawyer and gave her then-boyfriend a job with a $130,000 salary. 'The use of a charity's money to pay to the CEO's boyfriend this payment... is beyond extraordinary,' she said in her decision. Ms Madden's termination letter from May 19, 2016, said that the Worrells Report indicated that Ms Madden incurred $441,399.43 in unauthorised expenses in the past year. 'I am satisfied the belief that Ms Madden had engaged in conduct sufficiently serious to justify immediate dismissal was based on reasonable grounds,' Commissioner Hunt said. Ms Madden (pictured in February 2017) took her 'harsh, unjust and unreasonable' Street Swags termination to the Fair Work Commission for unfair dismissal In her decision, Commissioner Hunt also said Ms Madden reminded her of the 'sleek lawyer and showman Mr Billy Flynn from the musical Chicago'. Ms Madden told The Courier-Mail it was 'really unfair' for the commissioner to comment on the way she 'performed' during the hearing seven-day last year. 'I think she is referring to my performance during the hearing,' Ms Madden said. 'Whilst she implies that I have immense confidence and Broadway quality acting skills, I would argue I don't have either; what I do have is the knowledge that I am innocent.' Ms Madden claims she has struggled to get a job after being 'so publicly defamed'. She said she was rejected from 40 jobs she applied for over the past year. She also uses her maiden name when applying for work. 'I think my reputation proceeds me,' she said. Jordan engaged in a flurry of diplomatic activity ahead of Joe Biden's inauguration as president in an effort to help lay the groundwork for a fresh engagement with the United States following years of frustration for many countries that was brought about by the unilateral approach of the Donald Trump presidency. On Jan. 18, King Abdullah hosted Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi in Amman. The two leaders held talks that covered bilateral ties and regional issues. They also discussed ways to expand Jordanian-Egyptian-Iraqi cooperation while building on progress made at the three previous summits, according to a royal court statement. The king reaffirmed Jordans standing position calling for a just and comprehensive peace on the basis of the two-state solution that guarantees the establishment of an independent, sovereign and viable Palestinian state on the June 4, 1967, lines with East Jerusalem as its capital, the statement said. Sisi was quoted as saying that Egypt will continue to push for efforts to secure Palestinian rights, adding that supporting the Palestinian cause is a fundamental element of Egyptian policy. Sources said the two leaders also discussed the upcoming Palestinian elections, whose dates were announced by President Mahmoud Abbas on Jan. 15. Sources told Al-Monitor that both Amman and Cairo had pressured Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to make the move few days before Bidens inauguration in a bid to renew the legitimacy of Palestinian legislative and executive institutions. On Jan. 17, the chiefs of the Egyptian and Jordanian intelligence services arrived in Ramallah, where they met with Abbas. Ahmed Husni, head of the Jordanian General Intelligence Directorate, and Abbas Kamel, head of Egypts General Intelligence Service, discussed preparations for the Palestinian legislative and presidential elections to be held for the first time in 15 years later this year. Elections are to be held for the PA presidency, parliament and the PLOs Palestinian National Council. The visit was within the context of ongoing coordination between the Palestinians and the two Arab countries in preparation for engaging the Biden administration, a Palestinian Authority official in Ramallah said. Sisis visit to Amman came two days after Abdullah flew to Abu Dhabi on Jan. 16 to hold talks with Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the crown prince of Abu Dhabi and the deputy supreme commander of the UAE armed forces. Jordan's royal court said in a statement that the talks focused on the need to maintain coordination and consultation on issues of mutual concern, while bolstering cooperation across all sectors. The meeting covered the latest Arab and regional developments, foremost of which is the Palestinian cause and means of achieving peace in the region, the statement said. It added that the king stressed the importance of reaching a just and comprehensive solution to the Palestinian cause on the basis of the two-state solution. He also welcomed the outcome of the Gulf Cooperation Council summit held Jan. 5 in Saudi Arabia that ended the rift between Qatar and its Gulf neighbors as well as Egypt. While the king was in Abu Dhabi, his foreign minister, Ayman al-Safadi, was in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, on a rare visit where he held talks with his counterpart Prince Faisal bin Farhan. In addition to discussing bilateral ties, the two men reviewed Jordanian-Saudi coordination and consultation toward resolving regional crises and achieving security and stability, according to the Jordan Times. It added that the two sides also stressed the need for efforts to relaunch serious peace negotiations between the Palestinians and Israelis based on the two-state solution and the Arab Peace Initiative. Renewed Saudi commitment to the Arab Peace Initiative is important for both Jordan and the Palestinians as it comes in the wake of the signing of normalization agreements between Israel and a number of Arab countries in the past few months. Abdullah had parted ways with the Trump White House over the presidents handling of the Middle East peace process. The king was bold enough to reject Trumps recognition of Jerusalem as Israels capital in December 2017 and had rebuffed the peace plan Trump released in January 2020. Jordan rallied Western donor countries to support the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian refugees after the Unied States suspended its financial backing for the agency. Abdullah had done so despite the kingdoms heavy dependence on Americas economic aid and Jordan's reliance on US political and military support. Under the Trump administration, Jordan had felt its regional role marginalized as US officials supported direct talks between Israel and Gulf states. Abdullah continued to underline his backing for the two-state solution as the only path to resolving the Palestinian issue. Since Bidens victory in the November presidential election, the mood in Amman has been upbeat. Abdullah was the first Arab leader to congratulate Biden for his electoral victory and speak with him. Biden had renewed his support for resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict based on the two-state solution. The king is now in position to put Jordan in the forefront of regional players as he is expected to be the first Arab leader to visit Washington, most probably in March, and meet with President Biden. The king feels that there is a good chance that the peace process could be resumed under Biden and salvage what remains of the two-state solution, Orieb Al-Rintawi, head of the Jerusalem Strategic Study Center in Amman, told Al-Monitor. This is the reason for the recent burst of diplomatic action out of Amman, he said. There is also a belief that there is a need to reunite Arab countries over a new vision for peace with Israel following the series of normalization deals in recent months, Rintawi said. Jordan sees that these deals may be used as leverage over Israel to resume negotiations with the Palestinians, he added. Writing in Al-Ghad daily Jan. 19, political commentator Fahd al-Khitan said Amman had become the center of active diplomatic moves aimed at preparing the region for the post-Trump era. Jordan sees hope for forming a united Arab stand on resolving the Palestinian issue now that there is a new US administration and following the resolution of the Gulf rift, he said. The king has unique ties in Washington, especially with the Biden team, that no other Arab leader has and Jordan will emerge as a key regional player in the coming weeks and months, Khitan added. One sign of growing optimism in Amman was the nomination by Biden of veteran diplomat William Burns to head the CIA. Burns had served as US ambassador to Jordan between 1998 and 2001 and is believed to have a deep and balanced understanding of the region, particularly the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Published on 2021/01/21 | Source Italian luxury brand Gucci released a fashion pictorial with actress Lee Ji-ah in the February issue of Noblesse. Lee Ji-ah, who decorated the cover of the February issue of Noblesse, perfectly featured the Gucci Epilogue collection, creating a beautiful atmosphere with her unique and delicate eyes. In the pictorial, Lee Ji-ah drew attention by creating a stylish pictorial with her own colorful colors, including a woolen cardigan, rose-colored silk skirt, brown multi-G pattern jacket and skirt, as well as ivory-blue-multicolored flower print dress. In particular, she showed sophisticated and elegant charisma by matching Gucci's Precious Skin handbag with a variety of matches, including a white leather Dionysus handbag with python trim, Korea Exclusive Gucci Holsbit 1955 Small Top Handle Bag, and Sylvie Croco's belt bag 1961. The Gucci Precious Skin handbag worn by Lee Ji-ah and the costumes and accessories of the epilogue collection are all available at Gucci national stores and official online stores. Meanwhile, the pictorial of "The Penthouse" actress Lee Ji-ah and Gucci, can be seen in the February issue of Noblesse. Whiteness is an elastic concept. It turns out that you no longer have to be white to be white. White basically means that you dont swallow the nonsense being ladled out by the far Left. So, happily, people of all colors are now white, according to liberals. Is that unity and inclusion, or what? At the American Spectator, Cockburn writes about The terrifying scourge of multiracial whiteness. [T]heres a small problem. Somehow, on their way to launching a neo-fascist takeover of the United States, the white supremacists ran out of whites. Simply looking at video of the Capitol riot, or looking at the FBIs wanted images afterwards, makes it obvious that the mob of Trump die-hards were multiracial. The two most famous members of the Proud Boys, Americas premier white nationalist group, are an Afro-Cuban and a Samoan. Stop the Steal organizer Ali Alexander identifies as black and Arab. And of course, there are Novembers famous exit polls, which showed that Joe Biden was carried to the White House by improving on Hillary Clintons support with white voters, while faltering with Hispanics and blacks. Yikes! When you read those facts a few too many times, you start to wonder: what if the white supremacists arent white supremacists? *** Fear not, though! The Washington Post is here to explain all the bad think away. Over the weekend, the paper ran a piece by NYU history professor Cristina Beltran: To understand Trumps support, we must think in terms of multiracial Whiteness. Multiracialwhiteness? Arent those antonyms? Not at all, you fool. Beltrans WaPo piece is a marvel of intellectual confusion. It probably exemplifies all too well the low level of instruction in todays universities. Yes, Trumps voters and his mob are disproportionately White, but one of the more unsettling exit-poll data points of the 2020 election was that a quarter to a third of Latino voters voted to reelect Trump. How dare they? I dont know, maybe they liked their rising incomes. Of course, mundane details like rising wages and near-zero unemployment are of no interest to liberals. And while the vast majority of Latinos and an overwhelming majority of African American voters supported the Biden-Harris ticket and were crucial to its success, many Black and brown voters have family and friends who fervently backed the MAGA policy agenda, including its delusions and conspiracy theories. Weird how when liberals talk about delusions and conspiracy theories, they never mean the Russia collusion hoax. Or the plot to pilfer the mailboxes, and so on. I call this phenomenon multiracial whiteness the promise that they, too, can lay claim to the politics of aggression, exclusion and domination. Whoa! So whiteness refers to a politics of aggression, exclusion and domination? Who knew? Silly non-critical race theorists thought it just referred to an ethnic group. But, given that definition, are Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, Amazon, Apple and Microsoft now white? Is there anyone else in our society so dedicated to aggression, exclusion and domination? Rooted in Americas ugly history of white supremacy, indigenous dispossession and anti-blackness, multiracial whiteness is an ideology invested in the unequal distribution of land, wealth, power and privilege a form of hierarchy in which the standing of one section of the population is premised on the debasement of others. Multiracial whiteness reflects an understanding of whiteness as a political color and not simply a racial identity a discriminatory worldview in which feelings of freedom and belonging are produced through the persecution and dehumanization of others. Multiracial whiteness promises Latino Trump supporters freedom from the politics of diversity and recognition. For voters who see the very act of acknowledging ones racial identity as itself racist, the politics of multiracial whiteness reinforces their desired approach to colorblind individualism. In the politics of multiracial whiteness, anyone can join the MAGA movement and engage in the wild freedom of unbridled rage and conspiracy theories. To call this bullshit is an insult both to bulls and to excrement. Does this woman have students? God help them. Multiracial whiteness offers citizens of every background the freedom to call Muslims terrorists Of course, no one has ever said that all Muslims are terrorists, but many have noted that some terrorists are Muslims. That makes us all white, apparently. demand that undocumented [i.e., illegal] immigrants be rounded up and deported Actually, that is what the laws of the United States demand, and the presidents duty under Article II of the Constitution is to take care that the laws be faithfully executed. But I suspect that the Constitution is not a document with which Ms. Beltran is well acquainted. deride BLM as a movement of thugs and criminals While no one disagrees with the innocuous slogan Black lives matter, the BLM organization does in fact consist largely of thugs and criminals, as last summers riots demonstrated. and accuse Democrats of being blood-drinking pedophiles. Heh. I havent heard that one before. Maybe she just mixed it in to see whether we were paying attention. Personally, I am not aware of any blood-drinking Democrats. There is more insanity at the link, but you cant read it without paying the Washington Post, which you shouldnt do. The bottom line is that an ideology so confused as to denounce its philosophical opponents as white, regardless of their skin color, is not going to last long. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick is pushing the state to refine its criteria for COVID-19 vaccination eligibility, saying that whittling down the list may better prioritize vulnerable Texans and clear up confusion over when shots will actually be available. The state is currently offering the vaccine to frontline workers and vulnerable Texans, a group of more than 9 million people even though the state is only receiving about 300,000 doses a week. That numerical reality has made for a confusing and frustrating process for Texans eligible for a shot, with many unable to find available doses or unsure where to look with demand far exceeding supply. Texans need to have a better understanding of the time it will take for everyone to be vaccinated in order to reduce lines, confusion and frustration, Patrick wrote in a Thursday letter to the states Expert Vaccination Allocation Panel. It will probably be May at the earliest before all members of that first priority group have been immunized, said Dr. David Lakey, a member of the states vaccine panel, in an interview this week with Hearst Newspapers. The Texans currently eligible are included in groups 1A health care workers and nursing home residents and 1B, those over 65 and anyone 16 or older with certain pre-existing medical conditions. Texas vaccine Group 1 About 9 million Texans are currently prioritized to receive the COVID-19 vaccine; people in this group are split up into categories A and B. 1A: Health care employees, including those who work in hospitals, long-term care facilities, outpatient programs, urgent care clinics and pharmacies. 1A: Residents of long-term care facilities, such as nursing homes. 1B: Anyone 65 and older. 1B: Anyone 16 and older with at least one chronic medical condition, including cancer, chronic kidney disease, heart conditions and obesity. Pregnant women also qualify in this group. Source: Texas Department of State Health Services See More Collapse RELATED: Texas mayors urge Biden to send COVID vaccines directly to big cities Public health experts interviewed on Friday agreed that Patricks suggestion could alleviate anxiety over vaccination availability and help get doses into the arms of people who need it most. So far, Texas has administered more than 1.5 million vaccine doses a number that leads much of the nation but also signals the long road ahead for a state of 29 million people. Simple math makes it clear it will take us several months to vaccinate the current priority population, Patrick said in the letter, which was first reported by the Texas Tribune. Patrick suggested creating subgroups within 1B over the next several weeks perhaps by first taking two weeks to vaccinate those 75 and older, a group of about 1.5 million. Then, he said, a subgroup of roughly 65,000 teachers and school staff over 65 could become eligible. This would help give people an idea of reasonable expectations and reduce wait times and frustration each week, Patrick wrote. Right now, in many cities and counties when an announcement of available vaccinations is made, website sign-up pages crash and phone calls go unanswered. On Friday, the Houston Health Department announced 1,600 new vaccine appointment slots. They were filled within five minutes. Its not immediately clear whether Gov. Greg Abbott and the Department of State Health Services will heed Patricks advice. A spokeswoman for the health agency said the vaccination allocation panel would likely discuss the issue at its next meeting on Monday, which is not open to the public. Abbott also has not weighed in on the matter; a spokeswoman did not respond to a request for comment Friday. A smooth vaccine distribution is crucial for Texas, where coronavirus infections have soared in recent weeks. COVID-19 has claimed more than 33,000 lives in the Lone Star State, and nearly 14,000 Texans were hospitalized with the virus as of Friday. Marilyn Felkner, a clinical assistant professor in public health at the University of Texas at Austin, said people would be willing to wait more patiently for a vaccine if they had a better idea of how long it would take to get an appointment. There are so many people in that group expecting that they can get the vaccine quickly, and that has created an unrealistic expectation, she said. She also endorsed the idea of starting with individuals 75 and older, aligning with recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDCs guidance gives first priority to health care employees and nursing home residents, followed by anyone at least 75 years old and frontline essential workers, including grocery store workers, mailmen, police officers and teachers. Texas chose to assign different priority groups. While the state also started with health care workers and nursing home residents, officials abruptly opened up vaccination appointments for Texans with comorbidities and senior citizens in late December. The move came as state officials worried that providers were leaving vaccines on shelves because they could not find enough members of the first group to inoculate. If Texas does further refine its priority vaccine recipients, essential workers who are also senior citizens could move up the list, said Shaun Truelove, an assistant scientist at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. State officials could start by vaccinating Texas most elderly residents, and then move on to those 65 and older who work in schools, grocery stores or public service jobs, he said. Somethings to be said about these frontline workers, too, Truelove said. We talk about them, and were all relying on them, but they get ignored. And while the shift to subgroups after weeks of allowing all members of Group 1B to register may cause confusion for some people, he said, most Texans would be able to adapt quickly. Then, state officials would have to confront to a new challenge: ensuring the subgroups are still large enough to ensure no vaccines go unused. It has the potential to slow it down further, Truelove said but when instituted appropriately, prioritizing the most vulnerable groups can significantly reduce hospitalization rates and fatalities. cayla.harris@express-news.net * Username This is the name that will be displayed next to your photo for comments, blog posts, and more. Choose wisely! Allen Joseph of Sweet Legacy in New Orleans, left, delivers beignets to Lynne Coughlin during Beignet Fest at Their Place Saturday, July 25, 2020. The two-day event replaced the annual fall Beignet Fest due to the coronavirus pandemic. A dozen food vendors across the metro area offered classic, sweet and savory variations of the beloved beignet at their businesses as customers maintained social distance. All proceeds benefit local autism programs via grants from the Tres Doux Foundation, the charitable arm of the fest. 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. live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More The country's largest private sector lender HDFC Bank on Friday said Sebi has asked it to deposit Rs 158.68 crore along with interest in an escrow account with regard to BRH Wealth Kreators case. On Thursday, Sebi imposed a penalty of Rs 1 crore on HDFC Bank for invoking securities pledged by stock broker BRH Wealth Kreators in violation of the regulator''s interim directions. The lender was also asked to deposit money in an escrow account. The instant proceedings have essentially arisen on account of non-conformity by HDFC Bank with the directions contained in the interim order issued by Sebi against BRH Wealth Kreators and other entities on October 7, 2019, as per the regulator. "The bank has been directed... to transfer an amount ofA Rs 158.68 crore along with interest from October 14, 2019 till date, calculated at the rate of 7 per cent per annum to an interest bearing escrow account in any nationalised bank, by marking a lien in favour of Sebi, until the issue of settlement of clients'' securities (clients of the stockbroker) is reconciled," it said in a regulatory filing. Sebi had found that HDFC Bank on October 14, 2019 invoked the pledge of securities to the extent of Rs 158.68 crore and thereafter, sold most of the securities and appropriated the sale proceeds towards the outstanding under the various credit facilities advanced by the bank to BRH. The private sector lender had granted credit facilities to BRH and BRH Commodities aggregating to Rs 191.16 crore and Rs 26.61 crore, respectively. PUNE: At least five men died and nine were evacuated after a fire broke out in a five-storey under-construction building at the Serum Institute of India's Manjari premises in Pune on Thursday (January 21). All the deceased were construction workers whose bodies were recovered by fire brigade personnel from the fifth floor, police said. While an exact cause of the fire is still unknown, Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray told reporters yesterday that initial information suggested that an electrical fault caused the fire. Cyrus S Poonawalla, Chairman and Managing Director, Serum Institute of India said the fire broke out in under installation facility situated at the Special Economic Zone at Manjri. Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope said that the initial fire was caused by some ongoing welding work at the site.The fire broke out at about 2:45 pm at an under-construction building where vaccine production was supposed to start after a month. The fire broke out at 4th and 5th floor of the SEZ3 building. BCG vaccine laboratory was there at 3rd floor of the same building but that is unaffected. The COVISHIELD plant is almost about 1km distance from fire incident site. According to police officials, the fire was brought under the control in two hours. Chief Fire Officer Prashant Ranpise said 15 water tankers were pressed into action and the fire was brought under control around 4.30 pm. Viral visuals from the site showed smoke billowing out from the Serum Institute facility. Ranpise added that while the cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained, he added that furniture, wiring, cabins were gutted in the flame. No major machinery or instruments were stored on the floors where the fire broke out. It may be noted that the country's apex drugs regulator had granted restricted emergency use permission to Serum Institute of India's Covishield vaccine in India. Millions of vaccine doses are being manufactured by Serum Institute under technical collaboration with Oxford University/Astra Zeneca. (With PTI inputs) Live TV More than three years after the idea was first floated by Mark Zuckerberg, Facebooks oversight board started hearing its first cases last month. Whatever the outcomes, those cases have been overshadowed by an announcement on Thursday that Facebook has sought the right to permanently banish Donald Trump. An initial ban had gone into effect on January 7, after a mob stormed the Capitol building. We believe the risks of allowing the President to continue to use our service during this period are simply too great, Zuckerberg wrote. We are extending the block we have placed on his Facebook and Instagram accounts indefinitely and for at least the next two weeks until the peaceful transition of power is complete. In announcing that the oversight board would review the decision, Facebook made clear that it aims to ban Trump permanently. We believe our decision was necessary and right, wrote Nick Clegg, a former British deputy prime minister who is now Facebooks vice-president of global communications. Still, Clegg added, Given its significance, we think it is important for the board to review it and reach an independent judgment on whether it should be upheld. While the company waits for the boards decision, Clegg said, Trumps account will remain suspended. As outlined in the documents that govern the oversight board, Trump is entitled to argue that the ban on his account is unreasonable. (Some believe that what Facebook really wants is for the board to order that he be reinstated, since his presence drives engagement, and, in turn, revenue.) The oversight board is a controversial entity. In his blog post about the Trump case, Clegg wrote that the board is an independent body and its decisions are bindingthey cant be overruled by CEO Mark Zuckerberg or anyone else at Facebook. Yet Facebook provides its funding. And the charter that established the board isnt legally binding, which means that Facebook could choose to ignore its rulings, even if it looks bad. Some critics of the oversight board view it as a kind of Potemkin village designed to distract peopleincluding regulatorsfrom the companys monopoly on social networking, and how it controls speech. This particular village is very well appointed, in that the board is filled with respected academics, judges, and others with impeccable pedigrees, such as Alan Rusbridger, a former editor of the Guardian. And the boards charter makes it sound as though it will have significant power over what Facebook does. But the granular details are less inspiring: for example, the board can hear cases about things that were taken down or blocked, but it cant hear cases about posts that should have been removed. Nor can it deal with cases related to Facebook Messenger or WhatsApp. These and other limitations led some criticsincluding former Facebook investor Roger MacNamee and Rappler founder Maria Ressato create what they call The Real Oversight Board, to review the decisions made by the, er, real oversight board. Whether the board is designed to obscure and distract from Facebooks general malevolence, or its a way of deflecting responsibility for particular decisions, it is nevertheless going to be interesting to see how the board handles the case of Trump. And it will also be worth watching the second thing that Facebook asked the board to consider: any observations or recommendations around suspensions when the user is a political leader. That is a contentious topicsince, as Jillian York, of the Electronic Frontier Foundation, has pointed out, Facebook has, in the past, banned generals from Myanmar and politicians from Turkey without saying much about why those decisions were made. If nothing else, the oversight board might provide some transparency. Heres more on the platforms and speech: The process : Steven Levy explains in Wired how the oversight board will proceed in the Trump case: Facebook had the option of asking the board to make an expedited decision for a quick turnaround, but considering the gravity of the case, it chose to allow the board to take its usual 90 days to process the case. (Of course, it could issue its judgement sooner.) One of the four co-chairs of the 20-person board will assign the case to a panel, which typically consists of five people (one must be in the North American region), and they will consider whether, as a major political player, Trump will be welcomed back. Ripple effects : Evelyn Douek, a lecturer at Harvard Law who has been studying the oversight board since it was first announced, writes on the Lawfare blog that the Facebook decision could have global ripple effects for politicians in other countries who have overseen or incited violence, but whose social media accounts remain alive and well. As of now, she argues, theres an apparent inconsistency in how Facebook treated Trumps account as opposed to how it treats accounts of other leaders: Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, for example, is still on Facebook. Must carry : Jeff Jarvis, a journalism professor at the City University of New York (which accepted donations from Facebook) wrote that he is afraid Facebook reconsidering its decision might encourage governments to impose content restrictions of their own. I do not want a society in which a government can outlaw the ability of platforms to choose what they do and do not carry, Jarvis says. Poland and some other countries, he notes, are considering laws that do exactly that. Compelled speech is not free speech! Twitters ban : After the Capitol riot, Twitter initially chose to block Trumps account for twelve hours, until he deleted some tweets. When he carried on with more violent statements, the company decided to ban his account permanently . Twitter said that accounts of politicians are given some leeway because the people have a right to hold power to account in the open, but they are not above repercussions. Jack Dorsey, Twitters chief executive, said that he struggled with the decision to ban Trump, which he believes could be destructive to the noble purpose and ideals of the open internet. A company making a business decision to moderate itself is different from a government removing access, yet can feel much the same. Sign up for CJR 's daily email Other notable stories: Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today Mathew Ingram is CJRs chief digital writer. Previously, he was a senior writer with Fortune magazine. He has written about the intersection between media and technology since the earliest days of the commercial internet. His writing has been published in the Washington Post and the Financial Times as well as by Reuters and Bloomberg. How quickly the pandemic is rotting the minds of supposedly clever civil servants and ministers. The latest crazy ideas to emanate from Whitehall are contained in a leaked 16-page official document. Mad idea number one: to pay 500 to every person testing positive for Covid-19. Mad (and dangerous) idea number two: to give police access to our private health data as part of a crackdown on breaches of quarantine. The first proposal of a 500 pay-out to anyone with Covid was pretty comprehensively rubbished by No 10 and Treasury sources yesterday, and seems unlikely to be adopted, at any rate in its present form. But it remains astonishing that grown-up civil servants should have produced such an idea, and that it is reportedly the 'preferred position' of Health Secretary Matt Hancock and his department. How quickly the pandemic is rotting the minds of supposedly clever civil servants and ministers, writes STEPHEN GLOVER Giving every Covid sufferer 500 could cost up to 453million a week, according to the official document. That equates to 23.5billion a year about half the annual defence budget. Of course, it would probably work out at less unless the pandemic grinds on for the foreseeable future. But given that the Government has already spent 280billion on supporting the economy, the country can't afford another financial commitment of this magnitude. A commitment, moreover, that would be tailor-made for fraudsters and ne'er-do-wells. The purpose of the 500 handout would be to induce infected people to stay at home and self-isolate. What would prevent someone pocketing the cash and then ignoring the rules? Others might become relaxed about catching Covid or conceivably even try to get infected in the expectation of a reward. The first proposal of a 500 pay-out to anyone with Covid was pretty comprehensively rubbished by No 10 and Treasury sources yesterday, and seems unlikely to be adopted, at any rate in its present form. Pictured: Chancellor Rishi Sunak Granted, some people are frightened of taking a test for fear it might prove positive and lead to mandatory self-isolation. The Government says only 17 per cent of those with symptoms are coming forward for a test, though that figure seems improbably low to me. Whether it is or not, there's no denying that, during the mass testing programme in Liverpool last November, the take-up was small in poorer areas, presumably because people were frightened that a positive test would lead to self-isolation and loss of income. A better scheme may be needed to encourage infected people to be tested and then self-isolate. Existing arrangements, costing some 36.5million a week, are aimed at those on welfare. But a whopping giveaway for everyone irrespective of income which can be easily manipulated by the devious and dishonest seems to me to verge on the lunatic. But it remains astonishing that grown-up civil servants should have produced such an idea, and that it is reportedly the 'preferred position' of Health Secretary Matt Hancock and his department That Mr Hancock should have embraced it underlines how much he and some other ministers have jettisoned economic good sense in their efforts to control the virus, which have hardly been conspicuously successful by the yardstick of international comparison. The Chancellor, Rishi Sunak, has been cast in the role of an indulgent uncle who writes endless cheques for his voracious dependents. The upshot is that the British people will one day have to pay back stupendous sums of money that would have made even Jeremy Corbyn blench. It's not just that some ministers and I fear the Prime Minister have demonstrated an almost socialist zeal for spending money. They have also shown a very un-Tory fondness for increasingly coercive measures. I'm not talking about police shutting down raves, which are obviously grossly irresponsible. No, I am thinking about the officious harrying of normally law-abiding people, who fear they will be censured for sitting harmlessly on a park bench. Which brings me to the second mad idea in the official document and one not rejected by No 10 in the absolute terms Mr Hancock's 500 payment has been. It proposes that individuals' health data should be given to the police to prove someone has tested positive for Covid. They have already acquired the power to request information about whether someone is supposed to be self-isolating. The new idea is that the police should be able to get 'testing and health data' from NHS Test and Trace as to whether or not a person has tested positive. It is an alarming precedent. Where will it end? Once the police have established the right to access your health records, no one can say where their appetite to know details about your personal health will stop. I realise this pandemic is a tremendous challenge for any government. I also acknowledge that in the roll-out of the vaccine it is at last showing a high degree of competence, though of course enormously supported by thousands of doctors, nurses and volunteers. And yet it seems the values of Conservatism are somehow getting forgotten or buried in the crisis, so that this Government is not only acting but thinking like a socialist one. If Conservatives stand for anything, it is not for wasting huge sums of money on barmy plans, or increasing the powers and reach of the State to the detriment of law-abiding citizens. This ill-conceived document may have been disowned by No 10, but the unpalatable ideas inside it live on. They will erupt again over the coming, difficult months. Critical care beds across North Wales hospitals at almost 180% of normal capacity This article is old - Published: Friday, Jan 22nd, 2021 Betsi Cadwaldrs primary and community care director has revealed critical care beds are running at almost 180% of normal capacity in North Wales major hospitals. Dr Chris Stockport was presenting a coronavirus update to Thursdays board meeting when he gave out the figures. He said the worst rates of infection were in the east of the region, predominantly in Wrexham and Flintshire, with Wrexhams Maelor hospital seeing the most inpatients admitted weekly around 60 this week and the same number last week. Dr Stockport warned, despite what appears to be a levelling off of new infections, hospital admissions because of Covid would continue to rise for a number of weeks. He said: I am concerned that the Covid admissions in the last couple of weeks to Ysbyty Glan Clwyd and Ysbyty Gwynedd are rising and thats something we will have to keep a close eye on. He said that, although half of all admissions were in the over-70s age group, it was not just limited to older people and warned young people if they thought they were not at risk from the virus they were simply wrong. Dr Stockport revealed a disproportionate number of patients were being looked after at Wrexham Maelor, which has more than a third of the 284 inpatients currently being treated for Covid across the region. Around a quarter of admissions were at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd and the rest were being treated at Ysbyty Enfys Deeside, Ysbyty Glan Clwyd, Ysbyty Gwynedd and various community hospitals. Critical care beds have reached 90% of the boards surge capacity or the amount of extra beds laid on to meet demand. It means that, across the three main general hospitals, 64 critical care beds were being used, almost 80% above the usual 36 available. The prolonged pandemic was also affecting staff, with the largest number of health staff testing positive for Covid found in the eastern region followed by the central area. The availability of around 280 staff is affected by shielding advice, further depleting numbers on call. Because of the pressures on the eastern area of the health board, some planned care had been moved from Wrexham Maelor to Ysbyty Glan Clwyd and Ysbyty Gwynedd for a two-week period, with staff redeployed. The situation will be reviewed on Monday next week. Dr Stockport praised the work of critical care teams as he revealed in excess of 20 patients had spent more than three weeks in the boards intensive therapy units (ITU). He said: It has been a phenomenal response from the intensive care and respiratory therapy teams. They have witnessed some tragic stories which takes a psychological toll with 16 people under the age of 40 have been in critical care. Staff have been engaged in 18 national and international research trials at the same time. If you need critical care you will receive some of the best critical care anywhere in the world in North Wales. By Jez Hemming BBC Local Democracy Reporter Up to 200 National Guard members deployed to Washington DC have tested positive for COVID-19, sparking fears that the protection put in place after the Capitol riot led to a 'superspreader' event. Three National Guard sources told Politico that over 100 troops have tested positive while several hundred more are currently in quarantine in hotels after showing symptoms or being exposed to the virus. Reuters then reported between 150 and 200 had tested positive, according to an anonymous US official. The insiders have described a failure by the National Guard to implement coronavirus testing and social distancing protocols evenly across the board, with some troops not being tested on arrival, some receiving only temperature checks and some told to cut short quarantine or skip it entirely in order to report for duty. The full scale of the problem is not yet known as the Guard has not confirmed the number of infections or which states' troops have been struck by outbreaks. But it comes after shocking pictures showed up to 5,000 Guardsmen sleeping on the floor of a packed parking garage Thursday night. Nearly 26,000 troops were sent to the Capitol from all 50 states following the January 6 insurrection to support Capitol police in guarding the seat of American democracy and President Joe Biden's inauguration from attack. Thousands of troops have already started returning to their home states with just 10,600 troops still on duty in the Capitol. It is also not clear how many troops have already left DC or whether they were tested before their departure, amid concerns that - if infected - the virus could spread like wildfire nationwide as the troops return to their home states. Troops outside the Capitol on Monday. Up to 200 National Guard members deployed to Washington DC have tested positive for COVID-19, sparking fears that the protection put in place after the Capitol riot led to a 'superspreader' event National Guard troops sleep on the grass on the eastern front of the US Capitol Thursday Members of the National Guard rest in the Capitol Visitors Center. Nearly 26,000 troops were sent to the Capitol from all 50 states following the January 6 insurrection One Guard member told Politico most of the infections came from the units' home stations and have been recorded among asymptomatic people. They said leadership had tried to set up a comprehensive plan to test all troops on arrival and before they return home. But several members said units were provided with no clear guidance on testing before coming to DC, on arrival or for when they return to their home states. One National Guard member told Politico they were not tested for COVID-19 when they arrived at the Capitol and were straight away packed in 'like sardines' altogether. 'Right after the holidays they packed us together like sardines in buses and rooms for this,' the Guard member said. Two members of the Guard also said several units were not offered testing. They said they only underwent temperature checks and were asked questions about whether they had been exposed to the virus. Others were forced to go out to try to find their own tests, one Washington DC member told the outlet. As well as a lack of testing, sources spoke of an inability to social distance and poor compliance with CDC quarantine rules. News of an outbreak comes after shocking pictures showed up to 5,000 Guardsmen sleeping on the floor of a packed parking garage Thursday night (above) Insiders described a failure by the National Guard to implement coronavirus testing and social distancing protocols evenly across the board. Pictured up to 5,000 troops in the garage Thursday One guardsman told the outlet troops who were exposed to the virus through their colleagues were told not to bother quarantining or to cut it short because they were needed on duty. The CDC recommends people exposed to the virus quarantine even after a negative test because tests may not detect the virus in the first few days of infection. This guidance was 'completely disregarded,' the Guard member said. Another guard member said it was 'almost impossible' for troops to practice social distancing while on duty in the halls of Congress, the DC armory and the parking garages. Another described the scenes like a 'sitcom' with so little space that they were forced to 'scavenge' for space in hallways. 'You should have seen late-coming states scavenge for space,' they said. 'It would have made a great sitcom: people literally making offices out of hallways and any unoccupied space.' Several lawmakers voiced outrage after shocking photos showed thousands of Guardsmen sleeping on the floor of the packed Thurgood Marshall Building parking garage and in a park outside Thursday night. The full scale of the outbreak is not yet known as the Guard has not confirmed the number of infections or which states' troops have been struck by outbreaks Troops are pictured resting in the Capitol building on Friday after briefly being kicked out overnight Images showed troops packed inside parking garages during their rest breaks with one unit of around 5,000 forced to sleep in one garage with just one bathroom between all of them. Before being located to the parking lot, the troops had been allowed to take rest breaks inside the Capitol building. The soldiers do have hotel rooms but their 12 hour shift pattern means they cannot easily return to their rooms during rest breaks. They had been asked to leave the Capitol building and take their rest breaks in a nearby designated parking lot by a Capitol officer who did not have the authority to do so. Capitol Police apologized late Thursday and said troops could return to the Capitol after some Guardsmen said they felt 'incredibly betrayed'. One source told Politico Congress has now stepped in to try to ensure 100 percent of troops are tested within the next few days. Missouri Senator Roy Blunt told Politico the Senate Rules Committee has launched an investigation into the matter saying the ill-treatment of the troops was a COVID-19 safety hazard. Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut said lawmakers were looking into what had gone wrong so that the issue can be resolved ahead of thousands of troops staying in the Capitol for the time being. Some troops not being tested for COVID-19 on arrival, some received only temperature checks and some told to cut short quarantine or skip it entirely in order to report for duty. Members of the National Guard from South Dakota stood guard outside the Capitol building on Friday New Hampshire National Guard posted this image Wednesday. Thousands of troops have already started returning to their home states with just 10,600 troops still on duty in the Capitol 'Obviously the Senate had not gotten as involved in this because we had hoped it was being worked out between Capitol Police and the Guard,' Murphy told the outlet. 'Obviously there's some rough edges, so there's a lot of us working on this right now.' He added: 'I think we've got to figure out what went wrong because I think there's going to be a National Guard presence on campus for the foreseeable future.' Efforts to vaccinate troops have also reportedly been sporadic. Some started receiving the first dose of the vaccine in DC, one Maryland Guard member said, while members of the Wisconsin Air National Guard were given the option to get a shot before heading to DC. Around 7,000 Guardsmen will remain on duty until at least March at the Capitol at the request of local law enforcement. But with some troops having already departed DC, it is not yet clear how far the COVID-19 outbreak could spread. A National Guard spokesperson told DailyMail.com they do not discuss COVID cases, but insisted Guard personnel are following CDC guidelines. 'When National Guard members departed from their individual states and upon arrival to the DC Armory, they had their temperatures checked and completed a screening questionnaire,' they said. 'Masks and social distancing are required where the mission allows. They are following these procedures daily.' The Daniel Pearl Berkshire Scholarship INFORMATION FOR APPLICANTS The Daniel Pearl Berkshire Scholarship was established in 2003 with major support from The Berkshire Eagle, the North Adams Transcript and friends of Daniel Pearl, to benefit Berkshire-area students who intend to major in journalism or music. The scholarship fund is invested by the Daniel Pearl Foundation of Encino, California and the award program is administered by the Daniel Pearl Berkshire Scholarship Committee. Daniel Pearl was a reporter for The Wall Street Journal who was kidnapped and killed, at the age of 38, by terrorists in Pakistan early in 2002. He began his career with stints as a reporter at both the Transcript and The Eagle between 1986 and 1990, after graduating from Stanford University. He joined The Wall Street Journal in 1990, and worked in its Atlanta, Washington, London and Paris bureaus. In 2000 he was appointed chief of The Journals South Asia Bureau in Bombay, India. At the time of his death, Pearl had been seeking an interview with a shadowy Islamic leader to obtain information about terrorist organizations in Pakistan. Those who promised to arrange the interview instead kidnapped and killed him. While Pearls career was in journalism, he was a gifted musician, trained as a classical violinist. He also played guitar and mandolin, and while living in the Berkshires he performed in a bluegrass band. ELIGIBILITY To be eligible for the 2021 award, you must meet one of the following educational qualifications, and the Berkshire area residence requirement below. You will graduate from high school in 2021 and plan to enter your first year of higher education in the fall of 2021, OR: You graduated from high school in 2019 or 2020 and deferred college enrollment for one or two years, but plan to enter your first year of college in the fall of 2020, OR: You plan to enter college in the fall of 2021 following a period of active military service. Graduates of any public or private high school may qualify, as long as they meet the following residence requirement: The applicant must have maintained home residence during his or her entire senior year in high school within the circulation and news coverage area of The Berkshire Eagle. That area is defined as, and limited to: All towns in Berkshire County, Massachusetts; plus: Canaan, Conn. Pownal, Readsboro and Stamford, Vt. Canaan, New Lebanon, Berlin, Stephentown, N.Y. Residents of this geographic area who attended a school elsewhere (for example, a private school) also qualify. AWARDS The award is competitive, and will be given at the discretion of the committee to a single student who exhibits a strong interest in the pursuit of education and a career either in music or journalism, and has a meritorious record of academic and community achievement while in high school. Applications will be reviewed by the committee with those criteria in mind. The fund makes an annual award of $2,000. Note: The scholarship award may be subject to revocation if the recipient substantially alters his or her intent to study and pursue a career in journalism or music prior to first-year enrollment. In addition to the college scholarship, the fund donates $500 to the Berkshire Music School to assist in tuition for a student with financial need. DEADLINE All applications must be received by email by the Committee by midnight, Friday, April 23, 2021. No postal applications please. TO APPLY Complete the application form, scan, and send it by email it to: Pearl Scholarship Committee c/o Martin C. Langeveld newsafternewspapers@gmail.com Along with the application form, please be sure to send: A certified transcript of high school grades Two letters of recommendation, one from a recent teacher and one from a counselor, community leader or employer A typed or printed essay, the requirements for which are described in the application form Evidence of acceptance to an accredited college or university offering a course of study focused on journalism or music. It is the applicants responsibility to ensure that the application form and all attachments are received by the deadline date the committee will send no notification of missing materials. REVIEW PROCESS Applications will be reviewed by the Daniel Pearl Berkshire Scholarship Advisory Committee, which includes the publisher of The Berkshire Eagle, and several other members with backgrounds in journalism or music. The recommendations of the Advisory Committee are subject to review by the Daniel Pearl Foundations board of directors. PAST WINNERS 2003: Kathryn E. Anderson, Pittsfield, MA (Pittsfield High School, Harvard University) 2004: Luke C. Massery, Pittsfield, MA (Pittsfield High School, Eastman School of Music) 2005: Thomas J. Buchte, Sheffield, MA (Mt. Everett Regional, University of Southern California) 2006: Linnea K. Clark, Washington, MA [Miss Halls School, Yale University] 2007: Brian F. Mastroianni, Adams, MA [Hoosac Valley High School, Brown University] 2008: Samantha deManbey, Sandisfield, MA [Monument Mountain Regional High School; Fitchburg State College] 2009: Elizabeth Murray, Adams, MA [Hoosac Valley High School, St. Michaels College] 2010: Patrick W. Madden, Williamstown, MA [Mt. Greylock Regional High School, Brown University 2011: Zachary S. Robarge, Pittsfield, MA [Pittsfield High School, University of Massachusetts] 2012: Naomi LaChance, Williamstown, MA [Mount Greylock Regional High School, Bard College] 2013: Kate Robarge, Pittsfield, MA [Pittsfield High School, University of Massachusetts, Amherst] 2014: Connor Wotkowicz, Adams, MA [Hoosac Valley High School, Boston College 2015: Hannah Lynn Cohen, Lee, MA [Monument Mountain Regional High School, Boston University] 2016: Sydney Claire King, Lenox Dale, MA [Lenox Memorial High School, McGill University] 2017: Carli Scolforo, Pittsfield, MA [Taconic High School, Sienna College] 2018: Noah Hochfelder, Pittsfield, MA [Lenox Memorial High School, Middlebury College] 2019: Brierley Lloyd, Falls Village, CT [Housatonic Valley Regional High School, Endicott College] 2020: Owen Tucker-Smith, Williamstown, MA [Mount Greylock Regional High School, Yale University] QUESTIONS Please contact Martin C. Langeveld 802-380-0226 or newsafternewspapers@gmail.com Melania Trump is done with being the First lady of America. With no more needing to face the cameras along with the US President, Melania Trump seems to be making it clear of her intentions to take a break from all the attention. The Trumps, who skipped the inauguration of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, flew to Florida but upon arrival, as the former President waved at the cameras and stopped to pose, Melania strode away without breaking her brisk pace and directly went to the car waiting for them. A video of the incident has been going viral on Twitter which shows the former first lady and Trump come down the stairs of their plane upon which the latter stops to pose for photographs. But Melania, on the other hand, keeps walking without breaking strides. Melania is totally done. She already quit posing. pic.twitter.com/BRoBardBgx Diego E. Barros (@diegoebarros) January 20, 2021 The internet was up in arms with comments ranging from funny to some even mean, saying how Melania now doesn't care about phot ops anymore as she is out of the White House. Did you see her face? @MELANIATRUMP @FLOTUS45 told @POTUS45 , "I'm out of here the moment this plane touches down in Florida!!!" She did not disappoint. https://t.co/HlT3FTQC5j Primadanna (@primadanna) January 22, 2021 Some even tried to read between the lines here and said maybe the former President wanted to appear alone in the final photos. Rewatched it a number of times. Looks like Trump is slightly pushing her directing her to the car. Also he says something before that. Maybe he wanted to appear alone on the final photos. bigK (@thisisbigk) January 20, 2021 And watching Melania, walk,right by at Trump's arrival in Florida...she wanted zip... of that. gr8hndz4u (@Gr8hndz4uSybil) January 21, 2021 She is so done with him! Brian/Muzi (@hmblwrldtrvlr) January 21, 2021 Also, amid divorce rumours, several people on Twitter also speculated that the former first lady was just minutes away from filing for separation. I dont wish divorce on anyone BUT i give trump and Melania less than a year .... Mark my words. Marc Calderon (@Keepa_WetWipe) January 22, 2021 Anybody else think #MelaniaTrump is actually #Q in order to finally get that divorce? B (@thatguyforreal0) January 22, 2021 @melaniatrump - Princess Melania's contract expired at 12:00 noon on Wednesday - January 20, 2021. It's off to the divorce attorney. Peggy O'Steen (@Pokey1013Peggy) January 21, 2021 The Trumps arrived in Florida from Washington on Air Force One on Wednesday morning to stay at the Mar-a-Lago resort. Melania changed outfits in the flight from her formal somber black dress to the orange Gucci dress and ballerina flats which made her seem like vying for vacation finally after the seriousness of the White House. Speculation has been rife since the past couple of months of the former First Lady Melania Trump's alleged plans to divorce Trump as soon as he leaves the White House. According to a report in the British tabloid Daily Mail, Melania Trump had been allegedly waiting for Trump to concede defeat and leave the White House before she can end her 15-year-long marriage. The revelation was apparently made by Trump's former aide Omarosa Manigault Newman, who was quoted by Daily Mail as saying, "Melania is counting every minute until he is out of the office and she can divorce". Calling their relationship a "transactional marriage", the report noted that not all was well in between the Trumps. We have used your information to see if you have a subscription with us, but did not find one. Please use the button below to verify an existing account or to purchase a new subscription. Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-22 22:04:22|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close JERUSALEM, Jan. 22 (Xinhua) -- The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) announced Friday that its troops downed a drone that entered Israel's airspace from Lebanon. According to a statement from the military, the drone was monitored for a period of time by the army before it was downed. The incident comes after days of heightened tensions on Israel's northern border with both Lebanon and Syria. Media outlets in Syria have reported several Israeli airstrikes against Iranian military positions in the country in recent days. Israeli officials made no comments on these reports. "The IDF will continue to operate in order to prevent any attempt to violate Israeli sovereignty," read the statement released on Friday. According to Israeli media channels, the drone was unarmed and downed 150 meters into Israeli territory by using electronic warfare capabilities. Enditem The used a video summit of its 27 leaders to call on to immediately release opposition leader and make sure that his rights are fully respected. Navalny was arrested last Sunday at a Moscow airport as he tried to enter the country from Germany, where he had spent five months recovering from nerve agent poisoning he blames on the Kremlin. EU summit host Charles Michel said the leaders expect to urgently proceed with the independent and transparent investigation into the attack on his life." Michel also insisted that Moscow fully cooperate with the Organization for the prohibition of chemical weapons to ensure an impartial investigation" is carried out into the attack. came under renewed pressure after Navalny's arrest to explain the nerve agent attack on the opposition figure the annual meeting of the global chemical weapons watchdog. Police on Thursday also took into custody two top associates of Navalny ahead of planned protests against his detention. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A Place for All Conservatives to Speak Their Mind. Myanmar & COVID-19 First Batch of COVID-19 Vaccines Arrive in Myanmar from India The first Covishield doses arrive in Yangon. / Indian Embassy Yangon Yangon Indias gift of 1.5 million COVID-19 vaccine doses arrived in Myanmar on Friday. The vaccination program will start next week with President U Win Myint and State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi due to be inoculated. Health-care workers, including volunteers, who are on the COVID-19 frontline, government staff and members of parliament are the first priority. Myanmar has more than 110,000 health-care personnel. In a televised speech on Thursday evening, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi said the 1.5 million doses can cover about 750,000 people, with each person needing to be vaccinated twice. She said the government gave careful consideration to how to use the doses in the best interests of the country. The first priority will be given to our health-care personnel, including volunteers, who are working on the frontline. I believe everyone will agree with this, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi said. She said the second priority were those in key union, regional and state government roles. I feel a little reluctant to say this because I belong to this category. I believe people will be able to understand that I belong to this group, the 75-year-old said. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi said the third priority group includes elderly people, those with underlying health issues and high-density residents in townships with stay-at-home orders which have high coronavirus infection rates. Since Wednesday, India has supplied COVID-19 vaccines to Bhutan, the Maldives, Bangladesh, Nepal, Myanmar and Seychelles in response to requests from neighboring countries. The Indian Embassy in Yangon said the vaccine doses sent to Myanmar are Covishield, produced by the Serum Institute of India, the worlds largest vaccine manufacturer. In these difficult times, which are a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic, as we vaccinate our own citizens, we would also like to share our capacities with our key partner countries Saurabh Kumar, Indias ambassador to Myanmar, told The Irrawaddy. The Covishield vaccine was developed by Oxford University and AstraZeneca. Myanmar has ordered 30 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine from the Serum Institute. Myanmar had paid US$75 million (100 billion kyats), half the amount for the vaccines ordered. The total cost could reach $550 million (734 billion kyats) for Myanmars adult population, with two doses needed per person and each Covishield dose costing about $5 (6,700 kyats). Myanmar forecast that about 40 percent of its 54.4 million population will be inoculated against COVID-19 by the end of 2021. The remaining adults are expected to be vaccinated during the 2022-23 financial year. Meanwhile, Myanmar is trying to buy COVID-19 vaccines from China, Russia, the UK and USA through diplomatic channels. For the purchase of COVID-19 vaccines, Myanmar earmarked $251 million (331 billion kyats) on Jan. 5 and has sought public donations. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi said on Thursday the government has received 18.8 billion kyats and more than $2.9 million from donors for the vaccine purchases. Since Dec. 19, Myanmar has seen a decline in daily COVID-19 cases. Fewer than 1,000 new cases are now being reported per day, down from a peak of more than 1,400 daily cases. On Thursday Myanmar reported 136,166 COVID-19 cases, including 3,013 fatalities and 119,973 recoveries. Cases have been reported in about 300 townships across the country. In Asean, Myanmar is fourth in terms of COVID-19 cases, behind Indonesia, the Philippines and Malaysia. You may also like these stories: Myanmar Needs Major Powers Cooperation, Not Competition Myanmar Authorities Seize 34 Rohingya in Ayeyarwady Region Myanmar Workers at International Joint-Venture Construction Site Strike for Unpaid Wages If you'd like to leave a comment (or a tip or a question) about this story with the editors, please email us We also welcome letters to the editor for publication; you can do that by filling out our letters form and submitting it to the newsroom. 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." Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-21 22:38:24|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close A poster is seen to notice that the frequency of late-night train will be reduced under a state of emergency at Shinjuku station, Tokyo, Japan, Jan. 22, 2021. Japan on Thursday confirmed 5,652 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the nation's cumulative total of infections to 352,688. The government said Pfizer's vaccine is likely to gain approval from the health ministry for inoculation on Feb. 15. (Xinhua/Du Xiaoyi) TOKYO, Jan. 21 (Xinhua) -- 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. In Tokyo, the hardest hit by the virus among Japan's 47 prefectures, 1,471 new cases were reported Thursday, bringing the capital's tally to 90,659 infections. Thursday's figure marks the ninth straight day daily infections have exceeded the 1,000-mark, with 159 "seriously ill" patients reported in the capital of 14 million, one fewer than the previous day's record of 160 critical patients. With the government being criticized for its slow response in dealing with the outbreak of the pneumonia-causing virus, it announced that an additional supply of Pfizer Inc.'s coronavirus vaccine will be made available for for 12 million people. The government said Pfizer's vaccine is likely to gain approval from the health ministry for inoculation on Feb. 15. Japan has already secured enough doses to vaccinate 72 million people, more than half of its population within this year. It agreed last year to buy 120 million doses for 60 million people from the U.S. pharmaceutical giant. "We will be able to finally begin vaccinations now that a contract has been agreed upon," said health minister Norihisa Tamura during a press conference Wednesday. "We requested as much vaccine supply as possible by the end of the first half of the year," Tamura said. The Japanese government has also made agreements with British-Swedish firm AstraZeneca Plc. for doses to cover 60 million people, as well as inking a contract with Moderna Inc. for enough doses to inoculate 25 million people. On Thursday, Japan's Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. said it has begun clinical trials here of U.S. biotech Moderna Inc.'s coronavirus vaccine candidate. The Moderna vaccine is aimed to be rolled out in the first half of this year, sources close to the matter said. Enditem Badlapur actor Varun Dhawan and fashion designer Natasha Dalal are all set to tie the knot on January 24 in Alibaug's The Mansion House. The wedding will take place with coronavirus-related safety precautions in place. Varun Dhawan and Natasha Dalal's wedding will be a private affair and only family member and close friends will be present. Online invites were sent to guests just a few days back to maintain secrecy. Filmmaker Karan Johar, who launched Dhawan with his 2012 film Student of The Year, will attend the wedding. The Dhawans have also instructed the staff at the wedding venue-- The Mansion House in Alibaug, which comprises 25 rooms and is a preferred location for private parties, to avoid using cell phones. A close source was quoted by Times of India as saying, "Varun has always been warm and friendly with his fans and members of the press. However, David Dhawan has asked for their family's privacy, so their own staff of people working at the venue has been asked to avoid using cellphones." Though Dhawan and Dalal have known each other since childhood, their love story began after school when they met at a concert. The world came to know about Varun Dhawan's relationship with Natasha Dalal for the first on an episode of Koffee with Karan. Dhawan had said that he was serious about getting married and since then, news about their marriage has made it to the headlines every now and then. Also read: Greta Thunberg fires parting shot at Donald Trump; Mary Trump says 'well played' Also read: Tandav row: Shiv Sena condemns BJP on its stand; says 'never tolerated insult of Hindu gods' Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-23 01:40:24|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee Xi Jinping, also Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military Commission, addresses the fifth plenary session of the 19th CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 22, 2021. (Xinhua/Li Xueren) -- Xi puts forward new tasks for Party building. -- Xi says corruption is the "biggest" risk to the Party's governance. -- 18 centrally-administrated officials were investigated in 2020. -- "No alternative" but to fight corruption against all odds: Xi BEIJING, Jan. 22 (Xinhua) -- Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, has stressed the importance of leveraging the guiding and safeguarding roles of strict Party governance in every respect to ensure the development goals and tasks of the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025) are fulfilled. Xi, also Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks on Friday when addressing the fifth plenary session of the 19th CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI). The year 2020 was extraordinary in the history of the People's Republic of China, Xi said as he summarized the year's achievements in Party construction. "People feel deeply that in stormy times the strong leadership of the Party and the authority of the CPC Central Committee are what they can always count on," Xi said. The CPC Central Committee is satisfied with the progress made in improving Party conduct, building a clean government and combating corruption, he added. Xi underscored the importance of improving political judgment, understanding and execution in implementing full and strict governance over the Party. General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee Xi Jinping, also Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military Commission, addresses the fifth plenary session of the 19th CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 22, 2021. (Xinhua/Shen Hong) NO ALTERNATIVE On fighting corruption, historic achievements have been made but the situation remains challenging and complex, Xi said. "Corruption, as the biggest risk to the Party's governance, still exists," Xi said, adding that old and new types of corruption have become intertwined and corruption is increasingly covert and complex. In 2020, 18 centrally-administrated officials were investigated. Also, 1,229 fugitives were brought back and 2.45 billion yuan (378 million U.S. dollars) retrieved from overseas in the first 11 months of 2020. In the first 11 days of 2021, China's top anti-graft body announced punishments for seven centrally-administrated officials who were accused of taking bribes, signifying that the country's war on corruption is taking steady steps in the new year. "The struggle between corruption and anti-corruption efforts will continue to exist for a long period to come," Xi said. "There is no alternative but to forge ahead in the anti-corruption fight against all odds." General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee Xi Jinping, also Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military Commission, addresses the fifth plenary session of the 19th CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 22, 2021. (Xinhua/Shen Hong) HIGHLIGHTED REQUIREMENTS Xi stressed constantly improving Party conduct, building clean government and combating corruption. The governance over the Party must always be strict, so that the CPC can lead and ensure the smooth sailing of the great ship of socialism with Chinese characteristics, he said. Xi demanded strong political oversight to ensure the implementation of the CPC Central Committee's major decisions and plans. "We must resolutely continue the fight against corruption," Xi said, stressing the need to build the systems and measures to ensure that officials do not dare to be, are not able to be, and do not want to be corrupt. Xi demanded efforts to resolutely curb the practice of formalities for formalities' sake and bureaucratism. Continuous efforts must be made to address corruption and misconduct that affect people's immediate interests, to boost their sense of gain, he added. Xi stressed the need to improve the Party and state supervisory systems, and integrate supervision into the country's development during the 14th Five-Year Plan period. Discipline inspection and supervision agencies should take the lead in strengthening the Party's political building. They must also be subject to the strictest constraint and oversight, Xi said. Members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee Li Keqiang, Li Zhanshu, Wang Yang, Wang Huning and Han Zheng attended the meeting. Zhao Leji, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and head of the CCDI, presided over the meeting. Xi's important speech serves as the major guidance for advancing strict Party governance in every respect, Zhao said as he called on Party organizations at all levels and Party members and officials to study and implement the guiding principles of Xi's speech, and earnestly implement the plans made at the CCDI session. Zhao also delivered a work report to the session on behalf of the standing committee of the CCDI. Dr Imogen Napper (left) with Dr Anju Baroth, of the Wildlife Institute of India, who joined the expedition's water team for a day of sediment and water sampling in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh on June 8, 2019. Credit: Sara Hylton, National Geographic. Taken on assignment for National Geographic's The Ganges Riverwith the combined flows of the Brahmaputra and Meghna riverscould be responsible for up to 3 billion microplastic particles entering the Bay of Bengal every day, according to new research. The study represents the first investigation of microplastic abundance, characteristics and seasonal variation along the river and was conducted using samples collected by an international team of scientists as part of the National Geographic Society's Sea to Source: Ganges expedition. Over two expeditions in 2019, 120 samples (60 each in pre- and post-monsoon conditions) were gathered at 10 sites by pumping river water through a mesh filter to capture any particles. The samples were then analysed in laboratories at the University of Plymouth with microplastics found in 43 (71.6%) of the samples taken pre-monsoon, and 37 (61.6%) post-monsoon. More than 90% of the microplastics found were fibres and, among them, rayon (54%) and acrylic (24%) - both of which are commonly used in clothingwere the most abundant. Combining predicted microplastic concentration at the mouth of the river (Bhola, Bangladesh) with the discharge of the river, scientists estimate that between 1 billion and 3 billion microplastics might be being released from the Ganges Brahmaputra Meghna River Basin every day. A dumpsite near the Ganges River in Patna, Bihar on June 4, 2019. Credit: Sara Hylton, National Geographic. Taken on assignment for National Geographic's The research, published in Environmental Pollution, was led by researchers from the University of Plymouth's International Marine Litter Research Unit, working with colleagues from the Wildlife Institute of India, University of Dhaka, WildTeam, University of Exeter, National Geographic Society and the Zoological Society of London. Research Fellow and National Geographic Explorer Dr. Imogen Napper, the study's lead author, was among the participants in the Sea to Source: Ganges expedition. She said: "Globally, it has been estimated that 60 billion pieces of plastic are discharged into the ocean from rivers worldwide each day. However, what has been lacking until now has been a detailed analysis of how microplastic concentrations vary along a river's course. By working with local communities and partners, this expedition always aimed to help us stem the flow of plastic entering the Gangetic basin. These results provide the first step in understanding how it, as well as other major rivers, may contribute to oceanic microplastic." The Ganges River rises in the Himalayas and runs through India and Bangladesh, where it joins the Brahmaputra and Meghna rivers shortly before reaching the Indian Ocean. The combined flows of the three rivers are the largest in South Asia and form the most populous basin in the world, with over 655 million inhabitants relying on the water it provides. The samples were collected during pre-monsoon (May to June 2019) and post-monsoon (October to December 2019), at sites ranging from Harsil closest to the source of the Ganges to Bhola in southern Bangladesh where it meets the Bay of Bengal. The water team collects samples to test for microplastics along Varuna River, a tributary of the Ganges River in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh on Nov. 22, 2019. Credit: Sara Hylton, National Geographic. Through the expedition, the international, female-led team of scientists are working with National Geographic and international partners to scientifically document plastic waste in the Ganges watershed and support holistic and inclusive solutions. The sample sites were selected to ensure a mixture of rural, urban, agricultural, tourism and religious locations, with the highest concentrations found closer to the river's mouth at Bhola, in Bangladesh. Pre-monsoon samples collected there had four times as many particles as those taken at Harsil, while post-monsoon samples had double the amount. Professor Richard Thompson OBE, Head of the International Marine Litter Research Unit at the University and one of the study's co-authors, said: "We know that rivers are a substantial source of microplastics in the ocean. But the information like this can help identify the key sources and pathways of microplastic and hence inform management interventions. With this type of evidence, we can progress toward using plastics more responsibly so as to get the many benefits they can bring without unnecessary contamination of the environment." This study is the latest by the University in the field, with it being awarded a Queen's Anniversary Prize for Higher and Further Education in 2020 for its ground-breaking research and policy impact on microplastics pollution in the oceans. It is currently among the partners in Preventing Plastic Pollution (PPP), a 14 million project which aims to prevent plastic pollution from rivers entering the English Channel, and LimnoPlast, a 4.1 million project examining the distribution of microplastics in European rivers and lakes. Explore further Water samples reveal microplastics in remote Patagonian fjord system More information: Imogen E. Napper et al, The abundance and characteristics of microplastics in surface water in the transboundary Ganges River, Environmental Pollution (2021). Journal information: Environmental Pollution Imogen E. Napper et al, The abundance and characteristics of microplastics in surface water in the transboundary Ganges River,(2021). DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2020.116348 Assam elections 2021: Those excluded from NRC, but on rolls can vote India oi-Vicky Nanjappa Guwahati, Jan 22: A day after the Election Commission made it clear that those excluded from the NRC will be eligible to vote in the upcoming assembly polls if their names figured in 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 Assam 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. 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. "Lakhs of Indian citizens were excluded in the NRC but names of many illegal immigrants are there in it. 3,091 more beneficiaries get vaccine shots in Assam 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 Assam unit president Ranjeet Dass told PTI. National Register of Citizens (NRC) and Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) are expected to be major issues in the state polls. Many cases had surfaced where a person was a voter in Assam for a long time but did not find place in the NRC list. 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 Assam. We requested the Election Commission 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 the 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. Voters excluded from NRC can vote in Assam: CEC Sunil Arora Centre-farmers hold 11th round of talks, impasse over farm laws continues| Oneindia News 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. After publication of the final NRC, almost all the stakeholders and political parties had criticised it as a faulty document, alleging exclusion of indigenous people and inclusion of illegal migrants. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, January 22, 2021, 11:15 [IST] A 71-year-old New York City doctor has been released without bail after he was charged with violating his wife's protective order against him after she was found dead in her apartment on Wednesday. Dr William Winkler appeared before a judge late Thursday on first-degree criminal contempt charges a day after he reported wife Janet Baran unresponsive. The 67-year-old woman was pronounced dead at her home on East 87th Street Wednesday after she was found unconscious in her living room with 'abrasions' around her neck. She is believed to have been dead for over a day. Despite the abrasions, law enforcement sources said Friday the woman didn't appear to have been strangled. Winkler, a Manhattan doctor who is reportedly suffering from cancer, was arrested at the scene after he was accused of breaching an order of protection his wife had against him. He was seen being escorted by police officers out of Manhattan Criminal Court on Thursday night after he was given an adjournment date for next month. Dressed in a polo shirt and baggy jeans held up with a plush belt that appeared to be from a bath robe, Winkler looked frail as he was walked over to a police cruiser outside. Winkler was arrested and charged with criminal contempt William Winkler, 71, is escorted to a waiting police cruiser early Friday after leaving central booking on a charge of criminal contempt Winkler is due in court on Feb. 22. He was released without bail The gastorenterologist had reportedly called 911 after claiming he had not seen his wife for a couple of days, sources told The New York Post. Officials later learned Winkler had been legally ordered to stay away from his wife due to a domestic violence incident months earlier, and he was taken into custody. Initial reports stated Baran's injuries appeared to be 'consistent with strangulation', however officials do not believe she had been strangled, law enforcement sources said Friday. 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. 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 Baran, who sustained injuries to her wrist from the October 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 reportedly suffers from cancer. '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. The Below Deck franchise continues to treat viewers to a year of nautical drama as Bravo announced Below Deck Sailing Yacht returns for season 2. Captain Glenn Shephard |Karolina Wojtasik/Bravo Bravo boards the Parsifal III for another charter season of Below Deck Sailing Yacht premiering on Monday, March 1 with a supersized episode from 9 pm-10:15 pm ET/PT, according to a statement from Bravo. The stakes are high as Captain Glenn Shephard puts his trust in an all-new crew as they sail along the sparkling coast of Croatia to provide an unforgettable, luxurious experience for the guests and their over-the-top requests. Beyond Shephard, viewers will meet an entirely new crew as the sailing yacht embarks upon adventures in Croatia. Crew positions and the themes of crew hookups, fights and harrowing docking challenges remain the same. The chef and chief stew are going to butt heads Another common theme with the series is the chief stew and chef going head to head. While chef Rachel Hargrove from Below Deck kept it professional and chill in the galley kitchen, viewers will likely see a return to the old contentious dynamic. When the chief stew and chef discover theyre on different pages, mistrust and miscommunication makes for an extremely volatile working relationship that impacts everyone on board, Bravo teased. Rule #1 onboard a sailing yacht in Croatia: work hard, party harder! Don't miss the new season of #BelowDeckSailing premiering Monday March 1 @ 9/8c! Watch the full trailer here: https://t.co/gJM9vUrPHI pic.twitter.com/6SJQ6Xqouf Bravo (@BravoTV) January 22, 2021 RELATED: Below Deck: Julia dAlbert Pusey Reveals the Most Requested Cocktail on the Show As department heads undermine each others authority, arguments trickle down the chains of command as tension reaches an all-time high between the interior and exterior teams, according to the show description. With new safety protocols in place, the crew must stay on the yacht in between charters, blurring the lines professionally and personally, leading to a boat-load of nauti-yachties. The crew has a slew of experience Yacht chef Natasha De Bourg is a Michelin-star restaurant chef. She was an executive chef in France before she got into yachting. Her headstrong ways clash with chief stew Daisy Kelliher. Kellihers grandfather was an Olympic sailor for Ireland in 1964. Plus her parents and family were in yachting. Daisy can always be counted on to give you a piece of her mind and let her hair down to have a good time, according to Bravo. Kellihers interior team includes Dani Soares as the second stew. Alli Dore is the third stew. While she takes her job seriously, she lets her feelings get the best of her and leaves her questioning how to best chart the course ahead, Bravo described Soars. Today looks like a nice day for a sail.. /|___ ///| )) /////| ))) ///////| ))) ///////////| )))) /////////////| ))) //////////////| ))) ////////////////|___))) ______________|________ / Bravo (@BravoTV) January 22, 2021 RELATED: Below Deck: Captain Lee Reminds Viewers of Ashton Pienaar, Dane Jackson, and Chef Kevins Aggressive Drunken Behavior The deck team includes a first mate, chief engineer, and two deckhands. Deckhand Jean-Luc Cerza Lanaux is dubbed the tallest deckhand in yachting, standing nearly seven feet tall. The crew has another woman on deck too Sydney Zaruba. First mate Gary King brings 12 years of experience to Parsifal III. And chief engineer, Colin Macrae has eight. Protect Our Police PAC, a group organized last year by retired Philadelphia police officers opposed to District Attorney Larry Krasner winning a second term, is shopping around for a challenger. Enter Susquehanna Polling & Research, a Harrisburg firm hired by the political action committee to test Krasners standing with 400 likely voters in the May 18 Democratic primary. The firm used a curious technique testing Krasners chances against two very real people without naming them. One is Carlos Vega, a former top prosecutor Krasner fired when he took office in 2018. The other is Kelley Hodge, an attorney selected in 2017 as interim district attorney after Seth Williams resigned on his way to federal prison. Vega is very much a candidate. Hodge has been courted to run but reaffirmed to Clout this week that shes not interested. How did they match up against Krasner? Vega, described only as a person of color and an accomplished 35-year career homicide prosecutor, was backed by 26% in the poll, while Krasner took 22% and 50% were undecided. Hodge, described only as the first African-American female district attorney in Philadelphia, took 42%, while Krasner won just 13% and 44% were undecided. The survey, conducted last month, had a margin of error of plus or minus 4.9 percentage points. Vega and Hodge told Clout they didnt know about the poll. Protect Our Police PAC president Nick Gerace said the group hasnt made any decisions about backing a candidate and is testing Krasners weaknesses. But Clout spied a clue in how the polling firm titled its work in a memo: Carlos Vega for Philadelphia DA. I guess theyre doing their due diligence so that, if they back anyone, they back a winner, Vega said. COVID-19 (28%) and crime (26%) were statistically tied in the survey as the most serious concerns for city voters. Half said they feel about as safe as they did five years ago, while 35% said they feel less safe. Eight of 10 said homicides and other violent crimes have increased in the last five years. The city had one of its deadliest years ever in 2020. With all that, 45% said Krasner deserves reelection, while 32% said it is time for someone new and 21% were undecided. Speaking of the race for district attorney A. Charles Peruto Jr. is technically still in the exploratory phase of his anticipated run as a Republican for district attorney. But the longtime defense attorney everyone knows as Chuck is fully committed to the social media flame wars when it comes to fans of former President Donald Trump. Peruto, a lifelong Democrat who switched parties last year, posted this on Facebook on Jan. 6 as a mob of Trump supporters mounted a failed insurrection that left the U.S. Capitol scarred and five people dead: I cant remain silent. While Im a Republican and condemn the lawlessness of the recent past, I have to say that Donald Trump is a child. Wake up America, he doesnt care about us, he cares about Trump. Facebook being Facebook, caterwauling ensued with more than 300 responses. Some backed Peruto. Others excoriated him. Commenters turned on commenters. The cyber-cesspool gurgled with phony conspiracy theories for more than a week as do-gooders haplessly tried to debunk them. Peruto was Peruto about it swiping away insults with swagger and posting that those who warned he would lose Republican votes in the dust-up should consider: My name is Chuck and I dont give a f. He told Clout a formal announcement of his campaign is coming soon and hes been in touch with the Pennsylvania Republican Party and Phillys Republican City Committee. A caustic critic of Krasner and his record, Peruto said the only way he doesnt run is if Vega wins the Democratic primary. Peruto said he voted for President Joe Biden last year. He knows that may cost him Republican support. But his focus now is on violent crime. I dont want that to be a distraction, because this is about guns and bullets, Peruto said. I only did that because I could not stomach Trump. Joe Biden flips Bob Brady a coin The new president came to Philly on Monday to commemorate Martin Luther King Jr. Day, spending some time volunteering at Philabundance, a hunger relief organization. Greeting Biden as he arrived in the city: former U.S. Rep. Bob Brady, chairman of the Democratic City Committee. Biden came bearing a gift a challenge coin marking the start of his administration. Brady said Biden told him it was the very first one he handed out. Where to keep such treasure? Loyal Clout readers already know. Brady confirmed the coin now shares a shelf with the water glass he swiped from the lectern after Pope Francis addressed Congress in 2015. That caper drew national attention. Also on the shelf: a water glass Brady nabbed after President Barack Obama was first sworn into office in 2009. Brady is still bragging about how government curators didnt know for seven years what became of the presidents glass, until his cover was blown in the papal pilferage. Scott Morrison has made a mini-industry out of a do-it-yourself Australian history. Hes had James Cook circumnavigating the continent. Now the Prime Ministers rounded up the number of ships in the First Fleet from 11 to an even dozen. This is honest error rather than fake history. It displays Morrisons ignorance, not ill-intent. Its when he moves into the trickier territory of interpretation that Morrison causes more concern. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison wears a face mask on a C-27 airplane after landing in Quilpie, Queensland, this week. Credit:AAP/Pool Without interpretation, theres no history. Even constructing the most banal timeline involves judgment about which facts are worth recalling, and which to ignore. A statement might be accurate, but misleading if the context in which its uttered makes it so. Responding to Indigenous peoples objections to Australia Day, Morrison replied that January 26, 1788 wasnt a particularly flash day for the convicts either. A former HPD police officer and a Spring man appeared in federal court Thursday to face charges for their connection to the U.S. Capitol insurrection on Jan. 6. The two defendants in the federal investigation include 18-year veteran HPD officer Tam Pham and Spring military veteran, Joshua Lollar, according to court documents. Both Pham and Lollar were each issued a $50,000 bond for their involvement in the storming of the U.S. Capitol. A federal judge also ordered Pham to surrender his U.S. and Vietnamese passports and instructed him to not have any communication with law enforcement. CAPITOL RIOT CHARGES: HPD officer involved in the U.S. Capitol insurrection slapped with federal charges After HPD Chief Art Acevedo first discovered Pham's involvement in the Capitol takeover, Pham was put on administrative leave and then resigned last week. He was then arrested on Wednesday, January 20. "We are also auditing arrests made by this former officer to ensure there are no irregularities, to include the review of his body worn camera footage related to his arrests," Acevedo tweeted. Pham initially told federal agents that he went the Trump rally at 7.a.m, and then later entered the Rotunda to look at the "historical art on the walls." "I shouldn't have done it," Pham told the Houston Chronicle. "I was there to take pictures." Pham was formally charged Tuesday after federal agents discovered deleted images on his cell phone which captured him inside the U.S. Capitol building. He is charged with unlawfully entering a restricted building, violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds. According to Pham's attorney, Nicole DeBorde, Pham has expressed shame for what happened. "He went to see the last speech that President Trump was giving and then ultimately ended up getting swept up in the crowd that moved from the speech down the mall to the Capitol," DeBorde told KHOU. Spring military veteran, Joshua Lollar was reportedly captured on a Facebook Live video fighting with officers on U.S. Capitol grounds, according to ABC-13. Lollar's father defended his son's actions. "He's not a domestic terrorist or insurrectionist," Grover Loller told ABC-13. "He went for a rally. They just rushed down there, and he got swept along." Not surprisingly, the words COVID-19 mutations stir up worry. We have felt the very real consequences of the coronavirus pandemic, and the vaccine rollout brought an inkling of hope. Will new strains of the virus threaten that? The good news: Experts dont believe so. Many remain hopeful the COVID vaccine will still help our bodies produce a helpful immune response against new strains of the SARS-Cov-2 virus (the virus causing COVID-19), Huffpost writes in the article Will The COVID-19 Vaccine Work On New Mutations Of The Virus? The expectation is that the vaccine should still provide some protection, said Deborah Fuller, a professor in the department of microbiology at the University of Washington School of Medicine. If you get a certain mutation, its possible the level of efficacy could decline a little bit, Fuller continued. But with some of these vaccines being above 90% effectiveness, the expectation is that in a worst case scenario with some of these mutations it might say drop to say 85% effectiveness, which is still very effective. Research suggests that the Pfizer vaccine is effective against the new, more contagious strains weve seen appear in recent weeks. Data is still being collected on this for the Moderna vaccine, but the company expects that the shot will protect against the new variants, too. The vaccine triggers a release of many different types of antibodies. When the COVID-19 vaccine enters your body, it induces the body to produce two kinds of immune responses, explained Paula Cannon, a professor of molecular microbiology and immunology at the University of Southern Californias Keck School of Medicine. This primes the body to enact these responses whenever it is exposed to the spike protein on the surface of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Cannon said the reason scientists expect the vaccine to still work to some degree is because these immune responses are polyclonal. Simply put, this means there are built-in backup plans. The vaccine prompts production of multiple antibodies to target different regions of the spike protein. Even if one part of the spike protein changed slightly, and the antibody that had latched on to this part of the spike protein could no longer recognize it, there are still tens of hundreds of other antibodies that can stick onto different parts of the spike protein, and still coat it and stop it from working, Cannon explained. It still looks to the immune system like the same spike protein. A mutation that causes the virus to completely evade the vaccine doesnt happen as easily as you may think. For the vaccine to be rendered useless against the virus, the virus would need to come up with a combination of mutations that allows it to eventually evade the vaccine, Fuller said. Thats not to say it couldnt. But its going to be hard for it to do that and it might take a while for it to get to that point. A reason for this is that SARS-CoV-2 virus mutates slowly, added Catherine Blish, a translational immunologist and associate professor of medicine at Stanford University. To put it into context, it mutates slower than the influenza virus, which requires an updated vaccine annually. Virus mutations which happen in the normal life cycle of a virus are also being closely monitored by scientists, who are looking at the genetic sequence of the virus, Cannon said. Genomic surveillance allows scientists to monitor whether the new variant starts to appear and spread within our cities and see if any other variants might arise that we need to keep an eye on, Cannon explained. During the vaccine design process, scientists test the vaccine against emerging viral variants to make sure it still produces an appropriate immune response. Taking a blood sample from a vaccinated person, they expose it to a viral variant to see whether the antibodies in their blood can neutralize it. According to Fuller, this is done even for variants which have not developed any concerning properties. Even if the worst case scenario happens where the virus mutates enough to breeze past the vaccines antibody response Fuller explained the mRNA vaccine (the type of vaccine released by Pfizer and Moderna) has another line of defense. The second immune response it triggers is called the T-cell response. Though SARS-CoV-2 may enter your bodys cells, white blood cells known as T-cells are programmed to find and rid your body of these infected cells. New variants of the virus will meet their match in updated vaccine boosters. The mRNA vaccines can also be updated, which would take around three months, Fuller said. Updating vaccines isnt out of the ordinary. The yearly flu shot an example of tweaking a vaccine in response to a virus mutation. Both Blish and Fuller suspect something similar may be in the cards for COVID, with people receiving updated vaccines in the form of booster immunizations every few years. Like the flu vaccine, these would build on immunity weve developed from prior vaccinations, to keep our immunity at a high level and prevent another pandemic. None of this is to say that mutations arent concerning but overall, scientists did expect this to happen. The best we can do for right now is to keep practicing what we know works: wearing masks, keeping physical distance from others, and getting the vaccine when its our turn to do so. City emergency responders are planning to use the former Monsignor Gadoury parochial school as a local COVID-19 vaccination site when the state moves into community inoculations. No dates have been set for the program while the state awaits distribution of more COVID-19 vaccine. From left is City EMA Director Timothy Walsh, Mayor Lisa Baldelli-Hunt, Woonsocket Fire Chief Paul Shatraw, Holy Trinity Parish Maintenence Supervisor Marc Peloquin, and the Rev. Daniel Sweet, Holy Family Pastor. China calls for courage and wisdom to put Sino-U.S. relations back on the right track Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying is seen during a regular news conference in Beijing on Jan 21, 2021. (Photo/fmprc.gov.cn) BEIJING, Jan. 21 (Xinhua) -- The United States and China are expected to show courage and wisdom, listen to each other, face up to each other, respect each other, and engage in dialogue and cooperation in order to "heal and recover" bilateral relations, a spokesperson said on Thursday. "I believe that with joint efforts of both sides, the 'better angels' in China-U.S. relations will be able to overcome forces for evil," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said at a routine press briefing. Hua's response came after Joe Biden was sworn in as the 46th U.S. President on Wednesday. "We congratulate President Biden on taking office, and we wish President Biden every success in state governance," said the spokesperson. "I noticed that President Biden has repeatedly stressed the term 'unity' in his inaugural address, which is precisely what's needed in current China-U.S. relations," Hua said. She said that 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, adding that both the Chinese and American people have suffered greatly and deserve a better future. Many people of insight in the two countries and the international community are looking forward to an early return of China-U.S. relations to the right track, along with the necessary contributions to jointly solving the major and urgent challenges facing the world today, Hua said. "President Biden also mentioned that the United States has a lot of healing and recovery to do. I think the same also applies to China-U.S. relations," Hua said. "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-U.S. relations, which are waiting to be cleared, rebuilt and repaired." "We believe anything's possible if we set our mind to it," and with the joint efforts of both sides, the "better angels" in bilateral relations can overcome forces for evil, according to Hua. In response to a query about China's comments on the United States rejoining the Paris Climate Agreement and the World Health Organization (WHO), Hua said China welcomed those decisions and is willing to work together with the United States within those frameworks. In her reply to a question on the COVID-19 death-toll in the United States which had surpassed 400,000, Hua expressed China's deep condolences to the people who have unfortunately lost their lives in this epidemic. "Unity and cooperation are the most powerful weapons to defeat the virus," Hua said, adding that China will continue to provide help and support to the United States in the fight against the epidemic to the best of its ability. Father Rodrigue Sanon, the priest missing since Tuesday in Burkina Faso, was found dead Thursday in the countrys south-west forest. Paul Samasumo Vatican City. In a sign of the deteriorating security situation in Burkina Fasos southwestern region, Father Rodrigue Sanons body was discovered on Thursday. Announcing Father Rodrigues death, the Bishop of the Diocese of Banfora issued a statement expressing his profound sorrow at the death. It is with deep sorrow that I bring to everyones attention that the lifeless body of Fr. Rodrigue Sanon was found on 21 January 2021 in the protected forest of Toumousseni, about twenty kilometres from Banfora, Bishop Lucas Kalfa Sanou said. The Bishop has since invited the Catholic faithful to pray for the repose of Fr. Rodrigues soul. He also encouraged the faithful to stay the course and remain confident in the merciful love of God. Details regarding the disappearance of the parish priest of Notre Dame de Soubaganyedougou, his death and assailants remained unclear Thursday evening. An increasing Jihadist hotspot AFP observes that the south-west Burkina Faso border connecting Mali and Cote dIvoire, initially less affected by attacks than the north and eastern regions, has gradually become an area of jihadist presence and activity. In May 2020, a large military operation conducted jointly by Cote dIvoire and Burkina Faso sought to dislodge the jihadists from the two countries borders. A month later, fourteen Ivorian soldiers were killed on the Ivorian side of the border in Kafolo. Ramping up security Following the abduction of Father Rodrigue Tuesday, the security forces of both countries were said to be on high alert. Sub-prefect of Kaoura (Ivory Coast at the border with Burkina Faso), Adama Karka Coulibaly confirmed heightened security concerns to AFP. Les dozos (traditional hunters) operating in the affected forests also participated in the search of the missing but now slain priest. Regarding terrorist activities, the Government in Ouagadougou is engaging with regional and European partners, and plans are underway for a February summit in NDjamena, Chad at which meeting French operations in West Africa would be reviewed. Even if Jordan is found to no longer be dangerous, he will still have a strike on his record. Should he be found dangerous twice more, he could be declared vicious: That would bring a range of new sanctions, including the possibility he could be euthanized. 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. In late October, we visited a church in Qitaihe, Heilongjiang, where new construction is ongoing. In March, 2017, the congregation and staff of the church in Jinsha New District collected 200,000 used bricks in four days for the side chapel of the new church they were building. Before the Chinese New Year of 2018, the church itself completed the foundation of the main sanctuary. Now the main part has been finished. Covering an area of 6,588 square meters (1.62 acres), the new church will have a main sanctuary of over 3,200 square meters (0.79 acres) in area, a side chapel of 800 square meters (0.19 acres), as well as a courtyard. The unforgettable visit reminded me of two parts in the Bible: first, Paul's teaching in 1 Corinthians that Christians are different parts of one body that serve each other; and second, Nehemiah's overseeing the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem which was done in just 52 days. Story of the construction team As winter approached, the construction team put on the finishing touches before the temperature went below freezing. When it rained, some believers who hadn't worn rain gear were still able to fix the chimney and while others installed four big iron woks in the kitchen. Some women mixed sand and cement while several men installed ceramic tiles. Brothers and sisters stuck ceramic tiles in the kitchen of the side chapel. Brothers and sisters stuck ceramic tiles in the kitchen of the side chapel. Brother Kong, an engineer who earns a monthly salary of 10,000 yuan, has served the church free of charge for five months. After working with non-Christians and having a habit of scolding them, he often felt guilty for his hot temper, calling his Christian coworkers bad names. However, some church workers witnessed that he made much improvement in refraining himself. Rev. Qin Shuping, the church's senior pastor, said that there were many testimonies. She told us that a stout woman "of few words was capable to performing the tasks of three persons". In the evening, a sister in her seventies hurried to the church just to ask whether a cookstove and windows had been successfully installed. She said, "I felt unsettled at home, worrying about the church. I'm now at ease after checking this out." Story of the prayer team The team served three times a day in the side chapel, beginning as early as five o'clock in the morning. The doorkeeper said that even at 4:30 a.m., people were there in the dark. Five or six years before the construction, the church started to pray for it. Prayer never ceased even during the Chinese New Year festival when Chinese people gathered together in their homes. The prayer team was made up of mainly the elderly who were unable to work at the construction site. They prayed fervently for every aspect of the church including the pastors, safety, finances, food supplies, and current specific construction projects at the time. During every two hour prayer meeting, members first read the Bible and sang hymns. Then, one by one, they prayed approximately four or five minutes for every task. Most of their prayers were in plain language. "Lord, we pray for the installation of the windows. Please prepare bricklayers to seal them... Lord, we pray that you can grant the brothers and sisters who are involved in the construction work healthy bodies for they are very tired and exhausted..." Prayer was not an easy thing for the senior Christians. A few of them health issues with their legs so couldn't keep praying on their knees beyond an hour. Deacon Zheng who has led prayer meetings for eight years said,"We know that we can't do anything without prayer. Nothing cannot be fulfilled but through prayer. Praying is very boring and tedious, easy to become ritual, but we enjoy the sweetness of the Lord's grace under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, with the same mindset as Jesus Christ and His care for God's house." Story of the Martha team Responsible for food, the Martha team consists of over ten members whose ages range from more than 50 to over 70. Sister Meng, 76, the team leader, has been in the ministry for over two decades. In charge of three meals a day, the group is busy with kitchen work: washing and chopping vegetables, making a fire, making dumplings, and washing dishes. From dozens to over a hundred believers can choose from about ten dishes for each meal. What's more, the bulk of the ingredients were donated by the congregation, including rice, flour, meat, fish, chicken, and eggs. The more than ten pigs were raised by members of the church and were also donated for food. Pastor's model role Rev. Qin, in her fifties, looks somewhat weak and weary with some gray hair, yet takes care of every little thing in the church. Once a successful businesswoman, she felt God's call to follow Jesus during a time of illness. Teacher Sun said, "The pastor always arrives at the construction site before everyone and is the last to leave after everyone has gone home." Suffering from heart disease, Rev. Qin is unable to do any hard labor. Brother He, who has run a business in Qitaihe for 15 years, told us that she handled a leak very early in the day, resulting in shock. Thankful for God's protection, she said that she could do nothing if she followed the doctor's advice. Whenever the church needed a car, Brother He immediately drove there. However, Rev. Qin told him sheepishly that the church had never filled up his gas tank after using it many times. Moved by the pastor's devotion and sacrifice, he felt that his contribution was justified. Epilogue: The church's construction project is on schedule. Further work including installing the interior fittings and furnishings will perhaps take one year. So far the church has no debt. Courtesy of China Christian Daily Pam Rorke Levy has resigned from her position as chairwoman of the San Francisco Art Institute, a 150-year-old college that has struggled over the last year to emerge from a multimillion-dollar debt and declining enrollment despite its history of training artists including the likes of Kehinde Wiley, Catherine Opie and Annie Leibovitz. I feel I can step back, Ms. Levy said in a statement Thursday in which she expressed optimism that debt restructuring and new leadership would mean that S.F.A.I. has the runway to rebuild itself. Her departure comes amid criticism over discussions of the sale of a Diego Rivera mural worth $50 million that would have given the S.F.A.I. a way to close its budget gap but now seems to be on hold because of a move to give it landmark status. The financial pressures had motivated the Board of Regents of the University of California to step in last fall to help by buying the institutes $19.7 million of debt from a private bank, an effort designed to prevent a public sale of the schools Chestnut Street campus and its art collection. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- The feud between the Freedom Force and The Squad in Congress is just getting started, but two of its respective members -- Rep. Nicole Malliotakis and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez -- have been critical of each other since before Staten Islands new congresswoman even took office. The criticism escalated on Friday when Ocasio-Cortez (D-Bronx/Queens) took a shot at Malliotakis on Twitter after a recent interview with CNNs Erin Burnett. Rep. Malliotakis deliberately amplified a known lie and tried to overturn our election on it, which incited an insurrection of white supremacists that killed 5 people. Her district is 30-40% people of color. How safe do you think they feel under her leadership? Ocasio-Cortez tweeted. Burnett asked Malliotakis about her objections to Arizona and Pennsylvanias election results and the certification process that was underway on Jan. 6, the day of the deadly insurrection. Malliotakis -- who called the attack on the Capitol disturbing and has condemned the actions of those involved -- said she never signed any objections and went on the floor with an open mind. The congresswoman ultimately voted against certifying the results in those two states. Certainly, constituents of mine express concerns about irregularities, Malliotakis told Burnett. She previously told the Advance/SILive.com that there were a number of irregularities in the election and a number of changes made that many people believe led to fraud and that there are witnesses and evidence. I dont expect socialists to agree with my point of view but whats truly shameful is that Rep. Ocasio-Cortez chased Amazons HQ2 and its 25,000 good paying jobs out of her own district in pursuit of her socialist ideology. And since she wants to make this about race, she should be reminded that Im Staten Islands first Hispanic elected official, Malliotakis said in response to Ocasio-Cortezs tweet. It was just five days after Malliotakis beat incumbent Max Rose for the congressional seat, on Nov. 8, when the incoming congresswoman posted on Twitter that she was part of a new class of Republicans who would be a much needed force to counter the socialist squad. The socialist squad refers to Congresswomen Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-the Bronx/Queens), Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.), and Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.), who support progressive policies. Ocasio-Cortez coined the squad term shortly after the 2018 election in an Instagram post. The counter to The Squad is said to include Burgess Owens of Utah, Maria Elvira Salazar of Florida, Michelle Steele of California, Stephanie Bice of Oklahoma, Victoria Spartz of Indiana, and Carlos Gimenez and Byron Donalds, both of Florida. Burgess Owens first described the group as The Freedom Force in November. MALLIOTAKIS ASKED IF SHE FEELS DUPED Im just wondering, when you look back and are honest with yourself, do you feel you sort of bought into a narrative here that we all know was completely false? [Donald Trump]s out there saying 5,000 dead people voted in Georgia. Two dead people voted in Georgia, but rhetoric like that got people like you on board. Do you feel you were duped? Burnett asked Malliotakis in the CNN interview. Malliotakis said the issue that concerns her is the tens of millions of Americans who are concerned about the election process and whether or not there are safeguards in place to prevent illegal voting. Theyre concerned because of lies like that. Were concerned because of lies like that. That is a lie. They heard that. If I heard that and believed it, I might be concerned, too. But its not true, Burnett fired back. Malliotakis said that she sees widespread voter fraud as a different issue, but that there have been irregularities in certain states that deserve to be looked at because of the tens of millions of Americans who feel the election wasnt fair. Those tens of millions of Americans think that it wasnt fair because Donald Trump told them that, and that voice of Donald Trump was amplified by other people in power. Because the reason they believe it wasnt fair is because someone told them it wasnt fair, and it was fair. So, what Im asking you, do you feel that you got duped and played a little bit in this? Burnett continued. I think that, like many Americans, people have concerns about people who are not citizens voting and people getting absentee ballots that they did not request, people making their way to the booth in the wrong district and voting. These are things that do happen, and I think that we can agree on that, Malliotakis responded. Malliotakis has frequently talked about her concerns in some of the states with the closest results in the presidential contest, both in posts on social media and in public appearances. (Screenshot) What Im talking about is that there are irregularities that we need to crack down on and that is why Im co-sponsoring the Save Democracy Act she said. The Save Democracy Act would change or create new practices surrounding voter registration, casting of ballots and tabulation of ballots by prohibiting automatic voter registration and sending out unrequested absentee ballots, requiring ballot counting with no delays until completed, and more. You can watch the full interview here. FOLLOW KRISTIN F. DALTON ON TWITTER. Le gouvernement a pris note de larrivee des premiers 100,000 doses du Vaccin contre le Covid-19 mis au point par AstraZeneca pendant la soiree du 22 janvier 2021, un don du gouvernement indien. Cabinet has taken note that the Government of the Republic of India would donate 100,000 doses of Astrazeneca vaccines to the Government of Mauritius and the consignment would reach Mauritius on the evening of 22 January 2021. Cabinet has agreed to the implementation of the National Deployment and Vaccination Plan for COVID-19 Vaccines in the Republic of Mauritius. The Plan highlights the regulatory preparedness, the planning and coordination of the introduction of the vaccine, its supply chain management, service delivery and healthcare waste management and includes human resources management and training. A National Coordinating Committee for COVID-19 Vaccine has been set up to, inter alia, coordinate/support implementation of the National Deployment and Vaccination Plan for COVID-19 Vaccines. Qualcomm, in conjunction with its partners Telstra and Ericsson, has reported a new high in 5G download speeds. They have achieved 5 gigabits per second (Gb/s) at Australia's 5G Innovation Centre, using commercial Telstra infrastructure and up-to-date mmWave hardware. They include the new X60 mobile modem and third-gen QTM535 antenna. 4 Reviews , News , CPU , GPU , Articles , Columns , Other "or" search relation. 5G , Accessory , Alder Lake , AMD , Android , Apple , ARM , Audio , Business , Camera , Cannon Lake , Cezanne (Zen 3) , Charts , Chinese Tech , Chromebook , Coffee Lake , Comet Lake , Console , Convertible / 2-in-1 , Cryptocurrency , Cyberlaw , Deal , Desktop , Exclusive , Fail , Foldable , Gadget , Galaxy Note , Galaxy S , Gamecheck , Gaming , Geforce , Google Pixel , GPU , How To , Ice Lake , Intel Evo / Project Athena , Internet of Things (IoT) , iOS , iPad Pro , iPhone , Jasper Lake , Lakefield , Laptop , Launch , Linux / Unix , Lucienne (Zen 2) , MacBook , Mini PC , Monitor , MSI , OnePlus , Opinion , Phablet , Renoir , Review Snippet , Rocket Lake , Rumor , Ryzen (Zen) , Science , Security , Smart Home , Smartphone , Smartwatch , Software , Storage , Tablet , ThinkPad , Thunderbolt , Tiger Lake , Touchscreen , Ultrabook , Virtual Reality (VR) / Augmented Reality (AR) , Wearable , Windows , Workstation , XPS , Zen 3 (Vermeer) Ticker The maximum speed achieved by mmWave 5G stands at 4.2Gb/s. Or rather, it did: according to Qualcomm, Telstra and Ericsson, this record has been broken as a result of their latest joint project. This took place in Australia, on the Gold Coast's 5G Innovation Centre, and resulted in a download speed of 5Gb/s. This was done using a reference mobile device equipped with a Qualcomm Snapdragon X60 5G Modem/RF system and QTM535 mmWave antenna, which are successors to the X55 and QTM527 respectively. It connected to an Ericsson Streetmacro 6701 base station. Qualcomm now indicates that this breakthrough will be applied to Telstra service soon. On the other hand, the new download record was observed in conditions that simulated a single user with access to a combined 840MHz spectrum, made up of 8 aggregated 5G 100MHz n257 mmWave carriers and 2 aggregated 20MHz LTE Band 7 carriers. This level of carrier-aggregation (CA) apparently required to get download speeds up to 5Gb/s might not be devoted to individual users in the real world. Nevertheless, Qualcomm insists that this milestone puts its technology closer to realizing the potential of 5G. The X55-enabled Snapdragon 865 Samsung Galaxy Note 20 is now on Amazon Forged in the heat of battle in the Second World War, Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery said it was the corps that would keep the punch in the Armys fist. But now the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME) are under fire for seemingly surrendering to political correctness. The corps is considering changing the name of the rank craftsman its equivalent of private in case it is too gender-specific. Former military top brass have described the Engineers as obsessing with identity politics and abandoning tradition questioning why the terms craftsman and craftswoman could not simply be used if a change was ever needed. A memo seen by the Mail and headed REME gender-free nomenclature says to develop our skills and trades to remain appropriate, relevant and attractive to soldiers in the future, we have an opportunity to refresh some of our terminology. Capt Hannah Winterbourne (Graf), pictured receiving an MBE in 2019, was with the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers It adds: The rank of Craftsman has been iconic since the formation of the Corps in 1942 but we now have a chance to consider a modern and inclusive alternative as part of our positive narrative moving forward. This is not a question of whether we should change (that debate will happen as part of a bigger, Army-wide discussion); this survey seeks to gain ideas from all ranks and trades as how we wish to be identified in the future. It includes several possible alternatives to craftsman including private, technician, engineering technician (ET), or artisan and technician, and invites other suggestions. The consultation within its own ranks will raise questions about whether other historic variations of Army rank, including guardsman, may also face updating. Last night Colonel Richard Kemp, ex-commander of the British forces in Afghanistan, said: The Army has several ranks incorporating the word man, for example, guardsman and rifleman. Like craftsman, which goes back to the creation of the REME in the Second World War, soldiers take fierce pride in these ranks which they see as giving them a unique standing within a large organisation. This sort of tradition is important in building esprit de corps so vital for fighting forces. Rather than obsessing with identity politics and abandoning tradition, the simple solution is to call male soldiers craftsman and female soldiers craftswoman as the RAF has done with the rank of aircraftman, with females now called aircraftwoman. Last night, an Army spokesman said: The Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers is gathering views on how its roles and trades are identified, as part of a broader modernisation strategy. As an inclusive employer, the British Army is committed to engaging openly with its soldiers, but no decisions have been made. The REME motto Arte et Marte, or By Skill and By Fighting provides engineering support and is responsible for maintaining and repairing the Armys equipment. Now numbering 7,500 regular soldiers, they will be found wherever the army is located at home or overseas. Wilkes-Barre, PA (18701) Today Rain developing this afternoon. Morning high of 68F with temps falling to near 55. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%.. Tonight Rain likely. Low 48F. Winds ENE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall may reach one inch. The latest addition to Chris Hemsworth's star-studded friendship group isn't another Hollywood actor, but a disgraced businessman who also happens to go by the nickname 'Thor'. Mark Hutchinson was in 2019 banned from directing companies for six years after he lied to investors of his adventure business Vocation, losing them almost $650million. In August 2014, Hutchinson told investors the newly listed company was in good shape when in reality they had just lost $20 million in crucial funding. While the share price plummeted and investors lost out, Hutchinson held on to much of his personal wealth and started a not-for-profit organisation, buying game parks in Africa in a bid to stop poachers. Since selling his Manly home for a suburb-record $18million and moving his family to Australia's newest millionaires playground, Byron Bay, the corporate failure has been laying low. But he has seemingly made some powerful friends in his new hometown, appearing in Hemsworth's Instagram post this week alongside the Hollywood star and his wife Elsa Paraky on a trip to Lord Howe Island. The latest addition to Chris Hemsworth's star-studded friendship group isn't another celebrity, but disgraced businessman Mark Hutchinson (far left) - who is coincidentally also nicknamed 'Thor' Hutchinson was in 2019 banned from directing companies for six years after lying to investors of his adventure business Vocation, losing them almost $650million. He has since gone on to set up not-for-profit Wild Ark which buys African game parks in a bid to stop poaching Hutchinson (back far left) joins Chris Hemsworth (front), his brothers Liam and Luke (right) and dad Craig (front far left) on a trip to Lord Howe Island last October Hutchinson and wife Sophie - a contestant on the first season of Survivor Australia - were among the group exploring the island, 600km off Australia's coast. After trekking the island's rugged terrain, the Hutchinsons and Hemsworths posed for a beachside photo. Also alongside them was Hutchinson's close mate Luke Munro, a former pro surfer and Channel Seven presenter, and his wife Emma. The three families are understood to spend a large amount of time together, with all their children attending the same Byron Bay school. But the Hemsworths are not the only A-listers Hutchinson counts among his friends. After founding his environmental foundation Wild Ark he has enjoyed support from Leonardo DiCaprio and surfing champion Mick Fanning. Hemsworth and Pataky have also become involved in Hutchinson's endeavours and helped him to re-release Tasmanian Devils into the wild last October. They also caught up again that month on Lord Howe Island, joined by their kids and parents, and brothers Liam and Luke. At the time the Hutchinsons were on the island working for Wild Ark. With beginnings at Sydney's prestigious Shore School, Hutchinson formed his first company at age 19. Eventually, that business became ecotourism and training company Vocation. In just eight months after taking the company public, the share price had risen from $1.89 to $3.05 and Hutchinson was branded a rising star of the Australian corporate world. With an estimated worth of $26 million, he ranked at number 81 on the BRW Young Rich List in 2014. He even earned the nickname 'Thor' for his flowing blonde hair and toned physique. It was a movie about the same Greek God that made Hemsworth a household name. Hutchinson and wife Sophie - a contestant on the first season of Survivor Australia - have had celebrity backing from Hemsworth, Elsa Pataky, Leonardo DiCaprio and Mick Fanning for their Wild Ark venture Hollywood star Hemsworth posted a series of photos to Instagram this week showing off his trip to Lord Howe Island, 600km east of Australia, with a group including Hutchinson Sophie Hutchinson (left), Hemsworth (centre) and his wife Elsa Pataky (right) explore the rugged terrain of Lord Howe Island Hutchinson's wife Sophie (left) with Elsa Pataky (centre) and Anna Munro (right) The Federal Court found in 2019 that Hutchinson and his two other directors had not upheld their duties during their time overseeing Vocation. Justice John Nicholls ruled the men had 'misled and deceived' investors about their access to funding. Hutchinson in particular provided 'vague and incomplete' information when raising capital. He was fined $70,000 and ordered to pay half of ASIC's total court costs. The findings led to a class action being launched in the Federal Court by investors in Vocation against certain directors including Hutchinson. With backing from law firms Maurice Blackburn and Slater and Gordon, the investors received a $50million settlement in November last year. Kathleen Kingsbury, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist who has led the editorial page of The New York Times on an interim basis since June, officially became the newspapers opinion editor on Friday, the company said. Ms. Kingsbury, 41, will oversee a department of more than 100 staff members responsible for unsigned editorials, Op-Eds, the weekly Sunday Review section, and podcasts like Sway and The Argument. Two past editorial page editors, Howell Raines and Max Frankel, went on to run the Times newsroom as executive editors immediately after holding the job. Ms. Kingsbury, who grew up in Portland, Ore., joined The Times as deputy editorial page editor in 2017 after a four-year stint at The Boston Globe. There she served as managing editor for digital and won a Pulitzer Prize in editorial writing for a series on the mistreatment of restaurant workers. She took over The Timess opinion section on an acting basis after the resignation of its previous head, James Bennet. Mr. Bennet, who had been seen as a candidate to succeed Dean Baquet as The Timess executive editor, left after the publication of an Op-Ed essay by Senator Tom Cotton, Republican of Arkansas, arguing for the deployment of troops in response to civil unrest. More than 800 staff members signed a letter in protest of the Op-Ed, and The Times appended an editors note to the essay stating that it fell short of our standards and should not have been published. On Thursday (January 21, 2021) the Delhi High Court refused to stay the release of Priyanka Chopra and Rajkummar Rao-starrer The White Tiger. According to reports, Hollywood producer John Hart Jr has alleged a copyright violation over the Netflix film. Citing the film's release set in less than 24 hours on January 22, 2021, an urgent hearing was conducted late on Thursday evening. A single bench of Justice C Hari Shankar, after hearing the matter for over two hours, dismissed the stay application by the producer. It was noted by the court that the plaintiffs who choose to approach the court less than 24 hours before the release of the film, had not been able to make out a case for an ad-interim injunction on release of the movie."It is not possible for this court to come to the finding, based on the material on record, that by making and releasing the film, the defendants have indulged in copyright infringement," the court said. The court has issued summons to the producer of the film Mukul Deora and Netflix and said that they are allowed to release the film. However, the court has also directed all parties to keep detailed accounts of the film so that if at a later stage, Hart Jr succeeds, the court can determine the monetary compensation. The film which also stars Adarsh Gourav in the lead role, is based on a book written by Aravinda Adiga, titled The White Tiger. Producer John Hart Jr Has Alleged A Copyright Violation Advocate Kapil Sankhla, representing Hart Jr, revealed in the court that a literary auction agreement was executed between his client (Hart) and author of the book in March 2009. Hart intended on making an Oscar-worthy film to be released in Hollywood and only found out in October 2019 that Netflix was in the process of making and releasing the film. The plaintiff sought a stay on the release saying it will not cause any serious financial ramifications to the defendants as the movie is to be released on OTT and not in theatres. However, Advocate Saikrishna Rajagopal, representing Netflix, argued that OTT film release involves huge finances and goodwill and no stay should be granted. The White Tiger Stars Priyanka Chopra, Rajkummar Rao & Adarsh Gourav Meanwhile, senior advocate Sandeep Sethi, representing Deora, argued against the suit stating the plaintiffs approached the court at the 11th hour despite being aware of the production at Netflix since October 2019, and it should not be permissible. Sethi added that Hart Jr has presented a one-sided story and concealed various relevant documents from the court. The White Tiger Is Streaming On Netflix After hearing all the parties, the judge said, "I am prima facie inclined to agree with Mr. Sethi that if release of the movie is stalled at this stage, it will cause serious and irreparable consequences to the defendants." The case has been listed for a second hearing before the joint registrar on March 22, 2021. ALSO READ: The White Tiger Trailer: Priyanka Chopra's Netflix Film Explores Flaws In India's Caste System ALSO READ: Priyanka Chopra Shares First Look From The White Tiger: This Is A Story That Needs To Be Told said on Friday it will start operating flights on Agra- and Agra- routes from March 28 under the regional connectivity scheme Udan. Agra will be 64th domestic destination in the network of India's largest carrier. It said in a press release that it would be adding four more destinations -- Kurnool, Bareilly, Durgapur and Rajkot -- in the coming months. On the launch of Agra flights, Sanjay Kumar, Chief Strategy and Revenue Officer, said, This will not only enhance connectivity for domestic travellers, but also aid in expanding international air traffic once restrictions are lifted and travel opens up." Under the Udan scheme, financial incentives from the Centre, state governments and airport operators are extended to selected airlines to encourage operations from unserved and underserved airports and keep airfares affordable. (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: National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested accused Vijith Vijayan, aged 26, S/o Vijayan V. K., resident of Wayanad district, Kerala in Kozhikode Maoist case (RC-04/2019/NIA/KOC) on Thursday (January 21). The case was originally registered on 1st November 2019 at Pantheerankavu Police Station, Kozhikode City, Kerala under FIR No. 507/ 2019 and under sections 20, 38 and 39 of UA (P) Act against three accused persons. The accused Allan Shuaib and Thwaha Fasal were arrested and incriminating materials pertaining to the proscribed organization CPI (Maoist) were seized from them. NIA re-registered the case as (RC-04/2019/NIA/KOC) on December 18, 2019. The investigation has revealed that the arrested accused Allan Shuaib and Thwaha Fasal along with the absconding accused C. P. Usman had organized several secret meetings of the proscribed organization CPI (Maoist), for furthering its violent extremist activities in Kerala. Live TV They had also conspired and committed unlawful activities, as part of their efforts to propagate the ideology and accomplish the objectives of CPI (Maoist). Accordingly, on 27th April 2020, a charge-sheet was filed against the earlier arrested accused Allan Shuaib and Thwaha Fasal besides the absconding accused C. P. Usman under section 120B of IPC besides sections 13, 38 and 39 of UA (P) Act. The investigation also revealed that charge-sheeted accused Allan Shuaib was radicalized and recruited into CPI( Maoist) by accused Vijith Vijayan who was arrested yesterday. On 1st May 2020, during a search conducted at the premises of Vijith Vijayan in Kozhikode, incriminating materials including documents and various digital devices were seized. Scrutiny of the data retrieved forensically from the seized digital devices has also yielded details pertaining to the unlawful and terrorist activities of CPI (Maoist) cadres including arrested accused persons. The arrested accused was produced before the Special NIA Court, Ernakulam and sent to judicial custody. Further investigation in the case continues. The Centre for Water Resources Development and Management (CWRDM) under the Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment (KSCSTE), has invited online applications from eligible and interested candidates for filling Fifteen (15) vacancies to the post of Junior Scientist/Scientist B in CWRDM through direct selection to be posted at Kozhikode in Kerala, India on a fulltime basis. The application process started on January 13, 2021 and closes on February 13, 2021. CRITERIA DETAILS Name Of The Posts Junior Scientist/Scientist B in CWRDM Organisation Centre for Water Resources Development and Management (CWRDM) Educational Qualification B.E/B.Tech/M.E/M.Tech in relevant engineering disciplines; M.Sc/Ph.D in concerned discipline from a recognised University/Institute with relevant years of work experience in the relevant field Experience Refer to the advertisement Job Responsibilities null Skills Required null Job Location Kozhikode Salary Scale Rs. 15,600 to Rs. 39,100 per month Industry Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment (KSCSTE) Application Start Date January 13, 2021 Application End Date February 13, 2021 KSCSTE Recruitment 2021: Age Criteria And Fees Candidates interested in applying for KSCSTE Scientist Jobs 2021 through KSCSTE Recruitment 2021 must not have exceeded 35 years of age as on February 13, 2021 with relaxation (upper age limit) for reserved categories as specified in the KSCSTE Recruitment 2021 Notification. For details regarding application fee for KSCSTE Scientist Jobs 2021 through KSCSTE Recruitment 2021, refer to the official KSCSTE Recruitment 2021 Notification given at the end of the article. Also Read: KSP Recruitment 2021 For 545 Sub-Inspector (Civil) Posts, Register Online On KSP.Online.In. Check Details Here KSCSTE Recruitment 2021: Education And Eligibility Desirous candidates applying for KSCSTE Scientist Jobs 2021 through KSCSTE Recruitment 2021 must possess a B.E/B.Tech/M.E/M.Tech in relevant engineering disciplines; M.Sc/Ph.D in concerned discipline from a recognised University/Institute with relevant years of work experience in the relevant field as detailed in the KSCSTE Recruitment Notification 2021. KSCSTE Recruitment 2021: Selection And Pay Scale The selection of candidates for KSCSTE Scientist Jobs 2021 through KSCSTE Recruitment 2021 will be done through Shortlisting, Interview and Document Verification as notified in the KSCSTE Recruitment Notification 2021. Candidates selected for KSCSTE Scientist Jobs 2021 through KSCSTE Recruitment 2021 will be paid an emolument in the scale of Rs. 15,600 to Rs. 39,100 per month. Also Read: West Bengal Police Recruitment 2021 For 1,088 Sub-Inspectors And Lady Sub-Inspectors, Apply Before February 20 KSCSTE Recruitment 2021: How To Apply Candidates applying for KSCSTE Scientist Jobs 2021 through KSCSTE Recruitment 2021 must register online on the official KSCSTE CWRDM website and submit their applications on or before February 13, 2021. Download KSCSTE Recruitment 2021 Notification PDF for Junior Scientist/Scientist B in CWRDM 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. Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. I took a 1,600-mile road trip this week that has left me even more amazed at how poorly the United States has handled the coronavirus and more worried about how much work the Biden administration has to do to get it under control. I want to tell you that story this morning. The U.S. now faces two main virus problems. First, our efforts to minimize the viruss spread remain halfhearted, with many Americans refusing to wear masks or practice social distancing. Second, the early stages of the mass vaccination campaign have been a mess, far behind schedule and full of frustration for people trying to get shots. The second of those problems was the reason for my road trip. I live in the Washington, D.C., area, where the vaccine rollout has been even slower than in most places. I hear maddening anecdotes from neighbors and friends all the time, and I imagine youve heard similar anecdotes. Many Americans who qualify to receive the vaccine like people over 65 dont know what they are supposed to do to sign up. When they try, they often find that all the slots are filled. Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 3 mesi fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. Market Reports on Saudi Arabia Provides the Trending Market Research Report on Construction in Saudi Arabia - Key Trends and Opportunities to 2024 under Construction category. The Construction in Saudi Arabia is projected to exhibit highest growth rate over report offers a collection of superior market research, market analysis, and competitive intelligence and industry reports. Prior to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, Saudi Arabias Construction Sector had posted growth for the first time in four years, expanding to 4.1% in real terms for 2019. However, owing to disruptions from plunging oil prices and the pandemic, forecasts construction output will contract by 2.8%, and expects a recovery for the sector of 3.3% in 2021. This latest forecast reflects the extended lockdown measures which were cautiously eased in July, along with the departure of an estimated one million expatriate workers in the wake of the economic shutdown, and the uncertainty regarding the degree to which the government will be able to offset its oil revenue losses and stabilize its debt burden in the short term. Request a free sample copy of Saudi Arabia Construction Industry Report @ http://www.marketreportsonsaudiarabia.com/marketreports/sample/reports/2155087 Saudi Arabias preliminary budget statement showed a cut to government spending of 7.3% in 2021, after VAT was tripled and customs duties increased in July 2020, and despite the economy entering a recession in Q2; this implies that the main policy goal for the Kingdom in the short term is to reduce the budget deficit, rather than boost economic growth. However, there are clear signs that the Kingdom is moving to progress with its Vision 2030. Saudi Arabia approved a new mining law to attract more local and foreign investments in the mining sector, as well as to diversify its economy away from oil. Tourism is another area that is being prioritised. The government is encouraging public-private partnerships (PPPs) under the executive programme. The programme aims to create an attractive investment environment in a bid to increase the quality of infrastructure. Additionally, the Kingdom is looking to sell assets in sectors which were previously not targeted for privatization, such as healthcare and education, as it looks to diversify its revenue base and bring more efficiency to state entities, with authorities aiming to raise a total of more than US$50 billion from privatizations over the next five years. This report provides detailed market analysis, information, and insights into Saudi Arabias construction industry, including - - Saudi Arabias construction industry's growth prospects by market, project type and construction activity - Critical insight into the impact of industry trends and issues, as well as an analysis of key risks and opportunities in Saudi Arabias construction industry - Analysis of the mega-project pipeline, focusing on development stages and participants, in addition to listings of major projects in the pipeline. Scope This report provides a comprehensive analysis of the construction industry in Saudi Arabia. It provides - - Historical (2015-2019) and forecast (2020-2024) valuations of the construction industry in Saudi Arabia, featuring details of key growth drivers. - Segmentation by sector (commercial, industrial, infrastructure, energy and utilities, institutional and residential) and by sub-sector - Analysis of the mega-project pipeline, including breakdowns by development stage across all sectors, and projected spending on projects in the existing pipeline. - Listings of major projects, in addition to details of leading contractors and consultants Reasons to Buy - Identify and evaluate market opportunities using standardized valuation and forecasting methodologies. - Assess market growth potential at a micro-level with over 600 time-series data forecasts. - Understand the latest industry and market trends. - Formulate and validate strategy using critical and actionable insight. - Assess business risks, including cost, regulatory and competitive pressures. - Evaluate competitive risk and success factors. Browse our full report with Table of Contents: http://www.marketreportsonsaudiarabia.com/marketreports/construction-in-saudi-arabia-key-trends-and-opportunities-to-2024/2155087 About Us Market Reports on Saudi Arabia provides you with an in-depth industry reports focusing on various economic, political and operational risk environment, complemented by detailed sector analysis. We have an exhaustive coverage on variety of industries - ranging from energy and chemicals to transportation, communications, constructions and mining to Food and Beverage and education. Our collection includes over 2000 up-to-date reports all researched, analyzed and published by top-notch international research firms. Contact us at: Market Reports on Saudi Arabia Tel: +91 22 27810772/27810773 Email: info@Industryreportsonsaudiarabia.com Website: http://www.Industryreportsonsaudiarabia.com Follow us on: Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn This article is part of the Future Agenda, a series from Future Tense in which experts suggest specific, forward-looking actions the new Biden administration should implement. On Wednesday, Feb. 3, at noon Eastern, Future Tense will host an online event to discuss what science, technology, health, and energy priorities the Biden administration should pursue. For more information and to RSVP, visit the New America website. Communities of color, indigenous communities, rural and urban low-income communities, and people with disabilities all suffer from a range of energy-related challenges that perpetuate and exacerbate poverty and inequality: burdensome energy costs, outdated electrical equipment and systems, racial and environmental injustice in energy resource extraction and the location of energy facilities, threats to jobs from energy transitions, and more. Advertisement In the lowest income brackets, total energy costsincluding electricity, gas, and gasolinecan eat up to 50 percent of monthly household income, forcing people to make impossible choices between having their power cut off and falling short on food, housing, transportation, education, and other essential expenditures. Low-income households often struggle to purchase higher-cost energy-efficient appliances or upgrades that could save them significant money in the long run. They literally burn cash: buying carbon and setting it on fire. By contrast, wealthy households typically pay more like 5 percent of their monthly income on energy. Advertisement Advertisement The Biden administration could help end these injustices by reforming how the nation supports clean energy innovation. Today, U.S. policies help accelerate the adoption of new energy technologies by subsidizing the wealthy, exacerbating inequalities. With a simple change, the federal government could instead leverage its investments in solar and wind to advance economic security and energy justice for disadvantaged communities. Advertisement The 2021 omnibus spending bill that Congress passed in December extended tax credits that support investments in wind and solar energy. In 2020, through those same tax credits, the federal government invested roughly $5 billion in solar energy, buying something like 4-5 Gigawatts of solar energy. It will likely spend more in 2021. While not direct congressional appropriations, tax credits are functionally the same as federal spending. Individuals and companies that purchase solar systems receive credits on their taxes, getting a portion of the money they spent on solar back and reducing federal revenues. In effect, the government buys a portion of the solar panels installed and gives them away to the system owner. This is a time-honored practice in innovation policy. It leverages federal spending 2-to-1 (or more) by encouraging others to buy new technologies. For technologies that are early in their adoption cycle and relatively expensive, the benefits of this kind of policy can be huge. Advertisement Advertisement Unfortunately, however, this approach to innovation policy is highly inequitable. Investors in solar rooftop systems must own their home, have enough money to pay for the cost of the solar system (or to qualify for a bank loan), and pay enough in federal taxes for the credit to be worthwhile. That leaves out those who rent, those with low credit scores or savings, and the 44 percent of Americans (as of 2018) who paid no federal income tax. And the numbers show it. In Phoenix, Arizona, where we live, people in ZIP codes with higher average incomes install more solar systems, install higher-output systems, and generate significantly greater monthly energy savings from those investmentsall while receiving federal help to pay for systems that they then own and will benefit from for decades. Advertisement Its time to end this injustice. Solar energy is now the cheapest source of electricity on the planet and the most heavily invested in. The world is adding more solar energy generation per year than any other technology, and so is the U.S. We no longer need to incentivize the wealthy to buy solar. Even without these credits, solar energy will continue to get cheaper and to accelerate in adoption. Advertisement Instead, the Biden administration should simply spend $5 billion or more to buy solar panels and grant them to disadvantaged households and communities, where they can help create the foundations of economic security, equality, and environmental justice. The administration has already signaled that ensuring a just energy transition is one of its key goals. This is one way to meet this commitment. Advertisement Money for solar panels can be found throughout the federal budget. The U.S. Department of Energys Weatherization Assistance Program could purchase and install solar systems on low-income rooftops, helping cut the energy bills of those who already own their own homes. The Department of Housing and Urban Development could allocate funds for solar projects through its community development block grants to low-income communities and communities recovering from disasters, or community solar could be integrated into the design and construction of new federal low-income housing. The U.S. Economic Development Administration could do the same. And FEMA could allow reconstruction funds to be used to build back solar in low-income areas after disasters. Federal investments in community solar projects would be even cheaper, per Watt, than rooftop systems, which means the same funds would finance an even larger economic boost. And, if designed well to integrate into neighborhood landscapes and community planning, community solar can foster a range of ancillary benefits like enhancing resilience to climate change, supporting local economic development, providing funds to support community initiatives, improving local food systems and security, beautifying urban landscapes, and more. Money used to build community solar projects would also benefit renters and those living in low-income housing, helping to reduce their energy bills, while creating new revenue streams that communities could use for other purposes. And, if Congress wanted to help, it could end solar tax credits after 2021 and instead appropriate that money, too, to help disadvantaged communities grow economic security through energy security. Advertisement This is the approach the community water aqueduct in Corcovada, Puerto Rico, has taken. The community invested in solar energy for its water pump, and from the saving on energy costs, its now built a new community center and shared internet facilities. Its also the approach that the Canadian government has taken with its First Nations communities, buying community-scale renewable energy systems and granting ownership of those assets to the community. The Biden administration needs to take a different approach to stimulating energy innovation. Admittedly, making this change would require bucking the accepted ways of supporting new technologies and those who support them. Opposition would likely come most from those who believe that we need to continue to subsidize solar energy in the current way to drive rapid adoption to solve climate change, and those, such as solar installers, who have benefited directly from the current policy. However, federal spending will still be buying and installing solar panelsthe benefits will just go to people who need it more. Explicit rules could also require the program to purchase solar panels from U.S. solar manufacturers. This, combined with expanding the solar franchise by expanding the diversity of solar ownership, would help to cultivate the kind of widespread public support necessary to accelerate climate solutions. The world spent $500 billion on clean energy in 2020. Investors benefited enormously from the boom. Going forward, the Biden administration needs to make its clean energy investments into an instrument of social and racial justice. Future Tense is a partnership of Slate, New America, and Arizona State University that examines emerging technologies, public policy, and society. Several members of China's heavily persecuted Early Rain Covenant Church were arrested by communist authorities for participating in an online Easter worship service on Zoom and ordered to cease all religious activity. Persecution watchdog group International Christian Concern reports that the Christians were participating in a Zoom worship service from their homes on Easter Sunday when six leaders were arrested and detained by the Public Security Bureau. The 5,000-member Sichuan house church, led by pastor Wang Yi, has not been able to gather in person since the communist regime shut down the church in 2018 and arrested their pastor and other leaders. Since then, it has opted to gather online. A member of ERCC told ICC, "At that time I was also in the Zoom call, but there was a long period of time where I did not hear a thing. I thought it's the network connection issue at first, but I soon heard a quarrel erupt. Our co-worker Wang Jun was questioning some people, [saying], 'Who are you to do this [to us]?'" She added that in addition to Wang, other key church leaders including Guo Haigang, Wu Wuqing, Jia Xuewei, Zhang Jianqing and Zhang Xudong were also taken away. One member's home had its electricity cut off, while others received phone calls that "police [were] coming to visit them soon." A supporter of ERCC also shared on Twitter, "Since 8:30 a.m., some security officials have entered these Christian families' homes and pretended to be chatting with them casually. At 9:30 a.m., the worship began, and they were also invited to participate. Once they realized that the sermon was from ERCC's imprisoned pastor Wang Yi, they immediately shut it down." Her account was corroborated by Zhang Jiangqing, who was warned by the police at his house, saying, "Don't participate in already banned [religious] activities anymore! Don't listen to pastor [Wang]'s sermons anymore! If you do this again, we will deal with it seriously and take you away!" The six Christians have since been released, and their electricity was restored in the afternoon. Early Rain Covenant Church was first raided during a Sunday evening service in December 2018 after authorities claimed it violated religious regulations because it was not registered with the government. Wang was detained along with his wife, Jiang Rong, and more than 100 members of his congregation. Pastor Wang was later sentenced to nine years in prison on charges of subversion of power and illegal business operations. Gina Goh, ICC's regional manager for Southeast Asia, condemned the government's actions, pointing out that local authorities have continued to monitor and harass ERCC members since 2018 "with the hope that the church will disperse itself." "In a time when the Chinese people are suffering from the COVID-19 pandemic, the heartless regime chose to inflict more trouble on its citizens," she said. "The U.N. should immediately suspend China's appointment to the Human Rights Council for its lack of respect for human rights." In China, where the novel coronavirus originated, isolating in place has presented an opportunity for communist authorities to ramp up its campaign against Christianity. On Ester Sunday, the state-sanctioned Donghu Church in China's Qinghai province was demolished. According to China Aid, a team from the Xining City Chengxi District Urban and Rural Construction Bureau demolished the church in just two hours, labeling it as illegal while citing "safety concerns." On April 2, Bethel Church pastor Zhao Huaiguo was arrested after being criminally detained since March 14 for "inciting subversion of state power." According to China Aid, a local Christian shared that the authorities have been hostile toward pastor Zhao since his church refused to join the state-sanctioned church and rejected government officials' intervention. "He was accused of proselytizing and distributing Gospel tracts, which were considered illegal acts. After the Lunar New Year last year, the religious bureau forced the church to disperse, to which it refused. The official ban arrived last April," said the local Christian. Religious liberty magazine Bitter Winter reported that in mid-March, crosses were removed from multiple churches in the eastern provinces of Jiangsu and Anhui and in the neighboring Shandong, the prefecture-level city of Linyi. In February, officials removed a cross from a government-approved Three-Self church in Hexi village. The church was built in 2007 and has complied with state regulations, implementing the four requirements of the government's religion "sinicization" campaign. Additionally, it had stopped all gatherings during the coronavirus epidemic. Nevertheless, it was not spared in the crackdown. "The government does not provide enough help during the epidemic but instead demolishes crosses," a local believer said. China is ranked o Open Doors USA's World Watch List as one of the worst countries in the world when it comes to the persecution of Christians. China has also been labeled by the U.S. State Department as a "country of particular concern" for "continuing to engage in particularly severe violations of religious freedom." Courtesy of The Christian Post Three people have died after being washed into rough surf at a popular rock fishing spot on Friday night. Police said the group were standing on rocks near an area known as Hill 60 near Port Kembla on New South Wales' south-east coast when a large wave knocked them into the sea on Friday evening. Rescue teams are continuing to search the area, and it is believed more people may be in the water. Local woman Jess Arroyo told of horrific scenes as helicopters airlifted bodies from the water and unloaded them on the grass at the Hill 60 park, Port Kembla (pictured at the scene) The rocks at Hill 60, Port Kembla, NSW (pictured) are renowned for their good fishing - but the spot produces rogue waves that are far more dangerous and unpredictable than they look Emergency crews were called to the scene just after 10pm but their efforts were hampered by the dark conditions. Lake Illawarra Police were at the scene as of midnight, along with water police, St John Ambulance, rescue helicopters and local lifeguards. Three people have been confirmed dead. Local woman Jess Arroyo, of Port Kembla business Weigh Less with Jess, said she witnessed the horror at the scene on Friday, seeing two bodies unloaded at the Hill 60 park. The danger zone for rock fishers stretches from Red Point around Honeycomb Rocks (bottom of the land) to Port Kembla Beach (bottom left) 'They were pulling bodies out of the water and then air lifted them to Hill 60 where they took them out of the chopper and into body bags,' she told Daily Mail Australia in the early hours of Saturday morning not long after the incident. 'It was horrible.' Ms Arroyo saw helicopters continuing to circle in the dark, searching for more bodies or survivors in the water. Darren Malone, administrator of the Facebook page Illawarra Weather Warnings & Local Media Info said up to five people had been reported in the water. A group of anglers pictured near the dangerous rocks - which are more treacherous at night Port Kembla has a notorious rock fishing danger zone surrounding a spit of land near Hill 60 which incorporates Red Point and Honeycomb Rocks stretching around to Port Kembla Beach. The Hill 60 lookout area is popular for local anglers seeking to catch salmon and bonito, a tuna-like fish. There have been deaths in the past in the danger zone and countless rescues. Rocks near the Hill 60 park at Port Kembla are renowned for rock fishing but are also dangerous The rocks are well known as a dangerous area. Pictured: a safety life preserver In 2016, angler Nino Agay, 34, was fishing with two friends at Honeycomb Rocks when a rogue wave hit without warning and swept them all into the sea. After falling 2m down the rock ledge then into the ocean, nearby boaties rescued the men. At least seven people have died at the Port Kembla rockpool across the last decade, landing it the grim title of the fifth most deadly fishing location in Australia back in 2009. Surf Lifesavers and emergency services have previously warned rock fishers to wear a lifejacket at all times, as the ocean can be unpredictable, with slippery rocks particularly treacherous at night. New Delhi [India], January 22 (ANI/SRV Media): ZITC (Zimbabwe India Trade Council) recently appointed Vishal Nagesh, Managing Partner of Sogathorai Vani Vilas Estates in Tamilnadu and an expert in Tea and Agriculture Plantation as the Vice Chairman of the Council which is supported by both the Governments of India and Zimbabwe. ZITC promotes economy and trade to establish India as a global centre in foreign trade for Zimbabwe, by coordinating with various investors in India, and connect them to opportunities in Zimbabwe. The organization wishes to promote bi-lateral trade and commerce. "ZITC's main aim is to promote trade, investment and technology co-operation between Indian companies and their Zimbabwe counterparts and we find Vishal's strategic thinking and experience aligned with fortifying our mission in various ways," said Samuel Sithole, Trade Director of ZITC in Harare, while speaking on the appointment. "Today's developing India offers several opportunities for young and agile enterprises to find global markets. My focus is to catalyze these conversations and ensure that ZITC emerges as a veritable 'go-to destination' for the rising enterprises from India to Zimbabwe," said Vishal Nagesh while speaking about his new role in this bilateral relationship. Zimbabwe has grown exponentially over the years and is driven by constant innovation, technology and expansion. Spearheaded by its political leadership, Zimbabwe has strengthened its relations with India with the appointment. Launch of ZITC is a solid start point to viaduct development and the infrastructural gap between Indian enterprises and Zimbabwe counterparts. "Indian online health care system has been developed and is being served with a lot of innovative modules that can help Zimbabwe with upgrading their existing qualifications. We appreciate the marketing and commercial strategies adopted by the ZITC and pledge to strengthen the organization by making collaborations in the Zimbabwe region," said Dr. Asif Iqbal, President of the Indian Economic Trade Organization, while welcoming the appointment of Nagesh. ZITC's main objective is to plan, promote, organize, implement, monitor and evaluate schemes, projects, activities, for commerce development of Zimbabwe across the different states. To execute this, it works towards identifying, facilitating and presenting the work of mining companies, travel organizations and MSME industry to enter into partnerships or joint ventures with various opportunities across Zimbabwe. ZITC's mission is to impact the policy, regulations and legislative environment so as to stimulate balanced economic, industrial and development bilaterally. The organization believes that the sectors of mining, tourism and environment will be the key component that drives Zimbabwe for its economic growth in attracting investment. Ambassador of Zimbabwe HE Dr. Godfrey Majoni Chipare, who presented the Certificate of Appointment, said, "MOUs signed during the visit of the Indian Vice President, Mr. Venkaiah Naidu to Zimbabwe in November 2018 have to be supported and Implementation of these MOUs will further enhance cooperation between the two countries. So far, the implementation of these MOUs is a bit behind, but the two countries hope that implementation will be done soon." The Ambassador further proclaimed that the Zimbabwe Government has adopted the new mantra of 'Zimbabwe is Open for Business'. This new mantra is premised on reforming the investment climate in the country through protecting foreign investments by signing Bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection Agreements (BIPPAs). Indian investment in Zimbabwe will be safeguarded by BIPPA, which will protect Indian companies investing in Zimbabwe. Ambassador of India HE Vijay Khanduja also welcomed initiatives of the ZITC and said, "Embassy of India in Harare Zimbabwe will be happy to continue to work with Zimbabwe India Trade Council and Indian Economic Trade Organization for augmenting India Zimbabwe business relations". A 20 member strong delegation from South India is headed to Zimbabwe in April after flight restrictions are lifted. The delegation will work on biodiversity tourism projects headed by Devika Bhaskar, Director of the ZITC. The ZITC office in Bangalore will be inaugurated by the Ambassador of Zimbabwe in May 2021. For more details, please visit: https://ieto.online/ This story is provided by SRV Media. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/SRV Media) DISCLAIMER (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) CLEVELAND, Ohio - How many potentially fraudulent claims have been flagged by Ohios unemployment system? The answer from Ohio Lt. Gov. Jon Husted was shocking, and we wondered why the state didnt tell us about it sooner. Were discussing the fraud problem on This Week in the CLE. Listen online here. Editor Chris Quinn hosts our daily half-hour news podcast with editors Jane Kahoun and Kris Wernowsky. Youve been sending Chris lots of thoughts and suggestions on our from-the-newsroom account, in which he shares what were thinking about at cleveland.com. You can sign up for free by sending a text to 216-868-4802. Here are the questions were answering today: Whats the number of potential fraud cases involving people seeking pandemic unemployment benefits in Ohio? And what does Attorney General Dave Yost want to do to help the victims? The final numbers are in, and Cleveland Hopkins International Airport was a bit of a ghost town in 2020. How far did the passenger count drop in our pandemic year? Why are teachers unions in Ohios cities condemning Mike DeWine for his teacher vaccination plan? Have investigators finally figured out how a 28-year-old who died in the Cuyahoga County jail of an overdose last summer got the drugs that killed her? What big steps did Gov. Mike DeWine take Thursday involving the coronavirus battle, with a curfew and COVID-19 testing? Want more? You can find all our past episodes here. We have an Apple podcasts channel exclusively for this podcast. Subscribe here. Do you get your podcasts on Spotify. Find us here. If you use Stitcher, we are here. RadioPublic is another popular podcast vehicle, and we are here. On Google Podcasts, we are here. On PodParadise, find us here. And on PlayerFM, we are here. Email Whatsapp Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment For the last four years, President Donald Trump has fulfilled his promises and delivered for the evangelical community like no other. From protecting the unborn and strengthening the military, to appointing faith-friendly Supreme Court Justices and moving the US embassy to Jerusalem, his legacy will be very favorable to the Bible-believing community. However, it is important to understand that the evangelicals support of the president really was not about Trump, the man. It was about his God-affirming policies. It was Trumps policies that unified Christians and made him the evangelicals president. While we are grateful for his help, at the same time we did not approve of the offensive tweets, the stories of affairs, or the many other distractions that kept the news cycle buzzing for the last four years. The fact is that President Trump fought for our cause like no other; it was the first time in many years that a president has embraced the Christian cause. Unfortunately, this is not something we expect in the foreseeable future under President Biden. Based on his record of nearly half-a-century, President Biden is clearly not interested in the concerns of evangelicals. He is not pro-life, nor is he for strengthening families. He goes against Israel and also religious freedom at every opportunity. His record does not lie; he is beyond repair for the evangelical community to ever rally behind him. So, what are we to do, now that Trump is leaving office and we have a new president who goes against our values? The answer is simple: we evangelicals must do exactly what we have done for the last 2,000 years and that is to continue following Jesus. This new day in America provides the church with an incredible opportunity. 2021 will be an awesome time to show love of God amidst all that is taking place in our nation. The church must continue to pray for our leaders and keep up the fight for our Christian principles, the unborn, our relationship with Israel, religious liberty and the sovereignty of our nation. Until Jesus returns for us, we must be busy going about our Fathers business and show the love and compassion that Jesus has commended us to give - no matter what government the church is under or who is leading that government. Americas future is not expressly written anywhere in the Bible, but maybe God wants us to write it. We need to keep our eyes on Jesus and to continue to champion the unborn, to love and serve our neighbors. And while we must always remember that the Messiah will never arrive on Air Force One, we need to look to 2024 with an eye towards finding the next president whose policies will be in line with our values. Double suicide bombings struck at a market in central Baghdad yesterday, killing at least 28 people and wounding 73 more . The blasts came mid morning as people were doing their shopping in Tayaran Square. Video footage showed the second explosion ripping through the air as casualties were raced away in motorised rickshaws. Other images from the scene revealed bodies strewn on the ground amid upturned tables and piles of unsold clothes. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack. Although security forces continue to fight ragtag bands of Islamic State militants in Iraqs peripheral regions, major security incidents in the capital are rare. Yesterdays attack was the deadliest to strike the capital in years. The last mass casualty attack, striking the same square, took place three years ago and killed 27 people. Khalid Al-Mahna, a spokesman for the Interior Ministry, said the suicide bomber had blown himself up after attracting a crowd by feigning sickness in the market. When shoppers came to help those wounded by the first blast, he said, someone else detonated a second bomb. The attack shattered a sense of relative security in the capital, raising questions over the Iraqi security forces preparedness in the face of a militant threat diminished but by no means erased. Army units and special forces continue to arrest alleged Islamic State members in urban centres, and say sleeper cells remain prepared to mount strikes. It came at a time when life for ordinary Iraqis has been getting harder. The coronavirus pandemic has tanked global energy prices, plunging Iraqs oil-dependent economy into crisis and forcing a devaluation of the currency. The country has also emerged again as a stage for geopolitical tensions, with Iran-backed Shiite militias and the outgoing Trump administration trading rocket attacks and airstrikes on diplomatic and military-linked facilities. Three Americans and one Briton died in those attacks. But for the most part, the dead and wounded have been Iraqis, caught in the crossfire. After the Islamic States official defeat here in 2017, the US is in the process of cutting its troop presence to 2,500 as the Iraqi military takes the lead on what remains of the fight. Isis will be trying to show it is still relevant and able to carry out extreme violence despite its territorial defeat, said Iraq-based Sajad Jiyad of security think tank The Century Foundation. Washington Post CanSino Biologics Inc. has offered 20 million shots to Pakistan as it gets ready to release efficacy results in a few days" from phase III trials that have recently been completed in the South Asian nation, according to its local partner. The Chinese maker of the single-shot vaccine will be giving Pakistan preferential access and pricing, said Hasan Abbas Zaheer, technical adviser at AJM Pharma Pvt., the local partner. It has already applied with Pakistans drug regulator to get approval. We need to keep in mind that this coronavirus vaccine is a very scarce commodity, highly in demand and you know the other countries many months ago started the advance booking, we also need to do the same, we are already late on that," said Zaheer in a phone interview. Once Pakistan does a booking, we will be in a position to know the delivery. I am sure the delivery will be much before other manufacturers." The company also plans to decrease the cost of procuring the vaccines by 25%, through filling the vials locally. Concern is mounting over a growing vaccine disparity between rich and poor nations which the World Health Organizations Director-General has called a catastrophic moral failure". Pakistan is not among the 51 nations that have started administering shots despite being the fifth most populous country globally, according to data collected by Bloomberg. The South Asian country has already ordered 1.2 million doses from Chinese state-backed vaccine developer Sinopharm, manufactured by unit China National Biotec Group Co., with deliveries to start Jan. 31. It has also given approval to AstraZeneca Plcs shot for private use. Results from the phase III trials in Pakistan will likely be the earliest indication of the CanSino vaccines protection level against Covid-19. A high efficacy level will add another weapon against the pandemic, though other Chinese vaccines have been greeted with some skepticism because of confusing trial data. Chinese developers have trailed behind western frontrunners in reporting interim test results. As the country has mostly been able to control its coronavirus outbreaks, CanSino and other Chinese developers have had to search abroad for phase III testing sites. CanSino eventually started late-stage trials in Pakistan, Russia, Argentina, Mexico and Chile. Pakistan is currently going through a second wave of infections that caused a peak in hospitalizations and deaths last month. Still, the nation has largely been spared the sweeping outbreaks of its neighbors Iran and India: total cases number 527,000 and fatalities over 11,000. The CanSino trial in Pakistan completed the enrollment of 17,500 participants a few days ago, after the target number was increased from 10,000 participants. Only minor side effects among volunteers have been recorded so far, such as low-grade fever and body ache for one or two days, said Zaheer. CanSino has also agreed to supply 35 million doses to Mexico while Malaysia is in talks to get 3.5 million shots. This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. India has always been a top source market for Maldives. After reopening of the borders, India became the number one source market with 62,905 Indian tourists holidaying in the island country by the end of 2020, as per the statistics of Ministry of Tourism, Republic of Maldives. 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 travelers to visit Maldives. By the end of 2020, India became the number one source market with 62,905 Indian tourists holidaying in Maldives. The island country recorded 555,399 arrivals in 2020. 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 travelers 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. During this 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' behavior 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. Source: IANS Maldives opened its borders on July 15, 2020 with strict safety measures for the travelers. 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 travelers 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. During this 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' behavior 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.Source: IANS After India, Russia secured the second place with 61,388 tourists, followed by the UK with 52,716 tourists accounting 11.1 percent and 9.5 percent of the total market share respectively. Parts of this site are only available to paying PW subscribers. Subscribers: to set up your digital access click here. To subscribe, click here. PW All Access site license members have access to PWs subscriber-only website content. Simply close and relaunch your preferred browser to log-in. To find out more about PWs site license subscription options please email: pw@pubservice.com. If you have questions or need assistance setting up your account please email pw@pubservice.com or call 1-800-278-2991 (U.S.) or 1-818-487-2069 (all other countries), Monday-Friday between 5am and 5pm Pacific time for assistance. You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close Las Palapas is marking the 40th year of business by growing its Texas footprint. Prior to the expansion, a New Braunfels location was the farthest one outside of San Antonio proper. But a location in College Station is gearing up to open, according to the restaurant's social media profiles. On the heels of that opening is one in Keller, in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, Community Impact Newspaper reports. RELATED: Food & Wine says San Antonio's tortas are the best sandwiches in Texas The College Station site is under construction and will boast "Aggie Maroon" colors in support of Texas A&M University, the Las Palapas Instagram account shows. Community Impact says the North Texas extension will take over a former Dairy Queen. A projected opening date was not shared, but the restaurant is "coming soon." Las Palapas is also adding a San Antonio location on Austin Highway. Restaurant representatives were not immediately available to comment on expansion plans. The family-owned chain currently operates 16 San Antonio Las Palapas restaurants. Madalyn Mendoza covers news and puro pop culture for MySA.com | mmendoza@mysa.com | @maddyskye The National Weather Service radar in Lake Charles is back in operation, five months after it was damaged by Hurricane Laura. Crews from the NEXRAD Radar Operations Center in Norman, Oklahoma, had been working on the radar station since September after it was severely damaged by the Category 4 storm. The radar returned to operation Friday. It provides data for forecasts and helps meteorologists issue warnings for six counties in Southeast Texas, 16 parishes in Louisiana and adjacent coastal waters. Weather radar imagery is flowing again, feeding weather forecasts and warnings and bringing back important public safety infrastructure to our Lake Charles community, Roger Erickson, warning coordination meteorologist, said in a statement. We are thankful to have the radar online before the peak of severe weather this spring. The work was completed nearly two months ahead of schedule, at a cost of $1.65 million, the Weather Service said. Top hits: Get Beaumont Enterprise stories sent directly to your inbox All equipment inside the radars dome, including the antenna and pedestal, was replaced and repairs were made to the tower, fence and equipment shelters. Workers operated about 65 feet in the air with heavy equipment weighing more than four tons. The Radar Operations Center is funded and staffed by the National Weather Service, the Air Force and the Federal Aviation Administration. The center provides life-cycle management and support for all 159 NEXRADs across the country, U.S. territories and select locations overseas. Laura, which made landfall near Cameron, Louisiana, before heading north through Lake Charles, was the most powerful hurricane to strike the U.S. last year. Winds were clocked up to 150 mph and storm surges were measured in excess of 15 feet in some areas, causing heavy damage along the coast. The storm caused 42 deaths and more than $19 billion in losses. jacob.dick@beaumontenterprise.com twitter.com/jd_journalism Wildlife activism, conservation, and preservation initiatives have greatly improved over the decades. Modern methods are being streamlined to ensure that many endangered species whose population took a downturn are sure to live another day. However, despite all the measures taken, many species are still endangered and at risk of extinction. To combat the possibility of going extinct, wildlife preservation scientists developed a new method to keep track of endangered species remotely. These conservationists employed the aid of satellite imaging. The system, which uses satellite images mixed with deep learning Artificial Intelligence (AI), has the same accuracy as manually counting the animals on the ground or low-flying airplanes or drones. This new method could help the improvement of monitoring endangered species across many habitats around the world. Researchers from the United Kingdom academic institutes, the University of Bath and University of Oxford, worked together to conceptualize and later on practice this project. The joint academic voyage resulted in the creation of a computer algorithm that analyzes high-resolution images captured by various satellites to detect African elephants walking around the grasslands and forests of their natural habitats. Related Article: Gray Whale and Monarch Butterfly Face Extinction with Dropping Population Monitoring African Elephants The population of the African elephant has dwindled down and is facing a continuous rapid decline in the past century. With only just 40,000 to 50,000 members of its species left in the wild, these numbers are a mere fraction of how many there were when the giant beasts dominated the African lands. It will take a considerable amount of time to monitor these animals, especially when they are free-ranging in the wild. Aside from time-consuming, manual on the ground counting and airplane surveys are expensive. Compared to the traditional methods, satellites collect over 1,900 square miles worth of images every few minutes. Using satellites also speeds up the process while eliminating double-counting because of the computer algorithm that removes human error. Plus, it also cuts down on the logistics of cross monitoring populations among international borders. Using veryhighresolution satellite imagery and deep learning to detect and count African elephants. "We need to know where the animals are and how many there are," she added. Satellite Imaging The British universities' attempt was not the first time scientists used satellite imaging to monitor wildlife populations. However, the previous attempts were strictly limited to homogenous habitats and terrains. Tracking down whale populations in the ocean was easy using this method but counting elephants or other land creatures in diverse ecosystems was especially tricky for the previous means of monitoring. But, with the current attempt, they could now monitor heterogeneous habitats like savannah and forests. It improved the old system's flaw where trees and other objects and terrains would hinder the satellite tracking. "Satellite imagery resolution increases every couple of years, and with every increase, we will be able to see smaller things in greater detail," Isupova said, adding: "Other researchers have managed to detect black albatross nests against the snow. No doubt the contrast of black and white made it easier, but that doesn't change the fact that an albatross nest is one-eleventh the size of an elephant." ALSO READ: Indonesian Monkeys Don't Just Steal, They Know Which Item is More Expensive For more wildlife news, don't forget to follow Nature World News! To continue, please log in, or sign up for a new account. We offer one free story view per month. If you register for an account, you will get two additional story views. After those three total views, we ask that you support us with a subscription. A subscription to our digital content is so much more than just access to our valuable content. It means youre helping to support a local community institution that has, from its very start, supported the betterment of our society. Thank you very much! By Del Vitale and Debra Coyle McFadden Victor Teran and his colleagues at Banker Steel in South Plainfield go to work every day proud that their skill and dedication keep some of New York Citys biggest buildings sturdy and safe. Skyscraper developers buy steel fabricated by Teran and about 200 other members of United Steelworkers Local 8288-67 because they understand their need for top-quality material meticulously produced by highly trained workers nearby. And Teran knows that Americas unionized manufacturing workforce earned the right to deliver the same supply-chain reliability to the builders of other mammoth structures wind turbines as they develop a string of new wind farms to generate power along the East Coast. rsted a developer of offshore wind power that already operates energy generation facilities in Rhode Island and constructed pilot sites in Virginia, among other projects recently reached an agreement with North Americas Building Trades Unions (NABTU) to train a generation of construction workers for the companys ambitious expansion. In addition, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy just announced that rsted and German manufacturer EEW will partner on a $250 million factory at Paulsboro Marine Terminal to make steel platforms for offshore wind turbines in the Northeast and across the United States. To learn more about the latest developments in New Jerseys offshore wind efforts, check out Jersey Renews Time for Turbines virtual conference on January 26 and 27. The two announcements go hand in hand. Because, while rsted will surely reap huge benefits from its alliance with the NABTUs skilled craft professionals, the companys success ultimately hinges on much more: A dependable supply of the superior steel, fiberglass, aluminum and other essential components that only Americas union manufacturing workers can provide. Making the platforms in the U.S. is a laudable step. But fully leveraging the benefits of this growing industry, and other emerging energy sources will mean using American workers cleanly- and efficiently-made products across the entire supply chain. rsteds projects have the potential to create thousands of family-sustaining manufacturing jobs, boosting the U.S. economy for years to come even as the company benefits from the unparalleled craftsmanship and ironclad work ethic that workers like Teran bring to their jobs. You know what youre getting, explained Teran, who has worked at Banker Steel for two and a half years and helped supply materials for New York City skyscrapers like 66 Hudson and One Vanderbilt. Often, he said, customers tour the plant to get a firsthand look at the care and expertise he and his co-workers put into every weld. They take their role seriously because entire buildings and countless lives can rest on the materials they make. We know that we have to build parts that are going to be supporting hundreds of thousands of people every day, Teran said. They have to be very good quality. When developers try to cut corners with the purchase of cheap, foreign-made materials, they end up paying a much higher price and put lives at risk. Officials in California, for example, used low-quality foreign steel, produced by low-wage workers, during the reconstruction of part of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge. The defective materials raised numerous safety concerns, including the spans viability during earthquakes, and contributed to massive cost overruns. The first problems surfaced even before the bridges re-opening. rsteds plans to expand Americas wind power industry dovetail with President-elect Joe Bidens Build Back Better campaign to stimulate the economy, enhance national security and overhaul the countrys crumbling infrastructure including energy facilities with ramped-up reliance on U.S.-made products and organized labor. Wind energy remains a nascent industry in the U.S., and rsted with rights to construct offshore facilities in Connecticut, Maryland, New Jersey, New York and Rhode Island hopes to begin commissioning new wind farms by 2024. Millions of manufacturing workers in United Steelworkers and other unions across the country anticipate a major role in this vitally important effort. They will give all they have and take pride in a job well done, just as Teran and his co-workers relish their contributions to New York Citys skyline. Knowing that I am part of it gives me satisfaction every day, Teran said. Del Vitale is director of District 4 for the United Steelworkers. Debra Coyle McFadden is the executive director for the New Jersey Work Environment Council. Both organizations are partners in the Jersey Renews coalition. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Heres how to submit an op-ed or Letter to the Editor. Bookmark NJ.com/Opinion. Follow us on Twitter @NJ_Opinion and on Facebook at NJ.com Opinion. Get the latest news updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters. Virginia will adopt workplace safety standards to prevent COVID-19 spread that will be in place until Governor Ralph Northam's state of emergency declaration is lifted. Virginia workplace safety standards are identical to the temporary rules Read also: Starbucks Closes Several New York Stores over Possible Protests Concern Last week, Virginia's Safety and Health Codes Board voted 904 in maintaining a list of emergency workplace safety rules. These rules were adopted as temporary, mandatory COVID-19 prevention measures. In July, the state initially approved the regulations and became the first state to do so in the United States. The board's vote would make the rules permanent, but after Governor Northam declared an end to the state of emergency, the requirements could be lifted, as per Richmond. The permanent COVID-19 rules roughly inclined with the temporary ones adopted with some changes last year. The new Virginia regulations split workplaces into "low," "medium," "high," and "high-risk" depending on the exposure from the coronavirus. Businesses must require workers in regular contact with the public to provide hand sanitizer, clean common areas in workplaces regularly, and wear masks. Businesses must provide COVID-19 prevention training for workers Except for low-risk, all businesses must provide COVID-19 prevention training to their workers and inform their employees if a colleague tests positive for COVID-19. Northam administration reviewed the rules this week and will publish them before they go into effect. Worker advocacy and union organizations back the regulations. However, a coalition of more than 30 business organizations, such as the Virginia Retail Federation, the Virginia Agribusiness Council, the Virginia Manufacturers Association, and the National Federation of Independent Business, opposed the regulations that aim to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Meanwhile, organizations backing the rules claim they helped protect workers and lift consumer confidence that establishments are safe to visit. Doris Crouse-Mays, president of the Virginia AFL-CIO, a labor group, said that companies would not thrive without the consumers and workers during a public hearing on the permanent rules on January 5. There is an increase in consumer confidence as customers will not just feel safe but know the safeness as they often go to their favorite business, Coris added. Read also: Apple Temporarily Closes Over 20 Retail Locations Due to Surge in COVID-19 Cases Permanent workplace rules include a timetable when employees could go back to work According to NBC12, the Virginia permanent rules are mostly identical to the temporary regulations, which took effect in July and were revised, reflecting changes to Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidance. The rules would then go to Governor Northam if approved. The regulations mandate to wear face coverings for workers in customer-facing positions or if social distancing is not applicable, easy access to handwashing facilities and hand sanitizer, daily sanitization of common areas, and notifications employees without 24 hours if they are exposed with a COVID-19 positive co-worker. Besides, they set a timetable when suspected or suspected to be infected the coronavirus employees can return to work. Read also: New York Governor Cuomo Urges to Increase Federal Taxes on Wealthy People @ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. For an industry rife with transient workers, Goulburn Valley fruit grower Peter Hall says he has employed some fruit pickers at his orchards for more than 15 years. He says efficient and dedicated workers who adapt quickly to the intense physical labour have earned enough to set up their families in Shepparton. Fredo Gedeon picking royal gala apples on Fruit grower Peter Halls property. Credit:Justin McManus Mr Hall employs a mix of Pacific Islanders, locals and backpackers (under normal circumstances) to pick plums, apples, pears and pomegranate at his orchards, in addition to 20 permanent workers. During busy periods there may be up to 100 seasonal workers in his business, which stretches across 400 hectares in Toolamba in the Goulburn Valley. Its pretty challenging for someone who hasnt done physical labour before. Mr Hall pays most workers by the hour. But many pickers across the industry are paid by the bin, which holds about 380 kilograms of apples. About $40 a bin is a typical minimum payment for size picking apples in which fruit larger than a specified size is plucked from the trees. A lower minimum rate may be paid for strip picking in which all fruit is taken from the tree regardless of size and colour. Pay rates vary significantly between different fruit categories and the complexity of the picking job. Mr Hall, who says he pays more than the typical minimum piecework rate, estimates three to four bins is a normal days work but that varies wildly depending on skill level and competent pickers usually ask for a piece rate. I have in the same orchard one person who will pick two bins a day and the person beside him will pick eight. Fresh apples ready to be sold to supermarkets. Credit:Justin McManus But Mr Hall said he doubted the state governments plan to allow 1500 Pacific Islanders to work in Victoria would be enough to stop fruit rotting on trees. We were looking for about 20,000, he says. There will be growers particularly in those peak harvest periods where fruit will not be able to be picked in a marketable condition. It will be left on the tree or drop on its own. Victorian Trades Hall secretary Luke Hilakari says farmers have had to resort to foreign seasonal workers because the pay is low and the work can be dangerous. The offer that farmers are putting forward is unattractive to most working people, he says. Victorian Trades Hall Council secretary Luke Hilakari says farm work is often poorly paid and dangerous. Credit:Simon Schluter Mr Hilakari says larger operators tend to abide by industrial laws, but underpayment is also rife, with some unscrupulous operators inflicting severe damage to the sectors reputation. The union movement wants piecework scrapped altogether. Mr Hilakari says he is aware of one case where a worker earned just $40 a week after paying for accommodation and transport. Fair Work guidelines specify that the average competent pieceworker must be able to earn at least 15 per cent more than they would on the hourly rate. The piece rate must be agreed, in theory, between the grower and picker. The remote nature of the work is another complicating factor, with employees generally required to pay for their own accommodation even if it is supplied onsite, although there is a federal subsidy to cover some costs for Australians. Fruit Growers Victoria spokesman Michael Crisera says Pacific Islanders have delivered a reliable workforce for farmers. Theres a level of certainty that the workers will come back the next day, he says. He says many local workers find the job extremely physically taxing - particularly carrying heavy bags of fruit up and down ladders on hot days. Its a job where people have got to be suited to it. Youve got to be physically fit and prepared to work outdoors. Rien Silverstein, who grows fruit in Orrvale near Shepparton, insists pickers can earn good money. But she says she had heard of labour hire contractors who house workers in overcrowded conditions, charge exorbitant rents and refuse to pay properly. Rien Silverstein with husband Maurice at their farm in Orrvale. Credit:Justin McManus It has to be pretty desperate for us to get a contractor, she says. We only use bona fide contractors. Leleiga Fetui travelled from Samoa to work on Ms Silversteins property. He says he has saved enough money to support his family back home. Since Ive been here Ive started up a milk bar back home, bought a house and extended my house, he says. Mr Fetui had planned on returning to Samoa last May but has been unable to get back due to border closures. He has kept working on the Orrvale farm ever since. Fruit picker Leleiga Fetui. at work in Orrvale. Credit:Justin McManus Brighton university student Jake Pudel returned to Melbourne on Wednesday after more than six weeks of fruit picking in the Shepparton region. He used a contractor to find jobs and worked on about five different farms for the first two weeks, picking apricots and cherries and thinning plum and apple trees. Mr Pudel says his pay ended up at $12 an hour on a bad day, but later earned $24.80 an hour in a greenhouse. He considered the experience a work adventure but would probably not do it again. It was a very valuable experience. As a university student from Melbourne its important for us to understand where our fruit comes from. My ongoing series in partnership with Entrepreneur, If I Knew Then: Leadership Lessons, gives me the unique opportunity to host virtual fireside chats with high-profile CEOs of major brands, from Indeed and Blue Apron to Nextdoor and Warby Parker. During these information-packed sessions, I ask prodigious leaders to share relatable and practical advice. These insights from major movers and shakers in the business world are accessible as a resource for current and future entrepreneurs and are not to be missed. For the latest episode, I had the privilege of sitting down with Wondery founder and CEO Hernan Lopez, who grew his company to be the most extensive and far-reaching independent podcast publisher in play. Launched in 2016, Wondery became the fastest network to join the Top 10 ranker by Podtrac. Its secret sauce is the ability to produce shows that captivate audiences with emotional, immersive Hollywood-style storytelling, from shows like Dr. Death, Business Wars, American History Storytellers and the highly successful Dirty John. Since its release in 2017, the six-part series about a con man named John Meehan has been downloaded more than 26 million times. All 30 of Wonderys shows have reached No. 1 on Apple Podcasts, with many currently being turned into must-see TV shows. With $15 million in VC funding from high-profile backers, the company is projected to surpass $40 million in revenue by the end of 2020, reflecting a 75 percent growth from 2019. Related: Free On-Demand Webinar: Hear How an Entrepreneur Grew His Company to Be the Largest Independent Podcast Publisher Some might say it was written in the stars that the stellar leader behind all of this success began his career trajectory at the age of 19 in radio and broadcast. By the age of 26, Lopez worked at Fox in Latin America and eventually took a chance by moving to the U.S. with very little English skills and big dreams. In my conversation with Lopez, he graciously shares the most important management lessons he has learned over his 20-plus-year career, from his tenure as president and CEO of Fox International Channels a $3 billion division of Fox (now Disney) to the founding of Wondery. These are 13 essential lessons from this incredible entrepreneur: 1. Your idea needs to be something youre so passionate about that you would do the work for free Lopez says that if youre an entrepreneur launching a new product or starting a new service, you should be a fanatical consumer yourself. Hugely intrigued by the potential for the podcast format, he noticed that they were rarely included in the statistics on audio listening. He asked himself, Is this a supply problem or a demand problem? He soon realized that cable television had gone through the same new medium process when it split from network television, and that he had a real opportunity to make a big impact in this niche industry. 2. Mentorship can help you navigate sensitive areas as you progress As a 27-year-old transplant from Argentina, Lopez had a heavy accent. His boss' boss suggested taking an accent reduction class. Lopez points out that today such a suggestion would be perceived as racially insensitive and might not be given at all. But that boss was right, Lopez admits. Six sessions later, his accent was significantly reduced, and his career took off. He looks at that advice he was given as a gift and considers it to be one of the best investments he ever made. 3. Trying times can often be the catalyst for positive change Lopez believes that his early academic and social struggles growing up gay and being kicked out of high school drove his independence and success in business and life. 4. How you accept your no is one of the greatest tests as an entrepreneur The number of times Lopez had to hear someone tell him no in his first year as an entrepreneur was astounding. But you need to be comfortable with rejection and learn how to accept and separate criticisms into piles for constructive and otherwise. Related: 12 Leadership Lessons from DocuSign CEO Dan Springer 5. Raising money is part of the journey that every entrepreneur has to take Lopez suggests a beloved book to anyone starting a business, Evan Baehr and Evan Loomis Get Backed. It details how to prepare for fundraising. 6. Find another successful business you can model yourself on You need to find your reason to be and how your product or service stands out. Wondery wanted to produce emotionally immersive shows that would be uniquely representative of its brand, from the script to the music selection. It used the example of Pixar Animation: The beloved studios feature animation work is almost always identifiable as a Pixar, thanks to special components that the company makes sure it bakes into each movie. 7. Get out if you have a toxic manager Unfortunately, bad bosses cant be changed. Find another job while you are still employed and be careful not to badmouth your current boss. Lopez recommends looking at these three traits as red flags for a toxic boss: They deflect blame and never take responsibility. They do not show personal interest in you. They dont respect boundaries. 8. In your 20s, realize that just doing your job is not enough A lot of talented and hard-working people believe that if they just do their job, everything will take care of itself. You need to have goals and actively communicate them to your boss. People will not automatically notice your hard work and promote you, so its up to you to show in every possible way why you have the skill set it takes to be a manager or a leader. Its important to self-promote and advocate for yourself, Lopez says. But always be humble, never overdo it and never ever take credit for someone elses work. Related: 12 Leadership Lessons from Nextdoor CEO Sarah Friar 9. Thinking that the grass is always greener can lead to unhappiness When Lopez reflects on his 30s, they were a happy time for him. But despite his success, he was always comparing himself to others, and that stole his joy. Realize that in life the grass is always going to look greener. Accept that the grass youre standing on is actually more important to that moment in your life. 10. Have a consistent routine that keeps you mentally and physically grounded improves your productivity Lopez touts reading (some of his business favorites: An Intelligent Life by Australian psychologist Dr. Julian Short or Jim Collins Good to Great), therapy and the meditation stories on the Wondery app as important pieces to keeping him emotionally and mentally grounded. He also credits his productivity and success with getting a healthy amount of sleep and having a consistent exercise routine. Sleep is important and underrated, which is why I always go to bed by 9:30 p.m. and wake up at 5:30 a.m., Lopez says. I also exercise five times a week in the morning. I believe that things that dont require thinking are best to do early in the day. 11. Have one foot on the creative side and the other foot on the business side In media, any person who can navigate both worlds will most likely have more success. On the business side, Lopez notes that it is important for meetings to start in a timely manner, because it shows respect for everyones time. He also adds, Have an agenda. It shows what you want to get out of the meeting and can be used to steer the conversation back when it goes off-topic. 12. Interviewing is the most important thing any executive can do Anytime you are interviewing and vetting, think of it as an investment. The amount of time a company takes getting rid of bad hires is staggering, Lopez says. Netflix came up with 'the keeper test': If someone who works for you told you they are being recruited by a competitor, would you fight to keep them? If the answer is no, you should probably part ways. 13. If you are in a specific role, do something outside of the box to reach your potential For example, in the sales world it is hard to be perceived by your bosses as anything other than a great salesperson who has the potential to one day be the head of sales. If you have bigger ambitions, do something that puts you in a different box. Lopez shares that he did just that: He attended business school at night while working and received his MBA. That change made his bosses realize he had ambition and was willing to put in the effort on his own time. It wasnt long until there was a larger role for him to fill that ignited his career and brought him to where he is today. We all could use more authentic and transparent leaders like Hernan Lopez in the world. Watch the full webinar to hear more pieces of wisdom from this incredible CEO. Related: 10 Leadership Lessons with Dallas Mavericks CEO Cynt Marshall Related: 4 Ways Brain Chemistry Can Propel Your Success 3 Workplace Changes We Can't Afford To Lose Baseball Legend Hank Aaron Dead at 86 Copyright 2021 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved [January 22, 2021] InfluxData adds Vidya Peters to Board of Directors InfluxData, creator of the time series database InfluxDB, today announced the appointment of Vidya Peters to its Board of Directors, and introduced a new Advisory Board team to support strategic and accelerated growth. Peters is the first member of the InfluxData Board of Directors with a marketing background. Peters is an exceptional executive with a history of spearheading successful marketing and go-to-market strategies at both fast-growing startups and public companies. She is currently the chief marketing officer at FinTech company Marqeta, Inc., and former CMO at MuleSoft, the leading integration and API platform. At MuleSoft, Peters led the global marketing initiative through a period of transformational growth, helping to scale the business into one of the most successful and fastest-growing enterprise software companies. Prior to MuleSoft, she was a marketing leader at Intuit (News - Alert) and a strategy consultant at Bain & Company. "InfluxData is a category-defining company in a market with incredible opportunity," said Vidya Peters. "The company has built a strong foundation with developers and enterprise customers, and I'm excited to work with the Board and the team on the next chapter of their journey." InfluxData has also assembled an outstanding group of entrepreneurs to support its management team in an advisory capacity. Members of the new Advisory Board have in-depth experience in the enterprise software space as well as expertise in distinct areas. The Advisory Board members are: Erica Anderson, SVP of Revenue at GitHub SVP of Revenue at GitHub Dave McJannet, CEO of HashiCorp CEO of HashiCorp Ali Ghodsi, CEO and co-founder of Databricks CEO and co-founder of Databricks Ken Rudin, SVP of User Growth at ThoughtSpot The market opportunity for time series data continues to grow as organizations increasingly look to extract value from the time-stamped data produced by IoT sensors, applications, and IT infrastructure. InfluxDB is optimized for the specialized requirements of time series data - rapid ingestion rates, and highly efficient compute, downsampling and compression functions - for any architecture implementation, whether in the cloud, at the edge or on-premises. InfluxData closed 2020 with exponential growth in its cloud business, an expanding open source developer community and major new customers, including Zoom Communications, Rolls-Royce Power Systems, SunPower Corp., Merck & Co., Virgin Money and China Mobile (News - Alert) . About InfluxData InfluxData is the creator of InfluxDB, the leading time series platform. We empower developers and organizations, such as Cisco, IBM (News - Alert) , Lego, Siemens, and Tesla, to build transformative IoT, analytics and monitoring applications. Our technology is purpose-built to handle the massive volumes of time-stamped data produced by sensors, applications and computer infrastructure. Easy to start and scale, InfluxDB gives developers time to focus on the features and functionalities that give their apps a competitive edge. InfluxData is headquartered in San Francisco with a workforce distributed throughout the U.S. and across Europe. For more information, visit www.influxdata.com and follow us @InfluxDB. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210122005172/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... Theres nothing more fun than watching the Republicans out there lose a race. You know, we (Democrats) lose, you know, kumbaya, Dukakis was a great guy, poor John Kerry (Republicans) go after each other with meat cleavers. Democratic strategist James Carville, Jan. 5 Video of a local elected Republican amid a riotous mob at the U.S. Capitol, an errant tweet from the state party leader saying Donald Trump would FOREVER be their leader and statements from party leaders still claiming election fraud have New Mexico hurtling toward one-party rule unless there is a real course correction. And to think the Trump campaign had sought to turn New Mexico red in 2020. ADVERTISEMENTSkip ................................................................ Once regarded as a swing state, a Republican hasnt won New Mexicos five electoral votes since former President George W. Bushs narrow win in 2004. The gap between the Democratic presidential nominee to Trump increased from 8.3% in 2016 to 10.8% in 2020, when 43.5% of New Mexicans cast ballots for Trump. New Mexico as a whole is clearly not Trump Country, notwithstanding Trumps strong support in eastern areas of the state. And Republicans, who need to be competitive among moderates to be competitive statewide, lately have been shooting themselves in the foot. Otero County Commissioner Couy Griffin, who posted videos on his Facebook page showing himself on a balcony of the U.S. Capitol building during the Jan. 6 rioting, was arrested Sunday on a federal charge of knowingly entering or remaining in a restricted building without lawful authority. Griffin, a founder of Cowboys for Trump, said during one of his self-damning videos that there would be blood running out of the U.S. Capitol building on Inauguration Day. Griffins two colleagues on the Otero County Commission called for his resignation Tuesday after having had enough. His actions have consumed an enormous amount of time of county staff, who must deal with the drama he instigates at the expense of attending public business, commissioners Gerald Matherly and Vickie Marquardt, both Republicans, said in a joint statement. Guys like Griffin used to be outliers in Republican Party politics. Today, there are too many of them with outsized voices. Steve Pearce was once a pragmatic, civil, seven-term conservative congressman from Hobbs before taking over as chair of N.M.s Republican Party after an unsuccessful run for governor in 2018. After saying in Roswell in 2016 that Trump had been his 17th choice of 17 GOP presidential candidates, Pearce became a steadfast Trump supporter, to a fault. A tweet on Pearces account posted three days after the deadly riot at the Capitol stated: God bless Donald J. Trump. He will be our President FOREVER and no one can take that away from us. A GOP spokesman said the tweet wasnt sent by Pearce or authorized by party officials, but it stayed on Pearces account for two days before it was taken down. In a Jan. 14 interview on Inside New Mexico with Steve Pearce, Pearce was still talking of election anomalies and comparing the D.C. rioters with Black Lives Matter rioters, when he should have focused his criticism on political violence within his sphere of influence. U.S. Rep. Yvette Herrell easily won the 2nd Congressional District seat last year, running as a staunch Trump supporter. She, too, has yet to condemn Trump for his words or actions leading up to or during the Jan. 6 riot. Many Republicans believe Trump had a remarkably successful presidency as a job creator and trade deal negotiator. They also cite three successful Supreme Court nominations, American energy independence, 450 miles of new border wall, and the launching of Operation Warp Speed to create a vaccine for COVID-19 all while withstanding relentless opposition and outright hatred from many Americans and most major media outlets. Republicans should not be expected to denounce those policies and shift to Democratic positions or principles, but Trumps behavior in the last months of his presidency was indefensible. And in a state where Democrats occupy every statewide-elected office, Republicans need to unhitch their wagon to be competitive again. To rebuild itself, the state GOP should acknowledge Trumps missteps because the appetite for one-party rule in New Mexico has never been stronger. And more importantly, its the right thing to do. 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. Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. The number of beneficiaries receiving COVID-19 vaccine shots crossed the one million mark on Friday even as Prime Minister Narendra Modi sought to dispel fears among a section of people over the injections asserting that all sorts of things are said in politics but the inoculation drive was launched only after nod from scientists. Amid concerns expressed by some over the emergency-use clearance given to Bharat Biotech's Covaxin, Modi interacted virtually with healthcare workers of his Lok Sabha constituency Varanasi and told them that when doctors and healthcare workers have given a clean chit to the vaccine, it sends a very strong message among people about the efficacy of the shots. The government has also sent consignments of coronavirus vaccines under grant assistance to Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Mauritius and Seychelles and is undertaking commercial supplies of the doses to a number of countries, including Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Brazil and Morocco. Meanwhile, Covaxin has showed enhanced immune response without any serious side effects in the participants enrolled for the phase one trials, according to the results published in The Lancet Infectious Disease journal. The vaccine, codenamed BBV152, was well tolerated in all dose groups with no vaccine-related serious adverse events, noted the authors of the study funded by Bharat Biotech. Till Friday, nearly 12.7 lakh health workers have received anti-coronavirus shots, the Union Health Ministry said. It said that on Friday, 2,28,563 beneficiaries were vaccinated till 6 pm through 6,230 sessions. According to the ministry, over 1,110 cases of adverse effect after vaccination (AEFI) have been reported till now. In Gurgaon, a healthcare worker who had received a coronavirus vaccine six days ago died but officials said there was nothing yet to suggest any link with the inoculation. The 55-year-old woman Rajwanti used to work at the Bhangrola primary health centre and her viscera has been sent for investigation, Chief Medical Officer Virender Yadav said. Two healthcare workers in Odisha were admitted to hospital as they reported AEFI after receiving the jabs. The condition of the duo was stated to be stable. Five minor AEFI cases were reported in West Bengal and Assam. With authorities grappling with hesitancy over the vaccination as many health workers are not turning up to get themselves inoculated at their assigned centres, Modi told the COVID warriors about the hard work of the scientists and the scientific process involved in making the vaccines. He said all sorts of things are said in politics but he went by the scientists' decision. Politicians talk about "this and that" ("Idhar ki bhi baat hoti hai, udhar ki bhi"), he said. Modi had launched the inoculation drive on January 16, with the government prioritising three crore health and frontline workers for the initial phase. Two vaccines are being used -- Covaxin and Covishield, developed by Oxford-AstraZeneca and manufactured by Serum Institute of India. "It was an unknown enemy which scientists, who are modern 'rishis', chased in laboratories by working day and night," he said, hailing their fight against the virus. Our own made-in-India vaccine is reaching every corner of the country. India has not only become 'atmanirbhar' in the field of vaccines but is also helping other countries," Modi went on to say. Starting his interaction with Pushpa Devi, a matron at a district women's hospital, Modi asked whether she could say with confidence to others that the vaccine is safe. "I was fortunate to get vaccinated," she replied, adding that she now felt safe for her family's sake as well. "I am telling everyone that there is no side effect. It's like any other injection and I appeal to everyone to go for it," she said. Modi reminded her that some people had apprehensions. The health worker said fear must shed and the vaccine taken -- "Darr ko hatana hai, vaccine lagwana hai". Health worker Rani Kunwar from the same hospital said, "People bless us for the vaccine that we got within 10 months due to you." Talking to Dr V Shukla, chief medical superintendent at DDU hospital, the PM hailed the work of the medical fraternity as "corona warriors". He said projects such as a cleanliness drive, safe drinking water and toilets offered "indirect benefits" while dealing with the virus. The doctor said there are potential side effects of every vaccine and drew a distinction between them and any adverse events due to a previous medical history. "Despite India being a developing country, we stole a march over developed countries in developing the vaccine," Shukla said. Modi suggested that there should be competition among hospitals and other institutes on vaccinating frontline workers so that the next phase can start soon. Senior Lab Technician R C Rai said his team was full of confidence and seeing them the others' trust on the vaccine has increased. Another medical worker said she vaccinated 87 people on January 16 alone, and also got herself vaccinated. "Really, corona warriors have done a wonderful job," Modi said in the 30-minute interaction. He had earlier said the interaction was meant to get feedback on the vaccination drive, described as the world's biggest. Close to 2,000 doses of the moderna vaccines have spoiled at the Jamaica Plain VA Medical Center in Boston, as the number of vaccine doses coming to Massachusetts are down more than 70 per cent. Staff at the Veteran Affairs Boston Pharmacy found out Tuesday that a freezer at the Jamaica Plain campus failed, a spokesperson confirmed with NBC Boston. The failure ruined 1,900 doses of the vaccine. According to the spokesperson, a plug for the freezer was loose after a contractor 'accidentally removed it while cleaning.' While the freezer was in 'a secure location' and had an alarm system in place, an investigation will look into why the monitoring system did not work. Staff at the Veteran Affairs Boston Pharmacy found out Tuesday that a freezer at the Jamaica Plain campus failed 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. The failure ruined 1,900 doses of the vaccine The Moderna vaccine must be shipped and stored at -4 degree Fahrenheit (-20 degrees Celcius) 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. The spokesperson for the facility did share that replenishment doses are in the works, asserting that the VA does not 'foresee disruption of our vaccination effort.' WHAT'S IN JOE BIDEN'S 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 But this week the number of doses sent to Massachusetts has gone down by 73% this week, according to the Department of Public Health. They have only received 52,225 doses of the vaccine. The latest vaccine report from MA shows that 86,230 doses were given this week, bringing the total doses given in the state to 359,919. On Thursday, President Joe Biden announced actions intended to dramatically expand vaccine production and distribution to push forward his goal of vaccinating 100 million Americans in his first 100 days in office. The actions and orders are the beginning of an effort to revamp the administration's policy to push out the vaccine, with 400,000 Americans already having succumbed to COVID-19, and new mutations already spreading in the country. The 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. 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. More than 35.9 million doses have been manufactured but just about half - 16.5 million - have been distributed, according to a CDC tracker. In a Jan. 22 Slatest, Joshua Keating misstated that former Russian spy Sergei Skripals wife was poisoned along with him in 2018. It was his daughter. In a Jan. 20 Downtime, Heather Schwedel misstated that Shirley Chisholm was the first Black woman to run for president. She was the first Black woman to run for president as a major-party candidate. In a Jan. 20 Future Tense, Kelsey Atherton misstated Robert Farleys academic affiliation. Farley is a senior lecturer at the Patterson School of Diplomacy and International Commerce at the University of Kentucky, not Patterson University. Atherton also misstated that the Space Force has no publicly acknowledged weapons. It does have one, a reversible jammer. Advertisement In a Jan. 20 Medical Examiner, Shannon Palus misspelled Anthony Faucis last name. Due to an editing error, a Jan. 19 Jurisprudence misstated that the 2019 El Paso, Texas, mass shooting took place at a mall. It took place at a Walmart. Due to a production error, a photo illustration on a Jan. 15 Television was misattributed. The collage contains an image from Star Trek Continues, which is an independent production. Slate strives to correct all errors of fact. If youve seen an error in our pages, let us know at corrections@slate.com. General comments should be posted in our Comments sections associated with each article. Type address separated by commas Your Email: A Place for All Conservatives to Speak Their Mind. District Attorney Charles J. Hynes speaks at a press conference on Nov. 8. Poster-sized copies of the forged documents stand in the background, along with the seized equipment used to make the documents on the table. (Gary Du/The Epoch Times) Suspended Attorney Ordered to Do Community Service for Green Card Fraud Scheme SANTA ANA (CNS)A San Gabriel-based attorney who pleaded guilty to taking part in a multimillion-dollar fraud scheme that sold temporary green cards to foreign investors was sentenced Jan. 21 to one day behind bars and ordered to perform 120 hours of community service. Victoria Chan, 38, of El Monte, pleaded guilty in November 2018 to conspiracy to commit visa fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud and international money laundering. U.S. District Judge Cormac Carney gave Chan credit for the time served and placed her on three years of supervised release. Chan assisted in the forfeiture of $20 million in property and the return of $2.5 million in restitution, her attorney, Diane Bass, told City News Service. Chan played a minor role in the offense, Bass said. Her father guided and instructed her in everything she did, Bass said. She displayed extraordinary remorse. Prosecutors advocated for one year in prison because of her role as an attorney, Bass said. But Chan never wanted to be an attorney and only studied for the position at her fathers behest, Bass said. Chan, who gladly turned in her bar card, has been suspended, according to the State Bar of California. Prosecutors said the fraud scheme generated profits up to $50 million. Chans father is in China and has not been charged, Bass said. The father, who is a Chinese national, is only known as T.C. in the plea deal. Chan ran San Gabriel-based California Investment Immigration Fund with her father, prosecutors said. The company used a visa program that issued permanent lawful residence permitsknown as green cardsto foreign nationals who invest at least $500,000 in a U.S.-based business that generates at least 10 new jobs to run the fraudulent scheme, according to the plea agreement. About 130 phony visa applications were submitted, and some of the applicants were on Chinas 100 most-wanted list for bribery and abuse of power, according to federal prosecutors. Only one of Chans clients, however, was on the list, and Chan discovered that fact only after the visa application was made, Bass said. In some cases, the applicants received a $500,000 refund, prosecutors said. Chan pocketed some of the money to buy homes worth nearly $1 million in Diamond Bar and Rancho Cucamonga, according to prosecutors. Chan, however, never personally benefited from the homes, Bass said. A Gujarat court has issued a non-bailable arrest warrant against senior Indian journalist Paranjoy Guha Thakurta following the filing of a defamation case by mining giant the Adani Group. The case pertains to an article Thakurta co-authored about Adani in 2017. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and its Indian affiliate the Indian Journalists Union (IJU) condemn the widespread misuse of defamation law in India to target journalists and silence the media. On January 20, judicial magistrate Pradeep Soni issued a direction to Nizamuddin police in New Delhi to arrest Thakurta, the former editor-in-chief of the Economic and Political Weekly (EPW). He was charged with a defamation complaint under Section 500 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). [The] accused stands charged with complaint under section 500 of IPC. You are hereby directed to arrest the said accused and to produce him before me, Judicial Magistrate Soni stated. Adani filed its suit against two articles published in January and June 2017 titled Did the Adani Group Evade Rs 1,000 Crore in Taxes? and Modi Governments Rs 500-Crore Bonanza to the Adani Group. The articles were first published in the Economic and Political Weekly andlaterin The Wire. They were co-authored by Thakurta and three other journalists, Abir Dasgupta, Advait Rao Palepu and Shinzani Jain and argued Indias government had unduly favoured the Adani Group, facilitating its expansion and tax evasion. After receiving a warning from the Adani Group, EPW management removed the articles, leading to Thakurtas resignation, while The Wire remained firm and retained the piece on its website. Adani then filed two cases against the authors and the editors of The Wire in two different courts in Gujarat: a civil defamation suit in Bhuj and a criminal defamation case in Mundra. In 2018, the Bhuj court allowed The Wire to continue circulating the article with minor alterations and in 2019, the Adani Group withdrew both civil and criminal proceedings against all parties except Thakurta. Journalists and media rights organisations have condemned the new arrest warrant, issued despite the prior rejection of the defamation suit by the Bhuj court. The IJU Secretary General Sabina Inderjit said: We condemn the arrest order against a renowned journalist. IJU has earlier demanded decriminalization of the defamation law which is a serious threat to freedom of press and media rights. The IFJ said: The targeting of Paranjoy Thaturta is a despicable abuse of power and influence by the Adani Group that shows how India is falling foul to the weaponising and twisting of existing laws, including defamation law, to silence critics. The higher judiciary should recognise that defamation law has long been misused to impede press freedom in India. San Francisco, Jan 22 : In a bid to combat the spread of misinformation in the wake of January 6 Capitol Hill riots, several Democratic lawmakers have sent letters to Facebook, Twitter and YouTube, directing them to make sweeping changes to stop the radicalisation of their platforms. Only hours after gaining full control of Congress, Representatives Anna Eshoo (California) and Tom Malinowski (New Jersey), along with several other members, sent out letters to the CEOs of the three tech giants. "The horrific damage to our democracy wrought on January 6 demonstrated how these social media platforms played a role in radicalising and emboldening terrorists to attack our Capitol," Eshoo said in a statement on Thursday. "These American companies must fundamentally rethink algorithmic systems that are at odds with democracy." According to The Verge, Facebook and YouTube declined to comment and a Twitter spokesperson said "they had received the letter and planned to respond". The lawmakers accused the companies of using certain product features and algorithms that boost content that evokes extreme emotions as a means of increasing engagement, pointing out specific features they want to see changed on each platform. House Oversight Chair Carolyn Maloney has also called on FBI Director Chris Wray to open a probe into Parler, a conservative platform now banned on various platforms, following the pro-Capitol attack. "I am going to get to the bottom of who owns and funds social media platforms like Parler that condone and create violence," Maloney told the Washington Post. Last week, Google-owned YouTube, which is yet to permanently ban former President Donald Trump, removed a new video from his account for violating the content policies. YouTube has also indefinitely disabled comments on Trump's videos due to "ongoing concerns about violence". Twitter has banned Trump from its platform, citing "risk of further incitement of violence". Facebook initially prevented Trump from posting to Facebook and Instagram for 24 hours, before CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced to indefinitely suspend his account till January 20, which is still on. COLONIE Airline employees based at Albany International Airport and elsewhere have dodged a layoff bullet in recent weeks thanks to Congress last minute extension of the federal Payroll Support Program, or PSP, which began last summer but had expired at the end of September. The program, which was re-started in December, allocates $15 billion to the airline and affiliated industries and is supposed to go largely to keep carriers from laying off or furloughing employees. The result is that employees who had been idled or laid off due to the COVID-19 pandemic have been put back on the payroll, or those who were told they would be cut, will now keep their jobs. The good news showed up both in federal filings and in letters that carriers sent to their workers. Southwest Airlines, for instance, recently noted in its federal Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notices (WARN) that they were rescinding plans to lay off or furlough 43 employees based at the Albany International Airport. All told, the jobs of 269 Southwest employees from New York City to Buffalo were saved, at least for now. American Airlines employees learned of the job restorations via a letter sent out just before Christmas. Pay and benefits were restored in December and people are being called back on the job in phases. More for you News Albany Airport begins offering COVID tests to employees,... We have recalled everyone for purposes of reinstating their pay and benefits (everyone received their first paycheck on Christmas Eve as planned), and well bring people back to work as we go through the administrative processes (training, etc.) and based on operational need, airline spokesman Matt Miller explained in an email. Our hope is that by the time PSP2 expires, especially with the distribution of vaccines and summer travel on the horizon, demand will be in a better spot and well have a job for everyone who wants a job. It keeps everybody on board, remarked Katherine Estep, spokeswoman at Airlines for America, a trade group. One of the requirements to get the federal money was that airlines had to agree to keep people on their payroll. While some airline jobs like flight attendants and pilots tie their pay to how much time they are in the air, recalling people means they keep their health benefits. Renewal of the PSP, which now runs through March, also means that airports like Albany International can keep their employees on the job as well. The airport received $15 million and they've spent 71 percent of that so far, said spokesman Doug Myers. Thats allowed them to keep airport authority staff and employees of the management firm, AvPorts on the job. All told, 200 jobs have been preserved. With daily traffic down 75 to 85 percent, though, there have been adjustments. Some of the shuttle bus drivers, for example, are doing maintenance tasks like painting or tree removal. And concessions are only paying a percent of their sales, rather than the customer percent plus a base monthly rent. New Delhi, Jan 22 : INS Mumbai, a frontline guided missile destroyer of the Indian Navy, celebrated its 20th anniversary on Friday, the Indian Navy said. Various events such as blood donation camp, tree plantation drive and a run between two prominent locations of Mumbai -- Girgaon Chowpati and JK Kapur Chowk, Worli, where the ship's model is installed -- were conducted to commemorate the occasion. The ship's association with Mumbai city is unique as it is the only Indian Navy ship stationed at the country's financial capital. The ship has an extremely illustrious lineage and rich legacy of dominance at sea since its first avatar of HCS Bombay in the 18th century. "The ship's motto is 'Aham Prayptam Tvidametesam Balama', which translates to 'I am Invincible', resonating with the spirit of the city. The ship's crest also draws inspiration from the city depicting the main gateway entrance to the Bombay Castle Barracks commissioned in 1951 in the honour of great Maratha Admiral Kanhoji Angre," Indian Navy said in a statement. INS Mumbai, built indigenously at the Mazagon dock, is the latest of three P-15 class destroyers and was commissioned by the then Governor of Maharashtra P.C. Alexander. Since commissioning, the ship has rendered yeoman service to the nation and has always excelled in all her endeavours. She was adjudged the 'Best Ship' thrice and the 'Most Spirited Ship' twice, which is a rare feat for any warship. With a displacement of over 6,500 tonnes, the ship is manned by 350 sailors and 40 officers. The ship spans 163 metres in length, 17 metres at the beam, and propelled by four gas turbines, it is capable of achieving speed in excess of 32 knots. Fitted with a state-of-the-art weapons suite, which includes surface-to-surface missiles, surface-to-air missiles, anti-submarine rockets and torpedoes, the ship can unleash lethal firepower upon the enemy. The ship also operates all kinds of helicopters in the naval inventory, which are its extended eyes and ears. The ship has been at the forefront of major naval operations like Operation Parakram (2002), Operation Sukoon (2006: Evacuation of Indian, Nepalese and Sri Lankan citizens from Lebanon) and Operation Rahat (2015: Evacuation of Indian and foreign nationals from Yemen). "With an aim to foster greater understanding of combat potential and synergise the available means and resources of the armed forces, the ship is affiliated to the Maratha Light Infantry Regiment of the Indian Army. The raison d'etre of the affiliation is to produce a battle winning combination in war," the force said. Interestingly, various parts of the ship have been christened after iconic locales in the city of Mumbai. To name a few, the entrance to the ship is called the 'Gateway', dining halls are called 'Khau Gallia', and the flag staff light is called 'Prongs Lighthouse'. Tucked away like 'Virar' in one corner is the quarterdeck, while the helo deck is known as 'Sahar Airport' and the panoramic view from the ship's bridge is referred to as 'Malabar Hill'. Google threatens to pull search over media code Were sorry, this service is currently unavailable. Please try again later. Dismiss Kathmandu, January 22 The United States Ambassador to Nepal, Randy Berry, has informed Nepal of priorities of the new US President Joe Biden. Berry met Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli on Friday and informed him of the priorities, according to the US Embassy in Kathmandu. Ambassador Berry noted that the Biden administration wants to partner with Nepal and other countries to meet the common challenges that no single nation can face on its own from climate change to nuclear proliferation, and from cyberwarfare to global health challenges like Covid-19, the embassy statement reads. Ambassador Berry told Prime Minister Oli the new administration would use diplomacy as the premier tool for global engagement as President Biden believes in international cooperation to solve common challenges like Covid-19. He also informed that President Biden would resume the US membership in the World Health Organization and restore the US relationship with other international organisations and reinvigorate partnerships with democracies around the world, including Nepal. The embassy says Berry will soon meet other key politicians of the country to inform them of the new administrations priorities. A $40 million windfall in federal funds is allowing the City Council to help thousands more families stay in their homes now and still set aside money for affordable housing construction in the future. Spending to ease the short-term crisis caused by the pandemic versus funding long-term solutions to the housing problem has been a major point of contention among council members. Thursday, the council voted narrowly to do both. Earlier this month, City Manager Erik Walsh estimated the city would be getting about $6 million for emergency housing assistance as a result of the economic havoc caused by the pandemic. Instead, the city was awarded $46.7 million, which can help an additional 18,000 families keep roofs over their heads. This will help us address the need in our community and help keep people housed as we continue to respond and recover through the pandemic, Assistant City Manager Lori Houston said. On ExpressNews.com: With little oversight, the San Antonio Housing Trust has offered $39 million in tax breaks At least 90 percent of the $46.7 million must be used for direct financial assistance, including rent and utilities. The rest can be used for housing stability services, Walsh said. This additional funding from the U.S. Treasury is one more step toward ensuring we keep people in their homes during a time when it matters most, District 1 Councilman Roberto Trevino said. Funds like this will strengthen the social safety net that is needed to keep our community safe during this pandemic. Demand for housing assistance has risen exponentially since the onset of the pandemic. About 5,500 people have applied for assistance every month for the last three months, Houston said. Before the pandemic, the city allocated $1 million a year to its risk mitigation fund to help about 40 households with housing expenses per month. At the time, the program was receiving about 230 calls a month, Houston said. Details on how the new money will be allocated still have to be worked out. The City Council will vote on the specific plans in early February. In the meantime, the city is using other funding sources to add $10.1 million to the emergency housing assistance program to help 4,000 households, Houston said. Thats in addition to the 18,000 that are expected to be helped starting next month with the new money. On ExpressNews.com: San Antonio Housing Authority walks back private partnership to redevelop Alazan Courts About $3.9 million of the $10.1 million was funded through the Texas Emergency Rental Assistance Program, and $1.5 million came from Bexar Countys general fund. Originally, another $7.7 million was expected to come from CARES Act funds to boost the emergency housing program but, since the city now is going to get about $46 million for that purpose, District 5 Councilwoman Shirley Gonzales and others who support a long-term solution said some money should be earmarked to help developers build affordable housing. The new money is a game changer, Gonzales said. We have resources now to do both rental assistance without losing momentum on affordable housing development, Gonzales said. In District 5, we need the type of community-based housing development that keeps families in decent living conditions in their own neighborhood while addressing the emergency need for renters to stay in place and landlords to remain financially afloat. Gonzales proposed taking $3 million of the $7.7 million and spending it instead on a program that helps create and rehabilitate affordable housing. Her motion was successful, but split the council. Six members, including Mayor Ron Nirenberg, voted for moving funds for the long-term goal. Five council members voted against the measure, including Trevino, District 6s Melissa Cabello Havrda, District 7s Ana Sandoval, District 8s Manny Pelaez and District 10s Clayton Perry. On ExpressNews.com: Coronavirus forces thousands of San Antonio families to seek help from city to pay rent or mortgage The city currently has $2.5 million available to help developers build affordable housing. Eight proposals came in requesting funding for a total of 750 additional housing units totaling about $9 million for all projects. With Gonzales motion, the city now has $5.5 million for such projects. I am disappointed with the outcome of todays vote that reduced the total amount of funds for the Emergency Housing Assistance Program, said Trevino, who voted against the amendment. This took money that was designated for (the program) and placed it into development. Another $2.6 million from CARES funding is going toward other affordable housing programs, such as rehabilitating seven older homes and repairing 13 homes. About $ 1 million will pay for another 18 months of housing the homeless at a downtown hotel to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 among that population. Funds also will go toward 18 months of staffing for housing counseling, foreclosure prevention and eviction intervention. National Statement delivered by Ambassador Byrne Nason at UNSC Briefing on Colombia Statement Thank you very much indeed Mr President, I want to start by warmly welcoming Minister Blum to the Security Council this afternoon and also by thanking the Special Representative for his really comprehensive brief and, more importantly, for all the ongoing commendable work of the Verification Mission. Mr President, In November, we marked four years, the fourth anniversary of the signing of the Final Peace Agreement. The journey to peace has not been easy, nor without sacrifice, and we know that much remains to do. But I want to say now, that the dividends of this work are being felt by more and more Colombians every single day, and we salute all who work for that. Let me reiterate Irelands well-known support for the peace process in Colombia. We welcome the continued commitment of the parties to the full implementation of the agreement. As in all of our countries, the Covid-19 pandemic has brought enormous challenges. But notwithstanding those challenges, we recognize that significant progress continues to be made in implementing the Agreement. The purchase of land for housing and productive projects for former combatants, ongoing progress on truth, justice, and victim reparation are just two examples of that determination that we see. Mr President, We also share the serious concern expressed by the Special Representative about ongoing violence. The protection and security of former combatants, of those living in conflict-affected communities, as well as social leaders and human rights defenders, is simply essential. We believe that the perpetrators of such violence must be brought to justice. Sustainable peace cannot be delivered if peacebuilders live in fear, suffer harm, or worse lose their lives. We are deeply concerned about reports of continued forced recruitment of children, as well as threats against youth leaders by illegal armed groups and by terrorist organisations. The activity of those illegal groups poses an ongoing challenge to building peace. We encourage the rapid adoption and the implementation of a comprehensive public policy to dismantle criminal organisations and their support networks. Effective strategies for continued reincorporation, for land redistribution and providing alternative means of economic activity, including effective crop substitution, are all vital in stabilising areas that are still experiencing violence. Mr President, We also support all of the Secretary Generals recommendations in the latest report, including those aimed at improving security and consolidating the progress towards peace. We hope and trust that these will bear fruit. I want to highlight two areas of particular interest today, based on Irelands own experience of conflict and peace building on our island. First - transitional justice. An innovative approach to transitional justice is at the very heart of the Colombian peace process. Truth, justice, and reconciliation efforts have been the bedrock of the transformation that has been achieved to date. Ireland welcomes the progress achieved by the Special Jurisdiction for Peace (the SJP), the Truth Commission and for the families of forcibly disappeared persons. We welcome the request by the President of Colombia for an expansion of the mandate of the UN Verification Mission. The verification of compliance with sentences issued by the SJP would help to further build trust in the process, at a critical juncture, for all parties. The second issue I wanted to raise is - Women, Peace and Security . The Colombian peace agreement quite simply serves as an exemplary model for gender inclusive and responsive peace building. Ireland applauds the progress reported by the National Reintegration Councils Working Group on Gender and the Governments High Level Forum on Gender. This work is embedding womens full participation in the political process. We want to see this continue because we are ambitious for Colombian women. We also want to see full implementation of all the provisions, including on ethnicity and gender. That remains an important priority. We urge the allocation of sufficient resources - technical and financial - to allow completion of this vital work. We are particularly concerned about the gendered nature of violence perpetrated against women and girls, including social leaders and human rights defenders, former combatants the incidence of all of this has increased in recent months, worryingly. Both in our national capacity, and through our broader work here on the Security Council on WPS, Ireland will continue to work with all in Colombia to empower, and to protect, women and girls. Mr President, In conclusion, the peace process in Colombia rightly stands out as an example, globally, of successful peace building. It serves as an example for others affected by conflict. But we in Ireland know that peace can be fragile, and that building peace takes time, courage, forbearance and - always just a little faith. You know, Minister, that you can count on Ireland as a faithful friend on this journey; as a member of this Council, we will work with you, and also with our European Union partners, including the European Union Special Envoy for the Peace Process in Colombia, Irishman, Eamon Gilmore. As we start a new, and hopefully brighter, year, we encourage all to redouble their efforts to ensure the full, comprehensive and inclusive implementation of the Final Peace Agreement. Thank you Mr President. Previous Item | Next Item 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. Short link: The low-cost airliner Wizz Air opens two new routes from Bucharest to Zakynthos and Corfu, with two flights per week, Tuesday and Saturday, to be operated from June 15 to September 15, and the rates will start from 149 RON (rd EUR 30) per segment, announced, on Friday, the airway operator. The tickets are already available on wizzair.com and through the mobile app. "These new routes are added to the three already existing services operated from the Bucharest's Henri Coanda Otopeni Airport towards the Greek resorts, a popular holiday destinations for Romanians. Thus, passengers from Bucharest and around will be able to travel through Wizz Air towards five holiday destinations in Greece during this summer: Heraklion, Mykonos, Santorini, Zakynthos and Corfu," according to the press release. Wizz Air specified that there are strict health and hygiene measures on board in order to protect the passengers and crew. The operator recommends passengers to add Wizz Flex for reservations, as an additional safety measure. Proceeding thusly, passengers can choose to travel on another date or towards a different destination and have the option of cancelling their flight with up to 3 hours before departure, without any tax and will receive 100% from the original fare immediately reimbursed as credit by the company. According to the quoted source, the mentioned tariff is for a single element, includes administration fee, one hand luggage (maximum size: 40x30x20 cm). The price only applies to reservations made on Wizzair.com and through the Wizz mobile app. The number of seats for the indicated tariffs is limited. Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-22 11:03:07|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, Jan. 22 (Xinhua) -- The following are the updates on the global fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. - - - - BAGHDAD -- The Chinese Embassy in Iraq on Thursday delivered a batch of suppliers to Iraq to help fight 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. - - - - PARIS -- With 22,848 infections confirmed in the last 24 hours, France's total coronavirus cases now stand at 2,987,965, official data showed on Thursday. The data posted on the government's website showed that the coronavirus caused 346 fatalities over the past day, bringing the death toll to 71,998. - - - - ALGIERS -- Algeria on Thursday reported 246 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total infections in the North Africa country to 104,852. The death toll from the virus in Algeria rose to 2,853 after four new fatalities were recorded, said the Algerian Ministry of Health in a statement. - - - - TUNIS -- Tunisian Health Ministry on Thursday night reported 2,511 new COVID-19 cases, raising the total number of infections in the country to 190,884. The death toll from the virus rose by 68 to 5,989 in the North African country, the ministry said in a statement. - - - - ANKARA -- Turkey confirmed on Thursday 6,289 new COVID-19 cases as the total infections surged to 2,412,505. The death toll from the virus in Turkey rose by 153 to 24,640, while the total recoveries climbed to 2,290,032 after 6,113 more cases recovered in the last 24 hours, said the Turkish Health Ministry. - - - - JERUSALEM -- Israel's Ministry of Health reported 7,575 new COVID-19 cases on Thursday, bringing the total number of cases in the country to 582,293. The death toll from the COVID-19 in Israel reached 4,232 after 58 new fatalities were added, while the number of patients in serious condition decreased from 1,163 to 1,156, out of 1,828 hospitalized patients. - - - - RAMALLAH -- The Palestinian Health Ministry reported on Thursday 17 cases of new COVID-19 strain. Mai al-Kaila, Palestinian health minister, said in a press statement that medical teams are following up on the patients' conditions, as well as taking samples from their contacts. Enditem Ma Huihuang (L), head of the poverty relief team of Shibadong Village, and villager Shi Linjiao promote local products via livestreaming at Shibadong Village of Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, Central China's Hunan Province, May 15, 2020. [Xinhua] China's top legislature will draft more laws related to people's livelihoods this year, according to legislators. The Standing Committee of the National People's Congress plans to put laws related to housing, education, healthcare, nursing, insurance, food safety and the environment on its 2021 work agenda, Zang Tiewei, spokesman for the committee's Legislative Affairs Commission, told China News Service on January 18. He said the NPC Standing Committee will use a range of channels to contact people and learn what they need, with the aim of making and improving livelihood-related laws to provide high-quality lives. In December, 2020, Yue Zhongming, another spokesman for the commission, said the legislature has scheduled amendments to several laws related to people's daily lives this year, including those on education, medical practice, infectious disease control and women's rights protection. Laws on family education, public health emergencies, wetland conservation, legal aid and cultural industry promotion will also be drafted," as a move to enhance people's sense of fulfillment, happiness and security," he added. The legislature is meeting from January 20 to 22 in Beijing and will consider various subjects, including reviewing a draft law on legal aid and revising the Education Law. Zang said draft laws on curbing food waste and enhancing personal information protection, which have attracted public attention since they were submitted to the top legislature for review last year, need to be improved following further deliberation. The full version of the anti-food waste draft, an important measure in promoting a healthy, rational and green consumption pattern nationwide, has been posted on the top legislature's website and it is soliciting public opinions, he said. Zang also said that the application of some new technologies, such as facial recognition, is posing a challenge to personal information protection and national legislators will research the issue and promote a related draft law to solve the problem. Besides livelihood-related lawmaking, legislation in major areas including public security, technological innovation, biosecurity, risk prevention and foreign affairs will also be strengthened, he added. (Source: China Daily) Athens, GA (30605) Today Scattered thunderstorms. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. High near 90F. Winds WSW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 60%.. Tonight Thunderstorms early, then mainly cloudy after midnight. Low 66F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%. By Gustavo Palencia and Lizbeth Diaz TEGUCIGALPA/MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Returned Honduran migrants are directing anger against their president this week after their U.S.-bound caravan was blocked by the region's security forces, accusing him of making their county unlivable while thwarting their escape to a better life. Honduras is reeling from two back-to-back hurricanes that devastated Central America in November, as well as an historic economic contraction on the back of coronavirus pandemic. President Juan Orlando Hernandez has also been under fire from U.S. prosecutors that have accused him of having ties to drug cartels, an allegation he has strongly denied. An estimated 8,000 Hondurans sought to flee this week in a mass caravan hoping to reach the United States. But after regional governments, including Honduras, organized a coordinated military operation to repel the caravan, returned migrants are directing their frustration at their government. More than 4,500 Hondurans, including more than 600 children, have been returned to the country by Guatemalan authorities over the last week. Among them was 18-year-old Isaac Portillo, who said he felt so desperate upon his forced return to Honduras that he contemplated suicide. Like other returned migrants, Portillo's despair quickly turned to anger. He plans to join a march on the capital Tegucigalpa on Friday only one week after he tried to flee his shattered country. "We're going to oust this narco-dictator," he said. "I already have my group ready." The Honduran government did not respond to requests for comment. Hernandez has said the accusations against him come from traffickers angry at his government's crackdown on criminal networks. WhatsApp, Facebook, and Telegram groups with thousands of members are buzzing with angry messages calling for Hernandez's ouster. Honduras has been rocked by large anti-government mobilizations in recent years, although it is unclear whether a large protest will materialize on Friday. Story continues Evidence introduced by U.S. prosecutors this month accused Hernandez of taking bribes from drug traffickers and has further stoked ire against the president, whose brother was convicted of drug trafficking in a U.S. court last year. PRESSURE COOKER Many Hondurans have been critical of what they say was a lackluster government response to the hurricanes, which caused nearly $2 billion in damages and forced over 90,000 people into emergency storm shelters. Authorities said they provided aid to thousands of families displaced by the storms. Portillo said his family received no support from the government in the wake of the hurricanes. His father had already lost his job as a security guard when pandemic-related restrictions devastated the economy and his 14-year-old sister had to abandon her studies as the family sank deeper into poverty. After being deported by Guatemalan authorities this week, Portillo once again found himself living under the bridge where he and his family sought refuge after their home was destroyed in November's floods. After he said the government threatened to evict them, the family fled again, this time to a relative's home. "All I wanted to do was find work (abroad) so I could help my family and put my little sister back in school," Portillo said. North-bound migration has traditionally offered Central American nations an escape to alleviate domestic discontent, but former U.S. President Donald Trump pressured regional governments to crack down on migrant flows. While President Joe Biden has pledged to ease immigration policies and tackle the roots of the issue, there appeared little prospect of a rapid change how regional governments police migrants, particularly of mass movements like caravans. Tonatiuh Guillen, former head of Mexico's immigration institute, said ongoing containment meant frustration could boil over. "It's a pressure cooker," said Guillen, who has been critical of the increasing immigration enforcement by the region's militaries. (Reporting by Laura Gottesdiener in Tapachula, Lizbeth Diaz in Mexico City, additional reporting by Gustavo Palencia in Tegucigalpa and Sofia Menchu in Guatemala City; Writing by Laura Gottesdiener, Editing by Daniel Flynn) JACKSON, Miss. (WTVA) The Director of Health Protection, Jim Craig said the department receives 37,000 coronavirus vaccines each week. Thirty- thousand of those vaccines goes to the state's drive-through sites. "That leaves a very small amount of vaccine to be distributed to other partners around the state," he said State Epidemiologist, Paul Byers added, MSDH also has to make sure medical workers have enough doses for themselves. On Wednesday, Trace Regional Hospital employees said the amount of vaccines they received was not enough to meet the appointments they scheduled so they had to cancel some. Other hospitals in North Mississippi face the same issue. Doctor Byers said its important for hospital employees to understand they wont receive a steady supply of doses for the public. "They need to make plans and arrangements to utilize the amount that were able to provide them, he said. Byers is encouraging workers to schedule appointments within their means. Dr. Byers also said hospitals shouldnt worry about second doses for people who did receive the first vaccine. He said the department of health will ship second doses soon. PALM BEACH, FL, Jan. 22, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- New Zealands highly sought after Manuka Honey continues to grow in popularity. Consumers in America and around the globe are buying this natural superfood because of its high nutritional content, low-fat content, and use in traditional healing remedies in many cultures. In part, this may be driven by new research from Oxford University, showing that honey is even more active than previously thought.1 The challenge for consumers, however, is recognizing authentic, 100% pure Manuka honey brands amongst a flood of counterfeit brands. Tahi Manuka honey is as natural, pure, and authentic as honey can get, says Suzan Craig, founder and director of Tahi honey in New Zealand. Tahi honey carries the Unique Manuka Factor (UMF) seal of approval, the global standard that measures Manuka honeys purity and quality. In fact, Tahi Manuka honey has a UMF rating of up to 23. Manuka honey comes from bees that pollinate the native Manuka bush in New Zealand. The difference between Manuka honey and other varieties is its high methylglyoxal concentration, its major antibacterial component. We dont add water, sugar, corn syrup or chemicals, says Suzan, adding that Tahis biodiversity-positive honey is not genetically modified or engineered, and is fully traceable to source. When Tahi says our honey is pure, we mean pure. As well as producing honey, Tahi is an award-winning, sustainability-led and ecologically-conscious nature sanctuary and eco-retreat based in Northland, New Zealand. 100% of profits from every jar of Tahi honey goes directly towards Tahis community, culture, and conservation projects. Tahi honey varieties available on VitaBeauti.com include: Tahi Forest Honey MGO 40+, a delicious mix of native New Zealand flowers ( including Manuka) thats ideal for everyday eating and cooking. Tahi Kanuka Honey is smooth, aromatic with a sweet, crisp, and delicate floral taste. Beelicious Honey MGO 40+ is sweet, creamy, and tasty with subtle flavors of native forest flowers, including Manuka. 1NZD from the sale of each jar of Beelicious honey goes towards Tahis BeeFriends Program, an environmental education program for local schools in New Zealand. Tahi Manuka Multifloral Honey MGO 80+, which has a sweet, smooth, and mildly tangy taste. A range of Tahi UMF Manuka honeys, certified as authentic New Zealand Manuka honey, containing all the unique and natural properties that make Manuka honey popular worldwide. For more information about Tahi, visit tahinz.com or vitabeauti.com. * Oxford University study, August 2020: honey beats antibiotics and other over-the-counter medications for relieving coughs, sore throats, and colds. Attachment A Message From The Editor just-style gives you the widest apparel and textile market coverage. Paid just-style members have unlimited access to all our exclusive content - including 21 years of archives. I am so confident you will love complete access to our content that today I can offer you 30 days access for 1*. Its our best ever membership offer just for you. Leonie Barrie, editor of just-style Leonie's offer to you * plus VAT if applicable Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit West Bengal on 23rd January which marks the birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. The Centre on Tuesday announced that the freedom fighters birth anniversary will be observed as Parakram Diwas Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit West Bengal on 23rd January which marks the birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. The Centre on Tuesday announced that the freedom fighters birth anniversary will be observed as Parakram Diwas. The Prime Minister will attend Parakram Diwas celebrations at Victoria Memorial in Kolkata. According to sources, the PM will release a commemorative coin and a postage stamp on the occasion and a permanent exhibition and a project mapping show on Netaji will also be inaugurated. Before the event, the PM is scheduled to visit the National library to attend an international conference Re-visiting the legacy of Netaji Subhas in the 21st century where he will inaugurate restored architectural sites. West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar will also be a part of the events that are to be attended by the Prime Minister. However, any political program of the PM has not been announced by his office. These events are being organized by the Ministry of Culture. Also Read: Goli Maro politics: TMC vs BJP in West Bengal On the other hand, West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee has refused to observe 23rd January as Parakram Diwas. She has criticized the Centres move and has said they will be observing it as Desh Prem Diwas. Also Read: China minted profits at the cost of locals: CPEC report RYE, N.H., Jan. 22, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Less Cancer Founder Bill Couzens today announced that the National Cancer Prevention Workshop will be online on Thursday, February 4 with programming featuring key leaders in cancer prevention, journalism, education and government. Confirmed panel moderators, speakers and roundtable conversations include: Mona Hanna-Attisha , MD, author, What the Eyes Don't See , MD, author, U.S. Representative Don Beyer , Virginia , Rob Bilott , attorney, author of Exposure that became the movie "Dark Waters" , attorney, author of that became the movie "Dark Waters" U.S. Representative Michael Burgess , M.D., Texas , M.D., U.S. Representative Madeleine Dean , Pennsylvania , Pennsylvania U.S. Representative Debbie Dingell , Michigan , US Senator Maggie Hassan , New Hampshire , Arianna Huffington , Thrive Global founder, author, public speaker and Huffington Post co-founder , Thrive Global founder, author, public speaker and Huffington Post co-founder Jill Kargman , author, comedian, actress , author, comedian, actress U.S. Representative Ro Khanna, California U.S. Representative Dan Kildee , Michigan , Miles O'Brien , journalist , journalist U.S. Representative Chris Pappas , New Hampshire , U.S. Representative Cathy McMorris Rogers , Washington , U.S. Representative Fred Upton , Michigan , Christine Todd Whitman , former Governor of New Jersey and EPA administrator under George Bush The National Cancer Prevention Workshop typically is an event on Capitol Hill on National Cancer Prevention Day that educates students, legislators, and provides continuing education credits for physicians, nurse and public health professionals. The 2021 event will be virtual and live streamed on the Less Cancer Facebook page. "While this year has proven to have some extreme hurdles to overcome, we possibly have our most interesting workshop," said Less Cancer Founder Bill Couzens. "With approximately 70 presenters including physicians, nurses, scientists and public health professionals, we also have a wide range of legislators, advocates and educators. I am proud how in these times we have continued to keep the workshop bipartisan with a focus not on politics but rather cancer prevention." Speakers include several renowned leaders including physicians, nurses, public health professionals, scientists, government organizations, NGOs, advocates and legislators. Continuing education credits are provided for healthcare and public health professionals by the University of Virginia School of Medicine and School of Nursing and American University. After Feb. 4, the workshop will be available on YouTube and Coursera. National Cancer Prevention Day first came about through a House of Representatives resolution led by Less Cancer on February 4, 2013. It states that work to prevent cancer impacts human health, the environment, and the economy. For more information, visit www.lesscancer.org. About Less Cancer Founded in 2004, the Next Generation Choices Foundation is a 501(c)(3) public charity known more widely as "Less Cancer." The organization works to educate the public, create proactive public policies, and offer continuing education credit to physicians, nurses, and public health professionals regarding cancer, over 50 percent of which are preventable. Less Cancer signifies a new paradigm for addressing cancer, one focused on prevention. This is a departure from previous treatment-focused approaches, which focus on beating, conquering, or curing cancer. MEDIA CONTACT: Colleen Robar, 313-207-5960, [email protected] SOURCE Less Cancer Related Links http://www.lesscancer.org Education Minister Cliff Cullen announced on Thursday that the Manitoba government will be setting aside more than $24 million for seven future land acquisition projects, which include two new school sites in the Brandon area. Advertisement Advertise With Us Education Minister Cliff Cullen announced on Thursday that the Manitoba government will be setting aside more than $24 million for seven future land acquisition projects, which include two new school sites in the Brandon area. During an afternoon news conference on education infrastructure, Cullen stated that these projects involve a K-8 and K-12 facility, with the latter being a school under the jurisdiction of Division Scolaire Franco-Manitobaine. Outside of Brandon, Cullen also mentioned that this funding will be used to build new facilities in the Louis Riel, River East Transcona, Seven Oaks and Pembina Trails school divisions, all located in Winnipeg. This news was part of Thursdays broader announcement, where Cullen said the province will be investing an additional $50 million over the existing $160 million in funding they had earmarked for K-12 school capital projects this fiscal year. While the minister did not offer any more information about these new Brandon projects, he mentioned that this announcement reinforces the current PC governments promise to build 20 new schools across the next 10 years. "Weve opened six new schools with two more going to tender in the spring of this year, and four will start design in 21-22," he said. "Just this month, the Maryland Park School in Brandon and the Waterford Springs School in Winnipeg opened for students." Maryland Park School officially opened its doors on Jan. 4, providing some much-needed relief to a division that had been contending with student overpopulation for many years. BSD assistant superintendent Mathew Gustafson told the Sun on Thursday afternoon that this additional K-8 school will serve the same purpose and be a welcome asset to local families. "We look forward to working with the government of Manitoba in these preliminary stages," he wrote in an email. However, a new K-12 DSFM facility will definitely be of interest to French families living in or around Brandon, since the closest francophone school in the area is situated near CFB Shilo (Ecole La Source). Otherwise, the only other DSFM facilities in Westman are located in St. Lazare (Ecole Saint-Lazare) and Laurier (Ecole Jours de Plaine). "We are committed to maintaining safe and secure school environments for quality education and making sure students have excellent facilities to learn and grow while supporting our governments pledge to protect Manitobans," Cullen said on Thursday. A DSFM representative was not available for comment by press time. kdarbyson@brandonsun.com Twitter: @KyleDarbyson Email Whatsapp Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment I spent the first 26 years of my life in the Bible belt of the United States, where most of those around me were Christians like me. When I went to Jordan to teach English, it was my first trip out of North America. What I initially believed would be a cool opportunity to experience another culture turned out to be a pivotal point in my life, career, and faith. I taught at a Summer English Immersion Program in a school in the city of Madaba, Jordan and, in a different city, I also worked with Syrian and Iraqi refugees and the grandchildren of those forced out of Palestine decades ago. In Matthew 25:35 Jesus says, For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in. For the first time in my life, those verses came alive for me. One day after one of my English classes, one of my students, Mahreen, walked over to my desk. Mr. DeVon, she said, I wasnt taught to like Christians growing up. But if Christians are like you, then I like Christians now." I was shocked. Later on that evening, I sobbed because I knew that I was not living a life worthy of such a compliment. I decided, from then on, I would start living that way. I believe God used an 11-year-old Palestinian Muslim girl to reach me and revive my faith in Jesus. I also met a man named Saria, a teacher in the same English Immersion Program whose emphasis was on the refugee crisis. In Sunday school as a child, I had faithfully learned the lessons of Jesus loving and being in community with people who would abandon and betray him. As a black man in the United States, I, along with many I knew, had experienced discrimination. But I had never seen a real-life example of profound forgiveness until I met Saria. Saria had an incredibly gentle heart and kind spirit. He was passionate and patient while educating me on the Syrian and larger global refugee crisis from first-hand experience. As a teen, Saria experienced abduction, abuse, and interrogation multiple times in his home country of Syria. But instead of being angry, he spoke of forgiveness and love towards the very men who harmed and threatened to kill him. In returning to the U.S., it was heartbreaking to see the polling that suggested that only 25% of Evangelicals believe the United States has a responsibility to accept refugees. I could not help but lament the fact that we see in scripture the Holy familys experience of having to flee and cross the border to Egypt to flee King Herod. How could that mean nothing to Bible-believing Christians? In 2 Corinthians 5:20 Paul speaks of us being Christs ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. I wondered how that is possible if our posture does not include welcoming vulnerable groups of people to be in proximity to us. I wanted to do more. A Global Outreach internship at my church connected me to the World Relief Sacramento office and a network of Evangelical churches who were committed to serving, being in relationship with, advocating for, and learning from our refugee neighbors. One of those neighbors was Jawad from Afghanistan. After bravely serving alongside our U.S. military in his home country, Jawad and his wife resettled to Sacramento. Jawad and I became friends and colleagues, and I have been humbled by his heart for bridge-building and his willingness to enter Evangelical spaces where some people have vocally attacked his Muslim faith. Jawads example of remaining loving in the midst of prejudice has, like my experiences with Mahreen and Saria, served as a gentle reminder that I do not get a pass from Jesus to disregard my fellow siblings in Christ. When our country limits the number of refugees we accept into the U.S. below what we have the capacity to service, this is what we are doing. I pray that as we heal the political divisions in the U.S., we also open our hearts, homes and borders to those whose lives are at stake. CHARLES TOWN, W.Va., Jan. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Board of Directors of Potomac Bancshares, Inc. (OTC: PTBS), the one bank holding company for Bank of Charles Town (BCT), declared a $0.07 per share dividend at their January board meeting. The dividend is for all shareholders of record on February 3, 2021 and will be paid on February 10, 2021. About the Company Founded in 1871, BCT - Bank of Charles Town, also known as The Community's Bank, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Potomac Bancshares, Inc. (OTC:PTBS). With approximately $631 million in assets as of September 30, 2020, the Company conducts operations through its main office, an additional eight branch offices, and one loan production office. BCT's offices are located in Jefferson and Berkeley Counties (WV), Washington County (MD), and Loudoun County (VA). The Bank provides various banking products and services including free access to over 55,000 ATMs through the Allpoint network plus online and mobile banking for individuals, businesses, and local governments. The Bank also offers commercial lines and term loans, residential and commercial construction, commercial real estate loans and agricultural loans. The Residential Lending division offers secondary market and portfolio mortgage loans, one-time close construction to perm loans, as well as home equity loans and lines of credit. For over 60 years, BCT Wealth Advisors has provided financial management, investment, trust, and estate services to its clients. In 2019 and 2020, the Bank was named a "Best Bank To Work For" by American Banker. In 2018, Forbes named BCT a "Best In State Bank" for Maryland. The Company's shares are quoted on the OTC Pink Sheet marketplace under the symbol "PTBS." For more information about Potomac Bancshares, Inc., and the Bank, please visit our website at www.mybct.bank. SOURCE Potomac Bancshares, Inc. Related Links http://www.mybct.bank/ As Vice President Kamala Harris took office this week, many people in the Bay Area and across the country celebrated by collectively creating a kolam, a traditional South Indian art form used as a sign of welcome and new beginnings. Harris, an East Bay Area native, is the first woman of Black and South Asian descent to hold the vice presidency. The artwork honoring her Indian heritage, consisting of hundreds of pieces submitted by the public, was part of the digital inaugural ceremonies for Harris and President Biden on Wednesday. The word kolam is from the Tamil language meaning beauty, said Vijaya Nagarajan, a professor at the University of San Francisco and author of Feeding A Thousand Souls: Women, Ritual and Ecology in India, an Exploration of the kolam. A traditional kolam is hand drawn with rice flour to create designs made of dots and lines outside homes to honor a new day. The rice flour is edible and can be eaten by bugs, ants, birds and small creatures, Nagarajan said. So the idea is that the first act of the household is to feed 1,000 souls, Nagarajan said. In a lot of ways, its about wishing and hoping for prosperity and wealth for the common good. Courtesy of Tony Ventouris The artwork is the product of the Inauguration Kolam 2021 project spearheaded by multimedia artist Shanthi Chandrasekar. People from ages 2 to 95 contributed more than 1,800 tiles, Chandrasekar said. A digital mosaic called Vanakkam Kolam was unveiled Wednesday. The overview appears to be a single artwork, but when viewers zoom in, they can see the individual images of each contributor with their creation. It was just very fulfilling to watch so much happiness on peoples faces when they share their kolams, she said. The project was also recognized during Bidens virtual inauguration welcome event on YouTube. The physical form, called Kondattam Kolam, will eventually be installed at the U.S. Capitol after security concerns ease following a violent mob attack at the building on Jan. 6. The finished product will be 2,500 square feet. Photo courtesy of Prafullamukhi Prabhuvenkatesh / Prafullamukhi Prabhuvenkatesh, a kolam artist from Dublin and founder of Kolam Kreations, created two kolams with her 19-year-old daughter outside Bishop Ranch City Center in San Ramon. She snapped a photo of each and sent it to the projects organizers for the digital kolam. We were really excited, said Prabhuvenkatesh. I am delighted that Im part of creating positive energy. Karthick Ramakrishnan of Riverside posted a photo on Twitter of the kolam his mother created Wednesday morning. My mothers kolam this morning marking the historic inauguration of @KamalaHarris as VP. Translation: Best wishes, Kamala with symbols of a lotus and pitcher that typically accompany images of Kamala Devi #Inauguration2021, said Ramakrishnan, a professor at UC Riverside and founder of AAPI Data, a site that publishes demographic data and policy research on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. Ramakrishnan said he usually doesnt post anything personal on his Twitter account, but his personal connection to Harris South Indian background inspired him to share the image. Harris mother, Shyamala Gopalan, was born in India and was a cancer researcher and civil rights activist who last worked at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. She died in 2009. Theres a deeper understanding now with Kamala Harris as VP of some of these traditions that I think most people would not have known before, Ramakrishnan said. That acceptance and that celebration truly does feel like America living up to its higher ideals in terms of how they treat immigrant populations and immigrant cultures. Courtesy of Rani Ramakrishnan Rani, Ramakrishnans mother, said she created the kolam to express best wishes to Harris. I also pray for everybodys well being all over the world, Rani said, adding that she makes a kolam every day. Seeing kolams throughout social media has been fantastic for Nagarajan, the University of San Francisco professor, as an Indian American. I think its very powerful bringing together art, creativity, metaphors of welcome and inclusivity and really the idea of beauty and ethics coming together, Nagarajan said. Thats what to me the kolam represents at its heart. How do we have ethics in beauty and how do we have beauty in ethics? Jessica Flores is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jessica.flores@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @jesssmflores General Assignment Reporter Chris Mays is a general assignment reporter for the Brattleboro Reformer. He has been with New England Newspapers Inc. since 2012. 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) Get the latest in your inbox: Sign up for the free Coronavirus Updates newsletter . Vaccinations : Track vaccine roll-out in New York. Plus, find vaccine locations near you. Albany County saw five more residents die overnight after contracting the coronavirus. The county's death toll is now 291. County Executive Dan McCoy said it was clear the county was headed toward the deadliest month of the pandemic so far. "I was hoping I was wrong, he said. Read more Thursday: Disabled being 'elbowed aside' as doses shifted to mass-vaccination sites Thousands of disabled individuals who live in group home settings have seen their rate of vaccinations for coronavirus dwindle as the state has shifted doses to mass-vaccination sites and expanded the number of individuals eligible for the shots. Roughly 30 percent of the Capital Region's group home population about 11,000 disabled individuals and staff members who care for them in a 10-county region have been vaccinated through the first five weeks of the rollout. But when the state shifted to mass-vaccination sites, including one at the University of Albany, those locations were given in some cases 50 percent or more of a region's doses. Read more ___ Thursday: New positive coronavirus cases shoot up again in Albany County 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 people who had the virus, 30 are health care workers or residents of congregate settings, two had traveled out of state and 195 did not have a clear source of infection. Read more ___ Thursday: Albany County daily new positives shoots up again 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 ___ Thursday: 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 ___ 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 ___ 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 ___ 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 ___ Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. Spains Defense Ministry is launching an internal inquiry to find out if the military top brass dodged coronavirus vaccine protocols by receiving a jab before their turn. El Confidencial Digital, an online news site, first reported that Chief of Staff Gen. Miguel ngel Villarroya and several other high-ranking officers in Spains Armed Forces had recently received the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. In Spain, top government and other officials have not been granted preferential access to the vaccine unlike other European countries where they were among the first to get the jab, to encourage members of the public to follow suit. Nursing home residents and staff, as well as first-line health workers, are currently receiving jabs as priority groups in the national vaccination plan. The rollout is suffering delays due to a shortage of deliveries by Pfizer-BioNTech, currently the main supplier of vaccines. The Health Ministry announced this week that the next group will be those above 80 years old. Defense Minister Margarita Robles said Friday that the Armed Forces had their own vaccination plan but that she nevertheless had requested a report from Gen. Villarroya, who is 63, to clarify the issue. The questions follow several cases of queue-jumping by politicians or people with connections that have come to light in recent weeks, drawing widespread criticism and leading to high-profile dismissals. In one of the cases, the regional health chief of the south-eastern Murcia region lost his job this week after he and other members of his department were found to have received the first vaccine jab. Meanwhile, the health chief for Ceuta, a Spanish outpost in northern Africa, refused to resign saying that fieldwork often exposed him to contagion. Javier Guerrero, who is a physician himself and has diabetes, said at a press conference Thursday that he accepted getting the jab because his staff asked him to, even though he doesnt like vaccines. Pressure from the public has so far led to resignations or dismissals of several local mayors and councilors, as well as some hospital directors. At the San Carlos Clinic Hospital in Madrid, retired health workers and family members were asked to show up for a vaccine so as not to waste soon-to-expire doses. Robert Kocharyan on years of his leadership in Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia Situation on Armenian-Azerbaijani border is still tense, more on COVID-19 in Armenia, May 28 digest "Armenia" alliance of political parties paying tribute to founder of First Republic Aram Manukyan (LIVE) Yerevan.today: Armenia acting PM not greeted at ruling party's headquarters, citizens call him 'capitulator' Russia MOD reports on maintenance of ceasefire regime in Nagorno-Karabakh Armenia acting MOD meets with Russian counterpart in Moscow Armenia 2nd President: I see possibility of restoring borders of Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast We can provide our army with some key, modernized weapons, says Armenia ex-President Kocharyan Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: Captives issue is not one that any opposition force can resolve OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs release statement on detention of 6 Armenian servicemen by Azerbaijan Armenian acting Deputy PM: Discussion on issues possible only after withdrawal of Azeri troops from Armenia's territory Armenia acting PM on Syunik roads, Russian military posts: This is only place where there are working nuances Armenia acting PM: Process of return of POWs will intensify after upcoming elections Putin congratulates Aliyev on Republic Day 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 And there he stood for the cameras, Bible raised in his right hand, trying to look holy, though the idea that Trump had spent serious time with a Bible seemed oddly comical. He was holding the good book upside down, and it had been borne to the set-up in Ivanka Trumps $US1450 Max Mara handbag. Loading When Trump was asked whether the book was his, even he couldnt claim ownership, responding only that it was a Bible, as if, somehow, it had simply appeared in his hand, unbidden. Trump is gone from the presidency now, having slunk away from Joe Bidens inauguration because his giant and fragile sense of self-importance couldnt cope with the truth. However much he might have screamed that he was still rightfully the president, he was outgunned by the voters, the Constitution, the judges of the land and the electoral college. And yet, 74 million people had voted for him and polls showed that 64 per cent of them clung to the belief, well past the election, that Trump was the victim of voter fraud and that Biden should not be president. Given the facts did not back up such belief, these millions were holding to what could only be deemed a quasi-religious faith. Trump, in short, had assumed the mantle of cult leader: he had said that America was lost if he was not reinstalled, and here it was: the prophecy of doom had been met. We might imagine that once the reality of Bidens inauguration sinks in, some form of comprehension might sweep Trumps faithful: they had been conned, taken up a dry gully and left there. But thats not how it usually works with doomsday cults. There is a body of evidence which shows that on the not-infrequent occasions when a cult leader announces the date of the end of the world or suchlike, the faith of the truly faithful is not shaken when the day comes and the apocalypse fails to occur. Trump supporters for his motorcade on the road to Mar-a-Lago, Trumps Palm Beach estate on Wednesday. Credit:AP The believers simply change the narrative: they had not prayed strongly enough to be removed from Earth, or they had prayed so fervently that the Great Spirit in the Sky had decided to grant them a reprieve. The best-known study into such fantastical thinking was by US psychologist Leon Festinger and his colleagues, who published a book in 1956 called When Prophecy Fails. It documented the case of a group called The Seekers whose leader had predicted a flood would destroy the US west coast. Aliens from the planet Clarion would arrive to rescue the chosen in a flying saucer before the flood struck. Loading Members of The Seekers ditched jobs and spouses and sold their houses and worldly goods for the great day. But when the flood and the flying saucer failed to materialise, their leader announced that her followers had spread so much light that God had saved the world from destruction". And glory be, The Seekers went on to enthusiastically gather greater numbers, effectively persuading themselves, according to Festinger, that if more people can be persuaded that the system of belief is correct, then clearly, it must, after all, be correct. He coined the term cognitive dissonance to explain the settling of conflict between reality and faith. Later researchers discovered that to many such groups, prophecies actually dont fail: they were just small parts of a greater whole, and believers needed to make only small adjustments to carry on. Trump relied heavily on Americas legion of right-wing Christian evangelicals, who found it in their hearts to ignore his stated approval of sexual assault, his payment of prostitutes, his endless lying, his history of sharp business practices and all the rest, largely in the faith that he would deliver them a Supreme Court that would roll back womens legal right to abortion. And so he delivered as down payment a breathtakingly cynical photo opportunity outside a church, Bible in hand. Donald Trump with a Bible in hand at St Johns Park in Washington DC in June. Credit:Patrick Semansky Trump was by no means the first and wont be the last to cunningly harness multitudes to his political ambitions through the use of Christian symbols. Politicians have been doing it ever since 312AD, when Constantine the Great defeated in battle his brother-in-law, Maxentius, to cement control of the Roman Empire. Constantine put it about that he had experienced a vision before the battle, and had ordered his soldiers to paint crosses on their shields. These, then, were the first soldiers of the Cross. Trumps support, of course, extended beyond those who had somehow persuaded themselves hed been sent to them by God. His was an image crafted for those who felt left out by a slick political and social system. Preposterously, this New York real estate developer, this self-proclaimed billionaire with a penchant for gold bathroom taps, presented himself as an outsider who would save those shunted aside by an economy that had exported their manufacturing jobs, those who felt the establishment looked down upon them, the poorly educated in a nation run by college-educated swankers, and those inculcated to believe that medical care for all amounted to evil socialism. And along with these came assorted white supremacists, neo-Nazis, Proud Boys and the lunatics from QAnon. Good people, Trump told them. Loading Only he, went Trumps narrative, could save these people and the America they wanted to imagine for themselves. In a world distorted by social media overflowing with conspiracy theories and false information on just about everything, Trumps word a cascade of tweets bolstered by Fox TV sycophants and shock jock crazies became, to his followers, the equal of holy writ. And as he faced the election, he prophesied the Deep State would use all manner of voter fraud to defeat him. In the end, with his nation brought low by a plague he had all but denied, when not enough Americans voted for him, Trump fashioned the greatest lie of his mendacious life. The election had actually been stolen, just as he had warned. And millions believed him, even if the nations courts rejected the absurdity of it. His front-line supporters, goaded by him to take back what he convinced them had been stolen, threw themselves bodily at the central symbol of American democracy, the Capitol, after he told them ... youll never take back our country with weakness. You have to show strength and you have to be strong. The Trump doomsday cult was complete. Logic might dictate that Trump has been rendered irrelevant now he has installed himself in his ostentatious Mar-a-Lago and Joe Biden is in the White House, even though Trump declared in a final video that his Make America Great Again movement was only just beginning. Perhaps Bidens central message, that democracy has prevailed, will win over some of those taken in by Trumps false prophecies. Jacksonville Police ARRESTS, CITATIONS 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. THEFTS, BURGLARIES Police are investigating a report that a woman might have walked out of The Home Depot, 1601 W. Morton Ave., with a cart full of tools about 1:30 p.m. Thursday without paying. Calhoun County Sheriff ARRESTS, CITATIONS Dakota L. Kallal, 24, of White Hall was booked into Greene County Jail at 2:12 p.m. Tuesday on a warrant accusing him of violating probation. Stone C. Fox, 32, of Hamburg was booked into Greene County Jail at 10:18 p.m. Saturday on a charge of possession of methamphetamine. Phillip R. Stauffer, 24, of Hamburg was booked into Greene County Jail at 9:39 p.m. Saturday on a charge of possession of methamphetamine and on a Greene County warrant accusing him of failing to appear in court. Jennifer K. Hughes, 37, of Kampsville was booked into Greene County Jail at 9:14 p.m. Saturday on a charge of possession of methamphetamine. Greene County Sheriff ARRESTS, CITATIONS Thomas C. Edwards, 36, of Roodhouse was booked into Greene County Jail at 10 p.m. Jan. 12 on a charge of possession of drug paraphernalia. Jack L. Green, 31, of Carrollton was booked into Greene County Jail at 10 p.m. Jan. 12 on a charge of possession of drug paraphernalia. Carrollton Police ARRESTS, CITATIONS Jimmy W. Davidson, 40, of Carrollton was booked into Greene County Jail at 3:11 p.m. Jan. 13 on charges of driving while license is revoked or suspended and operating an uninsured motor vehicle. Kevin L. Murrow, 38, of Roodhouse was booked into Greene County Jail at 10:21 a.m. Jan. 8 on a charge of attempting to foil or defeat a screening test. Roodhouse Police ARRESTS, CITATIONS Nathaniel M. Thornton, 29, of Roodhouse was booked into Greene County Jail at 10:01 a.m. Jan. 13 on a charge of possession of methamphetamine. Daniel J. Davidson, 39, of Roodhouse was booked into Greene County Jail at 9:23 a.m. Jan. 10 on a charge of retail theft with prior offenses. State police ARRESTS, CITATIONS Jackie D. Howard, 42, of Clinton was booked into Greene County Jail at 1:51 a.m. Jan. 11 on a warrant accusing him of escape or failure to return from furlough. Scott County Sheriff ARRESTS, CITATIONS Adam E. Gauges, 42, of Winchester was booked into Greene County Jail at 3:18 p.m. Sunday on charges of unlawful restraint, possession of methamphetamine and domestic battery. Corey S. Beavers, 41, of Exeter was booked into Greene County Jail at 11:49 p.m. Jan. 11 on charges of possession of methamphetamine and resisting a peace officer. Compiled by David C.L. Bauer Germany's right-wing opposition party could be placed under surveillance for threatening the country's political system and violating the constitution. The Alternative for Germany (AfD) has been the subject of a two-year investigation over fears it has become more radical. The Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution - a body inspired by Allied forces who helped write a new German constitution after the Second World War - has identified cases of party politicians denigrating Muslim migrants to the country and trivialising its Nazi past, NPR reports. Alternative for Germany (AfD) leader Alexander Gauland attends a session at the lower house of parliament Melanie Amann of the German news magazine Der Spiegel said: '[Muslims] were all treated as potential terrorists. 'They were dehumanized in the speeches. They were compared to animals. The [agency] report made it quite clear that these people had crossed a line.' Other concerns raised included comments made by Bjorn Hocke, a far-right group in the party known as 'Der Fluegel' (The Wing), in 2017 in which he called the Holocaust Memorial in Berlin a 'monument of shame' at an AfD event. The following year, the party's parliamentary leader Alexander Gauland likened Germany's Nazi era to 'a speck of bird s*** in more than 1,000 years of successful German history.' Reports now suggest that the entire party - which includes several dozen lawmakers in parliament - will be monitored by the state. However, some figures have slammed it as a political move, as the agency is run by Chancellor Angela Merkel's government, with members of her own Christian Democratic Union party on the payroll. Party politicians claims the CDU is concerned by the rise of the AfD, with it now having 88 of the Bundestag's 709 members - a representation of more than 12%. It comes after the same agency placed a regional branch of the AfD under surveillance last summer, denting the nationalist party's efforts to establish itself as a credible opposition force. The move followed the AfD's expulsion of Andreas Kalbitz, party chief in the eastern state of Brandenburg, over links with far-right groups, though the national executive committee's decision was still long disputed by rank-and-file members after that. Brandenburg Interior Minister Michael Stuebgen said in June: 'The Brandenburg AfD has become more and more radical since its foundation and is now dominated by endeavours that are clearly directed against our free democratic fundamental order.' He said parts of the state branch were dominated by the ideas of The Wing. Participants attend the right-wing AfD demonstration titled 'Future Germany' on May 27, 2018 in Berlin Meanwhile, the coronavirus death toll in Germany has passed 50,000, a number that has risen swiftly over recent weeks even as infection figures are finally declining. The country's disease control center, the Robert Koch Institute, said tonight that another 859 deaths were reported over the past 24 hours, taking the total so far to 50,642. Germany had a comparatively small number of deaths in the pandemic's first phase and was able to lift many restrictions quickly. But it has seen much higher levels of infections in the autumn and winter. Hundreds of deaths, sometimes more than 1,000, have been reported daily in the country of 83 million people over recent weeks. Mike has reported on the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem's wildlife, wildlands and the agencies that manage them since 2012. A native Minnesotan, he arrived in the West to study environmental journalism at the University of Colorado. On his second day in office, President Biden said he would invoke the Defense Production Act to speed up COVID-19 vaccine production. Whether that can rapidly increase output is an open question, experts say. The administration's 198-page COVID-19 strategy plan says it will use the production act to strengthen the supply chain for the raw materials needed to make vaccines and support expanding capacity to make lipid nanoparticles, a crucial and complex part of both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines. Much depends on where current vaccine bottlenecks are, which is unclear as little information is available from both the vaccine companies and Operation Warp Speed, the Trump administration's vaccine production effort. Ensuring manufacturing plants have enough raw materials to make the vaccines is something the Defense Production Act could help with, experts say. If the issue is a lack of production capacity requiring building new plants or re-tooling existing ones to fix, it will take time. It means a couple of weeks or months, it cant be done in a weeks time, said Prashant Yadav,a medical supply chain expert and senior fellow with the Center for Global Development, an international development think tank based in Washington, D.C., and London. There are several potential ways production could be increased but all require trade-offs. 'The brutal truth': Biden emphasizes science, unity in first briefing on national plan to tackle COVID-19 The two current U.S. COVID-19 vaccines, from Pfizer and Moderna, both rely on relatively new mRNA technology. Both companies say their U.S. plants are operating at full capacity, so the government cant simply tell them to simply drastically increase output. Pfizer said it anticipates no interruptions in shipments from its U.S. facility and plans to scale up worldwide production from 1.5 billion doses to 2 billion by the end of 2021. The vaccines require specialized manufacturing procedures and must be made in sophisticated facilities governed by strict Food and Drug Administration regulations to ensure safety and efficacy. Ramping up production is neither simple nor cheap. Story continues Most of the companies with the capability to manufacture them that arent already in use are outside of the United States, so theres little the U.S. government can do to gain more access to facilities. The Defense Production Act will have no effect on them, said Dr. Drew Weissman, a professor of medicine at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, who did foundational research on the mRNA vaccines. The lipid nanoparticles that surround the active portion of the vaccine and allow it to enter cells without the mRNA being destroyed by the body are difficult to make. Prior to the pandemic, they had mostly been used in oncology drugs, manufactured in much smaller amounts than the hundreds of millions of doses of COVID-19 vaccine the United States needs. mRNA vaccines on this scale are new. Weve never had to make a billion doses before, said Weissman. Another option to increase capacity would be for vaccine manufacturers to take down some vaccine production lines so that they can be re-built to be more efficient and higher producing. This wouldnt necessarily be something that the Defense Production Act would be used for, but it could increase production from existing facilities. However it carries significant trade-offs. In Europe, Pfizer plants producing COVID-19 vaccine for that market are being upgraded to increase production but its meant diminished output for now. That's caused a backlash. Its a challenge to say, Well forgo some throughput in the next three weeks in the hope we can get better production four weeks from now, said Yadav. Its also a medical question. If vaccine availability dips in the midst of a surge in cases, infection rates will go up and more people will die. Its both a political and an epidemiological challenge, he said. Expert vaccine panel: COVID-19 vaccine rollout hasn't worked, but change is coming Another way to increase production would be to commandeer other vaccine manufacturing plants or the fill and finish plants that put bulk vaccine into the tiny vials that its shipped in. Theres some excess capacity for this in the United States but re-tooling a plant takes time. It also carries risk because some of that manufacturing space will hopefully soon be put to use making the next round of COVID-19 vaccines. We may have a Johnson & Johnsons vaccine in a month and a half, in which case we dont want to delay its production, said Yadav. One of the biggest frustrations for those with expertise in vaccine manufacturing is that theres so little transparency around production that it's difficult to know what's necessary to fix it. Under the Trump administration, no information was available on how much vaccine was being produced, if there were production delays or why the number of doses released to states fluctuated so wildly each week. I can understand from a manufacturer's point of view that this is proprietary information, but we're in a pandemic," said Norman Baylor, President and CEO, Biologics Consulting and the former director of FDAs Office of Vaccines Research and Review, said Thursday. "There are public funds going to this endeavor. I think the public deserves to know what is coming out of your factory every week. Not what's projected what's coming out, he said on a media briefing call Thursday held by the COVID-19 Vaccine Analysis Team, a group of vaccine experts. Dr. Luciana Borio, vice president In-Q-Tel, said she was hopeful that the Biden administration would bring more transparency to the process. I think it will get better, said Borio, who is the former director for Medical and Biodefense Preparedness at the National Security Council. But I think weve got a few bumpy weeks ahead. Contact Elizabeth Weise at eweise@usatoday.com More on Biden and the coronavirus pandemic: Biden's COVID-19 executive orders: Experts celebrate plan, warn 'a lot of work' is left Biden administration renewed support for World Health Organization is 'good news for America and the world,' scientists say Biden to sign orders giving economic relief to working families hit hard by COVID-19 This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: COVID vaccine: Biden use of Defense Production Act is not a quick fix This story was originally published January 21. The skies over Beaumont could be a little noisy over the next week as the Port of Beaumont accepts another massive haul of military equipment for deployment overseas, including aircraft buzzing by to make the trip. The port started receiving shipments Thursday, and nearby residents can expect to see more convoys and hear activity as material continues to stream in until Jan. 29. During that time, the U.S. Army 842nd Transportation Battalion and civilian longshoremen will be handling 1,500 pieces equipment bound for three different bases in Europe. "While seemingly unique, this routine mission will include multiple helicopters and support equipment loaded on commercial sealift, Lt. Col. Gordon Vincent, battalion commander of the 842nd Transportation Battalion, said in a statement. It is a clear example of the partnership we have with the Port of Beaumont, the U. S. Coast Guard and our critical longshore labor partners and absolutely reflects the strategic nature of the Sabine-Neches Waterway. The vehicles and containers headed from Fort Riley, Kansas will be used for Operation Atlantic Resolve, a 9-month bilateral, joint and multinational training exercise across more than a dozen countries in Europe with NATO allies and partners. The 842nd Transportation Battalion's primary mission is to conduct surface deployment and distribution through terminals and facilities on the western Gulf Coast through its four strategic seaports in Beaumont, Port Arthur, Corpus Christi and Gulfport, Mississippi. The Port of Beaumont is still the largest strategic port for military cargo based on tonnage, and finished a similar maneuver its largest single movement at the time in the spring of 2020. jacob.dick@beaumontenterprise.com twitter.com/jd_journalism 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. Manitoba funeral homes will take a very big step in the right direction, with the news the cap on allowed attendance will soon double, advocates say. Manitoba funeral homes will take "a very big step in the right direction," with the news the cap on allowed attendance will soon double, advocates say. Chief provincial public health officer Dr. Brent Roussin announced the slackening of a handful of COVID-19 restrictions Thursday, including an increase in the number of people allowed to attend funerals. Effective Saturday, it will rise from five to 10. "This has to be a gradual and cautious process. We do not want to be opening and then closing and then reopening again. Everyone is aware of the challenges these restrictions have caused Manitobans, but we just cannot overwhelm our health-care system," Roussin said. "We cannot continue to lose so many Manitobans." One person intimately aware of the number of Manitobans lost during the pandemic is Kevin Sweryd, owner of Bardal Funeral Home in Winnipeg and president of the Manitoba Funeral Service Association. He characterized Thursdays announcement as "a very big step in the right direction." "The hardest thing right now, especially when families are more than five people, is to say to them: You have to pick and choose who can come or you have to split into groups and do your services and visitations at different times," Sweryd said. Of the roughly 35,000 people who filled out the provincial governments recent survey on potential changes to COVID-19 restrictions, 62 per cent agreed with raising the cap on funeral services to 10 people. Sweryd said the industry understands why tight restrictions have been imposed on it, and is not "opposed to the regulations." Nevertheless, he wishes the province had worked more closely with the sector in the past when developing rules. Since the pandemic was declared in Manitoba in March, Sweryd said there have been no outbreaks linked to funerals in the province where there was professional oversight of the service. He said it shows the industrys ability to rise to the challenge and conduct its business in a safe manner that doesnt jeopardize public health. "The biggest disappointment and frustration funeral directors have expressed to me is there has been very little consultation from the province. We will send letters on a weekly or monthly basis, offering input, offering to be a part of committees, offering to plan strategy," Sweryd said. "And while I understand theyre busy, and they cant talk to every industry, I do think in a pandemic, with us working alongside the health-care industry as much as we do, it would be nice if we were consulted more often." The most important thing, Sweryd said, has been the rules impact on grieving families some of whom have had to forgo funerals entirely, others have pushed back services until cap sizes are increased. When Manitobans are allowed to have funerals with 25 to 50 people in attendance, he said, families who have delayed services will begin contacting funeral homes, which will likely create a bottleneck. "It will be a very busy time for the funeral service industry," Sweryd said, adding hes not concerned about the demand, since the province has more funeral homes than most jurisdictions with comparable populations. One of the key things funerals offer grieving loved ones is the ability to "gather for emotional and spiritual support" during a difficult time of life. But due to COVID-19, Sweryd said, the industrys ability to support families has been hampered. "I understand the balance political leaders have to strike. They dont want to be the people who loosen restrictions too fast and cause another spike. I get that and respect that," Sweryd said. "Similarly, there is not a funeral home in Manitoba that wants its name in the paper that says, Were the source of this super spreader event. We have a very strong vested interest in making sure the guidelines are followed and things are done safely." ryan.thorpe@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @rk_thorpe Gandhinagar, Jan 22 : The Gujarat government on Friday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the private infrastructure company, Adani Port & SEZ Ltd., to setup the country's largest multi-modal logistics park at Sanand with an estimated investment of Rs 50,000 crore. The proposed 1,450 acre park will have a dedicated air cargo complex with 4.6 km long runway to handle even large sized cargo aircraft and will offer direct air, rail and road connectivity. It will also have a provision of direct rail connectivity with dedicated freight corridor which is part of the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC). It will have potential to generate direct and indirect employment for 25,000 persons. According to the state government, the project will be completed in a phased manner in three years as the work will commence within six months after obtaining required clearances and permissions. There will be a 90 lakh sq ft warehouse zone with facilities such as air freight station, grade-A warehouse, cold storage among others in the park. The warehouse will have 38 lakh sq ft space for textile, bulk, e-commerce, nine lakh sq ft space for bonder warehouse, four lakh grade-A palatized facility and 60,000 temperature controlled palletized facility. Against 3.3 lakh capacity, a container yard in this park will have four handling lines with TEU (twenty ft equivalents). The park will have three lakh square feet of space for business and skill development centre. The Central government has sanctioned Rs 2 lakh crore for setting up of multi-modal mega logistics parks in 34 cities of the country. Cities like Vijayawada, Chennai, Nagpur, Bengaluru, Surat, Hyderabad and Gauhati are selected among others. Six cities of Gujarat are selected, Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Surat,Bharuch, Valsad and Kandla, where these projects will be set up on a Public Private Partnership (PPP) model. 60 per cent of the cargo in the country is transferred via road. The transportation cost is 14 per cent of the GDP in the country, which the Central government wants to bring down to 7 per cent. Russia and Myanmar on Friday signed a bilateral aviation safety agreement in a ceremony attended by Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Myanmar's armed forces commander-in-chief, Min Aung Hlaing NAY PYI TAW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 22nd January, 2021) Russia and Myanmar on Friday signed a bilateral aviation safety agreement in a ceremony attended by Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Myanmar's armed forces commander-in-chief, Min Aung Hlaing. From the Russian side, the agreement was signed by the deputy defense minister, colonel general Alexander Fomin. Moscow and Nay Pyi Taw have enjoyed a mutually beneficial military partnership since establishing the legal framework in 2001. Russia supplied Myanmar with 30 MiG-29 jet fighter aircraft, 12 Yak-130 jets trainer, 10 Mi-24 and Mi-35P attack helicopters, eight Pechora-2M surface-to-air missile systems, as well as radars, armored vehicles and artillery systems. The countries also signed a contract for the supply of six Su-30SME super-maneuverable fighter aircraft. Equipment maintenance and modernization is carried out at a joint service center in Myanmar. In the past five years, the cooperation has been especially intensive, with Myanmar forces regularly participating in the International Army Games in Russia as well as other combat training events such as the Kavkaz-2020 exercise. 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. 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 Biden's decision to rejoin the the Paris climate accord, reversing a key Trump policy in the first hours of his presidency Wednesday. FILE - In this Jan. 11, 2021 file photo, French President Emmanuel Macron stands during the One Planet Summit, at The Elysee Palace, in Paris, France. 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. (Ludovic Marin, Pool Photo via AP, File) Rejoining the Paris Agreement is hugely positive news, tweeted Johnson, whose country is hosting this year's 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. As president, Donald Trump 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 centre 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 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. Of particular importance is deforestation in the vast Amazon rainforest. Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has faced criticism from global leaders, including Biden before his election victory, and non-profit organizations for rising deforestation. Bolsonaro has been dismissive of international efforts to steer Brazils management of the huge rainforest, saying its resources must be harnessed to support growth and economic development. Still, he sent a letter to Biden on Wednesday urging that the two countries continue their partnership in favour of sustainable development and protection of the environment, especially of the Amazon. I stress that Brazil has shown its commitment with the Paris Accord after the introduction of its new national goals, Bolsonaro added in the letter, which he published on his social media channels. 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 favour 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 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. Associated Press writer Karl Ritter and Nicole Winfield in Rome, Oleg Cetinic in Paris, Aritz Parra in Madrid and David Biller in Rio de Janeiro contributed to this report. Follow APs climate coverage at https://www.apnews.com/Climate The Prince of Wales yesterday called for an extraordinary global effort to fight climate change akin to the post-war Marshall Plan. Charles said the clock was ticking and now was the time for the world to unite in the same way it did to fight the pandemic. And to tackle the climate crisis, he has called for a modern version of the Marshall Plan a US programme which provided billions of dollars of aid to help rebuild Europe after 1945. Referring to the plan, the prince said something similar is needed today on a global scale to help economies and societies build forward faster and better from the pandemic while addressing the looming climate and biodiversity crisis. The Prince of Wales yesterday called for an extraordinary global effort to fight climate change akin to the post-war Marshall Plan Speaking via video link for an event hosted by Atlantic Council, a US think tank, Charles discussed his 7.3billion recovery plan called the Terra Carta a multinational agreement between some of the biggest firms to put sustainability first. Over four years, more than 11 billion ($13 billion) worth of economic aid was handed out by the US to help restore industrial and agricultural production establish financial stability and expand trade. The US had feared the poverty and unemployment of the post-World War II period was reinforcing the appeal of communism in Western Europe. The plan was put forward by Secretary of State George C. Marshall. Referencing the plan, the prince said: Nothing short... is needed today on a global scale to help economies and societies build forward faster and better from the pandemic while addressing the looming climate and biodiversity crisis. Better in this context must mean bringing economic value into harmony with social and environmental sustainability across public, private and philanthropic sectors. The Prince was speaking via video link at the Atlantic Councils 2021 energy forum yesterday. He said now was the time to make every day count. It is this which will determine whether or not our children and grandchildren look back on a series of broken promises or instead reflect on a tipping point at which the world shifted towards a more sustainable, equitable and prosperous trajectory, he said. Last January none of us could have anticipated the devastating pandemic which was about to unfold or its horrifying impact on lives and livelihoods everywhere. Today, reflecting on all that we have endured together, it is more clear than ever that human health and planetary health are fundamentally interconnected. We have seen how a global crisis.... can only be addressed with unprecedented levels of ambition and that necessity, combined with science and transformative levels of resources, can deliver action at an extraordinary scale. The Duke was joined by Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan for the event, which was organised by the Atlantic Council, an American think tank. The Prince had been invited to speak about his ambitious 7.3billion recovery plan called the Terra Carta. It is a pioneering multi-national agreement between some of the biggest firms in the world to put sustainability at the heart of the global post-pandemic recovery. His project has been inspired by the Magna Carta, which defines fundamental rights and liberties. Charles admitted it had been an uphill struggle to get companies on board but said the dam had now burst. I have spent very nearly 40 years of my life on trying to encourage corporate social and environmental responsibility, he said. It has been an uphill struggle. And now suddenly, the dam has burst and I find myself approached by all sorts of people wanting to work with us on these matters. There has been some scepticism over some of the names signing up to the Terra Carta, including the oil giant BP. But Charles said: The private sector is a major part of the solution and the energy sector is the solution when you think about it. Theres no time left to wait. He said BP was demonstrating fossil fuel companies can become a major part of the solution by transforming themselves. Palmdale, CA (93550) Today A mix of clouds and sunshine with gusty winds developing this afternoon. High near 90F. WSW winds at 5 to 10 mph, increasing to 20 to 30 mph.. Tonight A few passing clouds. Low around 60F. Winds SW at 15 to 25 mph. The exotic island of Seychelles known for its pristine beaches reopens borders to all countries worldwide. The much-anticipated news by the tourism industry, considering the recent launch of the immunisation campaign, was announced by the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Tourism, Sylvestre Radegonde during a joint press briefing with his counterpart from the Health Ministry, Peggy Vidot. This announcement has come at a time when the Indian government has signed an air bubble agreement with Seychelles allowing 'Air Seychelles' to fly into the destination from India. If you're planning to visit Seychelles island anytime soon, keep these important dos and don'ts in mind. Vaccinated Visitors: In the first phase of the opening, travellers would be required to produce proof of a valid vaccination certificate from the National Health Authority (minimum of two weeks since administration of the second dose of the vaccine) along with a negative Covid-19 PCR report obtained less than 72 hours prior to travel. These visitors need not quarantine upon arrival to Seychelles. Non-Vaccinated Visitors: The Seychelles islands is currently open to Indian visitors through private jet transfers only. Such travellers would be required to submit a negative Covid-19 PCR report obtained less than 72 hours prior to travel. Visitors who haven't taken the complete dose of vaccination or not travelling via private jets, would not be permitted entry into Seychelles. This would be in force until mid-March once Seychelles has vaccinated a large majority of its adult population. Mid-march Onwards: The United Arab Emirates (UAE) government donated 50,000 doses of a Chinese-manufactured Covid-19 vaccine to Seychelles while the Indian government has offered 1,00,000 doses of the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine by the end of January. By the ongoing numbers, the country has forecasted that 25 per cent of its population is likely to be vaccinated by mid-March which would witness the rollout of the second phase of welcoming international tourists to the island nation. The country would open up to all visitors, vaccinated or not. Travellers planning a vacation during this time would only have to present a negative Covid-19 PCR certificate with the test taken maximum of 72 hours prior to departure with no quarantine upon arrival into the country. Irrespective of when one might travel to Seychelles, visitors have to abide by the existing health measures (like wearing face masks, social distancing etc.) which remain applicable as per the travel advisory published on the Department of Tourism website. Similarly, all tourism operators would still be required to follow their existing Covid-19 standard operating procedures and protocols. Speaking of an optimistic future, Lubaina Sheerazi, CEO & Co-founder, BRANDit, the Marketing and PR office for the Seychelles Tourism Board in India said, "2021 has kicked off on a positive note presenting us with a wide scope to promote safe holidays to the Seychelles islands. Until now, the destination was limited to visitors only through private jet transfers but this move will offer a much-needed new option to Indians looking for an international holiday." The ongoing trend of leisure travel is expected to prosper in the coming months as there is a pent-up demand for long pending vacations with family and friends. Seychelles welcoming tourists with limited restrictions is certainly a positive step towards tourism recovery worldwide. More details about the new measures are published in the Seychelles Travel Advisory that can be accessed on www.tourism.gov.sc. 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. While the Louisiana economy was devastated by the coronavirus pandemic in 2020, the 2021 forecast is cautiously optimistic,, the head of Louisianas economic development agency said Friday. Despite the headwinds caused by the pandemic, several sectors of the Louisiana economy have remained strong, such as agriculture, timber, ports and logistics, said Don Pierson, Louisiana Economic Development secretary. We maintain a lot of economic strength to build on, grow on, he said during an Economic Outlook 2021 summit hosted by the newspaper. Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-22 17:56:10|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close HOHHOT, Jan. 22 (Xinhua) -- An internet-supported hospital for traditional Mongolian medicine on Thursday began its trial run in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. The hospital is run by the Inner Mongolia International Mongolian Hospital, a major Mongolian medicine hospital based in Hohhot, capital of the autonomous region. Patients can register, make appointments, check test results, complete diagnosis processes, and receive other medical services online, according to Chen Shana, president of the hospital. The internet-supported hospital can also distribute drugs. Patients can collect medicines at the hospital or have prescribed medicines delivered to their homes. "The opening of this internet-supported hospital for traditional Mongolian medicine is an innovative move in ethnic medical services and adds vitality to traditional Mongolian medicine," said Fu Ruifeng, deputy director of the regional health commission. Enditem Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. Our hospitals should be about making people better, not about picking up a virus that could be deadly, Denis Naughten told the Dail this week. His comments were made after the Tanaiste confirmed that one in every three patients are picking up Covid-19 in hospitals. While the HSE has stuck rigidly to the argument that these infections were as a result of staff picking up Covid in the community, the publication yesterday of a HSE report on Covid infection in hospitals exposes the fact that there was a six times higher rate of Covid-19 exposure in our hospitals than in the local community, explained Denis Naughten. Despite the Tanaistes defence of not carrying out serial testing in our hospitals, like the testing that has taken place in meat plants, the same HSE report highlighted that 5 out of every 100 staff in St. James Hospital and 2 out of every 100 in Galway University Hospital were Covid positive and did not even know it. While first raising this issue at the beginning of November, I welcome the fact that this HSE Report on Covid infection in our hospitals has now been published and I believe it will be a game changer not only in protecting patients and staff in Galway University and St. James Hospitals but in every hospital across the country. While a very different approach was taken to meat plants, where a coordinated approach to infection in that industry was established seven months ago, it must be remembered that action was only taken by the HSE under duress. Speaking in Dail Eireann Denis Naughten said: The Tanaiste will recall that as a result of my persistent highlighting of the Covid infection problems in our meat plants during the first wave of infection, a national outbreak control team was put in place to ensure we would have a consistent national approach to managing Covid outbreaks in those facilities. Regular testing of all staff is now taking place in our meat plants. Surely if we can do this in the meat plants, we should be able to do it for patients, front-line staff and those who will, sadly, need our hospitals over the weeks and months to come? Denis Naughten pointed out: While there is no doubt the participation of staff in Galway University and St. James Hospitals in this study will bring about a change in approach, one has to ask the question why have we not learned from the mistakes made in managing the first wave on infection in our nursing homes? China will tighten measures and mechanisms to curb arbitrary charges on enterprises, said the State Council executive meeting chaired by Premier Li Keqiang on Wednesday. The meeting noted that in recent years, various localities and competent departments have worked hard to overhaul business-related charges. Administrative charges by the central government and government-managed funds have been cut by 70 percent and 30 percent, respectively, and local governments have scraped a large number of charges. "The tax and fee cuts rolled out last year, as well as the policy to temporarily cut or exempt enterprises' social insurance contributions, have played a vital role in ensuring the stable operations of market entities and keeping the fundamentals of the economy stable," Li said. The meeting noted that given the current complexity in the epidemic and economic situations, market entities are still faced with many difficulties. The problem of arbitrary levy of charges must be tackled in terms of both symptoms and root causes, to lessen the burden on enterprises, and strengthen the foundation for steady economic recovery. Inspections targeting unwarranted charges on enterprises shall be carried out nationwide to seriously deal with such issues as arbitrarily imposing new charges, raising charging standards, and expanding charging scope and willful apportionment. Self-examinations and random inspections of fees charged by industry associations shall be carried out across the board. Law enforcement in transportation, taxation and emergency management shall be better regulated. Discretionary standards will be formulated carefully. Minor violations, first-time or occasional offenders in road traffic shall be handled more with warning than fines. A list-based mechanism, where first violation will not be punished, shall be promoted in the law enforcement in the taxation sector. The mechanism on managing fines and confiscations will be better enforced and refined. All fines and confiscated revenues shall be turned over to the state coffers, and revenues and expenditures will be managed separately. "The economy is still recovering, and the foundation is not solid. We need to let enterprises feel how much the government cares about their survival and development and resolutely curb arbitrary charges on enterprises," Li said. Charges in key areas will continue to be revamped. The new government-managed funds that charge corporate fees must observe rigorous legal procedures. All maturing funds must be canceled if conditions permit, and charging standards shall be lowered regarding those that cannot be canceled for the time being. Dynamic management of administrative charges shall be strengthened. The charging standard that notably exceed the service costs will be reduced, and administrative charges that involve general management functions will be abolished. Oversight on charges at seaports shall be stepped up. Mandatory service charges and pricing irregularities will be duly investigated and dealt with, including those in customs declaration, freight forwarding, logistics, warehousing, cargo handling, inspection and quarantine processes. Revision of relevant laws and regulations shall be accelerated, including those on the administrative punishment of price-related violations. Undue administrative penalties shall be revised or repealed in a timely manner to provide institutional safeguards against arbitrary charges on enterprises. The meeting also urged the collection of statutory taxes and fees in an orderly manner, and ensure no undue burden shall be added to enterprises and the general public. No localities should require, on their own, that previous arrears be paid off in a lump sum, and ensure that the transfer of fee-collection responsibility shall not add to the financial burdens on enterprises, smaller businesses in particular. Provincial authorities shall keep the current way of payment collection unchanged. Reform on government functions shall be deepened, and the procedures for social insurance payment optimized, to expand the scope of zero-contact services. Online services shall be made available for business-related charges by the end of July, and mobile terminal services for individual-related items by the end of this year. Innovative measures shall be adopted to ensure convenience for vulnerable groups such as the elderly and people with severe disability in making these payments. Monitoring and analysis of the collection of social insurance premiums shall be enhanced, and any problem identified will be dealt with in a timely manner. Oversight and inspection shall be stepped up to strictly hold all violations accountable. 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. T he Government is coming under increasing pressure to step in to assist Londons renters after figures showed that more than one in seven tenants in the capital have fallen behind on rent during the pandemic. A study published today by Citizens Advice found that almost half (46 per cent) of London renters have lost income during the pandemic, compared with around a third UK-wide, and 15 per cent are now in rent arrears, compared with 11 per cent nationally. The number of private renters behind on their rent has also doubled since last February. On average rent arrears stand at 720 but for more than half of those in arrears, a grant of just 600 would get them out of debt. Without help they could be evicted and find themselves homeless. The relentless financial and mental strain of arrears has a significant impact on renters wellbeing, making them less likely to self-isolate and more likely to experience mental health problems, warned the report. Campaigners agree that unless the Government grasps this particular nettle, things will only get worse. Analysis by LSE and Trust For London predicts that the number of private renters falling into arrears could increase to 700,000 nationwide by November. Since the formal eviction process takes at least six months and courts have a backlog of cases, evictions could carry on long after the pandemic is over. Those who dont get evicted may find themselves back with parents or moving to cheaper homes, in what LSE describes as overcrowded and insecure conditions. Were likely to see a slow burn of evictions that will go on at least into 2022, said Christine Whitehead, LSEs emeritus professor of housing economics. This will leave tenants, and sometimes their landlords, facing months of insecurity, mental stress and hardship. The Government announced that bailiff action against renters would be paused during the current lockdown except in the most egregious cases, like antisocial behaviour or extreme arrears. However, Alicia Kennedy, director of Generation Rent, warned that this would not keep renters safe from the spectre of eviction. Landlords can still serve notice and courts continue to hear cases, putting pressure on renters to move out before the bailiffs arrive. Generation Rent calculates that more than half a million households are in rent arrears because of the pandemic. What is needed, Kennedy said, is a package of financial support. Without further support they will get deeper into debt and face homelessness. Ben Beadle, chief executive of the National Residential Landlords Association, criticised the Governments current efforts on rent arrears, which can be summed up as a series of extensions to the eviction ban since last spring. Kicking the can down the road just means larger debts piling up, creating a bigger problem for tenants and also for landlords, he said. The Government needs to provide an urgent financial package to get rent debts built due to the pandemic paid off. Deputy housing mayor Tom Copley is another supporter of renters. At every stage of the pandemic, ministers have treated renters as an afterthought, he said. We need the Government to provide grants for people who have rent arrears, and to abolish no-fault eviction. Know your rights If you are struggling to pay your rent, try talking to your landlord or letting agent. You may be able to negotiate an affordable repayment plan with them. Although bailiff action is halted until at least the end of the current lockdown, landlords can still begin proceedings against tenants who are in substantial arrears. In most cases, if your landlord wants you out they will have to give you at least six months notice before launching possession proceedings against you and there is a large backlog of court cases so there is no need to panic immediately. It is illegal for your landlord to bully or harass you. If yours is trying to force you out, hang on to any emails or other evidence and contact the police. Seek help from your local council and advice agencies as soon as possible to sort out your living arrangements. Shelter and Citizens Advice have help on renters rights, while The Money Advice service can find you free, confidential debt advice if needed. Rent arrears repayments are piling on the pressure As a frontline key worker, the pandemic has been particularly tough on Rudolf Bozart and not just because he works with vulnerable elderly people. This time last year, life was looking good. Rudolf, 27, worked as an agency carer in nursing homes and private homes and was earning enough to pay his rent and live his life. In spring, everything changed. Rudolf had just moved to a two-bedroom 700pcm flat in Colchester, Essex, when employers cut back on agency staff and his work, which was previously regular, evaporated. Incredibly stressful: Rudolf's landlord is anxious for him to repay his rent arrears but he can't afford the extra monthly payments nor can he afford to put down a deposit on a cheaper rental In an incredibly stressful period during which the only work he could find was making food deliveries on his bike he racked up 2,000 in rent arrears, which his landlord is understandably anxious for him to repay. It is really, really difficult to manage things because carers are not getting paid enough, Rudolf said. At the end of every month it is a struggle. There is some good news for Rudolf, however. In October, he got a full-time job close to his home, which means he can pay his full rent. But, with a take-home pay of 1,400, once his rent, bills (another 200pcm) and basic living costs are added, he doesnt have much leeway to repay his arrears. His landlord would like an extra 300pcm, which Rudolf said would leave him unable to buy food. He cant move to a cheaper flat because he would need to pay three months rent upfront and, while he owes rent, his landlord would not repay the money he put down when he first moved in. Supreme Court stays all 3 farm laws until further orders The Supreme Court on Tuesday stayed the implementation of the three farm laws passed by Parliament in September last year and proposed to set up a committee to address the farmers grievances, saying that the government has failed to effectively deal with the farmers protest. Miffed by the relentless agitation at Delhi borders for the past month and a half over the new farm laws, the Supreme Court took up the matters into its own hand to end the impasse over the legislation that led to the protests, and decided to suspend the implementation of farm laws until further orders. We are staying the implementation of 3 laws. We are going to suspend the implementation of the laws until further orders, Chief Justice SA Bobde said during the virtual hearing. The bench said the committee will have agricultural economist Ashok Gulati, Bhupinder Singh Mann (President Bharatiya Kisan Union), Pramod Kumar Joshi (Director South Asia international Food Policy), Anil Ghanwat (Shethkari Sangathan) as members. The committee will also be a part of judicial proceedings, it added. The bench comprising CJI SA Bobde, Justice AS Bopanna and Justice V Ramasubramanian said the court was looking to solve the farmers' problem. "We are looking to solve the problem. If you want to agitate indefinitely, you can. Every person who is genuinely interested in solving the problem is expected to go before the committee. The committee will not punish you or pass any orders. It will submit a report to us. We are going to take the opinion of the organisations. We are forming the committee so that we have a clearer picture," Live Law quoted CJI SA Bobde as saying. The court's observation comes in the wake of protesting farmer unions unwilling to negotiate with the committee proposed to be constituted by the apex court. On Monday evening, the Samyuktha Kisan Morcha issued a statement saying that it would not participate in negotiations before the committee if appointed by the SC. The apex court on Monday rapped the central government over the matter and said that it was extremely disappointed with the negotiations Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told the bench that the SC has made harsh observations regarding the centres handling of the situation. Responding to a petition on the veracity of the farm laws, the apex court said that they are conscious about the challenges faced by the farmers and the committee is expected to find a solution to the matter. The court said that the judiciary is focusing on how to prevent the destruction of life and property, hence their wish to form a committee that will later submit a report to the court. The Attorney General and Solicitor General welcomed the Supreme Courts plan to set up a committee to examine the three farm laws. Responding to the development, farmer leader Rakesh Tikait said that the protests will continue despite SC decision and said that the farmer organisations are planning to procure coolers to sit at the venue till summer. We are not satisfied with the staying of the implementation of the laws... We will discuss and decide on presenting ourselves in front of the committee... The protest will continue and we are even preparing for coolers to sit here till summers, he claimed. He also added that the tractor rally will happen as planned. Responding to the government's submission regarding its concerns over a tractor rally on Republic Day, CJI Bobde said that the matter would be heard on Monday. Yesterday Dave said no tractor rally on Jan 26. But today unions say they will go ahead. We have filed an application seeking to restrain the unions from taking out the rally, the AG said. The CJI also asked the AG about the Vancouver-based organisation Sikhs for Justice allegedly helping the protests. The petitioner for the farmers, Advocate ML Sharma, said that the farmers wanted to hold discussions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The farmers are saying many persons came for discussion, but the main person, the Prime Minister did not come, Sharma said. To which, the CJI retorted, We cannot ask the Prime Minister to go. He is not a party here. However, the Supreme Court hinted that it could in fact quash the laws for the time being while it is discussed between the committee and the farmers. Counsel Harish Salve said that there is also apprehension that MSP will be done away with, APMC will be dismantled...all these are misleading. Senior advocates Dushyant Dave, HS Phoolka, Colin Gonsalves, who represents 400 farmers bodies, havent joined the SCs proceedings today. They were supposed to consult the farmers on the formation of a committee and come back today... There must be an order that January 26 should go completely unblemished," Salve told the court. 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. Barack Obama famously, fatuously, and erroneously dismissed ISIS as a JV team. Within a short time, that JV team had wreaked a path of extraordinary destruction across the Middle East. Trump squashed ISIS but Biden had barely set foot in the White House before ISIS violently reemerged in Iraq. Heres a super-quick and superficial rundown of events in Iraq. After 9/11, George W. Bush and his team got the bright idea that if we just brought American-style democracy to the Middle East, starting with Iraq (the war Dubyas father left unfinished), the world would be at peace. Dubya hadnt counted on two things: (1) Violent, Muslim tribal cultures dont necessarily embrace democracy, and (2) leftists were determined to ensure that Bush lost the war. After the expenditure of much American blood and gold, the U.S. did finally achieve some sort of stability in Iraq. It even had a decent election, complete with myriad safeguards against fraud. Most Americans assumed that the U.S. would stay in Iraq, as it stayed in Germany and Japan, for a generation or two so that the Iraqis, like the Jews whom Moses led out of Egypt, could learn to be free. One of Obamas first acts as president was to pull American troops out of Iraq. ISIS and Iran both stepped in to fill the void. When ISIS first appeared, Obama dismissed it as the JV team. As even ABC was forced to concede, within two years, ISIS went from a small, easy-to-defeat band of religious fanatics to a giant caliphate that controlled vast territories, slaughtered tens of thousands of people, kidnapped thousands of women as sex slaves, and initiated terrorist acts all over the Middle East and the West. When Trump entered office, he did two things: First, he used a list the Obama administration had compiled of terrorist-sponsoring nations to issue an Executive Order barring citizens of those nations from entering the U.S. Not so coincidentally, most of these nations were Muslim. Sane people were grateful that Trump had stopped importing terrorists. Democrats insisted it was an anti-Muslim initiative and therefore racist (although Islam is not a race) and, of course, evil. They fought against it viciously and Trump, who always worked within the law, had to make several tries before he was able to get a version in place that would stick. Second, Trump waged war against ISIS. He conducted this war in a way that Americans hadnt seen since 1945: He fought to win and win he did. Although Trump was unable to eradicate the ISIS ideology that had infiltrated the West because of uncontrolled immigration and the failure to assimilate, he did destroy the geographical caliphate in the Middle East. On his first day in office, Joe Biden issued an Executive Order reversing the ban that Trump had placed on admitting people from nations known to sponsor terrorists. Sane people worry that America is now a more dangerous place. Democrats are ecstatic. On Bidens second day in office and for the first time in years ISIS detonated two massive and deadly suicide/murder bombs in Baghdad: Twin suicide bombings at a Baghdad market killed at least 32 people and injured 110 others on Thursday, according to Iraq's health ministry. Of the injured, 36 are being treated in hospitals. ISIS has claimed responsibility for the attacks, according to the SITE Intelligence Group. Two suicide bombers detonated their vests when security forces pursued them through a busy market off Tayaran Square. Witnesses said the first cried out he was ill, causing a crowd to form around him in a street off the main square. He then detonated the bomb he wore. People fled toward Tayaran Square, Abdulkareem said. Police and an ambulance arrived. Then the second bomber detonated next to the ambulance as people gathered near the dead and wounded from the first blast. This explosion killed dozens of people, including vendors, who sold items such as old bluejeans, tea and cellphone accessories. Osama bin Laden (whom Biden now denies he was afraid to kill) said that When people see a strong horse and a weak horse, by nature they will like the strong horse. Bin Laden was speaking, of course, of Muslim Arabs, who are a hierarchical, not a democratic people, a reality stretching back thousands of years to the time of Mohamed. Even if they dont like the strong horse, they will respect it. In Trump, America had a strong horse, willing to fight to defend his people. With him gone, terrorists around the world are know that with Biden in the White House, not only did America lose her strong horse, she also doesnt have a weak horse. Instead, she has a tired old donkey. IMAGE: Suicide bomb in Iraq. YouTube screengrab. The Bombay High Court on Friday directed the Maharashtra government to submit by Monday the medical report of Partho Dasgupta, former Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) CEO arrested in the television rating points (TRP) rigging scam. A single bench of Justice PD Naik heard an urgent bail plea this evening, filed by Dasgupta's counsels, seeking interim bail for at least two weeks considering his poor health. Last week, Dasgupta was rushed to JJ Hospital from the Taloja prison, where he is lodged as an undertrial, after his blood sugar levels shot up and he fell unconscious. Dasgupta was discharged this evening, after which his lawyers moved HC seeking an urgent hearing. "He was discharged from JJ Hospital on a stretcher. If he was fit enough to be discharged, then he should have been walking out and not been carried out on a stretcher," said Dasgupta's counsel Arjun Singh Thakur. The state's counsel, Deepak Thakare, told HC that as per protocol, since the JJ hospital had certified Dasgupta to be fit for discharge, he will be taken to the Taloja prison hospital. If he is certified as fit, he will be shifted to his prison cell, or else, he will be taken back to JJ hospital, Thakare said. "So, the court directed that the state produce his (Dasgupta's) latest medical reports. And it will hear our urgent bail plea on Monday," advocate Thakur said. Dasgupta was arrested by the Mumbai crime branch on December 24 last year. Earlier this week, a sessions court here rejected his bail plea saying he played a vital role in the TRP scam. The entire aid package for all member states amounts to 47.5 billion Euro, to be paid out until 2023. The financial aid from "REACT-EU" (Recovery Assistance for Cohesion and the Territories of Europe) are aimed at combating the direct consequences of the Covid pandemic, but also at boosting the economy in the EU. The Ministry of the Economy has announced that 60 million will be invested in the second phase of the Large Scale Testing and 10 million into vaccine acquisition. 70 million will be allocated to the Ministry of Labour and the Economy and largely used to finance partial unemployment. The eleventh round of talks between the protesting farmers' unions and the central government ended on an inconclusive note on Friday. A date for the next meeting has not been fixed yet. "We gave a proposal to farmers regarding the suspension of the laws and if they have a better proposal, then they can come to us," the union ministers said after the talks. Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar asked the farmers to reconsider the offer for putting the Acts on hold for 12-18 months. However, the farmers stuck to their demands of a complete withdrawal of the contentious laws. After the talks concluded, the minister said that they are ready for another round of meeting if the farmers wish to discuss the temporary suspension. "There are no issues with the laws. But the government has offered to suspend them as a mark of respect towards the farmers," said Tomar, thanking the unions for their cooperation. "Talks remained inconclusive as farmers' welfare was not at the heart of talks from the unions' side. I am sad about it. Farmers unions said that they only want the repeal of the laws despite the government asking for alternatives," he added. He said that the government has asked farmers to convey their decision regarding the proposal by Saturday. Meanwhile, the farmer leaders announced that the proposed tractor rally will take place according to their schedule on Republic Day in the national capital. The farmers also expressed dismay as they were kept waiting for over three hours by the union ministers after the lunch break got over. The farmers and ministers parted aways at around 1:15 pm when the government told the agrarians that they should hold another meeting to mull over the government's proposal. After this, both the sides broke for lunch. However, the ministers did not return for three hours. "The meeting may have lasted for nearly five hours, but two sides sat face-to-face for less than 30 minutes," said farmer leaders after the meeting concluded. The added that their agitation will continue peacefully. "The minister made us wait for three and a half hours. This is an insult to farmers. When he came, he asked us to consider the government's proposal and said that he is ending the process of meetings," said SS Pandher, the representative of Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Sometimes fire calls are reported by automatic alarms or smoke detectors. Sometimes, its an alert neighbor or passer-by who spots the problem. And sometimes, its a barking dog who gets the job done. That was the case in Silver Spring Townships Stonecrest development Monday, when a 6-year-old boxer named Toby whos being kept by family while his owner is on a military deployment helped alert Ace Conrad and Jennifer Braddock to an electrical fire at a house across the street. The incident happened shortly after 10 a.m. Monday, when a problem with the electrical service running to the home of Eric and Kelly King sparked a fire outside their Raspberry Drive home. Because utility lines are buried underground in their neighborhood, flames and smoke were literally shooting out from the ground, next to the Kings garage. The Kings, who were already awaiting permanent repairs from an earlier service problem, were home at the time and were alerted to the problem by flickering lights. They started to investigate. And about that same point, Toby did his thing from across the street. We were in the house and he was at the front window, and just this very urgent barking, which could be the Amazon guy walking up the steps, said Jennifer Braddock, Tobys temporary host. My husband went to see what he was looking at, and he saw the flames coming from next to their garage. I looked and I thought: Whats he looking at? A cat? A dog? A neighbor? The postman? Ace Conrad said. And you could see the flames where this device was... and he was staring right at it. And I thought, Oh, crap. So then, I just grabbed a fire extinguisher and started to run across the street. The Kings, armed with their own fire extinguisher, got outside right about the same time. Eric King got to work on putting the flames out, and Conrad called 911. Fortunately for all, thats where the danger ended. The neighbors knocked the flames down before any serious structure damage occurred to the home, and fire crews stood by until PPL crews arrived to discharge the faulty wires and make the necessary repairs. And for that, Eric King says, hes feeling very thankful for his neighbors this week, including the four-legged one. Tobys a hero. ... He got us some valuable assistance especially with making the phone call, because my wife and I were busy trying to get the flames under control, King said. And we were very fortunate that both us and my neighbor were home at the time. We could have easily all been away from home and I dont know how that would have turned out. Toby, by the way, is a familiar enough face in the neighborhood, because Braddock and Conrad board him from time to time when her son, William, draws an assignment that takes him away from home. But hes never quite had a visit like this. After the fire crews got to the scene, Conrad allowed, he felt a little more relaxed about the situation. But not Toby. I was trying not to stand around and gawk, if you know what I mean. I figured they know what theyre doing; let them alone, Conrad said. I know Toby wanted to be a part of it though. He was like: What the hecks on here? Oh, he was exhausted Tuesday, Braddock laughed. To which we can only say: Nap well-earned Toby. Nap well-earned. NATIONAL An article on Thursday about President Bidens actions on environmental and climate policy misstated a generally accepted time frame for achieving emissions reductions. Most experts say the United States can cut emissions 40 to 50 percent below 2005 levels by 2030, not 2035. SPORTS An article on Thursday about the career of pitcher Don Sutton misstated Mike Mussinas first season with the Yankees. It was 2001, not 2002. OBITUARIES An obituary on Thursday about the Hall of Fame pitcher Don Sutton misstated the name of a newspaper that quoted him about leaving the Atlanta Braves broadcast team after missing the 2019 season. It is The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, not The Atlanta Constitution. The obituary also rendered the quotation incorrectly. Sutton said, This ball club is amazing, and I feel left out because Im not there to watch it firsthand not The ball club is amazing, and I feel left out because Im not there to watch firsthand. Errors are corrected during the press run whenever possible, so some errors noted here may not have appeared in all editions. Youd think that three wives might have been enough for Blake Nelson, the head of a Mormon household in deepest Utah who makes a nice corpse in Cate Quinns debut mystery, BLACK WIDOWS (Sourcebooks Landmark, 418 pp., $26.99). Rachel, the No. 1 wife and one of the storys three narrators, is the devoted, traditional one. Emily, the second wife, is a little more flighty. And Tina, Wife No. 3, is a former sex worker and addict. All the sister-wives were admittedly miffed when Blake started shopping around for Wife No. 4, but which one of them might have been mad enough to kill him? Everybody loved Blake, Rachel testifies. Except his wives. Sometimes, we hated him. Thats the challenge for Officers Brewer and Carlson, the Salt Lake City police detectives who trek out to the derelict farm in the middle of the desert that Blake and his industrious wives have turned into a survivalist camp. Quinn writes haunting scenes of the desert in its many moods (hot, dry, very hot, very dry) but shes not much for cops, so Detectives Brewer and Carlson are as lacking in dimension as they are in forensic savvy. But oh, my, can this author draw women! Rachel, Emily and Tina, who have been in thrall for so long to their husband, discover they dont know one another as well as they thought they did until after he is dead and buried. Without Blake to fixate on, theyre finally free to raise their eyes and discover who they are by studying and at long last truly seeing their sisters. As readers, we come to know the wives gradually, not only through the dramatic revelations of their painful histories, but also through modest expressions of their dawning self-emancipation. Id like to bake a real cake is the bold wish of shy Emily. Its the loveless wives, it seems, who could use the devotion and care of a wife of their own. And while Quinn writes with spirit on weighty subjects like kinky sex, domestic abuse, polygamy and religious cults, her primary and most poignant theme seems to be female friendship. If you thrill to the chills of Scandinavian noir, chances are youve read something by Anders Roslund. (No? Do try The Beast to test your capacity for revulsion.) Roslund, a Swedish author who usually works with writing partners, has gone solo with a police procedural called KNOCK KNOCK (Putnam, 439 pp., $27). OK, Ill bite: Whos there? A killer who has returned to Stockholm to finish off the only witness to an atrocious multiple murder he committed 17 years ago, thats who. Zana Lilaj was only 5 years old when this boogeyman broke into her home and wiped out the rest of her family. But trauma victims can have amazing recall, and some of them get itchy after years of boredom in a witness protection program. This is an opinion column. January 19 was a National Day of Racial Healing and I almost missed it. As it turns out, Tuesday shared those 24 hours of introspection with National Popcorn Day, which is also on the nineteenth, as is World Quark Day, which celebrates a kind of European cheese similar in taste and consistency to yogurt, not the subatomic particle. If dividing our day of reflection and atonement with ruptured corn kernels and dairy products in any way diminishes or trivializes the need for racial healing, its worth remembering that, only a day before, Alabama honored Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert E. Lee at the same time with a joint state holiday, something the state has done for years and doesnt seem ready to quit. In Alabama, we observe our holidays by doing what we do best looking the other way. The only reason I learned Tuesday was the National Day of Racial Healing was that Gov. Kay Ivey issued a proclamation, joining with other governors around the country doing the same thing at the same time. [W]e understand and recognize that there is a racial divide in our country and we must all work earnestly to heal the wounds created by racial, ethnic and religious bias and build an equitable and just society so that all can thrive, the governors proclamation said. Those are good words and a badly needed acknowledgment, if only they were true. But in Alabama, our governor and a majority of our legislators havent understood or recognized those things, and the work theyve done has often made those divisions worse, not better. A proclamation doesnt carry the force of law, so when Ivey puts her pen on that paper, it doesnt mean as much. Laws carry weight, like the bill Ivey signed four years ago her very first the Alabama Memorial Preservation Act. Or as it should have been called, the Confederate Monument Protection Act. When Ivey signed that law, she understood full well what it meant and what it would do. Throughout the state, the majority-Black cities were getting up the nerve to remove the racist artifacts from their parks and public spaces, and a majority of Alabama lawmakers all white just couldnt abide that. With Iveys approval, they made it illegal for those to remove or otherwise disturb monuments to people who fought to preserve the kidnapping, enslavement, rape and torture of their ancestors. When she ran for governor, she boasted about signing the law in her first campaign commercial. After the events in Charlottesville four years ago, these Confederate lawn ornaments, have become public relations eyesores and economic recruitment liabilities for majority-white cities, too. But they cant legally remove them, either. And its not just blocks of granite the law preserves, but streets and buildings, too, including one Montgomery Mayor Steven Reed wants to rename for the legendary civil rights lawyer, Fred Gray. Years before Gray would defend Rosa Parks and others, he grew up on Jeff Davis Avenue, which should have been offensive enough, but this new law, passed more than six decades after the Montgomery bus boycott, would fine the city $25,000 for changing the name. It should be clear to all by now, especially the governor, the monuments bill was a mistake. If Ivey wants healing, if she wants Alabama to be the sort of place where Black children dont have to grow up on streets named for enslavers and traitors, its obvious what needs to be done. Governor, heal thyself. Call on the Legislature to repeal that shameful law. And while theyre at it, scratch Lee and Daviss holidays off our state calendar. Otherwise, that proclamation that healing she called for this week means about as much as National Popcorn Day. Kyle Whitmire is the state political columnist for the Alabama Media Group. You can follow his work on his Facebook page, The War on Dumb. And on Twitter. And on Instagram. More columns by Kyle Whitmire Alabamas Three Stooges. And Shemp. Alabama owes Richard Shelby a big thank you. Doug Jones, too. Mo Brooks knows hes lying. Just ask Mo Brooks. Mo Brooks didnt shout fire. He started it. Why is this taking so long? Failure and a big, big number The Biggest Phony Must I care if someone doesnt want the coronavirus vaccine? Alabama prisons stonewalled a data request. Heres what that data showed. Think we can live with COVID? Meet me at the Cracker Barrel, Kay Ivey. Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. New Delhi: The nation will celebrate the 125th birth anniversary of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose on Saturday (January 23) as Parakram Divas. The DNA report, however, will apprise you of certain unknown facts about Netaji that were deliberately hidden from you in the pages of history. India got independence from the British colonial rule in the year 1947, but Subhash Chandra Bose mysteriously disappeared just two years ahead of this glorious day. Had he not disappeared, Indian politics would have taken an altogether different shape. If Netaji would have been the first Prime Minister of India in place of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, what would have been the face of the country today. There are several such questions that this exclusive report will try to deal with. The report will also try to touch on the cordial alliance between Mahatma Gandhi and Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru that is said to have diluted the importance of Netaji in India's struggle for independence. You will be surprised to know that in 1965, former British Prime Minister Lord Clement Atlee came to Calcutta and met the then Governor of West Bengal PB Chakraborty. To a question of Chakraborty why did the British decide to leave India when the Quit India Movement started in 1942 ended without any outcome in 1944, Atlee said that Subhash Chandra Bose and his Azad Hind Fauz forced the British to leave India. Chakraborty then asked what was Mahatma Gandhi's role in India's independence, Atlee cryptically said minimal. This incident hints at Subhash Chandra Bose's contribution in getting freedom from British rule. At the same time, it also shows how his role in Indian politics was deliberately undermined. But if this had not happened, and Subhash Chandra Bose would not have mysteriously disappeared in 1945, 727 days before India's independence, India's politics would have been completely different. And it would not be wrong to say that Subhash Chandra Bose could have been the first Prime Minister of India. The year 1938 also holds a great significance as far as the contribution of Netaji's concerned in the freedom struggle. This year, he was unanimously elected as the President of the Indian National Congress. During his one-year tenure as Congress President, Subhash Chandra Bose formulated five programmes: the nature of the organization; the idea of aggressive movement; the struggle for independence; the strategy against the British; and gaining independence by taking the advantage of the second world war. Surprisingly, Mahatma Gandhi distanced himself from these plans of Subhash Chandra Bose, saying these views were against his principles of non-violence. Consequently, when Bose once again submitted his claim to become the Congress' President in 1939, he had to face a stiff challenge, but he managed to defeat Pattabhi Sitaramayya, who had the support of Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru. From here started the political sidelining of Subhash Chandra Bose in the Congress. He, however, stood apart facing the subtle alliance of Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru. Although Bose won the party's presidentship, he failed to get the support of his colleagues. He was, therefore, compelled to resign from Congress. Netaji then formed his own party, Forward Block, to continue to fight against the British for the independence of the country, separate from the Congress. Subhash Chandra had a clear perception of the Congress. He once stated that the Congress is a party of right-wing ideas that had reached an understanding with the British for power and had also prepared a list of possible ministers. He knew already that there were many leaders in the Congress party who were least bothered about freedom, but their key concern was the greed of power. These are a few examples to prove that Subhash Chandra Bose perhaps understood the contemporary conditions better than Mahatma Gandhi and Pandit Nehru. He, therefore, had to pay the price for it and was sidelined from the pages of history by the successive Congress-led governments. The debate over the name of Negro Bar, a state recreation area in Folsom, continues as historians in an online Zoom meeting Thursday discussed whether a name change is necessary. The meeting, hosted by the Placerville History Channel, explored the history of mining in California, including the role of African Americans during the Gold Rush. The push for a name change for the park has been going on for years, but garnered extra attention last summer amid nationwide Black Lives Matter protests and the widespread condemnation of racist symbolism and language. One of the people who spoke at the meeting is Michael Harris, a historian and the chair of Friends of Negro Bar, according to CBS Sacramento. He discussed the significance of keeping the parks name as is. The actual Gold Rush happened in 1849. When the Gold Rush happened, the world rushed in. Roughly $200 million in gold was extracted in the mining region around Negro Bar, and it was filled with people of African descent, said Harris, adding, The first place in Sacramento County where gold was found and reported and documented was Negro Bar. Another historian, Doug Ketron of Amador County, said that people with a common background have historically congregated and then left their name, along with their history, in California. The history of Black people mining in California is saved by the place names, Ketron added. California State Parks said in a statement from last June to CBS Sacramento that although Black community leaders have supported keeping the name, that California State Parks recognizes that such interpretations can change over time. Such interpretations are thought to possibly hold dangerous potential. When you say the word Negro, the Confederate flag starts flying, Harris said. Now in 2021, we want to erase it for future generations, Harris added, fearing that a name change could lead to the state parks history being forgotten. Expert panel to meet farm groups on Thursday The SC-appointed committee of experts tasked with the job of engaging protesting farm groups and other stakeholders at its meeting today decided to hold its first meeting with the stakeholders on Thursday. The committee at its meeting today also discussed the roadmap of activities for the two months to prepare their recommendations after discussion with farmers, farmers bodies, farmers unions and other stakeholders. The committee tasked with bringing together the government and a loby of recalcitrant farm groups supported by opposition partities and other active groups, has said te discussions will be based on the new farm laws and not about scrapping them. The experts committee meeting was attended by former chairman of the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices Ashok Gulati, Shetkari Sanghatana President Anil Ghanwat and former director for South Asia of International Food Policy Research Institute Pramod Joshi. Later, addressing the media, Anil Ghanwat said as per the direction of the Supreme Court, the committee will hold discussion with farmers and farmers bodies in the country who are both pro and against the farm laws. The committee will also hold discussions with state governments, state marketing boards and other stakeholders such as farmer producer organisations, cooperatives, etc. Ghanwat said the first round of consultations with farmers and other stakeholders had been scheduled for Thursday. Nine rounds of talks have taken place between the government and agitating unions without any concrete resolution so far. The committee will soon send invitations to the farmers unions and associations to discuss their views on farm laws. Even individual farmer can submit his/her views on the portal to be notified soon. The committee said it is keen to understand the opinion on the subject of all concerned so that it can give suggestions which will definitely be in the interests of the farmers of India. Thousands of farmers, mostly from Haryana and Punjab, have been protesting at several border points of Delhi since 28 November, demanding a repeal of the three laws and a legal guarantee to the minimum support price 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 system, leaving them at the mercy of big corporates. Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. Champaign, IL (61820) Today Occasional rain. Thunder possible. High 56F. Winds N at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 100%.. Tonight Showers early, then cloudy overnight. Low 44F. Winds NNE at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 50%. 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 downstate Republican lawmaker plans to refile a resolution to make Chicago the 51st state even as the new Speaker of the Illinois House is looking to bridge the divide between rural and urban areas. On Thursday, the states Region 6 under the governors COVID-19 reopening plan was moved to Phase 4, allowing 50% indoor capacity. Thats the latest update in the governors mitigation efforts, which have different regulations impacting different regions of the state depending on metrics such as positivity rate. State Rep. Brad Halbrook, R-Shelbyville, said the relaxed mitigation gives businesses struggling to stay open some certainty but said a one-size-fits-all approach on major policy issues does not work. Thats evident with COVID-19 mitigation, he said. There are differences between a Chicago that has 10,000-plus people per square mile versus my home county and a lot of my surrounding counties that have 29 people per square mile, Halbrook said. The densities are different and the way to handle those things are different. Gov. J.B. Pritzker last year had a statewide approach to mitigation with a statewide stay-at-home order for more than two months. Then he split the state into quadrants before splitting the state up into 11 districts. Many rural counties for months havent enforced the governors closure orders on businesses. Halbrook said the one-size-fits-all approach also doesnt work for other issues, such as gun control. Weve probably got in central and southern Illinois a per capita ownership of firearms greater than the city and yet we dont have the issues with the firearms like they do in the city, Halbrook said. Halbrook plans to refile his resolution to make Chicago the nations 51st state, an effort that didnt advance during the last term. Weve further defined the matter, the issue, Halbrook said. Just focusing on this rural-urban divide, the difference of whats happening in rural Illinois versus urban Illinois. Last week, House Speaker Chris Welch, D-Hillside, said he will work to address the divide between urban areas and rural areas. Its all about trying to find what you can agree on first, Welch said. Once you do that and go through that process and build trust, you can start tackling more difficult issues. President Joe Biden also spoke Wednesday about the divide. We must end this uncivil war that pits red against blue, rural versus urban, conservative versus liberal, Biden said. We can do this if we open our souls instead of hardening our hearts. Halbrook said hes encouraged by Welchs words and hopes the voices of rural Illinois will be heard. I dont understand some of that, why we seem to be brushed off, Halbrook said of some who may dismiss concerns from rural representatives. We represent 110,000 people (in each legislative district) just like everybody else and they deserve to be heard. Welch announced his leadership team of all Democrats, including state Rep. Larry Walsh Jr., D-Elwood, who will be his Downstate Caucus Whip. The Legislature returns on Feb. 2. 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. Thank you for reading! Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. If you have a subscription, please log in or sign up for an account on our website to continue. Plymouth, Massachusetts--(Newsfile Corp. - January 21, 2021) - Plymouth Rock Technologies Inc. (CSE: PRT) (OTCQB: PLRTF) (FSE: 4XA) (WKN# A2N8RH) ("Plymouth Rock", "PRT", or the "Company"), a leader in the development of cutting-edge threat detection technologies, announced today that it has granted an aggregate of 1,550,000 incentive stock options to directors, consultants, and employees with an exercise price of $0.75 per share for a period of five years from the date of grant. About Plymouth Rock Technologies Inc. We are on a mission to bring engineering-driven answers to the most critical problems that threaten our safety. We work with government, law enforcement and military to innovate solutions for national security, defence and space systems. The Company is developing the next generation of threat detection solutions and Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS). The PRT X1 is a purpose-built multirotor UAS, utilizing Artificial Intelligence, cutting-edge sensors and the latest FLIR dual-camera module as standard, offering thermal capabilities alongside 1080p HD real-time air-to-ground streaming and 4K video recording, with the ability to mount multiple, various sensors, modules and payloads. Our advanced threat detection methods fuse artificial intelligence with augmented reality interfaces to eliminate human operating error. Plymouth Rock products, both airborne and land-based, will scan for threat items at greater 'stand-off' distances than current existing technologies. Our unique radar imaging and signal processing technology creates new opportunities for remotely operated, non-intrusive screening of crowds in real time. Plymouth Rock's core technologies include: (1) UAS platforms engineered to conform to H.R.4753 - Drone Origin Security Enhancement Act ("X1") ("XV"); (2) Millimeter Remote Imaging from Airborne Drone ("MIRIAD"); (3) A compact microwave radar system for scanning shoe's ("Shoe Scanner"); (4) A compact modular radar utilized for a variety of applications, from aircraft to weapon detection ("CODA"). www.plyrotech.com ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS Dana Wheeler President and CEO +1-603-300-7933 info@plyrotech.com Investor Information: Tasso Baras +1-778-477-6990 tasso@plyrotech.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. 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. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/72608 VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / January 22, 2021 / Commerce Resources Corp. (TSXV:CCE)(FSE:D7H0) (the "Company" or "Commerce") is pleased to announce that it has initiated a metallurgical program to produce a >1 kilogram quantity of mixed rare earth carbonate ("mixed REC") concentrate to satisfy several requests by global processors. The mixed REC concentrate will be produced from the Ashram Rare Earth and Fluorspar Deposit using the high-grade mineral concentrates that have been generated from the conventional recovery flowsheet developed at Hazen Research in CO, USA. The Ashram Deposit's flowsheet has undergone significant development, including front-end piloting of the grinding, flotation, and leach circuits which have resulted in consistent production of high-grade mineral concentrates at high recovery. The Ashram Deposit is one of only a select group of deposits in development globally that can produce mineral concentrates at grades and recoveries similar to major global producers, all of which produce mineral concentrates of at least 40% rare earth oxide ("REO"). Such high grades of mineral concentrate considerably reduce the downstream processing cost and risk to produce a mixed REC product through lower reagent use, fewer deleterious elements entering solution, and a smaller hydromet plant requirement by comparison. In the rare earth industry, a mixed REC concentrate is typically viewed as the initial marketable product in the rare earth element ("REE") value chain. This is because a mixed REC is readily saleable as it is the most common feedstock to REE solvent extraction facilities globally, which separate each individual REE and allow for them to be individually refined into marketable products and disseminated throughout their downstream value-chains. In addition to Ashram's simple mineralogy and processing, large tonnage, and near-surface resource at attractive grades, a primary interest of downstream processors is the relatively high proportions of neodymium and praseodymium ("NdPr") present with respect to the total rare earth content (i.e. the REE distribution). With a combined NdPr distribution of approximately 20-24%, due to the deposit's monazite, bastnaesite, and xenotime mineralogy, Ashram has the potential to produce a relatively higher-value feedstock for those facilities focused on the extraction of NdPr for the rare earth permanent magnet industry. A higher NdPr distribution also equates to a reduced percentage content of cerium and lanthanum - significantly lower value REEs - which must also be processed to obtain the targeted NdPr. The Ashram Deposit's NdPr distribution is significantly higher than several major global producers, highlighting the attractiveness of its higher value NdPr feedstock entering the supply chain. NI 43-101 Disclosure Darren L. Smith, M.Sc., P.Geo., Dahrouge Geological Consulting Ltd., a Permit holder with the Ordre des Geologues du Quebec and Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101, supervised the preparation of the technical information in this news release. About Commerce Resources Corp. Commerce Resources Corp. is a junior mineral resource company focused on the development the Ashram Rare Earth and Fluorspar Deposit located in Quebec, Canada. The Company is positioning to be one of the lowest cost rare earth producers globally, with a specific focus on being a long-term supplier of mixed REC and/or NdPr oxide to the global market. The Ashram Deposit is characterized by simple rare earth (monazite, bastnaesite, xenotime) and gangue mineralogy (carbonates), a large tonnage resource at favourable grade, and has demonstrated the production of high-grade (>45% REO) mineral concentrates at high recovery (>70%) in line with active global producers. In addition to being one of the largest rare earth deposits globally, Ashram is also one of the largest fluorspar deposits globally and has the potential to be a long-term supplier to the met-spar and acid-spar markets. For more information, please visit the corporate website at www.commerceresources.com or email info@commerceresources.com. On Behalf of the Board of Directors COMMERCE RESOURCES CORP. "Chris Grove" Chris Grove President and Director Tel: 604.484.2700 Email: cgrove@commerceresources.com Web: http://www.commerceresources.com Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Forward Looking Statements This news release contains forward-looking information which is subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Forward looking statements in this press release include that high grades of mineral concentrate considerably reduce the downstream processing cost and risk; and that Ashram has the potential to produce a relatively higher-value feedstock for those facilities focused on the extraction of NdPr for the rare earth permanent magnet industry. These forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking information. Risks that could change or prevent these statements from coming to fruition include that the methods proposed don't work as well as expected, the leach residue may not be usable, we may experience difficulties producing concentrate or achieving an upgrade to the concentrate; changing costs for mining and processing; increased capital costs; the timing and content of upcoming work programs; geological interpretations based on drilling that may change with more detailed information; potential process methods and mineral recoveries assumption based on limited test work and by comparison to what are considered analogous deposits that with further test work may not be comparable; testing of our process may not prove successful and even it tests are successful, the economic and other outcomes may not be as expected; the availability of labour, equipment and markets for the products produced; and despite the current expected viability of the project, conditions changing such that the minerals on our property cannot be economically mined, or that the required permits to build and operate the envisaged mine can be obtained. The forward-looking information contained herein is given as of the date hereof and the Company assumes no responsibility to update or revise such information to reflect new events or circumstances, except as required by law. SOURCE: Commerce Resources Corp. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/625388/Commerce-Resources-Corp-Announces-Program-to-Produce-Mixed-Rare-Earth-Carbonate-Concentrate-Per-Third-Party-Requests Two flights, each carrying two million doses of Covishield vaccine, departed from the Mumbai airport for Brazil and Morocco in the early hours of Friday. India is one of the world's biggest drugmakers, and an increasing number of countries have already approached it for procuring coronavirus vaccines. "The Covishield vaccine, manufactured by the Serum Institute of India, departed from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) carrying 2 million doses to Brazil via Emirates Sky Cargo and 2 million doses to Morocco on Royal Air Maroc," said a press release by CSMIA. As of January 22, CSMIA has facilitated movement of over 14.17 million doses of the Covishield vaccine across various international and domestic destinations, it mentioned. Since Wednesday, India has been sending COVID-19 vaccines under grant assistance to Bhutan, the Maldives, Bangladesh, Nepal, Myanmar and Seychelles. India has already rolled out a massive coronavirus immunisation 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. (Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com) AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine: Is the blood clots rare? Side effects and how worried should you be? After fire incident, Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray all set to visit Serum Institute facility today India oi-Ajay Joseph Raj P Mumbai, Jan 22: Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray will on Friday visit the Serum Institute of India's (SII) Manjari facility, where a fire incident led to the deaths of five people. Speaking to reporters, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar said, "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. Two of them were from Uttar Pradesh, two from Pune and one is from Bihar." Fire at Serum Institute very tragic and unfortunate: Sharad Pawar "The fire brigade has done good work. As per my information, the CM will also visit the site tomorrow. The place where the COVID-19 vaccine is manufactured was not affected. I was informed that preparations were going on at this building (site of fire) to make the Rotavirus vaccine," he added. On Thursday, SII announced a compensation of Rs 25 lakhs to the families of the people who died in the fire incident at the company's facility at Manjari. India miles ahead of China in vaccine diplomacy "Today is an extremely sorrowful day for all of us at SII. 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," said Cyrus S Poonawalla, Chairman and Managing Director, SII. Centre-farmers hold 11th round of talks, impasse over farm laws continues| Oneindia News "We are deeply saddened and offer our condolences to the families of the departed. In this regard, we will be offering compensation of Rs 25 lakhs to each of the families, in addition to the mandated amount as per the norms," SII tweeted. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, January 22, 2021, 8:43 [IST] As we work through the month May, I want to give a couple of updates from the last few weeks. My priority bill, LB 644, has advanced from the first and second round of debate and will be heading to final reading soon. This bill was designed to help give the taxpayer clear and concise informa Senate confirms Austin as first black Pentagon chief Senate confirms Austin as first black Pentagon chief The US Senate confirmed retired general Lloyd Austin as secretary of defence on Friday, the second cabinet nominee of new President Joe Biden to gain approval and the first African American to lead the Pentagon. Austin sailed through with overwhelming support from both Biden's Democrats and opposition Republicans, who voted 93-2 in his favour. The retired four-star general will be the first African American to lead the Department of Defence, and takes on the job as the Pentagon sees the need for greater efforts to root out racism in the ranks and give more opportunities for leadership positions to minorities. Biden picked Austin, and the Senate endorsed him, despite a law that says the US military must be led by a civilian or, if a former military official, someone who has been out of the service at least seven years. The requirement is to ensure civilian control of the military, That meant both houses of Congress had to grant a waiver for Austin, who retired in 2016. Biden chose a former officer he knew well from when he was vice president in the administration of Barack Obama. Austin, a West Point graduate who served four decades in the military, was commander of US forces in Iraq and then head of the US Central Command covering the Middle East, from 2010 to 2016. The two bonded because Austin was friendly with Biden's late son when both were serving in Iraq. Biden called him "uniquely qualified to take on the challenges and crises we face in the current moment" when announcing the nomination in December. Austin, known to be media-shy and not particularly politically savvy, tweeted a statement quickly after gaining Senate approval. "It's an honour and a privilege to serve as our country's 28th Secretary of Defence, and I'm especially proud to be the first African American to hold the position," he wrote. "Let's get to work." He honed in on two urgent issues facing the US military in his confirmation hearing on Tuesday. He singled out China as the country's most potent adversary. Under his leadership, the Pentagon would "make sure that we are prepared to meet any challenge and that we continue to present a credible deterrent to China or any other aggressor who would want to take us on, and convince them that would be a really bad idea," he said. He also pledged to tackle extremists in the forces, after some members of the military took part in the January 6 attack on the US Capitol by supporters of then-president Donald Trump. "The activity that we've seen recently in terms of potential racists or extremist behaviour within our ranks is in my view absolutely unacceptable," Austin said. "The job of the Department of Defence is to keep America safe from our enemies. But we can't do that if some of those enemies lie within our own ranks," he added. (AFP) The biggest breakthrough yet to end the impasse, over the ongoing farmers' protests at the borders of Delhi has failed to produce any results as the farmers' unions have rejected the government's latest offer too. Late on Thursday, the farmers' unions rejected the proposal of the government that it is ready to put new farm laws on hold for about 18 months, and insisted on their demand for the repeal of the three laws. AP A press release issued by Samyukta Kisan Morcha after a full general body meeting on Thursday said that "the proposal put forth by the Government yesterday was rejected". Full repeal needed "A full repeal of three central farm laws and enacting legislation for remunerative minimum support price (MSP) for all farmers were reiterated as the pending demands of the movement," said the release signed by Krantikari Kisan Union leader Darshan Pal. Noting that 143 farmers had died during the protest, the release said, "these companions have been separated from us while fighting this mass movement". AP "Their sacrifice will not go in vain and we will not go back without farm laws being repealed," it stated. Today if you want to define nationalism then you can define in two simple words KISAN MORCHA where people from all religions and castes are struggling together. BHAICHARA KAYAM RAHE #StopChinaNotFarmers pic.twitter.com/czx5HYjarn Kisan Ekta Morcha (@Kisanektamorcha) January 22, 2021 Major setback ahead of Republic Day With this, the government's attempts to end the protests and stop the farmers from carrying out a massive tractor rally next week has suffered a major setback. The government had been trying to stop the tractor rally which it feels will be an embankment for the country on such a significant day. The farmers protesting against the new farm laws will take out a tractor rally on Delhi's busy Outer Ring Road on January 26, which is celebrated as Republic Day in India. The farmers said Delhi Police had requested them during a meeting to not to hold "parade" in Delhi while the farmers restated their plan of taking out the parade on the outer ring road of Delhi. PTI "This peaceful movement is becoming the people's movement. Farmers are uniting for Republic Day through vehicle rallies in many places in Karnataka. Farmers tractor marches are taking place in many places in Kerala. Farmers of Bilaspur and Rampur in Uttarakhand are preparing for the farmers' parade in Delhi by organising tractor march. Farmers in Chhattisgarh will march towards the Raj Bhavan on January 23 and a group of farmers will also leave for Delhi," the release said. Haryana Police cancel leaves of its personnel On Thursday, the Haryana Police cancelled the leaves of its personnel till further orders. Reuters According to a Haryana Police order, In view of the ongoing farmers' agitation in the state, it is directed that leave of all kinds, except in emergent circumstances with the prior approval of competent authority, are stopped forthwith till further orders. Farmer unions have been holding tractor rallies at many places in Punjab and Haryana to mobilise people for their planned tractor parade in Delhi on Republic Day. The unions had announced that they would hold the parade on Delhi's Outer Ring Road as part of the protest against the new agri-marketing laws enacted by the Centre. In the ongoing investigation in the fake Indian Army ID cards case, Uttarakhand Special Task Force (STF) on Friday said that one former Indian Army personnel is allegedly behind these activities. Ajay Singh, Superintendent of Police of STF said, "Uttarakhand Special Task Force (STF) and Army Intelligence, today morning while investigating the case found out that one former Indian Army officer, Raghuveer Singh is behind these activities." "Raghuveer has allegedly illegally distributed more than 100 fake Indian Army Identification cards along with others (who are yet to be identified) and helped them travel to Pakistan, Dubai, Afghanistan and Iran. Raghuveer helped in preparing fake documents," he added. "This former officer had contacts with several placement agencies. He helped people get placed to various places by illegal activities. The bank details of the accused are being investigated. So far, we have found that the accused have no connection with terrorist organisations or any other form of anti-national activities," he added. Singh added, "Further investigations are underway." On January 21, STF allegedly seized fake Indian Army identity cards and arrested three persons in the case. (ANI) 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. Gratitude is evident at Hazle Drugs Inc., where COVID-19 vaccinations are administered. We have people literally crying when theyre getting it. People who havent seen their grandchildren in eight months. People with family overseas that they couldnt see, said Bill Spear, pharmacist and owner of Hazle Drugs in Hazleton. That is exactly why the pharmacy decided to administer them. Phones have been ringing off the hook since Tuesday with people eager for an appointment as pharmacy workers across the region navigate through an increased workflow due to the vaccine. Its tradition for Hazle Drugs to pitch in in times of crises, just as it did in 1918 during the Spanish Flu and in the 1950s during the polio outbreak. Were very busy and hectic (right now) but we knew that getting into this, said Spear. Hazle Drugs signed up to distribute the vaccine because of its commitment to the community. Its stopping the spread of it, he said, bringing communities closer to herd immunity. The World Health Organization says herd immunity is attained when a population becomes immune either through vaccination or previous infection. WHO supports herd immunity through vaccination to prevent unnecessary cases and deaths. The organization says herd immunity would occur when a substantial proportion of a population is vaccinated, lowering the overall amount of virus able to be spread. Unfortunately, getting the vaccine doesnt affect the need for social distancing at the moment, said Dr. Michael W. Evans, medical director at Lehigh Valley Physician Group-Hazleton. Precautions like social distancing, hand washing and mask wearing are still necessary until the population gets closer to herd immunity, which is when 70% of the population is vaccinated, he said. At that time, social distancing restrictions may be lifted, but Evans said people should continue to follow guidance from the state Department of Health after vaccination. People previously infected by COVID-19 are still recommended to get a shot. Evans said they should wait until they are asymptomatic and out of quarantine to get a vaccine, though. Pharmacies were permitted to dispense the vaccine once they had staff certified to give immunizations, Spear said. Hazle Drugs also had to ensure a socially distanced and disinfected space to vaccinate. Once approved to dispense the shots, Hazle Drugs was uploaded to the state Department of Healths vaccine location map. Spear said they began giving shots Tuesday, dispensing hundreds of them and quickly filled up available appointments through March. Spear is hopeful a steady flow of vaccinations will allow his pharmacy to accept new appointments. Patients are told to check hazledrugs.com to see when appointment openings are available. A message asks people not call the pharmacy to follow up on requests as they will be handled in the order they are received. Spears workers are explaining to customers that its important to get the second dose and are scheduling the second dose during their first appointment. Theyre also reminding people that they still need to take COVID precautions post vaccine and to look at the vaccine as an insurance policy, because having herd immunity is the ultimate goal. Crestwood Pharmacy LLC, Mountain Top, has also administered hundreds of vaccinations. It has been whittling away at its list of customers eligible for the shot, employee Sonya Mylet said. She said the pharmacy used foresight when it signed up for the state pandemic response plan years prior to COVID-19, and was prepared for vaccination distribution. We did it so we could be here for the community, Mylet said as her coworkers could be heard sifting through their workloads, handling paperwork and answering phone calls. Mylet asked that people use the Crestwood Pharmacy website to pre-register for vaccinations and wait for the pharmacy to call them with an appointment. While the company loves being connected to the community, she said a steady stream of phone calls takes workers away from vaccine distribution and from filling prescriptions. More information on the vaccine registration process can be found at crestwoodpharmacypa.com Pharmacies at 55 Weis Markets locations announced that they would begin accepting vaccine appointments online Thursday. Signs at the West Hazleton location said vaccinations were by appointment only and appointments could not be made over the phone. Upon attempting to sign up for an appointment Thursday afternoon, users were greeted with a message that explained appointments were full and to check another day for availability. The company couldnt disclose the exact number of vaccines distributed during the first day. Rick Seipp, vice president of pharmacy at Weis, said the company has a limited number of immunizations right now per store but were advised they would receive an increased quantity of the Moderna vaccine next week. We hope these quantities continue to increase in the weeks ahead to meet expected demand, said Seipp. In the meantime, patience may be just as vital as COVID-19 precautions, according to the medical community. Supply of the vaccine does not meet current demand, and likely will not for months, said Evans. We need to promote patience and remember that we must continue to practice social distancing even after we get vaccinated. Locations and guidelines According to the state Department of Health, people in the Standard-Speakers coverage area can get vaccines at the following places: Southern Luzerne County Crestwood Pharmacy, 10 S. Mountain Boulevard, Mountain Top Rite Aid, 1000 N. Church St., Hazleton Weis, 100 Weis Lane, West Hazleton Hazle Drugs, 1 E. Broad St., Hazleton Lehigh Valley Hospital-Hazleton, 700 E. Broad St., Hazleton Berwick Hospital Center, 701 E. 16th St., Berwick Weis, 1105 Chestnut St., Berwick Rite Aid, 400 W. Second St., Berwick Carbon County Mauch Chunk Pharmacy, 1204 North St., Jim Thorpe Schuylkill County Rite Aid, 15 S. Main St., Shenandoah Shenandoah Health Center, 624 W. Centre St., Shenandoah Redners Pharmacy, 3 Gold Star Plaza, Shenandoah St. Lukes Miners Campus, 360 W. Ruddle St., Coaldale The state Department of Health website has a quiz people can take to see when they are eligible for a shot. It also provides information on the vaccine and where people can get them. The federal government is providing the shots at no cost. The vaccine may keep people from getting COVID-19 and may lessen the symptoms if someone were to contract it. The state is currently in phase 1A of its vaccine distribution plan. This phase includes people living in long-term care facilities, health care workers including emergency medical services, nurses, nursing assistants, physicians, dentists, dental hygienists, chiropractors, therapists, phlebotomists, pharmacists, students and trainees in health professions and people not directly involved in patient care but who could be exposed to infectious material that could transmit disease. Anyone 65 or older can get a shot right now along with people 16-64 years old who have high risk conditions such as cancer, chronic kidney disease, COPD, Down Syndrome, heart conditions (such as heart failure, coronary artery disease or cardiomyopathies), anyone immuocompromised from a solid organ, blood or bone marrow transport, immune deficiencies, HIV, use of corticosteriods, obesity, pregnancy, Sickle Cell disease, smoking and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Further information on vaccination distribution and COVID-19 can be found on the Department of Health website, health.pa.gov. January 22, 2021 U.S. Oil & Gas Plc. ("US Oil" or the "Company") Regulatory Update U.S. Oil & Gas Plc, ("USOIL" or the "Company"), the oil and gas exploration company with assets in Nevada, makes the following announcement: At the request of the Biden Administration, under Order No. 3395 dated 20 January 2021, and reported 21 January, the acting Secretary of the U.S. Dept of the Interior, Scott de la Vega has suspended leasing for fossil fuel production on federal lands and waters, as well as the issuing of new drilling permits. The suspension is to last for 60 days while legal and policy implications are evaluated. It is not clear to the Company at this time whether a suspension of the issuance of drill permits allows for permit applications-including Notices of Staking, Applications to Drill (APD's) and Environmental Assessments-to be processed normally up to the point of actual issue. The company has written to the Nevada Bureau of Land Management in this regard, and they have indicated they do not yet have a definitive answer. The Company is at this time close to finalising multiple drilling targets on its leases and intends to submit 'Notice of Staking' documentation in the near future as a preliminary to submitting APDs. The hope is that processing will continue as normal during the 60 day suspension period. The broader implications for the Company are not yet clear, but the suspension may impact the timing of well-drilling and/or negatively affect the Company's immediate fund-raising prospects. Shareholders will be further informed as and when the situation is materially clarified by the federal authorities. FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS The statements in this communication reflect the current thinking of the Board and the Company's present plans. The Company reserves the right to alter plans in the light of developing knowledge and circumstances. Shareholders' attention is drawn to the note below concerning Forward-looking Statements. This press release contains certain "forward-looking statements" and "forward-looking information". Forward-looking statements and forward-looking information include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to: business plans and strategies of US Oil and Gas; operating or technical difficulties in connection with drilling or development activities; availability and costs associated with inputs and labour; drilling and exploration costs; the speculative nature of oil exploration and development; diminishing quantities or quality of reserves; synergies and financial impact of completed acquisitions; the benefits of the acquisitions and the development potential of properties of US Oil and Gas; the future price of oil; supply and demand for oil; the estimation of reserves; the realization of reserve estimates; costs of production and projections of costs; success of exploration activities; capital expenditure programs and the timing and method of financing thereof; the ability of US Oil and Gas to achieve drilling success consistent with management's expectations; net present values of future net revenues from reserves; expected levels of royalty rates, operating costs, general and administrative costs, costs of services and other costs and expenses; expectations regarding the ability to raise capital and to add to reserves through acquisitions, assessments of the value of acquisitions and exploration and development programs; geological, technical, drilling and processing problems; treatment under governmental regulatory regimes and tax laws. All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements THE DIRECTORS OF THE COMPANY ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE CONTENTS OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT Neither this announcement nor the information contained herein constitutes an offer or solicitation by U.S. Oil and Gas Plc for the purchase or sale of any securities nor does it constitute a solicitation to any person in any jurisdiction where solicitation would be unlawful. For further information contact: Brian McDonnell, Chief Executive Officer +353 (1) 631 9022 About U.S. Oil & Gas: U.S. Oil & Gas plc is an oil and gas exploration company with a strategy to identify and acquire oil and gas assets in the early phase of the upstream life-cycle and mature them. The Company's main asset is in Nye County, Nevada where it holds the entire share capital of US-based company, Major Oil International LLC ("Major Oil"). Major Oil has acquired rights to exploration and development acreage in Hot Creek Valley, Nye County, adjacent to the oil and gas rich Railroad Valley area of Nevada, both of which are part of the Sevier Thrust of central Nevada and western Utah, USA. For further information please refer to our website at: www.usoilandgas.us Its certainly no secret that the Northeast in general, and Connecticut in particular, have lost untold thousands of manufacturing jobs over the decades lost them to cheaper-labor states in the South, or to Latin America or Asia. Anyone old enough to remember what Meriden was like during World War II with many big shops humming away for three shifts a day can testify to that. That history is not going to be reversed, ever. But there are still manufacturers active in our state, and some of them complain that they have jobs unfilled because of a lack of qualified candidates. Its just a fact of life that, these days, simple assembly work what might be called put-this-piece-here-and-that-piece-there work is in low demand. Whats needed today, educators say, is a much higher level of training, specialized training in skilled-trade areas. Enter the new Career Academy program at Wilcox Technical High School, which officials from the Meriden Public Schools and the Connecticut Technical Education and Career System described as the first of its kind in the state. It's open to students from Meridens Platt and Maloney high schools. In all, 23 Platt and Maloney students have enrolled in the Career Academy program, which was launched recently. A group of them recently had their first lessons in culinary arts and on a computer numerical control milling machine, which is used in precision manufacturing. Although the term career academy has been used before, for instance in 2012 at Naugatuck Valley Community College in Waterbury and a decade earlier at Asnuntuck Community College in Enfield, this is a new program that focuses on students at Meridens own high schools. For a long time, the conventional wisdom in this country has been that just about everyone should go to college. But is that a reasonable view? And article in Education Week last year stated that 74 percent of those who attended college to do what was expected of them dropped out or transferred. Perhaps many of them would have been better served if they could leave school equipped with the skills and knowledge they would need to become more employable in a specific field of their choice. Today really is about our students, Meriden School Superintendent Mark Benigni said of the program at Wilcox. This gives them a greater opportunity ... to learn real-life job skills that we know are so important for our students, but also for our community and our business partners. One size doesnt fit all, and the Career Academy may open some new doors. WASHINGTON President Joe Biden will issue an executive order on Friday aimed at steering additional federal aid to families struggling to afford food amid the pandemic and at helping workers stay safe on the job. Biden, who has vowed to use the power of the presidency to help mitigate economic fallout from the pandemic, will also direct the Treasury Department to find ways to deliver stimulus checks to millions of eligible Americans who have not yet received the funds. The president also plans to sign a second executive order that will lay the groundwork for the federal government to institute a $15 an hour minimum wage for its employees and contract workers, while making it easier for federal workers to bargain collectively for better pay and benefits. The actions are part of an attempt by Biden to override his predecessor, former President Donald Trump, on issues pertaining to workers, the economy and the federal safety net. The orders Biden will sign on Friday signal a break from the Trump administrations attempts to limit the scope of many federal benefits that Trump officials said created a disincentive for Americans to work. Biden has issued a series of economic orders in his first days in the White House, which his aides have cast as emergency relief for Americans struggling in the COVID economy. He has also called on Congress to approve a $1.9 trillion economic rescue package in the coming weeks. We are at a precarious moment in our economy, Brian Deese, who directs the National Economic Council, told reporters in a call previewing the orders. The American people cannot afford to wait. So many are hanging by a thread. The orders Biden will sign Friday would increase the weekly value of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits, commonly known as food stamps, for about 12 million families who depend on the program the most, according to White House estimates. The aid would increase weekly benefits by 15% to 20% for a family of four, Deese said. Congress approved enhanced benefits as part of its economic aid efforts last year, but the Trump administration did not expand benefits for households receiving the maximum benefit under the program. The order will also increase the value of an emergency benefit, also included in economic rescue legislation, to provide money for families to replace the free meals students would have been receiving at school before the pandemic forced students out of classrooms. That expansion would amount to an extra $100 every two months for a family of three. Biden will also seek to allow workers to draw unemployment benefits if they quit jobs they fear are unsafe amid the pandemic, by asserting that workers have a federally guaranteed right to refuse employment that will jeopardize their health, and if they do so, they will still qualify for unemployment insurance, White House officials said in a fact sheet detailing the orders. Some Republicans fought an expansion of unemployment benefits last year, saying workers would quit jobs or avoid looking for work in order to draw government benefits. Academic research has not supported that fear, and employers have once again begun shedding jobs as the virus persists, presenting a hurdle for those who want to find employment. To help struggling individuals and families, Biden will direct the Treasury Department to find new ways to get stimulus checks, including $600 checks passed in December and $1,200 checks passed in March, to as many as 8 million eligible people who have not yet received them. The second order seeks to undo some of Trumps orders pertaining to the federal workforce, including one that gave presidents more leeway to hire and fire workers and others that limited some bargaining rights for employees. It will also direct federal agencies to determine which of their workers earn less than $15 an hour, and to develop recommendations to promote a $15 per hour minimum wage for them, the fact sheet said. Biden has called on Congress to raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour for all workers. This article originally appeared in The New York Times. The youth wing of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Aowin constituency of the Western North Region have expressed appreciation to the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for appointing Mr Richard Obeng as its Regional Minister. In a statement issued and copied to the Ghana News Agency (GNA), the youth described Mr. Obengs appointment as historic and a clear attestation of the President's belief in the capacity of the youth. Since the inception of democracy, no son of Aowin has not been appointed as Minister or even a Deputy Minister until Nana Addos tenure. It is in this regard that we the youth of Aowin will forever be grateful to you and the New Patriotic Party. Though the people of Aowin did not vote for you and your party in the just ended elections, yet you have appointed the Regional Minister from the Constituency. A clear demonstration of your love for the People of Aowin, it added. The youth assured the President of their maximum support and pledged to work hard to ensure victory for the party in 2024 and subsequent elections. Source: GNA Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form BEIJING, Jan. 22 (Xinhua) -- Here are the latest developments from China's COVID-19 control and prevention efforts: -- Beijing reported three new locally transmitted confirmed COVID-19 cases, one new locally transmitted asymptomatic infection, and two new imported asymptomatic cases on Thursday, the municipal health commission said on Friday. All the new locally transmitted confirmed cases were reported in the Ronghui residential compound in Daxing District, according to the commission. -- Northeast China's Heilongjiang Province reported 47 new confirmed COVID-19 cases and 88 asymptomatic infections on Thursday, local health authorities said Friday. Of the new confirmed cases, 36 were reported in the city of Suihua, one in Daqing, and the other 10 in the provincial capital of Harbin, according to the Heilongjiang provincial health commission. -- North China's Hebei Province reported 18 new locally transmitted confirmed COVID-19 cases and three new locally transmitted asymptomatic cases on Thursday, the provincial health commission said Friday. Of the new confirmed cases, 15 were in the provincial capital Shijiazhuang, including nine previously reported asymptomatic cases. The other three cases were reported in the city of Xingtai. -- Health authorities in north China's Tianjin Municipality have identified the novel coronavirus behind one of the city's recent imported COVID-19 cases as the mutant strain first found in Britain. The patient, a Chinese national, arrived in Tianjin from France on Jan. 7. The patient had lived in Ghana before taking the flight, according to the Tianjin municipal center for disease control and prevention. -- Northeast China's Jilin Province on Thursday reported 19 new confirmed COVID-19 cases and seven new asymptomatic infections, the provincial health commission said Friday. Of the new confirmed cases, 10 were reported in the provincial capital Changchun and nine in the city of Tonghua. The new confirmed cases include one that was previously reported as an asymptomatic case. -- Central China's Hubei Province reported one new imported asymptomatic COVID-19 case on Thursday, the provincial health commission said Friday. The asymptomatic carrier arrived at the Wuhan Tianhe International Airport from Seoul, capital of the Republic of Korea, via flight TW615 on Wednesday. -- Shanghai reported six new locally transmitted confirmed cases of COVID-19 and three new imported confirmed cases on Thursday, the municipal health commission said Friday. So far, 74 close contacts of the six locally transmitted cases have been traced and placed under medical observation in designated facilities. The places they visited have been disinfected. Gov. Tom Wolf is going outside the Pennsylvania Department of Health for his next health secretary. Wolf said Friday he is nominating Alison Beam, his deputy chief of staff, to succeed outgoing Pennsylvania Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine. President Joe Biden has nominated Levine to be his assistant health secretary. Beams top priority will be the distribution of the COVID-19 vaccines, a source of frustration for many Pennsylvanians anxious to get the shots. The governors administration this week expanded eligibility for the vaccines to those 65 and over and younger people with chronic medical issues or high risk. But the demand for vaccines far exceeds the available supply and officials are asking for patience. Unlike Levine, Beam is not a medical doctor. The governor said Beam is up to the job of overseeing the health department and efforts to combat the coronavirus. Beam will assume the role of acting health secretary on Saturday, Jan. 23. Alison Beam is a talented public servant who brings years of experience in health care policy and implementation to this position, Wolf said in a statement. Alison knows that a strong, widely available, and successful vaccination strategy is the path out of the pains of this pandemic. Her foremost and immediate focus will be on the strategic distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine, making sure Pennsylvania receives as many doses as possible from the federal government, and that the Pennsylvania Department of Health coordinates with hospitals, health centers, county and local governments, and pharmacy partners to make this vaccine as widely available as possible to Pennsylvanians everywhere, Wolf said. Wolf said Beam has helped coordinate the states pandemic response. His office said Beam coordinates initiatives across Pennsylvanias departments of Health, Human Services, Drug & Alcohol Programs, Aging and Insurance. The governor also hailed Beams work rolling out Pennie, Pennsylvanias health insurance marketplace. The state Senate must confirm the nomination. Senate Minority Leader Jay Costa, D-Allegheny, issued a statement expressing enthusiasm for the governors choice. Costa said Beam did an excellent job in developing the states health insurance exchange. I wish Alison Beam the best as she takes on the position of acting Secretary of Health here in PA, Costa said in the statement. She has big shoes to fill, but her strong background in health care program management and project rollout is going to be invaluable as we work to get vaccines to every Pennsylvanian in the coming weeks. Her broad-based experiences in health-related agencies in the Commonwealth will enable her to serve us all well in this new role. Beam formerly served as chief of staff to the Pennsylvania Insurance Commissioner. She previously served as director of public policy and associate counsel for Independence Health Group. Beam graduated from Drexel University School of Law and holds a Bachelor of Science in Health Policy and Administration from Penn State University. The governor also has also named Dr. Wendy Braund as Interim Acting Physician General, replacing Levine in that position. She will also begin serving that role on Saturday, Jan. 23. She has been serving as the COVID-19 Response Director for the state health department. Wendy brings years of public health expertise and a commitment to improving public health practice in Pennsylvania to the role of Interim Acting Physician General, Wolf said in a statement. Wendy has been an integral part of our COVID-19 pandemic response efforts, and that experience will be an asset in this role. More than 790,000 people in Pennsylvania have contracted the coronavirus and more than 20,000 deaths have been tied to COVID-19. More from PennLive While Dr. Rachel Levine inspired and enraged Pennsylvanians, her work caught President Bidens eye Pa. reports 193 new COVID-19 deaths, but fewer are in hospitals New Delhi: The Modi government has called an all-party meeting on January 30 to hold discussions ahead of the presentation of the Union Budget in Parliament on February 1. The Centre has invited leaders of all political parties in both the Houses to the proposed meeting slated to begin at 11.30 am through videoconference. Sources said the National Democratic Alliance parties too will meet on the same day. Parliament's Budget session will be held in two phseses amid all precautions against coronavirus -- from January 29 to February 15, and from March 8 to April 8. The all-party meeting will be chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and attended by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP's Rajya Sabha leader Thawarchand Gehlot, Deputy Leader Piyush Goyal, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Prahlad Joshi, Arjun Ram Meghwal and V Muralitharan. The one-hour Question Hour has been restored in the Budget session, which was suspended during the Monsoon session in September 2020 during corona pandemic. Live TV #mute Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla said on Tuesday that corona tests for members attending the Parliament session will be mandatory. 50% of Americans changed their investing strategy after seeing the result of the presidential election, according to a Harris Poll survey for Empower Retirement and Personal Capital shared exclusively with Axios. Why it matters: The election and the intense news cycles following it were perceived, correctly, as an inflection point of historical proportions. Doing nothing is hard in such situations, even if sticking to your long-term plan is what most financial advisers would recommend. What they found: A third wave of the coronavirus, combined with stocks at all-time highs and uncertainty about the actions of the incoming administration, combined to persuade 65% of Americans to put more money into cash savings, says Personal Capital president Jay Shah, even as a smaller minority started "chasing heat" and buying high-flying tech stocks. The biggest change after the election was in where new money was put to work. "Pre-election, one out of every five dollars coming to us would go into socially responsible strategies," says Shah. "Post-election, it's one in every three dollars." after the election was in where new money was put to work. "Pre-election, one out of every five dollars coming to us would go into socially responsible strategies," says Shah. "Post-election, it's one in every three dollars." Such investments could be a bet on President Biden's $3 trillion green-infrastructure plan, or they could just represent more optimism from Democrats, who are more likely to invest in those strategies. The bottom line: The surging markets notwithstanding, most Americans are still more nervous about the economy than they were a year ago. That can make them twitchy, when it comes to their investments, and prone to take quick action when news happens. Conservative MP, former leadership contender and social-conservative darling Derek Sloan is once again in hot water. It turns out that Sloans failed leadership campaign accepted a $131 contribution from Paul Fromm, a notorious white supremacist and far-right political activist. Opinion Conservative MP, former leadership contender and social-conservative darling Derek Sloan is once again in hot water. It turns out that Sloans failed leadership campaign accepted a $131 contribution from Paul Fromm, a notorious white supremacist and far-right political activist. The revelation of this contribution came at a bad time for leader Erin OToole, who just a few days prior went out of his way to denounce the barely organized MAGA hoodlums who stormed the U.S. Capitol in support of former president Donald Trump. There is "no place for the far right" in the Conservative party, OToole argued. Fromms contribution may have short-circuited OTooles narrative, so the Tory leader responded decisively. "Derek Sloans acceptance of a donation from a well-known white supremacist is far worse than a gross error of judgment or failure of due diligence," he thundered via press release. OToole followed up by asking Conservative MPs to give Sloan the boot. On Wednesday, they did just that. OToole has also said he will block Sloans nomination in future elections, making it impossible for the maverick MP to run as a Conservative candidate. Sloans career as a Conservative politician is, barring a remarkable unforeseen event, over. Naturally, Sloan did not take this sitting down. Instead, he argued that the response was unfair since he was being held to a higher standard than the party itself. Sloan is not incorrect: Fromms donation was accepted by his leadership campaign, but the party itself received a portion of the contribution. If the well-funded Conservative party was incapable of flagging Fromms contribution, is it really reasonable to have expected Sloans no-hope leadership campaign to have done so? As it turns out, Fromm made the task of catching him even more difficult by contributing under the name "Frederick P. Fromm." He previously tried to purchase a membership during the 2017 leadership race to support candidate Kellie Leitch, but a sharp-eyed party official caught on and Fromm was given a thumbs down. Now, it appears Fromm is currently a party member, undercutting OTooles condemnation of Sloan and further embarrassing the party. All this drama-of-the-moment obscures a bigger issue: given OTooles actions, are we now going to hold both parties and candidates accountable for the views of all their donors? I hope not. Besides being logistically impossible, doing so will invite a new brand of "gotcha" politics as both parties and thinly disguised partisan actors dig into the backgrounds of party donors searching for unsavoury characters. Indeed, several Conservative MPs privately expressed reservations about OTooles actions, not because of any great love for Sloan, who has never met a cow pie he hasnt stepped in. Rather, these MPs are concerned because they have no idea who has contributed money to their campaigns in the past and are worried about their names appearing in headlines because people like Fromm may at some point have chipped in $131 to help get them re-elected. As it stands, anyone who puts their name forward to run for public office can expect to have everything theyve ever posted on social media dug up and spread out for all to see. The first few weeks of every election campaign in this country now consists almost entirely of these sordid spectacles. Parties invest substantial resources into finding potentially embarrassing posts ahead of time, but cannot reasonably hope to do so exhaustively. Has this development enriched our democracy? Hardly; rather, it has cheapened politics in this country, reducing election campaigns to a series of "gotcha" moments characterized by embarrassed ex-candidates running past TV cameras. Do we now really want to hold candidates and parties responsible for the views of every person who donates money to them? Of course, one can hardly blame OToole for wanting to seize the moment and be done with Sloan. The maverick Tory MP has, since the leadership race, seemed intent on embarrassing his leader while remaining blissfully unaware that the axe would eventually fall. I would prefer that Sloans fate be determined by voters in his Ontario riding, not by his party leader. We need more room for mavericks and for open disagreement within Canadian parties. But the reality of Canadian politics is that no MP can expect to test the leaders patience to the extent Sloan has without receiving a response. Sloan, now that he has been jettisoned from the Conservative caucus, sits as an Independent MP. But he might well hook up with Maxime Berniers nascent Peoples Party, which was given a shellacking by Canadians in the last election when the party failed to win a single seat (including Berniers). Sloan would provide Bernier with a parliamentary toehold and an Ottawa spokesperson, adding some much-needed wind to the partys sails. Conservative MPs might want to consult their history books to see what happens when their party is confronted by a right-wing challenger party, as it was in the 1990s and early 2000s. Royce Koop is head of the political studies department at the University of Manitoba. 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. Dhaka, Jan 17 (UNI) Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Vikram K Doraiswami has said that India would ensure that Bangladesh would get the COVID-19 vaccine quickly and urgently under his countrys 'neighbourhood first' policy. "The vaccine issue is everybodys right and we will ensure the government here gets it quickly", he told press persons on Saturday after attending the inauguration of the 19th International film festival in the capital. The envoy conveyed Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's assurance that the vaccine will be provided for the benefit of everyone and Bangladesh will get priority. "Bangladesh will get it urgently as you know we rolled out for 300,000 people today in India", he said. He added that the exact schedule will be communicated with the Bangladesh government soon. "There is a time schedule, I will tell your government not in the media", he said. Doraiswami assured that Bangladesh would be given first priority, "As soon as the (Bangladesh) government indicates everything is ready, we will work accordingly", he said. Indias vaccination drive, which is the worlds largest immunisation exercise against COVID-19, kicked off on 16 January with priority being given to about 30 million health care and frontline workers to be inoculated during the first phase. The Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) had earlier this month approved the 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. UNI XC MAZ RKM The government could look at providing deductions for expenses incurred by salaried employees while working from home in the upcoming Budget as it looks to boost demand, consulting firm PwC India said on Thursday. Addressing a pre-budget session, Pwc India senior tax partner Rahul Garg said demand creation is particularly focussed on money being given or left in the hands of the individuals. "One clear thinking is at the level of small to medium taxpayer can we look at, in view of the COVID, a deduction to them particularly for salaried employees when they work from home. So whatever expenditure they are incurring working from home, which expenditure in the typical case would have been incurred in office by their employers if they were using offices to work if you allow that to be treated as giving them an entitlement for deduction and that saves tax for them. It will leave more money in their hands," Garg said. Following the outbreak of Covid pandemic early last year, many companies adopted a work from home policy for their employees. Garg said such a measure would be "reasonably equitable" because if businesses were to incur that expense, that would have been a deductible expenditure in their books. Today that deductible expenditure sits in the hand of the individual and therefore there is no tax base reduction or sacrifice of any revenue, he said. "It creates a situation of shifting the money in the hands of individual by giving a concession or deduction in respect to COVID related expenses and they could look at few thousand rupees per month and every person who is employed can get deduction and tax relief in their hand and contribute to demand creation," Garg noted. He said the Budget, to be unveiled on February 1, could also see amendments in the tax laws for entities who are facing unintended tax consequences for overstaying in India and has therefore become a resident in India, and therefore his global income becomes taxable in India or the income beyond what was intended to be taxable in India becomes taxable due to forced stay. Pratik Jain, who leads the indirect tax practise at PwC India, said while there is not much scope for increase in customs duties, there is no possibility for a reduction in excise duty on petroleum products. "There are two things which we are talking about - one is increasing customs duties on a lot of finished products particularly for items where the government has come out with a Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme. It could be consumer electronics, auto components. "There are discussions which I have heard there are plans to increase duties on cellphone, furniture and so on," Jain added. He said in the last two years the government has come out with an amnesty scheme for excise and service tax followed by Vivad de Vishwas scheme for settling direct tax disputes. "Customs was not touched earlier and maybe a right time to get a similar scheme under customs and allow the industry to pay disputed tax and if you waive off penalty you may be able to garner Rs 15,000-20,000 crore," Jain said. With regard to the imposition of COVID cess, Jain said, "My sense is that if they want to collect an additional amount of money and if they fund expenses for vaccines then it would be broad-based and not limited to few products and would be applied on base value and not on tax component". Also read: Indian households saved $200 bn extra amid COVD-19 lockdown: UBS report Also read: Business Today MindRush 2021: Top corporate honchos to discuss state of economy, the way ahead 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. Insurance fraud seems like it might be an easy thing to do. Insurance companies are often so huge, one wonders how they might not even notic... Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-22 19:40:33|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Hong Kong residents celebrate the passage of the Law of the People's Republic of China on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) in Causeway Bay of south China's Hong Kong, June 30, 2020. (Xinhua/Wang Shen) BEIJING, Jan. 22 (Xinhua) -- China on Friday voiced firm opposition to a resolution passed by the European Parliament over Hong Kong, urging it to respect China's sovereignty and stop lecturing other countries on human rights. In response to a related query, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said Hong Kong affairs are purely the internal affairs of China and brook no interference from any foreign government, organization or individual. "Certain members of the European Parliament, confusing right and wrong, have advanced the passing of the so-called resolution, constituting a gross interference in Hong Kong affairs and China's internal affairs," Hua said, adding that China firmly opposes such practices. "We urge the European Parliament to face squarely the fact that Hong Kong has returned to China, abide by the international law and basic norms governing international relations, abandon double standards and stop lecturing other countries over human rights," Hua said. The European Parliament should earnestly respect China's sovereignty and the rule of law in Hong Kong, and stop meddling in Hong Kong affairs and China's internal affairs in any form, the spokesperson added. OTTAWA - Julie Payette resigned Thursday as Canada's 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. Gov. Gen. Julie Payette delivers the throne speech in the Senate chamber in Ottawa on Sept. 23, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld OTTAWA - Julie Payette resigned Thursday as Canada's 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 wasn't part of Trudeau's conversation with Payette, LeBlanc said he didn't think the prime minister asked for her resignation or threatened to fire her if she didn't 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 father's 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 he'd 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 Canada's 29th governor general in 2017. Her appointment followed the nearly seven-year term of noted academic David Johnston.While she wasn't the first female governor general, Trudeau's 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 Trudeau's 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 second-degree 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 hit-and-run 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 wasn't 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 Office the civil servants who support Trudeau's work hired Ottawa-based Quintet Consulting Corp. to investigate.At the time, Trudeau expressed his confidence in Payette's 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, nobody's looking at any constitutional crises," he said. In the event a governor general can't carry out the job, is removed, or dies, the chief justice of the Supreme Court assumes the office's 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 O'Toole 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 lose a decision that was controversial at the time but in keeping with constitutional tradition. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 21, 2021. Last Friday Emirates announced the suspension of its services to and from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane indefinitely (though Perth was left alone). It has today announced these services will resume next week, from Monday, Tuesday and Thursday respectively. The services were cancelled last Friday after it was announced international flight caps in three Australian states would be scissored in half until February the 15th (which came in response to the threat of a new highly transmissible strain of COVID-19 from the United Kingdom). Although the services are now set to resume (as reported by the ABC today), this has left a weeks gap in services, which has left hundreds of Australians stranded overseas. For some, it was the fourth time their flight home had been cancelled. Emirates provided DMARGE with the following statement last Saturday, when asked if the flights had been suspended in response to the new arrival caps (which appeared the obvious trigger for Emirates decision at the time). Emirates flights to/from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane will be suspended until further notice due to operational reasons. We apologise for the inconvenience caused to our customers. Affected customers should contact their travel agent or Emirates contact centre for rebooking options. Australia remains an important market for Emirates. We continue to serve Perth with twice-weekly flights and we are working hard to prepare for resumption of services to our other points. DMARGE had also heard rumours Emirates suspension of flights could have been to do with a strict cabin crew policy speculated to be in effect in Melbourne (wherein, if one crew member tests positive on arrival, the rest of the crew are considered close contacts and there is no one left to operate the flight back, resulting in many outbound flights being cancelled). This rumour, if true, would pose operational challenges to any airline running international flights in and out of Melbourne (not just Emirates). This was unable to be verified. When DMARGE asked about it last weekend, Emirates responded: At this stage, we dont have anything further to add around the suspension but theres some more information around travel requirements by destination here. Even the ABC, which wrote an article entitled, Why did Emirates suspend flights to Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, five days ago, could come up with little hard facts at the time. For now, Emirates has said the decision was due to operational reasons,' the ABC reported. The airline has said it remains committed to Australia and continues to operate twice-weekly flights to/from Perth.' We dont have any more information about the reasoning behind the decision beyond that, (ABC). Today, however, the ABC reported a statement released by Emirates, which may shed further light on this topic: The pandemic has made international flying incredibly challenging, and the dynamic restrictions and requirements implemented by the different state authorities in Australia had added complexity and burden to our operations. This led us to temporarily suspend passenger services while we engaged with various stakeholders regarding crew protocols and other operational details. Emirates confirmed to the ABC that crew operating on Australian flights were already required to take a PCR coronavirus test 48 hours prior to scheduled flight departure times from Dubai. 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. We are grateful that our wonderful crew teams are very understanding and supportive, which has enabled us to quickly restart passenger services. The safety of our customers and colleagues is always our top priority, and as always, we work closely with the authorities and health experts in this regard. Airlines have been doing it tough since the COVID-19 pandemic hit, with limited numbers of carriers still operating services to Australia. Neither Qantas nor Virgin Australia are currently running international flights. As Flight Hacks founder Immanuel Debeer told DMARGE recently, To give you an idea, only 73 people per day are allowed into Western Australia from overseas. We currently have three airlines flying passengers. So that means around 24 people per flight depending on the schedule. Qatar Airways is one of the other airlines currently operating flights to Australia. When asked whether they would consider suspending services too, in light of what has just happened with Emirates, DMARGE was provided with the following statement, which outlines some of the challenges airlines seeking to fly to Australia currently face. Due to the restrictions on passengers travelling to Australian destinations, Qatar Airways can only carry a limited number of passengers per day to certain destinations. While some governmental exemptions apply to these numbers, we must strictly adhere to these restrictions. Qatar Airways analyses each flight based on a range of criteria, including compassionate and medical requirements, connecting flights, booking class, party size and commercial value. In order to ensure the continued viability of our operations to Australia commercial value of tickets sold must also be taken into consideration to be able to operate each flight. However, each passengers case is treated on an individual basis regardless of what cabin class they have booked. We have been assisting many passengers with emergency/compassionate issues as first priority to help them get on a flight home to Australia as soon as possible. We continue to work closely with all our passengers to find alternative flights if they are unable to travel on their original intended flight. The airline also recently resumed flights to Adelaide, one of the five Australian cities now served, further supporting repatriation efforts. Qatar Airways has been one of the few international airlines to never stop operating to and from Australia, helping carry over 180,000 Australians and international travellers home since the early stages of the pandemic, more than any other airline. To place this in context, Sydney University Professor of Transport and Supply Chain Management Rico Merkert told DMARGE last year Qatar Airways persistence with international flights could also be because it doesnt have as many domestic routes to sustain it like, say, Qantas, or Virgin Australia. Qatar Airways also came into this years aviation crisis one of the richest airlines in the world. And as their decision to declare themselves the worlds largest carrier in June 2020 suggests taking the punt to keep operating in this time may prove a smart marketing call in the long run (they werent even in the top 7 in 2018). Merkert confirmed to DMARGE exclusively: Yes, [continuing to operate flights has been] great for brand building and grabbing market share. It is harder to gain customers than to lose them in this business (once loyalty schemes and a decent product come into play). They also understand the importance of aviation to their economy (as a hub with some pretty new and expensive infrastructure sitting there and lots of competition from the UAE and other places). Read Next The White Tiger: HC Refuses To Stay The Release Of The Priyanka Chopra, Rajkummar Rao And Adarsh Gourav Starrer The Delhi High Court Thursday refused to stay the 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. It listed the matter for completion of pleadings before the joint registrar on March 22. The film The White Tiger' is based on the book The White Tiger' which was released in March 2008. It features Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Rajkummar Rao and Adarsh Gourav in the lead role. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Priyanka Chopra Jonas (@priyankachopra) The court said, "It is not possible for this court to come to the finding, based on the material on record, that by making and releasing the film, the defendants have indulged in copyright infringement." The court said Deora and Netflix are allowed to release the film and are directed to keep detailed accounts of the film so that if at a later stage, Hart Jr succeeds, the court can determine the monetary compensation. It also said that on a holistic consideration of facts, especially as the plaintiffs have chosen to approach the court less than 24 hours before the release of the film, they have not been able to make out a case for an ad-interim injunction on the release of the movie. Advocate Kapil Sankhla, representing Hart Jr, said that a literary auction agreement was executed between him and the author of the book Aravinda Adiga in March 2009 and he had to make it an Oscar-worthy film to be released in Hollywood. He said it was only in October 2019, that he came to know that Netflix was in the process of making and releasing the film on Over The Top (OTT) platform and this resulted in sending a legal notice to Deora and Netflix to cease and desist from any such act. Sankhla, also representing Sonia Mudbhatkal who runs a US Production Company, said his clients were never given an impression that shooting of a film was going on in 2020 as all such works were put on hold abroad due to the COVID-19 pandemic and this resulted in copyright infringement. He sought to stay the release of the film saying it will not cause any serious financial ramifications to the defendants as the movie is to be released on OTT and not on theatres. Senior advocate Sandeep Sethi, representing Deora, opposed the suit saying the cause of action arose in October 2019 itself and the plaintiffs have approached the court at the 11th hour which is not permissible. He added that Hart Jr has concealed various relevant documents from the court and placed a one-sided story and that no cause of granting an ad-interim injunction was made out. Advocate Saikrishna Rajagopal, representing Netflix, adopted the arguments advanced by Sethi and added that the OTT film release involves huge finances and goodwill and no stay should be granted. After hearing all the parties, the court said it cannot arrive at a view that the defendants have prima facie infringed the copyrights of plaintiffs by making and releasing the film. "I am prima facie inclined to agree with Mr. Sethi that if the release of the movie is stalled at this stage, it will cause serious and irreparable consequences to the defendants," the judge said. Burma Hotel Construction Threatens Myanmars World Heritage Site at Bagan Sunset in Bgan. / Zaw Zaw / The Irrawaddy YangonDespite a prohibition on new construction in Myanmars World Heritage site, new hotels and guesthouses continue to be built within the protected property zone of Bagan, according to local residents. The 50-sq.-km property zone is an area that has been demarcated as containing most of the cultural heritage attributes by the Myanmar government and UNESCO. Myanmars government submitted a management plan for Bagan to UNESCO in January 2018 as part of the World Heritage nomination process. The plan includes strategies and guidelines to resolve issues like hotels, booming tourism, development, environmental problems and natural disasters. Calling the visitor accommodation issue one of the greatest threats to the property zone, the government commits in the management plan to assessing all existing hotels and guesthouses within the zone to ensure that they do not impact the heritage site. The plan includes relocation of hotels currently inside the property zone by 2028. However, new projects continue to be developed within the property zone, with new properties being built just a stones throw from ancient monuments and heavy machinery being used in the construction of those properties, said Bagan resident U Myo Hset San. The head of the Department of Archaeology and National Museum, officials of the township general administration department and police made a surprise inspection on Jan. 7 at the construction site of Eden Hotel and Resort Bagana hotel project being developed by Eden Group Companyafter locals reported construction near Pagoda No. 1358 in the hotel compound and that a bulldozer was being used. U Myo Hset San said a swimming pool and changing rooms are being built some 12 feet from the ancient pagoda. There are reportedly 24 ancient pagodas and stupas in the compound of Eden Hotel and Resort Bagan. According to the Department of Archaeology and National Museum (Bagan branch), there are 15 hotels in protected property zoneeight of them are in operation and seven others are still under construction. The 50-acre Eden Hotel and Resort Bagan is one of the seven under construction. Director Dr. Than Htike of Department of Archaeology and National Museum (Bagan branch) said he did not see the use of a bulldozer during inspection. When we inspected the site, we didnt see them exceeding the permission of the regional government, he said. Eden Group Company received permission to build the hotel around 2005, but it has not yet been completed, he said. When asked by The Irrawaddy, chairman of Eden Group Company, U Chit Khine, said he had no knowledge of the surprise inspection and said the hotel project is complete by 70 percent. Regarding the construction of properties near ancient monuments, he said: Archaeologists had made careful inspections before [the authorities] granted permission. Locals have raised questions about the project since it is still under construction nearly 17 years after it was first permitted. Asked if he would follow the governments relocation proposal in 2028 as stated in the management plan, U Chit Khine said his intention was to go ahead with building the hotel. As you see the government is inspecting development sites with experts and advisors. They are still holding discussions. We dont know the result yet. If all the other hotels are obliged to comply, we would do so, said the chairman. He explained that the hotel was permitted by the military government because it was located in what was then the hotel zone, and that construction started under its successor U Thein Seins administration. That hotel zone was later scrapped and became an extension of the protected property zone. Continued construction of buildings in the property zone violates the 2019 Protection and Preservation of Cultural Heritage Regions Law, heritage experts said. Daw Ohmar Myo, a former UNESCO coordinator now involved in heritage management of the ancient capital, said: They gave an excuse that they received the construction permit before Bagan became the UNESCO heritage site. No matter when they got the permit, they cant construct after Bagan was added to UNESCO list. If they got the permit earlier, why didnt they construct then? They cant construct now. Some hoteliers in the property zone are either constructing new properties or extending existing ones, using renovation as an excuse, she claimed. The hotels have to be relocated in 2028 anyway. So, I dont see any reason to renovate them heavily, she said. Bagans inclusion on UNESCOs World Heritage List in July 2019 is conditional. The Myanmar government must fulfill the commitments it made in its management plan and comply with 20 additional recommendations, including those relating to hotels, made by the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), a France-based international cultural heritage conservation team that recommended Bagan for inscription on UNESCOs list. Myanmars government is required to report on its implementation of the recommendations to the World Heritage Center by December 2021. Any failure to take corrective actions required under the commitments and recommendations would endanger inclusion in the list, experts warned. The ICOMOS has urged the government to work with it and UNESCO to prepare a long-term hotel strategy to create hotel zones and make any necessary changes to existing facilities based on a heritage impact assessment. Myanmar is designing a hotel strategy and is planning to relocate the hotels now in the property zone to hotel zone 4 by 2032, minimizing the impact on heritage, said Dr. Than Htike. Based on the hotel strategy, which is still in the process of being formulated, the government will have to negotiate with hoteliers in details about the fate of hotels now in the property zone, said the director. Early last year, the Mandalay Region cultural heritage conservation committee instructed hotels by the Ayeyarwady River not to construct new properties in their hotel compounds. Of big hoteliers, Ayeyar Hotel defied our instructions and continued with building smaller properties in its hotel compound. And we took legal action and have had two hotel buildings removed, said Dr. Than Htike. The department also took action against fencing near and encroaching on heritage sites, he said. Controversy arose in January last year when foundations were dug around 1.5 m deep in a construction site near stupas which experts believe are from Pyu era, which lasted from 200 BC to AD 900. Daw Ohnmar Myo, who is also the chairwoman of Myanmar Archaeology Association, said relevant departments and agencies and businessmen must understand and strictly follow the integrated management framework (IMF) designed for proper management of Bagan. Bagan could see its World Heritage status endangered if ongoing damages to the heritage buildings cannot be stopped, experts warned. Translated from Burmese by Thet Ko Ko You may also like these stories: COVID-19 and Security Issues Hamper Myanmars Efforts to List Mrauk-U with UN Greening Plan in Myanmars World Heritage Site Bagan Angers Conservationists A former Houston police officer who has been arrested on federal charges for allegedly taking part in the violent attack on the US Capitol earlier this month told FBI agents he was there just to view the historical art. Tam Dinh Pham, an 18-year veteran on the force, was charged with knowingly entering a restricted government building and engaging in disruptive and disorderly conduct. A federal judge on Thursday set Pham's bond at $50,000, and ordered him to surrender his American and Vietnamese passports. Tam Dinh Pham, an 18-year veteran of the Houston Police Department (left), was charged with knowingly entering a restricted government building and engaging in disruptive and disorderly conduct over his role in the US Capitol siege. The photo on the right shows him in the Capitol Rotunda on January 6 The FBI interviewed Pham on January 12 and discovered images in his deleted photos album on his phone showing him inside the Capitol, after he initially claimed he had not gone inside According to court filings, Pham initially told FBI agents during an interview on January 12 that he was in Washington, DC, from January 5-7 for business purposes, and that he only briefly attended President Donald Trump's rally on January 6, but he denied going to the Capitol building. But Pham changed his story and admitted to entering the Capitol after the agents, with his permission, went into the deleted photos album on his phone and discovered pictures and videos that were 'readily identifiable' as having been taken inside the Capitol. One photo included in the affidavit shows Pham in a face mask posing in front of a statue, while in another he is seen standing without a mask under a 'Trump 2020' flag. Other images show him with the Capitol Rotunda behind him. 'The metadata associated with each of these photographs indicates that they were created on January 6, 2021 between 2:50 p.m. and 2:55 p.m.,' the document states. Pham admitted that he, his wife and a friend were in Washington for business when he learned about Trump's rally on Facebook and decided to attend to 'see history,' according to the affidavit. Pham told the feds he attended Donald Trump's rally on January 6 to 'see history' and then followed a crowd to the US Capitol The veteran cop insisted that he did not travel with any weapons and had no intention of committing any acts of violence or vandalism. Pham said he and the others went to the rally at 7am, but by that time the crowd was so big that he found himself far away from the stage and had a hard time hearing Trump. In his speech, the outgoing president urged his supporters to march to the US Capitol as the Congress was in the process of certifying Joe Biden's election victory. After the rally concluded, Pham said he saw people walking towards the Capitol and he followed. Neither his wife nor his friend joined him. 'Pham stated that he climbed over some fences, which had been previously knocked over, and walked around some barricades,' according to the court documents. 'He stated he saw police officers, but he did not engage with them.' The ex-cop allegedly admitted to entering the Capitol and heading to the Rotunda, where he said he looked at 'historical art' and took pictures and videos. After 10-15 minutes, Pham said he walked out of the building and did not return. Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo said he received a tip last week about Pham's suspected involvement in the Capitol riots and immediately contacted the FBI, reported KHOU11. Images from Pham's phone show the Houston cop taking selfies in the Capitol Rotunda on the day of the deadly riots 'We are also auditing arrests made by this former officer to ensure there are no irregularities, to include the review of his body worn camera footage related to his arrests,' Acevedo's statement said. 'While our community and members of our department are understandably upset about this breach of trust, all should be heartened by our swift, decisive, and transparent action.' Pham resigned from the force on January 14, two days after being interviewed by FBI agents at his home in Richmond, Texas. Pham's attorney, Nicole DeBorde, described him as 'a very devout Buddhist' and 'a very peaceful man' who 'ended up getting swept up in the crowd.' She also claimed that he feels 'a great deal of shame for what happened.' DeBorde added that Pham does not dispute that President Biden won the election and 'wishes him well.' Coronavirus is raging in Pennsylvanias state prisons. In the first 20 days of 2020, at least 27 people incarcerated in Pennsylvanias state prisons and two staffers died of coronavirus more than all of the fatalities between March and November. Overall, 91 incarcerated individuals and four staffers have died during the pandemic. Thats tragic, especially since some of those deaths might have been avoided by reducing the prison population. Both Gov. Tom Wolf and Corrections Secretary John Wetzel have argued that reducing the size of the prison population currently 38,300 is one of the elements of the Department of Corrections response to the virus. However, the governor has backed away from using the only tool in his disposal to create more space for social distancing inside of prisons: reprieve. The Pennsylvania Constitution grants the governor the power of pardon, commutation, and reprieve. The only one of the three that the governor can use unilaterally is reprieve; commutations and pardons require the recommendation of the Board of Pardons. Reprieve is a pause in a prison sentence after which the individual returns to prison. The time that they were out does not count toward the sentence. In the past, Wolf used reprieve to impose the moratorium on execution. In April, Wolf announced a reprieve program targeted at elderly and infirm offenders whose crime does not include a victim that was originally intended to release as many as 1,200. The executive action was intended to be more ambitious than a Republican reprieve plan that included a cap of 450 reprieves. READ MORE: Latest outbreak in a Pennsylvania prison infected more than a thousand, killing 9 But Wolf signed only 159 reprieves back in the spring. He has not signed any more since, even as the death toll skyrocketed. In a January hearing hosted by the Pennsylvania Senate Democrats Policy Committee on coronavirus in prisons, State Sen. Nikil Saval of Philadelphia pressed Secretary Wetzel on reprieves. Wetzel told Saval that the governor is not interested in reprieving more people given the current construct. When further pressed by Saval, Wetzel said he does not think reprieve is a good tool because it is unfair that the time doesnt count against the original sentence. Wetzel has a point. Reprieve is far from a perfect tool. But weighing the risk of being exposed to a fatal virus vs. the counting of time served should be weighed by the people who are taking the risk, not solely the governor. The governors office told this board that because the time doesnt count, some incarcerated individuals chose not to participate in the reprieve program. But in June, SpotlightPA reached out to two dozen incarcerated individuals who were identified as eligible for reprieve. Some didnt even know they had been identified. The governor, and every one of his departments, has been pulled in many directions over the last few months an unprecedented assault on Pennsylvanians right to vote didnt help. But now his attention must focus on the crisis in Pennsylvanias state prisons. Wetzel maintains that instead of reprieve, Pennsylvania needs medical parole legislation. The two arent mutually exclusive. Philadelphia State Sen. Sharif Street is planning to introduce a medical parole bill. A similar bill didnt get a committee vote last session. When the death count exceeds one per day, waiting for a bill to go through the Republican legislature the same one that just challenged the election and minimized the pandemic response is not an option. The reduction in prison population in 2020 by nearly 6,500 individuals is also not an excuse for inaction. While there has been a 44% reduction in admissions compared with 2019, that can change quickly when courts go back to full capacity. READ MORE: Pennsylvania prisons unreliable COVID data hides the true extent of the crisis | Editorial Meanwhile, DOC continues to refuse to require staff to undergo coronavirus testing and faces scrutiny over claims that family members and incarcerated individuals were not notified when their loved ones were sick or even died. The DOCs coronavirus dashboard, a data portal that is a rare view behind prison walls, continues to be littered with inconsistencies and masks the full extend of the crisis. Reprieve is an imperfect tool and a legislative solution would be better. The governor made difficult decisions to respond quickly and firmly to the pandemic crisis. He should be as steadfast in his approach to relieving the serious and deadly crisis in our prisons. Fifty-three-year-old refugee and widow, Aziza Adam Saleh, from Darfur, Sudan, kneels outside a small makeshift shelter in Ardebe, Chad, January 2020. UNHCR/Aristophane Ngargoune UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is concerned by recent violence in Sudans Darfur region, which has caused thousands of people to flee their homes seeking safety including across the border into Chad. The intercommunal clashes, which started on 15 January in West Darfur and spread to South Darfur the next day, have claimed the lives of 250 people including three humanitarian workers and displaced more than 100,000. Among the newly displaced, some 3,500 Sudanese have arrived in Ouaddai Province in eastern Chad. These refugees the majority of them women and children have been hosted in four very remote locations that lack basic services or public infrastructure, where they have been sheltering under trees. Due to the COVID-19 situation, Chadian local authorities are directing the new arrivals to a transit site, where they will undergo quarantine before being relocated to an existing refugee camp, away from the border. UNHCR is rushing supplies to the area to respond to their needs. Before this latest round of clashes, Chad was already hosting more than 360,000 Sudanese refugees. In Sudan, UNHCR is mobilizing resources as part of an inter-agency response to assist those affected by the clashes. UNHCR has prepositioned emergency shelters and other core relief items such as blankets to be quickly distributed as soon as the security situation allows. For more information on this topic, please contact: The United States and Pakistan have created two initiatives to improve health security and disease monitoring in Pakistan. One introduces an innovative method of evaluating the safety and effectiveness of medicine, and the other will increase the countrys ability to monitor the spread of infectious disease. In early December, the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan, in partnership with the United States Agency for International Development, or USAID, unveiled their new platform for monitoring new medicines in the development and approval processes. The platform, called the Pakistan Integrated Regulatory Information Management System will help Pakistani companies easily apply for permission to produce a medicine, as well as bring safe and effective medicines to market more quickly at a much lower cost. The program was also created to comply with international pharmaceutical standards, allowing Pakistan to increase its participation in the international market. U.S. and Pakistani government officials also announced the inauguration of one hundred and fifty-five District Disease Monitoring Units to improve local health officials ability to track the spread of infectious diseases, such as COVID-19, throughout Pakistan. The United States Agency for International Development supported the training of rapid response teams working in the Monitoring Units on how to conduct contact tracing for COVID-19 cases. These teams were also trained to use data to identify potential COVID-19 hotspots within the districts, which will improve real-time coordination between the district and provincial levels. The Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Health, Dr. Faisal Sultan, expressed his gratitude to the United States Government and acknowledged that this support will go a long way towards institutionalizing an integrated disease surveillance system in Pakistan. The United States and Pakistan have been at the forefront of this issue, not only through our joint leadership in international initiatives like the Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA), but also at the country-level working closely with communities. Being able to rapidly monitor, detect, and respond to public health threats such as COVID-19 is critically important. It inspired our partnership with the Government of Pakistan to establish these District Disease Monitoring and Response Units and build the capacity of nearly 3,000 healthcare workers to rapidly respond to public health threats in Pakistan, said USAID Mission Director Julie Koenen. We thank the Government of Pakistan for our continued collaboration as we meet the challenge of linking these units to Provincial, Regional, and Federal structures, thereby providing critical resources to stop the spread of COVID-19 and other infectious diseases. Anyone bold enough to make predictions about the federal prison population which is now at 151,646 according to BOP? | Main | Some turn-of-the-year highlights from Marijuana Law, Policy & Reform January 21, 2021 Notable OLC opinion on "Home Confinement of Federal Prisoners After the COVID-19 Emergency" In this post from this past October, I wondered "Will some (most? all?) federal prisoners transferred to home confinement be returned to prison after the pandemic ends?". That post was prompted by this Walter Palvo piece at Forbes reporting on a US Attorney suggesting that persons who BOP placed on home confinement in response to COVID would be returned to prison after the pandemic ended for any remaining time. Though the end of the pandemic still seems depressingly far away, the outgoing Trump Justice Department addressed this issue last week when the Office of Legal Counsel put out this opinion titled ""Home Confinement of Federal Prisoners After the COVID-19 Emergency." Here is how it gets started: The Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP or the Bureau) has statutory authority to place a prisoner serving a term in a federal prison in home confinement for the concluding portion of his sentence. See 18 U.S.C. 3624(c)(2). In connection with the COVID-19 pandemic, Congress expanded the authority of the Director of BOP to place federal prisoners in home confinement earlier than that statutory period. See Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, Pub. L. No. 116-136, 12003(b)(2), 134 Stat. 281, 516 (2020) (CARES Act). The question is what happens to these prisoners once the pandemic emergency ends. At that time, some inmates will have completed their sentences or be sufficiently close to the end to be eligible for home confinement. Other inmates, however, may have a substantial time to go before becoming eligible. Although the pandemic emergency remains ongoing, the issue arises because BOP must plan for an eventuality where it might need to return a significant number of prisoners to correctional facilities. We conclude that the CARES Act authorizes the Director of BOP to place prisoners in home confinement only during the statutes covered emergency period and when the Attorney General finds that the emergency conditions are materially affecting BOPs functioning. See id. Should that period end, or should the Attorney General revoke the finding, the Bureau would be required to recall the prisoners to correctional facilities unless they are otherwise eligible for home confinement under 18 U.S.C. 3624(c)(2). We also conclude that the general imprisonment authorities of 18 U.S.C. 3621(a) and (b) do not supplement the CARES Act authority to authorize home confinement under the Act beyond the limits of section 3624(c)(2). I had assumed that BOP might have some discretion to keep persons on home confinement whenever we emerged from the pandemic; but this OLC opinion asserts that BOP has no discretion in this matter and thus "would be required to recall the prisoners to correctional facilities unless they are otherwise eligible for home confinement." This opinion is certain contestable, the new Biden Justice Department could reconsider it and a court might reject it, and we are surely a long ways from reaching a post-pandemic world. Nevertheless, as FAMM's Kevin Ring explains in this Twitter thread, this OLC opinion could cause lots of heartache and worry for lots of persons on home confinement and their families. Persons on home confinement are those that BOP generally determined posed little risk to public safety and that were at high risk of COVID and so likely older and less healthy relative to most other prisoners. And, since the BOP has had discretion to return these persons to prison for misbehavior while in home confinement, it is hard to see a compelling public safety justification for sending all these individuals back to prison post-pandemic. But if extant law is interpreted to require BOP to recall all these folks, policy arguments alone cannot fix this legal reality. But even if this particular interpretation of BOP authority under the CARES Act were to persist, there are multiple means to address these matters. Most obviously, Congress could modify the applicable statutes to clearly give BOP discretion to keep persons on home confinement. And even without congressional action to address this problem, the other two branches could step in: Prez Biden could grant a kind of conditional clemency and/or district courts could grant compassionate release to keep these folks on home confinement. Walto Palvo discusses these matters further in this new Forbes piece, which concludes with this fitting sentence: "One thing is for sure, the pandemic is not over but discussions on how to handle inmates currently on home confinement is something that should begin now." January 21, 2021 at 04:36 PM | Permalink Comments 1000s of Fed inmates were placed on home confinement due to the expanded powers provided by the CARES Act due to the pandemic. There was never any mention of returning prisoners to prison once the pandemic was over. Prisoners were told by case management they would be finishing their sentences on home confinement. NOW, the U.S. Department of Justice in an opinion from OLC is stating the Bureau of Prisons must recall federal prisoners that were placed in home confinement pursuant to the CARES ACT to custody once the pandemic is over. Due process required notice at the beginning, certainly not well after the fact. Prisoners were never provided any notice that their release would be temporary and would end once the pandemic is over. Previous Attorney General Barr, his memos posted in March and again in April 2020, never mentioned that this would be a temporary release. The Bureau of Prisons website on Home Confinement makes NO mention that release to Home Confinement was a temporary solution to the problem. It appeared, in the governments hasty efforts to reduce high-risk inmates to COVID-19 exposure, the issue was not considered until now, well after the fact! D.L. Alba - Case Analyst Law Offices John D. Kirby San Diego, California Posted by: Dennis Alba | Jan 26, 2021 6:45:16 PM Post a comment Robert Kocharyan on years of his leadership in Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia Situation on Armenian-Azerbaijani border is still tense, more on COVID-19 in Armenia, May 28 digest "Armenia" alliance of political parties paying tribute to founder of First Republic Aram Manukyan (LIVE) Yerevan.today: Armenia acting PM not greeted at ruling party's headquarters, citizens call him 'capitulator' Russia MOD reports on maintenance of ceasefire regime in Nagorno-Karabakh Armenia acting MOD meets with Russian counterpart in Moscow Armenia 2nd President: I see possibility of restoring borders of Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast We can provide our army with some key, modernized weapons, says Armenia ex-President Kocharyan Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: Captives issue is not one that any opposition force can resolve OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs release statement on detention of 6 Armenian servicemen by Azerbaijan Armenian acting Deputy PM: Discussion on issues possible only after withdrawal of Azeri troops from Armenia's territory Armenia acting PM on Syunik roads, Russian military posts: This is only place where there are working nuances Armenia acting PM: Process of return of POWs will intensify after upcoming elections Putin congratulates Aliyev on Republic Day 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 Lexi is an ordinary house cat who, as far as her family knew, didnt even know how to hunt. So when the McMillan family of Gilbert, Arizona, lost her at Thielsen Forest Campground about six miles from Diamond Lake in August, they feared she wouldnt make it. But somehow, this little gray-and-white, long-haired cat survived a grueling autumn in the wild. In September, she came within one mile of a raging wildfire that devastated the area. By November, she was clinging to life through a heavy snowstorm. But this month, she was returned to her family in Arizona thanks to the actions of concerned citizens who stepped in to help a cat in need. Lizzy McMillan said Lexis a good traveler she walks on a leash, rides in a backpack and happily stays in a camper but she escaped while the adults were distracted. They were hopping in and out of the truck while attempting to execute a 45-point turn to pull their travel trailer out of a campsite that was just too small for it. Lexis people noticed the cat was missing a few miles down the road and returned to look for her, staying an extra day in hopes of finding her. But they had no luck. McMillan said they didnt think their pet would survive. God love her, she is a sweet cat, but she is terrible at being a cat, she said. One time we had a mouse in our old house and she was not even interested. But Lexi had one thing going for her. Her family had a microchip implanted when she had been spayed. More on that in a minute. Exactly what Lexi did during the rest of August and September is unknown. But by late October, Oregon Department of Transportation workers based at the Lemolo maintenance shop off Highway 138 East about a mile away were reporting having seen a stray cat in the area. She was first spotted about a mile from the shop, two miles from where she was lost, and later on the shops grounds. Among his other duties, Oregon Department of Transportation maintenance crew member Chris Southwick is one of the people who runs those snowplows that keep the highway open in the winter. Southwick said he and other employees who work at the Lemolo shop started bringing food for the cat they knew was out there somewhere, but it never seemed to eat anything. Then one day around Thanksgiving, Southwick saw tracks in the snow at the station fresh cat tracks. The tracks wandered off toward the corner of the yard where several pieces of equipment were parked. The tracks ended at a truck. So we opened up the hood of the truck that was there, and there it was sitting on top of the engine trying to get warm. So I grabbed it, he said. The cat was so weak and hungry she couldnt run away. So Southwick brought her inside and gave her some food. When his shift was over, he took Lexi to his Glide home. She rode on his lap. It kinda let out a sigh and went limp and passed out, it was that tired, he said. For the next three days Lexi did little but sleep, waking only to eat and drink. Finally, she got healthy enough to come out and wander around the house. Maxine, left, and Violet McMillan enjoy a reunion with long lost cat, Lexi. (Photo courtesy of Lizzy (Photo courtesy of Lizzy McMillan) Lexi who Southwick was calling Snowy at the time fit in well with his family and its two cats, two dogs, chickens and fish. But Southwick thought about how sad his kids would be if it had been their cat who was lost. And he wondered if she might have a microchip that would identify the cats owners. So he took Lexi to Saving Grace Pet Adoption Center to find out. She did have a chip, and so the next leg of Lexis journey was about to begin. Saving Grace Cattery Manager Brooke Winterholer said the animal shelter reached out to the McMillans. Then they began reaching out to see if anyone was headed to Arizona. Saving Grace volunteer Janice Quist, as it turns out, winters each year in Surprise, Arizona, about an hour from Gilbert, where the McMillans live. Quist wasnt leaving until early January, though, so while Lexi waited, she was foster housed with volunteer Michael Hall, Winterholer said. She said it was fun to be part of this family reunion. Thats what were here for. Those are the stories that make everything worth it, she said. Lexi traveled out of Oregon the same way shed traveled to it in a camper. She was so good the whole way down in our motor home. She was obviously used to traveling, Quist said. Along the way, she had yet another companion, the Quists 13-pound Havanese dog. Quist said the dog was more skittish of Lexi than she was of him. Once they arrived in Surprise, Lizzy McMillans husband, Andy McMillan, drove down to pick up Lexi. He put the cat into a clear cat backpack and hauled her out for the last leg of her journey. There was yet another surprise in store for Lexi, though. In the months since they lost Lexi, the family had moved to a new home. The people were the same, the furniture was the same, but it was a different place. Waiting at home, completely unaware that Lexi had been found, were three children. Maxine McMillan, 10, had received Lexi as her fifth birthday present. She and her brother Everett, 7, and sister Violet, 4, were not told the cat had been found and was on her way. Lizzy McMillan explained they feared it would be doubly devastating for them if the cat were to be lost again on the way. It was the hardest secret theyd ever had to keep from them, she said. The kids reaction when they first saw Lexi, brought in inside the backpack, was priceless. The kids just went ballistic. They were so excited and couldnt believe that she had been found, Lizzy McMillan said. Tatiana Turner is taken into custody after witnesses said she drove her car into a crowd of protesters in Yorba Linda, Calif., on Sept. 26, 2020. (Mindy Schauer/The Orange County Register via AP) Protest Organizer Charged in Multiple Attacks After Allegedly Beating Men With Metal Rod A 40-year-old woman charged with attempted murder for allegedly driving her car into protesters at a September rally is facing additional charges after authorities discovered she allegedly used a deadly weapon to attack two men at an earlier event in Orange County, California. Tatiana Rita Turner, a Black Lives Matter supporter and protest organizer from Long Beach, has now been charged with 13 felonies for the two attacks, according to the Orange County District Attorneys Office. The DA announced the latest charges, involving an August protest in Seal Beach, on Jan. 20. We support the right to peacefully protest, but these are not peaceful protests, said Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer in a press release. These are organized protests that encourage others to engage in civil disobedience and violence. We continue to review all surveillance footage to identify other suspects, regardless of what side of an issue they are on. Turner allegedly beat two men repeatedly on Aug. 29 with a four-foot-long metal rod as they were lying on the ground in Seal Beach, after a group of protesters had already beaten them up. The attack was so brutal that one of the men required staples in his head. The charges associated with this incident are two felony counts of assault with a deadly weapon, including one causing great bodily injury as a result of the incident. On Sept. 26, Turner allegedly drove her vehicle through a crowd in Yorba Linda that was counter-protesting a March 4 Equality eventone that she helped organize. In the attack, Turner is accused of running over a womans head and back, as well as breaking a mans leg. For these alleged crimes, the DA had earlier charged Turner with one felony count of attempted murder with premeditation and deliberation, six felony counts of assault with a deadly weapon including one causing great bodily injury, one felony count of mayhem, and two felony counts of the use of pepper spray by a felon. Turner faces a maximum sentence of seven years to life plus 26 years in state prison if convicted on all charges, according to the press release. She has previous convictions for domestic violence and selling drugs. After reviewing video footage for months, five other people are facing criminal charges for the protests, according to the DAs Officeincluding Danielle Lindgren, the woman run over by Turners vehicle. After being hospitalized for several months, Lindgren was charged with one misdemeanor count of possessing a baton. The other four have been hit with charges including carrying a baton, using tear gas on others, and failing to disperse at the scene of a riot. The Orange County District Attorneys Office will 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, Spitzer 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. Kolkata: A day before Prime Minister Narendra Modi's brief Kolkata visit, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee received yet another blow as one more rebel Trinamul Congress minister, Rajib Banerjee, quit her government, fuelling speculation of his defection to the BJP. Within hours of Rajib's move, the TMC expelled his loyalist and the daughter of former ICC chief Jagmohan Dalmiya, Baishali Dalmiya, from the party, accusing her of "anti-party activities" after she supported him and slammed the party leadership. Rajib and Dalmiya are MLAs from Howrah district. Rajib is a two-time legislator from Domjur with a clean image. He is the third TMC heavyweight minister to leave Mamata Banerjee's Cabinet in less than two months. He tendered his resignation after he visited the Trinamul Congress supremo's residence in Kalighat. After that he met Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar at Raj Bhavan on Friday and submitted his resignation letter which stated: "I regret to inform you that I hereby tender my resignation from my office as Cabinet Minister being in charge of forest department today, ie. on 22nd of January, 2021. It has been a great honour and privilege to serve the people of West Bengal. I heartily convey my gratitude for getting this opportunity." Rajib has neither quit as an MLA nor deserted his party. After meeting the Governor, he said in tears, "I never imagined I would have to take such a tough decision. If I have hurt anyone, I apologise with folded hands. Please do not misunderstand me. I was hurt within for a long time. That is why I had to take this decision with a lot of pain and pent-up anger." Lashing out at the chief minister, Rajib added, "I had almost taken this decision two-and-a-half years ago when I was removed as the state irrigation minister. Though portfolio allocation is the CM's prerogative, I had expected minimum courtesy from her as a Cabinet colleague. But I did not get that even. I got to know about my removal as irrigation minister from breaking news on TV when I was sitting with party workers at an office in North Bengal. I had wished to resign then but was stopped by the CM." Hit by his outburst, the CM, who was already furious at him for submitting his resignation letter to the governor also, recommended to Dhankhar to remove him from the Cabinet rather than accepting his resignation. Rajib was later excluded from the Cabinet by Dhankhar while the CM took over his portfolio. The TMC mocked Rajib for his step. But Dalmiya, who is an MLA of Bally, stood by him like she did when Laxmi Ratan Shukla, another MLA in Howrah, resigned as a minister and quit the party recently. She said, "Rajib's resignation will affect the party and public We are insulted in Howrah always. There are some who are silent killers and backstab us and common people. If leaves, like Rajib, start coming off a tree one after another, it is harmful for the tree." Stung by her allegations, the TMC disciplinary committee expelled her at a meeting. Ghanaian President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo will scrap eight ministries and 41 ministerial positions in his new cabinet, said a release... Ghanaian President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo will scrap eight ministries and 41 ministerial positions in his new cabinet, said a release on Thursday. The president will reduce the number of ministries to 26, down from the previous 38, and appoint 85 ministers instead of 126 during his first term, said the release signed by Eugene Arhin, the Director of Communication at the presidency. The ministries to be scrapped include the Ministries of Aviation, Business Development, Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, Inner City and Zongo Development, Regional Reorganization, and Special Development Initiatives, all special-purpose ministries Akufo-Addo created during his first term, said the release. The president is realigning these special-purpose ministries because they have all achieved the purposes for which they were created, added the release. The president is expected to submit a list of 46 appointees in his first batch of ministerial appointments to parliament for vetting and approval. Reporter Hamdi Atef Abdel Fattah and online news editor Ahmed Khalifa went missing after being arrested between 4 and 6 January on charges of spreading false news around workers' rights and joining terrorist organizations. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) demands the Egyptian government reveal the exact location of our colleagues and release them immediately. On 4 January, police forces detained Hamdi Atef Abdel Fattah, a 23-year-old student and reporter of Al-Naba, Al-Bayan, and Misr-Al-Bayan newspapers. The journalist was arrested for publishing a video on social media, where he showed the lack of oxygen of Covid-19 patients at Zefta General Hospital, located at Gharbia Governorate, in northern Egypt. The video showed Rania Youssef, daughter of a Covid-19 patient who died due to the lack of oxygen in the hospital, in addition to six other cases. The journalist was missing for six days after his arrest, before appearing again on 11 January in the State Security Prosecution Office. In the previous week, he was interrogated in the National Security Headquarters in Tanta, a city located north of Cairo and southwest of Alexandria. Khalifa, social affairs editor of the news site Masr 360, was arrested at Faiyum governorate, located southwest of Cairo, after state security forces went to his house on 6 January to question him about his work, which focuses on workers issues and labor protests. He was not present and his family warned him about the situation. He went voluntarily to the National Security Headquarters that same day but hasnt returned since. Despite the fact that the state prosecutors office ordered a 15-day detention for Khalifa, who was charged on January 19, the authorities havent been able to prove the accusations against him. While awaiting trial he is being kept in prison but his location remains unclear. It is thought he may be being held at Tora Prison, located in south Cairo, according to the Arab Network for Human Rights Information (ANHRI). With these new arrests, Egypt surpasses China and becomes the world's second-biggest jailer of journalists with 25 colleagues behind bars. Its only surpassed by Turkey, with 67 media workers in jail. IFJ General Secretary, Anthony Bellanger, said: President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi must put an end to the regime's brutal campaign against critical journalists and independent media which started the day he took office, silencing colleagues, spreading fear among the profession and destroying the public's right to know. We demand the immediate release of all our colleagues who are courageously trying to report in the public interest." A Dublin man has admitted attacking his neighbour with a wooden brush and breaking his nose. Michael Gaffney (31) struck the man several times in the face in an assault at an apartment building in the north of the city. He was sent forward for sentence when he appeared in Dublin District Court. Gaffney, with an address at Court View, Castle Avenue, Clontarf, is charged with assault causing harm and producing a wooden brush in the course of a dispute on May 5 last year. A State solicitor said the DPP was consenting to the accused being sent forward to Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on a date next month. Plea The court heard Gaffney was being sent forward on a signed plea of guilty. Judge Bryan Smyth granted free legal aid to defence solicitor John Shanley to cover one barrister in the circuit court. The accused ackowledged his signature and thanked the judge. Previously, Garda Richard Hennessy said he went to Castle Avenue, Clontarf on May 5 last year and saw the victim had injuries. The victim complained that he had been struck with a wooden brush in an attack. The accused had struck the victim with several punches to the face and the man suffered a broken nose, he said. The victim went to the Mater Hospital but refused to stay to be treated for his injuries. Gda Hennessy said he later contacted the victim and arranged for him to go back to the hospital. In a separate but related development, a study published in Lancet found Bharat Biotech's Covaxin showing enhanced immune response without any serious side effects in phase 1 testing The cumulative number of vaccinated healthcare workers across the country has surpassed 12.7 lakh through 24,397 sessions as of Friday 6 pm, the Union Health Ministry said. In a span of 24 hours, 2,37,050 people were vaccinated across 4,049 sessions. On the testing front too, India continues to register growing numbers, the ministry said. In a separate but related development, a study published in Lancet found Bharat Biotech's Covaxin showing enhanced immune response without any serious side effects in phase 1 testing. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi interacted with vaccine recipients in his Lok Sabha constituency, Varanasi, and sought to allay any hesitancy towards the vaccine's efficacy and safety during the interaction. In other news, India has been reaching out to several countries with free vaccine dozes in the neighbourhood. It is also emerging as a steady supplier of the COVID-19 vaccine in the world. India expands testing infrastructure, active caseload falls below 2 lakh The expansion in testing infrastructure has given a boost to India's fight against the coronavirus pandemic. The cumulative testing has crossed 19 crore, it underlined. A total of 8,00,242 samples were tested for COVID-19 in a span of 24 hours which has increased India's total cumulative tests to 19,01,48,024. "Comprehensive and widespread testing on a sustained basis has resulted in bringing down the positivity rate. The cumulative Positivity Rate stands at 5.59 percent as of today," the ministry said. Steadily following the trend set over the past weeks, India's active caseload has fallen to 1.78 percent of the total cases. India's active caseload presently stands at 1,88,688. A total of 18,002 new recoveries were registered in a span of 24 hours. This has led to a net decline of 3,620 cases from the total COVID-19 active caseload in a day. The total recovered cases have surged to 10,283,708 pushing the growing gap between the recovered and the active cases to 1,00,95,020 ( 54.5 times). The ministry said that 84.70 percent of the new recovered cases are contributed by ten states and UTs. Kerala saw 6,229 persons recovering from COVID-19 . Maharashtra and Karnataka reported 3,980 and 815 new recoveries, respectively. A total of 14,545 new positive cases were registered in a span of 24 hours. Eight states and UTs have contributed 84.14 percent of the new cases. Kerala reported 6,334 cases in a span of 24 hours. Maharashtra recorded 2,886 new cases, while Karnataka registered 674 daily cases. Over 82 percent of the 163 case fatalities that have been reported in the past 24 hours are from nine states and UTs. Maharashtra has reported the maximum number of new daily deaths with 52 deaths. Kerala also saw a fatality count of 21. Modi seeks to allay fears about vaccine Trashing politics over coronavirus vaccines and trying to allay fears, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said the call on launching them was taken by scientists. In a televised interaction with health workers in his Lok Sabha constituency Varanasi, Modi referred indirectly to criticism over the emergency-use clearance given to Bharat Biotech's Covaxin. The prime minister said all sorts of things are said in politics but he went by the scientists' decision. "Politicians talk about this and that I gave only one reply that I will do what the scientists say, this is not the job of us politicians to decide," he added. "And when the go-ahead from the scientists came, we had to decide from where to start. Then we decided to start with health workers who remain in contact with patients constantly," Modi said through video conference. The prime minister had launched the inoculation drive on 16 January, with the government prioritising three crore health and frontline workers for the initial phase. But the authorities are grappling with hesitancy among the intended beneficiaries, amid concerns expressed by some over the vaccines' safety and efficacy. Covaxin has been developed by Bharat Biotech. Covishield, the other vaccine rolled out this month, is developed by Oxford-AstraZeneca and manufactured by Serum Institute of India. "When doctors and health workers give a clean chit to the vaccine, it sends a very strong message among people about the efficacy of the shots," the prime minister told the gathering of health workers who had got themselves inoculated or had administered the vaccine to others. "For any vaccine, there is hard work of scientists involved and it is a scientific process. You must have heard that I faced so much pressure on why the vaccine was not coming soon, he said, indicating that he decided to wait for the go-ahead from the scientists. Phase 1 trial results show Covaxin has tolerable safety, enhanced immunity: Lancet study India's first indigenous vaccine against COVID-19 , Covaxin, showed enhanced immune response without any serious side effects in the participants enrolled for the phase 1 trials, according to the results published in The Lancet Infectious Disease journal. Developed by Bharat Biotech in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune, the vaccine has been granted emergency use authorisation in clinical trial mode' by the Indian government. Covaxin, which is now undergoing phase-3 trials, had raised concerns among experts over its emergency approval earlier this month by India's drug regulator. The vaccine, codenamed BBV152, was well tolerated in all dose groups with no vaccine-related serious adverse events, noted the authors of the study funded by Bharat Biotech. The same results were earlier published in the preprint server medRxiv in December. However, there has been no new data released in the public domain which could demonstrate further safety and efficacy of the preventive. The authors said that all adverse events were mild and moderate, and were more frequent after the first dose, adding that one adverse event was reported but was unrelated to the vaccine. The randomised phase 1 trial to assess the safety and immunogenicity of BBV152 was carried at 11 hospitals across India. Adults aged 18-55 years who were deemed healthy by the investigator were eligible. India gives free vaccine to Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh India is providing millions of doses of COVID-19 vaccine to South Asian countries in addition to assurance of further sale of vaccine doses manufactured indigenously, news reports have said. Two flights, each carrying two million doses of Covishield vaccine, departed from the Mumbai airport for Brazil and Morocco in the early hours of Friday. India is one of the world's biggest drugmakers, and an increasing number of countries have already approached it for procuring coronavirus vaccines. "The Covishield vaccine, manufactured by the Serum Institute of India, departed from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) carrying 2 million doses to Brazil via Emirates Sky Cargo and 2 million doses to Morocco on Royal Air Maroc," said a press release by CSMIA. As of 22 January, CSMIA has facilitated the movement of over 14.17 million doses of the Covishield vaccine across various international and domestic destinations, it mentioned. Since Wednesday, India has been sending COVID-19 vaccines under grant assistance to Bhutan, the Maldives, Bangladesh, Nepal, Myanmar, and Seychelles. Apart from the free grants, India is also undertaking contractual supplies of coronavirus vaccines to Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Brazil, and Morocco. MEA spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said supplies of coronavirus vaccines under grant assistance will be made to Sri Lanka, Mauritius, and Afghanistan after getting confirmation of regulatory clearances. "Acting East. Acting fast. Indian vaccines have arrived in Myanmar to contribute to our neighbour's inoculation efforts," External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar tweeted. "Indian vaccines reach Seychelles. That's what friends are for," he said in another tweet. 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. With inputs from PTI HOLYOKE Ten months after the coronavirus tore through the Soldiers Home in Holyoke, the head of the states National Guard contingent testified before a legislative oversight committee that he never received a call for help from the facility when the disease took hold in March. Maj. Gen. Gary W. Keefe, adjutant general of the Massachusetts National Guard and the new chairman of the Soldiers Home board of trustees, said he and 102 members of the guard arrived at the home late that month, when veterans began dying at an alarming rate, encountering carnage many staff have since recounted to a litany of investigators. Former Superintendent Bennett Walsh, forced to resign and facing criminal neglect charges, has said he implored the state for help. State officials have argued Walsh didnt ask emphatically enough, though emails provided by attorneys for Walsh tend to contradict that. Keefe said Thursday his unit never heard the call at all. We never received that request, Keefe told members of the joint committee, which was formed in the wake of the tragedy one of the deadliest long-term care facility outbreak in the country. The disclosure seemed to highlight what has emerged as a potentially messy, complicated chain of command in state government that hindered swift action in response to the outbreak at the Holyoke facility. At least 76 veterans died between March and June, while dozens more patients and staff contracted the virus but survived. Thursdays hearing was the legislative committees fifth hearing since October on the crisis. It featured state officials, board members, union leaders and former interim Superintendent Val Liptak, who ran the home on an emergency basis after Walsh was suspended. The hearings focus was staffing, which many have argued was at low levels and contributed to the outbreak. Included in the roster was Health and Human Services Secretary Marylou Sudders, the top-level cabinet member who oversees the Holyoke and Chelsea soldiers homes for Gov. Charlie Baker. Sudders testified that what distinguished the Holyoke Soldiers Home from other long-term care facilities facing the virus was a lack of solid management, leading to a total collapse. Sen. John Velis, D-Westfield, a committee member and combat veteran who has emerged as an advocate for the facility and families of veterans, challenged Sudders on the hierarchy that includes the Department of Veterans Services. He pointed to a blistering report commissioned by Baker and authored by Boston attorney Mark Pearlstein that heaped blame for the death toll on upper management at the Soldiers Home and middle management for the state. Does it make sense to have that added layer of bureaucracy? Velis asked Sudders. The more people you have in that chain of command, the more instances of potential breakdown. Sudders stood behind the chain of command and highlighted the hasty reforms the state is pursuing, including a refresh of the Holyoke facility, staffing changes and a sprint toward a new, state-of-the-art home with a $300 million price tag. Some of Sudders own testimony suggested she was unfamiliar with the culture at the Holyoke Soldiers Home until the crisis, including haphazard staffing. I was frankly stunned that there wasnt a permanent schedule at the home, Sudders testified, referring to staffing plans, though she maintained the levels were adequate. Velis suggested Walshs call for help may have gotten lost in the tangled chain of command. In response to a request for comment, a spokeswoman for Sudders referred to a page in the Pearlstein report that concluded the call for the National Guard came to a halt with former Veterans Services Secretary Francisco Urena, whom Walsh emailed directly. Two days later, the cavalry arrived when other state leaders got wind of the magnitude of the crisis, the report says. It was bedlam, Keefe said of his first day there. It was clear there were a lot of dedicated, loving staff, but they feared for their lives. Theirs was a panicked response that was never practiced or trained. The Pearlstein report quoted employees and guardsmen who recounted a scene of sickly veterans being crammed into units with well ones, and patients being loaded into body bags like a maudlin drumbeat, with a refrigeration truck idling outside. Staff were calling in sick in droves out of fear, fatigue and illness, witnesses testified during previous hearings. While Keefes disclosure raised eyebrows among observers, a spokeswoman for Sudders said the reference was included in the Pearlstein report. But it seemed to be something different for Keefe to say it out loud. Baker has been staunchly supportive of Sudders leadership through the crisis. Others who testified Thursday included Cheryl Lussier Poppe, who has a long history with the soldiers homes, once serving as interim superintendent in Holyoke, superintendent of the Chelsea Soldiers Home and became secretary of Veterans Services after Urena was forced to resign. Poppe testified staffing levels at the home were adequate prior to the crisis and remain so, now that the number of residents hovers around 90. The facility has prevented new admissions, and veterans transferred during the outbreak to Holyoke Medical Center are now moving back into the home. The Soldiers Homes full census allows for about 240 veterans. Nursing leaders including Joan Miller, who remains at the home, said staff are traumatized and their problems have largely been ignored. The culture was often acrimonious, as if they were policing us, Miller testified of previous management. It was tough and it still is. Our interim administration is not helpful to us. Were told to get over it ... its in the past, Miller said, citing staff who have PTSD diagnoses and are on medication for depression and anxiety. How are we going to help our vets with PTSD if we cant even help our staff? Trustee Kevin Jourdain, replaced as chairman by Keefe earlier this month, teed off on the Baker administration for trying to strong-arm the board. Jourdain became locked in a battle over hiring an interim administrator, and trumped the administration. The message was: Youre nice people, but were running this and youre largely ceremonial, Jourdain testified, also taking a shot at Baker for stacking the board with guardsmen, who are Baker employees. Among the last to testify was Liptak. Her testimony was undramatic and her assessment of staffing measured. They have the positions but they lack the programs, she told committee members, also referring to a flawed management infrastructure at the home. Editor Greg Saulmon contributed to this report. The CWC also passed three resolutions demanding a repeal of the three farm laws, a JPC probe into the Arnab Goswami WhatsApp chats and a free time-bound COVID-19 vaccination for the poor and oppressed sections of the society The Indian National Congress will elect a new president by June 2021 "at any cost", the party said on Friday with its working committee approving holding the internal election after the state Assembly polls. The committee after a three and a half-hour meeting authorised interim party chief Sonia Gandhi to schedule the internal election after the conclusion of assembly polls in five states, PTI said. The CWC passed three resolutions demanding a repeal of the three agriculture laws, a time-bound JPC probe into the alleged violations of national security and Official Secrets Act and another to ensure that the government ensures free time-bound COVID-19 vaccination for the poor and oppressed sections. Addressing a joint press conference, Congress leaders KC Venugopal and Randeep Surjewala said elections to the CWC will also be held but it remains to be seen whether they can be scheduled before or after the election to the Congress chief's post. According to PTI sourced told the news agency that the Central Election Authority had proposed the holding of polls for electing the party president and AICC session on 29 May, however, authorised Sonia Gandhi to schedule them after the Assembly polls. "The CWC decided that there will be an elected Congress President by June 2021 at any cost," AICC general secretary KC Venugopal said. He said the little change of schedule depending on the state elections will be decided soon. "The CWC discussed the schedule of Congress president's elections in May-end, proposed by its election authority. All CWC members unanimously requested Congress president that the internal elections should not interfere with the assembly elections." He said the Congress president was requested unanimously to reschedule AICC Plenary Session to the end of June 2021 and the Congress chief's election would be concluded by June 2021. "We will conduct elections as per the Constitution of the party. We need a change of schedule due to assembly polls as counting would be underway in May," he said. Arguments ensue over orgnisational polls According to an NDTV report, the election date was changed to after the Assembly polls following an argument between two groups in the party. One group, which included the 23 senior Congress leaders who had written to Sonia Gandhi demanding organisational overhaul, wanted early internal polls whereas the other group included Rahul Gandhi loyalists who wanted the internal polls after the state elections, the report said. According to PTI, there were reports about Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot hitting out at those demanding internal elections, saying the leaders should leave this to the party chief and focus on how to fight the Narendra Modi-led BJP. Anand Sharma objected to the tone of his remarks, dubbing it "disrespectful", the sources told PTI. However, when asked about any dissenting notes on the holding of elections, Surjewala said, "There was no dissent at the meeting." He added that leaders like Ghulam Nabi Azad, Anand Sharma, or P Chidambaram were not dissenters but senior members of the Congress party and were all unanimous in deciding to extend the election schedule a little. "There was no argument in the election schedule issue. The meeting was very fruitful. There is no dispute over conducting organisational election," Venugopal said. He said a little clarity was needed on whether the CWC election can be held before or after the Congress president's election. "We have to go to the constitution to look at that. The practice is to hold Congress president's election first and then the CWC election," he said. Congress passes three resolutions The virtual meeting chaired by party chief Sonia Gandhi started with her address. After the address, Sonia asked Venugopal to read out the Organisational Election Schedule sent by the chairperson of the Central Election Authority. The CEC chaired by Madhusudan Mistry has proposed that the AICC Session and the party president's election be held on 29 May, with the process of nomination filing starting in the month of May itself. The party's top leadership also discussed the current political situation in the wake of the farmers' agitation and the party's strategy ahead of the Budget Session of Parliament on various issues, including the leaked WhatsApp chats of Republic TV editor-in-chief Arnab Goswami. Sonia took over as the interim Congress president in August 2019 after Rahul Gandhi resigned in the wake of the party's Lok Sabha debacle in May 2019. With inputs from PTI Meghalaya: 6 migrant Workers dead after falling into pit in forest India oi-Deepika S Guwahati, Jan 22: Six migrant workers lost their lives after they fell into a 150-feet pit in a forest in Meghalaya's East Jaintia Hills. "Altogether, six persons were killed. While the workers were digging a hole in the mine, suddenly the mechanical structure dismantled following which they fell into a pit and died," Deputy Commissioner E Kharmalki said. Five of the six deceased have been identified, the official said, adding, most of them are from neighbouring Assam. Kharmalki said it was not clear yet whether the workers were engaged in coal mining or stone mining activities. Police has lodged a case against the employer and investigation is underway. In December 2018, 15 people were killed in a similar mine accident in the state. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, January 22, 2021, 17:09 [IST] A federal judge in Houston ordered the release Thursday of a former Houston Police Department officer charged this week in connection to the U.S. Capitol riots. Tam Pham who surrendered Wednesday on two misdemeanor charges was released from custody and ordered to surrender his U.S. and Vietnamese passports. He walked out of a Southern District of Texas courthouse on Rusk Street around 5 p.m. with his lawyer. His next court appearance is slated for Feb. 11 in Washington D.C., although federal authorities may allow him to appear remotely to avoid traveling amid the pandemic. U.S. Magistrate Judge Frances H. Stacy ordered Phams release on bond and asked that he return to the downtown Houston courthouse Friday to pay a $2,500 deposit. In a Zoom call, the judge noted that Pham was wearing street clothes a white buttoned-up shirt and white face covering in the federal courtroom. She prohibited Pham from contacting possible victims or witnesses from the Jan. 6 insurrection that has led the federal charges against more than 100 people across the country. Nicole DeBorde, Phams criminal defense lawyer, said his quick release was because the charges against him are low-level offenses at least less severe than what other accused rioters are facing following the deadly riots. Phams charges include knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority and violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds. Others arrested face charges ranging from carrying dangerous weapons to assault of a federal officer. Five people were killed in the attack, including a rioter and a U.S. Capitol Police officer. Prosecutors will have to prove whether Pham had a clear understanding and knew that he was not supposed to enter the Capitol building, DeBorde said. According to court documents, Pham told FBI agents that he followed a large crowd to the building, crossed a barricade and knocked-over fence and that he also ignored a group of police officers. He then entered the building and took pictures of himself as insurrectionists milled about the Rotunda. Time stamps on his photos placed him in the Capitol building from at least 2:50 p.m. to 2:59 p.m. more than a half hour after the mob breached the building and forced lawmakers into hiding during the Electoral College vote certification. By the time Phams photos had been taken, a rioter had also been shot and killed near the House chamber. Pham, who served with HPD for 18 years, is not allowed to posses firearms as the case proceeds, the judge ordered. The former officer told the magistrate that he does not have any guns in his house, which he shares with his wife and children. He is also not required to wear GPS monitoring while out on bond, the judge stated. DeBorde has said her client is a devout Buddhist who does not share the same political ideology as those who violently breached the Capitol. He believes that President Biden was elected in a free and fair election, she said this week. Police officials have since started an audit of Phams arrests and his body-worn camera footage from over the years to check for possible irregularities. nicole.hensley@chron.com BUDAPEST (Reuters) - Hungary cannot lift restrictions to curb the spread of the coronavirus until it can carry out a mass inoculation of the people, Prime Minister Viktor Orban told state radio on Friday. Orban said the best approach was to authorise the use of several vaccines as competition would force manufacturers to speed up shipments. "We don't need explanations, we need vaccines," Orban said, adding that he hoped Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto, who is in Moscow for talks on Friday, can secure a deal to buy Russia's Sputnik V vaccine. Hungary's drug regulator has given initial approval for the use of Britain's AstraZeneca and Russia's Sputnik V vaccines against the coronavirus. Hungary would be the first European Union member to receive the Sputnik V shot, which the EU's medicines regulator has yet to green-light, underlining Budapest's rush to lift coronavirus lockdown measures in order to boost the economy. The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has also not approvedthe vaccine developed by AstraZeneca and OxfordUniversity in Britain but a decision is expected on Jan. 29. Hungary is also in talks with China's Sinopharm to buy its coronavirus vaccine. Orban said it was too early to talk about lifting restrictions. Since Nov. 11, all secondary schools have been closed in Hungary, as have hotels and restaurants except for takeaway meals, a 1900 GMT curfew has been in place, and gatherings have been banned. He said once healthcare workers, elderly people, and those working in defence efforts against the pandemic have been inoculated, then a discussion can start about returning to normality. (Reporting by Krisztina Than; Editing by Jacqueline Wong and Catherine Evans) 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. For an industry rife with transient workers, Goulburn Valley fruit grower Peter Hall says he has employed some fruit pickers at his orchards for more than 15 years. He says efficient and dedicated workers who adapt quickly to the intense physical labour have earned enough to set up their families in Shepparton. Fredo Gedeon picking royal gala apples on Fruit grower Peter Halls property. Credit:Justin McManus Mr Hall employs a mix of Pacific Islanders, locals and backpackers (under normal circumstances) to pick plums, apples, pears and pomegranate at his orchards, in addition to 20 permanent workers. During busy periods there may be up to 100 seasonal workers in his business, which stretches across 400 hectares in Toolamba in the Goulburn Valley. Its pretty challenging for someone who hasnt done physical labour before. Mr Hall pays most workers by the hour. But many pickers across the industry are paid by the bin, which holds about 380 kilograms of apples. About $40 a bin is a typical minimum payment for size picking apples in which fruit larger than a specified size is plucked from the trees. A lower minimum rate may be paid for strip picking in which all fruit is taken from the tree regardless of size and colour. Pay rates vary significantly between different fruit categories and the complexity of the picking job. Mr Hall, who says he pays more than the typical minimum piecework rate, estimates three to four bins is a normal days work but that varies wildly depending on skill level and competent pickers usually ask for a piece rate. I have in the same orchard one person who will pick two bins a day and the person beside him will pick eight. Fresh apples ready to be sold to supermarkets. Credit:Justin McManus But Mr Hall said he doubted the state governments plan to allow 1500 Pacific Islanders to work in Victoria would be enough to stop fruit rotting on trees. We were looking for about 20,000, he says. There will be growers particularly in those peak harvest periods where fruit will not be able to be picked in a marketable condition. It will be left on the tree or drop on its own. Victorian Trades Hall secretary Luke Hilakari says farmers have had to resort to foreign seasonal workers because the pay is low and the work can be dangerous. The offer that farmers are putting forward is unattractive to most working people, he says. Victorian Trades Hall Council secretary Luke Hilakari says farm work is often poorly paid and dangerous. Credit:Simon Schluter Mr Hilakari says larger operators tend to abide by industrial laws, but underpayment is also rife, with some unscrupulous operators inflicting severe damage to the sectors reputation. The union movement wants piecework scrapped altogether. Mr Hilakari says he is aware of one case where a worker earned just $40 a week after paying for accommodation and transport. Fair Work guidelines specify that the average competent pieceworker must be able to earn at least 15 per cent more than they would on the hourly rate. The piece rate must be agreed, in theory, between the grower and picker. The remote nature of the work is another complicating factor, with employees generally required to pay for their own accommodation even if it is supplied onsite, although there is a federal subsidy to cover some costs for Australians. Fruit Growers Victoria spokesman Michael Crisera says Pacific Islanders have delivered a reliable workforce for farmers. Theres a level of certainty that the workers will come back the next day, he says. He says many local workers find the job extremely physically taxing - particularly carrying heavy bags of fruit up and down ladders on hot days. Its a job where people have got to be suited to it. Youve got to be physically fit and prepared to work outdoors. Rien Silverstein, who grows fruit in Orrvale near Shepparton, insists pickers can earn good money. But she says she had heard of labour hire contractors who house workers in overcrowded conditions, charge exorbitant rents and refuse to pay properly. Rien Silverstein with husband Maurice at their farm in Orrvale. Credit:Justin McManus It has to be pretty desperate for us to get a contractor, she says. We only use bona fide contractors. Leleiga Fetui travelled from Samoa to work on Ms Silversteins property. He says he has saved enough money to support his family back home. Since Ive been here Ive started up a milk bar back home, bought a house and extended my house, he says. Mr Fetui had planned on returning to Samoa last May but has been unable to get back due to border closures. He has kept working on the Orrvale farm ever since. Fruit picker Leleiga Fetui. at work in Orrvale. Credit:Justin McManus Brighton university student Jake Pudel returned to Melbourne on Wednesday after more than six weeks of fruit picking in the Shepparton region. He used a contractor to find jobs and worked on about five different farms for the first two weeks, picking apricots and cherries and thinning plum and apple trees. Mr Pudel says his pay ended up at $12 an hour on a bad day, but later earned $24.80 an hour in a greenhouse. He considered the experience a work adventure but would probably not do it again. It was a very valuable experience. As a university student from Melbourne its important for us to understand where our fruit comes from. GRAND RAPIDS, MI A Michigan man who allegedly entered the U.S. Capitol Building during the Jan. 6 insurrection will stay locked up pending transfer to Washington, D.C., to face charges. Karl Dresch, 40, is charged with obstructing an official proceeding, a 20-year felony, and misdemeanors of knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds and violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds. U.S. Magistrate Judge Marteen Vermaat was concerned about firearms and ammunition Dresch had in his Calumet home in the Upper Peninsula and statements he made on Facebook, both while in Washington and after he returned home. The FBI recovered an SKS rifle with an unattached bayonet, a shotgun and a .40-caliber Glock handgun, along with ammunition for the firearms, in a search of his home. Dresch, with a 2013 felony conviction for fleeing and eluding police in Wisconsin, was not allowed to possess firearms. There was no evidence presented Friday to show that Dresch brought firearms to Washington but Assistant U.S. Attorney Theodore Greeley said that an Atlanta Braves backpack Dresch had on Capitol grounds was found containing ammunition during the search of his house. It also held a bus card from Washington and a walkie-talkie, Greeley said. Dresch attended a rally for then-President Donald Trump on the morning before lawmakers were to confirm the Electoral College vote for President Joe Biden. After the rally, a large crowd gathered outside the Capitol Building before a riot broke out and many rushed the building. Five people died, including a Capitol Police officer. The melee delayed the count for several hours. Vice President Mike Pence was presiding. Trump wanted Pence to reject the votes but Pence said he had no authority to do so. The next morning, Dresch allegedly wrote on Facebook: Mike Pence gave our country to the communist hordes, traitor scum like the rest of them, we have your back give the word and we will be back even stronger. Dresch, who has large Trump 2020 banners on the front of his house, said in late November there would be war everywhere if we let the election get stolen, the prosecutor said. Trump, who lost the popular vote by 7 million votes, long claimed the election was stolen. He was impeached for allegedly inciting his supporters to charge the Capitol Building. Beth LaCosse, an assistant federal defender, acknowledged that Dresch does have some strong political views, but said he should be released on bond. He has a child and other family members in the area and has stayed out of trouble. She said he could be released on electronic tether and would travel to Washington when required by the court there. She said there was no evidence that her client had guns at the Capitol Building. He took photos but there was no evidence he was disruptive, either, she said. Still, the judge was concerned about the firearms, his statements on Facebook and the conviction for fleeing and eluding police in 2013. Police in Wisconsin tried to stop him as speeds reached 145 mph before he was finally stopped in Michigan, the prosecutor said. Read more: Michigan man arrested in Capitol attack posted updates on Facebook, FBI says Patriots in the Capitol building, wrote Michigan man now jailed for insurrection Criminal charges under review after Confederate statue tarred and feathered, painted with clown makeup Posted Thursday, January 21, 2021 4:41 pm Teachers and other school staff returning to in-person school in Washington state could be eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine earlier than expected. Changes to the state Department of Health vaccination plan by Gov. Jay Inslee on Monday moved the state into Phase 1B of the plan, allowing everyone over the age of 65 to receive the vaccine. The changes also created flexibility for providers administering the vaccine starting in Phase 1B Tier 2. Prior to the changes, only teachers 50 and older were eligible to receive the vaccine, and all other teachers had to wait until Tier 4. Now, providers can combine Tiers 2 and 4, making all school staff eligible for the vaccine regardless of age. Health officials hope to transition to Tiers 2-4 in late winter or early spring. The changes are alleviating some concerns from district officials and educators around returning to school, but worries about supply of vaccines remain. "This is an important step in our efforts to make in-person learning as safe as possible," Larry Delaney, president of the Washington Education Association, told The News Tribune in an email. "Still, the timeline for educators to get access to the vaccine remains unclear because of ongoing supply problems. The vaccine is a key piece of a school safety plan that must include full implementation of Labor & Industries requirements and Department of Health guidelines." In Pierce County, superintendents signed onto a letter to Tacoma-Pierce County health director Dr. Anthony Chen earlier this month, stating the Department of Health guidelines were "too rigid" and requesting assistance to prioritize COVID-19 vaccinations for all K-12 educators and staff. Tacoma Public Schools Superintendent Carla Santorno, who signed the letter, said that vaccinating all staff at the same time isn't about making it easier to open schools since vaccinations aren't required for schools to open. Rather, Santorno said she feels teachers who are working in schools and teaching in person need to get the vaccinated just as much as teachers 65 years and older teaching virtually through Tacoma Online. Sumner-Bonney Lake School District Superintendent Laurie Dent echoed that vaccinations aren't required and some staff have already been in classrooms working with students without a vaccine. Those staff members expressed that getting the vaccine would give them an "added peace of mind," she said. "When staff learned the news about being made a priority for vaccination, I heard they were relieved that all school employees would be eligible for the vaccine at the same time, no matter their age," Dent said in an email. "Now we need an organized process and coordinated effort at the state level to distribute the COVID-19 vaccine so that every staff member feels comfortable and protected." Bethel Superintendent Tom Seigel said changes to the state guidance will jump start school in terms of "alleviating concern by some of the teachers about their health," but added that until staff are administered the vaccine, he expects ongoing concerns. State Superintendent Chris Reykdal echoed that sentiment in a letter to superintendents and stakeholders on Monday. He applauded the revised vaccination plan but said getting all school employees vaccinated quickly is ambitious and depends on the available supply of the vaccine and infrastructure to deploy it. "We do not know exactly when there will be enough vaccines available to move to phase B2 B4, but it will likely be when about 50% of those in B1 have received their first dose of the vaccine," Reykdal said in the letter. State legislators also signed a bipartisan letter to Inslee earlier this month, urging the governor to revise his guidance so that "all school employees who wish to get a vaccination can receive one." One of the supporters of the letter, State Sen. Brad Hawkins, the ranking Republican member on the Senate Early Learning and K-12 Education Committee, said he was grateful for the change by the governor and encouraged a "School Employee Vaccination Day" as the next step. A Department of Health spokesperson told The News Tribune that if tiers are combined to include all school staff, providers should do so in a way that "promotes equity" in other words, starting with schools with the highest percentage of children who are on free or reduced lunch, schools that are located in an area with higher risk for social vulnerability to COVID-19 and staff who support learning for children with special health care needs. When asked if school districts must petition providers to offer the vaccinations, DOH said there is no petition process but providers should "read our prioritization and allocation guide thoroughly to make sure their clinic is meeting the risk protection intent of the state plan." Asked about vaccinations on Wednesday, Tacoma Public Schools spokesperson Dan Voelpel said the district notified all employees 65 or older they are eligible to get the vaccine. Voelpel said the district still is looking for clarity around timing and requirements. Seigel said the district has offered all of its Bethel schools to the county as possible vaccination sites but hasn't been given a timeline. "We don't have control over who's got the vaccine and who's got the needles," he said. "But we're ready to serve in any way possible to get everybody immunized that wants to be immunized." Olympian reporter Sara Gentzler contributed to this report. ___ (c)2021 The News Tribune (Tacoma, Wash.) Visit The News Tribune (Tacoma, Wash.) at www.TheNewsTribune.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Health Minister Robin Swann has said jailing people for repeatedly flouting coronavirus rules would be "proportionate" and he will be raising the possibility of it with the Executive. Mr Swann also vented his disgust at a Sinn Fein MLA's comments suggesting military personnel in NI hospitals would "get in the way of real professionals saving people's lives". He said they appeared at odds with the Sinn Fein leadership. First Minister Arlene Foster has welcomed the military intervention. "These people will be as professional as the next medical person, and I think it's wrong to try and impugn that they won't have that professionalism," she said. Responding to a judge's comments punishments could be stronger and people jailed for breaking coronavirus laws, Mr Swann said it was unfortunate the Executive had to move to legislating for fines and increasing penalties. He said he would look at anything in a bid to enforce compliance and the Executive would not be found wanting in toughening up penalties for breaking the rules, but urged people to comply. "We would rather people do it voluntarily rather than having to go down that line," he told the BBC's Good Morning Ulster. If we have to go that step further I don't think the Executive will be found wanting. Robin Swann He stressed it was a small minority of people flouting the rules. Asked if he would toughen the legislation following the judge's frustration he could not jail repeat offenders, Mr Swann added: "I am open to looking at everything. "I suppose is a proportionate response and reaction the Executive will take and I am content enough to raise it with Executive colleagues. I will ask the justice minister to have a look at that." "If we have to go that step further I don't think the Executive will be found wanting. But it is unfortunate. It is a small minority.. the public know this is a big ask." The health minister also expressed his "disappointed and disgust" at comments from Sinn Fein MLA Pat Sheehan that military personnel in hospitals could "get in the way of real professionals in saving people's health". Mr Sheehan said he had no real concerns over the call for military assistance. Michelle O'Neill has said the issue should not be used as a political football and her party's priority was to "save lives" and efforts to make the threat posed by Covid "into a green and orange issue is divisive and a distraction". "This is slamming the dead cat on the table to deflect attention away from the inadequacies of the health department at the moment," Mr Sheehan told Stormont's health committee. Read More Robin Swann said he always found Pat Sheehan's contributions in the Health Committee as "constructively challenging". "But I am disappointed at the language yesterday which is not reflective of his party leadership in regards to the assistance we are receiving," he said. The health minister said those medics drafted in to help were professionals. "These are military-grade technicians that we are bringing in. It was a skillset not available to us previously and that our health professionals are welcoming." He said he was dedicated to improving the health service which had been underfunded over the last number of years. He said the health service was only on its feet due to the dedication of it staff. "This is not an indictment on our current health service, it is an indictment on its under investment." We are seeing cases comes down, but that is from a very high point. Robin Swann His comments come as the Royal College of Surgeons said 275 people with "red-flag" cancer have had surgery cancelled in the past week. Sinn Fein has been asked for a comment. On the Executive's move to extend the current lockdown until March Mr Swann said it was not an easy decision to extend restrictions. He said it would be "unrealistic" to expect all restrictions to be eased and planning had to be put in place for consideration of lockdown extended to Easter. "We are seeing cases comes down, but that is from a very high point," he said. "It will take time for them to work through our system as we know how this virus works." He appeared to dismiss tightening restrictions, instead saying compliance could be better. "This is about the input and the buy in we get from the people of Northern Ireland ... The more chains of infection we can break over the next few weeks the fewer cases we have and the better chance we have of coming out of this." DALLAS, Jan. 22, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Cognitus Consulting announces the launch of Gallop Talent Intelligence powered by LiveHire. Gallop Talent Intelligence, an SAP-certified package for Talent Management, covers all aspects of talent acquisition to attract, engage, pipeline, and retain talent faster into any business. In times of Digital Transformation and global pandemics, accurate and precise methods of talent acquisition have become a necessity in companies that want to stay ahead of the curve. Gallop Talent Management package digitizes the candidate hiring experience for both permanent and contractual positions. It leverages AI and Machine Learning to curate and sort candidates by role and matches candidates to requisitions, filling shortlists in minutes. This award-winning solution delivers a mobile optimized platform for talent acquisition and management that can be integrated with SuccessFactors and SAP Fieldglass, offering a comprehensive HCM solution. The certified packaged solution is developed jointly by Cognitus and LiveHire, a leading recruitment and talent mobility software company based in Australia. "Cognitus' mission is to bring people and technology together, which deeply aligns with LiveHire's mission to empower the flow of the world's talent through a more humanized, technology-enabled experience for candidates and recruiters alike." - Christy Forest, CEO, LiveHire. "This is a must have solution for businesses to source and manage the best talent. LiveHire builds a Talent Community which connects recruiters and candidates within minutes and SAP HXM solutions ensure a well engaged and managed workforce." - Nitin Khanna, Partner and GTM Lead, Cognitus Consulting. About LiveHire Launched in 2012, LiveHire began as a marketplace connecting employers and talent on-demand in the mining and resource sector. Today, LiveHire helps Australia's biggest brands connect to engaged talent through the curation of Live Talent Communities. Their award-winning platform transforms the traditional recruitment process into a digital, new age process reducing the hiring time cycle significantly. About Cognitus Cognitus Consulting is an SAP Gold Partner that implements, deploys, sells and supports SAP solutions, in addition to building apps in the SAP ecosystem. Cognitus provides SAP implementation services and software licenses through its global network of offices across North America, Asia, Latin America, and Europe. It is a world leader in the S/4HANA Movement with its Gallop portfolio focusing on S/4HANA assessments, factory delivered migrations from legacy systems, and guided outcomes for specific business process improvements. Visit us: www.cognitusconsulting.com Contact us: [email protected] Related Images image1.png SOURCE Cognitus Consulting No media source currently available The URL has been copied to your clipboard The code has been copied to your clipboard. The United States is deeply concerned over Vietnams conviction and sentencing of three members of the Independent Journalists Association of Vietnam. Photo: Contributed A victim of sexual abuse at the hands of a teacher in the 1980s has secured an apology and $1.1 million in damages from the Prince George school district. The terms were part of an out-of-court settlement reached with Michael Bruneau, nearly four years after he filed a lawsuit seeking damages for the abuse he suffered at the hands of Wendell Diakiw, who taught at Austin Road elementary school in the 1970s and 1980s. Had the school district not included an apology, Bruneau said he would have gone ahead with taking the matter to trial. As it stands, Bruneau was pleased with the school district's response. "The school district handled it so well and really did the right thing, which is unheard of, and I really want the news to reflect that and set a new precedent for other institutions to do the same," Bruneau said in an interview. According to a statement issued Thursday by Beckett Personal Injury Lawyers, the $1.1-million payout is understood to be the largest reported settlement of an individual teacher abuse case in British Columbia and will be covered by School District 57's insurer. Bruneau was a Grade 6 student at Austin Road when, according to the statement, the abuse began and continued for three years in the mid-1980s. In 1986, Bruneau, then 16, attended Diakiws house with a tape recorder and secured a taped confession which led to police charges. In 1987, Diakiw was charged with a range of sexual offences in relation to six students, including Bruneau, and was sentenced to five years in jail later the same year. Bruneau was among four alleged victims for which Aaron Lealess, a lawyer at Beckett, had filed lawsuits against Diakiw and School District 57. The other three have also settled out of court but with the terms undisclosed due to confidentiality agreements. After living away from Prince George for 30 years, Bruneau has since moved back to the city. He expressed a degree of closure with the settlement and particularly the letter of apology. "It's a big shift in my thinking too, like the anger," Bruneau said. "Now it's a big thank you, I mean that's a huge difference." Alabama law requiring proof of sex reassignment surgery before ID change is unconstitutional: judge Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment 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." An artist's impression of the VF33, a new self-driving electric SUV manufactured by VinFast. Photo courtesy of VinFast. Vietnamese automaker VinFast introduced Friday three new electric self-driving car models that will hit the market this year. The rollout of the new models is part of its plan to become a global major in electric car manufacturing. Two of the three models, all SUVs, also have a fuel version, the company said in a release. The cars, named VF31, VF32 and VF33, have several self-driving systems including steering assistance, adaptive lane control and automatic parking. An artist's impression of the interior of VF33. Photo courtesy of VinFast. Depending on the model, the electric cars can go 300-500 kilometers per full charge. The premium versions of these cars have 14 cameras capable of detecting objects nearly 690 meters away, and the company claims its self-driving system is eight times faster than that of existing self-driving car models. The cars can find their own parking spots and can be summoned by drivers when needed. VinFast said the cars meet the highest safety standards in the world including a five-star rating of the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and a five-star rating of the European New Car Assessment Programme. The standard version of the VF31 can be ordered in Vietnam starting this May and will be delivered in November. For the VF32 and VF33 models, customers can order starting September and delivery will begin in February 2022. The company will also sell these cars in the U.S., Canada and the E.U. with orders opening in November and delivery in June next year. VinFast, a unit of Vietnams biggest private conglomerate Vingroup, entered the auto industry three years ago. It has an auto plant in the northern province of Hai Phong and research and development centers in Australia, Germany and the U.S. The company said the manufacturing of electric bikes, buses and cars is part of its strategy to become a favorable hi-tech auto manufacturer in the global market and to help develop green transportation by reducing emissions. Right before the New Year, a Chinese court sentenced Early Rain Church Pastor Wang Yi to nine years in prison for "inciting subversion of state power" and "illegal business activities." In addition to prison, Wang is deprived of his "political rights" for three years and his personal property (approximately $7,200 worth) will be confiscated. Thirteen years ago, Wang was in the White House discussing the state of religious freedom in China with then-President George W. Bush. Today he is a symbol of just how perilous it is for religious minorities in China. In fact, given the new regulations to be imposed on religious communities beginning Feb. 1, 2020, Wang's imprisonment is only a prelude to what lies ahead for Chinese Christians and other religious minorities. As summarized by the Catholic website Asia News: "Religious organizations must spread the principles and policies of the Chinese Communist Party, as well as national laws, regulations, rules to religious personnel and religious citizens, educating religious personnel and religious citizens to support the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party, supporting the socialist system, adhering to and following the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics ..." If that sounds like China will now force religious organizations to be organs of the Communist Party, that's because China is forcing religious organization to be organs of the Communist Party. As a Catholic priest told Asia News, "In practice, your religion no longer matters, if you are Buddhist, or Taoist, or Muslim or Christian: the only religion allowed is faith in the Chinese Communist Party." Asia News summed up the new regulations this way: "Every aspect of the life of religious communities a from formation, gatherings to annual and daily projects a is subject to approval by the government's religious affairs department." Back in November, I argued on BreakPoint that what drives the repression of religious minorities and democracy activists in China is the Communist Party's insecurity about its own weakness. For example, contrast the way Beijing is treating Christians with how they treat technology giant Huawei. Setting aside the inherent contradiction of billionaires in a socialist system, companies like Huawei enjoy freedoms that churches can only dream about. In its battle with the United States, Huawei has publicly distanced itself from the Communist Party and insisted that its equipment has "never been used, and will never be used, to spy" for Beijing. The point is not whether you believe Huawei a which, for the record, you shouldn't a it's that Beijing does not require Huawei to toe many of the same ideological lines as religious organizations. Why? Because firms like Huawei and other Chinese e-commerce giants like Alibaba do not threaten the legitimacy of the Communist Party rule, but pastor Wang Yi does. "Socialism with Chinese characteristics," apparently, can handle a man who makes billions of dollars, but not a man who claims "Jesus is Lord." "We can't compete with the megachurch in our town!", "A new church was started two blocks from us. We've got plenty of churches without them!", "The church brought another one of their campuses near us. It's totally unethical what they are doing." As Time magazine said bluntly, "China feels threatened by the spread of Christianity." As they should. There are significantly more Christians in China than Communist Party members, even though the latter comes with material benefits and security, while the former comes with increasing persecution. As Willy Law of the Chinese University of Hong Kong told Time magazine, "[The Chinese government] is afraid that more people ... are turning to the church for their spiritual needs and not to official nationalism and patriotism." In other words, Beijing's attempt to co-opt churches for its own ends is a tacit admission of its own weakness. Unfortunately, this weakness makes them more dangerous, not less. Since 2020 promises to be such a hard year for our Chinese brethren, they should be at the top our concerns and certainly our prayer lists, starting with Wang Yi. Given the increasingly dire situation for Christians in China, it's particularly fitting (and I am honored to announce) that the 2020 William Wilberforce Award will be given to Pastor Bob Fu, founder and President of China Aid. The ceremony will take place at this year's Wilberforce Weekend, May 14-17. Come hear from and honor this courageous Chinese Christian leader, and learn from other leading Christian thinkers, like Os Guinness, Lee Strobel, Obianuju Ekeosha, and Andy Crouch. Register here. This piece was originally published at BreakPoint. From BreakPoint. Reprinted with the permission of the Colson Center for Christian Worldview. All rights reserved. May not be reproduced or distributed without the express written permission the Colson Center for Christian Worldview. "BreakPoint" and "The Colson Center for Christian Worldview" are registered trademarks of The Colson Center for Christian Worldview. Courtesy of The Christian Post An Uber driver who raped a teenager he picked up and kept her license as a trophy has been jailed for seven years. Sakaria Taufao, 51, from New Zealand, was sentenced on Friday after a jury found him guilty of sexually assaulting the 18-year-old in Ipswich on September 5, 2015. Last December, he was found not guilty of three other counts of rape relating to another passenger in 2017 - but details of that case were kept secret from the jury in his most recent trial. Taufao had lured the drunk girl into his car as she walked home from the Club Metro nightclub in Ipswich about midnight by asking her if she wanted a lift. Uber driver Sakaria Taufao, 51, from New Zealand, was jailed for seven years for luring an 18-year-old girl into his car then raping her in the back seat in 2015 He then switched off his Uber app which disabled the service's GPS tracking, before driving her to an isolated dirt road at Redbank Plains and violating her in the back seat of his BMW sedan, the court heard. Taufao, supported in court by his three daughters, had pleaded not guilty to one count of rape but the jury found him guilty after half a day of deliberations. Police had previously investigated Taufao for a sexual assault allegation in July 2017, ABC News reported. When investigating that complaint, detectives found the driver's license of the teenage victim which he had kept as a souvenir in the console of his car. The 18-year-old victim only made her official complaint after investigators contacted her after finding the license. The jury found Taufao guilty after half a day of deliberations In the second, separate complaint, Taufao was charged with three counts of rape after police alleged he attacked a 23-year-old female passenger in an isolated area of Brisbane. Police alleged Taufao had assaulted her three times in isolated streets of The Gap as he drove her home from Fortitude Valley in July 2017. Taufao was found not guilty of all three charges in a separate trial last December. To ensure a fair trial, the information was kept from the jury as it deliberated over the separate rape charges involving the 18-year-old girl. After being found guilty of raping the 18-year-old in 2015, Judge Michael Burnett handed down a seven-year sentence describing Taufao's offending as 'calculated and predatory', taking advantage of a drunk and vulnerable young girl. 'He used and abused his role as an Uber driver to lure her into his vehicle,' he said. 'She was intoxicated, she was fearful, she was intimidated,' he said. The New Zealand citizen has already served three-and-a-half years in custody and so is already eligible for parole. He will, however, be deported on his release. For 24-hour sexual violence support call the national hotline 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or MensLine on 1800 600 636 Colorado is launching an education campaign to encourage Black and Latino seniors to get vaccinated, in the wake of a survey that shows only about 50% of women in those populations are comfortable with getting vaccinated. 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. It is now the third year that gray whales have been found in very poor condition or dead in large numbers along the west coast of Mexico, USA and Canada. A new international study now suggests that starvation is contributing to these mortalities. It's mid-January 2021, and the first gray whales from the eastern North Pacific population have started to arrive in the breeding lagoons in Baja California, Mexico. Since the start of their southbound migration from their high latitude feeding grounds, several sightings of emaciated gray whales have already been reported along their migration route. This has raised concern among scientists that the unusual mortality event (UME, an unexpected phenomenon during which a significant number of a marine mammal population dies), that started in January 2019, and which so far has resulted in 378 confirmed gray whale deaths, and possibly many more unrecorded, is entering its third year. The gray whale - the longest migrating mammal The gray whale (Eschrichtius robustus) is the only living species in the family Eschrichtiidae, in honour of the Danish zoologist Daniel Frederik Eschricht. Gray whales undertake annual migrations between feeding grounds in the Bering, Chukchi, and Arctic Seas, and breeding grounds from the Southern California Bight to lagoons along the Pacific coast of Baja California, Mexico. During the summer feeding season, between May and October, the whales build up large amount of energy reserves, mainly in the form of blubber, to support the energetic costs of migration and while residing on the breeding grounds. Sufficient energy reserves is crucial for the reproduction and survival of gray whales, which do not feed during the migration and breeding season. Mary Lou Jones and Steven Swartz, co-author on the current paper, conducted the first research and monitoring of the gray whales from 1977 to 1982 in Laguna San Ignacio (LSI) in Baja California Sur, Mexico. In 2006 with their colleague Dr Jorge Urban, co-author on the current paper, they initiated the Laguna San Ignacio Ecosystem Science Program (LSIESP), a project of the Ocean Foundation, which is a partnership with the Universidad Autonoma de Baja California Sur (UABCS) and international collaborators. Drones - the bathroom scales of the whales In 2017, Dr Fredrik Christiansen from the Aarhus Institute of Advanced Studies and the Dept. of Zoology at Aarhus University, and Professor Lars Bejder from the University of Hawai'i at Manoa, joined LSIESP to study the body condition of gray whales with the use of drone photogrammetry. The technique involves measuring the body length and width of gray whales from vertical photographs taken by drones above the whales, from which a measure of relative body condition (or fatness) of individual whales can be obtained. Already in the second year of sampling, the researchers found a marked decline in the body condition of juvenile and adult gray whales visiting Laguna San Ignacio. The decline was also visible in 2019, at the start of the current UME. The decline in body condition also coincided with a drop in the number of mother-calf pairs sighted in Laguna San Ignacio, which indicated a reduction in the reproductive rate of female gray whales. A similar UME occurred in 1999-2000, when 651 gray whales were recorded dead along the west coast of North America. During that two-year event, the gray whale population declined with about 25% from about 21,000 animals in 1998 to about 16,000 in 2002. It is yet unknown what effects the current UME is having on the eastern North Pacific population. Starvation, decline in prey availability and warming of the Arctic While the study by Dr Fredrik Christiansen and colleagues suggests that the decline in survival and reproductive rates of gray whale during the current UME was caused by starvation, the underlying factors that caused this reduction in body condition has not yet been determined. The fact that gray whales in 2018 and 2019 arrived on their Mexican breeding grounds already in significantly poorer body condition, indicates that this decline must have occurred either during the previous feeding season and/or during the southbound migration. "It appears that a large number of gray whales are leaving their feeding grounds already in a poor nutritional state and by the time they have completed the breeding season in Mexico they have depleted their energy reserves and starve to death", says Dr Fredrik Christiansen. A decline in prey availability on the main feeding grounds is hence the most probably explanation for the current UME. Since the late 1980s, there has been a decline in the abundance and biomass of amphipods, the main prey for gray whales, in the central Chirikov Basin, the main feeding area for gray whales in the Bering Sea. This in turn is believed to be caused by warming of Arctic waters as a result of natural and/or human-induced climate change. If that is the case, UMEs like this one might become more frequent, which could result in a decline in gray whale numbers in coming decades. As the world keeps struggling with the Covid-19 pandemic, LSIESP researchers are preparing for the 2021 field season in Laguna San Ignacio to hopefully get one step closer to understanding the full extent of the current gray whale UME. ### Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. Students and supporters rally in support of DACA recipients on the day the Supreme Court hears arguments in DACA case in Los Angeles, Calif., on Nov. 12, 2019. (Mario Tama/Getty Images) Florida Bill to End $45 Million College Tuition Subsidy for Illegal Immigrants A new bill introduced in the Florida legislature on Thursday would repeal a 2014 law that grants subsidized in-state tuition rates for illegal immigrants at the states public colleges and universities. Florida currently offers out-of-state tuition waivers for college students who came to the United States illegally. To be eligible for the waiver, such students must have attended a secondary school within the state for three consecutive years, applied to college within two years after high school graduation, and submitted a transcript from a Florida high school as proof of attendance and graduation. They also cannot receive an out-of-state tuition waiver and state aid at the same time. The bill, if passed as is, will make illegal immigrants ineligible for Floridas in-state tuition benefits. With a multi-billion dollar projected budget deficit, Florida can no longer afford to spend $45 million a year on college and university subsidies for families who came to this country illegally, said Republican state Rep. Randy Fine, who introduced the bill. Fine argued that his bill is not meant to penalize students for bad decisions made by their parents, but the financial situation is forcing the state to prioritize its legal residents. With President [Joe] Bidens proposed new immigration policy rewarding illegal immigration, this financial burden will only get larger, he said. We need to put Floridians first, and I am proud to do my part to do so. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, 16 states have enacted laws to provide in-state tuition benefits for certain illegal immigrant students, typically saving them one-half to two-thirds off of the cost of out-of-state tuition. The proposed Florida bill comes as Biden, on his first day in White House, signed a memorandum directing the Secretary of Homeland Security to take actions aimed at preserving and fortifying the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program created by the Obama administration in 2012. The DACA program provides protection from deportation and renewable work permits to illegal immigrants who were brought to the United States as children, a group that includes many current college students. The Supreme Court in June blocked President Donald Trumps attempt to end the DACA program. In a divided 5-4 decision, the Court said the Trump administration could legally end the program but failed to provide proper justification for doing so. A New York federal judge eventually ordered the Homeland Security Department to once again accept new DACA applications, fully restoring the program. The DACA program is currently being challenged by a pending lawsuit filed in a Texas federal court. A coalition of nine states, led by Texas, argued that the program should be terminated because President Barack Obama did not have the authority to bypass Congress to create it. WASHINGTON The House and Senate on Thursday overwhelmingly approved a special waiver to allow Lloyd J. Austin III, a retired four-star Army general, to serve as secretary of defense, eliminating a hurdle to confirmation for a crucial member of President Bidens national security team who is poised to become the first Black American to lead the Pentagon. In back-to-back votes, lawmakers in both parties approved the special dispensation for General Austin to hold the post, as required for any defense secretary who has been retired from active-duty military service for fewer than seven years. Leaders set a vote for Friday morning to confirm him. The flurry of activity on Capitol Hill and the pressure exerted by top Democrats to push his confirmation through reflected the sense of urgency in the Biden administration to rapidly install General Austin as the defense secretary, a step normally taken on a presidents first day in office to signal the continuity of American power as the presidency changes hands. In the face of the many threats, both foreign and domestic, confronting our nation, it is essential that Secretary-designate Austin be immediately confirmed, Speaker Nancy Pelosi said. Blocking this waiver would be a mistake that, among other dangers, would delay the urgent work to be done to restore the independence and capabilities of the Defense Department, which we must do as soon as possible. A Pakistani Anti-Terrorism Court on Friday sentenced three leaders of Mumbai attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed's Jamaat-ud-Dawah (JuD) terrorist organisation to six months in prison in a case of terror financing. Saeed's brother-in-law Hafiz Abdur Rehman Makki, spokesperson Yahya Mujahid and Zafar Iqbal were handed down the six-month imprisonment each by the Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) Lahore. With Friday's sentencing, the collective imprisonment of Mujahid and Iqbal has climbed to 80 and 56 years respectively. The verdicts against them will run concurrently in the terror financing cases registered by the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) of the Punjab police. ATC-II Presiding Judge Arshad Hussain Bhutta announced the verdict in FIR No 32 of 2019 against Zafar Iqbal, Abdul Rehman Makki and Yahya Mujahid, a court official told PTI. The three convicts were present in the court when the judge announced the verdict, he said. The CTD had registered as many as 41 FIRs against the leaders of the JuD in different cities of Punjab, the court official said, adding that the trial courts have so far decided 37 cases. In a recent verdict, operation commander of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi was given a 15-year imprisonment on three counts in a case of terror financing. He will undergo a jail term of five years. Early this week, the ATC handed down 14-year imprisonment to each Iqbal and Mujahid while a six-month sentence to Makki in another terror financing case. The ATC has sentenced Saeed for a collective imprisonment of 36 years on terror finance charges in five cases so far. His jail terms will run concurrently. The LeT, led by JuD chief Saeed, is responsible for carrying out the 2008 Mumbai attack that killed 166 people, including six Americans. Saeed, a UN designated terrorist whom the US has placed a USD 10 million bounty on, was arrested on July 17 last year in the terror financing cases. The 70-year-old JuD chief is lodged at Lahore's high-security Kot Lakhpat jail. The US Department of the Treasury has designated Saeed as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist. He was listed under the UN Security Council Resolution 1267 in December 2008. The global terror financing watchdog Financial Action Task Force (FATF) is instrumental in pushing Pakistan to take measures against terrorists roaming freely in Pakistan and using its territory to carry out attacks in India and elsewhere. The Paris-based FATF placed Pakistan on the Grey List in June 2018 and asked Islamabad to implement a plan of action to curb money laundering and terror financing by the end of 2019 but the deadline was extended later on due to COVID-19 pandemic. Robert Kocharyan on years of his leadership in Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia Situation on Armenian-Azerbaijani border is still tense, more on COVID-19 in Armenia, May 28 digest "Armenia" alliance of political parties paying tribute to founder of First Republic Aram Manukyan (LIVE) Yerevan.today: Armenia acting PM not greeted at ruling party's headquarters, citizens call him 'capitulator' Russia MOD reports on maintenance of ceasefire regime in Nagorno-Karabakh Armenia acting MOD meets with Russian counterpart in Moscow Armenia 2nd President: I see possibility of restoring borders of Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast We can provide our army with some key, modernized weapons, says Armenia ex-President Kocharyan Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: Captives issue is not one that any opposition force can resolve OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs release statement on detention of 6 Armenian servicemen by Azerbaijan Armenian acting Deputy PM: Discussion on issues possible only after withdrawal of Azeri troops from Armenia's territory Armenia acting PM on Syunik roads, Russian military posts: This is only place where there are working nuances Armenia acting PM: Process of return of POWs will intensify after upcoming elections Putin congratulates Aliyev on Republic Day 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 Relatives of victims who died in the February 2018 Parkland school shooting have demanded that Georgia congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene resign after she was found to have spread the conspiracy theory that the massacre was staged. Taylor Greene, who touts her belief in the bizarre QAnon theory - that Washington DC is run by a 'deep state' cabal of Satanist pedophiles - made the Facebook remarks in 2018. The watchdog Media Matters for America dug them out this week, and on Wednesday they were deleted. Taylor Greene, 46, posted in May 2018 a story about disgraced Broward County sheriff's deputy Scot Peterson - who ran away when the Valentine's Day shooting began - receiving a retirement pension. In the comments section, someone wrote: 'It's called a pay off to keep his mouth shut since it was a false flag planned shooting.' Greene replied: 'Exactly.' Families of Parkland victims and survivors of the attack have called on Taylor Greene to resign In May 2018 Taylor Greene posted an article about the security guard who ran from the shooting instead of protecting the students and staff. One commentator said the February 2018 attack was a 'false flag planned shooting', and Taylor Greene replied: 'Exactly' Taylor Greene also accused Peterson of being a paid actor who participated in the 'show' Another commenter wrote: 'Kick back for going along with the evil plan. You know it's not for doing a good job.' Greene responded: 'My thoughts exactly!! Paid to do what he did and keep his mouth shut!' The Valentine's Day 2018 shooting killed 17 students and members of staff at the Stoneman Douglas high school in Parkland Gun rights activists frequently claim that school shootings are 'false flag' events, orchestrated by Democrats with paid actors, rather than real victims. They believe the scenarios are staged to spur gun control. Relatives of the 17 students and staff killed in the massacre furiously demanded she resign, and David Hogg, a survivor of the shooting, called on her to apologize. 'Apologize Now or continue to spread these conspiracies and we will be sure to make the next 2 years of your life not only your last in Congress but a living hell as well,' he said. He added they would 'also accept your resignation in place of an apology.' Students are pictured fleeing the school as police respond to the active shooter calls The school shooting sparked calls for gun control reform, but little has changed since 2018 March For Our Lives, the activist group born from the shooting to try and enact gun control, tweeted: '@mtaylorgreene, the shooting at our school was real. Real kids died and our community is still grieving today. 'You should be ashamed of yourself and resign from congress. 'Conspiracy theorists don't deserve a seat in the people's house.' Taylor Greene issued a statement amid the controversy, insisting that more guns were needed in schools to protect the students and staff. '"Gun-free" school zones are a FAILURE,' she said. 'Laws that prevent legal ownership of firearms turn schools into targets,' she wrote, promising to introduce legislation to repeal gun-free school zones. She did not offer any kind of explanation for her comments about Stoneman Douglas shooting, or an apology. Fred Guttenberg, whose daughter Jamie, 14, died in the attack, demanded she provide an explanation for her views. '@mtgreenee , your feelings on gun laws are irrelevant to your claim that Parkland never happened,' he said. 'You are a fraud who must resign. Be prepared to meet me directly in person to explain your conspiracy theory, and soon.' A police car is seen outside the Parkland school following the February 2018 massacre On Thursday Taylor Greene filed articles of impeachment against Joe Biden. The Republican Congresswoman argued the newly elected president is 'unfit' for office and 'will do whatever it takes to bail out Hunter'. In a statement Greene indicated she is accusing Biden of abusing his power as Vice President when his son served on a Ukrainian energy company's board. It comes just one day after Biden was sworn into office. Greene was on Sunday temporarily suspended from Twitter. She has previously expressed racist views and support for QAnon conspiracy theories online. She said in a statement Thursday: 'President Joe Biden is unfit to hold the office of the presidency. His pattern of abuse of power as President Obama's Vice President is lengthy and disturbing. 'President Biden has demonstrated that he will do whatever it takes to bail out his son, Hunter, and line his family's pockets with cash from corrupt foreign energy companies,' QAnon Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene said Thursday she has filed articles of impeachment against Joe Biden. The Republican Congresswoman from Georgia, 46, argued the newly elected president is 'unfit' for office and 'will do whatever it takes to bail out Hunter' In a statement Greene indicated she is accusing Biden of abusing his power as Vice President when his son served on a Ukrainian energy company's board. It comes just one day after Biden was sworn into office, pictured Wednesday Greene also released a video to Twitter announcing her decision. She said: 'I've just filed articles of impeachment on president Joe Biden, we will see how this goes.' Donald Trump was last week impeached for the second time for his role in inciting the riot at the U.S. Capitol set up his trial in the Senate. The former president was acquitted by the Senate in February last year on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress stemming from his efforts to pressure Ukraine to investigate Joe Biden. President Trump and his Republican allies in Congress made Hunter Bidens business dealings in China and Ukraine a line of attack against the elder Biden during the 2020 election campaign. Hunter Biden has denied any wrongdoing, and his father released a statement supporting his son. President Trump and his Republican allies in Congress made Hunter Bidens business dealings in China and Ukraine a line of attack against the elder Biden during the 2020 election campaign. Joe Biden is sworn in as the 46th president of the United States by Chief Justice John Roberts as Jill Biden holds the Bible Wednesday Joe Biden (L), flanked by is wife US First Lady Jill Biden (2nd L), Hunter Biden (R) and Ashley Biden (C), is sworn in as the 46th US President by Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts Greene had already pledged on January 13: 'On January 21st, I'm filing Articles of Impeachment on President-elect. '75 million Americans are fed up with inaction. It's time to take a stand. I'm proud to be the voice of Republican voters who have been ignored.' It is unlikely that Biden will be impeached with Democrats controlling the House. Greene's Twitter account was suspended 'without explanation,' she said in a statement over the weekend, while also condemning big tech companies for 'silencing' conservative views. The businesswoman and political newcomer was elected to represent Georgia's 14th District in November. She's gained large followings on social media in part by posting incendiary videos and comments and has also embraced QAnon. QAnon followers grappled with anger, confusion and disappointment Wednesday as President Joe Biden was sworn into office. The businesswoman and political newcomer was elected to represent Georgia's 14th District in November. She's gained large followings on social media in part by posting incendiary videos and comments and has also embraced QAnon Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene speaks as President Donald Trump listens at a campaign rally in Dalton, Georgia on Monday, January 4. Greene was on Sunday temporarily suspended from Twitter. She has previously expressed racist views and support for QAnon conspiracy theories 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. I have probably said it before, and Ill say it again. There arent many Android phones that I genuinely wait for every year, but the annual refresh of the flagship Samsung Galaxy S series is right up there in what is a very short list otherwise. Last year, it was the Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra that well and truly reset the benchmark for Android phones at the time. Less than a year later, it is the turn of the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra to take over the reigns as the flagship Android phone and indeed the most expensive Android phone in Samsungs smartphone line-up. You will be able to buy the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra in India in two variants, and thats your choice between the 12GB RAM and 256GB storage or the fully loaded option with 16GB RAM and 512GB storage. You can have this in the new Phantom Black and Phantom Silver colour options, and what you see photographed here is the gorgeous matte finish of the Phantom Black. The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra is priced at Rs 1,05,999 for the 256GB variant and Rs 1,16,999 for the 512GB variant. There are a whole bunch of preorder offers that you can take advantage of right now and for the next few days, before the phone officially goes on sale on January 29. There is also the offer for HDFC cards which get a Rs 7,000 instant cashback. On the Samsung E-shop, there is an exchange offer with up to Rs 40,999 for your old phone, depending on the phone and condition you are trading in. Samsung is offering the bundle for the Galaxy Watch Active2, otherwise priced at Rs 23,990, for just Rs 990. All this adds value, if you take advantage of the right offers. Let us first look at the highlight specs of the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra. And let us get this out of the way first and foremostthis is the first time the Samsung Galaxy S series phones are getting the S-Pen. The S-Pen stylus, till now, was exclusive to the Samsung Galaxy Note phones. Not getting into any speculations whatsoever about the possible future of the Galaxy Note series of phones, but the addition of the S-Pen does make the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra a no-holds barred flagship Android phone. It also eliminates the uncomfortable choice that some potential buyers may have had to make. That being said, the S Pen is an optional accessory that youll have to buy separately. That, to be honest, doesnt exactly sound fair. Nevertheless, the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra makes up for the optional S Pen with the rest of the spec sheet. This is powered by Samsungs latest Exynos 2100 processor (at least in the Indian market), whereas the US units are powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 chip. These newest pieces of processing power are the biggest testament to the big performance leap that the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra gets over the already very powerful Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra. In terms of the performance, this is without doubt faster than last years Exynos 990, and there is a specific reason for thatit remains cooler for longer. In my opinion and based on what I have experienced, the Exynos 2100 does a significantly better job of staying cool, at least comparatively, which means it is able to hold performance for longer and battery life also remains robust. You may not exactly notice the definite performance boost for the most part because we are comparing this with a predecessor that is already very powerful, but youll certainly see the improvements when you game or really multitask on the Galaxy S21 Ultra. There is a lot of RAM too, irrespective of which variant you pick, and the storage has been upgraded to a faster UFS 3.1, swapping out the UFS 3.0that means much faster read and write speeds, which add to the overall performance experience. Then there are the certain advantages of the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra running Android 11 along with the One UI 3.1 wrapper. These two sets of software bring their own bundles of performance improvements, optimizations and visual upgrades. In my experience, the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra again resets the performance benchmark for Android phones, at least for the time being. Much like its predecessor had. It doesnt break sweat even if you leave more than a dozen apps running in the background, and doesnt start heating up if you use the camera a lot or do a quick splash and dash on Forza Street (by the way, you must download this game from the Samsung Galaxy Store app). The Dynamic AMOLED is now 6.8-inch instead of 6.9-inch and retains the same 3200 x 1440 resolution as before. The thing is, this still remains one of the best smartphone displays in the Android ecosystem, if not the bestand that depends on subjectivity. However, the big upgrade is that this can now do the faster 120Hz refresh rate at the full 1440p resolution. In the predecessor, you got either the 1440p at the 60Hz refresh rate or if you wanted to experience the goodness of the smooth 120Hz, youd have to drop down to the FHD resolution. Thats no longer a compromise now. That being said, we must note that this is an adaptive refresh rate display, which means that irrespective of whether you select 60Hz or 120Hz, thats essentially the maximum itll go to. Depending on whats on the screen at the time, itll intelligently clock down the refresh rate to as low as 10Hz in order to save battery. The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultras display tops out at 1500nits of brightness, which means it is incredibly rich and bright. You will definitely not be squinting as you want to read something on email while outdoors on a bright sunny day or if you are trying to shoot the right photo as the sun beats down in the afternoon. Colors in the Natural screen mode look nice and subdued, great if you are working on documents, browsing the web or even reading. Switch to the Vivid option, and everything just livens up ever so slightly, and thats apt for Netflix and Amazon Prime Video streaming sessions. Even as I use the phone, there is just something about the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultras design that often makes me flip it around and just admire the back. Its the matte finish of the Phantom Black that just has a charm thats difficult to describe. It is incredibly attractive and great to hold. That dark personality, thanks to the Phantom Black colour, looks like it is made to look gorgeous, something that a lot of black phones havent able to replicate in the past. And that led to a perception that black colored phones are boring. They most certainly arent, and Samsung is showing the way forward. The dimensions are largely similar to the predecessor, give or take a few. Its only very slightly heavier too. Ruggedness is a strong point of the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra. It gets the Corning Gorilla Glass Victus on the front and back of the phone, and that is by far and away, the most rugged glass layer for smartphones right now. At the back sits the quad camera setup, immediately an upgrade in terms of the implementation and the specifications. We are used to camera modules sitting on a thicker ridge, but not many camera implementations in smartphones look as pretty as this. In fact, on our review unit, it is easy to appreciate how the module itself has been given a different matte finish compared with the rest of the phonesomething thats accentuated when light falls on it. But one thing needs to be addressed about the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra. There is no integrated cradle for the S Pen, like how the Galaxy Note series phones do. That means youll not only have to buy an S Pen, but also have to carry it around and remember to not misplace it. Most definitely not a hardship, but I suspect that Samsung will perhaps refine the design enough by the time the next generation of the Galaxy S series phones comes around, to integrate a cradle. For now, youll need to use the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra Silicon Cover with S Pen or the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra Smart Clear View Cover with S Pen to store it safely. If like me, you dont like to use a case on your phone, youre out of luck. There is a significant overhaul of the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultras cameras, and that gains even more importance after the slow and inconsistent focus issues that the predecessor faced. This time, leading the photography duties is the upgraded 108-megapixel ISOCELL HM3 which will join the data from 9 pixels into 1 large pixel, if you are shooting with the standard modes. Immediately, the sensor hardware as well as the image processing software updates mean that the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra focusses faster, retains focus and tracks focus better than its predecessor did, at least till the software updates for the latter alleviated the issue somewhat. There are significant changes in the rest of the quad camera configuration as well. There is a 10-megapixel periscope camera that enables 10x optical zoom, a 10-megapxiel telephoto lens that enables 3x optical zoom and a 12-megapixel ultrawide camera. It is the 10x optical zoom coupled with a more usable than before 30x zoom and a party piece albeit limited genuine utility 100x, that makes the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultras camera stand out. In my humble opinion, the ability to drag fantastic 10x optical zoom thanks to the dual zoom system, from your smartphone really is a priceless upgrade. No longer do you need to compromise with the lossy digital zoom. And to be fair, even at 30x, the photos that the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra pulls out are really goodand if you dont tell your friends this was shot from a far-off distance at 30x, they wouldnt realize it anyway. If I am to speak my mind freely for a moment, Id be the first to admit that Im not a huge fan of AI modes in smartphone cameras. They usually tend to overdo things, particularly with colours, leaving you with unbalanced colours when you want to edit later. When I took the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra for a spin for the very first time, I did forget to turn off the scene optimizer AI mode in the camera, and as luck would have it, took a photo of some delicious food on my plate. The results were surprising, in the most pleasant way possible. Took the same photo without the scene optimizer, and things just werent the same. Scene optimizer, on. A lot of phones claim a lot about the night mode photography capabilities. Fair enough, the low light photography has become significantly better over time. Yet, I have to say that no Android phone has impressed as much, yet, with low light photos. Yes, you need to keep the hand stable for a couple of seconds for the camera to take multiple exposures which it can then work with before you are served the final photo. There is that gentle illumination boost which brings life to photos, and that comes with very limited distortion, if at all, nicely separated colours and a nice rhythm to how the photos look without being too bright or too dark. There are still some shortcomings that cannot exactly be ignored. There is no microSD card slot to add more storagethat could be a problem if youre eyeing the 256GB storage option and arent really big on cloud storage. Secondly, Samsung has lowered the fast-charging speedsthe 5000mAh battery on the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra now tops out at 25-watt, instead of 45-watt of the predecessor. At the same time, there is also the well documented removal of the charger from the box that you need to factor in. The Last Word: Just The Necessary Upgrades To Push The Flagship Goalposts It was always going to be tough for the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra to follow the fantastic phone that is the Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra, at least as far as the experience is concerned. Yet, Samsung clearly has taken pains to find those specific points on the spec sheet, which needed an upgrade. And the results show. The more powerful processor was to be expected, but this seems to have really knuckled down on staying cool too. The display gets the 120Hz goodness across the board and the adaptive refresh rate saves battery too. The camera gets new hardware and software, and the photography performance is absolutely fantastic. Its these upgrades that come together with a completely new gorgeous design and the optional S Pen capabilities that really make the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra the benchmark phone in the Android ecosystem. Jill Biden, in her first solo outing as first lady, stopped on Capitol Hill to thank National Guard members for their service during her husband's inauguration. 'I just wanted to come today to say thank you to all of you for keeping me and my family safe,' she told them. She noted the Biden's were a National Guard family, invoking the memory of the late Beau Biden, who served in the Delaware National Guard. 'I'm a National Guard mom,' she told them. 'The National Guard will always hold a special place in the hearts of all the Bidens.' Beau Biden served in Iraq in 2008 and received a visit from his father, then Vice President Joe Biden, at Camp Victory in 2009. Beau Biden died of brain cancer in 2015. Jill Biden carried a basket filled with chocolate-chip cookies for the service members, who had to spend part of Thursday's cold night in a garage after being told they could not take their breaks in the Capitol. The report of the guards' treatment caused outrage among lawmakers and the service members were eventually let back inside the building. 'The White House baked you some chocolate chip cookies. I can't say I baked them all myself,' she said, calling a 'small thank you.' One guard member appeared to hand her a challenge coin during her visit. The service members posed for a group photo with the first lady, then uttered a 'hooah' in salute. Biden made the unscheduled stop after she visited the Whitman Walker Health, a Washington D.C. based clinic, to hear about the impact of COVID-19 on access to health care, including cancer screenings and prevention efforts. She wore a white Gabriela Hearst dress, the same person who designed her inauguration evening dress, and the same face covering she wore the night of her husband's swearing-in. Jill Biden, in her first solo outing as first lady, stopped on Capitol Hill to thank National Guard members for their service Jill Biden told them the Bidens were a National Guard family and 'the National Guard will always hold a special place in the hearts of all the Bidens' Jill Biden carried a basket filled with chocolate chip cookies for the National Guard members Beau Biden served in the National Guard; he's seen with Jill and with his father, then Vice President Joe Biden, at Camp Victory in Iraq in 2009 - Beau Biden died of brain cancer in 2009 Jill Biden addresses National Guard members during an unscheduled stop on Capitol Hill One guards member appeared to give Jill Biden a challenge coin Jill Biden also visited the Whitman Walker Health, a Washington D.C. based clinic, to hear about the impact of COVID-19 Jill Biden wore a white Gabriela Hearst dress, the same person who designed her inauguration evening dress, and the same face covering she wore the night of her husband's swearing-in First lady Jill Biden walks with Kim Thiboldeaux, left, CEO of the Cancer Support Community, during a tour of Whitman-Walker Health Jill Biden wore a gold necklace that read 'Mama' along with a triple strand of pearls Jill Biden speaks with Naseema Shafi, right, CEO of Whitman-Walker Health, during a tour of the clinic Jill Biden made her first solo outing as first lady on Friday Jill Biden has hit the ground running as first lady. It's a marked contrast to her predecessor, Melania Trump. Melania Trump stayed in New York for the first few months of her husband's administration so their son, who was 10 years old at the time, could finish out the school year there. Her first event was a short speech at International Women of Courage ceremony at the State Department on March 29, 2017, followed by an appearance at the annual White House Easter Egg roll in April. But Jill Biden joined President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and second gentleman Doug Emhoff in attending a virtual interfaith prayer service Thursday morning. She then held a virtual event with educators on Thursday night. Jill Biden, who said she would continue her teaching job alongside her first lady duties, told the educators on the call she is currently teaching this semester. She teaches writing at Northern Virginia Community College, where she taught full-time as second lady throughout the Obama administration. And she joked it was funny to call her husband of 43 years the president. 'I mean it's funny to call on President Biden,' she said after repeatedly referring to him as 'Joe.' Biden's stop on Capitol Hill came after National Guard members were allowed to return to the Capitol building late Thursday night to rest during their shift breaks. Capitol Police apologized after it emerged they had asked the troops brought in to protect Washington DC during the inauguration to leave the Capitol building and take their rest breaks in a nearby designated parking lot instead. Photos showed up to 5,000 Guardsmen sleeping on the floor of the packed Thurgood Marshall Building parking lot and in a park outside as temperatures hit a low of 40 degrees. The scenes sparked immediate outrage among lawmakers as some Guardsmen revealed they felt 'incredibly betrayed' given they had just spent more than a week helping to fortify and protect the capital. Footage obtained by NBC News showed the Guardsmen filing out of the parking lot overnight after they were permitted around midnight to return to the Capitol building in the wake of the fierce backlash. It followed reports that the troops had been kicked out of the Capitol, with some Guardsmen saying the parking lot they were relocated to had a single power outlet, no internet and just one bathroom with two stalls, according to Politico. Thousands of National Guardsmen have now been allowed to return to the US Capitol after images of them sleeping outside and in a nearby parking garage overnight sparked outrage 24 hours after the inauguration. Troops are pictured above leaving the Thurgood Marshall Building parking lot just after dawn on Friday Footage obtained by NBC News showed the Guardsmen filing out of the Thurgood Marshall Building parking lot in Washington DC overnight after they were permitted around midnight to return to the Capitol building in the wake of the fierce backlash Guard spokesman Maj. Matt Murphy said Capitol Police had asked the troops to move their rest area given the increased foot traffic in the Capitol building given Congress is in session. 'They were temporarily relocated to the Thurgood Marshall Judicial Center garage with heat and restroom facilities. We remain an agile and flexible force to provide for the safety and security of the Capitol and its surrounding areas,' he said. Capitol Police apologized in the wake of the outrage but Acting Chief Yogananda Pittman clarified in a statement on Friday morning that police did not tell Guardsmen they had to vacate. 'It was brought to our attention early today that facility management with the Thurgood Marshall Judicial Office Building reached out directly to the National Guard to offer use of its facilities,' Pittman said. 'As of this morning, all Guardsmen and women have been relocated to space within the Capitol Complex. The Department is also working with the Guard to reduce the need for sleeping accommodations by establishing shorter shifts, and will ensure they have access to the comfortable accommodations they absolutely deserve when the need arises.' The troops will take their breaks near the Emancipation Hall inside the Capitol building going forward. The soldiers do have hotel rooms but their 12 hour shift pattern means they cannot easily return to their rooms during rest breaks. Before being located to the parking lot, the troops had been allowed to take rest breaks inside the Capitol building. Once they finish their shift, the Guardsmen then return to their hotel rooms. National Guard soldiers are pictured sleeping inside the Capitol Visitors Center of the US Capitol on Friday after being allowed back in One unnamed soldier had earlier said the forced move to the parking lot had left troops 'feeling incredibly betrayed'. 'Yesterday dozens of senators and congressmen walked down our lines taking photos, shaking our hands and thanking us for our service. Within 24 hours, they had no further use for us and banished us to the corner of a parking garage. We feel incredibly betrayed,' he said. Another guardsman told CNN: 'After everything went seamlessly, we were deemed useless and banished to a corner of a parking garage.' One more told Task & Purpose: 'Leaving our families for the last two weeks to come down here. It's certainly important and historic, but the day after inauguration you kick us literally to the curb? Come on, man.' Amid concerns about COVID-19 one soldier told The Washington Post: 'We are on top of each other all day, every day. We've given up.' Another added: 'Our guidance is if you're not eating or drinking, you need to be wearing a mask. We've already had just some in my unit alone test positive for Covid, and they're just keeping us packed together with caution tape in small areas. And that's the only authorized rest area.' The images of the Guardsmen sparked fierce reaction from politicians on both sides of the aisle, with Democrats and Republicans demanding answers as to why the men and women were told to leave the Capitol complex. Some offered their offices to the troops. House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy said the soldiers 'deserve to be treated with respect'; Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said the move was 'outrageous'. Idaho National Guard troops sleep and eat on the eastern lawn of the US Capitol building on Capitol Hill on Thursday New Hampshire National Guard posted this image Wednesday with the caption: 'NH guardsmen slumber last night in a Washington, D.C. parking garage. Beginning a 36-hour security mission in support of the presidential inauguration, they staged in the garage overnight before standing security posts along the National Capital Region this morning' Up to 5,000 troops have been kept without internet, with one electrical outlet, and one bathroom with two stalls, reports say One soldier said: 'After everything went seamlessly, we were deemed useless and banished to a corner of a parking garage' Senator Tammy Duckworth, an Army veteran who served in Iraq, said Capitol Police had apologized to the troops. 'Just made a number of calls and have been informed Capitol Police have apologized to the Guardsmen and they will be allowed back into the complex tonight. I'll keep checking to make sure they are,' she tweeted. She had earlier said: 'Unreal. I can't believe that the same brave servicemembers we've been asking to protect our Capitol and our Constitution these last two weeks would be unceremoniously ordered to vacate the building. Following fierce reaction online from politicians on both sides of the aisle Senator Tammy Duckworth tweeted: 'Just made a number of calls and have been informed Capitol Police have apologized to the Guardsmen and they will be allowed back into the complex tonight' 'I am demanding answers ASAP. They can use my office.' Shortly after midnight Duckworth confirmed the 'troops are now all out of the garage'. The National Guard Bureau said on Thursday that of the nearly 26,000 Guard troops deployed to DC for the inauguration, just 10,600 remain on duty. The bureau said the Guard is helping states with coordination and logistics so that troops can get home. Thousands of Guard troops from all across the country poured into DC by the planeload and busload late last week in response to escalating security threats and fears of more rioting. Military aircraft crowded the runways at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, carrying Guard members into the region in the wake of the deadly January 6 insurrection at the US Capitol. Officials said Thursday that of the nearly 26,000 Guard troops deployed to D.C. for the inaugural, just 10,600 remain on duty Guard spokesperson Maj. Matt Murphy had said: 'As Congress is in session and increased foot traffic and business is being conducted, Capitol Police asked the troops to move their rest area. They were temporarily relocated to the Thurgood Marshall Judicial Center garage with heat and restroom facilities' Guard forces were scattered around the city, helping to secure the Capitol, monuments, Metro entrances and the perimeter of central DC, which was largely locked down for several days leading up to Wednesday's inaugural ceremony. After images of the men and women forced to sleep in the parking lot were shared Republican Sen. Mike Lee said: 'Very upset by this story but I have been in touch with the Utah National Guard and they are taken care of. My staff and I are investigating what happened here and will continue working to fix this situation.' Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez tweeted: 'Yeah this is not okay. My office is free this week to any service members who'd like to use it for a break or take nap on the couch. We'll stock up on snacks for you all too. (We're in the middle of moving offices and it's a bit messy so don't judge, but make yourself at home!)' Democrat Sen. Krysten Sinema tweeted: 'This is outrageous, shameful, and incredibly disrespectful to the men and women keeping the U.S. Capitol safe and secure. We need it fixed and we need answers on how it happened.' The Secret Service announced that the special security event for the inauguration officially ended at noon Thursday. The Guard said that it may take several days to make all the arrangements to return the 15,000 home, but it should be complete in five to 10 days. Guard members will have to turn in equipment, make travel plans and go through COVID-19 screening. Some local law enforcement agencies have asked for continued assistance from the Guard, so roughly 7,000 troops are expected to stay in the region through the end of the month. Pictures of the armed camouflage-clad troops resting on the marble floors of the Capitol building and patrolling the grounds had already been widely shared in the wake of the January 6 siege. It is believed to be the first time troops have set up camp in the Capitol since the Civil War. Throngs of guardsmen were seen cradling their guns as they slept in the open on the floor and took turns making rounds of the Capitol grounds. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Friday there was evidence a new variant of COVID-19 discovered late last year could be associated with higher mortality. "We've been informed today that in addition to spreading more quickly, it also now appears that there is some evidence that the new variant - the variant that was first discovered in London and the south east (of England) - may be associated with a higher degree of mortality," he told a news briefing. Johnson said all the current evidence showed both vaccines remain effective against old and new variants. Also Read: Infographic: Sensex at 50,000 - The journey Also Read: RIL Q3 results: Profit rises 12.5% to Rs 13,101 crore, revenue down 22% Also Read: Reliance Jio Q3 results: Net profit jumps 15.5% to Rs 3,489 crore PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 22, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Integrated Ventures, Inc, today announced that it has executed a binding term sheet for 3.0 million Preferred Equity Investment, led by BHP Capital NY, Inc. The proceeds will be used by the Company for working capital and general purposes, including infrastructure expansion, equipment purchases and repayment of corporate debt. Steve Rubakh, CEO of Integrated Ventures, is pleased to add the following commentary: "This is a significant development for our Company and we would like to thank BHP Capital NY, for showing confidence and understanding our business strategy. In next few days, we expect to receive an initial tranch and will update shareholders with use of proceeds and details on up coming purchase orders. "BHP Capital NY, Inc has received a right to convert, newly registered Preferred C Series stock, into common shares, at fixed conversion price of 0.068 cents. "Note that preferred shareholders, generally convert their shares to common stock in two situations: (1) IPO or (2) if conversion will result in superior financial gain. The second scenario usually occurs when conversion to common stock leads to increased stock value for the investor, due to the M& A transaction, such as sale of assets or an acquisition by another company. "Our mining business has tremendous momentum. Our daily revenues, mainly based market pricing of BTC and ETH and currently ranging between $5,000 and $6,000, which equates to annual revenues in amount of $1.9 million+, with mining margins of 65%+. "The company has (1) strong balance sheet, (2) growing revenues with significant margins, (3) reduced convertible debt, (4) improved cash flow and stock liquidity, and (5) infusion of growth capital. INTV's current financial condition will bring better terms, in regards to the future funding and potential M&A deals, as well as greatly reduce relience on short-term funding options, that require issuing stock at discount to the market. "With this Preferred Equity funding round, INTV, now has the necessary tools, to execute revenue growth and to (1) scale its operations, (2) to capitalize on the hyper growing cryptocurrency market and mainly (3) to purchase the latest mining equipment. "This is a clear message to all of our shareholders, investors and partners, both current and future, that INTV now has the necessary financial firepower, to expand operations and to increase value of their investments." About: Integrated Ventures,Inc is Technology Portfolio Holdings Company with focus on Hosting, Development Of Blockchain Applications and Cryptocurrency Mining. For more details, please visit the Company's website: www.integratedventuresinc.com . Safe Harbor Statement: The information posted in this release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. You can identify these statements by use of the words "may," "will," "should," "plans," "explores," "expects," "anticipates," "continue," "estimate," "project," "intend," and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected or anticipated. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, general economic and business conditions, effects of continued geopolitical unrest and regional conflicts, competition, changes in technology and methods of marketing, and various other factors beyond the company's control. Contact Details: Steve Rubakh +1 (215) 613-1111 [email protected] SOURCE Integrated Ventures, Inc Related Links http://www.integratedventuresinc.com Rep. Justin Humphrey (R) has introduced a bill urging the Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Commission (OWCC) to establish a 'big foot hunting season' An Oklahoma lawmaker wants to see a Bigfoot hunting season created in his state and has pitched a bill in the hope of making it a reality. Rep. Justin Humphrey (R) introduced House Bill 1648, urging the Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Commission (OWCC) to establish a 'big foot hunting season.'. 'The Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Commission shall promulgate rules establishing a big foot hunting season. The Commission shall set annual season dates and create any necessary specific hunting licenses and fees,' the bill states. 'It is a real bill, yes,' confirmed Micah Holmes, Assistant Chief of the Information and Education Division at the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation to Fox News. The Department of Wildlife Conservation doesn't seem too impressed by the request. 'Here at the department, we use science to make management decisions, and we do not recognize Bigfoot as a wildlife species in Oklahoma,' Holmes said. If the act were to be passed, it would come into force from November of this year. A decision will likely be made once the Oklahoma Legislature begins sitting on February 1st. 'The Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Commission shall promulgate rules establishing a Bigfoot hunting season. The Commission shall set annual season dates and create any necessary specific hunting licenses and fees', reads the bill. Rep. Humphrey's constituency, House District 19, is situated in southeast Oklahoma - an area of the state famous for its sightings of Bigfoot (file photo) In recent years, Bigfoot has been spotted in North Carolina, Georgia, Washington and Oregon. Pictured, a Bigfoot mask on display at Bigfoot! The Sasquatch Museum in Cherry Log, Georgia Rep. Humphrey's constituency, House District 19, is situated in southeast Oklahoma - an area of the state famous for its sightings of Bigfoot. He said the bill is meant to be a fun way to promote southeast Oklahoma, generate interest in the region and bring tourists and tourism dollars to a beautiful remote part of the state that is covered with mountains, trees and rivers. 'We have the best kept secret there is,' Humphrey said to Mcalester News. 'I think that Bigfoot is pretty elusive. I don't think we'll find him.' Humphrey said he envisions creating a $25,000 bounty for anyone who successfully traps Bigfoot, but isn't yet sure who will be tasked with deciding whether it's really Bigfoot versus, say, a mutated black bear. He does not want anyone to kill Bigfoot, but wants him taken alive. Humphrey said he hopes to create a low-priced license that people can purchase as they head out in search of the beast. 'Tourism is one of the biggest attractions we have in my House district,' Humphrey said. 'Establishing an actual hunting season and issuing licenses for people who want to hunt Bigfoot will just draw more people to our already beautiful part of the state. It will be a great way for people to enjoy our area and to have some fun.' There are a number of alleged Bigfoot sightings in the US every year as some 16 percent of Americans believe the furry humanoid creature is real despite a lack of categorical evidence. Pictured, a plaster cast of footprints believed to be made by a Bigfoot He said hopes most people will take it as the light-hearted subject it is supposed to be and is hoping it will advance through the Legislature. 'In today's political climate, there's nothing wrong with having a little fun,' he said. In nearby Honobia the mythical creature is celebrated annually with an official Bigfoot Festival and Conference. 'Whether you're a serious Bigfoot scholar or a seeker of folklore, you'll find fellow explorers at the Kiamichi Christian Mission, located at Highway 144 and Indian Trail Highway in the deep woods of tiny Honobia,' the website states. There are a number of alleged Bigfoot sightings in the US every year as some 16 percent of Americans believe the furry humanoid creature is real despite a lack of categorical evidence. In recent years, Bigfoot has been spotted in North Carolina, Georgia, Washington and Oregon. Humphrey hopes that the Oklahoma State Legislature will take the bill at face value - and something light hearted aimed to generate money from tourism dollars. Pictured, Daryl Colyer, lead field researcher for the Texas Bigfoot Research Center Reaction on social media has been mixed. 'First of all, this is, as they say, 'plumb dumb',' one commenter wrote. 'Secondly, if such a creature does exist, they are obviously very intelligent, as they've been able to elude humans for centuries, and should not be subject to hunting.' 'This actually could possibly be a clever move, a way to provide more funding for the Wildlife department,' another wrote. 'As I understand, any funding to the department comes strictly from fees and licenses, so this would help further fund our state's wildlife conservation.' 'This is a horrible idea, either : A.) someone actually does it and finds kills a Sasquatch, which in my eyes is murder. Or B.) Some hunter will be spooked by another hunter out there looking for the same thing and someone's gonna get killed,' another commenter added. Rockinscience, fresh from a sparkling victory for driver/trainer Luke Plano, takes on a solid cast in Saturday nights featured $9,700 Robert Gordon Pace at Cal Expo. Watch and Wager LLC will present 13 races with first post set for 4:55 p.m. and the main event is slotted as the eighth contest on the evening. There are several major contenders in the Gordon line-up, with Rockinscience likely to have his share of backers as he goes for the hat trick this weekend. The four-year-old son of Rockin Image carries the banner of Nikki Hudson and Dave Haness. After taking the measure of a softer group here on January 10, the bay performer came back last week and streaked home in :27.1 to make it two in a row while stopping the timer in 1:52.2, shaving two full seconds off his lifetime mark. Bobs Time will be gunning for his third snapshot from his last five trips to the post and is another major player. Rick Bertrand owns and trains the four-year-old with Jake Cutting in his usual spot in the sulky. Bobs Time proved a punctual even-money favourite last week as he sat the pocket early, brushed to command on the final bend and went on to a length and a quarter score over Cut A Rug, who will again be among his rivals in the Gordon with Doug Chappell at the controls. Rounding out the field are Paddy Murphy, to be handled by Cordarius Stewart; Its Pointless, Tony Kerwood; Villa For Rent with Mooney Svendsen; and Artspire, who will leave from the outside slot with Nick Roland guiding. This weekends Robert Gordon Pace is named for the noted driver/trainer and track executive who passed away at age 65 in 2006. Bob Gordon started his 40-year-career in Ohio and learned his lessons under the outstanding horseman Bob Farrington. He eventually settled in California and was a mainstay at the top of the standings from the late 70s through the early 90s, conditioning such starts as Stand By N, Theora Hanover and Pack Leader. Gordon was a past president of the Western Harness Standardbred Association and the California Harness Horse Breeders Association, while in the early 90s he served as a director of the United States Trotting Association. He was president of Premier Harness Racing, which raced at Los Alamitos, and was instrumental in keeping the sport alive in the mid-1990s at a time when harness racing was definitely on the ropes. Bob Gordon was also director of backstretch operations for the Sacramento Harness Association and helped in starting the not-for-profit corporation, which was operating at Cal Expo at the time of his death. Low takeout wagers offer true value There are three wagers offered here each night that come with a reduced 16 percent takeout rate -- the 20-cent early and late Pick 5 and the 20-cent Pick 4, the latter featuring a $25,000-guaranteed gross pool. For some idea of the value that comes as a result of the lower takeout, take a look at last Sunday nights 20-cent Pick 5 that covered the first five races on the card. There was an even-money winner, three horses clicking at 3-1 and one scoring at 5-1, with the 20-cent investment coming back a nifty $353.68, which equates to a much higher return than the parlay and a nice increase on what the regular takeout payoff. (Cal Expo) Adani Total Gas and Torrent Gas have become the first strategic investors in IGX (Indian Gas Exchange) by acquiring five per cent stake each, according to the Indian Energy Exchange (IEX). The IGX is an arm of IEX and first authorised gas exchange in the country. The IGX partnership with the two leading gas players will go a long way in developing India's gas markets, an IEX statement said. The IEX had on Friday announced the first strategic divestment of shares in the IGX. Adani Total Gas Ltd and Torrent GasPvt Ltd, India's two leading energy players with stakes in both upstream and downstream hydrocarbon value chain, have acquired 5 per cent equity stake each in the IGX. Speaking on the development, Rajesh K Mediratta, Director, IGX said in the statement, "IGX envisions to play a key role in the development of India's gas market which is aligned with the government's vision to increase the share of gas in the energy mix from 6 per cent to 15 per cent by 2030." "In our journey to shape the nascent gas markets in the country, we are delighted to partner with Adani Total Gas and Torrent Gas. We look forward to working in collaboration as IGX braces to play a pioneering role in developing India's gas markets," he added. Suresh P Manglani, CEO, Adani Total Gas Ltd, said in the statement, "Adani Total Gas is committed to building gas infrastructure to increase share of natural gas in the India's energy mix. The precedent of IEX has remarkably transformed electricity trading in India." Likewise, the IGX is amply equipped to transform the gas sector in the coming years as it will enable efficient and competitive gas pricing and help in securing equitable distribution of natural gas in the country, he said. "IGX is one key step towards achieving government vision of a gas-based economy and will play a key-role in discovering India's own price benchmarks," Manglani added. Jinal Mehta, Director, Torrent Gas Pvt Ltd, said in the statement, India is on the course to become a formidable energy and gas hub. IGX can play a catalytic role for India's gas market and will stimulate demand, increase availability and ensure competitive prices." Torrent's investmentin IGX, which is India's first delivery-based gas exchange, is in line with our strategy to enhance our footprint in India's energy landscape, Mehta said. IGX is also the first gas exchange in the country to have secured authorisation from Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) under recently notified Gas Exchange Regulations, 2020. The Exchange now has 16 members and more than 500registered clients. With three physical hubs at Hazira and Dahej in Gujarat and KG Basin inAndhra Pradesh, IGX has already traded 75,000 MMBTU since its launch in June 2020. It also has plans to introduce two new hubs - one in Dhabol, Maharashtra and other in West Bengal. The company said that this (acquisition) is subject to regulatory approval. (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.) Gideon Sa'ar poses for a picture at his office at the Knesset, the Israeli parliament, in Jerusalem, Nov. 27, 2019. (JTA) - In about two months, Israelis will vote in a national election. Seem familiar? It is. Israel will be holding its fourth election in just two years - the latest sign that in a country known for volatile politics, the government is more unstable than ever. Like the past several votes, this one is mainly a referendum on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has been in power for more than a decade. But unlike in the previous elections, most of Netanyahu's chief rivals this time are on the political right, too. The two top performers in polls behind his Likud party are former clo... With grocery store workers in the next batch of vaccine recipients set for early spring, some national chains are offering their frontline workers pay or paid time off to get a shot in the arm and a Charleston business leader believes other local firms will follow suit. "I think we will see employers step up," said Bryan Derreberry, president and CEO of Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce. "They want to have their employees and businesses safe." Derreberry hasn't heard of any incentives being offered by his group's 1,530 members for their 165,000 workers, but that doesn't mean they won't, he said. "I think you will see a major push by employers to get their employees vaccinated," he said. "I think they will do everything they can to make sure employees safeguard themselves." Derreberry agrees with providing paid time off for employees to receive the vaccine. He said it's important to make them aware of the closest inoculation site to expedite the process. "The sooner the general population is healthy, the sooner they will have business success," he said. Derreberry's comments come after a growing number of national grocers with stores in Charleston and across South Carolina have joined the push to combat the coronavirus by offering workers a variety of incentives to get vaccinated. Aldi, Lidl, Trader Joe's, Dollar General and Instacart have all recently announced plans to either pay employees or provide them paid hours off to get inoculated. Discount grocery store Lidl, which operates a store in Goose Creek and is expanding into North Charleston, said earlier this week it will pay its more than 6,000 U.S. employees who choose to get the vaccine an extra $200. The retailer said the additional payment will help offset the costs associated with vaccine administration, including travel costs and childcare. The company will also accommodate employee schedules for vaccine appointments "free of any obstacles," said Johannes Fieber, CEO of Lidl US. Rival grocer Aldi is offering its hourly workers with two hours of pay for each vaccine dose they receive, giving workers up to four hours of paid time off. Discount retailer Dollar General and grocery store Trader Joe's are offering similar incentives. "We do not want our employees to have to choose between receiving a vaccine or coming to work, so we are removing barriers," Dollar General said in a statement. Instacart, the on-demand grocery delivery platform, will begin offering a $25 "vaccine support stipend" on Feb. 1 for its in-store workers and eligible independent contractors who have been vaccinated. Vaccines are going to health care workers, nursing home residents and senior citizens 70 and older first, but grocery store employees in South Carolina will be able to sign up by the spring in the second eligible group, according to a schedule listed by the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control. Sign up for our new business newsletter We're starting a weekly newsletter about the business stories that are shaping Charleston and South Carolina. Get ahead with us - it's free. Email Sign Up! Companies want to be ready, but none of the retailers is mandating inoculations. The incentives are meant to prod workers into choosing safety for themselves and their customers once the shot is available. Grocery store workers are in the Phase 1B group, deemed "frontline essential workers" by DHEC. That group also includes firefighters, law enforcement officers, corrections officers, food and agricultural workers, postal service employees, as well as workers in manufacturing, public transit and education, including teachers, support staff and daycare workers. A University of South Carolina retail expert said companies are wise to offer workers an incentive. Employers want to make sure everyone is safe when they come into their stores, said Jeff Campbell, chairman of the schools retailing department. Because there is no national mandate to get the vaccine, the alternative is offering employees incentives. Its a small investment, and customers protection has a lot to do with it. Campbell believes incentives offered in the retail industry will be followed by those for hotel and restaurant workers in the hospitality field. "Retail and hospitality are tied together in a lot of ways, and making sure employees are vaccinated will be very beneficial to both industries," he said. Even so, most companies are reluctant to impose mandates, said Sharon Perley Masling, a partner at the law firm Morgan Lewis who has been advising clients on workplace issues surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic. The emergency nature of the vaccines approval makes it impractical for many companies to require it, given that the shots are not yet available to most of the population, she said. At the same time, Masling said the companies she works with are taking various steps to strongly encourage workers to get the shots. Its good for employees, its good for their communities and it's good for ensuring the continuation of business operations, she said. The vaccine rollout started slower than anticipated in the U.S., and many of the delivered supplies haven't made their way into people's arms yet. Nearly 40 million doses have been distributed across the nation as of Thursday, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, while about 19.1 million doses have been administered, including close to 2.8 million people who have received the initial and follow-up shots. Federal officials had projected 20 million people would have received first doses by the end of December, but that number came up far short. Vaccines became available earlier that month. In South Carolina, about 425,000 doses had been received by Thursday. About half had been administered, according to DHEC. To accelerate the process, Walmart is expanding the number of states where inoculations could become more readily available. The world's largest retailer already provides COVID-19 vaccines in New Mexico and Arkansas, but it has broadened its reach to select stores in South Carolina and other locations around the country, including stores in North Charleston near Tanger Outlets and in Summerville at the Neighborhood Market on Central Avenue. Walmart has the capacity to give up to 13 million shots a month "when supply and allocations allow," Cheryl Pegus, executive vice president of health and wellness, said in a blog post Friday. Vaccines are free, but an administration fee can be charged, according to the CDC. Providers can be reimbursed by public or private insurance, or, for the uninsured, by the Health Resources and Services Administration. People can't be denied a vaccine if they are unable to pay the fee. Yesterday, my normal healthy life took a turn downward. I started getting a super stiff neck, then a bad headache, then chills (but no fever), and a runny nose. My fear took over immediately. Was this COVID? Would I survive it? What should I do now? Theres really not much information thats step-by-step on what action one should take when confronted by getting sick these days. Ive basically slept the last 16 hours, with short bouts of activity between. One was to get a COVID test at my medical groups outdoor testing site. Drive up, get swabbed, and Ill know in 2 days. The thing I couldnt get: a doctors appointment. Normally, I wouldnt go to the doctor for a cold or flu, but I felt I should be prudent. I finally got an appointment for 2 weeks out, and sorry, thats the best they can do. I asked the receptionist, Gee, what if Im dead by then? So, I went online, looking for the Americas Frontline Doctors website where I could get Hydroxychloroquine, etc., in case I started getting obviously more ill. I wanted a back-up plan. But the site is down and, apparently, Dr. Simone Gold, the head of it, was arrested after admitting that she walked into the Capitol with other protesters on January 6th, believing that it was legal to do so. Ive written quite a few articles on COVID and care (here, here, and here), and those have engendered comments. Since the comment feature is disabled, due to obvious threats to the websites existence if it were enabled, I dont know what most of those comments are. But I did have one passed on to me, from my last article on how skewed the data is on long term care deaths, based on whether the resident of the care home had a DNR on file or not. The doctor who wrote me passed on a lot of great and thought-provoking information. Hes done studies on the subject and is an emergency physician. He commented on the dilemma a doctor has, as most have not received adequate training in this subject. Doctors do both under and over-treatment, often based on a directive the patient has no idea is in his file. We are asking medical staff to play god. The studies point out that doctors and nurses are stressed, and that theres just not enough information presented. Based on how I feel today, if I went to a hospital, Id not be my normal, vibrant self, but rather a dull, lifeless shell of myself; that perception is what the doctor sees. And with the lockdowns, patients have no advocate on-site, in their corner, to fill in the picture. One piece of advice the doctor gave me is that, if you have a health care directive, dont share it with the doctors. He said that they are dangerous in doctors hands. This story will continue. I can say, after my 16-hour nap, that I am feeling enough better to write; I still can smell and taste, so may not in fact have Covid; and while I have a profound lack of energy, Im pretty sure whatever I have, I will get better. It helps that my husbands a retired acupuncturist and herbalist. Many of the remedies hes given me seem to be helping. But the initial fear was palpable. We are not prepared for this virus in a meaningful manner. IMAGE: Woman blowing her nose by Pxhere. CC0 Public Domain. Congress has proven, more things change, more things remain the same Unless we face reality, we will not learn: Congress leaders at CWC CWC meeting: Top Congress leader to finalise schedule for party president's election India oi-Ajay Joseph Raj P New Delhi, Jan 22: Top Congress leaders has convened a meeting of the Congress Working Committee (CWC) today. The party leaders are likely to discuss the farmers' issues and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The leaders will also deliberate on the way forward to elect the new party chief. It can be seen that the CWC is the highest decision making body of the grand old party. The CWC meeting will be chaired by party chief Sonia Gandhi, who has asked the leadership to hold organisational polls including for the party president's post. India miles ahead of China in vaccine diplomacy Sonia Gandhi took over as interim Congress president after Rahul Gandhi resigned in the wake of the party's Lok Sabha debacle in May 2019. Congress president post, who will lead if not the Gandhis? Big developments | Oneindia News Central Election Authority chaired by Madhusudan Mistry had earlier in its report made certain recommendations on the election to the Congress president's post. Sasikala tests positive for COVID-19, condition stable There have been demands from a section of the Congress leaders for having a full-time and active party president and an organisational overhaul. The CWC had in its earlier meeting decided to hold organisational elections, following a storm in the party in August last year over a letter to Sonia Gandhi by a group of 23 leaders including Ghulam Nabi Azad, Anand Sharma, Bhupinder Hooda, Prithviraj Chavan, Kapil Sibal, Manish Tewari and Mukul Wasnik raising these issues. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, January 22, 2021, 9:23 [IST] Patna, Jan 22 : Following the deterioration in the health condition of incarcerated former Bihar Chief Minister and RJD supremo Lalu Prasad, his wife Rabri Devi and son Tejashwi Yadav are going to meet him in Ranchi later on Friday. Tejashwi said the entire family is concerned about Lalu Prasad's health. "We will go to Ranchi today to meet him. He has breathing problems and has undergone high definition CT scan on Friday. Doctors at the Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) told us that he has an infection in the lung. Besides, he also has an infection in the kidney. A hint of pneumonia has also appeared," Tejashwi said. Reacting to the jail manuals in Ranchi, where Lalu Prasad is lodged following his conviction in the fodder scam cases, Tejashwi said: "As we are family members, we will request the jail administration to allow us to meet him under special circumstances. We are hoping for a positive response." Earlier on Friday, Tejashwi's eldest sister Misa Bharti went to RIMS and met with Lalu Prasad. Lalu Prasad had complained of uneasiness in breathing on Thursday evening, following which a panel of doctors at RIMS took the necessary steps to stabilise his health. The former Bihar Chief Minister underwent a rapid antigen test on Thursday the report of which has returned negative. His RTPCR test report is expected later on Friday. Meanwhile, the Jharkhand government led by Hemant Soren is keeping an eye on Lalu Prasad's health status. Jharkhand health minister Banna Gupta had met Lalu Prasad at the hospital on Thursday. The idea that you can get up here and talk about what you know and what the science is [...] it is something of a liberating feeling, Fauci told reporters. White House press secretary Jen Psaki had invited Fauci to take the podium first at her daily briefing. While choosing his words carefully, Fauci acknowledged that it had been difficult at times to work for Trump, who repeatedly played down the severity of the pandemic, refused to consistently promote mask-wearing and often touted unproven scientific remedies, including a malaria drug and even injecting disinfectant. It was very clear that there were things that were said, be it regarding things like hydroxychloroquine and other things, that really was uncomfortable because they were not based in scientific fact, Fauci said. He added that he took no pleasure in having to contradict the president, a move that often drew Trumps wrath. Biden, during his presidential campaign, pledged to making Fauci his chief medical adviser when he took office, and the 80-year-old scientist was immediately in motion. Fauci was up well before dawn for the virtual meeting with the organisation, which Biden had rejoined the previous day after Trump withdrew the US from the group out of anger over how it dealt with China in the early days of the pandemic. Fauci told the WHO that the US would join its effort to deliver coronavirus vaccines to poor countries. In the afternoon, the doctor stood alongside Biden and Vice-President Kamala Harris in the White House as they unveiled a series of executive orders aimed at slowing the spread of the virus, which is killing more than 4000 Americans a day, as well as bolstering the nations sluggish vaccine distribution program. Dr Anthony Fauci stands in a hallway before an event with President Joe Biden on the coronavirus at the White House Credit:AP Fauci had chatted amiably with reporters while awaiting the tardy new President. He acknowledged it was a long day and said that while hed prefer to go for a run, he planned to powerwalk a few miles in the evening. It was all a stark contrast after being kept on a tight leash by the Trump administration. Their West Wing press shop had tightly controlled Faucis media appearances and blocked most of them. The doctor went from being a constant presence in the briefing room during the first weeks of the pandemic to largely being banished as Trump grew jealous of the doctor's positive press and resentful of Fauci's willingness to contradict him. Loading Moreover, Trump frequently undermined Faucis credibility, falsely insisting that the pandemic was nearly over. The president regularly referenced Faucis early scepticism about the effectiveness of masks for ordinary Americans, a position that Fauci quickly abandoned in the face of more evidence. And he even made fun of Faucis first pitch at a Washington Nationals game. Trumps attacks on Fauci and his rejection of the science handicapped medical professionals trying to get Americans to take the virus seriously. There was clear political influence on the message of the pandemic. It became political to say that the pandemic was devastating our community because it was interpreted as a judgement on Trump, said Dr Nahid Bhadelia, an infectious-diseases physician and a professor at the Boston University School of Medicine. It actively created enemies of the public health folks in a segment of the population. Having Fauci return to a central role, Bhadelia said, is a sign that science was being repressed and now back. As his handling of the pandemic became the defining issue in the 2020 campaign, Trump insisted on portraying the virus as a thing of the past. He also mercilessly attacked Fauci, retweeting messages that called for the doctors dismissal and revelled in Fire Fauci! chants at some of his rallies. Loading Trump sidelined Fauci but dared not dismiss him, after aides convinced him of the moves political danger. But Fauci, who has now served under seven presidents, persevered, telling friends that he would keep his head down and aim to outlast Trump and the obfuscations of his administration. Clarity of message is the most important thing the government can be doing right now; the single biggest disservice Trump did was constantly telling people that pandemic was about to be over, said Dr. Ashish Jha, dean of the Brown University School of Public Health, who has known Fauci for more than 20 years. In his return to the briefing room, Fauci joked with reporters, seemingly far more relaxed than at any point last year. And as he stepped off the stage, Psaki said she'd soon have him back. 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. Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. The Taoiseach is "keen to cement" Ireland's relationship with the Biden Administration in the US but accepts that the traditional St Patrick's Day trip to Washington DC may be impacted by Covid-19. Speaking to CNN, Micheal Martin paid tribute to newly-inaugurated US president Joe Biden, who he said is "one of us". "It's a source of great pride that the great-grandson of Irish emigrants has become President of the United States. There was genuine elation at his elevation this week. There is a genuine warmth towards President Biden here. People do appreciate the warmth he radiates towards Ireland. "He spoke to me in the aftermath of his election almost emotionally about his heritage and the lessons and values of an Irish family in Scranton." However, Mr Martin said that while the traditional passing of the bowl of shamrock in the White House was an important tradition, a decision has not yet been made. "St Patrick's Day is an honoured tradition in the relationship between the US and Ireland, so our officials will engage. "Obviously, Covid may very well have an impact on that. But I do think both of us are very keen to cement Ireland's relationship with the United States. It is an important relationship in the modern era - it has cultural and artistic manifestations, it has economic manifestations." 'A unique opportunity' Earlier, Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney said the Government would have to figure out a way of visiting the US safely, because of the global pandemic. Last years visit by then taoiseach Leo Varadkar to former president Donald Trump was cut short amid the first coronavirus outbreak in Ireland. As we know, parades have already been cancelled. But we will reach out in the most appropriate way we can, in the most impactful way we can, obviously while being sensitive to public health perspectives. St Patricks Day is an extraordinary and unique opportunity that Ireland has. We make the most of it every year, and I have no doubt that the interaction between the Taoiseach and the new Irish-American presence in the White House, well have a very close and detailed interaction over that period. Earlier, Mr Martin had said that talks on a "two-island solution" to mandatory quarantining between Ireland and the UK are ongoing. Mr Martin said the solution was workable and that discussions had been held between Health Minister Stephen Donnelly and his UK counterpart, Matt Hancock. However, Mr Martin said the Northern Executive's resistance to the idea that those who fly from Britain to the North quarantine in a hotel for two weeks could be an issue. He said the talks were "embryonic". "I know the Minister for Health has been talking to Minister Hancock about that; I know the two transport ministers have been talking about it. Ive spoken to Arlene Foster and Michelle ONeill about this last week, we had a meeting. "Were not in a position to seal the entire border theres never been a policy position to seal the entire island either. So therefore the two-island context is one that could be pursued." The Taoiseach also all but confirmed that restrictions would remain in place until March after Tuesday's Cabinet meeting. Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- More than four months into the school year, over 2,000 New York City public school students have yet to engage their school either virtually or in-person, according to a report from Gothamist. During a Wednesday City Council hearing, education officials told city legislators that the Department of Education (DOE) is still trying to connect with approximately 2,600 students who have yet to participate in remote or blended learning since the start of the school year. To date, were at around 2,600 students that are still being pursued. And were looking into social workers, attendance teachers and school personnel to locate and to ensure that students become connected (and) logged on, First Deputy Schools Chancellor Donald Conyers said at the Councils Committee on Education hearing. On Thursday, the DOE failed to provide specific information as to which students have yet to connect with their school, but told Gothamist that the total number of missing students was actually closer to 2,260, with some of these students having left their respective school districts and are in the process of being discharged from the system. Our goal is to have every student attend school every day, and school staff conduct calls home, send emails, mail letters, get in touch with friends, perform home visits, monitor trends in attendance data, and conduct wellness checks to remove any barriers to participation. Many of these students are currently being discharged from enrollment, a process that takes time, requires documentation, and involves families, DOE spokesman Nathaniel Styer told Gothamist. Every year there are students who do not show up for instruction, but that does not stop us from quickly and urgently addressing issues of absenteeism so all students are maximally engaging, Styer added. The department told Gothamist that it employs a tiered response strategy, which begins with designated attendance teachers tasked with contacting the chronically absent students before potentially contacting Child Protective Services as a last resort in the event the student can not be reached. Youth services experts say it is crucial for the DOE to reconnect these students with their school; not only to prevent them from falling behind academically, but also to ensure that they receive all the other social and developmental benefits of attending class. We need to be attentive to and worried about the young person being disconnected from peers, from developmental activities, from support that would ordinarily be part of their lives, Michelle Yanche, executive director of Good Shepherd Services, told Gothamist. You have the double impact of both the disconnection from education, and just what that is going to mean for the young person, in terms of losing precious ground during this time, but also just the isolation that comes with the pandemic, and all of the ways -- some extraordinarily scary -- of what that could mean for a young person, Yanche added. Judge Salas remembers her son Danny #Dateline pic.twitter.com/P5uiNbXE77 Dateline NBC (@DatelineNBC) January 22, 2021 U.S. District Judge Esther Salas was the presumed target of the gunman who attacked her last summer, but he never had the chance to see her, authorities said. In an interview on NBCs Dateline, FBI special agent Joe Denahan said Salas son, Daniel, who was killed by the gunman, and her husband, Mark, who was critically injured, put up a strong enough defense of their home that it precluded Roy Den Hollander from coming forward into the home. The judge was in the basement. Whether it was just their body posture, the way they angled the door or the attitude they portrayed, Denahan said in the episode that aired Thursday. Whatever it was, Hollander must have felt that way and that is why he fired immediately and then fled. Salas said on the show that she will never forget what an FBI agent told her afterwards. (Den Hollander) was met by superior forces, the agent told the federal judge. The episode was an extensive look at the attack on Salas home that killed her only child, how law enforcement identified Den Hollander as the killer and the judges commitment to prevent a similar tragedy from happening. This man took the most important thing in my life, Salas said during the episode. I cant let him take anything else from me. U.S. District Judge Esther Salas says she has forgiven Roy Den Hollander (pictured), the man who authorities said attacked her home last summer, killing her 20-year-old son and critically injuring her husband.John Jones | For NJ Advance Media On July 19, authorities said Den Hollander, a self-described anti-feminist, dressed as a FedEx employee and rang the doorbell at the Salas North Brunswick home. Daniel, a 20-year-old college student at Catholic University, was in the basement with his mother when the doorbell rang. He darted upstairs to answer, Salas said. Then the judge heard a number of loud bangs. When she raced up the stairs she saw Daniel lying in a pool of blood and her husband, Mark Anderl, a defense attorney, also suffering from gun shot wounds. Salas said she lifted up her sons shirt and the saw the bullet wound in his chest. After being transported to a local hospital, Daniel died. Her husban had a number of emergency surgeries and continues to struggle with his injuries, the judge has said. Its just hard to imagine that on a Sunday, after such a beautiful weekend, at 5 oclock in the afternoon that someone would come to my door and take my only child, Salas said on Dateline. Its unfathomable. It perplexed law enforcement as well, Denahan said. A manhunt was launched for the killer, but the FBI special agent said they didnt have a concrete suspect at first. It wasnt until police received a call from San Bernardino police in California that Den Hollander was identified as a suspect. Eight days prior to the attack at Salas home, a man disguised as a FedEx driver shot and killed Marc Angelucci, a prominent mens rights attorney. The day after the judges son was killed, Den Hollander was found with a self-inflicted gun shot wound in Rockland, N.Y., using the same gun he used to kill Angelucci and Salas son, authorities said. Inside his car, Den Hollander had a dossier on Judge Salas and her family, and knew where they lived and where they went to church. Denahan said based on intel police gathered, Den Hollander had been stalking and tracking Salas in the days leading up to the attack at her home. I had a feeling that the person probably wanted me, she said. Den Hollander targeted Angelucci and Salas presumably because they both were involved in litigation to end the U.S. militarys male only draft. He had a case before Salas and resented her for the pace the case was moving, but also because she was a Latino woman, Den Hollander wrote in his 1,500-page manifesto police found, authorities said. As someone once told me, he hated you the day you were born, Salas told Dateline. The judge has said she plans on returning to the bench in the near future and has forgiven Den Hollander for killing her son. Her current mission is to pass legislation to better protect federal judges and their personal information. Judges need to feel that they are being protected, Salas said. That we are going to be able to dour job without fear of being gunned down literally in our homes. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Joe Atmonavage may be reached at jatmonavage@njadvancemedia.com. Have a tip? Tell us: nj.com/tips. Former U.S. Ambassador to South Korea Harry Harris speaks during an interview with The Korea Times at the ambassadorial residence in Seoul, Jan. 20, his last day in office. / Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul By Yi Whan-woo Former U.S. Ambassador to South Korea Harry Harris said the groundbreaking 2018 summit between the leaders of the U.S. and North Korea in Singapore is "a good starting point" for the Joe Biden administration in pursuing denuclearization dialogue with North Korea. In an interview with The Korea Times on his last day in office, Jan 20, Harris expressed his view that North Korea should be among the security issues that top the list of the new government. He also said he is optimistic about Biden's foreign affairs team, noting that it consists of seasoned officials. New Delhi: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested a Constable posted at Police Station, Sarita Vihar, Delhi for demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs.One Lakh from the complainant. A case was registered on a complaint against a Constable of Sarita Vihar Police Station, Delhi. It was alleged that the complainant was being threatened by the accused that he would be implicated in a case being investigated by Sarita Vihar, Police Station if he does not give him a bribe of Rs. Two lakh and one latest mobile phone. After negotiation, the bribe was reduced to Rs. One Lakh and one latest mobile phone. CBI laid a trap and caught the constable while demanding and accepting the bribe of Rs. One Lakh. Searches were conducted at the premises of accused. The accused was produced before the Designated Court at Delhi and remanded to Judicial Custody. In the second case, CBI has arrested an LDC and an AO, both posted at East Delhi Municipal Corporation, Delhi in an alleged bribery case of Rs. 40,000. A case was registered on a complaint against an LDC/Licence Inspector of East Delhi Municipal Corporation. It was alleged that 5 Licenses for establishing Gharelu Udyog were applied by the complainant (one in his own name and four in the name of his relatives) in East Delhi Municipal Corporation, Paraparganj, Delhi and the accused demanded a bribe of Ra.60,000/- (Rs.12000 per license) for himself and other Senior officials for issuing these licenses. Live TV The bribe was negotiated to Rs.40,000. CBI laid a trap and caught the accused red-handed while demanding and accepting the bribe of Rs.40,000. During further verification, the alleged role of AO also came and he was arrested. Both the accused were produced before the Designated Court, Delhi and remanded to Judicial Custody. In the third case, CBI has arrested a Junior Engineer, Military Engineering Services, Karanja Naval Station, NAD, Karanja, Raigad (Maharashtra) for demanding & accepting a bribe of Rs.18,000 from the complainant. A case was registered against the Junior Engineer (officiating as Assistant Garrison Engineer), Military Engineering Services, Karanja Naval Station, NAD, Karanja, Raigad (Maharashtra) on the allegations that the accused demanded Rs.18,000 as illegal gratification from the complainant for releasing the payment of bills of Rs.13.5 lakh (approx) related to the provisioning of interlocking tiles at Navy Nagar and addition/alteration of windows/ventilators in Naval Station, Karanja, Raigad. CBI laid a trap and caught the accused red-handed while accepting the bribe of Rs.18,000 from the complainant. Searches at the premises of the accused at Raigad & Pune (Maharashtra) and Ghaziabad (Uttar Pradesh) were conducted which led to the recovery of Rs.12.6 lakh (approx). The accused is being produced today before the Competent Court at Raigad. Appointment 22 January 2021 Deutsche Hospitality is taking a further important step along its pathway to restructuring. Florian Daniel has been appointed to the newly created position of Chief Information Officer with immediate effect. In his capacity as CIO, Mr. Daniel will be responsible for the areas of Commercial & Business Systems, Digital Customer Experience, Data Science & Analytics, Technology Innovation & Enterprise Architecture as well as Infrastructure & Data Security and Business Efficiency & Integration Capabilities, and advances the digital transformation of the company. Mr. Daniel was able to gain a wide-ranging knowledge of the company in his previous role as Vice President Group Information Technology. He joined Deutsche Hospitality in 2017 as Senior Director Group IT. Prior to this, he was Director world-wide IT at the international initial and continuing training provider Berlitz, where he was in charge of global operational and strategic IT for 39 countries and around 400 locations. WASHINGTON - Retired four-star Army general Lloyd Austin became the first African American defense secretary on Friday, shattering a racial barrier for the nation at a time when the military is assessing possible extremism in its ranks after the Capitol riot and reshaping the force to counter China. The Senate confirmed Austin in a 93-to-2 vote, giving the incoming Pentagon boss a near-unanimous bipartisan congressional mandate as he sets about overseeing the 2.9 million service members and civilians around the world who fall under the umbrella of the Defense Department. "It's an honor and a privilege to serve as our country's 28th Secretary of Defense, and I'm especially proud to be the first African American to hold the position," Austin said in a statement on Twitter after his confirmation. "Let's get to work." Austin faces the task of accelerating and expanding the Defense Department's involvement in the distribution of coronavirus vaccines. He also must restore alliances that frayed during President Donald Trump's tenure, make hard choices in the Pentagon budget to compete with a rising Chinese military and deal with questions about possible internal threats. Austin is likely to also face the task of fully winding down the U.S. military presence in Afghanistan and Iraq, a goal that President Joe Biden's two predecessors campaigned on but failed to achieve. For Austin, 67, to be confirmed, the House and Senate first had to pass a waiver exempting him from a law that requires defense secretaries to be out of uniform for seven years before occupying the top civilian post at the Pentagon. Austin retired in 2016; Congress granted him the waiver Thursday. Austin's confirmation caps a career in which the Thomasville, Ga., native and U.S. Military Academy graduate has notched a number of firsts, becoming the first African American to command an infantry division in combat and the first African American to lead U.S. Central Command, the unit of the U.S. military responsible for operations in the Middle East. An African American first ascended to the uniformed military's top post in 1989, when Colin Powell became the 12th chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. It would take more than 31 years for an African American to be chosen as the Pentagon's top civilian leader, a lag that Austin described as troublesome in video comments before his confirmation. "It's hard to believe, but it's true," Austin said. "There is kind of a sad commentary here, and that is, it shouldn't have taken us this long to get here. There should have been someone that preceded me." While Austin's arrival in the Pentagon's top civilian post breaks down a racial barrier, African Americans remain underrepresented in the highest-level officer positions in the armed forces. Austin has said he hopes to set conditions so other Black officers can be put in the leadership roles that he held during his military career and wants to ensure that while he may be the first Black defense secretary, he will not be the last. Many former national security officials in Washington had been expecting Biden to break a different barrier in his defense secretary nomination by choosing Michele Flournoy, a former Pentagon policy chief, to be the first woman to hold the post. But Biden developed a personal relationship with Austin while the general commanded U.S. forces in Iraq during the Obama administration. Biden's late son, Beau, also served on Austin's staff while deployed to Iraq. Biden signed the law granting Austin an exclusion Friday and described his defense secretary's confirmation as historic in a message on Twitter. "I look forward to working with him to lead our military, revitalize our alliances, and ensure the safety of the American people," Biden said, describing Austin as the right person to lead the Defense Department at this moment. Where more-swashbuckling Army generals such as David Petraeus and Stanley McChrystal became political forces in their own right amid the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, Austin cut the opposite profile, remaining private and unusually reserved for a four-star general - an understated profile he is likely to maintain in the role of defense secretary. John Hamre, a former deputy defense secretary who now runs the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said the two foundational decisions that have been shaping the Defense Department in recent years - the pivot to Asia started by President Barack Obama and the national security strategy outlined by Trump defense secretary Jim Mattis identifying China as the U.S. military's primary focus - are likely to stay the same under Biden. "So the things that shape defense budgets are not going to change in significant ways," Hamre said. Austin arrived at the Pentagon for his first day of work midday Friday after the confirmation vote and, after being sworn in, received an intelligence briefing from department leaders. He then met with David Norquist, the deputy defense secretary appointed by Trump, and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs, Gen. Mark Milley. Austin chaired a coronavirus briefing attended by Norquist, Milley and other top Pentagon leaders and spoke by phone with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg before receiving operational briefings about China and the Middle East later in the day. After Austin arrived at the Pentagon, he received a call from Biden, who congratulated him on his swift confirmation and thanked him for agreeing to serve the country again, according to a statement from Pentagon press secretary John Kirby. "Secretary Austin expressed his gratitude to the President for his trust and confidence and for his support during the confirmation process," Kirby said. Biden has said he spent countless hours with Austin in the Situation Room during the Obama administration and also saw the personal side of the general, who attended Catholic services along with Biden's son Beau every week while on deployment. In an email message to the force, sent upon arriving at the Pentagon, Austin said his job is to make U.S. service members more effective at their own jobs. "That means ensuring you have the tools, technology, weapons, and training to deter and defeat our enemies," he said. "It means establishing sound policy and strategy and assigning you clear missions. It means putting a premium on cooperation with our allies and partners. And it means living up to our core values, the same ones our fellow citizens expect of us." Austin has made it clear that his first priority as defense secretary is to bring all of the Pentagon's resources to bear on the administration's effort to combat the coronavirus and speed up the distribution and delivery of vaccine. In his message to the force, Austin said the military can expect to continue aiding the nation's health-care professionals in the fight to end the pandemic. "But we must help the Federal Government move further and faster to eradicate the devastating effects of the coronavirus," Austin wrote. "To that end, we will also do everything we can to vaccinate and care for our workforce and to look for meaningful ways to alleviate the pressure this pandemic has exerted on you and your families." Austin faces the challenge of restoring critical military alliances that Trump strained while in office, despite the best efforts of his Pentagon leaders to nurture the decades-old bonds with nations in Europe and Asia. He must see through Biden's plan to undo Trump's restrictions on transgender troops and probably to walk back Trump's orders to draw down a large swath of U.S. forces stationed in Germany. He will also be tasked with improving the military's handling of sexual assault within its ranks, an issue that despite attention from senior leaders has continued to pose significant problems for the force. Austin also will need to chart a course for the future of the U.S. military and the nation's $750 billion national defense budget as China develops increasingly sophisticated technology and threatens to eclipse the might of an American force that has held undisputed dominance for decades. Because he served on the board of the defense contractor Raytheon after retiring, Austin has agreed to recuse himself from Pentagon matters regarding the company for the next four years. He was still listed as a board member Friday, but the company is expected to post a notification announcing his resignation in the coming days. According to his confirmation disclosure, Austin will divest from Raytheon within 90 days of his confirmation. During his confirmation hearing Tuesday, Austin pledged to root out any extremism in the force. He also promised to respect the tenet of civilian control over the U.S. military enshrined in the Constitution, by surrounding himself with civilian appointees and including them in critical decisions, rather than relying on uniformed service members or a cadre of retired officers. Sens. Mike Lee, R-Utah, and Josh Hawley, R-Mo., were the lawmakers in the chamber to vote against Austin's nomination Friday. A far larger contingent of senators, however, voted against giving Austin a waiver, citing concerns about eroding the tenet of civilian control over the military. Austin is the second defense secretary in just over four years to receive a waiver, after Mattis, a retired Marine Corps general and Trump's first nominee for the position, was granted an exception to the law. On Thursday, the House approved Austin's waiver first, by a vote of 326 to 78. The Senate followed suit about an hour later, backing the waiver by a vote of 69 to 27. Before the confirmations of Austin and Mattis, only one individual had ever received such a waiver: George Marshall Jr., who was granted an exception by Congress to serve as Harry S. Truman's defense secretary from 1950 to 1951. - - - The Washington Post's Aaron Gregg contributed to this report. Haiti - CORPUHA / FNE : Award ceremony for study grants to 1,000 young people Thursday January 21 at the National Palace in the presence of President Jovenel Moise took place the ceremony of awarding scholarships to 1,000 young people, who will go to the universities of the Conference of Rectors, Presidents and Directors of Universities and Institutions of 'Haitian Higher Education (CORPUHA). Addressing the recipients, the Head of State declared "It is with great pleasure that I welcome 1,000 young people this Thursday to give them their certificate of admission to the scholarship program initiated by the Haitian State through the National Education Fund (FNE). This scholarship, you obtained it on the basis of merit since you passed the competition with flying colors. It is neither the sponsorship nor the political connections that earned you this scholarship. My Administration wanted to prove once again that we believe in excellence". In addition, the first three candidates admitted from each department were invited to participate in a ceremony to award certificates of admission that same day. For its part, the FNE has assured the happy scholarship holders that their admission certificates are being finalized and that they will be able to withdraw them shortly from the departmental directorates of education. List of 1,000 candidates admitted to the FNE and CORPUHA scholarship program : https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-32727-haiti-flash-list-of-candidates-admitted-to-the-fne-and-corpuha-scholarship-program.html HL/ HaitiLibre Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. Robert Kocharyan on years of his leadership in Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia Situation on Armenian-Azerbaijani border is still tense, more on COVID-19 in Armenia, May 28 digest "Armenia" alliance of political parties paying tribute to founder of First Republic Aram Manukyan (LIVE) Yerevan.today: Armenia acting PM not greeted at ruling party's headquarters, citizens call him 'capitulator' Russia MOD reports on maintenance of ceasefire regime in Nagorno-Karabakh Armenia acting MOD meets with Russian counterpart in Moscow Armenia 2nd President: I see possibility of restoring borders of Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast We can provide our army with some key, modernized weapons, says Armenia ex-President Kocharyan Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: Captives issue is not one that any opposition force can resolve OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs release statement on detention of 6 Armenian servicemen by Azerbaijan Armenian acting Deputy PM: Discussion on issues possible only after withdrawal of Azeri troops from Armenia's territory Armenia acting PM on Syunik roads, Russian military posts: This is only place where there are working nuances Armenia acting PM: Process of return of POWs will intensify after upcoming elections Putin congratulates Aliyev on Republic Day 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 Dear Reader, Business Standard has always strived hard to provide up-to-date information and commentary on developments that are of interest to you and have wider political and economic implications for the country and the world. Your encouragement and constant feedback on how to improve our offering have only made our resolve and commitment to these ideals stronger. Even during these difficult times arising out of Covid-19, we continue to remain committed to keeping you informed and updated with credible news, authoritative views and incisive commentary on topical issues of relevance. We, however, have a request. As we battle the economic impact of the pandemic, we need your support even more, so that we can continue to offer you more quality content. Our subscription model has seen an encouraging response from many of you, who have subscribed to our online content. More subscription to our online content can only help us achieve the goals of offering you even better and more relevant content. We believe in free, fair and credible journalism. Your support through more subscriptions can help us practise the journalism to which we are committed. Support quality journalism and subscribe to Business Standard. Digital Editor Christine Elliott Christine Elliott, most recently executive VP, worldwide communications at Mastercard, has joined Moodys Corp. As managing director, global head of communications and branding, she will be responsible for corporate and internal communications, media outreach, digital and social media content. Elliott also held chief communications officer posts at S&P Global and American Express Global Business Travel. Christines deep experience will be a strong asset as we advance our global communication vision and strategy, said David Platt, Moodys chief strategy officer. Data shows that 81% of Brits are now keen to take up a coronavirus vaccine when it's offered to them (Getty) The number of Britons willing to take the coronavirus vaccine when offered has leapt 20% in two months, making the UK the most pro-vax nation in the world. Data published by YouGov revealed that on 10 November 61% of those surveyed in a nationwide poll said they would be willing to be vaccinated against COVID-19. By 19 January this figure had soared to 81%. Pro-vaccination sentiment is rising across Europe, the YouGov survey revealed, with Sweden and France - both of which previously had high rates of reluctance to take a vaccine - showing increases in willingness. The UK leads the way in Europe when it comes to citizens ready to take a coronavirus vaccine when offered (YouGov) The biggest increase has been in Sweden. In mid-November only 45% of Swedes said they would be willing to take the vaccine but that figure has since increased to 66% who would take the vaccine (or had already done so) by mid-January. Last week, YouGovs COVID-19 tracker showed that people in Thailand were the most likely to say that they would take the coronavirus vaccine, at 83%, however this had dropped to 77% on Monday, the last date tracking took place, putting the UK at the top of the chart. In the US, where YouGov has been tracking attitudes since July, currently 51% of Americans have either received their vaccine or are happy to do so the highest level so far. Prior to this, figures had been between 36% and 50%. Watch: Medical expert criticises morally reprehensible people jumping vaccine queue This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. A mass vaccination programme was launched in Britain in December and on Thursday Matt Hancock announced that 4.6 million people had already received their first dose of the vaccine. Answering an urgent question in the Commons, the health secretary said more than 5m doses had been given in total, also counting more than 400,000 second injections. This virus is a lethal threat to us all and, as we respond through this huge endeavour, lets all take comfort in the fact were giving 200 vaccinations every minute, the health secretary said. The government has committed to giving 13 million people in the UK the vaccine by the end of February. Story continues Englands Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty has dismissed anti-vaxxers as having very weird views and said it is not worth trying to convince them that the vaccine is safe. Mass vaccination hubs such as this at the Olympic Office Centre, near London's Wembley Stadium, have been set up across the UK (Keith Mayhew/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images) During a meeting of the Commons Science and Technology and Health and Social Care committees in December, Prof Whitty said: There is a very small group of people who have got very weird views about vaccines. In a sense, they're not worth worrying about in public communication terms, because nothing will persuade them that this is the right thing to do, and that's their right as competent adults to make those choices. Watch: What you can and cant do during UKs third lockdown An executive order signed Wednesday by President Joe Biden barring discrimination in the workplace on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity does not apply to U.S. military personnel. But advocates for transgender service members say they expect that a Defense Department policy that puts limits on transgender troops will be overturned soon. As a candidate for president, Biden promised that on "Day One" of his presidency, he would roll back a Trump administration policy efffectively banning most transgender individuals from joining the military and placed restrictions on service members who had not transitioned. On Wednesday, he issued an executive order -- one of 17 signed that day -- directing federal agencies to enforce laws that prohibit sex discrimination, including sexual orientation or gender identity, in employment, housing, education, health care and elsewhere. Read Next: Air Force to Allow Female Airmen to Wear Longer Braids, Ponytails But the order did not reverse the DoD policy implemented in 2018 barring transgender troops who have not yet transitioned and those diagnosed with gender dysphoria from service. Aaron Belkin, a political science professor at San Francisco State University and director of the Palm Center, a public policy think tank that focuses on LGBT issues, said the fact that Biden did not have a confirmed defense secretary on his first day in office likely contributed to the absence of an announcement. "I believe [Biden] was sincere and had every intention of [repealing the transgender ban] on Day One," Belkin said. "All the signals are pointing in the same direction, which is as soon as we have a secretary of defense, the military will move forward with an inclusive policy." Biden's nominee for defense secretary, Lloyd Austin, said Tuesday in his confirmation hearing that he supports the president's plan to overturn the ban. "I truly believe ... that if you're fit and you're qualified to serve and you can maintain the standards, you should be allowed to serve," Austin told the Senate Armed Services Committee. In July 2017, President Donald Trump announced via Twitter that the U.S. government would no longer allow "transgender individuals to serve in any capacity in the U.S. military." The announcement upended a 2016 decision by President Barack Obama and then-Defense Secretary Ash Carter to allow transgender personnel to serve openly in their preferred gender. As a result of Trump's announcement, then-SecDef Jim Mattis published a policy in 2018 that barred transgender service members who had not yet transitioned, as well as those diagnosed with gender dysphoria, from serving. The policy also barred prospective recruits with gender dysphoria from joining the military and effectively shuttered recruitment to people who have transitioned. In instituting the 2018 policy, DoD officials said it was made out of concern for the medical costs of treating transgender troops and the impact on unit cohesion. They denied that the policy was a ban, saying transgender individuals could continue to serve, but gender dysphoria was a disqualifying condition for military service. The DoD has not released data on the number of troops discharged under the 2018 policy. Belkin said he doesn't think the number is "very high," but added that the policy itself undermined military readiness by "applying separate standards to different people" and denying needed health services to the military transgender population. The ban also hurt recruiting, he said. "We can't know the number of trans troops who were banned, but folks who would otherwise have been eligible for recruiting were not eligible because of the ban," Belkin said. Nicolas Talbott is a plaintiff in one of several lawsuits that were filed against the Trump administration. Talbott, a transgender male, dropped out of Army ROTC at Kent State University when the 2018 policy went into effect since it kept him from pursuing a commission, he said. With the pending reversal of the policy, Talbott is again considering the U.S. Army as a career. "I'm very excited to see the Biden administration keep their promise and overturn the transgender military ban, and I'm very hopeful that it's something they'll be able to do quickly," Talbott said. He added that with thousands of transgender persons currently serving in the military -- the Palm Center puts the number at slightly more than 14,000 -- there haven't been issues and shouldn't be any problems once the policy is rescinded. "I don't want to say it's not a big deal, because for people like me, it's our entire lives. But it's just not going to be a huge issue like the ban implied it is," Talbott said. -- Patricia Kime can be reached at Patricia.Kime@Monster.com. Follow her on Twitter @patriciakime. Related: Push to Overturn US Military Transgender Ban Gets Boost from Supreme Court Ruling CHICO, Calif. - BCPH Director Danette York said the number of active cases has dropped almost 250 since January 7th. But, York said we're not over the hump yet. "We have started to see a decrease in the number of new cases but I do caution that even with a decrease we are still seeing a high number of new cases daily," said York. "Meaning we started high and the decrease is helpful, but we are not there yet." Even with the drop, health leaders are still urging you to follow the guidelines like wearing a mask and staying socially distant. Figuring out when you could get your COVID-19 vaccination may soon be easier to do. BCPH department said the California Department of Public Health may shift to a simpler distribution process. It would be based on your age. York said the new plan wouldn't impact Butte County too drastically. "We have not received the official notification to make this shift yet," said York. "However, if and when we do, it will not change very much for our county's distribution plan because we are already in the phase where individuals who are 75 and over have already been scheduled for or receiving vaccinations." The next age group in line for vaccination would be 65 and older. The county said they order vaccines on a weekly basis and is placing a new order today. While some people in Chico have received their first and even second doses of the COVID-19 vaccines, what does the county have planned for vaccinating the homeless or inmates? York said the county is working with their health care providers like Ampla Health who has a mobile medical unit to vaccinate the homeless. But, when it comes to vaccinating inmates, it is out of the county's control. "I believe they receive the vaccine directly from the state rather than having to go through what we order," said York. "There are several categories that receive vaccine directly from the state. So, the numbers that I provided and the numbers that will be on our dashboard are only the numbers that go through Butte County Public Health. York said CVS and Walgreens pharmacies work directly with the state to vaccinate long-term care facilities and staff. Some 11-thousand people have already been vaccinated in Butte County. Click here to learn more about the COVID-19 vaccine in your area. OTTAWA - Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spoke to Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla by phone Thursday, the same day the company informed Canada delays to its shipments of COVID-19 vaccines are going to be even worse than previously thought. Maj.-Gen. Dany Fortin responds to a question on COVID vaccines during a news conference, Thursday, January 14, 2021 in Ottawa. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld OTTAWA - Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spoke to Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla by phone Thursday, the same day the company informed Canada delays to its shipments of COVID-19 vaccines are going to be even worse than previously thought. Maj.-Gen. Dany Fortin, the military commander now overseeing the vaccine logistics for the Public Health Agency of Canada, said last week a factory expansion at Pfizer's Belgium plant was going to slow production, cutting Canada's deliveries over four weeks in half. In exchange, Pfizer expects to be able to ship hundreds of millions more doses worldwide over the rest of 2021. Tuesday, Fortin said Canada would receive 80 per cent of the previously expected doses this week, nothing at all next week, and about half the promised deliveries in the first two weeks of February. Thursday, he said the doses delivered in the first week of February will only be 79,000, one one-fifth of what was once expected. Fortin doesn't know yet what will come the week after, but overall, Canada's doses over three weeks are going to be just one-third of what had been planned. Trudeau has been under pressure to call Bourla, as the delayed doses force provinces to cancel vaccination appointments and reconsider timing for second doses. Fortin said some provinces may be hit even harder than others because of limits on the way the Pfizer doses can be split up for shipping. The vaccine is delicate and must be kept ultra frozen until shortly before injecting it. The company packs and ships specialized coolers, with GPS thermal trackers, directly to provincial vaccine sites. Ontario Premier Doug Ford said earlier this week he doesn't blame the federal government for the dose delays but wanted Trudeau to do more to push back about it. "If I was in (Trudeau's) shoes ... I'd be on that phone call every single day. I'd be up that guy's yin-yang so far with a firecracker he wouldn't know what hit him," he said of Pfizer's executives. Trudeau informed Ford and other premiers of the call with Bourla during a regular teleconference to discuss the COVID-19 pandemic. Until Thursday, all calls between the federal cabinet and Pfizer had been handled by Procurement Minister Anita Anand. Ford also spoke to Pfizer Canada CEO Cole Pinnow Wednesday. Trudeau didn't suggest the call with Bourla made any difference to the delays, and noted Canada is not the only country affected. Europe, which on the weekend thought its delayed doses would only be for one week after European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen spoke to Bourla, now seems poised to be affected longer. Italy is so angry it is threatening to sue the U.S.-based drugmaker for the delays. Mexico said this week it is only getting half its expected shipment this week and nothing at all for the next three weeks. Saudi Arabia and Bahrain also reported delays getting doses. Pfizer Canada spokeswoman Christina Antoniou said more countries were affected but wouldn't say which ones. Fortin said Pfizer has promised to deliver four million doses to Canada by the end of March and that is not going to change with the delay. With the current known delivery schedule, the company will have to ship more than 3.1 million doses over 7 1/2 weeks to meet that commitment. Deliveries from Moderna, the other company that has a COVID-19 vaccine approved for use in Canada, are not affected. Canada has received about 176,000 doses from Moderna to date, with deliveries arriving every three weeks. Moderna has promised two million doses by the end of March. Both vaccines require first doses and then boosters several weeks later for full effectiveness. Together Pfizer and Moderna intend to ship 20 million doses to Canada in the spring, and 46 million between July and September. With no other vaccines approved, that means Canada will get enough doses to vaccinate the entire population with two doses by the end of September. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 21, 2021. Administratorii portalului nu poarta raspundere pentru continutul postarilor si materialelor plasate de utilizatorii site-ului. Utilizati informatia din acest articol pe propriul risc. There was no way for small-scale farmers in Ecuador to anticipate the COVID-19 pandemic more than a year ago when they started diversifying the products they grew and mapping efficient paths to get them to hungry urban markets. But when the coronavirus hit the South American nation hard, these farmers found themselves well-prepared to keep homebound customers fed. Working with Heifer International, they created a whole new delivery system on the fly, putting out catalogs of their offerings, adopting stringent sanitation practices on farms and in production facilities, and partnering with an app developer so urban customers could use smartphones to easily order fresh produce directly from rural farms. Maria Tereza Copara, outside her home in Pujili, Cotopaxi, Ecuador. She is one of the many farmers who sell their produce via the delivery service. Photo by Isadora Romero. We are quite busy, working around the clock, preparing baskets filled with produce that will be delivered to peoples homes, and its a hard task," said Nelson Pamar, the president of Pamar Chacrin, one of the farmers groups working with Heifer International as part of the Future of Food. "We help farmers sell their produce and we help supply the city with produce. The Future of Food program kicked off in 2019 to boost the production of nutritious, sustainably grown food and get it to eager urban customers. The ultimate goal is for thousands of small-scale farming families in Ecuador to close the living income gap. In Ecuador the living income, or the amount of money each person in a household needs per day to live a dignified life, is $5.26 in the highlands and $5.36 on the coast. But many farmers in Ecuador make less than $4.00 daily, meaning they often have to sacrifice nutritious food, clean water, shelter, health care, education or other essentials. Of course, the novel coronavirus pandemic changed the trajectory of the program, which included connecting farmers to open-air marketplaces and fairs to sell their products. When the health emergency was announced, we no longer had anywhere to sell our food, and we were worried, but we didnt just cross our arms immediately, we organized to deliver baskets containing grains and beans, vegetables, quinoa and bok choy at our customers homes, Pamar said. A truck leaves from Cotopaxi to deliver food from Heifer-supported farmers to customers in Quito. Photo by Isadora Romero. As reported in The New York Times, Ecuador faced one of the worlds worst COVID-19 outbreaks in the first several months of 2020. In response, the government mandated a national lockdown. When public urban transportation systems came to a standstill, farmers took to delivering baskets of vegetables, grains and beans by bicycle, if not by well-sanitized rented vehicles. In doing so, the farmers protected their own livelihoods in a time of economic crisis, when larger-scale food supply chains were broken. In Quito, the nations capital, the mayor approached Heifer Ecuador, recognizing an opportunity to bolster public health and safety while supporting both rural small-scale farmers and poor urban neighborhoods disproportionally affected by the pandemic. He said, we know you work with producers, we need your help to support vulnerable populations. And we need to keep people at home, said Rosa Rodriguez, director of Heifer Ecuador. Rodriguezs team and the groups of farmers they work with quickly put their heads together to come up with a system that is affordable for nearly every family and safe for everyone. Susana Guasque works in a collection center in Quito to assemble food baskets that will be delivered to the north of the city. Photo by Isadora Romero. The process starts in the rural communities outside of Quito every Wednesday, when farmers harvest fresh products from their farms. Early Thursday morning, the products are delivered to one of eight collection centers, where they are checked for quality and packed for shipping to families in the capital. The food is transported into the city in vehicles that are regularly cleaned and sprayed to avoid contamination, then delivered to families across the city using a network of motorbikes and bicycles, many of which Heifer provided. Customers can choose from one of four baskets, delivered weekly, that comprises 20 different products, from fruits and vegetables to cereals to honey. At $17 each, the baskets are set at an intentionally low price point to reach more consumers, especially those surviving on low incomes. In Ecuador, the delivery service is the only one of its kind naturally produced food, direct from the producer. The Heifer Ecuador team ensures farmers receive personal protective equipment like suits, masks, gloves, caps, face shields, chlorine and alcohol to reduce the risk of contamination and protect the farmers as well. A member of the Heifer-supported La Changa Collective delivers fresh produce in the southern part of Quito. Photo by Isadora Romero. Lets remember that rural families in Ecuador often live in poverty, and access to water, alcohol and soap is not easy for them, said Rodriguez. She and her team contacted the World Health Organization to work on a community health plan for the program. Farmers also received additional training and improved guidelines on biosafety and food-handling protocols. Created in collaboration with Simon Bolivar Andean University, Ecuadors Andina EcoSaludable program, these guidelines outline how to safely handle food during harvest and post-harvest, and package it amid pandemic concerns. We have always treated food carefully, but now we are even more careful with the details, said Rosa Mena, a member of the Pamba Mikuna producers group whose own land is located on the outskirts of Quito, Ecuador. These safely prepared food baskets have now reached more than 10,000 families in the cities of Quito, Cuenca, Santa Elena and Machala, and Heifer Ecuador supports a similar program on the Galapagos island of San Cristobal. The program generates almost $70,000 monthly, and the plan is to continue to expand. In fact, demand for safe and nutritious food surpassed supply in the early stages of the program. In response, a $213,776 investment from the Heifer International Disaster Fund is leading to upgraded refrigeration at the collection centers and more personal protective equipment to improve safety standards for workers and customers. Additional Heifer funding for construction materials to upgrade the centers is being matched by an in-kind contribution of $530,000 from municipal governments, enabling producers to further scale the business. Were thinking about this program as both a response to the crisis and also a long-term answer, Rodriguez said. Were thinking about the new normal and creating a sustainable food system. A member of La Changa Collective delivers fresh produce to a customer's doorstep while using personal protective equipment provided by Heifer. Photo by Isadora Romero. This is the first time many customers are giving more than a second thought to the people who grow their food, added Rodriguez. This crisis showed us that food producers are first responders, just like doctors and nurses, because they guarantee peoples health by delivering nutritious and safe food, she said. This crisis has meant that now small farmers and organic produce are valued, said Margarita Haro of the El Marco Agricultural Cooperative, which is based in the parish of Pintag and supplies fresh food to some of Ecuadors fast-growing urban areas. When we deliver our products, people tell us we are just as important as doctors who are working nonstop in hospitals while we deliver their food. By Abubaker Kirunda The Electoral Commission has announced the winner of the Jinja city Mayor seat after two days of vote tallying. The Jinja city Returning officer Jennifer Kyobutungi says the breakdown of the computers at the tally centre is responsible for the delayed release of election results. Kyobutungi has this morning declared Peter Okocha Kasolo, the NUP Flag bearer as the winner of this race that attracted ten candidates. Kasolo polled 11, 899votes to defeat the FDCs Frank Nabwiso who got 10, 398votes. Kasolo is a Comedian in the popular Swengerere family who also doubles as a radio presenter at Baba FM in Jinja city. Three other Baba fm workers have jointly been elected with Kasolo as councillors at the Jinja city council. The trio include Silina Kyakuwaire the news editor, Damulira Twhilii the programme director and Shamim Khani a presenter. and are integrating parts of their research and development within OPLUS to "maximise resources", a move that could see the smartphone brands work more closely in the future. While the companies did not disclose details around the integration, the development is expected to include the R&D teams of and in India as well. "To better maximise resources and further position for growth, we are in the process of further integrating some R&D capabilities within OPLUS, our long-term investor. OnePlus will continue operating independently and working to deliver the best possible user experience for existing and future OnePlus users," OnePlus said in an e-mailed statement. In a similarly worded statement, said, "in order to enhance customer experience and strengthen service network, OPPO is in the process of further strengthening some R&D teams within our long-term investor OPLUS to better maximise resources". Oppo will continue operating independently to deliver the best user experience, it added. Oppo's R&D team in Hyderabad has over 400 people. Recently, Oppo India had said it is in the process of filing 80 patents and will enhance focus on the development of 5G device ecosystem this year. Oppo India vice-president and research and development head Tasleem Arif had said that setting up a 5G lab in the country has reduced its dependency on headquarters and other centres of the smart devices firm. He had also indicated that a huge amount of investment for India R&D centre is in pipeline and it will be made as the business grows. Oppo ranked fifth in terms of smartphone shipment in the country with 10 per cent market share in the September 2020 quarter. Samsung led the smartphone market in the September 2020 quarter with a 24 per cent share, followed by Xiaomi (23 per cent), Vivo (16 per cent) and Realme (15 per cent). The quarter saw the smartphone segment in India rebound after the lockdown to touch an all-time high of 53 million units, according to research firm Counterpoint. According to Counterpoint Research Associate Director Tarun Pathak, every tech transition has brought in significant changes to the device form factor, especially for smartphones. "As 5G kicks in, the role of R&D will be critical in gaining a competitive edge when it comes to overall device experience or transition to the new form factor. Integrating R&D will lead to better synergies in the future, especially when they (Oppo and OnePlus) are scaling up R&D presence in a country like India," he said. Pathak added that India has a great talent pool, and both brands will look forward to tapping in the talent. "This could be key to their premium segment growth as well and entering into new CIoT (consumer Internet of Things) categories as well," he said. Premium smartphone maker OnePlus' R&D centre, which is also in Hyderabad, has over 300 employees. Set up in 2019, the India R&D team has worked on product innovation and software development for the OnePlus 8 Series and OnePlus Nord devices in the past. These include efforts towards camera software development, OxygenOS optimisations, UX/UI (user experience/user interface) design efforts, network optimisation measures, and others, The key focus areas for OnePlus India's R&D centre include in-depth kernel knowledge, user experience, 5G, artificial intelligence and camera. (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.) JACKSON COUNTY, Mississippi -- Even as Gov. Tate Reeves questioned the vaccine plan laid out by President Joe Bidens administration, his own states COVID-19 number continue to climb, including record-setting numbers along the coast. Claiming again that hes a numbers guy, Reeves said Bidens stated goal of 100 million Americans being vaccinated in 100 days is a low number and that, by Reeves math, would result in 9,000 vaccinations administered per day. Mississippi can do way better than 9,000 per day, Reeves wrote on his Facebook page Thursday night. And American can do better than 100 vaccines in 100 days. If President Biden doesnt ditch that low number, its a disservice to his own stated goal -- and more importantly the people of this county. Reeves also claimed in the post that Mississippi had completed 28,672 vaccinations on Tuesday and Wednesday, combined. As Reeves criticized the federal plan, COVID-19 numbers in his own state continued to climb, with the Mississippi coast seeing record highs in total cases, daily average and deaths over the past seven days. The Mississippi Department of Healths Friday update reported 2,050 new cases and 45 deaths statewide, bringing those totals to 261,167 and 5,713, respectively. There were 282 new cases and five deaths on the coast reported Friday, bringing those totals to 27,781 cases and 452 deaths in the three coastal counties. Over the past week, Jackson County had 719 cases for a daily average of 102.7, along with 11 deaths -- all three numbers representing significant increases from the week prior when there were 632 cases (90.3 average) and eight deaths. Harrison Countys numbers continued to rank among the states highest, with 1,1013 total cases and 12 deaths, although those actually represented a decrease from the week prior. As a whole, the Mississippi coast saw 2,081 new cases in the past seven days, a daily average of 297.3, with 27 total deaths -- all three numbers representing new highs since the pandemic began. Jackson Countys totals now stand at 10,729 cases and 188 deaths. In Harrison County, there have been 14,050 cases and 202 deaths; and Hancock County has reported 2,884 cases and 61 deaths. Hospitals continue to be overwhelmed by COVID-19 cases. As of Thursday, Singing River Hospital had 26 total COVID patients, with eight of those in intensive care. There were no ICU beds available. At Ocean Springs Hospital, there were 40 COVID patients, with nine in ICU. There was one ICU bed available. Other data from the MDH reported 207,769 Mississippians are now presumed recovered from the coronavirus, leaving 53,398 known active cases -- up from 41,603 a week ago, an increase of 28.4 percent. Total testing now stands at 2,056,401, with a positive rate of 12.7 percent, up slightly from 12.4 a week ago. Over the past seven days, 86,431 more tests have been administered to Mississippians. London, Jan 22 : If you love having plants at home, then there is a good news for you as a new study suggests that plants at home can keep you mentally healthy. The findings, published in the journal Urban Forestry and Urban Greening, indicated that having plants at home had a positive influence on the psychological well-being of the dwelling's inhabitants during Covid-19 lockdown. For the study, the researchers, including Katia Perini from the University of Genoa in Italy, evaluated the role played by the plants at home during the first Covid-19 lockdown and the study involved 4,200 respondents. The situation between the months of March and June deprived the public of the chance to enjoy open spaces and nature, and forced them to spend extended periods of time indoors. The team found 74 per cent of the respondents agreed that having plants at home had a positive influence on emotional well-being during lockdown, the researchers said. In fact, more than half of them (55.8 per cent) stated that they would have preferred to have more plants in their house during that difficult period. The frequency with which study participants experienced negative emotions was higher in those who stated they had no indoor plants. Those living in small or poorly lit dwellings and those who did not visit green spaces frequently before lockdown also experienced more negative emotions, it added. Moreover, just over half of respondents (52 per cent) reported spending more time on plant care at home during lockdown and almost two thirds (62.5 per cent) expressed a desire to do so once normality was restored. As a result, 40 per cent of the participants indicated that they were motivated to have more plants at home in future, the researchers said. Relatives sprinkle flowers into the Java Sea where Sriwijaya Air flight SJ-182 crashed on January 9 (Tatan Syuflana/AP) Relatives of crash victims prayed and threw flowers into the Java Sea where a Sriwijaya Air jet plunged into the water almost two weeks ago, killing all 62 people on board. An Indonesian navy vessel took dozens of grieving relatives to the site. Many people wept as they prayed and cast flower petals into the water, and officials from the navy, search and rescue agency, and Sriwijaya Air employees threw wreaths into the sea. The airlines president, Jefferson Irwin Jauwena, said he hoped by visiting the location to help relatives accept what happened to their loved ones and ease their grief. We also do feel sad and lost our crew, they were part of our beloved Sriwijaya Air big family, he told reporters on the ship. I, personally, feel so devastated by this accident. Expand Close Indonesian pilots salute during a memorial ceremony (Tatan Syuflana/AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Indonesian pilots salute during a memorial ceremony (Tatan Syuflana/AP) The jet nosedived into the water minutes after taking off from Jakarta, the capital, on January 9. Searchers have recovered plane parts and human remains from an area between Lancang and Laki islands in the Thousand Island chain. Those retrieval efforts ended on Thursday, but a limited search is continuing for the missing memory unit of the cockpit voice recorder which apparently broke away from other parts of the device during the crash. The flight data recorder, which tracks altitude and other parameters of the planes flight, was recovered earlier, and investigators are working with Boeing and engine maker General Electric to review information from the device. Expand Close Relatives throw flowers into the Java Sea where the plane crashed on January 9 (Tatan Syuflana/AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Relatives throw flowers into the Java Sea where the plane crashed on January 9 (Tatan Syuflana/AP) A team from the US National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration is part of the investigation. The 26-year-old Boeing 737-500 was out of service for almost nine months last year because of flight cutbacks caused by the coronavirus pandemic. Regulators and the airline said it underwent inspections before resuming commercial flights in December. The bigger they are the harder they fall may be true of heavyweight boxers. It's just as true of distinguished figures in public life. And they don't come much more distinguished than Lord Sumption. He was a Supreme Court judge with more letters after his name than a postman's sack. He's won wide praise for his BBC Reith Lectures and yet more praise from some quarters for his views on lockdowns. This week he fell and it was a pretty hard fall. He'd been arguing on BBC One's The Big Questions programme that lockdowns hurt the young disproportionately. He made the perfectly reasonable point that it's the old who are especially vulnerable to Covid but the young who are paying the price of protecting them by having their lives put on hold and their futures threatened. So he wants to end the universal lockdown and says the Government should help old and vulnerable people to isolate themselves while everyone else is allowed to get on with their lives much as normal. Controversial, certainly, but it was what he said next that set the sirens wailing: 'All lives are not of equal value. The older you are, the less valuable yours is because there's less of it left.' Jonathan Sumption, who sat on the Supreme Court until 2018, made the comment while appearing on the BBC's The Big Questions this morning (pictured) He might just have got away with his observation but for Deborah James. She's 39, has two children and stage-four bowel cancer. She challenged him. Did that mean her life was less valuable? Sumption said he wasn't talking about her life, but his. He's 72. But it was too late. The damage had been done. Ms James piled on the agony: 'Who are you to put a value on life? In my view, life is sacred and I don't think we should make those judgment calls.' In a battle between a brave young mother who has had 17 tumours in her frail body and a hale and hearty retired judge, there could only be one victor. Sumption was made to look a heartless beast. But was he? What he was doing was challenging one of the most basic tenets of belief in Judeo-Christian societies. It says: human life is of absolute value. Hence Ms James using the word 'sacred'. Miss James (pictured in hospital), from London , known as Bowel Babe, has had 17 tumours in her lifetime and had her latest cancer operation just six weeks ago We cannot judge one human life to be more or less valuable than another. It follows that human rights, too, are absolute. It is a seductive argument. Once we accept that some people are worth less than others, we open the door to disposing of them. This way lies true horrors. Genocide and the Holocaust. Eugenics. Getting rid of the disabled or mentally ill. Even letting the very old die if they become too big a pain in the neck. There is no such thing as a decent society in which the powerful are allowed to discriminate against 'less valuable' humans. If that's why Ms James used the word 'sacred' she was right. Where she went wrong was to claim that you cannot put a value on human life. Our political leaders do it all the time. So do their advisers and civil servants. Consider 'smart' motorways. As every motorist knows, hundreds of miles of hard shoulders have been turned into live lanes. If you break down you must try to get to one of the emergency refuge areas. Not everyone succeeds. Many have died. This week, following an inquest into two of the deaths, the coroner wrote to the Transport Secretary saying smart motorways are dangerous and the Government must think again. Deborah James, the 39-year-old mother of two challenged Lord Sumption But it is inconceivable that when the policy was originally put forward the possibility of more accidents and therefore more deaths was not considered. The prospect of the economic benefits gained from traffic moving more swiftly at relatively low cost won the argument. That's also why the speed limit is 70 mph, even though lives would be saved by cutting it to 60 mph. A price is put on life. In one of his greatest poems, T. S. Eliot wrote: 'I have measured out my life with coffee spoons.' The NHS measures out our lives, too, but it uses something called 'qalys' or quality-adjusted life years. One qaly, according to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), is about 30,000. You may ask why anyone, let alone the NHS, should have to engage in such gruesome arithmetic. Here's why. Let's assume a new drug is developed that transforms the lives of people with a hideous form of cancer. Wonderful news except that it's hugely expensive and the NHS budget is not infinite. Do you give it to the 70-year-old, whose remaining life in qalys might be 'worth', say, 250,000, or to the 20-year-old? Or the ten-year-old? It's not easy, but there can surely be only one answer. Lord Sumption (left) was discussing the cost of lockdown on the show and argued that he believed his children's and grandchildren's lives were worth more than his 'because they've got a lot more of it ahead'. Miss James (right) - who suffers with Stage 4 metastatic bowel cancer - was brought into the discussion as a younger person with a life-threatening condition. Covid has made these calculations infinitely more complex. No one can possibly know yet how much the lockdowns have cost the country. The bills rocket with every day that passes. What we do know is that if we applied the qaly test to the lives 'saved', we would no longer be talking about 30,000 a year. It would be many times that amount. The price of even the most expensive new drug is a drop in the ocean compared to the vast cost of closing down half the nation's economy and the bill is rising with every word I type. So does that mean the life of someone who faces the risk of dying from Covid must be valued more than those who have other life-threatening conditions? Many people have died because they've been unable to get the treatment they needed. Hard-headed calculations were presented to policy-makers who knew what the consequences of lockdowns would be but they took them anyway. In other words, they put a price on life. We can and will debate the morality of all this until the cows come home, but the judgment was reached a very long time ago. All lives are not equal. Lord Sumption was right about something else, too: the right to make his own decision about his own life. It's 60 years since this country changed the law that made suicide a crime. It is still, though, a crime for a doctor to help someone to die. And that is wrong. I know two people women in their 90s who are in the final stages of dementia. They inhabit a living hell and they cannot get better. Did I write 'living'? One of them has been bed-bound for years. She must be fed through tubes. She is capable of breathing. That's all. Does she even know she is alive? Who can say? When she became ill with a life-threatening infection last year she was rushed to hospital for treatment and, eventually, returned to her living hell. Is her life 'sacred'? Captain Tom, the nation's Covid hero who became Sir Tom, told Piers Morgan that he'd had a bad fall at his home and when they took him to hospital he had a 'Do Not Resuscitate' notice pinned to his door. He said: 'I did not want to finish up in an old people's home without any faculties of my own, having to be fed in every way. I would hate ever to be like that.' Sir Tom went on to do great things but he knew what his life was worth to him. And he wants to be the person who makes that judgment. 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. China announced fresh sanctions on 28 U.S. individuals on Wednesday, targeting Mike Pompeo with current and outgoing administration members. In a statement on Wednesday, the Foreign Ministry in Beijing "decided to sanction 28 persons who have seriously violated China's sovereignty and who have been mainly responsible for such U.S. moves on China-related issues". The list includes Peter K. Navarro, Mr. Trump's trade advisor, who was a key figure behind many of China's trade movements; Robert C. O'Brien, the outgoing National Security Adviser; David Stilwell, Assistant Secretary of State for the Office of East Asian and Pacific Affairs, who is the region's top diplomat; and Matthew Pottinger, the recently resigned Deputy National Security Adviser, Anoth The list also included former NSA John R. Bolton and former White House strategist chief Stephen K. Bannon. All of them fell out while in the office with Mr. Trump. The sanctions bar the entry into mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macao of such persons and their immediate family members. They are also prohibited, as are any companies or organizations affiliated with them, from doing business with China. The declaration of the sanctions coincided with President Joe Biden's inauguration, as the Trump administration was coming to an end. The timing left the Trump administration unable to issue its sanctions against Chinese officials in retaliation. The announcement came as China and the United States clashed over the Trump administration, accusing China on its last day of committing "genocide" and "crimes against humanity" against its Uighur Muslim minority in Xinjiang. It is accompanied by a series of recent steps that have taken China's relations to a low level, with both sides clashing over Taiwan, Hong Kong and sanctions against Chinese companies. The step comes only one day after Pompeo released a forceful statement accusing China of committing genocide in its Xinjiang region against Muslim Uighurs and other minority groups. Many Chinese officials were sanctioned in July by the U.S. That was one of several instances of sanctions taken from Pompeo, visa bans, and trade limits imposed in the Trump administration's final year on Chinese leaders and Communist Party officials. Under the previous administration, relations between the U.S. and China deteriorated considerably, taking an unusually aggressive approach. As NPR's John Ruwitch has written, Pompeo and other officials referred to China as representing America's greatest threat. Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying told the daily ministry briefing in response to the Xinjiang allegations: "Pompeo has made so many lies in recent years, and this is just another bold-faced lie." Due to Pompeo's statement, Chunying said, "This U.S. politician is notorious for lying and cheating, is making himself a laughingstock and also a clown." Hua said China was hoping "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." Mr. Biden also characterized what China was doing in Xinjiang during the election campaign, where about a million people were sent to "re-education" centers, as "genocide." The U.S. declaration is likely to suggest a continuation of sanctions, including a ban on imports from Xinjiang of cotton and tomatoes and appointments of Chinese officials perceived to be active in the Xinjiang program. READ MORE: Man With Unauthorized Inauguration Credentials and Loaded Handgun Arrested by US Capitol Police @ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. Location: Milwaukee - Wisconsin Job Description Position can be Located Anywhere in North America Position Summary The Microsoft Alliance Strategic Partner Manager (SPM) is charged with working closely with Microsoft's business leaders, Microsoft Account Executives, Rockwell Automation Account Managers, Rockwell Automation Industry Vertical Leaders and Rockwell Automation market access partners to identify and close large co-selling deals. The SPM is also responsible for identifying potential partner candidates from Microsoft's ecosystem for the Rockwell Automation Partner Program specific to driving sales in Rockwell Automation's Vertical markets. This position reports directly to the Regional Manager, NA Technology Partnerships, and will be instrumental in propelling our RA footprint in the MSFT cloud/SaaS marketplaces. Our market access team works in a fast-paced, cross-functional, dynamic environment, where innovative ideas and creative minds meet to drive significant market share through partner collaboration and field success. Principal Duties and Responsibilities: Define GTM Models and Collaboration approach to accelerate business growth through Microsoft. Create joint value proposition that RA and Microsoft sellers can take to their clients jointly or individually. Explore leverage of Microsoft ecosystem to grow revenue. Develop the business plan for co-sell engagement between Rockwell Automation and Microsoft, including development of target vertical industries and accounts and well-defined KPIs. Work closely with Microsoft Account Executives and Rockwell Automation Account Managers to jointly position and co-sell Rockwell Automation solutions, products and services. Maintain co-sell pipeline forecast and provide sales management and alliance management with regular updates including sales forecasts, competitive analysis, market trends, and territory opportunity. Conduct Quarterly Business Reviews with Microsoft vertical market sales leaders while developing annual business plans focused on driving bookings growth. Coordinate the go-to-market activities with our Sales/Channels team to ensure optimal utilization and growth to annual operating plans. Build and Manage executive relationships with top Microsoft sales and partner executives in the North America region. Create innovative campaigns and programs to deliver on partner-led bookings and further market penetration. Evaluating and help evolve commercial programs focused at driving value to partners. Partner with the alliance management team and sales enablement to educate the Microsoft and Rockwell Automation Account sales teams on joint offerings and value proposition. Analyze, develop and track best practices for commercial collaboration. Software Experience required Basic Qualifications Bachelor's degree This position will require frequent domestic travel estimated at approximately 50%. Legal authorization to work in the US is required. We will not sponsor individuals for employment visas, now or in the future, for this job opening. Preferred Qualifications 10+ years demonstrated track record of successful revenue contribution and sales experience through indirect and direct channels in software, hardware, solutions and services. Experience with Microsoft Cloud and SaaS environments is preferred. Relationship driven with a strong executive presence and proven ability to build credibility with partner executives, industry analysts, and employees, combined with an extensive network and a solid reputation for developing and driving successful global partner relationships. Ability to develop and implement partner business plans that drive partner revenue goals globally. Understanding and experience in the Microsoft Partner Ecosystem and of the Microsoft OCP programs and tools highly desired. Strong alliance partner management experience, partner development, business experience and partner empathy. The ability to speak clearly and work with others We are an Equal Opportunity Employer including disability and veterans. If you are an individual with a disability and you need assistance or a reasonable accommodation during the application process, please contact our services team at +1 (see application details). Former White House Chief Usher Timothy Harleth was gone from his job before Joe and Jill Biden arrived at the White House on Inauguration Day, leaving the new first couple awkwardly standing at the front door, waiting to go inside. What remains unclear is who fired the man in charge of the White House residence, whose job it was to make sure such awkward events don't happen. The blame is being pointed at both outgoing President Donald Trump and the Bidens. 'It happened before we walked in the door,' White House press secretary Jen Psaki said at her briefing on Friday when asked who fired Harleth. But a former senior administration official with President Trump told DailyMail.com that the firing came at the request of the Bidens. 'The head usher enjoyed the confidence of the Trump family throughout his tenure. Any suggestion that his resignation was at the direction of anyone other than the Biden team is false,' the person said after Psaki's comment. Who fired the White House chief usher? White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Timothy Harleth was gone before the Bidens entered the building on Inauguration Day But a senior administration official with Trump's administration said Harleth departed at request of the Bidens: 'Any suggestion that his resignation was at the direction of anyone other than the Biden team is false' Harleth was a former rooms manager of the Trump International Hotel in Washington who Melania Trump hired in 2017 to manage the residence. He was seen at the White House on the morning of inauguration, preparing for the Bidens arrival. But, on Wednesday afternoon, when the Bidens walked through the front gates and up the driveway to enter 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue for the first time as president and first lady, no one was waiting to greet them. The dark wood front doors of the White House stood shut as the Bidens hugged for the cameras and waived to the crowd as a military band played 'Hail to the Chief.' The wait to go inside was a breach in protocol, which is taken seriously at the White House. Conflicting reports had Harleth leaving at the request of the Bidens, who were rumored to be unenthusiastic about having a former Trump hotel employee managing their home even though Harleth was publicly lobbying to keep his job. But Trump was also furious with Harleth for sending binders of information on the transition process to Biden's staff in preparation for the January 20th move in day. On that day, White House staff have about five hours to move the outgoing first couple's personal items out, clean the residence and unpack the new president and first lady's belongings. Scroll down for video With the world watching on, the 46th US President and his wife walked up the steps of their new home for the first time on Wednesday, with a small crowd of family members following behind There was no one at the White House door to greet Joe and Jill Biden on Inauguration Day It remains unclear who fired chief usher of the White House, Timothy Harleth (shown right) 'The Trumps sent the butlers home when they left so there would be no one to help the Bidens when they arrived,' a well-placed official not associated with the incoming Biden team told National Journal. 'So petty.' The New York Times reported Harleth was told at 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday - after the Trumps had left for Florida but before Biden had taken the oath of office - that his services were no longer needed. Therefore Harleth would not have been on hand when the Bidens arrived at their new home on Wednesday afternoon. Though the White House doors are typically opened by Marine guards, the chief usher is in charge of greeting the incoming president and his family, in addition to overseeing operations at the residence. Harleth's duties primarily included overseeing budgets, planning the family's dinner menus and handling any personal issues. His salary was estimated to be around the $200,000 mark. While the job is traditionally considered non-political, the Times noted Melania's decision to hire a Trump Organization employee added a partisan implication to Harleth's tenure. For an awkward but fleeting period of around 10 seconds, Biden stares puzzlingly at the door before turning back to shoot a confused look at his approaching family members. Eventually the doors swing open, though it's unclear whether Jill and Joe were forced to open them themselves, or whether someone on the inside did Harleth (right) was personally chosen by Melania Trump to act as chief White House usher in 2017, when she was first lady. He was the former rooms manager of the Trump International Hotel in Washington After Election Day, Harleth found himself in the increasingly difficult position of attempting to prepare the White House for a new tenant while the current occupant was still refusing to concede the race. In a statement to the Times, Harleth said: 'It has been an honor to serve as chief usher, a position whose loyalty is not to a specific president, but rather to the institution of the presidency. 'I am proud that I had the opportunity to lead the residence staff to receive the incoming first family with the utmost respect and dignity, not just for this administration, but for the future success of the office of the president.' It's currently unclear who Jill Biden will appoint to replace Harleth. A number of his deputy chief ushers have remained in their positions under the new administration. Do you have a news tip? Want to share good news story, or do you have information that should see the light of day? Then we want to hear from you. More here Thank you for reading! Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading. Borsa Italiana non ha responsabilita per il contenuto del sito a cui sta per accedere e non ha responsabilita per le informazioni contenute. Accedendo a questo link, Borsa Italiana non intende sollecitare acquisti o offerte in alcun paese da parte di nessuno. Sarai automaticamente diretto al link in cinque secondi. 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. Featured Video Argentine President Alberto Fernandez has been inoculated with the first component of the Russian Sputnik V vaccine against the coronavirus, the presidential press service reported. "President Alberto Fernandez received the first dose of the Sputnik V vaccine," TASS cited the statement as saying. "The head of state confirmed safety and effectiveness of the vaccine and reiterated that it is his priority to make sure that the majority of Argentines receive vaccines as early as possible," the press service said. According to its data, the president received a shot of the Sputnik V preparation at the Alejandro Posadas National hospital in a suburb of Buenos Aires. Sputnik V became the first vaccine against the coronavirus to arrive in Argentina. The Russian Direct Investment Fund and the government of Argentina signed a contract to deliver 10 mln doses of the Sputnik V vaccine. The first batch of 300,000 doses of the first component was delivered to the Latin American republic on December 24. On December 29, Argentina launched inoculation of healthcare workers with Sputnik V. On January 20, the Argentine Health Ministry permitted to use the Russian preparation for inoculation of individuals over 60 years of age. Flash 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. National Guard troops brought in to protect Joseph R. Biden Jr.s inauguration were ordered to sleep in an unheated garage hours after being booted from the Capitol on Thursday, prompting an uproar among lawmakers who scrambled to move them back. On Friday, Gov. Chris Sununu of New Hampshire demanded that states troops be sent home. Ive ordered the immediate return of all New Hampshire National Guard from Washington D.C., Mr. Sununu, a moderate Republican, said on Twitter. They did an outstanding job serving our nations capital in a time of strife and should be graciously praised, not subject to substandard conditions. The Pentagon, which oversees deployment of the Guard, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The troops in the garage were among the more than 20,000 National Guard personnel who provided security for the inauguration on Wednesday. They were relocated on Thursday afternoon to the nearby Thurgood Marshall Federal Judiciary Building, said Capt. Edwin Nieves Jr., the spokesman for the Washington, D.C., branch of the National Guard. Biden speeding up stimulus checks (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden on Friday will sign two executive orders aimed at speeding pandemic stimulus checks to families who need it most and increasing food aid for children who normally rely on school meals as a main source for nutrition. Biden, who has proposed a $1.9 trillion stimulus package, is using the two orders to try to ease the burden on people while the legislation is negotiated in Congress. Some 16 million are now receiving some type of unemployment benefit, and an estimated 29 million don't have enough to eat. Brian Deese, director of the White House National Economic Council said the actions are not a substitute for comprehensive legislative relief, 'but they will provide a critical lifeline to millions of American families.' In the first order, Biden will ask the Treasury Department to consider taking steps to expand and improve delivery of stimulus checks, such as establishing online tools for claiming payments. As many as 8 million eligible households did not receive the payments issued in March according to a White House fact sheet. Biden will also seek to increase access to food for millions of children who are missing meals because schools are closed due to the pandemic. He will ask the Agriculture Department to consider issuing new guidance that would increase the aid given to families who normally rely on schools to provide a main meal of the day for their children. It could provide a family with three children more than $100 of additional support every two months. Biden's second order will restore collective bargaining power and worker protections by revoking three related orders issued by President Donald Trump during his term, which ended on Wednesday. It also promotes a $15-an-hour minimum wage. The federal minimum wage has been at $7.25 an hour since 2009. File image of the 'Delhi Chalo' farmers' protest at border points of New Delhi. (Image: AP) The crucial meeting between Centre and farmers' union leaders will take place on January 22, a day after protesting farmers rejected the government's proposal to suspend the implementation of farm laws for 18 months. The Samyukt Kisan Morcha, an umbrella body of farmers' unions, at its general body meeting on January 21 rejected the government's proposal and reiterated nothing less than the repeal of the three farm laws is acceptable to the farmers who have been protesting at various Delhi borders points for about two months now. In the tenth round of talks between the two sides on January 20, the government offered a proposal to suspend the implementation of recently passed agri reforms for 18 months. "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 statement said that the body had reiterated its plan to carry out a parade on the outer ring road of Delhi on Republic Day despite the Delhi Police's request to not conduct the parade. Soon after the meeting, Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar, who is leading the team of three union ministers in the negotiations, met Union Home Minister Amit Shah at the latter's residence. Sources said the government might offer a further extension in the delay in the implementation of the farm laws. The meeting will be held at New Delhi's Vigyan Bhawan from 12 noon. 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 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. Read | Farm bills have potential to represent a significant step forward for agricultural reforms in India: IMF The SC-appointed committee began consultations and held its first meeting with ten farmer unions from eight states on January 21. The two sides had arrived at some common ground in the sixth round of talks held on December 30 with the government agreeing on two of the four demands of farmers removing stubble burning penalty on farmers and withdrawing provisions in the draft Electricity Amendment Bill, 2020, which intend to change the mode of subsidy payment to farmers. Also read | Farm laws will help increase the income of farmers: Amit Shah Press Release January 22, 2021 DELA ROSA WANTS JUDGES, COURT PERSONNEL PROTECTED; PUSHES FOR PHILIPPINE JUDICIAL MARSHAL SERVICE Senator Ronald 'Bato' Dela Rosa is pushing for the establishment of an Office of the Judiciary Marshals that will ensure the safety and security of judiciary officials and personnel as well as the delivery of fair and impartial justice in the country. In co-sponsoring Senate Bill No. 1947 or "An Act Creating the Office of the Judiciary Marshals, Defining Its Functions and Powers, Appropriating Funds Therefor and For Other Purposes," Dela Rosa stressed the urgent need to establish the Office of the Judiciary Marshals that will resolve the rambling cases of killings of court officials in the country. "It saddens me, Mr. President, that in the performance of their mandate in the proper dispensation of justice, their very own lives are put at stake. In fact, since 2016, at least 54 judges, prosecutors and lawyers have already been killed... I cannot overemphasize the importance of protecting our guardians of justice as they perform their sworn duty of upholding the Constitution and the laws of the country." The senator highlighted that the Office of the Judiciary Marshals which will be under the Supreme Court will be primarily responsible for security, safety and protection of the members, officials, personnel and property of the Judiciary, including the integrity of the courts and their proceedings. In addition, the Judicial Marshals could also serve and execute lawful writs, processes and judicial orders. "They may coordinate with law enforcement agencies to maximize the collection and sharing of intelligence information for purposes of identifying threats. Moreover, instead of delegating to the Philippine National Police, the court marshals shall assist the courts in the execution of all lawful writs, processes, and judicial orders," Dela Rosa explained. Senate Bill No. 1947 was sponsored in the plenary by Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights Chairman Senator Richard Gordon. It is a substitute bill reported out by the Committee which considered the similar bills filed by Senators Gordon, Lacson, Dela Rosa and Senate President Sotto. The creation of Office of Judiciary Marshals is aligned with 10-point agenda of Chief Justice Diosdado Peralta that includes strengthening the security of our justices, judges and halls of justice. "We hope that we can device the system, either through legislation or through court initiative, the creation of security system patterned after the United States' marshals," Chief Justice Peralta said. As a former chief of the Philippine National Police and Director General of the Bureau of Corrections, Dela Rosa believes that the creation of the Judiciary Marshals will deter bigtime drug lords from threatening or intimidating judges handling their cases. "Sana wala nang judges na kayang-kayang tawagan at takutin ng mga drug lord na kahit nakapiit na dyan sa bilibid, tatakutin yung mga huwes na mag-desisyon sa kanilang mga drug cases in their favor. With the presence of these Judicial Marshals, we'll be there to protect our esteemed judges," Dela Rosa said. Through the creation of an Office of the Judiciary Marshals, Dela Rosa is optimistic that justice will now be served swiftly free from peril. "The protection and preservation of our courts is the protection and preservation of our democracy. We should all remember that the Judiciary is the last bastion of democracy," Dela Rosa noted. WAs sewage testing program continues to return no unexpected detection of coronavirus, though Health Minister Roger Cook has warned people not to take WAs situation for granted amid new, more highly infectious strains. Weekly testing has continued since November at six of Perths wastewater treatment plants: Subiaco, Woodman Point, Alkimos, Beenyup, Gordon Road and Point Peron. Wastewater testing has emerged as a key early-warning system for COVID-19 outbreaks. Credit:University of Queensland There has been no detection of the virus at the other five plants and none in regional plants across Albany, Broome, Bunbury, Busselton, Esperance, Geraldton, Kalgoorlie, Karratha, Northam or Port Hedland. The Subiaco plant is the only one to have detected inactive viral fragments. These detections were expected because the Subiaco plant processes wastewater from the state-run quarantine hotels, and the government stressed on Friday morning that the virus does not live in wastewater. A Central Massachusetts resident has tested positive for the new, more contagious strain of the coronavirus, Worcester City Manager Edward Augustus Jr. said on Thursday. The resident traveled to the United Kingdom during the holidays and became symptomatic on Jan. 4, Augustus said. They were tested on Jan. 5 at UMass Memorial Health Care in Worcester. As health experts continue to monitor the situation, it remains critically important to continue to wear masks, Augustus said. Continue to do the social distancing and stay home. Officials wouldnt provide more details regarding where in Worcester County the resident resided, but Augustus said the city was notified this week. During a Public Health Council meeting on Wednesday, Massachusetts Public Health Commissioner Monica Bharel identified the individual as a man in his 20s from Worcester County. The public health measures for these new variants remain the same, Bharel said during public comments, as reported by WBUR. According to the CDC there are at least 88 cases in the United States of the new variant of COVID. Two cases have been confirmed in Massachusetts. Worcester Medical Director Dr. Michal Hirsh said its safe to assume the variant is in more locations than the two confirmed cases in Massachusetts. If its more transmissible we have to presume that its in more places than just the two new anecdotal cases that weve reported, Hirsh said. Hirsh cited the Biogen super spreader conference in Boston last year as evidence as to how one case can spark hundreds of thousands of cases. Although, Hirsh said this time around, people are wearing masks, socially distancing and washing their hands. Theres also a vaccine which remains effective against the strain. The new strain has the same spike protein structure that the old strain does, Hirsh said. Although it may be more transmissible, I think the vaccine will work. If we can hold the line with [social distancing, mask wearing and washing hands] and get the vaccine out there, we could still beat it back. Models predicted that cases in the city would begin to plateau starting this week and the reality has lived up to those expectations. However, Hirsh said the models will be recalculated to account for the new variant. People just dont yet, Hirsh said. Testing to determine if positive cases are of the new strain remains expensive, Hirsh said. Much like at the start of the pandemic with COVID tests, testing for variants needs to be flagged with certain qualifiers, such as traveling outside the country. UMass Memorial has received a grant to start testing suspicious cases for the variant. I think well have a lot more information probably within the next two to three weeks with a new model developed and everything else, Hirsh said. But we just are kind of right now feeling our way a little bit. Editors note: This article was updated to reflect that the second Massachusetts resident to test positive for the new COVID variant is a man from Worcester County in his 20s. Related Content: Washington, Jan 22 : Mitch McConnell, the US Senate Republican leader, has proposed that former President Donald Trump's impeachment trial should be delayed until mid-February so as to give him enough time to prepare a defense. On a conference call with Republican senators on Thursday, McConnell suggested "Trump should have at least as much time as the president had in previous trials, which means he would like to postpone the proceeding until the second week of February", reports Xinhua news agency. "It would have been the 10th or 11th (of February) or somewhere in there," Senator Mike Braun, who was on the call, said. McConnell on Thursday said he hadn't heard back from Democrats on postponing the trial. "Not yet, we're going to continue to talk about it," he said. "At this time of strong political passions, Senate Republicans believe it is absolutely imperative that we do not allow a half-baked process to short-circuit the due process that former President Trump deserves or damage the Senate or the presidency," McConnell said in a statement. Earlier this month, McConnell told Republican senators that under the Senate's impeachment rules, a trial is required to begin the day after the House managers present the articles of impeachment to the upper chamber. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said at a news conference on Thursday that the House was "ready" to begin the trial but would wait until the Senate was prepared before formally transmitting the impeachment article. "They have now informed us they are ready to receive, the question is other questions about how a trial will proceed, but we are ready," Pelosi said of the Senate. The Democrats-controlled House voted to impeach Trump over "incitement of insurrection" in a 232-197 vote on January 13, making him the first President to be impeached twice. The impeachment resolution cited Trump's speech to supporters on January 6 that was followed by some of the crowd breaching the Capitol building to interrupt Congress's certification of the 2020 election results as evidence of his "incitement of insurrection". Covid 19 test samples are retrieved from frozen storage for sequencing at Britain's Wellcome Sanger Institute To monitor changes to the coronavirus that could supercharge the pandemic or render vaccines less effective, scientists must sequence its genetic code to catalogue potentially dangerous mutations as they emerge. But so few countries are conducting and sharing surveillance that experts are as worried about the mutations they cannot see as those they can. Publication of the first genomic sequence of SARS-CoV-2 in January last year, at the very outset of the pandemic, allowed scientists to identify it as a new coronavirus, and begin developing diagnostic testing and vaccines. Since then, tens of thousands of sequences have been uploaded on public databases, enabling mutations to be tracked with a degree of detail and a speed never achieved before. But the lion's share of this information has come from just one country: Britain. As of mid-January, GISAIDa major data sharing platform originally created to monitor influenzahad received 379,000 sequences. Of these, 166,000 were from Britain's COVID-19 Genomics UK (COG-UK), a partnership between health authorities and academic institutions. "This is the first time we are ever seeing how a pathogen evolves at this scale," said Ewan Harrison, Director of Strategy and Transformation at COG-UK and a fellow at the Wellcome Sanger Institute where much of the sequencing is being done. "We are learning that these mutations accrue way faster than we thought." Factfile on the process of gene sequencing, and the mamoth task of applying the technology to the virus at the root of the Covid-19 pandemic. Currently the programme is sequencing 10,000 genomes a weekroughly six percent of known cases in Britain although that fluctuatesand the plan is to double that. "The UK blows everyone else out of the water," said Emma Hodcroft, an epidemiologist at the University of Bern and co-developer on the Nextstrain virus tracking project. "To me, this has been the moonshot of the pandemic, alongside the vaccines." Denmark, she noted, also routinely sequences and shares data, but the information coming from most other countries is sporadic at best. Sequencing has identified distinct variantsstrains that have acquired clusters of new mutationsin Britain, South Africa and Brazil in recent weeks. The new, fast-spreading variant in the UK is "like a mini-pandemic within the pandemic", said Harrison. But without systematic monitoring, he added, scientists might still not have figured out it was a "game changer". Early warning did not stop the variant spreadingit has been detected in dozens of countries. But it has allowed other nations to prepare. Without the warning from UK scientists, the world would probably be flying blind, said Hodcroft. During the summer of 2020 new strains emerged, displacing the earlier incarnations of the virus "If this was expanding in another country, we would just be looking at whatever country it was and going: 'Oh, they're having a bad rise in cases, I guess people aren't following the guidelines'," she told AFP. Other variants have become visible only when they spread internationally from their point of origin. Earlier this month, for example, a new straincarrying a mutation, known as E484K, that researchers fear could evade immunitywas identified in Japan in people arriving from Brazil. 'Eyes and ears' The World Health Organization has said better sequencing capacity is a worldwide priority. Maria Van Kerkhove, the WHO's COVID-19 technical lead, recently described the number of sequences shared so far as "astounding", but said they were coming from just handful of countries. "Improving the geographic coverage of sequencing is critical for the world to have eyes and ears on changes to the virus," she told an online forum. New WHO guidance said a "revolution" in virus genomic investigation has helped build a better understanding of everything from Ebola to influenza. And now, it said: "For the first time, genomic sequencing can help to guide the public health response to a pandemic in near-real time." Tens of thousands of sequences have been uploaded on public databases, enabling mutations to be tracked. But the lion's share of this information has come from just one country: Britain When another coronavirus, SARS, began spreading in 2002, only three genome variants were publicly shared in the first month, and 31 by month three. This time, six genomes were available to researchers worldwide a few weeks after the virus emerged. Within six months there were 60,000 variants published. Initially the new coronavirus did not show much genetic diversity, said Hodcroft, even as it "exploded across Europe" due mainly to widespread travel. But that lack of mutation was an important clue in itself. "We were able to see that it really did seem to originate in China, because all the other sequences that were detected around the world nested within the diversity of the Chinese sequences," she told AFP. During the summer of 2020 new strains emerged, displacing the earlier incarnations of the virus. Emerging mutations Mutations are to be expected in viral evolution and occur when a pathogen infects someone and sets about replicating itself. Most of these new strains confer no advantage to the virus, and some are even detrimental. But occasionally a mutation increases infectiousness or causes more severe illness. Timeline on statements and discoveries relating to the origins of SARS-CoV-2, as China now says WHO experts will be allowed to conduct their research, despite denying them entry on their scheduled arrival on Jan 6. SARS-CoV-2 picks up changes at a slower rate than some other viruses, like HIV or influenza. But the more people a virus infects, the greater the opportunity for mutation. This becomes even more likely in someone with a chronic illnessan extended exposure to a weakened immune system gives the virus more time to rack up multiple mutations. Harrison said this may be how the new variant emerged in the UK, and researchers are now sequencing tests from immunocompromised patients, as well as people whose vaccine failed. 'New vision' Systematic, countrywide sequencing has given researchers new insights into viral transmission. In one case, it helped identify a minibus as the culprit in a hospital outbreak. On a wider scale, an analysis of tens of thousands of SARS-CoV-2 sequences, published in Science this month, found that abundant travel and virus imports to the UK at the beginning of the epidemic seeded more than a thousand transmission lineages. The next step is testing how different mutations affect transmission, disease severity, and vaccine effectiveness, and predicting as quickly as possible how a new variant might behave. The WHO has said global sequencing will help "better understand the world of emerging pathogens and their interactions with humans and animals in a variety of climates, ecosystems, cultures, lifestyles and biomes". The WHO has said global sequencing will help "better understand the world of emerging pathogens and their interactions with humans and animals "This knowledge will shape a new vision of the world and open new paradigms in epidemic and pandemic prevention and control." But sequencing at scale is logistically complex. "There were weeks when things didn't work properly, because you're building the systems from scratch at pace, mid-pandemic," Harrison said. The Sanger Institute stores the tens of thousands of samples it receives every day in huge shipping container freezers and had to build robotics infrastructure to help sort through them. Legal concerns meant COG-UK decided to share minimal information on the sequences in order to make them public, Harrison said. The issue was a hurdle for other countries, particularly those reliant on private healthcare providers retaining ownership of data. Costs are also a challenge in many parts of the world, but Hodcroft said richer nations like the United States and those in Europe have no excuse. "There is no reason we don't have coordinated sequencing responses, except... that we haven't decided to do it," she said. Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak 2021 AFP Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-20 01:55:45|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close STOCKHOLM, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- Sweden's Public Health Agency said on Tuesday that 147,000 people, or 1.47 percent of the population, had been vaccinated against coronavirus in the country by last Sunday. Meanwhile, COVID-19 continues to spread in the country. The agency reported 9,779 new COVID-19 cases since last Friday, bringing the total number of confirmed infections to 533,265. The country has registered 268 new coronavirus-related deaths since Friday. The cumulative number of deaths now stands at 10,591 in Sweden. A total of 340 people are in intensive care. The Public Health Agency also said that 30 new cases of the new virus variant, recently discovered in Britain, were identified in Sweden last week, bringing the total number of such cases to 55. The cases were reported from different regions of the country and 16 of those infected people did not have a history of travel. Two cases of the mutation of the virus, recently discovered in South Africa, have also been confirmed in the country, and both are linked to travelers from South Africa. Meanwhile, Sweden on Monday began to administer the second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine to priority groups. The Public Health Agency has said that the priority groups include seniors aged above 70, those belonging to health or other risk groups, and healthcare workers. As the world is struggling to contain the pandemic, vaccination is underway in Sweden and other countries with the already-authorized COVID-19 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. Enditem 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. Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 A trailer for a new docuseries exploring Britney Spearss conservatorship battle has landed online. Framing Britney Spears, made by the New York Times, will chart the US pop stars rise to fame and subsequent contest over the control of her estate. A short teaser posted on Instagram featured a number of talking heads and promised to follow the 39 year olds phenomenal rise to superstardom and disturbing and relentlessly documented fall. Spearss father Jamie has been her conservator since 2008 after she had a public breakdown. In November, she lost a legal attempt to remove his control over her estate. The legal battle took place against the backdrop of the #FreeBritney movement, an organisation of fans who believe Spears is being kept prisoner against her will. Expand Close Britney Spears in 2004 (Paul Faith/PA) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Britney Spears in 2004 (Paul Faith/PA) Some in the movement say Spears sends coded messages through her social media accounts. Spears, who has sold more than 100 million records worldwide, has not performed live since October 2018. She cancelled a much-anticipated Las Vegas residency in early 2019. Spears has two sons, Sean Preston, 15, and Jayden, 14, with ex-husband Kevin Federline. Framing Britney Spears premieres on February 5 on FX and Hulu. Univer-Capital LLC and Alfa-Bank (Kyiv) on Thursday concluded the first deal for the Ukrainian market with government bonds for UAH 1.9 million as repo on the Ukrainian Exchange (UX) launched by the state-run Settlement Center with risk control. "The bottom line is that the first exchange-based repo operations were carried out with risk control in anonymous mode," Taras Kozak, the founder and partner of the Univer investment group, said on Facebook, commenting on the event. He said that repo with risk control is a money market service for performing exchange repo operations, where the Settlement Center will act as a central counterparty, control collateral for clearing members and meeting of obligations under concluded repo agreements or payment of a fine to a bona fide party. "For the first time, banks and investment firms will be able to conduct lending operations without knowing the client who receives this money. That is, without signing an agreement with each borrower, without spending time on financial monitoring of the client, without holding credit committees, etc. It is fast, convenient, and cheap," Kozak said. Board Chairman of the Settlement Center Oleh Tkachenko told Interfax-Ukraine that the participants must deposit collateral in the amount of 10%, which can be monetary funds in the national currency or hryvnia government bonds with maturity until 2027. According to him, the minimum volume of transactions is from UAH 1 million, the tariff of the Settlement Center is 0.2% per annum of the amount of the first part of the repo agreement. Tkachenko added that the necessary documents have been signed with all three stock exchanges: UX, PFTS and Perspectiva, which have made the necessary changes to their rules. He said that Navigator-Invest LLC, OTP Bank and Freedom Finance Ukraine LLC have already been admitted to repo with risk control, and 10 more participants are expected: banks Alliance, Vostok, Globus, Kredobank and Ukrgasbank, Art-Capital Custody LLC, BTS Broker, Dragon Capital, Investment Capital Ukraine and Profi-T Securities. "There are no efficient markets without developed repo markets. This is a necessary step," the head of the Settlement Center said. He said that within three months it is planned to expand this mechanism to foreign currency government bonds: both as collateral for the transaction, and as the object of the transaction itself, which will provide market participants with a hedging instrument. At a round table organized by the Financial Club on Thursday, Securities Manager at Alfa-Bank Viktor Sazonenko said that the bank is listed on stock exchanges. "First of all, we will place funds. There is money, take it," he said. Sazonenko said that it is necessary to create a single liquidity center so that there is one common center from the entire market. Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has said the Federal Government was free to appoint Bishop Matthew Kukah as a minister but never again as a me... Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has said the Federal Government was free to appoint Bishop Matthew Kukah as a minister but never again as a mediator. The Muslim group said the Federal Government could appoint the cleric to any federal post but not to committees and councils that will mediate between the North and the South or between Christians and Muslim MURIC disclosed this while stressing that the National Peace Committee (NPC) as Kukahs initiative has lost credibility among Nigerians. The group statement came on the heels of an earlier declaration by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) that NPC is a personal initiative of Kukah. MURICs statement was signed by its director, Professor Ishaq Akintola and made available to newsmen on Friday. The fact that the author of the initiative is hidden from the public in its website here shows lack of transparency and possession of a hidden agenda, the groups statement said. MURIC noted that NPC has 10 Christians and five Muslims only and nine Southerners as against 6 Northerners only as members, wondering how a man like Kukah, who, according to them, always complains about marginalization and nepotism cannot even raise a 15-member committee without falling foul of his own allegations. Bishop Kukah turned a personal initiative to national and Nigerians fell for it. What is national about (NPC)? Is it the ratio 10:5 Christian-Muslim membership or the 9:6 Southern-Northern margin? It is our humble opinion that a Muslim hater like Kukah should not be allowed to sit in judgement or in mediation on issues affecting Muslims or matters affecting the North. FG is free to appoint him as a minister and give him six portfolios at a time if it so desires but never again as a mediator. Appoint him to any federal post but not to committees and councils that will mediate between the North and the South or between Christians and Muslims. 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. This article was featured in One Great Story, New Yorks reading recommendation newsletter. Sign up here to get it nightly. Photo: Drew Angerer/Getty Images As Joe Biden was sworn in on Wednesday, many reveled in how normal it felt to hear him speak, how utterly ordinary. This celebration left me feeling suspended, wondering whether we were cheering for the future or the past, progress or regress. Many wanted this weeks inauguration, the first energetic days of the new presidency, to catapult us forward, out of the nightmarish morass of the Trump administration and into a brighter future in which wounds will be stanched, money will flow to those long starved, vaccines will be distributed to the vulnerable, and violent agitators might (or might not) face consequences. I find myself more hopeful about the progressive potential for the new administration than I expected to be. Many of Bidens appointments have been great; his opening economic salvo includes urgent and overdue efforts to hike a minimum wage, increase federal unemployment insurance, fund paid leave and childcarestuff the Democratic Party has been too reticent in fighting for for decades. But I have been unable to feel true relief. As time has looped vertiginously in this prolonged seasonscary days stretching into sleepless nights and hopeful mornings; pandemics and insurgencies returning us to earlier moments that might help us feel our way forward: Reconstruction, 1918, AIDSI cant stop thinking of the moments at which we could have avoided this pain but didnt. I remain gutted that this nation elected Donald Trumpushering in an era of families sundered and 400,000 needlessly deadbecause it could not bring itself to elect his female opponent, and even more furious that many people are still trying to explain why that preference was rational. I am all too aware that Trump built his murderous power on the politics of white resentment, and that, in turn, the man we have elected to get us out of this mess was put forward in part because he conforms to the very racial and gendered expectations of American power that ultimately delivered us Trumps ghoulish authoritarianism. America is back, Biden has assured us repeatedly, always promisingincluding in his Inaugural Addressthat his work will be to restore the soul and to secure the future of America. It is this promisenot of something new but of restorationthat characterizes his ascension. And part of what is being restored, what so many are taking grateful refuge in, is an abiding strain of Americas national disposition, one of its most soothing and anesthetizing forces, a kind of power for which Joe Biden very efficiently stands in: extremely basic white patriarchy. When I say that Joe Biden is basic, by which I mean 100 percent medium grade, I dont intend it as an insult. I mean it as an honest description of everything he seems to want to assure us he is: ordinary, relatable, comforting in the lack of intellectual, ideological, or political threat he poses. Biden looks and talks like presidents have looked and talkedbefore the election of Barack Obama and his bilious cartoon inversion, Trumpsince forever. But more than that, like the country itself, Joe Bidens power has been made possible by all kinds of people whose efforts have regularly been democracys salvation but who themselves have rarely (or never) been chosen to wield real power within it. Biden had a long and largely unremarkable political career as a senator from Delaware, elected in 1972 partly on a civil-rights platform that he would later complicate by siding with segregationists on school busing and co-authoring the 1994 crime bill. Prior to 2020, he had made two unsuccessful tries at the presidency, in 1988 and again in 2008, when he lost the Iowa caucuses well behind two historical firsts, Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. During his primary contest against Obama, Biden had made gently racist comments about his opponent, noting the storybook qualities of the first mainstream African American who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy. With this paternalistic appraisal, and its lightly resentful affirmative-action framing of Obamas success, Biden had projected attitudes so familiarly American that they perhaps sealed his deal as Obamas running matethe strain of average white masculinity he radiated would calm the nerves of some who might be discomfited by the meteoric rise of a Black man. Unlike Obama, or Clinton, who had to stand out, then blend in; excel, then concede, defend, and contort, Biden could just be. Himself. A literally regular Joe. That he would be willing to subsume his own power as the second-in-command to Obama was, ironically, the thing that made Joe Biden most remarkable in my eyes. But it was one of the oldest stories in Americas book: the white man who gains stature and credibility when the far cooler Black guy calls him brother. Here is how time, and politics, has looped for me: Since this summer, I have been living with my family at the northern Maine potato farm where my mother grew up with her staunch Republican parents, potato farmers who had hated Franklin (and, even more, Eleanor) Roosevelt, worshipped Ronald Reagan, and been distressed by my mothers marriage to my father, a Jew from the Bronx, the son of a communist turned socialist mother whose brother had been jailed for his involvement with the Communist Party. The last time I was at the farm during the autumn was in high school, for a long weekend in 1991, when I sat at the kitchen table and my grandparents turned on the small kitchen television so that we could watch Anita Hill testify that her former boss Clarence Thomas, whom George H.W. Bush had nominated to succeed Thurgood Marshall on the Supreme Court, had sexually harassed her. I remember being fixed on Hill and her careful, painful testimony, while my grandfather radiated silent distaste and my grandmother tsked sadly about what that woman was doing to poor Thomas. Perhaps my earliest experience of political fury was toward the Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee who were insulting and demeaning Hill and at the eight Democrats, all white and all men, led by Joe Biden, who were just sitting there, doing nothing. A year later, in the fall of 1992, a record number of women four Democrats were elected to the Senate. They included Carol Moseley Braun, who had run because shed been mad at her senator, Alan Dixon of Illinois, for signaling that hed vote to confirm Thomas and who had once described to me how 1991s view of the tired, old white men on the Judiciary Committee was the wind under the wings of my candidacy. Moseley Braun became the first Black woman ever elected to the Senate. She was joined there by Patty Murray, who ran for her Washington seat in part out of anger at Hills treatment. In California, Barbara Boxer (who has said the only reason I got elected is because of the courage of Anita Hill) and Dianne Feinstein together became the first all-female Senate delegation from a single state. After the 1992 election, Biden would ask Feinstein and Moseley Braun, who was initially not interested, to become the first women to serve on the Judiciary Committee, a move that was understood then and now as one that would help him recover from some of the reputational damage he did to himself during the Hill hearings. New kinds of politicians begat more kinds of politicians. Moseley Braun served one term, but six years after her departure, her Senate seat would be won by Barack Obama. When Boxer retired in 2016, she was replaced by Kamala Harris, the second Black woman elected to the Senate, who was sworn in as the nations first female, first Black, and first Asian-American vice-president on Wednesday. Things fall apart and yet the center can hold. It holds and holds and holds. So much has happened in the years since that October 1991 weekend; so much has happened because of it. Yet this summer, in this same farmhouse, I watched the Democratic convention and a peppy video about womens growing place within American politics. A voice-over stated, She makes trouble, the good kind, over video of Nancy Pelosi ripping up Trumps State of the Union speech and She knows that to change the world, you need to change the idea of power, after a shot of Moseley Braun campaigning to be mayor of Chicago (she lost to Rahm Emanuel). There were Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Maxine Waters and Pramila Jayapal and Lucy McBath and Stacey Abrams and Elizabeth Warren. A clip of Shirley Chisholm showed her wondering, in 1972, Whats wrong with my running for president of this country? while one of Clinton was taken from her 2008 primary concession speech: Although we werent able to shatter that highest, hardest glass ceiling this time, its got about 18 million cracks in it. Then the video moved to Biden. Joe Biden knows a stronger America is one that works for women. So go ahead and celebrate, you rabble-rouser, you rule-breaker, you force of nature. Our country, our world needs you. The story of womens progress in American politics culminated, somehow, with Joe Biden. It did not include even a single shot of Anita Hill, whose testimony sparked so much of that progress. And of course it didnt it couldnt. Because what Hill provoked was dissatisfaction with the governance of men like, and actually including, Joe Biden. I dont know whether Biden has ever really absorbed lessons about the way he failed Hill 30 years ago; what I do know is that he is far from being some apotheosis of feminist political progress. The role he played in drawing more women into politics was as the kind of guy they wanted to replace. And the progress that those women made laid the groundwork for more diverse representation that has, ironically, wound up working to the benefit of Joe Biden: His relationship with Barack Obama propelled him to the presidency; in becoming his running mate, Kamala Harris helped him gain feminist credibility after hed beaten her and five other female opponents in the 2020 primary; Moseley Braun whod helped him fix the optics of the Judiciary Committee and would become one of his early backers in 2020. As it turns out there is nothingnot even the complete electoral rebuke of his leadershipthat is impossible for a powerful white man to find a way to eventually profit from. This October, I watched the confirmation hearings for Amy Coney Barrett, who will join Thomas on the hard-right wing of the Supreme Court. Shell be just the fifth woman to serve on the Court and, along with Thomas himself, is a reminderthough none should be necessarythat a change in representation alone doesnt mean much within a white capitalist patriarchy, a system that elevates those willing to support it, to bend to its contours and occasionally submit to its humiliations in exchange for power within it. Indeed, I sat in this house this fall and watched with horror as Dianne Feinstein, elected to office in 1992, concluded Barretts hearings by hugging Republican Lindsey Graham and telling him, This has been one of the best set of hearings that Ive participated in. Things fall apart and yet the center can hold. It holds and holds and holds. When Biden ran for president in 2020, I wrote about the many reasons he was my last choice. In part, my fears were practical: I worried he wouldnt fare well in a nation more awake to gendered and racial inequities than I had ever known. I thought his centrist approach offered no solution to the problems in front of us. The 2020 primary included several candidates whose ideas and talents were so obviously superior to the wan sameness of Biden. Its not that the greatness and mediocrity fell along gendered or racial lines; the bursting field included inspiring white men and some grimly crappy women. But the thing is, none of those people won. Biden did. By a lot. Black Democrats put Biden over the edge in the primary and, more arguably, in the general-election contest. Many liked him, trusted him, felt they had long relationships with him, valued his relationship with Obama. Many in the most vulnerable populations in this country looked at this guy and saw the best chance at safe deliverance from a Trump administration in part because they saw in him America and a clear-eyed realism about its lack of capacity for alteration to its power structures, the ones that so often have left average white men at the top. The vampiric dynamics of capitalist white patriarchy are clear: the labor of the enslaved, of domestic laborers, of wives, of workers producing profits in which they do not share; the power is all accrued by the owner, the boss, the patriarch. To his credit, Biden has publicly recognized some of this dynamic. Black voters had my back, he said in his speech on Election Night, promising in turn to have theirs. It was on one level a welcome acknowledgment, but it also recapitulated a slight misreading of the dynamics of inequality. In Bidens locution, the efforts of Black and brown voters and organizers had been deployed on his behalf; it did not acknowledge that voters had also had their own backs. Enough of them had surmised that the surest path out of a Trump administration, which fed on the resentment of challenges to white patriarchy, was more white patriarchy. Biden won the presidency because voters of the Navajo Nation organized and turned out, enabling him to flip Arizona for the first time in decades. He won because Black, Asian, Latino, and white suburban voters in Georgia, activated and organized over years by leaders including Stacey Abrams and LaTosha Brown, flipped Georgia. He won because llhan Omar, a leftist Black woman who is regularly targeted (by Trump and by leaders of her own flaccid party) as un-American, secured 88 percent turnout in her district and helped him win Minnesota. He won because Kamala Harris, a woman he had beaten in the primary, made his ticket historic and therefore more exciting and because her presence as his running mate helped him rake in absolute fuck-tons of money. Many in the most vulnerable populations in this country looked at this guy and saw the best chance at safe deliverance from a Trump administration. He won because in a pandemic that curtailed in-person campaigning, only Biden a man who could just be had 100 percent name recognition, didnt have to persuade millions for the first time that they could turn the country over to him, and could still be lauded for running a smart campaign. But, to paraphrase what Elizabeth Warren once said about Americas roads, our infrastructure, the mechanisms that permit the wealthy and powerful in America to become wealthy and powerful: Biden didnt build this. It was built for him. And now he is received as a balm. For what injury? The one caused by the spasm of violent revulsion and resentment millions of voters and politicians felt after having elected a single Black man to, and considered a single white woman for, the American presidency. Of course, neither of those peopleObama or Clintonfully challenged the system of white capitalist patriarchy that Biden is a neater symbol for. Had they presented more substantive rebukes to that system, they never would have made it as far as they did. Yet even as parts of the system, they were so brutally objectionable that entire politically influential fictions were built around them: fake birth certificates and pedophilia rings run out of pizza parlors. Their comparatively brief grip on power provoked people to shout You lie during their formal addresses and Lock her up! at the rallies of their opponents. Those sentiments have broken loose from their original tethers, are now directed at white men too, even Republican white men like Mike Pence, the model of brutal white hetero patriarchal governance from Indiana, now the subject of chanted threats of hanging, incantations of a strain of American power that wants to violently punish anyone perceived as being outside its control. It was hard watching what an easier time than Hillary Clinton Joe Biden had within his own party and outside it running against Donald Trump. It wasnt just about the fact that he was a white man and she was a woman, I know. Trump had been a reality for four years, not a theoretical threat. There was a pandemic. But it would be dishonest to take gender and race out of it, to not acknowledge, that in running against a white man, Trump lost some of his most effective rhetorical tools: the demonization, diminution, and delegitimization of those who were not white men. When it came to Bidens relatively warmer reception, the political writer Matt Yglesias got depressingly close to the truth when he observed, in tweets that have since been deleted, that Clintons weaponization of identity politics had engendered ill will and noted that relations between left standard-bearer Bernie Sanders and Biden could be more peaceable because they could simply agree to disagree, while Clinton seemed invested in implying that it was sexist and even racist to prefer the more left-wing candidate. In this analysis, Yglesias might have been summoning Biden himself, who used to describe how well hed gotten on with segregationist Dixiecrat James O. Eastland. Youd get up and youd argue like the devil with them, Biden had said of Eastland. Then youd go down and have lunch or dinner together. The political system worked. Here is the neat thing about a power structure built around and for mostly one kind of people: Your disagreements with them cannot be taken, or mistaken, for bias. You can criticize them, hate them even, and no one is going to call you racist or sexist, which are epithets still understood as more damaging to political prospects than actual racism or sexism. When you remove the possibility that your hostility will be taken as bias, everything gets so much easier. You can fight like cats and dogs, real Road Runner and Wile E. Coyote stuff, and still clock out and have lunch after. The system works. But as soon as you add an opponent who is part of a group that has systematically been barred from the kind of power youve had relatively unimpeded access to, then things get trickier, uglier, more loaded and fraught. Because you could be arguing with them about ideology or policy, but if you light into them from a certain angle, with a degree of extra intensity or disrespect, if your supporters hate them with a little extra oomph, then questions of systemic discrimination and how it has shaped every American system will come into play. Biden promised early on that he wouldnt be plagued by the sexist challenges faced by Clinton, and he wasnt wrong. In his contest, questions not just of identity but of ideas were put to the side. Even Sanders, Bidens leftist challenger, who got closest to beating him in the primary, said that the general election would not come down to issues, rather the fact that Trump was a threat to democracy. Sanders was correct: Trump was a threat to democracy, summoned because a white patriarchy would rather destroy the nation smash its control panel to smithereens than see it governed by people who present any form of challenge to it. This is why we didnt get Sanders (an old white guy, but one whose ideas that would have significantly loosened the Establishments hold on power) or Elizabeth Warren or Julian Castro or Jay Inslee or any of the candidates who were running with serious ideas about changing policy around climate, health care, housing, child care, education, immigration, or policing. The final move of an embattled system: elevate a leader who is such a pants-on-fire emergency that all you can think to do is reach for water to throw at him. Back when I first started writing about politics, older women, veterans of feminisms Second Wave, used to speak to me about how when theyd been my age, theyd imagined wed have had a female president or several by now. Lately, they feared, theyd never live to see one. I used to listen and quietly roll my eyes a bit. Why on earth had they believed that their generations movement, beset by its own internal inequalities and hypocrisies, would have managed to reverse centuries of bias in the span of their lifetimes? I still dont think the presidency is the most crucial measure of feminist progress. And we now have a female vice-president; she is a Democrat; she is Black; she is of Indian descent and the daughter of immigrants. On balance it seems very possible that she may become president. Things can be unchangeable and then they can change. Yet it is hard for me to shake the notion that Kamala Harriss historic shoulders are ones on which Joe Biden stood in order to get hired for the job the presidency that she had really wanted. And thinking of those Second Wave women now, I understand better how much our view is shaped by accumulated data points. And that year after year of watching smart, inventive, leaders some radical, some not so much lose again and again to watery white guys will lead to an anxiety about the future, about the possibility of ever really getting to choose leaders who are not those white guys. I see future presidents everywhere. Of course I see AOC; how could anyone not? I see Speakers and governors and party leaders yet to be: Ayanna Pressley and Stacey Abrams and Jamaal Bowman and John Fetterman and Pramila Jayapal and Julian Castro and Katie Porter and Lauren Underwood and Cori Bush. I see a lot of mediocre women too, plenty of corrupt, milquetoast, regressive leaders who are not white men, because white men have no special claim on mediocrity or malevolence. Mostly, I see this hugely expanded pool of future possibility and all these excellent people not just the politicians but the doctors and economists and activists and lawyers hes putting on his team whose real role, right now, is to make Joe Biden better. And I am glad. I want him to listen to them, to do what they urge him to. Hell probably be disappointing, but perhaps less so because of them. Or maybe hell be great, because they push him to be. Back in 2019, I was nudging my brother to tell me who he supported in the primary. Who I want cant win, he told me. So I want whichever white guy can win to steal all her ideas, like Al Smith and FDR. Back then, I was maddened by this: No, we determine who is electable, we drive against the notion of impossibility. Now, I am upset by my own naivete. Today, what my brother foretold is all I want. I want Biden to have his FDR-size presidency, to take the best ideas, the smartest people, the propellant energy they provide, to make this nation better, more just, more equitable; to provide more dignity and opportunity and protection for more people. And then what I want to give him credit for is stepping aside to let them take us forward. I want to believe that this could be whats ahead: a remaking and not a restoration. I need to believe in a future in which the real drivers and laborers and perfectors of our democracy actually become its leaders. But were not there yet. So in the meantime, I guess this is my dream: the American Dream. In which the video ends with the ordinary white guy as the hero of the story. One Great Story: A Nightly Newsletter for the Best of New York The one story you shouldn't miss today, selected by New York's editors. Email This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Terms & Privacy Notice By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice and to receive email correspondence from us. All-woman team plots Air India's San Francisco-Bengaluru flight via North Pole Air Indias first direct flight from San Francisco to Bengaluru AI-176, piloted by an all-women crew, took off from San Francisco on Saturday at 8.30 pm (local time) and reached Bengaluru after 17 hours at 3.25 am on Monday, creating history. The flight with the all-women pilot team landed at Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru from San Francisco, flying over the North Pole and covering a distance of about 16,000 kilometers, in a 17-hour direct flight. It was the longest commercial flight in the world to be operated by Air India or any other airline in India. It was also the first direct non-stop flight between the west coast of the United States and southern India. The flight over North Pole itself is challenging and aviation companies assign only experienced pilots on this route. The total flight time on this route was more than 17 hours depending on the wind speed, Air India had said in a statement on the eve of the historic flight. The team of pilots included Captain Zoya Aggarwal, Captain Papagari Thanmai, Captain Akansha Sonaware and Captain Shivani Manhas. Air India hailed the women pilots completing a landmark journey and also congratulated the passengers of AI176 for being a part of this historic moment. #FlyAI : Welcome Home Capt Zoya Agarwal, Capt Papagiri Thanmei, Capt Akanksha & Capt Shivani after completing a la https://t.co/7PstiJXrT2: Air India tweeted. "Today, we created world history by not only flying over the North Pole but also by having all women pilots who successfully did it. We are extremely happy and proud to be part of it. This route has saved 10 tonnes of fuel," said Captain Zoya Aggarwal. Shivani Manhas, one of the four pilots who operated Air India's inaugural San Francisco-Bengaluru flight said, "It was an exciting experience since it was never done before. It took almost 17 hours to reach here." Before the flight union minister for civil aviation Hardeep Singh Puri reacted over the history in making and had said, "Air India's woman power flies high around the world, our Nari Shakti achieves a historic first." In a moment to cherish & celebrate, women professionals of Indian civil aviation create history.Heartiest Congrat https://t.co/iSv4wYemOm: Hardeep Singh Puri (@HardeepSPuri). Grofers, Indias biggest online grocery retailer recently announced the fifth edition of its flagship semi-annual sale Grand Orange Bag Days (GOBD). The company aims to make grocery shopping a fun and exciting experience for customers, and is rewarding them from over 50 Lakh items as guaranteed inaams on their orders, thus making GOBD 5 bigger and better than ever. In addition to this, customers can find the lowest prices on groceries and various blockbuster deals such as flat 50% off, buy 1 get 1 free, and other attractive offers on a range of products. To educate the country about the sale, the company also launched a robust marketing campaign that includes television commercials, print advertisements, radio spots, influencers, and digital marketing spread. The first film opens with a society yoga class in progress, which soon gets interrupted when the Grofers team brings a four-wheeler inside the room to distribute guaranteed inaams won by everybody. The lead protagonist confirms her reward and is then seen in full gusto standing in front of her guaranteed inaam that she won by shopping on Grofers during the sale. Speaking on the marketing initiatives, Prashant Verma, VP, Marketing, Grofers said, At Grofers, we aim to delight our customers by making their shopping experience more rewarding every time they shop from us. With the latest edition of GOBD, we are making the routine of buying groceries more enjoyable and exciting by giving a 100% guaranteed inaam on every order, in addition to the lowest prices. From daily use products such as pressure cookers, dinner sets, power banks, headphones, glass bowls, container sets, to grand inaams including cars, bikes, washing machines, and smartphones, over 50 lakh big and small items are up for grabs as a guaranteed inaam in this edition. Additionally, to provide more value to our customers, our sale is live for 11-days instead of the usual 9-days as seen in previous editions. In the second film, a Grofers shopper is surprised with her grand reward a bike in an elevator, by a group from the companys workforce, who are visiting all the apartments in the society to deliver their 100% guaranteed inaams. After a fun banter, the protagonist is informed that the scooter is her guaranteed inaam that she won on her grocery shopping during the Grofers GOBD sale. CREDITS- Creative Agency: FatMen Production house: ZigZag films The Grofers GOBD sale is live until 26th January 2021 across 38 cities including Delhi, Gurgaon, Noida, Jaipur, Kanpur, Lucknow, Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Pune, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Kolkata, Meerut, Rohtak and Bhiwadi among others. To win a guaranteed inaam, customers would need to shop for a minimum of INR 1800 on www.grofers.com or the mobile app. Say the words domestic abuse, and what do you picture? A woman getting punched in the face by her partner? Yes, that happens. Northern Ireland has a horrific problem with men beating up the women they claim to love, often in front of their children. It is an unconscionable crime. There were 31,817 domestic abuse incidents recorded in 2019/20, the highest level since records began. Since the pandemic, many victims have suffered further injury and despair, due to being locked up with their abusers. Five NI women have been killed. But there's more to domestic abuse than punching or kicking. That's why new legislation, passed by Stormont this week, is so important. It means that for the first time in Northern Ireland, coercive control is now an offence. Coercive control is a vile, insidious form of abuse that destroys a person from the inside out. It leaves victims paralysed by fear. There may not be any visible scars, but the damage can be as great, if not greater, than that caused by physical violence. In many cases, however, the two forms of torture go hand in hand. Louise Kennedy of Victim Support NI says that coercive control is "a systematic pattern of psychological attack on a person to rob them of self-esteem, isolate them from friends and family, restrict their freedoms, restrict their access to money or threaten violence to make sure they stay subordinate". TUV leader Jim Allister has described the new bill as "wrong-headed and ill-advised" and claimed that it "creates criminality where no harm need be proven". In addition, a local newspaper has championed concerns about "criminalising non-violent, non-threatening behaviour within relationships", reporting that "the PSNI has been telling the public - before the law has even been passed - that 'domestic abuse' includes giving your partner 'the silent treatment'." The paper's editorial said that "anyone who knows the first thing about human interaction will realise that silence encompasses a large range of conduct, including people who are non abusive but prone to huffing." The paper also noted that Justice Minister Naomi Long had "previously suggested that for someone to 'whistle a tune or hum a song' could fall under the ambit of 'domestic abuse' if the tune has hidden negative overtones for their partner". I'll never forget interviewing a woman called "Jane" (not her real name) who was a victim of coercive control. "I was wiped out as an individual," she told me. "I thought I was going to die." The power of this man came from the abject fear he had hardwired into Jane's mind. "I was locked into rooms with my children, with him banging on the door, shouting that he was going to kill me," she said. "I had my mobile phone with me. I could have called 999. But the coercion prohibited me. "I thought I had to have evidence - broken bones, black eyes. In my head, I thought you needed that for people to believe you." And the trauma is still there, lodged deep in the victim's mind, even if she escapes. Jane had panic attacks when she saw nail polish for sale, because her abuser kicked a bottle of nail polish at her baby. Despite having put Jane and her children through this horrendous ordeal, her ex-partner was not jailed for domestic abuse, because there was no law against coercive control in Northern Ireland at the time. Sadly, the experience of England and Wales, where coercive control laws were brought in five years ago, shows that legislation alone is not enough. In the year ending March 2020, there were 24,856 offences of coercive control recorded by the police in Britain, yet in 2019, only 293 offenders were convicted of controlling or coercive behaviour. That's why Women's Aid is calling for all judges, prosecutors and police officers to receive specialist training about the insidious nature of coercive control and its devastating, often lifelong impact. Coercive control isn't about having an occasional huff when you don't get your own way. It is a form of psychological warfare, and it destroys lives. Survivors deserve justice and the full protection of the law. Now, at last, they have a chance to get it. Yves here. Even though this post is written is techno-speak, it describes yet another mechanism for Covid-19 to create deep distress. Migrants are hit by the loss or reduction of work in their host country. Think of businesses shuttering and cutting hours, or well-off households reducing their use of servants or services. So not only do they and their family members back home lose badly needed income, but when they return, they risk bringing Covid with them. And even if not, they add to the crowding of living space. Its easy to declare Governments should Do Something. But its hard to think that the remedies will be more than band-aids, given how important remittances are to some poor countries. By Ahmed Mushfiq Mobarak, a Professor of Economics at Yale University with concurrent appointments in the School of Management and in the Department of Economics and the founder and faculty director of the Yale Research Initiative on Innovation and Scale (Y-RISE) and Mahreen Khan, a PhD candidate at the Institute for Work and Employment Research at MITs Sloan School of Management. Her research focuses on studying labor and household outcomes in the context of transnational migration with an emphasis on the role of migrant social networks and intermediaries. Prior to starting her PhD, she worked as Senior Economic Adviser for the government of the Netherlands in Bangladesh, focusing on issues of labor organization and decent work conditions in the textile and apparel sector in Bangladesh. Originally published at openDemocracy Migrants are critical for many low and middle-income countries like Nepal, El Salvador and Tonga where remittances comprise between 15 to 40% of annual GDP. Our research using detailed microdata shows that declining trends in 2020 remittances, had a considerable impact on food security and income of migrant-dependent households. This makes migrants especially vulnerable during the COVID-19 pandemic. These findings strongly support the case for supporting migrant households as part of countries COVID-19 recovery policies. COVID-19 Exacerbates Challenges for Returnee Migrants Since countries rushed to close international borders and restrict domestic mobility to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 in April 2020, migrants have been front and center of the crises. Initial onset of mobility restrictions combined with economic shutdown created havoc amongst migrant communities globally. Increased crackdown on undocumented migrants, hotspots in crowded detention centers, and other factors, forced many migrants to return to their countries of origin. Unfortunately, economic and health conditions are equally dire for migrants and their households. Circumstances were further exacerbated by migrants who inadvertently brought the disease back with them. Studies conducted by Yale-RISE and Innovations for Poverty Action show that earnings among migrant households declined by more than 25% while food insecurity was fourfold compared to non-migrant households since March 2020. These differences are attributed to lower migration rates, less remittance income per migrant, isolation in origin communities, and greater health risks. Households with migrants are twice as likely to report experiencing symptoms of COVID-19. The findings are based on a comparison of pre- and post-COVID-19 panel datasets for three populations in Bangladesh and Nepal. One of the population sub-sets comprising Bangladeshi households that won a visa lottery to migrate internationally in 2013 experienced sharper drops in income in May 2020 after the COVID-19 lockdown compared to lottery-losers (Figure 1-A). The negative welfare impact is also reflected amongst another population of migrant-dependent households in rural Bangladesh. This group experienced food insecurity in April 2020 that exceeded the levels observed during typical agricultural lean seasons in prior years (Figure 1-C). Similar trends are observed in another set of migrant households in Western Terai, Nepal (Figure 1-B and 1-D). Figure 1: Comparison of monthly income and food insecurity between migrant and non-migrant households The decline in household welfare for Nepali migrants illustrated above is driven by lower rates of out-migration and reduced remittance income from existing migrants (Figure 2). While remittances may surge briefly with migrants returning uncharacteristically early, average downward trends in remittances are expected for 2020 World Bank estimates a decline in the order of 4 to 20% in countries where remittances account for more than 5% of GDP. Bloomberg photo by Patrick T. Fallon. Walmart plans to offer covid-19 vaccines in at least seven additional states in the coming days, significantly expanding the availability of shots as the U.S. grapples with a slower-than-expected rollout. The world's largest retailer, which had already been providing inoculations to eligible people in New Mexico and Arkansas, will broaden the effort to select stores in Georgia, Indiana, Louisiana, Maryland, New Jersey, South Carolina and Texas, a Walmart representative said Friday. The company will also offer vaccinations in Chicago and Puerto Rico. Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-22 08:22:47|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close MACAO, Jan. 22 (Xinhua) -- One passenger on board a flight from Tokyo tested positive for COVID-19 after arriving in Macao Thursday night, according to the special administrative region government. The passenger and ten close contacts on the plane had been sent to a public health center in Coloane. The remaining 98 passengers were taken to a hotel for medical observation for 21 days and at least seven additional days of health self-management afterwards, according to the government. The passengers, first departing from several countries including Portugal and Britain, arrived in Macao in two flights. The Novel Coronavirus Response and Coordination Center of Macao said earlier this week that the government had made thorough preparations and sound plans for the quarantine and closed-loop management of the passengers to prevent community transmissions of COVID-19. Enditem Avril Haines speaks during her confirmation hearing before the Senate Intelligence Committee in Washington on Jan. 19, 2021. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images) Biden Asked National Intelligence Director to Assess Domestic Extremism President Joe Biden asked the director of national intelligence to assess domestic violent extremism, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Friday. The tasking is one of three parts of initial work on the extremism, Psaki said. Avril Haines, the director of national intelligence, will work with the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security on an assessment that will draw on analysis from across the government and, as appropriate, nongovernmental organizations. The key point is we want fact based analysis upon which we can shape policy. This is really first step in the process and we will rely on our appropriate law enforcement and intelligence officials to provide that analysis, Psaki told reporters at the White House in Washington. The work is predicated on the theory that domestic extremism is a growing threat. The Jan. 6 assault on the Capitol and the tragic deaths and destruction that occurred underscored what we have long known: the rise of domestic extremism is a serious and growing national security threat. The Biden administration will confront this threat with the necessary resources and resolve, Psaki said. Law enforcement officers point their guns at a door that was vandalized in the House Chamber during a joint session of Congress in Washington, on Jan. 6, 2021. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images) The two other broad areas of initial work are: building a National Security Council capability to focus on countering extremism and coordinating relevant parts of the government to bolster efforts to address it. Haines was queried on how shed approach right-wing domestic terrorism during her confirmation hearing earlier this week. Recognize that this is a major issue in the country, she responded. The intelligence committee, of course, wouldnt be on the lead on an issue such as, solely, domestic terrorism. This is something I would expect the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security to be focused on but the intelligence community can provide them support on these issues, critical support I hope. Support both in terms of identifying connections between domestic terrorist actors and international actors and in the context of white nationalism. Haines said she understands that there are some connections between domestic and international actors. I need, if confirmed, to get in the job and actually get better informed based on classified information thats available on these questions, she said. Bollywood actor Sonu Sood challenges Bombay HC order in Supreme court in Illegal Construction matter. The Bombay High Court, Thursday dismissed an appeal and an interim application filed by the actor against a Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) notice over alleged illegal construction carried out by him at his residential building in Juhu area of Mumbai. Soods lawyer Amogh Singh sought a time of 10 weeks to comply with the notice issued by the BMC in October last year, and requested the HC to direct the civic body to not initiate demolition action. Read: HC Rejects Sonu Soods Plea Against BMC Notice Over Alleged Illegal Construction The court, however, refused and said the actor had ample opportunity in the past and if required, he could approach the civic body. Sood approached the high court earlier this month challenging an order of a city civil court at Dindoshi that had dismissed his suit against the BMCs notice issued over the alleged illegal construction carried out by him. The actor in the interim application had sought an order from the high court restraining the BMC from taking any coercive action against his residential property in Juhu area. As per the BMC, Sood had carried out structural changes in the six-storey residential building Shakti Sagar, and converted it into a hotel without taking requisite permissions. The BMC earlier this month also filed a complaint at the Juhu police station, seeking an FIR to be lodged against Sood for allegedly converting the residential building into a hotel without permission. Read: I Could Do All This Because I was Not Associated with Any Political Party: Sonu Sood The complaint letter was sent to the police after the BMC inspected the building and found that Sood had allegedly not complied with the requisitions and was continuing unauthorised construction even after the notice was served to him in October last year. The police are yet to register FIR in the case. Sood, who is known for his roles in films like Dabangg, Jodha Akbar and Simmba, came into spotlight last year for his philanthropy work in helping migrants reach their homes during the COVID-19 lockdown. (with inputs from PTI) [January 22, 2021] Randi Zuckerberg Joins Life360's Board of Directors Life360, Inc. (ASX:360), the leading safety and coordination service for families worldwide, announced the appointment of Randi Zuckerberg to its Board of Directors. Known for her work growing Facebook (News - Alert) in its early days from an intimate community to the global social network it is today and for creating Facebook Live, Zuckerberg will advise and help scale Life360 through its next phase of growth. "Similar to what we saw in the early days of Facebook, there's a strong need for people to connect with a more intimate group -- and Life360 offers that intimacy for families and so much more," said Zuckerberg. "It's exciting to see their success in the family safety space, and I can't wait to use my experience as a product marketer, content creator and a mother to help the company reach its full potential." An acclaimed entrepreneur, investor, bestselling author, award-winning producer and mother of three, Zuckerberg is passionate about the intersection of tech, media and families. She has spent her career educating families through rich content on the intersection of technology, safety and security. "Randi's deep experience with product marketing and scaling social networks coupled with her content around digital safety for families will be invaluable to Life360 as we continue to build the first-ever family safety membership," said John Philip Coghlan, Board Chair of Life360. "We're thrilled to have her and her fresh perspectives on board." As the founder and CEO of Zuckerberg Media, Zuckerberg supports current and future entrepreneurs through investment, mentorship, and media. She has created award-winning content and experiences that educate families and bring to light issues around digital literacy and safety. Zuckerberg is the best-selling author of four ooks, including two focused on family and children's content Dot Complicated (2015) and Dot. (2013), which turned into a successful television show on Hulu (News - Alert) and NBC. Zuckerberg also hosts a weekly tech business show on SiriusXM called Randi Zuckerberg Means Business. She has pioneered various projects around digital family safety and literacy, including Sue's Tech Kitchen, an online STEM-focused educational program for children, and multiple other television shows and theater productions. She has been recognized with an Emmy nomination, two Tony awards, a Drama Desk Award, and a Kidscreen Award. Zuckerberg is also a Non-Executive Director of private financial and investing advice company, The Motley Fool. Visit www.life360.com to learn more about Life360. The Life360 app can be downloaded from the Apple App Store and Google Play. About Life360 Life360 operates a platform for today's busy families, bringing them closer together by helping them better know, communicate with and protect the people they care about most. The company's core offering, the Life360 mobile app, is a market leading app for families, with features that range from communications to driving safety and location sharing. Life360 is based in San Francisco and has more than 27 million MAU located in more than 140 countries. Life360's CDIs are issued in reliance on the exemption from registration contained in Regulation S of the US Securities Act of 1933 (Securities Act) for offers of securities which are made outside the US. Accordingly, the CDIs, have not been, and will not be, registered under the Securities Act or the laws of any state or other jurisdiction in the US. As a result of relying on the Regulation S exemption, the CDIs are 'restricted securities' under Rule 144 of the Securities Act. This means that you are unable to sell the CDIs into the US or to a US person who is not a QIB for the foreseeable future except in very limited circumstances until after the end of the restricted period, unless the re-sale of the CDIs is registered under the Securities Act or an exemption is available. To enforce the above transfer restrictions, all CDIs issued bear a FOR Financial Product designation on the ASX. This designation restricts any CDIs from being sold on ASX to US persons excluding QIBs. However, you are still able to freely transfer your CDIs on ASX to any person other than a US person who is not a QIB. In addition, hedging transactions with regard to the CDIs may only be conducted in accordance with the Securities Act. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210122005035/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] To close schools and fully fund remote learning, Chicago educators have formed the Chicago Educators Rank-and-File Safety Committee. This committee is independent of the CTU and Democratic Party and aims to unite educators, parents, students and the broader working class to prepare strike action to close all schools and nonessential workplaces. We call on all Chicago educators, parents and students to join our committee at wsws.org/edsafety wsws.org/edsafety. Attend and help build for our next meeting this Saturday, January 23, at 12 p.m. Central Time. On Thursday morning, Chicago Public Schools (CPS) Chief Talent Officer Matt Lyons issued a highly provocative letter threatening Chicago educators that any collective failure to return for in-person instruction constitutes an illegal strike. The letter was issued the morning after the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) House of Delegates approved a resolution which stated, Do you authorize the CTU to conduct remote work only, starting on January 25, 2021, or on whatever date the Board requires K-8 members to appear in person? In addition, in the event that CPS retaliates against or locks out members as a result, do you authorize a strike? Chicago teachers protesting unsafe working conditions. (Photo: Twitter @CTULocal1) The resolution passed the House of Delegates by 84 percent, and CTUs full membership has until Saturday evening to make the final decision. The letter by Lyons is meant to browbeat teachers into submission and falsify the dangers posed to the health and lives of educators, parents, students and the broader community. Lyons writes, We are only moving forward with our reopening plan because public health experts have made it clear that bringing students back is both safe and necessary, and we are fully committed to providing you the safe working environment you deserve. In reality, the policy of opening schools amid the raging pandemic is incredibly reckless, and there has already been a surge of COVID-19 outbreaks impacting at least 54 schools across the city. There is enormous anger building among rank-and-file Chicago teachers, school workers, parents and students that threatens to erupt outside the control of the CTU and in direct opposition to the Democratic Party that runs the city and state. It is for this reason the CTU felt compelled to call for strike authorization to try to corral this opposition until they can reach a miserable deal with the district that they feel they can sell to their members. CTU leaders have repeatedly expressed their desire not to strike and have passively accepted the reopening of schools over the past three weeks. Special education and Pre-K teachers were brought back at the start of the year and Kindergarten through 8th grade are set to return January 25. Teachers are already being retaliated against, and the union has done nothing to mobilize its 25,000 members to oppose this. As of this writing, 87 teachers reportedly remain locked out of their online classroom and docked pay for refusing to teach in person, which CPS initially imposed last week. Teachers have faced disciplinary threats for reporting on the conditions inside schools or the inadequacy of the hybrid learning model CPS officials have mandated, while the CTU has not has not called for any collective action in their defense. In place of the motto, an injury to one is an injury to all, the union now proclaims, lets wait until more are injured before acting. No faith should be placed in the CTU resolutions promise to strike if more teachers are victimized. The district announced in early December its plan to reopen schools, which they have pursued aggressively. In his letter, Lyons notes that the district and union have conducted over 60 negotiation sessions over reopening, writing, The unions input has in many cases strengthened our reopening plan, and we remain committed to continuing negotiations in good faith with union leadership. We are meeting every day and will continue to do so. An agreement is within reach, so long as we continue working hard together. Even if the union is forced to strike, they will quickly reach a settlement with the district that does not guarantee remote-only learning. The CTU has made multiple proposals, none of which include fully remote instruction until the virus is contained. All of them have included some form of in-person instruction. According to a report from WBEZ, the CTU is now proposing a flexible staffing plan that would primarily allow teachers to work remotely if they have health concerns for themselves or a family member. As of this writing, 20,423 people have died from COVID-19 in Illinois. Based on the current vaccination rate, it will be almost three years before the city of Chicago is fully vaccinated. The return to classrooms is a life-and-death question for educators. In this context, the CTU resolution is utterly spineless. It is designed to dissipate anger over the unions failure to protect educators basic right to life. This resolution buys time for the CTU at the expense of the health and safety of the 5,800 educators who have already been ordered to return to classrooms. It fails to make any principled demands on CPS or defend the 87 teachers who are still locked out. The ruthless pursuit of school reopenings carried out by the Democratic Party establishment in Chicagoabove all, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot and CPS CEO Janice Jacksonis in line with the aims of US President Joe Biden, who has pledged to do everything to safely reopen the majority of our K-through-eight schools by the end of the first 100 days. Fundamentally, both the CTU and CPS agree with this central policy of the Biden administration. The unions major complaint is that CPS will not bargain with them on the conditions of the return. As Democratic mayors in Chicago, New York and Los Angeles push to reopen their districts, teachers are finding their methods to be no less ruthless than their Republican colleagues. The CTUs failure to protect, let alone improve, the living conditions of its membership is not a flaw in the character of the leadership, but a reflection of the larger crisis of American capitalism, decades of deindustrialization and attacks on democratic rights. The Chicago Educators Rank-and-File Safety Committee is fighting to unite educators and other workers to save lives and end the pandemic. This includes the demand to stop in-person learning and nonessential businesses until the pandemic is fully contained. Workers must be paid to stay home until vaccines are widely distributed. Remote learning can be implemented at a high level by providing every student and educator with state-of-the-art technology. Our aim is to prepare for a nationwide political general strike to put an end to the homicidal policies of the ruling class and oppose the growing threat of fascism. All those who wish to join this struggle should sign up today at wsws.org/edsafety and attend our next meeting this Saturday! This week, the headlines have been dominated by Joe Biden, who was sworn in as the 46th president of the United States. While photos of Biden were widely shared, photos of another senator almost stole the limelight, as an image of Bernie Sanders in a folding chair became a global meme. Off the back of the meme, Snapchat has launched a hilarious new filter that allows users to place Sanders and his folding chair around their homes, using augmented reality. The photo became a worldwide meme after the Vermont politician was photographed in a fold-down chair, wearing a grey, oversized jacket and some knitted wool mittens at Biden's inauguration HOW TO USE THE BERNIE FILTER 1. Open the Snapchat app 2. Tap on the small smiley face icon to bring up the filters 3. Tap Explore, before typing Bernie Mittens into the Search bar 4. Tap on the Bernie Mittens filter, and the US senator should pop up on your screen 5. Decide where you'd like to place him, or pinch the screen to change his size. Once you're happy with your selection, tap the photo button to take your snap Advertisement The filter, called Bernie Mittens, was launched on Snapchat today. A spokesperson for Snapchat said: 'Snapchat users can now bring Bernie Mittens from Biden's inauguration, to their very own front rooms, using the Bernie Mittens lens.' To use the lens, simply open the Snapchat app on your smartphone. This will bring up the camera - tap on the small smiley face icon to bring up the filters. In the bottom bar, tap Explore, before typing Bernie Mittens into the Search bar. Tap on the Bernie Mittens filter and the US senator should pop up on your screen. Decide where you'd like to place him, or pinch the screen to change his size. Once you're happy with your selection, tap the photo button to take your snap. You can either send the photo to your friend on Snapchat by tapping 'Send To' in the bottom right corner, or download it to your smartphone by tapping on the icon in the bottom left corner. The photo became a worldwide meme after the Vermont politician was photographed in a fold-down chair, wearing a grey, oversized jacket and some knitted wool mittens at Biden's inauguration. You can either send the photo to your friends on Snapchat, or download it to your smartphone Surprised fans and celebrities quickly jumped on the photo, pasting the former Presidential hopeful into their own images. Jennifer Aniston added Bernie to the couch in a famous Friends promotional shot with Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, David Schwimmer, Matthew Perry and Matt LeBlanc. Eva Longoria had some fun with the meme too. The casting is complete! And a Sex And The City photo without Kim Cattrall was also shown, with Bernie in her place next to Sarah Jessica Parker, Cynthia Nixon and Kristin Davis. Parker added, 'Like a needle in a haystack' Jen having a good time: Jennifer Aniston was one of the first with a shot of Bernie next to a glamour shot of herself. 'Our friend Bernie,' said the ex of Brad Pitt and Justin Theroux She shared a photo with the cast of Desperate Housewives in front of a home. The next shot showed Bernie on the stoop. 'Do you ever feel like someone is watching? #FeeltheBern,' she said. Jennifer Aniston was one of the first with a shot of Bernie next to a glamour shot of herself. 'Our friend Bernie,' said the ex of Brad Pitt and Justin Theroux. Snapchat has launched a hilarious new filter called Bernie Mittens to celebrate the worldwide meme Sanders was there next to the 51-year-old star as she posed for the cover of Interview with over-the-knee boots. And a Sex And The City photo without Kim Cattrall was also shown, with Bernie in her place next to Sarah Jessica Parker, Cynthia Nixon and Kristin Davis. Parker added: 'Like a needle in a haystack.' TRIBUTES have been paid to district court judge Marian OLeary who has taken up a new role in Cork City. The former nurse and solicitor was appointed to the bench in April 2014 and was permanently assigned to preside over court sittings Limerick and Kilmallock the following February. Speaking on her final day presiding at Limerick District Court last Friday, the Cork native year-old thanked everyone she worked with during her time in Limerick. I came to Limerick six years ago knowing no one and, lets be honest, knowing very little slash nothing about crime. I need not have worried because little did I know at the time that I was going to be working with the most fantastic group of people I could ever have hoped for. Each of you took me under your wing and carried me for the first year while I was learning the ropes she said. Limerick District Court is one of the busiest in the country and during her time Judge OLeary, 66, played a significant role during the transition from the former courthouse at Merchants Quay to the current facility at Mulgrave Street. I came here knowing no one and I am leaving with great friends, trusted colleagues, wonderful memories knowing a lot more about crime and for that I am truly grateful, she said. Representatives of An Garda Siochana, The Irish Prison Service and The Probation Service all thanked Judge OLeary for her work and support during her time on the bench in Limerick. State Solicitor Padraig Mawe and Derek Walsh of the Limerick Bar Association also paid tribute. Judge Patricia Harney has been permanently assigned to district 13 with effect from next month. A Canberra tradesman had a lucky escape when he gouged a cyst from his own wrist in a DIY surgery operation he claims was brought on out of frustration at waiting so long for a hospital appointment. Sick of the pain and waiting two years for a public hospital appointment, the electrician - known only by his first name, Stephen - used a Stanley knife to slice his wrist and remove a grape-sized cyst. 'The cyst was getting a bit more painful. I'm an electrician so I'm using my hands all the time,' the man told the ABC. 'The lump became sore and I got sick of waiting.' A small red spot (pictured) is the only sign that three months ago this Canberra electrician cut his own wrist with a work blade to remove a cyst because of the pain and frustration at waiting The electrician heated up his work blade and cut his own wrist to remove the cyst because of the pain and frustration at waiting so long 'I grabbed a Stanley knife and heated up the blade and put a cut into my wrist. I squeezed and popped out the cyst. 'I disinfected it and put some antiseptic, put a band-aid over it and that was it.' Luckily three months later the cut has completely healed. While that sounds simple enough, it was a highly risky thing to do, according to a GP who is also head of the Australia Medical Association for the ACT. 'The number of arteries and veins anywhere near where he was touching with the Stanley knife if you touch the wrong one it'll kill you,' said Dr Antonio Di Dio. GP and ACT AMA chief Antonio Di Dio urged people not to attempt DIY surgery like this out of frustration The Australian Medical Association's Hospital Report Card shows waiting times in the ACT are worse than the rest of Australia 'Please, please do not do this at home.' 'I feel very much for Stephen and he is absolutely correct in that there are lots of people waiting for non-urgent surgical procedures in Canberra,' Dr Di Dio said. According to ACT policy non-urgent cases such as this one should be addressed inside one year. But the electrician claims he waited twice as long. 'I've been waiting a couple of years for a sparky to do a job on my house and let me tell you: I'm not going to do anything on my own,' Dr Di Dio said. 'If I touch anything, it'll probably kill me.' 'The ACT public hospital system remains under significant pressure with every indicator showing the Territory is lagging behind the national average,' Dr Di Dio wrote in the AMA's latest Hospital Public Report Card last October. The report showed median waiting times for elective surgery in the ACT were on average eight days longer than for the rest of Australia. The percentage of urgent emergency patients seen within 30 minutes in the ACT was 32 per cent, well below the national average of 63 per cent. WASHTENAW COUNTY, MI Health officials have identified additional cases of the COVID-19 B.1.1.7 variant in two women living in Washtenaw County. The two new cases are in women who were close contacts of a Washtenaw County woman who tested positive for the variant after traveling to the United Kingdom, where B.1.1.7 originated, Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and Washtenaw County Health Department officials said. All three women are associated with the University of Michigan, officials said. Since MDHHS announced the first case of the variant in Michigan on Saturday, Jan. 16, seven additional COVID-19 infections have been linked to that case, officials said. It is not yet known if five other close contacts of the woman who have tested positive for COVID-19 are infected with the variant, officials said. All eight people have been directed to isolate, officials said. While presence of this variant is detected with current testing methods, additional sequencing is needed to distinguish it from other more common COVID-19 variants circulating in the community, officials said. The B.1.1.7 variant appears to be more contagious but not necessarily more serious than the primary strain of COVID-19, health officials said. Based on current evidence, health officials also said the current COVID-19 vaccine is effective against this variant. MDHHS recommends Michigan residents do the following to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and the new variant: Get vaccinated for COVID-19. Wear a mask around others. Stay six feet apart from others. Wash hands often. Ventilate indoor spaces. More information about the COVID-19 B.1.1.7 variant can be found on the states website. READ MORE FROM THE ANN ARBOR NEWS: Contagious coronavirus variant identified in Michigan 7 COVID-19 cases tied to Washtenaw County woman who has UK variant For Michiganders newly eligible for vaccine, excitement is high but details are few (Corrects this January 20th story to make clear bioRxiv is a website for research that has yet to be peer-reviewed, not a scientific journal) JOHANNESBURG: The new COVID-19 variant identified in South Africa can evade the antibodies that attack it in treatments using blood plasma from previously recovered patients, and may reduce the efficacy of the current line of vaccines, scientists said on Wednesday. Researchers are racing to establish whether the vaccines currently being rolled out across the globe are effective against the so-called 501Y.V2 variant, identified by South African genomics experts late last year in Nelson Mandela Bay. This lineage exhibits complete escape from three classes of therapeutically relevant monoclonal antibodies," the team of scientists from three South African universities working with the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) wrote in a paper in bioRxiv, a website that publishes scientific research prior to its being peer-reviewed and submitted to journals. Furthermore, 501Y.V2 shows substantial or complete escape from neutralising antibodies in COVID-19 convalescent plasma," they wrote, adding that their conclusions highlight the prospect of reinfection and may foreshadow reduced efficacy of current spike-based vaccines." The 501Y.V2 variant is 50% more infectious than previous ones, South African researchers said this week. It has already spread to at least 20 countries since being reported to the World Health Organisation in late December. It is one of several new variants discovered in recent months, including others first found in England and Brazil. The variant is the main driver of South Africas second wave of COVID-19 infections, which hit a new daily peak above 21,000 cases earlier this month, far above the first wave, before falling to about 12,000 a day. Convalescent blood plasma from previous patients has not been shown to be effective when administered to severely ill patients requiring intensive care for COVID-19, but it is approved in several countries as an emergency measure. British scientists and politicians have expressed concern that vaccines currently being deployed or in development could be less effective against the variant. The paper said it remained to be seen how effective current vaccines were against 501Y.V2, which would only be determined by large-scale clinical trials. But results showed the need for new vaccines to be designed to tackle the evolving threat, it said. 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 An Allegheny County judge has some explaining to do after posting a picture of her and her husband, with the later dressed as the so-called QAnon Shaman accused of storming the U.S. Capitol. Judge Kim Eaton told the Pittsburgh Post Gazette her husbands face paint, fake tattoos and horned helmet were meant to make fun of the capitol rioters as she and her family celebrated the inauguration of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris on Wednesday. Eaton added that she posted a photo of her and her costumed husband on Facebook, but it was meant only for a close circle of friends, instead of the general public, producing a backlash against the self-described liberal Democrat. Im not a white supremacist, and you can quote me on that, Eaton was quoted by the Post-Gazette as saying. Actually, [the costume] was making fun of white supremacists. The newspaper writes that the costume of Eatons husband was meant to look like Jacob Anthony Chansley, the 33-year-old from Arizona referred to as the QAnon Shaman for his face paint, fur and buffalo horns at the Jan. 6 capitol insurrection. READ MORE: Keep Pittsburgh out of your mouth: Steel City to Ted Cruz over Paris Climate Accord barb QAnon Shaman Jacob Anthony Chansley. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta, File)AP Eaton admits her husbands costume and the posted photo were in bad taste: My family and I were very excited about the new administration in Washington and were celebrating this historic inauguration today when the photo was taken, the judge said in a statement. In our celebration, I exercised poor judgment and I realize that the photo sends the wrong message given the tragic events of January 6th. Background from the Post-Gazette: Eaton works in the county courts family division. She successfully ran for retention in 2019, meaning her current 10-year term is set to end in 2030. For those of you nowhere near a computer or phone in the past few days, here's the quick backstory: Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders spurred a viral meme sensation that has taken the World Wide Web by storm. It all started when Sanders was photographed outside at Joe Biden's presidential inauguration on Wednesday looking relatively unimpressed by the historic occasion. There the 79-year-old sat, arms crossed, in a chair while wearing a practical heavy winter coat andhere's the kickerpatterned knitted mittens. Something about the image of the gruff-looking Sanders tempered by the childlike mittens lit up the internet's collective brain. It was meme time! Soon images of Sanders took over social media feeds everywhere. Be-mittened Bernie, as he's affectionately known, was digitally added onto the deck of the USS Enterprise, riding on a log flume, and selling Girl Scout Cookies. The hashtag #berniesmittens trended on Twitter. And now the meme has shown up on the true final frontier: real estate listing photos! Can Bernie Sanders' mittens help sell your home? Bernie Sanders is everywhereeven in this Michigan home for sale. realtor.com The general rule of thumb for listing photos is to keep them extremely straightforward and free of personal belongings, especially personal photos. The thinking is that personal photos can somehow turn off potential home buyers. An even bigger no-no than a snapshot of Mom and dear old Dad? A listing with anything at all political that could potentially turn off 50% of buyers. But try telling that to Tiffany Szakal, real estate agent with IHeartGR.org in Grand Rapids, MI, who has a property to sell. "The house came back on the market Thursday as I was falling in love with all the amazing Bernie memes," she said. And there was something about Szakal's listing itselfwhich is a government-owned home specifically for low-income buyers on, ahem, Donald Place and directly behind Wealthy Streetthat reminded her of the self-described democratic socialist senator. So Szakal decided to have some fun. She asked her admin Aubrey Kuipers to digitally add Sanders into a few of the listing photos. Now the first photo that comes up for the property on 321/325 Donald Place SE shows Sanders sitting in his chair and wearing his mittens on the home's porch. And yep, there he is again in the kitchen, looking like he's making a beeline for some hot cocoa to wrap those mittens around. Szakal thought the photos would eventually fade into the multiple listing service with the millions of other listings out there. But two hours after the photos were posted, a real estate agent tagged Szakal in a post. That post was also shared on a popular Instagram account. And so just like Sanders himself, the listing on Donald Place soon went viral. By the time Szakal checked the Instagram post, "there was something like 50,000 likes," she said. The quick decision to add a little Sanders to the listing is paying off in dividends. "My phone has been ringing off the hook. I've gotten a ton of calls for a showing and tons of requests for information about the property," said Szakal. "The timing of adding Bernie lined up perfectly." For anyone else who wants to add a little Sanders meme magic to their listing, Szakal is all for it. "This is a collaborative industry, we should all share our ideas," she says. So as you peruse homes for sale this weekend and beyond, be on the lookout for Sanders. The senator might pop up in the family room, in the basement, or maybe even out in the backyard lending his mittens to a newly built snowman. The post How the Bernie Sanders Mittens Meme Made a Michigan Home Listing Go Viral appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com. Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-22 00:11:29|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close 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. 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. More than seven months ago, on May 29, 2020, former U.S. President Donald Trump announced 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. Enditem (JNS) Mainstream media and pundits from across the political spectrum have been quick to assert that the violent riot on the U.S. Capitol building on Jan. 6 has permanently tarnished the Trump presidency. It remains to be seen what Trumps historical legacy will actually be as a turbulent 2020 seems to be carrying over into a turbulent 2021, in which the stability of Americas democratic foundations will be put to the test. Yet for all the global and domestic chaos last year, one major geopolitical accomplishment stands out above all others: The Abraham Accords. The normalization ag... The Queen doesn't expect palace staff to 'drop everything' for her when they see her in Buckingham Palace or Windsor Castle and is 'not nearly as formal as people imagine', an author has claimed. Sophia Bennett, from the UK, who has spent years researching The Firm in preparation for her new novel The Windsor Knot, where she imagines the Queen as a detective who investigates a murder, said staff might give Her Majesty, 94, a quick nod or curtsy when they see her wandering the corridors. 'If staff see her they might give her a brief nod or curtsy but she does not expect them to drop everything they were doing,' she said, speaking to Yahoo! '[I spoke to] some people who are still in their jobs and working close to the Queen, there was one who could tell me about certain medal ceremonies because they had the handbook for them.' Author Sophia Bennett claimed Her Majesty, 94, doesn't expect palace staff to 'drop everything' for her. Pictured, The author claimed staff might give Her Majesty a quick nod or curtsy when they see her wandering the corridors in Buckingham Palace or Windsor Castle (pictured) The author, who has been fascinated by the Queen since she was a child, went on to explain how her father was in the Gurkhas and the NHS, and so has met the monarch on several occasions. She adds that he also has several friends and loved ones who have worked in the royal households, so she has been able to talk to them over the years. 'They are very loyal, I don't ask for gossip,' she explained. 'For me getting it authentically right is important what does the Queen call people and what does she do on her days off, what she likes. Sophia went on to explain how information from insiders was particularly useful in helping her write one particular scene in her book. Sophia (pictured) has carried out years of search on the royal family in preparation for her novel The Windsor Knot, where she depicts the Queen as a detective Her Majesty (pictured) joined Prince William to visit the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) at Porton Down science park near Salisbury on 15 October It involved a private medal ceremony, with just the recipient, the Queen and Princess Margaret in attendance. '[The Queen] can play with protocol she does not break it, but she is not nearly as formalistic as people might imagine,' Sophia told the publication. The Queen has hit headlines recently after Buckingham Palace revealed Her Majesty and the Duke of Edinburgh were given the Covid-19 vaccination at Windsor Castle on January 9. The Monarch and Prince Philip, 99, joined more than 1.5million people across Britain who had been given the jab since the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine was approved for use in December. The UK has since permitted the use of the Oxford University/AstraZeneca jab, alongside an inoculation against coronavirus developed by Moderna. Bloomberg (Bloomberg) -- A century after automakers showed the world the value of assembly-line manufacturing, a shortage of semiconductors is teaching the industry a painful new lesson in what it takes to build a car.For most of its history, the industry has relied on a distinct approach to buying car parts, procuring components from suppliers right at the moment theyre needed. Its referred to as just-in-time manufacturing and is designed to streamline production and eliminate the costs of keeping warehouses stocked with parts waiting to be used.But the shortcomings of that system were made starkly clear this year as the automakers confronted a dearth of the chips they need to build advanced functions into their vehicles, and found themselves near the bottom of chipmakers customer lists because of their just-in-time approach. That shortage is threatening to cut $110 billion in sales from the industry, and forcing auto manufacturers to overhaul the way they get the electronic components that have become critical to contemporary car design.Customers need to change, said Hassane El-Khoury, chief executive officer of ON Semiconductor Corp., which gets more than a third of its revenue from the automotive market. That just-in-time mindset doesnt work.Semiconductor makers are demanding guaranteed, long-term orders rather than the short-term flexibility the carmakers are used to. The chipmakers assertiveness, even under pressure from lawmakers, underscores the rebalancing of power from the companies whose logos are on the cars to those that provide the advanced technology that runs them.As these components play a bigger role in everything from in-car entertainment to self-driving functions, chip manufacturers say theyre willing to invest in expanding production to head off a repeat of shortages that have forced the industry to mothball factories and furlough workers -- if the carmakers give them orders that cant be canceled and commit to long-term agreements.Why would I have invested a single dollar when my customer can cancel within 30 days and it takes me two years to build capacity? ON Semiconductors El-Khoury said.There are signs the industry is listening. Last week, Ford Motor Co. Chief Executive Officer Jim Farley indicated a new willingness to reverse decades of outsourcing for parts.As the industry changes, we have to in-source now, just like we in-sourced powertrains in the 20s and 30s, said Farley, who has shut down half his factories and seen his dealers lots emptying because of a dearth of chips.Most components used by the auto industry are part of a discrete food chain, and carmakers are at the top, able to orchestrate their suppliers actions in a system that delivers them a set of components that can be put together quickly and cheaply into a finished vehicle. Electronics makers, whove fared much better in the chip supply crunch, regard semiconductors as essential systems, and they work directly with chipmakers to secure products and often design their devices around the chips themselves.Automakers can no longer assume the dominance of an 800-pound gorilla in negotiations with chip companies and battery makers, said Mark Wakefield, head of the auto practice at consultancy AlixParters.Pioneered by Toyota Motor Corp. in the 1960s, just-in-time is a system where components suppliers are required to turn up with whatever the carmakers want at the last possible moment in a process that pares costs to the very minimum.That strategy has served the industry well, saving money and helping it organize a system for sourcing the 40,000 or so components that go into a modern vehicle, many of which can be made in a matter of days. But semiconductors -- the heart of sensors, engine management and battery controllers, infotainment and eventually systems that will pilot vehicles -- are created in a process that takes months. And building and equipping a factory to produce them requires years.Todays cars contain an average of 1,400 semiconductors -- and that puts the chipmakers at an advantage. Fords Farley said hes now negotiating contracts directly with chipmakers -- bypassing his traditional auto suppliers -- while building up inventory of the precious pieces and even redesigning models to accommodate the semiconductor companies.We have learned a lot through this crisis that can be applied to many critical components, Farley told analysts last month as he announced Ford would lose half its production in the second quarter and take a $2.5 billion hit to earnings this year, citing a lack of chips. Were also thinking about what this means for the world of batteries and silicon and all sorts of other components that are really mission critical for our company.Ford is not alone in seeking solutions that upend long-time industry practices. Automakers from General Motors Co. to Volkswagen AG to Tesla Inc. are looking for ways to get closer to the chipmaking process, which could include forming partnerships with semiconductor companies, bringing chipmaking in-house and even building their own foundries. Nothing is off the table.Cars are only going to get more technical and theyre going to need more chips, said Sam Fiorani, vice president of vehicle forecasting at consultant AutoForecast Solutions. All of the vehicle manufacturers are looking at every possible scenario for getting it solved for the long-term.But according to some chipmakers, the auto industry has embraced new technology but failed to understand those that supply it.There is a huge difference between manufacturing a car and manufacturing a chip, said Kurt Sievers, CEO of NXP Semiconductor NV, the biggest maker of auto chips. Weve been working for years closely with the auto OEMs directly when it comes to R&D and innovation -- however, not at all for supply chain and volume forecasting.Sievers said the chip industry wants specific forecasts that stretch out in years and binding commitments to buy chips that last that long. The way automakers, referred to as original equipment manufacturers or OEMs, and semiconductor vendors work together needs to change, he said.And the car companies have little choice but to do so. Consumers are increasingly choosing vehicles based on functions such as connectivity, entertainment and advanced automated safety features. The auto industry is steadily shifting away from gasoline to battery power. All of that requires more chips.Its no longer this subsystem that no one cares about, said Victor Peng, CEO of Xilinx Inc. a chipmaker whose products are uses in advanced driver-assistance systems. The electronics is really going to shape the customer experience.The semiconductor industry has plenty of other orders to fill. In 2020 automakers bought almost $40 billion worth of chips, little changed from the prior year, even amid the crash of the pandemic. By comparison, the computer industry bought 17% more chips than it did in 2019, for a total of $160 billion. Phone makers, meantime, provided the chip industry with $137 billion in revenue, a jump of 12%.Earlier this year, automakers lobbied U.S. lawmakers to intervene to help them with the shortage, arguing that chipmakers were unfairly prioritizing customers building less important consumer electronics over cars. The automakers argue their industry creates more than 7 million jobs in America and is critical to national security. And theyve found a sympathetic ear in President Joe Biden, who was supported by the United Auto Workers in the 2020 election, and is working to help the auto industry navigate the chip crisis.Still, consumer electronics buys $20 billion more chips a year than the auto industry, and Big Tech has plenty of clout in Washington, too.Chipmakers are also in no hurry to add new factories to meet this years chip rush. Though 2020 was a good year and 2021 is shaping up to be even better, they dont have to look back very far to be reminded of the difficulties of matching supply with short-term fluctuations in demand. In 2019 industry sales shrank 12% as customers slashed orders to work through stockpiles.Many investors and analysts are already concerned that what now looks like insatiable demand is customers double-ordering: asking for twice the amount they need so they can at least get the number they want. In the past, such heavy ordering has proved to foreshadow industry gluts, with demand eventually easing and buyers tapping the brakes as they worked down accumulated inventory.We came out of 2018 guns blazing, everybody hoarded, and then 2019 was an awful year of demand because they already had chips, said ON Semiconductors El Khoury. Here we are today with people looking at us and asking, why havent you invested?The type of chip automakers want also works against them. Much of what they use -- things such as sensors and power regulators -- can be made on whats called lagging nodes, or production technology that hasnt been state-of-the-art for years. While that makes it cheaper, chipmakers are reluctant to expand capacity of technology thats closer to being obsolete.The chips that the automotive industry uses are older than the ones youd find in your cell phones or in your video games, said AutoForecast Solutions Fiorani. That makes them less of a priority to the companies that produce them.Fiorani said carmakers would be better served forming joint ventures with chipmakers to tap their expertise and lock down a dependable source of supply. But doing that would involve going around traditional suppliers such as Continental AG and Robert Bosch AG and turning back the clock to a more expensive time when companies like Ford had to deal with suppliers for raw materials.Some auto suppliers are already taking steps to make sure they dont get cut out. Parts supplier Robert Bosch is opening a new chip factory in Dresden that it says is the first of its kind dedicated to manufacturing semiconductors for automotive uses. Still, some automakers are already talking openly about cutting out those middlemen in order to keep up with the speed of change.We will be the one who has the commercial relationship with the chipmaker, Volvo Cars CEO Hakan Samuelsson said at a mobility conference in Tel Aviv this month. When we want a change and you have to talk to suppliers, it is too slow.Fords Farley said hes consulted with tech companies and discovered how common it is in other industries to keep buffer stock and to buy directly from chip manufacturers.Even if the company still buys the components with chips on them from a supplier, they still negotiated a direct deal, he told analysts, describing something thats common practice for companies like Apple Inc. Ford learned that nine of its tier-one component suppliers rely on just one Renesas Electronics Corp. factory in Japan for chips, a plant that suffered a fire, he said.Some automakers have made rapid progress in understanding their newer suppliers and are negotiating long-term deals. Others are sticking to the belief that they can dictate how their suppliers should act, according to ON Semiconductors El-Khoudry.Learning from their current difficulties is the key to turning around the current crisis and avoiding the next, according to Xilinxs Peng. Toyota, the inventor of just-in-time, said it expects to return to pre-pandemic levels of profitability as soon as this year, helped by factories that continue to churn out vehicles because the company made the decision to accumulate stockpiles of chips.People have to think differently or theyre going to be left behind, Peng 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. Clark Art Institute Featuring A New Year-Long Exhibition WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. The Clark Art Institute is featuring a new year-long exhibition highlighting the work of contemporary artist Erin Shirreff. The free exhibition is on view in public spaces in the Lower Clark Center and the Reading Room of the Manton Research Center through Jan. 2, 2022. "Erin Shirreff: Remainders" presents photographs, prints, and video that examine Shirreff's fascination with the mythmaking behind art history through a practice that spans analog and digital media, two and three dimensions, and still and moving images. "The opportunity to present some of Erin Shirreff's recent works is an exciting extension of our ongoing engagement with contemporary artists," said Olivier Meslay, Hardymon Director of the Clark Art Institute. "Shirreff's work graces our public spaces with modernist forms that are visually appealing but also have both conceptual weight and technical rigor. We look forward to sharing them with our visitors." The exhibition was curated by Robert Wiesenberger, associate curator of contemporary projects for the Clark. Wiesenberger notes that "Erin Shirreff's work always rewards close looking, as things often aren't quite what they seem. It also invites us to reflect on how art history is written, and its dogma is formed, in ways that bear directly on the Clark's mission as both a museum and a place for research and higher education." The exhibition features a selection of photographs from Erin Shirreff's ongoing series "Figs.," whose title refers to the way art history books are commonly illustrated. To make them, Shirreff constructs small objects from colored plaster that evoke modernist sculpture or even architecture; their scale is ambiguous. She then photographs the objects, slices, and recombines the images using editing software and prints them at large scale on a single sheet. Shirreff creases the prints down the center to resemble an open book. These objects are on view in the Reading Room of the Clark's Manton Research Center, with the library stacks visible just beyond. In the Lower Clark Center, visitors will encounter two large-format dye sublimation printsphotographs printed on cut pieces of aluminum arranged three dimensionally within a deep-set frame. "In Bronze (Slivka, Burckhardt, Busch, Laocoon)," Shirreff's focus is on how sculpture can be transformed by the camera lens and printing process. The names listed in the title register multiple layers of source material: Shirreff's starting point was a picture of a small bronze sculpture titled "Laocoon," by the Abstract Expressionist artist David Slivka. The photograph was taken by the photographer Rudy Burckhardt, and Shirreff found it in a heavily discounted, or remaindered, sculpture anthology edited by art historian Julia Busch. Shirreff scanned and enlarged the image to such an extent that the grain of its halftone printing and the traces of the sculptor's hand are more recognizable than the sculpture itself. She then printed it onto aluminum sheets, which she cut into various shapes and layered within a deep-set frame. "Four-color cafe terrace (Caro, , Moorhouse, Matisse)" reflects Shirreff's continued interest in the relationship between an artwork and its representation in another medium. Her title captures multiple sources: Shirreff's work is based on a photograph of modernist sculptor Anthony Caro's "The Moroccans" (198487). That picture, taken by an unknown photographer (hence the "" in the title), appeared in a monograph edited by Paul Moorhouse. Caro's sculpture is based on a painting of the same title by Henri Matisse that reimagines a cafe terrace he saw in Tangier (191516). Shirreff printed the photograph onto sheets of aluminum, cut these into shapes that resemble the simplified geometry in Matisse's painting, and rearranged them in a frame. Though many times removed, Shirreff's handmade and digital interventions link all these sources to their point of origin: "the terrace of the little cafe of the casbah," as Matisse described it. This work also appears in the Lower Clark Center. The silent video "Still" features a collection of the artist's graphite-colored, poured plaster forms. Some of these objects have appeared in her other work, such as the "Fig." series in the Manton Reading Room, while others are based on widely recognizable objects. Using a single raking light source to produce a deep black background, Shirreff photographed the arrangements in her studio and digitally stitched the images together to create a seamless picture that scrolls slowly across the screen. As the video pans across the objects, and some fade unexpectedly into the background, the title appears to be a misnomer. This video also appears in the Lower Clark Center. The Clark has highlighted the works of contemporary artists through special exhibitions for more than forty years. The Shirreff exhibition marks the second year-long installation in the Clark's public spaces that Wiesenberger has organized as part of an ongoing series. The first was "Velo Revelo," an exhibition by Pia Camil (Mexican, b. 1980). On March 10 at 12:30 pm (EST), Shirreff will join Wiesenberger in a live Zoom presentation to discuss her practice and the works on view at the Clark. Advance registration is required. Visit clarkart.edu/events for details. Erin Shirreff was born in Kelowna, British Columbia, and lives and works in Montreal. Trained as a sculptor, with an MFA from Yale University, she consistently works between photography, sculpture, and video to explore the relationship between objects and their representations. Her work has recently been the subject of solo exhibitions at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art; Kunsthalle Basel; and the Institute of Contemporary Art, Boston, and Albright-Knox Gallery. Shirreff is represented by Sikkema Jenkins & Co., New York and Bradley Ertaskiran, Montreal. Shirreff's works are on view in public spaces at the Clark and may be viewed during open hours without an admission fee. What do you get when you mix jump scares, possessed voices and 4 scared bachelors? A recipe for a hilarious disaster. No matter what kind of movies or shows you prefer to watch, the one genre that you can never go wrong with is a horror-comedy. After all, dont we all remember laughing so hard when watching Scream? Since we fell in love with the genre in the 90s many movies have come and gone but not many show writers have attempted to make a horror-comedy web-series. But that is changing now with MX Players Aapkey Kamrey Mein Koi Rehta Hai. MX Player MX Players Aapkey Kamrey Mein Koi Rehta Hai is the story of 4 bachelors, Nikhil (Sumeet Vyas), Subbu (Naveen Kasturia), Kavi (Amol Parashar) and Sanki (Ashish Verma), who move into a four-bedroom house in Mumbai only to be stuck with a wicked ghost problem. Things get more complicated when Mausam (Swara Bhaskar) enters their life and after hosting a housewarming for their new apartment, a series of supernatural events start to occur in their home. Now, do they survive this sudden attack or the ghosts get the best of them is a question that can only be answered by watching the 5-episodic series. MX Player Directed by Gaurav Sinha, each episode is only 15-20 minutes long which makes it perfect to create cliff-hangers and leave us waiting for what happens next. The showrunners found the perfect way to keep the audience hooked and thoroughly entertained. The combination of Sumeet Vyas, Naveen Kasturia, Amol Parashar and Ashish Verma left us in splits. This show ticks every box when it comes to making a good horror-comedy! The show has dropped on MX Player which means that your weekend is going to start on a good note! Mr. Biden released a national pandemic response plan, including 10 executive orders intended to increase coronavirus testing capacity, require mask-wearing on federal property and expand production of Covid-19 supplies. However, experts say that vaccine manufacturing facilities are already at or near capacity and that production capacity will not grow significantly until April. Others worry that the presidents plan for 100 million shots in 100 days is far too modest. Masked faces in a crowd: Our interactive graphic takes a closer look at who attended Mr. Bidens inauguration. Climate policy: Pete Buttigieg, Mr. Bidens nominee for transportation secretary, pledged to prioritize climate change while making policy. Heres how he could do so. High unemployment: Jobless claims in the United States remain at extraordinarily high levels. New and continuing coronavirus restrictions and lockdowns have devastated employment in the restaurant, leisure and entertainment industries. Impeachment: Mitch McConnell, the Republican leader in the Senate, is asking Democrats to wait until mid-February to hold Donald J. Trumps second impeachment trial, to give the Trump legal team time to prepare a defense. (Alliance News) - Arrivals from Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of Congo are to be banned as the UK looks to prevent the South African Covid-19 variant from taking hold. Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said the ban on entering the country from the two African nations, which will not apply to returning British and Irish nationals and those with residency rights, will come into force from 4am on Friday. The decision comes after UK's Chief Scientific Adviser Patrick Vallance warned this week that coronavirus variants were a "real issue of concern" due to suggestions the vaccines currently being rolled out may be less effective against the South African variant, known as 501Y.V2. A study by researchers from South Africa, which has not yet been peer-reviewed, found that the SA variant a thought to be about 50% more infectious a contains mutations that may be resistant to immunity from previous coronavirus infection. 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. 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. source: PA Copyright 2021 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved. I would show up because I would be planning to wear my mask, I would be planning to be conscientious about spacing myself out from others. And those are big factors that I have control over, he said. Theres only so much magic to the virus. A lot of it is just understood principles. If youre too far away, it cant come get you. Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., Jan. 22, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- EffectiveAgents.com has forged partnerships with several nonprofit organizations, offering a percentage of real estate transaction proceeds to fund various programs with these partners. In the wake of COVID-19, donations to causes such as disaster recovery, cancer treatments and research, and affordable housing have reduced dramatically. Therefore, EffectiveAgents.com has developed a system that leverages donations, increasing resources in a way that is sustainable and easily duplicated. EffectiveAgents EffectiveAgents "The American Red Cross, known for its disaster recovery efforts, is funneling these donations raised through EffectiveAgents.com directly to its Home Fire Campaign, helping to keep homes and families safe. As a part of this initiative, they even provide free installation of smoke alarms in the homes of our most at-risk populations along with many other services. Through this partnership, we intend to strengthen home safety and help those impacted by fires with needed recovery services," said Kevin Stuteville, founder of EffectiveAgents.com. The Home Fire Campaign has had an enormous impact on homes and families across the United States, and donations are well-utilized. As of October 2020, the Home Fire Campaign has made the following national impacts: 796 lives saved; 893,192 households made safer; and 2,159,459 smoke alarms installed. This partnership with the local American Cancer Society chapter has deep personal meaning for Stuteville as the seed idea for the company emerged from his stepfather's battle with cancer, and his mother needing to sell her home quickly in the middle of the mortgage crisis of 2009. Stuteville went to work analyzing Realtor performance statistics to sell his mom's home. This emerged into the data-driven algorithm, refined over the years, into what the company uses today. EffectiveAgents.com uses its complex, proprietary algorithm, which analyzes millions of real estate agents across the US, distilling that down to the top 1% to select an agent with the greatest probability of producing the right results for buyers and sellers across the nation. The agents selected by EffectiveAgents.com have been thoroughly vetted and have repeatedly shown themselves to be the most successful agents in a given market. "We're thrilled to have the support of EffectiveAgents.com to help us in the fight against cancer," said Brant Woodward, American Cancer Society Southeast Region executive vice president. "We can't and won't allow progress in cancer research, programs and services to be put on hold because of COVID-19. At risk are more and better treatments and discoveries that will improve and save lives." Habitat for Humanity is another organization that EffectiveAgents.com has partnered with to leverage its new platform to generate additional donation revenue. "The unintended consequence of a booming real estate market is that many families have been left behind. Through our partnership with our local Habitat for Humanity, we intend to help bring some balance to our local market and serve those who are experiencing housing insecurity," said Kevin Stuteville, founder of EffectiveAgents.com. "Balance equals relief." "At Habitat, we are grateful for EffectiveAgents.com supporting our mission in a mutually beneficial way through this partnership. Together, we can create a world where everyone has a decent place to live," said Mike Sutton, CEO of Habitat for Humanity of Pinellas and West Pasco Counties. "This is a philanthropic model that we are weaving into the fabric of our company that provides greater support and will provide sustainable funding to important causes. We wanted to do something more than just writing out checks at the end of the year for corporate tax write offs," said Stuteville. He insisted that the launch of their nonprofit partnerships begin by focusing on organizations in the company's local community of Tampa Bay, Florida, and they are now expanding to national partnerships. For more information on nonprofit partnership opportunities, please contact: [email protected] CONTACT: PT Collins, Director of Strategic Partnerships | [email protected] | 855-472-9275 SOURCE EffectiveAgents.com Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. The provincial government followed through on plans to loosen public health restrictions despite hearing concerns from a group of experienced physicians. The provincial government followed through on plans to loosen public health restrictions despite hearing concerns from a group of experienced physicians. A group of about five doctors wrote a letter to the premier earlier this month outlining their concerns; they requested more information about the province's vaccine rollout plans and cautioned against reopening businesses and household gatherings too early. This week, after the province had already sought public opinion and all but promised to reduce restrictions, the doctors met with Health Minister Heather Stefanson to reiterate their position and offer to help with vaccination planning. One of them, Dr. Dan Roberts, an acting head of neurology at Health Sciences Centre, said Thursday he understands the pressure officials faced to reopen the economy. The new rules taking effect Saturday show a "moderate approach" to loosening restrictions, he said, but urged Manitobans to follow the previous rules by limiting their in-person contacts and not gathering in places such as shopping malls. "The essential issue right now is that people understand what the risks are, and they have to make individual decisions about what restrictions they're going to impose on their own behaviour. And I would strongly suggest that people at risk keep on doing what they've been doing, and maintaining the restrictions that were imposed before, which have worked in reducing COVID cases, but it took 10 weeks," Roberts said. He said there's still "imminent risk" of spreading the virus, especially with new, more contagious strains of it starting to circulate in Canada. Roberts said he wasn't going to "second-guess" the government's decision to loosen the rules. "They've maintained some level of restriction, which is OK, but I think that we just have to wait and see what happens. I think it's early to reduce some of the restrictions. We've still got a test positivity rate that's approaching 10 per cent, so there's still a lot of disease out there." He said Stefanson was "receptive" to hearing from the doctors during their meeting. A spokesperson for Stefanson's office said it was a "constructive and positive discussion" but didn't address questions about whether the health department will act on the doctors' concerns. Medical microbiologist Dr. Philippe Lagace-Wiens, who was not one of the doctors who met with Stefanson earlier this week, said his key public message on the loosened restrictions is "just because you can doesn't mean you should." If done properly, allowing Manitobans to have two designated visitors over, and even opening up hair salons and personal-health services with mandatory masking and capacity limits, is not likely to cause large spikes in the COVID-19 infection rate, Lagace-Wiens said. But he is leery of reopening non-essential shopping in big box stores and malls, where lots of people can gather even with restricted capacity. "I might have preferred a little less loosening in that particular area, but understanding that small businesses are probably low-risk and they're kind of getting desperate, that side of it is probably reasonable given the current positivity rates in the south," he said. He strongly suggested people should still do curbside pickup where possible, and wear masks and maintain physical distancing with their visitors, since most of the viral transmission that can be traced in Manitoba is coming from household gatherings and workplaces. "It's not just an open invitation to have a dinner party with another couple. I think we have to keep in mind that we're still in the midst of a pandemic here." katie.may@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @thatkatiemay STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- The new vaccine designed to fight the coronavirus (COVID-19) is bringing a burst of hope to New Yorkers looking to return to regular life. With a vaccine plan set in place by the N.Y. Governors Office, New Yorkers are being encouraged to receive the vaccine as soon as they are eligible. The initial rollout of the vaccine was hard on Staten Islanders - from technical glitches and limited supply to winter weather and understaffed medical centers. Many Staten Islanders have experienced difficulty getting appointments and long lines at understaffed medical centers while attempting to get the vaccine. As eligibility has expanded, the city has started to expand the availability for walk-in appointments to ease the issue accessing appointments. Below is a comprehensive list detailing everything Staten Islanders need to know about when and where they can receive the COVID-19 vaccine. WHO IS ELIGIBLE, AS OF TODAY? Currently, all New Yorkers 12 years old and older are eligible to receive the vaccine. New Yorkers that are ages 12 through 17 are only eligible for the Pfizer vaccine. Eligibility also extends to people who live outside of the state but work or study in New York. People who are eligible based on employment include both paid and unpaid workers. All New Yorkers eligible to participate in walk-up vaccinations at city sites, where they can get vaccinated without an appointment. State guidance on who is eligible is available online. WHERE CAN I GO TO GET VACCINATED? The city launched a website, NYC Vaccine Finder, to help residents find the closest vaccination hub to them there are currently 43 Staten Island sites listed: Appointments can also be made here, or by calling 877-829-4692. Limited time, pop-up vaccine sites may also be available. Appointments at these sites can be made using the Am I Eligible app or by calling 1-833-NYS-4-VAX (1-833-697-4829). NYC Health+Hospitals Gotham Health/Vanderbilt clinic is the only 24/7 site open on Staten Island. Once you have confirmed an appointment, you must complete the New York State COVID-19 Vaccine form. This can be completed online or at your vaccination site. Proof of eligibility must be brought to your appointment. This may include an employee ID card, a letter from an employer or affiliated organization, or a pay stub, depending on the specific priority status. If you are eligible due to age, you should bring a government-issued form of ID that includes your date of birth. Latest updates on vaccinations: Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 22) Navotas City Mayor Toby Tiangco admitted on Friday he is afraid to be inoculated with the China's Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine. "Kung ako, pasensya na, medyo takot ako dun sa Sinovac," Tiangco told CNN Philippines' The Final Word. [Translation: For me, I'm sorry but I'm afraid of Sinovac (vaccine).] The national government has repeatedly stated its preference for the COVID-19 vaccines made by the Chinese pharmaceutical firm. Once doses arrive in the country and get the approval of the Philippine Food and Drug Administration, the Sinovac vaccine will be first administered to frontliners and vulnerable sectors under the country's vaccination program. Late-stage trials in Brazil showed the efficacy rate of the Sinovac vaccine was 50.38%, which still falls under the minimum acceptable vaccine efficacy rate of 50% under World Health Organization standards. Tiangco said the local government also decided not to purchase the Sinovac vaccine, as majority of residents only preferred three vaccine brands based on an informal survey they did this year. These brands are Pfizer, Moderna, and AstraZeneca. "Those three are the vaccine brands that we will buy so our residents will have choices," said Tiangco, who also admitted he is willing to be immunized with any of the three COVID-19 vaccine brands only. The Navotas City government secured a deal with AstraZeneca early this month for the purchase of 100,000 COVID-19 vaccine doses. Moderna and Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines boast a 95% efficacy rate, while AstraZeneca's is 70%. Tiangco disagreed with Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque's statement that Filipinos should not be picky when it comes to COVID-19 vaccines, saying immunization is not mandatory. "Paano kung sabihin ng mga tao na kung hindi yan yung brand ko, hindi na ako magpapabakuna? Mas malaki ang mawawala sa ating lahat kasi dapat mas marami ang magpabakuna," stated Tiangco, who emphasized COVID-19 vaccination in Navotas is not mandatory. [Translation: What if the people say that if it is not my preferred brand, they will not be vaccinated? If that happens, we will stand to lose more because there should be many people vaccinated.] The Navotas City mayor also said the local government acquired bio-refrigerators, single insulation transport coolers, power generators, and low-temperature freezers for the vaccine storage. Also included in the purchase is a cold storage facility for Pfizer vaccines, which needs to be stored in temperatures of minus 70 to minus 80 degrees Centigrade. Were thrilled to extend access to Mirrors synthetic assets to the Binance Smart Chain community. Mirror, the synthetic assets protocol built on the Terra blockchain, has completed the integration of a cross-chain bridge to Binance Smart Chain (BSC) -- bringing synthetic assets to the BSC community. The bridge enables porting of Terras stablecoin UST, its native token LUNA, governance token MIR, and Mirrored Assets (mAssets) to BSC. Initially, the assets will be rolled out on BSC DeFi applications PancakeSwap and StableXSwap. Were thrilled to extend access to Mirrors synthetic assets to the Binance Smart Chain community, says Terraform Labs Co-Founder & CEO, Do Kwon. The exposure to mAssets via a cross-chain bridge is a powerful avenue for increasing composability and liquidity across blockchain networks, and we welcome the BSC community to Mirrors community-governed protocol as the next major step in Mirrors mission to bring synthetic asset exposure to the world. Terras custom cross-chain bridge was originally built between Terra and Ethereum, enabling Terra assets, such as whitelisted mAssets on Mirror, to be sent from the Terra blockchain to Ethereum. Terra's BSC integration will now enable users to access mAssets directly from applications running on BSC. The initial liquidity of mAssets on BSC will be supplemented by the inclusion of mAssets and UST into two of BSCs leading DeFi protocols -- PancakeSwap, an automated market maker (AMM) DEX, and StableXSwap, a stablecoin DEX similar to Curve on Ethereum. The first mAssets to list on PancakeSwap will be the major tech stocks Tesla, Amazon, Netflix, and Google via their mirrored mAsset versions. On StableXSwap, UST will be listed against BUSD using the platforms low-slippage bonding curve pool. Rewards for providing liquidity will be issued in Terras native token, LUNA, in the coming weeks. The mAssets can be deployed for a variety of purposes, including use as collateral in lending protocols, used by LPs in yield farming programs, leveraged trading of synthetics, synthetic stable pools (e.g., mBTC/LinearBTC/BTCB), and more. About Binance Smart Chain Binance Smart Chain is a sovereign smart contract blockchain delivering Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) compatible programmability. Designed to run in parallel with Binance Chain, Binance Smart Chain retains the formers fast execution times and low transaction fees while adding Smart Contracts functionality to support compatible dApps. For more information on Binance Smart Chain, visit https://www.binance.org/#smartChain. Discord: https://discord.com/channels/789402563035660308/789427734711107595 About Mirror Mirror is a DeFi protocol powered by smart contracts on the Terra network that enables the creation of synthetic assets called Mirrored Assets (mAssets). mAssets mimic the price behavior of real-world assets and give traders anywhere in the world open access to price exposure without the burdens of owning or transacting real assets. Mirror is a community-governed project that seeks to unlock the wealth creation of major asset classes to users around the world via a permissionless access model. Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-22 09:33:56|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close ADDIS ABABA, Jan. 22 (Xinhua) -- Ethiopia registered 292 new COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, taking the nationwide tally to 132,326, the Ministry of Health said Thursday. The death toll from COVID-19 in the country has reached 2,057 as of Thursday evening, after 13 new deaths were reported, Ethiopian Health Minister Lia Tadesse said on Twitter. The minister said 653 more recoveries were logged, taking the national count to 118,006. Ethiopia, Africa's second most populous nation, is one of the countries hardest hit by COVID-19 in Africa, after South Africa, Morocco, Tunisia and Egypt. The Ethiopian government has been urging the public to implement COVID-19 precautionary measures so as to contain the spread of the virus. Enditem When U.S. Republican Senator Ted Cruz repeated ex-President Donald Trumps rhetoric about climate change, he likely would not have expected the derision he was met with on Twitter. Mr Cruz, in his tweet, criticised President Joe Biden for submitting a letter of intent to reenter the Paris Agreement on his first day in office, which former President Trump pulled out of in 2017. I was elected to represent the citizens of Pittsburgh, not Paris, Mr Trump said in 2017. I promised I would exit or renegotiate any deal which fails to serve Americas interests. On Wednesday, Mr Cruz also regurgitated this rhetoric, drawing heavy backlash from his compatriots and even Nigerians. 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, he tweeted. 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 Many of Mr Cruzs critics wondered how the Harvard Law School graduate is unaware that it is customary for pacts to be named after the city where they are signed. The Paris Accord, signed in 2015, had 196 countries, which committed to cutting carbon emissions and keep the increase in worldwide average temperatures well below 2 degrees Celsius (about 3.6 degrees fahrenheit). So by saying the pact was the views of the citizens of Paris, some asked the three-term Texas senator if other worldwide agreements were the views of the host nation. Nice tweet Sen. Cruz! Quick question: do you also believe the Geneva Convention was about the views of the citizens of Geneva? Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a U.S. Representative, asked. Asking for everyone who believes US Senators should be competent and not undermine our elections to incite insurrection against the United States, she added. 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 https://t.co/mMf8iDo72G Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) January 21, 2021 Has this smart guy heard of Geneva Conventions, Kyoto Protocol, Helsinki Rules, Warsaw Pact, or even Washington Consensus? came the query of Ashok Swain, a professor of Peace and Conflict Research in Uppsala University, Sweden. Has this smart guy heard of Geneva Conventions, Kyoto Protocol, Helsinki Rules, Warsaw Pact, or even Washington Consensus? https://t.co/t3GvsOsQ6D Ashok Swain (@ashoswai) January 21, 2021 Paris Climate agreement Ode! (Its) not the same as Paris the city. Saner clime Senator and @Harvard graduate. No wonder Trump called @tedcruz STUPID! Kayode Ogundamisi, a Nigerian, wrote. "Paris Climate agreement" Ode! Its not the same as Paris the city. Saner clime Senator and @Harvard graduate. No wonder Trump called @tedcruz "STUPID!". https://t.co/sM9KTTV9fw Kayode Ogundamisi (@ogundamisi) January 21, 2021 In the Senate, Mr Cruz has consistently held conservative positions on economic and social matters for which he gets lots of criticism. His objection to the certification of President Biden over Donald Trump after the 2020 presidential election has been picked out to have buoyed pro-Trump rioters to break into the U.S. Capitol with some calling for his expulsion from the Senate. Seven Democrat senators filed an ethics complaint against him on Thursday. ADVERTISEMENT Below is how some Twitter users reacted to Mr Cruzs tweet on the Paris Agreement: The only thing this has confirmed is that Harvard just admits anyone into their university who pulls out a fat wallet and a load of cash. What an embarrassment to both the US and Harvard. James (@JustPikachoo) January 21, 2021 "Paris Climate agreement" Ode! Its not the same as Paris the city. Saner clime Senator and @Harvard graduate. No wonder Trump called @tedcruz "STUPID!". https://t.co/sM9KTTV9fw Kayode Ogundamisi (@ogundamisi) January 21, 2021 I am almost certain that @SenTedCruz isn't this stupid. The fact that he chooses to "dumb down" and spew misleading statements to his base demonstrates the kind of uncivil servant he is. https://t.co/FlYDN1ACRl Homar A. Mauras (@homarmauras) January 22, 2021 Are you serious? Is he serious? So every country that joins the Paris Climate Agreement (which is named after where it is signed, not because it serves Paris) cares more about Paris than their respective countries? What a dumbass. #TedCruz #facepalm #ParisClimateAgreement https://t.co/nrUhXdBay1 Bridget, BSc. (@MyUterusMyChoic) January 22, 2021 -Geneva Convention -Vienna Convention -Strasbourg Convention All clearly prioritized their citizens over anyone else in creating those treaties, yeah? How the fuck did they let you anywhere near the position youre in. https://t.co/Txa9aws8M6 Jaco (@JacobyWestbrook) January 22, 2021 1. It's about rising sea levels, dummy. 2. Cruz is supposed to represent #Houston, which was flooded during hurricanes #Katrina and #Harvey. 3. Why does Texas continue to elect this guy? He seems to care more about #grandstanding than facts. https://t.co/e3ZWj5wEsO pic.twitter.com/I2s7YNvE0b Still Jim (@CrazyJimP) January 22, 2021 This is the dumbest individual in the government. I cant wait to hear his views on Versailles and Geneva. https://t.co/aV5k69ZhH6 Chalky (@Chalky31583407) January 22, 2021 It will only hurt the livelihoods of your rich friends in the oil & coal lobby. If they do the right thing for their workers & the planet it wont hurt anyone in fact, it will force the creation of new jobs in the USA. Keep whipping up fake BS to keep your 1% the top 1% https://t.co/mHMLwICU9q Jonathan Van Ness (@jvn) January 21, 2021 Aren't you a Senator from Texas? I'm sure the citizens of Pittsburgh would like you to stay in your own lane. And as a Solar employee, your assessment is incorrect and dishonest. But what should we expect from someone who has no personal beliefs? https://t.co/bqzJsEBG34 ColonelAngus (@badboyboogie01) January 21, 2021 Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. The Foreign Affairs Minister has said he believes the traditional St Patricks Day visit to the White House by the Taoiseach will go ahead this year. Simon Coveney said the Government would have to figure out a way of visiting the US safely, because of the global pandemic. Last years visit by then taoiseach Leo Varadkar to former president Donald Trump was cut short amid the first coronavirus outbreak in Ireland. Expand Close Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney has said the 2021 St Patricks Day visit to the White House could go ahead (Julien Behal Photography/PA) PA / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney has said the 2021 St Patricks Day visit to the White House could go ahead (Julien Behal Photography/PA) Asked if this years visit would go ahead, Mr Coveney replied: I think it will. But we have to figure out how we do St Patricks Day this year safely. As we know, parades have already been cancelled. But we will reach out in the most appropriate way we can, in the most impactful way we can, obviously while being sensitive to public health perspectives. He told RTEs News At One: St Patricks Day is an extraordinary and unique opportunity that Ireland has. We make the most of it every year, and I have no doubt that the interaction between the Taoiseach and the new Irish-American presence in the White House, well have a very close and detailed interaction over that period. The tradition of the Irish premier of the day presenting the US president with a bowl of shamrocks on St Patricks Day dates back to 1956, when Fine Gael taoiseach John A Costello visited Dwight D Eisenhower at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. The tradition is seen as vital in maintaining a strong relationship with Irelands most powerful ally. I think we are likely to see a very different foreign policy direction, one that's much closer to Irish thinking Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney The new US President Joe Biden has strong Irish roots and has already spoken of his desire to visit Ireland with Taoiseach Micheal Martin. Minister Coveney has praised the new administration for its change of direction from the Trump presidency. He said: I think we are likely to see a very different foreign policy direction, one thats much closer to Irish thinking. Of course it was my job and the governments job to make sure that we had a good and functioning relationship with the Trump administration, because its always important for Ireland and the US to have a closer relationship. Expand Close Leo Varadkar and Donald Trump during a St Patricks Day reception at the White House in 2020 (Brian Lawless/PA) PA / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Leo Varadkar and Donald Trump during a St Patricks Day reception at the White House in 2020 (Brian Lawless/PA) I think itll be much easier now with the Biden administration that I think share our values and our approach, to go over politics and multilateralism, to be able to get things done. I hope to be able to travel, despite all of the restrictions of the pandemic. I hope to be able to travel to Washington soon to build relationships with many of the Irish Americans that are part of this administration. Theres a lot of work to do here but I think it makes that work a lot easier, when we share a very similar approach to the administration. 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. Dear Reader, Business Standard has always strived hard to provide up-to-date information and commentary on developments that are of interest to you and have wider political and economic implications for the country and the world. Your encouragement and constant feedback on how to improve our offering have only made our resolve and commitment to these ideals stronger. Even during these difficult times arising out of Covid-19, we continue to remain committed to keeping you informed and updated with credible news, authoritative views and incisive commentary on topical issues of relevance. We, however, have a request. As we battle the economic impact of the pandemic, we need your support even more, so that we can continue to offer you more quality content. Our subscription model has seen an encouraging response from many of you, who have subscribed to our online content. More subscription to our online content can only help us achieve the goals of offering you even better and more relevant content. We believe in free, fair and credible journalism. Your support through more subscriptions can help us practise the journalism to which we are committed. Support quality journalism and subscribe to Business Standard. Digital Editor Advertisement An underground bunker built during the Cold War has been put on sale with a guide price of 25,000. The former Royal Observer Corps Monitoring Post near St Agnes, Cornwall, was built in 1961 and is accessed via a 14ft ladder. Its dimensions are a claustrophobic 15ft long (4.57m), 7ft wide (2.25m) and approximately 8ft in height (2.4m). The site - one of more than 1,500 ROC posts built around Britain's coasts between the 1960s and 90s - was manned by volunteers and consists of an access shaft, a chemical toilet and a monitoring room. It was used in the Cold War to keep track of aircraft and any potential nuclear threats, said auctioneer Adam Cook, who describes being in the subterranean chamber as 'a little bit eerie'. An underground bunker built during the Cold War has been put on sale with a guide price of 25,000. The former Royal Observer Corps Monitoring Post near St Agnes, Cornwall, was built in 1961 and is accessed via a 14ft ladder. (Above, an illustration of how it would have looked in its prime) Above, the cantilevered entrance to the bunker. The site - one of more than 1,500 ROC posts built around Britain's coasts between the 1960s and 90s - was manned by volunteers and consists of an access shaft, a chemical toilet and a monitoring room. It was used in the Cold War to keep track of aircraft and any potential nuclear threats, said auctioneer Adam Cook Mr Cook said there was still a sense of what it used to be with an 'old bunk bed' and a toilet 'which I don't think you'd fancy using but it certainly gives you the atmosphere' The bunker, which is being auctioned online as part of a triangular piece of land on February 18, was first opened in 1961 and closed in 1991 and is accessed down a 'rustic vehicular track', according to the online advert The bunker, which is being auctioned online as part of a triangular piece of land on February 18, was first opened in 1961 and closed in 1991 and is accessed down a 'rustic vehicular track', according to the online advert. Mr Cook said it is a former Royal Observer Corps Monitoring Post 'but people love calling it a nuclear bunker'. He described the reinforced concrete chamber as 'a little bit eerie when you're there on your own'. 'I'm glad I've been down there...[to have] half a chance of explaining it to customers.' Mr Cook said it is a former Royal Observer Corps Monitoring Post 'but people love calling it a nuclear bunker'. He described the reinforced concrete chamber as 'a little bit eerie when you're there on your own' Sellers have suggested a variety of uses for the unusual property, subject to planning permission from Cornwall Council. Above, an illustration of how the monitoring posts would have been kitted out He said there was still a sense of what it used to be with an 'old bunk bed' and a toilet 'which I don't think you'd fancy using but it certainly gives you the atmosphere'. Sellers have suggested a variety of uses for the unusual property, subject to planning permission from Cornwall Council. Mr Cook said it is 'difficult to pigeon-hole it onto any one kind of purchaser', adding that the buyer could be anyone from a history enthusiast to a landowner. 'All kinds could be interested and we're already getting lots of calls about it.' To boost rural, religious and adventure tourism in Sikkim, the state government has decided to open the Ramam checkpost for entry of foreign tourists from March 1, an official said. The Ramam checkpost in West Sikkim district will issue Restricted Area Permit (RAP) and Protected Area Permits (PAP) to foreigners. At present RAP and PAP are issued to foreigners only at Melli and Rangpo, the official said. Foreigners, mostly coming from Nepal will be able to enter Sikkim from Ramam checkpost instead of first going down to Siliguri in West Bengal and then entering Sikkim, he said. The state government on Wednesday issued a notification allowing foreign tourists to enter the state through the Ramam checkpost in West Sikkim district. The notification said: The tourism department has indicated that a large number of foreign tourists have been requesting for entry through Ramam checkpost. Therefore, with a view to boost rural, religious and adventure tourism in West and South Sikkim districts the state government has decided to open Ramam checkpost for entry of foreign tourists with effect from 01/03/2021. The chairman of Sikkim Tourism Development Corporation (STDC) Lukendra Rasaily thanked Chief Minister P S Tamang for the new entry point for foreigners at Ramam. Thank you Chief Minister, P S Tamang Sir for the establishment of entry point for foreigners from Ramam. On behalf of entire tourism stakeholders of Sikkim, I thank you This will help tourism to flourish in South and West Sikkim district, he said. Bengaluru, Jan 22 : A miffed Karnataka Health Minister K. Sudhakar on Friday said separating health and medical education departments would affect the vaccination drive in the state. "Separating health and medical education ministries could weaken the state's vaccination effort, as 60 per cent of district hospitals are under the latter and the remaining under the former," Sudhakar told reporters a day after Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa on Thursday hived off both departments and allocated medical education to senior cabinet minister J.C. Madhuswamy. Ironically, the Chief Minister merged both the departments in October 2020 and gave the health portfolio to Sudhakar, who has been a minister for medical education since he joined the government in February 2020, ostensibly, for better coordination of the fight against the raging Covid across the state. B. Sriramulu, who was holding the health and family welfare portfolio, was made minister for Backward Classes Welfare, which was earlier with Deputy Chief Minister Govind Karjol. Coincidentally, the Covid tally began to decline gradually since mid-October across the southern state under Sudhakar, a medical doctor by profession. "If health and medical education departments are under a single command, the vaccination drive will be effective. I will prevail upon the Chief Minister not to separate the two ministries," asserted Sudhakar. Sudhakar, who defected from the Congress and joined the ruling BJP, was re-elected from the Chikkaballapur assembly segment in December 2019 by-elections. "Health and Medical Education departments are under one ministry in all state governments across the country except in Karnataka, where it was split for political reasons," reiterated Sudhakar. As health and medical education departments were separate, coordination suffered at the peak of Covid pandemic in the state, Sudhakar recalled. Hinting that the second wave of the pandemic may come to India belatedly, Sudhakar said the two departments have to work together to prevent the virus spread again and accelerate the vaccination drive at the same time. "I don't know what he (Yediyurappa) has in his mind. If health and medical education departments don't coordinate, it will be difficult to face when the second wave of the pandemic hits us," said Sudhakar. Though Yediyurappa on Friday reshuffled portfolios of some ministers who resented the departments allocated to them on Thursday, the medical education department was not taken away from Madhuswamy. "It's the Chief Minister's domain to decide on portfolios. I can't tell what he should have done. I am not sticking to any portfolio. The two departments need to work together so that citizens get the vaccine," added Sudhakar. The number of people fleeing violence in West Africa's Sahel region has quadrupled in the past two years, with 2 million now displaced in their own countries, the U.N. refugee agency UNHCR said on Friday. Militants linked to al Qaeda and Islamic State have expanded their reach in the semi-arid region on the edge of the Sahara, stoking ethnic conflict in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger and forcing whole communities to flee their homes. More than half of those displaced within their own country are in Burkina Faso, where many are forced to sleep outside and do not have enough water, UNHCR spokesman Boris Cheshirkov said at a briefing in Geneva. "The communities hosting the displaced have reached a breaking point," he said. "The humanitarian response is dangerously overstretched, and UNHCR is urging the international community to redouble its support for the region." The Sahel also has more than 850,000 refugees who have fled across international borders, mainly from Mali. Short link: UUUGGHHHHH I want Bob's Burgers all the time UUUGGHHHHH I want Bob's Burgers all the time Reply Thread Link as much as i wish this was true :\ biden/fauci better keep sending out those vaccines if they want 100 million in what is now 98 days Reply Thread Link damn that bob's burgers movie is never coming out is it Reply Thread Link Remember when everyone thought wed be back to some level of normalcy around spring? Reply Thread Link Mhm. Honestly I don't think people will be going back to offices till AT LEAST the fall now. Reply Parent Thread Link The mutations have allowed covid to become resistant to antibody neutralisation so people may no longer be protected from re infection. A small drop in the vaccine efficacy too but like still... people need to stay the fuck at home. Like delay everything as far as Im concerned. Reply Thread Link I'm not going to be going to anything until every member of my family is vaccinated, including myself and as an able-bodied 35 year old, I'm way at the bottom of the list so it won't be for ages. Reply Thread Link Man this pandemic has made me realise how much I love going to the cinema. Once ~this whole thing has blown over~ I'll be at the movies first thing, don't care what crap is playing. Don't think that will be this year though... Reply Thread Link They really need to ramp up vaccine acquisition/distribution/administration fast or this whole year will be a repeat of 2020. I was cautiously optimistic about late summer/early fall bringing a sense of normalcy, but seeing how slow things have been going, I am definitely less hopeful. Reply Thread Link Cruella should just be released on Disney+. Have they even released a teaser or trailer for it yet? Reply Thread Link seeing as the april release calendar continues slipping into non-existence i give it a few weeks before the same begins with may. Reply Thread Link Look, I just bought tickets to a touring Broadway show for March of 2022 and even that feels iffy to me (as does the rest of the season which is supposed to start in August of this year, lol hokay). Just postpone everything else already. Reply Thread Link Damn the Bob's Burgers movie is entering urban legend status Reply Thread Link ARCHIVED - Spain and Portugal suffering the worst third waves of the pandemic in Europe Incidence rates have levelled off or fallen in all other European countries since the New Year In most of Europe the start of 2021 has heralded a gradual decrease in coronavirus incidence rates, with the upward curve of the second wave having been first flattened and then reversed since November or December, but according to data published this week Spain and Portugal are the only countries in which the new year has been marked by continuing and significant increases. Measuring the severity of the current pandemic situation in terms of the number of cases reported per million inhabitants per day, the worst affected country in Europe at present is reported to be Portugal at 1,025, following a sharp increase since the end of last year. Second on the list are Sweden and Slovenia, but in the former the rate has dropped significantly in recent weeks and in the latter the figures have remained more or less stable since October, while Spain is ranked fourth with a rate of 733 after a dramatic increase over the course of the last three weeks. Apart from the Iberian Peninsula the rest of the continent is reporting a gradual improvement in the success of measures to contain the pandemic, leaving Spain and Portugal as Europes current hot spots. As for the current 14-day accumulated incidence rates, the latest data available from the ECDC (only updated to Thursday) is that infection is still higher than in Spain (804 cases per 100,000 inhabitants) in Ireland (1,444), the Czech Republic (1,362), Portugal (1,215) and the UK (1,039), than in other areas of Europe; Germany (319), Italy (374), France (380), Poland (305), Belgium (248)Denmark (364)Greece (79), Norway (148), Finland (61)but the downward trends visible in all of these countries bar Portugal could well leave Spain and its neighbour occupying the two top spots before long. After another new daily record of confirmed cases in Spain was reported on Thursday at over 44,000, it is also indicative of the current situation that case numbers in more heavily populated countries were significantly lower: 33,454 in the UK, 23,895 in France, 12,233 in Germany and 10,496 in Italy. On the other hand, Spain is at least able to point to a higher percentage of the population having received at least one dose of the vaccine than most of the other countries included in the comparative study, at 2.2 per cent. In terms of immunization the UK far outperforms all of Europe, having provided jabs to approximately 7.5 per cent of the population. On Friday Portugal announced that it had accumulated more than 600,000 cases since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, a threshold that has been exceeded on a day in which the Portuguese Directorate General of Health (DGS) has once again confirmed a historical maximum of deaths in a single day, with 234. The official balance includes 609,136 positives for coronavirus since the pandemic began, 13,987 more than on Thursday. The death toll now stands at 9,920, while the number of patients admitted to intensive care continues to grow (715), reports the RTP chain. Spain reported a further 42,885 new cases and 400 deaths and its 14 day incidence rate increased to 828. Posted Friday, January 22, 2021 7:54 am In his latest press conference regarding Washington states ongoing efforts to fight COVID-19 Jan. 21, Gov. Jay Inslee noted it was the one-year anniversary of the first confirmed case of the disease announced in the state. The governor remarked that Washington was hit by COVID-19 the first and the hardest of those in the U.S. However Washington responded based on science, based on a commitment to the preservation of lives, and we have had considerable success in that regard, he said. The press conference covered both the recently-started 2021 state legislative session, as well as an update on Washingtons work to vaccinate its population to the disease. Inslee said that Washington ranked 13th in the nation in terms of vaccinations administered, with more than 360,000 doses administered that have been reported. Washington State Assistant Health Secretary for Prevention and Community Health Michele Roberts said that there were likely more than the amount of doses reported to the state as had been administered. Washington State Secretary of Health Umair Shah said the state had made significant progress in administering the 696,000 doses the state has received since Jan. 16, though he did not make a guarantee that the state would be able to administer all doses before the end of the week. But vaccination efforts are growing, according to the governor. Inslee said the average daily vaccination doses in the state had exceeded 16,000 in the past week, adding in the past 25 hours there had been some 25,000 doses administered. In terms of vaccination strategy, Inslee pointed to recent announcements on three new lanes, if you might think of it, on the freeway of vaccine distribution. The state has a goal of 45,000 doses of vaccines delivered daily in Washington, and has also established four mass-vaccination sites, as well as engaged the pharmacy industry as a distribution network. Inslee said there were four mass vaccination sites planned, which he said were hoped to be opened up by the week following the press conference. He said the sites would be staffed significantly by the Washington National Guard, both in a logistical capacity and for actual vaccine administration. Inslee added that business partnerships constituted a fourth lane of the states vaccination efforts. Inslee said the morning of the press conference he met with representatives of Costco, from whom he learned the business was bringing 20 vaccination sites online. He added that Safeway had administered 500 doses of the vaccine during its first day involved. Inslee noted that Amazon announced opening up a pop-up clinic in Seattle Jan. 24, with a goal of 2,000 vaccinations in one event. Jay Carney, Amazon senior vice president of global corporate affairs and former director of communications for now-President Joe Biden, said his company had sent a letter to the newly-elected president pledging any assistance (Amazon) could provide toward meeting Bidens goal of 100 million vaccinations in the first 100 days of his presidency, through information technology and logistics capabilities. Specifically for Washington, Carney said Amazon would be committing one of its own executives to the states vaccine command center. He added the company was committing to vaccinating its own 20,000 essential workers in the state. Amazons pop-up site would be put on in partnership with Virginia Mason Medical Center. The medical centers chairman and CEO Gary Kaplan noted that both the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines required two doses. He said those attending the clinic would be scheduled for their second dose at the time they receive their first. Kaplan added that no one taking part in the pop-up clinic would be charged for the vaccine, regardless of insurance status. Vaccinations are administered through a phased-in approach in Washington state, with healthcare workers and those in long-term care facilities among the first to receive a dose. Roberts said there were about 2,400 long-term care facilities that had signed up with the national vaccination program administered through CVS and Walgreens, with about 139,000 doses set aside for the program. Roberts said CVS and Walgreens have told the state that by Jan. 24 all of the 2,400 enrolled facilities will have had their first visits for administration. She said it was unclear how many of those doses had been administered, as the companies providing the program report directly to the federal government. Inslee noted that the federal government had assumed control of distribution of vaccines to long-term care facilities through a contract with CVS and Walgreens. Shah said that the lack of simultaneous reporting to both federal and state agencies on vaccinations through the program has been a real problem, adding he hoped the problem would be alleviated under the new Biden administration. Though Inslee noted the state has lost nearly 4,000 lives due to COVID-19, he pointed to the relative success the state has had in lowering COVID-19 activity as something to look at as the state enters a second year of handling the disease. He referenced a New York Times article earlier in the week that concluded if the rest of the nation took the measures Washington state did, the U.S. could have reduced total COVID-19 deaths by 220,000 nationwide. We need confidence in the next several months, which will be difficult months, Inslee remarked. Our recovery from the pandemic is progressing, but we have a long ways to go. 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. As Saulsberry got within feet of Williams, Williams began to fire at them. Saulsberry stumbled, lost a shoe and ran toward the Ford, according to prosecutors. At that point Saulsberry and Barron began shooting Williams, who fell down but was able to get back up after hed been shot in the abdomen, prosecutors said. Brattleboro, VT (05301) Today Cloudy with showers. High 57F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 60%.. Tonight Rain. Low 43F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near an inch. EVANSTON, Ill., Jan. 22, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- When Nina Barrett opens a new branch of her independent bookstore Bookends & Beginnings on the main commercial street of downtown Evanston, IL on Saturday, January 23, she'll be defying the trend of small-business collapse in the time of COVID. And she'll also be reversing the narrative arc of a popular 1990s rom-comYou've Got Mailin which an aggressive new chain bookstore drove a beloved indie store out of business. The new Bookends & Beginnings storefront at 1716 Sherman Avenue, Evanston. The rustic interior of the original Bookends & Beginnings store, located in an old garage in an alley in downtown Evanston. The new branch expands her 6-year-old bookstore with an additional 900 square feet of retail space. The new storefront also gains her prominent visibility on one of Evanston's prime downtown shopping streetsjust half a block away from where a large Barnes & Noble, her former chain-store competitor, vacated its space a few months ago. Both Barrett's original store and the nearby Barnes & Noble were forced to shut down for several months in the spring of 2020 during the first COVID lockdown. "I wasn't sure if we were going to pull through," said Barrett, whose op-ed about the threat to small local businesses was published in the Chicago Tribune. Thanks to a PPP loan, a successful GoFundMe campaign, and robust online ordering by her customers on the store's website, the store did pull through, and was able to re-open for walk-in business in July. Then the store experienced the best holiday season in its history. By contrast, the Barnes & Noble store permanently closed its nearby location. "Our community stepped up to save us," Barrett said. "We did a lot of messaging to say that if you value the presence of a business in your community, you need to vote for its survival with your spending dollars. And it worked." Barrett's new space at 1716 Sherman will now become Bookends & Beginnings' gift and stationery boutique, featuring literary-themed gift items, cards and stationery, and a selection of locally-focused books. "There's a cynical belief out there that indie bookstores are doomed because they don'tand can'toffer the same kinds of discounts as their monster-sized competitors," Barrett said. "But luckily there are increasing numbers of consumers who realize that the value they get by paying full cover price for a book includes a lot of things they can't get from an impersonal chain store or from Amazon." In its six years of operation, Bookends & Beginnings has become a neighborhood hub. The store's broad and eclectic selection, along with its author events (now conducted virtually), and dedicated staff, have earned it comparisons to industry legends such as City Lights and Powell's. The obvious reverse parallel to You've Got Mail is not lost on Barrett, whose original store is literally around the corner from the former B&N. "We're still doing what the fictional owner of The Shop Around the Corner was doing so beautifully in that movie 22 years ago," Barrett said. "Reading stories to kids. Launching local authors' books. Handing our customers books we know they'll love, because we know both the books and the customers." Bookends & Beginnings 1712 Sherman Avenue, Alley #1 Evanston, IL 60201 Contact: Nina Barrett, [email protected] (224) 999-7722 SOURCE Bookends & Beginnings Nationwide restrictions in Ireland look set to continue well into February, according to various reports in media yesterday. Cabinet is set to announce next week that Level 5 restrictions will continue beyond the original end-January date as the number of daily cases continues to remain high. Although the daily incidence of cases has fallen sharply from the peak of over 1300 per million, the latest data still puts the daily cases over the past seven days at 583 per million. This compares to an EU average of c.300 per million people. Goodbody Stockbrokers say it should not come as a major surprise that restrictions will continue. This will likely include the ongoing closure of schools and construction sites. February 22nd, post the school midterm break is a realistic timeline for opening these. The more contentious debate will be when the wider economy will be allowed to reopen. The Irish Times reports that it may be late May or early June by the time that hospitality will be allowed to reopen. A key factor in this decision will be how quickly the vaccine can be rolled out. Up to 17 January, just 2% of the population had received a vaccine dose, but the pace of a vaccination has picked up after a slow start. Indeed, daily vaccinations in Ireland are at the joint fastest pace in the EU in the latest data. According to Goodbody Stockbrokers, "The over 65s represent the greatest risk in this pandemic and account for 15% of the Irish population. It is reasonable to think that this group will be fully vaccinated by early April, but that depends on adequate supply. The administration of the doses is in domestic policymakers control. The supply of those doses is not. The debate about how to balance health and economic risks will emerge again, but not until a critical mass of the vulnerable portion of the population is vaccinated." Source: www.businessworld.ie 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. Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 Let us know what you're seeing and hearing around the community. Submit here In yet another jolt for the dispensation, ahead of the assembly polls, forest minister Rajib Banerjee on Friday quit the cabinet. Banerjee, in a letter to the chief minister, said he was tendering his resignation as a cabinet minister, but did not cite any reason. "It has been a great honour and privilege to serve the people of I heartily convey my gratitude for getting this opportunity," he said in the letter. The Domjur MLA, who had been airing his grievances against a section of ruling party leaders over the past few weeks, joins the string of leaders and legislators who recently quit the camp. Most of them, including his former cabinet colleague Suvendu Adhikari, have switched over to the BJP. Banerjee also said that a copy of the resignation letter has been forwarded to Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar for "necessary action". A former Massachusetts prosecutor and defense attorney with a 25-year history of sexual misconduct allegations has been arrested by Boston police and charged with raping a woman last week. Investigators said Gary Zerola once named one of People magazines most eligible bachelors had been wanted on a warrant issued out of Boston Municipal Court for rape and breaking and entering in the nighttime. The 49-year-old Zerola appeared on Thursday in Boston Municipal Court for a dangerousness hearing before Judge Thomas Horgan, who ordered him held without bail. Scroll down for video Gary Zerola, 49 (left and right), a Massachusetts attorney and former prosecutor, has been charged with raping a woman on January 11 Zerola appeared at a dangerousness hearing on Thursday and was ordered held without bail after prosecutors argued that he is a danger to society Prosecutors argued that Zerola is a danger to the community because he has faced a slew of rape allegations since 1996 and had been out on bail for a separate rape allegation when the most recent attack allegedly occurred. 'These allegations are deeply troubling. Whats worse, the offense for which Mr. Zerola was arraigned today is alleged to have occurred while he was out on bail in a prior sexual assault case,' Suffolk County District Attorney Rachael Rollins said in a statement.' At the time of the incident, Zerola was out on $10,000 bail stemming from a 2016 sexual assault case (pictured in his mugshot at the time) In the wake of Zerola's arrest in connection to the latest case, prosecutors said that two women have come forward to accuse him of raping them in the 1990s. Zerola faces charges in Suffolk Superior Court for the alleged rape of a different woman in 2016, and had posted $10,000 bail in that case. Hes been in custody since he turned himself into authorities last week after a warrant was issued in the latest case. Prosecutors say Zerola met a woman who was intoxicated at a gathering on January 11 and took her back to her apartment, along with a friend. Zerola then returned to the residence without the victims permission later that night, and she awoke to find him sexually assaulting her, according to the prosecutors. At his arraignment last week, Zerola pleaded not guilty to rape and breaking and entering charges. His lawyer described the allegations against him as 'absurd' and 'paper thin.' LAWYER GARY ZEROLA'S HISTORY OF RAPE ALLEGATIONS: Lawyer Gary Zerola is facing new rape charges in Boston Massachusetts defense lawyer and former Suffolk County prosecutor Gary Zerola has a vast history of sexual misconduct allegations dating back to 1996. Two women came forward in recent days, accusing Zerola of raping them in the 1990s, but details of those alleged incidents have not been disclosed. In 2006, Zerola was accused by two 19-year-old women of raping them in separate incidents two years apart. In the first incident that took place in February 2004, the alleged victim testified that Zerola took her to his apartment after a night of drinking at a Boston nightclub, and then raped her on his couch, after telling her, 'I just want to play.' In August 2006, Zerola met another 19-year-old woman and took her on a shopping trip, during which he bought her a $450 Dolce & Gabbana dress and $200 shoes. After an evening of clubbing and snorting cocaine, the pair returned to Zerola's condo, where the woman claimed the lawyer ripped off her dress and tried to force himself on her, but stopped short of rape after seeing blue lights flashing outside. He was indicted in November of that year on charges stemming from the two assaults. While out on bail, Zerola traveled to Miami in October 2007, where he met an 18-year-old college student at a club. The two then headed to a nearby hotel, where Zerola allegedly forced her to take several pills, after which she passed out. When the woman, who was allegedly a virgin when she met Zerola, later came to, she was said to have complained of pain all over her body. Zerola denied having sex with her. In 2008, Zerola was found not guilty of the rape and attempted rape charges stemming from the 2004 and 2006 incidents, and the 2007 case out of Miami was dismissed. In November 2016, Zerola was charged with two counts of rape for allegedly sexually assaulting an acquaintance. That case is still ongoing. Source: Boston Magazine Advertisement Zerola worked as an assistant district attorney in Essex County for one year, and in Suffolk County for two months in 2000. A year later, Zerola made People Magazine's list of America's Top 50 Bachelors in 2001 for his good looks and work in foster care. He also had a real rags to riches story: the youngest of seven children he was put in foster care aged three after his parents' relationship broke down and his mother became ill. Over the next decade, he shuffled between dozens of foster families until he was finally placed with a suburban Boston lawyer and his wife. After his latest arrest, prosecutors said two women have come forward to accuse Zerola of raping them in the 1990s. Zerola, who worked as assistant district attorney in Essex County for a year, was acquitted of rape and attempted rape in 2008 (right) Perhaps inspired by his foster parents, Zerola went to Suffolk University where he studied law and in 2000, he opened his own law practice as a criminal defense attorney. The Boston Globe reported that Zerola was acquitted in 2008 on rape and attempted rape counts in Massachusetts and had a sexual assault case dismissed in Florida involving a woman who accused him of raping her in a Miami hotel and taking her virginity. He is due back in court in connection of the latest case on February 22. Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. Jon Voight tells Sean Feucht: Americas freedom is under attack by an atheist force Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Academy Award-winning actor Jon Voight joined missionary and activist Sean Feucht on National Religious Freedom Day this month to discuss why he believes Americans freedoms are at risk. "I think about freedom as this amazing thing that God created this world and all of us humans and He gave us freedom, Voight said about what National Religious Freedom Day, Jan. 16, means to him. He labeled freedom a very questionable gift from God. If I was advising God, I'd say 'wait a minute.' he joked. It's the greatest gift we have and the freedom of religion is why this country became what it is. Both the actor and Feucht, who is an activist and missionary, labeled the occasion "a big day" in these current times because freedom is being questioned. Feucht has been at the center of several large health mandate-defying Christian gatherings since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. He went on to share with Voight about his many citations. Here in Beverly Hills, in the Los Angeles area is where we received our first-ever citation. [Weve had] actually three citations from Los Angeles County for actually engaging in our freedom, Feucht said. Engaging in our freedom of religion, gathering people to worship gather people to pray outside, by the way. The young minister then asked the 82-year-old star if he thought freedom was eroding throughout the years of his life. Voight responded, Well, certainly there's been an attack. This country has been under attack by an atheist force, which started with the KGB and then it went on to others, but this is an atheist force. The New York native maintained that everything has now come full circle because everything that America stands for is under attack. So we have to stand up, Voight charged and told Feucht, We have to be as bold as you are and carry on and not give in to this, but we also have to know that in this journey, this is what we're meant to do. We can have a lot of fun, and we'll make a lot of great friends along the way. We're fighting for all the Americans out there, a lot of us, were fighting for all you guys, that you have this freedom that you pass it on to your generations ahead. We have to stand, we have to make a stand here, Voight added. Feuchts sitdown with Voight ended with the missionary also calling on people to stand up and fight for their freedom. We got to hold the line, we got to take a stand and that's what we're going to do, we'll have a lot more amazing shows, they're going to be fun, full of joy, but yet all at the same time have some teeth to it, Feucht concluded. In another post earlier in January, Voight, an avid supporter of the 45th president, Donald Trump, also urged Americans to stand up and protect the country from the dark cloud of destruction, regardless of political affiliation. The salaried class might be in luck this year as Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is likely to increase Section 80C limit to Rs 2 lakh. Section 80C was last enhanced by former Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in 2014 when he increased it from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 1.5 lakh. Increasing Section 80C limit is part of multiple wishlists this year. A source in the Income Tax Department told BusinessToday.In that discussions to alter exemptions limits have taken place. The source said that changes to the exemption limits in the personal income tax have been discussed. Tax exemption limit of Rs 1.5 lakh on savings is likely to be reworked. It may go up to Rs 2 lakh, the source said. However, there might be no room to provide further exemptions to the common taxpayer. Multiple associations and experts have opined that the Section 80C limit must be increased. However, most have suggested almost doubling the limit. FICCI is one of the organisations to recommend increasing the limit. It said that the Union Budget should look at doubling the Section 80C limit from Rs 1.5 lakh to Rs 3 lakh. It said that the Centre should start more tax-exempt investment avenues like life insurance and pensions. It said that the government might consider separate exemption limits as it would 'mobilise funds for infrastructural and overall economic development'. Meanwhile, the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) has also suggested increasing Section 80C limit to Rs 2.5 lakh. "The quantum of deduction under section 80C to be increased from Rs 1,50,000 to Rs 2,50,000 to provide savings opportunities to the public at large," ICAI said. The ICAI has also recommended increasing PPF limit from Rs 1.5 lakh to Rs 3 lakh. Enhancement of the limit is believed to boost further investment and increase tax savings for an individual. WHAT IS SECTION 80C? As per the Section 80C, one can claim deduction of Rs 1.5 lakh on the total income. In other words, individual taxpayers can reduce up to Rs 1.5 lakh from the total taxable income amount. Life insurance premium, public provident fund, employees provident fund, equity-linked saving schemes, home loan principal amount, stamp duty and registration charges for property purchase, Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana, National Saving Certificate, senior citizen savings scheme, ULIPs, tax saving FD for 5 years, infrastructure bonds are some of investments under which a taxpayer can avail the exemption. If you have paid excess taxes but invested in LIC, PPF, etc you can claim while filing income tax return and the amount will be refunded. Also read: Budget 2021: India Inc's wishlist Also read: Budget 2021 to be growth supportive; health, R&D spending to get boost: YES Bank report Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-22 10:40:35|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, Jan. 21 (Xinhua) -- China is willing to enhance political mutual trust and deepen mutually beneficial cooperation to promote the healthy and stable development of relations with Ukraine, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Thursday. Wang made the remarks during a phone conversation with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba. China has always been opposed to politicizing the COVID-19 pandemic and vaccine and it appreciates the objective and just position taken by Ukraine's leaders on this issue, adding that China will work to fulfill its commitment to making vaccines a global public good. China is willing to continue to provide assistance to Ukraine within its capacity in fighting COVID-19 and believes Ukraine will overcome the pandemic completely, Wang said. Wang also appreciated Ukraine's adherence to the one-China principle, adding that the Chinese government's policy toward Ukraine remains stable and China respects the development path independently chosen by the Ukrainian people. Kuleba thanked China for its anti-pandemic aid to Ukraine, spoke highly of China's achievements in fighting COVID-19, and voiced belief that China, with its effective measures applied by the government and the sense of responsibility amongits people, has set a good example for the global fight against the pandemic. In addition, Kuleba said Ukraine is looking forward to purchasing COVID-19 vaccines produced by Chinese companies, hoping that the Chinese government will provide necessary convenience. Kuleba stressed that the one-China policy is a fundamental principle that Ukraine adheres to. Noting the year 2021 marks the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the strategic partnership between Ukraine and China, Kuleba called for concerted efforts to push forward bilateral cooperation and enrich their strategic partnership. Enditem (Newser) 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 US and Russian strategic nuclear weapons, the AP reports. The Trump administration made a late bid to extend the treaty, but its conditions were rejected by Russia. US allies, particularly in Europe, are sure to applaud Biden's proposal, which also provides an early signal of his intent to pursue arms control. Psaki noted that a five-year extension is permitted by the treaty, saying it "makes even more sense when the relationship with Russia is adversarial as it is at this time." story continues below 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 poisoning of opposition figure Alexei Navalny, and the widely reported allegations that Russia may have offered bounties to the Taliban to kill US soldiers in Afghanistan. The Pentagon's chief spokesman, John Kirby, said allowing the treaty to lapse would weaken US understanding of Russia's nuclear forces. "Extending the treaty's 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. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg earlier Thursday called on the two nations to extend the treaty and later broaden it. 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. (The US pulled out of another treaty with Russia last year.) CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The teachers union presidents for Ohios eight urban school districts released a joint statement on Thursday condemning the state linking vaccination of school staff with resuming in-person schooling by March 1. The statement includes signatures from the presidents of the Akron, Cincinnati, Canton, Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton, Toledo and Youngstown unions. DeWine previously announced that 96% of public school districts had superintendents sign forms announcing the intention to bring students back to buildings in a fully in-person or hybrid format by March 1, with vaccination of school staff beginning Feb. 1. DeWine has called the decision to prioritize school staff in the second phase of vaccination a policy decision to get students back in buildings. The timeline on when school staff would actually receive both the first and second doses of the vaccine is shaky, and could depend on supply and how quickly the vaccines would be administered. We are disappointed that Governor DeWine has decided to use the distribution of a life-saving vaccine as a bargaining chip, holding this precious commodity hostage while pitting parents, administrators, teachers, other school workers, and students against each other, the statement reads. While we expect there will be no consequences for schools that fail to meet this commitment, that doesnt mean the Governor isnt harming communities with this action. The statement goes on to point out unrealistic expectations set by this timeline which could push schools to reopen before it is safe and proper social distancing procedures are in place. Schools should be allowed to reopen based on a set of public health criteria, which could include vaccination of staff and teachers, the statement suggests. About 42% of students are on a five-day in-person plan, DeWine said during a Thursday coronavirus briefing. Governor DeWine wants schools to return to in-person learning so that our kids can have the many benefits of in-person instruction, spokeswoman Lisa Peterson wrote in an email. " In order to most efficiently use the limited vaccine available, the Governor made the decision to offer the vaccine to the adults who work in schools whose districts have indicated that they will go back to in-person learning. The decision to go back is up to the districts. At this time that is the most efficient use of the limited vaccine offering it to the adults in those districts where there will be in-person instruction. The deadline for submitting these forms was on Monday, Jan. 18. All of the school districts listed on the release, except for Toledo Public Schools, signed forms and submitted them to the state by the deadline, according to a list from the Ohio Department of Health. Toledo Public Schools spokeswoman Patty Mazur wrote in an email Friday that the district has submitted a letter to DeWines office confirming plans, and is working directly with the county health department and local health providers to administer vaccines. Toledo Federation of Teachers union head Kevin Dalton said the district announced plans to bring back students to hybrid learning starting Feb. 22, but did not seek input from the union on that return date. Instead, members were given a heads up before it was released. All students are set to be back to buildings by March 1, in a split group schedule, according to the districts website. The union has also not received a straight answer on whether the governors timeline influenced the decision to begin hybrid schooling, but Dalton said educational staff are looking to get back to the classroom -- when it is safe. That includes vaccination and testing plans, as well as benchmarks for coronavirus risk coming down. Theres nobody who wants to return to school more than our members, he said. Akron City Schools released a timeline for vaccination and distribution, but in the draft timeline listed the return to in-person schooling as between March 1 and March 22. Cleveland schools CEO Eric Gordon recommended students stay remote until at least Feb. 26, but did not announce plans to return to buildings. The district was planning to bring back students during the fall semester but changed course when coronavirus cases spiked. Gordon wrote in a letter to the community that the district will begin to communicate about hybrid options to parents to prepare for when it is safe to make this transition. While Governor DeWine had originally hoped that vaccines would begin to be available for school district employees (Jan. 15), it appears more likely that these vaccines will not be widely available until late February, Gordon wrote. The delay in vaccine availability, combined with the three-to-four-week period between the two required vaccination doses, means it is unlikely our CMSD employees will have received the full dose of vaccines until sometime in March. This story has been updated to include information from Toledo Public Schools. Full list of districts with forms in: Page Content The COVID-19 pandemic has raised issues among Canadian businesses about work travel, employment law experts say, forcing companies to re-evaluate their travel policies. Many Canadian employers are looking at ways to keep employees off the road unless the trips are for essential reasons, explained Cissy Pau, principal consultant at Clear HR Consulting in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. "The world has shut down since March 2020," she said. "Many people don't want to travel for business right now because of health and safety issues." While travel for work is permitted in Canada, travelers must follow health and safety precautions, said Amy Frankel, an attorney with Forte Law in Surrey, British Columbia. "Masks are required at airports, on public transportation, and in taxis or ridesharing vehicles," Frankel noted. "Public health authorities have stated employers must make every effort to provide work-from-home options, and workplaces must ensure all workers maintain appropriate physical distance. Taken together, these current rules seem to suggest that employers should restrict unnecessary work travel whenever and wherever possible." Canada has some of the strongest restrictions in the world against inbound and outbound travel. The Public Health Agency of Canada has advised Canadians to avoid all nonessential travel outside of the country until further notice. If travel into Canada is essential, all passengers 5 years and older are required to test negative for COVID-19 before traveling by air. Passengers must present documentation of a negative COVID-19 test result to the airline before boarding. Even if a traveler has proof of having the COVID-19 vaccine, this documentation will not replace a negative test result. Travelers still need to provide their mandatory 14-day quarantine plan on or before entry to Canada, the Canadian government added. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Jan. 5 that travelers not following the 14-day quarantine rule post-travel could face consequences, including fines or prison time, according to Travelweek. Working Safely in British Columbia Canadian employers have a duty to protect the health and safety of their workers, experts say. The Workers' Compensation Board of British Columbia, or WorkSafeBC, has insisted employers must take necessary precautions to minimize the risk of COVID-19 in the workplace. All employers in British Columbia are required to have a COVID-19 safety plan in place, Frankel stated. Workers in British Columbia have the right to refuse work if they believe it presents an undue hazard, she said, meaning when a "worker's job role places them at increased exposure, and adequate controls are not in place to protect them from that exposure." If an employer is following all WorkSafeBC guidelines and public health orders, it is unlikely a worker could refuse to work, Frankel added. WorkSafeBC has encouraged flexibility around working from home during the pandemic, noted Brandon Hillis, an attorney with Roper Greyell in Vancouver. Company Culture During COVID-19 Work travel is not business as usual during the pandemic, Frankel said. "Employers have dramatically cut back work travel and are using technology such as Zoom or Microsoft Teams to hold virtual meetings, interviews, presentations, conferences and sales calls." Many employers are finding that technology usage to replace work travel has reduced costs, saved time and increased efficiencyparticularly as the pandemic has accelerated the acceptance of virtual technology rather than in-person meetings, according to Frankel. Onsite visits and inspections often are now conducted with an individual using a handheld camera to transmit images to a remote inspector, she noted. Canada's Second Wave Both employers and employees should rethink their travel obligations, especially during Canada's second wave of COVID-19, Hillis added. According to Canadian news magazine Maclean's, Ontario and Quebec are back in lockdown as of January 2021, while restrictions are in place in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba and Saskatchewan. Business travelers paying attention to public health orders in different provinces may opt to reject work travel within the country. "The level of anxiety is high during Canada's second wave," Pau said. "Employers need to delve into why employees are concerned about travel and focus on mental health issues resulting from lockdowns and restrictions." Employers should treat refusals as serious and deserving of inquiry, Hillis said. Employers are "open to liability if they reject the refusals. They should go above and beyond in keeping the lines of communication open with employees." If an employee rejects work and travel during the pandemic, human resources should identify the employee's specific concerns, Frankel said. HR, in tandem with the employer, should then work with the employee to make mutually acceptable arrangements. Catherine Skrzypinski is a freelance writer based in Vancouver, British Columbia. A man died early Friday morning after he was ejected from his truck during a single vehicle accident on the far East Side, San Antonio police said. Police believe the man may have failed to navigate a turn while driving his Chevrolet Silverado in the 10000 block of Weichold Road at around 12:30 a.m. A Texas state representative has called for the arrest of Midlander Jenny Cudd following a viral Facebook live video in which she said she was among the rioters who stormed the U.S. Capitol Wednesday. You should be arrested and prosecuted, Ms. Cudd, Rep. Jeff Leach posted on Twitter Thursday night. And Im confident you will be. Leach, a Republican from Plano, has been the state representative for District 67 since 2013. In his post, he linked to an excerpt from Cudds video that has received more than 5 million views on Twitter. We did break down Nancy Pelosis door and somebody stole her gavel, Cudd says in the video. Leach joins a growing list of notable persons calling for Cudds arrest, including actors Jane Lynch and Patton Oswalt, author Don Winslow and former Congressional candidate from Florida Dr. Dena Grayson. Lynch retweeted Cudds video and said, Arrest the dope. Winslow also shared Cudds video and tagged the FBI before writing, What else do you need to make an arrest? When asked if U.S. Rep. August Pfluger, whose district encompasses Midland and Odessa, would call for Cudds arrest, a spokeswoman said, Congressman Pfluger has said repeatedly that anyone who broke the law should be prosecuted. Cudd denied doing anything unlawful during Wednesdays riots in an interview with the Reporter-Telegram on Thursday. She said Antifa broke through the Capitols barriers and assaulted police officers before she arrived. She said she then walked into the Capitol with a large group and took pictures inside the rotunda for about 15 minutes before leaving. Cudd denied going onto the House or Senate floors or into any lawmakers' offices. The latest round of Normandy advisers' talks was hosted by Berlin on January 12. A video conference of political advisers to the Normandy Four leaders, which was scheduled for today, January 22, has been rescheduled tentatively for January 27. "The meeting has been postponed, tentatively for January 27," Daria Zarivnaya, press secretary of Head of the President's Office Andriy Yermak, told UNIAN. Read also Kravchuk invites OSCE to develop single document of proposals for Donbas settlement Normandy Four advisers' meeting 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. The Ukrainian side focused on security issues, including on strengthening the respective component of the agreements. The sides addressed all the issues on the agenda from security to humanitarian ones. It is noted that the discussion was not an easy one, albeit constructive. As a result, all sides noted the importance of observing the ceasefire in Donbas. A break in the negotiations was originally announced until Friday, January 22. Reporting by UNIAN (Photo : Screenshot From Pxhere Official Website) Government Given Laptops Found to Have Russian-Linked Viruses Schools all around the UK have recently found out that the laptops that were given by the government actually arrived with certain viruses on them. These viruses were linked to servers over in Russia which then raised concerns that the hackers could in fact steal students' vulnerable data. Russian hackers According to the story by Telegraph, Employees over at the Bradford school had received a number of laptops aimed to help vulnerable students be able to study at home. An online forum then suggested that these machines actually contain malware that was installed by hackers. The Department for Education or DfE had confirmed this incident and even wrote that the virus was spotted on a small number of those laptops that the government provided to the schools. A spokesperson said that in all of the known cases, the discovered malware was detected then removed at the point that the schools had turned on these devices. Infected school laptops Schools are now facing extra working days deleting the said software on these laptops in order for them to make sure that they are safe before the units are then sent out to the students according to a source. They then added that around 10% of the total laptops that they had received had contained the virus. There were certain concerns that some of those computers were provided to the students even without proper checks. However, it's also thought that a particular number of the schools who had received the infected devices was just in the single figures and that the use of an in-built anti-virus software should be enough to block the malware from later on operating when those laptops were then turned on, according to the report of Metro.co.uk. Read Also: Nitro PDF Data Breach: 77 Million Sensitive Infos Including Names, Passwords, IP Addresses, and More Leaked Online Schools now struggling to remove malware The Bradford Council had contacted schools on Wednesday to give them warnings regarding the problem. They wrote that the network worm actually looks like it is in contact with Russian servers when it becomes active. A certain council employee then told schools to move quickly and treat the problem as a certain matter of urgency and to also check their networks for any given evidence pointing that they had been hacked. A school IT employee coming from Wolverhampton said in an online forum that although bad news is not what the schools need at the moment, they have just fired up a bunch of these announcements to prep the schools and a number of them have already alerted that a certain worm has been found. An employee coming from the Lincolnshire school also wrote that they were able to detect viruses on the laptops that they had received from the Government. The infected laptops were said to contain a certain variant of the known Gamarue virus that Microsoft gave a warning about. It was said that this virus can give a particularly malicious hacker immense control of the users' PC. This could then give the hackers access towards files as well as the computer's own web browser. However, the virus has not really been found to be able to gain access towards webcams or microphones. Related Article: Over 400GB of 214 Million Social Media Users Have Been Exposed by 'Misconfiguration' from Chinese Company SocialArks This article is owned by Tech Times Written by Urian Buenconsejo 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Robert Kocharyan on years of his leadership in Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia Situation on Armenian-Azerbaijani border is still tense, more on COVID-19 in Armenia, May 28 digest "Armenia" alliance of political parties paying tribute to founder of First Republic Aram Manukyan (LIVE) Yerevan.today: Armenia acting PM not greeted at ruling party's headquarters, citizens call him 'capitulator' Russia MOD reports on maintenance of ceasefire regime in Nagorno-Karabakh Armenia acting MOD meets with Russian counterpart in Moscow Armenia 2nd President: I see possibility of restoring borders of Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast We can provide our army with some key, modernized weapons, says Armenia ex-President Kocharyan Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: Captives issue is not one that any opposition force can resolve OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs release statement on detention of 6 Armenian servicemen by Azerbaijan Armenian acting Deputy PM: Discussion on issues possible only after withdrawal of Azeri troops from Armenia's territory Armenia acting PM on Syunik roads, Russian military posts: This is only place where there are working nuances Armenia acting PM: Process of return of POWs will intensify after upcoming elections Putin congratulates Aliyev on Republic Day 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 Mumbai, Jan 22 : The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday carried out searches at five locations here, including the premises of Mehul Thakur in connection with its money laundering probe into the PMC Bank scam case, sources said. According to ED sources related to the probe, the financial probe agency started the searches on Friday morning at three locations linked to Thakur and two places linked to chartered accountants. Thakur is the owner and director of Viva Homes -- a part of the Viva group of companies. The ED officials, however, remained tight-lipped about sharing any further details. An ED source said that the agency had got some links that amounts in crores of Rupees were transferred from the HDIL to the Viva group trust and companies, which is controlled by the family members of Thakur. Earlier this month, the ED had questioned Shiv Sena Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Raut's wife Varsha Raut in connection with the case. LAist only exists with reader support. If you're in a position to give, your donation powers our reporters and keeps us independent. Our reporting is free for everyone, but its not free to make. Start your day with LAist Sign up for the Morning Brief, delivered weekdays. Subscribe As Joe Biden and Kamala Harris were placing their hands on bibles, waving to supporters and taking in a Katy Perry-plus-fireworks duet, we spoke with Angelenos about turning the page from the Trump era and their hopes for the new administration. "It came to a point to where, every time my phone would vibrate -- it's almost like conditioning: Oh Lord, what has Trump done now?" said Corey Matthews, Chief Operating Officer of Community Coalition in South L.A. Reflecting on the end of the Trump presidency, Matthews said Black and Brown communities in L.A. experienced collective trauma over the past four years -- from the effects of racist rhetoric, punitive immigration policies, and the fear brought on by a scattershot COVID-19 strategy and the accompanying economic uncertainty. "I think I was able to finally breathe today," Matthews said." And I hadn't realized how much I had been holding my breath." On social media, many LAist readers echoed this sense of relief. A new beginning to a nightmare weve been living as minorities for the past 4 years d. (@dvisybgvb) January 20, 2021 Hope! I feel so hopeful looking at the crowd at the Inauguration and seeing a diverse group of people sitting in those seats again. Im hopeful we are going to see change coming from people who will be open minded to other cultures and care about others Ashley (@ashley_milena) January 20, 2021 It means everything to me! I can breathe, hope & believe in our Democratic Republic again. https://t.co/AmKoT83zHu Christine Blaauw (@PiperBlue21) January 20, 2021 But the sunny optimism beaming through television and computer screens from Washington, D.C. was tempered by realistic expectations from community organizers in Los Angeles. "[Trump's] presidency only deepened America's social ills -- what we were already experiencing," said Umar Hakim Dey, board chair of L.A. Voice. Dey cautioned that the Biden Administration won't be able to fulfill its promises overnight. But he said he was hopeful about seeing policy changes at the federal level focused on police reform, economic stability and homelessness solutions. "As a Black man in this country, I've been waiting on a lot of promises that've been made since about 1865," Dey said. "But we as organizers can help keep the Biden administration accountable by presenting our vision of empowering and investing in the community at the local level." BROKEN PROMISES ON IMMIGRATION REFORM L.A.'s immigrant communities have been waiting for much longer than four years for vital immigration reforms. "Trump was more visible in his mistreatment of immigrants -- building walls, taking children away from their parents. But Obama did many of the same things, on a larger scale than Trump," said Magybet Mendez, a DACA recipient and founder of the L.A.-based non-profit, Immigo. "Many people think that just because Trump is out of office, this will automatically end, but it doesn't work that way." LAist reader Irving Grey Angeles sent us an email and shared similar concerns, saying the inauguration was "bittersweet" because his family has been let down by broken immigration reform promises since the beginning of the Obama Administration. He wrote, in part: I'm afraid [Biden's] only likable trait is that "he is not Trump," which is such a low bar. Just last week, I was buying from street vendors on Whittier Blvd in East L.A., when the city's health department showed up and confiscated many street vendors' food and work supplies. I know these vendors are mostly all undocumented with few resources at their disposal. It was heartbreaking seeing that happen, but it's something I've unfortunately grown accustomed to. It's even more disturbing because L.A. is supposedly a liberal city that is friendly to immigrants. When will their voices be heard? This is the reality for so many undocumented people in Los Angeles and in this country at large. Democrats or Republicans in the White House, I don't see significant differences. When challenged on the campaign trail, Biden said deporting hundreds of thousands of people without criminal records during the Obama Administration was "a big mistake." His proposed immigration reform package would create a pathway to citizenship for some of the 11 million people in the country without legal status, and offer Dreamers and Temporary Protected Status recipients the opportunity to apply for green cards right away -- but the legislation is far from a sure bet in a closely divided congress. "I do expect some form of relief. And it's long overdue," Mendez said. She added she's optimistic about the ascendency of the first person of color to the office of the Vice President, who is also the child of immigrants. "I'm hopeful that she will shed more light on the fact that immigrant women are particularly vulnerable in our society," Mendez said. Many organizers who spoke to LAist shared a commitment to holding the new administration to its campaign promises. "It's not just up to Biden," Dey said. "We're all presidents and vice presidents of our own lives and our homes and our community." Hyderabad: With changes imminent in the political scenarios of the state across political parties, an interesting thing emerges from the three main political parties in Telangana: it is inevitably time for the generation next to lead their respective parties for the battle royale. If the Telangana Rashtra Samithi supremo K. Chandrasekhar Rao does indeed anoint son and minister K.T. Rama Rao as the next Chief Minister in the state, a young KTR will lead his party to fight the 2023 assembly elections in the state. He is already in control of the party as its working president and did lead the charge for the ruling pink party in the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation elections in both 2015 and 2020. While the former was a highlight and a highpoint of his career so far, the latter must have given him a good sense of the kind of fight to expect from the opposition, in particular from the BJP. The dominant national party, the Bharatiya Jana Party has appointed an aggressive young leader and a fighter, Karimanagar MP Bandi Sanjay Kumar as president of its state unit. This has shown immediate results and a successful narrative has been set that the BJP has replaced the Congress in the state as the principal opposition to the ruling TRS. The BJP has further consolidated a perception that there is a strong anti-incumbency against the TRS, in particular against the Kalvakuntla family and the saffron party, as the unifying fulcrum of such anti-TRS force will form the next government in Telangana. In particular, after Mr Sanjay took over the mantle of leadership of his dormant if nor moribund party, and surprised everyone by leading it to a victory in the Dubbaka Assembly by-poll. It also delivered a stunning performance and became the second largest party in the GHMC, and pushed the TRS into a corner over formally creating an alliance to get a mayor by denying it the simple majority in the municipal council. The BJPs top leadership was highly impressed by the turnaround in the partys fortunes in the state led by Bandis aggressive attacks on the TRS government. The party central leadership has backed him strongly since, including putting up a rooster of top notch speakers for the GHMC campaign. It is, therefore, moot to even discuss under whose leadership the BJP will fight the next state polls, in which they hope to dismantle the TRS. Incidentally, the MIM has been led by a youthful leader for a long time, Asaduddin Owaisi, who has emerged as a national leader, especially since 2014, where he is increasingly being seen as someone who has expanded his party and increasingly become the most important voice and representative of Muslims across the country. The final piece on the board is the fledging and shrinking national party and the instrumental force in creation of separate Telangana the Congress. The principal opposition party in the state when last Assembly poll results came out, the Congress party is still vacillating on the next leader, who will likely replace incumbent Uttam Kumar Reddy. However, after several rounds of consultation under high public glare, it looks like the two most enthusiastic aspirants and Lok Sabha MPs A. Revanth Reddy and Komatireddy Venkat Reddy have been ruled out as PCC presidents by the high command. In the process, the general secretary in-charge Manickam Tagore was reportedly admonished by party president Sonia Gandhi for bungling the exercise and for not having been above board and strictly neutral in the process. He was purportedly seen as biased and favouring Revanth Reddy, for which he was given an earful by the supremo. With the ruling out also of several other leaders, old and young, from from Mallu Vikarmarka Bhatti to Ponnam Prabhakar to Sridhar Babu, the race is now largely limited to two seniors without ruling out a dark horse MLC Jeevan Reddy and Marri Shashidhar Reddy. Between the two, while the former has age and health working against him, besides the fact that he was formerly in TDP, where Shashidhar Reddy, with a clean image, strong intellectual prowess and strategic sense, has an edge. Either way, whoever the leader, the new PCC president will complete the local quad along with KTR, Bandi Sanjay and Owaisi as the other three. With new leaders at the helm, a more aggressive brand of politics will play out, with greater stakes. A generational change in surely underway. KCR belonged to a different league, being more contemporary with the likes of N. Chandrababu Naidu and late Y.S. Rajashekhara Reddy. As of today, K.T. Rama Rao has crossed 44 years of age while Bandi Sanjay is 49 years. Asaduddin Owaisi is 51 years, his younger brother and leader of MIM in state Assembly Akbaruddin Owaisi is just a year younger. Had MPs Revanth Reddy or Komatireddy been in the race, they would have been in the pack at 51 and 56 years respectively, but current favourite Jeevan Reddy and Shashidhar Reddy are in their sixties. But once Indian National Congress appoints Rahul Gandhi as president of as is expected, he will, at 51, make it a fight to remember of generation next of politics. Indonesia has been chosen by ASEAN members to lead the ASEAN Travel Corridor Arrangement Task Force (ATCAF) to discuss with stakeholders on an ASEAN Travel Corridor Arrangement Framework and its operation procedures. Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi (Source: VNA) Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi said on January 21 that the decision was made at the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Retreat (AMM Retreat) which was held as an online meeting on the same day. The task force is expected to complete the work in the first quarter of 2021, Retno said. The establishment of a travel corridor among Southeast Asian countries was firstly proposed by Indonesia at the 36th ASEAN Summit in June 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, which has devastated the regional economy. This initiative will create favorable conditions for important economic and business actors, and thus it is expected to revive regional economic activities without neglecting health aspect. The initiative was welcomed by all ASEAN member countries and supported by ASEAN Secretary-General Dato Lim Jock Hoi. Lim evaluated the travel corridor as one of the efforts to ensure that the Southeast Asian market remains open during the pandemic, which is a key factor to accelerate the economic recovery in ASEAN member countries. In addition to agreeing on travel corridor arrangements, ASEAN has received nearly 13.6 million USD from the reallocation of cooperation funds from ASEAN and its partner countries committed to contribute to the blocs COVID-19 response fund. The money will be used to fund the blocs efforts to cope with the pandemic./.VNA A hilltop village 110 km north of Rome has been proposed officially for UNESCO honour. Civita di Bagnoregio, a clifftop village surging out of a valley in Italy's central Lazio region, has been proposed for World Heritage Status by the Italian UNESCO commission. If successful, the "Cultural Landscape of Civita di Bagnoregio" could enter the prestigious UNESCO list in 2022, in a proposal backed by Civita and the Lazio region with the support of Italy's culture ministry. Hailing it as the "first, important step" towards UNESCO recognition, culture minister Dario Franceschini described Civita as "a cultural landscape of enormous value and beauty." Civita is also known as the 'Castle in the Sky' Accessible only by a steep footbrige across the Calanchi valley, the tiny mediaeval hamlet is perched on exceptionally unsound foundations, with erosion slowly reducing its size and leading to it being known as the 'citta che muore' or the "dying town." Over the years the Lazio region has spent millions in shoring up the shaky foundations of the village which is about 1,200 years old but whose origins date back to the sixth century BC and the Etruscans. Civita di Bagnoregio surges out of the Calanchi valley Civita has a population of only about a dozen people but, in normal times, is visited by hundreds of thousands of tourists keen to see the "castle in the sky" that continues to inspire artists, writers and filmmakers today. Irelands Priorities for the UN Security Council, 2021-2022 Speech Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to thank the Institute of International and European Affairs for inviting me to speak to you today. It is always a pleasure to participate in IIEA events, even virtually. Let me start by noting that today marks the entry into force of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. This is the first time nuclear weapons have been expressly prohibited in an international treaty. Ireland has a long tradition of support for nuclear disarmament, and we played a key role in bringing this Treaty about. I hope it will help to increase pressure for progress towards the goal of a world free of nuclear weapons. As you know, we took up our seat on the Security Council just over three weeks ago. As I told the members of the Council last week, Ireland takes the responsibility entrusted to us very seriously. Over the next two years, we want to play a constructive and thoughtful role on the Security Council, and to support its vital work of promoting international peace and security. This is in keeping with our values and with our interests. As a small country, Ireland depends on the international rules-based order and the multilateral system for its very existence. The United Nations sits at the heart of that system, and at the centre of Irish foreign policy. We join the Council at a complex moment in international affairs. The threefold increase in the Councils workload, compared to when we last served twenty years ago, testifies to a sad reality. Conflicts and their devastating impact hunger, human rights abuses, the proliferation of weapons and the spread of instability - have increased. Many of the conflicts which we dealt with as members of the Council 20 years ago remain on the Council agenda today. We face an uncertain global landscape, marked by tensions and regional rivalries; the unravelling of international arms control regimes; the threat posed by terrorist organisations and other non-state actors, and the global challenge of climate change, increasingly seen as a multiplier of conflict and instability. These challenges have been compounded by the Coronavirus pandemic, and by an increasing skepticism in some quarters about the value of multilateralism. We, however, believe that the UN remains indispensable. We ran for election to the Security Council because we want it to succeed. We now have an opportunity to help push back against this tide, and make a concrete contribution to the work of the UN at the highest level. What we heard in President Bidens inaugural address on Wednesday is a welcome change of tone and direction from the United States. His decisions to rejoin the Paris Climate Accord and to halt the US departure from the WHO in the first hours of his Presidency is enormously significant. His intention to seek a five-year extension to the New START Treaty with the Russian Federation, a treaty that is crucial for international and European security, is also a very welcome development. I hope we will also see an early review of the US decisions to stop funding to UNRWA and to the UNFPA. There is clearly a wide range of issues that we now have an opportunity to work on closely with the US, as like-minded partners on the Security Council. I look forward to engaging soon with Anthony Blinken and Jake Sullivan and their teams in the State Department and in the NSC to discuss how we can cooperate. Ladies and gentlemen, The Government have set out our priorities for our time on the Council. We went to help build peace, including through improving UN peacekeeping. We want to strengthen conflict prevention, by investing in early warning and addressing factors that lead to conflict. We also want to ensure accountability; grave breaches of international humanitarian and human rights law should be called to account. These broad principles will guide how we approach our work on the Council. In a number of areas, we will make a particular contribution, as chair of subsidiary bodies or as penholder on specific files. We will work as Facilitator for UN Security Council Resolution 2231, on the Iran Nuclear Agreement, the JCPOA, and we will work with Norway as co-penholder on the challenging Syria humanitarian file. We will serve as chair of the Somalia Sanctions Committee, and work with Niger to support conflict prevention and peacebuilding as a penholder for the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS). We will work to promote inclusive peace, as co-chair of the Informal Expert Group on Women, Peace and Security agenda, together with Mexico. And we will be addressing one of the key drivers of conflict, as co-chair with Niger of a new Informal Expert Group on Climate and Security. I want to focus today on some of the most pressing challenges facing the Council. The first of these is Syria. Earlier this week, the Council held its first discussion this year on the political and humanitarian situation in Syria. As we approach the tenth anniversary of this brutal war, the Syrian people continue to endure unimaginable levels of suffering. Over 11 million people in Syria depend on humanitarian aid. The situation is particularly acute in the North West of the country. Our primary concern is the humanitarian crisis and alleviating that suffering. We will be working closely with Norway, as co-penholder on the Syria humanitarian file, to ensure that vital aid reaches all of those in need. We will also support efforts to achieve a lasting solution to the conflict in Syria. The only way to secure this is through the framework established under Security Council Resolution 2254. I hope to see progress in the meetings of the UN facilitated Constitutional Committee in Geneva next week. We will continue to urge accountability for all incidents of chemical weapons use. I will urge the Syrian authorities to act immediately to meet its legal obligations under the Chemical Weapons Convention, cooperate with the OPCW, allow access, and destroy all of its chemical weapons. Equally pressing is the question of the Iran nuclear agreement, the JCPOA. The potential for Iran to develop nuclear weapons is one of the greatest risks to regional and international peace and security. The JCPOA was a major diplomatic achievement and is an important contribution to stability in the Middle East. It remains the best way to manage the threat of nuclear proliferation. We are all aware of the enormous challenge in keeping the JCPOA alive. I am deeply concerned by Irans actions breaching the agreement, particularly the decision to enrich uranium up to 20% and begin R&D activity into uranium metal. Earlier this week, I spoke to Iranian Foreign Minister Zarif to discuss this and urged Iran to return to full compliance. I am encouraged by the new US administrations commitment re-engage with the agreement. We need collectively to create the conditions and the sequencing that will allow for the full implementation of the JCPOA. As Security Council Facilitator for the implementation of Resolution 2231 on the JCPOA, Ireland will be making an active contribution; a contribution that is very much in keeping with our long-standing commitment to disarmament and non-proliferation. Another issue where I see prospects for progress is on the crisis in Libya. We have seen some positive progress in recent months with a permanent ceasefire announced in October and a decision earlier this week by the Libyan Political Dialogue Forum to move forward on selecting the interim executive authority. This is an essential first step for national elections by the end of 2021. The Security Council must provide every possible support to the political dialogue process now underway. Much difficult work also remains to implement the ceasefire agreement, and the international community will have an important role in monitoring that ceasefire. I welcome the appointment earlier this week of Jan Kubis as the new UN Special Envoy for Libya. The EU is also making a tangible contribution to this process, both through our sanctions regime, targeted at spoilers of the peace process, and through Operation IRINI, which is helping to implement the UN Arms Embargo on Libya and in which a number of Irish Defence Forces personnel are serving. One issue on which the Council cannot afford to wait is Yemen, where six years of devastating conflict have created the worlds worst humanitarian crisis. Last week, UN Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs Mark Lowcock warned that 5 million Yemenis are at imminent risk of famine. We urgently need to bring an end to this devastating conflict and ensure humanitarian access. The recent formation of a Yemeni government, and its return to Yemen, are welcome steps. I condemn in the strongest terms the attack on the government at the airport in Aden. Were also deeply concerned by the potential implications of the US decision to designate the Houthis as a terrorist organization, particularly the risk of further deepening the humanitarian crisis. I hope to see an early review of the decision by the new US Administration. One of the longest-running conflicts before the Council is the Middle East Peace Process. I have personally been very engaged on this issue and it will remain a priority. Next Tuesday, I will participate in a Security Council Open Debate on the Situation in the Middle East. There is no question but that this is enormously challenging. We will promote all efforts towards a negotiated two-state solution on the basis of international law and the internationally agreed parameters, which have been endorsed in multiple Security Council resolutions. Adherence to these resolutions is critical, not just in respect of accountability, but to help to rebuild the trust and confidence needed to ultimately restart negotiations. I welcome Secretary-General Guterress recent appointment of Tor Wennesland as his new Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process. I look forward to working with him and hope that the period ahead will see a reinvigoration of the Middle East Quartet to help achieve progress. I have made clear that Ireland is ready to support the process in any way that is helpful. The Security Council frequently addresses situations in Africa, but all too often African voices are not heard in those discussions. We are working closely with our African partners on the Security Council: Kenya, Niger and Tunisia. One area of priority will be to promote closer cooperation between the United Nations and the African Union. The AU makes a valuable contribution to peace and security on the continent, and has the potential to do more. Ireland has stepped up our partnership in recent years with the African Union, with a focus on supporting their work on conflict prevention and peacebuilding, with a particular emphasis on the role of women. As Chair of the Somalia Sanctions Committee, peace and stability in Somalia will be a key priority of our tenure: we want to use sanctions mechanisms as a tool of prevention, addressing Al-Shabaab financing, advancing human rights and accountability and maintaining humanitarian access. In Sudan and South Sudan our focus will be on responsibility for the protection of civilians, as both countries undergo fragile transitions. Events in Ethiopia in recent months have been a cause of grave concern. All parties have an obligation to respect International Humanitarian Law, and the government of Ethiopia must allow unconditional and unrestricted humanitarian access to all areas of Tigray. As both Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Defence, I am particularly proud of the contribution made by members of the Defence Forces to UN peace operations over more than 60 years. Through their service, Ireland has earned a reputation as a steadfast and valued contributor to UN peacekeeping. Today, there are 529 Irish troops serving in UN peacekeeping operations, including in Syria, Mali, Lebanon and the Democratic Republic of Congo. I would like to pay tribute to their service and commitment. Sadly we have once again seen the great risks involved in helping to deliver peace and stability as 9 UN peacekeepers have been killed in UN missions in Mali and the Central African Republic since the start of 2021. My deepest sympathies goes to their families. Sympathy though is not enough. We have a responsibility to ensure that the men and women serving in UN peacekeeping operations are properly mandated and equipped to do their work effectively and securely. This will be an area of particular focus for us in our work on the Council. We want to improve peacekeeping mandates to make them fit for purpose, and strengthen the link between peacekeeping and peacebuilding. In doing so, we will draw from the long experience of our Defence Forces. Ladies and gentlemen, Civilians are protected by international law, but they often suffer the most in armed conflict. As a member of the Security Council, we will prioritise adherence to international law, including international humanitarian law and international human rights law, to help protect civilians. We will support the fight against impunity and stand by the International Criminal Court and other international criminal and accountability mechanisms. Effective accountability can serve as an essential element in improving compliance with the rules of international law. We know that climate change is a challenge for us all, but we are also now increasingly aware of how it can be a driver or a multiplier of instability. In the countries of the Sahel, as one example, we have seen how climate change is one of the factors that is diminishing land availability and quality. Competition for fewer resources has led to increased tension and conflict between pastoralists and farmers. In my conversations with Ministers from many African countries and Small Island Developing States during the Security Council campaign, the need to do more on climate change, and its implications for security, were consistently raised with me. At the end of last year, a new expert group on climate and security was created at the Security Council. Ireland will be co-chairing that group in 2021, providing leadership and promoting a greater climate focus in the work of the Council. I am encouraged that John Kerry will be leading US work on climate issues; I will be meeting with him later today, along with other EU Foreign Ministers, to discuss practical steps to tackle this existential challenge In all that we do on the Council, we are also keen to draw from the extensive expertise, experience and networks of Irish civil society and academia. I thank the IIEA for the support they have provided in the establishment of the Security Council Stakeholder Forum . Ladies and gentlemen, This is a challenging agenda. There are many other issues that I could have mentioned North Korea, the Great Lakes area, Myanmar or Ukraine which will also command our attention over the next two years. We are committed to being an active member of Council on all of these issues. We are not naive. I know how difficult it can be to find agreement among members of the Council. The Council has failed to fulfil its responsibility to act on some crucial issues. We will make every efforts to build bridges and the political will necessary to find agreement. We enjoy good relations with all of the other members of the Council, including the permanent members, and we will engage openly with each of them. We will agree on some issues and fundamentally disagree on others. In doing so we will not be afraid to bring our views to the table, as we were elected to do. We know all too well from our experience on the island of Ireland that the work of building peace moves slowly. We will bring this experience with us to the Security Council, as we do the slow, and sometimes frustrating, work of seeking agreement on some of the most difficult issues on the global agenda. Thank you. | Retired Gen. Lloyd Austin speaks after being formally nominated by President-elect Joe Biden to be secretary of defense, in Wilmington, Del., on Dec. 9, 2020. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) Senate Confirms Bidens Pick for Pentagon Chief The Senate has confirmed President Joe Bidens pick for defense secretary, retired general Lloyd Austin, giving Biden his second Cabinet member two days after his inauguration. Austin was confirmed in a 93-2 vote on Friday, with Sens. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) and Mike Lee (R-Utah) voting nay. His ascent to the post of Pentagon head makes him the first black secretary of defense in U.S. history. Its an honor and a privilege to serve as our countrys 28th Secretary of Defense, and Im especially proud to be the first African American to hold the position, Austin wrote in a tweet following his confirmation. Lets get to work. Ahead of the Senate confirmation vote, Austin had to clear the hurdle of getting a Congressional waiver that would let him bypass a law barring retired active-duty officers from serving in the top Pentagon job within seven years, a rule meant to safeguard civilian control of the U.S. armed forces. Lawmakers fast-tracked the waiver Thursday, with the House approving it in a vote of 326 to 78, later followed by 69 senators voting to grant it while 27 objected. At his Jan. 19 confirmation hearing, Austin sought to assure lawmakers that he would take steps to ensure civilian control of the military remained intact. I intend to surround myself with and empower experienced, capable civilian leaders who will enable healthy civil-military relations, grounded in meaningful oversight, he said. Austin, a retired Army four-star general, told lawmakers at the hearing that one of his top priorities will be to counter the threat posed by China. Clearly, the strategy will be arrayed against the threat and China presents the most significant threat going forward because China is ascending. Russia is also a threat, but its in decline, he said. Austin singled out several areas of focus for the U.S. military to be able to present a credible deterrent to Chinas communist regime going forward. Well have to make some strides in the use of quantum computing, the use of AI, the advent of connected battlefields, the space-based platforms, he said. Those kinds of things I think can give us the types of capabilities that well need to be able to hold large pieces of Chinese military inventory at risk, he added. Other threats requiring close attention is that posed by a nuclear Iran. If Iran were to get a nuclear capability, most every problem we deal with in the region would be tougher because of that. Irans behavior continues to be destabilizing, he said at the hearing. Austin praised the Trump administrations efforts to advance peace in the Middle East, calling the Abraham Accords that normalized diplomatic relations between Israel and four Arab countries a good thing. I think certainly this has put a bit more pressure on Iran and I hope it will have good effects, he said. Iran tensions remain high, with former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo saying last week that the al-Qaeda terrorist group has a new headquarters there. Al-Qaeda has a new home base, it is the Islamic Republic of Iran, Pompeo said in a speech at the National Press Club. As a result, bin Ladens wicked creation is poised to gain strength and capabilities. We ignore this Iran, al-Qaeda Nexus at our own peril. We need to acknowledge it, we must confront it. Indeed, we must defeat it, he said, adding that this axis poses a grave threat to the security of nations and to the American homeland itself. In one of the Trump administrations final moves, Israel was shifted to the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) area of responsibility, delivering a major boost to allied efforts to counter the regional threat posed by Iran. In terms of Austins other priorities, he said at his hearing he would work to combat sexual assault, racism, and extremism in the military. If confirmed, I will fight hard to stamp out sexual assault, to rid our ranks of racists and extremists, and to create a climate where everyone fit and willing has the opportunity to serve this country with dignity, he said. The military has also played a key role in fighting COVID-19, and Biden has said one of the reasons he nominated Austin was for him to provide logistics expertise to the vaccination effort. The Department of Defense said that on Friday, Austin will head to the Pentagon, where he will take part in meetings and receive operational briefings about China and the Middle East. Authorities in Hong Kong on Friday announced mandatory COVID-19 testing and a partial lockdown for tens of thousands of the city's residents, in a bid to curb a growing number of coronavirus cases in recent days. Residents of the densely populated Jordan and Sham Shui Po districts will be told to stay at home and be subjected to testing, following isolation orders imposed on four apartment blocks last week, the South China Morning Post newspaper reported. Between 4,000 and 9,000 residents of 150 buildings in the designated areas will be prevented from leaving their buildings from Saturday morning, unless they can produce a negative COVID-19 test, the paper said, quoting unnamed sources. "Three types of people will be allowed to enter the area residents, relatives staying in the same flat as those in need of care, and staff members engaged in essential services such as elderly care," the report said. Nobody will be allowed to leave except for essential reasons, including to seek medical treatment or in cases of unforeseen hardship, and shops in the designated areas will be told to close. The lockdown will only be lifted when everyone in the streets named by the government has been tested, the paper said. "The Government has delineated the ... area bounded by Nathan Road to its east, Jordan Road to its south, Ferry Street to its west and Kansu Street to its north and the ... area bounded by Yen Chow Street to its northwest, Tai Po Road to its northeast, Maple Street to its southeast and Lai Chi Kok Road to its southwest," the government said in a statement on its website. Preparations appeared to be under way to feed large numbers of people in Kowloon's Jordan district on Friday."You can't come in, sorry!" a member of staff at a cooked food market in Jordan's Woosung Street told RFA when a reporter went to check on the lockdown situation, as delivery workers offloaded bulk quantities of tinned vegetables, instant ramen, and packaged drinks at the entrance to the building."I can't tell you anything, don't talk to me," she said. "Don't shoot video!"A local resident who asked not to be named said that there was a confirmed case in the building where she lived, and she had gone to the market to get food in before the lockdown restrictions started."I haven't been out for a whole week," she said. "I didn't want to go out today either, but I was worried that if I didn't, I wouldn't be able to [after lockdown]."A Jordan resident surnamed Chan said she had heard that the lockdown would last at least over the weekend."I came out to get some food beforehand," she said. Asked about her views on the lockdown, she said: "They're conflicted. There are upsides and downsides to everything." Losses to business A fruit-seller surnamed Ng said she feared losses to her business from rotting fruit, because residents would be unable to leave their buildings to go shopping. "If I can't sell it, I worry that it's going to just rot," she said. "It's all money." A restaurant owner surnamed Hui said she expects to have to close her business for the duration of the lockdown. "I'm very fed up with the government for making ordinary people suffer this way," Hui said. Meanwhile, the authorities evacuated the residents of one side of the building at Jordan's Kensington Plaza apartment block after a COVID-19 outbreak in the building, the department of health said. Residents will be taken to quarantine centers or hospital where appropriate after at least 10 people from five apartments facing the same direction became infected with the coronavirus. Microbiologist Yuen Kwok-yung inspected the building, saying there was a chance that the virus was being transmitted through leaking sewage pipes, or by updrafts of air carrying it in through the windows of apartments on higher floors, a transmission route that was first identified during the SARS epidemic of 2002-2003. Hong Kong has seen far fewer cases of COVID-10 than other major cities -- some 10,000 confirmed cases to date with 167 deaths since the start of the pandemic. But the city reported 61 cases on Friday, 55 of which were the result of community-based transmission. In 26 cases, the route of transmission was declared untraceable. Cultural concerns The Muslim Council of Hong Kong tweeted that large numbers of law enforcement officers had been sent to the area -- which is home to a significant South Asian population -- to police the lockdown. "More than 1,700 disciplinary officers to be deployed in unprecedented move on 150 blocks in coronavirus-hit area," the council tweeted on Friday. "It starts from tomorrow morning in Jordan & Yau Ma Tei areas." Earlier this week, reports emerged of racist narratives around COVID-19 being perpetrated by Hong Kong officials, with one official quoted as telling a vaccine advisory panel that ethnic minorities fail to observe social distancing rules for "cultural" reasons. "They have many family gatherings and like to gather with fellow countrymen," health official Raymond Ho was quoted as telling the panel in The Diplomat. "They like to share food, smoke, drink alcohol, and chat together," Ho reportedly told the meeting. "If it is without masks, the risk is high. They also need to share sanitary facilities with neighbors if the living environment is crowded." Pro-Beijing politician Elizabeth Quat last week called for domestic helpers, many of whom are from the Philippines and Indonesia, to be prevented from going out on their only day off to prevent them from gathering in public squares and parks. Reported by Man Hoi Yan for RFA's Cantonese Service. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. Eight local artists will display their work from a social distance next month, thanks to Staten Island Arts. The organization releases its next exhibition on Thursday, Feb. 25, titled Know Me: Eight Artists Explore Identity. There will be a free, virtual reception for the collection from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. that evening. Artists participating in the collection are Kofi Antwi, Flint Gennari, Elvia Iannaccone Gezlev, Jessica L. Gianna, Daniel Jared Smith, Windy Nicely, Laura Pannone and Tabitha Lee Turchio. Know Me is described by Staten Island Arts as the exploration of identity through the eyes of eight Staten Island artists. The exhibit challenges the viewer to consider the inner world of another, and the minute-by-minute decisions that, together as an evolving whole, create the story of ones life. Those interested in participating can register for the reception on the Staten Island Arts website. Those who register will receive an access link one day prior to the event. Staten Island Arts is currently stationed at ArtSpace inside the URBY Apartment Complex on Staten Island. ArtSpace exhibits and programming are made possible through support from public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council, the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and the New York State Legislature, and the Office of Councilwoman Debi Rose. Woman Gifts a Car to High School Senior Who Walked 7 Miles Each Day to 40-Hour-Per-Week Job A deserving high school senior has been gifted his very own set of wheels after a woman found out he was walking 7 miles after classes, every day, to attend his 40-hour-a-week employment at a restaurant. I knew if I had to walk to work every day to get a car, thats what I was going to do, Cobb County, Georgia, twelfth-grader Jayden Sutton told Fox 5 Atlanta. Lavonda Wright and Jayden Sutton at the Nalley Honda, Union City, dealership on Jan. 14, 2021. (Courtesy of Lavonda Wright) When I get out of school around 3:30 I will go straight to work, he explained. I walk to work and I work six to eight hours, and get off and walk straight home. Sutton makes the 7-mile journey each day to his job as a server and then makes another 5-mile journey back to his house after he gets off work at 10:30 p.m. if co-workers dont offer him a ride. Despite rain or shine, the youngster has made the effort to walk, hoping to save money for a car. However, thanks to Lavonda Wright, the mother of the teens friend, his walking days are over. Wright first encountered a hard-working Sutton on his long commute to work while driving on Dec. 10, 2020. We noticed a young man walking at the speed of lightning with headphones on, Wright explained on GoFundMe. My son asked me to slow down so he could check on his friend. The mom offered to drive Sutton as far as she was going until she heard his story. Immediately my heart got full, she explained. I was literally holding back tears I said, Baby Ill be taking you all the way to work, forget my plans for now.' Inspired by the young boy, Wright told Sutton that she would be paying for his Uber rides for the next week so that his body could rest. Wright was also compelled to do more and spent the following days concocting a plan of action. Wright set up a GoFundMe page on Dec. 12, 2020, with the goal to raise $4,000 in 30 days. However, with the help of donors generous contributions, Wright raised almost $7,000, enough to buy the struggling teen a car of his own. Further blessings came when Nalley Hondas Union City dealership manager learned of Wrights mission to help a deserving teen. The manager lowered the price of a car to suit her budget, according to Fox 5 Atlanta. Jayden Sutton sitting behind the wheel of his brand-new car. (Courtesy of Lavonda Wright) Wright also has plans for the almost $2,500 that has amassed since the car was purchased. Were still trying to pay Jaydens car insurance up for the year, assist with gas, assist his mother, Wright told The Epoch Times via Facebook. Suttons mother lost her job, and her car was totaled. Presenting Sutton with the keys to his very own vehicle at the dealership on Jan. 14, Wright exclaimed, Let me say, this is your car! Lavonda Wright and Jayden Sutton at the surprise. (Courtesy of Lavonda Wright) Sutton, overwhelmed, embraced Wright and said, I just want to say thank you. A million times. You dont understand how much. If youre doing something good or trying to reach a goal, keep doing it, the grateful senior advised others. You might get some help. Thats what happened to me. Lavonda Wright with Jayden Suttons mother. (Courtesy of Lavonda Wright) Wright shared the joyful moment with friends, followers, and donors in a Facebook post. Look at Jaydens amazing smile receiving his new car & keys, she posted. His beautiful mom was present and weve connected on new levels like weve known each other for years, Wright added. Making a difference in this world is truly needed right now! Im overwhelmed in Gods love. Share your stories with us at emg.inspired@epochtimes.com, and continue to get your daily dose of inspiration by signing up for the Epoch Inspired Newsletter here: https://www.theepochtimes.com/newsletter An Iranian asylum seeker who twice tried to ferry a total of 36 fellow migrants across the Channel in overloaded dinghies - the UK's biggest people smuggling bid using rubber boats - has been jailed for two years. Fouad Kakaei was sentenced after being found to be in charge of piloting the cramped vessels during the attempted crossing. The 30-year-old steered the inflatable boats from France to the UK coast - first with 27 people, then after that bid failed, with another 11 passengers. Kakaei was first caught by Border Force manning a stricken rubber inflatable boat drifting off the Kent coast in July 2019. After being rescued and deported to Denmark, where he previously failed in an asylum bid, Kakaei launched another attempt to reach Britain five months later - this time with 11 others on board. When he was arrested by British authorities, Kakaei claimed he was also a refugee and had not been paid to make the journey across the treacherous crossing. Just two weeks before the second attempt, Kakaei was discovered by Border Force officers trying to sneak into the UK hidden on a cargo vessel that arrived in Tilbury, Essex, from Zeebrugge in Belgium along with five other migrants on December 12, 2019. Kakaei told investigators he boarded the boat out of desperation after being persecuted in his native country, had no financial motive and only piloted the vessel because no one else knew how to and he did not want to die. But at Canterbury Crown Court yesterday, he was jailed for two years and two months after pleading guilty to two counts of assisting unlawful immigration to the UK at an earlier hearing. He will likely face deportation when his prison spell is over. Fouad Kakaei, pictured on a dinghy, who twice tried to ferry a total of 36 fellow migrants across the Channel in overloaded boats - the UK's biggest people smuggling bid using rubber boats - has been jailed for two years Both of Kakaei's voyages across the world's busiest shipping lane were undertaken at night without navigational lights, the court heard. Video footage of the crossing shot on one of the migrant's phones showed them squeezed onto the tiny vessel as it bobbed on the dangerous waters. Prosecutor Simon Taylor QC told the court the second boat was only built for seven people, not the 12 who were travelling across the Channel. He said: 'The problem with overloading such vessels is that it increases the chance of taking in water and reduces speed and manoeuvrability. These vessels were crossing a very busy shipping lane. 'The timings of the interceptions suggest the journeys would have taken place in the dark, neither of the vessels were fitted with navigation lights.' Rigid-hulled inflatable boats (RHIBs) are not considered suitable for such crossings, even when not overloaded, Mr Taylor added. Border Force rescued the 27 asylum seekers after they ran into trouble off the Kent coast in July 2019. Placed under caution at the Port of Dover, Kakaei admitted playing a part in piloting the inflatable and refused to hand over the pin to his Samsung mobile. Of the 27 people on the boat all were adults bar two - one was 17 and the other aged 15. Kakaei told authorities he wished to claim asylum for fear of persecution in Iran and was not part of a wider people smuggling conspiracy. Kakaei told authorities he wished to claim asylum for fear of persecution in Iran and was not part of a wider people smuggling conspiracy Mr Taylor added: 'He said he was not engaged as a facilitator, he was the driver of the boat, he said he was told by a male in France to head to a red marker in the UK and then to call the authorities when they got to the coastline. 'He said it was not just him that piloted the boat, he said they took turns.' Kakaei was soon deported to Denmark where, after a failed asylum bid and finding himself with no money, he made his way to the northern coast in France for another crossing attempt. His plans were thwarted when, in December that year, the boat he was piloting was intercepted in the English Channel with 11 other people on board. It was designed to hold a maximum of seven. He told Border Force he made the second voyage following various failed attempts to gain entry by lorry and accepted he piloted the boat. Prosecutors also argued Kakaei's 'unwavering persistence', the passengers being unknown to each other, the Dover Straits' inherent dangers and the risk of hypothermia made his illegal crossing attempts worse crimes. Mr Taylor told the court: 'A source in Germany told him to go to Calais to the train station where he was met by a man who introduced him to a group of people who were transported by boat to the UK. 'He accepted that he had piloted the boat, he said he did so because nobody else could do it, he said the engine was problematic and he didn't wish to die at the scene. 'The officer asked the defendant if he had anything to ask him, his response was 'I have nothing to ask you, just tell them the next time I come again I will bring no phones and not say anything, I have not been fed properly since arriving.' Aneurin Brewer defending called for Kakaei's 'immediate release from detention' following repeated 'unavoidable but detrimental delays' to the court process. The 30-year-old steered the inflatable boats from France to the UK coast - first with 27 people, then after that bid failed, with another 11 passengers The barrister told Judge Mark Weekes that Kakaei, who has spent almost a year on remand, is 'a genuine refugee fleeing persecution from his home country, Iran'. He argued Kakaei boarded the boats out of desperation, had been refused asylum in Denmark and sought other options before finding himself destitute on the French coast. Mr Weekes told the hearing: 'He had no financial motive for either offence, he paid, as did all the migrants on the boat for the crossing, and along with many other migrants agreed to assist piloting the boat and was merely unfortunate enough to be the one holding the tiler when the boat was intercepted. 'On the second occasion he agreed to pilot the boat when he feared for his life and the lives of the other migrants, so there was something of a duress of circumstances. 'He was not responsible for setting up these crossings, so he is not responsible for the overloading of these vessels or the inappropriateness of the crossings being attempted.' Judge Mark Weekes jailed Kakaei for two years and two months and ordered the confiscation of the vessels. After the sentence was handed down Dan O'Mahoney, clandestine Channel threat commander for Border Force, said that as Kakaei had tried so many times to enter the UK illegally he would likely make another such attempt. He added: 'Kakaei's history, with three attempts at clandestine entry and two attempts at assisting unlawful immigration, strongly suggest that he would have made more efforts to breach the UK's border controls and risked more lives in the process. Our actions have put a stop to that cycle of criminality. 'Our priority with operations in the Channel is not just protecting the lives of vulnerable people, but also bringing to justice facilitators like Kakaei. 'This case is an excellent example of how evidence gathered in the course of our Channel operations has helped bring a dangerous offender to justice.' A Colorado Springs woman, Pamela Buckley, is one of two people who were identified as victims in a cold case out of South Carolina that is more than 40 years old. New Delhi: BSP supremo Mayawati on Thursday said that she was in support of the opposition's Presidential candidate Meira Kumar. Mayawati wrote on social media, Twitter, and dubbed Meira Kumar as more capable and popular than NDA candidate. She further tweeted that BSP will support the opposition candidate in the Presidential polls. On Thursday, Congress President Sonia Gandhi announced Meira Kumar as the Presidential candidate for Presidential poll 2017. Earlier Satish Mishra of BSP had tweeted that Mayawati gave her consent for the name which came in the opposition meet held on Thursday. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. With the novel coronavirus mutating into more infectious strains, the government has urged Vietnamese expatriates not to travel to Vietnam for Lunar New Year. It is normally a time for family reunions, but the Ministries of Health, National Defense and Public Security agree it is necessary to "encourage Vietnamese overseas to comply with pandemic prevention regulations in their host countries." It is important for them to understand that "not returning home at this time is also a contribution to pandemic prevention in Vietnam," officials from the three ministries said at a meeting with the National Steering Committee for Covid-19 Prevention and Control on Thursday. They made the decision after the Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported there was great demand for returning home for the festival, which falls in the middle of next month. Without providing specific figures, the ministry had said many ethnic Vietnamese living abroad wish to visit the country not only for Tet, by far the biggest and most important festival for Vietnamese, but also to escape the pandemic, which is basically under control in Vietnam. In addition, their visas have already expired and they have encountered financial issues, said the ministry. The committee said it is critical that borders are sealed to prevent illegal entrants. It said 46 countries have started vaccinating people against Covid, but to vaccinate the entire population and achieve herd immunity would take long while the new and more contagious strains have been spreading rapidly to various countries. The health ministry said it is best for Vietnam now to continue with the methods it has been applying since the first outbreak, which include preventing infection, detecting cases of infection, contact tracing, and locating stricken areas and lock them down. Earlier this month Vietnam reported its first case of the U.K. Covid variant through a woman who returned home from Britain in December. Vietnam still remains closed to all international commercial flights and banned flights from places that have recorded the new variants. It has gone 49 days without local transmission. The new strain in the U.K. has spread to 50 countries and territories while the one found later in South Africa has reached 23. [January 22, 2021] Biotech Showcase Digital Extends On-Demand Access to This Year's Sessions, Content and Company Presentations Through March 2021 In its 13th year, Biotech Showcase Digital welcomed more than 2,500 attendees, 850 investors, and 330 presenting companies last week in a virtual format to explore impactful trends, engage insightful personalities, learn about innovative companies, and meet motivated investors. Working together to drive the future of drug development, this year's participants engaged in more than 50 program sessions and panels, as well as more than 47,000 partnering meeting requests delivered through the partneringONE meeting platform. For the first time, conference organizers have provided on-demand access to all company presentations and other content through March 31, 2021 for all pre- and post-conference registrants. Post-event registration is available to those wishing to access all recorded sessions and content. Those interested in accessing it can simply log in with their registration information, or new registrants need simply register at the Biotech Showcase Digital website. This year's program featured timely, highly relevant, inclusive and diverse sessions focused on therapeutics and policies to address COVID-19. A list of all speakers is available here with many high-profile leaders, including the following: Dr. Sujuan Ba - CEO, National Foundation for Cancer Research Kate Bingham - Managing Partner, SV Health Managers; Former Chair, UK Vaccine Taskforce Dr. Rick Bright - Former Director, BARDA; Covid-19 Advisory Board, Biden Transition Team Marianne De Backer - Executive VP, Head of Strategy, Business Development & Licensing and Executive Committee Member, Bayer AG, Pharmaceuticals Dr. Julie Gerberding - Executive Vice President and Chief Patient Officer, Merck & Co., Inc. Jennifer Friel Goldstein - Managing Partner, Life Science and Healthcare, SVB Capital b>Adele Gulfo - Chief Business and Commercial Development Officer, Sumitovant Biopharma Abraham Heifets - CEO and Co-Founder, Atomwise Geoff MacKay - CEO AvroBio Sean Marett - CBO and CCO, BioNtech Dr. Michelle McMurry-Heath - President & CEO, Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) Bryon Roberts - Partner, Venrock Scot Roberts - CSO, Altimmune Dr. Moncef Slaoui - Scientific Head, Operation Warp Speed "For so many years, this has been one of the most important business weeks during the calendar year, when industry participants flock to San Francisco to network. This year's Biotech Showcase demonstrated that the power of those connections and learnings doesn't halt just because travel does," said Sara Jane Demy, founder and CEO, Demy-Colton. "The overwhelmingly positive response from the audience, participants and sponsors shows us that the innovation in our digital delivery of these incredible thought leaders is surpassed only by the inspiring innovation we see across our biotech industry." Tina Gunnink, Managing Director, EBD Group US, added, "Despite moving to a digital format this year, Biotech Showcase attracted an amazing response from presenting companies and investors, resulting in a remarkable level of engagement. Our plenary sessions and workshops were extremely popular, and focused on how investments and partnerships will evolve and affect the life science and healthcare landscape. Biotech Showcase remains one of the largest investor conferences for the life sciences' most innovative companies, and is a particularly pivotal touchpoint for those looking for partnerships and investment." The date for next year's Biotech Showcase has been set for January 10-12, 2022 in San Francisco. For more information, please visit www.biotechshowcase.com or follow us on Twitter (News - Alert) at @Demy_Colton and @EBDGroup. About Demy-Colton Since 2008, Demy-Colton has been at the forefront of building networks between leaders from innovative biotech companies and industry stakeholders to examine and address biotech opportunities and challenges and deliver on the promise of transformational science. Demy-Colton achieves this with unique meeting platforms that facilitate networking and biotech community development on an international scale. Aside from Biotech Showcase, its investor and specialized events include BioFuture, CEO Summit Europe, and CEO Summit Napa, Demy-Colton Virtual Salons, and CEO Virtual Dialogues. Its events build networking communities that transcend geographical boundaries and establish ongoing, high-value relationships among the industry's top decision makers, investors, and thought leaders. Demy-Colton sets a unique stage where investment, learning, and growth thrive. Its events spur introductions and thoughtful conversations. In turn, inspiration, ideas, and opportunities for investment flow. For more information please visit www.demy-colton.com About EBD Group EBD Group's overriding mission is to help collaborations get started across the life science value chain. Our range of partnering conferences has grown to become the largest and most productive conference platform in the industry. Each of our events in-person or virtual is powered by our state-of-the-art partnering software, partneringONE, that enables delegates to efficiently identify and engage with new opportunities via one-to-one meetings. Today our events (BIO-Europe, BIO-Europe Spring, BioPharm America, Biotech Showcase, China Showcase, Digital Medicine & Medtech Showcase, ChinaBio Partnering Forum, Rare Disease Innovation and Partnering Summit, and BioEquity Europe) annually attract more than 15,000 senior life science executives who engage in over 50,000 one-to-one partnering meetings. These vital one-to-one engagements are the wellspring of deals that drive innovation in our industry. EBD Group is an Informa (News - Alert) company. For more information please visit www.ebdgroup.com View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210122005054/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Toronto: Embattled Governor-General Julie Payette, the representative of the Queen in Canada, has resigned amid reports that a third-party probe into allegations of workplace harassment and bullying from current and former staffers had been completed. Media reports cited unnamed sources who described the investigation's findings as so "scathing" and "blistering" that it would have been virtually impossible for the former astronaut to stay in the largely ceremonial role she has occupied since 2017. Then Canadas governor-general Julie Payette delivers the throne speech in the Senate chamber in Ottawa, Ontario, last year. Credit:The Canadian Press/AP In a statement, Payette, 57, apologised for tensions that she said had arisen over the past few months at Rideau Hall, the official residence of the governor-general, but not explicitly for the allegations that prompted the review. 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, she said. Notwithstanding, in respect for the integrity of my viceregal Office and for the good of our country [...] I have come to the conclusion that a new governor-general should be appointed. Ottawa, Jan 22 : Canada's Governor General Julie Payette has announced her resignation after the conclusion of a harassment investigation at the her office. "Everyone has a right to a healthy and safe work environment, at all times and under all circumstances. It appears this was not always the case at the Office of the Secretary to the Governor General," Xinhua news agency quoted Payette as saying in a statement on Thursday. "Tensions have arisen at Rideau Hall over the past few months and for that, I am sorry," she added. Payette's resignation came hours after media reports said that an independent review into workplace harassment allegations against her was completed and that the details of the report were "damaging". "While no formal complaints or official grievances were made during my tenure, which would have immediately triggered a detailed investigation as prescribed by law and the collective agreements in place, I still take these allegations very seriously," Payette said. She said her resignation came at an "opportune time" as her father's health is worsening. Last July, Canada's Privy Council Office launched the investigation in response to a CBC News report featuring a dozen public servants and former employees confidentially claiming Payette had belittled, berated and publicly humiliated the staff of Rideau Hall, the Governor General's office. Payette was sworn in as the 29th Canadian Governor General in 2017. Born in Montreal, Payette, 57, worked as an astronaut and scientist and flew two missions in space from 1992 to 2013. She has previously served as the chief operating officer of the Montreal Science Centre and was also on the board of directors for the National Bank of Canada. A key law firm that handled Donald Trump's tax affairs has said it will cease representing him in the midst of an ongoing probe into alleged tax fraud. Morgan Lewis & Bockius, the global law firm headquartered in Philadelphia, said this week that it would cut ties with Trump and his businesses. 'We have had a limited representation of the Trump Organization and Donald Trump in tax-related matters,' a firm spokeswoman told Bloomberg Law on Wednesday. 'For those matters not already concluded, we are transitioning as appropriate to other counsel.' It comes as Trump faces a criminal probe into tax matters led by Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr, and a civil investigation by New York Attorney General Letitia James. Morgan Lewis partner Sheri Dillon famously appeared at Trump's side at his first official press conference after the 2016 election, at which huge stacks of documents were wheeled out as he announced his intention not to divest from his businesses or form a blind trust during his presidency. Morgan Lewis partner Sheri Dillon (above) appeared at Trump's side at his first official press conference after the 2016 election. The firm is cutting ties with Trump Trump faces a criminal probe into tax matters led by Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr, who is investigating potential tax, loan and insurance fraud at the Trump Organization After the January 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol, law firm Seyfarth Shaw also notified the Trump Organization that it would no longer represent the business in commercial matters. Vance is waiting on a US Supreme Court decision that could force Trump's accounting firm Mazars USA to hand over his tax records from 2011 to 2018. However, Vance has already obtained some of the information from other sources, people familiar with the matter told Fortune this week. Vance's criminal probe, which began as an investigation into hush money payments to two women who claimed they had affairs with Trump, has reportedly widened into examining potential tax, loan and insurance fraud at the Trump Organization. Trump's tax returns are considered to be the keystone in the case, and depending on the level of access Vance has gained to them, his probe could now be at an advanced stage. Trump has previously called Vance's probe 'a fishing expedition' and 'a continuation of the witch hunt the greatest witch hunt in history,' accusing the elected Democrat of partisan motives. Vance's probe, which began more than two years ago, originally focused on hush money payments that the president's former lawyer and fixer Michael Cohen paid before the 2016 election to two women - a pornographic film star and a former Playboy model - who said they had sexual encounters with Trump. The district attorney has suggested in recent court filings that the probe is now broader and could focus on potential bank, tax and insurance fraud, as well as falsification of business records. On Wednesday, Trump lost the legal protection of the presidency as he left office. Above, Trump and Melania are seen arriving in Palm Beach Vance's probe, which began more than two years ago, originally focused on hush money payments made by the president's former lawyer and fixer Michael Cohen (center) If Vance discovered evidence of crimes in his investigation, it is possible that he could charge the Trump Organization rather than Trump personally. Criminal charges would require evidence of criminal intent, and would be difficult to bring without the cooperation of an insider witness. On Wednesday, Trump lost the protection of the presidency as President Joe Biden was sworn in. It is a widely accepted tenet that a sitting president cannot be charged with a crime. Trump ultimately declined to issue controversial pardons for himself or his family members, which in any event would not protect him from state charges, such as Vance might bring, but only federal ones. Although charges were not expected eminently as Trump left the White House for Florida, Vance's probe appeared to be widening. Last Thursday, New York prosecutors conducted an hours-long interview of Michael Cohen, Trump's former personal attorney, about his old employer's finances. And last week, Vance's prosecutors began looking into a 212-acre Trump Organization property in New York called Seven Springs as part of an investigation that started over a year ago. The compound is also one of four Trump Organization properties under civil investigation by New York's state attorney general, who is probing whether Eric Trump and various corporate entities artificially inflated property values. New York Attorney General Letitia James (above) is also conducting a civil investigation into whether the Trump Organization artificially inflated property values to obtain tax benefits Also in the spotlight: The New York AG is investigating whether there was a tax fraud involving the Seven Springs Estate in Bedford, Westchester County, north of New York City. Meanwhile, Biden's Justice Department must decide whether to continue representing Trump now that he has left the presidency. The DOJ typically serves as counsel for executive agencies and the Office of the President in civil lawsuits, but Attorney General-nominee Merrick Garland will have to decide whether to continue offering that protection to Trump if and when he is confirmed. No hearing date has been set for Garland's confirmation. Justice Department lawyers have been representing Trump in a number of matters, including rape accuser E. Jean Carroll's defamation lawsuit. In that case, the DOJ tried unsuccessfully to substitute the United States as the defendant in Trump's place. After a judge rejected the move, the DOJ appealed. On Friday, DOJ lawyers are set to appear in a DC court on Trump's behalf in a case involving the House Ways & Means Committee's attempt to obtain Trump's tax returns from federal agencies that have them. Trump faces legal threats on a number of fronts after leaving office. New York Attorney General Letitia James is conducting a civil investigation into whether the Trump Organization artificially inflated property values to obtain tax benefits. James began investigating potential fraud in Donald Trump's business dealings in March 2019 after the president's longtime personal lawyer Michael Cohen told Congress that Trump had repeatedly inflated the value of his assets to obtain more favorable terms for loans and insurance coverage. That inquiry is a civil investigation, which could result in financial penalties but not jail time. Trump also faces separate defamation lawsuits related to alleged sexual assaults, both of which he denied, brought by two women - E. Jean Carroll, a former Elle magazine writer, and Summer Zervos, a 2005 contestant on 'The Apprentice.' Mary Trump, the president's niece, also has filed a lawsuit accusing him and two family members of fraud and conspiracy to deprive her of her share of the family's real-estate empire. Trump also could face a criminal prosecution brought by the U.S. Justice Department for federal income-tax evasion charges. The New York Times recently reported Trump paid $750 in federal income taxes in both 2016 and 2017. Trump rejected the Times' findings and it is not clear if he violated the law. Any federal prosecution would be contentious, and Biden has been cautious on the issue and questioned the value of such a prosecution, but says he would not interfere with the Justice Department's judgment. Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. Dear Reader, Business Standard has always strived hard to provide up-to-date information and commentary on developments that are of interest to you and have wider political and economic implications for the country and the world. Your encouragement and constant feedback on how to improve our offering have only made our resolve and commitment to these ideals stronger. Even during these difficult times arising out of Covid-19, we continue to remain committed to keeping you informed and updated with credible news, authoritative views and incisive commentary on topical issues of relevance. We, however, have a request. As we battle the economic impact of the pandemic, we need your support even more, so that we can continue to offer you more quality content. Our subscription model has seen an encouraging response from many of you, who have subscribed to our online content. More subscription to our online content can only help us achieve the goals of offering you even better and more relevant content. We believe in free, fair and credible journalism. Your support through more subscriptions can help us practise the journalism to which we are committed. Support quality journalism and subscribe to Business Standard. Digital Editor Mexican authorities found 128 migrants, including seven children, from Central America who were discovered in the back of a truck on a highway after National Guard soldiers heard poundings and screams. They were found as some residents of the region have been pushing toward the US border to test the incoming Biden Administration's immigration policies, which the new president has said will be more 'humane' than Donald Trump's. The people weren't part of an 8,000-strong 'caravan' of mostly Honduran migrants who were stopped earlier this month in Guatemala en route to the US. News outlet Milenio reported that the National Guard stopped the truck at a bridge toll booth at the Coatzacoalcos y Agua Dulce city border line in the eastern state of Veracruz on Thursday. According to the National Guard, the driver was stopped because he was not wearing a seatbelt. After hearing cries for help, officials opened the back of the vehicle to find the men, women and children crowded in 'inhuman conditions' that were inadequate to prevent the spread of COVID-19, according to the statement. Mexico's National Guard on Thursday found 128 Central American migrants who were inside a truck. The soldiers stopped the driver at a bridge toll booth for not wearing a seatbelt and then heard poundings and loud screams before they opened the hatch and discovered the individuals. At least two of the seven children found in the truck were treated for dehydration. The migrants remained in custody of the National Institute of Migration The Mexican National Guard stopped a cargo truck at a highway toll booth Thursday only to discover 128 migrants, including seven children, from Central America A migrant from Central America and a child were among the 128 individuals who were found inside a shipping truck that was stopped by the National Guard in the eastern Mexican state of Veracruz A video posted on the Twitter account of Mexico's National Institute of Migration shows the migrants stepping out of the truck. Most of the migrants were found standing inside the vehicle. Some of the migrants, including two children, were treated for dehydration. All of the migrants, who did not have legal documents to enter Mexico, remained in custody of the National Institute of Migration. The driver was arrested for not having a license to operate the vehicle. Still image from a video shows a Mexican National Guard soldier looking over the migrants as they stepped out of the cargo truck Trash litters the interior of a cargo truck that was ferrying 128 Central American migrants from on Thursday in the eastern Mexican state of Veracruz. The state's close proximity to Central American makes it a key transit point for human trafficking organizations Central American migrants rest inside a roadside eatery in the eastern Mexican state of Veracruz after they were discover in a truck by the National Guard on Thursday Due to its close proximity to Central America, the state of Veracruz's serves as a major transit point for human trafficking organizations ferrying migrants who seek to reach the Mexico-United States border. A witness told Reuters that the migrants found inside the truck were not part of the recent U.S.-bound caravan of nearly 8,000 migrants that was broken up by officials this week in Guatemala after it crossed into the country from Honduras. Thousands of people from Central America have been trying to travel north after back-to-back Category 4 hurricanes in November displaced more than half a million people in the region, according to data from the International Organization for Migration. A Mexican National Guard soldier stands outside a locked roadside restaurant where 128 Central American migrants were temporarily held Thursday after they were found inside a shipping truck at a highway toll booth in the eastern state of Veracruz The Guatemalan military and police broke up a caravan of almost 8,000 Hondurans this week who were looking to cross into Mexico and travel to the United States' southern border to seek asylum from President Joe Biden's administration Guatemalan security officials, after some clashes with a large group of migrants camped on a highway, returned thousands of people back to Honduras and El Salvador. Some migrants from the caravan said they fled security forces and fanned out into the mountains of Guatemala. Many were hoping to reach the U.S. border after Wednesday's inauguration of U.S. President Joe Biden, who acted swiftly on his first day in office to dismantle several of former President Donald Trump's hardline immigration policies. Guatemalan television network Televisiete reported Wednesday that at least 3,000 migrants will plan to meet in the Honduran city of San Pedro Sula on Monday as part of an attempt to cross into Guatemala and enter Mexico. Honduran Facebook users urged their countrymen wanting to head to the US to meet Sunday at the San Pedro Sula terminal and set march Monday before sunrise. One of Biden's proposals is to provide an eight-year path to U.S. citizenship for 11 million undocumented immigrants living in the country as of January 1, 2021. Homeland Security Secretary nominee, Alejandro Mayorkas, told a Senate committee Tuesday that the U.S. will reopen the asylum process, but a date has not been set. '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.' Greece has restarted an agreement to send any refugees who arrive on Greek lands back to Turkey reports North Press. Greece recently re-activated the EU-Turkey statement of Mar, 18, 2016, which provides for the deportation of any illegal migrant or refugee from its lands to Turkey. The Greek decision came in response to ongoing Turkish accusations that Greece refused to receive migrants and asylum seekers, most of them Syrians, and accusations that Greece deliberately pushes them towards the sea so that they will die. However, the Greek government did not issue any official responses to these accusations at that time. Hundreds of thousands of migrants and refugees used Greece as their entry point to Europe, via Turkey, in 2015 and 2016, until the deal between Ankara and the EU reduced the flow across Greek and Turkish land and sea borders. With Turkey continuing its escalation policy and trying to pressure Greece with the migrant issue, to force it to make concessions on other issues, especially the eastern Mediterranean crisis, Greece reactivated the agreement it signed with Turkey in 2016. All new migrants crossing from Turkey into Greek territory will be returned to Turkey, in full accordance with EU and international law. Greece deported 139 immigrants to Turkey as part of the agreement in 2020. In 2020, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan accused the European Union of not fulfilling its obligations regarding agreements over refugees. Recently, the Greek government requested the European Commission and European Border and Coast Guard Agency, known as Frontex, to immediately deport to Turkey 1,450 migrants whose asylum applications were rejected by the European countries. The Greek Ministry of Migration and Asylum announced that it had informed the UNHCR and Frontex of the request for the immediate return of migrants from its camps on its islands to Turkey after their asylum applications were rejected, calling on Ankara to respect asylum agreements with the European Union. The ministry pointed out that Greece applies a strict but fair immigration policy, and that it is forced to return migrants who do not meet the criteria for asylum. Sources interested in Turkish affairs (working for Turkish Arabic-speaking media) told North Press, On every occasion, Turkey calls on the European Union to equitably share the responsibility of migrants. 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. On Friday, the Ministry of External Affairs made it clear that the Pakistan government has not requested the supply of novel coronavirus vaccines manufactured in India. This comes even as India has sent vaccines as grant assistance to other neighbouring countries such as Bhutan, Maldives, Bangladesh, Nepal and Myanmar. On the other hand, Pakistan which is currently witnessing a second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic has approved China's Sinopharm vaccine and the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine for emergency use. A day earlier, it was revealed that China will gift 0.5 million doses of Sinopharm vaccine to Pakistan by the end of January. This was announced after Pakistan's Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi's telephonic conversation with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi. Till now, Pakistan has recorded 5,29,639 confirmed novel coronavirus cases out of which 4,83,714 patients have recovered while 11,224 fatalities have been reported. I am not aware of any request for the supply for Indian made vaccines by Pakistan on a G2G (Government to Government) basis or commercial basis: Anurag Srivastava, MEA Spokesperson pic.twitter.com/7Xgy4bWx2h ANI (@ANI) January 22, 2021 Read: Coronavirus LIVE Updates: Over 10 Lakh Vaccinated; PM Interacts With Beneficiaries Elaborating on India's vaccine diplomacy drive, MEA official spokesperson Anurag Srivastava added, "On the first day, 1.5 lakh doses of vaccines were supplied to Bhutan and 1 lakh doses to Maldives as grant assistance. Yesterday, we supplied 10 lakh doses to Nepal and 20 lakh doses to Bangladesh. Today, consignments of 15 lakh doses for Myanmar, 1 lakh doses to Mauritius and 50,000 doses to Seychelles have been airlifted and in fact, have already reached Myanmar and Seychelles some time ago. As stated earlier, supplies as grant assistance to Sri Lanka and Afghanistan will be undertaken after receiving confirmation of regulatory clearances from these two countries." Read: CWC Passes Resolutions Backing COVID-19 Vaccination, Demanding Repeal Of Three Farm Laws India's COVID-19 vaccination journey On January 3, the Drugs Controller General of India accepted the recommendations of the Subject Expert Committee of the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation, paving way for the approval of COVISHIELD and COVAXIN. Manufactured by the Serum Institute of India with technology transfer from Oxford University-AstraZeneca, COVISHIELD is a Recombinant Chimpanzee Adenovirus vector vaccine with its overall efficacy of 70.42 per cent. On the other hand, COVAXIN is a Whole Virion Inactivated Corona Virus Vaccine developed by Bharat Biotech in collaboration with ICMR and NIV. Union Health Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan has made it clear that all the recipients of this vaccine will be tracked and monitored as if they are in clinical trial mode. On January 16, PM Modi launched the pan-India rollout of the novel coronavirus vaccination drive via video conferencing. In the first phase, 3 crore frontline workers shall be vaccinated followed by the people aged above 50 years and the under-50 population group with co-morbidities. A total of 12,72,097 beneficiaries have been vaccinated for the novel coronavirus in 24,397 sessions held across the country as of 6 pm on January 22. Read: 'India Absolutely Self-reliant In COVID-19 Vaccines', Says PM Modi Mumbai, Jan 22 : A 40-year-old TV actor has been booked for allegedly raping his 58-year-old stepmother, and stealing money and jewellery from the residence that she shares with his father, a director of television serials. A case has been registered with the Oshiwara police, who are looking into an angle of property dispute, according to a report in hindustantimes.com. The report added that the woman is the third wife of the father of the accused. "A case has been registered under Sections 376 and 380 of the Indian Penal Code," the website quoted an officer from Oshiwara police station as saying. No arrests have been made yet, and the police have said that they are investigating the complaint of the woman. The property that has triggered dispute comprises a flat in Andheri, and four shops in that locality, the website said. Paula Badosa of Spain celebrates after winning a point during her Women's Singles second round match against Petra Kvitova of Czech Republic on day three of the 2020 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 22, 2020 in Melbourne, Australia. (Clive Brunskill/Getty Images) Rising Spanish Star Paula Badosa Tests Positive for COVID Before AO Rising Spanish star Paula Badosa is racing the clock to be fit for the Australian Open after having her isolation period restarted following a positive COVID-19 test. The 23-year-old had already been isolating in Melbourne under the mandatory 14-day quarantine rule after two co-passengers on a tournament-chartered flight from Abu Dhabi tested positive. Badosa said on social media on January 21 she had been moved to another health hotel to recuperate after feeling unwell. The world No.67 went on Twitter to say: I have some bad news. Today, I received a positive COVID-19 test result. Im feeling unwell and have some symptoms, but Ill try to recover as soon as possible listening to the doctors. I have been taken to a health hotel to self-isolate and be monitored. Thanks for your support. Well be back stronger. Paula. Victorian Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton said Badosa, who arrived a week ago, would have to isolate for extra time ahead of the February 8 Open start date. Thats an unfortunate consequence for anyone who becomes a confirmed case the isolation period starts from when that case is confirmed, Sutton said on Friday. For ordinary coronavirus that period is at least 10 days, so you have to be free of symptoms for three days and complete that 10 days. For the variants of concern, including the UK strain as some call it, that period of isolation is 14 days so it will depend on those elements. Sutton said it wouldnt be made public which strain Badosa had. Badosa had been a critic of the isolation program, saying it was unfair to have to go into hard lockdown because others on the plane had tested positive. But Sutton said it proved the 14-days hard quarantine for all on infected flights, which includes 72 players, was necessary. New York-born Badosa is the only competitor to be named as an active coronavirus case. She has precious little time to recover and be fit for the tournamant after looking forward to making it the starting point for another rise up the rankings in 2021. Badosa ended 2020 on a high, reaching the last 16 at the French Open and attaining a career-high ranking. She is due to compete in her third Australian Open, having reached the second round last year before being knocked out by Petra Kvitova. Meanwhile leading Brazilian umpire Carlos Bernardes, who was down to officiate in Melbourne, suffered a heart attack during quarantine and is recovering. The ATP reported: Following admittance to hospital (non-COVID related) on Wednesday in Melbourne, we are pleased to report that ATP Umpire Carlos Bernardes is recovering well. Melissa Woods, Ian Chadband in MELBOURNE Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Jeet Ki Zidd Cast: Amit Sadh, Amrita Puri, Sushant Singh, Aly Goni Director: Vishal Mangalorkar There is honestly nothing in this world a person cannot do, if they put their heart and soul to it. In our lives, we have seen many extraordinary people, but some take the term to another level. Same is the case with Special Forces hero Major Deependra Singh Senger, who after being shot in September 1999 was told he could never walk again. With his sheer force of will, determination and unconditional love from partner, Senger re-wrote his destiny. Major Senger' story is different from any we have seen before. It is also not limited to his journey of recovery. Through the ZEE5 web series Jeet Ki Zidd, we see many different parts of his life. From the traumatic event that made him join the army to the various missions he led in his career. This is done in a non-linear, with different time-lines intersecting at what seems like appropriate moments. While this is a great way to tell a real-life story and retain its suspense, something about the way it has been executed in the show throws you off. Major Senger's missions are terrifying for a normal audience. Hence, when we are in the scene, we want to stay in the scene. The adrenaline is what connects us to the character. However, instead of staying on a great moment, you cut into a different sequence two seconds too early, you lose your audience. In many scenes, there seems to be jump cuts. This might have been intended to increase the tension conveyed by a scene, but it does the opposite. The show feels impatient, which rubs off on the viewer. It almost feels like shows with a strict air-time that cut their scenes short for television. Read: A Suitable Boy Web Show Review Read: Tandav Web Show review It feels like certain actors are carrying the whole scene and everyone else isn't giving their best. This might also be because the dialogues are underwhelming. When our protagonist is in a dangerous situation fighting terrorists, or in a great pain because of his injury, or putting his heart and soul to try and get better, the dialogues don't match. In these places, probably the actors could have emoted better with silence. Amit Sadh does most of the heavylifting. He could have benefitted more with attention to the little details in the script and production. Sushant Singh stands up to the expectations a viewer sets with him. He has always been versatile and here too, he fits like a puzzle. Amrita Puri, who plays Jaya Senger, also can convey a lot without saying much. She gives a balanced performance. Despite flaws, its still a good watch. Without spoiling anything, it leaves you with a sense of positivity. We need that, right? Rating: 2.5/5 Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - January 22, 2021) - Matica Enterprises Inc. (CSE: MMJ) (OTCQB: MMJFF) (FSE: 39N) ("Matica" or the "Company") reports the Company has granted 6,500,000 stock options exercisable at $0.05 for five years from date of grant. These include 4,000,000 options to two officers (who are also directors) and, 2,500,000 to two consultants. For more information on Matica Enterprises please visit the website at: www.maticaenterprises.com. On behalf of the Board of Directors MATICA ENTERPRISES INC. Boris Ziger Boris Ziger, CEO & Chairman The Company's public filings are available for review at www.sedar.com and www.thecse.com. For further information, please contact Boris Ziger, at: Telephone: 416-304-9935 E-mail: info@maticaenterprises.com Website: www.maticaenterprises.com , www.maticammj.com Disclaimer for Forward-Looking Information Certain information in this press release may constitute forward-looking information. This information is based on current expectations that are subject to significant risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. Actual results might differ materially from results suggested in any forward-looking statements. The Corporation assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those reflected in the forward looking-statements unless and until required by securities laws applicable to the Corporation. Additional information identifying risks and uncertainties is contained in the Corporation's filings with the Canadian securities regulators, which filings are available at www.sedar.com. This news release contains statements about the Company's information that may be made available on the S&P Capital IQ Corporation Records Listing Program and the business of Matica that are forward-looking in nature and as a result, are subject to certain risks and uncertainties. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on them as actual results may differ materially from the forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date hereof, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements or information, 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 this release. We seek Safe Harbor. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/72664 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 new study by the Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research (ISSER) of the University of Ghana in collaboration with the Brookings Institute, has identified agro-processing and tourism as two of the sectors that could be relied on to potentially address Ghanas worrying unemployment numbers and enhance competitiveness and productivity of small and medium-sized firms. The study, titled: Industries Without Smokestacks in Africa- Ghana Country Case Study, demonstrates that both agro-processing and tourism sectors have several characteristics that make them unique to turn the situation around for the country. IWOSS Industries without smokestacks (IWOSS) are emerging sectors that share similar characteristics as manufacturing and are beginning to play a role similar to manufacturing in some developing countries. IWOSS sectors include horticulture and high-value agri-businesses, tourism, ICT-based services, business services, transport and logistics. Dissemination workshop Speaking at a dissemination workshop in Accra on Wednesday, January 20, 2021, a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Economics of the University of Ghana, Dr Priscilla Twumasi Baffour, explained that IWOSS sectors offer an alternative development strategy for the country. She noted that although technology used by agro-processing and tourism in the country are mostly labour intensive, some complementary digitalisation would be required to enhance their relevance to the changing nature of work globally. A section of the participants at the event Attention is however required to address existing skill gap, especially in terms of systems, technical and problem solving skills, Dr Priscilla Baffour noted, adding that Agro-processing and tourism sectors are typically labour intensive, requiring secondary education and this level of education is characteristic of the unemployment pool in the country. She explained that although non-IWOSS sectors such as traditional manufacturing have had high growth and export potential, the increasing contribution of the IWOSS sector to employment remains a unique characteristic to addressing the countrys jobless growth situation. Unemployment For Dr Priscilla Baffour, the issue of jobless growth and the poor performance of manufacturing had become a major concern in the country and many parts of Africa, hence the need for the country to redirect attention towards identifying and supporting sectors with more significant employment potentials, in the quest to provide decent employment for a rapidly growing population, particularly the youth. Indeed, the challenge of jobless growth in Ghana has brought to the fore the need to diversify the economy away from mineral dependence through industrial transformation, mindful of the new technological developments, she pointed out. Explaining why agro-processing and tourism have the potential to solve the countrys unemployment problems, Dr Baffour said there is an improved regulatory environment for both sectors, and this is supported by various public policies to improve related infrastructure and unearth the potential in the two sectors. Why agro-processing and tourism? For her, both sectors offer critical employment avenues for the youth with at least secondary education, saying this pool can be found among the relatively large unemployed individuals. Dr Baffour noted that agro-processing and tourism have a huge export capacity, and this is critical in enhancing competition; noting that technology used in both sectors are labour intensive, and this has prospect in addressing the countrys unemployment challenge. She, however, identified the lack of adequately skilled labour, lack of access to credit facilities, inadequate infrastructure, cost of electricity, limited capacity to export and restrictive or cumbersome regulatory environment, as some of the major challenges agro-processing and tourism sectors face in the country. She has therefore called on educational institutions, particularly Technical and Vocational training institutes not to focus only on literal education but to improve on technical skills, system skills and technology. Commendation Chairman for the occasion, Professor Peter Quartey, said the study was important because it addressed the problem of youth unemployment in the country. For him, industrialisation was key to resolving the unemployment situation in the country, lamenting the many vibrant industries in the country which had been converted into warehouses and places for church activities. Ghanas case Giving the background to the research, the Secretary-General of the African Research Universities Alliance (ARUA), Professor Ernest Aryeetey, said the research was driven by the need to drive employment without following the path pursued by other industrialised nations. He noted that there was the need to go for industrial advancement that was also sensitive to the need to protect the environment. Could we find African activities that behaved like manufacturing which would provide jobs and decent living? We therefore set out to find out the activities that will do the trick, he quizzed. Source: graphiconline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Get ready -- its almost Bigfoot hunting season! In Oklahoma, that is. And if a long-shot bill makes it through that states legislature and onto the governors desk. Oklahoma Rep. Justin Humphrey put forward House Bill 1648 this week, reports Oklahoma City-based KOCO News-5. The proposed legislation would lead to rules and fees for pursuing the ape-like creatures with harsh intent. Humphrey, a Republican from Oklahomas District 19, admits his effort is a ploy to generate attention -- and thus tourism -- for his neck of the woods. ABC-7 Chicago reports that theories and beliefs about an Oklahoma Bigfoot has been big business for Humphreys district, which includes Broken Bow, a town of approximately 4,100 nestled near the heavily forested Kiamichi Mountains. The elusive Bigfoot is a staple of Pacific Northwest mythology. (The Oregonian) This is, of course, ridiculous. Anyone who knows anything knows Bigfoot lives in the dense forests of the Pacific Northwest, not in Oklahomas Kiamichi Mountains. The national fascination with Bigfoot arguably began after a 1924 confrontation that a group of gold prospectors said they had with 7-foot-tall hairy creatures on Mt. St. Helens in Washington state. The gorge where it supposedly happened has since been renamed Ape Canyon. The Northwest has remained ground zero for Bigfoot sightings ever since. In 2012, the niche-news website Live Science published a list of the 10 states that have had the most sightings since 1995. Oklahoma didnt make the cut. Which might be why the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, which would be responsible under the legislation for making Bigfoot hunting season a thing, isnt buying into Humphreys plan. We use science-driven research, a spokesman said in response to reporters questions about the bill. And we dont recognize Bigfoot in the state of Oklahoma. -- Douglas Perry dperry@oregonian.com @douglasmperry WASHINGTON, Jan. 22, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Existing-home sales rose in December, with home sales in 2020 reaching their highest level since 2006, according to the National Association of Realtors. Activity in the major regions was mixed on a month-over-month basis, but each of the four areas recorded double-digit year-over-year growth in December. NAR Existing Home Sales for December 2020 NAR Chief Economist, Lawrence Yun (PRNewsfoto/National Association of Realtors) Total existing-home sales,1 https://www.nar.realtor/existing-home-sales , completed transactions that include single-family homes, townhomes, condominiums and co-ops, increased 0.7% from November to a seasonally-adjusted annual rate of 6.76 million in December. Sales in total rose year-over-year, up 22.2% from a year ago (5.53 million in December 2019). "Home sales rose in December, and for 2020 as a whole, we saw sales perform at their highest levels since 2006, despite the pandemic," said Lawrence Yun, NAR's chief economist. "What's even better is that this momentum is likely to carry into the new year, with more buyers expected to enter the market." Yun predicts a continuation of the strong activity that's currently taking place in the housing market and in the overall economy. "Although mortgage rates are projected to increase, they will continue to hover near record lows at around 3%," Yun said. "Moreover, expect economic conditions to improve with additional stimulus forthcoming and vaccine distribution already underway." The median existing-home price2 for all housing types in December was $309,800, up 12.9% from December 2019 ($274,500), as prices increased in every region. December's national price increase marks 106 straight months of year-over-year gains. Total housing inventory3 at the end of December totaled 1.07 million units, down 16.4% from November and down 23% from one year ago (1.39 million). Unsold inventory sits at an all-time low 1.9-month supply at the current sales pace, down from 2.3 months in November and down from the 3.0-month figure recorded in December 2019. NAR first began tracking the single-family home supply in 1982. Properties typically remained on the market for 21 days in December, seasonally even with November and down from 41 days in December 2019. Seventy percent of the homes sold in December 2020 were on the market for less than a month. "To their credit, homebuilders and construction companies have increased efforts to build, with housing starts hitting an annual rate of near 1.7 million in December, with more focus on single-family homes," Yun said. "However, it will take vigorous new home construction in 2021 and in 2022 to adequately furnish the market to properly meet the demand." First-time buyers were responsible for 31% of sales in December, unchanged from the same time in 2019, but down from 32% in November 2020. NAR's 2020 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers released in late 20204 revealed that the annual share of first-time buyers was 31%. Individual investors or second-home buyers, who account for many cash sales, purchased 14% of homes in December, identical to the share recorded in November 2020 and a small decline from 17% in December 2019. All-cash sales accounted for 19% of transactions in December, down from 20% in both November and December 2019. Distressed sales5 foreclosures and short sales represented less than 1% of sales in December, equal to November's percentage but down from 2% in December 2019. "NAR will work with the incoming Biden administration in pursuit of policies promoting housing affordability and accessibility," said NAR President Charlie Oppler, a Realtor from Franklin Lakes, N.J., and the CEO of Prominent Properties Sotheby's International Realty. "We were pleased with the homebuyer tax credit President Biden proposed as a candidate and we look forward to continuing our work with Congress and the White House. We will aim to find common ground, especially related to ways of boosting home supply and working toward solutions that will protect and support homeownership and America's broader real estate industry." According to Freddie Mac, the average commitment rate for a 30-year, conventional, fixed-rate mortgage decreased to 2.68% in December, down from 2.77% in November. The average commitment rate across all of 2020 was 3.11%. Single-family home sales rose at a seasonally-adjusted annual rate of 6.03 million in December, up 0.7% from 5.99 million in November, and up 22.8% from one year ago. The median existing single-family home price was $314,300 in December, up 13.5% from December 2019. Single-family and Condo/Co-op Sales Existing condominium and co-op sales were recorded at a seasonally-adjusted annual rate of 730,000 units in December, up 1.4% from November and up 17.7% from one year ago. The median existing condo price was $272,200 in December, an increase of 6.9% from a year ago. Regional Breakdown Median home prices increased at double-digit rates in each of the four major regions from one year ago. December 2020 saw existing-home sales in the Northeast climb 4.5%, recording an annual rate of 930,000, a 27.4% increase from a year ago. The median price in the Northeast was $362,100, up 19.0% from December 2019. Existing-home sales in the Midwest were unchanged, recording an annual rate of 1,590,000 in December, but up 26.2% from a year ago. The median price in the Midwest was $235,700, a 13.7% increase from December 2019. Existing-home sales in the South increased 1.1% to an annual rate of 2,860,000 in December, up 20.7% from the same time one year ago. The median price in the South was $268,100, an 11.3% increase from a year ago. Existing-home sales in the West fell 1.4% from the month prior, recording an annual rate of 1,380,000 in December, a 17.9% increase from a year ago. The median price in the West was $467,900, up 14.2% from December 2019. The National Association of Realtors is America's largest trade association, representing more than 1.4 million members involved in all aspects of the residential and commercial real estate industries. For local information, please contact the local association of Realtors for data from local multiple listing services (MLS). Local MLS data is the most accurate source of sales and price information in specific areas, although there may be differences in reporting methodology. NOTE: NAR's Pending Home Sales Index for December is scheduled for release on January 29, and Existing-Home Sales for January will be released February 19; release times are 10:00 a.m. ET. Information about NAR is available at www.nar.realtor . This and other news releases are posted on the NAR Newsroom at www.nar.realtor/newsroom. Statistical data in this release, as well as other tables and surveys, are posted in the "Research and Statistics" tab. 1 Existing-home sales, which include single-family, townhomes, condominiums and co-ops, are based on transaction closings from Multiple Listing Services. Changes in sales trends outside of MLSs are not captured in the monthly series. NAR rebenchmarks home sales periodically using other sources to assess overall home sales trends, including sales not reported by MLSs. Existing-home sales, based on closings, differ from the U.S. Census Bureau's series on new single-family home sales, which are based on contracts or the acceptance of a deposit. Because of these differences, it is not uncommon for each series to move in different directions in the same month. In addition, existing-home sales, which account for more than 90% of total home sales, are based on a much larger data sample about 40% of multiple listing service data each month and typically are not subject to large prior-month revisions. The annual rate for a particular month represents what the total number of actual sales for a year would be if the relative pace for that month were maintained for 12 consecutive months. Seasonally adjusted annual rates are used in reporting monthly data to factor out seasonal variations in resale activity. For example, home sales volume is normally higher in the summer than in the winter, primarily because of differences in the weather and family buying patterns. However, seasonal factors cannot compensate for abnormal weather patterns. Single-family data collection began monthly in 1968, while condo data collection began quarterly in 1981; the series were combined in 1999 when monthly collection of condo data began. Prior to this period, single-family homes accounted for more than nine out of 10 purchases. Historic comparisons for total home sales prior to 1999 are based on monthly single-family sales, combined with the corresponding quarterly sales rate for condos. 2The median price is where half sold for more and half sold for less; medians are more typical of market conditions than average prices, which are skewed higher by a relatively small share of upper-end transactions. The only valid comparisons for median prices are with the same period a year earlier due to seasonality in buying patterns. Month-to-month comparisons do not compensate for seasonal changes, especially for the timing of family buying patterns. Changes in the composition of sales can distort median price data. Year-ago median and mean prices sometimes are revised in an automated process if additional data is received. The national median condo/co-op price often is higher than the median single-family home price because condos are concentrated in higher-cost housing markets. However, in a given area, single-family homes typically sell for more than condos as seen in NAR's quarterly metro area price reports. 3 Total inventory and month's supply data are available back through 1999, while single-family inventory and month's supply are available back to 1982 (prior to 1999, single-family sales accounted for more than 90% of transactions and condos were measured only on a quarterly basis). 4 Survey results represent owner-occupants and differ from separately reported monthly findings from NAR's Realtors Confidence Index , which include all types of buyers. Investors are under-represented in the annual study because survey questionnaires are mailed to the addresses of the property purchased and generally are not returned by absentee owners. Results include both new and existing homes. 5 Distressed sales (foreclosures and short sales), days on market, first-time buyers, all-cash transactions and investors are from a monthly survey for the NAR's Realtors Confidence Index, posted at nar.realtor. SOURCE National Association of Realtors Related Links https://www.nar.realtor Hungary has signed an agreement to purchase "large quantities" of the Russian vaccine, although it has not yet been reviewed by European health authorities. This was announced by Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto, on a visit to Moscow, in a video posted on his Facebook account. "Details will be provided later," he added. Yesterday, the Russian Direct Investment Fund (the Russian sovereign wealth fund) announced the approval of Sputnik V by the National Institute of Pharmacy and Nutrition of Hungary (OGYEI). Hungary thus became the first country in the European Union to authorize its use. (Unioneonline / vl) With news that a probable home has been found for the Slav Epic, a series of masterworks by the Czech artist Alphonse Mucha, we take a look at what the paintings represent. There have been years of legal wrangling between the city of Prague and the descendants of the artist Alphonse Mucha over his Slav Epic, a 20-painting sequence telling the story of the Slavic people. Now, an agreement finally appears to have been reached to house the work permanently in Prague. Mucha gifted his masterpiece to Prague in 1928 with the proviso that an exhibition space had to be built to house the paintings -- some measuring more than 8 meters wide. That building never materialized. But the developer of a retail center scheduled to open in 2026 in central Prague has vowed to build a space for the epic to be displayed. Muchas grandson, John Mucha, told The Art Newspaper that if everything goes ahead as planned with the development of the exhibition space, he would drop ongoing litigation -- allowing the paintings to be displayed in a permanent home. Here is a summary of what each of the canvases represent: The Slavs In Their Original Homeland Mucha set the opening of the story of his people around the 5th century, when Slavic tribes of Central and Eastern Europe had no unified political structure in place and were vulnerable to attacks from Germanic militias. The couple in the foreground is hiding in a forest as raiders burn their village. Hovering above the scene is a pagan priest flanked by two youths who represent both war and the peace that fighting for ones freedom can bring. The Celebration Of Svetovid Beginning around the 8th century in the northwest lands of the Slavic tribes, Slavs built a temple to the pagan god Svetovid on Rugen Island in what is now Germany. Danish forces destroyed the temple and the land was soon repopulated with ethnic Germans. This painting shows Slavic pilgrims, dressed in white, making the journey to Svetovid for a celebration. Most are oblivious to their enemies, represented by wolves at the top left, as they advance on the sacred island. The Introduction Of The Slavonic Liturgy By the mid-ninth century, many Slavs had adopted Christianity. The new faith was profoundly strengthened when the Slavic monks Cyril and Methodius translated Christian texts into a language now known as Old Church Slavonic. The script they created for the task is the basis for the Cyrillic alphabet used in Russia, Ukraine, Serbia, Bulgaria, and many other countries today. The painting depicts Methodius in the top left wearing a white hood as he returns triumphantly from Rome where hed received the blessing of the pope to continue translating the Bible into a Slavic-friendly text. Figures floating at the top right represent rulers who helped the spread of Christianity in Slavic languages. The paintings subtitle, Praise The Lord In Your Native Tongue, captures the cultural significance of the moment. The Bulgarian Tsar Simeon When the followers of Methodius were evicted from Moravia, Tsar Simeon (at the center of the painting) invited them south to his Bulgarian kingdom to continue translating Christian texts. In this painting, members of Simeons court watch from the side as Moravian translators clutter the royal residence. Simeon is depicted in the midst of an impassioned debate. The Bohemian King Premsyl Otakar II Known as the Golden King for his enormous wealth, King Otakar II worked to forge close bonds with other Slavic rulers during the 13th century. Mucha depicted the Bohemian ruler extending his hands in friendship to two guests at the wedding of Otakars niece and the son of the king of Hungary. The Coronation Of Serbian Tsar Stepan Dusan Girls in traditional costumes lead a procession as the Serbian Tsar Stepan Dusan -- described as "perhaps the most powerful ruler in Europe" -- is crowned in Skopje in 1346. Dusan is in the center of the image dressed in white and gold. Dusan was lauded for vastly expanding territory held by Slavs in the south of Europe, and for a set of laws he enacted that served as a kind of medieval constitution. Milic Of Kromeriz Jan Milic was one of the first Christian men to publicly turn against what he felt was corruption within the Roman Catholic Church. In 1363, he walked away from his clerical titles and became a simple preacher. In this painting, Milic is depicted in a blue cloak with a beard atop scaffolding during the construction of a shelter for penitent prostitutes. The women at the bottom of the frame, apparently moved by Milics sermon, are seen in various stages of replacing their gauzy streetwear with the somber clothing of nuns. Master Jan Hus Preaching At The Bethlehem Chapel: Truth Prevails Jan Hus was another outspoken clergyman who criticized the excesses of the Roman Catholic Church. His Czech-language sermons inside the nondescript Bethlehem Chapel in Pragues Old Town electrified congregations. In 1415, after clashing repeatedly with church leaders, he was charged with heresy and burned at the stake. The Meeting At Krizky The cruelty of Jan Huss death sparked widespread anger in Czech lands and an underground movement opposing papal authority rapidly developed. This work depicts a secret gathering outside of Prague in 1419. A preacher named Koranda, wearing a brown cloak in the center right of the painting, calls on a crowd to take up arms as dark clouds gather in the background. After The Battle Of Grunwald The Teutonic Knights were a formidable Christian military force that regularly raided pagan Slavic territory in northeastern Europe through the 1300s. In 1410, a coalition of Polish and Lithuanian fighters advanced on the knights near their base in what is today the eastern part of Germany -- devastating the Germanic fighters in an infamous battle at Grunwald. This painting depicts the triumphant but shell-shocked Polish King Wladyslaw taking in the cost of the battle. After The Battle Of Vitkov Hill Mucha returns to the followers of Jan Hus, known as the Hussites, in this painting of the aftermath of a battle on the edge of Prague. The battle was fought in the summer of 1420 after Sigismund, the fiercely anti-Hussite Holy Roman Emperor, attempted to crack down on Pragues religious rebels. A small band of Hussites resisted Sigismunds army from their fortified position atop Vitkov Hill before a military force led by the legendary one-eyed warrior Jan Zizka surprised the invasion force from behind. The painting captures Zizka (right) in a shaft of sunlight standing above the enemys abandoned weapons during an impromptu religious service. Petr Of Chelcicky The misery of the Hussite wars is captured in this scene showing the aftermath of one of countless massacres of villagers by Hussite extremists. In the center right of the scene, the pacifist Petr of Chelcicky pleads with people not to seek vengeance. The Czech spiritual leader believed it impossible to physically destroy evil. The Hussite King Jiri Of Podebrady Due to the military endurance of the Hussites, Bohemia was able to crown native Czech Jiri of Podebrady in 1458. The Hussite ruler won popularity for his relatively moderate treatment of Catholics, and by reining in some of the more extreme Hussite factions. But Romes Catholic leadership refused to recognize his rule and demanded he return Bohemia to papal control. This painting shows the king (right) rejecting the demands of one of the popes diplomats. In the foreground, a boy indicates the end of cooperation with the Roman Catholic leadership by snapping shut a book titled Roma. Defense Of Szigetvar Against The Turks By Nikola IV Zrinski A new chapter in religious conflict opens with this painting of the Siege of Szigetvar by Turkish forces in 1566. The towns defenders are led by the Croatian nobleman Nikola IV Zrinski. The Ottomans eventually conquered the heavily fortified town in what is now southern Hungary and massacred the inhabitants. But the massive losses suffered by the invaders during the siege delayed Islams advance into Europe. A French cardinal later called Szigetvar the battle that saved [Western] civilization. The Printing Of The Bible Of Kralice In Ivancice The Unity of the Brethren was a religious sect founded on the principles taught by Jan Hus. In Muchas hometown of Ivancice, the scholarly brethren printed a Czech translation of the New Testament. In the leafy scene depicted by Mucha, brethren read through a new copy of the bible made by a printing press (right). Bibles printed at Kralice would prove crucial to the preservation of the Czech language through the turbulent events that followed. The Last Days Of Jan Amos Komensky In Naarden In 1619, Romes new emperor Ferdinand II used military might to reimpose Roman Catholic rule over Bohemia. Thousands fled the region after being given the choice to convert to Catholicism or become exiles. This painting captures the melancholy death of the beloved Czech educator and philosopher Jan Amos Komensky in 1670. He is seated in a chair on the Dutch coast. The lantern offers what Mucha called a flicker of hope in the gloomy scene as Komenskys followers dream of returning to their homeland. Holy Mount Athos Mount Athos is a sacred, monastery-dotted peninsula in northeastern Greece. It has long held significance for Slavs and was under Serbian administration for decades in the 1300s. Mucha visited the peninsula himself. In this painting, he depicted a crowd of Russian pilgrims paying homage in one of the peninsulas temples. Angels, some holding images of other Athos monasteries, float above the weary travelers. The Oath Of Omladina Under The Slavic Linden Tree Omladina (Youth) was the title given to violent street protesters in Prague in the late 1800s who were opposed to Austrian rule over Czech lands. In an infamous trial, dozens of the protesters received lengthy prison sentences. Mucha painted an idealized nationalist movement, with youngsters and politicians swearing allegiance to the goddess Slavia as she watches over from a perch in a linden tree. The Abolition Of Serfdom In Russia Russian society was dramatically changed in 1861 when Tsar Alexander II granted some 23 million serfs their freedom. Mucha traveled to Russia in 1913 to research the subject. His painting depicts crowds of Russian peasants milling around uncertainly on Moscows Red Square after learning of their new status as free men and women. Thiruvananthapuram, Jan 22 : Rakhi PV, a resource teacher at the Kodungallur government high school in Thrissur, Kerala, is elated to win the fight against the government over maternity leave as the state government recently brought out a gazette notification sanctioning maternity leave for six months with full benefits for all contractual government employees. The government order came almost after two years of the Kerala High Court ruling on the matter. When she was pregnant in 2017, Rakhi, along with six other teachers, had filed an appeal seeking maternity leave for six months after her requests were not even considered by the state government, Kerala Women's Commission and the Kerala State Human Rights Commission. Rakhi, who was working as a resource person at the Nattika school in Thrissur at the time, told IANS, "When I was pregnant, I had tried all options to get maternity leave extended from three months to six months but no one was supportive. In July 2017, I gave birth to a baby boy and the government had sent me a notice to join the school in October." "I had no other option but to approach the court, but my lawyer was also dismissive and said that the government might even cancel my contract. However, with the support of my family, I moved the court," Rakhi said. "The state government had filed an appeal in the division bench of the Kerala High Court against the order of the single bench when only 10 days were left for my maternity leave to end," she said, adding that she had decided to file an appeal in the Supreme Court but the division bench of the Kerala High Court, in a landmark verdict, allowed maternity leave with full benefits for all contract employees. Mumbai: Union Urban Development Minister M Venkaiah Naidu on Thursday said the municipal bodies should look at avenues to raise funds locally instead of expecting funds from the Central and state governments. Naidu, who was in the city to attend the listing of the Rs 200 crore bond by the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) on the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), said there is enough money in the system but the local bodies need to tap them efficiently through various modes of funding. The listing of the PMC bonds marks urban revival in the country. This event is going to have a wider impact on urban development. The time has come when cities (local bodies) start looking inward and raise money, he said. PMC has raised Rs 200 crore by selling 10-year bonds at a coupon of 7.59 per cent. The issue was oversubscribed six times. The proceeds will be used for a Rs 2,300 crore water project. The minister assured that the Centre will fund any developmental project undertaken by municipal local bodies but it is necessary that they should actively participate in raising resources for providing the necessary infrastructure and amenities to the citizens. He, however, noted that the resources should be raised in the most transparent manner. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that at least 10 cities should issue municipal bonds within a year. Other cities should now follow Pune and Ahmedabad, Naidu said. Union Minister of State for Finance and Corporate Affairs Arjun Meghwal, who was also present at the listing, said the capital markets health is improving and cities should take the benefit of it and become self-sufficient in raising funds. On the occasion, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said creating infrastructure should be perceived as a business model and local bodies should look at proper options with bankable proposition. SEBI Chairman Ajay Tyagi said local bodies need to be more disciplined in maintaining their accounts and system to make the bonds issued by them trade-worthy. They should have a proper credit system in place to ensure investor confidence in repayment of bonds, the Sebi chief said. SBI Chairman Arundhati Bhattacharya said such bonds will reduce the dependency of the municipal corporations and improve their fiscal position. SBI Capital is assisting many government agencies in raising funds through various instruments, she said. The benchmark Sensex today rallied 211 points to hit an all-time high of 31,494 at 1200 hrs. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. In separate petitions heard by the Lagos Judicial Panel of Inquiry on Friday, two women told the panel how their sons have been missing, several years after they were arrested by the police. Fausat Salami, in her 60s, told the panel that her son was arrested on March 29, 2013, at their residence in Ibadan. She said Felix, Friday, and Oyekan were the police officers who arrested her son, Salami Adeniyi Atoba. I asked what my son did, they said when I get to their station (SARS, Ikeja), I will know. They brought a car, but I did not follow them. I went in another car, I got there that day but they didnt allow me enter, they harassed me with gun, she said, narrating the incident in Yoruba language. The first day, I could not get in and I went back, still I didnt enter. After about four months that my son has been with them, Felix called me that he is the IPO and that their boss, the IG, said I should bring N4 million for them to take my son to court. Mrs Salami told the panel that she went back home, sold her properties and was able to raise part of the sum demanded. I gave them N500,000 at first, then N700,000 which makes N1,200,000. After giving them the money, they still did not allow me to see him, they said I should look for more money, she said. The mother told the panel that two years after her sons arrest, she was still not allowed to see him. She said she sent more money to an account provided by Mr Felix. On June 15, 2015, I sent another N1 million. They sent an account number and I sent the money. Felix sent the account number to me, when I saw the account number, I called the number back and he said he was the one that sent it, Mrs Salami told the panel. She said she made the transfer of N1 million to Fidelity Bank with account name Adesanya Omolola Isaac and account number 6230571726. She said after paying a total of N2.2million to the police, she told the police officer, Mr Felix, that she could no longer raise the remaining money. I called Felix that I had sold all the properties and that is all I could raise. He said I should come that maybe they will beg the boss and he will pity me. When I got there, it was Felix that came to meet me at the counter and told me not to see the boss to avoid him being angered. Still, they did not allow me see my son, she told the panel. Mrs Salami said after making the payments, her attention was called to a Daily Sun publication of April 3, 2013, with the caption Police arrest seven suspects, recover guns and dynamites. Police advised me to get a lawyer, and that was when I went to lawyer Ogunleye and we went to Onikan, Zone 2. The distressed mother told the panel that she and her lawyer went to see the Assistant Inspector General of Police at Zone 2, Lagos and wrote several petitions to the police but got no response. Felix and Oyekan stopped responding to my calls, I dont know whether he is dead or alive, she said. ADVERTISEMENT Mrs Salami urged the panel to help her investigate whether her son is dead or alive. She also prayed the panel to see to the refund of the money paid and all his properties seized by the police returned. Atoba has two children, 10 years and 7 years. I have no money to train them anymore, she said. In a similar petition, Abimbola Bakare, 58, said her son was arrested by the police on September 5, 2014, and till date, they dont know whether he is dead or alive. Mrs Bakare, a trader, said on the day of his sons arrest, she sent Mr Bakare to get drugs for his toddler that was teething. I went to the market, my child (Abayomi Bakare) went to work and by the time I returned in the evening, I noticed the child was running temperature. I observed that the child was teething and I asked his father to buy him some medicine. I didnt see him when he ought to have come back. I went to the chemist, and I met people along the way and they said the police have taken some people away and he was among, she said. The mother said she went to Pedro Police Station at Bariga where she was told that the suspects were arrested by SARS and have been taken to Ikeja. I went to Ikeja and I saw policemen and my child at the back of the counter sitting. I was asking what his offence was and they told me to come back the following day. She further said that when she got home, she told her sons wife that her husband had been arrested and was at Ikeja, but the moment she heard SARS, she fainted. Mrs Bakare said she could not go to the police station the next day because the little child and his mother were taken to the hospital, adding that she sent relatives to the station who came back with the IPOs number. I called the IPO, Friday, and went back to the station to see him where I was told that my son is a cult member. I told them my son is not a cultist and they said I should come back the third day. Mrs Bakare said on the third day, she went with her first son and the IPO took them to another officer on the first floor, who told them to bring N2 million. I started looking for money, because I didnt have such money, I sold some of my things. I took the N200, 000 we could gather to the police station. On getting to the police station, the IPO when he sighted me, he chased me out. I started begging him, he asked me whether I have the money with me and if I have it, I will go to the boss. Mrs Bakare said when she explained that she only got part of the money, the IPO told her she was not ready yet. Since then, anytime I go to the station, I do not see my child again. I was going everyday, and one day the officers at the gate asked me why I was coming everyday, then I explained. The officers said I should stop so that they can help me investigate. When he got back, he told me my son had been taken to Abuja. I was worried, then somebody asked me again and I told him they said they have taken my child to Abuja, then the officer said anybody that is said to have been to Abuja must have been killed, she said. Mrs Bakare said it was after this that she hired a lawyer, Olufemi Falana, who went to the police station to investigate. He also wrote letters to the police authority. When my lawyer filed a petition to the police and no action was taken, we went to the High Court. She added that while at the High Court, the family was awarded N2 million by Adeniyi Onigbanjo, a judge at the High Court in Ikeja. When the cheque was issued, the name of the missing child was written on it and since then we have not been able to get the money, she told the panel. Mrs Bakare urged the panel to investigate the matter and serve justice. The victim was 27 at the time of arrest, while his son is now seven years, Mrs Bakare said. Doris Okuwobi, a retired judge heading the panel, adjourned the matters to February 13 and 16 respectively. The Lagos Judicial Panel of Inquiry was set up by the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, in compliance with a directive of the federal government that cases of police brutality against Nigerians and other related human rights abuses be investigated. The FG issued the directive to the 36 states of the federation and the FCT following the #EndSARS protests that rocked the nation late 2020. Since the inauguration of the Okuwobi-led panel, it has entertained many cases including the Lekki Tollgate shooting that happened in October 2020. Etihad Airways has announced flights to Doha will resume as relations between the Gulf states continue to warm. Air travel in the Gulf is highly dependent on the regional political situation. The Abu Dhabi-based airline will recommence flight service to and from the Qatari capital on Feb. 15, according to a press release. The Qatari diplomatic crisis began in 2017 when the United Arab Emirates along with Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Bahrain severed relations with Qatar and closed their air, land and sea borders to the country. The political crisis concerned Qatars relations with the Muslim Brotherhood and Iran. Relations are now being repaired. The quartet has reopened borders with Qatar and is now reestablishing diplomatic relations following the Gulf Cooperation Council summit earlier this month. The warming will allow Etihad to resume its Abu Dhabi-Doha route. The flights could help Etihad continue to navigate the crisis in global travel resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. Etihad experienced a massive decrease in passenger flights last year. Abu Dhabi reopened to tourists in December, and the change bodes well for Etihads sales for Doha flights. Other flight routes are resuming due to the rapprochement between Qatar and its neighbors. Qatar Airways also announced this month it will resume flights to Cairo and Riyadh. Etihad will also begin flying to Tel Aviv in March, following the normalization deal between the UAE and Israel last year. 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. The Telegraph The list of Donald Trump associates who have attempted to bring down the former president is as long as it is varied: from his lawyer, to his closest advisor, his ex-wife and his alleged lover. But like many powerful figures before him, it may well be his accountant that would be his undergoing. Allen Weisselberg, the little-known 73-year-old chief financial officer for the Trump Organisation, has worked for the Trump family as far back as the early 1970s under Donalds father Fred. Some say he is closer to Mr Trump than he is to his own children. As one former employee put it, he knows where the bodies are buried". In recent weeks New York prosecutors investigating Mr Trumps tax affairs have been turning the screws on Mr Weisselberg in the hope of flipping him to testify against his boss. Cyrus Vance, the Manhattan District Attorney, is looking into everything from hush-money payments paid to women on Mr Trump's behalf, to property valuations and employee compensation. Speculation is mounting that his office may be able to turn Mr Weisselberg, who has not been accused of any wrongdoing, as it pulls together a grand jury to decide whether to indict. SNL is ready to kick off the new year with an all-new slate of hosts. John Krasinski, Dan Levy and Regina King will serve as the first three hosts of the long-running sketch show in 2021, beginning the last Sunday in January. In their usual style, SNL made the big reveal on index cards which were mocked up with the names of the hosts, the musical acts and the dates and then shared to Twitter. Live from New York: John Krasinski (pictured), Dan Levy and Regina King will serve as the first three SNL hosts of 2021, beginning the last Sunday in January, the show announced on Friday 'Hello, 2021,' the official SNL account tweeted on Friday. The Office and Jack Ryan star John Krasinski, 41, will host the first show of the year on January 30th. Rapper Machine Gun Kelly will perform. Krasinksi had been set to host SNL in March of last year right as the pandemic first hit and shuttered productions, thereby canceling his gig. 'Aaaaaand cue the pinching myself. #SNL,' the actor said on social media about getting a second chance at hosting the series. 2021 slate: In their usual style, SNL made the big reveal on index cards which were mocked up with the names of the hosts, the musical acts and the dates and then shared to Twitter An honor: The Office and Jack Ryan star John Krasinski, 41, will host the first show of the year on January 30th. Rapper Machine Gun Kelly (pictured) will perform While Machine Gun Kelly - who dates Megan Fox - called the honor a 'bucket list' moment. 2020's star of the year, Schitt's Creek actor/co-creator/writer Dan Levy, 37, will then make his SNL hosting debut the following weekend. 'OMFG,' he tweeted, expressing his excitement. The honor follows an epic year for Levy and his inclusive sitcom which swept awards season. Dan became the first person ever to win a Prime Time Emmy in all four major categories in one year. Top notch talent: Schitt's Creek's Dan Levy and Watchmen's Regina King will also make their SNL hosting debuts on February 6 and 13th respectively Regina King, 50, is the third host that was announced this week. The Oscar, Emmy and Golden Globe winner will make her debut at the helm of the live comedy show on Valentine's Day weekend. Musical guests Phoebe Bridgers and Nathaniel Rateliff were also announced. SNL will air five back-to-back weeks of new episodes and the remaining two sets of hosts and musical guests are expected to be announced in the coming weeks. The series, executive produced by Lorne Michaels, is currently in its 46th season having debuted in 1975. Syracuse, N.Y. -- Syracuse police issued a warning for Strathmore residents to lock their doors and windows because of a recent increase of burglaries in the area. Police said the burglaries have happened when people are home. Those committing the burglaries seem to be teens, according to police. The burglaries are often happening overnight. The department said it has increased marked and unmarked patrols in the neighborhood to help deter the burglars. In the late summer of last year, Strathmore saw a rise in burglaries and stolen cars. Often, those cases involved kids and teens. The department did not provide a specific number of burglaries or larcenies committed in the area. In data available on the departments website, the number of burglaries, larcenies and stolen cars are down significantly citywide compared to the first three weeks of last year. In all, citywide property crime has dropped 57 percent this year compared to the same time last year. Property crime in the citys Southwest district, which includes Strathmore, has only dropped 44 percent. 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. CLAY COUNTY, Ind. (WTHI) -- The Clay County Humane Society said there are 1,000 stray cats in its area. The group wants to help decrease the stray population. Many cats have often been turned away from shelters due to overcrowding. That's why the Clay County Humane Society wants to add a new building to its shelter. So far, the shelter said it doesn't have enough room for all the animals. Some animals have to be turned away. Many of the ones turned away are feral cats. The shelter leaders said a surgery center needs to be built to allow for spaying and neutering. But right now, having the space for this center, as well as the current animal load, is an issue. Board of Directors President Toni Carter said, "Because of the space in here, we have to get the dogs out so that we've got the ability to concentrate on the surgery part, and having space in order to do it." To help with this issue the shelter is going to put up a new building in the back. That building will be able to house all the dogs while freeing up space for surgeries in the existing building. "Like I have 6 dogs back there right now. You obviously can't do surgery when you have 6 dogs back there barking, and yelling, and screaming. So, the building should come first." They hope to be able to start on the building by this summer. When the building is complete shelter leaders told News 10 they want to start operating the surgery center ASAP. Facility Manager Lindsay Stevenson said, "I mean we're not just fixing them to keep the population down. We're making them healthier. The less that has to come in here when they're doing fine out there, the better." Leaders told News 10 this new surgery center will also be helping the community. Stevenson said, "We're going to start out with basically our needs in-house, and then hopefully expand to the community where we can do a low-cost type clinic." Making sure these animals are healthy is the center's number one goal. You can help make this possible by donating to the shelter. To donate you can click here. You can also check out their Facebook page for more information. Joe Biden used his inaugural address this week to call for a new era of national unity, promising to put his whole soul into bringing the country together after the vitriol, violence, and collective trauma of the Trump years. And how are Republicans responding? Largely by trying to club the president with his own words, accusing him of being divisive every time he opens his mouth or signs a sheet of paper. The effort to, as Pod Save Americas Dan Pfeiffer put it, weaponize Bidens rhetoric against him is proceeding down two parallel tracks. Some conservatives have worked themselves into a righteous huff by accusing the president of demonizing them during his speech, in which he said the country faced a rise in political extremism, white supremacy, domestic terrorism that we must confront and we will defeat and urged Americans to reject the culture in which facts themselves are manipulated and even manufactured. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To the average listener, these lines may have sounded like a straightforward acknowledgment of the fact that a mob of Donald Trumps supporters, a number of whom were decked out with white supremacist symbols, had just sacked the U.S. Capitol after being fed lies about a stolen election. But Republicans like Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul said they took personal offense. If you read his speech and listen to it carefully, much of it is thinly veiled innuendo calling us white supremacists, calling us racists, calling us every name in the book, calling us people who dont tell the truth, he told Fox News. Assuming it isnt just pure bad faith, Pauls reaction seems to say more about him than it does about Biden. Advertisement Most Republicans, however, seem to have wisely chosen not to align themselves with a group of insurrectionists. Instead, theyve stuck to accusing Biden of preaching togetherness while governing as a partisan, or pairing unity themes and divisive actions, as Sen. John Cornyn charged. Some are keeping the criticisms vague and general. Sen. Marco Rubio tweeted that a radical leftist agenda in a divided country will not help unify our country, it will only confirm 75 million Americans biggest fears about the new administration. Others have singled out specific moves, such as Bidens executive orders aimed at halting new fossil fuel development. When it comes to energy policy, the Biden administration is off to a divisive & disastrous start, Wyoming Sen. John Barrasso carped. Advertisement Advertisement Even niche regional issues risk separating Americans back into warring camps, if Republicans are to be believed. Mitt Romney, for instance, suggested that Bidens moves to restore the Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante national monuments in Utah back to their previous sizes, after Donald Trump slashed them with a controversial executive order in 2017, will not solve the root of the problem and will only deepen divisions in this country. All of these criticisms amount to a single idea: that Biden is somehow betraying his promise to try and bring together the country by fulfilling his campaign pledges and governing like an actual Democrat. This claim is fundamentally wrong, but it benefits from having just enough surface-level plausibility that some reporters and reflexively centrist pundits may buy it. After all, when a sitting president does things that the opposition party doesnt like, it is by definition divisive, in the sense that it leads to disagreement. There is no real way around that fact. Whats more, Biden has said many times that he wants to govern in a bipartisan fashion when possible, but so far, he hasnt really proposed much yet that Republicans would obviously want to sign on to, a point that the New York Times Michael Shear latched on to during Thursdays White House press briefing: Advertisement Advertisement Like if theres this call for unity that the president made in his speech yesterday, but there has so far been almost no fig leaf even to the Republican Party. You dont have a Republican Cabinet member, like President Obama and, I think, President Clinton had. Youyou know, the executive orders that hes come out the gate have been largely designed at erasing as much of the Trump legacy as you can with executive orders, much of which the Republican Party likes and agrees with. Youve put forth an immigration bill that has a path to citizenship but doesnt do much of a nod towards the border security. And youve got a $1.9 trillion COVID relief bill that has, as folks have said, already drawn all sorts of criticism. Where is thewhere is the actual action behind this idea of bipartisanship? And when are we going to see one of those, you know, sort of, substantial outreaches that says, This is something that, you know, the Republicans want to do, too? Advertisement Aside from the odd use of fig leaf (I assume he meant olive branch), there are a few things wrong with the way Shear and Republicans are framing this issue. First, making bipartisan gestures in Washington and unifying the country may be related, but they are not the same thing. Republicans oppose many policies that are overwhelmingly popular with the public, such as raising the minimum wage or reducing carbon emissions, and while Democrats might create conflict in Congress by pursuing them, they wouldnt necessarily be dividing voters in a meaningful way. Furthermore, many of the conflicts tearing the country apart are fundamentally cultural battles over identity that have very little to do with specific policy debates in Washington, and its possible for Biden to present himself as a president whounlike Trump, who constantly denigrated his opponentsrespects and cares about voters who didnt back him without caving to Republicans on, say, the size of a national monument or whether we allow oil drilling in Alaska. Advertisement Second, its a bit odd for Republicans or the press to talk about Bidens failure to be sufficiently bipartisan when Republicans havent proposed much that theyd like to work with Biden on. So far, even moderates like Romney and Sen. Susan Collins seem to be cold on the idea of a new relief package, and its not clear yet where else theres space for collaboration. If Republicans want bipartisanship, they should make clear where they think theres room to work together. Advertisement Advertisement Finally, the whole point of Bidens inaugural was that we need to coalesce around some of the basic civic and democratic ideals that Donald Trump tried to shred so that we can go back to disagreeing about policy without trying to murder one another. As the president put it: Politics need not be a raging fire destroying everything in its path. Every disagreement doesnt have to be a cause for total war. He asked Americans to relearn how to love their neighbors; he did not promise to make Republicans happy with every executive action. To suggest otherwise is disingenuous. If Biden cant ultimately find some areas of policy compromise with the GOP, he will have failed on his specific promise to revive bipartisan deal-making. But the idea that hes being divisive merely by acting like a Democrat is silly bait that, hopefully, most of the medianot to mention the president himselfwill be smart enough not to take. Report identifies key areas where company support has contributed to societal, environmental, and educational efforts globally Luminati Networks, a leading data collection platform dedicated to providing businesses with a transparent view of the internet, today announced the release of its Impact Report 2020, an inaugural summary of the company's partnerships that have had an impact on social and environmental issues, throughout the past year. Focusing on four main areas of social responsibility, crisis response, education/research, and government, the Impact Report 2020 outlines Luminati's activity in each area in conjunction with non-governmental organizations (NGOs), health authorities, and academic institutions. It also describes the contributions and activities that lead to significant beneficial impacts for society, public health, and the academic community during the most critical moments of 2020. "We have offered our data collection services and expertise to a growing number of organizations, public bodies, and institutions pro bono enabling them to enact change. These entities are committed to saving lives, improving community wellbeing, tackling the most pressing environmental challenges, championing social justice campaigns, and leading government initiatives. We are privileged to help them with their missions," said Or Lenchner, CEO of Luminati Networks. Luminati's Impact Report 2020 highlights the organization's work during the pandemic, including partnering with agencies and companies and equipping them with the most relevant, mass-scale online data and state-of-the-art technology. It specifically discusses the multiple partnerships with different organizations dedicated to addressing significant social injustice matters such as child abuse and the ever-growing global unemployment rate. The report also highlights Luminati's partnerships with multiple institutions of higher learning located worldwide which reinforces the company's commitment to educating future generations about responsible data collection. To date, Luminati has partnered with over 20 leading academic institutions by providing complementary technology used for critical research. It has also run a series of workshops, masterclasses, and seminars that address the importance of responsible online data collection and business practices. Among Luminati's academic partners are King's College, The Technion Israel Institute of Technology, Oxford University, Royal Holloway University, Northeastern University, ETH Zurich and more. "This past year has illustrated that fast-tracked, mass-scale online data can assist in resolving a variety of pressing issues, from social injustice to health crises and necessary research," added Lenchner. "We will expand our partnerships with organizations dedicated to addressing these topics and making a real impact where it is most needed," he concluded. To learn more about Luminati's global efforts, download the Luminati Impact Report 2020 here. About Luminati Networks Luminati Networks is a leading online data collection platform dedicated to enabling organisations access the internet with complete transparency. The company's more than 230 team members assist organisations in reaching publicly available and reliable web data that allows them to make real-time intelligent decisions faster and more effectively. Luminati serves thousands of customers from multiple industry and market sectors and is trusted by Fortune 100 firms. The company has recently been recognized by Gartner Inc., the leading research firm, for its data-driven contributions during the COVID-19 pandemic. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210122005119/en/ Contacts: Keren Pakes kerenp@luminati.io Jacob Greenwood Luminati@rlyl.com Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. Syracuse, N.Y. A tow truck driver who pulled two people from a burning car in late December was honored today by AAA, who at his urging, announced that life saving tools will be added to all AAA trucks in Western and Central New York. Scott Swank, of Phoenix, was sitting inside his parked AAA flatbed truck on the morning on Dec. 26 when he heard a vehicle zoom past him on Erie Boulevard East in Syracuse. The car crashed into a utility pole, rolled over and caught fire. Swank, who is also a volunteer firefighter at the Phoenix Fire Department, sprung into action. Using a tool he uses for removing tires, Swank smashed open the drivers side window and using his personal pocket knife, cut the drivers seat belt and pulled her from the burning car. Scott did what only a special person would do, said Tony Spada, president and CEO of AAA Western and Central New York. Scott, you are a true superhero. The driver, 29-year-old Aeriel Freeman, is expected to survive. The front seat passenger, 24-year-old Tyshawn East, later died from his injuries. After the crash, Swank advocated for AAA to add a tool to all of its trucks for breaking safety glass and cutting a seat belt, should any other driver find themselves in a situation similar to Swank. AAA announced that all of its approximately 100 trucks in the Syracuse and Rochester areas will now be equipped with the handheld tool. Margaret Pittelkow, vice president of AAA Automotive, said the organization plans to eventually add the tool to all of its more than 50,000 trucks across North America. Swank was also presented with a gift certificate to Turning Stone Resort & Casino. AAA also pledged to make a $1,000 donation to a fire department of Swanks choosing. Syracuse police, firefighters and other first responders on the scene of a crash near the corner of Erie Boulevard East and University Avenue. A vehicle appeared to have struck a utility pole and catch fire. Dec. 26, 2020.Jacob Pucci Contact Jacob Pucci at jpucci@syracuse.com or find him on Twitter at @JacobPucci. CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. --- The Tennessee Fish and Wildlife Commission heard a preliminary 2020-21 deer harvest, a chronic wasting disease (CWD) report, and status of the lake sturgeon restoration project during its first meeting of the year which concluded Friday. The statewide deer harvest currently stands at 159,935, a 20 percent increase from the 2019-20 season. The total is a 6 percent increase (9,534) from the average of five previous seasons. However, it is a 5 percent decrease from the 2015-16 season. In Unit CWD in southwestern Tennessee, the harvest a 35 percent increase to 19,843 from the 2019-20 season. In the 11 counties comprising Unit season, it is an 8 percent increase over the past five years. It is an 8 percent decrease from 2015. During the 2020-21 season, there have been 18,616 deer sampled with 556 positives and 2,319 tests pending. The current positives are an increase of 64 from 2019-20 and bring the total to a 3-year total of 1,234. The 2020-21 Earn-a-Buck and Replacement Buck program in Unit CWD saw less than 2,100 total bucks earned. Slightly fewer than 1,600 persons earned at least one buck and there were 320 replacement bucks. A brief discussion was held on the next steps the TWRA could take using deer modeling to predict deer movement and behavior. In the coming weeks, the Agency will determine how to best allocate resources to continue CWD management in West Tennessee. Frank Fiss, TWRA Fisheries Division provided an update on a long-term recovery project for native lake sturgeon. The project started in 1998 with the goal to establish a self-sustaining population. TWRA, along with multiple state, federal, and non-governmental partners has released more than 280,000 lake sturgeon in these rivers. Biologists survey populations annually to monitor the survival and growth of the stocked fish. TWRA asks anglers to report their catch of lake sturgeon, and all must be released immediately. TWRA has issued 662 certificates to thank anglers for reporting their catch. Lake sturgeon can grow up to 8-feet long, weigh 300 pounds, and live 150 years. The commission was also informed about White-nose Syndrome (WNS) in Tennessee. The disease has had an adverse effect on the bat population. Josh Campbell, Region II Biodiversity coordinator, reported WNS has been documented in 12 of the 16 species in the state. There are more than 11,000 documented caves located in 77 of the states counties. There are 143 positive or suspect sites with 57 counties designated positive or suspect. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service provides a WNS grant opportunity. The funds are used for a variety of work conducted by the TWRA annually. An amendment to change the start of the fall raptor taking season from Sept. 15 to Aug. 15 each year was approved. It was changed to Aug. 15 in 2012. It was noticed that it was inadvertently changed to Sept.15 during the last revision in 2018. This amendment corrects the error. Commissioner Tony Sanders of Hixson was recognized for his 25 years of service as a Hunter Education instructor. Ed Carter, who retired as TWRA executive director in May, was present to receive a Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (SEAFWA) resolution in recognition of his many contributions. The TFWC's next meeting is Feb. 18-19 in Franklin at the Marriott of Cool Springs. The TFWCs 2021-22 officers will be elected at the meeting. ---TWRA--- 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 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 leaders agreed that borders should remain open and assessed more measures to counter the spread of variants during a video summit as the bloc's top disease control official said urgent action was needed to stave off a new wave of hospitalisations and deaths. Expressing great concern about the virus' mutations, the 27 leaders looked at further border restrictions like limits on all non-essential travel, better tracking of mutations and improving coordination of lockdowns. Though worried that another surge of deaths across the EU was imminent, they could not immediately agree on whether or not to halt non-essential travel. It is of great importance not to travel, but you cannot immediately enforce this legally," Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said after the conference call. European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen insisted on the importance of keeping borders open to ensure that goods continue to move smoothly while introducing measures that keep us all safe." She said leaders discussed a proposal to introduce new trans-border dark red zones" where infections rates are particularly high and where all non-essential travel should be discouraged. Travellers from these areas could be required to undergo tests before their departure and be placed in isolation upon arrival in another location. Von der Leyen said the commission will make precise recommendations to member states in the coming days. Some 4,00,000 EU citizens have died from COVID-19-related causes since the start of the pandemic, and the head of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, Andrea Ammon, said that an increasing number of infections will lead to higher hospitalisation and death rates across all age groups, particularly for those in older age groups. In a study published just before the summit, the ECDC warned of the high dangers of the new variants, like those initiating in Britain, Brazil and South Africa. Ammon said that member states are also encouraged to accelerate vaccination of high-risk groups, and prepare the health care system for high demand. Some EU countries have already strengthened restrictions by imposing stricter curfews and more stringent mask requirements on public transport and in shops. Among the measures the ECDC recommends is a ban on nonessential travel and a speeding up of vaccinations. Most said free movement must survive but that it is vital to ask not to to travel," Rutte said. It is essential that we discourage travel in Europe as much as possible. Don't travel, simply don't travel." Echoing the ECDC advice, Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo had proposed a temporary ban on nonessential travel during the February school break. With the health situation at a critical point, the commission also urged member states before the meeting to step up the pace of vaccination, to ensure that at least 80 per cent of those over age 80 are vaccinated by March, and that 70 per cent of the adult population across the bloc is protected by the end of the summer. Charles Michel, the president of the European Council, said there is a global and clear support for this proposal." But since the EU doesn't expect vaccines to be ready for mass distribution before April, leaders should in the meantime find efficient ways to contain the new variants. The commission believes that better tracking the virus' mutations with genomic sequencing, coupled with an increased use of rapid antigen tests, will be crucial. The EU Commission said several EU nations are testing under 1 per cent of samples. It has proposed to urgently" increase genome sequencing to at least 5 per cent of positive test results and would ideally see that figure reach 10 per cent to detect the variants. Member states unanimously agreed on Thursday on a common framework for the use of rapid antigen tests and the mutual recognition of PCR test results across the bloc of 450 million inhabitants. Discussions also focused on the disruption of vaccine deliveries after Pfizer last week announced a temporary reduction that has affected all EU countries. The EU has sealed six vaccine contracts for more than 2 billion doses, but only the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines have been approved for use so far. The EU now expects Pfizer to keep the drop in deliveries limited to this week, while resuming full distribution again next week, with the resulting backlog made up during February. Leaders also weighed a Greek proposal to issue vaccination certificates to ease travel. But with doubts about whether the people vaccinated could still be contagious, and only a small fraction of the EU population already vaccinated, they agreed it was too soon to decide if vaccination proof certificates should be considered as travel documents. (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.) GUWAHATI: All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) president Badruddin Ajmal, who is known for giving provocative statements, has once again created a spark after he attempted to polarise the upcoming Assam assembly election, which is due in April-May 2021. Badruddin, who is also a Lok Sabha MP from Dhubri seat, made some highly provocative speeches as he went on to allege that if BJP comes to power again in the centre, it will destroy mosques and put several restrictions on Muslims of the state. Attacking the ruling BJP party in Assam, Badruddin stated that it will not let Muslim women step out wearing burqa, allow Muslim men to grow beard, wear a skull cap or offer 'azaan' at mosques. The Dhubri MP questioned the crowd, who had assembled at his rally, "Will you be able to live in such a way?" The development comes just a day after Congress and Lef parties formed an alliance with Badruddin Ajmal-led All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) to take on the ruling BJP-led coalition in Assam in the upcoming Assembly elections. Announcing the Mahagathbandhan (grand alliance), Assam Congress President Ripun Bora said that his party would contest the elections in alliance with the AIUDF, the three Left parties - CPI-Marxist, CPI, CPI (Marxist-Leninist) and AGM. He said that regional parties are welcome to join the Mahagathbandhan to oust the Bharatiya Janata Party from power in the state. AIUDF President and Lok Sabha member Maulana Badruddin Ajmal has been stating that the two parties (Congress and AIUDF) have decided to contest the Assembly polls together since their tie-up for the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) polls held last month. The Congress had suffered a setback in the recent elections to the BTC and the Tiwa Autonomous Council. Two of its MLAs - Ajanta Neog and Rajdeep Goala - had joined the BJP last month, delivering another blow to the party. In the 2016 Assam assembly elections, the Congress had contested on its own without an electoral alliance with any party, securing 24 seats. After the last Assembly polls, the BJP formed the government in Assam for the first time after winning 60 seats following the formation of an alliance with the Bodoland People`s Front (BPF) and the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP), which won 14 and 12 seats, respectively. The ruling alliance also has the support of an Independent MLA. The 126-member Assam Assembly is likely to go to the polls in April-May along with West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry. Live TV A German city has built a series of pods for homeless people to be able to sleep in. According to a report, the units, known as 'Ulmer Nest', were installed on January 8 by officials in Ulm, about 75 miles west of Munich, to provide shelter for sleepers during the cold winter months. Facebook/Ulmer Nest The pods, which are made from wood and steel, were put in parks and other places, a spokesman for the city said. To shield the homeless from the wind and cold, the beds have been equipped with thermal insulation. They are also big enough for use by two individuals. There are no cameras, and when they are in use, sensors are triggered. Those behind the project, amid some delays, announced that they had eventually been rolled out just as the weather began to take a turn for the worse. The group wrote about it on Facebook, Today the two Ulm nests were repositioned - unfortunately due to corona with delay, but just in time for the really cold nights. We hope to repeat last year's positive feedback in order to provide a supplementary measure regarding the existing frostbite protection in Ulm in the long term. Also Read: First Indian To Travel Inside A Hyperloop Pod Is A Pune-Based Engineer Named Tanmay Manjrekar Facebook/Ulmer Nest Talking about the improvements they have inculcated, the group wrote, We improved thermal internal isolation and took measures to optimize the climate (less moisture + warmer air). The nests are now equipped with solar panels, which allows (at least) energy neutral use during the day. Further energy saving measures are in the works. Ulmer Nests are also connected to the Ulmer LoRa-Wan-IoT-wireless network, and the long term plan is to depend on it entirely, so as not to depend on mobile networks. The locking and the corresponding mechanisms have been completely revised and now offer easier operation and more interaction options for all involved, the page wrote. They are extremely easy to use, said Flaco Pross - who built the pods - and that people don't need to fill in any forms to register to use them. Facebook/Ulmer Nest The pods were fitted with sensors that pick up whenever they are opened or closed. The next day, if they are still there, someone from the charity goes down to check on the pod and to give the user some assistance. The charity will also check the pods for any damage caused, restoring them as soon as possible in order to ready them for use again. The goal is to provide places to stay during the cold nights to sleepers in need, and, hopefully, give the charity the opportunity to initiate contact with them. What do you think of this idea? Also read: Paradox-Free Time-Travel Which Won't Change The Past Or Future Is Possible, Says New Study (JNS) - Media reports carried news of intensive airstrikes against Iranian-linked targets in eastern Syria early on Wednesday, attributed to the Israeli Air Force. The alleged strikes in the Deir al-Zour and Albu Kamal areas were the latest in a long series of reported Israeli attacks that are designed to thwart the Islamic Republic's attempts at building a war machine in Syria. The airstrikes nevertheless stood out in light of the extraordinary comments made by a senior American intelligence official, who told the Associated Press that the bombings were enabled by intelligence provided... [January 22, 2021] Mana Common Announces Partnership with Plug and Play MIAMI, Jan. 22, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- MANA Common, led by CEO and visionary entrepreneur Moishe Mana, today announced that it will partner with the global innovation platform, Plug and Play, to establish a presence within Downtown Miami's Flagler District. Plug and Play, based in Silicon Valley, is the world's largest global innovation platform and investor. "Miami has always had the components to make it a global technology hub," says Moishe Mana. "Now that remote work has allowed tech workers and founders to live nearly anywhere, we're seeing an acceleration of Miami's emergence as a leading city for tech." The collaboration aims to unite the most promising startups with the world's impactful corporations to drive investment, foster innovation, and secure collaborative partnerships across an array of verticals within the Miami tech ecosystem. This marks the first Miami office for the tech platform, which besides its headquarters in the Silicon Valley has offices in dozens of cities including Paris, Tokyo, Chicago, Sao Paulo, and Shanghai. "We look forward to being a dynamic part of the growing tech community in Miami," says Saeed Amidi, Founder and CEO of Plug and Play. "Our partners will bring their knowledge, expertise, and experience to help our startups grow. Connecting these key stakeholders and industry experts will expedite the digital and cultural transformation in a location ripe for explosive growth. We will work hand-in-hand with Mana Tech to find the founding partners to further develop the tech community." For Mana Common, the partnership is one of the first steps in executing their vision for the Flagler District as the economic center of Miami. Mana is Miami's largest private landowner and their current efforts are focused on their dozens of properties surrounding Flagler Street in Miami's Downtown core. "This marks a huge milestone and opportunity for the Miami tech scene," says Michelle Abbs, Managing Director of Mana Tech, one of the six divisions of Mana Common. "We've been actively listening and responding to the local tech cmmunity, and we're excited to deliver a solution like this with Plug and Play who has successfully built complete innovation ecosystems multiple times. It's the connection that the Miami tech and business communities have been lacking, until now." The annual program is designed to host two cohorts per year. Mana Common will co-host the first event with Plug and Play in Miami on February 16, 2021 intended to gather interest from the initial founding members that will jointly work in this project. Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, Miami Mayor Francis Saurez, and other corporate partners have confirmed their attendance. Plug and Play's platform includes an array of innovation protocols and a curated selection of startups, including the Miami tech entrepreneurs, that will help corporations bridge the gap to bring new products and services to market faster. Plug and Play will offer business development opportunities, mentorship, and networking for startups, investors, and corporations. Twice per year, the founding corporations will choose 10 to 15 startups to benefit from these opportunities. The virtual event will be open to the public, accessible via http://bit.ly/PNP_ManaTech Following the kickoff event, the selected founding partners in the Miami program will be featured in a roundtable event set to finalize the topics for the program. Large industry players are encouraged to schedule a call with Jackie Hernandez, SVP at Plug and Play, to learn how to become a partner in Plug and Play Miami. Please visit the website to learn more: PlugandPlayTechCenter.com. About Mana Common Mana Common is a platform for neighborhood revitalization. We believe that truly integrated neighborhoods, where residents can live, work, and play, are the wave of the future. As such, the divisions of Mana Common reflect the most basic elements upon which a community is built: Culture, Commerce, Technology, Property, Agriculture, and Social Impact. The name, "Mana Common," originates from our belief that our world is becoming more and more connected. Rather than focusing on our differences, our shared humanity gives us common ground, common decency, and common knowledge upon which a truly thriving community ecosystem must be built. Using the Mana Common process, we begin building community ecosystems long before any construction begins and continue to nurture them long afterwards. This allows for rapid, meaningful, permanent vitality for a neighborhood. Contact: Power Collective Marcia Martinez Laas marcia@powercollective.com Alice Teodoro alice@powercollective.com About Plug and Play Plug and Play is a global innovation platform. Headquartered in Silicon Valley, we have built accelerator programs, corporate innovation services, and an in-house VC to make technological advancement progress faster than ever before. Since inception in 2006, our programs have expanded worldwide to include a presence in over 30 locations globally, giving startups the necessary resources to succeed in Silicon Valley and beyond. With 30,000 startups and 500 official corporate partners, we have created the ultimate startup ecosystem in many industries. Companies in our community have raised over $9 billion in funding, with successful portfolio exits including Danger, Dropbox, Honey, Lending Club and PayPal. Contact: Jackie Hernandez, SVP Global Partnerships jackie@pnptc.com P.+1-510-299-1209 View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/mana-common-announces-partnership-with-plug-and-play-301213422.html SOURCE Plug and Play [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] 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. 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. Indigenous communities across Canada are leading the charge toward a renewable energy future as technology advances and networking opportunities are fostered. Indigenous communities across Canada are leading the charge toward a renewable energy future as technology advances and networking opportunities are fostered. The successes and advancements are on full display this week at the Indigenous Clean Energy gathering (held virtually this year). MIKE DEAL / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Darrell Brown, Chair of the Indigenous Clean Energy Network Darrell Brown, a Winnipeg-based Cree entrepreneur, chairs the ICE executive board. He was thrilled to see the community come together in support as different First Nations get started down the path of sustainability. "Its come a long way. The communities get it now. They see what everyones doing," Brown said. Brown started his business, Kisik Clean Energy, last year to support Indigenous development of hydro, solar, wind, biomass, geothermal, and microgrid technologies. Hes worked in the clean energy industry for five years, and had a hand in developing the renewable energy project at Kiashke Zaaging Anishinaabek (Gull Bay First Nation) in northwestern Ontario. The KZA project involved solar power and battery storage in a microgrid distribution system developed to reduce the communitys reliance on diesel fuel as a power source. The First Nation is not connected to the provincial power grid. AJ Esquega, KZA energy projects co-ordinator, explained the technologies dont allow the elimination of diesel as such yet, but the First Nation has lowered its use by approximately 25 per cent (some 120,000 litres per year). One project is positive, Brown said, but its even better to see other communities be inspired by these successes. Sayisi Dene First Nation, on the shores of Tadoule Lake in northern Manitoba, 250 kilometres west of Churchill, is one of the off-grid communities looking to take the leap into renewables. Empowerment is a big part of the equation. "They feel like theyre taking care of their land, taking care of their water, and the wildlife and that goes with their beliefs. Everything you do with renewable energy and reducing fossil fuels it does with the whole belief system. Its what all of us Indigenous people believe, taking care of Mother Earth," Brown said. Other benefits include new job opportunities, lowering greenhouse gas emissions, lowering environmental risk associated with fuel storage, and an improvement of health outcomes (the burning of diesel is linked to negative health impacts). Even communities that are hooked into provincial grids, such as Fisher River Cree Nation in central Manitoba, are investing in renewables to avoid the high cost of power. This summer, the community unveiled the largest solar farm in the province, with excess energy sold back into Manitoba Hydros grid. The three Indigenous communities on the doorstep of the oilsands in northern Alberta Mikisew Cree First Nation, Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation, and Fort Chipewyan Metis Association are operating the largest solar farm in the country. (It began operations in November 2020.) The success of each community is levied off one another, Brown said. "Were limited with our resources in our isolated communities. So, when you pool it together, thats where the value comes from because you have people in each community that are wanting the same thing for their own community," said Vince Robinson, clean energy co-ordinator at Nuxalk Nation, in B.C. "It seems like theres at least five questions every day that pop up, where you dont even know how you would go about answering those questions. And then, the ICE network is there, almost like a big brother." Robinson, Brown and Esquega all benefited from an Indigenous clean energy mentorship program called 20/20 Catalysts, which continues to bring forth new graduates each year and is part of the ICE network. The online conference continues today. Sessions can be attended free of charge (icegathering.com). sarah.lawrynuik@freepress.mb.ca In a heartbreaking incident, an Ohio couple of 70 years who had contracted COVID-19 died minutes apart from each other. The couple Dick Meek (90) and Shirley Meek (87) had celebrated their 70 years of marriage on December 22 and tested positive for coronavirus after a couple of weeks following which they were admitted to Riverside Hospital in Columbus, a report in WMCActionnews5 reported. Admitted in separate rooms, the couple's family got their parents placed in the same room upon hospital staff's approval to have them share their final moments together. "Mom passed first," one the couple's daughters Debbie Howell was quoted as saying by the news portal. "They were holding hands. The nurse put Moms head on my dads shoulder, and she said to Dad, Dick, its OK to let go now. Shirleys waiting for you. He passed within minutes." Shattered by their deaths, the daughters hoped that their parents' story would encourage people to take COVID-19 seriously while giving the virus the respect in the times of the pandemic. The daily further noted that the couple Dick and Shirley died three days before their due vaccine appointments in Ohio. In a similar incident that took place in December last year, an elderly couple based out of USAs Chicago lost their lives to the deadly coronavirus. Mike Bruno and Carol Bruno adhered to all precautionary measures that were advised by health organisations. The only thing that went wrong was that Carol went out for a haircut to her sons residence. According to a report published in the CNN, the couple died 10 days apart. The duo was married for almost 60 years. Their son Joseph Bruno told the portal that he wants the case of his parents to be considered as an example. He is of the opinion that everyone should know that anybody can contract the virus. Joseph revealed that it was only a single mistake that took his parents lives. Describing the series of events, he mentioned that Carol had visited him and his sister who works at the salon as she was supposed to give their mom a haircut. As a precautionary measure, the sister had taken the coronavirus test. The report was negative yet she ensured that she quarantines herself for a couple of days. Even though the children were seeing their mother after a really long time, they ensured that no hugs were exchanged. In fact, they also made it a point to wear masks at all times. As a further precautionary measure, the son had also ensured that the windows of the house are opened. https://www.oceantomo.com/download-cannabis-report/ Managing a company's cannabis intellectual property requires consideration of the available cannabis patents, plant variety protection, design patents, and trademark protections. These protections vary by country but are imperative to optimize company performance in the developing cannabis market. Ocean Tomo, LLC, the intellectual capital merchant banc firm, released its Cannabis Industry Report examining the components of market value, challenges and changes in the cannabis marketplace, and the increasingly critical role of intangible asset protection in the industry. Ocean Tomo Cannabis Industry Analyst, Daniel Fang, commenting on the market development, reflects on how COVID-19 has impacted the Cannabis Industry, "contrary to most industries, the cannabis industry saw record growth in 2020 despite COVID-19. Because many retail outlets and dispensaries are 'essential businesses,' they stayed open throughout the pandemic. They adopted new ways of serving customers, from curbside pick-up to drive-through windows and deliveries". The development of the cannabis industry has been rapid. With recent state legislative support, many competitors in the marketplace have explored new ways to capture market share while transforming their offerings. M&A activity has added to the industry's complexity and has shed light on the importance of intellectual property protection. "Managing a company's cannabis IP requires consideration of the available cannabis patents, plant variety protection, design patents, and trademark protections. These protections vary by country but are imperative to optimize company performance in the developing cannabis market", Mr. Fang concluded. In 2018 Ocean Tomo launched a series of Industry Analyst Reports providing a comprehensive look at current industry trends and deal activity. As a financial advisor focusing on technology and intellectual property (IP), Ocean Tomo has gained unique insights from more than 1000 engagements involving more than 100 different technologies. This experience has allowed us to understand the nuances of intellectual property protection across industries. Our reports currently examine the following industries: IP Licensing Companies, Blockchain & Cryptocurrency, Cannabis, Cybersecurity, Federal Use of Technology, IP Licensing Companies, and OLED. This year, Ocean Tomo adds Automotive and Medical Device industries to our scope of analysis. You can learn more about the industries covered by Ocean Tomo at https://www.oceantomo.com/media-center/industry-reports/. Ocean Tomo Industry Reports share unique insights related to technology and the intellectual property driving business value. Daniel Principe oversees the creation of Industry Reports for Ocean Tomo and covers Cybersecurity for the firm. Dan shares, each report reflects on leading market participants, current industry trends, and important deal activity. The reports provide industry predictions, emerging industry partnerships, and analysis of intellectual property protection considerations. To learn more, download the Cannabis Industry Analyst Report here. To explore this topic and its implications for your intellectual property assets and strategies, please contact Daniel Fang (+1 415 946 2584 | dfang@oceantomo.com | Daniel Fang's Bio) for further assistance. About Ocean Tomo Ocean Tomo the Intellectual Capital Merchant Banc firm, provides companies with financial services related to intellectual property and intangible assets including financial expert testimony, intellectual property and complex financial instrument valuation, strategy consulting, risk & regulatory compliance, patent analytics, investment advisory, innovation management consulting and transaction brokerage. Our Opinion, Management, and Advisory Services are built upon more than three decades of experience valuating intellectual property in the most rigorous of venues State, Federal and international courts. Our financial and market experts along with leading technologists provide a unique understanding of the contributory value of proprietary innovation. This is the cornerstone of our business. This insight permeates every practice and client engagement. Collectively, Ocean Tomo professionals have completed over 1000 engagements involving IP worth in excess of $10 billion including over 300 valuation and 500 financial damages expert testimony engagements. A former Boston prosecutor and defense attorney facing new rape charges has been ordered held without bail, according to Suffolk County District Attorney Rachael Rollins. Gary Zerola, 49, of Salem, appeared Thursday in Boston Municipal Court for a dangerousness hearing before Judge Thomas Horgan. Prosecutors argued that Zerola is a danger to the community because he has a history of rape allegations dating back to 1996 and had been out on bail for a separate rape allegation when the most recent attack allegedly occurred, Rollins said Zerola faces charges in Suffolk Superior Court for the alleged rape of a different woman in 2016, and had posted $10,000 bail in that case. Hes been in custody since he turned himself into authorities last week after a warrant was issued in the latest case. Prosecutors say Zerola met the victim at a gathering on Jan. 11 and took her back to her apartment, along with a mutual acquaintance. They say Zerola then returned to the residence without the victims permission later that night, and she awoke to find him sexually assaulting her. Zerola has pleaded not guilty to rape and breaking and entering charges. His lawyer didnt respond to an email seeking comment Thursday but has previously described the allegations as thin. Announcement of Periodic Review: Moody's announces completion of a periodic review of ratings of BlackRock Massachusetts Tax-Exempt Trust Global Credit Research - 22 Jan 2021 New York, January 22, 2021 -- Moody's Investors Service ("Moody's") has completed a periodic review of the ratings of BlackRock Massachusetts Tax-Exempt Trust and other ratings that are associated with the same analytical unit. The review was conducted through a portfolio review discussion held on 13 January 2021 in which Moody's reassessed the appropriateness of the ratings in the context of the relevant principal methodology(ies), recent developments, and a comparison of the financial and operating profile to similarly rated peers. The review did not involve a rating committee. Since 1 January 2019, Moody's practice has been to issue a press release following each periodic review to announce its completion. This publication does not announce a credit rating action and is not an indication of whether or not a credit rating action is likely in the near future. Credit ratings and outlook/review status cannot be changed in a portfolio review and hence are not impacted by this announcement. For any credit ratings referenced in this publication, please see the ratings tab on the issuer/entity page on www.moodys.com for the most updated credit rating action information and rating history. Key rating considerations are summarized below. BlackRock Massachusetts Tax-Exempt Trust's (NYSE: MHE) Aa2 rating reflects the fund's excellent risk-adjusted asset coverage ratio and strong capacity to service leverage costs from recurring investment income. At 30 November 2020, the municipal state fund's risk adjusted asset coverage stood at the Aaa-rating level and its annual fixed charge coverage was five times net investment income. This document summarizes Moody's view as of the publication date and will not be updated until the next periodic review announcement, which will incorporate material changes in credit circumstances (if any) during the intervening period. Story continues The principal methodology used for this review was Closed-End Funds Methodology published in December 2020. Please see the Rating Methodologies page on www.moodys.com for a copy of this methodology. This announcement applies only to EU rated, UK rated, EU endorsed and UK endorsed ratings. Non EU rated, non UK rated, non EU endorsed and non UK endorsed ratings may be referenced above to the extent necessary, if they are part of the same analytical unit. This publication does not announce a credit rating action. For any credit ratings referenced in this publication, please see the ratings tab on the issuer/entity page on www.moodys.com for the most updated credit rating action information and rating history. Rokhaya Cisse, CFA Asst Vice President - Analyst Financial Institutions Group Moody's Investors Service, Inc. 250 Greenwich Street New York, NY 10007 U.S.A. JOURNALISTS: 1 212 553 0376 Client Service: 1 212 553 1653 Marc R. Pinto, CFA MD - Financial Institutions Financial Institutions Group JOURNALISTS: 1 212 553 0376 Client Service: 1 212 553 1653 Releasing Office: Moody's Investors Service, Inc. 250 Greenwich Street New York, NY 10007 U.S.A. JOURNALISTS: 1 212 553 0376 Client Service: 1 212 553 1653 2021 Moodys Corporation, Moodys Investors Service, Inc., Moodys Analytics, Inc. and/or their licensors and affiliates (collectively, MOODYS). All rights reserved. CREDIT RATINGS ISSUED BY MOODY'S CREDIT RATINGS AFFILIATES ARE THEIR CURRENT OPINIONS OF THE RELATIVE FUTURE CREDIT RISK OF ENTITIES, CREDIT COMMITMENTS, OR DEBT OR DEBT-LIKE SECURITIES, AND MATERIALS, PRODUCTS, SERVICES AND INFORMATION PUBLISHED BY MOODYS (COLLECTIVELY, PUBLICATIONS) MAY INCLUDE SUCH CURRENT OPINIONS. MOODYS DEFINES CREDIT RISK AS THE RISK THAT AN ENTITY MAY NOT MEET ITS CONTRACTUAL FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS AS THEY COME DUE AND ANY ESTIMATED FINANCIAL LOSS IN THE EVENT OF DEFAULT OR IMPAIRMENT. SEE APPLICABLE MOODYS RATING SYMBOLS AND DEFINITIONS PUBLICATION FOR INFORMATION ON THE TYPES OF CONTRACTUAL FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS ADDRESSED BY MOODYS CREDIT RATINGS. CREDIT RATINGS DO NOT ADDRESS ANY OTHER RISK, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO: LIQUIDITY RISK, MARKET VALUE RISK, OR PRICE VOLATILITY. CREDIT RATINGS, NON-CREDIT ASSESSMENTS (ASSESSMENTS), AND OTHER OPINIONS INCLUDED IN MOODYS PUBLICATIONS ARE NOT STATEMENTS OF CURRENT OR HISTORICAL FACT. MOODYS PUBLICATIONS MAY ALSO INCLUDE QUANTITATIVE MODEL-BASED ESTIMATES OF CREDIT RISK AND RELATED OPINIONS OR COMMENTARY PUBLISHED BY MOODYS ANALYTICS, INC. AND/OR ITS AFFILIATES. MOODYS CREDIT RATINGS, ASSESSMENTS, OTHER OPINIONS AND PUBLICATIONS DO NOT CONSTITUTE OR PROVIDE INVESTMENT OR FINANCIAL ADVICE, AND MOODYS CREDIT RATINGS, ASSESSMENTS, OTHER OPINIONS AND PUBLICATIONS ARE NOT AND DO NOT PROVIDE RECOMMENDATIONS TO PURCHASE, SELL, OR HOLD PARTICULAR SECURITIES. MOODYS CREDIT RATINGS, ASSESSMENTS, OTHER OPINIONS AND PUBLICATIONS DO NOT COMMENT ON THE SUITABILITY OF AN INVESTMENT FOR ANY PARTICULAR INVESTOR. MOODYS ISSUES ITS CREDIT RATINGS, ASSESSMENTS AND OTHER OPINIONS AND PUBLISHES ITS PUBLICATIONS WITH THE EXPECTATION AND UNDERSTANDING THAT EACH INVESTOR WILL, WITH DUE CARE, MAKE ITS OWN STUDY AND EVALUATION OF EACH SECURITY THAT IS UNDER CONSIDERATION FOR PURCHASE, HOLDING, OR SALE. MOODYS CREDIT RATINGS, ASSESSMENTS, OTHER OPINIONS, AND PUBLICATIONS ARE NOT INTENDED FOR USE BY RETAIL INVESTORS AND IT WOULD BE RECKLESS AND INAPPROPRIATE FOR RETAIL INVESTORS TO USE MOODYS CREDIT RATINGS, ASSESSMENTS, OTHER OPINIONS OR PUBLICATIONS WHEN MAKING AN INVESTMENT DECISION. IF IN DOUBT YOU SHOULD CONTACT YOUR FINANCIAL OR OTHER PROFESSIONAL ADVISER. ALL INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS PROTECTED BY LAW, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, COPYRIGHT LAW, AND NONE OF SUCH INFORMATION MAY BE COPIED OR OTHERWISE REPRODUCED, REPACKAGED, FURTHER TRANSMITTED, TRANSFERRED, DISSEMINATED, REDISTRIBUTED OR RESOLD, OR STORED FOR SUBSEQUENT USE FOR ANY SUCH PURPOSE, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, IN ANY FORM OR MANNER OR BY ANY MEANS WHATSOEVER, BY ANY PERSON WITHOUT MOODYS PRIOR WRITTEN CONSENT. MOODYS CREDIT RATINGS, ASSESSMENTS, OTHER OPINIONS AND PUBLICATIONS ARE NOT INTENDED FOR USE BY ANY PERSON AS A BENCHMARK AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED FOR REGULATORY PURPOSES AND MUST NOT BE USED IN ANY WAY THAT COULD RESULT IN THEM BEING CONSIDERED A BENCHMARK. All information contained herein is obtained by MOODYS from sources believed by it to be accurate and reliable. Because of the possibility of human or mechanical error as well as other factors, however, all information contained herein is provided AS IS without warranty of any kind. MOODY'S adopts all necessary measures so that the information it uses in assigning a credit rating is of sufficient quality and from sources MOODY'S considers to be reliable including, when appropriate, independent third-party sources. However, MOODYS is not an auditor and cannot in every instance independently verify or validate information received in the rating process or in preparing its Publications. To the extent permitted by law, MOODYS and its directors, officers, employees, agents, representatives, licensors and suppliers disclaim liability to any person or entity for any indirect, special, consequential, or incidental losses or damages whatsoever arising from or in connection with the information contained herein or the use of or inability to use any such information, even if MOODYS or any of its directors, officers, employees, agents, representatives, licensors or suppliers is advised in advance of the possibility of such losses or damages, including but not limited to: (a) any loss of present or prospective profits or (b) any loss or damage arising where the relevant financial instrument is not the subject of a particular credit rating assigned by MOODYS. To the extent permitted by law, MOODYS and its directors, officers, employees, agents, representatives, licensors and suppliers disclaim liability for any direct or compensatory losses or damages caused to any person or entity, including but not limited to by any negligence (but excluding fraud, willful misconduct or any other type of liability that, for the avoidance of doubt, by law cannot be excluded) on the part of, or any contingency within or beyond the control of, MOODYS or any of its directors, officers, employees, agents, representatives, licensors or suppliers, arising from or in connection with the information contained herein or the use of or inability to use any such information. NO WARRANTY, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, AS TO THE ACCURACY, TIMELINESS, COMPLETENESS, MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PARTICULAR PURPOSE OF ANY CREDIT RATING, ASSESSMENT, OTHER OPINION OR INFORMATION IS GIVEN OR MADE BY MOODYS IN ANY FORM OR MANNER WHATSOEVER. Moodys Investors Service, Inc., a wholly-owned credit rating agency subsidiary of Moodys Corporation (MCO), hereby discloses that most issuers of debt securities (including corporate and municipal bonds, debentures, notes and commercial paper) and preferred stock rated by Moodys Investors Service, Inc. have, prior to assignment of any credit rating, agreed to pay to Moodys Investors Service, Inc. for credit ratings opinions and services rendered by it fees ranging from $1,000 to approximately $5,000,000. MCO and Moodys Investors Service also maintain policies and procedures to address the independence of Moodys Investors Service credit ratings and credit rating processes. Information regarding certain affiliations that may exist between directors of MCO and rated entities, and between entities who hold credit ratings from Moodys Investors Service and have also publicly reported to the SEC an ownership interest in MCO of more than 5%, is posted annually at www.moodys.com under the heading Investor Relations Corporate Governance Director and Shareholder Affiliation Policy. Additional terms for Australia only: Any publication into Australia of this document is pursuant to the Australian Financial Services License of MOODYS affiliate, Moodys Investors Service Pty Limited ABN 61 003 399 657AFSL 336969 and/or Moodys Analytics Australia Pty Ltd ABN 94 105 136 972 AFSL 383569 (as applicable). This document is intended to be provided only to wholesale clients within the meaning of section 761G of the Corporations Act 2001. By continuing to access this document from within Australia, you represent to MOODYS that you are, or are accessing the document as a representative of, a wholesale client and that neither you nor the entity you represent will directly or indirectly disseminate this document or its contents to retail clients within the meaning of section 761G of the Corporations Act 2001. MOODYS credit rating is an opinion as to the creditworthiness of a debt obligation of the issuer, not on the equity securities of the issuer or any form of security that is available to retail investors. Additional terms for Japan only: Moody's Japan K.K. (MJKK) is a wholly-owned credit rating agency subsidiary of Moody's Group Japan G.K., which is wholly-owned by Moodys Overseas Holdings Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of MCO. Moodys SF Japan K.K. (MSFJ) is a wholly-owned credit rating agency subsidiary of MJKK. MSFJ is not a Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organization (NRSRO). Therefore, credit ratings assigned by MSFJ are Non-NRSRO Credit Ratings. Non-NRSRO Credit Ratings are assigned by an entity that is not a NRSRO and, consequently, the rated obligation will not qualify for certain types of treatment under U.S. laws. MJKK and MSFJ are credit rating agencies registered with the Japan Financial Services Agency and their registration numbers are FSA Commissioner (Ratings) No. 2 and 3 respectively. MJKK or MSFJ (as applicable) hereby disclose that most issuers of debt securities (including corporate and municipal bonds, debentures, notes and commercial paper) and preferred stock rated by MJKK or MSFJ (as applicable) have, prior to assignment of any credit rating, agreed to pay to MJKK or MSFJ (as applicable) for credit ratings opinions and services rendered by it fees ranging from JPY125,000 to approximately JPY550,000,000. MJKK and MSFJ also maintain policies and procedures to address Japanese regulatory requirements. (Newser) Florida is dealing with a coronavirus problem all its own. The state announced new rules this week to curb what's become known as "vaccine tourism"non-residents traveling to the state to get their COVID shots, reports the Tallahassee Democrat. From now on, those signing up for appointments will need to provide proof of residency. Coverage: The start: The issue has been going on for weeks now because the state opened up shots to anyone 65 and older, whether they were residents or not, per the Wall Street Journal. However, actual state residents were getting increasingly fed up with being jumped in line. Its disgusting, a 76-year-old Miami Beach resident tells the newspaper. Its not fine with me if everyone is jumping in and I have to wait six months. At my age, time is running out for me, and thats not fair. The issue has been going on for weeks now because the state opened up shots to anyone 65 and older, whether they were residents or not, per the Wall Street Journal. However, actual state residents were getting increasingly fed up with being jumped in line. Its disgusting, a 76-year-old Miami Beach resident tells the newspaper. Its not fine with me if everyone is jumping in and I have to wait six months. At my age, time is running out for me, and thats not fair. Out-of-staters: People came in from elsewhere in the US. For example, WBMA talks to a Georgia couple who drove two hours to cross the border and get their shots. "They knew that we were coming from out of state and they said that that was fine, so we didn't feel like we were pushing anybody else out, which we didn't want to do," says Connie Wallace. story continues below Foreigners: But out-of-staters weren't the only non-Floridians taking advantage. The Sun Sentinel reports that foreigners, particularly Argentinians and Canadians, also exploited the rules. If I would have had the possibility of doing it in Argentina, I would have done it," attorney Ana Rosenfeld tells the newspaper. She got her shot near Tampa. A newspaper in Buenos Aires, Clarin, reported that about a dozen corporate execs also flew to Florida for vaccinations. But out-of-staters weren't the only non-Floridians taking advantage. The Sun Sentinel reports that foreigners, particularly Argentinians and Canadians, also exploited the rules. If I would have had the possibility of doing it in Argentina, I would have done it," attorney Ana Rosenfeld tells the newspaper. She got her shot near Tampa. A newspaper in Buenos Aires, Clarin, reported that about a dozen corporate execs also flew to Florida for vaccinations. Snowbirds OK: The new rules will not prohibit "snowbirds"Americans who reside in Florida only in winterfrom getting shots, reports CNN. "Now we do have part-time residents who are here all winter," says state Surgeon General Dr. Scott Rivkees. "They go to doctors here or whatever, that's fine. What we don't want is tourists, foreigners. We want to put seniors first, but we obviously want to put people that live here first in line." The new rules will not prohibit "snowbirds"Americans who reside in Florida only in winterfrom getting shots, reports CNN. "Now we do have part-time residents who are here all winter," says state Surgeon General Dr. Scott Rivkees. "They go to doctors here or whatever, that's fine. What we don't want is tourists, foreigners. We want to put seniors first, but we obviously want to put people that live here first in line." Big picture: CNN talks to a Vanderbilt expert who isn't that fazed by the "vaccine tourism" phenomenon. "Rather than 'it's my vaccine, not yours,' (getting) vaccine in arms is what we want," says Dr. William Schaffner. "I would hope we quickly have enough vaccine so we don't have to belabor these somewhat petty issues." CNN talks to a Vanderbilt expert who isn't that fazed by the "vaccine tourism" phenomenon. "Rather than 'it's my vaccine, not yours,' (getting) vaccine in arms is what we want," says Dr. William Schaffner. "I would hope we quickly have enough vaccine so we don't have to belabor these somewhat petty issues." Road trip: In the New York Times, David Leonhardt describes a "vaccine road trip" he took with his 74-year-old mother. She was living with him in DC, where the rollout has been cumbersome. She usually lives in Colorado, so they booked a slot for her there. Leonhardt drove her to St. Louis, and a sister took her the rest of the way to Denver. (Read more COVID-19 stories.) Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - January 21, 2021) - TransCanna Holdings Inc. (CSE: TCAN) (FSE: TH8) ("TransCanna" or the "Company") announces that it has granted an aggregate of 1,168,333 stock options to directors, employees and consultants. 600,000 of the stock options are exercisable for a period of 2 years at an exercise price of $1.00 and 568,333 of the stock options are exercisable for a period of 5 years at an exercise price of $1.00. The stock options are being granted pursuant to the terms of the Company's stock option plan and are subject to regulatory approval. About TransCanna Holdings Inc. TransCanna Holdings Inc. is a California based, Canadian listed company building Cannabis-focused brands for the California lifestyle through its wholly-owned California subsidiaries. For further information, please visit the Company's website at www.transcanna.com or email the Company at info@transcanna.com. On behalf of the Board of Directors Bob Blink, CEO 604-349-3011 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. NOT FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES OR FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES AND DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER OF THE SECURITIES DESCRIBED HEREIN To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/72596 Ireland will be in and out of lockdown until 2022 unless we adopt a zero Covid policy, top microbiologist James McInerney has said. The Head of School of Life Science in the University of Nottingham said Ireland almost had zero Covid cases in July, but the only way to get back to this is to adopt the same policy as New Zealand. Speaking on RTEs Morning Ireland, he said: Moving from one place to another is the major cause of spread of this infection. "I dont wish to point out the obvious but Ireland is an island and it can be sealed. For lots of people who are coming into Ireland, the screening isnt working. "It seems obvious for me what to do, it seems obvious for me to take the New Zealand strategy or else youre going to be in and out of lockdown for the rest of the year and into 2022. "There is a way out and it is to seal up your borders and within the country to drive the number down to zero, and you almost had that done by last July. Dr Margaret Harris from the World Health Organisation (WHO) said that a zero Covid policy is the best way of stopping the virus from causing havoc. Speaking on the same programme about a zero Covid policy, she said: We are expecting that may well be difficult for many countries, but you want to bring down your transmission to a level where you can find out exactly where the virus is coming from. Dr Harris added that with the level of infection in Ireland at the moment, its almost impossible to track it everywhere and identify it. "Your best way of stopping it, and stopping it from causing the havoc that its causing now, is to be able to really track it so that you isolate the sick from the healthy and give the virus nowhere to go, she said. Professor McInerney said the three Covid variants now seen across the world are of major concern, saying the South African variant is particularly worrying as there is evidence people are being reinfected. "The South African one, that one is of concern because there is a piece of substantial evidence that people are being reinfected, he said. "So, they caught Covid some time ago but this new variant can reinfect, so there is some evidence that thats happening. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that vaccinations can be altered for the different variants, which Professor McInerney confirmed is true. He explained that vaccines can be tweaked a small bit to protect against the different strains of Covid-19. "If I likened the vaccines to a house its like swapping out a brick in the house and changing it for a new brick, he said. Familys 2 Dogs Wake 10-Year-Old Boy During Housefire, but Perish After Saving His Life Dogs are often seen as natural protectors of their pack, and will defend their territory loyally. But that instinctual loyalty is elevated to heroism in the eyes of society when a canine sacrifices itself to save its human family. For Ray Dawson, having witnessed that experience was a moment that will remain with him forever. His neighbors home across the street in Dinwiddie County, Virginia, caught fire one night, while the familys 10-year-old boy was home alone on Jan. 18. Luckily for the boy, his familys two dogs dashed into the fire and saved his life. Both dogs failed to make it out of the flames themselves, however, and later perished. The neighbor helped the boy and called 911, but it mightve been too late for the child if it werent for the familys dogs. Dawson told ABC that the boy and his family moved in across the street two years prior. The boy, who had been roused awake, went and knocked loudly on Dawsons door around 6:00 a.m. Monday, covered in soot. We got to the door and he said my house is on fire, Dawson said. I could see fire through the window. Dawson immediately called 911 and cared for the boy until paramedics arrived. In tears, Dawson said, It felt like it was my place burning. He and his wife had lived in that home for 12 years before moving across the street. The boy was treated for smoke inhalation before being taken to Southside Regional Medical Center for additional treatment. According to Dinwiddle Fire & EMS, heavy smoke was pouring out of the home when crews arrived. Crews immediately began knocking down the fire and entering the structure to conduct a primary search, they wrote in a press statement. Unfortunately, during the search of the structure two dogs were located deceased. Prior to transport by EMS, the occupant was able to tell crews that he was asleep at the time of the fire and that the two dogs had jumped on him to wake him up, which then allowed him to escape the fire. Dawson told ABC it was painful to know that the little boys home of two years was no more. I hope hes doing okay, Dawson added. The boys family told the news agency that he had been released from the hospital and was recovering. Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Tran Hong Ha talks about the achievements of the sector in the 2016-20 period and plans for the coming years. Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Tran Hong Ha. Could you tell us about the performance of the natural resources and environment sector in 2016-20? The natural resources and environment sector has faced very difficult and turbulent times over the past five years. The fields the sector managed faced unexpected things, especially the field of environment. Environmental incidents occurred in different areas and different projects. The most serious incident is believed to be the marine environmental pollution in four central provinces caused by Formosa. Besides, other fields such as land management are always among hot topics with a lot of complaints from the people. The illegal exploitation of mineral has also still occurred and the mining process has caused environmental problems, including waste after mining. The impacts of climate change increased and became more serious over the past five years. Extreme weather occurs across the country, such as extreme cold, landslides, flash floods in the northern high mountainous provinces, droughts in the south-central and Central Highlands, as well as saltwater intrusion in the Mekong Delta due to the double effects of climate change and the water use of countries in the upstream Mekong River. To fix the situation, myself and other officials and staff of the ministry have wholeheartedly focused on solving problems. However, the Party and the State have also assessed 2016-20 was a transition period - from the old period with the policy of all for economic development to a new period developing the economy together with environmental protection. Also since 2016, we began to move into a new period. The Government and the Politburo have had guidelines to develop new policies towards economic development without affecting the environment. This is also a very important lesson for the management of natural resources and the environment. The lesson is that if we still hold the policy of developing the economy first and fixing environmental issues later, we will have to pay a very expensive price. The ministry has contributed VND950 trillion (US$41.1 billion) to the State budget over the past five years. In 2020, revenue from land-related fields was double compared to 2015. Policies on climate change adaptation were proposed in the period, contributing to minimising damage from natural disasters. The level of damage, triggered by saltwater intrusion in 2019-20, was 9.6 per cent lower than the level of damage caused by saltwater intrusion in 2016. As you mentioned, there have been a number of environmental incidents, including Formosa, over the past time. After these painful lessons, how has ministry adjusted its management policies and mechanisms? After the lessons, we determined we have to carefully consider the investment policy and development planning in the process of verifying an environmental impact assessment. Second, we clearly define the responsibilities of businesses in the investment process so we can assess, forecast and identify possible impacts, especially emissions, wastewater and solid waste; closely monitor waste sources and take into account technical solutions to prevent environmental incidents. We also categorise 17 industries, identifying the scale and nature of hazard of each industry and thereby defining cases for special surveillance. Another important lesson is people's participation in supervision and the responsibility of local authorities. This requires projects to disclose information for people - the "eyes and ears" of the law to detect and we will promptly issue solutions. Besides, we need stronger co-operation among ministries, sectors and localities as well as among countries in solving environmental problems. For example, in the water resources sector, more than 60 per cent of the water resources in rivers within the territory of Vietnam originate from other countries. Therefore, the management of water resources, especially for the Mekong River, needs the co-ordination of countries in the basin. For plastic waste pollution problem, this is also a global problem, it is necessary to have a global institution. Ministries and sectors are paying attention to the programme to plant 1 billion trees, especially during the New Year's Tree Planting, launched by Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc. What will the ministry do to implement the programme? This is the initiative of Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, which was raised at the current National Assembly session. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development is the agency responsible for forest protection and development. However, from the perspective of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, we are also developing a very specific project for implementing the programme. I hope every individual, organisation, business and locality has its own initiative for tree planting because this is a very correct initiative. I also emphasise it is time for us to change the individual's attitude towards nature because nature is facing the huge impact of economic development. On the side of the environment ministry, we will also consider many angles to carry out the programme so tree planting is not just a movement and doesn't stop at one billion trees but also helps recover nature in terms of ecology and conserving biodiversity as well as the legacy left to future generations. Based on different natural conditions, different trees will be planted. Trees, which will be planted in special-use forests, protective forests, industrial zones and roads, are necessary to suit each area to achieve the highest efficiency. Tree planting should be done regularly by all people and localities. The ministries of agriculture and environment need to take the lead in the tree planting programme. What will the environment ministry do to help the country develop stronger and be more sustainable? The things we have done over the years are just building the initial foundations for the development. In the field of environment, we have a resolution of the Central Committee. Under the resolution, there are important policies that will be announced at the National Congress of the Party. We also have the 2020 Law on Environmental Protection, which will come into effect from January 2022. Thus, for the environment - one of the three important pillars of sustainable development, we will focus on implementing the law, which focuses on the people - people are not only the law's implementers but also supervisors. If every citizen has high determination and considers environmental protection as important as fighting the COVID-19 pandemic, the activities of environmental protection, sustainable development and adaptation to climate change will achieve great progress. Climate change is becoming increasingly extreme and unpredictable. Therefore, the problem becomes how to improve the ability to more accurately forecast, give more timely warnings as well as evaluate climate change's impacts to make plans timely. To do that, we need a specific assessment of each area in the country, especially assessments of geological hazards and set up more monitoring networks related to hydro-meteorology in each area. VNS HCMC striving to reduce air pollution Like other major urban areas in Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) is now facing serious effects caused by air pollution, including respiratory health problems, climate change, and unbalanced ecosystems. Joe Biden revoked a Trump administration order that had banned federal agencies, contractors and recipients of federal funding from conducting certain diversity training. The order had targeted workplace training that explored systemic racism and privilege, including 'critical race theory,' which former President Donald Trump had deemed 'un-American' and potentially harmful to white workers. The Trump administration had said the order prohibited training that implies anyone is racist or sexist 'by virtue of his or her race, sex, and/or national origin.' Civil rights groups said the wording was overly broad and had a chilling effect on workplaces trying to address concepts like white privilege, systemic racism and unconscious bias. Within the government, the order had prompted the Justice Department to suspend all diversity and inclusion training. The State Department, Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Veteran Affairs had also canceled some programs. The Department of Labor had already suspended enforcement of the order after a California federal court granted a preliminary injunction against it in response to a lawsuit filed by Lambda Legal, an organization that advocates for the rights of LGBT people. Signing spree: Joe Biden has taken an ax to Donald Trump's policies, including revoking an order which banned federal cash being spent on critical race theory and other diversity training Culture war: Donald Trump had called critical race theory 'un-American propaganda' and tried to cancel it by asking his followers to 'report it so we can extinguish it' WHY CRITICAL RACE THEORY IS CONTROVERSIAL Diversity and inclusion training is often a requirement for employees working for federal and state governments. The training - which is often expensive - is covered by taxpayer dollars. But the inclusion of what is broadly known as 'critical race theory' has been highly controversial. Broadly, critical race theory says that white supremacy is an ideology which is baked into the structures of society and particularly the law - and that to deal with everyone who is white should acknowledge how they have benefited from it, or become 'privileged.' But critics say that it leaves people exposed to the training feeling that they are being blamed for problems which they did not cause - such as slavery and Jim Crow - and that it is itself racially divisive. Critics - such as the conservative Heritage Foundation - also say it ignores the problems poor white communities face such as - for example - opioid addiction and long-term joblessness in the Appalachians and the rust belt. And they say it backfires by creating identity groups rather than envisioning the U.S. as a melting point where race should not matter. The Heritage Foundation has also pointed to how employees at CRT courses are pushed to become activists, and pushed to admit their own 'guilt' in front of their colleagues - to the shame and embarrassment of some who do. Far from uniting workplaces, critics claim, it divides them further. Advertisement Biden's move 'underscores the priority he attaches to the United States government grappling honestly with implicit bias, racism and sexism in this country,' said Noel Twilbeck, chief executive officer at CrescentCare, a New Orleans non-profit that was part of that lawsuit. CrescentCare, which provides health and housing services to LGBT communities, was among the organizations affected by the order because it receives federal funding. Camilla Taylor, director of constitutional litigation at Lambda Legal, said Biden's decision ensures that organizations 'don't have to look over their shoulders constantly to wonder if someone is going to report them and if it will lead to them losing their federal funding.' She said several of Lambda Legal's clients are already taking steps to resume training that had been suspended because of the order. 'In the few months of its existence, it negatively impacted the lives and livelihoods of countless Americans and advanced the dangerous cause of white supremacy and disinformation, said Janai Nelson, associate director-counsel of the NAACP's Legal Defense Fund, which had filed a separate lawsuit against the order on behalf of the National Urban League and the National Fair Housing Alliance. 'We will continue to work to ensure that all vestiges of President Trump's Executive Order are removed from workplaces across the country,' Nelson added in a statement. Jin Hee Lee, the Legal Defense Fund's senior deputy director of litigation, said the lawsuit will go forward, for now, because it was important to ensure organizations suffer no adverse consequences from diversity practices they might have pursued while the order was in effect. She also said the Biden administration must proactively roll back steps taken by various government agencies to implement the Trump order. SAGE, an organization that advocates for older LGBT people, said Trump's order had led to the cancellation of a VA webinar in September to raise awareness about the needs of diverse older veterans. SAGE had been planned in the webinar to address discrimination LGBT older adults face when seeking health services, said SAGE CEO Michael Adams. The VA now plans to reschedule the webinar, Adams said. Adams said SAGE developed its training years ago educate health care providers 'on the need to work respectfully with LGBT older people.' The Trump administration's order 'was highly convoluted and there was no way to comply with their guidelines while undertaking anti-racism and anti-sexism training.' 'We think it's clear that both the impact and in fact the intent of the presidential order was to silence and eliminate anti-racism training,' Adams said. The two-page memo, penned by White House OMB director Russell Vought, was released on Friday In a separate but related effort, the Labor Department last fall opened inquiries into companies including Microsoft and Wells Fargo over their publicly-announced efforts to boost Black employment and leadership. Trump administration letters had warned both companies against using 'discriminatory practices' to meet diversity goals voiced by CEOs over the summer in response to Black Lives Matter protests. The Labor Department did not immediate respond to questions Thursday about whether the inquiries are still being pursued. Microsoft and Wells Fargo declined to comment. The order was revoked at the same time as Biden canceled Trump's '1776 Commission' which had been tasked with producing 'patriotic education' as a riposte to the New York Times' 1619 Project, a revisionist project putting slavery and its long legacy of racial strife at the center of the American experience. Trump had unveiled the commission in September before a culture-war speech in the wake of Black Lives Maters protests and efforts to remove the statues of figures from American history associated with slavery, and Christopher Columbus. The president tore into 'radicals' for causing 'mayhem' on the nation's streets, and sought repeatedly to tie them to his political adversaries. He didn't confine his comments to street protesters bringing in swaths of society that included the media and his political opponents. 'These radicals have been aided and abetted by liberal politicians, establishment media and even large corporations,' Trump said. The order revoked by Biden was written by then head of the Office of Management and Budget, Russ Vought. The speech included an attack on 'cancel culture' although Trump had demanded his Twitter followers 'report any sightings' of critical race theory 'so we can quickly extinguish. Almost four decades in the consumer products industry, with the most recent seven years running India's leading beverage alcohol company through the turbulence of the 'Highway Ban', demonetisation and GST, I have had my fair share of excitement and a few battle scars - but none has presented the unparalleled test of leading through a crisis, as in the year just gone by. Business As Usual When the news of Covid-19 in China started percolating in early 2020, we were already faced with the headwinds of a slowing economy and soft category growth. But, in an industry where dealing with issues is an everyday way of life, adopting a 'business as usual' mindset came naturally to us, and so we continued to run our business without being overly concerned. It was when the lockdown came into effect in March, that the reality of the impending crisis hit us - and how! Starting March 24, unlike any other FMCG, our industry faced a complete shutdown that eventually lasted for six weeks. During this period, all liquor stores were closed, restaurants and bars brought down their shutters and all manufacturing operations were halted. For the first time in the company's history - and in my long career - topline vanished overnight and stayed at zero, day after day. The initial sense was one of disbelief, shock and mounting concern. For a company of our size and fixed costs, not having any sales meant a deep red profit & loss (P&L) and having to draw on cash reserves and bank credit. Public health concerns and societal views on alcohol created huge uncertainty about when our industry would be allowed to re-open. But within days, our initial anxieties gave way to steely resolve. This was our leadership moment, and we would lead with clarity, determination - and on the front foot. A Rallying Cry Through all the debate on V, U and L-shaped recoveries, and a review of our own modelling tools, trackers and forecasts, we realised that at best these would throw up alternate scenarios, including a steep decline of our industry. However, the unpredictable economic impact of the pandemic with on-going restrictions meant that no forecast could be even broadly accurate. We concluded that there was little point in dwelling on how our category would be impacted. We decided to focus only on two areas that fell within our 'circle of control' - outperforming competition (irrespective of category performance) and doing what was right for our people, customers, suppliers, and communities. Together, the two would make us stronger whenever we came out on the other side of the crisis. And so, 'emerge stronger' became our rallying cry and the organisational purpose that would visibly direct and drive all our efforts. Win Every Day In a year that was not going to be predictable or easy to plan, we set our goal to win in the marketplace, such that our people could feel it was within reach, in near-time. We articulated our goal as 'winning in the market, every day and every week'. We also defined how we would win - through consumer-led superior insights, sharp focus within our large brand portfolio, disciplined trade investment and strong cash conversion. Invest To Grow We recognised that consumer behaviour during the pandemic would turn towards established and trusted brands, and that it was highly likely that premium brands would stay resilient. Despite the challenges on category growth, we remained unwavering in our strategic action to strengthen our two flagship brands in the mass premium category - McDowell No. 1 Whisky and Royal Challenge Whisky - by relaunching these nationally with new packaging and marketing campaigns. At the top-end, we continued to invest in our Scotch portfolio and make it more accessible and contemporary through our new cool 'hipster' format. Flexibility & Agility We realised early that in an environment characterised by continuously changing local restrictions, varying waves of the virus across states and cities, and with labour supply and logistics uncertainties, winning in the market would require not just sales and marketing to outperform competition, but also supply would need to outperform through superior Business Crisis Planning. Hence, we built 'flexibility' and 'agility' as strategic advantages - extending these to include fungibility of investments between brands and states, speed of decision-making and execution, while being bolder and less risk averse. True Business Partner Staying closely connected with our partners and supporting them as their businesses went through turmoil, has been an integral part of how we have run our business during the pandemic. During the worst phase of our industry, when many parts of the trade were under lockdown, our senior leaders and salesforce made conscious efforts to connect virtually or on phone, one-on-one with key customers and suppliers, to understand their business impact and how we could support them. As CEO, I personally made scores of calls to our partners during the lockdown. Shaped by these conversations, our support to customers included continuing certain elements of financial trade support, extending strategic customer agreements, and engaging with large-format retailers and luxury hotel chains who were well positioned to deliver business under social distancing. Additionally, we bolstered bartender community training through digital content in multiple local languages, while sales teams worked closely with customers on the ground to jointly innovate solutions in preparation for recovery. As early as April, we took a call to cushion the lockdown impact on our supplier community by being prompt with payments despite the squeeze on our revenues. We identified vendors who were impacted significantly by the lockdown and even made additional supplementary payments. This helped them stay afloat and hopeful. They, too, reciprocated with prioritised materials and service when the unlocks were set in motion. Margin Boost Our focus and agility resulted in a decisive early lead on competition. When the lockdown was lifted, our salesforce and supply chain were the first to be humming again. We were off the race first and kept building on the initial momentum as the weeks rolled on. Cognizant that there would be immense pressure on revenue, we redoubled efforts on productivity across all cost lines, extracting efficiencies in advertising and promotional spending, saving in non-staff overheads, reducing interest costs, finding logistical efficiencies and practising overall fiscal discipline. We focussed on receivables and managing credit, trimmed inventory across the value chain and improved the quality and efficiency of payables. We exercised judiciousness into capex projects based on business criticality and return on investment. Citizenship During Crisis Early in March, when the country was staring at a huge shortage of sanitisers, we were amongst the first companies to publicly commit a donation of 3,00,000 litres of bulk hand sanitisers and 150,000 masks to frontline workers across public health departments, police and the army. The small hitch? We had never produced hand sanitisers before, neither did we know how to make them! But thanks to round-the-clock effort of a cross-functional team of 50 people, within less than a week, the first batch of bulk sanitisers had rolled out of our factory gate in Goa - the first of 15 such manufacturing units across the country. Adding to the company's efforts, our employees voluntarily contributed Rs 40 lakh to the PM CARES Fund from their salaries. We also contributed medical equipment and infrastructure to states. The restaurant industry, the third largest in the services sector in India, contributing 2 per cent to the country's GDP, is severely impacted by the pandemic. Within the larger industry, pubs and bars sit at the heart of our business. In June, we committed Rs 75 crore to 'Raising the Bar,' an initiative that will run over two years to support bars, pubs and restaurants serving alcohol. This programme provides strong on-ground support to qualifying outlets, with physical equipment and 'hygiene kits', and helps to establish partnerships with online reservations and cashless systems. Caring For Employees Supporting and connecting with our people as they worked through a difficult year has been central to our way of managing the crisis. We announced work from home (WFH) for all our office employees a week before the announcement of the lockdown. Apart from giving them the wherewithal for a seamless transition to WFH arrangements, we announced a host of benefits early April, including counselling for employees and their families, leave to care for family members impacted by Covid, and insurance benefits paid by the company to the named beneficiaries of our employees, should they succumb to this virus. We continued our focus on learning and development with 'My Learning Hub' serving as a distance-learning platform. We introduced 'We Care', a multi-pronged comprehensive programme for physical, mental, financial and social wellbeing. Frequent and transparent communication with our employees has been central to not only sustaining, but actually building engagement. These include 15-minute Townhalls, 'Coffee Connects' with our leaders, employee thematic campaigns on the intranet, group discussions on specific topics and virtual social events with family. There can be many ways to respond to a crisis. Think of this as a sharp curve on an auto racetrack - the best place to pass competitors but requiring more skill than straight roads. For Diageo India, a combination of focus and agility, partnering our larger ecosystem and keeping our employees engaged, helped us forge ahead in a competitive race under testing conditions. I remain bullish about the long-term growth prospects of the alco-bev category in India. The country's structural growth drivers remain intact, amplified by the added momentum during this crisis, of in-house consumption and premiumisation. As drinking has moved in-home during the pandemic, there is a silent withering of the traditional taboos on drinking at home. As consumers discover that drinking at home is safer and lighter on the wallet, there is a further impetus on premiumisation, with consumers upgrading their alcohol choices and drinking better. With restricted overseas travel, shifts have also happened from duty-free to duty-paid purchases in upscale off-trade retail formats. New routes to reach out to consumers such as home delivery are opening. We anticipate states adopting e-governance to facilitate ease of doing business. These developments will give a significant boost to business and shape it for the better in the long-term, helping the industry and adding revenues to state coffers. Finally, as we come out of this crisis, we are even more acutely aware of the deep and elemental need for human connection. This in turn will reinforce a changing narrative for the role of alcohol in the society, placing it in the heart of socialising and celebration. Indeed, the best for our industry lies ahead. (The author is MD and CEO, Diageo India, and Member, Diageo Global Executive) Sen. Steve Daines (R-Mont.) in the Senate subway area of the Capitol before President Donald Trump's State of the Union address in Washington on Feb. 4, 2020. (Charlotte Cuthbertson/The Epoch Times) Republican Senators Take Actions Against Bidens Moves on Paris Agreement, Keystone Pipeline A group of Republican senators are taking steps to block President Joe Bidens executive actions to rejoin the Paris climate agreement and revoke a permit for the Keystone XL Pipeline. Sen. Steve Daines (R-Mont.) alongside other senators from central and western states said on Wednesday that they plan to introduce legislation to allow the Keystone XL Pipeline to continue construction. The senators will also put forward a resolution to urge Biden to submit the Paris climate agreement to the Senate for advice and consent before rejoining the treaty. Revoking permits for the Keystone XL Pipeline undercuts a serious infrastructure project, renewable energy growth, and rail relief for grain. This admin cant ask for unity & bipartisanship one minute but continue to push bad left-wing policy the next. Senator John Thune (@SenJohnThune) January 21, 2021 Their announcements come after Biden took actions to roll back former President Donald Trumps decisions to withdraw from the Obama-era United Nations treaty and grant a permit to allow for the construction of the oil pipeline system that traverses through the U.S.-Canada border. Trump had previously criticized the Paris agreement for negatively impacting the U.S. economy and unbalanced standards between nations. Similarly, the former presidents granting for the Keystone permit broke a decade-long stalemate in Congress and court litigation that stalled the construction of the oil pipeline system. The pipeline would ship crude oil from tar sands in western Canada across the continent to the Gulf Coast of the United States. It was a frequent target of environmentalists, who physically attempted to block its construction, but also supported by many for the jobs and energy security it could bring to America. These day one executive actions have been widely criticized by Republican lawmakers and experts warning about the devastating economic consequences they could bring. Its only day one, and with the stroke of a pen, Biden has already taken steps to kill American energy projects like the Keystone XL Pipeline which is critical to energy producing states like Montana, Daines said in a statement on Wednesday. This project will create thousands of jobs, generate tax revenue for local communities, promote North American energy security and independence, and it is the safest and most environmentally friendly way to transport oil. We must do all that we can to ensure construction moves forward. The project, according to Daines, is expected to provide about 71,000 jobs. Meanwhile, Daines took issue with the Paris Agreement for being poorly negotiated, fatally flawed while characterizing it as a bad deal for American families everywhere. Rejoining this agreement places our country at a competitive disadvantage and will lead to higher energy prices for Montana families and job loss in a time when rural economies are devastated, all for minimal benefit, Daines said. At the very least, I urge President Biden to do what the Obama administration refused to do and submit the Paris Agreement to the Senate for consideration as required under the Constitution. The United States formally withdrew from the Paris Agreement on Nov. 4. The agreement was adopted by 196 parties in Paris, on Dec. 12, 2015, and entered into force on Nov. 4, 2016. President Barrack Obama at the time claimed that the agreement was not a treaty and did not send the agreement for review in the Senate as required by the U.S. Constitution. Under Article II of the Constitution, the president shall have power, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, to make treaties, provided two-thirds of the Senators present concur. The legislation and resolution planned by Republicans are expected to face difficulties for their passage as the Senate is controlled by Democrats as Vice President Kamala Harris hold the tie-breaking vote. Sens. Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), and John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) signed onto both legislative measures. Republican lawmakers in the House are also taking similar steps to block Bidens move to rejoin the Paris agreement. Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) and a group of House members on Thursday also introduced legislation to stop Biden from rejoining the agreement until he transmits the agreement to the Senate for approval. Jack Phillips contributed to this report. Watch Next: Climate Change Narrative Driven by Agenda of Political Control? Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-22 00:33:42|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close 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. 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) 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. Rep. Boebert Introduces House Bill to Stop US Funding of WHO Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) has introduced new legislation aimed at preventing U.S. taxpayers money from being funneled to the World Health Organization (WHO). The bill (H.R.374), named the World Health Organization Accountability Act, would prohibit U.S. federal funds from being appropriated or made available to the WHO or any WHO activities, until the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Health and Human Services jointly submit a report to Congress. The report would describe how China and the WHO have contributed to the emergence of the COVID-19 global pandemic prior to March 11, 2020, according to the language of the bill. For years, the United States has been the largest contributor to the WHO. According to State Department statistics, U.S. contributions exceeded $400 million, while China provided $44 million, in 2019. Boebert said in a statement: The WHO is China-centric and panders to Beijing at every turn. There is no reason U.S. taxpayers should contribute more than $400 million annually to an organization that covered for China and failed to contain the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. On Jan. 20, President Joe Biden signed an executive order halting the United States withdrawal from the WHO. The decision to pull out of the WHO was made by former President Donald Trump last year, over the health bodys poor handling of the pandemic caused by the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, commonly known as the novel coronavirus. Bidens decision to rejoin the WHO has since received mixed responses from Congress. Chinas initial coverup of the virus outbreak has been well-documented. The regime silenced eight doctors, among them ophthalmologist Li Wenliang, after they tried to warn the public of a new form of pneumonia spreading in Wuhan city. The WHO initially parroted Beijings claim that the virus was not contagious, dismissing an email warning from Taiwan. A scientific paper published last year concluded that Beijing concealed the viruss transmissibility for at least three weeks before publicly acknowledging that the virus was contagious on Jan. 20. Recently, an independent panel released an interim report, criticizing Beijing and WHO for their delayed responses to the COVID-19 outbreak in China. Boebert said the Chinese regime and WHO should not be let off the hook and must be held accountable. Joe Biden failed to do either of those things and his edict yesterday only emboldens Beijing. Rejoining the WHO without ensuring accountability for the American people is the wrong move, she said. The bill has been co-sponsored by several Republican House lawmakers, including Andy Biggs (Ariz.), Madison Cawthorn (N.C.), David Rouzer (N.C.), Jeff Duncan (S.C.), Ralph Norman (S.C.), Matt Gaetz (Fla.), Jody Hice (Ga.), and Elise Stefanik (N.Y.), according to the press release. The purple outfit Vice President Kamala Harris wore on Inauguration Day had a South Texas connection. Arturo Castaneda Contreras, a Rio Grande Valley native, helped make the pattern and sewed the top coat Harris wore Wednesday for the historic day. He also sewed a suit jacket and dress that she wore later in the day. He posted photos of the double-breasted royal purple coat in various stages of completion on Instagram, saying he was "overjoyed with tears" at the "honor and privilege to work on this project." Contreras is originally from an area known as Heidelberg in the Valley, about four hours south of San Antonio. Now in New York working on his line Aurturo Brooklyn, his family still lives near the Texas-Mexico border. Harris' dress was designed by John Rogers a Black designer who has dressed former first lady Michelle Obama in the past. Contreras told CBS4 he met Rogers through friends. Rogers later asked him to partner with him for the coat, Contreras said, adding that his craftsmanship and his work with major designers may have helped him land the gig. "I hope that all minorities just see that it can be done, given an opportunity we can excel," Contreras told CBS4. "We just need that door open slightly and we will step through because we are talented and we are that and so much more." Contreras and his team got a call about two weeks ago and were told they needed the suit jacket in three days and the dress in a day and a half. Then on Jan. 14, Rogers called Contreras and asked him to make the purple coat. He said he and his team completed the jacket Jan. 15, when it was sent to Harris for a fitting before it was returned to Contreras on Jan. 16 for final adjustments. Harris chose purple because is symbolizes unity between the Republican red and Democratic blue, People magazine said. The color purple was also a nod to Shirley Chisholm, the first Black woman elected to the United States Congress in 1968 and who also ran for president in 1972. For Contreras, the creation meant more than just the recognition it brought. Not only was it a step closer to his dream of dressing a president, but it was a way to honor his mother through his craft as well. "The real story is found with my Mom...From the fields as a migrant worker family to the halls of the White House! Not bad for a kid from a colonia Heidelberg, TX and San Antonio del Coyote Coahuila, MX," he posted on Instagram. "She is the greatest designer I have always worked for and I am proud to be her son." Taylor Pettaway is a breaking news and general assignment reporter for ExpressNews.com | taylor.pettaway@express-news.net | @TaylorPettaway Brattleboro, VT (05301) Today Cloudy with showers. High 57F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 60%.. Tonight Rain. Low 43F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near an inch. Microbiologist Professor James McInerney has warned that unless Ireland seals its borders and introduces rigorous quarantining measure there will be repeated lockdowns for the remainder of the year and maybe even into 2022. Tanaiste Leo Varadkar said on Thursday that a system of mandatory quarantine for incoming air and sea passengers would be disproportionate and unworkable. "It was obvious that Ireland needed to adopt the New Zealand approach and seal its borders," Prof McInerney told RTE radios Morning Ireland. "There were ways of quarantining and making sure that people arriving into the country did not bring the virus with them," he said. Irish-born Prof McInerney, who is a computational evolutionary biologist and head of life sciences at the University of Nottingham, pointed out that last December he was being asked if the UK virus variant was in Ireland and now it was the main variant in the country. "Thats how quickly it could spread," he said. The main concern with the new variants was that some were more transmissible while others made people sicker. "The 501Y (South African) variant was of particular concern," he said as there was some evidence that people could be reinfected. Vaccines could be tweaked and the consensus was that regulatory hurdles would not be as severe in the future. "It was akin to removing a block in the wall of a house and replacing it, which would provide protection," he explained. Meanwhile, the Rural Independent Group has criticised the Government for its "juvenile" excuses for not imposing mandatory travel quarantine. The Group's leader, Mattie McGrath, says it makes a "laughing stock" of the Irish public. Australia's southeast will sweat through temperatures as high as 45C for the next four days as an 'extreme heatwave' sweeps through. Residents of New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania and the ACT have been warned of heat exhaustion and fire dangers from Saturday to Wednesday, including the Australia Day public holiday. 'We have a large high pressure system sitting out in the Tasman and inland trough and together they're acting to funnel in a hot northerly air mass,' the Bureau of Meteorology's Alexander Majchrowski said. Beachgoers at Sydney's famous Bondi Beach. Australia's southeast will sweat through temperatures as high as 45C for the next four days as an 'extreme heatwave' sweeps through BoM meteorologist Jonathan How said conditions in southeast Australia over the weekend would be the warmest since January 2020. 'Temperatures will rise from Friday, especially across southern NSW and towards South Australia,' he said. 'Western Sydney will begin a run of five days above 35 degrees. 'On Saturday, maximums will climb into the 40s inland and up to 39C in Adelaide. 'Sunday will be the peak day of heat in South Australia, climbing as high as 45C along the Murray. 'On Monday, Victoria and Tasmania will see the most intense heat, reaching 41C in Melbourne and 33C in Hobart.' The air mass will bring severe to extreme heatwave conditions, with temperatures expected to reach 16 degrees above average in some areas. Beachgoers at Sydney's famous Bondi Beach. Residents of New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania and the ACT have been warned of heat exhaustion and fire dangers from Saturday to Wednesday, including the Australia Day public holiday As a result, fire danger will be elevated on Sunday and Monday, with the NSW RFS warning people should use the next few days to prepare. 'People need to take this seriously,' director Peter McKechnie told reporters on Thursday. The heatwave also has lifesavers on high alert, with Surf Life Saving NSW CEO Steven Pearce saying this is 'probably the weekend we've been looking out for'. A severe to extreme heatwave is already besetting southwest Western Australia and western South Australia. Adelaide will reach a maximum of 38C on Saturday before jumping to 41C on Sunday and tapering off to 34C on Monday. A low intensity heatwave is expected to persist in SA until next week. Sydney will reach a maximum of 29C on Saturday, 33C on Sunday, 31C on Monday and back to 33C for Tuesday's public holiday - with sunny weather persisting through all four days. The temperature will drop to 28C on Wednesday as clouds begin to form with showers expected on Thursday and Friday. A packed Bondi Beach in October last year. Sydney will reach a maximum of 29C on Saturday, 33C on Sunday, 31C on Monday and back to 33C for Tuesday's public holiday - with sunny weather persisting through all four days A heat map of southeast Australia at 4pm on Saturday. Maximums will climb into the 40s inland and up to 39C in Adelaide on this day Bega, on the state's south coast, is expected to reach at least 39 degrees on Monday, and western Sydney will be in the same range on Sunday and Monday. NSW-Victoria border towns could endure temperatures up to 44 degrees. Victoria will also see temperatures building to a peak on Monday, with most major centres in the state's north surpassing 40 degrees. Melbourne will reach a high of 27C on Saturday, which will increase to 34C on Sunday and 41C on Monday. In typical Melbourne fashion, the maximum temperature will plunge by 17C to just 24C on Tuesday with showers set to replace sunny skies. Further south in Hobart, the maximum will be 25C on Saturday, 26C on Sunday and peak at 34C on Monday. Like Melbourne, the Hobart's maximum temperature will significantly drop to 21C on Tuesday with a possible shower. Canberra will face temperatures of 30C and above from Saturday to Wednesday. The maximum will be 37C on Saturday, 38C on Sunday and Monday, 35C on Tuesday and 30C on Wednesday - with sunny skies persisting the whole time, although there is the chance of a possible shower on Wednesday. Beachgoers at Bondi. BoM meteorologist Jonathan How said conditions over the weekend in southeast Australia would be the warmest since January 2020 Mr How said the high temperatures will create 'uncomfortably warm nights, making it difficult to recover from hot days'. 'Heatwaves are normal for summer but they effect everyone differently, it's important to look out for the more vulnerable, including pets and local wildlife,' he said. 'This weekend, remember to factor in the heat and any fire weather warnings, stay up to day with the forecast, stay up to date, stay hydrated and stay safe.' Temperatures in Brisbane will be much more mild with a maximum 30C on Saturday, which will drop to 29C on Sunday and continue until Tuesday. Meanwhile on the west coast, Perth will reach a maximum of 28C on Saturday, 26C on Sunday and Monday, and back up to 28C for Tuesday. In the Top End, Darwin will reach a maximum of 31C on Saturday, which is expected to stay the same until Wednesday, when it will increase to 32C. Showers and storms are expected from Saturday until Friday as the Northern Territory is currently going through its Wet Season. Bondi Beach at sunrise. Mr How said high temperatures will persist from morning to sunset, creating 'uncomfortably warm nights, making it difficult to recover from hot days' The newswire aseantoday.com has said amid global and regional crises sparked by COVID-19, natural disasters and geopolitical changes, Vietnam has continued to show marked successes in the fight against the pandemic and in economic growth, mainly due to strong political will and drastic measures by the Government and citizens. At an apparel company in Ha Tinh province (Photo: VNA) In an article published on January 21, the author said the countrys upcoming change in leadership, after the 13th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV), will bring further new developments. Since the outbreak of COVID-19, Vietnam has become a bright spot, a model for successfully containing the pandemic. As the global crisis stretches into its second year, Vietnam continues efforts to research, produce and conduct clinical trials for COVID-19 vaccines. Vietnam saw multilateral diplomacy milestones last year, including through its role as ASEAN Chair for 2020, a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for 2020-2021, and Chair of the 41st General Assembly of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA 41). On the economic front, Vietnam achieved a growth rate of 2.91 percent last year and actively pushed new free trade agreements, including the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA). Additionally, Vietnam has also shown progress in technology and education through the pandemic. In 2020, Vietnam made advancements in developing 5G networks, using equipment manufactured by local industry and telecoms group Viettel. Meanwhile, the country saw students succeed in global academic competitions despite the impacts of the pandemic. On the digital front, Vietnam accelerated a national digital transformation that has already changed much of the countrys public administration. In June 2020, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc approved a National Digital Transformation Program, to be implemented by 2025, to develop the economy based on digital technologies. The article quoted Prof. Carl Thayer from the University of New South Wales in Australia as saying that Vietnams response to the pandemic has increased its standing regionally and globally. Other analysts also pointed to Vietnams recent role on the UN Security Council, including its support for expanding coordination between ASEAN, the UN Security Council and other UN bodies, as well as pushing for global adherence to international law and the UN Charter. The CPV is set to convene its 13th National Congress from January 25 to February 2. With the country coming off of a strong year in 2020, the countrys next administration will likely continue to steer the country towards its socio-economic development targets as well as multilateral goals around peace, security and prosperity in the region and globally, the article said./.VNA Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-21 02:28:54|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close TRIPOLI, Jan. 20 (Xinhua) -- The International Organization for Migration (IOM) on Wednesday said that some 40 illegal migrants have drowned off Libyan coast. "Some 40 migrants drowned yesterday after their boat capsized off the Libyan coast according to 10 survivors rescued by coastal security," IOM tweeted. "This loss of life highlights once more the need to re-activate state-led search and rescue operations," IOM said. Enditem The County School Board, after two and a half hours of often heated discussion, voted 5-4 against a plan that would have put students in K-5 back in school four days a week. However, the board afterwards unanimously supported a resolution initiated by Chairman Joe Wingate that directs Supt. Bryan Johnson to come up with plans that get students back into the classroom "as quickly and as safely as possible." Chairman Wingate said, "This allows Dr. Johnson to look at options as the COVID-19 numbers come down." Several board members said this was an administrative matter and the board should not have been getting involved in the staff's purview. Board members Rhonda Thurman and Joe Smith said those taking that position were "cowards." Ms. Thurman said the board advises the superintendent on all sorts of issues. Board member Tucker McClendon, who worked earlier Thursday with Supt. Johnson to come up with the initial motion, said the Tennessee School Board Association advises boards to get involved in COVID closing issues. Marco Perez, another board member, said, "People are hurting. Children are falling apart. It's truly painful. But I hope we get to the end of this school year without losing a teacher or a staff member." Jenny Hill made a motion to table the McClendon motion, saying "it is not the role of the board to make operational decisions." Karitsa Mosley Jones acknowledged that many are anxious for in-person school to resume, but she stressed the safety and health factor. She said, "I don't do what other people want. I do what I think is right. I would rather stay the course and be more careful." Steve Highlander said he was among board members getting hundreds of calls and emails on the issue. He said parents favored a return to school by about 70 to 30, while teachers opposed it about 70-30. Voting to support the motion to table were Ms. Hill, Tiffanie Robinson, Mr. Highlander, Ms. Jones and Mr. Perez. The County Schools stayed in the classroom for 84 days, then shifted to virtual learning as COVID numbers spiked several weeks ago. Mr. Wingate and Supt. Johnson noted that COVID case numbers in Hamilton County have been dropping to in the 200s per day. They said they are "trending downward." Two physicians that advise school officials, Dr. Stephen Adams and Dr. Charles Woods, agreed that case numbers are down as well as the number of those hospitalized and in Intensive Care Units. Dr. Woods said he did not see a problem with the schools "relaxing a bit" on a case scale that recently caused the schools to close. He said it has been found that in most cases elementary age students are not apt to get the virus or to transmit it, though that is not always the case. Several board members said they definitely want students in school, but they said a priority is the safety of teachers and staff from the deadly virus. The McClendon motion did not have 6-12 going back now. He said the board did not need to rush and "shoot ourselves in the foot." As many as 1,400 people viewed the board meeting online. Gayane Sahakian, the deputy director of the Armenian National Center for Disease Control and Prevention, said on Friday that the first batch of a relatively cheap vaccine developed by the British company AstraZeneca and Oxford University will be delivered to the country soon. Sahakian said that the choice of the vaccine was made by the supplier, the COVAX Facility global partnership supported by the World Health Organization. COVAX signed a supply contract with the Armenian government signed late last year. In Sahakians words, the first phase of vaccination will cover medical workers, care home personnel, people aged 65 and older as well as younger Armenians suffering from chronic diseases. This was recommended earlier this week by a government commission of health experts. The commission said that military and law-enforcement personnel, rescue and public transport workers, civil servants, schoolteachers and university lecturers should be the next to get vaccine shots free of charge. It is not clear when that could happen. Sahakian told the press earlier this month that the authorities are planning to vaccinate only 10 percent of Armenias population. She said on Friday that they are now negotiating with Russian officials on the possible acquisition of a large quantity of the Russian vaccine Sputnik V. She did not go into details. Nor did Sahakian say if COVID-19 vaccines could be made available to a larger percentage of the population later this year. She stressed only that the vaccination process will be voluntary. Anecdotal evidence suggests that many Armenians are wary of the vaccines despite the pandemics severe impact on their country of about 3 million. The Armenian Ministry of Health has registered more than 165,711 coronavirus cases and at least 3,030 deaths caused by them so far. The real number of cases is believed to be much higher. No cultural events of students for Republic Day celebrations: TN Govt India oi-Madhuri Adnal Chennai, Jan 22: The Tamil Nadu government on Friday said cultural programmes of school and college students would not be part of the Republic Day celebrations here this year in view of the coronavirus pandemic. Appealing to people, students and the elderly to avoid visiting the Marina beachfront to witness the event on January 26, the government said this was aimed at preventing gathering of a large number of people. The Governor leading the Republic Day celebrations on Kamarajar Salai, in front of the Marina beach is the practice. An impressive parade by the armed forces and police is part of the spectacle of the annual event while freedom fighters, students and the general public witness it. No headway at police-farmer unions meeting on Republic Day tractor parade However, this year, "the cultural programmes of school and college students is avoided and district collectors have been advised to visit the freedom fighters and honour them with shawls," an official release said. Arrangements have been made to broadcast the event on radio and television channels and Governor Banwarilal Purohit would unfurl the national flag at 8 am on January 26, the government said. Centre-farmers hold 11th round of talks, impasse over farm laws continues| Oneindia News The Raj Bhavan had said on Thursday that the customary "At Home" reception would not be hosted by Purohit this year in view of the coronavirus pandemic. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, January 22, 2021, 14:21 [IST] DALLAS A Harris County, Texas, doctor has been fired and faces a criminal charge after authorities say he stole a vial of coronavirus vaccine and gave it to friends and relatives. Hasan Kassim Gokal, 48, faces one misdemeanor count of theft by a public servant. His attorney says Gokal was simply making sure that doses of the vaccine were used rather than allowed to expire. Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg said Thursday that Gokal, who worked for Harris County Public Health, stole a vial containing nine doses on Dec. 29 while working at a county vaccination site in Humble, about 15 miles northeast of Houston. He later told a colleague, who reported him, Ogg said in a statement. Gokal was fired after an investigation by the health department, and the case was referred to prosecutors. He abused his position to place his friends and family in line in front of people who had gone through the lawful process to be there, Ogg said. What he did was illegal, and hell be held accountable under the law. Ogg said Gokal ignored protocols intended to ensure that the vaccine is given to front-line workers and people at higher risk for COVID-19 complications instead of being wasted, adding that mishandling the vaccine can lead to the countys government funding being cut. Gokals lawyer, Paul Doyle, said in a written statement that his client is a dedicated public servant who is looking forward to his day in court. Gokal ensured that COVID-19 vaccine dosages that would have otherwise expired went into the arms of people who met the criteria for receiving it, Doyle said. Harris County would have preferred Dr. Gokal let the vaccines go to waste and are attempting to disparage this mans reputation in the process to support this policy. If convicted, Gokal faces up to a year in jail and a $4,000 fine. Gokal does not have any disciplinary history with the Texas Medical Board. By Tom Steele, The Dallas Morning News (TNS) More: Health experts blame rapid expansion for the nationwide COVID-19 vaccine shortages Biden signs orders requiring masks for travel, other coronavirus-fighting measures Credit: CC0 Public Domain Patients of Asian and black backgrounds suffered disproportionate rates of premature death from COVID-19, according to a study of 1,737 patients by Queen Mary University of London and Barts Health NHS Trust. The study, published in BMJ Open, is one of the most comprehensive studies exploring COVID-19 outcomes in black, Asian and minority ethnic populations so far reported, from one of the largest and most diverse UK hospital COVID-19 cohorts, representing a majority ethnically diverse population (only 35.2 per cent of patients identified as White ethnicity). The work resulted from a new interdisciplinary collaboration between intensive care physicians and HIV physicians. The researchers looked at data from all patients aged 16 years or over with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection and admitted to the five acute hospitals within Barts Health NHS Trust, between 1 January and 13 May 2020. 1,737 patients were included in the analysis of whom 511 had died by day 30 (29 per cent). 538 patients (31 per cent) were from Asian, 340 (20 per cent) black and 707 (40 per cent) white backgrounds. Compared with white patients, those from minority ethnic backgrounds were younger and less frail. Asian patients were 1.54 times more likely, and black patients 1.8 times more likely, to be admitted to ICU and to receive invasive ventilation, compared to white patients. After adjustment for age and sex, patients from Asian backgrounds were 1.49 times more likely to die compared to those from white backgrounds, and patients from black backgrounds were 1.30 times more likely to die. Asian and black patients experienced a 50-80 per cent increased risk of receiving mechanical ventilation in ICU compared with white patients of a similar age. Dr. Yize Wan, Clinical Lecturer at Queen Mary University of London and Specialty Registrar in Intensive Care Medicine & Anaesthesia at Barts Health NHS Trust said: "Our study shows the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on Black and Asian groups in the first peak. Black and Asian people admitted to Barts Health hospitals with COVID-19 were significantly younger in age, had greater acute disease severity, and higher mortality relative to white patients of the same age and baseline health. "As the impact of COVID-19 continues to be seen within our community, the importance of responding to the ethnic disparities unmasked during the COVID-19 pandemic is crucial to prevent entrenching and inflicting them on future generations." Dr. Vanessa Apea, Consultant Physician in Sexual Health and HIV at Barts Health NHS Trust and Honorary Senior Lecturer at Queen Mary University of London, added: "Authentic community based participatory research to understand the drivers of these differences, and co-creation of solutions are key to achieving health equity in these communities." The researchers caution that although the study had a large number of patients, it was not possible to assess a more detailed ethnicity breakdown and it may not reflect the vast heterogeneity within ethnic categories (such as Bangladeshi, Pakistani, black African or black Caribbean). Separately, two of the research teamDr. Vanessa Apea and Professor Chloe Orkin from Queen Mary and Barts Healthare delivering a new study to understand why Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities are so badly affected by the COVID-19 virus and address the lower uptake of the vaccine by people in these groups. The Amplifying Lives study, funded by Barts Charity, will gain deep insight into the causes of COVID-19 based on the lived experience of East London's racially diverse communities, through interviews and questionnaires. The researchers will work directly with local residents to understand their life before, and during, COVID-19. Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak More information: Vanessa J Apea et al, Ethnicity and outcomes in patients hospitalised with COVID-19 infection in East London: an observational cohort study, BMJ Open (2021). Journal information: BMJ Open Vanessa J Apea et al, Ethnicity and outcomes in patients hospitalised with COVID-19 infection in East London: an observational cohort study,(2021). DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-042140 Cabinet outlines thirty most important directions in Ukraine's Economic Strategy until 2030 The government has begun public debates on the draft of the strategy. Reporting by UNIAN If you see a spelling error on our site, select it and press Ctrl+Enter Alan Lee Sisson, 72, of the first block of Fontaine Court, Bloomingdale, was charged with involuntary sexual servitude of a minor, child pornography involving both moving depictions and still images, grooming and indecent solicitation of a minor. Sri Lanka starts to close production gap to cement demand 22 January 2021 Onyx Group in Sri Lanka has announced that it expects to start operations of its new grinding plant in Mirijjawaila, Hambantota. The commissioning of the plant, which is an affiliate of Ceylon Steel Ltd, is an indication that Sri Lanka is looking to close the gap between its cement demand and domestic cement production. In recent years domestic demand has been met partly by high levels of cement and clinker imports in recent years. The new Onyx facility will operate as Lanwa Santha Cement Corp (Pvt) Ltd. Representing an investment of nearly US$100m, the plant will have an initial cement capacity of 2.4Mta when it starts commercial production. The second phase will see a further 1.2Mta of cement production added to the plant. The whole operation is being set up on a 63-acre plot of land in the Mirijjawaila Export Processing zone. Grinding will be carried out by two Gebr Pfeiffer MVR-5000 C-4 type VRMs. They have a capacity of 180tph each to produce ordinary Portland cement (OPC) to a fineness of 4000cm2/g according to Blaine. Siemens process control technology and packaging equipment from FLSmidth will also ensure the plant operates to high standards. In addition, the plant features a stacker/reclaimer yard and two bridge-type ship unloaders. Raw materials are being transported along a 2.4km covered conveyor. The cement types to be produced include OPC, Portland slag cement and Portland Limestone cement. The Onyx Group has been trying to enter the cement market for several years, having bid on the Holcim Lanka operations in 2017. The new plant opening will make a significant increase in domestic production, which currently totals around 2.8Mta. Local estimates suggest domestic grinding capacity is expected to rise by 14 per cent in 2021. The gap between production and demand remains wide as Sri Lankan cement consumption totals approximately 8Mta. Industry development Tokyo Cement Co (Lanka) PLC is the market leader, but it only has the one cement plant at Trincomalee. INSEE Cement (Lanka) Ltd (Siam City group) is close behind with an installed capacity of 2.7Mta. It has an integrated 1.3Mta plant at Puttalam and two grinding plants at Ruhunu (1Mta) and at Galle (0.4Mta). Meanwhile, the Sri Lankan cement industry continues to develop and Taiheiyo Cement (Lanka) announced an upgrade project in November 2020. It is expanding its Trincomalee grinding plant from 2.8 to 3.8Mta. The upgrade is expected to be completed in mid-2022. A new entrant will be Hambantota EZ, which is a Chinese project for an integrated 1.5Mta cement plant in the southern coastal town of Hambantota. Chaudhary Cement Industries Pvt Ltd is also planning a 1.5Mta integrated plant in Mannar, northwest Sri Lanka. The CG Cement plant, as it will be known, has an investment of US$150m. CG Cement already has a 10 per cent share of Nepals market through imports. High volumes of imports Most of Sri Lanka's imports are sourced from India, Vietnam, Pakistan, Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand. This has made Sri Lanka into the fourth-largest cement importer in the world. Import duties have been removed for some raw materials that cannot be produced domestically to help build mega-housing schemes, highways and small and medium-build projects. Infrastructure to boost cement demand Sri Lanka announced its 75th National Budget for 2021 in November 2020. It featured a substantial LKR20bn (US$101.9m) rural road construction programme for 10,000km of roads and the provision of LKR7000m to build 10,000 rural bridges. A central Expressway Section I, III and IV and phase I of the Ruwanpura Expressway is scheduled for completion by 2024. A three-year road development programme will cover all 25 districts and the railway is being expanded in Colombo and surrounding suburban areas. House construction will see complexes amounting to 50,000 new houses for low- and middle-income earners. Approximately LKR5000m will also be provided for piped water connections to 450,000 houses. Summary Sri Lankan cement production's latest figures saw a rise of 28.7 per cent YoY to 375,000t in September 2020. Overall, cement production rose by 8.5 per cent to 2.82Mt in the 9M20, compared to 2.6Mt in 2019. It indicates that Sri Lankas cement producers have been able to sustain volumes during the pandemic, but domestic cement consumption fell by 16.2 per cent to 5.37Mt for the 9M20. Published under They're a cultural trope that have been used to symbolise the proverbial 'see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil'. But it appears the three wise monkeys have been cancelled after academics at the University of York decided they are an oppressive racial stereotype. Organisers of a forthcoming art history conference for the university have apologised for using a picture of the monkeys in promotional material and have pulled the image from their website to avoid offence. They're a cultural trope that have been used to symbolise the proverbial 'see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil'. But it appears the three wise monkeys have been cancelled after academics at the University of York decided they are an oppressive racial stereotype 'Upon reflection, we strongly believe that our first poster is not appropriate as its iconology promulgates a long-standing legacy of oppression and exploits racist stereotypes,' academics wrote in a statement seen by The Times. It continued: 'We bring this to your attention so that we may be held accountable for our actions and in our privileges do and be better.' The origin of the Three Wise Monkeys The phrase 'see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil' probably came to Japan from Buddhist legend in India and China in the 8th century. The three wise monkeys are thought to have been used in Japan because of the similarity in Japanese of the negative suffix 'zaru' to 'saru', meaning monkey. The proverb acts as a reminder not to be nosy or gossipy but is also used today to refer to someone who turns a blind eye to the immorality of an act in which they are involved. Advertisement The three monkeys are depicted as having one with its eyes covered, another with its ears covered and another with its mouth covered. The image became popular in Japan in the 17th century before spreading to the West. It is associated with the Tendai school of Buddhism where they are perceived as helpers for divine figures. But a spokeswoman for the University of York said academics were concerned the image could be insulting to ethnic minorities. 'The Japanese symbol of the three wise monkeys was used to represent a postgraduate conference about the sensory experiences of the body, and it also appeared on a document that asked for submission of research papers to the conference on a range of areas, one of which included papers that represented black, indigenous and people of colour,' she said. 'It was considered . . . that a monkey, which has been used in a derogatory way in the past, could cause offence in this context, despite this not being the intention of the organisers, so the image was removed.' The image was used on a call for submissions page for the online conference Sensorial Fixations: Orality, Aurality , Opticality and Hapticity. Experts in Japanese culture last night hit out at any suggestion that the monkeys could be insulting. Lucia Dolce, who has been studying Japanese Buddhism at the School of Oriental and African studies at the University of London for 20 years, told The Times: 'The monkey is a sacred being. They are vehicles of delight.' Organisers of a forthcoming art history conference for the university have apologised for using a picture of the monkeys in promotional material and have pulled the image from their website to avoid offence The image of the three monkeys was first mired in controversy in 2007 when four activists in the union Unison used the image to criticise leaders who were turning a blind eye to their concerns. Unison leaders responded by saying that the image was intended as a racial slur against them as one of the activists was black. An employment tribunal ruled in 2013 that no reasonable person would interpret their use of the monkeys as racist. - Huge regional variations in vaccination activity across the world - Only 56 of the 200 countries tracked have started their vaccination programmes - China and USA account for almost 60% of all doses administered LONDON, Jan. 22, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Independent research company, TotalAnalysis, has today launched a new daily vaccination tracker covering 200 countries and their local regions. The tracker reveals some startling and significant trends: Of the 52.7 million doses administered so far, China and the USA together account for 30.6 million - more than 58 per cent of the global total and the together account for 30.6 million - more than 58 per cent of the global total Of the 49.3 million people vaccinated so far, 93 per cent have received a single dose, and that proportion is increasing as most countries focus on maximising the rate of first jab inoculation [1] Only 56 of the 200 countries tracked had started rolling out their vaccination programmes by January 20th There is marked variation between the world's regions in terms of the proportion of people vaccinated - ranging from 1,990 per 100,000 in the Middle East down to almost zero in Africa (only the Seychelles and Guinea have started) down to almost zero in (only the and have started) The global average vaccination rate is 680 per 100,000 - still well below one per cent - with Asia Pacific languishing at 370 (in spite of China's high volume), compared to 1,680 in Europe and 1,690 in the Americas (skewed by high US numbers) languishing at 370 (in spite of high volume), compared to 1,680 in and 1,690 in the Americas (skewed by high US numbers) There is huge variation within Europe : the UK leads with 7,470 vaccinated per 100,000 followed by Denmark with 3,140 - in stark contrast to Germany at 1,550, France at 1060 and the Netherlands at just 450 Mike Laflin, Director of Research, TotalAnalysis, said: "This vaccination data should not be seen as a race between countries. It's a race of injections versus infections. This ratio will grow in importance week by week - for the last seven days we have seen the US jab rate running at eight times the volume of infections, whereas the UK has achieved a six times rate." At the other end of the scale sit the majority of countries with an injection rate well below the infection rate with 144 nations yet to start their inoculation programmes, including Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Colombia, Peru and South Africa. The London-based research group has been monitoring Covid-19 data for 200 countries and 2,500 local regions since the outbreak of the pandemic. The vaccination tracker will be open access, and includes daily, 7-day, 14-day and cumulative totals, all set against the 15+/adult group (since vaccinations are currently authorised for adults only), as well as total populations. Twelve of the featured countries, including the UK and USA, also feature a regional breakdown of vaccination data, and this number is expected to grow to more than 100 countries over the coming weeks. For full access to the Vaccine Tracker go to TotalAnalysis. About Total Analysis Based in London, TotalAnalysis is an independent information resource for data on the Coronavirus pandemic. With over 400,000 data points researched from more than 350 public sources, TotalAnalysis systematically updates and analyses Covid-19 data every day on over 200 nations and 2,200 local regions throughout Africa, the Americas, Asia Pacific, Europe, and the Middle East. TotalAnalysis was launched in April 2020 and is entirely independent of any government, institution or pressure group. 1. Some vaccines are only single dose. For media enquiries and interviews, please contact: Naomi Thomas PR Manager TotalAnalysis n.thomas.pr@gmail.com +44 (0)7917 184752 (JNS) Left-wing Jewish and Israel groups have issued a joint statement in opposition to adopting the universal definition of anti-Semitism set by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance. The collection of groups, known as the Progressive Israel Network, include Ameinu, Americans for Peace Now, Habonim Dror North America, Hashomer Hatzair World Movement, Jewish Labor Committee, J Street, New Israel Fund, Partners for Progressive Israel, Reconstructing Judaism and Truah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights. As organizations that care deeply about the State of Israel and ab... Initial agreement provides up to 40 million doses to COVAX in 2021 First deliveries are expected to take place in Q1 2021 subject to the execution of supply agreements under the COVAX Facility structure For the COVAX Advanced Market Commitment 92 countries, Pfizer and BioNTech will provide the vaccine to COVAX at a not-for-profit price NEW YORK CITY, NY and MAINZ, GERMANY, January 22, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) - Pfizer and BioNTech SE today announced an advance purchase agreement with COVAX for up to 40 million doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine. The doses will be delivered throughout 2021. COVAX is a global initiative coordinated by the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI), the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) and the World Health Organization (WHO), to ensure equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines for all countries, regardless of income levels. COVAX includes an Advanced Market Commitment (AMC) financial mechanism that aims to ensure that 92 low- and lower-middle-income countries will be able to secure access to COVID-19 vaccines at the same time as higher-income countries. The first doses are expected to be delivered in the first quarter of 2021, subject to the negotiation and execution of supply agreements under the COVAX Facility structure. For the COVAX Advanced Market Commitment 92 countries, Pfizer and BioNTech will provide the vaccine to COVAX at a not-for-profit price. "At Pfizer, we believe that every person deserves to be seen, heard and cared for. That is why from the very beginning of our vaccine development program, Pfizer and BioNTech have been firmly committed to working toward equitable and affordable access of COVID-19 vaccines for people around the world," said Pfizer Chairman and CEO Albert Bourla. "We share the mission of COVAX and are proud to work together so that developing countries have the same access as the rest of the world, which will bring us another step closer to ending this global pandemic and proving that science will win for everyone, everywhere." "SARS-CoV-2 does not differentiate between borders - a global pandemic requires comprehensive solutions and worldwide collaboration. COVAX is a truly global initiative and we are happy to support by making BNT162b2 available in many low- and lower-middle-income countries to help protect vulnerable people worldwide," said Ugur Sahin, M.D., CEO and Co-founder of BioNTech. "The urgent and equitable roll-out of vaccines is not just a moral imperative, it is also a strategic and economic imperative," said Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization. "This agreement with Pfizer and BioNTech will enable COVAX to save lives, stabilize health systems and drive the global economic recovery." "Today marks another milestone for COVAX: in addition to securing access to doses, we are now expecting the first deliveries of life-saving COVID-19 vaccines in Q1. This is not just significant for COVAX, it is a major step forward for equitable access to vaccines, and an essential part of the global effort to beat this pandemic. We will only be safe anywhere if we are safe everywhere," said Dr. Seth Berkley, CEO of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, which leads COVAX procurement and delivery. As part of a broader strategy to support low and middle income countries beyond the agreement with COVAX, Pfizer and BioNTech are committed to partnering with other global health stakeholders to provide expertise and resources that can strengthen healthcare systems where greater support may be needed to deploy COVID-19 vaccines. This includes analyzing supply chains and piloting novel approaches in low-income countries to address transportation and storage challenges. Pfizer and BioNTech are also committed to coordinating with international agencies to support supply and distribution in refugee and other vulnerable populations. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed. The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine has not been approved or licensed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. AUTHORIZED USE IN THE U.S.: The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine is authorized for use under an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for active immunization to prevent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in individuals 16 years of age and older. IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION FROM U.S. FDA EMERGENCY USE AUTHORIZATION PRESCRIBING INFORMATION: Do not administer Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine to individuals with known history of a severe allergic reaction (e.g., anaphylaxis) to any component (https://www.cvdvaccine-us.com/dosing-and-administrationdescription) of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine Appropriate medical treatment used to manage immediate allergic reactions must be immediately available in the event an acute anaphylactic reaction occurs following administration of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine Monitor Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine recipients for the occurrence of immediate adverse reactions according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines) Immunocompromised persons, including individuals receiving immunosuppressant therapy, may have a diminished immune response to the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine may not protect all vaccine recipients In clinical studies, adverse reactions in participants 16 years of age and older included pain at the injection site (84.1%), fatigue (62.9%), headache (55.1%), muscle pain (38.3%), chills (31.9%), joint pain (23.6%), fever (14.2%), injection site swelling (10.5%), injection site redness (9.5%), nausea (1.1%), malaise (0.5%), and lymphadenopathy (0.3%) Severe allergic reactions have been reported following the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine during mass vaccination outside of clinical trials. Additional adverse reactions, some of which may be serious, may become apparent with more widespread use of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine Available data on Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine administered to pregnant women are insufficient to inform vaccine-associated risks in pregnancy Data are not available to assess the effects of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine on the breastfed infant or on milk production/excretion There are no data available on the interchangeability of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine with other COVID-19 vaccines to complete the vaccination series. Individuals who have received one dose of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine should receive a second dose of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine to complete the vaccination series Vaccination providers must report Adverse Events in accordance with the Fact Sheet to VAERS at https://vaers.hhs.gov/reportevent.html (https://vaers.hhs.gov/reportevent.html) or by calling 1-800-822-7967. The reports should include the words "Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine EUA" in the description section of the report Vaccination providers should review the Fact Sheet for Information to Provide to Vaccine Recipients/Caregivers and Mandatory Requirements for Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine Administration Under Emergency Use Authorization Please see Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) Fact Sheet for Healthcare Providers Administering Vaccine (Vaccination Providers) including Full EUA Prescribing Information available at www.cvdvaccine-us.com. (http://www.cvdvaccine-us.com.) About Pfizer: Breakthroughs That Change Patients' Lives At Pfizer, we apply science and our global resources to bring therapies to people that extend and significantly improve their lives. We strive to set the standard for quality, safety and value in the discovery, development and manufacture of health care products, including innovative medicines and vaccines. Every day, Pfizer colleagues work across developed and emerging markets to advance wellness, prevention, treatments and cures that challenge the most feared diseases of our time. Consistent with our responsibility as one of the world's premier innovative biopharmaceutical companies, we collaborate with health care providers, governments and local communities to support and expand access to reliable, affordable health care around the world. For more than 150 years, we have worked to make a difference for all who rely on us. We routinely post information that may be important to investors on our website at www.Pfizer.com. In addition, to learn more, please visit us on www.Pfizer.com.sg and follow us on Twitter at @Pfizer and @Pfizer News, LinkedIn, YouTube and like us on Facebook at Facebook.com/Pfizer. Pfizer Disclosure Notice The information contained in this release is as of January 22, 2021. Pfizer assumes no obligation to update forward-looking statements contained in this release as the result of new information or future events or developments. This release contains forward-looking information about Pfizer's efforts to combat COVID-19, the collaboration between BioNTech and Pfizer to develop a potential COVID-19 vaccine, the BNT162 mRNA vaccine program, an agreement with Singapore to supply BNT162 and other potential agreements, and modRNA candidate BNT162b2 (including qualitative assessments of available data, potential benefits, expectations for clinical trials, anticipated timing of regulatory submissions, regulatory approvals or authorizations, and anticipated manufacturing, distribution and supply), involving substantial risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements. Risks and uncertainties include, among other things, the uncertainties inherent in research and development, including the ability to meet anticipated clinical endpoints, commencement and/or completion dates for clinical trials, regulatory submission dates, regulatory approval dates and/or launch dates, as well as risks associated with clinical data (including the Phase 3 data), including the possibility of unfavorable new preclinical or clinical trial data and further analyses of existing preclinical or clinical trial data; the ability to produce comparable clinical or other results, including the rate of vaccine effectiveness and safety and tolerability profile observed to date, in additional analyses of the Phase 3 trial and additional studies or in larger, more diverse populations upon commercialization; the risk that clinical trial data are subject to differing interpretations and assessments, including during the peer review/publication process, in the scientific community generally, and by regulatory authorities; whether and when additional data from the BNT162 mRNA vaccine program will be published in scientific journal publications and, if so, when and with what modifications; whether regulatory authorities will be satisfied with the design of and results from these and any future preclinical and clinical studies; whether and when any biologics license and/or emergency use authorization applications may be filed in Singapore and any particular jurisdictions for BNT162b2 or any other potential vaccine candidates; whether and when any applications that may be pending or filed for BNT162b2 may be approved by particular regulatory authorities in Singapore, which will depend on myriad factors, including making a determination as to whether the vaccine candidate's benefits outweigh its known risks and determination of the vaccine candidate's efficacy and, if approved, whether it will be commercially successful; decisions by regulatory authorities impacting labeling, manufacturing processes, safety and/or other matters that could affect the availability or commercial potential of a vaccine, including development of products or therapies by other companies; disruptions in the relationships between us and our collaboration partners or third-party suppliers; risks related to the availability of raw materials to manufacture a vaccine; challenges related to our vaccine candidate's ultra-low temperature formulation and attendant storage, distribution and administration requirements, including risks related to handling after delivery by Pfizer; the risk that we may not be able to successfully develop non-frozen formulations; the risk that we may not be able to create or scale up manufacturing capacity on a timely basis or have access to logistics or supply channels commensurate with global demand for any potential approved vaccine, which would negatively impact our ability to supply the estimated numbers of doses of our vaccine candidate within the projected time periods indicated; whether and when additional supply agreements will be reached; uncertainties regarding the ability to obtain recommendations from vaccine technical committees and other public health authorities and uncertainties regarding the commercial impact of any such recommendations; uncertainties regarding the impact of COVID-19 on Pfizer's business, operations and financial results; and competitive developments. A further description of risks and uncertainties can be found in Pfizer's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019 and in its subsequent reports on Form 10-Q, including in the sections thereof captioned "Risk Factors" and "Forward-Looking Information and Factors That May Affect Future Results", as well as in its subsequent reports on Form 8-K, all of which are filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and available at www.sec.gov and www.pfizer.com . About BioNTech Biopharmaceutical New Technologies is a next generation immunotherapy company pioneering novel therapies for cancer and other serious diseases. The Company exploits a wide array of computational discovery and therapeutic drug platforms for the rapid development of novel biopharmaceuticals. Its broad portfolio of oncology product candidates includes individualized and off-the-shelf mRNA-based therapies, innovative chimeric antigen receptor T cells, bi-specific checkpoint immuno-modulators, targeted cancer antibodies and small molecules. Based on its deep expertise in mRNA vaccine development and in-house manufacturing capabilities, BioNTech and its collaborators are developing multiple mRNA vaccine candidates for a range of infectious diseases alongside its diverse oncology pipeline. BioNTech has established a broad set of relationships with multiple global pharmaceutical collaborators, including Genmab, Sanofi, Bayer Animal Health, Genentech, a member of the Roche Group, Regeneron, Genevant, Fosun Pharma, and Pfizer. For more information, please visit www.BioNTech.de . BioNTech Forward-looking Statements This press release contains "forward-looking statements" of BioNTech within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements may include, but may not be limited to, statements concerning: BioNTech's efforts to combat COVID-19; the collaboration between BioNTech and Pfizer regarding a COVID-19 vaccine; our expectations regarding the potential characteristics of BNT162b2 in our Phase 2/3 trial and/or in commercial use based on data observations to date; the expected time point for additional readouts on trial data of BNT162b2 in our Phase 2/3 trial; the nature of the clinical data, which is subject to ongoing peer review, regulatory review and market interpretation; the timing for submission of data for, or receipt of, any marketing approval or Emergency Use Authorization; our contemplated shipping and storage plan, including our estimated product shelf life at various temperatures; and the ability of BioNTech to supply the quantities of BNT162 to support clinical development and, if approved, market demand, including our production estimate for 2021. Any forward-looking statements in this press release are based on BioNTech current expectations and beliefs of future events, and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially and adversely from those set forth in or implied by such forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: the ability to meet the pre-defined endpoints in clinical trials; competition to create a vaccine for COVID-19; the ability to produce comparable clinical or other results, including our stated rate of vaccine effectiveness and safety and tolerability profile observed to date, in the remainder of the trial or in larger, more diverse populations upon commercialization; the ability to effectively scale our productions capabilities; and other potential difficulties. For a discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties, see BioNTech's Quarterly Report for the Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2020, filed as Exhibit 99.2 to its Current Report on Form 6-K filed with the SEC on November 10, which is available on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. All information in this press release is as of the date of the release, and BioNTech undertakes no duty to update this information unless required by law. Pfizer Contacts: Global Media Relations Contact Sharon Castillo +1 202.624.6769 Sharon.Castillo@Pfizer.com BioNTech Contacts: Media Relations Jasmina Alatovic +49 89 62 81 75 46 Media@biontech.de Investor Relations Sylke Maas, Ph.D. +49 New Delhi: In what would come as a major relief for train passengers, the Indian Railways ticketing arm IRCTC will give them a 10 percent discount on ticket booking if berths are available after chart preparation. It must be noted that the Indian Railways train chart is being prepared 4 hours before the train's departure. The above facility can be availed by passengers by booking current ticket half an hours before the train's departure. Current ticket booking facility is available on both IRCTC online platform as well as Railway platforms. The facility is available in all special trains of the Indian Railways including intercity chair car trains. It may be recalled that in December 2020, ITCTC had launched a more user friendly revamped website which is operational from January 1, 2021. Salient Features of the Upgraded IRCTC website: Complete User personalization linked to the user login, such as the booking of meals, retiring rooms and hotels has been integrated and can be directly along with the tickets, thus providing a one stop solution for the needs of the traveller. Predictive entry suggestions using Artificial Intelligence to be given to the passenger when he is entering the station or passenger. This will greatly reduce the hassle in searching stations and also save time in ticket booking. Simpler checking of the refund status at the user accounts page. Earlier this feature was not easily accessible. Regular or Favorite journeys can be booked easily by automatically entering relevant details. Train search & selection simplified by putting the information on one page to reduce the time used by passengers and enhancing the booking experience. All information on one page Availability for all class are displayed along with respective fares for all trains. Simply scroll the page and choose to Book the desired train and class. Earlier each train seat availability and fares could be seen only after clicking on that train individually. A Cache system has been introduced in the backend to provide availability status. This will avoid delays in loading availabilities. In case waitlisted tickets, its confirmation probability is displayed. Earlier this had to be checked for each waitlist status separately. Availability for other dates can be toggled on the page itself. Prompts during the booking process for making it easy for even less computer familiar users. This will save his time in wandering on the website for searching the website. The journey details will be shown also at the payment page. It will prompt the user to check and rectify, if there are any typographical errors. These corrections can only be corrected by visiting a PRS centre. Live TV #mute The website has in-built features for enhancing cyber security by using appropriate captchas. Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 3 mesi fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. The global precision guided munition market size is expected to reach USD 46.7 billion in 2027, expanding at a CAGR of 5.6% from 2020 t-2027, according t-a new report by Grand View Research Inc. Growing need for extremely accurate munitions for target attacking is anticipated t-increase the demand for precision guided munitions. Moreover, enhancements in precision attacking are likely t-support the market growth. Growing political and territorial conflicts between major economies are likely t-encourage the enhancements of their respective military and army operations. Precision attacking techniques are used in the army, air force, and naval forces, thus are likely t-drive the market for precision guided munitions over the forecast period. Technological advancements in attacking components including missiles, rockets, mortars, artillery shells, bombs, and bullets t-incorporate advanced positioning technologies are expected t-enhance the market growth. Global Positioning System (GPS) and semi-active lasers systems are popular positioning techniques t-keep track of the targeted location for the attack. Prominent players are investing heavily in R&D activities t-develop advanced technology war equipment. Moreover, ammunition manufacturers are focusing on the installation of a guiding mechanism in the components. Browse Details of Report @ https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/precision-guided-munition-market Precision Guided Munition Market Report Highlights By product, tactical missiles are projected t-witness significant growth over the forecast period on account of their increasing usage in all types of attacking mechanism. Surface t-surface and air t-air tactical missiles are gaining popularity in the warfare equipment In U.S., the market size was valued at USD 4.80 billion in 2019 and is expected t-witness considerable growth over the forecast period owing t-increasing expenditures on military upgrade and enhancement in the attack equipment Based on technology, the Global Positioning System (GPS) led the market in 2019 and is expected t-witness the highest growth over the forecast period on account of its prominent location tracking for the war equipment In 2019, semi-active laser positioning technology accounted for the second largest share owing t-its prominence in the target positioning. Modern missiles and rockets are installed with these positioning mechanisms for guidance t-the exact location Conflicts between U.S. and Iran are anticipated t-enhance the military capabilities of the respective economies. This is expected t-drive the market for precision guided munition in the foreseeable future. Precision Guided Munition Market Segmentation Grand View Research has segmented the global precision guided munition market on the basis of product, technology, and region: Precision Guided Munition Product Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2027) Tactical Missile Guided Rockets Guided Ammunition Loitering Munition Thiruvananthapuram, Jan 22 : Around 10,000 students from Kerala, studying medicine and allied courses in China, are facing an uncertain future as the Chinese government is not allowing them back in the country to resume their studies. After the Covid pandemic struck Wuhan and other parts of China, several students had come back home and the first reported Covid case in India was a medical student in Wuhan who had come to her hometown Thrissur on vacation. Susan Ann Varghese of Thiruvananthapuram and a final year medical student at China, told IANS that she "cannot go back as the Chinese government is not allowing the Indian students to return and the universities which had taken initiative to send us back home are not responding". Students have paid the final year fee of Rs 3.25 lakh and the classes are being conducted online. However the National Medical Commission will not recognise medical courses conducted online and this will create major problems for the students as delayed classes will lead to the course being left incomplete. Madhavan Nair, of Kozhikode in Kerala, whose son Rohan Nair is also a final year medical student in China, told IANS: "We have been left in the lurch there is no progress on the classes of my son. We have taken huge loans to send him to China and I don't know if his course will be recognised at the end. Someone should take the initiative and get him and other students to their universities." As the issue is international, the state government cannot do much. Kerala Health Minister K.K. Shailaja, while talking to IANS, said: "As this is an inter-country issue, Central government can intervene more. We are trying to bring the issue to the Central government's notice". With most of the students hailing from middle and lower middle class families, any delay in completion of courses will throw their family budget off the rails and parents and students are anxious as they look for a solution to this vexed issue. "We are helpless, we have brought the matter to the notice of the Union government through our MPs and are expecting the government to immediately act on the matter and to help us out of this situation," Rajan Mathew, a businessman from Kottayam, whose son Ranjith is a final year medical student in China, told IANS. Seven Nigerian soldiers were on Monday gruesomely murdered by bandits during a rescue operation in a forest along Mararaba-Udege road in Nasarawa Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, PREMIUM TIMES can authoritatively report. The soldiers, who were killed in an ambush by the bandits, were from the 177 Guards Battalion, Shitu Alao Barracks, Keffi, Nasarawa State. According to a reliable source, who does not want to be named for security reasons, the slain soldiers were part of a team of 13 soldiers led into the forest by Felix Kura, a captain. The soldiers mission, the source claimed, was to rescue some residents of the state who were abducted by bandits and taken into the forest. Out of the 14 military men, PREMIUM TIMES learnt that seven including Mr Kura; Yakubu Bati, a sergeant; Kefas Iliya, a lance corporal, and four others whose identity could not be confirmed as of the time of filing this report, lost their lives. As soon as they ran into the ambush and they realised they were being overpowered, Mr Kura was said to have told his colleagues including his cover to escape, the source added. The authorities of the 177 Guards battalion have informed the families of the slain soldiers of their fate and signal has been sent to the headquarters, PREMIUM TIMES learnt. But the spokesperson to the Nigerian Army, Sagir Musa, a brigadier general, denied knowledge of the development. I am not aware. I dont have that information, Mr Musa told our reporter on the phone on Thursday. Family confirms officers death An elder brother to the late Mr Kura, Fabian Benjamin, however, confirmed the incident to our reporter on the phone. A distraught Mr Benjamin expressed bitterness and disappointment at the death of his brother. He feared that the family is scared to break the news to their septuagenarian father, Benjamin Kura, whom he feared may not be strong enough to withstand the shock of the sad news. Apart from the aged father, Mr Benjamin, the familys eldest child, also expressed sadness over the fate of his late brothers young wife, Susan, whom he noted was yet to bear him a child. He said the late officer was just decorated as a captain in August, 2020. My brother read Linguistics at the Benue State University and graduated in 2009. He served in Oyo State in 2010 and joined the Nigerian Army in 2012. He loved the job and was very passionate about it. Some of his commandants even when he was posted to the North East confirmed his bravery and loyalty. I am very depressed right now, Mr Benjamin told our reporter on the phone. He said his late brothers remains will be interred on Tuesday in his home state, Benue. ADVERTISEMENT Failed Mission PREMIUM TIMES learnt that on Monday the battalion received reports of various abductions along the Mararaba-Udege road and its commander asked Mr Kura to pull out alongside 13 other officers to rescue the abductees. Multiple sources said one of the abductees was a nursing mother whose child was abandoned while the mother was taken. Another man was also killed during the operation by the bandits. So no one even knew how many were the victims but only 14 officers were drafted to the scene, a source said. PREMIUM TIMES learnt that the command became worried when communication with the troop was lost and their whereabouts unknown. The command subsequently sent out about 100 soldiers on a search and rescue mission of the platoon. That was how seven bodies were found including the team lead, another source added. Kidnapping in Nasarawa Nasarawa State has in recent times been one of Nigerias hotbeds kidnapping, armed robberies and other forms of violence. Apart from the reported cases along the Mararaba-Udege road, the Deputy Vice-chancellor of Anchor University, Lagos, Johnson Fatokun, was also abducted on his way from Jos, Plateau State capital, to Keffi, on Monday. Mr Fatokun, a professor of Computational Mathematics, was only released on Wednesday after ransom had been paid. According to a statement shared with PREMIUM TIMES by the universitys assistant registrar, strategy and communications, Sanusi Okesola, Mr Fatokuns release was secured after negotiations with his abductors. In a telephone conversation, Mr Okesola added that the lecturer was immediately conveyed to Abuja from where he would be flown to Lagos to resume work. The professor was not tortured, and he is in high spirit. We only thank everyone including the leadership and members of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry, the university community, the Nigerian security operatives and all Nigerians who prayed along with the university, Okesola told our reporter on the phone. He added that though N20 million was demanded by the abductors, the ransom paid was not N20 million. He, however, declined to disclose how much was paid. Detectives with the Walker County Sheriffs Office have made one arrest in an armed robbery of a Wilson Road convenience store that occurred Wednesday. Authorities said a metal gray 2010 Chevrolet Camaro with white stripes pulled into the Discount Market parking lot at 1425 Wilson Road at about 10:30 a.m. Two young black males exited the vehicle, while the driver remained in the car. One suspect was a lookout at the store entrance, while the other suspect confronted the clerk, banishing a handgun and demanding money. The suspects left the store with an undisclosed amount of money. The vehicle left the store parking lot and traveled north on Wilson Road. The following morning, detectives working with the Ridgeland High School Resource Officer identified the gunman as 17-year-old LaMarcus J. Bailey of Chickamauga, Ga. As the investigation moved forward, detectives discovered that Bailey, a Ridgeland High School eleventh grader, had skipped second block and left the school property at 9:42 a.m. on Wednesday. Bailey returned to school property at about 11:20 a.m. The vehicle used in the armed robbery was located in the Ridgeland High School parking lot and was determined to be Baileys vehicle. Detectives searched the Chevrolet Camaro and found a handgun under the front seat. The gun was stolen from Cleveland, Tn., in 2020. Bailey was arrested on Thursday and charged with armed robbery and possession of a stolen firearm; additional charges are forthcoming. Detectives are working to identify the other two men involved in the armed robbery. Ridgeland High School administrators have worked closely with detectives throughout the investigation. Tips can be sent to www.walkerso.com or contact Det. Sgt. Walt Hensley at 706-639-0839. LORAIN, Ohio A man accused of drive-by shooting Wednesday night while riding a bicycle, wounding a male in the head, has been taken into custody, according to the U.S. Marshals Service. Luiz Roman, 25, was wanted by police in Lorain on a charge of felonious assault, officials say. The identity and condition of the victim has not been released. According to U.S. Marshals, Roman was riding a bicycle Wednesday evening in the area of Washington Avenue. He is accused of shooting into a vehicle, wounding a male inside. Ruiz then immediately rode off, officials say. Police were able to quickly identify Roman as a suspect, issuing a warrant for his arrest. Members of the Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force found Roman just house later at home on East 29th Street in Lorain. He was taken into custody without incident. Roman is being held in the Lorain County Jail on multiple charges, according to jail records. A dispatcher with the Lorain Police Department said Thursday night that no one was available to provide additional information. More crime-related content on cleveland.com: Judge hands down prison sentence to ex-Bedford High School teacher who sexually abused two students Clevelands Mayor Frank Jacksons grandson charged in domestic violence case Cuyahoga County grand jury indicts man accused of cutting Broadview Heights police officer before being shot in pursuit Euclid man smuggled fentanyl into county jail that caused cellmates fatal overdose, prosecutors say Cleveland cop fired for using crack cocaine, failing to report fellow officer who stepped on mans neck during arrest Mumbai, Jan 22 : The Maharashtra Congress on Friday held protests in all the districts and different cities demanding the arrest of Republic TV Editor in Chief Arnab Goswami for "treason" under the Official Secrets Act, 1923, party leaders said here. At various places in the state, a large number of Congress activists protested by hurling stones and shoes at photos of Goswami, garlanding his portraits with chappals, and raising slogans against him and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Led by state Congress President and Revenue Minister Balasaheb Thorat, several ministers, legislators, state and district party leaders joined the agitations across all the 36 districts of Maharashtra. Those whotook part in the protests included Dheeraj Deshmukh, Praniti Shinde, Suresh Warpudkar, Sulabha Khodke, Vikas Thakre, Hishab Usmani, Sharad Aher, Prahlad Chavan, Prakash Deotale, Vijay Bhosale, Sandeep Patil and Shyam Saner, among others. Terming the recent revelations of WhatsApp chats between Goswami and ex-BARC CEO Partho Dasgupta as "extremely serious and violative of the OSA, 1923", Thorat said these conversations amount to 'treason' for which the Republic TV chief must be immediately arrested. He said that the chats between the two had made some serious revelations related to national security and pertaining to the retaliatory surgical strike by India in Balakot, Pakistan,in February 2019. "How did Goswami get the information on the air strikes of February 2019, three days before the action was undertaken? 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 asked. The Congress leader also pointed out that the WhatsApp chats indicate the close ties Goswami enjoys with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and other ministers in the BJP-led Central government, besides high-ranking officials who helped him by flouting rules, and the Pulwama attack pointed to the vested interests of some big functionaries. Claiming that Goswami is not 'the only culprit', Thorat said 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. Last week, Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh had said that the state government will seek legal opinion to examine how it could proceed against the Republic TV chief in the matter which concerned critical aspects of national security. Mr. Yang is trying to address the latter concern with a broad suite of policies as he seeks to emerge as the anti-poverty candidate. But Mr. Yang, a former presidential contender and political surrogate, is also emphasizing national relationships even as he faces scrutiny over his connections to the city in which he has never voted for mayor. My ties are strong with our partners in the White House and the Capitol; I have a lot of their phone numbers, he said last week, adding that Senator Jon Ossoff of Georgia had recently called him (though newly elected officials often make many phone calls to thank supporters). Calling Mr. Biden, Ms. Harris and Pete Buttigieg, the transportation secretary nominee, friends of mine, Mr. Yang added, These relationships will pay dividends for our city when we want to get things done. He also posted pictures of himself with Mr. Biden, Ms. Harris and Senators Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Cory Booker of New Jersey. (Mr. Booker, declining to name the mayoral candidates he knew best, said he did not expect to endorse in the race because I have so many friends that are running.) The candidate with the deepest federal management experience is Shaun Donovan, who was a housing secretary under former President Barack Obama, and Mr. Donovan makes no secret of it. The biography on his campaign website opens with the promise to work with Mr. Biden, ensuring that New York Citys voice is heard in the White House. His campaign also issued a news release that highlighted Obama-Biden alumni donors, including Alejandro N. Mayorkas, Mr. Bidens choice to lead the Homeland Security Department, and Tom Vilsack, his choice for agriculture secretary. Mr. Donovan said in an interview that his Washington relationships positioned him to see fresh opportunities for collaboration. WASHINGTON Seven Democratic senators are calling for the chambers ethics panel to investigate U.S. Sen. Ted Cruzs objection to Arizonas electoral votes before the Capitol riots, which they say lend credence to the insurrectionists cause and set the stage for future violence. The Democrats want the ethics panel to decide whether Cruz and U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley, a Missouri Republican who also objected to electoral votes on Jan. 6, failed to put loyalty to the highest moral principles and to country above loyalty to persons, party, or government department. They recommended possible punishments, including censure or expulsion. CRUZS EXPLANATION: The senator says he was trying to build trust by objecting to election results By proceeding with their objections to the electors after the violent attack, Senators Cruz and Hawley lent legitimacy to the mobs cause and made future violence more likely, the senators wrote in the ethics complaint filed Thursday. The Senate has the exclusive power to determine whether these actions violated its ethics rules, to investigate further conduct of which we may not be aware that may have violated these rules, and to consider appropriate discipline. Cruz, who has voiced no regrets about his objection, has said he was trying to build confidence in the results by setting them aside for 10 days while an emergency audit could be conducted. His effort was initially backed by 11 other Republicans, though six dropped their objections after the riot. It is unfortunate that some congressional Democrats are disregarding President Biden's call for unity and are instead playing political games by filing frivolous ethics complaints against their colleagues, a spokeswoman for Cruz said. Sen. Cruz debated a question of law and policy on the floor of the Senate, he did so expressly supported by 11 other Senators, and he utilized a process to raise the objection that has been explicitly authorized by federal law for nearly 150 years. The complaint comes as Democrats continue to push for repercussions for the lawmakers they blame for inciting the insurrection, chiefly former President Donald Trump, who the House impeached last week, making him the first president to be impeached twice. A Senate trial is still pending, though the chances of Trump being convicted appear slim. It is also unlikely that Cruz would be censured or expelled from the Senate, which is now evenly split between Republicans and Democrats. A censure requires a majority vote, meaning every Democrat would have to agree, and expulsion would require two-thirds support. Both are rare. Since 1789, the Senate has censured nine members and expelled 15. The complaint against Cruz and Hawley was signed by U.S. Sens. Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island, Ron Wyden of Oregon, Tina Smith of Minnesota, Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, Mazie Hirono of Hawaii, Tim Kaine of Virginia and Sherrod Brown of Ohio. The top Democrat on the six-member ethics panel, U.S. Sen. Chris Coons of Delaware, previously called for Cruz and Hawley to resign. Beyond that, its unclear what appetite there may be for such an inquiry. The committees rules say it shall promptly conduct a preliminary inquiry into complaints it receives. The committee can then vote on whether to continue or dismiss the complaint. While several senators have voiced frustration with Cruz, others including at least one Democrat have said they believe he was within his rights to object. I think the Senate is a place of freedom. And people come here to speak their piece, and they do, and they provide a kind of leadership, U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, a California Democrat, said earlier this month. In some cases, its positive, in some cases, maybe not. U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, a Texas Republican, said in a Thursday interview with Austin news station KXAN that he doesnt believe Cruz bears any blame for the riots and does not support calls for his resignation or expulsion. Free speech gives people the right to be wrong. It gives them a right to express their strongly held views, Cornyn said. TEXAS TAKE: Get political headlines from across the state sent directly to your inbox Cruz has said he wanted to delay certifying the election results until after an emergency audit, which he has said would have built trust in the outcome of the election that Trump falsely claimed had been stolen from him. Cruz has said he did not know whether there was sufficient fraud to alter the outcome. It would have been a much better solution, it would have helped bring this country together, it would have helped heal the divisions we have in this country and help reestablish trust in our democratic system, Cruz said earlier this month. What I was working to do is find a way to re-establish widespread trust in the system. Cruz objected to Arizonas electoral votes, sparking a debate that was cut off as a mob of Trump supporters stormed the Capitol less than an hour after Cruz raised his objection. While Cruzs objection originally had the backing of 11 other Republican senators, six dropped their objections after the riots. Rather than following their colleagues example, Senators Cruz and Hawley continued to amplify the claims of fraud that they likely knew to be baseless and that had led to violence earlier that day, the Democrats wrote in the complaint. They wrote that they dont buy Cruzs justification for his objection. Both Senators Hawley and Cruz argued that the public perception of fraud justified their actions. This perception was created by President Trumps baseless claims, and was magnified by Sens. Cruz and Hawleys repetition of those claims, they wrote. It is probable that Sens. Cruz and Hawley knew those claims to be false. ben.wermund@chron.com Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-22 17:10:18|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close ISTANBUL, Jan. 22 (Xinhua) -- Turkish police detained 14 foreign nationals for their suspected links to the Islamic State (IS) militant group in operations conducted in northern Turkey, the state-run Anadolu agency reported on Friday. Counter-terrorism units simultaneously raided 13 addresses in the Black Sea province of Samsun to capture the suspects, Anadolu said. It added that four Syrians and 10 Iraqi nationals were detained during the operations. Police also seized numerous digital materials in the raided addresses, according to the agency. Turkey's anti-terror teams have lately intensified their raids against the group members in the country. The IS was blamed for a spate of deadly attacks in Turkey since 2015. Enditem SUV NEDC FWD AWD kW kWh Part of the carmakers EQ brand , the new subcompactwill be available as an alternative for the GLA-Class, offering all the exciting characteristics of that vehicle while using an emissions-free, all-electric powertrain.Launched as the EQA 250 , it offers a 486-km (302-mile) range according to thecycle using a single-motorconfiguration, but Mercedes-Benz announced that other variants with additional powertrains andcapability would be introduced in the future.In this model, the 140(188 hp/190 PS) asynchronous motor, fixed-ratio transmission, differential, cooling system, and power electronics are all integrated into a single, compact unit mounted on the front axle. To fit the requirements of the front-wheel-drive system, the transmission ratio and gear wheels have been specifically configured.This results in 375 Nm (277 lb-ft) of torque, which enables the SUV to accelerate from a standstill to 100 kph (0-62 mph) in a respectable 8.9 seconds, on the way to an electronically limited top speed of 160 kph (99 mph).Further down the line, more powerful models will include an additional unit on the rear axle that features a redesigned, permanently excited synchronous motor. Inside it, the rotor is studded with permanent magnets that follow the rotating, alternating current field in the winding of the stator.Its called synchronous because the rotor turns at the same rate as the magnetic field of the stator. Using the frequency converters of the power electronics, the rate is adjusted to meet the speed requirements of the vehicle. This results in a high level of efficiency and increased power-to-size ratio.When the overrun mode is selected or during braking, the units are capable of energy recuperation by turning the electric motors into alternators that convert mechanical rotation into electrical energy used to charge the battery pack.Speaking of the EQA 250's powerful high-voltage battery , it has a maximum voltage of 420V, a nominal capacity of 190 Ah, and a maximum capacity of 66.5The lithium-ion pack incorporates five modules and is located underneath the passenger compartment, in the middle of the vehicle. It employs a double-decker design, with the nose that houses the management system placed towards the front, behind the center console. Underneath the battery, a coolant-fed plate ensures that its always kept within the optimum temperature range.If Navigation with Electric Intelligence is activated, the battery may be pre-heated or cooled while driving to ensure that it stays within the ideal temperature window for rapid charging.To protect the assembly, engineers designed a high-strength aluminum housing, which is part of the chassis , also increasing its torsional rigidity.However, the lowest point of the EQA is not the casing but the lower edge of the side skirts. This design shields the pack even further while still giving the versatile SUV more than 20 cm (7.9 in) of ground clearance.Moving on to the onboard charger, it provides a convenient way of charging the vehicle using an alternating current (AC) wall box or a faster direct current (DC) charging station.Charging times vary depending on several factors, but according to Mercedes , the EQA 250's battery can be charged from 10 to 100% in less than 6 hours using an AC connection with at least 11 kW and 16 A per phase.Additionally, when DC rapid charging with a supply voltage of 400 V and a current of at least 300 A is used, the battery can be charged from 10 to 80% in about half an hour.For both cases, the vehicle is equipped as standard in Europe and the U.S. with a CCS connector (Combined Charging System) located on the right-hand side.In Japan or China, country-specific charging sockets will be used, and the carmaker states that charging times will also vary compared to the European and U.S model.The Mercedes-Benz EQA is set to arrive in dealerships next year, with a starting price of 47,540 in Germany (the equivalent of $57,913 at the current exchange rate). Thats about $20,000 (16,500) more than what customers have to pay for a base 2021 GLA in the U.S., though comparing German and U.S. pricing is not exactly relevant. CONTRACT AWARD GSA makes more on-ramp awards as court date nears for $5.75B human capital vehicle The General Services Administration can still name more companies to its massive human capital and training services vehicle but cannot proceed yet on performance for one block of awards. In an award notice Tuesday, GSA said it awarded the SB-SBI joint venture a seat on Pool 1 of the on-ramp for the $5.75 billion vehicle known as HCaTS and RB Management Consultants was added to Pool 2. GSA has so far named 43 awards across both pools to join the group of 46 small businesses that already hold prime positions on HCaTS, which was awarded in 2016 to 72 companies in total. The waiting game for GSA zeroes in on the Pool 2 awards, which are the subject of a lawsuit by INALAB Consulting at the U.S. Court of Federal Claims. INALABs protest over its exclusion from an award was denied at the Government Accountability Office in October, then the company went to court one month later. All details regarding the case are still sealed, but the docket indicates oral arguments are set for Feb. 18 via videoconference. REDDING, Calif. - Covid-19 hurting homeless count efforts Northern California. For the 2021 Point-in-Time count, the NorCal Continuum of Care will not be able to perform the standard unsheltered count due to the pandemic. Because of the pandemic, the CoC waived the counting of the unsheltered. This means this year's Point-in-Time homeless count will cover people staying in shelters. They have allowed us to not do an unsheltered count this year, said Redding City Councilmember Kristen Schreder, who also works with the Point-in-Time committee. Every two years we are required to do an unsheltered count. The Department of Housing of Housing and Urban Development has told local leaders that the NorCal Continuum of Care will not face any financial repercussions by not participating in the unsheltered count. The CoC manages the HUD homeless funds and oversees seven counties, including Shasta and Modoc. The federal government has mandated this count, said Schreder. It's so that the government can have a measurement year after year across the country. Prior to the pandemic, volunteers would normally go out, locate, and survey people who are experiencing homelessness. They would then input that information into the Counting Us app on their phone. We want to have the best information that we can about who our vulnerable population is, said Schreder.Where they are living, what their circumstances are, and what their health needs are. But longtime Shasta County resident, Robert Manning, believes that more needs to be done to help those who are homeless. Everywhere you look there are people with signs, will work food, said Manning. You see people sleeping by the side of the road up by the bridge by Park Marina. In addition to HUDs required unsheltered count, NorCal CoC also conducts its own Point-in-Time count every year. In 2020, it counted more than a thousand homeless on the streets and 500 more in shelters. Action News Now also reached out to the Butte County Department of Employment and Social Services. The department says its also not counting the unsheltered population, just those in shelters. Fastmarkets calculated its steel scrap, shredded, index, import, cfr Nhava Sheva, India at $430.83 per tonne on Friday, down from $480.38 per tonne a week earlier.There were no transactions heard during the week, but the market level was agreed by many to be $430-435 per tonne, down from offers of $480-485 per tonne last week.After many weeks of upward movement, prices in the Turkish scrap market - the global trendsetter - sharply corrected, shaking confidence in other regions. The daily index for steel scrap HMS 1&2 (80:20 mix) North Europe origin, cfr Turkey was $ 432.61... Seven inmates at Oregon correctional facilities who first filed a class action lawsuit in federal court last April seeking protection against the spread of COVID-19 upped the ante this week, demanding the federal government intervene and immediately compel the state to vaccinate all prisoners against COVID-19. The prisoners filed motions seeking a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction Thursday citing what they said was deliberate indifference to the health and well-being of thousands of prisoners across the state. The legal case, in part, says the states decision to proceed with vaccinating healthier members of the public before prisoners violates the Eighth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. The push for vaccinations comes during a particularly unnerving moment of the pandemic, with 11 deaths among inmates with COVID-19 in just the past nine days. At least 3,252 Oregonians in custody have tested positive for the coronavirus since the start of the pandemic, or about one-quarter of the prison population. Thats a significantly higher infection rate than Oregons general population, but Gov. Kate Brown and state officials only agreed to prioritize vaccinations for inmates in response to a recent ruling in the lawsuit. Health care workers have been eligible for vaccines for a month and teachers will be eligible statewide Monday. While many Oregonians are anxious to be vaccinated as soon as possible, and there are competing reasons why different groups might want to be moved up the list, no one can dispute the evidence that incarcerated Oregonians are at acute risk of infection, Juan Chavez, an attorney with the Oregon Justice Resource Center who is representing the plaintiffs, said in a statement. Prisoners dont have the opportunity to protect themselves in ways that many people outside prison can, such as by physical distancing and isolating at home, he added, and the state should be compelled to offer vaccinations to all people in custody as soon as possible to protect their health and that of the wider community. Oregons Attorney Generals office and the Department of Corrections declined comment, citing the ongoing legislation. The lawsuit names Brown, Corrections Division Director Colette Peters, Oregon Health Authority Director Patrick Allen and others. The lawsuit specifically states Brown and Allen have interfered with the delivery of medical care by prioritizing other members of the population like teachers that dont have the same risk level as inmates. Some inmates, more than 1,320 who the state deemed were elderly or at risk were offered vaccines as of last week. But that group was offered vaccines by accident, the lawsuit states, and more than 11,500 other inmates remain at risk due to simply being incarcerated. Defendants cannot deny that they understand the necessity to vaccinate their population as soon as possible, just as they understood the necessity to enforce mask wearing, social distancing, and effective testing were necessary at the start of the pandemic, attorneys wrote, citing the states attempt to, belatedly, enforce mask wearing at facilities across Oregon in 2020. The lawsuit claims Oregon officials have taken to half-measures and not quickly administering vaccines to inmates means they have been deliberately indifferent. Thirty-eight prisoners with COVID-19 have now died since the start of the pandemic. Three state prisons have tallied COVID-19 outbreaks of 500 or more cases, according to the states outbreak report from Jan. 21. The largest five outbreaks in the state have been at prisons, with Umatillas Two Rivers Correctional Institutes 607 cases leading the way. Those include prisoners, workers and other people who became infected through close contact. The largest active outbreak is 129 prisoners, at the Umatilla facility. In all, 772 corrections workers have tested positive since the start of the pandemic. Thursdays state outbreak report doesnt include the newest large outbreak at Santiam Correctional Institute. On Friday, 68 prisoners tested positive at the Salem institution, increasing the total to 86. Prisons already face a number of long-standing issues tight quarters, an understaffed nursing department and the fact that prisoners health tends to be worse than those of same-aged people outside of custody. According to a deposition referenced in the lawsuit, state officials said inmates continue to operate laundry, food and facility plant operations with infected workers coming from different units in the prison, leading to new inmate-to-inmate transmission. Jennifer Black, a corrections spokesperson, said the 1,343 inmates, many of whom recently received vaccines by mistake were older adults, or who had medical or other vulnerabilities or both. She said those inmates will receive second doses. The miscommunication, she noted, was the departments determination that inmates had qualified for the phase 1A congregate care guidelines, when, the department later learned, that was only true for inmates who were working in health care settings within a state prison. She did note that 316 inmates under the age of 60 received vaccines during that wave. The corrections department had offered vaccines to 1,558 inmates thought to be eligible but some declined to accept the dose. In general, she added, other adults in custody will be included in the upcoming phase 1B of the vaccine rollout, with state officials contending they will effectively and efficiently conduct these vaccinations using existing supply. But there is no date set yet for when those more than 11,000 remaining inmates will be eligible for a vaccine. They will be sometime after all seniors are eligible, said Black, so in March. Andrew Theen; atheen@oregonian.com; 503-294-4026; @andrewtheen United Airlines will use an Embraer 175 aircraft to resume daily service between the Colorado Springs Airport and Los Angeles International Airport on Feb. 12. The Chicago area-based carrier also is adding more flights to its Colorado Springs schedule to Chicago, Denver and Houston. To receive Steve Gutterman's Week In Russia each week via e-mail, subscribe by clicking here. The United States got a new president this week, but its hard to escape the impression that Russias political world has also seen a big change in less than seven days, a shift that will shape the future in unknown ways. Its the result of Kremlin foe, opposition politician, and anti-corruption activist Aleksei Navalnys return -- and a state response that analysts say has only added to the challenges faced by President Vladimir Putin. On the surface, it is Navalnys actions that appear to have caused an abrupt change -- a shift that seems to show the country from a new perspective, like a place you picture in one way after an initial visit and then see from a different angle after you travel there again, with the original impression then fading in your memory. Defying the threat of almost certain arrest and the prospect of potentially being imprisoned for over a decade, Navalny returned to Russia on January 17 from Germany, where he had been recuperating after a nerve-agent poisoning in Siberia that he blames on the Federal Security Service (FSB) and on Putin himself. As promised by Russias prison service days before his return, he was detained shortly after arrival and is now in a cell at Moscows imposing Matrosskaya Tishina jail, awaiting a February 2 hearing on a charge that he violated parole in a previous case -- an allegation he, supporters, and many observers say is patently absurd. We are witnessing the official death of the rule of law in Russia, Sergey Radchenko, a British-based historian of the Cold War and post-Cold War era, wrote on Twitter on January 18, when Navalny was taken to what he said he was told would be a meeting with his lawyers but turned out to be a hastily arranged hearing at a police station at which he was ordered jailed for 30 days pending a court ruling on the parole violation charge. The result of the hearing could be a 3 1/2 year prison term, which would be a first for Navalny, who has been jailed for periods of days or weeks many times but has never been sent to prison -- a fact that suggests Putin may fear that doing so could make him a martyr. In late December 2020, at which point he had repeatedly vowed to return to Russia but had not set a date, he was also targeted in a new criminal case on suspicion of fraud -- accused of using donations to his anti-corruption organization for vacations and other personal purposes -- and could be sentenced to 10 years in prison if charged and convicted. A 'Palace' And A Cell He denies the allegation and supporters say it is an attempt to tar Navalny -- who has dubbed the Kremlin-controlled United Russia the party of crooks and thieves and produced detailed, entertaining videos accusing Putins associates of over-the-top profligacy and graft -- with the same brush. The latest video was released a day after Navalny was sent to Matrosskaya Tishina, the imposing Moscow lockup where whistleblower Sergei Magnitsky died in 2009, and raised the stakes -- as well as the level of popular interest -- in the 44-year-old Kremlin opponent's long showdown with Putin. With complex financial records and colorful illustrations -- some of them actual photos, some artists renderings -- it alleged that a sprawling and outrageously luxurious estate on the Black Sea coast was built for Putin at a cost of at least 100 billion rubles ($1.35 billion) and ultimately belongs to the president. The Kremlins response was to dismiss the report, without directly denying it, and to assert that it is Navalny and his associates who are the real crooks. From his abrupt, dramatic return to the Palace For Putin report and his call for nationwide protests on January 23, Navalny has seemed determined to set the agenda for the coming days, weeks, months, and probably years -- at least through parliamentary elections due in September and a presidential election in 2024, in which Putin, who has been president or prime minister since 1999, now has the legal right to seek a new six-year Kremlin term. But analysts say the states response, from the growing list of legal claims against Navalny to its efforts to thwart protest plans and more, has provided clarity about the Kremlins hopes and fears -- and that it may have already backfired, raising his profile and strengthening his ability to challenge Putin by acquiring broader support from the Russian people and the West. WATCH: Russians Use TikTok In Social-Media Surge Of Support For Navalny With Navalnys poisoning and arrest, the Kremlin has indisputably propelled him to the leadership of Russias beleaguered opposition, and in the process undercut one of its long-running political strategies over the past two decades: strengtheningPutins standing by ensuring that the political landscape remains free of any meaningful political challenger, political analyst Aleksandr Baunov wrote in a January 19 article. Unfortunately for the authorities, instead of blackballing Navalny, the Kremlin has turned him into the worlds most famous political prisoner, Baunov, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Moscow Center, wrote on Twitter. At home in Russia, meanwhile, he said, Navalny has become the most prominent and dangerous critic of Putin: the anti-Putin, and Russias number two politician. Strength Or Weakness? Meanwhile, Navalny may already have fulfilled what Fyodor Krasheninnikov, a political consultant with ties to the Kremlin foe, is his plan to become Putins No. 1 headache and with his courage inspire political activism. If he had decided not to come back, it would have been a victory for Putin, Bloomberg quoted Krashenninkov as saying in an article under the headline, Kremlin Misread Navalnys Resolve To Fight, Even From Prison. And its not as if Putin doesnt have other big headaches. The economy is struggling as the coronavirus pandemic persists, and his approval ratings are near historic lows -- above 60 percent but more than 20 percentage points beneath the highs of 2014-15, after Russia seized the Crimean Peninsula from Ukraine, according to the independent pollster Levada Center. As Putin thinks about how to ease the headache pain or prevent it from getting worse, numerous observers predict that while in 2013 the Kremlin may have suspended Navalnys sentence and ordered him released under pressure from street protesters, this time the opposite is more likely: He may be imprisoned for years in a bid to show resolve. In a response to a tweet by former U.S. Ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul, who asked, If Putin is so popular, why does he need to arrest Navalny? historian Radchenko answered: Credibility of course. If he didn't, he'd come across as 'weak' because the message would be that Navalny is so strong that Putin is afraid to arrest him, Radchenko, a professor and research director at Cardiff University in Wales, wrote on Twitter. To some in Russia and abroad, however, keeping Navalny behind bars might signal weakness rather than strength, fear rather than confidence. In a post on January 19, a Twitter user with the handle Darth Putin illustrated that idea by writing "Kremlin: 'Putin does not fear Navalny,'" followed by the words "Also Kremlin" above four photos of helmeted, truncheon-toting police awaiting his arrival at an airport two days earlier. The return of Navalny, who was barred from challenging Putin for the presidency in 2018, has injected further uncertainty into Russias future -- and his own. In an Instagram post on January 22, he said that he is in good health and has no plans to hang himself or slit mythroat with a sharpened spoon -- a message interpreted as a warning not to believe the authorities if they say something happened to him behind bars. The state, meanwhile, may at some point want to dispel the myth that it has done everything to createaround Navalny, analyst Baunov wrote. But to do that, Navalny would first have to be returned to everyday politics, and the consequences of allowing that are unknown. boat In fact, as Khyzyl Saleem, the digital artist behind this rendering explains on Instagram, the Countach we have here isn't hanging from the tree, but floating in mid-air. Heck, to us, it looks like the V12 icon, which appears to ride on modern Pirelli rubber, had been abandoned in the woods and was picked up by a giant invisible hand for these images; but we digress.It didn't take long before an enthusiast took to the comments section of the post showcasing the work to drop the obvious question about the suspension. In his typical fashion, the pixel master delivered a quick reply, which hints at another version of the rendering, which will probably remain locked inside his computer over in London: "[The wheels] would [be hanging], but I didn't like how they look. So, toy car time!"We must also mention Horacio Pagani's name since this is the 1988-released 25th Anniversary Countach, so you can thank the Italian for the mid-engined machine's added aero drama. Those were the days when such a special piece of engineering could make do with 455 PS (449 hp), a figure you can almost get in hot hatches nowadays.Now, if this sort of work happens to float yourRaging Bull, we'll remind you that Saleem, whose design efforts you can see on actual vehicles , came up with a somewhat similar rendering last fall.The visual adventure, which you'll find in the second Insta post below, portrays a BMW M1 that's apparently lighter than air (the German machine was supposed to be built by Lamborghini back in the late 70s, remember?), all while being inspired by the work of Scottish artist Chris Labrooy, whose pixels are currently displayed on the Lamborghini website to honor the Diablo.Oh, and if the background of this Countach rendering seems familiar, it's probably because we're talking about a place we've nicknamed Pixel Forest after seeing a Bugatti EB110 being digitally abandoned over there. A 41-year-old man appeared in court on Friday where he denied a charge of murdering Craigavon man Nathan Gibson. John Paul Whitla, of no fixed abode, appeared at Belfast Crown Court via a videolink with Maghaberry. Mr Gibson (25) was discovered with fatal wounds on a towpath close to Lake Road in Craigavon last January. After confirming he could see and hear the court, Whitla was charged with murdering Mr Gibson on January 16, 2020. When asked how he pleaded, the accused replied 'not guilty.' Expand Close Nathan Gibson / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Nathan Gibson Whitla was charged with five other offences on the same date, including assaulting a female, and falsely imprisoning and threatening to kill the same woman. As with the murder charge, Whitla replied 'not guilty' to the five further offences. Mr Justice O'Hara enquired about what reports would be needed ahead of the trial, and was told by defence barrister Richard Green QC that "psychiatric and psychological reports will be required, together with a normal medical report, on his (Whitla's) physical condition on the night in question." The Judge also raised the issue about the trial date and expressed the hope that it could take place before the summer. The case will be reviewed on March 12. President Xi Jinping meets with visiting Lao Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, Jan 6, 2020. (Photo/Xinhua) 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. The views expressed by public comments are not those of this company or its affiliated companies. Please note by clicking on "Post" you acknowledge that you have read the TERMS OF USE and the comment you are posting is in compliance with such terms. Your comments may be used on air. Be polite. Inappropriate posts or posts containing offsite links, images, GIFs, inappropriate language, or memes may be removed by the moderator. Job listings and similar posts are likely automated SPAM messages from Facebook and are not placed by WFMZ-TV. As an Air Force E-11A battlefield communications aircraft conducted missions over Ghazni Province, Afghanistan, on Jan. 27, 2020, a fan blade broke inside the left engine. Efforts to address the problem led to a series of missteps that caused the aircraft to crash, killing the two pilots, according to a new Accident Investigation Board report. The report, released Thursday by Air Combat Command, concluded that the broken blade caused the left engine to shut down automatically. But the pilots improperly assessed "that the right engine had failed or been damaged" and initiated right engine shutdown procedures, it adds. With the right engine shut down, the pilots were in a "dual engine out emergency." They were unable to restart the right engine, though the report does not explain why. It's possible they attempted to restart the left instead, it states. Read Next: Commanding Officer of Navy Reserve Center Fired After Investigation Lt. Col. Paul K. Voss, 46, and Capt. Ryan S. Phaneuf, 30, were killed in the crash. They were both assigned to the 430th Expeditionary Electronic Combat Squadron at Kandahar Airfield, and were on a qualification flight while conducting a combat sortie, the report states. The redacted investigation does not cite names, but Air Force Magazine identified Voss as the flight commander, with Phaneuf presumably the copilot. The aircraft, tail number 11-9358, was being used as a Battlefield Airborne Communications Node, or BACN, acting as a "Wi-Fi in the sky" to boost other pilots' situational awareness of beyond-line-of-sight activity. BACN-equipped E-11 aircraft began operating in Afghanistan in 2011, according to the Air Force. The engine fan malfunction occurred just before 1 p.m. local time, about an hour and 45 minutes into the flight, the report states. Air Force graphic shows the flightpath of an E-11A that crashed in Afghanistan after an engine malfunction in January 2020. (Air Force mishap investigation) The plane was in range to glide to and land at either Kabul International Airport in eastern Afghanistan, 17 nautical miles away, or Bagram Airfield, 38 nautical miles away, it adds. At one point, the pilots could have glided to Forward Operating Base Shank -- 28 nautical miles away -- but had only an eight-minute window to begin that maneuver, the report states. Instead, the crew, flying at about 41,000 feet, decided to initiate an airstart on the right engine and head toward Kandahar Airfield -- 230 nautical miles southwest from their position. An airstart uses the aircraft's airspeed to turn the engine turbines, a move that would require the aircraft to travel at 258 knots. The aircraft, a modified Bombardier Global Express BD-700, can reach a max speed of about 505 knots. "... Mayday, Mayday, Mayday it looks like we have an engine failure on both motors. We are proceeding direct to Kandahar at this time," one of the pilots is heard radioing to Air Traffic Control, per the report. However, the aircraft was outside of the gliding distance to reach Kandahar; instead, the pilots tried maneuvering toward Forward Operating Base Sharana, about 217 nautical miles to the east of Kandahar. But it crashed in a field 21 nautical miles short of Sharana. There is limited data on how the pilots reacted during the events, officials said. The harsh vibrations caused by the left engine malfunction stopped the Cockpit Voice Recorder, or CVR. "Without the CVR, it is difficult to fully assess the human factors and understand why certain decisions were made," the report states. Another key instrument, the digital flight data recorder, stopped recording because of the dual engine generator loss. While investigators could not confirm that an engine airstart was attempted, there were signs that suggested the pilots did try the reset, they said. Because there was no digital flight recorder data to make clear the pilots' steps, it is possible they attempted to restart the left engine, thinking the right engine was the one malfunctioning, the report states. The pilots "may have concluded that the right engine suffered damage and therefore only elected to airstart the left engine," it says. Following the E-11A single engine procedures checklist, the crew would have delayed starting the Auxiliary Power Unit, or APU, which would have offered electrical power to the engine. But according to photographs taken of the crash site wreckage, the APU intake door was open, meaning that the crew "likely later used [it] in an attempted [auto turbine]-assisted airstart." On first approach, search-and-rescue aircraft were unable to reach the crash site due to weather. Crews that were able to reach the wreckage the next day and were able to recover Voss and Phaneufs remains and some equipment, including the CVR and flight data recorder. The remaining wreckage was ultimately destroyed by U.S. forces, officials said at the time. Ghazni Province has been under majority Taliban control since 2015, shortly after U.S. combat forces began drawing down in Afghanistan, but U.S. officials determined early on that the crash was not the result of enemy action. It was not immediately clear how the crew misidentified the problem engine. In the first few moments, the crew alert system "did not directly indicate the left engine failure," the report states. The Accident Investigation Board president, Brig. Gen. Craig Baker, found that the pilots had roughly a minute to deduce what was going on, but reacted just 24 seconds from the start of the violent vibrations to shut down the right engine. Based on the information available, Baker concluded that the crew misidentified which engine suffered the failure, resulting in them shutting down the wrong one. "I also find, by a preponderance of the evidence, that the [crew's] failure to airstart the right engine and their decision to recover the [aircraft] to [Kandahar] substantially contributed to the mishap," he said. The aircraft, a Bombardier Global Express, was maintained by Northrop Grumman, which developed the BACN equipment. Northrop conducted the plane's last major inspection on Jan. 13, just two weeks before the accident. A final inspection was conducted one day prior to the flight, but "no aircraft discrepancies [were] identified," the Accident Investigation Board report states. The report did not give a reason for the blade damage in the left engine, which was manufactured by Rolls-Royce. The loss of the plane and its equipment was estimated at $120 million, the Air Force said in an accompanying release. Editor's note: This article has been updated to correct the speed needed to perform an airstart. -- Oriana Pawlyk can be reached at oriana.pawlyk@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @Oriana0214. Related: Ejection Sequence Failed Before Deadly Fighter Jet Crash, Investigation Shows Colin Fassnidge has shared his thoughts on the spectacular downfall of his former My Kitchen Rules co-star Pete Evans. The Irish chef, 45, said that Pete's teenage daughters, Chilli and Indii, have become 'collateral damage' as he continues to push his extreme views on social media. In deleted footage from I'm a Celebrity, Colin told fellow camper Grant Denyer that the relentless backlash must be taking a toll on the girls. Speaking out: I'm a Celebrity's Colin Fassnidge has shared his thoughts on the spectacular downfall of his former My Kitchen Rules co-star Pete Evans 'For your kids as well, they're the collateral damage,' he said. Pete shares his children with ex-partner Astrid Edlinger. He is now married to former glamour model Nicola Robinson. Grant noted that Pete 'courts' much of the negative media attention himself. Speaking in a private confessional later, Colin admitted that Pete had 'overstepped the boundary' by sharing a neo-Nazi cartoon on social media. Media attention: The Irish chef said that Pete's (left) teenage daughters, Chilli (right) and Indii, have become 'collateral damage' as he continues to push his extreme views on social media 'There's something you just don't do,' he said firmly. 'He's gotten in a lot of trouble lately for his views,' he continued. 'I do not agree with any of the views, [but] the media is absolutely hounding him, whether that's his own making, well, you know...' Family: Pete shares his children (both pictured) with ex-partner Astrid Edlinger. He is now married to former glamour model Nicola Robinson Pete was set to join the cast of I'm a Celebrity but was scrapped after the neo-Nazi meme scandal broke in November. Colin was his last-minute replacement. The Paleo chef had posted a cartoon on Facebook of a caterpillar wearing a MAGA cap and a butterfly with the neo-Nazi Black Sun emblem on its wing, with the suggestion being that neo-Nazism is the natural evolution for Trump supporters. Co-stars: Colin and Pete worked on Channel Seven's My Kitchen Rules together as judges Evans is an enthusiastic supporter of the former president and advocates the baseless claim that Joe Biden only won the 2020 election due to voter fraud. In response to the scandal, he was dropped by more than 15 brands and sponsors, including Kmart, Coles, Big W, David Jones and Woolworths. Pete had previously copped a major fine from the Therapeutic Goods Administration when he promoted the $15,000 BioCharger lamp as a potential Covid-19 cure. Scandal: Pete was set to join the cast of I'm a Celebrity but was scrapped after the neo-Nazi meme scandal broke in November. Colin was his last-minute replacement 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. 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 people died in a massive fire that broke out at the Serum Institute of India's (SII) site near Pune on Thursday, damaging equipment worth hundreds of crores at India's top vaccine manufacturer. The five who died were construction workers whose bodies were recovered by the fire department. However, the manufacturing of Serum's Covid-19 vaccine Covishield, which is produced at another site in Manjri, hasn't been affected by the major fire, Serum Institute CEO Adar Poonawalla has confirmed. A day after the fire, the SII has dispatched consignments of the Covishield vaccine for Myanmar, Seychelles and Mauritius. Maharashtra: Serum Institute of India's vaccine consignment to be dispatched to Myanmar, Seychelles and Mauritius arrive at Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport. #COVID19 pic.twitter.com/MgkawmUxsu ANI (@ANI) January 21, 2021 The flight for Myanmar was scheduled to take off at 6:40 am today from Mumbai while the vaccine consignment for Mauritius and Seychelles will be sent via one flight expected to depart at 11 am. According to sources, a consignment containing 1.5 million doses of Covishield vaccine will reach Yangon, Myanmar today. A consignment of 50,000 doses of Covishield vaccine is scheduled to reach Seychelles as part of India's vaccine donation programme. Seychelles is only among the four Indian Ocean countries to receive the Covishield vaccine, manufactured by the SII. "The donation of the vaccines under the VaccineMaitri demonstrates India's role as a reliable partner of Seychelles and net security provider in the Indian Ocean Region. This is also reflective of India's special relations with Seychelles and the central place enjoyed by Seychelles in Prime Minister Modi's vision of SAGAR: "Security and Growth for All in the Region"," the source told news agency ANI. Seychelles has around 1 lakh inhabitants and the 50,000 doses of Covishield will be able to cover nearly 25% of the total Seychelles population, they added. Mauritius will receive a consignment of 100,000 doses of Covishield vaccine. "Mauritius has a population of less than 1.3 million inhabitants and is highly dependent on external trade and tourism and hospitality industry which has been severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The request for supply of Indian vaccines was made from the highest level in the Mauritius government," as per the sources. India's Ministry of External Affairs had announced a Covid vaccine rollout for Bhutan, Maldives, Bangladesh, Nepal, Myanmar and Seychelles from Wednesday which comes in line with its 'Neighbourhood First Policy'. With agency inputs Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Sophia Antipolis, 22 January 2021: Physical activity does not undo the negative effects of excess body weight on heart health. That's the finding of a large study published today in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, a journal of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC).1 "One cannot be 'fat but healthy'," said study author Dr. Alejandro Lucia of the European University, Madrid, Spain. "This was the first nationwide analysis to show that being regularly active is not likely to eliminate the detrimental health effects of excess body fat. Our findings refute the notion that a physically active lifestyle can completely negate the deleterious effects of overweight and obesity." There is some evidence that fitness might mitigate the negative effects of excess body weight on heart health. It has been suggested that in adults and children, being "fat but fit" might be associated with similar cardiovascular health to being "thin but unfit". Dr. Lucia said: "This has led to controversial proposals for health policies to prioritise physical activity and fitness above weight loss. Our study sought to clarify the links between activity, body weight, and heart health." The study used data from 527,662 working adults insured by a large occupational risk prevention company in Spain. The average age of participants was 42 years and 32% were women. Participants were categorised as normal weight (body mass index [BMI] 20.0-24.9 kg/m2), overweight (BMI 25.0-29.9 kg/m2), or obese (BMI 30.0 kg/m2 or above). Additionally, they were grouped by activity level: 1) regularly active, defined as doing the minimum recommended for adults by the World Health Organization2 (WHO); 2) insufficiently active (some moderate to vigorous physical activity every week but less than the WHO minimum); 3) inactive (no exercise). Cardiovascular health was determined according to three major risk factors for heart attack and stroke, namely diabetes, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure. Approximately 42% of participants were normal weight, 41% were overweight, and 18% were obese. The majority were inactive (63.5%), while 12.3% were insufficiently active, and 24.2% were regularly active. Some 30% had high cholesterol, 15% had high blood pressure, and 3% had diabetes. The researchers investigated the associations between each BMI and activity group and the three risk factors. At all BMI levels, any activity (whether it met the WHO minimum or not) was linked with a lower likelihood of diabetes, high blood pressure or high cholesterol compared to no exercise at all. Dr. Lucia said: "This tells us that everyone, irrespective of their body weight, should be physically active to safeguard their health." At all weights, the odds of diabetes and hypertension decreased as physical activity rose. "More activity is better, so walking 30 minutes per day is better than walking 15 minutes a day," he said. However, overweight and obese participants were at greater cardiovascular risk than their peers with normal weight, irrespective of activity levels. As an example, compared to inactive normal weight individuals, active obese people were approximately twice as likely to have high cholesterol, four times more likely to have diabetes, and five times more likely to have high blood pressure. Dr. Lucia said: "Exercise does not seem to compensate for the negative effects of excess weight. This finding was also observed overall in both men and women when they were analysed separately." He concluded: "Fighting obesity and inactivity is equally important; it should be a joint battle. Weight loss should remain a primary target for health policies together with promoting active lifestyles." ### Authors: ESC Press Office Tel: +33 (0)4 89 87 20 85 Mobile: +33 (0)7 8531 2036 Email: press@escardio.org Follow us on Twitter @ESCardioNews Funding: P.L.V. was supported by University of Alcala (FP12016). Research by A.L. was funded by grants from Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness and Fondos FEDER [Fondo de Investigaciones Sanitarias (FIS), grant number PI18/00139]. Disclosures: None declared. Notes References 1Valenzuela PL, Santos-Lozano A, Barran AT, et al. Joint association of physical activity and body mass index with cardiovascular risk: a nationwide population-based cross-sectional study. Eur J Prev Cardiol. 2021. doi:10.1093/eurjpc/zwaa151. 2The WHO recommends that all adults do at least 150 minutes per week (and up to 300 minutes per week) of moderate to vigorous aerobic physical activity such as walking or brisk walking, or at least 75 minutes per week (and up to 150 minutes per week) of more vigorous activities such as jogging, or a combination thereof. About the European Society of Cardiology The European Society of Cardiology brings together health care professionals from more than 150 countries, working to advance cardiovascular medicine and help people lead longer, healthier lives. About the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology The European Journal of Preventive Cardiology is the world's leading preventive cardiology journal, playing a pivotal role in reducing the global burden of cardiovascular disease. By Melissa Fares and Lisa Baertlein NEW YORK/ LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Walmart Inc said it is preparing to offer COVID-19 vaccinations in seven more states, as well as in Chicago and Puerto Rico, this week and next, expanding beyond the two states where its pharmacists are offering inoculations. The move from the world's largest retailer comes as U.S. President Joe Biden races to accelerate a frustratingly slow vaccination campaign that has stranded about half of the 38 million shots distributed in freezers rather than in arms. This week and next, Walmart will start ... Connecticut has the resources and capacity to ramp up COVID vaccinations, but the state needs more doses, Gov. Ned Lamont said. Theres one choke point: we need more vaccines, Lamont said Thursday. Lamont said he felt he could now explain to the President Joe Biden administration the importance of accelerating vaccine production. We in Connecticut and I think increasingly in other states have the capacity to vaccinate a lot more people if we had it, the governor said. The state has been receiving about 46,000 first doses of vaccine each week through federal distribution channels, though this week an extra 50,000 will arrive. At the same time, large health care providers, pharmacies and health departments are ramping up. They now have a combined ability to inoculate more than 100,000 people a week and the capacity is growing by the day. Lamont said he spoke with leaders of Pfizer, the source for most of Connecticuts vaccines, and was told the company could double its output by the end of February, and then double it again by the end of March. The extra 50,000 doses this week appears to be a one-shot deal, Lamont said. He had expressed hope the state would see the higher numbers every week. Ive heard from a couple governors on this, my sense is were going to go back to a normal course of business now, he said. Some residents have also experienced difficulty scheduling an appointment. The actress Mia Farrow, whos 75, tweeted at Lamont on Thursday that she spent nearly two hours scheduling an appointment in March, and then had to register online again and find a new appointment in February two hours away from her home. Process is an unnecessarily complex labyrinth, she wrote. Thursday marked the one-year anniversary of the first identified COVID-19 case in the United States, in the state of Washington. The patient recently returned from Wuhan, China, where an outbreak of pneumonia caused by this novel coronavirus has been ongoing since December 2019, the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention said in a release on Jan. 21, 2020. Those eligible for the vaccine can either call 877-918-2224, or sign up directly through one of four providers as of Thursday: UConn Health, Hartford HealthCare, Yale New Haven Health, and Walgreens. Patients can also register through the states website to use the federal Vaccine Administration Management System to schedule an appointment. Some 258,267 doses of the two federally-authorized vaccines have been administered in Connecticut. Of those, 226,930 have received their first shot, and 31,337 have received a second and final dose. Lamont said some 47,000 people 75 and over have now received the vaccine. The state began allowing those who are 75 and older to register for an appointment last week. People ages 65 to 74 are slated to go next sometime in early February. That group will be followed in late February to early March by front-line essential workers and those with medical conditions that put them more at risk for the virus. Asked when he expects to take the vaccine, Lamont, who is 67, indicated he would wait his turn. I think my age group comes up in the next couple weeks and I probably would take advantage then, he said. Lamont also indicated on Thursday he would seek to extend some or all of his COVID-19 executive orders, which are set to expire on Feb. 9. Paul Mounds, Lamonts chief of staff, said the administration has contacted legislative leaders for informal discussions regarding the orders, but said no official discussion has occurred. Lamont said he did not think it would be beneficial to have all of his executive orders expire in less than three weeks, but suggested he would be open to the legislature voting down any orders they feel go too far. As I said before, the legislature granted me this authority because of the real-time decisions we had to make, the governor said. But if lawmakers find they dont like some of those decisions, cast a vote on them, he said. The state announced Thursday two more cases have been identified of the highly infectious variant of the coronavirus that was first seen in the U.K. Max Reiss, Lamonts chief spokesman, said both cases involved family members of one of the two people previously identified as having the variant two weeks ago. Reiss said both of the new cases were confirmed through genome testing. Connecticut reported 48 more deaths attributed to COVID-19 on Thursday, bringing the statewide death toll to 6,774. The additional deaths came as Biden has warned the countrys death toll could exceed 500,000 next month. On Thursday, Connecticut recorded 1,662 new COVID-19 cases, found out of 38,957 new tests for a daily positivity rate of 4.27 percent. There were 55 fewer hospitalizations recorded on Thursday, dropping the statewide total to 1,069. As in previous weeks, nearly all of Connecticut 164 of 169 municipalities are considered red-alert zones under the states color-coded map indicating where infections are high. The map is based on the number of new infections per 100,000 over the past 14 days. Only a swath of largely rural communities in northwestern Litchfield County are in the gray alert status: Canaan, Colebrook, Cornwall, Norfolk and Warren. Josh Geballe, the states chief operating officer, said Connecticut plans to begin vaccinating residents of congregate facilities in the next week. Elderly prison inmates will start being vaccinated sooner rather than later, he said. Some cases of the virus have also been reported by colleges as students return for the spring semester. The University of Connecticut, which required students returning to dorms in Storrs and Stamford to test twice, reported one new case on campus at Storrs Thursday. The university found 76 cases among students earlier in the week through re-entry surveillance testing. Most of those cases were asymptomatic, a spokeswoman for the school said. Oysters, mussels, and scallops are the shellfish that are a vital component of coastal economies that are both sustainable and environmentally beneficial. However, in order to leverage these benefits of aquaculture, farming methods for shellfish must be improved. To help bring aquaculture farming on par with its land-based counterparts, the Virginia Seafood Agricultural Research and Extension Center received a $750,000 subset of a $10 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture as part of a multi-institutional effort to accelerate sustainable farming techniques. The multidisciplinary team will develop technologies that allow for a sustainable framework for farming such shellfish as oysters, mussels, and scallops. This effort will incorporate a wide berth of smart technologies by combining modern technologies in the fields of robotics, agricultural automation, computer vision, sensing and imaging, and artificial intelligence. Jonathan van Senten, an assistant professor in the Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics, Virginia Cooperative Extension specialist and affiliate faculty in the Virginia Tech Center for Coastal Studies - in collaboration with the University of Maryland, the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Louisiana State University, Pacific Shellfish Institute, and the Fraunhofer USA Center for Experimental Software Engineering -- will be analyzing the economic viability of the technologies developed by the other members of the team. "There hasn't been such a cohesive effort to address this set of challenges that exist in aquaculture before," van Senten said. "The exciting part of this, for me, is this new approach to solving some of these decades-old problems through new technologies." The first step of this collaborative effort is for the group to take successful models and technologies and adapt them to meet the harsh aquatic environments - such as corrosive saltwater, currents, storms, and animal interactions, all difficult factors to overcome. Implementation of the future technologies will have a cost, and van Senten will study the impact of these technologies on the economics of shellfish farmers in the Chesapeake Bay. Van Senten's efforts will include analyzing the cost of implementation of the new tech, along with weighing that cost against potential gains when compared to current methods. "The current state of the seafood markets exacerbated the need for automation and more precise handling of inventory and stock for these farms," van Senten said. "This technology could provide a way to maximize inventory to ensure that farmers are getting 100 percent of the market-ready product and not harvesting anything that is not ready to be sold." There are environmental benefits to implementation as well. Dredging, a current harvesting processes for shellfish, relies on casting a net or cage and dragging across the bottom of a body of water, catching buried shellfish. This process could be harmful for the health of habitats needed for shellfish and other species. The technology to be developed by this grant, such as underwater drone monitoring, could allow for targeted harvests and improved success rates that can help protect these underwater ecosystems. "This is a perfect example of the benefits of a multidisciplinary team - everyone will be bringing their unique insights and experiences to the table to make this successful," van Senten said. With each of their areas of expertise, the multidisciplinary team will work to develop technologies to help aquaculture farming methods leverage land-based farming methods to help farmers and ecosystems alike. ### A devoted dog followed an ambulance carrying her sick owner to a Turkish hospital and waited outside for six days until they were finally reunited. Loyal pet Boncuk, which means bead, bounded after the ambulance that took her owner Cemal Senturk to hospital in the Black Sea city of Trabzon when he became unwell on 14 January. She then made daily visits to the facility. Boncuk chased an ambulance carrying her unwell owner to a hospital in the Black Sea city of Trabzon Loyal Boncuck waited faithfully for owner Cemal Senturk outside the hospital in Trabzon for six days Boncuk, whose name means bead, visited the hospital in Trabzon every day despite efforts from her owner's daughter to keep her home Boncuk waits patiently for her owner to get better. Mr Senturk's daughter tried to keep the pooch at home but she repeatedly escaped to stand outside the hospital Mr Senturk's daughter, Aynur Egeli, kept taking Boncuk home but the dog would repeatedly run off and return to the hospital. Hospital security guard Muhammet Akdeniz said: 'She comes every day around 9am and waits until nightfall. She doesn't go in. 'When the door opens, she pokes her head inside.' Loyal Boncuk can be seen meeting recovered owner Cemal Senturk after he spent six days in a hospital in Trabzon Mr Senturk is wheeled out to meet a delighted Bocuk after being treated for six days in hospital in Trabzon Boncuk playfully jumps to meet her owner after faithfully for him outside hospital in Trabzon Mr Senturk told reporters that he also missed his faithful friend while being treated in hospital On Wednesday, Boncuk was finally reunited with Mr Senturk when he was pushed outside in a wheelchair for a brief meeting with his dog. 'She's very used to me. And I miss her, too, constantly,' he said. Mr Senturk was discharged from the hospital later on Wednesday and returned home with Boncuk. Mumbai, Jan 22 : Bollywood star Varun Dhawan and Natasha Dalal reportedly left for Alibag along with their families on Friday morning, for their wedding. While the ceremony in on January 24, rituals begin from Friday. Social media pictures and videos that surfaced on Friday show Varun's parents David and Karuna Dhawan leaving in one car while his brother Rohit Dhawan along with wife Janvi Dhawan and their daughter leaves in another. Natasha Dalal was also spotted leaving her residence along with her parents. Varun and Natasha are reportedly to tie the knot at The Mansion House Resort in Alibag, that is 20 minutes away from Mumbai via speedboat. Earlier source close to Varun told IANS: "Varun and Natasha will be leaving for Alibag on January 22. They will tie the knot on January 24 and it will be a close-knit family affair, keeping the global pandemic in mind, because there are elder family members in both the families. It will be around 40 people from both the families gather for the occasion." On the guest list the source had added that "no Bollywood celebrity will be attending the ceremony now, because then the guest list would cross 500, which is not practically possible, keeping Covid-19 in mind". -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text 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. President Joe Biden revoked a recent Trump administration report that aimed to promote patriotic education in schools but that historians mocked and rejected as political propaganda. In an executive order signed on Wednesday in his first day in office, Biden disbanded Donald Trumps presidential 1776 Commission and withdrew a report it released Monday. Trump established the group in September to rally support from white voters and as a response to The New York Times 1619 Project, which highlights the lasting consequences of slavery in America. In its report, which Trump hoped would be used in classrooms across the nation, the commission glorifies the countrys founders, plays down Americas role in slavery, condemns the rise of progressive politics and argues that the civil rights movement ran afoul of the lofty ideals espoused by the Founding Fathers. The panel, which included no professional historians of the United States, complained of false and fashionable ideologies that depict the countrys story as one of oppression and victimhood. Instead, it called for renewed efforts to foster a brave and honest love for our country. Historians widely panned the report, saying it offers a false and outdated version of American history that ignores decades of research. It's an insult to the whole enterprise of education. Education is supposed to help young people learn to think critically, said David Blight, a Civil War historian at Yale University. That report is a piece of right-wing propaganda. Trump officials heralded the report as a definitive chronicle of the American founding, but scholars say it disregards the most basic rules of scholarship. It offers no citations, for example, or a list of its source materials. It also includes several passages copied directly from other writings by members of the panel, as one professor found after running the report through software that's used to detect plagiarism. Matthew Spalding, the panels executive director and a vice president at the conservative Hillsdale College, defended the report, saying it calls for a return to the unifying ideals stated in the Declaration of Independence. He said in a statement that the report "wasnt written for academic historians but for the American people, and I encourage them to read it for themselves." One of the group's chairs, Carol Swain, a former law and political science professor at Vanderbilt University, said that if the commission had been allowed to continue its work, it would have added more members and issued a report with more than just the highlights. Professional historians take themselves too seriously, she said in an interview. I see the criticism as being ideologically driven. In documents announcing Biden's executive order, administration officials said the panel sought to erase Americas history of racial injustice. The American Historical Association condemned the report, saying it glorifies the founders while ignoring the histories and contributions of enslaved people, Indigenous communities and women. In a statement also signed by 13 other academic groups, the organization said the report seeks government indoctrination of American students. The sharpest criticism of the report was directed at its presentation of slavery and race. The report attempts to undermine allegations of hypocrisy against Founding Fathers who owned slaves even as they espoused equality. It also attempts to soften America's role in slavery and explain it as a product of the times. Many Americans labor under the illusion that slavery was somehow a uniquely American evil, the panel wrote in the 20-page report. The unfortunate fact is that the institution of slavery has been more the rule than the exception throughout human history. Blight, at Yale, compared it to a sixth- or seventh-grade kind of approach to history to make the children feel good. He added: But it's worse than that, because it comes out of an agenda of political propaganda. The authors argue that the civil rights movement was distorted to advance programs promoting inequality and group privilege. It complains, for example, about affirmative action and other forms of preferential treatment." Ibram X. Kendi, a scholar and historian of racism at Boston University, called the report the last great lie from a Trump administration of great lies. If we have commonly been given preferential treatment, then why do Black people remain on the lower and dying end of nearly every racial disparity? Kendi said on Twitter. Whenever they answer this question, they express racist ideas of Black inferiority while claiming they are not racist. Other scholars underscored what was left out. The report includes nothing of Native American history, and its only reference to Indigenous people is a racial slur quoted from the Declaration of Independence. In one passage jeered by historians, the authors draw a comparison between the progressive movement in America and fascist dictator Benito Mussolini. James Grossman, executive director of the American Historical Association, said the report is intended to discredit contemporary public policies rooted in Americas progressive reform movement. He worries that, even after Biden dissolved the commission, its report could end up in some classrooms. Historians need to be paying attention to curriculum conversations in localities and at the state level, Grossman said. The nonsense thats in this report will be used to legitimate similar nonsense. In a public meeting of the commission this month, some members held out hope that Biden would keep the commission alive. But others said they needed to push the report to state and local education officials. Its really going to be up to governors and state legislators and school board members and parents and higher education commissioners even students to take this charge and carry this work forward, said Doug Hoelscher, a White House assistant under Trump. After the report was removed from a White House website, some of its authors moved to make it available on conservative websites. In an opinion piece published by the Heritage Foundation, one of the commissioners, Mike Gonzalez, said the members intend to continue meeting and fulfilling the charges of our two-year remit. The report ultimately demands a shift in teaching at schools and at U.S. universities, which the panel describes as hotbeds of anti-Americanism. It denounces any teaching that breeds contempt for American ideals, blaming that kind of destructive scholarship for the nations divisions and for so much of the violence in our cities. Former Bachelorette Georgia Love kicked off her hens weekend with her nearest and dearest, as she prepares to marry Lee Elliott. On Friday, her sister Katie Love shared footage of the festivities on Instagram. In a short clip, Katie was seen giving Georgia a 'date card' hinting at the first surprise - a Hummer limousine. Bachelorette to bride! Georgia Love kicked off her hens weekend with her nearest and dearest on Friday. The brunette beauty (pictured) looked ecstatic as she flaunted her trim figure alongside the vehicle The brunette beauty looked ecstatic as she flaunted her trim figure, posing alongside the vehicle on a tiny red carpet. Joining the Love sisters for the occasion was a small group of their close friends. Inside the car, Georgia and her pals rapped along to Eminem's Lose Yourself while sipping Champagne. Date card! Georgia's sister Katie shared footage of the festivities on Instagram. She gave Georgia (pictured) a 'date card' hinting at the first surprise - a Hummer limousine Weekend getaway! Joining the Love sisters was a small group of their close friends, as they posed alongside the Hummer Giving it her best: Inside the car, the former Bachelorette and her pals rapped along to Eminem's Lose Yourself while sipping Champagne After their performance, Georgia was surprised again as they approached a house with her friends waiting outside. She excitedly jumped out of the car to greet her pals who had brought along with them their suitcases, ready for a weekend of fun. Later, Katie shared a photo of her sister at an undisclosed location decorated with streamers and balloons. Georgia looked radiant as she posed with another flute of Champagne and a 'Bride to be' sash around her. Surprise! After their performance, Georgia was surprised again as they approached a house with her friends waiting outside. She excitedly jumped out of the car to greet her pals who had brought along with them their suitcases, ready for a weekend of fun Let the festivities begin! Later, Katie shared a photo of her sister at an undisclosed location decorated with streamers and balloons. Georgia looked radiant as she posed with another flute of Champagne and a 'Bride to be' sash around her Meanwhile, wedding planning has been a difficult journey for Georgia and fiance Lee, who met on The Bachelorette in 2016. They originally planned to get married in Italy, but were forced to choose Tasmania as their alternative wedding destination when international borders closed. However, disaster struck for the Melbourne-based couple, when Victoria closed its borders in response to a second wave of coronavirus, meaning their back-up plans were also thwarted. Planning challenges: Wedding planning has been a difficult journey for Georgia and fiance Lee (right), who met on The Bachelorette in 2016. They originally planned to get married in Italy, but were forced to choose Tasmania when international borders closed due to the pandemic Speaking to The Herald Sun in September, Georgia said: 'We have set a [wedding] date next year and are forging ahead hoping it is going to happen as we want it to.' She continued: 'We had planned an entire wedding for Italy and that has just gone completely out of the window. 'We then planned a wedding for Tasmania and that date has now changed.' The federal death penalty has returned. Once, while I was in prison, I saw a man talk to a man on death row. The first man had no idea his friend would be executed. He asked, When are you coming home? The silence that followed has never left me. Martin Espadas poem says that Bartolomeo Vanzetti was more than whatever the state chose to execute him for. This is the poem that asks us if its OK to name the date well murder and bury another. Selected by Reginald Dwayne Betts Image I Now Pronounce You Dead By Martin Espada for Sacco and Vanzetti, executed August 23, 1927 On the night of his execution, Bartolomeo Vanzetti, immigrant from Italia, fishmonger, anarchist, shook the hand of Warden Hendry and thanked him for everything. I wish to forgive some people for what they are now doing to me, said Vanzetti, blindfolded, strapped down to the chair that would shoot two thousand volts through his body. The wardens eyes were wet. The wardens mouth was dry. The warden heard his own voice croak: Under the law I now pronounce you dead. No one could hear him. With the same hand that shook the hand of Bartolomeo Vanzetti, Warden Hendry of Charlestown Prison waved at the executioner, who gripped the switch to yank it down. With a new First Lady in the White House, it's timely that Showtime should confirm Thursday that it's moving ahead with an anthology series about the wives of Presidents. The premium subscription channel announced that Michelle Pfeiffer has signed on to star as Betty Ford, wife of President Gerald Ford, in The First Lady. She joins Viola Davis who will play Michelle Obama in the series she is also executive producing along with her husband Julius Tennon. New role: Michelle Pfeiffer, left in 2019, has signed on to star as Betty Ford, right in 1987, in the Showtime anthology series The First Lady, it was announced on Thursday Also announced Thursday is that Susanne Bier, whose credits include The Night Manager and The Undoing, will be directing the episodes. The First Lady will focus on Michelle Obama, Betty Ford and Eleanor Roosevelt and the roles the impact they had during their time in the White House. Female perspective: The series is being co-executive produced by Viola Davis, right in 20189, and the Oscar winner will portray Michelle Obama, left in February 2019 At the helm: Susanne Bier, whose credits include the Night Manager and The Undoing, is on board to direct the episodes. She's pictured in January 2020 Betty Ford took an active role in social policy and was generally more outspoken than many of her predecessors during her husband's presidency from 1974 to 1977. She is perhaps most remembered for her public acknowledgement of her alcoholism and she co-founded an addiction treatment center that bears her name. Most recently, Pfeiffer has been seen in Marvel's Ant-Man And The Wasp and Avengers: Endgame and Disney's Maleficent: Mistress of Evil. Impactful: Betty Ford took an active role in social policy and was generally more outspoken than many of her predecessors during her husband Gerald Ford's presidency from 1974 to 1977 Legacy: She is perhaps most remembered for her public acknowledgement of her alcoholism and she co-founded an addiction treatment center that bears her name In a statement, Amy Israel, executive vp scripted programming at Showtime, said: 'Michelle Pfeiffer and Susanne Bier have joined the brilliant and incomparable Viola Davis to bring the remarkable stories of these women into urgent, engrossing and long overdue focus.' Israel went on: 'Michelle brings authenticity, vulnerability and complexity to all her roles, and Susanne is a visionary director who commands the screen with fierce honesty and a singular visual style. 'With these formidable artists in front of and behind the camera, we couldn't be more thrilled especially at this unique moment in time for our nation about the powerful promise of The First Lady.' Another grammar school in Derry has today published its admission criteria. Due to the pandemic, the transfer test, which grammar schools usually use as the basis for the admission of new pupils, has been cancelled. As a result, schools are being asked to come up with an alternative admissions process. Thornhill College in Derry published their admissions criteria for the 2021/22 academic year earlier this week and St Columb's College have published theirs today. St Columb's said its Board of Governors has determined that, in the event of the number of applicants being greater than the admissions number for the school, applicants shall be selected in the order of priority set down below, based on the information provided at the date of application. 1. Applicants of whom a brother is a pupil in the school or will be in the coming year. 2. (i) Applicants who are the first boy of the family or, (ii) in the case of a family which has arrived on or after 1 January 2016 in the College's traditional catchment area (details of which are to be found in a leaflet available from the College), applicants who are the first boy to reach transfer age of that family since its arrival in the College's traditional catchment area; or (iii) Applicants of whom a brother previously attended the school but has since left. 3. Applicants of whom a parent or step-parent or legally adopted parent is a permanent member of staff of St Columbs College. 4. Applicants other than those satisfying any one of the criteria (1) (3) above. You can find out the full details of the school's admissions criteria here - http://bit.ly/2Y4UxfK A spokesperson for St Columb's said: "In June 2020 the Board of Governors decided that St Columbs College would not use academic criteria for admission to Year 8 in September 2021. "The Governors made this decision having reflected on the ongoing impact of the Covid-19 crisis, the considerable disruption that this was having on the education of pupils then in Primary 6 and the possibility of further disruption for these same pupils as they moved into Primary 7. "The Board of Governors has, therefore, temporarily amended its Admissions Criteria for the 2021-2022 academic year." The chances of easing Covid-19 level 5 restrictions before the end of February are really slim and schools are likely to remain closed for at least another month, Government ministers have admitted. With the country nowhere near where it needs to be, according to Tanaiste Leo Varadkar, another four weeks of the highest level of restrictions are set to be imposed, delivering a further hammer blow to families and business. Amid fresh criticism of the Governments vaccination roll-out and failure to adequately trace incoming air and sea passengers, Cabinet ministers are preparing to make a final decision on extending restrictions on Tuesday, but have warned it will be March at the earliest before any significant easing will occur. I just cant see it, not with 50-plus deaths a day at the moment, said one minister. I just think the prospects of anything significant before the end of February are really slim. While several sources said the reopening of schools is at least four weeks away, next Tuesdays Cabinet meeting will endeavour to see if that timeline can be improved upon. A woman passes a closed pub in Dublin's city centre. Hospitality businesses are facing closure until May at the earliest, sources have suggested. Picture: Brian Lawless/PA Wire There is also a strong desire to allow construction return ahead of the rest of the economy. Hospitality businesses are facing closure until May at the earliest, sources have suggested. The comments came as chief medical officer Tony Holohan warned that up to 1,000 people will die from Covid-19 in January alone. He also warned that up to 40% of Covid cases among people travelling into the country will be missed under current Government detection measures and guidelines. Despite this, Mr Varadkar said a system of mandatory quarantine for incoming air and sea passengers would be disproportionate and unworkable. Responding to questions from Social Democrats co-leader Catherine Murphy, Mr Varadkar said Ireland has 33,000 people arriving per week, with the vast majority of these people undertaking what he called essential travel. Other senior Government sources sought to differ with Mr Varadkars assessment, saying a strict quarantine system cannot be ruled out. Social Democrats leader Catherine Murphy said data given to her indicates that 49% of incoming passengers fail to comply with the locator form. Picture: Niall Carson/PA Ms Murphy said data given to her indicates that 49% of incoming passengers fail to comply with the locator form. She highlighted clear deficiencies in the current system and contrasted this with a new crackdown on residents, which has seen hundreds of fines imposed on people for breaching the 5km travel limit. It has emerged that more than 2,000 people travelled into Ireland from formerly banned countries South Africa and the UK in the three days after the ban was lifted. The ban placed on both countries stemmed from Government fears over new, more transmissible, variants of the virus emanating from those countries. The UK strain, in particular, is estimated to be responsible for 45% of current cases of the virus in Ireland. Last night, it was confirmed that a further 51 people have died from Covid-19 and 2,608 additional cases were notified. There are now 211 patients in ICU with Covid-19, the HSE said. About half of the ICU patients are ventilated, and there are an additional 300 patients receiving high-dependency respiratory support on ordinary wards. Meanwhile, the roll-out of Covid-19 vaccines will spur the start of an economic rebound by the summer but the scars from the crisis in increased unemployment, business failures, and mortgage arrears could be long-lasting, the Central Bank has said in its latest outlook. It also said that the profound societal and economic effects of the Covid crisis on an already acute housing crisis will lead to 23,000 fewer homes being built than it once thought. Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. The first consignment of the Oxford/Astrazeneca vaccine to Ireland is likely to be 60pc less than initially hoped. AstraZeneca Plc has informed European Union officials on Friday it would cut deliveries of its Covid-19 vaccine to the bloc by 60pc to 31 million doses in the first quarter of the year due to production problems, a senior official told Reuters. The decrease dealt another blow to Europe's Covid-19 vaccination drive after Pfizer Inc and partner BioNTech SE slowed supplies of their vaccine to the bloc this week, saying the move was needed because of work to ramp up production. Ireland has signed an agreement to receive 3.3m doses of the vaccine, and it was hoped this would be used to vaccinate over one million people through GPs and pharmacies. This supply issue is likely to hamper government aspirations of having 700,000 people vaccinated by the end of March. AstraZeneca was expected to deliver about 80 million doses to the 27 EU countries by the end of March, the official who was involved in the talks said. The official added AstraZeneca planned to begin deliveries to the EU from February 15, in line with original plans. The company confirmed the drop in deliveries without giving specific details on the magnitude of the shortfall. "Initial volumes will be lower than originally anticipated due to reduced yields at a manufacturing site within our European supply chain," an AstraZeneca spokesman said in a written statement. "We will be supplying tens of millions of doses in February and March to the European Union, as we continue to ramp up production volumes," he said of the vaccine developed with Oxford University. The Britain-based drugmaker had also agreed to deliver more than 80 million doses in the second quarter. On Friday, the EU official, who spoke under condition of anonymity, said the company was not able to provide updated delivery targets for the April to June period due to the production issues. AstraZeneca told EU officials at a meeting that the cut was due to production problems at a vaccine factory in Belgium run by its partner Novasep, the EU official said. Novasep was not immediately available to comment. EU governments "expressed deep dissatisfaction with this," EU Health Commissioner Stella Kyriakides said on Twitter after the announcement. The EU drug regulator is due to decide on approval of AstraZeneca's vaccine on Jan. 29. It has already received emergency authorisation in Britain. The EU has a deal to purchase at least 300 million doses from AstraZeneca, with an option for an additional 100 million, part of the company's global commitments to supply more than 3 billion doses. (Newser) Plenty of people want to make sure their loved ones get vaccinated against COVID-19, but one Texas doctor may have gone too far. The Dallas Morning News reports that 48-year-old Dr. Hasan Gokal is now out of a job and facing criminal charges after he allegedly swiped a vial of the coronavirus vaccine, containing nine doses, to administer to family and friends. Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg says Gokal took the vial on Dec. 29 while administering shots for the county in Humble; he then told a colleague about it, who informed health officials. After an investigation, Gokal was fired. "He abused his position to place his friends and family in line in front of people who had gone through the lawful process to be there," Ogg says. story continues below Gokal's lawyer is pushing back, claiming his client was simply trying to make sure unused doses didn't have to be trashed. "Harris County would have preferred Dr. Gokal let the vaccines go to waste and are attempting to disparage this man's reputation," the attorney says in a statement, per the Morning News. Authorities, however, say Gokal flouted county protocols that should've had him contacting front-line workers and others more vulnerable to the virus who were on a waiting list, per CNN. Gokal, who has been in practice for more than two decades and never been disciplined by Texas' medical regulatory agency, had of late been a prominent spokesperson on the pandemic for the county's health department, reports KTRK. Gokal, who hasn't yet been arrested, could see a $4,000 fine and up to a year behind bars if he's convicted of the misdemeanor charge. (Read more coronavirus vaccine stories.) The Parker-Chase educational philosophy and focus on outdoor and STEM learning is a perfect match for these new locations and aligns with their existing approach, said Endeavor Schools Chief Operations Officer, Danielle Millman. Endeavor Schools is proud to announce new additions to its growing network of schools. The education management company has acquired two former Kids R Kids franchises in East Roswell and East Cobb, Georgia. Both schools have been renamed as Parker-Chase Preschools, one of Endeavors most distinguished brands. The change will take effect immediately and both schools will continue operating without interruption for the children and families they serve. The acquisition demonstrates Endeavor Schools commitment to the Atlanta region. With the addition of the new Parker-Chase schools, Endeavor Schools now owns and operates nine schools in the Atlanta metropolitan area with plans to expand further. The talented, tenured, and dedicated teaching staff at these schools built solid reputations in their communities for providing high-quality early childhood education. As Parker-Chase Preschools, both schools will continue that legacy. They will also remain accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), one of the most respected early childhood education accreditors in the nation due to its high standards for education and safety. The Parker-Chase educational philosophy and focus on outdoor and STEM learning is a perfect match for these new locations and aligns with their existing approach, said Endeavor Schools Chief Operations Officer, Danielle Millman. Children respond well to an educational style that is structured around them so that their individual talents can flourish. This is why Parker-Chase has been so successful and families in East Cobb and East Roswell will continue to find this a truly positive educational experience. Parker-Chase Preschools was originally founded in 1981 in Carrollton, Texas. In 1985, it became one of the first schools to be accredited by NAEYC. Endeavor Schools acquired Parker-Chase Preschools in 2016, adding it to the companys long list of reputable schools that excel in providing high-quality early childhood education to their communities. The new Parker-Chase locations will offer innovative programs for infants through kindergarteners with an after-school program for school age students as well. They will also continue operating with the same staff members who have made such a strong connection with families in the community. Maintaining these community bonds is at the core of what makes our schools special, said Endeavor Schools CEO Ricardo Campo. We are looking forward to continuing these relationships and creating new ones with our Parker-Chase schools. This year promises to be a big one for Endeavor Schools as the company is in negotiations to acquire several more schools across the country. By investing in teachers and school facilities, Endeavor Schools is bringing its consistently high standards of education to more children and families. Communities need high-quality schools they can depend on, Campo said. We strive to provide consistency, reliability, and superior quality to many more families in the coming year. About Endeavor Schools Endeavor Schools is a leading education management company with a family of unique, well-established private schools that serve as pillars to their respective communities in a growing number of markets across the US. Each of the companys schools subscribe to proven, research-based curricula that is delivered by seasoned educators and are encouraged to embrace their own uniqueness and tradition. Endeavor Schools supports academic excellence by providing robust tools and resources to help each school thrive. Founded in 2012, Endeavor Schools is headquartered in Miami, Florida. For more information, visit http://www.endeavorschools.com and follow the company on LinkedIn. Huntington, WV (25701) Today Thunderstorms likely. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. High 73F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%.. Tonight Thunderstorms this evening followed by occasional showers overnight. Low 53F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%. Credit: CC0 Public Domain Thousands of Hong Kongers will be ordered to stay in their homes for the city's first coronavirus lockdown, local media reported Friday, as authorities battle an outbreak in one of its poorest and most densely packed districts. The order bans anyone from leaving their apartment unless they can show a negative test where cases have surged in recent days, and will last until everyone within the designated area has been tested, the reports said. The South China Morning Post said the measures would come in at midnight Friday into Saturday with some 1,700 police ready to enforce the lockdown covering some 150 housing blocks and up to 9,000 people. Health officials declined to comment on the proposal at an afternoon press briefing but multiple local outlets reported the lockdown citing government officials throughout Friday. Hong Kong was one of the first places to be struck by the coronavirus since it burst out of central China. It has kept infections under 10,000 with some 170 deaths by imposing effective but economically punishing social distancing measures for much of the last year. Over the last two months it has been hit by a fourth wave of infections with authorities struggling to bring the daily numbers down. Stubborn clusters have emerged in neighbourhoods within Yau Tsim Mong, a low-income district notorious for some of the world's most cramped housing. On paper Hong Kong is one of the richest cities in the world. But it suffers from pervasive inequality, an acute housing shortage and eye-watering rents that successive governments have failed to solve. The average flat in Hong Kong is about 500 square feet (46 metres squared). But many squeeze themselves into subdivided flatscubicles that can be as small as 50-square feet or even less, with shared bathrooms and showers inside ageing walk-up buildings. It is these kind of buildings where clusters have been located in recent weeks, prompting the first lockdown order. In recent days health officials began carrying out mandatory testing in some 70 buildings in the area but the government has now decided to test everyone. "The purpose is to identify those hiding who have not received COVID-19 tests," SCMP quoted an unnamed official involved in the plan as saying on Friday. The area is also home to many ethnic minorities, mainly South Asian Hong Kongers, a community that often faces discrimination and poverty. Earlier in the week a senior health official sparked anger when he suggested ethnic minority residents might be spreading the virus more readily because "They like to share food, smoke, drink alcohol and chat together". Critics countered that poverty and a lack of affordable housing forcing people to live in cramped conditions was to blame for the virus spreading more easily in those districtsnot race or culture. The health official's remarks also came as a video of predominantly white migrants dancing at a packed brunch on the more affluent Hong Kong Island sparked anger. Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak 2021 AFP SACRAMENTO For nearly three decades, JoAnn Parks was imprisoned for killing her three children in a house fire that she said she did not set. Even after advances in scientific understanding of fire behavior undermined investigators conclusion that she had committed arson, Parks was unable to win a new trial which critics argue exemplifies a fundamental flaw in how expert testimony is treated. A bill introduced Thursday in the California Legislature seeks to prevent wrongful convictions by raising the standard for using expert witnesses and to provide path for people like Parks who may have been condemned by discredited or outdated science to seek relief. I cant see why they cant see I didnt do it. Whats so hard? said Parks, who was released on parole last week, nearly a year after Gov. Gavin Newsom commuted her sentence of life without parole for first-degree murder. How much longer are you going to make somebody pay for something that they didnt do? SB243 by state Sen. Scott Wiener, D-San Francisco, would require judges to review the scientific methodology of expert witnesses, to ensure it is based on credible research, before allowing them to testify in court. Wiener said giving judges more discretion to block potentially unreliable witnesses would provide an additional safeguard, as new fields for inspecting crime scenes emerge and disputes arise about the accuracy of long-trusted techniques such as fingerprint matching and blood-spatter analysis. This is especially critical, he said, because some studies have found that the popularity of shows such as CSI boosted jurors confidence in the infallibility of forensic evidence. Once an expert takes the stand, its very powerful with a jury, Wiener said. We need judges to take a stronger kind of gatekeeping role where they only allow expert testimony based on sound science. The bill would also give people whose prosecution relied substantially on expert testimony an additional tool to challenge their convictions if the scientific community later questions the validity of the methods or theories that expert used. Wiener said the measure would boost public confidence that the criminal justice system is working the way it is supposed to. He previously carried a measure that regulated how eyewitness identifications in live and photo lineups are conducted. When we convict innocent people of crimes, its obviously a horrific miscarriage of justice for that person and their family, Wiener said. But its also dangerous for the community, because it means the guilty person is still out there. A representative for the California Judges Association, which represents judges presiding in state trial, appellate and administrative courts, said members had not yet reviewed the bill. Raquel Cohen, at attorney with the California Innocence Project at San Diegos California Western School of Law who represents Parks, said a law such as SB243 could have helped Parks get out of prison years ago. Parks said she woke up in the middle of the night April 9, 1989, to a blood-curdling scream from my son and a fire raging through her Los Angeles-area home. She was unable to save the boy or her two other children. Parks was accused of starting the fire and eventually convicted of first-degree murder after investigators testified that there appeared to be two separate fires, one in the living room and one in her childrens bedroom, which would indicate arson. But in 2011, another panel of experts reviewed Parks case and concluded that the jury had been misled. Relying on new standards in burn science including a phenomenon known as flashover, in which the intense heat of a fire can cause a sudden burst of flames in an enclosed space, obscuring its origin point they argued that the evidence showed the fire sparked by accident in one spot, the living room, and then spread. Although Parks was granted an evidentiary hearing in 2016, Cohen said a judge ultimately denied her a new trial because experts for the prosecution and the defense disagreed on the significance of the alternate interpretation of the burn pattern. With this law, it would have never amounted to a battle of the experts, Cohen said. Parks, now 54 and living in a transitional program in San Diego, said she is happy to finally be out of prison and adjusting well as she pieces her life back together. She has begun to consider her future she hopes to get a job at a law firm and eventually move to Hawaii and is still fighting to clear her name. I lost everything, Parks said. I lost having a career. I lost spending time with my family. I lost having my freedom, choices to do what I wanted to do when I wanted to them. I had people pass away in my life that I couldnt even be there for. She added, Nobody, not me and nobody in the future, should have to go through what I went through. Alexei Koseff is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: alexei.koseff@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @akoseff Billy Connolly: It's Been A Pleasure on ITV Pictured: Billy Connolly at his home in the Florida Keys. (Scarlett Stephenson-Connolly) Sir Billy Connolly has received his first dose of the coronavirus vaccine. The Scottish comedians wife Pamela Stephenson revealed in a post on social media that he had received his first jab. She shared an image of the 78-year-old wearing a mask as he sat with his sleeve rolled up. Alongside the image, Stephenson wrote: Thank God Billy had his first Covid vaccine today! This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. Sir Billy, who lives in the US, was diagnosed with Parkinsons disease in 2013 and retired from live performances five years later. Watch: Duchess of Cambridge speaks with frontline nurses Read more: Billy Connolly says Parkinson's 'will end me' Last month he told the PA news agency he feels happy in his skin after making the obvious decision to retire following his diagnosis. Sir Billy joins famous faces including actress Dame Judi Dench, broadcaster Sir David Attenborough, actor Sir Ian McKellen, Great British Bake Off judge Prue Leith and entertainer Lionel Blair in receiving the vaccine. Earlier this week Mary Berry had her first dose of the vaccine, encouraging others to do the same: I would encourage everyone, if its offered to them, to definitely have the vaccine. Hollywood star and former California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger also shared a video of him receiving the jab earlier this week. Watch: Arnie gets his vaccine The (CBI) has registered a criminal conspiracy case against UK-based and Global Science Research for illegally harvesting personal data of (FB) users in India. The action follows a preliminary inquiry which was initiated by the investigative agency in July 2018, based on the inputs received from the Ministry of Information and Technology (Meity)on the alleged data theft. CBI, in the first information report (FIR) filed on January 19, stated that that reported the leak of personal data of nearly 562,000 Indians users by the UK data firm. The social media platform has over 200 million users in India. CBI's further enquiry in the case revealed that Founder and Director of Global Science Research --Aleksander Kogan has created an app-- thisisyourdigitallife. The app was only authorised to collect certain specific data for academic and research purposed in line with policy. However, the app illegally collected additional data of the users as well as their friends on FB. The data which includes demographic information, content of private messages etc was used without the consent of app users. During the enquiry FB said that 335 users in India had installed this app and estimated that the data of about 562,000 additional users who were the part of friendsnetwork of these 335 users has been compromised, CBI quoted FB response in the FIR. ALSO READ: Govt to impose a permanent ban on some Chinese apps including TikTok The federal agency said that it contacted these 335 users, of which only 6 users responded and were examined. The users, however, claimed that they were misled by the app and were unaware that their friends data had been harvested. The enquiry also revealed that Global Science Research entered into a criminal conspiracy with Cambridge during 2014, and authorsaed the latter to use the harvested information for commercial purposes. Business Standard reached out to Facebook for a response. The company was yet to respond as of the time of publishing of this report. CBI said that FB had collected written certificates from the Kogan and Cambridge during 2016-1, declaring that all such data obtained by them through the app was destroyed. However, CBI could not authenticate claims of the Cambridge and Global Science whether they destroyed the said database. Before referring the matter to the CBI, Meity had sought details from Facebook and for the alleged violations, extent of misuse of the personal data of Indian users and its possible misuse by Cambridge for profiling and influencing elections in India. In a response to Meity, Cambridge said that they received data from UK-based Global Science Research pertaining to US citizens only. However, Cambridge did not say anything else in the matter. The ministry then obtained legal opinion which suggested the preliminary enquiry in the matter. The facts and circumstances prima facie reveal that Cambridge, Kogan and Global Science committed an offence punishable under various sections of the Indian Penal Code dealing with criminal conspiracy, CBI said in the FIR. Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, in July 2018, had said that the CBI would probe if UK data firm violated laws to manipulate the electoral process during the 2014 elections. By Maximilian Heath BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) - The German airline Lufthansa has asked the Argentine government for permission to overfly its country en route to the Falklands, Argentina said on Thursday, adding that the request implies recognition of Falklands "as part of Argentine territory," the Foreign Ministry said. Lufthansa, separately, said it made the request for two flights supporting a polar research expedition because the normal route via Cape Town has been suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic. Argentina and Britain have long disputed ownership of the Falklands, with Argentina for decades claiming sovereignty over the British-run islands it calls the Malvinas. The dispute led to a brief war in 1982. The Argentine government said Lufthansa asked for permission for two flights that are due to carry scientists and logistical support staff from Hamburg to Mount Pleasant in the Falklands, where they will continue onboard the ship "Polarstern" to Antarctica to conduct climate change research. Argentina said the German government also asked for its permission for the Polarstern research ship to dock in Port Stanley, the capital of the British-held territory. The two, 15-hour flights are scheduled for Feb. 1 and March 30. Argentina's Foreign Ministry said in a statement that Lufthansa had asked its civil aviation authority and regional authorities to fly over Argentina and use the Argentine Patagonian town of Ushuaia as an alternative airport should it be unable to land in the Falklands. The Foreign Ministry said the German Embassy also asked for authorization from the Argentine Naval Prefecture for the Polarstern ship to enter "Puerto Argentino," the Argentine name for the Falklands capital Port Stanley. "The relevance of Lufthansa's request presented to the Argentine authorities is highlighted as it implies the recognition of the Malvinas Islands as part of Argentine territory," the Foreign Ministry said. Story continues In the past year, Argentina has renewed its drive to reclaim the Falklands, appointing a Malvinas minister, saying it will redraw maps to emphasize its claim for use in schools and lobbying at the United Nations. The German government did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. Lufthansa announced the alternate route for the flight via the Falklands in a press release on Wednesday touting "the longest passenger flight in the history of its company, marking one of the most unique flights the airline has ever carried out." Both passengers and crew at present are in a 14-day quarantine and their luggage sealed and decontaminated in a bid to try to keep COVID cases low in the remote region. (This story is refiled to add dropped words "are in a 14-day quarantine and their luggage sealed" in last sentence) (Reporting by Maximillian Health; writing by Aislinn Laing; Editing by Leslie Adler) Alabamas mostly Republican congressional delegation stood uniform in their support of Democratic President Joe Bidens pick of Mobile native Lloyd Austin as the Secretary of Defense. Austin, the retired Army general, became the first Black secretary of defense on Friday after his appointment was confirmed with a 92-2 vote in the Senate. Only Republican Senators Josh Hawley of Missouri and Mike Lee of Utah voted against the confirmation. Retired General Lloyd Austin is a son of the great state of Alabama born in Mobile and an Auburn University alumnus and trustee who understands the critical role our states five military bases play in supporting Americas armed forces, said Republican Senator Tommy Tuberville. General Austins decades of service make him well-positioned to lead the Department of Defense and confront the threats facing our country. U.S. Senator Richard Shelby, in a tweet, said Austin is eminently qualified to lead the Pentagon. He added, I look forward to working with him to ensure our military remains the most powerful force in the world. Today I voted to confirm Ret. Gen. Lloyd Austin as our next @SecDef. A native of Mobile & @AuburnU grad, Gen. Austin is eminently qualified to lead the Pentagon. I look forward to working with him to ensure our military remains the most powerful force in the world. @DeptofDefense Richard Shelby (@SenShelby) January 22, 2021 The Senate confirmation came one day after both chambers of Congress voted on a waiver that allowed Austin a path forward toward becoming the Secretary of Defense. The House voted 326-78 in support of waiving a 74-year-old federal law prohibiting retired military officers from holding the position if they had not been separated from active-military service for seven years. Austin, who was born in Mobile in 1953, retired from active service in 2016. The Senate then voted 69-27 on the waiver. Alabamas nine members of Congress seven House members, and two senators voted to support the waivers. Some of the lawmakers in the House, following the waiver vote Thursday, praised Austin for having an exemplary 41-year career in the military. U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell, D-Birmingham, said she felt Austin has the experience and leadership to handle domestic and foreign threats including those from far right-wing domestic terrorist groups. U.S. Rep. Jerry Carl, R-Mobile, said he felt Austin would push back against far-left attempts to cut military funding. Austin was Bidens second Cabinet member confirmed by the Senate. Avril Haines, the first woman to serve as director of national intelligence, was confirmed by the Senate by an 84-10 vote on Wednesday. Both Tuberville and Shelby voted in support of Haines. A report on Thursday said that "devout Catholic" President Joseph Biden, Jr. will be revoking the Mexico Policy and fund international abortions. The Christian Headlines said on Tuesday that Biden is out to "reverse many of Trump's pro-life policies" and "abortion restrictions" which included the reinstatement of the Mexico City Policy, as well as, the Hyde Amendment. During the first press conference held by new White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki, EWTN News Nightly White House Correspondent Owen Jensen asked on Biden's abortion policy involving the Hyde Amendment and the Mexico Policy. "Two big concerns for pro-life Americans: the Hyde Amendment, which of course keeps taxpayer dollars, as you know, from paying for abortions--Medicaid abortions," Jensen began after introducing himself and congratulating Psaki on her new assignment, "and the Mexico City Policy, which, under the previous administration, they expanded to keep tax dollars from overseas paying for abortions." "So what are President--what is President Biden planning on doing on those two items right now?" he raised. Psaki affirmed in passing that the Mexico Policy will be tackled in the upcoming days but gave more stress on Biden being a "devout Catholic" instead of answering Jensen. "Well, I think we'll have more to say on the Mexico City Policy in the coming days. But I will just take the opportunity to remind all of you that he is a devout Catholic and somebody who attends church regularly. He started his day attending church with his family this morning. But I don't have anything more for you on that," she said before moving on to the next reporter. Many pro-lifers, Christian Headlines highlighted, bashed Psaki in social media for not responding accordingly to Jensen's question. One of which was former Staff Assistant for the Office Of The Under Secretary For Civilian Security, Democracy, And Human Rights Catharine O'Neill who reminded what a "Devout Catholic" actually meant. "Friendly reminder that actual Devout Catholics are pro-life," O'Neill said, retweeting a post made by The Spectator Washington Editor Amber Athey on the matter. Friendly reminder that actual Devout Catholics are pro-life https://t.co/9jBLojIT55 Cath ONeill (@cathponeill) January 21, 2021 Similarly, NPR National Correspondent Sarah McCammon supported Psaki's statement that the Mexico Policy will be discussed soon by posting about newly appointed Chief Medical Advisor to the President Dr. Anthony Fauci's remarks dated Jan. 21, 2021 at the World Health Organization Executive Board Meeting. "In prepared remarks to WHO exec board, Dr. Anthony Fauci says Biden 'will be revoking the Mexico City Policy in the coming days.' It prohibits US funding for groups that provide/refer for abortions overseas," McCammon tweeted on Thursday. In prepared remarks to WHO exec board, Dr. Anthony Fauci says Biden will be revoking the Mexico City Policy in the coming days. It prohibits US funding for groups that provide/refer for abortions overseas: https://t.co/M1pRPSQAmo pic.twitter.com/DacMcSKRmV Sarah McCammon A GP in Belmullet, Co Mayo, who has Covid-19 says he cannot get a locum to cover for him so he has continued to respond to patients by telephone. Dr Fergal Ruane told RTE radios Morning Ireland that the town of Belmullet was shell shocked with the high levels of Covid-19 in their community. Belmullet continues to have the highest rate of Covid-19 in the country. In the last two weeks up until Monday, one in every 18 people, or just over 5.5% of the population, contracted the virus. There were 700 cases in the last two weeks with deaths in the double digits. While the rise in cases had been inevitable, the high numbers had been a shock. "The community was living in fear," he said. The town was a Covid enclave, in a remote area with a small population. "Were a remote community on its own. "Covid had devastated the area, the elderly were dying and people in their 50s were ending up very sick, many in intensive care facing a very slow recovery," he said. "The community was under severe strain, one of the two local paramedics was in hospital and a local pharmacy had to open with only three staff," he added. I have Covid myself, I cant get a locum, so I am working on the phone. He said he had no choice but to do that as there was no locum available. The first few days of his illness were not pleasant he said. Dr Ruane said that in the week after Christmas from 9am to 8pm the phone did not stop ringing. The community was rallying together, as they always did in difficult times, but people from outside the area were not welcome in Belmullet at the moment, he said. Credit: Pixabay In late April 2020 Dr. Freya Jephcott developed a persistently high fever. When she went to hospital three weeks later, she tested negative for COVID-19. A scan (an extra precaution, given her risky day-job) revealed inflammation in her body but couldn't point to anything concrete. After two months of fevers she developed painfully swollen ribs and stabbing chest pains. Again, doctors couldn't find a cause. Things settled but then months later she started experiencing a new range of symptoms: loss of balance, poor coordination, and constant tinnitusalongside constant fatigue and breathlessness. I first interviewed Jephcotta researcher in the University's Department of Veterinary Medicinelast April for our "Tackling COVID-19' series. She is well aware of the devastation an infectious disease can cause in unprepared populations, having worked with Medecins Sans Frontieres on outbreaks in some of the poorest regions of the world. Jephcott, 33, has managed to emerge unscathed from developing countries fighting outbreaks of infectious diseases like Ebola and TB. Butdespite the negative test resultshe believes she contracted the coronavirus in Cambridge. When we meet online in December 2020 she looks exhausted, and apologizes in advance in case her words don't come out in the right order. "The last week has been hellish," she says. "I don't know if depressive symptoms are part of long COVID or if it's just how long it's gone on. Essentially I get sick, I start to get better, I think I'm over it and then I'll get hit by another wave of symptomssometimes quite distinct from what I had before." "I can't read any moremy language ability just disappeared overnight," she says. "I've started kitchen fires because I keep forgetting things when I'm trying to cook. During the last flare-up I managed to hit my head on a door-frame courtesy of the poor coordination, and ended up getting a handful of stiches. This illness is completely debilitating. It's so disheartening to see people, including doctors, on social media or in the press suggesting it's psychosomatic or simply the stress of lockdown." Jephcott isn't just frustrated by not knowing when all this will end. She's frustrated because doctors don't know what's happening to her, and they don't know how to treat her. And she's not alone. Oona Lagercrantz, 19, an undergraduate student at the University, has had suspected long COVID since March last year. As she describes her symptoms, which include a tight chest, fatigue, headaches, muscle twitches and a racing heart, it is again the sense of not-knowing that seems the most difficult aspect for her to deal with. "When it started in spring I was scaredI didn't know what was happening to me," says Lagercrantz. "Now I'm more used to it, and my GP thinks it's long COVID, although my antibody test was negative so the official diagnosis is 'post-viral fatigue after a viral-infection." No-one can tell me what to do to get better. I don't know if I should try to exercise, or if I should rest. It's a mental challenge." Is it real? One of the problems facing GPs is that there's no test available to diagnose long COVID. Many people who got ill early in the pandemic could not access a COVID-19 test, and testing them now gives negative results. It's the same with the antibody testtoo much time has elapsed since the suspected time of infection. Despite this, a Facebook support group for long COVID sufferers in the UK currently has around 33,000 members. Is long COVID a real condition? "A lot of clinicians are skeptical of long COVID in people who haven't had severe COVID, because of the experience with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS)," says Dr. Nyarie Sithole, an infectious disease consultant and researcher in the University's Department of Medicine. There has been much disagreement in the medical community over CFSfrom its causes, diagnosis and treatment, to whether it's even real. "Many patients who suspect they have long COVID say they feel dismissed by their GPssome are even being told it's psychosomatic," says Sithole, "but from my experience, a good number of them really did have COVID." In May 2020, Sithole set up a clinic in the Department of Infectious Diseases at Addenbrooke's Hospital to assess patients, referred by their GPs, who suspected they had had COVID-19 and were still experiencing ongoing symptoms. From blood samples, Sithole looks at whether patients' T-cellsessential cells of the immune systemrecognize and react against any elements of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. If the T-cells respond well, patients are highly likely to have been infected with COVID despite having no remaining trace of the virus in their body and a negative antibody test. It's a much more complex procedure than the other COVID-19 tests, but it works. "By looking at the T-cell immune response, in combination with clinical symptoms and their timing, we can retrospectively make a diagnosis of COVID-19 with a good degree of confidence," says Sithole. And his patients thank him. "Even though we don't have any drugs to treat them yet, it's making a difference to patients to have this diagnosis rather than not know what's happening. I've found a lot of people feel great relief that they're finally being listened to." It is becoming clear that COVID-19 doesn't just affect the lungs and respiratory system, although this has necessarily been the focus of clinicians fighting to keep severely affected patients alive. Not all patients develop long COVID: some make a good recovery, even from severe illness. But others don't. COVID-19: A complicated disease Professor John Bradley, an Honorary Professor at the University of Cambridge, set up the COVID-19 cohort of the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) BioResource at Addenbrooke's Hospital early in the pandemic, to enable studies involving large numbers of people. So far, detailed information has been collected from over 6,000 people who want to be involved in COVID research, including 500 who have tested positive for the diseasemany of whom are healthcare workers who were asymptomatic but tested positive in routine screening. "We need large-scale studies to be able to make reliable conclusions," says Bradley. "We're pre-screening people with a questionnaire before seeing them in clinic, so they can be triaged to the right clinicians according to their symptoms. We're finding a wide range of longer-term problems including disorders of mood and brain function, respiratory symptoms, joint problems, fatigue, and issues relating to smell and taste." Depending on their symptoms, patients can be recruited to various research studies for more detailed assessment. Scrutinizing the immune system Professor Ken Smith, Head of the Department of Medicine, has just completed the first phase of what he believes to be the largest detailed study in the world of the immune response in COVID-19 patients over three months from the time of their initial diagnosis, monitoring 200 patients. "The number of people involved in the COVID-19 BioResource has enabled Ken's study to look right across the spectrum, from those who have had the disease with no symptoms at all, to those who were on ventilators in intensive care," says Bradley. Smith's results indicate that almost all patients who experienced the disease, at all levels of severity, had cleared the coronavirus from their nasopharynx (the upper part of the throat behind the nose) by three weeks after infection. Symptoms after this time appear to be driven by persistent inflammation. When our body is infected by a virus, our immune system responds by triggering inflammation to try and kill it. A certain level of inflammation is needed for the body to protect itself. But for some reason, in some COVID-19 patients the inflammation doesn't go away. Smith says that the nature of the inflammation persisting in these patients appears to change over time, and may be related to the long-term features of the disease. Unraveling these details may shed light on why the virus affects people in such different ways. The term 'long COVID' does not sit well with Smith. He says it's "spectacularly imprecise," as it refers to many quite distinct clinical problems that can follow COVID-19. These range from chronic lung or neurological problems that persist in patients who have required prolonged intensive care for COVID-19, though to persistent fatiguewhich may sometimes be attributed to COVID-19 even without evidence of infection. He thinks the latter is likely to be related to other 'post-viral' chronic fatigue syndromes. "These very different problems need different solutions, and lumping them together under the banner of 'long COVID' may make that more difficult to achieve," says Smith. "Our research needs to focus on well-defined clinical problems that follow COVID-19 if we are to find solutions to help patients." Scrutinizing the brain Elsewhere on the Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Professor David Menon is working with colleagues in the NeuroCOVID group to undertake brain imaging and other investigations in participants from the COVID-19 BioResource. He is trying to pinpoint 'modifiable mechanisms' underlying long COVID: changes in the body, after the acute phase of the disease has passed, that can be targeted with treatments. His focus is on patients who have suffered serious COVID-19 and then developed long-term complications. "We're running a follow-up clinic for COVID patients who have been in intensive care. After six months, about 20% of them have depression or anxiety, and 30% have problems with memory and concentration. A lot have severe fatigue," he says. "While these symptoms are expected in people who have had an episode of critical illness, they seem a lot more serious in COVID patients." Taking advantage of the Wolfson Brain Imaging Centre's position right next to Addenbrooke's Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Menon's team in the Department of Medicine has been able to scan the brains of even the sickest patients from the ICU to look for structural changes. They are also testing these patients' cognitive abilities six months after their acute illness. Early results indicate that brain function is not as good as in healthy people of the same age. Accumulating information, raising awareness Bradley is coordinating with a range of other long-COVID studies across England, building on the value of the growing COVID-19 BioResource. Participants are invited to join a national post-hospitalization study of the long-term effects of COVID-19 (called PHOSP-COVID) led by the University of Leicester, which aims to recruit 10,000 patients. And many will be involved in a national study of the long-term neurological and psychological effects of COVID-19 (called COVID-CNS) led by the University of Liverpool and King's College LondonMenon is one of Cambridge's lead investigators. "Just why long COVID symptoms occur after people have apparently cleared the virus from their system is unknown," says Bradley. "In chronic fatigue syndrome we don't know the cause, although it's thought that infection can be a trigger. In long COVID we know people have had a specific infection." Professor Clare Bryant, an expert in immunity in the Departments of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, spoke about long COVID on The Naked Scientists podcast in April 2020, when most people didn't believe it existed. Now it is accepted as a disease, she says, the next challenge is to develop treatments. "Over the next year we won't just be dealing with consequences of severe COVID, we'll be dealing with the consequences of long COVIDthat's the real second wave of this crisis," says Bryant. "If we don't block the spread of the coronavirus by vaccination, there's the potential for long COVID to go on for years." Bryant is passionate about getting long COVID on the agenda, and raising awareness that it affects younger people tooincluding children. Along with Professor David Rowitch in the University's Department of Pediatrics, she is on an Expert Advisory Group for COVID-19 in children with the charity Action Medical Research. As with everything about this new virus, there is still a lot to learnand the longest anyone has endured long COVID so far is ten months, making longer-term outcomes very difficult to predict. Jephcott was eventually diagnosed with long-COVID in September, and admitted to University College London Hospital's long COVID clinic for treatment. Lagercrantz received the same diagnosis in January 2021, and is recoveringslowly. "I think everyone has misunderstood how disabling long COVID is," says Jephcott, adding, "I will definitely get the vaccineit's not worth getting COVID a second time." All the researchers I spoke to agree that long COVID is going to be a major problem. But they are also hopeful that through science they will come to understand it, and find ways to treat it. "If last year's search for a vaccine has proved one thing," says Bryant, "it's that when the scientific community is called on for help, it can deliver." Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak Wang Yang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee, presides over a bi-weekly seminar held by the CPPCC National Committee in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 21, 2021. (Xinhua/Liu Bin) BEIJING, Jan. 21 (Xinhua) -- Chinese political advisors on Thursday discussed measures to further improve China's business environment during a consultation session in Beijing. The biweekly session, held by the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), China's top political advisory body, was presided over by Wang Yang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the CPPCC National Committee. Wang stressed the importance of efforts to establish a market-oriented, law-based and internationalized business environment in accordance with China's actual conditions to support the building of a modern socialist country. Noting China's progress in improving its business environment, which has seen its international ranking raised, political advisors underscored that there is still room for further promotion and said persistent efforts are needed to build a first-class business environment. They proposed including business environment assessment in the evaluation system for local governments, and introducing successful experience to more regions. Connected: Brian and Lorna OConnor go online with their children Hugo (5), Elsa (7) and Freya (10) in Shanbally, Co. Cork. Photo: Daragh McSweeney/Provision A family in rural Cork has become the first home connected under the states 3bn National Broadband Plan. The OConnors, a family of five, live in a part of Carrigaline that previously had no reliable broadband available. Our youngest son starts school next year and will need a reliable internet connection to convert his schoolwork to braille, said Brian OConnor. I also work away from home frequently, so having the ability to speak and see each other remotely is going to mean the world to us, as well as helping us have more regular contact with other family members. These are things that many people in other areas might take for granted. According to National Broadband Ireland (NBI), the first wave of homes and businesses in Cork and Cavan are currently being connected to high-speed broadband through commercial operators such as Eir, Sky and Vodafone. Homes in Limerick and Galway are to follow in the coming weeks, the company says, with 19,000 due by the end of April and 130,000 due by the end of 2021. The new service will typically cost from 45 per month for a 500Mbs connection or from 55 for a 1,000Mbs connection. This is cheaper than similar high-speed services in cities, most of which are limited to a single high-speed provider, Virgin Media. Virgin charges 71 per month for a 500Mbs after an introductory six-month discount period. Expand Close Connected: Brian and Lorna OConnor go online with their children Hugo (5), Elsa (7) and Freya (10) in Shanbally, Co. Cork. Photo: Daragh McSweeney/Provision / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Connected: Brian and Lorna OConnor go online with their children Hugo (5), Elsa (7) and Freya (10) in Shanbally, Co. Cork. Photo: Daragh McSweeney/Provision Rollout plans for other areas of the country can be checked at nbi.ie/rollout-plan. However, a timeline for any potential acceleration in the rollout of the National Broadband Plan remains unclear. As it stands, the rollout is not due to be completely finished before 2027. National Broadband Irelands chairman, David McCourt, said that his company is still looking at how to do it in conjunction with Government officials. I believe that if Covid gets behind us in the very near future, acceleration seems logical and probable, he said. We have a dedicated team looking at all the ways to bring homes from years six and seven right in. The department [of Communications] also has a team looking at it. They both meet every week and they're working through all the details. I believe that if Covid gets behind us in the very near future, acceleration seems logical and probable "Both groups are hopeful that there'll be some level of success. I believe they will come up with solutions to bring some amount of those homes forward. But I cant tell you how many that might be. He said that there had already been some acceleration, with a decision to connect over 600 schools ahead of schedule. Mr McCourt said that demand for the new high-speed broadband through the rural platform might be higher than originally anticipated. From what the service providers tell us, it's more robust than we originally thought, he said. For families and those working from home, there isnt much of a choice. So I think [demand] will be more robust. NBI says that it currently has operations underway in all 26 counties, with construction ongoing for 19,237 premises in townlands across Cork, Cavan, Galway and Limerick. The first premises in these counties will be able to start placing orders through their retail broadband operators such as Sky, Vodafone, Pure Telecom and Eir, as well as a dozen smaller regional operators. NBI says that it expects the number of premises under construction to be in excess of 130,000 by the end of the year, with approximately 70,000 premises available for connection at prices similar to those available in urban areas. 33 broadband and phone providers have signed up to sell services on the NBI network, according to the company, with 17 certified as ready to start providing connections to premises once they become available and customer orders are made. Services will not be limited to broadband, but are likely to also include voice and TV. As a transformational project, the National Broadband Plan will connect over 1.1 million people across some 544,000 homes, business, farms and schools where commercial operators do not currently provide high-speed connectivity, said Environment, Climate and Communications Minister Eamon Ryan. The growth in remote working and learning during the pandemic has highlighted how critical access to reliable, high-speed connectivity is to our lives. Today marks a major milestone in the rollout of the National Broadband Plan as we see the first connections and Im delighted that homes and businesses will soon be able to start placing orders to receive access to world-leading connectivity. Sharyn Diamond, a retired administrative assistant and New York native who lives with her husband and family in Plano, Texas, has completed her new book Amys Amazing Hats: A Book about Friendship, Caring, and Kindness: an invaluable resource for explaining childhood cancer to young readers. The author shares, I wrote Amys Amazing Hats as a way to teach children the values of being kind and caring to a friend with cancer, bringing awareness to pediatric cancer, sharing the challenges young people have fighting this disease, and the wonderful work the Passing Hats organization does. For more information, look up http://www.passinghats.org and you too may get hooked on looming hats! On behalf of children fighting cancer everywhere and Passing Hats, please share this special book with your friends and family. Published by Page Publishing, Sharyn Diamonds engrossing story is an inspiring addition to and home- or school-based childrens library. Readers who wish to experience this engaging work can purchase Amys Amazing Hats: A Book about Friendship, Caring, and Kindness 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 understands that authors should 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. Grief impacts everyone differently and for North Haven poet Shavonne Johnson, her fathers death ignited a creative spark. Johnson, who recently published her poetry collection The Metamorphosis of Healing, said she began working on her poetry collection three years ago and that writing helped her work through her grief. Writing is a tool I always used, Johnson said that she has used writing as a form of release since she was a child. After learning about her fathers death Johnson said she instinctively turned to writing. I just began crying, something in me just said go to the notes in your phone and begin writing and I wrote the first poem that day, she said. From there Johnson began writing her collection, which she said deals with the rollercoaster of emotions experienced during grief, but it also draws upon her life experiences and the self reflection process she went through during the earlier stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. I hope the readers can see that as human beings we all go through trials and tribulations in life. It is inevitable, however the tools are available to begin the healing process if you rather heal versus deal, she said. Its a little bit of everything that you go through when you experience healing. Johnson said the title for her collection came to her suddenly one morning, the words the metamorphosis of healing just hit me like a ton of bricks and I just knew it had to be the title. The Bridgeport-born poet describes her poetry as accessible and relatable transformative gems wrapped up in a cozy blanket. You truly feel the emotions and are easily connected to the collection. Although gems and crystals are beautiful they sometimes can appear to be rough and sharp just like dealing with uncomfortable emotions, Johnson added. Dont just push these emotions under the rug. Feel them so you can grow through them and not just go through them. Her collection also features a poem about Connecticut where she examines the different facets of her home state. In her poem she discusses some of her favorite elements of the state like the food scene and Connecticuts rich history. Her collection The Metamorphosis of Healing is available on Amazon. tinamarie.craven@hearstmediact.com Panaji: Actor Irrfan Khans wife, Sutapa Sikdar, on Friday walked down the memory lane as she emotionally remembered the times spent with the late star and said, though he passed away too soon, he lived a fulfilling life. Khan, one of Indias finest and most versatile actors with acclaimed performances in films such as Maqbool", The Namesake", Paan Singh Tomar" and Hindi Medium", died in Mumbai in April 2020 at the age of 54. The actor was diagnosed with neuroendocrine tumour in 2018, a rare form of cancer that attacks various parts of the body. To pay tribute to his legacy, the 51st edition of the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) screened Khans Paan Singh Tomar" here. The screening was attended by Sikdar and son Babil. Sikdar said the 2012 film, about an award-winning athlete who is forced to rebel against the system, is an apt homage to Khan. IFFI couldnt have chosen a better film. It talks about a race, an athlete. To quote Irrfans dialogue from the film, you have to finish the race. Whether you lose or win. You have to touch the finish line. Irrfans finish line came too soon. But he played well. We are proud of you Irrfan," an emotional Sikdar said, as Babil hugged his mother. Directed by Tigmanshu Dhulia, Paan Singh Tomar" bagged two National Awards, one for best film and the other for best actor, which went to Khan. At the screening, Sikdar recalled attending the movie gala with Khan when both were students in New Delhi. Sikdar said the duo would have cutting chai and drown in conversations about cinema" after every film screening. That was the beginning. I remember Irrfan having dreams in his eyes. Its a special moment. Its an honour and privilege to be appreciated, given a tribute by the same institute- IFFI." Sikdar said it was a brave decision" for her to step outher first public appearance since Khans demisebut one that provided her a closure. This is the first time Ive come out of home. I had to, because one needs closures also to walk ahead. IFFI is the closure for me. Its like being there for what we have done 30 years ago as students. I am happy people are here even in todays exceptional times. It feels nice that we are here together to celebrate a person," she added. On January 7, Khans family, along with a host of Bollywood celebrities remembered the late star on his 55th birth anniversary. 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 Deputy PM and Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Binh Minh on January 21 led a Vietnamese delegation to attend the online ASEAN Foreign Ministers Retreat (AMM Retreat) at the invitation of Foreign Minister of Brunei Dato Erywan Pehin Yusof. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Binh Minh at the event (Photo: VNA) It was the first activity of the bloc this year to discuss orientations and priorities for 2021 as well as regional and global issues of shared concern. Representatives from participating countries congratulated Vietnam on successfully accomplishing its tenure as ASEAN Chair 2020, including leading the bloc in maintaining dialogues and timely and effective response to unprecedented challenges. They agreed to effectively realise reached priorities, initiatives and cooperation programmes, including accelerating the building of the ASEAN Community in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. They also expressed support to the Bruneis theme of ASEAN Chairmanship 2021 We Care, We Prepare, We Prosper. Speaking at the event, Minh vowed to work closely with Brunei and other ASEAN member states to fulfill the targets and priorities set for the ASEAN Year 2021. Amid uncertain developments in the region and the world, he called on the bloc to effectively carry out initiatives as agreed last year, including Vietnams idea to use the ASEAN COVID-19 Response Fund to buy vaccines and necessary medical supplies for front-line medical staff and vulnerable groups, as well as soon put into operation the Regional Reserve of Medical Supplies and the ASEAN Centre for Public Health Emergencies and Emerging Diseases (ACPHEED). On the Community building, Minh suggested the nations soon complete the review of the implementation of the ASEAN Charter, realise recommendations from the mid-term review of the implementation of ASEAN Community Vision 2025, and building the post-2025 ASEAN Vision. Amid socio-economic impacts from by the pandemic, he proposed continuing to give high priority to narrowing development gap and sub-regional development. In its capacity as Chair of the Initiative for ASEAN Integration (IAI) Task Force for 2021, Vietnam will hold a regional dialogue on narrowing sub-regional development gap to propel sustainable recovery and balanced growth, Minh said. According to the Deputy PM, ASEAN needs to continue further enhancing relations with external partners on the basis of ensuring solidarity, unity and central role. Regarding the East Sea issue, Minh affirmed that contributing to peace and stability in the East Sea is responsibility of all countries in the region. To meet such goal, he suggested ASEAN uphold the sense of responsibility, raise the united voice, uphold the basic principles and common stance over the past years, especially the spirit of abiding by international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Vietnam will join hands with nations to seriously and fully comply with the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties (DOC) in the East Sea, and together with ASEAN and China to soon reach an effective and efficient Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC) in line with international law, including the 1982 UNCLOS, he said. As ASEAN Chair, Brunei proposed priorities and initiatives for ASEAN in 2021, including building a comprehensive approach to promoting multilateral cooperation, building a rules-based regional architecture, coping with contingencies and disasters, providing spiritual health care for the public, and encouraging the role and contribution of the youth to common peace and prosperity. Participants agreed to prioritise strengthening solidarity and economic connectivity, promoting internal trade and investment, completing a comprehensive plan to tap achievements brought about by the fourth industrial revolution, and upholding multilateral mechanisms to address challenges faced by the region and the world. In external affairs, they held that ASEAN will continue deepening ties with partners, as well as further improve its central role, particularly in building an open, transparent, inclusive regional architecture based on rules, frameworks and process found and led by itself, including the ASEAN 1, ASEAN 3, the ASEAN Regional Forum and the ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting Plus. Ministers reaffirmed the importance of maintaining peace, stability, security, safety and freedom of navigation and aviation in the East Sea, and the principles of exercising self-restraint, avoiding militarization, and abiding by international law and the 1982 UNCLOS, as well as seriously and fully complying with the DOC in the East Sea and reaching an effective and efficient COC in accordance with international law, including the 1982 UNCLOS. Concluding the event, on behalf of ASEAN, Brunei issued a press release highlight the major contents of the meeting./. VNA Talks over the divided island of Cyprus will be held in New York in the next two months with the participation of the United Nations, Turkey's Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Friday. The United Nations has been trying unsuccessfully for decades to reunite Cyprus, split in a Turkish invasion in 1974 after a brief Greek-inspired coup. The last attempt collapsed in disarray in 2017 after negotiations attended by all parties. Only Ankara recognises the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) as an independent state. It does not recognise the internationally recognised Greek Cypriot government to the south. Cavusoglu said Turkey, Greece, Britain - the island's guarantor powers - and the United Nations would convene the talks with the two Cypriot sides in late February or early March, with the European Union as an observer. Speaking in Brussels after talks with senior EU officials, Cavusoglu said the bloc had so far "disregarded the rights of the Turkish side". "We conveyed to them that this trust needs to be re-established," he added. Cyprus's division has long been a source of friction between Turkey and EU member Greece, which will hold talks next Monday on a separate dispute over maritime rights in the eastern Mediterranean. Turkey faces the threat of EU economic sanctions over the maritime rights dispute with Greece and Cyprus. However, the EU and Turkey have both signalled this week that they want to improve relations, which have also been strained by disagreements over migration and Ankara's human rights record. Short link: OTTAWA Federal officials say they dont understand Manitoba's position that it will take until the end of the year to vaccinate all adults in the province against COVID-19. OTTAWA Federal officials say they dont understand Manitoba's position that it will take until the end of the year to vaccinate all adults in the province against COVID-19. "Thats not the understanding and the figures that weve been working with," said Dr. Howard Njoo, Canadas deputy chief public health officer. "We have that shared understanding that all Canadians, in all the province and territories, would be able to be offered vaccination by the end of September." Earlier this month, Manitoba published its first immunization plan: a one-page document that casts doubt on Ottawas goal of allowing virtually all adults in Canada to get vaccinated by Sept. 30. Deputy Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Howard Njoo. THE CANADIAN PRESS FILES/Justin Tang Instead, Manitoba said the federal data it has received suggests only 74 per cent of the provinces adult population will be vaccinated by Dec. 31. Both figures are solely based on the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, which are the only vaccines approved to date. The figures don't account for Health Canada approving other vaccines, such as the AstraZeneca vaccine, for which the federal government has already signed purchase contracts. Manitoba believes it will only have enough doses to vaccinate 53 per cent of adults by the end of September. By years end, the province would have enough doses to reach 790,050 of its 1,068,553 adults. The province said Thursday that remains its projection. We have that shared understanding that all Canadians, in all the province and territories, would be able to be offered vaccination by the end of September. Dr. Howard Njoo, Canadas deputy chief public health officer Njoo could not account for the discrepancy. At a press conference on Thursday, he said Ottawa shares ample data with all provincial health officers. "There are maybe some unknown factors, in terms of the stability of deliveries, and obviously were experiencing that right now. But certainly, it hasnt come to my attention that there is a different sort of conclusion, in terms of how many Canadians or to what percentage of the population in any given province would not be able to be offered vaccination, for all of their residents." MIKE DEAL / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister: a cautious and measured approach. Njoo said he would try to touch base with Manitoba officials to see how they arrived at a different conclusion. Canada has purchased a combined 116 million doses of the two approved vaccines, enough to vaccinate 1.5 times the population, though Ottawa has not laid out a precise timeline for the Pfizer and Moderna doses to be shipped to provinces. On Thursday, Premier Brian Pallister reiterated that the province has taken a cautious and measured approach to its vaccine rollout, which has been criticized as slow. "Our vaccine team has designed a strategy so that we have security of supply," he said. "We didnt put speed ahead of safety. Were vaccinating our most vulnerable Manitobans: we're talking about seniors in seniors homes, we're talking about front-line workers, who protect seniors." "Were not going to sacrifice stats for speed." dylan.robertson@freepress.mb.ca The LG Electronics factory in Trang Due Industrial Park in Hai Phong City, northern Vietnam. Photo courtesy of LG Vietnam. Vietnam stands to benefit from its emergence as a global bright spot in electronics production with some index scores exceeding China and India. Experts attribute this to lower labor costs and better policy incentives. Jason Yek, Asia country risk senior analyst at market research company Fitch Solutions, told VnExpress that the increased presence of large electronic manufacturers in Vietnam would generate jobs, support exports and improve the countrys electronics supply chain, The country started 2021 off by awarding a license to a unit of Taiwans Foxconn on January 18 to build a $270 million plant capable of producing eight million laptops and tablets annually in the northern province of Bac Giang. Foxconn, a key supplier for Apple, has so far invested $1.5 billion in Vietnam and plans to raise its investment by $700 million and recruit 10,000 more local workers this year, the government said. The company, which is said to be moving some iPad and MacBook assembly to Vietnam from China at the request of Apple, is also looking into investing $1.3 billion in the central province of Thanh Hoa. This was followed by a recent decision of Japanese electronics giant Panasonic to end the production of washing machines and refrigerators in Thailand to consolidate appliance assembly in Vietnam. Data from U.K. research company Euromonitor International shows 2.8 million refrigerators and 2.27 million washing machines were sold in Vietnam during 2019, compared with 1.92 million and 1.75 million, respectively, in Thailand. "As urbanization has advanced everywhere in Asia, regional product preferences have grown similar. The Thai market has little room for growth, but labor costs are high, so it was natural to consolidate production," Akio Ota, former president of Panasonic Appliances Vietnam, was quoted by the Nikkei as saying. Higher scores In a recent report, the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), a division of the U.K.-based Economist Group, gave Vietnam higher index scores than China and India in some categories, highlighting the country as a potential manufacturing hub. On a scale of 10,Vietnam scored 6 in FDI policy, while both India and China scored 5.5 each. Vietnam also exceeded both countries in the score of foreign trade and exchange controls, and surpassed India in labor market. EIU explained that Vietnams incentives for international firms for setting up units to manufacture hi-tech products, its pool of low-cost workers and the spate of free trade agreements it has signed place it in an enviable position among Asian peers. Vietnams membership of free trade agreements represents a strong point in its trade relations, reducing export costs, and the countrys low-skilled manufacturing wages will remain competitive for years to come, it added. Yek of Fitch Solutions also said that favorable labor demographics, relatively low labour costs, and a strong business environment will continue to aid Vietnams bid to attract FDI over the medium term. "Vietnam, not being embroiled in trade disputes with major economies such as the U.S. or Europe, also positions it favorably for exporters seeking to use it as an exports manufacturing hub or in some cases, another manufacturing hub in addition to their Chinese operations so as to diversify their supply chains." Nguyen Mai, chairman of the Vietnams Association of Foreign Invested Enterprises, said the expansion of Foxconn in Vietnam is similar to what South Korean giant Samsung has been doing for nearly 15 years. Government data shows that Samsung had poured over $17 billion into Vietnam as of mid-2020 to become the largest FDI company in the country. It has two smartphone factories in the northern region and a TV screen production facility in Ho Chi Minh City. The company is also building its largest mobile research and development center in Southeast Asia in Hanoi. The expansion of Foxconn in Vietnam increases the possibility that a wave of hi-tech projects will find its way to the country in upcoming years, Mai said. However, experts have also listed several disadvantages that are slowing down the countrys efforts to attract investment. Yek said that to achieve the governments goal of moving up the manufacturing value chain, further improvements are needed in the education and skill levels of the labor force, which is a long-term task. And while there are ongoing projects to develop the countrys transport and logistics infrastructure, progress has been slow, Yek said. In fact, bottlenecks can appear as the countrys infrastructure capacity fails to keep pace with trade volumes, he added. Two Dublin men who are charged with trying to murder a man in a shooting in January last year will stand trial at the non-jury Special Criminal Court. Robert Redmond (32), of Woodview Close, Donaghmede, Dublin 13 and Bernard Fogarty (33), with an address at Cromcastle Court, Kilmore, Coolock, Dublin 5 are both charged with the attempted murder of Barry Wolverson at Madigans Yard, Kileek Lane, Swords, Co Dublin on January 17, 2020. Mr Redmond and Mr Fogarty are also charged with assault causing harm to Gerard Wildman at Madigans Yard, Kileek Lane, Swords, Co Dublin on the same date. The two accused men are further charged with possession of a firearm and ammunition to wit .38/.357 calibre bullets with intent to endanger life or cause serious injury on the same occasion. The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) applied to the three-judge court on January 18 to make an order under Section 49 of the Offences Against the State Act that the defendants be tried before the Special Criminal Court. In certain cases, the DPP can certify that in his or her opinion the ordinary courts are inadequate to secure the effective administration of justice. Presiding judge Mr Justice Tony Hunt made the formal order on that date for the men's cases to be heard at the non-jury court. At today's brief hearing, the accused men appeared via video link from prison and State Solicitor Michael O'Donovan told the three-judge panel that disclosure in the case was at the "very early stages". Mr Justice Hunt, sitting with Judge Gerard Griffin and Judge Flann Brennan said that six weeks was required to allow for disclosure to be served on the defence. The judge listed the case for mention before the non-jury court on March 5, when the two accused men are required to be in attendance. A South Carolina couple arrested for having sex on a Ferris wheel are now being investigated for getting frisky in a number of other public places. Eric and Lori Harmon, both 36, were both charged with indecent exposure earlier this week for their alleged tryst inside a glass gondola on the SkyWheel at Myrtle Beach. The kinky couple reportedly recorded the act and uploaded it to a porn website before they were taken into custody. Police in Horry County, South Carolina, launched an investigation and allegedly discovered a number of other naughty videos of the pair circulating online. One video purportedly shows the Harmons having sex in a community pool in Surfside Beach. Another clip is said to show Lori Harmon urinating in an elevator during a trip to the town of Murrells Inlet. On Friday, ABC News 4 reported that the pair are now believed to have had sex in even more public places, including on a park bench near a playground. Eric and Lori Harmon, both 36, have been charged with indecent exposure for allegedly making and sharing videos showing themselves having sex in public According to the TV station, police have reason to believe the Harmons 'performed and recorded sex acts in a Food Lion parking lot, and on a bench near Floral Lake Playground' in Surfside Beach. The playground is a popular place for parents to take their young children. It is not known how police learned of these additional alleged trysts. The Harmons have not been charged in relation to these claims. However, the pair are already facing multiple charges for the purported incidents on the SkyWheel and at the public pool. One video shows the Harmons having sex in a community pool in Surfside Beach. One of the township's public pools is pictured Police have reason to believe the pair also had sex on a bench near Floral Lake Playground (pictured) The Harmons allegedly also got hot and heavy in the parking lot of a Food Lion store in Surfside Beach (pictured) Eric Harmon has been charged with two counts of indecent exposure and one charge of participation in preparation of obscene material - Class A misdemeanors. He was freed earlier this week after posting $14,000 bond. Meanwhile, Lori Harmon faces additional charges for urinating in the elevator at Murrells Inlet. Video of the pair's public pool encounter also reportedly features Lori urinating on two vending machines. She is facing three counts of indecent exposure, two counts of participation in preparation of obscene material, and malicious injury to personal property. They are Class A misdemeanors. She was released from jail on $18,000 bond, reported CBS17. The SkyWheel is a 187-foot-tall observation wheel consisting of 42 glass gondolas. A representative from the tourist attraction released a statement condemning the Harmons' alleged conduct. 'SkyWheel Myrtle Beach prides ourselves in providing a safe, family friendly attraction and atmosphere. This incident that we are just becoming aware of is extremely disturbing. They do not reflect our values, and we do not tolerate any behavior that does not coincide with our family friendly environment.' Police were said to have discovered a video on a porn site that shows the Harmons having sex inside on of SkyWheel's 42 glass gondolas (stock image) Dublin, Jan. 20, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Strategic Analysis of the EV Market in Netherlands" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The study analyzes the Netherlands EV market scenario in detail, with charts based on historical (2010-2019), annual (2019), and forecast sales (2019-2025). There are separate sections for plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) and hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), the two broad categories covered in the scope. Netherlands has a turbulent but rapidly growing EV market. The country recorded notable, all-round growth in EV sales and infrastructure in 2019. As part of the European Union, Netherlands must comply with the National Policy Framework (NPF) and its targets, based on the European Commission's October 2014 directive on alternate fuel vehicles. The NPF seeks to address environmental issues, energy security, and independence, attracting investors to Europe for alternate fuel source development. Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) were the dominant xEV until 2016. The Netherlands government then realized that people were purchasing PHEVs to gain the incentive benefits but were barely using the electric motor. They decided to reduce the PHEV incentives and focus on battery electric vehicles (BEVs) instead. This had the intended effect as BEV sales took off and saw record-breaking sales and year-on-year growth. With plans to introduce significant purchase subsidies in 2020-2021, EV sales in the Netherlands are forecast to multiply. Netherlands has the biggest charging infrastructure in Europe and a strong innovation culture due to a thriving EV academia (Formula E program) and start-up scene, dedicated to innovation and developments in charging solutions, batteries, and the e-mobility space. Through this report, the publisher aims to enable stakeholders to understand the Netherlands EV market over the last ten years while providing insight into the forces shaping the market in the next five years. Other information compiled and presented include: Market share by xEV type and top OEMs since 2010 Top ten PEV and HEV models between 2010 and 2019 PEV sales forecast (2019-2025) and analysis Charging station infrastructure (e.g., charge points, service providers, and offerings) and technology development Government incentives and their market impact Future outlook and strategic imperatives for market participants Key Topics Covered: 1. Executive Summary Key Findings, Netherlands, 2019 Historical PEV and HEV Sales, Netherlands, 2010-2019 Historical Cumulative xEV Sales, Netherlands, 2010-2019 Historical Cumulative PEV Sales of Top Models, Netherlands, 2010-2019 Historical Cumulative HEV Sales of Top Models, Netherlands, 2010-2019 EV Market Overview, Netherlands, 2019 Market Share by xEV Type, Netherlands, 2018 vs 2019 Public Charging Infrastructure Growth, Netherlands, 2010-2019 2. Research Scope, Objectives, and Methodology Research Scope Research Aims and Objectives Key Questions This Study Will Answer Research Methodology Segmentation by Propulsion Technology 3. PEV Market Scenario PEV Sales and Market Penetration, Netherlands, 2010-2019 Historical BEV and PHEV Sales, Netherlands, 2010-2019 Top Ten PEV Sales (BEVs and PHEVs) by OEM and Model, Netherlands, 2019 PEV Sales by Month, Netherlands, 2019 Historical Cumulative PEV Sales of Top Models, Netherlands, 2010-2019 Historical Cumulative PEV Sales by Type and Top Five OEM, Netherlands, 2010-2019 PEV Sales Forecast, Netherlands, 2019-2025 PEV Sales Forecast Analysis, Netherlands, 2019-2025 4. HEV Market Scenario HEV Sales and Market Penetration, Netherlands, 2010-2019 Historical FHEV and MHEV Sales, Netherlands, 2010-2019 Top Ten HEV (FHEVs and MHEVs) Sales by OEM and Model, Netherlands, 2019 HEV Sales by Month, Netherlands, 2019 Historical Cumulative HEV Sales of Top Models, Netherlands, 2010-2019 Historic Cumulative HEV Sales by Type and Top Five OEM, Netherlands, 2010-2019 5. Charging Infrastructure and EV Technology Development Public Charging Infrastructure Growth, Netherlands, 2010-2019 Developments in Charging Infrastructure and Technology, Netherlands Charging Station Network Providers, Netherlands Start-Ups and Technology Highlights, Netherlands 6. Government Incentives and Regional Scenario Regional Scenario, Netherlands, 2019 EV Incentives, Netherlands 7. Growth Opportunities and Companies to Action Growth Opportunities and Companies to Action, Netherlands Strategic Imperatives, Netherlands 8. Key Conclusions and Future Outlook Key Conclusions, Netherlands Future Outlook, Netherlands Legal Disclaimer 9. Appendix For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/f5j0c9 Research and Markets also offers Custom Research services providing focused, comprehensive and tailored research. .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... SANTA FE, N.M. The city of Santa Fes massive Midtown campus development project was dealt a stunning blow Thursday when Dallas-based KDC/Cienda Partners, the master developer selected by the city, declared its desire to terminate the agreement due to a myriad of unforeseen issues including the COVID-19 pandemic. Local officials have long heralded the Midtown campus, formerly the Santa Fe University of Art an Design and the College of Santa Fe before that as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to create a new urban center at the heart of Santa Fe. Among the proposals were new housing, job opportunities and higher education centers. But now the future of the campus and what shape itll take once completed has come to a standstill, as city officials regroup to figure out the next steps. ADVERTISEMENTSkip ................................................................ A letter from KDC/Cienda to the city detailed numerous reasons as to why it would not seek an extension to the negotiating agreement that was to end in May. One of those was the COVID-19 pandemic. The complications and uncertainty caused by COVID and government-ordered shutdowns have created greater risk and cost to this development that neither party could have anticipated, the letter states. Representatives from KDC/Cienda have not responded to requests for comment. The City Council would have to approve a mutual agreement to terminate the contract at its Jan. 27 meeting, although either party can finalize the termination at an earlier date. Mayor Alan Webber told the Journal certain aspects of the developers proposal, such as commercial office space, were no longer viable since the pandemic has forced so many people out of work and others to telecommute from home. COVID basically changed the economic facts of life, Webber said. However, the letter also points to long-standing issues with the 73-year-old campus infrastructure that complicated the development process, namely the condition of Midtowns many buildings. The campus infrastructure is incomplete and obsolete, KDC/Cienda noted, and would have required $30 million in public subsidies and added more time to the development process. The buildings had no commercial value. The letter also warned of probable contamination at the campus, but did not specify exactly what type. It stated the city would need a Brownfield designation from the federal government, in which contaminated sites are rehabilitated, to obtain any private-sector investors. Many of the campus buildings would require expensive demolition, it stated, and claimed it had assumed all the financial risk of due diligence in the project, while the city had taken none. All this came after a three-day meeting was held last week between the city and the developer to discuss the viability of the Midtown project. James Feild , vice president of Cienda Partners, later said the meeting showed theres a lot of things that are going to take more time than anyone expected going in. Some of the issues concerned rezoning much of the campus to be a multi-use area, access to vehicles and traffic caused on nearby neighborhoods. The decision to terminate the agreement was the citys first public update on the Midtown Campus in months, a process many have criticized for lacking transparency. Even the selection of KDC/Cienda as the developer in April was announced only hours before city councilors approved the deal. Now, the city will have figure the process for Midtown going forward and Webber said those exact details still need to be decided. He also said he did not view KDC/Ciendas termination as a setback for the city. Its not a win-lose situation, Webber said. What we learned from it was a great deal of valuable information it does mean that were going to have really hard decisions to make. Other reactions to the announcement were more subdued. Its really disappointing and its very unfortunate for the city, Councilor JoAnne Vigil Coppler said. Webber said the process for Midtown will be more open to the public going forward. Meanwhile, the city, which purchased the campus in 2009, still must pay the $1.7 million a year of debt service on its loan with no future tenant in sight. Figures released by the city Thursday show remaining payments on Midtown total almost $32 million and that the campus runs a deficit almost every year. Editors note (March 29): A third-party investigation commissioned by the Summit Church found no convincing evidence that pastor Bryan Loritts was involved in a cover-up at a previous congregation, Fellowship Church, though there were a number of errors in judgment in his response. The findings were released Friday by Guidepost Solutions. The investigation included interviews with 21 people, including three victims of Lorittss former brother-in-law and worship director, who secretly recorded women on his phone. While one victim and another individual suggested Lorittss response was inappropriate because he was given the phone when it was discovered but didnt immediately turn it over to police, the report said there is no conclusive evidence of a cover-up. Lorritts was hired in May 2020 by Summit Church in North Carolina, led by Southern Baptist Convention President J. D. Greear. While this report affirms our confidence in Bryans position here at the Summit, we note that there are many questions that remain unanswered in regards to what took place at Fellowship Memphis among other pastoral staff, the church stated last week. It is the Summits position that independent assessments by a qualified firm are an important step for churches to take where significant questions of mishandling or covering up abuse have been raised. Guidepost is also the firm conducting a comprehensive review of Ravi Zacharias International Ministries and fielding reports from additional victims. -------------- Original post (January 22): The Summit Church has retained the services of an outside firm to perform an independent review of specific actions taken by Pastor Bryan Loritts in his handling of 2010 sexual misconduct allegations against his then-brother-in-law at a Memphis church Loritts pastored. A statement released by the church acknowledged that an investigation conducted by the church prior to Loritts being hired as Summits executive pastor of teaching and development should have followed better-advised protocols. The statement also said The Summit Church committed to work with the (Southern Baptist Convention) Church Cares team to establish a protocol that will be helpful to other churches in similar circumstances. SBC President J. D. Greear is senior pastor at The Summit Church in Durham, North Carolina, which hired Loritts in June 2020 after completing an investigation into sexual misconduct allegations at Fellowship Memphis Church. At that time, Summit elders cleared Loritts of any wrongdoing in the case against his then-brother-in-law Rick Trotter. But in a statement on its website Wednesday, the church announced that it has hired Guidepost Solutions LLC to conduct a new investigation. Image: Baptist Press The Summit Church did their own investigation into this matter before Bryan was hired in June, 2020, and the Elders were convinced that Bryan had not attempted in any way to cover up the incidents of abuse, to protect the abusers, or discourage victims from seeking justice for their abuses, the statement reads. After talking with the Caring Well team and desiring to do everything possible to foster a culture in churches that are safe from abuse and safe for survivors, the Summit decided it would be helpful to get an independent firm to review this matter. Guidepost is intended to pursue any additional information regarding Bryans handling of the sexual abuse cases at Fellowship Memphis which may have been missed in our previous assessment, including creating a channel for other victims to share their experience at their discretion, Summit said in its statement. Our hope is that as we continue to learn and implement the best practices for responding to abuse allegations that we can do so in a way that allows other churches to learn from our journey. The church declined further comment about the investigation at this time. During Lorittss leadership of Fellowship Memphis from 2003 to 2015, Trotter, Lorittss then-brother-in-law and a music minister at the church, was fired in 2010 after allegations that Trotter had secretly recorded women on a camera hidden in a restroom. The allegations came to light after Trotter was arrested on charges that he took inappropriate video of women during worship services while he was on the music staff at Downtown Church in Memphis in 2016. In a plea deal to the 2016 charges, Trotter served six months in jail and is a registered sex offender, the Biblical Recorderreported. Editors note: Loritts is a Christian author and speaker known for his teachings on leadership, discipleship, and racial reconciliation. He founded Kainos Ministry, a multiethnic church planting movement, and won a CT book award for his 2016 book Saving the Saved . His father is the pastor and evangelist Crawford Loritts. Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton proffered a remarkably trite response this week when asked about the federal governments sudden decision to release scores of refugees from long-term detention inside Melbourne hotels. Its cheaper for people to be in the community than it is to be at a hotel, or for us to be paying for them to be in detention, Mr Dutton said. And if theyre demonstrated not to be a threat, or that is the assessment that has been made by the experts, then it is cheaper for people to go out into the community until they can depart. Refugees leaving the Melbourne Immigration Transit Accommodation centre in Broadmeadows after getting bridging visas this week. Credit:Eddie Jim Mr Duttons reasoning is incontestably true. It is cheaper to have 65 refugees living in the community on six-month visas than it is to have them locked down for more than a year in hotels, under nightly curfew and with no day-release. But his explanation is also grotesquely misleading. Cheaper still would be to allow these refugees to become industrious, taxpaying members of our community, to have them lead healthy and stable lives in a nation that protects the rights of its own citizens. And cheaper again would be to release and repatriate all other detainees who have been deemed to be refugees and entitled to our protection. Even more could be saved by extending compassion to the family of four Tamil asylum-seekers, two of whom were born in Australia, who lived for a while in Biloela, Queensland, but have spent almost three years in immigration detention and are now held on Christmas Island. Advertisement More than 15,000 National Guardsmen who have been occupying Washington DC are now being sent home but 7,000 will remain on duty until March because the 'threat of right-wing extremism' still lingers - as it's revealed that troops were ordered out of the Capitol overnight by a single officer who didn't have authority. Nearly 26,000 National Guard troops from all 50 states poured into DC last week in response to escalating security threats and fears of more rioting in the wake of the deadly January 6 insurrection at the US Capitol. After Biden's inauguration went off with only a handful of minor arrests and incidents on Wednesday, 15,400 of those Guardsmen are now being sent home. Roughly 7,000 troops are still expected to stay until at least March after local law enforcement asked for continued assistance, a National Guard official told Military.com. Homeland Security director Chris Rodriguez said on Thursday that the 'threat of right-wing extremism is here' and will be 'a persistent threat' to DC for some time. National Guard Bureau chief Gen. Daniel Hokanson said that the reduction of troops would be 'conditioned based' going forward. Road blocks and some of the steel anti-climb fences are w being removed from the 'green zone' perimeter in central DC. Road restrictions and closures have also now been lifted. Authorities are also urging businesses to remove boards erected prior to the inauguration. First Lady Jill Biden, in her first solo outing in the role, visited the Guardsmen still serving out outside the Capitol on Friday to thank them for their service. 'I just wanted to come today to say thank you to all of you for keeping me and my family safe,' she told them as she handed out cookies. She noted the Biden's were a National Guard family, invoking the memory of the late Beau Biden, who served in the Delaware National Guard. 'I'm a National Guard mom. The National Guard will always hold a special place in the hearts of all the Bidens.' First Lady Jill Biden surprised National Guardsmen still on duty outside the Capitol with cookies on Friday More than 15,000 National Guardsmen who have been occupying Washington DC are now being sent home but 7,000 will remain on duty until March because the 'threat of right-wing extremism' still lingers. Troops are pictured resting in the Capitol building on Friday after briefly being kicked out overnight Roughly 7,000 troops are still expected to stay until at least March after local law enforcement asked for continued assistance. Members of the National Guard from South Dakota stood guard outside the Capitol building on Friday The Guard is now helping states to coordinate the logistics of sending the 15,400 troops home but warned it might take several days. 'The planning and process may take several days, but arrangements are being made to return close to 15,000 troops as soon as possible and should conclude within a five to 10 day period,' the Guard said. It was not immediately clear how many troops had already left DC. Among the logistics are Guard members having to turn in equipment and go through COVID-19 screening. The troops that are leaving are expected to head home on buses or Air National Guard aircrafts. Some will travel by commercial flights if necessary. A number of governors, including New Hampshire, Texas and Florida, had already issued orders for the immediate return of their troops after images of them sleeping outside and in a nearby parking garage overnight sparked outrage 24 hours after the inauguration. The Guard said that Capitol Police had ordered the troops to leave the Capitol building and take their rest breaks in a nearby designated parking lot instead of the federal building. Photos showed up to 5,000 Guardsmen sleeping on the floor of the packed Thurgood Marshall Building parking lot and in a park outside as temperatures hit a low of 40 degrees. Jill Biden, in her first solo outing as first lady, stopped on Capitol Hill to thank National Guard members for their service The above members of the National Guard were still stationed outside the Capitol on Friday Road blocks and some of the steel anti-climb fences were now being removed from the 'green zone' perimeter in central DC Road restrictions and closures have also now been lifted. Authorities are also urging businesses to remove boards erected prior to the inauguration The scenes sparked immediate outrage among lawmakers as some Guardsmen revealed they felt 'incredibly betrayed' given they had just spent more than a week helping to fortify and protect the capital. The troops were allowed to return to the Capitol overnight following the backlash. Senators Jim Inhofe and Chuck Schumer revealed on Friday that it appears the troops were booted from the Capitol by a police officer who didn't go through the chain of command. 'There was one uniformed police officer who issued an order without authority or without going through the chain of command,' Inhofe said, adding he was glad Capitol Police and the Guard were trying to get to the bottom of it. 'We are going to be able to identify who that person was.' When asked what happened, Schumer said: 'No one from anyone on high, but a few people said they had to leave. No one understood why. But it's gone. And they all had a nice place to stay... What happened was an outrage and it will not happen again.' Guard spokesman Maj. Matt Murphy had earlier said Capitol Police had asked the troops to move their rest area given the increased foot traffic in the Capitol building given Congress is in session. 'They were temporarily relocated to the Thurgood Marshall Judicial Center garage with heat and restroom facilities. We remain an agile and flexible force to provide for the safety and security of the Capitol and its surrounding areas,' he said. Capitol Police Acting Chief Yogananda Pittman issued a statement on Friday morning saying that police did not tell Guardsmen they had to vacate. Thousands of National Guardsmen have now been allowed to return to the US Capitol after images of them sleeping outside and in a nearby parking garage overnight sparked outrage 24 hours after the inauguration. Troops are pictured above leaving the Thurgood Marshall Building parking lot just after dawn on Friday Footage obtained by NBC News showed the Guardsmen filing out of the Thurgood Marshall Building parking lot in Washington DC overnight after they were permitted around midnight to return to the Capitol building in the wake of the fierce backlash 'It was brought to our attention early today that facility management with the Thurgood Marshall Judicial Office Building reached out directly to the National Guard to offer use of its facilities,' Pittman said. 'As of this morning, all Guardsmen and women have been relocated to space within the Capitol Complex. The Department is also working with the Guard to reduce the need for sleeping accommodations by establishing shorter shifts, and will ensure they have access to the comfortable accommodations they absolutely deserve when the need arises.' The troops will take their breaks near the Emancipation Hall inside the Capitol building going forward. The soldiers do have hotel rooms but their 12 hour shift pattern means they cannot easily return to their rooms during rest breaks. Before being located to the parking lot, the troops had been allowed to take rest breaks inside the Capitol building. Once they finish their shift, the Guardsmen then return to their hotel rooms. The 26,000 Guard troops from all 50 states had poured into DC by the planeload and busload last week. They were scattered around the city, helping to secure the Capitol, monuments, Metro entrances and a 'green zone' perimeter of central DC that was locked down for several days leading up to the inaugural ceremony. New Hampshire National Guard posted this image Wednesday with the caption: 'NH guardsmen slumber last night in a Washington, D.C. parking garage. Beginning a 36-hour security mission in support of the presidential inauguration, they staged in the garage overnight before standing security posts along the National Capital Region this morning' Up to 5,000 troops have been kept without internet, with one electrical outlet, and one bathroom with two stalls, reports say One soldier said: 'After everything went seamlessly, we were deemed useless and banished to a corner of a parking garage' Pictures show Guardsmen sleeping on the floor of the packed parking lot Thursday, just 24 hours after the inauguration In the wake of the controversy regarding being kicked out of the Capitol, one unnamed soldier had earlier said the forced move to the parking lot had left troops 'feeling incredibly betrayed'. 'Yesterday dozens of senators and congressmen walked down our lines taking photos, shaking our hands and thanking us for our service. Within 24 hours, they had no further use for us and banished us to the corner of a parking garage. We feel incredibly betrayed,' he said. Another guardsman told CNN: 'After everything went seamlessly, we were deemed useless and banished to a corner of a parking garage.' One more told Task & Purpose: 'Leaving our families for the last two weeks to come down here. It's certainly important and historic, but the day after inauguration you kick us literally to the curb? Come on, man.' Amid concerns about COVID-19 one soldier told The Washington Post : 'We are on top of each other all day, every day. We've given up.' Another added: 'Our guidance is if you're not eating or drinking, you need to be wearing a mask. We've already had just some in my unit alone test positive for Covid, and they're just keeping us packed together with caution tape in small areas. And that's the only authorized rest area.' The images of the Guardsmen sparked fierce reaction from politicians on both sides of the aisle, with Democrats and Republicans demanding answers as to why the men and women were told to leave the Capitol complex. Some offered their offices to the troops. House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy said the soldiers 'deserve to be treated with respect'; Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said the move was 'outrageous'. Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-22 23:55:07|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BAGHDAD, Jan. 22 (Xinhua) -- The Iraqi Counter-Terrorism Service (CTS) forces on Friday launched an operation to hunt down militants of the extremist Islamic State (IS) group in several areas across the country, a CTS statement said. Acting on intelligence reports, the troops at dawn arrested "some wanted suspected terrorists" in capital Baghdad, western province of Anbar, and northern province of Kirkuk, the statement said. The captured suspects are believed to have links to the IS group and have information about the group's leaders in the country, the statement added. It also said that the CTS troops would continue operations in the next few days to hunt down the IS remnants. The operation came one day after two suicide bombings took place on Thursday morning in a bustling outdoor market in the Bab al-Sharji area in downtown Baghdad, which resulted in the killing of 32 people and the wounding of more than a hundred others. Earlier on Friday, IS group claimed responsibility for the bombings that targeted a gathering of Shiite people. Massive suicide bombings have become rare in Baghdad, as the security situation has been relatively improved in Iraq since the Iraqi security forces fully defeated IS militants across the country late in 2017. However, sporadic deadly incidents still occur in the war-ravaged country as IS remnants have since melted into urban areas or deserts and rugged areas, carrying out frequent guerilla attacks against security forces and civilians. Enditem Flash The United States and China are expected to show courage and wisdom, listen to each other, face up to each other, respect each other, and engage in dialogue and cooperation in order to "heal and recover" bilateral relations, a spokesperson said on Thursday. "I believe that with joint efforts of both sides, the 'better angels' in China-U.S. relations will be able to overcome forces for evil," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said at a routine press briefing. Hua's response came after Joe Biden was sworn in as the 46th U.S. President on Wednesday. "We congratulate President Biden on taking office, and we wish President Biden every success in state governance," said the spokesperson. "I noticed that President Biden has repeatedly stressed the term 'unity' in his inaugural address, which is precisely what's needed in current China-U.S. relations," Hua said. She said that 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, adding that both the Chinese and American people have suffered greatly and deserve a better future. Many people of insight in the two countries and the international community are looking forward to an early return of China-U.S. relations to the right track, along with the necessary contributions to jointly solving the major and urgent challenges facing the world today, Hua said. "President Biden also mentioned that the United States has a lot of healing and recovery to do. I think the same also applies to China-U.S. relations," Hua said. "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-U.S. relations, which are waiting to be cleared, rebuilt and repaired." "We believe anything's possible if we set our mind to it," and with the joint efforts of both sides, the "better angels" in bilateral relations can overcome forces for evil, according to Hua. In response to a question about China's comments on the United States rejoining the Paris Climate Agreement and the World Health Organization (WHO), Hua said China welcomed those decisions and is willing to work together with the United States within those frameworks. In her reply to a question on the COVID-19 death-toll in the United States which had surpassed 400,000, Hua expressed China's deep condolences to the people who have unfortunately lost their lives in this epidemic. "Unity and cooperation are the most powerful weapons to defeat the virus," Hua said, adding that China will continue to provide help and support to the United States in the fight against the epidemic to the best of its ability. The coronavirus pandemic has once again upended USAAs plans for its employees to return to the office. The San Antonio insurance and financial services company intended to start bringing back workers Feb. 1, but now has scrapped that date, spokesman Matt Hartwig said in an email this week. A new date has not been set. It marks the third time USAA has delayed the return date. The company originally targeted Sept. 1 but pushed the return-to-the-office date to the beginning of January after COVID-19 cases surged in June. Then, last month, with no let up in the viruss spread, USAA changed the date to Feb. 1. The companys latest decision comes as its hometown is in the midst of a very deadly surge of coronavirus cases, Mayor Ron Nirenberg said Thursday. Over the past two weeks, 134 people have died from the virus in Bexar County. The county has registered more than 155,000 cases since the start of the pandemic. Of those, nearly 40,000 have reported since the beginning of this year. On ExpressNews.com: Valero, USAA among San Antonio companies that donated to Republicans who voted to overturn presidential election results Employee safety remains USAAs top priority in setting a return date, Hartwig said. We continue to rely on trusted medical guidance that includes criteria for community readiness; considering federal, state and local decisions; factoring in employees feedback and other considerations such as school closures and lessons learned from organizations that open sooner, he said. Based on this information, we have paused our voluntary, phased return, Hartwig added. With no slow-down in the viruss spread, other large San Antonio-area employers are taking a wait-and-see approach before deciding when to bring workers back to the office. Frost Bank The majority of Frost Banks 4,700 employees work in back-office and support positions, and most of them continue to work remotely, spokesman Bill Day said Friday. It has more than 2,400 employees in San Antonio. We have not issued a proposed timetable for returning large groups to working from our locations, and our leadership team is urging employees who are able to work effectively from home to continue doing so, Day said in an email. Frost Banks branches have been opened with several social distancing and hygienic measures in place, he added. Rackspace All but about 350 of Rackspace Technology Inc.s 7,000 employees continue to work remotely during the pandemic. The rise in COVID-19 cases has been concerning and delayed our return to office plans, spokeswoman Natalie Silva said in an email. The company has a team working on those plans to ensure its employees, known as Rackers, will be safe. It is our intent that our San Antonio-based workers will return to the Castle (Rackspaces headquarters) once the COVID risk materially diminishes and they can do so safely, Silva added. A significant portion of Rackspaces workforce is in the San Antonio area. H-E-B H-E-B has kept its stores and its offices for corporate employees open during the pandemic. Its headquarters is north of the King William neighborhood. The thorough safety precautions, sanitization measures and social distancing weve implemented across our business also are in practice at our corporate and administrative locations and will continue to be in place for the foreseeable future, H-E-B spokeswoman Julie Bedingfield said in an email. RBFCU Roughly 70 percent of Live Oaks Randolph-Brooks Federal Credit Unions non-customer-facing workforce over 830 employees are working from home or splitting time between home and office. Like every company in the world, our return-to-office plan is fluid, RBFCU spokesman Salvador Guerrero said. We still have restrictions in place for corporate travel, and require segments of our staff to work from home to ensure the exposure of our employees and members is limited, he added. Were relying on medical guidance and information from federal, state and local leaders to determine when it is safe for our staff to return to the office. Toyota After Toyotas South Side plant was forced to shut down for several weeks last spring, employees have continued working in person with precautions in place. Certain jobs are able to be done virtually, and there have been employees working from home since earlier in 2020, Toyota Motor Manufacturing Texas said in a statement. At USAA, for workers who want to return to the office, those requests will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis with consideration to individual circumstances and business needs, according to Hartwig. While some of our partners are able to work remotely, all of our work locations remain open, he said. USAA employs more than 19,000 workers in San Antonio, making it one of the citys largest employers. Overall, it has about 35,000 employees, most of whom have been working from home during the pandemic. Last month, USAA said only about 1,400 workers had been coming into its offices. The figure included third-party contractors. USAA also has offices in North Texas, Colorado Springs, Phoenix and Tampa, Florida. SA Inc.: Get the best of business news sent directly to your inbox A USAA spokesman has said the company has no plans to require employees to get a coronavirus vaccination before being allowed to return to the office. It has implemented safety protocols at its offices, including temperature screenings, office cleanings, social distancing configurations and requiring facial coverings when employees are away from their desks. USAA has closed most gathering places, including cafeterias and gyms. Staff writers Madison Iszler, Brando Lingle and Diego Mendoza-Moyers contributed to this report. pdanner@express-news.net She has been making her followers envious with her sun-kissed photos from Ibiza while the UK is in its third national lockdown. And Demi Rose set pulses racing as she displayed her famous curves in a series of sizzling snaps on Thursday. The model, 25, donned a figure-hugging pink crop top from PrettyLittleThing that highlighted her taut midriff along with grey lingerie. Wow: Demi Rose set pulses racing as she displayed her famous curves in a series of sizzling snaps on Thursday Munching on a banana, the social media star styled her brunette locks into loose waves for the stunning snaps. Wearing a light pallet of makeup, Demi added to her look with a gold necklace. The Sutton Coldfield native captioned the snap: 'Desayuno', Spanish for 'breakfast'. Demi is spending lockdown in Ibiza following a recent trip to Kenya, and has been posting positive mantras amid the coronavirus pandemic. Stunning: The model, 25, donned a figure-hugging pink crop top from PrettyLittleThing that highlighted her taut midriff along with grey lingerie She recently shared: 'I woke up. I have clothes to wear. I have running water. I have food to eat. Life is good. I am thankful.' The brunette beauty recently opened up to MailOnline about how she shot to stardom at the age of 14 after being bullied in school. She recalled: 'I was bullied in school, I wanted to make friends outside of it so I ended up spending a lot of time online. 'I was even interested in virtual reality as a kid, I was always on the computer and then MySpace came around and I found my calling.' Sizzling: Munching on a banana, the social media star styled her brunette locks into loose waves for the stunning snaps Demi experienced her first taste of fame when pictures of her on the beach as a young teenager went viral on the social media platform. She added: 'I only ever got Instagram because someone made a fake profile of me on there with 3,000 followers and I was really envious. 'I was like, "wow, how can someone using my pictures get that much?" And then I started an account and it went from there.' From the age of 18, the bombshell - who currently boasts more than 15.6m followers - signed with a modelling agency and her career went from strength to strength. Feeling reflective: The Instagram sensation is currently spending lockdown in Ibiza and has been posting positive mantras amid the coronavirus pandemic However, while still studying to become a beauty therapist, she recalled how teachers would congregate to gossip and speak disapprovingly about her work. She reflected: 'I never found my place in school, people were quite nasty and I guess I was just different, people were drawn to picking on me and since leaving, I've blossomed. 'Now I just block out any negative comments, I can't see anything that I don't want to see because I don't want that to impact my own thoughts about myself. I've had to grow a very thick skin.' Candid: Demi recently opened up to MailOnline about how she shot to stardom at the age of 14 after being bullied in school Despite putting the past behind her and learning to cope with disparaging comments, Demi admitted that she still has moments where she struggles with her own body confidence. She has previously admitted to trying non-surgical procedures including a cellulite reduction treatment, however the Instagram model is focused on cultivating beauty from within and credits her healthy lifestyle as the secret to staying on top form. Demi added: 'I'm comfortable in my skin, but I'm never going to be 100% happy because everyone wants to be a certain way and we all have our own hang-ups, but I work out five to six times a week for my general health and wellbeing.' Da Nang treasures contributions of foreigners: city leader (photo: congthuong.vn) Hanoi Da Nang has appreciated the contributions and accompany of foreigners in the city in a tough year of 2020, and hoped to continue to receive more assistance from foreign inpiduals, organisations and businesses during the recovery process in the city and the central region as a whole, said Chairman of the municipal Peoples Committee Le Trung Chinh. Speaking at a meeting with foreigners in the city on January 21, Chinh said that 2020 was an important year for Da Nang in accomplishing tasks for the 2016-2020 period, but during the year, the city faced many difficulties due to the COVID-19 pandemic and natural disasters. In the toughest time, Da Nang still prioritised investment in development and ensuring security, defence and social welfare, he said. Chinh noted that the city still saw some bright spots in the year, including a year-on-year rise of nearly 38 percent in foreign direct investment (FDI), and a rise in public investment disbursement. Due to increasing demand for medicine amid the pandemic, the citys pharmaceutical industry enjoyed growth of over 44 percent. Many other sectors also saw expansion, including information and communications, finance-banking, and insurance, he said. The chairman affirmed that while the traditional form of external activities is limited due to impacts of COVID-19, the city has still worked to broaden and strengthen friendship and cooperation with localities of countries across the world. Particularly, the city has signed an agreement on setting up relations with a foreign locality online for the first time with Gold Coast city of Australia. So far, Da Nang has established official cooperative ties with 45 localities of 20 countries and territories worldwide, he said. In 2020, Da Nang was honoured as a smart city of Vietnam, while its outstanding achievements in many areas were recognised, the official added. Advertisement The US Embassy has responded to criticism over the removal of the Winston Churchill bust in the Oval office by posting a video defining the 'Special relationship' between Britain and America. When President Joe Biden moved into the White House, his team redecorated the Oval Office, with the bust of Winston Churchill being removed. The move mirrored a similar change made by President Obama in 2009 who also moved the former Prime Minister's image from his office. The US Embassy in London's Twitter account uploaded a video defining the Special Relationship between Britain and America in response to criticism of the removal of the Winston Churchill bust from the Oval Office There were concerns raised about the removal of the bust, with Nigel Farage, leader of the Reform UK party, saying the removal showed the new US President will not be a 'great friend' to the UK. However, in response to the outcry over the bust, the US Embassy in London uploaded a video addressing the controversy with the caption: 'Weve seen some discussion about the Churchill Bust, so we just wanted to remind everyone what the Special Relationship is truly about.' The video starts by showing a picture of the Churchill bust alongside a caption which reads: 'This is a bust of Winston Churchill.' The video then moves on to show describe how America and Britain are the largest investors in each others country. In the cheeky video, the Embassy shows an image of the Churchill bust, saying: 'This is a bust of Winston Churchill' before showing images of British and American soldiers standing side-by-side and pointing out that the two nations are the biggest investors in each other The video ends on this image of the British and American flags intertwined with a definition of the Special Relationship, pointing out that it is more than the bust Additional images of British and American soldiers standing next to each other as well as a series of historical images of meetings between US presidents and British Prime Ministers. The video ends on the image of the British and American flags alongside each other with the words: 'The Special Relationship is about people, values & trust.' Joe Biden's new-look Oval Office has introduced several new busts, including civil rights leaders Martin Luther King, Rosa Parks and socialist Latino union leader Cesar Chavez who sits proudly behind the President's chair. The bust of Churchill that sat in Trump's Oval Office had been loaned to the White House by the British Embassy, and its whereabouts are now unknown. Mr 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 The bust was removed from the Oval Office by Barack Obama in 2009 before it was subsequently reinstated by Donald Trump. Pictured: The Oval Office after being redecorated for Joe Biden The bust of Churchill that sat in Trump's Oval Office had been loaned to the White House by the British Embassy, and its whereabouts are now unknown How Winston Churchill's bond with America created the free world Winston Churchill was instrumental in forming the special relationship between the US and the UK that has helped form the modern Western world and democracy as we know it. From helping to persuade the United States that freedom was worth fighting for in World War Two, to his famous speech warning of the dangers of the 'Iron Curtain' descending across Europe - Churchill is undoubtedly history's greatest Anglo American. The legendary leader-to-be was born to an American mother - socialite Clarissa Hall - who he came to regard as his political mentor and she instilled in him an affinity for the US that would prove crucial. The UK's special relationship with the US dates back to the Second World War, as Adolf Hitler and Nazi Germany was aggressively gaining ground across Europe, and endured through the Cold War and to this day. America and its then-President Franklin D. Roosevelt was reluctant to join the war in Europe after the First World War ended in 1918, but Churchill worked to persuade his friend and US-counterpart to assist the UK. Between 1939 (before Churchill even became Prime Minister) and 1945, Churchill and Roosevelt exchanged an estimated 1,700 letters and telegrams, and met in person another 11 times. By 1941, the US joined the fight against the Nazis and their Japanese allies, and helped repel their advance towards Britain and back to Berlin, before they were finally defeated in 1945. Under Roosevelt and Churchill, the UK started their joint work to established NATO, the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund. When Roosevelt died in 1945, shortly into his fourth term in office and months before the end of war, he was succeeded by his Vice President Harry Truman. Churchill and Truman also developed a strong relationship, with Churchill acting as a strong supporter of Truman, calling him 'the type of leader the world needs when it needs him most.' Churchill himself lost an election in 1945, but resumed the roll of UK Prime Minister after a second election victory six years later in 1951, where Churchill and Truman - who had maintained their relationship even as Churchill was out of office - reunited as leaders of the two allies. In 1946, Churchill was even invited by Truman to visit the US to deliver a speech at Westminster College in Truman's home state of Missouri. The speech would become known as the 'Iron Curtain' speech, which highlighted the schism forming between the Soviet Union and western allies. Churchill's relationship with the US continued when Dwight Eisenhower assumed office in 1953, with the pair being familiar with one another from their time as leaders during the Second World War. In 1963, Churchill was given an honorary U.S. citizenship by President John F. Kennedy. It was the first time that Congress had resolved that an honorary citizenship be bestowed by the President of the Unites States on a foreign national, after only Marquis de LaFayette had previously been given an honorary citizenship. Kennedy praised Sir Winston as a defender of freedom, wartime leader, orator, historian, statesman and an Englishman at a ceremony in the White House rose garden, watched by Churchill from his home in the UK. The President's opening remarks became an iconic tribute to Churchill and one of his greatest achievements. 'He mobilized the English language and sent it into battle,' Kennedy said, in reference to Churchill's leadership of the UK in the Second World War. In 1963, after receiving the honorary citizenship from the US, he said: 'I am, as you know, half American by blood, and the story of my association with that mighty and benevolent nation goes back nearly ninety years to the day of my fathers marriage. 'In this century of storm and tragedy I contemplate with high satisfaction the constant factor of the interwoven and upward progress of our peoples. Our comradeship and our brotherhood in war were unexampled. We stood together, and because of that fact the free world now stands.' Churchill never criticised America publicly. Asked in 1944 if he had any complaints, he said 'Toilet paper too thin, newspapers too fat.' Advertisement Responding yesterday to a question about the bust, Number 10 said: 'The Oval Office is the President's private office and it is up to the President to decorate it as he wishes.' The spokesman added: 'We are in no doubt about the importance President Biden puts on the US-UK relationship.' Each incoming US president is free to redecorate the Oval Office however they see fit. Mr Biden's revamp included installing a bust of Cesar Chavez, the Latino American civil rights activist, as well as an array of family photos. Speaking to the BBC, Nigel Farage said: 'If that is confirmed it won't surprise me at all because Joe Biden is anti-Brexit. Joe Biden is pro-the European Union. Joe Biden is pro-the Irish nationalist cause. 'And Joe Biden was the vice president when Obama came here in 2016, looked down his nose at us and said if we dared to vote for independence we would go to the back of the queue. So don't expect Biden to be a great friend of this country, he won't be.' The decision to remove the bust sparked concern among some Tory MPs who suggested it could be a message to the EU that the US is now 'less worried' about the UK. Mr Farage added: 'I spoke to Trump three days after the election in 2016 and I asked him will you put the Churchill bust back in the Oval Office as a symbol of how he felt about the United Kingdom, how he felt about the things that over the last hundred years have done together and he put it back there first day.' Tory MP Andrew Bridgen said: It appears to be a Democrat thing. I hope he doesnt also take after President Obama in other respects, otherwise we are going to the back of the queue [for a trade deal]. He wants to show that he is completely different to Trump but I hope when it comes to the US relationship with the UK it will be the same as with Trump. The Washington Post first reported the bust had been removed after the newspaper was given an advance tour of the revamped office. One Tory MP told MailOnline the Churchill bust is a 'symbol of the Special Relationship'. They said: 'I doubt these things are done without a reason. It could be a message to the Europeans about being more pro-EU and being less worried about the UK.' Another Tory MP said: 'I don't think we should read too much into it. It is not really surprising given that Obama took it down too. Ultimately they will know that the UK is the US's strongest ally globally.' The row over the removal of the bust came after Mr Johnson was asked whether he considered Mr Biden to be 'woke' - a suggestion made by Labour's shadow foreign secretary Lisa Nandy. A visibly uncomfortable PM replied: 'I can't comment on that. 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 Johnson is keen to forge a close relationship with the new president, with some concerns his support for Brexit and Mr Trump may create friction. He will hope he secures an early phone call with Mr Biden following his inauguration, but conversations are expected to start with Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau on Friday. Mr Johnson was early among the list of leaders to speak to the Democrat after his electoral triumph over Mr Trump, but Number 10 was unable to say when their next call will be. The bust of Churchill, created by the sculptor Jacob Epstein, was given to George W. Bush by Tony Blair. It was removed from the Oval Office by Mr Obama in 2009. A separate bust of the wartime leader remained on display elsewhere in the White House. The original was then restored to the Oval Office by Mr Trump, with the then-president famously posing in front of it alongside Theresa May during her visit to Washington in 2017. Mr Johnson previously wrote that the removal of the bust by Mr Obama may have been seen by some as a 'snub to Britain' or as a sign of an 'ancestral dislike of the British Empire' in comments which prompted a furious backlash from critics. Mr Obama hit back in 2016 when he said he had a Churchill bust placed outside his private office on the second floor of his official residence. 'Right outside the door of the Treaty Room, so that I see it every day - including on weekends when I'm going into that office to watch a basketball game - the primary image I see is a bust of Winston Churchill,' he said. 'It's there voluntarily because I can do anything on the second floor. I love Winston Churchill. I love the guy. 'Now, when I was elected as President of the United States, my predecessor had kept a Churchill bust in the Oval Office. 'There are only so many tables where you can put busts otherwise it starts looking a little cluttered and I thought it was appropriate, and I suspect most people here in the United Kingdom might agree, that as the first African American president it might be appropriate to have a bust of Dr Martin Luther King in my office to remind me of all the hard work of a lot of people who would somehow allow me to have the privilege of holding this office.' Mr Johnson's admiration for Churchill is well-known, with the PM having written a book detailing the life of the leader called 'The Churchill Factor: How One Man Made History'. The PM has also frequently quoted and channelled Churchill during his major speeches. Last year he launched a passionate defence of the leader after his statue in Parliament Square in Westminster was sprayed with graffiti during Black Lives Matter protests. He warned at the time that 'we cannot now try to edit or censor our past' and that the statue is a 'permanent reminder of his achievement in saving this country and the whole of Europe from a fascist and racist tyranny'. Many Americans still hold a great love for Churchill due to his leadership in the Second World War and because his mother, Jennie Jerome, was born in Brooklyn, making him half-American. US politicians have spoken glowingly of the wartime leader for decades, with some labelling him 'the best friend the United States ever had'. The level of praise for Churchill among senior political figures was perhaps best illustrated by President Dwight Eisenhower who said in 1954 that the PM 'comes closest to fulfilling the requirement of greatness of any individual that I have met in my lifetime'. Google threatened to disable its search engine in Australia if its forced to pay local publishers for news, a dramatic escalation of a months-long standoff with the government. The proposed law, intended to compensate publishers for the value their stories generate for the company, is unworkable," Mel Silva, managing director for Australia and New Zealand, told a parliamentary hearing Friday. She specifically opposed the requirement that Google pay media companies for displaying snippets of articles in search results. The threat is Googles most potent yet as the digital giant tries to stem a flow of regulatory action worldwide. At least 94% of online searches in Australia go through the Alphabet Inc. unit, according to the local competition regulator. We dont respond to threats," Australia Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Friday. Australia makes our rules for things you can do in Australia. Thats done in our parliament. Its done by our government. And thats how things work here in Australia." Facebook Inc., the only other company targeted by the legislation, also opposes the law. The social media platform reiterated at Fridays hearing its considering blocking Australians from sharing news on Facebook if the law is pushed through. Facebook Sends World a Warning With Threat to Australian News The legislation is designed to support a local media industry, including Rupert Murdochs News Corp., that has struggled to adapt to the digital economy. Googles tougher stance drew rebukes from lawmakers at the hearing. Senator Andrew Bragg accused the tech giant of trying to blackmail" Australians and policymakers. 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," Silva told a panel of senators. She described the law as an untenable financial and operational precedent." Mountain View, California-based Google on Thursday reached a deal with French media publishers after the countrys competition authority urged it to pay for content. It had stopped showing news results from European publishers on search results for French users last year, in order to comply with copyright laws. This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Bob Evans Farms is recalling some of its sausage because consumers complained they found thin blue rubber in the meat. According to an announcement from the U.S. Department of Agricultures Food Safety and Inspection Service, the recall includes 4,200 pounds of sausage produced on Dec. 17, 2020. The product details are: Bob Evans Italian Sausage, 1-pound chub, lot code 0352 and a use or freeze by date of Jan. 31, 2021. The sausage was distributed to retail stores in Pennsylvania, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin. The FSIS said it was notified by Bob Evans after the company received complaints from consumers. For more information, contact Alison Emery, director of communications at Bob Evans Farms, at 614-778-1886 or send an email to alison.emery@bobevansfoods.com. READ MORE UK business activity slides to 8-month low in January, Pound Sterling on the defensive as markets reassess optimistic profile. The UK data releases have reinforced near-term economic concerns and stifled near-term optimism surrounding the UK recovery profile and Pound Sterling outlook. The Pound-to-Dollar rate is trading around 1.3670 and below 32-month highs posted on Thursday with the Euro-to-Pound rate just above 0.8900. UK PMI services-sector slides to 8-month lows According to flash data for January, the IHS Markit PMI business confidence manufacturing index declined to a 7-month low of 52.9 from 57.5 previously and below consensus forecasts of 57.2. There was a steeper slide in the services-sector index to an 8-month low of 38.8 from 49.4 and below market expectations of 49.8. The composite output index declined to an 8-month low of 40.6 and below the euro-zone reading of 47.5. Above: UKPMI index chart The overall volume of new orders declined for the fourth consecutive month and the weakest reading since May 2020 as consumer spending took a hit. Employment also declined for the month, although at a slower rate seen in the March-November period. The manufacturing sector did post a small increase in production, but there was a sharp slowdown in growth and export orders declined. There were also indications that supply-chain difficulties had an important impact with the sharpest increase in supplier delivery times since the survey began 30 years ago. Given that tighter supplier deliveries push the headline index higher, the real reading for manufacturing was probably near contraction. The services sector was undermined by renewed business restrictions and, although companies had avoided temporary closures, client demand had softened and new projects were delayed. Overall business confidence did, however, increase further to the highest level since May 2014. Duncan Brock, Group Director at CIPS, expressed near-term fears: This is a sudden blow to the UK economy. Affected by consumer caution and dried-up pipelines of new work from domestic and export customers, new orders dropped to an extent not seen since May, underlining the continuing instability in a marketplace no longer propped up by pre-Brexit stockpiling or reduced restrictions on business conditions. Although re-iterating near-term concerns, Chris Williamson, Chief Business Economist at IHS Markit, looked to focus on optimism over the outlook; Encouragingly, the current downturn looks far less severe than that seen during the first national lockdown, and businesses have become increasingly optimistic about the outlook, thanks mainly to progress in rolling out COVID-19 vaccines. Business hopes for the year ahead have risen the highest for over six-and-a-half years, boding well for the economy to return to solid growth once virus restrictions ease. Substantial first-quarter GDP contraction inevitable Samuel Tombs, chief UK economist at consultancy Pantheon Macroeconomics, noted that the data; provides more evidence that the current lockdown has damaged the economy more than Novembers light-touch variety. He also warned that the closure of schools and the cancellation of non-Covid-19 work within the healthcare sector is not covered within the PMI data and will further depress activity. Ruth Gregory, senior UK economist at Capital Economics, said the drop in the composite flash PMI was "far larger than the consensus forecast. Overall, the composite PMI points to a fall in GDP in January of about 5% month-on-month. That would be much bigger than November's 2.6% month-on-month fall in GDP, but at least it would be mild in the context of the 18.8% m/m decline seen during the first lockdown in April 2020." Above: EUR/GBP exchange rate chart Rabobank maintained a cautious stance; The fact that the UKs lockdown could extent into March and given evidence that its rapid vaccine programme is still a way off from halting the pandemic in the country, we see scope for additional gains in the pound to be limited near-term. We retain our forecast that EUR/GBP is likely trade in the 0.89/0.88 region in the coming months and may not see a return to the 0.87 level until later in the year. New Delhi: Two Sri Lankan Tamils who were the main conspirators in Rs.100 cr International drugs smuggling case have been nabbed by Narcotics Control Bureau(NCB) officials in Chennai. It is learnt that the individuals were living in Chennai by concealing their real identity. The case is regarding a drug-laden vessel Shenaya Duwa that was intercepted by Indian Coast Guard in late November last year, off the Tuticorin or Thoothukudi Coast in Tamil Nadu. 99 packets of heroin, 20 boxes of synthetic drugs and five 9mm pistols were unearthed from an unapproachable location on-board the vessel, besides a Thuraya satellite phone set. Back then, the preliminary investigation had revealed that the drugs were transferred onto the Sri Lankan vessel Shenaya Duwa on the high seas by a Pakistani dhow from Karachi and the contraband was meant to be sent to western countries and Australia. Following the seizure of contraband the vessels six-member crew was also put behind bars, but the search for the main conspirators continued. Live TV This led to arrest of the Sri Lankan nationals, MMM Nawas and Mohamed Anas from Chennai. According to the NCB, Nawas and Afnas held important positions in the multinational Heroin syndicate, as they were controlling the mid-sea pick up and delivery of narcotic drugs from Pakistani and Iranian vessels. It is said that both of them had fled the island nation when the Sri Lankan authorities closed in on them. It is also believed that there is an Interpol Red Corner Notice issued by Sri Lankan Government against Nawas. Workforce Biden repeals Schedule F, rolls back Trump-era workforce policy President Joe Biden rolled back multiple workforce policies of the previous administration covering federal workforce and unions Jan. 22 via executive order. These include the revocation of the Schedule F employment category, the repeal of three 2018 workforce executive orders on discipline and union activity as well as a push toward a $15 minimum wage for federal employees. "Federal employees have dedicated their careers to serving the American people and they are worthy of the utmost dignity and respect. Today, I took action to improve the wages, benefits, and bargaining rights of federal workers and contractors," Biden tweeted. The Schedule F order created a new category of federal employee excepted service last fall. The order asked agencies to reclassify certain policymaking and policy determining roles as well as certain sensitive and supervisory posts under Schedule F, which allowed for hiring and firing employees essentially at-will and canceled any eligibility for union representation. The Office of Management and Budget had made moves to reclassify almost 90% of their workforce in the new schedule in the last days of former President Donald Trump's administration. Biden also reversed three workforce executive orders issued by Trump in 2018. One made it easier for poor-performers to be fired and shortened the timeframe of performance improvement plans, which are used as a last change for poor performers to improve. The second order restricted the use of official time, time spent by federal employees on union business, and the last changed the process for the creation of collective bargaining agreements. The new order also directed agencies to bargain over permissible, non-mandatory bargaining subjects. Unions representing federal employees greeted the move. "In a Biden administration, agencies are no longer under orders to strip long-held rights from contracts, run roughshod over employees and unilaterally impose workplace policies that disrespect their service to our country," Tony Reardon, national president of the National Treasury Employees Union, said in a statement. The new policy also directs the Office of Personnel Management to create recommendations for more federal employees to be paid at least $15 an hour. Biden has also called on his staff to help him issue another executive order within 100 days that will require federal contractors to also receive a $15 minimum wage and emergency paid leave. "This begins the process of reversing the Trump Administration's all-out assault on federal employees" House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) said in a statement. "And I will continue to work with the Biden Administration to ensure that those who signed up to serve our country know that the people they work for - the American people - value their contributions." Rep. Don Beyer (D-Va.), whose suburban Washington district includes thousands of federal employees, also praised the policy shift. "Restoring collective bargaining protections and working to boost wages for the lowest income federal employees are beneficial changes that will go a long way to restoring fair treatment and boosting morale in a workforce that has been a punching bag for four years," Beyer said in an emailed statement. "I am particularly happy to see the end of Schedule F, an executive order intended to politicize the civil service that could have done a great deal of harm." Some House Republicans opposed the move. "This repeal by President Biden fails to empower the American people and instead empowers the bureaucracy. We should work together to find solutions to rein in an unelected, unaccountable bureaucracy," Rep. James Comer (R-Ky.), the ranking member on the House Committee on Oversight and Reform, said in a statement. The effort is likely the first of many to restore workforce protection policies favored by unions and Democrats. Biden also elevated a Democrat to serve as chair of the Federal Labor Relations Agency on Friday. In a video released Jan. 5 and directed at career officials, President Biden praised the federal workforce and highlighted the expertise, competence and professionalism of the career workforce. "You're patriots. You could've done a lot of other things with your career, but you chose public service," he said. "I commend you for your professionalism, your honor, your integrity." This article was updated Jan. 23 with new information. The new Covid-19 variant identified in South Africa can evade the antibodies that attack it in treatments using blood plasma from previously recovered patients, and may reduce the efficacy of the current line of vaccines, scientists said on Wednesday. Researchers are racing to establish whether the vaccines currently being rolled out across the globe are effective against the so-called 501Y.V2 variant, identified by South African genomics experts late last year in Nelson Mandela Bay. "This lineage exhibits complete escape from three classes of therapeutically relevant monoclonal antibodies," the team of scientists from three South African universities working with the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) wrote in a paper in bioRxiv, a website that publishes scientific research prior to its being peer-reviewed and submitted to journals. "Furthermore, 501Y.V2 shows substantial or complete escape from neutralising antibodies in Covid-19 convalescent plasma," they wrote, adding that their conclusions "highlight the prospect of reinfection ... and may foreshadow reduced efficacy of current spike-based vaccines." The 501Y.V2 variant is 50% more infectious than previous ones, South African researchers said this week. It has already spread to at least 20 countries since being reported to the World Health Organisation in late December. It is one of several new variants discovered in recent months, including others first found in England and Brazil. The variant is the main driver of South Africa's second wave of Covid-19 infections, which hit a new daily peak above 21,000 cases earlier this month, far above the first wave, before falling to about 12,000 a day. Convalescent blood plasma from previous patients has not been shown to be effective when administered to severely ill patients requiring intensive care for Covid-19, but it is approved in several countries as an emergency measure. British scientists and politicians have expressed concern that vaccines currently being deployed or in development could be less effective against the variant. The paper said it remained to be seen how effective current vaccines were against 501Y.V2, which would only be determined by large-scale clinical trials. But results showed the need for new vaccines to be designed to tackle the evolving threat, it said. This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- The new strain of the coronavirus first found in the United Kingdom might be more deadly than the original variant, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Friday during a press conference, according to multiple reports. Weve been informed that in addition to spreading more quickly, there is some evidence that the new variant may be more associated with a higher degree of mortality, Johnson said, according to a report from CNN. The British prime minister reassured that the coronavirus vaccines currently available seem to remain effective both against the old variant and this new variant. The data supporting Johnsons comment is not yet strong, said Sir Patrick Vallance, the governments chief scientific adviser. I want to stress that theres a lot of uncertainty around these numbers and we need more work to get a precise handle on it, but it obviously is a concern that this has an increase in mortality as well as an increase in transmissibility, Vallance said, according to the BBC. The new coronavirus strain was first found in New York at the beginning of January; so far 22 cases have been identified in the state. The symptoms of the new strain mimic those of the initial strain, doctors say, but the CDC is monitoring the situation closely. People with the new strain of COVID-19 have had a wide range of symptoms, ranging from mild to severe. Those symptoms can appear anywhere from two to 14 days after exposure, and include: Fever or chills Cough Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing Fatigue Muscle or body aches Headache New loss of taste or smell Sore throat Congestion or runny nose Nausea or vomiting Diarrhea Some symptoms, such as trouble breathing, chest pain or pressure, or difficulty staying awake, are signs of serious illness and require immediate medical care. Pope Francis has condemned a twin suicide bombing in the Iraqi capital that killed at least 32 people and injured over 100 others. By Linda Bordoni & Nathan Morley Pope Francis on Thursday condemned a twin bomb attack in a Baghdad market, and described the attacks as a senseless act of brutality. At least 32 people were killed in the suicide bombings and over 100 others wounded. In a telegram, sent on his behalf by Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, the Pope said he is praying for the deceased victims and their families, for the injured and for the emergency personnel in attendance." He went on to say he hopes that Iraq will continue to work to overcome violence with "fraternity, solidarity and peace," and he invoked the Lords blessing upon the nation and its people. Pope Francis is scheduled to make the first Apostolic Visit ever to Iraq from 5 to 8 March, visiting Baghdad and four other towns. Rare attacks on Iraqi capital In recent years, suicide bombings have become rare in the capital since the military defeat of the so-called Islamic State, so this attack has shocked the nation. Listen to the report by Nathan Morley Reports suggest that bombers blew themselves in central Baghdad as they were pursued by police. The attack was carried out by two suicide bombers who detonated themselves at a busy clothes flea market in Tayaran Square. Medical services rushed to market to take the many wounded to hospitals and clinics across the capital. ISIS attack? As yet, no group has said it carried out the latest attack, but the so-called Islamic State is thought to be behind the atrocity. A recent UN report estimates that more than 10,000 IS fighters remain active in Iraq and Syria. It is understood that sleeper cells continue an insurgency in the countryside and small towns, but rarely venture into the capital. The last deadly suicide attack in Baghdad was three years ago, when over 30 people were killed in the very same location. This atrocity comes just days after the government said an early general election would be postponed from June until at least October this year. Robert Kocharyan on years of his leadership in Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia Situation on Armenian-Azerbaijani border is still tense, more on COVID-19 in Armenia, May 28 digest "Armenia" alliance of political parties paying tribute to founder of First Republic Aram Manukyan (LIVE) Yerevan.today: Armenia acting PM not greeted at ruling party's headquarters, citizens call him 'capitulator' Russia MOD reports on maintenance of ceasefire regime in Nagorno-Karabakh Armenia acting MOD meets with Russian counterpart in Moscow Armenia 2nd President: I see possibility of restoring borders of Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast We can provide our army with some key, modernized weapons, says Armenia ex-President Kocharyan Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: Captives issue is not one that any opposition force can resolve OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs release statement on detention of 6 Armenian servicemen by Azerbaijan Armenian acting Deputy PM: Discussion on issues possible only after withdrawal of Azeri troops from Armenia's territory Armenia acting PM on Syunik roads, Russian military posts: This is only place where there are working nuances Armenia acting PM: Process of return of POWs will intensify after upcoming elections Putin congratulates Aliyev on Republic Day 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 TUNIS - Safa Msehli, spokesperson for IOM-UN Migration, tweeted Friday that a "group of 81 migrants was brought back to Libya this morning by the coast guard". Regarding the same episode, IOM Libya tweeted that "this year, about 300 people including women and children have been brought back to Libya and ended up in detention". "We reiterate that no one should be returned to Libya," IOM Libya said. The central government's COVID-19 response has seen more funds flow towards some of its flagship welfare programmes but less to others, a pre-budget analysis of the structure, fund flows and implementation of six key schemes carried out by Delhi-based think tank Centre for Policy Research (CPR) shows. The study, part of CPR's Accountability Initiative, says Modi government front-loaded payments under the PM-KISAN farmer income support programme and provided additional provisions for the Mid-Day Meal scheme, but reduced budget allocations and spends for some other schemes targeting nutrition and education. The schemes analysed by CPR are Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN), Ayushman Bharat, Poshan Abhiyaan, Mid-Day Meal Scheme, Samagra Shiksha and Integrated Child Development Services. PM-KISAN Noting that the budgetary allocations for PM-KISAN have increased threefold since its launch in 2018-19, the study says that the 2020-21 allocation of Rs 75,000 crore for PM-KISAN, though a 38 per cent increase than FY 2019-20 Revised Estimate, was the same as the Budget Estimate of the previous year. Even though payments under the scheme are given in three instalments through a financial year, the government tried to mitigate the adverse effects of the COVID-19 pandemic by front loading instalments for FY 2020-21. As a result, by December 25, 2020, all three instalments, amounting to around Rs 58,613 crore got disbursed. This was 19 per cent more than total releases made in FY 2019-20 under the scheme, which provides annual cash transfer of Rs 6,000 to all landholding farmer families, in three equal instalments of Rs 2,000. The funds are credited through Direct Benefits Transfer (DBT) mode, into the bank accounts of the eligible farmers. Since its launch in February 2019 (till December 31, 2020), government has released seven instalments under the scheme. While 10.69 crore farmers (93 per cent of registered farmers) had received at least one instalment, 3.76 crore farmers (33 per cent of registered farmers) had received all seven instalments by that time. Ayushman Bharat Of the two components of Ayushman Bharat, the one which receives bigger budgetary allocation, the health insurance scheme called Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY), has been impacted by Covid-19 with resultant reduction in claims during 2020-21, the CPR study notes. It says that while government allocated Rs 6,400 crore to PMJAY in 2020-21 Budget Estimates (BEs), it is likely to be lower in the Revised Estimates (REs) due to low releases. "Till 20 November 2020, nearly halfway through the fiscal year, GoI had released only Rs 1,032 crore, or 16 per cent of the year's BEs," it observed. The study found that due to COVID-19 pandemic, the number of insurance claims filed decreased 64 percent during the March-April 2020 period after which packages for treating and testing COVID-19 were added into the scheme. It said the coverage of the scheme has been high and as on July 15, 2020, 58 per cent of eligible households were covered under PMJAY. In the case of the second component - establishment of Health and Wellness Centres (HWCs) - the government had allocated Rs 1,600 crores in FY 2020-21. "Till September 2020, Rs 431 crore was spent. The HWCs were not used in COVID-19 tasks, and the pandemic did not disrupt their operationalisation. As on November 20, 2020, 50,069 HWCs were functional, accounting for 65 per cent of the cumulative target for FY 2020-21. There has been a significant increase in HWC footfall. Across India, as of October 2020, 2,672 lakh people visited HWCs, which was over three times the total footfall a year earlier," the study noted. Ever since the government announced the launch of Ayushman Bharat on June 23, 2018, allocations have increased nearly five-fold and stood at Rs 2,400 crore in the Revised Estimates (REs). This further increased to Rs 3,200 crore in FY 2019-20. In FY 2020-21, Rs 6,400 crore was allocated to the scheme, double the REs for the previous year but the same as the Budget Estimates (BEs). Poshan Abhiyaan Till 31 October 2020, no state other than Nagaland had received any funds towards Poshan Abhiyaan (earlier known as the National Nutrition Mission), the central government's the flagship scheme to holistically address the prevalence of malnutrition in India through use of technology, convergence, behavioural change, training, and capacity building. The CPR study says though government allocated Rs 3,700 crore in FY 2020-21 Budget Estimates (BEs), a 9 per cent increase from previous year's Revised Estimates (REs), the release of funds has been low. "Low releases and utilisation existed even prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. Cumulatively, from FY 2017-18 till 31 October 2020, only 46 per cent of the funds allocated had been released. Further, 46 per cent of funds released had been spent by states," the study points out. Incidentally, CPR study observes that the largest component of the scheme - Information and Communications Technology enabled Real Time Monitoring (ICT-RTM), accounting for 36 per cent of total expenditure till November 2019 - has been suspended as of September 2020. Similarly, there has been slow progress on nutritional outcome targets set under the scheme. "Between 2015-16 and 2019-20, prevalence of anaemia in children from 6-59 months increased for 16 out of 17 states. Similarly, prevalence of stunting and underweight increased in 11 out of 17 states," the study says. Mid-Day Meal Scheme The National Programme of Mid-Day Meals in School (MDM) saw allocations increase even though schools remained closed due to the pandemic during 2020-21. The CPR study said the government's allocation of Rs 11,000 crore for MDM, was an 11 per cent increase from previous year's REs but the same as the BEs. However, to ensure MDM provisioning during the COVID-19 pandemic, allocations were increased to Rs 13,400 crore. "Release of funds to states as a share of the approved budget declined marginally in FY 2020-21. In FY 2019-20, 77 per cent had been released till December (three quarters into the fiscal year). In FY 2020-21, for the same period, 73 per cent of approved budgets had been released to states," the study points out. It also says that in FY 2020-21, as a one-time measure due to school closure because of the COVID-19 pandemic, government announced an additional fund release of Rs 1,600 crore to provide MDM or Food Security Allowance (FSA) during the summer vacation. "The pace of release of funds has been slow. Six states and UTs did not receive any funds till 31 December 2020, however, and the rest received it between September and November 2020," the study said. Samagra Shiksha At the start of FY21, government had allocated Rs 38,751 crore to Samagra Shiksha as per BEs, the CPR study notes. Though this was a 7 per cent increase from the REs for FY 2019-20, allocations were 16 per cent lower than projected demand of the Ministry of Education. The study points out that the release of funds to states, as a share of central allocations, were declining even prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. "In FY 2018-19, 95 per cent of allocations were released. This decreased to 89 per cent in FY 2019-20. In FY 2020-21, till October 2020, only 29 per cent of central governmentI's allocations had been released to states," it says, adding that as with releases, expenditures by states out of their approved budgets have also been declining. "Expenditures dropped from 64 per cent in FY 2018-19 to 59 per cent in FY 2019-20. In FY 2020-21, potentially due to low releases, states had spent only 26 per cent of their total approved budgets during the first seven months." The Samagra Shiksha is an integrated scheme for school education, with an aim to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education to all children from pre-primary to higher secondary stages. The scheme integrates three erstwhile school education schemes, namely: Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA), and Teacher Education (TE) Integrated Child Development Services The Supplementary Nutrition Programme (SNP), the largest component of Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) programme saw 3 percent increase in fund releases despite closure of Anganwadi centres (AWCs) due to COVID-19. The reason was the provision of SNP continued with a focus on Take Home Ration and Ready-to-Eat meals. "The fund releases for SNP were 3 per cent higher in FY 2020-21 till December than the same period the previous year," CPR study said. The government allocations for ICDS had increased by 16 per cent from Rs 17,705 crore in FY20 REs to Rs 20,532 crore in FY21 BEs, though it remained lower than the projected demand by 17 per cent, the study said. Also read: Farmers income to rise 35% by revisiting Kisan Credit Card norms: SBI Ecowrap Also read: PM Modi releases Rs 18,000 cr under PM-KISAN; asks what's wrong if farmers are benefitting Company to announce initiatives to empower the cybersecurity community to fight adversaries at scale ATLANTA, Jan. 22, 2021, author and investigative journalist Geoff White,industry analysts, expert threat researchers, incident responders and data scientists. Through keynotes, live demos, executive-only sessions, and workshops, attendees will learn about the increasingly vital role of machine learning and software in improving the performance of security operations including a significant return on investment for Managed Detection and Response (MDR). Secureworks' threat research and incident response teams will share their latest insights on the SolarWinds compromise, and the company will announce initiatives to empower the cybersecurity community to fight adversaries at scale. Presentation Highlights Insights from SolarWinds and the Next Steps for Cybersecurity - Secureworks' incident response leaders and Counter Threat Unit (CTU) researchers host a discussion and live Q&A on the top takeaways security professionals need to know in a post-SolarWinds environment. - Secureworks' incident response leaders and Counter Threat Unit (CTU) researchers host a discussion and live Q&A on the top takeaways security professionals need to know in a post-SolarWinds environment. Simple Isn't Always Easy: Cybersecurity in the Year Ahead - Melissa Hathaway, president of Hathaway Global Strategies and a former cybersecurity advisor to Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama, and Barry Hensley, Secureworks chief threat intelligence officer, discuss the tools and techniques behind the stories that will impact companies in the year to come. - Melissa Hathaway, president of Hathaway Global Strategies and a former cybersecurity advisor to Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama, and Barry Hensley, Secureworks chief threat intelligence officer, discuss the tools and techniques behind the stories that will impact companies in the year to come. $13M Reasons Why: Cybercriminals Have Joined Forces, so Pick Your Partner in the Fight Wisely - Geoff White, investigative journalist and author of Crime Dot Com, delves into the cash-out/ATM cyberscam - a successful collaboration between North Korean threat actors and organized cybercrime. Criminals work together. To fight them effectively, your organization cannot go it alone. - Geoff White, investigative journalist and author of Crime Dot Com, delves into the cash-out/ATM cyberscam - a successful collaboration between North Korean threat actors and organized cybercrime. Criminals work together. To fight them effectively, your organization cannot go it alone. Securing Our Customers - Wendy Thomas, Secureworks president of customer success, outlines the company's vision and strategy to protect customers with a holistic and differentiated approach to security and shares enhancements to the company's cloud-native security platform. - Wendy Thomas, Secureworks president of customer success, outlines the company's vision and strategy to protect customers with a holistic and differentiated approach to security and shares enhancements to the company's cloud-native security platform. Transforming Your MSSP Business - Maureen Perrelli, Secureworks chief channel officer, unveils solutions to empower and enable MSS professionals with capabilities that address key industry challenges. - Maureen Perrelli, Secureworks chief channel officer, unveils solutions to empower and enable MSS professionals with capabilities that address key industry challenges. Demystifying XDR - Dave Gruber, senior analyst, ESG and Secureworks' product marketing and management leaders explore the benefits of XDR. - Dave Gruber, senior analyst, ESG and Secureworks' product marketing and management leaders explore the benefits of XDR. The Total Economic Impact of Secureworks Managed Detection and Response - Secureworks' product management leaders and guest speakers, Forrester Analysts Paul McKay and Liz Witherspoon, discuss the findings of a commissioned study conducted by Forrester Consulting on behalf of Secureworks that show the potential financial impact of MDR on enterprises, including the potential for return on investment of over 400 percent over three years with a payback period of less than three months. - Secureworks' product management leaders and guest speakers, Forrester Analysts Paul McKay and Liz Witherspoon, discuss the findings of a commissioned study conducted by Forrester Consulting on behalf of Secureworks that show the potential financial impact of MDR on enterprises, including the potential for return on investment of over 400 percent over three years with a payback period of less than three months. Connecting the Dots to Stop Advanced Threats - Participate in a real-world style attack demo on an organization and how Threat Detection and Response (TDR) can be used to address it. - Participate in a real-world style attack demo on an organization and how Threat Detection and Response (TDR) can be used to address it. Automation, the Next Frontier of Vulnerability Management - Learn how automation is a critical step forward toward a modern vulnerability management solution. "At a time when digital transformation and collaboration is crucial to business success, Secureworks Connect brings security professionals together to better navigate the increasingly complex and disconnected security landscape," said Steve Hardy, chief marketing officer, Secureworks. "With our best tools and better coordination, we can prevail over adversaries who seek to exploit gaps created by siloed point solutions and our shared supply chain in the aftermath of the SolarWinds compromise." To register for Secureworks Connect, or for more information, click here . For the latest updates on speakers and sessions, follow SCWXConnect on social media. About Secureworks Secureworks Connect with Secureworks via Twitter, LinkedInand Facebook Read the Secureworks Blog www.secureworks.com Contact: Jena Murphy, Public Relations Manager press@secureworks.com *The Total Economic Impact of Secureworks Managed Detection And Response: Forrester Consulting, December 2020 Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and are based on Secureworks' current expectations. In some cases, you can identify these statements by such forward-looking words as "anticipate," "believe," "confidence," "could," "estimate," "expect," "guidance," "intend," "may," "plan," "potential," "outlook," "should," "will" and "would," or similar words or expressions that refer to future events or outcomes. Because forward-looking statements inherently involve risks and uncertainties, actual future results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, competitive uncertainties and general economic and business conditions in Secureworks' markets as well as the other risks and uncertainties that are described in Secureworks' periodic reports and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which are available for review through the Securities and Exchange Commission's website at www.sec.gov. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date as of which such statement is made, and, except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statement after the date as of which such statement was made, whether to reflect changes in circumstances or our expectations, the occurrence of unanticipated events, or otherwise. Any future product, service, feature, benefit or related specification referenced in this press release are for information purposes only and are not commitments to deliver any technology or enhancement. The father of a 9-year-old girl who died Wednesday in an accidental shooting by another child inside her North Philadelphia home has been charged with involuntary manslaughter and related offenses, authorities said Thursday evening. Blake Davis, 39, also was charged with endangering the welfare of a child, two firearms violations, including one for being prohibited from possessing a gun because of a prior criminal conviction, corruption of minors, and reckless endangerment, police said. Shortly before 11 a.m. Wednesday, police responded to a report of a shooting in the 2300 block of North Bouvier Street. Officers found the girl in a back bedroom with a gunshot wound to the right side of her head. Police rushed the girl in critical condition to Temple University Hospital. She was transferred to St. Christophers Hospital for Children, where she died at 1:50 p.m. Commissioner Danielle Outlaw said at the scene on Wednesday that authorities received a call from a 12-year-old who also was in the house. She said there were a total of three children that had been left unattended in the house as well as two guns. Patrick Flood, 40, said he has known Davis and the two have been like brothers since they were 10 years old. Davis, Flood said, does construction and recently moved into the house on North Bouvier with a girlfriend and the children. He has custody of the kids, but the mother of the children lives nearby, he added. Flood said the 9-year-old girls name was Nessya (he was unsure about the spelling), but she was called Butterfly. She was quiet and sweet, he said. Authorities have not released the name of the girl. A spokesperson for District Attorney Larry Krasner said the other children in the house were the girls brother and a cousin. Krasner said in a statement: I offer my deepest condolences to the Davis family for the terrible loss of a beloved child. This tragedy was 100% preventable. Kids should not be allowed unsupervised access to firearms, period. We can hold both that a father has suffered a horrific tragedy, and that he is also criminally responsible for this loss. Court records show that Davis has served several prison sentences for convictions involving drug offenses, as well as convictions for simple assault, resisting arrest, and contempt of court. Between 2001 and 2012, Davis was arrested and convicted in Philadelphia eight times, mostly for drug dealing but also for simple assault and contempt of court, according to online court records. Prior to Thursdays arrest, Daviss last brush with the law was in January 2012 for drug dealing, for which he was sentenced in February 2013 to two to four years in prison followed by three years probation. The European Union's chairman told Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday by telephone to release opposition politician Alexei Navalny and insisted on an investigation into his August poisoning. "In my call with President Putin today, I reiterated (that the) EU is united in its condemnation of Alexei Navalny's detention and calls for his immediate release," European Council President Charles Michel, who chairs EU summits, said on Twitter. "Russia must urgently proceed with full and transparent investigation into the assassination attempt on him," Michel said. Short link: YEREVAN, JANUARY 22, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan and President of Artsakh Arayik Harutyunyan have jointly chaired an expanded-format consultation with the members of the Security Council of Armenia, the Prime Ministers Office said. We should hold such consultations more frequently in the future so that our actions become combined, Pashinyan said. He highlighted President Harutyunyans participation in the meeting in terms of exchange of information and planning of future actions from a tactical and strategic perspective. Pashinyan said they will discuss current items on the agenda. Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan Colorado Springs, CO (80903) Today Mostly sunny. High 76F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low 51F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. 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. That night, numerous Chinese people waged what amounted to an online revolt. They posted videos of the Les Miserables song Do You Hear the People Sing? They shared one of Dr. Lis quotes repeatedly: A healthy society should not have just one voice. Even one of Chinas propaganda directives warned that Dr. Lis death was an unprecedented challenge. Young people told me that the official news media had lost credibility. One of my followers on Weibo, the Chinese social media platform, apologized for attacking me before. I used to think that people like you were evil, he wrote. Now, he added, I know that we were fooled. A middle-age intellectual told me that he expected the population of liberal-minded Chinese people those who want greater freedom from Beijings controls to expand from his estimate of 5 percent to 10 percent of the total population to 30 percent to 40 percent. As these hopes rose, others tried to tamp down enthusiasm. One political scientist guessed the share of liberal-minded Chinese internet users would shrink, not grow. In three months, she predicted, the Chinese public would be celebrating the glorious victory over the outbreak under the leadership of the great Communist government. Unfortunately, she was correct. To reclaim the narrative in the early days of the pandemic, as my colleagues have reported, the Chinese government began a tremendous behind-the-scene effort to make sure that the censors took control at even the most local level. They listened and read just about everything people posted. Then the censors either addressed the problems or silenced the dissenters. Chinese officials say the police investigated or otherwise dealt with more than 17,000 people who they said had fabricated or spread fake pandemic-related information. After 11 weeks, the lockdown in Wuhan ended. By the summer, a photo of a crowded Wuhan swimming pool appeared on the home pages of many websites around the world. China emerged as a success story while the infection cases and death tolls in the United States and many other Western countries skyrocketed. The contrast made the effectiveness of the partys strong hand an easy sell. Three days into President Joe Bidens term, with the celebratory images from his inauguration still buoying our beleaguered nation, it is tempting to just turn the page. To leave the rancor, duplicity and corruption of Donald Trump and his administration on the trash heap of history. Its enough, many might say, that Trump will be remembered as the only president to be twice impeached, leaving office with a record-low approval rating and his reputation and corporate brand in tatters. After all, the American people have already rendered their verdict on Trumps failed presidency by voting him out of office. He is now a private citizen, holed up in Mar-a-Lago and silenced on the social media accounts he used cannily to spread brazen lies and unhinged conspiracy theories. But Trump must not be let off the hook. The Senate must move as quickly as possible to hold an impeachment trial for inciting the Jan. 6 Capitol Hill insurrection. Biden has called for unity, and thats a call we support. But before reconciliation can flourish, and before our country can move on, there must be truth and consequences. Trump attempted to overturn a fair election, a campaign many failed to take seriously until almost too late. On Jan. 6, he delivered a speech in front of the White House that led directly to an unprecedented and deadly attack on Congress. He must be convicted and disqualified from ever holding public office again. It would serve as just punishment for the man who degraded the office of president and trampled the Constitution and as warning to any successor who harbors similarly despotic and undemocratic desires. Conviction would require 17 Republicans to do the right thing something that did not happen with Trumps first Senate trial. This time may be different, however. Ten House Republicans voted to impeach Trump, making it the most bipartisan impeachment in U.S. history. And in one of his last acts as Senate majority leader, Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., pinned the blame for the Capitol Hill riot squarely on Trump. The mob was fed lies, McConnell said Tuesday on the Senate floor, a day ahead of Bidens inauguration. 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. McConnell has been wrong about a lot, but he is right about this. The evidence against Trump is plentiful. For months leading up to his Jan. 6 speech, he stoked mistrust in the election system, sowing doubt about the security of mail-in ballots and pushing debunked claims of voter fraud. He refused to concede, even though he lost by more than 7 million votes. He tried to strongarm Georgia election officials into fabricating votes and flagrantly pressured his vice president to join his conspiracy all the way to the fateful day. Like he had throughout his presidency, Trump on Jan. 6 amplified the ravings of conspiracy theorists and far-right extremists and convinced his followers that the election would somehow be overturned if only they fought hard enough. Youll never take back our country with weakness. You have to show strength, and you have to be strong, Trump exhorted thousands gathered for a Stop the Steal rally the day of the attack. Fight like hell, and if you dont fight like hell, youre not going to have a country anymore. Then he urged the crowd to go to Capitol Hill. Hundreds heeded his words and within hours five people including a Capitol Police officer were dead and the Capitol looked like a war zone. The damage Trump has done to America is profound. He leaves behind a legacy of loss and suffering: 400,000 Americans dead from COVID-19. A pandemic still raging uncontrolled. A fractured economy with millions out of work. Thousands of families torn apart at the border, with hundreds still separated. Environmental regulations gutted. An administration that pushed a white nationalist agenda under the guise of patriotism. For those reasons and others, American voters sent him packing in November. But his crimes on Jan. 6 demand he face another kind of verdict. Senators should use the upcoming trial to learn the full details of Trumps dangerous insurrectionist role. Then, they should, for the first time in Senate history, convict him and bar him from ever seeking the presidency again. Only then will America be ready to move on. Covid-19 vaccine jab leaves 23 dead in Norway, 10 in Germany At least 23 elderly people have died in Norway shortly after receiving the first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine, while German specialists are probing the death of 10 people within four days of getting inoculated against the novel coronavirus disease. Media reports said several others who received the vaccine jab in Norway have fallen ill, although there is no confirmation of any direct link between the vaccine jab and the reported ailments. A Bloomberg report said that 13 of the 23 people who died have shown common symptoms of mRNA vaccines such as diarrhoea, nausea and fever, adding that Pfizer and BioNTech are working with the Norwegian authorities to investigate the deaths. German specialists are probing the death of 10 people within four days of getting inoculated against the novel coronavirus disease, in signs that the deceased, all aged between 79 to 93 years, would have been better off without the vaccine jab. The deceased were all aged between 79 and 93, all with antecedent diseases. But the time between vaccination and death was too short - ranging from several hours to four days to arrive at a conclusion that the vaccine may not have been the cause of death. In both cases in Norway as well as in Germany - the dead are all elderly people and most of them were suffering some ailments. Brigitte Keller-Stanislawski, the head of the institute's department of the safety of medicinal products and medical devices on Thursday said specialists from Germany's Paul Ehrlich Institute were looking into the deaths. Norwegian officials said they have left the decision on who gets the Covid-19 vaccine to doctors, considering that all the deaths occurred among patients in nursing homes and all were over the age of 80. Germany, which launched the vaccination campaign against Covid-19 in late December, has so far administered the vaccine to over 842,000 people. Those over 80 were the first ones to get vaccinated followed by the residents and staff at nursing homes as well as medical personnel. Germany's Paul Ehrlich Institute also reported six anaphylaxis (severe, potentially life-threatening allergic reaction) cases. So far, including 51 severe ones, there have been 325 cases of side-effects allegedly related to the vaccine. Those results are within expectations and correspond to the US vaccination statistics, Keller-Stanislawski stated. Meanwhile, reports citing information for UK recipients on Pfizer/BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine states that the vaccine "has been given authorisation for temporary supply by the UK Department of Health and Social Care and the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency". It clarifies that the vaccine "does not have a marketing authorisation, but this temporary authorisation grants permission for the medicine to be used for active immunisation to prevent Covid-19 disease caused by SARS-CoV-2 virus in individuals aged 16 years of age and over". It also cautions that the vaccine may not fully protect all those who receive it and no data are currently available (about the effect of vaccine) in individuals with a weakened immune system or who are taking chronic treatment that suppresses or prevents immune responses. The information also lists out over a dozen common side effects. OTTAWA While fishers on the Prairies appear ready to take over the Freshwater Fish Marketing Corp., the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs has rejected any option that isnt led by First Nations. OTTAWA While fishers on the Prairies appear ready to take over the Freshwater Fish Marketing Corp., the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs has rejected any option that isnt led by First Nations. The federal Crown corporation was created in the 1960s to buy fish from harvesters in the Prairies and territories, who live in remote areas and are overwhelmingly Indigenous. The corporations processing plant in Transcona, which sells pickerel to New York and fish eggs to markets in Eastern Europe, employs about 250 full-time and 150 seasonal workers. It used to have a monopoly on commercial catches, but provincial governments gradually pulled out of the arrangement over the past decade. Several audits have identified management problems. In 2018, the federal Liberals appointed a steering committee of Indigenous and non-Indigenous fishers to explore the idea of a co-operative model, and figured such a body would take three years to create. Federal adviser Kevin Anderson met with fishers, Indigenous leaders and industry groups. He reported Thursday that there is enough demand to start the creation of a co-operative in just one year, built from an existing steering committee. Some fishers have publicly said private firms could more aggressively target foreign markets such as China. But the adviser noted small-scale fishers in northern Manitoba and Saskatchewan rely on the corporation. Meanwhile, larger fisheries in the Interlake have sold to private operators who havent paid up or respected contracts. The adviser consulted the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs, which said it had taken three years to form a plan for a First Nations-led entity that had support from leaders across the country. The adviser said his committee, which aims to take over the corporation, concluded the assemblys report "lacked sufficient information." Grand Chief Arlen Dumas said Thursday he was disappointed by that remark. "The (assembly) was provided with assurances that our proposal would be given all due consideration as a viable transformation plan," Dumas said. "It appears with the release of this report that (we were) misled." He argued the report scuppered the opportunity for "a shovel-ready process for implementing the treaty right to fish." The office of Fisheries Minister Bernadette Jordan, who accepted the report, said she ensured the assembly it had a voice in the talks. "We believe that Indigenous and non-Indigenous commercial fish harvesters can work side-by-side toward a sustainable and well-managed freshwater fish supply chain for all," wrote a spokeswoman. dylan.robertson@freepress.mb.ca My friend told me a story a few weeks back about her little girl getting her first period last summer. When schools were going back, her daughter was told to bring only a lunchbox due to Covid restrictions. She was anxious about where she should keep her sanitary products; she didnt want anyone to see them. My craft-savvy friend saved the day by sewing an internal pocket in her skirt. The story stuck in my head. I wish a young girl in 2021 didnt have to feel so awkward about having her period. But Im not surprised to hear she does. We still dont talk about our bodies openly in Irish schools; how their desires and functions differ, how they impact our lives. In too many classrooms, too many students feel othered by the curriculum. They feel invisible in heteronormative institutions, sustained by religiously conservative boards of management. Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world. So said Nelson Mandela. But what if the system of education refuses to change? Does its society stop changing too? I think so. And I think its happening in Ireland. Throughout the twentieth century, children went through our school system without learning about sex and sexuality. As our Taoiseach said in his speech last week, We had a completely warped attitude to sexuality and intimacy, and young mothers and their sons and daughters were forced to pay a terrible price for that dysfunction. The mother and baby homes are forever etched in our national psyche and rightly so. But while we rightly rail against the church and state we must ask ourselves what were doing now to make amends. The answer? Not nearly enough, and its time we each took responsibility to change that. Irish schools still have the right to omit objective sex education from their curriculum. The Education Act of 1998 legally affords them that right, and nobody seems willing to change it. A survey of school inspection reports in 2016 showed one third of parents knew nothing about the sex education being delivered in their childs school. Too many parents seem uninterested in the fact their childs school might be avoiding clear, objective, discussions around consent, contraception and sexuality. Or, indeed, that schools are inviting Catholic groups like Accord and Pure of Heart to speak to their students about abstinence with pro-life agendas. These groups discuss sex through a heterosexual moral lens; they leave LGBQTI students feeling marginalised and excluded. The profound generational wrong that Micheal Martin attributes to our past is ongoing. How many Irish teens feel judgement through silence? Our Taoiseach tells us young pregnant girls were once treated as outcasts in schools. How many children are encountering the same shame in schools that refuse to recognise and represent them and their life choices in the education they receive? Leo Varadkar, speaking about Irish women and children in mother and baby homes proclaimed, As a society, we stole from them the lives they should have had. How many lives are we stealing today? How many children are being bullied for being gay or different? How many schools look the other way when it happens? The Taoiseach describes Irish people in the past as lacking empathy, understanding and basic humanity. Have we changed? Certainly, weve passed progressive laws in our referenda, but are they evidenced in every school playground? How can they be if theyre never discussed in class? The Taoiseach knows our government has stalled legislation that could change the lives of countless young people. The Objective Sex Education Bill would ensure all children learn about consent, contraception and LGBTQI rights, without a moral narrative. In his speech last week Micheal Martin linked what happened to women in our countrys past to a dearth of sex education which often left young women confused or unaware of why of how theyd even become pregnant. This is still happening. Only now, the silence and dearth of sex education occurs alongside a culture of pornography, sexting and cyberbullying. That is where our young people go to learn about sex and relationships. And we are letting it happen. The bill, like many others put forward by the opposition, is being delayed on the grounds only the government can propose bills that would increase public taxes or expenditure. The government argues they would have to train teachers in the new curriculum, and it would cost money. Teachers are trained every year into new curricula in many subjects. Continued professional development is the responsibility of every teacher. The money excuse is not good enough. Especially when peoples lives are at stake. The abuse of women and children has not stopped in Ireland. Calls to domestic violence and child services have soared. Rates of assault in our universities are going up, not down. The sex industry is booming. I hear people complaining the Church and State are not taking enough responsibility for what happened in our past. They argue they had the power and so they must shoulder most of the responsibility. I wholeheartedly agree. But we must not forget the part played by society, by neighbours, gardai, social workers, siblings, and parents. We must not let ourselves off the hook completely. Not then. Not now. Not ever. Third-quarter sales leap 25.1% to EUR363m (US$440.8m) Year-to-date - nine months to end of December - top-line down 1.6% at EUR800.7m Cognac stable soars in Q3 - +33.1% Final quarter, to end of March, expected to do well in sales terms A combination of buoyant Cognac consumption in the US and a recovering China has helped boost Remy Cointreau's performance in the group's fiscal third quarter. Sales in the three months to the end of December jumped 25.1% year-on-year, the company said today, pulling the top-line nearer to parity for the first nine months of fiscal-2021. Sales in the year-to-date came in 1.6% down, marking a strong improvement on the -16.4% reported from the first six months. Remy Cointreau Fiscal-2021 - Sales versus 2020 - reported Source: Company results On a category basis, Remy's Cognac business enjoyed a healthy final three months of calendar-2020, seeing sales climb by 33% - an almost-exact reverse of the first quarter's -39% Cognac tumble. Of note was a good showing for at-home consumption in the US, while the likes of Remy's flagship Remy Martin brand enjoyed a fruitful time in China, where the festivities around Mid-Autumn Festival and November's Singles Day - or 'Double-11' - helped to drive sales. The 'liqueurs & spirits' stable, led by brand Cointreau, grew quarterly sales by 7.2% with Cointreau itself coming in up by double digits thanks to markets such as the US and UK, Australia and Belgium. While the group's combined whisky business was up in the nine-month period, Metaxa, St-Remy brandy, The Botanist gin and Mount Gay rum continue to struggle, predominantly due to their combined historical reliances on the Europe, Middle East & Africa region and Global Travel Retail. Remy Cointreau Year-to-Date Fiscal-2021 - Sales by Business - Reported Source: Company results As for the rest of the financial year, Remy today forecast "buoyant organic sales growth" from the final three months (to the end of March) although the performance will not be as strong as Q3. To view Remy Cointreau's official third-quarter and year-to-date sales results announcement, click here. What's coming up in aged spirits in 2021? - Predictions for the Year Ahead Bill on state policy of transitional period provides for introduction of institute for convalidation of documents received in occupied territories Reznikov Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for the Reintegration of the Temporarily Occupied Territories of Ukraine Oleksiy Reznikov says that the bill on the state policy of the transitional period provides for the introduction of the institution of the convalidation of a number of documents received in the temporarily occupied territories. "We do not recognize the documents of the occupation regimes, we do not recognize the transactions that are concluded there, but we cannot but take into account the facts that occur in the occupied territories [...] We propose to standardize the concept of convalidation in certain categories of unilateral transactions," Reznikov told journalists on Friday. The deputy prime minister said this is not about the recognition of all documents from the temporarily occupied territories. In particular, an administrative procedure for registering acts of civil status is supposed: registration of birth, death, conclusion and dissolution of marriage in the temporarily occupied territories. Thus, for the registration of acts of civil status that occurred in the occupied territory, it will be enough to apply to the civil registration authority and obtain a certificate. In some cases, the Civil Registry Office may apply to the court if the provided documents are not enough to confirm the fact. It was also determined that notaries from ORDLO will not be recognized, but the courts will take into account some documents certified by them, in particular for inheritance. After the de-occupation, the Commissions for convalidation will work to confirm other legal documents, which will consider the possibility of their recognition in Ukraine. Based on the decision of such commissions, Ukrainian documents will be issued. As for educational documents, it is proposed that graduates from all the occupied territories can undergo certification to confirm their qualifications, which they received at the occupied territories, receive Ukrainian documents or continue their studies. Moreover, school education and higher education in some specialties can be confirmed without additional training. It is assumed that, according to the administrative procedure, the decision on acts of civil status will have to be made on the day of the appeal, and in case of refusal according to the judicial procedure as soon as possible. With regard to unilateral transactions, the judicial procedure will be within the time limits determined by the civil procedure code. As for the convalidation after de-occupation (all facts and transactions that can be convalidated in accordance with a separate law), it must be carried out within a month from the date of contacting the Commission for convalidation. It is noted that it will also be necessary to adopt a separate law on convalidation. A lecturer at the University of Ghana, Dr. Benjamin Okyere Ankrah has called on the security agencies to enforce the COVID-19 safety protocols ensuring that all Ghanaians mask up. According to him, no person must be allowed to move around without his or her mask because it will be injurious to them and others should any person be infected. Dr. Benjamin Ankrah was concerned about the sudden rise in the disease case count in the nation. The country's active cases currently stand at 2,178. Dr. Ankrah, speaking on Peace FM's ''Kokrokoo'', warned Ghanaians to stop trivializing the Coronavirus outbreak in the country. He urged the citizenry to become serious with observing the safety protocols as the disease is real and lethal. He charged the security forces to keep an eagle eye on the citizenry regarding the protocols. ''Everybody should be an agent of change...Let's fight this together. It's a collective fight'', he said. Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Page Content Temporary National Ordinance to amend the employment conditions of political authorities. This draft National Ordinance will temporarily reduce the employment conditions of political authorities by 25% per July 1, 2020. Temporary National Ordinance COVID-19 cuts employment conditions for civil servants. This draft National Ordinance will temporarily reduce personnel cost by adjusting the terms of employment of public servants by 12.5% per July 1, 2020. Temporary National Ordinance on the standardization of top incomes and adjustment of employment conditions at (semi) public sector entities. This draft National Ordinance will standardize top incomes and reduce the employment conditions by 12.5% per July 1, 2020, within the (semi) public sector to meet the conditions set by the Dutch Government. During the meeting, there was a misunderstanding concerning what documents were confidential and what could be shared openly with the members of Parliament pertaining to the country package agreements concluded in December 2020. These documents formed part of a Kingdom Council of Ministers meeting which also included letters from State Secretary Knops, and as such were classified as confidential. Prime Minister Jacobs and her support staff were able to make clarifications regarding what is confidential and what is not. As the country package agreements have now been signed and therefore established, it is now a document that can be shared openly. Prime Minister Jacobs apologized to the members of Parliament for the misunderstanding. Unanswered questions posed by the members of Parliament will be sent in writing to Parliament before the handling of the National Ordinances in a central committee meeting of Parliament to be held on Monday, January 25, 2021. Today, Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs attended a closed-door working meeting of the Committee of General Affairs of Parliament. During the meeting, she presented the legislative changes to three national ordinances for implementation of the cost cutting measures per the conditions for receiving the 2nd tranche of liquidity support from the government of the Netherlands. To meet these conditions St. Maarten drafted the following three amending National Ordinances in order for the cost cutting measures to be enforceable. Actress Priyanka Chopra Jonas knows best to keep her fans entertained on social media. The global icon keeps treating her fans with her stunning pictures and glimpses from her day-to-day life. However, this time the actress has shared some hilarious memes on US Senator Bernie Sanders as he became the most viral meme of the week for attending the US Presidential Inauguration in mittens and 'grandpa jacket'. As Sanders casual attire sparked off the splash of memes, PeeCee too couldnt resist herself from sharing the same. She fitted him in his chair in every picture of her family members that she shared. In the first picture, Sanders can be seen sitting beside Priyankas brother, Siddharth on a dining table. In the second picture, PeeCee fitted little Sanders in her mother Dr Madhu Chopras arms. The third picture shows Sanders sitting in a boat with Priyanka, her husband Nick and niece Sky, while in the next, he can be seen interrupting some romantic moments between Nick and Priyanka. However, among all the pictures, PeeCee saved the best for the last where Sanders can be seen sitting with the cast of The White Tiger on its sets. Meanwhile, the actress is on cloud nine as her film The White Tiger is released today on Netflix and has been getting good reviews from the media. The actress also shared the screenshots of various media portals appreciating the plot as well as the cast. The film is an adaptation of Arvind Adiga's 2008 Booker Prize-winning book and is helmed by Ramin Bahrani. The film features Priyanka, Rajkummar Rao and Adarsh Gourav in pivotal roles. The teaser of the movie looks promising to the audience. A day ago, PeeCee shared the teaser of the video on her Instagram and expressed her excitement. Meanwhile, PeeCee is also eagerly awaiting the launch of her memoir Unfinished. President Joe Biden Biden's immigration plan represents a major pivot, away from nativism, division, and hatred, towards a more inclusive, humane, safe and economically vibrant America. Yesterday, after months of speculation, and after decades of failed attempts by many to reform the U.S. immigration system, newly-inaugurated President Joseph Biden takes a bold step in fulfilling his campaign promise to overhaul the U.S. immigration system, by announcing his bill, the U.S. Citizenship of Act of 2021. Richard Herman, a nationally-renowned immigration lawyer and co-author of the book, Immigrant, Inc. Why Immigrant Entrepreneurs Are Driving the New Economy (and how they will save the American Worker) (Wiley, 2009), says that this new immigration bill, if passed by Congress, will make America stronger: Our current immigration system is broken, fails to treat people with dignity, separates families, and undermines our economy and safety. Legalization of undocumented immigrants, many of whom have lived and worked in the U.S. for more than 10 years and have deep roots in the community, deserve an opportunity to join the American family. Similarly, for too long, the U.S. immigration system has disregarded the talents of highly-educated immigrants, many of whom have left the U.S. or have immigrated to more welcoming countries. The Biden Immigration bill is a great first step in modernizing an antiquated system and re-imagining how our immigration laws must reflect our character as a nation of immigrants. This bill comes after former President Trump has waged a four-year war on immigrants, both undocumented, as well as legal immigrants. Leveraging white nationalism ideology and the pandemic, Trump implemented measures to restrict legal immigration and demonize immigrants. It is anticipated that nearly 11 million undocumented immigrants may be eligible to normalize their immigration status should the Biden bill become law. Additionally, hundreds of thousands of high skilled immigrants, primarily those from India and China, who have been waiting years for a green card, will be able to obtain permanent residency should Congress approve. The proposed Citizenship Act of 2021, which accompanies a flurry of Executive Orders by President Biden, reversing many of Trumps Executive Orders on immigration, such as the Travel Ban from predominantly Muslim nations, provides the following: Foreign nationals present in the U.S. on or before January 1, 2021, and who pass a criminal background check, would be eligible to apply for temporary legal status, apply for green cards after five years if they meet certain requirements, and citizenship three years later; Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA or Dreamers) holders, Temporary Protected (TPS) recipients, and farm workers who are present on or before January 1, 2021, who meet certain requirements would be immediately eligible for green cards and citizenship three years later; The Secretary of DHS may waive the physical presence requirement for those deported on or after January 20, 2017 who were physically present for at least three years prior to removal for family unity and humanitarian purposes; Keeping families together by clearing backlogs, recapturing unused visas, eliminating lengthy wait times, increasing per-country visa caps. and eliminating so called 3 and 10-year bars and other provisions that keep families apart; Embraces diversity by including the NO BAN ACT that prohibits discrimination based on religion and limits presidential authority to issue future bans. The bill also includes increasing Diversity Visas to 80,000 from 55,000; Grow our economy by clearing employment-based visa backlogs, recaptures unused visas, reduces lengthy wait times, and eliminates per country caps. The bill makes it easier for graduates of U.S. universities with advanced STEM degrees to stay in the U.S.; improves access to green cards for workers in lower-wage sector; and eliminates other unnecessary hurdles for employment based green cards; Provides dependents of H1B visa holders work authorization, and children are prevented from aging out of the system; Creates a pilot program to stimulate regional economic development, gives DHS the authority to adjust green cards based on macroeconomic conditions, and incentivizes higher wages for non-immigrant higher skilled visas to prevent unfair competition with American workers; Protects workers from exploitation and improves the employment verification process; Supports asylum seekers and other vulnerable populations. The bill eliminates the one year deadline for filing for asylum and provides funding to reduce the asylum application backlog; Improve the immigration court system with new technology, and to protect vulnerable individuals by providing judges with training and discretion to review cases and grant relief to deserving individuals; Increases protection for U visa, T visa, and VAWA applicants, including raising the cap on U visas from 10,000 to 30,000; and $4 billion interagency plan that would provide aid to El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras in effort to tackle the root causes of undocumented immigration: violence, poverty and corruption. In analyzing the Biden immigration plan, Richard Herman, founder of the Herman Legal Group, states the following: This plan represents a major pivot, away from nativism, division, and hatred, towards a more inclusive, humane, safe and economically vibrant America. Contact the Herman Legal Group for More Information: 1-800-808-4013 Founded in 1995, the Herman Legal Group focuses on immigration law, including family immigration, removal defense, employment-based immigration, investor immigration, asylum, immigration waivers. We are headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, and have additional offices in Columbus, Columbus, Cincinnati, Dayton, Toledo, Detroit, Buffalo, Pittsburgh, Charlotte, Miami, and Dallas. We serve clients, in over 12 languages, in all 50 states. Richard Herman is one of the pioneers of the movement by Midwest cities to attract and welcome immigrants who can help grow the economy, create jobs and reverse progressive depopulation. He regularly advises cities and counties on innovative ways to leverage existing immigration law to create jobs and attract foreign direct investment. Voted for inclusion in the 2015-2020 editions of The Best Lawyers in America and listed in Super Lawyers for more than fifteen consecutive years, Richard began his immigration law career by moving to Moscow, Russia in 1993, straight out of law school, to eventually open a law office two blocks from the Kremlin to represent post-Soviet entrepreneurs. As an authority on U.S. immigration law and a provocateur for immigrant-friendly, pro-entrepreneur policies , Richard is often invited to strategize and deliver keynote addresses around the country, as he has often done for Michael Bloomberg and Rupert Murdochs Partnership for a New American Economy, chambers of commerce, universities and cities. Known for his direct and sometimes controversial style, Richard has appeared in numerous national media outlets, including FOX News, National Public Radio, and has appeared in the New York Times, USA Today, BusinessWeek, Forbes, Inc., PC World, Computerworld, CIO, TechCrunch and InformationWeek. He is the co-author of the book, Immigrant, Inc. Richard is married to Kimberly Chen, an immigrant from Taiwan who overcame her undocumented status to become an American physician. They live in the Cleveland area with their two children, whom they are raising to be citizens of the world. BRIDGEPORT One person was wounded in a shooting Thursday night, according to police. Officers responded to a ShotSpotter gunfire activation alert in the 1500 block of Stratford Avenue around 10 p.m. Police said preliminary information indicated a person was shot, but there was no further information on the extent of the individuals injuries. This is a developing story. Check back for updates. There is a photo pinned to a board where I write that is just joyous. It was taken on Australia Day a year ago at the beach and features my dear friend John, my dog and myself. Fresh from the surf, our embrace is backlit by a sensational retreating sun and we are all beaming. If ever there was to be a caption happy days, this picture deserves it. Australia Day is for many people about going to the beach. Credit:James Brickwood For John, the picture has a special relevance. He had just returned from a long stint living in the US and it was his first Australia Day back home. As we hit the beach that day and noticed crowds with flags waving and some revellers faces painted with the Union Jack, John flinched. The last time he had seen such a patriotic display was in Sydneys Maroubra, where he lived before he left some 15 years earlier. As a black man, the overt patriotic symbols worried him. Am I OK here? he asked me tentatively. His question broke my heart. You see, I too remember the ugliness of that awful time in December 2005, when so-called loyalists rioted at Sydney beaches after messages calling for a "Leb and Wog bashing day" had been shared widely, producing unruly crowds sporting Southern Cross tattoos and spouting racist slurs. Vision of the shameful exhibition was broadcast all over the world, causing some countries to issue a warning for its citizens not to travel to Australia. Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Editors note Last year, the outbreak of the novel coronavirus epidemic upended annual Chinese Lunar New Year celebrations. Although China was successful in bringing the pandemic under control, recent outbreaks of new locally transmitted cases in parts of the country have raised alarm bells for public safety ahead of the start of the Year of the Ox on February 12. This series explores how Spring Festival is shaping up in Shanghai. Yang Huaikang, 61, a Shanghai resident in Hongkou District, has made a tough decision: He canceled his booking for the traditional nianyefan, or Chinese New Years Eve dinner, for his family at a local restaurant. Restaurants typically get booked out as the traditional festival approaches. With that in mind, Yang made a reservation for 12 people back in September 2020 at a restaurant near the home of his mother, who is in her 80s. Its been a tradition for our family to dine out because it is convenient and there is a festive atmosphere at restaurants with other families on the Lunar New Years Eve, he told Shanghai Daily. The Chinese New Year Eve falls on February 11 this year. Yangs cancellation came on the heels of heightened public health alerts for novel coronavirus after parts of the country reported a spike in locally transmitted cases. We had to cancel the meal last year due to coronavirus, he said. So I hesitated and even struggled with the decision this year. But given the age of several family members in their 70s and 80s, I made a decision that respects their health. He said he hopes the family can reschedule a dinner out together later this year. Family reunion banquets are one of Chinas most cherished annual traditions. However, lingering vestiges of the pandemic is changing the way people will celebrate Chinese New Years Eve this year. As Shanghai authorities step up precautions against the virus, more people are planning to hold reunion dinners at home. National authorities are urging people to stay at home if possible and avoid travel or large gatherings. Yang is part of a wave of people canceling restaurant bookings. Time-honored Guang Ming Cun restaurant and the Heji restaurant chain are reporting people backing out of reservations. Instead, semi-prepared food packages that require only simple cooking are enjoying a boom in sales. Amy Jiang, who works at a state-owned food company in Shanghai, said she wont be returning to her hometown of Yichun in Jiangxi Province this coming Spring Festival. My company has advised us to stay in the city during the holiday, and I heeded the call, she told Shanghai Daily. I have ordered a nianyefan food package and will cook at home. I will have dinner with my boyfriend and another two friends who are also from Yichun. She said her parents in Jiangxi support her decision, given the current wave of epidemic cases in parts of the country. Sunya Cantonese Restaurant at the Nanjing Road Pedestrian Mall, which dates back to 1926, said its nianyefan package sales in December rose 20 percent from the same period a year earlier. The eatery was one of the earliest to initiate Lunar New Years Eve meal packages in the city. It is offering five sets, ranging in prices from 998 yuan (US$154) to 2,598 yuan. Our chefs are at their busiest from now through the Spring Festival holiday, said Zhu Hong, Sunyas deputy executive chef. They are on 24-hour shifts to meet the demand. Sunyas partially cooked meal sets can be ordered as takeaways at the restaurant or online. Sales are projected to be better this year, Zhu said. Preparation time for semi-cooked food such as chicken soup with fungus and duck soup with dried bamboo shoots is significantly shorter this year. In the past, people needed to simmer the soups themselves with prepared ingredients, which took four to five hours. Now, the entire cooking process takes only 30 minutes. This allows customers to be able to enjoy the expertise of our chefs at home, he added. Opened in 1851, another time-honored restaurant Xing Hua Lou is offering seven sets of nianyefan packages. We have increased the diversity of cuisines by 30 percent from last year, said Wang Xiaping, catering manager of Xing Hua Lou. They cater to the demands of both small families from four to six people to big ones of between 10 and 12. She added, For the first time, we are offering free delivery of nianyefan packages to limit human contact. Sales of partially cooked banquets have been quite robust. We have already witnessed a 10 percent increase of sales over last year. The Park Hotel said its nianyefan packages have almost sold out, with sales surging 20 percent. Most of its orders come from loyal diners, who can enjoy the excellent tastes they are used to while dining at home, said Qian Min, deputy general manager of the hotel. Guang Ming Cun restaurant said sales of its nianyefan packages are expected to rise 10 percent this year. Customers also include people not native to Shanghai, who are remaining in the city during the holiday, said Xiang Kaiyu, general manager of the eatery. Shanghai Classical Hotel is offering three packages for nianyefan this year, including some of its signature Shanghai-style cuisine, such as babaoya, or eight-treasure duck, and fried river shrimp. They are easy to cook, and the restaurant has even uploaded a video on its WeChat account explaining step-by-step procedures. Packages for families of three to four people sold out within a month, the restaurant said. The supply of nianyefan sets is expected to increase about 30 percent this year, said Jin Peihua, deputy secretary-general of the Shanghai Restaurants Association. The association has published a list of 434 restaurants that provide residents with cooked or partially cooked meals. Among them are time-honored brands such as Lu Bo Lang, Sunya Cantonese Restaurant, Da Fu Gui Restaurant and Xing Hua Lou Restaurant, as well as many popular eatery chains. Shanghai Commission of Commerce said there are more varieties of meals available for takeaway or delivery this year, many at affordable prices. The sudden outbreak of the epidemic last year happened just before the Spring Festival and posed a heavy blow to the citys catering industry, said analyst Yuan Lijun with Business Information of Shanghai. It prompted many catering companies to explore new channels, he said. Some have built or expanded central kitchens or food-processing plants. The citys supermarkets and e-commerce food suppliers are also taking advantage of the new stay-at-home trend. Carrefour China said it has increased the varieties of its partially cooked cuisines to 25 this year, in cooperation with Sunya Cantonese Restaurant. It has also teamed up with Xiao Nan Guo, a famous Shanghainese restaurant chain, and Da Xi Di, a frozen food brand in China, to ensure supply. Grocery e-commerce platform Dingdong Maicai said it has developed nearly 100 varieties of cuisines that are quick to cook. These include famous Cantonese stewed soup fotiaoqiang (Buddha jumps over the wall), Hainan Wenchang coconut chicken, Beijing spicy lamb hotpot, Sichuan-style boiled bullfrog and the Shanghai classic cuisine babaoya, said Xiong Wei, vice president of Dingdong Maicai. They cover flavors from across the country, which will bring comfort to rural migrants who are staying in Shanghai instead of going back to their hometowns for the holiday, said Xiong. Some of the meals were developed in cooperation with big restaurants, such as the local Michelin-starred Jardin de Jade. Alibabas Freshippo started to prepare easy-to-cook meals in early January for people in Shanghai, Beijing and Hangzhou cities with large migrant populations. An employee surnamed Huang at Freshippos outlet in downtown Huangpu District said the meals replicate traditional dishes from Hunan, Hubei and Sichuan provinces. Semi-prepared meals cost between 400 and 600 yuan, and some are tailored for dinners of no more than six people. Instead of catering to big gatherings, we are offering smaller potions, even in our most popular products, such as Shanghai-style braised wheat gluten and pork belly, said Chen Meijun, head of Freshippos catering business in Shanghai. Last year, sales of these dishes at Freshippos Shanghai stores during the Spring Festival break doubled from a year earlier. Alibabas on-demand delivery site Ele.me said it is expecting New Years Eve set meals for one or two people to sell well. The number of search requests for New Year Eves Dinner on its site has surged fourfold in recent weeks. Delivery services have become the new norm when shopping for New Years gifts and necessities. Walmart said it intends to expand next-day delivery to all outlets in more than 130 domestic cities by the end of this month. Sams Club is offering easy-to-cook dinner sets for the first time, with deliveries guaranteed on both Lunar New Years Eve and New Years Day. Walmart has doubled its supply of staples like cooking oil and rice, and has also increased production capacity for frozen dumplings fourfold at its Sams Club stores. Walmart Tianlin Store manager He Wei said migrants particularly like meals that offer them the tastes of their hometowns. Zhenwei Xiaomeiyuan, a two-year-old startup headquartered in Shanghai, is offering these meals like Kung Pao chicken and scallion pancakes, popular dishes that arent all that easy to prepare quickly at home. Chief Executive Officer Pu Wenming said offline supermarkets now contribute about 40 percent of total sales, with online orders making up the remainder. Dozens of new menu items are being developed to cater to the particular tastes of regional cuisines, he noted. Demand for packaged and semi-cooked meals has pushed online sales up to 10 million yuan in just three months. Michael Moore thinks former President Donald Trump is headed to prison. The liberal firebrand filmmaker posted a celebratory tweet to mark Trump's exit from the White House on Wednesday. 'He has just left the White House for good,' the acclaimed producer of hit films like Roger & Me and Bowling for Columbine tweeted on Thursday. 'We the people have evicted him. I will go ahead & cancel the U-Haul.' Moore added: 'He now flies over the wreckage he has created, knowing we are not done with him. 'Trial. Conviction. Imprisonment. 'He must pay for his actions - a first-ever for him.' Michael Moore (left), the liberal filmmaker behind such hits as Roger & Me and Bowling for Columbine, thinks former President Donald Trump (right) is headed to prison 'We the people have evicted him. I will go ahead & cancel the U-Haul,' Moore tweeted. 'He now flies over the wreckage he has created, knowing we are not done with him.' He then added: 'Trial. Conviction. Imprisonment.' The tweet included a screenshot from television footage showing Trump and his wife, former First Lady Melania Trump, walking toward Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House for the final time on Wednesday. The 'trial' Moore is referring to could be the upcoming impeachment trial in the Senate. Days before he left office, Trump was impeached by the House of Representatives for the second time in his presidency - the first time a sitting president has been impeached twice. The House approved a single article of impeachment accusing the president of 'incitement to insurrection' for his role in the January 6 MAGA riot at the United States Capitol. On that day, Congress was meeting to certify Joe Biden's election victory. Trump, who was pressuring Republican lawmakers not to certify the election results, spoke at a rally near the White House during which he urged his supporters to march toward the Capitol. 'We're going to walk down to the Capitol, and we're going to cheer on our brave senators, and congressmen and women,' Trump told his supporters. 'We're probably not going to be cheering so much for some of them because you'll never take back our country with weakness. 'You have to show strength, and you have to be strong.' 'After this, we're going to walk down and I'll be there with you,' Trump said. At one point in the speech, Trump told the crowd they should 'peacefully and patriotically make your voices heard.' Trump returned to the White House after the remarks and reportedly watched the attack on television. After the speech, mobs of the president's supporters stormed the barricades surrounding the Capitol and ransacked the building, sending members of Congress to secure rooms in fear for their lives. Five people died, including a police officer and a rioter who was shot while trying to break into the House Chamber. Trump is set to stand trial in the United States Senate after the House impeached him a second time earlier this month for 'incitement to insurrection.' Trump gave a speech to supporters on January 6 urging them to march to the US Capitol, where MAGA rioters ransacked the building Thousands of pro-Trump protesters descended on the Capitol Wednesday, January 6 in an attempt to stop Congress from voting to certify the election for Joe Biden In the Senate trial, two-thirds of the members - or 67 senators - would need to find Trump guilty in order to convict him. If Trump is convicted, the Senate could then move to bar him from ever holding public office again. Still, Trump is unlikely to face criminal charges in connection with the violent siege on the Capitol because of the country's broad free speech protections, some legal experts said. He has since disavowed any responsibility for the storming of the Capitol, telling reporters his words have been analyzed 'and everybody ... thought it was totally appropriate.' There is a chapter of US law dealing with 'subversive activities.' One federal law makes it a crime to engage in 'rebellion or insurrection' against the federal government. Another statute, known as seditious conspiracy, prohibits conspiracies to 'overthrow' the US government or seize government property by force. The District of Columbia has its own criminal code, which says anyone who 'willfully incites or urges other persons to engage in a riot' shall face a fine or up to 180 days in prison. Trump would have a strong argument that he engaged in free speech protected by the First Amendment of the US Constitution, legal experts said. Trump can argue that his rhetoric was sufficiently ambiguous, and that when he said 'fight' he did not mean attack the Capitol, they said. In a seminal 1969 case, the Supreme Court overturned the conviction of an Ohio Ku Klux Klan leader, Clarence Brandenburg, for his brief speech at a rally urging a dozen followers to go to Washington and attack politicians. The court said prosecutors have to prove speech is directed at inciting 'imminent lawless action' and it has to be likely to produce that action. A top prosecutor in the District of Columbia, Ken Kohl, on January 8 told reporters that he did not expect to see a criminal case against Trump for inciting violence. Smith said he thought the Biden administration would be wary of bringing a 'prosecution that pushes the boundaries of constitutional law' right after taking over from Trump. 'That would be pretty aggressive.' That still doesn't mean that Trump is out of the woods. Now that he is no longer president, Trump no longer has immunity from criminal prosecution. As a private citizen, Trump could very well face legal woes on a number of fronts. Since taking office in January 2017, Trump has been besieged by civil lawsuits and criminal investigations of his inner circle. Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance, who enforces New York state laws, has been conducting a criminal investigation into Trump and the Trump Organization for more than two years. The probe originally focused on hush money payments that Trump's former lawyer and self-described fixer Michael Cohen paid before the 2016 election to two women who said they had sexual encounters with Trump, which the president has denied. Vance, a Democrat, has suggested in recent court filings that his probe is now broader and could focus on bank, tax and insurance fraud, as well as falsification of business records. Republican Trump has called Vance's case politically motivated harassment. The case has drawn attention because of Vance's efforts to obtain eight years of Trump's tax returns. Trump could also face criminal prosecution in New York, where Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr (pictured) is leading an investigation into alleged financial crimes by the former president and his businesses Vance is waiting on a US Supreme Court decision that could force Trump's accounting firm Mazars USA to hand over his tax records from 2011 to 2018, but has already obtained some of the information from other sources, people familiar with the matter told Fortune. Trump's tax returns are considered to be the keystone in the case, and depending on the level of access Vance has gained to them, his probe could now be at an advanced stage. In July, the US Supreme Court, denying Trump's bid to keep the returns under wraps, said the president was not immune from state criminal probes while in office, but could raise other defenses to Vance's subpoena. Vance will likely ultimately prevail in obtaining Trump's financial records, legal experts said. The Justice Department has said a sitting president cannot be indicted. Vance is not bound by that policy because he is not a federal prosecutor, but he may still have been reluctant to charge then-President Trump because of uncertainty over whether the case was constitutional, said Harry Sandick, a former prosecutor in New York. 'Those concerns will disappear when Trump leaves office,' Sandick had said. The investigation poses a threat to Trump, said Corey Brettschneider, a professor of political science at Brown University. 'The fact that they have issued the subpoenas and have litigated all the way to the Supreme Court suggests that this is a very serious criminal investigation of the president,' Brettschneider said. Vance's probe is just one of several legal threats that Trump faces. Also in the spotlight: The New York AG is investigating whether there was a tax fraud involving the Seven Springs Estate in Bedford, Westchester County, north of New York City. New York Attorney General Letitia James is conducting a civil investigation into whether the Trump Organization artificially inflated property values to obtain tax benefits. James began investigating potential fraud in Donald Trump's business dealings in March 2019 after the president's longtime personal lawyer Michael Cohen told Congress that Trump had repeatedly inflated the value of his assets to obtain more favorable terms for loans and insurance coverage. That inquiry is a civil investigation, which could result in financial penalties but not jail time. Trump also faces separate defamation lawsuits related to alleged sexual assaults, both of which he denied, brought by two women - E. Jean Carroll, a former Elle magazine writer, and Summer Zervos, a 2005 contestant on 'The Apprentice.' Mary Trump, the president's niece, also has filed a lawsuit accusing him and two family members of fraud and conspiracy to deprive her of her share of the family's real-estate empire. Trump could conceivably face a criminal prosecution brought by the Department of Justice, led by a new attorney general, Merrick Garland. Some legal experts have said Trump could face federal income tax evasion charges, pointing to a New York Times report that Trump paid $750 in federal income taxes in both 2016 and 2017. 'You've got the stuff that has come out of the New York Times that has all kind of indicia of tax fraud,' Nick Akerman, a lawyer at Dorsey & Whitney and a former federal prosecutor. Vance's probe, which began more than two years ago, originally focused on hush money payments made by the president's former lawyer and fixer Michael Cohen (center) The hush money payments went to pornographic film star Stormy Daniels (left) and former Playboy model Karen McDougal (right), who said they had sexual encounters with Trump Akerman cautioned that it is not possible to know for certain until seeing all of the evidence. Trump has rejected findings from the Times report, tweeting that he had paid many millions of dollars in taxes but was entitled to depreciation and tax credits. Such a prosecution would be deeply controversial, and the Justice Department could decide charging Trump is not in the public interest even if there is evidence of criminal wrongdoing. Biden has approached that question very carefully, saying he would not interfere with his Justice Department's judgment. Biden told National Public Radio in August that pursuing criminal charges against his predecessor would be 'a very, very unusual thing and probably not very - how can I say it? - good for democracy.' Trump could also be criminally charged by prosecutors in Georgia for a phone call in which he is heard pressuring election officials to 'find' votes that would have nullified Biden's victory in the Peach State on November 3. On January 2nd, Trump pressured Georgia's Republican secretary of state, Brad Raffensperger, to 'find' enough votes to overturn Biden's win in the state's presidential election. During the phone call, the then-president repeatedly citing disproven claims of fraud and raising the prospect of a 'criminal offense' if officials did not change the vote count, according to a recording of the conversation. The phone call with Raffensperger was part of an unprecedented effort by a sitting president to press a state official to reverse the outcome of a free and fair election that he lost. Trump refused to accept his loss to Biden, repeatedly arguing that Raffensperger could change the certified results. 'I just want to find 11,780 votes, which is one more than we have. Because we won the state,' said Trump. Trump also faces possible legal exposure in Georgia. The new district attorney in Fulton County is considering starting an inquiry into the former president The center of the inquiry would be the January 2 phone call Trump made to Brad Raffensperger, Georgia's secretary of state, who was told by the then-president to 'find' votes that would nullify Biden's victory David Worley, a Democratic member of the Georgia State Election Board, sent an email to Raffensperger night requesting that his office open an investigation into the call. 'To say that I am troubled by President Trump's attempt to manipulate the votes of Georgians would be an understatement,' Worley wrote. Worley cited two violations of Georgia law that he said the president might have committed based on his reading of a transcript of the call: conspiracy to commit election fraud and criminal solicitation to commit election fraud. Once the secretary of state's office completes an investigation, Worley wrote, the board will determine whether there is probable cause to refer the matter to the state attorney general and Fulton County district attorney. Fani Willis, just elected to be the district attorney in Fulton County, is also considering the idea of hiring an outside person to oversee a criminal investigation, according to the New York Times. 'It seems clearly there was a crime committed,' said Joshua Morrison, a former senior assistant district attorney in Fulton County. 'If you took the fact out that he is the president of the United States and look at the conduct of the call, it tracks the communication you might see in any drug case or organized crime case,' said Michael J. Moore, a former attorney for the Middle District of Georgia. 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. Warren Buffett has always had a way with words. The greatest investor of this generation has dropped countless quotes to leave us inspired, but one has alluded me. Until now. In Buffett's 2015 letter to shareholders of Berkshire Hathaway, Buffett summarized how one arrives at leadership greatness in a few words: Much of what you become in life depends on whom you choose to admire and copy. The quote was in reference to Tom Murphy -- an exceptional leader who taught Buffett everything he learned about managing a company. Murphy built Capital Cities Communications into a telecommunications empire. In 1995, he sold the company (then Capital Cities/ABC) to Disney for approximately $19 billion. 3 things to copy from leaders you admire A CEO plays many roles. The most important one is casting a vision and setting direction, and then inspiring the workforce to achieve their goals. Murphy, who was Buffett's biggest admirer, gave plenty of lessons on the best management practices that Buffett has adapted for his own companies. 1. Give autonomy to workers. Employees must be given autonomy to make decisions in the moment. At the most advanced organizations, employees aren't just permitted to act on decisions, they're actively encouraged to go beyond the traditional scope of their jobs and operate autonomously when they have enough information and the right data. Both Buffett and Murphy subscribe to a decentralized management philosophy. The key is always to hire the right people first, train them well, push decisions down the organization, and then resist the temptation to be involved with details. Putting this trust and power in the hands of workers is critical to success. 2. Delegate effectively and wisely. Once you're comfortable with increasing autonomy across the organization, the first pillar to successful management is delegation. And two-way trust must be established for a leader to feel comfortable delegating authority and sharing responsibilities. While some level of patience is required, delegating tasks effectively leads to employees feeling useful, empowered, and integral to the functioning of the organization. Murphy was known for the heavy delegation of authority, but he held his managers accountable for performance. Like great leaders, you must have both because delegation without accountability is an exercise in futility. 3. Hire for integrity and common sense. Buffett has repeatedly advised leaders over the years to weigh integrity above all traits when building a company. He once said: We look for three things when we hire people. We look for intelligence, we look for initiative or energy, and we look for integrity. And if they don't have the latter, the first two will kill you, because if you're going to get someone without integrity, you want them lazy and dumb. Murphy adds another trait to consider in leaders: common sense. In a 2000 interview with Harvard Business School, Murphy shared: One of the interesting things I've learned in my life is that one of the most uncommon things in life is common sense. It's very hard to notice whether people have great common sense. These days, managers appear to have misplaced their logical brains as employees suffer from perpetual change fatigue, entire days are spent in one Zoom meeting after another, and bureaucracy chokes the air out of innovation and business agility. A Republican Congressman wants to put a stipulation on who receives the next round of stimulus payments they must receive a coronavirus vaccine. Rep. Steve Stivers, R-Ohio, told Yahoo Finance Live he thinks President Joe Bidens $1,400 stimulus shouldnt be distributed without the vaccine stipulation. I hope the administration will look at that option because we actually buy something with our $1,400 and thats herd immunity, Stivers said. Biden has proposed the $1,400 per person stimulus that, when coupled with the $600 payments approved in December 2020, would bring the total to $2,000, an amount sought by both Democrats and former President Donald Trump. The first $1,200-per-person stimulus was approved in March during the early days of the coronavirus pandemic. Stivers said the $2 trillion price tag for the entire stimulus package would be worth it if it pays for the right things. The quickest thing we need to do if we really want to help the American people, is get this economy turned back on get people back to work, get kids back in school, get ourselves some herd immunity, get the vaccine distributed as quick as we can and get the uptake rate up, Stivers said. Thats why Id be willing to accept a $1,400 stimulus check if people are willing to take the vaccine. Stivers suggestion isnt the first time pay for vaccine has been proposed. U.S. Rep. John Delaney, D-Maryland, said late last year that payments he suggested $1,500 would be an incentive for people to receive the vaccine. The faster we get 75% of this country vaccinated, the faster we end COVID and the sooner everything returns to normal, Delaney said. We have to create, in my judgment, an incentive for people to really accelerate their thinking about taking the vaccine. Samsung has decided to stop making its Galaxy Note line-up of smartphones, according to a report from Softpedia News. The report cited a cryptic tweet from tech leaker Ice Universe, which included the caption Galaxy Note and an image with a The End movie credit. Ice Universe was one of the early insiders who confirmed this years Galaxy S21 Ultra would support the S Pen stylus which previously only worked on Galaxy Note smartphones. His latest claim has been confirmed by display industry insider Ross Young, who recently tweeted that there is no Note 21 forthcoming. Young added, however, that a Note 20 Fan Edition may yet be launched. Samsungs Note smartphones initially set themselves apart from the S Series flagships as products for professional and business users, offering much larger displays more suitable for use with a stylus. For example, the original Galaxy Note released in 2011 had a 5.29-inch display, which was very large by that periods standards. By contrast, the first Galaxy S models screen size measured around 4 inches. However, the two line-ups have in recent years grown closer to each other both in terms of hardware and screen sizes,. Fast-forward to 2020s releases, and the top-end Galaxy S20 Ultra and Note 20 Ultra both boast 6.9-inch displays. With the differences in display sizes and now support for the S Pen no longer being factors, it makes little sense for Samsung to keep offering two distinct flagship line-ups. S Pen coming to more devices President and Head of Samsung Mobiles Communication Business TM Roh earlier this month said that S Pen support would be added to more devices in the future. Weve made the bold decision to expand the S Pen experience to Galaxy S21 Ultra, and plan to expand the S Pen experience across additional device categories in the future, Roh said. We remain committed to providing the best mobile experience to our consumers and will continue to actively listen and consider consumer feedback in our product innovations, Roh added. Now read: Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra vs iPhone 12 Pro Max Flash Canadian Governor General Julie Payette announced her resignation Thursday afternoon after media reported the conclusion of a harassment investigation at the governor general's office. "Everyone has a right to a healthy and safe work environment, at all times and under all circumstances. It appears this was not always the case at the Office of the Secretary to the Governor General," Payette said in a statement Thursday. "Tensions have arisen at Rideau Hall over the past few months and for that, I am sorry." Payette's resignation came hours after media reports said that an independent review into workplace harassment allegations against her was completed and that the details of the report were "damaging." "While no formal complaints or official grievances were made during my tenure, which would have immediately triggered a detailed investigation as prescribed by law and the collective agreements in place, I still take these allegations very seriously," Payette said. Payette said her resignation came at an "opportune time" as her father's health is worsening. Last July, Canada's Privy Council Office launched the investigation in response to a CBC News report featuring a dozen public servants and former employees confidentially claiming Payette had belittled, berated and publicly humiliated the staff of Rideau Hall -- the governor general's office. Payette was sworn in as the 29th Canadian governor general in 2017. Born in Montreal, Payette, 57, worked as an astronaut and scientist and flew two missions in space from 1992 to 2013. She has previously served as the chief operating officer of the Montreal Science Centre and was also on the board of directors for the National Bank of Canada. (JTA) When someone threw rocks a couple months ago at the doors of a Chabad center in Atlanta, the glass didnt shatter. Thats because earlier in the year, local Chabad leaders decided to reevaluate their security following an incident with a trespasser. Neil Rabinovitz, a former 22-year veteran of the FBI who now works as community security director for the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta, visited the site and performed a security assessment. He determined that the building needed to add more security cameras, change its system for locking doors and presciently, install a... New Delhi: The Congress on Friday demanded a joint parliamentary committee (JPC) probe into the purported WhatsApp chats of Arnab Goswami for breach of national security and violations of Official Secrets Act and book those involved. The Congress Working Committee, the highest decision making body of the grand old party, passed a resolution to this effect. The CWC, chaired by Sonia Gandhi earlier discussed the issue along with that of the farmers' agitation and the COVID-19 vaccination drive and passed three resolutions on each of them. "The CWC demands a time-bound investigation by a Joint Parliamentary Committee to enquire into the breach of national security, violations of Official Secrets Act and the role of the persons involved. Ultimately, those who are guilty of treacherous behaviour must be brought before the law and punished," the CWC resolution said. The CWC expresses its grave concern at the revelations "exposing the sordid conversations that have undoubtedly compromised national security", it said. "It is clear that among those involved are persons in the highest echelons of government and there has been a breach of secrecy concerning vital and sensitive military operations. The revelations also point to inexcusable and deliberate subservion of government structures, scandalous and extraneous influence over government policies, and a vicious attack on the independence of the judiciary," the resolution also said. It alleged that the "shameful compromise" of the Modi government with non-government players has been exposed. The CWC also expressed shock that even days after the revelations, the prime minister and central government remained silent on the issue as though the storm will pass. "Their silence undermines their collusion, complicity and guilt. The storm will not pass and we will hold the central government accountable for compromising national security and aiding India's adversaries," the resolution said. Earlier, in her introductory remarks, Sonia Gandhi said there have been "very disturbing reports" on how national security has been "so thoroughly compromised". Referring to former defence minister AK Antony dubbing the leaking of official secrets of military operations as treason, she said the silence from the government's side on what has been revealed has been deafening. "Those who give certificates of patriotism and nationalism to others now stand totally exposed," the Congress chief said. In another resolution, the CWC demanded that the Centre immediately repeals the three 'anti-agri' laws, against which the farmers have launched an agitation for the last over 50 days. The CWC noted that these three laws impinge upon the constitutional rights of states and constitute the first step in dismantling the three pillars of the edifice of food security built up over the past decades - MSP, public procurement and PDS and also did not pass the test of parliamentary scrutiny as they were bulldozed by muzzling the voice of the opposition. The resolution further said that the farmers only want repeal of the laws, but the government continues to side-step, malign, deceive and hoodwink the farmers by attempting to tire out, intimidate and divide the farmers. In another resolution, the CWC said it calls upon the central government to take all necessary steps to overcome the hesitancy among frontline health professionals on COVID-19 vaccination. "The hesitancy is on account of the blatant politicisation of the regulatory process in order to boost the image of the prime minister. "The CWC underlines that India's under-privileged, disadvantages and marginalised sections, particularly the scheduled castes, the scheduled tribes, other backward classes and the poor, need to be administered the vaccine free of charge and within a time-bound period," KC Venugopal said while reading out the resolution. Ireland will be in and out of lockdown until 2022 unless a zero Covid policy is adopted, top microbiologist James McInerney has said. The Head of School of Life Science in the University of Nottingham said Ireland almost had zero Covid cases in July, but the only way to get back to this is to adopt the same policy as New Zealand. Speaking on RTEs Morning Ireland, he said: Moving from one place to another is the major cause of spread of this infection. Read More I dont wish to point out the obvious but Ireland is an island and it can be sealed. For lots of people who are coming into Ireland, the screening isnt working. "It seems obvious for me what to do, it seems obvious for me to take the New Zealand strategy or else youre going to be in and out of lockdown for the rest of the year and into 2022. "There is a way out and it is to seal up your borders and within the country to drive the number down to zero, and you almost had that done by last July. Dr Margaret Harris from the World Health Organisation (WHO) said that a zero Covid policy is the best way of stopping the virus from causing havoc. Speaking on the same programme about a zero Covid policy, she said: We are expecting that may well be difficult for many countries, but you want to bring down your transmission to a level where you can find out exactly where the virus is coming from. Dr Harris added that with the level of infection in Ireland at the moment, its almost impossible to track it everywhere and identify it. "Your best way of stopping it, and stopping it from causing the havoc that its causing now, is to be able to really track it so that you isolate the sick from the healthy and give the virus nowhere to go, she said. Professor McInerney said the three Covid variants now seen across the world are of major concern, saying the South African variant is particularly worrying as there is evidence people are being reinfected. "The South African one, that one is of concern because there is a piece of substantial evidence that people are being reinfected, he said. "So, they caught Covid some time ago but this new variant can reinfect, so there is some evidence that thats happening. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that vaccinations can be altered for the different variants, which Professor McInerney confirmed is true. He explained that vaccines can be tweaked a small bit to protect against the different strains of Covid-19. "If I likened the vaccines to a house its like swapping out a brick in the house and changing it for a new brick, he said. Huntington, WV (25701) Today Thunderstorms likely. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. High 73F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%.. Tonight Thunderstorms this evening followed by occasional showers overnight. Low 53F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%. Category Select Category Apparel/Garments Textiles Fashion Technical Textiles Information Technology E-commerce Retail Corporate Association Press Release SubCategory Select Sub-Category WASHINGTON One judge made a joke about genitalia during a court proceeding and was later promoted. Another has been banned for more than seven years from the government building where he worked after management found he harassed female staff, but is still deciding cases. A third, a supervisor based mostly in San Francisco, commented with colleagues about the attractiveness of female job candidates, an internal investigation concluded. He was demoted and transferred to a courtroom in Sacramento. The three men, all immigration judges still employed by the Justice Department, work for a court system designed to give immigrants a fair chance to stay in the U.S. Every day, they hear some of the most harrowing stories of trauma in the world, many from women who were victims of gender-based violence and who fear that their lives are at risk if they are deported to their native countries. Inside the newsroom Anonymous sources: The Chronicle strives to attribute all information we report to credible, reliable, identifiable sources. Presenting information from an anonymous source occurs extremely rarely, and only when that information is considered crucially important and all other on-the-record options have been exhausted. In such cases, The Chronicle has complete knowledge of the unnamed persons identity and of how that person is in position to know the information. The Chronicles detailed policy governing the use of such sources, including the use of pseudonyms, is available on SFChronicle.com. These judges behavior toward women is not an isolated phenomenon in the immigration courts system. A Chronicle investigation revealed numerous similar instances of harassment or misconduct in the courts, and found a system that allows sexually inappropriate behavior to flourish. In response to detailed questions before President Biden took office, the Justice Department declined to comment on specific allegations against judges, citing the privacy of personnel matters in some instances and the lack of written complaints in others, but said generally that it follows department procedures on misconduct. The Biden White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Interviews with dozens of attorneys across the country and current and former government officials, as well as internal documents obtained by The Chronicle, show the problems have festered for years. The Justice Department has long lacked a strong system for reporting and responding to sexual harassment and misconduct. And when such behavior has come to its attention, the department has in some instances simply transferred the offenders elsewhere. The judges behavior appears to violate the departments conduct policies and raises questions about the immigration courts ability to function fairly. Attorneys who have been the victims of harassment say they fear that if they try to hold judges accountable, they risk severe consequences, not only for themselves but for vulnerable clients. In the moment, you just know that you have to stay calm, said Sophia Genovese, who has been an immigration attorney for three years and worked in the field of immigration policy for five. You know if you do anything to piss him off, thats going to ruin your reputation in his eyes. In that moment, am I thinking that I might be perpetuating sexism in the system? No, Im thinking I just need to get through this. She added, If all you have to do is force a smile so that your client is not deported, the answer is obvious what practitioners are going to do. Michelle Mendez of the Catholic Legal Immigration Network, which provides legal representation to immigrants and helps attorneys report allegations of judicial misconduct, said lawyers face tremendous pressure not to call out judges bad behavior, even though they know ignoring it means it is likely to continue. An immigration judge might retaliate against the advocate by punishing her clients and these are people fleeing persecution, rape and even death, Mendez said. Its quite literally a Sophies choice that should never happen in the American legal system. The Trump administration did little to change the pattern, The Chronicle found, and in one case even promoted a judge who many women have said made them feel uncomfortable in open court and behind the scenes for years. Justice Department data shows the administration dismissed more complaints against judges than its predecessor. Its a problem that Bidens administration has inherited. The very structure of the courts creates the conditions that allow bad actors to escape consequences, experts say. But that leaves Biden with a problem, they add: Does he reform the system to be independent of political influence, or does he use his political control over it to clean it up? For years, women working at the national headquarters of the immigration courts in Falls Church, Va., shared whispered warnings about Judge Edward R. Grant. Grant, who has served on the Board of Immigration Appeals since 1998, is one of 23 judges who weigh appeals from immigrants who have lost cases in the nearly 70 immigration courts around the country. He and his colleagues are the next-to-last hope for immigrants. If they lose before the board, their only hope of avoiding deportation is a long-shot case in federal appellate courts. In the early 2010s, a womans complaint about Grants behavior caught the attention of then-President Barack Obamas director of the immigration courts, who opened an investigation. Supervisors concluded that Grant had harassed female staffers, and took an extraordinary step: They banned Grant from the court building. The department did not take away Grants responsibilities or six-figure salary. He was allowed to keep his job, and still has it to this day, though he remains barred from working in the appeals courts headquarters unless his presence is unavoidable, such as in rare instances when the board hears oral arguments. Case documents are sent to and from Grants home, multiple sources familiar with the situation told The Chronicle. Grant issues his rulings without seeing the inside of a courtroom. In a Freedom of Information Act response, the Justice Department confirmed that a board member was banned from the building in April 2013 as a result of a complaint against him. The confirmation came in a reply to immigration attorney Matthew Hoppocks request. Hoppock, who practices in Kansas City, Mo., frequently files requests for information from immigration agencies, which he then makes public. The Justice Departments response did not identify the judge. But sources familiar with the situation confirmed it was Grant and that the complaint involved sexual harassment. The sources declined to talk on the record because of the sensitivity of the subject matter. In the response regarding the board member that The Chronicle identified as Grant, the departments Freedom of Information Act counsel confirmed that one complaint of misbehavior resulted in the Board member being banned from entering into the building. The counsels office refused to share the original claim against Grant or the disciplinary letter with Hoppock, citing the individuals privacy protections. Hoppock shared the response with The Chronicle. The Justice Department cited its policy of not commenting on personnel matters in declining to answer questions to The Chronicle about Grants banishment. Grant did not respond to requests for comment. Supervisors of judges have also engaged in behavior that could give rise to harassment or misconduct claims, according to a 2019 Justice Department inspector generals report obtained by The Chronicle. One former top supervisor who oversaw immigration judges in the court system made sexual jokes and talked with colleagues about whether female judge candidates were attractive, the report found. Other senior managers also commented on the womens appearance, it said. A redacted copy of the report was provided to The Chronicle by Hoppock, who also received the inspector general investigation through the Freedom of Information Act. Although the supervisors name was blacked out, multiple sources familiar with the contents of the report confirmed it was Print Maggard. They requested anonymity because of the sensitivity of the subject matter. Maggard was a supervisor from 2012 to 2019, mostly based in San Francisco, and for a year during the Obama administration was acting chief of all immigration judges, working in the headquarters building in Falls Church. He also served as an immigration judge from 2009 to 2011 in San Francisco, and he was an Immigration and Customs Enforcement attorney in the city from 2006 to 2009. The investigation of sexually inappropriate behavior is tucked away in the inspector generals report, which is mainly about personnel misconduct, and was left out of a public summary. But investigators wrote in the full report that they substantiated such allegations against Maggard and other supervisors. We concluded that (redacted) made comments of a sexual nature and commented on the attractiveness of female candidates with court employees with whom he socialized and trusted, and that they willingly participated with him in making such comments themselves, investigators wrote. He wasnt alone, they added: We concluded that he participated in conversations in which other senior managers commented on the attractiveness of female job candidates. The actions did not constitute sexual harassment under Justice Department policy, the report said, because the subjects of the comments were unaware of them and the policy requires that the conduct be unwelcome. Maggard was joking with willing colleagues, the report said. Instead, the report concluded that Maggard exhibited poor judgment and should have avoided such behavior. His comments could give rise to claims of sexual harassment or claims of prohibited personnel practices, it said. Maggard did commit clear personnel misconduct, the investigators concluded. He improperly provided sample questions to a job candidate in advance of the persons interview and escorted a friend to another interview, an impermissible boost to her job application, investigators said. After the report was completed in November 2019, Maggard was demoted and reassigned to be an immigration judge in Sacramento. He is still there, hearing immigrants cases but stripped of his supervisor duties. The Justice Department cited its policy of not commenting on personnel matters in refusing to answer questions about Maggards conduct. It declined to say whether the others who participated in the conversations with Maggard were identified or faced consequences. Maggard did not respond to requests for comment. The Chronicle found examples across the country of judges who have made sexual jokes or who habitually made attorneys or staff uncomfortable in the courtroom. Such behavior often goes unchecked because there is no regular oversight of judges demeanor by Justice Department leadership, and attorneys say the formal complaint process is inadequate. In the Atlanta immigration courthouse, attorneys were dismayed when the Trump administration promoted Judge William Cassidy in 2019 to serve on the Board of Immigration Appeals. Nearly a dozen attorneys who have argued cases before him since the 1990s told The Chronicle that his behavior was frequently inappropriate. In one instance, captured on courtroom audio, Cassidy had just granted relief from deportation in 2019 to a green card holder from Germany. She had lived in the U.S. most of her life and began using marijuana after suffering multiple miscarriages, leading to criminal convictions that made her subject to deportation. To have her deportation canceled, she had to convince Cassidy she was deserving and had a reason to stay in the U.S. That reason, she testified, was her school-age daughter, who was born prematurely and had special needs. The judge ruled in her favor. As the woman sniffled audibly, Cassidy told her he had bonded with her over the story, as he also was born prematurely. Cassidy said he weighed just 3 pounds at birth. The woman asked how long he was. How long was I? Oh, men never answer that question, Cassidy said. The woman did not acknowledge the joke, though someone else in the court laughed. Listen to the recording here. The recording was provided to The Chronicle by the womans attorney, Genovese, who was practicing in Atlanta with the Southern Poverty Law Center. She said she recoiled at the joke, but didnt find it out of the ordinary for Cassidy. She said it wasnt until she told the story to colleagues who worked in other federal courts, and saw them react with horror, that she realized it was uncommon behavior for a judge. At the time, it was annoying but typical Cassidy, Genovese said. It really took them ... pointing out how serious this behavior was for me to realize that this is not ordinary behavior for other (federal) judges. And yes, objectively, I know its a sexist comment, and also its just so commonplace with immigration judges to make inappropriate comments like this and theres just no accountability for it. In another instance, an attorney told The Chronicle she was reviewing a case file in the court offices when Cassidy walked up and began chatting with her. He cracked a joke, and she was not amused, which Cassidy noticed. He basically said to me, Are you naturally a blonde maybe? Like, I dont get it because Im a blonde, not a brunette, said the attorney, who requested anonymity because she still practices before the Atlanta court and is concerned about the way sexual harassment victims are treated when they go public. As Cassidy stood over her, the woman said, the judge added, Are you basically telling me that the carpet doesnt match the drapes? That lewd expression refers to a womans pubic area. The Chronicle spoke with three people who confirmed the attorney shared the story with them shortly after it happened. Even when Im saying it now, I feel like Im starting to get red in the face, the attorney said. I remember feeling very, very embarrassed and shaking, and I went completely red. All I remember is him just laughing like he had made a funny comment that we should all think is funny. Genovese and other attorneys in Atlanta say such behavior was routine for Cassidy. None complained in writing to the Justice Department, saying they feared it would result only in the judge being angry at them and taking that anger out on their clients. Complaints about immigration judges are not made public. But limited available records show that at least 11 complaints have been filed about Cassidy with the Justice Department regarding his in-court conduct toward attorneys, immigrants and even another judge. None of those deals with sexist or sexually inappropriate behavior, instead focusing on improper handling of the judicial process. These records, covering 2008 to 2013, were made public by attorney Bryan Johnson and a coalition of immigration legal groups after they received them through a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit. Another complaint alleging violations of immigrants rights by Cassidy and other Atlanta judges was filed in 2018 and made public by the Southern Poverty Law Center, which advocates for immigrants and civil rights. Together, the documents show mild consequences for subjects of repeated complaints, including Cassidy. Six of the 11 complaints resulted in no consequences, either because managers couldnt substantiate the allegations after reviewing the record or the issues raised were matters to be decided in the appeals process. Five led to counseling by Cassidys bosses on how he should conduct himself. Many attorneys who have practiced before Cassidy say they decided they were better off brushing aside his conduct toward women than filing complaints. What happens with this behavior is that it is so cumulative that it becomes like background noise, said Carolina Antonini, who practiced before Cassidy from the 1990s until his promotion. It is an ever-present buzz. And if someone says, No, no, you have to identify it, and you cannot, they say, Well, it doesnt exist. Hiba Ghalib, an attorney who practices in Atlanta, said of Cassidys behavior: There was never anything so direct that it was anything I could file a complaint on it was just uncomfortable and annoying. But at the end of the day, I know how far a complaint could take me. ... It never really got me anywhere, and it created enemies. Attorneys say Cassidys behavior should not have been a secret to the Justice Department. The director of the courts in the department, James McHenry, spent 2005 to 2010 and 2011 to 2014 in Atlanta as an attorney for the Immigration and Customs Enforcement office that prosecutes immigration court cases. In those roles, he appeared in numerous cases before Cassidy. A Freedom of Information Act request made public by Johnson revealed they grew close enough that they corresponded personally years later, with Cassidy wishing McHenry a happy Christmas and Easter in emails in 2018 and 2019, the year former Attorney General William Barr named Cassidy to the Board of Immigration Appeals. As director, McHenry oversees the hiring process for the board. Antonini, who also knows McHenry, said he should have been well aware of Cassidys in-court behavior. If the current person in charge didnt know him, I would get it, Antonini said of Cassidys promotion. But, she said, he was in front of him. The Justice Department and McHenry declined to comment on McHenrys relationship to Cassidy or his role in promoting him. The department said all hiring for immigration courts and the Board of Immigration Appeals follows an open, merit-based process. It said the earlier complaints against Cassidy did not include allegations of harassment and showed no evidence he has engaged in serial misconduct. The department said it could not comment on the incidents raised to The Chronicle because the attorneys involved did not file complaints. Cassidy is frequently a target of ad hominem attacks, threats, and unsubstantiated accusations by commenters and advocacy organizations who simply disagree with the merits of his decisions, spokesperson Kathryn Mattingly said in a statement. The department does not tolerate complaints whose sole purpose is to harass, threaten, intimidate, or retaliate against its adjudicators based on their rulings. Cassidy did not respond to requests for comment. The Chronicles investigation revealed that inappropriate behavior by judges was far from uncommon in immigration courts around the country, and that the comments made by the Atlanta attorneys echoed sentiments voiced by their peers nationwide. Attorneys Ivan Yacub and Lauren Truslow represented a woman seeking asylum in Arlington, Va., arguing she was a victim of sex trafficking and had been brutally sexually assaulted in her native country. Immediately before a May 2019 hearing in which the woman would testify in detail about her trauma, the attorneys said, Judge Paul McCloskey gave instructions on how the hearing should proceed. He said, Good testimony should be like a skirt should be long enough to cover everything but short enough to keep it interesting, both attorneys recalled in an interview. The comments occurred before the judge opened the recorded portion of the hearing, they said. Truslow, who said it was her first hearing on the job, was furious. I just remember feeling kind of enraged that I was wanted (by him) to laugh, she said. For this man to have such disregard for women ... particularly in a professional environment, being reminded that we are first and foremost a sex object for some people. She said the comments ate away at her for months before she sent an email notifying other attorneys who practice in the area. I dont want my daughter to grow up to become a professional and still have to suffer that kind of thing in this environment, Truslow said. The Justice Department said that without a written complaint, it could not comment on the allegation. McCloskey did not respond to requests for comment. Other attorneys recalled judges who minimized domestic violence while questioning asylum seekers, or suggested that married women could not be raped by their husbands. The Southern Poverty Law Center and another nonprofit group, the Innovation Law Lab, compiled several examples from focus groups of attorneys they held, which were included in a report criticizing the immigration court system. The attorneys were not identified by name in the report. In a sworn affidavit in an administrative complaint filed with the Justice Department, one attorney wrote that a judge in El Paso, Texas, commented on the attractiveness of an asylum seeker as if it were an explanation for her persecution. A complaint about a San Francisco judge alleged he used incorrect pronouns for a transgender immigrant and asked one who was testifying about being tortured by police whether anyone ever insert(ed) anything into your ass in custody. Removing judges who commit misconduct from the courts will be no easy task for Biden, as the system itself is part of the problem, experts say. The immigration courts are housed within the Justice Department, meaning the judges are hired directly by the attorney general, a political appointee with a policy agenda. The attorney general alone holds the power to fire immigration judges. Sexual harassment has been a recurring problem in the Justice Department itself. A 2017 inspector generals report that detailed the departments mishandling of sexual harassment in the civil division, a separate division of the agency, prompted a new set of agencywide policies and definitions on harassment and misconduct. Much of the behavior that was described to The Chronicle appears to fall under those definitions. A 2018 memo by then-Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein in response to that report defines sexual harassment as conduct including unwelcome advances or other behavior that creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive work environment. That includes telling sexually oriented jokes and making sexually offensive remarks. The memo said the term sexual misconduct includes on- and off-duty behavior. It said substantiated allegations will be treated seriously and ... consistently result in formal discipline up to dismissal. But The Chronicles reporting showed little sign of improvement in practice. Denise Slavin, who served as an immigration judge from 1995 to 2019, is president emerita of the union that represents immigration judges and still advises the organization. In an interview, Slavin said the Justice Departments immigration courts division has long had a problem with discipline because it doesnt make policing judges conduct a priority, and because of a workplace culture that has at times been unfriendly toward women. My assistant chief immigration judge once told me, You would have to murder someone, with an ax, with your robe on and nothing on underneath, in court to get disciplined, Slavin said. There was just no real concern about conduct by management at that point, and in addition to that, there was no real way that they got feedback about it, because there were no assistant chief judges in the field. She said the situation improved in recent years as more supervising judges were placed in the regions they oversee. But she said the Trump administration focused on different priorities namely, speeding up deportation cases and limiting immigrants ability to win asylum. She said the Trump administration further chilled those who would complain about judges behavior with its choices of which judges to promote. With this administration, the attitude is, if you do something horrible in terms of misconduct, youre going to get promoted to the Board of Immigration Appeals because of the people they put up there, Slavin said of the Trump era. Some of the appointments they have made up there have been some of the worst offenders. The immigration courts do have a system for reporting complaints. They go to the judges managers, assistant chief immigration judges, a position Maggard held in San Francisco. It is not a system designed to protect complainants. If the allegations are specific, it takes little effort for a judge to figure out who filed the complaint, and attorneys describe instances of judges retaliating without consequences. Some complaints are never shared in detail with the judge, and those who file them are not told the outcome. The complaints are not made public. However, the documents from 2008 to 2013 revealed through the Freedom of Information Act request show a process in which many complaints are given only cursory investigation by the supervising managers, and in which consequences are usually limited to verbal counseling. An analysis of those records by Mendezs group, the Catholic Legal Immigration Network, showed only a handful of instances in which judges were suspended. Among the infractions that brought only counseling: a judge who said of an immigrant, She has no value or has demonstrated no value or service to the community but for a sexual service. Another judge was only reprimanded for what a Justice Department document described as inappropriate comments regarding rape victims and premarital sex. Under the Trump administration, the number of complaints dismissed jumped from roughly 40% in 2015 and 2016 to 60% in 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020. Data for the latter two years was posted online after The Chronicle inquired why reporting had stopped after 2018. No complaints resulted in formal discipline in 2017, 2018 or 2020, and 5% or fewer did other years. The bulk of complaints that were sustained were met with corrective actions, including training or counseling. Other judges may have been fired, but the department does not separate firings from retirements or resignations in its data. The department said all of its employees complete mandatory sexual harassment and misconduct awareness training. It did not say whether it offers any additional gender sensitivity training for its judges. The Chronicle reported in October that the Trump administration canceled all diversity training, including for immigration judges. Mattingly, the Justice Department spokesperson, said the immigration courts agency requires judges it hires to have demonstrated appropriate temperament and follows department policies on sexual misconduct. She said the agency takes allegations of misconduct seriously and that anyone with a valid complaint should file it. She added that the court system explicitly forbids retaliation. But in practice, there is little to prevent judges from retaliating against someone who complains, attorneys say. Attorneys go before the same judges regularly, and those judges wide discretion gives them ample room to make life difficult for a lawyer who crosses them. In comparison, for its state court system, California has a Commission on Judicial Performance to investigate complaints against judges, an independent agency with investigatory powers and authority to impose discipline. A complaint process thats not transparent loses about 90% of its utility, Slavin said. You can have a judge that has three or four complaints against them, and action is being taken, but if no one knows, the judge can hide it and no one knows the complaints are doing anything. ... The complaint process doesnt effectively serve management, doesnt effectively serve the judges or employees of (the agency), and it certainly doesnt effectively serve the public. The National Association of Immigration Judges said it supports an overhaul of the departments complaint process. It called the current system difficult to use for complainants and judges alike. Sexual harassment cannot be tolerated or condoned in our nations immigration courts, said the groups executive vice president and president emeritus, Judge Dana Leigh Marks, who works in the San Francisco immigration court. It is unacceptable for anyone with a track record of inappropriate behavior to be protected and promoted. Because the immigration courts are part of a law enforcement agency, politics too often plays a role in the promotion and retention practices in the immigration court system. McHenry, the Justice Department courts director, issued a memo in August 2019 on allegations of misconduct, saying judges are expected to adhere to the highest standards of ethical conduct and professionalism and to maintain impartiality. He also warned attorneys not to make baseless complaints designed to harass, threaten, intimidate, or retaliate against judges. The agency expects parties and stakeholders to raise legitimate concerns about conduct, rather than simply make ad hominem attacks against adjudicators or express disagreement with the outcome of a particular case, McHenry wrote. Democrats and many of the groups that represent immigration attorneys and judges have argued that the courts should be removed from the Justice Department and reimagined as a stand-alone court system, resembling systems like the bankruptcy courts. Rep. Zoe Lofgren, D-San Jose, who chairs the House subcommittee on immigration policy, has been working on a bill to spin off the courts, but has yet to introduce it. Creating an independent immigration court seems to me like a no-brainer, Lofgren said at a hearing in January 2020. The time to act is really now. Its my hope that this hearing will be a first step toward negotiating a bipartisan, workable solution to what is really a crisis in our immigration courts. In her statement, Marks of the National Association of Immigration Judges called an independent court system the only sustainable solution to check against the politics that has plagued the immigration courts over the years. But making the courts independent would keep the Biden administration from directly changing the system, including firing bad-actor judges. Biden has proposed legislation that would expand training for judges and give them more discretion to grant protections to immigrants. Slavin said Bidens first priority should be hiring new judges to deal with a backlog of cases and to counterbalance Trumps hundreds of hires who she said favor deportation, and that he should rescind many of the Trump administrations immigration policy changes. Only then, she argues, should he support legislation making the courts independent. The bottom line is, if you dont do that by the end of your administration, the next administration is going to come in and do the same (undoing) to you, Slavin said. Without an independent court, said Mendez, the Catholic Legal Immigration Network advocate, there will never be accountability. As long as immigration courts remain under the executive branch, she said, given how politicized immigration is as an issue, we will continue to have foxes guarding the henhouse. Tal Kopan is The San Francisco Chronicles Washington correspondent. Email: tal.kopan@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @talkopan On the first full day of Joe Bidens presidency, Democrats in Congress revived an effort to curtail the White Houses power to deploy troops to the Middle East. Five House lawmakers sent a letter to Biden on Thursday calling on him to immediately repeal the 2002 Congressional Authorization of the Use of Military Force against Iraq and to work with Congress on repealing and replacing the 2001 authorization. The laws originally granted US presidents carte blanche to militarily pursue the regime of Saddam Hussein and the plotters of the Sept. 11 attacks, but critics on both the left and right say US administrations have stretched the authorizations beyond recognition. The 2001 and 2002 authorizations "were both passed nearly 20 years ago and bear little resemblance to the threats we face today, the letter read. US forces have deployed to at least 20 countries, largely in the Middle East and Africa, under the 2001 authorization. Debates over the authorization's continued validity are nothing new. Proponents of keeping the authorizations, such as former Defense Secretary James Mattis, have argued that Sunni jihadi threats to the United States are not limited to those who planned the Sept. 11 attacks. President Barack Obamas administration used the law to launch a war against the Islamic State group in 2014. The Trump administration built on that precedent, citing the war powers authorization to justify leaving troops in Iraq and Syria with the additional ulterior aim of hindering Irans access to the Levant. The Trump White House also cited the 2002 authorization in the killing of Iranian Maj. Gen. Qasem Soleimani in Baghdad last year. The letter sent by lawmakers Thursday recommended that a new authorization include a sunset clause, clearly defined mission objectives and explicit limits on what parties can be targeted and where. Democratic Rep. Barbara Lee of California is again spearheading the effort. The California congresswoman previously introduced amendments to the annual defense spending bill in July in an attempt to curtail the presidents war powers. Lee was the sole member of Congress to vote against the war powers authorization in 2001. The Democratic co-signers of Thursdays letter include the chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Rep. Gregory Meeks of New York, the chairs of the House Rules and Intelligence committees, James McGovern of Massachusetts and Adam Schiff of California, and the vice chair of the House Armed Services Committee, Anthony Brown of Maryland. Politico first reported the letter. Why it matters: President Donald Trump vetoed Congress attempts last year to rein in his war powers. In 2017, Mattis and then Secretary of State Rex Tillerson sought to dissuade lawmakers from repealing the authorization, saying it could disrupt the high-stakes multinational war against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. But major ground operations against the Islamic State have ended, and the Biden team is signaling it may be open to a different approach. On Tuesday, Bidens pick for secretary of state, Antony Blinken, said he would be determined and committed to working on a reform of the president's war powers. As a presidential candidate last year, Biden encouraged Congress to override Trumps veto of the war powers legislation and promised to work closely with Congress on decisions to use force if elected. Whats next: Whether Biden will live up to his word remains to be seen. Obama issued a similar critique of the presidents war powers when he was running for office, but later launched an air campaign against the regime of Libyan dictator Moammar Gadhafi in 2011 without congressional approval. Know more: Elizabeth Hagedorn lays out the latest signs that Biden administration intends to put diplomacy first in its approach to Iran, rather than sanctions and military force. BY VIRTUE OF ITS PRIOR PUBLICATION THE INFORMATION CONTAINED WITHIN THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS NOT DEEMED BY IMC TO CONSTITUTE INSIDE INFORMATION AS STIPULATED UNDER THE MARKET ABUSE REGULATION (EU) NO. 596/2014, AS AMENDED ("MAR") OR UNDER EQUIVALENT, TRANSITIONAL REGULATIONS APPLICABLE IN THE UNTIED KINGDOM. IMC EXPLORATION GROUP PLC (Company number 500487) PROPOSED MIGRATION OF SHARES PURSUANT TO THE MIGRATION OF PARTICIPATING SECURITIES ACT 2019 NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to section 6(4) of the Migration of Participating Securities Act 2019 (the "Migration Act"), that IMC EXPLORATION GROUP PLC (the "Company") will shortly issue a circular ("Circular") to shareholders containing a Notice of an Extraordinary General Meeting of the Company (the "EGM") to be held at 9.00 am. On 12 February 2021 at 70 Ballybough Road, Dublin 3. D03 F9P7. The purpose of the EGM is to consider and, if thought fit, approve resolutions for and related to the replacement, in accordance with section 4(1) of the Migration Act, of the CREST System with the Euroclear Bank System for the holding of, and electronic settlement of trading in, the Company's shares ("Migration"). The Circular together with other relevant documentation will be available for inspection in electronic form on the Company's website at www.imcexploration.com /. Subject to the proposed resolutions being passed at the EGM, and a resolution of the board of directors of the Company, the Company intends to consent to Migration on satisfaction of the requirements set out in section 4(1) of the Migration Act. Dated: 21 January 2021 McClure Corporate Services Ltd., Company Secretary, IMC EXPLORATION GROUP PLC REGULATORY ANNOUNCEMENT ENDS. Enquiries : IMC Exploration Group plc Kathryn Byrne: +353 85 233 6033 Keith, Bayley, Rogers & Co. Limited Graham Atthill-Beck: +44 20 7464 4091 / +971 50 856 9408 / Graham.Atthill-Beck@kbrl.co.uk Brinsley Holman: +44 20 7464 4098 / Brinsley.Holman@kbrl.co.uk Hungary has signed an agreement with Russia to buy two million doses of the Sputnik-V anti-coronavirus vaccine, the first European Union country to purchase the Russian immunization serum. Speaking at a joint briefing with Russian Health Minister Mikhail Murashko streamed live on his Facebook page, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said on January 22 that a "large quantity" of the vaccines would arrive in three shipments. Further details will be revealed later, he added. Later, ahead of talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Szijjarto said that a contract for two million Sputnik-V doses has been signed -- a quantity that would allow the inoculation of 1 million people. Szijjarto said the first batch would be enough to inoculate 300,000 people, followed by two other shipments for 500,000 people and 200,000 people, respectively. He did not say when the first delivery would arrive. Hungary's medical authorities have given initial approval for the use of two vaccines -- Britain's AstraZeneca and Russia's Sputnik-V -- against the coronavirus. The authorization for Sputnik-V is valid for six months with the possibility of a six-month extension. The European Medicines Agency (EMA), the EU's drug regulator, has yet to green-light the vaccine for use. The EMA has also not approved the vaccine developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford University in Britain, but a decision on that is expected on January 29. The only two vaccines approved by EMA so far for use in the 27-member bloc are those made by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna, and Sijjarto appeared to voice frustration with the pace of delivery of enough doses. As of January 21, Hungary -- with a population of just under 10 million -- says that it has administered more than 138,000 vaccines. From the start of the pandemic, Hungary has reported more than 354,000 infections and 11,713 deaths. "Like Russia, we are encountering economic and medical challenges that stem from the coronavirus pandemic. Unfortunately, the supply of vaccines to Hungary has been very slow," Szijjarto said at the start of talks with Lavrov. RFE/RL's Coronavirus Crisis Archive Features and analysis, videos, and infographics explore how the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting the countries in our region. Szijjarto's announcement came as Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban told state radio that the best approach to achieve a rapid mass inoculation was to authorize the use of several vaccines since competition would force manufacturers to speed up shipments. Orban said Hungary wouldn't be able to lift coronavirus restrictions until a mass inoculation of the population was under way. "We don't need explanations, we need vaccines," Orban said. Budapest is also in negotiations with China to buy its Sinopharm vaccine. Since November 11, all secondary schools have been closed in Hungary, as have hotels and restaurants except for takeout meals. An 8 p.m. curfew is also in place, and gatherings have been banned. Orban said that -- once healthcare workers, elderly people, and those working in defense efforts against the pandemic have been inoculated -- then a discussion can start about returning to normal conditions. With reporting by Reuters and dpa The moving story of a community rallying together to help a friend in need. John, from Nigeria, has lived for several years in Ciampino, near Rome, where he makes ends meet by sweeping the streets and helping out with odd jobs here and there. Polite, kind and always smiling, John is a well-known and much-liked character in the Ciampino area. So when the local residents heard that John's mother had died, and that John could not afford to return to Nigeria for her funeral, they decided that something must be done to help. Unbeknownst to John, the owners of Geff Caffe set up a collection to raise enough money to buy John a plane ticket to Nigeria so that he could bid a final farewell to his mother. The bar's manager Cristian De Filippis placed an earthernware pot on the counter into which the regulars stuffed banknotes. They donated generously and within four days they had raised the price of a return ticket to Nigeria. An unsuspecting John was then presented with the pot and was invited to smash it open to reveal his surprise gift. When a heap of banknotes spilled out of the pot, John was overcome with emotion and broke into tears of joy. Charleston, WV (25301) Today Thunderstorms. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. High 74F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%.. Tonight Rain early...then remaining cloudy with showers overnight. Thunder possible. Low around 55F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%. David J. Neal The Miami Herald (TNS) MIAMI A Proud Boys organizer and manager in a Miami-based Proud Boys-related company grinned and said, This is awesome, as he invaded the U.S. Capitol during the Jan. 6 certification of the presidential election results. Thats according to the Orlando federal court charging documents for Ormond Beach resident Joseph Biggs, 37. Also arrested Wednesday after, prosecutors say, he posted a Facebook video of himself in the Capitol crypt and climbing out a Capitol window is Pensacola man Jesus Rivera, also 37. Each had his first appearance in federal court Wednesday. Biggs is charged with obstruction of an official proceeding, being in a restricted building or grounds, and violent and disorderly conduct. He posted $25,000 bond. Rivera is charged with entering or remaining in a restricted building without lawful authority, disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds with intent to impede government business, disorderly or disruptive conduct on Capitol Building or Grounds, and parading or demonstrating in the Capitol building. Pensacola federal court documents say he was released without bond, but, among other restrictions, had to give up his passport, cant have a gun and cant drink. Biggs affidavit describes him as a member of a group known as the Proud Boys and a self-described organizer of certain of their events. It also says he posted on the right-wing-favored social media app Parler a statement directed at Antifa that we will not be attending DC in colors. We will be blending in as one of you. You wont see us. Youll even think we are you. ... We are going to smell like you, move like you, and look like you. The only thing well do thats us is think like us! Jan 6th is gonna be epic. The affidavit says a livestreamed Parler video shows people pouring into the Capitol building after a window is broken and a nearby door opened. One of those people, investigators believe based on earlier photographs of his attire that day, was Biggs. The affidavit says, In the video, a voice off camera says, Hey Biggs, what do you gotta say? The person depicted below smiles broadly and replies, This is awesome! before pulling his gaiter up to cover his face. A picture of Biggs followed. Monday, the affidavit says, Biggs talked with FBI agents after online videos showed him in the U.S. Capitol. He admitted going in, but said he went through an open door and denied having any knowledge of any pre-planning of storming the Capitol, and had no idea who planned it. Florida state corporation registration records list Biggs as a manager of Miami-based Warboys, LLC, whose registered agent is Henry Tarrio. Thats one of the aka names listed in one database for Miami-based Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio. During the 10 months spanning 2018 and 2019 that Proudboys, LLC, was registered with the state, Henry Tarrio was listed as the agent and a manager. Proudboys used the same address as Warboys, 5730 NW Second St. Warboys was registered with the state July 8, 2020, and is still active. According to Riveras court documents, in a 1:42 p.m. video he uploaded to Facebook live, Rivera allegedly says, Hey guys, if you are on here, share this live because I am about to take my ass to the middle of the state capitol and see whats going on, where they are trying to jump in. (A footnote says despite Rivera saying state capitol, hed already said he was in Washington D.C. and later videos appeared to show him there, so its reasonable to assume he meant the national U.S. Capitol building.) Around 3:15 p.m. Jan. 6, Rivera uploaded a five-minute video to his Facebook account showing people in the U.S. Capitol crypt. Approximately 13 seconds into the video, Rivera changed the direction of the camera towards the individual recording the video and Riveras face is clearly visible, the statement of facts says. The camera angle then changes back to outward facing and the crowd is once again visible. The video ends with the individual recording the footage, Rivera, beginning to climb out of a window. ___ (c)2021 Miami Herald Visit Miami Herald at www.miamiherald.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Flash Another 37,892 people in Britain have tested positive for COVID-19, bringing the total number of coronavirus cases in the country to 3,543,646, according to official figures released Thursday. Another 1,290 people have died within 28 days of a positive coronavirus test. The total number of the coronavirus-related deaths in Britain now stands at 94,580, the data showed. The latest figures were revealed as the country is stepping up efforts to vaccinate the people in a bid to bring the pandemic under control. Almost 5 million people have been given a first dose of a COVID vaccine with a total of 363,508 first vaccinations being administered Wednesday, the highest daily figure to date. Earlier Thursday, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that it is "too early to say when restrictions will be lifted". Johnson said the figures from the British Office for National Statistics (ONS) and other studies showed clearly that the new coronavirus variant is very contagious. Meanwhile, Johnson's spokesman told journalists at a Westminster briefing that the government continues to keep all of the scientific evidence and data under review regarding the decision to lift lockdown. England is currently under the third national lockdown since the outbreak of the pandemic in the country. Similar restriction measures are also in place in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Also on Thursday, Northern Ireland's First Minister Arlene Foster announced that coronavirus lockdown restrictions in the region will be extended until March 5 amid surging infections. To bring life back to normal, countries such as Britain, China, Germany, Russia and the United States have been racing against time to roll out coronavirus vaccines. 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. Brazil's government on Friday awaited the arrival of 2 million doses of coronavirus vaccine from India, but experts warned the shipment will do little to shore up an insufficient supply in South Americas biggest nation. Brazils Health Ministry on Thursday announced that the vaccine, developed by AstraZeneca and the University of Oxford, was being flown to Rio de Janeiro, where Brazils state-run Fiocruz Institute is based. Fiocruz has a agreement to produce and distribute the vaccine. The 2 million doses from India only scratch the surface of the shortfall, Brazilian public health experts told The Associated Press, as far more doses will be needed to cover priority groups in the nation of 210 million people, and shipments of raw materials from Asia have been delayed. Counting doses from Butantan (a Sao Paulo state research institutue) and those from India, there isnt enough vaccine and there is no certainty about when Brazil will have more, or how much, said Mario Scheffer, professor of preventive medicine at the University of Sao Paulo. That shortage will interfere with our capacity in the near-term to reach collective immunity. 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 flight from India planned for last week was postponed, derailing the federal governments plan to begin immunization with the AstraZeneca shot. Instead, vaccination began using the CoronaVac shot in Sao Paulo, where Butantan has a deal with its producer, Chinese biopharmaceutical company Sinovac. Countries around the world, particularly developing nations, are struggling to source sufficient vaccines for their populations. Neither Fiocruz nor Butantan has yet received the technology from their partners to produce vaccines domestically, and instead must import the active ingredients. Indias foreign ministry said Friday evening at a press briefing in New Delhi that vaccines had been dispatched to Brazil and Morocco. As you can see, the supply of Indian-made vaccines is underway, both as gifts as well as on commercial basis, ministry spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said. Fiocruz said in a statement Thursday the Health Ministry could begin distribution of the imported AstraZeneca shots Saturday afternoon, following a quality control inspection. Butantan made available 6 million CoronaVac doses it imported from China in order to kick off Brazils immunization, and it used materials imported from China to bottle an additional 4.8 million shots. The health regulator must approve use of the latter batch before it can be distributed to states and municipalities across Brazil. Scheffer estimated in a report he published Monday that the government will need 10 million doses just to cover front-line health workers, leaving the elderly and other at-risk Brazilians without any vaccines. The governments own immunization plan doesnt specify how many Brazilians are included in priority groups. We are doing what is possible to get the vaccine, President Jair Bolsonaro said Thursday night in his weekly Facebook live broadcast, adding that his government will make free, non-mandatory vaccination available to all Brazilians. Brazil has recorded 214,000 deaths related to COVID-19, the second-highest total in the world after the United States, and infections and deaths surging again. While Brazil has a proud history of decades of immunization campaigns, in this pandemic it has struggled to cobble together a complete plan and suffered multiple logistical pitfalls. The vaccination plan is badly done in general, said Domingos Alves, adjunct professor of social medicine at the University of Sao Paulo. Its important that the information be transparent and clear for the population to know how this vaccination process will be done. There has been some speculation on social media that diplomatic snafus stemming from allies of Bolsonaro who criticized the Chinese government might explain the delay in getting the required inputs. Oliver Stuenkel, an international relations professor at the Getulio Vargas Foundation, a university, told AP that such a reading is overly simplistic amid heightened global demand. Of course, since Bolsonaro isnt on good terms with the Chinese government, he doesnt really have the direct access, Stuenkel said from Sao Paulo. There is a chance that the bad relationship does wind up putting Brazil further down the line of recipients, but not because the Chinese are saying actively, Lets punish Brazil,' but perhaps because other presidents have a better relationship. The newspaper Folha de S.Paulo reported Wednesday that Brazilian Health Minister Eduardo Pazuello met with Chinas ambassador in Brasilia and that Bolsonaro had requested a call with Chinas leader Xi Jinping. Filipe Martins, an adviser to Bolsonaro on international relations, said in a television interview the same day that Brazil is seeking suppliers from other countries. Negotiations are well advanced, Martins told RedeTV!. He added that there is a big fuss over nothing. Lawmakers including House Speaker Rodrigo Maia and the president of the Brazil-China parliamentary group, Sen. Roberto Rocha, also met with the Chinese ambassador. Butantan had planned to supply Brazil's Health Ministry with 46 million doses by April. It is awaiting the import of 5,400 liters of the active ingredient before the end of the month to make about 5.5 million doses, and new shipments from China depend on authorization from the Chinese government, according to a statement from its press office. Fiocruz had initially scheduled the delivery of 100 million doses to begin in February and 110 million more in the second half of the year. As of Dec. 30, its plan was down to delivering 30 million doses by the end of February, but the first delivery has been postponed to March, the institute said. Brazil doesnt have vaccines available for its population, Margareth Dalcolmo, a prominent pulmonologist at Fiocruz who has treated COVID-19 patients, said this week. Thats absolutely unjustifiable." Follow our full coverage of the coronavirus pandemic here. Ukraine marks the Day of Unity on January 22, the day when the Ukrainian People's Republic (UPR) and the West Ukrainian People's Republic (WUPR) signed the Unification Act in 1919. The holiday was officially established in 1999, taking into account the great political and historical significance of the unification of the UPR and WUPR for the formation of the united Ukrainian state. The Unification Act crowned the unity aspirations of Ukrainians at least since the middle of the 19th century. This was a fundamental event for Ukrainian statehood. On August 24, 1991, the Act of Declaration of Independence of Ukraine was adopted at an extraordinary meeting of the Verkhovna Rada of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic. It was supported by Ukrainians on the nationwide referendum on December 1, 1991. This event became the starting point for the history of modern Ukrainian statehood. However, historians rightly point out that Ukraine's state independence was actually restored on August 24, 1991. On January 22, 1918, the Universal of the Central Rada proclaimed the independence of the Ukrainian People's Republic. A year later, on January 22, 1919, the Act of Unification of Ukrainian lands into united Ukraine was declared on Sofiyska Square in Kyiv. UPR and WUPR, established after the collapse of the Russian and Austro-Hungarian empires, formed the united Ukrainian state. However, the unification of Ukraine was purely symbolic. A few weeks after the proclamation of the Unification Act, the Bolsheviks seized Kyiv, the Poles later occupied Eastern Galicia, and Czechoslovakia took control of Transcarpathia. The first celebration of the Unity Day took place on January 22, 1939, in Carpatho-Ukraine (the town of Khust), then the autonomous region within the Second Czechoslovak Republic. On that day, 30,000 people arrived in the capital of Carpatho-Ukraine from all parts of the region to hold a manifestation under blue and yellow flags and recall the events of 20 years ago. A vivid example of unity, the Ukrainian peoples commitment to freedom was a human chain organized by the patriotic forces on January 21, 1990, to mark the 71st anniversary of the proclamation of the Unification Act. Millions of Ukrainians were holding hands from Kyiv to Lviv, celebrating the Day of Unity. Since then, Ukraine has seen human chains on a number of occasions, symbolizing the unity of the Ukrainian people. The Day of Unity is now celebrated at the state level every year. l A man could face two years in jail for trying to get around planning rules by declaring his land a sovereign state - and making himself the king. Steve Ogier, 48, has been involved in a long running dispute with planners after his application to build a small home on his plot in Guernsey was refused. He responded by declaring the land Everland and made himself its ruler before launching a campaign to have it classified as its own state. Mr Ogier first took his fight to the Royal Court on Guernsey who said it could not be a country - as it had no population. He then tried to argue it did have a populous - its worms and insects - which the court again rejected. But now Mr Ogier, who owns the plot near Castle, Guernsey, has been convicted of five planning offences and has been warned he faces up to two years behind bars. Steve Ogier, 48, could face two years in jail for trying to get around planning rules by declaring his land a sovereign state - and making himself the king The court heard Mr Ogier initially established Everland in May 2019, and argued that because it was an independent state it was not covered under Guernsey law. However, the Royal Court ruled to the contrary. He was ordered to return the land to its previous condition - including moving hundreds of tonnes of soil - but he has not done so. He also failed to demolish a dry stone wall, remove a shed and vehicles, and to stop using nearby land for storage. The defendant said he would abide by the compliance notices if it could be proved that the land in question came under Guernsey law, but claimed no-one had been able to do that. Mr Ogier (pictured in Everland) first took his fight to the Royal Court on Guernsey who said it could not be a country - as it had no population He accepted not complying with the notices, but refused to enter pleas as he said the notices were void for that reason and he was innocent. Deputy Bailiff Jessica Roland said the court would take that as being not guilty pleas to all five matters. She told him the case was not a reopening of the planning process or a re-run over jurisdiction, but about compliance with it. Chris Dunford - for the prosecution - told the court the defendant still considered his land a separate state from Guernsey and as king and law maker had given himself the power to grant planning permission. But Mr Dunford said that like any other land in Guernsey, it came under the island's Land Planning and Development Law, which a preliminary hearing had already confirmed. He said the defendant had an opportunity to appeal the compliance notices served on him, but had not done so. At a preliminary hearing in November, the Deputy Bailiff ruled that the court did have jurisdiction over Mr Ogier's land and that the prosecution could continue. Mr Ogier (pictured in Everland) tried to argue it did have a populous - its worms and insects - which the court again rejected But now Mr Ogier, who owns the plot near Castle, Guernsey, (pictured) has been convicted of five planning offences and has been warned he faces up to two years behind bars Mr Ogier told the court he believed government was conspiring to get him locked up and he had already been billed 20,400 in costs in relation to previous civil proceedings. He also claimed he had suffered constant harassment because of the matter, a relationship had failed, he had been arrested and made homeless in the middle of winter. He then vowed to the court to take his case to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg. Following the guilty verdict, Ms Roland said that as the maximum penalty was two years in prison or an unlimited fine. The court heard Mr Ogier (pictured in Everland) initially established Everland in May 2019, and argued that because it was an independent state it was not covered under Guernsey law Mr Ogier will be sentenced in March and was bailed unconditionally until then. Speaking at an earlier hearing, he said his 'country' would have a population of five 'voting' members alongside the insects - and they would all have their own passport. He said: 'I wanted to build a small home there, but Guernsey planners wouldn't allow it and I got to the end of my straw and declared independence. 'I wanted to get my two bed home with a flat roof, that's all I've ever wanted. Mr Ogier said: 'The judge said one man can't govern himself, I've got my daughter as part of the population as well - Princess Evalyn Ogier (pictured), she's eight' 'Everland is 150 feet long and about 50 feet wide, I intend to live there. 'The judge said one man can't govern himself, I've got my daughter as part of the population as well - Princess Evalyn Ogier, she's eight. 'I've now got a population of five citizens and they're all voting citizens, that makes them a population. 'No one is resident currently but they have passports and they have a vote. 'It's a legal document, they can use the passport to get a driving license - but it will only be valid in Everland.' A million gallons of gasoline has split from a pipeline onto a nature reserve in North Carolina. It is actually 4 times the size that was initially reported, as stated via a report filed to the state. What happens to North Carolina As reported by the Charlotte Observer on Thursday, in September, the then-secretary of the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality, Michael Regan, stated that up to 1.033 million liters (273,000 gallons) of gasoline was spilled in Mecklenburg County's Oehler Nature Preserve situated near Huntersville. Huntersville is about 24 kilometers (15 miles) north of Charlotte. In the previous month, specifically in August, the same county reported up to 238,455 liters (63,000 gallons) The right amount of spillage The Colonial Pipeline issued a contrary report to regulators on Wednesday. According to this report, the amount of gasoline estimated to have been released by the crack in the wall of that pipeline was up to 4.23 million liters (1,119,982 gallons) The then-President-elect Joe Biden selected Regan as the head of the United States Environmental Protection Agency. He is the first black person to head the agency. On Thursday, state officials mentioned that they ordered Colonial Pipeline back in November to figure out precisely how much gasoline was spilled when the pipeline bust. According to a quickly-put together state Department of Environmental Quality news release, this order came when the state staff discovered the company had considerably underestimated the overall amount or volume of gasoline released by the cracked pipeline. ALSO READ - Looming Massive Oil Spill Disaster Feared From Abandoned Ship In The Red Sea Thorough Cleanup is Assured, says Division of Waste Management The director of the North Carolina Division of Waste Management, Michael Scott, promised that a thorough or comprehensive review would be undertaken in order to readily determine the full extent of the overall impact of gasoline spillage. This must be done so that it will become easier to guide the entire cleanup process as well as to protect the environment and public health. Scott also said the Department of Environmental Quality would continue holding Colonial Pipeline accountable and ensuring the department oversees its cleanup processes and efforts. According to Colonial Pipeline's chief risk officer and vice president of operations services, Angie Kolar, an external metallurgist has been invited to examine the cause of the crack in the wall of the pipeline that bust. On the other hand, Kolar on Wednesday also said that, Colonial Pipeline has recovered about 2.5 million liters (661,710 gallons) of gasoline. The company expects to remain on-site for several years as its wells swiftly recover as much gasoline as it can. According to the chief risk officer, no gasoline has been seen or discovered in residents' well since the discovery of the spill by 2 all-terrain vehicles (ATV) riders, they found the spillage that occurred on August 14, and the company had swung swiftly into action to repair the bust pipe on August 19. The company informs the public that Colonial pipes fuel in one of the lines that run through Mecklenburg county. A second pipeline transports home heating oil and jet fuel from the refineries located majorly on the Gulf Coast. Customers spread out all over the East and South receive these products via over 8,751 kilometers (5,500 miles) of the pipeline. RELATED ARTICLE - Greenhouse Gases From Oil and Gas Projected To Continue To Increase For more news, updates about oil spillage and related stories, don't forget to follow Nature World News! The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet has ordered Fairview Avenue in the City of Fulton closed as a public safety precaution following an engineering analysis of the Harris Fork Branch Culvert. PHOTO:KYTC Fulton Road Closed for Culvert Repair By West Kentucky Star Staff FULTON - The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet has ordered Fairview Avenue in the City of Fulton closed as a public safety precaution following an engineering analysis of the Harris Fork Branch Culvert.Fairview Avenue (City Street 2075) is closed at the Harris Fork Branch Culvert between 5th Street and KY 1718/6th Street due to insufficient fill over the culvert.During a statewide load-rating analysis of select steel culverts, Transportation Cabinet bridge preservation engineers determined the closure was necessary.The KYTC engineers are working on plans to repair, replace, or make appropriate improvements to the culvert as soon as possible. SCHENECTADY A Rotterdam man who told authorities a foster child gravely injured in his care fell from a chair was indicted on murder charges for inflicting the internal injuries that killed the boy, the Schenectady County District Attorney's office said Friday. Dequan Greene, 27, was arraigned Friday on murder, manslaughter and other counts a grand jury handed up after an investigation into the Dec. 20 death of a 4-year-old boy identified by prosecutors as Charlie. Relatives said his name was Charlie Garay. The boy and his 5-year-old brother were placed in the care of Greene and his wife Latrisha in September by Child Protective Service in Albany County. Prosecutors said the children had been removed from the custody of their biological parents by Albany County Family Court Judge Richard Rivera. Schenectady County had certified the Greenes as foster parents but the couple had only cared for one previous child and that was only for a day, prosecutors. On the day the boy was found, police and paramedics went to the Greenes' Broadway residence to find the child was not breathing. They were unable to revive him and he was pronounced dead at Ellis Hospital. Prosecutors said Dequan Greene told authorities Charlie's speech became slurred and he passed out after falling out of a child's chair. But, they allege, he told others that the child had choked. Greene called Latrisha Greene, who was shopping. Prosecutors said she called 911 after she returned home. A medical investigation revealed the boy died due to extensive internal injuries to his liver and intestines caused by blunt force trauma, the district attorney's office said. His brother was taken from the home and treated at Albany Medical Center where it was revealed he also suffered from bruises, abrasions and an injury to his mouth. The grand jury charge Dequan Greene with assault for allegedly causing the injuries to the older boy. Rather than charge the man initially, Rotterdam police and prosecutors undertook a joint investigation with a grand jury. Greene was arrested Thursday. He was arraigned when the indictment was unsealed Friday in Schenectady County Court. Greene pleaded not guilty and was sent to the county jail without bail. His attorney, James Tyner, could not be reached for comment. In a well intentioned effort to keep these two little boys safe, they were placed in a foster home in which they were subjected to cruelty, violence, and in the case of Charlie, death at age four," District Attorney Robert M. Carney said in a statement from his office. "Most cases present difficulties and stresses; this one is heartbreaking. Our primary focus is to prosecute the person now charged with killing Charlie, but secondarily questions about how this could have happened are legitimate areas of inquiry for my office to explore. "We do believe that Charlies brother is now in an environment where he is safe, loved and cared for and for that we are grateful, Carney added. Rotterdam police arrested Latrisha Greene on Thursday, charging her with tampering with physical evidence for allegedly texting with her husband after speaking to police at Ellis Hospital. Carney said she asked Dequan Greene to clean up the house knowing investigators would be returning to more closely scrutinize the scene. She was charged by police and released. Latrisha Greene declined to comment when approached at her home Friday afternoon. It was unclear if she had a lawyer. The Greenes had two children together and Latrisha Greene had a 5-year-old child from a previous relationship. The children were no longer living at the home, officials said Friday. Though Charlie and his brother were living in Schenectady County, they remained under the supervision of child protective services workers in Albany County. Non-profit agencies in Albany and Schenectady counties were also involved in the case. It was unclear how frequently social services workers checked on the children. In an interview, Carney declined to say much about interactions between the children and child protective services. Carney said he expected the work of the agencies would be examined as the case progressed to see if there was "more that could have or should have been done." "I think there are naturally questions about how this happened," Carney said. Schenectady County's Department of Social Services is investigating the child's death. County offiicals said the Greenes were certified foster parents who passed background checks, including an investigation by the Department of Criminal Justice Services and the Justice Center's Clearinghouse. The couple "satisfied every requirement for foster care certification," the county said in a prepared statement. Albany County officials said the county placed the boys with the Greenes after learning of the potential foster family from their counterparts in Schenectady County. Social services workers from Albany County and an agency the county contracts with, the St. Anne's Institute in Albany, both made visits to the home after the boys were placed with the Greenes in late September, county spokeswoman Mary Rozak said. Both the county and St. Anne's, she said, visited the home to transport the children for visits in Albany County. "In November, the situation changed a little bit in it had to be virtual," Rozak said, explaining the county had to switch to online conferences as coronavirus cases spiked. Still, she said, someone from St. Anne's visited the home "just days before" Charlie died. Chris Bragg contributed to this article. The White House confirmed Thursday 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, Psaki wrote on Twitter Thursday. The ripple Psaki was referring to was caused by her answer to a reporter at a White House press briefing Wednesday evening asking her if Biden has confidence in Wray, to which Psaki said she has not 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 statement Thursday that he is pleased Biden will be retaining Wray as the 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 would have been more protests, the U.S. Capital had around 25,000 national guard troops deployed before the Jan. 20 presidential Inauguration. At a Jan. 15 press briefing about Inaugration 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. From The Epoch Times TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTHI) - Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb held his weekly COVID-19 briefing on Thursday. In the briefing, state leaders focused on moving forward in an effort to get more Hoosiers vaccinated. As of Thursday, more than 362,000 Hoosiers have received their first dose of the vaccine. Health officials shared some good news: The COVID-19 positivity rate is decreasing. Indiana is down to 10.8% which is the lowest the state has seen in weeks. Indiana is nearly booked with vaccination appointments through the end of January. Remember, appointment availability is based on the limited supply of the vaccine that Indiana has in stock. Right now, the state isnt able to predict when eligibility will expand. The state learns its allotment of the vaccine every Tuesday. We do know that the state is changing the age range of the next group thats eligible to start making COVID-19 vaccine appointments. It will be open to Hoosiers ages 65 to 70. Originally, the next group was going to include all Hoosiers 60 and older. That population accounts for 93% of COVID-19 deaths in Indiana. However, leaders decided to break that group down into smaller groups because the vaccine supply is so unpredictable. Also, its important to point out that Indiana State Health Commissioner Dr. Kristina Box says that three Hoosiers have died some time after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine. These losses are tragic and my heart goes out to the families of these Hoosiers, Dr. Box said, At this time, there is no way to know if the vaccine played a role in these three deaths because these individuals already had health conditions that would have impacted their life expectancy significantly. BRUSSELS/FRANKFURT/PARIS (dpa-AFX) - European stocks fell on Friday as rising Covid-19 cases as well as disappointing regional data doused hopes for a quicker economic recovery from the pandemic. A new strain of the coronavirus has led to fresh lockdowns in many parts of the world - including countries in Asia. EU leaders are mulling internal border closures due to rising infection and death rates. China reported 103 new infections, the country's 11th day with more than 100 confirmed cases. On the data front, Eurozone private sector activity contracted at an accelerated pace in January amid the ongoing pandemic and related restrictions, flash data from IHS Markit showed. The composite output index declined to 47.5 in January from 49.1 in December, signaling third successive contraction and the steepest deterioration since November. U.K. retail sales recovered in December but the pace of growth was much slower than expected, data released by the Office for National Statistics showed. Another report showed that the U.K. budget deficit widened to the third highest level on record in December. The pan European Stoxx 600 dropped 0.9 percent to 407.12 after ending flat with a positive bias on Thursday. The German DAX declined 0.8 percent, France's CAC 40 index fell over 1 percent and the U.K.'s FTSE 100 was down 0.6 percent. Travel-related stocks were losing ground, with airlines Lufthansa and Air France KLM falling 2-4 percent after the European Union proposed to label hotspots of Covid-19 infections as 'dark red' zones. Holiday group TUI plunged more than 10 percent. Total SE gave up 2 percent, BP Plc fell 2.2 percent and Royal Dutch Shell gave up 1.6 percent as oil prices slipped from the 11-month highs reached last week amid worries over the resurgence of coronavirus infections in the world's second-largest oil consumer, China. Healthcare group Mediclinic declined 1.6 percent after the company noted continued pressure on profits in the past quarter. Airbus shares were down 0.7 percent on news the planemaker has slowed the pace of a planned ramp-up in jetliner production. Liquor group Remy Cointreau was moving higher after reiterating its FY guidance. Salzgitter lost 2 percent after the steel producer reported a pre-tax result of negative 200 million euros in financial year 2020. ProSiebenSat.1 surged 4.6 percent after its preliminary FY revenues and adjusted EBITDA exceeded expectations. Siemens jumped 4.3 percent. The automation company said that the preliminary operating results for the first quarter of fiscal 2021 have exceeded market expectation. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de We, the members of the New York City Educators Rank-and-File Safety Committee, express our full support for the 1,400 striking workers at the Hunts Point produce market. We call for the broadest possible mobilization to expand this strike among educators, logistics and transportation workers, health care workers, and all other sections of the working class. Our brothers and sisters at Hunts Point have taken a courageous stand for the rights of workers everywhere. They have worked strenuously and even sacrificed their lives to help procure food for 22 million people amid the pandemic, and have been paid poverty wages in return. At least six Hunts Point workers have died from COVID-19 and over 400 have been infected. Workers on the picket line on Tuesday, photo: WSWS We denounce the brutal assault carried out on Tuesday by the NYPD on the striking workers. The attack on these workers, who were exercising their democratic right to protest their working conditions, stands in stark contrast to the behavior of the Capitol Police in Washington D.C. on January 6, who allowed a fascist mob to storm the Capitol in an attempted coup. It is now known that this mob included members of the NYPD and many others from police departments across the United States. At stake in this strike is far more than the modest $1 more an hour that workers are rightfully demanding. Over 400,000 people have died from COVID-19 in the United States alone. Tens of millions have lost their jobs, are food insecure and face the threat of eviction. Meanwhile, the wealth of American billionaires has grown by $1 trillion during the pandemic. The premature reopening of the economy and the hand-outs to the rich have been a bipartisan policy. The Democratic administrations of Andrew Cuomo and Bill de Blasio bear particular responsibility for the criminal handling of the pandemic in New York City, which has claimed over 26,000 lives. Governor Andrew Cuomo has insisted that the cost of another shutdown would be too high, while President Joseph Biden has pledged to reopen schools and to keep the economy open as he takes office. In the struggle against these policies, workers cannot depend on the unions. Jimmy Hoffa, the president of the Teamsters, which has called the Hunts Point strike, was a member of the panel that advised President Donald Trump on reopening the economy throughout the past year. The United Federation of Teachers (UFT) has made possible the premature reopening of schools. Despite the widespread sympathy for the Hunts Point workers on strike, the Teamsters, the UFT, the Transport Workers Union (TWU), and all the other unions have isolated their struggle. As workers, we cannot accept the policy of death and poverty demanded by the ruling class, which puts profits over lives. Schools and nonessential businesses must be closed immediately, with full income to displaced workers! Essential workers must be guaranteed full protection and good wages! The Hunts Point strike must become the starting point for a counteroffensive by workers in New York, across the US and internationally. Our committee pledges to do everything we can to broaden this strike among educators and the entire working class. We encourage workers on strike at Hunts Point to contact us today and form an independent rank-and-file committee to carry forward your struggle! Fort Polk, LA (71446) Today Thunderstorms likely this morning. Then a chance of scattered thunderstorms this afternoon. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. High near 85F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%.. Tonight Mostly cloudy this evening. Scattered thunderstorms developing after midnight. Low 67F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 50%. Before the pandemic, Sherilyn Carlton's family was so accustomed to her friends popping by the house that her youngest child used to ask: "Mommy, who's coming over today?" So Carlton, a 47-year-old corporate coach in Battle Ground, Wash., is the kind of person you might expect to have a tough time with social distancing. In the Before Times, Carlton would flit from a run with a friend to lunch or coffee with another pal; ferry her kids to and from basketball practice; and in the evening might host a writing group at her home. In some ways, keeping a tighter circle during the pandemic has been difficult, she admits. But she went into the lockdown in March feeling socially hung over - and overall her quieter life has felt restorative. "I detoxed from all the social connecting I was doing," Carlton said recently. "I've gotten to crave that time to myself, and I'm so much more aware of when I need it." Beyond her immediate family, Carlton sees two friends regularly - for outdoor exercise and coffee dates - and for the most part, that's enough. "There's a group of families that used to get together regularly. ... I miss that," she says. "But not much else." Carlton feels blessed to have an abundance of friends. But once her family is vaccinated and life begins to speed up again, she wants to continue focusing mostly on her besties rather than stretching to see everyone in her circle. Her pod just might outlive the pandemic. Carlton is not the only one finding solace in a pared-down social life. Just as working from home has revealed that commuting to an office five days a week isn't necessary for every worker, some who once tried to maintain dozens of friendships are realizing they're more fulfilled while keeping up with just their nearest and dearest. After nine months of living through an extended state of emergency, it's clear who's in your ride-or-die crew, who you can call if you need a walk, a talk or some help. For many, those inner circles are tighter than ever. This time of hunkering down doesn't leave much room for those casual friends or acquaintances you might've met for drinks or lunch every six months. Social media tricks its users into thinking they have hundreds or thousands of "friends," but most of them are not people you'd confide in or rely on. Each one is a square in your Instagram feed, a Facebook update you might "like" or somebody that you used to know. Along with the many lessons of the coronavirus era, there's one that comes with age and increasing obligations: We don't have to catch up with everyone. Some friendships won't survive this time, and that's OK. Shasta Nelson, a friendship expert who has written several books on how to maintain healthy relationships, finds that people who are prioritizing fewer pals, and are going deeper with them, are feeling more connected. "The pandemic gave us this collective permission to talk about the hard things going on in our lives without shame," Nelson says. However, Nelson points out, those with friendships that didn't make the transition to phone calls, texting or Zoom "are the people who are super-lonely right now." Tam Sackman, a 26-year-old assistant at a communications firm in New York City, has gotten closer with her besties during this year - and has even had that rare joy of introducing friends from different corners of her life to each other. Over the summer, she picked a small group, everyone got coronavirus tests and they holed up in a house in the woods of Pennsylvania for two months. They split groceries and cooking duties. Every night, they'd watch a movie or play a board game. Even though each of Sackman's friends started as strangers, they believed her when she said everyone would get along. "They were taking a big swing by trusting me in that," Sackman says, adding that "we had a really special experience." In fact, it was such a wonderful time that Sackman says she doesn't have room for "inauthentic interactions anymore," meaning connections that feel more like networking. Mostly, she has no patience for "the small-talk thing" with acquaintances or casual friends. The past year has made her feel fortunate that she has "an abundance of people I can talk to about difficult or deeper conversation topics." Now, that's all she wants. Supriya Gujral has taken that quest for depth one step further. During the pandemic, the 48-year-old mother and tech executive in Silicon Valley sat down with her husband and thought about whom they could rely on if they both got sick. They asked themselves: Who do we pick up the phone to call and check on? And who picks up the phone and checks on us? Who do we ask to manage our estate or trust with our son? The social accounting led Gujral to focus just on immediate family, a handful of close friends and her nanny. Everyone else she'd just keep up with via social media. The past year proved to her that "time is very limited," and she wants the time that she has left "to be meaningful for myself and for the people in my tribe," as she has dubbed that inner circle. "As we come out of this, things are going to be different," Gujral predicts. "We just don't know how different." Gujral got a taste of what her future holds when she and her husband planned a small outdoor gathering to celebrate Diwali in November. They usually host about 70 guests for the holiday; this year they downsized to 10. "For some reason, it meant a lot more," Gujral says. Just as she's rethinking her priorities, she assumes others are as well. Post-pandemic, she adds, "I won't get offended if I get half the invitations I used to get." Once you've decided to keep a smaller circle, how do set those boundaries? Gujral plans to be more transparent with invitations she can't accept, telling friends or acquaintances that an event would intrude on family time. When one of Carlton's friends reached out around her birthday last month, asking when they were going to celebrate, Carlton spent an entire day thinking about how to respond. She'd already had a scaled-down celebration and didn't want any more fuss. "I wanted to be honest and authentic - and not hurt her feelings," Carlton said. Eventually she told her friend she felt "just the right amount of celebrated already" in her "hermit-like" coronavirus existence. Carlton has seen this friend since and reports that her polite decline seems to have done no damage. Nelson, the friendship expert, predicts that some people will never return to pre-pandemic levels of party-hopping and calendar-packing. "We'll have to be more thoughtful," she says. "We can't say yes to everything. We don't want to say yes to everything anymore." Loading I hope some miracle can happen to let more offshore international students back this term, he said. I used to think Id be back for the upcoming semester 1 or some time in March, as I am getting fed up with online studies and didnt foresee back in May that Id be continuing online studies for so long. I didnt make any new friends in online studies and it has caused me a lot of stress thinking about going through another semester of online classes. But Mr Andrews said this week bringing tens of thousands of international students to Victoria would be incredibly challenging, if not impossible during this year due to quarantine capacity constraints. The prospect of tens of thousands of international students coming here while weve still got people struggling to get home, or even if there was every Aussie that wanted to come home had already made it home, theres a big capacity issue here, he said. "Our borders are closed ... all of us have to adjust, do things differently." On Friday, Mr Tudge said there was no timeline yet for the return of international students to Australian university campuses. He said he had asked education providers to work with states to each come up with a plan, to be approved by their respective chief medical officers, then present them to the federal government. Thats the process. Now, the state governments are working through those things, along with the higher education providers, but were still not at that stage yet where were in the position to be able to have significant quarantining arrangements for those international students, he told the ABC. Loading ANU Professor Andrew Norton said while universities had forecast many years of substantially reduced revenue due to COVID-19 border closures, many had hoped international students would arrive back on campus later this year. The best-case scenario for me was always that they would get some non-trivial intake in the second half of 2021, but even that is unlikely at this point, he said. Victorian universities say they are focused on supporting international students who are studying on campus or in their home countries, but online-only learning cannot last forever. La Trobe University said there remains significant interest in studying online provided that the prospect of a physical return to campus is not delayed for too long. Deakin University said while feedback from international students studying online from offshore is generally positive, the university understands that it is not the situation that students expected or what they would prefer. Swinburne University said it had a number of students commence studies with Swinburne from their home countries in readiness for when they can travel to Australia. Loading RMIT said it was working closely with the Victorian government and other Victorian universities on a state-wide approach that will allow international students to enter Victoria. Its understood new international student applications are down 25 per cent at RMIT, compared to the same time last year. Monash said about a third of its international students were studying online, and most intended to continue doing so until Australias borders reopened to them. Professor Norton said international education was vulnerable on two fronts: losing new enrolments, and existing students dropping out. If students think theyre going to turn up [in Victoria] in six months time they might be willing to pay the full fee, but if its going to be a year or 18 months then thats probably a different situation, he said. My expectation is they thought this [online study] was a temporary situation and therefore they would see it out for a while. But now that it looks like being a lot more than temporary and if it goes till the end of this year, thats half a three-year degree. Why pay a premium price for a university where you cant even arrive in the country? NEW YORK, Jan. 22, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Global lifestyle brand Away today announced its Chief Executive Officer Stuart Haselden will leave the company in February to pursue another opportunity. He will maintain his seat on the Board of Directors where he will continue to be involved in helping steer the business. The Board has appointed co-founder and President Jen Rubio to the role of interim CEO. The Board of Directors has engaged a search firm to identify the company's next CEO, and Rubio and Haselden will jointly lead that process. "With Stuart's leadership, Away has successfully navigated through the most unprecedented challenges facing the travel and retail industries," said Jen Rubio, co-founder and interim CEO. "The company's pivots during the pandemic resulted in strong performance over the last several months, with momentum continuing to grow. We are grateful for the steady leadership and experience that Stuart brought to the company. His ongoing guidance will be an asset to the Board of Directors as the travel and retail industries rebound." "Since co-founding Away in 2015, Jen has been a visionary and trusted leader, whose acumen built a brand that has transformed the travel and lifestyle sector," said Stuart Haselden, outgoing CEO. "This past year has been an important period in the company's evolution, and no one is better positioned than Jen to continue to guide the company through this transition phase. Away is well-positioned to capitalize on the coming economic recovery and be there for when the world is ready to travel again. With vaccines on the way and confidence in travel returning, Away has a huge opportunity in the second half of 2021." During his tenure, Haselden was responsible for deepening Away's bench of talented executives with additions that include Chief Supply Chain Officer Candan Erenguc, Chief Financial Officer Catherine Dunleavy, and President of International Roy Chan and elevating Away veterans Selena Kalvaria to Chief Marketing Officer and Cuan Hanly to Senior Vice President of Product. That executive team, which will report to Rubio during the transition period, will continue to drive the business forward. About Away Away is a global lifestyle brand with a mission to transform travel. The company launched in 2016 with one perfectly designed carry-on and has since expanded to offer an array of luggage and other travel essentials built for the evolving needs of the modern traveler. Headquartered in New York City, Away has 12 brick-and-mortar retail locations and currently ships products to 40 countries around the world. Away has been named one of Fast Company's "World's Most Innovative Companies" and has been recognized on TIME's list of "Best Inventions." To learn more, visit awaytravel.com. Media Contacts Brunswick Group [email protected] (212) 333-3810 SOURCE Away India has welcomed Sri Lanka's emergency use approval of Covishield vaccine which is being manufactured by the Serum Institute of India. Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan and the Maldives have already received India's COVID-19 vaccines under grant assistance in sync with its Neighbourhood First policy. India's High Commission here took to Twitter to welcome the emergency use approval by the Sri Lankan government. Welcome emergency use approval of COVISHIELD vaccines by Government of Sri Lanka. This clears the way for scheduling delivery of the vaccine from #India to #lka, it said in a tweet. Earlier on Friday, State Minister of Pharmaceuticals Supply Channa Jayasumana told reporters that the National Medicines Regulatory Authority has given regulatory clearance for the emergency use of Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine. The Attorney General's office has announced that clarifications have been sought on the purchase agreement of the vaccine from India. India this week announced that it will send COVID-19 vaccines under grant assistance to Sri Lanka and seven other countries Bhutan, the Maldives, Bangladesh, Nepal, Myanmar and Seychelles, Afghanistan and Mauritius. Supplies to Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and Mauritius will commence after confirmation of necessary regulatory clearances, it said on January 19. While the Oxford-AstraZeneca's Covishield is being manufactured by the Serum Institute, the Covaxin doses are being produced by Bharat Biotech. The approval came as Sri Lanka's Director General of Health Services Asela Gunawardena on Friday said that it will conduct COVID-19 immunisation trial-runs on Saturday to help officials put in place an effective inoculation programme when the vaccines are made available for use. The vaccination drills will be conducted at two populous Colombo suburbs Piliyandala and Ragama. The coronavirus has so far killed 276 people, along with 56,076 confirmed cases, in the island nation. Gunawardena said over 52,000 of the total cases have been reported after October last year, part of the second wave of cases. He said in the last 24 hours, 887 new cases were reported, which is the highest number in daily cases. .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... WASHINGTON Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell is proposing to push back the start of Donald Trumps impeachment trial to February to give the former president time to prepare and review his case. House Democrats who voted to impeach Trump last week for inciting the deadly Jan. 6 Capitol riot have signaled they want to move quickly to trial as President Joe Biden begins his term, saying a full reckoning is necessary before the country and the Congress can move on. But McConnell in a statement Thursday evening suggested a more expansive timeline that would see the House transmit the article of impeachment next week, on Jan. 28, launching the trials first phase. After that, the Senate would give the presidents defense team and House prosecutors two weeks to file briefs. Arguments in the trial would likely begin in mid-February. ADVERTISEMENTSkip ................................................................ 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, especially given the unprecedented speed of the House process, McConnell said. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., is reviewing the plan and will discuss it with McConnell, a spokesperson said. The two leaders are also negotiating how the new 50-50 Senate will work and how they will balance other priorities. A trial delay could appeal to some Democrats, as it would give the Senate more time to confirm Bidens Cabinet nominees and debate a new round of coronavirus relief. Democratic Sen. Chris Coons of Delaware, a key ally of the presidents, told CNN that Democrats would consider a delay if we are making progress on confirming the very talented, seasoned and diverse team that President Joe Biden has nominated. The ultimate power over timing rests with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who can trigger the start of the trial at any point by sending to the Senate the charge of incitement of an insurrection. The California Democrat has not yet said when she will do that. It will be soon. I dont think it will be long, but we must do it, Pelosi said Thursday. She said Trump doesnt deserve a get-out-of-jail card just because he has left office and Biden and others are calling for national unity. Facing his second impeachment trial in two years, Trump began to assemble his defense team by hiring attorney Butch Bowers to represent him, according to an adviser. Bowers previously served as counsel to former South Carolina Govs. Nikki Haley and Mark Sanford. Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina helped Trump find Bowers after members of his past legal teams indicated they did not plan to join the new effort. Trump is at a disadvantage compared to his first trial, in which he had the full resources of the White House counsels office to defend him. Pelosis nine impeachment managers, who will be prosecuting the House case, have been regularly meeting to discuss strategy. Pelosi said she would talk to them in the next few days about when the Senate might be ready for a trial. Shortly before the Jan. 6 insurrection, Trump told thousands of his supporters at a rally near the White House to fight like hell against the election results that Congress was certifying. A mob marched down to the Capitol and rushed in, interrupting the count. Five people, including a Capitol Police officer, died in the mayhem, and the House impeached Trump a week later, with 10 Republicans joining all Democrats in support. Pelosi said it would be harmful to unity to forget that people died here on Jan. 6, the attempt to undermine our election, to undermine our democracy, to dishonor our Constitution. Trump was acquitted by the Republican-led Senate at his first impeachment trial. The White House legal team, aided by Trumps personal lawyers, aggressively fought the House charges that he had encouraged the president of Ukraine to investigate Biden in exchange for military aid. This time around, Pelosi noted, the House is not seeking to convict the president over private conversations but for a very public insurrection that they themselves experienced and that played out on live television. This year, the whole world bore witness to the presidents incitement, Pelosi said. Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin, the No. 2 Senate Democrat, said it was still too early to know how long a trial would take or if Democrats would want to call witnesses. But he said, You dont need to tell us what was going on with the mob scene we were rushing down the staircase to escape. McConnell, who said this week that Trump provoked his supporters before the riot, has not said how he will vote. He told his GOP colleagues that it will be a vote of conscience. Democrats would need the support of at least 17 Republicans to convict Trump, a high bar. While a handful of Senate Republicans have indicated they are open to conviction, most have said they believe a trial will be divisive and questioned the legality of trying a president after he has left office. Graham said that if he were Trumps lawyer, he would focus on that argument and on the merits of the case and whether it was incitement under the law. I guess the public record is your television screen, Graham said. So, I dont see why this would take a long time. ___ Associated Press writers Meg Kinnard in Columbia, S.C., and Jill Colvin in West Palm Beach, Fla., contributed to this report. A snorkeller is thought to be the victim of a shark attack after going missing in front of his horrified family during a holiday swim. A Victorian man disappeared in the waters off Surfers Way near Port MacDonnell in the south-east of South Australia, at around 5pm on Thursday, sparking an immediate search. The 32-year-old man was holidaying with his family, when they lost sight of him snorkelling close to the beach. 32-year-old snorkeller who went missing at Surfers Way beach in South Australia, is believed to be a victim of a shark attack after a damaged wetsuit was found (pictured: stock image) A Victorian man is thought to be the victim of a shark attack while snorkelling in Surfers Way near Port MacDonnell in South Australia (pictured) 'We do have grave fears for this person but we will do everything we can and we'll put every effort into trying to locate him,' Limestone Coast Police operation manager Campbell Hill told The Advertiser. PolAir, SES Crews, Fisheries SA and local volunteers continued their search for the man on Friday morning, but police now suspect he may be the victim of a shark attack. A damaged wetsuit and flippers, believed to belong to the missing man, were found by PolAir and Police Water Operations members on Friday morning. SA Police have described the situation as 'tragic', when PolAir spotted a shark in the area during the search and rescue operation. South Australia police believe the snorkeller was a victim to a shark attack after a damaged wet suit and flippers were found and a shark was spotted near the area (pictured: stock image) Following the new discovery, the air and sea search is now being scaled back. Inspector Hill said he was grateful for the 'tremendous assistance' from local members and the public on the search. 'They've been able to come help us with the local knowledge of the water and local landmarks, we did have people out on paddle boards and people are very willing and we're incredibly grateful.' The police investigation is now leading to a report to be prepared for the Coroner. Under the rain of bombs and bullets, soldiers, volunteers and militias build the Truong Son-Ho Chi Minh trail. The legendary trail, built from 1959 to 1975, made an important contribution to the victory of the resistance war against the US, becoming a symbol of Vietnam's revolutionary heroism in the 20th century. (Photo: VNA) Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich, President of the Commission of the Bishops' Conferences of Europe, urges respect for the right to freedom of religion as Danish lawmakers prepare to discuss a draft law requiring sermons and homilies to be provided in the national language. By Vatican News staff writer President of the Commission of the Bishops' Conferences of Europe (COMECE), Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich, has expressed concern about a soon-to-be-debated legislative proposal in Denmark which could impede the fundamental right to freedom of religion by requiring all sermons, homilies and talks given in a religious setting, to be delivered in the Danish language. The Cardinal, in a statement issued on Friday, noted that while COMECE respects national legislative processes, it sees a broader, increasing trend of neglect, among EU member states for the fundamental right to freedom of religion. A right protected by both the European Convention on Human Rights and the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights. COMECE had previously expressed concerns about freedom of religion in connection with the strict national measures imposed on Churches and religious communities due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Counter-terrorism agenda The Cardinal notes that while COMECE understands that the goal of the proposal is to prevent radicalization and to counter incitement to hatred and terrorism, negative and discriminatory impacts should be avoided with regard to Churches and religious communities that are averse and alien to such actions, acting in a spirit of peace and integration. He added that the recent EU counter-terrorism agenda underlines that freedom of religion is among the foundations of the European Union and it should be taken in consideration by member states when devising anti-radicalization and anti-terrorism policies. Respect for rights of minorities Pointing out that smaller religious denominations which do not only have the financial means to comply but are often formed of immigrant communities, would be particularly affected, Cardinal Hollerich recalled that the EU indicates non-discrimination and respect for the rights of persons belonging to minorities among its values. Eroding specific rights in such a way, he said, endangers the entire architecture of fundamental rights, based on the idea of universality and interconnectedness. Solidarity Concluding the statement, Cardinal Hollerich reiterated COMECEs support for the Scandinavian Bishops Conference and encouraged an intense and fruitful dialogue of the relevant national public authorities with the impacted Churches and religious communities. 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, California, Jan. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- 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 Ted 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 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. Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/967243/Bright_Pattern_Logo.jpg Related Links http://www.brightpattern.com SOURCE Bright Pattern Search underway in Indonesia (Photo: AP) Jakarta - The National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) of Indonesia on January 21 terminated the search operation for the bodies of passengers and debris of the crashed Sriwijaya Air Flight SJ-182 after a period of 13 days, according to Antara news agency. The decision was made based on tactical considerations, retrieved bodies, effectiveness, and after a meeting with the bereaved families and a joint meeting with Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi, Basarnas chief, Vice Marshal Bagus Puruhito informed. Although the search operation has been declared closed, Basarnas will continue to monitor any developments through a follow-up operation, he said. More than 4,300 personnel, 63 vessels, and 15 airplanes were used in the joint operation. In total, the joint team collected 324 bags of human remains, 68 bags of small debris, and 55 bags of large debris from the crash site. The team also retrieved the flight data recorder (FDR) on the fourth day of the search operation and the cockpit voice recorder (CVR) on the seventh day of the search operation. The Sriwijaya Air flight SJ-182 had lost contact on January 9, 2021, shortly after take-off and crashed between Lancang Island and Laki Island, Seribu Islands, DKI Jakarta. The plane had taken off from Jakarta and was headed to Pontianak. All 50 passengers and 12 crew members on board died in the accident, the worst aviation accident since the crash into the sea of a Boeing 737 MAX of Lion Air that killed 189 people in 2018. Illustrative image (Photo: VNA) Hanoi - National flag carrier Vietnam Airlines and Pacific Airlines, two carriers under the Vietnam Airlines Group, have announced adjustments to flights to and from Hanois Noi Bai International Airport on January 21 due to unfavourable weather conditions. Two flights from Ho Chi Minh City, VN248 and VN7246, will land at Cat Bi Airport in the northern port city of Hai Phong. Two others from HCM City, VN7206 and VN320, are to be perted to the central city of Da Nang, while another from Buon Ma Thuot is to land at Tho Xuan Airport in central Thanh Hoa province. Vietnam Airlines flights VN1612 and VN8714 from Pleiku and Vinh city will be perted to Da Nang and Cat Bi airports, respectively. Many domestic flights to and from Hanoi were delayed because of the bad weather. Privacy Policy Last updated on April 15 2015 This page describes the privacy practice of ChristianDaily.com digital properties, including ChristianDaily.com, mobile sites and applications, offered by ChristianDaily.com and certain of its subsidiaries (CD, us or we). INFORMATION THAT WE GATHER The information gathered when you use ChristianDaily.com falls into two categories: (i) Personal Information, which includes personal information you provide when you subscribe, order, complete a survey, register for an account, enter a contest or provide your email address and (ii) non-personal information collected through technology, which includes tracking information collected by ChristianDaily.com, third parties, vendors or advertisers. PERSONAL INFORMATION Registration Information Registration for ChristianDaily.com account requires you to provide personal information including e-mail address and demographic information (gender, age, occupation and denomination). You may choose to link a Facebook or Twitter account with your ChristianDaily.com registration by signing in CD Website using your Facebook or Twitter credentials. By associating accounts, you are giving these third parties permission to send us certain information from your profile there. The information sent depends on your privacy settings with the third parties or their privacy policies. We will use the information they share with us in accordance with our Privacy Policy. You can disassociate your registration with ChristianDaily.com from any third party accounts at any time. Billing and Credit Card Information To enable payment via ChristianDaily.com, we collect and store name, address, telephone number, email address, credit card information and other billing information. This information will only be shared with third parties who help to complete the purchase transaction. User Generated Content, Comments, Reviews and Blogs ChristianDaily.com offers you opportunities to blog, comment, make recommendations, reviews, rates on our Website, forums, and discussion boards. Any information you disclose in your activities, along with your screen name or ID, or any image or photo, becomes public and may be used by ChristianDaily.com for online and offline promotional or commercial uses in any and all media. If you choose to engage in these activities, you should be aware that any personal information you submit can be read, collected and used by other users of these areas. We are not responsible for the personally identifiable information you choose to submit in the course of your activities and we have no responsibility to publish, take down, remove or edit any of your activities or submissions. If you have registered for ChristianDaily.com account, we will track and aggregate your activities on the Website. By participating in our Website, you elect to share and display those activities via our Website, and those activities may be included in RSS feeds, APIs and made available to other websites. Therefore, your activities on ChristianDaily.com may appear in other websites, blogs, social media platforms or feeds. We are not responsible for any personal information you choose to make public, and you agree that such sharing will be deemed to have been done by you, not ChristianDaily.com. When you recommend or share links to content on a third party platform, such as Facebook, Twitter or Google+, that action and any information you share will be covered by their privacy policy. Contest, Sweepstakes and Special Offers ChristianDaily.com collects personal information from you when you participate in sweepstakes, contests or special offers. If this information is also being collected by a third party other than ChristianDaily.com, we will notify you at the same time. If you do not want any personal information shared, you should not participate in the sweepstakes, contest or special offer. Reader Surveys ChristianDaily.com may collect personal information from you in connection with voluntary surveys conducted via the Website. The information you provide may be shared with advertisers and partners unless we notify you otherwise at the time of collection. Non-Personal Information Collected Using Technology Information Collected by Us Using Technology We use various Internet technologies to manage our Website and track use of the Website. Non-personal information that we collect using these technologies may be combined with other information about you. Device Information: We may collect non-personal information about the computer, mobile device or other device you use to access ChristianDaily.com website, such as IP address, geolocation information, unique device identifiers, browser type, browser language and other transactional information. Cookies, Beacons, Local Storage and Other Similar Technologies: We use "cookies," Web beacons, HTML5 local storage and other similar technologies. These technologies allow us to manage access to and use of the Website, recognize you and provide personalization, and help us understand how readers use the Website. ChristianDaily.com may transmit non-personally identifiable website usage information about our visitors to a reputable third party in order to show you advertising for ChristianDaily.com when you visit other sites. Analytics Technologies: ChristianDaily.com works with third parties to provide us information, reports and analysis about the usage, browsing patterns of readers of our website. IP Addresses: We may log your IP address. We use IP addresses for system administration and troubleshooting purposes, to customize content for specific regions, including currency display, recommendations and serving certain advertisements and to track access and use of our website. Log Files and Your Reading History: We automatically log certain usage information about your use of ChristianDaily.com, including a reading history of the pages you view. We use this information in order to provide you with customized Recommendations on ChristianDaily.com based on your reading history Location Information: Some of our mobile applications can deliver content based on your current location if you choose to enable that feature of the app. If you enable the location-based feature, your current location will be stored locally on your device, which will then be used by the app. If you elect to have a location-based search saved to your history, we will store that information on our servers. If you do not enable the location-based service, or if an app does not have that feature, the app will not transmit to us, and we will not collect or store, location information. Ads may be displayed within our mobile site and apps. The ads you see are not targeted to you based on your current GPS location, but they may be targeted to you based on your device's IP address or ZIP code. Information Collected by Third Parties Some of the services and advertisements included in ChristianDaily.com, including on www.ChristianDaily.com and within our mobile site and apps, are delivered or served by third-party companies. These companies may place or recognize cookies, Web beacons or other technology to track certain non-personal information about our website users. In the course of serving certain advertisements, an advertiser may place or recognize a unique cookie on your browser in order to collect certain information about your use of ChristianDaily.com. In many cases, this information could be used to show you ads on other websites based on your interests. We do not have access to, nor control over, advertisers' or service providers' use of cookies or other tracking technologies or how they may be used. You have choices about the collection of information by third parties on our website: 1) If you would like more information about advertisers' use of cookies, and about your option not to accept these cookies, please visit http://www.networkadvertising.org/choices/ . 2) If you would like to opt-out of having interest-based information collected during your visits to this or other sites, please visit http://www.aboutads.info/choices/ . Your access to our websites should not be affected if you do not accept cookies served by third parties. Here Is How We Use Your Information Customizing Your Experience: We use the information that we collect to allow advertising to be targeted to the users for whom such advertising is most pertinent. We also use this information to customize certain features of the Website to provide you with an enhanced experienced based on the type of device you are using to access ChristianDaily.com. We may use demographic and preference information to allow advertising on the Website to be targeted to the users for whom they are most pertinent. This means users see advertising that is most likely to interest them, and advertisers send their messages to people who are most likely to be receptive, improving both the viewer's experience and the effectiveness of the ads. We disclose information to third parties only in aggregate or de-identified form. Statistical Analysis: We perform statistical, demographic and marketing analyses of readers of ChristianDaily.com, and their subscribing and purchasing patterns, for product development purposes and to generally inform advertisers about the nature of our reader base. We use this information for analysis purposes, including analysis to improve customer relationships. Email Newsletters: We will periodically send you email newsletters or promotional email about services offered by ChristianDaily.com and its advertisers. Here Is With Whom We Share Your Information Within ChristianDaily.com: We may share your information with companies that are affiliated with us. Third Parties: If you have used ChristianDaily.com, we will not sell, rent, swap or authorize any third party to use your email address or any information that personally identifies you without your permission. We also share information about our audience in aggregate or de-identified form. Vendors: We contract with other companies to provide services on our behalf, including credit-card and billing processing, ad serving, shipping, email distribution, list processing and analytics or promotions management. We provide these companies only with the information they need to perform their services. These vendors are restricted from using this data in any way other than to provide services for ChristianDaily.com, and they may not share, resell or use the data for their own direct marketing purposes. We reserve the right to disclose your opt-out information to third parties so they can suppress your name from future solicitations, in accordance with applicable laws. We may occasionally release personal information as required by law, for example, to comply with a court order or subpoena. EMAIL POLICIES Account and Service-Related Email: ChristianDaily.com reserves the right to send you email relating to your account status. This includes order confirmations, renewal/expiration notices, notices of credit-card problems, other transactional emails and notifications about major changes to ChristianDaily.com and/or to our Privacy Policy. If you have registered for online discussions or other services, you may receive email specific to your participation in those activities. Email Newsletters: ChristianDaily.com offers several email newsletters. If you no longer wish to receive a specific newsletter, follow the "unsubscribe" instructions located near the bottom of each newsletter. Promotional EBlast: ChristianDaily.com may periodically email you messages about products and services from our advertisers. You can choose not to receive messages in the future by following the "unsubscribe" instructions located near the bottom of each email. Survey Email: We may send you an email inviting you to participate in user surveys, asking for feedback on our website and existing or prospective products and services, as well as information to better understand our users. User surveys greatly help us to improve ChristianDaily.com, and any information we obtain in such surveys will not be shared with third parties, except in aggregate form. HTML Email: When you sign up to receive email from us, you can select either plain text or HTML (with images) format. If you select the HTML format, we may place a one-pixel gif to determine whether or not readers viewed the email. This process does not leave any information on your computer, nor does it collect information from your computer. Emails From You: If you send us emails, you should be aware that information disclosed in emails may not be secure or encrypted and thus may be available to others. We suggest that you exercise caution when deciding to disclose any personal or confidential information in emails. We will use your email address to respond directly to your questions or comments. Email This Article Feature: ChristianDaily.com readers may use this feature to email links to articles. The email addresses that you supply to this service are saved for your convenience for future articles you may wish to email; these addresses are not used for any other purpose, and will not be shared with any third parties. How to Access, Correct or Update Your Information You may review and update your ChristianDaily.com account information and access your transaction history in the CD Friend area. There are a number of things you can do in the CD Friend area to ensure your personal information is accurate and up to date. For one, you can update the information you provided during the registration process. Compliance With Legal Process We may disclose personal information if we are required to do so by law or we have a good faith belief that such action is necessary to (1) comply with the law or with legal process; (2) protect and defend our rights and property; (3) protect against misuse or unauthorized use of ChristianDaily.com; or (4) protect the personal safety or property of our users or the public (among other things, this means that if you provide false information or attempt to pose as someone else, information about you may be disclosed as part of any investigation into your actions). COPPA Compliance. ChristianDaily.com does not knowingly collect or store any personal information about children under the age of 13. Your California Privacy Rights Under the California "Shine The Light" law, California residents may opt-out of ChristianDaily.com's disclosure of personal information to third parties for their direct marketing purposes. As detailed above, you may choose to opt-out of the sharing of your personal information with third parties for marketing purposes at any time. It is important to note that this opt-out does not prohibit disclosures made for non-marketing purposes, including but not limited to subscription management. International Safe Harbor Privacy Principles ChristianDaily.com adheres to the Safe Harbor Frameworks concerning the transfer of personal data from the European Union and Switzerland to the United States of America. Accordingly, we follow the Safe Harbor Privacy Principles published by the U.S. Department of Commerce (the Principles) with respect to all such data. ChristianDaily.com has certified that it adheres to the Safe Harbor Privacy Principles of notice, choice, onward transfer, security, data integrity, access, and enforcement. This privacy policy outlines our general policy and practices for implementing the Principles, including the types of information we gather, how we use it and the notice and choice you have regarding our use of and your ability to correct that information. For more information about the Safe Harbor Privacy Principles, please visit the U.S. Department of Commerces Safe Harbor website at http://www.export.gov/safeharbor/ . Changes to This Policy This Privacy Policy may be amended from time to time. Any such changes will be posted on this page. If we make a significant or material change in the way we use your personal information, the change will be posted on this page thirty (30) days prior to taking effect. The Simpsons did it again, and this time, we aren't even surprised. The internet is convinced that popular animated comedy series, one of the longest running shows ever, predicted US Vice President Kamala Harris' purple outfit at the oath taking ceremony on January 20. On Wednesday, Joe Biden and Kamala Harris scripted history in one of the most-eagerly watched inauguration of United States President and Vice-President. Harris became the first woman, Black and Indian-American vice president of the United State. For the inauguration ceremony, Harris chose to wear a symbolic purple dress and coat designed by two black designers. Her dress was also a nod to Shirley Chisholm, who was the first black woman to run for US President as part of the Democratic party. She was also the first black woman elected to the US Congress. The colour purple also symbolises the women's suffragette movement. However, many Twitter users pointed out that Kamala's outfit was eerily similar to The Simpsons' character, Lisa's outfit from an episode that aired years ago. In Episode 17 of Season 11 of the show (Bart to the Future), which aired in 2020, Lisa Simpson becomes the first female President of the United States. In her first day at the animated White House, Lisa (now a grown-up) can be seen wearing the exact same outfit as Kamala Harris - a purple dress with coat and a string of pearls around her neck. This episode is also significant for another reason. As New York Post reports, this episode also predicted the presidency of Donald Trump -- and how it ended. From the storyline, it is hinted that Lisa became the president after Donald Trump. In fact, creator Matt Groening had admitted that The Simpsons "predicted" Donald Trump would become president. In the episode, Lisa tells her advisors that her administration has been left with quite a budget crunch by her predecessor, Trump. Okay, that settles it: the writers for The Simpsons are time travelers. https://t.co/iKyl6VMT7x Hugo Slabbert (@hugoslabbert) January 21, 2021 Yeah, everything that ever will be has already been on The Simpsons. But this is a bit on the nose. pic.twitter.com/SOHKyIzHjn Phil Hagen (@PhilHagen) January 21, 2021 #KamalaHarris reminds me with Lisa Simpson... almost same outfit pic.twitter.com/wTySY9Eibl (@butterflymem0ry) January 20, 2021 THE SIMPSONS HAVE DONE IT AGAIN!!!! pic.twitter.com/iByO67Awq5 moon (@SWlTCHPOSlTIONS) January 20, 2021 Kamala Harris & Lisa SimpsonSame vibe: pic.twitter.com/wrHDyd0qd8 Leon Staines Diaz (@Leon_Staines) January 20, 2021 This is not the first time The Simpsons hit the nail on the head with their predictions and we're pretty sure it won't be the last. Turns out, the show also predicted the recent violence at the US Capitol just days before Biden and Harris were sworn in at the same building. Amid several posts and tweets about the violence, one stood out: While the second half of the image, the Capitol being on fire is still unverified - the storming of the US Capitol was indeed predicted. News18 reverse searched the video to find a YouTube recording from 2011 of the The Simpsons episode "The Day the Violence Died", in which Krusty the Clown presents "I'm an Amendment to Be", depicting a Constitutional amendment's attempt to ban flag burning. The episode is a parody of "I'm Just a Bill" is a 1976 Schoolhouse Rock! segment, featuring a song of the same title written by Dave Frishberg. In the segment posted on YouTube, the storming follows an amendment being ratified and becoming part of the Constitution. Other 'characters' which are not depicted as people, can be seen storming the capitol holding guns, and even bombs. READ: 'The Simpsons' Had 'Predicted' the 2020 Coronavirus Outbreak and Murder Hornets in 1993 READ: Kamala Harris, Hillary Clinton, Michelle Obama: Why Everyone Wore Purple to Biden's Inauguration The Simpsons had also somewhat predicted the coronavirus pandemic back in 1993. In the episode titled "Marge in Chains" (Season 4, Episode 21) shows a mysterious virus from Asia invading the town of Springfield. The virus starts in Japan, where a sick factory employee in Japan sneezes into numerous packages containing juicers, that multiple people in Springfield buy - and on opening the packages, contract the disease. The symptoms of the virus, which is called the 'Osaka Flu' turn out to be eerily similar to today's coronavirus crisis - all symptoms of a common flu. Runners: Get your summer program off on the right foot After some careful finagling, the team was also able to engineer a handful of in-person outbreak simulations at college and high school campuses using an updated version of their smartphone app. One simulation, run over Halloween weekend at Colorado Mesa University, followed a group of more than 350 students as they mingled during their normal routines. Unsurprisingly, an increase in interactions fueled the spread of the fictional virus the same dynamic that was causing outbreaks of COVID-19 on campus that same semester. SVLA is founded upon providing mobile video surveillance solutions that enhance driver safety and improve their operations by creating hardware and software that enables it. So, were excited to see that DC Logistics Brasil is focusing on safety and choosing us to help them accomplish this. Safety Vision, LLC, a worldwide leader in mobile surveillance products, is providing a large commercial trucking company in Rio and Sao Paulo, Brazil, with advanced surveillance systems. Created as an expansion to the company in 2017, Safety Vision Latin America (SVLA) is providing fleets throughout Central and South America with surveillance solutions that meet the growing demands of increasing driver safety. To date, DC Logistics Brasil has installed 500 SVLA mobile video surveillance systems in its fleet, with an additional 2,000 to be installed over the next two years. These systems include hybrid video recorders and high-definition cameras to ensure each vehicles surroundings are captured in its entirety. Alongside that, DC Logistics Brasil is utilizing SVLAs video management software which allows for on-board vehicle health diagnostics, passive GPS tracking, vehicle sensor integration, and more. Ricardo Callejas, Chief Technical Officer in SVLA, is excited to continue to support fleets by increasing their efficiency and safety: SVLA is founded upon providing mobile video surveillance solutions that enhance driver safety and improve their operations by creating hardware and software that enables it. So, were excited to see that DC Logistics Brasil is focusing on safety and choosing us to help them accomplish this. Safety Vision looks forward to their productive and long-term relationship with DC Logistics Brasil and is equally eager to see how their operations improve over the course of the partnership. A sign on the wall surrounding Rideau Hall on Jan. 21, 2021. Gov.-Gen. Julie Payette is resigning. The news comes as the results of an investigation into allegations of a toxic workplace environment at Rideau Hall are expected to be released. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press) Chief Justice Will Fill In for Payette Until Permanent Replacement Is Found As Gov.-Gen. Julie Payette announces her resignation following a blistering report on the work environment at Rideau Hall, Chief Justice Richard Wagner will take on the duties of the governor general for the time being. An independent consulting firm was hired by the Privy Council Office last year to investigate reports of workplace harassment and bullying by Payette of staff at Rideau Hall. On Jan. 21, Payette apologized for the tensions at Rideau Hall in recent months, and announced her resignation. Payettes secretary, Assunta di Lorenzo, will also leave her position. 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, Payette said in a statement. Notwithstanding, in respect for the integrity of my vice-regal 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. Canadians deserve stability in these uncertain times. Prime Minister Justine Trudeau said in a statement that Payettes resignation provides an opportunity for new leadership at Rideau Hall to address the workplace concerns raised by employees during the review. 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. Trudeau said Wagner will be fulfilling the duties of the position on an interim basis and that a replacement will be provided to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and announced in due course. Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Dominic LeBlanc said Payettes resignation shows a need to strengthen the process for vetting vice-regal appointments. Obviously, this circumstance is far from ideal, LeBlanc said in an interview shortly after Payette announced her resignation. There always has been a process of vetting, of checks that are made when somebody is appointed to any government position. But clearly, the process can be strengthened, can be improved. While Wagner will take on governor general duties in the interim, LeBlanc said the government intends to quickly find a successor for Payette. During a press conference on Jan. 22, Trudeau did not answer directly when asked if he owes an apology to the staff members who suffered while working at Rideau Hall, as well as to Canadians for not using a committee to select Payette as governor general. For all high-level appointments there is a rigorous vetting process that was followed in this case, he said. Obviously we will continue to look into that vetting process to ensure that it is the best possible process as we move forward. Trudeau did not say whether a committee will be involved in choosing Payettes successor. When asked if he regretted appointing Payette, he answered, I think that Ms. Payette, with her emphasis on science and service, brought a great deal of positive aspects to her job. Buckingham Palace said in a short statement that the Queen has been kept informed of developments. With files from The Canadian Press On Monday, January 25 th , the Mucinex Back2TheRhythmFast experience will feature performances by two exciting young musical talents Daya and Slushii whose opportunities, like so many, were sidelined this past year. The daytime half of the event will kick off on Twitch at 3 PM EST with EDM artist, Slushii, whose eclectic genre-busting music is the soundtrack we all need right now. The nighttime portion of the livestream will begin at 8 PM EST spotlighting Daya and her unique and uplifting blend of EDM and pop musicianship. Fans can get back to their rhythm by tuning in on the Live Nation Music Channel on Twitch. Through the partnership with Live Nation, Mucinex will make an even greater impact with a donation of $50,000 to Crew Nation, the global relief fund that supports the behind-the-scenes crew members who are invaluable in making live music one of our most treasured and missed experiences. Throughout the livestream, viewers will also hear and see the stories of concert crews and impact this shutdown has had on their livelihoods and craftand how just by tuning in, viewers are helping them power through this difficult time. "We believe every individual has meaningful stories about overcoming adversity, including the musicians and crews who work tirelessly to help us all find our rhythm day or night," said Adriana Cardenas, Senior Brand Manager for Mucinex at RB. "We feel a powerful connection to this industry because, just as music can help us get back on our feet, so can Mucinex Fast-Max, a powerful reliever of cold & flu symptoms." "Being able to participate in this event and knowing that we're helping fans kick 2020 to the curb like a bad cold and get back to their rhythm while also giving back to the crews that make it all happen gives me hope that we really can power through this together," said Daya. Daya has been performing since the age of three. From playing the jazz piano, guitar and ukulele to crafting Grammy-winning hits such as "Don't Let Me Down," she has emerged as one of the top female artists in the last few years. Recently recognized as 2020's Most-Streamed EDM Female Artists by Spotify, Daya continues to take the mic by storm with new and emerging music for her fans. Up next for Daya is her new single "Bad Girl" to be released on Friday, February 5th. EDM powerhouse, Slushii has emerged on the electronic dance music scene in just four years, with three headlining tours already under his belt worldwide. Taking the festival crowd by storm, Slushii has performed on the main stage at EDC Las Vegas, Tomorrowland and Ultra Miami to name just a few. In 2020, Slushii released the full-length album "DREAM III" as well as his smash hit "All I Need." Fans can visit http://www.twitch.tv/livenation to watch these two exciting performances and support Crew Nation. Also check out Mucinex.com for more information about Mucinex Fast-Max. Contact : Amanda Pisano, [email protected] About RB RB* is driven by its purpose to protect, heal and nurture in a relentless pursuit of a cleaner, healthier world. We fight to make access to the highest-quality hygiene, wellness and nourishment a right, not a privilege, for everyone. RB is proud to have a stable of trusted household brands found in households in more than 190 countries. These include Enfamil, Nutramigen, Nurofen, Strepsils, Gaviscon, Mucinex, Durex, Scholl, Clearasil, Lysol, Dettol, Veet, Harpic, Cillit Bang, Mortein, Finish, Vanish, Calgon, Woolite, Air Wick and more. 20 million RB products a day are bought by consumers globally. RB's passion to put consumers and people first, to seek out new opportunities, to strive for excellence in all that we do, and to build shared success with all our partners, while doing the right thing, always is what guides the work of our 40,000+ diverse and talented colleagues worldwide. For more information visit www.rb.com/US *RB is the trading name of the Reckitt Benckiser group of companies About Crew Nation Live music inspires millions around the world, but the concerts we all enjoy wouldn't be possible without the countless crew members working behind the scenes. Crew Nation is charitable fund, created to help the touring and venue crews who depend on shows to make a living by providing monetary grants to those facing hardship during the pandemic and beyond. Crew Nation is powered by Music Forward Foundation, a charitable 501c3 organization, that is administering and managing the fund. So far, the fund has raised $15 million, helping 15,000 live music crew members across 48 countries who were impacted by the rescheduled or cancelled shows due to the pandemic. With concerts and festivals still largely on pause, there are hundreds of thousands of crew members who still need help. The fund hopes to double its impact and raise at least $30 million so that it can continue providing support for these independent workers who are the backbone of the live music industry. To find out more about ways to get involved, donate, buy merchandise or apply for relief, head to: livenation.com/crewnation SOURCE Mucinex Related Links http://www.rb.com Harris Teeter pharmacies will be another site to get vaccinated against COVID-19. The Matthews-based grocery store chain will work with public health officials and community partners to distribute the vaccine when it is available to pharmacies, Harris Teeter said Wednesday. All 211 Harris Teeter will offer the coronavirus vaccine in a phased approach based on eligibility requirements following federal and state guidelines. The free vaccination is by appointment only. Patients must show a valid drivers license or government-issued identification card. As of Wednesday, a limited number of vaccines are available at South Carolina stores for health care workers and people age 70 and older, according to Harris Teeter. To check for updates, visit harristeeter.com/covidcare. Harris Teeter, a subsidiary of The Kroger Co, employs about 35,000 workers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Georgia, Maryland, Delaware, Florida and the District of Columbia. All 211 Harris Teeter will offer the coronavirus vaccine in a phased approach based on eligibility requirements following federal and state guidelines. Whos eligible in NC North Carolina is currently only offering coronavirus vaccines to health care workers, long-term care residents and staff, and anyone age 65 and older. Charlottes hospital systems, Atrium Health and Novant Health, along with Mecklenburg County Public Health, are offering vaccine appointments to those groups. CVS Pharmacy and Walgreens began vaccinating long-term care residents and staff at certain facilities in North Carolina in late December. Both companies expect to offer COVID-19 shots to the public at their stores once vaccines are available. No other providers in Mecklenburg County have been given COVID-19 shots from the state to distribute. And vaccination appointments are still extremely limited due to a limited supply, according to Mecklenburg. Starting Thursday at 8:30 a.m., the Mecklenburg County health department will open up more vaccine appointments for February. Anyone interested can schedule appointments online or by calling 980-314-9400 and dialing option 3. Story continues Other grocers plans Pharmacies at Publix grocery stores also administer the vaccine at some sites in Florida, Georgia and South Carolina, according to the Florida-based company. The list includes three stores south of Mecklenburg County in South Carolina one each in Fort Mill and Rock Hill in York County, and one Indian Land store in Lancaster County. However, the list online shows all sites are fully booked as of Wednesday. Also Wednesday, Lidl said it will pay $200 to employees as an incentive to get the vaccine. The payment helps to offset the costs associated with vaccine administration, including travel costs and childcare, according to a news release from the grocery store chain. The company will also accommodate employee schedules for vaccine appointments. Lidl has more than 900 employees in North Carolina, according to the company. Help us track North Carolinas rollout of COVID vaccine in your county New Delhi, Jan 22 : The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Friday arrested four public servants in connection with three separate graft cases. A CBI official said that the agency sleuths have arrested Suman, a head constable of the Delhi Police posted at the Sarita Vihar police station, while accepting a bribe of Rs 1 lakh from the complainant. The official said that the agency had registered a case on a complaint against Suman in which it was alleged that the complainant was being threatened by the accused that he would be implicated in a case being investigated by the police in Sarita Vihar. He was produced before a court, which sent him to judicial custody. The official said that in the second case, the agency arrested A.K. Roy, LDC/licence inspector, and Rakesh Rawat, AO, both posted at East Delhi Municipal Corporation (EDMC) in an alleged bribery case of Rs 40,000. The official said that it was alleged that five licences for establishing "Gharelu Udyog" were applied for by the complainant (one in his own name and four in the name of his relatives) in the EDMC and the accused demanded a bribe of Rs 60,000 for himself and other senior officials for issuing them. "The bribe was negotiated to Rs 40,000 and the agency sleuths laid a trap and caught Roy red-handed while demanding and accepting the bribe. During further verification, the alleged role of Rawat also came to light following which he was arrested," the official said. They two were produced before a court which remanded them to judicial custody. In the third case, the CBI arrested Arun Kumar Mishra, a junior engineer in the Military Engineering Services posted at Karanja Naval Station in Maharashtra's Raigad, for demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 18,000. The official said that a case was registered against Mishra on the allegations that he demanded Rs 18,000 as illegal gratification from the complainant for releasing the payment of bills amounting to Rs 13.5 lakh related to provisioning of interlocking tiles at Navy Nagar and addition or alteration of windows or ventilators in the naval station. The CBI laid a trap and caught Mishra red-handed while accepting the bribe of Rs 18,000 from the complainant. The CBI teams also conducted searches at the premises of Mishra in Raigad and Pune and in Ghaziabad in Uttar Pradesh, which led to the recovery of Rs 12.6 lakh. On This Day The Day Britain Moved Its Dead from Shwedagon Pagoda The Cantonment Gardens Yangon On this day in 1929, the British cemetery in the compound of Shwedagon Pagoda the countrys most sacred site on Singuttara Hill in Yangon (then Rangoon) was relocated to the cantonment cemetery near the southern gate of the pagoda. According to the records, outsiders were prohibited from approaching the procession of tombs and armed guards provided security. The British deployed troops at the pagoda during the Second Anglo-Burmese War in 1852 and buried their fallen with Burmese troops in the northeast corner of the compound. The British then established an arsenal and barracks to the west of the hill, prohibiting Buddhist devotees from visiting the pagoda from the western gate. Previously, pilgrims could ascend the hill from four directions to visit the pagoda. British troops broke into shrines and stole valuables, prompting the governor-general of India to issue an order prohibiting further theft. Buddhist public meetings repeatedly demanded that the British fort and cemetery be moved from the pagoda compound. It took more than 70 years for them to get their wish. A few months after relocating the cemetery, the fort was also removed. Later, the war cemetery that was built beside Botataung Pagoda in Yangon during the Second Anglo-Burmese War was also relocated. Translated from Burmese by Thet Ko Ko You may also like these stories: The Day Myanmars Independence Hero Studied Britains War Machine The Day the Burma Road Between Myanmar and China Opened Buying locally grown produce, whether at a farmers market or through a CSA share, will help feed you well while supporting your community. (Jasmine Sahin/Shutterstock) Eating Close to Home: A Farmer-Cooks Advice for Eating Locally, Wherever You Are In September 2018, Andrea Bemis embarked on a life-changing journeyone that brought her closer than ever to home. Bemis, an organic farmer, food blogger (DishingUpTheDirt.com), and cookbook author living in north central Oregon, had an epiphany earlier that year, while grabbing a can of coconut milk from her pantry: Despite a decade of farming and a long-held dedication to local, sustainable eating, she still had no idea where many of the ingredients in her kitchen came from. Inspired to deepen her relationship with her local food system and community, she gave herself (and her thousands of blog readers and Instagram followers) a challenge: For 30 days, cook and eat using only ingredients from within a 200-mile radius of home. The experiences and lessons from her local thirty journey, as she called it, stuck with her long after. Bemis shares them in her new cookbook, Local Dirtalong with four seasons of simple, adaptable recipes for home cooks inspired to follow along. Local Dirt: Seasonal Recipes for Eating Close to Home by Andrea Bemis (Harper Wave, $32.99). Some experiences were completely new, leading to new discoveries and friendships: milking a cow and tasting the revelation that is fresh, raw milk; butchering a pig for the first time with the help of a local pig farmer; spending a day on the open ocean reeling in 30-pound albacore with a trio of tuna fishermen. Others took her back to her roots. Since many international ingredients were not locally available, she took a break from exploring global cuisines to newly appreciate classic American food, rooted in the self-sufficient ethos of American farmers, homesteaders, and homemakers. Following the contents of her pared-down pantryand the call of nostalgiashe found herself revisiting the kinds of simple, down-home recipes her grandmother cooked. The spirit of this book, Bemis writes, is connectedness. In a time when were all craving a little more of that, she offers an inspiring path through food. I hope it encourages you to get out there, get to know what grows in your region, and get to know your people, she writes. Take what you will and what you can, and most of all, celebrate your home. In this excerpt from the book, Bemis shares her tips and tricks for eating locally, wherever you are, plus a recipe for a cozy, adaptable pot roast, a perfect winter meal from the market. Andrea Bemiss Advice for Eating Locally Go In on Stuff With Friends If a CSA share is too much for you, share it with another family member or friends. Divide and conquer. If you cant make it to the market, cover a friends gas money and give them a list to do it for you. Get them back the next week. Go in on a meat share or a whole animal. Work with each other. Ask All the Questions One of the biggest challenges I faced was sourcing cooking staples like oil, salt and pepper, spices, citrus, and grains. But with the help of the internet, social media, and asking all the questions, I was able to find what I needed, for the most part. And when I couldnt? I allowed myself a few exceptions. Chest Freezers Are Rad For so many reasons. They allow you to buy and store a quarter, half, or full animal from a local farmer at a lower price than if you bought all of that in individual cuts. We stockpiled our own pork as well as local beef, albacore tuna, and chicken in our chest freezer. Every morning while Im drinking my first cup of coffee, I go out to the freezer and pick one item to put in the fridge to thaw. Each package takes a couple of days, but when you put something new in the fridge every day, there is a constant rotation of thawed meat ready to go for your dinner. Chicken thighs tonight, tuna loin tomorrow, burgers on Friday. Also, freezing fresh food is the easiest way to preserve it. In addition to pretty much any kind of meat, most fruits and veggies keep very well in the freezer, and its merely a matter of packaging them in freezer bags or paper and tossing them in there. (A lot easier than sanitizing jars and firing up your pressure canner for an afternoon, but Im all for that too if you have the time.) Freezing fresh foodespecially pretty much any kind of meatis the easiest way to preserve it. (Ozgur Coskun/Shutterstock) You can get a small chest freezer at your local appliance store for less than $200. If youre living in a small space, double up and use the chest freezer as a countertop too. Big ones are more expensive, but the value they add by allowing you to preserve a large amount of food is well worth it. Cooking Locally Is About Getting Back to Basics I sometimes overcomplicate recipes or add too many ingredients. Dont get me wrong, getting creative in the kitchen is one of my favorite pastimes, but eating locally has brought me back to simplicity. Roasted chicken and veggies, a simple late-summer soup, farm-fresh meatloaf, fruit for dessert, carrots for snacking, fresh herbs for seasoning rather than exotic spices. Cooking with a limited number of fresh ingredients can produce surprisingly delicious results. Stockpile the Staples During downtime from the farm, Im busy gathering local nuts, oils, vinegars, legumes, and grains. That way, when we get back from our CSA drop in Portland at 7 p.m. on a Tuesday in September, itll be easy to look in the fridge and say, OK, the pork chops are thawed and we have some potatoes and lettucedinner is pan fried pork chops, roasted potatoes with hazelnuts, and a simple oil-and-vinegar-dressed salad. Plan Ahead Im not a huge fan of meal prep, but spending just a few hours one afternoon a week is worth it to get organized. I hit up the farmers market and make sure to stock up on veggies, protein, and ingredients that are easy to jazz up our meals with. Bring an iced-down cooler to the market with you so you can keep your goods fresh while you go for an afternoon drive out to a local farm, orchard, dairy, fish market, U-pick berry patch, wild mushroom honey hole, etc., for weekend recreation. I make it funI hit the road on weekends with some of my market goodies and stop along the way at different farm stands and wineries for tastings. I then try to find a beautiful spot to post up for a picnic with my newfound ingredients. On Sunday, I take stock of my market haul and what Ive got at home and spend some time planning my meals for the week. Sunday is a good day to cook a big piece of meat or veggie stew for dinner and then have leftovers for a different meal later in the week (chicken salad, pulled pork sandwiches, veggie tacos, pot roast omelet). This is also when I take the time to rehydrate and cook local dried legumes and store them in the fridge for a quick weeknight dinner. Substitutes Exist Like many of us, thanks to Samin Nosrat, Ive learned that most successful meals are composed of a balance of salt, fat, acid, and heat. Im a recipe person, so I keep finding awesome recipes, but these days I look at the ingredients more as food groups, which allows me to swap in local foods. So, if a recipe calls for coconut oil, I use real butter or a local nut oil. If it calls for halibut, but I have rainbow trout, I try it with rainbow trout. If it calls for cumin and turmeric, I try using a bunch of leafy herbs instead for a pop of flavor. It wont be the same flavor, but it will fulfill the same purpose in the overall dish. I experiment with chopped or dried local hot peppers rather than cracked black pepper for the heat in some of my dishes. I live in wine and orchard country, so I found folks producing local fruit vinegar that I can use instead of lemon juice or rice vinegar. I use a spiralizer to make noodles out of any sturdy vegetable (sweet potatoes, zucchini, regular potatoes, eggplant) for pasta dish recipes. I sub local honey for sugar in my baking recipes and morning coffee. Do It Together I think this is the most important tip. Im not eating locally alone. I often share meals (simple ones at that) and enjoy the company of good friends and neighbors. I think of eating locally as an opportunity for us all to strengthen our connection to our food, but its just as much about deepening our bonds with each other. Excerpted from the book Local Dirt by Andrea Bemis. Copyright 2020 by Andrea Bemis. Published on October 13, 2020 by Harper Wave, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers. Reprinted by permission. RECIPE: Farmers Pot Roast 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 $68.6 million in federal funding for the Sabine-Neches Waterway announced Thursday would be welcome any time, but it seems especially important now. With questions looming over the future of the oil industry and its refineries, the ship channel is an infrastructure asset that Southeast Texas can rely on for many years to come. As long as our regional economy can count on big ships plying this waterway, it will keep supporting the jobs and tax revenues we need to help us thrive. The funding announced by U.S. Sen. John Cornyn is part of the $1.2 billion project to increase the channels depth from its current 40 feet to a new capacity of 48 feet. The greater depth is needed to handle the increasingly larger cargo ships and oil tankers that cross the worlds oceans today. If the public ports of Beaumont and Port Arthur and our many petrochemical docks cant be reached by these larger ships, they will lose out on a lot of business. They would no longer be viewed as first-rate facilities that can compete with any other on the Gulf Coast. The ship channel currently ranks third in the nation in total waterborne commerce, and we want to keep it near the top. After years of effort by local and state elected officials, Congress finally agreed to approve the funds in 2019 for a deeper channel. Once completed, the project is expected to generate $5.9 billion in business activity, according to the Sabine-Neches Navigation District. Like Interstate 10, the channel is a big positive for our region. Many other parts of Texas dont have these assets, and it hampers their growth. Southeast Texans must acknowledge the questions looming over the oil industrys future. We think its solid for many years, but the longer term picture isnt so clear. Alternative forms of energy like solar and wind power are becoming more common. Electric cars will probably outnumber gasoline-powered vehicles at some point. Some analysts think that worldwide oil demand has peaked or will soon. For environmental reasons, President Joe Biden just canceled the Keystone XL pipeline that would have brought tar-sands crude to our region and to Houston from Canada. With all that going on, it will be comforting to know that the Sabine-Neches Waterway can still serve our chemical plants and the cargo trade of our public ports as well as local refineries. The future of that commerce is more assured. But even with a deeper ship channel, area officials should continue to look for ways to diversity our economy and attract other kinds of employers we dont have now. The Provalus facility ramping up in Jasper is a good example of these high-tech companies. The more diversified we become, the better we will be able handle the ebbs and flows of the state and national economy. Signal became even more popular ever since WhatsApp updated its data sharing policy, requiring the users to agree that Facebook can have their personal information. However, it created a backlash instead, forcing a huge number of users to look for alternative apps. Right now, Signal seems to be working on an update that could get the attention of more users. The rising app's advantage is its ability to send messages that can automatically delete themselves after a certain period of time, as well as its end-to-end encryption feature. These security features are the ones that got the users' interest to download the app. Even Elon Musk previously suggested using Signal instead of WhatsApp. However, a new beta release reveals that Signal could soon have WhatsApp's features. Will this affect its secured platform? Signal will copy WhatsApp? According to TechRadar, WABetaInfo is the first one to reveal the additional features that Signal will receive. Aside from Signal, WhatsApp users are also switching to other apps that have end-to-end encryption features. Also Read: Google Might Soon Suffer From a HUGE BEC Phishing Campaign! Researchers Claim Hackers Now Targeting Forms Users These include Telegram and other applications that have the same security feature. Since the Signal Team discovered that most of the app's new downloads are from previous WhatsApp users, they decided to introduce several features that are already available in Whats App. The innovation could be a great start for Signal since it doesn't have a good feature that allows the users to change their chat wallpapers. Here are the possible additional features that will arrive on Signal. Signal's upcoming features WABetaInfo claimed that Signal's latest update includes the same interface that WhatsApp is currently using. This means that Signal is copying its rival's appearance. The leaker also stated that it is literally a copy of the one implemented on WhatsApp. On the other hand, WhatsApp's ability to choose when media files should be automatically downloaded was already integrated into Signal this week. Previously, WhatsApp's competitor only has five participant limit. However, Signal suddenly decided to increase its limit to eight participants, which is exactly with WhatsApp's limit. These are just a few features that Signal is possibly copying. You can click here to know more details. For more news updates about Signal and other WhatsApp competitors, always keep your tabs open here at TechTimes. Related Article: Here's What WhatsApp is Doing to Try to Stop Users from Switching to Signal and Telegram This article is owned by TechTimes. Written by: Giuliano de Leon. 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. The views expressed by public comments are not those of this company or its affiliated companies. Please note by clicking on "Post" you acknowledge that you have read the TERMS OF USE and the comment you are posting is in compliance with such terms. Your comments may be used on air. Be polite. Inappropriate posts or posts containing offsite links, images, GIFs, inappropriate language, or memes may be removed by the moderator. Job listings and similar posts are likely automated SPAM messages from Facebook and are not placed by WFMZ-TV. The views expressed by public comments are not those of this company or its affiliated companies. Please note by clicking on "Post" you acknowledge that you have read the TERMS OF USE and the comment you are posting is in compliance with such terms. Your comments may be used on air. Be polite. Inappropriate posts or posts containing offsite links, images, GIFs, inappropriate language, or memes may be removed by the moderator. Job listings and similar posts are likely automated SPAM messages from Facebook and are not placed by WFMZ-TV. Pope Francis urges Biden to 'respect rights, dignity of every person' Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment In a letter to President Joe Biden, Pope Francis urged the new commander-in-chief to "respect the rights and dignity of every person," including "those who have no voice." According to the Vatican, the pontiff opened his letter to Biden, who was sworn in as the 46th President of the United States Wednesday, by saying: "On the occasion of your inauguration as the forty-sixth president of the United States of America, I extend cordial grand wishes and the assurance of my prayers that Almighty God will grant you wisdom and strength in the exercise of your high office." Biden is the second Catholic to serve as President of the United States. While Biden has spoken openly about his faith and made it a campaign issue, he has come under criticism from Catholic leaders over his support for abortion, which Catholic doctrine teaches is a grave evil. In one case, a Catholic priest in South Carolina refused to give then-candidate Biden communion, citing his abortion advocacy. On the campaign trail, Biden vowed to codify Roe v. Wade, the 1973 U.S. Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion nationwide, into federal law. The president also promised to rescind the Mexico City Policy, which prevents the use of taxpayer dollars to fund overseas programs that promote or perform abortions and reverse a Trump administration rule that prevented facilities that received federal family planning funds from promoting or performing abortions. Biden's embrace of the aforementioned policies led the pro-life Susan B. Anthony List to describe the Biden-Harris ticket as the "most pro-abortion presidential ticket in American history." After winning the election, Biden announced California Attorney General Xavier Becerra, an outspoken abortion advocate, as his pick to lead the Department of Health and Human Services. Biden's chief of staff Ron Klain once referred to himself as a "soldier" in the pro-abortion group NARAL's "army." Pope Francis did not bring up the topic of abortion directly in his letter but he did pray that Biden's "decisions would be guided by a concern for building a society marked by authentic justice and freedom, together with unfailing respect for the rights of every person, especially the poor, the vulnerable and those who have no voice." Additionally, Francis expressed 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." "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 common good. With these sentiments, I willingly invoke upon you and your family and the beloved American people an abundance of blessings." Following the media's projection that Biden was the winner of the 2020 presidential election, Francis called to congratulate the Democrat leader for his election victory. Speaking about the meeting, the Biden-Harris transition team sent out a press release maintaining that "the President-elect thanked His Holiness for extending his blessings and congratulations and noted his appreciation for His Holiness' leadership, in promoting peace, reconciliation, and the common bonds of humanity around the world." According to the campaign, Biden "expressed his desire to work together on the basis of a shared belief in the dignity and equality of all humankind on issues such as caring for the marginalized and the poor, addressing the crisis of climate change, and welcoming and integrating immigrants and refugees into our communities." On his first day in office, Biden rejoined the Paris Climate Accord and ordered the continuing and strengthening of the DACA program, enabling immigrants who were brought to the U.S. illegally as children to remain in the country. While Biden met with the pope during his tenure as vice president, he is likely to meet again with the bishop of Rome in his new capacity as president. Francis, who has served as pope of the Roman Catholic Church since 2013, met with both of Biden's predecessors during their tenures in office. He met with former President Donald Trump in May 2017 and met with former President Barack Obama, who Biden served under as vice president, on two occasions. The first meeting between Obama and Francis took place in 2014, when the president was on an overseas trip, and the second meeting took place in the U.S., when the pontiff visited Washington, D.C., and other U.S. cities. During his visit to the U.S., Francis visited the Little Sisters of the Poor, a group of nuns fighting the Obamacare contraceptive mandate, which forced employers to cover employees' birth control in employer-sponsored healthcare plans. The Trump administration rescinded the Obamacare contraceptive mandate but Biden has pledged to reinstate it. Paintings for the Denmark In Your Eyes 2021 competition can be submitted until April 1 "One of the absolute top priorities in our long-term cooperation with Vietnam is to support green growth and a green transition in Vietnam. This overarching aim has been fully reflected in our cooperation including in the annual Denmark In Your Eyes Competition. With the theme 'Green Living' this year, we would like to continue engaging Vietnamese children and youth in promoting a green and sustainable development. This competition will be a platform for the young generation to voice and share their thoughts, concerns, hopes, and ideas on how to nurture and protect our planet. It will, hopefully, also help inspire other people on how we can together make our planet a prosperous and sustainable home for the well-being of all, through what could be daily simple and humble deeds," said Louise Holmsgaard, Deputy Head of Mission of the Embassy of Denmark. This years competition is open to all Vietnamese students, from both primary and secondary schools. The deadline for submissions is April 1, 2021. The winners will be announced and awarded at a ceremony in May 2021. The Denmark In Your Eyes 2021 painting competition is co-hosted by the Embassy of Denmark and the Vietnam-Denmark Friendship Association (VIDAFA) with assistance from the Ministry of Education and Training, Kim Dong Publishing House, as well as Thieu Nien and Nhi Dong newspapers. JYSK, a Danish furniture retail chain, is the main sponsor, while LEGO Vietnam is also a valued supporter of this competition. The first Denmark In Your Eyes competition, co-hosted by the Embassy of Denmark and the Vietnam Denmark Friendship Association (VIDAFA) took place in 2016 during the celebration of the 45th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Denmark. The competition has since been organised on an annual basis every year with a new theme, but always with a strong focus on the environment and the green agenda. The special prize-winner will be awarded with a camera and a set of LEGO toys. The first, second, an third prize winners will be awarded with LEGO toys. In addition, there are 50 encouragement prizes for individuals and two groups will receive the organisers awards. Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 Social enterprises based in Kilkenny are being encouraged to apply for funding through Rethink Irelands Social Enterprise Development Fund 2021 which was officially launched yesterday. 400,000 in funding is being made available nationwide to social enterprises to help lead the post-Covid economic and social recovery. The objective of the fund is to find and back the best social enterprises in Ireland by making cash grants and strategic business support available to awardees. Social enterprises are businesses that work primarily to improve the lives of people. Their core objective is to achieve a social, societal, or environmental impact. Like other businesses, Social enterprises pursue their objectives by trading in goods and services on an ongoing basis. However, surpluses generated by social enterprises are re-invested into achieving their core social objectives. The Social Enterprise Development Fund was created by Rethink Ireland in 2018 in partnership with Local Authorities Ireland and funded by IPB Insurance and the Department of Rural and Community Development through the Dormant Accounts Fund. Commenting, Minister of State with responsibility for Community Development and Charities at the Department of Rural and Community Development, Joe OBrien TD, said: The Social Enterprise Development Fund plays an important role in supporting social enterprises who are making a positive difference to their communities. Throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, we have all been reminded of the importance of strong communities. The Social Enterprise Development Fund 2021 will help to grow Irelands strong and vibrant social enterprise sector. CEO of Rethink Ireland Deirdre Mortell, said: Rethink Ireland is delighted to open applications for the Social Enterprise Development Fund for 2021. Social enterprises are at the heart of addressing Irelands greatest social challenges and strengthening communities. We believe they are playing a vital role in this pandemic and will play an even more critical role as we recover from the crisis. Social enterprises employ people who would typically be considered far from the labour market, produce ethical and sustainable products and / or provide vital local services at more affordable rates than the private sector. They can and will contribute to a just economic, social and sustainable recovery and we are calling on social enterprises across Ireland to apply to our fund. Colette Byrne, Chief Executive of Kilkenny County Council, said: "Were excited to be working with Rethink Ireland in their effort to support social enterprises around the country. The Social Enterprise Development Fund, which will continue to compliment the on-going support available to social enterprises from local authorities across the country, will surely help deliver real and meaningful change to each of the organisations involved and Irelands social enterprise sector as a whole." George Jones, Chairman & Group Non Executive Director IPB Insurance said, We are delighted to support Rethink Ireland and our Local Authority Members for the fourth year of the combined 3.2m Social Enterprise Development Fund. This initiative aims to provide critical support to the very best social enterprises across Ireland. Last year we were thrilled to support a social enterprise in every local authority area in the country for the first time and we are again encouraging social enterprises in every county to apply to this years Fund. Since the Funds foundation in 2018, the Fund has supported 40 social enterprises with cash grants and business supports and further 38 through their Genesis & Accelerator Programmes. It has enabled social enterprises to support 681 people to access employment, (the majority of whom are from minority groups) and mobilise 2430 volunteers. Previous social enterprises include: The 2021 Fund is open for applications until March 5,2021. Further details are available on https://rethinkireland.ie/ Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Thank you for reading! Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading. 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. 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. 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. MTA chairman Pate Foye slammed an assistant train conductor in New York as a 'jackass' and said he has been suspended without pay after he was caught allegedly rioting at the U.S. Capitol on January 6. Steven Rosati, 28, who earned $75,047 in 2019, also posted on social media where he told people the coronavirus is a hoax and harasses fellow MTA employees waiting in line to get tested, the New York Post reported. 'What he said on social media is outrageous, despicable and a sign he's a jackass,' MTA chairman Pat Foye said at a news conference. 'His conduct at the Capitol ought to be investigated and is being investigated.' Steven Rosati, 28, was allegedly pictured making the white power hand symbol The LIRR worker was spotted at the U.S. Capitol by activists on Twitter who reported him to the MTA The MTA initially suspended Rosati with pay but chose to withhold it after uncovering more evidence against him, the New York Daily News reported. The transit worker was pictured on the Capitol steps wearing a black sweatshirt with text 1776 on it, a reference to the American Revolution, reportedly made by a T-shirt company he runs with a Long Island Rail Road co-worker. Modern American revolutionaries and militias have often used the patriotic date as rallying cry that violence is needed to transform the country into what they desire. He also appeared to make the 'OK' hand sign that some say has become a white power symbol. Rosati reportedly revealed his plan to join the mob in two TikTok posts beforehand, saying 'the Deep State needs to be broken up,' according to the New York Post. 'It is now that time. Donald J. Trump has one month to do this,' he allegedly said in a video. He allegedly vowed to prevent Joe Biden from being certified as the winner of Novembers election, according to Daily Voice. Trump supporters storm the Capitol building January 6 The MTA is reportedly investigating another employee who traveled with Rosati to DC A third MTA worker, 31-year-old Will Pepe, was arrested January 12 An MTA source told the Post that the agency is still investigating another LIRR worker who may have traveled to DC with Rosati. A third MTA worker, 31-year-old Will Pepe, has been suspended from his job at Metro-North's Brewster rail yard in upstate New York and the agency intends to fire him for his role in the riots, it was revealed last week. Pepe, 31, from Beacon, New York, was arrested January 12 and has been charged with knowingly entering or remaining in a restricted building. He faces a year in jail if convicted of the felony offense. A New York City sanitation department worker was arrested on Thursday after he was pictured photographed carrying a Trump flag into the U.S. Capitol while wearing a blue hooded QAnon conspiracy theory sweatshirt. Brooklyn resident Dominick Dennis Madden, 43, was charged with unlawfully entered the Capitol building and disorderly conduct. A maverick Las Vegas multimillionaire fascinated by extraterrestrials and space is offering $1 million in prizes for answers as to whether there is life after death. Robert Bigelow, 75, the owner of Budget Suites of America, founded the Bigelow Institute for Consciousness Studies in June. On Monday it announced an essay competition, for scientists with a track record in the field of neurology and psychology. Entrants must submit by August 1 a 25,000 word thesis on whether existence continues once your body dies. A panel of academics and medical scientists will judge the entries, with the winner announced on November 1. Robert Bigelow, 75, is searching for answers to whether there is life after death 'It may matter what you do while you're here,' Bigelow told The New York Times, explaining why he felt there was a moral imperative for the competition. 'It could make a difference on the other side.' Bigelow has had a fascination in the paranormal and out-of-body experiences since he was a child. He told the paper how, when he was two, his grandparents had a mysterious experience while driving at night near Las Vegas which left them deeply shaken. The year was 1947, when something shiny crashed into the New Mexico desert, sparking UFO theories. Bigelow said that a glowing object flew toward his grandparents and filled their windshield, terrifying them before darting off. They were late getting back home and so shaken, that 'my grandfather couldn't drive a car for a while.' Bigelow, asked what he thought delayed them in returning home, said: 'they wouldn't talk about it.' NASA Deputy Administrator Lori Garver (L) and Bigelow talk in 2013, while standing next to the Bigelow Expandable Activity Module (BEAM) during a media briefing where is was announced that the BEAM expandable space habitat technology will be tested on the ISS in 2015. In fact the BEAM module was launched in April 2016, and remains attached to the ISS today His childhood obsession with unusual encounters led, as an adult, having made his fortune in real estate and then the long-term apartment company, to serious investments in science. 'When I was 12 or 13, I made a commitment to myself to really get involved in something to do with space, and something to do with U.F.O.s if I ever had the money to do it,' he said. 'So I made a premeditated contract to myself to get into some kind of field where I could make a lot of money.' In 1992 he begun the Bigelow Foundation, collaborating with Bob Lazar, who claimed to have worked on reverse-engineering recovered extraterrestrial craft at Area 51 in Nevada. Three years later, in 1995, he founded the National Institute of Discovery Science to study paranormal phenomena and bought the 480-acre Skinwalker Ranch - site of supposed strange goings on. 'The main mysteries at Skinwalker were never solved,' said Bigelow, who sold the ranch in 2016. 'Lots of things have never been made public that we have, things that I personally initiated that we have photographs of.' In 1999 he founded Bigelow Aerospace and the following year bought the license from NASA to build expandable space habitats. His company launched the unmanned Genesis I and II inflatable modules into orbit in 2006 and 2007, and in 2016 worked with Space X to send a soft-sided expandable activity module called BEAM into space, attached to the International Space Station. Bigelow is convinced that aliens exist and is fascinated by paranormal activity His latest venture is inspired in part by the death in February 2020 of his wife of 55 years, Diane Mona Bigelow, at the age of 72 from bone marrow disease and leukemia. 'The Bigelow Institute for Consciousness Studies, was formed to try to conduct research and facilitate research into the possibility of the survival of human consciousness beyond bodily death,' Bigelow told Mystery Wire. 'If that is true, then to explore what is the other side all about.' (@ChaudhryMAli88) Copenhagen, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 22nd Jan, 2021 ) :Denmark's Social Democrat prime minister said Friday the country was aiming for zero asylum applications, reinforcing the country's already restrictive stance on immigration. The country is already seeing the lowest number of asylum seekers since 1998, with 1,547 people applying in 2020. "We cannot promise zero asylum seekers, but we can set up that vision," Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said in parliament. The low number of asylum applications last year can be partly explained by the Covid-19 pandemic but it is less than a tenth of the figure in 2015, at the height of the refugee crisis in Europe. By comparison, the figure of 21,300 applications in 2015 was only about an eighth of the number in neighbouring Sweden. Denmark, a country of 5.8 million inhabitants, makes no secret of its desire to discourage people from seeking refuge. "We need to be careful that not too many people come to our country, otherwise our social cohesion cannot exist," Frederiksen said. In 2017, as leader of the Social Democrats, she presented a plan to send "non-Western" migrants back to so-called reception centres in North Africa and the middle East. In September, Copenhagen appointed an ambassador for migration to speed up the creation of one or more migrant camps outside the European Union as part a new European asylum system. A train of the Nhon-Hanoi station railway has a trial run on January 22, 2021. Photo by VnExpress/Vo Hai. The first train to operate on the Nhon-Hanoi Station railway conducted a trial run Friday morning, three months after it reached Nhon Depot from France. The train traveled from Nhon Depot to the S5 station near the Army Theater, then back to the S1 station in front of the Hanoi University of Industry. Hanoi Metropolitan Railway Management Board (MRB) said the trial run lasted an hour at an average speed below 10 kilometers per hour. From Friday to Saturday, the train and S1 station would be open for public viewing, MRB stated, with online registration starting Jan. 15. The second train destined for the metro line is expected to reach Vietnam by the end of this month. Among the 10 trains ordered, four would be included in the first batch to be delivered from France, MRB confirmed. Each would have four compartments, capable of carrying around 950 passengers, with a designed maximum speed of 80 kilometers per hour. The Nhon-Hanoi Station metro line will run 12.5 kilometers from Nhon in western Nam Tu Liem District through Kim Ma Street to the city's downtown railway station, and cost VND33 trillion ($1.42 billion). Its elevated section is expected to enter operation by the end of 2021, while the underground section would be opened at the end of 2022. KOLKATA: The full bench of the Election Commission of India (ECI) on Thursday (January 22) asked West Bengal Police to execute all pending non-bailable warrants (NBWs) within this month and to contain violence before the announcement of assembly poll dates, an official of the Chief Electoral Officers office said on Thursday. Eyeing to conduct the coming assembly polls in West Bengal peacefully, the ECI is also mulling the option of deploying around 25 per cent more security personnel than that used in holding the 2019 Lok Sabha election, he said. The full bench of the ECI, which is currently in the state to review preparedness for the assembly polls due in April-May, held a meeting with the nodal officer of the state police, ADG (Law and Order) Gyanwant Singh, and expressed discontent with the execution of 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 to follow its directives effectively," he said. Singh informed Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora, Election Commissioners Sushil Chandra and Rajeev Kumar 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 full bench of the ECI 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. The ECI 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. 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 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. Live TV 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. AUSTIN, Texas, Jan. 22, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Families will have the opportunity to meet Austin-area schools online, receive free application help, and even win raffle prizes during Families Empowered's Virtual School Fair. WHAT: Bilingual school fair featuring a variety of K-8 Austin schools and secure, one-on-one application assistance schools and secure, one-on-one application assistance Celebration of National School Choice Week WHO: Parents, school representatives, and Success Specialists from Families Empowered WHEN: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday , Jan. 23 WHERE: Register and access the virtual school fair at www.atxschoolfair.org 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 10 facts about the Pantheon in Rome The Pantheon is located at Piazza della Rotonda in Rome's historic centre. Mon-Sat 09.00-19.30, Sun 09.00-18.00. Last admissions are 15 minutes before closing time. During midweek public holidays, opening hours are 09.00-13.00. Guided visits are not allowed during Masses, which take place on feast days at 10.30 and Sat at 17.00. 1. The Pantheon was built by Emperor Hadrian The Pantheon in the historic centre of Rome was built by Emperor Hadrian between 119-128 AD. Before that, two buildings had existed on the same site but both burned to the ground leaving little trace, one in 80 AD and the second in 110 AD. Historians estimate that the original building was constructed somewhere between 29-19 BC by Marcus Agrippa, a Roman architect and consul, close friend, son-in-law and right-hand man to Emperor Augustus. 2. The inscription The inscription at the entrance of the Pantheon reads, in Latin: M.AGRIPPA.L.F.COS.TERTIUM.FECIT. It translates roughly as Marcus Agrippa, son of Lucius, having been consul three times, made it (or Marcus Agrippa constructed this while being consul for the third time). Although Emperor Hadrian rebuilt the Pantheon long after Agrippas death, the inscription remains. Pantheon inscription in honour of Agrippa. Image RomeArtLover. 3. The columns Sixteen columns support the arcade above which stands the inscription in honour of Agrippa. The immense columns, which were transported from Egypt, are estimated to weigh 60 tons each. 4. What is the Pantheon? What is the Pantheon? Originally, it is believed to have been a pagan temple dedicated to all Roman gods. The name pantheon has Greek roots and means all (pan) gods (theos). However, some scholars disagree with this hypothesis, claiming that its name is not necessarily proof of its activity but of its size due to the sense of awe that the Pantheon still inspires on those who admire it from up close. 5. The Pantheon is a church In the year 608 AD, Emperor Phocas gave the Pantheon to Pope Boniface IV, who consecrated it as a church in honour of St Mary and the Martyrs. It is still officially a church but no longer a parish church. It can still be visited free of charge but the Italian culture ministry has been in negotiations with the city's diocesan authorities in an attempt to introduce an entry fee beginning in early 2018. Pentecost rose petals at the Pantheon. 6. The Rose Petals The dome has a circular hole at its centre called an oculus. So yes, this also means that it rains inside, which is not a problem due to the well-hidden drainage holes in the floor. What is most interesting about the open ceiling however is that on 21 April, on the celebration of Rome's birthday, the midday sun shines through the oculus on to the Pantheon's door. Also, to mark the annual Christian feast of Pentecost, a mediaeval ceremony revived in 1995 involves tens of thousands of rose petals being dropped through the oculus, symbolising the Holy Spirits descent to Earth. Over the centuries many of the features of Hadrian's Pantheon were sacked by emperors and popes, beginning with the Byzantine emperor Constans II in 663 who ripped the gilt bronze tiles off the roof and took them to Syracuse in order to ship them to Constantinople. They never arrived because they were stolen by pirates on the way. In the 17th century Urban VIII took the gilt from the portico to make 80 cannons for Castel S. Angelo. However he added two campanili, sometimes attributed to Bernini, to the outside of the building. As they never fitted with the design of the original building they were finally taken down in the mid 1880s. In 1870 the new government of the united Italy took over the maintenance of the buiding and it became a national shrine and memorial to the kings of the new kingdom. Jakob Alt painting showing the Pantheon bell towers. 7. The Oculus Another curiosity about the Pantheons dimensions is that the height from the floor to the oculus, and the diameter of the dome are the same: 43.2 m. This means that a perfect sphere could fit inside the Pantheon, which is believed to be a symbolic reference to a sacred place, or quite literally, to the celestial sphere. Pantheon sphere. Image www.aroundrometours.com. 8. Raphael is buried in the Pantheon Raphael, who died in 1520, is buried in the Pantheon next to one of his lovers, Maria Bibbiena. Gossip has it that he always intended to marry her but postponed the day repeatedly because he was having an affair with La Fornarina, immortalised in his portrait of her which now hangs in Palazzo Barberini. Numerous other painters Annibale Caracci, Taddeo Zuccari, Baldassarre Peruzzi, Pierino del Vaga and Giovanni da Udine are also buried there. The two first kings of Italy are enshrined inside the Pantheon, Vittorio Emanuele II and Umberto I along with his wife Margherita. 9. The Dome The Pantheons dome was the largest in the world for over 1300 years, until the title passed to Florences cathedral in 1436. Today the world record is held by the National Stadium in Singapore however the Pantheon remains in 15th place. The Pantheon's record-breaking dome. 10. World Record The Pantheon still retains a record however: it is the worlds largest concrete dome suspended without reinforcement. This is possibly due to a combination of factors, including the arches contained in the 6m-thick walls supporting the ceiling, the various densities of concrete used in the construction of the dome and its thickness which lessens gradually as it nears the centre. This is why the dome appears slightly flattened from the outside while seeming perfectly round from the inside. By Paola Berner Magalhaes President Joe Biden was absolutely correct when he said the world is watching all of us today, as he delivered his inaugural address from the very spot where a mob stormed the Capitol two weeks before. Bidens message to those beyond our borders was that America has been tested and weve come out stronger. We will repair our alliances and engage with the world once again. And well lead, not merely by the example of our power, but by the power of our example. But beneath the warm and relieved congratulations that poured in to Biden from leaders of allied nations in Europe and Asia lies an undercurrent of uncertainty that our government can fully emerge from its partisan paralysis. The Jan. 6 insurrection, and the Trump teams disastrous failures with curbing COVID-19 and vaccine delivery, only deepens these worries. In other words, they fear U.S. democracy has become broken and incompetent. READ MORE: Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel, on Biden's COVID-19 team, lays out how to control the pandemic | Trudy Rubin So the most immediate foreign-policy message Biden can send to convince allies America is back does not involve Iran or China or Russia. Rather, it requires the president to succeed in rallying bipartisan congressional support and management skills to deliver COVID-19 vaccine to much of the public over the next three months, proving our system can still work with the right leadership. Controlling the pandemic would not only gain Biden credit at home but would re-burnish Americas image abroad. To get a sense of how shaken Europeans have become about Americas capacity, let alone leadership, you need only check out a survey of 15,000 people in 11 European countries done by the European Council on Foreign Relations after Biden won the election but before Jan. 6. Americans have a new president but not a new country, the survey concluded. While most Europeans rejoiced at Joe Bidens victory, they do not think he can help America make a comeback as the pre-eminent global leader. It gets worse. Among the key findings: Majorities in key member states believe that the U.S. political system is completely or somewhat broken. Thirty-two percent overall and 53% of Germans believe that, after electing Trump, Americans cant be trusted not to choose another Donald Trump next time. A majority believe China will be more powerful than the United States within a decade and would want their country to stay neutral in a conflict between the two superpowers. And after witnessing Americas halting response to COVID-19 and domestic polarization most poll respondents doubt Washingtons capacity to shape the world. Of course, these doubts were magnified by the assault on the U.S. Capitol, which shocked publics in allied countries (and delighted adversaries). The whole world could watch it live. As Stanford Universitys Larry Diamond, a leading expert on democratic systems around the world, said recently. The world is very shaken with this drama and the sense it confers of American democracy in crisis and chaos, after years of deepening polarization and the pathetic spectacle of the U.S. government in managing the pandemic and becoming the [global] epicenter. Indeed, many Americans dont realize how much this perception of a broken America was strengthened even before Jan. 6, by the Trump administrations COVID-19 failures. U.S. technological prowess has long been regarded as the gold standard internationally, so both allies and adversaries were startled to watch the Trump administration let the pandemic rip. And the impressive U.S. success in vaccine development was overshadowed by the lack of a national plan for the rollout, leaving it entirely to states who dont have the manpower or funds. Hospitalizations and deaths exploded in recent weeks, as the outgoing president ignored them. Meantime, although the coronavirus resurged in Europe and Asia, many countries had done so well in flattening the curve that their relative numbers of fatalities and hospitalizations are nowhere near the out-of-control figures in the United States. Yet, for various reasons, most (not all) of Americas allies are also facing slow vaccine rollouts, so the Biden team has a chance to resurrect the U.S. reputation as a leader in science and competence. Unfortunately, it will have to create a vaccine distribution plan from scratch since Trump left none behind. Biden has laid out a national COVID-19 strategy in recent days, offering federal help to create mass vaccination sites, including in stadiums, gyms, and community centers, while building a public health workforce to do the jabs. National guardsmen would also be used. His goal is to vaccinate 100 million in 100 days. READ MORE: Unless GOP legislators debunk Trump's Big Lie, they will have blood on their hands | Trudy Rubin His vaccine plan would also make greater use of the Defense Production Act to expedite vaccine production, along with glass vials, stoppers, and syringes. And there would be regular briefings, and massive outreach, including to minority neighborhoods, to try to instill trust in the vaccine. But none of this can happen without bipartisan support for the necessary funding and without cooperation from GOP officials who control distribution within states. We will soon see if the GOP finally recognizes that controlling COVID-19 is a national security requirement, to convince a skeptical world that U.S. democracy can still meet the test. Runners: Get your summer program off on the right foot 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. 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). Alam also said Bangladesh has received consent from India to set up a hydroelectric power plant in Nepal and his country also has a proposal for Bhutan. "It will be a tripartite agreement, Bangladesh will be investing. In case of Nepal it will be with Nepal and in case of Bhutan, with that country... we would be requiring India's support to transport that electricity and also Indian company will be investing and they are welcome to invest, they can buy electricity," he said. 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 at the webinar organised by the Vivekananda 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 has been indigenously developed 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, adding under the BIMSTEC platform, FTA was proposed and some countries are yet to come up with tariff policies. 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 the father of our 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. While asserting that the bond of India and Bangladesh is not comparable with any other relationship, Alam said the collaboration with China has delivered some dividends in infrastructure which is helping Bangladesh's economy. However, he asserted that Bangladesh was under no risk of falling in a debt trap. The wife of a University of Connecticut police officer was arrested Thursday after authorities accused her of being an active participant in her husbands stalking, harassing and photographing of two university employees, the Tolland States Attorneys Office said. Tammi L. Zavickas was arrested by a detective assisting the Tolland States Attorneys Office, a press release said. The 55-year-old was a 14-year employee of the University of Connecticut Police Department. According to the warrant, Tammi Zavickas was an active participant in her husbands stalking of the two employees for about a year, monitoring their movements while following them in their personal vehicle and also sending disparaging letters about the victims to uninvolved parties and to one victims residence, the release said. Tammi Zavickas husband, Peter Zavickas, was charged in November with several counts of electronic stalking, stalking, computer crimes and harassment. Authorities claim that on a number of occasions between September 2019 and October 2020, Zavickas was in the car with her husband when they drove to the UConn campus in Storrs. There they followed and photographed the victims while trying to avoid detection, the states attorneys office said. Authorities also believe Zavickas helped create disparaging letters sent to one of the victims home. Neither of the victims was identified. This has been a thorough investigation, Tolland States Attorney Matthew Gedansky said in a statement. It revealed that there was another party who assisted Officer Zavickas, and that happened to be his wife, a civilian employee of the University of Connecticut. Tammi Zavickas was charged with one count of second-degree stalking and one count of second-degree harassment. It was not immediately clear Thursday if she was being represented by an attorney. She was released after posting $1,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in state Superior Court in Tolland on Feb. 3. Education Minister, Peter Weir has introduced a further scheme to help support substitute teachers during the current six-week period of school closures. Substitute teachers have been unable to access secure work as schools are closed to pupils except for vulnerable children and those of key workers. The Minister said: I am fully aware of the significant impact this pandemic continues to have on our pupils, teaching and non-teaching staff. "The issue of funding for substitute teachers who have lost the opportunity to work in schools during the current six-week period of school closures is one that I, and my Department, have been working hard to resolve. "Today, I am pleased to announce that we will be re-introducing the income support scheme for substitute teachers. "The estimated total cost of the scheme is around 3.25m. The Minister continued: Substitute teachers in Northern Ireland are a unique group of staff, and the education sector depends on these individuals to be available to cover for absences of permanent teachers. "This will be welcome news to those staff for whom substitute teaching has been their regular source of income. "Their income stopped abruptly when schools were instructed to close to pupils except for vulnerable children and those of key workers, and it is only right that they are not disadvantaged when so many other workers have been able to access the UK-wide furlough scheme. FLINT, MI Jeanette Edwards is a grandmother to seven grandchildren. Five of her grandchildren drank the water in Flint when lead was leaching out of the transmission pipes and into the homes of thousands of city residents. Edwards, president of the Brownell Holmes Neighborhood Association and member of North Flint Action Council, is glad things are moving forward for some residents to get some sort of restitution. But she feels the settlement comes up short. On Thursday, Jan. 21, a federal court judge 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. Related: Judge gives preliminary OK to $641 million Flint water crisis settlement 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. Edwards grandchildren that drank the water range in age from seven to 20 years old. I had three grandchildren that had lead in their system but they (medical officials) said it wasnt enough to affect them, Edwards said. They should not have had any lead in their system. Over time, Edwards has noticed her grandchildren have struggled with their school work. They have to go the rest of their lives with lead in their system. Whats going to happen when theyre adults? Edwards asked. Edwards thinks $641 million isnt enough and there should be more money directed at adults who were also impacted by the health crisis. Related: Flint residents hopeful water crisis charges against Snyder, other officials will bring justice The settlement 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. 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. Flint Mayor Sheldon Neeley said he feels good about the process moving one step forward. We have to continue to press forward with this, he said. However, he said he recognizes that there is no amount of money that will ever be enough when the health of families is involved. He asked that residents not fall victim to misinformation and to research what is happening through credible sources. Originally the settlement was announced to include $600 million, now it is up to $641 million. There are still multiple defendants out there, Neeley said. That number will continue to grow, so no one can speak on what that number will be. Patrick McNeal, a community member, was living, attending church and working in Flint when the city switched its water supply to the Flint River nearly seven years ago. While I understand that this does do something to help the citizenry of Flint, I think that the amount that we received pales in comparison of what we shouldve received to deal with the totality of people because it wasnt just children that were harmed - it was children, it was adults, it was elders, he said. McNeal said if he could put a price tag on what citizens should get from being exposed to lead the number would be in the billions. We wont know what the real ramifications of these things are for years, maybe even decades, but we do know that we were wronged and this settlement does nothing to bring closure or healing or even restoration to our citizenry, McNeal said. Related news: Judge gives preliminary OK to $641 million Flint water crisis settlement 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 Victoria will receive 1500 seasonal farm workers from the Pacific Islands who will quarantine in Tasmania before travelling to the mainland in a deal to help plug major workforce shortages. The long-awaited arrangement attracted criticism from the state opposition and federal Agriculture Minister David Littleproud, who called it too little and too late for some Victorian farmers. The Tasmanian government will oversee the Pacific Islander quarantine arrangements for the workers, who will also have to receive a negative test before coming to Victoria. Agriculture Minister Mary-Anne Thomas. Credit:Joe Armao In return, the Victorian government will provide quarantine for an additional 330 Australians overseas who want to return home. The arrangement will be in place for the first half of this year. Robert Kocharyan on years of his leadership in Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia Situation on Armenian-Azerbaijani border is still tense, more on COVID-19 in Armenia, May 28 digest "Armenia" alliance of political parties paying tribute to founder of First Republic Aram Manukyan (LIVE) Yerevan.today: Armenia acting PM not greeted at ruling party's headquarters, citizens call him 'capitulator' Russia MOD reports on maintenance of ceasefire regime in Nagorno-Karabakh Armenia acting MOD meets with Russian counterpart in Moscow Armenia 2nd President: I see possibility of restoring borders of Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast We can provide our army with some key, modernized weapons, says Armenia ex-President Kocharyan Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: Captives issue is not one that any opposition force can resolve OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs release statement on detention of 6 Armenian servicemen by Azerbaijan Armenian acting Deputy PM: Discussion on issues possible only after withdrawal of Azeri troops from Armenia's territory Armenia acting PM on Syunik roads, Russian military posts: This is only place where there are working nuances Armenia acting PM: Process of return of POWs will intensify after upcoming elections Putin congratulates Aliyev on Republic Day 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 Anatavario, Jan 21(UNI) A street library was inaugurated at Indian embassy in Madagascar. The library was inaugurated by the Minister of Communication and Culture of the Government of the Republic of Madagascar Mrs Andriantogarivo Rakotondrazafy Lalatiana and Ambassador of India to Madagascar, Abhay Kumar. Addressing the audience at the inauguration, the Ambassador of India Abhay Kumar said - Cultural exchange is one of the important dimensions of growing and strengthening ties between India and Madagascar. Taking this cultural relationship a step forward, the Embassy of India in Madagascar had today set up a Street Library in front of its building in Tsaralalana. he further added. Street Library will be an open cultural space accessible from the street, and is an invitation to share the joys of reading with the Malagasy people who have a keen interest in books, he stated. The Street Library will have a large variety of Indian books like biographies, history books, literary fiction and nonfiction books, he further said adding that it would host a significant number of books in French and Malagasy comprising of novels, short stories, poems, etc. "It will be open on week days from 10AM-12:30pm and 2 PM-4:30pm. We really hope that people will be able to take the benefits from the possibility of expanding their literary and cultural horizons, thanks to the Street Library. , he added. Interested readers may register themselves with the Indian Embassy, get a book from the Street Library and return it to the Embassy after an enjoyable read, free of cost, he informed. Speaking on the occasion the Minister of Communication and Culture of the Government of the Republic of Madagascar Mrs Lalatiana said: I would like to congratulate the Embassy of India for the implementation of the idea of a Street Library. This street library perfectly fits with the Ministry of Communication and Cultures program Ndao hamaky boky ankalamanjana or the setting up of reading spaces in public places., she felt. The Minister of Communication and Culture became the first borrower of books from the Street Library and while registering her name as a borrower, she wrote: I really appreciate the Street Library. What a wonderful idea, thank you so much. " Malagasy people, I hope, will enjoy it very much. she noted and expressed the idea of expanding the street library in parks, cultural spaces across the city of Antananarivo so that maximum people can take advantage of reading. On this occasion the Embassy of India also donated books for the especially curated India Corner at the National Library of Madagascar. While handing over the books Ambassador Kumar said- This will help in making Indian literature accessible to Malagasy people at large and enhance their knowledge about India. Minister Lalatiana, appreciating the gesture of the Indian Embassy, said: I would also seize this opportunity to thank the Embassy of India for donating books to the Ministry. These books are intended for the "India Corner" within the National Library of Madagascar. And I'm particularly elated that very soon, India will be present in this "country section" throughout books promoting its culture, economy and history. Our greatest wish is for our cultural relationship to become even stronger over the years., she remarked. UNI XC KKS Beijing: The City of Shanghai has imposed lockdowns on two of Chinas best-known hospitals after they were linked to new coronavirus cases. Outpatient services have been suspended at Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Centre and Renji Hospital, both of which have been cordoned off along with some surrounding residential communities. The two hospitals were put under lockdown after suspected cases were found at them on Wednesday and Thursday. Shanghai had six of the 103 new cases reported by the National Health Commission on Friday. Police officers wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) cordon off a street near the Zhaotong Road neighbourhood, placed under lockdown due to suspect COVID cases at a nearby hospital. Credit:Bloomberg Its not immediately clear if any additional cases were linked to the hospitals. Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 Mumbai, Jan 22 : In a surprise development a Mumbai-based woman, who had levelled sensational allegations of rape against Maharashtra Social Justice Minister Dhananjay Munde, has withdrawn her complaint, officials said here on Friday. The woman informed the police that she was not keen in pursuing the case against the minister, without citing reasons for her abrupt move. The police have now directed her to submit a formal notarised affidavit to the effect to enable the police complete the relevant formalities in the matter, the officials said. After her allegations opened up a political Pandora's Box last week, the self-styled victim had slammed what she termed efforts to malign her image and asked why "these people did not come forward before". While several Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party leaders clamoured for Munde's removal from the cabinet and a thorough probe into her allegations, the Nationalist Congress Party stood behind the beleaguered minister, opting to wait for the outcome of the police investigation. In a somersault, senior BJP women's wing leader Chitra Wagh on Friday demanded that the police should book the woman under IPC Section 192 for making false allegations against the minister, to set an example. BJP Mumbai Vice-President Krishna Hegde, who had lodged a complaint against the same woman last week for attempts to 'honey-trap' him a few years ago, said the latest developments will be a huge relief to Munde. "This is the first #MeToo case in state politics and all must fight against such false allegations as ultimately truth will prevail," Hegde said. The ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi allies, Shiv Sena and Congress have not yet reacted to the development. Lucknow, Jan 22 : Rarely ever in history has the enigma of a leader lived on for more than half a century after his demise. Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose may have "died" in an air crash in August 1945, but for those who believe in him, he lives on and on as the ellusive "Gumnami Baba". Gumnami, in Hindi, means anonymity. Gumnami Baba -- whom many believe was actually Netaji (Bose) lived in the guise of a sadhu at several places in Uttar Pradesh, including Naimisharanya (Nimsar), Basti, Ayodhya and Faizabad. He kept changing his place of abode, mostly within the city itself. Baba, as he was called, remained a complete recluse and interacted with only a handful of 'believers' who visited him on a regular basis. He never stepped out of his house, rather room, and majority of the people claim to have never seen him. One of his landlords, Gurbax Singh Sodhi, tried to take him twice to the Faizabad Civil Court on the text some work but failed. This information is corroborated by his son Manjit Singh in his deposition to Justice Sahai Commission of Inquiry, set up to identify Gumnami Baba. Later a journalist, Virendra Kumar Mishra, too lodged a complaint with the police. Gumnami Baba finally settled in an out-house of Ram Bhavan at Faizabad in 1983 where he reportedly died on September 16, 1985, and was cremated two days later on September 18. If it were really Netaji, he would been 88 years old. Strangely, there is no proof that any person really died. There is no death certificate, no photograph of the dead body or of the people present during cremation. There is no cremation certificate either. In fact, Gumnami Baba's passing away was not known to people until, 42 days after his supposed death. His life and death, both, remained shrouded in mystery and no one knows why. A local newspaper, Janmorcha, had earlier conducted an inquiry on the issue. They found no evidence of Gumnami Baba being Netaji. Its editor, Sheetla Singh visited Netaji's associate Pabitra Mohan Roy in Kolkata in November 1985. Roy said, "We have been visiting every sadhu and mysterious individual in search of Netaji, from Saulmari (West Bengal) to Kohima (Nagaland) to Punjab. In the same manner, we also visited Babaji at Basti, Faizabad and Ayodhya. But I can say with certainty that he was not Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose." Despite denials from sources -- official or others -- his 'believers' refused to accept that Gumnami Baba was not Netaji. Though the Uttar Pradesh government has officially rejected the claim that Gumnami Baba was actually Bose in disguise, his followers still refuse to accept the claim. The Gumnami Baba 'believers' had moved court in 2010 and brought out a judgment in favour of their petition with the high court directing the Uttar Pradesh government to establish the identity of Gumnami Baba. Accordingly, the government set up an inquiry commission on June 28, 2016, headed by Justice Vishnu Sahai. The report stated that "Gumnami Baba" was a "follower of Netaji", but not Netaji. A leading surgeon from Gorakhpur, who does not wish to be named, was one such 'believer'. "We kept asking the Government of India to declare that Netaji was not a war criminal but our pleas fell on deaf ears. Baba did not want to emerge as a criminal. It does matter that the government did not believe in him -- we did and continue to do so. We want to be known as his 'believers' because we believed in him," he told IANS. The doctor was among those who regularly visited Gumnami Baba and still remain' his staunch 'believer'. In February 1986, Netaji's niece Lalita Bose was brought to Faizabad to identify the items found in Gumnami Baba's room after his death. At first sight, she was overawed and even identified some items to be of Netaji's family. Baba's room was filled up by the over 2,000 articles in 25 steel trunks. No one had ever seen them during his lifetime. Handwriting expert Carl Bagget was also given the two sets of letters to analyse without being told the identities of the writers. After he said they were written by the same man, it was revealed to him that the persons in question was Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose and Gumnami Baba. Baggett stood by his conclusion and gave a signed statement to that effect. Baggett was an authority on document examination with over 40 years of experience and had completed over 5,000 cases. Faizabad, the epicentre of the Gumnami Baba's myth, still believes in the story of the "sadhu", ignoring the findings of inquiry commissions. It matters little to the 'believers' that two consecutive commissions, headed by Justice Mukherjee and Justice Sahai, had declared that "Gumnami Baba was not Netaji". "My father was among those who strongly believed in Gumnami Baba. He respected Baba's wishes and never tried to forcibly meet him. But whenever he passed by Ram Bhavan, he would bow his head in reverence. If the government of the time did not accept the truth, it does not take away anything from the truth," said Ram Kumar, a local resident. Dr Suman Gupta, the resident editor of Janmorcha in Lucknow and also a resident of Faizabad, said, "There were people who were in contact with Gumnami Baba and these people strongly believed that he was Netaji. "There are many who could never see him or meet him but still believe in him. It did not matter to them if the facts prove otherwise -- it was a matter of faith and continues till this day." We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form The new ambassadors of Spain, Iran, and the Philippines to Vietnam presented their credentials to Party General Secretary and State President Nguyen Phu Trong at the Presidential Palace in Hanoi on January 22. Party General Secretary and State President Nguyen Phu Trong (front, right) and Spanish Ambassador Maria del Pilar Mendez Jimenez at the credential presentation on January 22 (Photo: VNA) Following the presentation, the President hosted a reception for the ambassadors - Maria del Pilar Mendez Jimenez of Spain, Ali Akbar Nazari of Iran, and Meynardo Los Banos Montealegre of the Philippines. Iranian Ambassador Ali Akbar Nazari (R) presents his credentials to Party General Secretary and State President Nguyen Phu Trong on January 22 (Photo: VNA) Highly valuing the sound cooperation between Vietnam and the countries, Trong expressed his belief that during their term, with the high sense of responsibility and warm sentiment towards Vietnam, the diplomats will excellently fulfill their duties so as to help further enhance their nations ties with Vietnam. He also hoped that they will have good impression of the country and people of Vietnam during their stay here. Party General Secretary and State President Nguyen Phu Trong (front, right) and Ambassador Meynardo Los Banos Montealegre of the Philippines at the credential presentation on January 22 (Photo: VNA) Informing his guests about the upcoming 13th National Party Congress a significant political event of the Vietnamese Party, Sate, and people, Trong highlighted the ambassadors role in linking Vietnam with the countries and promoting international friends, partners, and communitys cooperation with and support for Vietnam to achieve strategic targets of the new development period. The Vietnamese State and Government will always create the best possible conditions for the ambassadors to perform their tasks, the leader affirmed, wishing Vietnams friendship and cooperation with Spain, Iran, and the Philippines will witness new strides in the future./.VNA Current Print Subscribers will be prompted to either login to their current site user account or to create a new one. A confirmation email will be sent when a new user account is created, which must be confirmed within three days in order to provide uninterrupted online access through your Print Subscription. Once the email address is confirmed please provide your Account Number to activate your Print Subscription Service. We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form Internally displaced Burkinabe Mamouna Ouedraogo, 37, lives with her mother-in-law and seven children, including one-year-old Alexandre, in Kaya, Burkina Faso, November 2020. UNHCR/Anne Mimault UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is calling for an end to the unrelenting violence in Africas Sahel which has now displaced more than two million people within the borders of their countries for the first time ever. The Sahel which includes Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, and Niger is home to some of the worlds least developed countries, and the communities hosting the displaced have reached a breaking point. Needs are surging across a region where multiple crises converge including armed conflict, extreme poverty, food insecurity, climatic changes, and the COVID-19 pandemic. The extreme vulnerability of the Sahel has been laid bare by the impact of forced displacement, caused by widespread and gruesome violence perpetrated by armed insurgent groups and criminal gangs. The humanitarian response is dangerously overstretched, and UNHCR is urging the international community to redouble its support for the region. States must act now to help Sahel countries address the root causes of this forced displacement, to boost strategic and sustainable development, and to strengthen institutions such as schools and hospitals, many of which have shut due to ongoing violence. The situation has worsened due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Internal displacement in the region has quadrupled in just two years, as there were 490,000 internally displaced people (IDPs) at the beginning of 2019. More than half of the IDPs in the region are Burkinabe. The Sahel also hosts over 850,000 refugees, mainly from Mali. Already this year, violence in Niger and Burkina Faso has forced more than 21,000 people to flee their homes and seek refuge within their own countries. In Burkina Faso, since 31 December, a series of armed attacks on the town of Koumbri and nearby villages in the North of the country have displaced more than 11,000 people. Most are women and children who fled at night after attackers began shooting at their homes. They have reached safety and are now staying within local communities in Ouahigouya and Barga, some 35 kilometres away. Despite the generosity of their hosts, many of the IDPs lack basic shelter and are sleeping under open skies. They are in urgent need of adequate shelter, water, and essential relief, as well as access to health and proper sanitation to prevent the spread of COVID-19. UNHCR is erecting 108 sturdy shelters in Ouahigouya and our teams have distributed mats and blankets, hygiene materials, and other essential aid. Local authorities are accelerating efforts to register the new arrivals and relocate them to another site. Across the region, UNHCR and its partners are working to provide critical assistance to hundreds of thousands of displaced people and their hosts, such as shelter, aid items, and cash. Our teams are also working to prevent and respond to instances of sexual violence, which have become widespread. We are rehabilitating schools and classrooms and supporting distance learning opportunities. For more information, please contact: In written answers to questions submitted by pro-Armenian U.S. Senator Robert Menendez, Antony Blinken also said that the Biden administration will review security assistance to Azerbaijan due to the recent war in Karabakh. I support the provision to Armenia of security assistance and aid to strengthen democratic governance and promote economic growth, both of which will help to strengthen Armenias security and resilience, Blinken wrote on Thursday. If confirmed, I look forward to working with Congress and the Secretary of Defense to determine the appropriate level of assistance to meet the security needs of Armenia and the region, he added in response to a question about how the U.S. could help the Armenians defend themselves against Azerbaijan and Turkeys aggression. If confirmed, I will reinvigorate U.S. engagement to find a permanent settlement to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict that protects the security of Nagorno-Karabakh and helps to ensure another war does not break out, he said, answering another question. Biden complained about a lack of such engagement during the autumn war in Karabakh that coincided with the U.S. presidential race. In an October 28 statement, he said then U.S. President Donald Trump must get involved personally to stop this war and freeze U.S. aid to Azerbaijan. The U.S. Congress had banned such aid through Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act passed in 1992. However, U.S. administrations were allowed in the early 2000s to waive the ban and help Azerbaijans military and security agencies. The Trump administration significantly increased the security aid to Baku, reportedly providing over $100 million worth of equipment and other assistance to Azerbaijans State Border Guard Service in 2018-2019. Azerbaijani border guards also participated in the six-week hostilities in and around Karabakh stopped by a Russian-brokered ceasefire on November 10. In light of the recent outbreak of hostilities in Nagorno-Karabakh, the Biden-Harris administration will review our security assistance to Azerbaijan, said Blinken. If the circumstances warrant, the Biden-Harris administration will be prepared to suspend waivers of requirements under section 907 of the Freedom Support Act. The two main Armenian-American advocacy groups were quick to hail Blinkens written comments submitted days after his confirmation hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee headed by Menendez. The "Dimitrie Gusti" National Village Museum organizes, on Saturday and Sunday, on the occasion of the Day of the Union of the Romanian Principalities, a fair of folk craftsmen, workshops for children and a military parade in period uniforms. According to a press release of the Village Museum sent on Friday to AGERPRES, visitors at the fair will be able to buy, among other things, icons, dolls, folk masks, fur accessories, puppets. Children will be able to participate in a series of DIY workshops, and also stories and poetry workshops dedicated to the Day of the Union of Principalities. On Sunday, the "Military Tradition" Association will hold a parade in vintage uniforms on the alleys of the museum. 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 Food Bank of Northwest Indiana is partnering with Alberts on several special projects to address the need and support families still affected by the devastation of the pandemic. Included in the plans are three large Mobile Market food distributions between March and August and a special Easter Mobile Market food distribution. Through the partnership, Alberts will also be providing monthly groceries through the Pantry Pack program for limited-income pregnant women, home bound seniors, and food insecure youth who are a part of the juvenile justice system. The US Army has covered up the role of Lt. Gen. Charles A. Flynn, brother of Trump loyalist and former National Security adviser Gen. Michael Flynn (ret.), in the events of January 6, 2021, when fascists assembled by Trump stormed the US Capitol and sought to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election, the Washington Post reported Thursday. Charles Flynn is a high-ranking Army commander, serving as deputy chief of staff for operations, plans and training. His brother was also a lieutenant general, rising to head the Defense Intelligence Agency before he was fired in 2014 by President Barack Obama in a dispute over Mideast policy. Charles Flynn in 2015. (Sgt. David Beckstrom/Army) Michael Flynn emerged a year later as the top military endorser of Trump and a frequent surrogate in the Republican presidential campaign. After the 2016 election, Trump named Flynn his national security adviser, but fired him only three weeks into the new administration for lying about his contacts with the Russian ambassador during the period of transition from Obama to Trump. Targeted by the Mueller investigation, Flynn initially cooperated and pled guilty to two counts of perjury, before reversing himself, withdrawing the plea, and seekingwith the support of Attorney General William Barrto have the charges dropped. The judge in the case resisted, and eventually Trump intervened with a full pardon for Flynn. Since then, Flynn has come forward as a public spokesman for fascistic groups like the QAnon conspiracy theory, appearing at Stop the Steal rallies in Washington and calling for Trump to invoke the Insurrection Act and order a revote in closely contested states, under the supervision of the militaryin all but name, a Trump-led military dictatorship. These rallies set the stage for the January 6 assault on the US Capitol, when at least some of the attackers aimed to take hostages among congressmen and senators and trade their lives for a decision by Congress not to certify the electoral votes that would seal Trumps defeat by Democrat Joe Biden. All this was known to the military brass when they met on January 6 to respond to an urgent appeal from Capitol Police for military reinforcements. Because the District of Columbia is federal territory, the D.C. National Guard was under the control of Secretary of the Army Ryan McCarthy rather than the citys mayor, and a group of military and civilian officials gathered to hear the call pleading for help. These included General Charles Flynn. The Army did not immediately grant the request of the Capitol Police Chief Steven Sund and acting Washington D.C. Police Chief Robert Contee III, who reported that attackers had breached the police lines outside the Capitol and entered the building. According to their accounts, at least one military officer on the call, Lt. Gen. Walter Piatt, director of the Army Staff, raised objections. I dont like the visual of the National Guard standing a police line with the Capitol in the background, he reportedly declared. The Post account described Chief Contee as flabbergasted by the Armys reaction, which came after Chief Sund had stressed that the Capitol had been breached by protesters and told those on the call that he had reports of shots being fired on the scene. It is not known whether General Flynn contributed to the telephone discussion, because several officers spoke and not all were identified. The Post reported, It was at times difficult for the participants of the call to discern which top Army official was speaking. The accounts of the participants themselves are highly contradictory. Flynn told the Post, I entered the room after the call began and departed prior to the call ending as I believed a decision was imminent from the Secretary, and I needed to be in my office to assist in executing the decision. McCarthy, for his part, denied even being at the meeting. General Piatt denied making the comments reported by the police officials. It is clear, however, that the Armys concern for the visual impact of troops arrayed at the US Capitol also extended to the optics of the brother of a leading fascist supporter of Trump participating in the decision not to oppose the fascist attack. The Post reported, Army officials, before and after that interview, denied that Flynn appeared during the call. HE WAS NOT IN ANY OF THE MEETINGS! one Army official said on Jan. 12 in an email to The Post. Only after reporters for the newspaper had obtained accounts of the meeting from at least five participants did the Army finally send a statement admitting General Flynns participation but refusing to comment further. What is evident here is that both civilian and uniformed military officials have plenty to hide and ample motivation to cover up. By dragging their feet in the face of a mob attack on the seat of Congress, they were acting as accomplices, witting or unwitting, to the overthrow of the US government. McCarthy left office on January 20 along with most Trump appointees. But the Pentagon remains under the leadership of David Norquist, Trumps deputy secretary of defense and brother of Grover Norquist, a prominent right-wing figure and longtime Republican operative and anti-tax activist. These family relationships only underscore the connections between the military leadership and the ultraright, which constitutes one of the gravest threats to the democratic rights of the American people. There is no doubt that military officers not only stalled in providing aid to the Capitol police, but some actually participated in the attack themselves. According to Post columnist David Ignatius, who enjoys close connections with the Pentagon, Senior military officials tell me they have already identified 30 individuals among active-duty personnel, National Guard forces and veterans who might have been active in the Jan. 6 storming of the Capitol. While Ignatius writes as an advocate of the top brass and presents them as hostile to the fascists, his column was published under the extraordinary headline, Joe Bidens fundamental challenge is to root out the domestic insurgency. In reality, Biden and the Democrats have no intention whatsoever to root out the conspiracy against democracy that came to the surface on January 6. That is demonstrated by Bidens incessant pleading for cooperation by his Republican colleagues and Republican friends, even though a majority of congressional Republicans voted for the bogus challenges to Bidens electoral votes, only hours after the fascist attackers had been cleared from the Capitol. There is every indication that the impeachment trial of ex-President Trump, if it actually takes place, will be an instrument to whitewash this conspiracy, allowing the Republicans to posture as opponents of the violence they incited, and even, as in the case of Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, condemning Trump now, although they supported his effort to subvert and overturn the election right up until January 6. As for the corporate media, it has almost entirely dropped the question of the Capitol insurrection and its fascist participants, even though arrests continue around the country. The co-chair of the Alliance for Romanians Unity (AUR) George Simion announced, in the context of his travel the other day in Poland and Belgium, the party's affiliation with the "European political family of right-wing conservatives and reformists," which includes Polish, Italian, Spanish and British Conservatives, according to a press release on Friday, as reported by AGERPRES. On Wednesday, Simion met in Warsaw with representatives of conservative governing parties, PiS (Law and Justice Party) and the Polish Solidarity Party, their discussions targeting the situation of strategic state companies, as well as the bill against Internet censorship. "The Poles, through the conservative governing parties, but also through the common history they share with the Romanians, through the current interests they have in the region and through the future that we wish to be common, must be Romania's strategic ally in the area," the AUR release quoted George Simion as saying. George Simion met with deputies Janusz Kowalski, Secretary of State in the Ministry of State Assets, and Radoslaw Fogiel, adviser to PiS leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski, and responsible for the party's international relations. "Simion gave Fogiel a map of Greater Romania, when Poland was a neighbour of Romania in 1918," the AUR release reads. In Brussels on Thursday, the AUR co-chair had a series of meetings with conservative MEPs, discussions on the mobility package affecting Romanian carriers, the European Green Deal, which "will make the national energy system vulnerable, including by closing thermal power plants", as well as topical topics such as "instituting a vaccination passport" or "censorship by Big Tech (Facebook, Twitter, YouTube)". Handout/Biden Inaugural Committee via Getty ImagesThe Celebrating America inauguration special on Wednesday night featured a star-studded lineup that included Katy Perry, John Legend, Bruce Springsteen, and Jon Bon Jovi. But now it appears that Bon Jovi's performance may not have been entirely as advertised. While Jon's performance of The Beatles' "Here Comes the Sun" was introduced as coming to you from Miami, ABC-TV affiliate WPLG reports that permits were obtained at multiple locations across South Florida to film it, including the iconic pier in the town of Dania Beach. In fact, many viewers took to social media to note that the dramatic pier location did not resemble Miami at all, and several guessed that it had been filmed on the Dania Beach Pier. While it's possible that the video included images shot elsewhere, WPLG has confirmed that Jon's performance was actually filmed at sunrise on January 15 in that town. Dania Beach posted a statement acknowledging the performance, writing, "We are extremely proud that the beautiful City of Dania Beach Pier was chosen as one of the locations for Jon Bon Jovi...to sing...to celebrate the Inauguration 2021." The statement adds, "The Dania Beach Pier is the gem of our city and we are very grateful to see it shine on such a momentous day." By Andrea Dresdale Copyright 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved. For the first time, the consumer businesses of Reliance Industries (RIL) - Jio Platforms and Reliance Retail - overtook the cash flow of its flagship refining and petrochemicals in the December ended quarter. While the oil to chemicals (O2C) business witnessed a 28 per cent fall in Earnings before Interest, Tax, Depreciation and Amortisation (EBITDA), the digital services and retail businesses reported EBITDA growth of 48.4 per cent and 13.4 per cent, respectively. V Srikanth, Joint Chief Financial Officer, RIL said, "In the O2C segment, we have seen demand revival. The downstream product deltas have been strong and this in some sense has negated the weakness in the fuel market. Jio EBITDA continued to grow on the back of subscriber addition and higher ARPU. The retail business benefited from a sharp rebound in fashion and lifestyle and the investment income from the recent capital raising. The consumer business accounts for 51 per cent of EBITDA, compared to 37 per cent a year back." The consolidated EBITDA of digital services business grew by 6.4 per cent quarter-on-quarter (QoQ) to Rs 8,483 crore. The customer base increased to 410.8 million with net addition of 5.2 million customers in the third quarter. The average revenue per user (ARPU) increased to Rs 151 a month from Rs 145. The data traffic increased by four per cent and voice traffic improved by 4.6 per cent. During the quarter, Google invested Rs 33,737 crore into Jio Platforms (JPL) for 7.73 per cent stake. With this, the total investment JPL stood at Rs 152,056 crore. Lifting of lockdown restrictions helped Reliance Retail to operate 96 per cent of its stores in the quarter. The footfalls remained at similar levels to last quarter but still lower than pre-COVID levels. The grocery business and electronics stores sustained double digit growth while the fashion and lifestyle business delivered a strong rebound, surpassing pre COVID levels. Reliance Retail added 327 new stores, taking the total store count to 12,201, which spread over 31.2 million sq. ft. The retail entity has added over 50,000 new jobs since the beginning of pandemic, it said. The segment EBITDA of O2C business improved by 10.3 per cent quarter-on-quarter (QoQ) on account of higher product sales and shifting of product placement from exports to domestic market. During the quarter, the polymers margins were at a record high while intermediate margins were sequentially better. However, the refining business has continued its weak performance as transportation fuel markets continued to remain challenging with excess supply and second COVID-19 wave hurting demand from European and US markets. The domestic demand continued to improve with oil product demand growth at 19 per cent QoQ. The oil demand for December was at 99 per cent of pre-COVID level, said the company. The oil and gas exploration and production vertical has arrested its losses and posted positive EBITDA after 3-4 years. After meeting losses at the shale gas business in the US, RIL has impaired its investment in shale gas subsidiaries worth Rs 15,686 crore. The company has also recognised deferred tax assets of Rs 15,570 crore in respect of the difference between the book base and tax base of the shale gas operations, in accordance with Ind AS 12 - Income Tax. With this, the net impact on the books stood at Rs 116 crore. Also Read: Infographic: Sensex at 50,000 - The journey Also Read: RIL Q3 results: Profit rises 12.5% to Rs 13,101 crore, revenue down 22% Also Read: Reliance Jio Q3 results: Net profit jumps 15.5% to Rs 3,489 crore Winter is back! It has snowed every day this week, with heavy snow accumulation north of the Mohawk Valley. Light snow continues to fly this evening, especially north of the Mohawk Valley as the next area of low pressure approaches the region. This one brings lake effect snow tonight, the heaviest north of the Mohawk Valley. Here's a look at accumulations overnight: A cold front moves through the region Friday morning, bringing the lake effect snow south. A burst of snow is expected across the Mohawk Valley during the morning commute. Be on the lookout for quickly changing weather conditions as the squalls move through. A snow squall is a burst of snow that creates whiteout conditions and gusty winds. Snow squalls typically don't last for long, meaning the snow typically doesn't pile up. However, the impacts on travel are high due to the combination of poor visibility and slippery roads. The squalls look to produce about 2-4" of snowfall, with higher amounts expected along hilltops south and west of Utica. The cold front will continue to march south throughout Friday afternoon, leaving behind windy conditions and colder temperatures. Expect temperatures to drop into the 20s by Friday evening and into the teens Friday night. Highs over the weekend are expected only to be in the upper teens to near 20 with overnight lows near zero. New Delhi: Farmer unions on Friday told the government they want a complete repeal of three contentious farm laws even as the Centre asked them to reconsider its proposal for putting the Acts on hold for 12-18 months, as the two sides met for their 11th round of talks to resolve the nearly-two-month long deadlock. In the last round of meetings held on Wednesday, the government had offered to put on hold the three laws and set up a joint committee to find solutions. However, after internal consultations on Thursday, the farmer unions decided to reject the offer and stick to their two major demands which is the repeal of the three laws and a legal guarantee of the minimum support price (MSP). Farmers' protest "We told the government that we will not agree to anything other than the repeal of the laws. But the minister asked us to discuss separately again and rethink on the matter and convey the decision," farmer leader Darshan Pal said. BKU leader Rakesh Tikait said: "We conveyed our position clearly to the government that we want a repeal of the laws and not a suspension. The minister (Narendra Singh Tomar) asked us to reconsider our decision." WASHINGTON - President Joe Biden on Friday knocked out the main pillars of his predecessor's policies toward the federal workforce by repealing Trump administration orders that restricted bargaining and appeal rights and another that sought to remove civil service protections from a large class of employees. Federal agencies for several years have cited the union-related orders to restrict the subjects over which they will bargain, although the rules needed to carry out the disciplinary policies were finalized only last fall. One of the orders, issued in October, could have turned tens of thousands of career employees - or more - essentially into political appointees, although time ran out on the Trump administration before it could make those changes. That order - which was widely criticized for potentially politicizing the civil service - sought to move career federal employees whose work involves making or carrying out policies into a new category to be called Schedule F. They would have lost their rights to appeal disciplinary actions up to removal, as well as the right to be represented by a union. Under the order, those positions could have been filled without competition, much as political appointees are installed. The orders reflected the Trump administration's general view that federal personnel policies should be more results-oriented, and that management should do more to hold employees accountable while limiting the role unions play in workplace decisions. In its early days, the Biden administration is setting a different tone. Biden's order says the Schedule F policy "undermined the foundations of the civil service and its merit system principles" and that "it is the policy of the United States to protect, empower, and rebuild the career Federal workforce. It is also the policy of the United States to encourage union organizing and collective bargaining." It told agencies to cancel any steps they had taken for carrying out the orders. Rep. Don Beyer, D-Va., said he is "particularly happy to see the end of Schedule F, an executive order intended to politicize the civil service that could have done a great deal of harm. . . . It is deeply gratifying to finally have an administration that values civil servants and clearly takes their interests - and the national interest they serve - to heart." Federal employee unions also praised the change, which Biden earlier had promised. "Federal workers can once again have confidence in their president's commitment to the apolitical civil service, to standing up for workers' rights, and to upholding merit system principles that safeguard against political interference in employment decisions," American Federation of Government Employees President Everett Kelley said in a statement. "In a Biden administration, agencies are no longer under orders to strip long-held rights from contracts, run roughshod over employees and unilaterally impose workplace policies that disrespect their service to our country," said National Treasury Employees Union President Tony Reardon. However, the ranking Republican on the House Oversight and Reform Committee, Rep. James Comer of Kentucky, said Biden "is seeking to allow massive bureaucratic power to go unchecked. The American people must be able to hold all federal employees - elected and unelected - accountable for their actions." About 1.2 million of the 2.1 million executive branch employees apart from the U.S. Postal Service are represented by labor unions that may bargain over a variety of working conditions and policies, although not directly over pay and benefits. One of three orders issued by President Donald Trump on the same day in 2018, though, said that negotiations "often make it harder for agencies to reward high performers, hold low-performers accountable, or flexibly respond to operational needs." It told agencies to bargain over only the minimum topics required by law and not over any workplace policies that are negotiable at management's choosing; set time frames for negotiations; encouraged agencies to promptly invoke outside arbitration if those deadlines are not met; and to file a complaint against the union or simply impose management's terms if the union does not meet standards it set for good-faith bargaining. A second order addressed "official time" - paid time for employees to fulfill certain union responsibilities. While civil service law allows for such time, the amounts are set in bargaining at each agency. The order told agencies to limit the amount they may agree to as well as the purposes for which it could be used. The third order told federal agencies to provide employees only the required minimum chance to improve before being subject to discipline. It also told agencies to make the fullest use of their discretion in choosing penalties for poor performance or misconduct. The orders further soured relations between the Trump administration and federal unions, which quickly challenged them in court. A federal judge at first blocked the main parts of all three but an appeals court later lifted that injunction and the Trump administration told agencies to carry them out. Agencies then followed those instructions in new bargaining as contracts expired. Unions have filed numerous complaints at the Federal Labor Relations Authority arguing that agencies improperly imposed policies after cutting bargaining short. The Trump orders on bargaining and official time were statements of policy and were subject to being reversed summarily. However, the order on disciplinary practices has been formalized in regulations. A new rulemaking process may be needed to get them off the books. Biden on Wednesday had canceled another Trump administration order on the federal workforce, one issued in September. It generally halted diversity and inclusion training provided by agencies by requiring a review of whether the content included "divisive concepts" such as "race or sex stereotyping or any other form of race or sex scapegoating." Federal unions applauded that decision by Biden as well. "Any professional education program that helps us better understand and respect our co-workers of different races, genders, sexual orientations, gender identities, nationalities or religious beliefs is a sign of progress in a civilized society, not a threat to it, and we believe the federal workplace can and should lead in this effort," Reardon said. Comer objected. He said "allowing destructive ideologies like critical race theory in the federal workplace is divisive and not a good use of taxpayer dollars. . . .Using American taxpayer dollars to advance a radical, woke agenda designed to stir disdain for American values has no place in our federal agencies." Another early order from Biden had told agencies to review their internal personnel practices - along with their policies in general - to assure that they protect against discrimination on the basis of gender identity and sexual orientation, as required by a 2020 U.S. Supreme Court decision. The country's largest private sector lender has submitted a detailed plan of action to the RBI to address repeated service disruption issues due to outage and hopes to improve its technology platform in three months. Progress is being made on the plan of action provided to the RBI and the bank has taken this positively as it will raise the standard, according to a senior official of The action plan will take 10-12 weeks for implementation, and further timeframe will depend on the RBI's inspection. Based on the satisfaction level, the regulator will lift the ban, the official said at an analysts meet. Last month, the (RBI) temporarily barred from launching new digital banking initiatives and issuing new credit cards after taking a serious view of service outages at the lender over the last two years. "RBI has issued an order dated December 2, 2020, to HDFC Bank Ltd with regard to certain incidents of outages in the internet banking/ mobile banking/ payment utilities of the bank over the past two years, including the recent outages in the bank's internet banking and payment system on November 21, 2020, due to a power failure in the primary data centre," HDFC Bank had said in a regulatory filing. The bank has been penalised for two major outages, one in November 2018 and the other in December 2019. Taking a stern view of the repeated outages, RBI Governor Shaktikanta had said the regulator had some concerns about certain deficiencies and it was necessary that the HDFC Bank strengthens its IT systems before expanding further. "... we cannot have thousands and lakhs of customers who are using digital banking to be in any kind of difficulty for hours together and especially when we are ourselves giving so much emphasis on digital banking. Public confidence in digital banking has to be maintained," Das had said in December. HDFC Bank, the largest lender by assets in the private sector, has been classified as a systemically important entity by the RBI in the past. It is also the largest issuer of credit cards and has a significant share in the payment processing segment. The bank is the largest issuer of credit cards and had 1.49 crore customers as of September 2020 while on the debit cards front, it had 3.38 crore customers. Earlier, HDFC Bank's Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Shashidhar Jagdishan had apologised to customers and promised to work on the deficiencies. Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-22 20:24:14|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close China's Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng (L) confers the Decoration of Honor - Grand Lotus, the highest honor in Macao, to former Macao SAR Chief Executive Chui Sai On in Macao, south China, Jan. 22, 2021. The Macao SAR on Friday held a ceremony to honor 34 individuals and organizations in recognition of their achievements, outstanding contributions to the SAR or distinguished services. (Xinhua/Cheong Kam Ka) MACAO, Jan. 22 (Xinhua) -- The Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) on Friday held a ceremony to honor 34 individuals and organizations in recognition of their achievements, outstanding contributions to the SAR or distinguished services. The list of awardees included former Macao SAR Chief Executive Chui Sai On and renowned Chinese respiratory disease expert Zhong Nanshan, who were conferred the Decoration of Honor - Grand Lotus, the highest honor in Macao. Zhong, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, is a leading expert in China's respiratory disease research who proposed epidemic prevention and control measures that saved numerous lives and made great contribution to fighting both SARS and COVID-19. Enditem 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. BEREA, Ohio -- At the Jan. 19 City Council meeting, Council President Jeff Dettmer asked for clarification of the city ordinance pertaining to political yard signs. He wondered if the city could face any legal challenges because the administration is publicly saying that were not going to enforce this ordinance thats on the books. The Berea ordinance indicates a timeframe for erecting political signs, as well as for their removal. Law Director Barbara Jones said surrounding communities have similar laws. The Supreme Court has said the problem with the timing issue of political signs is that your rights of freedom of speech dont begin a month before an election and end immediately, Jones explained. If you are making a political statement about something, you are permitted to do that, whether its in March, January or November. You have free speech rights all the time, she said. She further stated that bright-line rules, or clearly defined standards, have not been determined by the Supreme Court, such as a limit to the number of political signs permitted. The court has speculated that at some point there is a limit, but they dont say what that limit is, Jones said. So, you wait for the case law to develop in that regard. She said City Council can revise the Berea sign ordinance, if it so chooses. Mayor Cyril Kleem emphasized that the Supreme Court has tied the hands of municipalities to enforce these ordinances. I dont want people to get the impression that Im choosing to not enforce the ordinance, Kleem said. The Supreme Court made that decision for me. He said further council discussions could help to determine how to address a sign law in the books that is unconstitutional. I think whatever we come up with could be challenged, so maybe our best option is to repeal it, Kleem said. But certainly thats a conversation we would need to have. Read more stories from the News Sun. But Kifowit felt good about the commitments she had going into the next round, although it never got that far. Madigan unexpectedly announced he was pulling his name, thus throwing open the door for the Black and Latino caucuses that had been backing him to field their own candidates. ROCHESTER, N.Y., Jan. 22, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Economist has ranked Simon Business School's MBA program in the top 25 in the world and #16 for U.S. based institutions. This is a significant increase from The Economist's last ranking, where the institution ranked #57 overall and #42 among U.S. based institutions. "Simon is thrilled to be recognized as a Top 25 MBA program," said Sevin Yeltekin, dean of the Simon Business School. "Simon has a longstanding tradition of excellence in serving the business community, and we are proud to be one of the world's leading MBA providers." One of the areas where Simon Business School excelled was in the area of salary for MBA students. Simon ranked #3 in the world behind only HEC Paris and New York University. Each year The Economist surveys thousands of MBA students and asks them why they decided to enroll on a full-time MBA program. Data were collected during spring and summer 2020, using two surveys. The first was completed by schools with eligible programs and covers quantitative matters such as the salary of graduates, the average GMAT scores of students and the number of registered alumni. This accounts for around 80% of the ranking. The remaining 20% comes from a qualitative survey filled out by current MBA students and a school's most recent graduating MBA class. A minimum response rateequivalent to 25% of the latest intake or 50 students/alumni (whichever is lower)is required for schools to be included in the ranking. "Given The Economist's methodology, we're even more excited about Simon's ranking because it's our students and alumni endorsing their education," said Yeltekin. About Simon Business School The Simon Business School is a world-class business school located on the campus of the University of Rochester. Rooted in quantitative analysis, Simon offers a distinct advantage in today's data-driven economy. Simon offers STEM-designated full-time and part-time MBA programs, as well as four MS programs. SOURCE Simon Business School Related Links https://www.simon.rochester.edu/ Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. Washington: 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. This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Yet, debates on technology, freedom of speech, as well as the poisoning of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny are on the agenda. The Bureau of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) has decided not to include a debate on the human rights situation in Russia-occupied Crimea in the agenda of a session scheduled for January 25-28. That's according to the Ukrainian news portal LB.ua with reference to its own sources. Read alsoMezentseva voted in as new chair of Ukraine's delegation to PACEYet, debates on technology, freedom of speech, as well as the poisoning of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny are on the agenda. PACE winter session: What is known The PACE winter session will take place online and in person in Strasbourg on January 25-28. The Ukrainian parliamentary delegation will participate in the event. The permanent delegation of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine will propose that an informal Crimean Platform group be set up at PACE. Ukraine is also initiating a debate on the renewal of sanctions against the Russian Federation after Navalny's detention. The Russian delegation to PACE is initiating a debate on the language issue in Ukraine. Reporting by UNIAN MOSCOW A ninth grader in the Russian city of Yekaterinburg asked his classmates this week why it was that they did not like President Vladimir V. Putin. According to their teacher, Irina V. Skachkova, they responded by citing the jailed opposition leader Aleksei A. Navalny: Putin has a palace that was built with stolen money, and Putin is himself a thief. Mr. Navalnys dramatic return to Russia from Germany on Sunday and his immediate arrest, followed by his release of a video documenting Mr. Putins purported secret palace on the Black Sea, has captivated many young Russians and prompted the authorities to scramble to keep them away from protests planned across the country on Saturday. Ms. Skachkova, like many teachers across Russia, said she was told by her superiors to come up with counterprogramming for her students on Saturday and to plead with parents that they keep young people from taking to the streets. Thousands of people are calling for two controversial military barracks where asylum seekers are being housed to be shut down amid a mass outbreak of coronavirus. A petition to close camps in Kent and Wales has racked up more than 8,500 signatures in just a few hours after being launched on Friday morning. Charities have repeatedly raised concerns about conditions inside Napier Barracks in Folkestone, Kent, and Penally Barracks in Pembrokeshire since they were commandeered by the Home Office last year. In recent days, a coronavirus outbreak has hit the Kent site, where hundreds of people are living behind the barbed wire-topped fences. A petition calling to close Napier Barracks in Folkestone, Kent, and Penally Barracks in Pembrokeshire, where asylum seekers are being housed has been signed by thousands of people within hours of its launch. Pictured: Peaceful protesting at the barracks The petition was launched by charity Freedom From Torture, who said 'the mental health of residents is deteriorating' and there have been 'a number of suicide attempts' amid 'unbearable conditions' in the camps There are reports of asylum seekers carrying out hunger strikes in protest against the 'unbearable conditions in the camp', which is said to include 34 people sharing one shower. There have been further reports of suicide attempts in the Army barracks as mental health among its occupants deteriorates. A petition launched by charity Freedom From Torture to empty the barracks and close them down on Friday morning has already racked up thousands of signatures. By around 11.30am, more than 7,500 signatures had been gathered, just hours after the petition went live. By 3pm, another thousand people had added their name to the petition. A view of Napier Barracks in Folkestone, Kent, currently being used by the Government to house people seeking asylum in the UK A coronavirus outbreak has hit the military site in Folkestone, Kent, where hundreds of people are living behind the barbed wire-topped fences (pictured: a view of Napier Barracks in Kent) The petition reads: 'Trapped in the camps, the mental health of residents is deteriorating too and there have been a number of suicide attempts.' 'Now there's been a Covid outbreak in one of the barracks and it can only be a matter of time before infection is rife in both centres. 'This cannot continue. Send a message to the government: empty the barracks, close the camps, save lives.' Use of the Ministry of Defence site was initially authorised for six months under emergency provisions as the Government struggled to house thousands of people who had crossed the Channel and claimed asylum last year. However the Home Office confirmed that a public consultation on continued use of the site beyond March will open 'soon'. Responding to the petition, a Home Office spokesman said they take the 'welfare of those in our care extremely seriously' with additional support staff and onsite medics helping migrants who have to isolate. But they warned asylum seekers at the barracks may face police action if they do not follow Covid-19 regulations - including isolating if they test positive or are exposed to someone who has. Minister for Immigration Compliance and the Courts Chris Philp said: 'Despite our best efforts a number of those accommodated at the site have tested positive for coronavirus and are self-isolating. 'It is incredibly disappointing that prior to this a number of individuals refused tests and have been either refusing to self-isolate or follow social distancing rules, despite repeated requests to do so and these being national guidelines to protect the NHS and save lives. Asylum seekers held inside Napier Barracks in Folkestone staging a peaceful protest on January 12 'These individuals could face enforcement action and are not only risking their own health but the health of staff looking after them and the communities who are accommodating them.' Freedom From Torture said the charity has contacted the government, the British Medical Association, the Royal College of Psychiatrists, and the Faculty of Public Health to warn the authorities about the health risks of housing people in the camps. Sile Reynolds, senior policy advisor at Freedom from Torture, previously called on the Government to shut the barracks to save lives. She said: 'A major health crisis is unfolding in these ex-military camps. It is a crisis that was entirely predictable. But the warnings of medical professionals and front line charities have fallen on deaf ears. 'The horror taking place inside the camps cannot be overstated - they are unsanitary and not COVID secure. It is impossible for people trapped there to maintain any social distance.' She added: 'Many people in the camps are vulnerable, having fled torture and persecution, and fall in to this category. This must change. Our message to this government is clear: empty the barracks, close these camps, save lives.' The petition can be accessed 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. With India rolling out vaccination efforts against Covid-19, Nandan Nilekani, founding architect of Aadhaar and co-founder of Infosys on Friday said that the country will be a role model on how to vaccinate a billion people at scale, speed and in a trusted manner. I actually believe that if we do all the right things, India will also be a role model on how to vaccinate a billion people at scale speed, and in a trusted manner, said Nilekani at Ground Zero 4.0 | Scaling Up event organised by research firm RedSeer Consulting. A lot of the work happening ... Dear Reader, Business Standard has always strived hard to provide up-to-date information and commentary on developments that are of interest to you and have wider political and economic implications for the country and the world. Your encouragement and constant feedback on how to improve our offering have only made our resolve and commitment to these ideals stronger. Even during these difficult times arising out of Covid-19, we continue to remain committed to keeping you informed and updated with credible news, authoritative views and incisive commentary on topical issues of relevance. We, however, have a request. As we battle the economic impact of the pandemic, we need your support even more, so that we can continue to offer you more quality content. Our subscription model has seen an encouraging response from many of you, who have subscribed to our online content. More subscription to our online content can only help us achieve the goals of offering you even better and more relevant content. We believe in free, fair and credible journalism. Your support through more subscriptions can help us practise the journalism to which we are committed. Support quality journalism and subscribe to Business Standard. Digital Editor Global cross-border claims changed little in aggregate in Q3 2020 after large fluctuations in Q1 and Q2. Global cross-border claims changed little in aggregate in Q3 2020 after large fluctuations in Q1 and Q2. Cross-border claims on emerging market and developing economies continued to fall, driven again by claims on Latin America and the Caribbean. Since the start of the pandemic, the size of banks' balance sheets has increased sharply with the accumulation of claims on governments and monetary authorities. A new interactive chart for visualising bilateral cross-border positions based on the locational banking statistics is now available online. Global cross-border claims barely budged Banks' cross-border claims registered a modest contraction of $93 billion in the course of Q3 2020 on an FX- and break-adjusted basis (Graph 1, left-hand panel). This quarterly contraction was quite muted (0.3% of previous quarter stock) compared with the large fluctuations in Q1 and Q2 2020, of +$2.7 trillion and $1.2 trillion, respectively. Year-on-year growth rates continued to fall from their recent Q1 2020 peak, when cross-border positions had surged (centre panel). Claims on both advanced economies (AEs, $131bn) and emerging market and developing economies (EMDEs, $13bn) declined. As earlier in the year, these movements were in part driven by intragroup positions (Graph 1, right-hand panel). The decline in claims on AEs centred on related offices ($114bn), especially on those in the United States ($81bn). The unwinding of central bank dollar swap lines, which had swelled intragroup positions in Q1, contributed to this decline.1 By contrast, claims on offshore centres expanded by $41bn (left-hand panel), especially vis-a-vis Hong Kong SAR (+$39bn) and the Cayman Islands (+$24bn). More than half of the increase on Hong Kong was in the form of intragroup claims. Some of the larger movements vis-a-vis AEs involved non-bank financial institutions (NBFIs). Claims on the United Kingdom ($50bn), the Netherlands ($50bn), Luxembourg ($46bn), France ($40bn) and Italy ($39bn) all fell, mostly vis-a-vis NBFIs. These declines were partly offset by increases in claims on Japan (+97bn) and Germany (+65bn), notably on their resident banks and NBFIs. The modest aggregate decline also conceals large differences on the creditor side. Banks located in China, France and the United Kingdom saw the greatest increases in cross-border claims while those in Spain , Germany and the United States reported outsize declines. Cross-border claims on EMDEs continued to fall Cross-border claims on EMDEs contracted for the second consecutive quarter in Q3 2020, by $13 billion, and their year-on-year growth remained negative (Graph 2, left-hand panel).2 Although smaller than in Q2, the quarterly decline was again driven by claims on borrowers in Latin America ($17bn, centre panel). More than three-quarters of the drop was on the major economies in the region, ie Brazil, Mexico, Chile, Colombia and Argentina. Claims on non-financial corporations in these countries fell the most. During the pandemic, creditor banks located in AEs and offshore centres have reported a large contraction in their cross-border claims on EMDEs, while creditor banks within EMDEs reported a modest expansion. As a result, global cross-border claims on EMDEs declined by a combined $95 billion during the second and third quarters of 2020. Major AE and offshore creditors to EMDEs, such as banks located in the United States, the United Kingdom, Hong Kong SAR, Singapore and Japan, reduced their lending by a combined $97 billion during this period (Graph 2, right-hand panel). By contrast, banks in EMDEs booked a $26 billion increase in cross-border claims on EMDEs during the past two quarters. Banks in emerging Asia-Pacific, mainly China and Chinese Taipei, led the expansion. Claims on the official sector have surged since the start of pandemic The fluctuations in cross-border positions provide but a partial picture of how internationally active banks' balance sheets have evolved during the Covid-19 pandemic. A more comprehensive view based on the BIS consolidated banking statistics (CBS), which track the globally consolidated positions of banks headquartered in a given country (net of inter-office positions), shows that their total assets and liabilities have actually surged since the same period last year (Graph 3, left-hand panel). The total assets of banks headquartered in 22 BIS reporting countries grew from $67 trillion at end-Q3 2019 to $75 trillion by the third quarter of 2020, a 12% increase.3 Total liabilities followed a similar pattern. The bulk of the increase in claims was in domestic positions (ie claims on residents of the reporting banks' home country). Compared with the same period (Q3) the year before, banks' consolidated total claims have increased by $8 trillion in aggregate, almost 80% of this is on their home country borrowers. This pattern was evident across many banking systems. By contrast, banks' foreign claims ie cross-border claims and local claims booked by their affiliates located abroad contributed only 20% to the increase during this period.4 The expansion in total claims was mainly vis-a-vis the official sector, comprising governments and central banks.5 Outstanding claims on this sector mainly holdings of government bonds and reserves at central banks stood at $19 trillion at end-Q3 2020, up from $14 trillion a year earlier, a 34% increase (Graph 4, left-hand panel). Over that period, their share in total claims at Canadian and US banks rose by roughly 6 percentage points (right-hand panel). The official sector share for many other banking systems also rose noticeably, by 34 percentage points. Banks' claims on the official sector of their home country generally grew the most. These developments went hand in hand with a rise in bank deposits, mostly from residents in banks' home countries. The growth in deposits has been evident since 2014, but accelerated during the pandemic (Graph 5, left-hand panel). End-Q3 2020 data show that the share of deposit liabilities6 in total liabilities increased by about 3 percentage points from a year earlier for several banking systems combined (right-hand panel); this rise contrasts with the overall stability observed in the previous two years. European banks, eg from Belgium, Finland, France, the Netherlands, Spain and Sweden, saw jumps of 47 percentage points in these shares compared with the year before. Other banking systems (eg German, Italian, Swiss, UK and US banks) also recorded increases. New interactive chart on banks' cross-border bilateral positions The BIS is releasing a new interactive tool for visualising banks' bilateral cross-border claims and liabilities in the locational banking statistics (LBS) by residence. The chart shows the relative size of the banks' bilateral claims or liabilities on all counterparties resident in the set of selected countries. The interactive tool allows users to visualise the publicly available bilateral LBS data, with selection options for bilateral country pairs, claims and liabilities and counterparty sector. As an example, Graph A shows the cross-border claims of banks in G10 countries on all sectors in other G10 countries. The size of the orange node for the United States ("US") is a function of the size of cross-border claims of banks in the United States on all sectors in other countries (orange links) and the cross-border claims of banks elsewhere on all sectors in the United States (other links connected to the "US" node). The thickness of the link between two nodes is proportional to the size of cross-border positions among all the selected country pairs. The interactive chart is linked directly to the underlying data on the BIS website. For example, clicking any node on the wheel will open that country's data from Table 6.2. Similarly, clicking on any bilateral link opens a time series chart of that bilateral position. Finally, a tool tip shows the amounts outstanding and their period-to-period changes (both nominal and FX- and break-adjusted changes). For example, hovering on the "US" node on the wheel shows that the outstanding claims of all LBS-reporting banks on US residents amounted to $5.6 trillion at the end of Q3 2020, of which $1.4 trillion was credit from banks located in Japan. Hovering on the yellow bilateral link between Japan and the United States shows a quarterly nominal change of $7.8 billion and an FX- and break-adjusted change of $9.8 billion. Visit this link (or click the image above) to open the interactive chart and watch the tutorial to learn how to use the tool. Based on claims on all sectors in all instruments as of Q3 2020. Data cited as released on 22 January 2021. Data dimensions can be customised, such as the balance sheet position (eg claims or liablities), sector (eg all sectors or non-banks), instruments (eg all instruments or loans and deposits) and country (as a reporter and as as counterparty). 1 See I Aldasoro, C Cabanilla, P Disyatat, T Ehlers, P McGuire and G von Peter, "Central bank swap lines and cross-border bank flows", BIS Bulletin, no 34, December. 2 Cross-border bank flows declined amid a resurgence of capital flows to emerging market economies in the third quarter of 2020. See Financial Times, "Foreign investors dash into emerging markets at swiftest pace since 2013", 18 December 2020. 3 The aggregation comprises banks headquartered in 22 of the 31 CBS-reporting countries because some countries report incomplete data. Throughout this section, the inclusion of a reporting country in the aggregate "All" depends on the completeness of data across time. In addition, the latest data are compared with Q3 2019, so as to avoid the year-end effects seen in Q4 data. 4 Data cited in this section are changes in amounts outstanding expressed in US dollars, and are not adjusted for exchange rate movements. In the period from September 2019 to September 2020, the US dollar depreciated against some major currencies (7% and 4% against EUR and CNY, respectively). Dollar depreciation increases reported amounts when positions denominated in other currencies are expressed in US dollars. 5 Note that, in the CBS, the official sector includes the central bank, and thus differs from the general government sector in the System of National Accounts. 6 In addition to deposits, total liabilities comprise debt securities, derivatives and other instruments, such as accounts payable and tax liabilities. Kyiv authorities negotiating with several U.S., European manufacturers of COVID-19 vaccine to buy 1 mln doses at expense of capital's budget Kyiv is negotiating with several manufacturers to purchase a vaccine against COVID-19 for the capital, said mayor of Kyiv Vitali Klitschko. "The capital authorities are negotiating with several American and European companies producing vaccines against coronavirus. I use all my foreign contacts and ties in order to provide Kyiv residents with a vaccine. We are talking about purchasing 1 million doses of the drug to vaccinate 500,000 Kyiv residents," Klitschko said during an online briefing. European Union lawmakers passed a resolution on Thursday calling for the bloc to stop the completion of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline to take Russian natural gas to Europe, in response to the arrest of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny. Navalny, Russian President Vladimir Putins most prominent critic, was detained at the weekend and later jailed for alleged parole violations after flying back to Russia for the first time since being poisoned by a military grade nerve agent. German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who has continued to back the pipeline between Germany and Russia despite criticism elsewhere in the EU, said on Thursday her view of the project had not changed despite the Navalny case. Lawmakers in the European Parliament voted overwhelmingly to block the pipeline construction work, with 581 votes in favour, 50 against and 44 abstentions, calling on the EU to review relations with Russia in light of Navalnys arrest. "The European Parliament ... calls 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, the completion of which the EU must stop immediately," the resolution said. Separately, Germanys regulator said on Thursday it is awaiting details for complaints against Nord Stream 2 after environmental groups filed a challenge to construction. The EU should "devise a new strategy for the EUs relations with Russia, centred around support for civil society, which promotes democratic values, the rule of law, fundamental freedoms and human rights," Reuters cited the resolution as saying. Michelle Thibeault, Senior Manager, Digital Operations and Strategy at CBC, is pleased with the results and adds we love that ADvendio is customizable to our needs and can adapt as our business evolves. CBC, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, also known as CBC/ Radio-Canada is a federal Crown corporation that serves as the national public broadcaster for both radio and television. The English & French-language service units of the corporation are commonly referred to as CBC and Radio-Canada, respectively. With Google DoubleClick Sales Manager, also known as DSM, being deprecated in July 2019, CBC were tasked with the challenge of finding a replacement that could bridge the gap between their sales and ad operations teams while also improving their overall collaboration & efficiency. ADvendio, a long-term Google Doubleclick partner, offered CBC a scalable advertising management solution supporting their full advertising business processes in addition to key integrations with Doubleclick DFP and AdExchanges. In addition to the replacement of DSM, CBC were looking for a new solution to achieve the following business objectives: Ability to manage digital ads-sales from proposal to delivery Reduce proposal preparation time while improving consistency and accuracy Ensure that campaigns are delivered in accordance with the contract Review and optimize business process ADvendio Replaces Google DSM to Streamline CBCs Advertising Operations CBC has successfully implemented the ADvendio software to streamline the advertising management process of its business units, improving the overall collaboration & efficiency between sales, operations and accounting teams. Ensuring a seamless transition, ADvendio connected CBCs processes with features such as a Salesforce-powered CRM, customized order management, inventory management, while seamlessly fitting into their currency landscape of ad server connections and integrations, availability checks and ad server checks along with reporting, and analytics tools. In addition, CBC adopted ADvendios programmatic capabilities, with a particular focus on, leveraging technologies such as programmatic guaranteed, where programmatic guaranteed deals are pushed directly from our solution into integrated SSPs which in turn can be reached by SSPs & DSPs where they are converted from proposals into confirmed deals. Jannis Skipis, Senior Technical Account Manager at ADvendio adds: As CBC utilizes ADvendio as their main data source to work with their Adserver, they handle all of their direct business and additionally their programmatic guaranteed revenue streams via ADvendio. This enables them to simplify their advertising business processes and part of their programmatic operations by omitting multiple efforts such as switching from system to system. In addition their reporting & invoicing have also been improved by utilizing ADvendio which provides them with enhanced visibility of their data. Communication & Collaboration Result in a Successful Remote Implementation With a strong internal team of professionals and already experienced with Salesforce configuration and integration, CBC conducted the implementation internally under the consultation of key ADvendio team members. A hybrid approach was taken for this implementation with the majority of the consultation managed remotely; This allows many companies, such as CBC, the ability to implement internally without the dependency of ADvendio to be onsite throughout the process but rather guided remotely using the necessary tools and mentorship. ADvendio offers complete support to customers throughout the entire implementation project whether it is conducted on-site or offsite. Resources provided by ADvendio to CBC include dedicated personnel such as Senior Technical Account Managers, Architects, Developers, Project Managers, and Customer Success Managers all of whom are experienced in remote projects. Julian Ahrends, VP of Business Development of ADvendio is delighted with the results and appreciates CBCs full collaboration in conducting this successful remote implementation. The efficient and professional approach from CBC and their experienced team made it possible to implement ADvendio as smoothly as possible. As it was conducted remotely a combination of email, regular check-in phone calls, screen sharing, video conferencing and online project management software proved invaluable tools throughout the entire process from selection to implementation. In addition, our knowledge sharing, in-depth training, best practice tips, and consultation were elements provided by ADvendio prior to and during an implementation project. Michelle Thibeault, Senior Manager, Digital Operations and Strategy at CBC, is pleased with the results and adds we love that ADvendio is customizable to our needs and can adapt as our business evolves. Initially we were overwhelmed with the product as it is huge and we were on a tight deadline! However, working with Julian, Janis and the whole team, who took the time to guide us and took the time to understand our needs as we were making choices to best implement the tool, made our task so much easier. Ive rarely seen a company work this fast to implement a fix or a solution for a client, but ADvendio did that for us to ensure that we could launch on time with as many options as we had asked for and continues to work hand-in-hand with us to optimize our time and efforts as efficiently as possible He's been a A-lister since the 70s. But Harrison Ford demonstrated his every-man charm while getting a bite to eat in the Pacific Palisades on Thursday. The Star Wars hero, 78, made it clear he was no snob as he picked up a burrito from a nearby taco truck. Chomp: Harrison Ford demonstrated his every-man charm while getting lunch from a taco trunk on Thursday Harrison was dressed for the unseasonably warm LA weather, donning charcoal shorts with an olive green tee shirt and sporty sneakers. Not displaying an ounce of Hollywood haughtiness, the silver fox - who has been wed to actress Calista Flockhart since 2010- approached the truck's small window and gave his order. Then, the Indiana Jones hunk waited patiently for his food like any other regular Joe. Order up: The Star Wars hero ordered at the window and waited patiently like any regular Joe Hands full: Though he arrived with a mask, he ripped his face covering off as soon as he got his food, quickly shoveling his burrito into his mouth. Ever the multi-tasker, Ford took a call while finishing his lunch Though he arrived with a mask, Harrison ripped his face covering off as soon as he got his food, quickly shoveling his burrito into his mouth. Ever the multi-tasker, Ford took a call while finishing his lunch. Though Harrison seemed to be in relaxation mode, he'll soon be back to work on the fifth Indiana Jones film. Cracking the whip: The Chicago native is enjoying his downtime before getting back to work on another Indiana Jones film, which is set to start shooting in August. He's seen in 1984's Indiana Jones And The Temple Of Doom above The project has reportedly been in development since the release of the previous film in the series, 2008's Indiana Jones And The Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull. Longtime director Steven Spielberg has stepped down from his usual position and will remain on as a producer; Logan director James Mangold has been tapped to fill the role. Shooting should take place in August 2021 at Pinewood Studios in England, according to Collider. NXIVM leader Keith Raniere is now serving his sentence at a federal penitentiary in Tuscon, Ariz., according to the U.S Bureau of Prisons. The 60-year-old self-help guru prosecutors said preyed on women is one of 1,328 prisoners at the high-security prison. Other high-profile inmates at the desert prison include Ross Ulbricht, the 32-year-old creator of the Silk Road online marketplace for for illegal drugs, and H. Rap Brown, the Black Power activist convicted of murder in Georgia. The facility is among only nine in the federal system that offer treatment for programs for sex offenders. Raniere, who directed female "slaves" in his secret club, Dominus Obsequious Sororium, and ordered they be branded with his initials on their pelvic area, had hoped to remain closer to his Clifton Park home. Related: NXIVM founder Raniere guilty on all counts NXIVM's Keith Raniere sentenced to 120 years NXIVM leader Keith Raniere's new lawyer worked for Bill Cosby Earlier this month, his appellate lawyer Jennifer Bonjean asked the same federal judge who imposed Raniere's 120-year prison sentence to recommend he be allowed to stay in his federal lock-up in Brooklyn, and not be transferred to a facility in Arizona. Bonjean told U.S. District Judge Nicholas Garaufis that in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, she had no opportunity to meet with Raniere to discuss the appeal. She joins existing Raniere lawyers Marc Agnifilo, Paul DerOhannesian, Teny Geragos and Danielle Smith. She said "an extended trip to Tucson would be exceedingly burdensome to speak nothing of the health risks posed to all involved." 'American Greed' episode Monday focused on NXIVM leader Keith Raniere In the filing, Bonjean said she cannot have meaningful communication with Raniere over the phone. Raniere asked Garaufis to recommend he remain at the MDC at least until he has an opportunity to object to his restitution claims or until his defense has filed an opening brief to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, Bonjean said. A core of Raniere loyalists made news over the summer when they gathered to dance in support of him and other inmates on the street outside the MDC. It took a jury less than five hours to convict Raniere on all counts at his 2019 trial. The jury found the government had proven all the underlying acts in the racketeering charge, including identity theft, obstruction of justice, wire and visa fraud, forced labor, human trafficking, sex trafficking, money laundering, child exploitation and possession of child pornography. Raniere has remained in custody without bond since he was arrested in Mexico in March 2018. " " The pre-assembly gantry used to assemble vacuum chamber sectors inserted into the nuclear fusion machine "Tokamak" of the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) in Saint-Paul-les-Durance, France, on July 28, 2020. CLEMENT MAHOUDEAU/Getty Images Back in 1925, British astrophysicist Arthur Eddington published a paper in which he theorized that stars such as the sun are powered by fusion reactions, in which hydrogen nuclei are combined to form helium. By the 1950s, scientists had begun to contemplate how that process might be used by humanity to generate abundant amounts of energy [source: Arnoux]. Since then, fusion's potential has continued to dazzle visionaries. A single gram of the hydrogen isotopes needed for a fusion reaction could generate as much energy as 11 tons (nearly 10 metric tons) of coal [source: Clynes]. And unlike a conventional nuclear reactor that utilizes a fission reaction, in which uranium atoms are split, a power plant with a fusion reactor wouldn't produce a lot of radioactive waste. (Its byproduct would be helium, an inert gas.) It also would be much safer, because fusion energy production wouldn't be based upon a chain reaction, so it couldn't go out of control and have a meltdown [source: IAEA]. Advertisement Even so, fusion energy has long remained an elusive vision for the future, in large part because it's complicated and difficult to artificially duplicate the furnaces that power stars on Earth, without expending more energy than the process generates. Extreme temperatures and pressures are needed to overcome the forces that normally repel hydrogen atoms, and instead get them to combine their nuclei [source: Valich]. That said, scientists have made significant progress in recent years toward making fusion an eventual reality. "Most of the key physics questions behind fusion have been answered," Thomas Overton wrote in a 2020 article in Power, an energy sector publication. In 2010, a consortium of nations that includes the U.S., China, the European Union, India, Russia, Japan and Korea began building ITER, a facility that is scheduled to be sufficiently complete to begin "first plasma" testing in 2025. If all goes well, ITER could be demonstrating the ability to generate 10 times as much energy as it requires by the mid-2030s. While ITER won't generate electricity, it could pave the way for future fusion plants that will [source: ITER]. In this article, we'll learn about nuclear fusion and see how the ITER reactor will work. (@ChaudhryMAli88) The parliament of the Czech Republic has voted to extend the country's current state of emergency over COVID-19 until February 14, according to online media broadcasts PRAGUE (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 22nd January, 2021) The parliament of the Czech Republic has voted to extend the country's current state of emergency over COVID-19 until February 14, according to online media broadcasts. On October 5, the country introduced a 30-day state of emergency, which was later extended several times. The measure has significantly curtailed public life in the country. Per the result, 54 lawmakers out of 101 backed the initiative. Speaking during the parliamentarian session, Prime Minister Andrej Babis asked lawmakers to extend the emergency until February 21, citing the current situation in the country. As expected, the country's opposition expressed doubt in the necessity of the current restrictions and described the government's actions as haphazard. The ruling coalition of Babis' ANO 2011 party and Czech Social Democratic Party were supported by Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia, which demanded resumption of classes for grade-schoolers and upperclassmen. The head of the health ministry, Jan Blatny, promised to do so. The debates over the measure were quite rowdy, featuring a clash near the speaker's stand as well as one overly excited lawmaker being made to leave the chamber. A total of 917,300 cases, including 14,973 fatalities, have been confirmed in the Czech Republic during the pandemic. Miley Cyrus has never been known to be shy about her body. And the Grammy nominee keeps it risque on her days off too, no matter how casual the occasion. She left little to the imagination Thursday as she went braless in a see-through white tank top for a grocery run at Rite Aid in her upscale Calabasas suburb of Los Angeles. Free the nipple: Miley Cyrus left little to the imagination Thursday as she went braless in a see-through white tank top for a grocery run at Rite Aid in her upscale Calabasas suburb of Los Angeles The 28-year-old complemented the sleeveless number with some skintight high-waisted grey leggings. She finished the look with some yellow-tinted aviator sunglasses, black New Balance trainers and a nude face mask. Cyrus previously revealed that she climbed a Hollywood landmark in the nude, as she posted a throwback to her Instagram Story last week. She captioned a photo with birthday boy and Flaming Lips frontman Wayne Coyne: 'Standing on Hollywood Blvd morning after a rager (I climbed the Roosevelt sign naked).' Athleisure chic: The 28-year-old complemented the sleeveless number with some skintight high-waisted grey leggings Wear a mask: She finished the look with some yellow-tinted aviator sunglasses, black New Balance trainers and a nude face mask Naked and not afraid: Cyrus previously revealed that she climbed a Hollywood landmark in the nude, as she posted a throwback to her Instagram Story last week The Midnight Sky artist recently gave an even more NSFW interview on the podcast Call Her Daddy, in which she opened up about why she prefers women sexually. She said: 'Girls are way hotter. We know this. Everyone, I think, can agree that from ancient times, d*** makes wonderful sculptures. 'Other than that, I'm not as interested. I like d*** as art pieces. And sculptural, I love the shape, I think it looks really good on a table. Everyone knows that tits are prettier than balls.' Cyrus also revealed why she prefers relationships with women: 'The role that I was in made more sense because there's not going to be this weird thing that I pay for everything and whatever. 'Like if I'm going to be with a girl, I'm totally down to be with a boss b**** who's as successful, or more successful than me; that's cool, too.' Lady's choice: The Midnight Sky artist recently gave an even more NSFW interview on the podcast Call Her Daddy, in which she opened up about why she prefers women sexually D*** art: She said: 'Girls are way hotter. We know this. Everyone, I think, can agree that from ancient times, d*** makes wonderful sculptures. Other than that, I'm not as interested' In the mood: The Black Mirror actress previously told Howard Stern last month: 'I love people, I love who I love, I've had relationships with all genders and I'm down. Right now I'm kind of in the mood for some D, but I'm down for whatever, honestly' Sexually fluid: She came out as sexually fluid in June of 2015, telling Paper: 'I am literally open to every single thing that is consenting and doesn't involve an animal and everyone is of age... I don't relate to being boy or girl, and I don't have to have my partner relate to boy or girl' (pictured in August, 2020) She added: 'But I felt like the women I ended up being around, the role fit easier for me, because even in my relationship with men, a lot of the times, I kind of hold a more dominant space.' The Black Mirror actress previously told Howard Stern last month: 'I love people, I love who I love, I've had relationships with all genders and I'm down. Right now I'm kind of in the mood for some D, but I'm down for whatever, honestly.' She came out as sexually fluid in June of 2015, telling Paper: 'I am literally open to every single thing that is consenting and doesn't involve an animal and everyone is of age. 'Everything that's legal, I'm down with. Yo, I'm down with any adult -- anyone over the age of 18 who is down to love me. I don't relate to being boy or girl, and I don't have to have my partner relate to boy or girl.' Cyrus was married to Liam Hemsworth, 31, from 2018 to 2020, and she's dated Cody Simpson, 24, Nick Jonas, 28, Patrick Schwarzenegger, 27, Stella Maxwell, 30, and Kaitlynn Carter, 32. Japan's Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi delivers a speech at the opening session of the lower house of parliament in Tokyo on January 18, 2021. AFP-Yonhap The Japanese government will not appeal a Seoul court order to compensate South Korean women who were forced to work in military brothels during World War II, its foreign minister said Friday. Toshimitsu Motegi made the remarks hours before a midnight deadline to file an appeal against the landmark ruling, which rekindled diplomatic tensions between the two neighbors. On Jan. 8, the Seoul Central District Court ordered Tokyo to pay financial reparations of 100 million won (US$91,300) each to 12 so-called comfort women, in the country's first ruling of its kind. The ruling will be finalized at 12 a.m. Saturday if the defendant, the Japanese government, does not appeal by then. SMRYNA, Ga., Jan. 22, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Accelerate360, LLC (ACC) today announced that it has completed an agreement for National Publication, Services, LLC, an affiliate of Hudson News to sell its interests in Comag Marketing Group, LLC (CMG) and Genera Solutions, LLC to Accelerate360 effective immediately. With this transaction, Accelerate360 Distribution, LLC becomes the sole owner of CMG & Genera. In addition, Comag and Hudson strengthened their long-standing relationship by extending the magazine distribution agreements between the companies. "Today's announcement underscores our commitment to investing in this channel and ensures we are well-positioned to navigate the challenges and opportunities of the ever-changing marketplace as Jay Felts (President CMG) and his team continue to work with our publishing partners and build on the outstanding service they have come to expect," said Accelerate360 President and CEO David Parry. "I also want to thank James Cohen and his team for their great effort to complete this transaction and look forward to our continued partnership with Hudson News." About Comag Marketing Group, LLC Comag Marketing Group, LLC (CMG) provides supply chain management, retail marketing, business intelligence and publisher financial services to the leading publishers in the U.S. In addition, Genera Solutions, provides backroom accounting, data and IT services. Headquartered in Smyrna, Georgia CMG provides services throughout the U.S. CMG is a subsidiary of Accelerate360 Distribution, LLC. For more information please visit www.i-cmg.com About Accelerate360, LLC Accelerate360, LLC is the largest magazine wholesaler in North America and one of the largest publishing/media companies in the United States. In addition, Accelerate360 is a rapidly growing distributor of General Merchandise products (both Business-to-Business and Business-to-Customer) as well as a provider of logistic services for retailers and brands. Headquartered in Smyrna, Georgia Accelerate360 has over 1100 employees and 20 locations throughout the U.S. For more information please visit www.accelerate360.com. SOURCE Accelerate360, LLC Related Links http://www.accelerate360.com Credit: CC0 Public Domain The results of a randomized clinical trial with the longest follow up to date show that metabolic surgery is more effective than medications and lifestyle interventions in the long-term control of severe type 2 diabetes. The study, published today in The Lancet, also shows that over one-third of surgically-treated patients remained diabetes-free throughout the 10-year period of the trial. This demonstrates, in the context of the most rigorous type of clinical investigation, that a "cure" for type 2 diabetes can be achieved. Researchers from King's College London and the Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy report the 10-year outcomes of a trial that compared metabolic surgery with conventional medical and lifestyle interventions in patients with type 2 diabetes. The study involved 60 patients with advanced type 2 diabetes and treated at a major academic hospital in Rome, Italy. The patients randomly underwent drugs plus lifestyle interventions or metabolic surgery (gastric bypass or biliopancreatic diversion). At the start of the study, all patients had severe disease, with poorly controlled blood sugar levels and more than five years history of diabetes. The results of the study show that 37.5% of surgically-treated patients were able to maintain non-diabetic glycaemia without need for diabetes medicationa condition referred to as diabetes remissionfor the duration of the 10-year study period. In 2009, American Diabetes Association defined "cure" of diabetes as a continued state of disease remission for more than five years. Professor Francesco Rubino, senior author of the report and Chair of Bariatric and Metabolic Surgery at King's College London and a consultant surgeon at King's College Hospital in London said: "The findings from this study provide the most robust scientific evidence yet that full-blown type 2 diabetes is a curable disease, not inevitably progressive and irreversible. In addition to represent a major advance in the treatment of diabetes, metabolic surgery is our best lead to the elusive cause of the disease". Compared to conventional medical treatment, surgery also resulted in better overall metabolic control, lower cardiovascular risk, better kidney function and quality of life. Notably, patients treated surgically had a significant lower incidence of diabetes-related complications, including cardiac, renal, and neurological adverse events. Metabolic surgery also reduced medication usage, including drugs for diabetes, high blood pressure and dyslipidaemia. The study investigated the early and long-term safety of the different intervention strategies. Patients who underwent biliopancreatic diversion had more incidences of serious adverse events, including events associated to both disease and intervention, compared to subjects in both other groups. Patients treated by conventional medical therapy had significantly higher incidence of serious adverse events compared to patients who underwent surgery by Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. Professor Geltrude Mingrone, first author of the report, Professor of Medicine at the Catholic University of Rome and a Professor of Diabetes and Nutrition at King's College London said: "These data corroborate the notion that surgery can be a cost-effective approach to treating type 2 diabetes. The evidence is now more than compelling that metabolic surgery should be considered as a main therapeutic option for the treatment of patients with severe type 2 diabetes and obesity." Previous studies had shown that bariatric or weight loss surgery can induce long-term remission of diabetes in patients with very severe obesity; however, most patients who undergo traditional weight loss surgery have typically mild or recent-onset diabetes. This trial shows the potential curative effect of metabolic surgery for patients with severe disease. Diabetes is one of the leading causes of mortality and morbidity in Western societies and significantly increases the risk of severe COVID-19 and mortality from the virus. Despite the evidence that surgery can rapidly and dramatically improve diabetes, less than 1% of surgical candidates have access to metabolic surgery in most countries. Furthermore, metabolic surgery operations have been suspended for even longer than other elective surgical procedures during the current pandemic. Professor Rubino added: "Metabolic surgery is arguably the most effective available therapy for type 2 diabetes and can be a life-saving option for many patients. It should be appropriately prioritized in times of pandemic and beyond." President Biden has quickly moved to change U.S. immigration policy. Biden signed executive orders related to immigration on his first day in office. Among the orders is one that stops work on a U.S.-Mexico border wall. Another ends a travel ban on people from several mostly Muslim countries. Biden also has ordered his Cabinet to work on ways to prevent the deportation, or removal from the country, of people brought to the U.S. as children. In addition, Biden said he wants to develop a plan to give citizenship to about 11 million people without legal status in the United States. This sets a new narrative, moving us away from being seen as criminals and people on the public charge, said Yanira Arias. It opens the door for us to one day become Americans, she said. Arias is a Salvadoran immigrant with Temporary Protected Status. It is given to people who are temporarily prevented from returning to their countries safely. Arias lives in Puerto Rico, a U.S. territory. She is among about 400,000 people given special status after fleeing violence or natural disasters. Arias is also a leader of national campaigns for Alianza Americas, an immigrant advocacy group. The most recent attempts at immigration reform have not succeeded. They happened in 2007 under former President George W. Bush and in 2013 under former President Barack Obama. Ofelia Aguilar watched Biden take office and give a speech on television with four other women farmworkers in Homestead, Florida. She said she believed immigration reform was possible. There is hope! Aguilar cried out after Biden was sworn in. So many people have suffered, she said. Aguilar was pregnant and alone when she came to the U.S. from Mexico in 1993. She was a farm worker for years before starting her own business farming jicama root. Some of the farm workers at the small gathering said they were saddened that Biden did not talk about immigration in his speech. I have faith in God, not in presidents, said Sofia Hernandez. She is a farmworker who has lived in the United States without legal status since 1989. Hernandez came from Mexico seeking economic opportunity. Her three children were born in the U.S. and she would send 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 unhappy that Biden did not talk about immigration. She watched the speech with six other immigrants at the Workers Justice Project, a nonprofit organization. The Salvadoran woman lost her job taking care of children during the coronavirus pandemic. Now, she cleans houses and gets food donations from a nonprofit that serves immigrants. Cedillos has lived in the U.S. without legal documents for 18 years. She hopes to one day visit her four children in Central America, then return legally to the U.S. Building worker Gustavo Ajche watched a Spanish language broadcast of Bidens speech with Cedillos. Ajche came to the U.S. from Guatemala in 2004. I dont want to get too excited because I might get frustrated afterward, Ajche said. I have been here many years. I have paid my taxes. I am hoping something will be done. Tony Valdovinos is a campaign advisor in Phoenix, Arizona. He said he is not celebrating. He is among those in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, or DACA. The program protects immigrants brought to the U.S. as children from being deported. Its hard to put your heart into it when these things have failed in the past, he said. Maria Rodriguez is director of the Florida Immigrant Coalition in Miami. 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. Los Angeles janitor Anabella Aguirre thinks about her daughters and herself. Both daughters are in the DACA program and now starting jobs. Like thousands of mothers and fathers, I want for my daughters to have something better in this country, Aguirre said. Im Alice Bryant. The Associated Press reported this story. Alice Bryant adapted it for Learning English. Mario Ritter, Jr. was the editor. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story narrative n. a story or way of talking about something status n. a state of being often in relation to the law advocacy n. to act in support of a cause or proposal jicama n. a root vegetable similar to a potato or turnip opportunity n. an amount of time or a situation in which something can be done frustrated adj. unhappy or angry because you cannot do what you want relieved adj. feeling better because things are easier now janitor n. a person who cleans a building Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. 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. Many Profit Off Worsening Homeless Situation in LA, Says Community Group Commentary Consultants, architects, construction companies, and others profit from planning and building new housing for the homeless, says Soledad Ursua, who serves on the Venice Neighborhood Council in Los Angeles. I see it as just a big racket where everybody has their hand in the pot. It turns out that the homeless are just big job creators; everybody is making money off this very vulnerable population, she told The Epoch Times California Insider. Ursua lives in Venice Beach, which has the largest homeless population in the city outside of Skid Row. She and her council estimate the number of homeless have doubled there in the past year, since the last point-in-time count of about 1,100. The increase is for many reasons, she said. Budget cuts to the Los Angeles Police Department have resulted in lack of enforcement and patrolling. Laws have downgraded drug possession penalties. Health agencies have guided authorities not to move homeless encampments amid the pandemic. And theres a sheer lack of will to solve the problem of homelessness in light of the profit to be made as more taxpayer money is pumped into it. They have no incentive to solve this crisis, because if they did, they would not have a job, Ursua said. She highlighted the $1.2 billion allotted by Proposition HHH in 2016 to create 10,000 housing units, along with interim shelters. LA Controller Ron Galperin found more than 30 percent of the money went to soft costs, including consultants and the like, Ursua said. In a Sept. 2020 report, Galperin stated, Nearly four years after voters approved spending a billion plus dollars to reduce homelessness, only three new housing projects are open, and most wont begin welcoming homeless Angelenos for two, three, or even four more years. Many of the units cost more than $600,000, he said. Ursua spoke of the Reese Davidson Project being considered in Venice Beach, which would cost some $700,000 per 450-square-foot unit. She said that doesnt take into account the cost of the land (she estimates the true cost could be up to $1.2 million per unit). The value of the land is astronomical, and thats given to these developers for free, she said. The project planned to use HHH funds, but those have dried up. So, its focused on Proposition 2 funds, aimed at the mentally ill, Ursua said. Thus, the main floor will be like a mental institution, she said, with housing units above it. Theyre building around the incentives, not for the community [interest], she said. Squalor Ursua described the changes in her neighborhood over the past few years. It has been complete lawlessness and just a breakdown of civilization, she said. There are people who are living in tents, RVs, they are surrounded in their filth; theres feces, theres needles on the floor. Theyre living in squalor. Aggravated assaults are on the rise, and residential burglaries are up 26 percent in Venice Beach, she said. Drug dealers and homeless people alike are duking it out in turf wars. She gave the example of a 71-year-old man attacked in broad daylight by a transient looking to steal his bike. He died of his injuries. She mentioned a graduate student visiting from Arizona who was raped and left dead near the boardwalk. Ursua said of the homeless population: These are incredibly vulnerable populations. There are some that suffer from serious mental illness. Those people are a threat to themselves and others. Among them are working families who are struggling, she said. Many dont want to go into the shelters because of people there with mental illness who are potentially dangerous, and because drug dealers have a strong presence there. Meth is the drug of choice for many in the area. With Proposition 47 passed in 2014, many drug possession crimes previously considered felony offenses were downgraded to misdemeanors. Its turned into a real catch-and-release issue, Ursua said. Its just a slap on the wrist now. Theres new bridge housing in the area (where people can stay as they transition into permanent housing)154 beds in a tent set up at a cost of about $8 million. But its mostly empty. People dont want it, because you cant do drugs in there, Ursua said. However, when the city is looking at metrics for success, they consider it a success if a transient is listed as residing in the bridge housing and also on the street. So, on paper, the housing might look more full than it is, she said, but the actual structure isnt being put to use. Ursua lives about a block from the bridge housing. There are now tents outside of bridge housing. There are at least 50 new tents outside. She said the community was told no new tents would be allowed, and a police car was assigned to patrol the housing. That car was lost amid police budget cuts, she said. Alternatives, Accountability Ursua highlighted a shared housing program she thinks is a better solution. Instead of new construction, it involves pairing up homeless people and getting them into existing residential buildings as roommates. She said it gives them mutual support, a sense of community, and thats better than putting one person alone in a small unit. They have a plan in place to shelter 2,000 people for a cost of $8 million, Ursua said. That proposal has been given to our councilmember. We do not know what the status of that is. But if we wanted to take care of the unsheltered population right now, we could. She doesnt think such solutions will be adopted, however, because theres not enough money to be made. Some officials will not consider solutions that dont involve new construction, she said. They have trade union constituents who want construction projects. Affordable housing developers pocket a percentage of the project costs, she said, which gives them a monetary incentive to keep project costs high. We pay so much money to live here, she said. When developers are building at $1.2 million a unit, theyre driving up housing costs. She suggests full audits and greater transparency for all projects to address homelessness. She wants to know what the exact costs are, whether the contracts are being fulfilled, and what the metrics are for success. California has really become a draw to homeless from other states. Thats because meth is legal and you can sleep on the beach, Ursua said. Even if you built 10,000 units, more people will come. Weve created this environment where youre just furthering drug addiction. California Insider is an Epoch Times show available on YouTube. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. By Bill Moore As the term of President Trump ends I cannot help but remember an old custom that was started in the US Calvary and was passed on for generations to Soldiers in what evolved into the Armor branch of the Army. As transfers or retirements happen we never said goodbye. The last words were Until our Next Post. This meant that we would be together again sometime in the future. I want to personally join with tens of millions of Americans to thank President Donald Trump for his service to the Nation and all he accomplished in the 4 years he was President. From the first day that he took office he was under constant scrutiny and attack from leftist Democrats and their Media Cronies. I am not sure an ordinary person and family could have survived the daily assaults but not only did he do so, he accomplished a great deal. I want to thank you for putting America First and making decisions that were for the good of every American regardless of race, gender or politics. Thank you for developing an economy that prior to COVID had the highest employment levels in the History of our Nation. It included major employment strides in minority employment. Finally everyone was getting part of the American Dream. You cut taxes for all so that business had more money to hire and people had more money to spend. You worked successfully on returning jobs from overseas to America. Car manufacturing and other forms of manufacturing returned to our shores creating even more jobs. Your successes in renegotiating the NAFTA and Pacific Trade Agreements were a major part of this plan. You worked hard to decrease Regulations as you realized how some of them were choking businesses and stopping others from starting. As a businessman you realized that when regulations were pared back Small Business would begin to flourish and more jobs were to be created. You rebuilt our Military so they were again second to none in the World. Being future minded you created Space Force to deal with the possible issues from Space in the future. You forced our allies to meet their obligations to pay for their costs of international agreements. NATO and the UN are prime examples. You quieted North Korea and Iran. Your actions made the Middle East a safer place by your Administrations landmark agreements between Israel and four Arab nations. You were nominated for four Noel Peace prizes for your work in the Middle East but for political reasons were denied them. You challenged China both economically and militarily. On the domestic front your administration allowed Fracking and cleared the way for the Canadian Pipe line which not only created thousands of jobs but made the United States both independent for Energy and in fact an exporter of Energy. In spite of Establishment Media and Democratic claims, you were not anti- immigrant. You realized the varied issues of Illegal Immigration and addressed them. You started building a wall to stop the flow of illegals into the country as they were talking jobs from Americans who could not find work. In addition you realized stopping the flow of illegals was in fact protecting them as they were easy prey for Drug Cartels, rapists and those who would take advantage of their labor. You supported legal immigration and what those legal immigrants could add to the Nation. You worked with minority groups to change the laws for sentencing for non- violent offenders. You worked with parents who wanted to do away with Common Core and return control of the schools back to the local districts away from the federal government. You fought to have High School graduates understand the value of what the Founding Fathers did and to appreciate the Constitution and the liberties it guaranteed. Again you did all this under constant verbal bombardment from the Establishment Press and the Leftist Democrats. Such a verbal blitzkrieg has never been seen before. They tried unsuccessfully to impeach you and are trying again even though it is against the Constitution to do so. Why? Not because you did anything wrong but because they have never been so scared and angry at one man. You stopped a Socialist takeover and brought back American Exceptionalism. They were trying for a Globalist Society and you stood against them. The most amazing part of all this was the fact you and your family did not need this aggravation. You and your family are well off financially yet you all felt the need to represent the Common man and woman in a fight to maintain American Values. I and millions of others will not forget that. As I watched you leave on the 20th, I was filled with both pride and sadness. We are Proud of all your accomplishments in the face of unyielding assault. Yet sad that you were forced to leave public office before you were done based on serious indications of voter tampering. Your final statements indicate that you will be back in some form and so I will close with pride in your accomplishments and say- UNTIL OUR NEXT POST!!!! Advertisement There are unusual properties and then there is this. These five caves in the Welsh countryside are for sale with the woodland they sit in for 150,000. The caves are in the stunning Brecon Becons within a plot that extends across 2.5 acres of woodland - and as an episode of Grand Designs has previously proven a cave can have the potential to provide a generous income. But the estate agent handling the sale suggests there is no prospect of turning the caves into a habitable property, or building on the sloping woodland, although says the site - a renowned caving spot - has commercial potential. Fred Flintstone appeal: The Welsh property is for sale for 150,000 with five caves and a seven mile underground network The Welsh caves and woodland for sale can be found by the River Neath, in the upper reaches of the Neath Valley An episode of TV property show Grand Designs featured a set of caves in Worcestshire that were turned into unique holiday lets. While it can be extremely difficult to get planning permission on open countryside in Wales, there may be possible exceptions to planning policy but any plans for a Grand Design-type transformation here is likely to be subject to tough consents. The Welsh property sits alongside the River Neath, in the upper reaches of the Neath Valley, within the Brecon Beacons. It includes a small area of woodland with good road access and a parking area. Buying agent Henry Pryor said: 'While the sellers are offering a commercial opportunity, with an emphasis on leisure use for those looking for outdoor activities when we are once again able to get out and about, clearly some people are going to think about the opportunities of using the caves for living space. 'Any aspiring Fred Flintstone should bear in mind that you'd still need planning consent and there may be significant geological problems to deal with like water coming in or structural issues with the rock above. Would it make a Yabba-Dabba-Doo home? It would be great for an adventure, but I'm not voting this the ultimate man cave.' THE GRAND DESIGNS CAVES The caves in Wales have elements that are similar to those that appeared at the beginning of an episode of Grand Designs. The Grand Design project - included in the list of Kevin McCloud's favourite in the past 20 years - showed that caves can be turned into a profitable venture. The episode saw the caves in the Wyre Forest, in Worcestershire, transformed into a retreat that currently rents out at 195 a night. The caves in the Wyre Forest, in Worcestershire, were transformed on Grand Designs by former businessman Angelo Mastropietro The Grand Designs house was created out of a 800-year-old cave and now includes a kitchen with a country cottage feel The perfect couples retreat: The quirky Grand Designs abode is an impressive holiday rental that has been booked for 195 a night The Grand Designs cave house now offers a stylish and comfortable living space, complete with running water and underfloor heating Advertisement The caves on the Welsh property are considered to be some of the most interesting in the country and are used by caving clubs. Something likely to thwart any attempts at development. There are five caves on the site, including the Little River Neath cave, Bridge cave, Pwll Yrhydd cave, White Lady cave, and Town Drain cave. Inside the caves is a sprawling underground network that extends to more than seven miles. Tim Bannister, of property listing site Rightmove, said: 'It's not every day that we're able to share such a unique and quirky listing with the world, but this remarkable plot of land has certainly captured our attention. 'For the same price as a Kensington car park space, you can buy 2.5 acres of serene woodland and spend your weekends exploring more than seven miles of your very own underground cave network.' Ideal for caving fans: There are five caves on the site, including the White Lady cave and Little River Neath cave Quirky property: The caves are considered to be some of the most interesting in the country and are regularly used by cavers Escape to the countryside: The Welsh caves extend across 2.5 acres of pretty woodland in the Brecon Beacons Simon Edwards, of McCartneys estate agents in Hay-on-Wye, said: 'As you can imagine, the cave market isn't always particularly buoyant, but we're thrilled to have been instructed on this listing. The land is being sold by a local farmer, and while the area doesn't have any planning consent, it's a great place to explore and enjoy on foot.' As you can imagine, the cave market isn't always particularly buoyant, but we're thrilled to have been instructed on this listing Simon Edwards, McCartneys estate agents, Hay-on-Wye The caves are popular among caving clubs and have a large sporting significance. Andy Freem, of the South Wales Caving Club, said: 'These caves are a major international caving site, of huge scientific and sporting significance, and they date back around half a million years. 'They're formed of limestone and there are still many parts that are likely to develop which haven't been explored yet. 'It's crucially important that the caves remain cared for, because their significance really can't be understated.' The World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned that Africa is in danger of being left behind in COVID-19 vaccination as prices spike due to ... The World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned that Africa is in danger of being left behind in COVID-19 vaccination as prices spike due to competition in other regions. NAN reports that the agencys Regional Director for Africa, Dr Matshidiso Moeti, gave the warning during a briefing on Thursday. Moeti stated that Guinea was the only low-income country on the continent to have received doses, with only 25 people vaccinated so far. According to her, Seychelles is the only country on the continent where a national COVID-19 vaccination campaign has started. She said the story was different in wealthier continents where the vaccines had been administered in 50 nations so far. We first, not me first, is the only way to end the pandemic. Vaccine hoarding will only prolong the ordeal and delay Africas recovery. It is deeply unjust that the most vulnerable Africans are forced to wait for vaccines while lower-risk groups in rich countries are made safe. Health workers and vulnerable people in Africa need urgent access to safe and effective COVID-19vaccines, Moeti said. Bidens made his design choices for the Oval Office, the room from which he governs (or, in Bidens case, perhaps the room in which he naps). They include two immigration foes, two slave owners, and a man who wrongly got credit for freeing the slaves. I dont remember Oval Office decor being such a hugely symbolic deal with past presidents. It became a thing, when Obama kicked Churchills bust out of the Oval Office and installed a carpet that erroneously attributed to Martin Luther King, Jr. the quotation that The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice. (Thomas Parker, an abolitionist, coined it.) Its a fatuous statement. Parker can be excused because he lived before socialism, communism, fascism, and the Holocaust (all gifts from the left). King, however, should have known better. There is no predestined arc. There is only a continual fight for good against the forces of darkness. When Trump entered the Oval Office, he reinstated Winston Churchill. Trump also added Andrew Jacksons portrait. Trump did so because of Jacksons populism and anti-elitism. The left was focused on his being a slave owner and fighter against Native Americans. Smart people understand that nothing is simple, and most people must be evaluated within the context of their times. We should revile only those who stood out even their own times for their extraordinary evil (e.g., Hitler, Mao, Stalin, and other 20th century leftists). Now that Bidens in the Oval Office, hes kicked Churchill out again (I think Churchill would find this amusing and would have some scathing witticism about Biden), along with Jackson. In their place, hes welcomed busts of Cesar Chavez, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Robert F. Kennedy, and added portraits of George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Thomas Jefferson, Franklin Roosevelt, Benjamin Franklin, and Alexander Hamilton. Lets unpack why these are bizarre choices for the Democrat partys new figurehead. Cesar Chavez was a fanatic foe of illegal immigration, which he understood was economically disastrous for native-born workers, especially minorities. Bidens decision to have his bust there is crude racial pandering. Martin Luther King, Jr., was a Republican which was entirely reasonable, given that the Democrat party then, as today, was the racially obsessed party. In Kings time, it was the party of slavery, the KKK, and Jim Crow. Its now shifted its racial animus to White people (and sooner or later, the party faithful are going to find Bidens lack of melanin offensive), but its the same old race hatred repackaged. Robert F. Kennedy, like all the Kennedy men, was a sleazy guy, bedding whatever women were available. The left will turn a blind eye to this, but a lot of Americans will be reminded of Tara Reades accusation that Biden sexually assaulted her, as well as his enduring friendship with Teddy Kennedy. (Mary Jo Kopechne was not available for comment.) George Washington, in addition to being a man of courage and rectitude, was a slave owner. (This is that issue about being a product of ones era.) Last year, Bidens party denounced him; this year, Biden wants to associate himself with the old guys. Thomas Jefferson, another slave owner, was also toxic last year. Myriad Democrat entities and events dropped his name. Now, he too lends an imprimatur of credibility to Biden. Abraham Lincoln is currently reviled because hes stolen from slaves the reputation that was rightly theirs for liberating themselves. (Apparently, the 365,000+ Union troops who died in the Civil War could have pulled an Emily Litella and just said Never mind.) Franklin Roosevelt allowed Jews to be sent to the gas chambers by not bombing the rail lines taking them there and interned American citizens in concentration camps. In some ways, hes a good choice for Joe, who is deeply hostile to Israel and is the figurehead for a political party that is talking seriously about sending Trump voters to reeducation and relocation camps. Alexander Hamilton was a decent and brilliant man. I suspect everything that Joe knows about him comes from the Broadway musical. Benjamin Franklin was one of the most brilliant minds ever. Biden has his portrait in the Oval Office becausescience! Thats the first thing I think of when I think of Joe Biden. A party that insists that men and women can magically change sex, Blacks are genetically superior because of melanin, race riots protect against COVID infection, and the sun has only a minimal role in our climates variations may not be the best advocate forscience! You can learn a lot about a president nowadays thanks to his interior decorating choices. Bidens choices show a man who is ignorant, hypocritical, and a political panderer in other words, nothing we didnt already know. IMAGE: Bust of illegal immigration foe Cesar Chavez. YouTube screengrab. The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bogdan Aurescu, had a phone call, on Friday, with his Spanish counterpart Aranha Gonzalez Laya, opportunity with which the "substantial" character of the strategic partnership between the two countries was confirmed, both dignitaries invoking the anniversary, in 2021, of 140 years since establishing bilateral diplomatic relations. According to a press release sent by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAE) to AGERPRES, minister Aurescu expressed his belief that the two countries will have a very good cooperation in preparing an ample calendar of political-diplomatic and cultural events which will mark the anniversary moment, that will highlight the "exceptional" character of Romanian-Spanish relations, including through the full operationalization of the existing Strategic Partnership between the two states. The two officials expressed their desire to strengthen the bilateral dialogue, including in the context of the head of the Spanish diplomacy paying a visit to Bucharest in the near future, which has a symbolic character, being her first one in 2021 and offering the opportunity to discuss in detail aspects that concern the bilateral, European and international agenda. Furthermore, the visit will prepare the substance and solid results of the first joint reunion of the two governments, also planned for the first part of this year, MAE specifies. Bogdan Aurescu also highlighted the importance of the European Union solidarity with its neighboring states, especially the West Balkans and from the Eastern Partnership, regarding combating the COVID-19 pandemic, especially regarding the vaccination strategies. Arancha Gonzalez Laya agreed with Romania's and Spain's necessity of assuming a visible and active role at the European level in matters of joint interest, as well as in Southern and Eastern vicinities of the EU. Furthermore, the two officials tackled topics regarding the multilateral cooperation, according to the MAE press release. 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. Mumbai: A visiting Uttar Pradesh police team has started an investigation into a case against makers of web series Mirzapur, officials said on Friday. The three-member team of the Mirzapur police, which landed here two days ago, is carrying out the investigation with assistance from their Mumbai counterparts, they said. The team is investigating on the basis of an FIR registered at the Kotwali Dehat Police Station in Mirzapur that accuses the show makers of hurting religious sentiments and provoking the breach of peace. Executive producers of the series, Ritesh Sidhwani, Farhan Akhtar, Bhaumik Gondaliya, and Amazon Prime Video platform were named in the FIR. The Mirzapur police team has started the probe here after seeking permission, as per rules, from Mumbai DCP (Detection -I) on Thursday, they added. The Mumbai police rejected speculation in certain quarters about a rift between the two police forces over the investigation and lack of support from local personnel to the visiting team. Such messages were circulating on social media, but the Mumbai police claimed there was no truth in them. Quashing speculation, the Mumbai police, in a statement, said Above messages are going viral on social media. Please note that they are rumours and factually incorrect. The Mumbai police is providing full assistance to the UP police. Mirzapur Range IG Piyush Kumar told . Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. DALLAS, Jan. 22, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Securus Technologies today released its weekly update detailing the total number of free calls, video connections, JPay Stamps, news subscriptions and game downloads it has provided since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. The offerings are part of an emergency program Securus deployed with its correctional partners on March 13, 2020 when the pandemic was declared a national emergency. It was developed to support re-entry efforts and help incarcerated individuals stay connected with loved ones during this challenging time. To date, those free offerings total: 36.0 million free call credits for incarcerated individuals and their families, resulting in 290.0 million free minutes of phone connections; 6.1 million free video connections to friends and families of incarcerated individuals; 20.9 million free JPay Stamps for electronic messaging; 219,798 free monthly subscriptions to Newsstand; 721,353 free game downloads; Total accommodations for 408 agencies and 757 sites across the United States . In addition to this ongoing assistance, Securus is offering compassion credits designed to accommodate incarcerated individuals who fall ill with COVID-19. Those credits, which are uploaded onto prepaid cards and distributed by correctional facilities, allow additional free access to Securus phone calls and video connections throughout an individual's medical care. The company is also making free calls available to public defenders at many locations. For those facilities enabled with Securus tablet technology, the company has introduced select free movie and game titles during the COVID-19 pandemic, which have been downloaded almost 2 million times. This expanded assistance is in addition to the no-cost resources, including educational offerings, free eBooks, podcasts and other self-help tools that are always available free of charge. "It's critically important that incarcerated individuals who are increasingly relying on digital tools to stay connected have a safe and affordable way to communicate with loved ones," said Dave Abel, President and CEO of Aventiv Technologies, parent company of Securus Technologies. "With this in mind, Aventiv is proud to offer free and reduced rates on our services to help ease the financial burden the pandemic has had for incarcerated individuals and their friends and families. We look forward to continuing to work with our correctional partners to make our products more accessible and affordable, even when the COVID-19 crisis subsides." The program is an element of an ongoing transformation effort by Securus Technologies to improve access to its services and provide greater support for those impacted by incarceration. The company continues to work with its partners to garner feedback about the situation on the ground. All support from Securus will be in accordance with the latest public health guidelines to ensure that the support is tailored and responsive to the unique needs of the incarcerated community. ABOUT SECURUS TECHNOLOGIES Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, Aventiv Technologies serves more than 3,450 public safety, law enforcement and corrections agencies and over 1,100,000 incarcerated individuals across North America, Aventiv is committed to serve and connect by providing emergency response, incident management, public information, investigation, biometric analysis, communication, information management, incarcerated self-service, and monitoring products and services in order to make our world a safer place to live. For more information, please visit www.Aventiv.com. Aventiv is a portfolio company of Platinum Equity. Founded in 1995 by Tom Gores, Platinum Equity is a global investment firm with a portfolio of approximately 40 operating companies that serve customers around the world. SOURCE Securus Technologies Related Links http://www.Aventiv.com The study simulated sleep restriction (five hours per night) across a simulated busy five day working week and found that regularly drinking coffee helps reduce impacts to people's vigilance, alertness, reaction-time, accuracy and working memory A new study exploring the impact of repeated sleep loss during a simulated working week has found that consuming caffeinated coffee during the day helps to minimize reductions in attention and cognitive function, compared to decaffeinated coffee1. While this effect occurred in the first three-to-four days of restricted sleep, by the fifth and final day, no difference was seen between caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee drinkers. This therefore suggests that the beneficial effects of coffee for people with restricted sleep are temporary1. It is estimated that over 30% of adult Western populations sleep less than the recommended seven to eight hours on weekday nights and 15% regularly sleep less than six hours2,3. This can have a considerable impact on people's health and wellbeing, including causing sleepiness and impairing vigilance and attention4. Denise Lange, study co-author, commented: "Previous research suggests that acute consumption of caffeinated coffee can reduce the impact of sleep deprivation on deficits of attention and cognitive function in a short-term setting. This study is among the first to examine whether this effect can be translated into a real-world situation, where caffeinated drinks are commonly consumed every day by people who experience chronic sleep restriction. Our study indicates that moderate coffee intake can mitigate some repercussions of reduced sleep over a few days, however, this is not a substitute for a good night's sleep in the long term." The study was conducted at the state-of-the-art Institute of Aerospace Medicine, in Cologne Germany. 26 participants carrying a distinct genotype of the gene encoding the adenosine A2A receptor were randomly assigned to groups either drinking caffeinated coffee (containing 300 mg caffeine) or decaffeinated coffee under double-blind conditions. During five days, the sleep of all participants was restricted to five hours per night and each day they rated their subjective sleepiness and were tested on levels of vigilance, alertness, reaction-time, accuracy and memory1. ### Notes to editors Moderate coffee consumption can be defined as 3-5 cups per day, based on the European Food Safety Authority's review of caffeine safety5. Study authors Diego M. Baur, Denise Lange, Eva-Maria Elmenhorst, David Elmenhorst, Andreas Bauer, Daniel Aeschbach, and Hans-Peter Landolt Primary affiliations: Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland & German Aerospace Center, Institute of Aerospace Medicine, Cologne, Germany Readers interested in finding out more about coffee & health can visit: http://www. coffeeandhealth. org About coffeeandhealth.org The website http://www. coffeeandhealth. org is a science-based resource developed for healthcare and other professional audiences and provides the latest information and research into coffee, caffeine and health. References 1. Baur et al. (2021) Coffee effectively attenuates impaired attention in ADORA2A C/C-allele carriers during chronic sleep restriction. Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry. Published online ahead of print. 2. Tinguely G et al. (2014) Sleep habits, sleep quality and sleep medicine use of the Swiss population result. Therapeutische Umschau Revue therapeutique, 71:637-646. 3. Basner et al. (2014) Sociodemographic Characteristics and Waking Activities and their Role in the Timing and Duration of Sleep. Sleep, 37(12), pp.1889-1906. 4. Lo et al. (2012) Effects of Partial and Acute Total Sleep Deprivation on Performance across Cognitive Domains, Individuals and Circadian Phase. PLoS ONE, 7(9), p.e45987. 5. EFSA (2015) Scientific Opinion on the Safety of Caffeine, EFSA Journal, 13(5):4102. 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. Albany, N.Y. New York today will use all of the Covid-19 vaccine doses it has received in the first five weeks of its inoculation campaign, but more is already arriving. The state currently has about 28,000 doses left. Theyll be gone by the end of the day, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said today during a press conference in Albany. The state has received 1.3 million total doses so far. Though the state will exhaust its vaccine supply from the first five weeks today, week six shipments from the federal government are already arriving, Cuomo said. In some cases, the new doses are already heading to distribution sites. The state is getting about 250,000 doses a week, down from 300,000 a week earlier. Thats not enough, Cuomo said. This is going to be a long several months in distribution of this vaccine and the anxiety that has been created, he said. That is the bottleneck right now. Cuomo said hes hopeful President Joe Bidens new administration can speed up production. Biden has committed to 100 million vaccinations in his first 100 days in office, which would give New York an average of 420,000 doses per week, Cuomo said. Even if that bump in doses eventually materializes, it will still take 17 weeks to give shots to everyone currently eligible for them, Cuomo said. The governor called again today for hospitals to speed up vaccinations of their workers. About 67% of the hospital workers in the state have been given shots so far. Thats improved from 65% earlier this week and a bit over 60% last week, but still too low, Cuomo said. Herd immunity kicks in at 70% to 90%, Cuomo noted. If hospital workers get sick, facilities wont be able to care for patients, Cuomo added. We need the hospital staff vaccinated, he said. The hospital capacity collapses, we have to close the economy. Central New York has vaccinated 82% of its hospital workers, according to the governors office. Thats the highest percentage in the state. Long Island has the lowest percentage of hospital workers inoculated at 61%. MORE ON CORONAVIRUS Coronavirus in NY: Cases, maps, charts and resources Central NY teachers are getting vaccinated: When will classrooms return to normal? How bad have Syracuse restaurant workers been hammered? New job numbers tell grim story McMahon: Were trying to improve Covid vaccine signup process for seniors Complete coronavirus coverage on syracuse.com Contact Kevin Tampone anytime: Email | Twitter | Facebook | 315-282-8598 Prince Harry has helped to launch a 'critical' new mental health tool in Australia for frontline workers. The Duke of Sussex, 36, joined Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, to assist in launching the Peak Fortem, which is based on a successful UK model, and is an online resource for first responders and their families to help work through stress and trauma. In a statement released to support to tool, which was set up by Invictus Games co-founder David Wiseman, Prince Harry referenced his experience in the military, and said: 'Our mental fitness is one and the same as our physical fitness. 'Serving in the military, I saw first hand how critical it is to train your mind as a muscle - not only to endure challenges and stresses but to excel, grow and build resilience in all aspects of life. Prince Harry has helped to launch a 'critical' new mental health programme in Australia for frontline workers. Pictured, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex hosting a special Time100 talk on Tuesday October Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison speaks during a press conference in Brisbane, Australia, 22 January 2021 (pictured) 'Peak Fortem is the product of teamwork, dedication and a commitment to supporting and strengthening communities of all kinds - values upheld by Australia's first responders.' It comes after the royal worked alongside the U.K.s Ministry of Defence and spearheaded a mental fitness tool aimed at helping the military with their well-being in April last year. The former soldier previously appeared in a video on HeadFIT.org, which was designed to offer round-the-clock access to self-help tools to enhance mood, drive and confidence. Taking the concept from this programme, Peak State, the royal then partnered with Fortem Australia to help launch new tool, Peak Fortem. Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, Captain General Royal Marines visits 42 Commando Royal Marines at their base in Bickleigh to carry out a Green Beret presentation at Dartmoor National Park on February 20, 2019 in Plymouth Prime Minister Scott Morrison has released a statement, encouraging people to utilise the free service available in Australia. 'I want all our first responders to understand that each of you matter,' he said. 'Your health matters. Your wellbeing matters. Your work to our community is vital, but you are more important than your work.' Graham Ashton, former Chief Commissioner of Victoria Police, added: 'It'll make the lives of first responders that much better... but also increase the amount of conversations about mental health and mental fitness. The Duke of Sussex, who is currently living in his $14 million mansion in California, has been a strong advocate for mental health over the years. Prince Harry announced he had been working on a mental health documentary for Apple TV for 'several months' with Oprah Winfrey, 66, in April 2019. However, the series with the media mogul has 'stalled' after facing several delays, according to insiders. According to The Sun, the documentary was due to be released last autumn, but sources have since said Covid-19 restrictions, Harry's exit from the Royal Family and move to the US with Meghan Markle, 39, have slowed down production. 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. The country could be in lockdown for another six weeks under plans being considered by the Government as the more infectious UK strain of Covid-19 takes a stronger grip. Ahead of a Cabinet Committee on Covid-19 next week it has emerged ministers are considering an extension of the highest level of coronavirus regulations until just before St Patrick's Day. It comes as chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan warned last night the UK strain, which is easier to catch, is now at 60pc of cases and growing. Surged Worryingly, the spread of Covid-19 has also surged in nursing homes and other long-term care centres in the last three weeks to levels not seen since the first wave last March and April. Up to January 19 there were 483 deaths and of those 55 were linked to outbreaks in hospital settings and another 155 to outbreaks in residential facilities, of whom 139 were residents of nursing homes. Such a move by Government would mean non-essential retail will remain closed and household visits will continue to be banned until into the second week of March. Ministers will examine reopening schools and construction but all other aspects of the economy and society are expected to remain closed until March at the earliest. One Government source suggested schools may not have fully returned before that date. It comes as Northern Ireland announced plans to extend their national lockdown until March 5. Three senior Government sources said ministers will next week consider extending the lockdown for between four and six weeks. The sources said the Government was leaning towards six rather than four weeks of Level 5 restrictions. However, a fourth Government source involved in the discussion said they expected restrictions to be extended for another four weeks beyond January 31. The Cabinet Committee on Covid-19 will meet on Monday ahead of a full Cabinet meeting on Tuesday. Concern There is concern about giving the public a date of when restrictions will be eased as people tend to change their behaviour in the weeks before a lockdown ends. Tanaiste Leo Varadkar said the Government was "nowhere near" ready to start easing restrictions as the virus was still rampant in the community. "Things are starting to fall slightly in terms of cases and hospitalisations but not at the pace we would like," Mr Varadkar told the Dail. Details of the extension of the third national lockdown come as 2,608 new cases of Covid-19 were reported along with 51 deaths. Dr Holohan warned that the "existing measures are working in terms of control of transmission but we need to see them working for a much longer period of time." Professor Philip Nolan, who tracks the virus, said when the new UK variant becomes dominant it will add to the R number and it will be "slightly more difficult to maintain the levels of transmission we are seeing now". Prof Nolan said levels of infection had fallen in all age groups except in people over 65 but it is growing among those over 85 which will lead to significant deaths. Health officials warned last night that the level of infection is still extremely high and 10 times higher than it was at the beginning of December. The number of deaths this month has now risen to 532 and Dr Holohan said he still predicts there could be up to 1,000 deaths from the virus this month. The R number, which indicates how fast the virus is spreading, is at 0.5 to 0.8 and it needs to be kept under 1. Hospitals which are continuing to struggle with 1,943 Covid-19 patients, 214 of whom are in intensive care, are having to rely more on surge beds. Asked about the reopening of schools in February Dr Holohan said education and health service continued to be priorities and the National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet) had given advice to Government. "While we know we have made substantial progress relative to where we were in the late days of December and early January, we are nowhere near close to where we need to be," he said. The Domjur MLA joins a string of TMC leaders who have quit the ruling party ahead of the state Assembly polls Kolkata: In yet another jolt for the Trinamool Congress dispensation, ahead of the Assembly polls, West Bengal forest minister Rajib Banerjee on Friday quit the Mamata Banerjee cabinet. Banerjee, in a letter to the chief minister, said he was tendering his resignation as a cabinet minister, but did not cite any reason. "It has been a great honour and privilege to serve the people of West Bengal. I heartily convey my gratitude for getting this opportunity," he said in the letter. The Domjur MLA, who had been airing his grievances against a section of ruling party leaders over the past few weeks, joins the string of TMC leaders and legislators who recently quit the Mamata Banerjee camp. Most of them, including his former cabinet colleague Suvendu Adhikari, have switched over to the BJP. Banerjee also said that a copy of the resignation letter has been forwarded to Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar for "necessary action". (Image: Reuters) With "dhanyawad", the Indian equivalent of thanks, Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the timely export of COVID-19 vaccine doses. A shipment of 2 million doses of Covishield, the Indian variant of Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, was dispatched from Mumbai on January 22. Bolsonaro took to Twitter to laud India for the vaccine supply amidst the health crisis. "Namaskar, Prime Minister @narendramodi. Brazil feels honoured to have a great partner to overcome a global obstacle by joining efforts (sic)," he posted. "Thank you for assisting us with the vaccines exports from India to Brazil," the President further stated in his tweet. Apart from Brazil, two million doses of Covishield were also dispatched for Morocco. "The Covishield vaccine, manufactured by the Serum Institute of India, departed from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) carrying 2 million doses to Brazil via Emirates Sky Cargo and 2 million doses to Morocco on Royal Air Maroc," said a press release by CSMIA. India's vaccine export policy was initiated by the neighbourhood first approach, with the country supplying the first set of doses to Bhutan, Nepal, Bangladesh and the Maldives. The Port of San Francisco is seeking qualifications from firms interested in supplying PR, communications, media and other related professional services on an as-needed basis. Established in 1850, the Port consists of 7 miles of property along the western side of San Francisco Bay. The RFQ is restricted to San Francisco-based firms that are certified as micro, local, and diverse business entities, as part of the Port's effort to engage consultant teams that reflect the city's population. The Port encourages businesses and residents' participation from the most disadvantaged communities including Bayview/Hunters Point, Chinatown, Mission, South of Market, Tenderloin, Visitacion Valley and Western Addition neighborhoods, according to the RFP. It recommends that interested firms consider the composition of teams in terms of gender, age, ethnicity and race, and utilize teams that include a mix of staff at all organizational levels. The Port intends to award up to two contracts with terms of three years and options to extend for an added year. Qualifications are due Feb. 9. They must be submitted to the citys portal at https://sfcitypartner.sfgov.org/. Download RFP (PDF). The Glorious Revolution inspired birth of modern satire long before coffee shop culture, according to new research The arrival of William of Orange in England helped to inspire the birth of modern satire long before coffee shop culture made the cutting art form fashionable, a new study argues. The golden age of satire in Britain was in the 1740s, but it arrived in the country via the Netherlands - half a century earlier, when the Dutch prince needed propaganda to cement his position in Britain and Holland, according to the research. William III needed the protection, and money, of powerful men in Holland. He supported Dutch printmaker Romeyn de Hooghe, whose portrayal of him contributed to the success of the Glorious Revolution. In funny and crude prints, produced between late 1688 and the summer of 1690, William III is portrayed as a sober and valiant defender of Protestantism against the Catholic kings, James II and Louis XIV, who appear as a darkly comic duo, misguided followers of a primitive religion committed only to their own egos. These satires were designed to encourage doubt about the motives of James II, Louis XIV, and, on the domestic front, the Amsterdam regents. They helped to maintain support for William in the Dutch Republic, without whose financial backing William IIIs invasion of England and consolidation of power would not have been possible. Dr Meredith Hale, from the University of Exeter, has carried out the first detailed analysis of the satires, including translation of the texts into English, to show how De Hooghe responded almost immediately to the rapid unfolding of events in Holland and England, dating some of the satires to within weeks of the events they depict. She argues that they are the first printed political images which can be classed as modern political satire. Dr Hale said: Political satire has long been considered to be an eighteenth-century British phenomenon, generated by Londons news-driven coffee-house culture. I believe political satire, as we know it, in fact, emerged earlier, in the late seventeenth-century Netherlands in the contentious political milieu surrounding William IIIs invasion of England. Romeyn de Hooghes satires were at the heart of the most important development in the history of printed political imagery. The prints established many of the qualities that define the genre to this day, the crude treatment of the body, text and images used together and serialised production. In the Netherlands, unlike England, there was an open market for print making and few restrictions on the imagery which could be used. The satires were designed to appeal to Dutch audiences, but a small number of impressions were brought to England by ambassadors and traders, and may have circulated among printmakers and print dealers. One image, released to coincide with Williams landing at Brixham on 15 November 1688, was designed to warn people of the threat posed by an Anglo-French conspiracy to return England to the Catholic Church. In the satires on domestic politics the powerful of Amsterdam are accused of colluding with France in order to maintain lucrative trade alliances and marginalize William III politically. In Mardi Gras de Cocq a lAne, the Amsterdam regents appear as carnival stooges offering their city to a fully armoured Louis XIV, who sits on a toilet, preparing to wipe his bottom with their rights and privileges. In Nieuw Liedt (New song) the Amsterdam regents appear as figures sprung from shop signs. The satires would not have circulated widely. They would have been collected by the political elite who most likely kept them in albums of prints. The delicacy of the etching technique (relative to engraving) and the complexity of De Hooghes compositions meant that only around 1,000 impressions of each plate could have been produced. The prints are now held in museums around the world, including the British Museum, the Rijksmuseum and the Royal Library in the Hague. There is no proof that William saw the prints, but he almost certainly knew of them. His right-hand-man Hans Willem Bentinckwas in direct contact with De Hooghe, and when the printmaker was in trouble with the authorities in Amsterdam, William stepped in to protect him, ensuring that only De Hooghes collaborator, who wrote some of the satirical texts, was jailed. De Hooghe was commissioned to produce other images of William throughout his life including his and Marys coronation and the Dutch Armada setting off for England. Romeyn de Hooghe, who lived from 1645 until 1708, produced a huge body of work which also included maps and book illustrations. In 1690, in response to his domestic satires, De Hooghe was accused of blasphemy, atheism, and sexual perversion by the powerful in Amsterdam, allegations that marred his reputation from the time of his death through the middle of the twentieth century. The Birth of Modern Political Satire: Romeyn de Hooghe and the Glorious Revolution is published by OUP Oxford. Bloomberg (Bloomberg) -- A century after automakers showed the world the value of assembly-line manufacturing, a shortage of semiconductors is teaching the industry a painful new lesson in what it takes to build a car.For most of its history, the industry has relied on a distinct approach to buying car parts, procuring components from suppliers right at the moment theyre needed. Its referred to as just-in-time manufacturing and is designed to streamline production and eliminate the costs of keeping warehouses stocked with parts waiting to be used.But the shortcomings of that system were made starkly clear this year as the automakers confronted a dearth of the chips they need to build advanced functions into their vehicles, and found themselves near the bottom of chipmakers customer lists because of their just-in-time approach. That shortage is threatening to cut $110 billion in sales from the industry, and forcing auto manufacturers to overhaul the way they get the electronic components that have become critical to contemporary car design.Customers need to change, said Hassane El-Khoury, chief executive officer of ON Semiconductor Corp., which gets more than a third of its revenue from the automotive market. That just-in-time mindset doesnt work.Semiconductor makers are demanding guaranteed, long-term orders rather than the short-term flexibility the carmakers are used to. The chipmakers assertiveness, even under pressure from lawmakers, underscores the rebalancing of power from the companies whose logos are on the cars to those that provide the advanced technology that runs them.As these components play a bigger role in everything from in-car entertainment to self-driving functions, chip manufacturers say theyre willing to invest in expanding production to head off a repeat of shortages that have forced the industry to mothball factories and furlough workers -- if the carmakers give them orders that cant be canceled and commit to long-term agreements.Why would I have invested a single dollar when my customer can cancel within 30 days and it takes me two years to build capacity? ON Semiconductors El-Khoury said.There are signs the industry is listening. Last week, Ford Motor Co. Chief Executive Officer Jim Farley indicated a new willingness to reverse decades of outsourcing for parts.As the industry changes, we have to in-source now, just like we in-sourced powertrains in the 20s and 30s, said Farley, who has shut down half his factories and seen his dealers lots emptying because of a dearth of chips.Most components used by the auto industry are part of a discrete food chain, and carmakers are at the top, able to orchestrate their suppliers actions in a system that delivers them a set of components that can be put together quickly and cheaply into a finished vehicle. Electronics makers, whove fared much better in the chip supply crunch, regard semiconductors as essential systems, and they work directly with chipmakers to secure products and often design their devices around the chips themselves.Automakers can no longer assume the dominance of an 800-pound gorilla in negotiations with chip companies and battery makers, said Mark Wakefield, head of the auto practice at consultancy AlixParters.Pioneered by Toyota Motor Corp. in the 1960s, just-in-time is a system where components suppliers are required to turn up with whatever the carmakers want at the last possible moment in a process that pares costs to the very minimum.That strategy has served the industry well, saving money and helping it organize a system for sourcing the 40,000 or so components that go into a modern vehicle, many of which can be made in a matter of days. But semiconductors -- the heart of sensors, engine management and battery controllers, infotainment and eventually systems that will pilot vehicles -- are created in a process that takes months. And building and equipping a factory to produce them requires years.Todays cars contain an average of 1,400 semiconductors -- and that puts the chipmakers at an advantage. Fords Farley said hes now negotiating contracts directly with chipmakers -- bypassing his traditional auto suppliers -- while building up inventory of the precious pieces and even redesigning models to accommodate the semiconductor companies.We have learned a lot through this crisis that can be applied to many critical components, Farley told analysts last month as he announced Ford would lose half its production in the second quarter and take a $2.5 billion hit to earnings this year, citing a lack of chips. Were also thinking about what this means for the world of batteries and silicon and all sorts of other components that are really mission critical for our company.Ford is not alone in seeking solutions that upend long-time industry practices. Automakers from General Motors Co. to Volkswagen AG to Tesla Inc. are looking for ways to get closer to the chipmaking process, which could include forming partnerships with semiconductor companies, bringing chipmaking in-house and even building their own foundries. Nothing is off the table.Cars are only going to get more technical and theyre going to need more chips, said Sam Fiorani, vice president of vehicle forecasting at consultant AutoForecast Solutions. All of the vehicle manufacturers are looking at every possible scenario for getting it solved for the long-term.But according to some chipmakers, the auto industry has embraced new technology but failed to understand those that supply it.There is a huge difference between manufacturing a car and manufacturing a chip, said Kurt Sievers, CEO of NXP Semiconductor NV, the biggest maker of auto chips. Weve been working for years closely with the auto OEMs directly when it comes to R&D and innovation -- however, not at all for supply chain and volume forecasting.Sievers said the chip industry wants specific forecasts that stretch out in years and binding commitments to buy chips that last that long. The way automakers, referred to as original equipment manufacturers or OEMs, and semiconductor vendors work together needs to change, he said.And the car companies have little choice but to do so. Consumers are increasingly choosing vehicles based on functions such as connectivity, entertainment and advanced automated safety features. The auto industry is steadily shifting away from gasoline to battery power. All of that requires more chips.Its no longer this subsystem that no one cares about, said Victor Peng, CEO of Xilinx Inc. a chipmaker whose products are uses in advanced driver-assistance systems. The electronics is really going to shape the customer experience.The semiconductor industry has plenty of other orders to fill. In 2020 automakers bought almost $40 billion worth of chips, little changed from the prior year, even amid the crash of the pandemic. By comparison, the computer industry bought 17% more chips than it did in 2019, for a total of $160 billion. Phone makers, meantime, provided the chip industry with $137 billion in revenue, a jump of 12%.Earlier this year, automakers lobbied U.S. lawmakers to intervene to help them with the shortage, arguing that chipmakers were unfairly prioritizing customers building less important consumer electronics over cars. The automakers argue their industry creates more than 7 million jobs in America and is critical to national security. And theyve found a sympathetic ear in President Joe Biden, who was supported by the United Auto Workers in the 2020 election, and is working to help the auto industry navigate the chip crisis.Still, consumer electronics buys $20 billion more chips a year than the auto industry, and Big Tech has plenty of clout in Washington, too.Chipmakers are also in no hurry to add new factories to meet this years chip rush. Though 2020 was a good year and 2021 is shaping up to be even better, they dont have to look back very far to be reminded of the difficulties of matching supply with short-term fluctuations in demand. In 2019 industry sales shrank 12% as customers slashed orders to work through stockpiles.Many investors and analysts are already concerned that what now looks like insatiable demand is customers double-ordering: asking for twice the amount they need so they can at least get the number they want. In the past, such heavy ordering has proved to foreshadow industry gluts, with demand eventually easing and buyers tapping the brakes as they worked down accumulated inventory.We came out of 2018 guns blazing, everybody hoarded, and then 2019 was an awful year of demand because they already had chips, said ON Semiconductors El Khoury. Here we are today with people looking at us and asking, why havent you invested?The type of chip automakers want also works against them. Much of what they use -- things such as sensors and power regulators -- can be made on whats called lagging nodes, or production technology that hasnt been state-of-the-art for years. While that makes it cheaper, chipmakers are reluctant to expand capacity of technology thats closer to being obsolete.The chips that the automotive industry uses are older than the ones youd find in your cell phones or in your video games, said AutoForecast Solutions Fiorani. That makes them less of a priority to the companies that produce them.Fiorani said carmakers would be better served forming joint ventures with chipmakers to tap their expertise and lock down a dependable source of supply. But doing that would involve going around traditional suppliers such as Continental AG and Robert Bosch AG and turning back the clock to a more expensive time when companies like Ford had to deal with suppliers for raw materials.Some auto suppliers are already taking steps to make sure they dont get cut out. Parts supplier Robert Bosch is opening a new chip factory in Dresden that it says is the first of its kind dedicated to manufacturing semiconductors for automotive uses. Still, some automakers are already talking openly about cutting out those middlemen in order to keep up with the speed of change.We will be the one who has the commercial relationship with the chipmaker, Volvo Cars CEO Hakan Samuelsson said at a mobility conference in Tel Aviv this month. When we want a change and you have to talk to suppliers, it is too slow.Fords Farley said hes consulted with tech companies and discovered how common it is in other industries to keep buffer stock and to buy directly from chip manufacturers.Even if the company still buys the components with chips on them from a supplier, they still negotiated a direct deal, he told analysts, describing something thats common practice for companies like Apple Inc. Ford learned that nine of its tier-one component suppliers rely on just one Renesas Electronics Corp. factory in Japan for chips, a plant that suffered a fire, he said.Some automakers have made rapid progress in understanding their newer suppliers and are negotiating long-term deals. Others are sticking to the belief that they can dictate how their suppliers should act, according to ON Semiconductors El-Khoudry.Learning from their current difficulties is the key to turning around the current crisis and avoiding the next, according to Xilinxs Peng. Toyota, the inventor of just-in-time, said it expects to return to pre-pandemic levels of profitability as soon as this year, helped by factories that continue to churn out vehicles because the company made the decision to accumulate stockpiles of chips.People have to think differently or theyre going to be left behind, Peng 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. January 22 : Neetu Kapoor is feeling nostalgic today. The veteran actress, who has recently lost her husband, veteran actor Rishi Kapoor, got married to him on this date. Sharing a collage of her memories with late Rishi Kapoor, the actress fondly remembered him on their marriage anniversary. Taking to her Instagram handle, Neetu Kapoor shared a video, consisting of a number of priceless pictures and videos of herself with Rishi Kapoor. The collage comprises pictures of the lovely couple from their films together and memories from their marriage ceremony. In the caption, the actress wrote, Would have been our 41 years today. Rishi Kapoor and Neetu Singh had tied the knot on January 22, 1980. They were not only an iconic onscreen couple, but their love story beyond films is an adorable saga. Last year, late Rishi Kapoor and Neetu Singh had celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary together. The couples wedding reception back in 1980 was a starry affair, which was hosted at the grand RK studios in Mumbai. The couple was cast opposite each other for the first time in Puttanna Kanagal's Zehreela Insaan. Leaving the whole country heartbroken, Rishi Kapoor left for his heavenly abode on April 30, 2020 at the age of 67. The veteran star was battling leukemia for the past two years. Rishi Kapoor had revealed in his book Khullam Khulla: Rishi Kapoor Uncensored that he met Neetu for the first time when she visited the sets of Bobby. At that time, Rishi Kapoor was in relationship with someone else and Neetu had become his relationship adviser. Rishi Kapoor had developed a strong friendship with Neetu Singh and he shared all his secrets with her. Talking about his married life in his book, late Rishi Kapoor had written that adjusting to his married life was difficult for him as he had never been answerable to anybody before. But he admitted that they spent an incredible 37 years together as husband and wife and the veteran actor felt blessed to have Neetu Kapoor in his life. 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. Robert Kocharyan on years of his leadership in Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia Situation on Armenian-Azerbaijani border is still tense, more on COVID-19 in Armenia, May 28 digest "Armenia" alliance of political parties paying tribute to founder of First Republic Aram Manukyan (LIVE) Yerevan.today: Armenia acting PM not greeted at ruling party's headquarters, citizens call him 'capitulator' Russia MOD reports on maintenance of ceasefire regime in Nagorno-Karabakh Armenia acting MOD meets with Russian counterpart in Moscow Armenia 2nd President: I see possibility of restoring borders of Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast We can provide our army with some key, modernized weapons, says Armenia ex-President Kocharyan Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: Captives issue is not one that any opposition force can resolve OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs release statement on detention of 6 Armenian servicemen by Azerbaijan Armenian acting Deputy PM: Discussion on issues possible only after withdrawal of Azeri troops from Armenia's territory Armenia acting PM on Syunik roads, Russian military posts: This is only place where there are working nuances Armenia acting PM: Process of return of POWs will intensify after upcoming elections Putin congratulates Aliyev on Republic Day 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 The chief executive of United Airlines told the companys employees this week that the carrier and other businesses could make the coronavirus vaccine mandatory for all workers. The worst thing that I believe I will ever do in my career is the letters that I have written to the surviving family members of co-workers that we have lost to the coronavirus, the executive, Scott Kirby told employees at a virtual town hall on Thursday, according to a transcript of the remarks. And so, for me, because I have confidence in the safety of the vaccine and I recognize its controversial I think the right thing to do is for United Airlines, and for other companies, to require the vaccines and to make them mandatory. Some states, such as New York, have already made the vaccine available to flight attendants, pilots and other airline and airport employees. United has encouraged employees to get the vaccine as soon as they can. Mr. Kirbys comments, first reported by CNBC, do not reflect actual corporate policy. The airline would need to overcome logistical hurdles before requiring its tens of thousands of employees to get vaccinated and would need other businesses to join it in requiring vaccination, he said. President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has decided that there will be no Deputy Regional Ministers, a statement signed on his behalf by the Acting Director of Communications at the Presidency Mr Eugene Arhin, has said on Thursday January 21. The statement further said the President will be working with twenty eight (28) ministries in his second administration. This is a fall from the thirty-six (36) ministries he worked with during his first government. He also said he the number of ministers will not exceed eighty five (85). This is down from the 120 ministers who served in his previous administration, Furthermore, it said the President intends to appoint a Minister for Public Enterprises, who will be operating directly under the ambit of the Presidency, and not from a Ministry. The Minister will oversee a major restructuring of the entire state-owned enterprises sector to improve the productivity and profitability of the sector. Mr Akufo-Addo has also realigned Aviation, Business Development, Inner City and Zongo Development, Monitoring and Evaluation, Planning, Regional Re-organisation and Development, and Special Development Initiatives, have been realigned. The President has effected this realignment because virtually all these special-purpose Ministries have achieved the purposes for which they were established. The Office of the Senior Minister has also been abolished. This will result in a total of twenty-eight (28) Ministries, down from the thirty-six (36) of his first term. A Minister of State has been nominated, and, if approved, will be assigned to the Ministry of Works and Housing, in addition to the substantive Minister, to give special focus to the critical issue of affordable, mass housing, envisaged as one of the priorities of the Presidents second term. In all, President Akufo-Addo will appoint a total of thirty (30) Ministers, and sixteen (16) Regional Ministers, bringing the total number of Ministers to forty-six (46). Eight (8) of this number are women six (6) Ministers and two (2) Regional Ministers. This is the list that will be submitted to Parliament by the President on Thursday. Activities of the Inner City and Zongo Development Ministry are to be brought under the Presidency, with a Co-ordinator appointed to supervise, as well as exercise oversight responsibility over the Zongo Development Fund. The newly-renamed Ministry of Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development will be tasked with overseeing the outstanding activities of the erstwhile Regional Re-organisation and Development Ministry. Matters to do with the Special Development Initiatives Ministry will be co-ordinated from the Presidency, as will be those of the Monitoring and Evaluation Ministry. The Aviation Ministry is to be merged into an enlarged Ministry of Transport, with activities of the Ministry of Planning also being subsumed under the Ministry of Finance. The Business Development Ministry is to be merged with the Ministry of Trade and Industry. A new Minister for Energy is to be appointed, who will be assisted by deputy Ministers, one of whom will be an indigene of the Western Region. On Wednesday, 20th January, and Thursday, 21st January, President Akufo-Addo held one-on-one meetings with the new Ministers-designate, as well as with his first-term Ministers who will not transition into the new government, to break the news to them. To the Ministers-designate, President Akufo-Addo congratulated them on their nominations, and expressed his expectation that they will be promptly approved by Parliament, to allow them to start work forthwith. To the former Ministers, the President assured them of possible roles to be played in the larger governmental structure, and wished them the best of luck in their future endeavours, the statement said. It added The President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, will, on Thursday, 21st January 2021, submit to Parliament the list of proposed Ministers and Regional Ministers of his new government to the Speaker of Parliament for the process of their prior approval for appointment, in accordance with the dictates of the Constitution. As has already been correctly indicated, the total number of Ministers to be appointed by President Akufo-Addo will not exceed eighty-five (85), down from the one hundred and twenty six (126) that characterised his first term in office. 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 GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- Two more recreational marijuana dispensaries opened in Grand Rapids on Friday, Jan. 22. The dispensaries, which are the fourth and fifth in the city, both opened at 9 a.m. Friday and are owned by the same company, Detroit-based 3Fifteen Cannabis. The shops are named 3Fifteen Cannabis and are located at 2900 S. Division Ave. SE and 3423 Plainfield Ave. NE. We love our Grand Rapids customers and have enjoyed great success integrating into these wonderful neighborhoods, said Ammar Kattoula, operations director for 3Fifteen. I am excited for our future involvement in the city and the many organizations that make it a wonderful place to live, work and play. We cant wait to introduce 3Fifteen to more people in the Grand Rapids community. First time customers will receive specials, including 20% off purchases. This discount also applies to medical marijuana customers making their first recreational purchase at either of the stores. Veterans, as well as people ages 65 and older, receive a 5% discount every day of the week. The dispensaries, which also sell medical marijuana, will be open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. every day of the week. Delivery and curbside pickup are available by ordering online at 3Fifteen.com or by calling 833-315-3155. The dispensaries offer a selection of cannabis products, such as flower, pre-rolled joints, edibles, vape cartridges, concentrates and topicals. We are proud to bring exceptional service and a wide selection of fresh, exciting cannabis products to West Michigan residents, said Tommy Nafso, general counsel at 3Fifteen. We want customers to be comfortable shopping with us, so we are here to serve whether thats in person shopping to consult directly with a budtender, curbside ordering, or delivery direct to your door. Company officials say theyre committed to hiring local, qualified workers of all races and ethnicities and that they staff a minimum of 30 employees per store working 30 hours per week. Along with the two Grand Rapids locations, 3Fifteen operates stores in Ann Arbor, Battle Creek, Detroit, Flint and Morenci. Job openings can be found on this page here. Company officials, in their press release, said they are partnered with the Creston Neighborhood Association (CNA) and West Grand Neighborhood Organization (WGNO) but did not go into further detail. We are very fortunate Grand Rapids is a community that has deep roots in business and community partnerships, Nafso said. We look forward to our continued support and partnership with both CNA and WGNO, along with others as we put our roots down here. Social distancing and face masks are required in store. The other recreational marijuana dispensaries in Grand Rapids are: PharmHouse Wellness at 831 Wealthy St. SW Fluresh at 1213 Phillips Ave. SW. Michigan Supply & Provisions at 2741 28th St. Read more: Here are snow details on storm rolling through Kalamazoo, Grand Rapids Monday night New way to register for COVID-19 vaccine set up in Kent County What to know as online gaming, sports betting becomes legal in Michigan Los Alamitos Race Course in Cypress, Calif., on Jan. 21, 2021. The city recently raised its sales tax, which inadvertently affected a neighboring, unincorporated community. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times) Embattled Horse Racing Track Receives Year-Long Racing License Los Alamitos Race Course in Cypress, California, was approved for a one-year quarter horse racing license by a 4-3 vote by the California Horse Racing Board (CHRB) Jan. 21. The decision by the board came just four days after two horses died during training at the track. Although Los Alamitos supporters, including horse owners, breeders, and trainers, expressed support of the one-year license, the board approval came with the caveat that CHRB could stop racing at any time. We have the authority to call a special meeting if we feel [that the Los Alamitos Race Course] is unsafe, CHRB spokesperson Mike Marten told The Epoch Times. It isnt as if the board is powerless at this point. Dont Stop Looking, a 3-year-old filly, and Noor Khan, a 4-year-old mare, died Jan. 17, according to an official statement on the CHRB website. Details of the deaths were not available. At the embattled quarter horse and thoroughbred facility, at least 29press horses died from racing or training injuries last year. Two more young horses have lost their lives on Jan. 17 and this puts a damper on this whole argument that Los Alamitos should be granted a full year license, horse advocate Heather Wilson said during public comments. What are the outcomes of other investigations [into the deaths of other horses]? I dont hear anything about them. The most latest licensing decision came after the board last December approved the facility for a six-month license. Track owner Eric Allred had been seeking a yearlong commitment, and said at the time he wouldnt accept anything less. Dont even bother, Allred said during the December meeting. We cannot conduct racing under these conditions. Allred had previously said that a year-long license is essential to allow those associated with racing to make long-term plans. He asked the board to issue a full-year license, and review it in six months if the track is flagged for wrongdoing. The most common argument in favor of the one-year license is that the track relies on the quarter horse owners to pay a pre-entry fee in order to make the horses eligible for later in the year, Marten told The Epoch Times. CHRB approved the license for Dec. 23 to Dec. 21, 2021 as the track had sought last month. The coronavirus has now infected all 3,006 counties across the United States, according to a new report. The last county to record a positive case was the nations smallest: Kalawao County, a remote island enclave in Hawaii established in the 1860s for people with leprosy, the Wall Street Journal reported. Kalawao's first case was recorded on December 10 after one resident received a positive COVID result after returning back to the county from a trip to Honolulu. Five leprosy patients, who are all elderly and considered high risk, still live in Kalawao. However, the county has so far managed to avoid further spread, with the person who tested positive immediately alerting authorities and quarantining themselves. The discovery in Kalawao came just under 11 months after the first case of COVID-19 was recorded in Snohomish County, Washington, on January 20, 2020. Since then, the virus has continued to ravage its way across the country, infecting more than 24 million Americans, and killing more than 400,000. As reported by WSJ, data released by Johns Hopkins indicated that COVID-19 has now reached every county in the 48 contiguous states and Hawaii. While Alaska doesnt have formal counties, its own data dashboard for the virus shows cases in all the states boroughs and census areas. The last county to record a case was the nations smallest: Kalawao County (above), a remote island enclave in Hawaii established in the 1860s for people with leprosy In 1866, during the reign of Kamehameha V, the Hawaii legislature passed a law that resulted in the designation of Molokai as the site for a leper colony, where patients who were seriously affected by the disease were forced to isolate WHAT WAS THE KALAWAO COUNTY LEPROSY ENCLAVE? In 1866, during the reign of Kamehameha V, the Hawaii legislature passed a law that resulted in the designation of Molokai as the site for a leper colony, where patients who were seriously affected by leprosy (also known as Hansen's disease) could be quarantined, to prevent them from infecting others. At the time, the disease was little understood: it was believed to be highly contagious and was incurable until the advent of antibiotics. The communities where people with leprosy lived were under the administration of the Board of Health, which appointed superintendents on the island. At its peak, around 1,200 men, women and children were exiled at the enclave. The isolation law enacted by Kamehameha V remained in place until 1969, when it was repealed. Father Damian - or Saint Damien of Molokai a catholic priest, settled there in 1873. He cared for the enclaves inhabitants for 11 years, helping dress their ailments, making coffins, digging graves and eating alongside them, before catching the disease himself. He continued with his work despite the infection but finally succumbed to the disease on 15 April 1889. Father Damien was canonized by Pope Benedict XVI on 11 October 2009. He is considered the spiritual patron for leprosy and outcasts. The day of his death, April 15, is also a minor statewide holiday in Hawaii. After the end of the isolation law in 1969, the state legislature considered closing the facility entirely. However, after public outcry, they permitted residents who wished to stay there to do so for life. The opponents to closure pointed out that, although there were no active cases of leprosy in the colony, many of the residents were physically scarred by the disease to an extent that would make their integration into mainstream society difficult if not impossible. Five inhabitants remain at the facility and share an average age of 86. Advertisement At the beginning of the pandemic, the virus first plagued major, densely populated cities such as New York City and Los Angeles before eventually spilling out into more thinly populated rural counties months later. By November, the coronavirus had reached the countrys second-smallest county of Loving County, in Texas, which boasts a population of just 169. The following month, the nations smallest county, Kalawao, became the last to record a case of the disease. The hard-to-reach tiny Molokai island enclave was established in 1866 and housed thousands of patients with leprosy now known as Hansens disease who had been forced into exile. Father Patrick Killilea, the pastor at St. Francis Church in Kalaupapa, the countys small town, told the Journal said the remote nature of the enclave had helped keep the virus at bay for some 11 months. Its a place of isolation, he said. We know the cliffs and the ocean have protected us. According to Killilea, the county has limited connections with the outside world. Residents, of which there are only around 70, are forced to take a plane or hike a trail up the county's towering cliffs if they wish to reach others parts of Molokai. The settlement also relies on a once-yearly barge visit for vital supplies, according to WSJ. But despite the countys isolation, Hawaiis health department took steps to seal off the settlement as COVID-19 began surging across mainland US nursing homes at the beginning of last year. State health authorities reportedly limited visits to the county to protect its last five remaining Hansens disease patients, in addition to various other safety measures. The five patients, who are free to come and go from the county, share an average age of 86. Some of them have serious underlying health conditions and are considered high risk from COVID-19. However, despite the measures taken by health officials, the county reported its first case of the virus on December 10. The person infected, a resident, apparently picked up the virus while outside of the enclave, but found out about their positive case after returning home. According to the Journal, the patient was asymptomatic. They had reportedly taken a COVID test back in Honolulu, but only received the positive result when back in Kalaupapa County. Remarkably, the county managed to avoid an outbreak after the infected individual and three close contacts on their flight quarantined after landing. At its peak, around 1,200 men, women and children were exiled at the enclave Father Damian (left) - or Saint Damien of Molokai a Catholic priest, settled there in 1873. He cared for the enclaves inhabitants for 11 years, helping dress their ailments, making coffins, digging graves and eating alongside them, before catching the disease himself After the end of the isolation law in 1969, the state legislature considered closing the facility entirely. However, after public outcry, they permitted residents who wished to stay there to do so for life. Five people remain An official at the Hawaii Department of Health called the person a hero for quickly reporting their case and for following quarantine. In the state as a whole, Hawaii has reported 24,551 cases of COVID-19 since the pandemic began, and 322 people have died. The state currently has the second-lowest test positivity rate in the country, of 2.4 percent. The lowest is Vermont, with 2.3. Every borough and census area of Alaskas coronavirus dashboard are also showing cases. The state currently has a test positivity rate of 3.1 percent - the nations fourth lowest. One of the last boroughs to be impacted by the virus in Alaska was Skagway, which is home to around 1,000 people but draws more than one million tourists each year. With the nearest hospital around an hour away by plane, authorities moved quick to protect the area against the virus when the pandemic began, realizing a local outbreak could be catastrophic. However, the virus finally arrived in mid-October, after Mike ODaniel traveled back from Anchorage with his wife following an unrelated hospital visit. One of the last boroughs to be impacted by the virus in Alaska was Skagway, in the southeast of the state, which is home to around 1,000 people ODaniel told the Journal that shortly after his return, a number of his family members fell ill including his 93-year-old mother. Thankfully, all of his family survived though his brother was temporarily bound to an intensive care unit in Seattle. Since ODaniels case, 16 other cases of the virus have been reported in Skagway. The 73-year-old hardware store worker said he quickly alerted local officials about his condition. Its a small town; everybodys going to find out about it anyhow, he said. I would just as soon protect my friends. Preliminary figures released Thursday suggest that 2020 will be the deadliest year in US history. A record 3,260,397 people died last year, which public health experts says is due to COVID-19, indirect pandemic deaths and overdoses. That figure is about 15 percent higher than the 2,835,533 Americans who died in 2019, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Among other deadly years in American history include 1,430,079 deaths in 1918, the year of the Spanish Flu pandemic and the end of World War I; 1,459,544 deaths in 1943, the deadliest year of World War II and 1,930,082 deaths in 1968 at the height of the Vietnam War. In 2020, 347,341 people in the U.S. died due to COVID-19, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. Since then, more than 58,000 people have died from the virus, raising the death toll to more than 406,000 - higher than the number of Americans who died in World War I, the Korean War and the Vietnam War combined. DAMASCUS/JERUSALEM: Syrian air defences confronted an Israeli aggression" in the region of Hama on Friday that killed four people from the same family, state media said, in what would be the first such action by Israel since Joe Biden became U.S. president. Israel has carried out hundreds of air strikes in Syria in recent years against suspected Iranian military deployments or arms transfers to Iranian-backed Lebanese Hezbollah fighters. Regional sources said such attacks had been stepped up during the final weeks of Donald Trumps term as U.S. president. The new strikes, if confirmed, would be the first since Biden took office on Wednesday. Israel, which enjoyed strong support from Trump, is waiting to gauge whether the new administration will review U.S. policy in the Middle East. At about four oclock in the morning today, the Israeli enemy launched an aerial aggression with a barrage of missiles coming from the direction of the Lebanese city of Tripoli, aiming at some targets in the vicinity of Hama governorate," a military source said, according to Syrian state media. Our air defences confronted the enemys missiles and downed most of them," the source said, without detailing the nature of the targets. The Israeli military declined to comment. A father, mother and their two children were killed in the strikes, and four other civilians were wounded, while three houses were destroyed, the Syrian military source said. Israel has previously said its strikes in Syria were necessary to protect its northern front from its enemy Iran. Israel is conducting a campaign against Iranian entrenchment in Syria," said Amos Yadlin, a former director of Israeli military intelligence who now runs Tel Aviv Universitys Institute for National Security Studies. Such actions will not stop merely because Biden has been inaugurated, and I do not anticipate American misgivings about them continuing," he said. (Additional reporting by Nayera Abdallah in Cairo; Editing by Gerry Doyle, Andrew Cawthorne and Edmund Blair) 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 When indie pop artist Eves Karydas starting working on her hit single Complicated, her grandfather had just passed away, her relationship was in turmoil and she was feeling creatively blocked. To top it all off, she constantly dreamed about her teeth falling out. Flash forward almost two years and the song has become an anthem for many Australians whose lives have been upended by the coronavirus pandemic. Australian singer-songwriter Eves Karydas is tipped to make the Hottest 100 thanks to her single Complicated. The lyrics slotted into the global conversation in a way I could never have premeditated, says the singer, whose real name is Hannah Evyenia Karydas. Its been such a tough year. Everyone you speak to, its just been a kick in the balls. So its a super special song to me. Karydas looks set to be one of 26 acts who will make their debut in Triple Js Hottest 100 countdown on Saturday. And Complicated which includes lines like Wish I was in love, wish I was alone has a strong chance of making the top 10, according to prediction website 100 Warm Tunas. The USs leading infectious-diseases expert has called it liberating to be backed by a science-friendly administration that has embraced his recommendations to battle Covid-19. Dr Anthony Faucis highly visible schedule on Thursday, the first full day of President Joe Bidens term, underscored the new administrations confidence in the doctor but also the urgency of the moment. His day began with a 4am virtual meeting with officials of the World Health Organisation (WHO), which is based in Switzerland, and stretched past a 4pm appearance at the lectern in the White House briefing room. The breakneck pace showcased the urgent need to combat a pandemic that has killed more than 400,000 Americans and reached its deadliest phase just as the new president comes to office. White House press secretary Jen Psaki gestures towards Dr Anthony Fauci during a press briefing at the White House (Alex Brandon/AP) Dr Fauci made clear that he believed the new administration would not trade in the mixed messages that so often came from the Trump White House. The idea that you can get up here and talk about what you know and what the science is it is something of a liberating feeling, Dr Fauci told reporters. White House press secretary Jen Psaki had invited Dr Fauci to take the podium first at her daily briefing. While choosing his words carefully, Dr Fauci acknowledged that it had been difficult at times to work for Donald Trump, who repeatedly played down the severity of the pandemic, refused to consistently promote mask-wearing and often touted unproven scientific remedies, including a malaria drug and even injecting disinfectant. It was very clear that there were things that were said, be it regarding things like hydroxychloroquine and other things, that really was uncomfortable because they were not based in scientific fact, Dr Fauci said. He added that he took no pleasure in having to contradict the president, a move that often drew Mr Trumps wrath. Dr Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, stands in a hallway before an event with President Joe Biden on coronavirus at the White House (Alex Brandon/AP) Mr Biden, during his presidential campaign, pledged to make Dr Fauci his chief medical adviser when he took office, and the 80-year-old scientist was immediately in motion. Dr Fauci was up well before dawn Thursday for the virtual meeting with WHO, which Mr Biden had rejoined the previous day after Mr Trump withdrew the US from the group out of anger over how it dealt with China in the early days of the pandemic. Dr Fauci told the group that the United States would join its effort to deliver coronavirus vaccines to poor countries. In the afternoon, the doctor stood alongside Mr Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris in the White House as they unveiled a series of executive orders aimed at slowing the spread of the virus, which is killing more than 4,000 Americans a day, as well as bolstering the nations sluggish vaccine distribution programme. In his return to the briefing room, Dr Fauci joked with reporters, seemingly far more relaxed than at any point last year. One of the new things in this administration is, If you dont know the answer, dont guess, Dr Fauci said in one pointed observation during the White House briefing. Just say you dont know the answer. And as he stepped off the stage, Ms Psaki said she would soon have him back. A new form of African swine fever identified in Chinese pig farms is most likely caused by illicit vaccines, industry insiders say, a fresh blow to the world's largest pork producer, still recovering from a devastating epidemic of the virus. Two new strains of African swine fever have infected more than 1,000 sows on several farms owned by New Hope Liuhe, China's fourth-largest producer, as well as pigs being fattened for the firm by contract farmers, said Yan Zhichun, the company's chief science officer. Though the strains, which are missing one or two key genes present in the wild African swine fever virus, don't kill pigs like the disease that ravaged China's farms in 2018 and 2019, they cause a chronic condition that reduces the number of healthy piglets born, Yan told Reuters. At New Hope, and many large producers, infected pigs are culled to prevent the spread, making the disease effectively fatal. Although the known infections are limited now, if the strains spread widely, they could slash pork output in the world's top consumer and producer; two years ago, swine fever wiped out half of China's 400 million-head pig herd. Pork prices are still at record levels and China is under pressure to strengthen food security amid the COVID-19 pandemic. "I don't know where they come from, but we find some mild field infections caused by some sort of gene-deleted viruses," Yan said. Wayne Johnson, a Beijing-based veterinarian, said he diagnosed a chronic, or less-lethal, form of the disease in pigs last year. The virus lacked certain genetic components, known as the MGF360 genes. New Hope has found strains of the virus missing both the MGF360 genes and the CD2v genes, Yan said. Research has shown that deleting some MGF360 genes from African swine fever creates immunity. But the modified virus was not developed into a vaccine because it tended to later mutate back to a harmful state. "You can sequence these things, these double deletions, and if it's exactly the same as described in the lab, it's too much of a coincidence, because you would never get that exact deletion," said Lucilla Steinaa, principal scientist at the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) in Nairobi. There is no approved vaccine for African swine fever, which is not harmful to humans. But many Chinese farmers struggling to protect their pigs have resorted to unapproved products, industry insiders and experts said. They fear illicit vaccines have created accidental infections, which are now spreading. The new strains could proliferate globally through contaminated meat, infecting pigs that are fed on kitchen waste. The virus is known to survive for months in some pork products. China's Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs did not respond to two requests for comment. But it has issued at least three warnings against use of unauthorised African swine fever vaccines, cautioning that they could have severe side effects and that producers and users could be charged with a criminal offence. In August, the ministry said it would test pigs for different strains of the virus as part of a nationwide investigation into illegal vaccine use. Any strains with gene deletions could indicate a vaccine had been used, it said. No findings have been published so far on the issue, which is highly sensitive for Beijing. Reporting of the recent African swine fever outbreaks was extensively covered up. MAN-MADE STRAINS After decades of research toward producing a vaccine against the huge, complex swine fever virus, researchers around the world are focussing on live-virus vaccines - the only type to have shown any promise. But such vaccines carry higher risks because even after the virus is weakened so it does not cause serious illness, it can sometimes recover its virulence. One such vaccine used in Spain in the 1960s caused a chronic disease with swollen joints, skin lesions and respiratory issues in pigs that complicated efforts to eradicate African swine fever over the next three decades. Since then, no nation has approved a vaccine for the disease. A vaccine with both MGF360 and CD2v genes deleted is undergoing trials by China's Harbin Veterinary Research Institute after showing promise. Yan said he believes that people have replicated the sequences of virus strains being studied, which have been published in scientific literature, and that pigs injected with illicit vaccines based on them could be infecting others. "It's definitely man-made; this is not a natural strain," he said. Neither Johnson nor Yan have fully sequenced the new swine fever strains. Beijing strictly controls who is allowed to work with the virus, which can only be handled in laboratories with high biosecurity designations. But several private companies have developed test kits that can check for specific genes. GM Biotech, based in China's central Hunan province, said in an online post last week it had developed a test that identifies whether the pathogen is a virulent strain, a single-gene deleted attenuated strain, or a double-gene deleted attenuated strain. The test helps pig producers because the new strains are "very difficult to detect at the initial stage of infection and have a longer incubation period after infection," the company said. The government has not said how widely used illicit vaccines are or who has produced them. But a "vast amount" of pigs in China have nonetheless been vaccinated, Johnson said, a sentiment echoed by many other experts. In 2004-5, when the H5 bird flu strains were spreading across Asia, Chinese laboratories produced several unauthorised live bird flu vaccines, said Mo Salman, a professor of veterinary medicine at Colorado State University, who has worked on animal health in Asia, raising fears that they could produce dangerous new variants. "The current ASF unlawful vaccine(s) in China is repeating history," Salman said. This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. The energy imports from the IFA2 interconnector could help prevent 1.2 million tonnes of CO2 from entering the atmosphere. Photo: National Grid A new undersea electricity link between England and France has become fully operational. The cross-channel high-voltage connection will deliver 1.2% of Britain's electricity needs, National Grid (NG.L) said. National Grid said that the interconnector known as IFA2, stretches 149 miles along the seafloor between Hampshire and Normandy, and began to flow at full capacity at 11am GMT. The IFA2 interconnector has the capacity to power 1 million homes in Britain, according to the company. It also has the potential to reduce wholesale electricity prices in the UK by 2%. IFA2 will also help reduce the use of fossil fuels in the UK by importing electricity generated by Frances nuclear power plants. The 1GW (gigawatts) connection a 700m ($956m) shared investment with French power company Reseau de Transport d'Electricite (RTE ) is Britain's fourth power exchange with Europe. The energy imports could help prevent 1.2 million tonnes of CO2 from entering the atmosphere, in its first year of operation. This enables the UK to sell any leftover clean power from its fleet of wind turbines. WATCH: Frustrated truckers in Dover blare horns in unison READ MORE: Centrica mulls storing hydrogen under North Sea There are currently five active interconnectors in the UK, including continental networks to France, Belgium and the Netherlands. The first interconnector, with a 2GW capacity opened in 1986, the IFA link between England and France, then Moyle which imports power between Northern Ireland and Scotland with a 0.5GW capacity opened in 2001. In 2011, BritNed opened linking Britain and the Netherlands with a 1GW capacity. This was followed by EWIC, connecting Wales and Ireland in 2012 (0.5GW), Nemo tying England to Belgium in 2019 (1GW). The UKs gas and electricity regulator Ofgem has said there are plans for another 10 interconnectors, which could bring capacity to almost 18GW by 2023. Jon Butterworth, managing director of National Grid Ventures, said the two-way interconnector would typically import cheaper nuclear and renewable electricity from France at first. Story continues He said: "IFA2 is the latest feat of world-class engineering helping to transform and decarbonise the electricity systems of Britain and its European neighbours." WATCH: What is inflation and why is it important? Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. Former INLA terrorist Dessie O'Hare, who was known as The Border Fox, is unlikely to get an early release as he appeals the severity of his seven-year sentence for falsely imprisoning a family, the Court of Appeal heard on Friday. O'Hare was due to appeal his sentence but had been unable to consult with his legal team while in prison. Mr Justice George Birmingham agreed to adjourn the hearing, saying there is "no particular urgency" given that O'Hare's prison term is not due to expire soon and even if the Court of Appeal interferes with his sentence, the judge, "wouldn't expect an early release. A previous appeal hearing last year was adjourned after O'Hare dismissed his lawyers. O'Hare of Slate Rock Road, Newtownhamilton, County Armagh was jailed in 2019 by the Special Criminal Court for seven years for falsely imprisoning a family in their home and for leading a "disturbingly violent" attack on another man. The 63-year-old admitted to assaulting John Roche, causing him harm, at The Towers, Garter Lane, Saggart, County Dublin on June 9, 2015. He also pleaded guilty to falsely imprisoning Martin Byrne at Rathcoole and Saggart on the same date. The non-jury court was asked to take two counts of falsely imprisoning Mr Byrnes wife and son into consideration. O'Hare was jailed for three years for assaulting Mr Roche and ten years with the final three years suspended for the rest of his life for falsely imprisoning Mr Byrne. The sentences are running concurrently. Passing sentence, Mr Justice Tony Hunt said that the violent side of O'Hare's personality was not in remission and that his threat to society had "not completely abated". The judge stressed that O'Hare was "an organiser and high-level participant" in the incident and said that the non-jury court did not accept that the offending was "isolated" even though he had applied himself positively to some aspects of his life in the last 13 years. In 1988, O'Hare was sentenced to 40 years imprisonment for falsely imprisoning and assaulting Dublin dentist Dr John OGrady, causing him grievous bodily harm, but was released under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement in 2006. O'Hare kidnapped Dr O'Grady from his home in Cabinteely on October 13, 1987 and held him captive for 23 days. During that time O'Hare chopped off the tips of Dr O'Grady's fingers while demanding a ransom of 1.5m (about 20million in today's money). Gardai freed Dr O'Grady following a shoot-out in the Dublin suburb of Cabra. One officer was shot and seriously wounded. O'Hare also has convictions for firearms offences and for assaulting a garda. (JTA) Six years after millions marched across France to protest the killing of 12 people at the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo and another four at a kosher supermarket, a lawyer for the families of four victims said the sense of solidarity that followed the attacks has all but dissipated. Patrick Klugman, a lawyer representing the families of the four victims of the attack on the Hyper Cacher market on Jan. 9, 2015, made the comment during a commemorative conference online on Monday entitled Islamist Radicalization and Terrorist Threat. The conference was organized by Elne... 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) Two other cases of infection with the increased transmissibility SARS-CoV-2 variant were sequenced at the National Institute of Infectious Diseases "Matei Bals", informed the Ministry of Health, specifying that it recommended, on Friday, to the Bucharest City Emergency Management Committee (CMBSU) to postpone the decisions to relax the restrictions, according to AGERPRES. According to the cited source, both cases are from Bucharest, neither of the two people having traveled abroad. "Patients are in good general condition, are isolated at home and are supervised by the family doctor according to the methodology in force. Currently, other sequencing tests are being processed in the "Matei Bals" INBI laboratory, with the results being expected. (...) Considering the emergence of the new variant in Bucharest, the Ministry of Health recommended today to the Bucharest City Emergency Management Committee (CMBSU) the postponement of the relaxation decisions," states the same source. The Ministry of Health recommends that the population request testing for COVID-19 at the first symptoms of the disease. "Given the greater infectiousness of this variant, in parallel with the National Vaccination Campaign, the protection measures remain equally important: the correct wearing of the protective mask, the avoidance of crowded areas, the social distancing and the hygiene of the hands," underlines the Ministry of Health. TROY A Troy man was charged with second-degree murder for strangling his wife, who was found dead Jan. 15 in a car found at the entrance to Samaritan Hospital, police said. Taquan L. Evan, 35, was arraigned Friday afternoon in city court. Held at the Rensselaer County jail, Evans was arraigned by Judge Christopher Maier over a computer. Evans is being held without bail. The Queensland Hotels Association has raised concerns that moving the states hotel quarantine system to the regions would mean hotels that are currently used for quarantine would have to lay off staff. Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has pledged to draw up a formal proposal for moving the states quarantine system away from built-up centres after officially floating the idea at the national cabinet meeting in Brisbane on Friday. The Homeground facility, 20 minutes from Gladstone in central Queensland, is being considered as a quarantine site. Credit: The Queensland government says the risk of a potential quarantine breach, especially in light of the more contagious UK strain, means hotel quarantine in congested areas is rapidly becoming unfeasible. But making a submission to a parliamentary committee hearing on Friday, the associations chief executive, Bernie Hogan, said taking hotel quarantine away from cities would have unintended consequences. Would you like to receive breaking news notifications from The Post and Courier? Sign up to receive news and updates from this site directly to your desktop. Breaking News Columbia Breaking News Greenville Breaking News Myrtle Beach Breaking News Aiken Breaking News Click on the bell icon to manage your notifications at any time. Success! Please click the 'Allow' button in the 'Show Notifcations' alert in your browser if one is available. Thank you for signing up! Please enable notifications in your browser and reload the page. Giggling bread and joyfully dancing salad are not the usual meals served in Thailand. But one eatery is hoping its foods made with parts of the cannabis plant can interest foreign visitors. The restaurant at a hospital in Prachin Buri province started serving the meals this month. Thailand recently took cannabis off its list of narcotic drugs. The government then permitted some businesses to grow the plant. Pakakrong Kwankao is the project leader at the hospital. She told the Reuters news service, Cannabis leaves, when put in the food or even a small amount ... it will help the patient to recover faster. She added, The cannabis leaf can improve appetite and make people sleep well, and also be in a good mood. The hospital is known as being the first in Thailand to study marijuana and its ability to ease pain and extreme tiredness. Thailand became the first Southeast Asian country to legalize cannabis for medical use in 2017. Since then, many medical marijuana centers have opened across the country. The restaurants offerings include a happy pork soup and deep-fried bread topped with pork and a marijuana leaf. Another is a mix of crispy cannabis leaves served with pork and vegetables. Ive never taken cannabis before, it feels weird but its delicious, said Ketsirin Boonsiri, one person who ate at the restaurant. Another, Nattanon Naranan, said the taste of the cannabis leaves was similar to some other vegetables. But, she said the after-effects of eating cannabis were very different. Thai deputy education minister Kanokwan Vilawan said the next step was to offer new versions of famous Thai dishes to appeal to people across the world. We plan to add more (cannabis) to Thai dishes that are already well known, such as green curry soup, to boost the popularity of these dishes even more, Kanokwan said. Im Jonathan Evans. Juarawee Kittisilpa reported on this story for the Associated Press. Jonathan Evans adapted this story for Learning English. Bryan Lynn was the editor. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story appetite n. a physical desire for food delicious adj. very pleasant to taste giggling v. laughing in a nervous or childlike way narcotic n. a drug such as cocaine, heroin, or marijuana that affects the brain and that is usually dangerous and illegal mood n. an emotional state of mind or feeling weird adj. unusual or strange 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. A TikTok user is saying that if you live in Houston, don't worry about what's in the COVID-19 vaccine. Abe Bahranipoor uploaded a video titled "Don't Worry About What's in the COVID vaccine: Texas edition." He's already garnered nearly 4,000 views for the video, in which he had some pretty shady things to say about the Bayou City. TODAY ON TIKTOK: If George Strait sang 'WAP', it would probably sound a lot like this "First off, if you live or have spent any amount of time in this toxic city of Houston, you're good," he began. "Don't worry about what's in the COVID vaccine." Bahranipoor went on to say that if you've ever been to certain locations in Austin or San Antonio, you have bigger things to worry about than the vaccine. Not to mention if you've ever stepped foot on a beach in Texas. Yes, Galveston, that includes you. "If you've been to any of the dirty beaches in Texas, congratulations, you're actually immune to COVID-19," he said. I mean, is that a bad thing? When asked who in Houston could've broken his heart so badly he would say such horrible things about our great city, Bahranipoor jokingly replied, "Lol a burger place put onions on my burger when I said not to." Oh, if you live in one of Texas' red cities, this video shouldn't concern you, because you probably still believe COVID-19 is a hoax, he said. That includes you, Fort Worth. * Username This is the name that will be displayed next to your photo for comments, blog posts, and more. Choose wisely! Joe Bidens move to block the $9 billion Keystone XL project is the clearest sign yet that constructing a major new pipeline in the U.S. has become an impossible task. The incoming president has pledged to reshape the U.S. energy sector and accelerate the transition from fossil fuels, and the cancellation of the proposed link to Canadas oil sands will be one of his first big environmental actions. Even before Bidens inauguration Wednesday, the oil and gas industry was on its back foot when it came to building major new infrastructure. Despite Donald Trumps pro-fossil-fuel policies, energy companies such as Williams Cos. and Dominion Energy Inc. have been forced to scrap new projects in the face of stiff opposition. I cant imagine going to my board and saying, we want to build a new greenfield pipeline, Williams Chief Executive Officer Alan Armstrong said in an interview. I do not think there will be any funding of any big cross-country greenfield pipelines, and I say that because of the amount of money thats been wasted. The industrys retreat is a victory for the environmental movement. Groups that once campaigned under the slogan Keep It In The Ground have increasingly turned their attention to the pipes. Building them in much of the U.S. is a far trickier business than drilling oil and gas wells. Thats due to the numerous federal and state permits that, for the most part, can be more easily litigated. The Trump administration sought to streamline federal permitting, but many projects were dealt a mortal blow in the courts. No one is going to announce a new pipeline while Joe Biden is the president, said Katie Bays, managing director at FiscalNote Markets, which tracks policy issues for investors. Pipelines are likely to face a more burdensome approval process under the new administration, according to industry watchers including analysts at Morgan Stanley. Armstrong, whose company operates the Transco gas pipeline that runs from the Gulf of Mexico up the East Coast, says costs associated with litigation, together with the risk of delays, mean the construction of interstate projects in the U.S. can no longer be justified. He speaks from recent experience. Williams abandoned its Constitution natural gas pipeline in 2020 following years of legal battles with New York over a water permit. Its Northeast Supply Enhancement plan, which would have added pipeline segments in New York, Pennsylvania and New Jersey to an existing Williams system, was also effectively killed off last year amid opposition from New York Governor Andrew Cuomo. In fact, 2020 proved to be an awful year for anyone trying to build a major pipeline. In July, Dominion and its partner Duke Energy Corp. scrapped plans for their $8 billion Atlantic Coast natural gas project along the U.S. East Coast after legal battles, permitting hiccups and ballooning costs. Less than 24 hours later, a U.S. court court ordered the shutdown of the Dakota Access crude oil pipeline though the order was later sidelined. In Minnesota, on-the-ground protests from environmental and indigenous activists continue to dog Enbridge Inc.s proposal to replace its Line 3 crude pipeline, which shuttles crude from Alberta to Wisconsin. Meanwhile, the $6 billion, 303-mile (488-kilometer) Mountain Valley natural gas project which along with Line 3 are the last remaining mega pipeline projects still in development in the U.S. is running into regulatory hurdles after years of cost overruns and delays. Shares of Equitrans Midstream Corp., which is constructing the pipeline between West Virginia and southern Virginia, plunged 9.9% Tuesday after a meeting of federal regulators in Washington failed to advance the project. Click here to see ESG research and data from Bloomberg Intelligence Mountain Valley might be the last one for a good long while, said Christi Tezak, managing director at ClearView Energy Partners. TC Energy Corp., which was set to build Keystone, on Wednesday lamented Bidens decision and said it will cost thousands of jobs. The Canadian company could challenge the move, but suing your way to successful completion of a project is never a good situation to be in, Southern Methodist University energy law professor James Coleman said. While the energy industry digests the Keystone news, it faces other harsh truths. Covid-19 decimated demand and prospects for a recovery to pre-pandemic levels remain uncertain. Though Keystone itself is important for Canadian oil producers, it has lost much of its former appeal to refiners on the U.S. Gulf Coast following years of rising shale supplies. And while oil stumbled, the renewable energy sector has been on a roll. Investors have fled the fossil fuel sector in droves and flocked to companies in solar, wind and other alternative technologies. That trend may determine the kind of big infrastructure projects that get built in years to come. Williams is now focused on a series of expansions along its current infrastructure, taking advantage of existing rights of ways to meet growing demand. The operator is also seeking to integrate renewable fuels into its systems. As new lines become harder to build, incumbent pipelines are going to have a huge advantage, Armstrong said. Looking farther out, its hard to imagine that well never go through a build cycle again, FiscalNotes Bays said of the pipeline business. But its more likely that the next build cycle isnt gas or oil, but is hydrogen or carbon dioxide. About the photo: Miles of unused pipe, prepared for the proposed Keystone XL pipeline, sit in a lot on October 14, 2014 outside Gascoyne, North Dakota. (Photo by Andrew Burton/Getty Images) Copyright 2021 Bloomberg. Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-22 11:06:33|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa attends a video conference on COVID-19, Jan. 21, 2021. Members of the European Council on Thursday night held a video conference, during which EU leaders discussed coordination on the response to the COVID-19 pandemic. (European Union/Handout via Xinhua) 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. In recent years, the pharmaceutical industry has been an important area of cooperation between Vietnam and India. Pharmaceuticals and pharmaceutical ingredients have always been the key export items of India to Vietnam. The two sides still have great potential to promote investment cooperation in the pharmaceutical and medical equipment industries. The topic was on discussion at a seminar on promotion of trade and investment in pharmaceutical sector between Vietnam and India, hosted by the Embassy of India in collaboration with the International Investment Promotion Alliance (INVEST-GLOBAL), Vietnam Association of Foreign Invested Enterprise (VAFIE) and Indian Business Chamber (INCHAM) in Hanoi on January 21. The Vietnamese pharmaceutical market has grown rapidly, with an estimated value of US$7 billion in 2019. The annual growth is expected to be 8% by 2024. While Vietnamese drug manufacturers are able to meet half of their domestic demand, they depend on imports for approximately 60% of pharmaceutical end products, 90% of active pharmaceutical ingredients and most of the raw materials for the production of pharmaceuticals. Pranay Verma, Ambassador of India to Vietnam, shared that Vietnam is a key consumer of Indian pharmaceuticals with an annual trade worth US$ 225 million, currently in 19th position among the top 25 destinations for Indian pharmaceutical products. Emphasising the importance of the pharmaceutical sector in economic, commercial and medical cooperation between both sides, the diplomats also said that the opportunities presented by the pharma sector for the two countries has been duly recognised in the India-Vietnam Joint Vision for Peace, Prosperity and People adopted by both Prime Ministers at the Virtual Summit held in December 2020. Their Joint Vision identifies deepening the cooperation between the two countries in targeted areas, including holistic healthcare, vaccines and pharmaceuticals, as important elements of our future partnership over the coming years. Amid the difficulties caused by COVID-19, the two countries remained engaged in augmenting healthcare responses to the pandemic. Vietnam assisted India with supplies of facemasks to the Indian Red Cross Society. India, on the other hand, ensured that the production and supply lines remained and ramped up, supplying medicines to manage the pandemic in more than 150 countries around the world, including Vietnam. India also extended a contribution of US$1 million to the ASEAN Covid-19 Response Fund. Professor, Dr. Nguyen Mai, Chairman of the VAFIE, said that trade and investment in pharmaceuticals, which are among the strengths of both countries, can be further promoted through cooperation to support both sides, bringing into play the advantages of each party and effectively exploiting the potential to increase the two-way trade turnover and investment cooperation. The seminar explored the emerging opportunities and exchanged views and ideas on ways to promote bilateral engagement in the pharma sector by taking advantage of policies and incentives offered in India and Vietnam. Panel discussions on opportunities for investment and trade facilitation for Indian pharma sector in Vietnam were held, during which the participants stressed the need for greater Indian investment in pharma sector in Vietnam as well as enhancing awareness in Vietnam about Indias strength as the leading manufacturer of pharmaceuticals. Representatives from Vietnamese Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Health provided details of incentives offered by Vietnam for investment in the health sector, particularly in hi-tech projects, as well as upcoming new circulars that would further facilitate trade in pharmaceutical products for Vietnam. Marine microalgae-based cellular agriculture is a promising new way to sustainably produce plant-based 'meat' and healthy 'superfoods' for the future. Researchers at Flinders University's Centre for Marine Bioproducts Development (CMBD) in Australia are responding to growing interest from consumers looking for healthier, more environmentally friendly, sustainable and ethical alternatives to animal proteins. Marine microalgae, single-cell photosynthetic organisms from the ocean could be the solution to the world's meat protein shortage, says CMBD director Flinders University Professor Wei Zhang, who is also co-leading a bid to establish a national Marine Bioproducts Cooperative Research Centre (MB-CRC) in Australia. The CRC's mission is to find ways to develop the third-generation of Australian high-value marine bioindustry (as opposed to the first-generation of fisheries and the second-generation of aquaculture) and transform Australia's emerging marine bioproducts sector into a globally competitive industry. The Centre's focus will be on industry and market-driven innovations to improve both the supply chain and value chain to deliver costs savings, improved production and competitive capacity for Australia to access high value marine bioproducts markets across the globe. "Our research spans the entire value chain, from microalgae cultivation and circular advanced biomanufacturing to the development of high-value functional food," Professor Zhang says. "Microalgae come in a diverse range of nutritional profiles and advanced cultivation strategies can be developed for tuning microalgae to produce protein-, oil- and carbohydrate-dominant types that can be processed into a broad range of functional foods, including healthy cell patties, chips, pastes, jams and even caviar." Two freshwater microalgal products currently on the market are the high protein Chlorella and Spirulina varieties used in the production of foods such as green pasta, drinks and beverages. Marine species are of significant interest as they do not require scarce freshwater and crop land. Their unique nutritional profiles such as their high DHA and EPA content (long chain omega 3 fatty acids) are essential for infant and brain development and cardiac health. Bioreactors for upscaling upscaled aquatic production of photosynthetic microalgae can also help to combat greenhouse gas emissions and climate change. One 90 x 90 x 210 cm (3 x 3 x 7 ft) bioreactor unit can absorb up to 400 times more carbon dioxide than the same footprint of trees. Using sunlight, certain varieties of microalgae create oxygen and convert carbon dioxide into organic carbon (protein, carbohydrates, pigments, fats and fibres), just like plants, but do not require valuable arable land for their production. "They are therefore often called the rainforests of the oceans," says Associate Professor Kirsten Heimann, senior lecturer in biotechnology at Flinders University. "Using sunlight, photosynthetic microalgae create oxygen and convert carbon dioxide into organic carbon (protein, carbohydrates, pigments, fats, fibres, and micronutrients), just like plants, but do not require valuable arable land for their production. This means microalgae can be sustainably harvested and converted into eco-friendly superfoods," she says. "Putting one and one together, microalgae and innovative production and processing could help to service the world's booming population and growing demand for sustainable protein production," she says. Along with research into processing techniques, the CMBD team is also investigating the use of waste or harvested seaweed for biodegradable plastics production, another sustainable solution to non-degradable petroleum-based plastics. ### For the latest paper on microalgae processing development see, 'Release of encapsulated bioactives influenced by alginate viscosity under in-vitro gastrointestinal model' by RE Abraham, P Su, M Puri and CL Raston and W Zhang in International Journal of Biological Macromolecules (Elsevier) Vol 170, 15 February 2021, Pages 540-548, DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2020.12.143. The results demonstrate the use of both microalgae and macroalgae for development of controlled release of health and nutritional bioactives from marine sources. A pharmacist prepares a syringe of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine Friday, Jan. 8, 2021, at Queen Anne Healthcare, a skilled nursing and rehabilitation facility in Seattle. Pfizer has committed to supply up to 40 million doses of its COVID-19 vaccine this year to a World Health Organization-backed effort to get affordable vaccines to 92 poor and middle-income countries. The deal announced Friday, Jan. 22 will supply the shots to the program known as COVAX. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren) Pfizer on Friday committed to supply up to 40 million doses of its COVID-19 vaccine this year to a World Health Organization-backed effort to get affordable shots to poor and middle-income countries. The deal is a boost to the global program known as COVAX, as wealthy nations have snapped up most of the millions of coming shots. The commitment, announced at a virtual press conference held by the Geneva-based WHO, is seen as important because Pfizer and its partner BioNTech last month won the first vaccine emergency authorizations from WHO and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Earlier this week, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus criticized drugmakers for seeking profits from the pandemic and mostly supplying wealthy countries. Pfizer's 40 million dosesfor a vaccine requiring two dosesare a tiny sliver of what's needed for COVAX, which aims to vaccinate billions of people in 92 low- and middle-income countries. During Friday's news conference, Tedros said Pfizer's commitment and about 150 million doses of the vaccine developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford University could enable COVAX to begin delivering doses in February, pending finalization of a supply agreement with Pfizer and emergency use approval for AstraZeneca's vaccine. He said the global program is on track to deliver by year's end 2 billion doses of vaccines previously pledged by AstraZeneca and other vaccine producers. In this Dec. 13, 2020 file photo, Boxes containing the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine are prepared to be shipped at the Pfizer Global Supply Kalamazoo manufacturing plant in Portage, Mich. Pfizer has committed to supply up to 40 million doses of its COVID-19 vaccine this year to a World Health Organization-backed effort to get affordable vaccines to 92 poor and middle-income countries. The deal announced Friday, Jan. 22, 2021 will supply the shots to the program known as COVAX. (AP Photo/Morry Gash, Pool, File) New York-based Pfizer Inc. had not previously committed to providing its COVID-19 vaccine to poor countries without making a profit during the pandemic, as a couple rivals have. However, Pfizer and Germany's BioNTech said they would provide their vaccine to COVAX at an undisclosed "not-for-profit price." The companies still must execute a supply agreement covering distribution, but the doses are to be delivered throughout 2021, starting in February. "Today, we are proud to have this opportunity to provide doses that will support COVAX efforts toward vaccinating healthcare workers at high risk of exposure in developing countries and other vulnerable populations," Pfizer Chief Executive Officer Albert Bourla said. Dr. Seth Berkley, CEO of GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance, which is leading procurement and delivery of vaccines for COVAX, called the deal "a major step forward for equitable access to vaccines." Pfizer and BioNTech said they would also help health systems handle the vaccine, which requires ultracold storage. Many public health officials have expressed skepticism that the Pfizer vaccine could be successfully kept so cold across the globe. Pfizer has been shipping the shots in special containers with dry ice, but even in the U.S. some doses have been thrown out because they weren't kept at the proper temperature. Pfizer has said it's been ramping up production and expects to be able to make 2 billion doses in 2021, up from its earlier forecast of 1.3 billion doses. That long-term goal comes with a short-term cost: The company is slowing production at its Belgium factory while it makes changes needed to boost production. Explore further Covax: the global plan to share Covid vaccines 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Burkina Fasos re-elected President Roch Kabore has appointed a minister for national reconciliation as part of a vow to end the countrys ethnic and political conflicts that are fueling terrorism. But it's hard to resolve deep-rooted tensions over land and power between the ruling Mossi and Fulani. As Britain's Glastonbury festival cancels for the second consecutive year because of the coronavirus, uncertainly looms over European music festival calendar. LONDON Britains Glastonbury festival, one of the worlds most prominent pop music events, was canceled 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 Thursday. We are so sorry to let you all down. Glastonbury is Britains largest pop event, held each June at the Eavises farm in Pilton, southwest England. About 210,000 people were meant to attend this year, camping at the site for several days (the farms cows are moved off site for the event). The announcement came as coronavirus deaths were 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 in England. For weeks, Glastonburys organisers had been warning that the festival was at risk of cancellation because of uncertainties around the pandemic, with insurers unwilling to provide cover. In December, Emily Eavis did a string of interviews with British news organisations in which she asked the government to create its own insurance scheme to cover costs if a last-minute cancellation became necessary. What we definitely cant afford to risk is getting too far into the process of next year, only for it to be snatched away from us, she told the BBC. Oliver Dowden, Britains culture minister, said in a tweet Thursday that Glastonburys decision was understandable as bringing fans together in just a few months looks very difficult to make safe. The government was looking at problems around getting insurance, he added. This month, Austria launched an insurance scheme to cover events that cannot be rescheduled, including music festivals. Germanys finance ministry recently said it has plans to start covering cultural events, but Britain only has a similar scheme for film and TV shoots despite pressure from politicians and musicians. The decision to cancel Glastonbury again has caused concern across Europe, where music festivals have an almost mythical status. British politicians often like to be seen at Glastonbury, a sign of its importance in the cultural calendar. Its sent a very bad signal, Olivier Garnier, a spokesman for Hellfest, one of Frances largest events, said in a telephone interview. Hellfest hosts about 60,000 heavy metal fans each year and its 2021 iteration, scheduled for June, is already sold out. On Monday, Hellfest sent a three-page letter to Roselyne Bachelot, Frances culture minister, asking for certainty on whether the event can occur, and suggesting that the festival could test attendees for the virus upon arrival. On Tuesday, Bachelot dismissed the idea that testing would be enough to allow festivals to occur. Its fanciful, she told a French parliamentary committee, adding that festivals were an obvious potential site of transmission with people singing, drinking and dancing together. The picture is not entirely downbeat across the continent. In Denmark, festivals are preparing to go ahead, said Esben Marcher of Dansk Live, a body that represents festival organisers, in a telephone interview. Of course Glastonburys news is a big signal to the rest of Europe, he said, but my sense is that building its site is a much larger and longer process than for others. Glastonbury takes months to prepare its fields to stage the event, Marcher said. Danish events could be set up in a few weeks. In December, Roskilde, Denmarks biggest festival scheduled for June, announced rapper Kendrick Lamar as a headliner. Signe Lopdrup, Roskildes chief executive, said in an email that she was cautiously optimistic about it going ahead. Marcher said hed had good discussions with Denmarks culture ministry about how festivals can proceed and hoped for an insurance scheme similar to those in other countries. Festival organisers are also pushing for the creation of a digital passport that would allow people to attend events if they have been vaccinated, have COVID-19 antibodies or have tested negative for the virus within 72 hours of an event, he added. But Marcher said politicians had been reluctant to discuss that proposal at a time when Denmark is experiencing a surge in coronavirus cases. No one wants to talk about how to open up society, when were still closing it down, he added. Several other major European festivals, including Primavera Sound, held in Barcelona, said in emails they did not want to comment on Glastonburys move. On Thursday, organizers of Belgiums Dour festival scheduled to be headlined in July by ASAP Rocky said in an email they were surprised by Glastonbury, but stay confident about their festival. Even if some European festivals do go ahead this year, and get government support, it is too late for Glastonbury. The festival will have to take an enforced fallow year, the Eavises said in their statement. The main sounds on their farm this June will have to come from the cows. Constant Meheut contributed reporting. Alex Marshall c.2021 The New York Times Company Feature image courtesy Wikimedia Commons/Edwardx An inquiry into former Australia Post boss Christine Holgates corporate credit card spending while in charge of the organisation has found several other purchases inconsistent with public expectation and company policy. Ms Holgate resigned in October last year following her admission to a Senate estimates hearing that she gave luxury watches worth almost $20,000 as gifts to four employees in 2018 for landing a major deal with three of the big banks. Australia Posts Christine Holgate. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen The revelations were seized upon by Prime Minister Scott Morrison who said in a fiery speech to the Parliament that he was appalled and shocked by the gifts. The government subsequently commissioned the Finance and Communications departments to lead a four-week inquiry into the purchases, assisted by Maddocks law firm. President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi inspected morning line-up and training exercises for students at the Police Academy during a dawn tour of the facilities. The president was briefed on the training systems designed for the students at the academy, as per the world's most advanced training programs, Presidential Spokesperson Bassam Rady said in a statement. El-Sisi inspected various training fields at the academy, Rady added. The president was accompanied on the tour by Minister of Interior Mahmoud Tawfik. El-Sisi also inspected the academy's Tactical Village, where students receive training in raids against extremists and criminals' hideouts. "The Tactical Village is the most advanced of its kind at police academies regionlly and worldwide," the statement added. "The president reviewed horsemanship queue aiming to boost the students' skills in this time-honoured sport as part of the interior ministry's keeness to maximise its integrated capabilities in such field [through] establishing veterinary quarantine units, a veterinary hospital, and an equestrian club in accordance with the latest international levels," the statement added. El-Sisi also spoke to a number of cadets at the academy, wishing them success in their new life. See full gallery at Ahram Online Facebook page Short link: Brazil's former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva arrives to meet with the Workers Party National Executive Committee to discuss the political situation after President Dilma Rousseff was removed from office, in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on Sept. 2, 2016. (Andre Penner/AP Photo) Brazils Lula Had COVID-19 While in Cuba for Oliver Stone Film BRASILIABrazils former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva disclosed on Thursday that he tested positive for the coronavirus weeks ago on a trip to Cuba for a documentary directed by American filmmaker Oliver Stone. Lula, 75, did not need to be hospitalized in Havana after scans showed he had lung lesions associated with COVID-19 and his recovery was excellent, said a statement from his office. All but one of his 10-member party tested positive and remained in quarantine in Cuba, and only one of them spent two weeks in hospital with serious symptoms from the virus. The filming of the Stone documentary was suspended because of Lulas illness and postponed until a future date. Lula tested negative before flying to Cuba on Dec. 21 and then positive five days later in Havana in tests that showed that he was infected before arriving on the island. Lula, who returned to Brazil on Wednesday, thanked Cubas government and its public health system for the daily care he received. We will never forget Cuban solidarity and the commitment to science of Cubas professionals, he said, as he criticized Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro for the irresponsibility of his handling of the pandemic. Bolsonaro has played down the severity of the virus, despite Brazil having one of the worst outbreaks. At the end of his stay in Havana, Lula met Cuban Communist Party leader Raul Castro and President Miguel Diaz-Canel, the statement said. Robert Kocharyan on years of his leadership in Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia Situation on Armenian-Azerbaijani border is still tense, more on COVID-19 in Armenia, May 28 digest "Armenia" alliance of political parties paying tribute to founder of First Republic Aram Manukyan (LIVE) Yerevan.today: Armenia acting PM not greeted at ruling party's headquarters, citizens call him 'capitulator' Russia MOD reports on maintenance of ceasefire regime in Nagorno-Karabakh Armenia acting MOD meets with Russian counterpart in Moscow Armenia 2nd President: I see possibility of restoring borders of Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast We can provide our army with some key, modernized weapons, says Armenia ex-President Kocharyan Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: Captives issue is not one that any opposition force can resolve OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs release statement on detention of 6 Armenian servicemen by Azerbaijan Armenian acting Deputy PM: Discussion on issues possible only after withdrawal of Azeri troops from Armenia's territory Armenia acting PM on Syunik roads, Russian military posts: This is only place where there are working nuances Armenia acting PM: Process of return of POWs will intensify after upcoming elections Putin congratulates Aliyev on Republic Day 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 Prime Minister Scott Morrison has moved to quell the condemnation of his comments about the conditions faced by Australias European settlers, saying there were never meant to be a competing narrative with the hardship encountered by Indigenous Australians. Labor and the Greens slammed his comments on Thursday after Mr Morrison said the circumstances of settlement in 1788 had been difficult for both Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians. Prime Minister Scott Morrison says Australia Day is an occasion to mark the 25 million stories of people across the nation. Credit:Lukas Coch AAP Former Australians of the Year Michael Dodson and Cathy Freeman also took aim at Mr Morrison, with the former calling his comments about Australia Day selfish, saying he was very lightweight when it comes to understanding Australian history. Mr Morrison said on Friday it was false to say he had compared the circumstances when he said January 26 wasnt a particularly flash day for the people on those vessels either. AM Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating of B- (Fair) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of "bb-" of Rosgosstrakh Insurance Company, OJSC (RGS) (Russia). The outlook of these Credit Ratings (ratings) is stable. Concurrently, AM Best has withdrawn the ratings as the company has requested to no longer participate in AM Best's interactive rating process. The ratings reflect RGS's balance sheet strength, which AM Best categorises as adequate, as well as its marginal operating performance, neutral business profile and marginal enterprise risk management (ERM). AM Best expects RGS's risk-adjusted capitalisation to be at the strongest level at year-end 2020, as measured by the Best's Capital Adequacy Ratio (BCAR). However, AM Best expects the company's prospective risk-adjusted capitalisation to deteriorate due to its ambitious premium growth plans and the payment of dividends in the medium term. The balance sheet strength assessment also reflects the insurer's conservative investment portfolio, which improved significantly in terms of credit quality, diversification and exposure to affiliated holdings after RGS's ownership was transferred to Bank Otkritie Financial Corporation PJSC. Nonetheless, RGS's balance sheet is exposed to the high financial system risk in Russia and the limited availability of high-quality securities. The company's financial flexibility is adequate, supported by its association with The Central Bank of the Russian Federation (CBR). RGS has a track record of poor technical performance, driven by losses in the compulsory motor third-party liability (CMTPL) portfolio and demonstrated by a five-year (2015-2019) weighted average combined ratio of 118.2% (as calculated by AM Best). Underwriting performance improved between 2018 and 2020, helped by the remediation of the CMTPL portfolio and improved risk selection across the book initiated by the new management team. In addition, the performance of the motor portfolio in 2020 benefited from COVID-19-related travel restrictions, mainly in the second quarter. Whilst AM Best expects RGS's overall operating results to be positive going forward, there is potential for the motor loss ratio to deteriorate given the segment's intense competition, combined with the company's plans to grow ahead of the market. RGS is one of Russia's leading insurers, with a strong market position in personal lines that benefits from an extensive distribution network and a well-recognised brand. In 2017, RGS received a capital injection of approximately USD 2 billion from the CBR, which became its controlling party. The company plans to grow strongly in the motor segment and to expand its life book of business. In AM Best's opinion, the successful implementation of the company's strategy is subject to execution risk. AM Best considers RGS's ERM as marginal, with new organisational structures and frameworks being developed in order to improve governance and risk culture. 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 specialising 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/20210122005395/en/ Contacts: Todor Kitin Financial Analyst +44 20 7397 0335 todor.kitin@ambest.com Valeria Ermakova Associate Director, Analytics +44 20 7397 0269 valeria.ermakova@ambest.com Christopher Sharkey Manager, Public Relations +1 908 439 2200, ext. 5159 christopher.sharkey@ambest.com Jim Peavy Director, Communications +1 908 439 2200, ext. 5644 james.peavy@ambest.com The Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF, Russia's sovereign wealth fund) has announced the UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP) has authorised the use of Russian Sputnik V vaccine in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic. The vaccine was registered under the emergency use authorisation 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 authorisation 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 authorisation. 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 1.5 million 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. - TradeArabia News Service Sorry! This content is not available in your region The popular automated transcription service Otter.ai can now transcribe Meet calls in real time with a new Chrome extension. "The Otter.ai Chrome Extension lets you transcribe and caption Meet in real time, and save audio transcripts to your Otter account," the company described in a new update. Otter.ai said the Chrome extension works with all its plans, including the free version. Otter.ai also has integration with Zoom video calls. But to use Otter's integrated live transcriptions in Zoom, you'll need to be on a paid Otter and Zoom plan. To use Otter in Meet, start Google Meet in your browser and then click on the Otter.ai Chrome Extension icon to open the extension. Sign up or log in. Then click on the Record button, then the CC button to open live captions. "Click the || button to pause, then either select Resume Recording or Stop Recording. The audio transcript is automatically saved in your Otter account," the company said. Otter.ai offers automatic live transcription and note-taking experience for virtual and in-person meetings. It is now available in English across Web, iOS, Android, Zoom, and Google Meet. --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.) Thank you for reading! Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. If you have a subscription, please log in or sign up for an account on our website to continue. [January 22, 2021] Rellevate and Richard Petty Announce the Richard Petty Icon Gift and Reward Cards Rellevate, Inc., a fintech company dedicated to empowering consumers through leading-edge financial and payment services, announced today a multi-year licensing and distribution agreement with Richard Petty. The partnership will allow fans to buy gift and reward cards depicting Richard Petty, "The King," an American icon. Petty is the winningest driver in the history of the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR). This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210122005005/en/ Richard Petty Icon Gift and Reward Card (Photo: Business Wire) "We look forward to bringing the Richard Petty Icon Gift and Reward Cards to fans by providing a mechanism for corporations to reward employee performance and build consumer promotions," Jim Hannigan, vice president of licensing for Richard Petty Motorsports, said. "We will contribute a portion from each purchase to Victory Junction." "Every day, Victory Junction provides camp experiences for children with serious illnesses and chronic medical conditions," Chad A. Coltrane, president & CEO of Victory Junction, said. "We appreciate the support that the partnership between Rellevate and Richard Petty will provide for our Victory Junction kids and families." "Rellevate is excited for the partnership with Petty, and in presenting the Richard Petty Icon Gift and Reward Cards to fans across the country. More importantly, we will be supporting Victory Junction," Stewart A. Stockdale, co-founder, chairman and CEO of Rellevate, said. "The Rellevate management team has extensive experience in groundbreaking gift and reward card programs, including successful licensed products which have built the world's largest Visa gift card program. Petty's extenive and loyal fan base combined with Rellevate's expertise will be the catalyst for a winning performance." The Richard Petty Icon Gift Card will launch in January, in time for the DAYTONA 500 at the Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway in February. Cards will be sold directly to consumers and to corporations for employees and consumer promotions. Soon to follow, the Richard Petty Icon Reward Card will be offered through Rellevate's network of employers as well as corporations closely aligned with motorsports. Rellevate Visa Gift Card is issued by Sutton Bank, Member FDIC, pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. About Rellevate Rellevate, Inc. is a digital fintech company dedicated to empowering consumers through innovative financial and payment services that allow them to access, move and use their money anytime, anywhere. The company's suite of financial services, offered primarily via employers, include the Pay Any-Day Product, a Digital Account with a Visa Debit Card, Pay Any-Day, Online Bill Pay, and Money Send, and also Gift and Reward Cards. For more information on Rellevate and for Companies interested in offering Rellevate's digital financial services to their employees, visit www.rellevate.com or contact Rellevate at info@rellevate.com. About Richard Petty Motorsports A performance and marketing driven company, Richard Petty Motorsports (RPM), co-owned by NASCAR Hall of Famer Richard Petty and successful business entrepreneur Andrew Murstein, is one of the most recognized brands in all of motorsports. RPM is the winningest team in NASCAR Cup Series history with 273 wins and has business partnerships with national and global leaders. Today the race operation fields the famed No. 43 in the NASCAR Cup Series with driver Erik Jones. The team is headquartered in Welcome, N.C. For additional information, news and the latest updates, please visit www.richardpettymotorsports.com or connect with RPM on Facebook (News - Alert) (Richard Petty Motorsports), Twitter (@RPMotorsports) or Instagram (@richardpettymotorsports). About Victory Junction Victory Junction is a year-round camping facility for children with serious illnesses and chronic medical conditions. Co-founded by Kyle Petty and his family in honor of their son Adam, Victory Junction provides life-changing camping experiences that are exciting, fun and empowering, in a medically-safe environment, always free of charge. In addition to traditional camp sessions, Victory Junction's REACH program takes camp experiences to children and their families at hospitals and in Ronald McDonald Houses throughout North and South Carolina. Since opening in 2004, Victory Junction has delivered more than 60,000 camp experiences and has served children from all fifty states and Puerto Rico, as well as four countries. Victory Junction is a member of the SeriousFun Children's Network of Camps founded by Paul Newman, and is accredited by the American Camping Association. To learn more, please visit victoryjunction.org. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210122005005/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. POTTSVILLE The Schuylkill County Coroners Office is seeking help from the public in finding the next of kin of a deceased man. Deputy Coroner Albert Barnes said Richard Hosler, 75, died on Saturday at 315 Ridgeview Terrace in Coaldale. The coroners office asks that anyone with information on Hoslers next of kin is asked to call the Schuylkill County Coroners Office at 570-277-0200 between the hours of 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. For weeks, Britain has reported alarming coronavirus death numbers, hospitals have continued to fill up, and fears have risen that it will take months to control the spread of a more transmissible variant first detected in the Kent region of England last year. On Friday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said at a news conference the new variant may also be associated with a slightly higher chance of death, even as he acknowledged it was too soon to be sure, and his own scientific advisers urged restraint in interpreting preliminary evidence. Patrick Vallance, the governments chief scientific adviser, said that the data indicating an increase in the risk of death in those infected with the new variant are preliminary and based on small numbers. The absolute risk of dying from Covid-19 still remains low. That evidence is not yet strong, its a series of different bits of information that come together to support that, Mr. Vallance said. President Joe Biden may not be too keen to immediately pursue the India -US mini-trade deal that was under negotiation, choosing instead to focus on chalking out a China strategy and restoring US credibility in multilateral forums, including the World Trade Organization. We will pursue the pending mini-trade deal with the Biden administration. However, we are not sure how interested the new administration will be in the deal," a government official said under condition of anonymity. While India was keen that the Trump administration sign the dealeven after the US elections were announcedthe latter apparently did not show interest. Biden has signalled that signing free trade agreements is not his immediate priority. In an interview with New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman last month, Biden said: I am not going to enter any new trade agreement with anybody until we have made major investments here at home and in our workers." At the same, in his inaugural address on Wednesday, he pledged to engage with the world once again." The mini-trade deal was expected to cover tariff-related concessions for US farm produce, especially dairy items, pricing of pharmaceutical products such as stents and knee implants, and information and communication technology products. In return, Washington was expected to restore benefits accorded to Indian exporters under the Generalised System of Preferences (GSP). Both sides were also supposed to remove the tit-for-tat tariff hikes after the US raised steel and aluminium tariffs. India also hopes to negotiate a free trade agreement with the US in coming days but a lot will also depend on the stand taken by the new US Trade Representative (USTR) Katherine Tai. In her maiden speech after being selected for the post, Tai said, earlier this month, that the administration will pursue a worker-centered trade policy", a position that looks close to former President Donald Trumps America First approach. What it means in practice is that US trade policy must benefit regular Americans, communities and workers. And that starts with recognizing that people are not just consumers. They are also workers and wage earners," she added. Biswajit Dhar, professor of economics at Jawaharlal Nehru University said he does not see major changes in the US trade policy toward India in the near term. The mini-trade deal was actually Indias wish list. The US was cold-shouldering us in any case. It will be more of business as usual between the two sides. Going back on Trumps America First line will not be easy for Biden. If we think restoration of GSP and withdrawal of aluminium and steel tariffs will happen immediately, it is unlikely," he added. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. 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 action against him and a co-defendant in the High Court in Dublin. A second, smaller claim - also a personal injuries action - has been lodged by the woman's mother. The nature of the allegations made in the lawsuits cannot be disclosed for legal reasons. Excited McGregor was asked about the lawsuits during a UFC press conference. "It's old news, it was investigated thoroughly over the course of two long years and I was cleared of any wrong- doing, and that's it," he said. "I have so much positivity in my life, I have got a great challenge ahead of me on Saturday night and I'm very excited to get in there." The matter was previously the subject of an extensive garda investigation. However, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution decided no charges should be brought. In a statement to the Herald earlier this week, McGregor's 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 categor- ically 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." McGregor will return to the octagon in Abu Dhabi this weekend. President Donald Trump issued a proclamation on freedom of religion just days before leaving office. Trump declared Jan. 16 as this year's Religious Freedom Day, reaffirming America's commitment to religious freedom. In his declaration on Jan. 15, Trump encouraged the nations to "stop persecuting people of faith" and called on the American people to value the "fundamental human right of religious freedom," The Christian Post reported. "When the pilgrims first crossed the Atlantic Ocean more than 400 years ago in pursuit of religious freedom, their dedication to this first freedom shaped the character and purpose of our nation. Later, with the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights, their deep desire to practice their religion unfettered from government intrusion was realized. Since then, the United States has set an example for the world in permitting believers to live out their faith in freedom", the statement said. Trump mentioned his administration's efforts to support freedom of religion adding that they have ended the policies of "denying access to educational funding to historically black colleges and universities because of their religious character and of denying loan forgiveness to those who perform public services at religious organizations." He said that they have also acted to cut red tape ensuring that churches and other religious organizations could receive Paycheck Protection Program loans utilizing the same requirements "as any other entity." In addition, he said that they have protected "faith communities against overreach by state and local governments that have tried to shut down communal worship." The statement also stated that they have honored the sanctity of human life, protected the rights of citizens to follow their conscience and "preserved historical tradition of religious freedom in our country." Trump also mentioned that they have worked "to hold foreign governments accountable for trampling - in many cases, egregiously so - on religious liberty." He concluded his proclamation by encouraging the people to celebrate the day with activities that show their "shared heritage of religious liberty" and that taught them to protect this freedom, which he describes as a blessing, both in the country and the world. According to Christian Headlines, Joe Biden also released his statement the next day, praising the country's stand on freedom of religion and vowed to "be vigilant against the rising tide of targeted violence and hate at home and abroad, and work to ensure that no one feels afraid to attend a religious service, school, or community center, or walk down the street wearing the symbols of their faith." He added that ensuring religious freedom remains very relevant and that the government must defend "these bedrock protections - never favoring certain faiths or discriminating against particular religions, and never imposing religious tests for citizenship, public office, or entry into our country." First proclaimed in 1996, Religious Freedom Day is annually declared by the President of the United States. This commemorates the enactment of Thomas Jefferson's Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom in 1786. A forerunner of the first amendment protections for freedom of religion, the statute is a statement about the freedom of conscience and the principle of church and state separation, Virginia Museum of History & Culture defines. As Nepal has received a million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine from India, the Himalayan nation is set to start inoculation drive against the infection from next week. Nepal's Minister of Health and Population, Hridayesh Tripathi, on Thursday, announced the commencement of the vaccination drive from next week and requested India for continued support to deliver the adequate number of vaccines to inoculate 72 percent of the nearly 30 million population of Nepal. "We will start utilising vaccines within a week or ten days and we already have fixed the priority groups for inoculation," Tripathi said while addressing the ceremony of receiving the vaccines from India that landed in Kathmandu on Thursday. One million doses of Oxford/Astrazenca vaccine 'Covishield' produced by the Serum Institute of India (SII) landed in Nepali capital Kathmandu on Thursday afternoon. The vaccine that arrived in Nepal as grant assistance would be first administered to frontline workers. "We have estimated that we would be requiring at least four million additional vaccines. After the beginning of the inoculation drive, we will face a situation that demands delivery of vaccines before the vaccination campaign ends," Tripathi said. "This for now is a gift from India. Later on the basis of our needs and demands, we will advance forward with the purchase of vaccines. The vaccine procurement would be transparent for which we will require the continued support of Government of India and Indian Ambassador," he added. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday evening promised to continue to support Nepal in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. "Thank You PM @kpsharmaoli. India remains committed to assisting the people of Nepal in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic. The vaccines being made in India will also contribute to the global efforts to contain the pandemic," PM Modi replied to the tweet by Nepali caretaker Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli who thanked India for the generous grant of one million doses of COVID vaccine. Indian Ambassador to Nepal, Vinay Mohan Kwatra, in his speech, also assured that India would continue to work for the spirit of people first and Neighborhood first Policy. "One million doses of Indian Vaccine is also a testimony to what the Indian Prime Minister has repeatedly said that Indian capacity- capability in all areas of economic endeavour would always have in their mind, 'People first and Neighborhood First'. The One million doses of Indian manufactured COVID vaccine is a gift from people and Government of India to people and Government of Nepal," Ambassador Kwatra said. India, the world's largest vaccine producer as well as pharmacy of the world, has already started shipping out to its neighbours within a week of its national rollout. On Wednesday, India sent 150,000 doses of vaccines to Bhutan and 100,000 doses to the Maldives. "We prefer the Indian vaccine because it has been already rolled out in other neighbouring countries. Also, we have a proper system to store these vaccines," Director General of Department of Health Services, Nepal- Dipendra Raman Singh told ANI. Nepal earlier last week approved the emergency use of the SII produced Covishield marking it as the first vaccine to get approval in the Himalayan nation. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A Kilkenny-based team are educating children in faith throughout the country. Parishes from Donegal to Limerick and Kilkenny to Armagh and in between are signed up and using the MyFaith.ie parish-based programme of preparation for the Sacraments of First Holy Communion and Confirmation. The innovative programme not designed for, but certainly now suitable in Covid times is allowing children to continue to prepare remotely for the celebration of the Sacraments which all hope will take place later in the year. Schools and parishes are using the MyFaith.ie system to offer lots of faith content and helping to lead children on a journey of a deeper understanding of their beliefs. Launched by Archbishop elect Dermot Farrell earlier this year as Bishop of Ossory, the team behind this system consists of web developers, animators, qualified teachers, and a support staff all needed to bring together the MyFaith.ie programme of preparation. Under the leadership of Fr Dermot Ryan, who heads up Adult Faith Development for the Diocese of Ossory, this team have created a highly interactive programme for the children to engage with. Taught content for parents and children is reinforced in each module through many games and interactive challenges. Over the Christmas break the MyFaith.ie team monitored activity and observed an average of 500-600 logins each day, with the children often spending 30-40 mins engaging with the lessons as they logged in. INTERACTIVE Fr Dermot Ryan noted that this online and interactive programme walks children though the steps necessary to understand, appreciate, celebrate effectively, and then hopefully live the Sacraments in life. We introduce them to Ich Thus, a most important animated fish, who will guide those preparing for Communion and Confirmation often getting things wrong, but that is all part of the experience, said Fr Ryan. Early modules, already available take the children on a journey of discovery of Baptism, Knowing Jesus, Communion and Confirmation and the story of the birth of Jesus. New modules are released every two weeks allowing the children ample opportunity for learning as they continue to prepare to celebrate the Sacraments. A lot has changed in the world and in the life of parishes and church, but for people of faith the imperative for good sacramental preparation remains the same; it iswhen people prepare well for the Sacraments that they not only celebrate them well but also have the greater chance of living them too. The programme is now available to parishes at MyFaith.ie. Police cordon off an area around a residential neighborhood in Huangpu district of Shanghai, on Jan. 21, 2021. (STR/AFP via Getty Images) Shanghai Announces New CCP Virus Outbreak, Including Hospital Workers Chinas financial hub of Shanghai announced a new CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus outbreak on Jan. 21 that includes two hospital workers. While the two hospitals where the staffers work were temporarily closed, all city hospitals have been ordered to conduct nucleic acid tests for COVID-19 on all their employees. Meanwhile, the northern province of Shanxi announced a new outbreak in Jinzhong city. Local authorities indicated the patients there had recently visited Hebei Province, ground zero of Chinas latest virus resurgence. The northern regions of Heilongjiang, Jilin, Hebei, and Beijing continued to detect new infections. Shanghai Officials in Shanghai said that a staffer surnamed Li at the Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center tested had tested positive for COVID-19, as well as a staffer surnamed Zhou at the Renji Hospital. Lis female friend Tian also tested positive, as well as at least three more of Lis close contacts. At the two hospitals that were ordered closed, only patients currently at those facilities can continue to receive treatment, and no patients are allowed to be discharged. While all hospital staff members have been tested for COVID-19 at least once per month, those who care for COVID-19 patients must be tested weekly. Both staffers live in a residential compound on Zhaotong Road in Huangpu district, the busiest area of Shanghai. On Jan. 21, authorities locked down the neighborhood and relocated all residents to quarantine centers. The larger area where the compound is located has been designated as medium risk for contracting the virus. Residents of the area arent allowed to travel to other parts of the country. If they need to travel for an emergency, they must present a negative COVID-19 test result performed within the previous seven days. The local government didnt say how long the restrictions would last. People living in neighboring residential compounds also were ordered to take COVID-19 tests. Police and workers arrange buses to evacuate all residents from a neighborhood in Huangpu district to quarantine centers in Shanghai, on Jan. 21, 2021. (STF/AFP via Getty Images) Around China The northern Chinese province of Shanxi announced new infections in the municipalities of Jinzhong and Yuncheng. Authorities claimed that the outbreak in Jinzhong was imported by three residents who recently visited Shijiazhuang city in Hebei and were diagnosed with COVID-19 after arriving in Jinzhong. All residents in the village where the three COVID patients live have been under quarantine for about the past 10 days. State-run media Xinhua cited Chinese Vice Premier Sun Chunlan in a Jan. 19 report that claims the outbreak in Hebei was due to a religious gathering. She ordered Hebei officials to persuade people into changing their religious customs. While recent speculation on Chinese social media focused on claims that Catholic priests from Europe and the United States had brought the virus to Hebei, Shijiazhuangs ethnic and religious affairs bureau director Li Zhanling said at a Jan. 9 press conference that the outbreak had no connection to religious activity. City officials have blamed the outbreak on large-scale weddings and funerals where people stayed indoors in a tight space and ate shared dishes. Also on Jan. 21, Qingdao city in eastern Chinas Shandong Province announced new infections among people who recently traveled to Suihua city in northeastern Heilongjiang Province. The Qingdao government said it quarantined about 400 people who were identified as close contacts and planned to quarantine more. New Delhi, Jan 22 : The Supreme Court on Friday declined to entertain a plea by Vedanta seeking recall of its December 2 order, where it had declined to entertain an interim plea by the mining major to inspect and operate its Sterlite Copper unit in Tamil Nadu's Tuticorin. The Tamil Nadu government had filed a special leave petition (SLP) in the top court to expunge certain remarks in the Madras High Court order. Vedanta was on caveat in this matter. As a bench headed by Justice R. F. Nariman and comprising Justices Navin Sinha and K.M. Joseph admitted the state government SLP and tagged it with the main matter, Vedanta's counsel orally also requested to the bench to consider recalling its December 2 order. The bench orally declined to entertain this plea. Additionally, the counsel for the mining major also requested the top court for an early hearing on its appeal against the Madras High Court order, which declined to allow the reopening of its Tuticorin plant. The bench declined to entertain this plea too. On December 2, the Supreme Court had declined to entertain an interim plea by Vedanta Ltd seeking permission to inspect and operate Sterlite Copper unit at Tuticorin for four weeks to assess the pollution level. The plant was closed in May 2018. Senior advocate A.M. Singhvi, appearing for the company, had submitted that Vedanta is producing 36 per cent of the copper demand of the country and it is a case of mala fide closure of the plant. Vedanta sought handing over of the plant for three months, where two months would be needed to start the unit, and in order to find out whether the plant is polluting, the company should be allowed to run it for four weeks. The Tamil Nadu government objected to these submissions and submitted before the top court that the plant has been polluting consistently. But, Singhvi contended the court should allow the company to run the plant, which would help in ascertain whether the plant is polluting beyond the acceptable limit. Senior advocate Colin Gonsalves, representing some villagers in the vicinity of the plant, had submitted the unit should not be allowed to operate, as it is contaminating the water and people are suffering from diseases like cancer. After a detailed hearing in the matter, the bench in its order had said that "having heard Abhishek Manu Singhvi, C.S. Vaidyanathan, K.V. Viswanathan and Colin Gonsalves, all senior advocates, for some time, we are of the view that the relief(s) in this IA cannot be granted. Accordingly, this IA is dismissed." However, the top court said the main matter, the appeal against the High Court order, can come up for hearing after physical hearing resumes in the top court. Vedanta had moved the top court in August against the Madras High Court order declining to allow the reopening of the Tuticorin plant as it upheld the orders of Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB), which directed the closure of the plant in May 2018. Shivamogga, Jan 22(UNI) With two more labourers succumbing to their injuries, the toll in the Shivamogga stone mining quarry blast mounted to eight on Friday. The powerful blast was reportedly caused when a truckload of gelatin sticks went off at a stone crusher facility on the outskirts of the district last night. Several homes in Shivamogga city and rural areas were damaged in the incident. Two people have been detained and a high-level investigation ordered into the explosion, police said on Friday. The detained included a contractor of a stone crushing facility where the blast occurred, police added. Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa expressed grief over the loss of lives in the blast at the stone crusher facility at Hunasodu in Shivamogga, his home district. A high-level investigation into the accident has been ordered and stringent action would be taken against the guilty, he said. He said he had been in contact with senior officials since last night and dispatched teams to carry out rescue operations. 'My deepest condolences to the bereaved family members. I wish a speedy recovery to the injured," the Chief Minister tweeted. Meanwhile, the authorities have not ruled out the possibility of the death toll increasing. 'There are rumours that at least 10 to 15 people have died. Let the police complete their investigation," Shivamogga Deputy Commissioner K B Shivakumar tweeted. The sound of the blast, which was initially thought to be an earthquake, was heard in neighbouring Davangere, Chikkamagaluru and Uttara Kannada districts. In Shivamogga, the effect was severe as some houses developed cracks, roof tiles and window panes shattered into pieces. The toll later went up to eight, according to district officials.. Mines and Genealogy Minister Murgish Nirani said the injured have been admitted in a Shivamogga hospital . District in-charge minister k s Eshwarappa the exact cause of the explosion was being ascertained. He said expert are arriving to the spot and clarity will be known only after the test of samples. According to police, as many as 50 gelatin sticks exploded when a loaded lorry reaching the railway quarry suddenly blasted. The bodies have been mutilated beyond recognition. UNI BSP SB India strengthens cargo handling capacity of Chabahar Port in Iran India has supplied a consignment of two mobile harbour cranes (MHC) to Irans Chabahar port, with a total contract value of over $25 million under a contract agreement for supply of 6 MHC. The consignment of cranes arrived from Marghera port, Italy has been unloaded at at Chabahar port and is currently undergoing trial runs. With 140 metric tonnes lifting capacity, multipurpose equipment and accessories, Mobile Harbour Cranes (MHCs) will enable India Ports Global Limited (IPGL) to provide seamless services for container, bulk and general cargo at Shahid Beheshti Port of Chabahar. This is a step towards Indias commitment towards infrastructure development of Shahid Beheshti Port of Chabahar. India and the Islamic Republic of Iran signed the $85 million bilateral contract for equipping, mechanising and starting operations at Shahid Beheshti Port of Chabahar on 23 May 2016. To implement the contract an SPV called India Ports Global Limited (IPGL) Mumbai was incorporated under the ambit of the ministry of ports, sShipping and waterways. Chabahar Port is a strategic port with great national importance for India, minister of state for ports, shipping and waterways Mansukh Mandaviya said, adding that India is committed to achieving strategic connectivity of Chabahar port that will provide access to markets in Central Asia. Development of Chabahar port is the anchor for the expansion of economic and mutual relations between India and Iran and it will give a further boost to the maritime trade between both the countries. The location of Chabahar Port has strategic advantage and high potential to provide connectivity among India, Iran, Afghanistan, Uzbekistan and other CIS countries, especially Eastern CIS countries, to increase trade between these countries. The Nagol is Back! VTOs guide to this years Nagol, plus where to stay and play in south, central and north Pentecost. If you'd like to leave a comment (or a tip or a question) about this story with the editors, please email us We also welcome letters to the editor for publication; you can do that by filling out our letters form and submitting it to the newsroom. She took a break from filming Benjamin Millepied's new movie, Carmen, to enjoy a family day out at Sydney's Luna Park on Friday. And just hours later, Elsa Pataky returned home to Byron Bay on a private jet. Joined by her children, daughter India Rose, eight, and twin sons Tristan and Sasha, six, the 44-year-old donned a casual ensemble that revealed her enviable figure. Trim and terrific: Elsa Pataky (pictured), 44, revealed her enviable figure in a casual ensemble as she returned to Byron Bay on a private jet on Friday, after enjoying time at Sydney's Luna Park Elsa wore a white singlet that accentuated her lithe arms and slender waist, along with knitted beige shorts that highlighted her trim pins. The Spanish actress kept light on her feet in a pair of grey and leopard print sneakers, and styled her wavy blonde locks out underneath a trendy fedora hat. Elsa looked to have worn minimal makeup on the outing, allowing her natural beauty to shine through. Svelte: Elsa wore a white singlet that accentuated her lithe arms and slender waist, along with knitted beige shorts that highlighted her trim pins Details: The wife of Chris Hemsworth kept light on her feet in a pair of grey and leopard print sneakers, and styled her wavy blonde locks out underneath a trendy fedora hat Natural: Elsa looked to have worn minimal makeup on the outing, allowing her natural beauty to shine through The wife of Chris Hemsworth carried paperwork, her iPhone, a floral shawl and a suitcase, as she exited the aircraft in Byron Bay. Alongside Elsa was her adorable children who kept amused with their iPads. Shortly beforehand, the Fast Five star was pictured boarding a private jet after enjoying a family day out at Sydney's Luna Park. Essentials: The blonde beauty carried paperwork, her iPhone, a floral shawl and a suitcase, as she exited the aircraft in Byron Bay Quick trip: Shortly beforehand, Elsa was pictured boarding a private jet after enjoying a family day out at Sydney's Luna Park Latest work project: The sighting comes after she was spotted filming Benjamin Millepied's new film, Carmen, at Sydney's Maroubra Beach Yet to be announced: Her 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 After arriving at the park, Elsa looked every inch the doting mother as she went on a swing ride with one of her sons. She then hopped on a child-friendly roller coaster with her kids, before competing for prizes at the shooting and ring-toss stalls. The sighting comes after she was spotted filming Benjamin Millepied's new film, Carmen, at Sydney's Maroubra Beach. Her 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. Plot: 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 Location: While the original was set in Spain, this adaptation will follow a Mexican woman's search for freedom in Los Angeles Change of pace: The production, which was originally slated to take place in Mexico and LA, relocated to Australia due to the Covid-19 pandemic 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. Elsa married Chris 10 years ago, and the power couple reside with their three children in a $20million mansion in Byron Bay, on the New South Wales north coast. Breakout star: Carmen also features Normal People star Paul Mescal in the role of Aidan When Klancy Miller launched her fundraising campaign for For the Culture in December 2019, the food media world took notice. With the mission of "A magazine celebrating Black women and femmes in food and wine," it is believed to be the first of its kind dedicated to the task. Now, more than a year later, the inaugural issue has been printed and shipped to supporters - and is available for purchase online. "I'm feeling very excited. And, frankly, relieved," Miller says. "And a little bit protective." Both as a writer and consumer of food media, Miller, the magazine's editor in chief, noticed a lack of coverage of people of color in the mainstream for much of her career. And roughly four years ago, "Cherry Bombe asked me to guest edit an all-Black issue, which I found really intriguing," Miller says. She then entered the nascent stages of putting it together by approaching contributors to gauge interest. "I felt really stimulated," she says, but for various reasons, the project didn't come to fruition. A conversation with a friend planted the seed of her doing it independently, which she nursed for a few years until her desire to tell more Black women's stories, a change in work circumstances and reality nudged the idea forward. While Miller continued to contribute to a variety of publications over the years, she felt constrained by pressure to focus on stories that would have widespread significance. "But I'm also interested in people and people's stories that don't necessarily have to be of the moment or, quote-unquote, newsworthy," she says. Miller drew inspiration from the passing of one of her favorite writers, Toni Morrison, who said, " 'If there's a book that you want to read, but it hasn't been written yet, then you must write it.' For me, For the Culture is very much a magazine I would like to read," Miller says. Contemporaneously, a book proposal rejection freed up her schedule to take on such a monumental project, and the June 2019 death of beloved New Orleans chef and cookbook author Leah Chase "made this project feel more urgent." "I decided that I better do this, because if I don't do it, somebody else is going to," Miller says. She went on to speak with Lukas Volger of Jarry, Stephen Satterfield of Whetstone and Madison Trapkin of GRLSQUASH to glean advice on launching an independent food magazine. With nearly 700 backers through Indiegogo, more than 200 Patreon patrons, internet bake sales led by volunteer organizers Jenelle Kellam and Keia Mastrianni, and a handful of donations through Venmo, Miller raised enough funds to get the first issue off the ground with the aim of publishing it in the summer or fall of 2020. But then the pandemic hit. Facing the duality of the coronavirus and national racial unrest proved to be a stumbling block. "Trying to just, frankly, be present, work with and deal with anxiety and be productive was not always easy for me during this process," Miller says. And it wasn't just her. "Everybody was going through something." Nevertheless, she and her team persisted because the significance of the project required it. "For the culture" is a common phrase in African American Vernacular English, used to describe the reasoning behind an action that is meant to benefit (often Black) culture at large. "After Indigenous people on this land, Black people helped build the very foundation of this country, including our culture, including our culinary culture and Black women are very much a part of that," Miller says. "There is an African proverb, 'Until lions have their own historians, the history of the hunt will always glorify the hunter,' " says Toni Tipton-Martin, the editor in chief of America's Test Kitchen's Cook's Country and the first African American editor of a major American newspaper food section. "Similarly, Black women have been instrumental in creating American food, but our contributions have been minimized, misrepresented, or worse, we have been left out of the narrative. By expanding the story of Black cuisine and who gets to tell it, For the Culture has the potential to change that, securing our place in the written record." So, while the magazine does focus on Black women, by doing so it inherently tells an important part of everyone's story. "Initially, the theme for the first issue was going to be 'It's Personal,' because not being seen feels personal. To be seen is personal. One's relationship to food, drinks and hospitality and food media is personal," Miller writes in her letter from the editor. The pandemic broadened her focus. The result is 96 pages of essays and interviews (plus a few recipes) covering an array of topics broken into three sections related to before, during and after the pandemic (whenever that may be). "I hope people take away the richness of experiences of Black women and femmes in food and wine, and I hope they take away some really interesting stories," Miller says. These include Zella Palmer on the achievements of Black restaurateurs in New Orleans past and present, Monica O'Connell on the Black repast and grieving and Kyisha Davenport on why we should build Black cooperatives in food. "I think it is deeply inspiring and thought provoking, especially in this moment, when we're seeing the unsustainable side of the restaurant industry," Miller says of the latter. "I love the fact that she fully examines an alternative way of doing things." While Miller is taking some time to celebrate this accomplishment, she already has an eye toward the future. She hopes to build in more time for the editing process and to hire staff for the next issue. "I need more help to make this a smoother process and to make the product stronger," she says. But for that to happen, of course, she has to figure out funding, which is "on my mind every day." "I am really interested in the stories that we tell and how we tell them - and by 'we' I actually mean humanity - and how those narratives and visuals change depending upon who's shaping them," Miller says. On its own, For the Culture is worthy of admiration, but looking at the magazine within the broader context of food media's shifting landscape, an even better picture starts to take shape. With the recent appointments of Tipton-Martin at Cook's Country and Dawn Davis at Bon Appetit to lead large legacy organizations - along with the hiring of Nikita Richardson and Yewande Komolafe at the New York Times, and even my joining The Washington Post, to a certain extent - Black people are better positioned to direct the food narrative in this country. "I think it's really amazing. I think Black people should take up as much space as possible. Period. Full stop," Miller says. Osayi Endolyn, a James Beard Award-winning writer, takes the point further. "The qualifications of what it takes to lead a major food publication in the United States means that you need to have insights and access to many cultures that are not your own," she says. "And Black women, by and large, have always had that fluidity because of the cultural code switching that goes hand-in-hand with just living in this country." But Black people shouldn't have to code switch. "The potential of a Black-led publication about Black people is one that recognizes our full humanity and our full capabilities," Endolyn says. "It's a really exciting time, because with For the Culture, we're getting a small peek into what it could look like to have that happen." 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 South Florida lawyer who helped Republicans try to challenge the results of the presidential election in Georgia was among tens of thousands of Twitter users removed from the site in the aftermath of the riot in Washington after posting messages he said were given to him by one of former President Donald Trumps most controversial allies. Before he was banned this month, Carlos E. Silva whose Coral Gables firm, Silva & Silva, has represented clients in high-profile cases in Miami-Dade County said on Twitter that he was tweeting messages on behalf of L. Lin Wood, an Atlanta attorney who has promoted debunked allegations, including that voting machines used in U.S. elections were rigged in cooperation with late-Venezuelan strongman Hugo Chavez. Wood was suspended from Twitter following the Capitol insurrection and then permanently booted. Lin Wood asked me to post this: President Donald Trump is aware of the attempted coup. He is in control, Silva, 55, tweeted on Jan. 6 after alerting his followers that he would be sharing information from Wood. Remember there is only one president at a time. Trust him. God has a plan. A Twitter spokesman would not discuss specific tweets, but said Silvas @carlosesilva65 account was permanently suspended for violations of the Twitter Rules on ban evasion. The policy prohibits users from helping other suspended users get around their prohibition, among other things. Bans apply to the users behind the accounts. In an interview last week, Silva said he was indeed passing along messages from Wood. But he said Twitter shouldnt have cut off his access, and his removal is evidence of the sites censorship of Trumps supporters. They should be sued for what theyve done to conservatives, said Silva, who contributed at least $250,000 to Republican campaigns last year despite being a registered Democrat. Ive never posted any aggression to anybody. Silva, a licensed Florida attorney since 1994, did not respond to subsequent interview requests Tuesday and Wednesday for more information about his Twitter messages regarding Wood. The Miami Herald also called and texted Wood several times within the last week to ask about his relationship with Silva. Wood did not respond. Story continues Atlanta attorney Lin Wood, photographed at his office in February 2007. Before he was banned on Twitter, Wood wrote that Silva & Silva have worked long hours to help me over the last several weeks as he worked to help former President Donald Trump overturn the results of the 2020 election in Georgia. When Silva spoke to the Miami Herald last week, he downplayed his relationship with Wood. But the two crossed paths online and in court in the weeks that followed the 2020 election as Trump claimed to be the victim of elections fraud in key swing states that voted for now-President Joe Biden. In Georgia, where Wood sued unsuccessfully to overturn Bidens win in the state, Silva was part of a group of South Florida legal professionals who filed affidavits in support of Woods federal lawsuit after visiting elections offices in the Atlanta suburbs to observe what was effectively a hand recount of the presidential election. Silva and others swore to have witnessed what they believed to be evidence of fraud. Wood also praised Silva on Twitter in the weeks following the presidential election, calling him a truth-giver. And he thanked Silva for his dedication as Wood continued to argue that the election was stolen from Trump. I want ALL to know that Carlos Silva & members of his law firm, Silva & Silva in Coral Gables, FL have worked long hours to help me over the last several weeks, Wood posted on Dec. 11. Carlos & his team are American Patriots & quiet heroes for their efforts for freedom. A screen grab of a Dec. 11 Tweet praising Silva & Silva by Atlanta-based attorney L. Lin Wood captured by a Google cache link before his @llinwood account was permanently suspended. In the post, Wood urged people to follow Silva at @Carloss16204129, an account that doesnt currently exist. Silva responded to Woods post the same day from his @carlosesilva65 account and wrote that the greatest thing that all patriots can do at this time is collect any information on voter fraud and forward it to Mr. Wood #MAGA. The day before the riot at the Capitol, Silva also encouraged people on Twitter to visit a website that provided template letters to send to U.S. senators to encourage them to vote on Jan. 6 to de-certify the results of swing states that went for Biden. Allegations of widespread voter fraud have been repeatedly debunked in the weeks since Biden won the 2020 election. The state of Georgia confirmed Bidens victory by recounting all 5 million ballots cast in the election by hand. An audit of absentee ballot signatures in Fulton County ordered by Republican Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger in response to GOP accusations of mail ballot fraud found no evidence that any had occurred. Wood, a prominent attorney who represented Palm Beach billionaire Jeff Greene in his defamation case against the Miami Herald and Tampa Bay Times, was unsuccessful in two election-related lawsuits he filed as a plaintiff in Georgia federal court, one of which sought to halt the Jan. 5 U.S. Senate runoff contest ultimately won by two Democrats. When asked about his involvement with Woods lawsuit seeking to challenge the results of the presidential election in Georgia, Silva wouldnt discuss the details of what he saw in Georgia or his involvement in Woods case and said he distrusts the media. You wont see my signature anywhere. Thats all I can tell you. After that, I was in Georgia and I guess Lin Wood is known there, said Silva, who did not explain why Wood reached out to him following his removal from Twitter. A screen grab of a tweet by Carlos E. Silva captured by a Google cache link to his suspended @carlosesilva65 account. Before Twitter banned him, Silva tweeted that he was sharing messages on behalf of L. Lin Wood, a controversial Atlanta attorney who tried to overturn the results of the presidential election in Georgia. Silva, though, defended the statements he made in his Nov. 17 affidavit submitted on behalf of a motion by Wood to temporarily stop the state of Georgia from certifying its presidential election results, saying I would never file anything frivolous. And he told the Miami Herald that the media is lying about there being no evidence of election fraud. For the media to say theres no evidence is a pure lie. There are many affidavits. There are reports, experts, many things, videos put together, and no judge has looked at a single piece of evidence, said Silva, who began an interview by asking a reporter how he voted and whether he was a Democrat. Theres a lot of evidence. Silva said he traveled to Georgia in mid-November because he wanted to see if talk of election fraud was accurate. Biden had won the state by about 14,000 votes, and Raffensperger, the secretary of state, had ordered a hand recount of the entire presidential election in order to help address allegations of fraud and chicanery. The recount confirmed Bidens victory by a smaller margin of about 12,000 votes. Silvas suspicions about the election were shared by a number of Republicans and Trump voters around the country and in Miami-Dade County, where Trump successfully boosted his support in significant numbers. I wanted to see if it was true, Silva said, if an election can be stolen in this country. A Georgia Republican Party list of election observers in Henry County, south of Atlanta, included Silva, a paralegal at his firm and an attorney who listed the same address as Silva & Silva, among other South Florida legal professionals. Silvas affidavit didnt mention any visits to Henry County. But he swore under oath in the affidavit that he saw election workers in nearby DeKalb and Cobb counties count thousands of [mail] ballots that just had the perfect bubbled marked for Biden and no other markings in the rest of the ballot. Silva also swore that he saw Trump ballots placed into stacks of Biden votes and hostility toward Republican observers. Based on my observations, I have reached the conclusion that in the counties I have observed, there is widespread fraud favoring candidate Biden only, Silva wrote. Janine Eveler, Cobb Countys director of elections, dismissed Silvas allegations. All of his observations are skewed, conflated, or manipulated to match what he wanted to believe was going on, Eveler wrote after the Miami Herald emailed her a link to Silvas affidavit. If Im being generous, I could also say he just did not understand the process. A spokesman for Raffensperger wouldnt specifically address the allegations in Silvas affidavit but pointed to a letter the secretary of state sent to members of Congress seeking to debunk false allegations ahead of the Jan. 6 vote to certify the election. In the letter, Raffensperger noted that there were numerous reasons for the existence of pristine mail ballots lacking creases or evidence of wear and tear. The unstated implication of this allegation is that county elections officials are creating fake or invalid ballots and running them through scanners, wrote Raffensperger. There is absolutely no evidence this happened a single time in Georgia. In Georgias northern district, federal District Judge Steven Grimberg ultimately denied Woods motion for a temporary restraining order, an effort to stop the certification of the Nov. 3 vote. But Silva says he witnessed ballot tampering first-hand and doesnt understand why there isnt more of an effort to investigate. He also believes Twitter has over-stepped its bounds and is controlling free speech. This is horrific. This is terrifying, said Silva, who noted that his parents came to the U.S. from Cuba and said hes worried about the Democratic Partys leftward bent. And Ill try for the future of my children to keep fighting for freedom, the first amendment, and thats all I can tell you, buddy. Miami Herald staff writer David Ovalle contributed to this report. A man was on Thursday arrested by Kerala police for allegedly keeping his elderly parents locked in a room for weeks at their residence at Asambani in Mundakayam panchayat. The accused identified as Reji, who did odd jobs for a living, also did not provide proper food and medical aid to his frail parents. Rejis father Podiyan (80) died due to acute starvation on Tuesday, while his mother Ammini (76), who was found in a decrepit condition by some local health workers, is currently undergoing treatment at the Kottayam Medical College hospital and her condition is said to be stable. As per local media reports, preliminary findings of Podiyan's post-mortem examination suggested that he died due to malnutrition. The accused has been booked with Section 304A of the IPC (causing death by negligence) and 4(1) read with 24 of Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007, The Indian Express quoted an officer at the Mundakayam police station as saying. The officer further said that the accused will be produced before the local magistrate on Friday. However, it was yet not clear why Reji tortured his elderly parents. According to neighbours, the elderly couple was badly treated by Reji, who is an alcoholic. When they attempted to help them, Reji, who lived with his wife in an adjoining room in the house, would stops them. SINGAPORE, Jan 22, 2021 - (ACN Newswire) - Shareholders of Citicode Ltd. ("Citicode" or the "Company") today approved the reverse takeover ("RTO") of homegrown multi-disciplinary healthcare specialist Livingstone Health, marking the start of a new chapter of growth in Singapore and across the Asia Pacific region.At the extraordinary general meeting ("EGM"), shareholders of Citicode approved the RTO and the transfer of the Company's shares from the SGX Mainboard to the Catalist Board and change of corporate identity to Livingstone Health Holdings Limited ("Livingstone Health Holdings").Livingstone Health Holdings has 15 medical doctors practising at 12 medical clinics and one medical spa located at various Singapore locations. It offers tertiary healthcare services such as aesthetics and wellness, anaesthesiology and pain management, internal medicine, orthopaedic surgery, and primary healthcare service such as family medicine, as well as other paramedical products and services including physiotherapy. It has formed a joint venture in Cambodia to provide aesthetics and wellness services, and also offers healthcare design consultancy services.With a capital market platform, Livingstone Health Holdings plans to tap into the fast-growing healthcare sector by exploring other healthcare-related fields to complement its multi-disciplinary approach, and regional expansion via mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures and/or partnerships.The successful EGM capped a combined new chapter for both Citicode and Livingstone Health. Citicode, under the leadership of its Executive Chairman and CEO Mr Teh Wing Kwan, had been seeking to transform the former Advance SCT Limited by evaluating growth strategies that led to a partnership with the medical group to offer integrated healthcare and engineering services. The partnership, in turn, led Mr Teh to consider the RTO, before negotiations commenced in late 2019.Livingstone Health, previously known as Ardmore Medical Group Limited, had in 2019 withdrawn its proposal to list on the Catalist Board, citing developments related to its business operations at that time and changing market conditions. Under a new CEO, Dr Wilson Tay, it changed its name, increased specialisations and ventured into primary healthcare by acquiring a majority stake in homegrown family medicine service provider Phoenix Medical Group.The reverse acquisition of Livingstone Health will be satisfied by a base and deferred consideration of S$47.0 million and up to S$25.0 million, respectively, of which up to S$2.0 million and up to S$1.5 million, respectively, will be in cash. New shares will be issued at S$0.20 per Consolidated Share.The pro forma revenue and pro forma adjusted net profit after tax ("NPAT") of Livingstone Health were S$14.3 million and S$3.2 million, respectively, for FY2019. Unaudited revenue and net profit for the six months ended 30 June 2020 ("6M2020") were S$6.5 million and S$0.9 million, respectively.Prior to the RTO, Citicode shares will first be consolidated on a 500-to-one basis, reducing its issued share base to approximately 82.6 million new Consolidated Shares from approximately 41.3 billion shares. After the RTO, Citicode share base will immediately be enlarged to approximately 315.9 million and up to 433.4 million by FY2022 upon issuance of base consideration shares and deferred consideration shares, respectively.Voluntary trading suspension of Citicode shares is expected to start on 2 February 2021 to facilitate the expected completion of the RTO on 5 February 2021. Thereupon, the vendors comprising senior management and key doctors of Livingstone Health Holdings will be the new controlling shareholders of the Company.Dr Wilson Tay will serve as Executive Director and CEO of Livingstone Health Holdings, while Mr Teh Wing Kwan, Citicode's current Executive Chairman and CEO, will be redesignated as Non-Executive and Non-independent Chairman and will remain as a substantial shareholder. The board of directors of the Livingstone Health Holdings will also include the existing Independent and Non-Executive Directors Mr Fong Heng Boo and Mr Chan Yu Meng and the newly appointed Mr Lim Jun Xiong Steven. The continued appointments of the existing board further underscore their confidence in the RTO.Dr Tay said: "We thank Citicode's shareholders for supporting this transformation. The Livingstone Health team is excited by the growth opportunities. We are committed to delivering shareholder value through expansion in Singapore and the region, leveraging on our combination of primary and tertiary healthcare on a single platform which emphasises medical outcome and good governance."Mr Teh Wing Kwan said: "The successful EGM marks the beginning of a new chapter of growth as a fast-growing healthcare services company poised to capture new opportunities at home and abroad with its brand of integrated healthcare. I thank shareholders of Citicode for their support of this corporate transformation."SAC Capital Private Limited is the Financial Adviser in respect of the RTO and Sponsor of the Company upon the transfer to the Catalist Board.Trading of the Company's shares, post-consolidation, is expected to resume trading on 8 February 2021, 9:00 am.About Livingstone HealthLivingstone Health Ltd. ("Livingstone Health" and together with its subsidiaries, the "Group") is a Singapore-based multidisciplinary healthcare group whose core competencies include Aesthetics & Wellness, Anaesthesiology & Pain Management, Family Medicine, Internal Medicine and Orthopaedic Surgery.The name "Livingstone" is inspired by the succulent plant Lithops, also known as "living stones". They symbolise the Group's resilience, growth and determination to be recognised as a trusted integrated healthcare provider for patients, as well as a centre of excellence of growth opportunities for medical professionals.The Group has 15 medical doctors practising at 12 medical clinics and one medical spa located at convenient and accessible locations throughout Singapore. In addition, the Group has also ventured into other paramedical products and services, such as physiotherapy. It has a joint venture to provide aesthetics and wellness services in Cambodia and also offers healthcare design consultancy services. For more information, please visit: www.livingstonehealth.com.sgAbout Citicode Ltd. (SGX:5FH)Listed on the Mainboard of the Singapore Exchange since 2004, Citicode Ltd. is the result of the business transformation and corporate rebranding of the former Advance SCT Limited in 2018. Citicode reflects the reimagined corporate identity composed by the new Board and management team.Citicode has diversified into new business segments including M&E for mission critical functions, as well as civil and structural engineering for land transport infrastructure, with a view to form an ecosystem to support smart city applications while evaluating other strategic application plans.Media & Investor Contact InformationWeR1 Consultants Pte Ltd1 Raffles Place#02-01 One Raffles Place Mall Suite 332Singapore 048616Isaac Tang, livingstone@wer1.net (M: +65 9748 0688)Source: Citicode Ltd.Copyright 2021 ACN Newswire . All rights reserved. FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., Jan. 22, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Today's announcement of a 6.6 percent unemployment rate in Broward County for December 2020 adds impetus to a newly-announced initiative of Community Foundation of Broward -- a $1 million dollar BE BOLD Prize to get Broward County residents back to work within the next two years. The BE BOLD Prize encourages new ways of thinking that move beyond traditional workforce development programs and embrace an innovative idea and solution for transformative community impact. Nationally, the U.S. economy lost 140,000 jobs during the month of December, according to a recent federal jobs report. Based on data released by the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, Broward's unemployment rate stood at 6.6 percent in December 2020, with 60,100 fewer people working in private sector jobs in December 2020, compared to December 2019. Workers in leisure and hospitality have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic, with a loss of 23,400 jobs in Broward as of December 2020, compared to December of 2019. Unemployment among African-Americans in Broward has historically been higher than unemployment among the general population. "Our goal is to tackle COVID-19 job losses in Broward County and their amplified impact on communities of color," said Sheri Brown, Community Foundation of Broward Vice President of Community Impact. "We want to help affected Broward County residents to gain stable employment within the next two years." The $1 million BE BOLD Prize grant is open to nonprofit, government and for-profit entities. Collaboration among organizations is encouraged and employer involvement is a critical element. Preference will be given to organizations located in Broward County; organizations outside of Broward may also apply as long as they can demonstrate high-quality programs and direct impact on employment of Broward County residents. Community Foundation of Broward is hosting a BE BOLD Prize Zoom Information Session on Wednesday, Jan. 27, from 11 a.m. to Noon. Registration is required. Community Foundation of Broward has posted a BE BOLD Prize request for proposals with application details at https://www.cfbroward.org/articles/the-be-bold-prize-rfp-now-open. The RFP notes specific objectives, including employment for a significant portion of currently unemployed Broward residents, a focus on employment for people of color and creation of a unique or scalable idea which is sustainable beyond the 2-year time period of the grant. The challenge is to create new initiatives or scale up proven initiatives. Applications are due no later than Friday, April 9 at 11:59 p.m. with announcement of the winner by the end of May. For more information about the $1 million dollar BE BOLD Prize grant, please contact Sheri Brown, Vice President of Community Impact for Community Foundation of Broward at [email protected] or 954-761-9503. For more information about Community Foundation of Broward, please contact Kirk Englehardt, Vice President of Marketing and Communications at the Community Foundation at [email protected] or call 954-761-9503. About Community Foundation of Broward: Founded in 1984, Community Foundation of Broward (CFB) helps families, individuals, and corporations create personalized charitable Funds that deliver game-changing philanthropic impact. 473 charitable Funds represent more than $212 million in assets, distributing $119 million in grants over the past 35 years. CFB provides bold leadership on community solutions and fosters philanthropy that connects people who care with causes that matter which empowers visionaries, innovators and doers to create the change they want to see in the community and BE BOLD. www.cfbroward.org. SOURCE Community Foundation of Broward Related Links https://www.cfbroward.org Robert Kocharyan on years of his leadership in Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia Situation on Armenian-Azerbaijani border is still tense, more on COVID-19 in Armenia, May 28 digest "Armenia" alliance of political parties paying tribute to founder of First Republic Aram Manukyan (LIVE) Yerevan.today: Armenia acting PM not greeted at ruling party's headquarters, citizens call him 'capitulator' Russia MOD reports on maintenance of ceasefire regime in Nagorno-Karabakh Armenia acting MOD meets with Russian counterpart in Moscow Armenia 2nd President: I see possibility of restoring borders of Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast We can provide our army with some key, modernized weapons, says Armenia ex-President Kocharyan Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: Captives issue is not one that any opposition force can resolve OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs release statement on detention of 6 Armenian servicemen by Azerbaijan Armenian acting Deputy PM: Discussion on issues possible only after withdrawal of Azeri troops from Armenia's territory Armenia acting PM on Syunik roads, Russian military posts: This is only place where there are working nuances Armenia acting PM: Process of return of POWs will intensify after upcoming elections Putin congratulates Aliyev on Republic Day 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 SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Invitae Corporation (NYSE: NVTA) today announced the pricing of an underwritten public offering of 7,766,990 shares of its common stock at a price to the public of $51.50 per share. All of the shares are being sold by Invitae. The gross proceeds to Invitae from the offering, before deducting the underwriting discounts and commissions and other offering expenses, are expected to be approximately $400.0 million. The offering is expected to close on or about January 26, 2021, subject to customary closing conditions. In addition, Invitae has granted the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional 1,165,048 shares of its common stock at the public offering price, less underwriting discounts and commissions. Invitae currently intends to use the net proceeds from the offering for working capital and other general corporate purposes, including investing in its platform, oncology and reproductive product extensions and international expansion. Invitae may also use a portion of the net proceeds from this offering to acquire or invest in complementary businesses, assets or technologies, although it has no present commitments or agreements to do so. J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Morgan Stanley, Cowen and Company, LLC and SVB Leerink LLC are acting as the book-running managers for the offering. William Blair & Company, L.L.C. is acting as co-manager for the offering. An automatic shelf registration statement relating to the shares was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and became effective on March 4, 2019. A copy of the final prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus relating to the offering, when available, may be obtained from J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, c/o Broadridge Financial Solutions, 1155 Long Island Avenue, Edgewood, NY 11717, by telephone at (866) 803-9204, or by email at [email protected]; from Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, 180 Varick Street, 2nd Floor, New York, NY, 10014, Attention: Prospectus Department; from Cowen and Company, LLC, c/o Broadridge Financial Solutions, 1155 Long Island Avenue, Edgewood, NY 11717, Attn: Prospectus Department, by email at [email protected], or by telephone at (833) 297-2926; or from SVB Leerink LLC, One Federal Street, 37th Floor, Boston, MA 02110, Attention: Syndicate Department, by telephone at (800) 808-7535, ext. 6132, or by email at [email protected]. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy these securities, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction. About Invitae Corporation Invitae Corporation (NYSE: NVTA) is a leading medical genetics company whose mission is to bring comprehensive genetic information into mainstream medicine to improve healthcare for billions of people. Invitae's goal is to aggregate the world's genetic tests into a single service with higher quality, faster turnaround time, and lower prices. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements within the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements that relate to the timing and completion of the public offering, the expected closing of the offering, the anticipated use of the net proceeds from the offering and other information that is not historical information. Actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected or implied in these forward-looking statements. Factors that may cause such a difference include risks and uncertainties related to completion of the public offering on the anticipated terms or at all, market conditions and the satisfaction of customary closing conditions related to the public offering. More information about the risks and uncertainties faced by Invitae is contained in the section captioned "Risk factors" in the preliminary prospectus supplement related to the public offering filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Invitae disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Contact: Laura D'Angelo [email protected] (628) 213-3369 SOURCE Invitae Corporation Related Links www.invitae.com Spanish Model With Down Syndrome Shows There Are No Barriers If You Have a Dream One girl from Spain is proving that anyone can make their dreams come true, even people like her who were born with Down syndrome. Marian Avila has made a successful career as a model, despite how difficult it can be for people with Down syndrome to find a job. She is leveraging the media attention shes received to bring awareness to the chromosomal disorder and encourage people to pursue their dreams no matter what. As a child, Marian always dreamed of becoming a model. Not only was she born with Down syndrome, she is only 5-foot-3. Her height alone would normally have made it a struggle to attain such a dream. However, she was determined and completed a professional course at a modeling school in 2016. From there, she made her debut as a model at a Lina Lavin charity show in Madrid the same year. According to Bright Side, Marians biggest dream was to appear on the catwalk at one of the world-famous Fashion Weeks. To her utter delight, she didnt have to wait too long before that dream came true. I got a letter saying that designer Talisha White wanted me to walk as her celebrity model at New York Fashion Week on September 8, 2018, Marian shared on her website. Finally, finally! I couldnt stop crying from the emotion. I kept repeating, Its my dream, its my dream. She added, Every time I think about it a lump in my throat makes me want to cry, I am very excited. I am going to parade in New York, I have no words, I am going to fulfill my dream. I never thought that a girl, without knowing me, would believe in me, in my effort. She is my angel! Bright Side shared that Marian was able to show off several outfits on the runway during New York Fashion Week in 2018, with her family cheering from the sidelines. The truth is that it has been very exciting. I have no words. It was a dream, Marian said of the experience. Since then, her career has only escalated. She has appeared in publications such as The New York Times, Vanity Fair, and Vogue. Now, at 23, Marian is the official face of a new campaign by the jeans brand Levi. The model, who currently lives in Benidorm, Alicante, Spain, has garnered a social media following of over 39,500, who adore what she stands for. In comments on her posts, followers call Marian Preciosa and Bellissima. Marian uses her platform to bring awareness to Down syndrome and inspire others. In November 2020, she won a Quincy Jones Exceptional Advocacy Award in recognition of her efforts to champion those who are differently abled. I wanted to show the whole world that there are no barriers if you have a dream, Marian said. And indeed, she has. This story was last updated in January 2021. Share your stories with us at emg.inspired@epochtimes.com, and continue to get your daily dose of inspiration by signing up for the Epoch Inspired Newsletter here: TheEpochTimes.com/newsletter (JTA) Sheldon Adelson, the billionaire casino magnate whose philanthropy had an unparalleled influence on American and Israeli politics and Jewish causes, has died at 87. Adelson, the chief executive of the Las Vegas Sands Corporation, had an especially outsized influence in Las Vegas, the seat of his global gaming empire where many Jewish institutions are named after him and his wife, Miriam. Adelson was a megadonor who set records for his political giving to Republicans. In his final years, he was also a significant supporter of President Donald Trump. A newspaper he owns, the Las Veg... Milwaukee, WI (53187) Today Considerable cloudiness. Occasional rain showers this afternoon. High 47F. Winds NE at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 50%. Higher wind gusts possible.. Tonight Partly cloudy skies. Low near 35F. Winds NE at 10 to 20 mph. Advertisement Britons have raced to secure trips to popular spots like Costa Del Sol and Menorca in the hopes of reduced coronavirus restrictions by the summer, MailOnline can reveal. Reservations on rental cottages in the UK are 63 per cent higher than last year as others take the more cautious approach of planning a staycation amid tightening border restrictions in the UK. Airlines have been encouraging potential holidaymakers to book their summer getaways this month - despite Priti Patel yesterday saying it is too soon to tell what the restrictions will be in the warmer months. Last year restrictions were eased as cases fell when the mercury rose, but it is still unknown whether this year will follow a similar trajectory. At yesterday's coronavirus briefing, the Home Secretary said: 'It is is far too early in terms to speculate around restrictions, such as the point you just made should people be booking a holiday.' But one travel agency founder told MailOnline he has seen a 300 per cent increase in bookings this month compared to November. Tom Harding at Nemo said: 'These are split between staycations from March, European trips from around June and longer haul from September. 'In the last few days there's been a definite increase in inquiries and bookings but everyone needs really flexible terms so we're offering cancellation up to a month before.' Bathers enjoy the beach of La Malagueta, where Malaga and the province is in orange warning for high temperatures, on August 28, 2020. Airlines have been encouraging potential holidaymakers to book their summer getaways this month - despite Priti Patel yesterday saying it is too soon to tell what the restrictions will be in the warmer months Last year restrictions were eased as cases fell when the mercury rose, but it is still unknown whether this year will follow a similar trajectory. At yesterday's coronavirus briefing, the Home Secretary said: 'It is is far too early in terms to speculate around restrictions, such as the point you just made should people be booking a holiday' Potential holidaymakers said they were unsure whether their holidays could still go ahead, despite paying thousands to secure deals. One holidaymaker, Sara Tye, from Swindon, told MailOnline: 'I booked four weeks in Marbella in July until August. I moved the one last year to this year and am now worried I will be doing this again. I have worked a whole year with no break like many others and we have a holiday in New York in June which I reckon Ill be moving.' Despite the uncertainty, one recent EasyJet advertisement has encouraged Britons to book now to make the most of cheap prices. It said: 'You deserve something to look forward to... We've got high hopes for this summer we want as many of you as possible to get away on well-deserved getaways. Book now and save 50 per person on your next holiday.' The advertisement, sent to customers in the form of an email, reassured those worried about coronavirus uncertainty that the bookings were 'super flexible'. Heathrow airport have cancelled and stopped the use of the electronic passport gates. Instead they have made people who have travelled from multiple destinations queue in a system that doesn't allow for social distancing. Pictured, queues yesterday. Despite the uncertainty, one recent EasyJet advertisement encouraged Britons to book now A health worker vaccinating a nursing home worker in Mahon, Menorca, Balearic Islands, Spain, on December 30 last year A Facebook page called My Party Holiday is rife with young people posting about booking their summer holidays. A note on the page reads: 'My Party Holiday offer the ultimate party holiday package for summer 2021. My Party holiday have picked the most popular party resorts Ibiza - Magaluf - Zante - Ayia Napa and added the best events on the island with top quality accommodation' It added: 'Making travel plans should be exciting, not exhausting. Thats why easyJet holidays packages include flights, accommodation, 23kg of luggage per person and transfers on beach holidays. 'Our bookings are super flexible, too you can make changes until 28 days before your departure, and our best price guarantee means you'll get unbeatable value.' An EasyJet spokesman said: 'Vaccines are the key to unlocking travel and so with the promising progress with the roll out of the vaccine, we are looking forward to this enabling people to travel this summer. We know that our customers want to travel again and so we will be ready to ramp up and take people on a much-needed holiday as soon as we are able to.' A Facebook page called My Party Holiday is rife with young people posting about booking their summer holidays. A note on the page reads: 'My Party Holiday offer the ultimate party holiday package for summer 2021. My Party holiday have picked the most popular party resorts Ibiza - Magaluf - Zante - Ayia Napa and added the best events on the island with top quality accommodation. 'To top that off My Party Holiday have added celebrity reps who will be partying with you for the whole holiday making it the ultimate party holiday not to be missed. 500 boys and 500 girls on one BIG My Party Holiday.' A surfer makes their way into the sea off of Boscombe beach in Dorset before sunrise this morning. Provider Forest Holidays, which offers cottages and cabins in forests across the country, said it is currently 63 per cent ahead of where they would expect to be for bookings in 2021 Yesterday, 1,290 deaths were recorded from coronavirus in the UK - as it was revealed 37,892 people had tested positive with with disease in the last 24 hours. How would 'quarantine hotels' and GPS tracking work? Ministers are scrambling to upgrade the border quarantine system amid fears the rules are being flouted. Civil servants have been ordered to study the 'managed isolation' arrangements used by countries such as Australia, New Zealand and Singapore. Under those schemes, arrivals from abroad must stay in quarantine hotels for 14 days at their own expense. Passengers are transferred direct from airports to the hotels, and largely confined to their rooms - with the authorities monitoring to check no-one leaves. The systems have been credited with stopping Covid cases being imported. However, some airlines have stopped flying to Australia and New Zealand as the routes are not sustainable - with many citizens stranded abroad as a result. Officials have also looked at the arrangements in Poland, where isolating individuals face 'enhanced monitoring'. That includes being contacted once a day and made to send a picture of themselves at the location where they are meant to be quarantining. The pictures are validated using facial-recognition technology and GPS data. However, the option is thought to have been rejected as too intrusive and difficult to implement on scale. Advertisement Yet Awaze, which owns two of the UKs biggest holiday cottage booking sites Hoseasons and Cottages.com, told Which? that bookings are up 52 per cent for Whitsun week compared to the same time last year. Provider Forest Holidays, which offers cottages and cabins in forests across the country, also said it is currently 63 per cent ahead of where they would expect to be for bookings in 2021. Rebecca Berzins, a travel counsellor, told potential holidaymakers 'now is the time to be booking your 2021 summer holiday' in a Facebook post. She wrote: 'Prices are low at the moment with lots of free kids places available and early booking offers to be had. Yesterday I booked a young family holiday to the Zafiro Hotel in Menorca for travel in August. 'All holidays are ATOL protected and secured with a low deposit. I know we're all hoping Covid restrictions will be eased by the summer but you can book now with peace of mind knowing that if they're not you'll have me at the end of the phone to take care of things. 'If government restrictions mean that you cannot travel then you'll get your money back. So what are you waiting for? Book now and give yourself something to look forward to.' It comes as it was today claimed ministers are in talks with hotel chains over plans to force UK arrivals to quarantine at airports. Travellers could be prevented from using their own accommodation under the proposals being put together by the government. Using GPS tags to ensure compliance is also believed to have been considered. The draconian 'quarantine hotel' system, similar to that used in Australia and New Zealand, is a prospect amid rising fears about the spread of Covid variants around the globe. Arrivals would potentially have to pay for their stays while they self-isolate for 10 days, or even a fortnight. There are reports today that negotiations are already taking place with hotel chains, while London Mayor Sadiq Khan said he was in favour. The powerful Covid O Cabinet sub-committee is due to discuss the ideas over the coming days - although a final decision is not likely until next week. Meanwhile, Environment Secretary George has refused to rule out even more drastic action, with foreigners barred from coming to the UK altogether. Asked about the possibility, Mr Eustice told Sky News: 'We always keep these things under review. And it has been considered. Huge queues prompted anger from passengers and questions over the number of staff at work. Britain's airports are already struggling to cope with demand, with passengers queuing for hours yesterday to get through passport control at Heathrow as the border situation worsened 'There is concern at the moment about the number of mutant strains.' Any new restrictions would be a further blow to the beleaguered travel industry and put the holiday plans of millions at risk. Britain's airports are already struggling to cope with demand, with passengers queuing for hours yesterday 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 Cabinet's Covid operations committee will thrash out how to tighten border controls. Passengers are pictured queuing at Heathrow Airport on Thursday Options on the table include imposing the 'quarantine hotels' for all arrivals, or for 'high risk' countries. The 'test and release' scheme, under which people can cut their isolation to five days by having a second test, could also be suspended. But 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.' Marriott today denied that was in talks with the government about using its hotels for quarantine. World Health Organisation Health systems development consultant Alvaro Garbayo was so infuriated with the chaos at Heathrow 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. '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.' .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... Venue Plus continues In Case You Didnt Know, a weekly feature with fun tidbits about New Mexicans and their projects. Adam Jones has a way with words. Whether its writing scripts or a novel, its a process that is comfortable to him. Jones released his first historical novel, The Vendetta of Felipe Espinosa, in 2014. ADVERTISEMENTSkip ................................................................ The New Mexico resident has been working on his latest, Prisoners Cinema, for am couple years. It will be released on April 22 by Black Rose Writing. This is another novel based on a true story, Jones says. Prisoners Cinema is based on a case in 1998 in which some men stole a water truck in southwestern Colorado. Jones says the men were going to blow something up. There was speculation that it was going to be the Glen Canyon Dam, he says. Around the Moab area, they were pulled over. Right away, they opened fire. There was a big gunfight with police, and miraculously, these guys disappeared into the desert. Years later, their skeletons were found. Its a really big mystery. Jones took the premise of the true crime and added a New Mexican twist to it. Theres a heavy supernatural presence to it, he says. Its Ruby Ridge meets The Shining. The title of the novel came from real life events, Jones says. Prisoners cinema is the phenomenon of a light show of various colors that appear out of the darkness. The phenomenon is reported by prisoners confined to dark cells and by others kept in darkness, voluntarily or not, for long periods of time. It has also been reported by truck drivers, pilots and practitioners of intense meditation. Astronauts and other individuals who have been exposed to certain types of radiation have reported witnessing similar phenomena. Jones set out to write something easier than his first book and quickly found it required a lot of research. As he was writing, he switched publishers, which pushed the book release back. My first publisher pulled the plug on it in the 25th hour, he says. In the end, it was a blessing in disguise. I reread it and realized it wasnt ready to be out in the world. I hired a freelance editor and rewrote it on his edits. I was able to sell the book to another publisher. Here are five things you probably didnt know about Jones: 1 Im an author by night, 21st Century Public Academy seventh-grade English teacher by day. 2 Im an avid fly-fisherman and board member of Trout Unlimiteds Bosque Chapter. 3 In 2014, I ran in the 34-mile horse race Dash for Cash around Red Mesa, Arizona. 4 Im a rare book collector, especially of classic Westerns and horror. 5 Im originally from South Park, Colorado. The eleventh round of talks between protesting farmer unions and three central ministers got underway here on Friday to break the nearly two-month-long deadlock on the three new agri laws. In the last round of meeting held on Wednesday, the government yielded some ground in its bid to end the farmers' protest on various border points of the capital. The Centre had offered to put on hold the three laws for 12-18 months and also set up a joint committee to find solutions. However, the farmer unions on Thursday rejected the government's offer and remained stuck to their two major demand -- repeal of three farm laws and legal guarantee of the minimum support price (MSP). Farmers group said they will continue protest and also hold tractor rally on January 26, the Republic Day. Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar, Railways, Commerce and Food Minister Piyush Goyal and Minister of State for Commerce Som Parkash are holding the talks with the representatives of 41 farmer unions at the Vigyan Bhawan here. "In a full general body meeting of the Samyukt Kisan Morcha..., the proposal put forth by the government...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," Samkyukt Kisan Morcha, an umbrella body of protesting unions, had said in a statement on Thursday. 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. On January 11, the Supreme Court had stayed the implementation of the three laws till further orders and appointed a four-member panel to resolve the impasse. Bhartiya Kisan Union president Bhupinder Singh Mann had recused himself from the committee appointed by the apex court. Shetkari Sanghatana (Maharashtra) president Anil Ghanwat and agriculture economists Pramod Kumar Joshi and Ashok Gulati, the other three members on the panel, started the consultation process with stakeholders on Thursday. (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.) SHANGHAI, Jan. 22, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Recently, the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) granted Dr. Christos Monokroussos, technical expert of Greater China Solar & Commercial Products and the head of the technical competence centres for Solar and R&D at TUV Rheinland, the "IEC 1906 Award," recognizing the major contribution that he has made to furthering standardization in the field of electrotechnology. Founded in 1906, the IEC is the world's leading international electrotechnical standards organization, responsible for formulating international standards in the electrical and electronic engineering fields. Engaging in committee work helps members proactively master the entire process of related products from design, planning, and production to acceptance. As expert committee members, they not only need to understand the current technical standards, but also foresee their development trends. The "IEC 1906 Award," as one of the three important IEC awards, was established by the IEC Executive Committee to commemorate the establishment of the IEC, and is used to commend technical experts from various countries who have made outstanding contributions to IEC international electrotechnical standards. It's awarded once per year. The Chairs and Secretaries of the IEC technical committees deliver the nominee shortlist first, and then the technical officials of the IEC Central Office conduct a review and grant awards to winners. Christos Monokroussos earned his doctorate degree in photovoltaics at the Centre for Renewable Energy Systems Technology (CREST), Loughborough University. He is currently engaged in R&D work in the characterization of solar cells and photovoltaic modules, and in quality management of measurement systems, standardization processes, and reliability of photovoltaic modules at TUV Rheinland. Dr. Monokroussos is also the project leader for three standardization projects in WG 2 and WG 8 working groups for the Technical Committee 82 Solar Photovoltaic Energy Systems of the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC/TC82). He won the IEC's "Outstanding Contribution Award" in 2018. Having been engaged in the field for almost 40 years, TUV Rheinland has a team of experts with rich laboratory and project experience in photovoltaics. With its global laboratory network covering major solar centres in Germany, China, the US, India, Japan, the Middle East, and South America, it's committed to providing customers with all-round, diversified, one-stop services to promote the sound and sustainable development of the photovoltaic industry. SOURCE TUV Rheinland Greater China Related Links https://www.tuv.com Alabamas entire congressional delegation voted in support Thursday on a waiver that allows Mobile native and retired Army Gen. Lloyd Austin a path forward toward becoming the nations first Black Secretary of Defense. The Houses vote was 326-78 in support of a waiver because a 74-year-old federal law prohibits a recently retired military officer from holding the position. The law requires the secretary to be separated from active-duty military service for seven years, as a way to maintain civilian control of the military. Austin, who was born in Mobile in 1953, retired from active service in 2016. The Senate then voted 69-27, with both Republican Alabama Senators Richard Shelby and Tommy Tuberville voting in support of it. General Austin has an exemplary 41-year career and his battle-proven leadership and independence demonstrate he is the right choice to lead the Pentagon during these difficult times, said U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell of Birmingham, and the only Democratic member of Congress from Alabama. We face many challenges as a nation, not least among them a historic pandemic that has disproportionately impacted communities of color and an unprecedented rise of white supremacist and far right-wing domestic terrorist groups. Im confident in General Austins commitment and ability to course-correct and secure our nation from threats at home and abroad. Alabama Republicans in the House also backed the waiver, less than four years after the same legislative body approved a similar waiver request for former President Donald Trumps first Defense Secretary, James Mattis. But some Alabama Republicans also expressed what they said was frustration they had over the process involving Austin after the House Armed Services Committee canceled a public hearing over the matter. In 2016, Trump refused to allow Mattis to testify before the committee, but a public hearing still went on. Four years ago, this House provided a process to consider a waiver for General Mattis, said U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Saks, and the top Republican member of the Armed Services Committee, said during his remarks on the House floor. We were all disappointed when General Mattis did not appear before the Armed Services Committee. Yet, the Armed Services Committee still convened and held a public markup of the waiver, which passed without a single vote from my Democrat colleagues. Then, the full House debated and voted on the waiver. Rogers added, This time around, the Armed Services Committee was excluded from the process by the Democrat leadership of this House. This was not a decision made by Chairman (Adam) Smith (Democrat from Washington), who wanted a public hearing as much as I did. There has been no public hearing. No markup of the waiver. No opportunity for amendments. Rogers said that since the Defense Secretary post was created, only three people Austin, Mattis, and George Marshall needed a waiver from the requirements under the National Security Act of 1947. Marshall served as Secretary of Defense under President Harry Truman from 1950 to 1951. Rogers said he believed that Congress should not have to entertain the waivers and that presidents need to follow the law as written. If a president doesnt think the waiver matters, Rogers requested that the issue be addressed in the 2021 National Defense Authorization Act. I voted for the waiver for General Mattis and I will vote for the waiver for General Austin, said Rogers. For me, that is fair a waiver for a Republican president and a Democrat president. U.S. Rep. Jerry Carl, R-Mobile whose district includes firms dependent on military contracts like Austal USA echo Rogers frustrations but added that he believes Austin is well-qualified. I am optimistic that he will push back against far-left attempts to cut military funding and weaken our nations defenses, Carl said. U.S. Robert Aderholt, R-Haleyville, also said that Austin is highly qualified to run the Pentagon and has received praise from both sides of the aisle. Congress instituted the requirement for the waiver out of genuine concern of keeping the military under civilian control, said Aderholt, who also voted for Mattis four years ago. In my opinion, neither General Mattis then or General Austin now raise any concern in regard to that issue. U.S. Rep. Barry Moore, whose 2nd congressional district includes Fort Rucker and Maxwell-Gunter Air Force Base, agreed. I believe our nation continues to face credible threats that makes the quick assembly of the Presidents national security team necessary, Moore said. This is a national security issue, and General Austin is more than qualified for this important position. The re-appoinmement of the current Minister for Trade and Industry, Mr Alan John Kyerementen by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to the same portfolio for the second term has greeted with a massive congratulatory messages from many Ghanaians who are leaving in the country and abroad. Scores of Ghanaians from the different political parties had gone to the social platforms, particularly the Facebook and Instagram to thank President Dankwa Akufo-Addo for his decision to re-appoint Mr Kyerementen as the minister-designate for Trade and Industry Ministry, describing Mr Kyerementen as a unifier, peacemaker and good listener. They indicated that their congratulatory messages attested to the real fact that they have a total confidence in Mr Kyerementen and that he has what it takes to lead the ruling NPP when the next and final term of President Akufo-Addo ends. According to them, re-appointment of the former Ambassador to the US, UN Policy Advisor, a lawyer and a Senior Corporate Executive was a clear indication that Mr Kyerementen has worked extremely hard to serve Ghanaians to the expectation of President Akufo-Addo and the leadership of the governing NPP. They stressed that he never undermined the work of the NPP and congratulated the President for maintaining him as the Minister of Trade and Industry. They maintained that Mr Kyerementeng was instrumental in helping the incumbent President in winning the presidential seat in the just ended general election on December 7, 2020. And this excellence performance demonstrated by Mr Kyerementen, they pointed out has affirmed the statement by majority of Ghanaians, particularly the men of God that Mr Kyerementen should be given the chance to become the next presidential candidate of the NPP after the two terms of Mr Akufo-Addo has expired. The citizen of Ashanti Region who has an extensive and distinguished record in international trade and public policy, enterprise development, politics and diplomacy was among the list of ministers-designate that Mr Akufo-Addo presented to Parliament on Thursday, January 21. In a well designed poster, Mr Adomako congratulated Mr Kyerementen for his reappointment by President Akufo as minister-designate for Trade and Industry. In all, Mr Akufo-Addo submitted names of 27 persons to be vetted and, subsequently, considered for approval as ministers of state. Among the 27 are former Deputy Ministers in his first term. These include Godfred Dame, who is now the Attorney General and Minister of Justice-designate, and Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, who has been nominated Minister of Education. His former boss, Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh has also been appointed as the Minister-designate for Energy. Alan Kyerematen is the current Minister of Trade and Industry of Ghana, having served in the same capacity between 2003 and 2007. He has an extensive and distinguished record in international trade and public policy, enterprise development, politics and diplomacy. He is a former Ambassador to the US, UN Policy Advisor, a Lawyer and a Senior Corporate Executive. As Ghanas Minister of Trade, Industry and Presidential Special Initiatives from 2003 to 2007, he led the design, development and implementation of innovative programmes and special interventions which have become new strategic pillars of growth for the Ghanaian economy. He also played a key role in shaping Africas Trade Policy agenda in the WTO, the EU-ACP Economic Partnership Negotiations, AGOA and UNCTAD. Prior to his appointment as Minister, Mr. Kyerematen served as Ambassador of Ghana to the United States of America from 2001 to 2003. In that role, he negotiated various landmark trade and investment agreements between Ghana and the United States, and initiated the establishment of the Ghana-United States Economic Council, which played a strategic role in deepening trade relations between the two countries. Between 1998-2001, Alan Kyerematen served as the first Regional Director of ENTERPRISE AFRICA, UNDPs flagship initiative for the development and promotion of small and medium enterprises in Africa. Under that framework, he established enterprise support programmes in 13 Sub-Saharan Africa countriesBotswana, Benin, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa and Uganda. Over 4,000 African entrepreneurs and small businesses have benefited from these programmes. In 1990, Alan Kyerematen was responsible for establishing and managing the EMPRETEC Programme in Ghana, a leading business development institution sponsored by the United Nations and Barclays Bank Limited. He led the transformation of EMPRETEC from a UN project into an independent Foundation, which is recognized as a world-class institution and best practice model for entrepreneurship development in Africa. Between 1984 and 1990, he managed a number of major private and public sector consulting assignments in Ghana, as a Principal Consultant and Head of Public Systems Management with the Management Development and Productivity Institute (MDPI), a leading management development institution in Ghana. Prior to this, he was a senior corporate executive with UAC Ghana Ltd, a subsidiary of Unilever International, where he worked in various managerial positions with distinction between 1977-1984. As Coordinator of the African Trade Policy Centre of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa in Addis Ababa, from July 2011-December 2013, Alan Kyerematen led efforts in building capacity in various African countries in trade policy formulation and trade negotiations. In addition, he was a leading member of the technical team of the African Union that developed the Action Plan for the establishment of a Continental Free Trade Area for Africa, to be launched in 2017. Alan Kyerematen is a graduate in Economics from the University of Ghana, and is also a qualified Barrister-at-Law from the Ghana Law School. In addition, he was a Hubert Humphrey Fellow at the School of Public Affairs and the School of Management of the University of Minnesota, under the US Fulbright Fellowship Programme. He was a Member of the Council of Governors of the British Executive Service Overseas (BESO) in the United Kingdom, and has also served as a Board member of several other organizations in Ghana. In 1994, Mr. Kyerematen was listed as one of the top 100 Global Leaders for the New Millennium by the Time International Magazine together with other personalities such as Bill Gates and John F Kennedy Jnr. of the United States of America. In 2013, he was nominated by the Heads of States of the African Union to contest as Africas candidate for the position of Director General of the World Trade Organization (WTO). Source: Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video New York, Jan 22 : The United States Senate on Friday confirmed a former Army general, Austin Lloyd to become the Defence Secretary, making him the first African American to hold the job. He received the overwhelming support of both parties, overcoming reservations about a retired general becoming the Defence Secretary within the legally required seven-year gap between retirement and appointment. The Senate voted 93 to two to confirm him after Congress had voted on Thursday to exempt the general who retired in 2016 from the legal seven-year requirement. Democrat Party's Senate Leader Chuck Schumer told the Senate that Austin "must once again demonstrate to the world that the US military will always support our friends, deter our adversaries and, if necessary, defeat them". Jim Inhofe, the Republican leader of the Senate Armed Service Committee, said: "I can't think of a better person to take the helm than General Austin." Austin will be taking over the Pentagon at a time when the US is facing a fast-changing global situation with the main theatre of contention shifting to the Indo-Pacific region where China is the emerging threat to the world order. In his 41-year military career Austin does not have direct experience in that region, while he has overseen military operations as the head of the US military's Central Command in the Middle East and a part of South Asia where the US involvement is winding down. He has first-hand experience in Afghanistan as the commander of a joint task force of the US and its allies during 2003-05, which required him to interact with Pakistani generals. In written testimony during the confirmation hearings by the Senate Armed Forces Committee earlier this week, he said that he will press Pakistan to stop giving sanctuary to terrorists. He also said that Pakistan's actions against anti-Indian terrorist groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) were "incomplete", although there was some progress. 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 defense relationship with India would be to continue elevating the partnership," he said. Austin 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. Referring to the Indo-Pacific informal four-member group of the US, India, Japan and Australia, he said: "I would also seek to deepen and broaden our defense cooperation through the Quad security dialogue and other regional multilateral engagements." (Arul Louis can be reached at arul.l@ians.in and followed on Twitter at @arulouis) Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. More than two weeks after Donald Trump's supporters rioted inside the Capitol during the electoral vote count, President Joe Biden directed his intelligence community Friday to study the threat of domestic extremism in the United States. White House press secretary Jen Psaki announced the moves Friday at the White House, two days after Biden was inaugurated in a city under protection of thousands of National Guard forces following the riot. Federal prosecutors are continuing a nationwide effort to round up those who took part. President Joe Biden has ordered a new threat assessment form intelligence officials In the first move, Biden has written the office of the Director of National Intelligence, Avril Haines, seeking a 'comprehensive threat assessment coordinated with the FBI and DHS on domestic violent extremism.' The threat assessment will draw from analysis across the government, as well as 'non-governmental organizations' where appropriate. It is unclear when the threat assessment will conclude or whether it will precipitate law enforcement and intelligence getting new tools or authorities to address a problem that officials say has proved challenging to combat, partly because of First Amendment protections. Using the DNI means that the FBI and military intelligence will be asked for their views, and the CIA will be asked if there are any links to foreign groups. Concerns over extremism among the military was fueled by the arrests of two National Guardsmen and a retired Air Force lieutenant colonel among the rioters. 'The January 6 assault on the Capitol and the tragic deaths and destruction that occurred underscored what we have long known: the rise of domestic violent extremism is a serious and growing national security threat,' Psaki said. 'The rise of domestic violent extremism is a serious and growing national security threat,' White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Friday 'The Biden administration will confront this threat with the necessary resources and resolve. 'We are committed to developing policies and strategies based on facts, on objective and rigorous analysis and on our respect for constitutionally protected free speech and political activities.' The riots produced images that undercut the U.S. position as a symbol of global power and stability. Capitol and local police forces were overrun. Prosecutors are seeking information on a person who left two pipe bombs blocks from the Capitol. They say a number of people with QAnon and other far right-wing connections have been identified, and some are charged with threatening to harm members of Congress. Rioters captured on video chanted 'hang Mike Pence!' Law enforcement cited a big spike in online chatter after the riots, prompting a huge security perimeter for Biden's inauguration. Another focus will be building on National Security Council efforts to counter extremism, with a new policy review on how to 'disrupt violent extremist networks and more.' 'We need to understand better its current extent and where there may be gaps to address so we can determine the best path forward,' said Psaki. She said 'relevant' parts of the government would 'enhance and accelerate' efforts to address violent extremism. 'They will focus on evolving threats, radicalization, the role of social media, opportunities to improve information sharing, operational responses and more,' she said. Protesters enter the Senate Chamber on January 06, 2021 in Washington, DC. Congress held a joint session today to ratify President-elect Joe Biden's 306-232 Electoral College win over President Donald Trump President Joe Biden ordered the intelligence review in a Capitol still protected by thousands of National Guard troops following the riots The disclosure is a stark acknowledgment of the national security threat that officials see as posed by American extremists motivated to violence by extremist ideology. The involvement of the director of national intelligence, an office created after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks to prevent international terrorism, suggests that American authorities are examining how to pivot to a more concerted focus on violence from radical extremists at home. FBI Director Chris Wray has said that, over the last year, the most lethal violence has come from anti-government activists, such as anarchists and militia-types. 'The rise of domestic violent extremism is a serious and growing national security threat,' Psaki said. But the order to the DNI is likely to cause pushback among conservative Republicans. Rand Paul, the Republican Kentucky senator, claimed that when Biden decried white supremacy in his inaugural address, it was an attack on 'us.' 'If you read his speech and listen to it carefully, much of it is thinly veiled innuendo... calling us white supremacists, calling us racists, calling us every name in the book,' he said. Often the robbers are minors, and aldermen called for prosecutors to crack down on those offenders so young people think there are significant consequences rather than just a slap on the wrist for carjackings. On December 17, 2019, Michael Arnold struck Shirley Snelling-Sexton while she was snowblowing in Essex Junction, Vermont. Shirley was severely injured -- in addition to a broken arm, she has had three rods in her neck and faces several more surgeries: her lower spine was essentially destroyed. Shirleys health will never be fully restored -- neither will her faith in the Vermont court system. This was Arnolds third DUI. He registered a .26% blood alcohol level -- three times the legal limit. Yet, he served less than 48 hours in jail for this third conviction despite causing serious bodily injury and then fleeing the scene. It galls the public that Judge Martin Maley accepted this ridiculous plea agreement, let alone that States Attorney Sarah George offered a felon this sweet deal. But Sarah George has been a vocal advocate for decarceration, proclaiming on Twitter that she is Working to create true public safety by overhauling the legal system. (she/her). In a panel discussion last, she was pressed about incarceration for violent crimes and stated that statistically, most who commit homicide do not reoffend. Sitting in the audience was lieutenant governor candidate Dana Colson, whose 19-year-old son Austin was murdered in 2018. No one has been charged in Austins murder. George puts her money where her mouth is -- she let three killers walk without charges, eliminated cash bail for Chittendon County, and trumpets a fatuous ideology that exposes citizens to unacceptable risks: Just doing my part to overhaul a racist and classist legal system and replace it with healthy and vibrant communities. Ultimate goal = make my job unnecessary. Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. -Martin Luther King Jr. Proponents of decarceration want to eliminate the inhumanity of incarceration in favor of the inhumanity of unleashing dangerous predators to reoffend. Says one such advocate: Prisons are the problem, and the solution is to create a system that is more humane and just -- by investing in community-based alternatives to incarceration and smart justice reforms... But these investments have not been made, nor have we been told what this solution to create a system even looks like. Communities are deteriorating economically while an escalating opioid epidemic causes more people to turn to drugs and violence. Those serial killers, incurable pedophiles, and violently mentally ill victims of an unjust racist and classist legal system are being returned to real-life communities. Arnold has been told he cant drive drunk when his license is restored here in Vermont -- its a condition of his probation, and if he violates probation hell go to jail. Right? Vermont senator Dick Sears last year proposed softening those unjust probation requirements: Sears said he supports looking at bail reform and changes to the probation and parole system. He said that he doesnt believe those who have substance abuse problems and violate conditions of release by drinking or using drugs should be sent back to jail, for example. Instead, he believes that there should be a system of graduated sanctions for such violations Vermont statutes provide for up to 15 years incarceration for DUI where serious injury results even for a first offense: Arnold served less than two days for this horrific crime, despite statutory language that for a third offense: The court may impose a sentence that does not include a term of imprisonment or that does not require that the 96 hours of imprisonment be served consecutively only if the court makes written findings on the record that such a sentence will serve the interests of justice and public safety. Michael Arnold has not answered for his crimes. Judge Maley and Sarah George should answer for theirs. Image: State of Vermont Sorry! This content is not available in your region A coronavirus outbreak has killed 15 care home residents after staff had valiantly managed to keep the disease completely out of the premises until last month. Bosses at Perry Manor nursing home in Worcester said they were 'saddened by the losses' which came 'in recent weeks'. The facility, which has capacity for up to 82 people, was rated outstanding in its most recent independent inspection. The home's bosses said 'many' colleagues had tested positive for Covid-19, with 33 Perry Manor staff infected in all. However, none became seriously ill and most were asymptomatic and had since returned to work after quarantining. Care UK, which runs the Worcestershire home, said it was following 'very stringent infection prevention and control protocols' and was working with Worcestershire public health officials to minimise risks of further infection. Perry Manor nursing home in Worcester said it had 15 residents killed by coronavirus Dave Ashbolt, Care UK regional director, sent condolences to the families and friends It said the care teams' PPE stocks were 'plentiful', they had all necessary sanitation equipment and were trained in their use. More than half of the home's staff have now also had the Covid-19 vaccine, as well as 'all those residents who were well and have not returned a positive test'. Dave Ashbolt, Care UK regional director, said: 'I would like to send my condolences to the families and friends of those who have lost someone from our home in recent weeks. 'We are all saddened by the losses and everyone is in our thoughts. 'I would like to pay tribute to the team at the home who have done an incredible job in very difficult circumstances. 'Many have tested positive and have been self-isolating so colleagues have been working extra shifts and taking on whatever task needs to be done. The Old Hall Residential Care Home in Spilsby was also hit by a coronavirus wave Two-thirds of the 27 elderly residents at a Lincolnshire care home died in the sudden outbreak 'Not only have they provided top quality, loving care to residents but they have also worked tirelessly to reassure relatives where they can and keep them up to date with news. 'The team has been touched by the kind messages and gifts that they have received from relatives and the local community. 'I would also like to say thank you to all the local health protection team members and our GP Dr Maggie Keeble for their support and advice.' In its most recent inspection, the Care Quality Commission (CQC) rated the home outstanding overall - the highest possible grading. It comes after a Lincolnshire care home boss described the 'absolutely horrendous' ordeal of seeing 18 elderly residents die in a coronavirus outbreak. All residents and 20 staff members at The Old Hall at Halton Holegate, near Spilsby, became infected with the virus in November, with the first resident dying on the 16th. Over the next six weeks another 17 people died from Covid. Most were in their 90s, with the youngest aged 79 and the oldest 99. Some of the deaths were so sudden staff did not have the chance to administer end-of-life treatment or arrange for loved ones to say goodbye. Meanwhile the employees themselves have even at stages moved into caravans nearby to ensure they are able to provide help at short notice. Following an inspection by CQC, the care home regulator, the home was found to have been doing everything it could to prevent the spread of the virus. Diane Vale, the care home's manager, said the situation had been 'absolutely horrendous'. Outgoing Secretary of State Mike Pompeo tweeted out a number this week -- <200,000 -- that he says is the State Department estimate of original Palestinian refugees from 1948-50 still living. They are differentiated from the descendants of those people, which the United Nations Relief Works Agency (UNRWA) says is 5,663,790. UNRWAs numbers are notoriously unreliable, but go with it for a moment. That means there are 5,463,790 extras -- more or less. The incoming administration has made it clear that it hopes to restore aid to the Palestinian Authority (PA), cut off by the State Department for Palestinian financial mismanagement and support for terrorism. There are also reports that the Biden team wants to reopen the PLO Washington office and to increase its contact with the PA in Ramallah. Restoration of the peace process is, clearly, on the agenda. But therein lies the dilemma for the U.S. and the irrelevance of the number of actual Palestinian refugees. The notion of a peace process presumes that peace is the goal. The two-state solution, postulates Palestinian acceptance of a split, rump state squeezed in between a hostile Israel and a more hostile Jordan. That they accept that Acre, Jaffa, and the Galilee Triangle will be sovereign territory in the Jewish homeland; Jerusalem, too. Hamas and Fatah, however, are clear about three goals. An independent state without recognizing a legitimate and permanent State of Israel in any territory. Both factions would accept a temporary agreement with Israel on the way to the fulfillment of the PLO Charter to which both are committed. (Reading the Charter will tell you what else they are committed to, and it isnt a two-state solution.) Sovereign control of East Jerusalem as the capital of the Palestinian state. The right of entry for all remaining 19481950 Arab refugees from Britains Mandatory Palestine, as well as their descendants, to any place within pre-1967 Israel in which they or their antecedents claim to have lived. The possible outcomes of the Palestinian refugee issue are also only three: to allow them to go to Israel as they choose (the so-called "right of return"); to formulate their resettlement (and compensation) in the new State of Palestine; or formulate their resettlement (and compensation) somewhere else. The first means the dissolution of the State of Israel. Only in the other scenarios would the actual number of people be important. The problem for American diplomacy is that the Palestinians have rejected the second and third outcomes. Out loud. Often. Until recently, Palestinian intransigence was supported by Arab State leadership that believed perpetual warfare against Israel served their own political and military ends. The core issue was never jobs or civil society or drinking water -- or even a state -- for the Palestinians; it was never about Palestinians at all. It was about Arab failure to accept the reality of their 1948 losses and recognize the legitimacy and permanence of the State of Israel. Secure and recognized boundaries free from threats or acts of force, [UNSCR 242] was always the obligation of Arab States to Israel, not Palestinians. Recent events -- including Iran, the failures of the Arab Spring, the Obama administration response to Libya, Syria, Iraq and Yemen and Iran -- made Arab (and African) leaders reconsider their own interests. Adding to that was an American administration that saw Iran the way they did and proved itself to be not a neutral broker between disparate parties, but a reliable friend and ally. To Israel. It seemed wise to be on that side. The Biden administration will have to deal with Arabs and Israelis who share regional interests the movement of Israel to the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) reflects that -- that may not coincide with the new presidents desire to engage Iran. But how can the administration advance its view of Middle East diplomacy without abandoning the Palestinian framework it so assiduously promoted under the Obama administration? It can take a page from its predecessor. In the announcement of the American Vision for Peace, outlined at the White House just about a year ago, President Trump told the Palestinians that American support for Palestinian statehood would require that the Palestinians meet the challenges of peaceful coexistence, to wit: Adopt basic laws ensuring basic human rights and protecting against financial and political corruption. Stop malign activities of Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad. End incitement against Israel, and Permanently halt financial compensation to terrorists. Lets face it, that is a very low bar for civilized behavior, and the Biden people should be able to get behind it. The ability to move forward is not in the hands of Joe Biden, not in the hands of the EU or the Quartet, and not even in the hands of the Israeli government. As it has been for decades, the ability lies only with the Palestinians themselves. The number of original Palestinian refugees remaining, and their descendants, is important for financial reasons, but the real barrier to resolving the status of Palestinian people, however many there are, is not in the numbers. Image: Pixabay Home Search ICH Question Everything! Purpose and Intent of this website: Bidens Unity By War? By Finian Cunningham January 22, 2021 " Information Clearing House " - President Joe Biden beseeched his nation this week for unity. In his inaugural address Wednesday the word unity was repeated over and over. And, understandably, well he may make such an urgent appeal. Because the United States is a bitterly divided house between seemingly irreconcilable factions. Former Republican president Donald Trump didnt even show up for his successors inauguration the first time that such a snub has happened in nearly 150 years. Many of Trumps supporters among the 74 million who voted for him are convinced that the election was stolen by the Democrats. Bidens call for unity is scoffed at by these people who denounce him as a Marxist. (Thats a ludicrous description of Biden, an arch capitalist and imperialist, but thats what they believe.) For Democrats, many of those on the other side of the house are crazy white supremacists, fascists and domestic terrorists who need reprogramming. Thats a broad brush too, although the Proud Boys, Oath Keepers, QAnon cult, and so on, might certainly qualify for such designation. Anyway, Bidens going to need a mountain-load of luck to unify such internecine perceptions and passions. And it should be said too that the Democrats bear a big responsibility for the dire state of affairs. It cant be all blamed on Trump the demagogue. For nearly four years, the Democrats and their media networks relentlessly undermined the Trump presidency and his 2016 mandate by peddling absurd claims about Russia collusion. So its a bit rich for President Biden to now appeal to the nation for unity and healing. The United States is facing an existential crisis over bitter internal divisions. If unity of the nation cannot be restored then the legitimacy of governance is at stake. Biden alluded to this precarious predicament in his inaugural speech with repeated and somewhat desperate calls for unity. No Advertising - No Government Grants - This Is Independent Media Get Our Free Newsletter He said: 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. So if unity is absent, he warns, there is no nation, only a state of chaos. That thought is the stuff of nightmares for the political class in America and the oligarchy of super wealthy. How is this precious unity to be found by the political class? This is where the danger of intensified American imperialism and foreign wars rears its ugly head again. By starting a war with some designated foreign enemy, the US ruling class will gamble that such a move can unify the country in patriotic duty and rallying around the flag. A war would defuse the explosive internal problems of excruciating economic inequality, partisan divisions and alienation from the governing institutions. The historical record does not bode well. Out of its nearly 245 years of existence as a state, it is estimated that the US has been at war for over 90 per cent of the time. Virtually every one of the past 45 presidents have launched or continued an existing war. This gives a risible context for Trump attempting to congratulate himself as a president who did not start any new wars. Yeah, its that rare, its almost a virtue, although it wasnt for the lack of trying by Trump with regard to Iran and China. As the 46th president, Biden has the odds stacked in favor of war, if historical pattern is anything to go by. Also, there is Bidens own personal record as a Senator and Vice President who enthusiastically supported wars in Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya and Syria, among others. Can he really change his warmongering habit this late in life? Furthermore, his new cabinet taking shape is full of holdovers from the Obama administrations who were big proponents of regime-change wars as well as aggressive policy towards Russia and China. People like Antony Blinken who is nominated to be Secretary of State; Victoria Nuland who fomented the 2014 coup detat in Ukraine; and Avril Haines who was former deputy director at the CIA associated with advocating drone assassinations. Bidens team may have politically correct diversity in appearance and be fluent in liberal-sounding lexicon. But it is shaping up to be hawkish on war and American imperialism all in the cynical cause of noble principles and world leadership, of course. During confirmatory hearings this week in the Senate, Blinken and Haines both spoke about confronting China and Russia, expressing approval of aggressive policy. This was while Biden was pleading with the nation for unity. The more desperate the need for unity to salvage the United States, the more likely is the danger of war serving for that very purpose. If the American people and the rest of the world think that getting rid of Trump means a return to normal, they better think again. Because normal for the US ruling class is war. And especially so at a time of internal crisis. Finian Cunningham has written extensively on international affairs, with articles published in several languages. He is a Masters graduate in Agricultural Chemistry and worked as a scientific editor for the Royal Society of Chemistry, Cambridge, England, before pursuing a career in newspaper journalism. He is also a musician and songwriter. For nearly 20 years, he worked as an editor and writer in major news media organisations, including The Mirror, Irish Times and Independent. - - " Source " - Post your comment below Registration is necessary to post comments. We ask only that you do not use obscene or offensive language. Please be respectful of others. See also Search Information Clearing House The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Information Clearing House. Click Here To Support Information Clearing House Your support has kept ICH free on the Web since 2002. Click for Spanish , German , Dutch , Danish , French , translation- Note- Translation may take a moment to load. Dear Reader, Business Standard has always strived hard to provide up-to-date information and commentary on developments that are of interest to you and have wider political and economic implications for the country and the world. Your encouragement and constant feedback on how to improve our offering have only made our resolve and commitment to these ideals stronger. Even during these difficult times arising out of Covid-19, we continue to remain committed to keeping you informed and updated with credible news, authoritative views and incisive commentary on topical issues of relevance. We, however, have a request. As we battle the economic impact of the pandemic, we need your support even more, so that we can continue to offer you more quality content. Our subscription model has seen an encouraging response from many of you, who have subscribed to our online content. More subscription to our online content can only help us achieve the goals of offering you even better and more relevant content. We believe in free, fair and credible journalism. Your support through more subscriptions can help us practise the journalism to which we are committed. Support quality journalism and subscribe to Business Standard. Digital Editor After Nepal Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli on Thursday thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for granting 1 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines to Nepal, PM Modi said that India remains committed to assisting the people of Nepal in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic. Taking to Twitter, PM Modi said that the vaccines which are being made in India will also contribute to the global efforts to contain the pandemic. Thank you PM @kpsharmaoli. India remains committed to assist the people of Nepal in fighting the Covid-19 pandemic. The vaccines being made in India will also contribute to the global efforts to contain the pandemic. https://t.co/d6LpcbvKHg Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 21, 2021 READ | 2 Health Care Workers Admitted To Hospital After Receiving COVID-19 Vaccine Nepal PM KP Sharma Oli thanks PM Modi Earlier on Thursday, Nepal's Prime Minister had thanked PM Modi 'as the government and people of India have been very generous to grant 1 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine to Nepal at this critical time when India is rolling out vaccination for its own people'. Oli said, "Nepal appreciates this gesture from the friendly neighbour." READ | Maharashtra's COVID-19 Tally Crosses 20 Lakh Mark; 51,650 Health Workers Inoculated So Far I thank Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi ji as well as the Government and people of India for the generous grant of one million doses of COVID vaccine to Nepal at this critical time when India is rolling out vaccination for it's own people. pic.twitter.com/uO7qQpLiSx K P Sharma Oli (@kpsharmaoli) January 21, 2021 READ | PM Modi To Interact With Beneficiaries, Vaccinators Of COVID Inoculation Drive In Varanasi PM Modi: 'Honoured to be a long-trusted partner' Earlier on Tuesday, PM Modi had said that India is "deeply honoured" to be a long-trusted partner in meeting the healthcare needs of the global community. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a release on Tuesday that the government of India has received several requests for the supply of Indian manufactured vaccines from neighbouring and key partner countries. India has given emergency use authorisation to two COVID-19 vaccines being manufactured in the country - Covishield and Covaxin. While Covishield has been developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford University, Covaxin is an indigenous vaccine developed by Bharat Biotech in collaboration with Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). The Ministry said that it will be ensured that domestic manufacturers will have adequate stocks to meet domestic requirements while supplying abroad. READ | Fire At Serum Institute: PM Modi, President Kovind Pray For Speedy Recovery Of Injured This month we witnessed a violent rampage at the US Capitol. In the middle of the insurrection, CNN decided a political panel was the best means of following the unfolding catastrophe. As members of Congress were on lockdown, Anderson Cooper held court with political analysts Rick Santorum, David Axelrod, and Van Jones. They talked past the danger on the ground, and in doing so, they helped normalize the takeover of a federal institution. In my experience, panel discussions oversimplify, provoke outrage, and allow unchecked opinion to dominate at the expense of fact-based reporting. But in reporting the issue, I found there are more nuanced and dangerous reasons that the format dominates the airwaves. The logic is this, says Jay Rosen, a New York University journalism professor who has suggested scrapping the panel setup. Reporting is difficult and expensive. Talking about the news is easy and cheap. When you have twenty-four hours to fill, you need an inexpensive and always available way to generate programming. The panel format accomplishes that, and allows for a both sides treatment when a little conflict is called for. Cable news producers, says Norm Ornstein, a scholar at the American Enterprise Institute, also believe if they feature conservative guests, then that defends them against allegations of liberal bias. Thus, the further right the guests are, the better. It is, Ornstein says, a noble but flawed idea that has morphed into giving what he calls bad actorsguests whose aim is destruction of their enemies or a systemvoices on air. This legitimizes them, he says, because the audience is likely to think, They must not be evil; otherwise, how would they be on television? And it helps the format descend into a kind of mud wrestling. As Rosen tweeted in 2017 about Jeffrey Lord, a far-right Trumpist who was featured often on CNN: The sit com styled from Lords punditry could have been called Cmon Jeffrey! Which an exasperated Cooper did say quite often on air. Ornstein points out that this spreads far beyond CNN to virtually all of television news. As much as I and Jay Rosen try to shame them, he says, theyre not going to change. Why? Because ratings is how they measure success. Sign up for CJR 's daily email I know from my own experience, and from conversations on this topic in recent weeks with current and former cable news producers, that those making the decisions do understand the problems. They get that their guests have to abandon nuance in panel discussions. But the pressure is to pick a few story lines and then resist going off-topic and losing the audience. That means filling a lot of airtime with one subject and little, if any, new information. Theyre also under a mysterious pressure to get more boxes on the screenindividual guests in isolated frames, Hollywood Squaresstyle. I have done it myself, and still have no idea why its supposed to be useful. All of this is why, I was told, many producers are moving away from TV and toward podcasts, where they feel they have the time and space to be more considered. That is one small step. But, says Rosen, Reckoning with the loss of trust and the rise in disgust brought by the panel method is neither easy nor cheap. The answer for me is, as always, expensive newsgathering. I suspect that the panel discussion as a cheap news gimmick helped drive the polarization and misinformation that fueled the assault on the Capitol. The actual cost of this simple format is one the public cannot afford: the loss of fully informed and civil conversation. As a new president commences his term, CNN can certainly do better. Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today Ariana Pekary is the CJR public editor for CNN. She was an award-winning public radio and MSNBC journalist for two decades. Now she focuses on the systemic flaws of commercial broadcast news. She can be contacted at publiceditors@cjr.org. In the first of two articles on unlocking business value from unstructured data, we looked at how the pace of data growth and the explosion in unstructured data types have forced enterprises to rethink IT strategies and reshape their investment plans. Over the next five years, unstructured data volumes will account for a massive 80% of every organizations data growth, according to IDC. Its not surprising that, facing this tsunami of unstructured data, over 70% of IT leaders have accelerated their digital transformation plans and reweighted investments toward projects that help transform the business and away from maintenance of current systems and processes. Organizations are increasingly turning to modern, robust data infrastructure to manage, protect, and extract value from their unstructured data. Solutions that pair a secure, reliable hardware layer with an intelligent software layer can significantly speed time to insight. Its all about understanding whats in your data Lets begin at the beginning with the data itself. Data is now a strategic asset for every organization. Its critical to unlocking business insight the more you have of it and the faster you can analyze it, the greater your potential business advantage. Data is driving new business use cases and powering entirely new customer experiences. Looking ahead, data is the fuel propelling enterprises into the era of enterprise AI. A few examples quickly highlight datas essential value: in healthcare, data is key to personalized medicine and medical imaging; in financial services, to fraud detection and records preservation; in retail, to video surveillance and understanding shopping patterns. The list goes on, with data driving new and divergent demands on IT in every industry. Seeking the simplicity of a single solution Imagine a solution thats capable of handling the data challenges presented by the diversity of unstructured data today. Ideally, one system would have the performance, capacity, and extensibility to support any of the myriad unstructured data use cases that organizations may encounter. Such a solution would need to: Be optimized for large and small unstructured data use cases via a balanced, high-throughput design in order to handle data ingest, data transfer, and persistence of data-at-rest equally well. Deliver flexible configurations that enable the right mix of compute, network, and storage resources depending on your use case requirements, including a broad range of media options. Provide end-to-end security, not only for your data via data-at-rest encryption, but for the hardware itself, through protections in the supply chain, firmware, and system configuration. Build AI-driven intelligence into every aspect of the infrastructure, with 24x7 active health monitoring and deep visibility across the environment. Offer a high-density, easily serviceable solution that enables choice in storage media while retaining a compact footprint in a standard rack-depth chassis. A pioneering platform for data-driven use cases In the unstructured data space, customers continue to turn to high performance, high density, and highly resilient systems. HPE Apollo 4000 features all of the capabilities outlined above in a system optimized for unstructured data. But thats just the beginning. HPE Apollo 4000 offers three additional features that put it far ahead of other unstructured data solutions in the marketplace: The first is HPE InfoSight, the industrys most advanced AI for infrastructure. HPE InfoSights machine intelligence predicts and prevents problems across the IT stack and delivers critical insights that take the guesswork out of managing infrastructure. Enjoy predictive resource planning, global visibility and analytics, and support case automation as you accelerate your unstructured data workloads. The second is HPE Apollo 4000s integration with Pensando, a powerful distributed services platform that delivers a centrally-managed, hardware-accelerated suite of software-defined, scale-out network and security services at the server level. Pensando eliminates both traditional bottlenecks and discrete appliances for security and network functions and is available in every HPE Apollo 4000 system. The final advantage, which we discussed at greater length in the previous article, is a powerful set of integrations with scale-out data platforms from Scality, Qumulo, and Cohesity that deliver, respectively, a limitless pool of object storage; scale-out file storage that eliminates data blindness; and unified data management for non-latency sensitive workloads. Together, these integrations provide highly efficient storage and management of all your unstructured data, regardless of type. Stay focused on driving value from your data Today, every organization is planning and/or building data-driven use cases that are now or will very soon be critical to their business. Thats forcing a broad rethink among IT leaders as to how best to meet new unstructured data demands. But one thing is clear: the sooner IT can find and deploy data-intensive, optimized solutions, the faster organizations can focus on driving value from their data. Learn more about the density-optimized HPE Apollo 4000 ____________________________________ About Sandeep Singh Sandeep is Vice President of Storage Marketing at HPE. He is a 15-year veteran of the storage industry with first-hand experience in driving innovation in data storage. Sandeep joined HPE from Pure Storage, where he led product marketing from pre-IPO $100M run rate to a public company with greater than $1B in revenue. Prior to Pure, Sandeep led product management & strategy for 3PAR from pre-revenue to greater than $1B in revenue including four-year tenure at HP post-3PAR acquisition. Sandeep holds a bachelors degree in Computer Engineering from UC, San Diego and an MBA from Haas School of Business at UC Berkeley. A vegan activist has admitted to stealing livestock from farms to 'liberate' the animals, and says she's prepared to go to jail for breaking the law, despite being mother to a 15-week-old daughter. Tuesday Goti, 33, was raiding farms when she was nine-months-pregnant and on one occasion she claims she was even shot at. She and her husband Andrew, 39, are both committed vegans from Lisburn in Co Antrim and run a group called Expose NI. Since meeting through their activism four years ago, the couple have taken part in 'vigils' outside slaughterhouses and demonstrations. They also run 'liberations' meaning they gain access to large farms during the night, often by climbing gates and walls, and take as many animals as they can carry. Tuesday says she knows what they are doing is illegal, and the animals they snatch are actually stolen property. But she is prepared to go to jail for her beliefs even though she is a new mum. Tuesday Goti, 33, and Andrew Goti, 39, from Lisburn, Co Antrim are vegan activists who raid farms to 'liberate' animals and parents to Arabella, 15-weeks-old, pictured Tuesday participated in farm raids and claims she was shot at while heavily pregnant with Arabella (pictured nine-months into her pregnancy) 'Ill never forget my first time inside a broiler farm,' said Tuesday. 'These are supposed high-welfare barns where the birds are bred for meat. Some of these huge barns can house around 26,000 birds at any one time. 'I parked up outside a farm and saw their security hut was empty, so I ran into the shed and took photos. It was just a sea of birds and it was stifling hot. The smell was overwhelming. 'It was so dreadful I went back out again that night with Andrew. We decided we couldnt just leave the birds there, we had to try to help, even just a few. We reasoned that with so many birds, the farmers wouldnt miss a few, so we took five.' The mother-of-one clad in a hoodie reading the words of Martin Luther King: 'One has a moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws' during a protest at a pig farm Tuesday says she is ready to go to jail for her beliefs, in spite of being the mother of a 15-weeks-old girl Tuesday became a vegetarian at five, vegan at 16 and decided to dedicate her life to helping animals. She met fellow activist Andrew through a Belfast animal rights group. They initially took part in 'vigils' together outside slaughter houses, photographing lorries and passing water to the pigs inside the trucks. The pair got married in 2018 and welcomed their daughter Arabella in 2020, whom they are raising as a vegan. They started raiding farms with a small number of other activists in Co Tyrone in 2019, when they drove past a sign for a pig farm. Tuesday found the side gate open and the sheds unlocked. She was so 'appalled' by what she saw that she took photos and videos, and snatched a three-week-old piglet. 'These farms have CCTV; we sometimes have to climb fences or scale walls,' says Tuesday A hen and her chicks which were swiped during a raid and rehomed at Tuesday and Andrew's house 15-weeks-old Arabella, with her mother Tuesday. During raids, Tuesday say the activists 'walk across fields and crawl under hedges,' something she's done during her pregnancy 'We walk across fields and crawl under hedges. We never damage property on our way in but we do trespass.' Tuesday continued her activism throughout her pregnancy last year, going on demonstrations, anti-fur protests, vigils outside slaughter houses and her nighttime farm sorties. 'One night when I was 39 weeks pregnant we were about to enter a pig farm, she says. 'It was a farm wed liberated pigs from previously and each time we went back they had increased their security. 'On this particular night, in September 2020, I spotted a new motion sensor and realised wed been clocked. Pigs photographed by Tuesday during a raid. She claimed she was questioned by police over her activities a few times but never arrested A gilt with her piglets spotted by Tuesday during one of her raids. A spokeswoman for the Vegan Society, a partner in the Veganuary campaign, said the charity could not condone the illegal elements of Tuesday and Andrews activism Pictures of a raid taken by Tuesday. While farmers keep increasing security between raids, Tuesday says she is not afraid to go back to the same farm to do other raids 'We decided to carry on but as we walked towards the shed we heard someone coming. I climbed over the gate and we ran, but as we ran up the road they fired a warning shot with a shotgun. 'I wasnt frightened because I believe 100 percent in what Im doing. I just want to help the animals. 'A few weeks later we came even closer to being caught at another pig farm. We got in, got the footage we needed, but then as we were walking back to our car we triggered a motion sensor. 'We spotted cars chasing us so we ran through the field. I was so heavily pregnant I could hardly run, I was exhausted. The police were called too but we managed to get away.' Surprisingly the couple say they have never been in serious trouble with the police. 'I think the farmers think pursuing us is more trouble than its worth,' Tuesday says. 'There are so many thousands of animals in these farms and they already lose a percentage to illness and injury. Tuesday next to a seagull she rescued. She says she believes animals are 'sentient beings' and should not be abused Andrew and Tuesday with their daughter Arabella. Tuesday said she wanted her daughter to know she tried to help the animal cause A pig Tuesday photographed during one of her raids. Andrew called factory farming an 'animal holocaust' 'Whats a few more here and there? The police have been to our door once, but we didnt open it and they went away.' The animals they take are rehomed with like-minded activists and supporters, or a sanctuary for battery hens, but some are in poor health after being kept in substandard conditions and do not live for long. 'Last January we were approached by officers at a "Meat the Victims" event where we occupied a pig farm with 40 activists. It was a sit-in, we were on site to negotiate with the pig farmers and make a protest,' Tuesday said. 'When the police spoke to me I was very honest about what we do. I explained that we were trespassing and why. The police were actually very good to us I think they were horrified to see what goes on in these farms. The farmer agreed to let us take one pig.' On another occasion, Tuesday and Andrew staged a nighttime protest outside a McDonalds in their hometown, covering the store in campaign posters. The couple say the police took their names and address but nothing further came of it. Despite being a new mum, Tuesday is happy to speak out about her beliefs and says shes prepared to go to prison if thats where it leads her. 'Animals are sentient beings, they are not ours to abuse,' she says. 'Being a mum is the most important thing to me and Im doing my activism for Arabella. I want her to know that her mum tried so hard to make a better world for her, protect the planet and her future, and stand up for the animals.' Andrew adds: 'Im always with Tuesday on our late night missions so I protect her as best I can. We consider this work to be vital. 'We have a little daughter but we also have the whole of the animal kingdom to look after factory farming is an animal holocaust and humanitarian crisis. 'In addition, three out of four pandemics are zoonotic in origin meaning they have transferred from animals to humans. Swine flu and avian flu are major worries, in addition of course to Covid-19.' The couple would like to see a change in the UK law giving them the right to rescue animals from farms where there are breaches of welfare similar to legislation in California. Andrew, Tuesday and Arabella on a day out with a chicken the couple have rescued. Andrew says he believes factory farming is an humanitarian crisis Andrew with the chicken he rescued. The father-of-one said The couple would like to see a change in the UK law giving them the right to rescue animals from farms where there breaches of welfare similar to legislation in California. But a spokeswoman for the Vegan Society, a partner in the Veganuary campaign, said the charity could not condone the illegal elements of Tuesday and Andrews activism. She said: 'The Vegan Society is not involved in and nor does it condone any illegal activity. Our work involves providing evidence-based information to individuals, companies, health professionals, caterers, retailers and politicians on issues related to veganism. 'Our website provides information on all aspects of veganism and we campaign on a number of issues, including vegan advocacy and vegan food provision in public canteens. 'We also provide tools for activists such as leaflets and advice on effective and peaceful outreach. 'We encourage vegan advocates to consider how their actions are viewed by the non-vegans they are targeting because a poor choice of tactics may result in the public becoming defensive, rather than listening to their message. 'We believe a better form of advocacy is one that encourages a meaningful dialogue and is in a neutral location, where peoples minds are more open to hearing about veganism.' A spokeswoman for the Police Service of Northern Ireland said: 'We would encourage anyone with information about illegal activity to call us on 101 and we will investigate. 'Information can also be given on the non-emergency reporting form via http://www.psni.police.uk/makeareport/ Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at http://crimestoppers-uk.org/' The majority of complaint Louisiana insurance regulators have received in relation to the historic 2020 hurricane season concern homeowners insurance. The Louisiana Department of Insurance (LDI) reports that nearly 80 percent of the 873 complaints it has received about hurricane claims are about homeowners insurance. Louisiana Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon is encouraging any policyholder in a dispute with their insurance company to call the department. Hurricane grievances have included complaints about various types of residential, auto and commercial property insurance, as well as complaints about insurance adjusters and agents, but the vast majority of complaints from the 2020 storm season concerned homeowners insurance. The most common grievance was claim delay. As of January 11, policyholders had filed 691 homeowners insurance complaints about claims from hurricanes Laura, Delta and Zeta. The LDI investigated and closed 597 of the complaints by that date. The 15 insurers with the highest numbers of complaints are listed in the chart below. Many of these companies are small insurers with a high number of complaints relative to their size, while others have a large number of complaints and a large market share. The chart includes a complaint index that allows consumers to compare companies without regard to size. A company with a complaint index of 1 has an average number of complaints. A company with a complaint index higher than 1 has more complaints than average. Company/Group Market Share Number of Complaints Complaint Index State Farm Group 26% 163 0.90856 FedNat Holding Company Group[1] 3.9% 93 3.48228 GeoVera Specialty Insurance Company 1.8% 66 5.25358 United Insurance Holdings Group[2] 4% 52 1.87236 Allstate Insurance Group 10.8% 51 0.68065 Allied Trust Insurance Company 0.9% 40 6.32678 TWIMG Group[3] 3.1% 23 1.08225 USAA Group[4] 6.2% 23 0.53878 Liberty Mutual Group[5] 5.6% 18 0.46819 Progressive Group[6] 3.9% 18 0.67448 Centauri National Insurance Company 1.6% 15 1.389 American Bankers Insurance Company of FL 1.4% 14 1.43079 IAT Reins Co Grp[7] 0.9% 13 2.17708 Aegis Security Insurance Company 0.4% 10 3.77807 Munich Re Grp[8] 0.1% 10 1.09704 Total for 15 Insurers with the most hurricane complaints 609 Total Hurricane Homeowners Complaints 691 Total Hurricane Complaints as of Jan. 11 873 [1] FedNat Ins Co [52] Maison Ins Co [41] [2] United Prop & Cas Ins Co [41] Family Security Ins Co Inc [11] [3] Lighthouse Excalibur Ins Co [12] Lighthouse Prop Ins Corp [11] [4] USAA Cas Ins Co [16] USAA Gen Ind Co [5] Garrison Prop & Cas Ins Co [2] [5] Liberty Personal Ins Co [13] Safeco Ins Co of OR [5] [6] Progressive Prop Ins Co [11] ASI Lloyds [7] [7] Occidental Fire & Cas Co of NC [12] Wilshire Ins Co [1] [8] American Modern home Ins Co [4] American Modern Prop & Cas Ins Co [2] American Western Home Ins Co [2] American Family Home Ins Co [1] American Southern Home Ins Co [1] In 2015, the Louisiana Department of Insurance re-organized its complaint function so that a new division handled all complaints, whether about life insurance, health insurance, property insurance or any other insurance issue. Trained complaint specialists listen to a consumers account of a problem, contact the company on their behalf, investigate the situation, and determine whether the company has complied with Louisiana law and the provisions of the consumers contract. Most complaints are resolved within 30 days. If a larger pattern of complaints is observed, it can trigger a broader investigation of a company known as a market conduct exam. The LDI has an online tool where consumers can view the total number of complaints filed against companies who write insurance in Louisiana. Consumers can visit www.ldi.la.gov/complaintdata to see complaints sorted by company name, premium written and the complaint index, which measures complaints for a company relative to the amount of premium written. As of Nov. 20, 2020, Louisiana insurers had received 236,928 claims for all lines of insurance from hurricanes Laura and Delta. Half of those claims, or 119,127, were closed by insurers with payment. Policyholders can file supplemental claims if they incur additional expenses in repairing their properties or if they discover previously unknown storm damage. Source: LDI Topics Claims Louisiana Windstorm Homeowners Staff Sgt. King works in the headquarters of Fort Carson's 4th Infantry Division. A three-tour veteran of Afghanistan combat, King is fighting a different battle now. She's becoming the person she's felt destined to be since the age of 13. "I'm the first openly transgender infantryman in the Army," King said. John Lewis has said it will repay its 300million Government coronavirus loan ahead of schedule after Black Friday and Christmas sales held up better than anticipated. The John Lewis Partnership, which is home to the eponymous department store chain and supermarket Waitrose, said that despite store closures throughout last year, it believes to have 'sufficient' liquidity going forward. And so it will hand back the support funding early instead of on 15 March, when it was due, even though its department stores are currently closed due to lockdown. John Lewis said trading during Christmas and Black Friday 'held up better than anticipated' The group also said that thanks to better-than-expected sales during the festive period, profits for the full year are likely to be ahead of the guidance provided in September, when it forecast 'a small loss or small profit'. JLP will publish its full-year results on 11 March. 'Despite the head winds of the last year when John Lewis stores were closed for several months, and future trading volatility, the Partnership believes it has sufficient liquidity going forward,' the company said. It comes as the latest official retail sales figures showed only a slight 0.3 per cent uptick in December, much lower than the 1.2 per cent increase expected by economists. Waitrose has not yet offered to return millions of pounds in business rates relief JLP secured the coronavirus support loan after the Government and the Bank of England set up the Covid Corporate Financing Facility at the start of the pandemic. More than 200 large UK businesses have borrowed money through the scheme, and many of them have already repaid their loans. The partnership is to repay the loan, but Waitrose remains one of a handful of UK supermarket chains yet to offer to return millions of pounds in business rates relief. In December, Tesco said it would hand back 585million from its business rates holiday, starting a chain reaction among rivals which saw around 2billion repaid to the Government. Waitrose received around 120million of business rates relief for the year, according to estimates by real estate adviser Altus Group. New Delhi: The Delhi High Court refused to grant any interim relief to Hollywood filmmaker John Hart Jr seeking to stay the release of the film The White Tiger on Over The Top (OTT) platform Netflix. In a hearing that took place late evening on Thursday, a single-judge bench of Justice C Hari Shankar asked defendants including the film producer and Netflix to keep detailed accounts of earnings from the film. In case the plaintiffs succeeded later in their suits then it would be possible to re-compensate them, the court said. The court was hearing a suit filed by plaintiff Hart and Sonia Mudbhatkal, ANI reported. Appearing for Hart, advocate Kapil Sankhla told the court that Hart had won the right to make a movie adaptation of the book "The White Tiger" in March 2009 and Mudbhatkal had contacted Hart to launch her production career with the book. The plaintiffs have approached the court alleging that there was a breach of contract relating to copyright violations. However, the court noted that without going through documents, it cannot come at prima facie finding that defendants have infringed the copyright of plaintiffs. It also said that it is not possible on the material of record to come to conclusion by producing or releasing the film that defendants have indulged in illegal copyright infringement. The Delhi High Court said that it is, prima facie, inclined to agree with Senior Advocate Sandeep Sethi, who was appearing for one of the defendants, said that if the release of the film is stayed then it would result in irreparable consequences for the defendants. New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday had a telephonic conversation with his Swedish counterpart Stefan Lofven. In the conversation, PM Modi conveyed his appreciation for Sweden's support to the 'Make-in-India' programme. Sweden had participated in a big way in the 'Make-in-India Week' held in Mumbai in 2016, with Lofven himself attending it along with a large delegation consisting of government officials, heads of agencies and industry leaders. "Had a good discussion with H. E. Mr. Stefan Lofven @SwedishPM on the phone. I deeply appreciate Sweden's support for @makeinindia," Modi tweeted. Modi and Lofven had jointly inaugurated Sweden's pavilion at the 'Make-in-India Week' in 2016 in which over 18 Swedish companies had participated. Some of the biggest Swedish participants included ABB, Atlas Copco, Camfil, Ericsson, Ikea, Saab, Sandvik, Scania, SKF, TetraPak and Volvo. Around 160 Swedish companies are operating in India, employing 160,000 people directly and 1.1 million indirectly. "Swedish industry has always believed in India as a perfect trading partner, right from the time Ericsson laid the first cables in 1903 to the current times when our companies are looking to raise their investments and their manufacturing units here," Swedish Ambassador to India Harald Sandberg had said then. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Crude oil prices fell further today after the Energy Information Administration reported a crude oil inventory build of 4.4 million barrels for the week to January 15. This compared with an inventory decline of 3.2 million barrels estimated by the EIA for the previous week. In gasoline, the EIA reported an inventory fall of 300,000 barrels for the week to January 15, which compared with a 4.4-million-barrel build for the previous week. Gasoline production averaged 8.9 million bpd last week, which compared with 7.5 million bpd in the first week of January. In middle distillates, the EIA reported an inventory increase of 500,000 barrels for last week, compared with a 4.8-million-barrel build for the previous week. Middle distillates production averaged 4.5 million bpd in the week to January 15. This compared with 4.7 million bpd a week earlier. U.S. refineries processed 14.8 million bpd last week, which compared with 14.7 million bpd a week earlier. Facilities operated at an average 82 percent of their capacity. Oil prices have been extra volatile this week as expectations of a fatter U.S. stimulus plan from the Biden administration clashed with concerns about the continuing pandemic and extended or renewed lockdowns. News that Iran was ramping up its oil production in anticipation of the U.S. lifting sanctions, at the same time, made for a strong downward pressure on benchmarks, with both Brent crude and WTI down by more than 1 percent at the time of writing. Reports of new lockdowns in China added to the pressure. Related: Can Shale Resist The Lure Of Another Output Surge? The International Energy Agency earlier this week added fuel to the concerns, revising down its oil demand outlook for this year by 300,000 bpd. The authority said it expected demand to average 96.6 million bpd in 2021, after crashing by an all-time high of 8.8 million bpd in 2020 under the weight of the Covid-19 pandemic. The agency was upbeat about the second half of the year, however, noting that mass vaccination should spur economic recovery, which will in turn boost oil prices. Nothing is certain, however, as the WHO has meanwhile warned that vaccinations are not a silver bullet solution to the pandemic problem with is chief suggesting social distancing measures will likely stay in place despite vaccinations. By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Funeral Announcements A daily list of current funeral annoucements as heard on KXRA 1490 AM/100.3 FM News Updates The daily news, sports, and events delivered daily from Voice of Alexandria. Sports Update This current sports headlines delivered daily from Voice of Alexandria. Upcoming Events This email is the events of the area delivered daily from Voice of Alexandria. Breaking News The big news. Sent only as it happens. A man was killed after the tractor-trailer he was driving burst into flames Thursday night on a South Side highway. San Antonio police said the tanker truck carrying molasses was driving south on Interstate 37, near Loop 1604, just before 10 p.m. when the driver started drifting to the right before it hit a guardrail and bridge abutment. India will not reduce the number of troops unless China initiates the process, Defence Minister said on Friday over the eastern Ladakh standoff, while exuding confidence of finding a solution to the row through talks. The defence minister also said India is developing infrastructure in border areas at a "very fast rate", adding China has objected to some of the projects. "Reduction in the number of troops won't happen. India won't reduce troops deployment unless China initiates the process," he told TV news channel Times Now in an interview. According to a transcript of the interview issued by the channel, when asked about the dialogue process with China on the row, Singh said, "There is no deadline when it comes to matter like the ongoing standoff. You can't fix a date." "We are confident of finding a solution through talks," he said. About a news report that China was constructing a village in Arunachal Pradesh, the defence minister said it was along the border and that such infrastructure has been developed for several years. "Now, India has also started constructing infrastructure near the LAC at a fast pace considering the requirements of the locals as well as our forces. We are developing our infrastructure at a very fast rate," he said. When referred to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar's observation that ties with China is at its lowest point in four decades and asked whether Beijing has broken India's trust, Singh said, "Without a doubt they broke our trust." Referring to the next round of military talks, he said China recently proposed a dialogue on January 19. "We received the information a day before the proposed meet, so we asked the Chinese side to reschedule the meet on January 23 or 24. India is always open to dialogue," he said. Asked about the farmers' protests over three farm laws, Singh said the government has always stressed that there should be clause by clause discussions. "The government has always said that there should be clause by clause discussions. Wherever the need arises, we will make the amendments. This is what I can recall. But if the farmers want more thorough discussions, the agriculture minister has given them a proposal that the government is ready to put the laws on hold for 18 months. "In the meantime, we will have discussions and see what amendments are needed. We will decide on this matter," Singh 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.) New Delhi, Jan 22 : US Secretary of Defense nominee, Lt Gen Lloyd Austin (retd) has said that he would further operationalise India's major "Major Defence Partner" status. During his confirmation hearing in Congress, the former US Central Command chief was asked on how he would enhance the overall defence relationship between the US and India and what priorities would he establish. Austin said: "If confirmed, my overarching objective for our defence relationship with India would be to continue elevating the partnership. I would further operationalise India's 'Major Defence Partner' status and continue to build upon existing strong defence cooperation to ensure the US and Indian militaries can collaborate to address shared interests." "I would also seek to deepen and broaden our defence cooperation through the Quad security dialogue and other regional multilateral engagements," he added. On Pakistan, Austin said: "I understand Pakistan has taken constructive steps to meet US requests in support of the Afghanistan peace process." Austin said that Pakistan has also taken steps against anti-Indian groups, such as Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed, although this progress is incomplete. "Many factors in addition to the security assistance suspension may impact Pakistan's cooperation, including Afghanistan negotiations and the dangerous escalation following the Pulwama terrorist attack," he said. On the Afghanistan issue, Austin said that Pakistan is an essential partner in any peace process in Afghanistan. "If confirmed, I will encourage a regional approach that garners support from neighbours like Pakistan, while also deterring regional actors, from serving as spoilers to the Afghanistan peace process," he added. Austin said Pakistan will play an important role in any political settlement in Afghanistan. "We also need to work with Pakistan to defeat al Qaeda and the Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISIS-K) and to enhance regional stability," he said. Austin said he will press Pakistan to prevent its territory from being used for terrorist purposes. "If confirmed, I will press Pakistan to prevent its territory from being used as a sanctuary for militants and violent extremist organisations." Continuing to build relationships with Pakistan's military will provide openings for the United States and Pakistan to cooperate on key issues, Austin said. Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 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. THE reopening of special schools would not have an impact on community transmission, deputy chief medical officer Dr Ronan Glynn has said. Speaking at the Oireachtas health committee, he said pupils and staff of these schools are relatively low in number and their return would not affect the spread of Covid-19. Dr Glynn was responding to questions from Fianna Fail TD John Lahart who told the committee people would like to hear the view of chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan on the issue given his influence. The deputy said if he had made his presence felt it would have made a difference in the last 10 days. Dr Glynn said his views and those of Dr Holohan were clear and were contained in a letter of January 5. The advice has not changed. The number of pupils and staff in special schools represent a very small proportion of the 1.1 million in the school sector overall, Dr Glynn said. From our perspective would, three, four or five per cent have an impact on the high levels of community transmission of the virus we are seeing now? No it would not. It would not have an impact on mobility at a community level. Read More Meanwhile, HSE officials warned today that it is unrealistic to expect that all Covid-19 patients in hospital will get an optimum standard of care given the staffing and other pressures, HSE head of acute hospitals Liam Woods said: It would be unrealistic to expect the same outcomes as in previous times. We are very alert to that. And Dr Glynn, who was appearing with HSE officials to update on the current Covid-19 crisis, also warned that the ongoing surge in the virus and its serious impact on hospitals pose high risk. HSE clinical adviser on acute hospitals Dr Vida Hamilton said not all severely ill Covid-19 patients are getting the regular standard of care due to various factors including staff shortages and the need to move to convert surge beds. We are in surge capacity, she said. We must deploy staff to ensure best care. We have trained 1,600 critical care staff. Initially, one experienced critical care nurse would buddy with a nursing from another department who had been trained up. But now that needs to be at a ratio of one to three. Is the care of the same standard? No, she said in response to Senator Martin Conway. Liam Woods, of the HSE, said: It would be unrealistic to expect the same outcomes as in previous times. We are very alert to that. Asked by Senator Conway how many hospital patients are picking up the virus after admission to hospital, HSEs head of acute hospitals Mr Woods said there are now 120 outbreaks in hospital. In the week to January 17 there were 442 patients who picked up the infection in hospital. The measures in place to reduce the risk include guidance on infection control, training and support, PPE and the modernisation of infrastructure. But some of that is quite dated and presents additional challenges. He said 800 public patients have been transferred to private hospitals. The HSE has access to 600 beds and they are for non-Covid patients. Asked if there was a compromise in the standard of care of patients due to enormous strains on the system, he said there were concerns about risk where there are high staff absences, the need to move patients to surge beds and high community spread of the disease. We are concerned about risk, Mr Woods said. Staff are working to mitigate that risk. Questioned on the need to step up measures to reduce the chances of more infectious new forms of the virus being brought in here by travellers from abroad Dr Glynn said travel poses a risk to the suppression of the disease. The current system in place of pre-flight tests will not stop all cases coming into the country. Asked about mandatory quarantine of passengers he said the National Public Health Emergency Team had previously recommended this. But he also said there may be other ways of reducing risk that he was not privy to. 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. 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 Radio Free Asia (RFA), a BenarNews sister entity, 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. [Planet Labs Inc. with RFA annotation] 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. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) registered a case against Cambridge Analytica and another UK firm Global Science Research Limited Company for "illegal harvesting of personal data from Facebook users in India,". The action came after a preliminary enquiry into the matter showed that Global Science Research had created an app "thisisyourdigitallife" which was authorised by Facebook to collect specific datasets of its users for research and academic purposes in 2014. AFP Case registered in 2018 The case was registered after the CBI registered a Preliminary Enquiry in July 2018 on the central government's recommendation. The CBI PE came after Union Law and IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad told the Rajya Sabha that the probe will be handed over to the central agency. The PE was registered after number of media reports appeared with respect to alleged illegal harvesting of personal data of Facebook users and their friends by Cambridge Analytica (CA) through Global Science Research Limited (GSR). The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) had sought details from Facebook and Cambridge Analytica for the alleged violations and its possible misuse by Cambridge Analytica for profiling and influencing elections in India. File Image CBI examined all details shared by Cambridge Analytica and Facebook The CBI had examined a set of details shared by Cambridge Analytica and Facebook in its ongoing probe into alleged data harvesting of Indians from the social media platform. The agency had sought the data from Cambridge Analytica and Facebook, based in Britain and the US respectively, in order to know the method of data collection by the Cambridge Analytica, the political consultation firm that combined data mining, data brokerage, and data analysis with strategic communication during the electoral processes. Facebook had collected certificates from both the firms in 2016-17 that data collected by them using "thisisyourdigitallife" was accounted for and destroyed. However, the CBI enquiry did not find any evidence of any such destruction, according to the officials. AFP "The enquiry prima facie established that Global Science Research Ltd, UK dishonestly and fraudulently accessed data of app users of "thisisyourdigitallife" and their Facebook friends," an official said, citing the FIR. 'Illegal means' employed Cambridge Analytica allegedly received data from the Global Science Research, which employed "illegal means" to harvest personal data of Indians on Facebook, which has more than 20 crore users from India. Personal data of 5.62 lakh Indian Facebook users were accessed by the company which it had obtained illegally. It had also since emerged that Cambridge Analytica had worked with many political parties in India. (Representative Image: Reuters) Cambridge Analytica earlier faced allegations that it used personal information harvested from 87 million Facebook accounts to help Donald Trump win the 2016 US Presidential election. In 2018, Cambridge Analytica filed for bankruptcy in the Southern District of New York. The Cambridge Analytica scandal had once again highlighted the issue of online data privacy and forced Facebook to implement stricter regulations about how and who can access its data. Northwest Landowners Association had filed a complaint July 29, 2019, in state district court asking the court to declare Senate Bill 2344 unconstitutional , void, and of no effect. Specifically, the Association alleged the following: "Prior to Senate Bill 2344, North Dakota's landowners had the exclusive right to possess and use the pore spare within their lands, as recognized by case law and prior statutes." landowners had the exclusive right to possess and use the pore spare within their lands, as recognized by case law and prior statutes." "Senate Bill 2344 strips landowners of their right to possess and use the pore space within their lands and allows the State of North Dakota to directly redistribute that right to others without the consent of or compensation to the landowners." to directly redistribute that right to others without the consent of or compensation to the landowners." "In enacting Senate Bill 2344, the State of North Dakota attempts to give mineral developers free use of the landowner's pore space and remove any rights or remedies the surface owner has to object or demand compensation." attempts to give mineral developers free use of the landowner's pore space and remove any rights or remedies the surface owner has to object or demand compensation." "Taking property from a private landowner in this manner, particularly without paying compensation, and then giving it to another private entity to use, is unconstitutional on several grounds." "Senate Bill 2344 is unconstitutional under the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments of the United States Constitution, and under the Constitution of North Dakota , Article I, 9 (open courts), 12 (due process), 16 (unconstitutional taking), and 21 & 22 (equal protection); and Article 10, 18 (gift clause)." , Article I, 9 (open courts), 12 (due process), 16 (unconstitutional taking), and 21 & 22 (equal protection); and Article 10, 18 (gift clause)." "The law is void as violative of both the United States Constitution and the Constitution of North Dakota ." Northwest Landowners Association has never been engaged in litigation, but as board member Patty Jensen said with respect to taking on the responsibility of challenging the constitutionality of Senate Bill 2344, "It's just the right thing to do." They were represented by The Braaten Law Firm. The Association was very active during the legislative session opposing Senate Bill 2344, as well as supporting numerous other bills related to landowner protections. Northwest Landowners Association is leading the charge, but it is well known that landowners throughout the state are extremely upset over the unconstitutional taking embodied by Senate Bill 2344. Contact Information Troy Coons Chairman Northwest Landowners Association (701) 721-4258 [email protected] SOURCE ND Northwest Landowners Association Darjeeling: Ambulance services were hit and TV cable connections snapped in some areas as the GJM-sponsored indefinite shutdown in Darjeeling hills entered the eighth day today. No untoward incident was reported from anywhere in Darjeeling which had witnessed widespread clashes between GJM activists and security forces on Saturday. Ambulance operators were refusing to carry patients due to fear of harassment. Since morning, local cable TV connections were snapped in a section of the hills. Read | Darjeeling stir for Gorkhaland: Protest marches continue, normal life crippled Internet services also remained suspended for the fifth day today to stop the spread of rumours that incite violence. Police patrolling was intensified in the hills since morning. Although the West Bengal government has called an all-party meeting in Siliguri today, all the Hills parties have decided to boycott it. As normal life continued to be crippled, the GJM yesterday offered a 12-hour window on June 23 to schools to evacuate students safely to Siliguri and Rongpo. The GJM is leading an agitation for a separate Gorkhaland state to be carved out of West Bengal. Read | Residents, labourers leave Darjeeling amidst indefinite strike called by Gorkha Janmukti Morcha over Gorkhaland For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. STAMFORD Stamford Health CEO Kathleen Silard reminded her virtual audience time and time again that, as the hospital ramps up its vaccine program, patience is key. I want you to know that everyone, everyone is doing everything we possibly can, Silard said. With Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner David Lehman and Womens Business Development Center President Fran Pastore, Silard answered a flurry of questions from the community. Pastore scrolled through the chat and her own text messages to offer up questions to the two experts. Do people have to be from Stamford to receive the vaccine at Stamford Health? No. Should people register for the vaccine with both the federal government and the hospital? No. When people register, do they get an appointment immediately? Yes. Just a week ago, Stamford Health vaccinated approximately 280 people a day, all staff and healthcare workers who qualified for the vaccine under Phase 1A. Through a partnership with the city announced last week, the hospital started inoculating 1,000 people a day. With that growth came growing pains fit for a pandemic. The Centers for Disease Control and Preventions Vaccine Administration Management System, called VAMS for short, caused headaches for the hospital, especially among older adults. We found seniors have some trouble with VAMS, Silard said. Eighty-nine-year-olds cannot always navigate (the online portals). The Stamford Health vaccine clinic, which is housed in its old hospital building, hopes to move away from VAMS and use only its own scheduling system in the coming days and weeks, according to Silard. Before registering for the vaccine through Stamford Health, people must register first for a VAMS account, a step that the hospital hopes to eliminate promptly. Silard responded to a score of questions from viewers eager to get vaccinated as soon as humanly possible and shut down some speculation about ways to shortcut the system and get the vaccine. No, there is not a waitlist for canceled vaccine appointments, she said, while emphasizing that Stamford Health would only vaccinate people in Phase 1a or those over 75. No amount of phone calls or to the hospital would change that, Silard continued. It does not pay to call right now, because were going to say no, she said. Stamford Healths phonelines are always ringing off the hook now, but both Silard and Lehman acknowledge that the demand is ultimately a good thing. We realize how eager, and appropriately eager, everyone is for this, said Lehman. But its going to take some patience. For those curious when Connecticut could enter the next tier of Phase 1B, which would include adults ages 65 to 74, Lehman offered a glimmer of hope. He said the state would likely start taking vaccine appointments for the next tier in early February. As of Thursday, Connecticut had administered 258,267 does of COVID-19 vaccine. Based on the states population, that is around 7 percent. Less than 1 percent of Connecticut residents have received a second dose. On a relative basis, Connecticut is actually number four out of fifty states in the country in terms of getting people vaccinated, Lehman said. Despite clear hope ahead, Lehman told the audience that there is still a long road before normalcy returns. Heard immunity, when the bulk of immune individuals protect the rest of the population from infection, remains elusive until 70 or 80 percent of the population is vaccinated, he added. The message here is patience, he continued. Weve made it this far. Albania on Thursday expelled a Russian diplomat for allegedly not respecting the countrys virus lockdown rules. An Albanian foreign ministry statement declared Alexey Krivosheev "person non grata," asking him to leave the country within 72 hours. The ministry said that since April last year there were continuous violations from the diplomat. It said Albanian authorities first contacted the ambassador but the diplomat still persisted in breaking pandemic restrictions. "A repeated challenging of the protective rules and steps on the pandemic, and disregarding of the concern of the Albanian state institutions related to that, cannot be justified and tolerated any more," The AP cited the statement as saying. The ministry did not provide details on the alleged violations, or give the post of the diplomat. Albania has set an overnight curfew, mandatory use of masks indoor and outdoors and social distancing. "We hope that such a decision ... at such a very challenging time for the globe, will be well understood from the Russian side as a necessary step to protect the health and security" of everyone in Albania, the ministry statement added. According to Johns Hopkins University, Albania has recorded more than 69,000 cases of COVID-19 and more than 1,200 deaths. Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-23 04:58:39|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close RAMALLAH, Jan. 22 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Ishtaye discussed on Friday reviving the stalled peace process with Tor Wennesland, the new UN Special Coordinator for Middle East Peace Process. Ishtaye said in a press statement that he held a telephone conversation with Wennesland and expressed the Palestinian side's openness to any political process sponsored by the Quartet on the Middle East. The Quartet comprises the United States, the United Nations, Russia, and the European Union. Ishtaye said that he discussed with Wennesland moving a political path based on international legitimacy and international law under the Quartet's auspices and with the participation of various powers in a multi-international framework. Meanwhile, the prime minister said that he briefed Wennesland on the preparations for holding the general elections in the Palestinian territories starting on May 22 this year. He called on the UN to exert every possible effort to facilitate holding the Palestinian elections and pressure Israel to allow holding them in East Jerusalem. Enditem Vice President Kamala Harris' niece Meena has become the latest star to step out in an emerald green dress from cult label The Vampire's Wife, after Kate Middleton and Princess Beatrice wore the gown. The mother-of-two and lawyer, 36, shared a mirror selfie on her Instagram stories as she wore the 1595 metallic midi dress ahead of the Celebrating America event on Wednesday. Meena appeared to have looked across the pond for her fashion inspiration because her ensemble was almost identical to a green dress from the same designer that Kate Middleton, 39, and Princess Beatrice, 31, have previously been snapped in. Celebrity stylist Rochelle White told FEMAIL the gown had become an instant classic for celebrities and royals alike, explaining: 'I think that the dress has been a go too for celebs because it is easy to wear, but has maximum impact. Vice President Kamala Harris' niece Meena has become the latest star to step out in an emerald green gown from cult label The Vampire's Wife, after Kate Middleton and Princess Beatrice wore the gown Celebrity stylist Rochelle White told FEMAIL the gown had become an instant classic for celebrities and royals alike (pictured left, Kate Middleton in the gown, and right, Princess Beatrice at Ellie Goulding's wedding) 'It has a disruptive look and quality to the design of it.' She continued to say that many were adopting the dress because of its versatility, saying: 'It is suitable for many events and everyday wear and can be worn for different seasons.' Meanwhile the stylist explained that the styling could alter the formality of the dress, revealing: 'Depending on the style, colour and texture, it could be seen as demure, outrageous, seductive and heading turning, with each dress being a unique statement. 'Because of it's design it has such universal appeal which is classic, trendy and chic.' Holly Willoughby is amoung the stars who have snapped up a version of the versatile gown, with the This Morning presenter donning the dress in red Meena's dress appears to be the same 1,595 emerald gown that the Duchess of Cambridge stepped out when she joined Prince William for an evening reception at the Guinness Storehouse in Dublin last year. Both dresses are crafted in a stunning lame material, a cinched in waist and frilly cuffs. In December, Holly Willoughby stepped out in a bright red version of The Falconetti as she presented This Morning in December. Meanwhile Princess Beatrice wore a 1,695 'The Veneration' tiered silk-blend lame dress by The Vampire's Wife to Ellie Goulding's nuptials at York Minster Cathedral in 2019. While Kate, Holly and Meena's 'The Falconetti' dress boasts one tier of frills at the bottom, Beatrice's dress had double ruffles While Kate, Holly and Meena's 'The Falconetti' dress boasts one tier of frills at the bottom, Beatrice's dress had double ruffles. The Vice President's niece complemented her emerald gown with pointed black high heeled shoes and a navy blue starry mask for the inauguration event. Meanwhile Kate paired the frock with a pair of 525 Manolo Blahnik heels, a 245 Wilbur and Gussie Charlie Gold Glitter Classic Clutch and 6 gold drop earrings by H&M. Beatrice paired her dress with a black Justine Bradley-Hill 'Athena' headband, a green Sienna Jones bag, a Cartier 'Juste un Clou' bracelet, a Stella & Dot Chantilly lace cuff and black shoes from Reiss. The brand, beloved by royals, has developed a cult following, with celebrity fans including Alexa Chung, Sienna Miller, Cate Blanchett and Keira Knightley. It's famed for pretty prairie dresses infused with a dose of gothic glam, which are frequently spotted on red carpets. RADNOR, Pa., Jan. 22, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The law firm of Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP alerts investors that a securities fraud class action lawsuit has been filed against Restaurant Brands International Inc. (NYSE: QSR) ("Restaurant Brands") on behalf of those who purchased or acquired Restaurant Brands common stock between April 29, 2019, and October 28, 2019, inclusive (the "Class Period"). Deadline Reminder: Investors who purchased or acquired Restaurant Brands common stock during the Class Period may, no later than February 19, 2021 , seek to be appointed as a lead plaintiff representative of the class. For additional information or to learn how to participate in this litigation please contact Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP: James Maro, Esq. (484-270-1453) or Adrienne Bell, Esq. (484-270-1435); toll free at (844) 887-9500; via e-mail at [email protected]; or click https://www.ktmc.com/restaurant-brands-international-inc-securities-class-action?utm_source=PR&utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=restaurant_brands Restaurant Brands is a Canadian corporation and headquartered in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 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 SEC. Among other things, Restaurant Brands reported 0.5% system-wide year-over-year sales growth for Tim Hortons on system-wide sales of $1.547 billion. The complaint 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 Hortonsrepresenting a 1.4% same-store sales declineon system-wide sales of $1.774 billion. Following this news, the price of Restaurant Brands common stock declined $2.59 per share, or approximately 4%, from a close of $68.45 per share on October 25, 2019, to close at $64.86 per share on October 28, 2019. The complaint 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. Restaurant Brands investors who wish to discuss this securities fraud class action lawsuit and their legal options are encouraged to contact Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP (James Maro, Jr., Esq. or Adrienne Bell, Esq.) at (844) 887-9500 (toll free) or at [email protected]. Restaurant Brands investors may, no later than February 19, 2021 , seek to be appointed as a lead plaintiff representative of the class through Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP, or other counsel, or may choose to do nothing and remain an absent class member. A lead plaintiff is a representative party who acts on behalf of all class members in directing the litigation. In order to be appointed as a lead plaintiff, the Court must determine that the class member's claim is typical of the claims of other class members, and that the class member will adequately represent the class. Your ability to share in any recovery is not affected by the decision of whether or not to serve as a lead plaintiff. Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP prosecutes class actions in state and federal courts throughout the country involving securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duties and other violations of state and federal law. Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP is a driving force behind corporate governance reform, and has recovered billions of dollars on behalf of institutional and individual investors from the United States and around the world. The firm represents investors, consumers and whistleblowers (private citizens who report fraudulent practices against the government and share in the recovery of government dollars). For more information about Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP, please visit www.ktmc.com. CONTACT: Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP James Maro, Jr., Esq. Adrienne Bell, Esq. 280 King of Prussia Road Radnor, PA 19087 (844) 887-9500 (toll free) (610) 667-7706 [email protected] SOURCE Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP Related Links http://www.ktmc.com Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. They are back in Bahrain! They are back in Bahrain! TDT | Manama The Daily Tribune www.newsofbahrain.com Bahraini bodybuilding champion and two other Bahrainis released by Qatari authorities from detention have arrived in the Kingdom. Al Haddad and his compatriots were arrested by the Qatari Coastal and Border Security at sea on 8th January 2021, while on a fishing trip. His arrest was also, the third such incident reported in recent months. Upon landing in Bahrain, Sami Ibrahim Al-Haddad, Muhammad Yusef Al-Dossary and Habib Abbas were given a warm reception by Muharraq Governor Salman bin Isa Bin Hindi Al Mannai. He conveyed to them the greetings of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, and their congratulations on their safe return. The trio thanked HM King Hamad and HRH Crown Prince and Prime Minister for their interest and care in making their release possible. They also thanked Interior Minister General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa for ensuring their safe return home. The trio also paid tribute to Foreign Minister Dr Abdullatif bin Rashid Al-Zayani for following up their case. Sami Al-Haddad, the Lion of Bahrain, is the first Mr Olympia amateur winner and world champion overall winner in 2011. He is an IFBB PRO bodybuilder from Bahrain and owner of BlacksmithGym. The release of the trio followed interventions by the Bahraini authorities as directed by the Cabinet. Bahraini Cabinet earlier directed the Interior Ministry to take all necessary measures to release all Bahraini citizens detained by Qatar and facilitate their return to the Kingdom. The arrest also occurred after Bahrain and other Gulf Cooperation Council nations signed a deal to end a political rift with Doha. The release of the citizens was confirmed on Thursday by the Interior Ministry in a tweet. Qatari authorities have released Bahraini citizens detained by Qatari Coastal and Border Security on 8th January 2021, the statement said. The statement also confirmed the release of a Bahraini sailor, Habib Abbas, arrested in December. However, the ministry said Qatar had not released the boats, and Banooshs (traditional boats) captured, taking the number of captured vessels to 50 since the dispute began. Before landing back in Bahrain, the citizens released by Qatar had travelled to the Sultanate of Oman. Bahrains embassy in Oman also confirmed their arrival earlier on Thursday in a tweet. Following which, the Interior Ministry said it has contacted the citizens and got assured about their health. There was no immediate comment from Qatari authorities. What next? Sami Ibrahim Al-Haddad, Muhammad Yusef Al-Dossary and Habib Abbas will be asked to report to the General Department of Investigation and Criminal Evidence. The trio will give an account of the happenings to the investigators. Interior Ministry had said the statements are to determine the circumstances of their arrest and take the necessary legal measures. Meanwhile, Bahrain on Sunday announced that it would reopen its airspace to Qatar as of 11th January 2021 according to a deal reached earlier this month. The accord ends a long-standing dispute in which Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt severed ties with Qatar in mid-2017. As of now, all four nations have resumed air links with Qatar. However, a senior Emirati official has said that restoring diplomatic ties would take more time as parties rebuild trust. MOSCOW The Kremlin on Friday welcomed the Biden administrations offer to extend a nuclear disarmament treaty that is set to expire next month, signaling, as had been expected, that Russia intends to cooperate with the United States on nuclear security despite President Bidens pledges to otherwise pursue a harder line with Moscow than his predecessor. The agreement was last updated in 2010 and puts a cap on the number of strategic nuclear warheads both sides can deploy. It does not limit the number of strategic weapons kept in storage or smaller nuclear explosives intended for tactical use on a battlefield. The Trump administration had resisted approving a five-year extension under a provision in the original treaty, while seeking to expand the agreement to also cover Chinas arsenal. That approach unraveled when Beijing declined to negotiate. Mr. Biden has long favored approving a simple extension of the existing treaty, as has the Kremlin. We can only welcome the political commitment to extend this document, Dmitri S. Peskov, the Kremlin spokesman, told journalists on a conference call on Friday. Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) Filipino movie lovers will have a chance to view contemporary Italian movies online for free. The virtual 2021 Moviemov Italian Film Festival returns to the Philippines for the tenth time, taking place from February 1 to 6. The movies will be streamed for free via the Italian cinema website My Movies. The Playtownroma-produced film festival was first staged in 2010 to create a platform for contemporary Italian cinema to be viewed in culturally and commercially-interested destinations like the Philippines. We are convinced that more than ever, its important to restart through culture and cinema, said festival artistic directors Fabia Bettini and Gianluca Giannelli. Sara Serraiocco, one of the new international faces of the Italian cinema, is the guest of honor for this years virtual Moviemov Italian Film Festival. Im honored to be the guest of honor of Moviemov, a festival that gives visibility to Italian movies in the Philippines, said Serraiocco. For the first time, the Philippine edition of the Moviemov Italian Film Festival will be organized in three different parts: Moviemov Showcase This years showcase presents the following titles: NON ODIARE/ Thou Shalt Not Hate by Mauro Mancini VOLEVO NASCONDERMI / Hidden Away by Giorgio Diritti I PREDATORI / Predators by Pietro Castellitto PALAZZO DI GIUSTIZIA / Ordinary Justice by Chiara Bellosi PADRENOSTRO by Claudio Noce PUNTASACRA by Francesca Mazzoleni PINOCCHIO by Matteo Garrone IL MIO CORPO by Michele Pennetta Screenings will be followed by talks with filmmakers, actors, and producers, who will be accessible online both in the Philippines and Italy. On the occasion of the 140th anniversary of its first appearance in an Italian childrens newspaper, the festival will also pay tribute to Pinocchio through its literature and cinema masterclasses organized by the Embassy of Italy in Manila in collaboration with the Philippine Italian Association and Ateneo de Naga University Press. Moviemov Industry The Philippine-Italian cinema industry will converge in dedicated online screenings and meetings to provide Italian and Filipino film professionals an opportunity to be visible and explore co-productions, funding, and distribution of the most interesting and recent audiovisual products. The 2021 Moviemov Italian Film Festival Industry section will be organized in collaboration with the Film Development Council of the Philippines. Special Social Segment On the other hand, a special social segment will represent a bridge of dialogue between Italy and the Philippines on realities that are often hidden but can emerge thanks to the power of images. For this edition, Moviemov will shed a light on the terrible fire that destroyed the homes of a Filipino community in Rome last August. The short film Princess, directed by Silvia Luzi and Luca Bellino, presents a silent community that lives on the edge of the river in the center of Rome: men and women whose existence is ignored. The 2021 Moviemov Italian Film Festival is organized in the Philippines with the support of the Italian Embassy, the collaboration of the Film Development Council of the Philippines, the Philippine Italian Association, Ateneo de Naga, Xavier University Ateneo de Cagayan, De La Salle University Bacolod (Institute of the Moving Image), De La Salle University Manila, College of Saint Benilde School of Arts and Design, University of the Philippines Diliman Film Institute and the endorsement of the media partners like CNN Philippines, ANC, The Philippine Daily Inquirer, The Philippine Business and News. For more info on the 2021 Moviemov Italian Film Festival, contact the Philippine Italian Association at philippineitalianassociation@gmail.com. SHROPSHIRE, England, Jan. 22, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Noted Amazon PPC Agency, Sponsored Profit, is happy to report that one of its clients hit an unprecedented milestone of $500,000 in PPC sales for December 2020. The company offers expert managed PPC Services for Amazon Sponsored products and other Amazon ad solutions to growth-oriented, entrepreneurial brands looking to take their brand awareness to the next level profitably. Find more Amazon Sponsored products by visiting https://www.sponsoredprofit.com/partners . During the tumultuous times created by the coronavirus pandemic, many sectors experienced unforeseen hardships, job losses, store closures and decreases in overall spending. The senior spokesperson for Sponsored Profit comments on the successes seen by its PPC partners even through these strenuous times: "Despite the challenges faced by many brands selling on Amazon due to COVID-19, December rounded off an exceptional year for our PPC partners who have experienced a four-times increase in their PPC sales in 2020." The pandemic has forced many brick-and-mortar stores to close amid government lockdown orders around the globe. E-commerce has been the next logical step for suffering businesses or the only option left for others. Forbes Magazine Online recently stated, "With everything considered, it makes complete sense to move into e-commerce. The 21st century is a digital age of communication and connection, with more people than ever online. It allows businesses to connect with customers on a much larger scale, as well as providing products at far easier convenience for the consumer. "Consumers have seen how useful and convenient online shopping can be, providing more choices and options than before. And with more and more shoppers saying that they would continue to shop online, it is most likely that it will keep a major role in retail." The increased online presence by businesses translates into an extremely competitive market. Brands must up their game to grab the attention of potential customers while maintaining their current audience. The Amazon Sponsored Ads company highlights that its clients' impressive results thus far are partly reflective of the high level of customer demand on the platform. With this in mind, the company spokesperson explains its approach, "The key is to understand how to leverage Amazon Advertising to capitalize on that demand. For us, getting the biggest results comes down to dialing in on what is working in each client's campaigns and focusing the ad budget on that. We can do this because we actively manage campaigns using data-driven insights powered by our software to ensure campaigns are always optimized, scalable and maximized for profit." For smaller and newer brands, the company offers a simple, tried, and tested system - complete with software and a supportive private online community - that helps sellers to manage their Amazon PPC campaigns quickly, efficiently, and more profitably while saving an incredible amount of time, money and effort in the process. For those interested to learn how Sponsored Profit can help them with their Amazon advertising strategies , please visit the official company website. About Sponsored Profit Most sellers struggle with Amazon Advertising. At Sponsored Profit, we've created a complete system that helps sellers get clarity and create PPC campaigns that drive profit so they can build a thriving business that puts money in their pocket - month after month. Spokesperson: Laura McCaul Contact Phone: +44 7497 780 742 Contact email: [email protected] SOURCE Sponsored Profit Related Links http://www.sponsoredprofit.com India on Thursday said it is willing to support Bogota in its journey towards peace, progress, and prosperity. This statement from TS Tirumurti, Indian Ambassador to the United Nations. Speaking at United Nations Security Council's (UNSC) meeting on Colombia, TS Tirumurti said that the democracy in Colombia is deepening through increased political participation and applauded the efforts of the people and the Government of Colombia in realising the achievements of the last four years. A peace agreement was signed between the previous Colombian government of Juan Manuel Santos and the left-wing Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) in November 2016. The deal was meant to put an end to a bloody 50-year armed conflict that killed over 260,000 and displaced millions in Colombia. In the meeting, Tirumurti said, "Colombia is witnessing remarkable progress in the implementation of the Final Agreement for Ending the Conflict and Building a Stable and Lasting Peace. The denouncement of violence, laying down of arms by the FARC-EP and its transformation into a political party; the commitment and resolve of the Government of Colombia to the Agreement and the central role of the UN in its implementation, have all positively contributed to the process of peacebuilding in Colombia." Also Read: Indian Navy P-8I to supply corona vaccines in Mauritius, Seychelles Russia reports 21,513 corona cases in last 24 hour Botswana death toll surpass 100 Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. The murder case against a man accused in an October confrontation and shooting in rural Clark County was dismissed Thursday. A motion and order for exoneration filed in the case against Vancouver resident Cody D. Nutter, 32, says further investigation is needed. Nutter initially appeared in Clark County Superior Court on suspicion of second-degree murder; he was never formally charged. Daniel Tveidt, 35, of Amboy was killed in the shooting. Nutter was later taken into custody at his residence by a Clark County Regional SWAT team and booked on the murder allegation. Shortly after 7 p.m. Oct. 17, deputies responded to a call at the Chelatchie Prairie General Store, 42411 N.E. Yale Bridge Road, about 9 miles west of the shooting scene. Two witnesses who were with Tveidt before the shooting told detectives that Tveidt was driving them in his vehicle after dark near 54 Road, east of Healy Road, after watching the sunset and drinking beer. At about 7 p.m., Tveidt drove past a pullout in the road, where a white truck was parked, and they heard gunshots. Tveidt pulled his car up next to the truck and then drove in the firing line of the person shooting guns, court documents state. The two witnesses with Tveidt told detectives he jumped out of his car and began yelling and charging at the person who was shooting. The witnesses heard several gunshots and saw Tveidt fall to the ground, court records say. The shooter allegedly told the witnesses to stay on the ground, then he got in his truck and drove away quickly, causing items to spill out of the back, court documents state, including a bag with Nutters name on it and a set of military dog tags, also with his name. The prosecution wrote in its motion that based on available evidence, Tveidt was agitated, intoxicated and attempted to disarm the defendant of his firearm at the time he was shot. (Nutter) has since indicated to law enforcement that he feared the firearm would then be used against both he and his girlfriend, who was present. Physical evidence corroborates Nutters account of a struggle over the gun, according to the prosecutions motion. Consequently, the state concluded it could not disprove a self-defense claim beyond a reasonable doubt. Deputy Prosecutor Jessica Smith said future charges against Nutter are unlikely based on the information the state has at this time. Defense attorney Therese Lavallee said Tveidts death was not caused by any kind of criminal action by her client. She said the mans death was tragic and applauded the Clark County Prosecuting Attorneys Office for making the difficult but correct decision in declining to prosecute Nutter. Nutter is an Army veteran who completed two tours of duty in Iraq and a family man with a young daughter, Lavallee said. He and his fiancee were target shooting at a popular remote spot in the woods of northeast Clark County on the night of the shooting, she said. This stranger, without any hesitation, charged toward Nutter who was still on the tailgate of his truck, Lavallee said, noting charged was the word used by Tveidts friends who were interviewed by law enforcement. Tveidt yelled at Nutter and aggressively taunted him, Lavallee said. Nutter was holding his firearm with the barrel pointed at the ground. When Tveidt noticed Nutters fiancee, he grabbed the barrel and tried to wrestle it away. Nutter desperately acted to not lose control of his rifle. Nutter feared that this stranger and his bizarre and threatening behavior was a grave and imminent threat to both his fiancee and him, Lavallee said. The rifle discharged once during the struggle, while Nutter was standing on his tailgate and Tveidts hands were wrapped around the barrel, and once more as Nutter pulled the man off his tailgate. Tveidt let go, stumbled to his knees, and flipped Nutter off with both hands, the defense attorney said. Nutter made the decision to flee following the shooting because he saw two other men coming toward him in the dark. He had no choice but to protect himself in the unpredictable situation, Lavallee said. Jerzy Shedlock, The Columbian WASHINGTON (AP) Dr. Anthony Fauci is back. In truth, the nations leading infectious-diseases expert never really went away. But after enduring nearly a year of darts and undermining comments from former President Donald Trump, Fauci now speaks with the authority of the White House again. He called it liberating Thursday to be backed by a science-friendly administration that has embraced his recommendations to battle COVID-19. One of the new things in this administration is, if you dont know the answer, dont guess, Fauci said in one pointed observation during a White House briefing. Just say you dont know the answer. Faucis highly visible schedule on Thursday, the first full day of President Joe Bidens term, underscored the new administrations confidence in the doctor but also the urgency of the moment. His day began with a 4 a.m. virtual meeting with officials of the World Health Organization, which is based in Switzerland, and stretched past a 4 p.m. appearance at the lectern in the White House briefing room. The breakneck pace showcased the urgent need to combat a pandemic that has killed more than 400,000 people in the United States and reached its deadliest phase just as the new president comes to office. Fauci made clear that he believed the new administration would not trade in the mixed messages that so often came from the Trump White House, where scientific fact was often obscured by the presidents political agenda. The idea that you can get up here and talk about what you know and what the science is ... it is something of a liberating feeling, Fauci told reporters. White House press secretary Jen Psaki had invited Fauci to take the podium first at her daily briefing. While choosing his words carefully, Fauci acknowledged that it had been difficult at times to work for Trump, who repeatedly played down the severity of the pandemic, refused to consistently promote mask-wearing and often touted unproven scientific remedies, including a malaria drug and even injecting disinfectant. It was very clear that there were things that were said, be it regarding things like hydroxychloroquine and other things, that really was uncomfortable because they were not based in scientific fact, Fauci said. He added that he took no pleasure in having to contradict the president, a move that often drew Trumps wrath. Biden, during his presidential campaign, pledged to making Fauci his chief medical adviser when he took office, and the 80-year-old scientist was immediately in motion. Fauci was up well before dawn Thursday for the virtual meeting with WHO, which Biden had rejoined the previous day after Trump withdrew the U.S. from the group out of anger over how it dealt with China in the early days of the pandemic. Fauci told the group that the United States would join its effort to deliver coronavirus vaccines to poor countries. In the afternoon, the doctor stood alongside Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris in the White House as they unveiled a series of executive orders aimed at slowing the spread of the virus, which is killing more than 4,000 people a day in the U.S., as well as bolstering the nations sluggish vaccine distribution program. Fauci had chatted amiably with reporters while awaiting the tardy new president. He acknowledged it was a long day and said that while hed prefer to go for a run, he planned to powerwalk a few miles Thursday evening. It was all a stark contrast after being kept on a tight leash by the Trump administration. Their West Wing press shop had tightly controlled Faucis media appearances and blocked most of them. The doctor went from being a constant presence in the briefing room during the first weeks of the pandemic to largely being banished as Trump grew jealous of the doctors positive press and resentful of Faucis willingness to contradict him. Moreover, Trump frequently undermined Faucis credibility, falsely insisting that the pandemic was nearly over. The president regularly referenced Faucis early skepticism about the effectiveness of masks for ordinary Americans, a position that Fauci quickly abandoned in the face of more evidence. And he even made fun of Faucis first pitch at a Washington Nationals game. The presidents attacks on Fauci and his dismissiveness of the science handicapped medical professionals trying to get Americans to take the virus seriously. There was clear political influence on the message of the pandemic. It became political to say that the pandemic was devastating our community because it was interpreted as a judgment on Trump, said Dr. Nahid Bhadelia, an infectious-diseases physician and a professor at the Boston University School of Medicine. It actively created enemies of the public health folks in a segment of the population. Having Fauci return to a central role, Bhadelia said, is a sign that science was being repressed and now back. As his handling of the pandemic became the defining issue in the 2020 campaign, Trump insisted on portraying the virus as a thing of the past. He also mercilessly attacked Fauci, retweeting messages that called for the doctors dismissal and reveled in Fire Fauci! chants at some of his rallies. Trump sidelined Fauci but dared not dismiss him, after aides convinced him of the moves political danger. But Fauci, who has now served under seven presidents, persevered, telling friends that he would keep his head down and aim to outlast Trump and the obfuscations of his administration. Clarity of message is the most important thing the government can be doing right now; the single biggest disservice Trump did was constantly telling people that pandemic was about to be over, said Dr. Ashish Jha, dean of the Brown University School of Public Health, who has known Fauci for more than 20 years. In his return to the briefing room, Fauci joked with reporters, seemingly far more relaxed than at any point last year. And as he stepped off the stage, Psaki said shed soon have him back. Syria and Oman have met to discuss bilateral relations and means to improve the financial and banking sector and signed an agreement related to customs reports Al-Watan. Syrian Minister of Finance Kinan Yaghi, received the Sultanate of Omans Ambassador to Damascus, Turki Bin Mahmood al-Busaidi. The two figures talked about the Sultanates consistent solidarity with the Syrian Arab Republic and the fraternal relations between the two friendly countries. Within the framework of seeking to develop relations between the two countries, the possibility of strengthening cooperation in the financial and banking sector by benefiting from experiences and exchanging information and visits of the Omani team in the financial and banking fields was discussed. The draft administrative cooperation agreement between the two countries in the customs field and the need to activate it was also discussed. The Omani side said it was ready to provide everything necessary to develop Omani-Syrian relations and follow up on the proposals that were previously discussed with the Syrian side. 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. Samsung recently launched its new lineup of Galaxy S21 series smartphones, which includes the Galaxy S21, Galaxy S21+, and Galaxy S21 Ultra. The flagship device in this range is the Galaxy S21 Ultra, which boasts an overhauled camera system, 5G connectivity, dynamic refresh rate display, and exceptional battery life. Samsungs Galaxy S21 lineup is currently available for pre-order in South Africa at the following prices: Galaxy S21 R17,999 Galaxy S21+ R21,499 Galaxy S21 Ultra R27,999 The devices will roll out on 29 January and are also available on contracts from major mobile networks. Samsung provided us with a Galaxy S21 Ultra device ahead of the official rollout, and we were impressed by the smartphones extensive capabilities. The 2021 Android benchmark Thanks to its early launch this year, Samsung has set the precedent for high-end Android smartphones with its Galaxy S21 Ultra. Like the recently-launched iPhone 12 range, the Galaxy S21 Ultra does not ship with a charging block or earphones and as a result, its packaging is much slimmer than that of previous-generation devices. The smartphone itself is impressively large, however, and packs a 6.8-inch OLED display along with a massive 5,000mAh battery that guarantees all-day battery life. Samsungs biggest design change for this generation comes in the form of a camera system that wraps around the side of the new smartphones, which means they are slightly angled when resting face-up on a surface. The Galaxy S21 Ultra is also the first Galaxy S series device to support Samsungs S-Pen stylus a feature previously reserved for Galaxy Note smartphones. Samsung calls its latest flagship smartphone the ultimate smartphone experience, designed to be epic in every way, and from our first impressions of the device, we can say theyve succeeded. Everything is Ultra You would hard-pressed to find a feature of the new Galaxy S21 Ultra that isnt engineered to offer capabilities that put last-generation flagships to shame. From its smooth and crisp wraparound display to its cutting-edge camera system, the Galaxy S21 Ultra delivers all the features you need in a modern smartphone at the best performance possible. Even its connectivity options push the boundaries of modern smartphone technology: the Galaxy S21 Ultra boasts a built-in 5G modem, as well as support for the Wi-Fi 6E standard, which is reportedly twice as fast as normal Wi-Fi 6. You will need a serious upgrade to your home router or mobile plan before you begin to test the limits of this phones connection speeds. The same design philosophy applies to the quad-lens rear camera system, which can record 8K video and it boasts up to 100x digital and 10x optical zoom for photos. It is powered by a Samsung Exynos 2100 chipset and 12GB of RAM with up to 512GB of storage making it more powerful than most entry-level laptops. The behemoth of a battery packed into the Galaxy S21 Ultra can not only stretch your smartphones single-charge usage to unprecedented levels, but it can also be recharged to 50% in only 30 minutes. This combination of powerful hardware along with Samsungs extensive software and accessibility features make the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra one of the most capable smartphones on the market. It is also a pleasure to use. The 120Hz variable refresh rate OLED display makes every interaction with the smartphone smooth and precise, and its battery life has proven to be extremely impressive no doubt thanks to the bevvy of power optimisation features embedded in the software and chipset as well as the 5,000mAh capacity of the battery itself. Below are specifications and images of the new Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra. Specifications Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra OS Android 11 Display 6.8-inch 1,440 x 3,200 OLED 120Hz Processor Samsung Exynos 2100 RAM 12GB Storage 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, microSD Rear camera 108MP + 12MP + 10MP + 10MP Front camera 40MP Connectivity Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.1 Cellular 5G Durability IP68 Battery 5,000mAh Price R27,999 Galaxy S21 Ultra Now read: Samsung Galaxy S21 contract prices in South Africa The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has continued to wreak havoc throughout the world. The virus that causes this illness, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), enters the host cell via its spike protein. A new study by researchers at Stanford University, USA, discusses the effect of specific mutations on the sensitivity of the spike protein to elastase, and on the intramolecular conformational changes. The team's findings have been published on the bioRxiv* preprint server. Whenever one mutation, or a set of mutations, causes the viral variant to acquire any kind of advantage over the ancestral strain, the new variant by means of natural selection becomes dominant. A classic example of this regarding the COVID-19 pandemic is the emergence of D614G, which originated in Europe, but quickly became the dominant strain globally. This displays a mutation from aspartate to glycine at position 614 on the spike protein. Though this results in higher viral loads, the severity of the syndrome is comparable to that of earlier variants. The mutation does not reduce the susceptibility of the variant to neutralizing antibodies elicited by earlier strains. The rate of mutation of the SARS-CoV-2 genome is very high, with each amino acid of the over 1,200 which make up the spike protein, for instance, having undergone four mutations, on average, over a year. The constant emergence of new variants makes active monitoring of the pandemic a necessity, especially with respect to their enhanced transmissibility. The UK and South African variants The UK saw the rise to dominance of the B.1.1.7 or 20B501Y.V1 within a month of its emergence at the end of September 2020. This spreads more readily than the parent strain, with an increase of 40-70%, and has currently been isolated from over 50 countries. It has not been observed to cause more severe disease, however. Of the 13 mutations found in this variant, the N501Y is the only one that affects the host receptor the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). This mutation is in the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the viral spike protein. However, it has been observed as far back as April 2020 in Brazil, without increased transmissibility, which indicates that it cannot explain, by itself, this feature of the UK variant. The 501Y.V2 is another variant dubbed the South African variant. It was first identified in the second week of October 2020, and became dominant there in a month. It has six fixed mutations, namely, N501Y, D614G, and four other mutations. These in combination appear to confer increased infectivity but not virulence on this variant. The current study focused on identifying the underlying mechanism of higher infectivity, using computational platforms, such as Molecular Operating Environment (MOE) analysis. The results could help detect new therapeutic targets. The researchers found that the mutations were not associated with any given location or domain of the spike, nor did they lead to exposure of all mutations in either the open or closed conformations. This led the team to postulate that the key to increased infectivity might be an increase in susceptibility of the spike protein to activation by proteases, as additional activating sites were acquired via the new mutations. Moreover, the proteases they sought were thought to be somewhat specific to the entry site, rather than widespread in the host, since these mutations failed to increase the virulence of the illness. Increased elastase cleavage sites While several proteases have been suggested as potential candidates, such as TMPRSS2, furin and cathepsin L, only neutrophil elastase is richly found in the human nose, relative to other tissues. Moreover, neutrophils are recruited to the nose when the nasal epithelium is infected by SARS-CoV-2, reaching a tenfold increase in local population numbers, and producing threefold higher levels of elastase. They found that the D614G did indeed bring in an additional elastase-activated site on the spike protein. They also found two new elastase target sites in the UK variant, of which only one is exposed in the open conformation of the RBD. The South African variant contains several new elastase cleavage sites, with two being fixed mutations. The researchers point out that proteolytic cleavage need not be always at the S1/S2 interface, but can be at other sites while still making the spike more ready to expose the RBD. Reduced intramolecular interactions Another way in which the new mutations could increase viral infectivity is by decreasing intramolecular interactions in the spike and thus making it more prone to the open conformation. This would promote RBD exposure, thus leading to increased ACE2 binding and viral entry. Some earlier reports suggested that the D614G increased the time spent in the open conformation. The MOE analysis suggests the potential for the RBD to be in the open conformation with the N501Y mutation, because the asparagine residues at this site in the three spike monomers are at a distance of about 14 A from each other when the trimer is in the closed conformation. A substitution by tyrosine, which is bulkier, would cause steric hindrance, destabilizing the sites of contact between the monomers in this state. It should be noted that MOE results do not suggest a more unstable closed conformation with tyrosine substitution at 501, compared to the reference sequence. Another such interaction is because of serine982, which can mediate the closed-open transition. This residue and Thr547 on adjacent monomers of the closed spike form a hydrogen bond, which is abolished if serine is substituted by alanine in 501Y.V1. This change would make the spike more favorable to the open conformation. The Lys417Asn substitution in the South African variant can also favor the open conformation of the spike, by disrupting the proton- interaction with the Tyr369 residue on the adjacent monomer that occurs in the closed conformation. RBD variants The N501Y mutations of both the 501Y.V1 and 501Y.V2 variants, and the Glu484Lys and Lys417Asn of the 501Y.V2 variant, are at the binding interface of the spike-ACE2 complex, and may increase infectivity by promoting binding. Mutant position in the open and closed conformation of the spike protein. (A) The position of various mutations of the Y501.V1, (B) The N501Y and D614G mutations, which occur in both the Y501.V1 and Y501.V2 variants, and (C) Mutations unique for the 501Y.V2. Each mutation is shown in red in one of the monomers in the 3D structure of the spike protein trimer. Shown is the closed conformation (light gray) and the open (dark gray) conformation. MOE analysis failed to show any impact on the affinity of binding of the spike RBD to the ACE2 receptor. However, yeast display studies show that when both are found together in a spike variant, the binding affinity is increased twofold and tenfold, for 501Y.V1 and 501Y.V2, respectively. If the mutation affects the RBD, it may also increase the instability of the closed conformation and thus promote binding to ACE2. The monomers wrap around one another through RBD in the closed trimeric structure and mutations in RBD that abolish these critical inter-monomeric interactions could favor the transition to open conformation. This calls for further research on how these mutations affect binding affinity, singly or together, using virions. What are the implications? The researchers suggest that by increasing RBD exposure, the mutations also expose a greater number of antigenic determinants per viral particle for binding by neutralizing antibodies. With as many as 80 spike particles per virus, only some need to bind to the host cell ACE2 to accomplish viral entry. On the other hand, activation of more spikes can lead to more exposure of the RBD domain. This will allow increased binding between neutralizing antibodies and the viral particles, agglutinating multiple viruses. This would result in reduced fusion of the viruses to the cell membrane, and thus lower infectivity. In short, even as the spike protein becomes more easily activated because of the mutations, leading to efficient infection, it simultaneously becomes more susceptible to binding by neutralizing antibodies because of the exposure of its hidden regions. Elastase is important in promoting viral entry, and several elastase inhibitors have already been approved. These could be tested for their role in preventing SARS-CoV-2 infection, perhaps via intranasal administration. This modeling study should be followed up by experimental proof to gauge the sensitivity of these new variants to existing therapies as well as to develop new targets. *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. A QAnon supporter walks with a flag at the Nevada state capitol building on January 16, 2021. Ty O'Neil/SOPA Images/LightRocket/Getty Images Many believers of the QAnon conspiracy theory have lost faith since Trump left the White House. But QAnon is not going to disappear, researchers told Insider. QAnon followers may join other extremist movements or find new ways to spread the tenets of the theory. Visit Insider's homepage for more stories. Chat rooms dedicated to analyzing and discussing the QAnon conspiracy theory have been full of confusion and chaos since President Joe Biden was inaugurated on Wednesday afternoon. While many followers expressed dismay and frustration upon realizing that former president Donald Trump was really leaving the White House, some held onto the idea that Trump, or even Biden, had something planned. QAnon is a baseless far-right conspiracy theory that alleges former president Donald Trump, while in office, was fighting a "deep state" cabal of human traffickers and pedophiles. Believers thought that Trump would spark mass arrests of Hollywood figures, Democrats, and other powerful people, and they claimed Trump would remain in office for a second term. The prophecies of QAnon - based on cryptic messages from an anonymous figure called "Q" posting on the fringe message board 8kun (previously 8chan) - have not come true. Though many QAnon believers did finally resign to reality on Wednesday, that loss of faith won't entirely wipe out the conspiracy theory. "QAnon is founded on internal contradictions," Alex Bradley Newhouse, research lead at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies' Center on Terrorism, Extremism, and Counterterrorism, told Insider. "They've built up coping mechanisms" to shift their beliefs once prophecies don't come to fruition, Newhouse said. While conspiracy theories alleging wrongdoing by people in power reappear throughout history, QAnon differs in its cultishness. Cult experts, including Rick Ross, executive director of the Cult Education Institute, and Steve Hassan, the founder of the Freedom of Mind Resource Center, have told Insider that QAnon functions similarly to a cult. Story continues Now, QAnon followers are ripe for recruitment by other fringe groups. Many believers started to lose faith in QAnon after the inauguration QAnon supporters in a Telegram channel express confusion after Biden's inauguration. Screenshot/Telegram The tone on QAnon message boards was extremely bleak on Wednesday in the hours after Biden's inauguration. After months of believing that Trump would be inaugurated for a second term, despite the fact that he lost the election, faith in the pro-Trump conspiracy theory began to wane. "So, was Q just one big lie and psyop that I foolishly followed and believed for over 3 years?" said one user in a QAnon Telegram channel. In a message board dedicated to QAnon, one person wrote, "Guys and gals, I'm losing my everloving mind right now. Is this really happening? Was this part of the plan?" Read More: QAnon followers are giving up on their conspiracy theory after Biden's inauguration: 'Is anyone still holding the line?' Even Ron Watkins, the former administrator of 8kun, where "Q" posts, accepted Biden's win and echoed sentiments felt throughout the QAnon online community. But that widespread dismay was not universal. Many QAnon influencers, who stand to lose the most if QAnon disappears, continued to encourage their followers to "have faith." Those figures were "doubling down" on their pro-QAnon efforts, Newhouse said. "But it works, to a certain extent," he said, because their followers are seeking a "definitive purpose or understanding" of what's going on. QAnon evolved out of different conspiracy theories and could easily morph again Kori and Danielle Hayes at a Pizzagate demonstration, outside the White House in Washington, DC on March 25, 2017. Michael E. Miller/The Washington Post via Getty Images QAnon originated in 2017, but it was based on a recent iteration of centuries-old conspiracy theories alleging that powerful people secretly harmed children. The movement's most recent inspiration was the Pizzagate conspiracy theory of 2016, which baselessly alleged that Hillary Clinton, then the Democratic nominee for president, was part of a child-trafficking ring based in a pizza restaurant in Washington, DC. Read More: QAnon builds on centuries of anti-Semitic conspiracy theories that put Jewish people at risk These claims draw on centuries-old anti-Semitic tropes. Throughout the 12th century, false rumors that Jewish people were kidnapping Christian children to drink their blood spread throughout Europe. QAnon, which also features the popular "adrenochrome" conspiracy theory, alleging that the purported cabal consumes the blood of children, echoes that history. The shapeshifting details of QAnon and popular conspiracy theories at large show the movement's ability to pivot when challenged. QAnons transition and expansion into the "Save the Children" movement was perhaps its most startling and successful migration. The anti-human trafficking messaging caught on like wildfire, sparking numerous viral conspiracy theories and drawing in many well-intentioned people who didn't fully understand what they were getting themselves into. QAnon mimics other cults, which offers clues for how its followers may fare Supporters of President Donald Trump hold up their phones with messages referring to the QAnon conspiracy theory at a campaign rally at Las Vegas Convention Center on February 21, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The upcoming Nevada Democratic presidential caucus will be held February 22. Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images There are three criteria that define the typical destructive cult, according to Ross, who has studied cults since the 1980s and has worked with law enforcement around the country. He's been following the rise of QAnon, its conspiracy theories, and how the movement aligns with the typical destructive cult. Destructive cults typically have an authoritarian leader with no accountability who becomes an object of worship. That leader uses coercive persuasion and influence techniques to gain undue influence over his or her followers. And with that influence, the leader will exploit and do damage to their followers or society at large. Ross considers QAnon to be a destructive cult, with that caveat that the public doesn't know who the leader or leaders are. QAnon is far from the first group that has survived after the time-based prophecy that bound them together didn't come true. While these groups might lose some less devout members after a failed prophecy, many members will hold on, Ross said. The Church Universal & Triumphant, Jehovah's Witnesses, Branch Dividians, and NXIVM have all carried on in some form after the fall of their leader or initial belief system. NXIVM cult leader Keith Raniere stands during his sentencing hearing in a sex trafficking and racketeering case inside the Brooklyn Federal Courthouse in New York, on October 27, 2020 in this courtroom sketch. REUTERS/Jane Rosenberg Even the Branch Davidians, a religious sect in Waco, Texas, led by David Koresh that was massacred in 1993 by the federal and state government, continues to live on in a limited form. "There were very specific prophecies made by David Koresh that had time fixed to them. Those dates have expired, nothing happened," Ross said. Even though Koresh failed in his predictions, some survivors of the infamous fire that destroyed the group's compound, killing 76 of the 85 followers, still believe he was truly a prophet. "So you're going to have people that are die-hard QAnon followers, as you can see in other groups that have been called cults," he added. When cults start falling apart, the ones who are left tend to be the most devout or extreme in their beliefs. "Those people who were not as fanatically committed drift away and the group is distilled," Ross said. "The people who remain are even more fanatically committed." QAnon followers overlap with other extremist groups Members of the Proud Boys march towards Freedom Plaza during a protest on December 12, 2020 in Washington, DC. Thousands of protesters who refuse to accept that President-elect Joe Biden won the election are rallying ahead of the electoral college vote to make Trump's 306-to-232 loss official. Stephanie Keith/Getty Images The cultlike nature of QAnon makes its followers more likely to fall victim to other extremist groups as they become disillusioned with their conspiracy theory, Ross said. The connection between QAnon and other far-right groups was made quite clear at the January 6 riot in the US Capitol, where QAnon believers were joined by Proud Boys, other militant groups like the Oath Keepers, and neo-Nazis sporting Holocaust paraphernalia. QAnon's overlap with militant extremist groups makes believers more likely to join those groups, Newhouse said. While the Proud Boys in particular - a far-right extremist organization dubbed a "hate group" by the Southern Poverty Law Center - have abandoned interest in QAnon, they're still recruiting disillusioned QAnon followers. Read More: Stages of defeat: Die-hard Trump supporters range from being deflated over Biden's inauguration to believing their twice-impeached leader will be running the government as a shadow president for the next 4 years Without Trump as a martyr in office, extremists are more likely to take matters into their own hands and enact real-world violence, Newhouse said. Some disillusioned QAnon believers are looking for a way out The QAnon conspiracy theorists hold signs during the protest at the State Capitol in Salem, Oregon, United States on May 2, 2020. John Rudoff/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images This is the time for people questioning their faith in QAnon to educate themselves so they don't fall prey to another cult or extremist group in the future, Ross said. "I think that the cult intervention approach, which is called deprogramming, can be useful with some QAnon members when families feel concerns about a loved one," Ross said. "Many of these people, as they realize the failure of QAnon, may be amenable to that. They may be confused, they may be open to family discussing things." The deprogramming process involves having the individual rewind their recruitment process and work through how they got involved with the movement in the first place. While working on these issues, though, it's very important for loved ones to avoid mocking or ridiculing the follower, Ross said. "That keeps people stuck," Ross said of a punitive attitude from family. "They shouldn't hold them responsible for that because they were targeted, they were lied to, they were deceived. And we would be sympathetic to someone who was conned out of their money by some grifter, so I think we should also be kind to some of these people who have been conned by QAnon." If you believe you or someone you know might have fallen victim to, or has been recruited by, a destructive cult, you can find resources online at the Cult Education Institute. Read the original article on Insider A city hall employee (left) in Manila takes part in a vaccination simulation, ahead of the arrival of COVID-19 vaccines, Jan. 19, 2021. The Philippines said on Friday it had detected 16 new cases of the highly contagious so-called U.K.-variant of the coronavirus in its northern region. This brings to 17 the number of infections from the new COVID-19 variant detected in the Southeast Asian nation, the Philippine Department of Health said in a statement about the strain that is said to be 70 percent more transmissible than the old one. Twelve of the 16 newly infected people are from Bontoc, a town in the Mountain Province in the north, the department said. Of these 12 cases, seven are male, five are female, three are aged below 18 years old and another three are above 60, the health department said. Two of the new infections with the new coronavirus strain are local cases in persons who had no known contacts with anyone confirmed to have COVID-19, the department said. Two other new cases were detected in Filipino workers who returned last month from Lebanon one of about 30 countries included in a list of nations and territories whose citizens are temporarily banned from entering the Philippines, the department said. Overseas Filipinos returning from the proscribed countries are allowed to enter the country but required to undergo a 14-day quarantine. Of the 16 new cases of infections with the U.K. COVID-19 variant, three have already recovered [while] 13 are active cases, the department said, adding that of the 13, three were asymptomatic while the rest were showing mild symptoms. The first case of the new variant was detected last week in an infected Filipino man who had arrived in the country from the Middle East the week before that. He had returned to Manila on Jan. 7 from the United Arab Emirates. Philippines has the second highest number of coronavirus cases in East Asia after neighbor Indonesia, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University in the United States. On Friday, the Philippines reported 2,178 new infections, taking the cumulative caseload to 509,887. With 20 new deaths, the total virus-related death toll rose to 10,136, the department said. Philippine drug regulators last week cleared Pfizer-BioNTechs coronavirus vaccine for emergency use, the first such approval in the country. The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, developed by American pharmaceutical giant Pfizer, is 95 percent effective against the coronavirus disease, the head of the Philippine Food and Drug Administration had said, citing interim data from Phase 3 trials. After a thorough review of the currently available data by medical and regulatory experts, the FDA is granting Emergency Use Authorization to Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, Rolando Enrique Domingo, the agencys director general, announced in a statement. The Philippine Food and Drug Administration has received emergency-use authorization applications for coronavirus vaccines developed by British-Swedish firm AstraZeneca and Russias Gamaleya Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology. Life will be different with Biden, government told THAILAND: Academics are warning the government to prepare for a new relationship with the US as the Biden administration likely focuses its trading partners more on human rights, the promotion of democracy and environmental issues. politicsenvironmentCOVID-19 By Bangkok Post Friday 22 January 2021, 08:34AM Joe Biden, flanked by incoming First Lady Jill Biden takes the oath of office as the 46th US President by Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts during the swearing-in ceremony on Wednesday (Jan 20), at the US Capitol in Washington, DC. Photo: AFP. As Joe Biden was sworn in as the 46th US president on Wednesday (Jan 20), he declared: Weve learned again that democracy is precious. Democracy is fragile. And at this hour, my friends, democracy has prevailed. Indeed, world leaders were swift to say how much they were looking forward to working with him. His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn Phra Vajiraklaochaoyuhua and Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha also sent the new president congratulatory messages yesterday. Just after the inauguration, Mr Biden signed 17 executive orders reversing a raft of policies of his predecessor Donald Trump. Among them, he signed orders to rejoin the Paris climate accord and end Mr Trumps travel ban on predominantly Muslim and African countries. Many observers are expecting more open and multilateralist policies but Thai academics and activists said such opportunities come with concerns. Improving the state of the economy that has been hit hard by the pandemic will be one of Mr Bidens top priorities, said Panitan Wattanayagorn, a political scientist at Chulalongkorn University. The US now has trade deficits with many countries, including Thailand, and it will try to fix that. Therefore, we might see some Thai products lose their trade benefits. The US could use human rights, the promotion of democracy and the environment, which are big issues in Thailand right now, to justify its actions. Assoc Prof Panitan said while the trade war between US and China could ease under a Biden administration, it would not go away as China still poses a threat to US economic and political hegemony. Thailand needs to carefully strike a balance between the two, he said. Assoc Prof Panitan said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Commerce and security agencies need to work closely together to expand Thai-US diplomatic, security and commercial relations. Thailand needs to recalibrate its policy towards the US with clearer objectives. We must unify our team when it comes to negotiations, he said. Asst Prof Prapee Apichatsakol, of the Department of Political Science, Srinakharinwirot University, Vice President of the American Studies Association in Thailand, agreed, saying the US might be more open to restoring close ties with its allies in Asia. With this would come opportunities, but also conditions. If Mr Biden returns to policies similar to the [Barack] Obama administration, which emphasised multilateralism and preserving human rights and the environment, coming back as the leader of the world with his America is back slogan, he might need to quickly come and put things into order, she said. Its important to set our strategy well. We have to be careful in our relations with the US. We have to adjust. Democracy, human rights, intellectual property and labour - they [the US] will set high standards. Can we meet them? FTA Watch deputy chairperson Kannikar Kijtiwatchakul said comments by Mr Bidens team suggested priority would be given to specific issues, such as intellectual property, instead of just a general desire to join multilateral or free trade agreements. While many believe Mr Biden will pay attention to environmental issues, Ms Kannikar said she shared the concerns of Biothai Foundation director Witoon Lianchamroon that Thomas James Tom Vilsack, the agriculture secretary in the Obama administration, would resume that post. Mr Vilsack worked at that time with a policy that supported large industries and included the use of chemicals. Actually, we have to dig down to see things more clearly, Ms Kannikar said. Dont expect too much. At the end of the day, whether it be the US or the EU, every country does whats in its best interests. National Guard troops around the U.S. Capitol, in Washington on Jan. 21, 2021. (Rebecca Blackwell/AP Photo) National Guard Troops Return to Capitol After Being Banished to Parking Garage National Guard troops who were banished to a parking garage after being asked to leave parts of the U.S. Capitol, have since been allowed back in, officials said. Brig. Gen. Janeen Birckhead, Inauguration Task Force Commander, confirms that troops are out of the garage and back into the Capitol building as authorized by the USCP Watch Commander and the troops will take their breaks near Emancipation Hall going forward, according to a statement to Military Times by Air Force Maj. Matthew Murphy, a National Guard Bureau spokesman. Our troops are going to hotel rooms or other comfortable accommodations at the end of their shifts. After being deployed to reinforce security efforts in the capital ahead of President Joe Bidens inauguration, thousands of National Guard members were told they could no longer access parts of the U.S. Capitol Complex, including a Senate office cafeteria used as a rest area, a move first reported by Politico. Murphy told CBS News that, at around 3 p.m. on Thursday, U.S. Capitol Police asked that soldiers using Capitol hallways and open spaces to rest during their shifts be relocated. As Congress is in session and increased foot traffic and business is being conducted, Capitol Police asked the troops to move their rest area, Murphy told the outlet. They were temporarily relocated to the Thurgood Marshall Judicial Center garage with heat and restroom facilities, Murphy added. While the garage was heated, there were limited facilities, including no internet reception, a single electrical outlet, and one bathroom with two stalls for 5,000 troops, one of the National Guard members told Politico. We honestly just feel betrayed, the Guardsman told the outlet. After everything went seamlessly, we were deemed useless and banished to a corner of a parking garage. One National Guard soldier told Military Times that, we were in the Thurgood Marshall Judicial Center parking garage and they kicked us out of that parking garage to make us walk half a mile away to the Hart Senate Office Building parking garage where we cant be seen. Lawmakers from both parties condemned relegating the Guardsmen to parking facilities. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) denounced the move as outrageous. Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) wrote in a tweet that, it is completely unacceptable that our brave National Guard troops be treated this way. This must be fixed immediately. Our troops deserve the utmost honor & respect for securing the Capitol & defending democracy this week, Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) wrote in a tweet. This is unconscionable & unsafe. Our troops deserve the utmost honor & respect for securing the Capitol & defending democracy this week. This is unconscionable & unsafe. Whoevers decision this was to house our National Guardsmen & women in underground parking lots must be held accountable. pic.twitter.com/mBwpoog6YC Tim Scott (@SenatorTimScott) January 22, 2021 One of the lawmakers who had expressed outrage and said National Guard members could use her office, Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D Ill.), wrote in a tweet that she had been informed that Capitol Police have apologized to the Guardsmen and they will be allowed back into the complex tonight. Update: Troops are now all out of the garage. Now I can go to bed, she wrote in a follow-up tweet. U.S. Capitol Police said in a statement issued to ABC on Thursday that the department immensely appreciates the integral support of the U.S. National Guard in helping to secure the Capitol Complex leading up to, and including the Inaugural ceremony. The Department is grateful for their service and our strong partnership during this time. A request for comment sent to the U.S. Capitol Police by The Epoch Times remained unanswered by publication. Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. With the curfew still in place and increasing fear around the new strain and second wave of Covid-19 infections, many restaurants are struggling to operate at a profit. Pairing meals with alcohol is a major part of restaurant culture - so much so that liquor can account for as much as 70% of a restaurant's profit. Photo by Erik Mclean from Pexels It's been said time and time again that SME's in South Africa contributes significantly to our economic growth. How has the latest lockdown impact local SMEs? The latest lockdown extension has come as bad news for the local hospitality industry. What advice do you have for SMEs? Increase turnover Offer combos and family deals Offer new products and specials. As a restaurant, offer cheaper meals and focus on selling convenience that is affordable to your customers Improve your online sales by making use of social media to attract interest and direct sales. Don't forget to list your correct contact details and latest specials Market your business. This includes brochures of product and services or include menus in all takeaway deliveries Where possible, incorporate non-alcoholic beverages as a combo to food sales. Assist your ambassador employees to market your products on their social media platforms. As a business owner, you would need to control it though. Use your space better. For example, a restaurant can replace some of the seating areas with a deli offering takeaway meals. Or a conference room/meeting room since most businesses are working from home and out of the office. Reduce costs Close during slow days. Reduce trade during slow times of the day Change the shifts of your staff and consider changing the wages structure linked to commission, especially for takeaways Reduce cost of sales by buying specials from suppliers Negotiate reduced rental costs or rental as a % of turnover. Do the same with franchisers and funders. Request some relief where possible Restructure debt and consolidate all debt. This may help in reducing monthly instalments Build trust amongst your employees and customers by implementing strict safety protocols and market these measures Join platforms within your industry that will allow you to get your voice heard, to share ideas and to lobby on your behalf against the current lockdown restrictions. I am aware of some WhatsApp groups and lobby groups such as the Restaurant Collective and the RASA (Restaurant Association of South Africa). Losses continue to mount for SA's hospitality industry Total income for accommodation dropped by 66,8%, and food and beverage decreased 36,3% year-on-year in November 2020, but the real damage is likely to be far worse... The extended ban on sales of alcohol has also caused an uproar. Pairing meals with alcohol is a major part of restaurant culture. In what instances should a restaurant consider closing its doors? Can the business survive until the next announcement by the President with the hope of lifting the alcohol ban. Does the business expenses exceed its cash flow? What cash flow resources are available to keep the business afloat. Without cash reserves no business can survive Many businesses took on more debt to survive the first lockdown in 2020. With the further lockdown restrictions, many restaurants run the risk of technical insolvency where the business liabilities exceed its assets or perceived Market value Seasonality of the business and expected time required to recover from the lockdown If the hole seems too deep and there are no more resources available, an entrepreneur must consider the losses. Its better to lose x now vs losing a lot more later. For an entrepreneur this is a personal decision that affects you on a business, personal and family level. Its a decision that each entrepreneur has to consider based on their circumstances. Would it not make sense to still keep doors open and make less revenue than nothing at all? With no end to the liquor ban in sight - and with the current curfew of 9pm crippling dinner trade - many of these eateries are operating at a loss, and closing temporarily may prove more economical for some, says Arnold February, regional investment manager at Business Partners Limited.Arnold February shares some insight on what restaurant owners can do to navigate through this uncertain future.Many businesses have seen a significant decline in turnover due to the restrictions on evening trade and alcohol sales. Online sales and takeaways has become the primary platform used to generate turnover.SMEs reliant on evening trade and sale of alcohol as part of their product offering are struggling to break even and many have reduced trading days, trading hours and reduced their product offering.Entrepreneurs are resilient and those who survive and thrive are the ones who adapt to change.Before closing, consider the following options:This is a tough one. Closing a business completely is a last resort, so entrepreneurs should first consider reducing trade by closing during low trading days and times of the day. If all else fails, the following should be considered when deciding to permanently close a restaurant.Yes, absolutely, provided that the business can survive and break through. The BBC has come under fire from an eminent scientist after a presenter told schoolchildren physics teachers were 'grumpy, scary and smell of cabbage'. Cel Spellman, a former Radio 1 host and TV actor, made the 'ridiculous' remark during an introduction on BBC Bitesize. The online study resource is educating children at home while schools are closed during the lockdown. Spellman, who stars in ITV drama Cold Feet, told his young audience: 'I'm going to be your teacher today. Don't worry, I'll be more like the cool, laid back drama teacher you like, not the grumpy physics teacher with a faint aroma of cabbage you are a little bit scared of.' Dr Adam Rutherford, a geneticist and author who hosts the BBC Radio 4 show Inside Science, called Spellman's comment 'shameful, embarrassing and anti-educational'. He added that it 'served none of the BBC's values'. He said: 'This callow actor casually slagging off physics teachers on the BBC is shameful, embarrassing, and anti-educational. It serves none of the BBC's values. 'These stereotypes are damaging. It's stuff similar to this that tells girls they can't do physics, or that science is for nerds not cool kids. 'These anti-intellectual stereotypes are why we have such cultural ignorance about scientific practice, which fuel conspiracy theories about climate change or vaccines, or pandemics.' Others took to social media to hit out at the presenter's comments which 'denigrated' school science staff. Dr Adam Rutherford, a geneticist and author who hosts the BBC Radio 4 show Inside Science, called Spellman's comment 'shameful, embarrassing and anti-educational'. Pictured: Spellman on the BBC Bitesize programme Andy McHugh said: 'This isn't a good look for @bbcbitesize. Did someone really approve this script? 'The whole point of these programmes is to promote education. Surely that includes not denigrating school staff. 'Let's hope this mistake isn't repeated in the future.' Kerry Gibb added: 'It shocks me that this ridiculous stereotyping still exists. Spellman stars in ITV drama Cold Feet and previously hosted a show on BBC Radio 1. Pictured: Spellman, second from right, with co-stars on set of Cold Feet 'It's like when kids go to secondary school & suddenly come home saying 'people who read are nerds'. 'This show should be applauding the sciences.' Spellman, 25, hosted a Radio 1 show from July 2015 to August 2020 and plays James Nesbitt's son Matthew Williams in Cold Feet. He was also in last year's Netflix drama White Lines. The BBC have been approached for comment. State officials blamed a shortage of COVID-19 vaccines Friday for an inability to meet stronger demand, despite federal data that shows the state lagging in administering vaccines already available. The state has consistently received about 143,000 doses of vaccine a week and expects that to continue for at least the next two weeks, said Cindy Findley, the state Department of Healths deputy secretary of health promotion and disease prevention. Thats too few to meet demand, she said, especially since the state expanded eligibility to state residents 65 and older and 16- to 64-year-olds with serious medical conditions. Findley could not say when supply will catch up to demand. I would love to tell you were receiving a million vaccines a week, Findley said during a virtual town hall organized by state Sen. John Blake, D-22, Archbald, Lackawanna County. And then we can just be moving that product out to all these lovely partners (local pharmacies and medical providers) that want to .. partner with us. But we are in a situation where were at the mercy of the federal government, because theyre the ones that give us the allocation. Pharmacies, hospitals, other health care providers and state legislators say residents have inundated them with calls about getting vaccinated since the state expanded eligibility earlier this week. Randy Padfield, the state emergency management agency director, said about a third of the weekly allocation remains committed to nursing homes, where many staff and residents remain unvaccinated. Now, eventually, that will get better. And that (third) will come back in for us to redistribute to other vaccine providers, Padfield said. But that is a significant undertaking here in the commonwealth because of the number of facilities we have and the resident population in those facilities. And we know that some of those are the most vulnerable (to COVID-19). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data released Thursday show Pennsylvania has used 45% of the 1.34 million doses distributed to the state. That ranks Pennsylvania 34th among the 50 states and the District of Columbia in administered vaccines. The percentage was actually a little better than a week earlier when the state was at 42%, but Pennsylvania ranked 25th then. As of Friday, the Department of Health website showed 387,929 people have received at least one dose of either the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine, which require two doses. Thats fewer than the 508,391 reported on the CDC website to have received at least one dose. Department of Health spokeswoman April Hutcheson said the CDC figures include more vaccinations from Philadelphia, which administers its own vaccination program as well as the National Guard and the federal Department of Veterans Affairs. Hutcheson said the timing of reporting vaccinations also varies. The CDC website lists Department of Defense, the VA and federal prison vaccinations separately. Echoing Gov. Tom Wolf, Padfield said the state ranks fifth in number of vaccines administered. Thats true, but Pennsylvania also gets proportionately more vaccines because its the fifth most populous state. Padfield said the states vaccination rate looks lower than it really is. While the federal immediately tallies distributed vaccines, providers receive vaccines days later and have up to 72 hours to report vaccinations, he said. So theres a little data lag on that, Padfield said. Were probably higher than the percentages ... And we want to make sure that we have vaccine going into peoples arms. But we also want to make sure that we dont overrun it at this point. Because if the supply chain and the supply line is constrained, we want to make sure that we have enough coming in to guarantee second doses for folks. He said Florida officials set up mass vaccination sites, quickly ran through their vaccines and lack second doses for many residents. During the call, state officials were asked why they expanded eligibility without enough vaccines. Findley said the state aligned its immunization plan to match the CDCs recommendations, which changed to include senior citizens and medical vulnerable residents last week. Many other states did the same. State legislators on the call said the expansion led to confusion as residents called overwhelmed providers who either had no or too few vaccines. The supply chain issues and limited quantities are what they are. But you know when a major announcement is made, and were pointing people toward life-saving vaccines, we got to make sure that its there and ready, state Rep. Kyle Mullins, D-112, Blakely, Lackawanna County, said. Barbara Walters is a prestigious name in the journalism industry, scoring exclusive interviews with several politicians and stars over the lifetime of her career. Beginning with her successful ABC career with a co-host position alongside Harry Reasoner. Her career was already climbing in ranks, but ABCs co-hosting role earned her the title of the first woman anchor. Many sexists have tried to downgrade Walters ability and skill in the industry, but it was Reasoner who tried (and failed) to ruin her incredibly successful career. As we all know, Walters isnt one to back down when faced with any challenges. Barbara Walters success with ABC Barbara Walters | Laura Cavanaugh/Getty Images ABC hired on reasoner in 1970 for the Evening News. Five years later, ABC hired Walters as their first female co-host alongside Reasoner, and he was vocally upset by it. Despite his distaste for Walters, her career was on the rise, and there was no stopping her. ABC News reports that among several notable interviews, Walters conducted interview exclusives with Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, Martha Stewart before and after her trial, President Fidel Castro, former Vice President Al Gore, President and Mrs. Bush, Robert Blake, Egypts President Anwar Sadat, Israels Prime Minister Menachem, and many, many more. They also reported one of Walters most impressive facts about her career [she] has interviewed every American President and First Lady since Richard Nixon. Their strained professional relationship RELATED: How Many Times Has Barbara Walters Been Married? Reasoner and Walters strained professional relationship began when she was hired on to ABC as the first woman co-anchor, making a substantial amount of money to do so. Reasoner was outspoken about his unhappiness with her hire, and it caused a lot of friction between the two hosts friction that could clearly be seen on air. The problem was, Walters was a woman, and most people, Reason included, were sexist and rude about her success. Walters endured significant backlash and pressure as the first woman to co-host in a male-dominated industry. In an interview with Archive of American Television, Walter explains that she took the time to learn as much as she could about the Yankees to get the stagehands and others to so much as talk to her. I would come in with all of this stuff about the Yankees, and at least the stagehands would talk to me. And I would make bets with Harry, and sometimes I would win, she said. It was the only kind of communication we had. Otherwise, the studio was cold, and I was frozen out. Nonetheless, Walters doesnt harbor any ill will towards Reasoner. In fact, she explains that no one really understood what he was going through at the time, especially in his home life. Harry wasnt mean, she says. He was unhappy there. Unhappy with me. And as we learned later, going through many things in his private life that none of us knew about at the time. Harry Reasoner tried unsuccessfully to ruin Barbara Walters ultra-successful career Its no secret that many men in the journalism industry wanted Walters out. She was constantly challenged and treated harshly by sexists, intimated by her rapidly growing success and achievements. Most notably being Reasoner, whose patronizing manner wasnt even hidden while the camera was rolling. He tried to ruin Walters ultra-successful career but ultimately failed. In fact, even though the ratings for the show she co-anchored with him led to her having to step away from it, she still came out on top when ABC 20/20 made a big decision to bet on Walters and let Reasoner go. Before this decision, however, Biography.com notes that critics (including Reasoner) questioned Walters credibility and qualifications, insinuating the move [was] a publicity stunt by ABC News to cash in on Walters star status.' And although research indicated viewers didnt exclusively prefer male news anchors, the ratings for the evening news program were disastrous, and the network released Walters within two years. Of course, we all know the rest is history after that. Walters is known for her prestigious journalism career that soon followed, high-stakes interviews, and incredible talent. She paved the way for the many women journalists that would later make a name for themselves, and its all because she wouldnt back down when sexists like Reasoner tried to ruin her success just because she was a woman. 3 1 of 3 Eric Gay /Associated Press Show More Show Less 2 of 3 Eric Gay /Associated Press Show More Show Less 3 of 3 Texas and Florida are currently leading the nation among immigration detainee deaths as overall deaths continue to increase due to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a new study from the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles out last week. Since April 2018, 35 immigrants in total have died in Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention, per medical reports published by ICE: 26 of those deaths were cited as being caused from medical problems, and eight in total were attributed to COVID-10 in ICE reports, revealing the virus has accounted for over 72 percent of deaths since April of 2020. Travel stocks suffered another torrid day as fresh worries about coronavirus sent stock markets around the world into a tailspin. British Airways owner IAG was the biggest faller on the FTSE 100 as its shares dived 3.4 per cent, or 5.35p, to 151.6p amid fears that tighter travel restrictions are on the way to stop the spread of Covid-19. On the FTSE 250, holiday firm Tui was down 16.7 per cent, or 70.6p, to 352p while Easyjet traded down 3.3 per cent, or 26.6p, at 780.6p. With summer holidays under threat, the sell-off was echoed on the Continent as German airline Lufthansa fell 2.7 per cent and Air France KLM dropped 2.5 per cent. Travellers around the world are facing tough new rules that mean they must take a Covid test before departure and undergo a period of quarantine on arrival. Speculation is mounting that the UK may close its borders altogether. Hopes of an early end to lockdown are also fading despite the rollout of vaccines sparking fears of a double-dip recession and delayed recovery. The FTSE 100 fell 0.3 per cent, or 20.35 points, to 6695.07 points, while the FTSE 250 was down 1 per cent, or 196.81 points, to 20596.91. 'The FTSE 100 is drifting back towards the levels seen at the start of 2021 as any optimism over Brexit resolution and vaccine roll-out is swamped by the seemingly endless Covid-19 crisis,' said AJ Bell investment director Russ Mould. 'The Prime Minister's refusal to flatly rule out an extended lockdown, as rumours of a gradual reopening from May started to swirl, has knocked sentiment toward those firms that would benefit most from increased movement.' Trainline fell 5 per cent, or 22.2p, to 425.8p while WH Smith, which has shops in train stations and airports across the country, was down 3.3 per cent, or 58p, to 1725p. Shopping centre owner Hammerson whose tenants are struggling to survive while their stores are closed fell 6.2 per cent, or 1.35p, to 20.35p. Oil stocks were also on the back foot BP fell 1.1 per cent, or 3.35p, to 290p while Shell was down 1.3 per cent, or 17.2p, to 1359.6p as worries that new pandemic restrictions in China will curb demand for fuel hit the price of crude. Brent fell 1.1pc to 55.56. It wasn't all doom and gloom, however, and IT provider Kainos lifted its full-year guidance after a decent end to 2020. 'The continued momentum in our business has driven a strong trading performance and we therefore expect results for the year ending March 31, 2021 to be ahead of current market consensus expectations,' the firm said. Kainos said it was working on 'several substantial, long-term engagements as part of the Government's digital transformation programme, including supporting the NHS as it responds to Covid19'. Shares soared 16.4 per cent, or 186p, to 1322p. IT consultancy Computacenter was also bullish as it raised its profits forecasts 'in excess of 195m' for the third time in less than six months. The company added: 'The positive momentum we have seen in trading since the start of the pandemic shows no sign of abating.' Shares fell 1 per cent, or 24p, to 2430p. Pharmaceuticals giant Glaxosmithkline was given a boost when the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved HIV drug Cabenuva, which reduces treatment doses from one a day to one a month. Shares rose 1.1 per cent, or 15.4p, at 1380.2p. Investors were keeping a watchful eye on Diageo ahead of its update next week. The Smirnoff and Guinness owner is expected to reveal a 4.6 per cent sales slump, according to analysts. Pictured performing at a 2019 football game at Davis Wade Stadium, Mississippi States Famous Maroon Band is hosting auditions for prospective members throughout the spring semester. She has been showing off her flair for fashion in recent months. And Ashley Roberts was at it again on Friday as she made a very glamorous exit from Heart FM at Leicester Square's Global Studios in London. The Pussycat Dolls star, 39, oozed sophistication in a Chanel-inspired pink dogtooth co-ord from River Island for her work duties. Work it: Ashley Roberts was at it again on Friday as she made a very glamorous exit from Heart FM at Leicester Square's Global Studios in London Ashley showcased her toned figure in a matching crop top, figure-hugging pencil skirt and cardigan adorned with gold buttons. Adding some finishing touches, the former Strictly star accessorised the look with a bronze metallic quilted Chanel handbag, peach heels and a gold chain necklace. Ashley styled her blonde locks into a blow-dried hairdo, which was half sweptback, she added a slick of radiant make-up and tortoiseshell sunglasses. The presenter exuded confidence as she used Leicester Square's pavement as her very own catwalk while heading home. Sophistication: The Pussycat Dolls star, 39, oozed sophistication in a Chanel-inspired pink dogtooth co-ord from River Island for her work duties Ashley's latest outing comes as it was reported that The Pussycat Dolls are reportedly close to signing a new management deal. 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. Wowsers: Ashley showcased her toned figure in a matching crop top, figure-hugging pencil skirt and cardigan adorned with gold buttons 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. 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.' 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. In the early hey-days of the Range Rover, following its introduction in the 1970s, it was the vehicle of choice for the British rangers. The... Plus, Bill's Message of the Day, say goodbye to law and order Joe. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Cooperation at local, state and federal levels will be needed to support the Hispanic community through the pandemic and to engage them in economic recovery opportunities. Hispanic Americans are 2.5 times more likely to die from COVID-19 than whites, are overrepresented in essential jobs that cannot be done from home, and are subject to health risks resulting from systemic injustices.Latinos and Latinas account for 18.5 percent of the U.S. population, more than 60 million Americans. The Hispanic population in California, at nearly 14.5 million, is larger than the entire population of every state but four.At present, 6 percent of state legislators are Hispanic. Hispanics are even more underrepresented than Black Americans, who make up 13.4 percent of the population and are represented by close to 10 percent of state lawmakers.While their numbers may be small, 25 percent of Hispanic legislators are in leadership positions in their state capitals as speakers, presidents or majority or minority leaders, says Kenneth Romero-Cruz, the executive director of the National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators. Once you get elected, you have a better chance than other demographic groups of being in leadership.Nearly 40 percent of these senior officials are women, greater than the 29 percent overall among state legislators, suggesting that Latina candidates have a better chance than others in securing the opportunity to represent their communities. Thats a little counterintuitive to the stereotypes of machismo, says Romero-Cruz.About 13 percent of Hispanic state legislators are Republicans, though it was reported that 32 percent of Hispanic voters voted Republican in the presidential election. Romero-Cruz says that while there are Hispanic voters, theres no such thing as a Latino vote.Issues that are important to the Mexican American community are completely different from the Puerto Rican community, and different from the Cuban American community, so they vote very differently, he says.See also the companion map, Blacks in State Legislatures . Bangladeshi health minister Zahid Maleque (second from right) receives the countrys first batch of COVID-19 vaccines from Indian High Commissioner Vikram Doraiswami (right) during a ceremony in Dhaka, Jan. 21, 2021. Bangladesh received its first shipment of coronavirus vaccines a gift from the Indian government after Chinese state-owned Sinovac late last year withdrew from trials in the country following Dhakas refusal to co-fund phase-three tests for its vaccine. Bangladesh is preparing to begin inoculations in the first week of February after receiving Indias gift of 2 million doses of the Covishield vaccine, Health Minister Zahid Maleque said. The vaccine was developed through a partnership between drug maker AstraZeneca and Oxford University, and produced by the Serum Institute of India (SII). Today we have received 20 lakh (2 million) doses of vaccines as a gift from India. It is proven that friendly countries help each other. India helped us with vaccines the way they helped us during our war of independence, Maleque said, after Indian High Commissioner Vikram K. Doraiswami handed over the vaccine shipment to Bangladesh during a ceremony in Dhaka. Maleque was referring to the 1971 war in what was then known as East Pakistan. Bangladesh has also agreed to buy 5 million doses of the SII-produced Covishield through a local drugmaker, which is expected to begin arriving after Jan. 25 and over a six-month period, Maleque said. So, we will get a total of 70 lakh (seven million) doses of vaccines in the first phase. With this, we can vaccinate 35 lakh (3.5 million) people in the first phase, Maleque told BenarNews. Hopefully, we can start the vaccination in the first week of February, provided the prime minister approves it. Frontline coronavirus workers, including doctors and health workers, would be the first to be inoculated against COVID-19, said Dr. Abul Bashar Mohammad Khurshid Alam, director general of the health directorate. The government would simultaneously start vaccinations in all districts, he said. Bangladesh is seeing steady declines in new coronavirus infections since Dec. 10. Still, it has a cumulative caseload of more than 500,000 COVID-19 cases and 7,966 virus-related deaths, so far. On Thursday, the country reported 584 new infections and 16 coronavirus deaths. Chinas image tarnished in Bangladesh Indias gift to Bangladesh is one of the largest vaccine gifts by New Delhi, said Doraiswami, the Indian high commissioner to Bangladesh. The vaccines were launched in India on Saturday. They are here in Dhaka on Thursday, within four days. And this is among the fastest deliveries of vaccines that we have done for anybody, primarily because of the importance of ensuring that our friends also achieve immunity along with us, Doraiswami said at the handover ceremony. Separately, Bangladesh had been told by the Global Alliance of Vaccine Initiative (GAVI) that it would receive 68 million doses of coronavirus vaccines, but these are unlikely to be available before May this year, Bangladeshs health minister said. Chinese biotech company Sinovac pulled out of trials in Bangladesh after Dhaka in October notified the firm that it would not agree to co-fund a phase-three trial because that was not part of a deal agreed to in July, Maleque had told BenarNews at the time. No country in the world has paid money to a company for a vaccine trial. Sinovac should thank us as we offered our people for the trial, he had said. Under the deal, Sinovac was also supposed to give Bangladesh 110,000 free vaccines a paltry number, Touhid Hossain, a former foreign secretary, told BenarNews on Thursday. India has sent two million doses of vaccines, this volume is quite good. India is the first country to offer us vaccines. This development would no doubt brighten Indias image in Bangladesh, Hossain said. All [Bangladesh] governments since 1976 had expressed the view that China is our tested friend. But we have come to understand that China only looks after its interests as they do not support us in the Rohingya crisis either. This has tarnished Chinas image in Bangladesh. Hossain was referring to China recently voting against two resolutions criticizing Myanmar at a U.N. General Assembly committee tasked with discussing social, humanitarian affairs and human rights issues around the world. Meanwhile, a Bangladeshi company and another Chinese company, Anhui Zhifei, have applied to the Bangladesh Medical Research Council for eligibility approval for a third phase trial of the latters coronavirus vaccine. Protesting farmer leaders on Friday alleged that a conspiracy has been hatched to kill four of them and create disturbance during their proposed tractor rally on January 26. At a late night press conference at the Singhu border, the farmer leaders presented a person who claimed that his accomplices were allegedly asked to pose as policemen and baton charge the crowd during the proposed tractor rally. The farmer leaders claimed that they had caught the man from the protest site at the Singhu border. He was later handed over to the Haryana Police. Farmer leader Kulwant Singh Sandhu alleged that attempts are being made to disrupt the ongoing agitation against the three farm laws. The man, who had his face covered with a scarf, claimed at the press conference that a plan has been hatched to shoot four farmer leaders, who are known faces in the media, at the stage on January 23. "On January 26, there was a plan to create disturbance during the tractor rally by opening fire on Delhi Police personnel, which would prompt them to retaliate on the protesting in a strong manner," the man alleged at the press conference. Thousands of farmers, mostly from Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh, have been camping at several Delhi border points since November 28, demanding a repeal of three farm laws and a legal guarantee on minimum support price 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 to sell their produce anywhere in the country. However, the protesting 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. Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-22 19:23:45|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, Jan. 22 (Xinhua) -- China on Friday voiced firm opposition to a resolution passed by the European Parliament over Hong Kong, urging it to respect China's sovereignty and stop lecturing other countries on human rights. In response to a related query, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said Hong Kong affairs are purely the internal affairs of China and brook no interference from any foreign government, organization or individual. "Certain members of the European Parliament, confusing right and wrong, have advanced the passing of the so-called resolution, constituting a gross interference in Hong Kong affairs and China's internal affairs," Hua said, adding that China firmly opposes such practices. "We urge the European Parliament to face squarely the fact that Hong Kong has returned to China, abide by the international law and basic norms governing international relations, abandon double standards and stop lecturing other countries over human rights," Hua said. The European Parliament should earnestly respect China's sovereignty and the rule of law in Hong Kong, and stop meddling in Hong Kong affairs and China's internal affairs in any form, the spokesperson added. Enditem Arlene Westervelt, above, and her husband, Bert, went for a canoe trip on June 26, 2016. Originally, Kelowna RCMP classed her death as a drowning that happened when the canoe capsized. CTV's W5 found more to the story. remaining of Thank you for reading! This is your last free article before you will be asked to subscribe. Already have a paid subscription? Sign in Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. New Delhi, Jan 22 : The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has arrested two Sri Lankan Tamils -- who are key operatives in an international drugs racket -- from Chennai in Tamil Nadu, a senior officer said on Friday. On the basis of intelligence shared with the Sri Lankan authorities, they had seized 100 kg heroin on November 27 last year from the island nation, NCB Deputy Director KPS Malhotra told IANS. Sources said that the contraband was valued at Rs 1,000 crore. The heroin smuggling syndicate was based out of Pakistan and Sri Lanka and its tentacles spread as far as Afghanistan, Iran, Maldives, and Australia. Malhotra said that arrested accused MMM Nawas and Mohamed Afnas were living in Chennai by concealing their identities but the agency managed to zero in on them. The action comes as a follow-up to the seizure of a Sri Lankan fishing vessel 'Shenaya Duwa' by NCB and Indian Coast Guard in Indian territorial waters near Tuticorin Port on November 26, 2020, along with 95.87 kg heroin and 18.32 kg methamphetamine. The NCB had also seized five pistols and magazines from the vessel's crew. "Six Sri Lankans were arrested, who are now in judicial custody," the NCB officer said. The official said that the NCB was aware of the international links of the racket, especially in Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan. "Hence, we began to probe every available thread in the case and soon found that two key operatives in the racket were living in Chennai. The NCB subsequently rounded up Nawas and Afnas." The NCB officer claimed that Nawas and Afnas held important positions in the heroin syndicate and controlled operations related to mid-sea pick-up and delivery of narcotics from Pakistani and Iranian vessels. He said that both had fled Sri Lanka as the authorities in the island nation were closing in on them. "There is an Interpol Red Corner Notice issued by the Sri Lankan government against Nawas," the officer said. Malhotra said that the 'death triangle' aka 'Golden Crescent' comprising Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan -- where the world's largest opium cultivation is done -- has two important transit points for processed heroin -- Sri Lanka and Maldives. "Heroin from this region is usually loaded on to fishing vessels setting sail from the ports of Iran and Pakistan for mid-sea transfers to similar vessels of Sri Lanka and Maldives," he said. These mid-sea transfers occur in or very near the Indian territorial waters. "There is a big network of foreign entities controlling this lucrative trade. Reliable intelligence developed by the NCB and Indian agencies over a period of time indicates that Pakistani drug traffickers lodged in Sri Lankan prisons control this trade and source and deliver large quantities of heroin from the Golden Crescent to Sri Lankan and Maldivian entities," the NCB officer said. Let us know what you're seeing and hearing around the community. Submit here New Delhi, Jan 22 : The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) has received as many as 9,714 applications and payments from 2,955 applicants until Friday for Housing Scheme - 2021 offering 1,350 flats, a senior official told IANS. The official said that a total of 49,416 applicants have registered under the scheme. "The response to the scheme is great. We have received almost double the number of applications in each category of flats. This response is an indication that all the flats being offered will be sold," official said. Under its new housing scheme, the DDA is offering flats in Dwarka, Jasola, Manglapuri, Rohini and Vasant Kunj. As per the information received from the DDA, a total of 254 HIG (Higher Income Group) are on offer out of which majority are located in Jasola. Pocket 9B flats in HIG category are available in the price range of Rs 1.97 crore to Rs 2.14 crore. 13 flats are on sale in Vasant Kunj in the price range of Rs 1.43 crore to Rs 1.72 crore. As many as 352 MIG (Middle Income Group) flats located in Dwarka Sector 19-B, 348 in Dwarka Sector 16, and four in Vasant Kunj are on sale under the scheme while as many as 276 EWS flats in Dwarka's Manglapuri area are being offered. "Of the 2,955 applicants who have paid up the booking amount, 659 have paid the amount for the EWS category, 444 for the LIG category and 1,852 for the MIG and HIG category. Most flats are likely to be completed by March 31, 2021, except flats in Dwarka, Sector 16B which are likely to be completed by September 30, 2021," official added. Applications will remain active until February 16, 2021. As the coronavirus continues to flare across Houston, hospitals that have not been declared hubs through the states vaccine rollout plan are facing mounting hurdles, as their vaccine supply runs short this week. Harris Health canceled hundreds of appointments scheduled for Friday after its vaccine supply dried up, said CEO Esmaeil Porsa. And at Baylor College of Medicine, staff are rescheduling 1,420 first-dose patients next week. The hospital now estimates those patients will be vaccinated in mid-February, when the vaccine supply will be more consistent. We stopped scheduling new appointments because were not sure well have an adequate supply and dont want to add more fuel to the fire, said Dr. James McDeavitt, dean of clinical affairs at Baylor College of Medicine. Texans have been frustrated and enraged by a lack of access to the vaccine. The state allowed vaccine providers to immunize the phase 1B group, people 65 and older or between the ages of 16 and 65 with a chronic illness. However, eligibility has not guaranteed access especially as hospitals and clinics are still struggling to vaccinate their own front-line workers. While BCM has scheduled 4,000 appointments for patients to receive their second dose, the hospital has received only 3,000 of the doses. McDeavitt says BCM plans to receive the remaining doses in time and will not need to reschedule appointments. INTERACTIVE MAP: These Harris County ZIP codes have the highest number of COVID-19 cases At HCA Houston Healthcare, the system has received only enough vaccines to vaccinate our colleagues, said Marsha Buchanan, an HCA spokesperson. We do not yet have access to vaccine doses for the public, she said. The HCA system is not booking appointments until it receives more vaccine. Worldwide, health care providers are frustrated theyre not receiving enough first doses to administer to patients. Pfizer reduced vaccine shipments to Canada and Europe after closing down a Belgian factory for renovations. In the U.S., state officials say what theyre getting doesnt match what federal distributors say theyre giving. Medical leaders such as Dr. David Lakey, a member of the scientific panel that advises Texas on vaccine allocation, say there isnt enough vaccine being produced and distributed to states to match demand. Texas receives 330,000 doses a week, just over 1 percent of its population, and has been able to administer more than 1.5 million doses statewide, according to a Chronicle data analysis. State leaders like Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick have acknowledged that vaccine rollout has been a major problem, recommending that the state issue new criteria breaking down 1B into subgroups to reduce pressure on providers. Its going to be awhile before we get all we need, Lakey said. Baylors McDeavitt and Harris Healths Porsa have asked the state for a steadier supply of vaccine. But Department of State Health Services officials have directed most doses in recent weeks to vaccination hubs the health department and major hospital sites that immunize more people in one place and streamline the sign-up process. As a result, not every provider is struggling. The Houston Health Department opened 1,600 vaccine appointment slots Friday afternoon after receiving 9,000 new doses. Larger hospitals such as Houston Methodist and Memorial Hermann have loaded thousands of vials into their hospitals every week. On HoustonChronicle.com: Got COVID questions? Submit them here The solution might be to approve medical systems such as Harris Health as vaccination hubs, said state Rep. Armando Walle, who was appointed Harris Countys COVID-19 relief and recovery czar last April. You do have willing and able institutions in our region that want to provide the service, but we need vaccine, Walle said. There are going to be hiccups. We just have to acknowledge those problems, fix them and get as many shots in the arms as we can in the next three or four months. But to other health equity experts such as Elena Marks, president of the Houston-based Episcopal Health Foundation, the answer is as simple as ramping up vaccine production and distribution, especially to the hospitals that serve the city and countys uninsured and low-income populations. Even with the prioritization of the 1B group, not everyone within that group has an equal shot at registering for a vaccine appointment. With more supply, vaccine providers can address the overwhelming demand. If youve got the time to do the research and to call the numbers over and over again or keep going online, you will have a better shot than someone who was in the same group as you but has two jobs, Marks said. In the interim, county and state representatives are scrambling to redirect COVID-19 vaccine shipments to the hospitals that say theyre running out. Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo has asked Harris County Public Health to direct an additional 1,000 vaccine doses toward Harris Health. Those doses will likely be used to cover Mondays appointments, said Bryan McLeod, a Harris Health spokesperson. Theres no question vulnerable communities and communities of color have borne the brunt of this pandemic, Hidalgo said, and we simply cannot let vulnerable communities fall through the cracks when it comes to making sure they have access to vaccines. gwendolyn.wu@chron.com twitter.com/gwendolynawu Oil slumped below $52 a barrel in New York as renewed virus lockdowns deepened pessimism over demand, while a stronger dollar reduced the appeal of commodities priced in the currency. Consumption remains precarious, with parts of Hong Kong locking down, some Shanghai residents banned from leaving the city and the U.K. prime minister signaling restrictions may last for months. Traffic in New York fell from a month earlier. Despite the concerns over day-to-day demand, physical crude-buying for the coming months has firmed in recent days. A flurry of purchases by Chinese, Indian and Thai refiners has supported prices, while key swaps tied to the North Sea market are at the strongest level in 10 months. Thats keeping the futures curve in a bullish structure known as backwardation. A pullback in oil futures has been on the cards, with crude trading near its highest level in almost a year. Investors have flocked back to commodities as frigid winter weather and hopes of a big economic stimulus from U.S. President Joe Biden support buying interest. Saudi Arabias unilateral output cut also eased oversupply concerns, helping reshape the oil futures curve. The reflation trade is not dead, said Ole Hansen, head of commodities research at Saxo Bank A/S. But for now its pausing, and that could leave many markets overexposed. The Biden administrations initial steps -- including a suspension of the sale of oil and gas leases on federal land, a focus on fiscal spending and a likely delay in lifting sanctions on Iran --- may help tighten the oil market this year and next, Goldman Sachs Group Inc. said in a note. A speedier vaccine rollout could also boost jet-fuel demand, it said. Iran, meanwhile, has started ramping up its oil production and expects to reach pre-sanctions levels in one to two months, according to Deputy Oil Minister Amir Hossein Zamaninia. The market will be able to accommodate the countrys maximum output of around 3.9 million to 4 million barrels a day, he said. But risks for any buyer remain as long as U.S. sanctions are in place. Australian Nobel laureate scientist Brian Schmidt has told a summit of global leaders that Australia is duty bound to take a lead on climate action and called for an international effort to combat an anti-science agenda and climate change denial. For Australia, which is such a large per capita contributor to global emissions and which has such abundance of natural renewable resources, the answer lies in scaling up clean energy generation ASAP, Professor Schmidt, vice-chancellor of the Australian National University, said in a speech on Friday night. Australian National University vice-chancellor and president Brian Schmidt. Credit:Jamie Kidston/the Australian National University This is an urgent moral obligation which Australia must not shirk. Professor Schmidt, who won the Nobel prize for physics in 2011, made his comments to the Climate Adaptation Summit, hosted by the Netherlands but being conducted online. Bangui, Central African Republic (PANA) - The top UN official in the Central African Republic (CAR) appealed to the Security Council on Thursday for more peacekeepers and equipment amid escalating violence surrounding elections last month A leading cosmetic doctor says he's seen a 20 per cent increase in 'mask lip' - chapped or infected lips caused by wearing prolonged wearing of a face covering - since the pandemic began. Dr Tijion Esho, who runs two clinics in the UK and one in Dubai, claims he's experienced a significant rise in patients coming to his practices with a condition he describes as 'mask lip'. The doctor, who performs aesthetic medicine and non-surgical procedures, told FEMAIL that not looking after your lips properly after wearing a mask for prolonged periods can cause severe chapping and even fungal infections. Scroll down for video Dr Esho, who has clinics in London, Newcastle and Dubai, claims he's seen a 20 per cent rise in cases of what's been dubbed 'mask lip' Cosmetic doctor says harsh materials, the winter chill and prolonged wearing are all a disaster for lips, sparking severe chapping and fungal infections Advises using a lip balm, picking a softer fabric for your mask and hydrating Dr Tijion Esho says wearing a mask is essential during the pandemic but can wreak havoc on sensitive lips He said: 'Mask use is now mandatory and for good reason but unfortunately repeated use has led to an increased number of patients complaining of dry lips that practitioners are now calling "mask lip". 'I've seen a 20 per cent increase of patients seeking treatment for excessive dryness of lips at my clinics and the underline reason in a majority of cases has been due to mask use. 'Mask use is important theres no getting away from that but how we wear our masks and how we take care of our lips can help prevent it becoming worse and developing complications such a fungal infections to the area.' He said the added element of the winter weather had made the situation worse for many: 'Lips need extra care and hydration over winter as the harsh winds and low humidity strips moisture from the lip surface.' HOW TO AVOID MASK LIP: DR ESHO'S TOP TIPS Hydrating lips and using a lip balm can remedy mask lip, says Dr Esho (Pictured left, mask lip, right, after healing, hydration and moisturising) USE A SOFTER MASK Try avoid using harsh materials for masks. Light cottons and silks are gentle against the skin and lip surface and reduce friction to the lip. HYDRATE Make sure you are hydrating, at least 2 litres plus daily of water. Excess mask use and increased humidity in the area around the mouth leads to increased losses of water from the lip surface, leaving lips more prone to becoming dry and cracked. Dr Esho, pictured in his clinic, has appeared on Channel 4 series Body Fixers and says mask lip is a cosmetic pitfall of the pandemic EXFOLIATE Drying of the lips from repeated mask use and friction from masks can lead to a build-up of dead, dry skin on the lip surface. Try mixing some honey together with some sugar and using a wet, soft toothbrush to gently brush off the dead skin. Apply coconut oil generously before bed to further hydrate. LIP BALM WITH AN SPF Its important to choose a product that will not only treat dry skin, but also boost your lips hydration through all its layers. Avoid using waxes that will just sit on the surface of the lip. Ensure to follow up with an SPF. We forget our lip surface is susceptible to damage from variable levels of UVA and UVB rays as well as environmental free radicals. Alan Sonfist poses next to land art in his New York studio. The 'Earth Pandemic' exhibits provide an awareness of our existence on the planet, explains Sonfist. We have to create a balance on Earth as a species in order to survive because if we dont respect the environment, then well disappear. This past year, the COVID-19 pandemic revealed how vulnerable the world is to unexpected crises. The same can be said about the environment, which is fragile and impacted by overpopulation, pollution, burning fossil fuels and deforestation. Environmental transitions are explored in land artist Alan Sonfists Earth Pandemic exhibits at the Gillespie Museum and Homer and Dolly Hand Art Center on Stetson Universitys campus. The 'Earth Pandemic' exhibits provide an awareness of our existence on the planet, explains Sonfist. We have to create a balance on Earth as a species in order to survive because if we dont respect the environment, then well disappear. The Gillespie Museum installation will feature the Earth Monument to South Florida, March 2-31, a display showcasing geologic history and drillings from the substrate of the Florida peninsula. The installation is one in a series of stone sculptures titled Corings: 1971-2012, which is based on the geology of urban landscapes. The display features sculpture that Sonfist uses as his medium sediment along with geologic cores taken from zero to 150 feet below the surface. Sonfists artistic vision can be seen in conjunction with the museums Florida Formations: Shifting Seas and Sediments exhibit, which allows visitors to consider the intersection of art and science, and to understand the geology of Floridas landmass. Who better than to lead our reflections on the timeless beauty and fragility of the Earth than a pioneering land artist like Alan Sonfist, who has an abiding interest in science, said Karen Cole, PhD, director of the Gillespie Museum. The Hand Art Center display, March 1-31, will include paintings from the Surface Memory, 1967-1971 and Earth Paintings series. The Surface Memory, 1967-1971 display will include more than 10 natural-resin-on-canvas paintings that feature ancient tree fingerprints. The tree-fingerprint artwork features the bark, limbs, roots and other parts of young and old trees from indigenous forests in the northeast. The paintings capture Sonfists childhood memories of the ancient oak trees that he climbed as a child in Bronx, New York, and illustrate the aging process of humans and trees with texture on the canvases that feature different stages of aging trees. The Earth Paintings series was inspired by Sonfist creating human figures in the mud at the Bronx River as a youngster. The artwork features soil, mineral content and organic glue, which holds the earth onto the canvas. The paintings are also based on the earths magic as it dries, cracks and changes colors. Alan Sonfists atypical medium, including dirt, leaves and forest debris, is presented in typical fashion on canvas and paper adorning the gallerys walls, said James Pearson, MA, director of the Hand Art Center. With this installation, Sonfist is both affirming his standing as a visual artist and inviting the viewer to contemplate earth as a medium. Sonfist, who has a Master of Arts in painting and sculpture from Hunter College in New York, has been creating environmental art since he was a young child. He was invited by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) to research and develop the concept of an ancient forest and create the idea of what is a forest and how does a person design a forest during the late 1960s. Sonfists research led him to create the Time Landscape in New York City, which was his first large-scale, permanent land-art display. The project took 10 years to transform a concrete landscape into a forest, featuring plants and trees that were native to the area as well as southern species that would adjust well to a warmer climate because the temperature had evolved and increased since the citys early days. The environment, no matter the size, has a story to pass on to future generations. The Hand Art Center is contributing to the environments history by inviting the community to participate in Sonfists Primitive Soil Time Capsule. The Hand Art Center is collecting, securing and storing two-inch soil samples free from other materials, such as leaves and debris, sealed appropriately for mailing from around the world through Sunday, May 9. After the soil samples are received in the mail, they will be included in the Primitive Soil Time Capsule and displayed next to the Hand Art Centers Earth Pandemic exhibit. The primitive samples must be in a small container and include the approximate location where the soil was collected. Participants can also request a soil-collection container with a postage-paid envelope addressed to the Hand Art Center. Stetson faculty, staff and students and the community can learn more about Sonfist and his artwork during a free livestreamed artist talk via Zoom on Tuesday, March 2, 5-6 p.m. The event is sponsored by the Artists and Lecturers Series, Gillespie Museum and Hand Art Center. Visit the Gillespie Museum and Hand Art Centers websites for more information. Guests may be allowed on campus to view the Earth Pandemic exhibits at the Gillespie Museum and Hand Art Center when COVID-19 pandemic restrictions are lifted at Stetson University. Admission is free. The exhibits also can be viewed online. About Stetson University Founded in 1883, Stetson University is the oldest private university in Central Florida. Stetson focuses on intense learning experiences in a supportive community that allows students to develop their voice in a connected, inclusive environment. Stetson University ranks No. 5 on U.S. News & World Reports 2019 list of Best Regional Universities (South), and has been recognized as one of The Princeton Reviews 386 Best Colleges, 2021 edition. Stay connected with Stetson on social media. Contact: Sandra Carr Media Relations P: 407-256-5090 E: scarr3@stetson.edu Snow and freezing temperatures are on the way as Met Eireann has issued a Snow and Ice Warning for all of Ireland for the weekend. Met Eireann has issued a Status Yellow Snow/Ice warning for Ireland from 6pm on Saturday until midday on Sunday. It is warning that there will be falls of hail, sleet and snow with icy and hazardous conditions. Separately Met Eireann has issued a Status Yellow Snow/Ice warning for Cavan, Monaghan, Donegal, Leitrim, Mayo, Roscommon and Sligo from midday today until midday on Saturday. The UK Met Office has also issued a Yellow Snow and Ice Warning for Antrim, Armagh, Down, Fermanagh, Tyrone, Derry from 4pm today (Friday) until 10.30am on Saturday. Dear patient readers, I apologize abjectly for being a bit short on original posts today, although Lambert has a juicy offering launching later in the day. Service crapification (basically all sorts of what ought to be routine stuff taking tons of extra steps and follow up) is one part of what is competing for my time. The other is all sorts of nonsense, like having to send multiple certified letters to a debt collector hounding my mother over an ambulance charge she already paid to dealing with a neighbor who is trying to stymie us cutting branches of his trees that are in my mothers yard and threatening her phone/power lines. Fortunately, hes not as good at this as he thinks he is. But dealing with the problem takes time I dont have and he by design is making it more of an energy sink. Apartments were so much easier! Injured Dog Owner Spends $400 On Vet For His Limping Dog Only To Find Out He Was Copying The Owner Out Of Sympathy Bored Panda Invasive tawny crazy ants have an intense craving for calcium with implications for their spread in the US PhyOrs (Robert M). WTF, feral hogs, murder hornets, and now this? Giant worms undersea lair discovered by fossil hunters in Taiwan Guardian (Kevin W) #COVID-19 Another barnstormer from @CharlesWalkerMP whatever your politics listen to this pic.twitter.com/lKuU7rHSPc Ajay Jagota (@ajayjagota) January 21, 2021 Iran and the Coronavirus: From Denial to National Mobilization. A chapter from The Coronavirus in the Middle East: State and Society in a Time of Crisis. China? Crackdown on Jack Mas empire gathers pace despite reappearance Financial Times BlackRocks China challenge a red flag for Biden Asia Times (Kevin W). I cant get worked up about BlackRock losing its #1 spot in Chinese ETFs to a Chinese fund manager because youd expect Chinese nationals to dominate trading. But yes, Trump accelerated what was an inevitable process. Feed fight: African consumers hit as Asia gobbles up rice supplies Reuters (resilc). :-( Fire at India plant of worlds biggest vaccine maker Al Jazeera Brexit The UK refusing to give full diplomatic status the EU's mission in London is baffling at at time when @BorisJohnson is trying to connect with @JoeBiden because it recalls what Trump administration did to the EU ambassador back in 2019. Stay with me/1https://t.co/W1RYbN8LOs Peter Foster (@pmdfoster) January 21, 2021 New Cold War Imperial Collapse Watch The militarization of American democracy The Hill (Kevin C). On the one hand, expresses well-warranted concern. But on the other, where were these people when (for instance) 1. The Obama Administration coordinated a 17 city militarized crackdown on Occupy Wall Street, which was not threatening any democratic processes, and was at best a continuing poke in the eye to Big Finance, which was abrogating the long-standing tradition of local control of policing; 2. The NYPD put itself above democratic accountability by having most police attendees turn their back on Mayor de Blasio at a police funeral, because de Blasio had made tame criticisms of the police after one of their bad murders by cop (so many I cant recall which) and 3. Team Dem happily and eagerly using the intel state to try to overturn the Constitutional change of power, as in take the position that third world style, the military has to sign off on who becomes the President? The making of US empire at the dawning of its end Pepe Escobar, Asia Times Trump Transition The Lincoln Project co-founder says post-Trump hes going after Cruz The Hill Capitol Seizure Biden Another Sanders meme (see Lambert in Water Cooler yesterday). This from Kevin C, who has quite the connected e-mail list (your truly is definitely on the slumming end of his recipients): And: Bernie Sanders inauguration mittens: The funniest versions of the meme CNET The Meaning of the Mittens: Five Possibilities Intercept. My addition: insecurity, both of the elites in their position (which as this piece stresses, they work SO HARD to protect/project) and ordinary people. Mittens are for children. But they are super warm, underscoring security needs. And Bernies looked like they might be indestructible. The fact that this mittens fixation has gone on so long say there is a serious disturbance in the force. Under @NYGovCuomo marijuana legalization proposal, released Tuesday, selling ANY amount to a person under 21 is a class D felony which carries the potential of 2.5 yrs in prison. This same behavior is currently a misdemeanor. Legalization cannot mean increased criminalization. Eli Northrup (@EliNorthrup) January 21, 2021 National Economic Council Director Brian Deese Remarks at U.S. Conference of Mayors Winter Meeting C-SPAN (Kevin C) Our Famously Free Press Aviation Lawsuit Filed Against Boeing Regarding Hard Landing Napoli Shkolnik Bauposts Seth Klarman compares investors to frogs in boiling water Financial Times Eggs, basket: The hidden and not-so-hidden risks for companies that invest in bitcoin Francine McKenna Class Warfare Do College Degrees Mean More Wealth? St. Louis Fed (UserFriendly). The rentiers, as in the higher educational industrial complex, are extracting more of the income gains. You see the same pattern in M&A (even when there really are synergies between seller and buyer, in the overwhelming majority of cases, the seller extracts those gains in the sales price) and PE (PE firms extract their higher gross returns in overt and hidden fees and costs, leaving investors with public-stock-level returns). 22 Farm, Ranch, Manufacturer and Labor Groups Support American Blueberry Growers Trade Relief Request I eat a lot of blueberries. Now I will have to check to see if they are domestic or at worst Canadian. Antidote du jour. Tracie H: This beautiful fellow is Mike. He resides with the folks who run the Trona Airport (Trona, California) and greeted us with abundant warmth when we visited. And a bonus video: See Yesterdays Links and Antidote du Jour here. Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-22 17:47:47|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close An A330 airliner from the Sichuan Airlines taking part in the flight-test ceremony lands at the Chengdu Tianfu International Airport in Chengdu, capital of southwest China's Sichuan Province, Jan. 22, 2021. The Chengdu Tianfu International Airport started flight-test of real planes on Friday. The airport, one of the country's largest civil airport projects, was slated to be basically completed by the end of 2020 and officially put into operation in the first half of 2021. (Xinhua/Shen Bohan) CHENGDU, Jan. 22 (Xinhua) -- Chengdu Tianfu International Airport in southwest China's Sichuan Province completed a test with the landing of several passenger planes on Friday, a key step toward opening for operations. The airport will be the largest airport in southwestern China and the second international airport in the provincial capital Chengdu. It is located some 50 km from downtown Chengdu and is set to open in 2021. It boasts a 1.26 million-square-meter terminal and can meet an annual passenger throughput of 90 million, according to the Sichuan Airport Group Co., Ltd. The opening of the second airport will help Chengdu become an integrated international transport hub linking China with Europe, the Middle East, Central Asia and Southeast Asia. Enditem Robert Kocharyan on years of his leadership in Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia Situation on Armenian-Azerbaijani border is still tense, more on COVID-19 in Armenia, May 28 digest "Armenia" alliance of political parties paying tribute to founder of First Republic Aram Manukyan (LIVE) Yerevan.today: Armenia acting PM not greeted at ruling party's headquarters, citizens call him 'capitulator' Russia MOD reports on maintenance of ceasefire regime in Nagorno-Karabakh Armenia acting MOD meets with Russian counterpart in Moscow Armenia 2nd President: I see possibility of restoring borders of Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast We can provide our army with some key, modernized weapons, says Armenia ex-President Kocharyan Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: Captives issue is not one that any opposition force can resolve OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs release statement on detention of 6 Armenian servicemen by Azerbaijan Armenian acting Deputy PM: Discussion on issues possible only after withdrawal of Azeri troops from Armenia's territory Armenia acting PM on Syunik roads, Russian military posts: This is only place where there are working nuances Armenia acting PM: Process of return of POWs will intensify after upcoming elections Putin congratulates Aliyev on Republic Day 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 (Photo : Screenshot From Pxhere Official Website) Google Threatens to Disable Search Engine if Australia Forces Them to Pay Local Publishers for News Despite 94% of Searches Made on Platform Google is now threatening to disable its popular search engine over in Australia if the company is forced to pay the local publishers for the news in a dramatic escalation with the government. The dispute could have a huge impact on how Australians search for information online. According to the story by Bloomberg, this proposed law now is intended to compensate the publishers for the main value of their own stories and what it generates for the company. However, according to the managing director for Australia and New Zealand, Mel Silva, it is unworkable. This is what she told the parliamentary hearing that took place on Friday. She also specifically opposed requiring Google to pay the media companies for certain snippets of articles within search results. The threat is now known as most potent to Google as the digital giant still tries to stem a flow of regulatory action all across the world. It was stated that at least 94% of all online searches in Australia are made through Alphabet Inc unit, Google, according to the local competition regulator. Facebook also strong about its opposition to this law According to the Prime Minister of Australia, Scott Morrison, "we don't respond to threats." It was also stated that Australia makes its own rules for certain things that they can do in Australia. That is supposedly done in their parliament. It is also done by their government. It was then clarified that that is how things work within Australia. Facebook is the only other company that is also targeted by this particular legislation and it is said to also oppose the law. The social media platform even reiterated at the hearing that took place on Friday that it is even considering blocking Australians from even being able to share certain news on Facebook should this law be pushed through. Read Also: VW Boss Herbert Diess Takes a Public Jab at Tesla CEO Elon Musk on Twitter with a Bold Message Senator accuses company of 'blackmail' The legislation is supposedly designed in order to support the local media industry. This includes Rupert Murdoch's News Corp that has reportedly been struggling to adapt towards the digital economy. Google's own tougher stance drew certain rebukes coming from lawmakers during the hearing. Andrew Bragg, Senator, even accused the tech giant of even trying to "blackmail" both Australians and policymakers, also reported by The Verge. Silva gave a statement to the panel of senators saying if this particular version of the code were eventually to become a law, it would then give them no real choice but to completely stop Google Search being available in Australia. She then described this particular law as "untenable" when it comes to the financial and operational precedent. The California-based Google, Mountain View, on Thursday tried to reach a deal along with the French media publishers after the official country's competition authority and urged it to pay for certain content. It had then stopped showing news results that came from European publishers on their search results for the french users last year. This was to comply with the copyright laws. Related Article: WhatsApp Users' Mobile Numbers from Desktop App Found Via Indexing on Google Search This article is owned by Tech Times Written by Urian Buenconsejo 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Mammootty, the megastar is finally back to the shooting sets after a long gap of 10 months. The senior actor recently resumed shooting for his upcoming political drama, One in Kochi. Interestingly, Mammootty is now winning the internet with his stylish look in the news stills from the location of One. In the new pictures that are going viral on social media, the megastar is seen in a ponytail look, which is teamed up with a yellow shirt, face mask, and sunglasses. Well, Mammootty is unarguably looking a million bucks in his new looks and has set some serious fashion goals for the younger generation. As reported earlier, Mammootty is planning to wrap up the shooting of One in a short schedule that is expected to last for 3-4 days. According to director Santhosh Viswanath, the megastar's new ponytail look will not affect the pending portions, as most of the scenes left are supposed to be shot amidst a crowd. Vellam Movie Review: Jayasurya's Performance Is The Soul Of This Deeply Moving Survival Drama To the unversed, Mammootty is sporting this new look for the upcoming Amal Neerad directorial, which is expected to start rolling by the beginning of February 2021. The movie, which is said to be a Netflix original film, will mark Mammootty and Amal Neerad's yet another collaboration before they resume the shooting of the highly anticipated project Bilal. The Big B sequel is currently delayed due to the novel coronavirus pandemic. Instead, the Mammootty-Amal Neerad duo is joining hands for a relatively small project, that is expected to be shot entirely inside Kerala. Soubin Shahir, the actor-filmmaker is playing a pivotal role in the yet to be titled film. Mammootty will be next seen in the highly anticipated upcoming horror thriller The Priest, which is slated to be released on February 4, Thursday. The official teaser of the movie, which was released last week, had totally impressed the Malayalam cinema audiences. Also Read: Republic Day 2021: Patriotic Dialogues Of Mohanlal You Can't Afford To Miss! Tovino Thomas Launches His Production Banner; To Announce The Debut Venture Soon! Leading the global charge for Australian gin Stuart Gregor and Cameron Mackenzie explain the origins of Four Pillars Gin and how the brand is continuing to reach new global heights. Cam Mackenzie and Stu Gregor Four Pillars Gin When it launched seven years ago, Four Pillars was one of only a few homegrown gin brands in Australia. Fast forward to 2020, and the distiller is a global success and part of a booming and innovative Aussie gin scene - but it remains a front runner in the pack and a major driver of the popularity of Australian gin around the world. We caught up with Four Pillars' co-founders, Stuart Gregor and Cameron Mackenzie, to find out more about the brand's journey and how it feels to be on top of the gin world Down Under. Where did you both start out, and how did you get into gin making? Cam - I worked in the wine industry for nearly 20 years from retail through to production. Weirdly I'm also an Olympian, having run in the 4x400m at the 1996 Atlanta Games, before I started working with Stuart in a wine business (Beringer Blass) on an Olympic scholarship in 1998. My running career went rapidly downhill after this initial encounter - I missed a spot in the 2000 Olympic team by one place - and Stuart has felt guily ever since. Stu - I'm a veteran of 20 years in the drinks business, and have helped launch and promote dozens of premium brands in wine, spirits and beer. My background also saw me author several wine guides, judge many wine shows and I considered myself quite the wine authority in the late 90s and early 2000s (not many folks shared this belief). For the best part of two decades I owned and ran Liquid Ideas, one of Australia's most renowned consumer lifestyle communications and events agencies. How did Four Pillars start? What are its goals as a brand? Cam - It all began in 2013. The original plan was to make tonic, but that idea lasted about 72 hours... both Stu and I have always been gin drinkers and were looking for a new project after plenty of years in the wine industry. Our conversation about making tonic rapidly moved to making gin. It made sense and the more we looked into it the more obsessed we became. Through our obsession, we discovered the amazing craft distilling scene that had been emerging over the last few years in the UK and US. We also learned that more than 90 per cent of the gin consumed in Australia was imported. We wanted to help change that. And looking back now I'm proud to see how far we've come with the rise of Australian-made gin. Stu - We think Aussie gin is awesome because it's the best of the New World with a hat tip to the old. Australian gin is like our food; it's not deliberately wacky or obtuse - it just combines the best ingredients, know-how, creativity and traditions to make something uniquely Australian, modern and delicious. We want to spread the gospel about great Aussie craft spirits, and the sheer versatility and genius of gin throughout the world. Along the way we want to show off and celebrate a very contemporary face to this wonderful, diverse, creative and brilliant island continent of ours. What inspires Four Pillars' gins/ Is there anything that drives the selection of and experimentation with new flavours? Cam - We've always looked for a nice balance of purity and concentration. Rather than juniper being the huge over-arching botanical we tend to use it as a nice canvas. Our gins are still around 80 per cent juniper, but the other botanicals are strong enough to stand up - especially the native Aussie ones. We tend to make more modern styles than the classic London dry style. We love that style, but we felt there was more room to move if we change things up. My starting point is to think about the direction - citrus, floral, spice, savoury - then we build a recipe around that. Tell us how Four Pillars Gin is made, start to finish. Cam - We source the best botanicals from home and abroad. We make every bottle carefully and with love, in small batches, and we are always tooling about trying to make different, idiosyncratic, delicious gin-based products. So we now have five core gins, a range of barrel-aged gins and countless collaborative and experimental gins. Our botanicals are a pretty equal mix of local and exotic. The local botanicals include Tasmanian pepper berry and lemon myrtle, and the exotics include juniper, of course, plus cardamom, star anise and coriander seeds. Perhaps the most interesting is our use of whole oranges. It's quite unusual to use fresh stuff in gin, but Australian citrus is highly aromatic and supporrts the spicier botanicals. Ultimately, it's about trying to deliver the best of both worlds - a classic gin, and something that would fascinate and delight even the most hardened gin fanatic... something spicy with great citrus at the back. Any new products in the pipeline? Stu - We're constantly experimenting with new flavours and combinations. Our Olive Leaf Gin - five years in the making - was the most recent launch and has proved a great success. We're hoping to bring it to the UK around Easter 2021. What is the Australian gin scene like today? Stu - The Aussie distilling scene is red hot right now; there are more than 200 distilleries making gin and so many of them are absolutely world class. We have some incredibly native ingredients like lemon myrtle, finger limes, Davidson plums, tasmanian mountain pepper... the list just goes on and on. Aussie gins are growing faster, at almost double the pace of all other gins in a market where gin is growing super fast. We got on with almost every distiller in the country really well - they're a diverse bunch of passionate legends. Give us your thoughts on the global craft gin boom - are we peaking yet? Stu - I think, to be honest, in a global sense it has only just begun. In the USA for instance they have only just, in 2020, really started to discover gin and even then it's just right at the top of the consumer tree. Gin has a long way to get in the mainstream in the USA - also in Asia and most of Europe. I think we can continue to have solid growth in the UK, while in Australia I reckon there is still plenty of opportunity. The gin boom is a long way from bust. 22 January 2021 A government that can imagine with new ideas. There is no shortage of new ideas in the public sector, and Weiss makes the point that agencies need a process to generate proposals from multiple sources and not just from the top. Good ideas also do not always originate on the inside or an agency; they can come from the government outsiders that are the daily users of services and see problems firsthand. A government that can experiment with things by testing ideas. Experimenting and testing ideas may seem like foreign functions in a government agency. Still, Weiss shows that experimentation can generate results by having a defined process with pre-set expectations and transparent results. This portfolio approach also allows government agencies to further mitigate risks by having a portfolio of experiments with different risk and yield factors. A government that can scale by expanding successful ideas. One of the biggest challenges many agencies face is how to scale one best practice across their organization and beyond. Weiss points out that government agencies should embrace a platform mentality to accelerate the scaling of best practices, leveraging the network effects one can see with most online platforms. This same process and connectivity can also enable government agencies to learn from failures together. There were no shortages of complex challenges that public-sector leaders had to navigate in 2020, from a global pandemic to the collateral fiscal constraints that followed. These problems forced agencies to respond rapidly in a new, unfamiliar landscape. After the first wave of the pandemic, the common phrase heard from government leaders was that years worth of work and progress had been completed in a matter of months.Many of us have looked forward to getting to the new normal or next normal, where things would slow down and return to a more manageable pace. Our current tempo is the new pace of change and, even when this public health crisis is behind us, government leaders will be expected to move quickly and solve complex problems. This requires a new model for getting things done and, fortunately for us, Mitchell Weiss has written an operating manual for what to do now and for what comes next.Weiss has been a pioneer in government innovation for many years, co-founding the city of Bostons New Urban Mechanics, a first-in-nation research and design team launched under Mayor Thomas Menino in 2010. Since then, Weiss has been researching and teaching public entrepreneurship at Harvard Business School as a professor of management practice and Richard L. Menschel Faculty Fellow at Harvard Business School. Weiss deep experience in innovation has allowed him to ground this thinking and research into an actionable framework.The thesis of his bookis that to solve the most complex public-sector challenges, we must leverage an entrepreneurial framework to move government from safe, probabilistic approaches used to navigate change to one that enables us to explore and experiment in the art of whats possible.Using countless examples and stories, Weiss breaks down the key elements of a Possibility Government into three distinct attributes:As we look ahead to what comes next, state and local government leaders must equip and deploy new tactics to rapidly navigate and solve complex problems. The impact of COVID-19 has raised public expectations on the governments role in problem-solving and innovation, making them more significant than ever and providing an opportunity to redefine whats possible.offers an actionable framework to inspire and equip public-sector leaders ready to begin this journey.Listen to Dustin Haislers interview with Mitchell Weiss here Title:Author: Mitchell WeissPublisher: Harvard Business Review Press. Pages: 288. Price: $30.00.Governing United Valley Insurance Services Inc. in Fresno, Calif., has named Donna Peck a marketing consultant. Peck is focused on assisting members on marketing and placing workers compensation accounts with the firms carriers. Peck previously worked as an underwriting supervisor at Employers Insurance Group. Prior to that, Donna she an agency manager at a property/casualty firm. United Valley is a membership network of more than 85 independently owned and operated insurance agencies with more than 100 locations in the Western U.S. Topics California 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. Tokyo, Jan 21 (IANS) 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. 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/ The umbrella trade body in the country, the Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA) says it welcomes the presidents nomination of Alan Kyeremanten as Trade Minister-designate. This comes after the Acting Communications Director at the Presidency, Eugene Arhin on Thursday, January 21 released a full list of central government and regional ministers to serve in the second term of the Akufo-Addo administration pending approval by Parliament. Reacting to the nomination on Citi Business News, President of GUTA, Dr Joseph Obeng said he believes Alan Kyeremanten is best suited for the position yet again at the ministry particularly at a time of implementation for Africas trade pact. Alan Kyerematen is among the best and most effective trade ministers that we have worked with as trade leaders, and we admire him so much that we are happy he was retained by the president for the good works that he has done to be continued, the GUTA president said. We will want to work with him because he listens to us at all times. He is well vest in with trade issues, and we need him around especially with the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area that has just started. We need him around to push this African dream through, he added. Among the nominees on the list is Ken Ofori-Atta who has been maintained as Finance Minister-designate yet again. Mr Ofori Atta will break a long-standing mold of being the countrys first Finance Minister to serve two four-year terms pending approval by Parliament. Meanwhile, President Akufo-Addo has also realigned seven Ministries namely, Aviation, Business Development, Inner City and Zongo Development, Monitoring and Evaluation, Planning, Regional Re-organisation and Development, and Special Development Initiatives. The President however says he is hopeful that Parliament will see to the prompt approval of his nominees for central and regional government roles. Source: Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The Nagol is Back! VTOs guide to this years Nagol, plus where to stay and play in south, central and north Pentecost. The North Dakota Senate has rejected a bill that would have allowed the state to hold liable any corporate officer responsible for oil- and gas-related violations. The North Dakota Petroleum Council and the Greater North Dakota Chamber had lobbied against the bill, saying it unfairly targeted the oil industry. The measure rejected was requested by State Mineral Resources Director Lynn Helms after recent environmental problems in the oil patch. Helms said the state was left with the $1 million bill for cleaning up two properties after companies refused to get involved or abandoned the sites, the Bismarck Tribune reported. Rep. Jim Roers, of Fargo, was among Republicans who killed the bill. We have corporations and partnerships that provide protections for certain individuals, and we felt by passing this bill we would violate those protections, and CEOs, boards of directors could now be held liable for things they would have very little knowledge of what was going on, he said. Democratic Sen. Merrill Piepkorn, of Fargo, defended the measure. This is an addition that gives the Industrial Commission another tool in their toolbox as they are charged with regulating this industry, he said. The bill was defeated on a vote of 7-39. Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Pollution Energy Oil Gas Politics North Dakota The Board of Radio Free Europe Intends to Fight Commentary Just a few days ago in the BB era (Before Biden) I and four others talk show stalwart Blanquita Cullum, filmmaker Amanda Milius, the Liberty Counsels Jonathan Alexander, and the Center for the National Interests Christian Whitonwere named to the new Board of Directors of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Radio Free Asia, and the Middle East Broadcasting Networks. These outletsnon-profits funded via annual grants from the USAGM (US Agency for Global Media)share one board. The goal of the USAGM is to inform, engage, and connect people around the world in support of freedom and democracy. Appointed at the same time were the new presidents of the three organizations: Ted Lipien for RFE/RL, Steve Yates for RFA, and Victoria Coates for MEBN (of them, more in a bit). All of us were chosen by Michael Pack, the CEO of USAGM. Mr. Pack is an accomplished documentary filmmakerhis films on Alexander Hamilton and, more recently, Clarence Thomas are particularly worth a lookwhose initial nomination by Donald Trump was stymied for months by the opposing party. Pack clearly wanted to clean up the USAGM, which had been overwhelmed by a combination of mismanagement and partisanship. It was not, in the view of Pack and many others, adhering to the goal I quoted above. Not even close. Quite late in the Trump administration Pack was finally approved but even then ran into many land mines. Nevertheless, as Reagan famously said, People are policy, which brings us to where we are in BE, the Biden Era. Normally, as administrations change, heads roll. And Packs didon day one! (He might consider that a compliment.) Biden, or his people, asked for his resignation and he complied. Are we next? Frankly, I was more than prepared for it when I got the initial phone call from Michael asking me if I would serve. So I rather expected it might be a short term board appointment. Its not for me, then, that I am writing this, or even for my co-board members whom I, of course, wish well. Id like us all to continue to serve, but thats not the point. I am writing to encourage the continued appointment of the three new presidents who, I believe, are extraordinary choices for increasingly important jobs. It would be national shame if they were pushed out for conventional political reasons. Indeed, if Bidens claim of wanting to bring us together has any substance at all, these would be the first people he should keep. Two of them I know personally and will address them first. If someone were to have asked me who is the best person to head up Radio Free Asiaprobably the most important of the positions given the rise of Communist China I would have said immediately Steve Yates. I have known Steve, casually, for a few years but in early January 2019 I went with a small group Steve led to Taiwan to observe their election and got to know him a lot better. There I learned not only that Steve spoke fluent Mandarinhe had spent several years in Taiwan as a missionarybut that he was a hero in that country to the extent that people recognized him in the street as if he were a rock star and wanted to have their photos taken with him. The reason for that recognition was that Steve was said to have brokered a groundbreaking congratulatory phone call from Donald Trump to Tsai Ing-wen, the then newly-elected president of Taiwan. This, of course, made Steve a champion to the Taiwanese who crave the kind of recognition from the United States that can help stave off the communist giant just 110 km to their west. I also learned his expertise in all Asian affairs was deep, similar to Stephen Moshers, who often writes here at The Epoch Times, Michael Pillsburys or Gordon Changs. Such a man is just the person to monitor broadcasts on both sides of the Taiwan Strait. It doesnt hurt that he has a great sense of humor tooand almost as much an insatiable hunger for Taiwanese dumplings as I do. And if theres anyone I know who is just as bright as Steve Yates, its Victoria Coates. Victoria is something of a polymath. She served on the National Security Council and even became Deputy National Security Advisor after the elevation of Robert C. OBrien. But, mirabile dictu, she is not a lawyer, nor is she a military person. Shes an art historian! With a Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania. Say what? Yes, really. And she has written a superb book melding the two, which once upon a time I reviewed for PJ Media: Davids Sling: A History of Democracy in Ten Works of Art. (I highly recommend it.) So, although Victoria tells us correctly that she would be the first national security professional to head the Middle East Broadcasting Networks, she is considerably more than that. Indeed, she is just the kind of person with a wide-ranging mind to navigate the many minefields of the Middle East and help her networks correct the propaganda and distortions often emanating from Al Jazeera and others. I only know Ted Lipien via one phone call from Praguethe headquarters of Radio Free Europebut what I heard impressed me. He sounded like a very level-headed guy. I also like that he served as president of Free Media Online, an NGO that supports independent journalists and promotes media freedom worldwide. He will have a lot immediately on his plate. Apparently, the Russian government is attempting to label our journalists as foreign agents. Not only that, an RFE/RL media consultant with failing health has already been imprisoned in Russian-client Belarus. At the same time, RFE/RL journalists in Afghanistan are receiving death threats and have had to be evacuated to India or lodged in safe houses in Kabul. Lipien, who was in charge of Voice of America broadcasts to Poland during the Solidarity struggle for democracy, is someone with the right experience to handle these extremely tense situations. To remove him, again for the same old tired political reasons, would be foolish. Removing any of these highly-qualified people would once again show the American people how absurdly partisan our country has become. We on the board intend to fight it. We urge others, including those with political influence, to help us. UPDATE: All board members and presidents have now been officially fired from Radio Free Europe et. al. by the Biden Administration (unfortunately via emailso not suitable for framing). We consider it a badge of honor. Since freedom of speech seems to be disappearing in the United States, what exactly would we have been promoting? Roger L. Simon is an award-winning novelist, Oscar-nominated screenwriter, co-founder of PJMedia, and now, editor-at-large for The Epoch Times. His most recent books are The GOAT (fiction) and I Know Best: How Moral Narcissism Is Destroying Our Republic, If It Hasnt Already (nonfiction). Find him on Parler (he hopes again, soon) @rogerlsimon Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. In the politically-charged atmosphere surrounding COVID-19, or any public role in America today, it seems impossible for a leader to come out unscathed. So it is with Dr. Rachel Levine, who led Pennsylvanias response to the COVID-19 crisis as secretary of health. Criticism of Levine stems mostly from COVID-19 driven restrictions on businesses, actions related to nursing homes and the level of COVID-19 testing in the state. But she also impressed people around the country, as evidenced by her selection as President Joe Bidens assistant secretary of health, a critical role given Bidens pledge to make addressing COVID-19 a top priority. She stands to become the first openly-transgender official to be confirmed by the U.S. Senate. Deb Fulham-Winston of Cumberland County became an admirer of Levine while watching daily briefings on the status of the pandemic in Pennsylvania. She calls her extraordinary. Fulham-Winston believes Gov. Tom Wolf made a wise decision by giving Levine, the health expert, center stage to face the news media and live online audiences. She was on point, on message, making the message incredibly clear for anyone who was listening, she said. In the view of Fulham-Winston, 68, and a member of Carlisle Borough Council, delivering a sound, consistent message is the key to addressing the pandemic, and something that was lacking at the federal level. She also noticed the hateful, transphobic remarks Levine endured after entering the daily spotlight and having to explain state actions that caused hardships for some Pennsylvanians. Various local officials and others around the state, and even the nation, made transphobic and hateful remarks. Levine received extra state police protection. Her public reaction was minimal, although she once addressed it at the start of a briefing, saying, I have no room in my heart for hatred and, frankly, I do not have time for intolerance. Fulham-Winston believes Levine showed uncommon calm, strength and grace. She asked, What more can you ask for from a public figure? Dr. Raghavendra Tirupathi, a Pennsylvania infectious disease specialist, doubts any modern Pennsylvania health secretary was put through so much scrutiny and stress. He believes Levine did a reasonably good job, with some holes in her record. One flaw, he said, may involve testing, with data suggesting testing has not been as robust in Pennsylvania as some other states. At one point in the pandemic, nearly 70% of Pennsylvanias deaths involved residents of nursing homes and other long-term care facilities. That prompted scrutiny of the Levine-backed decision to allow people who had been hospitalized with COVID-19 to return to or enter long term care facilities. Republican U.S. Rep. Steve Scalise of Louisiana called the action a death sentence for thousands of Pennsylvanians. U.S. House Republicans made similar charges regarding four other states all led by Democrats. Moreover, former President Donald Trumps administration had said facilities should accept everyone they normally would, provided they felt they could safely care for them and carry out steps such as infection control and quarantine. Reporting by PennLive, including interviews of the two associations representing Pennsylvania long-term facilities, found no examples of facilities being forced to take people against their will. Beyond that, COVID-19 took a major toll in long-term care facilities all over the country Tirupathi, who is the medical director of Keystone Infectious Diseases and chair of infection prevention at WellSpan Chambersburg Hospital, calls it a very complicated, not a one-size fits all situation a very difficult question to answer. He said hospitals were under pressure to discharge patients who no longer needed acute care, but theres a lack of non-hospital settings for them to continue to recover. He said theres a need for a national investigation looking into how it was handled all over the country, to learn what can be done better in the next pandemic. Chuck Kray is a veteran Pennsylvania pharmacist who works closely with the state. He said of Levine: Overall, I think she did a really good job. This week is a bad time to pose that question to Kray. He was reeling from Levines decision, in response to a federal recommendation, to open vaccination up to everyone over 64, plus younger adults with chronic medical issues or high-risk conditions. Local pharmacists such as Kray said they were blindsided, left to deal with a deluge of demand for vaccines and not nearly enough doses. While Kray puts much of the blame on the federal government, he also says Levine should have consulted with local pharmacists and others who administer doses, so they could make the needed changes to things such as their telephone answering systems and websites and otherwise prepare for the demand. Levine has simultaneously been criticized for the pace of the vaccine rollout going too slowly. State Sen. Judy Ward, R-Blair, notes that other states have given vaccines more quickly and more broadly than Pennsylvania. Secretary Levine has demonstrated poise at the microphone during news conferences, but her policies have left Pennsylvanians with many questions about her abilities, Ward said this week. Perhaps the harshest criticism has come from some business leaders, especially bar and restaurant operators, who contend Levines restrictions arent backed by science. Many Pennsylvania restaurants have gone out of business, with industry leaders arguing some states are making it through the pandemic with far less harm to their establishments. Levine has highlighted studies and experts who contend settings such as bars and restaurants, which are often cramped and poorly-ventilated, and where people tend to talk loudly, are prime environments for COVID-19 spread. Levine and other experts say restaurants pose different challenges than retail stores, for example, where people are walking around to shop and arent seated for an hour or two. Pennsylvanias Levine-led response received a strong endorsement last fall when Dr. Deborah Birx, then the federal coronavirus response coordinator, visited Pennsylvania last fall. She said the restrictions are backed by scientific models which show that, in the face of surging cases, limiting restaurants to 25% of capacity, closing bars, face masking in public and refraining from backyard barbecues, will cause the infection level to shrink rather than grow. In fact, those tactics have the same impact as a shelter in place order, according to Birx, who said they were used across the south last summer to control the virus without shutting down the economy. Of Pennsylvanias effort, she said, I never give anyone an A, but I think theyre close to a B-plus, A-minus range, a really terrific job. Fulham-Winston, the Cumberland County resident, believes a case can be made, based on things such as the recent leveling off of new infections and hospitalizations in Pennsylvania, that the state has done better than most. That surely reflects well on Levine. More people are alive because of her, Fulham-Winston said. Wolf has said Levine will be sorely missed in his administration. The governor noted Levines role in helping to establish the states medical marijuana program and her efforts to combat opioid addiction. He also hailed Levine for bringing attention to the health needs of the LGBTQ community. She has been a wise and dedicated partner during this pandemic and throughout her career with the commonwealth, Wolf said. I couldnt be prouder of the tireless work shes done to serve Pennsylvanians and protect the public health. The governors office has said Wolf hopes to name Levines successor by the end of the week. America knew, within a couple of hours, the names of Lee Harvey Oswald, John Hinckley, Marc Chapman, Shirhan Shirhan, James Earl Ray, and James Hodgkinson. (Or did you already forget that James Hodgkinson shot House Minority Whip Steve Scalise and three others on a softball field, in an attempted mass assassination of members of the House GOP caucus?) But after searching the Internet for a few hours, there only remain questions, and no answers about Ashlis shooting. My only assumption can be that the hard facts concerning the shooting are so egregious, and so threatening to the incoming Democratic Congress and new Biden Administration that the American people are once again being treated as mushrooms; we are kept in dark and fed piles of stinking manure. House of mystery? Photo credit: David Maiolo CC BY-SA 3.0 license Here are few questions a lot of Americans would like answered. What is the name of the federal employee that pulled the trigger and shot an unarmed American civilian? What federal agency did the trigger-puller work for? Many allegations from both the left and right say the trigger-puller was US Secret Service, not Congressional Police. We just dont know. Has there been a preliminary investigation by the United States Attorney for the District of Columbia (who serves as DA for the District), th Capitol Police, or the FBI? What are the results? Is the trigger-puller back on full time duty? Did he or she make a taped statement the day of the shooting? Who was in the room during the statement? Who has custody of the statement? Was there an autopsy performed on Ashli Babbitt? Who performed the autopsy? When will the finding be released? Was the crime scene sealed and the physical evidence catalogued? What agency processed the crime scene? FBI, Capitol Police, or DC police? Most witnesses indicated that the bullet was a through and through and exited her body. Has the bullet been recovered? What was the caliber of bullet? Has the spent shell casing been recovered? Has the trigger pullers weapon been tested against the recovered bullet? Ten of millions of Americans have hundreds of questions about the most watched political shooting of the twenty-first century. Not surprisingly, the American mainstream media remains irrationally incurious. After all, what loyal lapdog would bite the hand that feeds it? We probably will never get any answers to these questions about Ashlis death. For now, the answers have been metaphorically placed in a wooden crate and been moved into an enormous government warehouse full of crates as in the conclusion of Raiders of the Lost Ark. Multiple sources inform me that the Deep State has carefully placed Ashlis crate four rows down from the Ark of the Covenant, and on the same aisle as the Roswell weather balloons and photos of the Grassy Knoll. Michael Devon is the pen name of a writer who fears the vengeful left. NEW YORK, Jan. 22, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- ACORD, the global standards-setting body for the insurance industry, today announced its 2021 Board of Directors. The ACORD Board will be chaired by Kirk A. Behrens (Chief Information Officer, Aon), with Robert Bernard Kelly (Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Steadfast Group Ltd.) serving as Vice-Chair. The Board consists of 21 members, including five new Directors. "After an unprecedented year, now more than ever, ACORD remains committed to supporting our industry through times of profound change," said ACORD President and CEO Bill Pieroni. "The expertise and experience possessed by our incoming Board are critical to our core mission serving our members." The new Directors include: Stephen Barnham, Chief Information Officer, MetLife Asia. Stephen joined MetLife in June 2017 as the Chief Information Officer of Asia and a member of the global insurer's Asia Leadership Group. Stephen believes passionately in the power of innovation to disrupt financial services. He is responsible for driving MetLife's digital strategy and, through the development and implementation of contemporary technology, is reimagining insurance. Stephen is a board member of PNB MetLife, MetLife's insurance joint venture in India. With decades of experience in global financial services and technology, he joined MetLife from Standard Chartered Bank, where he was Group CIO for Financial Markets. Prior to joining Standard Chartered Bank, he held various senior technical roles at Nomura Securities, Lehman Brothers and Morgan Stanley, and started his career developing software for guided weapons systems at BAE Systems. Rebecca Bunyan, Chief Information and Change Officer, Lloyd's. Rebecca is currently Chief Information & Change Officer at Lloyd's of London, having previously developed her career across senior technology roles in the consulting, insurance and real estate industries, both in the UK and the US. She enjoys leading transformation and change programs. With a strong focus on delivering results, she holds high standards, both for herself and others, with a "collaborative yet decisive" style. Rebecca is an experienced strategic leader, having developed the Hiscox NA and EMEA strategies as well as building the technology, data and cyber security strategies and functions for Aldermore, where cyber, technology risk management and resilience were a key hallmark of her tenure. Julie Dillman, Senior Vice President, Global Head of Operations, Chubb Group. Ms. Dillman is responsible for a range of operational areas across Chubb including information technology, operationalizing digital and e-business, real estate and facilities, contingency planning and business continuity, purchasing, workflow management and general business efficiencies. Ms. Dillman joined Chubb in 2016 from Travelers Insurance, where as Executive Vice President, Operations, eBusiness and Analytics, she was responsible for the company's global operations. She was also a member of Travelers' Executive Management Committee. During her long career at Travelers, Ms. Dillman had numerous significant accomplishments, including leading a multi-year delivery strategy for investments in customer and agent platforms and leading companywide strategies for digital and analytics. Earlier in her Travelers career, she had leadership responsibility for all aspects of the company's personal insurance operations, including direct accountability for its sales and service employee organization. Steve Lundin, Chief Operating Officer, Sales Operations, M Financial Group. Steve's core responsibilities at M Financial Group include Strategy & Innovation, Sales, Underwriting, Technology & Data, Carrier Relations, Strategic Partnerships, and Member Firm Recruitment. Prior to joining M, Steve was a senior executive at Marsh. From 2014 to 2018, he served as CEO for the Middle East and North Africa region. From 2011 to 2014, he led the business across eight branch offices in mainland China. During Steve's tenure at Marsh, he also served as the North American Property Practice leader, and started his career as an international property and liability insurance broker on behalf of some of Marsh's largest U.S. multinational clients. Prior to re-joining Marsh in 2011, Steve worked for six years at the New York office of Integro Insurance. During Steve's career, he also was employed by Accenture as a Senior Manager within the Financial Services Strategy Consulting Practice. Vlad Yekelchik, Chief Information Officer, EPIC Insurance Brokers & Consultants. Vlad joined EPIC as CIO in June of 2019. In his position, he plays a key role in EPIC's Technology Strategy and Digital Innovation. Prior to joining EPIC, Vlad held various senior leadership positions with leading global banking and insurance organizations. Vlad brings over 25 years of Information Technology, Security Infrastructure and Application Solutions experience. Most recently, Vlad served as the Chief Technology Officer with AssuredPartners where he was responsible for leading their technology strategy and implementation. Previously, he spent over 10 years at Marsh in their Information Technology organization in various global leadership roles, including serving as CIO of their US/Canada and Latin America divisions. Returning members of the ACORD Board of Directors include: Kirk A. Behrens, Board Chair, Chief Information Officer, Aon. Robert Kelly, Board Vice-Chair, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Steadfast Group Limited. John M. Artesani, Senior Vice President, Financial Officer, Lexington Insurance Company. Colleen Batman, Senior Vice President, Small Commercial and Personal Lines Operations, The Hartford. Richard Brame, Senior Director, Willis Towers Watson (WTW). Christoph Carus, Head of Central Division, Reinsurance Accounting, Munich Re. Bill Devine, Senior Vice President, Business Capabilities Office, Travelers. John Kellington, Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer, Cincinnati Financial. Mark Knipfer, Chief Operations and Technology Officer, Zurich North America. Ian Macartney, Senior Vice President, Head of Innovation, Argo Group US. Dave Matcham, Chief Executive Officer, International Underwriting Association of London Ltd. Patrick Molineux, Managing Director, LIMOSS, London Insurance Market Operations and Strategic Sourcing. David O'Leary, President and Chief Executive Officer USLI, Genworth. William Pieroni, President and Chief Executive Officer, ACORD. Robert Rusbuldt, President and Chief Executive Officer, IIABA. Dr. Ralf Schneider, Group Chief Information Officer, Allianz SE. For more information on the members of the ACORD Board of Directors, please visit www.acord.org/board . About ACORD ACORD is the global standards-setting body for the insurance industry. For 50 years, we have been an industry leader in identifying ways to help its members make improvements across the insurance value chain. ACORD facilitates fast, accurate data exchange and efficient workflows through the development of electronic standards, standardized forms, and tools to support their use. ACORD currently engages more than 36,000 participating organizations spanning over 100 countries, including insurance and reinsurance companies, agents and brokers, software providers, financial services organizations, and industry associations. ACORD maintains offices in New York and London. Learn more at www.acord.org. CONTACT: Beth Jarecki [email protected] SOURCE ACORD Related Links acord.org The claim: Joe Bidens inauguration was a low-attendance military event because he was 'installed' by the 'deep state' Many factors made President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris Inauguration Day historic. From swearing in Americas first female, Black and South Asian vice president, to looming security threats, to an ongoing pandemic, Inauguration Day looked like no other. However, shadowed corruption was not a factor. When you're elected by the people vs. when youre installed by the deep state, reads a viral meme with a photo of Donald Trumps family walking the inaugural parade route in 2017 and another of armed security outside the closed Capitol building in January. New York Times photographer Doug Mills took the photo of the Trump family at the inaugural parade on Jan. 20, 2017. Photographer Brendan Smialowski took the other photo of the military at the Capitol on Jan. 7. A Capitol Police officer stands with members of the National Guard behind a crowd control fence surrounding Capitol Hill a day after a pro-Trump mob broke into the US Capitol, Getty Images captions the photo. While there was a high military presence and few onlookers around the U.S. Capitol for Bidens Jan. 20 inauguration, the reason has everything to do with the ongoing pandemic and heightened security concerns and nothing to do with election fraud. USA TODAY contacted several Instagram users who posted the meme and heard back from one. Conservative lawyer Rogan O'Handley told USA TODAY he did not believe Biden was elected by the "Deep State" but posted the meme to express his belief that Biden "was favored by the DC establishment." O'Handley removed the meme after responding to USA TODAY. Fact check: Attendance at Biden's inauguration was restricted by COVID-19 pandemic Biden and Harris were legally elected The president was not "installed" by the deep state as the meme suggests rather, 81 million Americans voted for him. Biden received 7 million more votes than Trumps 74 million. Bidens victory withstood many unsuccessful legal challenges by Trumps campaign. Story continues The existence of a deep state is a frequent claim among QAnon conspiracy theorists. Some QAnon adherents believe the deep state is a cabal of politicians and bureaucrats that secretly control the government."While this claim takes many forms, it generally centers on the suggestion that a cabal of powerful elites is manipulating the world," USA TODAY previously reported. President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris celebrate their victory in Wilmington, Delaware on Nov. 7, 2020. USA TODAY has previously debunked several claims that Bidens win was illegitimate or resulted from election fraud and found none to be true. Fact check: Biden inauguration impacted by pandemic, security threats Small crowds due to pandemic and security concerns Biden did not have a traditionally large inauguration nor inaugural parade as Trump did, due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and loomingconcerns about security after the Jan. 6 siege of the Capitol. Bidens inaugural committee planned mainly virtual inaugural festivities to avoid large crowds that could potentially spread the virus. By Inauguration Day, the coronavirus had infected more than 24 million Americans and killed 400,000. "There are many grand traditions to the inaugural, and we plan to honor them by highlighting more of our nations people than ever before while keeping everyone safe," the inaugural committees CEO Tony Allen told USA TODAY. Throughout his campaign, Biden held events significantly smaller than the Trump campaigns events. This was because he was he abided by the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions coronavirus guidance by wearing masks, practicing social distancing and avoiding crowds. Biden did walk an abbreviated parade route, lined with members of the press. President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden walk along Pennsylvania Avenue in front of the White House during Inaugural celebrations, on January 20, 2021, with family members after Biden was sworn in as the 46th president of the United States. Bidens critics have promoted a similar claim that Bidens small inaugural crowd is proof that Trump actually won the election. USA TODAY has rated this claim false. Fact check: National Guard members remained armed during inauguration Heightened security after Jan. 6 Capitol siege Additional military support for Biden's inauguration was added after pro-Trump rioters breached the Capitol on Jan. 6 in a deadly insurrection. Protesters on Jan. 6, 2021, at the Capitol, in Washington, D.C. After the riot, the FBI continued to track threats of continued violence throughout the country. The Department of Homeland Security launched a massive operation, which called 25,000 National Guard members to D.C to help provide security during Biden's inauguration. Fact check: Photo captures House Speaker Nancy Pelosi thanking National Guard Our rating: False We rate the claim that the small crowd and military presence at the Biden inauguration proves he was ''installed" by the deep state as FALSE because it is not supported by our research. Biden was legally elected, and there is no evidence to support claims about a secret deep state. Bidens inauguration had few observers and a significant, highly visible military presence due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and heightened security concerns. Our fact check sources: Thank you for supporting our journalism. You can subscribe to our print edition, ad-free app or electronic newspaper replica here. Our fact check work is supported in part by a grant from Facebook. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Fact check: Inauguration meme makes false Biden-Trump comparison A modest increase in new Covid-19 cases in Laois has contributed to a decrease in the incidence of the disease in the county but it has been another deadly pandemic day with more than 50 more deaths while in excess of 2,300 people have tested positive. The figures are contained in the National Public Health Emergency Team Daily update issued on Friday, January 22. It shows that there have now been 17 new cases in Laois, one of the lowest daily increases of the third wave in the county. The extra cases mean the incidence is now 763.9 per 100,00 population on the back of 647 new cases in the past 14 days. The incidence had risen beyond 1,000 at one point in January. SEE WHERE LAOIS STANDS IN THE COUNTY BY COUNTY INCIDENCE TABLE AT END OF STORY. Meanwhile, NPHET said the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) has been notified of 52 additional deaths related to COVID-19. All but two occurred in January. The median age of those who died is 82 years and the age range is 39-99 years. There has been a total of 2,870 COVID-19 related deaths in Ireland. As of 2pm on Friday there were 1,931 COVID-19 patients in hospital, of which 219 are in ICU. A further 78 people were admitted to hospitals around Ireland in the past 24 hours. As of midnight, Thursday, January 21 the HPSC has been notified of 2,371 confirmed cases of COVID-19. There has now been a total of 184,279** confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ireland. (**denotification of 14 confirmed cases). The national incidence has fallen to 1,017.1 per 100,000 on the back of 48,433 as the third wave recedes. The seven day incidence is now 372.6 per 100k. The average number of new cases over five days has falle but remains hight at 2,315. NPHET highlighted 757 in Dublin, 237 in Cork, 154 in Waterford, 123 in Wexford, 114 in Louth, and the remaining 986 cases are spread across all other counties. NPHET advises County data should be considered provisional as the national Computerised Infectious Disease Reporting System (CIDR) is a dynamic system and case details are continually being validated and updated. Of the cases notified today: 1,129 are men / 1,194 are women, 57% are under 45 years of age while the median age is 40 years old. As of 2pm today, 1,931 COVID-19 patients are hospitalised, of which 219 are in ICU. 78 additional hospitalisations in the past 24 hours. Google has partnered with Otter.ai for live transcriptions and closed captions on Google Meet. Otter.ai has a new Chrome extension that can be used to automatically transcribe Google Meet calls in real time. Otter.ais new Chrome extension works with all of its plans so even free users will be able to use it. All Google Meet transcriptions will be saved to your Otter account which you can access later. Youll have to first download the Otter.ai Chrome extension through this link, and then open Google Meet on the browser. Once its installed youll see a Live Notes panel that will appear in Chrome during Google Meet calls. It appears on the side of the Google Meet screen but you can move it around the page. You can tap the record button on the Otter.ai extension once the Google Meet call starts. The transcription will start filling in real time. You can also decrease and increase the text size of the transcription. This Chrome extension also offers closed captions which can be activated by clicking the cc button. Google Meet has been providing closed captions for all its calls since 2019. It added support for more languages including French, German, Portuguese, and Spanish. The integration of Otter.ai in Google Meet can be a handy tool for users who regularly conduct meetings and conferences. Zoom also announced its partnership with Otter.ai last October for live captions. This feature is however, available only to Zoom Pro subscribers or higher. It can be used for both video meetings and webinars. remaining of Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. The Queensland Hotels Association has raised concerns that moving the states hotel quarantine system to the regions would mean hotels that are currently used for quarantine would have to lay off staff. Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has pledged to draw up a formal proposal for moving the states quarantine system away from built-up centres after officially floating the idea at the national cabinet meeting in Brisbane on Friday. The Homeground facility, 20 minutes from Gladstone in central Queensland, is being considered as a quarantine site. Credit: The Queensland government says the risk of a potential quarantine breach, especially in light of the more contagious UK strain, means hotel quarantine in congested areas is rapidly becoming unfeasible. But making a submission to a parliamentary committee hearing on Friday, the associations chief executive, Bernie Hogan, said taking hotel quarantine away from cities would have unintended consequences. After being booted from the Capitol on Thursday, National Guard troops who were brought in as additional security personnels during the Inauguration of Joseph R. Biden, Jr. as president found themselves sleeping in an unheated garage for hours, which prompted an uproar among lawmakers who scrambled to move them back. The said troops were among those more than 20,000 National Guard personnel who provided security for the now president Biden in his Inauguration on Wednesday. According to the New York Times, the spokesman for the Washington D.C., branch of the National Guard, Capt. Edwin Nieves Jr. shared on Thursday afternoon that the troops were relocated to the nearby Thurgood Marshall Federal Judiciary Building. The guard in D.C. mentioned that on early Friday morning, the soldiers had been moved back to the Capitol from the parking garage. Moreover, Captain Nieves shared that they would take future breaks near Emancipation Hall, which is also part of the Capitol Complex. Captain Nieves also stated that the Guard troops had been temporarily moved out of the Capitol on Thursday afternoon at request of the Capitol Police due to the increase on foot traffic as Congress came back into session. The Captain did not specify as to how many soldiers had been moved during that period. On Friday morning when asked for a comment regarding the incident, the Capitol Police could not be reached immediately. Moreover, two troops among the National Guard, spoke in an interview with a condition of anonymity, shared that they had been relocated without explanation and that they were placed there without electrical power, heat or adequate restroom facilities. A soldier among the troop estimated that up to 1,000 troops have shared in just a portable restroom outside the garage. The soldier also shared that there is zero guidance on mission, the length of the mission, nothing. In addition, the soldiers also have mentioned that their fellow troops were breathing in exhaust fumes because they were placed at the garage of Thurgood Marshall center, and it was still in use for parking. On the other hand, Captain Nieves contradicted to the previous comments of the troops and stated that the garage where they were placed had heat and restrooms available, Washington Post reported. The reports of move hae prompted protests from lawmakers from both parties, which includes minority leader Kevin McCarthy, who is a Republican, and Democrat Representative of New York, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Some lawmakers even offered their offices as a place to be used where they can house the National Guard troops. Democratic Senator of Arizona, Mark Kelly also wrote on Twitter that this is an unacceptable incident and it must be fixed. Based on a report, up to 5,000 troops were kept in the garage with just a single power outlet, without internet and with just one bathroom. Pictures of the situation of the troops in the garage also circulated online. The soldiers do have hotel rooms, however, based on their shift pattern, it means that they cannot easily return to their rooms during their rest breaks, Daily Mail reported. @ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. A city woman accused of throwing acid in the face of her estranged husband made a startling revelation about her victims genitals at the Makadara Law Courts on Tuesday. Lucy Njeri was charged with assaulting Geoffrey Nyebere in Soweto Estate in Embakasi East Sub County, Nairobi. While denying the charge, Njeri told Makadara Senior Principal Magistrate Angelo Kithinji that Mr Nyebere arrived at her home on Saturday, January 16 at about 10 pm when she was in the company of another man. Despite knocking repeatedly, Njeri denied him entry by refusing to open the door. She told the court that Nyebere then opened a window forcing her to splash a corrosive substance on his face. Neighbours who witnessed the incident told police that they saw smoke billowing from Nyeberes face with parts of his skin peeling off. They rushed him to a nearby hospital as Njeri and her new lover fled the scene. The woman was arrested the next day and presented in court on Tuesday. In her defense, Njeri told the magistrate that Nyebere was not her husband. She said she had kicked him out because she could neither stand him nor his oversized manhood. Njeri said she had warned the complainant against going to her house because she was afraid of his manhood, which she said: is too big for any woman. The court also heard that Njeri had lodged several complaints against Nyebere at the Soweto police station. I have repeatedly told him that I dont want him because I cant stand him but he keeps coming back and I have reported him to the police for it, she said. I have more than 20 (Occurrence Book) entry records against him but he rushes to the police to file counterclaims against me and no action has ever been taken. I can show them, she continued. Njeri pleaded with the court for lenient bail and bond terms and was released on Sh10,000 cash bail. The hearing of the case starts on June 21. IDAHO FALLS, Idaho, Jan. 22, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The city of Memphis eats more Idahoan Mashed Potatoes than any other in America, enjoying more than 8.5 million servings in the past year alone.* To salute Memphians for this achievement, Idahoan Foods is delivering a pouch of Idahoan Buttery Homestyle Mashed Potatoes to more than 300,000 Memphis households this National Potato Lovers Month and will make a donation to Mid-South Food Bank later in the month. Arriving by early February, more than 1.2 million servings of Idahoan Buttery Homestyle Mashed Potatoes are going out to Memphis households. By choosing Idahoan more often than any other city in America, Memphians have helped Idahoan claim the honor of being America's Favorite Mashed Potatoes.* Stocked up on Idahoan, residents across the city can celebrate with their favorite mashed potatoes all month long. To further give back to the Memphis community, Idahoan Foods will provide 250,000 servings of mashed potatoes to Mid-South Food Bank, the Memphis-based leading food distributor in the region, later in February. "Memphis residents love their mashed potatoes! The people of Memphis are almost twice as likely to use Idahoan compared to the national average," said Drew Facer, President and CEO, Idahoan Foods. "They've cracked the code on how to get a quick dinner on the table without sacrificing flavor and quality. Stocking them up for National Potato Lovers Month is our way of saying thank you to a community that has helped us become the company we are today." Idahoan gives you more time to spend doing the things you love by helping you put delicious, real mashed potatoes on the table in just 5 minutes. The company starts with 100% real Idaho potatoes from local growers, and then washes, peels, boils and mashes them like you would at home. After cooking each batch, they simply fresh-dry the mashed potatoes so they're ready for you to prepare at home. Idahoan takes the time to create great-tasting mashed potatoes from scratch, so you don't have to! The company is encouraging recipients to share how they're enjoying their free Idahoan Buttery Homestyle Mashed Potatoes on social media using the hashtag #MashedInMemphis. For more information, including additional recipes, please visit Idahoan.com and follow Idahoan Foods on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. * Based in part on IRI sales data, 52 weeks ending 11/29/20 About Idahoan Foods, LLC. Combining a full-service network of professionals from field to fork, Idahoan is a leading manufacturer of value-added products. Its potato processing plants and nationally recognized retail, foodservice and warehouse club brands of products along with its close relationship with its growers, allow Idahoan Foods to deliver superior quality and value to its customers. For more information visit www.idahoan.com. Follow Idahoan Foods on Facebook and Twitter. SOURCE Idahoan Foods Related Links https://idahoan.com Iran has started ramping up its crude oil production eyeing a return to pre-sanction levels in a month or two, Deputy Oil Minister Amir Hossein Zamaninia told media, as quoted by Bloomberg. Zamaninia added that the market would be able to swallow the additional volumes, which could bring Iran's total to somewhere between 3.9 million and 4 million bpd. The news comes as Tehran hopes the new U.S. administration would lift sanctions imposed by the Trump administration on the country after it pulled the U.S. out of the so-called Iran nuclear deal. Hopes are President Biden would be willing to renegotiate the deal in a mutually beneficial way. Higher Iranian oil production would not be welcome by the country's fellow OPEC members who have been cutting their own production to prop up prices. Indeed, the report immediately pressured international benchmarks, with Brent crude and West Texas Intermediate dropping by more than 2 percent at the time of writing. Meanwhile, to add insult to injury, Oil Minister Bijan Zanganeh said Iran's oil exports were also on the rise, despite the sanctions. "We set the highest record of exports of refined products in the history of the oil industry during the embargo period," Zanganeh said, as quoted by news agency Shana via Reuters. Zanganeh added, in response to media questions, "I am not worried about regaining Iran's lost oil market share, and oil buyers do not limit themselves to one or two sellers." If the U.S. sanctions were lifted, he said, "We will return to the market stronger than before, sooner than you might think." Zanganeh said last month that Iran aimed to boost oil exports to 2.3 million bpd once sanctions were lifted, from less than 1 million bpd right now, according to official data. The situation remains tricky, however, as both sides want the other one to make the first move. President Biden's nominee for the Treasury Janet Yellen recently said the U.S. will only remove the sanctions if Iran returns to its commitments under the nuclear deal, while Tehran insists that Washington first lifts the sanctions before it re-commits to the deal. By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: The same concern for Christianity led to the arrival of American Presbyterian missionaries in Iran at the end of the 19th century. They went there not to convert Muslims, but to provide spiritual enlightenment to the Armenian, Assyrian and Chaldean Christians who lived in Iran but whose Christianity was deemed to be twisted and degenerate. Zealous Christians, however, were not the only Americans on the scene. It is almost certain that the first Americans and Persians to interact in person were not missionaries but rum traders. Even then, in spite of public pretenses of piety, Iranians were and still are great consumers of what was called Boston Particular (rum laced with whiskey). It was not all Bible and booze. From the mid-19th century, Persian reformists and potentates were keen on establishing diplomatic ties with the United States as a countervailing force against Britain and Russia. But none of these efforts and inducements, including invitations for America to invest in Iranian oil, were enough to entice a United States preoccupied with domestic challenges. No less serious an obstacle was Britain, which, after the discovery of oil in 1908, did all it could to prevent American involvement in a country the United Kingdom saw as the empires cash cow. Ghazvinian offers a fascinating look into what he calls one of the great unspoken rivalries of the 20th century: the competition between the United States and Great Britain for Irans vast petroleum bounty. Oil is a subject the author knows much about. A previous book was Untapped: The Scramble for African Oil (2007). But if the first section of the book, spring, has fascinating nuggets of insights and facts, the narrative of the last three seasons becomes choppy, falling prey to what Ghazvinian rightly describes as the problem with so many recent studies of United States-Iran relations the tendency to look for someone to blame, or something to defend. The root of the problem might well be the noble instincts of what can be called progressive historiography. These well-intentioned accounts attempting to correct what they often rightly dismiss as one-sided narratives by offering the perspectives of the historically oppressed sometimes teeter dangerously close to legitimizing the Islamic Republic of Iran with its claims to represent the marginalized, anticolonial forces, although it is itself the embodiment of harsh forms of authoritarianism. America and Iran rightly posits that antagonism between Iran and America is wholly unnecessary, and, as Ghazvinian affirms, there is in the United States a powerful chorus that wants nothing to do with Iran. There are also elements in Israel and Saudi Arabia working against normalized relations between the two countries. The book is commendably exhaustive in its effort to expose the machinations of these forces. No less powerful, however, are the leaders of the current regime in Iran, particularly Ali Khamenei, who thrive on United States-Iran antagonism. A historians commitment must be to all the facts, but Ghazvinian makes only passing reference to the governments rash radicalism. Perhaps because of his instincts as a progressive historian, he is more dogged in the pursuit of exculpatory arguments or suppositions that could place less blame on Irans leaders. In the last few years thousands of critical new documents have been declassified in both the United States and Iran that shed new light on the relationship between Washington and Tehran. But there is little trace of them in America and Iran. The U.S Capitol Police forced the National Guard to leave the building Thursday night and sleep in a nearby parking garage before Congressional leaders took action. Photos obtained by Politico show the National Guard huddled together in a parking garage in Washington, D.C. after they were asked to leave the U.S. Capitol building. The reports said the garage didnt have internet access and offered one electrical outlet and one bathroom with two stalls for more than 5,000 troops. Sen. Tammy Duckworth, a Democrat representing Illinois who who lost both of her legs in combat, made clear the issue would be corrected Thursday night in a series of tweets. At 9 p.m., Duckworth said troops could use her office and should go there as soon as possible. Just before 10:30 p.m., Duckworth said the U.S. Capitol Police apologized for the incident and the National Guard would be allowed back inside the Capitol. By midnight, Duckworth said all the troops were moved from the garage and back inside the U.S. Capitol. Unreal. I cant believe that the same brave servicemembers weve been asking to protect our Capitol and our Constitution these last two weeks would be unceremoniously ordered to vacate the building. I am demanding answers ASAP. They can use my office. https://t.co/GlSSx9nqXo Tammy Duckworth (@SenDuckworth) January 22, 2021 Sen. Majority Leader Chuck Schumer called the incident outrageous and vowed to get to the bottom of it. If this is true, it's outrageous. I will get to the bottom of this.https://t.co/CNBp055A91 Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) January 22, 2021 The office of Rep. Lori Trahan, representing Massachusetts third district, said troops from Massachusetts were not affected and remaining in the House office building across the street from the Capitol. Trahan joined bipartisan demands to get answers as to why this decision was made and to prevent it from ever happening again. The National Guard was called to the U.S. Capitol two weeks ago after insurrectionists stormed the building on Jan. 6. Troops have occupied the Capitol since including during President Joe Bidens inauguration on Wednesday. About 25,000 Guard members were in Washington including 500 from Massachusetts for the inauguration. In a statement to Politico, Capitol Police spokesperson Eva Malecki said the department asked that troops shifts be reduced from 12 hours to eight in order to allow for additional rest hours away from the Capitol complex. The statement did not explain why the Guardsmen were forced into parking garages. Related Content: (Natural News) An American scientist who criticized theories that the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) might have accidentally escaped or leaked from a Chinese laboratory has admitted that he was denouncing the idea in order to protect Chinese scientists. Dr. Peter Daszak, the president of the EcoHealth Alliance, a New York-based nongovernmental organization that conducts scientific and policy research regarding emerging diseases, led an endeavor in February 2020 to quash any kind of suspicion that COVID-19 might have accidentally escaped from the Wuhan Institute of Virology, a research and academic institution supported by the Chinese state. This culminated in a statement published in the prestigious medical journal The Lancet that condemned the conspiracy theories suggesting that COVID-19 doesnt have a natural origin. The Lancet article was written during the very early stages of the global pandemic, during a time when there wasnt any kind of rigorous research on the origins of the virus. Daszak further reiterated his support for China in a statement released on Feb. 6, stating that he stands with other scientists to strongly condemn conspiracy theories suggesting that 2019-nCoV does not have a natural origin. Scientific evidence overwhelmingly suggests that this virus originated in wildlife, as have so many other emerging diseases. In June, Daszak also wrote an opinion piece for the Guardian titled: Ignore the conspiracy theories: scientists know COVID-19 wasnt created in a lab. But on Friday, Jan. 15, Daszaks spokesperson told the Wall Street Journal that his statement, which has been used to silence anybody with a dissenting opinion regarding the origins of the coronavirus, was published to protect Chinese scientists from criticism. The Lancet letter was written during a time in which Chinese scientists were receiving death threats and the letter was intended as a showing of support for them as they were caught between important work trying to stop an outbreak and the crush of online harassment. WHO team heads to Wuhan to probe virus origin The situation surrounding Daszaks initial statements and his sudden retraction are being compounded by the fact that the doctor is part of an international 15-member team of experts sent by the World Health Organization (WHO) to Wuhan to figure out the origins of the coronavirus. According to the WHO, the teams official mission is to determine how, where and when the virus crossed from animals to humans. (Related: China is purging studies related to the coronavirus origin.) Daszak has been tweeting about the mandatory quarantine period he and his team are going through. During day four of quarantine, he said that the day, like the previous days, is packed with virtual meetings. Day 6 of quarantine lockdown in Wuhan & its that special time for our friendly health care workers to swab for our PCR tests they go deep, but theyre very cheerful about it. Xie xie! pic.twitter.com/QvKzgC0Lng Peter Daszak (@PeterDaszak) January 20, 2021 Peter Ben Embarek, team leader and WHO food safety and animal diseases expert, said that the team will be granted permission to move around and meet our Chinese counterparts in person and go to the different sites that we want to visit, once theyre done with the mandatory quarantine period. It is unclear whether the WHO team will be looking into the Wuhan Institute of Virology and the theory that the coronavirus was engineered. Embarek has stated his desire to visit the famous Wuhan market to try and determine everything that went in and out of there in the weeks before the first confirmed cases. Embarek is referring to the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market in Wuhan, where many wild animals were often sold. This place is being investigated as a likely setting for the supposed animal-to-human jump of the coronavirus, or a place where that jump was accelerated. We know the virus originated in bats at some point, and then we know that human cases appeared in Wuhan in December 2019, said Embarek. But what happened in between, how many other animal species were involved in between, and where, remain to be found in more detail. We dont really know what happened in that period of time, and thats what we are looking out for. Questions will remain regarding the role of the institute in the initial outbreak; questions that will continue to linger if WHO team does not conduct its investigation. Then-Secretary of State Mike Pompeo even said that the government has reason to believe that several researchers working for the institute became sick in autumn 2019, before the first identified case of the outbreak, with symptoms consistent with both COVID-19 and common seasonal illnesses. Pompeo said that this calls into question the claims made by Shi Zhengli, the institutes senior researcher on bat-related viruses, that there had been zero [COVID-19 or SARS-related] infection among the institutes student body and staff. Pompeo noted that the possibility of an accidental infection in a lab is more likely than people might think, especially considering that such an incident has already occurred in China. In 2004, a SARS outbreak in Beijing that infected nine people and killed one originated in a research facility. Learn more about the origins of the coronavirus by reading the latest articles at Pandemic.news. Sources include: TheEpochTimes.com WSJ.com CNSNews.com Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-21 23:41:46|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, Jan. 21 (Xinhua) -- A State Council executive meeting has stressed resolutely stopping arbitrary charges on businesses, demanding the orderly collection of taxes and fees. The meeting, chaired by Premier Li Keqiang on Wednesday, urged efforts to ensure that no undue burdens are placed on businesses and people. It stressed supporting and serving market entities, especially medium, small, and micro-sized businesses, and further stimulating their vitality. China rolled out a series of measures to cut taxes and fees and temporarily lower or waive employers' contributions to social security schemes last year, according to the meeting. The measures played a key role in ensuring the steady operation of market entities and keeping the fundamentals of the economy stable, the meeting said. An inspection of the arbitrary charges on businesses will be carried out nationwide, and law enforcement in transportation, taxation, emergency and other fields will be standardized, said the meeting. The meeting urged efforts to review and standardize fee charges in key areas, strengthen oversight of charges at sea ports, and speed up the revision of laws and regulations on administrative penalties for price violations. It stressed streamlining procedures for social insurance payments, expanding contactless services, and ensuring the elderly and the severely disabled can make payments conveniently. Enditem The 134 staff members from the Mid Valley School District on Wednesday were among the first large group of educators in Lackawanna County to receive their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. Abington Heights School District staff also had the option to receive the vaccine Wednesday. And on Saturday, more than half of Forest City Regionals employees and bus contractors and drivers who requested to be included in the districts vaccination plan will receive their first doses at a clinic sponsored by the Wayne Memorial Community Health Center, said Superintendent Jessica Aquilina, Ed.D. Weve all mastered the idea of being socially distanced but our job is interacting with kids in large numbers. We want to protect the kids, which is ultimately going to protect their families and the community, said Cynthia Weiss, a high school math teacher at Forest City who will receive the vaccine. Educators are designated in the 1B category of the states vaccine plan. The state is currently in 1A, a category that includes those most at risk of illness, such as health care workers and Pennsylvanians living in long-term care facilities, people age 65 and older, and those ages 16 to 64 with high-risk conditions, according to the state. So far in Lackawanna County, 11,313 people are partially covered which the state Health Department defines as having received at least one dose of the two needed for immunity and 1,262 fully covered, according to the most recent state data. The educators in Lackawanna County join more than 150 employees from the Susquehanna Community and Blue Ridge school districts, who received vaccines from Barnes-Kasson County Hospital in early January outside of their category. The vaccines at Mid Valley and Abington Heights were provided by Eric Pusey, owner of Superior Care Pharmacy in Olyphant. Of the more than 1,800 doses he ordered, Pusey who was a Mid Valley School Board member in the 2010s had excess vaccines nearing their expiration date. After exhausting all the 1A options, he reached out to the school districts. I had product that has to be used according to Secretary Rachel Levine, who said it has to be put in an arm, he said. The state does not want doses wasted. Pusey received certifications and registered with the state early to help provide the vaccine to the community. He worked with the Lackawanna County Medical Society and the Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce to identify non-hospital-affiliated practices, home health agencies, health care practitioners and pharmacies to provide with the vaccine. He also purchased equipment, including freezers to store the doses, which must be kept between 36F and 46F for no more than 30 days. After 30 days, the vaccine expires, he said. An opened vile expires after eight hours. We are very grateful to Mr. Pusey for making this possible, said Abington Heights Superintendent Michael Mahon, Ph.D. It was a great gift to our staff and ultimately to our students and our community. Mahon said hundreds of staff members received the vaccine Wednesday. The Wayne Memorial Community Health Center is providing vaccines to the Forest City employees and staff from the Wayne Highlands, Western Wayne and Wallenpaupack Area School Districts. The center was in a similar situation as Pusey. When the vaccine supplies came out we made an exhaustive effort to reach out to all the 1As in our community, said Fred Jackson, health center executive director. The center had also committed to the vaccinations for school employees before the guidance from the state changed on Monday opening the 1A category up to anyone 65 and older, and younger people with serious health conditions. I dont think anybody doubts the need and priority for our educators, but also our educators are good vessels for communicating the safety of the vaccine, Jackson said. Providing education on the vaccine is part of the centers vaccine discussions, he said. The centers vaccines are currently all spoken for, but additional supplies will again be offered to people in the 1A category, Jackson said. Elsewhere around the county, district leaders are awaiting word of when their staffs will have the option to be vaccinated. The Scranton School District is working with Hometown Health Care of NEPA, a primary care office based in Covington Twp., to provide the inoculations. As soon as the governor announces phase 1B our employees will have the opportunity to get vaccinated, said Superintendent Melissa McTiernan. Scranton students are currently learning completely online. Riverside School District Superintendent Paul Brennan sent a letter to local state legislators Jan. 5, urging the state to allow school employees already working in person to receive the vaccine. Riverside students are spending half their week attending in-person classes and the other half virtual. We are in the queue at four different places and have made contact with about a dozen others to attempt to help our faculty and staff who are in the trenches each day, Brennan said. Contrary to official claims that the Boko Haram terrorists have been restricted to the North-east, members of the group are successfully carrying out attacks in Nasarawa State, North-central Nigeria, the state governor, Abdulahi Sule, has said. Mr Sule said this on Friday while addressing journalists at the State House, Abuja, after a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari. He said he has briefed the president on the attacks. He said the terrorists had regrouped at the Nasarawa/Benue border from where they launched attacks on residents, after they were initially displaced by soldiers from the Toto part of the state. He said some of the Boko Haram members in his state were those dislodged by security operatives from neighbouring Niger State. Counter-narrative The governors revelation contradicts the federal governments claim a few years back that the Boko Haram insurgents only operate in the North Eastern states of Borno, Adamawa and Yobe. It also contradicts several claims by the military and the federal government that the insurgents have been defeated. On how he was sure the attackers were members of Boko Haram, Mr Sule said some of those captured in Niger said they are members of the terror group whose activities have caused tens of thousands of deaths across Nigeria. I have come to see the leader of our party, the leader of the nation, and our father, Mr President, to brief him about some of the activities happening in my state, especially first in the area of security that we continue to have challenges with a team of Boko Haram who had settled at the border with the FCT, the governor said. And we thank the security forces that they have been able to dislodge them. But now, they have gone back and gathered at our border with Benue. And they are causing a lot of havoc. Therefore, it (this meeting) was an opportunity as Mr President wanted to know and I briefed him. I strongly believe that just like the decision was taken last time to take care of this issue, another decision will be taken. When asked how he was able to confirm if it was Boko Haram and not bandits that have been operating in the state, the governor said members of their families of Boko Haram members recently dislodged by the Army confirmed to the state. He also said unlike bandits, the Boko Haram are not concerned about mineral resources, which he said is in abundance in the state. First and foremost, it was easy for us to know who these people are. If you remember, they used to gather at a place called Utu in Toto Local Government Area (LGA), Mr Sule said. When I came here the last time, I appealed to Mr President. Then, the Department of State Services (SSS), the Police, the Air Force, and the Army had a joint operation. And they were able to dislodge them. When they dislodged them, a lot of them were killed. Some of them ran away and left members of their families. We took hostage about 900 members of their families in Lafia, including children and wives. The Special Forces which we have in Doma, Nasarawa State, took the hostages. A lot of interrogations were done and most of them confirmed that they were indeed Boko Haram. In fact, they gave us the name of the person who used to be like the second-in-command to Shekau. The governor also said, some of them said they were remnants of the Darussalam group that were dislodged from Niger. They came, merged, and became Boko Haram. That is how we got our confirmation that they were indeed Boko Haram. They said it themselves. ADVERTISEMENT The aviation sector expects vaccine cargo load to pick up earliest by March-April, after new jabs against COVID-19 enter the market. Transportation of vaccines has so far not added significantly to carriers' cargo revenues, but this might change in the coming months, according to a Mint report. Airlines such as IndiGo, SpiceJet, Vistara, GoAir and Air India have so far conducted only a limited number of flights to transport the vaccines, the report said. Follow our LIVE blog for updates on the COVID-19 pandemic "Things are likely to change once vaccines are rolled out for mass inoculation and then the cargo revenue from vaccine transportation could actually have an impact on the financials," an airline official told the paper. 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 Moneycontrol could not independently verify the story. India's immunisation drive began on January 16, with administration of the Covaxin and Covishield jabs to frontline and healthcare workers. A GoAir spokesperson told Mint that the airline has transported 2.31 million COVID-19 vaccine doses so far. Also read: Status check on COVID-19 vaccines in pipeline for India over next six months GoAir is transporting doses of vaccines from Mumbai, Pune and Chennai, PTI reported. IndiGo has shipped 2.1 million doses of vaccines in eight days to 16 locations, the carrier said in a statement on January 20. The doses were transported from Hyderabad, Mumbai and Pune to cities such as Vijayawada, Guwahati, Patna, Odisha, Raipur, Bhopal, among others, IndiGo said. India also began exporting vaccines to some countries on January 20, with the first shipments going to Bhutan and Maldives. Nearly 10.5 lakh beneficiaries across India have so far received vaccines against COVID-19, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said on January 22. The Indian government plans to vaccinate 300 million (30 crore) individuals by August 2021, making it the world's largest immunisation programme. Toyota & Lexus Reclaim Podium, Repeat Honda Winners Impress BINGHAM FARMS, MICHIGAN January 19th, 2021 The 17th annual Vincentric Best Value in America Awards were announced today, with Toyota Motor Corporation winning twelve model-level awards and three brand-level awards between the Toyota and Lexus brands. Additional brand-level winners were Honda for Best Value Passenger Car brand, and Volvo ofor Best Value Luxury SUV & Crossover brand. Both Honda and Volvo claimed their respective brand-level awards for the third time. Toyota earned honors for both the Best Value SUV, Crossover, & Van brand, and the Best Value Truck brand. Toyota's top contributing model was the Tacoma, which is the only vehicle to have won its segment consecutively for all 17 years that the Vincentric Best Value in America Awards have been conducted. Lexus earned the Best Value Luxury Car brand win, led by its ES sedan, which came out on top of the Luxury Mid-Size Sedan segment for the sixth time. Honda was led by the Civic and Odyssey, which impressed with victories in their segments for the tenth and eleventh time, respectively. For Volvo, the XC90 won the Luxury Mid-Size SUV/Crossover segment for the third time, and the XC90 Plug-In Hybrid won the Luxury Hybrid SUV/Crossover segment for the fourth time. Many other winning models were repeat winners in their segments, such as the Audi A7 in the Luxury Large Sedan segment for the fifth time, the GMC Sierra 3500 in the Full-Size 1-Ton Pickup segment for the fourth time, and the Mazda MX-5 Miata and Hyundai Accent in their segments for the third time. Other brands with multiple model-level winners were Cadillac and GMC with two awards each. Brand with one model-level winner were Audi, BMW, Dodge, Hyundai, Infiniti, Kia, Mazda, Porsche, Subaru, and Tesla. With the arrival of 2021, COVID-19 continues to have an economic impact on many Americans," said David Wurster, Vincentric President. "It's more important than ever to make informed and intelligent financial decisions. The Vincentric Best Value in America Awards use a data-driven analysis designed to give financial insight to consumers who are planning the purchase of a new vehicle. Vincentric measures cost-of-ownership using eight different cost factors: depreciation, fees & taxes, financing, fuel, insurance, maintenance, opportunity cost, and repairs. Using a statistical model, Vincentric identified the Best Value in America winners by measuring which vehicles had lower than expected ownership costs given their market segment and price. Over 3,000 vehicle configurations were evaluated in all 50 states plus D.C. using a range of annual mileage intervals and insurance profiles. ABOUT VINCENTRIC YEREVAN, JANUARY 22, 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 21-22, 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 Photo: The Canadian Press Western Canada's oil producers will likely cope better with Joe Biden's cancelling of the Keystone XL presidential permit than they did with the same move by ex-president Barack Obama in 2015, an industry analyst says. But Phil Skolnick, a New York-based analyst for Eight Capital, agreed with other observers that the end of the pipeline will stifle investment and production growth for years in the Canadian oilpatch. Shortly after being inaugurated on Wednesday, President Biden, who was Obama's vice-president, fulfilled a campaign promise and again took away the pipeline permit that former president Donald Trump gave back to builder TC Energy Corp. in 2019. The difference between now and five years ago is that producers have two promising alternative pipelines -- the Line 3 replacement and the Trans Mountain expansion, together providing nearly one million barrels a day of export capacity -- to pin their hopes on, said Skolnick. And, he added, after more than five years of poor oil prices and a lack of access to capital markets to raise money, their expectations for growing their oil production have been greatly diminished. "It was worse when it happened in 2015 .. that was bad back then because we didn't have the big rail buildout and we really didn't have Line 3, no one really knew about that," said Skolnick. "This is bad because (the government of) Alberta spent the money on it but, looking through the lens of the producers, not as big of a deal as some people might think." Incremental capacity additions to pipelines, technology that makes oil transport more efficient and crude-by-rail capacity that hit a record of 412,000 bpd last February mean the system will be "pipe neutral" with capacity matching demand in the first half of this year, he said. 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 guaranteed a US$4.2-billion project loan. Alberta Premier Jason 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., where it connects with the company's existing facilities to reach the U.S. Gulf Coast refining centre. The two other export pipelines will provide enough capacity to allow oil production to grow into the second half of this decade, said Richard Masson, an executive fellow and energy expert at the University of Calgary's School of Public Policy. But uncertainty about future capacity make it impossible for producers to make decisions about new multibillion-dollar oilsands projects, which could take five years or more to plan and build, despite growing demand for heavy oil from U.S. refiners seeing dwindling imports from Venezuela and Mexico. "It puts a damper on investment expectations," Masson said, noting that Canadian oil and gas capital spending fell from more than $80 billion in 2014 to about $24 billion last year, a factor in the economic slump gripping the Calgary and Alberta economies. "For something to be started up after 2025, you really have to start working on it today." Excess space in the oil transport system is vital to provide optionality, energy security and stable pricing, said Canadian Energy Pipeline Association CEO Chris Bloomer, who agreed Keystone XL is needed to ensure future growth rather than short-term demand. "We want to be somewhat long in takeaway capacity and access to markets rather than short, which creates (price) discounting," he said. On Wednesday, Kenney warned that Biden's decision to cancel Keystone XL after construction had already started sets a "precedent" that could put existing pipelines at risk of "retroactive" shutdowns. But neither Skolnick nor Masson agreed shutting operating pipelines is a likely scenario given the potential damage that could result for oil consumers in the U.S. Bloomer said that's not something his members are worried about. "Existing operating pipelines? The economy would come to a grinding halt and there would be massive devastating economic impacts if that were to happen," he said. In early 2016, TC Energy (then called TransCanada) launched legal action against the U.S. seeking US$15 billion in damages under the North American Free Trade Agreement. The claim was withdrawn after Trump was elected. In a report on Thursday, analysts with Tudor Pickering Holt and Co. said they expect the company to make a similar trade appeal this time, but with damages of US$17 billion to account for spending on the project since then. The report also suggests TC Energy will likely look to recover some of its losses on the pipeline from the shippers who signed agreements to guarantee space on the line. The company warned Wednesday it will likely post "substantive'' mostly non-cash writedowns in its first-quarter financial results. Earlier Thursday, TC Energy said it planned to eliminate more than 1,000 construction jobs related to its decision to halt work on Keystone XL. The company had previously warned that blocking the project would lead to thousands of job losses. Anthropologists have pieced together the grisly details of one of the most gruesome encounters between Spanish conquistadors and the Aztecs in late-16th century Mexico. In 2019 archaeologists at a site outside Mexico City uncovered evidence of a slaughter of a European convoy by Aztec villagerswho mutilated and ate their captives, including children and pregnant women. Now researchers have evidence Hernan Cortes ordered a retaliatory raid on the village that proved to be almost as savage. They uncovered the remains of at least a dozen women brutally killed by Cortes' men, even as they tried to protect children as young as 5. Their findings, issued this week by the National Institute of Anthropology and History in Mexico, are the culmination of years of excavation work at Tecoaque, which translates to 'the place where they ate them' in the Aztecs' Nahuatl language. Scroll down for video The bones of native Aztec killed at Tecoaque. Archaologists found the remains of at least 12 adult women at the site, situated in a way that suggests they were protecting children between the ages of 5 and 6 In 1520, the residents of Tecoaque, also known as Zultepec, captured a convoy of Spaniards coming from Cuba that included some 15 men, 50 women and 10 children. The captives also included dozens of soldiers, some of whom were Cubans of African and Indigenous descent, and hundreds of allies from other tribes. The skeletal remains of convoy members were found in an archaeological site in what is now modern-day Mexico City. Experts believe they were kept prisoner in doorless cells, where they were fattened up for ritual sacrifices involving mutilation and cannibalism. The remains of Europeans sacrificed by the villagers at Tecoaque. The skeletons were torn apart, with cut marks indicating the flesh had been removed from the bone The Aztec inhabitants of Tecoaque, near modern day Mexico City, captured a convoy of Spaniards, Cuban soldiers and allied natives in 1520 These skeletons belonged to members of a Spanish-led convoy from Cuba who were used in sacrificial rituals and eaten by Aztec villagers in Tecoaque Slowly, over a period of months, the people of Tecoaque ate the prisoners - including toddlers and pregnant women - and strung their skulls up on racks. Their skeletons were torn apart, with cut marks indicating the flesh was removed from their bones. DID THE AZTEC PERFORM HUMAN SACRIFICES? The Aztecs believed they owed a 'blood-debt' to the gods. To 'pay' this debt, animals as well as humans would be sacrificed and there was ritual blood-letting, where people would cut themselves to offer their blood to the gods. The Aztecs had 18 months in one cycle, and in each of the 18 months there was ritual sacrifice. The victim would be painted, placed on a slab and their heart would be removed. The body would then be thrown down the stairs of the temple. This may explain how the remains of the children and the hand and foot bones ended up in the tunnel in Mexico. Advertisement 'The inhabitants of Zultepec were re-creating creation myths,' said Enrique Martinez, an archaeologist with the National Institute of Anthropology and History, and the sacrifices were held on various ritual dates of the Mesoamerican calendar. One man was dismembered and burned to replicate the myth of 'El Quinto Sol,' or the Fifth Sun. A woman's body was found severed in half near the remains of a dismembered child, age 3 or 4. When Cortes heard about the massacre eight months later in early 1521, he ordered his youngest lieutenant, Gonzalo de Sandoval, to destroy the town and its inhabitants. Excavations suggest the residents of Tecoaque knew a reprisal was coming: They tried to cover up evidence of the massacre by throwing their victims' bones some of which had been carved into trophies in cisterns, along with personal items and remains of their pack animals. Primitive defenses established in the center of town did little to hold back De Sandoval and his men when they arrived in March 1521. Some male warriors were able to flee, but women and children were left behind, 'and they were the main victims,' said Martinez. The skeletons of a dozen adult females were uncovered at the site, situated in a way that suggests they were protecting the remains of 10 children between the ages of 5 and 6. Photos from the excavations show children's bones beside those of 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,' according to Martinez. When the townspeople realized Cortes' men were coming, they threw the skeletons of their victims down shallow wells. Some of the bones had been carved into trophies Excavations from Tecoaque found disfigured bodies of pregnant women whose heads were made into skull racks '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.' Months later the Spanish toppled the Aztec's capital city, Tenochtitlan, dealing a critical blow to an empire still reeling from the death of Moctezuma II. With a population succumbing to war and disease, Aztec culture was eventually largely eradicated. Dismembered bodies of men, women and toddlers were found at Tecoaque. Pictured is the skull of a Spaniard (bottom left) a child (center) and a person of African descent, alongside models of a Spanish conquistador and a person of mixed Amerindian and African descent A painting of conquistador Hernan Cortes meeting Aztec king Montezuma by Juan Ortega, 1885 This year Mexico is marking the 500th anniversary of Tenochca's fall with research publications and scholarly conferences. Martinez says Tecoaque played a pivotal role in Aztec history, both as a point of resistance against the Spanish and the beginning of the collapse of the empire. He and fellow archaeologist Ana Maria Jarquin Pacheco say the population of Zultepec would have grown tremendously after the convoy was captured, as visitors from Tenochtitlan came to participate in the sacrifices. They estimate the city could have swelled to 5,000 people. South Korea's trade ministry said Friday that the World Trade Organization (WTO) has ruled in favor of Seoul in its lawsuit against the United States centering on high tariffs imposed on local steel and power transformer products. Washington has been levying high tariffs on some South Korean products by applying the "adverse facts available" (AFA) provision since May 2016, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. The provision allows extremely high anti-dumping and countervailing tariffs if an accused company doesn't provide the data demanded by authorities. The U.S. has been imposing tariffs of 9.49 percent to 59.72 percent on South Korean steel products, with those on electrical transformers reaching 60.81 percent. The WTO panel claimed that eight cases of Washington's tariffs on South Korean goods violated the international organization's rules. South Korea filed the lawsuit with the WTO in February 2018, as the two countries failed to narrow their differences. The ministry said the latest decision by the WTO will also help in preventing unlawful application of the AFA provision on other products. (Yonhap) AGAWAM Census data will tell you Agawams getting older. What it doesnt say is what other changes will follow. For that, town officials are conducting their own survey, and they are asking all adults in Agawam to share their thoughts on how the town can accommodate its graying population. The survey, which is available online and in print, asks questions about retirees housing, healthcare, transportation, recreation and social needs, and how well they are being met today. My intent with this is that it becomes a foundation from which we continue to build our services, said Senior Center Director Michael Squindo, who serves on the committee that commissioned the survey. There should be no limitation on what we can achieve, if we put our minds to it. The survey originally had a deadline of Dec. 31, but town officials decided to extend it after receiving only 50 responses. We could work with 50, but considering the town is 28,000 people, its not a big picture of the town, said Strange. He said hed like to see at least 200 responses. There is no formal deadline to respond, though the town has to have its plan completed by the end of the fiscal year, June 30, under the terms of the grant funding it. Squindo and Strange are on a town committee working with the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission on to meet the AARPs requirements for an Age-Friendly Community. Strange said Becky Basch, from PVPC, recently received a Tufts Foundation grant to pursue age-friendly designations in several Pioneer Valley towns, starting with Agawam and Belchertown. Age-friendly is a program of AARP and the World Health Organization that aims to make sure the amenities in a town meet [residents] needs at every point throughout their life, said Squindo. Sometime in March, the town and PVPC will compile the responses and write a report suggesting how Agawam can better serve its senior citizens. The town will then host a public forum to discuss the report. Under the current COVID-19 restrictions, the forum is likely to be an online teleconference. After the forum, the committee will produce an action plan. Having the recommendations on file will qualify Agawam for the age-friendly designation, but is only an advisory document. Other town officers and boards, such as the mayor, City Council, Council on Aging and Housing Committee, would be responsible for deciding whether to implement the suggestions. Recommendations will likely range from ambitious to easy. Strange said being an age-friendly town means communicating and designing infrastructure with the needs of senior citizens in mind. This includes big-picture plans to serve retirees specific needs for housing and recreational activities, for example, but also seemingly mundane items such as printing municipal signs in large, bold letters, or making sure that public-use computers have large buttons. The survey will help determine where Agawam needs to improve, Squindo said. The anonymous survey asks more than 50 questions, including questions about whether the respondents needs are being met by Agawams current safety, housing, transportation, recreation and health amenities, and what types of features should be added. One question, for example, asks respondents to rank on a scale of 1 to 5, from not at all important to extremely important, items such as reliable public transportation, enforced speed limits and easy-to-read street signs. Another asks to rank fitness activities specifically geared to older adults, affordable home health care providers and healthcare professionals who speak different languages, along with other items. Links to the survey are on the towns website and Facebook page. Squindo said the Senior Center will also mail printed copies to anyone who requests one by calling 413-821-0605. House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy, President Trump and farmer Larry Starrh during a 2020 visit to Bakersfield. (Alex Horvath / Bakersfield Californian) House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy said Thursday that former President Trumps words at a rally did not incite the violent mob that invaded the U.S. Capitol earlier this month, contradicting his previous comments that Trump bore responsibility for the insurrection that resulted in five deaths. I dont believe he provoked it if you listen to what he said at the rally, McCarthy, a Republican who represents Bakersfield, said during a news conference. Eight days earlier, during a Jan. 13 House debate on whether to impeach Trump, McCarthy said the president was to blame for the violence, though he voted against impeachment. The president bears responsibility for [the] attack on Congress by mob rioters, McCarthy said on the House floor. He should have immediately denounced the mob when he saw what was unfolding. These facts require immediate action by President Trump. McCarthy, who was unavailable for comment late Thursday, was an early backer of the former president; Trump affectionately labeled him my Kevin. But the Californians reprimand during the impeachment vote as well as his eventual recognition of President Bidens election victory reportedly led the former president to turn on his ally during his final days in office. A week before the impeachment vote, on Jan. 6, the day of the insurrection, McCarthy had voted against certifying Bidens victory while questioning the legitimacy of the 2020 presidential election. That act angered McCarthys former boss and mentor, former Rep. Bill Thomas, who lashed out at McCarthy as a hypocrite. (McCarthy, who began his political career interning for Thomas, successfully won Thomas seat when the incumbent retired after 28 years in office.) Thomas accused McCarthy of putting his political ambitions ahead of the nations interests, saying he raised the specter of the presidents responsibility only after corporations decided to withhold political donations. Many businesses have announced that they will no longer make contributions to those politicians who falsely claimed the election was stolen from Trump a threat to McCarthy, a prodigious fundraiser. Story continues I look at it in terms of what you did, how you did it and when you did it. What is more important? Ending any kind of continuation of massive lies after the Capitol was torn apart which [McCarthy] didnt do, Thomas said on KGET-TV on Jan. 15. And then finally, after months of supporting those outrageous lies of the president, he decides that actually Trump lost and Biden won. McCarthy probably pulled back his criticism of Trump because he wants to appease the former presidents supporters and maintain power in a party still controlled by him, other critics allege. Keep in mind, Kevin doesnt have a moral conscience, said Mark Martinez, chair of the political science department at Cal State Bakersfield. Martinez is a Democrat; McCarthy has lectured in his classroom and has appeared on panels with him. Getting his hand slapped by corporate America has really put him in a difficult situation, Martinez said. Right now Kevin is in survival mode. I dont think he cares about anything but himself, trying to solidify his place in the GOP caucus. The Lincoln Project, an anti-Trump political action committee comprised of Republicans and former Republicans, has also targeted McCarthy in the aftermath of the riot. One video urges McCarthys staff to resign en masse, with a narrator saying, No political ambition is worth working for this pathological liar and seditious traitor. McCarthy and GOP Sens. Josh Hawley of Missouri and Ted Cruz of Texas are blamed for the insurrection in a second ad. And in a third, the trio and Sen. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin are accused of Jim Crow-style racism because of their efforts to disqualify the election results in states with large numbers of Black voters. Allies argue that McCarthys critics are wrong and are trying to tar him because he has been an effective leader and could become House speaker if the GOP retakes Congress in 2022. Most people here understand exactly where he stands, said Cathy Abernathy, a longtime Republican strategist in Bakersfield, adding that although she believes Trump was right in questioning the election, she does not think he directed the mob to storm the Capitol. Speaker [Nancy] Pelosi and Democrats and some in the media just want to pick over [McCarthy] and put a negative spin on him because hes very effective, she said. A longtime GOP strategist and friend of McCarthy who requested anonymity in order to speak candidly said McCarthy is responsible for putting himself in a position where his future relies on perpetuating lies that he knows are false. Kevin is a brilliant political strategist who served the Republican Party extremely well for decades, but he now finds himself in a position where his power is contingent upon promulgating lies in the realm of conspiracy theories, the strategist said. This was the deal he made when he decided to be Trumps my Kevin, and now hes in a corner with no obvious way out of it. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Robert Kocharyan on years of his leadership in Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia Situation on Armenian-Azerbaijani border is still tense, more on COVID-19 in Armenia, May 28 digest "Armenia" alliance of political parties paying tribute to founder of First Republic Aram Manukyan (LIVE) Yerevan.today: Armenia acting PM not greeted at ruling party's headquarters, citizens call him 'capitulator' Russia MOD reports on maintenance of ceasefire regime in Nagorno-Karabakh Armenia acting MOD meets with Russian counterpart in Moscow Armenia 2nd President: I see possibility of restoring borders of Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast We can provide our army with some key, modernized weapons, says Armenia ex-President Kocharyan Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: Captives issue is not one that any opposition force can resolve OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs release statement on detention of 6 Armenian servicemen by Azerbaijan Armenian acting Deputy PM: Discussion on issues possible only after withdrawal of Azeri troops from Armenia's territory Armenia acting PM on Syunik roads, Russian military posts: This is only place where there are working nuances Armenia acting PM: Process of return of POWs will intensify after upcoming elections Putin congratulates Aliyev on Republic Day 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 Project Fair Shot to offer free service for any government agency, hospital, pharmacy, or organization facilitating the distribution of COVID-19 vaccines Cloudflare, Inc. (NYSE: NET), the security, performance, and reliability company helping to build a better Internet, today announced Project Fair Shot to offer a free and fair way for vaccine distributors around the world to use digital queues to safely scale their efforts. Project Fair Shot will enable any government, municipality, hospital, pharmacy, or other organization facilitating the distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine access to Cloudflare Waiting Room, a transparent digital queue that sits in front of any registration website for people to know where they stand in line to sign up for a vaccine without leaving home. By relying on Cloudflare's global infrastructure, Project Fair Shot can scale regardless of demand without requiring organizations to dedicate limited IT resources to code changes. "It's been incredible how quickly the scientific community came together to develop multiple COVID-19 vaccines. At Cloudflare, we wanted to lend our technical expertise and infrastructure to now help ensure the vaccine is fairly and efficiently distributed," said Matthew Prince, co-founder and CEO of Cloudflare. "With Project Fair Shot, we're providing our Waiting Room technology at no cost to ensure that any organization charged with distributing the vaccine can do so in a way that is equitable and without requiring new technological investment." Cloudflare Waiting Rooms can be deployed in front of any registration website without requiring engineering or coding. Each person requesting a vaccine appointment will get confirmation that they are in a queue. When their time is up, they will be directed to the organization's signup page. Waiting Rooms can be further configured by each distributor to provide registrants with their estimated wait time, and in the future, to send alerts as their turn approaches. While Project Fair Shot makes this available at no charge to vaccine distributors, Cloudflare Waiting Room also allows organizations of all kinds with high demand for a resource be it concert tickets, new edition sneakers, or vaccines to allow individuals to queue and then fairly allocate access. Vaccine distributors can sign up on the waitlist today at https://cloudflare.com/fair-shot. To learn more, please check out the resources below: Cloudflare Project Fair Shot Landing Page Project Fair Shot Blog Post About Cloudflare Cloudflare, Inc. (www.cloudflare.com @cloudflare) is on a mission to help build a better Internet. Cloudflare's platform protects and accelerates any Internet application online without adding hardware, installing software, or changing a line of code. Internet properties powered by Cloudflare have all web traffic routed through its intelligent global network, which gets smarter with every request. As a result, they see significant improvement in performance and a decrease in spam and other attacks. Cloudflare was named to Entrepreneur Magazine's Top Company Cultures 2018 list and ranked among the World's Most Innovative Companies by Fast Company in 2019. Headquartered in San Francisco, CA, Cloudflare has offices in Austin, TX, Champaign, IL, Seattle, WA, New York, NY, San Jose, CA, Washington, D.C., Lisbon, London, Munich, Paris, Beijing, Singapore, Sydney, and Tokyo. 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, which statements involve substantial risks and uncertainties. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements because they contain words such as "may," "will," "should," "expect," "explore," "plan," "anticipate," "could," "intend," "target," "project," "contemplate," "believe," "estimate," "predict," "potential," or "continue," or the negative of these words, or other similar terms or expressions that concern our expectations, strategy, plans, or intentions. However, not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Forward-looking statements expressed or implied in this press release include, but are not limited to, statements regarding our plans and objectives for Project Fair Shot and Cloudflare Waiting Room, the benefits to customers from using our products, the expected functionality and performance of our products, our technological development, future operations, growth, initiatives, or strategies, and comments made by our CEO and others. Actual results could differ materially from those stated or implied in forward-looking statements due to a number of factors, including but not limited to, risks detailed in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on November 10, 2020, as well as other filings that we may make from time to time with the SEC. The forward-looking statements made in this press release relate only to events as of the date on which the statements are made. We undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements made in this press release to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this press release or to reflect new information or the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as required by law. We may not actually achieve the plans, intentions, or expectations disclosed in our forward-looking statements, and you should not place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210122005070/en/ Contacts: Daniella Vallurupalli press@cloudflare.com 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 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. Short link: LENEXA, Kan., Jan. 22, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- PPE and recovery garment manufacturer, ContourMD, will match up to 100 boxes from every order of their disposable face masks to donate to local community resources. With a legacy of quality and compassion, ContourMD is proud to help protect those serving greater Kansas City during the COVID-19 pandemic. ContourMD delivering Masks to Charity PArtner, The City Union Mission in Kansas City, MO ContourMD Mask Matching Campaign Online Flyer ContourMD has been creating custom, Made in America, surgical recovery garments since 1982 and they are now using their medical supply and garment making expertise to help keep people safe as they serve the community. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, ContourMD added new equipment and went through a rigorous testing process in order to become FDA and ISO-approved to create and sell masks and other PPE. As a family owned brand, ContourMD knows what it means to pull together and take care of each other and it seemed like a natural evolution for ContourMD to take their approach to safety and quality and expand their offerings to include masks and PPE. "Being a part of the Kansas City area community for almost 40 years we can't stand by and watch our neighbors suffer. But as a small, family-owned company, we need your help to do it!" ContourMD created the "The Thanks for Giving" Initiative to give back to those serving the Kansas City community. The program allows ContourMD to match up to 100 boxes from every order of their 3-Ply >99% BFE Disposable Face Masks with an equal donation of masks to a local community outreach program. Meaning each box purchased equals a box donated and delivered to a Kansas City outreach program. How You Can Help To participate, all you have to do is place your mask order with ContourMD.com and they take care of the rest. Your personal mask order will be shipped directly to you from their Kansas City facility and a matching donation of masks will be delivered to a local outreach program. If you or your company would like to sponsor a local charitable partner through direct mask donation, please email ContourMD directly to begin the process. This quarter ContourMD is serving Lazarus Ministries, Morning Glory KC, Cornerstones of Care, Hope House, and the City Union Mission. If you'd like more information, please see the link below or email ContourMD directly. https://contourmd.com/mask-match Media Contact: Lizzie Wilkinson [email protected] 816-446-8963 SOURCE ContourMD Related Links http://ContourMD.com Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. QAnon believers were left in disarray this week after the inauguration of president Joe Biden passed without the triumphant mass arrests of Democrats that they had predicted. In online spaces popular with the cult-like conspiracist movement, users watched the ceremony proceed with mounting disbelief as chances of the promised military coup withered in real time. Some people angrily renounced QAnons theories, declaring them a total hoax, one big delusion, complete bulls---, or a psychological warfare operation designed to distract Mr Trumps supporters from enacting real change. Its over. We lost, said one. Others attempted to keep the faith, suggesting that the plan was still in motion behind the scenes, while others appeared distraught at what they believed to be the victory of a worldwide Satanic cabal. Most vowed to continue the fight, in some cases violently or via civil war. The situation did not appear much changed by a call to stand down from Ron Watkins, administrator of the 8chan web forum where QAnon began, whom some researchers suspect to be the real identity of the movements enigmatic prophet Q. The reaction offered mixed omens for where the QAnon movement will go next, having already played a central role in this months riot at the US Capitol, as well as inspiring kidnapping and terror plots over the past two years. While some adherents showed signs of reconsidering their views and stepping back from future violence, others appeared to be doubling down, and white supremacist groups are already exploiting the chaos to hunt for recruits. Read More Since 2017, Q has posted on 8chan claiming to be a high-level US government insider dropping hints of a secret plan by the US military to retake power, with Mr Trump as the figurehead. The posts inspired a thriving community devoted to researching the supposed conspiracy, as well as the slogan trust the plan. But Q has been largely silent since Mr Bidens victory in last years election, and after the attack at the US Capitol most followers pinned their hopes on a last-minute interruption of the inauguration ceremony on Wednesday. Expand Close David Reinert holds up a large Q sign waiting for Donald Trump at a rally. Photo: Rick Loomis/Getty Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp David Reinert holds up a large Q sign waiting for Donald Trump at a rally. Photo: Rick Loomis/Getty Images In Telegram channels devoted to QAnon and the Stop the Steal movement, users shared memes about eating popcorn while enjoying the show that was about to unfold. As Mr Biden was sworn in, movement leaders suggested that this was necessary for the arrest of Mr Biden to proceed. Relax. We have to let them complete the crime of high treason, said a Telegram user, with 13 minutes to go until the end of Mr Trumps term. Even 28 minutes after Mr Biden took power, some continued to hope, often expressing that they were not sure what to believe. One user speculated that video of Mr Biden speaking might be a deepfake generated by artificial intelligence to cover words by Mr Trump. The mood was buoyed by a statement from Mr Trumps son, Eric Trump, which ended with the best is yet to come. By that time, however, many others had given in, often confessing that they felt heartbroken, devastated. Someone posted a link to a Telegram channel for a therapy service. Other reactions were more sardonic, such as: I trust that we are f---ed. In the comments section of a QAnon news source on Telegram, furious readers shared images of the channels logo with FAKE NEWS written over it, as well as images of Donald Trump with the word TRAITOR. A common theory was that QAnon had undermined the Trumpist movement by convincing people to stay home and wait for the military to deliver them a win. Even on a dedicated QAnon forum, posts had titles such as Oaths taking place, there is no plan and Its over and nothing makes sense... absolutely nothing. Amid the chaos, merchandise sites continued to hawk memorabilia, with one Telegram poster advertising a gold plated $1,000 bill emblazoned with Mr Trumps face. Clicking through, customers were told that the item was now free but in very high demand, and urged to pay up to $8.95 in postage to secure theirs quickly. There was evidence of white supremacist groups attempting to recruit disaffected believers by blaming QAnons defeat on Jewish people. One recruiter, whose profile picture showed a neo-Nazi symbol known as the black sun, posted in a pro-Trump Telegram channel that Trump had betrayed white people. Arguing for total war as the only way out, they directed users towards another channel that recommended reading speeches and books by Adolf Hitler and the British fascist leader Oswald Mosley. Telegraph Read More Telegraph Media Group Limited [2021] By Paul Sandle and Natalie Thomas MILTON KEYNES, England (Reuters) - British couple Elizabeth Kerr and Simon O'Brien had been planning to marry in June. Then COVID-19 struck. Both contracted the disease and were rushed to Milton Keynes University Hospital in the same ambulance when their oxygen levels fell dangerously low. Kerr and O'Brien became so ill that medical staff scrambled to organize a wedding before it was too late. When O'Brien's condition got even worse, it was decided he should be transferred to the intensive care unit (ICU). Even that did not stop them: staff delayed his intubation just long enough for them to tie the knot. "They told me that we wouldn't be able to get married after all, because they were going to have to intubate Simon and put him under," Kerr recalled. "But they held off for another hour. And he just, just rallied in that time, just long enough for us to get married." With mortality rates now as high as 80% in the ICU, a happy ending was far from certain. But O'Brien's condition improved and the newlyweds reunited on a COVID-19 ward where both are gradually recovering, although still receiving oxygen. "We had to wait a few days for our first kiss," Kerr told Reuters. 'I DO' When Kerr, 31, and O'Brien, 36, arrived at the hospital in southern England, both needed a CPAP machine to breathe. They were placed on separate wards for COVID-19 patients. Kerr, a nurse at nearby Buckingham hospital, had told medics the couple planned to wed in June, but with their condition deteriorating, nurse Hannah Cannon asked her if they wanted to marry in the hospital. Kerr recalled she was told it could be her only chance. Squeezing her husband's arm and welling up with tears as she recalled the events, she said: "Those are words I never ever want to hear again." As staff across the hospital rushed to secure a wedding licence, O'Brien's health worsened and doctors decided to move him to the ICU, reserved for the sickest patients, where he could receive mechanical ventilation. Story continues They waited to intubate him long enough for the ceremony, which took place at 5.30 p.m. (1730 GMT) on Jan. 12, three days after the couple arrived in hospital. Cannon was a witness and filmed the marriage for the couple's family and friends. The catering department provided the cake. "With lots of teamwork ... we were able to give them a wedding, not necessarily the wedding that they would have initially intended, but certainly something positive, remarkable and memorable for them to really hold on to," Cannon said. Moments after saying "I do", O'Brien was sedated and spent the night on mechanical ventilation. Sitting next to each other and clutching hands after his partial recovery, the couple believe their survival was down to the staff's quick thinking. Kerr said the terrifying experience of fighting for every breath made clear what was important: the people you love. "That is everything that matters, everything" she said. "Absolutely," O'Brien agreed, speaking through his oxygen mask. Kerr added: "If we hadn't had each other and we hadn't been given that opportunity to get married, I don't think both of us would be here now." (Reporting by Paul Sandle; Editing by Mike Collett-White) Hussein Arnous has met with representatives from Lattakia to discuss means to improve services and support production sectors writes SANA. Prime Minister Hussein Arnous recently held a meeting with members of the Peoples Assembly who represent Lattakia province. Talks focused on the need to exert intensified efforts to improve services and developmental realities in the province and to support the productive sectors, according to the available capabilities, in a way that directly reflect on improving the services provided to the citizens. The proposals dealt with solving the problem of drinking water in the province, increasing its allocations of oil derivatives, securing teachers for schools in Lattakia countryside, completing the construction of Jableh Hospital, and supporting the Health Directorate and the medical staff to confront the coronavirus pandemic. The MPs also discussed means to complete the organizational plans, and to adopt unified criteria for classifying oil stations in the countryside and in the city, in addition to accelerating the construction of agricultural roads in the areas affected by fires, and re-granting new licenses for tobacco cultivation. Means to supply the provinces internal transport sector with additional buses, and transporting the Asphalt moulder on the highway in the al-Sanobar area to another place to preserve environmental safety were also on the table. Arnous highlighted the importance of joint coordination between the governmental team and members of the Peoples Assembly to shed light on the service reality in the provinces and to handle the outstanding problems and find appropriate solutions. 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. WESTFIELD, NJ New Jersey has been expanding the number of publicly listed COVID-19 vaccination sites, and the state continues to announce new locations in the Westfield area and elsewhere. The state has provided a list of vaccine sites in your area. Some are accepting appointments directly, but some area not (see the Westfield area list of vaccine sites below). Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli said the state plans to increase the number of vaccination sites beyond 300. State officials have said the goal is to vaccinate 70 percent of the adult population by the spring. Gov. Phil Murphy announced that New Jersey has created a county-by-county vaccine hub that reports the number of immunizations across the state. "We're working strategically and efficiently to vaccinate our frontline health care workers, law enforcement and fire professionals and long-term care center residents and staff," he said. Health officials said not all sites are publicly listed because some are not open to the public, such as prisons and psychiatric hospitals. Persichilli said New Jersey currently doesn't have a lot of vaccine availability, but she expects that to change soon. The incoming Biden presidential administration has said that it plans to greatly expand the number of vaccine doses available to the American public. New Jersey recently expanded the list of eligible people, allowing police and fire professionals and people older than 65 to get the vaccine. Read more: NJ Expands COVID Vaccine To 65 & Older, Those With Medical Issues Persichilli said the state has administered at least 36 percent of vaccine doses allocated. Hospitals have administered vaccines at least 50 percent of their health care workers. Her hope is to continue to expand the number of "mega-sites" in convention centers and large spaces, aiming for 1,000 people vaccinated a day. You can find out if you qualify by going here: When Can You Get COVID-19 Vaccine In NJ? Here's The New 2021 List Story continues Here are the currently listed public vaccine sites in the Westfield area. As of Friday, they will only vaccinate people 18 and up: City of Elizabeth Health Department 418 Palmer St. Elizabeth NJ, 07202 (908) 820-4250 Pre-register at https://covidvaccine.nj.gov/ Union County Department of Health 400 North Avenue East, Westfield (908) 518-5620 ucnj.org Neighborhood Health Services - Plainfield 1700 Myrtle Avenue Plainfield (908) 540-0229 nhscnj.org Rahway Health Department 1 City Hall Plaza Rahway Union 18 years (732) 827-2000 cityofrahway.org RMG Urgent Care Center Springfield 200 US Highway 22 Springfield (973) 376-4341 riversidemedgroup.com RWJ Rahway Clinic 865 Stone Street Rahway (732) 381-4200 rwjbh.org/covid19vaccine ShopRite Pharmacy #163 76 Central Ave. Clark, NJ 07066 vaccines.shoprite.com ShopRite Pharmacy Of Elizabeth 865 West Grand St Elizabeth, NJ 07202 vaccines.shoprite.com Union County - Kean University 1000 Morris Avenue Union, NJ 07083 ucnj.org/covid19/covid-19-vaccination/ Other information The Union County main vaccination site is offering the Moderna vaccine. Messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines, including the Moderna vaccine, are a new type of vaccine that doesn't include the weakened virus, but teaches human cells to make a protein that triggers the immune response (read more about that here). Gov. Phil Murphy reportedly said last week that he'd like to start vaccinating the general public by Memorial Day. Click here for updates about who's eligible. As of Friday, more than 408,000 Americans had died of the virus. (You can see which states had the highest death toll in the past week on this CDC map.) Here are statewide coronavirus resources: NJ COVID-19 Information Hub: https://covid19.nj.gov/ General COVID-19 questions: 2-1-1 NJ COVID-19 hotline: (800) 222-1222 Got news? Email caren.lissner@patch.com. Got photos? Please include express written permission from the photographer for us to use them. To be the first to get free news alerts with breaking stories in your town, or to get a free local newsletter each morning, sign up for Patch breaking news alerts or daily newsletters. This article originally appeared on the Westfield Patch CERRO GORDO COUNTY, Iowa - Health officials in Cerro Gordo County are urging the public to use the CodeRED system. Public Health said Friday that signing up for the OnSolve's CodeRED alert will be "one of the easiest ways for you to receive information on the COVID-19 vaccine." "HOWEVER, if you have signed up for this alert system in the past, perhaps to receive weather alerts, there is NO need to sign up again." ------ To subscribe to the OnSolve CodeRED system in Cerro Gordo County, visit Mason Citys website at www.masoncity.net and follow the link under the news item titled Sign Up For CodeRED. You do not need to live in Mason City to sign up. ------ The priority for phase 1B, which will begin soon, is below: Tier 1 First Responders PK-12 staff, early childhood education, childcare workers Tier 2 Frontline essential workers in food, agriculture, and manufacturing sectors who live or work in non-social distanced settings Individuals with disabilities living in home settings and their direct care staff Tier 3 Staff and individuals living in congregate settings not covered by previous Phase or Tier Government officials, including staff, engaged in business at the State Capitol Tier 4 Inspectors responsible for health, life and safety Tier 5 Correctional facility staff and individuals incarcerated This is exciting for a number of reasons, states Brian Hanft, Director at CG Public Health. First, it means that as soon as February 1st comes and we have adequate supply of vaccine, we are going to be able to get it into a lot of peoples arms; second, it answers a lot of questions as who gets to go first, second, third, and so on. Shivamogga: At least eight persons were killed in a dynamite blast at a railway crusher site in Karnatakas Hunasodu village in the Shivamogga district late on Thursday, According to the District Collector, KB Shivakumar, the massive explosion took place near gravel and boulder crushing facility around 10.30 PM, sending shockwaves not only in Shivamogga but also in neighbouring Chikkamagaluru and Davangere districts. At least eight people were killed in a dynamite blast at a railway crusher site in Hunasodu village, Shivamogga District Collector KB Shivakumar said late on Thursday. The loud blast that occurred around 10.30 PM last night resulted in mild tremors in and around Shivamogga, he added. The sound of the explosion was so heavy that people rushed out of their homes considering it an earthquake. An eye witness said that the blast was so powerful that window panes shattered while many houses and even roads developed cracks. Later, it came to fore that it was a blast in a lorry carrying dynamite. The entire lorry was blown up in the blast, claiming several lives. "The incident took place in a stone crushing unit, where generally at least 50 boxes of mining explosive material were stored," the police said, according to news agency IANS. The district officials said that the death toll can go up. The incident took place in Abbalagere village located along the Shivamogga-Hanagal state highway, which passes through Savalunga and Shikaripura. Shikaripura, which is nearly 290 km from Bengaluru, is the home constituency of Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa. Shortly after the news spread, Shivmogga SP and other senior officials reached the spot to take stock of the situation there. Early visuals from the spot initially suggested that at least 5 persons were killed in the blast but agencies later reported eight deaths due to the explosion. According to the official sources, a special bomb squad was also sent to the spot to prevent any further blast in the area. The Prime Minister has expressed grief over the tragic incident and said that the state government is providing all assistance to the victims. "Pained by the loss of lives in Shivamogga. Condolences to bereaved families. Praying that the injured recover soon. State Govt is providing all possible assistance to affected," PMO said. Pained by the loss of lives in Shivamogga. Condolences to the bereaved families. Praying that the injured recover soon. The State Government is providing all possible assistance to the affected: PM @narendramodi PMO India (@PMOIndia) January 22, 2021 Live TV A new study done by Dr. Bento Lobo, head of the Department of Finance and Economics at Rollins College of Business at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, has been released. It shows the benefits to the Chattanooga area as a result of the smart grid and fiber optics network that was installed in 2010. At the monthly meeting of the EPB board of directors, President and CEO David Wade shared some of the highlights of the report. When the new systems were first being considered, said Mr. Wade, and a decision was made to move forward, three business plans were done. The first identified the volume that would be needed to support the investment. This was determined to be 30,000 connections. Today, there are 118,000 fiber customers. The second plan defined the impact that improvements to the electric system would have. The determination was that there would be a 40 percent improvement to reliability. The actual figures today show there have been 40-55 percent fewer outages and they are shorter in duration. The third business plan stated the mission to improve quality of life and benefits for EPB customers which estimated there would be a $600 million benefit over a 10-year period. The new study shows the actual benefit of the smart grid and fiber system to be $2.69 billion, five times the original projection. Some of the things that led to the conclusions of the study included: 9516 jobs are directly supported The entrepreneur system in the area has benefited from $244 million in investments due to the fiber optics infrastructure Power outages have been reduced. Documentation shows a 40-55 percent improvement in reliability, resulting in savings of over $26 million each year There has been a positive environmental impact with the thousands of miles eliminated because of the use of fewer trucks. This has reduced 7,900 tons of carbon emissions Over $110 million has been invested in research in the community. EPB has partnered with Oak Ridge national Laboratory among other research partners About $20 million is paid each year to the city of Chattanooga and Hamilton County in the form of payments in lieu of taxes. This number is $59 million greater since 2010 if the investment had not been made for the smart grid and fiber optics systems The great thing, said Mr. Wade, is that this is not the end. "Our fiber optics has the ability to support increases in traffic." Some recent increased use has been due to ED Connect; the program that was started to make sure the entire community has access to high-speed broad band regardless of their financial status. It has now been installed in 7,100 homes which is impacting 12,000 students. Increases in these numbers are expected. Use of our fiber network is only going to get bigger and bigger, said Mr. Wade. Another increase has been seen in the use of telehealth appointments which has seen a rise from one percent to 50 percent. This is another use that requires reliable band width, and there are still opportunities ahead of us for making things better, said Mr. Wade. Other analyses have shown that four of 10 people drop off if a page fails to load in three seconds. And delays to load is shown to reduce sales. People now expect instantaneous response. According to Amazon, a one-second delay affects sales by $1.6 billion. A link to this study will be made available to the public on the EPB website. .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... Copyright 2021 Albuquerque Journal On the top shelf of a built-in bookcase inside the Oval Office sits a row of books. The row is split in two by a sculpture of a Native American riding a horse. ADVERTISEMENTSkip ................................................................ That piece of art Swift Messenger was created by Santa Fe sculptor Allan Houser (Chiricahua Apache). It was created in 1990 and was a gift from Houser to the late Sen. Daniel K. Inouye, D-Hawaii, the first Japanese American elected to both houses of Congress. Inouye was the Senate sponsor for the creation of the National Museum of the American Indian and Housers Sacred Rain Arrow was in the Senate Committee Room for many years. Swift Messenger was gifted to NMAI by Inouyes widow after his death and now is on loan to the White House. New Mexicans are familiar with Housers work, as many of his sculptures are displayed in Albuquerque and Santa Fe. The Albuquerque Museum has two pieces one inside, one outside by Houser. The Albuquerque International Sunport is home to Abstract Crown Dancer #1. There are more than a dozen pieces around Santa Fe, including sculptures at the Santa Fe Community Convention Center, the Governors Mansion and Morning Prayer at the front of the Capitol building. On Wednesday, President Joe Biden opened the Oval Office for the world to see the art collection that fills the space. Behind the Resolute Desk is a bust of Cesar Chavez. The office also includes busts of Rosa Parks, Eleanor Roosevelt and former President Harry Truman. According to Bidens office, It was important for President Biden to walk into an Oval Office that looked like America and started to show the landscape of who he is going to be as president. On that bookshelf resides a piece of Indigenous culture. Swift Messenger depicts a Chiricahua Apache warrior riding a horse. It has the Chiricahua Apache boot, which is a moccasin with a turned up tip, said Tracy Cable, the head of tourism operations and development at Haozous Place, a sculpture park and gallery featuring Housers work. This was a boot that the people designed because they came from the desert and rocky conditions. Having the front turned up, one couldnt prick their foot. Cable says having Housers work in the Oval Office is a chance for the public to get to know more about Houser. Allan is the greatest Native American sculptor of our times, Cable said. I think that he brought important awareness to the culture of Indigenous people not just in this area. His work focused on the dignity of the Plains Indians, Kiowa, Apache and the Navajo. He always instilled the human dignity in every single culture. Houser was born Allan Capron Haozous on June 30, 1914. In 1937, Houser had his first solo exhibition 19 watercolor paintings at the Museum of New Mexico. Within two years of graduating from the Santa Fe Indian School, he had shown his work at the Art Institute of Chicago and the New York Worlds Fair. Houser later became a faculty member at the Institute of American Indian Art, where he set up the sculpture department. In 1975 he retired from teaching to focus on his art. In 1992, he became the first Native American awarded the National Medal of Arts. He died in 1994. Cable said Housers sculptures never portrayed people as victims. He portrayed them as sad at times, but also as strong peacekeepers, Cable said. A lot of his focus were mothers and children with a sense of family and love. Andrew Connors, Albuquerque Museum director, said Houser had a willingness to alter his style, all while pushing himself into new directions. Some of his early work was in the Native American watercolor tradition, Connors said. Yet he very quickly explored avant garde traditions. He was right there working with others like Henry Moore in stylizing the figure and bringing avant garde modernity and abstraction to a Native American vocabulary. Connors said looking at Housers work, one could see a Native American story, as well as the avant garde experimentation. That makes him an artist of great influence, not only in a Native American context, but in a 20th century context, Connors said. Houser tour Haozous Place offers public tours of its sculpture garden, which includes dozens of pieces by Allan Houser. To request a tour, call 505-982-4705. Coronavirus: The United States provides 20 ventilators to Zimbabwe to respond to COVID-19 Thirty-seven states are seeing sustained reductions in cases, with only one reporting significant increases. Arizona and California, which reached disastrous new case records in recent weeks, have reported noticeable drops over the past several days. Around some Midwestern cities that drove surges of infections in the early fall, case numbers have fallen 50 percent or more from their peaks. Still, the country continues to average nearly 190,000 new cases each day, more than any point of the pandemic before December. Deaths from the coronavirus are still extraordinarily high, with more than 4,300 deaths announced on Wednesday, the second-highest daily total of the pandemic. And in some places, there has been no progress at all. Virginia is reporting some of its highest infection numbers yet. New outbreaks are raging in South Carolina. And in parts of Texas, including around San Antonio and along portions of the Mexican border, case numbers are as high as they have ever been. The county that includes Laredo is reporting more than 500 cases each day, a per capita figure more than twice as high as Los Angeles County, which is also struggling. In places that have seen a slowing of new cases in recent days, local and state health officials were sharing positive but tentative news about the virus. Everythings moving the right way, a smiling Dr. Allison Arwady, the commissioner of public health for Chicago, said at a news conference on Thursday, noting that because of encouraging metrics in the city, museums have reopened, gyms are allowing group classes and more restrictions could be loosened in the coming days. Epidemiologists say that cases rise and fall in cycles controlled almost entirely by human behavior, and some experts worried that new openings of businesses, permitted because of sinking case numbers, might just set off new surges once more. Gretchen Musicant, the Minneapolis commissioner of health, said that officials in the state were encouraged, but wary of the situation, and that they continue to be watchful as Minnesota begins reopening certain sectors of the economy once again. Were watching to make sure that those reopenings dont escalate our rates again, Ms. Musicant said. Jason Roberts has made a fresh attempt at getting bail as he awaits retrial on charges he murdered two policemen, as his lawyer cast doubt on whether the judge who ruled against him last year erred in law. Mr Roberts was in 2002 found guilty of murdering police officers Gary Silk and Rodney Miller in Moorabbin in 1998, but last year had those convictions quashed when the Court of Appeal found police misconduct corrupted his trial. Jason Roberts, pictured being escorted into the Court of Appeal last year, has made a fresh bid for bail. Credit:Joe Armao However, he remains in prison as he awaits a retrial which is not expected until the end of this year at the earliest. The 40-year-old was refused bail a fortnight after his convictions were quashed, and on Friday challenged that decision in the Court of Appeal in a bid to be released after more than 20 years in custody. HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ohio Burglary: Cranbrook Drive A 91-year-old resident allowed a supposed utility worker into his home Jan. 15 to investigate a situation with contaminated water. He said the suspect distracted him by having him boil water and follow him to the back yard. The suspect left after the resident said he was going to have a family member come to the house. Cash and property were then discovered missing. The incident is under investigation. Burglary: Stanwell Drive A 95-year-old resident allowed a man, posing as a utility worker, into her home Jan. 16 to check on water issues. While she took him around the house, a second person came into the home and stole property. The vehicle seen in the area was the same used in a similar scam the previous day. It had fictitious Texas temporary tags on it. Police are investigating. Fraud: Kenbridge Drive A resident said Jan. 13 that she had received a mailed letter advising her that she was the heir to money left by family members who had died in a crash. The letter stated that half the money would be kept by the sender. She knew it was a scam and wanted to make police aware of it. Impaired driving: Cranbrook Drive Officers responded at 8:49 p.m. Jan. 13 to a report of a disturbance near Millridge Elementary School. They located several people gathered around two vehicles. Subsequent investigation found that one boy had struck a speed limit sign while driving under the influence of alcohol. He was charged with OVI and other traffic offenses and released to his parents. Property damage: Brainard Road A woman reported her car vandalized Jan. 15 while parked across from Harry Buffalo. A rear window and the front windshield were shattered by a cement block that was found near the vehicle. The woman said she suspects a Cleveland Heights man, 61, caused the damage, because she had been arguing with him the past two days through text messages. The incident is under investigation. Harassment: Stanwell Drive A woman, 19, reported Jan. 15 that she was receiving unwanted social media messages from a co-worker. It was believed that someone had posted the messages while posing as the 21-year-old man. Officers contacted him, and he said he had just quit his job to avoid further complications with the woman. He would not provide any information about who may have sent the messages. Theft: Rutland Drive A man, 91, said Jan. 19 that money was missing from his home and may have been taken in December. A maid and caretaker both had access to the home. The incident is under investigation. Read more from the Sun Messenger. Senedd drinking investigation finds possible regulations breach as Welsh Conservatives back group leader Paul Davies MS This article is old - Published: Friday, Jan 22nd, 2021 The Welsh Conservatives have backed their leader Paul Davies MS, while an investigation into drinking on the Senedd estate has made referrals to Cardiff Council after it found a possible breach of regulations occurred. On Monday BBC Wales named Conservative Senedd leader Paul Davies, Darren Millar MS and others who the BBC say were seen drinking together along with stating Labour Senedd member Alun Davies was also involved. All three deny breaking any rules. The allegation is that consumption of alcohol took place on the premises of the Welsh Parliament on the 8th of December a significant action and date with the pandemic restrictions on the serving of alcohol coming into effect on the 4th of December. The unofficial meeting took place in the Senedd tea room in the Ty Hywel building, which is behind and linked to the Senedd building pictured above and contains a range of office space as well as canteen areas, at a time where restaurants and pubs could not. Today a statement from the Llywydd, Elin Jones MS, regarding the alledged drinking on the Senedd estate said, The Commissions internal investigation has established that alcohol was consumed by five individuals in the Senedds licensed tearoom, four of whom are elected members. The investigation has concluded that a possible breach of regulations occurred and therefore the Chief Executive of the Senedd Commission has referred the matter to Cardiff Council. The Regulations in place at the time imposed strict restrictions on members of the public with regard to the consumption of alcohol. Given that the possible breach in question occurred as a result of the consumption of alcohol by Members of the Senedd, I have also written to the Standards Commissioner to ask him to investigate whether these Members acted in accordance with the duty in the Code of Conduct to conduct themselves in a manner which maintains and strengthens the publics trust and confidence in the integrity of the Senedd. In a statement, issued before the above findings were made public, Janet Finch-Saunders MS, Chair of the Welsh Conservative Group in the Welsh Parliament: The Welsh Conservative Group met today to discuss events involving three members of the Group on the 8th December. The Group extended its unanimous support for Paul Davies to continue in his post as Leader of the Group. Today the First Minister covered the issue at the lunchtime briefing prior to the above statements being made, saying he was awaiting any outcome of investigations, he added: Ill just just say two things that I think, in my mind that are very important, as I understand it, and the investigation will reveal this properly, there was a single member of staff on duty that evening. Im very anxious that this does not all result in that person carrying the can for what happened that evening. That was a single female member of staff faced with a collection of senior senior members, the idea that the person, the staff member was to blame seems to be completely incredulous. I very much hope that this does not head in that direction. Then I think people will want to compare what people have said with what the investigation concludes, I saw the statement from the leader of the Welsh Conservatives and from Darren Millar, who was with him, that they had gone in for a drink after work. I think the implication from that was clear to me that they called in, had a swift half and were on their way home again. People will want to compare the explanations that people have given against what the investigation concludes. We asked the First Minister about the concerning insight behind the scenes in Cardiff Bay painting a picture of a possible 4v1 situation, and asked if he was personally aware of any pressure put on a member of staff to serve alcohol, what timeframe constituted a swift investigation, and when he was first made aware of the general allegations. The First Minister said, I was made aware of the allegations on Monday evening. At that point, I made the decision that the Labour member involved should be suspended to allow those investigations to continue. I dont think it is for me to set a timeframe, the investigation is in the hands of the Senedd Commission led by the Presiding Officer and Im sure that they are working hard to get it concluded in a fair but swift way. In the remarks I made I was responding not to anything that I know directly, I was certainly not there myself, but to some of the reports that I had read and both were suggesting that somehow the responsibility was not on the individuals concerned, but lay with the people who were responsible for serving alcohol. I just wanted to make it clear that in the circumstances that I have seen, Im not a regular user of the facility myself, but on the very rare occasions that Ive been there, there is a single female member of staff who serves behind the counter. Any idea that all of this could be put at the door of a single individual in that way, it would be highly unacceptable to me. On Monday the Welsh Conservatives issued a statement from Paul Davies MS, Darren Millar MS and Paul Smith ( WelshConservative chief of staff ) who said We are profoundly sorry for our actions. While we did not break the rules, we recognise that what was part of a days work would not be seen to be following the spirit of them, especially given the tough time the country has been going through. They say the meeting was being held to discuss legislation for possible inclusion in the Welsh Conservative manifesto, and that there was never more than four people in the room at once and social distancing rules were maintained. They also say they drank one or two glasses of wine. On Monday spokesperson for the Senedd Labour Group said: A member has been suspended from the privileges of Senedd Labour Group membership while an investigation takes place into this alleged incident. Alun Davies MS said on Monday, I am very sorry if my actions have given the impression that I am in any way not committed to upholding the regulations which I have consistently supported throughout the last year. For context, the purpose of this meeting from my perspective was to seek to persuade the Welsh Conservatives to support my proposal for a Welsh Hearts Bill which the Senedd endorsed on 21 October and to make a commitment to enact this life-saving legislation in their manifesto for Mays election. This is part of my work across political parties on this issue. The Senedd Commission has already confirmed to me that I did not breach the Coronavirus regulations on the consumption of either food or alcohol that were in force at that time. I have also confirmed to the Commission that the regulations on the number of people present and on social distancing were not breached either. I look forward to the Commissions final conclusions on this matter. Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-22 23:37:25|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close LUSAKA, Jan. 22 (Xinhua) -- The Zambian government said on Friday that it will next month hold a virtual meeting with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to negotiate an extended credit facility. The virtual meeting will be held from February 11 to March 3, 2021. Secretary to the Treasury Fredson Yamba said the meeting comes in the wake of a request by the government last November for a formal program and a visit by an IMF team in December. The meeting will be held under the Extended Credit Facility window which provides financial assistance to countries with protracted balance of payments challenges, a situation which the southern African nation faces. The program discussions will center on the government's objectives to attain fiscal and debt sustainability and on key pillars in the country's economic recovery program, he said in a release. "In line with the need to stabilize the economy and gain traction on its reform agenda, the government as espoused in the economic recovery program, 2020-2023, and prior cabinet approvals has prioritized having a formal program with the IMF," he added. The talks, he said, will also focus on the need to scale up social protection programs and undertake the much-needed reforms in the agriculture and energy sectors. Zambia is seeking a financing agreement with the international lender to tackle its battered economy, which is getting worse by the COVID-19 pandemic. Enditem President Joe Biden will sign another round of executive orders on Friday, these aimed at providing assistance for those facing food insecurity, protecting American workers and providing economic relief to struggling families. Biden kicked off his presidency with a series of orders aimed at undoing much of President Donald Trump's legacy and helping those devastated by the coronavirus pandemic. On Friday he will sign executive orders aimed at speeding up delivery of stimulus checks to families who haven't received them and increasing food aid for children who normally rely on school meals as a main source of food. He will also direct his administration to start the work that would allow him to issue an executive order to require federal contractors to pay a $15 minimum wage to their employees. The federal minimum wage has been at $7.25 an hour since 2009. President Joe Biden will sign executive orders aimed at providing assistance for those facing food insecurity, protecting American workers and providing economic relief to struggling families One of the orders Biden will sign Friday will help struggling families buy groceries - above volunteers collect donated food collect as part of the Dr. Martin Luther King Day of service in Pennyslvania 29 million adults and at least 8 million children are struggling with food insecurity; above volunteers from the Los Angeles Food Bank help load boxes of food into vehicles The pandemic has hit the American economy hard. More than 10 million Americans are unemployed, 14 million renters are behind on payments, and 29 million adults and at least 8 million children are struggling with food insecurity. Women, minorities and low-income service workers have been disproportionately impacted. Black and Hispanic workers face higher jobless rates than white workers. 'We're at a precarious moment in our economy,' Brian Deese, director of the White House National Economic Council, told reporters on a call that previewed the orders. 'The American people cannot afford to wait. So many are hanging by a thread.' He noted Biden's actions are not a substitute for comprehensive legislative relief, 'but they will provide a critical lifeline to millions of American families.' In one order, Biden will direct the Treasury Department to find new ways to get stimulus checks, including $600 checks passed in December and $1,200 checks passed in March, to as many as eight million Americans who have not yet received them. He also will issue an order to direct the Department of Agriculture to help families with schoolchildren buy groceries by increasing the weekly value of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits, commonly known as food stamps, for about 12 million families. It could provide a family with three children more than $100 of additional support every two months, the White House estimated. 'USDA will consider issuing new guidance that would allow states to increase SNAP emergency allotments for those who need it most. This would be the first step to ensuring that an additional 12 million people get enhanced SNAP benefits to keep nutritious food on the table,' a fact sheet distributed by the administration said. Biden will also seek to allow workers to draw unemployment benefits if they quit jobs they fear are unsafe amid the pandemic by noting 'that workers have a federally guaranteed right to refuse employment that will jeopardize their health, and if they do so, they will still qualify for unemployment insurance,' the White House fact sheet said. His orders will overturn many of President Trump's directives on issues pertaining to federal workers. The order also eliminates Schedule F, a class of worker that Trump had established that stripped federal workers of many job protections. Biden has made fighting COVID his top priority as president - above Biden volunteered with grand daughter Finnegan and daughter Ashley at Philabundance, Philadelphia's largest hunger relief organization, before he was inaugurated Biden is also seeking to raise the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour for contract employees such as those who do custodial work - above workers clean the White House briefing room President Biden has made fighting the COVID pandemic his top priority while in office. 'To a nation waiting for action, let me be clear on this point: Help is on the way,' he said Thursday when he signed 10 executive orders related to the COVID pandemic. He has signed more than two dozen orders related to the pandemic, addressing climate change and reversing Trump policies such as the so-called Muslim ban on travelers from certain countries and stopping the building of the border wall. In addition to the executive orders, Biden is also pushing a $1.9 trillion COVID relief package that includes $1,400 stimulus payments, raising the national minimum wage to $15 an hour, extended jobless benefits, aid for state and local governments and money for a nationwide vaccination program. Republicans said the package is too expensive. Biden's executive orders are designed to help ease people's burdens while Congress works on the president's legislative agenda. He is expected to sign more in the coming days. Technology Management Concepts partners with Century Business Solutions to bring credit card processing directly into Dynamics 365. "The partnership will streamline workflow, eliminate double data entry, and make payment processing more efficient within Dynamics 365 Business Central." Century Business Solutions is excited to announce its partnership with Technology Management Concepts, a Gold Certified Microsoft partner specialized in the implementation of financial and business management systems, to allow credit card processing directly within Dynamics 365 Business Central. Century Business Solutions development team has built a payment integration for Dynamics 365 Business Central that uses Centurys proprietary payment gateway, EBizCharge, to provide credit card processing for thousands of merchants across the country. Centurys credit card integration allows merchants to process credit cards from directly within Dynamics 365 Business Central. The powerful EBizCharge payment gateway is designed to lower processing fees by submitting line-item details directly to the bank. EBizCharge is fully PCI compliant and offers advanced data encryption and tokenization technology to ensure maximum transaction security within Dynamics 365 Business Central. EBizCharge is compatible with over 100 leading ERP and accounting systems and major online shopping carts and provides unlimited transaction and batch history for reporting purposes. With EBizCharge, users can run custom reports, sort through transactions by category, and immediately release funds when issuing refunds. The partnership between Technology Management Concepts and Century Business Solutions will help streamline workflow, eliminate double data entry, and make payment processing more efficient within Dynamics 365 Business Central. About Century Business Solutions Century Business Solutions is reinventing the way companies accept credit card payments with their all-in-one payment solution, EBizCharge. EBizCharge is one of the top payment gateway alternatives to its more expensive and inefficient counterparts and is specifically designed to reduce payment processing costs and inefficiencies. EBizCharge integrates seamlessly with over 100+ accounting, ERP, CRM, and shopping cart systems, including QuickBooks, Sage, SAP B1, Microsoft Dynamics, Acumatica, Magento, and WooCommerce. Century is partnered and certified with Microsoft Dynamics, Acumatica, SAP, Oracle, QuickBooks, WooCommerce, Magento, and many more. For more information, visit https://www.centurybizsolutions.net. About Technology Management Concepts The #1 Microsoft Dynamics Partner in Southern California, Technology Management Concepts (TMC) was founded in 1987 and has over 350 current Microsoft Dynamics ERP clients. We have completed over 1,500 ERP implementations and our team has well over 500 years of combined consulting expertise. TMC has been a Gold Certified Microsoft partner for over 19 years, and in 2017, we were nominated for the second time to the famed INC 5000 Fastest Growing Businesses. In addition, TMC has been a Microsoft Presidents Club member and has been included in Bob Scotts and Accounting Todays Top 100 VAR Awards for over 10 years running. For more information, visit https://abouttmc.com/. Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 "COVID-19 and the US Criminal Justice System: Evidence for Public Health Measures to Reduce Risk" | Main | "Punishment in Prison: Constituting the 'Normal' and the 'Atypical' in Solitary and Other Forms of Confinement" October 16, 2020 Will some (most? all?) federal prisoners transferred to home confinement be returned to prison after the pandemic ends? The question in the title of this post is prompted by this new Walter Palvo piece at Forbes headlined "US Attorney States Federal Inmates On Home Confinement Will Return To Prison Once 'Pandemic Is Declared Over'." Here are excerpts: It is a fact that the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) has had a difficult time controlling the spread of COVID-19 within its 122 prison facilities located across the country. As of October 13, 2020, there are over 1,600 active COVID-19 cases among inmates and another 14,000 who were infected but have recovered .... 126 have died. Prison staff have also been hurt by the virus with 736 currently infected and over 1,200 who have recovered.... On March 26, 2020, Attorney General William Barrs memo to Bureau of Prisons (BOP) Director Michael Carvajal stated that even more needed to be done and noted that one of the most effective tools to manage prison population and keep inmates safe is the ability to grant certain eligible prisoners home confinement in certain circumstances. Since then, the BOP has transitioned over 7,700 inmates to home confinement from prison to complete their sentence. While many of those had under a year remaining on their sentence, some have years to go with release dates of 2024 and beyond. The expectation of those placed on home confinement was that their sentence would be served under these same conditions, but a case out of the District of Columbia sheds light on what may lie ahead for some who are on home confinement ... that could include a return to prison.... [In litigation over a compassionate release motion] Michael P. McCarthy of the Department of Justices Criminal Division Fraud Section [stated in court] ... "the BOP's program [home confinement under the Barr memo], it's a transfer until the end of the pandemic and then a return to prison if the pandemic is declared over."... While everyone wants an end to the pandemic, those on home confinement may be told that they will be returning to prison ... or they could be asked to be immunized in order to return .... or the inmate could refuse immunization .... or the inmate may have only a few months remaining by the end of the pandemic and might file an appeal. If people think the courts are bogged down with compassionate release cases now, wait until a return to prison is announced for those on home confinement. I asked Jack Donson, a retired BOP corrections specialist, about the prospect of such an action. Donson told me, Before COVID-19, home confinement was limited to the lesser of 6 months or 10% of the sentence, aside from the Elderly Offender program but the CARES Act removed that cap so we have never had a situation where people were potentially on home confinement for years. Nobody knows how this will play out but it has been taxing to the BOP to get people out of prison, I can only imagine that it would be even more taxing to get them back in, especially in light of the June 2020, target population reductions in the Low and Minimum security facilities. Because of the opaque nature of BOP work and data, it is difficult to tell just how many persons have been transferred into home confinement and what percentage of these persons might have long enough still remain on their original sentences to perhaps prompt DOJ to seek their return to prison whenever the pandemic if over. Sadly, I fear we are still many, many months away from returning to anything we might call post-pandemic normal prison operations, and so the need to start answering the question in the title of this post may still be a long way off. But, as this Forbes piece highlights, it is probably not too early to start thinking about some of the legal and practical challenges that will come whenever we are "lucky" enough to return to "normal" in the federal prison section of incarceration nation. October 16, 2020 at 10:42 AM | Permalink Comments FAMM Kevin Ring put out a statement that he talked to the White House and this is not happening..... People should not be returned. And who knows when the pandemic will end. Posted by: Chad Marks | Oct 16, 2020 3:55:48 PM I wouldn't put much stock in what the "White House" says. While one might think that BOP would defer to the DOJ/executive and Congress as they're not elected and can blame those institutions for half-baked laws. But the longstanding fact is that BOP acts independently to undermine anything that reduces sentences. Take for example their interpretation of the good time statute. Posted by: Fat Bastard | Oct 18, 2020 9:26:35 PM My son was released to home confinement in September. He was sentenced to 20 years in 2012 for a white collar crime. He has underlying health conditions that prompted his transfer to home confinement. If he had been sentenced since the 2015 sentencing reforms he would have only got 108 months, or 3 months less than he has already served.He us now petrified that he will be returned to prison after being with his wife and children these past few months. Sending inmates back to jail after giving them the joy of being with family would be a level of cruelty that never should occur in a civilized society. Posted by: Andarian Curshen | Dec 21, 2020 6:23:19 PM Is there something we can file to be re l eased from home confinement early to begin our Probation? My release date is 2024 and it is really a lot of controlled movements making it hard to get things done to improve my life outsidethe walls. Thank uou Posted by: Catalina | Jan 4, 2021 9:31:03 PM I was released from federal prison camp May 4, 2020 with a release date of 8/17/2022 at the time of my release the possibility of returning to prison after the pandemic crossed my mind and I just want to say at least I got to go home and spend some time with my family. I certainly never thought I would get time off my prison sentence to go home with my family, have a cell phone, drive my vehicle in my home town while in custody. So while you want to say it is inhuman and I get what you are saying I feel most fortunate to be out right now and if I get sent back what can I say other then at least I got to spend probably 12 months out with my family. I had 3 1/2 years in on a 7 year sentence i have 1 year off for good time. If i was sent back it would probably be 6 months depending on the end of pandemic. At least this time is time served!!! Posted by: Sherlynn | Jan 21, 2021 3:47:06 PM Post a comment Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 22) As the national government moved to ease age restrictions even in areas with a high number of COVID-19 cases, the Department of Health assured on Friday that local chief executives of Metro Manila and other places under general community quarantine will be consulted before implementing any major changes. The Inter-Agency Task Force, starting Feb. 1, is allowing those aged 10-15 to go out in public places for non-essential travel if they are in areas under modified general community quarantine. The task force also "enjoined" local government units in GCQ areas to adopt the same relaxation of rules. READ MORE: IATF allows 10-14-year-old children to go out beginning Feb. 1 DOH spokesperson Maria Rosario Vergeire said the rule cannot be changed without consulting Metro Manila mayors since the region is the COVID-19 epicenter in the country. She said the decision to ease restrictions came from the suggestion of economic managers to help the country's economy to recover. "Magkakaroon ng pag-uusap among the Metro Manila mayors because as we know, the situation here is different at epicenter tayo. Kakausapin muna sila bago tayo magpatupad dito sa Metro Manila kung sakaling papayag sila," she said in a media briefing. [Translation: There will be a discussion among Metro Manila mayors because the situation here is different and it is the epicenter. We will talk to them before we implement it if they agree.] She added the local chief executives of other areas under GCQ will be consulted too. Several mayors in the National Capital Region said they will seek the advice of medical experts, which will be discussed during their meeting. Last December, the 17 Metro Manila mayors unanimously decided to prohibit children from entering shopping malls following the recommendation of health experts. This came after the suggestion of Interior Secretary Eduardo Ano to allow those under 18 years old to wander in malls to celebrate the Christmas season. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell is proposing delaying the second impeachment trial of President Trump until mid-February so that Trumps defense team and Democratic prosecutors have time to prepare for the case. McConnell has presented the idea to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, who would have to agree to the plan, but has not heard back from him yet. 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 about the proposed timeline. Given the unprecedented speed of the Houses process, our proposed timeline for the initial phases includes a modest and reasonable amount of additional time for both sides to assemble their arguments before the Senate would begin to hear them, the Kentucky Republican continued. Under McConnells timeline, the House would send the article of impeachment to the Senate on Thursday of next week. Both sides would submit pretrial briefs and responses over the next two weeks, and the trial would begin around February 14. We received Leader McConnells proposal that only deals with pretrial motions late this afternoon. We will review it and discuss it with him, said Justin Goodman, a spokesman for Schumer. The House voted largely along party lines this month to impeach President Trump, making him the only president to be impeached twice. Democrats voted unanimously in favor of impeachment and were joined by ten Republicans. However, the lower chamber has not yet sent the impeachment article over to the Senate. Trump is charged in the single article of impeachment with incitement of insurrection over his rhetoric before and during the deadly riot at the Capitol last week when Trump supporters broke past security and forced their way into the halls of Congress. The violence on January 6 ended with five dead. Story continues McConnell is said to be pleased about the Democratic efforts to impeach Trump, saying he believes Trump has committed impeachable offenses and that the move will make it easier for Republicans to purge him from the party. More from National Review The contention that Google is the most powerful corporation in history, more powerful even than an advanced, continent-sized nation, is being tested in real time before our eyes. The BBC reports: Google has threatened to remove its search engine from Australia over the nation's attempt to make the tech giant share royalties with news publishers. Australia is introducing a world-first law to make Google, Facebook and potentially other tech companies pay media outlets for their news content. [emphasis in original] The Aussies are not backing down: Australian PM Scott Morrison said lawmakers would not yield to "threats". I confess that I love Australia and the spirit of its people. Australia has also been a loyal ally of the United States, fighting alongside us in every war since it became a nation. In some ways, it resembles us even more than Canada, despite the great distance separating our two nations. Though Australia is far from Google's largest market, the proposed news code is seen as a possible global test case for how governments could seek to regulate big tech firms. (snip) Australia's code would tie Google and Facebook to mediated negotiations with publishers over the value of news content, if no agreement could be reached first. While Google can no doubt absorb the loss of a market (even a rich one) of 25 million people, the precedent has got to worry them. Media outlets have a lot of influence in the advanced democracies, the richest markets for Google. It risks ceding a market to competitors, and such a foothold could expand to other nations, fragmenting Googles reach. lawmakers accus[e] Google of "blackmail" and bullying Australia for raising the reform. "It's going to go worldwide. Are you going to pull out of every market, are you? Is this about stopping the precedence?" asked Senator Rex Patrick. Ms Silva replied that the code was "an untenable risk for our Australian operations". Mr Morrison said his government remained committed to progressing the laws through parliament this year. "Let me be clear: Australia makes our rules for things you can do in Australia. That's done in our parliament," he told reporters on Friday. That last point is the crux of the matter. Nations have sovereignty and armed forces. Australia is fighting for the survival of its media: Australian print media has seen a 75% decline in advertising revenue since 2005, according to the government. Google's threat to remove its entire search product is its most severe yet. News accounts for just 12.5% of Google searches in Australia, according to lawmakers. Will Google forgo the bulk of its presence in Australia to protect its revenues on an eight of its business there? I suspect it fears the precedent more than the financial loss. I dont think it is an exaggeration to say that this battle is epochal. Google and Australia are creating the template for the future of news distribution. New jobs numbers show how badly Syracuse area restaurant workers have been devastated during the Covid-19 shutdown. Jobs in the leisure and hospitality business in the Syracuse area dropped 21% from December 2019 to December 2020, the state labor department reported. The industry had 6,000 fewer jobs over the 2020 holidays compared to the year before. Overall, the region lost nearly 35,000 jobs in one year, a drop of about 11%. The new state numbers show the impact of the coronavirus shutdowns in 2020, especially as restaurants spent the holidays under severe state restrictions. At least 22 restaurants closed forever in 2020 and more have shut down temporarily. Some parts of the Syracuse region, which includes Madison, Onondaga and Oswego counties, spent the holidays in state-designated orange and yellow zones. Restaurants in orange zones had to close indoor dining and open for take-out only. Yellow zones also had restrictions that limit the number of diners to four per table. The state lifted the indoor dining restriction in orange zones Jan. 14 after an Erie County court sided with restaurants who had sued the state. Other industries that suffered major job losses from December 2019 to 2020 include the broad category of professional and business services, down 14%, and trade, transportation and utilities, down 12%. Education and health services jobs and manufacturing jobs were down about 9% over the year before. The state unemployment rate for December was 8.1% The December 2019 rate was 3.7%. That is higher than the national unemployment rate of 6.5% for December 2020. Unemployment in Upstate New York was more in line with national numbers, at 5.9%. Read more: New Yorkers seeking unemployment benefits still desperate to reach help; here are tips To encourage part-time work, NY to count hours instead of days for unemployment Contact Michelle Breidenbach | mbreidenbach@syracuse.com | 315-470-3186. | Welcome Guest! You Are Here: GST Council to hold special session to discuss extending paying compensation to states beyond 2022, says finance minister. Centre to borrow Rs 1.58 lakh cr to compensate states for loss of revenue from GST, says FM Sitharaman after GST Council meeting. 3 1 of 3 Courtesy photo Show More Show Less 2 of 3 Courtesy photo Show More Show Less 3 of 3 Greetings from the Greatest Noon Lions Club in the World! Great words of wisdom from a wise man. Our very own President Ralph Perez came up with this theme. The meeting this week was very rewarding, largely in part to our speaker Jennifer Landers who enlightened us on the local Conroe Community Assistance Center. The meeting started as always with the pledge to our great state and nations flag along with a beautiful prayer. We wrapped it all together with the smile song which is one of my personal favorites. Next up we had two of our own Lions Gail Cain and Virginia Clement who were gracious enough to donate our weekly raffle drawing items. Past President Bobby Brennan then introduced our two guests Mike Busby and Pat Toth. Thanks for breaking bread with us Mike and Pat! We hope you come back soon. We then highlighted Gladys Pierson with local CPA firm Pierson and Pierson as our Community Partner Spotlight. Next up we got an update about our Hometown Military Hero Holden Mandeville who is currently deployed in Osan, South Korea. We thanked him for his service by sending prayers, Astros gear, and signed cards. Thanks for all you do Airman Mandeville! We then had a badge exchange for Lion Rebecca Smith and announced the December Lion of the Month that went to Lion Amanda Anders. We then had the privilege of Past President Mike Sproba who serves as our program chair for life to lead the introduction of guests with a very tasteful and funny joke. When the laughter finally commenced, he introduced our speaker Jennifer Landers who is a Texas A&M graduate, member of nearly every organization in Montgomery County, but most importantly serves in a big role with the local Conroe Community Assistance Center. I learned so much in the meeting about just how selfless Jennifer is and how much this center contributes to our local community for people in need. The purpose of the organization is to fulfill basic needs for people in the area by giving them food, shelter, clothing, utilities, and many other resources. One of the main programs is the hand-up initiative that recognizes peoples issues and pushes them to polish their life skills, work skills, budget skills, and educational skills to become self-sustaining individuals and families. In 2020, this firm performed services for 34,000 people. 32,000 of that was food, 1,800 was utilities for families, 1,900 was assistance with rent/mortgage payments, and 109 was emergency shelter. They have a food pantry and a resale shop (Unique Resale Shop) in town where anyone can go to shop and obtain food and clothing for themselves and their family. (Natural News) Many of our longtime readers will recall the repeated warnings we issued over the years about the deep state plot to vilify all conservatives and patriots as terrorists. It started with the War on Terror against foreigners that was launched immediately after 9/11, and is now coming full circle following the Capitol riot on Jan. 6 to include Americans. It is now considered an act of domestic terrorism for at least half of America to merely protest, a categorization that simply would not have been possible apart from the Patriot Act and all the social engineering that came along with it. Nearly two decades later, what appears to have been the true intent of this law is coming into view: to destroy those who wish to live in a sovereign republic rather than a globalist democracy. In order to maintain a safe and secure society, we are told that civil liberties and the Bill of Rights have to go. Allowing them could lead to another insurrection, after all, and that would just be scary. Consequently, Washington, D.C., had to be turned into what now looks like North Korea, and the Democrat-led legislature is crafting a Patriot Act 2.0 to prevent any future attempt at violence against the political oligarchy. This is all driven by a radical expansion of the meaning of incitement to violence,' writes Glenn Greenwald. 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. Should anyone dare to speak out against this authoritarian encroachment, the stage has already been set to label him or her a sympathizer of terrorists and neo-Nazis, along with the ever-dreaded white supremacists. This categorization alone is enough to scare the average American into silence, even if at the conscience level it becomes obvious that this is an affront to all Americans, regardless of political views. The deep state is openly admitting that the first War on Terror laid the groundwork for this second one. Its aim is to purge all extremists, meaning anyone who refuses communism, from society. This is what the Capitol false flag attack was all about: crystallizing public perception in opposition to the idea of patriotism, which is now akin to terrorism. Gen. Stanley McChrystal, who for years headed the Joint Special Operations Command in Iraq as well as commanded the war in Afghanistan, compared domestic patriots to radicalized Arab youth during a recent interview with Yahoo News. The two videos below illustrate how what is now being said by liberals and neoconservative hacks about what they think should be done to stop future insurrections by conservatives is essentially the same rhetoric that was used back in 2002 to justify the passage of the Patriot Act: The goal is to criminalize free speech by claiming it incites violence Considering that the United States already imprisons more of its citizens than does any other country in the world, it is both perplexing and disturbing that nearly every major news outlet, along with the consortium of Big Tech platforms, are calling for even more laws that would criminalize behavior deemed as domestic terrorism. Why would such new terrorism laws be needed in a country that already imprisons more of its citizens than any other country in the world as the result of a very aggressive set of criminal laws? What acts should be criminalized by new domestic terrorism laws that are not already deemed criminal? asks Greenwald. They never say, almost certainly because just as was true of the first set of new War on Terror laws their real aim is to criminalize that which should not be criminalized: speech, association, protests, opposition to the new ruling coalition. By effectively stirring a critical mass of America into fever-pitched fear and panic over insurrectionists, the media and its allies are using a tried-and-true method of imposing more tyranny on the masses by pretending to protect them against some new boogeyman that, like many others from the past, does not actually exist. Greenwald warns that the alarmism and fear-mongering is being used to redefine what it even means to incite violence. It is also what is being used by corrupt members of Congress to whine and scream about prosecuting on sedition charges their colleagues who objected to the illegitimate Electoral Certification process. During the first War on Terror, many American Muslims bore the brunt of this same rhetorical assault. Simply due to their religion and skin color, many of them faced new forms of prosecution under draconian anti-terrorism laws that went above and beyond what the Constitution would have normally allowed. Now, the same thing is on the verge of happening to American patriots and conservatives who object to things like fraudulent elections. Put simply, the goal with all the current theatrics is to convince enough Americans that mere free speech incites violence in order to ban it. Left, right or otherwise, every American who cares about the Constitution should be chilled to the bone by this, and wholeheartedly object to it. If you identify as a conservative and continue to believe that your prime enemies are ordinary leftists, or you identify as a leftist and believe your prime enemies are Republican citizens, you will fall perfectly into the trap set for you, Greenwald warns about the false left-right paradigm. Namely, you will ignore your real enemies, the ones who actually wield power at your expense: ruling class elites, who really do not care about right v. left and most definitely do not care about Republican v. Democrat as evidenced by the fact that they fund both parties but instead care only about one thing: stability, or preservation of the prevailing neoliberal order. Greenwalds full analysis is available at this link. More related news about the deep state push to criminalize all forms of dissent that do not go along with the transition to global communism can be found at Tyranny.news. Sources for this article include: Greenwald.Substack.com NaturalNews.com ANN ARBOR, MI A man convicted of both felony murder and second-degree murder for the same killing will be returning to trial court to correct a clear violation of the double jeopardy rule. The Michigan Court of Appeals issued an opinion Thursday, Jan. 21, affirming the conviction of Darrick Duffin who was found guilty May 24, 2019, on one count each first-degree felony murder, felony-firearm and felon-in-possession of a firearm. He was also convicted of one count of second-degree murder which was incorrectly merged into the felony murder charge, leading the case to be returned to correct the issue by simply vacating the lesser charge. The trial court appears to have properly recognized that a conviction of first-degree felony murder and a conviction of second-degree murder for the death of a single victim violates double jeopardy, as shown by its merger of defendants two murder convictions, the court wrote. However, the trial court erred because the correct remedy is to vacate the lesser murder conviction. Duffin was found guilty of slaying Nina Battle, 32, following a bench trial before Washtenaw County Trial Judge Carol Kuhnke Man convicted of murder for slaying woman, taking her cash to casino Battle was found dead of gunshot wounds shortly after 4 p.m. March 4, 2017, in her apartment in the Fairway Trails apartment complex, 214 S. Hewitt Road, in Ypsilanti Township, after a neighbor told police she heard gunfire and found a bullet hole in her own apartment, records show. Prosecutors successfully argued Duffin, 50, of Ypsilanti Township, killed Battle and scoured through her apartment looking for cash before calling his cousin to pick him up from the scene and take him to a Detroit casino. A trail of blood, as well as two 9-mm handgun shells led investigators to determine she was shot twice on her couch. Police theorized Battle got up after being shot, walked through her kitchen to the front door of the apartment, then back to the kitchen, where she was found dead on the floor. At his sentencing, July 9, 2019, Duffin maintained his innocence and swore to dedicate his resources in prison to find the real killer, he said. Convicted murderer vows to help find real killer as hes sent to prison He was sentenced to serve a mandatory term of life without the possibility of parole More from The Ann Arbor News: Ann Arbor officials inability to work together delays central park group appointments Elks Lodge in Ann Arbor raising money after fire damages historic building University of Michigan professor joining Biden administration in Department of Transportation GENEVA: A Swiss criminal court found Israeli businessman Beny Steinmetz guilty of corruption on Friday and sentenced him to five years in jail, delivering a landmark verdict in one of the mining worlds most high-profile legal disputes. Steinmetz was also fined 50 million Swiss francs ($56.48 million). He can appeal the verdict. The ruling followed a two-week trial of Steinmetz and two others variously accused of paying or arranging payment of $10 million in bribes to obtain exploration permits for the worlds richest uptapped deposits of iron ore and of forging documents to cover it up through a web of shell companies and bank accounts. They denied the charges. ($1 = 0.8852 Swiss francs) 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 KYODO NEWS - Jan 23, 2021 - 00:25 | All, Japan Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi urged South Korea to "immediately" take action against a court ruling ordering the Japanese government to pay damages to former "comfort women," which was finalized Saturday. "The ruling clearly goes against international law and an agreement between the Japanese and South Korean governments. It is extremely regrettable and utterly unacceptable," Motegi said in a statement issued after the Seoul court's Jan. 8 ruling became final with Tokyo not appealing. "Japan again strongly urges South Korea to immediately take appropriate measures to correct this state in violation of international law under its responsibility as a state," Motegi said. Japan has said the lawsuit by the former comfort women at Japanese military brothels should be rejected on the grounds of sovereign immunity -- a principle under international law that allows a state to be shielded against the jurisdiction of foreign courts. It also asserted the ruling goes against the 1965 bilateral agreement that settled all claims related to Japan's 1910-1945 colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula and the 2015 agreement the two governments struck to "finally and irreversibly" resolve the comfort women issue. In a bid to improve bilateral ties, already at a historic low over another dispute on wartime labor, South Korean President Moon Jae In said at a press conference Monday he wants to discuss a resolution to the row with Japan. But Japanese officials have been against the idea of holding talks to find mutual ground, saying it is not Japan's responsibility but up to the South Korean side which broke the international and bilateral agreements to come up with a resolution. Reporter Mary Schenk is a reporter covering police, courts and breaking news at The News-Gazette. Her email is mschenk@news-gazette.com, and you can follow her on Twitter (@schenk). (Natural News) One of humanitys primary sources of life, the sun, is under attack by genocidal maniac Bill Gates, who wants to artificially dim it with aerosols in order to stop global warming. A growing cohort of scientists, however, is saying no way. The Calgary-based Friends of Science Society has issued a press release calling on Harvard University to stop working with Gates to chemtrail the sky in an attempt to block out the sun. Doing this presents serious atmospheric risks, not to mention unintended consequences that could result in an extinction-level event (ELE). Researchers Roger Pielke Jr. and Justin Ritchie found that Gates projections are all wrong to begin with, and there is no actual climate emergency. Further, the originator of the project to blast chemicals into the sky, Prof. David Keith, has openly admitted that many thousands will die from the experiment. Seeing as how Gates is the same billionaire philanthropist who claims to care about the thousands of people who have supposedly died from the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19), hence his push for mass vaccination, it defies logic that he would now want to kill untold thousands more by blocking out the sun. Solar dimming geoengineering would inject sulphur dioxide particulate matter into the atmosphere, thus creating a human-caused cloud to dim the incoming warming effect of the sun, to counteract human-caused global warming, which Bill Gates claims is causing a climate disaster in the title of his upcoming book, the press release reads. More related news about the mass murder impact of geoengineering can be found at Geoengineering.news. Once solar dimming happens, it can never be reversed An online Friends of Science Society event that took place on Jan. 19 featured NASA award-winning scientist Dr. Roy Spencer, who gave a talk about The Most Important Reasons Why There is No Climate Emergency. More than 900 scientists and scholars who have signed on to the CLINTEL World Climate Declaration agree that there is no such thing as a climate emergency, and claims to the contrary are bunk. Even climate scientists who believe in global warming are speaking out against solar dimming, warning that it is contrived and will have a much more disastrous impact on the planet than warming ever could. This is in addition to the fact that such a project is fraught with ethical and moral dilemmas that can never be adequately resolved. Solar dimming would replicate some of the effects of large volcanic explosions, often devastating to crop yields, the press release further explains. As pointed out in Garnett et al, The most severe impact of extremely low temperatures affecting spring wheat (on the Canadian prairies) came in 1992 and 1993 after the 1991 Pinatubo volcanic eruption. Summer temperatures were 2C below normal, resulting in a record low prairie protein content of 12% 75% of the spring wheat crop fell into the bottom two grades of #3 Canadian Wester Spring wheat In other words, if solar activity is naturally weakening, then adding to that with artificial dimming would have a certain catastrophic impact on the worlds food production capabilities. The fact that Bill Gates is now the largest farmland owner in the United States only adds to credible speculation that this maniacal psychopath really does want to depopulate the planet, in part by depriving human beings of access to food. Unless stopped, Gates solar dimming project will not be able to be reversed. Once these chemicals are blasted into the skies, that is it: They will remain there indefinitely, and will not be able to be removed, resulting in an actual climate crisis of epic proportions. Sources for this article include: NaturalNews.com PRWeb.com NYPost.com The producers part of the OPEC+ alliance complied with the oil output cuts at 99 percent in December 2020, down from 101 percent compliance in November, sources at the OPEC+ group told Reuters on Thursday. The technical and ministerial panels of the alliance will meet in early February to discuss compliance and the state of the oil market, and the final number on OPEC+ compliance for December could slightly change before that, one of the sources in the group told Reuters. Earlier this month, tanker tracking firm Petro-Logistics estimated that OPEC+ groups compliance with the oil production cuts fell to 75 percent in December 2020one of the lowest levels since the pact was enacted in May 2020. According to Petro-Logistics estimates, even the leader of OPEC and the worlds top oil exporter, Saudi Arabia, saw its compliance decline by 10 percentage points to 92 percent last month. The ten OPEC members part of the OPEC+ pact complied at 82 percent with the production cuts in December, with compliance slipping by 10 percent month over month, Petro-Logistics said on Twitter last week. The nine non-OPEC producers in the pact had an even lower compliance rate. At 64 percent in December, their compliance had dropped by 8 percent month on month, according to the tanker-tracking firm. Crude production from OPEC alone, according to the cartels Monthly Oil Market Report published last week, averaged 25.36 million barrels per day (bpd) in December 2020, rising by 280,000 bpd compared to November. Oil production in Libya, which is exempt from the OPEC+ cuts, increased to 1.22 million bpd, according to OPECs secondary sources. Libyan crude oil production jumped by 136,000 bpd in December compared to November, as the North African producer continued to surprise market analysts with its quick ramp-up of production from less than 100,000 bpd in September when the eight-month blockade on its oil export terminals was lifted. Production in Iraq increased by 76,000 bpd to 3.848 million bpd, even though OPECs second-largest producer has pledged time and again to cut more output to compensate for its lack of compliance in the early months of the OPEC+ deal. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: 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." Blog Archive Apr 2010 (22) May 2010 (25) Jun 2010 (8) Jul 2010 (12) Aug 2010 (18) Sep 2010 (19) Oct 2010 (29) Nov 2010 (30) Dec 2010 (18) Jan 2011 (13) Feb 2011 (21) Mar 2011 (23) Apr 2011 (19) May 2011 (31) Jun 2011 (36) Jul 2011 (46) Aug 2011 (26) Sep 2011 (12) Oct 2011 (15) Nov 2011 (17) Dec 2011 (7) Jan 2012 (18) Feb 2012 (4) Mar 2012 (12) Apr 2012 (18) May 2012 (10) Jun 2012 (21) Jul 2012 (8) Aug 2012 (15) Sep 2012 (7) Oct 2012 (17) Nov 2012 (20) Dec 2012 (10) Jan 2013 (58) Feb 2013 (59) Mar 2013 (60) Apr 2013 (98) May 2013 (135) Jun 2013 (204) Jul 2013 (293) Aug 2013 (351) Sep 2013 (363) Oct 2013 (348) Nov 2013 (374) Dec 2013 (442) Jan 2014 (547) Feb 2014 (476) Mar 2014 (526) Apr 2014 (527) May 2014 (469) Jun 2014 (408) Jul 2014 (472) Aug 2014 (522) Sep 2014 (443) Oct 2014 (472) Nov 2014 (497) Dec 2014 (536) Jan 2015 (539) Feb 2015 (520) Mar 2015 (582) Apr 2015 (658) May 2015 (679) Jun 2015 (673) Jul 2015 (728) Aug 2015 (803) Sep 2015 (923) Oct 2015 (924) Nov 2015 (802) Dec 2015 (791) Jan 2016 (782) Feb 2016 (835) Mar 2016 (929) Apr 2016 (866) May 2016 (947) Jun 2016 (1044) Jul 2016 (882) Aug 2016 (1035) Sep 2016 (967) Oct 2016 (918) Nov 2016 (854) Dec 2016 (885) Jan 2017 (881) Feb 2017 (777) Mar 2017 (897) Apr 2017 (872) May 2017 (851) Jun 2017 (851) Jul 2017 (971) Aug 2017 (1040) Sep 2017 (998) Oct 2017 (1144) Nov 2017 (1046) Dec 2017 (838) Jan 2018 (873) Feb 2018 (769) Mar 2018 (885) Apr 2018 (809) May 2018 (827) Jun 2018 (820) Jul 2018 (840) Aug 2018 (854) Sep 2018 (844) Oct 2018 (852) Nov 2018 (870) Dec 2018 (912) Jan 2019 (919) Feb 2019 (827) Mar 2019 (957) Apr 2019 (913) May 2019 (1007) Jun 2019 (935) Jul 2019 (950) Aug 2019 (936) Sep 2019 (910) Oct 2019 (920) Nov 2019 (874) Dec 2019 (908) Jan 2020 (942) Feb 2020 (849) Mar 2020 (898) Apr 2020 (848) May 2020 (822) Jun 2020 (789) Jul 2020 (819) Aug 2020 (858) Sep 2020 (841) Oct 2020 (873) Nov 2020 (812) Dec 2020 (780) Jan 2021 (765) Feb 2021 (716) Mar 2021 (819) Apr 2021 (805) May 2021 (723) El presidente @FSagasti lidero la sesion de reinstalacion del Consejo para la Reforma del Sistema de Justicia, instancia donde se evaluo la propuesta de Politica de Reforma del Sistema de Justicia y proyectos normativos para impulsar cambios en la justicia.#AgendaSagasti pic.twitter.com/3K7bt5mOVd If stupendously large black holes, those with masses more than 100 billion times that of the Sun, exist in the Universe, they would provide a powerful tool for cosmological tests due to their unique imprints, according to a paper published in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. Black holes are a key prediction of general relativity, said Queen Mary Emeritus Professor Bernard Carr and colleagues. There are a plethora of observations indicating their existence in the solar or intermediate-mass range. In particular, the existence of binary black holes in the mass range between 10 and 50 solar masses has been demonstrated by the detection of gravitational waves from inspiralling binaries. There is also evidence for supermassive black holes at the centers of galaxies, including Sagittarius A* at the center of our own Milky Way Galaxy, with a mass of 4 million solar masses. Recently, the imaging of the shadow created by M87*, the supermassive black hole at the center of the giant elliptical galaxy M87 with a mass of 6.5 billion solar masses, has been reported by the Event Horizon Telescope. The supermassive black holes in galactic nuclei span a huge mass range, extending up to nearly 100 billion solar masses, they said. The current heaviest black hole is associated with the quasar TON 618 and has a mass of 70 billion solar masses, while the second heaviest, at the center of the galaxy IC 1101, has a mass inferred from its radio emission of 40 billion solar masses. This raises the issue of whether there could be even larger black holes in galactic nuclei and whether indeed there is any natural upper limit to the mass of a supermassive black hole. In their new paper, Professor Carr, Dr. Florian Kuhnel from the Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitat and Dr. Luca Visinelli from the University of Amsterdam suggest that stupendously large black holes (SLABs) could be primordial, forming in the early Universe, and well before galaxies. As primordial black holes dont form from a collapsing star, they could have a wide range of masses, including very small and stupendously large ones. Whilst there isnt currently evidence for the existence of SLABs, its conceivable that they could exist and they might also reside outside galaxies in intergalactic space, with interesting observational consequences, Professor Carr said. However, surprisingly, the idea of SLABs has largely been neglected until now. Weve proposed options for how these black holes might form, and hope that our work will begin to motivate discussions amongst the community. If SLABs are of primordial origin, this raises an interesting link with the suggestion that primordial black holes could provide the dark matter. Although SLABs themselves clearly cannot do this, since they are too large to reside in galactic halos, it is possible that primordial black holes provide the dark matter in a much lower mass range. SLABs themselves could not provide the dark matter, Professor Carr said. But if they exist at all, it would have important implications for the early Universe and would make it plausible that lighter primordial black holes might do so. _____ Bernard Carr et al. 2021. Constraints on stupendously large black holes. MNRAS 501 (2): 2029-2043; doi: 10.1093/mnras/staa3651 Danish scientists believe the Kent variant of coronavirus is less infectious than previously thought. Analysis at the State Serum Institute in Copenhagen found the mutant strain, scientifically known as B.1.1.7, is 36 per cent more infectious than previous variants. This number is significantly lower than the 70 per cent figure first cited by Prime Minister Boris Johnson, as well as the latest UK estimates from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine which suggest the Kent strain is around 56 per cent more infectious. However, the researchers caution estimating transmissibility is a tricky science, and its true increased infectivity could be between 20 and 50 per cent. Scroll down for video Analysis at the State Serum Institute in Copenhagen found the mutant, scientifically known as B.1.1.7, is 36 per cent more infectious than older strains 'In our calculations, we have found that the contact number for the British variant is 1.36 times higher than the other variants,' Tyra Grove Krause, head of department at the State Serum Institute told Danish Radio. However, Dr Krause adds the numbers have a high degree of uncertainty and are based on early findings. 'It's a little lower than what we've heard from the UK,' she says. 'Still, we have to approach it with caution, because these numbers are not set in stone. They may well change as we get more data,' she says. Dr Krause told Danish news site The Local in December that the detailed information on Denmark's population will help track the virus. 'This means that we can follow transmission within households, or look at how many people test positive within a household when an index case occurs,' she explained. Household attack rate can therefore be monitored and enhanced PCR testing in the country has been developed which identify the genetic code of the new variant to determine its prevalence and allow researchers to track how it is spreading. Denmark has registered almost 200,000 cases of Covid-19 with nearly 2,000 fatalities. The new Kent strain has been registered in at least 380 Danes, and is estimated to account for around eight per cent of all cases in the country. It has now been found in 60 countries worldwide. The UK's top scientific advisers told the Government about the Kent strain in mid-December, after it was identified as the cause of a surge in cases in England. Denmark has registered almost 200,000 cases of Covid-19 with nearly 2,000 fatalities. The new Kent strain has been registered in at least 380 Danes, and is estimated to account for around eight per cent of all cases in the country Kent variant timeline September 20 - Variant emerges in a chronically ill Covid-19 patient in Kent November 6 - Infected person takes the new strain to California November 2020 - Spike in cases occurs in Kent and Medway despite national lockdown squashing case numbers in the rest of the country November 23 - Air passenger brings new variant to Florida December 11 - SAGE tells the Government about the new variant December 14 - Authorities of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland reported to WHO that new SARS-CoV-2 variant was identified through viral genomic sequencing Matt Hancock tells MPs about the new variant December 18 - SAGE tells the Government they are concerned about the new variant and its transmissibility December 20 - London, South East and East of England go into new Tier 4 restrictions due to spike in cases due to new variant December 21 - More than 40 countries halt flights from UK due to new variant December 29 - First case is spotted in the US All dates are for the year 2020 Advertisement It is believed the mutant form of the virus is better at infecting human cells and emerged in a long-suffering chronically ill patient. The Kent variant was designated as a variant under investigation by the UK on December 8 and reclassified as a 'variant of concern' on December 18. The exact origin of the Kent variant is unknown but it is believed it sprung up in mid-September. Dr Susan Hopkins, a senior Public Health England (PHE) official said in December that originally there was 'nothing to particularly highlight that this was something of major concern, as variants come and go'. Mutations in viruses occur all the time, with the vast majority of them being harmless or deleterious to the pathogen. However, by chance, sometimes the tweaks to the viral code give it a survival edge and increase its success, often by becoming more infectious and easier to spread. This is what is thought to have occurred in the B.1.1.7 variant, which previous studies have found is more abundant in the upper respiratory tract. A mutation on the spike protein which protrudes from the coronavirus and hijacks human cells made it better at infecting people. This so-called N501Y mutation is also found on the South African and Brazilian variants which have since been identified. The Scandinavian nation, with a population of 5.8 million people, approximately the same as Scotland, previously had an outbreak of another mutation found in mink. It resulted in 17million of the animals, farmed for their fur, being culled and buried. The country had to then dig them up and re-bury them after the carcasses of the dead animals emerged from the graves. The Executive Director and the Inspector-General of Schools of the National Schools Inspectorate Authority (NaSIA), formerly the National Inspectorate Board (NIB), Dr. Haggar Hilda Ampadu, has indicated that the Authority has introduced policy measures that promote the extensive use of ICT as a mode of teaching and learning in all public and private pre-tertiary schools in the country. According to Dr. Hilda Ampadu NaSIAs e-learning guidelines equips schools to design and set up online learning systems for learners nationwide. She was speaking as a panelist on the 2nd Day of the 72nd Annual New Year School Conference at the University of Ghana, on the theme, ICT for the Provision of Inclusive Quality Education and Lifelong Learning. The panel, which was chaired by Professor Yaw Oheneba-Sakyi of the University of Ghana, featured Dr. Patrick Awuah, Founder of Ashesi University, as the second panelist. Dr. Ampadu stated that, NaSIA recognizes the need for the continuation of teaching and learning in this time of crisis, hence in April last year we published the national e-learning guidelines for pre-tertiary schools in response to COVID-19 and school closures. The e-learning programme offers learners several ways to participate in learning experiences that promote their mastery of content and are in line with national and international content standards. With the adoption of ICT for Lifelong learning, Dr. Ampadu said, Government places a high emphasis on ICT in Education and has been part of Governments Education Policy since 2007. She further stated that the Ministry of Education has included ICT for lifelong learning in its Education Strategic Plan, 2018-2030, NACCA has modified curriculum to include compulsory ICT, and NTC has made ICT a requirement for Continuous Professional Licensing. All these interventions will go a long way in ensuring NaSIA enforces sets standards with regards to ICT in all public and private Pre-Tertiary Educational Institutions (PTEI) from KG to SHS. As regards monitoring of schools e-learning platforms, the Inspector General of Schools clarified that NaSIA will continue to use its Inspection Evaluation Framework (IEF) to conduct Virtual Inspections which will seek to evaluate the quality of teaching and learning standards. During the question-and-answer session, Dr. Ampadu said in terms of inclusivity of learning during the pandemic, private schools had some infrastructure to offer learning in a virtual environment whereas public schools offered learning via TV and Radio. On his part, Dr. Patrick Awuah, the Founder of Ashesi University, stated that, Ashesis ICT strategy focused on connectivity, security, software development, and training in order to maximize access to technology by students. He added that Ashesis IT resources are stored in the cloud and this helps them run very few servers because they back-up in the cloud and locally. Dr. Ampadu ended her presentation by challenging the University to collaborate more with Government. In her concluding remarks she mentioned that inclusive education is a challenge in most parts of the world and not a Ghanaian problem and more precarious is the role of higher education. To solve this problem, academicians need to collaborate with Government to undertake research on inclusivity so that policy makers can implement the research findings. Source: Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video ANCHORAGE, Alaska - The Iditarod, the worlds most famous sled dog race, has lost another major sponsor as it prepares for a scaled back version of this years race because of the pandemic, officials said Thursday. FILE - In this March 13, 2019, file photo, Joar Leifseth Ulsom, right, wearing a bib with ExxonMobil lettering on it, congratulates Peter Kaiser on his win in the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race in Nome, Alaska. The world's most famous sled dog race has lost another major sponsor as the Iditarod prepares for a scaled-back version of this year's race because of the pandemic, officials said Thursday, Jan. 21, 2021. ExxonMobil confirmed to The Associated Press that the oil giant will drop its sponsorship of the race. (Marc Lester/Anchorage Daily News via AP, File) ANCHORAGE, Alaska - The Iditarod, the worlds most famous sled dog race, has lost another major sponsor as it prepares for a scaled back version of this years race because of the pandemic, officials said Thursday. ExxonMobil confirmed to The Associated Press that the oil giant will drop its sponsorship of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. The move came after ExxonMobil, which has been a race sponsor since 1978, received pressure from one of its shareholders and the races biggest critic, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. After careful review of sponsorships in light of current economic conditions, weve decided to conclude our sponsorship of the Iditarod following the 2021 race, ExxonMobil spokesperson Ashley Alemayehu said in an email to the AP. The health and safety of the dogs, and everyone involved in the event, has always been an important consideration for us, Alemayehu said. Messages seeking comment from Iditarod officials were not immediately returned. The loss amounts to $250,000, PETA said, but ExxonMobil could not immediately confirm the sponsorship amount. In 2009, ExxonMobil committed to giving the Iditarod $1.25 million over the ensuing five years. FILE - In this March 18, 2020, file photo, a crowd standing behind ExxonMobile signage watches as Thomas Waerner, of Norway, arrives in Nome, Alaska to win the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. The world's most famous sled dog race has lost another major sponsor as the Iditarod prepares for a scaled-back version of this year's race because of the pandemic, officials said Thursday, Jan. 21, 2021. ExxonMobil confirmed to The Associated Press that the oil giant will drop its sponsorship of the race. (Marc Lester/Anchorage Daily News via AP, File) Were glad that they have recognized that its absolutely bad for business when corporations support abusive industries and events like the Iditarod, said Colleen OBrien, a vice-president for the animal rights group. PETA has lobbied ExxonMobil to drop its sponsorship of the race since 2007. In December, the organization submitted a shareholders resolution to end all sponsorship of activities in which animals are used and abused and killed, OBrien said. PETA owns 102 shares of the companys stock. ExxonMobil executives met with PETA on a teleconference on Tuesday, in which they confirmed they would end sponsorship. OBrien said PETA then withdrew the resolution and cancelled ExxonMobil-targeted ads it had planned to run on buses in Anchorage, in the Anchorage Daily News and the Texas edition of The Wall Street Journal leading up to the March 7 start of this years race. PETA also called off planned protests for at least a dozen ExxonMobil locations around the country. The animal rights group has been targeting national sponsors of the race to end what it sees as the abuse of dogs it says are forced to run the thousand-mile race. The group claims more than 150 dogs have died since the race began in 1973. The Iditarod disputes the number but has not provided the AP with its count despite numerous requests over the years. PETA last year took credit when Alaska Airlines and Chrysler, through an Anchorage dealership, dropped their sponsorships after PETA conducted protests at the airlines corporate headquarters in Seattle and the carmakers in Detroit. At the time, neither company confirmed PETAs protests played a role in their decisions. Other national sponsors that have dropped out include Wells Fargo and Jack Daniels Tennessee Whiskey. The loss of ExxonMobil leaves only one national sponsor of the race, Millennium Hotels and Resorts through its Anchorage location, the Lakefront hotel. It also serves as the Iditarods headquarters during the race. OBrien said they will contact Millennium Hotels and Resorts and urge them to sever their ties with the race before they're targeted next. Were not going to stop until dogs are no longer forced to race until they're dead." A message sent through the Millennium website seeking comment was not immediately returned. The race's other sponsors are Alaska-based businesses or those with close ties to the state. The Iditarod normally starts in Willow, Alaska, about 50 miles north of Anchorage, and takes mushers and their dogs nearly a thousand miles (1,600 kilometres) over rugged Alaska terrain to the finish line in Nome. However, this years race has been scaled back to about 860 miles (1,384 kilometres) and will start and end near Willow. Twelve mushers, including defending champion Thomas Waerner of Norway, have dropped out of this years race, leaving 53 teams. Thats among the three smallest fields in the last two decades, and all in the last three years. Last year, 57 teams started the race and 33 finished. In 2019, 52 teams began the race. Kim Kwang-bo, artistic director of National Theater Company of Korea, speaks during an online press conference, Monday. Courtesy of NTCK 'Angels in America' to premiere in Korea By Kwon Mee-yoo The National Theater Company of Korea (NTCK) will strengthen its online screening repertoire, pursue a barrier-free theater experience and reduce its carbon footprint this year. Kim Kwang-bo, the new artistic director inaugurated about two months ago, said that during his three-year term, the NTCK will embrace new, relevant discourse into productions as he believes that the value of a play should be enjoyed by everyone, equally. The three major tasks of the NTCK this year are strengthening public awareness, guaranteeing freedom of expression and participating in actions to mitigate climate change. Kim is a seasoned director who gained experience in "art management" as artistic director at the Seoul Metropolitan Theatre from 2015 to 2020. "It's been 70 days since I was officially inaugurated and about 100 days including the take-over period. The NTCK from the insider's perspective is quite different from what I saw from the outside. I will try my best for the NTCK and its members to get their efforts properly recognized," Kim said during an online press conference, Monday. To reduce the theater's carbon footprint, Kim will encourage productions to be more efficient. "For instance, as a director, I found some of the sets or props were not needed during rehearsals. If I had planned more meticulously in advance, I could have reduced some carbon dioxide emissions. Reducing carbon footprints is a global trend and we need to recognize such contemporary issues to take a step further," Kim explained. The NTCK was involved in the former Park Geun-hye administration's cultural "blacklist" as the national troupe's staging of Park Kun-hyung's play "Frog," satirizing former President Park Chung-hee, the father of Park Geun-hye, led to Park Kun-hyung being excluded from future state funding at the time. As an attempt to detail the events of the time, Kim said he will publish a source book on the cultural blacklist cases that impacted within the NTCK to learn from the incident and prevent any similar recurrence. While some of the plays in this year's lineup are ones pushed back from last year due to the pandemic, the NTCK will also present a few highly-anticipated premieres and reruns from its repertoire. Among the new works, Kim picked the barrier-free performances of "Roadkill in the Theater" by Khoo Ja-hye in October, and the Korean premiere of Tony Kushner's 1991 play "Angels in America" in November as highlights. "Roadkill in the Theater" brings the theme of animals killed on roads to the stage, expanding from the human-centered perspective. Every performance will be barrier-free for the visually- and hearing-impaired, providing a theatrical experience for a diverse audience. It will also be one of the NTCK's online presentations. "Angels in America" will present part one in November with part two planned for February 2022. The Korean production will be directed by Shin Yu-cheong, known for his interpretations of "Incendies" and "Wife." "This play premiered about 30 years ago, but I find it still resonates with contemporary issues as it discusses universal questions we face now," Kim said. "I expect the young directors Khoo and Shin to show their unique characteristics in these new productions," Kim added. "Faust Ending," a rendition of "Faust" by German writer Goethe, will be presented at the Myeongdong Theater from Feb. 26 to March 28. The titular role will be played by veteran actress and former National Changgeuk Company of Korea artistic director Kim Sung-nyo. A major piece from the troupe's repertoire, "The Orphan of Zhao: Seeds of Revenge," directed by Koh Sun-woong, will be presented again this year at the Myeongdong Theater from April 9 to May 9 as well as online. Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the online screening of theatrical performances has become a "new normal" and to keep up with the times, the NTCK assigned a 1 billion won ($906,000) budget to video its productions. Adam Taylor of Splendor Design Group It is extremely rewarding to work with a variety of companies, organizations, and people - all working towards the greater good. Doing what we love for a living and working with great teams in the process is an added bonus. Splendor, a prominent Red Bank based web design, branding, and digital marketing agency, was recently honored in CIANJ and COMMERCE Magazine's Companies That Care Program. Adam Taylor, the agencys Owner & CEO, was acknowledged for his philanthropic efforts and initiatives at the programs 2020 ceremony which was held virtually on December 18th, 2020. Over the course of 21+ years in business, Taylor has always made it a priority to put his talents - and agency resources - toward important, community-based, philanthropic causes. Despite the current global pandemic and statewide work-from-home mandates, Taylor led the charge on several projects that have benefited the residential and business communities of Monmouth County. Along with starting PickItUp (PIU), a trash collection initiative in Red Bank, NJ, he also worked closely with both the Red Bank Business Alliance and Boys & Girls Club of Monmouth County. The PickItUp trash collection initiative was created to clean the streets of Red Bank home to Splendor and a thriving creative business community. The initiative soon gained momentum and blossomed to over 50 volunteers. Splendors social media and marketing efforts have been instrumental in growing the initiative organically across the state and beyond - with chapters starting up in the U.K. and Portugal - a truly global grassroots movement. Taylor also has also been working with the Boys & Girls Club of Monmouth County for several years. Last year, Splendor created a powerful series of commercials to support the Clubs Great Futures Giving Club campaign. By leveraging the agencys relationships in the production community, Splendor was able to write, shoot and complete all the post-production on these videos on behalf of the organization. In addition to his role on the Clubs marketing committee, Adam accepted a position in 2019 on the Boys & Girls Clubs Board of Directors, where he currently serves to promote the club and raise awareness. In another effort to support the agencys hometown of Red Bank, Taylor donated his time with the Red Bank Business Alliance a group of local Red Bank-based businesses that work together to promote the town as a leading place to work, shop, dine and play. Taylor served on the RBBAs Board of Directors, in addition to leading the organizations Marketing Committee. It is extremely rewarding to work with a variety of companies, organizations, and people - all working towards the greater good. Doing what we love for a living and working with great teams in the process is an added bonus. Its absolutely our responsibility and mission to continue to find ways to pay it forward and give back and contribute in as many ways as we possibly can. We are truly grateful for the recognition and the opportunity, said Taylor. With over 21 years in business, Splendor has used its creativity and expertise to help countless companies in New Jersey and beyond. The agencys core capabilities include branding, advertising, web design and development, marketing, and graphic design. Splendor is category agnostic and has created custom solutions for a wide and varied range of clients. The team has created websites, videos, commercials and campaigns for multi-million dollar commercial real estate developers, higher-education, apparel brands, liquor brands and more. In 2020, Splendor was recognized as Top Ad Agency in New Jersey in NJBIZs Reader Rankings Program. About Splendor Splendor is a full-service design, web, branding and marketing agency that combines big-picture strategic thinking with award-winning creativity to solve real-world business problems. We create work that works. To learn more about Splendor and to discuss marketing efforts backed by the agencys creative team, head to https://splendordesign.com. Tiffany, an Oklahoma mother of two who runs an online children's boutique, had expected more arrests. A believer in QAnon, the sprawling set of false conspiracy theories that alleges that Donald Trump is at war with a world-shaping cabal of child-trafficking Satanists, she said she was "shocked" when Inauguration Day came and went without any of the mass military roundups of Trump's enemies that Q, the movement's prophet, had promised all along. But after a night of processing the day's events by reading QAnon promoters' posts, she said she now believes that everything is still humming along according to plan - and that Trump's election loss was all part of Q's master strategy to expose the evildoers who corrupted the vote. "Things have just started," said Tiffany, who spoke on the condition she'd only be identified by her first name for fear of harassment. "They had to 'commit' the crime to fully lock the deal." Biden's rise to the White House marked the biggest inflection point yet for QAnon's core believers, who this week voiced doubts and frustrations that the conspiracy movement's years-old promises of mass executions and an extended Trump presidency had been bogus all along. But even as reality intrudes, many QAnon adherents are finding ways to carry on, including by concocting new explanations for QAnon failures. And with Q having vanished and Trump out of office, other far-right extremist groups are seeking to capitalize on the leadership void by targeting disillusioned believers in hopes of radicalizing them to a new cause. The movement's resistance to reality highlights a major challenge for the Biden administration as it braces to confront the specter of disinformation online: Emboldened by conspiracy-theory echo chambers and encouraged by fellow online believers, the followers of far-right ideologies appear impervious to even the most obvious truths - and many are digging in for the years ahead. QAnon has featured prominently in real-world violence, including through its devotees' participation in the Capitol siege, and it has bedeviled tech companies who have scrambled to remove known purveyors of violent threats and conspiratorial lies. But several QAnon adherents interviewed by The Washington Post in the hours after the inauguration saidthey had no difficulty buying into newly devised QAnon theories thanks to a growing number of like-minded gathering places across the Web. Tiffany echoed a number of ideas that QAnon channels on the encrypted chat app Telegram have floated in the last day, including that Biden's swearing-in actually had been taped 11 hours earlier - proof, somehow, of what the pro-Trump attorney Lin Wood had told his 560,000 Telegram followers was "more Biden/Cabal/China fraud." QAnon believers are not monolithic: While some subscribe to the most extreme beliefs - that Trump is waging war against a "deep state" cabal of powerful Satanists who drink children's blood - others adhere only to its basic tenets, which preach a deep distrust of Trump's political and media antagonists and outline how a secret worldwide system of oppression has been built to keep Trump supporters down. And though several said some of QAnon's core promises had not come to fruition, many still saw the movement as having helped lead them down the path to other increasingly extreme and baseless ideas. Researchers worry that the QAnon movement's splintering could prove dangerous. Colin Clarke, the director of policy and research at the Soufan Group, a security consulting firm, said he has seen white nationalists and neo-Nazi groups online seeking to "groom" disenchanted QAnon believers into their own hateful ideologies. The far-right movements, he noted, share what he called a "fringe fluidity" because they overlap in their ability to attract people prone to fringe beliefs about shadowy forces controlling the world. "We're very likely to see QAnon lead to a steppingstone of . . . racially and ethnically motivated violent extremists," he said. "They're looking at this as an opportunity to grow their movement." Many QAnon believers, Clarke said, have been pulled into the movement at a time of great anxiety: Trapped at home by the pandemic and worried about money and health, they're being presented with a never-ending assortment of polarizing "propaganda" that promises easy answers to intractable fears. Now, with QAnon's prophecies falling apart, Clarke worries how many will react. "If you're a true believer and you've been exposed, in that this is some elaborate hoax, people are going to be really pissed off," he said. "We've been so laser focused on jihadis for 20 years that we basically ignored this threat that has grown on our own soil. Now it's here and it's impossible to ignore." QAnon promoters have in the last day held up an incoherent set of new theories to explain away Trump's anticlimactic exit from Washington: that the military is in control of the country, not Biden; that Biden and Trump have switched faces; that Biden's inauguration was illegitimate, and that the real one (for Trump) would take place in March; or that Biden has been in on the QAnon plan all along. In QAnon-devoted Telegram channels and message boards, some QAnon believers have announced their worries that they now feel conned by a 4-year-old hoax: "Power has changed hands and that is the end," one user on Telegram said. "In the time we needed Trump and Q the most . . . They both shut up and left," said another on a QAnon-related forum. But many others seem to have recommitted to QAnon, swapping explanations they feel validate their continued faith and echoing established QAnon slogans such as "Trust the Plan" and "Hold the Line." Others said QAnon had already attained a vast spiritual victory, by awakening the masses to an evil undercurrent that had been shaping the U.S. government, media and technology industries all along. Q, who has posted nearly 5,000 cryptic information "drops" online since 2017, has not issued a single message on his home message board of 8kun in 44 days, leading some believers to a crisis of faith. And the father-son duo that leads 8kun have offered up different portrayals of the next QAnon phase. Ron Watkins, 8kun's longtime administrator and a mass promoter of election-fraud conspiracy theories, said in a Telegram message on Wednesday that the White House transition meant it was time for his followers to "go back to our lives as best we are able." His father and 8kun's owner, Jim Watkins, later worked to defend Q's "historical value," saying on his Gab account that "the culture of our country has changed because of it." Twitter and Facebook have moved aggressively to stomp out conspiracy theories and viral misinformation, announcing this month that they have removed a combined total of more than 100,000 QAnon-linked accounts. But tens of thousands of new subscribers have joined some of the more prominent QAnon channels on Gab, Telegram and stand-alone websites in recent days. "Does it make sense that Trump would 'give up' like this?" said one QAnon account on Gab with more than 130,000 followers Wednesday night. "What if it had to be this way, what if this actually ends up being the best way? . . . Call me crazy, but I don't think this movie is done." Tiffany, the QAnon-believing mother and online boutique owner in Oklahoma, said she has lost friends due to her views and been "censored" by Facebook and Twitter, which suspended her accounts for comments she made on conspiracy-related groups. But she said she feels just as firm as ever in her beliefs - and in her questions about a darker reality behind what's happening in the U.S. "They can try to silence us as much as they want. But there's too many people who have realized this stuff," she said. She added that the QAnon movement, even without Trump or Q's direct involvement, has already given way to something far more permanent. "Q added a little bit of texture to the situation," she said, "but the reality was you could see the fraud that happened with your own eyes." Lawton, OK (73501) Today Partly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 77F. Winds ENE at 10 to 20 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy skies. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 58F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph. 2020 was a year of whirlwind changes for the world at large. The world of direct taxation was not far behind, facing its own set of challenges during these unprecedented times. With the Union Budget 2021 around the corner, expectations are high among industry experts for these challenges to be addressed. Global factors In a major amendment last year, the government widened the scope of the Equalization Levy (popularly known as 'Google tax') to bring within its ambit a wide array of online transactions. This levy is viewed as a result of the deliberations of the BEPS (Base Erosion and Profit Shifting) project undertaken by OECD and G-20 countries to review and address shortcomings in the existing global tax framework. The responsibility for payment of tax and the related compliance was cast upon non-resident sellers and service providers. Rushed implementation sans clarity on the scope of the levy drew flak from multinational corporations as well as foreign governments. Also Read: Budget 2021 to be growth supportive; health, R&D spending to get boost: YES Bank report The US called it 'extra-territorial' and 'discriminatory', initiating a probe under the US Trade Act. India has stood by its stance, clarifying that the levy is neither discriminatory nor in violation of any WTO commitments. Despite criticism and representations by taxpayers, the government is yet to offer concessions. Any amendment or clarifications, in the budget with respect to the scope of this levy, manner, and forms of compliance would be welcome. Corporate tax rates Rapidly increasing mobility of capital has prompted governments to make their corporate tax rates competitive, to attract and retain investors, which has led to the creation of a tax rate war among countries. Further, providing tax relief and leaving more funds in the hands of companies for reinvestment in productive avenues, would be a welcome step towards the revival of the economy. However, given the sharp decline in income tax collections, coupled with the dip in GDP, it may be over-optimistic to expect any further tax rate cuts, especially considering the rate reductions already announced by the government last year. Striking a balance between boosting tax revenues to bridge the fiscal deficit, while also providing a financial impetus to corporates to jumpstart the post-pandemic economy that is just about getting on its feet, would be one of the major challenges for this budget. Expected amendments to tax provisions Shifting the dividend tax liability from the distributing company to shareholders was a much-anticipated amendment introduced in the budget last year. This change brought with it other amendments, such as reintroduction of Section 80M, to remove the cascading effect of dividend tax, by providing a deduction. However, this deduction is presently not available to companies incurring losses. Hence an amendment here may be expected. Sweeping changes to the Tax Collected at Source ('TCS') provisions came into effect from October 2020. However, there is a lack of clarity regarding the applicability of the provisions in certain scenarios. For instance, while TCS is not applicable on the export of goods, its applicability in case of high-sea sales and deemed exports requires clarity. Also Read: Budget 2021: 3 ways govt can increase retail participation in bond market Furthermore, the levy of TCS on share sale transactions has increased the compliance burden for the buyer as well as seller, leading to additional complications in share transactions involving non-resident entities. Suitable amendments to Section 206C(1H) to exempt certain categories of share transactions would help. Sections 56(2)(x) and 50CA were introduced to ensure that transfers of shares and certain other assets are taxed at fair value to avoid artificially lowering the consideration in order to reduce tax liability. While the intent is being served, it hinders genuine transactions such as realignment in shareholding within a business group, leading to hardships and cashflow considerations. A carve-out from these provisions for genuine transactions would enable smoother transactions and business reorganisation, especially in the present post-pandemic scenario where distress sales and intra-group reorganisations are becoming commonplace; an amendment to these provisions would ease the burden on these businesses. Digital transformation The government has been taking several measures over the years to digitise tax related compliances, from online tax payments to filing of returns and appeals. While e-assessments have been gaining some traction since their introduction in 2019, the paradigm shift towards faceless assessments and appeals (announced in August 2020) is expected to change the landscape of tax litigation as we know it today. The faceless assessment and appeal schemes have been introduced with the intent to increase transparency and to streamline the tax litigation process under a nationally centralised unit. However, it would be vital to invest in equipping the systems as well as personnel to adapt to this new scheme. Addressing the technological challenges and providing an option for a hybrid (face-to-face and digital) model during the transition phase, would be useful to taxpayers and tax authorities alike. Also Read: Business Today MindRush 2021: Top corporate honchos to discuss state of economy, the way ahead International arbitrations The retrospective amendments introduced in 2012 and 2015 which brought extra-territorial share transfers within the ambit of tax in India (introduced in light of the landmark decision in the case of Vodafone), sparked off a series of investment treaty arbitration cases between the foreign investors and the Republic of India. International arbitration tribunals were constituted in this regard, to settle the dispute regarding whether the Republic of India had violated its obligations under the applicable bilateral investment treaties. In the last six months, it is noteworthy that two such cases were ruled in favour of the foreign investor and against India - Vodafone International Holdings BV ('Vodafone case') and Cairn Energy Plc ('Cairn case'). While amendments with retroactive applicability have always been contentious, two consecutive defeats in the recent past before international arbitration tribunals may necessitate a revisit to the validity of such amendments. Any amendments in this regard in the upcoming budget would be welcome. Conclusion The expectation from this budget would be to address several challenges that have arisen as a result of the pandemic and its impact on the economy, on the people, and their livelihoods. It would be unprecedented in many ways, as the government would have to focus on providing stimulus packages to revive the economy, while also identifying other avenues of revenue to bridge the widening fiscal deficit. (Chandraprakash Surana is Partner, Deloitte India; Supraja Srinivasan is Deputy Manager, Deloitte Haskins & Sells LLP.) President Joe Biden has warned his incoming presidential appointees that if they treat anyone with disrespect he'll fire "them on the spot." The 78-year-old Democrat gave the nearly 1,000 appointees the stern warning following his inauguration ceremony on Wednesday, January 20. During the virtual ceremony in the White House's State Dining Room, Biden said: "I'm not joking when I say this. If you're ever working with me - and I hear you treat another colleague with disrespect, talk down to someone - I promise you I will fire you on the spot. "On the spot. No ifs, ands, or buts. Everybody, everybody is entitled to be treated with decency and dignity. That's been missing in a big way in the last four years. "Cathy's gone through all your backgrounds, talked to me about you. I'm confident you have the capacity to do it." Watch the video below. "[If] I hear you treat another colleague with disrespect, talk down to someone, I promise I will fire you on the spot" Speaking to White House staff, President Joe Biden says dignity has been "missing" these past four years https://t.co/rkHtZRRNH2 pic.twitter.com/dpfzB8Ztto BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) January 20, 2021 Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Colorado Politics is published both in print and online. Our website features subscriber-only news stories daily, designed for public policy arena professionals. Member subscribers also receive the weekly print edition of our award-winning newspaper, containing outstanding features and news stories, in their mailboxes every Saturday. New Delhi, Jan 22 : The Uttar Pradesh government on Friday told the Supreme Court on Friday, it will examine the possibility of video conferencing between jailed scribe Siddique Kappan and his mother in Kerala. Kappan was arrested on his way to Hathras where a young woman had died after allegedly being gang-raped. A bench headed by Chief Justice S. A. Bobde took into consideration the submissions by senior advocate Kapil Sibal, representing Kerala Union of Working Journalists (KUWJ), that Kappan's mother is very sick and before getting unconscious, she had expressed a desire to speak to her son. "Please allow her to talk to her son through video conferencing. She can talk to her son while she is alive. We have filed an application. Please allow us," said Sibal. The bench, also comprising Justices A. S. Bopanna and V. Ramasubramanian, orally observed that the court may allow the option of video conferencing. The apex court also fixed the KUWJ plea challenging Kappan's arrest for hearing on a miscellaneous day. Sibal emphasised that the jail authorities could at least allow the son to speak to his ailing mother while she is alive. "We will allow", said the bench. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the state government, contended before the bench the issue should be left to the authorities and they would examine the video-conferencing possibility. The Uttar Pradesh government had vehemently objected to Kappan's bail plea and cited his alleged association with PFI. In December, the Uttar Pradesh government had informed the top court that documents found during search from his home disclosed crucial information/journey of the very formation of PFI (Popular Front of India) as a reincarnation of SIMI after it was banned. In an affidavit, Department of Home Affairs, Uttar Pradesh, citing several incriminating documents found from Kappan's house, said: "these documents disclose crucial information/journey of the very formation of PFI (Popular Front of India) as a reincarnation of SIMI after it being banned, also that motive and ideology of both the organizations - PFI and SIMI - are corroborative in nature." The search operation was conducted on November 11, after obtaining due remand orders from the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Mathura. The state government said the detailed investigation till date in the matter points that most members of the PFI who are ex-office bearers of banned organisation SIMI have been in close intimacy with Kappan. "Kappan is closely associated and has been frequent connection through social media portals and telephonic conversations with PFI members holding various portfolios across the countrymost of whom have also been executive members of banned terrorist organization SIMI", said the affidavit. Mystery illness reported near Eluru: 22 people fall ill, AP Deputy CM suspects conspiracy India oi-Madhuri Adnal Amaravati (AP), Jan 22: At least 22 people fell ill in Eluru city and a nearby mandal headquarters in West Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh on Friday but Deputy Chief Minister (Health) A K K Srinivas suspected there could be a "conspiracy" behind it. This comes more than a month after several hundred people in Eluru fell ill with symptoms of nausea in the first week of December last year. The Deputy Chief Minister, who visited Poolla in West Godavari district and enquired about the situation from the victims'' families,said they could not rule out a conspiracy behind the outbreak of the mysterious illness. "We are thinking if there is a conspiracy.We have this suspicion, going by what the people here said.So, we can''t rule that out.But we can''t confirm that as well," Srinivas told a Telugu television news channel. Eluru mystery illness: Mercury found in rice Official sources said the 22 persons suddenly fell unconscious as froth oozed from their mouths and they complained of giddiness. "Six of these patients have been discharged after treatment while 15 were admitted to the District Hospital in Eluru.Another person was getting treated in the local hospital in Poolla mandal headquarters," a senior official said. "We have collected water and food samples from the houses of the victims and also nearby hotels and the wholesale vegetable market at Gundugolanu.We are collecting samples of meat, chicken, milk, rice and fertilisers used in paddy cultivation," he added. Chief Secretary Aditya Nath Das, Principal Secretary (Health) Anil Kumar Singhal, Health Commissioner Katamaneni Bhaskar rushed to Eluru to take stock of the situation. Several hundred people in Eluru city fell ill with symptoms of fits and nausea in December last year. Experts from various national research institutes established that organochlorine substances were the causative agents of the disease but drinking water was ruled out as a cause. Centre-farmers hold 11th round of talks, impasse over farm laws continues| Oneindia News The disease subsided in less than a week and when things appeared to be returning to normal, some people in Poolla started falling ill again since Thursday. Medicare is being provided to the affected people in Poolla, Gundugolanu as well, apart from the District Hospital in Eluru. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, January 22, 2021, 16:57 [IST] (Natural News) Six healthcare workers suffered allergic reactions after getting a shot of Moderna coronavirus vaccine in San Diego, California. Their symptoms were considered severe and required medical attention. The doses administered to the six healthcare workers were part of the Moderna Lot 041L20A distributed to 287 providers across the state earlier this month. That batch of shipment, which arrived in California between Jan. 5 and Jan. 12, is composed of 330,000 shots. Moderna said in a statement that it is cooperating with Californias health department to investigate the allergic reactions. Moderna acknowledges receiving a report from the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) that a number of individuals at one vaccination center were treated for possible allergic reactions after vaccination from one lot of Modernas Covid-19 vaccine, the statement read. The company is fully cooperating with CDPH in investigating these reported adverse events. Dr. Erica Pan, Californias state epidemiologist, said Sunday, Jan. 17, that providers should err on the side of caution and stop using the doses until federal, state and company officials finish an 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 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Moderna and the state is complete, she said. Monterey, Santa Clara and Santa Cruz have already paused distribution while two Covid-19 vaccine clinics have been canceled in Stanislaus County following the allergic reaction reports. The delay was a huge blow to Californias vaccine distribution efforts. California currently has the second highest number of coronavirus cases per capita in the United States, with Los Angeles being a particular hotspot. All cases of apparent allergic reactions occurred at San Diego Countys drive-through mass vaccination site at Petco Park. No other providers have reported allergic reactions to vaccines administered from the same batch of doses. Related: Shock video: Woman suffers convulsions following Covid vaccine.) Operations at Petco Park slowed down after the cases of allergic reactions were reported, said Dr. Eric McDonald, San Diego Countys director of epidemiology. He noted that the health providers swapped out the batch of vaccines they were administering. The Vaccination Super Station at Petco Park has the capacity to administer 5,000 shots per day. Its one of several mega-sites launched in California last week. Theres a similar clinic at Dodger Stadium that will soon have a capacity of about 12,000 shots daily, according to city officials. Several people experience anaphylactic shock following vaccination Several people reportedly experienced anaphylactic shock after receiving their first vaccine dose. Anaphylactic shock is a severe and potentially life-threatening reaction to an allergy from food, medicine or even a type of material. Symptoms usually occur within minutes and include hives, a weak pulse, nausea, vomiting, dizziness and a swollen tongue or throat. It can lead to death if not treated immediately. People suffering from it are normally given epinephrine, a hormone that relaxes the airway muscles, to treat their symptoms. One of the six healthcare workers who suffered allergic reaction was Diana Cannizzo. She said she couldnt feel her tongue and had neck pain after being given the shot. They gave me 50 milliliters of Benadryl and then they started monitoring me even closer, she told NBC 7 San Diego. Cannizzo admitted that she had some underlying conditions from other medications. I dont know if that came into play. Maybe it did, maybe it didnt but anybody that has a lot of allergic reactions, just maybe think about it and talk to their doctors, she said. All sites giving coronavirus vaccines have specific guidelines to follow, including monitoring of patients after the shot is administered for at least 15 minutes or longer in cases where patients have a medical condition that could lead to an allergic reaction. Follow Vaccines.news for more news updates and information about vaccine-related injuries and side effects. Sources include: DailyMail.co.uk Forbes.com SanDiegoUnionTribune.com DENVER, Jan. 22, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Helen Madden-Weiss is being recognized by Continental Who's Who as a Top Executive for her outstanding contributions to the Construction industry and her remarkable leadership as President at NPW Contracting, Inc. Based in Denver, Colorado, NPW Contracting, Inc. proudly serves as a full-service thermal/moisture protection, restoration, and structural repair contractor since 1989. The family-owned, self-performing contractor specializes in accommodating large-scale projects and has worked on numerous high-profile projects in the Rocky Mountain region including work on the Denver Union Station, Eagle P3, and FasTracks commuter rail projects, as well as the Gaylord Rockies Hotel and Convention Center. Dedicated to providing quality services, the exceptional team demonstrates the highest standard of professionalism, integrity, and honesty. NPW Contracting, Inc. holds certificates from the State of Colorado, the City and County of Denver, and RTD as a WBE, DBE, SBE, and UDBE. Having maintained a laudable reputation in construction, Mrs. Madden-Weiss currently serves as the Owner and President of NPW Contracting, Inc. She proudly serves Colorado and the surrounding areas. She brings a vast repertoire of expertise in expansion devices, commercial and civil space restoration, waterproofing, caulking, coating, and sealants, just to name a few. An active member in her field, Mrs. Madden-Weiss maintains memberships with the International Concrete Repair Institute (ICRI) and is a nationally certified with Women in Bio (WIB). In her spare time, Mrs. Madden-Weiss enjoys traveling, reading, and spending time with her family. She also devotes her time volunteering with Zuma's Rescue Ranch, located in Littleton, CO. Mrs. Madden-Weiss dedicates this honorable recognition to her husband, Joshua, and daughter Rachel, whom she thanks for their love and support. To learn more, please visit http://www.npwcontracting.com/. Contact: Katherine Green, 516-825-5634, [email protected] SOURCE Continental Who's Who Related Links http://www.continentalwhoswho.com Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is doing what he said he would do fighting President Joe Biden on actions he deems unlawful. Paxton said on Twitter Thursday that he will fight for Texans first, not "dangerous aliens who must be deported" after the U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced a temporary pause on deportations Wednesday. Paxton also threatened to sue DHS if the pause is not removed. The temporary halt on deportations comes after President Joe Biden signed executive orders on Wednesday reforming some immigration policies enacted by the administration of former President Donald Trump. "When the @JoeBiden admin breaks the law, I take action," Paxton wrote on Twitter. "I have told @DHSgov to immediately rescind its illegal, unconscionable deportation freezeor TX will sue. As AG, I will always put Americans, Texans first not dangerous aliens who must be deported!" READ ALSO: Texas AG, currently under federal investigation, vows to challenge Biden administration In the letter to DHS, Paxton writes that Texas pays a particularly high price when it comes to immigration laws, and he says this halt would increase it. Paxton added DHS did not consult with Texas before the halt, which he says the department is obliged to do. To read the full letter, click here. Governor Greg Abbott also responded to the action made by DHS, writing on Twitter Thursday that Biden is trying to halt deportations of illegal aliens who already have a final order of removal from the U.S. "This abandons the obligation to enforce federal immigration laws," Abbott wrote. "Texas is fighting this attempt to grant blanket amnesty." According to a news release from DHS, the decision to temporarily halt deportations was made "to ensure we have a fair and effective immigration enforcement system focused on protecting national security, border security, and public safety." The moratorium, which Biden had pledged to impose during his campaign, start today. Paxton's threat is no surprise. On Inauguration Day, the embattled Paxton, currently under federal investigation, said he will 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!" Priscilla Aguirre is a general assignment reporter for MySA.com | priscilla.aguirre@express-news.net | @CillaAguirre TC Energy, the developer of the Keystone XL cross-border oil pipeline, is letting go of 1,000 workers in both the United States and Canada after U.S. President Joe Biden axed the project earlier this week. On his first day in office, President Biden rescinded the Presidential permit for the Keystone XL oil pipeline, saying in an executive order that The Keystone XL pipeline disserves the U.S. national interest. Leaving the Keystone XL pipeline permit in place would not be consistent with my Administrations economic and climate imperatives, President Biden said. TC Energy said on Wednesday that it was disappointed with the executive action, warning that the decision would impact thousands of union jobs, new renewable energy investments, and opportunities for Indigenous communities. A day later, news of the job cuts broke as the company halted all work on the pipeline on both sides of the border. A majority of the 1,000 are unioned workers who have been constructing on both sides of the border, Terry Cunha, a spokesman for TC Energy, said in an email to Bloomberg. The U.S. Administrations decision drew harsh reactions and criticism from Canadas center of oil industry, the province of Alberta, which says that the killing of Keystone XL would lead to thousands of job losses not only in Canada, but also in the United States, and would raise dependence on OPEC imports for the U.S. Gulf Coast refiners. This is a gut punch for the Canadian and Alberta economies. Sadly, it is an insult directed at the United States most important ally and trading partner on day one of a new administration, Alberta Premier Jason Kenney said on Wednesday. Thousands of union workers are being fired as we speak, as a result of this decision, Kenney added. Albertas premier renewed a call to Canadas federal government to enter into a dialogue with the Biden Administration on the matter. If ultimately those efforts are not successful, we will defend our interests in court as necessary, Kenney said. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: About seven in 10 Brits are in favour of location-tracking technology during the coronavirus pandemic regardless of if it's opt-in or compulsory, a study suggests. UK researchers conducted surveys of more than 3,500 British adults last spring, during the grips of the virus's first wave, on their willingness to use such tech. 70 per cent were in favour of having their location tracked via opt-in apps on their smartphone to help authorities identify if they've been exposed to people with Covid-19. This figure declined only marginally to 65 per cent, or nearly two-thirds if this app was compulsory and enforced by the government with fines and arrests. The findings suggest Britons are either coming to accept of privacy-encroaching technology or are just willing to allow exceptions to get out of lockdown as soon as possible. Meanwhile, more than 60 per cent of respondents were in favour of having an 'immunity passport' a form of documentation indicating that its owner has SARS-CoV-2 antibodies, suggesting they're immune to the virus. The NHS Test and Trace app, a decentralised tool relying on Google/Apple Bluetooth technology, was introduced in September 2020. This study suggests the UK public supports usage of tracking technology and immunity passports in the current global pandemic While the study suggests the public supports tracking tech, the findings are not reflected in the number of people who have downloaded the NHS Test and Trace app, prompting calls for this issue to be addressed. 'Attitudes were surprisingly permissive and this is good news for public health,' said study lead author Professor Stephan Lewandowsky, chair in cognitive psychology at the University of Bristol. 'But there appears to be a significant gap between what people say they're willing to do and what they actually do, which needs further investigation.' Lack of uptake is a big problem because such systems need more than half 56 per cent of the general population on board to be effective in helping control a pandemic, Professor Lewandowsky said. The NHS Test and Trace app, a decentralised tool relying on Google and Apple Bluetooth technology, was introduced in September 2020 following months of delay and questions about its effectiveness. The app for iOS and Android asks users to log whether or not they symptoms and uses Bluetooth to keep track of other phones it has come into contact with. As of the end of last month, nearly 21 million people in the UK had downloaded the NHS Test and Trace app, which is more than 10 million below target for it to work properly. The NHS app for iOS and Android asks users to log whether or not they symptoms and uses Bluetooth to keep track of other phones it has come into contact with 'There could be many reasons for this, which could be technological barriers, confusion, or simply lack of awareness,' said Professor Lewandowsky. 'But the fact respondents were very receptive and open to such tools should be encouraging and indicates while people don't want to throw away their privacy, they are willing to make compromises perhaps for the greater good.' The research comprises two online surveys conducted last spring, with more than 3,500 respondents in total. The first was carried out in March 2020, the month the UK's first lockdown started, and the second in April 2020, when Covid-19 case numbers had reached nearly 100,000 and resulted in almost 15,000 deaths. Both surveys presented two scenarios. Firstly, the 'mild' scenario using an app featuring smartphone tracking data to identify and contact those who may have been exposed to people with Covid-19, which people can choose to download. The second scenario ('severe') proposed this app was compulsory for all mobile phone users and enabled the government to use the data to locate anyone violating lockdown orders and enforce them with fines and arrests. Amazingly, in both surveys, the levels of acceptance for each scenario were broadly the same. Around 70 per cent of respondents accepted the opt-in app and almost two thirds, some 65 per cent overall, accepted the mandatory version with tighter enforcement. When a hypothetical clause was introduced, resulting in all data being deleted after two weeks, acceptance levels of both scenarios rose to more than 75 per cent. Acceptance increased further still to more than 85 per cent when, on top of this two-week time limit, another modification was made to both scenarios. This second modification differed between scenarios if the data were stored locally rather than on a government server (for the 'mild' scenario) or if users could opt out of data collection (for the 'severe' scenario). This modification to the severe scenario would have meant the app was no longer compulsory for all mobile phone users, but it still enabled government to use data to penalise anyone violating lockdown. 'Such high levels of acceptance were quite unexpected but welcome,' said Professor Lewandowsky. 'It would be concerning if people didn't care at all about their privacy, but the fact they indicated even greater acceptance with additional measures to preserve it is reassuring and suggests careful consideration before being willing to surrender it.' A number of governments, including those of the UK, the US, Germany and Italy have suggested using immunity passports as a way to return to some level of normality following the pandemic (stock image) IMMUNITY PASSPORTS Some governments have suggested that the detection of antibodies to the SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19, could serve as the basis for an 'immunity passport' or 'risk-free certificate'. This documentation, digital or physical, would enable individuals to travel or to return to work assuming that they are protected against re-infection. UK Minister for Business & Industry and COVID Vaccine Deployment Nadhim Zahawi said in November that ministers were looking at immunity passports on the NHS as a way to prove people had been vaccinated. However, there is currently no evidence that people who have recovered from Covid-19 and have antibodies are protected from a second infection, according to the World Health Organisation. Advertisement The second survey also explored attitudes towards so-called immunity passports, which could be issued to people who carry Covid-19 antibodies as an indication they are immune to the virus and unable to spread it. Resistance to the idea was relatively low and more than 60 per cent of respondents wanted one for themselves. 'Only 20 per cent of people strongly opposed the idea, mainly on grounds of fairness, which was surprisingly low,' said Professor Lewandowsky. 'It's fascinating how people seem increasingly receptive to their personal data being used to inform themselves and others about what they can and can't do.' Limitations to the study include the fact the survey data was gathered the best part of a year ago, meaning attitudes to tracing tech may have changed along with the developments in the pandemic. As a follow-up study, it would be beneficial to know whether people have relaxed their privacy attitudes as an exception due to the emergency situation, Professor Lewandowsky suggests. Alternatively, there could be a wider acceptance of 'privacy-encroaching technologies' whether or not they're Covid-related, such as continuous monitoring of power consumption at home or tracking of location by law enforcement authorities. The research forms part of an international project with similar surveys being conducted in countries across the world, including Australia, the US, Taiwan, Japan, Switzerland, Germany, and Spain. A continually-updating summary of the overall project is available online, while the study has been published in the journal PLOS ONE. With the jail population near its breaking point, Harris County District Attorney Kim Oggs staff has identified 60 inmates who may be considered for bail reductions. Oggs office announced the assessment in a court document Thursday filed in response to a federal judges request. Chief U.S. District Judge Lee H. Rosenthal asked the DA last week to review more than 1,500 people detained at the jail because they cannot come up with $1,000 or less to cover bail of $10,000 and below. Rosenthal suggested last week in a case involving a felony bail challenge that the DA and district judges make reductions where possible to ease some of the crowding amid the surging pandemic to avoid a killing field at the jail. Plaintiffs in the lawsuit say costly bail rates unjustly keep thousands of poor people locked up before trial simply because they cant afford bail. Rosenthal, who cant tell state judges what to do with their dockets, asked the DA and judges to contemplate what they can do to lessen the strain. More than 95 percent of the beds at the lockup are occupied, and the population is not abating, said Jason Spencer, spokesman for Sheriff Ed Gonzalez. In the meantime, adjudications are significantly slowed by court closures since Hurricane Harvey, and the backlog has been compounded by the risk of exposure to COVID-19 since last spring. Felony judges had a 51 percent clearance rate in December with a backlog of nearly 49,000 cases, according to data from the countys Justice Administration department. Assistant District Attorney Scott Durfee said in a brief that the sheriff had included categories of people on his list that the DA didnt agree to consider. Ogg only reviewed people without holds who were detained on nonviolent charges with bail set at $10,000 or less. Durfee indicated the sheriff's list of contenders was padded, or else it did not make sense because it included people who have holds. He also limited his analysis to people facing nonviolent charges. Oggs office whittled the sheriffs list of 1,543 contenders down to 395. Of that total, Durfee said, prosecutors would entertain lower bail in 12 cases and would agree to or not oppose a personal bond in an additional 48. Murray Fogler, attorney for the sheriff, said he hoped the 60 people the DA mentioned would be the low-hanging fruit that should be taken care of promptly. Alec Karakatsanis of Civil Rights Corps, who represents thousands of poor defendants in the bail lawsuit, said he was gravely disappointed in the DAs response. It has been genuinely surprising how bad Kim Ogg has handled this crisis, Karakatsanis said. Spencer, from the sheriffs office, said the courts are a big part of the problem. The criminal court system continues to work at an unsustainably slow pace that is denying justice to victims, defendants and the taxpayers shouldering the cost of an overpopulated jail, he said. We need immediate action from everyone involved in our judicial system to get our courtrooms running at full speed. gabrielle.banks@chron.com US Vice President Kamala Harris has spoken to World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus over phone to discuss the decision by the Biden administration to rejoin the UN health agency. In one of the first acts following his inauguration, President Joe Biden reversed a key foreign policy decision his predecessor Donald Trump took last year after accusing the WHO of incompetence and bowing to Chinese pressure over the coronavirus pandemic. During the call, Harris emphasised that she and Biden believe that the WHO is vital to controlling the spread of COVID-19 and building back better global health and pandemic preparedness, according to a readout of the call issued by the White House. The vice president and the director-general also discussed the resumption of the United States' role in the global public health and humanitarian response to the COVID-19 pandemic, it said. Harris also stressed on the Biden-Harris administration's strong support for efforts to strengthen the global COVID-19 response, mitigate its secondary impacts, including on women and girls, and advance global health security to prevent the next outbreak from becoming an epidemic or pandemic. In addition, she emphasised on the importance of making the US safer through global cooperation, the White House said. Ghebreyesus thanked Harris for the call and congratulated her and Biden on their inauguration. Both the director-general and the vice president reiterated that they look forward to meeting in person. Earlier in the day, Anthony Fauci, the government's top infectious-disease expert, while addressing the WHO executive board meeting said the US will cease the drawdown of its staff seconded to the agency. The US will also resume regular engagement of its government personnel with the WHO both directly and through the agency's collaborating centres, he said. The United States intends to fulfil its financial obligations to the organisation. It sees technical collaboration at all levels as a fundamental part of our relationship with the WHO, one that we value deeply and look to strengthen going forward, he said. As a WHO member state, the United States 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, he added. The Biden administration also intends to be fully engaged in advancing global health, supporting global health security and the global health security agenda, and building a healthier future for all people. I am also pleased to announce today that the United States plans to work multilaterally to respond to and recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. President Biden will issue a directive later today which will include the intent of the US to join COVAX and support the ACT-Accelerator to advance multilateral efforts for COVID-19 vaccine, therapeutic, and diagnostic distribution, equitable access, and research and development, Fauci said. The US, he said, will also work with the WHO and member states to counter the erosion of major gains in global health that we have achieved through decades of research, collaboration and investments in health and health security, including in HIV/AIDS, food security, malaria, and epidemic preparedness. Panaji, Jan 22 : Irrfan Khan's wife, Sutapa Sikdar, got emotional talking about the late actor at the ongoing International Film Festival of India (IFFI), and said his finish line came too soon. The 51st edition of IFFI paid homage to the late actor, and Sutapa along with son Babil Khan was present at the event. Irrfan's acclaimed hit "Paan Singh Tomar" was screened on the occasion. The 2010 release won Irrfan the Best Actor trophy at the 60th National Film Awards, while the Tigmanshu Dhulia directorial was declared Best Film. "It was a very brave decision to step out of home and attend the festival. One needs closure to walk ahead and IFFI is a closure for me, it is like being there for what we have done 30 years ago as students. It feels nice to be here together to celebrate the person and IFFI couldn't have chosen a better film because this film talks about a race and reaching the finishing line. Irrfan's finish line came too soon, but we are proud of him," said Sutapa. Irrfan is known for signature screen presence that his films memorable. "Paan Singh Tomar" apart, his unforgettable performances include "The Lunchbox", "Maqbool", "Qissa", "The Namesake", "Haasil", "Life In A... Metro", "Hindi Medium", and "Angrezi Medium". The actor battled neuroendocrine tumour for around a year and received treatment in the UK. He returned to India in February 2020, just before the release of his final film, "Angrezi Medium" in March. Irrfan passed away on April 29, 2020. He was 53. A Message From The Editor just-style gives you the widest apparel and textile market coverage. Paid just-style members have unlimited access to all our exclusive content - including 21 years of archives. I am so confident you will love complete access to our content that today I can offer you 30 days access for 1*. Its our best ever membership offer just for you. Leonie Barrie, editor of just-style Leonie's offer to you * plus VAT if applicable News Microsoft Open License To End Next Year for Government and Education Groups Microsoft's "Open License program" will end on Jan. 1, 2022, and not just for commercial customers, but also for government, education and nonprofit organizations, Microsoft affirmed in a Dec. 17 licensing news post. "Starting on January 1, 2022, commercial, government, education, and nonprofit organizations won't be able to buy new or renew software licenses, Software Assurance, or online services through the Open License program," the announcement stated. The last day to buy or renew an Open License will be Dec. 31, 2021. Microsoft is shifting the sales of perpetual licenses over to its Cloud Solutions Provider (CSP) partners as part of this plan to drop the Open License program in 2022. These CSP partners are empowered to sell perpetual licenses to organizations under a different program, called the "Open Value program," which has a Software Assurance (SA) buying option. Alternatively, Microsoft permits CSPs to sell licenses under the "Open Value Subscription" program, which is a different sales avenue that doesn't offer perpetual licenses, but it does offer SA coverage. The "perpetual license" phrase means the license is bought once and the use rights don't expire. It contrasts with subscription-based licensing where the licensing is sold on a monthly or annual basis, with use rights ending if the licensing doesn't get renewed. Microsoft somewhat obscurely describes these three Open licensing programs -- Open Value, Open Value Subscription and Open License -- at its "Open Programs" overview page. SA is an added annuity cost option (on top of these licensing costs) that grants organizations the ability to use the latest software release from Microsoft. Microsoft had foretold the 2022 end of the Open License program in late September, but it was just described back then as applying to commercial customers. The program's end for government, education and nonprofit organizations, too, is a new aspect. Commercial customers have been able to purchase perpetual licenses without SA since January 2021 under the Open Value program. The timeline is a bit different for other customers. Microsoft's announcement offered the following table, showing that, for the most part, Open Value licenses will be available for government, education and nonprofit companies in March, but will be available through CSP partners in July: [Click on image for larger view.] Microsoft's key dates on Open Value license availability for government, education and nonprofit organizations. (Source: Dec. 17 Microsoft licensing news blog.) Microsoft's somewhat obscure licensing change was noted in a recent blog post by Licensing School, a U.K.-based company that helps organizations sort through Microsoft licensing details. Licensing School recommended that organizations check the FAQ section of Microsoft's Dec. 17 announcement, which has additional program-change nuances that are possibly of interest to licensees. (JTA) -A Jewish couple in Florida is celebrating two hefty milestones together this year: 100 years of life, and 80 years of marriage. Lou and Edith Bluefeld, of Boca Raton, have known each other since they were 16. They ran a kosher catering business that served visiting U.S. presidents and helped to kosher the White House kitchen. They also cooked for former Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin when he was in Washington, D.C., for the 1978 Egypt peace accord announcement, according to a South Florida Sun-Sentinel report. Lou turned 100 on Saturday, and Edith hits the number on Aug. 4, NB... International Monetary Fund Chief Economist Gita Gopinath on Friday shared a video from television show 'Kaun Banega Crorepati' on Twitter in which host Amitabh Bachchan asked a question about the former to a contestant. Gopinath, who is a "huge" fan of Bachchan, called the video special and said she won't get over it. Ok, I don't think I will ever get over this. As a HUGE fan of Big B @SrBachchan, the Greatest of All Time, this is special! pic.twitter.com/bXAeijceHE - Gita Gopinath (@GitaGopinath) January 22, 2021 Gopinath, who was born in India, is the Economic Counsellor and Director of the Research Department at the IMF. She is on leave of public service from Harvard University's Economics department where she is the John Zwaanstra Professor of International Studies and of Economics. Earlier, she was the Economic Adviser to Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan from 2016-18. In the video, Bachchan asks the contestant to identify the organisation for which Gita Gopinath works as chief economist since. Praising Gopinath, Bachchan, in the video, says, "Her face is so beautiful that no one can relate it to economy." He also took to Twitter for thanking Gopinath, saying that he said every word about her with "earnestness". thank you Gita Gopinath ji .. I meant every word i said about you on the show .. said in utmost earnestness .. https://t.co/VuyJCjfyCI - Amitabh Bachchan (@SrBachchan) January 22, 2021 However, not everyone was happy with the veteran actor's remarks about Gopinath, with some Twitter users calling them sexist. Wasn't it a sexist comment? You okay with that? - Aabhas Chauhan (@aabhas_says) January 22, 2021 So sad that he just had to mention your looks while pointing to your earned achievement. Bet you he wouldn't have made a mention if, say, @raghuramrajan or @kaushikcbasu were on the screen. Anyway, congratulations to you @GitaGopinath : keep the flag flying high! - Jaideep Mehta (@jaideep400) January 22, 2021 Don't you think he was being sexist here? Etna khubsurat face or economy!!! What does that mean? - RIP_My_Emotions (@beautifulgirly0) January 22, 2021 It's rather insulting to say that beautiful women can't be intelligent. - Tara (@Tara_nl_in) January 22, 2021 I didn't like the comment about linking beauty with brains. Stupid of Mr. Bachchan to suggest that beautiful women can't be economists. - Namita Gidwani (@namita_gidwani) January 22, 2021 Also Read: BT Insight: How Kaun Banega Crorepati, Dream11 winners get taxed Geojit's report on Agri Picks In a bid to push sugar exports, the government will review the performance of mills on a quarterly basis through 2020-21 (Oct-Sep) and reallocate the export quota of those found lacking. The first such review would be conducted by the food ministry in February. A massive fire broke out at an under-construction building at Serum Institute of India Pvt Ltd's Manjiri plant on the outskirts of Pune today, a company official said. No immediate casualty has been reported. The government has procured 284,578 tn oilseeds harvested in the 2020-21 (JulJun) kharif season from farmers in six states at the minimum support price as of Tuesday, a government official said. The National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India, on Tuesday, kicked off procurement of tur harvested in the 2020-21 (Jul-Jun) kharif season in Karnataka, an official with the agency said. The government has procured 57.5 mln tn paddy so far in the 2020-21 (Oct-Sep) kharif marketing season, up 23.4% on year, it said in a release. Paddy is India's largest-grown kharif crop. For all commodities report, click here Disclaimer: The views and investment tips expressed by investment experts/broking houses/rating agencies 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. Read More The past four years of American public life have been marked by partisan tension between the pro-life movement and the racial justice cause. Politically, at least, the two have been cleft apart and set at odds. The pro-life campaign is viewed by some as a conservative white mens culture war, while the anti-racism project is seen often as a solely progressive movement. The last election hinged in part on these real and perceived tensions. Future elections will do the same. As philosopher Scott Coley notes, We are forced to choose between the rights of the most vulnerable, namely the unborn, and the rights of all but the most vulnerable, namely immigrants and people of color. Although our politics pit these movements against each other, the two in fact share the same moral nucleus. The anti-abortion cause and the anti-racism cause are sibling abolition movements that protest two different cultures of exploitation and devaluation. What, then, can the pro-life campaign learn from the racial justice project? Since the advent of Roe v. Wade 48 years ago, the reproductive justice movement has embraced a conditional view of human life. The worth of an unborn baby is contingent upon a mothers preparedness, her consent, even her personal interest or desire. The child has value insofar as the mother says it does. Case in point: A recent Time essay by Stephanie Land suggests that you can name and love your blastocyst, even if you terminate the pregnancy. By contrast, the largely Christian abolition project of the 19th century was built on the view that all human life has intrinsic value. Todays antiracism movement reflects that same ethic by saying: ... 1 You have reached the end of this Article Preview You have reached the end of this Article Preview To continue reading, subscribe now. Subscribers have full digital access. Have something to add about this? See something we missed? Share your feedback here. A group of more than 30 democratic lawmakers led by Representatives Tom Malinowski (D-NJ) and Anna G. Eshoo (D-CA) are calling on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube to make substantive changes to their recommendation algorithms. In three separate letters addressed to the CEOs of those companies, the group makes a direct link to the January 6th US Capitol attack and the part those platforms played in radicalizing the individuals who took part in the uprising. On Wednesday, January 6th the United States Capitol was attacked by a violent, insurrectionist mob radicalized in part in a digital echo chamber that your company designed, built and maintained, the letter addressed to Google and YouTube CEOs Sundar Pichai and Susan Wojcicki says. A letter from some Congress members to Google CEO Sundar Pichai and YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki flexes research on how YouTube's algorithms have promoted conspiracy theories and political extremism. Citing the Capitol attacks, they request changes to its recommendations systems. pic.twitter.com/eK2ThWvfPc Jennifer Elias (@jenn_elias) January 22, 2021 While the letters acknowledge the recent efforts Facebook, Twitter and YouTube have made to better moderate their networks, they conclude that alone isnt enough to solve the problem of radicalization, particularly at the scale that those platforms operate. The lawmakers say all three companies have yet to address the fundamental flaws inherent to their recommendations algorithms. ... Facebook, like other social media platforms, sorts and presents information to users by feeding them the content most likely to reinforce their existing political biases, especially those rooted in anger, anxiety, and fear, the letter sent to Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg reads. The algorithms Facebook uses to maximize user engagement on its platform undermine our shared sense of objective reality, intensify fringe political beliefs, facilitate connections between extremist users and, tragically, lead some of them to commit real-world physical violence, such as what we experienced firsthand on January 6th. The letters also point out that all three companies seem aware of the influence their recommendation algorithms have on people, yet have decided to do nothing about it. Subsequently, they recommend several measures each company should take. In the instance of YouTube, for example, they say auto-playing videos shouldnt be the default, and that under no circumstances should the platform recommend someone watch a video about a conspiracy. They also urge the company to move away from a model that puts user engagement above all else. We are urging the CEOs of these large social media companies to make permanent and platform-wide changes to limit the frictionless spread of extreme, radicalizing content something theyve shown they are capable of doing but are consciously choosing not to, said Representative Malinowski. The group stops short of threatening regulatory action against Facebook, Twitter and YouTube, but legislation might not be that far behind. One of the lawmakers who endorsed the letters was Representative David Cicilline (D-RI), the chairman of the House Judicarys antitrust subcommittee. Last fall, democrats on that panel published a 449-page report in which they said Congress should break up the Big Tech monopolies. In the lead up to the election, President Joe Biden said the US should repeal Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act to make a company like Facebook more accountable for spreading disinformation. Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-22 23:15:01|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, Jan. 22 (Xinhua) -- The Standing Committee of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislature, concluded its 25th session Friday in Beijing. Lawmakers adopted the revised Law on Animal Epidemic Prevention, the revised Administrative Penalty Law and a law on the coast guard at the closing meeting. President Xi Jinping signed presidential orders to promulgate the above laws. Li Zhanshu, chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, presided over the meeting, which was attended by 160 NPC Standing Committee members. Commenting on the three laws, Li said the coast guard law provides legal guarantees for effectively safeguarding national sovereignty, security and maritime rights and interests. The revised Law on Animal Epidemic Prevention highlights protecting people's lives and health and improving the legal system for animal-health management, while the revised Administrative Penalty Law advances the building of a law-based government, Li said. Lawmakers ratified a decision on establishing the Beijing Financial Court, a treaty on the transfer of sentenced persons between China and Belgium, and an extradition treaty with Morocco. Li said the decision on establishing the Beijing Financial Court serves the implementation of the country's financial strategy. They also adopted reports on the deliberation of NPC deputies' proposals, and bills related to deputies' qualifications and personnel matters. Calling for solid efforts to fulfill this year's tasks, Li stressed upholding the Party's overall leadership of the work of the people's congresses and asked the NPC Standing Committee to effectively play its important role in comprehensively advancing law-based governance. Efforts should be made to effectively uphold the people's status as masters of the country and improve the NPC Standing Committee in all respects, Li said. Li also called for good preparations for the fourth annual session of the 13th NPC, together with outstanding achievements, to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China. Li also presided over a meeting of the Council of Chairpersons of the NPC Standing Committee before the closing meeting. Enditem The Government could intervene to stop the City of London Corporation's plans to topple statues of prominent figures William Beckford and Sir John Cass - after it went against its policy to retain historical monuments. Yesterday the corporation declared it would remove the two huge sculptures over the two men's historic links to the slave trade following a vote on recommendations from their Tackling Racism Taskforce. But the announcement came to a surprise to senior Government figures, including Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden, who believe statues should be kept to 'learn from the past'. MailOnline understands he has contacted heritage body Historic England to check if the correct procedures have been followed so far. And just five days ago Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick announced a new legal protections that meant historic statues should be retained and explained for future generations. It means that if any council intends to grant permission for removal of a particular statue but Historic England objects to it, he gets the final say. In fact the heritage body is understood to have contacted the corporation in December to flag the government's 'retain and explain' views - but received no response back. A source said: 'City of London may have said they are going to remove them, but it is not quite as simple as that. 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 'There are procedures that have to be followed - this is by no means a done deal. 'It completely flies against the Government's views and advice.' The City of London Corporation's Policy and Resources Committee announced yesterday they had 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'. But the corporation said it was going to set up a working group to make the change as soon as possible. Culture secretary Oliver Dowden has contacted Historic England over the statue plans 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 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 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.' WASHINGTON - Joe Biden's White House has a lot in common cause with Canada, Justin Trudeau said Friday as he urged people to look past the new U.S. president's decision to kill off the Keystone XL pipeline project. Joe Biden, then the U.S. vice-president, and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau take their seats at the start of the First Ministers and National Indigenous Leaders meeting in Ottawa, Friday, Dec. 9, 2016. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld WASHINGTON - Joe Biden's White House has a lot in common cause with Canada, Justin Trudeau said Friday as he urged people to look past the new U.S. president's decision to kill off the Keystone XL pipeline project. The two countries have great partnership potential in the Biden era, particularly when it comes to a shared vision of tackling climate change while fuelling economic growth, the prime minister said. "It's not always going to be perfect alignment with the United States; that's the case with any given president," he told a news conference outside his Rideau Cottage residence. "In a situation where we are much more aligned on values, on focus, on the work that needs to be done to give opportunities for everyone while we build a better future I'm very much looking forward to working with President Biden." The two leaders spoke for about 30 minutes late Friday. Trudeau expressed Canada's "disappointment" with the Keystone decision, and Biden acknowledged the difficulties it has caused, said a federal official familiar with what was discussed. "The Prime Minister underscored the important economic and energy security benefits of our bilateral energy relationship as well as his support for energy workers," says the readout of their conversation released by the Office of the Prime Minister. "The Prime Minister and President reiterated the urgent need for ambitious action on climate change, reaffirmed their commitment to the Paris Agreement, and agreed to work together on net-zero emissions, zero-emissions vehicles, cross-border clean electricity transmission, and the Arctic." The readout of the call from the White House emphasized the close relationship between the two countries. "President Biden spoke with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in his first call to a foreign leader as President of the United States, highlighting the strategic importance of the U.S.-Canada relationship and reinvigorating our bilateral cooperation on an ambitious and wide-ranging agenda, including combating the COVID-19 pandemic, strengthening economic ties, defense, and global leadership to address the pressing challenge of climate change." By and large, the tone of the call was "overwhelmingly positive," said the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity in order to discuss details of the call. Trudeau also expressed concern about Biden's Buy American plan to ensure U.S. workers and manufacturers are the primary beneficiaries of his economic recovery strategy. The leaders agreed to continue to discuss Canada's concerns about an issue that the two sides have been discussing for months, and will continue to talk about as the administration finds its feet, the source suggested. Biden and Trudeau also agreed to meet next month, although it's not clear given the circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic what form that meeting would take. Earlier Friday, Trudeau said the federal government would be there to support oilpatch workers in Alberta and Saskatchewan who have been hurt by Biden's decision. But there's little doubt the fight is far from over, particularly if Alberta Premier Jason Kenney has anything to say about it. "The United States is setting a deeply disturbing precedent for any future projects and collaboration between our two nations," Kenney wrote in a letter to Trudeau he released Friday on Twitter. "The fact that it was a campaign promise makes it no less offensive. Our country has never surrendered our vital economic interests because a foreign government campaigned against them." Biden believes a brisk economic recovery doesn't have to come at the expense of the environment, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Thursday. Biden opposed the Keystone XL expansion as vice-president under Barack Obama, who blocked the project in 2015, and as president he still does, Psaki said. Kenney and other champions of the project, including Kirsten Hillman, Canada's ambassador to the U.S., argue it has changed significantly since the Obama administration cancelled it five years ago. As word emerged this week of the project's imminent demise, Calgary-based owner TC Energy revealed plans to spend US$1.7 billion on a solar, wind and battery-powered operating system for the pipeline to ensure it achieves net-zero emissions by 2030. Kenney wrote Wednesday's decision came "without taking the time to discuss it with their longest-standing ally," although Hillman insists she has been in near-constant discussions with the Biden team ever since May, when they promised to cancel the project. He called the decision a violation of the investor-protection provisions of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement and called on Trudeau to press the U.S. for compensation on behalf of TC Energy and the Alberta government. "I strongly urge you to ensure that there are proportionate economic consequences in response to these unfair U.S. actions," Kenney wrote. "If the U.S. is unwilling to listen, then we must demonstrate that Canada will stand up for Canadian workers and the Canadian economy." Biden's decision has critics among U.S. conservatives as well: Rep. Kevin McCarthy, the Republican House minority leader, called it a job-killing "virtue signal" to climate crusaders. Texas Sen. Ted Cruz accused Biden of erasing 11,000 potential jobs in the U.S. "with the stroke of a pen ... by presidential edict." Alaska Sen. Dan Sullivan said the president was "pandering to fringe activists." Kentucky Sen. Mitch McConnell, the Senate minority leader, said the move does little besides kill jobs, "disappoint our strong ally, Canada, and reverse some of our progress toward energy security." And Idaho senators Jim Risch and Mike Crapo both signed on to co-sponsor a Republican bill aimed at allowing construction on the project to continue, despite Biden's decision to rescind the permit. "The Keystone project is the linchpin of America's energy independence and job creation strategy," Risch said in a statement. "Shutting it down leaves us dependent on the likes of OPEC and Russia to help power the country and undermines the pact we made with our northern ally, Canada, which remains supportive of the project." This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 22, 2021. President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill were momentarily left standing in the cold on Inauguration Day after the front doors of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue weren't opened for them a breach of protocol caused by the firing of the chief usher of the White House hours earlier. With the world watching on, the 46th US President and his wife walked up the steps of their new home for the first time on Wednesday, as a small crowd of family members followed behind. The couple posed for photos outside the large wooden doors of the North Portico, waiving to the crowd as a military band played Hail to the Chief nearby. They then embraced one another, before turning to venture on inside. But there was a problem: the doors didnt open. For an awkward but fleeting period of around 10 seconds, Biden stares puzzlingly at the door before turning back to shoot a confused look at his approaching family members. Eventually the doors swing open, though its unclear whether Jill and Joe were forced to open them themselves, or whether someone on the inside finally notice the mistake. It remains unclear exactly what caused the delay, though the firing of the chief usher of the White House, Timothy Harleth, likely had a part to play. Scroll down for video With the world watching on, the 46th US President and his wife walked up the steps of their new home for the first time on Wednesday, with a small crowd of family members following behind They then embraced one another, before hugging and turning to venture on inside, but the doors didnt open It remains unclear exactly what caused the delay, though the firing of the chief usher of the White House, Timothy Harleth (shown right), likely had a part to play Though the White House doors are typically opened by Marine guards, the chief usher is in charge of greeting the incoming president and his family, in addition to overseeing operations at the residence. However, Harleth wasnt there to greet the Bidens when they arrived because he had been fired around five hours earlier. Harleth, the Trumps chief usher and a former rooms manager of the Trump International Hotel in Washington, told the New York Times he was moving furniture on Inauguration Day when he was told at 11:30am that his services were no longer needed. Bidens aides had reportedly called the White House on Wednesday, saying the incoming president planned to bring in someone else to take over his role. Harleth was personally chosen by Melania Trump to act as chief White House usher in 2017. At the time, then-First Lady Melania said he was selected because of his impressive work history and management skills. Harleths duties primarily included overseeing budgets, planning the familys dinner menus and handling any personal issues. His salary was estimated to be around the $200,000 mark. While the job is traditionally considered non-political, the Times noted Melanias decision to hire a Trump Organization employee added a partisan implication to Harleth's tenure. For an awkward but fleeting period of around 10 seconds, Biden stares puzzlingly at the door before turning back to shoot a confused look at his approaching family members. Eventually the doors swing open, though its unclear whether Jill and Joe were forced to open them themselves, or whether someone on the inside did Harleth (right) was reportedly personally chosen by Melania Trump to act as chief White House usher in 2017, when she was first lady. He was the former rooms manager of the Trump International Hotel in Washington After Election Day, Harleth found himself in the increasingly difficult position of attempting to prepare the White House for a new tenant while the current occupant was still refusing to concede the race. Former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows reportedly became angered at Harleth for attempting to send briefing books about the residence to the Biden transition team after he was confirmed to be the winner. In a statement to the Times, Harleth said: It has been an honor to serve as chief usher, a position whose loyalty is not to a specific president, but rather to the institution of the presidency. I am proud that I had the opportunity to lead the residence staff to receive the incoming first family with the utmost respect and dignity, not just for this administration, but for the future success of the office of the president. Its currently unclear who Jill Biden will appoint to replace Harleth. A number of his deputy chief ushers have remained in their positions under the new administration. While the incident involving the front doors was only fleeting, it apparently did not go unnoticed among former White House workers. There was a protocol breach when the front doors were not held open for the first family as they arrived at the North Portico, Lea Berman, White House secretary for George W. Bush told the Times. Former White House curator Betty Monkman added: The delay in opening the door did puzzle me a bit. Christian human rights organization ChinaAid hailed the United States for its declaration of the China Communist Party's actions on the Uyghurs last Tuesday. According to ChinaAid, the U.S. calling China's actions against Uyghurs as genocide would be most helpful in their advocacy to fight for minorities in China and in calling other countries to follow suit. "For too many years, advocacy groups have raised the plight of the Uyghur people at the hands of the CCP with the world standing idly by. Now that the news pointing to an ethnic cleansing and genocide has become overwhelmingly clear, the world must confront, challenge, and check the Chinese Communist Party," ChinaAid President Dr. Bob Fu said in a statement. "We not only welcome this timely, critical designation, we urge other countries committed to religious freedom and rule of law as well as the United Nations to follow suit in action; to develop and employ similar legal determinations," he declared. "Moving forward in 2021 to create a vital coordinated effort to bring justice and accountability to the situation, ChinaAid vows to continue working with our partners to advance religious freedom for Uyghurs-for all in China." ChinaAid, as per their website, "endeavors to expose the systematic persecution, harassment, torture and imprisonment of Chinese Christians and human rights lawyers in China." They expose abuses, encourage the abused and equip leaders to defend their faith, too in line with their mission to "promote religious freedom for all." Since 2009, ChinaAid has been holding demonstrations advocating for the Uyghurs who have been subject to "severe abuse" from the Chinese Communist Party together with Turkic Muslims from the Xinjiang Province. "The horrific human rights abuse the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) rigorously commits against Uyghurs and other Turkic Muslims in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region manifests in mass arbitrary detentions, forced sterilizations, torture, and an intricate forced labor system," their website said. "The designation serves as a crucial step to push back against the CCP's sadistic campaign against religions. As Uyghurs, a predominantly Muslim group, have been suffering severe abuse by a growing police state, authorities hold an estimated one to three million Uyghurs in 'reeducation camps'," it added. As per ChinaAid, genocide actually "occur in mass arbitrary detentions, forced sterilizations, torture, and an intricate forced labor system" in China for reasons that are so minimal. ChinaAid identified that the "reasons for detentions revealed in leaked documents include actions as simple as growing a beard, wearing a veil, or having a home with a "dense religious atmosphere." Based in Texas, ChinaAid releases an Annual Persecution Report along with a Chinese Law and Religion Monitor as part of its mission of exposing abuses in China. Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo declared China's atrocities as genocide when he released the "Determination of the Secretary of State on Atrocities in Xinjiang" on his last day of office. Pompeo based his determination on "available facts" their department have gathered over the years, which are separate from the report released by Britain a week earlier. The British Conservative Party Human Rights Commission actually released a report based on a four-year research. Entitled, "The Darkness Deepens: The Crackdown On Human Rights In China 2016-2020,", the Commission identified that "between one and three million Uyghur Muslims have been detained in concentration camps" and a whole lot more received abuses of various types including forced organ donation. Early camera comparisons of the iPhone 12 Pro Max and Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra are out. Heres how the big flagships from Samsung and Apple fare against each other. Both Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra and the iPhone 12 Pro Max come with a pretty (or not?) fancy camera setup. iPhone 12 Pro Max boasts a LiDAR sensor for accurate 3D scans, Apple ProRAW, and a big camera sensor, thanks to its sensor-shift optical image stabilization. While the S21 Ultra features a 108MP primary camera sensor and two telephoto lenses. Arun divided his camera comparison into 10 sets of categories consisting of camera features, the phones zoom capabilities, and others. S21 Ultra beat the iPhone 12 Pro Max when it came to more camera features, with S21 featuring 8K video recording, super steady video recording among others. But, the S21 Ultra absolutely crushed iPhone 12 Pro in the zoom capability test. Apple jumped from a pretty middle of the line mediocre night mode camera, to the very top. Without fail, the fundamental of a night mode shot, like the texture, detail, the iPhone is winning. All in all, Samsungs beast won MrWhoseTheBoss heart and this camera comparison went to the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra. The Tech Chaps video also revolved around the same set of categories as Arun Mainis. Both were blown away by the zoom capabilities on the S21 Ultra. iPhone has, more or less, been known for keeping the image as close to the real-world colors. But it seems like the tables have turned. The Tech Chap believes that Samsung has beaten Apple at its own game, even though it doesnt look good every single time. On the contrary, Tom believes that Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra does a better job at handling the dynamic range in night mode photos. Despite liking the dynamic range of the S21 Ultras camera, Tom says that hell pick iPhones photos over the Samsung ones because of it being more brighter. It seems like that even though Samsung has brought in many camera features with the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra, the iPhone still beats it at the fundamentals point and shot, video recording, night mode, and portrait mode. Check out some of the videos here: We Want to Hear From You What are your thoughts on the camera comparison? Do you like the iPhone 12 Pro Maxs camera, or are you team Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra? Which phone are you planning to get? Do let us know in the comment section below! Brattleboro, VT (05301) Today Cloudy with showers. High 57F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 60%.. Tonight Rain. Low 43F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near an inch. KENT COUNTY, MI A West Michigan school district where 50% of students have opted for online-only learning amid the coronavirus pandemic is getting help addressing the challenges of virtual teaching from Michigan State University. Godfrey-Lee Public Schools in Wyoming is involved in a pilot project with MSUs College of Education that launched this fall to provide elementary teachers with resources and strategies on how to effectively lead a virtual classroom. The partnership has allowed Godfrey-Lee teachers to get their footing with virtual teaching this year, said Superintendent Kevin Polston. If you told me a year ago that 50% of our kids would be learning virtually, I wouldve told you youre crazy because we just didnt have a virtual platform or virtual curriculum for elementary students, Polston said. But (this partnership) gave our virtual teachers strategies to engage students, which is exactly what our teachers were asking for. Godfrey-Lee teachers get continuous access to MSU education faculty and graduate students through the partnership. The elementary teachers can ask questions about how to effectively teach students remotely and get direct feedback from university educators. The two groups held virtual discussions at the start of the school year to share what specific challenges Godfrey-Lee teachers needed help with, and MSU educators went from there to tailor already-existing online resources and learning modules to fit the elementary teachers needs. Its really, truly a partnership, said MSU educational psychology professor Aman Yadav, who is leading the partnership with Godfrey-Lee. Its not just us coming in and saying, Heres the resources we have, use it, but first understanding what the needs of the teachers in the district are, and then developing a professional learning program for them. Teaching classes remotely has been one of the many hurdles educators have faced this fall, as teachers have had to juggle building connections with students through a computer screen while also assessing how much learning was lost during the spring when Michigan schools were forced to close because of COVID-19. Those challenges have been especially true at Godfrey-Lee, where there is an average of about 40 students in each elementary virtual classroom. Sometimes in the midst of what youre doing it feels like youre building the plane while youre flying it, and Id say that was true for us this year, Polston said. The district put larger numbers of students in virtual classrooms this year in an effort to keep in-person classrooms small and mitigate large gatherings. But thats only exacerbated the challenges that virtual teachers have faced amid the pandemic. One of the biggest challenges for teachers this year is student engagement, Polston said. Many teachers have struggled with getting students to interact with them during synchronous virtual classes. In our (virtual) classrooms, its not unusual for kids not to have their cameras on and imagine as a teacher looking at a screen of black boxes that represent your students, Polston said. Its just fundamentally different. Elementary teachers have also struggled with student assessment during remote classes. Teaching students to read over a virtual platform just isnt the same as sitting down next to a child and listening to them read and assessing them, Polston explained. Yadav and his team listened carefully to those needs, and created resources tailored specifically to Godfrey-Lee teachers. Its allowed our teachers to get their footing, having a resource that they could count on, but then having a person that could go to ask questions and get clarity and get support, Polston said. MSU used Google Classroom to provide resources and support to Godfrey-Lee teachers, which was helpful because it was a platform teachers were already familiar with, said Addie Rose, director of technology and information services at Godfrey-Lee. The teachers use Google Classroom with their students, but now our staff are actually using the platform as a student, which I think is really powerful because they can see kind of the other side of how Google Classroom works, Rose said. Yadav and Polston already had a good working relationship with one another prior to this partnership because Godfrey-Lee and MSU had previously collaborated on a computer science education program. So, when Yadav received $210,000 in funding from MSUs Provost Office to find a Michigan elementary school to assist with remote learning, he knew who to turn to. The demographics of Godfrey-Lee Public Schools was another reason why the district was selected for the partnership. The school district of around 1,800 students has one of the largest populations of Hispanic students in the state, with 50% of students identified as English language learners. Yadav said he wants to expand the pilot partnership to help more than just elementary-level teachers, and also include other Michigan school districts next year. But he also wants any potential partnerships with other schools to be just as tailored and individualized as it is with Godfrey-Lee. We have a good model that weve developed to support teachers to teach remotely, Yadav said. But we just dont want it to be one-size-fits-all. We would want to do the same process of asking what the schools teachers need and use technology in ways that support their teachers. The partnership with Godfrey-Lee will last through at least the end of the year, Yadav said. Polston said although the pilot partnership is just for elementary teachers, many secondary teachers at Godfrey-Lee have recently expressed interest in getting the same assistance from MSU. Overall, the partnership has shown how Michigan public education institutions at the K-12 and college levels can benefit from working together during the pandemic, Polston said. Its a win-win, he said. Our students in K-12 benefit, and it provides meaningful experiences for staff and graduate students at our colleges and universities. To help you navigate this complicated school year, were pleased to offer you a simpler way to get all of your education news: Our new Michigan Schools: Education in the COVID Era newsletter delivered right to your inbox. To receive this newsletter, simply click here to sign up. More on MLive: Grand Rapids welcomes students for in-person classes after months online-only Michigan school districts ranked by median family income: See states richest, poorest districts Grand Rapids area hit by wave of school superintendent retirements amid COVID-19 Republican Sen. Tom Cotton criticized Pres. Joe Biden's executive orders on Wednesday accusing him of putting American workers last. Pres. Biden's Executive Orders Pres. Joe Biden signed and issued not more than 17 executive orders on Wednesday as he entered the White House as the country's 46th president. The executive orders focused on immigration, climate change, and other reversals of Pres. Donald Trump's executive actions. In a recent Latin Post article, it said Pres. Joe Biden sent a new Immigration Bill in the House to help around 11 million illegal immigrants in the country get citizenship. The proposed bill will let illegal immigrants have temporary legal status, which means that they can work and live in the country. Pres. Biden also ordered the Department of Homeland Security to pause some deportations in 100 days starting Jan. 22 to give the agency time to review its enforcement policies. These two directives from Biden are included in the executive orders he signed and issued during his inauguration. His administration is serious about putting changes in the country's immigration policy, in contrast to the previous administration that limits the entry of foreign individuals. Related article: Biden Administration Orders DHS to Pause Deportation for 100 Days Sen. Tom Cotton Criticized the Executive Orders Republican Sen. Tom Cotton criticized the executive orders of Pres. Joe Biden. He accused the president of putting American workers last in terms of getting the jobs in the country. According to a published report of The Blaze, Sen. Cotton noted that the executive orders were detrimental to the United States. Sen. Cotton said: "The president preached unity from the inaugural stand and then in the Oval Office he signed executive orders on immigration that would stop construction of the border wall and give work permits to millions of illegal immigrants in our country, putting American workers last, putting foreigners first." The Republican Senator also criticized Pres. Biden for revoking the Keystone XL Pipeline permit since it will prevent around 60,000 jobs from being created and lead to thousands of job losses that will add to the number of unemployed persons. Sen. Cotton continued and said the permit was revoked simply because the Democratic Party disfavors those kinds of jobs. He added that Biden's decision to end the travel ban in countries like Syria is a manifestation that they want to reverse everything that Trump ordered regardless of its impact. Sen. Cotton asserted that the new administration should ensure that these people are not a threat to the country and do not carry the coronavirus. Read also: Pathway to Citizenship: Biden Sends Immigration Bill to Congress for 11 Million Illegal Migrants Sen. Cotton's View on $1.3 Trillion Stimulus Package One of the main goals of Pres. Joe Biden is to deliver a $1.3 trillion stimulus package to millions of struggling Americans. It could happen because the Democratic Party has full control of Congress and Vice Pres. Kamala Harris could break the tie in the Senate, giving favor to Biden's agenda. However, Sen. Cotton said: "I don't think we should move forward with a huge budget that would really just fulfill a lot of longstanding Democratic wishes, not specifically address the needs the American people have because of this once in a century pandemic." Sen. Cotton further stressed that there is a need for bipartisan support in the planned $1.3 trillion stimulus package, adding that Democrats would have difficulty letting the Republican Party members support and sign the bill. Ciudad Juarez: Dozens of asylum seekers crowded the US port of entry in the Mexican border city of Ciudad Juarez on Thursday (AEDT) after US President Joe Biden began his term in office by reversing many of his predecessors hardline immigration policies. Some Cuban and Central American asylum seekers flocked to entry points, many carrying their belongings, hoping to end their waits in dangerous border towns where migrants can face extortion, kidnapping, and rape. I came to the bridge to turn myself in because Im Cuban and I want to pursue a political asylum case in the United States, said Angel Alejandro Segreo, 27. A man looks through the first wall at Friendship Park, near where the border separating Tijuana, Mexico, and San Diego meets the Pacific Ocean in Tijuana. Credit:AP This time, Segreo and other first-time asylum seekers were turned away because of a public health order implemented in March 2020 at the outset of the coronavirus pandemic that allows US border agents to expel most border crossers for public health reasons. An Tenonde Pora Indigenous woman gets a shot of China's Sinovac CoronaVac vaccine for COVID-19 in Tenonde Pora village, on the outskirts of Sao Paulo, Brazil, Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021. (AP Photo/Marcelo Chello) Brazil's health ministry announced Thursday that a shipment of 2 million doses of coronavirus vaccine is coming from India, a report coming as public health experts sound the alarm over insufficient supply in South America's biggest nation. The vaccine, developed by AstraZeneca and the University of Oxford, will clear customs in Sao Paulo on Friday before being flown to Rio de Janeiro, where Brazil's state-run Fiocruz Institute is based, the ministry said. Fiocruz has a partnership with AstraZeneca and Oxford for the vaccine's distribution and production. A flight from India planned for last week was delayed, derailing the federal government's plan to begin immunization with the AstraZeneca shot. Instead, vaccination began using the CoronaVac shot in Sao Paulo, where the state's Butantan Institute has a deal with Chinese biopharmaceutical company Sinovac. Neither Fiocruz nor Butantan have received the technology from their partners to produce vaccines domestically, and instead must import the active ingredient. The announcement of the 2 million doses from India comes as increasingly vocal Brazilian experts express concern about the influx of raw materials from Asia needed to produce vaccines for the nation of 210 million people. "Counting doses from Butantan and those from India, there isn't enough vaccine and there is no certainty about when Brazil will have more, or how much," Mario Scheffer, professor of preventive medicine at the University of Sao Paulo, told The Associated Press. "It will interfere with our capacity in the near-term to reach collective immunity." Health workers prepare doses of the COVID-19 vaccine produced by China's Sinovac Biotech Ltd., during the start of the vaccination plan on indigenous lands at the Ticuna de Umariacu village health post in Tabatinga, Amazonas state, Brazil, Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2021. (AP Photo/Andre Borges) The Indian Embassy in Brasilia didn't immediately respond to a request for comment about the announced shipment nor the cause for last week's delay. Butantan made available 6 million CoronaVac doses it imported from China in order to kick off Brazil's immunization, and it used materials imported from China to bottle an additional 4.8 million shots. The health regulator must approve use of the latter batch before it can be distributed to states and municipalities across Brazil. Scheffer estimated in a report he published Jan. 18 that the government will need 10 million doses just to cover front-line health workers, leaving the elderly and other at-risk Brazilians included in priority groups without any vaccines. The government's own immunization plan doesn't specify how many Brazilians are included in priority groups. Brazil has recorded 212,000 deaths related to COVID-19, the second-highest total in the world after the United States, and infections and deaths surging again. A woman of the Ticuna Indigenous group gets her shot of the COVID-19 vaccine produced by China's Sinovac Biotech Ltd, during the start of the vaccination plan on indigenous lands at the Ticuna de Umariacu village health post in Tabatinga, Amazonas state, Brazil, Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2021. (AP Photo/Andre Borges) While Brazil has a proud history of decades of immunization campaigns, in this pandemic it has struggled to cobble together a complete plan and suffered multiple logistical pitfalls. "The vaccination plan is badly done, in general," said Domingos Alves, adjunct professor of social medicine at the University of Sao Paulo. "It's important that the information be transparent and clear for the population to know how this vaccination process will be done." There has been some speculation on social media that diplomatic snafusnamely those stemming from allies of Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro who criticized the Chinese governmentmight explain the delay behind getting the required inputs. Oliver Stuenkel, an international relations professor at the Getulio Vargas Foundation, a university, told AP that such a reading is overly simplistic amid heightened global demand. A woman of the Ticuna Indigenous group gets her shot of the COVID-19 vaccine produced by China's Sinovac Biotech Ltd, during the start of the vaccination plan on indigenous lands at the Ticuna de Umariacu village health post in Tabatinga, Amazonas state, Brazil, Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2021. (AP Photo/Andre Borges) "Of course, since Bolsonaro isn't on good terms with the Chinese government, he doesn't really have the direct access," Stuenkel said from Sao Paulo. "There is a chance that the bad relationship does wind up putting Brazil further down the line of recipients, but not because the Chinese are saying actively, 'Let's punish Brazil,' but perhaps because other presidents have a better relationship." The newspaper Folha de S.Paulo reported Wednesday that Brazilian Health Minister Eduardo Pazuello met with China's ambassador in Brasilia and that Bolsonaro had requested a call with China's Xi Jinping. Filipe Martins, an adviser to Bolsonaro on international relations, said in a television interview the same day that Brazil is seeking suppliers from other countries. "Negotiations are well advanced," Martins told RedeTV!. He added that there is "a big fuss over nothing." Lawmakers including House Speaker Rodrigo Maia and the president of the Brazil-China parliamentary group, Sen. Roberto Rocha, also met with the Chinese ambassador. Tenonde Pora Indigenous people wait to get a shot of China's Sinovac CoronaVac vaccine for COVID-19 in Tenonde Pora village, on the outskirts of Sao Paulo, Brazil, Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021. (AP Photo/Marcelo Chello) Jose Pereira Lima gets his shot of the COVID-19 vaccine produced by China's Sinovac Biotech Ltd., during the start of the vaccination in elderly people who live in public shelters, in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2021. (AP Photo/Marcelo Chello) Butantan had planned to supply Brazil's Health Ministry with 46 million doses by April. It is awaiting the import of 5,400 liters of the active ingredient before the end of the month to make about 5.5 million doses, and new shipments from China depend on authorization from the Chinese government, according to a statement from its press office. Fiocruz had initially scheduled the delivery of 100 million doses to begin in February and 110 million more in the second half of the year. As of Dec. 30, its plan was down to delivering 30 million doses by the end of February, but the first delivery has been postponed to March, the institute told AP. "Brazil doesn't have vaccines available for its population," Margareth Dalcolmo, a prominent pulmonologist who has treated COVID-19 patients throughout the pandemic, said at an event in Rio this week while receiving an award. "That's absolutely unjustifiable. There nothing, no explanation that could justify that." Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. After news broke Thursday night that some 15,000 Guard troops had been abruptly relocated from the U.S. Capitol complex to a chilly garage to spend their break time, outraged lawmakers protested -- and the decision was reversed. "Unreal. I can't believe that the same brave servicemembers we've been asking to protect our Capitol and our Constitution these last two weeks would be unceremoniously ordered to vacate the building," Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., wrote on Twitter around 9 p.m. "I am demanding answers ASAP. They can use my office." Duckworth, a retired Army National Guard lieutenant colonel who lost both legs when her helicopter was hit by enemy fire in Iraq, followed up an hour later to say that she had made calls and been told U.S. Capitol Police -- who made the call to relocate the break area for troops to a single-bathroom garage -- had apologized to Guard members and allowed them to return to the building. "I meant ASAP when I said it," she wrote. She later confirmed she had received assurances from the Guard commander that the troops were vacating the garage, and the last service member would leave the area around 11:30 p.m. "Troops are now all out of the garage," Duckworth tweeted after midnight. "Now I can go to bed." Video obtained by the Washington Post shows hundreds of Guard members marching out of the parking deck. National Guard source sends this along -- guardsmen departing the parking garage in D.C. tonight, after an outcry over them getting bumped out of rest breaks in the Capitol building. pic.twitter.com/oidnLIGFUx Dan Lamothe (@DanLamothe) January 22, 2021 Duckworth wasn't the only member of Congress to raise the alarm. Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., the House minority leader, called on House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., to answer for why the troops had been moved. "Why are American troops who are tasked with keeping security at the Capitol being forced to sleep in a parking lot?" he wrote on Twitter and Facebook. "They deserve to be treated with respect, and we deserve answers." In a statement released around 1 a.m. Thursday, D.C. National Guard officials confirmed the move. "The National Guard continues to assist and support the U.S. Capitol Police. As Congress was in session and increased foot traffic and business was being conducted, Capitol Police asked the troops to move their rest area. They were temporarily relocated to the Thurgood Marshall Judicial Center garage that has heat and restroom facilities," the statement said. " ... Brig. Gen. Janeen Birckhead, Inauguration Task Force Commander confirms that troops are out of the garage and back into the Capitol building as authorized by the USCP Watch Commander and the troops will take their breaks near Emancipation Hall going forward." While the 26,000 Guard members deployed to Washington D.C. to ensure security for the inauguration have access to more creature comforts than they would have in a foreign war zone, some decried the perceived hypocrisy of being hailed as heroes and then treated as a nuisance the next day. "Yesterday dozens of senators and congressmen walked down our lines taking photos, shaking our hands and thanking us for our service," one Guard member told Politico. "Within 24 hours, they had no further use for us and banished us to the corner of a parking garage. We feel incredibly betrayed." Following the Jan. 6 breach of the Capitol by a pro-Trump mob, Wednesday's inauguration was uneventful, with fences erected in a wide perimeter and thousands of Guard troops standing post around the city. Officials have said thousands of the rapidly deployed troops could begin departing the city as soon as Saturday, although they continue to work with law enforcement officials to meet tasking requirements. -- Matthew Cox contributed. -- Hope Hodge Seck can be reached at hope.seck@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @HopeSeck. The municipality is in talks with several U.S. and European vaccine producers. Kyiv Mayor Vitaliy Klitschko says the capital city is ready to buy COVID-19 vaccines for 500,000 residents at the expense of municipal budget funds. "I use all my foreign contacts to provide Kyiv residents with a vaccine. It is about purchasing one million doses for 500,000 residents. As of today the city's authorities have preliminary agreements with some producers," he said during an online briefing on Friday, an UNIAN correspondent reported. Klitschko clarified the local authorities were in talks with several U.S. and European companies producing vaccines against the coronavirus. According to the mayor, the capital city has prepared infrastructure for vaccination: there is equipment for storing vaccines, vaccination rooms, while specialists will undergo the relevant training. Read alsoKyiv mayor reports 507 new COVID-19 cases, 14 fatalities in past day"The capital city is ready to buy the vaccine at the expense of the city budget, as Ukraine hasn't received any of the vaccines yet. And Kyiv is a multimillion city where the virus has been spreading at the fastest pace. We must prevent the spread of the disease. First of all, protect the most vulnerable categories of the population. Doctors who rescue patients today, elderly people, social workers, educational workers, critical municipal infrastructure specialists transport workers, housing and utilities sector's specialists, law enforcers, rescuers, etc.," Klitschko said. According to him, vaccination will be free for such categories. "The city will purchase vaccines from producers. The vaccine to be bought by the municipality will be free for certain categories of people I have just mentioned," Klitschko said. He said he would submit a draft decision on Friday, January 22, to amend the Health of Kyiv residents program for 2021 for consideration by members of Kyiv City Council. This will allow procurements of the vaccines at the expense of municipal budget funds, as well as vaccinating the said categories of people. "We must urgently take this decision so as not to delay the payment as soon as the contract is signed, so that Kyiv will get the vaccine as soon as possible," the mayor added. More news reports Reporting by UNIAN The We Need Diverse Books Walter Awards Judging Committee has selected the winners and honorees for the sixth Walter Dean Myers Awards for Outstanding Childrens Literature. One Winner and two Honor Books in each category (Teen and Younger Readers) have been named. The winner in the Teen category is Punching the Air by Ibi Zoboi and Yusef Salaam, illus. by Omar T. Pasha. The winner in the Younger Reader category is When Stars Are Scattered by Victoria Jamieson and Omar Mohamed, color by Iman Geddy. The two Honorees in the Teen category are We Are Not Free by Traci Chee and Almost American Girl by Robin Ha. The two Honorees in the Younger Readers category are King and the Dragonflies by Kacen Callender and Everything Sad Is Untrue by Daniel Nayeri. The awards commemorate Myerss literary legacy, as well as the diversity in childrens literature. For more information, click here. The award ceremony, emceed by Laurie Halse Anderson, will take place as part of WNDBs sixth annual symposium on diversity in childrens literature, titled Listening, Learning, Creating Communities, co-hosted by the Library of Congress. The event will be moderated by librarian and educator Deborah D. Taylor, and will include panelists Kacen Callender, Traci Chee, Robin Ha, and Daniel Nayeri. The event will be held virtually on the Librarys Facebook page and its YouTube site on Friday, March 12 at 1 p.m. ET. Boris Johnson's vaccine strategy was mired in confusion today amid claims that supplies to areas that have been the quickest to inoculate the most vulnerable will be diverted to slower areas to allow them to catch up. Britain's Covid vaccine minister Nadhim Zahawi this morning denied reports that jabs are being diverted from the fasted parts of the North to areas lagging behind in the over-80s rollout, in order to even out a postcode lottery. It came after a Labour MP that the region was being punished for reaching the most elderly Britons so far. But this afternoon No 10 refused to deny that supplies could be redistributed. Asked to rule out cutting supplies to the best-performing area the Prime Minister's official spokesman would only say that the system had to be 'fair across the UK'. Britain's coronavirus vaccine rollout hit the rate of 250 jabs a minute on Wednesday, with a record 360,000 jabs dished out in 24 hours. If the NHS drive can continue at the same speed, the UK will achieve its target of inoculating 13.9million of the most vulnerable people by mid-February. Yorkshire and the North East are leading the race after getting first doses to 64 per cent of over-80s, followed by the North West at 60 per cent and South West at 57 per cent. The Health Service Journal reported that ministers would divert vaccine supplies from areas leading the race to regions lagging behind. The publication reported that GPs in both the North East and Yorkshire would only receive half of their usual vaccine supply - around 100,000 instead of 200,000. Asked to comment on the report today, the No10 spokesman said: 'We will continue to ensure that all areas and regions of the UK receive the vaccine to ensure we can protect the most vulnerable in society. 'I would point to what Matt Hancock said yesterday where he said we have got to make sure vaccination is fair across the UK and some parts of the country, including parts of the North East and Yorkshire, have gone fast early on. 'He also said why we're putting more vaccine into areas that haven't made as much progress, so everyone in the top four groups can receive the offer of a vaccine by February 15. 'We've always said that we will prioritise those first four cohorts, which is why we set the mid-February target. 'But it remains the case that areas of the UK will continue to receive doses of the vaccine.' Vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi (left) blasted claims supplies were being diverted after Jon Trickett (right), Labour's MP for Hemsworth, West Yorkshire, accused Number 10 of 'punishing' Yorkshire for its rapid vaccination drive. Jonathan Van-Tam's mother gets Covid jab The 79-year-old mother of England's deputy chief medical officer has had her coronavirus vaccination. Professor Jonathan Van-Tam has previously spoken about encouraging his mother, Elizabeth Van-Tam, to be ready to receive the vaccine when she got the call. Prof Van-Tam, who said his mother calls him 'Jonny', said he had told her it was 'really important' to get the jab 'because you are so at risk'. She had her vaccination on Thursday at a GP surgery in Whittlesey, six miles east of Peterborough, Cambridgeshire. Ms Van-Tam, who turned 79 this month, said afterwards: 'I was really happy to get my Covid-19 vaccine. '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.' Ms Van-Tam pictured getting her vaccine Advertisement However, his comments appeared to be slightly at odds with those of vaccines minister Mr Zahawi. 'Yorkshire's allocation this week is 13 per cent,' he tweeted. 'Next week it is 13 per cent. 'We have less vaccine because supply remains a challenge. Yorkshire as I said to local BBC tonight will get its allocation to be able to meet the target of offering the most vulnerable by mid-February.' He issued the stark rebuttal after Jon Trickett, Labour's MP for Hemsworth, West Yorkshire, accused Number 10 of 'punishing' Yorkshire for its rapid vaccination drive. 'Why do we have to be held back? I don't get it,' Mr Trickett told the Yorkshire Post. 'Once again, the North has excelled and once again the North is being punished for problems in the South.' It came after Health Secretary Matt Hancock this week admitted supplies of the only two approved jabs were being prioritised to areas lagging behind in the roll-out. Mr Trickett added: 'I don't believe we're that far ahead. There are patches within Yorkshire that will have fallen behind and this will mean they fall even further behind.' Official figures reveal that across England 56 per cent of all over-80s have received their first does of the coronavirus vaccine. But London is lagging behind with 48 per cent - or 150,000 - of its elderly residents vaccinated, alongside the East of England at 51 per cent and the South East at 55 per cent. England has steamed ahead of Northern Ireland - where 44 per cent of over-80s have got their first dose, Wales, at 24 per cent, and Scotland trailing at 13 per cent. Mr Hancock said this week that vaccine supplies would be diverted to areas struggling to keep pace with the operation. Stocks are thought to have initially been distributed by GP networks, rather than the number of people. This means that surgeries with fewer patients have been able to vaccinate a higher proportion while those with more - typically in London - have got fewer jabs per patient. Revealing Britain's postcode lottery, official figures showed medics in Cumbria and the North East have handed out 10 times more vaccines than those in Shropshire, the figures show. And 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. 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. It comes after experts said yesterday the UK would not achieve herd immunity because it wouldn't be able to vaccinate 82 per cent of its population - the threshold they said was required to stop the disease from spreading. The scientists from the University of East Anglia (UEA) said vaccine hesitancy and the decision not to offer jabs to under-18s would only bring the UK's R value - the rate at which the virus spreads - to 1.3, meaning the virus would continue to spread. They found only if everyone received Pfizer's jab could herd immunity be achieved - which studies suggest is more effective than Oxford's - but only if teenagers were also inoculated. The jab is currently only approved for over-16s. 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. Professor Matt Keeling, an epidemiologist from the University of Warwick, said: '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'. Monastic order founded by United Methodist pastor seeing growth amid pandemic Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment An ecumenical monastic order founded a few years ago with the aim of creating a space for contemplative life and fellowship for clergy and laity is seeing growth even with the pandemic restricting their activities. The Order of St. Patrick, which was founded in 2015 by a United Methodist Church pastor and has a membership of 40, is continuing to grow as it presently is holding classes for 23 Novitiates, or those experiencing a call to monastic life. Pastor Matthew Scraper, founder and abbot of the Order, told The Christian Post that their current class of 23 novitiates is about twice the size of their previous class, most of whom took the vows to join the Order last year. We dont open the application process until the fall, but were already starting to get emails about the next membership class, he said. And so, I expect we will probably have quite a few applicants from what I am seeing now. Named after the patron saint of Ireland, the Order assumes attributes from early Celtic Christianity and the influences it had on monastic and devotional life in overall Christianity. Scraper told CP that it was technically the relaunching of an earlier order founded in 1979 by his father, a retired United Methodist minister. It was originally founded as a secularly cloistered order for clergy and lay contemplatives, Scraper added. The two parts of that being that it is an order not intended to be cloistered within a monastery. One of our ethics is that our cloister is our local church or our local community of faith. Also, something that is within the Christian tradition, but not identified with a particular denomination. And we have continued to maintain that ethic as we reconstituted it. In addition to being nondenominational and not based in a monastery, the Order also does not require members to take vows of poverty or celibacy, but gives them as options. It also does not view itself as a partisan or advocacy group. Scraper told CP that the Order begins its novitiate classes in the fall, with those involved having class conversations and being paired with an Anam Cara, which is Old Gaelic for soul friend. Reading materials for the course include Scrapers book, The Mystic Way of Salvation and The Celtic Way of Evangelism by George G. Hunter III, with an Anam Cara picking others as they see fit. When it comes to its influence, Scraper hopes that the Order of St. Patrick will create a space for fellowship of like-minded Christians, lay and clergy to advance the contemplative life. In recent years, many non-Catholic Christian groups have looked toward the monastic model for creating faith communities, with a notable example being the New Monasticism practiced by writers like Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove. In an interview with The Anglican Journal last year, Wilson-Hartgrove explained that he was inspired to pursue the New Monasticism after meeting figures like progressive Christian leader Shane Claiborne. I began to realize that there was actually a longer history of this kind of intentional discipleship, that I had been cut off from, as a Baptist, in the religious orders of the Catholic Church. So I met the Benedictines and began to think about that in terms of a monastic way of life, said Wilson-Hartgrove. I think its critical to the witness of the Church in the 21st century that we have ways of unlearning the habits of a very distorted Gospel and learning to live and be good news in the communities where we are. Teamsters Local 202 President Daniel Kane told striking Hunts Point Produce Market workers Thursday evening that negotiations with the operators had resumed and made it clear the union was prepared to cut a deal that abandoned its own meager demand for a $1-an-hour raise. Following a brutal year that left hundreds of Hunts Point Produce Market workers sick and at least six dead from COVID-19, approximately 1,400 warehouse workers and truck drivers have been fighting for five days for the wage increase. Workers picket at the Hunts Point Market on January 19, 2021 (WSWS Photo) In his remarks Thursday Kane effectively dropped the demand for a dollar raise. Make no mistake, the prize is that contract that we have grown to know all of our lives, Kane said. A victory to us is keeping our contract and getting a better raise than they tried to force down our throats and keeping our union moving forward. He continued, More people see you got more than your 32 cents because you struggled, theyre going to go, maybe I can do that, he continued. Please believe me, its more important than a little nickel here or a nickel there, its what you did. For the Teamster executive, whether a worker gets a nickel here or a nickel there is of little concern as long as the union apparatus protects its own financial interests. The son of a highly paid Teamsters International vice president, Kane pocketed at least $214,190 last year, nearly six times the income of a striking worker, who average $37,000 a year, roughly the poverty threshold for a family of four in one of the most expensive cities in the world. As for Teamsters President James P. Hoffa, he got $409,000, more than 10 times what a Hunts Point worker earns with his back-breaking labor. Kane hailed the return to bargaining on Wednesday with the companies as a victory in and of itself, despite the employers claiming they never intended to stop negotiations. As of this writing, the union has not announced a tentative deal yet. Striking workers who talked to the WSWS expect an agreement could come as early as Friday morning. Workers must stop this betrayal. A rank-and-file strike committee, elected democratically by workers themselves, must take the conduct of the strike and negotiations out of the hands of the Teamsters and fight for the expansion of the struggle throughout the city and beyond. Workers should demand a 40 percent wage increase to make up for more than a decade of falling real wages, along with fully funded health care benefits and immediate vaccinations. The move by the union to accept whatever rotten deal it can get and shut down the strike stems from a fear of igniting a broader movement of workers. The social tensions that have built up over the past year, on top of decades of soaring social inequality, threaten to disrupt the grip not just of the unions but of the entire Democratic Party, including the incoming Biden administration. Mass anger is boiling over in the city, which has lost 26,000 people during the pandemic even as the stock market, fueled by the government bailout of Wall Street, has skyrocketed. This has increased the net worth of the citys billionaires, including Michael Bloomberg, JP Morgans Jamie Dimon and Donald Trump, by $81 billion to $600 billion. Over the last decade, Teamsters Local 202 has accepted one concession after another, including a two-tier wage system, with new hires paid $2 less an hour, and a $20 weekly health care contribution. In 2015 and 2018, the union accepted minuscule increases that left workers further behind as rent, food and transportation costs continued to rise. The Teamsters were prepared to accept another sellout contract. But this time, workers rejected the lie that there was no money and said, No! The stand taken by the Hunts Point workers has inspired millions of workers in New York City and beyond who identify with the struggle of these essential workers for dignity and equality. A crew of CSX train operators refused to cross the picket line for a haul of goods to the produce market Wednesday. Workers also succeeded in turning away truck deliveries, despite the NYPD-backed strikebreaking operation. A Manhattan educator tweeted, The #HuntsPointStrike is a big deal. The NYPD has assaulted striking workers and arrested them a few nights ago. The second they got released, they went straight back to the picket line! Rank-and-file action is the only fix to this suppression, he added. As a public school teacher, I know how little the union leadership cares about working class issues, but I hope rank-and-file members show some solidarity. Health care workers have also turned up in support. A group of residents at Montefiore Hospital in the Bronx joined the picket line Thursday. Lisa, a self-described low-paid nurse in the Bronx, told the WSWS, Our struggle in the working class is the base of society here in US and around the world. It is us that are the organic movers and shakers. She joined with the New York Educators Rank-and-File Safety Committee in supporting a resolution calling for the broadest possible mobilization in a common struggle with Hunts Point strikers. We must prepare for general strike to win! Redistribution of wealth is absolutely necessary, she said. Mayor de Blasio is also forcing teachers and students back into the schools, with the assistance of the United Federation of Teachers union, even though there have been more than 4,000 new cases since schools reopened at the beginning of the month. Periklis Spanos, a New York City school bus driver, told the WSWS, The Teamsters are trying to betray the workers like the Amalgamated Transit Union did to our school bus strike in 2013. Me and my fellow bus strikers ended up paying for the strike with less pay and benefits. Then in future contracts, the way the pattern has been the union will agree to a little less each contract, so the workers are ending up with actually less. Small actions do not work. Instead of isolated actions, like it was for school buses, Spectrum, even GM autoworkers, we need collective action for the Hunts Point strikers. The union does not do this. I am supporting the Educators Rank-and-File Safety Committee that says the ranks must organize this themselves, form committees to fight for the numbers to get a general strike. All workers should be for joining this because all workers are facing the same problems. For school bus drivers and all workers, such a strike is also a safety measure to get shut down for the pandemic until it is safe. The demand of a strike should be for enough money for all who should stay home in the pandemic to afford this. The unions are opposed to such a fight and have deliberately isolated the struggle. United Food and Commercial Workers Local 359 has not even called out hundreds of its union members at the Hunts Point Cooperative Meat Market and New Fulton Fish Market, let alone grocery store workers across the city. The trade union executives are trying to strangle the strike because they fear it can become a catalyst for a broader movement of the working class, which would quickly develop into a direct conflict not only with de Blasio and Governor Cuomo but the incoming Biden administration. That is why they have brought a parade of Democrats, including Congresswoman and Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) member Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, to the picket lines. These are not the friends of striking workers but of Mayor Bill de Blasio, who deployed his cops to arrest striking workers. 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 expand the strike. The committee should call for collective action by the working class throughout the city to demand living wages and genuine protection for essential workers, along with the closure of schools and nonessential businesses, with full income protection for workers and small businesses, until the pandemic is under control. Preparations must be made for a political general strike to win these demands and for a vast redistribution of wealth to guarantee vaccinations for all and an expansion of public health measures. The most basic principle of this fight is that the measures needed to address the immense public health, economic and social crisis must be based, not on what the billionaires and corporate-controlled politicians claim they can afford, but on what is necessary for workers and society as a whole, not the profits of the rich. To find out more about rank-and-file committees and to join the fight to build new organizations of working class struggle, contact us today. Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-21 23:12:05|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close 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. Produced by Xinhua Global Service The cold hard stare of Lenin penetrating the icy air is the only thing youll come across the vast frozen landscape in this part of Antarctica for hundreds of miles. His plastic bust was left here, erected on the roof of a research station, by the members of the Third Soviet Antarctic Expedition. Today, it is the only visible part of the now defunct station. The rest is buried in snow. The Third Soviet Antarctic Expedition arrived at this remote location on 14 December 1958. This place is called the pole of inaccessibility because it is the farthest point on the Antarctic continent, in any direction, from the surrounding seas, and hence is far more remote and difficult to reach than the geographic South Pole. Reaching the pole of inaccessibility was an express objective of the Third Soviet Antarctic Expedition. The worlds loneliest statue: Lenins bust at the Pole of Inaccessibility Station in 2008. Photo credit: Stein Tronstad / Norwegian Polar Institute The expedition was organized as part of the International Geophysical Yeara period lasting from mid-1957 to the end of 1958during which scientific interchange between East and West was encouraged. In reality, it was another opportunity for America and Russia to outdo each other in the Cold War. Just months before, the Americans had established the AmundsenScott Station at the South Pole, and the Russians decided that they would respond by being the first to reach the southern pole of inaccessibilitythe Antarctics most remote pointand build a research station there. In December 1958, just before close of the International Geophysical Year, a team of 18 men set out for the pole of inaccessibility, dragging tractor-trailers loaded with equipment and prefabricated buildings behind them. After reaching their destination on 14 December, the men began building a small station that included a hut for four people, a radio shack, two 65-foot radio antenna towers and a set of meteorological instruments. A plastic bust of Lenin was erected on top of the hut, pointing towards Moscow. The station was initially provisioned with food and fuel supplies for 6 months, but the team soon realized that the station was too remote for permanent use. After only 12 days, an aircraft landed on a makeshift airfield near the station and picked up four researchers, while the rest evacuated by sled. The station saw no visitors for the next six years until January 1964, when the Ninth Soviet Antarctic Expedition visited the site on their return trip. The following year, an American team reached the station and found it well stocked with supplies, as well as cigarettes and matches. The Americans stayed there for less than a week taking measurements, but before they left they, in an act of mischief, rotated the bust of Leninwhich originally faced towards Moscow so that it now faced Washington DC. The Russians returned to the site for one last time in 1967. The next visit wasnt until 2007, forty years later, when a British team became the first to reach the Pole of Inaccessibility Station without mechanical support. The buried building and the lonely bust, along with a plaque commemorating the conquest of the Pole of Inaccessibility by Soviet Antarctic explorers, is now a designated historic monument. Photo credit: Cookson69/Wikimedia A team of Norwegian and U.S. explorers pose before the Lenin bust while on an expedition to the South Pole in 2007-08. Photo credit: traverse.npolar.no The hut as it appeared in 1965 before it got buried in snow. Photo credit: Olav Orheim The interior of the hut as seen by the American team of 1965. Photo credit: Olav Orheim The interior of the hut as seen by the American team of 1965. Photo credit: Olav Orheim is stepping up its engagement with Myanmar, with Watanabe Hideo, chairman of the Japan- Association (JMA) and a former member of the House of Councilors of being the latest visitor to arrive at Naypyidaw. The Irrawaddy newspaper reported that Watanabe met State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi, Defence chief General Min Aung Hlaing and senior officials on his two-day visit earlier this week. Discussions included Japanese investment as well as improving defence relations. Naypyidaw is keen to expand Japanese aid for socio-economic development, particularly in the education and health sectors. is increasing efforts to pull away from Chinese clutches. It is supporting Suu Kyi's party, the League for Democracy (NLD), in an effort to develop democracy in the country. Japan has tried to ensure that some of the warring communities in the ethnically diverse country were not disenfranchised during the recently held elections. It is also negotiating peace between the Myanmar Army, called the Tatmadaw, and the Arakan Army (AA) insurgents. Japan is well poised to discuss Myanmar's internal issues with its top leadership as the country enjoys trust of both the main actors in Myanmar - the still powerful army as well as the new political dispensation. Watanabe himself has been in regular touch with the military regime through his frequent travels to Myanmar even before democracy was restored by the generals. Visitors from Japan are not rare in Naypyidaw. In December 2020, Yohei Sasakawa, special envoy of the government of Japan for reconciliation in Myanmar, and the chairman of the Nippon Foundation visited the country twice in quick succession. Sasakawa met both Suu Kyi and General Min Hlaing. He was the one who had successfully brokered a ceasefire between the AA and the Myanmar Army to ensure that elections went off smoothly and all people had equal representation. For the first time in two years the AA and the Myanmar military saw a ceasefire since fighting broke out in 2018. Japan recently agreed to a Myanmarese proposal to develop its troubled Dawei Special Economic Zone (SEZ). Once fully developed, the 200-km region would be South-East Asia's largest industrial complex. The Dawei SEZ ran into trouble as the Thai company developing it pulled out of the project in 2013. Soon after this, Myanmar requested Japan to fund the strategically located SEZ. The $8 billion Dawei SEZ project is on the Andaman Sea and connects the Gulf of Thailand by road. It links the Indian Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and also joins South Asia to South-East Asia. Japan's involvement here could mean a spur to its own vision of creating the Japan Mekong Southern Economic Corridor, which aims to connect Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand to southern Myanmar. Japanese Ambassador to Myanmar Ichiro Maruyama told The Irrawaddy in an exclusive interview in November 2020 that Japan has decided to invest in the project, both for developing the deep-sea port as well as the SEZ. Meanwhile, numerous Chinese firms have shown interest in the project but Myanmar remains lukewarm to those proposals. Besides the Dawei SEZ, where Japan has shown interest, it is developing the Thilawa SEZ also. Talking about Myanmar-Japan relations, India's premier think tank, the Observer Foundation said: "While Chinese presence has been domineering, the presence of Japan has the potential for surpassing the former." The article adds that Japan had been supporting the military government with humanitarian assistance in return for bringing out positive changes. That connect continues with Suu Kyi's democratically elected government. Japan is making sustained efforts to keep Myanmar out of China's reach with a holistic strategy. Quoting the Myanmarese government, The Irrawaddy says that "Japan invested more than $60 million in 2016-2017, $384 million in 2017-2018, $176 million in 2018-2019 and $768 million in 2019-2020". Japan is infusing money into Myanmar through various projects. Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) too is putting in aid in almost every field from education to tourism. India is working on a similar strategy. Through its multi-pronged approach, New Delhi and Naypyidaw have developed a trustworthy bond in a short time. On Thursday, Myanmar became one of the first group of friendly neighbours to have received the Covid-19 vaccines from India, within days of New Delhi launching its own mass vaccination programme. India's reach out covers humanitarian development, defence procurement and joint military exercises. The Myanmar Navy is operating its first submarine, courtesy India. It is jointly patrolling the border with Indian forces to ensure that militant activities are curbed. More and more Myanmarese defence personnel are undergoing training in India. The Indian army chief as well as the navy chief made separate visits to Myanmar in 2020 while General Min Hlaing had visited India mid-2019. The two countries are also working on a number of development projects, with the Kaladan project getting a contribution of $484 million from India. Through this project India not only seeks to boost connectivity to its North-East but also plans to ensure that the local people in Myanmar are benefited through jobs and better infrastructure. As Myanmar opens up to the outside world through its fledgling democracy, countries like India and Japan are reciprocating in equal measure. For India, Myanmar falls not just in its 'Neighbourhood First' strategy but also in its 'Act East' policy, while Japan funds development projects and brokers peace with India's neighbour. (This content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com) --IANS indianarrative/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.) Jim Shulman, a Pittsfield native living in Ohio, is the author of Berkshire Memories: A Baby Boomer Looks Back at Growing Up in Pittsfield. If you have a memory of a Berkshire baby-boom landmark, business or event youd like to share or read about, please write Jim at jesjmskali@aol.com. We do not admit any liability as part of the settlements but believe the resolution of these cases is in the best interests of our company and our shareholders, Tyson spokesman Gary Mickelson said in an email. 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 Archdiocese of San Antonio held a Friday morning mass to mark the 48th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the landmark ruling which ended a Texas ban on abortion and legalized it across the nation, which local church officials called a "tragedy." Archbishop Gustavo Garcia-Siller held the morning mass to pray "for life" online, the archdiocese website says. RELATED: San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg 'hopeful' on Biden Inauguration Day "Pray with him during the Holy Hour of Adoration that he will be leading immediately after for the commemoration of the tragedy of Roe v. Wade," online details say. Garcia-Siller continued on Twitter. "We pray for the legal protection of the unborn children. We pray also for mothers and fathers. We dont pick and choose what lives are endowed with dignity. We respect all," he tweeted. "To respect each other...starts in the womb." The San Antonio archdiocese serves nearly 800,000 Catholics according to the website. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, which Garcia-Siller is a part of, also rebuked abortion in a statement on the inauguration of President Joe Biden. USCCB President and Los Angeles Archbishop, Jose Gomez said he is looking forward to working with Biden, who is only the second Catholic president in U.S. history, but noted his stance on abortion. Biden supports Roe v. Wade and his administration is committed to codifying Roe v. Wade, according to White House news release marking the anniversary. "So, 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," Gomez wrote. "Of deep concern is the liberty of the Church and the freedom of believers to live according to their consciences." For his part, Gov. Greg Abbott, who imposed a temporary ban on abortion access during the early months of the pandemic, which led to an increase of risky second trimester abortions for Texas women, will participate in the Texas Rally for Life with Texas Values this Saturday. The in-person event at the Texas Capitol in Austin will be a caravan. There will also be an online livestream beginning at 2. Madalyn Mendoza covers news and puro pop culture for MySA.com | mmendoza@mysa.com | @maddyskye In One Chinese City, Students Forced out as Schools Get Converted Into Quarantine Centers As the CCP virus outbreak worsens in Xingtai city, Hebei Province in northern China, some schools have been converted into makeshift quarantine centers, where authorities usually isolate close contacts of confirmed COVID-19 patients. They are monitored for their health condition in case they develop COVID-19 symptoms. Having run out of room in local hotels, authorities have begun using schools as isolation centers, instructing teachers and students to clear out of the space. But in one case, a local boarding school for students aged 12 to 18 initially refused to let out students whose families were not permanent residents of the area. They were corralled into several classrooms and not allowed to leave the roomsdrawing complaints from worried parents. Fengyi Middle School is a large private school with four dorm buildings. The total staff and student population is more than 10,000. Most of the students come from Nangong, a county-level municipality under Xingtai, and other neighboring counties. The Epoch Times learned from parents and relatives of students at Fengyi Middle School that those who did not have residency in Nangong were made to stay on campus as authorities began placing people into isolation there on Jan. 10. One parent confirmed that students were told to leave their dorms so that people in need of quarantine could be relocated there. A resident of Xingtai who has a teenager relative studying at the school told the Chinese-language Epoch Times what happened. The non-local students were placed into designated classrooms. They had to spend the night there. Due to the limited space, many had to go to sleep by sitting up, the Xingtai resident said. A video uploaded onto social media showed a large, messy classroom packed with young teens. Suitcases, quilts, and pillows were placed throughout the classroom. Parents were worried that their children were at risk due to the presence of suspected virus carriers who were being quarantined in the school. On Jan. 11, a staffer at the Nangong education bureau told Chinese online news outlet Ouer Zhiyu that all schools in Xingtai city were being converted into quarantine centers. About three days later, the non-local students were finally allowed to go home, parents said. Another online video showed the people being quarantined at the Fengyi Middle School. During mealtime, people fought to get in line first. The facility only had one public toilet available. A mother surnamed Zhang was forcibly isolated there with her baby. She told Ouer Zhiyu: Ive been here for two days and have had five meals. But four of them were cold. Another woman, who was being quarantined there with her 3-year-old child, described her experience in a post on a government website that receives complaints from citizens. She said her home was initially sealed off and padlocked while they were self-isolating. Then, she suddenly received an emergency notice requesting her to move to Fengyi Middle School. After we came, however, what we saw here frightened us. People move freely as they like, and staff do nothing to prevent them. Yesterday, my child was crying all day long, and didnt eat anything. Cant imagine how we can survive here. Oh, my government leaders, this isnt quarantine! This is leading my child and me to destruction, the mother complained. Friday, January 22, 2021 Last week we mentioned HB5078, a ban on standard size magazines. Next Monday the Senate Law & Justice Committee will have a hearing for that bill. Pease go to https://app.leg.wa.gov/CSIRemote/Senate and Select Law & Justice under the committee button, then 1/25 under the meetings button and youll see 5078 listed as the third Bill that will be heard on Monday. Then select Type of Testimony. Please be certain to _at the least_ select I would like my position noted for the Legislative record and then choose Con from the dropdown (you must fill out the form with your contact information). The other choices are I would like to submit written testimony and I would like to testify live during the hearing read at the link, below the list of choices, and registration -ends- one hour before the hearing begins. Written testimony must be in 24 hours in advance. Its a good idea to work up testimony in advance with friends or when you have time to give it a little thought. Please be courteous and concise, youre acting as an ambassador for your civil right to keep and bear arms and all your friends in that community. More notes on this below. After youve made those choices for HB5078 go back to the CSIRemote/Senate link and choose the Law & Justice Committee for 1/26 and then bill SB5038 Open Carry, with the same three choices on how you contribute (pro/con, written testimony, or live) as above. It is critically important that as many Washingtonians as possible oppose these bills before next week, this weekend gives you time to sort out a few words to say and get your input into the website. Some thoughts to consider on each: SB5078 Ban on so called high capacity magazines: Modern firearms are sold with magazines of 10 rounds and more. AR sporting rifles, and high capacity handguns have outsold most other types for decades. These are commonly owned firearms, and the magazines the bill would ban are the most commonly owned magazines for them, distributed with them by their manufacturers. Hundreds of thousands are in the hands of law abiding Washington Firearms Owners (we have nearly 630,000 Concealed Pistol licenses alone, issued in our state, severely impacted by law enforcements office restrictions for covid19). No purpose is served by banning them, while they have been used in crime theres no reason at all to think that less crime would happen if they somehow disappeared. A ban would be an obvious infringement on gun owners right under article 1 section 24 of the Washington Constitution. Discuss with friends, there are nearly as many bad features to the bill as there are sentences in it, youll probably want to save a copy of what you write, we may face this again. SB5037 Prohibiting the open carry of certain weapons at public demonstrations and the state capitol will be heard in Senate Law & Justice on Tuesday 1/26. 5037 is another whopper, the original document can be read at the bill page https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=5038&Year=2021&Initiative=false under original bill (any bill can be viewed by replacing 5038 in that URL with the bill number). One issue with the bill is just how it limits open carry; Demonstration 29 includes, but is not limited to, a march, rally, vigil, sit-in, or 30 picketing. Picture 1,000 feet in a local city, youre walking on 1st avenue with your handgun outside the belt for whatever reason and, one block over a group of people are staging a sit in youre not even aware of. Should you have to leave your route simply because an officer tells you to? Its hard to tell whether this is more a violation of your right to assembly or to keep and bear arms. But either way its not likely to make anyone any safer and the 1,000 foot ban is only one of many problems with it. Politely ask committee members to oppose and bill sponsors ( Kuderer, Das, Carlyle, Darneille, Dhingra, Hunt, Liias, Lovelett, Nguyen, Pedersen, Rolfes, Saldana, Salomon, Wellman, Wilson, C., all linked at the bill page) to withdraw their support of this unconstitutional bill. As always if you have any questions or thoughts please let me know at boyd@liberty.seanet.com, mention wa alert in your subject line. VALLEY FORGE, Pa., Jan. 22, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Vanguard today announced that based on preliminary voting results at today's shareholder meeting, which was held virtually, Vanguard fund shareholders approved a proposal for a fund merger and a change in diversification status of five funds. "We are grateful to all of our shareholders who voted on these important proposals," said Tim Buckley, Vanguard Chairman and CEO. "The proxy ties directly to Vanguard's mission of giving every investor the best chance for investment success, and we believe the approval of the changes strengthens our ability to deliver superior investment outcomes by enabling us to manage these funds more efficiently and effectively." The approved proposals are summarized below. Vanguard U.S. Value Fund merger Shareholders of the $1.1 billion Vanguard U.S. Value Fund approved a proposal to merge the fund into the $96.9 billion Vanguard Value Index Fund. Introduced in 1992, Vanguard Value Index Fund is a broadly diversified, large-capitalization U.S. value index portfolio. The merged fund will retain the current expense ratio of 0.05% -- a decrease of 0.17% for existing Vanguard U.S. Value Fund shareholders. Vanguard Value Index Fund's investment objective, benchmark, strategies, policies, and overall portfolio management process will not change. The merger is scheduled to be completed on or about February 5, 2021. Change in diversification status for five Vanguard funds Shareholders also approved a proposal to change the diversification status of five Vanguard funds (Vanguard Health Care Fund, Vanguard Energy Fund, Vanguard U.S. Growth Fund, Vanguard Variable Insurance Funds - Growth Portfolio, and Vanguard Variable Insurance Funds - Real Estate Index Portfolio) from "diversified" to "non-diversified" as defined by the Investment Company Act of 1940. This change affords the funds' investment advisors greater flexibility to manage their respective mandates, while not materially altering the funds' characteristics. The change of diversification status to non-diversified for the five funds is scheduled to become effective on or about January 26, 2021. About Vanguard Vanguard is one of the world's largest investment management companies. As of December 31, 2020, Vanguard managed $7.1 trillion in global assets. The firm, headquartered in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, offers more than 423 funds to its more than 30 million investors worldwide. For more information, visit vanguard.com. Asset figures as of December 31, 2020 unless otherwise noted. All investing is subject to risk, including the possible loss of the money you invest. Diversification does not ensure a profit or protect against a loss. For more information about Vanguard funds, visit institutional.vanguard.com or call 800-523-7064 to obtain a prospectus or, if available, a summary prospectus. Investment objectives, risks, charges, expenses, and other important information about a fund are contained in the prospectus; read and consider it carefully before investing. Vanguard Marketing Corporation, Distributor. SOURCE Vanguard Schools cannot risk reopening due to continued high levels of Covid-19, the HSE Chief Clinical Officer has said this Friday January 22. Primary and secondary schools are closed since before Christmas with classes online, but were scheduled to reopen on February 1. However speaking on RTE's Morning Ireland, Dr Colm Henry said that transmission levels are still "frankly far too high". He said that it is tragic to be talking about school closures again because of what children experienced during the first lockdown. Transmission levels are now ten times what they were in early December. Dr Henry said this needs to reduce to a much lower level "before we can add to additional risk by the mixing of crowds at school settings". Regarding children with additional needs who are much more vulnerable to school closures, he said "our hope is there would be priority given to certain elements of the education sector". The country is still in a "precarious position" with "extraordinary levels" of infection, with on average over 2,500 new cases per day in the last five days. "Those cases have yet to become sick, some will require hospitalisation, some unfortunately will require intensive care and some unfortunately will die," the HSE Chief Clinical Officer said. Dr Henry noted the severe pressure on hospital staff caring for very sick patients. 66% of the patients currently in intensive care in Ireland have Covid-19. Tandav Row: U.P. Police Probing The Case Summon Director Ali Abbas Zafar To Record Statement In Lucknow 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. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Ali Abbas Zafar (@aliabbaszafar) "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 Zafar's 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. She split with boyfriend Ben Affleck on Monday via phone. And on Thursday, Ana de Armas finally posted to Instagram after her break up news - showcasing her two little loves - her dogs Elvis and Salsa sticking their faces out of her car. The 32-year-old movie star captioned the cute black and white video with twin hearts. So cute: She split with boyfriend Ben Affleck on Monday via phone. And on Thursday, Ana de Armas finally posted to Instagram after her break up news - showcasing her two little loves - her dogs Elvis and Salsa sticking their faces out of her car Salsa and Elvis were looking outside as the wind blew on their face during a drive with mom Ana; the actress kept a close eye on her fur babies with her rear view mirror. Despite Ana and Ben's 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. The 32-year-old movie star captioned the cute black and white video with twin hearts The latest: Despite Ana and Ben's romantic relationship ending - with the actress being the person calling it quits - the former flames 'still talk regularly,' People 's source reported; seen together July 1, 2020 in Venice Beach Ana didn't want to live full time in Los Angeles - which is Ben's homebase because of of his kids and ex-wife Jennifer Garner. She ended things over the phone, with location playing a factor. 'Their relationship was complicated. Ana doesn't want to be Los Angeles-based, and Ben, 48, obviously has to since his kids in Los Angeles. Ana loves to travel and is 'young and adventurous,' the source explained. 'When she is not working, she wants to travel. She doesn't want to settle down in Los Angeles.' Ben, who was raised in Massachusetts since he was three, is heading to the state to shoot a movie called The Tender Bar for Amazon, with George Clooney directing it. 'Everyone is excited to have Ben aboard. He seems perfect for the role,' People's source reported. 'George really wanted to work with Ben on this adaptation,' the magazine's insider added. Ben and Ana met on the set of Deep Water, which will be released this summer. What happened: Ana didn't want to live full time in Los Angeles - which is Ben's homebase because of of his kids and ex-wife Jennifer Garner; seen June 30, 2020 in Venice During filming, the source told the magazine that 'their physical chemistry was so intense on set. It's all anyone could talk about.' But the pair did not take their relationship to a romantic level until early 2020, which resulted in them hunkering down together at Affleck's Pacific Palisades mansion in March due to COVID-19 lockdown. In recent months it was also rumored that Ana had listed her Venice abode to move into Ben's lavish home, thus marking another major step in their seemingly love-filled relationship. Right after the couple's split made news on Monday, January 18, 2020, someone was seen trashing a life-sized, cardboard cut-out of the Knives Out actress in the garbage bins outside Ben's home. A source told People on Tuesday that Ben has 'been upset about the split' and that he 'really wanted their relationship to work.' On Tuesday, Ben was spotted looking worse for wear as she exited his home to collect his contactless coffee order from Dunkin Donuts. Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. This item is available in full to subscribers. Attention subscribers We have recently launched a new and improved website. To continue reading, you will need to either log into your subscriber account, or purchase a new subscription. If you are a digital subscriber with an active subscription, then you already have an account here. Just reset your password if you've not yet logged in to your account on this new site. If you are a current print subscriber, you can set up a free website account by clicking here. Otherwise, click here to view your options for subscribing. YEREVAN, JANUARY 22, ARMENPRESS. Artak Beglaryan, Chief of the Presidential Staff of the Artsakh Republic, received the Head of the Stepanakert Office of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Mission Bertrand Lamon, the Artsakh Presidential Office told Armenpress. Artak Beglaryan, considering the involvement of the ICRC mission in overcoming some of the existing humanitarian challenges as productive, was particularly interested in the ICRC's efforts to return the captives and find out the fate of the missing in action. Artak Beglaryan highlighted the important role of the organization in solving these vital problems. He stressed the imperative of comprehensive, active and practical pressure on Azerbaijan by the international community, taking into account the gross violations of international humanitarian law by that country even after the end of hostilities. Bertrand Lamon presented the ongoing and planned work of the ICRC mission in Artsakh, emphasizing their readiness to support state institutions in resolving various humanitarian issues and developing local capacities. The parties exchanged views on various issues on the cooperation agenda, reaching concrete agreements. They mutually highlighted the coordinated efforts in solving the existing humanitarian issues. As the spring of Zoom settled into the summer of Zoom, and then the fall of Zoom, and then the winter of Zoom, a curious thing happened. A certain segment of the American workforcethe people we used to call white-collar, though those shirts probably havent left the closet in a whilecommitted to a life detached from the office. They picked up and moved to a new place. Nowhere has this trend had a greater impact than in the Bay Area, the region whose sky-high housing costs best demonstrated the sacrifices people would make to be in the ZIP code where it happenseven as its firms equipped us all to abandon the constraints of geography. Advertisement In theory, new work-from-home-forever policies at companies like Twitter and Facebook meant technologists could go anywhere, provided they could find video-speed internet. Even Silicon Valley companies indulged in some wanderlust. Palantir is now headed for Denver, while HP and Oracle are setting up in Austin, Texas, alongside Tesla and SpaceX chief Elon Musk. Many techies of more regular means have wound up all over the country and the world. Advertisement Advertisement But the loudest contingent is moving to Miami. Miami Mayor Francis Suarez is all in. After the venture capitalist Delian Asparouhov tweeted in December, ok guys hear me out, what if we move silicon valley to miami, the Republican mayor answered back, How can I help? They were the four most powerful words hes ever written, Suarez told National Review. The tweet got 2.3 million impressions, Suarez said later. It was organic, it struck a nervelightning in a bottle. Advertisement How can I help? https://t.co/hIC1k8ka1i Mayor Francis Suarez (@FrancisSuarez) December 5, 2020 Can you feel the energy? Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner, fresh off his role spearheading the Office of American Innovation, are taking their talents to South Beach (before building a home on an exclusive Miami-Dade island known as billionaires bunker). Asparouhovs Founders Fund colleague Peter Thiel bought the old Real World mansion, and Keith Rabois, another Founders Fund partner and a well-known venture capitalist, dropped $29 million on an oceanfront house in Miami Beach. Alexis Ohanian, the co-founder of Reddit better known as Mr. Serena Williams, already lives in South Florida. Shutterstock founder Jon Oringer has bought a $30 million house, too. Advertisement Advertisement Nobody has been louder about Biscayne Bays status as the New Silicon Valley than Rabois. I am like a full service moving agent for Miami, he told the reporter Eric Newcomer. I will go house shopping for people. Maybe this is just a case of Software Americans rebranding the normal life pattern of moving to the Sun Belt at a certain age as their own invention, just as startups have reintroduced fixtures of life like the bus, the tunnel, and the juice machine. But it is also a glimpse of a world where economic development, at the city level, is less focused on firms and more focused on people. One read of the Miami buzz is that the city has always been the kind of amenity-rich place to attract wealthy people who could live anywhere. The weathers good, the foods great, the beach is the beach. And Florida has no income tax. Not rocket science. Advertisement But to truly understand Miamis appeal you must see it specifically in opposition to San Francisco, a place where a certain tier of technology millionaire has felt persecuted in recent years. While some Silicon Valley titans had gotten interested in local government and philanthropyMarc Benioff, Mark Zuckerbergothers had grown increasingly frustrated by, for example, the citys left-wing district attorney declining to prosecute quality-of-life crimes and voters deciding to restrict new office space. Rabois compared his departure to Jews leaving Europe for the newly founded state of Israel after the Holocaust. Its clear he feels hes been through a lot. Advertisement As the venture capitalist and new Miami resident David Blumberg put it, Poor governance at the local level in San Francisco and statewide in California has driven us away. Advertisement Miami Mayor Francis Suarez is making refugee billionaires feel like they matter. Of course one doesnt need to have moved to Miami to complain about open-air heroin use, car break-ins, unruly skaters, street feces, or the homeowner cartel in San Francisco. California politics was also a core beef of the VC and Cali native Joe Lonsdale, who moved to Austin and cited the Golden States problems with public safety, electricity, governance, and housing. Conservatives and libertarians have been crowing about problems in Democrat-controlled California for a decade, though housing prices indicate the state is still very much in demand. But Miami is different from other destinations because Francis Suarez is making refugee billionaires feel like they matter. Entrepreneurs, he told National Review, are sick and tired of dealing with governments that dont appreciate them. Advertisement Suarez is the rarest thing among big-city mayors: a Republican. Watching him interact with CEOs on Twitter, I was reminded of former Texas Gov. Rick Perry, who made waves with his efforts to poach firms from high-tax states like New York and Connecticut. Mayors have largely retreated from this openly pro-growth stance since the Amazon HQ2 debacle. The last 10 years of Big Tech in the Bay have hardly made anyone envious elsewhere. And big-city voters have completely abandoned the unhinged Republican Party, as local and national politics converge. What does big-city Republican policy even look like these days? Watch Miami. In his interview with Newcomer, Rabois gives some insight into what Suarez might be putting on the table. He and his partner are having kids. I went to public schools; Id prefer my kids go to public schools. In San Francisco thats not possible, theres not a public school thats reasonable. I discussed this with the mayor once I got herenot beforeand I think well find some public support for building a science-based, engineering-based curriculum into the public schools. Newcomers gloss on their conversation: Theres definitely an insane level of rich-person hubris that within a month of moving to a new city, youre asking the mayor to change the public school curriculum for your future children. Advertisement The school rating website Niche actually gives San Francisco schools a better rating than those in Miami-Dade County, which are not under Suarezs control in any case. But one must never underestimate the power of innovation. This is Miamis appeal. It is easily the most enticing large U.S. city with a Republican mayor (with apologies to the larger GOP-run cities of Omaha, Mesa, Fresno, Colorado Springs, Fort Worth, and Jacksonville). Advertisement Advertisement Last week, Elon Musk told Suarez on Twitter that his Boring Company could build tunnels underneath Miami in order to solve traffic & be an example to the world. Count me in! the mayor responded. No brainer we would love to be the prototype city. (Never mind that Miamis porous, limestone substrate isnt very tunnel-friendly.) Suarez, the Miami Heralds Connie Ogle writes, is so excited about these Patagonia-clad escapees youd think they were the last ream of plywood at Home Depot during a tropical storm watch. Advertisement Far from a scattering of tech talent to the hills, we are watching the beginning of an experiment in which new, high-profile residents will try to fix in Miami whats wrong in San Francisco. Suarez says he will make sure coding is taught like a second language. He says hell push to liberalize Florida cryptocurrency laws. Miami, then, isnt an opportunity for everyone to go their own way. Its not seasteading, at least not until the king tide washes into those Star Island living rooms. Its a place where big VCs have the earon Twitter and over dinnerof political leaders. At last! Moet Hennessey's Ardbeg Arrrrrrrdbeg limited edition Arrrrrrrdbeg is the single malt brand's first ex-rye cask-aged expression Category - Spirits, whisky, Scotch, Islay, single malt, 51.8% abv Available - From next month Location - Available in the UK, online exclusive Price - SRP of GBP145 (US$198.02) per 70cl bottle Moet Hennessey is releasing a limited-edition bottling from Islay single malt Ardbeg. Arrrrrrrdbeg!, which commemorates the retirement last year of distillery manager Mickey Heads, is a no-age-statemented expression that has been aged in ex-rye casks - a first for Ardbeg. The whisky will be exclusively available to consumers who are members of Ardbeg's online community from 1 February. As part of the launch, consumers have been offered a downloadable pack of pirate props as well as a virtual tasting and Q&A video, available on the brand's website. In August, Colin Gordon, a former Diageo site operations manager for Port Ellen Maltings, succeeded Heads, who will stay on as head of the 'Ardbeg Committee' - a 20-year-old group with 100,000 members that spans 130 countries. The latest bottling follows the September release of Ardbeg's second batch in its Traigh Bhan line. What's coming up in aged spirits in 2021? - Predictions for the Year Ahead A Republican member of Congress on Thursday was prevented from bringing a gun onto the floor of the House of Representatives after new security measures were instituted after the MAGA riot on January 6. House Rep. Andy Harris, a Republican from Maryland, set off the metal detectors near the entrance to the House chamber. When a Capitol Police officer scanned Harris with a metal detector wand, it beeped, indicating that Harris was carrying a gun that was concealed by his suit coat. Police refused to allow Harris to enter and the officer indicated to a nearby security agent that the congressman was armed, according to the Huffington Post. House Rep. Andy Harris, a Republican from Maryland, set off the metal detectors near the entrance to the House chamber as he tried to bring a gun onto the floor on Thursday. He is seen above on December 3 in Washington, DC US Capitol Police are seen above near metal detectors that were installed on January 12 - days after the MAGA riot Rep. Lauren Boebert, who has bragged about her desire to carry her Glock pistol into the Capitol, got into a standoff with Capitol Police on January 12 and wouldn't let them search her bag after she set off the security alarm on Tuesday night before she entered the House floor Harris then tried to get a House colleague, Rep. John Katko, a Republican from New York, to take the gun from him so that he could get to the floor in time to vote. But Katko told Harris that he didnt have a license and refused to hold the weapon for him. Harris was reportedly heard complaining to other members of Congress that his staff failed to remind him about the screenings. He then left the area by taking nearby elevators. A few minutes later, he returned to the House chamber. While walking through security, he placed his cell phone and keys on a desk to the side. This time, the metal detectors were not activated. The new security measures were put in place after supporters of then-President Donald Trump stormed the Capitol. The image above shows Capitol Police with guns drawn watching as rioters try to break into the House chambers on January 6 Harris was allowed to enter the floor of the House, where he and other members voted on granting a waiver that would let retired Army General Lloyd Austin serve as President Joe Bidens defense secretary. It is legal for members of the House to carry a gun in office buildings, in the Capitol, and on Capitol grounds. But they are not permitted to bring guns onto the House floor. Firearms that are brought into the Capitol cannot be loaded as bullets must be carried separately. The new security procedures were announced last week. They were instituted days after the January 6 riot on Capitol Hill that left five people dead and a trail of destruction through the building, including smashed windows, torn papers, and broken furniture. 'Effective immediately, all persons, including Members, are required undergo security screening when entering the House Chamber,' acting House Sergeant at Arms Timothy Blodgett wrote in a memo to lawmakers obtained by DailyMail.com. Lawmakers returned to the House on January 12 to take part in their first votes since the MAGA riots. On that day, most members went through metal detectors, but several Republican lawmakers, including Harris, sidestepped them or refused to allow officers to scan them after setting off the metal detectors. Rep. Lauren Boebert, who has bragged about her desire to carry her Glock pistol into the Capitol, got into a standoff with police and wouldn't let them search her bag after she set off the security alarm. Boebert, who supports QAnon theories and made a name for herself carrying her firearm on the campaign trail, walked through the screening process with her bag, which set off the magnetometer. She refused to hand the bag over to be searched. Capitol Police eventually let her in the House chamber and it appears her bag was not searched before they did so. 'I am legally permitted to carry my firearm in Washington, D.C. and within the Capitol complex,' Boebert tweeted after the incident. House Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, a Republican from Georgia, is seen above going through one of the metal detectors on January 12. Speaker Nancy Pelosi has threatened to fine members who refuse to go through the metal detectors or be scanned According to Huffington Post, three Republican lawmakers - Andy Biggs of Arizona (left); Rick Allen of Georgia (right); and Boebert - refused to be scanned after they set off the magnetometers on Thursday 'Metal detectors outside of the House would not have stopped the violence we saw last week - its just another political stunt by Speaker Pelosi.' Congresswoman Debbie Lasko tweeted: For members of Congress to enter the floor of the U.S. House, we now have to go through intense security measures, on top of the security we already go through. These new provisions include searches and being wanded like criminals. We now live in Pelosis communist America! In response, Capitol Police put desks and velvet ropes on the sides of the metal detectors that would prevent members from walking around the machines. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said she would fine members who bypass the screenings $5,000 for their first offense and $10,000 for their second infraction. The fines are not yet being enforced since they have not been adopted by the House. According to Huffington Post, three Republican lawmakers - Andy Biggs of Arizona; Rick Allen of Georgia; and Boebert - refused to be scanned after they set off the magnetometers on Thursday. A spokesperson for the Capitol Police told Huffington Post that USCP is investigating this matter. When asked if USCP was aware that Harris tried to bring a gun onto the House floor, the spokesperson declined to comment citing an ongoing investigation. Harris, the only Republican lawmaker in Marylands 8-person congressional delegation in the House, is a strong supporter of former President Donald Trump. He supported Trumps claims of rampant voter fraud in the November 3 presidential election even though state and federal courts said there was no merit to the allegations. Samsung Electronics Co. is considering spending more than $10 billion building its most advanced logic chipmaking plant in the U.S., a major investment it hopes will win more American clients and help it catch up with industry leader Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. The world's largest memory chip and smartphone maker is in discussions to locate a facility in Austin, Texas, capable of fabricating chips as advanced as 3 nanometers in the future, people familiar with the matter said. Plans are preliminary and subject to change but for now the aim is to kick off construction this year, install major equipment from 2022, then begin operations as early as 2023, they said. While the investment amount could fluctuate, Samsung's plans would mean upwards of $10 billion to bankroll the project, one of the people said. UGLY BOXES: Streamlined 5G buildout puts 'ground furniture' in Houston front yards Samsung is taking advantage of a concerted U.S. government effort to counter China's rising economic prowess and lure back home some of the advanced manufacturing that over the past decades has gravitated toward Asia. The hope is that such production bases in the U.S. will galvanize local businesses and support American industry and chip design. Intel Corp.'s troubles ramping up on technology and its potential reliance in the future on TSMC and Samsung for at least some of its chipmaking only underscored the extent to which Asian giants have forged ahead in recent years. The envisioned plant will be its first in the U.S. to use extreme ultraviolet lithography, the standard for next-generation silicon, the people said, asking not to be identified talking about internal deliberations. Asked about plans for a U.S. facility, Samsung said in an email no decision has yet been made. "If Samsung really wants to realize its goal to become the top chipmaker by 2030, it needs massive investment in the U.S. to catch up with TSMC," said Greg Roh, senior vice president at HMC Securities. "TSMC is likely to keep making progress in process nodes to 3nm at its Arizona plant and Samsung may do the same. One challenging task is to secure EUV equipment now, when Hynix and Micron are also seeking to purchase the machines." LEAVING CALI: Michael Dell says more tech companies will be moving to Texas If Samsung goes ahead, it would effectively go head-to-head on American soil with TSMC, which is on track to build its own $12 billion chip plant in Arizona by 2024. Samsung is trying to catch TSMC in the so-called foundry business of making chips for the world's corporations -- a particularly pivotal capability given a deepening shortage of semiconductors in recent weeks. Under Samsung family scion Jay Y. Lee, the company has said it wants to be the biggest player in the $400 billion chip industry. It plans to invest $116 billion into its foundry and chip design businesses over the next decade, aiming to catch TSMC by offering chips made using 3-nanometer technology in 2022. It already dominates the market for memory chips and is trying to increase its presence in the more profitable market for logic devices, such as the processors that run smartphones and computers. It already counts Qualcomm Inc. and Nvidia Corp. as customers, companies that historically relied on TSMC exclusively. It has two EUV plants, one near its main chip site in Hwaseong, south of Seoul, and another coming online nearby at Pyeongtaek. To close a deal, Samsung may need time to negotiate potential incentives with the Biden administration. The company has hired people in Washington D.C. to lobby on behalf of the deal and is ready to go ahead with the new administration in place, the people said. Tax benefits and subsidies will ease Samsung's financial burden, but the company may go ahead even without major incentives, one of the people said. Samsung has been looking into overseas chipmaking for years. Intensifying trade tensions between the U.S. and China and now Covid-19 are stoking uncertainty over the reliability and economics of the global supply chain. Plants in the U.S. could help the Korean chipmaker strike better deals with key clients in the U.S., particularly in competition with TSMC. From Microsoft to Amazon.com and Google, the world's largest cloud computing firms are increasingly designing their own silicon, aiming to tailor chips to power their vast datacenters more efficiently. All need manufacturers like TSMC or Samsung to turn their blueprints into reality. Samsung's U.S. branch purchased land in October right next to its existing Austin fab, which is capable of running older processes. The Austin City Council held a meeting in December to discuss Samsung's request to rezone that parcel of land for industrial development, according to meeting minutes. Read more: Samsung Intensifies Chip Wars With Bet It Can Catch TSMC by 2022 Some analysts question Samsung's ability to carve out a significant share of a market dominated by TSMC, which is spending a record $28 billion this year to ensure it remains at the forefront of both technology and sheer capacity. For its part, Samsung's semiconductor division spent $26 billion on capital expenditure in 2020, but that's been largely in support of its dominant memory business and not all of its expertise in making memory is directly relevant to creating advanced logic chips. Processors are more complex to manufacture than memory and their production yields are harder to control and scale up in the same way. Foundry customers also require bespoke solutions, imposing another barrier to rapid expansion and also making Samsung dependent on customers' designs. But the Korean giant can draw confidence from its work with Nvidia, whose chief executive officer has sung Samsung's praises in collaborating on the manufacturing for its latest graphics card silicon. Homicide detectives in Kasarani, Nairobi have opened a probe into the gruesome murder of a woman whose burnt body was found tied to a bed. 34-year-old Margaret Muchemi, a resident of Njiru in Kasarani Sub-County, had reportedly invited her estranged boyfriend to her home to settle out their differences. Muchemis two house-helps, Damaris Nyamusi and Zainab Naila, told K24 Digital that the suspect arrived at the deceaseds home at around 8 am Thursday carrying a backpack. We offered him tea but he said he was okay. All through, he cut a figure of a quiet and disturbed man, said the nannies. After a while, the mother of a four-year-old boy sent the house-helps to buy meat. She told us she would pay via M-Pesa, said Nyamusi, adding: When we reached the butchers shop and ordered meat costing Ksh500, we called our employer and asked her to send the money, but she said she hadnt loaded cash to her M-Pesa wallet. Consequently, we left the meat and returned home. When they arrived home, the nannies said a visibly irritated Muchemi told them she wanted to talk with her boyfriend in private. She then gave us Ksh500 and told us to go buy the meat and hang around until she was ready to have us back in the house. Hours passed by, and we hadnt received a call from her. We called and told her that we were hungry, and wanted to go back home and eat. Muchemi, whose intention was to keep us out longer, sent us money and said we should eat at any nearby restaurant, said Nalia as quoted by K24 Digital. House On Fire While having their dinner, the nannies said neighbours called and informed them that their house was on fire. We rushed home and found smoke billowing from our bosss bedroom. Neighbours had attempted to put out the fire. On accessing our employers room, we found her arms and legs tied to the bed, and her body charred by the flames. Her face was completely destroyed by the fire. Her estranged lover, was nowhere to be seen, said Naila. Nyamusi mentioned that on Wednesday night she overheard her boss talking with her lawyer on phone saying that her (Muchemis) estranged boyfriend was demanding Ksh37,000 which he had lent her. She said the man had threatened to come and collect the money today (Thursday, January 21), added Nyamusi. Police arrived at the scene at 4:30 pm Thursday and collected Muchemis body for preservation at City Mortuary. Kayole OCPD Paul Wambugu said they have since launched a manhunt for the suspect. Nyamusi and Nalia said it was the first time they were meeting their employers estranged boyfriend. What we know is that our boss had separated from her lover months ago, they said. Muchemis landlord, Mark Odete, described the deceased as a joyful and peace-loving woman. The deceased operated a private clinic in Mwiki, Kasarani. AKRON, Ohio Police are investigating after a man was fatally shot Thursday afternoon in the West Akron neighborhood. Officers were called at about 3:15 p.m. to the 1200 block of Park Lane Drive after receiving a report of shots fired. Officers found the 35-year-old male victim on the ground with an apparently gunshot wound. The man was pronounced dead at the scene. The identity of the victim is being withheld until he can be identified and family members notified. Police did not have details Thursday night on what led to the shooting. No suspects have been identified, but the investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information can call Akron detectives at 330-375-2490 or Summit County Crimestoppers at 330-434-COPS. Individuals also can send tips by texting TIPSCO to 274637. Callers can remain anonymous. More crime-related content on cleveland.com: Judge hands down prison sentence to ex-Bedford High School teacher who sexually abused two students Clevelands Mayor Frank Jacksons grandson charged in domestic violence case Cuyahoga County grand jury indicts man accused of cutting Broadview Heights police officer before being shot in pursuit Euclid man smuggled fentanyl into county jail that caused cellmates fatal overdose, prosecutors say Cleveland cop fired for using crack cocaine, failing to report fellow officer who stepped on mans neck during arrest The worlds top insect experts say our planets important insect population is going through a death by a thousand cuts. A new group of studies suggests Earth is losing around 1 to 2 percent of its insects each year. The losses are blamed on climate change, pollution, agriculture, land use changes and chemicals. David Wagner of the University of Connecticut is the lead writer of the 12 studies, which recently appeared in Proceedings of the National Academies of Sciences. The research involved 56 scientists from around the world. The problem, sometimes called the insect apocalypse, is a complex issue. Even scientists say they do not fully understand it. And the complexity of the issue makes it hard to get the public interested in possible solutions. Wagner said scientists need to find out if the levels of insect loss are bigger in comparison to other species. There is some reason to worry more, he added, because they [insects] are the target of attack with insecticides, herbicides and light pollution. Insecticides and herbicides are special kinds of chemicals that can kill insects or plants. May Berenbaum of the University of Illinois helped lead the research. She compared the insect losses to climate change 30 years ago. She said back then, the methods used to measure the degree and rate of climate change effects were difficult. Berenbaum says another issue is that many people simply hate insects. She added that this is true even though the small creatures do a lot of good. They pollinate the worlds foods, get rid of waste and play an important part in the food chain. Insects are the fabric by which Mother Nature and the tree of life are built, Wagner said. Fabric is a kind of woven or knitted material. The term can also mean the basic structure of something. Wagner said two famous insects, honeybees and Monarch butterflies, are good examples of the current problems insects face. Honeybees have been disappearing because of disease, parasites, insecticides, herbicides and lack of food. Drier weather in the U.S. West, driven by climate change, means less milkweed for butterflies to eat, Wagner said. And changes in American agriculture remove weeds and flowers they need for nectar. Were creating a giant biological desert except for soybeans and corn in a giant area of the Midwest, he said. The recent scientific papers do not provide new data. They show a big but incomplete picture of a problem that is starting to get more attention. Scientists have identified 1 million insect species, while up to 4 million more are likely to be discovered, Berenbaum said. Doug Tallamy of the University of Delaware was not part of the studies. But he said the research demonstrates how the world has spent the last 30 years spending billions of dollars finding new ways to kill insects and mere pennies working to preserve them. Pennies are a small amount of money. In an email to the Associated Press, Tallamy said the good news was that people themselves can do a lot to stop insect losses. This is a global problem with a grassroots solution, he wrote. Im John Russell. Seth Borenstein reported on this story for the Associated Press. John Russell adapted it for Learning English. Bryan Lynn was the editor. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story apocalypse n. a great disaster : a sudden and very bad event that causes much fear, loss, or destruction species n. a group of animals or plants that are similar and can produce young animals or plants pollinate v. to give (a plant) pollen from another plant of the same kind so that seeds will be produced food chain n. a series of types of living things in which each one uses the next lower member of the series as a source of food usually used with the parasite n. an animal or plant that lives in or on another animal or plant and gets food or protection from it nectar n. a sweet liquid produced by plants and used by bees in making honey preserve v. to keep (something) in its original state or in good condition grassroots n. the ordinary people in a society or organization : the people who do not have a lot of money and power Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. NEW DELHI : In a strong indication of the much-awaited economic recovery, India power demand recorded a new high of 187.3 gigawatts (GW) on Friday morning. This surpassed the previous all-time high electricity demand of 185.82 GW for the country that was recorded on 20 January (Wednesday). This also comes in the backdrop of Reserve Bank of India January bulletin stating a strengthening economic recovery and comparing the revival to a phoenix-like" rise. Energy consumption, especially that of electricity and refinery products, is usually linked to overall demand in the economy. The Friday record power demand comes in the backdrop of other economic indicators such as refineries, GST collections, and railway freight witnessing a revival. Indias peak demand in FY19 was 168.74GW. A fresh record has been created in power demand breaching the previous record of 1,85,820 MW which was created on 20/01/2021. Today the power demand touched 1,87,300 MW at 10:28 am. This again underscores the growing strength of our economy," power and new and renewable energy minister Raj Kumar Singh said in a tweet. India has an installed power-generation capacity of 373.43GW. Indian economy has been severely hit by the coronavirus pandemic. The country peak electricity demand came down with commercial and industrial power demand taking a hit after many factories shut down. However, domestic consumption, which generates comparatively lower tariffs, went up. Of Indias total electricity demand load pattern, industrial and agricultural consumption accounts for 41.16% and 17.69%, respectively. Commercial electricity consumption accounts for 8.24% of demand. The rapid growth in demand also underscores the benefits of empowering the poor which our Government did under Saubhagya," Singh said in another tweet. Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana, or the Saubhagya scheme has been responsible for universal electrification in the country and funded the cost of last-mile connectivity to willing households'. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. remaining of Thank you for reading! This is your last free article before you will be asked to subscribe. Already have a paid subscription? Sign in Ukraine marks Unity Day on January 22. Ukraine's Ministry of Foreign Affairs says it sees the consolidation of efforts of all Ukrainians as a powerful weapon to counter Russian aggression. "The consolidation of efforts of all Ukrainians is a powerful weapon to defeat [our] common enemy and restore [Ukraine's] territorial integrity," the ministry said in an official statement to mark Ukrainian Unity Day on January 22. "The Act Zluky [Unification Act signed on January 22, 1919] determined the further formation of the Ukrainian political nation and became evidence of the will of the Ukrainians for self-determination and consolidation," the ministry said. "Today, as then, the unification and unity of the Ukrainians remain the fundamental value of Ukrainian statehood. It is these values that Ukraine defends today from Russia's armed aggression," it said. The ministry also says that the unification of Ukrainians around the world and the protection of fellow citizens abroad was and remains one of its priorities because "together we are stronger." Ukrainian Unity Day Ukrainian Unity Day is marked in Ukraine on January 22. It is the day of the proclamation of the Act Zluky ['Unification Act'], which declared reunification into a single, independent country. It was solemnly proclaimed by UNR [the Ukrainian People's Republic] and ZUNR [the West Ukrainian People's Republic] activists at Kyiv's St. Sophia Square on January 22, 1919. Reporting by UNIAN Ben Lambert / Hearst Connecticut Media file HAMDEN A town man was shot in the leg Thursday evening on Putnam Avenue, according to police. Officers responded to the street around 6 p.m., Capt. Ronald Smith said. They found a 30-year-old man, who was wounded in the leg, sitting in a motor vehicle. Advertisement More than 400,000 Britons were vaccinated against coronavirus on Thursday, official figures show, as the NHS drive to inoculate the most vulnerable continues to gather steam. Department of Health figures published today reveal 412,615 jabs were carried out on Thursday, marking the third day in a row the scheme has picked up the pace. The Government is aiming to vaccinate all 15million in the top priority groups - over-70s, NHS staff, vulnerable and care home residents - by mid-February, meaning they will need to get jabs into the arms of 350,000 people a day. But today's figures show the daily target was exceeded, sparking hopes the Government will make good on its promise which will pile pressure on ministers to end the brutal lockdown sooner. Overall, more than 5.3million Britons have been vaccinated against the virus since the scheme began. It comes as it is claimed that No10's top scientific advisers fear the Kent Covid variant that ripped through the UK and prompted England's third lockdown may be deadlier than original strains, and the Government slaps down Tory calls for a 'road map' back to normal life. Downing Street today defied mounting anger from MPs and more evidence the outbreak has peaked, warning the NHS is still under huge pressure and the curbs will only be lifted when it is 'safe. Boris Johnson has pointedly refused to rule out the draconian restrictions lasting into the summer, while ministers seem focused on ramping up border controls and boosting bailouts. But the Prime Minister is coming under massive pressure to lay out an exit timetable, with the 70-strong Covid Recovery Group of Conservative MPs urging the government to start lifting the lockdown no later than March 8 - when vaccines given to the most vulnerable groups should have taken effect. The Government's top scientists predicted today that the R rate - the level of spread of the virus - may have fallen below the critical threshold of 1, in a sign the outbreak may now be shrinking. And separate data showed that symptomatic cases had halved in a fortnight as shutdown measures begin to take effect. Confusion was also sparked over the Government's vaccine strategy today amid claims that supplies to areas that have been quickest to inoculate the most vulnerable will be diverted to slower areas to allow them to catch up. Britain's Covid vaccine minister Nadhim Zahawi today denied the reports, but this afternoon No10 refused to deny that supplies could be redistributed. HOW INTENTION TO TAKE COVID VACCINE RISES WITH AGE Older Britons are more likely to get the Covid vaccine than younger generations, according to data. An Office for National Statistics survey published today revealed almost every adult aged 70 and over (98 per cent) would show up to their appointment. But only eight in 10 of those aged between 16 and 29 said they would be inoculated against the virus. Overall 89 per cent of Britons said they would get the jab. Older people are most at risk of death if they catch the virus, while younger people are more likely to only suffer mild symptoms. The ONS survey also showed only one in 20 Britons, or five per cent, said they were very or fairly unlikely to get the vaccine. And one in 100 respondents said they had already declined the jab, the equivalent of around half a million adults. Among adults who said they were unlikely to take the jab, the most common reason was being worried about potential long-term effects on their health (43 per cent). A similar proportion (42 per cent) were concerned about potential side effects, and 40 per cent said they wanted to wait to see how well the vaccine works. Around a quarter (26 per cent) said they do not think it will be safe. Almost 5,000 Britons were questioned between January 13 and 17 as part of the Opinions and Lifestyle Survey to understand the impact of Covid-19 on society. Advertisement It comes as in another day of coronavirus news: Survey reveals almost every person over 70 would get the coronavirus vaccine but only 81 per cent of 16 to 29-year-olds would get the jab; Ethnic minorities were up to 50 per cent more likely to die from Covid at peak of first wave than white Britons, study finds; Government reportedly begins to finalise plans for travel quarantine where those arriving in the UK may be asked to spend two weeks in a hotel near the airport and wear electronic tags; Government borrowing soared to 34.1billion in December the third highest monthly figure ever; A double-dip recession in Europe is increasingly inevitable because of the pandemic with France among countries seriously hit, say experts; Frontline NHS workers at Covid testing centres are not offered vaccines because they are 'not in close contact' with the virus and have PPE; Scientists warn schools could remain closed until after the Easter holidays; NHS is urged to recognise 'Covid tongue' as a symptom of the virus amid fears many cases are being missed in the early stages; Children did not play a key role in spreading the virus during the first wave of the pandemic and are 'unlikely' to have boosted infection numbers, study finds. Department of Health figures showed England achieved almost 360,000 vaccinations on January 21. Overall it has completed 5.1million jabs including 4.6million first doses and 440,000 second doses. In Wales 21,901 jabs were administered yesterday, official figures reveal. The nation has vaccinated 212,700 people in total, including giving 212,317 first doses and 415 second doses. In Scotland 23,800 jabs were completed bringing its total to 363,143 including 358,000 first doses and 4,600 second doses. And in Northern Ireland almost 7,000 jabs were done on January 21. In total it has completed 173,500 jabs including 150,000 first doses and 22,510 second doses. As the vaccination drive ramped up further today the Prime Minister refused to set out a timeline for getting out of England's third lockdown. It came amid mounting signs that the second wave had already peaked. In a dramatic sign that Britain's outbreak could be flattening out, SAGE today estimated the R rate was between 0.8 and 1. That is down sharply from last week, when it was between 1.2 and 1.3. The number represents how many people an infected individual passes the disease on to, and anything below one means the outbreak is shrinking. Separate data show cases have halved in a fortnight, although a million people were infected, and deaths in London are falling. Mr Johnson is leading a press conference this evening, and is expected to take stock of the situation in the country. But there is little evidence the brutal squeeze will be loosened any time soon, despite grim figures showing business activity has plunged even more than expected during the lockdown this month, leaving the UK looking down the barrel of a double dip recession. The Government borrowed more than 34billion in December - the third highest monthly total ever - as it scrambles to keep millions of jobs and stricken firms afloat while tax revenues dwindle. Instead Cabinet ministers are embroiled in an unseemly squabble over whether to pump up financial support further and toughen rules at UK borders. A leaked plan from Matt Hancock's Department of Health would see everyone who tests positive for coronavirus given 500 in cash to self-isolate. The idea, which could cost half a billion pounds a week, is meant to bolster low levels of compliance - but officials at Rishi Sunak's Treasury branded it 'bonkers', while No10 effectively disowned the proposal, saying the PM had not seen it. NHS URGED TO RECOGNISE 'COVID TONGUE' AS SIGN OF CORONAVIRUS Professor Tim Spector, from King's College London, said he's seeing an increasing number of infected patients with sores on their tongue and unusual mouth ulcers The NHS is being urged to recognise 'Covid tongue' as an official symptom of coronavirus amid fears it is becoming more widespread. Professor Tim Spector, from King's College London, said he's seeing an increasing number of infected patients with sores on their tongue, unusual mouth ulcers and swollen tongues. The epidemiologist, who is monitoring the UK crisis through his Covid symptom tracker app used by millions of Brits, warned one in five sufferers show symptoms the NHS doesn't recognise. Professor Spector warned 20 per cent of infectious people may be slipping through the cracks and continuing to spread the disease because of it. The NHS currently only lists three signs of the infection a fever, continuous cough and loss of smell or taste. It suggests only people with these three symptoms may have Covid-19 and therefore should self-isolate and get tested. This means Britons suffering from the virus' less common symptoms are not getting access to swabs and may be continuing to pass the virus to others. The UK has repeatedly been accused of playing catch up with the rest of the world when it comes to spotting Covid-19 throughout the crisis. In the US, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warns of 11 primary symptoms, including fatigue, body aches, headache, sore throat and shortness of breath but admits the virus can cause an array of other side effects. Advertisement It comes amid confusion over the vaccine strategy today after it was suggested vaccine supplies would be re-routed to areas struggling to keep up with the drive. Britain's Covid vaccine minister Nadhim Zahawi today denied reports that jabs are being diverted from the fasted parts of the North to areas lagging behind in the over-80s rollout, in order to even out a postcode lottery. It came after a Labour MP that the region was being punished for reaching the most elderly Britons so far. But this afternoon No 10 refused to deny that supplies could be redistributed. Asked to rule out cutting supplies to the best-performing area the Prime Minister's official spokesman would only say that the system had to be 'fair across the UK'. Asked to comment on the report today, the No10 spokesman said: 'We will continue to ensure that all areas and regions of the UK receive the vaccine to ensure we can protect the most vulnerable in society. 'I would point to what Matt Hancock said yesterday where he said we have got to make sure vaccination is fair across the UK and some parts of the country, including parts of the North East and Yorkshire, have gone fast early on. 'He also said why we're putting more vaccine into areas that haven't made as much progress, so everyone in the top four groups can receive the offer of a vaccine by February 15. 'We've always said that we will prioritise those first four cohorts, which is why we set the mid-February target. 'But it remains the case that areas of the UK will continue to receive doses of the vaccine.' The comments appear to be slightly at odds with those of vaccines minister Mr Zahawi, who said: ''Yorkshire's allocation this week is 13 per cent,' he tweeted. 'Next week it is 13 per cent. 'We have less vaccine because supply remains a challenge. Yorkshire as I said to local BBC tonight will get its allocation to be able to meet the target of offering the most vulnerable by mid-February.' He issued the stark rebuttal after Jon Trickett, Labour's MP for Hemsworth, West Yorkshire, accused Number 10 of 'punishing' Yorkshire for its rapid vaccination drive. 'Why do we have to be held back? I don't get it,' Mr Trickett told the Yorkshire Post. 'Once again, the North has excelled and once again the North is being punished for problems in the South.' Yorkshire and the North East are leading the race after getting first doses to 64 per cent of over-80s, followed by the North West at 60 per cent and South West at 57 per cent. The Health Service Journal reported that ministers would divert vaccine supplies from areas leading the race to regions lagging behind. The publication reported that GPs in both the North East and Yorkshire would only receive half of their usual vaccine supply - around 100,000 instead of 200,000. Vaccination Programme maintains current jab intervals Vaccinations to protect Island residents from serious illness caused by COVID-19 will continue to be given at 21 and 28 day intervals, in line with the full clinical evidence from the manufacturers. The Islands vaccination programme began on 4 January 2021, with health and care workers given their first dose of the Pfizer vaccine at the Newlands hub at Nobles Hospital, to include the over-80s in subsequent weeks. Vaccination rollout expanded further with the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine on 18 January 2021 administered in the community with care home residents. The second dose of the Pfizer vaccine is planned after a 21 day interval, and after 28 days for the Oxford jab. These intervals were set out in when the medicines regulator authorised the vaccines use and a significant number of second jab appointments have already been booked for Island residents in the top two priority groups, starting next week. The interval between doses has since been reviewed in depth by senior clinicians, scientists and regulators in the UK, who agree that the 21 / 28 day interval for the Pfizer and Oxford vaccines respectively, can safely be extended to up to 12 weeks. The UK Government subsequently changed its approach, extending the timescale for second doses of the vaccine against a backdrop of rising case numbers, severe pressure on hospitals, and deaths. Given the prevalence of the virus in the UK, the UK Government is focusing its resources on providing first dose protection to a greater number of people in the top priority groups more quickly. The option to extend the intervals between first and second jabs has also been comprehensively reviewed and discussed by the Department of Health and Social Care Executive Leadership Team, taking into account the views of senior Island clinicians and those involved in the vaccination board. A wide range of factors has been considered, with a final recommendation based on the current low prevalence of COVID-19 in the Isle of Man, the current risk of transmission, the continuing debate worldwide about the extent of protection one dose of either vaccine provides, and the timing of vaccination supply. A recommendation to retain the status quo was made by DHSC Executive Leadership Team to Minister David Ashford and his four political departmental members who have unanimously approved the policy position. The decision has since been endorsed by the Council of Ministers. Minister Ashford said: The recommendation to maintain the 21 and 28 day intervals between jabs is the best solution for the Isle of Man. There is no clinical reason for us to diverge from that position. It is true we could vaccinate a greater number of people in a shorter period of time if we changed tack, but our circumstances are not the same as those in the UK, where the gravity of the situation requires getting vaccine into the arms of as many people as possible, as quickly as possible. The two doses offer fuller protection and our focus is on delivering them. He added: I acknowledge there are different views on this here as there are in the UK and beyond, and we will continue to keep the matter under close review - and we can of course reconsider our position if the circumstances change and/or further clinical evidence is received. We believe the decision to maintain the current intervals between jabs is the right one for our Island. Current rollout plans based on the delivery schedule of vaccine from the UK should see care home residents and staff, the over-80s and health and care staff having been vaccinated with their first dose by end of February, with the remaining vulnerable groups receiving their first vaccination by May. The focus remains on preventing a surge of demand on hospital and health services and protecting the most vulnerable. ROCK HILL, SC / ACCESSWIRE / January 22, 2021 / With limited time before February 1, 2021, and many IRS/SSA deadlines to meet, business owners and tax professionals alike are feeling the stress right now. TaxBandits is here to help eliminate that stress, by offering an application chocked full of helpful features and the latest technology. There may be many e-file providers on the market, but here are 10 reasons to choose TaxBandits this tax season. Keep all Tax Forms in One Application One of the largest challenges to maintaining IRS compliance is filing and tracking what forms you have filed, need to file, and when they must be filed. TaxBandits is designed to address all of these struggles. TaxBandits supports over 70 IRS Tax Forms that businesses of all sizes must file. With this application, businesses and tax professionals can file and track all these forms from one location. Federal and State Filing TaxBandits supports filing Tax Forms with both the IRS/SSA and state agencies. This helps businesses to maintain compliance with their state as needed. Volume Based Pricing At TaxBandits, pricing is volume-based. The more forms that users file, the more they will save. Our Prepaid Credits offer users the ability to lock in their best pricing, speed up the payment process, and can be used across multiple EINs. Online Access Portal TaxBandits users can allow employees/recipients to access and download their Forms W-2, 1099, and 1095 online. Not only does this feature simplify the distribution process, but it enables employees to securely access their forms at any time, from anywhere. Once the forms are transmitted to the IRS/SSA, recipients will receive an email that instructs them on how to log in to the secure portal. CPA Control Panel Tax Professionals can easily view each client whose information they have added as well as the forms filed for their behalf. From the dashboard, users can view, track, and e-file forms, and manage their clients' secure online access.The control panel makes it possible to manage all clients from one place. TaxBandits offers the workflow management tools that tax professionals need for fast and efficient e-filing. Print and Mail Solutions TaxBandits offers print and postal mailing solutions for recipient copies. USPS validations are implemented to ensure that all recipient copies arrive at a valid location before the deadline. Bulk Upload Options The TaxBandits application is adaptable, small organizations that are able to manually enter information are free to do so. While larger businesses and tax professionals can upload their information in bulk using the template, as there is naturally much more to input. API Integrations As businesses grow, they require more sophisticated workflows, competitive pricing, and the ability to add or adjust features as needed. TaxBandits API is completely customizable and allows for the full integration of the TaxBandits application into your existing software. Multiple User Access IRS compliance is a team effort. Users have the ability to share access to their TaxBandits safely with their team. This is a great tool for teams that are operating remotely as they are able to assign levels of access and responsibilities to their team members, giving them permission to view, edit, and e-file forms. TIN Matching One of the most common errors found on Forms 1099 and W-2 is incorrect TINs, or Taxpayer Identification Numbers. This is easily avoidable with TIN Matching, the TaxBandits application performs these validations to prevent form rejections due to incorrect TINs. When asked to comment on the functionality of the TaxBandits application, the CEO and co-founder, Agie Sundaram stated, "TaxBandits offers advanced features and thoughtfully designed technology that is a great solution for year-end filing. We have been working to perfect this process for a decade, therefore our application supports the needs of businesses of all sizes". SPAN Enterprises, the creator of TaxBandits, is an industry leader of solutions for IRS tax filing and the transportation industry. Located in the heart of downtown Rock Hill, South Carolina, SPAN proves that big ideas can grow in a small town. With Business Management Software such as TruckLogics, Unitwise, and PayWow and several e-filing products like ExpressTruckTax, ExpressIFTA, and ACAwise, SPAN Enterprises is at the forefront of innovative applications. Learn more at http://www.spanenterprises.com. Please direct all media inquiries to Stephanie Glanville, Content Writer, at support@taxbandits.com. SOURCE: TaxBandits View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/625493/10-Reasons-to-E-file-your-Year-end-Tax-Forms-with-TaxBandits Mumbai, Jan 22 : The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday carried out searches at five locations here, including the premises of Viva Group, in connection with its money laundering probe into the PMC Bank scam case, officials said. An ED official said that the agency carried out searches at five premises belonging to Viva Group and its associates. He said the premises included the registered office of Viva Group and residential premise of concerned person of Viva Group in Virar area. He said that searches at one associated office premise of Viva Group in Andheri and two residential premises of two financial consultants of Viva Group in Juhu and Chembur were also carried out. The official said that during the searches, cash to the tune of Rs 73 lakh and incriminating digital and documentary evidences have been recovered. The official said the investigation also revealed that the Wadhawans of HDIL in connivance with Viva Group had diverted more than Rs 160 crore from HDIL to many companies or entities belonging to Viva Group in the garb of commission. The source of these funds diverted from HDIL to Viva group is apparently the illegal fund diversion from the PMC Bank. The ED had registered a case of money laundering on the basis of an FIR registered by Mumbai Police's Economic Offences Wing against Housing Development Infrastructure Ltd (HDIL), its promoter Rakesh Kumar Wadhawan, Sarang Wadhawan, Waryam Singh, the then Chairman and Managing Director of the bank Joy Thomas and others for causing loss to the tune of Rs 4,355 crore to PMC Bank and the corresponding gain to themselves. Earlier this month, the ED had questioned Shiv Sena Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Raut's wife Varsha Raut in connection with the case. Earlier, several properties of Rakesh Kumar Wadhawan, Wadhawan Family Trust and others totalling to Rs 293 crore had been attached and jewellery worth Rs 63 crore was seized. The ED has filed a chargesheet in this case against Rakesh Kumar Wadhawan and others for the offence of money laundering. Prime Minister Scott Morrison has moved to quell the condemnation of his comments about the conditions faced by Australias European settlers, saying there were never meant to be a competing narrative with the hardship encountered by Indigenous Australians. Labor and the Greens slammed his comments on Thursday after Mr Morrison said the circumstances of settlement in 1788 had been difficult for both Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians. Prime Minister Scott Morrison says Australia Day is an occasion to mark the 25 million stories of people across the nation. Credit:Lukas Coch AAP Former Australians of the Year Michael Dodson and Cathy Freeman also took aim at Mr Morrison, with the former calling his comments about Australia Day selfish, saying he was very lightweight when it comes to understanding Australian history. Mr Morrison said on Friday it was false to say he had compared the circumstances when he said January 26 wasnt a particularly flash day for the people on those vessels either. Monday Selling at a Farmer's Market: Virtual event hosted by the UH Bauer College SBDC. 9:30-10:30 a.m. Information: www.sbdc.uh.edu. Foundations for Marketing Analytics: Virtual event hosted by the UH Bauer College SBDC. 10-11 a,m. Information: www.sbdc.uh.edu. Tuesday Greater Houston Partnership 2021 Annual Meeting: Virtual broadcast. Noon-1 p.m. Incoming Chair Amy Chronis, Deloitte Houston managing partner, outlines how the organizations strategic plan, Houston Next, has been reframed to address the greater Houston regions key challenges. Bob Harvey, president and CEO, will examine strategic initiatives to build a strong economy. Outgoing Chair Bobby Tudor, chairman, Tudor, Pickering, Holt & Co. will highlight 2020 accomplishments. Registration: Houston.org/events. Courthouse 102: Online class hosted by Fort Bend County Law Library. 10-11 a.m. Free. Registration: fortbend.lib.tx.us or call 281-341-3718. The Art of Marketing Yourself to Recruiters: Free online class hosted by JS101. 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Registration: JS101.org/workshops. CARES Act PPP Forgiveness Application: Virtual event hosted by the UH Bauer College SBDC. 2-3 p.m. Information: www.sbdc.uh.edu. Wednesday Digital Marketing Clinic: Online Webinar hosted by SCORE. 6-9 p.m. Registration: www.houston.score.org. Marketing in Challenging Times: Virtual event hosted by the UH Bauer College SBDC. 3-4 p.m. Information: www.sbdc.uh.edu. Interviewing in Todays World, Closing the Deal: Free online class hosted by JS101. 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Registration: JS101.org/workshops. Dealing with In-House Recruiters, Best Practices: Free online class hosted by JS101. 1:30-3:30 p.m. Registration: JS101.org/workshops. Thursday Perfecting Your Business Pitch: Online Webinar hosted by SCORE. 11 a.m.-noon. Registration: www.houston.score.org. E-commerce Digital Marketing: Virtual event hosted by the UH Bauer College SBDC. 2-3 p.m. Information: www.sbdc.uh.edu. LinkedIn, Company Research and Job Boards: Free online class hosted by JS101. 10 a.m.-noon. Registration: JS101.org/workshops. Friday Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce Chairmans Gala: Virtual event hosted by 2020 Chairman Jonathan Pursch. 6:30 p.m. Theme: The Power of Us! Information: www.FortBendChamber.com or contact Juliette Nessmith at 281-566-2161 or juliette@fortbendcc.org. Job Search After 50: Free online class hosted by JS101. 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Registration: JS101.org/workshops. Saturday Financial Webinar for Small Business Launch & Growth: Online Webinar hosted by SCORE. 9:30 a.m.-noon. Registration: www.houston.score.org. Guide to Good Divorce: Seminar hosted by Trey Yates. 8:30 a.m.-2 p.m., Houstonian, 111 N. Post Oak Lane. Information: www.GuideToGoodDivorce.com or call 713-932-7177. katherine.feser@chron.com twitter.com/kfeser 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. Short link: It was nothing short of a miracle that President-elect Joe Biden could step forward to take the oath of office, on the morning of 20 January. It was the miracle of democracy. Rarely has a well-established democracy like the US faced such a determined assault from within that shook its very foundation. Exactly a fortnight earlier, the delusional occupant of the White House had literally called on his followers to march towards the Capitol Hill, the sanctum sanctorum of democracy. That it was a security failure of the highest order is obvious. But was it deliberate and orchestrated? The Biden administration will no doubt conduct a thorough probe, which would offer valuable lessons, to all open and liberal societies. All the same, it underscores the need, once again, for eternal vigil against divisive and disruptive forces, both internal and external. The American society and polity are fractured, confused and angry. President Biden hit the right notes in his inaugural address, emphasising unity, racial harmony and equity. He repeatedly pledged to be the President for each and every American. But did his impassioned plea resonate with the right-wingers, who believe that their idol Donald Trump is the victim of a massive electoral fraud? It appears highly unlikely. As expected, he primarily addressed his home front. He did note, however, that the world was watching the US. He assured, We will repair our alliances and engage with the world once again ... to meet todays and tomorrows challenges. And well lead ... by the power of our example. Well be a strong and trusted partner for peace, progress, and security. ALSO READ| India is Integral to US Foreign Policy. President Biden Will Seek Closer Ties with Narendra Modi Govt President Biden did not mention any country in his address, yet ample pointers emerged regarding the new administrations outlook on relations with India at the confirmation hearings of Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Defence Gen. Lloyd Austin. Significantly, Blinken characterised the bilateral ties as a bipartisan success story of our successive administrations. He was not bashful of giving credit to the Trump regime for taking the defence cooperation forward, including its concept of Indo-Pacific to ensure that no country in the region including China could challenge (Indias) sovereignty. He added that the US shared Indias concerns about terrorism. Singing a similar tune, General Austin, who retired as the Commander of the US Central Command after a long and distinguished career, spoke about elevating Indias Major Defense Partner status and enhancing the strong defence cooperation to ensure that the militaries can collaborate to address shared interests. Emphasising continuity in approach, he promised to deepen and broaden our defence cooperation ... through the QUAD security dialogue and other regional multilateral engagements. The nuances to note At the same time, certain nuances need to be taken note of. Secretary Blinken termed Indo-Pacific a concept while the Trump administration effectively considered it a strategy. Second, while endorsing a tougher approach towards China which posed the most significant challenge to American national interests, he did not fail to find some cooperative aspects of mutual interest. On the other hand, he saw threats from Russia, Iran and North Korea which had to be countered. During his hearing General Austin observed that Pakistan had taken constructive steps to meet US requests in support of the Afghanistan peace process. Pakistan has also taken steps against anti-Indian groups, such as Lashkar-i-Taiba and Jaish-i-Mohammad, although this progress is incomplete I will press Pakistan to prevent its territory from being used as a sanctuary for militants and violent extremist organisations. He went on to remark that Pakistan is an essential partner in any peace process in Afghanistan. Early movers advantage India-US relations have been on a solid upward trajectory for the last two decades. There is every reason to believe that this trend will continue. President Biden, with his five decades of political experience, is an internationalist by inclination. He has also chosen an experienced and professional team that is well-versed in international affairs. The President as well as his cabinet colleagues have had a lot to do with India and have been supportive of closer ties. The White House, the Foggy Bottom (state department) and the Pentagon are likely to adopt a geostrategic approach rather than a mercantilist one, adopted by the previous regime. ALSO READ| Not Your Average Joe: The Biden Presidency Brings Hope with Daunting Challenges In the midst of rapidly growing convergences, some differences are natural. Indias decision to purchase S-400 missile system from Russia could remain a contentious issue. Democrats traditionally have been votaries of upholding human rights, religious freedoms etc., and tend to be preachy. Yet, given its own situation, the Biden administration may choose to hold its horses. India will do well to thrash out a trade deal expeditiously while the going is good. We should also take purposeful steps to expand and institutionalise the Quad process to shore up our security and thwart the expansionist designs of a neighbouring power. Within minutes of Biden being sworn-in, Prime Minister Modi tweeted his felicitations, underling that the bilateral partnership was anchored on shared values. We have a substantial and multifaceted bilateral agenda, growing economic engagement and vibrant people to people linkages. Committed to working with President @JoeBiden to take the India-US partnership to even greater heights. Prime Minister Modi had the best of equations with Presidents Barack Obama and Donald Trump, two personalities who are as similar as chalk and cheese. A hat-trick is very much on the cards. Ciudad Juarez: Dozens of asylum seekers crowded the US port of entry in the Mexican border city of Ciudad Juarez on Thursday (AEDT) after US President Joe Biden began his term in office by reversing many of his predecessors hardline immigration policies. Some Cuban and Central American asylum seekers flocked to entry points, many carrying their belongings, hoping to end their waits in dangerous border towns where migrants can face extortion, kidnapping, and rape. I came to the bridge to turn myself in because Im Cuban and I want to pursue a political asylum case in the United States, said Angel Alejandro Segreo, 27. A man looks through the first wall at Friendship Park, near where the border separating Tijuana, Mexico, and San Diego meets the Pacific Ocean in Tijuana. Credit:AP This time, Segreo and other first-time asylum seekers were turned away because of a public health order implemented in March 2020 at the outset of the coronavirus pandemic that allows US border agents to expel most border crossers for public health reasons. United Nations, Jan 22 : The UN General Assembly has adopted a resolution to promote a culture of peace and tolerance to safeguard religious sites all across the world. The resolution adopted on Thursday calls for strengthened international efforts to foster a global dialogue on the promotion of a culture of tolerance and peace at all levels, based on respect for human rights and for the diversity of religions and beliefs, Xinhua news agency reported. It condemns all acts or threats of violence, destruction, damage or endangerment, directed against religious sites and denounces any moves to obliterate or forcibly convert any religious sites. It invites all member states, the UN system, regional and nongovernmental organisations and other relevant stakeholders to support UN initiatives that promote tolerance, including the UN Plan of Action to Safeguard Religious Sites. The resolution expresses concern about the increase in incidents of racial and religious intolerance, discrimination and related violence, as well as of negative racial and religious stereotyping. It condemns any advocacy of national, racial or religious hatred that constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence, and urges states to take effective measures to address and combat such incidents. It expresses deep concern at the continued serious instances of derogatory stereotyping, negative profiling and stigmatization of persons based on their religion or belief, as well as programs and agendas pursued by extremist individuals, organisations and groups aimed at creating and perpetuating negative stereotypes about religious groups. It reaffirms the essential need to strengthen international, regional and sub-regional cooperation aimed at enhancing the national capacity of member states to prevent and effectively suppress attacks on places of worship. It deplores damage to the cultural heritage of countries in situations of crisis, conflict and post-conflict, and calls for an immediate end to such acts. The resolution calls on the UN to continue to develop strategies, educational initiatives and global communications campaigns and tools aimed at strengthening the protection of religious sites and cultural heritage, fostering mutual respect and understanding, enhancing media awareness and countering religious intolerance and hate speech. It invites all member states to enhance education and capacity-building to counter incitement to violence through fostering the messages of unity, solidarity and inter-religious and intercultural dialogue, raising awareness and mutual respect toward promoting the culture of peace, non-violence and non-discrimination, and promoting understanding among people of all cultures, religions and beliefs, as well as the importance of peaceful coexistence. If one more person texts me the good news theyve had a jab, Ill scream. Over 400,000 people were vaccinated yesterday, and centres are opening apace in high street pharmacies, and even a mosque. But scoring an appointment for vaccination remains a lottery depending on where you live. In the North East over two thirds of those over-80 have been vaccinated, but in London its under half and the South East the number is around 60%. Wales and Scotland lag well behind England. Each day were bombarded with new figures, boosting this amazing rollout - but delve deeper into whats happening locally and you find things arent going as smoothly as Head Office would have us believe. Of the 400,000 people yesterday who received a jab how many were the people who needed it most? The over 80s, care home residents and front-line workers? Boris Johnson still has a fatal flaw - making promises he cant deliver. Why did he tell a nation of exhausted, frightened people that everyone over 70, front-line workers and the clinically vulnerable (15 million in total) would be vaccinated by mid-February? Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson looks at a vaccine sample through a microscope as he visits the quality control laboratory at Oxford BioMedica last week Such well-intentioned bravado and optimism could well be doomed to failure - but no one will take the blame if the government fails to meet yet another dream target. One number which Im confident WILL be achieved is that over 100,000 people will have died and we will still be staring at our living room walls and ordering takeaways by Easter, in lockdown. Boris continues to address us like small children or family pets, hoping we will respond positively to each little treat of good news by accepting endless rules and restrictions on our lives. With the highest number of preventable deaths since the last war, a vaccine (even when one Pfizer- only provides a 30% level of protection when offered as a single dose) is the only way to plot a path back to civilised living. Unfortunately for the British people, 90% of whom have spent almost a year following confusing rules, social distancing, staying away from elderly loved ones and washing their hands a million times a day - our vaccination programme is in the hands of clowns who couldnt organise an office drinks party. Not the willing volunteers offering tea, free lifts and soothing encouragement to the elderly. Or the Iman who offered his mosque as a centre in a community where distrust of vaccines is rife. I mean the faceless NHS bureaucrats and quango bosses who are directing supplies, deciding what areas will get vaccine and how much. Local medics arent allowed to specify which vaccine they will receive, and my local doctor told me they get just a weeks notice of the amount they are allocated. In many cases less vaccine turns up or arrives on a different day, so hours are wasted re-arranging appointments. On top of everything else, one of the main suppliers Pfizer- are re-fitting their factory in order to expand production, sending out less vaccine than was ordered. One GP in Plymouth claims he only receives enough vaccine to run a vaccination clinic just one day a week. This story is being repeated in health centres up and down the country. Most GPs are sending out letters for those who are eligible to come for a jab at a time when the Post Office admits that services are not up to scratch in dozens of areas because of sickness and staff shortages. The faceless powers-that-be are also deciding to withhold vaccines from some areas (like mine) - allegedly, to allow other areas catch up. How bloody arbitrary is that when we were promised this process would strictly adhere to the rules of age and vulnerability? You cant run the roll out of life-giving vaccines to people over 80 on such a short notice period. They may need assistance and transport to attend an appointment. What if they are housebound? And why vaccinate one half of a couple because they are over 80 but not the other, if they happen to be in their seventies? Why cant every patient be notified via text or an email? Although the government clearly defined the order in which Covid jabs could be handed out to the top four priority groups, some local councils seem determined to play God and interpret the rules in their own way. In Oldham, the homeless were vaccinated before the over-75s. In Cambridgeshire, some nursery workers were vaccinated before every 80 year-old, although the council later abandoned that policy. The leader of Peterborough council is adamant that his council decides local priorities after it emerged that some secondary school staff in the area were vaccinated, even though they are working from home. Masud Ahmad, 79, receives an injection of the Oxford/AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine at the Al Abbas Mosque, Birmingham, which is being used as a Covid vaccination centre Once again, British Bureaucracy has triumphed. Yes, people are receiving the jab, but slowly, appallingly unfairly, and in some areas, not at all. Consider the poor residents of Sandwich in Kent, the area where a particularly nasty new strain of Covid emerged which led to this latest lockdown. Boris Johnson has been trumpeting that very soon every one of us will be able to get the jab within 10 miles of home. Well, his dream has hit the buffers in Sandwich, where vaccinations up to this week have been almost non-existent. Any over-80-year-old lucky enough to be offered a jab would need to take a 28-mile round trip to Dover. In East Sussex, one surgery was expected to monitor an area of 200 square miles. If youre unlucky enough to live in Wales, its a vaccination desert - just 4.8% of the population have received the jab (compared to 8.1% in England), and even though the authorities received 250,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine, first Minister Mark Drakeford announced he decided not to rush it all out at once because once it has been used, then vaccinators would be sitting around doing nothing. It seems that the rollout of a vaccine which would improve the daily lives of millions of vulnerable Welsh residents is being scheduled to fit in with the work patterns of local government employees. How on earth can this happen? The answer is Bureaucracy- something which has bedevilled the NHS, where office staff and managers outnumber front line workers. In Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon promised everyone over 80 would be vaccinated by the first week of February, but some GPs are complaining they have not yet received any vaccine. Although 600,000 doses have been sent to Scotland, less than half that amount has been administered, the vast majority to NHS, social or care workers. As for my predicament, Im 74 and my local doctors havent even started vaccinated the over-75s - so whatever good news is spewing out from Messrs Hancock, co, the grass roots reality is very different. Could it be that the elderly - who rarely complain, who have put up with so much, are being pushed down the queue by others claiming to be more important. Right now I feel like a steerage passenger on the Titanic, hanging around, trying not to panic, as my place on the lifeboat seems to slip further and further away. And we all know how that movie ends. WASHINGTON, Jan. 22, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Our nation has reached a grim milestone in the COVID-19 pandemic: over 400,000 Americans have died from complications of the coronavirus. Black Americans are 3.7 times as likely as white Americans to be hospitalized with COVID-19 and 2.8 times as likely to die. Blacks and people of color are not inherently more susceptible to COVID-19 illness and mortality, however, existing structural racism contributes to the health disparities. Dr. Michelle Albert, University of California, San Francisco; President, Association of Black Cardiologists Dr. Elizabeth Ofili, Morehouse Healthcare, Atlanta, GA; Chair of the Board, Association of Black Cardiologists According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, social determinants of health place many people of color at heightened risk for poor COVID-19 outcomes, including disparities in healthcare coverage and access; disproportionate representation in "essential" jobs that often carry greater virus-exposure risk; crowded housing conditions; and disparities in income, education and wealth. A Kaiser Health News analysis of state health-department data that reported vaccine recipients' race and ethnicity, reported that Black vaccination rates are three to five times lower than White vaccination rates. Members of the Association of Black Cardiologists (ABC) are on the front lines where they are providing quality cardiovascular care for millions of disadvantaged Americans, including those suffering from complications of the coronavirus disease. ABC members also lead and support research to test effective vaccines and therapies. The ABC Cardiovascular Implementation Study (CVIS) utilizes innovative approaches to collect real world data at the point of care. Through these efforts, the ABC will continue to work with the National Institutes of Health (NIH), research institutions, healthcare providers, ABC community health advocates and other strategic partners to promote access to effective vaccines and therapies, as well monitoring of long term effects. Advocacy is at the heart of ABC's work to ensure that comprehensive health policies address access to affordable healthcare, structural racism, and social determinants of health. The organization is especially proud of its grassroots work to engage Blacks and other communities of color through its signature "Spirit of the Heart" education and wellness program as well as churches, beauty salons and barber shops. The Association also supports equitable vaccination programs, as well as a comprehensive science-based public health approach, including wearing masks, hand washing and social distancing. ABC members share their vaccination experience and the reasons they recommend the vaccine for themselves, their patients and families: We have a sacred obligation to take care of each other to the best of our ability using available knowledge. For me, that means ensuring that we put the brakes on the ravages of this pandemic on my family and other people of color, especially black and brown folks as well as other disadvantaged persons, hence taking the vaccine is a no-brainer for me. - Dr. Michelle Albert, University of California, San Francisco; President, Association of Black Cardiologists I have completed both doses of the vaccine with very minor side effects; by sharing this experience as well as our research work on vaccines, I hope to reassure my patients and our healthcare staff. - Dr. Elizabeth Ofili, Morehouse Healthcare, Atlanta, GA; Chair of the Board, Association of Black Cardiologists I took the vaccine to protect myself and my loved ones against Covid-19 and to incentivize black and brown people to do the same by showing that it is safe to get the shot. This gives real meaning and purpose to leadership. - Dr. Richard Allen Williams, Los Angeles, CA; Founder, Association of Black Cardiologists It came down to fear versus wisdom. When I looked at the science and weighed the risk it became clear I should take the vaccination. Finally, I wanted to keep my family safe and healthy, so I chose to get the vaccine. - Dr. Marcus L. Williams, Private Practice, Newark, New Jersey, Past President of the Association of Black Cardiologists As a doctor, I have to go out to work. I took the vaccine. I'm doing my part to keep my immediate family safe. I'm also hoping this allows us to get back to normal. - Dr. Priscilla Pemu, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA I received my second vaccine dose over two days ago and I have nothing to report. My recommendation is get vaccinated as soon as you can but continue good public health precautions. - Dr. Phillip Duncan, Private Practice, Richmond VA, Past Board Chair of the Association of Black Cardiologists I posted my vaccine photos and patients are responding positively. They have told me that they will get the vaccine also. - Dr. Osita Onyekwere, Private Practice, Anniston, AL. Please get the vaccine. This can save your heart too! - Dr. Barbara Hutchinson, Private Practice, Annapolis, MD, Past President of the Association of Black Cardiologists I felt the vaccine would prevent me from getting seriously ill if infected with COVID-19 and it is also a way to help end the pandemic. Also, clinical trials have shown the vaccines to be safe and effective. - Dr. Joe Hargrove, Private Practice, Little Rock, AR, Past Board Chair of the Association of Black Cardiologists About ABC Founded in 1974, the ABC is a nonprofit organization dedicated to eliminating the disparities related to cardiovascular disease and achieving health equity such that all people can live long, healthy lives. Membership is open to all interested in the care of people with or at risk for cardiovascular disease, including health professionals, lay members of the community (Community Health Advocates), corporate and institutional members. For more information, visit www.abcardio.org and connect with ABC on Twitter , Facebook , Instagram and LinkedIn . Contact: ABC Media Relations [email protected] 646-689-0659 SOURCE Association of Black Cardiologists ENDEAVOUR ANNOUNCES THE SALE OF ITS NON-CORE AGBAOU MINE Abidjan, January 22, 2021 - Endeavour Mining (TSX:EDV) (OTCQX: EDVMF) is pleased to announce that it has entered into an agreement (the "Agreement") to sell its 85% interest in its non-core Agbaou mine in Cote d'Ivoire to Allied Gold Corp ("Allied Gold") for a consideration of up to $80 million with further upside through its equity exposure and a Net Smelter Return ("NSR") royalty. Sebastien de Montessus, President and CEO of Endeavour, commented: "The sale of our interest in the Agbaou mine to Allied Gold is in line with our strategy of actively managing our portfolio to focus management efforts on high margin, long-life core assets. Agbaou has been a highly cash generative asset which facilitated the organic development of Hounde and Ity, and given that it has now become non-core to Endeavour, we firmly believe that this transaction is in the best interests of all of Agbaou's stakeholders, including the Government of Cote d'Ivoire, local communities and the employees themselves. This transaction will ensure mining activities can continue for many years to come through the creation of the Bonikro-Agbaou complex. We are very proud of what we have accomplished at Agbaou as we have installed a strong and capable team, which is now led by an Ivorian General Manager, supported by a number of local employees in leadership positions, ensuring we leave behind a strong legacy. I want to thank our Agbaou employees for their huge commitment, professionalism and contribution to Endeavour's evolution over the past years." Allied Gold is a private African operator which notably owns the nearby Bonikro mine. Following the transaction close, the Bonikro-Agbaou operation will be comprised of multiple open pits, two processing plants with a total milling capacity of over 5Mtpa, and will have the potential to produce over 285,000 ounces annually. Endeavour expects to capture the benefits of local synergies and exploration upside through its equity stake in Allied Gold and its NSR royalty. Under the terms of the Agreement, the total consideration consists of: $20 million in cash payable in the first quarter of 2021; $40 million in Allied Gold shares. Endeavour has an option to sell the shares back to Allied Gold at the issue price which expires on December 31, 2022 or earlier if Allied Gold conducts an IPO before then; A contingent payment of up to $20 million, comprised of $5 million for each quarter of 2021 where the average gold price exceeds $1,900/oz; and A NSR royalty on ounces produced in excess of the Agbaou reserves estimated as at December 31, 2019. The NSR royalty will be based on a sliding scale, linked to the average spot gold price as follows: 2.5% if the gold price is at least $1,400/oz, 2% if the gold price is at least $1,200/oz and less than $1,400/oz, 1% if the gold price is at least $1,000/oz and less than $1,200/oz, and 0% if gold price is below $1,000/oz. The transaction is expected to close on March 1, 2021. ABOUT ALLIED GOLD Allied Gold Corp is a privately owned, Africa-focused gold company. Once the Allied Gold pending transactions close, they will own three producing assets (Agbaou and Bonikro in Cote d'Ivoire and Sadiola mine in Mali) and a strong project development pipeline (Sadiola Sulphide project in Mali and Dish Mountain in Ethiopia). The company also holds exploration acreage of 600km2 in El Sid, Egypt. Allied Gold acquired the Bonikro mine in 2019. Bonikro's Measured and Indicated resources, inclusive of reserves, as at December 31, 2019, stood at 25.5MT at 1.66 g/t Au containing 1.4Moz. ABOUT AGBAOU Located approximately 200km north of the port city of Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire, the Agbaou Gold Mine is an open pit mining operation with a CIL processing facility which is currently processing in excess of 2.0Mtpa. In the first nine months of 2020, the mine produced 76,713 ounces of gold at an AISC of $1,013/oz. Agbaou's Measured and Indicated resources, inclusive of reserves, as at December 31, 2019, stood at 7.6MT at 2.14 g/t Au containing 519koz, while Proven and Probable reserves stood at 6.3MT at 1.58 g/t Au containing 321koz. Based on known reserves, Agabou's mine life is expected to cease by the end of 2022, but Allied intends to extend the life of mine through continued regional exploration activities in the near term. Endeavour's carrying book value as at September 30, 2020, for its interest in the Agbaou mine stood at $103 million and is expected to be below $90 million at year-end. Endeavour owns an 85% stake in the Agbaou mine, with the remainder owned by the Government of Cote d'Ivoire (10%) and SODEMI (5%). ABOUT ENDEAVOUR Endeavour Mining is a multi-asset gold producer focused on West Africa, with two mines (Ity and Agbaou) in Cote d'Ivoire, four mines (Hounde, Mana, Karma and Boungou) in Burkina Faso, four potential development projects (Fetekro, Kalana, Bantou and Nabanga) and a strong portfolio of exploration assets on the highly prospective Birimian Greenstone Belt across Burkina Faso, Cote d'Ivoire, Mali and Guinea. As a leading gold producer, Endeavour Mining is committed to principles of responsible mining and delivering sustainable value to its employees, stakeholders and the communities where it operates. Endeavour is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange, under the symbol EDV. QUALIFIED PERSONS Clinton Bennett, Endeavour's VP Metallurgy and Process Improvement - a Fellow of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, is a "Qualified Person" as defined by National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101") and has reviewed and approved the technical information in this news release. CONTACT INFORMATION Martino De Ciccio VP - Strategy & Investor Relations +44 203 640 8665 mdeciccio@Endeavourmining.com (mailto:mdeciccio@endeavourmining.com) Vincic Advisors in Toronto John Vincic, Principal +1 (647) 402 6375 john@vincicdvisors.com (mailto:john@vincicdvisors.com) Brunswick Group LLP in London Carole Cable, Partner +44 7974 982 458 ccable@brunswickgroup.com (mailto:ccable@brunswickgroup.com) CAUTIONARY STATEMENT This news release contains "forward-looking statements" including but not limited to, statements with respect to Endeavour's plans and operating performance, the estimation of mineral reserves and resources, the timing and amount of estimated future production, costs of future production, future capital expenditures, and the success of exploration activities. Generally, these forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "expects", "expected", "budgeted", "forecasts", and "anticipates". Forward-looking statements, while based on management's best estimates and assumptions, are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including but not limited to: risks related to the successful integration of acquisitions; risks related to international operations; risks related to general economic conditions and credit availability, actual results of current exploration activities, unanticipated reclamation expenses; changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined; fluctuations in prices of metals including gold; fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates, increases in market prices of mining consumables, possible variations in ore reserves, grade or recovery rates; failure of plant, equipment or processes to operate as anticipated; accidents, labour disputes, title disputes, claims and limitations on insurance coverage and other risks of the mining industry; delays in the completion of development or construction activities, changes in national and local government regulation of mining operations, tax rules and regulations, and political and economic developments in countries in which Endeavour operates. Although Endeavour has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Please refer to Endeavour's most recent Annual Information Form filed under its profile at www.sedar.com for further information respecting the risks affecting Endeavour and its business. AISC, all-in sustaining costs at the mine level, cash costs, operating EBITDA, all-in sustaining margin, free cash flow, net free cash flow, free cash flow per share, net debt, and adjusted earnings are non-GAAP financial performance measures with no standard meaning under IFRS, further discussed in the section Non-GAAP Measures in the most recently filed Management Discussion and Analysis. Attachment On Thursday afternoon, reporters asked Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin if he could tell them who was chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee. Was it Sen. Lindsey Graham, who had chaired it in the last Congress? Was it Sen. Chuck Grassley, whos reclaiming his senior Republican status on the committee this Congress? Or was it Durbin, whos supposed to be the new chairman under the new Democratic majority? Durbin told reporters he wasnt sure. We know it could be one of three people, he said. Advertisement The Senate is weird right now. Democrats took the majority at 4:30 p.m. on Jan. 20, when new Democratic Sens. Jon Ossoff, Raphael Warnock, and Alex Padilla were sworn in, giving them 50 senators plus the tiebreaking vote of Vice President Kamala Harris. Chuck Schumer is majority leader, and hes setting the floor schedule. Yet the committees are still technically in Republican hands. During Pete Buttigiegs confirmation hearing for secretary of transportation on Thursday, for example, Mississippi Sen. Roger Wicker, a Republican, gaveled in the proceedings. It was awkward. Advertisement Advertisement Subscribe to the Slatest newsletter A daily email update of the stories you need to read right now. We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again. Please enable javascript to use form. Email address: Send me updates about Slate special offers. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms Sign Up Thanks for signing up! You can manage your newsletter subscriptions at any time. At issue is the as-yet-unpassed organizing resolution, a typically uncontroversial measure often passed by unanimous consent at the start of a new Congress, which formalizes committee membership and ratios. Since Senate membership is 50-50, this organizing resolution is being referred to alternately as a power-sharing resolution. Advertisement Schumer and Republican leader Mitch McConnell are negotiating their power-sharing resolution off a framework from 2001, the last time the Senate was split 50-50. Under that plan, Democrats would be the majority and take over committee chairmanships, but committees would be equally divided between the two parties. If legislation and nominations receive tie votes in committee, the Democrats could still bring them to the floor. McConnell, though, has dug in trying to secure another commitment in the organizing resolution: the preservation of the legislative filibuster. While Senate Democrats dont yet have the votes they need to eliminate the filibuster, McConnell, as he wrote to his caucus a few days ago, believes the time is ripe to address this issue head on before the passions of one particular issue or another arise. McConnells leverage in forcing the question of the filibuster is, well, the use of the filibuster: The organizing resolution needs 60 votes. Advertisement Advertisement Maybe McConnell is playing one of his four-dimensional parliamentary chess games here, and his tactical genius will reveal itself in the end. But so far, this play isnt really working out for him. Its important to recognize, first, that whatever McConnell is seeking is ultimately unenforceable. What does he want, and what would he accept? A written pledge from Schumer not to blow up the legislative filibuster? A gentlemens agreement announced in floor speeches? A rule change? The requirement of a three-fifths threshold to end debate is already very much in writing as part of the Senates standing rules. But the mechanism that Democrats would use to blow up the filibuster if they chose to do sothe so-called nuclear optionis one in which a simple majority votes to override a standing rule, thus setting a new precedent. Advertisement Once a majority is prepared (i.e., it has 50 votes) to pay the political costs of nuking the legislative filibuster, an agreement to preserve the current 60-vote requirement to cut off debate on legislative measures cant be enforced, Sarah Binder, a political science professor at George Washington University, told me via email. Bottom line: Senate rules cant protect themselves from an ambitious, cohesive majority. Advertisement The best McConnell could do is get Democrats to go on the record for preserving the legislative filibuster and charge them with high hypocrisy if they change their minds. No political figure has more clearly demonstrated how dismissible such a charge would be in the pursuit of raw power, though, than Mitch McConnell. Advertisement His strategy for securing the symbolic commitment hasnt shown any signs of panning out, either. Theoretically, he could get some Democratic moderates, who are eager to assume their chairmanships, and who may appreciate how the filibuster protects them from tough votes, to turn on Schumer and push him to accept McConnells demand. Thats not happening. Schumers answer to McConnell over the last few days has been a strict no, and his caucus is backing him up. Democrats are offended that McConnell is trying, right off the bat, to tell them how to run their majority and to table one of their weapons. He cannot be rewarded. Chuck has the right to do that, hes the leader, West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin told reporters Wednesday. Advertisement Chuck Schumer is the majority leader and he should be treated like majority leader, Montana Sen. Jon Tester told Politico. We can get shit done around here and we ought to be focused on getting stuff done. If we dont, the inmates are going to be running this ship. The endgame here has not yet come into view. Both Schumer and McConnell stuck to their positions in their floor remarks Friday morning. Well continue to request that our Democratic colleagues reaffirm this standing rule of the Senate, which they have been happy to use themselves [while in the minority], McConnell said. Schumer, meanwhile, was firm: Leader McConnells proposal is unacceptable, and it wont be accepted. And the Republican leader knew that when he first proposed it. Advertisement That the Senate appears headed into a schedule-clearing impeachment trial next week will give leaders a little more time to resolve the standoff without obstructing too much Senate business. But what is that resolution? McConnell folds? Schumer reads a well-caveated statement about the filibuster on the floor? The three quasi-leaders of the Judiciary Committee take to the Octagon to determine the one true chairman by combat? There is one way for Democrats to resolve this on their own if they so choose. Moderates like Manchin or Tester or Arizona Sen. Kyrsten Sinema could get so frustrated with McConnell impeding their majority with extraneous demands that it radicalizes them procedurally, and they agree to utilize the nuclear option to blow up the filibuster on organizing resolutions. That would be the beginning of the end for the legislative filibuster. Senate Democrats arent there yet. But they could get there before they agree to let Mitch McConnell tell them how to run their majority. ATLANTA (Jan. 6, 2021) Our countrys long and proud history of peaceful and democratic transitions is being tested by the events unfolding inside the U.S. Capitol, which was put on lockdown after protestors stormed the building. While The Carter Center supports Americans right to protest peacefully, it strongly condemns threats or violence of any sort. We call on the mob inside the Capitol building to disband immediately and on all protestors to respect the 6 p.m. curfew. As many members of Congress on both sides of the aisle have said, the democratic process of certifying the election results must be allowed to continue. Despite the coronavirus pandemic, voters participated in the November 2020 election in record numbers. The process of counting and verifying the accuracy of the results has been completed, and the extensive legal challenges have been resolved, resulting in Joe Biden being declared the winner. All Americans should be proud of what was accomplished. Although there is no doubt that the entire process has been credible, there has been an historically unprecedented and damaging effort to deny and reverse the expressed will of the people. This has put significant strain on our democratic system and created ill-founded doubt among millions of Americans about the integrity of the elections. As we have done throughout our history, it is now time to support a peaceful transition and work together toward a prosperous and shared future. ### The Carter Center Waging Peace. Fighting Disease. Building Hope. A not-for-profit, nongovernmental organization, The Carter Center has helped to improve life for people in over 80 countries by resolving conflicts; advancing democracy, human rights, and economic opportunity; preventing diseases; and improving mental health care. The Carter Center was founded in 1982 by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and former First Lady Rosalynn Carter, in partnership with Emory University, to advance peace and health worldwide. Japan's Nikkei newspaper has run a story highlighting the opportunity for Vietnam to rise stronger after the COVID-19 pandemic is completely controlled. A New Year firework show in HCM City, one of the major economic hubs of Vietnam (Illustrative image. Photo: VNA) It spotlighted Vietnam's efforts in maintaining economic activities amid the pandemic, which made the country one of the Asian economies recording the highest growth in 2020. The article noted that in 2020, Vietnam signed three free trade agreements (FTA), and saw the introduction of another airline, while rising to the sixth position in Southeast Asia in terms of per capita income. It noted that Vietnam grasped the greatest opportunity in decades to become one of the countries with the highest GDP growth in the world with an expansion of 2.9 percent and an expected rate of 6.5 percent in 2021. The article cited a report by Euromonitor as saying that Vietnam is forecast to be one of the markets with the busiest merge and acquisition (M&A) activities and the most potential M&A market only after the US. In 2020, Vietnam joined three FTAs the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), the EU-Vietnam FTA, and the UK-Vietnam FTA, it said. A report by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) showed that the GDP of Vietnam surpassed that of Singapore and Malaysia, making it the fourth largest economy in Southeast Asia for the first time. With a lower risk of COVID-19 spreading, Vietnam is focusing on economic development, it said, noting that Vietnam aims to become a high middle-income country in 2025. The country received a large investment from Pegatron, a supplier of Apple and Samsung. Meanwhile, domestic tourism activities almost saw no decrease, creating favourable conditions for Vietravel Airlines to launch in December 2020 and become the sixth airline of Vietnam. However, domestic airlines still suffered a drop in revenues because there were no international flights, forcing them to seek support from the Government. In order to speed up recovery, the Vietnamese Government approved a 2.7 billion USD package, while cutting taxes and fees, providing more soft loans and increasing public spending, including investment in infrastructure, the article noted. It underlined that Vietnam has stayed transparent about the pandemic and shared information about COVID-19 prevention and control measures. UNDP representative in Vietnam Caitlin Wiesen said that experience in transparency, accountability and social connectivity will help the country overcome all crises in the future. In the article, the author expressed belief that after COVID-19 is completely controlled, Vietnam will gain more achievements. Do Ventures co-founder Vy Le held that Vietnam should take advantage of the current situation to move forwards./.VNA The title of this post is the headline of this great new lengthy Politico article, which is summarized by its subheadline: "By making local officials the gatekeepers for million-dollar businesses, states created a breeding ground for bribery and favoritism." I recommend the piece in full, and here is a small taste: In the past decade, 15 states have legalized a regulated marijuana market for adults over 21, and another 17 have legalized medical marijuana. But in their rush to limit the numbers of licensed vendors and give local municipalities control of where to locate dispensaries, they created something else: A market for local corruption. Almost all the states that legalized pot either require the approval of local officials as in Massachusetts or impose a statewide limit on the number of licenses, chosen by a politically appointed oversight board, or both. These practices effectively put million-dollar decisions in the hands of relatively small-time political figures the mayors and councilors of small towns and cities, along with the friends and supporters of politicians who appoint them to boards. And these strictures have given rise to the exact type of corruption that got [Fall River Mayor Jasiel] Correia in trouble with federal prosecutors. They have also created a culture in which would-be cannabis entrepreneurs feel obliged to make large campaign contributions or hire politically connected lobbyists. For some entrepreneurs, the payments can seem worth the ticket to cannabis riches. For some politicians, the lure of a bribe or favor can be irresistible. Correias indictment alleges that he extorted hundreds of thousands of dollars from marijuana companies in exchange for granting them the local approval letters that are necessary prerequisites for obtaining Massachusetts licenses. Correia and his co-conspirators staffers and friends accepted a variety of bribes including cash, more than a dozen pounds of marijuana and a Batman Rolex watch worth up to $12,000, the indictment charges. 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." The Journey for Justice: a gripping story presenting the real history of African American people, exploring how they have been recipients of injustices for so long and most importantly, highlighting their contributions that helped shape the present and give way for the future. The Journey for Justice is the creation of published author Sandra Rose Morris Kemp, a local historian with an exemplary knowledge on historical preservation. Kemp shares, The Journey for Justice contradicts the beliefs that black history is lost, nonexistent, and unimportant. The information in the book expands the knowledge on African American history, as well as reveals facts that have never been published. The research findings contribute to historical accuracy. I wish to reveal the contributions that enslaved families and their descendants have made to this country and are continuing to contribute to this country in their pursuit for equality and justice. My goals are to educate the public and preserve the African American history and heritage. After many years of researching the reliability of the oral histories and comparing this information with archival documents, I am presenting findings that are valid and worthy of publishing. The year 2019 marked the four-hundredth anniversary of people of African descent arriving in English North America. Now is an appropriate time to acknowledge their contributions to this country. Published by Christian Faith Publishing, Sandra Rose Morris Kemps new book will give way to a history that has been often set aside, blurred, or ignored for so long. This time, it will give a voice to the hard and pure truth of what African Americans have fought for in order to take their place in the world. View a synopsis of The Journey for Justice on YouTube. Consumers can purchase The Journey for Justice at traditional brick & mortar bookstores, or online at Amazon.com, Apple iTunes store, or Barnes and Noble. For additional information or inquiries about The Journey for Justice, contact the Christian Faith Publishing media department at 866-554-0919. The Ukrainian military had to return fire. The Command of Ukraine's Armed Forces has reported one killed in action (KIA) amid seven violations of the latest ceasefire agreement by Russia-controlled armed groups in the Donbas warzone on Thursday, January 21. "In the past day, January 21, seven 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 22, 2021. In particular, the Russian Federation's armed formations fired automatic and mounted grenade launchers and rifles near the town of Krasnohorivka. Also, two enemy UAVs were spotted near the towns of Maryinka and Krasnohorivka, crossing the contact line before being jammed. Read alsoRussia deliberately trying to block Donbas talks KravchukThe Russian occupation forces also used an anti-tank grenade launcher and proscribed 82mm mortars near the village of Pyshchevyk, as well as grenade launchers of various systems, 120mm mortars and heavy machine guns near the village of Shyrokyne. What is more, the Russian occupation troops fired 82mm mortars, grenade launchers of various systems and a heavy machine gun toward the Ukrainian positions near the village of Hnutove. Sniper fire was also recorded in this area. "One Ukrainian soldier was killed as a result of enemy shelling. The JFO Command expresses deep condolences to the relatives of the deceased soldier," the report said. The Ukrainian military had to return fire, countering the attacks by the Russian Federation's armed formations. 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 Murad Ebrahim (center), the chief minister of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), delivers a message during an event at Malacanang Palace in Manila to mark the second anniversary of the regions establishment, Jan. 21, 2021. The Catholic Churchs highest official in the southern Philippines on Friday endorsed a term extension for ex-separatist leader Murad Ebrahim as head of an autonomous Muslim region. Murad, who leads the Bangsamoro Transitional Authority (BTA), told BenarNews last month that he was lobbying to have his term extended beyond its scheduled expiry in 2022. He said he needed more time to pursue reforms hampered by the coronavirus pandemic and threats from militants linked to Islamic State. Elections in 2022 would simply erode whatever fragile gains the Bangsamoro Transitional Authority shall have obtained within the transition period, Cardinal Orlando Quevedo, the archbishop emeritus of Cotabato, said in a statement. Murads group might not be able to complete the reforms it had started to lift up people living within the boundaries of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BAARM), the cardinal noted. The constraints of time are simply insurmountable. The BTA will surely not be able to complete its mandate within the period of transition, he said. Rodrigo Duterte, the president of the majority-Catholic country, meanwhile has said that he supports a three-year extension for the transitional authority till 2025 although his aides have pointed out that Congress would first have to legislate such a move. Archbishop Quevedo, in his statement, emphasized that the church fully supports the peace process in the southern Mindanao region. He said he was praying that Congress would approve Murads request. Murad is the former chief of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), an armed group that gave up its fight for independence in the south to lead the impoverished region, after it struck a peace deal with Manila in exchange for autonomy. Murad and the MILF today lead the transitional government that controls the autonomous region before local voters go to the polls next year to elect their own leaders. The senior Philippine Catholic clergyman issued his statement a day after MILF commemorated the second anniversary of the autonomous regions founding. On Thursday President Duterte appeared at a small ceremony at the Malacanang presidential palace in Manila, where Murad presented a report on the transitional authoritys accomplishments. Duterte said that Murad had shown exemplary leadership in implementing a host of reforms during the past two years, including the creation of local electoral offices and through BAT taking control of environmental regulation from the national government. 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, Duterte said. Today, like the rest of the nation, the BARMM is faced with many daunting challenges aggravated by the COVID-19 pandemic, the president said. That is why I have given marching orders to all relevant government agencies to give full support to the BARMM through continued assistance in the region. Murad, 72, took over leadership of the transitional government in 2019 after residents of five provinces and a handful of neighboring districts agreed through a referendum to join the BARMM. In his remarks at Malacanang on Thursday, Murad reported that improvements made in peace and security across the Bangsamoro region had helped boost the confidence of investors and traders. It is important to constantly remind ourselves that what we achieved so far is founded on the blood, sweat, and tears of our brethren, our mujahedeen, as well as the people and communities who went through so much pain and suffering for the sake of our struggle, Murad said. Two years ago, we began crafting the next chapter of the Bangsamoro but the story is not yet over and we still have more to do. With the challenges brought by the pandemic along with the massive changes in the bureaucracy, time is really of the essence, he added. But contrary to Murads claims about improvements to regional security, the MILF leadership faces a fractured militant movement with backing from international movements, according to Ramon Beleno III, head of the political science and history department at Ateneo De Davao University in Davao City. He cited back-to-back bombings on southern Jolo Island that were blamed on the Abu Sayyaf, a smaller militant group with links to Islamic State (IS). An Abu Sayyaf leader, Isnilon Hapilon, led hundreds of foreign militants in taking over the southern city of Marawi during five months in 2017. There are groups who wanted to disrupt peace and order. We expect that because the transition is not yet over, Beleno told BenarNews. Suspected militant slain In other regional news, a suspected Abu Sayyaf militant who was wanted for involvement in the kidnapping of five Indonesian fishermen by the group last year was killed during a clash Thursday with government troops on Tawi-Tawi, an island in the far southern Philippines, officials said. The suspect, identified as Riyadzkan Maulana, was shot and killed by a joint team of Marines and police in a counter-narcotics sting operation, the military said. Maulana was a member off an Abu Sayyaf gang specializing in kidnappings and led by mid-level leaders Salip Murah Asgali and Majan Sahijuan (alias Apo Mike), who are both also wanted by authorities in the nearby Malaysian Borneo state of Sabah. A BenarNews correspondent contributed to this report from Zamboanga City, Philippines. By Manojna Maddipatla (Reuters) - Indian drugmaker Bharat Biotech's coronavirus vaccine, which has been authorized for use in the country, proved safe and produced an immune response in a small group of adults aged 18 to 55, according to a study published in The Lancet medical journal. The vaccine, developed with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), is being evaluated in a separate 25,800 person trial, which started in November. Bharat Biotech said on Friday 13,000 people participating in the late-stage trial had been given the second dose. The interim data published https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473-3099(20)30942-7/fulltext in the journal included three different vaccine formulations and a placebo group among 375 adults. Two formulations of the vaccine, called COVAXIN, have been selected for more advanced stages of testing and further efficacy trials are warranted, the report said. COVAXIN is an inactivated vaccine that introduces dead virus into the body to trigger an immune response. This is the first peer reviewed data for the vaccine that has come under scrutiny after widespread criticism over the lack of transparency on the approval process for the shot. The vaccine was granted emergency approval by the drugs controller general of India this month along with another vaccine, Covishield, developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford University. India, which has reported the highest number of coronavirus infections after the United States, kicked off its own vaccination drive on Saturday in what the government called the "world's largest vaccination program." (Reporting by Manojna Maddipatla in Bengaluru, additional reporting by Ankur Banerjee and Julie Steenhuysen; Editing by Caroline Humer in New York and Sriraj Kalluvila) The New York Army National Guard on Friday identified three soldiers who were killed when their UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter crashed Wednesday night on a routine training mission. Chief Warrant Officer 5 Steven Skoda, Chief Warrant Officer 4 Christian Koch and Chief Warrant Officer 2 Daniel Prial were all pilots aboard the medical evacuation helicopter. They died when their aircraft went down while conducting night-vision goggle proficiency training in the local training area, according to a New York Guard news release. The three were assigned to C Company, 1st Battalion, 171st General Support Aviation Battalion, which trains to perform aeromedical evacuation missions, according to the release. Read Next: After Lawmakers Intervene, Guard Troops Allowed to Return to Capitol for Breaks There were no other personnel on the helicopter, New York Guard officials said. A team arrived Thursday from the Army Safety Center at Fort Rucker, Alabama, to begin its investigation of the accident, according to the release. "These soldiers were a part of our National Guard family, and we mourn their loss, alongside their family members and loved ones," the release states. "The New York National Guard will be there for these family members as they navigate these trying times. Our chaplains and casualty assistance officers will be with them whenever needed." Skoda, 58, served on active duty from 1985 to 1987 and had been in the Guard ever since. In 1992, he became a pilot and began flying UH-1 Huey helicopters from the Army Aviation Support Facility in Rochester, New York. He deployed to Afghanistan in 2013 and 2019 and was an experienced pilot with nearly 5,000 flying hours, according to the release. In addition to Black Hawks and Hueys, he was rated to fly OH-58 Kiowas, AH-1 Cobras and AH-64 Apache attack helicopters. Skoda, who was single, served as a UH-60 senior instructor pilot, an instrument flight instructor and a UH-60 maintenance test pilot, according to the release. He worked as a full-time Guard technician at the Army Aviation Support Facility at the Rochester International Airport, as well as serving as a member of C Company of the 171st. "He was a friend and mentor to all the soldiers in his unit, supporting the training and career progressions of hundreds of aircrews throughout his career, according to soldiers at the flight facility," the release states. Skoda's awards included the Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, National Defense Service Medal, NATO Medal, Meritorious Unit Citation, Army Reserve Overseas Training Ribbon, Department of State Superior Honor Award, Humanitarian Service Medal, Master Army Aviator Badge, Air Assault Badge, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and Coast Guard Presidential Unit Citation. Koch, 39, was a 20-year veteran of the New York Army Guard. He initially served as an infantryman in A Company, 2nd Battalion, 108th Infantry Regiment, before becoming a helicopter pilot in 2006, according to the release. He deployed to Iraq from 2008 to 2009 and then to Afghanistan from 2012 to 2013. He also served as part of Operation Noble Eagle, the National Guard security mission in the United States after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. Koch, who had 2,350 flying hours, flew Black Hawk and CH-47 Chinook helicopters. He served as a senior instructor pilot and instrument flight instructor. In civilian life, Koch worked as a civilian pilot for the New York State Police, according to the release. "His hard work and drive [led] him to becoming the senior instructor pilot for the unit; his motivation and infectious personality made him a great soldier, leader and father," according to unit members, the release states. Koch's awards include the Air Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Army Forces Service Medal, Meritorious Unit Citation, Non-Commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, Army Reserve Overseas Training ribbon, Army Parachutist Badge, Senior Army Aviator Badge, Air Assault Badge, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, and Global War on Terrorism Service Medal. Koch also had a bachelor's degree in mathematics from The College at Brockport State, which is part of the University of New York. He was married to Teressa DaGama, according to the release. Prial, 30, was a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point and had served in the Army since 2012. While on active duty, he served as a medical evacuation platoon leader with the 82nd Airborne Division's 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade, according to the release. He deployed to Afghanistan from 2014 to 2015 with the 82nd and later served as an instructor pilot for students at Fort Rucker, where the Army trains helicopter pilots. He earned his captain's bars before accepting an appointment as a warrant officer in the New York Army National Guard, so he could continue to fly, the release states. Prial, who was single, worked as a federal technician at the Army Aviation Support Facility at the Rochester International Airport and had 670 hours flying Black Hawk helicopters. Soldiers in his unit described Prial as "extremely humble and family centric," according to the release. "He had an ability to fit in quickly and make an immediate impact on new groups," the release states. Prial's awards include the Air Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, NATO Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Afghan Campaign Medal, and Army Aviator Badge. The Fort Rucker team investigating the accident is gathering "all relevant data and evidence" from before, during, and after the accident," according to the release. It will investigate the potential human, materiel and environmental factors that may have caused or led to the accident. -- Matthew Cox can be reached at matthew.cox@military.com. Related: Three Soldiers Killed in New York Guard Helicopter Crash Seniors in Oregon will wait longer than almost anywhere else in the country to be eligible for coronavirus vaccinations, a review by The Oregonian/OregonLive has found, undercutting claims that the federal government is to blame. And that has shifted focus back to Gov. Kate Browns decision to prioritize teachers over the elderly. Brown had already decided to vaccinate educators before seniors in an attempt to reopen K-12 schools. But she briefly reversed course last week based on expectations more vaccines would be provided by the federal government, announcing that seniors 65 and older would join day care, preschool and K-12 employees as being eligible for vaccines Jan. 23. Yet when the prospect of extra vaccines fell apart, Brown said she had no choice but to make elderly Oregonians wait. I remain committed to vaccinating our seniors quickly, Brown proclaimed Jan. 15. But this failure by the Trump administration will unfortunately cause a two-week delay in beginning vaccinations for seniors. Not mentioned as part of Browns blame-shifting: 45 states dealing with the same vaccine limitations already have or within days will begin inoculating at least some of their oldest and most vulnerable residents based on age groups. How? Decisions about who to vaccinate first are decided by governors and state health officials, and, among other things, Oregon is one of only two states to buck federal guidance by allowing teachers to go ahead of the elderly. As a result of Browns priorities, vaccinations for school employees will begin en masse Monday. Oregonians who are 80 and older wont be eligible for vaccines until Feb. 8. It could be March before all seniors 65 and up are eligible, with state officials now not committing to precise start dates. That timeline lags more than two months behind some other states such as Texas and Florida. Its six full weeks behind Washington, which made all seniors ages 65 and older eligible Jan. 18 as teachers must wait until late winter or early spring. Browns decision has spawned harsh criticism and deep praise, with some condemning her for keeping the vaccine from the age group most susceptible to severe or deadly COVID-19 infections, while others commend her for taking steps to get young students back in classrooms. But theres no guarantee vaccinating teachers sooner will actually lead to a significant return to in-person learning this school year and in fact many counties do not meet new advisory criteria set by Brown for school reopenings. Final decisions will be made by school districts and teachers unions. A spokesman for the governors office didnt directly address how Oregon has been unable to vaccinate seniors as quickly as 45 other states but defended Browns actions, saying it is absolutely critical to return children to the classroom. Last weeks revisions to Oregons schedule for vaccinating educators and seniors does not reflect valuing one group of Oregonians over the other it is simply a case of having far less vaccine supplies than the federal government instructed us to prepare for a week ago, spokesman Charles Boyle said in an email responding to written questions. Oregon has a higher share of seniors than most states, with 767,500 out of 4.2 million people or 18.2%. Only 10 states have an equal or larger share of residents 65 and up, and all prioritized vaccines for seniors far more aggressively, including Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Hawaii and West Virginia. Many rollouts have not been smooth, with some seniors in Florida and other states waiting hours in line to receive a shot as demand far exceeds supply. Christine Sheridan, a 73-year-old Sherwood resident, said it has been infuriating to watch Oregons governor pedal back and forth. A retired nurse, Sheridan has thought of trying to file a class-action lawsuit against Brown for not following recommendations by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to prioritize Americans 65 and older. Sheridan read about a lawsuit filed in Nevada by a 70-year-old woman and 74-year-old man earlier this month and, how hours later, Gov. Steve Sisolak lowered the age of people immediately eligible for vaccinations from 75 to 70. Im very, very angry, Sheridan said of Browns decision to delay vaccinations for the elderly. It is totally just a slap in the face. To me, its not reasonable. *** Many schools unlikely to reopen Critics question the logic of vaccinating school bus drivers, cooks, teachers, classroom aides and others if many schools wont reopen any time soon given stubbornly high infection rates in many parts of Oregon. According to the governors latest guidance for reopening classrooms, elementary schools in the Portland area do currently qualify for reopening. But the infection counts in the area over the past two weeks are precariously close to exceeding that threshold as the highly contagious U.K. variant of the virus begins to spread in Oregon and across the U.S. Whats more, coronavirus case rates are too high for elementary schools to safely reopen in Bend, Medford, Salem, Klamath Falls and all of eastern Oregon, according to the governors metrics. Middle schools and high schools in 35 of Oregons 36 counties shouldnt restart -- and that includes all the districts in the Portland area, according to the governors guidance. Boyle, the governors spokesman, didnt dispute that many schools might not open any time soon based on current advisory metrics. But he suggested vaccinating teachers may prompt more Oregonians to double-down on social distancing efforts to slow spread and enable schools to reopen. Our goal is to put school districts on track to return more students to classrooms as quickly as possible, with a focus on our youngest learners, by February 15, Boyle said in an email. Oregons advisory school metrics particularly the revised metrics for a return to elementary in-person instruction are attainable if communities work to drive down the spread of COVID-19 over the next three weeks. Across the nation, whether K-12 schools offer in-person learning has largely been left up to local districts or governments -- and vaccines havent always factored into the equation. According to a CNN analysis last month, four states had ordered their classrooms to stay open. Already some districts in Washington are reopening for students two days a week, including Evergreen Public Schools in Vancouver, where kindergarteners and first graders began classes Tuesday. Second and third graders are set to return next week. Oregons governor has indicated that vaccinating teachers is the best path to safely reopen. For so many of Oregons students, their educational, social-emotional well-being, and mental health and, in too many cases, their safety from abuse and neglect depends on their in-person connections to school, Boyle said. Dozens of parents and students rallied at Revolution Hall in Southeast Portland on Dec. 6, pushing for Gov. Kate Brown to order the state's public schools to offer in-person education for families and educators who feel safe returning to classrooms amid the coronavirus. Brown is taking a calculated gamble to dedicate vaccines for a relatively small slice of the population -- some 105,000 teachers and staff in day cares, preschools and K-12 school districts. The payoff Brown sees is clear: Fast and orderly vaccinations of educators could be accomplished in only a few weeks, state officials estimate, removing at least one of the barriers to open classrooms that have been shuttered for 10 months. Waiting until after seniors are eligible could delay the prospect of in-person learning by a few months. But Courtney Campbell, a professor of religion and culture at Oregon State University, believes there isnt an ethically justified defense for prioritizing daycare, preschool and K-12 employees over seniors. In determining who to vaccinate first, the state has confused the intended medical and public health purpose of the vaccine -- to end the pandemic -- with advancing the social goal of returning school children to classrooms, he said. It would seem to be an irresponsible use of a scarce resource to appropriate a vaccine developed for the medical purpose of fighting a pandemic for a non-medical social objective, such as opening schools, especially when (that) may mean others are placed at a higher risk of dying, Campbell said in an email to The Oregonian/OregonLive. Although Oregon more than a month ago opened vaccinations to healthcare workers and residents of nursing homes and other long-term care facilities because residents account for about half of all deaths, seniors living out on their own in the community who are part of neither group are still waiting for their turn. People age 65 and older account for about 84% of COVID-19 deaths in Oregon even though they make up 18.2% of the population. Each day vaccine access is delayed to that age group limits the ability to save lives. *** Oregons prioritized veterinarians and police, too Difficult decisions are being made in states across the country about who to vaccinate with limited doses. The federal government says its shipping out doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines based on adult population, so every state should receive roughly equal allotments per capita. Oregon officials expect to receive only about 1.1 million doses through the end of February, which isnt even enough to vaccinate one-sixth of all adult residents. But Oregons prospects of quickly vaccinating seniors is also saddled in part by what appears to be an abnormally large group that the governor has made eligible for inoculations for the past month. Before the first vaccines were shipped to states in December, the CDC recommended all vaccinate their healthcare workers -- because keeping them healthy and on the job is essential to preserving lives. The CDC also recommended immunizing long-term care facility residents because their populations have been disproportionately ravaged by the virus. This entire group is known as Phase 1a. Oregons governor followed that advice, agreeing to include an estimated 360,000 Oregonians in healthcare and long-term care facilities in the initial vaccine rollout. Brown and officials with the Oregon Health Authority, however, have faced criticism for allowing a portion of the people who work in the healthcare industry and have been able to work from home -- including some administrators, accountants, data analysts, IT technicians and marketing employees -- to get vaccinated as part of this group. On top of that, Brown also decided to prioritize an additional 140,000 Oregonians as part of Phase 1a -- and among them are employees of veterinary clinics that treat pets or livestock, anyone who enters a jail or prison for work including correctional officers and criminal defense attorneys, police, firefighters and people who live or work in group homes for the developmentally disabled. Although a CDC advisory committee said many of these people were essential workers and crucial to societys functions, the committee also said they should be prioritized in the next wave of vaccinations known as Phase 1b. Thats the same phase the committee placed teachers and other school educators. The committee also initially placed elderly Americans in this phase, before CDC leaders moved them up the line this month because of their higher risk of death. Oregons massive Phase 1a group -- 500,000 people -- accounts for about 12% of its residents. Thats a far larger group than its neighbors: Washington and Nevada each included about 6% of their populations in their first wave of inoculations. California and Idaho included about 8%. The extra 140,000 Oregonians that the state has obligated itself to vaccinate now means a longer wait for future groups -- first and foremost, seniors. Boyle, the governors office spokesman, said strictly following the CDC advisory committees recommendations for Phase 1a would have left many vulnerable Oregonians without access to vaccines. Boyle said even if the governor hadnt made this group of 140,000 eligible for vaccinations in the first wave, it wouldnt have saved enough vaccine for all of Oregons elderly. There are over 700,000 seniors living in Oregon -- had Gov. Brown left Oregon first responders or Oregonians with developmental disabilities vulnerable to COVID-19, there still would not be enough doses for Oregons seniors, Boyle wrote. The doses that would not have been earmarked, however, comes close to enough to immunize every Oregonian whos 80 and older. There are about 167,000 of them. Meanwhile, Brown has dug in telling the elderly theyll have to wait because of the Trump administrations empty promises. Other states, however, have done the opposite. Leaders in two states -- Colorado and Tennessee -- told local health officials whos started to vaccinate school employees to stop immediately so seniors could receive their doses first. In Washington, Gov. Jay Inslee said this week he is moving forward with plans to vaccinate all residents ages 65 and older and people ages 50 and older who live in multigenerational households. He described the step as really exciting news. The reason for this is clear, Inslee said. " ... Our vaccine prioritizations obviously reflect the need to protect these most vulnerable Washingtonians. Coronavirus in Oregon: Latest news | Live map tracker |Text alerts | Newsletter -- Aimee Green; agreen@oregonian.com; @o_aimee Staffers Brad Schmidt, Andrew Theen, Rob Davis and Fedor Zarkhin contributed to this story. The scene at Lewis Drive in east Belfast where detectives are investigating an overnight attack on a property on the street. Picture by Jonathan Porter/PressEye Justice Minister Naomi Long described a shooting incident in east Belfast as "very disturbing". The MLA for the area urged anyone with information to contact police. The incident happened in the Lewis Drive in the early hours of Friday. Police said a report was received at around 1.10am that a number of men had attempted to force entry to a house in the area. The men smashed windows and damaged a car parked in the driveway before making off on foot. Two shots were heard. There have been no reports of any injuries and police working to establish a motive. Expand Close Damage was caused to a car at the house. Pic Jonathan Porter / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Damage was caused to a car at the house. Pic Jonathan Porter A PSNI spokeman said: "Enquiries at an early stage and detectives at Musgrave would ask anyone with any information about this incident or who may be able to help with the investigation to call on the non-emergency number 101 quoting reference number 57 22/01/21, or to submit a report online using the non-emergency reporting form via http://www.psni.police.uk/makeareport/. "You can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at http://crimestoppers-uk.org/." 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 (Natural News) Americans who voted for Joe Biden under the belief that Antifa and Black Lives Matter rioting would stop once former President Donald Trump left office were sadly mistaken, as demonstrated on Wednesday. Shortly after Biden was named the 46th president of the United States we say named because he sure didnt win legitimately violence and rioting began anew in familiar cities: Portland, Seattle, Denver and others, all of which, purely by coincidence, were certain, are run by Democrats. Seems that the Antifa and BLM anarchists dont want the elderly Biden or his party, either. They just want anarchy. Oh, and revenge. As BizPac Review notes: A veritable welcoming committee of rioting far-left BLM/Antifa extremists in Portland and Seattle harassed locals, smashed businesses, and even vandalized the Democrat Party of Oregons headquarters during and after President Joe Bidens inauguration Wednesday. In Portland, the left-wing extremists rioted while chanting fk Joe Biden and carrying signs that read, WE DONT WANT BIDEN WE WANT REVENGE. The Democrat-enabled chickens have definitely come home to roost. For most of last year following the police-involved death of George Floyd (which should not have happened), BLM and Antifa rioters used the incident to cause mayhem, destroy city blocks, create lawless autonomous zones, and attack (and defund) police. And while Republicans and President Trump regularly denounced the rioting and violence, Democrats pushed back and became the anarchists biggest enablers. (Related: America up in flames like Democrat-run cities across America is the lefts goal for Joe Bidens presidency.) At one point, Vice President Kamala Harris, then still a U.S. senator, touted a get out of jail effort the Minnesota Freedom Fund which collected millions of dollars that were used to bail out rioters, including a number of really bad people who did some really awful things. Like Lionel Timms. CBS Minnesota reported in August: A 32-year-old Minneapolis man, who was bailed out of jail by the Minnesota Freedom Fund in July after an alleged assault, is accused in another assault that left the victim with a traumatic brain injury. According to the Hennepin County Attorneys Office, Lionel Timms faces one felony count of third-degree assault causing substantial bodily harm in connection to the Aug. 14 incident. Timms victim was hospitalized with a traumatic brain injury, bleeding on the brain, and a fractured skull, someone deemed Kamala-worthy. If youre able to, chip in now to the @MNFreedomFund to help post bail for those protesting on the ground in Minnesota. https://t.co/t8LXowKIbw Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) June 1, 2020 When Trump tried to offer federal assistance to the mayors of left-wing enclaves like Portland and Seattle, they essentially gave him the middle finger. Now, their cities are stuck with violence they excused, tolerated and enabled all for political benefit. Rioters tore up buildings, smashed windows, set fires and burned flags before besieging a federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility. Does anyone think Kamala wants to bail out the Antifa thugs and BLM anarchists who destroyed her partys Portland headquarters building??#enablerofterrorism Dancing Elvis (@JDHeyes) January 21, 2021 Federal officers declared a gathering outside the ICE facility in the south waterfront area of Portland an unlawful assembly late Wednesday night. The Portland Police Bureau tweeted that its officers had observed people damaging the building and implored them to stop damaging the ICE facility, reported KATU. Police said members of the group, which they estimate is made up of about 150 people, threw rocks and eggs at the ICE building in addition to vandalizing it, the outlet continued. NEW Police announcing now that Antifa needs to stop damaging the Democratic Party headquarters of Oregon.pic.twitter.com/KBlAZ4OvLP Disclose.tv (@disclosetv) January 20, 2021 But hey while the rioters who broke into the U.S. Capitol Building have been deemed insurrectionists by Democrats, those same Democrats have called the very same behavior demonstrated Wednesday, and most all of last year, by Marxist thugs mostly peaceful protesting. And now they are reaping what they have sown. Intelligence reports seen by this correspondent for months have indicated that the anarchist left was never going to accept Trump or Biden-Harris, and those reports have been borne out. The only unknown at this point is how the Biden regime will deal with them, if it will deal with them. See more reporting like this at AntifaWatch.news. Sources include: BizPacReview.com KATU.com NewsTarget.com Verizon News|Automotive Aftermarket For Spark Plugs to Show Inferior Growth Due to the Increase in the COVID-19 Spread | Technavio LONDON--Technavio has been monitoring the automotive aftermarket for spark plugs and it is poised to grow by USD 115.00 million during 2021-2025, progressing at a CAGR of almost 2% during the forecast period. The report offers an up-to-date analysis regarding the current market scenario, the latest trends and drivers, and the overall market environment. Click & Get a Free sample report in minutes Impact of COVID-19 The COVID-19 pandemic continues to transform the growth of various industries, however, the immediate impact of the outbreak is varied. While a few industries will register a drop in demand, numerous others will continue to remain unscathed and show promising growth opportunities. COVID-19 will have a low impact on the automotive aftermarket for spark plugs. The market growth in 2021 is likely to increase compared to market growth in 2019. Frequently Asked Questions: Based on segmentation by the application, which is the leading segment in the market? The passenger cars are the leading segment in the market. The passenger cars are the leading segment in the market. What are the major trends in the market? The development of better-designed spark plugs for GDI engines is the major trend in the market. The development of better-designed spark plugs for GDI engines is the major trend in the market. At what rate is the market projected to grow? The market is projected to accelerate at a CAGR of almost 2%. The market is projected to accelerate at a CAGR of almost 2%. Who are the top players in the market? Delphi Technologies Plc, DENSO Corp., Fram Group, General Motors Co., HELLA GmbH & Co. KGaA, Magneti Marelli After Market Parts and Services Spa, NGK SPARK PLUG Co. Ltd., Robert Bosch GmbH, Valeo SA, WeiChai Holding Group Co. Ltd. are the top players in the market. Delphi Technologies Plc, DENSO Corp., Fram Group, General Motors Co., HELLA GmbH & Co. KGaA, Magneti Marelli After Market Parts and Services Spa, NGK SPARK PLUG Co. Ltd., Robert Bosch GmbH, Valeo SA, WeiChai Holding Group Co. Ltd. are the top players in the market. What are the key market drivers and challenges? The market is driven by the increase in parc vehicles. However, the development of super-efficient engines without spark plugs will challenge growth. The market is driven by the increase in parc vehicles. However, the development of super-efficient engines without spark plugs will challenge growth. How big is the APAC market? 78% of the markets growth will originate from APAC during the forecast period. Related Reports on Consumer Discretionary Include: Global Automotive Knock Sensor Market- The automotive knock sensor market is segmented by application (passenger cars and commercial vehicles), geography (APAC, Europe, North America, South America, and MEA), and key vendors. Click Here to Get an Exclusive Free Sample Report Global Automotive Vents Market- The automotive vents market is segmented by components (automotive electronics, automotive electrical motors, automotive lighting, automotive powertrain, and others), geography (APAC, Europe, MEA, North America, and South America), and key vendors. Click Here to Get an Exclusive Free Sample Report Buy 1 Technavio report and get the second for 50% off. Buy 2 Technavio reports and get the third for free. View market snapshot before purchasing The market is concentrated, and the degree of concentration will accelerate during the forecast period. Delphi Technologies Plc, DENSO Corp., Fram Group, General Motors Co., HELLA GmbH & Co. KGaA, Magneti Marelli After Market Parts and Services Spa, NGK SPARK PLUG Co. Ltd., Robert Bosch GmbH, Valeo SA, and WeiChai Holding Group Co. Ltd. are some of the major market participants. Although the increase in the parc vehicles will offer immense growth opportunities, the development of super-efficient engines without spark plugs is likely to pose a challenge for the market vendors. In a bid to help players strengthen their market foothold, this automotive aftermarket for spark plugs forecast report provides a detailed analysis of the leading market vendors. The report also empowers industry honchos with information on the competitive landscape and insights into the different product offerings offered by various companies. Technavio's custom research reports offer detailed insights on the impact of COVID-19 at an industry level, a regional level, and subsequent supply chain operations. This customized report will also help clients keep up with new product launches in direct & indirect COVID-19 related markets, upcoming vaccines and pipeline analysis, and significant developments in vendor operations and government regulations. Automotive Aftermarket for Spark Plugs 2021-2025: Segmentation The automotive aftermarket for spark plugs is segmented as below: Application Passenger Cars Commercial Vehicles Geography APAC North America Europe MEA South America To learn more about the global trends impacting the future of market research, download a free sample: https://www.technavio.com/talk-to-us?report=IRTNTR46637 Automotive Aftermarket for Spark Plugs 2021-2025: Scope Technavio presents a detailed picture of the market by the way of study, synthesis, and summation of data from multiple sources. The automotive aftermarket for spark plugs report covers the following areas: Automotive Aftermarket for Spark Plugs Size Automotive Aftermarket for Spark Plugs Trends Automotive Aftermarket for Spark Plugs Industry Analysis This study identifies the development of better-designed spark plugs for GDI engines as one of the prime reasons driving the automotive aftermarket for spark plugs growth during the next few years. Technavio suggests three forecast scenarios (optimistic, probable, and pessimistic) considering the impact of COVID-19. Technavios in-depth research has direct and indirect COVID-19 impacted market research reports. Register for a free trial today and gain instant access to 17,000+ market research reports. Technavio's SUBSCRIPTION platform Automotive Aftermarket for Spark Plugs 2021-2025: Key Highlights CAGR of the market during the forecast period 2021-2025 Detailed information on factors that will assist automotive aftermarket for spark plugs growth during the next five years Estimation of the automotive aftermarket for spark plugs size and its contribution to the parent market Predictions on upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior The growth of the automotive aftermarket for spark plugs Analysis of the markets competitive landscape and detailed information on vendors Comprehensive details of factors that will challenge the growth of automotive aftermarket for spark plugs vendors Table of Contents: Executive Summary Market Landscape Market ecosystem Value chain analysis Market Sizing Market definition Market segment analysis Market size 2020 Market outlook: Forecast for 2020 - 2025 Five Forces Analysis Five force summary Bargaining power of buyers Bargaining power of suppliers Threat of new entrants Threat of substitutes Threat of rivalry Market condition Market Segmentation by Application Market segments Comparison by Application Passenger cars - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 Commercial vehicles - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 Market opportunity by Application Customer landscape Geographic Landscape Geographic segmentation Geographic comparison APAC - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 North America - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 Europe - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 MEA - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 South America - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 Key leading countries Market opportunity by geography Market drivers Market challenges Market trends Vendor Landscape Vendor landscape Landscape disruption Vendor Analysis Vendors covered Market positioning of vendors Delphi Technologies Plc DENSO Corp. Fram Group General Motors Co. HELLA GmbH & Co. KGaA Magneti Marelli After Market Parts and Services Spa NGK SPARK PLUG Co. Ltd. Robert Bosch GmbH Valeo SA WeiChai Holding Group Co. Ltd. Appendix Scope of the report Currency conversion rates for US$ Research methodology List of abbreviations About Us Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis 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, Technavios 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 Technavios 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. ALBANY Republican lawmakers in the state Legislature on Friday blasted their Democratic counterparts or what they described as a move to eliminate minority voices in the redistricting process following a vote to amend the state Constitution earlier this week. The legislation approved by both chambers earlier in the week was the second time legislators have voted on the constitutional amendment, which seeks to speed up the redistricting process after the coronavirus pandemic delayed the U.S. Census count last year and neutralized the often highly politicized process. One of those adjustments included eliminating the two-pronged approach for how the maps are approved with one set of guidelines for when both houses are controlled by one party and another for when the houses are bipartisan. Deputy Majority Leader Michael Gianaris, who sponsored the amendment, said the language made it so that if the Senate is in Republican hands, redistricting maps only needed a simple majority vote, but if it was democratically controlled, the approval would need a supermajority. The language in the Constitution is being left largely intact. What were doing is fixing the gross inequities that (Republicans) tried to bake into the Constitution decades ago, Gianaris said. Theyre upset that we are taking away the partisan advantage they put in. Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay called on good-government groups to push back on the amendment in a letter Thursday. While some of your organizations have expressed well-founded opposition to the legislation, I hope all good-government groups will do their part in educating the public about the flawed process and priorities that resulted in the upcoming referendum, Barclay wrote. Barclay argued that the redistricting process for 2022 was approved overwhelmingly by the Legislature in 2012 and again in 2013, and New Yorkers approved it in 2014. New Yorkers will be asked to weigh in on the latest constitutional amendment in November in a ballot referendum. Gianaris pointed out that the amendment makes some other significant changes, including designating 63 Senate districts and preventing district lines from being split in cities. When Republicans were in the majority, Gianaris said, they added Senate seats to maintain a majority and drew lines dividing city districts among multiple legislators to dilute Democratic voices. So what they are upset about is that they will not get to continue New Yorks status as the worst gerrymandered state in the country, he said. 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. 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." Dr. Bruce Liese, Study Lead Author and Professor of Family Medicine and Psychiatry, University of Kansas Medical Center, Clinical Director at Cofrin Logan Center 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. New Delhi, Jan 22 : The deadlock between the farmers' leaders and the government over the three farm laws seems to continue as the 11th round of talks on Friday at Vigyan Bhawan lasted till lunch only and ended without a solution. No date for the next round of talks has been decided yet and the meeting will be held whenever farmer leaders are ready for a dialogue on the proposal given by the government in the 10th round of talks, on January 20. The ministers came to the hall for five minutes after lunch but no discussion happened. Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar clearly refused to repeal the laws while farmers' leaders said that they will continue their protest. Farmer leader Shiv Kumar Kakka told IANS that Friday's meeting was very disappointing. "At lunch, the ministers asked us to discuss the issues among ourselves and left. We kept waiting for them for more than two hours after lunch and later the meeting was called off." Another leader Harpreet Singh said the discussion was held for only 20-25 minutes before lunch. "When the ministers came back after lunch, they asked us to rethink about rejecting the government's proposal to suspend the new farm laws for one and half years. Apart from this, the government cannot do anything. After this, they left." Farmers' leader Balwant Singh said the stalemate continues after Friday's meeting as the government has clearly refused to repeal the laws while the farmers have said that they will continue the protest. "The Union Agriculture Minister said that consider the proposal that we have given as we don't have a better proposal than this. If you (farmers) have any proposal, then tell us, the government will consider it." On the other hand, Tomar told farmers, "The government is thankful for your cooperation. There is no problem with the laws. Considering your demands, we had made a proposal for you but you couldn't arrive at any decision. We will discuss it again but as of now no date is confirmed for a future meeting." -- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 22) The Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) is optimistic that it can register over 100 billion new investment commitments this year, despite failing to hit its 2020 target. The focus of the agency this 2021 remains on enticing and keeping investors, as well as generating more jobs even with the global health crisis, and with the pending approval of the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises (CREATE) bill. "Best aggressive PEZA target is to attain three digits, more than a hundred billion against last year's P95 billion," director general Charito Plaza was quoted as saying in a statement on Friday. "But we don't want to be promising high figures," she added. Last year, the PEZA failed to reach its goal of 100 billion in investment pledges due to the COVID-19 pandemic which delayed investment approvals and affected investor confidence. In 2020, foreign investments were up by 21.26 percent to 59.73 billion compared to 2019's 49.26 billion, but local investments dropped 48 percent to 35.3 billion. For the first week of January, the agency reported that 2,608 registered companies have continued operating with 1.116 million employees working under various work arrangements. Ten months into the pandemic, BalletXs Beyond series of filmed world premieres continues to feel fresh and necessary, despite offering very quick bites. In the latest series, released Wednesday night, the dance comes alive off the screen. The styles of dance and the themes here are nicely varied, and on-location filming offers a chance for us to visit spots that are more difficult to experience now. The program runs for less than half an hour. Manuel Vignoulles Heal is set in a warmer season in Awbury Arboretum, West Mill Creek Park, and Washington Square West to vocals by Li Osc. This is a pandemic piece, with stories of too much solitude and too little. A dancer in a padded room rages against his space. One in a mask of mummy bandages struggles to break free. A couple in the leafy outdoors are bonded a little too closely. A dancer slides through a slurry of mud, aiming for clarity. The music, movement, and lovely autumnal setting are the healing balm the title promises. Tsai Hsi Hungs Two X Two was filmed in the Franklin Institutes original reading room for the first Patent Library in the United States. Set to music by Luca DAlberto, it has two dancers approaching, avoiding, and exploring each other. Their movements are borrowed from martial arts; the choreographer sees the dancers as a tiger and a dragon. The room is ornate, the costumes a mix of ceremonial robes and stylized topcoats, and the dancing an interesting blend of stalking, soft exploration, and sharp jabs. Francesca Harpers THAW is a now-rare group piece, set for seven dancers (mostly filmed in smaller groups) and set to music by Arcoiris Sandoval and slowdanger. Harpers piece was inspired by the Supreme Court decision in Loving v. Virginia, which struck down laws banning interracial marriage, as well as the work of Alice Dunbar-Nelson, a Philadelphia poet and social justice advocate. The choreography felt especially powerful given the works Inauguration Day premiere, as new Vice President Kamala Harris was setting a series of historic firsts. BalletX is small but diverse, and in this piece, the dancers explore both their individuality and their commonality. A dancer shines a light on another who is looking deep into a mirror. We see them in close-up. They record each other on phones which project onto a wall. New company dancer Ashley Simpson is particularly stunning here, with soft, controlled movements. Harpers look at interracial relationships is especially poignant. DANCE REVIEW BalletX Premieres Available until Aug. 31 with a BalletX Beyond subscription. Fees are $15 a month for a basic plan and $30 for an upgrade with extras, including behind-the-scenes documentaries. Information at balletx.org. The views expressed by public comments are not those of this company or its affiliated companies. Please note by clicking on "Post" you acknowledge that you have read the TERMS OF USE and the comment you are posting is in compliance with such terms. Your comments may be used on air. Be polite. Inappropriate posts or posts containing offsite links, images, GIFs, inappropriate language, or memes may be removed by the moderator. Job listings and similar posts are likely automated SPAM messages from Facebook and are not placed by WFMZ-TV. A man who tried to sexually assault a woman who was walking along a Burlington County highway before being stopped by a good Samaritan was sentenced Thursday to 18 years in state prison, authorities said. Donald Cramer Jr., 54, of Philadelphia pleaded guilty in September to attempted aggravated sexual assault, according to a statement from the Burlington County Prosecutors Office. The woman was walking along Route 73 in Mount Laurel on the afternoon of June 6, 2019, when Cramer grabbed her and pulled her to a wooded section near the I-295 northbound exit ramp, the office said. A Burlington County resident, John Bishop, was driving by at the time, witnessed the attack, pulled over and ran to help the woman, officials said. He was able to subdue Cramer until Mount Laurel Township police officers arrived and took him into custody. I grabbed (Cramer) by the arm and bent it back, Bishop told NBC Philadelphia in 2019. (I grabbed him) by the back of his pants and I drug him up the hill and threw him to the ground. The victim, a woman in her fifties, met Bishop for the first time following the sentencing, officials said. She and her husband said they were extremely grateful for his courageous and selfless actions. It was a privilege to see this emotional meeting between this brave survivor and the gentleman who put himself in harms way to rescue her from this awful attack, Burlington County Prosecutor Scott Coffina said in a statement. By intervening to help a stranger without regard for his own safety, Mr. Bishop reflects, as Abraham Lincoln once said, the better angels of our nature. And I cannot say enough about our survivor, who bravely fought her attacker during the crime, and was determined to see that justice was done in this case, and to make certain that this defendant could not harm anyone else. 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. DUBLIN, Jan. 22, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The "5G Network Deployment Catalyzes the Global Communications Test and Measurement Market" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The COVID-19 pandemic caught most of the world off guard, forcing governments to impose lockdowns. Wireless communications, therefore, became the lifeline of enterprises whose employees were forced to work from home (WFH). Although the pandemic could be seen as a viable opportunity for operators and service providers to capitalize upon demand, that was not the case. The network operator and service provider community was instead challenged by an inability to adequately scale their infrastructure to accommodate the surge in traffic on their networks. This affected the quality of service and experience for subscribers. The fact that larger enterprises now have a WFH workforce means that data has become more vulnerable to malware such as distributed denial of service (DDoS) and ransomware attacks. Service providers and enterprises require solutions that ensure high quality of service and experience while securing the integrity of proprietary data from theft. While network operators remain on course to deploy a full-fledged 5G network, the WFH phenomenon has caused many people to migrate to tier II and III towns and cities, which are less dense than the mega cities they lived in previously. This shift has mitigated the urgency in deployment of small cell clusters that have high throughput but very low coverage. Network operators have instead used radio frequency (RF) planning solutions with active network testing to efficiently deploy 5G networks. Although COVID-19 has slowed down 5G networks to a certain degree, at the same time, significant congestion has bombarded LTE broadband networks. Simultaneously, there has been major development in connected vehicles and Industrial Internet of Things ( IIoT) technologies, which will require testing solutions that are predominantly used in the communications industry. While a lot of work remains in the development of 5G, work on 6G has just started. This has pushed demand for equipment that can test terahertz (THz) wave technologies, particularly for research and development (R&D). However, a considerable work remains in standardizing the new 6G network. Demand for the type of testing solution required would therefore be restricted to those that test the physical layer. From a geographic perspective, North America and Asia-Pacific lead the wireless communications industry. Led by the United States, North America has made important strides in 5G. The region is also home to large web-scale companies such as Amazon Web Services (AWS), which provide cloud-based services to the enterprise, and video-on-demand content providers like Netflix. Asia-Pacific is led by China, South Korea, and Taiwan, who are all making significant progress in 5G deployments. Research Scope This global study of the communications test and measurement market takes into account revenue generated from 4 key regions: North America , Europe , Asia-Pacific , and the Rest of the World. , , , and the Rest of the World. Revenue was calculated by aggregating revenue contributions from individual testing vendors. The study period begins in 2017 and forecasts end in 2025. Testing equipment/solution type: RF testing equipment, FOTE, Ethernet testing solutions, network performance test and monitoring Area of application: R&D, manufacturing, installation & maintenance Type of end user: Network equipment manufacturers (NEM), service providers, chipset manufacturers, enterprise, others (manufacturers of fiber optic components) Key Topics Covered: 1. Strategic Imperatives Why is it Increasingly Difficult to Grow? The Strategic Imperative The Impact of the Top Three Strategic Imperatives on the Communications Test and Measurement Industry About the Growth Pipeline Engine Growth Opportunities Fuel the Growth Pipeline Engine 2, Growth Opportunity Analysis, Communications Test and Measurement Market Communications Test and Measurement Market - Scope of Analysis Communications Test and Measurement Market Segmentation Key Competitors in the Communications Test and Measurement Market Key Growth Metrics for Communications Test and Measurement Market Growth Drivers for Communications Test and Measurement Market Growth Driver Analysis for Communications Test and Measurement Market Growth Restraints for Communications Test and Measurement Market Growth Restraint Analysis for Communications Test and Measurement Market Forecast Assumptions, Communications Test and Measurement Market Revenue Forecast, Communications Test and Measurement Market Revenue Forecast by Product, Communications Test and Measurement Market Revenue Forecast Analysis, Communications Test and Measurement Market Revenue Forecast by Region, Communications Test and Measurement Market Revenue Forecast Analysis by Region, Communications Test and Measurement Market Revenue Forecast By End User, Communications Test and Measurement Market Revenue Forecast Analysis by End User, Communications Test and Measurement Market Revenue Forecast by Application, Communications Test and Measurement Market Revenue Forecast Analysis by Application, Communications Test and Measurement Market Competitive Environment, Communications Test and Measurement Market Market Share, Communications Test and Measurement Market Market Share Analysis, Communications Test and Measurement Market Company Profile - Keysight Technologies Company Profile - VIAVI Solutions Company Profile - Rohde & Schwarz Company Profile - Anritsu Company Profile - Spirent Communications Company Profile - NETSCOUT Company Profile - NI Company Profile - EXFO 3. Growth Opportunity Analysis, RF Testing Equipment 4. Growth Opportunity Analysis, Ethernet Testing Solutions 5. Growth Opportunity Analysis, FOTE 6. Growth Opportunity Analysis, Network Performance Test and Monitoring 7. Growth Opportunity Universe, Communications Test and Measurement Market Growth Opportunity 1 - 5G Services Would Require Innovative Testing Solutions, 2019 Growth Opportunity 2 - 6G Services Would Require Solutions that Can Test in THz Frequency Range, 2019 in THz Frequency Range, 2019 Growth Opportunity 3 - Fully Autonomous Vehicles Would Require Customized Communications Test Solution, 2019 Growth Opportunity 4 - COVID-19 and the New Normal, 2020 Growth Opportunity 5 - The Proliferation of IIoT, 2019 8. Next steps Companies Mentioned Anritsu EXFO Keysight Technologies NETSCOUT NI Rohde & Schwarz Spirent Communications VIAVI Solutions For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/sq16py 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 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1904 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 SOURCE Research and Markets Related Links http://www.researchandmarkets.com MIDDLETOWN Local environmentalists are opposing a plan by NRG Energy to replace two turbines at the Middletown natural gas plant, saying increasing generation has the potential to increase pollution by up to 76 tons per year, as well as release five times more carbon dioxide. The company, meanwhile, said the two turbines would be replaced with one generator that produces fewer emissions and is able to be converted to renewable energy in the future. Data is based on information from the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, said The Jonah Center Executive Director John Hall, who led a virtual meeting this week to address the issue. Hall said the move will increase hazardous air pollution that already affects our residents, especially those with compromised health, and worsen climate change. The plant, at 1866 River Road, runs on turbines built in the 1950s and early 60s, which currently run only for a few days in summer, Hall said. NRGs intention is to keep it operating 182 days per year, he said. Natural gas may be cleaner than coal, but thats not to say its clean enough, Hall said Thursday. Generating one megawatt hour of power with natural gas has fewer emissions than producing that same amount with coal, Hall said. There is going to be an increase in particulate matter, which is very damaging to the lungs, Hall said. Most of these particles are very small and are easily inhaled, which causes lung damage, asthma and threatens respiratory health, Hall said. The Common Council in September unanimously approved a resolution declaring a climate emergency. The goal is to end city-generated greenhouse gas emissions by or before Dec. 31, 2030. At the Middletown generating facility, NRG plans to replace two nearly 70-year-old power generators with one lower emitting state-of-the-art fast start generator that is capable of being converted to operate on renewable hydrogen fuel in the future, NRG Communications Manager East Dave Schrader said. Repowering with new, more flexible technology will result in significantly lower emissions and reduced impact on the Connecticut River, while supporting increased use of renewable energy resources like wind and solar in Connecticut, Schrader said. Were not expanding the size of the facility, and the power generation capacity of the facility will be about the same while becoming much more efficient. Mayor Ben Florsheim, who has spoken with NRG, said the turbine project dates back a few years, and is also in limbo right now for regulatory reasons. He met a couple of months ago with company officials to understand the issue, and said he was told the project was unlikely to get the approvals it needs to move ahead this year. I mentioned to them I had been starting to hear some questions and concerns about the emissions impact, understandably, said Florsheim, who is looking forward to NRG giving a presentation to city officials in the coming months. The case they have made is this is going to be a net benefit in terms of lowering emissions. Local concerns raised by The Jonah Center and others are the permit for being able to run that turbine for longer than theyre currently doing. Theyre not trying to increase the emissions coming out of that plant, but decrease them, Florsheim said. The environment doesnt get a vote in any of this doesnt even get a seat at the table. We are overpowered by all these large corporate interests, but there has to be someone who is standing up for the environment, and the creatures, and our basic global ecosystem, Hall said during the meeting. The mayor is anticipating a good conversation with NRG officials, he said. They are willing to answer those questions, so Im hopeful there can be an opportunity to make that happen in the near future, Florsheim said. Hall is asking supporters to share their opinions with state and local leaders by emailing governor.lamont@ct.gov, mayor@middletownct.gov or council@middletownct.gov. Uzal H. Martz Jr. commanded and earned respect wherever he went and whatever he did, especially as publisher of the Republican Herald, a Times-Shamrock newspaper, for more than 30 years. I still call him Mr. Martz, Henry H. Nyce, who succeeded him as publisher, said Wednesday. Martz, 86, of Raleigh, North Carolina, died Tuesday. Formerly of Pottsville, Martz became the newspapers publisher in 1969, when it was still The Pottsville Republican. He served until retiring in 2003 when Scranton-based Times-Shamrock Communications bought the Republican Herald from J.H. Zerbey Newspapers Inc. A graduate of Pomona College, Claremont, California, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, Martz combined small-town values with his engineering background to lead the newspaper into the 21st century. He was very professional, Nyce said. Everything had to be perfect, no glitches, no anything. He was very complete. Martz moved the newspaper into the computer age, using his engineering background to help develop the electronic production of pages. The newspaper became a leader in using computer technology in all areas of production, including advertising, business and circulation. He was conservative and innovative at the same time, his sister, Johanne Martz, who lives in the Orwigsburg area, said Wednesday. James C. Kevlin, currently editor and publisher of The Freemans Journal in Cooperstown, New York, served as editor of the Republican Herald under Martz, and learned a lot from him. He had high expectations for himself and the people who worked for him, Kevlin said. I dont go through a day ... without doing something I learned under his tutelage. Kevlin said Martz was a visionary in the newspaper business, foreseeing that it had to embrace technology. The Republican Herald had a uniform resource locator (URL), or web address, very early in their development, and in the 1990s pioneered the INFO-CONNECT system, which allowed phone callers to hear the latest news. Those developments were a result of Martzs vision, Kevlin said. He was a very fine man, Kevlin said. I am proud to have worked for him. Pulitzer prize One of the defining moments of Martzs career came in 1979, when the newspaper won journalisms highest award, the Pulitzer Prize, for local investigative specialized reporting. Staff writers Gilbert M. Gaul and Elliot G. Jaspin received the award for their stories on the destruction of the Blue Coal Co. due to its ties with organized crime and the $20 million financial burden it left to the states taxpayers. Theres only one reason it happened and thats because (Martz) was an extraordinary publisher, Gaul said in 2019. He understood that doing this kind of reporting was part of what a good newspaper should do. Mike Joyce, the current publisher of the Republican Herald, said Martz exemplified leadership in everything he did. He was a leader in the community and in our industry, both within the state and within the country, Joyce said. He was very dedicated to what was then called new media, but never faltered in his support of traditional media. Mr. Martz was an exceptional publisher, leading this community newspaper to a Pulitzer Prize, and always having a vision of where he wanted the newspaper to be. Im happy I had a chance to work with him. Those leadership qualities manifested themselves across the state and national sectors of the newspaper industry. At various times in his career, he was elected as president or chairman of the Pennsylvania Newspaper Publishers Association, the Pennsylvania Associated Press Publishers Association, the American Newspaper Publishers Association, the Newspaper Association of America and the International Newspaper Financial Executives. In 2000, he was elected to the Associated Press Board, serving until his retirement in 2003. Martz also won the Benjamin Franklin Award for innovation from the Pennsylvania Newspaper Association. The press is mentioned by name in the First Amendment to our Constitution, his son Cameron Martz said. He saw that as an obligation for the newspaper to protect and promote freedom of speech for the citizens it served. However, his leadership extended well beyond the newspaper industry. Church, civic roles Martz was an active lay leader in his church, First United Methodist of Pottsville. He also served on the boards of the Hawk Mountain Council of the Boy Scouts of America and Schuylkill Economic Development Corp. and allowed his wife, C. Jun Martz, to take the lead on the board of the Schuylkill Symphony Orchestra. Frank J. Zukas, president of the Schuylkill Economic Development Corp., said Martz helped revitalize the county by his service on the groups board. He took specific focus that the Republican (Herald) ... could add to creating a positive attitude to development in Schuylkill County, Zukas said. That, in turn, resulted in changed local attitudes and aided county economic growth, according to Zukas. He made economic development a good word instead of a bad word, Zukas said. City Administrator Thomas Palamar said Martzs death is a loss in many ways. He was a gentlemen. When you are around people who arent, you really appreciate people who are, Palamar said. Palamar said Martzs death underscores the importance of a newspaper to its community. Local news was always something he cared a great deal about, Palamar said. He truly cared about the community he lived in and served. Setting an example For Martz, local news was not confined to Pottsville, but extended across Schuylkill County. Ed Schreppel, the last editor of the Shenandoah Evening Herald, learned that when his newspaper merged with The Republican in 1995 to become the Republican Herald and he joined the new staff. I can only be grateful to the Republican and Mr. Martz, Schreppel said. The fact that I had a job and was able to continue, I was very grateful for that. Schreppel said it took time to adjust to the new newspaper. It was traumatic, the change, he said. Things were done differently. Thats just a change you have to deal with. However, Martz made the change easier to take, and Schreppel is happy to have worked for him. I dont have anything bad to say about Mr. Martz, Schreppel said. Neither does Eric Martz, Uzal Martzs other son, who said his father always will be his role model. He was one of the most honest people Ive known, Eric Martz said. He set an example I strive for to this day. Unknown gunmen have opened fire on Bassel Haswani, the son of prominent business man George Haswani, who was recently implicated in the purchase of the ammonium nitrate that exploded at Beirut port reports Alhurra. Days after information started circulating about the involvement of Syrian-Russian businessman George Haswani, in facilitating the shipment of ammonium nitrate, which was stored for years in the port of Beirut and exploded on Aug. 4, 2020, his son, Bassel, was subjected to an assassination attempt in his hometown of Yabroud (north of Damascus) on Tuesday night. A number of Yabroud residents confirmed, in an interview with Alhurra, that a shooting targeted Bassel George Haswani on Tuesday night, but he was not hurt. Bassel Haswani, like his father, is a businessman. The two men have great influence in Damascus. Bassel owns Massa for Oil Production, which specializes in trading oil derivatives and building oil-related installations. The company obtained a license to begin operations on Feb. 2, 2020, with a capital of only 10 million Syrian pounds, according to sources Alhurra spoke with. The young man enjoys strong influence in Damascus and its countryside because of his fathers social and financial standing, and he is known for wandering around with a group of his militants with weapons on his person, as well as his absolute support for the regime of Bashar al-Assad. As for his father, George Haswani, he is one of the most prominent businessmen in Syria. He owns HESCO Engineering and Construction, known as the oil empire in regime circles in Syria, according to the same sources. George is known as Russias man in Damascus. He is a Christian and supports the regime. He was accused of playing the role of mediator with the Islamic State (ISIS) and Jabhat al-Nusra (al-Nusra Front) to supply Assad with oil. He is considered the de-facto ruler of Yabroud, especially since he managed to neutralize the city from armed conflicts throughout the crisis and provided Jabhat al-Nusra members and their leader, Abu Malek al-Talli, with money in exchange for keeping tabs on their activity in the city, according to the same sources. Regarding the assassination attempt, Syrian journalist and the founder of the All4Syria website, Ayman Abdel Nour, said in an interview with Alhurra that, there are two theories. The first being that Bassel needed an excuse to leave Syria and go to Russia, where his father and sister have been living as of late, so he orchestrated the attempt. The second theory is that the assassination attempt is a direct message from the Syrian regime to George Haswani regarding the circumstances of the Beirut port explosion, noting that Haswani played the role of a mediator in shipping the ammonium nitrate solely in return for a financial commission, according to Nour. 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. The coronavirus pandemic has shattered economies, left more than two million dead and paralysed lives. Vaccination drives are now trying to bring hope of a new dawn. Ten AFP photographs taken this month, and paired with quotes from 10 people from the scene, spotlight the fight against Covid-19, showing how ordinary people across the world despair as well as hope, and mourn as well as battle to save lives. - Coffins in Germany - "We have stacked up a whole lot of coffins -- that means we have moved 750 tonnes of deceased (people)," says Joerg Schaldach, who runs a crematorium in Meissen, a town in eastern Germany. "The corona deniers... can come and touch all these for themselves." "We're now getting 400 in a week for cremation" -- in his words twice the typical number during winter. - Hunt for oxygen in Brazil - "Saturday was our worst moment because the oxygen was running out," says Roberto Freitas, 32, who spent two days searching for oxygen for his sister-in-law's father in Manaus, the epicentre of the coronavirus crisis in Brazil. An employee at the town hall "told me that the oxygen would not arrive and that I can rent a refrigerated truck (for the body)," he said. "You don't know what to think, only the worst. You just cry." - 'Dying of hunger' - "There is no work. Absolutely none," says 46-year-old Yuichiro, until recently a construction worker in Tokyo who did not want to give his second name. "This doesn't get reported much in the media, but many people are sleeping at train stations and in cardboard boxes. Some are dying of hunger." - 'Darkest period' - "It's most definitely the darkest period of my entire career. Most definitely," says palliative care supervisor Kari McGuire, fighting back tears over the "astronomical numbers" of patients dying at a rural hospital in Apple Valley, California. Story continues - 'So much death' - "It's hard. We're human, and we're trying our best," says nurse Vanessa Arias at Martin Luther King Jr Community Hospital in one of the poorest districts of Los Angeles. "But we've seen so much death during the past few weeks." - 'Discharged or die' - "For there to be room, one person has to be discharged or die. It's tough but it's the truth," said Angel Zuniga, a Red Cross coordinator in the Mexican city of Toluca. - Wuhan recovers - "Wuhan is the safest city in China now, even the whole world," says 66-year-old resident Xiong Liansheng. The coronavirus was first identified in the Chinese city in late 2019. But one-year after Wuhan saw the world's first lockdown, life is back to normal. - What's the point of fear? - "India is not like Europe... when it comes to immunity we are better," said 50-year-old Sanjay Sharma, one of hundreds of thousands of Hindu pilgrims defying concerns over the pandemic to take part in the Kumbh Mela festival. "The greatest truth on earth is death. What's the point of living with fear?" - Refrigerator full - "The weekend before, I turned down 16 families I couldn't do services for. You pretty much throw everything into a bucket and you pick a name, it's kind of sad but that's pretty much how it is," says Candy Boyd, owner of Boyd Funeral Home in Los Angeles. "We have a walk-in refrigerator but it's full," she added. "This is really unbelievable." - Respect the dead - "It is unheard of that an adult is buried by only a few people," said Harare resident Kepekepe, 49, who did not wish to give his full name. "It is against our culture to be buried by strangers in the midst of strangers. We want to be buried among our ancestors." jm-ach/pvh 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. NOIDA, India, Jan. 22, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- A comprehensive overview of the internet of medical things market is recently added by UnivDatos Market Insights to its humongous database. The internet of medical things market report has been aggregated by collecting informative data of various dynamics such as market drivers, restraints, and opportunities. This innovative report makes use of several analyses to get a closer outlook on the internet of medical things market. The internet of medical things market report offers a detailed analysis of the latest industry developments and trending factors in the market that are influencing the market growth. Furthermore, this statistical market research repository examines and estimates the internet of medical things market at the global and regional levels. The Global Internet of Medical Things market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 18.5% from 2021-2027 to reach US$ 284.5 billion by 2027. Market Overview The use of networking technologies for connecting medical equipment and applications with the healthcare information technology system is known as the internet of medical things. Devices such as smart wearables, portable smart monitors, and other health status checking smart devices are the key factors of the IoMT. In a study, it was found that as of 2018, near about 27% of healthcare organizations are thinking of implementing IoT while around 60% of healthcare enterprises have already implemented it. The benefits of IoMT include improved disease management, improved patient's outcome, betterment in diagnosis and treatment, improved management of medical records and pharmaceuticals, etc., Furthermore, a rise in connected medical devices and the emergence of new technologies is resulting in the growth of the market. In a study, it was revealed that there are around 50,000 medical technologies are available as of 2020. Also, it is estimated that the internet of medical things technology would save around US$ 300 billion expense annually in the healthcare sectors that are too through improved medication adherence and remote patient monitoring. Request Sample Copy of this Report @ https://univdatos.com/report/global-internet-of-medical-things-market:-current-analysis-and-forecast-2020-2027 COVID-19 Impact With the promulgating spread of CVVID-19, the healthcare industry is under extreme pressure and undergoing a major transformation. The lack of capacity across healthcare organizations and end-users ' preference for consulting and taking treatment through digital medium owing to the prevention from the infection and spread of the virus has increased the demand for IoMT. Moreover, the government's emphasis and the healthcare service provider's preference for the remote monitoring of patients' acting as a growth catalyst to the industry. Moreover, with the COVID-19 pandemic, the healthcare services providing organization has announced to increase their spending the connected medical delve. In a survey, it was found that as of 2020, connected medical devices accounted for around 48% of the total medical devices and by 2025, the share would increase to around 68%. Also, the connected devise manufacturer answered that they will increase R&D spending. As of 2020, the R&D sending on connected medical devices is around 34%, which would reach 42% by 2025. Ask for Price & Discounts @ https://univdatos.com/report/global-internet-of-medical-things-market:-current-analysis-and-forecast-2020-2027 The Internet of Medical Things Market report is studied thoroughly with several aspects that would help stakeholders in making their decisions more curated. By Component, the market is primarily bifurcated into Medical Devices System and Software Services Connected Technology Amongst components, the medical devices segment grabbed the major market share and it will grow at a CAGR of 16.9% to reach US$ 93.6 billion by the year 2027. By Medical Devices, the market is primarily segmented into Wearable External Medical Devices Implanted Medical Devices Stationary Medical Devices Amongst medical devices, wearable external medical devices accounted for the largest share and is expected to grow at 18.7% CAGR during the forecast period 2021-2027. In 2019, the wearable external medical devices segment accounted for a revenue share of almost 27.5% in 2019. By System and Software, the market is primarily segmented into Remote Device Management Network Bandwidth Management Data Analytics Application Security Network Security In 2019, the remote device management segment dominated the global internet of medical things market with nearly 52.3% of the market share and it is anticipated by 2027, the segment will garner US$ 42.5 billion of the market. By Services, the market is primarily segmented into Deployment and Integration Consulting Support and Maintenance Amongst services types, support and maintenance accounted for the largest share and is expected to grow at 18% CAGR during the forecast period 2021-2027. In 2019, the support and maintenance segment accounted for a revenue share of 47% in 2019. By Application, the market is primarily fragmented into Telemedicine Clinical Operations and Workflow Management Connected Imaging Inpatient Monitoring Medication Management Others In 2019, the telemedicine segment dominated the global internet of medical things market with nearly 31.2% of the market share and it is anticipated by 2027, the segment will garner US$ 78.6 billion of the market revenue. By End-User, the market is primarily fragmented into Hospitals, Surgical Centers, and Clinics Clinical Research Organizations Others Amongst end-users, hospitals, surgical centers, and Clinics accounted for the largest share and is expected to grow at 17.3% CAGR during the forecast period 2021-2027. In 2019, the hospitals, surgical center, and Clinics segment accounted for a revenue share of 74.9% in 2019. Internet of Medical Things Market Geographical Segmentation Includes: North America Europe Asia-Pacific Middle East & Africa & South America Based on the estimation, the North America region dominated the internet of medical things market with almost US$ 16.6 billion revenue in 2019. At the same time, the Asia-Pacific region is expected to grow remarkably with a CAGR of 20.8% over the forecast period owing to advancement in the healthcare sector and surging healthcare IT spending across countries. Ask for Report Customization @ https://univdatos.com/report/global-internet-of-medical-things-market:-current-analysis-and-forecast-2020-2027 The major players targeting the market includes Boston Scientific Corporation Cisco Systems GE Healthcare IBM Corporation iRhythm Technologies Koninklijke Philips N.V. Medtronic Microsoft Corporation SAP SE Welch Allyn Competitive Landscape The degree of competition among prominent global companies has been elaborated by analyzing several leading key players operating worldwide. The specialist team of research analysts sheds light on various traits such as global market competition, market share, most recent industry advancements, innovative product launches, partnerships, mergers, or acquisitions by leading companies in the Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) market. The leading players have been analyzed by using research methodologies for getting insight views on global competition. Key questions resolved through this analytical market research report include: What are the latest trends, new patterns, and technological advancements in the internet of medical things market? Which factors are influencing the internet of medical things market over the forecast period? What are the global challenges, threats, and risks on the internet of medical things market? Which factors are propelling and restraining the internet of medical things market? What are the demanding global regions of the internet of medical things market? What will be the global market size in the upcoming years? What are the crucial market acquisition strategies and policies applied by global companies? We understand the requirement of different businesses, regions, and countries, we offer customized reports as per your requirements of business nature and geography. Please let us know If you have any custom needs. For more informative information, please visit us @ https://univdatos.com/report/global-internet-of-medical-things-market:-current-analysis-and-forecast-2020-2027 Contact: UnivDatos Market Insights Pvt. Ltd. 4th & 5th Floor, C-80B, Sector 8, Noida, Pin code- 201301, UP, India Ph: +91-7838604911 Email: [email protected] SOURCE UnivDatos Market Insights BELLEVILLE Young artists across Illinois participated in Illinois American Waters annual art contest to illustrate the importance of reliable water service. Entries from 3rd, 4th and 5th grade students captured what water service means to them. Of the many entries received, Illinois American Water chose 15 winners who earned their classrooms a $100 donation. The winning artwork can be viewed at https://tinyurl.com/y4o86fya on Illinois American Waters Facebook page. Illinois American Water offers the contest in conjunction with the Value of Water Coalitions annual Imagine a Day Without Water event to raise awareness about the value of water service. Our local educators are our heroes every day, and especially during the pandemic. We thank them for helping us educate our young customers about the value of water service, not only for public health but also for fire protection, food preparation and more, said Illinois American Water President Justin Ladner. The art contest provides a unique opportunity to merge art with the science of water service. Our team was impressed with the number and quality of entries received from across the state. Statewide winners included Evelynn Ahlvers, 4th grader at Holy Family School in Granite City, and Anna Taylor, 5th grader at Holy Family School in Granite City. The winning artwork may be featured in future Illinois American Water customer communications. [January 22, 2021] Okayama University research: Plates and belts -- a toolkit to prevent accidental falls during invasive vascular procedures OKAYAMA, Japan, Jan. 22, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- In a study reported in Acta Medica Okayama , researchers at Okayama University describe an innovative plate that confines patients to their beds while undergoing vascular procedures thereby preventing unforeseen falls Patients undergoing hemodialysis (which requires the regular withdrawal of blood) often need to undergo interventional procedures that keep the blood vessels of the forearm dilated. Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA), the most common of these procedures, requires a surgeon to visualize microvessels within the arm using an X-ray while the patient lays supine on a motorized bed. Unfortunately, a complication that arises during PTA is the enhanced risk of falls from these elevated beds. Now, Assistant Professor OHARA Toshiaki from Okayama University and colleagues have developed a simple plate-like contraption which secures patients firmly onto their bed while providing the surgeon adequate space for the procedure. The vascular-access intervention assistance plate as the innovators named it is constructed from a durable and cost-effective polymer called polypropylene. The plate is structured to fit under the bed mattress, with a slit for inserting a thick belt that firmly tethers the patient to the bed, at the waist. Additionally, the plate has a lateral protrusion to accommodate and fasten the patient's arm using a strap. Adjacent to this, a space for placing surgical tools is also provided. To first calculate the strength of this contraption, plates of varying thickness were simulated to hold loads representative of standard patient weights. The penetration of X-rays through the plates was also verified to confirm that the polymeric material does not interfere with the imaging. Based on the simulations, the thickness of the plate was set at 7 millimeters. The team then looked at real-life patient data to check the device's effectiveness. Two groups of patients with similar profiles undergoing angioplasties were analyzed: one group that underwent PTAs without the plate (401 patients) and one with the plate (683 patients). Indeed, the former group had three patients fall, while the latter had none. The researchers also found that signs of dementia, a common cause of accidents and falls, were similar between the two groups. The incidence of falls was thus attributable to the set-up of the procedure and in fact preventable after securing patients to their beds with the plate. "The vascular-access intervention assistance plate provides good operability and safety, preventing accidental falls in patients undergoing hemodialysis or other procedures," summarizes the research team. Containing accidental falls is key to preventing further complications in patients undergoing hemodialysis, who are often severely ill and/or old. Introducing the plate into procedures can also enable minimal monitoring of the patient thereby allow medical staff to concentrate primarily on the surgery. Background Hemodialysis and angioplasties: Hemodialysis is a procedure that patients with kidney failure undergo wherein blood is drawn from the forearm and cleared of toxins outside the bod. Given the frequency and invasiveness of this procedure, blood vessels at the site of withdrawal often start constricting and make the process difficult. Thus, intrusive procedures such as percutaneous transluminal angioplasties or the introduction of a stent are usually performed which help dilate such blood vessels. An X-ray is employed to locate the site of constriction with precision. However, this makes the procedure cumbersome and requires minimal movement from the patient. Ancillary tools such as the vascular-access intervention assistance plate are, therefore, warranted to reduce unwanted complications like falls and aid with stillness during the procedure. Related figure https://www.okayama-u.ac.jp/up_load_files/research_highlights/123_image_1.jpg Caption Overview of the vascular-access intervention assisted plate. The plate is designed to have the indicated functions. (B) The plate is set on the bed of the X-ray system. The mattress and arm stand are set on the plate. (C) Falls are prevented by fixing the belt at the height of the ilium. Related Movies(YouTube) Reference Toshiaki Ohara, Kazufumi Sakurama, Satoshi Hiramatsu. New Vascular-Access Intervention Assistance Plate Provides Good Operability and Safety by Preventing Accidental Falls:First Experience of 1,872 Cases. Acta Medica Okayama, 2020, Vol.74, No.6, pp.505-511. DOI : http://doi.org/10.18926/AMO/60880 Related publications (Okayama University e-Bulletin & OU-MRU) : Assistant Professor OHARA's team OU-MRU Vol.22:Medical supportive device for hemodialysis catheter puncture OU-MRU Vol.50:Iron removal as a potential cancer therapy OU-MRU Vol.56:New device for assisting accurate hemodialysis catheter placement Correspondence to Assistant Professor OHARA Toshiaki, M.D., Ph.D. Department of Pathology & Experimental Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, Shikata-cho 2-5-1, Okayama-city, Okayama 700-8558, Japan E-mail: t_ohara(a)cc.okayama-u.ac.jp For inquiries, please contact us by replacing (a) with the @ mark. Department of Pathology & Experimental Medicine Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Further information Okayama University 1-1-1 Tsushima-naka , Kita-ku , Okayama 700-8530, Japan Public Relations Division E-mail: www-adm(a) adm.okayama-u.ac.jp For inquiries, please contact us by replacing (a) with the @ mark. Website: //www.okayama-u.ac.jp/index_e.html Okayama Univ. e-Bulletin: //www.okayama-u.ac.jp/user/kouhou/ebulletin/ Okayama University supports the Sustainable Development Goals: https://sdgs.okayama-u.ac.jp/en/ Okayama University Medical Research Updates (OU-MRU) The whole volume : OU-MRU (1- ) Vol.1:Innovative non-invasive 'liquid biopsy' method to capture circulating tumor cells from blood samples for genetic testing Vol.85:Promising imaging method for the early detection of dental caries View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/okayama-university-research-plates-and-belts--a-toolkit-to-prevent-accidental-falls-during-invasive-vascular-procedures-301213071.html SOURCE Okayama University Over 1,000 Christians have been killed this year in Nigeria as attacks led by Fulani extremists continue to plague rural farming communities in the Middle Belt, according to an estimation published by the U.K.-based nongovernmental organization Humanitarian Aid Relief Trust. HART, a nonprofit founded by U.K. member of Parliament Baroness Caroline Cox to "support people suffering from conflict and persecution," released a report last month sharing details and testimonies from a recent fact-finding mission to Nigeria. The Nov. 18 report is titled "Your Land or Your Body: The escalating persecution and displacement of Christians in northern and central Nigeria." A copy of the report was obtained by The Christian Post. "Islamist Fulani militia continue to engage in an aggressive and strategic land grabbing policy in Plateau, Benue, Taraba, Southern Kaduna and parts of Bauchi state," the report reads. "They attack rural villages, force villagers off their lands and settle in their place a a strategy that is epitomized by the phrase: 'your land or your blood.'" Fulanis are a predominantly Muslim nomadic people group of about 20 million across West and Central Africa. They have long come under tension with farming communities as the scarcity for land gets greater and the human populations get larger. While farmer-herder clashes are nothing new, the violence carried out against farming communities has increased in severity as thousands have been killed in the last several years. While the report states that the exact death toll for 2019 is unknown, "Preliminary data suggests that over 1,000 Christians have been killed since January." HART estimates that there have been more than 6,000 Christians killed since 2015 and as many as 12,000 displaced from their villages. "I have visited many of the affected areas and seen the tragedies of death and destruction,'" Cox said in a statement. "In every village, the message from local people is the same: 'Please, please help us! The Fulani are coming. We are not safe in our own homes.'" There was a rise in Fulani extremist attacks in the Kaduna state in 2019 after Christians were accused of a reprisal attack on a Fulani settlement that killed as many as 131 in February. According to the report, there were "five major attacks" in Kaduna between January and November, which resulted in a combined total of 500 deaths. A HART spokesperson clarified to CP that the 1,000 death estimation counts "predominantly people killed in Plateau, Southern Kaduna and Taraba states by Fulani Herdsmen" but also includes killings by Boko Haram in Borno state. The figure is partly based on Kaduna state government reports in February and March as well as media reports and reports from community leaders in Plateau state. The figure also includes Boko Haram terrorist killings of security officers and soldiers who were believed to be Christians. The finding comes as a Nigeria-based civil society organization reported that at least 2,400 Christians were killed in Nigeria in 2018. In July, the international human rights nongovernmental organization Jubilee Campaign sent a report to the International Criminal Court warning that the "standard of genocide has now been reached" in Nigeria. The Jubilee Campaign report highlighted 52 attacks on farming communities. Some have downplayed the role religion has played in the increase of violence in the Middle Belt, as some say that the violence is part of the decadeslong "herder-farmer" clashes that have escalated since farmers have settled on traditional grazing routes used by the herding communities. Although the underlying drivers of the violence in the Middle Belt are complex, the HART report stresses that violence against predominantly Christian communities "suggests that religion and ideology play a key part." According to HART, Christian pastors and community heads are often targeted in attacks, while hundreds of churches have been destroyed. "The attacks have, on occasion, led to retaliatory violence, as communities conclude that they can no longer rely on the government for protection or justice," the HART report reads. "However, we have seen no evidence of comparability of scale or equivalence of atrocities." The HART report also presents testimonies from survivors. "Our home is destroyed. The hospital was burnt. They tried to burn the roof of the church by piling up the chairs, like a bonfire," 38-year-old Antonia Aje from Karamai told HART. "Life is frightening. We sometimes receive messages of a renewed attack. So we run to hide. We have no means of defense. We don't have weapons to defend ourselves. There is no kind of security or vigilante support." Cox contends that the villagers' cry for help has continually been "ignored." "Something has to change a urgently," she stressed. "For the longer, we tolerate these massacres, the more we embolden the perpetrators. We give them a 'green light' to carry on killing." Nigeria ranks as the 12th-worst nation in the world when it comes to Christian persecution, according to Open Doors USA's 2019 World Watch List. Scott and Murphy reintroduce FEED Act; Bill allows federal government to pay all costs to states to partner with restaurants and provide food to vulnerable populations The City of Flint, Michigan, has agreed to pay Kristen Wells $35,000 to settle her federal lawsuit over the shooting death of her dog, Bailey, in October 2017 The City of Flint, Michigan, has agreed to pay a $35,000 settlement to a local dog owner, three years after a police officer fatally shot her Labrador mix named Bailey. The City Council signed off on the five-figure payout earlier this month to settle a federal lawsuit that had been filed by Kristen Wells in 2018, claiming her Fourth Amendment rights prohibiting the government from unreasonably destroying or seizing a citizens property had been violated, reported Mlive.com. In her complaint, Wells, a chaplain and counselor, said a Flint police officer was investigating an intruder report in the early morning hours of October 1, 2017, when he saw Bailey running at his flashlight in the yard and opened fire, critically injuring the dog that was being trained to help veterans. 'Bailey was a calm, well-trained, friendly dog and had never indicated any sort of aggressive and/or violent tendencies, even in eventful situations,' the lawsuit said. 'Labradors are generally smart, non-aggressive, friendly dogs lacking any violent tendencies and Bailey was no different.' The lawsuit named officer Dion Reed and the City of Flint as defendants. According to the complaint, the 911 call that brought Reed to the group home for wounded veterans on Commonwealth Avenue, where Wells had been living with Bailey during the dog's training as a support animal, was placed by her neighbor, who reported hearing people trying to get into his home. Bailey, a two-year-old Labrador mix, was being trained to become a service animal for veterans when a Flint cop fatally shot her (pictured in the hospital) Wells and Bailey were in the shared yard when they heard a noise and saw a flashlight. When the black-and-white two-year-old dog heard the noise, she started to run in the direction of the light, which was coming from Reed's flashlight. Reed, who had his gun drawn, fired a round that struck the dog. According to Wells' lawsuit, the officer never announced his presence, or identified himself as police. In a Facebook post two weeks later, Wells described how she screamed and ran into the house with her dog that was bleeding profusely. She said she and her housemates believed there was an active gunman outside who was targeting them. She stayed indoors with her dying dog for 20 minutes, until three more Flint police officers arrived and told her that it was their colleague who had shot her dog. According to both Wells' post and her lawsuit, police also told her: 'we don't get trained to deal with dogs.' Wells scooped up Bailey and raced to Michigan State University, where the dog was admitted in critical condition, having lost a kidney, part of a lung and small intestine. Despite multiple surgeries and other medical procedures, Bailey died four days later, leaving her owner with around $19,000 in medical bills. The officer was investigating a report of an intruder at a neighbor's home when Bailey came running at his flashlight 'Bailey took the bullet for me, without hesitation, which was aimed in my direction,' wrote Wells. Wells' attorney, Jim Rasor, said she is hopeful the settlement would lead to better training for police about dealing with dogs 'In this case, there was no risk, in our opinion, to the officer whatsoever,' Rasor told Mlive.com. 'This was a service animal. This was like losing a family member.' The City of Flint previously argued in court filings that Bailey charged at Reed with 'teeth bared, lips curled back, and growling,' and that there was no way for the officer of knowing how well-trained or well-behaved the dog was based on her actions. Malcolm & Marie and The Greatest Showman have two things in common. The first is Zendaya. The second thing is the unfortunate mindset that getting out ahead of criticism renders one immune to it. In The Greatest Showman, this manifests as having Paul Sparks play a grumpy critic who seems to exist solely to try to discount any real-life critics who would voice any complaints about the movie. Toward the end of the film, he begrudgingly grumbles of the show, Another critic might have even called it a celebration of humanity. But to call your own film a celebration of humanity in an attempt to ward people away from saying anything negative about it only emphasizes the movies flaws. That part of the musical, drawn out to feature length, is Malcolm & Marie. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sam Levinsons latest feature stars John David Washington and Zendaya as the films two title characters, a filmmaker and his girlfriend who have just returned home after the premiere of the formers new movie. The films main conflict exists within their volatile relationship: Malcolm left Marie out of his speech at the premiere, and when she points this out, so begins a long night of interrogating why theyre together. However, theres one other specter looming over the film: that of critical reception. There are only two actors in the film, but the white woman from the L.A. Times might as well be a third character, as shes mentioned so often, and granted such significance as the avatar of all movie critics, that, despite being invisible, she takes up a lot of space in the movies single-location setting, at the couples Frank Lloyd Wrightesque California home. Advertisement Sign up for the Slate Culture newsletter The best of movies, music, TV, books, and more, delivered to your inbox three times a week. We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again. Please enable javascript to use form. Email address: Send me updates about Slate special offers. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms Sign Up Thanks for signing up! You can manage your newsletter subscriptions at any time. Levinson, who also wrote the script, doesnt shy away from pointing out that film criticism, like nearly every other field, is still dominated by white voices and suffers from a tendency to treat any nonwhite artists in a simplistic, monolithic way. Malcolm complains that the L.A. Times critic only compared him to other Black directors and balked when he asked if his work wasnt reminiscent of that of William Wyler, instead. Later, hes stunned to find the word jazzy used to describe his film, which depicts a drug addict and doesnt really fit that kind of framing. But these points about how critics and audiences discuss art are drowned out by the waves of vitriol that surround them. Malcolm rantswhile reading a positive review of his workthat critics dont understand art (on both emotional and technical fronts, as he accuses a writer of only being able to name the film stock his movie was shot on because he mentioned it in his introduction) and are only interested in finding political angles for clicks. Theres an argument to be made that Malcolm is a bit of a blowhardisnt Malcolm & Marie inherently political for discussing the experiences of Black artists?but the belittling of (and, ultimately, punching down at) anyone who would dare criticize Malcolms work, and Levinsons, by proxy, goes on for too long. (And the current film critic of the L.A. Times is, incidentally, not a white woman, but Justin Chang.) Advertisement The movies aesthetic virtues are suffocated by all of its screenwriters hot air. Lest my problems with Malcolm & Marie seem too personal, the chunks of the movie that arent centered on critics are shallow at best. The film is filled with capital-M Monologues that are in turn filled with deliveries of the word fuck that suggest that swearing is supposed to equate to edginess. Monologues arent necessarily a bad thingand are a virtual inevitability here, given that there are only two charactersbut in the final tally, all of the ten-dollar words add up to nothing. Theyre stabs at self-importance, made all the stranger by the fact that these lines, written about race and the experiences of Black artists and delivered by Black actors, were written by a white man. Zendaya and Washington are nothing if not capable actors, but theyre at their best, in Malcolm & Marie, when Levinsons dialogue isnt present. When the camera focuses on Zendayas face as Washington tells her he loves her, her expressionthe pinch in her brow, the way her lips press togethersays leagues more than any of the lines shes been given. Meanwhile, the $30 million films most compelling piece of drama comes from John David Washingtons body language as his character searches for his wallet. Advertisement Advertisement Malcolm & Marie is certainly stylish, shot entirely in black and white, with its leads in fancy clothes for a good portion of its runtime, but its aesthetic virtues are suffocated by all of its screenwriters hot air. Not every film needs to have something to say, but the story that Levinson is telling is unbalanced, seesawing unevenly between trying to comment on how we perceive art and telling a love story in real time with two of Hollywoods brightest stars. But star power cant save a film that feels like an overwrought reaction to one bad review. Hopefully Levinson responds better to this one. Neighbours will tackle the 'change the date' debate in an upcoming episode. The Australian soap will make the controversial debate about Australia Day a central storyline in episodes beginning on January 26. According to TV Tonight, the storyline will focus on Rebekah Elmaloglou's character Terese Willis. Topical: Neighbours will tackle the 'change the date' debate in an upcoming episode 'Terese has withdrawn Lassiters [Hotel] from celebrating Australia Day, but problems arise when a former statement she made was less supportive of change. Terese finds herself accused of being a hypocrite,' reports TV Tonight. 'Terese is disappointed by her past statements,' Elmaloglou told TV Week magazine. 'She no longer stands by her comments, but knows she has to take responsibility for the things shes said. After speaking to Jacinta (Maurial Spearim), she knows that apologising is very important.' Confronting: According to TV Tonight, the storyline will focus on Rebekah Elmaloglou's character Terese Willis A recent study found that just 11 per cent of Australians want to change the date of Australia Day and a huge majority think the country has become too PC. A poll by the Institute of Public Affairs found 71 per cent of Australians support celebrating the national day on January 26, while 68 per cent say political correctness has gone too far. More than 1,000 Australians were surveyed, with 70 per cent believing there should be less political disagreement about Australia Day, and 83 per cent saying it should be a day to respect the contribution that everyone has made to the county. A new poll has found that 71 per cent of Australians support celebrating Australia Day on January 26. Pictured: girls pose with an Australian flag on the water In recent years, the weeks before Australia Day have been fraught with debate about whether it is wrong to celebrate the day the First Fleet arrived to colonise Australia in 1788. Some argue the date should be changed, while others think it should be scrapped altogether. The change the date debate isn't the only exciting thing happening in the world of Neighbours right now. Invasion Day protesters march on January 26 in Melbourne in 2019 On Sunday, Margot Robbie's brother Cameron revealed he will follow in the footsteps of his 30-year-old sister by joining the cast of the show. The 25-year-old has been cast as wealthy lifeguard Jesse Porter, who takes a summer job at Lassiters bar. In an interview with Adelaide Now, Cameron said: 'I'm so grateful to kick off 2021 with this role on Neighbours. My experience on set so far has been great and welcoming and I can't wait to continue with my passions for the rest of the year.' Thank you for reading! Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading. New Delhi: Facing a staggering 10 per cent compounded annual growth in imports over last decade, the Indian aluminium industry has sought immediate government intervention, by way of higher import duty of 10 per cent on aluminium scrap and metal, to protect domestic production. In a set of pre-budget recommendations, the industry, represented by the Aluminium Association of India (AAI), has said that the challenges coming from rising imports, declining domestic market share, and increasing production and logistics costs need to be mitigated soon and in this regard, it is essential that the aluminium sector gets duty protection on imports of finished products and relief in case of raw materials. Accordingly, the association has urged that the budget should increase the basic custom duty on primary aluminium and aluminium scrap to 10 per cent while reducing custom duty on critical raw materials for aluminium industry value chain like calcined and raw petroleum coke, caustic soda and alumina. The industry is also expecting that the budget may eliminate cess on coal (GST compensation cess of Rs 400 per tonne) to support highly power intensive industries like aluminium. "The challenges (for the industry) 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 & 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," the AAI said in its pre-budget recommendations. Indian has sufficient domestic capacity of 4.1 mtpa to cater to the country's aluminium demand of around 4 mtpa. Despite this, 60 per cent of India's demand is being met through imports, resulting in declining domestic market share from 60 per cent in FY11 to 40 per cent in FY20, the AAI had told the Finance Minister last year. Bloomberg (Bloomberg) -- A century after automakers showed the world the value of assembly-line manufacturing, a shortage of semiconductors is teaching the industry a painful new lesson in what it takes to build a car.For most of its history, the industry has relied on a distinct approach to buying car parts, procuring components from suppliers right at the moment theyre needed. Its referred to as just-in-time manufacturing and is designed to streamline production and eliminate the costs of keeping warehouses stocked with parts waiting to be used.But the shortcomings of that system were made starkly clear this year as the automakers confronted a dearth of the chips they need to build advanced functions into their vehicles, and found themselves near the bottom of chipmakers customer lists because of their just-in-time approach. That shortage is threatening to cut $110 billion in sales from the industry, and forcing auto manufacturers to overhaul the way they get the electronic components that have become critical to contemporary car design.Customers need to change, said Hassane El-Khoury, chief executive officer of ON Semiconductor Corp., which gets more than a third of its revenue from the automotive market. That just-in-time mindset doesnt work.Semiconductor makers are demanding guaranteed, long-term orders rather than the short-term flexibility the carmakers are used to. The chipmakers assertiveness, even under pressure from lawmakers, underscores the rebalancing of power from the companies whose logos are on the cars to those that provide the advanced technology that runs them.As these components play a bigger role in everything from in-car entertainment to self-driving functions, chip manufacturers say theyre willing to invest in expanding production to head off a repeat of shortages that have forced the industry to mothball factories and furlough workers -- if the carmakers give them orders that cant be canceled and commit to long-term agreements.Why would I have invested a single dollar when my customer can cancel within 30 days and it takes me two years to build capacity? ON Semiconductors El-Khoury said.There are signs the industry is listening. Last week, Ford Motor Co. Chief Executive Officer Jim Farley indicated a new willingness to reverse decades of outsourcing for parts.As the industry changes, we have to in-source now, just like we in-sourced powertrains in the 20s and 30s, said Farley, who has shut down half his factories and seen his dealers lots emptying because of a dearth of chips.Most components used by the auto industry are part of a discrete food chain, and carmakers are at the top, able to orchestrate their suppliers actions in a system that delivers them a set of components that can be put together quickly and cheaply into a finished vehicle. Electronics makers, whove fared much better in the chip supply crunch, regard semiconductors as essential systems, and they work directly with chipmakers to secure products and often design their devices around the chips themselves.Automakers can no longer assume the dominance of an 800-pound gorilla in negotiations with chip companies and battery makers, said Mark Wakefield, head of the auto practice at consultancy AlixParters.Pioneered by Toyota Motor Corp. in the 1960s, just-in-time is a system where components suppliers are required to turn up with whatever the carmakers want at the last possible moment in a process that pares costs to the very minimum.That strategy has served the industry well, saving money and helping it organize a system for sourcing the 40,000 or so components that go into a modern vehicle, many of which can be made in a matter of days. But semiconductors -- the heart of sensors, engine management and battery controllers, infotainment and eventually systems that will pilot vehicles -- are created in a process that takes months. And building and equipping a factory to produce them requires years.Todays cars contain an average of 1,400 semiconductors -- and that puts the chipmakers at an advantage. Fords Farley said hes now negotiating contracts directly with chipmakers -- bypassing his traditional auto suppliers -- while building up inventory of the precious pieces and even redesigning models to accommodate the semiconductor companies.We have learned a lot through this crisis that can be applied to many critical components, Farley told analysts last month as he announced Ford would lose half its production in the second quarter and take a $2.5 billion hit to earnings this year, citing a lack of chips. Were also thinking about what this means for the world of batteries and silicon and all sorts of other components that are really mission critical for our company.Ford is not alone in seeking solutions that upend long-time industry practices. Automakers from General Motors Co. to Volkswagen AG to Tesla Inc. are looking for ways to get closer to the chipmaking process, which could include forming partnerships with semiconductor companies, bringing chipmaking in-house and even building their own foundries. Nothing is off the table.Cars are only going to get more technical and theyre going to need more chips, said Sam Fiorani, vice president of vehicle forecasting at consultant AutoForecast Solutions. All of the vehicle manufacturers are looking at every possible scenario for getting it solved for the long-term.But according to some chipmakers, the auto industry has embraced new technology but failed to understand those that supply it.There is a huge difference between manufacturing a car and manufacturing a chip, said Kurt Sievers, CEO of NXP Semiconductor NV, the biggest maker of auto chips. Weve been working for years closely with the auto OEMs directly when it comes to R&D and innovation -- however, not at all for supply chain and volume forecasting.Sievers said the chip industry wants specific forecasts that stretch out in years and binding commitments to buy chips that last that long. The way automakers, referred to as original equipment manufacturers or OEMs, and semiconductor vendors work together needs to change, he said.And the car companies have little choice but to do so. Consumers are increasingly choosing vehicles based on functions such as connectivity, entertainment and advanced automated safety features. The auto industry is steadily shifting away from gasoline to battery power. All of that requires more chips.Its no longer this subsystem that no one cares about, said Victor Peng, CEO of Xilinx Inc. a chipmaker whose products are uses in advanced driver-assistance systems. The electronics is really going to shape the customer experience.The semiconductor industry has plenty of other orders to fill. In 2020 automakers bought almost $40 billion worth of chips, little changed from the prior year, even amid the crash of the pandemic. By comparison, the computer industry bought 17% more chips than it did in 2019, for a total of $160 billion. Phone makers, meantime, provided the chip industry with $137 billion in revenue, a jump of 12%.Earlier this year, automakers lobbied U.S. lawmakers to intervene to help them with the shortage, arguing that chipmakers were unfairly prioritizing customers building less important consumer electronics over cars. The automakers argue their industry creates more than 7 million jobs in America and is critical to national security. And theyve found a sympathetic ear in President Joe Biden, who was supported by the United Auto Workers in the 2020 election, and is working to help the auto industry navigate the chip crisis.Still, consumer electronics buys $20 billion more chips a year than the auto industry, and Big Tech has plenty of clout in Washington, too.Chipmakers are also in no hurry to add new factories to meet this years chip rush. Though 2020 was a good year and 2021 is shaping up to be even better, they dont have to look back very far to be reminded of the difficulties of matching supply with short-term fluctuations in demand. In 2019 industry sales shrank 12% as customers slashed orders to work through stockpiles.Many investors and analysts are already concerned that what now looks like insatiable demand is customers double-ordering: asking for twice the amount they need so they can at least get the number they want. In the past, such heavy ordering has proved to foreshadow industry gluts, with demand eventually easing and buyers tapping the brakes as they worked down accumulated inventory.We came out of 2018 guns blazing, everybody hoarded, and then 2019 was an awful year of demand because they already had chips, said ON Semiconductors El Khoury. Here we are today with people looking at us and asking, why havent you invested?The type of chip automakers want also works against them. Much of what they use -- things such as sensors and power regulators -- can be made on whats called lagging nodes, or production technology that hasnt been state-of-the-art for years. While that makes it cheaper, chipmakers are reluctant to expand capacity of technology thats closer to being obsolete.The chips that the automotive industry uses are older than the ones youd find in your cell phones or in your video games, said AutoForecast Solutions Fiorani. That makes them less of a priority to the companies that produce them.Fiorani said carmakers would be better served forming joint ventures with chipmakers to tap their expertise and lock down a dependable source of supply. But doing that would involve going around traditional suppliers such as Continental AG and Robert Bosch AG and turning back the clock to a more expensive time when companies like Ford had to deal with suppliers for raw materials.Some auto suppliers are already taking steps to make sure they dont get cut out. Parts supplier Robert Bosch is opening a new chip factory in Dresden that it says is the first of its kind dedicated to manufacturing semiconductors for automotive uses. Still, some automakers are already talking openly about cutting out those middlemen in order to keep up with the speed of change.We will be the one who has the commercial relationship with the chipmaker, Volvo Cars CEO Hakan Samuelsson said at a mobility conference in Tel Aviv this month. When we want a change and you have to talk to suppliers, it is too slow.Fords Farley said hes consulted with tech companies and discovered how common it is in other industries to keep buffer stock and to buy directly from chip manufacturers.Even if the company still buys the components with chips on them from a supplier, they still negotiated a direct deal, he told analysts, describing something thats common practice for companies like Apple Inc. Ford learned that nine of its tier-one component suppliers rely on just one Renesas Electronics Corp. factory in Japan for chips, a plant that suffered a fire, he said.Some automakers have made rapid progress in understanding their newer suppliers and are negotiating long-term deals. Others are sticking to the belief that they can dictate how their suppliers should act, according to ON Semiconductors El-Khoudry.Learning from their current difficulties is the key to turning around the current crisis and avoiding the next, according to Xilinxs Peng. Toyota, the inventor of just-in-time, said it expects to return to pre-pandemic levels of profitability as soon as this year, helped by factories that continue to churn out vehicles because the company made the decision to accumulate stockpiles of chips.People have to think differently or theyre going to be left behind, Peng 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. The exterior of Central Men's Jail in Santa Ana, Calif., on Jan. 25, 2016. (AP Photo/Nick Ut) Another Orange County Inmate Dies of COVID Complications A second Orange County inmate died Jan. 21 from COVID-19 related complications, the Orange County Sheriffs Department (OCSD) said. The 37-year-old manwho was booked by the Fullerton Police Department in 2017 on suspicion of homicide and attempted murdertested positive for the virus last December. He was transferred to a local hospital Jan. 6, but died of medical complications about two weeks later. Prior to being hospitalized, he was an inmate at Santa Anas Intake Release Center. The man, whose name has not been released, was the second inmate to die from the virus since the pandemic began last March. Last Dec. 18, prisoner Eddie Lee Anderson died about a week after testing positive for COVID-19. The Theo Lacy Facility Inmate was arrested in 2019 in connection with the 1976 strangulation of 30-year-old Leslie Penrod Harris. The most recent death came as the OCSD continues to appeal a court order prompted by the American Civil Liberties Union of California to release half its prisoners during the COVID-19 pandemic. OCSD spokesperson Carrie Braun told The Epoch Times on Jan. 21 that although the departments latest appeal was denied, it would continue to seek relief from the Court of Appeal. Releasing half of the remaining inmates in Orange County Jail custody would considerably and negatively impact public safety, she said. The Sheriff plans to continue to appeal this order. Since the beginning of the pandemic, 2,270 Orange County Jail inmates have tested positive for COVID-19. As of Jan. 21, there were 61 COVID-19 positive inmates. The Orange County District Attorneys Office will investigate the death, while the Orange County Sheriffs Department will conduct an in-custody death review. Home > 2021 > Transition From Divider-In-Chief To Sagacious Unifier | Vijay (...) The Democracy has prevailed, common headline, chosen coincidently by The Guardian and The New York Times, published from the opposite ends of Atlantic is an unmistakable pointer to the immense sense of relief to Democrats and Liberals of the world by Bidden Harris Inauguration. The administering of oath by the Chief Justice John Roberts to Joseph Bidden as the 46th President of the US, preceded by the administering of oath to Kamala Harris as the 49th Vice President by Senior Judge Sonia Sotomayor, bring to close one of the most volatile transitions in the history of the US. The last 3 consecutive Wednesday i.e. 6th, 13th and 20th January have been unprecedentedly eventful in the American history witnessed in recent times. It started on January 6, when right-wing mob, incited by outgoing President Trump, stormed into the congress at Capitol Hill and created mayhem. This triggered the passing of second impeachment resolution under the dynamic leadership of Nancy Pelosi with a modicum of bipartisan support from a conscientious segment of Republican Party on 13th January. The second impeachment resolution has paved the way for the impeachment trial in Senate, which is now under the control of Democrats, though 2/3rd requirement of voting needs the support of 17 Republicans, and finally, on 20th January, the constitutionally mandated date, when Bidden and Harris became President and Vice President respectively. The inauguration of Bidden-Harris team has not only brought relief but has also infused hope for better times in the days ahead for the US and the World. President Joe Bidden in his inaugural address declared that he is President of all Americans; not only for those who voted him. This statement bears the stamp of sagacity, maturity and statesmanship of President Joe Bidden. On January 6, mobocracy trumped democracy, but on January 20, with the inauguration of Bidden-Harris team, democracy trumped mobocracy. President Bidden rightly asserted that his primary duty is to restore the soul of America, and people is the source for power and demonstrated commitment to unite the country by overcoming all sorts of differences on the lines of conservatives/liberals, rural/ urban, white/black and coloured people and all other binary. Joseph Bidden assumed the charge of presidency in most challenging time. More than four lakhs American have died due to Covid-19 Pandemic, mainly on account of gross mismanagement indeed denial by Trump. Millions of Americans have lost their jobs and surviving on the basis of pay-cheque to pay-cheque. President Bidden immediately after taking oath passed flurry of orders reversing the Trumps signature decisions on ban of Muslims from certain Islamic countries, Immigration issue and withdrawal from the Paris climate deal. The most formidable challenge, however, remains in respect of detoxifying the pernicious phenomenon of Trumpism grounded in post-truth, white supermacism and demagoguery. Trump is gone, but hideous Trumpism is surviving and President Bidden, known as synthesizer, is the best person to heal the virus of polarization of American society by toning down the temperature. The formation of most diverse cabinet in US history with Kamala Harris becoming first woman and coloured person to become Vice President is an occasion for celebration. The restoration of regular press briefing in the White House in the very first day of Bidden presidency has marked the return of sanity, openness and norms which were crudely shattered by Trump during his presidency. This return of sanity was further evident in the Senate, where its erstwhile majority leader, Mitch McConnell, a Republican who acted as a consigliere of Trump throughout his presidency, welcomed vice President Kamala Harris by showering encomium on her. President Bidden must also strive towards ending the American isolation by restoring and strengthening multilateralism. Welcoming the approaching inauguration of Bidden presidency, Gordon Brown, former British Premier, wrote in The Guardian on 20th January edition, that America needs the World and World too needs America, and this should be the spirit with which President Bidden should play a constructive role in chartering out new international order. President Bidden must play an active role in promoting democracy and human rights outside America. The storming of Congress at Capitol Hill on January 6, brought to entire world the fragile nature of American democracy, but the inauguration of Bidden-Harris team, the inaugural address of President Bidden and passing of series of orders reversing the policies of outgoing President Trump have also brought to the fore the resilience of American democracy. There are many countries, where democracy are backsliding and their leaders are thriving on polarisation, and the resolve of the President Bidden to unite the US by overcoming division naturally prods the democrats and liberals in India to pose the question where is our Unifier and Healer of Indian society?, and who will retrieve the soul of Indian democracy? (Author: Vijay Kumar is Advocate at the Supreme Court of India) As destructive as those behaviors may be, they are not often treated by law enforcement or courts as improper on their own, sharpening the belief that victims must be battered and hospitalized before their accounts might be taken seriously. Doubt about how the justice system would treat them is not unfounded: About 88 percent of survivors surveyed by the ACLU said the police did not believe them or blamed them for the abuse. The new laws to address coercive behaviors have raised some concerns from advocates who worry that in court proceedings that lawyers in the field say are already stacked against survivors the standard of proof might be too high, especially when officials dont have the tools to identify and prove patterns of risky behavior. Researchers understand coercive control as something that can help predict the outcome of a dangerous situation that becomes deadly, said Rachel Louise Snyder, author of the 2019 book No Visible Bruises: What We Dont Know About Domestic Violence Can Kill Us. But, she added, law enforcement doesnt necessarily recognize that. Coercive control has been illegal in England and Wales since 2015, but 2018 saw the highest number of domestic violence-related killings in five years, according to the BBC. The Center for Womens Justice, a British watchdog group, filed complaints in 2019 and 2020 alleging systematic failure on the part of police to safeguard victims. Officers on the ground dont understand coercive control, said Harriet Wistrich, the centers director. Though there has been some training, she emphasized that for the law to be most effective, police, social workers and the courts need to have a shared understanding of how emotional abuse can become criminal. Others are concerned that, in the United States, adopting and implementing new laws could drain resources from survivors pressing logistical needs, or from other pathways to justice. A growing faction of advocates say the best response lies not in the criminal courts, with their racial and economic inequities, but in dialogue-based alternatives like restorative justice. Judy Harris Kluger, a retired New York judge who is executive director of the nonprofit Sanctuary for Families, said she agreed that coercive control is important as a concept. As a judge, though, Id rather have energy put into enforcing the laws that we have, she said, but also focusing on other things besides litigation to address domestic violence, like funding for prevention, housing and job programs for survivors. (Ms. Bush, newly appointed to the House judiciary committee, said she would work to advance policies that reduce harm without further criminalizing people; she is not in favor of coercive control legislation, she said.) Still, supporters say that legally acknowledging how pernicious the problem is will make it easier to fight and help force a reckoning over its pervasiveness. NEW DELHI : In the last three decades, Indian agriculture has undergone a radical transformation. Food crops grown for subsistence gave way to commercial crops where prices are volatile. By volume, farmers in India now grow more fruits and vegetables than grains and pulses. The agriculture sector underwent major changes following Indias economic liberalization in 1991. The reforms in the public distribution system (PDS) where an array of food commodities was replaced with just rice and wheat, followed by a targeting of food subsidies, led to a decline in the value of production of coarse grains, oilseeds and pulses. These changes were reinforced after India joined the World Trade Organisation in 1995, leading to a rising import dependence on pulses and oilseeds which adversely affected local producers. Also, during this time global seeds and input giants entered India, bringing new technologies like the genetically-modified cotton, which also drove up production costs. The easing of priority sector lending norms and drop in rural bank branches following financial sector liberalization impacted farmers adversely by limiting the reach of formal credit and increasing the dependence on informal loans. This led to higher indebtedness and suicides, which was later corrected by introducing Kisan Credit Cards and interest subsidies on farm loans. In 1991, the agriculture sector contributed close to a third of Indias GDP which fell sharply to 17% by 2019-20; however, the share of the workforce dependent on agriculture hovered at around 55% during this period leading to lower incomes from farming compared to other sectors. Official data from 2012-13 showed that an average farm household earned a paltry 6,500 per month, barely enough to stay afloat. The fundamental shifts following the reformsto cater to a changing market and driven by aspirations of better incomesexposed farmers to a variety of risks. From newer pests and price volatility to adverse weather and sudden trade policy changes, farm incomes are now dependent on too many variables which are beyond an individual farmers control. The usual policy response to counter these risks has been to invest in improving agricultural productivity, creating market infrastructure and irrigation and credit facilities alongside guaranteed purchases at support prices. The direction of support policies changed when the Narendra Modi government came to power in 2014, marking the beginning of another round of reforms. The reliance shifted towards deploying market solutions and moving towards income support schemes. For instance, instead of investing aggressively on irrigation projects (less than half of Indias crop area is irrigated), the focus shifted to crop insurance to deal with erratic rainfall. The initial euphoria over the flagship insurance scheme has faded since it was launched in 2016 as farmers began to opt out and state governments lost interest. Similarly, instead of creating physical market infrastructure, the government floated the electronic national agriculture market or E-NAM which has failed to take off so far. Just ahead of elections in 2019, the Centre also announced a direct income support of 6,000 per year to every land-owning farmera scheme on which it has spent a staggering 1.1 trillion so far. State governments too have followed a similar path by moving towards direct cash transfers. These funds could have been better spent if it was invested in creating new infrastructure," said R. Ramakumar, professor at the Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai. High level committees have urged the government to reform the Food Corporation of India and rationalise subsidies. There is an increased emphasis on replacing existing subsidies by direct cash support despite the reality that cash transfers exclude tenant farmers who farm on at least a fifth of the countrys crop area. The clamour for further reforms stem from the argument that Indian farmers are flush with inefficient subsidieson inputs like fertilisers and electricityand in the output market via minimum support prices (MSP). Such arguments, however, ignore the global reality where agriculture is supported by all major economies for strategic reasons. A September 2020 working paper authored by Sachin Kumar Sharma from the Centre for WTO Studies, Indian Institute of Foreign Trade, Delhi, shows the extent to which developed nations support agriculture and do not leave them to the mercy of markets. Total domestic support (including price, income and input subsidies), as a share of the value of production, varied between 38% in the US and 20% in the EU to 15% in Chinacompared to 12.5% in India, data from the paper showed. Another crucial policy reform in recent years has been to focus on improving farm incomes rather than set higher production targets. The Modi government has set an ambitious targetto double farmer incomes by 2022-23 (with 2016-17 as the base year)and is deploying market solutions to achieve the goal. This holds true for the recent reforms it pushed by enacting three new laws to liberalise agriculture marketing, allow contract farming and amend the decades old Essential Commodities Act. Farmers have vociferously protested these reforms. They fear that a larger role of giant corporations in agriculture markets will gradually weaken the minimum support price regime. The reforms have also coalesced demands for making MSP a legal entitlement, a practical nightmare for any government since domestic crop prices are determined by a myriad of variables including international prices. Clearly, it makes no sense for a state like Punjab to keep growing rice at the cost of an impending desertification or the water-stressed Marathwada in Maharashtra to grow sugarcane. But a trust deficit now threatens to push back the conversation on these necessary changes three decades after liberalizationfrom an equitable distribution of input subsidies and MSP benefits to aligning crop choices to suitable geographies. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. A weather system will move through the Great Lakes region late Monday into early Tuesday. It certainly looks like the Flint and Saginaw will be on the very northern edge of the storm, limiting snowfall amounts. Before I give you amounts, let me convey the certainty as of now, Friday morning. Both models I look at this timeframe, about 80 hours from starting, are still trending in one direction. This means we arent locked in on a certain forecast. Ill give you a feel for how the eventual snow amounts will lay out. The European Model has been shifting its heaviest snow band south over the past few days. There will still probably be a shift south another 25 miles to 50 miles. The GFS (U.S.) Model has been much farther south with its heaviest snow band, and shifting it north over the past few days. So the two models will probably meet in the middle. This means the heaviest snow, with accumulations over 4 inches, will fall over the I-94 corridor and southward. Here is the European Model snow forecast. I like its amounts, but it will probably shift south another county or two. Snowfall forecast from the coming Monday night snow system, from the European Model Looking at the GFS below, you can see a similar idea but much different exact snow amounts. Again, there is still a northward shift going on with this model. Snowfall forecast from the coming Monday night snow system, from the U.S. model called the GFS. So right now, as of Friday morning, Id look for light snow to start in the Flint area and Saginaw/Bay City late Monday afternoon or Monday evening and end Tuesday morning. I would call it light snow for our entire area. The moderate to occasionally heavy snow will stay well south of Flint, along I-94. Id look for 2 to 4 inches of snow in Genesee County. If there is 4 inches, it would be around Grand Blanc, at the very southern edge of Genesee County. Saginaw County will likely only have one to 2 inches of snow by sunrise Tuesday. Bay City will be even lower, probably with only one inch of snow. Remember, there is still time for some shift of the storm. It would have to shift quite a ways north to give a much different snow scenario to Flint, Saginaw and Bay City. Mumbai, Jan 22 : Continuing its probe into the Punjab & Maharashtra Cooperative (PMC) Bank Ltd scam, the Enforcement Directorate on Friday seized Rs 73 lakh after raiding five premises belonging to the Viva Group and its associates in Mumbai and Palghar, officials said here on Friday. These included the Viva Group's offices in Andheri and Virar (Palghar), besides residences of its top officials in Andheri, Juhu and Chembur (Mumbai), leading to the seizure of the cash and other incriminating documents. Raids were conducted at three premises linked to the Viva Groups' head, Mehul Thakur, and three premises connected with chartered accountants/financial consultants. The ED action followed leads that a large amount of money had allegedly been transferred from HDIL to companies and trusts of the Viva Group, which is controlled by the prominent Thakur clan of Virar in Palghar. Nearly two years ago, the ED had launched a probe against HDIL promoters Rakesh Wadhawan and Sarang Wadhawan, PMC Bank's former Chairman Waryam Singh and MD Joy Thomas, and others after the PMC Bank scam broke out in September 2019. The ED entered the picture after the Mumbai Police's Economic Offences Wing lodged an FIR against the HDIL and Wadhawans, for causing losses of Rs 4,355 crore to the PMC Bank. Later, several properties of Rakesh Wadhawan and the Wadhawan Family Trust, worth around Rs 293 crore, and jewellery worth Rs 63 crore were seized and attached, and proceedings were launched under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) by the ED. Further investigations revealed that the Wadhawans and the Viva Group connived to divert over Rs 160 crore from HDIL to many companies of the latter (Viva Group) disguised as 'commission', though the funds were apparently illegal diversions from the PMC Bank. Simultaneously, the ED started probing another case against Rakesh Wadhawan and Sarang Wadhawan for siphoning off Rs 200 crore sanctioned by Yes Bank to the Mack Star Marketing Pvt. Ltd., by allegedly showing some fictitious purposes. In this matter, even the Central Bureau of Investigations had initiated a probe which found that the Wadhawans illegally transferred two commercial properties of the Mack Star Marketing in Caledonia Building in Andheri East worth Rs 34.36 crore to Viva Holdings, an entity of Viva Group. For the transfer of these two properties, separate sale agreements dated June 26, 2017 were drawn up in which the sale values for the two deals were shown as Rs 34.36 crore in total. As per the sale agreements, the amount was paid through 37 cheques by Viva Holdings to Mack Star Marketing for the deal, but investigations revealed that these cheques were never encashed, pointing out that Viva Holdings never paid for buying the properties to Mack Star Marketing. Accordingly, the ED said that the Wadhawans had illegally transferred these properties to Viva Holdings, violating the articles of association with Mack Star Marketing, and that Viva Holdings never showed these properties in its books. Denton, TX (76205) Today Cloudy this morning. A few showers developing during the afternoon. High 79F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 30%.. Tonight Cloudy this evening with showers after midnight. Low 63F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%. Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-22 22:00:57|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, Jan. 22 (Xinhua) -- Brunei reported one new imported case of COVID-19 on Friday, bringing the national tally to 175. According to Brunei's Ministry of Health, the case is a 50-year-old man who arrived in Brunei on Jan. 8 from Britain via Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. He had a sore throat on Wednesday and is currently being monitored and treated at the National Isolation Center. Meanwhile, the contact tracing for this case has found that he does not have any close contacts since he has been quarantined as soon as he arrived in the country. With the detection of this latest case, there are three active cases being treated at the National Isolation Center and all patients are in stable condition. A total of 34 imported cases have been confirmed since the last local infection case on May 6, 2020. At present, Brunei has recorded 261 days without COVID-19 local infections. Meanwhile, 551 individuals are currently undergoing mandatory self-isolation at the monitoring centers provided by the government, who have arrived in the country after traveling abroad. There have been three deaths resulted from COVID-19 in Brunei and a total of 169 patients have recovered. Enditem Geneva, Jan 22 (UNI) UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Friday welcomed the entry into force of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) and praised countries that ratified the deal. The TPNW, signed by 86 countries after being adopted in 2017 and ratified by 51 nations, enters into force on Friday. The TPNW bans signatories from the development, production, testing, acquisition or transfer of nuclear weapons. All five permanent members of the UN Security Council oppose the pact, expressing fear it will undermine the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). "The Secretary-General commends the States that have ratified the Treaty and welcomes the instrumental role of civil society in advancing the TPNWs negotiation and entry into force. The survivors of nuclear explosions and nuclear tests offered tragic testimonies and were a moral force behind the Treaty. Entry into force is a tribute to their enduring advocacy," Stephane Dujarric, a spokesperson of the UN secretary-general, said in a statement. According to the statement, Guterres looks forward to carrying out functions assigned by the treaty including preparation for the first meeting of signatory states. Under the NPT, which entered into force in 1970 and includes 190 states, the nuclear powers are supposed to pursue general and complete disarmament. The NPT also requires non-nuclear-weapon states to forego developing or acquiring nuclear weapons. UNI XC-RHK1545 Tesla enters India, sets up base in Bengaluru Elon Musk;s new age venture Tesla has set up base in India by incorporating a subsidiary compay, registered as Tesla India Motors and Energy Private Limited, confirming reports of Teslas India entry this year. The company was incorporated in Bengaluru on 8 January 2021 and has three directors listed. It has been incorporated as a Subsidiary of Foreign Company, which could be Tesla Inc, as per information available with the Registrar of Companies of ministry of corporate affairs. The company has named Vaibhav Taneja, Venkatrangam Sreeram and David Jon Feinstein as directors of the company. Taneja is the chief accounting officer of Tesla. It has also registered its office in Lavelle Road, a business district in Bengaluru, with paid-up capital of Rs1 lakh and an authorised capital of Rs15 lakh, according to the RoC filing Reports citing Gaurav Gupta, principal secretary, commerce and industries of Karnataka, said the state government has been engaging Tesla for the last few months and has impressed upon them Bengalurus advantages. The state government had earlier said that Tesla would open a research and development (R&D) centre in Bengaluru but that was open to offering space for any other plans, including a manufacturing plant. Nitin Gadkari, the Union minister for road transport and highways Nitin Gadkari had, in December, confirmed that Tesla will be coming to India in early 2021 - starting off with sales, and then looking at assembling and manufacturing vehicles based on the response. A CNBC-TV18 report said Tesla is in talks with five state governments - Maharashtra, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu - to explore setting up manufacturing, R&D centres and has hired a global consulting firm for the same. Elon Musk himself had, in October, indicated that the process of bringing Tesla cars to India would begin in January 2021. Tesla is expected to first launch its fully electric Model 3 Sedan in the country, which would be priced around Rs60 lakh. Tesla is considered one of the most aspirational brands across the globe and the formation of its subsidiary is quite significant for India's nascent EV industry and Prime Minister Narendra Modis`Make inIndia programme. 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. Advertisement The BBC serial killer drama The Serpent has been taking viewers to such exotic locations as Bangkok, Karachi, Paris and Mumbai. But they might be surprised to learn that some of the scenes were filmed in rather less glamorous surroundings near Luton and in Tring. Producers of the series starring Jenna Coleman were forced to pack up their sets in Bangkok, Thailand, where they had spent months filming, when the coronavirus pandemic hit last March. BBC producers of The Serpent, starring Jenna Coleman (pictured), had to be creative when they were unable to film in exotic locals because of the pandemic They had hoped to return, but after a five-month break they had to make other arrangements. The cast found themselves filming at two UK locations, which the crew cleverly dressed to look suitably foreign. Scenes from the second half of the eight-part series were shot at Tring Park School for the Performing Arts in Hertfordshire and at Wrest Park, a country estate north of Luton in Bedfordshire. The Serpent tells the story of how Charles Sobhraj the chief suspect in unsolved murders of young Western travellers across India, Thailand and Nepal was captured. The criminal is played by French actor Tahar Rahim, 39, and his partner and accomplice Marie-Andree Leclerc by Miss Coleman, 34. One scene from an episode shows Tahar Trahim, who plays Charles Sobhraj, waiting to see his first wife in Paris- or is it really France? In actuality the French scene was shot in Wrest Park, Bedfordshire, but has audiences convinced Photos taken by director Hans Herbots show how the production team was able to continue filming despite the disruptions caused by Covid. For one part of episode five, which airs tomorrow, producers had to recreate a section of a Bangkok apartment, where many scenes had been filmed, in Tring. Episodes seven and eight see the couple return to Paris but all the exteriors and a scene capturing the Eiffel Tower were filmed inside Wrest Park and its grounds. Jenna Coleman, Marie-Andree Leclerc in the series, joins Tahar in a scene from Kanit House, Bangkok- but all is not as it seems This behind the scenes image shows the studio set at Tring Park School for the Performing Arts, Hertfordshire Scenes in episode six set in Mumbai were also filmed at Tring Park School for the Performing Arts. Tring was also used to film a scene set in a post office in Delhi, India, and both Tring and Bangkok were used to film scenes set in Karachi, Pakistan. Speaking about filming, Miss Coleman told Vogue: We were flown home and there was a break. We couldnt really travel after that, so we shot the rest of the series in Tring. The cast filmed for ten days in the UK in August. The entire series of The Serpent is available on the BBC iPlayer and helped give the platform its biggest ever week earlier this month after viewers streamed 162million shows. The Serpent continues on BBC1 tomorrow at 9pm. By Members of Bend the Arc Jewish Action, Pittsburgh and Southeastern PA As members of Bend the Arc Jewish Action in Pennsylvania, we follow our state legislative races closely. Time and again, we have been frustrated by statewide gerrymandering that forces some Pennsylvanians to work disproportionately harder to elect candidates who share their values. This gerrymandering has long compromised every Pennsylvanians right to equal representation in our state government. Now, the Pennsylvania Legislature is considering a dangerous new judicial gerrymandering bill that will extend gerrymandering into our court system. Fair and independent courts form the basis for our democracy, but House Bill 38, which just passed out of the House Judiciary Committee and could be passed in the legislature as early as next week, would undermine the impartiality of our court system. We implore representatives throughout Pennsylvania, no matter their party, to reject this partisan political maneuver and vote against HB 38 when it comes up for a vote. And we ask all Pennsylvanians to reach out to their representatives to urge them to do the same and quickly. As residents of Pennsylvania, we know that important decisions are made by our state courts. Rising above partisanship is what happens when we have the best-quality judges. Lets insist that we continue to select the most qualified judges throughout our state to serve on our courts, rather than passing a bill that would limit our pool of candidates to local regions. The same laws apply throughout our state, and judges do not need to represent local regions when interpreting our state constitution and statutes. Our democracy depends on a clear separation of powers, each branch with its own core functions, with adequate checks and balances so that no one branch dominates. But HB 38 gives the General Assembly the power to meddle in our courtrooms, undermining the independence of the courts. PA citizens deserve better. Jamie Forrest, Jamie Harris, Laurie Heller, Laura Horowitz, Rachel Kranson, Wendy Levin-Shaw, Jonathan Mayo, Guillermo Perez, Kate Rothstein, Yael Silk and Nadine Wasserman are members of Bend the Arc Jewish Action: Pittsburgh. Elsa Khalfin, Sandy Lieberman, Marcela Pardes, Shelley Kapnek Rosenberg, Debra Schaeffer and Terry Waslow are members of Bend the Arc Jewish Action: Southeastern PA. Mijas saw 600 additional British people sign onto the town's padron - the municipal register - in 2020. Figures show a registered population of 89,005 - an increase of 3.2 per cent compared to the year before - making it the third largest town by population in the entire province of Malaga. Mayor Josele Gonzalez is pleased with the data since, despite the complex situation" caused by the pandemic, the growth means that the town is "increasingly attractive both for investors and for thousands of families of all nationalities who choose Mijas to develop their businesses and their lives". The town is ranked third in the province of Malaga in terms of number of inhabitants according to INE figures - only beaten by Marbella and Malaga city - and occupies the fifteenth position in Andalucia. More Britons The most striking data is that the town has seen an increase in the number of British people registered. The mayor said, "Despite the uncertainty caused by Brexit, Mijas has managed to strengthen the British population - increasing by just over 600 residents." Regarding the nationalities on the municipal register, the largest group is from Spain (59,631), followed by the United Kingdom (9,311); Morocco (2,545); Italy (1,355); Ukraine (971); Russia (960); Germany (956); Netherlands (837); Sweden (820); and France (690), among others. | Welcome Guest! You Are Here: GST Council to hold special session to discuss extending paying compensation to states beyond 2022, says finance minister. Centre to borrow Rs 1.58 lakh cr to compensate states for loss of revenue from GST, says FM Sitharaman after GST Council meeting. FM Sitharaman announces amnesty scheme for small GST taxpayers, allowing filing of returns with reduced late fee. The Russian Grand Duke George Romanov has announced his engagement to his long term girlfriend Rebecca Bettarini after a Christmas proposal. The 39-year-old son of Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna of Russia proposed to Italian lobbyist and writer Rebecca, 35, in December, after asking her parents for their blessing. Rebecca, who is the daughter of Italian Ambassador Roberto Bettarini, went on to share the news on her own Instagram page, writing: 'A new chapter of our life book together is starting. As a writer I hope that the journey ahead will be full of love, suspense and adventure as the first part of our life book was.' According to Hola! the couple are set to marry in the autumn 2021 in Saint Petersburg. with guests set to include members of other royal families as well as a number of statesmen and public figures. The Russian Grand Duke George Romanov, 39, has announced his engagement to his long term girlfriend Rebecca Bettarini, 35, after a Christmas proposal Posting another snap alongside her beloved, Rebecca shared: 'We are thrilled to finally share the news of our engagement with you! Thank you for your loving words.' He proposed with a diamond and ruby ring, inspired by the rings formerly worn by the tsars in the colors of the Russian flag, which had been given to him by his mother at the age of 18. In the statement from the Chancellery of the head of the Russian House of Imperia, it was explained that the future wife of the Tsarevich - title of crown prince, hereditary pretender to the throne - has converted to the Orthodox faith with the name of Victoria Romanova. Their wedding will likely be a star-studded affair, with George related to royal families from across the world. The 39-year-old son of Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna of Russia proposed to Italian lobbyist and writer Rebecca, 35, in December, after asking her parents for their blessing George is the only son of the Russian Grand Duchess, with his ancestors also including Emperor Alexander II of Russia, and Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany. He is also distantly related to the British royal family, and is the great-great-great-great grandson of Nicholas II of Russia, who was cousins with Britain's George V, and Alexandra Fedorovna, who was Queen Victorias granddaughter. Meanwhile he is also the godson of Don Juan Carlos and Dona Sofia , King Constantine of Greece, and King Simeon of Bulgaria - his christening was held in May 1981 in Madrid. Rebecca shared snaps alongside the Grand Duke on her Instagram page, and said she was looking forward to a life of 'love, suspense and adventure' The couple met as youngsters, with Rebecca often accompanying her father to official receptions where they crossed paths. Later, they both started working in international companies and met again at a reception at the French embassy in Brussels. After living in Belgium for six years, the couple moved to Russia, where he works as a lawyer, and she works as a writer. BrainStations expansion into Miami underscores the tremendous progress our city has made as a global tech hub. BrainStation, the global leader in digital skills training, has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Wyncode, Floridas leading coding and user experience (UX) design bootcamp. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. With the acquisition, BrainStation takes on a leadership position in the Florida digital skills training market, offering a suite of full-time bootcamps including Web Development, UX Design, Data Science, and Digital Marketing. Acquiring Wyncode is a strong and strategic step to expanding the BrainStation business, and will accelerate our mission to reshape the future of digital skills training across the country, said Jason Field, Founder and CEO of BrainStation. Wyncode has been an integral part of Miamis fast-growing tech industry and Wyncodes founders and leaders have built deep relationships in the community. Founded in 2014 by Johanna and Juha Mikkola, Wyncode Academy has graduated nearly 1,000 students while establishing itself as the premier provider of digital skills training in Florida. It was the first coding bootcamp to be licensed by the Florida Department of Educations Commission for Independent Education and has won numerous industry awards. We couldnt be more excited to become part of BrainStations global mission, said Wyncodes CEO Johanna Mikkola, who will join BrainStation. Seven years ago, we set out to solve Miamis tech talent gap and reinvent how digital skills were learned in the Miami community. Becoming a part of BrainStation is a transformational next step. It will allow us to have a greater impact and reach more learners than ever before as well as support the community through job creation and tech talent development, Mikkola said. Miamis tech industry has grown rapidly in recent years, with South Florida becoming a new hub for the digital economy. Demand for digital skills is greater than the supply of qualified employees, and that skills gap is growing. The World Economic Forum estimates that more than half of all employees will require significant reskilling by 2022, with emerging technologies generating 133 million new jobs. BrainStations expansion into Miami underscores the tremendous progress our city has made as a global tech hub. The quality of tech talent and the caliber of employers in South Florida are both on the rise, and we are thrilled to see BrainStations investment in our region and community in order to build on the foundation Wyncode has created here, said Francis Suarez, Mayor of Miami. For more information about BrainStations bootcamps and certificate courses, please visit BrainStation. BrainStation was advised by Duane Morris and Wyncode was advised by Carlton Fields. About BrainStation BrainStation is the global leader in digital skills training and workforce transformation, with corporate training, award-winning bootcamps, certificate courses, industry-leading events, and more, both online and at state-of-the-art campuses in cities such as New York, Miami, London, Toronto, and Vancouver. Founded in 2012, BrainStation works with over 450 industry leaders from the most innovative companies, developing cutting-edge digital education that has empowered more than 100,000 professionals and some of the largest corporations in the world, including Amazon, Tesla, Microsoft, Google, Johnson & Johnson, and Shopify, among others. For additional information, please contact: Sal Ciolfi BrainStation Director, Content and Communications press@brainstation.io Break Now the new century had begun in earnest, history could be made in earnest, too. For many people, before it actually became the year in progress, 2001 tended to bring to mind Stanley Kubricks exceptional Space Odyssey, released in 1968. The film dealt with space, knowledge, and technology as well as madness and the unknown. Now, 2001 itself had arrived. It was forever to be remembered for the 9/11 attacks. There will always be a before and after September 11, the deadliest terrorist attack in history and the first one to be followed live on television worldwide. Everybody remembers where they were on that terrible day. I was at Heathrow, stuck in the British Airways lounge for hours, before finally being able to head back to Paris on a TGV high-speed train. If 2001 is to be summed up in a single word, it must be break. One dictionary definition of the term is an interruption of continuity or uniformity. A break can be both traumatic and an opportunity. Its a moment in history for which theres a before and an after. And since it can thus refer to the passage of time, its also a relevant word when it comes to watches. So, which watch best embodies that? First of all, it had to be a new, unexpected piece that provoked extreme reactions. A breaking point suggests a degree of violence. That ruled out a simple revamp, or a watch from an old-world or established brand. And since there had to be a before and an after, the watch must be a pioneer that paved the way for others: one that redefined and influenced its environment, as well as being able to withstand the test of time. It couldnt be a one-off; its disruptive effect must have endured. So there we have our selection criteria: a new watch, a new brand, a new design, new materials and the winner is: the RM 001, the very first Richard Mille. RM 001 Richard Mille Why Richard Mille? Between 1997 and 2001, startups were popping up all around the globe, with the same aim in mind: to disrupt, break, shatter, and demolish the Old World. They founded their new world, causing structural changes and creating new business models. They were both fascinating and frightening. Between 2000 and 2020, they changed the shape of our daily lives. Richard Mille is a horological embodiment of this startup culture. The keen industrialist founded his business in 1998. Richard Mille became a true startup in thought and in deed. The small, agile brand pushed back the boundaries of contemporary watchmaking on a niche market. And all this is why it best symbolises the year 2001. The Richard Mille RM 001 The Black Monolith In 2001: A Space Odyssey, the black monolith stands for the progress of knowledge. The RM 001 launched in 2001 is, in its own way, another black monolith, urging us to rethink watches in a new light; disruptive in its entirety. First of all, theres the tonneau case: raw, aggressive and yet refined. Then theres its transparency and depth. The RM 001 is a watch you can dive into. The numerals float, the tourbillon breathes at the heart of the watch, and the power reserve springs up out of nowhere. And when you turn it over, you can see yet more of the movement. Its a superb striptease, performed by a terribly sexy watch. Then too, theres the rubber strap, a new feature for a hyper luxury watch; and those revolutionary materials, used here for the first time in watchmaking. The Richard Mille RM 001 is the opening movement in a symphony conducted by Richard Mille, paving the way for other watchmaking breakthroughs. Stanley Kubrick would have been proud of it. The take from the devil's advocate Theres something seductive in this ability to create a break, and thats what the Devil likes about RMs creations. Let me make a confession here. As far as Im concerned, Richard Mille is a Holy Grail of watchmaking. Ive never owned one, and thats probably the thing I resent the most about this watch. With a launch price of 200,000, even today, it remains unaffordable for most collectors. Apart from that minor detail, when alls said and done the RM 001 is a prototype: a wonderful sketch, but one with defects; these were to be corrected as the 2000s progressed. But thats another story. *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. This article is an extract. The Millennium Watch Book is available on www.the-watch-book.com, in French and English. Order now WASHINGTON, Jan. 22, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- PACEM Solutions International and PACEM Defense LLC, are proud to announce the appointment of Cory Mills as Executive Chairman and Rana Al Saadi as Executive Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors, effective immediately. Both Mr. Mills and Mrs. Al Saadi will continue to be integrally involved in setting the strategic priorities and overseeing new business initiatives for PACEM. About Cory Mills Mr. Mills is a highly decorated combat veteran with experience in multiple theaters of operation. He is co-founder and Executive Chairman of PACEM Solutions International and PACEM Defense LLC, which acquired AMTEC Less Lethal Systems, Inc., in 2018. For most of his adult life, Cory Mills has honorably served U.S. military, diplomatic, and USAID missions. After Mr. Mills was honorably discharged from the U.S. Army, he served as a subcontractor for the U.S. State Department from 2005-2010. During this time, he worked with thousands of diplomatic missions in the U.S. Embassy in Kabul, the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, and the U.S. Consul in Erbil. In 2016, the Republic of Iraq credited PACEM with assisting operations which led to the raising of Iraq's flag at the Fallujah Governor's Office for the first time in nearly three years. Prior to this, ISIS was flying the flag of the Caliph in Fallujah. Mr. Mills is also a Member of the Dept of Defense (Pentagon) Defense Business Board, a member of the Council for National Policy, and a regular Newsmax "Insider" on national security issues under the banner, "Middle East Downrange." About Rana Al Saadi Mrs. Al Saadi is the co-founder and Executive Vice Chairman for PACEM Solutions International LLC and PACEM Defense LLC. As co-founder, Mrs. Al Saadi has been instrumental in rapid growth and expansion of the PACEM organization. Prior to PACEM's inception, Mrs. Al Saadi held multiple Senior Executive positions and served with the U.S. Department of State as a Cultural Advisor and the U.S. Department of Defense as a Translator/Analyst in Iraq. Mrs. Al Saadi earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Baghdad University and her Executive Master of Business Administration from Georgetown University. Mrs. Al Saadi is also a regular Newsmax "Insider" on both Iraqi and American cultural issues under the banner, "United States of Iraq." About PACEM PACEM Solutions International and PACEM Defense LLC are headquartered in Falls Church, Virginia. PACEM Solutions offers cutting-edge approaches to consultancy, training, and risk management. PACEM Solutions' state-of-the-art training and range complex in Perry, Florida features a 2,000-meter sniper range, Close Quarters Battle shoothouse, pistol/rifle ranges, 600-meter demolition range, breaching door courses, one-mile obstacle course, and bunkhouse for up to 52 students. PACEM Defense manufactures state-of-the-art munitions, including less-lethal munitions through its subsidiary ALS, Inc. Our highly qualified munitions/ballistics/chemical experts, specialized engineering, and substantial financial resources ensure that we produce and deliver the highest quality, most reliable products, on time to our clients globally. We maintain all Department of Defense; Department of State; and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) compliance/licensing. PACEM Solutions is registered with the State Department's Directorate of Defense Trade Control (DDTC) as a broker; PACEM Defense is registered as both a manufacturer and exporter. Contact Person: Cory Mills Company Names: PACEM Solutions International & PACEM Defense LLC Telephone Number: 571-385-0299 Email Address: [email protected] Web site addresses: www.pacem-solutions.com ; www.pacem-defense.com SOURCE PACEM Solutions International LLC Related Links pacem-solutions.com Huntington, WV (25701) Today Thunderstorms likely. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. High 73F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%.. Tonight Thunderstorms this evening followed by occasional showers overnight. Low 53F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%. A Philadelphia man was charged with scamming $700,000 from two New York-based companies by falsely promising to sell them much-needed personal protective equipment amid the coronavirus pandemic, federal authorities said. Gauravjit Singh, 26, faces one count of wire fraud, New Jersey Acting U.S. Attorney Rachael A. Honig announced Wednesday. Singh claimed he had contacts with a factory in China that manufactured medical gowns, according to court documents. He entered into agreements with the unnamed victim companies through his business, Mask Medical LLC, in which he would be paid about $7.125 million for 1.5 million medical gowns, a criminal complaint said. The targets of his scheme wired Singh approximately $712,500, but he didnt deliver the protective gear, according to the document. As part of the fraud, he sent photos and video purporting to show factory workers preparing the gowns for shipment and offered excuses about the supposed shipments. Instead of purchasing and delivering medical gowns, Singh used the funds for personal expenses, an FBI special agent wrote in an affidavit. Singh spent the ill-gotten funds on personal expenses, including about $5,100 on a vehicle, $1,700 for a Thai restaurant in Florida and approximately $1,300 for travel, according to the complaint. He allegedly transferred $220,000 of the money to his brokerage account and spent other amounts on online gaming. A defense attorney for Singh could not be immediately reached Thursday night. Federal and local authorities have warned of fraudsters looking to exploit the pandemic with various schemes. The U.S. Attorneys Office asked any possible victims of Singhs scam to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI or visit www.fbi.gov. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Noah Cohen may be reached at ncohen@njadvancemedia.com. For example, Washington, D.C., like many urban school districts, has held remote classes since March. So the Times reporter Abby Goodnough sought to examine the efforts being made to re-engage disaffected students. Much of Julie Bosmans reporting in Wausau focused on how the district has toggled between remote and in-person learning because of a politically divided school board. In the Roosevelt Independent School District in Texas, remote learning wasnt working, so the district scrapped it. You have to go to the classroom, or you have to go to a different district, J. David Goodman, the reporter who covered Roosevelt, said. Growing evidence bears out that school buildings are unlikely to seed coronavirus transmission when community spread is at moderate or low levels, provided that mitigation strategies, including adherence to social distancing and mask requirements, are implemented. Still, in-person schooling is not without risk, reporters found. As the virus crept into all corners of the country last year, fears of infection took a more dominant hold in urban centers like San Diego, Philadelphia and Los Angeles, which have relied heavily on remote learning. Jennifer Medina, who covered the Los Angeles Unified School District, said the issues plaguing it were emblematic of many urban districts with similar demographics. This just gets to the virus in general. Theres such a big divide of whos feeling it and who isnt, said Ms. Medina, who lives in the city. Its so glaringly clear that the kids who need the most help have the least access to it. 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. Popcorn and Inspiration: The Fugitive: Running From the Law, Following the Truth PG-13 | 2h 10min | Action, Crime, Drama | 6 August 1993 (USA) In The Fugitive, Harrison Ford plays convicted murderer Dr. Richard Kimble. The movie was inspired by a hit 1960s TV series of the same name and theme. The series was leaden; Fords version is anything but. And though hed been working for years, this is the movie that put Tommy Lee Jones on the map. (LR) Joe Pantoliano, Tommy Lee Jones, and Daniel Roebuck as U.S. marshals in The Fugitive. (Warner Bros.) The Fugitive (1993) has much in common with 2000s Erin Brockovich, 2007s Michael Clayton, and 2019s Dark Waters. They all tell tales of major American corporations trying to cover up their underhanded foisting of cancer-causing chemicals on the unsuspecting American public. More on that later. Not a Murderer Wrongly convicted Dr. Kimble is determined to free himself from the charge of murdering his beloved wife, Helen (Sela Ward), by finding the mysterious one-armed man who killed her. Ford plays Kimble as a man whose doctor-level intelligence also translates to a resourcefulness on par with a special operations soldier in SERE mode (survival, evasion, resistance, and escape). This is an action buffs action movie, with high tension in every scene, including the spectacular bus-train collision that offers Kimble an opportunity to escape and evade his pending death sentence. Doctor Richard Kimble (Harrison Ford) jumping from a moving train to escape execution, in The Fugitive. (Warner Bros.) Like the proverbial hellhound on his trail, along comes the scathingly sarcastic, terminator-like (you cant shake him) U.S. Marshal Sam Gerard, played by Tommy Lee Jones, with the immense deliciousness that occurs when an actor finally sinks his teeth into the role he was born to play. Sam Gerard is the Grim Reaper, but hes finally met his match. Its like the (also proverbial) immovable object meeting the unstoppable force. Kimbles too smart, cant be caught. Gerard puts the dog in doggedness. Make that pit bull. Who will win? Cinematic tension at its finest. Tommy Lee Jones (L) and Joe Pantoliano as U.S. marshals in The Fugitive. (Warner Bros.) Close but No Cigar Cops know to watch for criminals returning to the scene of the crime. Kimble, of course, knows this too, but he has to return to Chicago where his wife was murdered, regardless, in order to solve the mystery. So hes always right under Gerards nose. And Gerard (dont ever argue with the big dog; big dog is always right) can smell Kimbles trail. But the salty marshal, not even with the help of the Chicago PD, FBI, choppers overhead, cars whizzing around, computer whizzes on computer info networks, brainstorming meetingsnot even with all that can Gerard manage to nail Kimble. Then Kimble, borrowing money from a former med school classmate (Jeroen Krabbe), rents an apartment, doctors himself up a fake ID card, and sneaks into a hospital to inspect the prosthetic limbs department for clues of that one-armed man. Dr. Richard Kimble (Harrison Ford) examines a prosthetic limb for clues, in The Fugitive. (Warner Bros.) There, he has a close call with a hypervigilant staff doctor played by Julianne Moore in what was arguably the role that also put her career on the map. Dr. Anne Eastman (Julianne Moore) is on to Dr. Kimble sneaking around her hospital, in The Fugitive. (Warner Bros.) Almost like a dramatic version of the comedic symbiotic relationship between the characters that Robert De Niro and Charles Grodin play in Midnight Run, Kimble and Gerard were destined to meet and test each others wits. And in the same way that the hilariously rabidly antagonistic relationship in Midnight Run dissolved into a realization by both men, that in another lifetime they might have been friends, Kimble and Gerard bond in a great mutual respect. From the famous standoff on the edge of a roaring dam, where Kimble shouts I didnt kill my wife! and Gerard replies sarcastically I dont care! they evolve to the amusing, heartwarming scene where Gerard applies an ice pack to Kimbles injuries, and Kimble says I thought you didnt care. And Gerard, with a twinkle in his eye, says I dont. They share a laugh, and Gerard adds Dont tell anyone, will you? Dr. Richard Kimble (Harrison Ford) about to jump off a high dam to escape a U.S. marshal, in The Fugitive. (Warner Bros.) The Real Crux of the Matter But the real high point of The Fugitive is when Kimble goes after the above-mentioned med school classmate giving a talk at a large function for investors. Kimble crashes the assembly and declares: He falsified his research so RDU-90 could be approved and Devlin MacGregor could give you Provasic! Dr. Richard Kimble (Harrison Ford) blows the whistle on a former friends unethical lab reports, in The Fugitive. (Warner Bros.) In Erin Brockovich (about the Pacific Gas and Electric Company), the crux is, as lawyer Ed Masry (Albert Finney) says: On December 7, 1987, the discharger notified the regional board and the San Bernardino County Environmental Health Services of the discovery of 0.58 ppm of hexavalent chromium in an on-site ground water monitoring well. Everything the Irvings have had is proven reaction to exposure to hexavalent chromium. And Eds whistle-blowing assistant Erin Brockovich (Julia Roberts) adds: Theyve had breast cysts, uterine cancer, Hodgkins disease, immune deficiencies, asthma, chronic nosebleeds. In Michael Clayton (about U-North, an agricultural corporation), whistle-blowing lawyer Arthur Edens (Tom Wilkinson) says: Twelve percent of my life has been spent protecting the reputation of a deadly weedkiller! They killed these people, Michael. Little farms. Family farms. This girl, Anna, did you see her? You need to see her. Talk to her. Shes a miracle. Shes is Gods perfect creature. And for fifty million dollars in fees I have spent twelve percent of my life destroying perfect Anna and her dead parents and her dying brother. In Dark Waters (about DuPont corporations Teflon), reporter Rob Bilott (Mark Ruffalo) asks while looking in a creek: What am I looking for? Farmer Wilber Tennant (Bill Camp) replies: You blind, boy? Stones as white as the hairs on my head. Bleached! Thats chemicals, Im telling ya. My animals drink this water. Cool off in er. Get them bloody welts, them dead eyes. Charge at me, crazy-like. Animals that used to eat out of my own hand. Say what you will about Hollywood making money telling stories about big companies making money exploiting peoples health. Stories about whistle-blowing and truth-telling need telling, and the world needs to listen. The Fugitive Director: Andrew Davis Starring: Harrison Ford, Tommy Lee Jones, Sela Ward, Julianne Moore, Joe Pantoliano, Jeroen Krabbe Running Time: 2 hours, 10 minutes Rating: PG-13 Release Date: Aug. 6, 1993 Rating: 4 out of 5 stars We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Security forces work at the site of a deadly bomb attack in Baghdad, Iraq, on Jan. 21, 2021. (Hadi Mizban/AP Photo) ISIS Claims Responsibility for Iraq Suicide Attacks Killing at Least 32 The ISIS terrorist group claimed responsibility for a suicide bombing attack that killed at least 32 people and injured more than 100 in Baghdad, Iraq. The organization said it was behind the attack, according to a statement posted on the groups Telegram channel, as reported by the Reuters news agency. The SITE Intelligence Group also confirmed ISISs statement on the app. The U.S. Embassy in Baghdad condemned the incident on Thursday. This attack is a reprehensible act of cowardice that underscores the dangers of terrorism that millions of Iraqis continue to face, the embassy said in a statement. We extend our condolences to the families of these victims, and hope for the swift recovery for those who were injured. Authorities told Reuters that two men blew themselves up in a crowded Baghdad marketplace in a sign that some experts have said is a sign of the reactivation of ISIS after several years. Security forces work at the site of a deadly bomb attack in a market selling used clothes, Iraq, on Jan. 21, 2021. (Hadi Mizban/AP Photo) People and security forces gather at the site of a deadly bomb attack in Baghdads bustling commercial area, Iraq, on Jan. 21, 2021. (Hadi Mizban/AP Photo) A fruit vendor, Abbas Abdulkareem, told NPR: We were shocked because for some time there have been no explosions. The situation was safe, and people were optimistic. Retired Gen. Lloyd Austin, President Joe Bidens defense secretary nominee, told a Senate committee that he is concerned about the threat ISIS poses. I support maintaining a small number of U.S. troops to carry out a limited mission focused on advising and assisting Iraqi counterterrorism forces to deal with the continuing threat from ISIS, he told the Senate Armed Services Committee in written testimony. It came after President Donald Trump reduced troop numbers in Iraq, Syria, and Afghanistan, although about 2,500 troops remain in Iraq. The move to withdraw troops was opposed by a number of lawmakers in the House and Senate. 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. Although the COVID vaccine was not yet available during the study period, immunization should be prioritized for incarcerated populations." Sophie Terp, Researcher 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." Robert Kocharyan on years of his leadership in Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia Situation on Armenian-Azerbaijani border is still tense, more on COVID-19 in Armenia, May 28 digest "Armenia" alliance of political parties paying tribute to founder of First Republic Aram Manukyan (LIVE) Yerevan.today: Armenia acting PM not greeted at ruling party's headquarters, citizens call him 'capitulator' Russia MOD reports on maintenance of ceasefire regime in Nagorno-Karabakh Armenia acting MOD meets with Russian counterpart in Moscow Armenia 2nd President: I see possibility of restoring borders of Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast We can provide our army with some key, modernized weapons, says Armenia ex-President Kocharyan Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: Captives issue is not one that any opposition force can resolve OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs release statement on detention of 6 Armenian servicemen by Azerbaijan Armenian acting Deputy PM: Discussion on issues possible only after withdrawal of Azeri troops from Armenia's territory Armenia acting PM on Syunik roads, Russian military posts: This is only place where there are working nuances Armenia acting PM: Process of return of POWs will intensify after upcoming elections Putin congratulates Aliyev on Republic Day 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 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. Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi at a party briefing. (Image: Reuters) A meeting of the Congress Working Committee (CWC ) began on January 22 with party chief Sonia Gandhi delivering the opening remarks on farmers protest, coronavirus pandemic, upcoming state elections, and partys internal elections. The party's top executive body has approved a proposal to hold organisational elections in June 2021 "There will be a new elected Congress president in June 2021. This change in schedule has been done due to upcoming state assembly elections,"KC Venugopal, Congress general secretary said in a press conference after the CWC meeting. Venugopal said that all CWC leaders unanimously decided to hold elections in June. "First of all Congress president election will held and then the election for CWC members will be held. That is the usual process. We will share the scheduled in coming days," he said. The Congress's election authority had suggested that the internal elections be held before May end. But, the Congress party said, many leaders suggested to hold elections only when state assembly elections are over. This means Sonia Gandhi continues to be interim president of the party for about six more months. Assembly elections in many states, including West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Assam, are due in April-May. The CWC passed a three- point resolution seeking repeal of the contentions farm laws, thanking scientists while appealing to people to come forward for COVID-19 vaccination and demanding a probe by Joint Parliamentary Committee into the WhatsApp chat leak. CWC meeting begins. Congress President, Smt. Sonia Gandhi addresses the CWC. January 22, 2021 Todays CWC meeting was held five months after Sonia Gandhi had asked her party to relieve her of the presidents post in August last year. She had offered to step down at the CWC meet following a letter by 23 senior party leaders demanding an active, full-time and visible president. The then CWC meet had resolved that Sonia Gandhi would remain party's interim president for next six months during which time an AICC session would be called to elect a new chief. Thus, the elections were due in February this year. READ| Sonia Gandhi says govt shown shocking insensitivity on farmers' issue, terms consultations a charade The virtual meeting started with Sonia Gandhi's opening remarks on continued farmers' protest accusing the government of showing insensitivity and arrogance while going through the charade of consultations. It is abundantly clear that the three laws were prepared in haste and Parliament was consciously denied an opportunity for examining in any meaningful details their implications and impacts. Our position has been very clear from the very beginning: we reject them categorically because they will destroy the foundations of food security that are based on the three pillars of MSP, public procurement, and PDS, Gandhi said, according to a Congress statement. The Congress chief said that she hopes the process of vaccination will continue and be completed to the fullest extent. The government has inflicted untold suffering on the people of our country by the manner in which it has managed the COVID-19 pandemic. It will take years for the scars to heal, she said. Sources said that many congress leaders, including Anand Sharma, one of the signatories of the letter, demanded internal elections during the CWC meet. The Congress party denied any differences during the CWC meet. French historian Maxime Gauin said that the events of 1915 cannot be identified as genocide as there was no systematic massacre and at least 350,000 Ottoman Armenians had been exempted from deportation. As Daily Sabah writes, in an interview with the New York-based Turkish-American Security Foundation (TASFO), Gauin said that he examined many historical documents regarding the incident, emphasizing that the 1915 events could not be considered a "genocide case" as asserted by Armenia. The deportation was based on a rational perception of national security and at least 350,000 Ottoman Armenians, possibly up to 500,000 including members of Parliament, civil servants and high-level statesmen, were exempted from the deportation, which proves that the case was not a genocide, Gauin said. He added that a systematic massacre was never carried out as there were clear orders from the Ottoman government on the protection of Armenians, noting that the individuals who committed criminal acts between 1915 and 1917 were punished. In 1915, the Ottoman Empire relocated Armenians in eastern Anatolia following revolts when some sided with invading Russians, which resulted in some Armenian casualties. Yerevan has demanded an apology and compensation, while Turkey officially refuted the Armenian allegations over the incidents saying that although Armenians died during the relocation, many Turks also lost their lives in attacks carried out by Armenian gangs in Anatolia. Gauin started his research on the 1915 events in 2006-2007 and completed his doctoral dissertation between 2011-2019. This thesis consists of a 50-page bibliography including primary printed sources and memoirs, and examination of over 220 boxes of documents and microfilms, he said. The historian also criticized Frances stance on the 1915 events, describing the parliamentary report justifying the recognition of the genocide allegations as "appalling." He added that it is hypocrisy to ignore the Muslim losses while talking about Armenian casualties. France, housing a significant Armenian community over its ties with the Levant and post-World War I mandate rule in Syria, where most Armenians in Anatolia were relocated, was the first European country to recognize the events as genocide in 2001. In addition, Macron announced the national day of remembrance in February 2019, saying that his country "knows how to look history in the face." The decision came following the deterioration of the relations between Turkey and France. Stephen Casement (43) was handed a six-month prison sentence after he finally admitted cultivating cannabis at his north Belfast home (PA) A cannabis grower claimed the plants he was cultivating were vegetables after he had been banned from every shop by the UVF, a court heard today. Stephen Casement (43) was handed a six-month prison sentence after he finally admitted cultivating cannabis at his north Belfast home last year. It was the prosecution case that police called at his Avoca Street home on May 25, 2020 for breach of bail and when no-one answered they entered to search for him. Prosecution barrister Simon Jenkins said that in an upstairs bedroom police found the remains of a cannabis growing set and uncovered 35 plants with cannabis stalks and withered leaves which appeared to have recently harvested. Casement was subsequently arrested and during police interview he admitted that he owned the pots. But he denied growing cannabis plants and made the case that he had been growing peppers, broccoli and cabbage because he was starving. He stated that he had been banned from every shop by the UVF and so he took to growing his own food. Belfast Recorder Judge Stephen QC said Casement has a lengthy criminal record with 132 previous convictions, with four previous drug convictions dating back to 2008. The judge noted Casement had a difficult upbringing, leaving school with no qualifications, and was currently having weekly counselling sessions with Nexus in prison. The Belfast Recorder also said that Casement had told a doctor that he couldnt remember a day in the last 15 years that he hadnt taken illicit drugs. He described the cultivation factory as a relatively small scale operation and the prosecution could not deny Casements claims that the cannabis was for his own personal use. Casement is currently in custody on theft charges and is not expected to released until June 2022 at the earliest. Judge Fowler handed Casement a six-month sentence but told him that it would run concurrent to the sentences he is already serving in Maghaberry prison. Last August, Casement was handed a 16-month prison sentence after he admitted the brazen theft of over 200 LOL dolls valued at 2,796 from Smyths Toys at Forestside Shopping Centre in Belfast. He also received a further nine months in custody for breaching a number of court orders. U.S. President-elect Joe Biden's nominee for Secretary of State Antony Blinken made a statement on the South Caucasus, according to which he intends to start active pressure on Azerbaijan and support for Armenia in post-war conditions. In particular, he stressed that the United States needs to reconsider its approach to interaction with Azerbaijan. "In light of the recent outbreak of hostilities in Nagorno-Karabakh, the Biden-Harris administration will review our security assistance to Azerbaijan. If the circumstances warrant, the Biden-Harris administration will be prepared to suspend waivers of requirements under section 907 of the Freedom Support Act," Blinken said. This section of the U.S. law on the support of freedom introduces a ban on direct assistance to the government of Azerbaijan. It is currently not being applied. At the same time, in his opinion, Armenia should receive from the United States "security assistance and aid to strengthen democratic governance and promote economic growth." Thus, according to Blinken, Washington intends to "find a permanent settlement to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and ensure another war does not break out", despite the fact that the conflict has already been settled and there is no talk of any new war in the region. Anthony Blinken specified that from now on the United States will work towards "a sustainable peace" in the South Caucasus that reflects the interests of Yerevan, and not only Moscow, Baku and Ankara. For this, Washington will work more closely with European countries. "I will reinvigorate U.S. engagement to find a permanent settlement to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict that protects the security of Nagorno-Karabakh and helps to ensure another war does not break out," he concluded, Voennoye Obozreniye writes . Ukrainian economic recovery and energy sector reform are in line with the European Green Deal, Deputy Energy Minister of Ukraine Yaroslav Demchenkov said at the 11th session of the IRENA Assembly. As the Government portal informs, Demchenkov noted that Ukraine adheres to the UN Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement. The Ministry of Energy is currently reviewing current Ukraines energy strategy until 2035 to implement more ambitious targets for reducing CO2 emissions in the fuel and energy sector. In addition, this year it is planned to start elaboration of a new energy strategy until 2050 based on the European Green Deal goals. The task of national and energy security is the integration into the EU energy system in 2023 or earlier, the official stressed. At the same time, decarbonization of the economy requires a balanced development of renewable energy. In addition to solar power, wind power and hydropower, Ukraine has significant resources for bioenergy development. A carbon-free future of Ukrainian energy and the gradual abandonment of thermal generation are also discussed. In addition, in order to create favorable conditions for the sustainable development of renewable energy sources, key regulations for green auctions were developed and implemented. In particular, international companies and investment funds will be invited to participate. A plan for the financial recovery of the electricity sector is also being prepared. Ukraine also makes efforts to build smart grids and stimulate the development of highly maneuverable generating facilities and installation of electrical energy storage systems. Demchenkov stressed that Ukraine is recognized as EUs priority partner in the development of hydrogen capacities due to the significant potential for green hydrogen production and the existing gas transmission infrastructure integrated into the EU. "We elaborate the concept and legal framework for the development of hydrogen energy. We are interested not only in the export of hydrogen to Europe but also in its use as an energy source in Ukraine," the deputy minister said. ol Libya: CNN says Russian mercenaries digging giant trench UN plan foresees withdrawal of foreign militias by Saturday (ANSAmed) - ROME, JANUARY 22 - Khalifa Haftar's forces "are digging an enormous trench from Sirte to the Jufra air base, and Russian mercenaries from the Wagner group are operative in the area", US intelligence sources told CNN. A UN-led road map towards elections in December foresees the withdrawal of foreign militias by Saturday. The trench can be seen from satellites, and the defensive line, strengthened by fortifications, extends for more than 70 km. CNN said the construction is raising fears that foreign fighters will not withdraw from the country by Saturday, but instead intend to remain.(ANSAmed). (ANSA). remaining of Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. Rana Daggubatis slick, campy Discovery Plus show reminds you how tough it is to guard our borders In episode one of Mission Frontline, streaming on Discovery Plus, Rana Daggubati spends time with a company of the Border Security Force (BSF) at the remote Murar Outpost along the India-Pakistan border outside of Jaisalmer in Rajasthan. Theres always a thin line you tread when you attempt to glamourise the valour of the army, for, beyond the emotional posturing, there are very real lives at stake, with soldiers usually fighting generational wars started and kept going by those wholl never actually have to fight them. Luckily, Daggubati tends to stay on the right side of the line. He seems to keep his head down in respect, fully aware that in spite of the fact that there are cameras and a crew to keep him company as hes used to, hes still a fish completely out of water in that scenario (and Im not talking about the desert.) The 40-minute episode gives you a sense of what life would be at a place that needs to be manned 24 by 7, because irrespective of the leanings of government at the centre, the threat of insurgency across those lines is relentless. There could be days or weeks without action, but the possibility of it happening is all-pervasive. Every stray footprint in the sand dunes matters, and with high stakes at that. Anyone who pauses to give it a thought will intuitively sense that life in the BSF is likely to be tougher than almost anything else one would choose to do. The terrain is harsh all along the border, the weather chipping away at the body of anyone exposed to it, day or night. And the conflict caused by those borders has caused decades of suffering, with no end in sight. Even if you are conscientiously aware of all of this, watching it may still give you goosebumps at some point, because you get a glimpse of the actual people who do that job; a job that in an ideal world must not even exist. Daggubati joins the soldiers on their various drills that include running 3.2 kilometers within a set time, jumping across ditches, fireman drills, and even a simulated mission with fake militants; and he just about manages to keep up. In fact, its good to see him being pulled up for not responding to orders the right way. He may be the movie star on the shoot, but the Company Officer hes reporting to during the drills is very much the boss. When Daggubati has to fire a real gun for the first time in his life, he seems excited but also positively terrified, taking a moment to soak it in, struggling to cock it with ease it reminds you that this isnt a movie. The show sprinkles little factoids along the way, but youll have to do your own research if you want a thorough understanding of what soldiers have to deal with in the course of their job. For instance, the gun that Daggubati fires is the standard-issue INSAS rifle, which the Company Officer describes as a constant companion for every soldier they have to have it on their person at all times. And when hes teaching Daggubati how to use it, you sense the officers complete faith in his equipment. Yet, the indigenously developed INSAS is an aging weapon system that has had problems and is being phased out, replaced by newer weapons like the AK-203, manufactured in partnership with Kalashnikov. The best moments of the show, then, are when the humanity of the situation comes to the fore. After the end of a grueling day, the soldiers have put together a little performance for everyone to enjoy. Daggubati discovers a couple of soldiers from his native Andhra Pradesh in the distant deserts of Rajasthan. He immediately breaks into a long conversation with them in Telugu, a language which a hundred others looking on dont seem to understand. And yet, somehow, everyone present in that scene is there with a common goal in mind defending those borders. The soldiers liken their colleagues to their big family, with their small family back at home. Mission Frontline, for all its campy, glamorous, go-with-the-trend exterior, ends up being a reminder of the sacrifices that are made to secure the arbitrary border drawn by a white man. Rating: *** Home > 2021 > Kamala Harris And Indias Laws Against "Love Jihad" | Rajmohan (...) by Rajmohan Gandhi * December 28, 2020 The unpredictable impact of Trumps post-defeat temper on Georgias January 6 Senate runoffs intrigues me as I wait and watch in Illinois. Also fascinating, and of course noticed by many, is the similarity in the political disputes that India and the U.S. witness. Moreover, there is at least partial similarity, also marked by many, in the styles of Modi and Trump, both of whom seem to enjoy the mic, the camera, and theatrics. Not all the likenesses between India and America are concurrent, however. Thus it was a long time ago that the U.S. witnessed parallels to Indias current "love jihad" fever. In at least 16 American states, persons of different races could not legally marry until 1967, when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the so-called anti-miscegenation laws were unconstitutional. Connoting a "risky" mixing of genes and races, the term miscegenation had been coined during the Civil War (1861-65) by slavery defenders who warned that freeing slaves would result in interracial marriages. If California had been one of those 16 states, Tamil Nadus Shyamala Gopalan, who as a 19-year-old had immigrated there in 1958, could not have married Donald Harris, an immigrant from Jamaica in 1963. But that was not the case. Shyamala and Donald could and did marry, and Kamala Harris, born to the couple in 1964, is today on the cusp of being sworn in as Americas Vice-President. In earlier decades, America had witnessed wide dissemination of the bogey of African American males desiring White women. That spectre upended actual history, where male slaveholders forced Black female slaves to bear their children, thereby creating the great bulk of Americas lighter-skinned Blacks. Todays desi tale of Muslim males supposedly seducing Hindu females in a widespread "love jihad" conspiracy resembles the bogey to which White America had been receptive before the 1960s. However, I havent yet found an American parallel, current or historical, for the sick story being circulated in India of a large conspiracy among Muslim males for trapping Hindu females so as to (a) increase the Muslim percentage in Indias population and (b) bring terrorists to birth. Human beings falling in love with, and wanting to marry, a pardesi or a bahri, somebody outside ones traditional circle, is something that everyone understands. Males duping females of any circle for sex, property or money is also, unfortunately, something known to all eras and every society. But would anyone believe that young Indian men who desperately need work (to feed parents, grandparents, siblings, perhaps other relatives, and themselves) would spend time and energy plotting to seduce an "outsider" female merely in order to increase the percentage in the population of their community? And to patiently and carefully raise terrorists at home? Some would indeed believe such a tale. Such as those whove been brainwashed to think of another caste or community as people who are unnecessary when theyre not a menace. They are dangerous, or expendable, or both. It is not at all unthinkable that people would organize a racket for ensnaring women. But it is unthinkable that a giant scale "love jihad" racket has been running in India for years, eluding not merely the families involved but also the countrys huge, talented and suspicious police forces. It is also hard to accept that such a racket has persuaded a large number of poor Muslim males to capture and convert unsuspecting Hindu women for the sake of census figures, and for producing terrorists. Love happens. It doesnt require planning or organizing. A racket, however, doesnt just happen; it is wickedly arranged. Instead, however, of busting any of the numerous rackets that regularly fleece our hapless citizens, some state governments, led by that of U.P., have thrust ordinances or laws to obstruct inter-faith love and inter-faith marriage! Theres no need for me to dwell on the coercive and, according to several experts, unconstitutional features of the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Ordinance, 2020, which Governor Anandiben Patel signed into law towards the end of November. The ordinance claims to deal with forcible conversion and fraudulent marriages, in other words, with "love jihad". Advocate Abhinav Chandrachud has underscored two of the ordinances perturbing flaws. One, "the law seems to send an unmistakable signal to its target audience: Prohibit illegal conversion to other religions, but look the other way if a convert is forced to reconvert back to ours." Two, "perhaps the most striking provision of the ordinance is the one which deals with the burden of proof. Ordinarily, the burden of proof in criminal cases is on the prosecution, and the presumption is that a person accused of committing an offence is innocent until proven guilty. The Uttar Pradesh ordinance turns this rule on its head. Every religious conversion is presumed to be illegal. The burden is on the person carrying out the conversion to prove that it is not illegal." "All this," says Chandrachud, "puts an incredible chilling effect on the freedom of conscience." Thirdly, the ordinance, emulated by a few other BJP-ruled states, seems to require a magistrates previous approval before an inter-faith marriage or any change of religious belief can take place. That a persons personal and perhaps private belief, as also an alliance between two adults, must obtain the states prior permission is too extreme an order for a democratic state to impose on its citizens. When Shyamala Gopalan, a Hindu from India, married Donald Harris from Jamaica (I have no idea how he described his religion) in California in 1963, neither was required to prove to a magistrate that they had not been converted to their religion by fraud or force. When the results of the January 6 runoffs are out, we will know whether or not their daughter Kamala Harris will have, as Vice-President and chair, the Senates casting vote. In either case, she, half-Indian, half-Black, and fully American, will have an important say in the contest between two visions, one holding that your race will determine your status in America, and the other saying that all Americans are equal. The country where her mother was born is also witnessing a similar, and similarly crucial, contest, with religion substituted for race. * (Author: Rajmohan Gandhi is presently teaching at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.) (Courtesy: ndtv.com) [January 22, 2021] New Oriental Announces FY2021 Second Quarter and Interim Financial Results (Ended November 30, 2020) BEIJING, Jan. 22, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- New Oriental Education & Technology Group Inc. (the "Company" or "New Oriental") (NYSE: EDU and SEHK: 9901), the largest provider of private educational services in China, today announced its unaudited financial results for the second fiscal quarter ended November 30, 2020, which is the second quarter of New Oriental's fiscal year 2021. Financial Highlights for the Second Fiscal Quarter Ended November 30, 2020 Total net revenues increased by 13.1% year-over-year to US$887.7 million for the second fiscal quarter of 2021. for the second fiscal quarter of 2021. Operating loss was US$32.1 million for the second fiscal quarter of 2021, compared to an income of US$25.3 million in the same period of the prior fiscal year. Net income attributable to New Oriental was US$53.9 million , represented an increase of 0.9% in the same period of the prior fiscal year. Key Financial Results (in thousands US$, except per ADS(1) data) 2Q FY2021 2Q FY2020 % of change Net revenues 887,689 785,211 13.1% Operating (loss) / income (32,147) 25,299 - Non-GAAP operating (loss) / income (2)(3) (13,667) 36,514 - Net income attributable to New Oriental 53,902 53,437 0.9% Non-GAAP net income attributable to New Oriental (2)(3) 69,140 56,987 21.3% Net income per ADS attributable to New Oriental - basic 0.33 0.34 -0.9% Net income per ADS attributable to New Oriental - diluted 0.33 0.34 -0.7% Non-GAAP net income per ADS attributable to New Oriental - basic(3)(4) 0.43 0.36 19.1% Non-GAAP net income per ADS attributable to New Oriental - diluted(3)(4) 0.43 0.36 19.4% (in thousands US$, except per ADS(1) data) 1H FY2021 1H FY2020 % of change Net revenues 1,874,055 1,856,988 0.9% Operating income 118,158 271,495 -56.5% Non-GAAP operating income (2)(3) 152,471 293,730 -48.1% Net income attributable to New Oriental 228,554 262,427 -12.9% Non-GAAP net income attributable to New Oriental (2)(3) 253,666 287,149 -11.7% Net income per ADS attributable to New Oriental - basic 1.43 1.66 -13.9% Net income per ADS attributable to New Oriental - diluted 1.42 1.65 -13.6% Non-GAAP net income per ADS attributable to New Oriental - basic(3)(4) 1.58 1.81 -12.6% Non-GAAP net income per ADS attributable to New Oriental - diluted(3)(4) 1.58 1.80 -12.4% (1) Each ADS represents one common share. The Hong Kong-listed shares are fully fungible with the ADSs listed on NYSE. (2) GAAP represents Generally Accepted Accounting Principles in the United States of America. (3) New Oriental provides net income attributable to New Oriental, operating income / (loss) and net income per ADS attributable to New Oriental on a non-GAAP basis that excludes share-based compensation expenses and loss from fair value change of long-term investments to provide supplemental information regarding its operating performance. For more information on these non-GAAP financial measures, please see the section captioned "About Non-GAAP Financial Measures" and the tables captioned "Reconciliations of Non-GAAP Measures to the Most Comparable GAAP Measures" set forth at the end of this release. (4) The Non-GAAP net income per ADS attributable to New Oriental is computed using Non-GAAP net income attributable to New Oriental and the same number of shares and ADSs used in GAAP basic and diluted EPS calculation. Operating Highlights for the Second Fiscal Quarter Ended November 30, 2020 Total student enrollments in academic subjects tutoring and test preparation courses increased by 10.4% year-over-year to approximately 4,183,100 for the second fiscal quarter of 2021. The total number of schools and learning centers was 1,518 as of November 30, 2020 , an increase of 214 compared to 1,304 as of November 30, 2019 , and an increase of 46 compared to 1,472 as of August 31, 2020 . The total number of schools was 117 as of November 30, 2020 . Michael Yu, New Oriental's Executive Chairman, commented, "We are pleased to see the recovery of businesses for the autumn semester after the resumption of schools and learning centers since the end of September 2020. As the pandemic situation in China has been stabilized and effectively controlled during the quarter, our businesses in most of the cities resumed and managed to deliver encouraging results. Net revenue for the second quarter was in line with our expectation, up 13.1% year over year. Our key growth driver, K-12 all-subjects after-school tutoring business, achieved year-over-year revenue growth of approximately 26%. U-Can middle and high school all-subjects after-school tutoring business grew by approximately 27%, while our POP Kids program recorded a growth of approximately 24%. Overseas related businesses are still under pressure due to the uncertainty of the pandemic situation and travel restrictions around the globe. The overseas test preparation business declined by approximately 29%, yet the overseas consulting and study tour business increased by 6%, respectively. Looking ahead, we believe our business are in good recovery progress and will gradually pickup the momentum in the coming quarters. As one of the market leaders in China, we are confident that our exceptional products and services, as well as our constantly enhanced learning experience would enable us to capture more market share and deliver long-term value for our shareholders." Chenggang Zhou, New Oriental's Chief Executive Officer, added, "We expect the industry will undergo a wave of market consolidation once the pandemic fades away. We remain committed to ramp up our expansion effort to get prepared for further taking market share from other players post-COVID. During this quarter, we opened five new offline training schools in new cities. The total square meters of classroom area by the end of this quarter increased approximately 21% year-over-year, and 4% quarter-over-quarter. Student enrollments for K-12 after-school tutoring business during the quarter increase by 15% year-over-year. At the same time, we continued to execute our OMO (online merging offline) strategy, which enables our services to virtually reach a broader pool of students in existing cities and the surrounding satellite cities. In the autumn semester, we piloted the OMO online courses in vast majority existing cities and around 20 new surrounding satellite cities, attracting a promising number of new customers, accompanied by satisfactory student retention with low customer acquisition cost. We believe these OMO initiatives, featured with localized and differentiating content, will effectively boost enrollments and revenue with low customer acquisition cost and enable us to capture more market opportunity and improve our overall profitability over the long term. Last but not least, our pure online education platform, Koolearn.com has also invested more resources in upgrading their APP and online platforms, enhancing students' overall in-class learning experience and the teacher training system." Stephen Zhihui Yang, New Oriental's Executive President and Chief Financial Officer, commented, "With the gradual recovery of our topline, our margins trended better. Our Non-GAAP operating margin for the quarter was negative 1.5%, down 620 basis points year-over-year, represented a smaller year-over-year decline comparing with the previous quarter. Non-GAAP net margin for the quarter was 7.8%, up 50 basis points year-over-year. We will continue to make efforts on cost control and reducing expenditures during pandemics period and be cautious in making investment in our OMO initiatives and pure online education platform to keep balancing the growth and profitability. We are confident in a better margin recovery when the pandemic is over. " Financial Results for the Second Fiscal Quarter Ended November 30, 2020 Net Revenues For the second fiscal quarter of 2021, New Oriental reported net revenues of US$887.7 million, representing a 13.1% increase year-over-year. Net revenues from educational programs and services for the second fiscal quarter were US$833.0 million, representing a 15.2% increase year-over-year. The growth was mainly driven by increases in student enrollments in K-12 after-school tutoring courses. Total student enrollments in academic subjects tutoring and test preparation courses in the second fiscal quarter of 2021 increased by 10.4% year-over-year to approximately 4,183,100. Operating Costs and Expenses Operating costs and expenses for the quarter were US$919.8 million, representing a 21.0% increase year-over-year. Non-GAAP operating costs and expenses for the quarter, which exclude share-based compensation expenses, were US$901.4 million, representing a 20.4% increase year-over-year. Cost of revenues increased by 26.4% year-over-year to US$453.7 million , primarily due to increases in teachers' compensation for more teaching hours and higher rental costs for the increased number of schools and learning centers in operation. increased by 26.4% year-over-year to , primarily due to increases in teachers' compensation for more teaching hours and higher rental costs for the increased number of schools and learning centers in operation. Selling and marketing expenses increased by 23.9% year-over-year to US$133.6 million , primarily due to the addition of a number of customer service representatives and marketing staffs with the aim of capturing the new market opportunity during the COVID-19 period, especially for new initiatives in K-12 tutoring on our pure online education platform, Koolearn.com. increased by 23.9% year-over-year to , primarily due to the addition of a number of customer service representatives and marketing staffs with the aim of capturing the new market opportunity during the COVID-19 period, especially for new initiatives in K-12 tutoring on our pure online education platform, Koolearn.com. General and administrative expenses for the quarter increased by 13.5% year-over-year to US$332.6 million . Non-GAAP general and administrative expenses, which exclude share-based compensation expenses, were US$319.8 million , representing a 13.4% increase year-over-year. Total share-based compensation expenses, which were allocated to related operating costs and expenses, increased by 64.8% to US$18.5 million in the second fiscal quarter of 2021. Operating Loss / Income and Operating Margin Operating loss for the quarter was US$32.1 million, compared to an income of US$25.3 million in the same period of the prior fiscal year. Non-GAAP loss from operations for the quarter was US$13.7 million, compared to an income of US$36.5 million in the same period of the prior fiscal year. Operating margin for the quarter was negative 3.6%, compared to 3.2% in the same period of the prior fiscal year. Non-GAAP operating margin, which excludes share-based compensation expenses, for the quarter was negative 1.5%, compared to 4.7% in the same period of the prior fiscal year. Net Income and EPS Net income attributable to New Oriental for the quarter was US$53.9 million, representing a 0.9% increase from the same period of the prior fiscal year. Basic and diluted earnings per ADS attributable to New Oriental were US$0.33 and US$0.33, respectively. Non-GAAP Net Income and Non-GAAP EPS Non-GAAP net income attributable to New Oriental for the quarter was US$69.1 million, representing a 21.3% increase from the same period of the prior fiscal year. Non-GAAP basic and diluted earnings per ADS attributable to New Oriental were US$0.43 and US$0.43, respectively. Cash Flow Net operating cash flow for the second fiscal quarter of 2021 was approximately US$410.7 million. Capital expenditures for the quarter were US$62.0 million, which were primarily attributable to opening of 78 facilities and renovations at existing learning centers. Balance Sheet As of November 30, 2020, New Oriental had cash and cash equivalents of US$2,643.2 million, as compared to US$915.1 million as of May 31, 2020. In addition, the Company had US$416.1 million in term deposits, US$3,035.3 million in short-term investments. New Oriental's deferred revenue balance, which is cash collected from registered students for courses and recognized proportionally as revenue as the instructions are delivered, at the end of the second quarter of fiscal year 2021 was US$1,987.1 million, an increase of 26.5% as compared to US$1,570.4 million at the end of the second quarter of fiscal year 2020. Financial Results for the Six Months Ended November 30, 2020 For the first six months of fiscal year 2021, New Oriental reported net revenues of US$1,874.1 million, representing a 0.9% increase year-over-year. Total student enrollments in academic subjects tutoring and test preparation courses in the first six months of fiscal year 2021 increased by 11.7% to approximately 7,144,200. Operating income for the first six months of fiscal year 2021 was US$118.2 million, representing a 56.5% decrease year-over-year. Non-GAAP operating income for the first six months of fiscal year 2021 was US$152.5 million, representing a 48.1% decrease year-over-year. Operating margin for the first six months of fiscal year 2021 was 6.3%, compared to 14.6% for the same period of the prior fiscal year. Non-GAAP operating margin, which excludes share-based compensation expenses for the first six months of fiscal year 2021, was 8.1%, compared to 15.8% for the same period of the prior fiscal year. Net income attributable to New Oriental for the first six months of fiscal year 2021 was US$228.6 million, representing a 12.9% decrease year-over-year. Basic and diluted net income per ADS attributable to New Oriental for the first six months of fiscal year 2021 amounted to US$1.43 and US$1.42, respectively. Non-GAAP net income attributable to New Oriental for the first six months of fiscal year 2021 was US$253.7 million, representing an 11.7% decrease year-over-year. Non-GAAP basic and diluted net income per ADS attributable to New Oriental for the first six months of fiscal year 2021 amounted to US$1.58 and US$1.58, respectively. Koolearn's Financial Highlights for the Six Months Ended November 30, 2020 New Oriental's subsidiary, Koolearn Technology Holdings Limited ("Koolearn") (1797.SEHK), a leading online extracurricular education service provider in China listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, announced its financial results under International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS") for the first six months of fiscal year 2021. Koolearn's financial information in this section is presented in accordance with IFRS. For the first six months ended November 30, 2020, Koolearn recorded revenues of RMB676.8 million (US$102.9 million), representing a 19.2% increase year-over-year, and recorded a net loss of RMB674.4million (US$102.6 million), a 670.6% increase compared to a net loss of RMB87.5 million (US$13.3 million) in the same period of the prior fiscal year. Koolearn's gross profit was RMB153.1 million (US$23.3 million) and gross profit margin was 22.6% for the six months ended November 30, 2020. To capture the huge market opportunity in online education area, Koolearn continued to invest more resources in executing new initiatives in online K-12 after school tutoring business in fiscal year 2021. This includes content development, teacher recruitment and training, sales and marketing, R&D and other costs and expenses that are necessary to drive the growth of new online programs. Starting from fiscal year 2021, Koolearn also conducted a restructuring of the college education business line with more focus on redesigning and upgrading of products and services and improving operational efficiency with more synergies between Koolearn and offline schools in respect of branding, education resources and services and multi-channel marketing. The online K-12 after-school tutoring business reported a year-over-year revenue growth of approximately 162.9% and a year-over-year student enrollment growth of approximately 143.4%. More specifically, student enrolments for its location-based live interactive after-school tutoring courses ("DFUB") and Koolearn K-12 courses grew by 170.3% and 134.4% year-over-year, respectively. As of November 30, 2020, the DFUB courses have been released in 271 cities in China. The translations of RMB amounts into U.S. dollars in this section are presented solely for the convenience of the readers. The conversion of RMB into U.S. dollars is based on the exchange rate set forth in the H.10 statistical release of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System as of November 30, 2020, which was RMB6.5760 to US$1.00. The percentages stated in this section are calculated based on the RMB amounts. Other Developments On November 9, 2020, New Oriental successfully listed on the Main Board of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited under the stock code "9901", with a global offering of 9,786,500 new common shares (including the exercise of the over-allotment option on November 16, 2020). The Hong Kong-listed shares are fully fungible with our ADSs listed on the New York Stock Exchange, based on the ratio of one common share to one ADS. The net proceeds from the global offering (including the issuance under the over-allotment option), after deducting underwriting fees and offering expenses, amounted to approximately HK$11,493.2 million (US$1,482.8 million). Outlook for Third Quarter of Fiscal Year 2021 New Oriental anticipates total net revenues in the third quarter of fiscal year 2021 (December 1, 2020 to February 28, 2021) to be in the range of US$ 1,098.6 million to US$1,144.8 million, representing year-over-year growth in the range of 19% to 24%. The above figures reflect New Oriental's current and preliminary view, which is subject to change. Conference Call Information New Oriental's management will host an earnings conference call at 8 AM on January 22, 2021, U.S. Eastern Time (9 PM on January 22, 2021, Beijing/Hong Kong Time). Participants can join the conference using the below options: Dialling-in to the conference call: Please register in advance of the conference, using the link provided below. Upon registering, you will be provided with participant dial-in numbers, passcode and unique registrant ID. Conference call registration link: https://apac.directeventreg.com/registration/event/1083313. It will automatically direct you to the registration page of "New Oriental Second Fiscal Quarter 2021 Earnings Conference Call" where you may fill in your details for RSVP. If it requires you to enter a participant conference ID, please enter "1083313". In the 10 minutes prior to the call start time, you may use the conference access information (including dial in number(s), direct event passcode and registrant ID) provided in the confirmation email received at the point of registering. Joining the conference call via a live webcast: Additionally, a live and archived webcast of the conference call will be available at http://investor.neworiental.org . Listening to the conference call replay: A replay of the conference call may be accessed by phone at the following number until January 28, 2021: International: +61 2 8199 0299 Passcode: 1083313 About New Oriental New Oriental is the largest provider of private educational services in China offering a wide range of educational programs, services and products to a varied student population throughout China. New Oriental's program, service and product offerings consist of K-12 after-school tutoring, test preparation, language training for adults, pre-school education, primary and secondary school education, education materials and distribution, online education, and other services. New Oriental is listed on NYSE (NYSE: EDU) and SEHK (9901.SEHK) respectively. New Oriental's ADSs, each of which represents one common share. The Hong Kong-listed shares are fully fungible with the ADSs listed on NYSE. For more information about New Oriental, please visit http://www.neworiental.org/english/. Safe Harbor Statement This announcement contains forward-looking statements. These statements are made under the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "will," "expects," "anticipates," "future," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates" and similar statements. Among other things, the outlook for the third quarter of fiscal year 2021, quotations from management in this announcement, as well as New Oriental's strategic and operational plans, contain forward-looking statements. New Oriental may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its reports filed or furnished to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, in its annual reports to shareholders, in press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about New Oriental's beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement, including but not limited to the following: our ability to attract students without a significant decrease in course fees; our ability to continue to hire, train and retain qualified teachers; our ability to maintain and enhance our "New Oriental" brand; our ability to effectively and efficiently manage the expansion of our school network and successfully execute our growth strategy; the outcome of ongoing, or any future, litigation or arbitration, including those relating to copyright and other intellectual property rights; competition in the private education sector in China; changes in our revenues and certain cost or expense items as a percentage of our revenues; the expected growth of the Chinese private education market; Chinese governmental policies relating to private educational services and providers of such services; health epidemics and other outbreaks in China; and general economic conditions in China. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in our annual report on Form 20-F and other documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. New Oriental does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law. All information provided in this press release and in the attachments is as of the date of this press release, and New Oriental undertakes no duty to update such information, except as required under applicable law. About Non-GAAP Financial Measures To supplement New Oriental's consolidated financial results presented in accordance with GAAP, New Oriental uses the following measures defined as non-GAAP financial measures by the SEC: net income excluding share-based compensation expenses and gain / (loss) from fair value change of long-term investments, operating income / (loss) excluding share-based compensation expenses, operating cost and expenses excluding share-based compensation expenses, general and administrative expenses excluding share-based compensation expenses, operating margin excluding share-based compensation expenses, and basic and diluted net income per ADS and per share excluding share-based compensation expenses and gain / (loss) from fair value change of long-term investments. The presentation of these non-GAAP financial measures is not intended to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the financial information prepared and presented in accordance with GAAP. For more information on these non-GAAP financial measures, please see the tables captioned "Reconciliations of non-GAAP measures to the most comparable GAAP measures" set forth at the end of this release. New Oriental believes that these non-GAAP financial measures provide meaningful supplemental information regarding its performance and liquidity by excluding share-based compensation expenses and gain / (loss) from fair value change of long-term investments that may not be indicative of its operating performance from a cash perspective. New Oriental believes that both management and investors benefit from referring to these non-GAAP financial measures in assessing its performance and when planning and forecasting future periods. These non-GAAP financial measures also facilitate management's internal comparisons to New Oriental's historical performance and liquidity. New Oriental believes these non-GAAP financial measures are useful to investors in allowing for greater transparency with respect to supplemental information used by management in its financial and operational decision making. A limitation of using these non-GAAP measures is that they exclude share-based compensation expenses and gain / (loss) from fair value change of long-term investments that has been and will continue to be for the foreseeable future a significant recurring expense in our business. Management compensates for these limitations by providing specific information regarding the GAAP amounts excluded from each non-GAAP measure. The accompanying tables have more details on the reconciliations between GAAP financial measures that are most directly comparable to non-GAAP financial measures. Contacts For investor and media inquiries, please contact: Ms. Rita Fong Ms. Sisi Zhao FTI Consulting New Oriental Education & Technology Group Inc. Tel: +852 3768 4548 Tel: +86-10-6260-5568 Email: rita.fong@fticonsulting.com Email: zhaosisi@xdf.cn NEW ORIENTAL EDUCATION & TECHNOLOGY GROUP INC. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (In thousands) As of November 30 As of May 31 2020 2020 (Unaudited) (Audited) USD USD ASSETS: Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents 2,643,243 915,057 Term deposits 416,134 284,793 Short-term investments 3,035,283 2,318,280 Accounts receivable, net 6,122 4,178 Inventory, net 30,737 31,324 Prepaid expenses and other current assets, net 226,835 199,404 Amounts due from related parties, current 5,866 3,384 Total current assets 6,364,220 3,756,420 Restricted cash, non-current 4,881 4,367 Property and equipment, net 779,193 672,455 Land use rights, net 13,511 6,037 Amounts due from related parties, non-current 2,335 22,709 Long-term deposits 66,296 62,116 Intangible assets, net 10,141 10,246 Goodwill, net 93,195 80,366 Long-term investments, net 507,733 431,101 Deferred tax assets, non-current, net 57,509 63,324 Right-of-use assets 1,562,225 1,425,466 Other non-current assets 16,721 22,278 Total assets 9,477,960 6,556,885 LIABILITIES AND EQUITY Current liabilities: Accounts payable (including accounts payable of the consolidated variable interest entities without recourse to New Oriental of US$31,658 and US$32,400 as of May 31, 2020 and November 30, 2020, respectively) 32,975 33,147 Accrued expenses and other current liabilities (including accrued expenses and other current liabilities of the consolidated variable interest entities without recourse to New Oriental of US$581,576 and US$593,688 as of May 31, 2020 and November 30, 2020, respectively) 652,821 634,619 Income taxes payable (including income tax payable of the consolidated variable interest entities without recourse to New Oriental of US$87,331 and US$90,299 as of May 31, 2020 and November 30, 2020, respectively) 104,553 101,385 Amounts due to related parties (including amounts due to related parties of the consolidated variable interest entities without recourse to New Oriental of US$1,590 and US$97 as of May 31, 2020 and November 30, 2020, respectively) 104 1,590 Deferred revenue (including deferred revenue of the consolidated variable interest entities without recourse to New Oriental of US$1,317,645 and US$1,982,534 as of May 31, 2020 and November 30, 2020, respectively) 1,987,106 1,324,384 Operating lease liabilities-current (including operating lease liabilities-current of the consolidated variable interest entities without recourse to New Oriental of US$376,177 and US$397,735 as of May 31, 2020 and November 30, 2020, respectively) 436,480 384,239 Total current liabilities 3,214,039 2,479,364 Deferred tax liabilities, non-current (including deferred tax liabilities, non-current of the consolidated variable interest entities without recourse to New Oriental of US$12,392 and US$17,312 as of May 31, 2020 and November 30, 2020, respectively) 19,296 11,906 Long term loan (including Long term loan of the consolidated variable interest entities without recourse to New Oriental of nil and nil as of May 31, 2020 and November 30, 2020, respectively) - 117,881 Unsecured senior notes (including unsecured senior notes of the consolidated variable interest entities without recourse to the New Oriental of nil and nil as of May 31, 2020 and November 30, 2020, respectively) 299,969 - Operating lease liabilities (including operating lease liabilities of the consolidated variable interest entities without recourse to New Oriental of US$1,054,149 and US$1,126,587 as of May 31, 2020 and November 30, 2020, respectively) 1,128,128 1,077,923 Total long-term liabilities 1,447,393 1,207,710 Total liabilities 4,661,432 3,687,074 Equity New Oriental Education & Technology Group Inc. shareholders' equity 4,703,903 2,733,295 Non-controlling interests 112,625 136,516 Total equity 4,816,528 2,869,811 Total liabilities and equity 9,477,960 6,556,885 NEW ORIENTAL EDUCATION & TECHNOLOGY GROUP INC. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (In thousands except for per share and per ADS amounts) For the Three Months Ended November 30 2020 2019 (Unaudited) (Unaudited) USD USD Net revenues 887,689 785,211 Operating cost and expenses (note 1) Cost of revenues 453,663 358,962 Selling and marketing 133,588 107,847 General and administrative 332,585 293,103 Total operating cost and expenses 919,836 759,912 Operating (loss)/income (32,147) 25,299 (Loss)/gain from fair value change of long-term investments (3,400) 6,713 Other income, net 65,929 27,216 Provision for income taxes (6,817) (14,077) Gain from equity method investments 4,214 4,432 Net income 27,779 49,583 Add: Net loss attributable to non-controlling interests 26,123 3,854 Net income attributable to New Oriental Education & Technology Group Inc.'s shareholders 53,902 53,437 Net income per common share / ADS - Basic 0.33 0.34 - Diluted 0.33 0.34 NEW ORIENTAL EDUCATION & TECHNOLOGY GROUP INC. RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP MEASURES TO THE MOST COMPARABLE GAAP MEASURES (In thousands except for per share and per ADS amounts) For the Three Months Ended November 30 2020 2019 (Unaudited) (Unaudited) USD USD General and administrative expenses 332,585 293,103 Less: Share-based compensation expenses in general and administrative expenses 12,794 10,988 Non-GAAP general and administrative expenses 319,791 282,115 Total operating cost and expenses 919,836 759,912 Less: Share-based compensation expenses 18,480 11,215 Non-GAAP operating cost and expenses 901,356 748,697 Operating (loss)/income (32,147) 25,299 Add: Share-based compensation expenses 18,480 11,215 Non-GAAP operating (loss)/income (13,667) 36,514 Operating margin -3.6% 3.2% Non-GAAP operating margin -1.5% 4.7% Net income attributable to New Oriental 53,902 53,437 Add: Share-based compensation expenses 11,838 10,263 Less: (Loss)/gain from fair value change of long-term investments (3,400) 6,713 Non-GAAP net income attributable to New Oriental 69,140 56,987 Net income per ADS attributable to New Oriental- Basic (note 2) 0.33 0.34 Net income per ADS attributable to New Oriental- Diluted (note 2) 0.33 0.34 Non-GAAP net income per ADS attributable to New Oriental - Basic (note 2) 0.43 0.36 Non-GAAP net income per ADS attributable to New Oriental - Diluted (note 2) 0.43 0.36 Weighted average shares used in calculating basic net income per ADS (note 2) 161,336,407 158,429,080 Weighted average shares used in calculating diluted net income per ADS (note 2) 161,931,458 159,374,555 Non-GAAP income per share - basic 0.43 0.36 Non-GAAP income per share - diluted 0.43 0.36 Notes: Note 1: Share-based compensation expenses (in thousands) are included in the operating cost and expenses as follows: For the Three Months Ended November 30 2020 2019 (Unaudited) (Unaudited) USD USD Cost of revenues 2,353 21 Selling and marketing 3,333 206 General and administrative 12,794 10,988 Total 18,480 11,215 NEW ORIENTAL EDUCATION & TECHNOLOGY GROUP INC. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (In thousands) For the Three Months Ended November 30 2020 2019 (Unaudited) (Unaudited) USD USD Net cash provided by operating activities 410,678 291,757 Net cash used in investing activities (327,896) (226,638) Net cash provided by/(used in) financing activities 1,465,618 (6,291) Effect of exchange rate changes 47,245 15,654 Net change in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash 1,595,645 74,482 Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period 1,052,479 976,883 Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period 2,648,124 1,051,365 NEW ORIENTAL EDUCATION & TECHNOLOGY GROUP INC. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (In thousands except for per share and per ADS amounts) For the Six Months Ended November 30 2020 2019 (Unaudited) (Unaudited) USD USD Net revenues 1,874,055 1,856,988 Operating costs and expenses (note 1): Cost of revenues 918,529 799,191 Selling and marketing 250,471 209,040 General and administrative 586,897 577,262 Total operating costs and expenses 1,755,897 1,585,493 Operating income 118,158 271,495 Loss from fair value change of long-term investments (2,154) (4,569) Other income, net 127,501 47,169 Provision for income taxes (65,939) (64,913) Gain from equity method investments 1,047 3,629 Net income 178,613 252,811 Add: Net loss attributable to non-controlling interests 49,941 9,616 Net income attributable to New Oriental Education & Technology Group Inc. 228,554 262,427 Net income per share attributable to New Oriental-Basic 1.43 1.66 Net income per share attributable to New Oriental-Diluted 1.42 1.65 Net income per ADS attributable to New Oriental-Basic (note 2) 1.43 1.66 Net income per ADS attributable to New Oriental-Diluted (note 2) 1.42 1.65 NEW ORIENTAL EDUCATION & TECHNOLOGY GROUP INC. RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP MEASURES TO THE MOST COMPARABLE GAAP MEASURES (In thousands except for per share and per ADS amounts) For the Six Months Ended November 30 2020 2019 (Unaudited) (Unaudited) USD USD General and administrative expenses 586,897 577,262 Less: Share-based compensation expenses in general and administrative expenses 24,547 21,607 Non-GAAP general and administrative expenses 562,350 555,655 Total operating costs and expenses 1,755,897 1,585,493 Less: Share-based compensation expenses 34,313 22,235 Non-GAAP operating costs and expenses 1,721,584 1,563,258 Operating income 118,158 271,495 Add: Share-based compensation expenses 34,313 22,235 Non-GAAP operating income 152,471 293,730 Operating margin 6.3% 14.6% Non-GAAP operating margin 8.1% 15.8% Net income attributable to New Oriental 228,554 262,427 Add: Share-based compensation expenses 22,958 20,153 Less: Loss from fair value change of long-term investments (2,154) (4,569) Non-GAAP net income to New Oriental 253,666 287,149 Net income per ADS attributable to New Oriental- Basic (note 2) 1.43 1.66 Net income per ADS attributable to New Oriental- Diluted (note 2) 1.42 1.65 Non-GAAP net income per ADS attributable to New Oriental - Basic (note 2) 1.58 1.81 Non-GAAP net income per ADS attributable to New Oriental - Diluted (note 2) 1.58 1.80 Weighted average shares used in calculating basic net income per ADS (note 2) 160,127,052 158,337,268 Weighted average shares used in calculating diluted net income per ADS (note 2) 160,843,974 159,520,563 Non-GAAP income per share - basic 1.58 1.81 Non-GAAP income per share - diluted 1.58 1.80 Notes: Note 1: Share-based compensation expenses (in thousands) are included in the operating costs and expenses as follows: For the Six Months Ended November 30 2020 2019 (Unaudited) (Unaudited) USD USD Cost of revenues 3,836 57 Selling and marketing 5,930 571 General and administrative 24,547 21,607 Total 34,313 22,235 Note 2: Each ADS represents one common share. NEW ORIENTAL EDUCATION & TECHNOLOGY GROUP INC. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (In thousands) For the Six Months Ended November 30 2020 2019 (Unaudited) (Unaudited) USD USD Net cash provided by operating activities 802,276 656,326 Net cash used in investing activities (796,800) (1,001,867) Net cash provided by/(used in) financing activities 1,641,471 (4,722) Effect of exchange rate changes 81,753 (16,599) Net change in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash 1,728,700 (366,862) Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period 919,424 1,418,227 Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period 2,648,124 1,051,365 View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/new-oriental-announces-fy2021-second-quarter-and-interim-financial-results-ended-november-30-2020-301213109.html SOURCE New Oriental Education and Technology Group Inc. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] A seven-year-old boy has struck gold after finding a yellow soaking five dollar note floating in the ocean, which is now sitting at $755 at auction. Zayne Hinton was swimming at Sumner Beach in Christchurch, New Zealand, when he came across the note last Saturday. When his dad Brad Hinton suggested he put it up on auction website TradeMe as a 'laugh', he expected his son to pull in ten dollars. Seven-year-old Zayne Hinton (pictured) struck gold after finding a yellow five dollar note floating in the ocean. The note is currently going for $755 at auction Zayne Hinton was swimming at Sumner Beach in Christchurch, New Zealand when he came across the soggy note (pictured) last Saturday 'I came up and I saw the old five dollar note but I didn't know it was an old five dollar note because it was just some orange thing, floating,' George told Stuff NZ. Zayne immediately began to imagine what he could buy with the money, said his mum Phillipa. 'He thought he had the power to buy whatever he wanted,' she said. 'He loves motorbikes, so he thought he would be able to get a two-stroke motorbike and the mansion to go with it.' When his dad Brad Hinton (pictured left) suggested his son Zayne (pictured right) put the bill (pictured) on auction website TradeMe as a 'laugh', he expected him to pull in $10 The lucky youngster is now $755 closer to his dream, with 24 bids and only nine hours left of the auction. [It's] a tired looking note [possibly] been on a sea journey for some time,' Mr Hinton wrote on the note's auction ad. He said the soggy bill was a bargain for someone who wanted a 'five buck note with a story'. Not everyone has supported the charmed seven-year-old though. Mr Hinton told AM there were 'a few Karens' on TradeMe but 'they're all good fun.' One person commented under the item when it was first posted, 'I think I'm confused along with the rest of the globe as to why five dollars is worth $10'. One person said the five dollar should be handed 'in to the police' while another remarked New Zealand was a place 'where people would rather spoil a middle class white kid than address poverty.' The overwhelming number of bidders congratulated Zayne on the success of the auction of his rare find. The auction will end on Friday January 22 at 8.32pm. The Countess of Wessex has told how she is 'so happy' her 89-year-old father has received the Covid-19 vaccine - branding it an 'early birthday present'.' Sophie celebrated turning 56 on January 20 by joining NHS General Practice nurses and healthcare assistants at the Lincolnshire Hub conference. During the virtual call, which was shared to the Royal Family Twitter page, the mother-of-two shared her delight at the news her father, Christopher Bournes Rhys-Jones, had received the COVID-19 vaccine - although she did not specify whether he had received the Pfizer or Moderna medication. 'I had a very wonderful birthday present yesterday,' she said. 'It was an early birthday present because my father received his vaccine. He's 89 years old and I'm so happy he's actually got it. It's a huge weight off my mind.' The Countess of Wessex, 56, has told how she is 'so happy' her 89-year-old father has received the Covid-19 vaccine - branding it an 'early birthday present'. Pictured, joining NHS General Practice nurses and healthcare assistants at the Lincolnshire Hub conference on January 20 Sophie Wessex and her father Christopher Rhys-Jones attend Day 4 of Royal Ascot at Ascot Racecourse on June 21, 2013 She continued: 'And he was full of praise for the way that it had been handled, and how quick and easy and simple the whole process was. 'I know that wouldn't be happening without the care and attention of the nurses out in general surgeries.' Sophie also went on to express her gratitude to healthcare staff for their key role in the UK's vaccination rollout and their efforts during the pandemic 'Thank you so much to all of you,' she said. 'It doesn't matter what part of the system you're working in, whether you're general practitioner nurses, whether you're healthcare assistants, we all know how much this pandemic has put on you and we're hugely grateful for all of your hard work.' The mother-of-two (pictured) told the frontline workers that she had received a 'wonderful' birthday present (pictured) The mother-of-two (pictured) shared her delight at the news her father, Christopher Bournes Rhys-Jones, had received the COVID-19 vaccine The Royal Family Twitter page shared a clip of the video call where the Countess thanked healthcare staff for their key role in the UK's vaccination rollout and their efforts during the pandemic The Royal Family Twitter account revealed that Sophie Wessex joined NHS General Practice nurses and Healthcare Assistants at @HubLincolnshire's conference on January 20 (pictured) It comes after Buckingham Palace revealed the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh have been given the Covid-19 vaccination at Windsor Castle on January 9. The Monarch, 94, and Prince Philip, 99, joined more than 1.5million people across Britain who had been given the jab since the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine was approved for use in December. The UK has since permitted the use of the Oxford University/AstraZeneca jab, alongside an inoculation against coronavirus developed by Moderna. Sophie is believed to have spent her birthday with her family at their home of Bagshot Park, where they spent Christmas after the Queen decided to have a quiet festive period at Windsor Castle. Sophie's birthday celebrations are likely to be a private affair, due to lockdown restrictions, with Prince Edward and their two children - Lady Louise Windsor, 17, and James Viscount Severn, 13. 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. Short link: On the occasion of Republic Day, Bobble AI, the worlds first Conversation Media Platform that offers highly engaging smartphone keyboard solutions, personalized content for users, joined hands with the volunteer-based, zero-funds organization, Robin Hood Academy and announced a unique campaign, Academy Greens #Treesfor2050. The idea of the campaign is to instill a sense of responsibility towards the environment in the minds of people through the usage of conversational stickers. Robin Hood Academy, an education initiative of Robin Hood Army is empowering 7328+ street children with basic primary education, has enrolled 1792 kids in schools with the aim of being a bridge that connects the streets to schools. The aim of the organization is to plant 200,000 trees with the Academy students across various nations and create more awareness about the repercussions of cutting trees and the significance of planting saplings to secure our current and upcoming generations. Bobble AI known for its fun and quirky content such as Stickers, GIFs, Emojis, and Bigmojis, has created a special sticker pack for the campaign. Moved by the thought of inculcating the habit of protecting the environment, Bobble AI is going to tap the total number of #Treersfor2050 stickers shared through the Indic keyboard by its users and will then plant the same number of saplings on Republic Day. On this collaboration, Ankit Prasad, Founder, and CEO, Bobble AI quoted, The benefits of going green are mostly not seen immediately. Maybe that is the reason why we often overlook the need for persistent green initiatives and campaigns. We take the utmost pride in being associated with this campaign. The issue of environmental protection is of great relevance in current times especially after the COVID 19 pandemic when the world had to pay the price for being negligent and careless. We have taken this initiative to inspire companies at large and individuals, in particular, to be more mindful of the environmental issues that we are facing today. We have created a special #Treesfor2050 sticker pack for this Republic Day which is easily accessible on Bobble Indic Keyboard. These stickers would help us spread the message in two unique ways: first, with every tap, the users will become more mindful of the need to go green, and second, for every share, we will plant a tree on their behalf. The team at Bobble AI has also initiated the distribution of saplings to its users and stakeholders. With a message of hope and positivity, the receivers are expected to plant these saplings in their homes and spread the word for a greener India on this Republic Day. Ambuj Ahuja, Lead Partnerships, Robin Hood Academy said, We believe that when you plant a tree, you plant hope; A hope for a better future. We are excited to partner with Bobble AI for this noble initiative. We are looking forward to a large scale plantation through the hands of our little Robins. At Robin Hood Academy, we strongly believe in imparting this value education to our children, the future torchbearers to take matters in their own hands. We urge all the users of Bobble AI to share as many #Treesfor2050 stickers as possible so that we can spread the word about our initiative and also enable the plantation of more and more trees. PHILIPSBURG:--- On January 21, 2021, the Appellate Court in Administrative Cases nullified a rejection that was issued to an immigrant who had followed proper procedures to regulate his stay with his wife in St. Maarten. As the procedures dictate permission was required from the Immigration Department for the marriage through the Counsel of his native country in St. Maarten, once all interviews were conducted and the marriage was approved it was conducted here at the Counsel. After the marriage, the immigrant left the island to await the processing of his residence permit abroad. The procedures dictate that the marriage needed to be registered at the Census Office which procedure usually takes quite some time. Based on the Guidelines and application for family formation must be submitted within a year of the marriage. In this particular case, it took longer than the year to get the marriage registered as the wife was dependent on dates issued to her by Census Office. Then came the hurricane and after over two years the marriage was registered and the application for residency was submitted. The request was initially denied citing that the wife did not have sufficient means of income to sustain her husband and that the request was submitted after the one-year period. Later in appeal by the Minister of Justice the rejection grounds were expanded to also reflect that the immigrant had resided in St. Maarten several years illegally prior to the request for residency and that was considered a violation of the public order, according to the Minister of Justice. In an appeal at the Court of First Instance, the Minister of Justice departed from the rejection ground that the wife did not have sufficient means of income as it was proven that there were sufficient means of income as per the Guidelines which have as requirement a monthly gross income of Naf. 2000,-. The Court of First Instance ruled that the wife did meet the monetary requirement and ruled that the Minister of Justice could not legally use the previous illegal stay as a ground for rejection as there is no published policy restricting those immigrants from leaving the island and subsequently requesting residency via the lawful channels. The Court of First Instance did not agree with the petitioner that the delay in registration was for the account of government and as such the appeal was denied. The immigrant launched an appeal at the Appellate Court in Administrative Cases and on January 21, 2021, the Appellate Court ruled in favor of the immigrant citing that the delay in registration of the marriage in St. Maarten was not the fault or risk of the immigrant. The Minister of Justice was ordered to make a new decision and the Court made it abundantly clear in its decision that the Minister of Justice cannot use the monetary requirement, violation of the one-year period after marriage for the family formation or the previous illegal stay of the immigrant on St. Maarten as grounds for rejection. The Minister of Justice was condemned to pay the legal fees along with the court filing fees of the petitioner to the tune of Naf. 3,250,- in total. Management Brooks & Associates With iOS 15 just a few months away, new reports have come out claiming Apple could drop support for iPhone 6s, 6s Plus, and iPhone SE. Apple usually announces a new version of iOS and iPadOS at WWDC every year and rolls it out with the launch of new iPhones in the month of September. Its really been only four months since Apple released iOS 14, but the rumors surrounding the next version of iOS iOS 15 have already floated on the internet. A new report from the French publication iPhoneSoft claims that Apple will be dropping support for iOS 15 on iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s Plus, and the original iPhone SE. Here is a first list of apple devices that will host iOS 15 beta next June, once again gleaned from our developer friend at Apple and who notably officiates on the Plans app. Considering Apple released these phones way back in 2015, we could see it coming. Still, Apple updated these phones for over five years. This is another commendable effort from the Cupertino-based company, considering the Android counterparts update their phones only for a maximum of two years. The Verifier also reported the same last year, and with another publication claiming the same, it does sound like Apple might be giving up on these iPhones. iPhones and iPads that could drop support for iOS 15 and iPadOS 15 are: iPhone 6s iPhone 6s Plus iPhone SE 2016 iPad mini 4 iPad Air 2 iPad 5 Apple, today, released the release candidate versions of iOS 14.4 and iPadOS 14.4 to developers. The update fixes the lag iOS keyboard experienced in some apps. Read more about the update here. We Want to Hear From You What features do you expect from the next version of iOS? Have you updated your iPhone 6s or iPhone SE to the latest version of iOS 14? With Apple reportedly dropping support for iOS 15 on these phones, do you plan to get a new iPhone? If so, which one? Do let us know in the comment section below! [Via iPhoneSoft 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. Our Top 5 Magazines + Digital We get it. You live by the Ski Valleys snow report even when youre hours away. You follow every Taos post on Instagram. Our small town occupies a BIG part of your heart. Keep in touch with all things Taos when you subscribe to FIVE of our national award-winning magazines, plus access to the website and e-edition for a full year at the special low rate of just $55. Fort Bend United is providing free COVID-19 testing for uninsured Fort Bend County residents tomorrow at Briarchase Missionary Baptist Church in Missouri City. The drive-thru testing will take place from noon to 4 p.m. in the parking lot at 16000 Blueridge Road. Free personal protective equipment kits will also be distributed. Fort Bend United is a political action committee that, according to its website, values diversity and equal opportunities. Shapnik Khan explained that the event comes at an important time for communities. We have many uninsured citizens around greater Houston, especially in Missouri City and the Rosenberg area. Infection rates are (at an) all-time high, and we want to support our county citizens (by) organizing this event, he said. Khan said the testing is being funded through donations and some sponsorships from medical facilities. Attendees are asked to stay in their vehicles and keep their windows rolled up. Uninsured Fort Bend County residents can register at www.myfreecovidtesting.com. tracy.maness@hcnonline.com New Delhi: Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Friday launched a fierce attack on the Centre over the farmers' agitation and said the government has shown "shocking insensitivity and arrogance going through the charade of consultations". Sonia Gandhi Addressing a crucial meeting of the Congress Working Committee, she alleged that it was now abundantly clear that the three farm laws were prepared in haste and Parliament was consciously denied an opportunity to examine in any meaningful detail their implications and impacts. "The agitation of farmers continues and the government has shown shocking insensitivity and arrogance going through the charade of consultations," she said. Farmers' protest The crucial meeting, being held virtually, will also finalise the plan for organisational elections, including that of the next Congress president. Gandhi said the Congress position on the issue of the farm laws has been clear from the very beginning. "We reject them categorically because they will destroy the foundations of food security that are based on the three pillars of MSP, public procurement and PDS." 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. The White House said later Thursday that Vice President Kamala Harris had discussed many of the same themes as Fauci raised in a call with Tedros. But she emphasized the need to beef up the global response to COVID-19, mitigate its secondary impacts, including on women and girls, and work to prevent the next outbreak from becoming an epidemic or pandemic, the White House said in a statement. In addition, the vice president emphasized the importance of making America safer through global cooperation, it added, highlighting the new tone out of Washington. John Nkengasong, director of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, called the renewed commitment 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. At the White House later in the day, Fauci quipped to Jeff Zients, who is directing the national response to the coronavirus, You can imagine the comments we were getting from the people in the WHO. They were lining up to thank ... Murray Schools Staff Receive COVID-19 Vaccine By West Kentucky Star Staff MURRAY - Employees of the Murray Independent School District were vaccinated against COVID-19 on Wednesday.With the help of the Calloway County Health Department, 232 staff members across Murray Elementary, Murray Middle School, Murray High School, and the Murray Board of Education have received the COVID-19 vaccine.Coy Samons, MISD superintendent said the vaccinations were an important event for the school district.He said, "I am hopeful this leads to the return of normalcy in the near future, for our students, staff, and community."Whitney York, MISD assistant superintendent, collaborated with the health department to make the vaccinations possible. York shared that she was excited and grateful for the opportunity."Our staff members have been on the front-line of this pandemic teaching, driving, feeding, and assisting our students." York continued, "We are just thankful that state and local agencies, especially our local Calloway County Health Department have coordinated to give our staff members this opportunity."You can see the full announcement below. Bangladesh: Fish production boost up by 50pc in 11-yrs January 22,2021 | Source: Daily Industry Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday said Bangladesh has attained self-sufficiency in fish boosting up the production by over 50 percent in last 11 years following the effective and time befitting measures of her government. New technologies of fish farming and production of seed fishes have been invented by the Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute to protect 25 species of freshwater fishes from extinction, she said. The Premier revealed this in Parliament last morning in replying to a tabled question from the treasury bench lawmaker Ali Azam of Bhola-2. Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury chaired the sitting of the eleventh session of the 11th Jatiya Sangsad. Sheikh Hasina said Bangladesh has upgraded its position to second place in producing fresh water fishes as per the report of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, and the country now becomes self-sufficient in fish. Now, each person in the country intakes 62.25gm of fish against the daily demand of 60gm, she added. The Leader of the House said her governments aim is not only to meet the nutrition demand of the countrys people through boosting the fish production, but also set a goal to generate huge employment in this sector and earn foreign currency exporting fish to abroad. She said Bangladesh produced a total of 43.84 lakh metric tons of fish in fiscal 2019-20 which was (27.01 lakh metric tons) 62.31 percent higher than of fiscal 2008-09. Highlighting different measures taken by her government for the development of the countrys fisheries sector, Sheikh Hasina said the fisheries sector has witnessed a silent revolution due to the implementation of different training activities and encouraging people to cultivate Pangas, Shing, Koi, Magur and Telapia fishes. She went on saying that imported Silver carp, Bighead carp and Grass Carp fishes with highest genetic quality from China have been shifted to 39 government hatcheries under the third phase of the project tiled brood bank installation to increase production in fixed water bodies. Besides, the premier said, countrywide pona fish release and nursery installation activities in every year are being implemented along with re-excavation of water bodies to create an environment for fish farming. We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form Christian immigration advocacy groups praise Biden's plans as 'glimpse of hope' Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment 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, BC / ACCESSWIRE / January 22, 2021 / Havn Life Sciences Inc. (CSE:HAVN)(OTC PINK:HAVLF)(FSE:5NP) (the "Company" or "Havn Life") a biotechnology company pursuing standardized extraction of psychoactive compounds and the development of natural healthcare products, is pleased to announce that it will be included in the First Psychedelics Exchange Traded Fund ("ETF"). The ETF will begin traded on the Neo Exchange on January 26, 2021. Havn Life is one of seventeen companies that met the minimum requirements of listing within the ETF. The ETF is managed by Horizons ETF Management, one the largest ETF providers in Canada, with over CDN $16 billion in assets under management across 93 ETFs. Horizons also brought the first cannabis ETF to market in 2017 and continues to lead the industry with ETFs in emerging industries. Inclusion into an ETF is an important milestone for Havn Life's investors and stakeholders. The ETF will bring additional exposure to potential new investors, as well as generate value for existing shareholders. Tim Moore remarked, "Our team is excited to be included in Horizons Psychedelics ETF, which will allow Havn Life to become available to a wider audience of the investment community. We continue to work to provide added shareholder value to our stakeholders." On Behalf of The Board of Directors Tim Moore Chief Executive Officer About Havn Life Sciences Inc. Havn Life Sciences is a biotechnology company on a mission to unlock human potential using evidence-informed research. The Company is focused on standardized, quality-controlled extraction of psychoactive compounds from plants and fungi, and the development of natural health care products from non-regulated compounds. Learn more at: havnlife.com and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Youtube. Contact: Investor Relations: ir@havnlife.com, (604) 687-7130 Media: savi@emergence-creative.com, (647) 896-8078 Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws relating to statements regarding the Company's business, products and future of the Company's business. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking information are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results, performance and developments to differ materially from those contemplated by these statements depending on, among other things, the risks that the Company's products and plan will vary from those stated in this news release and the Company may not be able to carry out its business plans as expected. Except as required by law, the Company expressly disclaims any obligation and does not intend to update any forward-looking statements or forward-looking information in this news release. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking information are reasonable there can be no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. The statements in this news release are made as of the date of this release. The CSE has not reviewed, approved or disapproved the content of this press release. SOURCE: Havn Life Sciences Inc. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/625396/Havn-Life-Sciences-Announces-Inclusion-in-First-Psychedelic-Exchange-Traded-Fund Advertisement Thousands of National Guardsmen have now been allowed to return to the US Capitol after images of them sleeping outside and in a nearby parking garage overnight sparked outrage 24 hours after the inauguration. Capitol Police apologized late on Thursday after it emerged they had asked the troops brought in to protect Washington DC to leave the Capitol building and take their rest breaks in a nearby designated parking lot instead. Photos showed up to 5,000 Guardsmen sleeping on the floor of the packed Thurgood Marshall Building parking lot and in a park outside as temperatures hit a low of 40 degrees. The scenes sparked immediate outrage among lawmakers as some Guardsmen revealed they felt 'incredibly betrayed' given they had just spent more than a week helping to fortify and protect the capital. It has prompted the governors of some states, including New Hampshire and Florida, to order the immediate return of their Guardsmen from DC. 'I've ordered the immediate return of all New Hampshire National Guard from Washington DC. They did an outstanding job serving our nation's capital in a time of strife and should be graciously praised, not subject to substandard conditions,' New Hampshire Gov Chris Sununu tweeted on Friday morning. Footage obtained by NBC News showed the Guardsmen filing out of the parking lot overnight after they were permitted around midnight to return to the Capitol building in the wake of the fierce backlash. It followed reports that the troops had been kicked out of the Capitol, with some Guardsmen saying the parking lot they were relocated to had a single power outlet, no internet and just one bathroom with two stalls, according to Politico. Thousands of National Guardsmen have now been allowed to return to the US Capitol after images of them sleeping outside and in a nearby parking garage overnight sparked outrage 24 hours after the inauguration. Troops are pictured above leaving the Thurgood Marshall Building parking lot just after dawn on Friday The troops, pictured leaving the parking garage, will now take their breaks near the Emancipation Hall inside the Capitol building going forward Footage obtained by NBC News showed the Guardsmen filing out of the Thurgood Marshall Building parking lot in Washington DC overnight after they were permitted around midnight to return to the Capitol building in the wake of the fierce backlash Guard spokesman Maj. Matt Murphy said Capitol Police had asked the troops to move their rest area given the increased foot traffic in the Capitol building given Congress is in session. 'They were temporarily relocated to the Thurgood Marshall Judicial Center garage with heat and restroom facilities. We remain an agile and flexible force to provide for the safety and security of the Capitol and its surrounding areas,' he said. The scenes prompted governors of some states, including New Hampshire and Florida, to order the immediate return of their Guardsmen from DC Capitol Police apologized in the wake of the outrage but Acting Chief Yogananda Pittman clarified in a statement on Friday morning that police did not tell Guardsmen they had to vacate. 'It was brought to our attention early today that facility management with the Thurgood Marshall Judicial Office Building reached out directly to the National Guard to offer use of its facilities,' Pittman said. 'As of this morning, all Guardsmen and women have been relocated to space within the Capitol Complex. The Department is also working with the Guard to reduce the need for sleeping accommodations by establishing shorter shifts, and will ensure they have access to the comfortable accommodations they absolutely deserve when the need arises.' The troops will take their breaks near the Emancipation Hall inside the Capitol building going forward. The soldiers do have hotel rooms but their 12 hour shift pattern means they cannot easily return to their rooms during rest breaks. Before being located to the parking lot, the troops had been allowed to take rest breaks inside the Capitol building. Once they finish their shift, the Guardsmen then return to their hotel rooms. National Guard soldiers are pictured sleeping inside the Capitol Visitors Center of the US Capitol on Friday after being allowed back in Members of the National Guard rest in the Capitol Visitor Center on Friday morning Members of the National Guard from South Dakota stood guard outside the Capitol building on Friday. It's not clear how long they will remain Members of the National Guard from South Dakota were still on patrol in Washington DC on Friday following the inauguration One unnamed soldier had earlier said the forced move to the parking lot had left troops 'feeling incredibly betrayed'. 'Yesterday dozens of senators and congressmen walked down our lines taking photos, shaking our hands and thanking us for our service. Within 24 hours, they had no further use for us and banished us to the corner of a parking garage. We feel incredibly betrayed,' he said. Another guardsman told CNN: 'After everything went seamlessly, we were deemed useless and banished to a corner of a parking garage.' One more told Task & Purpose: 'Leaving our families for the last two weeks to come down here. It's certainly important and historic, but the day after inauguration you kick us literally to the curb? Come on, man.' Amid concerns about COVID-19 one soldier told The Washington Post : 'We are on top of each other all day, every day. We've given up.' Another added: 'Our guidance is if you're not eating or drinking, you need to be wearing a mask. We've already had just some in my unit alone test positive for Covid, and they're just keeping us packed together with caution tape in small areas. And that's the only authorized rest area.' The images of the Guardsmen sparked fierce reaction from politicians on both sides of the aisle, with Democrats and Republicans demanding answers as to why the men and women were told to leave the Capitol complex. Some offered their offices to the troops. House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy said the soldiers 'deserve to be treated with respect'; Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said the move was 'outrageous'. Idaho National Guard troops sleep and eat on the eastern lawn of the US Capitol building on Capitol Hill on Thursday New Hampshire National Guard posted this image Wednesday with the caption: 'NH guardsmen slumber last night in a Washington, D.C. parking garage. Beginning a 36-hour security mission in support of the presidential inauguration, they staged in the garage overnight before standing security posts along the National Capital Region this morning' Up to 5,000 troops have been kept without internet, with one electrical outlet, and one bathroom with two stalls, reports say One soldier said: 'After everything went seamlessly, we were deemed useless and banished to a corner of a parking garage' Pictures show Guardsmen sleeping on the floor of the packed parking lot Thursday, just 24 hours after the inauguration Congressman Madison Cawthorn posted to Instagram: 'I just visited the soldiers who have been abandoned & insulted by our leaders. I brought them pizza and told them that they can sleep in my office. No soldier will ever, ever sleep on a garage floor in the US Capitol while I work in Congress Our Troops deserve better' Senator Tammy Duckworth, an Army veteran who served in Iraq, said Capitol Police had apologized to the troops. 'Just made a number of calls and have been informed Capitol Police have apologized to the Guardsmen and they will be allowed back into the complex tonight. I'll keep checking to make sure they are,' she tweeted. She had earlier said: 'Unreal. I can't believe that the same brave servicemembers we've been asking to protect our Capitol and our Constitution these last two weeks would be unceremoniously ordered to vacate the building. Following fierce reaction online from politicians on both sides of the aisle Senator Tammy Duckworth tweeted: 'Just made a number of calls and have been informed Capitol Police have apologized to the Guardsmen and they will be allowed back into the complex tonight' 'I am demanding answers ASAP. They can use my office.' Shortly after midnight Duckworth confirmed the 'troops are now all out of the garage'. The National Guard Bureau said on Thursday that of the nearly 26,000 Guard troops deployed to DC for the inauguration, just 10,600 remain on duty. The bureau said the Guard is helping states with coordination and logistics so that troops can get home. But following reports of the guardsmen sleeping in parking lots House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy tweeted: 'Speaker Pelosi and Majority Leader Schumer -why are American troops who are tasked with keeping security at the Capitol being forced to sleep in a parking lot? 'They deserve to be treated with respect, and we deserve answers.' Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said: 'If this is true, it's outrageous. I will get to the bottom of this.' Thousands of Guard troops from all across the country poured into DC by the planeload and busload late last week in response to escalating security threats and fears of more rioting. Military aircraft crowded the runways at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, carrying Guard members into the region in the wake of the deadly January 6 insurrection at the US Capitol. Officials said Thursday that of the nearly 26,000 Guard troops deployed to D.C. for the inaugural, just 10,600 remain on duty Guard spokesperson Maj. Matt Murphy had said: 'As Congress is in session and increased foot traffic and business is being conducted, Capitol Police asked the troops to move their rest area. They were temporarily relocated to the Thurgood Marshall Judicial Center garage with heat and restroom facilities' Guard forces were scattered around the city, helping to secure the Capitol, monuments, Metro entrances and the perimeter of central DC, which was largely locked down for several days leading up to Wednesday's inaugural ceremony. After images of the men and women forced to sleep in the parking lot were shared Republican Sen. Mike Lee said: 'Very upset by this story but I have been in touch with the Utah National Guard and they are taken care of. My staff and I are investigating what happened here and will continue working to fix this situation.' Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez tweeted: 'Yeah this is not okay. My office is free this week to any service members who'd like to use it for a break or take nap on the couch. We'll stock up on snacks for you all too. (We're in the middle of moving offices and it's a bit messy so don't judge, but make yourself at home!)' Democrat Sen. Krysten Sinema tweeted: 'This is outrageous, shameful, and incredibly disrespectful to the men and women keeping the U.S. Capitol safe and secure. We need it fixed and we need answers on how it happened.' Congressman Madison Cawthorn posted to Instagram: 'I just visited the soldiers who have been abandoned & insulted by our leaders. I brought them pizza and told them that they can sleep in my office. No soldier will ever, ever sleep on a garage floor in the US Capitol while I work in Congress Our Troops deserve better.' Rep. Elise Stefanik tweeted: 'Every member of Congress should be appalled by this despicable treatment of the men and women of the National Guard, who answered the call to protect our nation's capital. Speaker Pelosi is in charge of the Capitol complex. She must provide answers immediately.' The Secret Service announced that the special security event for the inauguration officially ended at noon Thursday. The Guard said that it may take several days to make all the arrangements to return the 15,000 home, but it should be complete in five to 10 days. Guard members will have to turn in equipment, make travel plans and go through COVID-19 screening. Some local law enforcement agencies have asked for continued assistance from the Guard, so roughly 7,000 troops are expected to stay in the region through the end of the month. Pictures of the armed camouflage-clad troops resting on the marble floors of the Capitol building and patrolling the grounds had already been widely shared in the wake of the January 6 siege. It is believed to be the first time troops have set up camp in the Capitol since the Civil War. Throngs of guardsmen were seen cradling their guns as they slept in the open on the floor and took turns making rounds of the Capitol grounds. Speaker Nancy Pelosi addressed some of the troops outside the Capitol building to thank them for their service just hours before the House of Representatives started debating impeaching President Trump for a second time. Members of the National Guard play cards in the Capitol Visitors Center the day after the inauguration of President Joe Biden Members of the National Guard sleep in the Capitol Visitors Center Thursday. The U.S. Secret Service announced that the special security event for the inauguration officially ended at noon Thursday Thousands of Guard troops from all across the country poured into D.C. by the planeload and busload late last week, in response to escalating security threats and fears of more rioting Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Patients in low-and lower-middle-income countries were up to six times more likely to die from complications within 30 days of surgery compared with those in high-income countries, the report said. Hospitals in these countries were found to be less likely to have post-surgical facilities or care plans in place. Investing in appropriate recovery and ward space, trained staff, early warning systems and critical care facilities would result in much improved surgical care and reduce the number of deaths, experts said. In the largest study of its kind, researchers from the Universities of Edinburgh and Birmingham examined data for nearly 16,000 patients in 428 hospitals across 82 countries who underwent surgery for breast, bowel and stomach cancer between April 2018 and January 2019. Surgery is an important part of cancer treatment with 80 percent of cancer patients undergoing a procedure. Stomach cancer patients who underwent surgery were three times more likely to die in low and lower-middle income countries than those in high-income countries. It was four times more likely for bowel cancer patients in low and lower-middle-income countries to die than those in high-income countries. There was no difference in deaths between countries for patients who underwent breast cancer surgery. Complications following surgery are common, but hospitals that provide a high standard of post-operative care had the best outcomes, even when treating late stage cancers, the study found. Low- and lower-middle-income-countries that had post-operative care facilities in place were associated with seven to ten fewer deaths per 100 complications. The research, published in The Lancet, has been funded through the National Institute for Health Research Global Health Unit in Global Surgery. The team only looked at early outcomes following surgery, but, in future, they plan to study longer-term outcomes and other cancers. Professor Ewen Harrison, Professor of Surgery and Data Science, University of Edinburgh, said: "Rich and poor countries alike have talented surgeons and anaesthesiologists, but low resource countries do not have the infrastructure to support the complications that occur during surgery. We now know this can have a major impact on whether or not a patient survives." Explore further GI surgical site infections higher in low-income countries CYBERSPACEValentines Day is coming up fast, and this year, sexual wellness brand Lovehoney wants to offer retailers a little magic for their online channels by releasing Fifty Shades of Grey-themed assets and lifestyle imagery, all of which are now available for download from the Lovehoney trade website. These new assets coincide with the launch of several new Fifty Shades of Grey toys and lingerie, and now retailers have imagery readily available to promote the latest products amid the busy Valentines Day gifting period. The assets include two lifestyle images, featuring the three newly launched Fifty Shades of Grey Greedy Girls and Fifty Shades of Grey Captivate Mini Dress, designed by Lovehoneys Creative team and made up of flowers and butterflies, epitomizing the orgasms that are expected to accompany the new products. Retailers can also look for a selection of further stylish lifestyle imagery, incorporating additional Fifty Shades of Grey Captivate lingerie and freshly dropped Fifty Shades of Grey Bound To You faux leather bondage pieces. Lovehoney Sales Executive Jade Bawa said, The Lovehoney Creative team have gone above and beyond this Valentines Day and we hope our retailers love the new assets as much as we do." The B2B team suggests using imagery such as this on retailers' own social media pages, to jump out at potential customers as they prepare to buy their partner something special for Valentines Day. "Its also the 10-year anniversary of Fifty Shades of Grey this year, so we want to spread the word of Christian Grey and Anastasia Steele as much as possible, Bawa added. To find out more about Lovehoney B2Bs marketing assets or the Fifty Shades of Grey Official Pleasure Collection, email [email protected]oney.co.uk. Alternatively, head over to the website LovehoneyTrade.com. Thank you for reading! Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. If you have a subscription, please log in or sign up for an account on our website to continue. (Newser) Lori Vallow did not kill her third husband. That was the word Tuesday from authorities in Arizona, who'd reopened an investigation into Joseph Ryan's 2018 death of an apparent heart attack. Ryan's sister had turned over a recording, made six months after Ryan's death, in which Vallow said she had planned to murder Ryan before changing her mind. "If he comes against you three times then you can kill him, it says it in the scriptures," Vallow allegedly said while discussing their custody battle, per Fox News. The investigation found Ryan had indeed died of natural causes, a Phoenix Police Department spokesperson tells East Idaho News. Investigations into the deaths of Vallow's fourth husband, Charles Vallow, and the first wife of current husband Chad Daybell, remain open. story continues below Vallow's brother, Alex Cox, shot and killed Charles Vallow in July 2019, claiming self-defense. Cox died months later in what a medical examiner said was a natural death. Around the same time, Chad Daybells wife, Tammy, was found dead in her bed. Daybell married Vallow just a few weeks later. The pair are now preparing for trial, having each pleaded not guilty to two felony counts of destruction, alteration, or concealment of evidence after police found the remains of Vallow's two children on Daybell's Idaho property in June. Joshua "JJ" Vallow, 7, and Tylee Ryan, 17, had last been seen in September 2019. No one has been charged in the deaths. Vallow has pleaded not guilty to additional misdemeanor charges of desertion, resisting or obstructing officers, criminal solicitation to commit a crime, and contempt of court, per People. (Read more Lori Vallow stories.) County Supervisor Brad Wagenknecht and Napa Mayor Scott Sedgley thanked Thompson for his help in securing the money. Sedgley said a completed flood project will do more than provide safety for existing homes. It will also allow for needed housing and compatible uses in the flood plain. The 2005 New Years flood sent muddy water coursing down Soscol Avenue south of Lincoln Avenue, flooding homes and businesses. The planned flood walls are to prevent a repeat. Flood walls also are to be built in the Oxbow District area. That work is to be done by the Flood Control District using money remaining from Measure A and by developers. Napa County residents in 1998 passed Measure A, a half-cent sales tax for flood control. That allowed the county to create a partnership with the federal government to fund and build flood control projects. Subsequent years saw such projects as flood plains created, bridges replaced, flood walls built and the quarter-mile flood bypass built between the Oxbow District and downtown Napa. But the Army Corps of Engineers after the 2015, $18.5 million bypass project questioned whether remaining projects met federal cost-benefit standards. That put the remaining projects in limbo. YEREVAN, JANUARY 22, ARMENPRESS. Lynne M. Tracy, U.S. Ambassador to Armenia has published an article titled Democracy is Precious where she says that the United States renews its commitment to partnering with the Armenian people, Government, civil society, media, and the private sector to support the aspirations of the Armenian people who voiced their choice for meaningful, tangible reforms to strengthen the institutions of Armenias democratic institutions and for a more prosperous future. Armenpress presents the Ambassadors article: On January 20, 2021 just before 12:00pm in Washington, D.C., President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. took the oath of office to become the 46th President of the United States. His Vice President, Kamala Harris, was also sworn in, becoming not only the first woman, but also the first Black and Indian American to hold the office. In his inaugural address, President Biden said of the moment, We've learned again that democracy is precious. Democracy is fragile. At this hour, my friends, democracy has prevailed. As we have seen over the last few weeks, and as President Biden emphasized, democracy cannot be taken for granted, even after nearly two and a half centuries in the United States. Since Armenias independence, the United States has supported Armenia in its fight for democracy not because we have perfected it ourselves, but because we know how much work it takes to protect and defend. Critical to this task are building and maintaining strong democratic institutions and advancing the rule of law, providing economic opportunity for all, and broadening access to education. It is a process that demands unity, resolve and perseverance, often in the face of enormous challenges. As the United States begins a new chapter in our own countrys history, we renew our commitment to partnering with the Armenian people, Government, civil society, media, and the private sector to support the aspirations of the Armenian people who voiced their choice for meaningful, tangible reforms to strengthen the institutions of Armenias democratic institutions and for a more prosperous future. Democracy and the rule of law are cornerstones of the U.S.-Armenia relationship, but we have an even broader common positive agenda. Supporting sustainable and inclusive economic growth, expanding trade and investment, promoting energy security, managing environmental resources responsibly, fighting the COVID-19 pandemic, and investing in people through educational opportunities reflect a deep and wide U.S.-Armenia partnership that I am confident will continue to strengthen. Above all, we recognize the urgent work to be done in moving forward following the devastating conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh. The U.S. government has responded to Armenias critical needs by providing clothes, food, child-friendly safe-spaces, and shelter to displaced peoples. The United States continues to call for the swift and safe return of the remaining detainees. We condemn the acts of atrocities connected with the conflict. Those responsible must be held to account. And, while the fighting has stopped, the need for an enduring political solution on the status of Nagorno-Karabakh is essential for securing regional peace and stability. As I look ahead to the upcoming year, I acknowledge the many challenges we still face. But I am confident that, together, we are up to the task. We will continue to support Armenia as it rebuilds in the years to come. As President Biden said on Wednesday We have never ever, ever failed in America when we have acted together. That emphasis on togetherness transcends our borders together with our Armenian friends and partners, we will tackle the challenges before us, uphold our shared values, and ensure that democracy and the rule of law prevail, leading to a brighter future for us all. 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. .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... 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. ADVERTISEMENTSkip ................................................................ 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. The White House said later Thursday that Vice President Kamala Harris had discussed many of the same themes as Fauci raised in a call with Tedros. But she emphasized the need to beef up the global response to COVID-19, mitigate its secondary impacts, including on women and girls, and work to prevent the next outbreak from becoming an epidemic or pandemic, the White House said in a statement. In addition, the vice president emphasized the importance of making America safer through global cooperation, it added, highlighting the new tone out of Washington. John Nkengasong, director of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, called the renewed commitment 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. At the White House later in the day, Fauci quipped to Jeff Zients, who is directing the national response to the coronavirus, You can imagine the comments we were getting from the people in the WHO. Then he added, his voice trailing off, They were lining up to thank ___ Associated Press writers Cara Anna in Nairobi, Kenya; Jan M. Olsen in Copenhagen, Denmark, and Zeke Miller in Washington contributed to this report. [January 22, 2021] Canada and Ontario invest in green infrastructure to support Latchford residents TOWN OF LATCHFORD, ON, Jan. 22, 2021 /CNW/ - Canadians everywhere are feeling the impact of COVID-19, on their families, their livelihoods and their way of life. Together, Canada and Ontario are working to reduce the impact of the pandemic, ensure health and safety, rebuild businesses, promote job creation, growth and investment. Investments in Ontario's infrastructure during this extraordinary time provide an opportunity to make our communities more sustainable and resilient. Today, Paul Lefebvre, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Natural Resources and Member of Parliament for Sudbury, on behalf of the Honourable Catherine McKenna, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities; Dave Smith, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Energy, Northern Development and Mines and Member of Provincial Parliament for PeterboroughKawartha, on behalf of the Honourable Laurie Scott, Ontario's Minister of Infrastructure; and His Worship George Lefebvre, Mayor of the Town of Latchford, announced funding for upgrades to a water pollution control plant in Latchford. Providing communities with modern and reliable water infrastructure is a shared priority for both governments. To that end, the Government of Canada is investing $196,784 in this project through the Green Infrastructure Stream of the Investing in Canada plan. The Government of Ontario is providing $163,970; the Town of Latchford is contributing $131,206. The project will rehabilitate and upgrade a water pollution control plant in Latchford. The work includes the rehabilitation and upgrade to the plant's chlorine contact chamber to allow for the installation of an ultraviolet water disinfection system. A new building will also be constructed to house the system. The project will improve wastewater treatment by employing environmentally-friendly methods to support year-round, continuous disinfection. The Town's capacity to treat and manage wastewater will also be increased. All levels of government continue to work together for the people of Ontario to make strategic infrastructure investments in communities across the province when needed most. Quotes "Investments in essential public infrastructure are vital to building resilient communities and supporting economic growth. Improving the Town of Latchford's wastewater treatment system ill help protect the environment and support community development. Canada's infrastructure plan invests in thousands of projects, creates jobs, and builds cleaner, more inclusive communities." Paul Lefebvre, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Natural Resources and Member of Parliament for Sudbury, on behalf of the Honourable Catherine McKenna, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities "I'm pleased that our government has partnered with the federal government and the Town of Latchford to make this joint investment of more than $491,000 to improve local water infrastructure. Ontario's contribution of nearly $164,000 will help support the much-needed improvements to local wastewater treatment." Dave Smith, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Energy, Northern Development and Mines and Member of Provincial Parliament for PeterboroughKawartha, on behalf of the Honourable Laurie Scott, Ontario's Minister of Infrastructure "On behalf of the residents of Latchford who are privileged to avail themselves of this vital service, I would like to extend our sincere appreciation to both senior levels of government for the financial assistance that they have provided to assist in realizing this essential upgrade. Their contributions greatly assist in minimizing the cost to the municipality and thence the users for this necessary improvement to our wastewater treatment system. To the governments of Canada and Ontario, your contributions are sincerely appreciated." His Worship George Lefebvre, Mayor of the Town of Latchford Quick facts Through the Investing in Canada plan , the Government of Canada is investing more than $180 billion over 12 years in public transit projects, green infrastructure, social infrastructure, trade and transportation routes, and Canada's rural and northern communities. plan , the Government of is investing more than over 12 years in public transit projects, green infrastructure, social infrastructure, trade and transportation routes, and rural and northern communities. Canada has invested $8.1 billion in over 2,750 infrastructure projects across Ontario under the Investing in Canada plan. has invested in over 2,750 infrastructure projects across under the plan. Ontario is investing $10.2 billion under the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program to improve public transit; community, culture and recreation; green, and rural and northern community and other priority infrastructure. is investing under the Investing in Infrastructure Program to improve public transit; community, culture and recreation; green, and rural and northern community and other priority infrastructure. Ontario is investing more than $40 million and Canada is investing more than $100 million through the first intake of the Green Infrastructure stream. Associated links Federal infrastructure investments in Ontario https://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/plan/prog-proj-on-eng.html Investing in Canada Plan Project Map http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/gmap-gcarte/index-eng.html Ontario Builds Project Map https://www.ontario.ca/page/building-ontario Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn Web: Infrastructure Canada SOURCE Infrastructure Canada [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Hi-tech surveillance devices including face and fingerprint scanning equipment are now being installed in churches throughout China. According to a report from Bitter Winter, a publication that explores human rights and religious freedom in China, a facial recognition system that was placed in a government-controlled church, called the Three-Self Church, in Urumqi a the capital of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region a is now being introduced elsewhere in China. "On October 6, Muyang Church (literally Shepherding Church) in the central province of Hubei, which is also the home of the Two Chinese Christian Councils of Huangshi city, had two biometric devices set up on its second floor. Since then, congregation members have to stand in line to have their faces and fingerprints scanned before being allowed to enter the church," the publication reported. "Around the same time, in the city's state-run Tian'en Church, facial recognition equipment has been also installed to check the believers who attend gatherings." A Christian told the magazine several weeks ago that local authorities required every meeting venue established by Three-Self churches in Huangshi city to take the fingerprints of fellow believers and put on file their personal and family information. The churchgoer was disturbed by the order since it requires not only that church members be under constant tracking and surveillance but that their families and relatives are implicated by association. Other local believers also reported that since October, multiple state-sanctioned churches in Huangshi began using fingerprint sensors and face scanners to record their attendance at services. "In late September, members of a Three-Self meeting venue in the Nanzhulin community in Huangshi had their fingerprints taken. The person in charge of the venue told them that all congregants have to have their fingerprints scanned to attend Sunday services," Bitter Winter noted. "Just like employees punch in at work," the person in charge of one church venue in the Nanzhulin community in Huangshi explained to a churchgoer. "In this way, the church can know clearly who attends the services and who doesn't." Chinese Christians believe this is yet another example of the ever-increasing amassing of power by the government. State surveillance of churches is not new in China. What is called the Sharp Eyes Project has long had a presence in state-run churches, with cameras placed even in washrooms of certain places of worship to ensure "comprehensive monitoring." According to the South China Morning Post, the name of the surveillance program seems to stem from a Mao-era slogan aimed at urging people to denounce those who failed to follow Communist Party creed: "The people have sharp eyes." The surveillance program intends to cover all rural areas with the goal of achieving "blind-spot-free monitoring" by the year 2020, "covering all regions, sharing across all networks, available at all times, and controlled at all points." Earlier this year, reports emerged that state-run churches in Qingdao city in the eastern province of Shandong were ordered to stop singing songs from the Worship Songs or Spiritual Song Collection and were instead ordered to sing from a book of hymns approved by the state. The new approved songs only featured themes about loving the nation of China, celebrating birthdays and funerals, and respecting parents and the elderly. "The hymns published by the government only promote political, secularized content. All believers are unwilling to sing them," one director of a state-approved church told Bitter Winter in June, referencing the chorus of one of the hymns as an example: "China is beautiful; China is great; the sons and daughters of China love China. ... Bless China, O Lord." Courtesy of The Christian Post Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. By Lian Degui A report, titled The U.S.-Japan Alliance in 2020: An Equal Alliance with a Global Agenda and co-authored by Richard L. Armitage, former US Deputy Secretary of State, and Joseph S. Nye, Professor of Harvard University, made quite a splash in Japanese academia recently. Some Japanese scholars felt excited about their country being called an equal ally of the US, the first time since 2000, and noted that the report mentioned Japans increasingly important role in countering China, which is the key reason why Tokyo becomes an equal partner in the US-Japan alliance. According to some Japanese scholars, Japan has modified its interpretation of the Constitution and can exercise the collective right of self-defense, which clears the way for Japan-US defense cooperation. Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution is no longer an obstacle to the military cooperation between the two countries, and US-Japan alliance is switching to a relation of mutual dependence this is the defining feature of the latest report. The subject of equality concerning the Japan-US alliance is nothing new. On August 30, 1955, the then Japanese foreign minister Shigemitsu Mamoru requested revising the Japan-US Security Treaty to be reciprocal on the grounds that Japan could protect itself with its self-defense forces. Still, his request was denied by the then US Secretary of State Dulles. Is the Japan-US alliance coming to the age of equality? Some Japanese scholar held that the value of the alliance so far lies in that Japan needs Americas protection while the US needs military bases in Japan rather than Japans military strength. However, now the US needs Japan as an equal partner to cope with the challenges from China and the DPRK. Going forward, the precondition for keeping the equal alliance between Tokyo and Washington is for Japan to continue to maintain a free and open Indo-Pacific region, develop the quadrilateral military cooperation with the US, India, and Australia, and safeguard free trade, control COVID-19 and respond to climate change. This view echoes with the strategic thinking of the pro-establishment figures in the US. Joseph Nye said long ago that it would be unimaginable for the US if it were pushed aside and Japan and China played the leading role in East Asia. This is the fundamental reason why Armitages report, despite its new ideas and contents every year, has never deviated from the obsessions of touting the China threat theory and reinforcing the Japan-US alliance. As a seasoned strategist, Joseph Nye is seeking the basis for the existence of a Japan-US alliance, which is a cleverer move than what the Trump administration has done in containing Chinas rise. He believed that if Japan, an American ally, is reconciled and cooperates with China, the US-centered Asian-Pacific order and even the world order will be severely challenged. Therefore, the best strategy for the US is to create trouble between China and Japan to keep them from approaching each other, even though the Cold War has long ended. Under the influence of the US, Japan after WWII has cultivated many American-minded scholars. They regard the US and the Japan-US alliance as the yardstick, and their strategic thinking is bogged in the Cold War period. In the meantime, they are full of arrogance and prejudice against Chinas system and development and never bother to think independently outside the American standard. Yukio Hatoyama, former Japanese prime minister, exclaimed that Japan should be courageous enough to become an independent state, but he then continued with great dismay that Ichiro Ozawa and I have worked on everything, from politics and finance, territory, consumption tax, to TPP, nuclear station, Osprey fighters and military bases. On all these matters, there is the shadow of the US. I once doubted whether Japan is an independent state. Now that Ive been through the cabinet as prime minister, I can say with certainty that Japan is not a fully independent state. Equality must be based on independence. Japan should realize its dream for equality and independence by playing a constructive role in the Indo-Pacific region for win-win cooperation, rather than forming cliques and making trouble. (The author is director and professor at the Center of Japanese Studies, Shanghai International Studies University.) This article is originally published on Huanqiu.com and is translated from Chinese into English and edited by the China Military Online. The information, ideas or opinions appearing in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of eng.chinamil.com.cn. The Jewish world has lost one of its most prolific funders with the passing of Sheldon Adelson, whose business empire spanned continents and whose $35 billion personal fortune ranked him #38 on the Forbes list worldwide. At times outspoken and controversial, Adelson, age 87, had been receiving treatment for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Philanthropy Though Jews are disproportionately generous in charitable giving, less than 10 percent of Jewish mega-donations go to Jewish or Israeli causes. Sheldon Adelson broke that mold. Together with his wife Miriam, the Adelson Family Charitable Trust donates... New Delhi, Jan 22 : As the competition for headphones get fierce, with Apple now joining the fray with its over-the-ear hearable, Sony has launched updated headphones in India named Sony WH-1000XM4 which are successor to WH-1000XM3. The latest headphones offer exceptionally good noise cancelling to compete against Bose and Sennheiser, while offering good sound quality and an array of premium features. Priced at Rs 29,990, let us see will this device be able to attract music lovers in the country. In terms of design, the product scores really good marks, thanks to its simple look. The Sony WH-1000XM4 features a similar design to its predecessor. There are just two physical buttons on the left side - one for power and the other is a customisable one - and the 3.5mm socket and USB Type-C port are on the left and right respectively. There's an NFC sensor on the left ear cup, and the gesture-sensitive zone is on the right one. The head cushion at the top of the product is very comfortable and at the same time, ear padding now has a 10 per cent larger surface area for enhanced contact with the head. The sales package includes a hard carry case for the headphones, a USB Type-C charging cable, a stereo cable for wired listening, and an airplane adapter. The WH-1000XM4 headphones deliver Sony's best noise-cancelling performance, reducing high and mid-frequency sounds. The Sony WH-1000XM4 uses the same QN1 noise-cancelling processor as the XM3. The headphones use 40mm dynamic drivers. Although the QN1 noise-cancelling processor has been unchanged from the older model, Sony has stated that improvements in the algorithm have translated to up to 20 per cent better noise-cancelling performance. The headphones feature two microphones on each earcup, which are used for noise cancelling. The Dual Noise Sensor technology captures ambient noise and passes the data to the trusted HD Noise Cancelling Processor QN1. Then a new BLUETOOTH Audio SoC (System on Chip) senses and adjusts to music and noise at over 700 times per second It comes with a speak-to-chat feature that works rather well. Speak-to-Chat automatically stops the music and lets in ambient sound, so you can conduct a conversation handy if you want to keep your headphones on, or your hands are full. Based on 'Precise Voice Pickup Technology', this smart feature uses five microphones built into your headphones and advanced audio signal processing to recognize and react to your voice. With the Sony Headphones Connect app, users can access a horde of features such as Adaptive Sound Control, an adjustable EQ, Ambient Sound and ANC customisability, Speak-to-Chat, Custom button function control, and much more. The headphones are also capable of being paired with different devices at a time. However, turning on a multipoint connection limits you from using Sony's high-quality LDAC codec and only allows you to use the AAC codec. The headphones support SBC, AAC and LDAC streaming codecs, but not Qualcomm's AptX codec, which is available with certain Android devices but not iOS devices (although Macs do support it). Like the XM3, the hearable also supports Sony's new surround-sound music format, '360 Reality Audio'. The headphones pack a powerful battery life with 30 hours of playback on a full charge for a reliable all-day wireless listening experience. They also support quick-charging function, giving up to five hours of wireless playback from 10 minutes of charging. The headphones do miss out on an IP rating and aptX, aptX HD or aptX LL support. Conclusion: Sony WH-1000XM4 is one of the finest headphones currently available. Hwever, these will face stiff competition from Bose as well as Sennheiser over-the-ear hearables. (Md Waquar Haider can be reached at waquar.h@ians.in) The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has quietly updated its guidance on how late the second dose of a coronavirus vaccine can be administered after insisting it would not allow delays in shots. Currently, the two vaccines approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), one by Pfizer-BioNTech and the other by Moderna, are given three weeks and four weeks apart, respectively. But in a new advisory posted to its website on Thursday, the CDC said the shots can be given up to six weeks apart. 'The second dose should be administered as close to the recommended interval as possible,' the CDC wrote. 'However, if it is not feasible to adhere to the recommended interval, the second dose... may be scheduled for administration up to 6 weeks (42 days) after the first dose.' It comes as several states report a shortage of shots, leading to concerns the the federal government is attempting to stretch the national vaccine supply. So far, a total of 39.8 million doses have been distributed across the country but just 19.1 million have been administered. Vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna are meant to be administered in two doses given three or four weeks apart, respectively, but the CDC updates its guidance, saying the second dose can be given up to six weeks after the initial dose. Pictured: A pharmacist prepares a syringe of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine Friday, January 9 The CDC warned Americans not to get one dose from Pfizer and the other from Moderna except in 'exceptional situations.' Pictured: Jackie Barry, a resident of The Open Hearth mens shelter, receives the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine in Hartford, Connecticut, January 22 The CDC says it cannot recommend giving doses any later than six weeks because there is no enough data on doses administered after that time. The agency says a person may only receive a second shot for different vaccine in 'exceptional situations.' 'These mRNA COVID-19 vaccines are not interchangeable with each other or with other COVID-19 vaccine products,' the CDC wrote. 'The safety and efficacy of a mixed-product series have not been evaluated. Both doses of the series should be completed with the same product. 'In exceptional situations in which the first-dose vaccine product cannot be determined or is no longer available, any available mRNA COVID-19 vaccine may be administered at a minimum interval of 28 days between doses.' Delaying the administration of the second vaccine dose is a strategy that the UK implemented when it began its mass vaccination campaign Health advisors in Britain said they were recommending a gap of up to 12 weeks between the two shots in an effort to provide more people with a first dose and with some protection against COVID-19. Dr Anthony Fauci, the nation's top infectious disease expert, was he did not believe the U.S. should delay administering second doses like the UK 'We know from the clinical trials that the optimal time is to give it on one day and for [the Moderna vaccine] wait 28 days and for Pfizer 21 days later,' he told CNN. Fauci said that one could 'make the argument' for stretching out the doses, he is not in favor of doing so. A total of 39.8 million doses have been distributed but just 19.1 million have been administered Pfizer and BioNTech also said here is no evidence to suggest its vaccine works if given more than 21 days after the first dose 'Pfizer and BioNTech's Phase 3 study for the COVID-19 vaccine was designed to evaluate the vaccine's safety and efficacy following a 2-dose schedule, separated by 21 days,' the companies said in a statement to CNBC. 'There is no data to demonstrate that protection after the first dose is sustained after 21 days.' There are also worried that delayed a dose gives more opportunity for virus to 'learn' how to defeat - or skirt around - protection given by the vaccines. 'My concern, as a virologist, is that if you wanted to make a vaccine-resistant strain, what you would do is to build a cohort of partially immunized individuals in the teeth of a highly prevalent viral infection,' Dr Paul Bieniasz, of Rockefeller University. told STAT News. 'You are essentially maximizing the opportunity for the virus to learn about the human immune system. Learn about antibodies. Learn how to evade them.' As more COVID-19 vaccines become available in the Lehigh Valley, employers are making a strong case when it comes to staff eventually receiving them. But is mandating inoculation legal? And can an employee lose their job if they refuse? Both answers are yes, according to area legal experts, but it also depends on each companys vaccination policies and exceptions that may apply to individual employees. The focus is on the level of the direct threat of an unvaccinated employee on the health and safety of those they work with and whether there are safety measures other than the vaccination to mitigate that threat, said Loren L. Speziale, a partner specializing in business law at the Allentown-based firm Gross McGinley. That is one of the reasons the firm believes some industries that rely on onsite work and employees -- healthcare, manufacturing, hospitality and food service -- likely will consider mandating the vaccine due to employees having to be onsite to perform jobs. This is a different scenario for a corporate atmosphere, which can be flexible and allow workers to complete job duties remotely if necessary. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission on Dec. 16 issued guidance stating employers could encourage or possibly require COVID-19 vaccinations for workers. However, they must comply with current workplace laws -- namely the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Rehabilitation Act, and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The decision to mandate the COVID-19 vaccine is further complicated because the vaccine is currently under an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA). The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission recognizes COVID-19 vaccines under a EUA have not yet received final approval under U.S. Food and Drug Administration vaccine licensure, Speziale said. Under an EUA, employees must be advised that theres an option to accept or refuse the COVID-19 vaccine. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission is yet to address how a mandatory vaccine policy could be reconciled against the EUA requirement that the decision to obtain the vaccination should be voluntary, Speziale said. While the vaccination is under an EUA, the guidance leaves open more questions than answers, she said. The Lehigh Valleys two major healthcare networks -- Lehigh Valley Health Network and St. Lukes University Health Network -- in mid-December received their first shipments of the vaccine developed by Pfizer Inc. and its German partner BioNTech. Around the same time of that shipment, a government advisory panel endorsed a second COVID-19 vaccine, paving the way for the Moderna shot to be added to the U.S. vaccination campaign. Since initial supplies are limited, federal and state plans call for a tiered approach giving priority to health care workers who deal with COVID-19 patients directly, placing that group in Phase 1A. As more is manufactured, state health officials vowed vaccine access would expand to other individuals, groups and industries. Both Lehigh Valley and St. Lukes have additionally begun to offer vaccines to first responders that are covered under the next phase of Pennsylvanias vaccine protocol, Phase 1B, and also some folks listed under 1C. The Lehigh Valley Health Network on Jan. 27 will begin administering mass vaccinations at at Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom in South Whitehall. St. Lukes has a website to preregister for the vaccine. All the perks Lehigh Valley attorneys break down exceptions in mandating vaccinations for employees. Guidance by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission states some federal and state laws allow exemptions protecting the rights of employees who are not able to receive a vaccine. Employers must be prepared to exempt employees who have a medical disability or with sincerely-held religious objections, under the guidance. A pregnant woman also could possibly fall under an exception, Speziale said. In those cases, an employer needs to offer a reasonable accommodation to the employee, such as working remotely or being reassigned to an area that is not consumer-facing. The law also requires employers undergo a process with the employee to determine the proper accommodation. As long as there is a reasonable accommodation and it does not cause undue hardship for the employer, the employer must provide the accommodation to the employee, said Jacob Sitman, an attorney with Allentown-based Fitzpatrick Lentz & Bubba. If an employee cannot receive the vaccine due to one of those exceptions and a reasonable accommodation cant be granted, attorneys say an employer could exclude the employee from physically entering the workplace. The employer then must be prepared to show that unvaccinated employees would pose a direct threat due to a significant risk of substantial harm to the health or safety of the individual that cannot be eliminated or reduced by reasonable accommodation, Sitman said. For those who dont want to force vaccinations, other businesses and major chains are opting to get employees to self-vaccinate themselves -- with a perk. Northampton Countys Gracedale nursing home in Upper Nazareth Township is one of them. The county is offering a $750 incentive bonus to any employee who receives the COVID-19 vaccine. The county plans to use up to $490,000 in federal CARES Act funding to cover roughly 700 employees getting the shot. Aldi Grocery Stores is offering hourly workers two hours of pay for each dose they receive, totaling up to four hours. The chain also will work with salaried employees who want to receive the vaccine. German discount grocer Lidl is paying its employees an extra $200 to get the vaccine, with the extra money meant to help offset costs associated with vaccine administration, travel and childcare. Dollar General is offering employees one-time payment equivalent of four hours of regular pay after receiving a completed COVID-19 vaccination and salaried team members with additional store labor hours to accommodate their time away from the store. Instacart Inc., the grocery delivery service, is providing a $25 stipend for workers who get vaccinated. Other workplaces are offering gift cards and small gifts to promote vaccination. Sitman said hes seen some employers in healthcare and consumer-facing retail industries contracting with pharmacies and vaccine providers to have on-site or dedicated vaccine clinics. Some employers are providing such goodies as water bottles, small trinkets, or gift cards in modest amounts, he said. John Ross, CEO of Test Prep Insight, an online education company with 10 employees, is offering each more than one incentive. Ross said upon the second vaccination, in which some may experience a side effect, hes offering employees that day off with pay followed by two additional days off with pay. This is regardless of any reaction from the vaccinations, he said. The paid time off is being coupled with a $100 gift card each to a choice of Starbucks, Amazon or Recreational Equipment, Inc. This is followed by a steak dinner paid for by Ross with whatever the staff wants to order from the menu. I will pick up the tab, Ross told lehighvalleylive.com. They can order whatever they want -- wine; surf and turf -- I dont care. I am hoping this last incentive creates some peer pressure amongst employees, as I really want them all to get the vaccine. The incentives work for employers seeking to create a safer, healthier work environment through employee COVID-19 vaccinations, Speziale said, but he warned such perks can get tricky. This is especially the case with the carrot and stick approach for larger incentives, such as bigger cash bonuses and lavish gifts. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission on Jan. 7 issued a proposal against incentives for wellness programs that are more than just de minimus. The proposed rule seeks to address anticipated claims by employees they were coerced by substantial incentives to participate in a wellness plan and therefore, the decision was not voluntary. At this point, it is unclear whether a vaccination incentive program could be considered a wellness plan, Speziale said. Vaccinate or job terminate? Employee concerns and reluctance to take the COVID-19 vaccination, however, can further complicate the issue for employers, legal experts say. A survey of 2,000 employees conducted by the Employee Benefit Research Institute and independent research firm Greenwald Research found 24% of employees would not take the vaccine. Nine percent stated it depends and 12% were still unsure about their vaccination decision, according to the survey. If an employee refuses to receive a mandated vaccination without an exception, job termination is a possibility at that point but not advised by legal experts. While Pennsylvania is an at-will employment state, the employer needs to consider the legality of that termination under equal employment opportunity laws and other local, state and federal laws and statutes, Speziale said. Employers also could face COVID-19 vaccine-related lawsuits if requiring employees to have proof of a COVID-19 vaccine before allowing them to return to the workplace -- despite it being legal. Its not a far reach suits also could be filed as a result of any side effects suffered as a result of the second vaccination, Speziale said. At this point, these are new issues that we have not seen before, Speziale said, noting novel coronavirus-related employment claims are only now making their way through the court systems, if they have even been filed already. There are questions as to whether a side effect from the vaccination in this situation would fall under workers compensation laws and what other rights, if any, employees may have in this situation. If side effects did fall under a workers compensation claim, Speziale said it would vary state by state. Because of this, employers are vulnerable to lawsuits should an employee have adverse side effects from the vaccination, she said. On the flip side, if a mandatory vaccination policy is not imposed, some pro-vaccine employees might allege the employer has failed to provide a safe and healthy work environment. Those claims, however, might have a hard time sticking in court, Sitman said, because the Occupational Safety and Health Act requires employers keep workplaces safe and healthy but does not require the COVID-19 vaccine. We have seen employees file complaints alleging that employers have failed to provide adequate protections against workplace exposure to COVID-19, and they have spurned investigations and, in some cases, resulted in citations and penalties issued by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, he said. Court actions are less common because most legal commentators believe claims for injuries related to workplace exposure to COVID-19 must be resolved in the context of the workers compensation system. Also unlikely are employers making employees sign waivers against side effects due to the COVID-19 vaccination -- if mandated. Speziale said not all states enforce them and if they do, its only if the waivers meet certain criteria. Waivers are usually not used in the context of an employee-employer relationship, she said, noting workplaces have certain duties to protect employees under other U.S. governing agencies and such laws as the Occupational Safety and Health Act. Encouraging employees to sign waivers raises additional questions as to whether the employer is following or violating workplace guidelines and its obligations under OSHA, she said. Sitman agreed, adding, Such waivers may also cause undue concern for employees and undermine the goal and effectiveness of a vaccination program. Regardless, we are treading in relatively un-chartered waters and pandemic-related circumstances and the laws are still evolving. Legal experts also warn forced vaccinations can cause some valuable employees to jump ship, resulting in higher employee turnover and lower workplace morale if the program is not thoughtfully designed and implemented. What you can do: Loren Speziale, along with Thomas Reilly, a partner at Gross McGinley; Dr. Kevin Vrablik of Lehigh Valley Health Network; and Lora Bastlin of the Allentown-based healthcare analytics and population health management company, Populytics; will be guest speakers at 10 a.m. Jan. 26 when The Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce hosts its webinar, Employing Your Business COVID-19 Vaccination Strategy. Among the topics will be how to better educate employees about the vaccine, if a business owner should require the vaccine, and if on-site vaccinations should be made to employees in the workplace. 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. Please subscribe now and support the local journalism YOU rely on and trust. Pamela Sroka-Holzmann may be reached at pholzmann@lehighvalleylive.com. London, Jan 21 (IANS) After the man coordinating Israel's Covid-19 response reportedly said that a single vaccine dose against the disease appeared less effective than expected and also lower than Pfizer had suggested, the country's health ministry said that fears about the effectiveness of the vaccine were "out of context and inaccurate." Israel is one of the top countries leading the world in vaccinating people against Covid-19. However, Israeli Covid-19 commissioner Nachman Ash told Israel's Army Radio that a single dose appeared to be "less effective than we had thought," according to The Guardian. Reacting to Ash's note of caution, the Israeli Ministry of Health said "the comments of the Israeli Covid-19 commissioner regarding the effect of the first dose of the vaccine were out of context and, therefore, inaccurate," according to a BBC report on Thursday. Ash's comments came after thousands of people tested positive despite being jabbed. The ministry said that the full protective impact of the vaccine is expected to be seen only after the second dose is also administered. It is well-known that a single dose of the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine is not expected to provide full protection against the disease, although some countries like the UK have delayed giving the second dose in a bid to maximise the number of people given the initial dose. A single dose of the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine is about 52 per cent effective, according to the company, said the The Guardian report. Israel started vaccinating on December 19, reaching 10 per cent of its population by the end of 2020. --IANS gb/bg 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 Taos News delivered to your Taos County address every week for a full year! We offer our lowest mail rates to zip codes in the county. Click Here to See if you Qualify. Plan includes unlimited website access and e-edition print replica online. Your auto pay plan will be conveniently renewed at the end of the subscription period. You may cancel at anytime. Grassley Calls on Biden to Condemn Antifa Rampage in Portland and Seattle Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) urged President Joe Biden to condemn the actions of far-left rioters in the Pacific Northwest, who after Wednesdays inauguration damaged property, set fires, and clashed with police despite Bidens pleas for unity. Im waiting for Pres Biden to condemn violence/looting/arson last two days in Oregon & Washington state, Grassley wrote in a tweet. Biden, as of Thursday evening, had not commented on the incidents, which involved Antifa and anarchist groups, and possibly others, rampaging in the streets of Portland and Seattle on Wednesday, voicing their opposition to the government, law enforcement, and the freshly sworn-in president. 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, tipping over garbage containers, and lighting the contents on fire. We dont want Biden. We want revenge for police murders, imperialist wars, and fascist massacres, read a banner they marched under, which featured an image of a Kalashnikov, while others carried a sign saying, We are not governable, which was dotted with anarchy symbols. Portland police said some rioters carried pepper ball guns, electronic crowd control weapons similar to Tasers, large fireworks, shields and rocks. Sgt. Kevin Allen of the Portland Police Department said that, in connection with one of several incidents, weapons were seized including Molotov Cocktails, knives, batons, chemical spray and a crowbar, while eight individuals were arrested, with charges ranging from felony criminal mischief, possession of a destructive device, and riot. According to KATU, one of the protests in Portland 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. 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 reports from the scene. 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. In an op-ed in The New York Post, journalist and Antifa expert Andy Ngo wrote: Some believe Antifa would fade away after Bidens electoral win. Theyre wrong. With the convenient excuse of resisting Donald Trumps fascist regime no longer applicable, Antifa are just getting started. A serving British soldier was found 'hanged' in the grounds of a hotel in Estonia after a night out, an inquest has ruled. Sam Brownridge - a 23-year-old fusilier who served with The First Battalion, the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers - had spent the day off from a NATO mission in July last year shopping and karting in the capital Tallinn. CCTV later captured him leaving a nightclub at 1.35am on July 5 and returning to the Lavendel Spa Hotel 27 minutes later. The father-of-one hanged himself near the hotel's play area and his body was discovered later that morning. South Staffordshire coroner Andrew Haigh yesterday ruled that Brownridge, from Cannock, died by suicide. Sam Brownridge (above) was found 'hanged' in the grounds of a hotel in Estonia after a night out, an inquest has ruled. The 23-year-old fusilier, who served with The First Battalion, the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, had spent the day off from a NATO mission in July last year shopping and karting in the capital Tallinn CCTV captured Brownridge leaving a nightclub at 1.35am on July 5 and returning to the Lavendel Spa Hotel (pictured) 27 minutes later. The father-of-one hanged himself near the hotel's play area and his body was discovered later that morning. Yesterday, South Staffordshire coroner Andrew Haigh ruled that Brownridge, from Cannock, died by suicide The Royal Military Police carried out their own investigation into the soldier's death. It found there was no third-party involvement. The Ministry of Defence had previously said that Brownridge had died from a 'non-battle injury' while deployed on the NATO mission - codenamed Operation Cabrit - in Estonia. His funeral was held at Stafford Crematorium last July. In a statement to the inquest, Staff Sergeant Matthew Shelton said: 'In the day preceding his death, he was described as being very happy and more outgoing than usual. 'His colleagues indicated he was happier than usual, willing to spend more money and being in better spirits than they had seen him. He bought new clothing and jewellery. He was asking people to take photos with him which was unusual for him. 'CCTV indicated him leaving the club at 1.35am and coming into the hotel at 2.02am. 'There is further CCTV from the spa hotel which shows Sam walking through the dining area at 2.02am. He was eating and drinking, he had a bottle of water and a box of crisps. He stopped halfway through the room.' The investigation found that Brownridge had researched 'suicide' on the internet on June 23 and 29. The Ministry of Defence had previously said that Brownridge had died from a 'non-battle injury' while deployed on the NATO mission - codenamed Operation Cabrit - in Estonia. His funeral (procession, above) was held at Stafford Crematorium last July Above, people pay their respects on the day of the soldier's funeral. In a statement to the inquest, Staff Sergeant Matthew Shelton said: 'In the day preceding his death, [Sam] was described as being very happy and more outgoing than usual' Sgt Shelton added: 'Sam's body was found at 8.30am by one of his colleagues. 'All accounts show he was a good soldier. There were no issues and he was well liked by members of the unit. He was looking to move across to Colchester.' Mr Haigh gave the cause of death as 'partial suspension hanging'. He said: 'It does appear there were pressures on his relationship. He had no significant psychiatric history. We are aware that he had researched suicide on the internet on June 23 and 29 and at one time had mentioned to his mother that he didn't want to go on. 'On July 4, he went on leave with his colleagues and had an enjoyable time, his behaviour was brighter than it had been recently. Sam returned to the hotel soon after 2am - and, soon after that, he hanged himself. 'From the evidence we have, there is no clear indication that he was going to harm himself and the precise reason why he has done this is not clear. 'On the evidence I've heard and, on the balance of probabilities, I can say that Sam intended to kill himself and did so. The formal conclusion is one of suicide.' A long-running Silicon Valley soap opera took an unexpected twist on Wednesday after outgoing President Donald Trump pardoned a former Google engineer for stealing self-driving car secrets shortly before joining Uber. Trumps surprise pardon of Anthony Levandowski enables him to avoid serving an 18-month sentence in federal prison that U.S. District Judge William Alsup left no doubt last summer he believed was warranted. This is the biggest trade secret crime I have ever seen, Alsup said. This was not small. This was massive in scale. Levandowski pled guilty to heisting some of Googles breakthroughs in self-driving cars before he left the company in 2016 and later joined Uber to help the ride-hailing service build its own robotic vehicles. In a statement about Levandowskis pardon, the Trump administration cited other comments that Alsup made about the engineers brilliant mind. Mr. Levandowski has paid a significant price for his actions and plans to devote his talents to advance the public good, the statement said. While in office, Trump railed against Chinas alleged theft of technology developed in the U.S. as one of the main reasons for his administrations trade war with that county. Levandowski didnt land in prison after his sentencing last year. Alsup delayed his sentence during the pandemic to reduce Levandowskis chances of becoming infected with COVID-19. A hearing on the timing of Levandowskis prison sentence had been scheduled for Feb. 9. In a twee t, Levandowski thanked Trump and everyone who supported his cause. The Trump administration cited the support 13 people as a major influence for granting the pardon. The group pushing for the pardon included three of Levandowskis attorneys in his criminal case, as well as Peter Thiel, a PayPal co-founder. Thiel ranks among the most influential investors in the tech industry and was a prominent supporter of Trump who spoke at the Republican National Convention in 2016. Trump also called out five other people who either work closely with Thiel or have run startups that received investments from Thiels various funds. That group consists of: Blake Masters, who co-wrote a book with Thiel and serves as chief operating officer of Thiel Capital; Trae Stephens, a partner at Thiels Founders Fund and who on Trumps transition team after his 2016 election; Palmer Luckey, the co-founder of virtual reality startup, Oculus, that was backed by Thiel before it was sold to Facebook; Ryan Petersen, CEP of Flexport, another tech firm backed by Thiel; and James Proud, who also once ran a tech firm called Hello backed by Thiel. Neither Thiel nor Stephens responded to a message left for them at the Founders Fund. Masters and Petersen didnt immediate respond to a request for comment about their reasons for supporting Levandowskis pardon. Efforts to reach Proud were unsuccessful. The three Levandowski lawyers who lobbied for his pardon, Miles Ehrlich, James Ramsey and Amy Craig, have been trying to collect on a $5 million bill that they say Levandowski still owes their firm, according to court documents. Levandowski filed for bankruptcy last March after being ordered to pay Google $179 million as part of an arbitration dispute surrounding bonuses paid to him before he left the company. The lawyers had been seeking to claim $1.5 million that had been held in a trust account, but a bankruptcy judge denied that request last year. Now that Levandowski wont be in prison, he may be able to get another job in the tech industry that would help him pay his lawyers. Ehrlich, Ramsey and Craig didnt immediately respond to requests for comment about their support for a Levandowski pardon or the money owed by their client. Besides resulting in criminal charges, Levandowskis skullduggery also was at the heart of a high-stakes lawsuit filed against Uber by Waymo, a spinoff born from Googles work on robotic vehicles. Uber denied ever using the technology that Levandowski took from Google. But the ride-hailing service wound up paying $245 million to settle the case a few days into a high-profile trial that saw its former CEO Travis Kalanick take the witness stand to discuss his friendship with Levandowski. The two men grew so close that Uber paid $680 million in 2016 to acquire a self-driving truck company called Otto that Levandowski started after leaving Google. Kalanick then appointed Levandowski to oversee Ubers self-driving car division before firing him in 2017. Uber sold its self-driving car division late last year to Aurora, a Silicon Valley startup run by another former Google engineer, Chris Urmson, who once worked with Levandowski. Related: Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Auto Personal Auto Sharing Economy Ridesharing Uber Autonomous Vehicles Google Even Hollywood extras for crowd scenes receive far better treatment than the National Guard troops that were mobilized to protect Bidens inauguration from a non-existent threat. Yesterday, I called it insurrection theatre because the massive deployment was all about generating an atmosphere of fear and painting supporters of Donald Trump as an imminent threat to the Republic because they re aching for overthrow of the government. The excuse, of course, was the incursion of the Capitol, a disgusting event, but hardly a sign of a vast insurrection plot that would require tens of thousands of armed troops to deter or defend against. Where was there any evidence of a mass movement to disrupt or prevent the inauguration? All I saw were conservatives denouncing the incursion. Reports now indicate that there was some advance planning for the incursion, including the planting of diversionary (an thankfully dud) pipe bombs, But we have no indication of who was behind that. And there are many signs that the people at the spearhead of the mob at the Capitol may have been false flag provocateurs from the left, who, it turns out, were extremely successful in discrediting, even crippling Trump supporters and conservatives. The American public deserves to know on what basis the troops were mobilized in such numbers and transported to th nationa's capital. What intelligence di the FBI and DHS claim to have in hand about a mass scale planned disruption? Was it solely because of the incursion? Who made what threat asessments, and on what basis? Now that the media and other Democrats have succeeded in their theatrical production, the Weekend Warriors have been treated like disposable props. Politico reports: One unit, which had been resting in the Dirksen Senate Office building, was abruptly told to vacate the facility on Thursday, according to one Guardsman. The group was forced to rest in a nearby parking garage without internet reception, with just one electrical outlet, and one bathroom with two stalls for 5,000 troops, the person said. Temperatures in Washington were in the low 40s by nightfall. Yesterday dozens of senators and congressmen walked down our lines taking photos, shaking our hands and thanking us for our service. Within 24 hours, they had no further use for us and banished us to the corner of a parking garage. We feel incredibly betrayed, the Guardsman said. (snip) All National Guard troops were told to vacate the Capitol and nearby congressional buildings on Thursday, and to set up mobile command centers outside or in nearby hotels, another Guardsman confirmed. They were told to take their rest breaks during their 12-hour shifts outside and in parking garages, the person said. Official logo of the National Guard Democrat and Republican politicians, of course, protested as soon as they were aware of the abuse. Nobody wants to be seen as approving of this treatment of the Guard, but yet it happened. Apparently because the Capitol Police, who now report to Speaker Pelosi and Majority Leader Schumer and who are often called a patronage organization -- ordered them out of the Capitol with no thought of what happened to them next. In a statement, Capitol Police spokesperson Eva Malecki said the department recently asked that troops shifts be reduced from 12 hours to eight in order to allow for additional rest hours away from the Capitol complex. The statement did not explain why the Guardsmen were forced into parking garages. Guardsmen who spoke with POLITICO were not given a clear reason why they were asked to vacate the buildings. The first Guardsman said it may have been due to a complaint that some troops were not wearing masks, but denied that was the case. We have strict guidance that masks are to be worn at all times unless soldiers are eating and drinking, the Guardsman said. Capitol Police asked troops to move their rest area on Thursday, said Guard spokesperson Maj. Matt Murphy. Guards have paid a terrible price in Covid exposure, thanks to the crowded conditions they have been placed in for theatrical exploitation. The troops are particularly concerned about being packed in tight quarters with limited bathroom access during a pandemic. At least 100 Guardsmen have tested positive for Covid-19, according to two Guardsmen. Some are quarantining in hotels. The troops already were apparently feeling abused on inauguration day owing to the suspicions voiced by Democrats that some might be conspiring with the .insurrectionists. Anrea Widburg reported that some of them turned their backs on Biden, possibly as a gesture of protest. But now, those feelings of disgust must be amplified. And that cannot help the efforts to recruit future members of the Guard, who agree to place their personal and work lives in a subordinate position to the duties to which they may be called for the noble purpose of defending their fellow Americans from natural disasters or those caused by humans. But to serve as props to be discarded when no longer useful? Its hard to see how that would appeal to the idealism of potential recruits. Chinese Sinovac Biotech authorizes Lekhim to act on behalf of it in Ukraine for five years Health Ministry Chinese Sinovac Biotech, with which the Health Ministry of Ukraine signed an agreement on the purchase of vaccines against coronavirus (COVID-19) at the expense of the national budget, authorized the Lekhim group of pharmaceutical companies (Kyiv) to represent the interests of Sinovac Biotech in Ukraine for a period of five years, starting from November 25, 2020 until November 25, 2025. This follows from a letter from Sinovac Biotech to the Health Ministry and state-owned enterprise (SOE) Medical Procurement of Ukraine, the text of which is available to Interfax-Ukraine, sent to the departments on the eve of the signing of the contract for the purchase of the vaccine. As the Health Ministry told Interfax-Ukraine, the department started direct communication with Sinovac Biotech in the summer of 2020, it was about the supply of vaccines against COVID-19 to Ukraine. "By this time, the vaccine for the prevention of SARS CoV-2 infection, developed by Sinovac Biotech, passed the second stage of clinical trials. Subsequently, Sinovac Biotech Ltd sent a letter to the Health Ministry and SOE Medical Procurement of Ukraine, which is the direct executor of the contractual conditions, a letter stating that that Lekhim is the official authorized representative of Sinovac Biotech. During further communication with Sinovac Biotech Ltd through various communication channels, representatives of Lekhim were present, the Health Ministry said. "Thus, the Sinovac Biotech Ltd Chinese manufacturer of vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 has identified Lekhim as the official representative in Ukraine," the department said. As reported, the Ministry of Health through SOE Medical Procurement of Ukraine signed a contract for the supply of a vaccine produced by the Sinovac Biotech Chinese company to the country as soon as possible. According to the contract, the cost of the vaccine produced by Sinovac is UAH 504 per dose. Dear Reader, Business Standard has always strived hard to provide up-to-date information and commentary on developments that are of interest to you and have wider political and economic implications for the country and the world. Your encouragement and constant feedback on how to improve our offering have only made our resolve and commitment to these ideals stronger. Even during these difficult times arising out of Covid-19, we continue to remain committed to keeping you informed and updated with credible news, authoritative views and incisive commentary on topical issues of relevance. We, however, have a request. As we battle the economic impact of the pandemic, we need your support even more, so that we can continue to offer you more quality content. Our subscription model has seen an encouraging response from many of you, who have subscribed to our online content. More subscription to our online content can only help us achieve the goals of offering you even better and more relevant content. We believe in free, fair and credible journalism. Your support through more subscriptions can help us practise the journalism to which we are committed. Support quality journalism and subscribe to Business Standard. Digital Editor 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. AkzoNobel to provide Resicoat R2 coatings to Guangdong Water for its water pipeline at the Pearl River Delta water resource allocation project. Aerial view of the project location. AMSTERDAM, THE NETHERLANDS: A major infrastructure project in China which is using powder coatings on the interior of potable water pipes has specified sustainable products supplied by AkzoNobel. The agreement with Guangdong Water involves providing high-performance Resicoat R2 coatings for the Pearl River Delta water resource allocation project the largest investment in a water diversion project in the history of Guangdong Province. Designed to ensure the supply of clean and safe potable water to more than 50 million people, the landmark project will feature the highest water transmission pressure and the longest shield tunnel in the world. It consists of a mainline, a branch line, three pumping stations and four storage reservoirs. AkzoNobel agrees with Guangdong Water to provide high-performance Resicoat R2 coatings for the Pearl River Delta water resource allocation project water pipeline "We have rich global experience in drinking water and pipeline projects and will continue to play our part in improving people's lives through our eco-premium and high-performance solutions," said Daniela Vlad, director of AkzoNobel's powder coatings business. "We're excited to be contributing to this significant project by supplying products that will provide comprehensive protection to the new water pipeline. The company's Resicoat R2 coating is specially designed to be used in the drinking water industry, typically being applied to valves and fittings and water pipelines. The product's high density and high hardness provide robust abrasion resistance, anti-cathodic stripping, anti-bending, anti-corrosion and adhesion, all of which combine to help prolong the lifecycle of pipelines. Resicoat R2 has also received the drinking water safety product license in China. "Applying safe, environmentally friendly coatings to potable water projects is fundamental to ensuring water quality throughout the delivery process, said Karen Yin, AkzoNobel powder coatings' regional commercial director for North Asia. "Our Resicoat range can therefore play a vital role in drinking water sanitation and the reinforcement of regulations and environmental protection." The Pearl River Delta is one of the world's most densely populated areas and the water supply has to be continuously expanded. The water resource allocation project is designed to channel water from the Xijiang River in the west to the eastern Pearl River Delta. As well as helping to prevent water scarcity, it will create emergency water reservoir for the Southern areas in China including Hong Kong. AkzoNobel has extensive experience in water pipeline projects, notably in the US, South Korea and the Middle East. Meanwhile, the Resicoat range also covers several other industries and applications, such as electric vehicle batteries, rotors and stators, busbars, oil and gas, valves, fire hydrants, pipe connections and rebar, resistors and plugs. Worldofchemicals News A local pastor in the Chinese city of Wuhan, the origin of the novel coronavirus, was taken away by police for interrogation while he was leading an online meeting of Christians on evangelism and church planting, according to the Chinese Christian Fellowship of Righteousness. The Zoom meeting, "Proclaim Jesus Gospel Gathering," was underway when the police in Hubei province's Wuhan city came over, looked for evangelism materials or publications, and took away the pastor, identified only as Luo, from Nanjing Road Church, the U.S.-based Christian persecution watchdog International Christian Concern learned from the Chinese Christian Fellowship of Righteousness, which speaks out in public as Christians. Pastor Luo was taken to a police station and interrogated for more than four hours. Not afraid, Luo told the police that Christians served the city during Wuhan's most difficult moments, leaving policemen speechless. "I rebuke them, calling them out that they are not minding business that they should be minding," Luo was quoted as saying. "Christians disregarded their own lives to do good things, yet the police treat them as the bad guys, this is unreasonable. "I also told them a few times in all seriousness, I will only live for Christ, I will not argue on other matters. However, I will never change [my persistence] about evangelism." The officials then let the pastor go. Earlier this month, police violently raided a house church in Xiamen city in China's Fujian province during Sunday worship, injuring several worshipers in the process. Dozens of security guards and officers from the local Ethnic and Religious Bureau arrived at Xingguang Church, which meets at a residence, calling the gathering "illegal." Though male church members attempted to block the door, police stormed into the room, yelling at church members while demanding them to stop recording with their cell phones. When church members refused, police dragged several members out the door and snatched their cell phones. In a video shared by preacher Yang Xibo from Xunsiding Church, the police could be seen pressing church members' heads down to the ground while authorities yelled, "Stop filming!" The church was previously raided by authorities from five different departments on April 19. Additionally, the church's preacher, Titus Yu, received advance notice of administrative punishment for "violating several articles of the religious regulations." Last month, several members of China's heavily persecuted Early Rain Covenant Church were arrested for participating in an online Easter worship service on Zoom and ordered to cease all religious activity. The 5,000-member Sichuan house church, led by pastor Wang Yi, had not been able to gather in person since the communist regime shut down the church in 2018 and arrested their pastor and other leaders. Since then, it had opted to gather online. Early Rain Covenant Church was first raided during a Sunday evening service in December 2018 after authorities claimed it violated religious regulations because it was not registered with the government. Wang was detained along with his wife, Jiang Rong, and more than 100 members of his congregation. Pastor Wang was later sentenced to nine years in prison on charges of subversion of power and illegal business operations. According to Gina Goh, ICC's regional manager for Southeast Asia, China has clearly resumed its crackdown on Christianity after the threat posed by the coronavirus pandemic has reduced. "In recent weeks, we have seen an increased number of church demolitions and cross removals on state-sanctioned churches across China, as house church gatherings continue to face interruption and harassment. It is deplorable that the local authorities not only conducted this raid without proper procedure but deployed excessive use of force against church members and bystanders," she said. "ICC calls on the international community and the U.S. government to condemn China's constant human rights abuses." Courtesy of The Christian Post A newly elected Republican member of Congress has filed articles of impeachment against President Joe Biden on his first full day in office. U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Georgia) announced the stunt last week, and followed through on her promise Thursday, Jan. 21, a day after Bidens inauguration. The Trump loyalist and QAnon conspiracy theorist accused Biden of abuse of power while serving as vice president under President Barack Obama. Greene claimed, without providing evidence, that Biden threatened to withhold a loan to Ukraine while then-prosecutor general Viktor Shokin was investigating the founder of Burisma Holdings. Bidens son Hunter Biden served as a member of the Ukraine gas companys board from 2014 to 2019. Greene also accused the former VP of allowing the younger Biden to siphon off cash from Americas greatest enemies Russia and China. President Joe Biden is unfit to hold the office of the Presidency. His pattern of abuse of power as President Obamas Vice President is lengthy and disturbing, Greene said in a statement. President Biden residing in the White House is a threat to national security and he must be immediately impeached. Both the president-elect and his son have denied wrongdoing. Hunter Biden said last month that he is facing a federal investigation into his taxes, after months of being targeted by the Trump campaign in the 2020 presidential election. I just filed Articles of Impeachment on President @JoeBiden. pic.twitter.com/mcwEEkKiHL Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (@RepMTG) January 21, 2021 Fox News previously describe Greenes effort to impeach Biden as symbolic, as Congress is now controlled by the Democratic Party; she would need a majority of the House to bring charges to the Senate. The announcement also breaks with other Republicans who have argued Trumps second impeachment is divisive at a time when the country needs unity. The House voted last week to impeach former President Donald Trump, 232-197; ten Republicans voted in favor of the resolution, making it the most bipartisan impeachment in modern times. Greene announced her threat to impeach Biden shortly afterwards, accusing the new U.S. president of quid pro quo. Greene, a political newcomer who just began her first term representing Georgias 14th congressional district, had her Twitter account suspended over the weekend for repeating Trumps baseless claims of widespread election fraud that sparked the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, leading to five deaths and more than 50 police officers injured. Shes also come under fire for allegedly expressing racist views and support for QAnon, a far-right U.S. conspiracy theory centered around the debunked belief that Trump is waging a secret campaign against enemies in the deep state and a child sex trafficking ring they say is linked to Democrats. The Daily Beast reports Greene previously repeated false claims the Parkland and Sandy Hook school shootings were staged. In a 2018 Facebook post, she also agreed with a comment that claimed the 9/11 terrorist attack was perpetrated by the U.S. government: That is all true, she wrote. A 20-year-old school leaver, Peter Nwoke has been arrested for allegedly leaking a sex video of lawyer and Federal Commissioner of Imo State Office of Public Complaints Commission, Chief Willie Amadi naked in a room with two girls. The 12-second 'sex tape' suggested that the appointee of President Muhammadu Buhari had a threesome, but it was gathered that his picture was superimposed on a background with a sex scene. Imo police spokesperson, Orlando Ikeokwu confirmed the arrest of Nwoke and also revealed that he admitted leaking the video. Explaining why he did it, the suspect said; I asked him to come to Umuogbor Isuobishi, Isunjaba in Isu LGA to collect the phone and he came, collected and gave me N40, 000. Before then, I had transferred some information from his phone to mine which included pictures he took in a swimming pool. When he left, greed and the devil came into me. I thought I should make more money from him seeing his car and realising that he is a big man, I decided to superimpose one of his pictures on a background with a sex scene to force him to negotiate settlement with me. When I called him several times, and he did not answer my calls, I became angry and decided to send the pictures out through the Internet. Three days after, I was at a joint with some people, when the police arrested me and I was taken to court. I confessed to the act at the police station because I did not know that what I did would bring such a big problem to me. I begged him to forgive me and promised not to do such a thing again. When the matter was called up in court, Nwoke pleaded guilty to the charges. The Magistrate, His Worship, C. P. Nnoromele who presided over the case found him guilty of defamation under Section 373 of Criminal Code, Cap C38 Laws of the Federation 2004 as applicable in Imo state. Nwoke was thereafter sentenced to one-year imprisonment by the Magistrate who said it would to serve as a deterrent to other young people who may be threading on such dastardly path. Source: LIB Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The explosion took place at approximately 10:20 p.m. and shook the ground nearby. The tremors were taken for an earthquake and people dashed out of their homes onto the roads. Several glass windows were also shattered due to the shockwaves caused by the explosion. The neighbouring Chikkamagaluru district was also affected by the tremors and shockwaves. A blast rocked a stone quarry in Shivamogga district, Karnataka, most likely caused by dynamite used for mining stone. There is still the chance of another explosion as some of the dynamite sticks did not ignite and are still active. Meanwhile, bomb disposal squads have been sent to the quarry and it is strictly off-limits to civilians. The police reported that around eight people died in the explosion with buildings damaged, both inside and outside the quarry and equipment destroyed. Karnataka HM has confirmed 2 deaths till now and 2 people have been detained. The explosion took place at approximately 10:20 p.m. and shook the ground nearby. The tremors were taken for an earthquake and people dashed out of their homes onto the roads. Several glass windows were also shattered due to the shockwaves caused by the explosion. The neighbouring Chikkamagaluru district was also affected by the tremors and shockwaves. Also read: Fire at Serum Institute Of India: Is there a conspiracy at play? Police & District Administration are taking care of rescue operations. Compensation & other such factors will be decided by the CM. Preliminary information says there're 7 deaths. But further information only after full clearing of area: Basavaraj Bommai, Karnataka Home Minister https://t.co/9YDvfDN2q8 ANI (@ANI) January 22, 2021 Also read: China announces sanctions on high-ranking Trump administration officials as Joe Biden takes office The dead employees had been in the process of moving the dynamite reserved for mining when the explosion took place. The demolition devices were loaded in a truck, which was also destroyed. A senior police official, S Ravi, said that the entire area has been sealed off and two corpses have been recovered while many more are suspected to have died in the quarry. He also said that bomb disposal teams have been dispatched from Bengaluru and Mangaliru as there may be more live explosives inside. Shivamogga is the native district of Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa, who offered his condolences to the family of those who died in the blast. He also wished a speedy recovery to the wounded currently being treated. He has also launched an investigation regarding the explosion and the guilty will be strictly punished. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also tweeted that he is pained by the loss of lives in Shivamogga. He offered his condolences to the bereaved families and prays for the injured to recover soon. He also wrote that the State Government is providing all possible assistance to the affected. Also read: China minted profits at the cost of locals: CPEC report You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close Were Voltaire to visit the US these days, he would be appalled at the total desecration of his noble ideas and the impertinent violation of his lofty principle. He would not allow such abuse of power or the deprivation of human rights. Was this not the country whose constitution was established on the basis of his ideas of the Enlightenment Age? Did he not advocate freedom of speech and tolerance, the basic pillars of social justice? He certainly would admonish the Big Tech media outlets and remind them of what he wrote in his Treatise of Tolerance in which he expressed the view that Tolerance has never provoked civil war/ Intolerance has covered the earth with carnage. They are treading on dangerous grounds, but who cares. Voltaire has been dead for decades (1694-1778) and so have all the major figures of the Great Age of Enlightenment, like John Locke, Charles Montesquieu, Jean Jacques Rousseau, and Baruch Spinoza. It matters little now that the main political leaders behind the exceptional American constitution, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson and others, associated closely with the Enlightenment movement and incorporated their ideas. With the advancement of technology, the human and philosophic ideals of this constitution, have been ignored, forgotten or re-interpreted. It sends shivers up and down our spine as we contemplate the dismantling of the greatest democracy of our time. The land of the free and the brave is fast becoming the land of the silent and the hypocrites. The present threat to free speech is rapidly taking us to the Dark Ages: If you are not with me, you are not to be. Francois-Marie Arouet, French philosopher, novelist, playwright and wit, born in 1694, could hardly tolerate the hypocrisy of his age. He authored more than 2,000 books, essays and pamphlets, in addition to over 20,000 letters. A versatile writer, he also wrote poems, plays, scientific papers and historical studies. He was a great fan of coffee, reportedly drank 50 to 70 cups a day, which might explain his prolific output. After an altercation with a French nobleman, he was arrested and imprisoned at the Bastille without any due process, a procedure now common in the US, 400 years later. He was suggested an alternative punishment, to be exiled to England, which he readily accepted. Out of the Bastille, he adopted the pen name Voltaire and life in England proved to be the making of him. He admired Britains constitutional monarchy and the greater respect they had for liberty and free speech. By the 1700s, new ideas began to emerge about peoples rights. Among the loudest voices was Voltaires. He fought for tolerance incessantly, refusing the notion that some individuals would have the privilege of free speech and worship, while others would not. Fascinated by the new ideas, King Frederich II of Prussia invited Voltaire to his court, but Voltaire, always a trouble-maker, contradicted the king in a scientific dispute left the court and went to live in Geneva. He bought an estate in Ferney, Switzerland, (now Ferney Voltaire), on the French/Swiss border. At the end of his life, however, he triumphantly returned to Paris. An impressible advocate of free speech, he is responsible for these memorable lines: I may not agree with what you have to say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it. Has Big Tech ever heard of that? Silencing the president of the greatest democracy in the world is not only outrageous but downright dangerous. Who do you think is next? You. Tolerance is acceptance of everyone, their ideas, beliefs, values and morals. Voltaire helped citizens stand up for their rights and express themselves freely without fear of retribution and a guarantee by the government. How is the US government checking those fascist social platforms? Feeding them; encouraging them; using them. It is scary. We are back to the Age of Absolution. Whatever happened to the first amendment? Forgotten. How would Voltaire feel about that? He who had a strong influence on the induction of the first amendment, which prohibits the government from censoring any individuals speech. Big wealthy businessman are defying the constitution, human rights, freedom of expression, and the great democracy is silent. Freedom of speech has given man dignity and power. It allowed citizens to overthrow despots and dictators. It freed the British colony of the US from the rule of the king of England and before long it became a haven for all the oppressed silent masses of the world. Now they are fleeing from state to state; soon they will be fleeing their beloved country because of censorship, intolerance and retribution. Tears are the silent language of grief wrote Voltaire, and there are enough tears to form rivers in every state of the no-longer United States. The ideas of Voltaire had a strong influence on the world of the 21st century, and the first amendment of the American constitution. It is going nowhere, even if some refuse to adhere to it. We shall not be silenced, Big Tech. Voltaire remains a model for independent thinkers. Freedom of speech, even on social media outlets, is a human right. It allows you to speak your mind without worry that a king, a higher power, or a Zuckerberg will silence you. Freedom of speech made the world a better place, thanks to our champion, Voltaire. A people that elect corrupt politicians, impostors, thieves and traitors are not victims, but accomplices. George Orwell (1903-1950) *A version of this article appears in print in the 21 January, 2021 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly. Short link: by Sumon Corraya Bangladeshi authorities renew their commitment to de-radicalise extremist militants, young people recruited in universities and on the web. A life of hiding and fleeing, of armed militancy is not life. The state should punish but also rehabilitate those who err. Help from family is crucial. Dhaka (AsiaNews) Once upon a time it was possible to conquer a state with a sword. Now everything has changed. It is the era of science and education. It is time to build a new world with love, not with hatred and violence, said Shaon Muntaha Ibn Shawkat, a former Islamist militant, as he urged fellow extremists to follow his example and return to normal life. Shaon is one of nine people who gave up the armed struggle on 14 January and reunited with their families after completing a deradicalisation programme run by Bangladeshs Rapid Action Battalion. To further its goals, last Monday, Bangladeshs elite anti-terrorism unit created a special e-mail address rabintdir@gmail.com to encourage as many militants as possible to join the initiative. I have always been a brilliant student, like my wife, who later became a doctor, Shaon told AsiaNews. I found the [outlawed] Islamist group Hizb ut-Tahrir during my university years, attracted by its teaching that the country should be governed by Islamic law. I radicalised on the internet, and then I joined Ansar-al-Islam, another banned Islamist group. At first, I was a preacher, recruiting several of my friends. Then I began to train new members of the group in armed action. Shaon claims that he has never carried out any acts of violence. He always felt hunted by the police; fearing arrest, he did not even go to pray in the mosque or visit relatives. I didn't have any personal, family or social life. I lived in hiding with my wife and our two children without contacts with my family. The former militant then realised that he had taken the wrong path. As an engineer I could have had a bright future, and so could have my wife as a doctor. As fugitives we had neither happiness nor peace. Shaon got his wife Nusrat Ali Juhi involved in a life of militancy. She says that in hiding she could not take on a full-time employment, but only part-time jobs under false names. Once the decision was taken to abandon that existence, the couple contacted their family members, who then helped them in the process of social reintegration. Abida Jannat Asmas story is similar to that of Shaon and Nusrat. She discovered that her husband was a militant only after the marriage. The two acted together to recruit new members, but Nusrat wasn't happy with that life. I couldn't see my family, said the 19-year-old, forced to flee and always change places. Life as a fugitive was not comfortable, so I called some family members who could help me. According to Abida, it is right to punish armed militants, but the government does well to try to rehabilitate those who want to return to a normal life. For this, she urges her husband and all Islamist militants to renounce violence and follow the rehabilitation programme. Another former militant who did not want to reveal his name made the same choice as Abida. The young man came into contact with extremism on Facebook. Arrested several times for his proselytising activity, he realised he was living as an outcast, without the support of family and society. To have a peaceful and prosperous life, I gave up the armed struggle and went back to university, he said. A devoted dog has spent days waiting outside a hospital in northern Turkey where her sick owner was receiving treatment. The pet, Boncuk (Bon-DJUK), 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. Photo: AP Photo: Medical Lab I will be covering three items in this report, including : December job loss numbers Job losses in airlines and aerospace Travel-related COVID-19 testing concerns and access to vaccines during roll-out. The Statistics Canada Labour Force Survey showed that the Canadian economy lost 63,000 jobs in December, the first decline since April. These figures remind us all that we need a plan to get people safely back to work, create jobs, and get our economy back on track. The Official Opposition has made numerous recommendations. I am talking to small business owners every day who have just gotten by utilizing various government programs, but still had to dip into or drain their savings. Many are now very concerned whether they will survive this year. On Jan. 8, WestJet announced that because of incoherent and inconsistent government policy, it will be cutting hours, laying off staff, and reducing their capacity by a third. This was on top of previous cuts by themselves and other airlines. On Jan. 13, Air Canada announced laying off 1,700 workers. That same week, it was reported by the Globe and Mail that 12 foreign airlines received money through the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy all while some received, at the same time, generous bailout packages from their own governments. The airline and aerospace sectors are important to Kelowna-Lake Country and includes many related jobs. Ive met with local aerospace companies and am hearing from local families within these sectors who are genuinely concerned about paying their bills. The federal government must introduce a real plan to test international travellers at our airports to ensure the safety of Canadians and provide certainty and support for those who work in our airline and aviation sectors. Despite almost a year of lockdowns, restrictions, and calls from the Official Opposition, the government has yet to implement a clear, testing-protocol plan for travellers coming into Canada, or a comprehensive rapid testing plan for travel within the country using evidence-based information as many other jurisdictions and G7 countries have. Instead, travellers and officials have to navigate a complex system of confusing, difficult to enforce, and seemingly random requirements. I often get asked by those who wish to have a vaccine, who will receive them first. This is from the Canada.ca website: Vaccines and treatments for COVID-19 - Vaccine rollout. Groups that will get the vaccine first - Priority for early COVID-19 vaccination will be given to the following populations: "Residents and staff of shared living settings who provide care for seniors "Adults 70 years of age and older, with order of priority beginning with adults 80 years of age and older then decreasing the age limit by five-year increments to age 70 years as supply becomes available. "Health care workers who have direct contact with patients, including those who work in health care settings and personal support workers. "Adults in Indigenous communities. "Then: as additional COVID-19 vaccine(s) and supplies become available, the following populations should be offered vaccinations: "Health care workers not included in the initial rollout. "Residents and staff of all other shared living settings, such as homeless shelters, correctional facilities, housing for migrant workers "Essential workers who face additional risks to maintain services for the functioning of society." It is fair to question if the government does not follow these rollout priorities. Before years end, we heard that Canadians would be at the front of the line globally for a vaccine. Yet now in January, the provinces continue to run out and weve heard of procurement delays. The Official Opposition will continue to press the government to be transparent about vaccine procurement and rollout to those who want it. If you need any assistance with programs or have any thoughts to share, feel free to reach out. Stay well. 250-470-5075 or [email protected]. tracygraymp.ca January 22, 2021 Once you've launched a properly designed website, its promotion is one of the most crucial steps you need to take. For most businesses, this is the most overwhelming step. Most of the time, businesses undermine the importance of website promotion and think that having a website will take care of things. This is not true. Developing a website is one thing, and promoting it is a different ball game altogether. However, promoting a website is not a simple task. It requires a strong strategy, finances, time investment, and overzealous commitment. We have listed five reasons why website promotion can take your business' marketing efforts to the next level. Have a look. Be Visible To Your Target (News - Alert) Audience Out of numerous reasons for website promotion, this one is the most important. Your target audience needs to know that your business exists. Leaving visitors to find your site in the rubble won't allow your business to grow. Remember, your competitors are doing the best they can to outrank you. Promoting your website to gain more leads, and customers will mitigate this threat. Eliminate Competition Billions of web pages are uploaded on the internet every day. Out of these, just a handful are unique. This means that your website may not be so different from the others. However, promoting your website and delivering your company's goals and objectives to people can help you distinguish your site from others. Promotion allows you to explain to people what makes you different from your competitors and how your business can improve people's lives for good. If your brand messaging is on point, you will get tons of leads and customers. Improve Brand Awareness Promoting your website is essential for the growth of your company's brand. Promotion exposes your website to new people, visitors, and users. All these add up to make your brand more recognizable and visible. These translate into more sales, higher click-rates, more page views, and other goals you're trying to achieve with your website. Increase Website Traffic According to Statista, over 89% of New Zealand's population uses the internet every day. Most of these people use Google (News - Alert) , and this trend is similar across the globe. These searchers could end up on your website if enticed or pushed to do it through SEO or paid marketing. Promoting makes your website more visible and available to the large pool of massive internet users worldwide. These could potentially visit your website and make a purchase, depending on how your site is structured. For most businesses, traffic is the biggest motivation for promoting a website because once you have the visitors, you can do whatever you want with them. Increase Website Authority One of the biggest signals that determine website visibility in search engines is its authority. It is built by backlinks and your domain's age. Search engines like Google or Yahoo do not assign website authority because it is one of their hidden ranking factors. However, Moz's domain authority is widely accepted in the digital industry. It is a score that ranges from 0 to 100. Higher the Moz domain authority, the more your website's chances of ranking in search engines. Website promotion also includes creating backlinks for your website, which ultimately adds up to its authority. Increase Sales Studies have revealed that conscious promotion of a product (in this case, a website) translates to increased sales. So, it is important to segment the audience and implement well thought out website promotional activities to the target audience. This will increase the chances of converting visitors into real buyers of particular products or services offered on your website. Building A Pool Of Loyal Customers A well-planned marketing campaign targeted towards your target audience can fetch you good results. One effective marketing tactic includes getting people's contact information (phone number or email ids) in return for an ebook or template that addresses their pain points. Implementing tactics like these over time can allow you to create a vast pool of loyal customers who will engage with your company's new product launches. This is possible through website promotion. Eliminates Negativity Effective website promotion helps your business deliver the right brand message to the people, eliminating any negative talks about your business that can hamper its reputation. It can also address people's concerns regarding your brand, enhancing your brand reputation. Wrapping Up Your competitors are working hard day in and out to outrank you. You must stay alive in the game with website promotion. Take cues from the tips mentioned in this article to craft an effective website promotion strategy. However, it's advisable to outsource important marketing tasks like website promotion to an experienced Digital Marketing agency. Search for "Auckland web design services," and you will find quality agencies that can get the job done for you. The Northern Irish pig sector will receive 2.2 million as part of a Covid-19 support package to help producers who suffered significant losses. In particular, the package will provide support for farmers who endured financial losses due to the temporary closure of Cranswick Country Foods. Production at the Co Antrim site was halted in August 2020 following the discovery of a Covid-19 cluster amongst workers. This caused a temporary loss of the lucrative Chinese export market. The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) announced that applications for support will open next month. Over 11,300 farmers and growers have already received almost 19m to offset the losses incurred as a result of the pandemics impact. The Ulster Farmers Union (UFU) said the new support package would provide 'vital support' for the region's pig producers. UFU deputy president William Irvine said: This funding will provide essential support to our pig producers and will help sustain farm businesses. "It is expected to compensate for a large proportion of the losses incurred by producers while the process plant remained closed. "This includes the temporary loss of the Chinese export market, additional penalties on overweight and overfat pigs, and the impact on other pig market avenues. Producers who are eligible to apply will be contacted by DAERA to complete an application form to claim their payments. China had promised 1,10,000 free vaccine doses developed by the company Sinovac Biotech. However, it declined to contribute to the development cost of the vaccine resulting in a stalemate. China, under its Belt and Road project, was building infrastructure on these countries but the opportunity to send medical aid to these countries has turned their reliance towards India. India has started ramping up its vaccine donation programme. Free shipments of coronavirus vaccines are being sent off to other countries in South Asia. This can result in removing Chinese influence from these countries and India potentially dominating Asia diplomatically. Already, free doses of Covishield researched and produced by the Serum Institute of India in Pune reached several nations. 2 million vaccine doses were sent to Bangladesh on January 21 and another million doses to Nepal. No charges were issued for these vaccines, which were called a gift under the Neighbourhood First policy. More vaccines are scheduled to be sent off to Myanmar and Seychelles in the upcoming days. Moreover, a total of 150,000 Covishield vaccine doses had been delivered to Bhutan and around 100,000 doses to the Maldives previously. These countries, which have been aided extensively by India, have expressed their gratitude for the help provided. Bangladeshs foreign minister Dr A K Abdul Momen said that India had stood by Bangladesh during the Liberation War of 1971, and today, when the pandemic is rattling the world, India again came forward with gifts of vaccines. Nepals minister of health and population Hridayesh Tripathi India has displayed its goodwill by sending the vaccines. Mohamed Nasheed, a politician from Maldives, appreciated India for the vaccines and said thay that it has always been the first responder and dependable friend of the Maldives. India is also looking beyond its neighbours, and millions more doses will be transported to more distant countries such as Brazil, South Africa and Saudi Arabia throughout the next weeks. These steps by India seem to to be quite effective in curtailing Chinese influence as the Chinese government is stalling from delivering vaccines to these countries. China had promised 1,10,000 free vaccine doses developed by the company Sinovac Biotech. However, it declined to contribute to the development cost of the vaccine resulting in a stalemate. China had established a strong presence in Nepal, Sri Lanka and the Maldives. China, under its Belt and Road project, was building infrastructure on these countries but the opportunity to send medical aid to these countries has turned their reliance towards India. 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. Ryan Jarvi 517-599-2746 Attorney General January 22, 2021 LANSING A federal court sided with the offices of Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson and Attorney General Dana Nessel when it dismissed a lawsuit Wednesday that challenged the current status of Michigans term limits under a constitutional amendment passed by voters nearly 30 years ago. The challenge to the 1992 amendment was filed by 10 former Democratic and Republican state legislators in Kowall et al v Benson, 19-985 (WD Mich). But Judge Janet T. Neff, of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan, dismissed the case, in part, because the plaintiffs constitutional claims were barred in light of a previous court decision or were otherwise without merit. Neff also found plaintiffs state constitutional challenges to the petition and ballot language in the 1992 amendment meritless. Michigan voters took action three decades ago to change our state constitution, and that amendment has now held up twice in a court of law, Nessel said. I appreciate the Courts ruling and review of the case law on this matter, and while the legal challenges have failed, the Michigan Constitution and term limits for our lawmakers remain something voters can revisit and amend through lawful means as they deem appropriate. The amendments to the Michigan Constitution referenced in the case were approved by the people in 1992 and have been on the books for almost 30 years. They were previously upheld as constitutional by the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals in 1998. Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. YEREVAN, JANUARY 22, ARMENPRESS. Armenian foreign ministry spokeswoman Anna Naghdalyan has commented on the statement of Turkish foreign minister Mevlut Cavusoglu according to which if the peace is lasting, Turkey and Azerbaijan are ready to undertake steps aimed at normalizing relations with Armenia. The MFA spokesperson gave a comment to PanARMENIAN.Net. Question: Recently, Foreign Minister of Turkey Cavusoglu stated that if the peace is lasting, Turkey and Azerbaijan are ready to undertake steps aimed at normalizing relations with Armenia. Can you comment whether the Armenian side is ready to normalize the relations. What does this statement mean? Has any initiative been undertaken in this regard, particularly by the Turkish side? Answer: I would not like to comment on the statements of Turkish-Azerbaijani leadership, which are not consolidated by any action. Moreover, they contradict each other. The Turkish-Azerbaijani military exercises carried out near the Armenian border in violation of relevant OSCE commitments do not prove that the Turkish-Azerbaijani leadership has peaceful intentions towards Armenia. The cessation of hostile actions against Armenia may create conditions for building trust in the region. Thank you for reading! Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. If you have a subscription, please log in or sign up for an account on our website to continue. Reproductive health care is health care. That point should be obvious and yet, in the view of the current provincial government, the best person to speak to matters of reproductive health is not the health minister, as one might imagine, but rather the minister of sport, culture and heritage, who also happens to be the minister responsible for the status of women. Premier Brian Pallisters cabinet shuffle earlier this month actually saw the appointment of not one, but two health ministers: Heather Stefanson is now minister of health, taking the file mid-pandemic from Cameron Friesen, and Audrey Gordon is minister of mental health, wellness and recovery, a new portfolio. MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES Minister of Health Heather Stefanson In effect, then, Manitoba now has two health ministers who will not speak to reproductive health care. Ms. Stefanson is the the first woman to be appointed health minister under the current Progressive Conservative government, but she is upholding the baffling status quo that all questions about reproductive health care will be directed to the minister responsible for the status of women. Past behaviour of ministers on this file suggests this is by design, allowing the health minister to avoid addressing one particular and politicized facet of reproductive health care: abortion. MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES Former health minister Cameron Friesen came under fire for such artful-dodgery when the abortion drug Mifegymiso was being rolled out across Canada, for declining to answer questions about it. Mr. Friesen came under fire for such artful-dodgery when the abortion drug Mifegymiso was being rolled out across Canada, for declining to answer questions about it. Manitoba was the second-last province in Canada to provide universal access to the $300 two-pill prescription. His predecessor, Kelvin Goertzen, also avoided discussing the issue and was criticized for speaking at a rally in Steinbach in 2018 aimed at limiting abortion rights. JOHN WOODS / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILEs Former health minister Kelvin Goertzen was criticized for speaking at a rally in Steinbach in 2018 aimed at limiting abortion rights. Deferring questions about reproductive health care to the status of women portfolio makes little sense, especially when considering that the department of health ultimately holds the pocketbook. Reproductive health care which also includes pre- and post-natal care, birth care, family-planning counselling, safer-sex education, the prevention of sexually transmitted diseases and, yes, abortion care is an everyone issue, not a "womens issue." Treating half the population as a special-interest group can have real consequences when it comes to identifying health-care spending priorities. Its easier to move an issue down the priority list if its treated as if it doesnt affect the entire population. Putting the minister of sport, culture and heritage, who also happens to be the minister responsible for the status of women, in charge of reproductive health is akin to hiding a folder in the subfolder of another completely unrelated folder. Deferring questions about reproductive health care to the status of women portfolio makes little sense, especially when considering that the department of health ultimately holds the pocketbook. During the pandemic, Manitobans have increasingly demanded accountability and transparency from the department of health. Matters of reproductive health are no different. Our health-care system must provide care for people as a whole; when distinct aspects of public health are annexed reproductive health and mental health being the most obvious examples of disciplines being segregated from health in general people are left at risk of not getting the care they need. The transparency offered by the current government in this regard is limited to its transparent effort to avoid public discussion of a specific medical procedure. Engaging in such jurisdictional contortions around the word "abortion" only serves to further stigmatize it. Manitobans deserve a unified department of health led by a minister empowered to speak to all issues related to health care not just the ones with which they are comfortable. The URL has been copied to your clipboard The code has been copied to your clipboard. World leaders have congratulated Joe Biden following his inauguration Wednesday as the 46th U.S. President. As Henry Ridgwell reports from London, many allies have especially welcomed his decision to re-join the Paris climate agreement. Bello Matawalle, the Governor of Zamfara State, has ordered the immediate suspension of a number of district and village heads in Maradun ... Bello Matawalle, the Governor of Zamfara State, has ordered the immediate suspension of a number of district and village heads in Maradun emirate. Some Fulanis were killed on Thursday in the domains of the affected leaders. Matawalle issued the order during a security meeting with traditional rulers, security agents, religious leaders and journalists at the Government House. It is sad to note that during this meeting, we have received two different security breach reports from two different areas. The emir of Maradun is hereby directed to leave this meeting. The governor directed him to suspend the traditional rulers in which these acts took place and initiate ways to identify and bring the perpetrators of the act of the authorities within the next three days or face the consequence himself. Matawalle warned that any traditional ruler in whose area the outlawed Yan sa kai (volunteer security members) take the law into their hands would be removed and probed. Nearly 200 parents of children with special needs are threatening to sue the Department of Education and unions over the failure to re-open special schools. A leading human rights solicitors' firm is warning a test case challenging the closure will go to the High Court next week if the schools don't re-open by then. The development adds to the pressure to break the impasse over the delay to the re-opening of classes for children with special needs. Education Minister Norma Foleys admission that remote teaching is not suitable for children with special needs and school closures impact negatively on them is a central plank of the case. In letters to the Department of Education, the parents say their children are not being provided with their Constitutional right to an appropriate education. The legal threat is also made to the INTO, the primary teachers unions whose members are continuing to work in special schools in Northern Ireland, and Forsa, the Special Needs Assistants union whose members are working with adults with special needs. The flood of legal letters from parents has arrived in the past week and increased this week when a deal to bring back the schools collapsed. The solicitor representing the parents, Gareth Noble of KOD Lyons solicitors, says he is preparing up to five sample cases challenging the closure on behalf of his clients. "We are monitoring the situation closely and if there is not a development in the coming days, we will have no option but to seek a judicial review. We are hoping the matter will be resolved before an application to the courts is necessary, he said. A similar legal threat in Northern Ireland last summer did have an impact and was seen as pivotal to special schools re-opening and staying open during heavy restrictions. The Northern Ireland Department of Education faced legal action over its legislation on how special schools operated during the lockdown. The Department of Education confirmed it has received the legal letters. "The Department has received legal correspondence on behalf of the parents of a number of children with special educational needs who are calling for the re-opening of special education in-school provision. "The correspondence received is under consideration in the Department, a spokesperson said. The letters have been sent by the solicitors on behalf of parents in about 16 counties across the country. The number of parents threatening legal action is heading towards 200, with more expected. The first batch of letters were sent last week, followed by another round of correspondence this week after talks on re-opening the special schools and classes collapsed. In her statement announcing that the return for children with special educational needs to in-school learning was not happening this week, the Education Minister acknowledged that school closures have significant impacts on children with special needs who are unable to engage in remote teaching. As of now, the Government is committed to re-opening schools on February 1. However, Taoiseach Micheal Martin has indicated the current restrictions will be renewed next week, indicating pupils will not yet return to the classroom. Police raided a lockdown-breaking wedding of 150 people at a Jewish girls' school last night - 10 months after its principal died of Covid-19. The guests packed inside Yesodey Hatorah Girls' Senior School in Stamford Hill, north London, which is being used as a coronavirus testing centre. The organiser, who detectives are now searching for, is facing a 10,000 penalty and five others were stung 200 after officers busted the address at 9.14pm following a tip-off. The building's windows had been covered to stop people seeing inside and many of the guests fled as the police arrived and avoided being fined. Downing Street today condemned the 'selfish' illegal gathering which took place hours after Priti Patel announced a police crackdown on rule-breakers. The Home Secretary said people attending illegal house parties will face 800 fines from next week, doubling for each offence up to a maximum of 6,400. Jewish leaders blasted the wedding - which costs about 750 at the venue - with the Chief Rabbi branding it 'a most shameful desecration of all that we hold dear'. Yesodey Hatorah was run by Rabbi Avrohom Pinter until he was struck down and killed by coronavirus in April last year. In other coronavirus news: Boris Johnson will lead a No10 briefing tonight as he faces the wrath of Tories demanding a 'road map' for lifting Covid lockdown from March; A group of 26 British skiers is in isolation in a French resort after 16 tested positive for Covid; Ministers are in talks with hotel chains over plans to force UK arrivals to quarantine at airports; Matt Hancock faced a furious backlash today after 'bonkers' plans surfaced to give everyone testing positive for Covid 500; The Office for National Statistics said the number of people with coronavirus dropped last week - but there were still more than a million people infected. Yesodey Hatorah Girls was being held as a coronavirus testing centre for people in Hackney, opening on Sundays between 12pm and 3pm The organiser of a wedding attended by around 400 people on Thursday is facing a 10,000 fine, the Metropolitan Police (pictured during the raid) said The school was run by Rabbi Avrohom Pinter until he was struck down and killed by the infection in April last year Five other people were handed 200 fines after police were called at 9.14pm to a large gathering at Yesodey Hatorah Girls Senior School in Stamford Hill, London No10 rowed in behind the police and supported them in doling out fines. The Prime Minister's official spokesman said: 'Large gatherings such as this pose a health risk not just to those who attend themselves but to those they live with and others who may come into contact with them. 'We fully back the police in taking action against people who flagrantly and selfishly break the rules.' Yesodey Hatorah Girls' School was being held as a coronavirus testing centre for people in Hackney, opening on Sundays between 12pm and 3pm. PM will hold No10 press conference at 5pm today Boris Johnson will lead a No10 briefing tonight as he faces the wrath of Tories demanding a 'road map' for lifting Covid lockdown from March. The PM is to hold a press conference from Downing Street at 5pm amid mounting anxiety about how long the country will be under draconian curbs. On a visit to flood-hit Manchester yesterday, Mr Johnson warned it was too early to say 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. Advertisement In recent years it has made huge sums of money renting out the school hall. A freedom of information request revealed in 2012 it made more than 75,000 in the year, having charged about 750 per event. The Metropolitan Police originally said about 400 people had gathered inside the building for the lockdown wedding, but later said the number was closer to 150. The local mayor said the incident was not the first time people have flouted the rules at the venue during the pandemic. Philip Glanville told the BBC: 'It's a deeply disturbing incident at a time when in Hackney we have seen the largest number of deaths reported since last April. 'Unfortunately, similar events have taken place even at this venue before and we need to be really clear how unacceptable it is.' But he added: 'I think that would get very complicated to introduce some sort of penalty or blame for people for catching Covid. 'Obviously attending events like this is simply unacceptable, but if someone went home and brought that virus home and then the breadwinner in the household then has to take the time off work, I don't think plunging a family into poverty is the answer.' Chief Rabbi Mirvis tweeted: 'At a time when we are all making such great sacrifices, it amounts to a brazen abrogation of the responsibility to protect life and such illegal behaviour is abhorred by the overwhelming majority of the Jewish community.' Marie van der Zyl, president of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, said the breach 'goes against Jewish teaching that preserving life is of the highest value'. 'The reckless and dangerous behaviour of those behind this event does not represent the attitude of the vast majority of British Jews, including from within the Strictly Orthodox community, who are fully aware of the terrible toll of this pandemic. 'At the latest count, 740 members of the Jewish community were among the more than 90,000 UK fatalities from Covid.' Hackney and Tower Hamlets have become hotspots for lockdown flouters, with more than 140 fines totalling 39,000 dished out in the two boroughs last weekend. Cases remain high there, with 1,819 new infections recorded in the seven days to January 17 at a rate of 625.4 per 100,000 people. The building's (pictured today) windows had been covered to stop people seeing inside, the force said Coronavirus infections in London are shown on this graph released by the government Coronavirus deaths in the capital are shown on this graph released by the government This map shows most of London - including Hackney where the wedding was - has a high sevenday rolling rate of new cases up to January 16 26 British 'gap-year students' are quarantined at a French ski resort after 16 tested positive A group of 26 British skiers is in isolation in a French resort after 16 tested positive for Covid. Villagers in the tiny commune of Vallorcine, in the Chamonix Valley, have branded the party 'irresponsible' for escaping UK lockdown to go skiing. The Brits, described as gap-year students who paid 8,900 each for the ten-week ski course, arrived in France by road, air or train between January 13 and 17. Some were delayed after they were stopped from boarding a Eurostar train at London St Pancras in breach of coronavirus restrictions and were forced to find other means of travel or forgo the trip. The students, mostly aged 18 to 20 years old, were booked on a British Association of Snowsport Instructors course with Peak Leaders in Verbier, Switzerland. But due to a ban on people entering Switzerland from the UK, organisers claimed to have found a legal loophole and arranged instead for the group to travel to France. The plan was for the party to spend the first 10 days in Vallorcine, a hamlet of 400 people near Chamonix that sits on the French-Swiss border, to remove the need to quarantine on arrival in Switzerland. However on Tuesday one of the students 'felt a bit tired and run-down' and had a Covid test which proved positive. The rest of the group was tested the following day. Advertisement The school has distanced itself from the wedding, saying it was 'absolutely horrified' at the news. A spokesman said: 'We are absolutely horrified about last night's event and condemn it in the strongest possible terms. 'We lease our hall to an external organisation which manages all lettings and, as such, we had no knowledge that the wedding was taking place. 'We have terminated the agreement with immediate effect. We are investigating how this shocking breach has happened and have no plans to re-lease the premises to any third party. 'We deplore the actions of anyone in any community breaking the law and risking people's lives in this way.' Under current lockdown rules, weddings and civil partnerships can only take place with up to six people. Government guidance states they should only go ahead in exceptional circumstances, such as where one partner is seriously ill. Detective Chief Superintendent Marcus Barnett, central east BCU commander, slammed the party in Stamford Hill as 'completely unacceptable'. He said: 'This was a completely unacceptable breach of the law, which is very clearly in place to save lives and protect the NHS. 'An NHS that is under considerable pressure at a time when Covid-19 has killed nearly 100,000 people. 'This is a deadly and very dangerous disease. We can all see that and we must act responsibly. 'People across the country are making sacrifices by cancelling or postponing weddings and other celebrations and there is no excuse for this type of behaviour. 'My officers are working tirelessly with the community and we will not hesitate to take enforcement action if that is required to keep people safe.' He later added: 'Given the seriousness of this breach and the number of people who were in attendance, I have asked my local officers to conduct a post-incident investigation. 'This wedding broke the law and put lives in danger and I am determined to take action to identify all those responsible for organising the event and ensure they are held to account.' Elsewhere, the Met said the owner of a makeshift nail salon operating from a garden outbuilding in Croydon, south London, is facing a 1,000 fine. Two women found having treatments there on Monday could get 200 fixed-penalty notices. Police have given seven people who had gathered to watch television and eat together at a home in Romford, east London, last Sunday, penalties. Flanking Ms Patel at the press conference last night, NHS England chief for London Dr Vin Diwakar compared breaking the rules to turning on a light in the Blitz. 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 Government 'is already in talks with hotel chains' amid plan to force UK arrivals to quarantine at airports Ministers are in talks with hotel chains over plans to force UK arrivals to quarantine at airports, it was claimed today. Travellers could be prevented from using their own accommodation under the proposals being put together by the government. Using GPS tags to ensure compliance is also believed to have been considered. The draconian 'quarantine hotel' system, similar to that used in Australia and New Zealand, is a prospect amid rising fears about the spread of Covid variants around the globe. Arrivals would potentially have to pay for their stays while they self-isolate for 10 days, or even a fortnight. There are reports today that negotiations are already taking place with hotel chains, while London Mayor Sadiq Khan said he was in favour. The powerful Covid O Cabinet sub-committee is due to discuss the ideas over the coming days - although a final decision is not likely until next week. Meanwhile, Environment Secretary George has refused to rule out even more drastic action, with foreigners barred from coming to the UK altogether. Asked about the possibility, Mr Eustice told Sky News: 'We always keep these things under review. And it has been considered. 'There is concern at the moment about the number of mutant strains.' Any new restrictions would be a further blow to the beleaguered travel industry and put the holiday plans of millions at risk. Advertisement '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 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.' 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. '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.' Meanwhile 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'. The number of people developing Covid-19 every day appears to have halved in a fortnight from 70,000 on January 8 to 34,000 today, according to the Covid Symptom Study, which uses self-reported symptoms through a mobile app used by around a million people The ONS report today said the number of people likely to test positive for coronavirus came down from 1.122million on January 2 to 1.023million on January 16 NHS Test and Trace data shows 330,871 people tested positive across the country in the week ending January 13. For comparison, the figure stood at 389,191 the week before 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 She said: 'We are clear that the majority of the British public are following the rules. 'You've heard, 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. No10 and Treasury slam Matt Hancock's 'bonkers' plan to PAY people who test positive 500 Covid handouts 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'. Advertisement '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 yesterday, 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 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.' Elsewhere Government officials 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. The UK on Thursday 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 was accompanied by Martin Hewitt, chairman of the National Police Chiefs' Council, and Dr Vin Diwakar, NHS England regional medical director for London. 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. 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 The Prime Minister only this month introduced plans to make all arrivals, UK and foreign nationals, prove they had tested negative for coronavirus on arrival. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said yesterday 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.' 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 yesterday 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 yesterday 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. A free travel pass has been created for farmers to download and adapt for their employees to use as proof they are a key worker. Farmers are being reminded to issue staff with a Key Worker Travel Pass with tougher measures being taken by the police to clamp down on those breaking Tier 4 restrictions. In a bid to get the virus under control, more reports have been filtering through on social media of police stopping drivers to check the validity of their journey. When a journey is proved to be non-essential a fixed penalty notice could be issued. The Royal Association of British Dairy Farmers (RABDF) has created the free template to make 'life easier' for farmers, their employees and the police. Managing director Matthew Knight said: To make your employees life easier should they be stopped by the police travelling to and from work, print off a free Key Worker Travel Pass and give it to your employees, so they can keep it in their car. "It will make life easier for both your employee and the police. The free Key Worker Travel Pass can be downloaded on RABDF's website. Home Search ICH Question Everything! Purpose and Intent of this website: The Separate Regimes Delusion By Nathan Thrall January 22, 2021 " Information Clearing House " - " LRB " - Last April, Haaretz ran a statement warning the Israeli government against formally annexing its settlements in the occupied West Bank. Opinion polls showed that the public didnt care much about the issue, but political elites were debating it fiercely. Both proponents and opponents of annexation claimed that the future of Israel and Zionism was at stake. The statement argued that annexation would mean a fatal blow to the possibility of peace and would be the establishment of an apartheid state. It was signed by 56 former members of the Knesset, among them former ministers of the interior, foreign affairs, finance and more than a dozen other departments, as well as former ambassadors, generals in the Israeli army, chairs of political parties, a head of the semi-governmental Jewish Agency for Israel, a former speaker of the Knesset, and a winner of the Israel Prize. The signatories included not just members of Israeli left factions but two dozen from centrist and centre-left parties, and even a former justice minister, Meir Sheetrit, of the right-wing Likud Party. The following week the two largest parties in the Knesset Likud and the centrist Blue and White, which together commanded a parliamentary majority signed an agreement to form a coalition government that could apply Israeli sovereignty to parts of the West Bank no sooner than 1 July, after Israel and the United States had finalised annexation maps. These maps, detailed versions of the ones in Donald Trumps peace plan, called for Israel to annex 30 per cent of the West Bank, leaving the Palestinians a state made up of several discontiguous cantons entirely surrounded by Israeli territory. The Trump plan also proposed rescinding the citizenship of around a quarter of a million Palestinian citizens of Israel by transferring ten Israeli towns to the jurisdiction of the future Palestinian state. By the end of the week, Israels Labor Party, the originator of the settlement enterprise, agreed to join the new government and vote in favour of annexation. Much of the Israeli press misinterpreted the agreement between Likud and Blue and White. Reporters treated 1 July not as the earliest day that annexation could take place but as a deadline, creating a sense of urgency around the move. In the days after the coalition agreement was signed, liberal Zionist groups issued their battle cries. Their reasons for opposing annexation were telling. Concern for human rights was often secondary to the harm annexation might do to Israel. They warned that it would damage the perception of Israel as a democracy. They urged Israelis not to give impetus to campaigns promoting boycotts or the reduction of economic and military aid, and cautioned that annexation would only widen the divide between Israel and the Jewish diaspora. And they brandished the spectre most feared by the Zionist left: that Israel will eventually be forced to give citizenship to all Palestinians living under its control there are nearly five million Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza, all without Israeli citizenship, and roughly 360,000 in annexed East Jerusalem, more than 90 per cent of whom have permanent residency but not citizenship or the right to vote in national elections thereby ending Israels existence as a Jewish state, with all the privileges that entails for Jews. (In 2018, an Israeli army official reported that Palestinians outnumbered Jews in the territory between the River Jordan and the Mediterranean.) Whether annexing one settlement or all of them, the liberal Zionist group Peace Now asserted, such a move would constitute the foundation to an apartheid state. Annexation is bad for Israel. J Street, a Washington-based lobbying group aligned with the Democrats, stated: As pro-Israel, pro-peace Americans, we believe that annexation would severely imperil Israels future as a democratic homeland for the Jewish people, along with the future of the US-Israel relationship. Many of the arguments against annexation conceded that the territory was already de facto annexed and would remain in Israels possession. Yair Lapid, the head of the opposition and chair of the centrist Yesh Atid party, contended that formal annexation wasnt necessary because the largest area in question, the Jordan Valley, which makes up more than a quarter of the West Bank and ensures the full Israeli encirclement of the Palestinian population, is now part of Israel. Its not like somebody is threatening to take it away from us. Amos Gilad, until 2017 one of the most senior officials in the Ministry of Defence, said that Israels permanent control over the Jordan Valley would be better achieved by increasing Jewish settlement rather than a purely declarative annexation: The government could take measures to ensure that the Jordan Valley becomes home to tens of thousands of Israelis, and not just several thousand. The mainstream debate, then, was not whether but how to entrench Israels acquisition of West Bank territory. No Advertising - No Government Grants - This Is Independent Media Get Our Free Newsletter Critics had trouble articulating a persuasive reason for Israel not to formalise an annexation that had, in practice, already taken place. A typically contorted attempt was a report published by Israels leading national security think tank, INSS, a centre-left institution that supports a two-state solution. The paper began by arguing that unilateral annexation was a terrible mistake. It concluded, however, that Israel should nevertheless proceed once annexation had won public support, which would come once the Palestinians rejected Trumps peace plan. The danger of annexation, the INSS argued, was that it might undermine [Israels] founding vision as a Jewish, democratic, secure and moral state that seeks peace with its neighbours. It is therefore recommended that the new government in Israel call on the Palestinian leadership to return to the negotiating table, with the Trump plan included in the terms of reference for negotiations. If the Palestinians continue to refuse to discuss the plan, then the government will be able to receive public support in Israel for steps toward unilateral separation from the Palestinians, including gradual annexation conducted in a way that ensures that Israels political, security, economic and social interests are met. Yair Golan, a former deputy chief of staff of the army and current representative of Meretz, the most left-leaning Zionist party in Israel, said he would vote in favour of annexation if the Israeli government declares that its supreme goal is to separate from the Palestinians. Palestinians were almost entirely absent from the debate on annexation. The questions of whether they would get a state, what territory and powers it would have, whether they would be granted citizenship, residency or some other status in the annexed territory, what rights they would or would not be given and which of them would be stripped of their Israeli citizenship were being decided solely by coalition negotiations between two Zionist parties. Yet even the fiercest critics of annexation those who warned that it would turn Israel into an apartheid state described Israel as a functioning democracy that was merely at risk of some day ceasing to be one. According to this logic, as long as Israel refrains from formalising annexation, it may indefinitely withhold civil rights from millions of Palestinians while offering every form of support to Israelis in the occupied territory: infrastructure for Israeli cities, towns and industrial zones in the West Bank; nature reserves; municipal buildings; police and fire stations; government schools and play areas; state medical facilities; cemeteries. As long as Israel declares that the absorption of the West Bank is temporary, it will continue to be considered a democracy. Israel will never become an apartheid state unless it declares itself to be one. The premise that Israel is a democracy, maintained by Peace Now, Meretz, the editorial board of Haaretz and other critics of occupation, rests on the belief that one can separate the pre-1967 state from the rest of the territory under its control. A conceptual wall must be maintained between two regimes: (good) democratic Israel and its (bad) provisional occupation. This way of thinking is of a piece with the general liberal Zionist belief that its legitimate to condemn Israeli settlements and even, for some, to boycott their products but not to call for reducing support to the government that planned, established and maintains them. What seemed most troubling about annexation for these groups was that it would undermine their claims that the occupation is occurring somewhere outside the state and that it is temporary, a 53-year-long departure from what liberal Zionist groups like the New Israel Fund call Israels liberal democratic founding values. It is not difficult to make the case that Israels actions in the West Bank amount to apartheid. Israelis and Palestinians in the same territory are subject to two different legal systems. They are tried in different courts, one military, one civilian, for the same crime committed on the same street. Jews in the West Bank, both Israeli citizens and non-citizens who are eligible as Jews to immigrate, enjoy most of the same rights and protections as Israelis in the rest of the country. Palestinians are subject to military rule and are denied freedom of expression, freedom of assembly, freedom of movement and even the right not to be detained indefinitely without trial. The discrimination is not just national by Israelis against Palestinians who lack citizenship but ethnic, by Jews against Palestinian subjects and citizens alike. While Jews in the West Bank, citizens or not, are tried in Israeli civil courts, Israeli citizens who are Palestinian can be sent to military courts. A 2014 report by the Association for Civil Rights in Israel, the largest and oldest human rights group in the country, noted that since the 1980s, all Israeli citizens brought to trial before the military courts were Arab citizens or residents of Israel ... no judgment was found in which the request of an Arab citizen to transfer his case from a military court to a court in Israel was accepted. After the 1967 war, Israel applied military law to all of the occupied territories it didnt formally annex. Israeli Jews who moved to government-planned settlements in the West Bank were placed under Israeli civil law, separating them from the legal regime governing the Palestinians on whose lands they resided. Israel couldnt apply civil law to its citizens in the West Bank on a territorial basis without further and egregiously violating the international legal prohibition on annexation, so the Knesset amended its laws and regulations to apply to settlers as individuals, extra-territorially. In this way Israel extended to Jews in the West Bank most of the same rights as Israelis in the rest of the country regarding health insurance, national insurance, consumer protection, taxes (income, property and valued-added), higher education, entry to Israel, population registration, traffic ordinance and voting, making settlers the only Israeli citizens, aside from the small number stationed abroad, permitted to vote in a place of residence outside the official territory of the state. On election days, the Palestinians living alongside them are put under closure, further restricting their movement. The application of Israeli law to settlers as individuals still left some gaps, particularly regarding land, building and planning. In order to close them, the Israeli military issued ordinances that distinguished the municipal areas of settlements local councils and regional councils from the rest of the occupied territory, so that Israel could use one set of regulations (copied and pasted from municipal legislation in pre-1967 Israel) to expand Jewish communities and another to constrict Palestinian ones. Over the past two decades, Israel has built tens of thousands of housing units for Israeli Jews in the West Bank while rejecting more than 96 per cent of Palestinian building applications and demolishing thousands of Palestinian homes. Of the public land that Israel has designated for any kind of use, 99.76 per cent went to Jewish settlements. Palestinians are forbidden from entering settlement areas except with special permits, usually given to day labourers. Similarly, in the so-called Seam Zone the West Bank areas that were severed from the rest of the territory by Israels separation barrier Palestinians cant enter without permits, even to farm their own land, while the same area can be accessed freely by any tourist or Israeli, defined as a citizen, a permanent resident or a Jew entitled to immigrate to Israel. The fact that some Israeli laws that apply to territory in the West Bank were introduced via military order in most cases, by replicating Israeli legislation has allowed Jewish organisations that consider themselves progressive to argue that there are two separate regimes in the area under Israels control: a military regime in the unannexed West Bank and a civil regime in annexed East Jerusalem and pre-1967 Israel. According to this theory, West Bank settlers and Palestinians are subjects of the same oppressive military administration, while Israeli citizens and residents in pre-1967 Israel and annexed East Jerusalem are governed by a democratic civil regime. Neither Israeli settlers nor Palestinians experience life in the West Bank this way. In fact, the opposite is closer to the truth: it is not Israeli citizens in the West Bank and those within the pre-1967 lines who live under separate regimes, but Israeli settlers and the Palestinians living alongside them. Israelis from all over the country drive on major highways that cut in and out of the West Bank: no signs indicate that they have left Israel. New Jewish immigrants can move straight from London or Los Angeles to a West Bank settlement just as they would move to Tel Aviv, with the same financial benefits, language instruction and low-interest mortgages. Israelis living inside the pre-1967 lines work in settlement factories, study at a settlement university accredited by the Israeli Council of Higher Education, shop at settlement malls and visit national parks in the West Bank. The Israeli government is not separate from its institutions in the occupied territory. The Knesset has passed legislation applying specifically to the West Bank, and amended laws to apply specifically to Jews and Israeli citizens residing there. Israeli ministries spend hundreds of millions of dollars a year on West Bank settlements and infrastructure. An executive branch ministerial committee approves the establishment of West Bank settlements. A legislative branch subcommittee is devoted to advancing their infrastructure and development. The state comptroller supervises government policy in the West Bank, overseeing everything from wastewater pollution to road safety. The attorney general enforces guidelines that direct the legislature to explain the applicability of every bill to the settlements. Israels High Court of Justice is the court of final appeal for all Israeli citizens and Palestinian subjects in the entire territory under Israels control. Officers of Israels national police force hand out traffic tickets to both Palestinians and Israelis in the West Bank. Israels absorption of the West Bank is a joint undertaking of every branch of government legislative, executive and judicial. Whereas Israelis travel freely across Israel and its West Bank settlements, Palestinians within the occupied territory live under separate jurisdictions, requiring Israeli permits to cross from the unannexed parts of the West Bank to annexed Jerusalem, Gaza or the more than 30 per cent of the West Bank that is off limits to Palestinians: the Seam Zone, the jurisdictional areas of settlements, and so-called military training areas, more than three-quarters of which, the Israeli NGO Kerem Navot has found, are not actually used for military training but for such purposes as preventing Palestinian development and retaining Israeli control. A Palestinian in Ramallah ostensibly lives in one of the 165 Palestinian Authority-governed enclaves that together make up less than 40 per cent of the West Bank. But she, too, is subject to a single Israeli authority, not a separate West Bank regime. If she is a member of one of more than four hundred illegal organisations the list is constantly expanding, and contains every major Palestinian political party, including Fatah she can be arrested by Israeli forces in an autonomous Palestinian area, as happened in 2019 to the politician Khalida Jarrar, a high-ranking member of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, who was taken by Israeli forces from her home near Ramallah at 3 a.m.. Palestinian powers of autonomy are so limited that Israel controls all the roads leading in and out of PA-governed areas, invades homes within them every day and night and is permitted to enter even for reasons that have nothing to do with the security of Israeli citizens, such as arresting car thieves. Among those who make the arrests are members of Yamas and Yamam, two units of Israels national police. The arrested Ramallah resident might be taken from her home to the Russian Compound in West Jerusalem and interrogated by members of the Israel Security Agency, which is headquartered in Tel Aviv but operates throughout the areas under Israels control. She could be held for six months without trial or charge, and her detention repeatedly extended, for another six months at a time, in perpetuity. If she is finally offered a trial, she might cross from the supposedly separate regime in West Jerusalem to the Ofer military court near Ramallah. Because almost everyone who appears before Israeli military courts is convicted, she would almost certainly go to prison. That prison would be one of 29 run by the Israel Prison Service, which operates across all Israeli-controlled territories. Without permits to visit prisons within the pre-1967 lines, her family would not be able to visit her. She might try to appeal against her conviction at the Israeli High Court but the odds are not good: the court has approved nearly every internationally prohibited policy Israel has carried out in the occupied territory, including deportations, assassinations, imprisonment without trial, demolitions, land confiscation, pillage of natural resources and collective punishments such as mass curfews, school closures and withholding electricity for an entire region. For her appeal, she might hire an Israeli human rights lawyer, who would argue her case against an attorney from the Ministry of Justice before a panel of High Court justices, two of whom live in the West Bank. According to the separate regimes analysis, she and the two Israeli justices are not so different from one another. They are all subjects of a separate West Bank military regime. The insistence on separate regimes derives from political rather than legal considerations. By asserting the existence of two regimes, liberal Zionist groups like J Street can tell donors, legislators and university students that they are pro-Israel, while criticising an occupation that allegedly exists somewhere beyond the state. But the attempt to separate Israel from the criticisms, and consequences, of its policies in the West Bank also leads to absurd and false assertions, such as J Streets recent claim that Israeli settlers are demolishing [Palestinian] homes. In fact, it is not the settlers one in ten Israeli Jews but the government of Israel, which J Street supports, that destroys Palestinian homes in the West Bank. The government does so at the behest of elected ministers and legislators. The fiction of separate regimes allows liberal Zionists to promote a politically correct two-state solution based on the pre-1967 lines, while avoiding the more equitable remedy demanded by the recognition that the Israeli state extends to all the land under its control. Such a remedy would require not only an end to occupation but also to ethnic discrimination throughout the territory. The Zionist left doesnt call for Jewish and Palestinian citizens of Israel to have full equality within pre-1967 Israel. Instead, leading liberal Zionist organisations seek to ensure Israel remains a Jewish-majority state that can continue to provide to its Jewish citizens land and immigration rights that are denied to citizens from the indigenous Palestinian minority. The only way for the Zionist left to oppose ethnic domination in the West Bank while preserving ethnic privilege in pre-1967 Israel is to assert that there is an apartheid regime in the West Bank separate from the Israeli state. For pre-1967 Israel to be part of an apartheid state would therefore require formal annexation of the West Bank, amalgamating the two regimes. But this is a misunderstanding of the crime of apartheid as described in international law. Like torture, apartheid does not need to be applied uniformly or everywhere in a country to be criminal: in international law there is no such thing as an apartheid regime, just as there is no such thing as a torture regime. The word regime doesnt appear anywhere in the original 1973 International Convention on the Suppression and Punishment of the Crime of Apartheid. And, although the 1998 Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court does use the word regime in its definition (it was added to satisfy the US delegation, which was concerned about the possible prosecution of US citizens belonging to white supremacist groups), it was clearly not inserted to allow apartheid to be restricted to regions or units of a state. Yet the notion that only formal annexation can turn Israel into an apartheid state has become intrinsic to left-wing Zionist ideology. In June last year, more than five hundred scholars of Jewish studies, many of them prominent supporters of Israel, such as the American Jewish philosopher Michael Walzer, signed a letter stating that annexation of Palestinian territories will cement into place an anti-democratic system of separate and unequal law and systemic discrimination against the Palestinian population. Such discrimination on the basis of racial, ethnic, religious or national background is defined as conditions of apartheid and a crime against humanity. The same month, Zulat, a new think tank headed by the former chair of the liberal Zionist Meretz party, Zehava Gal-On, published a report entitled Whitewashing Apartheid. In a section on the consequences of de jure annexation it performed a whitewash of its own, arguing that apartheid in the West Bank is currently practised not by Israel but by a separate regime: Even if we annex only one square metre, the state of Israel will be relinquishing its democratic pretensions and abandoning its 53-year declared intention to end the conflict, reach an agreed settlement with the Palestinians and cease ruling over them. Even annexation, however, does not necessarily make Israel an apartheid state but rather preserves it as a state operating a regime with apartheid characteristics in the occupied territories. By this standard, apartheid South Africa was a democracy like all democracies, an imperfect one operating a regime with apartheid characteristics in the townships and Bantustans. Those Bantustans, incidentally, had their own flags, anthems, civil servants, parliaments, elections and a limited degree of autonomy not unlike that of the Palestinian Authority. Perhaps no organisation has promoted the idea of separate regimes more forcefully than Yesh Din, a human rights organisation that has conducted important legal advocacy on behalf of Palestinians subjected to settler violence, unlawful killing and destruction of property by Israeli security forces, Israeli land confiscation and Israeli restrictions on access to farmland. Last year, Yesh Din became the first Israeli organisation to publish a significant report accusing government officials of apartheid. At the same time, it is one of the staunchest defenders of the separate regimes theory. Yesh Dins shifting, inconsistent answers to the question of at which point Israel would cease to be a democracy have been emblematic of the broader weaknesses in the separate regimes argument. The night Likud signed its coalition agreement with Blue and White, Yesh Din published a position paper on the potential impact of annexation. The coming annexation, it concluded, will pull the rug from under the argument, currently prevalent in many circles, that while apartheid, or at least an apartheid-like regime, is currently practised in the West Bank, the sovereign state of Israel is a democracy. Applying Israeli sovereignty to the West Bank would be tantamount to a declaration that there is one regime, rather than separate administrations. Annexation without full citizenship and equal rights for Palestinian residents of the annexed area would produce a veritable apartheid regime Israel would have difficulty denying. Such a regime would perpetuate human rights abuses against Palestinians, leaving them forever deprived of liberty and equality. Israel could by this reasoning annex only the Jewish-inhabited areas of the West Bank, maintain its occupation of millions of Palestinians in the adjacent non-annexed areas, and remain democratic. Perhaps aware of the deficiencies of this argument, Yesh Din later amended the paper. The new version, issued without explanation or correction, stated that after annexation Israel would be an apartheid state unless it gave full and equal rights to Palestinians, not in the annexed area, as the original version had it, but in the entire West Bank. This formulation still allows Israel to remain a democracy, at least in the eyes of Yesh Din and like-minded groups, even as it holds two million Palestinians in Gaza, the largest of its ethnic enclaves, without clean drinking water, functioning sewage, regular electricity or the right to enter and leave freely. Though Israel claims that it ended its occupation of Gaza in 2005, it still controls exports, imports, sea and airspace, and even the population registry, giving a unique ID number to all Palestinians in the territory, without which they may not exit, even across the border with Egypt. Conspicuously absent, too, from Yesh Dins paper was any suggestion that Israel must grant full and equal rights to Palestinians in the areas formally annexed in 1967: East Jerusalem and 28 surrounding West Bank villages. Palestinian residents of these areas still do not have full citizenship and equal rights. Nor was any attempt made to explain why a partial West Bank annexation in 2020 would make Israel an apartheid state but the annexations of 1967 had not already done so. In July, Yesh Din published a fifty-page legal opinion, written by the human rights lawyer Michael Sfard, which found Israeli officials guilty of apartheid, defined by the 1973 convention as inhuman acts committed for the purpose of establishing and maintaining domination by one racial group of persons over any other racial group of persons and systematically oppressing them. Racial groups are recognised in international criminal law as social rather than biological: in the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, invoked in the preamble of the 1973 Apartheid Convention, racial discrimination is defined as any distinction, exclusion, restriction or preference based on race, colour, descent or national or ethnic origin. Decades later, the International Criminal Tribunals for Rwanda and for the former Yugoslavia held that the definition of a persecuted group was not a matter of heredity but stigmatisation and the subjective perceptions of the persecutors. International criminal law applies to individuals, not states, so it is not the Israeli government but its officials who could be prosecuted for committing apartheid. The human rights organisations BTselem and Adalah are the only major groups in Israel that have called on the ICC to launch an investigation into war crimes committed by Israeli officials. When BTselems executive director, Hagai El-Ad, spoke against the settlements at the UN Security Council in 2016, he was condemned by centrist and centre-left Israeli lawmakers. The coalition chairman from Likud threatened to strip him of his citizenship and a Labor Party activist filed a police complaint alleging he had committed treason. Yesh Dins legal opinion focused solely on whether apartheid is being committed, not who is committing it, and limited its scope to the unannexed areas of the West Bank (Yesh Dins primary area of expertise), leaving out not only Gaza and Israel within its pre-1967 lines but also the lands annexed in 1967. This wasnt because it was invalid to examine the subjugation of Palestinians in the entire territory under Israels control, Sfard claimed, but because it was still possible, despite creeping legal annexation, to look at the West Bank as governed by a separate regime or at least a subsidiary regime of Israel. One difficulty in treating the West Bank as a separate regime, he acknowledged, is that part of the West Bank has already been formally annexed. The annexed area of East Jerusalem and its surrounding villages shares many commonalities with the West Bank: its Palestinian residents are not Israeli citizens, and as such, do not vote and have no political representation. Additionally, Israel has implemented a number of policies in East Jerusalem that are analogous, and sometimes identical, to those it employs in the West Bank: massive colonisation through Israel-focused development, incentivising tens of thousands of Israeli citizens to settle in the area, mass expropriation and dispossession of Palestinian land and property, prevention of Palestinian development and diversion of resources to benefit Israelis who move to the city. All of these, and, chiefly, the unlawful annexation that must not be recognised, justify treating East Jerusalem and the West Bank as a single unit. Yet Yesh Dins legal opinion didnt do so. Nor did it examine discriminatory policies within Israel, where tens of thousands of Palestinian citizens live in villages that Israel refuses to recognise or connect to water and electricity, and where hundreds of Jewish-only towns have admission committees that are permitted by law to reject Palestinians on the pretext of social suitability, thereby excluding applicants who havent served in the Israeli army, arent Zionist or dont plan to send their children to Hebrew-language schools. Israel has seized more than three-quarters of the land of its Palestinian citizens. This expropriation is a continuous project, particularly in the Negev and Galilee, but most of it took place, as in the West Bank today, while Palestinians were under military rule. In the seven decades of Israels existence, there have been only six months, in 1966-67, when it did not place members of one ethnic group under military government while it confiscated their land. As the Israeli historian Amnon Raz-Krakotzkin has pointed out, these six months, less than one per cent of Israels existence, are the point of reference for the whole discussion of Israel as a Jewish democratic state. And yet the exception ... becomes the rule, while the rule the occupation is presented as the exception. Apartheid couldnt have been sustained for decades without many outside funders, protectors and co-conspirators. Foremost among them is the US, which has granted more than $110 billion to the occupying military force and spent hundreds of millions on upgrading the infrastructure of apartheid, refurbishing checkpoints and paving West Bank roads. The EU is the chief financier of the Palestinian autonomy cantons and a leading importer of settlement products. Together the US and its European allies have tirelessly attempted to stop the UN Security Council and the International Criminal Court from holding Israel to account. Even those who present themselves as champions of Palestinian freedom and human rights lend support to the status quo. The EU foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, said of the Trump plan that we recognise [its] merit and it is maybe a starting point for negotiations. The office of the UN special co-ordinator for the Middle East Peace Process regularly neglects the UNs core mandates of protecting human rights and upholding international law, preferring to be a bit player in the US-led peace process. In October, after Israel advanced plans for nearly five thousand new houses in West Bank settlements, the outgoing UN envoy, Nickolay Mladenov, issued a typically bland statement, noting that most of the houses were in outlying locations deep inside the occupied West Bank and that the significant number and location of advancements is of great concern because they undermine the prospect of achieving a viable two-state solution. Is it the role of the UN envoy to distinguish between illegal settlements deep in the West Bank and illegal settlements closer to the pre-1967 lines? With the aid of the peacemakers, the definition of what constitutes outlying pushes steadily eastward. The UN, like the US, Europe and liberal Zionist groups, has subordinated international law and human rights to the sanctification of a two-state solution, which it treats not as one possible means of achieving what should be the primary goal ending the oppression of millions of people on the basis of their ethnicity but as the goal itself. Diplomats and well-meaning anti-occupation groups greet every new act of Israeli expansion with dire warnings that it will be a fatal blow to the two-state solution, that the window is closing for Palestinian statehood and that now, on the eve of this latest takeover, it is five minutes to midnight for the prospect of peace. Countless alarms of this kind have been rung during the past two decades. Each was supposed to convince Israel, the US, Europe and the rest of the world of the need to stop or at least slow Israels de facto annexation. But they have had the opposite effect: demonstrating that it will always be five minutes to midnight. European and American policymakers, together with the liberal Zionist groups that lobby them, can thus maintain that the two-state solution isnt dead but merely embattled and, therefore, permanently alive. In the meantime, millions of Palestinians continue to be deprived of basic civil rights and subjected to military rule. With the exception of those six months in 1966-67, this has been the reality for the majority of Palestinians living under Israeli control for the entire history of the state. South Africas apartheid lasted 46 years. Israels is at 72, and counting. Nathan Thrall is the Jerusalem-based author of The Only Language They Understand: Forcing Compromise in Israel and Palestine. Post your comment below Registration is necessary to post comments. We ask only that you do not use obscene or offensive language. Please be respectful of others. See also Search Information Clearing House The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Information Clearing House. Click Here To Support Information Clearing House Your support has kept ICH free on the Web since 2002. Click for Spanish , German , Dutch , Danish , French , translation- Note- Translation may take a moment to load. Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-22 06:05:31|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close CHICAGO, Jan. 21 (Xinhua) -- Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) agricultural futures closed mixed on Thursday, with corn and soybean rising and wheat dropping. The most active corn contract for March delivery rose 2.25 cents, or 0.43 percent, to settle at 5.2425 U.S. dollars per bushel. March wheat lost 7 cents, or 1.05 percent, to settle at 6.6075 dollars per bushel. March soybean gained 0.75 cent, or 0.05 percent, to close at 13.7025 dollars per bushel. CBOT wheat went lower as Russia will keep exporting wheat at elevated prices. The door remains open that Russia could put a quota on its wheat exports at some point, but for now the Russian grain industry/exporters have beaten back such harsh restrictions, Chicago-based research company AgResource noted. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reported daily sales of 136,000 metric tons of 2020-2021 soybeans to China and 163,290 metric tons to Mexico for combined sales of 300,000 metric tons, as well as 336,500 metric tons of U.S. corn to an unknown buyer. U.S. grain analytical industry is expecting that U.S. farmers will plant fencerow to fencerow in 2021. The point is that 2021-2022 U.S. corn, soybean and wheat balance sheets require every extra acre and a favorable spring seeding season. AgResource holds that the CBOT agricultural futures won't bend or break until large 2021 U.S. corn, soybean and wheat yields are known in June or July. Weather forecast shows it is wetter for Central and Southern Argentina. Mostly dry weather will hold across Northeast and Eastern Central Brazil for at least the next 10 days while consistent rains continue to fall across Parana and Mato Grosso do Sul. AgResource holds that there needs to be a period of technical healing following the recent sharp three-day break, and expects a back-and-forth process with support noted at 13.50 dollars for March soybeans, 3.20 dollars for March corn and 6.50 dollars for March wheat. Enditem Let us know what you're seeing and hearing around the community. Submit here STEPANAKERT, JANUARY 22, ARMENPRESS. Artsakh authorities say they have found the remains of 1 killed serviceman and 3 civilians during search operations in the combat zones of the 2020 Artsakh War. State Service of Emergency Situations spokesperson Hunan Tadevosyan told ARMENPRESS that the civilian casualties are identified. The body of Marina Hayrapetyan, an elderly woman, was found in the Drakhtik village of Hadrut. The bodies of Serzhik Avagyan and Yura Arushanyan were found in a park at the village of Azokh in Hadrut. They were also elderly persons. A medical examination is being carried out. The body of the serviceman was found in Jrakan (Jabrayil). The serviceman, according to preliminary reports, was a volunteer. Overall, the bodies of 1251 servicemen and civilians were found during search operations so far, he said. Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan The Defense Department will pause construction of the wall along the US-Mexico border as it reviews President Joe Biden's executive order calling for construction to grind to a halt. The Army Corps of Engineers, which provides direction and oversight of border projects, "will take the appropriate actions in accordance with the (executive order)," said Raini Brunson, a spokesperson for the agency. Activity may still continue at sites over the next few days to make sure they stay safe, an administration official told CNN. Biden took an immediate shot at one of his predecessor's key legacies Wednesday evening when he signed a proclamation calling for border wall construction to come to an end. "It shall be the policy of my Administration that no more American taxpayer dollars be diverted to construct a border wall," Biden's proclamation reads. Over the last four years, billions of dollars had been put aside for additional barriers on the US-Mexico border, prompting a slew of lawsuits and pushback from environmentalists and Democratic lawmakers. Days from the end of his term, former President Donald Trump paid the wall a visit, citing it as an accomplishment of his administration. The majority of the roughly 455 miles constructed during Trump's presidency replaced old, dilapidated barriers with a new enhanced wall system, a marked difference from the fencing previously constructed in some regions. Forty-nine miles have gone up where no barriers previously existed, according to the latest figures from US Customs and Border Protection. "(Wednesday's) proclamation will likely result in what's called a suspension of work on the border wall," said Travis Sharp, a research fellow at the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments. "During the suspension of work, the contractor must keep track of any additional expenses caused by the delay, so that the government can potentially reimburse those expenses later." Geopoliticians Upset by German CDU Head Laschets Non-Confrontational Views on Russia Jan. 21 , 2021 (EIRNS)Where is Laschets denunciation of Navalnys arrest? referring to the newly elected Christian Democratic Union chairman Armin Laschet, demanded Green party MP Omid Nouripour, Suddeutsche Zeitung (SZ) quoted him as saying. What Laschet has been missing for years, is to openly attack the war crimes [sic] of Russia and its handling of opposition figures like Alexey Navalny. Treating the Kremlin so selectively, will not enable him to keep Europe together. Nouripour neglected to say why Russia should be attacked for saving opposition figure Navalnys life when he collapsed in August on a flight to Moscow; the plane made an emergency landing in Omsk, and once he was stabilized medically, Moscow arranged to fly him to Berlin for more treatment. SZ mentions that Laschet was a Western dissident when the world jumped on the British bandwagon to insist that Russia had poisoned former GRU Col. Sergei Skripal and his daughter in Britain with Novichok in March 2018. No concrete evidence was ever produced, despite the fact that Russia sought help from Britains government in the crime against Russian citizens. At the time, Laschet tweeted, If one wants to force almost all NATO states into solidarity, one should have safe evidence, shouldnt one? He wrote, regardless of ones personal views of Russia, I have learned another conduct with states, in my studies of international law. Laschet was slandered as a Putinversteher in 2014, when he attacked the demonization of Russias President Vladimir Putin as being not a policy but just an alibi for the absence of one. In 2014, after Crimea reunited with Russia, Laschet criticized what he called marketable anti-Putin populism among German politicians. This year, when Navalny returned to Russia on Jan. 17, and was arrested in the Moscow airport, then-U.S. Secretary of State Pompeo jumped on it was an excuse to slap illegal sanctions against the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline to Germanyhoping to force the EU to buy American LNG at higher prices. Laschet denounced the sanctions, disputing any connection between the Nord Stream 2 pipeline and the Navalny caseas of course there is none. As both SZ and Londons Financial Times observe, in 2014, his most controversial foreign policy intervention was his attack on the Obama Administration for backing Islamic State and Al Nusra Front terrorists against President Bashar al Assads Syrian government. In a tweet, he wrote: Yes,Mr Kerry.But You supported ISIS and Al Nusra against President Assad in Syria.And they are financed by Qatar and Saudi-Arabia. Its always a good idea to prepare for a disaster, especially one you see coming. Pogue, a former New York Times tech columnist and current contributor, has got you covered. This is a climate change worst-case scenario survival guide: stronger hurricanes, forest fires, droughts, tick- and mosquito-borne illnesses, heat waves, tornadoes, plus how to prepare your business and also how to invest your money before the capitalist superstructure crumbles, apparently. (Preparing for Social Breakdown is one chapter.) If Pogue is living the life hes advising, he is eating homegrown beans, calmly explaining the crisis to his children and monitoring their psychological health, asking his contractor to deepen the soffits in his roof on which he is mounting solar panels, buying several air purifiers and organizing with his fellow citizens. Much of the book, especially the sections on what to look for in an insurance policy, is helpful. It also includes an explanation of climate science and the obligatory feel-good sections on hope: actions some are taking and how you can participate. It wouldnt be wrong to do as he suggests; climate change will make these disasters worse and more frequent. Still, theres something unsettling about the project, especially since many cant act as advised, for financial or other reasons, and the real problem is that governments and corporations are failing us. A particularly eerie chapter covers which American cities will do well in a warmer climate. This isnt a new idea; its not necessarily wrong to lay out the climate risks of living in some places and the benefits of others. But, who is this advice for? Not everyone can move to Boulder, Colo., to take advantage of its hiking trails and ambitious climate targets. What about the rest of us, the people who cant afford or wouldnt want to move away from the Gulf Coast? What about the people who already live in Boulder, or the diminishing water supply in the Rockies? No book can do everything, but planning for our collective future should be about everyone, including those without the means to prepare, since they are in the most danger. Inequality is a large part of what got us here; preparing for climate change shouldnt make that worse. 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, said a Wam news agency report. 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 project is currently under construction and is due for completion later this year. Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-21 22:37:02|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close JINAN, Jan. 21 (Xinhua) -- Rescuers said Thursday that they are drilling into a heavily blocked shaft to rescue 21 workers trapped in a gold mine in east China, an effort that will take at least 15 days. Twenty-two miners have been trapped about 600 meters underground since a mine blast on Jan. 10 in Qixia, under the city of Yantai, in Shandong Province. So far, rescuers have established contact with only 10 of the miners. One is believed to be dead, rescuers said Wednesday. Rescuers began drilling the shaft with a 711-millimeter diameter bit on Wednesday. By noon on Thursday, they had drilled 18 meters into the shaft. However, the rescue efforts have been hampered by heavy blockages in the shaft caused by the blast. Experts estimated that a huge blockage, located between 350 and 446 meters into the shaft, measures about 1,300 cubic meters in volume and weighs some 70 tonnes. Rescuers said Thursday that the workers they are in contact with have been provided with more high-satiety foods, such as porridge and quail eggs, in addition to nutrient solutions. The workers' daily calorific intake has gradually increased from 500 kilocalories in the previous days -- which could only meet the basic needs of survival -- to 2,200 kilocalories. They have felt generally well after eating these foods, showing a gradual improvement of their physical condition, according to rescuers. Some of the workers have helped the rescuers search for the other missing miners using laser pointers and loudspeakers, but they have received no response. Rescuers have continued to lower life detectors and nutrient solutions into other sections of the mine to locate the missing workers, but still have not encountered any signs of life. Enditem Geneva, Switzerland (PANA) - A sharp uptick in intercommunal violence in Sudans Darfur region has forced more than 100,000 people to flee their homes in search of safety, including many into neighbouring Chad, the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) reported on Friday 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 The Queen's representative in Canada has quit amid a workplace bullying probe - sparked by reports that she had 'belittled' and 'publicly humiliated' employees. Former astronaut Julie Payette, 57, who is Canada's governor general, has announced she is stepping down from the largely ceremonial role. It comes after the office of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who appointed Ms Payette in 2017, ordered an investigation into allegations of workplace harassment. The probe was launched following reports by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) on allegations of a toxic workplace environment in her office. The CBC reports alleged that Payette belittled and humiliated employees, reducing some to tears or prompting them to quit. The external report into the allegations, carried out by an independent agency, is due to be released this week. But according to reports in Canada, those who have seen the report say it is 'damning'. Meanwhile, sources are quoted as saying that the outcome of the upcoming report would have made it 'difficult for her (Ms Payette) to remain in her role.' On Thursday, Ms Payette said in a statement that she had come to the conclusion that a new governor general should be appointed. Julie Payette, who is Canada's governor general, has announced she is stepping down from the mostly ceremonial role. In the statement, she added: 'We all experience things differently. 'Everyone has a right to a healthy and safe work environment, at all times and under all circumstances. 'It appears this was not always the case at the Office of the Secretary to the Governor General. 'Tensions have arisen at Rideau Hall over the past few months and for that, I am sorry.' Ms Payette, a former astronaut, was appointed to the largely ceremonial role by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in 2017 Assunta di Lorenzo, Secretary to the Governor General and her top aide, also resigned. Trudeau said the Chief Justice of Canada will be fulfilling the duties of the Governor General in the interim. The governor general is a non-partisan role and has constitutional duties that include swearing in the prime minister, Cabinet ministers and the chief justice of Canada. The governor general is also the commander-in-chief and gives royal assent to Canadian laws. Queen Elizabeth II is head of state in Canada - a member of the British Commonwealth of former colonies. Shortly after Payette was appointed, it emerged that she had been charged with second-degree assault while living in Maryland in 2011. She called the charged unfounded, and it has since been expunged. She was also involved in a fatal hit-and-run accident that same year. The case was closed without charges after a police investigation. The incidents raised questions about how thoroughly she had been vetted for the job. In a statement following announcement of Ms Payette's resignation, Mr Trudeau said: '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. Queen Elizabeth II is head of state in Canada, a member of the British Commonwealth of former colonies Nelson Wiseman, a political science professor at the University of Toronto, said he was fairly certain that no governor general has resigned in the past. He said: 'Julie Payette ought to have resigned months ago when so many negative media reports appeared about her behavior. 'I dont think this affair will hurt Trudeau politically but it does embarrass him because he chose her. 'My feeling has always been that it is best to choose a Governor General who is not a celebrity, but the Liberals cannot help themselves.' Payette achieved degrees at McGill University and the University of Toronto before joining the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) in 1992, where she worked as a research scientist. During her time at the CSA she completed two spaceflights and has logged 25 days in space. She has worked with NASA and served as CSA's chief astronaut from 2000 to 2007. In 2013 she was named chief operating officer at Montreal Science Centre and has served as a board member for the National Bank of Canada. . BRIDGEPORT The city this week launched its first mass COVID-19 vaccination clinic at Central High School. Open only on Wednesdays for now, the site will initially serve those classifications of people currently eligible for inoculation who first register with the states online system, found at https://portal.ct.gov/Coronavirus/COVID-19-Vaccinations---VAMS-Support. Do not simply show up expecting to receive a shot, emphasized Rowena White, Bridgeports communications director. The VAMS (Vaccine Administration Management) system is in direct correlation with the vaccine each clinic has on the property to administer at that time, White said Thursday. So this past Wednesday, exactly 200 doses were provided to 200 pre-registered patients at Central High who were either emergency first responders or individuals 75 and older. And not all were from Bridgeport. There were a lot from surrounding towns, White said. Central High is the second and largest of the two city-run vaccination locations so far. The communicable disease clinic on East Main Street is the other. But, White said, the former will be the recurring mass vaccination site because it can accommodate more people, more vaccine, in a short period of time because of the space allotted. Scott Appleby, Bridgeports emergency management chief, said that as more doses become available, were laying out a plan to open more sites for the community, working with Bridgeport hospital and St. Vincents (hospital) as well as our federally funded, qualified health centers ... in addition to the pharmacies. The citys health department and senior centers are also planning an outreach campaign to older residents to inform them of the vaccine. Neither Appleby nor White were able to provide information on roughly how many of Bridgeports emergency responders had received their shots two doses are typically required. Theres really no way, unless people come forward to us and say, Ive been vaccinated, Appleby said Thursday. Once you register, (the information) goes to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (and Prevention) and the state. ... Weve been trying to figure out ways of grasping that, but its medical information. People dont want to share it, they dont have to. Bridgeport is undertaking vaccinations with a leadership vacuum at the top of the health department. Director Lisa Morrissey resigned suddenly in early January after less than eight months in that position. Last week, the city announced it was seeking a consultant to help temporarily oversee COVID-19 response until Morrisseys successor is hired, as well as nursing staff to augment existing health department personnel. Meanwhile, there has been some positive news for the city in terms of stopping the illnesss spread. Although Bridgeport, Connecticuts largest city, has had the most coronavirus cases since the pandemic struck last March 13,505 as of Thursday as well as currently the third highest total number of fatalities 241 Appleby on Thursday said he was feeling optimistic. In comparison with several other urban centers, Bridgeports case rate from late December through Jan. 9 the most recent data available from the state was 62.5 positive tests per 100,000 residents. Although that figure means the city is far from being out of the red-alert zone that threshold is 15 cases per 100,000 Appleby said he took it as a good sign. Listen, Bridgeport, unfortunately, was leading the pack for a while, just as a large municipality. Hartford, New Haven, Stamford. All of us were the leaders of those statistics, Appleby said. (But) weve kept our numbers pretty much now ... where weve been not high, not low. Were right in the average. In comparison, other Fairfield County-area cities like Stamford, Norwalk and Danbury all had higher positivity rates during those same two weeks, as did Waterbury and the state capitol, Hartford. New Haven also came in at 62.5 COVID-19 diagnoses per 100,000 people. I think in the most part, the majority of Bridgeport residents have complied with efforts to stop the spread of coronavirus, Appleby said. It shows by the numbers now. And hopefully, with the vaccinations getting out there, before you know it, were back to, I dont know if we ever get back to normal, but some sort of normal. MDC ALLIANCE vice-president Tendai Biti has accused President Emmerson Mnangagwas government of deliberately imprisoning opponents and critics in COVID-19-infested jails as a way of exterminating them through exposure to the deadly pandemic. This came after MDC Alliance spokesperson Fadzayi Mahere has revealed that she tested positive to COVID-19. The opposition activist, who is facing a charge of communicating falsehoods, was locked up at Harare Remand Prison for seven days. She believes she contracted COVID-19 during incarceration at Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison. Mahere was on Monday released on $10 000 bail and went straight to test for COVID-19, claiming that prison authorities were not enforcing preventive measures in prisons. On Wednesday, Biti tweeted that the government should take full responsibility for Maheres COVID-19 status. The regime must take full responsibility of Maheres situation. It must take full responsibility of every Zimbabwean who has succumbed to COVID-19 misgovernance, cluelessness and recklessness are crimes against humanity, Biti said. Upon her release, Mahere complained about deplorable conditions in the holding cells at Harare Central Police Station where she spent a night before she was taken to court. The activist was jailed together with party deputy chairman Job Sikhala and journalist Hopewell Chinono, who are still in custody. The three face similar charges in a case involving a widely circulated video linking a police officer to the murder of a baby while enforcing COVID-19 lockdown rules at a Harare bus stop. Similarly, Harare mayor and MDC Alliance official Jacob Mafume was recently released from remand prison where he had been languishing for nearly a month. He is accused of land deals, corruption and bribery, but he denies both charges. Mafumes lawyers claim the city father was now in isolation after two cellmates recently succumbed to the virus. Student activist Allan Moyo has also been locked up at Harare Remand Prison for more than 40 days, charged with inciting public violence. Biti said the targeting of party activists for arrest and incarceration was all calculated to expose them to COVID-19 which continues to take many lives. Zimbabwe prisons are imploding with COVID-19. Inmates were exposed to conditions that were degrading, cruel and inhumane long before COVID-19. COVID-19 has exacerbated a desperate situation. By incarcerating activists, the regime is intent on eliminating activists and every other inmate, the Harare East lawmaker said.Newsday Your browser does not support the video tag. Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Psychiatric nurses have expressed serious concern at the "delayed and sporadic" rollout of the Covid-19 vaccine throughout the mental health and intellectual disability services. The Psychiatric Nurses Association (PNA) said frontline workers and service users in these areas were among the most vulnerable to infection in the health services, yet were feeling "left behind" in the rollout of the vaccine. The intervention of the PNA follows calls this week from the College of Psychiatrists of Ireland (CPI) for patients and staff in psychiatric units to be treated equally with patients and staff in medical units and to be immediately included in the vaccinations. Psychiatrists want patients and staff 'immediately' included in Covid vaccination rollout. The College of Psychiatrists in Ireland identifies a problem that journalists are strangely disinterested in. @IrishPsychiatry @MentalHealthIrl https://t.co/0llWuty5sr @ProfHarryKennedy (@Bass57Hounds) January 20, 2021 A statement issued today by the PNA expressed serious concerns at the delayed and sporadic roll-out of the Covid-19 vaccine throughout the mental health and intellectual disability (ID) services. Mr Peter Hughes, PNA General Secretary, said there was growing concern among both staff and service users that they were not being sufficiently prioritised for vaccination and were not being communicated properly with on the scheduling of the vaccine delivery. He said frontline mental health and intellectual disability staff and service users were among the most vulnerable to infection in the health services, yet they were not being prioritised and many of them were now feeling left behind in the current vaccination roll-out. We are being informed of very sporadic first dose vaccination in the mental health services with very little rollout in intellectual disability services and community mental health services in many parts of the country, he said. It is particularly worrying that it will be up to a further three weeks before first dose vaccination will be given to very many of our members and service users throughout mental health and ID services. We must remember that we have a large vulnerable client base in these services, many with underlying health conditions, and it is disappointing that this is not being sufficiently recognised in the prioritising of the vaccine roll-out. It is clear to our members, and a cause of growing frustration in various parts of the country, that the schedule for vaccination of frontline staff is not being sufficiently adhered to. There now needs to be more rigorous management of the vaccine at local level and a renewed commitment from the HSE to prioritise staff and services users for vaccination throughout the mental health and ID services. Earlier this week, the CPI wrote to HSE bosses and the health minister advocating equal access to the vaccine for patients with mental illness as for other patients in similar acute or long-term residential units. It followed concerns from the Mental Health Commission at the rise in Covid-19 cases in mental health units and the current exclusion of the majority of them from the vaccination schedule. In response to the concerns raised by the CPI earlier this week, the HSE issued a statement to the Irish Examiner saying it was rolling out the vaccine programme in line with the provisional vaccine allocation groups the Government had published last December. This is critical given the limited supply of vaccine," it said. "The HSE has developed a set of principles for the sequencing of Covid19 vaccinations to frontline healthcare workers which supports the Government allocation groups. remaining of Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-22 21:06:01|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Li Zhanshu, chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, presides over the closing meeting of the 25th session of the 13th NPC Standing Committee in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 22, 2021. (Xinhua/Gao Jie) BEIJING, Jan. 22 (Xinhua) -- The Standing Committee of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislature, concluded its 25th session Friday in Beijing. Lawmakers adopted the revised Law on Animal Epidemic Prevention, the revised Administrative Penalty Law and the coast guard law at the closing meeting. President Xi Jinping signed presidential orders to promulgate the above laws. Li Zhanshu, chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, presided over the meeting, which was attended by 160 NPC Standing Committee members. Lawmakers ratified a decision on establishing the Beijing Financial Court, a treaty on the transfer of sentenced persons between China and Belgium, and an extradition treaty with Morocco. They also adopted reports on the deliberation of NPC deputies' proposals, and bills related to deputies' qualifications and personnel matters. Li also presided over a meeting of the Council of Chairpersons of the NPC Standing Committee before the closing meeting. Enditem David Williams is ready to get back to lunch. The investment banker and ardent gourmand has spent the past six months conducting corporate hospitality over takeaway ordered from Melbourne chef Anthony Luis Flower Drum restaurant shared around a boardroom table. But easing social distancing restrictions and the slow re-opening of state borders means the banker who advises companies including Bega Cheese and Coca-Cola Amatil can get back to managing relationships the way he feels most comfortable. Investment banker David Williams. Credit:Paul Jeffers Ive been back there twice this week, Williams tells The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age on Thursday of Flower Drum. Ive always had reasonably robust lunches but the lunches are very much more powerful now than they were before the pandemic, because Zoom works but nothing beats face to face. Across Sydney and Melbourne, COVID concerns and a raft of complex, changing social distancing restrictions have presented hospitality groups and restaurants with a steep challenge as the industry attempts to recoup revenues lost during the pandemic. Already, the corporate entertaining sector is emerging as one of the most resilient categories driving the recovery. Chef Matt Moran, who is the owner of Sydney CBD fine dining and corporate lunch haunts including Aria, Chop House and Bea at Barangaroo says the pandemic has changed how professionals approach the corporate lunch. GRAND RAPIDS, MI A robber who pointed a pistol in the faces of two Kalamazoo bank tellers was sentenced to 17 years in federal prison. Justin Mychal Smith, 28, of Muncie, Indiana, who pleaded guilty to armed bank robbery and brandishing a firearm during a robbery, was sentenced Thursday, Jan. 21, by U.S. District Judge Janet Neff in Grand Rapids. Smith is also a suspect in a 2018 homicide in Indianapolis, U.S. Attorney Andrew Birge said in a statement. The bank robbery happened Nov. 30, 2018, at the PNC Bank on Stadium Drive. Smiths co-defendant, Trayshauon Raheim Atkinson, 22, of Kalamazoo, handed a teller a handwritten note that said: I HAVE A BOMBDONT MAKE NO MOVESGIVE ME ALL THE MONEYMOVE FAST, the prosecutor said. Smith then pulled out a semi-automatic handgun and pointed it at the tellers face. He climbed over the counter with the gun still pointed at her. He then moved to at another teller and pointed the gun at her face. He grabbed cash when she recoiled, the prosecutor said. It is difficult to overstate the danger caused by putting a gun to the head of victim and the trauma that caused, Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Mekaru said in a sentencing memorandum. Atkinson, arrested shortly after the holdup, was earlier sentenced to 11 years in prison. Smith was a fugitive until his July arrest in California. At sentencing, the judge noted the violent nature of the holdup and Smiths history of violence and guns. She set restitution at $5,090. Birge credited the FBI and Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety for the arrests. Bank employees are just trying to help customers. No one should have to suffer the violence and danger of an armed robbery, he said. Smith, who has two young girls, was exposed to criminal behavior growing up, his attorney, Deno Fotieo, wrote in court documents. He said that Smith and Atkinson shared the money while renting a room in Battle Creek for two days. Read more: Suspected Michigan militia leader to plea in Gov. Whitmer kidnap plot, records show Man who dragged ex beside car, causing serious injury, sentenced to 10 months in jail MHSAA executive director surprised by recent rulings from state government Mila Fashion, part of Sri Lanka's Design Studio Group, has agreed with the country's board of investment to set up a new apparel manufacturing plant in the northern province of Welioya. Local reports say the project, which is split into two phases, is a US$3m investment with state-of-the-art machinery, automation and technology, and will create 1200 jobs once it is complete. The Design Studio Group supplies a raft of UK and European clothing brands including Asos, Primark, Next and River Island from its network of factories across Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. Clothing is Sri Lanka's largest export category, and since 1992, the industry has been the largest foreign exchange earner for the country. For the first half of 2020, Sri Lanka's textile and garment exports dropped nearly 30%, contributing to an overall decline in exports for the country, as it tried to push ahead through the Covid-19 pandemic. The country was recently hit by a second wave of infections, with just-style told that the country will probably end 2020 just over US$4bn in clothing and textile exports exports, compared to US$5.3bn the year before a drop of around 24.5%. Professor Tim Spector, from King's College London, said he's seeing an increasing number of infected patients with sores on their tongue and unusual mouth ulcers The NHS is being urged to recognise 'Covid tongue' as an official symptom of coronavirus amid fears it is becoming more widespread. Professor Tim Spector, from King's College London, said he's seeing an increasing number of infected patients with sores on their tongue, unusual mouth ulcers and swollen tongues. The epidemiologist, who is monitoring the UK crisis through his Covid symptom tracker app used by millions of Brits, warned one in five sufferers show symptoms the NHS doesn't recognise. Professor Spector warned 20 per cent of infectious people may be slipping through the cracks and continuing to spread the disease because of it. The NHS currently only lists three signs of the infection a fever, continuous cough and loss of smell or taste. It suggests only people with these three symptoms may have Covid-19 and therefore should self-isolate and get tested. This means Britons suffering from the virus' less common symptoms are not getting access to swabs and may be continuing to pass the virus to others. The UK has repeatedly been accused of playing catch up with the rest of the world when it comes to spotting Covid-19 throughout the crisis. In the US, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warns of 11 primary symptoms, including fatigue, body aches, headache, sore throat and shortness of breath but admits the virus can cause an array of other side effects. He is urging the NHS to recognise 'Covid tongue' as an official symptom of coronavirus amid fears it is becoming more widespread. The UK has been accused of missing 'the majority' of Covid-19 cases because it still only recognises three tell-tale signs of the infection (the NHS website, shown) The medical name for acute swelling of the tongue as the result of a viral infection is 'glossitis'. Professor Spector tweeted about the symptom last week. He said: 'One in five people with Covid still present with less common symptoms that dont get on the official PHE list - such as skin rashes. 'Seeing increasing numbers of Covid tongues and strange mouth ulcers. If you have a strange symptom or even just headache and fatigue stay at home!' He added today: 'Keep those Covid tongue pics coming - important to draw attention to these, skin rashes, Covid toes and the 20 plus other symptoms of Covid that go ignored. 'Thirty-five per cent of people have non-classic symptoms in the first three days when most infective.' Professor Spector has repeatedly called for the NHS to expand its list - which he described as the 'briefest in the world' - to ensure Covid-19 infections are spotted in the early stages - reducing the risk of it being spread as Britons self-isolate earlier. Professor Spector is drawing attention to the Covid tongue symptom of the virus 'We're still missing 35 per cent of cases that have symptoms that aren't in the NHS 111 list which is the briefest list in the world,' he told MailOnline. He added that anyone using the Covid-19 symptom app can get a test for the virus if they're suffering any symptom, rather than just the NHS-identified ones. Analysis of NHS hospital records show a cough, fever and shortness of breath are the three most common symptoms, with seven out of 10 patients suffering at least one of the three. But up to a third of patients also experience respiratory problems, stomach pains and musculoskeletal symptoms including muscle and joint pain, and fatigue. Professor Spector told MailOnline today: 'We are collecting many anecdotal reports of COVID tongue via the ZOE app and it is associated with Long COVID patients. 'We need more analyses before we can put some numbers on how common it is and how predictive it is of COVID. 'Until then, unusual tongue symptoms are likely to suggest COVID while the virus is still common.' However, red and white patches can also be caused by other infections, including thrush, according to British Dental Association spokesman Professor Damien Walmsley. 'The white patches usually rub off, leaving a sore red patch underneath,' he said. But sore patches are often only an indication that a person is run down and their immune system is not firing on all cylinders, he added. 'It could also occur in those who have been taking antibiotics, or using asthma inhalers.' Single white patches on the tongue 'can be a bit more worrying,' according to Professor Walmsley. It could simply be down to the fact the tongue is rubbing against a tooth or filling and being irritated, but there's a small chance it could indicate oral cancer. A localised white patch or red patch which has been there for more than three weeks should be checked out by your dentist or GP, the expert said. The following is a detailed, complete, and accurate account of a phone call I did not have with now President Joe Biden he was president elect at the time. The other day, my phone rang. Halfway into the third ring, I answered. Hello? Please hold for the president elect, replied the voice on the other end. I hadnt recognized the incoming callers number but answered anyway. My immediate thought was that a friend joking with me, or a telemarketer using a new scheme. Before I could think too much more about it, another voice came on. Hi Jonathan, this is Joe Bide... ATYRAU, Kazakhstan -- A court in Kazakhstan has imposed a three-year parole restriction on Kazakh activist Maks Boqaev after his expected release on February 4. Boqaev's lawyer Zhanar Sundetqalieva told RFE/RL that a court in the western city of Atyrau handed down its decision on January 22, adding that Boqaev rejected the move calling it politically motivated. "Maks said he will appeal the ruling. He reiterated his stance that he is not guilty, and stressed that a number of rights organizations have found him to be a political prisoner," Sundetqalieva said. The 48-year-old activist was arrested and sentenced to five years on extremism charges in 2016 after he organized unsanctioned protests against land reform in Atyrau. The United States, European Union, and the United Nations have urged Kazakh authorities to release Boqaev. Human rights organizations in Kazakhstan have recognized Boqaev as a political prisoner. Kazakhstan's government has insisted that there are no political prisoners in the country. Bangladesh Prime Minister has thanked her Indian counterpart for sending 20 lakh doses of Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccines to assist the country in its fight against the novel coronavirus. "I'm thanking Prime Minister Modi for sending the vaccine as a gift, I do expect that Bangladesh will get rid of the Covid-19 pandemic," Hasina said on Thursday while thanking Modi for sending the Covid-19 vaccines to Bangladesh. Hasina and Modi also discussed the ongoing bilateral collaboration between the private sectors. "We've taken all the steps to face the Covid-19 situation in the country," she said. Bangladesh has already planned to proceed with the vaccine, she said while virtually addressing an international conference on 100 Years of the University of Dhaka. On Thursday afternoon, Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Vikram Kumar Doraiswami handed over the Covid-19 vaccine to Bangladesh Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen and Health Minister Zahid Maleque. Doraiswami said: "It is part of commitment made at the highest level -- Bangladesh Prime Minister and Indian Prime Minister -- and as part of 'Neighbourhood First' policy." Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar tweeted on "VaccineMaitri", saying India reaffirms the highest priority to its relations with Bangladesh. Doraiswami also said that Bangladesh and India will fight the disease together as friends. At least 50 lakh doses of the vaccine from India are expected to arrive within this month while another 50 lakh doses of the vaccine are scheduled to arrive in each of the next six months as per the agreement. On December 17 last year, Indian Prime Minister Modi assured that vaccines would be made available to Bangladesh as and when produced in India. Abdul Momen said the arrival of 20 lakh doses of the vaccine from India shows the sign of strong relations and goodwill between Hasina and Modi. "Today's gift from India is the sign of partnership, cooperation and collaboration," he said. After receiving the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine as 'gift' from India, the Bangladesh Foreign Minister said: "It's a historic day. They've (Hasina and Modi) achieved such a goodwill and strong relations! It shows the sign of that bonding." Momen said many developed countries are yet to get the vaccine and Bangladesh is one of its earliest recipients in the world. --IANS sumi/pgh (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. 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. Yahoo Life is committed to finding you the best products at the best prices. We may receive a share from purchases made via links on this page. Pricing and availability are subject to change. Cozy comfort can be yours. (Photo: HSN) Kicking back and doing your best to relax has been the name of the game for about a year now. After all, youre already home, so... . But all that time at your place can make you hyper aware of the fact that your seating situation isnt as comfy as youd like. Of course, new furniture isnt cheap, and thats especially true if youre looking to find something thatll last for decades. Well, just a heads up: Theres a massive sale going on right now on a comfortable, live-in-it, practically last-forever chair, and you wont want to miss it. Just for today, HSN has slashed prices on the La-Z-Boy Pinnacle Rocker Manual Recliner. You can score this recliner for $799, marked down from HSNs already low price of $1,099and it would cost you $1,346 anywhere else! Dont have $799 laying around but want to get your La-Z-Boy on? With HSNs FlexPay, you can pay interest-free installments of $159.80 every month. OK, but we need to talk about this chair. If youve relaxed in a La-Z-Boy in the past, you know how it feelslike being enveloped in a cloud. Theres a reason why people will call this my chair and tell other people they cant sit there (looking at you, Dad). A touch of the handle, and you'll be kicking back. (Photo: HSN) Shop it: La-Z-Boy Pinnacle Manual Rocker Recliner, $799 (was $1,099), hsn.com But this particular La-Z-Boy is packed with features you didnt even know you needed. Lets start with positions: This baby allows you to do smooth, graceful rocking when its upright. Want to kick back? There are multiple reclining and footrest positions to help you find the lounging level thats right for you. An elongated handle within easy reach lets you effortlessly angle back. Dont feel like using the handle to move? You can also snag a power option for $1,299 (was $1,599). The Pinnacle Rocker is swathed in I-Clean fabric, which is practically impossible to ruin. All five cover choicescream, gray, navy, sand and winetested up to 95 out of a score of 100 for water repellency, and up to five out of a score of five for stain release. Want to enjoy wine and cheese on Bachelor night in your chair? No problem! Story continues And, because this is a La-Z-Boy, the comfort is next level. Its all thanks to an AirForm memory foam seat. That gives you responsive, comfortable cushioning and customized support under your butt. Meanwhile, a higher density foam cradles your back for lumbar support. Finally, this chair looks good just about everywhereand thats why its so popular. More people choose this silhouettethis lookthan any other, HSN host Adam Freeman said of the Pinnacle Rocker. Its great for everybody, all shapes and sizes. Just a reminder: This is not a drill! You can get an actual La-Z-Boy at a severely marked down price right now. But dont waitthis sale is only for today! Shop it: La-Z-Boy Pinnacle Manual Rocker Recliner, $799 (was $1,099), hsn.com The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication. Read More from Yahoo Life: Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest for nonstop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day Want daily pop culture news delivered to your inbox? Sign up here for Yahoo Entertainment & Life's newsletter. Mumbai, Jan 22 : Actress Kirti Kulhari feels gender-based violence is a harsh reality, one that has gone up amid the pandemic. "Together, we are facing the largest social, economic and health crisis, known to humankind, in the form of Covid-19. But there are many who are suffering, perhaps much more than us, in silence. Lockdown was enforced to ensure our safety. But many women are not safe in their own homes. Cases of domestic abuse and domestic violence have risen by an alarming percentage," Kirti said. She continued: "This is the shadow pandemic and you and I can actively work towards putting an end to it. It could be you, your neighbour, your friend, your help, your colleague or anyone else facing gender-based violence and suffering in silence. It is happening to women around us which is why this concerns you, me, all of us." "One in three women in the world face violence usually by their partner. Gender-based violence is a harsh reality and as a society, we must do our bit to make a difference. If you see anyone experiencing violence, lend your hand and your voice to the situation. It is time we stand with survivors, and initiate a much-needed conversation. While we are actively working towards ending the Covid 19 pandemic, let's also treat this as an opportunity to build back a better and equal world," she added. In sync with her thoughts, the actress has supported the cause of #BuildBackBetterAndEqual, an initiative by UN Women. Incidentally, her latest release, Criminal Justice: Behind Closed Doors, had her playing a victim of marital rape. Kirti will soon be seen in the third season of Four More Shots Please and the Hindi film, The Girl On The Train. A former talent agent to Kevin Spacey has been arrested and charged with assaulting a police officer after she inadvertently drove into the middle of a Trump rally and subsequently became entangled with police. It all started innocently enough as Hollywood executive Joanne Horowitz was returning a pair of shoes to a shop in Beverly Hills. But as she made her way home through the posh Los Angeles suburb she got caught up in a Trump rally that was taking place. Police arrest Joanne Horowitz after they say she assaulted a police officer with her car As she attempted to avoid becoming further entangled with the mob Horowitz, 68, ended up driving the wrong way down Beverly Drive. Police who were already on scene gave chase and pulled her over. Video footage of the incident which was posted to YouTube saw her then attempting to make a getaway from the protesters, but she didn't get far until police pulled her over once again just around the corner from the first traffic stop. After speaking with a police officer, the jeering crowd approached her car and saw Horowitz once again trying to speed off, this time appearing to turning her car wheels towards the officer who was speaking to her. He was forced to jump out of the way to avoid being run over. Police had initially pulled Horowitz over for allegedly driving down a street the wrong way She was pulled over but police say she fled and was pulled over a second time. She left once again but not before turning her wheels toward an officer, police say Hollywood agent Joanna Horowitz, 68, returned shoes to a shop in Beverly Hills but she accidentally drove into a Trump rally and quickly tried to make a getaway 'As the officer was contacting the driver a second time, she remained uncooperative, turned her steering wheel toward the officer and fled in her vehicle, causing the officer to have to jump out of the way to avoid being struck,' the Beverly Hills police department told Page Six. Once again, officers gave chase and it was the end of the road for Horowitz. Howowitz was also a producer on the 2004 movie Beyond The Sea which starred Kevin Spacey She was dragged from her white SUV and placed in handcuffs as protesters cheered: 'Lock her up! Lock her up!' Horowitz, who has managed Kevin Spacey and Scott Eastwood, mouthed a few curse words at the protesters as she was placed into the back of a patrol car. 'We would like to be clear in that we unequivocally maintain her innocence. At the time of the incident, Ms. Horowitz was under extreme duress as she was being accosted by a maskless sheriff and surrounded by angry protesters who were attacking her vehicle screaming 'lock her up' as well as anti-Semitic remarks,' said her attorney Shane Bernard to the New York Post. Horowitz was released on a $75,000 bond and is due in court next month. She has been charged with evading a police officer and resisting or obstructing a public officer. Horowitz has worked in showbiz for decades and was at one point known as the 'first-ever celebrity wrangler' by The Hollywood Reporter. Horowitz has worked in showbiz for decades. She is pictured here with director Steven Spielberg During the 70s she made a name for herself by bringing stars including Michael Jackson, Liza Minnelli and Cher to the famous Studio 54 nightclub in New York City. In the 2000s, she became a VP of PR at United Artists Pictures, working alongside Alec Baldwin, Christopher Reeve and Robert Downey Jr. She was also a producer on 2004 movie Beyond The Sea which starred Kevin Spacey according to IMDB. Photo: The Canadian Press WestJet Airlines's first Boeing 737 Max flight since the aircraft were grounded arrives in Vancouver, Thursday. Passengers aboard the first Boeing 737 Max flight in Canadian airspace in nearly two years weren't overly concerned about the plane's safety, saying they trusted that regulators had addressed any issues with the aircraft. Four people travelling on WestJets Thursday morning flight from Calgary to Vancouver said they had no issues boarding the Max, which was grounded worldwide in March 2019 after two deadly crashes that were found to be caused by a faulty sensor. Its interesting to be the first one on it, but Im not too concerned, said Chloe Marshall, who wasnt aware in advance that she would be flying on the aircraft. I think they have protocol in place and they know what theyre doing, so I just trust the process." As it returns the aircraft to service, WestJet has sought to ease customers' concerns about the plane by notifying passengers in advance if they are scheduled to fly on a Max and implementing flexible policies for those who wish to rebook on another flight. Three other passengers on Thursdays flight to Vancouver said they had been notified of the aircraft type ahead of time. Passenger Lowell Van Zuiden pointed to the lengthy review process in explaining why he had no concerns about boarding. "I suspect that theyve probably gone through about as much certification, checking, and everything else as they possibly can, so Im not worried about that," Van Zuiden said. WestJet flight 115 landed at Vancouver International Airport at 8:12 a.m. local time, carrying 71 passengers. Starting tomorrow, WestJet is set to begin flying the Max three times a week between Calgary and Toronto. After a lengthy review process, Transport Canada cleared the plane to return to Canadian airspace on Wednesday, as long as operators made changes to the design of the aircraft, including allowing pilots to disable an alarm system found to be central to both crashes. Pilots will also have to undergo specialized training in flight simulators. Upon WestJet flight 115's arrival in Vancouver, WestJet executives held a press conference in which they celebrated the milestone and emphasized the design changes made to the aircraft since it was grounded by Transport Canada in March 2019. The return of WestJets Max aircraft marks an operational milestone after 22 months of intense review and considerable learning, WestJet president and CEO Ed Sims said during the press conference. While of course this is a very different operating environment than any of us would wish due to COVID-19, we use today as a milestone to look forward to days ahead when all 13 of our Boeing Max 8 aircraft are once again connecting Canadians across the length and breadth of our wonderful country," Sims said. WestJet will offer additional flexibility in its change and cancellation policies to customers scheduled to fly on the Max, with different conditions depending on how far in advance a passenger wants to change the itinerary. The policies granting extra flexibility will be applicable until Feb. 28, the website says, but a WestJet spokeswoman said the company has no plans to change or remove the policies after that date. On its website, WestJet says passengers booked on a Max who are looking to change their flight more than a day from departure can book on a different flight within 24 hours of the original flight at no additional cost. They can also book on a flight outside the 24-hour window with no change fee. Research from the University of Kent has demonstrated a decline in 'son preference' by women of childbearing age in Bangladesh. However, the study also shows that fertility decisions are still influenced according to son preference. The paper, 'Is son preference disappearing from Bangladesh?', surveyed a nationally representative sample of Bangladeshi women of childbearing age, born between 1975 and 1994, to assess how son preference is evolving. The term 'son preference' refers to any situation where parents value sons over daughters and make resulting choices accordingly, which can have a strong economic and demographic impact. The study finds that among women of childbearing age in Bangladesh, son preference is giving way to a desire for gender balance, a consequence of increased female education and employment. However, in contrast to these stated fertility preferences, actual fertility decisions are still shaped by son preference. Among those Bangladeshi women yet to have a child, the proportions indicating a desire for sons and daughters were almost identical. For those with one or two children, the presence of a son has a strong negative effect on the desire for additional sons, and the presence of a daughter has a strong negative effect on the desire for additional daughters. Son preference can have profound economic and demographic consequences upon female adult and maternal mortality, sex-selective abortions, gender differences in breastfeeding, intra-household gender bias in food allocation, gender differentials in infant and child mortality, imbalanced sex ratios and shortages of marriageable women in the population. The study also found evidence that the desire for gender balance in children was stronger among women who have completed secondary school and those who live in areas with more opportunities for female paid work, specifically in the ready-made garments sector. The desire for gender balance in children is also stronger among women co-residing with their mothers-in-law. However, survival analysis indicates that actual fertility decisions are still shaped by son preference. The study indicates that those without sons among their first two children are significantly more likely to have another child. The absence of a daughter among the first two children, on the other hand, has no corresponding effect on the decision to have another child. Dr Zaki Wahhaj, Principle Investigator of the study and Reader in Economics at the University of Kent said: 'Our research reveals a discrepancy between the child sex preferences of women in Bangladesh and their actual fertility behaviour. Whilst son preference has given way to a desire for children of both sexes as far as stated preferences are concerned, we find that actual fertility decisions of women in Bangladesh continue to be shaped by son preference.' ### The paper 'Is son preference disappearing from Bangladesh?' is published in Science Direct (Dr Zaki Wahhaj, School of Economics, University of Kent; Teresa Randazzo, Department of Economics, University of Venice; Nazia Mansoor, University of Paris-Dauphine, London; M. Niaz Asadullah, Faculty of Economics and Administration, University of Malaya). https:/ / www. sciencedirect. com/ science/ article/ pii/ S0305750X20304812?dgcid= author#! https:/ / doi. org/ 10. 1016/ j. worlddev. 2020. 105353 ENDS For further information or interview requests, please contact Sam Wood at the University of Kent Press Office. Tel: 01227 823581 Email: s.wood-700@kent.ac.uk News releases can also be found at http://www. kent. ac. uk/ news University of Kent on Twitter: http://twitter. com/ UniKent Notes to Editors The University of Kent is a leading UK university producing world-class research, rated internationally excellent and leading the way in many fields of study. Our 20,000 students are based at campuses and centres in Canterbury, Medway, Brussels and Paris. With 97% of our research judged to be of international quality in the most recent Research Assessment Framework (REF2014), our students study with some of the most influential thinkers in the world. Universities UK recently named research from the University as one of the UK's 100 Best Breakthroughs of the last century for its significant impact on people's everyday lives. We are renowned for our inspirational teaching. Awarded a gold rating, the highest, in the UK Government's Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF), we were presented with the Outstanding Support for Students award at the 2018 Times Higher Education (THE) Awards for the second year running. Our graduates are equipped for a successful future allowing them to compete effectively in the global job market. More than 95% of graduates find a job or study opportunity within six months. The University is a truly international community with over 40% of our academics coming from outside the UK and our students representing over 150 nationalities. We are a major economic force in south east England, supporting innovation and enterprise. We are worth 0.9 billion to the economy of the south east and support more than 9,400 jobs in the region. In March 2018, the Government and Health Education England (HEE) announced that the joint bid by the University of Kent and Canterbury Christ Church University for funded places to establish a medical school has been successful. The first intake of undergraduates to the Kent and Medway Medical School will be in September 2020. We are proud to be part of Canterbury, Medway and the county of Kent and, through collaboration with partners, work to ensure our global ambitions have a positive impact on the region's academic, cultural, social and economic landscape. TORONTO, Jan. 21, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Tanzanian Gold Corporation (TSX: TNX) (NYSE American: TRX) (TanGold or the Company) announces the resignation of Ulrich Rath from the Companys Board of Directors. We wish Mr. Rath tremendous success in his future endeavors. Mr. Andrew Cheatle, another Director of the Company, has stepped into the role occupied by Mr. Rath and will lead the Companys Technical Committee going forward. Respectfully Submitted, James E. Sinclair Executive Chairman About Tanzanian Gold Corporation TanGold along with its joint venture partner, STAMICO, is building a significant gold project at Buckreef in Tanzania that is based on an expanded Mineral Resource base and the treatment of its mineable Mineral Reserves in two standalone plants. An ongoing drill program has, to date, more than doubled the size of Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources to include 2.04 million ounces of gold. Exploration Targets determined in accordance with NI 43-101 standards have the potential to add up to another 2.0 million ounces of gold (see press release dated June 24, 2020). The Company commenced initial test production from oxide ore in June 2020 at an oxide test plant and is now anticipating government approval for an expanded (oxide) plant. TanGold is advancing on three value-creation tracks: Strengthening its balance sheet by expanding near-term production to 15,000 - 20,000 oz. of gold per year from the processing of oxides upon approval of an expanded oxide plant; Advancing the Final Feasibility Study for a stand-alone sulphide treating plant that is substantially larger than previously modelled, targeting annual gold production of 150,000 to 175,000 oz.; and Continuing with a drilling program to further test the potential of its Mineral Resource base by: (i) drilling at deeper levels; (ii) drilling new oxide targets; (iii) infill drilling to upgrade Mineral Resources currently in the Inferred category; and (iv) a step-out drilling program in the Northeast Extension. For further information, please contact Michael Martin, Investor Relations, m.martin@tangoldcorp.com, 860-248-0999, or visit the Company website at www.tangoldcorp.com Find us on Social Media. LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/tanzanian-gold-corporation Twitter https://twitter.com/TanzanianGold Facebook https://www.facebook.com/tanzaniangold The Toronto Stock Exchange and NYSE American have not reviewed and do not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. U.S. Investors are urged to consider closely the disclosure in our SEC filings. You can review and obtain copies of these filings from the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov/edgar.shtml This news release contains certain forward-looking statements and forward-looking information. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein are forward-looking statements and forward-looking information that involve various risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's expectations are disclosed in the Company's documents filed from time-to-time with the British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario provincial securities regulatory authorities. Certain information presented in this release may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements, include, but are not limited to, that Buckreefs updated mine plan and amendments to the JV Agreement will be approved, and are based on numerous assumptions, and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, including risks inherent in mineral exploration and development, which may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any projected future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Investors are referred to our description of the risk factors affecting the Company, as contained in our SEC filings, including our annual report on Form 20-F and Form 6-K, for more information concerning these risks, uncertainties, and other factors. Reporter Mary Schenk is a reporter covering police, courts and breaking news at The News-Gazette. Her email is mschenk@news-gazette.com, and you can follow her on Twitter (@schenk). Representative Image live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More Subcontracting in IT services is slowly making a comeback. As growth momentum picks up and work from home becomes more acceptable, subcontracting costs will go up further, say executives and experts. After the onset of COVID-19, companies had cut down on subcontracting and focussed on increasing utilisation of existing employees to save costs. Between April and June 2020, companies had also frozen lateral hiring plans and deferred on-boarding of freshers. However, over the last few months, demand for subcontractors is back at pre-COVID-19 levels. Subcontractor costs The subcontracting costs of IT services firms have been rising over the last few years and now account for about 15 percent of overall revenue. Also, subcontractors are paid more than full-time employees. A Bengaluru-based staffing executive explained that if a full-timer is paid Rs 45,000 for a certain role, a contract employee would be paid Rs 60,000 with the same qualification. 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 This is on account of the increased flexibility contract staffing offers and the reduced cost of bench resources. Bench employees are reserve employees on the company's payroll standing by in anticipation of future projects. A case in point is the pandemic. Companies cut down subcontracting and increased utilisation of existing employees when the pandemic struck. However it is picking up, as demand improves. Take, for instance, top IT firms TCS, Wipro, Infosys and HCL Tech. For the nine months that ended in December 2020, TCS and Infosys subcontracting came down by close to 4 percent. Wipros was down by 8.3 percent. HCL Techs outsourcing cost came down by 8.4 percent. However, on a sequential basis, these companies have seen subcontracting costs rise. For the quarter ended December 31, 2020, TCS fee to external consultants went up 5 percent to Rs 3,230 crore, from Rs 3,063 crore in Q2 FY21. Infosys cost to subcontractors saw a 13 percent increase to Rs 1,817 crore in Q3 FY21 sequentially. Wipros subcontracting fee increased 2 percent between the quarters ended September 2020 and December 2020 and now stands at Rs 2,066 crore. HCL Techs outsourcing expense went up by 5.7 percent to Rs 2616 crore. Prateek Aggarwal, CFO, HCL Tech, told Moneycontrol in a recent interaction that subcontracting costs had come down in the June quarter in the wake of COVID-19. But they have increased over the last two quarters and will increase further in the coming months. In an earlier interaction with Moneycontrol, V Ramakrishnan, CFO, TCS, said that the company will continue to hire contractors in the areas where there is demand for particular skill. We will continue to hire. This is an area which we continuously focus on. It is more tactical, he added. Whats driving contract staffing? Most contract staffing firms saw demand go back to 80-90 percent of pre-pandemic levels. According to contract hiring executives, the share of subcontracting will increase due to rising demand and increasing acceptance of the work-from-home model. Demand is huge and companies might not be able to fulfill it internally. This includes projects that were stalled earlier as well as new deal wins. Over the last two quarters, Indian IT services firms signed large contracts and are in need of talent to execute them. For instance, Infosys signed deals wins worth $7.13 billion and TCS, $6.8 billion. Wipro signed a large contract worth $700 million with German firm Metro AG. Though HCL Tech did not share the value of deals the company signed, it said the company closed 13 large transformation deals, all of them net new deals, in Q3 FY21. While lateral hiring continues, contract staffing becomes integral to execute projects at scale. Work from home models are gaining wider acceptance among clients and companies find the flexibility contract staffing offers attractive. Ramesh Alluri Reddy, Director Managed Services & Professional Services at staffing firm Adecco Group India, explained in an earlier interaction that companies are still wary of going full-time and contract staffing gives them flexibility. Companies such as TCS and HCL Tech are already piloting gig working models. TCS Ramakrishnan said that it is currently in the early stages of a gig working pilot. HCL Tech Chief Human Resources Officer VV Apparao pointed out that the company now had a dedicated policy for gig working. However, gig work is yet to pick up as the employees also have the flexibility of working from home and office as the WFH model evolves. CHARLOTTE, N.C., Jan. 22, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- HEPACO, LLC ("HEPACO"), a leading provider of environmental and emergency response services across 45 offices in the Eastern United States, announced today that it has acquired the Field Services Division ("Summit Field Services" or "the Division") from Summit Environmental Services, LLC of Evansville, IN ("Seller"). It is important to note that both Summit Environmental Services, LLC and Summit Civil Services, LLC are not included in this transaction and will remain with their present ownership group in Indianapolis. Summit Field Services specializes in emergency response, industrial services, and waste management. The Division operates from a regional office located in Evansville, with HEPACO continuing to operate out of the regional office, hiring the staff and acquiring the equipment as a part of this transaction. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. HEPACO is majority-owned by San Francisco-based Gryphon Investors, a leading middle-market private equity firm, which purchased HEPACO in August 2016. The combined company will have nearly 750 employees and a footprint of 46 locations across the Mid-Atlantic, Mid-Central, Midwest, Northeast and Southeast regions, in addition to the ability to respond to emergencies on a national basis through its managed network of third-party emergency response vendors. Bill Mohl, HEPACO Executive Chairman, said, "We are excited to complete the strategic acquisition of Summit Field Services, an opportunity which adds both valuable talent and resources to our already strong HEPACO team and sets a course for our continued growth in this market in 2021." HEPACO Chief Executive Officer Ken Smith said, "We are thrilled to welcome an impressive and talented Summit Field Services team to the HEPACO family." Mr. Smith added, "This regional acquisition will immediately expand our ability to service additional clients across the Mid-Central and Midwest regions, and we look forward to providing expanded best-in-class emergency response and environmental service solutions to all our HEPACO customers across our growing footprint." Neil Danziger, Managing Member of Summit Environmental Services, stated, "We have very much enjoyed working with the talented team members that comprise Summit Field Services. We believe HEPACO is the ideal group to ensure the next phase of growth for both the Division's customers and employees." Alexander Ricks PLLC acted as legal advisor to Summit Environmental Services, while Moore & Van Allen provided legal advice to HEPACO. About HEPACO HEPACO (www.hepaco.com) is an industry-leading provider of emergency response, environmental remediation, marine, waste, and other industrial services across a diversified group of end markets including rail, oil & gas, transportation, power & utility, and manufacturing. The company has a broad geographic footprint across 25+ states in the Mid-Atlantic, Mid-Central, Midwest, Northeast and Southeast United States and offers a two-hour or less response time within its footprint. HEPACO provides both emergency response and scheduled services and completed more than 30,000 projects in 2020. About Summit Environmental Services Summit Environmental Services (www.summit-env.net) is a specialty environmental services contractor supporting numerous industries across the country. Operating for more than 20 years from strategic office locations in Indiana, Summit Field Services provides environmental services such as industrial cleaning, waste transportation and disposal, and emergency response. About Gryphon Investors Based in San Francisco, Gryphon Investors is a leading private equity firm focused on profitably growing and competitively enhancing middle-market companies in partnership with experienced management. The firm has managed over $5.0 billion of equity investments and capital since 1997. Gryphon targets making equity investments of $50 million to $300 million in portfolio companies with sales ranging from approximately $100 million to $600 million. Gryphon prioritizes investment opportunities where it can form strong partnerships with owners and executives to build leading companies, utilizing Gryphon's capital, specialized professional resources, and operational expertise. For more information, visit www.gryphoninvestors.com. Contacts: For HEPACO For Gryphon Kara A. Acri, APR Caroline Luz 614-296-4169 Lambert & Co. [email protected] 203-656-2829 [email protected] SOURCE HEPACO, LLC Related Links http://www.hepaco.com ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., Jan. 22, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Today Marxent, the leader in 3D Commerce for the home vertical, announced it has secured Series C financing. The cash infusion will fund strategic value creation opportunities such as international expansion and new product development. Marxent 3D Room Planner 3D Room Render from Marxent 3D Cloud powered- 3D Room Planner for Web Marxent's mission is to create a 3D ecosystem for enterprise furniture, building products, and home improvement retailers and manufacturers that makes it easy to sell high-value, configurable products online. Clients already include many leading retailers and manufacturers including Lowe's Home Improvement, Ashley HomeStore, Macy's, La-Z-Boy, HNI Corporation, Fortune Brands, American Woodmark, Herman Miller, Jerome's Furniture, John Lewis and Partners (UK), and Kingfisher plc (UK). "Marxent's 3D commerce platform will transform both the customer experience and underlying ecosystem like Netflix and Tesla did for their categories. With a blue-chip client base, proven ROI, millions of buyable SKUs, and hundreds of millions in 3D-enabled sales, Marxent's 3D Cloud is the virtual selling platform of choice for high-value, configurable products for the home," said Arnie Bellini of Bellini Capital, the lead investor in the round. "3D-enabled selling was already an emerging growth category. COVID has further accelerated the demand for virtual selling of home goods and Marxent is the recognized technology leader in the space enabling the experience." "3D room planning and augmented reality apps for furniture, kitchen, bath, and outdoor decking went from value-add solutions to essential business priorities," said Beck Besecker, Marxent's CEO and Co-Founder. "We prioritized creating meaningful value for our partners and proving out the unit economics of our business for the past two years. The time is right to further invest in strategic growth initiatives. Arnie Bellini is a B2B SaaS pioneer. We're thrilled to have him lead our Series C and join Marxent's board." The company's growth initiatives include: International Expansion - Growth in Europe , the U.K. and other markets - Growth in , the U.K. and other markets New Product Development - Adding highly requested, value-add features - Adding highly requested, value-add features New Verticals - Expanding to new adjacent home categories - Expanding to new adjacent home categories Strategic Partnerships - Integrations with Pinterest and other inspiration platforms "Helping companies to embrace the transformative power of virtual selling through a centralized 3D strategy is at the heart of everything we do," Besecker said. "We ensure that Marxent partners get everything they need to stay ahead of the curve and deploy 3D solutions quickly because we feel a great sense of responsibility to help our clients forge the future of retail." To support the growing 3D needs of their European clients, including John Lewis and Kingfisher, Marxent will expand the UK and French offices. "This investment enables us to further support the now permanent priority of e-commerce and the role of new hybrid stores," said Leigh Davidson, Managing Director for Marxent Europe. "Getting stuck in slow and confusing tools is no fun for consumers. Our inspirational 3D planners are enabling users to quickly design from photos and confidently add entire rooms to basket," Davidson said. "From London and Paris, to Dayton and St. Petersburg, Florida, I just can't say enough good things about the Marxent team," Besecker said. "It has taken an incredible group of folks to build Marxent into a market leader in this exciting space and the journey has just begun. They bring an inspiring combination of grit, determination, and creativity to the table and are ready for what's next. We have grand ambitions and are excited to grow the team and company materially in 2021 and beyond." Marxent is hiring: See our job listings here Press Contact: Sonia Schechter CMO [email protected] About Marxent Marxent 3D Cloud and 3D applications are used by innovative omnichannel home improvement and home furnishings retailers and manufacturers to reduce returns, sell bigger baskets, and enhance the customer experience both in-store and in a range of virtual selling formats. From 3D Room Design to AR to VR, 3D Cloud enables shoppers to plan, visualize and buy with confidence. 3D Cloud is a content management and hosting platform for 3D products that scales to the enterprise and powers applications for product visualization and configuration at all points in the customer path to purchase, including Augmented Reality, Virtual Reality, 360 Product Spins, 3D Product Configurators, and Web VR applications such as 3D Room Planner and 3D Kitchen Designer for Web. With 3D Cloud retail solutions, buyers can visually configure, price and quote projects with multiple components and customizations. For more information, visit www.marxent.com. Clients include Lowe's Home Improvement, La-Z-Boy, Macy's, HNI Corporation, and Fortune Brands. SOURCE Marxent COLUMBIA South Carolina's public health agency will decide next week how to distribute COVID-19 vaccine doses to health providers across the state, in an effort to fairly divide the limited supply and ensure access to rural residents. Options include a formula based solely on how many people live in each county, or factoring in characteristics about its population, such as health conditions and ages, Marshall Taylor, the agency's acting director, told legislators Thursday. "How many go to Colleton or Charleston or Greenville, etc.? There are different ways you can do it," he said. He and the agency's health directors didn't feel comfortable deciding on their own, so they're presenting the options to their governing board to make the call. Saying they're more than willing to do whatever they can to get shots in arms as quickly as possible, legislators advanced a bill setting aside up to $208 million, which will likely move quickly to Gov. Henry McMaster's desk. With the state expected to continue receiving 63,000 initial doses weekly for the foreseeable future as well as necessary second shots it will take months to vaccinate the nearly one million people eligible in this first phase, who include health care workers, nursing home residents and seniors 70 and older. Until last week, hospitals the only places where a Pfizer vaccine was available in South Carolina had been receiving their full orders from federal shipments placed through the Department of Health and Environmental Control. There was no need to figure out a distribution method, Taylor said. "Hospitals said, 'We need this amount.' We'd send that amount," he said. But after roughly 630,000 South Carolinians ages 70 and older were added to the eligibility list last week, at a time when nearly all of what remained in stock was already reserved through appointments, hospitals collectively requested four to five times more than the state's total weekly share from the federal government. "It surprised us," Taylor said, adding DHEC wanted to fill the orders but couldn't. So, DHEC allocated each hospital 20-25 percent of what they'd ordered, which meant some had to cancel appointments they'd made for seniors, banking on their optimistic, but not realistic, orders. But, overall, the state didn't receive any less than normal. That's when the agency knew it needed to figure out an equitable allocation method, he said. The timing also coincides with more providers coming online. This week, some pharmacies and county health departments began giving Moderna vaccine shots. The state had been diverting all Moderna doses to long-term care facilities, where shots are handled by federal contract with CVS and Walgreens. Sign up for updates! Get the latest political news from The Post and Courier in your inbox. Email Sign Up! But with all shots for their 86,400 residents and staff set aside, doses are starting to be split among the hundreds of other federally approved vaccine providers, making the shots more accessible to rural areas without a hospital nearby. Increasing the number of providers could shrink how many each receives, especially if the weekly federal shipment holds steady. DHEC will also have to figure out how to divide each county's allotment among providers inside its borders. "Trying to add providers in the rural communities can change the levels of vaccine providers receive in metro areas," Taylor said. DHEC's plans for reaching rural communities, where many of the most vulnerable lack transportation, includes mobile vaccination teams operating seven days a week. To ramp up those and other vaccination efforts, such as expanding on the drive-thru clinics launched this week by Roper and Prisma, a House budget-writing panel advanced Thursday a bill providing up to $208 million of state surplus. The resolution, sent with a unanimous vote to the full House Ways and Means Committee, would send DHEC $63 million and provide the Medical University of South Carolina $45 million for essentially whatever they need for the continued battle against COVID-19, including testing, staffing, supplies, and marketing. The measure also puts $100 million into a vaccine relief account. Up to 75 percent could go to hospitals to cover vaccine administration costs, while the other 25 percent could go to all other providers. The bill specifies that if federal COVID-19 aid is available for the effort, it should be used first. While the federal government provides the vaccine, there are administrative costs. And, though insurance can cover those, many South Carolinians don't have insurance and even for those who do, taking the time to fill out insurance paperwork can be unwieldy if the goal is to get shots in arms as quickly as possible. It particularly doesn't make sense for a mass vaccination event, hospital officials told legislators. The Ways and Means Committee will meet virtually Monday to vote on the measure, allowing for approval by the full House next week. Because the money is coming from better-than-expected tax collections from previous years, it would be available as soon as the bill becomes law. Live art: Visitors look at artworks on display during Art Basel Miami Beach in 2016. Photo Scott McIntyre/Bloomberg Art Basel has postponed its marquee Swiss fair from June until September. While the announcement isn't much of a surprise when Europe struggles to contain a more contagious strain of the coronavirus, the postponement is the latest acknowledgment that a return to group events is still a very long way away. "It will take a while even now that we have vaccines," said Marc Spiegler, Art Basel's global director, in a phone interview. "The nature of Art Basel shows is that they're large-scale events. Their success is dependent on widespread international travel, and that, for us, is the uncertainty for how long it will take [to resume]. So postponing from June to September makes the most sense." Art Basel is traditionally the final stop on the spring/early summer global art-buying tour. Unlike other art fairs, where galleries bring comparatively affordable work that can be snapped up by impulse buyers, the Swiss fair is a showcase for the best dealers have to offer. Galleries will often hold back their most expensive pieces specifically so that they can present them to Art Basel's nearly 90,000 visitors. In 2019, the last time the fair took place, an estimated $4bn (3.3bn) worth of art was crammed into a sea of booths and private viewing rooms, as crowds delighted in spectacles like a 30-foot-long blow-up recreation of a Nike sneaker by the artist Olaf Nicolai. Last year's edition was cancelled entirely after a similar postponement. With this sales opportunity is gone or at the very least, delayed art dealers must generate sales through other means. Art Basel is, however, planning three online viewing rooms (OVRs) in March, June and November to try and redress that shortfall. "Nobody in their right mind considers an OVR with 100 galleries to be a substitute for an art fair," said Mr Spiegler. "We think that under a specific set of conditions, and handled in the right way, these digital events do bring attention to galleries and artists." The news of the postponement strikes a blow to other art fairs, who still plan to host in-person fairs this spring and summer. Frieze plans to hold its annual New York fair in The Shed between May 5 and May 9, and has already pushed its Los Angeles fair from February to July. Thank you for reading! Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. If you have a subscription, please log in or sign up for an account on our website to continue. Sebastien Sigouin (top L), director of Central America, Cuba and the Dominican Republic at Global Affairs Canada; pro-Democracy Cuban-Canadians; and representatives of the Venezuelan diaspora during an online meeting to discuss the human rights crisis in Cuba, on Jan. 19, 2021. (Democratic Spaces Handout) Predatory and Totalitarian: Cuban-Canadians Call on Ottawa to Publicly Recognize the Cuban Regime as a Dictatorship In what Human Rights Watch describes as little change under leader Miguel Diaz-Canel regarding the repression and punishment of dissidents in Cuba, pro-democracy Cuban-Canadians are calling for Ottawa to publicly acknowledge that the island nation is ruled by a dictatorship. Specifically, the community, along with some among the Venezuelan diaspora in Canada, are urging Canada and other democratic countries to acknowledge that the regime clinging on to power in Cuba is ruled by a human rights predatory and totalitarian dictatorship, according to a press release from activist group Democratic Spaces. The release was issued after an online meeting on Jan. 19 organized by the group to discuss what it calls a human rights crisis in Cuba. It consisted of 10 attendees including Sebastien Sigouin, the director of Central America, Cuba and the Dominican Republic at Global Affairs Canada. Cuba is a beautiful country and Cubans are a noble people, but our compatriots in the island are ruled by a terrible and oppressive regime that in the name of a fraudulent social agenda has trampled on fundamental human rights, criminalized dissent, and marginalized those who think differently, Democratic Spaces founder Michael Lima Cuadra said in a statement following the meeting. I believe nobody should be forced to live in a country where a power elite forces people to choose between a fabricated social agenda and individual liberties. According to Human Rights Watchs latest report on Cuba, since October 2019, when Diaz-Canel took power, his regime has shown no sign of improving the long-standing human rights abuses that have been ongoing since communist Fidel Castros days. Under Diaz-Canel, Cuba has used Decree-Law 370which came into effect in July 2019 and limits online freedom of expression and privacyto detain, fine, and harass critics. The regime also continues to repress and punish dissent and public criticism, and employ scare tactics including beatings, public shaming, travel restrictions, short-term detention, fines, online harassment, surveillance, and termination of employment on critics, independent activists, political opponents, journalists, artists, and others, the rights organization found. The judicial and the legislative powers are branches at the service of the executive power and the ruling elites, Cuadra said. Cubans are therefore left in a state [of] defencelessness as an independent judiciary is non-existent and laws serve no other purpose [than] to perpetuate the prevailing political system. He added that since the media in Cuba is exclusively controlled by the state, all possible channels for dissidents to voice their views are closed. Also, the educational system indoctrinates ideological conformity and punishes all expressions of individuality; any student who dares to criticize the policies of the regime and communist party will be expelled. Luis Manuel Otero Alcantara, an artist and human rights activist based in Cuba, said in a pre-recorded video during the Jan. 19 meeting that the Diaz-Canel regime doesnt want the world to know whats really going on, noting that artists are also subjected to rights abuse. As an artist, I have been persecuted, abducted I have been detained more than 40 times in two years without any justification whatsoever, said Alcantara, also the main coordinator of the San Isidro Movement which supports democracy and free debate in Cuba. A [surveillance] camera has been installed in front of my house. My art has been labelled as a form of terrorism in Cuba on the sole grounds that my art exposes misery and poverty and all the abuses that the regime does not want to show the world. They want to sell the image of a perfect society, and that is not the case. Young artists protest in front of the Ministry of Culture in Havana, Cuba, on Nov. 27, 2020. (Ismael Francisco/AP Photo) Activist Nelson Taylor Sol with the Cuban Canadian Foundation, who attended the meeting, told The Epoch Times its crucial that Canada change its approach to Cuba. [Global Affairs] keeps saying that they have private meetings with the members of the Cuban regime and they always bring up issues of human rights, but thats meaningless, he said. Publicly denouncing the Cuban regime as a dictatorship would be consistent with the core values of democracy and fairness that Canada stands for and that guide its foreign policy, Taylor Sol said. In addition, since Canada is one of Cubas biggest investors and is among its top trading partners and a substantial contributor of tourists to the island, Ottawa has leverage it could apply, he said, because when it comes to [the] survival of the Cuban regime, Canada is key, really crucial. Democratic Spaces is calling on Ottawa to take the following actions: A Christmas Day explosion rocked Nashville, Tennessee. Officials believe 63-year-old Anthony Q. Warner is responsible for the blast that damaged several buildings, injured three people and reportedly killed Warner. Various reports state that Warner took steps to assure there were very few human casualties. Although a definitive motive has yet to be established, investigators have discovered that Warner believed in some unusual conspiracy theories. The Associated Press reports that among these conspiracy theories, Warner believed that shape-shifting reptiles assume human form to take over society. Regardless of Warners beliefs, the question currently under discussion is, was this a terrorist act? Obviously, this question caused the ears of the insurance industry to perk up. If Warners acts are judged by the FBI to be a terrorist act, might the terrorism exclusion apply to any damage caused? Answering this question is initially more difficult than it appears. First, there are approximately 38 ISO terrorism-related exclusionary endorsements (this is not hyperbole for effect). Fortunately, only three of the 38 listed exclusionary or limiting endorsements apply to this situation. Second, certain conditions must be met before the endorsements are triggered. Understanding that although It depends is an appropriate answer to any question regarding the applicability of the various terrorism exclusions, its not a satisfying answer. An attempt to provide a more concrete answer is contained in the following paragraphs. If you dont care about any of the background and reasoning, jump to the end of the article to discover if the damage caused by Warners actions is subject to any of the three TRIA-based exclusionary and limitation endorsements discussed in this article. Date When Property Coverage is Written TRIA, initially authorized in 2002, was reauthorized beginning 2015 and was set to expire on December 31, 2020. On December 29, 2019, President Trump signed the Terrorism Risk Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2019 extending the program until December 31, 2027. Because the program is not perpetual, requiring regular reauthorization, ISO was required to be anticipatory when they drafted the various terrorism exclusions meaning they needed to draft endorsements in anticipation of the program being in full effect during the entire policy term, the program expiring during the policy term, or the expiration of the program without reauthorization. Because the current act is in full force until December 31, 2027, any property policy that expires before December 31, 2027, is guaranteed to be fully backed by the act. For any property policy expiring prior to December 31, 2027, one of three exclusionary or limiting endorsements is attached: Exclusion Of Certified Acts Of Terrorism Endorsement (IL 09 53 01 15): This endorsement fully excludes coverage for certified acts of terrorism. Exclusion Of Certified Acts Of Terrorism Involving Nuclear, Biological, Chemical Or Radiological Terrorism; Cap On Covered Certified Acts Losses Endorsement (IL 09 86 0 15): This is attached to exclude coverage for certified acts of terrorism, but only when such acts qualify as a nuclear, biological, chemical or radiological event. Other certified acts of terrorism are covered. Limitation Of Coverage For Certified Acts Of Terrorism (Sub-Limit On Annual Aggregate Basis) Endorsement (IL 09 87 01 15). This endorsement is used to limit coverage for certified acts of terrorism by providing coverage on a sub-limited bases subject to an annual aggregate. These are the only exclusionary/limiting endorsements applicable to the Nashville bombing. Thus, these are the only endorsements considered in this article. Location Matters: The State in Which the Property is Located All three endorsements introduced above contain a fire exception that gives back coverage for direct losses caused by fire. Notice that this fire exception gives back coverage for direct loss only; even when the exception applies, there is still no coverage for indirect losses such as the loss of business income caused by the excluded acts. However, this fire exception applies only in states specifically listed in the endorsement. Further, the only states the carrier will list in the endorsement are Standard Fire Policy (SFP) states that do not allow any policy to be more restrictive than the Standard Fire Policy. But, to complicate matters, some SFP states have adopted special statutory provisions allowing the exclusion of fire for acts falling within the meaning of a certified acts of terrorism or simply terrorism. Confused? Lets try to clarify the situation. Following are three lists. The first lists the SFP states that do not allow direct fire damage to be excluded. The second provides information on those SFP states that allow fire resulting from terrorism (certified acts or not) to be excluded, but only under specific conditions. The third and last lists the SFP states that allow fire to be fully excluded when the damage is caused by either a certified act of terrorism or terrorism (depending on the endorsement attached). SFP States that Do Not Allow Fire to be Excluded California: West Ann. Cal. Ins. Code 2070; West Ann. Cal. Ins. Code 2071 Georgia: G.A. Code Ann. 33-32-1 Hawaii: HRS 431:10-210 & Memorandum 2007-6 issued 12/27/07 Illinois: 215 ILCS 5/397 Iowa: I.C.A. 515.109 Maine: 24-A M.R.S. A. 3002 Missouri: 20 CSR 500-1.100 & Bulletins 2002-03 and 2003-01 New York: McKinneys Insurance Law 3404 North Carolina: N.C.G.S.A. 58-44-20 Oklahoma: 36 Okl.St.Ann. 4803 Oregon: O.R.S.742.206 to 742.242 Washington: RCWA 48.18.120; RCWA 48.18.140 West Virginia: W.Va. Code, 33-17-2 Wisconsin: Bulletin 2-7-2008 issued 2/07/08 SFP States that Allow Fire to be Excluded in Certain Circumstances Arizona: Cannot be applied to buildings w/4 dwelling units. A.R.S 20-1503 Connecticut: Tied to the expiration of TRIA. C.G.S.A. 38a-306; C.G.S.A. 38a-307a. Statute does not allow the exclusion of terrorism in condo policies but may exclude in other commercial property policies. Massachusetts: Appears to allow the exclusion under M.G.L.A. 175 99 unless TRIA expires. Nebraska: Only applies if the terrorism loss is caused by nuclear reaction, nuclear radiation or radioactive contamination. Neb. Rev. St. 44-501.01. New Jersey: Only if property premium greater than $10,000 N.J.S.A. 17:36-5-20 and 17:36-5-20b Rhode Island: Exclusion allowed only for large commercial risk specifically described in the statute. Gen. Laws 1956, 27-5-3; 27-65-1 Virginia: Excludes coverage unless TRIA expires. VA Code Ann. 38.2-2102 SFP States that Allow Fire to be Excluded with No Conditions Idaho: I.C. 41-2401 Louisiana: LSA-R.S. 22:1311 Michigan: M.C.L.A. 500.2834 Minnesota: M.S.A. 65A.01 New Hampshire: N.H. Rev. Stat. 407:22 North Dakota: NDCC 26.1-39-06 Pennsylvania: 40.P.S. 636 If the insured property is located in an SFP state that does NOT allow the policy to exclude direct damage by fire, confirm it is listed on the endorsement. For properties with conditions, confirm whether the condition applies and confirm the state listed on the endorsement is the condition does not apply. Properties within the last list will not be listed by the underwriter, but it doesnt hurt to ask (mentioning that its a Standard Fire Policy state). Note that Tennessee is not contained in any of the three lists. Fire damage resulting from a certified act of terrorism can be excluded. What is Excluded? Only one exclusionary trigger is found within the three applicable endorsements. Only Certified acts of terrorism is excluded. A certified act of terrorism is defined in the endorsements as follows: Certified act of terrorism means an act that is certified by the Secretary of the Treasury, in accordance with the provisions of the federal Terrorism Risk Insurance Act, to be an act of terrorism pursuant to such Act. The criteria contained in the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act for a certified act of terrorism include the following: The act resulted in insured losses in excess of $5 million in the aggregate, attributable to all types of insurance subject to the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act; and The act is a violent act or an act that is dangerous to human life, property or infrastructure and is committed by an individual or individuals as part of an effort to coerce the civilian population of the United States or to influence the policy or affect the conduct of the United States Government by coercion. Answering the Question This article has taken the long way around to finally answer the question, do Warners actions trigger the exclusion found in the various terrorism endorsements? Unfortunately, there are two answers: no and maybe. At least yes is not one of the answers. First, understand that the answer to the question is not based on whether Warner is considered a terrorist. There is no mention of the term terrorist anywhere in the endorsements. So, whether the damage is caused by a terrorist is irrelevant. The exclusion or limitation applies only when the act falls within the meaning of a certified act of terrorism. Certified Act of Terrorism Until the Secretary of the Treasury certifies the act, the exclusion does not apply. Regardless what a city, county, state, the FBI or even the press thinks about the act, only the Secretary of the Treasury can certify the act. Without this certification, the exclusion or limitation does not apply. (According to the law, the Director of Homeland Security plays a part, but that position/person is not addressed in the definition.) If the Secretary certifies the act, two other hurdles must be jumped before the exclusion applies. First, the total damage of the event must exceed $5 million. Second, the act must be one that is a violent act or an act that is dangerous to human life, property or infrastructure and is committed by an individual or individuals as part of an effort to coerce the civilian population of the United States or to influence the policy or affect the conduct of the United States Government by coercion. Without a clear motive and Warners reported apparent attempts to avoid injury to persons, its unlikely his actions will meet this requirement. It is unlikely the event will reach the level of or be considered a certified act of terrorism. Any carrier attempting to apply the exclusion or limitation absent that requirement is wrong in their denial. Wrapping Up Based on these requirements, it is unlikely any of the current terrorism exclusions or limitations can or will apply to this event. Without the necessary certification, carriers cant apply the exclusion just because. Click here for an interesting review of the history of TRIA from the Congressional Research Service. Topics Catastrophe Natural Disasters Volkswagen is looking at an electrified future as it already revealed its plans of a next-generation flagship electric vehicle that would replace the current "ID" cars with an EV called "Trinity" which would change the landscape. Hebert Diess has been on Twitter for almost several days now, and the CEO has been making his announcements in the social media, Tesla style. The popular German car manufacturer, Volkswagen, has recently unveiled its plans for a more electric-related future, especially with the announcement of its latest EV venture, the "Trinity," that is set to revolutionize VW. The venture would be taking the turn for the better as it would aim to fix everything Volkswagen needs to improve on its electric vehicles after the "NEO," a.k.a "ID" series. Several car companies have been transitioning from electric vehicles after its recent boom and popularity in the past years, with various startups and "converted" perspective like Volkswagen. However, the competition is stiff as most companies lean on technology to be the cornerstone of their EVs, creating different innovations to get ahead of each other in rivalries. Read Also: Is Tesla Model 3 Towing Hitch Capability Finally Coming to the US? New Hints Suggest Possibility Seen Over Europe! Volkswagen's New Flagship EV: Trinity One of the leading companies when it comes to the EV revolution is Volkswagen, as it revealed its profound emphasis on going electric and next-generation flagship with the "Trinity" lineup to soon come. According to Hebert Diess's newly created Twitter account (@Herbert_Diess), the company would soon be coming up with new releases to "revolutionize" Volkswagen in EV technology. Trinity comes after NEO (ID.-Project) and will revolutionize Volkswagen - and especially Wolfsburg even more! A huge challenge for our most traditional and historic site to compete against a greenfield in Grunheide. But we take on the challenge! Herbert Diess (@Herbert_Diess) January 21, 2021 The company's previous lineup called the "Neo" which features the ID.3 and ID.4 electric vehicles are maintaining a stable sale but would be accompanied by a new flagship that would improve on its current EVs. Volkswagen's inspiration for name sounds like it came from the lead characters from the classic cyberpunk film series, "The Matrix," with Keanu Reeves as "Neo" and Carrie Ann-Moss as "Trinity." While the film is a great inspiration for names, it also symbolizes the advancement of the company is going further into the future and next-generation in electric vehicle technology. The CEO also regarded that it would be competing against the "greenfield in Grunheide," which is known to be Tesla's location for Europe's Gigafactory Berlin. Volkswagen's Carbon Emissions Mission It is not known if Hebert Diess is trolling to taking a direct attempt at taking on its electric vehicle manufacturing rival, Tesla, which initially showed a good relationship during Elon Musk's visit to Germany last September. However, one thing is sure, and that is Volkswagen's continued commitment to improve and upgrade its future releases of the EV. Ahead of VW Trinity's public announcement, CEO Hebert Diess also mentioned that the company's CO2 emissions have improved and reduced to a massive 20 percent in the European market. Volkswagen was recently involved in a scandal where it did not disclose its total carbon emissions, only to be discovered that the company contributes more with its vehicles, now turning to EV to correct its mistakes. .@VWGroup has reduced its CO2-emissions in the EU by around 20 percent within one year! We are the market leader (BEV) in Western Europe! The brands VW and Audi have even overachieved their targets & were the drivers for the Group's fleet reduction to 99,8g/km. Herbert Diess (@Herbert_Diess) January 21, 2021 Related Article: Volkswagen Boss Takes a Public Jab at Tesla CEO Elon Musk on Twitter: Taking Market Shares This article is owned by Tech Times Written by Isaiah Alonzo 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. 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. About 1,500 people come through Wonderland mall at their scheduled appointment times every day to get a vaccine against COVID-19. But there are dozens of hopeful hangers-on who werent able to get an appointment who nonetheless wait patiently for the end of the night to see whether there might be a dose or two leftover. Wednesday night there were about 50 people waiting a small crowd compared to most nights, according to Bill Phillips, the senior vice president and chief information officer for University Health, which is administering vaccines at Wonderland of the Americas mall. For most of the hopeful, the wait is in vain. But for a few of the oldest people waiting, Wednesday was their lucky night. On ExpressNews.com: Theres just not enough vaccine: Delays and confusion plague vaccine rollout There were 11 leftover doses one of the highest number of leftovers recently. Most nights, its fewer than that and some nights theres none leftover at all, Phillips said. The leftover doses are a result of people not coming to their 7 p.m. appointments. Vaccine doses are thawed out each hour in anticipation for the 120 appointments every hour. Whatever is unused because someone didnt make their appointment by 8 p.m. will go to someone whos been waiting who didnt have an appointment. We will not waste a vaccine, Phillips said. Among those waiting Wednesday night was Maria Rodriguez, 57. Like many San Antonians, she has tried many times to schedule an appointment, going on online and calling, at the varous locations, to no avail. Ive been trying everywhere, Rodriguez said. Rodriguez already contracted the coronavirus this summer, along with the rest of her family. My husband didnt make it, she said sadly. She and Rogelio Rodriguez had been married for 34 years. He died at the age of 65, alone in the hospital, she said. Shes worried it might happen to her. Im really, really scared to get it again, she said. Its already been six months and I know I could probably get it again. Im afraid to leave my daughter alone, Rodriguez added, tears in her eyes. She only has me now. On ExpressNews.com: Scarcity of COVID-19 vaccine and fair distribution worry San Antonio hospital administrators Still, University Health officials are discouraging people from waiting in the crowd to see if they can get a leftover vaccine, because the risk of catching the disease in a large gathering is high and theres little chance of reward. Thats not a great idea, Phillips said. Youre in a close proximity with each other and theres no way everyones going to get that vaccine. Its not worth sitting there and exposing yourself to others. Its just not worth the risk, Phillips said. Theyre safer if they would stay at home and wait until more vaccine is available. To determine who gets the few leftover doses, if there are any, staff look for the oldest people in the crowd. Its the only fair way to do it, Phillips said. They start with asking for people who are 90 and older, and go younger depending on how many doses are left. We understand that people are very eager to get the vaccine, but we would discourage them from showing up at the end of the night without an appointment, said Elizabeth Allen, a spokeswoman for University Health. Please be patient, Allen added. How many vaccines we give out is entirely dependent on the state ... And were giving them out as fast as we can. On ExpressNews.com: How coronavirus vaccines work At 7:51 p.m. Wednesday, University Health staff called for anyone 90 years or older, determining who should get the remaining 11 doses. Once the doses were claimed, Rodriguez walked to her car, unvaccinated. Ill have to wait, she said. I cant keep putting myself in danger. But 70-year-old Thelma Gonzalez plans to continue returning to the mall and other sites to wait if she cant get an appointment. Its very frustrating, Gonzalez said. She has been at the mall the last five nights trying to get a shot. Terry Brito, 68, was waiting with Gonzalez, but this was only her second night. Since her husband had a kidney transplant, Brito has been going out getting groceries and other essentials. Her husband cant get vaccinated until February due to his surgery. Its important for me to get it now because Im putting myself out there, she said. She doesnt want to bring the virus home to her husband. Though giving vaccines is rewarding, Phillips said its also heartbreaking to see the number of people so desperate to get one. I cant stand telling people that I know need that vaccine, Im sorry, I dont have any more. Its very rough, he said. Vaccines are allocated weekly from the state, with officials not knowing how many doses they will get until just a few days before it is delivered. University Health schedules vaccines through its online portal. As of Thursday, no appointments are available for the rest of the week. Once appointments are available again, University Health will notify people via its mobile app and through its online newsletter. For more information or to sign up for the newsletter, go to UniversityHealthSystem.com/Coronavirus-COVID19/Vaccine. Vaccines are also available through the city at the Alamodome. No appointments are available as of Thursday, but to check on appointments and register when appointments become available, go to covid19.sanantonio.gov/Services/Vaccination-for-COVID-19. WellMed is also administering vaccines, but all appointments are filled at the moment. To register in the future, call 833-968-1745. Phone lines are open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Gov. Mike DeWine is restoring some of the state education money that he said last year would be cut, he announced via an executive order on Friday. Last year, in the early days of the coronavirus crisis, DeWine cut about $776 million from the states general operating budget for 2020, including $300 million in cuts to K-12 school funding and $110 million in cuts to higher education funding. Those cuts set a new, lower baseline for state education funding for 2021. But under the new order, DeWine is restoring $160 million in funding to schools this year, and $100 million to higher education. So in other words, the state cuts to education funding now are lower than expected. While Ohio schools saw their state funding cut last year, they got extra federal funding that made up for the difference, although the specifics vary district by district. The other $390 million in state budget cuts DeWine announced last year, spread across various state agencies, will remain in place. Kim Murnieks, DeWines budget director, said state sales tax revenues have consistently been stronger than expected over the the past six months. This has been a challenging year, and we are pleased that halfway through the state fiscal year we are able to implement cuts at a lower level than we anticipated six months ago, she said. Work continues on the governors two-year budget proposal for 2021 and 2022. It will be finalized and unveiled on Feb. 1, she said. She declined to share any details. Bernie Sanders is leveraging his fame as a meme to raise money for charity, by turning the now-iconic photo of him at the inauguration into a sweatshirt. On Inauguration Day, the Vermont senator went viral when he showed up for the ceremony in a practical green jacket and a pair of hand-knitted mittens to brave the cold weather. Despite appearing appropriately dressed for the temperature, a photo of the 79-year-old sitting with his arms crossed has since circulated its way around the internet, where it has been edited into countless photos, works of art and other meme-worthy backdrops. Now, Sanders campaign has decided to use the photo for good - by printing it on a black crewneck sweater and selling it for $45, with all proceeds going to Meals on Wheels Vermont. On the campaign website, where the sweatshirt is listed as Chairman Sanders Crewneck, it sees the photo printed on an otherwise simple crewneck, with the added addition of a small Bernie written at the bottom. According to the campaign, the sweatshirt, which is currently only available in a small/medium size, is made of cotton fleece and was union-printed in the USA. The campaign has also acknowledged the huge demand for the piece of attire, with the website warning customers: Due to overwhelming demand for this item, it will be three to six weeks until you receive your sweatshirt. The senators choice to embrace his fame, for a good cause, has earned him praise on Twitter. How can you not love sweet Bernie Sanders selling a sweatshirt of his mittens meme with 100 per cent of proceeds going to Meals on Wheels in Vermont, one person tweeted. Another said: Gotta love Bernie making the best of a great opportunity. Others have admitted to already purchasing the sweatshirt, with one person writing: Just bought the Bernie meme sweatshirt... I have no shame. As for Sanders reaction to becoming an immensely popular meme, he told Seth Meyers that he did not expect the response when he showed up to the inauguration. I was just sitting there trying to keep warm and trying to pay attention to what was going on, Sanders said during an appearance on Late Night with Seth Meyers on Thursday. He did, however, confirm that he has seen the memes. By Richard Lough and Padraic Halpin CHERBOURG, France/DUBLIN (Reuters) - From his office overlooking Cherbourg docks, general manager Yannick Millet points to trailers destined for Ireland that belong to Amazon and FedEx, new customers and a signal of a potential big shift in post-Brexit trade. Confronted by red tape and delays after Britain's messy exit from the European Union, Irish traders are shipping goods directly to and from European ports, shunning the once-speedier route through Britain. "You see the shift in supply chains right here," he said. All ... Lawyers of jailed Kremlin critic Aleksei Navalny say their client's pretrial detention is illegal as several procedural regulations were violated while processing the case. Navalny's website on January 22 made public an appeal filed by lawyers Olga Mikhailova and Vadim Kobzev a day earlier with the Moscow City Court against the 44-year-old opposition politicians arrest. According to the lawyers, the decision was made by a team of illegally composed judges, there was no deliberations room in the makeshift court, and the defendants right to have lawyers present during proceedings and his right to privately discuss the case with them was ignored. They also said the judicial process was not held in accordance with the law. The lawyers also said that, as Navalny's case pertains to probation and suspended sentence, he cannot be placed in a detention center, and should be released immediately. "Aleksei Navalny was imprisoned under a legal article that simply does not apply to him (or to any other conditionally convicted person). This is understood by any lawyer, any judge and, in general, anyone who opens and leafs through the Criminal Procedure Code," the lawyers said in a post on Navalny's website. "But the Khimki city court simply did not give a damn about any of this, and put its stamp on a piece of paper, according to which Navalny was sent to Matrosskaya Tishina for a month," they added. 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 on whether to convert a suspended 3 1/2 year sentence that he served into real jail time in an embezzlement case, which he says was trumped up. The case arose after Navalny was airlifted to Germany for emergency medical treatment because he had been poisoned while traveling in Siberia. Navalny has blamed the Kremlin for the attempt on his life with what independent laboratories in the West have determined was a military-grade chemical nerve agent. The Kremlin has denied any involvement. Navalnys detention has sparked global outrage and a chorus of international calls pressuring President Vladimir Putin to immediately release Navalny. His team has called for nationwide protests on January 23, prompting police in Moscow and other parts of Russia to detain several of his associates. The Interior Ministry has issued a stark warning about repercussions for those who will take part in the unsanctioned rallies. The recent decision of Sajjad Lone, the founder-leader of the small Kashmir valley party, the Peoples Conference, to leave the Peoples Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) not long after the PAGD parties performed well in the recent District Development Council (DDC) election cannot but cause surprise. The impression it is likely to leave in Kashmir is that Mr Lone didnt have the stomach for the fight ahead. The PAGD was created to struggle peacefully using all democratic means for the restoration of Article 370 of the Constitution, which gave constitutional autonomy to J&K and was squelched by the Centre in August 2019. Since the PC has pulled out of what is an anti-BJP alliance, the surmise apt to be drawn in the valley is that the PC leader has been brought to his knees by the Centre, possibly through a deft mix of incentives and intimidation the sorry fate of many in the country. Mr Lones PC is limited to a corner of north Kashmir. Since the arrival of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the scene six years ago, the PC leader became the first valley politician to cozy up to the PM and the BJP. But in the environment created when the BJP scuttled its own alliance government with the Peoples Democratic Party in J&K (in which Mr Lone was a minister), the latter joined the Gupkar Alliance founded by National Conference and PDP a day before Article 370 was read down and hundreds of valley politicians pushed into jail. By breaking from the Gupkar group, Mr Lone would appear to have gone back to his position of affinity with BJP. Splitting away from PAGD carries the optics of the weakening of the anti-BJP forces in J&K. But in Kashmir valley such optics are likely to be derided in the present atmosphere. Mr Lone chose a lame explanation for his departure, saying PAGD parties had put up proxy candidates against official PAGD candidates in the DDC polls. This is true enough, but the remedy would seem to lie in taking steps to politically invigorate PAGD, not flit away from it. This is why the sense in the Valley is that Mr Lones tail has been twisted by the Centre. WARSAW (dpa-AFX) - Poland's retail sales declined more than expected in December, figures from Statistics Poland showed on Friday. Retail sales fell 0.8 percent year-on-year in December, after a 5.7 percent growth in the same month last year. Economists had expected a 0.7 percent decline. Sales of textiles, clothing, footwear decreased 10.9 percent yearly in December. Sales of solid, liquid and gaseous fuels, and motor vehicles, motorcycles, parts declined 10.3 percent and 7.9 percent, respectively. Sales of newspapers, books, other sale in specialized stores fell 2.2 percent and those of pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, orthopedic equipment and others fell by 0.9 percent and 9.4 percent, respectively. On a monthly basis, retail sales accelerated 19.8 percent in December. In the January to December period, retail sales decreased 3.1 percent from a year ago. At current prices, retail sales declined 0.8 percent annually in December. 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 data on 5,131 persons was entered into the unified state register of persons who committed corruption or corruption-related offences in 2020. "In 2020, the National Agency on Corruption Prevention (NACP) considered 13,142 court rulings sent by the State Judicial Administration of Ukraine. Based on the rulings, data on 5,131 people was entered into the unified state register of persons who committed corruption or corruption-related offences," the NACP posted on Facebook. In particular, 993 people were held criminally liable, 4,001 people were held administratively liable, 116 people were disciplined. Most often, people were prosecuted for offering, promising or providing an illegal benefit to an official, i.e. offering a bribe (604 persons), declaring inaccurate information (116 people), abuse of influence (89 people). In addition, 3,742 people were brought to administrative responsibility for late submission of declarations, 165 people for failure to notify of a real conflict of interest. Members of local councils, National Police officials and civil servants were most often held criminally and administratively liable. ol Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-22 17:21:06|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close KIEV, Jan. 22 (Xinhua) -- Ukraine's Deputy Health Minister Svitlana Shatalova said the World Bank (WB) will loan Ukraine about 2.5 billion hryvnia (88.6 million U.S. dollars) to purchase COVID-19 vaccines, Interfax Ukraine news agency reported on Thursday. The funds will be used for an "Emergency response to COVID-19 and vaccination in Ukraine" project. "The negotiations on this matter have been held between the World Bank's Board of Executive Directors and the Ukrainian government since December 2020," the official told a briefing in Kiev on Thursday. Ukrainian Health Minister Maxym Stepanov said Ukraine will receive vaccines in two ways. At least 8 million doses will be donated to the country under the global COVAX initiative. The rest of the vaccines will be purchased by Ukraine from manufacturers. The commercial sale of the COVID-19 vaccine will be possible in Ukraine this summer and the national vaccination plan will inoculate all Ukrainian citizens at the state's expense. According to the Ukrainian Health Ministry, a total of 1,182,969 COVID-19 cases and 21,662 deaths have been reported in Ukraine as of Friday, while 928,969 patients have recovered. Enditem (@ChaudhryMAli88) Finland is seeking to improve the exchange of information in the daily life of citizens of Northern Europe and Baltic countries in such areas as education, health care and law, the Finnish government said on Friday HELSINKI (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 22nd January, 2021) Finland is seeking to improve the exchange of information in the daily life of citizens of Northern Europe and Baltic countries in such areas as education, health care and law, the Finnish government said on Friday. In 2021, Finland chairs Nordic-Baltic Eight, a regional cooperation format that also includes Denmark, Estonia, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway and Sweden. "As part of chairmanship, in the beginning of the year, Finland launched a project dubbed 'The World's Smoothest Cross-Border Mobility and Daily Life Through Digitalization.' The project will focus on information exchange and day-to-day cross-border activities in three key aspects: education, use of health services, a search system for legislative acts of the Nordic and Baltic countries," the statement said. One of the goals of the project is to make electronic prescriptions issued in Finland available in pharmacies in other Nordic and Baltic countries. The project is designed to last for three years, from 2021 to 2023. "Facilitating the smooth exchange of information between the Nordic countries and the EU is essential to facilitate cross-border economic activities and the free movement of people for work, study and vacation. According to the government program, the Nordic countries are to become the most integrated region in the world, and Finland is striving to further facilitate the movement of citizens between the Nordic countries," Minister of Local Government Sirpa Paatero said as quoted in the press release. The project is being implemented by the Finnish Ministry of Finance in cooperation with the Ministry of Social Welfare and Health, the Ministry of Education and Culture and the Ministry of Justice, together with their administrative divisions. Dear Reader, Business Standard has always strived hard to provide up-to-date information and commentary on developments that are of interest to you and have wider political and economic implications for the country and the world. Your encouragement and constant feedback on how to improve our offering have only made our resolve and commitment to these ideals stronger. Even during these difficult times arising out of Covid-19, we continue to remain committed to keeping you informed and updated with credible news, authoritative views and incisive commentary on topical issues of relevance. We, however, have a request. As we battle the economic impact of the pandemic, we need your support even more, so that we can continue to offer you more quality content. Our subscription model has seen an encouraging response from many of you, who have subscribed to our online content. More subscription to our online content can only help us achieve the goals of offering you even better and more relevant content. We believe in free, fair and credible journalism. Your support through more subscriptions can help us practise the journalism to which we are committed. Support quality journalism and subscribe to Business Standard. Digital Editor VILLANOVA, Pa.Taylor Hinch, a senior Political Science and Peace and Justice major in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at Villanova University, has been named a 2021 Charles B. Rangel International Affairs Fellow by the U.S. Department of States Charles B. Rangel International Affairs Program. Hinch, from Birmingham, Ala., is the first Villanovan to be selected for this highly competitive national fellowship. The U.S. Department of State Rangel International Affairs Program attracts and prepares young people for careers of international service. Launched in 2003, its goals are to promote greater diversity and excellence in the Foreign Service of the State Department. Fellowship recipients are provided with financial support for two-year graduate programs (up to $84,000), two summer internships, mentoring from a Foreign Service Officer and other professional development activities. Individuals are selected for their strong academic background, a commitment to service, and an interest in making a difference in the world around them. Fellows who successfully complete the Rangel Program and Foreign Service entry requirements receive appointments in the State Department Foreign Service. The continued selection of Villanovans for prestigious fellowships and scholarships is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our students and alumni, remarked Patrick G. Maggitti, PhD, Villanova University Provost. A true Villanovan, Ms. Hinch will use her considerable talents to serve our nation and to advocate for positive change around the world as a Rangel Fellow. We congratulate her on this achievement and wish her success in these endeavors. Hinch is dedicated to building sustainable peace through dialogue in divided, transitioning and post-conflict societies. She commits her time at Villanova to its Honors Program as a Peer Mentor, Honors Ambassador, and Teaching Assistant, and serves as a Discussion Facilitator in the programs Sophomore Service-Learning Community. The recipient of a Gilman Scholarship, Hinch completed a study and internship program in Dublin, Ireland. While abroad, she began and subsequently produced a research project on the efficacy of consociational democracy on improving community relations in Northern Ireland. Hinch has interned with the Hope Foundation (Dublin, Ireland), Public Interest Law Center (Philadelphia, PA), and was set to intern with the Legislature of the Republic of Ireland prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. Her Honors Senior Thesis examines racial injustice in the United States and proposes that two transitional justice mechanismstruth commission and reparationscould be critical to securing racial justice. Upon graduation, Hinch plans to pursue a Masters in International Affairs, with a concentration in Conflict Transformation and Peacebuilding. The Universitys Center for Research and Fellowships (CRF) supported Hinch throughout the Fellowships application and interview process. Villanova students and alumni interested in applying for this and other external awards, including the Fulbright program, should visit CRFs website for more information. About Villanova University: Since 1842, Villanova Universitys Augustinian Catholic intellectual tradition has been the cornerstone of an academic community in which students learn to think critically, act compassionately and succeed while serving others. There are more than 10,000 undergraduate, graduate and law students in the University's six collegesthe College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the Villanova School of Business, the College of Engineering, the M. Louise Fitzpatrick College of Nursing, the College of Professional Studies and the Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law. Ranked among the nations top universities, Villanova supports its students intellectual growth and prepares them to become ethical leaders who create positive change everywhere life takes them. For more, visit www.villanova.edu. Dr. Joe Kanter, head of the state's coronavirus response at the La. Dept. of Health's Office of Public Health, speaks at Governor John Bel Edwards' press conference updating the state's COVID-19 response, Tuesday, January 12, 2021 at the Governor's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness. Edwards announced that the state is moving into another four weeks of Phase 2 coronavirus restrictions because of the virus' hold on the state. 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. [January 22, 2021] Hodes Weill & Associates Promotes Matt Hershey to Partner, will Lead Global Distribution Hodes Weill & Associates (Hodes Weill), a global advisory firm focused on the real estate investment and funds management industry, is pleased to announce that Matt Hershey has become a Partner of the firm. In this role, Matt will continue to work with institutional investors across the range of Hodes Weill's offerings and transactions. In addition, he will assume responsibility for overseeing the firm's global team of institutional coverage and distribution professionals, as the Global Head of Distribution. Hershey joined Hodes Weill in 2012 and has been instrumental in advancing the firm's core initiatives. He has focused on the institutional real estate and real assets investment management industry over the course of his 25-year career, providing him with significant experience spanning major and emerging property types and real asset sectors including infrastructure, timber and agricultural. Hershey maintains close relationships with many of the world's leading global institutions including pension and sovereign wealth funds, insurance companies, family offices, and endowments and foundations. "Matt has made an enormous contribution since joining the company nine years ago. He is an industry leader and speaks with deep market knowledge, reflecting his years of success working with institutional investors and fund managers," said David Hodes, Managing Partner at Hodes Weill. "We value Matt's experience and insights and have full confidence that he will continue to play an instrumental role in advancing our strategic priorities and our clients' growth initiatives as the head of our global distribution team." Susan Swanezy, Partner at Hodes Weill, added, "Matt is a proven talent who leads by example and consistently achieves exceptional results. By joining the partnership, this formalizes the important role Matt plays at the company, and acknowledges the significant contributions he has made to the firm. With our recently expanded institutional global coverage team, we are even better positioned to deliver results for our clients." In conjunction wit Hershey's promotion, Hodes Weill also announced a series of senior-level additions to its global distribution team. Rima Batal joined the firm in London as a Vice President, with primary responsibility for institutional investor coverage in the Middle East and Europe. Previously, Batal was a Vice President and Head of Business Development for GAK Capital. Yoshiko Nakamura joined as a Vice President, responsible for covering Japanese institutional investors. Previously, Nakamura was a senior manager at AMP Capital Investors in Tokyo where she was responsible for capital raising for infrastructure and real estate funds. Alexander Sadighi joined as a Vice President in New York, with responsibility for coverage of institutional investors and consultants in North America. Previously, he was responsible for investor relations, business development and market research at Dune Real Estate Partners, where he chaired and helped launch the firm's ESG working group. Hershey stated, "We have just completed our strongest year since the founding of the firm in 2009 and as we turn into 2021 we have significant momentum. This is due in large part to the strength of our global team of distribution professionals, including our recent hires. Our team maintains a vast network of relationships with global institutions and we are well-positioned to expand our industry-leading position across the globe." During the last year, Hodes Weill advised on 16 institutional capital raising assignments totaling $5.6 billion, of which the firm was directly responsible for raising $2.3 billion. In addition, Hodes Weill advised on three M&A transactions on behalf of real estate fund management platforms. About Hodes Weill & Associates: Hodes Weill & Associates is a leading, global advisory firm focused on the real estate investment and funds management industry.* The firm has offices in New York, Denver, Hong Kong and London. Founded in 2009, Hodes Weill provides institutional capital raising for funds, transactions, co-investments and separate accounts; M&A, strategic and restructuring advisory services; and fairness and valuation analysis. Clients include investment and fund managers, institutional investors, lenders, property owners and other participants in the institutional real estate market. For more information, please contact or visit www.hodesweill.com *All U.S. regulated capital market and securities advisory services are provided by Hodes Weill Securities, LLC, a registered broker-dealer with the SEC, and a member of FINRA and SIPC, and internationally, by non-U.S. Hodes Weill affiliates. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210122005228/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] A view of a street in quiet Tel Aviv during the first 2020 coronavirus lockdown. TEL AVIV (JTA) - As we were reminded at the beginning of the latest lockdown, Israel's quarantine hotel situation throughout the COVID pandemic was a disaster. The people sent there complained of haphazard arrangements made at the last second for guests and a galling lack of oversight or organization approaching anarchy within the hotels - all while half of incoming travelers managed to receive waivers from the government to instead quarantine at home. In the latest round, the local media reported that some people tried to escape one in Jerusalem - pushing the government to finally out... Leanne Hanuschuk has been waiting patiently for months. The payoff comes Saturday. Her granddaughter just turned a year old, and while she has been able to see her daughter and the baby, Hanuschuks own mother hasnt been able to visit her great-granddaughter since October. "We couldnt really get together and celebrate Christmas with them, which was kind of a bummer, but I understand why," Hanuschuk said. "And with her first birthday, we really couldnt celebrate that much, either." JOHN WOODS / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Leanne Hanuschuk is looking forward to bringing her mom to visit her great granddaughter. So, for the first time in 10 weeks, four generations of her family will be able to connect in person when the current code-red public-health restrictions are eased Saturday, permitting a maximum of two designated visitors to households in all areas of the province other than in Churchill and the Northern Health region. The change requires that households designate two specific visitors, period a choice made in an attempt to reduce contacts that could quickly multiply if people were able to gather with different pairs on different days, Premier Brian Pallister said Thursday. "I know some of you will be disappointed today that youre only able to get together with two people, because you have many friends and family youd like to see and youd like to visit, and youve been holding back the ability to do that out of respect for the rules," he said. Hanuschuk said shes not concerned about exposure as long as the other people in her family are doing what they can to stay safe. "We know everybodys been pretty healthy, and we are keeping our social circle small as to who were visiting," she said. JOHN WOODS / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS "We couldnt really get together and celebrate Christmas with them, which was kind of a bummer, but I understand why," Hanuschuk said. Hanuschuk has had a lot to juggle over the last 21/2 months. Her mother lives alone, and she provides child care for her granddaughter while her daughter works. Nevertheless, she said she supports the restrictions and plans to keep looking forward. "Hopefully things will change in the next year or so," she said. "We just have to be patient." Just outside of Beausejour, Wendy Trites lives with her husband and said while she misses spending time with her four adult children, she has no plans to have additional visitors. SUPPLIED Wendy Trites lives with her husband and said while she misses spending time with her four adult children, she has no plans to have additional visitors. "It only takes one person to walk into a house and have contact with four others," she said. "I havent seen some of my kids in four or five months." Her children have "made a strong commitment to following the restrictions," even during times where there was more of an urge to gather than there is today. "It was hard at Christmas, because a lot of our friends did see their children and did break restrictions, but we made a decision not to as a family," she said. Our kids are pretty firm that theyre not going to place anybody at risk or place us at risk. Wendy Trites, no plans to expand bubble "Our kids are pretty firm that theyre not going to place anybody at risk or place us at risk." Its concerning to see people prematurely celebrating, Trites said. She acknowledged that while "our numbers may be flattening out a little bit," gathering in any number isnt something the province is ready for yet. "I think were not there yet the restrictions shouldnt be opened up on people getting together," she said. "I think weve made a real dent in the virtual world and realized people can work from home, and people can do with less shopping and things like that. I do think if theyre going to loosen anything, it should be a different loosening of restrictions." It has been taxing, and said she sympathizes with people who have smaller support systems. "I can see if someone is going to go visit someone because they live alone you have to balance mental health as well as physical health, because that has been a real sad outcome of this pandemic, is that people are really hurting emotionally and mentally," she said. "But at this time, if this is what I can do, why wouldnt I stay home?" JOHN WOODS / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Living alone suits Jordan Miller just fine, and shes been happy to keep her bubble small through the pandemic. Its just her and her cat Jackson at home. Living alone suits Jordan Miller just fine, and shes been happy to keep her bubble small through the pandemic. Its just her and her cat at home, and her one contact has been her partner. Its a routine she doesnt plan to change. "These restrictions would end, this virus would go away, if people stopped gathering," she said. Miller owns a local art gallery so her work puts her in contact with the public, and she has Type 1 diabetes, putting her in high-risk territory. Her allergies also mimic symptoms of COVID-19, and staying isolated when she can helps put her mind at ease. "As soon as I start connecting with other people, I worry I could pass it on by being around other people," she said. She does miss seeing some people her mother lives in a building with other seniors, so Miller made the decision to see her only in essential situations. "My mother, for instance, shes in really good health, but shes almost 65 years old, so I havent seen her she lives in a building with other seniors," she said. JOHN WOODS / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Miller owns a local art gallery so her work puts her in contact with the public, and she has Type 1 diabetes, putting her in high-risk territory. Her business has been slow and steady through the pandemic art sales have been strong, and while she hasnt been able to host receptions for buyers, doing business online model has worked well. She plans to hunker down and wait the pandemic out, regardless of loosened restrictions. "Im a huge introvert. Im totally OK with spending a lot of time by myself. I have my art I feel like Ive lived this way all of my life," she said. "Not in isolation, but seeing people at a safe distance." The new public-health orders will be reassessed in three weeks. malak.abas@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: malakabas_ On Demand We have a new story every day on the front page of thephuketnews.com. Also like us on our Facebook page (facebook.com/thephuketnews) and be the first to watch all the new stories. Finally you can watch any segment, any time by going to thephuketnews.com/tv where all the stories are listed for you to enjoy. All our programs can be enjoyed in High Definition when watching on the internet. In-Room VDO Representative Image A total of 2,28,563 beneficiaries have so far been vaccinated for COVID-19 till 6 pm on the seventh day of the vaccination drive - January 22. The cumulative number of vaccinated healthcare workers across the country surpassed 12.7 lakh on the day. Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the vaccination drive with healthcare workers at the front-line 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 (SII) - 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. India, one of the world's biggest drugmakers, has been approached by numerous countries for its anti-coronavirus doses. 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 The country has delivered two million vaccine doses to Bangladesh under the grants assistance programme on January 21. The country sent 1,50,000 doses of Covishield vaccines to Bhutan, 1,00,000 doses to the Maldives on January 20 and 1 million doses of Covishield vaccine to Nepal, to which Nepal Prime Minister KP Oli has thanked the Indian government. Follow our full coverage on COVID-19 here Hollywood actor Arnold Schwarzenegger recently shared a video of himself receiving the COVID-19 vaccine. The former California Governor came to the Dodger Stadium mass vaccination site to receive the shot. Instagram In a video now doing rounds on social media, while getting the shot at Los Angeles' Dodgers Stadium, he jokes with the technician administering the vaccine to "Put the needle down!," quoting a line from the holiday classic Jingle All the Way. Also Read: Jeff Bezos Offers Help To US President Joe Biden In COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution The 73-year-old actor received his jab and encouraged others to do the same by quoting a classic dialogue from the movie Terminator: "Come with me if you want to live." Captioning the video on Twitter, Arnie said: "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!" Schwarzenegger also revealed on Twitter that Los Angeles Mayor, Eric Garcetti, personally checked in the former Governor of California at the vaccination site. Today was a good day. I have never been happier to wait in a line. If youre eligible, join me and sign up to get your vaccine. Come with me if you want to live! pic.twitter.com/xJi86qQNcm Arnold (@Schwarzenegger) January 20, 2021 The former Governor of California recently condemned former president Donald Trump, following the riots at the Capitol. Austrian-born bodybuilder released an impassioned video on Twitter comparing the events in the Capitol with the Night of Broken Glass a pogrom organized by the Nazi party in Germany in 1938. Also Read: After UP Ward Boy, Now Telangana Ambulance Driver Dies Hours After Getting COVID Vaccine Schwarzenegger said: "President Trump sought to overturn the result of an election - and of a fair election. He sought a coup by misleading people with lies. My father and our neighbours [in Nazi-occupied Austria during World War Two] were misled also with lies, and I know where such lies head. President Trump is a failed leader. He will go down in history as the worst president ever." Also Read: Over 1,000 COVID Vaccine Doses That Had To Be Stored Between 2-8 Degrees Found Frozen In Assam 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. President Joe Biden has been sworn into office, ushering in a new administration, new foreign policy and a new approach to US trade and investment in Africa. President Joe Biden Advocating for natural gas abroad Facilitating a mutual energy transition Countering Chinese influence The African natural gas value chain represents a critical avenue for foreign investment and export opportunities, including the creation of onshore US manufacturing jobs. The Total-operated Mozambique liquified natural gas (LNG) project, for example, secured its largest share of senior debt financing from the US Export-Import Bank, which aims to support the country's exports for the development and construction of the LNG plant and create an estimated 16,700 American jobs over its five-year construction period. In terms of US LNG exports, the relative proximity of certain sub-Saharan markets to North America renders the cost of transporting US LNG to the continent as 20-40% less than transporting it to North Asia. As a result, the export market potential for US companies looking to sell excess LNG supply to Africa as a result of the countrys recent major investments in new liquefaction capacity is substantial, coupled with Africas own large-scale energy needs.As part of the Democratic Party platform, Biden has targetted the elimination of billion-dollar oil and gas subsidies in the US and called on other developed countries to do the same. While the proposition is unlikely to pass US Congress, it suggests that the Biden administration may follow the likes of Europe, in terms of restricting fossil fuel investment and signalling its commitment to climate change action. To date, US oil majors (ExxonMobil, Chevron) have been less radical in their commitment to reducing carbon emissions and retooling investment strategies than their European counterparts (Total, Shell). If the US can continue to lend support to gas development abroad particularly in Africa, in which gas is positioned as a relatively clean burning fossil fuel able to deliver energy to scale then it can cement its role as a leading provider of finance, infrastructure and technology to Africas energy transition.Biden has been expectedly liberal in his stance toward a US energy transition: in addition to once again committing the country to the Paris Agreement, he has pledged to transition the national economy to net-zero emissions by 2050, utilising the revenues retained from subsidy cuts to fund a $2trn climate action plan. That said, US support of renewables should not be limited to the domestic market, and if the country plans to increase its fund allocation toward stimulating green business, then Africa represents a worthwhile recipient. The energy sector is already considered an investment priority by the International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), attracting $10bn in commitments to date.In sub-Saharan Africa, total investment in power project development available to US companies is estimated by Power Africa at $175m. Meanwhile, universal electricity access by 2030 will require the construction of more than 210,000 mini-grids, mostly solar hybrids, connecting 490-million people at an investment cost of almost $22bn, according to the World Banks Energy Sector Management Assistance Programme. US renewable-focused firms are well-equipped to meet African demand for renewable investment, offering an influx of technology, flexible capital and technical expertise, coupled with a free-market competition approach and reduced barriers to entry.In addition to attracting external investment to reach continent-wide clean electrification goals, Africa is rich in minerals needed to fast-track the US along its own energy transition. The Democratic Republic of the Congo, for example, is estimated to contain one million tons of lithium resources and is a global leader in the production of cobalt, copper, tantalum and tin. Such minerals are required to meet growing market demand for green batteries that have the capacity to fuel US clean energy by powering carbon-free grids, electric vehicles and green technologies.In terms of foreign policy, enhanced US presence in Africa represents a strategic counter to Chinese influence, in the midst of an ongoing trade war between the two economic superpowers. The DFC offers a dynamic alternative to Chinas Belt and Road Initiative, which has faced criticism due to its debt-heavy approach targeting government-to-government financing, along with its procurement to Chinese and not African firms and state-owned enterprises for the development of large-scale infrastructure projects. Criticism aside, China has been able to successfully extend its influence across the Global South because of the financial backing it receives from its government. Public sector support serves to alleviate perceived risk by providing a governmental vote of confidence which the DFC has sought to do through reinsurance models that boost underwriting capacities and guarantees on behalf of American exports and contractors. Political risk insurance also seeks to protect US investments against risk associated with currency exchange, expropriation, foreign government interference and breach of contract.As it stands, bilateral trade between the US and Africa is for lack of a better word underwhelming, decreasing from $31.3bn in the first six months of 2019 to a paltry $12.7bn over the same period in 2020. Last July, the US began negotiations with Kenya over a free trade agreement targetting duty-free access for Kenyan goods to the US market. If an agreement is reached and it appears unlikely, given Bidens proclivity for multilateralism and his anticipated prioritisation of the African Continental Free Trade Area it could serve as a trading model for other sub-Saharan countries and to enhance commercial engagements. In short, the pieces of the puzzle for US private sector-led growth in Africa are there; it is now up to the Biden administration to put them together. The mayors of Banyalbufar, Esporles and Valldemossa have expressed their "deep unease" at the Spanish government not having declared a disaster zone for the storm in August last year that caused much destruction in the Tramutana Mountains. In the first week of September, the Balearic government sent a request to Madrid for a disaster zone to be declared. Now, the mayor of Esporles, Maria Ramon, is wanting clarity from the Spanish government. "The impact was enormous," she says and is critical of the delay in response. Valldemossa's mayor, Nadal Torres, has thanked the regional environment ministry for its efforts and has also called for greater Spanish government support and speed. Not declaring a disaster zone has frustrated the expectations of the three municipalities. They do not know if aid that has been requested to repair damage will be forthcoming. The storm affected 736 hectares in Banyalbufar, Esporles and Valldemossa, of which 683 hectares were forest in the Tramuntana Mountains Natural Area. "If this is not a seriously affected area, what is?" asks the mayor of Banyalbufar, Mateu Ferra. enginesoul Newbie Join Date: Dec 2016 Location: BANGALORE Posts: 18 Thanked: 62 Times 6000 km road-trip | Bangalore to Sikkim in a VW Polo 1.5 TDI See, plan was very simple: Our plan was brief and google maps friendly and decided to take Polo as Punto had some issues with tires and also, we thought 1.5 engine with 90HP is better than 1.3 74 HP (now we know that does not matter). So, we started 1. Morning stretch was from Bangalore to Kalahasti. We decided to stay at ones place so that we can start early in the morning but as happens always with friends we kept on talking without sleeping before we realize it was 3 AM in the morning and we decided to start. Car was filled to the brim, literally, thanks to Polo and its boot capacity. After initial stretch of almost 500KM: 2. The difference between plan on paper and on road was realized when we were on en-route to Vizag. We somehow thought we will make it to Vizag in one stop. We had nice Andhra meal in this hotel on top of Toll N5 food plaza, which was really amazing. This is real nice utilization of real estate. Due to the lack of sleep on previous night, I almost dozed off at the steering wheel and before I could realize, right wheel at the front hit the median, thanks to the quality alloy wheels no damage was caused to the car and immediately we switched driver seat. So, I highly recommend as and when you feel sleepy even if you can drive, please take rest. Then we decided to stop for night at Ongole. On the way, I somehow drove over a big rock kept as median in the road. View from Hotel: 3. When we reached, Vijayawada, I got it checked in local VW service station and they were very helpful and quick and assured there are no worries. By admiring the cleanliness of Vijayawada (of course it was almost 4 years back) we reached Vizag. On the way to Vizag: 4. One thing about Vizag, apart from beach, is it's cleanliness. We thoroughly enjoyed drive on the ocean beach and visited regular tourist spots. Submarine museum: 5. From there, we started straight to Chilika lake. One the way, one thing we really liked about Orissa were its roads and the trees on both sides of road. Though they were not majestic like national highways, but they have their own charm. Toll collection might seem unconventional as they appear from nowhere or in some cases, they were sitting under roadside tree. We stayed in a govt owned tourist place in Rambha had couple of boat rides and more than anything it was calm and relaxing. You can find few wild life in the lake: Dairy with pen on left had all the details of plan 6. Puri, Konark were completed on the way. The govt appointed tourist guides here are must because without guide we cant make sense of any structures. We saw a huge well kind of thing and assumed that it was for water for those who worked at temple site but later got to know that it was for storing cooking oil for workers. Sun temple: Encroachment was obvious but no action from govt agencies: 7. From here on, we did not enjoy driving till we reached Sikkim. As we started approaching Kolkata there was no road manners on highway. People were driving, riding on all the four lanes on highways in both directions. We reached Kolkata and stayed there for couple of days to see Kolkata city. Enjoyed street food in Kolkata and just for fun drove couple of times on iconic Hoogly bridge. Historical Church: 8. From Kolkata, it was 600 KM to Darjeeling and we happened to be vegetarians. We were driving on highway all along but never found one decent vegetarian hotel. In Farrah barrage you will feel the true might of Ganges. Ganges at Farrah: Due to bridge collapse on highway, we were required to take detour and Polo handled it well but in few instances due to low GC it belly was scraped but nothing serious: 9. Some of our friends have suggested us not to stay in Darjeeling but to stay in near by teas states as Darjeeling has become crowded and costly. We stayed in nearby guest house in a tea estate for new year and we were taken care by Nepali origin family and with the help of guest house owner we have visited all nearby places in TATA sumo which he always drove as Range rover. He had a small family with two kids and that family was real nice to us and took real good care and times like these challenge our idea of selecting hotel by star rating. Guest house owner family: 10. From here we reached Gangtok by night and admired the neat, clean and horn free Sikkim. We were woken up by hotel guy and almost in anger I asked him why he is doing that, by this time we have forgotten that while booking the hotel I had asked him to provide us the room facing Himalayas. I apologized and opened the curtains of window to witness one of the beautiful sight golden looking Kachenjunga. K2 view: one of many religious places: Buddhist temples: 11. We happily roamed around in Gangtok and generally Sikkim every time admiring its natural beauty and the cleanliness, mindful driving which is difficult to find in India. Pelling city: 12. One more memorable place we visited in this trip was Nathu-la pass. Its admiring to see our soldiers working at such high attitudes with extreme weather. Driving in and out of clouds: View of Himalayas from Gangtok: Polo reached Sikkim without a sweat, literally as it was freezing cold My family: My friend and his family: This has taken around 20 days for us and we had almost clocked 7000KM and it felt like we wasted lot of time in toll booths. I would recommend Polo among all hatchbacks in India. Cruise control came very handy while on long stretches of highway. Torquey diesel engine pulls cleanly from 1300RPM in any gear and on long drives Polos stability is fantastic this in-turn results in comfortable journey in the backseat. During all this, there was not a single glitch, squeaking or heating even when we drove it continuous for 10-12 hours. Me and My friend, who are friends since we can remember, were having casual talk on what to do on December holidays (thanks to US based MNC It all happened in 2017). The silly thought of driving all the way up to Leh became serious even before we knew and completed the tea in hand. We have Polo and Punto as our daily driver cars which are hardly 1 year & 6 ,months old respectively. By the end of that day we already had a draft plan with the approvals of our better halves. In a day or two, we almost had a plan which we thought as perfect plan. But FATE had different plans, Leh road was closed to due to heavy snow fall, so we started looking for alternate places which will take us to Himalayas thats when we read about Nathu-la pass. But in every forum, there was a caution that we may or may not be allowed based on weather condition to see Nathu la pass and we decided to take that chance.See, plan was very simple:Our plan was brief and google maps friendly and decided to take Polo as Punto had some issues with tires and also, we thought 1.5 engine with 90HP is better than 1.3 74 HP (now we know that does not matter).So, we started1. Morning stretch was from Bangalore to Kalahasti. We decided to stay at ones place so that we can start early in the morning but as happens always with friends we kept on talking without sleeping before we realize it was 3 AM in the morning and we decided to start. Car was filled to the brim, literally, thanks to Polo and its boot capacity.After initial stretch of almost 500KM:2. The difference between plan on paper and on road was realized when we were on en-route to Vizag. We somehow thought we will make it to Vizag in one stop. We had nice Andhra meal in this hotel on top of Toll N5 food plaza, which was really amazing. This is real nice utilization of real estate. Due to the lack of sleep on previous night, I almost dozed off at the steering wheel and before I could realize, right wheel at the front hit the median, thanks to the quality alloy wheels no damage was caused to the car and immediately we switched driver seat. So, I highly recommend as and when you feel sleepy even if you can drive, please take rest. Then we decided to stop for night at Ongole. On the way, I somehow drove over a big rock kept as median in the road.View from Hotel:3. When we reached, Vijayawada, I got it checked in local VW service station and they were very helpful and quick and assured there are no worries. By admiring the cleanliness of Vijayawada (of course it was almost 4 years back) we reached Vizag.On the way to Vizag:4. One thing about Vizag, apart from beach, is it's cleanliness. We thoroughly enjoyed drive on the ocean beach and visited regular tourist spots.Submarine museum:5. From there, we started straight to Chilika lake. One the way, one thing we really liked about Orissa were its roads and the trees on both sides of road. Though they were not majestic like national highways, but they have their own charm. Toll collection might seem unconventional as they appear from nowhere or in some cases, they were sitting under roadside tree. We stayed in a govt owned tourist place in Rambha had couple of boat rides and more than anything it was calm and relaxing.You can find few wild life in the lake:Dairy with pen on left had all the details of plan6. Puri, Konark were completed on the way. The govt appointed tourist guides here are must because without guide we cant make sense of any structures. We saw a huge well kind of thing and assumed that it was for water for those who worked at temple site but later got to know that it was for storing cooking oil for workers.Sun temple:Encroachment was obvious but no action from govt agencies:7. From here on, we did not enjoy driving till we reached Sikkim. As we started approaching Kolkata there was no road manners on highway. People were driving, riding on all the four lanes on highways in both directions. We reached Kolkata and stayed there for couple of days to see Kolkata city. Enjoyed street food in Kolkata and just for fun drove couple of times on iconic Hoogly bridge.Historical Church:8. From Kolkata, it was 600 KM to Darjeeling and we happened to be vegetarians. We were driving on highway all along but never found one decent vegetarian hotel. In Farrah barrage you will feel the true might of Ganges.Ganges at Farrah:Due to bridge collapse on highway, we were required to take detour and Polo handled it well but in few instances due to low GC it belly was scraped but nothing serious:9. Some of our friends have suggested us not to stay in Darjeeling but to stay in near by teas states as Darjeeling has become crowded and costly. We stayed in nearby guest house in a tea estate for new year and we were taken care by Nepali origin family and with the help of guest house owner we have visited all nearby places in TATA sumo which he always drove as Range rover. He had a small family with two kids and that family was real nice to us and took real good care and times like these challenge our idea of selecting hotel by star rating.Guest house owner family:10. From here we reached Gangtok by night and admired the neat, clean and horn free Sikkim. We were woken up by hotel guy and almost in anger I asked him why he is doing that, by this time we have forgotten that while booking the hotel I had asked him to provide us the room facing Himalayas. I apologized and opened the curtains of window to witness one of the beautiful sight golden looking Kachenjunga.K2 view:one of many religious places:Buddhist temples:11. We happily roamed around in Gangtok and generally Sikkim every time admiring its natural beauty and the cleanliness, mindful driving which is difficult to find in India.Pelling city:12. One more memorable place we visited in this trip was Nathu-la pass. Its admiring to see our soldiers working at such high attitudes with extreme weather.Driving in and out of clouds:View of Himalayas from Gangtok:Polo reached Sikkim without a sweat, literally as it was freezing coldMy family:My friend and his family:This has taken around 20 days for us and we had almost clocked 7000KM and it felt like we wasted lot of time in toll booths. I would recommend Polo among all hatchbacks in India. Cruise control came very handy while on long stretches of highway. Torquey diesel engine pulls cleanly from 1300RPM in any gear and on long drives Polos stability is fantastic this in-turn results in comfortable journey in the backseat. During all this, there was not a single glitch, squeaking or heating even when we drove it continuous for 10-12 hours. Last edited by enginesoul : 15th January 2021 at 21:00 . New Delhi, Jan 20 (UNI) The consignments of India-made vaccines reached the island nation of Maldives and the Himalayan nation of Bhutan on Wednesday. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar took to micro-blogging site Twitter, to share this development. He said that Indian vaccines reaching Maldives at this juncture was a reflection of the special Bond the two Nations shared. 'Indian vaccines reach Maldives, reflects our special friendship,' he said. In another tweet, the Minister emphasised the vaccine delivery to Bhutan to be another example of India's neighbourhood first policy. 'VaccineMaitribegins. Consignment arrives in Bhutan. Another example of #NeighbourhoodFirst,' he added. On January 16, India started the world's largest COVID-19 vaccination campaign. The first wave of vaccinations, intended for health care and essential workers, is expected to cover some 30 million people. The second wave, inoculating people over the age of 50, may cover some 270 million. UNI XC RKM RJ 2108 Christian Millett looked down at his tattooed arm, double-checking that the needle had already gone in. Getting the COVID-19 vaccine didnt hurt one bit, he said. I didnt feel it, Millett said. I thought it was going to be painful and it wasnt ... Im like, is it done? Millett, 27, was among the first inmates at the Worcester County Jail and House of Correction to receive a vaccine for the coronavirus. The jail this week started immunizing corrections staff and inmates with first doses of the Moderna vaccine. Millett is scheduled to be in jail until September 2023 for assault and battery. It took me two years of just being here to change my lifestyle, Millett said. Since Ive been here, I got my G.E.D., my ServSafe, my food handlers safety, Ive taken numerous classes, numerous substance abuse classes. I went from being in the bottom of my life to being higher. Im not trying to go home and be the same person I was, he added. Millett and Derrick Pitt, 43, who both work in the jails kitchen, said theyre happy to be included in Phase 1 of the states vaccination plan. Honestly, Im just grateful, Millett said. At least somebodys getting it. Im happy that Im getting it, sooner or later theyre gonna get it and its good that were all gonna get it eventually. Millett said he wanted to get the vaccine to be a role model for his three children, who are turning 10, 7 and 3 this year, he said. Pitt turned himself in last year after a warrant was issued for a violation of probation. Hes slated to leave the jail in May, something that made him want to get the vaccine. I just want to keep myself healthy with everything thats going on, he said. In the kitchen, Pitt and Millett work alongside civilians and staff who go in and out of the jail every day. You never know whos going to bring it in, who might just have it and not even know theyre sick, he said. Its a great idea for everyone to get vaccinated ... if one of us gets sick in the kitchen it could actually spread throughout the whole jail because we serve all the facility. We cook for all the inmates and we cook for all the staff. For Pitt, getting the vaccine felt like a normal shot, he said, just a pinch. For anybody thats actually scared about it, I would tell them to do their research on the shot and hopefully it will help them to make the right decision, said Pitt, who said he got a pamphlet at the jail to help him read up on the vaccine. By the end of Friday, 20 sentenced inmates that work around the facility will have received their first dose, said David Tuttle, the superintendent for the sheriffs office. Also by the end of Friday, 283 jail staffers will have gotten their first shot. The jail has reserved second doses for everyone getting their first shot this week. For both staff and inmates, about 50% are interested in the vaccine. Tuttle said that percentage is higher than those interested in the jails annual flu clinic. Some members of the public have questioned why inmates are getting vaccines before other residents, like older people who are at high risk for COVID complications or K-12 educators. Inmates were included in Phase 1 with other residents of congregate care settings. As of Thursday, 2,385 doses have been administered at Massachusetts correctional facilities, according to data from the Department of Public Health. Worcester County Sheriff Lewis Evangelidis said he doesnt blame people for questioning the timeline. Were simply just following the DPH guidelines, Evangelidis said. Public safety is a major factor here. There have been ongoing motions to release people from prison, mass releases, daily and they keep coming at us because of COVID. Id like to think that by getting our inmates vaccinated were going to take that argument away and let people remain incarcerated who belong incarcerated and not back out in the public. Both Pitt and Millett enjoy working in the kitchen, something that has helped them change their frame of mind and prepare for life after jail. It keeps me busy, Pitt said. The hours that I put in here are no different than working outside in the real world, so it keeps me in that frame of thought. When he gets out in a few months, Pitt said he is looking forward to reconnecting with his family, working, paying taxes and being free. Im just grateful for the opportunity that I was able to get the shot, Pitt said. Hopefully my family, after they see this ... theyll see that I was willing to do it and hopefully theyll change their minds about wanting to get the shot, too, when its available to them. I love you, Mom. Related Content: Gigi Hadid has finally unveiled the name of her daughter, four months after welcoming her into the world with boyfriend Zayn Malik. The model, 25, revealed she had named her four-month-old girl 'Khai' after quietly changing her Instagram bio on Thursday. 'Khai's mom,' the top of her bio now reads. Khai's name had been shrouded in secrecy ever since Gigi gave birth back in September, and at one point fans speculated the moniker had been revealed in a new Taylor Swift song. 'Khai's mom': Gigi Hadid has finally unveiled the name of her daughter, four months after welcoming her into the world Her number one: The name of her daughter sits at the top of her biography The internet was lit up with speculation the newborn had been named Dorothea, after Taylor released a song of the same name back in December. However, sources later told TMZ that was untrue. The name does, however, bear a resemblance to Gigi's sister Bella Hadid's middle name, Khair. Gigi chose to reveal her daughter's name on the same day the youngster turned four months old. Aww: The name bears a resemblance to Gigi's sister Bella Hadid's middle name, Khair Too cute! on Thursday, the supermodel, 25, celebrated her baby girl turning four months old The supermodel marked the special occasion with a sweet snap of herself kissing her daughter on the cheek, which she captioned, 'my girl. 4 months & THE BEST KID.' In the adorable image, Gigi donned a white button up shirt with black slacks and her hair pulled back. Only a small part of her daughter's cheek and one arm was visible in the photo; Gigi and Zayn have not publicly revealed their baby girl's face. Stunning: Gigi and partner Zayn Malik announced their daughter arrived in mid-September 2020; seen November 13, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee at the 53rd Annual CMA Awards at Bridgestone Arena Candid: Gigi posted a short video of herself showing her tired face with the note: 'To new moms. If u washed your face today. I'm proud of you' The blonde beauty's Thursday post revealed that they welcomed their daughter on September 20, three days before they made the public announcement. Gigi posted a short video of herself showing her tired face with the note: 'To new moms. If u washed your face today. I'm proud of you.' She also shared a grab of two text messages she sent Zayn; she had texted him: 'Hey. I'm obsessed w our kid.' Natural beauty: Gigi glowed in the makeup free selfie, adding a black and red North Face jacket with her hair pulled back Earlier this week, Gigi revealed that she found out she was pregnant one day before walking the Tom Ford fashion show on February 7, 2020. She was asked by a fan via Twitter is she knew she was pregnant when she walked for Jacquemus on January 18, 2020. 'When did you walk for jacquemus, did you already know that you were pregnant? or you only knew after?' they asked her. Adorable: She also shared a grab of two text messages she sent Zayn; she had texted him: 'Hey. I'm obsessed w our kid' 'Yes, I found out the day before the Tom Ford show. I was so nauseous backstage but I learned I could kinda control it if I continuously ate, so my mom would pack me snacks before each show. Bless,' she revealed. The beauty was walking Tom Ford's autumn/winter 2020 show, which took palace at Milk Studios in Hollywood. Earlier this week, on January 18, 2021, Gigi took to her Instagram to share a slideshow of her runway walk on Jacquemus when she was pregnant but did not yet know, and writing: 'A year ago, today @jacquemus! My baby girl was in there.' She also revealed her cravings during her pregnancy: 'It went in waves. Everything bagels/ extra cream cheese [bagel] triple chunk brownies for breakfast- sourdough toast & tomato olive oil salad w lots of salt and pepper lol ... and Zs ribs w fries'. The show: Earlier this week, Gigi revealed that she found out she was pregnant one day before walking the Tom Ford fashion show on February 7, 2020; seen February 7 at Tom Ford's AW20 show in Hollywood, CA Wow: Earlier this week, on January 18, 2021, Gigi took to her Instagram to shared a slideshow of her runway walk on Jacquemus, and writing: 'A year ago, today @jacquemus! My baby girl was in there;' Gigi pictured January 18, 2020 in Paris, France during the Jacquemus Menswear Fall/Winter 2020-2021 Paris Fashion week show Throwback: Gigi took fans down memory lane as she uploaded a trio of never-before-seen snapshots from her pregnancy to Instagram on November 30 'Also arugula salads !!! But during fashion month in Europe it was hard to find bagels so I ate mostly bread & Dutch cheese (except for in London, Taylor gave me bagels) Backstage at Burberry was the hardest day with the nausea, I remember.' The duo were first seen together in November 2015 after she split from Joe Jonas; by January 2016, Gigi donned a Z necklace to Paris Fashion Week and had him as her phone background, although Zayn said they were 'good friends.' That same month, Gigi starred in his Pillowtalk music video, which had several steamy moments between the two. Sweet: She answered fan questions via Twitter about her pregnancy and cravings The couple covered Vogue in April 2016 for a love filled shoot and one month later, they attend the Met Gala together. Gigi and Zayn split in March 2018 but one month later, they were seen kissing in New York City. By January 2019 they split again but were back together by December 2019; the couple confirmed their romance again in February 2020. She shared a throwback snap of Zayn at the Hadid family farm in December 2019. By April 28, 2020, Gigi was rumored to be pregnant, which she confirmed on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. Wow factor: The beauty pictured at the family farm with her baby bump on full display Waiting: 'August, waiting for our girl,' captioned Hadid in another snap she shared in November; she is eight months pregnant in the photo Thanksgiving: Gigi celebrated Thanksgiving with her daughter, her family, Zayn and his mom Doting: She is often seen going on walks with her baby girl in New York City A man has been charged over the fatal stabbing of a father, as well as two other knife attacks in north-west London. Amine Laouar is accused of the murder of delivery driver Leon Street. The 48-year-old was stabbed to death on January 11 in Neasden, close to where he lived with his fiancee. Leon Street, 48, died near his home in Brent, north west London, on January 11 at 9.30pm Police arrested a 20-year-old man in connection with Leon's death and two other attacks Laouar, 20, is also charged with grievous bodily harm with intent against another man, aged 47, who was stabbed around 10 minutes before the attack on Mr Street. He faces a third charge of attempted murder of a 32-year-old man in Neasden Lane North on Sunday January 17. Police and paramedics were called to the scene on Neasden Lane North just after 9.30pm on January 11. Sunday's victim, a man believed to be aged in his 30s, was taken to hospital for stab injuries and his injuries are not believed to be life-threatening. Pictured: Police officers on the scene However they could not save Mr Street, who was a father and step-grandfather. Police had previously said they were keeping an open mind over the motive as none of the victims appeared to have been robbed. Officers believe the attacker did not saying anything significant to the victims. Laouar, of Oxford Place, in north west London, is due to appear at Highbury Corner Magistrates' Court on Friday. Hryvnia strengthens to U.S. dollar on Jan 25 The rate against the euro is fixed at UAH 34.25. Reporting by UNIAN If you see a spelling error on our site, select it and press Ctrl+Enter New Delhi: The benchmark indices soared to record high-level of 31,450.32 points in morning trade on Thursday following the positive trend cues in Asian markets after oil prices climbed from their 10-month lows, while investors also took cues from the minutes of Reserve Bank of India (RBI)'s June policy meeting. HDFC Bank contributed significantly to the index gains, pulling it to higher levels. HDFC Bank was trading up by 0.7% at Rs 1712 per share. Other stocks in the index viz. Yes Bank is trading higher by 1.5% at Rs 1454 per share, Federal Bank is up by 1.0% at Rs 118 per share, Axis Bank is up 0.9% at Rs 512 per share, State Bank of India is up 0.7% at Rs 292 per share and IndusInd Bank is also up by 0.5% at Rs 1502 per share. At 10:40 am, the S&P BSE Sensex was trading at 31,413, up 130 points, while the broader Nifty50 was ruling at 9,668, up 34 points. In the broader market, the S&P BSE Midcap and the S&P BSE Smallcap indices gained 0.3 percent and 0.5 percent, respectively. For all the Latest Business News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. The creditors of debt-laden mortgage lender Dewan Housing Finance Corporation Ltd (DHFL) has declared Piramal Capital and Housing Finance Ltd (PCHFL), a subsidiary of Piramal Enterprises, as a successful bidder. In a filing to exchange, Piramal Enterprises said that the administrator of DHFL has informed the company of the Committee of Creditors (CoC) decision through a Letter of Intent (LOI). "We wish to inform you that the Administrator of DHFL vide Letter of Intent ('LOI') dated 22nd January, 2021, has intimated that the Committee of Creditors of DHFL have declared Piramal Capital & Housing Finance Limited ('PCHFL'), wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, as the Successful Resolution Applicant in relation to the Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process of DHFL under the Insolvency & Bankruptcy Code, 2016 and identified the resolution plan submitted by PCHFL, as the Successful Resolution Plan," says billionaire Ajay Piramal-led firm. The company further stated that the implementation of the resolution plan is subject to the terms of the LOI and requisite approvals from Reserve Bank of India, National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) Mumbai Bench and other regulatory authorities under applicable laws. The committee of creditors (CoC) had approved the resolution bid submitted by Piramal Capital and Housing Finance at the 18th committee of creditors (CoC) meeting held on January 15, 2021. Reports suggest that Piramal's bid received 94 per cent votes, as opposed to 45 per cent votes to competitor Oaktree Capital. In November 2019, the Reserve Bank referred DHFL, the third-largest pure-play mortgage lender, to the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) for insolvency proceedings. As of July 2019, the company owed Rs 83,873 crore to banks, the National Housing Board, mutual funds and bondholders. DHFL was the first finance company to be referred to NCLT by the RBI using special powers under Section 227 of the IBC. Before that, the company's board was superseded and R Subramaniakumar was appointed as the administrator. He is also the resolution professional under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC). Also Read: DHFL lenders approve Piramal bid for resolution plan Also Read: DHFL bid: Will billionaire Ajay Piramal be fourth time lucky? Members of the Senate on Friday confirmed Lloyd Austin, a retired Army four-star general, to run the Defense Department -- a historic move that gives the military its first Black defense secretary. Senators confirmed Austin's nomination in a vote of 93 to 2. Austin is the second member of President Joe Biden's Cabinet to be approved, following Avril Haines as director of national intelligence on Wednesday. Austin arrived at the Pentagon just after noon Friday to be sworn in and begin work. He tweeted immediately following the vote that he's proud to be the first African American to hold the position. Read Next: After Lawmakers Intervene, Guard Troops Allowed to Return to Capitol for Breaks "Let's get to work," he said. The House and Senate on Thursday cleared the way for Austin to be confirmed after both chambers approved the waiver he needs to serve as defense secretary. He's been out of uniform for less than the seven years required by law after retiring from the Army in 2016. The House approved the waiver in a vote of 326 to 78 Thursday afternoon. The Senate followed suit, 69 to 27. Austin said in a video message posted earlier this month that becoming the first Black defense secretary would be an honor and privilege. But it's not the first time he's broken barriers in his career. Austin was the first African American to command an infantry division in combat. He was also the first African American to be vice chief of the Army and, later, the first Black general to lead U.S. Central Command. "It shouldn't have taken this long for us to get here," he said. "There should've been someone that preceded me." Austin steps into the role as defense secretary at a time when the military is facing renewed scrutiny over the issue of racism and extremism in the ranks. Several troops have been forced out of the military in recent years for belonging to white supremacist groups or posting racist comments online. Military leaders across the force are reviewing policies that might inadvertently discriminate against some troops. Austin told lawmakers Tuesday that he was committed to addressing those problems once he became defense secretary. The military community is also overrepresented among those arrested following the Jan. 6 siege at the U.S. Capitol. Nearly one in five, or almost 20%, of the people who have been charged over their alleged involvement in the attack appear to have a military history, NPR reported this week. Only about 7% of all American adults are military veterans, NPR noted. Defense leaders also warned last week that homegrown extremist groups are trying to recruit military members and veterans to join their causes. Lawmakers from both parties have said Austin is the right person to lead the Defense Department at this time, despite not meeting the seven-year "cooling-off period" required to serve in the civilian leadership position. Several senators said ahead of Friday's vote that they would confirm Austin. Sen. Jack Reed, a Rhode Island Democrat who's on the Senate Armed Services Committee, called Austin an exceptionally qualified leader with a long and distinguished career. Still, both Reed and Sen. Republican leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky said Congress should not overlook the importance of the law that bars recently retired leaders, like Austin, from serving as defense secretary. "I'll vote today to confirm a clear patriot with an impressive career," McConnell said. "But I'll cast that vote with the understanding that our new secretary of defense specifically commits to balancing civil-military relations, empowering civilian leaders at the Pentagon and playing an active role in the inherently political budget process to get our forces what they need." The retired Army general is the second retired officer to get a waiver in four years. Congress granted one to Jim Mattis when President Donald Trump nominated him to be SecDef a few years after he retired from the Marine Corps. The two Republican senators to vote against Austins confirmation were Mike Lee of Utah and Josh Hawley of Missouri. -- 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 Federal Education Minister Alan Tudge says the large-scale return of international students to Australian campuses may depend on the availability of an effective vaccine. In his first public comments since being appointed to the education portfolio, Mr Tudge said there was no clear timeline for when international students could return in significant numbers, but the prospect of a successful vaccine provided an avenue of hope. Education Minister Alan Tudge says a viable and effective vaccine is key to the return of international students in large numbers. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen Ordinarily, we have about 185,000 students who would cross the borders and come into Australia to start at the beginning of the academic year, and about the same number again in the middle of the year. Now, when we can get back to those types of numbers, I dont know yet, Mr Tudge told ABC radio. Were really taking it week by week and month by month. Obviously, a big factor in all of this is the vaccine and how effective that will be. And should that vaccine be effective, then it really does make a big difference and we may be able to take numbers in again. The Bono East Regional office of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has called on President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to set up an independent body to investigate the shooting incident that characterised the just ended general election in the Techiman South Constituency. In a petition signed by Mr Ali Mohammed Shamsudeen, the NDC Bono East Regional Secretary and made available to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Techiman on Thursday, said the party prayed investigations into the post- election violence would be swift, and perpetrators made to face the full rigours of the law. The post-election violence which happened at the Techiman Bonokyempem Hall on December 7, was characterised by sporadic gunshots, and left two dead while five others sustained gunshot wounds. The shooting started during collation of the election results, when supporters of the NDC attempted to forcibly break into the hall, which forced the police to fire gunshots to disperse the crowd. The Party said it had already sent a copy of the petition to the Bono East Regional Coordinating Council in Techiman to be forwarded to President Akufo-Addo. "We cannot trust the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) because they have clearly shown that they cannot be neutral and transparent in this matter. Since perpetrators of this monstrous crime are their colleagues, they cannot do proper investigations," it stated. The petition indicated that until proper investigations were conducted into the matter and perpetrators brought to book, nothing could comfort the bereaved families as they sought for justice. "We expect that the police will not transfer any personnel who was either involved in the shooting incident or on duty at the Bonokyempem Hall on that fateful day until investigations are over," it added. "The Member of Parliament for Bekwai Constituency, Mr Joseph Osei Owusu must also retract and render an unqualified apology to the deceased family and the injured people for assertions he made in the media that the police rather shot on criminals," the petition stated. Meanwhile, the Bono Regional Coordinating Council, has on behalf of government presented GH15,000 to the victims, and the bereaved families. So far, the GNA gathered that four of the victims, had already been treated and discharged from hospitals, while one was still receiving treatment at the Wenchi Government Hospital. Source: GNA Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video CI Global Asset Management Funds and ETFs Recognized for Performance by FundGrade A+ Awards CI Global Asset Management ("CI GAM") announced today that it has received 35 FundGrade A+ Awards, which are presented annually by Fundata Canada Inc. to acknowledge Canadian investment funds that have maintained an exceptional performance rating over the entire previous calendar year. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210122005025/en/ CI Global Asset Management funds and ETFs were recognized for performance by FundGrade A+ Awards. Photo credit: Fundata Canada Inc. Winning CI GAM funds included six mutual funds and pools, two exchange-traded funds, and 27 segregated funds managed by CI GAM. "The FundGrade A+ awards represent an objective recognition of investment excellence and we're proud to see our performance reflected in the results," said Kurt MacAlpine, Chief Executive Officer of CI Financial Corp., parent company of CI GAM. "The awards speak to the quality and diversity of our product lineup as well as the investment capabilities of our portfolio management team. CI GAM has built a diverse product lineup that allows investors to access our investment expertise in the mandate and structure that best suits their needs and preferences. "It's notable that our winning mandates span asset classes, as well as product structures including mutual and segregated funds, pools and ETFs. Congratulations to our portfolio managers." CI's winning mutual funds, pools and ETFs are: The awards were announced today by Fundata Canada at a virtual awards presentation. For more information on the FundGrade A+ Awards, please visit the website. About CI Global Asset Management CI Global Asset Management is one of Canada's largest investment management companies. It offers a wide range of investment products and services and is on the Web at www.ci.com. CI Global Asset Management is a subsidiary of CI Financial Corp. (TSX: CIX, NYSE: CIXX), an independent company offering global asset management and wealth management advisory services with approximately $231 billion in total assets as of December 31, 2020. Commissions, trailing commissions, management fees and expenses all may be associated with mutual fund and exchange-traded fund (ETF) investments. Please read the prospectus before investing. The indicated rates of return are the historical annual compound total returns net of fees and expenses payable by the fund (except for figures of one year or less, which are simple total returns) including changes in security value and reinvestment of all distributions and do not take into account sales, redemption, distribution or optional charges or income taxes payable by any securityholder that would have reduced returns. Mutual funds and ETFs are not guaranteed, their values change frequently and past performance may not be repeated. You will usually pay brokerage fees to your dealer if you purchase or sell units of an ETF on recognized Canadian exchanges. If the units are purchased or sold on these Canadian exchanges, investors may pay more than the current net asset value when buying units of the ETF and may receive less than the current net asset value when selling them. CI Global Asset Management is a registered business name of CI Investments Inc. Wellington Management is the portfolio sub-advisor to certain United Pool funds offered and managed by CI Global Asset Management through Assante Wealth Management. CI Investments Inc. 2021. All rights reserved. List of Winning funds Fund Name CIFSC Category1 FundGrade Start date2 Fund Count3 Cambridge Bond Fund Canadian Fixed Income 1/31/2016 315 Signature Floating Rate Income Fund Floating Rate Loan 1/31/2018 64 Sentry U.S. Monthly Income Fund Global Equity Balanced 1/31/2014 751 Sentry Global Investment Grade Private Pool Class Global Fixed Income 1/31/2017 278 Sentry Defensive Income Portfolio Global Fixed Income Balanced 1/31/2018 436 United US Equity Growth Pool U.S. Equity 1/31/2011 888 CI First Asset Morningstar Canada Momentum (News - Alert) Index ETF (TSX: WXM) Canadian Equity 1/31/2013 418 CI First Asset Gold+ Giants Covered Call ETF (TSX: CGXF) Natural Resources Equity 1/31/2012 86 1 Canadian Investment Funds Standards Committee (CIFSC). 2 As used by Fundata to calculate relevant time period. The end date for the FundGrade calculation is December 31, 2020. 3 Number of peers in Category. FundGrade A+ is used with permission from Fundata Canada Inc., all rights reserved. The annual FundGrade A+ Awards are presented by Fundata Canada Inc. to recognize the "best of the best" among Canadian investment funds. The FundGrade A+ calculation is supplemental to the monthly FundGrade ratings and is calculated at the end of each calendar year. The FundGrade rating system evaluates funds based on their risk-adjusted performance, measured by Sharpe Ratio, Sortino Ratio, and Information Ratio. The score for each ratio is calculated individually, covering all time periods from 2 to 10 years. The scores are then weighted equally in calculating a monthly FundGrade. The top 10% of funds earn an A Grade; the next 20% of funds earn a B Grade; the next 40% of funds earn a C Grade; the next 20% of funds receive a D Grade; and the lowest 10% of funds receive an E Grade. To be eligible, a fund must have received a FundGrade rating every month in the previous year. The FundGrade A+ uses a GPA-style calculation, where each monthly FundGrade from "A" to "E" receives a score from 4 to 0, respectively. A fund's average score for the year determines its GPA. Any fund with a GPA of 3.5 or greater is awarded a FundGrade A+ Award. For more information, see www.FundGradeAwards.com. Although Fundata makes every effort to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the data contained herein, the accuracy is not guaranteed by Fundata. Performance for Cambridge Bond Fund Class A for the period ended December 31, 2020 is as follows: 1 year, 8.53%; 3 years, N/A; and since inception, 8.26% (2018-11-16). Performance for Sentry Defensive Income Portfolio Series A for the period ended December 31, 2020 is as follows: 1 year, 6.33%; 3 years, 4.87%; and since inception, 3.73% (2017-06-26). Performance for Sentry Global Investment Grade Private Pool Class A for the period ended December 31, 2020 is as follows: 1 year, 11.12%; 3 years, 6.32%; and since inception, 4.83% (2016-07-04). Performance for Sentry U.S. Monthly Income Fund Series A for the period ended December 31, 2020 is as follows: 1 year, 4.67%; 3 years, 7.56%; 5 years, 6.59%; and since inception, 10.30% (2013-03-04). Performance for Signature Floating Rate Income Fund A for the period ended December 31, 2020 is as follows: 1 year, 1.50%; 3 years, 2.99%; and since inception, 2.65% (2017-06-01). Performance for United US Equity Growth Pool Class A for the period ended December 31, 2020 is as follows: 1 year, 29.88%; 3 years, 19.82%; 5 years, 16.04%; 10 years, 16.36%; and since inception, 10.36% (2006-12-28). Performance for CI First Asset Morningstar Canada Momentum Index ETF for the period ended December 31, 2020 is as follows: 1 year, 4.57%; 3 years, 9.36%; 5 years, 9.47%; and since inception, 10.02% (2012-02-15). Performance for CI First Asset Gold+ Giants Covered Call ETF for the period ended December 31, 2020 is as follows: 1 year, 15.07%; 3 years, 4.05%; 5 years, 9.66%; and since inception, -1.38% (2011-06-03). Source (News - Alert) : Morningstar Research Inc., as at December 31, 2020. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210122005025/en/ Yash has been enjoying his vacation with his family in the Maldives. In the latest post, the actor can be seen enjoying with his wife and kids at the beach. Since his first post a couple of days ago, KGF's Yash has been posting series of multiple pictures as he enjoys his vacation near the bright blue sea. In the most recent pictures that he posted, the actor can be seen having a gala time with his kids playing in the sand near the beach. Also Read | Yash Starrer 'KGF 2' Shoot Inches Towards Completion, Team To Wrap Up By Mid-January Yash's family enjoys vacation in the Maldives Also Read | 'KGF' Actor Yash Flies To Maldives For A Family Vacation; Have A Look At The Pictures In the first image, KGF's Yash can be seen hugging his son and playing with his daughter as they try to build something out of the sand. The adorable kids were seen sporting adorable shark-like outfits which fans loved very much. In one of the pictures, Yash and Radhika are seen playing with their kids in the water. The blissful blue waters and the mesmerising orange sunset set the perfect vibe for their family outing. The kids wearing shark outfits too were all smiles in this picture. In another picture from the same post, Yash and Radhika Pandit were seen posing in a candid way as Yash lifted his daughter up the water. The family hence seemed to be having a great time together. Also Read | KGF's Yash To Rashmika Mandanna Round-up: How South Celebs Spent The First Week Of 2021 In his caption, Yash mentioned that water and sand never gave him so much joy as he had with his kids. He then tagged the place he was staying at in the Maldives along with a number of other hashtags as well. A number of fans loved the picture series uploaded by him and send out a couple of hearts reacting to the wonderful images shared by the actor on his timeline. Earlier as well, Yash shared some beautiful images of his family as he strolled down a pathway in the Maldives. Fans have loved watching Yash and his amazing picture series from his vacation. In one of his earlier posts, Yash went on to call the Maldives a tropical paradise and thus expressed how much he was enjoying his vacation with his family. Also Read | KGF's Yash Birthday: #HappyBirthDayRockyBhai Trends On Twitter As Fans Pour In Wishes Get the latest entertainment news from India & around the world. Now follow your favourite television celebs and telly updates. Republic World is your one-stop destination for trending Bollywood news. Tune in today to stay updated with all the latest news and headlines from the world of entertainment. A Japanese mother who tested positive for the coronavirus has killed herself at her home after she felt sorry for causing trouble for her family, reports say. The woman, aged in her 30s, was found dead last Friday in her Tokyo apartment where she was self-isolating after contracting Covid-19. In a note she left behind, the parent wrote that it is inexcusable that I have become a nuisance, and blamed herself for her daughter catching the virus. A Japanese mother (not pictured) who tested positive for the coronavirus has killed herself at her home after she felt sorry for causing trouble for her family, reports say. In this file photo, a mask-donning woman walks near one of the Olympic venues in Tokyo on Wednesday The Japanese woman lived with her husband and daughter who have both tested positive for the disease, according to local media citing sources. Despite having no symptoms, the Japanese mother expressed her worries in her note that she may have passed her infection to people she knew. She also said that she felt sorry for causing trouble for people around her. 'It is inexcusable that I have become a nuisance,' the woman wrote. Health experts have called for necessary mental care for the people who self-isolate at home during the coronavirus pandemic, which has killed more than two million people worldwide. Ueda Michiko, an associate professor studying suicide at Waseda University, told NHK that many people feel pressured when they get infected for the virus as they think that they might spread the virus or cause trouble for others. There is also the fact that you are restricted from interacting with others, which may mentally drive you into a corner, Michiko said. We need a system that understands how to care for them. The number of people taking their own lives in Japan rose for the first time in over a decade last year, as the pandemic reversed years of progress combatting a high suicide rate (file) The news comes as the number of people taking their own lives in Japan has risen for the first time in over a decade last year, as the pandemic reversed years of progress combatting a stubbornly high suicide rate. Japan's health and welfare ministry said Friday that 20,919 people died by suicide in 2020 according to preliminary data, up 3.7 per cent from the previous year. That compares with 3,460 deaths from coronavirus in the same period. It marks the first year-on-year rise in suicides in more than a decade, with women and children, in particular, taking their lives at higher rates. Japan has long had the highest suicide rate among the Group of Seven advanced countries -- though regionally South Korea registers higher figures. But the government has worked in recent years to better support people with mental health needs. Japan has seen a smaller coronavirus outbreak than some countries, avoiding the harsh lockdown measures put in place elsewhere, and a fall in suicides during the first half of 2020 raised hopes that the pandemic's impact might be limited. But the figures began to rise in July after a first state of emergency was lifted in May, a pattern experts say tracks with data showing suicides often drop in the first phase of crises such as conflicts and natural disasters, before rising sharply. For confidential support call the Samaritans on 116123 or visit a local Samaritans branch, see www.samaritans.org for details. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 22) Tuguegarao City Mayor Jefferson Soriano tested positive for COVID-19, the city information office announced on Friday. Soriano is now undergoing isolation at the Tuguegarao City People's General Hospital after he was fetched from the city hall. Soriano said in a local radio interview he took a swab test on Thursday, together with his driver and security. The Tuguegarao City Health Office said Soriano is currently asymptomatic and tagged as patient CV6608. Soriano recently placed the entire city under enhanced community quarantine for 10 days, from Jan. 20 to Jan. 29, due to a spike in COVID-19 infections in the area. As of Thursday, the city has a total of 247 active cases in 30 out of 49 barangays. Hyderabad, Jan 22 : Shifting their focus to Covid vaccination, health authorities in Telangana are conducting fewer tests, leading to a further drop in daily count of positive cases. The government and private laboratories in the state conducted 28,791 samples during the last 24 hours ending 8 p.m. Thursday. Of these 24,892 samples were tested in government laboratories and 3,899 in private facilities. The state has a daily target of 50,000 tests but the authorities were conducting 40,000 to 45,000 tests, except on weekends and holidays when half of the targetted tests were conducted. Since the first week of this month, the daily tests dropped to around 30,000 as most of the officials in the health department were busy with vaccination. Experts have warned against complacency at a time when there is drop in positivity rate. They say testing remains the key to check the virus spread. In its daily media bulletin, the health department does not provide details like type of tests. It is believed that 50 per cent of the total tests are Rapid Antigen tests. As there are more false negatives in Rapid Antigen tests, experts say that the state is already missing out on positive cases. There are 1,076 Rapid Antigen testing centres in the state. Twenty government and 56 laboratories are conducting RT PCR/CBNAAT/TRUENAT tests. The state has so far conducted 76,02,975 tests. Samples tested per million population rose to 2,04,271. Health officials said as per the World Health Organisation (WHO) benchmark of 140 tests per million population, the daily testing target for the state is 5,600. The drop in number of tests means fewer cases being detected. Over the last couple of weeks, the daily count has dropped to 250-300. Telangana High Court, during a hearing on a batch of public interest litigations on Thursday, remarked that the government must know that the more it tests, the more safe its public would be. A division bench headed by Chief Justice Hima Kohli pointed out that even in a city-state like Delhi, 40,000 tests are done per day. The court directed the government to record the results of the tests for two weeks from January 25 and furnish it by the next date of hearing. It also asked the government to indicate number of tests, type of tests and turnaround time in conveying the result of the tests to people. The court observed that with its constant directions and the government showing compliance the situation has improved here with number of cases coming down to below 500. The high court directed the state government to furnish it with details of serosurveillance it had conducted in the last six months along with the aspects found in the survey and steps taken to contain Covid spread in the areas identified in the survey. Meanwhile, during the last 24 hours, the state reported 214 new cases, taking the cumulative tally to 2,92,835. Two more persons succumbed to the virus, pushing the death toll to 1,586. The period also saw 351 recoveries, taking the cumulative number to 2,87,468. The recovery rate improved further to 98.16 against the national average of 96.8 per cent. The number of active cases dropped further to 3,781. Of them, 2,178 were in home or institutional isolation. The cases in Greater Hyderabad dropped to 38. Karimnagar, Medchal Malkajgiri and Rangareddy districts reported 14 cases each. No cases were reported from four districts while in remaining 25 districts the daily count was less than 10. WAs sewage testing program continues to return no unexpected detection of coronavirus, though Health Minister Roger Cook has warned people not to take WAs situation for granted amid new, more highly infectious strains. Weekly testing has continued since November at six of Perths wastewater treatment plants: Subiaco, Woodman Point, Alkimos, Beenyup, Gordon Road and Point Peron. Wastewater testing has emerged as a key early-warning system for COVID-19 outbreaks. Credit:University of Queensland There has been no detection of the virus at the other five plants and none in regional plants across Albany, Broome, Bunbury, Busselton, Esperance, Geraldton, Kalgoorlie, Karratha, Northam or Port Hedland. The Subiaco plant is the only one to have detected inactive viral fragments. These detections were expected because the Subiaco plant processes wastewater from the state-run quarantine hotels, and the government stressed on Friday morning that the virus does not live in wastewater. .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... Copyright 2021 Albuquerque Journal New Mexico State Police identified the officers but not the deputies who shot at and killed a man last month following a pursuit and standoff in Farmington. State Police spokesman Dusty Francisco said State Police officer Nathan Oliver, Farmington officer Navid Babadi and four San Juan County deputies fired on William Hernandez, 46, on Dec. 14 outside the Life Care Center in Farmington. Hernandez, who police said was holding a gun to another mans head in a vehicle at the time, died at the scene. At the request of the San Juan County Sheriffs Office, the identities of the deputies involved will not be released by State Police, Francisco said. ADVERTISEMENTSkip ................................................................ Kevin Burns, a spokesman for the San Juan County Sheriffs Office, said they are not releasing the names of the deputies due to Hernandezs gang affiliation and threats that have come in since his death. Francisco said the incident began around 9:20 a.m., when San Juan County deputies responded to a domestic dispute on County Road 3939 in Farmington. A woman told deputies her boyfriend, Hernandez, had kicked in her door and pistol-whipped her. He said deputies spotted the vehicle Hernandez was in on Wildflower Parkway, near Murray Drive, and attempted a traffic stop. The vehicle fled and deputies gave chase as the suspects avoided spike strips and led them to the Life Care Center. Francisco said State Police, Farmington police and deputies surrounded the vehicle which had Hernandez and three others inside and gave commands for them to surrender. One by one, the people inside the vehicle got out until only Hernandez and the driver remained. He said Hernandez repeatedly put the handgun to the head of the driver before four deputies, Oliver and Babadi opened fire. Francisco said the driver then exited the vehicle and authorities found Hernandez fatally injured, with a handgun and knife in his lap, in the passenger seat. He said the driver sustained minor injuries. Francisco said Oliver has been with State Police for five years and Babadi has been with Farmington police for six. ROME, JAN 22 - Italian police said Friday that they had arrested a 22-year-old from the northern city of Savona for allegedly forming a white supremacist criminal association to carry out acts of terrorism. He is also accused of spreading white supremacist propaganda and of instigating people to commit crimes for reasons of racial discrimination, aggravated by historical negationism. Police also searched the homes of 12 peple linked to the 22-year-old in Genoa, Turin, Cagliari, Forli-Cesena, Palermo, Perugia, Bologna and Cuneo. The man was allegedly inspired by American white supremacist group the AtomWaffen Division and the Nazi Waffen-SS. He allegedly set up chat groups in which he instigated violence against Jews. Investigtors said he wrote and distributed via the Internet Neo-Nazi and Anti-Semitic documents in which he called for a violent revolution against "the State occupied by Zionists" and the physical elimination of Jewish people. Speaking on the Internet and in web chats, he allegedly said he wanted to commit atrocities like the massacres staged in Utoya in Norway in 2011 and in Christchurch New Zealand in 2019. In the conversations, he also allegedly called on people to commit school massacres and the mass murder of "race traitors", sacrificing their own lives if necessary. (ANSA). The driver of a Nissan Rogue was flown to an area hospital after a one-vehicle crash Thursday night off the 200 block of Anderson Road in Franklin Township, Warren County, according to New Jersey State Police. The SUV crashed into and uprooted a tree in the front yard of a home after traveling through other yards, a report from the scene said. The driver, who appeared to be the only person in the apparently westbound vehicle, was flown in a New Jersey State Police NorthStar helicopter from near the township firehouse on Main Street to St. Lukes University Hospital in Fountain Hill, the report said. There werent serious injuries but a person was flown for further evaluation, police said State troopers from the Washington barracks are investigating and were assisted by Washington Township police, Franklin Township firefighters and EMS personnel as well as Hunterdon Medical Center paramedics, the report said. See additional photos from the scene below: The driver was flown to a local hospital after a crash about 9:40 p.m. Jan. 21, 2021, in the 200 block of Anderson Road in Franklin Township, Warren County.Rich Maxwell | lehighvalleylive.com contributor The driver was flown to a local hospital after a crash about 9:40 p.m. Jan. 21, 2021, in the 200 block of Anderson Road in Franklin Township, Warren County.Rich Maxwell | lehighvalleylive.com contributor The driver was flown to a local hospital after a crash about 9:40 p.m. Jan. 21, 2021, in the 200 block of Anderson Road in Franklin Township, Warren County.Rich Maxwell | lehighvalleylive.com contributor Freelance photographer Rich Maxwell provided reporting for this post. Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting lehighvalleylive.com with a subscription. Tony Rhodin can be reached at arhodin@lehighvalleylive.com. The Missourians Opinion section is a public forum for the discussion of ideas. The views presented in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Missourian or the University of Missouri. If you would like to contribute to the Opinion page with a response or an original topic of your own, visit our submission form What's Happening? If we just followed the headlines, then the entire continent of Africa has been written off by many investors as a fruitless search for fool's gold. So I would ask you to leave all you preconceptions behind and think about a bigger picture and a longer story about how the economies on this continent are changing. Why Does It Matter? Africa is usually associated with poverty and greed, with income seemingly dependent upon mining of all types. Adventure: There are some telephony companies quoted in the UK which have specialised in telephony and money transfer services in Africa Yes of course there are still many governance and political questions, but some of those same points can be raised closer to home as well. Rather, Africa is changing and this can best be seen by the greater value of trade between the nations. Traditionally, countries have sought to protect their economies with higher tariff walls. For anyone who has read anything about economics, this is rarely a route to success. Free trade areas tend to foster greater exchange of goods and services and greater wealth. Although it has been virtually ignored by the western media, the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) has been signed and ratified by 34 nations and was implemented at the start of the year. This is not going to mark an immediate change but is a pointer in the right direction. However, there are some early ways of benefiting from the internal development of African economies and not just through the hollowing out of its minerals but through a way familiar to us all mobile phones. What Should I Do? I have seen from my own experience how telephony has leapt forward. We have moved on from the days when I had a landline phone in my office in Kampala, Uganda, but unfortunately, since there was no system in place, the plastic handset on my desk was just a status symbol. Now mobile phones are used for trading throughout a growing number of countries and I must say mostly done successfully by the women in the villages. So we could look at investing in the mast infrastructure, although that is a longer play, or in actual operating and growing telecoms companies. Any Suggestions? Putting money in to Africa is for adventurous investors. There are in fact some telephony companies quoted in the UK which have specialised in telephony and money transfer services. Airtel Africa operates in 14 countries across the continent and is now the second largest mobile operator there with over 116m mobile customers and nearly 20m money transfer users. It is a member of the FTSE250 index so UK investors can buy easily. For a less risky ride, try a passive fund of the continent's 50 largest shares, of which about half are in South Africa. The Xtrackers MSCI Africa Top 50 will give you a broader and more diversified portfolio. Justin Urquhart Stewart co-founded fund manager 7IM and is chairman of investment platform Regionally. US commerce secretary signs MoU with Bahrain for setting up US Trade Zone The US Department of Commerce and the ministry of industry, commerce and tourism of the Kingdom of Bahrain on Wednesday signed of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to enhance bilateral trade through the establishment of a US Trade Zone (USTZ) in the Gulf nation. The MoU, signed by US secretary of commerce Wilbur Ross and the Bahrains minister of industry, commerce, and tourism Zayed R. Alzayani, focuses on export and investment promotion. The Kingdom of Bahrain has been, and continues to be, an important strategic and trade partner of the United States, maintaining stability and ensuring the free flow of commerce in the Gulf. The Department of Commerce remains committed to our deep partnership with the Kingdom, said commerce secretary Wilbur Ross. This MoU is but one such example of our mutual commitment and close relationship, and the International Trade Administration is committed to working with the Kingdom of Bahrain toward the realisation of this unique free trade zone. The commerce secretary said the establishment of a USTZ in Bahrain will foster enhanced economic connectivity, trade, and industrial cooperation and will help boost bilateral trade between the two countries. The United States and the Kingdom of Bahrain will promote the USTZ as a regional trade, manufacturing, logistics, and distribution hub for US companies in Bahrain, markets in the Gulf Cooperation Council, and beyond. The USTZ will allow US businesses multimodal access to an area ideal for crossdocking activities, end-to-end specialised customs solutions, and fast-track operation for the purpose of exporting via Khalifa bin Salman Port, Bahrain International Airport, King Fahad Causeway or any future customs posts created by the Kingdom of Bahrain. The commerce department says the United States and the Kingdom of Bahrain are longstanding partners with a strong record of economic and security cooperation. The US established diplomatic relations with Bahrain in 1971 and designated Bahrain a major non-NATO ally in 2002. The US-Bahrain Free Trade Agreement (FTA) entered into force in 2006, generating additional commercial opportunities for both countries. In 2019, bilateral merchandise trade reached $2.45 billion, with an additional $1.5 billion of trade in services (as per 2019 figures) 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. Armenias Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure Suren Papikyan and Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to Armenia Sergey Kopirkin paid a visit to the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant (ANPP) to become familiar with the course of implementation of the activities for modernization of the nuclear power plant. During the visit, the parties mentioned the successful implementation of the activities completed in 2020. The ANPP has prepared for the final stage of modernization. The system of heat treatment for rehabilitation of the reactor body has been placed after being inspected and is fully ready for exploitation. The heat treatment process will be carried out this year and will allow the ANPP to operate even after 2026. The main contractor for operation of the ANPP is Rusatom Service OJSC. Papikyan highly appreciated the professional qualities and dedication of the employees of the system thanks to whom it was possible to maintain stability of nuclear energy which is of strategic importance for Armenia in the difficult period of 2020. Nuclear energy allows to ensure the proper level of energetic security and independence of Armenia. I attach great importance to the joint efforts for development of the sector with Armenias partners, Papikyan said He also reminded that this year marks the 55th anniversary of nuclear energy in Armenia and emphasized that the Government of Armenia approved the strategic plan for energy development until 2014 in the beginning of this year. Commenting on the development of cooperation between Russia and Armenia in the energy sector, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to Armenia Sergey Kopirkin stated the following: Nuclear energy remains a truly strategic direction for the development of our cooperation. The importance of successful implementation of the project for modernization of the ANPP has never been questioned. A tremendous amount of work has been done over the past three years, and this was possible due to the professional mastery, coordinated and dedicated efforts of Armenian and Russian specialists. However, there is still a lot of work to do, and the year 2021 will be crucial for achieving the final outcome. The Armenian Nuclear Power Plant must remain as a sustainable source for production of energy with low prices and contribute to the countrys socio-economic development. The Hanoi Department of Health has called out local supermarkets for slacking off on following COVID-19 prevention guidelines. Chu Xuan Dung, deputy chairman of the municipal Peoples Committee, officiated a meeting on epidemic prevention measures with authorities of wards, communes, and districts in the capital on Thursday. During the meeting, Hoang Duc Hanh, deputy director of Hanois Department of Health, noted that the city has recently reported three new transmissions, all of whom are imported cases and were quarantined on arrival. The capital city has gone 157 days without any additional community transmission, however, the Department of Health emphasized that the pandemic is still unpredictable considering new variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus have been detected in the UK and have spread to over 50 other countries. Permanent members of the Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control also pointed out immense threats from the escalation of illegal entrances into Vietnam, which have amounted to hundreds of cases detected per day. In one specific case, the illegal entrants entered the country through the northern border with China before traveling to the south in an automobile. In light of the issues, Hanh sounded the alarm on the yearning of overseas Vietnamese to return to the country in time for the Lunar New Year holiday, which may enkindle new COVID-19 outbreaks if illegal entrances are not curbed. Hanh also noted that cold weather in the city may prove a favorable condition for COVID-19 spread. Hanoi residents have started dropping their guard against the epidemic and neglecting necessary prevention guidelines at restaurants and supermarkets, Hanh reported. When I went with the city's deputy chairman to oversee the adherence to epidemic prevention guidelines yesterday, [I noticed] requisite measures such as disinfectant usage and face mask wearing were not well upheld, Hanh said. Most districts reported good compliance, but realistic implementation didnt quite match. "We need to rectify this immediately as the city-level inspectors cannot cover each individual case." Meanwhile, deputy chairman Dung warned of strict punishment for neglecting the COVID-19 prevention procedures. Dung declared that messaging will be pushed to each residential area so that citizens can stay vigilant against illegal entry. In addition, law enforcement officers must enhance their prevention against unlawful entrances. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! The Worcester headquarters of Davis Advertising, the largest advertising agency in Central Massachusetts, has been sold to the local owners of a professional staffing services firm, the real estate firm Kelleher & Sadowsky Associates has announced. The 13,000-square-foot building at 1331 Grafton St. sold for $2,037,500 to a limited liability corporation registered by Jeanne and Frank Vaccaro, whose family operates Masis Staffing Solutions, according to a news release. Davis Advertising has signed a long-term lease and will remain at the location, occupying about half the building, according to Andy Davis, the agencys president. Masis Staffing Solutions is an employment firm that offers employers customized staffing solutions, including both temporary employment and permanent placements. The company will move its headquarters to Grafton Street this spring, planning to occupy the other half of the building. Masis Staffing is currently located at 416 Belmont St. in Worcester. President Donald Trump started his term by enacting one travel ban and ended it by ordering that another one be lifted - actions that his successor quickly dismantled or vowed to block. Travel industry experts are watching to see what else President Joe Biden's administration has in store for travelers, from potentially easing restrictions on trips to Cuba to instituting mask requirements to (eventually) reversing a slide in international tourism. Henry Harteveldt, a travel industry analyst at Atmosphere Research Group, said he expects the administration's dual focus on the pandemic and economic crisis will ultimately help people start traveling again. "Everything that we do - getting more people vaccinated and getting them vaccinated faster, whatever types of financial support and stimulus the administration decides to do . . . whatever they do to help get the economy going - will inevitably have a ripple effect to benefit travel and transportation," he said. Biden tackled some travel-related issues on Wednesday, his first day in office. Others are expected to follow soon. And still other changes will probably be a much lower priority. - Trump travel ban A week after his inauguration, Trump introduced a travel ban on foreign nationals from seven Muslim-majority countries. That order - derided by critics as a "Muslim ban" - evolved after legal fights but still applied to certain people from Tanzania, Sudan and Venezuela; immigrants from Eritrea, Kyrgyzstan, Myanmar and Nigeria and most people from Iran, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Syria and Yemen. Biden signed a proclamation ending the bans on Wednesday. "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," the proclamation said. He wrote that Trump's bans were "a moral blight" that had jeopardized the country's alliances. "And they have separated loved ones, inflicting pain that will ripple for years to come," the proclamation said. "They are just plain wrong." - Mask mandates In an executive order Wednesday, Biden mandated mask-wearing and physical distancing by anyone in federal buildings and on federal lands. The National Park Service has not responded to a question about whether that applies at national parks. During the campaign, Biden said he would also require mask compliance on forms of interstate transportation. He handed down that order - applying to airports and many planes, ships, trains, intercity buses and forms of public transportation - on Thursday. "Science-based public health measures are critical to preventing the spread of [covid-19] by travelers within the United States and those who enter the country from abroad," the order says. Airlines and flight attendants have said they are in favor of a mask mandate, which would add heft to their existing policies. But the Trump White House blocked an order that would have required masks on public transportation, and the Transportation Department rejected a petition asking for a mask mandate. "Airlines have had their own policies, but without the teeth of a federal law, the flight attendants had very little recourse against passengers who said, 'I don't want to wear a mask,'" Harteveldt said. - Coronavirus travel restrictions Trump said on Monday that he would remove travel restrictions that applied to much of Europe, the United Kingdom, Ireland and Brazil, effective Jan. 26. That's when an order by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention goes into effect requiring proof of a negative coronavirus test or recovery from the virus to fly to the United States. Trump called the testing requirement and easing of restrictions "the best way to continue protecting Americans from covid-19 while enabling travel to resume safely." The incoming Biden administration disagreed. Jen Psaki, who is now White House press secretary, said Monday in a tweet that it was no time to lift restrictions on international travel. "In fact, we plan to strengthen public health measures around international travel to further mitigate the spread of covid-19," she wrote. Thursday's executive order also said that travelers to the United States would have to self-quarantine after they arrive, though it did not include detailed instructions. It's not yet clear whether other measures could be in store. - International tourism Before the pandemic, the United States was already seeing an alarming trend: Global tourism was growing, but the number of people coming to the country was not. In 2019, about 79.3 million people came to the United States from international destinations, according to data from the National Travel and Tourism Office. That's a drop of roughly 500,000 from the previous year. And 2020, of course, saw visitation plummet as the pandemic grounded most travel. Tori Emerson Barnes, executive vice president of public affairs and policy at the U.S. Travel Association, said Biden's standing in the world could help position the country better to encourage more visitors when the time is right. "Once we can reopen travel in a more robust fashion and reopen the international borders, I think Biden's expertise and experience in working closely with governments across the globe will be an important component to be able to welcome back international visitors," she said, "which is something we really haven't seen, that welcoming of international visitors in quite some time, not just as a result of the pandemic." - Travel to Cuba Americans were able to travel much more easily to Cuba starting in 2016, after President Barack Obama reestablished diplomatic relations and eased restrictions around how travelers could visit. Trump cracked back down in 2019, narrowing the legal avenues for U.S. citizens to go, what they could do and where they could stay. The administration continued to add restrictions into late last year, and it designated Cuba as a state sponsor of terrorism just this month. During the campaign, Biden called Americans "the best ambassadors for freedom" in Cuba and said he would get rid of the "failed Trump policies that inflicted harm on Cubans and their families." It's not clear exactly what that will mean for Americans who want to visit the island, but policy experts and travel companies expect an easier path. Collin Laverty, president of Cuba Educational Travel, said he expects an expansion of travel from the Biden administration - and plenty of demand from travelers, once it's safe to go. "I think there will be a lot of ways to legally travel, and there will be more accessible information so you feel comfortable that it's legal," he said. Maria Jose Espinosa Carrillo, interim president of the Engage Cuba coalition, which works to end the travel and trade embargo on Cuba, said she is expecting a new policy of engagement that will serve both U.S. interests and help the Cuban people. "I do think it's clear that the policy of hostility toward Cuba has outlived whatever usefulness it might have had in the past," she said. - Amtrak Biden has famously commuted by train for decades, traveling between D.C. and Delaware to be with his family when he was a senator. And the railroad could use a fan now: Amtrak chief executive William Flynn told lawmakers that the railroad needed almost $5 billion in federal aid because of pandemic-related losses. During the campaign, Biden promised a "rail revolution" that would cut pollution, provide jobs, cut commute times and encourage investment in communities. "Biden will make sure that America has the cleanest, safest, and fastest rail system in the world - for both passengers and freight," his campaign website says. Harteveldt said he will be curious to see what kind of support the administration provides to the railroad. "Amtrak has always had to fight for funds; it's been very, very tough," he said. "So will a Biden administration be more supportive of Amtrak again given [his] regular use of Amtrak commuting back and forth throughout his career?" SABA:---The Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute KNMI continues its volcanic/seismic monitoring work on Saba despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic with associated travel restrictions and delayed delivery of new equipment. KNMI experts will return to the island in April to collect data and to inspect, and where necessary repair, monitoring equipment. Also, a new Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS)/seismic monitoring station will be installed on the North Coast. In its most recent update, KNMI volcanologist Elske De Zeeuw-van Dalfsen and seismologist Reinoud Sleeman explained that seismometers SABY at the airport, SABW in Windwardside, and SABA at St. Johns are functioning well and produce data of good quality for the purpose of detecting earthquakes. The fourth seismometer SABQ in The Bottom is currently not functioning due to technical issues and is awaiting repair by the manufacturer. The two GNSS stations in St. Johns and at the airport worked well most of 2020. For each instrument, the KNMI calculates the daily position very precisely. The GNSS station in St. Johns has been operational since January 2018 and the one at the airport since February 2019. In January 2020, the KNMI installed a GPS (Global Positioning System) receiver in The Bottom. This instrument measures its precise location on the ground, allowing it to track its movement. The new GNSS/seismic station at Grey Hill, along the North Coast, is planned for April 2021. The equipment and construction materials will be shipped to Saba in February. This installation, unlike the other GNSS/seismic equipment, will be completely stand-alone. Satellite communication will be used to send data to the KNMI and solar panels/batteries will be used to power this site in this uninhabited area. In January 2020, during the last visit of the KNMI experts, the continuous temperature data from the underwater hot spring opposite Green Island were collected. Measurements at the hot spring are taken every 20 minutes and stored locally. The maximum temperature remains constant at 82 degrees Celsius. During the next visit in April, the experts will collect the 2020 temperature data at the hot spring. In March 2020, a member of the public reported multiple cracks in the area of the Green Gut along the road between the English Quarter and Hells Gate. The crack along the wall was 60 cm deep and had warm moist air venting from it at about 50 C. The Green Gut is an unstable area, but the warm air is unusual. It may be that compaction and rotting of waste cause heath to form. There is always the possibility that the volcano forms a vent, or already had it there in the past. If this would be the case the temperatures are still relatively low and there is no other evidence of volcanic origin like sulfur or other mineral deposits. The KNMI experts will bring a thermal camera to closely inspect the area during the next visit. Rangers of the Saba Conservation Foundation (SCF) in March 2020 reported dead mountain mahogany trees in a 10x10m2 area close to the top of Mt. Scenery. An SCF team under the guidance of the KNMI investigated the area for other signs of volcanic activity such as volcanic deposits (ash, sulphur), fumes, and heath release. No such evidence was found, suggesting volcanic activity did not cause the trees to die. The SCF captured photos and videos for future reference. A new photo and video survey in January 2021 clearly showed the regrowth of vegetation, confirming that there is no volcanic activity in the area. In the update, the KNMI also addressed the increased levels of activity of several volcanoes in the Caribbean. It was explained that the Caribbean volcanoes were all formed by the same process, namely the subduction at the plate boundary. However, the volcanoes do not share the same magma chamber, nor are they connected by long magma conduits. A volcanic eruption on one island can therefore not trigger an eruption on another island, the KNMI assured. An increasing amount of dead magpies found on a single street has shocked wildlife rescue volunteers. Rescue volunteers were called twice daily to a street in Southport to help sick and dying magpies over a two week period. The magpies are believed to have been poisoned over the last few months. In shocking footage some birds can be seen having seizures. Wildlife rescue volunteers were called twice daily for a two week period to help sick and dying magpies along a single street in Southport, birds being poisoned in the last few months In distressing footage of the poisoned birds, some magpies can be seen having seizures Wildcard spokeswoman Tara Hunter told the Gold Coast Bulletin that of the rescued birds, half of them survived while half had to be euthanised. Ms Hunter called the bizarre string of deaths on Crinium Cresent as 'incredibly concerning'. 'We do see deaths occur naturally at times but this situation was different, our hotline was being called twice a day all to pick up birds in the same street'. Ms Hunter said the magpie deaths could be due to a chemical spill or a type of contamination, but shares the concern of local residents that the poisoning was intentional. Disturbed Southport resident Tony Hopkins created a newsletter to send to the local community titled 'Catch a killer: Is your neighbour a murderer?' The newsletter, which aimed to find out more information about the deaths and guess at potential leads, named the killer an 'uneducated idiot'. Concerned local Tony Hopkins distributed this newsletter throughout the Southport area, only 4 or 5 magpies remain on the street with locals saddened by the eerie silence While some residents wondered if the magpies were killed to prevent attacks on passer-bys, Mr Hopkins said the 'extremely friendly' birds did not swoop and had lived in the Southport area for decades. Mr Hopkins said workers at the nearby Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary couldn't solve the mystery of how the magpies had died. The suspicious deaths are currently under investigation by the RSPCA and the Queensland Department of Environment and Science. Queenslanders can be landed with a $1000 fine for killing a magpie, while killing ten or more of the birds can result in a $100,000 fine and a year in jail. One online commentator suggested those responsible needed 'a peck on the head' while another said the magpie murderer needed to be found and locked up. 'What sort of monster hurts defenceless birds. Karma incoming'. Residents say magpie families have lived in Southport for decades and are extremely friendly NASHVILLE Tennessee farmers seeking to expand their markets and increase food safety by becoming Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) certified can receive financial assistance from the Tennessee Department of Agriculture (TDA). Achieving certification allows producers to increase their income by selling to more businesses, and the certification helps to ensure food sold to customers is safe. GAP focuses on methods to verify that fruits and vegetables are produced, packed, handled, and stored in the safest manner possible to minimize food safety risks. Tennessee farmers work hard to provide a safe, abundant food supply, Commissioner Charlie Hatcher, D.V.M. said. Granting the opportunity to offset the cost of the GAP inspection is one way we can help more specialty crop producers become certified and access more markets. There are opportunities for many agricultural products and the list of eligible crops is extremely variedfrom herbs to honey, bedding plants to cut flowers, and from trees to shrubs. Qualified producers will have the opportunity to offset the cost of a GAP Certification inspection by being reimbursed 75% of the inspection cost up to $1,500. The application period is open through Sept. 29, 2021. Funds are available on a first-come, first-served basis. The cost share program is only for producers; warehouses and wholesale distributors are not eligible. Funding for the GAP cost share program is made possible by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Marketing Services Specialty Crop Block Grant program. You will find more information and the cost share application at www.tn.gov/agriculture/farms/produce-nursery/gap.html or by contacting Mike Brown in TDAs Business Development Division at mike.f.brown@tn.gov or 615-837-5545. Snow falling over Belfast as a lone hill climber walks along Cave Hill. (Photo by Charles McQuillan/Getty Images) The Met Office has issued another weather warning, this time for snow and ice across Northern Ireland. Temperatures could drop as low as minus 10C in the coming days in some parts, as Storm Christoph gives way to colder winter weather this weekend. The Met Office has issued a yellow alert for NI which will kick in from 4pm on Friday and go through to 10.30am on Saturday. Forecasters say there will probably be some icy patches on untreated roads, pavements and cycle paths, increasing the likelihood of accidents and injuries. "Some roads and railways likely to be affected by snowfall, with longer journey times by car as well as bus and train services," they added. Showers will continue through the day and into the weekend. Around 1-3cm could accumulate at low levels but as much as 5-10 cm of additional snow may accumulate on higher ground. Clear skies between showers will also bring the threat of ice. For Saturday wintry showers across the north becoming more confined to coastal areas in the afternoon, while the south stays dry with some sunny spells. Maximum temperature of around 4 C expected. The outlook for Sunday to Tuesday is for sunny spells and isolated showers on Sunday. Dry with some sunshine on Monday then cloudier on Tuesday with some rain. In England and Wales Storm Christoph forced large scale evacuations after floods in several areas. A Met Office forecaster has said, however, that it is going to be more wintry now as the storm moves away to the east. Meteorologist Craig Snell added: Were losing the rain but gaining some colder and possibly some wintry weather too. He went on: It will be feeling cold, I think that certainly that will be something that we will all be noticing it will be colder than it was to start the week. I think the main thing for most of us will be that we will see some frosty nights and with the ground wet from the rain weve had we may well see some icy patches." A court in Moscow has fined Lyubov Sobol, a lawyer at opposition politician Aleksei Navalny's Anti-Corruption Foundation, for calling on the public to hold rallies to protest the Kremlin critic's detention. The Simonov district court on January 22 found Sobol guilty of a "violation of the law on mass gatherings," namely of calling for unsanctioned rallies. It ordered her to pay a fine of 250,000 rubles ($3,400). She was released after the hearing. At a separate court hearing, another Navalny ally, activist Georgy Alburov, was sentenced by the Meshchansky district court to 10 days in jail on a similar charge. Navalny was arrested on January 17 and later sent to pretrial detention after his arrival from Germany, where he was treated for a poison attack in Siberia in August, for which he has accused the Kremlin. The Kremlin has denied any involvement. Based on reporting by Dozhd and Meduza .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... SANTA FE The head of New Mexicos retirement system for state workers, law enforcement officers and other public employees is stepping down to take a legislative budget position. Wayne Propst, who has been the executive director of the Public Employees Retirement Association since 2012, said Friday he had accepted a job as staff director for newly-appointed Senate Finance Committee Chairman George Munoz, D-Gallup. The former director of the New Mexico Retiree Health Care Authority, Propst faced challenges during his tenure at PERA, chiefly solvency concerns that prompted sweeping legislative changes to the retirement system in both 2013 and 2020. Some retirees fiercely opposed the changes, which included a reduction in the annual cost-of-living payments that retirees receive, but Propst said Friday they were necessary to get the $16.5 billion pension fund on more stable financial footing. Propst also faced allegations of improperly securing pay raises for himself and other PERA officials, but was later cleared of any wrongdoing by two state agencies Attorney General Hector Balderas office and state Auditor Brian Colon office. I will miss my colleagues at PERA deeply but feel this is the right time for me to seek out new mountains to climb, Propst said in a Friday statement. ADVERTISEMENTSkip ................................................................ He said his last day at the pension fund would likely be Feb. 12, though that date could be moved up. The PERA board is scheduled to meet next week to begin discussing picking a successor. The boards chairman John Melia, a firefighter and paramedic with the Albuquerque Fire Department, said generations of current and future public employees would ultimately have Propst to thank for his courage to face facts and push for solvency fixes. Munoz was appointed this week as Senate Finance Committee chairman and sponsored both the 2013 and 2020 solvency bills. He said in a Friday statement he was grateful for Propsts willingness to accept the new job. He has the respect of both Republicans and Democrats in the Legislature and I am glad to have his help during these challenging but hopeful times for New Mexico, Munoz said. After Trump setbacks, Kim Jong Un starts over with Joe Biden International oi-Madhuri Adnal Seoul, Jan 22: Last year was a disaster for North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. He helplessly watched his country''s already battered economy decay further amid pandemic border closures while brooding over the collapse of made-for-TV summits with former President Donald Trump that failed to lift crippling sanctions from his country. Now he must start all over again with President Joe Biden, who has previously called Kim a "thug" and accused Trump of chasing spectacles instead of meaningful reductions of Kim''s nuclear arsenal. While Kim has vowed to strengthen his nuclear weapons program in recent political speeches, he also tried to give Biden an opening by saying that the fate of their relations depends on whether Washington discards what he calls hostile US policies. It''s unclear how patient Kim will be. North Korea has a history of testing new U.S. administrations with missile launches and other provocations aimed at forcing the Americans back to the negotiating table. In recent military parades in Pyongyang, Kim showcased new weapons he may test, including solid-fuel ballistic systems designed to be fired from vehicles and submarines, and the North''s biggest intercontinental ballistic missile. A revival of tensions would force the U.S. and South Korea to reckon more deeply with the possibility that Kim may never voluntarily deal away the weapons he sees as his strongest guarantee of survival. China warms up to Joe Biden, asks him to bring bilateral ties back on right track Kim''s arsenal emerged as a major threat to the United States and its Asian allies following tests in 2017 that included a detonation of a purported thermonuclear warhead and flight tests of ICBMs that demonstrated the potential to reach deep into the American homeland. A year later, Kim initiated diplomacy with South Korea and the U.S., but it derailed in 2019 when the Americans rejected North Korea''s demands for major sanctions relief in exchange for a piecemeal deal partially surrendering its nuclear capabilities. North Korea won''t likely be the top priority for Biden, who while facing mounting domestic issues is also gearing up for a push to get back into a 2015 nuclear deal with Iran that Trump blew up in favour of what he called maximum pressure against Iran. The Biden administration''s "sequence of policy attention will likely be: Get America''s own house in order, strengthen U.S. alliances and align strategies toward China and Russia, and then address Iran and North Korea," said Leif-Eric Easley, a professor at Ewha University in Seoul. But North Korea never likes to be ignored. Although Biden served as vice president under Barack Obama, whose policy was to wait out North Korea while gradually increasing sanctions, that method might not work because the North''s weapons capabilities have grown significantly in the years since. While sanctions, border closures and crop-killing natural disasters have created the toughest challenges of Kim''s nine-year rule, he won''t be in a hurry to offer concessions, Easley said. Kim''s government has a high tolerance for domestic suffering and could expect extensive help from China, its only major ally. North Korea''s first provocation under the Biden administration could possibly be related to submarine-launched ballistic systems, which Kim showcased in recent parades. Kim''s ambitions for longer-range ICBMs and reconnaissance satellites that he expressed during the ruling party congress this month could lead to a space launch that would double as a test of long-range missile technology. That would be reminiscent of a 2009 launch that took place weeks into Obama''s first term. (The North) is capable of conducting tests that the U.S. and its allies cannot ignore," Easley said. "Kim is likely to exploit this." The North Korean leader is trying to move the diplomacy toward an arms reduction negotiation between nuclear states, rather than talks that would culminate in a full surrender of his weapons, according to Shin Beomchul, an analyst with the Seoul-based Korea Research Institute for National Strategy. But North Korea probably won''t test weapons until after Biden''s State of the Union address in February, where he could set the tone of his policy toward the North, Shin said. Kim may also want to see whether the United States and South Korea proceed with a major joint military exercise expected in March. Although the allies have described their annual exercises as defensive in nature and downsized much of their combined training activity under Trump to make space for diplomacy, North Korea has called for a full stoppage of the drills, describing them as invasion rehearsals and proof of US hostility. "The North during the party congress has made clear it has no intentions of budging first, but it is also interested in hearing what the United States has to say," said Shin, who served as a South Korean diplomat during the Obama years. "Biden will not inherit Trump''s top-down diplomacy, but you could expect him to be more flexible about working-level negotiations, offering to talk with the North Koreans at any time and place and about anything," he said. Centre-farmers hold 11th round of talks, impasse over farm laws continues| Oneindia News Shin expects Biden to eventually pursue a deal with North Korea that resembles the agreement with Iran that Trump pulled out of in 2018. It could provide North Korea some level of compensation for freezing its nuclear and missile capabilities at their current level. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, January 22, 2021, 11:07 [IST] Mumbai, Jan 22 : A day after claiming the landmark 50,000 level for the first time, the BSE Sensex plunged below the 49,000 mark on Friday. It fell 746.22 points, or 1.50 per cent, to close at 48,878.54 as heavy selling was witnessed in banking, finance and metal stocks. The Nifty50 on the National Stock Exchange closed at 14,371.90, lower by 218.45 points, or 1.5 per cent, from its previous close. The major losers on the Sensex were Axis Bank, Asian Paints and the State Bank of India. The top gainers were Bajaj Auto, Hindustan Unilever and UltraTech Cement. 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. Shoppers pulled back in the crucial lead-up to Christmas after splurging the previous month and as Sydneys northern beaches were locked down amid a fresh coronavirus outbreak. Retail trade was 4.2 per cent lower in December than in the previous month, preliminary Australian Bureau of Statistics data shows. Retail spending declined in December. Credit:Jessica Hromas While this is a sizeable decline, Commonwealth Bank senior economist Kristina Clifton said it followed a 22 per cent lift in November, largely driven by Victoria as the state eased out of COVID-19 shutdowns. In NSW, there was a 5 per cent fall over December, which Ms Clifton said was not surprising with the month capturing the impacts of the lockdowns and restrictions on Sydneys northern beaches, which ran into early January as the state government worked to contained a cluster of cases. Review at a glance O n the evening of August 10, 2017, Swedish journalist Kim Wall was days away from starting a new life in Beijing. Belongings packed up, she and her boyfriend were about to throw a farewell party with their friends - but when the freelance reporter, whose work had taken her all around the world received a text from the Danish inventor shed been trying to land an interview with for months, she headed out to Copenhagen harbour to meet him. Granted a two hour chat with the inventor, she boarded his homemade submarine, the UC3 Nautilus, at seven oclock. She never returned. The efforts to recover Walls body and charge Madsen with her murder (he was eventually given a life sentence in April 2018) made headlines around the world. The Scandinavian press branded it Ubadssagen, the submarine case; reports lingered on grisly detail after grisly detail, with an unsavoury emphasis on the killer, who has since become the subject of two documentaries (one was set to air on Netflix, until two participants claimed they didnt consent to appearing in it). All too often, true crime plays to our worst instincts, obsessively probing into damaged, deviant psyches while pushing the victims and their families to the margins of the story. All too often, the killer becomes the protagonist, and violence against women becomes a plot device. Thankfully, that is not the case in The Investigation, Oscar-nominated director Tobias Lindholms dramatisation of the painstaking process of bringing Walls killer to justice. The six episodes follow the process of bringing the killer to justice / BBC / misofilm & outline film / Henrik Ohsten Over the course of six episodes, the murderers name is never once mentioned - instead he becomes the accused, the suspect or just a pronoun - and he is never once pictured on screen. I wanted to make a story about heroes, so I didnt have room for him, Lindholm told the New York Times last year. The effect is to re-frame the story - and the true crime genre - completely, starving evil of oxygen. The emphasis falls instead on Copenhagen polices head of homicide Jens Mller (played by Borgen actor Sren Malling), a softly-spoken, mild-mannered detective who couldnt be further from the embattled maverick cops that tend to populate Scandi noir, and his team, along with Walls parents Joachim and Ingrid (and their dog, Iso, who is played by the real life couples actual pet). The series focuses on Jens Moller, centre, and his team / BBC / misofilm & outline film / Per Arnesen The investigation moves slowly and meticulously, much like the heroic naval divers tasked with trawling the strait between Denmark and Sweden for evidence, working their way methodically through demarcated rectangles of water (many of the men who appear on screen in these scenes were part of the team that recovered Walls body from the sea, finally allowing her parents to bury their daughter). Lindholms approach is defiantly anti-sensationalist - the biggest jump scare comes when Jenss tireless subordinate Maibritt spills coffee over some case notes after yet another all-nighter - and its the small, deftly-handled moments that stand out: Jens silently shaking hands with every diver after they complete their mission, the camera lingering on the faces of the female reporters gathered outside the courthouse and Ingrid tightly hugging the little girl who brings flowers to her home. Though the horror of this case certainly casts an indelible shadow over The Investigation, it never overwhelms the unshowy, everyday goodness on display at every turn. Lindholm has certainly achieved his mission of making a story about heroes. We can only hope that future filmmakers handle true crime stories with such compassion. The question of whether to change the name of BISD Memorial Stadium to the Carrol A. Butch Thomas Stadium could be decided by the voters, after a measure to change the name back was defeated 5-2 at the first board meeting of the year. Trustee Denise Wallace-Spooner made the proposal in testimony, saying she was saddened to be revisiting the naming after it was already removed. The meeting marks the end of a three-year effort by Trustee Zenobia Bush to have the name returned to the stadium an effort she vowed to pursue as a constituent in 2018 the night a state-appointed board of managers voted to have it removed. I was just a citizen then, protesting the name change, Bush told The Enterprise before Thursdays meeting. The board of managers was appointed by the Texas Education Agency in 2014 to run the district in the wake of financial mismanagement, some during the leadership of Thomas. That included the mishandling of a $388.6 million bond issue that included funds for the stadium that would bear his name. According to Enterprise coverage of that meeting, Bush told the board if you go forward with the change of the name, it is not the end of the battle, but the start of a war. Unlike the 2018 meeting, only one person addressed the board Thursday, and they did not discuss the stadium issue. (Many people watched Thursdays meeting virtually because of restrictions related to the coronavirus.) Shortly after the 2018 name change was announced, the district put out a statement saying the move was meant to bridge divisions within the Beaumont community. Years later, those divisions couldnt be clearer. Trustee Robert Dunn said during the debate that the division highlighted in recent weeks is why he didnt want to come back to Beaumont after leaving to serve in the Navy. We have been accused of everything, he said. We have been cursed out. This is a shame that in 2021, we are still doing this in Beaumont, Texas. Now you know why I didnt want to come back. But with the defeat of the measure Thursday night, Bush said she will stop pushing. I will go with whatever decision the full board makes, Bush told The Enterprise. And Ill be through with it. At the meeting, Bush said the original removal was done out of hate. Kevin Reece, who joined Bush in voting to change the name, did not make any remarks. At the end of the meeting, Thomas Sigee announced he would be stepping down as president. He urged the board to nominate Bush to serve as president for the remainder of her service. She was not at her seat when he made the announcement. Many of those pushing back against the return of the name, including Beaumont City Councilman Mike Getz, have pointed to a forensic audit and state takeover of the district as reasons the former superintendent should not be honored. I hope that the board reads the forensic audit before they vote, or at least that theyre familiar with it to understand his culpability, Getz said, echoing many statements he has made over the years. And that they decide that it is not appropriate to name that facility after him given that type of malfeasance. But Bush and many of her constituents told The Enterprise they suspect underlying motives from those opposing the name. There was opposition to the name even when I ran in 2011, Bush said. This was before any of the forensic audit even came into play. Many including Getz have argued that race is not a factor, but racial tensions have hovered over the debate for the last 10 years. Last month, after an initial agenda item proposing the name be changed from Memorial, Trustee Darrell Antwine said he got a call from someone who thought he had placed the item on the agenda. The caller spewed a hateful racial epithet. The call drew condemnation across the community, but many still see the effort against returning the name of Thomas, who was the districts first Black superintendent, as racially motivated. Bush added that if Thomas stole from the district, he would be locked up. Many board members, including Sigee, spoke highly of the transformation that happened in Beaumont under Thomas leadership. Antwine, Bush and Sigee all said the board of managers should not have changed the name in the first place, because they were not elected. The board of managers returned control to the full board of trustees in early 2020, just a month before the pandemic first swept the nation. The board members were just coming on, and getting their feet wet at the time, Bush said when asked about the timing of Thursdays proposed name change. And then of course COVID hit, so it didnt seem like a priority to change the stadium. Then school started, but at this point we have to do something if we are going to do something. The fight ends here for Bush, who said she will not run again after her seat expires in May. The rancor that surrounded the debate, evident in comment threads on social media pages and in calls and emails to board members, was the last straw for Antwine, who announced his decision not to run again at Thursdays board meeting, following an emotional statement. This isnt why I got on the board, Antwine told The Enterprise. I didnt get on the board to the play politics with our kids lives. Antwine lamented the negativity in view of improvements the board has made since taking control, including hiring more than 200 teachers, approving two bonuses for educators and making plans for transportation improvements. As much good as we have done, and are trying to do, people always find a way to keep the politics in it, and that is not why I got in, he said during an interview with The Enterprise. Sigee captured the sentiment of many on the board when he called for more civility from leaders and community members alike. Student outcomes change when adult behaviors change, Sigee said. If we act crazy and we fight about everything, the children outcomes are never going to change in this district. Children feed off of us. They do what we do, they say what we say and they act like we act. We as a community, we have to do better because those things are on us, he said. isaac.windes@hearstnp.com twitter.com/isaacdwindes The load made up of 92,790 medicine units, 20,000 units of venoclysis equipment, 3,025 pairs of gloves, and 3,000 units of medical supplies was sent on a flight provided by the Ministry of Defense The shipment destined for the Regional Health Directorate of Loreto (Diresa Loreto) and EsSalud Loreto was managed by the National Security and Defense Office (OSDN), which oversees the Emergency Operations Center of the Production Ministry (COES-Produce), in its capacity as coordinating sector in said region, on behalf of the State. The provision of medicines and medical supplies is in line with the Government's commitment to combating the COVID-19 pandemic in Loreto region. Invisible and deadly enemy Coronaviruses are a family of viruses that cause illnesses ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) or the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). These viruses can be transmitted between animals and people. The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is a new strain that had not been previously identified in humans. It is transmitted from human to human through respiratory droplets from coughing and sneezing. COVID-19 is also transmitted by close contact with people infected by the virus. People are encouraged to keep a one-meter distance from others, wear a face mask or a face shield when using public transportation, wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, among other measures. (END) NDP/JOT/MVB The Ministry of Production (Produce) , in coordination with the Ministry of Health (Minsa) and the Social Health Insurance System (EsSalud) , sent 4 tons of medicines, personal protective equipment, and medical supplies to the rainforest region of Loreto in order to strengthen its response to the COVID-19 pandemic.Published: 1/22/2021 2020 was a year marked by hardships and challenges, but the Prince William community has proven resilient. The Prince William Times is honored to serve as your community companion. To say thank you for your continued support, wed like to offer all our subscribers -- new or returning -- 4 WEEKS FREE DIGITAL AND PRINT ACCESS. We understand the importance of working to keep our community strong and connected. As we move forward together into 2021, it will take commitment, communication, creativity, and a strong connection with those who are most affected by the stories we cover. We are dedicated to providing the reliable, local journalism you have come to expect. We are committed to serving you with renewed energy and growing resources. Let the Prince William Times be your community companion throughout 2021, and for many years to come. The drama is about to get even juicier on the next episode of The Bachelor. Five new women have been added to the mix, and will be meeting leading man Matt James on Monday's episode of the show. A new teaser introduces the new contestants, including one who is not at all shy about expressing her attraction to the hunky bachelor. She's not shy! Brittany passionately plants one on Matt James as five new women join The Bachelor in a sneak peek of the next episode 'I want to make up for lost time,' Brittany, 23, a model from Chicago, seductively tells Matt before pulling him in for a passionate kiss. Another contestant can't hide her delight at the sight of the hunk. 'Oh my gosh!' she screams as she exits the limo. 'You look so fine!' Matt bashfully bows his head in response to the exuberant compliment. Hubba hubba! The women are not shy about expressing their admiration of James 'You look so fine!' Another contestant can't hide her delight at the sight of the star She's wasting no time! 'I wanna make up for lost time,' Brittany tells The Bachelor On top of Brittany, the other four women are Catalina, 29, a former pageant queen who arrives wearing her sash and crown, and Ryan, 26, a dancer and choreographer from Brooklyn. Kim, 28, an ICU nurse from Los Angeles says she is looking for someone 'fun to dance with', whereas teacher Michelle, 27, seeks a partner 'who will live in the moment with me.' Understandably, the current contestants are not pleased. The women watch their new competition arrive from a window upstairs, where they express their displeasure. Miss Puerto Rico is here! The new contestants also include Catalina, 29, a former pageant queen who arrives wearing her sash and crown Sparking jealousy: Understandably, the current contestants are not happy by the presence of the new women Nope! MJ flatly tells the camera, 'People are pissed!' 'Is she kissing him?!' one of them asks in disbelief. 'I want to vomit,' another says. 'People are pissed!' MJ declares. The shake-up does not deter Brittany from boldly declaring as she enters the resort, 'They just wanted to save the best for last.' The next episode of The Bachelor will air Monday 8/7c on ABC. Oh no: The women can't believe five new contestants are joining them Bold statement: Brittany says as she enters the resort, 'They just wanted to save the best for last!' Meet the new contestants! Ryan (L) is a dancer and choreographer from Brooklyn, whereas Kim (R) is an ICU nurse from Los Angeles Class act! Catalina, 29, is the former title holder of Miss Puerto Rico BRUSSELS: EU lawmakers have invited the chief executives of Amazon, Apple, Facebook and Alphabet to a Feb. 1 hearing in Brussels as they try to crack down on the powers of U.S. tech giants. The European Parliament will in the coming months provide input into proposals by the European Commission to force the companies to play fairly with rivals and to do more to tackle online fake news and harmful content or face hefty fines. The purpose of the planned hearing is to have an exchange with the chief executive officers of the four globally leading platform companies to learn about their current business models and future concepts as they face the challenges of altering market conditions," said an invitation sent to the companies seen by Reuters. The event will contribute to preparing the members of the European Parliament for the upcoming discussions on potential new regulation for the digital sector. For all these reasons, we wish to clarify that this invitation is for the CEOs only." The invitation said lawmakers were willing to change the date to another day in February or March, however, people familiar with the companies doubted they would take up the invitation. Earlier on Friday it emerged that Alphabet Chief Executive Sundar Pichai will hold a video-conference call with EU antitrust chief Margrethe Vestager on Jan. 25, according to a European Commission schedule. Vestager, who is pushing for tough new rules, will discuss digital and competition issues with Pichai, a Commission spokeswoman said. The body of an Oklahoma woman missing for nine months has been discovered in a freezer dumped in Arkansas woodland. Talina Galloway, 53, had not been seen since March last year after she vanished from a Wagoner home she was renting with roommate, Kore Bommeli. Bommeli filed a missing persons report on April 12 saying she had not seen Galloway for several days and that she had left behind her purse and car. Police previously believed that Galloway was suffering from COVID-19 at the time of her disappearance. On April 7, a post from her Facebook account claimed that she was on 'Day 9 of the virus' and that she was 'pretty sure' the infection had 'reached her lungs'. Oklahoma police subsequently launched a large-scale search for Galloway, but were unable to find her. In May, Galloway's disappearance was featured in an episode of NBC's Dateline titled 'Missing in America'. However, a break in the case came last Thursday, when a person walking in a wooded area near the town of Acorn, Arkansas - 150 miles southeast of Wagoner - discovered a dumped freezer. The passerby called police who then opened the freezer and discovered human remains. The remains were later identified as belonging to Galloway. The body of Talina Galloway (left) was discovered in a freezer discarded in Arkansas woodland last Thursday, nine months after she was reported missing. Her roommate, Kore Bommei (right) has now been arrested for first degree murder Following an investigation, police issued warrants for 1st Degree Murder and Abuse of a Corpse for Kore Bommeli - Galloway's roommate. Bommeli was arrested in Dane County, Wisconsin on Thursday, and is set to be extradited back to Oklahoma. She had already been a prime suspect in Galloway's disappearance. Back in June, a Wagoner County Sheriff told reporters: 'We believe Kore Bommeli has been very deceptive to investigators and has intentionally destroyed items in an attempt to hide potential evidence associated with Galloway's disappearance.' In the fall, Bommeli was arrested in relation to obstructing the case. She was charged with possession of a firearm, destruction of evidence, obstruction, fraud, and larceny. It was also reported that she had attempted to sell Galloway's truck. She subsequently posted $150,000 bond before being released from prison and relocating to Wisconsin. Galloway's body was discovered in a freezer in an wooded area near the town of Acorn, Arkansas - - 150 miles southeast of her home in Wagoner, Oklahoma However, a new probable cause affidavit, obtained by NBC 2 Tulsa, is shedding light on more evidence gathered against Bommeli. 'A search of Kore Bommeli's cellular phone shows she was performing internet searches for ways to get blood out of concrete and wood,' the affidavit states. Additionally, investigators found 'what is believed to be blood in the garage and a bedroom of the home Bommeli shared with Galloway.' Galloway's driver's license was also 'found cut into pieces inside a storage unit in Edmond, Oklahoma' which was rented by Bommeli. Investigators have not revealed the motive for Bommeli's alleged killing of Galloway. It is now unclear whether Galloway was actually suffering from COVID-19 back in late March, or whether that was a ruse invented by Bommeli to throw investigators off the scent. Galloway was not seen by anyone other than Bommeli after March 27, but she continued to post Facebook statuses updating her followers on her battle with the coronavirus. It's possible Bommeli could have been penning the posts after Galloway had been killed. In a statement, the Wagoner Oklahoma Sheriff's Office stated that their investigators had been 'working very hard on this case since last summer. ' 'They've done a great job and I am very happy that we could help them close out this tragic case and bring those responsible to justice,' the organization said Friday. is now unclear whether Galloway was actually suffering from COVID-19 back in late March and early April, or whether that was a ruse invented by Bommeli to throw investigators off the scent. It's possible Bommeli could have been penning the posts after Galloway had died. A butcher 'laughed and smirked' during a police interview when he was quizzed over the rape and murder of student Libby Squire, a jury has been told. Pawel Relowicz is accused of 'stalking' the disoriented student after finding her wandering 'drunk and possibly suffering from hypothermia' before picking her up in his car and raping her. The 26-year-old is also accused of then dumping her 'dead or dying' into a river. Sheffield Crown Court also heard that it was likely Ms Squire was too cold to run away from danger as her judgment could have been 'impaired' by alcohol before she vanished in Hull, East Yorks. After Relowicz was arrested on suspicion of killing Ms Squire, he made a brief statement denying any involvement before refusing to answer questions from police. At the beginning of a one interview, in August 2019, an officer put it to Relowicz that 'the only reason she is dead is because you killed her'. Prosecutor Richard Woolfall told the jury that the officer then asked the laughing defendant: 'What's so funny?' and 'Why are you smirking?' Sheffield Crown Court heard Pawel Relowicz, 26 (right) 'smirked and laughed' during a police interview when he was quizzed over the rape and murder of student Libby Squire (left) The 26-year-old Polish-born father-of-two, of Raglan Street, Hull, denies raping and murdering 21-year-old Ms Squire. But the court heard today he earlier pleaded guilty at Sheffield Crown Court to charges of voyeurism and outraging public decency concerning three other unrelated victims, jurors were told Mr Woolfall said Relowicz replied: 'No comment.' The court heard Relowicz previously pleaded guilty to voyeurism charges after he spied on students in Hull having sex and broke into houses to steal sex toys. One victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was having sex with her boyfriend when she realised Relowicz had stuck his head through a bay window to watch. The victim said that when her housemate returned home, they discovered a used condom on the door handle and a pair of black, lacey knickers in the letterbox. The court heard that a second victim had discovered a used condom next to her son's toy and that money had been stolen from her house. A third victim reported that three sex toys had been stolen from her bedroom and discovered semen on her window on two different occasions. The court heard that Relowicz initially denied the accusations when put to him by police and dismissed them as 'silly'. Hull University philosophy student Libby Squire (left) went missing in the early hours of February 1 2019, following a night out in the city. Pictured right, on her 21st birthday Sheffield Crown Court heard on Friday from a leading expert on hypothermia who told the jury that Ms Squire's decision-making would have been 'significantly impaired' in the lead-up to her disappearance. Pictured: Family handout But he later pleaded guilty at Sheffield Crown Court to charges of voyeurism and outraging public decency, jurors were told. However, the 26-year-old Polish-born father-of-two, of Raglan Street, Hull, denies raping and murdering 21-year-old Ms Squire. The Hull University philosophy student went missing in the early hours of February 1 2019, following a night out in the city. Her body was found in the Humber Estuary a number of weeks later. Sheffield Crown Court heard on Friday from a leading expert on hypothermia who told the jury that Ms Squire's decision-making would have been 'significantly impaired' in the lead-up to her disappearance. The expert said this was due to the cold and the amount of alcohol she had drunk - all of which would have made her 'vulnerable'. Ms Squire had been refused entry to a nightclub and got a taxi back to her street, but, instead of going home, she wandered to nearby Beverley Road, the jury has heard. Professor Deakin told the court that Libby had displayed impaired judgement on the night she went missing as she was seen wandering the streets and had laid down in the snow. The prosecution alleges that Ms Squire then got into Relowicz's car and was then driven to nearby playing fields. Professor Charles Deakin, who is a consultant in cardiac anaesthesia and intensive care at University Hospital Southampton, said the air temperature in Hull at 10.20pm on January 31 was minus 2C, rising to 0C by midnight. The professor - divisional medical director for South Central Ambulance Service and Professor of Resuscitation and Prehospital Emergency Medicine at the University of Southampton - said Ms Squire was wearing light clothing with 38% of her skin exposed, including her legs. She may also have been wet after lying in the snow, leading her core body temperature that night to be 'approaching, but not yet' 35C. He explained to jurors that the normal body temperature is 37C and concluded that this would have left her with some of the early symptoms of hypothermia, including some degree of confusion and poor judgment. The professor told the jury via a videolink: 'She would have been shivering quite significantly, suffering from numb hands and fingers, her coordination would likely have been impaired to some extent, not only from the cold but also from the alcohol.' Prof Deakin said Ms Squire is likely to have been unsteady on her feet and to have felt tired. Relowicz denied murder and rape at Sheffield Crown Court (pictured). The jury had been told the prosecution is likely to conclude its case on Friday He said: 'I think it's very likely that the temperature alone, but also the alcohol, would have contributed to poor judgment and some sort of confusion.' Asked about the effects of the cold and the alcohol, Prof Deakin said: 'The two combined, I have little doubt, would have significantly impaired (Libby's) decision-making.' He said: 'She would have been very vulnerable to a number of threats. 'She would have been vulnerable to threats from other individuals, people who may approach her, as she would have been unable to determine their intent. 'She would have significantly reduced sense of awareness about getting into an unsafe situation.' The professor said he believed Ms Squire's condition would have also impaired her ability to run, if she was trying to avoid danger. He said: 'She would have limited ability to physically defend herself and she is likely to be so cold and with her poor coordination, she is likely to be unable to run away at any speed if she needed to get away from any danger.' Relowicz denies murder and rape. The jury had been told the prosecution is likely to conclude its case on Friday. ADVERTISEMENT Four police officers in Lagos are facing an orderly room trial for harassing and extorting a teenager in Lagos, the state police spokesperson has said. Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said in a statement on Friday, that the four police inspectors were arrested following the directive of Commissioner of Police. The officers allegedly extorted N70, 000 from a 16-year-old student identified as Segun at the Isheri area of Lagos. They were caught on camera, which was circulated on social media, Mr Adejobi said. The police spokesperson added that the officers confessed to the crime and refunded the sum to the teenager. The Lagos State Police Command has arrested four (4) police Inspectors that allegedly harassed and extorted 70,000 (seventy thousand naira only) from one 16 year old student, Segun, on 18th January, 202, at NGAB Junction, Isheri Area of Lagos State, in a Toyota Corolla car. The picture of the policemen, that were caught in the act of unprofessionalism and extortion, had gone viral on the social media which attracted the Complaint Response Unit of the Nigeria Police Force, Force Headquarters Abuja, to track the policemen for necessary police action. The matter was subsequently referred to the Lagos State Police Command for further action, the police statement partly reads. The police Inspectors are Emmanuel Michael, 40 years, with force number 223329; Sunday Odubiyi, 40 years, Force number 146504; Lawrence Amedu, 39 years, 256496; and Aroye Dickson, 40 years, 255043. After due interrogation, the policemen confessed to the crime and refunded the 70,000 (seven thousand naira) to the student, on bond, which forms the key credible evidence/exhibit in the case, the police spokesperson added. Condemning the act, the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, said the act of the officers is detrimental to the image of the Police Force and counterproductive to the ongoing reform agenda of the Inspector-General of Police. Mr Odumosu directed an orderly room trial of the Inspectors with immediate effect so as to serve as a deterrent to other criminally-minded police personnel in the command and beyond. The police boss also warns officers and men in Lagos State that the command will spread its tentacles in fighting against such criminal, unprofessional and disgusting act amongst police personnel in Lagos State. He further assured the general public that the command will continue people-oriented and community-based policing styles in the State, as justice will be done in Seguns case. Four months ago, another police officer was caught on camera in the Aguda area extorting a motorcyclist during a stop and search. The police inspector, Joseph Dike, attached to Aguda Police Division also faced an orderly trial. The police did not make public the outcome of the trial. Northern Irelands public records office is currently working its way through hundreds of files of material relating to the book Lost Lives. The Department of Communities has confirmed that an archive relating to the book, which lists everyone who lost their lives during the Troubles, has been deposited with the Public Records Office Northern Ireland (PRONI). According to a department spokesperson the archive "comprises 265 folders of mainly newspaper cuttings relating to most of those individuals who died as a result of the conflict". "The folders are accompanied by a MS Word document listing those individuals who feature within each folder and a Word document listing the names and dates of deaths of the individuals. There are also eight boxes of newspaper cuttings relating to loyalist paramilitary violence, 1966-1994," the spokesperson said. However, the archive material will only be available to people at the public records office, and will not be made accessible online. The archive is currently being sorted and catalogued. The archive will be made available to the public and researchers onsite at PRONI," the spokesperson said. Hopes the Executive would buy the publishing rights to the book were dashed this week when First Minister Arlene Foster and deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill confirmed they had no intention of doing so. Responding to a question from Alliance MLA Andrew Muir they said "we currently have no plans to purchase the rights to the book" which has become increasingly hard to obtain. The Irish Government has also expressed an interest in buying the rights to the book. Lost Lives: The Stories of the Men, Women and Children who Died as a Result of the Northern Ireland Troubles was first published in 1999 and then reprinted in 2008. Publisher Mainstream Publishing of Edinburgh closed and another that showed interest concluded a new version of the mammoth million-word hardback would not be feasible. The Wave Trauma Centre, a victims and survivors support organisation, said it would be a "great shame" if the book was lost for future generations. Former Belfast Telegraph political correspondent Chris Thornton said he and his fellow authors, the Independent's David McKittrick, the late BBC journalist Seamus Kelters, historian and columnist Brian Feeney and author David McVea did not want to see the work reprinted and were against government intervention. by Nirmala Carvalho Mgr Jacob Manathodath sent a letter to the CPI-M secretary in support of Isaac Vargheses inclusion on the party list, a decision that has raised some eyebrows. For a former spokesman for the Syro-Malabar Church, It is not good for a bishop or a priest to show public support in politics. But in this case, the endorsement is an internal party matter. Delhi (AsiaNews) A Kerala bishop has sent a letter of recommendation to a Christian industrialist who wants to run with Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) for a seat in Palakkad district in the upcoming State Assembly election. According to Bishop Mar Jacob Manathodath of the Eparchy of Palakkad (Palghat), the Christian entrepreneur is an ideal candidate for the Left Democratic Front (LDF) to represent the Mannarkkad constituency in the Kerala State Assembly. The prelate is promoting the candidacy of Isaac Varghese, an industrialist from Kanjikode, also in Palakkad district. The Church is ready to support his political involvement through which will likely increase the LDFs chances of victory in Mannarkkad. The LDF is an alliance of left-wing parties led by the CPI-M. To this end, the prelate sent a letter to Kanam Rajendran, secretary of the Communist Party of India-Kerala State Committee, underscoring the fact that the Christian candidate is also backed by the Viswa Karma Sabha movement. An active member of Congress until 1992, Varghese is now a member of the district committee of the Pravasi organisation. In the letter of introduction to Rajendran, the bishop confirms that Varghese is an active member of the local Church and the Catholic community will do its utmost to help him win the seat. In 2006, the Mannarkkad seat went to a Christian candidate, Jose Baby. However, in the elections that followed (2011 and 2016), N Shamusudeen, a candidate for the Muslim League, won. Sources from the Diocese of Palakkad note that the bishop's letter does not deal with political issues, but only underlines the integrity and quality of the Christian candidate. Asked by AsiaNews, Fr Paul Thelakkat, a former spokesman for the Syro-Malabar Church, wants to clarify the meaning of the endorsement. In his view, It is not good for a bishop or a priest to show public support for a political party. This is contrary to the secular nature of democracy. Furthermore, it is always good to keep a healthy distance from political and religious parties. In reality the bishop is not publicly asking people to vote for a political party. He is only asking a party to support the candidacy of one of its own members. Many bishops and religious leaders at election time express support based on trust in favour of some people, to be candidates in a certain area. Most of them do so personally with political party leaders. We Christians who are a minority in India must exercise the utmost caution with regard to involvement in parties at a time when our country is facing a democratic crisis in its majority religion. Despised by Durer and jailed by the Pope: Marcantonio Raimondi, master printmaker Alastair Smart recounts the rise and fall of the little-known Bolognese master engraver whose diligence and beauty captivated Raphael and whose prints helped to spread High Renaissance taste across Europe In 1515, two of the great artists of the day exchanged gifts. Raphael handed over a chalk drawing (now in the Albertina Museum) to Albrecht Durer and received a (now-lost) self-portrait in return. Its not known if the pair actually met, who initiated contact, or why they did so. One possibility is that Raphael was seeking to make amends for a slight on the German by Marcantonio Raimondi, a key member of his workshop. Born in Bologna in 1480, Raimondi trained as an armour decorator but chose a career in printmaking instead as an engraver, to be precise. In 1506, he moved to Venice, where he thrived as an uncannily exact copier of Durers prints, albeit without the artists consent. Raimondi even retained the distinctive AD monogram, prompting buyer after buyer to believe they were purchasing a Durer. Marcantonio Raimondi. Illustration from The Gallery of Portraits (Charles Knight, 1836). Photo: Look and Learn / Bridgeman Images According to the art historian Giorgio Vasari, the German was so incensed by news that Raimondi had copied his woodcuts series Life of the Virgin, he set out for Venice forthwith. Durer ended up staying there for two years, during which time he launched a case against Raimondi in the Venetian Senate. In whats considered one of the first ever lawsuits over artistic copyright, Raimondi was banned from using the AD monogram though not from making Durer reproductions altogether. Other artists whose work he adapted include Giorgione, a lost painting by whom inspired Raimondis engraving The Dream. Raimondi was also skilled enough to combine different sources in one print, as he did with The Climbers (above): a landscape copied from Lucas van Leyden, in which he set three male nudes lifted from the cartoon for Michelangelos never-realised fresco, The Battle of Cascina. By around 1510, Raimondi had settled in Rome. It was there that he struck up one of the greatest artistic double-acts of the Renaissance: with Raphael. Giorgio Vasari thought Raimondi worthy of a whole chapter in his book, The Lives of Artists the only printmaker to be so honoured Few records survive documenting their relationship apart from a contract from 1515, in which the printmaker acted as a witness for the artists purchase of a house. Raphael would also depict a bearded Raimondi in his fresco at the Vatican, The Expulsion of Heliodorus from the Temple (Raimondi is seen carrying Pope Julius II on a portable throne). Raphael (1483-1520), The Expulsion of Heliodorus from the Temple, Stanza di Eliodoro, 1511-12, in which a bearded Raimondi is depicted as one of the Popes throne-bearers. Vatican Museums and Libraries, Vatican City. Photo: Bridgeman Images Most of our information comes from Vasari, who thought Raimondi worthy of a whole chapter in his book, The Lives of Artists the only printmaker to be so honoured. Were told that Raimondi sought out Raphael soon after arriving in Rome. The latter was instantly struck by the diligence and beautiful manner of the formers engravings, as well as by the strategic advantage of a collaboration. Having prints made of his art would help Raphael increase both his income and his fame just as Durers prints did for him. He seems to have understood what was then, given the novelty of printmaking, quite a radical idea: that where a painting might only be seen by a privileged few in a private palace or chapel, prints allowed an artwork to be seen simultaneously far and wide. Unlike Durer, however, Raphael was no printmaker himself. So inundated was he with painting commissions from Romes elite, he didnt have time for it anyway. Which is where Raimondi came in. Their first collaboration, The Judgment of Paris, was a triumph. In Vasaris words, the engraving astounded all Rome. In their 1983 book, Raphael, Roger Jones and Nicholas Penny claimed this was perhaps more imitated than any of Raphaels other inventions the composition, or part of it, was painted on majolica; engraved on gems; and fashioned into gilt metal cap badges. Another hit was Massacre of the Innocents, a stylised scene of biblical violence, in which Raimondi revealed his command of nuanced lighting and texture. The print was recorded in a number of big 16th-century collections. Raimondi and Raphael produced at least 50 works together. Interestingly, the former didnt work from finished paintings. His engravings tended to be based either on a drawing that marked an early stage in a paintings evolution or, as with The Judgment of Paris and Massacre of the Innocents, on a drawing created specifically to be engraved. The idea seems to have been to disseminate a broad spread of Raphaels imagery rather than specific masterpieces. Raimondi was nothing but faithful in his reproductions. So much so that the temptation might be to regard him as a mere technician or copier, who lacked the originality of the artists he adapted. But that would be to overlook the fact that translating a work from one medium into another requires a host of creative decisions. By the time he was in Rome, Raimondi had mastered a system of hatching, cross-hatching, stippling and burnishing that rendered forms in marvellous light and shade. Even after Raphaels untimely death in 1520, aged 37, Raimondi continued to produce well-received work, such as The Martyrdom of Saint Lawrence, above, from a drawing by Baccio Bandinelli. His career never really recovered, however, from his contribution to an infamous book called I Modi (The Positions) four years later. For this, Raimondi made a set of engravings based on 16 sexually explicit drawings by Raphaels ex-pupil, Giulio Romano. It was a kind of Renaissance Kama Sutra, deemed so scandalous that Pope Clement VII threw Raimondi in jail for a year on a charge of obscenity. He died in 1534, in relative obscurity. His engravings, though, would continue to be collected for generations. They helped foster High Renaissance taste across Europe, providing future collectors and artists with a plentiful stock of images. Until the boom in public galleries and museums in the 19th century, prints were the means by which most major artworks were experienced. Might we even say, then, that Raphaels enduring fame owed a great deal to Raimondi? For centuries, the former was held up as the paragon of High Renaissance artistry. The French writer and painter Charles Alphonse du Fresnoy spoke for many when he gushed in 1665 that Raphael had made as many miracles as he made pictures. Sign up today Christies Online Magazine delivers our best features, videos, and auction news to your inbox every week Subscribe Civil engineering professors funded by NRC to study long-term loading of concrete Friday, Jan. 22, 2021 MANHATTAN Two faculty members from the Kansas State University Department of Civil Engineering have been awarded a three-year, $418,161 grant from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission in support of its licensing activities and mission of providing reasonable assurance of safety from the commercial nuclear fleet: the 96 operating U.S.-based power reactors. The project, "Addressing Technical Knowledge Gaps for Concrete Creep, Creep Recovery and Creep Fracture," will be led by Christopher Jones, associate professor and Wallis-Lage Family Cornerstone teaching scholar, with co-investigator, Robert Peterman, professor and Mark H. and Margaret H. Hulings chair in engineering. The research will develop experimental and computer modeling approaches, and experimental data to enhance understanding of the response of concrete to long-term loading. Long-term loading, for this problem, is primarily the prestressing force applied to the concrete to limit cracking and also includes the self-weight of the structure. Jones said concrete is known to "creep" in response to sustained loading. "Creep is additional displacement, over and above the instantaneous displacement that occurs in a loaded material over time," Jones said. "It can lead to cracking and damage if extremely advanced, but its most common manifestation is unwanted or excessive deflection of structural members; for example, a bridge droops too low or a column gets too short." Recent findings have indicated creep deformation to be mostly irrecoverable for concrete and that the nature of the applied load, whether compressive, tensile or shear, profoundly influences the amount of creep observed. In this research the influence of nuclear radiation on the creep behavior of concrete will also be investigated. "Its a bit harder to describe the phenomenology in a power reactor containment building," Jones said, "but basically the material in the containment deforms inward and reduces the available prestress force in the prestress cables much in the way running shoes or hiking boots get looser as you wear them for a bit and you have to cinch them down again." The team expects a more technically sound understanding of the interplay between material parameters of the concrete, the nature of the applied load and other external stimuli such as radiation or relative humidity will lead to a significantly more robust predictive capability for creep in concrete. "As with other recently funded projects within the Carl R. Ice College of Engineering, this award enhances the profile and reputation of K-State engineering and is a testament to the impact our faculty have on problems of national importance," Jones said. INDUSTRY INSIGHT Zero trust 2.0: The answer to governments cyber woes COVID-19 disrupted the cybersecurity landscape as industries adopted remote working to maintain business continuity. The digital shift contributed to the proliferation of data breaches and ransomware attacks, crippling organizational infrastructure and services -- prompting more than 35% of cybersecurity professionals polled by Deloitte to cite the remote workforce and insider threats as primary reasons for zero-trust adoption. The government sector is no exception to these challenges as bad actors targeted numerous federal agencies in 2020. According to the Department of Homeland Security, the Census Bureau was victim to an attempt to access its sensitive data, change registration information and even compromise the agencys infrastructure. Meanwhile, the Department of Veteran Affairs suffered a data breach that compromised information of roughly 46,000 veterans. Both incidents are just the tip of the iceberg and have inspired agencies and cities to adopt a zero-trust framework. A couple of glitches in zero trust As the name implies, zero trust protects all touchpoints linking to an organizations network with the sole purpose of transforming it into an impregnable fortress. The New York City Cyber Command, for example, recently announced its plan to adopt a zero-trust framework within New York, aiming to refine the citys security posture. Given the uptick in cybersecurity incidents and impact of remote working, it is understandable why government agencies have turned to zero trust. Though it offers Fort Knox-style protection, zero trust also introduces friction and puts users through rigorous checks. With zero trust, employees must validate their identification at every touchpoint to achieve access, interrupting their user journey. Roughly 61% of employees had trouble accessing their network during the first half of 2020, prompting them to consider alternative methods (e.g. personal devices) for access and increasing the organizations exposure to new risks. IT departments may also lack the appropriate tools to manage zero-trust policies, which can complicate password resets or exacerbate login issues. The answer lies in zero trust 2.0 Zero trust is advantageous, but the U.S. government must implement new technologies that provide robust security measures without compromising the user experience. This new approach is zero trust 2.0 -- it leverages machine learning and passive intelligence factors to reduce any impact on security and the user experience. For starters, zero trust 2.0 can better protect passwords and profiles with features like keystroke dynamics or intelligent swipe authentication. Even as agencies scale up their cybersecurity measures, cybercriminals malicious campaigns demonstrate greater sophistication. In December 2020, federal agencies fell victim to the SolarWinds breach, affecting the Departments of Commerce, Energy and Treasury as well as affiliated agencies, including the National Telecommunications and Information Administration. U.S. officials speculated that Russian hackers initiated the breach and gained unfettered access to these federal agencies through employee email accounts. Zero trust 2.0 can deliver more effective protection as it enhances cybersecurity measures through personal habits, which are virtually impossible to replicate. Government employees digital behaviors are key to protecting their agencys network from illicit access. Making zero trust 2.0 a reality While some agency officials may be complicit with the friction within their current security infrastructure, employees may be more productive with a solution like zero trust 2.0 that balances convenience and security. For a seamless adoption of zero trust 2.0, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) must: Recognize the benefits of machine learning. Unfortunately, not all authentication events are created equal. A user providing authentication via fingerprint reader on a high-end device will likely be more secure than a user providing authentication via a PIN on a low-end device. Chief information security officers must consider all factors when adopting any solution. They should focus on gathering data from a vast array of inputs and learn which events are more secure and which require a closer look. Unfortunately, not all authentication events are created equal. A user providing authentication via fingerprint reader on a high-end device will likely be more secure than a user providing authentication via a PIN on a low-end device. Chief information security officers must consider all factors when adopting any solution. They should focus on gathering data from a vast array of inputs and learn which events are more secure and which require a closer look. Apply an orchestration layer capable of managing identity and access policies. Prior to orchestration layers, managing the huge and ever-changing ecosystem of users, devices and applications was almost impossible. Now, CISOs and IT managers can create and modify access control policies across different business units and geographies with a few clicks of a mouse. This will eliminate their reliance on development time and making the dream of a dynamic zero trust architecture a reality. Feel safe and secure with zero trust 2.0 CISA must consider which technologies will best safeguard the U.S. government from prolific cyber threats while providing federal employees the immediate access and speed to the data and resources they need. Zero trust 2.0 can be adopted within a single integration, proving more sustainable and adaptable than its predecessor. Cybercriminals are becoming bolder and more sophisticated in their attacks, and the U.S. government is a prime target due to the amount of sensitive information within its network. By implementing zero trust 2.0, the federal government can shrink its attack surface, enabling it to keep pace with the constantly evolving cybersecurity landscape. 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. Killeen, TX (76540) Today Scattered thunderstorms during the morning becoming more widespread this afternoon. Heavy downpours are possible. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. High 82F. Winds ESE at 10 to 15 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%. Cases have stayed about the same over the past week and are at a moderate level. The number of hospitalized Covid patients has fallen in the Day County area. Deaths have remained at about the same level. The test positivity rate in Day County is very high, suggesting that cases are being significantly undercounted. Weve recommended additional precautions below. 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 Day 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 Day 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 Day 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 Day County in the last week. Since the beginning of the pandemic, at least 1 in 8 residents have been infected, a total of 709 reported cases . About the data In data for South Dakota, The Times primarily relies on reports from the state. The state does not update its data on Sundays. Prior to April 2021, it released new data daily. 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: Nov. 27, 2020: South Dakota reported data for Nov. 26 and Nov. 27 after reporting no data on Thanksgiving. South Dakota reported data for Nov. 26 and Nov. 27 after reporting no data on Thanksgiving. Oct. 7, 2020: South Dakota began reporting probable cases identified through antigen testing. 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 Day County is at a high risk level for unvaccinated people because there was an average of 3 daily cases per 100,000 people reported in the past two weeks and the test positivity was over 10 percent. The risk in Day County will decrease to moderate risk if the test positivity drops below 10 percent or the daily case rate drops to less than about 0.7 cases per 100,000 people over the past two weeks. 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: Austin Romines tenure in Detroit is over after one abbreviated season. The veteran catcher reportedly signed a one-year, $1.5 million deal with the Chicago Cubs on Friday. Hell back up starter Willson Contreras. Romine, 32, signed a one-year, $4.1 million contract with the Tigers before the 2020 season, getting his first opportunity as a No. 1 catcher after years as a backup with the New York Yankees. But after a hot start, Romine hit just .238 with a .582 OPS in 135 plate appearances. The Tigers currently have two catchers on their 40-man roster -- Grayson Greiner and Jake Rogers -- plus reserve options Eric Haase and Dustin Garneau. If the Tigers opt to sign a catcher, veterans Alex Avila and Robinson Chirinos appear to be the likeliest options. Jason Castro signed a two-year deal with the Astros earlier this week. Romine is the first of five Tigers free agents to find a new home. First baseman C.J. Cron, second baseman Jonathan Schoop and pitchers Ivan Nova and Jordan Zimmermann remain unsigned. Indian realty witness PE investments of $ 4,068 mn in 2020: Knight Frank India Report 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. Disclaimer: Information, facts or opinions expressed in this news article are presented as sourced from IANS and do not reflect views of Moneylife and hence Moneylife is not responsible or liable for the same. As a source and news provider, IANS is responsible for accuracy, completeness, suitability and validity of any information in this article. Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 3 mesi fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. According to a recently compiled study by FMI, the global animal model market will reflect an impressive CAGR through the forecast period, 2017 to 2026. Revenues from the global market for animal model are poised to surpass US $ 2,200 Mn by 2026-end. Leveraging Animal Models offers Better Understanding of Different Diseases Animals and human beings share a common biological as well as physiological structure. Animals possess shorter life cycle, however they have high genotype resemblance. It is simple and easy to control the animal environment as compared to the human beings. The animal models are increasingly being used in the biomedical research that helps to develop new treatment methods for various diseases. Leveraging animal models offers a better understanding of different diseases, along with the efficacy of drugs with regard to the diseases. Owing to these factors, demand for animal models has been witnessing a significant surge in the healthcare sector. Alternatives such as cell cultures, tissue cultures, and computer models are also available, however animal models are more preferred owing to the complexity of the living systems. View Report Preview at Animal Model Market Segmentation Species - Rats, Mice, Guinea Pig, Rabbits, Monkeys, Dogs, Pigs, Cats, Other Species; End User - Academic & Research Institutions, Pharmaceutical Companies, Biotechnology Companies, Contract Research Organizations (CROs), Other End Users; Application - Basic and Applied Research, Drug Discovery / Development: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/animal-model-market The development of animal models, which are more predictive in being effective is an iterative process. However, progress is being made, with researchers applying new experimental approaches to elucidate the biology of specific diseases for the creating of new and efficient animal models. During the development of new drugs dedicated to complex diseases, researchers are being well advised for testing drugs in multiple animal models as well as in mouse strains with different genetic backgrounds. Researchers are also focusing on employing translational efficacy or pharmacodynamic biomarkers for linking efficacy observed in clinical results with pre-clinical analyzes. Key Takeaways from FMI's Report on Global Animal Model Market North America is expected to remain the largest and fastest expanding market for animal model, with revenues estimated to surpass US $ 800 Mn by 2026-end. Between animal model markets in Asia-Pacific and Europe, the former will account for relatively larger revenue share, whereas the latter will expand at a comparatively higher CAGR through 2026. Although the market in South Korea will account for the lowest market revenue share, revenues are projected to expand at a relatively higher CAGR than those from the markets in Latin America and Middle East & Africa (MEA) through 2026. Request to View Sample Report - https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-3141 On the basis of species, revenues from rats and mice are projected to account for over two-fifth share of the market by 2026-end. Revenues from use of rats in animal models will expand at the highest CAGR in the market through 2026. In addition, revenues from use of cats and monkeys in animal models will rise at a nearly equal CAGR through 2026. Dogs and pigs are expected to remain the least lucrative species used in animal models during the forecast period. Contract research organizations (CROs) and biotechnology companies are anticipated to remain the fast expanding end-users of animal models. Revenues from these two end-users are collectively forecast to surpass US $ 850 Mn by 2026-end. In terms of revenues, academic & research institutions and pharmaceutical companies will continue to be dominant end-users in the global animal model market. Basic and applied research application of animal model will continue to register the fastest expansion through 2026. However, drug discovery / development will remain the most lucrative application of animal model. Request Report TOC @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/askus/rep-gb-3141 Key companies actively contributing to growth of the global animal model market include Transposagen Biopharmaceuticals, Inc., Envigo CRS SA, Crown Bioscience, Inc., Eurofins Scientific SE, Genoway SA, Taconic Biosciences, Inc., Trans Genic Inc, The Jackson Laboratory, Horizon Discovery Group plc, and Charles River Laboratories International, Inc. Explore Wide-ranging Coverage of FMI's Healthcare Market Insights Landscape Interatrial Shunt Market FMIs analysis gives an insight into key market trends, strategies, regional players and various segments on the basis of form, type, application and region. Body Contouring Market Find insights into global market scenario and segmentation on the basis of ingredients, application, source and region. Road Side Drug Testing Devices Market FMI's report highlights parent market trends and strategies in the market with segments and dynamics through the forecast period. 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 Dubai, the global financial capital, and has delivery centers in the US 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. Contact Mr. Abhishek Budholiya Unit No: AU-01-H Gold Tower (AU), Plot No: JLT-PH1-I3A, Jumeirah Lakes Towers, Dubai, United Arab Emirates MARKET ACCESS DMCC Initiative For Sales Inquiries: sales@futuremarketinsights.com For Media Inquiries: press@futuremarketinsights.com So long: Donald and Melania Trump wave farewell to the White House. Photo: Getty Joe Biden wasted no time at all in sweeping away many of the signs Donald Trump was ever in the Oval Office. Out went the artwork depicting Americas populist leaders and the military insignia Mr Trump brought with him in 2017. In came busts of civil rights activists and tributes to the importance of unity and science. Each president can decorate the Oval Office how they like, and their choices of paintings, statues and furniture are hurriedly moved into the room on Inauguration Day. Mr Biden gave a prominent place to a bust of Rev Martin Luther King Jr as part of a wider overhaul in which he wanted to reflect the diversity of the United States. An official said the new president wanted to walk into an Oval that looked like America. Mr Biden also included busts of Rosa Parks and Cesar Chavez, the Latino-American civil rights leader, as well as Robert Kennedy and Eleanor Roosevelt. Mr Trump had introduced a painting of Andrew Jackson, Americas populist seventh president, and flags of various branches of the military. Read More Mr Biden removed all signs of Jackson from the office, replacing the painting with one of Benjamin Franklin, along with a piece of moon rock from the Apollo missions. Opposite his desk, Mr Biden placed a large portrait of Franklin D Roosevelt, the architect of social programmes that dug the US out of the Great Depression. The Roosevelt portrait is flanked by four others, including rivals Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson. The two Founding Fathers were hung next to each other to symbolise the value of dissenting opinions. Mr Biden replaced Mr Trumps old military flags, opting instead for one of the presidential seal and one of the national flag. One piece that remains is the Resolute desk. Despite having a choice of six desks, the 46th president has chosen to keep the same one as his four immediate predecessors. It was built from oak used in the British Arctic exploration ship HMS Resolute. As for the offices soft furnishings, Mr Biden has replaced his predecessors golden drapes with a slightly darker pair from the Clinton era. Meanwhile, the Bush-era cream rug with garland edging is gone in favour of a deep blue one with a presidential seal in the middle. Mr Biden also vowed a change of working culture and tone after some of Mr Trumps aides briefed furiously against each other during his administration. In a virtual address to 1,000 political appointees he said: Everybody is entitled to be treated with decency and dignity. Thats been missing in a big way the last four years. Politics doesnt have to be a raging fire destroying everything in its path. Every disagreement doesnt have to be a cause for total war. Mr Biden added: If you ever work with me and I hear you treat another colleague with disrespect, talk down to someone, I will fire you on the spot. No ifs, ands or buts. On his desk, Mr Biden has made some minor adjustments. There is a cup and saucer set, as well as a box of pens to sign documents. Mr Trump had a button with which he summoned an aide and a thick black marker with his golden signature printed on the barrel. As he swore in appointees by video conference from the state dining room, Mr Biden told them the United States had the most decent government in the world. He added: We have to restore the soul of this country, and Im counting on all of you to be part of that. I expect you to do that for all the folks you deal with. Mr Biden did not mention Mr Trump by name. ( Telegraph Media Group 2021) BERLIN (JTA) The head of Austrias Jewish community has apologized for COVID-19 vaccine doses that were administered to community members, including himself, who were not meant to receive them. In a letter to the community released Monday, Oskar Deutsch said it was a mistake to have included nonpriority individuals in the vaccinations administered on Dec. 30 at the Maimonides Center, the Jewish communitys senior home. It should not have happened, Deutsch said. I myself was invited to receive an inoculation and didnt refuse. That was a mistake and I apologize. T... J ason Bourne star Matt Damon has listed his tropical home for sale for 15.4 million ($21,000) in the Pacific Palisades neighbourhood of Los Angeles county. The actor, his wife Luciana Barroso and their daughters currently in quarantine in Byron Bay before Damon joins the cast of Thor: Love and Thunder in Sydney have reportedly decided to sell the southern California property to make their Brooklyn Heights penthouse in New York their main home. Located in the exclusive Upper Riviera district, Damons seven-bedroom retreat now for sale is a stones throw from best friend Ben Afflecks home. Surrounded by trees, with covered terraces and walkways, the extraordinary 13,500sq ft home set in less than an acre offers maximum privacy for famous residents and guests. Living spaces have plenty of natural light through huge floor-to-ceiling windows and skylights, and the family room opens to a chefs kitchen. The showstopper master suite opens to a private terrace but real highlights come in the form of two dressing rooms, a massage room and spa-style bath. As well as the propertys private cinema and wine cellar with tasting area, other suitably glamorous features include the gym, swimming pool, outdoor dining terrace and cascading waterfall. It's for sale through Eric Haskell of The Agency at a price of 15.6 million. Matt Damon fans planning post-pandemic getaways might like to know the Dalkey mansion where the actor and his family spent Lockdown 1 is now available to rent. Near Dublin, and formerly the home of Formula One icon Eddie Irvine, the 5,000sq ft residence has five bedrooms, a pool, sauna and Jacuzzi. The Daily News-Miner encourages residents to make themselves heard through the Opinion pages. Readers' letters and columns also appear online at newsminer.com. Contact the editor with questions at letters@newsminer.com or call 459-7574. Community Perspective Send Community Perspective submissions by mail (P.O. Box 70710, Fairbanks AK 99707) or via email (letters@newsminer.com). Submissions must be 500 to 750 words. Columns are welcome on a wide range of issues and should be well-written and well-researched with attribution of sources. Include a full name, email address, daytime telephone number and headshot photograph suitable for publication (email jpg or tiff files at 150 dpi.) You may also schedule a photo to be taken at the News-Miner office. The News-Miner reserves the right to edit submissions or to reject those of poor quality or taste without consulting the writer. Letters to the editor Send letters to the editor by mail (P.O. Box 70710, Fairbanks AK 99707), by fax (907-452-7917) or via email (letters@newsminer.com). Writers are limited to one letter every two weeks (14 days.) All letters must contain no more than 350 words and include a full name (no abbreviation), daytime and evening phone numbers and physical address. (If no phone, then provide a mailing address or email address.) The Daily News-Miner reserves the right to edit or reject letters without consulting the writer. 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. Robert Kocharyan on years of his leadership in Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia Situation on Armenian-Azerbaijani border is still tense, more on COVID-19 in Armenia, May 28 digest "Armenia" alliance of political parties paying tribute to founder of First Republic Aram Manukyan (LIVE) Yerevan.today: Armenia acting PM not greeted at ruling party's headquarters, citizens call him 'capitulator' Russia MOD reports on maintenance of ceasefire regime in Nagorno-Karabakh Armenia acting MOD meets with Russian counterpart in Moscow Armenia 2nd President: I see possibility of restoring borders of Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast We can provide our army with some key, modernized weapons, says Armenia ex-President Kocharyan Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: Captives issue is not one that any opposition force can resolve OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs release statement on detention of 6 Armenian servicemen by Azerbaijan Armenian acting Deputy PM: Discussion on issues possible only after withdrawal of Azeri troops from Armenia's territory Armenia acting PM on Syunik roads, Russian military posts: This is only place where there are working nuances Armenia acting PM: Process of return of POWs will intensify after upcoming elections Putin congratulates Aliyev on Republic Day 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 Four Defendants Appear in Court on Drug Charges By West Kentucky Star Staff PADUCAH - Four people facing various drug charges from two separate investigations were in court on Thursday.A court clerk said Jesse Leach and Jennifer Brimhall waived their preliminary hearings, so they will be arraigned on February 25.They were arrested January 9 after an investigation led to execution of a search warrant at a home on Woodward Street. Kentucky State Police Detectives say they found four pounds of crystal methamphetamine, along with liquid meth, two handguns and about $34,000. They were charged with engaging in organized crime, trafficking in a controlled substance and other charges.Also on Thursday, Amy Cope and Michael Creech were arraigned in court, and their preliminary hearings were scheduled for January 28.They were arrested January 20 after McCracken Sheriff's Detectives investigated possible drug trafficking at an apartment complex on North Friendship Road. A search led to seizure of crystal meth, a loaded handgun and drug paraphernalia. They were charged with firearm-enhanced trafficking in a controlled substance, possession of a handgun by a convicted felon, tampering with evidence and possession of drug paraphernalia. Creech was also served with an outstanding parole violation warrant.On the Net: New Delhi, Jan 22 : The eleventh round of talks between the government and representatives of the farmers Union ended on Friday without any solution in sight as Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Narendra Singh Tomar urged the Union leaders to rethink about rejecting the government's proposal to suspend the new farm laws for one and half years. No date for the next round of talks has been decided and the meeting will be held whenever farmer leaders are ready for a dialogue on the proposal given by the government in the 10th round of talks, on January 20. After the meeting, Parminder Singh Palmajra, a Bharatiya Kisan Union leader from Punjab, said the farmers will now further intensify the agitation. The ministers present in the talks -- Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar, Railways, Commerce and Food Minister Piyush Goyal and Minister of State for Commerce Som Parkash -- will shortly address the media about the dialogue. If you'd like to leave a comment (or a tip or a question) about this story with the editors, please email us We also welcome letters to the editor for publication; you can do that by filling out our letters form and submitting it to the newsroom. Telugu film actor and Jana Sena party chief K Pawan Kalyan on Friday donated Rs 30 lakh for the construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya. Kalyan handed over a cheque for the amount to RSS AP unit head Bharat, in the presence of former minister Kamineni Srinivas. Kalyan also gave another cheque for Rs 11,000, a contribution pooled by his personal staff. The Jana Sena chief's political secretary P Hari Prasad said some Christians and Muslims too were among Kalyan's staff, who also made the contribution for the Ram Mandir construction. New Delhi, Jan 22 : Emaar India Ltd. on Friday accused MGF Group and its Chairman Shravan Gupta of trying to illegally transfer a land parcel in Okhla. In a statement, Emaar cautioned against dealing with MGF Group, Gupta and associates in respect of the land parcel which was valued at nearly Rs 500 crore in 2008 and may be valued much higher now. Emaar has also issued a public notice to this effect. "We were informed by credible sources that MGF was likely to deal with the Okhla land parcel. We wanted to caution the public against dealing with MGF Group, SSP Buildcon Private Limited, Shravan Gupta, Shilpa Gupta or any of their associates/related entities or persons," it said. The notice pertains specifically to a land parcel of approximately 4.88 acres in Okhla, Mathura Road, New Delhi. Emaar India was a joint venture between Dubai-based Emaar and Shravan Gupta's MGF Developments Limited. Emaar Properties entered the Indian real estate with one of the largest FDI in the real estate sector in 2005. Gupta was the Managing Director and CEO of the joint venture Emaar MGF Land until 2016. He finally resigned as the Managing Director of the joint venture company in 2016 and the demerger of MGF was approved in July 2018. According to Emaar, once it took management control of Emaar India, it found several unauthorised related party transactions prior to 2016. After investigating, Emaar proceeded with recourse to the necessary remedies available under Indian law. It has sought to recover over Rs 2,400 crore and interest from the relevant date of siphoning of funds or properties. The proceedings were filed in November 2019 before the NCLT Delhi. Emaar's statement said that it has been "informed that Shravan Gupta and his family are since outside India and recently learned from a court order in an unrelated matter that he and his family are likely to take up citizenship of the Commonwealth of Dominica". The Telegraph The list of Donald Trump associates who have attempted to bring down the former president is as long as it is varied: from his lawyer, to his closest advisor, his ex-wife and his alleged lover. But like many powerful figures before him, it may well be his accountant that would be his undergoing. Allen Weisselberg, the little-known 73-year-old chief financial officer for the Trump Organisation, has worked for the Trump family as far back as the early 1970s under Donalds father Fred. Some say he is closer to Mr Trump than he is to his own children. As one former employee put it, he knows where the bodies are buried". In recent weeks New York prosecutors investigating Mr Trumps tax affairs have been turning the screws on Mr Weisselberg in the hope of flipping him to testify against his boss. Cyrus Vance, the Manhattan District Attorney, is looking into everything from hush-money payments paid to women on Mr Trump's behalf, to property valuations and employee compensation. Speculation is mounting that his office may be able to turn Mr Weisselberg, who has not been accused of any wrongdoing, as it pulls together a grand jury to decide whether to indict. In Northern Ireland there is a propensity to turn issues demanding consensus into matters of discord. Usually politicians are to blame which is understandable given the ideological chasm that separates the parties. Politicians are never generous of spirit if they see an opportunity to score a cheap political point or grab another vote. It is the nature of the profession. On this latest occasion the politicians were in agreement on the deployment of military medical personnel to help out hard-pressed and exhausted NHS staff in the battle against Covid. The apparent dissenting voice came from the large trade union, Unison, which said it would seek detailed reasons from Health Minister Robin Swann why the decision was taken and what other options had been explored. The union's regional secretary Patricia McKeown was forced to clarify the union's position and in a new statement said it did not object to military medical personnel being used in hospitals. Its concern was that such deployment indicated that the crisis was moving out of control. The reaction to the initial statement was predictable with politicians queuing up to criticise the remarks. More worryingly for the union, social media was alive with threats from members to leave the organisation because of the perceived stance. In fairness to Patricia McKeown and Unison, it has been at the forefront of raising the issue of under-staffing and underpay in the NHS for many years and Ms McKeown has been a vocal critic of successive health ministers in overseeing this withering of the service. However, given that experience and knowledge, the initial statement issued on Wednesday night was very ill-judged. We are in the middle of a pandemic, the like of which few if anybody alive today has ever witnessed before. The statistics are alarming with 22 more deaths due to the virus, 832 people testing positive, 67 people in intensive care and 57 on ventilators. When the NHS has reached the stage where it cannot even perform red-flagged cancer surgery it is clear that it desperately needs help. In those circumstances assistance from any quarter, provided those involved can perform the required tasks, is welcome. Unison must know that and it is clear that many of its members are acutely aware of the problems. It is somehow appropriate that military personnel are being deployed in hospitals because they are our battlefields at this time, where life and death triages remain a possibility. We should be glad these medical technicians are here to help save lives. Judge Says Amazon Won't Have to Restore Parler By The Associated Press SEATTLE - Amazon won't be forced to immediately restore web service to Parler after a federal judge ruled Thursday against a plea to reinstate the fast-growing social media app.U.S. 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.Amazon kicked Parler off its web-hosting service on Jan. 11. In court filings, it said the suspension was a last resort" to block Parler from harboring violent plans to disrupt the presidential transition.The Seattle tech giant said Parler had shown an unwillingness and inability to remove a slew of dangerous posts that called for the rape, torture and assassination of politicians, tech executives and many others.The social media app sued to get back online, arguing that Amazon Web Services had breached its contract and abused its market power. It said Trump was likely on the brink of joining the platform, following a wave of his followers who flocked to the app after Twitter and Facebook expelled Trump after the Jan. 6 assault on the U.S. Capitol.Rothstein said she rejected any suggestion that the public interest favors requiring AWS to host the incendiary speech that the record shows some of Parlers users have engaged in. She also faulted Parler for providing only faint and factually inaccurate speculation about Amazon and Twitter colluding with one another to shut Parler down.Parler said Thursday it was disappointed by the ruling but remains confident it will ultimately prevail in the main case, which it says will have broad implications for our pluralistic society. Amazon said it welcomed the ruling and emphasized that this was not a case about free speech, a point also underscored by the judge.Parler CEO John Matze had asserted in a court filing that Parlers abrupt shutdown was motivated at least partly by a desire to deny President Trump a platform on any large social-media service. Matze said Trump had contemplated joining the network as early as October under a pseudonym. The Trump administration last week declined to comment on whether he had planned to join.Amazon denied its move to pull the plug on Parler had anything to do with political animus. It claimed that Parler had breached its business agreement by hosting content advocating violence and failing to timely take that content down.Parler was formed in May 2018, according to Nevada business records, with what co-founder Rebekah Mercer later described as the goal of creating a neutral platform for free speech away from the tyranny and hubris of our tech overlords.Amazon said the company signed up for its cloud computing services about a month later, thereby agreeing to its rules against dangerous content.Matze told the court that Parler has no tolerance for inciting violence or lawbreaking and has relied on volunteer jurors to flag problem posts and vote on whether they should be removed. More recently, he said the company informed Amazon it would soon begin using artificial intelligence to automatically pre-screen posts for inappropriate content, as bigger social media companies do.Amazon last week revealed a trove of incendiary and violent posts that it had reported to Parler over the past several weeks. They included explicit calls to harm high-profile political and business leaders and broader groups of people, such as schoolteachers and Black Lives Matter activists.Google and Apple were the first tech giants to take action against Parler in the days after the deadly Capitol riot. Both companies temporarily banned the smartphone app from their app stores. But people who had already downloaded the Parler app were still able to use it until Amazon Web Services pulled the plug on the website.Parler has kept its website online by maintaining its internet registration through Epik, a U.S. company owned by libertarian businessman Rob Monster. Epik has previously hosted 8chan. Parler is currently hosted by DDoS-Guard, a company whose owners are based in Russia, public records show.DDoS-Guard did not respond to emails seeking comment on its business with Parler or on published reports that its customers have included Russian government agencies.Parler said Thursday it is still working to revive its platform. Although its website is back, it hasnt restored its app or social network. Matze has said it will be difficult to restore service because the site had been so dependent on Amazon engineering, and Amazons action has turned off other potential vendors.The case has offered a rare window into Amazons influence over the workings of the internet. Parler argued in its lawsuit that Amazon violated antitrust laws by colluding with Twitter, which also uses some Amazon cloud computing services, to quash the upstart social media app.Rothstein, who was appointed to the Seattle-based court by Democratic President Jimmy Carter, said Parler presented dwindlingly slight evidence of antitrust violations and no evidence that Amazon and Twitter acted together intentionally or even at all in restraint of trade. NEW YORK, Jan. 22, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Psychic reading online by accurate psychics, mediums and tarot readers are becoming more popular during these days of uncertainly, more and more people are seeking for answers for life big decisions via accurate online psychic reading services by authentic psychic advisors, one of such platforms is the psychic source network. The Psychic Source Network is one of the most trustworthy psychic platforms around. The sole fact that it has been around for the past 30 years is a strong indicator that it is widely trusted and respected. Psychic source psychic advisors specialized with providing spiritual guidance to their clients answering questions about Love, money, career and more. Psychic Source network is packed with the best psychics in the industry, who depend on trusted and varied techniques to bring answers to anyone questions. Whether astrology, Tarot reading, future telling, medium psychics, love psychics advisors or other forms of online psychic reading, Psychic Source Network experts leave no stone unturned to help their clients. Psychic source has recently announced all new clients seeking for answers by psychic source psychic reading experts will benefit by getting first 3 minutes free and 75% off on their first psychic reading session, more on this topic can be seen on psychic source official site Right Here. The world of the internet is loaded with infinite websites and mobile applications that equip a person with an opportunity of taking a glimpse into the future. Some are just endless, baseless stories, while others present the user with genuine services that can support them and hush the burning questions that flow in their mind. There are some genuine apps and websites that can provide people with a reliable experience of online psychic reading without demanding them to pay a lot of money. Spiritual guidance could be the tool that people are looking for to find these answers. A best psychic reader can assist them if they have qualms about their preferences. Skepticism can hinder people from making positive decisions. A trained psychic might unveil the route forward. They could give users the perspicacity they require to pick a direction. Spiritual advice can direct them to feel more empowered in their day to day life and more specific of their determinations. Reassurance is a powerful force and being assured of the measures people are exercising can drive them towards relishing the life they want and attaining their purposes. Psychic Source.com is amongst the best and is broadly distinguished as the most trustworthy name when it comes to online psychic readings. Not only do they have outlasted in this industry for more than three decades now, but they also have millions of content patrons. This company does an admirable work of vetting psychics before they commence working on their site. Users can be completely assured while executing a psychic source login as they perceive that they are receiving devoted experts who are there to guide them. With more than 325 different psychics available, clients will always have someone there to talk to them once they would pick them. The psychic readers for this team hold the surpassing experience and are recognized as leaders in this psychic reading industry. Any person who yearns to be a psychic and operates through Psychic Source will require to undergo a meticulous vetting method where they're asked questions on several discrete subjects on their expertise, abilities, and much more. Additionally, the psychics are required to maintain a high patron content rating to continue working there. Clients can run through various psychic source reviews and choose a particular psychic who people are most gratified with and register for reading once they're available. This site also holds bi-lingual psychic reading possible for people who need it and all the psychics are available round the clock. The rate of a psychic reader entirely depends on the notoriety of a particular psychic based on precision and psychic performance for their clients. While the higher per-minute rate is certainly a mark of a skilled psychic, a user can be 100 percent assured that a lesser charge does not symbolize the contrary. Most of the psychics start their journey as preferred psychics. As their reliability with clients advances, they move from one pricing range to consequent. The outcome? People get skilled psychics at each range along the route! The prices of this company are pretty competitive, and for the high-quality assistance, patrons are receiving, quite affordable. Users will be priced $10 for a ten-minute interpretation, $15 for a 20-minute reading, and a 30-minute reading is priced just at $19.80. All readings are free for the initial three minutes. So a user is not technically spending for that slight 'introductory' session alongside their psychic. At the 30 minute level, a customer will be required to pay $.66 per minute, which can be an impartial fair amount that supports what people will normally notice in the psychic reading industry. Psychic source online tarot card reading offers users with penetration on accomplishment, love, well-being, employment, investment or any additional issue. They can unquestionably try their hands at Psychic Source. The readers have performed more than 6 million secure and private interpretations. The psychic source has remained the site where many happy and gratified patrons have equated with a variety of trustworthy and proficient psychics within the planet advisors who possess exceptional psychic gifts. They equip patrons with the only psychic encounter they would like with the content, privacy and tranquility they deserve. It is an esteemed name when it comes to notable patron assistance and protected payments. The greatest psychics are examined and certified to possess the faultless best qualities in their field and hence many satisfied customers are their greatest recommendation. Individuals can decide to receive a call psychic reading, reading via online chat, or by video call. They do not get to undergo the distress of stepping into a stranger's house or shop or have the contingency of feeling flashed or seen. They will receive all the benefits of a true psychic connection, within the comfort and anonymity of their residence or the place they are selecting. Clients can skim over their Psychics portfolio to inquire out and about all the Advisors available at their assistance. Right after a psychic source login, users can ascertain who is ready if they would desire a reading, and who will maintain a record of their account. If any person is looking ahead to working with psychics who train in an expanded assortment of diverse areas, they should seek Psychic source tarot card reading online. The company extends all varieties of conventional readings like profession, free psychic love tarot reading and many more. Besides that, clients can further consult a psychic for aura interpretations, pet readings, remote viewings, rune casting, and many more. Psychic Source is a great way to get the particular type of assistance any individual requires, all at one place. Unlike various other sites, Psychic source does not depend entirely on customers ratings to evaluate their psychics rather they conduct background examinations, questionnaire interpretations, and personal interviews to assure that the psychics are experienced and adequate. The company has a diverse array of psychic alternatives available for the patrons. The diverse variety of psychics available on this site is one thing that set them aloof from the rest of the industry. Users can pick from a psychic who specializes in astrology, profession forecasting, Chinese astrology, dream interpretation, financial viewpoint, eastern philosophy and many more. With all these multiple options to choose from, there is no perplexity that an individual will be able to discover the guidance they require. Users will always perceive what they are spending time at Psychic Source. The flexible Advisor prices are mentioned on each Advisor page. Patrons recognize the payment amount they would prefer to feature to their account. After that, They can either buy their reading plan online or through the Customer Care Center. There are no concealed charges or surprise costs. After the accomplishment of each reading, users are credited for the extent of their encounter multiplied by the Advisor's per-minute price. If a reader is not free at the moment, patrons can get in line and ask a Return Call to inform one when it's their turn to receive a reading. The Psychic source is the most qualified and sophisticated company within the psychic reading industry. People can pick from psychic assistance they think will help one's circumstance in the most desirable manner. As various psychics are working 24/7 live for this company, the odds are that somebody is going to be online and available for them no matter what assistance they would want to opt. If any user faces any trouble alongside their psychic reading or the situation itself, there are love psychics, astrologers, clairvoyants, clairaudients, tarot reading psychics, angel card reading psychics, people who read numerology, and much more. Along with this, a patron assistance professional is constantly reachable at their service at Psychic Sources. They hold a live chat option, phone call options, email options to communicate with delegates of the company 24/7. Psychic source holds a comprehensive FAQ division which can aid users to get the solution to the problems they are encountering the most. The company also has distinguished fame for retaining customers data confidential. Psychic Source understands that people sometimes utilize their assistance to address subjects of very secluded nature and take that trust earnestly. Every psychic associated with Psychic Source is obliged to retain the content of psychic consultations confidential (besides the events when there is an impending threat of injury to oneself or others, or if any legal obligations necessitate that the information is revealed). The psychics perform an on-record interaction for important reasons however they hold an impeccable name when it concerns retaining private conversations to themselves. The psychic source is a distinguished company furnishing top-quality psychic guidance and patron assistance to their customers and members each day. Principally all the psychic readers connected with this company maintains a minimum of 4-star rating out of 5. The customers who did not have credence in the company originally were provided with the chance to seek readings at Psychic Source for free in return for fairly bestowing their experience receiving a psychic reading. It is one of the most reliable psychic services online today with one of the most genuine psychic apps available. It is excellent to have an account with this organization if any patron needs some sort of specific reading that is not granted at other sites. They have a distinguished name and will ensure that their users are always content with the outcomes. If a person is contemplating obtaining a psychic reading, they really can not get disappointed after using Psychic Source. They are widely regarded as the industry leader, possess experience of more than 29 years, and a glorious overall eminence. Users can pick from various psychics so that they are certain to find someone they are content with. No matter what kind of assistance a user is trying to seek out, they will obtain it at the Psychic Source. SOURCE Psychic Source Related Links https://www.psychicsource.com Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 We find ourselves in the midst of one of the most chaotic and destabilizing periods in our nations history. We have witnessed an insurrection and violent attack of the U.S. Capitol by a mob believing that the 2020 election had been stolen from them and President Donald Trump. Not since the War of 1812 has the U.S Capitol been under siege in the manner we recently witnessed. Many believe the words Trump used at a rally of his supporters were inflammatory and ultimately responsible for inciting the mob to riot. As a result, many across the political spectrum believe Trump was culpable for the riots, which has now led to his second impeachment. But relatively little has been said about the role that race played. It is true this tinderbox was created by Trump and his surrogates insisting for more than two months that the election was stolen. This predictably whipped Trumps supporters into an angry frenzy. However, I would argue that the insurrection was also the inevitable outcome of a presidency that has consistently made overtures to racists and white supremacists based on the cynical political calculus that these individuals are an important part of Trumps base. Trump has been masterful in his ability to use language that flirts with racist innuendo while falling short of using actual racist epithets. As a scholar of race, Ive seen how Trumps words and actions over many years have been undeniably racist. I have suggested that Trump uses language that often plays to racist stereotypes. I would add that this language also plays to racist hierarchies and tropes (such as calling Haiti and African nations shithole countries, and referring to Mexican immigrants as rapists) and provides cover for racists and bigots (defending white supremacists in Charlottesville as good people, telling the Proud Boys to stand back and stand by). Editorial: Consequence of free speech, not trampling Additionally, Trumps Make America Great Again campaign slogan has been an effective way to tap into a false nostalgia fueled by white grievance. For some people, MAGA hats and other paraphernalia have become a powerful symbol of racism. As journalist Issac Bailey wrote, MAGA is a signifier for those who believe America was great during some point in the past they dare not name, knowing if they do, it would reveal a time when it was worse for people of color. Bailey goes on to ask When was America great? When millions of black people were slaves? I am not suggesting that every participant in the insurrection was motivated by racism or that everyone who wears a MAGA hat is a racist. What I am suggesting is that racism and white supremacy were on full display at the insurrection. The images and pictures from the insurrection tell a disturbing story. Pictures show a makeshift noose, a man waving a Confederate flag and a man wearing a Camp Auschwitz hooded sweatshirt. For those not familiar with this reference, Auschwitz was a concentration camp in Poland operated by Nazi Germany that was responsible for the murder of more than 1 million Jews. Additionally, Black U.S. Capitol police officers, left especially vulnerable to the mob, described the insurrection as racist and believed that Black Lives Matter demonstrators would have received a much less friendly reception from their white colleagues. These Black officers discussed how they were forced to endure racist abuse, with one of the officers reporting that he was called the n-word 15 times. Overcome with emotion, one of the Black officers yelled: These are racist-ass terrorists. Trump cannot be blamed for creating this racism because it has been here since the inception of this country. But he most certainly can be blamed for emboldening the rioters, and the damage he has done toward racial progress and healing in this country is incalculable. This will be a permanent part of his legacy. Kevin Cokley is the Oscar and Anne Mauzy Regents Professor of Educational Research and Development, a professor of African and African diaspora studies, and director of the Institute for Urban Policy Research and Analysis at the University of Texas at Austin. ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -- Sandia National Laboratories was recognized recently by Fairygodboss as one of the Best Companies for Women 2020 and Best Companies where CEOs Support Gender Diversity. Released annually, the honors are based entirely on women's anonymous reviews left on a social and professional network for highly motivated women to connect with other career-minded people. "It is such an honor to be recognized by Fairygodboss," said Sandia Chief Diversity Officer Esther Hernandez. "Inclusion and diversity are strategic focus areas for Sandia Labs, and our employees understand these are business imperatives that give Sandia a competitive advantage. Additionally, we all agree that it's just the right thing to do." Companies with more than 30 anonymous reviews on Fairygodboss were eligible for the rankings. Scores for the Best Companies for Women category were determined by averaging responses to three questions related to overall job satisfaction, equality and whether they would recommend their employer to others. To determine the Best Companies Where CEOs Support Gender Diversity, companies were ranked based on average answers to the question, "Do you think your CEO supports gender diversity?" Sandia has received numerous reviews in the past that laud the labs' flexible work arrangements, supportive leadership, mentorship and networking opportunities, and fulfilling careers. Some of the reviews posted on Fairygodboss include: "I never feel like my contributions are minimized or maximized as a woman at Sandia. I believe my work is valued on its merit." "Sandia is an institution that supports working mothers, as exhibited by the way the executive leadership team has handled the demands of working from home during this very challenging pandemic." "Sandia cares about its employees. Work-life balance isn't a slogan, it's embraced in the culture at all levels." "Sandia helps empower women to grow and learn professionally and personally." ### Fairygodboss Inc., the largest career community for women, operates a self-described social network for career-minded women. It provides information on pay and bonus, corporate culture, benefits and work flexibility; company ratings, job listings, discussion boards and career advice; maternity and paternity leaves; company reviews; and work-life balance. Sandia National Laboratories is a multimission laboratory operated by National Technology and Engineering Solutions of Sandia LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Honeywell International Inc., for the U.S. Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration. Sandia Labs has major research and development responsibilities in nuclear deterrence, global security, defense, energy technologies and economic competitiveness, with main facilities in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and Livermore, California. Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. Colorado Springs, CO (80903) Today Mostly sunny. High 76F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low 51F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. English Finnish Stock exchange release Fingrid Oyj 22 January 2021 at 11:00 EET Proposals of Fingrids Shareholders Nomination Board to the Annual General Meeting 2021 The Shareholders Nomination Board of Fingrid Oyj proposes to the Annual General Meeting 7 April 2021 that the meeting would decide as follows. Number and composition of the Board of Directors The Shareholders Nomination Board proposes that the Board of Directors would consist of five (5) members and that the current members of the Board of Directors Juhani Jarvi, Paivi Nerg, Hannu Linna, Sanna Syri ja Esko Torsti would be re-elected for the term of office ending at the end of the next Annual General Meeting. In addition, Shareholders Nomination Board proposes that Juhani Jarvi would be re-elected as the Chairman and Paivi Nerg re-elected as the Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors. Of the proposed Board members, Juhani Jarvi, Hannu Linna and Sanna Syri are independent from the company and its significant shareholders. Paivi Nerg and Esko Torsti are independent of the company, but not of the significant shareholders, since they are currently employed by a significant shareholder. All of the proposed Board members have given their consents to their appointments. Remuneration for the Board of Directors The Shareholders Nomination Board proposes that the remuneration paid to the members of the Board of Directors remain unchanged. According to the proposal, the Chair shall be paid EUR 2,400/month, the Vice Chair EUR 1,300/month, and the Board members EUR 1,000/month, in addition to which, members shall be paid a meeting fee of EUR 600 for attending Board meetings and meetings of the Boards committees as well as Shareholders Nomination Board meetings. Additional information about the members proposed by Fingrids Shareholders Nomination Board is available here . The Nomination Boards proposals will be included in the invitation to the Annual General Meeting. The Chair of Fingrids Shareholders Nomination Board is Juha Majanen (nominated by the State of Finland), and its members are Jukka Reijonen (llmarinen Mutual Pension Insurance Company) and Erkko Ryynanen (nominated by Aino Holdingyhtio Ky). Contact information: General Counsel, SVP Marina Louhija, +358 40 519 0627 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 Security officials say at least 11 soldiers have been injured in a roadside bomb blast near a Pakistani paramilitary vehicle in a remote area of southwest Balochistan province. It has been revealed that the attack occurred in Sibi district on Wednesday. It was also said that the attack occurred on frontier patrols and at least 4 soldiers have been admitted in critical condition in 11 injured. The officials spoke on the condition of anonymity and said that no group has claimed responsibility at the moment but similar attacks have been carried out by Baloch separatists in the past. According to information received, Balochistan has become the largest and least populated province of Pak. It is also very rich in the case of natural gas reserves and minerals. However, the benefit of Balochistan is not met by Pakistan's Punjab province. There are incidents of violence every day in Balochistan. The Balochistan agitators have said that the anti-Pakistan sentiments have become stronger in the minds of the people due to kidnapping, torture, and killings of local people by the army. As a result, Baloch separatists have carried out several attacks so far. Among the groups seeking autonomy in Balochistan are the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), Baloch Republican Army (BRA), and Baloch Liberation Front (BLF). Also Read:- Ghanaian President submits first batch of ministerial nominees for approval 3 security officials killed in Taliban attack in Afghanistan Biden to keep Christopher Wray as FBI Directorv Jacinda Arden has issued a 'strong warning' amid The Wiggles' upcoming New Zealand tour debacle. On Thursday, it was revealed that the children's music group had sold tickets for their upcoming New Zealand tour without first securing placements in hotel quarantine. The band is due to start a 20-show tour of the country on March 19, which means they would have to enter mandatory two-week quarantine before March 4. Weighing in: Jacinda Arden (pictured) has issued a 'strong warning' after The Wiggles' upcoming New Zealand tour debacle But no placements are available for those dates, leaving the tour in jeopardy, despite the fact they've already sold tickets for their New Zealand concerts. 'For me it's common sense: Don't go out and put a poster up and sell tickets before you've booked your MIQ (New Zealand's 'managed isolation and quarantine' coronavirus program) place,' the New Zealand prime minister said on Friday, as reported by Stuff. Ardern said she would leave it up to the discretion of New Zealand's immigration officials to decide whether the group will be granted an exemption. Tour fiasco: On Thursday, it was revealed The Wiggles (pictured) had sold tickets for their upcoming New Zealand tour without first securing placements in hotel quarantine But she warned that if the tour fell through, ticket holders would need to be compensated. 'A number of families... through no fault of their own have purchased tickets [and] we now need to find a practical solution,' she added. 'A strong warning to promoters here: Do not promote an event until you have everything in place, and that includes booking your quarantine places.' 'For me it's common sense: Don't go out and put a poster up and sell tickets before you've booked your MIQ (New Zealand's 'managed isolation and quarantine' coronavirus program) place,' said the New Zealand prime minister According to New Zealand politician Simon Bridges, 'visa delays' meant the performers weren't able to secure spots in MIQ. 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 no choice but to cancel their tour. Issues: According to New Zealand politician Simon Bridges (pictured), 'visa delays' meant the performers weren't able to secure spots in MIQ Making it work: 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 '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 continued, before explaining that his three-year-old is 'obsessed' with the group. In a final tweet, Bridges added: 'I suspect any MP with kids under a certain age will have the same conflict.' (Natural News) Former Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, recently revealed new evidence that the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV) was the point of origin for SARS-CoV-2. Pompeo has called for an international investigation into the laboratory, yet China refuses to let anyone investigate the lab. In the fall of 2019, several laboratory workers from the WIV fell ill with a peculiar set of symptoms that matches the most serious symptoms associated with SARS-CoV-2. This new intel contradicts the public testimony of Shi Zhengli, the senior researcher at the WIV who claimed there was zero infection among the laboratory staff. Pompeo is calling Shi Zhenglis testimony into question and challenging the CCPs secret gain-of-function research on coronaviruses. Chinese military conducting secretive gain-of-function research on coronaviruses since 2017 The intel reveals further that the WIV researchers were studying a bat coronavirus that is 96 percent similar to SARS-CoV-2. The researchers were also manipulating gain of function properties of these viruses to make them more transmissible and more lethal. This highly unethical research is shrouded in secrecy by the Chinese Communist Party, and this lab in particular is secretly linked to the Chinese military. Mike Pompeo believes a full investigation is warranted and has called on the World Health Organization to investigate. Pompeo did not charge that the Chinese military released the virus on purpose, because intent would be nearly impossible to prove. Instead, Pompeo believes the virus simply broke containment at the Wuhan Institute of Virology, and the matter should be fully investigated, the offending party held accountable. Pompeo did warn that the Wuhan lab is connected to the CCP and has worked on secret projects with Chinas military in the past. He says that the researchers have not been forthcoming with their work on RaTG13 and other gain-of-function research. The WIV has engaged in classified research, including laboratory animal experiments, on behalf of the Chinese military since at least 2017, Pompeo warned. Pompeo revealed that WIV researchers were manipulating bat coronaviruses since 2016. These viruses are known as RaTG13 and are 96.2 percent similar to SARS-CoV-2. The researchers obtained the viruses from a cave in the Yunnan Province in 2013, after a respiratory virus caused the death of several miners there. (Related: Taxpayer-funded NIH funneled $3.7 million to Wuhan virus research lab believed to have engineered the coronavirus bioweapon.) Will President Joe Biden hold China accountable for unethical bioweapon release? Even though newly-elected President Joe Biden, plans to rejoin the World Health Organization (WHO) and begin pumping American dollars into the corrupt network; it remains to be seen whether Biden will push for a full investigation into Chinas controversial Wuhan lab. In the final week of the Trump Presidency, a research team from WHO arrived in Wuhan, but were stopped by the CCP and blocked from conducting any investigation into the lab. Chinese authorities have instructed the WHO to investigate the wet market that they claim is the source of the first cluster of infections. The WHO, led by Tedros Adhanom, will likely do as they are told because the CCP asserts that no investigation will be conducted on the Wuhan lab whatsoever. Pompeo commented on Chinas brazen, dangerous secrecy: Beijing continues today to withhold vital information that scientists need to protect the world from this deadly virus, and the next one. The State Department wrote that accidental infections have occurred before, causing virus outbreaks in China and elsewhere. The 2004 SARS outbreak in Beijing, for example, went on to infect nine people and claimed one life. By the end of 2019, it became all too apparent that a new strain of SARS was infecting people around the world, and the virus exhibited enhanced properties, allowing it to initially attach to lung cells and avoid detection by human immune systems, before succumbing to host adaptation over time. World leaders must stand up to China. Sources include: DailyMail.co.uk NaturalNews.com Israeli businessman Beny Steinmetz has been found guilty of corruption in Switzerland in a dispute over the world's richest untapped deposits of iron ore. Steinmetz, who made his name in the diamond business, was indicted in August 2019 by a Geneva prosecutor over deposits at the Simandou mine in Guinea. On Friday, judges found him guilty of corrupting foreign agents and forging documents, sentencing him to five years in jail and a fine of $56million. Steinmetz and two aides had been accused of paying, or having paid, $10 million in bribes to obtain exploration permits for Simandou and of forging documents to cover it up through a web of shell companies and bank accounts. Beny Steinmetz, 64, a diamond and minerals tycoon, has been sentenced to five years in jail and fined $56million for bribing officials in Guinea in return for mining permits Yves Bertossa, Geneva's chief prosecutor, is seeking a five-year prison term for Steinmetz and 50 million Swiss francs ($56.33 million) in compensation. The aides, a Frenchman and Belgian woman, face lesser penalties. Swiss prosecutors allege Steinmetz and his aides won the mining rights by bribing Mamadie Toure, who they say was one of the wives of the former Guinean President Lansana Conte, between 2006 and 2010. Steinmetz denied that he ever paid any money to Toure and his lawyer claimed she had no real influence in Guinea, but judges found otherwise. Toure, who resides in Florida, could not be reached for comment. She was one of a dozen people called to appear at the trial. None of them attended. Central to Steinmetz's defence was his claim that he was not involved in the day-to-day running of Beny Steinmetz Group Resources (BSGR). He described himself as the owner and company ambassador but not the boss of the group that employs some 100,000. 'I am not BSGR,' the 64-year-old, who lived in Geneva until 2016, told the court. 'I didn't know Guinea and went there for the first time in February/March 2008.' Bertossa rejected the defence argument and said the case represented 'a classic textbook case of corruption'. 'Today we have neither anyone responsible nor guilty, it's the theory of magic corruption. There is no corrupter, no corrupted,' he told the court. The Geneva trial, held in an 18th-century courtroom stacked with 250 files of relevant documents, is one of many legal cases that have arisen from Simandou. In February 2019, BSGR said it would walk away from the project as part of a settlement with the Guinean government, in which both parties agreed to drop outstanding legal action. Rio Tinto, which held the original exploration rights to Simandou, has said it is pressing ahead with the project. In an update this week, it said it was starting work, including on roadworks, and was carrying out technical studies. A Place for All Conservatives to Speak Their Mind. Across the nation newspapers have endured dramatic declines in readership, circulation, advertisers and subscriptions. Last year a hedge fund purchased the struggling paper and since then they've been forced to move out of their headquarters, cut more jobs and shift printing out of town. Nevertheless . . . THE KANSAS CITY STAR ADVANCES AN INCREASINGLY PROGRESSIVE AND RACIALLY CHARGED AGENDA!!! In fact, they've earned the national media spotlight by way of navel-gazing on the topic of their history and whilst their recent apologies have been mostly rejected . . . Objectively, even supporters of print journalism have noticed a decidedly "progressive" turn in the content offered by the institution. Accordingly, here's their latest event in partnership with another struggling local institution . . . KC Public Library: Racial Reckoning at The Star: The Truth in Black and White Deets: Days before Christmas, on its website and across more 10 pages of its Sunday print edition, The Kansas City Star laid out a remarkable examination of its coverage of race and the citys Black community over its 140-year history. And in an accompanying letter from President and Editor Mike Fannin, headlined The truth in Black and white, it apologized. The newspaper both The Star and its now-defunct sister publication, The Times had disenfranchised, ignored and scorned generations of Black Kansas Citians, it said. Making special note of its fawning treatment of discriminatory developer J.C. Nichols, it said it had reinforced Jim Crow laws and redlining and, over the decades, robbed an entire community of opportunity, dignity, justice and recognition. The Star has since stripped its masthead and website of all references to its founder and first publisher, William Rockhill Nelson, who supported Nichols and his segregationist policies. A month after that self-investigation and censure, Fannin and other members of The Stars staff join community and industry observers in discussing the newspapers actions, their impact, and how they should guide The Star into the future. As a reader recently admonished in a letter to the editor, Apologies are a good first step. However, truth and atonement will not be judged by words, but actions. Fannin has been with The Star since 1997 and served as its top editor since 2008. With him on the panel are: - Education reporter Mara Rose Williams, whose concerns initiated the project. She contributed to the series research and writing. - Michele Watley, the founder of Shirleys Kitchen Cabinet, a political advocacy nonprofit focusing on issues of importance to Black women and families in Kansas City. - Nicole Sussner Rodgers, the founder and executive director of Family Story, a New York City-based think tank working to broaden perspective on family arrangements and models. Moderating the discussion is Toriano Porter, a member of The Stars editorial board who writes about writes race and racism. The event is co-presented by The Kansas City Star. Watch it live online at YouTube.com/kclibrary. ############### You decide . . . 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. #EsSaludInforma | Se incrementaron en 59 % los nuevos casos de contagio de #COVID19 en adolescentes de 12 a 17 anos, durante la primera y segunda semana de enero. Otros grupos etarios aumentaron por encima del 40 %. pic.twitter.com/MySilBdM2c Prince Harry today declared war on Silicon Valley by telling tech titans they should be motivated by 'well-being' and not just 'financial incentive' in a lengthy interview about social media where he blamed it for the US Capitol riot and the destruction of the rainforest - but says he and Meghan will rejoin it when it's 'right for us'. Harry was interviewed by Fast Company, a monthly business magazine, for an article published on Friday which is in Q&A format. It's unclear when or how it took place but he gives long, intense answers where he talks about the 'guiding principle' of his life (the duty to truth and alleviation of suffering) and 'the current consequences of the digital space'. He claims he and Meghan received the 'mothership of all harassment' through social media when they got married, and he also shared his views on how to reform it after spending much of 2020 'consulting the experts about it.' He did not name the experts. In February, the couple visited Stanford - which has strong ties to Silicon Valley - for a meeting with senior staff. Archewell, their charity, has also worked with the Center for Humane Technology and the UCLA Center for Critical Internet Inquiry. Harry and Meghan are not on social media but are making millions through podcasts on Spotify and shows on Netflix, along with investments, after controversially quitting royal life, which would never have allowed them to launch such money-spinning projects. His comments were mostly applauded but some said it was ironic he was lecturing tech about shunning responsibility for money. In a new interview, Prince Harry complains that he and Meghan were subjected to 'the mothership of harassment' when they got married and that social media spreads hate. They are shown in a recent Zoom appearance from their California mansion WHO ARE THE EXPERTS HARRY AND MEGHAN CONSULTED? Harry didn't give any information about who specifically he spoke to but said he and Meghan had spent 'much' of 2020 speaking to those in the know. Stanford University In February, the couple were seen visiting Stanford and meeting with the President. The California school has strong ties to the tech community. Center for Humane Technology 'Throughout the past year, Archewell Foundation has partnered with Tristan and his team to create the conditions for safer, more compassionate online communities,' a post on its website says. The Center says on its website: 'As long as social media companies profit from addiction, depression, and division, our society will continue to be at risk.' UCLA Center for Critical Internet Inquiry The charity announced in December that it had received money from Archewell. 'From the moment we started reading Algorithms of Oppression, we had a deep appreciation and respect for Dr. Safiya Noble and her critical work. 'That respect has only grown throughout the year as we collaborated. We have a common missionrooted in justice, compassion, and improving the state of the digital worldand were proud to call the Center for Critical Internet Inquiry an Archewell Foundation partner,' Harry and Meghan said. Advertisement In the interview, he says the pair want to be part of 'the human experience' and not 'a human experiment' but that the current state of the tech world needs to be 'reformed'. 'There has to be accountability to collective well being, not just financial incentive. 'Its hard for me to understand how the platforms themselves can eagerly take profit but shun responsibility,' he said. He labeled big tech the 'incredibly powerful and consolidated gatekeepers' and says social media has become the root of violence and confusion because it plays host to so much disinformation. Harry, in his interview, said he and 'his wife' had 'no social media to quit' and that it was fabricated by 'a Rupert Murdoch newspaper' but that they'll return to it 'when it's right for us'. Sources close to the pair said that they'd given it up as a tool for promoting their projects. Royal and branding experts have speculated the decision may be financially motivated because they become less accessible without it, and therefore more expensive. 'We will revisit social media when it feels right for usperhaps when we see more meaningful commitments to change or reformbut right now weve thrown much of our energy into learning about this space and how we can help,' Harry said. He claims the pair experienced the nasty side of social media when they got married. 'I was really surprised to witness how my story had been told one way, my wifes story had been told one way, and then our union sparked something that made the telling of that story very different. 'That false narrative became the mothership for all of the harassment youre referring to. 'It wouldnt have even begun had our story just been told truthfully.' Later, he attributed world events like the January 6 attack on the US Capitol and the destruction of the Amazon rainforest to social media sites too. 'There was a literal attack on democracy in the United States, organised on social media, which is an issue of violent extremism. 'It is widely acknowledged that social media played a role in the genocide in Myanmar and was used as a vehicle to incite violence against the Rohingya people, which is a human rights issue. 'And in Brazil, social media provided a conduit for misinformation which ultimately brought destruction to the Amazon, which is an environmental and global health issue.' Harry said the Capitol riot on January 6 that was organized on social media. Some of the participants had been discussing their plans on social media Harry says that in Brazil, social media 'provided a conduit for misinformation which ultimately brought destruction to the Amazon, which is an environmental and global health issue' FACEBOOK'S ROLE IN MYANMAR GENOCIDE OF ROHINYA MUSLIMS In 2018, Facebook admitted it had been used to incite violence against Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar at the hands of extremists. 650,000 Rohingya Muslims fled the country for Bangladesh for fear of being killed by the Myanmar army. It claimed it was only targeting militants - not civilians. Facebook commissioned a report from a human rights group which determined the social media site had been used to advance the violence. In Myanmar, Facebook - the report claimed - is the internet. Many of the country's citizens were unable to navigate the basics of it, let alone decipher real information from fake information, according to the report. Facebook accepted its role in the violence but it now faces a genocide investigation. A Rohingya man reacts after a fire burned houses of the Nayapara refugee camp in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh, January 14, 2021. Advertisement The only social media account now linked to the pair is that of Archewell, their charity. Nothing has been posted on it in over a month. Harry says he and Meghan will return 'when it's right for us' HARRY'S SOLUTION TO FIX THE 'DIGITAL SPACE' TECH GIANTS - BE MORE ACCOUNTABLE AND DON'T BE DRIVEN BY MONEY 'I lean on the experts to help give guidance on how to reform the state of our digital worldhow we make it better for our kids, of course, but also for ourselvesnow. 'The answer Ive heard from experts in this space is that the common denominator starts with accountability. 'There has to be accountability to collective wellbeing, not just financial incentive. 'Its hard for me to understand how the platforms themselves can eagerly take profit but shun responsibility.' 'With these companies, in this model, we have a very small number of incredibly powerful and consolidated gatekeepers who have deployed hidden algorithms to pick the content billions see every day, and curate the informationor misinformationeveryone consumes. This radically alters how and why we inform opinions. It alters how we speak and what we decide to speak about. It alters how we think and how we react.' SOCIAL MEDIA USERS - GET OFF YOUR PHONE AND BE NICE WHEN YOU POST 'Consider setting limits on the time you spend on social media, stop yourself from endlessly scrolling, fact-check the source and research the information you see, and commit to taking a more compassionate approach and tone when you post or comment. 'These might seem like little things, but they add up. Advertisement Harry claimed that he 'from an early age', was guided by the principle of 'the duty to truth, the pursuit of compassion and the alleviation of suffering.' 'My life has always been about trying to do my part to help those who need it most, and right now, we need this changebecause it touches nearly every single thing we do or are exposed to.' He did not name any of the social media sites he has issues with, but calls on people to spend less time online. 'Consider setting limits on the time you spend on social media, stop yourself from endlessly scrolling, fact-check the source and research the information you see, and commit to taking a more compassionate approach and tone when you post or comment. 'These might seem like little things, but they add up. 'Theres a responsibility to compassion that we each own. Humans crave connection, social bonds, and a sense of belonging. 'When we dont have those, we end up fractured, and in the digital age that can unfortunately be a catalyst for finding connection in mass extremism movements or radicalisation. 'We need to take better care of each other, especially in these times of isolation and vulnerability.' Asked 'where do we go from here', he said: 'I ask the same thing every day and lean on the experts to help give guidance on how to reform the state of our digital worldhow we make it better for our kids, of course, but also for ourselvesnow. 'The avalanche of misinformation we are all inundated with is bending reality and has created this distorted filter that affects our ability to think clearly or even understand the world around us.' He said that the pair wanted to be part of the solution though. 'This is why my wife and I spent much of 2020 consulting the experts and learning directly from academics, advocates, and policymakers. 'Weve also been listening with empathy to people who have stories to shareincluding people who have been deeply affected by misinformation and those who grew up as digital natives. 'What we hope to do is continue to be a spotlight for their perspectives, and focus on harnessing their experience and energy to accelerate the pace of change in the digital world. 'I believe we can begin to make our digital world healthier, more compassionate, more inclusive, and trustworthy. 'And its time to move from rethinking to remodelling,' he said. Harry and Meghan spent more than $14million on this Montecito home where they live with their son Archie Harry's comments were mostly applauded online but some said it was ironic he was lecturing tech about 'shunning responsibility' for money Elsewhere, he said: 'Dont get me wrong; Im not suggesting that a reform of the digital space will create a world thats all rainbows and sunshine, because thats not realistic, and that, too, isnt life. 'There can be disagreement, conversation, opposing points of viewas there should be, but never to the extent that violence is created, truth is mystified, and lives are jeopardised.' Harry said that he and Meghan have not had social media 'for ten months' since they officially left the royal family and the Sussex Royal Instagram account that came with it. Their charity, Archewell, has an Instagram account, but nothing has been posted on it since mid December. The pair now live in California with their son, Archie. They have been holed up in Montecito, in a $14million mansion, where they have taken part in Zoom meetings and events. Royal experts speculated that the pair have avoided social media to 'safeguard their content' after monetizing it so effectively with Netflix and Spotify. They have also given at least one paid speech for a bank. When they were royals, the pair complained about press intrusion. They quit in January 2020, saying they wanted a more private life which would let them pursue their passions. Credit: CC0 Public Domain British pharmaceutical firm AstraZeneca warned Friday that supplies of its coronavirus vaccine to Europe will be "lower than originally anticipated" due to reduced production at a manufacturing site. The jab it developed with the University of Oxford in England is already being rolled out across the UK, but the European Union has not yet approved its use. It is expected to make a decision by January 29. AstraZeneca said in a statement that if EU approval is granted, the "initial volumes will be lower than anticipated," although the start would not be delayed. The company blamed "reduced yields at a manufacturing site within our European supply chain," without giving details. It said it would in any case supply the EU with "millions of doses" while ramping up production in February and March. Stefan De Keersmaecker, European Commission spokesperson for health, told AFP that AstraZeneca had confirmed the change to its delivery schedule at a meeting on Friday and added: "We are working to find out more." It was not clear how many doses AstraZeneca had initially been expected to deliver to the 27-country bloc. The firm said last year it had agreed with the European Commission to supply up to 400 million doses. The EU has said it has secured contracts for more than two billion doses, more than enough for its total population of 450 million, provided that all the vaccines are approved. The Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine is considered key to the global vaccination effort because it is cheaper to produce and can be stored at fridge temperature. The EU has so far has approved vaccines made by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna. While the coronavirus vaccines have been developed and approved at record-breaking speed, deliveries of the first batches have been smaller than many EU members had hoped. Pfizer has announced delays in shipments of its vaccine in the next few weeks owing to works at its main processing plant in Belgium. EU countries have administered more than five million doses to citizens to date. The aim is to inoculate 70 percent of adults by the end of August. Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak 2021 AFP Puerto Rico's new governor, Pedro Pierluisi, was on a mission on his trip to Washington, D.C. to ensure that the U.S. territory of 3 million people is top of mind for Congress and the new administration. "In Puerto Rico's case, I believe that it's very important to attract attention for positive reasons, not negative ones, so that they do not forget us and we are present in Washington's agenda," Pierluisi said, speaking in his native Spanish about his first trip to the nation's capital as governor to attend President Joe Biden's inauguration. Pierluisi, a Democrat who is the head of Puerto Rico's pro-statehood party, stepped into office Jan. 2 after winning the first gubernatorial election on the island since Gov. Ricardo Rossello resigned in 2019 after a political scandal that led to historic protests. Pierluisi inherited an island still rebuilding after the destruction left by a string of strong earthquakes last year and Hurricane Maria in 2017 the deadliest U.S.-based natural disaster in 100 years. The island has been grappling with the largest municipal bankruptcy in U.S. history. Image: Hurricane Maria flooding in in San Juan, Puerto Rico (Alex Wroblewski / Bloomberg via Getty Images file) Pierluisi's immediate priority is to manage the health and economic consequences of the coronavirus pandemic, which has killed at least 1,447 people in Puerto Rico and infected over 82,500 others. The island's coronavirus vaccine distribution process was off to a bumpy start at the end of last year, but Pierluisi said Puerto Rico is now "distinguishing itself by being one of the jurisdictions that most quickly administers the vaccines we're receiving." Of the 270,000 vaccine doses the island has received, at least 220,000 have already been given. "The rest are in the process of distribution or administration," he told NBC News. Biden has already signed a series of executive orders to increase Covid-19 vaccinations, expand testing and reopen schools. Pierluisi said he expects that the island will have access to more vaccinations, "and that's going to be good for Puerto Rico." Story continues Biden has also said he wants the majority of K-8 schools to reopen in his first 100 days, a goal Pierluisi shares with Biden and his nominee for education secretary, Miguel Cardona, who's also Puerto Rican. "The education of public school students in Puerto Rico has been very limited over the last year, and the educational lag they face has to be enormous. That's a great concern for me," Pierluisi said. "Also, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that face-to-face education be resumed, partially because it's essential for the development of our children." A path to recovery Aside from managing the pandemic, Pierluisi outlined his priority to ensure that the island's government "becomes more agile" in using federal funds approved to rebuild after Maria, especially the $3.2 billion available through a federal grant program from the Department of Housing and Urban Development known as Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery. The funds have barely been used. During the Trump administration, Housing Secretary Ben Carson awarded historic amounts of aid under the program for Puerto Rico to rebuild after Maria but then placed unique restrictions on the island, citing "alleged corruption" and "fiscal irregularities," as well as "Puerto Rico's capacity to manage these funds" as a first-time grantee. The efforts to limit Puerto Rico's access to the funds came after the longest government shutdown in U.S. history initially halted the disbursement process in 2019. Texas and Florida faced similar issues after hurricanes Harvey and Irma. However, their funds were not held up after the natural disasters, and they faced no additional restrictions, according to audits last year by the inspector general's office of the Department of Housing and Urban Development. In a conversation with Biden's team, Pierluisi urged the new administration to lift Trump-era requirements prohibiting the use of funds to help fix the island's electrical grid, even though Congress promised $2 billion to rebuild it. He also called on it to lift additional restrictions on the use of HUD funds, which Biden had promised to remove in his plan for Puerto Rico. "I'm not looking for Puerto Rico to get better treatment than other states. I'm asking for equality. We want the same treatment," Pierluisi said. Pushing for equal funding Pierluisi is advocating for the island to have equal access to federal programs like Medicaid, Supplemental Security Income, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and the Earned Income Tax Credit. Forty-four percent of the island's population lives in poverty. Even though the poverty rate in Puerto Rico is double that of Mississippi, the country's poorest state, the federal government covers 55 cents of every dollar Puerto Rico spends on Medicaid, compared to 76 cents in Mississippi. That is because, unlike the 50 states where Medicaid funding is open-ended Puerto Rico has a limited spending cap, essentially a block grant, and the island has to pick up the rest of the costs. In the 2019 fiscal year, the island's Medicaid funding was capped at $367 million, while Medicaid expenditures totaled $2.7 billion, making it challenging to adjust to the population's needs during times of crisis. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, the federal program providing low-income families with financial assistance for food, operates under similar restrictions in Puerto Rico. Puerto Rico is fully excluded from the Earned Income Tax Credit, which has become one of the federal government's largest antipoverty programs by providing tax credits for working families. It has also been excluded from Supplemental Security Income, a federal program that provides cash assistance to elderly, blind and disabled people with limited resources to meet basic living expenses. Biden's plan for Puerto Rico calls for providing funding parity under the programs. Pierluisi said it's "my job now" alongside Puerto Rico's nonvoting member of Congress, Resident Commissioner Jenniffer Gonzalez "to make sure they keep their word." Gonzalez, a Republican, is also part of the island's pro-statehood party. To boost economic development, Pierluisi proposes to improve the government's system of granting business permits. He also plans to add pressure on Congress over statehood after 52 percent of Puerto Ricans voted "yes" in November in a nonbinding statehood referendum, which directly asked voters whether Puerto Rico should immediately be admitted into the union as a state. Forty-seven percent of Puerto Ricans voted against it. His hope is that Congress will eventually support a binding statehood referendum. Rebuilding the troubling power grid and the debt Hurricane Maria triggered the collapse of Puerto Rico's power grid, leading to the world's second-longest blackout. Even after post-hurricane repairs were made, Puerto Ricans have been paying nearly double compared to U.S. mainland customers for unreliable service that often causes blackouts across the island. Against that backdrop, Pierluisi inherited from the previous administration a $1.4 billion contract between Puerto Rico's state-owned utility, PREPA, and the private company LUMA Energy to manage the island's electricity transmission and distribution system for the next 15 years. Image: Workers repair power lines in San Juan (Jose Jimenez Tirado / Getty Images file) Pierluisi has established a committee to oversee the contract to avoid unnecessary energy price hikes, safeguard workers' rights and prevent conflicts of interest. Experts have warned that clauses in the LUMA contract could benefit certain interest groups at the expense of the population. With debt of $9 billion, PREPA is the government agency with the biggest share of Puerto Rico's $72 billion public debt. A significant part of the hefty debt was built up after previous administrations borrowed money to finance previous deficits, which is "a debt that should've never been issued," Pierluisi said. "We need to ask how we got here," he said, adding that he will provide more resources to the Comptroller's Office in Puerto Rico during the next fiscal year to help it audit the debt, "investigate how were public funds used, as well as point out any irregularities and poor administrative practices." "I anticipate that we won't have to repay it fully," Pierluisi said. "But we also need to make sure this doesn't ever happen again." Follow NBC Latino on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Photo: (Photo : GoFundMe) A Texas mom shares her terrifying experience when her healthy daughter contracted COVID and said she could not breathe. She had lost another daughter in 2012 due to the genetic lung disease cystic fibrosis. Christina Meredith told Good Morning America that her 15-year-old daughter got hospitalized a month ago. Now, the teenager is still showing symptoms of COVID-19. She explained that her healthy daughter was a volleyball player, an active cheerleader, and a runner. Children do get sick Meredith told the outlet that her daughter, Katelynn Ramirez, wants to remind people to wear face masks because kids do get sick. Her daughter noted that the deadly virus does not discriminate no matter what gender or age. Meredith and their family suspect that Ramirez, who had underlying health conditions, contracted the virus from a fellow student in December. On December 22, the teen tested positive with the coronavirus after experiencing a runny nose, itchy throat, and a fever of 105 degrees. READ: Indianapolis Couple Excited to Get COVID Vaccine Die One Day Apart The certified nursing assistant had to go to work on December 28 and saw that her daughter could not breathe after peeking in to check on her. She said they were hoping her daughter would feel better because they were on day ten. Together with her husband, Meredith brought her daughter to have an X-ray check at a local hospital. Doctors revealed that Ramirez has pneumonia and said she could go home if her oxygen remains in the 90s level. READ: 4-Year-Old Arkansas Boy Could Develop MIS-C While Battling COVID-19, Says Doctors Lost a daughter once Meredith was terrified because she had lost another daughter in 2012 due to the genetic lung disease cystic fibrosis. Working in the nursing field, she knew what could happen next, so while she tried to help composure, she was thinking the worst deep inside of her. They moved Ramirez to Dell Children's Medical Center in Austin, Texas, and stayed there for 13 days. Although the teen received treatments for high flow nasal cannula and inflammation, Meredith was thankful her daughter did not have to be intubated. Hi Yall Im sharing this post in hopes of helping Kats family & bring awareness that this young lady needs us. Lets... Posted by Sandra Bryant on Monday, January 4, 2021 The doctors administered the drug remdesivir to Ramirez, and she and her mom agreed to join in a study. On January 8, Ramirez finally got sent home. Meredith said that her daughter is still taking blood thinners and experiences fatigue, neurological issue, headaches, and tingling in her legs. READ: Taraji P. Henson Shares How She Revealed to Her Son the Truth Behind His Dad's Death She added that her daughter is starting with her physical and occupational therapy. A Chicago-based primary care physician, Jay D. Bhatt, told the outlet that showing few symptoms could be caused by a long-term COVID exposure complication. He said that they are learning new symptoms that appear every day. Meredith and her daughter want to raise awareness about how young people could catch the deadly virus. Bhatt agreed and said that anyone in the path of the virus has a risk of getting it. He and Meredith remind the public to follow the precautionary measures to stay safe. WASHINGTON U.S. Rep. Filemon Vela sees his new leadership role in the Democrats national campaign arm as being the voice of caution, reason and taking the middle ground as the party seeks to hold power through the 2022 midterms and beyond. The Brownsville Democrat, who on Thursday was elected vice chair of the Democratic National Committee through 2025, said Democrats have a lot of work to do in Texas especially in areas of South Texas, including his own district, where he says the partys messaging on energy and guns cost it ground in November. Vela will be one of four vice chairs helping to guide Democrats campaign efforts in 2022 and 2024. He said the party needs to figure out better ways of talking about those issues to keep from backsliding further in a state Democrats have long hoped to flip. The party is getting hammered by more effective Republican messaging, he said. CRUZ CATCHES COMPLAINT: Dems say his election objection lent credence to the insurrectionists cause In the final weeks of the election, the Texas GOP raised alarms about Joe Bidens plan to phase out fossil fuels in a state where 162,000 people were directly employed in oil drilling and related services. Clearly, the DNC has work to do in Texas, Vela said in an interview with Hearst Newspapers. You cant just tell people like that were going to take your jobs away and think theyre going to vote for you. If were serious about climate change and job creation, we have to be able to tell those individuals and those families, you know what, weve got alternatives. Vela pointed to parts of his own district, which stretches from Brownsville to just south of Luling, as evidence of the problem at hand for Democrats. Donald Trump flipped a trio of South Texas counties in Velas district that went for Hillary Clinton in 2016, including Jim Wells County, a longtime Democratic stronghold where Trump won nearly 55 percent of the vote. There were some surprises down-ballot in South Texas, on the border and in rural counties with significant Hispanic populations, Vela said. We have to wrap our arms around that. Vela said he hasnt fully studied the reasons for the losses there, but my guess is that Democratic rhetoric made people feel like they were going to lose their jobs in the oil fields when these folks are out there earning upwards of $80,000 a year, and if its not that, theyre back at home looking for work in the $30,000 range. Texas Republicans were already shelling Democrats on Bidens first day in office as he signed executive orders canceling the construction permit for the Keystone XL pipeline and rejoining the Paris climate agreement. On Wednesday, the Biden administration suspended new leasing for fossil fuel production on federal lands and waters, as well as the issuance of new drilling permits. U.S. Rep. Kevin Brady, R-The Woodlands, called those first moves an opening shot on Texas energy workers. RELATED: Biden suspends federal oil and gas leasing for 60 days Vela said he doesnt expect Bidens moves so far to have the dire effects for Texans that Republicans are claiming. But its an area where Democrats need to do a better job explaining what theyre doing. There are jobs in the energy industry that are not necessarily oil and gas whether it be solar, wind, electrical, whatever that is going to make your life better, Vela said. You wont have to leave your family for two or three weeks, you wont have to bust your ass waking up at 3 in the morning and working until late at night. And youre going to make more money in a safer and more efficient environment. We dont have that message, he said. Thats the puzzle. The same is true for guns, Vela said. Those of us who grew up in South Texas, we grew up with our grandfathers and fathers and uncles and cousins and friends hunting and fishing. If the Democratic message is going to suggest that youre not going to be able to do that, were going to continue to lose a lot of these voters, he said. But, he said, Democrats arent trying to actually do that as they seek stricter background checks and other measures meant to stop mass shootings. Clearly, Republican messaging on the subject is not being countered were not countering that message appropriately. ben.wermund@chron.com Robert Kocharyan on years of his leadership in Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia Situation on Armenian-Azerbaijani border is still tense, more on COVID-19 in Armenia, May 28 digest "Armenia" alliance of political parties paying tribute to founder of First Republic Aram Manukyan (LIVE) Yerevan.today: Armenia acting PM not greeted at ruling party's headquarters, citizens call him 'capitulator' Russia MOD reports on maintenance of ceasefire regime in Nagorno-Karabakh Armenia acting MOD meets with Russian counterpart in Moscow Armenia 2nd President: I see possibility of restoring borders of Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast We can provide our army with some key, modernized weapons, says Armenia ex-President Kocharyan Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: Captives issue is not one that any opposition force can resolve OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs release statement on detention of 6 Armenian servicemen by Azerbaijan Armenian acting Deputy PM: Discussion on issues possible only after withdrawal of Azeri troops from Armenia's territory Armenia acting PM on Syunik roads, Russian military posts: This is only place where there are working nuances Armenia acting PM: Process of return of POWs will intensify after upcoming elections Putin congratulates Aliyev on Republic Day 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 VIGO COUNTY, Ind. (WTHI) -- Voters elected Chris Switzer and Mike Morris in November to fill the empty commissioner seats left by Brad and Judy Anderson. Switzer and Morris were both on the county council. So, that left their council seats open. That means a caucus has to happen to fill those two seats and that's where things get a little murky. News 10 has been asking questions for several days about the process and who is involved. But we've received little response from the county's republican leader. Friday, we finally received some information about who is on the ballot to fill those two county council positions. and what Saturday's republican caucus could look like. We sat down with Lucus Bendzsa and Brad Anderson, both are running to fill the seats on the county council. Bendzsa is looking to fill Switzers' former seat in district 2. Anderson looking to fill Morris's seat in district 3. So here's what we learned, anyone who wanted to run to fill these seats had to fill out specific paperwork from the state secretary's website and give that paperwork to the republican party chairmen, Randy Gentry. Paperwork had to be filled out and submitted 72 hours before the caucus if you are wanting to run. According to the Indiana secretary of state, there is no requirement to notify the public about any of this. That includes who is running and that the caucus is even happening. Precinct committeemen ultimately choose who is going to be filling those seats. Bendzsa said the entire thing is kept pretty private and just between those running, those on the committee, and the Republican chair. He said he is glad the names of people running weren't given to local media outlets ahead of time. That way the precinct committeemen couldn't be influenced by the community opinions. "These are elected precinct committeemen, appointed precinct committeemen. These are party people who ultimately do what's best for the people in the county," he said. "The people do get a vote. They vote for their precinct committeemen. The people do get a say, they need to pay more attention to who their precinct committeeman is." Meanwhile, Anderson previously held the county council seat for 5 terms. He said he has been involved in the community for so long and so many big things are happening for the county that he wanted to see some of it through "Vigo County has a $300 million construction going on and COVID has kind of hurt that, but we've had a big investment and I've been involved with the community so long. I thought well I would like to see some of these things through to help anybody else that would need some help," he said. The Republican caucus is set for Saturday at 9:30 The swearing of whoever wins the county council sit will follow later in the afternoon. News 10 continues to reach out to republican chair Randy Gentry. So far, we have been declined each time. The beginning of the school year when you got to show off your new duds, new cars, new looks! Sports! Playing, cheering, watching high school athletics. The arts: Dramatic arts, musical groups and shows, graphic arts groups, debate, etc. The prom! No dancing the night away or punch bowl antics. The daily interactions. Just being with the group, hanging with friends and classmates. Access to college recruiters and advisors its harder to line up higher education. Walking onstage to get a diploma while all the family is watching with everyone elses family. Vote View Results In yet another move that reveals the testy relationship between China and the American micro-blogging site Twitter, the latter has locked the official Twitter account of the Chinese Embassy to the United States. The removal came after the embassy made a post in which it referred to Uighur women in China as "baby-making machines" prior to Beijing's policies in the western region of Xinjiang, where critics say China is engaged in the forced sterilization of minority Uighur women. Last year, the Chinese government was reported to be taking draconian measures to slash birth rates among Uighurs and other minorities as part of a sweeping campaign to curb its Muslim population, even as it encouraged some of the countrys Han majority to have more children. On January 7, 2020, the Chinese embassy tweeted that Uyghur women in Xinjiang were no longer "baby-making machines" suffering under extremism following the country's "interventions" with the population. This is in contrast with international media reports that allege over 2 million Uyghur Muslims are locked in internment camps in Xinjiang province in what is being termed as a "genocidal" attack on the minority Muslim population. The tweet was deleted by Twitter which found it violating its rule against dehumanising persons or communities on the platform. The move has once again highlighted the alleged forced sterilization of Uyghur women, which has caused international outrage against the Xi Jinping government. With the move, it seems Twitter which has increasingly been making its censorship rules be known through suspension of powerful accounts like that of Donald Trump, has turned the tables on China after the country increased its use of the platform in 2020. Turning Tables Though it remains banned in China due to censorship concerns, Twitter is far from being new to Chinese media and propaganda. In the past year, NBC News noted that China doubled down on its presence on Twitter by increasing the number of Twitter accounts held by Chinese officials and embassies and also increased the number of tweets from them as well as from Chinese state media to win the Covid-19 information war. In fact, from the month of April to May last year, China reportedly pushed 90,000 tweets from official accounts, over double the number of tweets seen since January. Throughout 2020, China has increased its use of social media to share what can experts have termed "conspiracy theories" against the US, accusing them of cooking up the virus in its lab. According to data collected by the Alliance for Securing Democracy's Hamilton 2.0 dashboard, Chinese accounts became increasingly more aggressive and territorial in 2020. 2/2 CDC was caught on the spot. When did patient zero begin in US? How many people are infected? What are the names of the hospitals? It might be US army who brought the epidemic to Wuhan. Be transparent! Make public your data! US owe us an explanation! pic.twitter.com/vYNZRFPWo3 Lijian Zhao (@zlj517) March 12, 2020 Outrage over censorship Twitter removal of the Chinese tweet regarding the "emancipation" of Uyghur women is the second such censorial action taken by Twitter in 2020, The first came on January 8 when the Jack Dorsey-owned site permanently suspended the account of former United States President Donald Trump for inciting MAGA supporters to riot in Capitol Hill. While the suspension of Trump evoked both appreciation and concern over censorship, the removal of the Chinese tweet led to outrage of Weibo, the Chinese counterpart of the microblogging app. "What is freedom of speech? It is that the Weibo account of the US embassy in China can still voice its opinions, whereas the account of the Chinese embassy is locked by Twitter," Quartz quoted a Chinese user as saying in reaction to the removal. The report, however, argued that Twitter's censorship of tweets is not nearly equatable to the censorship that China itself carries out on social media. While platforms like Twitter are banned altogether in China, content posted on permitted sites like Weibo is also tightly censored by state media. Take the case of citizen journalist Chen Qiushi who reported on the Wuhan crisis during the start of the coronavirus pandemic. The journalist's social media accounts were deleted after he traveled to Hong Kong to report on the ongoing crisis. Chen has not been seen for several months. China also jailed citizen journalist Zhang Zhan, whose ground reports and videos from Wuhan went viral on social media last year. Nevertheless, the removal of the Chinese tweet was met with a "puzzled" Chinese reaction. fake reports and information related to Xinjiang. A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said that the blocking was "puzzling" and stated that in the removed tweet, the Chinese embassy had been trying to correct misinformation about Xinjiang. "We hope Twitter can uphold the principle of objectivity and impartiality, not to show double standards on this issue, but to strengthen screening, and identify what is false information, what are rumors and lies, and what is fact and truth," the statement said. Not the first time Twitter's onslaught on misinformation spread by shadow accounts from countries across the world including China is not new. In April 2020, the account of the Chinese Embassy in Sri Lanka was "mistakenly" deleted a week after it was found to be using offensive language on Twitter. Following outrage from the Chinese embassy regarding disruption of freedom of speech, Twitter restored the account and said, "This account was mistakenly caught in a spam filter. This has been reversed and the account has been reinstated". In June last year, the microblogging site listed over 30,000 accounts that it said shared foreign state-linked information operations from countries like China, Turkey, and Russia. According to a report in Forbes, the move dealt a huge blow to the 'Wu Mao' network - the controversial name for the shadow network of bots and tweets allegedly controlled by Chinese media to control social media narratives. Vox news reported on these 'Wolf Warriors' of China - essentially diplomats playing trolls on social media. In December, one such diplomat shared an edited image of the Australian army holding a knife to an Afghan child's throat in order to defame Australia amid rising trade tensions between the two nations. The dance of the blue bird and red dragon has been of interest to observers of internet safety and freedom and many note that China has increasingly been using Twitter and other social media platforms that are banned domestically to amplify pro-Xinping and pro-China voices in Western social media and to nullify reports of human rights violations in Hong Kong and Xinjiang. A farmer killed by the Army in 1974 was "an innocent man, shot in cold blood, without warning when he was no threat to anyone", a coroner has said. Patrick McElhone (24) a farmer from Pomeroy in Co Tyrone, was shot in the back by Lance Corporal Roy Alun Jones of the 1st Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Wales, in a field close to his family home. Mr McElhone died instantly after the bullet penetrated his heart on August 7, 1974. Mr Jones, who passed away in 2002, was charged with murder but acquitted and returned to duty. The Ministry of Defence has since accepted Mr McElhone'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. Mr McElhone's brother Michael described the manner in which his brother was killed as "cowardly" and said the truth had been a long time coming but had been worth waiting for. A fresh inquest into the killing, ordered by the Attorney General at the request of Mr McElhone's family, concluded on Thursday in Omagh. Coroner Siobhan Keegan found the soldier had violated the Army rules governing when it is acceptable to fire a weapon, and had killed Mr McElhone without warning, in cold blood. In her summary, she said it was important to put on record that Mr McElhone did not have any kind of learning disability which had been previously been reported and which was something that had pained the family for many years. Michael McElhone said the family have been totally vindicated. Speaking to the Belfast Telegraph, he said: "We have waited a long, long time for the truth but it was worth waiting on. This has been weighing on us since the day Patrick was shot. "Paddy was everything that the coroner said and everything that we always said - that he was an innocent fella and there had been no reason for his death. "The soldier who shot Paddy did a very cowardly thing. When he put up his gun to shoot, he put up his gun to kill. "I was there at the scene at the time and I had to identify Paddy, I saw the blood ooze out of him and his body was still warm. That will never leave me." Mr McElhone and his sister Mary, who was also present in court thanked the coroner, their legal representatives and the Attorney General. In a summary, Ms Keegan was critical of the lack of the level of co-operation from the Army to the police investigation at the time, but praised evidence provided to her by one of Lance Corporal Jones' colleagues, a Private Bedford, which she said was "convincing" and was "consistent" with evidence from Mr McElhone's parents. She continued: "This inquest has put the record straight as I will record the use of force was unjustified. "Mr McElhone was an innocent man shot in cold blood without warning when he was no threat to anyone. The family have waited a long time in which both Mr McElhone Senior and Mrs McElhone have died." Patrick McElhone was a son and a brother who tragically lost his life for no valid reason, she said. The deceased was unarmed and not acting in any threatening way or in other way that would have justified the shooting, the coroner added. "This shooting has not been justified by the State - a fact now admitted," she said. New Delhi, Jan 22 : First ever tableau of Ladakh will roll out at Rajpath in New Delhi during the Republic Day parade on January 26 and it will showcase peaceful and calm people of the state and citizens cherishing the Union Territory status. On October 31, 2019, Jammu and Kashmir state was officially divided into two union territories as Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. It was on August 5, 2019, Centre had announced that the state of Jammu and Kashmir was stripped of special status under Article 370 and was going to be split into two Union Territories. The Union Territory status had been an old demand among Buddhists in Ladakh, who form 40 per cent of the population. The tableau with the theme of 'vision of the future' to be carbon neutral. It will showcase the future prospects and development of green Ladakh by using natural resources and generating Horticulture produce in Apricot and Organic farming, besides development of Tourism. It will also showcase the Indian Astronomical Observatory, located in Hanle near Leh, one of the world's highest sites for optical, infrared and gamma-ray Telescopes. The tableau shows its composite culture and communal harmony besides Art and Architecture, languages and dialects, customs and costumes, fairs and festivals, literature, crafts and music. Ladakh, the most promising geothermal field of India with significant amounts of Cesium, Lithium, Rubidium and some other active constituents which suggest their association with recent magnetic activity. Such a phenomenon is supported by the location of Puga Valley. Ladakh, known for its pristine natural beauty and colourful mountains towering over vast swathes of desolate land, is set to add another feature to its fame the world's largest single-location Solar Photo-Voltaic plant. YEREVAN, JANUARY 22, ARMENPRESS. 87 refugees returned to Artsakh in one day accompanied by the Russian peacekeepers and the military police, who had left their houses as a result of the war, ARMENPRESS reports the Defense Ministry of Russia informed. A total of 50 thousands and 390 people have returned, reads the statement of the Russian Defense Ministry. NISKAYUNA The federal government is betting $20.3 million that General Electric Co. can turn an MRI machine used in hospitals into a renewable energy powerhouse. The Department of Energy's Wind Technologies Office recently awarded the grant to a team of engineers and scientists at GE Research in Niskayuna in hopes that they can take superconducting magnet technology from MRI machines and use it in the generators that create electricity in large industrial wind turbines that GE makes. GE believes the superconducting magnets that allow MRI machine to get super-detailed images from inside the human body could help drive down the cost and size of wind turbine generators while increasing their output. Can we pack more power in the same space with less weight? said David Torrey, a senior principal engineer at GE Research who is leading the project. Weve done this successfully with MRI systems time and time again. We think we can do it with wind power as well. Superconducting magnets are made of special wires that are coiled and cooled down to extremely cold temperatures, giving them virtually no resistance. Another local company called SuperPower makes such wires. Like an MRI, or magnetic resonance imaging, machine, electric generators used in power plants and wind turbines use huge magnets. Each wind turbine's generator contains several tons of magnets, making them extremely heavy. Bigger offshore wind turbines have even larger generators. The magnets also contain extremely expensive "rare earth" materials that are found in only certain parts of the world. GE has been developing MRI technology for decades and has its own MRI testing building at its Niskayuna campus. The industries and applications are vastly different, but the technical challenges and goals are very similar, Torrey said. With MRI, we have worked over many decades to increase the magnetic field of the superconducting magnets to deliver better image quality. In wind, were seeking to strengthen the magnetic field of the magnet to make generators that deliver more wind power with higher efficiency. And with both applications, the goal is to enable these improvements while minimizing their size and weight. GE is a major wind turbine manufacturer and has built the world's largest wind turbine called the Haliade-X, which can power a whole village on its own. The company makes steam turbines and generators for traditional power plants. Gov. Andrew Cuomo has been pushing for the construction of massive wind farms off the coast of New York, and the state is pushing for the creation off wind turbine tower assembly sites in places like the Port of Albany to create upstate jobs in renewable energy. U.S. Sen. Majority Leader Charles Schumer of New York has directly asked GE to make its wind turbines in upstate New York. The company currently makes them in Florida and France, although GE has a large wind turbine monitoring center at its Schenectady campus. GE employs about 4,000 people in the Capital Region. Our world-class New York workforce is eager to get to build the future, and with New Yorks considerable capabilities for clean-energy manufacturing and its transportation infrastructure and deep water inland ports, like the Port of Albany, and other critical port infrastructure, it is tailor-made to help drive GEs goal of expanding its role in the green economy," Schumer said. "GE will always be a New York company at heart, and I will do everything in my power to support their re-commitment to that home with a new investment in wind turbine manufacturing in the state. [January 22, 2021] Delaware Investments Dividend and Income Fund, Inc. Appoints Benjamin Leung and Scot Thompson as Co-managers Today, Delaware Investments Dividend and Income Fund, Inc. (NYSE: DDF) (the "Fund"), a New York Stock Exchange-listed closed-end fund trading under the symbol "DDF," announced that, effective January 22, 2021, Benjamin Leung and Scot Thompson will be appointed as co-managers for the Fund. Mr. Leung and Mr. Thompson will join Kristen E. Bartholdson, Adam H. Brown, Chris Gowlland, Erin Ksenak, Nikhil G. Lalvani, Stefan Lowenthal, John P. McCarthy, Robert A. Vogel, Michael G. Wildstein and Jurgen Wurzer in making day-to-day investment decisions for the Fund. Benjamin Leung is the co-head of the Macquarie Systematic Investments ( MSI (News - Alert) ) team, a role he assumed in August 2014. In addition to the day-to-day management of the global portfolios, he is also the head of research, responsible for driving the continual evolution of the systematic investment process. Leung joined the MSI team in May 2005 as a quantitative analyst, where his responsibilities included the development and maintenance of various quantitative models. Following his successful efforts to expand the quantitative capability to international markets, he formed the foundation of the current systematic investment approach. Prior to joining the MSI team, he worked as a software engineer for Macquarie's Investment Banking Group Information Services Division in Sydney. Leung received a Bachelor of Engineering with Honours and a Masters in Commerce from the University of New South Wales. Scot Thompson is the co-head of the Macquarie Systematic Investments (MSI) team, a role he assumed in August 2014. His responsibilities include the day-to-day management of the global portfolios, oversight of the trading function, development of new strategies, and client engagement. From June 2003 to August 2014, Thompson was the equities head of prodct, responsible for product design, development, and client relationships for the firm's Australian and global equities product range. Before that, he was a member of the firm's private equity fund-of-fund and performance analytics teams. Prior to joining Macquarie in November 2001 as a quantitative performance analyst, he worked on the performance analytics team for Cogent Investment Administration, where he was responsible for investment performance and attribution reporting for a variety of clients over all asset classes. Thompson also work in civil engineering before moving to finance, working for several Australian companies as a project manager focusing on underground installations, quarrying, and mining. He received a Bachelor of Civil Engineering from the University of Sydney and a Master of Applied Finance from Macquarie University. The Fund is a diversified closed-end fund. The primary investment objective is to seek high current income; capital appreciation is a secondary objective. The Fund seeks to achieve its objectives by investing, under normal circumstances, at least 65% of its total assets in income-generating equity securities, including dividend-paying common stocks, convertible securities, preferred stocks, and other equity-related securities, which may include up to 25% in real estate investment trusts (REITs) and real estate industry operating companies. Up to 35% of the Fund's total assets may be invested in nonconvertible debt securities consisting primarily of high-yield, high-risk corporate bonds. In addition, the Fund utilizes leveraging techniques in an attempt to obtain a higher return for the Fund. There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objectives. About Macquarie Investment Management Macquarie Investment Management, a member of Macquarie Group, is a global asset manager with offices in United States, Europe, Asia, and Australia. As active managers, we prioritize autonomy and accountability at the team level in pursuit of opportunities that matter for clients. Macquarie Investment Management is supported by the resources of Macquarie Group (ASX: MQG; ADR: MQBKY), a global provider of asset management, investment, banking, financial and advisory services. Advisory services are provided by Macquarie Investment Management Business Trust, a registered investment advisor. Macquarie Group refers to Macquarie Group Limited and its subsidiaries and affiliates worldwide. For more information about Delaware Funds by Macquarie, visit delawarefunds.com or call 800 523-1918. Other than Macquarie Bank Limited (MBL), none of the entities referred to in this document are authorized deposit-taking institutions for the purposes of the Banking Act 1959 (Commonwealth of Australia). The obligations of these entities do not represent deposits or other liabilities of MBL, a subsidiary of Macquarie Group Limited and an affiliate of Macquarie Investment Management. MBL does not guarantee or otherwise provide assurance in respect of the obligations of these entities, unless noted otherwise. 2021 Macquarie Management Holdings, Inc. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210122005467/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] (Photo : Youtube/Tim Schofield) Samsung Galaxy S21 pre-order and deals Fans of Android phones are excited for the new Samsung Galaxy S21. The new device that is included in the Galaxy lineup costs $799 for 128GB, it is a marked discount from the $999 price tag of the previous phone, Galaxy S20. This could be a move by the company to start offering 5G for a more reasonable price. New Samsung phone Then Samsung Galaxy S21 has a 6.2-inch AMOLED display, it has new Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 process, and a triple rear-camera array that is an iterative improvement from Galaxy S20's camera. You can choose between a 128GB or a 256GB of internal storage. The phone will also come with its own handset. Samsung Galaxy S21 Promo Deals There are numerous retail stores where you can pre-order the new Samsung Galaxy S21. Verizon offers great Samsung Galaxy S21 deals this week. The carrier will first give you a $750 off over 24 months if you are trading in an old device and picking up your Galaxy S21 with a new unlimited plan. Also Read: Samsung Galaxy S21 vs iPhone 12 Pro Max: Which Camera Is Better? Also, there is a $250 bonus for switching over from another carrier, this will effectively render your phone free through rebates. A promotion of buy-one-get-one free is available and it will score you an additional device for no charge when you get the first device with a new plan, even though you can't mix that with a trade-in. AT&T batch of Samsung Galaxy S21 deals are more simple than Verizon's. AT&T is simply offering a massive trade-in discount. You can hand over an eligible old device and you can purchase a new Galaxy S21 with a new unlimited plan and you will get up to $800 off of your new device, which is enough to cover the cost of the device. If you want an unlocked phone and a trade in, Samsung's own trade-in program is the best place that you can check out. In Samsung's website, the program accepts older devices even with cracked screens, so it is a bit more flexible than most retail stores. If you are trading in a recent phone, it is one of the cheapest ways that you can score yourself a new Galaxy S21 with no strings attached. Meanwhile in Best Buy, they offer the cheapest option of them all for the unlocked trade-ins. They will knock $30 off your activation, you can give up to $800 off in rebates for a trade and you can throw in that free $200 Samsung store credit plus a Galaxy SmartTag. Best Buy also has options for all major carriers too including AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile, so it is a great option if you are planning on heading straight in with a contract. In Amazon, there are offers of unlocked pre-orders but they have no massive trade-in options or price cuts. There is not much to say expect that Amazon is always a strong option if you are a prime member and you do not have an old device that is ready to trade-in for the new Galaxy S21. Related Article: Samsung Galaxy S21, S21 Plus Hardware Specs and Price Leaks Reveal Everything Fans Can Expect This article is owned by Tech Times Written by Sieeka Khan 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Calif. - Californias Congressman released a statement regarding President Joe Bidens 17 executive orders issued on the Presidents first day in office on Thursday. Doug LaMalfa, California's First Congressional District Congressman, criticized President Bidens executive orders for being far-left. President Bidens executive orders on his first day in the office make it clear that he will prioritize pleasing the far-left radicals that have taken over his party over bringing unity to our healing nation, LaMalfa said. LaMalfa said Biden is taking the backseat to China and other competitors by rejoining the Paris Climate Accords. He added that the U.S. has become energy-independent but will be losing jobs through Bidens order to stop the Keystone XL pipeline. "The American people do not want a European socialist country and are pleading for their way of life and prosperity to be defended, and I stand ready to fight for them, LaMalfa said. Nine feet tall is gigantic by human standards, but when researcher and conservationist Michael Brown spotted a giraffe in Uganda's Murchison Falls National Park that measured nine feet, four inches, he was shocked. Giraffes have an average height of around 16 feet. Their necks alone can measure six feet. So why was this giraffe so much shorter? "The initial reaction was disbelief," Brown, who is a conservation science fellow with the Giraffe Conservation Foundation (GCF) and the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, told The New York Times. Scientists first spotted the Nubian giraffe, named Gimli, in 2015. Three years later, researchers found another short giraffe living on a private farm in central Namibia. That one, named Nigel, is an Angolan giraffe measuring eight-and-a-half-feet tall. The researchers compared the two giraffes to each other, along with those of average height, The Hill explained. The comparisons revealed that the two giraffes had shorter legs than their similarly aged peers, caused by skeletal dysplasia, or dwarfism. This is the first time that dwarfism has been documented in wild giraffe populations, Brown and his GCF colleague Emma Wells wrote in a paper published in BMC Research Notes last month. They noted how dwarfism has been observed in domestic animals, but rarely in the wild. Other incidents include a red deer in Scotland and an Asian elephant in Sri Lanka. "Instances of wild animals with these types of skeletal dysplasias are extraordinarily rare," Brown said in a statement to GCF. "It's another interesting wrinkle in the unique story of giraffe in these diverse ecosystems." The researchers are unsure what caused dwarfism in the two giraffes. In domestic animals, it is usually associated with inbreeding or a lack of genetic diversity, The New York Times explained. Researchers don't know if this is the case for the giraffes, but GCF noted that the giraffes in Uganda suffered significant population decline in the 1980s due to unrest and poaching. While the giraffe population in Uganda is recovering, the overall population is in trouble across Africa. Their numbers have fallen 40 percent in the last 30 years, according to The Hill. GCF estimates that there are about 111,000 left in the wild in Africa. DICKSON CITY The borough planning commission unanimously voted Tuesday to approve amended plans adding a fourth floor to the upcoming Lehigh Valley Health Network hospital and eventually doubling the number of inpatient beds. By adding a fourth floor, the under-construction hospital at 334 Main St. will be able to expand to 48 inpatient beds, said Sonya Glatz, a project manager at North Star Construction Management. North Star is the general contractor for the project, and they are developing and constructing the hospital, she said. The third floor will have 24 inpatient beds, and the fourth floor will give them the flexibility to add another 24 in the future, Glatz said. Hospital officials discussed adding the fourth-floor inpatient beds three to five years after the first phase of construction wraps up in 2022, she said. The 100,578-square-foot hospital is scheduled to open in the summer of 2022. It will connect to the Coordinated Health Scranton Orthopedics building, which is slated to undergo upgrades as part of the project. The hospital will also include an emergency department, operating rooms and procedure rooms, among other facilities. Initially, the hospital was part of Coordinated Health, with officials breaking ground in January 2019. At the time, they hoped to complete construction by spring 2020. However, work stalled shortly after, and in September 2019, Lehigh Valley Health Network announced plans to acquire Coordinated Health. The nonprofit Lehigh Valley Health Network closed on the acquisition of the for-profit, physician-owned Coordinated Health in December 2019. Both firms are based in Allentown. The borough initially approved plans for a three-story hospital in 2018, said Mike Fedorka, the planning commission chairman and a borough councilman. During a January 2020 meeting with Coordinated Health and Lehigh Valley officials, Fedorka explained the borough had raised its height limit on buildings from three stories to six, suggesting the hospital could add additional floors. I said, It is surely a lot cheaper to do that now while youre in the process of starting over, Fedorka said. They had discussed the addition of a fourth floor for quite some time, but it wasnt until September or October of last year that they made the final decision, Glatz said. In addition to approving the plans, the planning commission also voted to recommend the plans to council. Borough council will meet virtually at 6 p.m. today to consider the amended plans. Lets help them out, were the pleading words of Worcester City Councilor Gary Rosen to the Worcester Regional Transit Authority Advisory Board during a meeting Thursday. Rosen was referring to riders of the WRTA in his proposal for a three-month extension of the zero-fare policy currently in place due to the coronavirus pandemic. In Thursdays meeting, the board debated continuing the fare-free policy or reinstating fares. Rosen, who serves as a representative for the city of Worcester on the advisory board, proposed suspending fares until April. The councilor pointed out that the suspension of fares policy was implemented last March because of COVID-19, and now, 10 months later, the pandemic is much worse, specifically in the city of Worcester. The city reported 885 new COVID cases Thursday, which is 334 fewer than the previous week, but officials are expressing concern over news of a Worcester County resident that has tested positive for a new, more contagious variant of the virus. In March of 2020, workers with the Local 22 Amalgamated Transit Union in Worcester sought the WRTA to require rear-boarding to stave off transmission of the viral respiratory infection. The WRTA implemented the procedure after bus drivers picketed. A zero-fare policy was also instated at this time as collection is done at the front of the bus. Services were also cut due to residents quarantining. Ten months later, with COVID cases still high, Rosen says now is not the time to be squashing the zero-fare policy. He stressed to the board Thursday that the policy benefits the citys most vulnerable residents. Finances and revenue are so important, said Rosen. But the wellbeingthe social, the mental, the emotional, the physicalhealth of our riders, of our passengers, are even more important. Dennis J. Lipka, the WRTAs administrator, informed the board Thursday that the WRTA is currently operating at 50% of normal ridership. He argued the WRTA can no longer go without fare collection. The suspension of fare policy was part of the development of the strategy of how do we get the buses to be as safe and accommodating as possible during a pandemic?,' said Lipka. ...But we need to look to every source of revenue at this time to be able to provide the service levels that we have. If we are required to have to remove two million dollars from the budget without a satisfactory replacement strategy, eventually its going to turn into a reduction in service. Lipka told the board the WRTA administration is prepared to resume fares beginning March 1. Rosen and advocates for a permanent zero-fare suggested the board use the $37.2M the WRTA received from the CARES Act to make up continued fare losses. Lets see if we can get by another three months, said Rosen. Yeah, the fareboxes will still be empty. But we do have that thirty-odd million dollars from the federal government. Lets use it in the right ways. Lipka countered that some of that money has already been earmarked for certain operations in 2021. He estimated that five or six million will be used to underwrite the increased costs of operating transit during the pandemic for the 2021 fiscal year. Weve taken a conservative approach and have budgeted out the CARES Act to go for five years, said Lipka. Assuming that we get state funds and everything to follow along. At the end of the day, the budget for the WRTA right now is about twenty-seven million dollars a year. Thats what we need to provide the service today. Next year, that cost will be 3.1% higher. And depending on how the pandemic develops, those numbers are going to get worse. After hearing from each board member, the board decided to table a vote on the future of the fare-free service until its February meeting. The WRTAs finance subcommittee will meet in the meantime to review a budget for the CARES Act and determine if the funds are eligible for use for a permanent zero-fare service. A large number of residents joined the meeting Thursday including members from the citys Zero Fare WRTA coalition, which formalized after the Worcester Regional Research Bureaus Implications of a Fare-Free WRTA report published in May of 2019. In the report, the Research Bureau makes the case that research and evidence from other cities have shown going fare-free to be perhaps the most effective ridership-boosting plan available to bus systems, a priority for a system like the WRTA that is suffering from significant drops in ridership. WRTA ridership declined 23% between 2016 before the latest fare hike and 2018. Last year had the fewest passenger trips since a driver strike in 2005, and the lowest in a non-strike year since tracking began in 1991, according to the Research Bureau. As far as revenue, in 2018, the WRTA collected roughly $3 million in fare revenue. The loss of that revenue could be mitigated by the elimination of fare collecting costs, the Research Bureau explains. In 2018, farebox revenue made up 14 percent of the WRTAs total operating expenses, the lowest mark in 10 years, the Research Bureau writes in its report. The action of collecting fares is not free, as infrastructure and staff time are needed to process incoming money. Collecting fares also creates operational inefficiencies, including delays during the boarding process. One common complaint about bus systems is tardiness or unreliability; eliminating fares may mitigate those concerns. The ridership boost from eliminating fares which, according to research from systems that have done it, is substantial reduces per passenger costs, making systems more cost-efficient. The Zero Fare WRTA Coalition held a panel discussion in December featuring Sen. Harriette L. Chandler, State Rep. David LeBoeuf, Boston City Councilor Michelle Wu, Worcester Regional Research Bureau research associate Tom Quinn and Lawrence Mayor Daniel Rivera. Quinn presented the Bureaus report to the panel, and stated, Making the WRTA fare-free is not charity. It is a way to increase the efficiency of a key government service in a creative and compassionate way. Rosen says the fare-free policy has been a godsend for passengers of the WRTA during the pandemic. Many of them really need the bus and its been a godsend financially for many of those families to have zero-fare, he told MassLive in an interview following Thursdays meeting. So, Id hate to take that away from them at the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Related Content: Drivers who pulled over to the side of a highway and allowed two ambulances to pass through have been praised after the stunt was caught on camera. Footage from one of the cars showed the incredible moment the vehicles parted ways on a Queensland highway on Thursday. Cars are seen lining the side of the road for hundreds of metres. 'It's f***ing teamwork,' a driver says off camera. 'We've just created a Noah's ark.' An ambulance drives along the empty aisle created in the middle of the highway. Drivers who pulled over to the side of a highway and allowed two ambulances to pass through have been praised after the stunt was caught on camera An ambulance drives along the empty aisle created in the middle of the highway 'Go and save them boss,' the driver says. 'Yes people, beautiful work. Loving the ark. Look at this, everyone getting together to save a life. Beautiful.' Another ambulance follows, before it is cheered on by the driver. 'You go and save some lives paramedics. Loving it. Beautiful!' the driver says. What should you do when you see an emergency services vehicle? Police, fire and ambulance vehicles are emergency vehicles. If an emergency vehicle is coming towards you and is sounding an alarm or showing flashing red or blue lights, you must move out of its path as soon as you can do so safely. You should: * slow down * move left to give the vehicle a clear run down the middle of the road. If you can't move left safely, stay where you are and let the emergency vehicle overtake you * not move your vehicle suddenly * not drive into the path of the emergency vehicle The law allows you to drive onto the wrong side of the road or drive through a red traffic light to get out of the way of an emergency vehicle if it is safe to do so. However giving way to emergency vehicles should always be done with the utmost care and with the safety of yourself and all other road users as a priority. Advertisement The video was uploaded to Instagram with the caption: 'QLD doing b***dy great things. Brings a b***dy tear to your eye.' Social media users were quick to take to the post to heap their praise on the drivers. 'Maybe 2021 will be all right,' one person wrote. Another person commented: 'Phoar what type of fine example of society working with one another is this!!!' In Queensland, and elsewhere across the nation, drivers are asked to move into the left lane when they see an emergency services vehicle, so it can quickly drive past. Social media users were quick to take to the post to heap their praise on the drivers CLEVELAND, Ohio -- As much as you isolate during the coronavirus pandemic, you still have to eat -- which means buying groceries. A new, more contagious COVID-19 variant may make weekly trips to the grocery store more risky. So should it push even more shoppers to order their food online, to pick up curbside or have delivered? Dr. Amy Edwards, an infectious disease specialist at University Hospitals Rainbow Babies & Childrens Hospital, encourages Ohioans to place orders from afar, rather than pushing carts through aisles and waiting in line at the check-out. Edwards said the new variant is more contagious because it can bind to receptors on respiratory cells more easily, meaning not as many particles may be needed to infect people. Edwards said though the virus appears to be plateauing in Ohio, the variants contagiousness could wipe out the improvements weve been seeing over the last week or two in a matter of days. Now is the time to look through your life and say, OK where can I cut back on contact with other people? Even low-risk contact with other people, Edwards said. Ohio State University researchers this month found a variant of the coronavirus identical to the one found recently in the United Kingdom, that has made the virus more infectious and more easily spread from person to person. As of Jan. 13, approximately 76 cases of the variant have sprouted in 12 states, including in Ohio, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The variant could become the predominant one by March, according to the CDC. We just need to do what we can to limit the spread, Edwards said. She added that grocery shopping is less dangerous than attending sporting events or church, where you sit next to strangers for longer periods of time, but that the social distancing Americans have been practicing for 10 months doesnt appear to work with this variant. Its so contagious that even staying six feet away, even wearing cloth masks, it doesnt work very well. Grocery chains and services like Instacart that partner with grocery stores have been expanding pick-up and delivery services since the pandemic began in March. Dr. Joseph Khabbaza, a pulmonary and critical care physician at Cleveland Clinic, doesnt think people have to change their in-person grocery shopping habits. Khabbaza said as long as folks are properly masking -- meaning wearing a mask over their nose and mouth -- and social distancing, that should still work fine against the new variant. Its not going to travel farther, its not going to more readily skirt around from masks, Khabbaza said. I think the physical barriers are still there. I dont think much really changes in the viral transmission. You need less of it to get sick, so I think that further stresses the importance of masking and distancing and avoiding social settings at home, social gatherings that may feel benign with friends or family. Edwards understands that everyone doesnt have internet access and realizes people may feel they can shop better for themselves than someone else. She encourages higher grade masks or wearing two masks and said its important to keep distance as much as possible. If you do want to switch your grocery store run to virtual, here are some options. We talked with area grocery stores to learn what plans and adjustments theyve made to help make shopping safer. Giant Eagle Demand for curbside pickup and home deliveries has increased significantly, said Giant Eagle spokeswoman Jannah Jablonowski. Early on in the pandemic, Giant Eagle was filling almost four times the normal amount of orders. Since then it has fluctuated. That doesnt speak exactly to the demand, because the demand was even higher than that, Jablonowski said. It dropped off a little bit in the summer months, but were still operating at elevated demand and have been since the start of the pandemic. In order to meet the elevated demand, Giant Eagle has been actively recruiting new team members, ensuring that all store locations are prepared with adequate equipment, utilizing additional space throughout the stores, and upgrading to new technology to further streamline the shopping and pickup experience. We worked on it for the better part of last year, Jablonowski said. Essentially, any guest who is interested in placing an order for curbside pickup or home delivery can do so by visiting www.gianteagle.com/curbside or through the Giant Eagle grocery mobile app. Once shopping is complete, guests can add notes to share with the team members shopping for their order and schedule their preferred curbside pickup or home delivery details. Some of the new features give guests the flexibility to edit their orders closer to their scheduled pickup time, as well as notify the store team members when they are on the way to the store to reduce wait time at pick up. That way, while your personal shopper is shopping the store and might notice that a product that you requested is out of stock, they can text you in real-time and ask you to approve a product substitution, Jablonowski said. Really it helps to streamline the process on our end. Amazon/Whole Foods Market Amazon, which bought Whole Foods in 2017, offers free two-hour delivery or pickup at the grocery store for Amazon Prime members. The delivery option depends on your address. The Rocky River store does delivery, curbside pickup and in-store pickup, and the store on Cedar Road in University Heights offers the same services. The Orange Village and Akron stores offer only curbside and in-store pickup. The two-hour delivery is free for orders with a minimum purchase, according to Amazons website. With the one-hour delivery option, a delivery fee will be given based on the orders subtotal. Instacart Instacart, a nationwide online grocery service, had 200,000 shoppers at the beginning of March. Now, the company has more than 500,000 active shoppers to help deliver goods to peoples homes or have them ready for pickup at stores. Over the past year, the company has expanded to more than 150 new retail partners and 10,000 new stores. Area partners include Heinens, Costco, Daves Markets, Aldi, Fresh Thyme Market and Save A Lot. Similar to food delivery service DoorDash, Instacart also offers a pickup option at some stores, where customers can order online, select a pickup time and grab their goods at the store. Instacart has a delivery fee of $3.99 for same-day orders over $35, and then fees vary for one-hour deliveries, club store deliveries, and deliveries under $35, according to the companys website. All orders must be at least $10 ahead of qualifying for delivery. For Instacart Express members, orders of $35 or higher have free delivery attached. To earn this benefit and others, Instacart Express members pay $99 a year or $9.99 a month. When it comes to pickup, the equivalent to the delivery fee is attached for non-Express members; all Instacart customers, including Express members, have to pay a pickup fee when picking up from Costco. The company has made changes throughout the pandemic to help its customers and shoppers as best as possible. Instacart said in an email to cleveland.com that during October, it introduced the Senior Support Service to help customers over 60 years old navigate online grocery delivery. Instacart has more than 60,000 seniors online with the service. Near the beginning of the pandemic, Instacart established the Fast and Flexible delivery option to enable faster and more efficient delivery. It also created an Order Ahead feature where customers could place orders up to two weeks in advance. The company also made Leave At My Door Delivery available for every customer. Customers dont have to come to the door, and a real-time photo is sent to notify them when their products have arrived. The health and safety of the entire Instacart community remains our top priority as we look to the months ahead, an Instacart spokesperson wrote in a statement to cleveland.com. Were operating at a different scale than we were at the start of the pandemic, and as a result of the adjustments weve made and fine tuned, were well positioned to safely and effectively meet any rising demand associated with additional COVID-19 waves. A soldier who died Wednesday in Kuwait in a non-combat incident has been identified as a Texas National Guard staff sergeant. In a statement Friday, the Defense Department named the soldier as Staff Sgt. Timothy Luke Manchester, 34, of Austin, Texas. The initial Army report said Manchester was found unresponsive Wednesday at Camp Arifjan in Kuwait. The DoD said his death was not combat-related and is under investigation. Read Next: After Lawmakers Intervene, Guard Troops Allowed to Return to Capitol for Breaks Manchester was assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, 36th Infantry Division, at Camp Mabry, Texas. He was in Kuwait supporting Operation Spartan Shield, according to the release. According to a statement released by the Texas Military Department, Manchester had previously served in the Marine Corps and joined the Texas Guard in 2018. His awards include the Joint Service Commendation Medal and Army Commendation Medal. "We are devastated by the loss of one of our own," Maj. Gen. Tracy Norris, the Adjutant General for Texas, said in a Friday statement. "In this profession, we always know in the back of our mind that this is a possibility, but we hope it never comes to pass. The entire Texas Military Department sends our deepest condolences to Staff Sgt. Manchester's family and loved ones he leaves behind. We are also keeping his fellow service members in our thoughts and prayers who are still overseas mourning the loss of their brother in arms." Manchester is the second soldier to die in a non-combat incident in Kuwait since the year began. Last week, Army Sgt. Anthony Bermudez, 28, of Dallas, Texas, was killed in a vehicle accident near Camp Buehring; two other soldiers were injured. That incident is also under investigation. -- Richard Sisk can be reached at Richard.Sisk@Military.com. Related: Soldier Found Dead at Base in Kuwait, Army Says Emphasis on yielding operational efficiency and economy in fuel consumption spurring vendors to incorporate multifold innovations ROCKVILLE, MD / ACCESSWIRE / January 22, 2021 / Award winning market research company Fact.MR's global soil compaction machines market report projects the landscape to reach a positive valuation across the 2021-2031 forecast period, representing a largely optimistic trajectory. A temporary blip is anticipated in the wake of the pandemic crisis as infrastructure and construction projects took a backseat in the past few months. The market is expected to make substantial gains in the future, with control automation acquiring momentum. Fact.MR anticipates that control automation in soil compacting machines is likely to yield a 25% increase in operational performance and output. Manufacturers are therefore deploying a wide spectrum of products and solutions designed to streamline operational efficiency by incorporating innovative technologies such as multiple amplitude, frequency combinations and dual-drum drives. Prominent vendors such as Volvo and JCB have taken the soil compaction systems market by storm. The former doled out the SD110B single drum compactor, featuring an ECO mode in 2015, offering up to a 20% fuel consumption reduction. Likewise, JCB's BII6 Intelligent Soil Compactor, equipped with the IntelliCompaction software enabling users to detect hard and soft spots, over compaction alerts and surface conditions. "Rapid population explosion across the Asia-Pacific is prompting extensive infrastructure development, thereby providing soil compaction systems manufacturers with an opportunity to leverage such a favorable business environment and deepen penetration," remarks the Fact.MR analyst. Request a report sample with 170 pages to gain comprehensive insights at https://www.factmr.com/connectus/sample?flag=S&rep_id=1978 Key Takeaways from Fact.MR's Soil Compaction Systems Study By product type, heavy compaction machines to maintain lead through the forecast period, owing to the growing need for stable surfaces in construction projects Light compaction machines to register enhanced adoption, attributed to extensive application in asphalt roads construction Single drum rollers to remain popular, owing to enhanced road grip U.S to acquire substantial market share on the back of a proliferating construction industry U.K to register steady Y-o-Y growth, spurred by a widening transportation infrastructure Germany and France to represent steady growth trajectory India to exhibit lucrative expansion prospects, with maximum uptake across the agriculture segment China to proliferate amid heightened emphasis on public infrastructure development, Japan and South Korea to remain bright spots Soil Compaction Systems Market- Prominent Drivers Soil compaction systems market is stimulated by prolific developments in transport infrastructure, fueled by rapid urbanization Deepening telematics penetration for ensuring effective maintenance of heavy-duty compaction systems to spell favorable growth conditions for the market Vendors are heavily emphasizing on intelligent compaction technology to achieve uniform compaction Soil Compaction Systems Market- Key Restraints Limited water infiltration and increased soil erosion due to surface run-offs is expected to restrict uptake of soil compaction systems Discover more about the soil compaction systems market with 85 figures and 92 data tables, along with the table of contents. You will also find detailed market segmentation on https://www.factmr.com/report/1978/soil-compaction-machines-market Competitive Landscape Prominent players associated with manufacturing soil compaction systems profiled in Fact.MR's report include Hitachi Construction Machinery Co. Ltd., Hamm AG, Bamford Excavators Ltd., Caterpillar, Atlas Copco AB, SANY Group, Mikasa Sangyo, Thetford International, Chicago Pneumatic, BOMAG GmbH, AB Volvo, Doosan Corporation, Martin Trailer Company and AMMANN GROUP among others. The aforementioned players rely on strengthening their research capabilities to dole out new products which aid in efficient densification. Furthermore, approaches such as acquisitions, partnerships and collaborations are also relied upon. For instance, in December 2019, Hitachi Construction Machinery announced the development of a battery powered mini excavator prototype in response to growing environmental concerns over fuel powered excavators. Caterpillar is yet another prominent manufacturer, producing a range of vibratory soil compactors, including the CP54B, CS56B, CS64B, CP74B and CS74B among others. In 2018, the company launched a new Machine Drive Power (MDP) technology, delivering compaction with greater reliability. More Insights on Fact.MR's Soil Compaction Systems Market Fact.MR, in its new offering, provides an unbiased analysis of the global soil compaction machines market, presenting historical demand data (2014-2018) and forecast statistics for the period, 2019-2028. The study divulges compelling insights on the soil compaction machines market on the basis of product type (heavy compaction machines: heavy tandem machines, single drum rollers, and pneumatic rollers), (light compaction machines: hand operated, light tandem rollers, and trench rollers), across seven regions. Explore Fact.MR's Coverage on the Automotive Domain Automotive Headliners Market: A new market study published by Fact.MR on the global automotive headliners market provides readers with an exhaustive analysis on key market dynamics, including the drivers, restraints, opportunities, and trends, along with comprehensive data on the structure of the market. The report also provides information on the growth of the automotive headliners market throughout the assessment period of 2021 to 2031. Vehicle Mounted Spotlights Market: A recent study by Fact.MR on the vehicle mounted spotlights market offers a 10-year forecast for 2020 to 2030. The study analyzes crucial trends that are currently determining the growth of the vehicle mounted spotlights market. This report explicates on vital dynamics, such as the drivers, restraints, and opportunities for key market players along with key stakeholders as well as emerging players associated with the manufacturing of vehicle mounted spotlights. Power Distribution Module Market: Explore Fact.MR's extensive coverage on the power distribution module market, explicating on such vital dynamics as the key growth drivers, opportunities and trends expected to influence expansion trajectory for the upcoming decade's forecast period. About Fact.MR 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. Contact: US Sales Office: 11140 Rockville Pike Suite 400 Rockville, MD 20852 United States Tel: +1 (628) 251-1583 E: sales@factmr.com Corporate Headquarter: Unit No: AU-01-H Gold Tower (AU), Plot No: JLT-PH1-I3A, Jumeirah Lakes Towers SOURCE: FactMR View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/625441/Technological-Disruptions-to-Anchor-Soil-Compaction-Systems-Market-FactMR Angelos Pizzeria, arguably the hottest ticket in South Philadelphia, is planning a second location. Owner Danny DiGiampietro is going right down the block to take over Bar One (formerly The Wishing Well) at Ninth and Catharine, where he plans to open Lucianas Bar & Grill. (As Angelos is named after his son, now 8, Luciana is named after his daughter, 9.) The opening, he said, will be sooner, rather than later. The deal had been in the works before COVID-19, he said, but had been put on pause. Angelos, on Ninth just off Fitzwater, has been closed because of a fire just before Christmas. The insurance company just released the scene, DiGiampietro said, and repairs and renovations should take at least a few weeks. Success has come at a price to DiGiampietro. The crushing volume in that tiny shop has forced him and his crew to focus on little more than pizzas and cheesesteaks. Most of the signature sandwiches, built on rolls he bakes in his oven and topped with house-made mozzarella, have been removed from the menu, just for simplicitys sake. I run out of everything, he said. We cant make food fast enough. DiGiampietro said Angelos sandwiches will be available on Lucianas menu and the bar will become a waiting room for the pizza shop. Hes trying to figure it all out. This is all new to me, DiGiampietro said. He was a bread man before 2014, when he opened Angelos in Haddonfield. He closed that location at the end of 2018 in anticipation of opening Angelos at 736 S. Ninth St. in early 2019. READ MORE: A pizza man's long route from Haddonfield to South Philly The bar business may be new to him, but the neighborhood is familiar. The block also is home to Sarcones Bakery, and his wife, Lauren, is a Sarcone. (Her mother, Linda, is the daughter of Louis Sarcone Sr., whose son and grandson operate the bakery now.) I like a challenge, DiGiampietro said. A bar has been a little bit of a dream of mine: serve good food and good drinks to the neighborhood. I just want to make people smile. Erika Jayne's estranged husband Thomas Girardi has reportedly not been doing very well as his memory has allegedly faded. And now his family has filed to place him under a temporary conservatorship amid his ongoing legal trouble and divorce with the RHOBH star. In new court documents, obtained by People, the 81-year-old trial lawyer has reportedly 'deteriorated to the point where he cannot care for himself without assistance.' Devastating: Erika Jayne's estranged husband Thomas Girardi's family has filed to place him under a temporary conservatorship amid his ongoing legal trouble and divorce; pictured in 2016 'His short-term memory is severely compromised and, on information and belief, he is often not oriented as to date, time or place,' writes Tom's brother Robert Girardi in a citation for conservatorship. The petition also noted that his housekeeper of 25 years is planning to quit because he 'cannot pay' her any longer. 'Tom does have family members, such as Petitioner [Robert], and certain friends looking out for him to make sure he has sufficient food and that he makes it to a given appointment on time,' documents allege of Tom's 'current condition.' In addition, Robert speculated that 'left to his own devices, it is highly doubtful that Tom could manage most of the activities of daily living for any significant period of time without assistance.' Struggling: In new court documents, obtained by People on Thursday, the 81-year-old trial lawyer has reportedly 'deteriorated to the point where he cannot care for himself without assistance' (seen in April, 2018) A sad fall: 'His short-term memory is severely compromised and, on information and belief, he is often not oriented as to date, time or place,' writes Tom's brother Robert Girardi in a citation for conservatorship (Erika seen in late 2020) As Tom navigates his alleged bankruptcy and being accused of embezzling settlement funds meant to help the families of victims on Lion Air Flight 610, his sibling wrote that Tom is 'unable to handle his financial affairs and protect his property at present, despite serious financial and legal problems.' The papers also suggest that Tom believes his financial problems 'are temporary or expresses disbelief that he does not have access to funds and has to be continually reminded of this fact.A temporary conservatorship is necessary.' Erika is listed as Thomas' wife, but the documents confirm the former couple are not living together and it's uncertain whether she will sign off on the conservatorship. Sad: The petition also noted that his housekeeper of 25 years is quitting because he 'cannot pay them any longer' 'A hearing is set for Feb. 1 at the Los Angeles Superior Court,' according to ET. His 49-year-old ex, who filed for divorce in November, is reportedly preparing to 'address her divorce on the upcoming season of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills' and is 'not holding back' on any of the details. 'Legally, there is only so much she is allowed to say, but she has been advised on what she can put out there,' a source told Us Weekly late last month. Bitter battle: Erika is currently in the midst of a bitter split with estranged husband, after filing for divorce from the 81-year-old attorney in November; Erika and Tom pictured Devout viewers of the Bravo series will 'also finally hear the other Housewives' thoughts on Erika and Tom's divorce,' such as co-star Lisa Rinna who has 'been [Erika's] biggest support among the cast.' Despite Erika having 'protected Tom at all costs' while filming seasons of RHOBH in the past, the source claimed that 'this time around is going to be different' for Erika, who never signed a prenuptial agreement. 'She's going to tell her story and she's not going to hold back,' the insider concluded. Some barriers: 'Legally, there is only so much she is allowed to say, but she has been advised on what she can put out there,' a source told UsWeekly on Tuesday; Erika pictured in 2019 Like Erika and Lisa, Kyle Richards, Dorit Kemsley, and Garcelle Beauvais will be returning for season 11 of the Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills, along with newcomers Crystal Kung Minkoff and Kathy Hilton. News of Erika's plans to dish on her divorce on RHOBH comes after the Painkillr songstress used Instagram to expose one of Tom's alleged mistresses. She not only named his alleged other woman, but claimed that 'she was f***ing [her] husband and he was paying her Saks bill and plastic surgery. Erika, who went on to delete the expletive-filled post, shared a slew of suggestive text messages that were allegedly made between Girardi and his supposed mistress. Weighing in: Devout viewers of the Bravo series will 'also finally hear the other Housewives' thoughts on Erika and Tom's divorce,' such as co-star Lisa Rinna who has 'been [Erika's] biggest support among the cast'; Erika and cast of season 10 of RHOBH pictured 'Miss you babe. Makeup sex?' read one of the alleged mistress' text messages, while another marveled out how 'fantastic' her night was with the accomplished attorney. Another wished the lawyer a 'good night sweets' and reminded him to 'control that temper tomorrow on the stand' and that he is 'in the right.' One of the final messages featured a full-bodied photo of a woman posing atop a bed with her face in her hand and her legs in the air. The shocking screenshots came just days after a source close to situation claimed to People that Erika and Tom's 21 year marriage crumbled because she believed he had 'multiple affairs.' No more protecting: Despite Erika having 'protected Tom at all costs' while filming seasons of RHOBH in the past, the source claimed that 'this time around is going to be different' for Erika Tom is also currently facing a major lawsuit that accuses him of embezzling funds from his clients in order to keep up a lavish lifestyle for himself and the RHOBH star. Despite citing 'irreconcilable differences' on the official divorce filing, the insider claimed to the outlet that Erika actually filed for divorce 'because [Tom] was cheating on her with multiple women' and that the Bravo star has 'known about his infidelity for years.' Allegedly, Erika tried her hardest to 'save' her marriage with Tom, but the final straw came when he allegedly flaunted his affair while she was starring in Chicago on Broadway. 'When she was performing her last week on Broadway, he left her high and dry and was frolicking around town instead of supporting her and attending her shows,' the source told People. 'She realized she would never be a priority to him and that was her breaking point.' According to the source, Erika and Tom's split 'was a long time coming,' dubbing the attorney's embezzlement lawsuit as just a coincidence. Yikes: Tom is also currently facing a major lawsuit that accuses him of embezzling funds from his clients in order to keep up a lavish lifestyle for himself and the RHOBH star The lawsuit accuses Tom of misappropriating $2 million from the families of victims who died in the 2018 Lion Air plane crash that plunged into the Java Sea killing all 189 people on board. Recently, US District Judge Thomas M. Durkin overseeing the plane crash victims' case in Illinois froze Girardi's assets and called his mishandling of money meant to go to the Indonesian children left orphaned by a plane crash 'unconscionable.' Lawyers for Girardi said they had concerns about his mental competency and asked he undergo a mental health examination. But lawyers for the plane crash victims families called those claims 'a sham'. As for the Girardi's money troubles, they seem worse than ever with Tom admitting to a judge that he was virtually penniless after losing up to $80 million. He is currently facing demands from creditors, high-interest lenders, lawyers, his first wife, and a security company that once guarded his Pasadena mansion for money - in addition to being accused of embezzlement. 'At one point I had about $80million or $50million in cash. Thats all gone,' Girardi said this fall in testimony in unspecified case, according to a Los Angeles Times report. 'I dont have any money,' he added. New Delhi, Jan 22 : A minor fire broke out at the basement of a hardware shop in south-west Delhi's Palam area on Friday. However, no casualty was reported. 11 fire tenders were pressed into service to douse the blaze that broke out at 10:48 a.m. "A rescue operation is underway," said a fire official. Ingit Pratap Singh, Deputy Commissioner of Police (South-West), said : "The shop was opened on Tuesday. There were thinners and paints stored in it. However, no one hurt in the incident." Earlier in the morning, a minor fire broke out in the meter board at the Institution of Engineers Building at ITO. A total of 12 fire tenders were rushed to the site. The fire was on the second floor of the building. She donated the 1870s-era farm photo to the museum because she knows it will be handled properly and not disintegrate, she said. The photo shows the farm where her great-great grandfather Chase Webb and great-great grandmother Janett Webb stand holding a baby. Chase Webb fought in the Civil War, and later bought the property where the preserve is now located. Janetts name has been spelled various ways in historical documents, Sefton said. Muslim model Halima Aden has opened up about why she quit the runway late last year, saying she began to 'look like a white man's fetishised version' of herself. The Somali-born model, 23, who lived at the Kakuma Refugee Camp in Kenya before moving to the United States at the age of seven, fronted campaigns for Rihanna and Kanye West's clothing labels, and first shot to worldwide fame at the age of 19 when she was hailed the first supermodel to don a hijab. But she told the BBC she began to 'look like a white man's fetishised version' of herself, and would barely recognise her own image on magazine covers, which she describes as 'mentally damaging'. She was especially horrified when she appeared on the cover of arty fashion magazine, King Kong, and discovered there was an image of a naked man inside. 'Why would the magazine think it was acceptable to have a hijab-wearing Muslim woman when a naked man is on the next page?' she said. Muslim model Halima Aden (pictured in November 2019) said she decided quit the runway late last year because she was 'forced to compromise her religion' in the fashion industry Admitting she felt forced to 'compromise' her religion, the Miss Minnesota USA semi-finalist said she was unable to spent Muslim religious festivals with her family due to her jam-packed schedule. After making it home for Eid and Ramadan in the first year of her career, more recently she found herself constantly travelling and was taking as many as seven flights a week. Her doubts about the industry began to increase, which were only amplified after she featured on the cover of King Kong, where she wore vibrant red and green eyeshadow and statement jewellery across her face. Looking back on the experience, she described the style and make-up as 'horrendous', explaining she felt she 'looked like a white man's fetishised version' of herself. And to her complete horror, as she turned over the page from her cover shoot, she found a picture of a naked man in the very same issue, which went again 'everything' she believed in. Somali-born Halima (pictured in December 2019), who lived at Kakuma Refugee Camp in Kenya before moving to US, became the first hijab-wearing model to sign with a major agency Describing her doubts about fashion, Halima told of how she saw herself on the cover of King Kong magazine (above), and felt she 'looked like a white man's fetishised version' of herself Halima, 23, (pictured in February 2018) went on to admit that she would often barely recognise herself while looking at her boundary-breaking modelling on magazine covers As a hijab-wearing model, keeping her hijab on for every single shoot was of course non-negotiable for Halima, with her even adding a clause into her IMG contract to make them agree that she would never have to remove it. But in the last year of her career, she admitted that her hijab gradually got smaller and smaller after she entered the 'confusing grey area' of letting the team style her hijab on set, rather than bringing an array of her own. And other other problems began to arise for Halima in the fashion industry, when she realised that other hijab-wearing models were not being treated with the same respect as she was. She revealed that she would see many models being told to find a bathroom to change in, unlike herself who was able to dress in her own space - another clause of her contract. It disturbed her to see older men 'following and flocking around' the younger hijab-wearing models who had followed her into the industry. She recalled: 'I was like, "This doesn't look right, she's a child". I would pull her out and ask her who she was with.' After dealing with these inner turmoils about her chosen career, Halima said that the coronavirus pandemic put everything into perspective because it halted fashion shoots. The former supermodel was able to return home to St Cloud and spend time with her mother, who she has a close relationship with, as well as seeing her friends. In November, Halima (pictured in December 2019) decided to step away from modelling, explaining that she was spending less time with her family for Muslim religious festivals Halima broke boundaries as the first hijab-wearing model to sign with a major modelling agency. She impressively signed with IMG Models in February 2017, and that same month she made her runway debut in Kanye West's Yeezy show. During her career, she has modelled for the likes of Marc Jacobs, Alberta Ferreti and Fenty, and has covered Vogue Arabia, CR Fashion Book, Allure, and British Vogue in a hijab. But now, she has taken a career turn and has just finished executive-producing for I Am You, a film inspired by the true story of a refugee fleeing war and violence in Afghanistan. The film is set to be released in March on Apple TV. Despite her busy schedule, Halima also plans to take a well-deserved break and 'put her mental health' and her family at the very top of her list of priorities. A spokesperson for King Kong magazine told Femail: 'Over the last five years our magazine has run stories using both images and print to portray a wide range of themes. 'These themes encompass art, life, humanity and the elements which connect them. This will include topics which can include sexuality, as well as race, age, 'The artists, photographers and contributors with whom we work express themselves in ways which may both appeal to some and seen provocative to others, but the stories they produce always respect the subject and the model. 'These contributors - whether established or up and coming - have demonstrated a commitment to integrity and honesty throughout the artistic process. 'Furthermore King Kong, its team and its contributors comprise a wide range of age, gender, nationality and sexuality. 'We do not work with those whose worldview does not respect our belief in a multi-cultural society, nor our belief in the possibly of portraying alternative lifestyles in a way that respects a multiplicity of views, but is never made for gratuitous shocks. 'All images in this issue are part of a genuine artistic expression in which the participants were in full agreement. 'Finally we would acknowledge that there are now whole issues of interpretation and effect pertaining to images which contain nudity, issues which have surfaced in the 21st century to do with consent and respect. 'The idea of the artist/photographer as controller/manipulator and the model as passive object is an idea which has placed many artworks and art practices in a different and difficult light. 'It is our hope that our work - even at its most provocative - respects the model even if it challenges at time the viewer.' Colorado is launching an education campaign to encourage Black and Latino seniors to get vaccinated, in the wake of a survey that shows only about 50% of women in those populations are comfortable with getting vaccinated. New Delhi: One of the most popular contestants inside the 'Bigg Boss 14' Rubina Dilaik has a huge fan army supporting her on social media. Her followers want to see her lift the coveted winner's trophy this season. Meanwhile, her major throwback pictures have hit the internet. Rubina Dilaik had won a beauty pageant much before her showbiz journey began. Take a look at her photos: Fans were quick to notice the massive transformation in her earlier pictures and the recent ones. Rubina Dilaik began her television journey with Chotti Bahu. In 2021, she was seen in Saas Bina Sasural, followed by Punar Vivah - Ek Nayi Umeed opposite Karan Grover in 2013. She also played the role of Goddess Sita in mythological show Devon Ke Dev...Mahadev and Jeannie in Jeannie Aur Juju respectively. Rubina won a million hearts for playing a transgender woman in Shakti Astitva Ke Ehsaas Ki opposite Vivian Dsena. The pretty looking actress was ranked eleventh in the 50 Sexiest Asian Women List by Eastern Eye in 2016 and ranked on number 10 in the same list in 2017. Can the Irish border be described as a thin place? Never have I read such an eloquent description for the omnipresent border in our psyche. A thin place is an odd expression for those unaccustomed to it; the term means somewhere where life and death each feel a little closer. These places, the Kerri ni Dochartaigh writes, are so thin that you meet yourself in the still point. In other words, they refract our sense of place, often allowing us to consider where we are both physically and spiritually in a more meditative way. Each of us has felt it; its a stillness often found in nature when you observe a butterfly or moth delicately going about their winged way, or it may be the urgency you feel when you feel like youre in the right place at the right time. Of course, readers will draw their own meaning from Ni Dochartaighs words, and she allows space for them to ponder: Are these thin places spaces where we can more easily hear the land, the earth, talking to us? This debut is not a memoir in the traditional sense; nor is it simply a polemic about the sectarian violence that tore through the authors childhood in Derry; instead, it combines both of these elements under the insistent gaze of the poet-writer who is always keen to draw our attention to nature. Ni Dochartaigh recounts her early fascination with insects and wildlife against a backdrop of a mixed-religion upbringing in the place she calls Derry-Londonderry (her mother was a Catholic; her father a Protestant). Its easy to see how she won the 2016 Mark Avery Wildlife and Politics Prize; she intricately plaits nature, politics and the personal. Readers may be surprised at the depths that Thin Places explores. Do not mistake its appreciation of the natural world for anything twee or solely comforting. The authors life is turned inside out and she shares her battles with depression and alcoholism, her relationship with family members and her time with an abusive partner. This is not for the faint-hearted. Ni Dochartaighs writing is generous and she leaves little for the reader to surmise in those dark days she describes in startling detail: there was the time her house was set alight when she lived in Waterside, Derry when she was only 11, when the heat warped her bedroom door as she rushed out; the time her close friend was murdered aged 18; and perhaps the darkest and most affecting her attempted suicide. The darkness in her subject matter lends itself to the light, however. The natural world at large is a balm for her, and many of her memories are framed by the redemption offered by a cat, fox, moth and curlew. Her attitude can be best summarised in a Seamus Heaney quote she includes in the book: So hope for a great sea-change / on the far side of revenge. To understand the communion she feels with the land beneath her, it is essential to understand her traumatic childhood. It might sound incongruous to write about the beauty of the whooper swan and the enduring effect of Troubles in the same paragraph, but Ni Dochartaighs manages it. Its unlikely many people in Ireland need a refresher on the Troubles. Ni Dochartaigh strikes a balance between general overview for those unfamiliar, while confronting the litany of uncertainties Brexit poses, demanding: Where is our government in Northern Ireland? Our representation? Where is our voice? The River Foyle, a dividing river in Derry, is nearly omnipresent when she writes about her childhood, and it is a useful metaphor to chart the unfaltering awareness she had for her dual identity; at once Catholic and Protestant, though accepted as neither. The reference to the death of the journalist Lyra McKee and the mounting tension in the North amid Brexit negotiations make it difficult to refer to this book as nature writing, but Ni Dochartaigh artfully magnifies the thin places and the eco-grief she feels and juxtaposes them alongside the political. She articulates the near-and-far nature of extinction: Somehow I had always viewed that loss of wild things as being unrelated to the loss in my homeland, as though they could not really be spoken of in the same breath. She draws our attention to the high suicide and obesity rates in Derry and the reams of people who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder following the Troubles. Ni Dochartaigh forges a connection with the Irish language there was more chance of me being able to learn Icelandic than Irish in my childhood in the Waterside and bit by bit she reclaims much of what she felt was denied to her. In learning the language, she draws closer to the natural world. Similar to the late American poet Mary Oliver, the wildlife in Thin Places becomes near-mythic: the mangy cat that saves her from the fire, the pair of foxes who rescued her from assault and the cry of the curlew that brings her closer to her father are all thoughtful inclusions. This is a book full of hope found in dark places and it confronts some of the realities of the Irish border and the enduring effect it has on our lives. Expand Close Thin Places by Kerri ni Dochartaigh / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Thin Places by Kerri ni Dochartaigh Nature: Thin Places by Kerri ni Dochartaigh Canongate, 272 pages, hardcover 21; e-book 7.12 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 federal government last week began pushing for the COVID-19 vaccine to go to more adults over the age of 65, and its showing up in the numbers in New Jersey. Last week, in a change to previous recommendations, the federal government guided the states to begin vaccinating all adults over 65. The next day, Gov. Phil Murphy confirmed New Jersey would be following this recommendation. CORONAVIRUS RESOURCES: Live map tracker | Businesses that are open | Homepage The move appears to be showing up in the data. As of last week around the time of the announcement, just 19% of those vaccinated in New Jersey were over 65. This week, that number has risen to 26%. Is the chart not displaying? Click here. It appears the bulk of those vaccines shifted from those aged 30 to 64, a group that saw its shared of the total vaccinated population drop from 70% to 63%. In terms of location, the county administering the most vaccine doses over the last week was Cape May, which administered 2,257 doses per 100,000 residents. Thats nearly three times as many as the county handing out the fewest shots per capita, which was Mercer County at 802 doses per 100,000 people. Is the map not displaying? Click here. Getting one dose of one of the COVID-19 vaccines is the first step in a process. By looking at the counties with the highest percentage of second dose receivers, we can see a picture come into focus of where the most receivers of the shots are getting fully vaccinated. In this case, Atlantic County leads the way with 20.1% of those vaccinated having received both doses. Mercer County, which also trails in doses per capita as mentioned above, has gotten just 9.8% of its vaccinated population through the two-dose regimen. Is the map not displaying? Click here. Of the two manufacturers producing vaccines, one appears to have a clear upper hand in getting them to N.J. residents. Doses of the Moderna vaccine have been administered 247,639 times as of Thursday, nearly 40,000 more than Pfizers. Modernas share is now 54.3%, up nearly 2% from last week. Is the chart not displaying? Click here. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Nick Devlin is a reporter on the data & investigations team. He can be reached at ndevlin@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @nickdevlin. In his words: "I am just a professional writer, which means I don't do blogs and try and get money for whatever I write." Gentle reader, Ms Razdan is not the only one to have fallen for fake offers which arrive through the Internet I knew that the Internet and the social media are the vehicles of fraud as never before. In imitation of a famous Indian scam, some crooks have taken to sending posts to the unwary to say that they are guilty of tax fraud and they ought to deposit X amount immediately or be arrested that very day. (Representative Photo:PTI) If any young person with attitude Refuses to express their gratitude For the love they are shown Just leave them alone With no single degree of latitude From Ghazals of Gulligoochi by Bachchoo Friends from India informed me that the talented and A-list presenter of the nations most honest TV channel NDTV, Ms Nidhi Razdan, was approached through email to take up a post as a visiting professor of journalism at Harvard University. Ms Razdan, who in all fairness deserves invitations from universities with greater reputations and more rigorous standards than Harvard (Cambridge UK, for instance, comes to mind) fell for the hoax. Perhaps she, in an act of altruism, wanted to do some charitable service to herds of benighted American students. She may have thought, in accepting the offer of a professorship, that she could bring the great Indian standards of fearlessness before government, religious authority or bigotry followed by Indian newspapers, TV, radio and even film and web series, to the Americans who have fallen for Donald Trumps tweets and the fake news of his media sycophants over these last few years. Having made her plans to depart for New England, Ms Razdan, as a good journalist would, checked on the authenticity of the invitation and found that there was no such invitation and the correspondence she had got on the Internet was some purposeless, elaborate joke. The humour escapes me, though! What it does confirm, gentle reader, is that the greatest instrument of public discourse, of the dissemination of information, of the connectivity of the human race, can be as malevolent as it is benevolent. Not only has it put tremendous power (we are not talking about wealth) in the hands of those who control these devices of the ether, it has also facilitated evil. Twitter, Facebook, Amazon and the rest decided last week, after Donald Trumps urging his supporters through these platforms to overturn American democracy, to ban his free speech. A decent gesture, but one that came years after they allowed any and all manner of hate speech, terrorist and even openly fascist propaganda to go uncensored on their platforms. Crooks and perverts seemed welcome. Because, gentle reader, Ms Razdan is not the only one to have fallen for fake offers which arrive through the Internet. Must I now admit that I have been, on several occasions contacted through email to inform me that I am the lucky winner of millions of pounds on the Nigerian Lottery? It seemed the first time like very welcome news. I wonder how many others in our world, this vale of tears, didnt stop to consider that they couldnt have won the Nigerian Lottery as they hadnt bought a ticket to enter it. Of course, the emails persuaded me that a fan and admirer, who insisted on remaining anonymous, had bought a hundred tickets in my name and one of them had proved the lucky one. All the paymaster of the lottery now wanted was my bank details, passwords, etc, and the money would be deposited, making me an instant millionaire, in the following twenty-four hours. How could I resist? I sent my details post-haste to the designated email address, expecting a phone call any minute from my banks branch asking me to attend and shift my millions into safer and more profitable investments. And then, two hours later, when the banks opened, a call did come. The lady banker at the other end asked me to identify myself. Yes, the necessary checks and usual questions my birth date, the name of my first dog, my best friends favourite food, the bra size of my first girlfriend I rattled all the details off. Then came the news. The lady banker at the other end said that since my account had been overdrawn for three months by several hundred pounds, they were suspending all activity on it. I was of course aware that my account was in the red, but surely all that would change when my lottery win came in. Holding the phone some distance from my mouth, I let out a contemptuous laugh, saying words to the effect of you just wait, young lady, your branch is going to be flooded with a bigger deposit than what elephants leave in the jungle. She politely asked what I meant. I told her about my triumph at the Nigerian Lottery. There was a long pause and she said I was the hundredth customer to fall for what was a confidence trick and if I had had any money in my account it would have disappeared. Disappointed and downcast, I buttoned the call off. Hanh, merey yaaron, I knew that the Internet and the social media are the vehicles of fraud as never before. In imitation of a famous Indian scam, some crooks have taken to sending posts to the unwary to say that they are guilty of tax fraud and they ought to deposit X amount immediately or be arrested that very day. Those with a guilty conscience will be inclined to fall for it. Myself? Having been made a fool of once, Ive resolved to train myself to be a cyber detective with the help of my distant cousin, Hutoxic Feromonereplacementwalla (abbreviated mostly to Effpeewalla), the first Parsi woman to be appointed to the post of detective sergeant at the Bottomlea police station. Okay, not quite Kamala Harris, but still something? BRUSSELS/FRANKFURT/PARIS (dpa-AFX) - French stocks were moving lower on Friday as rising Covid-19 cases as well as disappointing regional data stirred fresh concerns about the economic outlook. A new strain of the coronavirus has led to fresh lockdowns in many parts of the world - including countries in Asia. EU leaders are mulling internal border closures due to rising infection and death rates. Eurozone private sector activity contracted at an accelerated pace in January amid the ongoing pandemic and related restrictions, flash data from IHS Markit showed. The composite output index declined to 47.5 in January from 49.1 in December, signaling third successive contraction and the steepest deterioration since November. The rate of factory output growth weakened to the slowest since the recovery began while the service sector saw output fall at the second-fastest rate since May. The benchmark CAC 40 dropped 36 points, or 0.7 percent, to 5,554 after declining 0.7 percent in the previous session. Airbus shares fell 1 percent on news the planemaker has slowed the pace of a planned ramp-up in jetliner production. Liquor group Remy Cointreau gained 0.8 percent after reiterating its FY guidance. Petroleum company Total SE dropped 1.1 percent as oil prices slipped from 11-month highs hit last week amid concerns over reduced fuel consumption. Airline Air France KLM tumbled 3 percent amid fears of a third wave of infections, with the European Union (EU) proposing setting up of 'dark red' coronavirus hot spots. 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. EDWARDSVILLE Felony criminal charges recently filed by the Madison County States Attorneys Office include: John J. Pierce, 31; and Melissa K. Pierce, 45, both of Alton, were charged Jan. 21 with drug-related offenses. John Pierce was charged with unlawful possession of a methamphetamine, a Class 3 felony. Melissa Pierce was charged with unlawful possession of a controlled substance, a Class 4 felony. The cases were presented by the Alton Police Department. According to court documents, on Feb. 19, 2020, he was found to be in possession of less than five grams of methamphetamine, while she was found to be in possession of less than 15 grams of fentanyl. Bond for both was set at $15,000 each. Joshua D. Maldonado, 41, listed as homeless out of Alton, was charged Jan. 21 with unlawful possession of a controlled substance, a Class 4 felony. The case was presented by the Alton Police Department. According to court documents, on Jan. 23, 2020, he was found to be in possession of less than 15 grams of fentanyl. Bail was set at $15,000. Stephen L. Rudd, 27, of Collinsville, was charged Jan. 21 with unlawful possession of methamphetamine, a Class 3 felony. The case was presented by the Alton Police Department. According to court documents, on Feb. 19, 2020, he was found to be in possession of less than five grams of methamphetamine. Bail was set at $15,000. Ian J. Womack, 22, of South Roxana, was charged Jan. 21 with unlawful possession of methamphetamine, a Class 3 felony. The case was presented by the Wood River Police Department. According to court documents, on Jan. 20 Womack was found to be in possession of less than five grams of methamphetamine. Bail was set at $20,000. Roland C. Angeles, 52, of Wood River, was charged Jan. 21 with aggravated battery, a Class 3 felony. The case was presented by the Wood River Police Department. According to court documents, on Jan. 20 Angeles struck a woman 60 or older repeatedly, causing bruising and lacerations. Bail was set at $20,000. Matthew T. Heuer, 40, of OFallon, Illinois, was charged Jan. 21 with unlawful possession of methamphetamine, a Class 2 felony. The case was presented by the Collinsville Police Department. According to court documents, on Jan. 21 Heuer was found to be in possession of less than five grams of methamphetamine. Bail was set at $30,000. Dana K. Willis, 24, of Collinsville, was charged Jan. 21 with aggravated fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer, a Class 4 felony. The case was presented by the Collinsville Police Department. According to court documents, on Jan. 21 Willis, who was driving a 2001 Buick, attempted to flee a Collinsville police officer, reading speeds of more than 21 miles an hour over the posted limit. Bail was set at $15,000. .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... Given New Mexicos struggles attracting and retaining investment dollars, legislators are considering an unorthodox solution: establishing a statewide public bank. A local nonprofit, Alliance for Local Economic Prosperity, has developed a business plan that outlines the structure and approach for a state public bank, an entity the state could use to deposit assets and support state investment programs. While legislation has not yet been introduced, several legislators, including Rep. Patricia Roybal Caballero, D-Albuquerque, and Sen. Jeff Steinborn, D-Las Cruces, have expressed support for the proposal. ADVERTISEMENTSkip ................................................................ Its just an idea that just seems to fundamentally make sense to people, and people are excited for it, Steinborn told the Journal. Elected officials in Albuquerque, Santa Fe and Las Cruces have also expressed support for a public bank. Advocates believe a public bank would reduce reliance on out-of-state banks and free up funds for economic development and infrastructure projects. Opponents within the community banking industry, however, see a public bank as unnecessary and hostile to their operations. Its just simply not good public policy for the state of New Mexico, said Jerry Walker, president and CEO of the Independent Community Bankers Association of New Mexico. The idea of a statewide public bank isnt new. North Dakota created a state-owned bank in 1919, where the state and other municipalities deposit funds. In New Mexico, the city of Santa Fe looked into setting up a municipal public bank, but a task force ultimately determined startup costs and regulatory barriers would make it difficult to pursue locally. Angela Merkert, executive director for the Alliance for Local Economic Prosperity, said the groups business plan proposes that a statewide public bank would only offer services to state agencies, and wouldnt compete with banks and credit unions for retail banking customers. Under the proposal, Merkert said the state would allocate $50 million from the Severance Tax Permanent Fund to provide an initial influx of capital for the bank. She said the state would also transfer $50 million from accounts with private banks to use for deposits. The banks assets would then be overseen by a 12-member board of directors and a CEO. Dan Mayfield, vice president of government affairs for the Credit Union Association of New Mexico, said the proposal offers a few advantages over the existing format. Under the current setup, Mayfield said the state relies on international banks to deposit assets, which results in a lot of funds exiting the state, leaving New Mexico with less money to fund infrastructure, economic development and other needs. We should be keeping that money here, and saving that money here and investing that money here, Mayfield said. He added that the public bank would partner with local lenders on loan programs designed to target local economic development, adding hed like to see New Mexico adapt several programs from the Bank of North Dakota, such as a program that guarantees loans for North Dakota high school graduates seeking business startup expenses. These are really clever ideas that we havent been able to explore in New Mexico on a large level, mainly because we dont have the capital, Mayfield said. Still, Walker said New Mexicos community banks are already well-positioned to help small businesses and arent looking for government changes. He said hes concerned that losing out on deposits from local governments will ultimately make it more difficult for community banks to lend in the first place. This idea that its going to increase lending for community banks, and its going to be this wonderful thing thats just not true, Walker said. Steinborn didnt provide a timetable for when the bill might be introduced, saying he and other leaders are working with financial experts to ensure it safeguards public money effectively. It needs to be incredibly precise, and follow the rules of good public governance, he said. Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. The indictment of a former federal agent charged with accepting $250,000 in bribes to protect the Mafia in upstate New York is rooted in a 'racial animus' toward Italian Americans, his lawyer contends. Federal prosecutors have failed to identify 'a single penny' Joseph Bongiovanni took from gangsters in Buffalo, New York, during his two decades with US Drug Enforcement Administration, his defense attorney alleges in new court filings. 'The government has noticed that all of the participants have Italian last names, and as such, has imagined the existence of an Italian-American organized crime syndicate,' the attorney, James Harrington, wrote in the filings. Retired veteran DEA agent Joseph Bongiovanni was indicted in 2019 on federal counts of conspiracy, obstruction of justice and making false statements He said the criminal organization cited by prosecutors, the Buffalo Crime Family, 'does not appear to exist, yet the lore of the Italian mafia is so pervasive in our society that the government can benefit just from alleging a connection without having to prove it.' Bongiovanni, who was raised in a tightknit Italian American community in North Buffalo, is accused of leaking information to drug traffickers and using his badge to 'dissuade other members of law enforcement' from bringing cases against friends involved in 'Italian Organized Crime,' according to an 11-count indictment handed up in 2019. The charges of conspiracy, obstruction of justice and making false statements should be dismissed, Bongiovanni's lawyers say, claiming an 'avalanche of financial information' turned over by the government does not incriminate the former agent. Bongiovanni started with the federal agency in the late 90s and had been assigned to the DEAs resident office in Buffalo since 2001, until his retirement two years ago The indictment alleges Bongiovanni took the bribes between 2008 and 2017. Bongiovanni started with the federal agency in the late 90s and had been assigned to the DEAs resident office in Buffalo since 2001, until his retirement two years ago. One of the federal charges is tied to Bongiovannis contact with a person who operates a gentlemans club in Cheektowaga, a town 10 miles away from Buffalo. The unnamed person, identified as 'coconspirator 1,' gave Bongiovanni a call after a stripper overdosed on drugs at the club, but the federal agent denied the call took place, according to the indictment. Harrington, in a 114-page court filing this month, sought to cast doubt on the case. 'Mr. Bongiovanni's lifestyle does not reflect that of a man who has supposedly taken a quarter of a million dollars in bribes,' Harrington wrote. 'A classic car in his garage, which he bought with a loan several years ago and has slowly restored a few parts at a time, is his only uniquely prized possession.' Prosecutors wrongly concluded Bongiovanni provided cover for drug dealers out of disbelief that so many major marijuana traffickers had been 'left at liberty by the DEA for so long,' the defense alleges. 'In sum, the governments sensational case appears to be a reverse-engineered narrative, starting with conclusions and working backwards,' Harrington wrote, 'despite an absence of clear evidence.' Bongiovanni's proceedings have been delayed in part by the coronavirus pandemic, and no trial date has been set. He remains free on bond and has been caring for his parents, according to his attorney. Email Whatsapp Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment In Pauls epistle to the Ephesians, he writes to believers living in the Roman capital of the province of Asia. As such it was an important center of commerce, education, and politics. And Ephesus was marked by its profoundly pagan culture, as the magnificent temple of Artemis (Diana), considered one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, adorned the great city. In his concluding exhortation, Paul urges the Ephesians (and us) to put on the full armor of God: Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm (Ephesians 6:10-13; emphasis added). We who are followers of Jesus Christ, trusting Him as Savior and Lord, also find ourselves living in an increasingly pagan culture. The Judeo-Christian consensus prevailing since the founding of America has seemingly evaporated in our day. In past generations, practitioners of witchcraft, satanism, and black magic were seen as shadowy figures ensconced in disreputable cults. Today they have websites and marketing strategies. Human life, as in pagan times, is now disposable based upon convenience. Biblical Christians are deemed haters by the enlightened souls at the Southern Poverty Law Center. Amazon makes millions selling Bibles on the one hand, while seeking to abridge religious liberty on the other. Governments abridge religious freedom by fiat, using the coronavirus pandemic as cover. And internet gatekeepers have anointed themselves the arbiters of freedom the new book-burners of our time. Blessed Beneficiaries Yet, Americans alive today are the blessed beneficiaries of a distinctly Christian national heritage whether they realize it or not. For each of our beloved freedoms (that we often take for granted) we stand on the shoulders of giants, of patriots many of whom gave the last full measure of their devotion in defense of those freedoms. In fighting to preserve Americas heritage of spiritual freedom and prosperity, we seek the welfare of others above our own. Like our forebears, we seek the glory of God and the advancement of His kingdom because the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the only hope of mankind. We seek American renewal, because in her welfare lies the welfare of uncounted millions. The history of America is like the history of the Christian church a miraculous birth, followed by spiritual strength and prosperity, but periodically troubled by weakness of faith, timidity, and forgetfulness. But each falling away is succeeded by a Spirit-led revival and renewal, when the people of God remember the heights from which they have fallen and return to the standard of their Great King and Savior. And in spite of the seeming chaos of our day, America remains that solitary City on a Hill, shining the light of freedom before a world that yet sees us as the last best hope of mankind. Like our forebears, we must be a people of hope, active in defense of freedom even as we also look forward to a City with Foundations whose architect and builder is God. Stand for Truth and Freedom Yes, we do seem to be entering a new rising of this present darkness. And as Yogi Berra is purported to have said: Its deja vu all over again. But having put on the full armor of God, we must stand firm against this present darkness in the power of the Holy Spirit for the sake of the Kingdom of God. Writing from his jail cell in Birmingham, Alabama, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. reminded us: The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy. Now is the time for the men and women who name Christ as Savior and King to stand for truth and defend freedom, because America is a nation worth fighting for. An international rights group says the trial is politically motivated and has zero credibility. The wife of a CNRP defendant poses with a photo of her husband during a protest in front of Phnom Penh Municipal Court in Phnom Penh, Jan. 22, 2021. A court in Cambodia on Friday held a trial for 21 officials with the countrys banned opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) on charges of conspiracy and incitement, prompting an outcry by the defense over what it said were biased questions and presumption of guilt. Acting CNRP chief Sam Rainsy, his wife Tioulong Saumura, CNRP deputy president Eng Chhai Eang, CNRP deputy president Mu Sochua, and other party officials have been accused of conspiracy, incitement to commit a felony or to disturb social security, and inciting military personnel to disobedience, under articles 453, 494, and 495 and 471 of Cambodias criminal code. Mu Sochua and fellow party leaders and activists living in self-imposed exile had planned to go back to Phnom Penh this weekend to face the charges, which they insist are designed to silence the opposition, but were blocked by airlines because Cambodias government had canceled their passports or refused to provide them visas to enter the country. Instead, only 12 defendants were present at Fridays hearing at the Phnom Penh Municipal Court, including the district chief executive and the former elected commune chief of the CNRP, who are being held in prison. More than 20 wives and family members of the defendants were forcefully prevented from entering the courthouse to monitor the trial by authorities who warned them with megaphones that they would be detained if they did not disperse. Defense lawyer Sam Sokong told RFAs Khmer Service that the court proceedings were divided into morning and afternoon sessions, during which the courts judges and prosecutors peppered his clients with questions about a November 2019 attempt by Sam Rainsy, who has lived in self-imposed exile since late 2015, to return to Cambodia. His plan to enter the country from Thailand was thwarted when he was refused permission to board a Thai Airways plane in Paris. The prosecutors and judges questions were biased and presumed the guilt of the defendants, he said. The questions focused on people gathering to receive Sam Rainsy on Nov. 9, 2019, as well as what they said were other orders [from the CNRP abroad], but [the defendants] denied that they had accepted orders from anyone. Sam Sokong said most of his clients maintained that they are innocent of the charges against them, although some refused to answer questions during the hearings because of health problems or are suffering from dementia. They are just former activists and supporters of the CNRP, he said. They have no plans to overthrow the government. Sam Sokong said that the trial will reconvene on Feb. 4. Zero credibility Ahead of Fridays trial, Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director of New York-based Human Rights Watch, slammed Prime Minister Hun Sen for what he said was a politically motivated effort to further hamstring the CNRP, which was dissolved by Cambodias Supreme Court in November 2017 over an alleged plot to topple the government with help from the U.S. The ban on the CNRP marked the beginning of a wider crackdown by Hun Sen on civil society, NGOs, and the independent media that paved the way for his ruling Cambodian Peoples Party (CPP) to win all 125 seats in the countrys July 2018 general election. Since late last year, the Cambodian government has embarked on an endless series of mass political show trials against political opposition figures and rights activists, Robertson said in a statement. The purpose is clear, to smash to pieces whats left of the opposition CNRP in the country and silence all remaining critics still brave enough to raise their voice against the CPPs single party dictatorship. Robertson said Hun Sens crackdown is meant to ensure that there is no legitimate challenger to the extension of his 35-year-long rule, with commune and general elections looming in 2022 and 2023. These trials have zero credibility because they are based on bogus charges manufactured for political purposes to sideline Hun Sens opponents, he said. All PM Hun Sen has accomplished with his pursuit of these trials is to make a mockery of the Cambodian justice system and call greater attention to his dictatorship. Robertson urged foreign governments, United Nations agencies, and international development donors to demand that Hun Sen immediately end the crackdown against his critics and drop all charges against Fridays defendants, who are being judicially harassed based on their political affiliation and their willingness to continue to demand their rights to engage in peaceful, public assembly and freely express their views. Reported by RFAs Khmer Service. Translated by Samean Yun. Written in English by Joshua Lipes. TWENTY-three people from Haiti were detained on Sunday (January 17) after being smuggled into TCI waters in an undocumented boat. At about 10.15pm officials from the Coastal Radar Station alerted officers of the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force that they were tracking a target. Marine branch officers on police boat Sea Guardian immediately responded and intercepted a blue 27 foot vessel, five miles south of Bird Rock. Additional officers on board police boat Sea Pursuit assisted with transporting the boat and 15 men and eight women to South Dock in Providenciales. The migrants were handed over to the Immigration Department Enforcement Unit and Environmental Health official for immediate assessment, processing and repatriation. "The operation was conducted without incident, according to the police press office. A boat containing 159 people from Haiti capsized 11 miles south of Providenciales just two days prior on January 15. Marine police officers, the US Coastguard and Government officials worked together to rescue the passengers. There were no casualties. Immigration minister Hon. Vaden Delroy Williams said: "This vessel is the second interception within three days, which is very alarming. "We are very thankful for all organisations involved in the two interceptions. He added: "Travelling here illegally is a wasted time, as our border protection team is very strong and you will be caught and you will be sent back to your home land. "Do not risk all you have to travel here. A 25 foot wooden boat containing 26 Haitian migrants was towed to South Dock in Providenciales after it was found in TCI waters on December 28, 2020. And on December 18, the United States Coast Guard intercepted another Haitian vessel containing 110 people about 40 miles from the TCI. It is an offence to harbour illegal persons and anyone found guilty risks a fine of $20,000 or four years in prison, or both in accordance with the Immigration Ordinance 2018. As the U.S. hit a grim milestone on Tuesday of 400,000 deaths from COVID-19, Black church leaders are joining the effort to convince African Americans, long skeptical of the medical establishment, to put their trust in vaccines to help bring the pandemic to an end. We are in a state of emergency. As Dr. King says, we are in the fierce urgency of now. In all, there is hope. Hope that we can prevail, Debra Fraser-Howze, founder of Choose Healthy Life, a nonprofit organization founded to address health disparities from COVID-19 for the African American community, told over 100 Black clergy leaders at an event held via livestream on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. The Rev. Al Sharpton, a co-chair of Choose Healthy Life, echoed that assessment. It is a time where we are at a crossroads and our people are in peril. We must call on all sectors of society to take action, he said. Yet Sharpton and many other African Americans remain somewhat skeptical about the very thing that could halt the pandemic in its tracks: vaccines for COVID-19. I, myself, raised questions (about the vaccines safety at first) and now I feel more comfortable, the Baptist minister and activist told City & State New York in a recent interview. Im not totally relaxed in bed yet but Im sitting on the edge of the bed. I think that as we speak to credible experts from our community and we become more involved, we become more comfortable with it. The Rev. Calvin Butts III, senior pastor at Abyssinian Baptist Church in Harlem, N.Y., and another co-chair of Choose Healthy Life, has partnered with SOMOS, a nonprofit that seeks to vaccinate underserved communities. The Harlem church received 500 doses of the vaccine last weekend for members of its congregation and its neighbors who are at least 65 years old or deemed essential workers. Were on the path to meet the crisis of COVID-19 in the Black community, and so we press on. We can and we will defeat COVID-19 in our communities, Butts said at Mondays event. Story continues But even with public health experts and church leaders pushing the vaccination campaign, the long history of mistrust in the public health system among Black Americans is difficult to overcome. For decades, African Americans were misled and misused by the federal government for experimentation and research purposes, a fact that has been seared in the minds of many in the community. In the Tuskegee experiment, 600 men were told they were receiving free health care. The studys purpose was to observe the progress of untreated syphilis in African American men who lived in rural areas. (National Archives) The Tuskegee experiment a clinical study conducted in Alabama by the U.S. Public Health Service from 1932 to 1972 is one painful example that has sown mistrust of vaccines among many in Black America. In that case, the Public Health Service and the Tuskegee Institute initially recruited 399 men with late latent syphilis and 201 men without syphilis and told them they were receiving free health care. The studys purpose was to observe the natural progress of untreated syphilis in African American men who lived in rural areas. As the study evolved, more participants were added. When funding was cut, the experiment was continued without telling the participants they would never receive treatment. Even when penicillin became a standard treatment in 1947, scientists withheld treatment. As a result, dozens of men died from syphilis. According to a Pew Research Center poll released in December, only 42 percent of Black Americans said they would probably or definitely get a COVID-19 vaccine. A January study from the Kaiser Family Foundation found that only 3 percent of Black Americans have received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine so far, while white people are being vaccinated at significantly higher rates in many cases two to three times higher. But the distrust among some Black Americans about vaccines is also part of a larger issue. People from racial and ethnic minority groups are disproportionately affected by lack of access to quality health care, health insurance, and/or linguistically and culturally responsive health care, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says on its website. Inequities in treatment may result in distrust of government and healthcare systems. Such barriers increase risks for poor health and health outcomes by limiting health promotion, disease and injury prevention, and condition management activities. Gabby Cudjoe-Wilkes, a pastor at the Double Love Experience in New York City, told Yahoo News that the government needs to do more to address historical health disparities for people of color. In the time of a pandemic and the ways in which this nation has so often used Black bodies as guinea pigs, I would like to see America really ensuring that Black and brown folks who are already disproportionately affected by COVID-19 are the ones that are given what is necessary to bring them back to full health, Cudjoe-Wilkes said. Confirming Cudjoe-Wilkess point, CDC data reveals that Black Americans are 3.7 times as likely as whites to be hospitalized with COVID-19 and 2.8 times as likely to die startling statistics that mark the urgency of the public health crisis and the disproportionate toll the infection is taking on the Black community. Shoni Taylor, a frontline health care worker at a Los Angeles hospital who has been vaccinated, said she was hesitant about it at first. I was like, I dont want them to give me the Black version of the vaccine, as crazy as that sounds. There is an underlying mistrust of the government and Are they doing this to try and hurt us? To help assure people about the safety of the vaccines, ministers turned social activists, including the Rev. Raphael Warnock, the newly elected senator from Georgia and a pastor at Atlantas Ebenezer Baptist Church, spoke at Mondays Choose Healthy Life event about the underlying health conditions that have contributed to higher mortality rates from COVID-19 among African Americans. These comorbidities that weve been dealing with hypertension, diabetes, stroke all of these things exacerbate the impact of COVID-19 in communities of color, so we are dying, more likely to die, die more often, Warnock said. Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nations top infectious disease expert at the National Institutes of Health, also spoke at the event. We need to get the overwhelming proportion of our population, 70-85 percent at least, vaccinated, and thats the reason why were out there making sure that, particularly, those that are most vulnerable, such as in African American and Latinx population, [are vaccinated], Fauci said. As the U.S. hit 400,000 deaths from COVID-19, Black church leaders are joining the effort to convince African Americans to put their trust in vaccines to help bring the pandemic to an end. (Getty Images) On Thursday, speaking at the White House, Fauci again emphasized the importance of buy-in from the African American community. One of the things we need to pay attention to ... is outreach, particularly to minority communities to make sure that you get them to be vaccinated and you explain why its so important for themselves, their family and their community, he said. Dr. Marcella Nunez-Smith, chair of President Bidens COVID-19 health equity task force, told clergy leaders at Mondays event that the new administration is committed to a national vaccination strategy to address this. We must also work to increase vaccine confidence, Nunez-Smith said. Already Black Americans are receiving COVID-19 vaccinations at dramatically lower rates than white Americans. Access issues and mistrust are leaving Black health care workers behind. We are going to have to go deep, neighbors talking to neighbors, pastors talking to your church members, public health navigators and community-based organizations building on existing relationships. Nunez-Smith said Biden firmly believes Black people have not always been treated with the dignity and honesty they deserve by their federal government and the scientific community. She emphasized that the work must be done to build trust and added that the administration is committed to transparency, honesty and centering on equity at every stage. Warnock also touched on a startling statistic in the pandemic that could directly expose many Black people to COVID-19 one of the areas of social determinants that the CDC mentioned, occupation and job conditions. Were disproportionately represented among frontline workers. So this is ongoing work, but this is an important effort that moves us in the right direction. _____ Read more from Yahoo News: 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. Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-22 20:49:14|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee Xi Jinping, also Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military Commission, addresses the fifth plenary session of the 19th CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 22, 2021. (Xinhua/Li Xueren) BEIJING, Jan. 22 (Xinhua) -- Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, has stressed the importance of leveraging the guiding and safeguarding roles of strict Party governance in every respect to ensure the development goals and tasks of the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025) are fulfilled. Xi, also Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks on Friday when addressing the fifth plenary session of the 19th CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI). The year 2020 was extraordinary in the history of the People's Republic of China, Xi said as he summarized the year's achievements in Party construction. "People feel deeply that in stormy times the strong leadership of the Party and the authority of the CPC Central Committee are what they can always count on," Xi said. The CPC Central Committee is satisfied with the progress made in improving Party conduct, building a clean government and combating corruption, he added. Xi underscored the importance of improving political judgment, understanding and execution in implementing full and strict governance over the Party. Historic achievements have been made but the situation remains challenging and complex, he said. "Corruption, as the biggest risk to the Party's governance, still exists," Xi said, adding that old and new types of corruption have become intertwined and corruption is increasingly covert and complex. "The struggle between corruption and anti-corruption efforts will continue to exist for a long period to come," Xi said. "There is no alternative in the anti-corruption fight, and we must move ahead in spite of difficulties." Members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee Li Keqiang, Li Zhanshu, Wang Yang, Wang Huning, and Han Zheng attended the meeting. It was presided over by Zhao Leji, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and head of the CCDI. Enditem US Ambassador to Armenia Lynne Tracy has published an article, entitled Democracy is Precious, which we present below. On January 20, 2021 just before 12:00pm in Washington, D.C., President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. took the oath of office to become the 46th President of the United States. His Vice President, Kamala Harris, was also sworn in, becoming not only the first woman, but also the first Black and Indian American to hold the office. In his inaugural address, President Biden said of the moment, We've learned again that democracy is precious. Democracy is fragile. At this hour, my friends, democracy has prevailed. As we have seen over the last few weeks, and as President Biden emphasized, democracy cannot be taken for granted, even after nearly two and a half centuries in the United States. Since Armenias independence, the United States has supported Armenia in its fight for democracy not because we have perfected it ourselves, but because we know how much work it takes to protect and defend. Critical to this task are building and maintaining strong democratic institutions and advancing the rule of law, providing economic opportunity for all, and broadening access to education. It is a process that demands unity, resolve and perseverance, often in the face of enormous challenges. As the United States begins a new chapter in our own countrys history, we renew our commitment to partnering with the Armenian people, Government, civil society, media, and the private sector to support the aspirations of the Armenian people who voiced their choice for meaningful, tangible reforms to strengthen the institutions of Armenias democratic institutions and for a more prosperous future. Democracy and the rule of law are cornerstones of the U.S.-Armenia relationship, but we have an even broader common positive agenda. Supporting sustainable and inclusive economic growth, expanding trade and investment, promoting energy security, managing environmental resources responsibly, fighting the COVID-19 pandemic, and investing in people through educational opportunities reflect a deep and wide U.S.-Armenia partnership that I am confident will continue to strengthen. Above all, we recognize the urgent work to be done in moving forward following the devastating conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh [(Artsakh)]. The U.S. government has responded to Armenias critical needs by providing clothes, food, child-friendly safe-spaces, and shelter to displaced peoples. The United States continues to call for the swift and safe return of the remaining detainees. We condemn the acts of atrocities connected with the conflict. Those responsible must be held to account. And, while the fighting has stopped, the need for an enduring political solution on the status of Nagorno-Karabakh is essential for securing regional peace and stability. As I look ahead to the upcoming year, I acknowledge the many challenges we still face. But I am confident that, together, we are up to the task. We will continue to support Armenia as it rebuilds in the years to come. As President Biden said on Wednesday We have never ever, ever failed in America when we have acted together. That emphasis on togetherness transcends our borders together with our Armenian friends and partners, we will tackle the challenges before us, uphold our shared values, and ensure that democracy and the rule of law prevail, leading to a brighter future for us all. In the Washington Post, January 7, 1982, there is an account of the unfathomably named Richard Hamilton Herrud Houghton III. Reportedly decked in khakis and polished penny loafers, blond hair and blue eyes, he was a Georgetown junior at the time. Every Friday night, he would head to The Day Lily, a red and gold velvet-walled Chinese restaurant, a seedy spot that would seem beneath his social class. However, if it was dead all week, on the weekends it would become The Chinese Disco, or Chidi, a packed spot where he would dance the shag to beach music and flirt with local coeds it was then the epicenter of Washington DCs preppy playground. Its still a lot like a frat party, except now, because of the recent prep craze, you might see a Marine or someone from [the bar] across the street just because its cool to be prep, explained another suffixed partier, Jean-Charles Dibbs III, then a barely-legal Republican political aide. A good percentage of the people you see here never even went to prep school. If the Ivy League look had been around since the early 20th century, with a true scene emerging by mid-century, it would be mainstreamed into preppy culture by the start of the 1980s. Though Lisa Birnbachs iconic 1980 Official Preppy Handbook was meant to lampoon the aesthetic, it instead galvanized it, and, just like the early-aughts Brooklyn hipster movement, all irony was soon stripped away. Nowhere was that more evident than in our nations capital, which was uniquely positioned to become Americas preppiest party city of the era. For one, its geographic location straddled the line between the prep schools and Ivy League institutions of the northeast, while also having a foot in the South with its fratty gentlemen and sorority belles. If by the 1980s New York was going new wave and hip-hop, club kids and cokeheads, in Washington, DC, a melting pot of fledgling lawyers, bankers and politicos still enjoyed dressing up in boat shoes, blue blazers and Brooks Brothers button-downs to hit the town. Remember in the 1980s, DC wasnt doing well, says Alana McGovern, a Georgetown alum who wrote about the neighborhoods bar scene over the years for a project entitled Booze to Bougie. There was high crime, a lot of drugs, prostitution Georgetown was where the going-out scene ended up being simply because the rest of the city wasnt as nice. A one-square-mile neighborhood of cobble-stone streets and stately, federal-style homes centered around the intersection of Wisconsin Avenue and M Street, Georgetown nonetheless boasted more than 115 liquor licenses in an approximately 10-block area. It would become gridlocked with cars as far as the eye can see, according to the New York Times, each and every Saturday night. Washingtons weird territorial placement in the American firmament also played a key role in the bar scene that emerged. While Maryland raised its drinking age to 21 in 1982 and Virginia did the same in 1985, the District of Columbia held out, wrote Hunter Main for The Hoya Georgetown Universitys student newspaper in trying to explain the era. This brought a huge influx of teenagers from the DC suburbs to Georgetown on Fridays and Saturdays that, when combined with the sizable university population, led to swells of 20,000 to 30,000 patrons, many of whom travelled by car, during the nighttime. Chidi had been opened as this youthful preppy scene was just beginning to emerge, in 1976. Two recent college grads, Nicky Williams and Buff McDonald, asked The Day Lilys aging owner, Jim Chin, if they could start renting his restaurant for Friday night parties. No one was coming to his restaurant any way, so Chin figured he had nothing to lose. Quickly, Williams and McDonalds bashes, based on a Myrtle Beach frat-boy aesthetic they had grown up on in the South, were a sensation, packed with men in blazers and women, according to WaPo, who pronounced daddy as a three-syllable word. The people that come here are from good families, explained one Chidi-goer at the time, differentiating them from the non-preppy riff-raff. They go to good colleges or have good jobs. If Washingtonians mostly only drank at restaurants, hotels, social clubs and high-society parties previous to 1980, that was about to change, and quickly. Likewise, if in the 1970s, Georgetown was mostly known for its thrift stores (such as Commander Salamander), record shops and even a disco bar called Tramps, that too was in flux. Channeling the immense popularity of Chidi, a so-called circuit of preppy bars soon dotted the neighborhood, giving the pastel-clad a place to party virtually every single night of the week. The Ivy League Look Anna Rupprecht Tuesdays was Pendletons or Chadwicks, a K Street joint located under Whitehurst Freeway known for its hamburgers, cheap beers and late-night hours. Thursdays was E.J. ORileys Pub, opened in the late-1970s by two Georgetown alums one who owned an old warehouse, the other who simply had a catchy Irish name. A very civil place six nights a week according to a 1978 Hoya article, the only exception being thirsty Thursdays, when the preppies would invade en masse to Carolina shag a dance descendent of the jitterbug and drop trou, a supposed mating ritual endemic to an era when sexual harassment didnt exist. Sometimes we take our pants off and it really bums people out, claimed James Muggy (Mike) Smith, a self-proclaimed filthy rich kid who was wearing a pink-and-green plaid bow tie and pink sweater when he was interviewed in yet another 1982 WaPo article on the scene. We wear our boxer shorts and some say Oh, my God, who are these guys? Occasionally on Wednesdays and always on Saturdays, the premier preppy spot was The Third Edition, or Thirds, a casual, wood-paneled restaurant opened in 1969 that in the evenings would become a nightclub full of Georgetown and George Washington students. Bros in polos and hungry clubbers start the night with massive plates of Irish nachos before climbing the stairs to the hot and heavy dance floor, wrote one review. Meanwhile, the bars upstairs, outdoor patio was a tiki bar complete with kitschy totems. It was the spot to be on Sunday nights. By 1982, preppy partying in our nations capital was reaching a fever pitch, with limousines crawling down M Street and bars packed eight-deep as people queued up for drinks. Brett Kavanaughs infamous hand-scrawled calendar even detailed his goings-on during that crazy summer, when he was a year away from graduating from Georgetown Prep in nearby Bethesda. When he wasnt pounding keg beer on the Maryland shore, the future Supreme Court Justice could be found pounding [brew]skis at underage bars and house parties, according to his handwritten notations. On weekends, Georgetown is Washingtons front porch, wrote Leslie Berger in yet one more 1982 WaPo nightlife article. She noted that by now the 100-plus bars in the neighborhood were starting to rankle the older, upper-crust residents with to their boisterous partying. It wasnt all preppies, of course. There were family restaurants, jazz clubs, punk bars and average joe-type dives, many frequented by Marines from the nearby barracks. There were also the more restrained, upscale clubs like Pisces Club, Charlies Georgetown and F. Scotts for the preppies who had aged out of their old college favorites. In the early fall of 1983, J. Pauls opened to much fanfare, a two-level bar uniquely built for preppies. Modeled after turn-of-the-century Chicago taverns, it offered a 50-foot-long bar, gold-painted ceiling, solid oak floor and elevator doors repurposed from Manhattans Waldorf-Astoria. The spacious bar offered martinis and Sinatra music, while a preppy look acted as the cover charge. There are a few prerequisites [for entry], wrote WaPo. A rich tan (and were not talking about the Q.T. type); blond, dirty blond or light brown hair; a polo shirt with some sort of animal or mammal applique; a pair of madras pants or Bermuda shorts; and your name on the Britches mailing list for its new fall collection. But it was Clydes that the Official Preppy Handbook would list as their definitive prep bar for the DC area. An American Bar, according to its marquees subtitle, it opened in 1963 in a former motorcycle hangout as the first full-sized bar in the District since Prohibition. It offered an onyx bar top, hexagonal white tiles on the floor, checkered tablecloths, draught beer and burgers. In the early days, all gentlemen had to wear a coat and necktie. By 1980, WaPo was offering a laundry list of the clientele to expect there: Mt. Vernon College girls in Pappagallo shoes, McMullen blouses, Villager skirts and Liberty sweaters; Georgetown Foreign Service School types in some of the first Gucci shoes and Paul Stuart suits seen in Washington: tousled Irish Catholic kids in jeans and tweed sportcoats, whose great regret in life was not being old enough to have gotten drunk with Dylan Thomas at the White Horse in Greenwich Village. The scene was burning so bright, however, that it couldnt possibly last forever. In 1985, The Third Edition exterior acted as the stand-in for the titular St. Elmos Fire bar in the Joel Schumacher film about recent Georgetown graduates. The interior, meanwhile, was more inspired by another preppy haven popular with college kids, an underground spot called The Tombs. In its script, St. Elmos is described as a P.J. Clarke-like bar/restaurant, a reference to Manhattans iconic preppy paradise. Admittedly, the quiet Wendy Beamish (Mare Winningham) is the only real preppy in St. Elmos Fire (described as a sweet-faced, insecure preppy in the script) as Alec Newbury (Judd Nelson) has advanced into more of a mid-1980s yuppie with his slick hair and Gordon Gekko-esque contrast-collar dress shirts. That same year, WaPo was already pointing toward Georgetowns end days, and they werent even aware of the looming crack epidemic which would cripple the city and turn it into the nations murder capital. Nor the fact that an endorsement from then-Mayor Marion Berry would make September 30, 1986 the final day 18-year-olds could legally drink in Washington. By the 1990s, Georgetown had, like most of America, entered into a grunge period, with alternative music blasting out of the doors at rock clubs like Poseurs. The Georgetown bar culture was filled with much more than loafers, gingham, pleats and shoulder pads, wrote McGovern. By the 21st century, Georgetown bar culture was dying as students began going out in the Adams Morgan neighborhood instead. Georgetown was getting overrun by high-end national retailers, movie theater chains, luxury hotels and cupcake shops, though a few bars had managed to hang on into this century. [My friends] and I were pretty upset about it closing, noted one Georgetown junior in reference to Chadwicks, which shuttered before the new school year of 2014, by now famous for its cheap and unlimited champagne brunches, a preppy mecca until its final days. It was kind of like Tuscany in that everyone had to go there at least once. In 2014, The Third Edition became El Centro, an upscale Mexican restaurant. While Chinese Disco had long since moved locations to Prospect Street NW, even it would close in 2018. J. Pauls would close a few months after that, marking the end of an era, according to Eater. While Im sad to see eras end, Georgetown is due for another chapter, said Georgetown restaurant broker Bill Miller at the time. As for Richard Hamilton Herrud Houghton III, that original WaPo article is literally the only time his full formal name would ever be mentioned in the annals of American journalism. But he didnt fall off the face of the earth. He got a Bachelor of Science in Foreign Service at Georgetown and a law degree from Catholic University. By the aughts, now known simply as Richard H. Houghton III, he was serving as Acting Country Director of the International Republican Institute in Baghdad. According to Salon, the American diplomat now sported short trousers, a large tattoo and spoke Arabic he was anything but a preppy. Then again, no one in Georgetown is these days either. Honestly, I thought it was going to be very preppy [before I moved there] and I had my Lily Pulitzer skirts ready, but no one was really preppy any more, says McGovern, who started at the university in 2013. Georgetown is a multicultural and international hub now which I think is a positive thing. The post Revisiting the 1980s Heyday of Georgetowns Fabled Preppy Bars appeared first on InsideHook. 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. Don't subscribe to just-food? Click here for a trial 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. -- 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. -- 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. -- 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. -- 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." -- 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. -- 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. -- 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. -- 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. -- 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." -- 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. -- 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. -- 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. -- 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. -- 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. -- 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. -- 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. According to Nnamdi Obasi of the International Crisis Group, Rev. Zakariah Ido, 11 girls and five men were abducted from an Evangelical Church Winning All congregation in the village of Dankande in the Birnin Gwari local government area in the early hours of Sunday morning. He tweeted that sources claimed that as many as 20 gunmen were responsible for the attack. The Nigerian online newspaper TheCable reported that the gunmen also impacted a village in the Igabi local government area of Kaduna. "It was at about 12:30 midnight. We had combined choir practice in the church with other neighboring communities. We normally hold the combine choir practice from 9:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m," an unnamed witness told The Cable about the church attack in Dankande. The source explained that the armed men surrounded the church and began shooting. "Everybody was terrified but there was no how we could run because they had already surrounded the church," the witness explained. According to The Nation, among those abducted at the church are pastor Ido's daughter and the son of an Assemblies of God pastor. Pastor Nath Waziri, the district church council secretary, told The Nation that the gunmen asked everyone at the church to surrender their phones and demanded to know who the pastor was. A generation ago there were just a handful of "slots" to fill in local church ministry staffs. A senior pastor, worship pastor, youth pastor, and maybe a pastor of adult education completed a staff... "After threatening the choristers they became afraid and showed them the pastor home," Wazir was quoted as saying. "They took him away and his daughter with 15 others amongst which there is the son of the pastor of Assemblies of God Church." The Evangelical Church Winning All is one of the country's largest Christian denominations with over 6,000 congregations. While it hasn't been confirmed who is responsible for the attack and abduction, ThisDaynewspaper spoke with an eyewitness who claimed that 30 Fulani extremists armed with guns and machetes were responsible for the attack in the village of Guguwa-Kwate in Igabi local government area. "We are helpless because there is nothing we can do other than to report to the police when such incidents happened," the eyewitness said. "We have no arms and we cannot stand them, we are just at their mercy because they are well armed and they always come in large numbers." The witness detailed how his nephew was killed by the gunmen during an attack on a home. "They entered one house and were beating people," the source said. "They kidnapped one man and a woman in the house." The witness added that it was the fifth time that gunmen had invaded their community. "About two months ago, they abducted two people in the farm," the witness said. "The other person was killed even after we paid them ransom." Christian farming communities throughout the middle belt of Nigeria have faced increasing attacks at the hands of Fulani extremists over the last couple of years with thousands being killed and countless homes and churches being destroyed. In the last several months, the Kaduna state has been hit hard with Fulani violence. In March, the governor had to institute a dusk-to-dawn curfew. While farmer-herder conflicts in the Middle Belt are nothing new, Christians in Nigeria say that the Fulani attacks have escalated in brutality and taken on a religious element in recent years. "It is really simplifying catastrophic incidents in Nigeria by saying 'herder-farmer conflict' and that does not solve the problem," Stephen Enada, who co-founded the nongovernmental organization International Committee on Nigeria, told CP in March. "We need to face reality on the ground and call a spade a spade. In Southern Kaduna, a village is almost wiped out and over 200 people have been killed in the last week." Nigeria ranks as the 12th-worst nation in the world when it comes to Christian persecution, according to Open Doors USA's 2019 World Watch List. The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom has recommended that the State Department designate Nigeria a "country of particular concern" for religious freedom violations. Courtesy of The Christian Post This will be the longest, but hopefully last, lockdown thanks to a swift and effective vaccine roll-out with 70pc of all adults inoculated by the summer. That was the mantra of all 27 EU leaders as they joined via videolink yesterday evening for a special Covid-19 summit. The main focus of the talks was a plan to ramp up so-called genomic sequencing on new virus variants, which are now seen as the major threat. Taoiseach Micheal Martin supported calls to boost these genomic tests and hopes to see Irelands capability increased for this. Irelands January virus surge is of concern to Germany, Finland and other member states, due to a risk of further spread in the UK mutation of Covid-19. Strangely, given the timing, the prospect of a vaccine passport to restore air travel was also on the agenda. Before joining the discussions, German Chancellor Angela Merkel pointed to the threat of the new and more transmissible virus strains in Ireland, possibly via the UK, and also in Denmark and the Netherlands. Read More At this time of year, in many parts of Germany talk of masks would involve the fun of dressing up ahead of the Shrovetide Carnival traditionally held before of the penance of Lent. But this week the talk is actually about the German move to make dearer surgical-grade masks obligatory in shops, public transport, and other places. Germany has extended Covid restrictions in place since early November until mid-February at least. There is a very similar shutdown pattern in the vast bulk of other member states. And apart from a stock take of vaccine roll-out, there was a call last night for the toughest possible measures to curb current surges ahead of the vaccine ultimately overcoming Covid-19. Its interesting to note that Germanys current vaccination rate is around 1.6pc of the population, and quite comparable to current Irish levels, as 1.4 million Germans, out of a total of 83 million, have been vaccinated. There were plenty of calls by EU leaders for tighter restrictions up to and including internal and external border controls. Ms Merkel said every effort would be made to avoid border closures but that assumed people cooperated with the authorities. Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo told Belgian broadcaster RTBF his country was imposing a temporary travel ban for the mid-term school break next month. He urged other EU states to take similar measures, but insisted this did not mean EU border closures. Mr Martin said Ireland was supportive of all necessary curbs against the Covid-19 spread, but he insisted that supply chains must be kept open. Leaders were also asked to consider a proposal from Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis to issue vaccination certificates to ease travel, which is unsurprisingly strongly backed by other tourism destinations Portugal and Malta. But with doubts about whether the people vaccinated may still be contagious, and only a small fraction of the EU population already vaccinated, several member states, including Ireland, find this proposal a bit premature. Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. 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 American Chamber of Commerce Ireland said this week that the Inauguration of Joseph R. Biden as President of the United States marks a significant moment for the Irish-American relationship and for all those committed to deepening the ties between both countries. The American Chamber also congratulated Vice President Kamala Harris on her appointment as the first female Vice President of the United States. This comes after recent research carried out by AmCham shows that 56% of leaders of US multinationals said Ireland is a better place today for inward investment than 2015 and 94% said their corporate headquarters had a positive view for Ireland as a place for future investment. Speaking this week, American Chamber of Commerce Ireland CEO, Mark Redmond said, "President Bidens commitment and leadership over many years in the areas of inclusion, equality, multiculturalism, multilateralism, sustainability and his commitment to the transatlantic relationship will not only benefit Ireland but the wider global community and economy." He added, "The new administration has a very full agenda to contend with, as we make our way through the pandemic. However, despite the devastating effect of Covid-19 on the global economy and community, the trade and investment relationship between our countries has deepened in both directions with Ireland is now the ninth biggest investor in the US and employment by US companies in Ireland is at an all-time high." Source: www.businessworld.ie Today Partly cloudy skies this morning will become overcast during the afternoon. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 76F. Winds NW at 10 to 15 mph. Tonight Cloudy skies this evening will become partly cloudy after midnight. Low around 45F. WNW winds at 15 to 25 mph, decreasing to 5 to 10 mph. Tomorrow Sunshine and clouds mixed. High around 65F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. Another 17 people have died from Covid-19, taking the death toll to 425 since the pandemic struck. The Ministry of Health reported the deaths in its daily update yesterday evening. Home > 2021 > Letter to the Readers, Mainstream, Jan 23, 2021 Letter to the Readers of Mainstream - Jan 23, 2021 Joe Biden the 46th president of America took his oath of office at a solemn ceremony on the Capitol Hill the seat of Government in Washington D.C. on January 20, 2021. As is the custom, the ceremony was attended by elected officials from both major parties and by dignitaries, but the most notable absence was that former of President Donald Trump, who broke convention and chose not to be present at his successors inauguration. After four years of having had Donald Trump in power, most Americans had probably forgotten what it is to hear a sober and reasonable speech from their head of state. Joe Biden in his speech was able to put into words the reasons for the deep divisions in society and American "disunity", stressing the urgency of ending an "uncivil war". He recalled the value of truth in public discourse and the damage caused by the systematic recourse to lies. Politics doesnt need to be inflammatory, he said. We must reject the culture . . .in which facts themselves are manipulated and even manufactured. This lesson applies to many deeply divided societies from Brazil, to India, to Poland, Hungary and Turkey run by authoritarian leaders. The past four years also saw a surge in activity by white supremacists in the US, which Biden repeatedly stated was one of the reasons that made him enter the presidential contest. It is truly commendable that Joe Biden went on to choose Kamala Harris a woman of colour and of mix race parentage as his Vice Presidential choice, at a time when racism is alive and kicking in America. The Biden administration intends to get federal agencies to make rooting out systemic racism central to their work, to ensure that Americans of all backgrounds get equal access to government resources and services. This is a noble but tough goal to meet. We must also note that Democrats have chosen to give fair representation to people from all different ethnic groups and have included many people of South Asian origin, but have chosen keep distance from pro-BJP-RSS elements in the democratic party. Donald Trump may have lost power but we must remember some 75 million people voted for him. The forces of reaction are alive and strong in America as elsewhere. India is a fine example of how popular the far-right government of Narendra Modi remains after being in power for six years. Unlike the Biden administrations plank of promoting harmony and taking on racial injustice, the Modi government actively stood with the anti-migrant and pro-rich government of Donald Trump. The Modi government and the ruling BJP has a massive xenophobic and authoritarian support base that celebrates Godse the assassin of Mahatma Gandhi and derides progressive ideals of Jawaharlal Nehru and is systematically taking us on the route to a majoritarian democracy. As India heads to celebrating its 72nd Republic Day on January 26, 2021, its citizens must look at the social fractures and communal divisions that have grown in the past six years. The far-right vigilante groups of Hindutva have had a free run . And all manner of discriminatory laws have been introduced e.g. the Citizenship Amendment Act, recently new laws have been brought in by multiple BJP ruled State governments to prevent interfaith marriages a move which is unconstitutional and misogynistic. The most striking case is in the State of UP where the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Ordinance 2020 has been passed. The arbitrariness with which the Uttar Pradesh police have used this law has amplified fears of misuse of state machinery to terrorise the minorities. The Gujarat High Court has restrained the State government Gujarat from implementing the amended sections of the Gujarat Disturbed Areas Act, 2020 which Institutionalises Segregation on the Basis of Religion Freedom to love who we want, to eat what we want, to wear what we want, to express creatively is all under threat Freedom of expression has been shrinking. Every day you hear of a film, a web series, a play that comes under attack by the so-called keepers of faith. Extrajudicial forces of censorship, harassment and governmental overreach have endangered and shrunk the secular democratic space we have had. The opposition to the Government of the day in India is very weak both in the Parliament and outside but the recent ongoing street protest agitation of farmers is by the far the most important opposition social movement we have seen in a long time that is providing important space to raise public grievances. Tributes: Ustaad Ghulam Mustafa Khan, the renowned musician of Rampur Sahaswan Gharana away on January 17. Sunil Kumar, professor of history at Delhi University passed away on January 17. Burgula Narsing Rao, a participant in the Armed resistance of the peasantry in Telengana in the 1940s passed away on January 18. Dr V Shanta, well know oncologist who headed the Adyar Cancer Institute in Chennai, died early January 19, 2021. She was 93 Malathi De Alwis the well-known Sri Lankan Feminist Anthropologist passed away in Colombo on January 21, 2021. We pay our tributes to all the above people January 23, 2021 - The Editor Senior Republicans quietly lobbying for Trumps conviction in impeachment trial, reports say (Olivier Douliery-Pool/Getty Images)) Senior Republicans in Washington have been quietly lobbying GOP lawmakers to impeach and convict Donald Trump, a report says. The effort against the former president, which includes former top Trump administration officials, started in the wake of the 6 January attack on Congress, according to CNN. Mr Trump was impeached for an unprecedented second time by the House for inciting the deadly Capitol riot, and now Nancy Pelosi will transmit the articles to the Senate on Monday for a trial. The lobbying effort is reportedly concentrated on Senator Mitch McConnell, the Senate minority leader, who has privately signalled he may support convicting Mr Trump. Mr McConnells decision is likely to have significant influence over the caucus he has led for 14 years. Mitch said to me he wants Trump gone, one Republican member of Congress told CNN. It is in his political interests to have him gone. It is in the GOP interest to have him gone. The question is do we get there? In order to convict Mr Trump 17 Republicans in the Senate would have to join the 50 Democrats expected to vote against him. If convicted the Senate would then vote on whether to ban Mr Trump from holding office again. And some Republican insiders say that convicting Mr Trump is essential for the future of the GOP. "Trump created a cult of personality that is hard to dismantle. Conviction could do that, a former senior Republican official told the news network. A nine-point memo has reportedly been circulated among senior Republicans that says, it is difficult to find a more anti-conservative outburst by a US president than Donald Trump the last two months. It also states that Mr Trump encouraged the crowd at his 6 January Stop the Steal rally, which was widely understood to include people who were planning to fight physically, and who were prepared to die in response to his false claims of a stolen election. The memo also points out that Mr Trump was tweeting about his vice president, as the Secret Service was being forced to rush Mike Pence out of the Senate chamber and into a protective bunker. Story continues Senator Lindsey Graham told Fox News earlier this week that anyone wanting to dump Mr Trump from the Republican Party would get erased. "This idea of moving forward without Donald Trump in the Republican Party is a disaster for the Republican Party, said Mr Graham. Read More Trump impeachment article to be delivered to Senate on Monday Whats the point of Senate impeachment trial for Trump now? McConnell seeks to push Trump impeachment trial to February Butch Bowers named as Trump impeachment lawyer .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... Copyright 2021 Albuquerque Journal SANTA FE An Albuquerque man is facing federal charges for allegedly sending threatening emails to former U.S. Senate candidate Mark Ronchetti and his family. Stephen Yochim, 48, made his initial court appearance this week on charges of sending threatening interstate communications. ADVERTISEMENTSkip ................................................................ Ronchetti, who recently returned to work as a meteorologist for KRQE-TV after losing a November race against Democrat Ben Ray Lujan, said Thursday the messages crossed a line. My thought was, Ive got to protect my family, Ronchetti said in an interview, explaining his decision to refer the emails to law enforcement authorities. To say this is what politics is, I dont accept that. According to a criminal complaint filed in U.S. District Court, Yochim sent several emails this month to Ronchetti and his wife that threatened physical violence and included the use of ethnic slurs. When interviewed by investigators, Yochim said the messages were a harmless prank that went too far, according to the complaint. While the email messages in question were allegedly sent in Albuquerque, they passed through out-of-state servers before arriving in Ronchettis and his wifes work inbox folders. That gave federal investigators grounds to charge Yochim with sending threats via interstate commerce. Those who engage in online threats and harassment cross a line and they should know that they will be subject to prosecution, Fred Federici, acting U.S. Attorney for the District of New Mexico, said in a Thursday statement. While Ronchetti ran as a Republican in last years U.S. Senate race, New Mexico Democrats have also faced threats in recent months. A 33-year-old man who posted a series of threats on Gov. Michelle Lujan Grishams official Facebook page was sentenced in August to more than a year in federal prison after pleading guilty to one count of interstate transmission of threatening communication. Meanwhile, a top federal law enforcement official in Albuquerque said those who send malicious threats will be aggressively investigated. The type of behavior the defendant is accused of committing is unacceptable, said James Langenberg, the special agent in charge of the Albuquerque FBI Division. A preliminary hearing in the case against Yochim has been scheduled for Jan. 26, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office for New Mexico. remaining of Thank you for reading! This is your last free article before you will be asked to subscribe. Already have a paid subscription? Sign in WASHINGTON (AP) Capitol Police are investigating an incident in which a Republican lawmaker was blocked from entering the House chamber after setting off a metal detector while apparently carrying a concealed gun. Rep. Andy Harris, R-Md., set off the metal detector while trying to enter the chamber Thursday afternoon. The metal detectors were installed after the Jan. 6 insurrection at the Capitol, which left five people dead, including a Capitol police officer. The incident was witnessed by a reporter from the HuffPost website. After setting off the machine, Harris was asked to step aside for further screening. At that time, an officer discovered Harris was carrying a concealed gun on his side, according to the reporter. The officer sent Harris away, at which point Harris tried to get Rep. John Katko, R-N.Y., to take the gun from him. Katko refused, telling Harris he didnt have a license to carry a gun. Harris eventually left and returned less than 10 minutes later. He once again went through security and did not set off the magnetometer. He was then allowed to enter the House floor. Harris, in his sixth term representing Maryland's Eastern Shore, issued a statement through his chief of staff, Bryan Shuy. Because his and his familys lives have been threatened by someone who has been released awaiting trial, for security reasons, the congressman never confirms whether he nor anyone else hes with are carrying a firearm for self-defense,'' the statement said. "As a matter of public record, he has a Maryland Handgun Permit. And the congressman always complies with the House metal detectors and wanding. The Congressman has never carried a firearm on the House floor.'' Eva Malecki, a spokeswoman for Capitol Police, said the incident is being investigated. The public is not allowed to carry guns on Capitol grounds, but members of Congress may keep firearms in their offices or transport them on the Capitol grounds if they are unloaded and securely wrapped. Lawmakers are not allowed to bring guns into either the House or Senate chambers. Freshman Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., has said shell carry a gun in Washington, D.C., which does not allow the open carrying of a firearm. Fellow freshman Rep. Madison Cawthorn, R-N.C., told a North Carolina newspaper that he was armed when a mob that supports former President Donald Trump stormed the Capitol. Since the metal detectors were installed last week, most House members have followed police orders and gone through the devices to enter the House chamber, but some Republicans including Boebert and Harris initially sidestepped the machines or refused to be checked with wands after they set it off. Capitol Police have now placed desks and velvet ropes near the metal detectors to block anyone from walking around the machines. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., has proposed a rule that would fine members who bypass the metal detector $5,000 for their first offense and $10,000 for their second. The fines are not yet in effect, because the House has not adopted the rule. A spokesman for Cawthorn declined Friday to say where, exactly, the congressman was while armed on Jan. 6. Cawthorn "practices his 2nd Amendment rights, as well as privileges accorded to him as a member of Congress. Rep. Cawthorn also respects and adheres to instructions from the Capitol Police,'' said spokesman Micah Bock. There is an intense effort in the Democratic Party-aligned media to present the inauguration of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris as a fundamental turning point in American politics. No doubt there is immense relief among millions in the US and around the world to see the fascist Trump leave Washington, two weeks after he spurred on an insurrection aimed at stopping the congressional certification of Bidens victory. But with the transfer of the White House from the Republicans to the Democrats, it is necessary to counter illusions about what this government will or even can do. Its actions will be determined by the interests of the ruling class under conditions of an unprecedented social, economic and global crisis. However, efforts are underway to chloroform the public about the realities of the procapitalist, imperialist politics of the Biden administration and the catastrophic economic and social conditions under which it begins. New York Times editorial board member Jesse Wegman declared that Biden Can Heal What Trump Broke in an op-ed Wednesday. America is now being led by a decent, experienced public servant who cares about improving his constituents lives, Wegman proclaimed. Writing in the Guardian, Senator Bernie Sanders declared that an opportunity has now opened up for Biden and the Democrats to put an end to business as usual and address the array of problems confronting the country, from the Trump administrations disastrous response to the pandemic to wealth inequality. With control of the White House and both the Senate and the House, Sanders said, Democrats must summon the courage to demonstrate to the American people that government can effectively and rapidly respond to their pain and anxiety. Sanders vowed that he would set a positive example for Biden and his congressional colleagues to follow as the incoming chairman of the Senate Budget Committee. The United States has been here many times before. In 1993, when the man from Hope, Bill Clinton, came into office, it was proclaimed to be the end to the right-wing Reagan/Bush era. At home, Clinton brought an end to welfare as we know it, while abroad he waged war in the Balkans and dropped bombs on Iraq. Obama, the candidate of hope and change, expanded on the wars begun by George W. Bush, while funneling trillions of dollars to Wall Street, overseeing what was at the time the greatest transfer of wealth from the bottom to the top of society. This is, of course, not a purely American phenomenon. One only has to look to the recent experiences of Syriza in Greece, Podemos in Spain and Jeremy Corbyn and the Labour Party in the UK, where promises of radical change beyond anything promised by Biden were quickly dispensed with once coming to power or, in the case of Corbyn, leadership. Much has been made of the flurry of executive orders signed by Biden in his first days in officeincluding orders halting construction of Trumps border wall, reversing the anti-Muslim travel ban and rejoining the Paris climate agreementas representing far-reaching and transformational policy changes. If one looks, however, they consist of bits and pieces that do nothing to fundamentally alter the conditions of broad masses of the population. An extension of the national moratorium on evictions does not apply to most loans or relieve unpaid rent, just as the extension of the pause on student loan interest payments does nothing to ease the burden of $1.7 trillion in debt still owed by tens of millions. Bidens pandemic plan consists of a limited mask mandate and promises of more rapid vaccine distribution to administer 100 million doses in the first 100 days. Bidens advisors have already acknowledged that it will still be months before most people can get a shot, even if they meet their goals. Biden has ruled out shutting down nonessential production to get the spread of the virus under control and has declared that all K-8 schools will be reopened within three months. This under conditions in which more than 3,000 people are dying every day, and hospitals are overflowing with COVID-19 patients. The Biden administration is already slow-walking its meagre promises for $1.9 trillion in pandemic relief. Despite Democratic control over Congress, Biden has insisted that the bill have Republican support, meaning it will be further whittled down in negotiations. With another 900,000 Americans filing for unemployment last week, CBS News reported that it could take months for the $1,400 stimulus checkswhich Biden and the Democrats campaigned on in the Georgia Senate races as an immediate $2,000 paymentto be passed and sent out to Americans. Everything the administration does will be within the framework of 1) what is acceptable to the financial oligarchy and Wall Street, and 2) the requirements of the global geostrategic interests of American imperialism. The Democrats are making clear that when it comes to the pandemic, they will continue to pursue the murderous herd immunity policy followed by Trump, which has pleased the markets. As far as foreign policy, the Senate confirmation hearings for Bidens cabinet nominees have made clear that his policies around the world will be a continuation of Trumps in many respects, along with a further ratcheting up of tensions with Russia. The central issue upon which the Democrats waged their opposition to Trump was over US relations with Russia. The Biden administration is being stacked with alums of the Obama administration who pushed for war on Libya, stoked the civil war in Syria and broadly expanded American drone war operations. Under questioning from South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham, secretary of state nominee Anthony Blinken declared Iran a state sponsor of terrorism, rejected the claim that Israel is a racist nation, opposed the immediate withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan and told Central Americans fleeing poverty and violence not to come to the United States. Avril Haines, who was quickly confirmed as director of national intelligence on Wednesday, said she supported the aggressive stance towards China that was pursued by Trump. The orientation of the Biden administration is for unity, that is, unity with the Republican Party on the basis of a right-wing, pro-imperialist policy. Biden is a creature of the state, having worked in national politics for nearly half a century. As we have noted, he lives in that universe. His central concern is to refurbish the state apparatus and collaborate with the Republican Party, to establish what is in effect a government of national unity directed against the working class. The framework of official politics is moving not to the left, but to the right, with the fascistic forces cultivated by Trump further integrated into the structure of the state itself. A year after the first case was confirmed in the country, American society has been devastated by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has triggered a sharp rise in unemployment, hunger and homelessness. More than 418,000 have died, and 25 million have been infected. Tens of thousands of small businesses have permanently closed, while the rich have seen their wealth rise through the stratosphere along with the stock market. The conditions are ripe for a massive eruption of class conflict. The strike of more than 1,400 workers at Hunts Point Produce Market this week in the Bronx is just an initial indication of much broader social anger. This must be developed in opposition to capitalism. None of the problems confronting the working class, from the disastrous pandemic response to growing levels of economic and social inequality, can be addressed without breaking the grip of the financial oligarchy over every aspect of society. Workers must draw the lessons of their experiences with the Democratic Party: an independent, revolutionary socialist path must be forged to save lives and put an end to inequality and war. All those who seek to reorganize society to meet human need and not the demands of Wall Street should make the decision to join the Socialist Equality Party today. An analysis of letters from British correspondents to Alfred Kinsey, pioneering sexologist of the 1940s and 50s, reveal that they had a 'very idiosyncratic' way of addressing the subject of sex. Among the topics these 'armchair sexologists' were eager to discuss were penis circumference, homosexuality in the Boy Scouts, the religious implications of conserving bodily fluids and the relationship between stuttering and repression. One letter typical of the correspondence Kinsey received was from a Bournemouth resident who wrote, 'I am an amateur Sexologist.' And in 1951, a man claiming to be a police officer from Shepherd's Bush, west London, proclaimed that all Boy Scouts were 'homo-sexual' - and that the letter writer had 'never made the mistake of not recognising a H.S. at being first introduced'. The letters show post-war Britons were also fascinated by star signs, sexual jealousy and the incidence of married virgins, according to a study of the correspondence by historian Ruby Ray Daily, of Northwestern University, Illinois. One letter writer, from the West Midlands, told Kinsey in 1953 that sexuality was determined by astrological signs. An analysis of letters from British correspondents to Alfred Kinsey (above), pioneering sexologist of the 1940s and 50s, reveal that they had a 'very idiosyncratic' way of addressing the subject of sex In the post-war era, British 'armchair sexologists' were eager to discuss penis circumference, homosexuality in the Boy Scouts, the religious implications of conserving bodily fluids and the relationship between stuttering and repression. (Above centre, Lt General Baden-Powell, founder of the Boy Scout movement walks among his young troops) 'You will now understand', he wrote, 'why I am so tremendously interested in your unique collection of data there are astrological configurations which correspond to frigidity and promiscuity, but the verification of such tendencies are (as you will surely appreciate) almost impossible to obtain'. Ms Daily said that compared with Americans and continental Europeans, British correspondents to Kinsey 'might seem to suggest the long-standing cliche of Britain as a particularly sexually repressed nations is, in fact, accurate'. In the journal Twentieth Century British History, she wrote: 'The diversity of topics upon which British correspondents single-mindedly dwelled included the menstrual cycle, homosexuality in the boy scouts, the incidence of married virgins, the relationship between stuttering and repression, penis circumference, sexual jealousy, and the religious implications of conserving bodily fluids. 'With this context, even the most eccentric and monomaniac of letters are revealed to be typical in form if not in content.' By way of example, Ms Daily also highlights a letter written by an academic at Trinity College, Cambridge - who put a series of questions to Kinsey in 1950 regarding whether 'the educated Englishman' 'segregated' at all-male universities and public schools was more likely than American men to be 'initiated by older and more experience females'. Circumcision was a very popular topic among the British letter-writers, said Ms Daily. Kinsey's fascination with human sex life would lead to the publication of two books - Sexual Behaviour in the Human Male (1948) and Sexual Behaviour in the Human Female (1953). Known as the 'Kinsey Reports', they drew on 18,500 personal interviews. Although his analysis was carefully conducted, the studies were heavily criticised due to irregularities in the sampling and the unreliability of personal communication In February 1954, a man from Cardiff penned a missive in which he complained about the lack of information about circumcision in Kinsey's book Sexual Behaviour in the Human Male. The Welshman blamed his own intact foreskin for the brief nature of his sexual encounters, 'brief not only from my own point of view but from the point of view of satisfying my partners'. He also asked Kinsey to send him information about the rate of premature ejaculation in uncircumcised versus circumcised men. Inquiries such as these from the Britons were in stark contrast to the American perspective on sex. Ms Daily continued: 'Whether they responded to Kinsey's work with hostility, scepticism, or confusion, the Kinsey correspondence indicates most Americans were surprisingly comfortable with a functional understanding of sex as a spectrum of biology or catalogue of behaviours.' Dong Tao chicken, which is an expensive delicacy in Vietnam, is often sold at very high prices on the Lunar New Year or Tet Holiday. Dong Tao chicken, often known as dragon chicken, is a native of the northern province of Hung Yens Dong Tao Village. A Dong Tao chicken farm in Hung Yen Province The chicken which has extremely thick legs with reddish scales were historically offered as a tribute to kings because their meat is delicious. To have good quality, Dong Tao chicken must be carefully taken care of. Le Quang Thang, director of Dong Tao Chicken Co-operative, said that this kind of chicken doesn't like the cold weather. When the temperature is below 15 degrees centigrade, lights must be used to keep them warm. Thang and his chicken Each Dong Tao chicken is priced at VND1.5-3 million (USD65.21-130.43). Thang has 20-year experience in Dong Tao chicken breeding. He was voted as one of 20 best farmers in 2017. Many Dong Tao chickens weigh more than six kilos. This year, Thangs family sold two special Dong Tao chickens. One was sold for VND15 million (USD652.17) and the other had the price of VND7 million. To date, more than 200 purebred Dong Tao chickens from his family have been sold. Offering Dong Tao chicken as a Tet gift has become a trend over the past 10 years as people's living conditions have improved. A two-year-old Dong Tao chicken Up to 90% of chicken breeding households in Dong Tao Commune only raised the chicken for meat. In 2016, Thang and 16 households in the locality jointly set up Dong Tao Chicken Co-operative. It takes the normal Dong Tao chicken just eight months to be bred for sale. The prices for one kilo of the normal Dong Tao range from VND250-300,000. However, the time to raise high-quality Dong Tao chicken is much longer. The living environment of Dong Tao chicken must be very hygienic. The cost of Dong Tao chicken this year is equal to last year, Thang noted. Dtinews Flower villages still waiting for Tet buyers Farmers in flower villages in HCM City are worried as merchants have not contacted them yet for Tet sale season. Has the U.S. passed the peak? After months of soaring case numbers, the U.S. is beginning to show some signs that the latest surge is slowing. New cases have dropped significantly in the last week, falling to a seven-day average of about 194,000 on Wednesday from about 246,000 a week earlier a roughly 20 percent dip. Across the country, 30 states are reporting sustained declines in cases, and no states with low case counts are reporting rises. Its a striking difference from mid-December, when nearly every state was seeing record numbers of new infections. Even hospitalizations are starting to decline. While these indicators are positive, its still too early to know if the U.S. has definitively turned a corner, or if its simply plateauing before another spike. The biggest wild cards are the new, faster-spreading variants, which are finding footholds across the country, even as the vaccination campaign is moving more slowly than anticipated. Britain offers a sobering lesson. The country was among the first to begin inoculating its population, but a new, more contagious variant was already rapidly spreading, and hospitals have been pushed to their limits. Hundreds of soldiers have been dispatched to aid medical centers, and organ transplant centers have stopped performing urgent operations. Over the last week, the country has suffered more deaths per capita than any other country. The U.S. is seeing encouraging signs, but health officials stress that the pandemic is not even close to over and Americans cannot let down their guard. Infection rates, while falling, are still incredibly high, and more than 4,300 people in the U.S. died from the virus yesterday, the second highest daily total of the pandemic. Resurgences Three locally transmitted coronavirus cases were confirmed in Shanghai, China s largest city, as fears rose over another large-scale outbreak in the country where the virus was first detected. Sri Lanka reopened its airports to foreign arrivals for the first time in 10 months despite 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. In the U.S., thousands of people across the country had their vaccination appointments abruptly canceled in the last few days, after vaccine shipments to local health departments fell short of what was expected. Heres a roundup of restrictions in all 50 states. The Senate will convene Friday morning to confirm Lloyd J. Austin, a retired Army general and former top commander of American forces in the Middle East, as President Joe Bidens secretary of defense. Both houses of Congress moved quickly approve a waiver for Austin on Thursday afternoon, clearing his path to become the nations first Black defense secretary and the second recently retired military commander in four years to fill that role, which is traditionally reserved for civilians. People who have retired from the military within the previous seven years cannot be confirmed for the post unless they receive a waiver; Austin retired in 2016. His approval to lead the Pentagon follows that of former Marine Corps Gen. James Mattis, who also was a CENTCOM commander, during the Trump administration in 2017, setting a potential precedent that has drawn objection from some lawmakers on Capitol Hill. Twenty-seven senators, 13 of them Republican, voted against the waiver for Austin. Among the 14 Democratic senators opposing the exemption were Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey of Massachusetts, Cory Booker of New Jersey, Jacky Rosen of Nevada, Tammy Duckworth of Illinois, and Chris Van Hollen of Maryland. Speaking to the Senate during his confirmation hearing earlier this week, the former CENTCOM chief offered reassurances of his own commitment to civilian oversight and vowed to take a stand against right-wing extremism in the military an issue drawing renewed scrutiny after a right-wing mob, including a number of veterans, ransacked the Capitol in support of outgoing President Donald Trump. In response to questions about his qualifications to lead the Pentagon as the United States shifts its strategic focus toward competition with China, Austin pointed to his time at CENTCOM, the militarys largest combatant command. The reason I was focused on the Middle East for quite some time is because that was the most important thing for our country, Austin said, also noting that he would support an update to the 2018 National Defense Strategy. We need resources to match strategy, and strategy to match policy, he told lawmakers Tuesday. Globally I understand that Asia must be the focus of our effort, and I see China in particular as a pacing challenge for the department. Austin also suggested he supports Bidens proposal of a reduced military presence in Afghanistan focused on counterterrorism while ending US involvement in the wider conflict with the Taliban via a negotiated solution. The former general will take the helm at a Pentagon quickly filling up with former Obama-era officials in roles long left vacant or in some cases, handed to lightly experienced political loyalists by the Trump White House. Austins selection by Biden was a surprise to many in Washington, who expected Michele Flournoy, who served as the Pentagons top policy official under President Barack Obama, to be chosen for the role. In an article in the Atlantic in December in which Biden named Austin as his selection for the post, Biden highlighted Austin's role in executing Obama's order to withdraw US forces from Iraq from 2011. "General Austin got the job done," Biden wrote. Bangkok now has a Bvlgari flagship store with a facade designed by MVRDV. Located in the IconSiam department store one of the largest malls in Asia the project is the second in a series of facades designed by MVRDV for the luxury brand, following a store in Kuala Lumpur that opened in 2018. The Bangkok store opened last year with a spectacular party and, now that corona measures in Thailand have been relaxed, visitors can shop again to their heart's content. From the architects: MVRDV was tasked with rethinking the facade designs for new Bvlgari stores, adding a contemporary touch to their classic image. The Italian brand has stood for glamour and creativity for more than a century, inspired by the timeless beauty of Roman art. Taking this heritage as a starting point, MVRDVs designs took inspiration from the portals and distinctive cornices on Bvlgaris very first store in Rome, located on Via dei Condotti since 1905. The form of this cornice became the motif that MVRDV developed as a common thread across the Bvlgari facades, deployed in a variety of combinations that allowed MVRDV to experiment with asymmetric patterns and innovative materials. In the IconSiam store, elegance is the defining feature, standing out even among the other luxury brands in a high-end area of the mall. The cornice pattern facade is completed in brass combined with different types of glass, giving a golden effect and creating a striking impression for visitors ascending the malls escalators, which end directly in front of the Bvlgari store. The windows have varying colours and degrees of transparency, tailored to the functions behind them: at the ground floor, transparent glass creates shop windows, while on the two levels above opaque windows are strategically placed to allow visitors to the top-floor VIP lounge their privacy. Surrounding each window, subtle lighting highlights the stores products and the backgrounds in Bvlgaris signature saffron colour. With this design, we bring a Roman zest for life to Bangkok, says MVRDV founding partner Jacob van Rijs. We are working on several Bvlgari stores simultaneously, always making sure that we use high-quality materials such as natural stone, tinted glass, copper, and gold as a basis. Though all the designs will be unique to their location, each will have a distinct Bvlgari signature. The first Bvlgari flagship store with an MVRDV-designed facade opened in Kuala Lumpur in 2018. This design used a unique material: concrete crossed by gold-coloured transparent resin veins. This material gives the appearance of marble, with the veins lighting up at night to provide a radically different look. Earlier in the same year, during the Salone del Mobile, MVRDV presented an installation for Bvlgari which translated the well-known Serpenti scale motif into a vaulted mirrored room. Architect : MVRDV Client : Bvlgari Location : Bangkok, Thailand Year : 2020 Size and Programme : 234m2 Facade Founding Partner in charge : Jacob van Rijs Partner : Fokke Moerel Design and Material Development Team : Aser Gimenez Ortega, Simone Costa Construction Phase Team : Aser Gimenez Ortega, Simone Costa Concept Design Team : Aser Gimenez Ortega, Elien Deceuninck, Rico van de Gevel, Junxiang Zhang Contractor : Redwood Interior PTE LTD Structural research : ABT bv - E.H.J. ten Brincke Images : Ketsiree Wongwan YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: MVRDV complete Bulgari's Flagship Store in Kuala Lumpur A photo taken in December of 2019 of then-candidate Lauren Boebert at an anti-red flag law rally, in which four people appear to flash a hand signal representing the Three Percenters extremist militia group. The photograph has recently been making its rounds on social media under the false narrative that it was taken on Jan. 6 at the U.S. Capitol. remaining of Thank you for reading! This is your last free article before you will be asked to subscribe. Already have a paid subscription? Sign in Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 Sorry! This content is not available in your region Vermont Senator and coulda-woulda-president Bernie Sanders had a big moment at this week's inaugurationit just didn't go quite how he imagined. He came prepared for the snowy day in cozy woolen mittensand the rest is internet history. Bay Areans couldn't resist getting in on the meme, parking Sanders in his folding chair everywhere from San Francisco's Pinhole Coffee to beloved Oakland dive bar Heart & Dagger to MUNI to Yosemite's El Capitan. Take a look at some of our favorites below. The World Health Organization said on Friday it had reached an agreement with Pfizer for 40 million doses of its vaccine against COVID-19, allowing it to begin vaccinating people in poor and lower-middle income countries under its COVAX programme next month. The COVAX programme has signed deals for hundreds of millions of doses to vaccinate people in poor and lower-middle income countries, but has yet to begin vaccinations. Pfizers vaccine is so far the only one that has WHO emergency approval. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told a briefing that the new agreement with Pfizer should allow vaccinations to begin in February for health workers. Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla said the 40 million doses announced on Friday would be sold on a non-profit basis. He described it as an initial agreement, and said more doses could be sold through the COVAX programme in future. These phases have been segregated to conduct the exams in different regions of the state, with phase 1 covering western and central UP divisions, while phase 2 covering the eastern belt The Uttar Pradesh Madhyamik Shiksha Parishad (UPMSP) has announced the dates for the UP Board intermediate practical exams 2021. The practical exams are going to begin on 3 February, 2021. According to a report by Hindustan Times, the practical tests for intermediate students will be conducted in two phases. While the first phase will be starting from 3 February and continuing till 12 February, the next phase is scheduled to take place from 13 to 22 February. These phases have been segregated to conduct the exams in different regions of the state. As per the report, practical exams will be held in Agra, Saharanpur, Chitrakoot, Bareilly, Jhansi, Faizabad, Lucknow, Azamgarh, Basti, and Devipatan divisions in the first phase. Hindustan Times quoted UP board secretary Divya Kant Shukla to state that the second phase will see the practicals being conducted in Gorakhpur, Aligarh, Moradabad, Kanpur, Meerut, Prayagraj, Varanasi and Mirzapur divisions. This year, as many as 5.6 million students are going to appear in the UP Board exams. The Parishad is likely to publish the exam schedule on its official website soon. As per a NDTV report, the Uttar Pradesh education board has directed all respective school principals to see that proper CCTVs are installed in the premises and record the entire procedure of the practical exams. The board has also instructed the school heads to preserve the recordings which can be asked to be produced during evaluation. The portal further advised students set to appear in the intermediate board exams to visit their respective regional centres for information related to the practical exams. As per the rules of weightage, 50 percent of the marks in practicals of the candidates will be calculated from their internal assessments or projects that have been carried out and submitted to the school throughout the academic session. An alleged international crime syndicate has been busted operating in Victoria after 81kg of meth was found hidden inside meat smokers being imported into Australia. The drugs, worth $60million, were discovered after Border Force officers detected trace amounts of meth in the shipment of cooking equipment on January 4. The discovery of the 81 packages of meth, each weighing 1kg, sparked Operation Jumbuck to investigate who was behind the shipment, which originated in Cape Town, South Africa and was sent to Melbourne. Police found $60million worth of meth (pictured) inside a shipment of meat smokers sent from Cape Town to South Africa Border Force detected trace amounts of meth in the shipment (pictured) in on January 4 On January 15 officers from the joint operation between Victoria Police, federal police, the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission and the Department of Home Affairs raided properties in St Albans and Sunshine North. Two men, aged 50 and 59, were arrested and refused bail on January 16. The 59-year-old was charged with importation of a commercial quantity of a border controlled drug. The 50-year-old was charged with attempted possession of a commercial quantity of a border controlled drug. More raids were conducted this week in Maribyrnong and Maidstone, where another two men, aged 28 and 57, and a woman, 48, were arrested. Amphetamines, heroin, smuggled cigarettes, and more than $600,000 in cash and jewellery was also found. The 28-year-old was charged with trafficking a commercial quantity of a drug of dependence. The 24-year-old woman was charged with dealing with the proceeds of crime in excess of $10,000, while the man 57-year-old man was slapped with the same charge for an amount more than $100,000. The older pair were bailed while the younger man was remanded in custody. Officers (pictured) arrest one the men in the alleged criminal syndicate operating in Melbourne ABF Port Operations South Acting Commander Ranj Maharaj, said ABF officers are constantly on alert for illicit drugs crossing the border no matter how they are concealed. 'Our officers use sophisticated targeting methodologies, including using x-ray and detection technology to help identify illicit drugs and other prohibited items crossing the border,' Acting Commander Maharaj said. 'Every day our officers go to work determined to protect the Australian community from these harmful drugs, and detections such as this one demonstrates the contribution they are making.' Investigations are continuing. A Republican-led group that actively campaigned against President Donald Trump in the 2020 election is now targeting Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-Schuylerville. The Lincoln Project has released several ads criticizing the Congresswoman from Upstate New York, including a new one Friday that asks: What happened, Elise? The super PAC describes her as a compassionate conservative who was the youngest woman elected to Congress and had such a bright future. Now shes just another sad Trump apologist, the video says. When Trump demeans and attacks women, she goes along smiling. When Trump encourages racists, she is silent. What happened? The ad also compares Stefanik, who represents New Yorks 21st District in the North Country, to two new members of Congress whove faced criticism for supporting QAnon conspiracy theories: If Marjorie Taylor Greene and Lauren Boebert went to Harvard... theyd be Elise Stefanik. The Lincoln Project is a political action committee formed in 2019 by a group of Republicans and former Republicans, largely focused on defeating Trump in his re-election bid. Trump lost by more than 7 million votes and President Joe Biden won the Electoral College, 306 to 232. Co-founder Reed Galen told WWNY-TV that the Lincoln Project is next aiming to defeat Stefanik when her House seat is up for grabs in the 2022 midterms. If theres been anybody whos been a bigger disappointment to so many people who call themselves moderate, establishment, normal Republicans, former Republicans, in the United States congress today, I would have to say that its Congresswoman Stefanik, Galen said. We should understand that it was never about conviction. It was always about ambition. In another video released earlier this week, The Lincoln Project accused Stefanik of condoning and supporting the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol that led to five deaths and more than 50 police officers injured. Stefanik condemned the violence, but still objected to the Electoral College results when Congress resumed certifying the vote after the insurrection. Hey, @EliseStefanik: This is your Coup. This is your Siege. This is your Insurrection. And you will be held accountable.#DefundTheGOP pic.twitter.com/AHhHd0QTFB The Lincoln Project (@ProjectLincoln) January 15, 2021 Stefaniks senior advisor Alex DeGrasse accused the Lincoln Project of being FAKE Republicans who have gone off the rails due to their Trump Derangement Syndrome in a fundraising email to her supporters. Their attack ad is FALSE and SHAMEFUL, DeGrasse wrote Tuesday. We must fight back against these liberals masquerading as disaffected conservatives. In a statement to syracuse.com, DeGrasse also criticized The Lincoln Project: The Lincoln Project is currently implicated in a massive sexual abuse and harassment scandal. One co-founder is a serial sexual abuser and a paid Russian agent, and the other co-founder is a known Confederate sympathizer. Democrats, Never Trumpers, and scam PAC organizations like The Lincoln Project spent nearly $7 million trying to beat Congresswoman Stefanik. And North Country voters stunningly rebuked these desperate Never Trump organizations by re-electing Elise with the highest number of votes of any Congressional candidate in the history of the North Country. According to WWNY, DeGrasses comments on sexual harassment and Russia apparently refer to co-founder John Weaver, who left the Lincoln Project last summer. The reference to the confederacy is based on a beverage cooler that allegedly belonged to another of the groups co-founders, and featured the Confederate flag and the phrase The south will rise again. Stefanik, 36, was elected to Congress for a fourth term in November after beating Democratic challenger Tedra Cobb. She previously gained national attention as an ally for Trump, defending him during the impeachment hearings and landing a speaking spot at the Republican National Convention. The Hill reports The Lincoln Project is also focusing its efforts against Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, who led the GOP effort to object to the Electoral College results and a possible contender for the Republican nomination in the 2024 presidential election. There are also rumors Trump could lead a new political party, The Patriot Party, in an attempt to return to the White House himself. Note: This story has been updated with a statement from Stefaniks senior advisor, Alex DeGrasse. Shame on Stefanik for keeping Trumps lie alive (Editorial) Harvard cuts ties with Rep. Elise Stefanik, who blames woke Left Rep. Elise Stefanik, 5 other NY House members vote against 2nd Trump impeachment Sydney/New Delhi, Jan 22 : The News Media Bargaining Code has started a bitter war between Google/Facebook and the Australian government, with Google threatening to pull its Search engine from the country. Rod Sims, chair of the watchdog Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), said on Friday that Google and Facebook just don't want the code to be implemented. "Google and Facebook like to do things on their terms. I think the code does what it's intended to do. It is workable. It allows for a process of negotiation we've seen these sorts of things work in the past where you've got negotiate-arbitrate regimes, so I think this is just something Google and Facebook don't want," he was quoted as saying in media reports. Sims has said the majority of issues Facebook and Google have raised with the News Media Bargaining Code had been addressed in the legislation that passed the lower house in December, reports ZDNet. "They don't like the idea of arbitration, they talk of commercial deals, where they're in full control of the deal. In my view, that's not a commercial deal," Sims emphasised. Facebook and Google have been engaged in a battle with the ACCC since August last year over the new media code. Google on Friday threatened to pull its Search engine from Australia if a proposed media bargaining law, that directs Google to pay news publishers, goes into effect. Mel Silva, Managing Director of Google Australia and New Zealand, appeared before a public hearing of the Senate Economics Legislation Committee that is reviewing the proposed new law. She said that in its current form, the Code remains unworkable and if it became law would hurt not just Google, but small publishers, small businesses, and the millions of Australians that use our services every day. "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," Silva told the panel. Australia's Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), which drafted the law, suggested last year that this shouldn't affect Google's search business. "Google will not be required to charge Australians for the use of its free services such as Google Search and YouTube, unless it chooses to do so," the ACCC had said. The proposed News Media Bargaining Code law is currently in draft and targets Facebook and Google. Facebook has also threatened to block its news from being shared in Australia if the new media code is implemented. Just days after Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton pledged to fight against the many unconstitutional and illegal actions that the new administration will take, he announced Friday he had filed a suit challenging President Joe Bidens temporary pause on deportations for certain noncitizens. The Department of Homeland Security announced the 100-day moratorium on Wednesday and it took effect Friday. It came after Biden revoked one of Trumps earliest executive orders making anyone in the country illegally a priority for deportations. Paxton alleges in the suit, filed in federal district court in Victoria, that Bidens move violates the U.S. Constitution, federal immigration and administrative law and a contractual agreement between Texas and the federal government. The case is before U.S. District Judge Drew Tipton, a Trump appointee who took the bench in Corpus Christi last June and previously practiced law in Houston. In a hearing held via Zoom on Friday, Tipton did not immediately rule on Texas request for a temporary restraining order. Instead, he said he would take the matter under advisement and vowed to make a decision quickly. Administration officials did not respond to a request for comment, and a DHS spokesperson declined to comment on pending litigation. But in a memo issued Wednesday, DHS Acting Secretary David Pekoske said the moratorium was implemented as the agency shifts staff and resources at the southwest border, and to protect the health and safety of DHS personnel amid the pandemic. We must ensure that our removal resources are directed to the departments highest enforcement priorities, Pekoske added. The order does not apply to noncitizens who: have engaged in or are suspected of terrorism or espionage or who otherwise pose a national security risk; were not in the U.S. before Nov. 1; or voluntarily signed a waiver to rights to remain in the U.S. as long as theyd been given a meaningful opportunity to access counsel beforehand. It also gives the acting director the discretion to allow deportations on a case-by-case basis. The agreement Paxton refers to is one that the department, while still controlled by the Trump administration, signed preemptively with multiple jurisdictions, including the state of Arizona, that required the agency to give them six months to review and submit comments before moving forward on any changes to immigration policy, as Buzzfeed News first reported. The legal enforceability of those documents, however, has yet to be seen. TEXAS TAKE: Get political headlines from across the state sent directly to your inbox Paxton had warned a suit was on the way Thursday night when he sent a letter to Pekoske saying the departments actions marked a complete abdication of its duty to enforce federal immigration law, which he claimed would harm Texas and its citizens. Our state defends the largest section of the southern border in the nation. Failure to properly enforce the law will directly and immediately endanger our citizens and law enforcement personnel, Paxton said in a statement. DHS itself has previously acknowledged that such a freeze on deportations will cause concrete injuries to Texas. I am confident that these unlawful and perilous actions cannot stand. The rule of law and security of our citizens must prevail. Texas Democrats were quick to criticize Paxton for using taxpayer dollars for what they see as political causes. Its Ken Paxton being Ken Paxton and wasting our taxpayer dollars, Houston Democrat and U.S. Rep. Sylvia Garcia said on a call with reporters Friday, adding that its important to note that of Paxtons numerous lawsuits against the federal government, very, very few were upheld by the courts. The states Democratic Party Chair Gilberto Hinojosa said in a statement that the move seemed prompted by hatred towards migrant families by Republican leadership. Ken Paxton seems to have no problem with grossly wasting taxpayer money to score political points, Hinojosa said. This is nothing but a sad attempt to keep Trumpism alive when we have a new leader in the White House and, at last, new hope for millions of Texans who had their rights violated for four years. Paxton is an embarrassment to the office of the state attorney general and to the State of Texas. In the virtual hearing Friday, Will Thompson, an attorney for the state, argued that the DHS agreement was valid and precluded it from enacting policy changes before the 180-day feedback period has ended. Thompson also said Texas would suffer irreparable harm from the pause on deportations, such as increased education and health care costs for undocumented immigrants. Department of Justice attorney Adam Kirschner raised several legal arguments for why the agreement is not enforceable, among them that it violated Article II of the Constitution by giving Texas, at least for 180 days, veto power over immigration law, which is within the jurisdiction of the federal government. Kirschner also said the state failed to identify injury that the policy would cause, other than general budgetary concerns. Staff writer Ben Wermund contributed reporting from Washington; this story contains material from the Associated Press. Comedian Dave Chappelle canceled several Austin shows scheduled for this weekend after testing positive for COVID-19, news outlets reported. Chappelle, who was supposed to perform five shows this week at the Stubb's Waller Creek Amphitheater, has not been showing symptoms after testing positive, TMZ reported Thursday. He performed Wednesday night but canceled the remaining shows that were also set to feature Joe Rogan as the co-headliner. His representatives told the Hollywood Reporter that Chappelle is in quarantine and had implemented safety protocols that included rapid testing of himself and his crew before he tested positive. Chappelle was photographed without a mask at Stubb's on Wednesday with Rogan, Elon Musk and musician Grimes, who had tested positive for coronavirus on Jan. 19. She posted on her Instagram stories that she had "Finally got COVID, but weirdly enjoying the DayQuil fever dream 2021." In an Instagram post, Rogan told fans that he was sorry about the canceled shows and that they would attempt to reschedule as soon as possible. He later updated his post by saying that he has been testing negative all week for the virus. He added that Grimes was not the person who passed the virus to Chappelle. Ticket holders should contact their point of purchase for ticket refunds, a Chappelle representative said. Chappelle has been holding socially-distant shows since June. He has been spotted around the San Antonio area numerous times over the last several months because he has been holding shows in Austin since October. Taylor Pettaway is a breaking news and general assignment reporter for ExpressNews.com | taylor.pettaway@express-news.net | @TaylorPettaway A man walks into a bar. Seriously. He orders a nightcap to finish the evening, but the barman refuses, pointing to the clock. Its after 11pm, when serving alcohol would be illegal. This is 1900, I should add. The scene is Fall River, south of Boston, where this barroom stalemate will soon erupt into a courtroom drama, thanks to a certain semicolon in Massachusetts law. To quote the statute: That no sale of spirituous or intoxicating liquor shall be made between the hours of 11 at night and 6 in the morning; nor during the Lords day, except A man walks into a bar......... Credit:Robert Peet See the problem? Wheel "except" into the regulation, and lawyers will query whether such discretionary hours might carry through an adjacent semicolon, enjoying the exceptions as much as those in the succeeding clause. In 1900, the debate turned ugly. Lengthy too, as purists and jurists examined the squiggle for six years. The drama is one charming episode in historian Cecelia Watsons Semicolon (4th Estate, 2019), a grammatic whisk through the marks history and sticking points, its range and subtlety, meeting the haters and masters along the way. Kurt Vonnegut, rooted in the former camp, perceived the semicolon as a jumped-up comma, a shorthand admission that youd been to college. By contrast, noir icon Raymond Chandler knew the impact of restraint. The Big Sleep has only two semicolons, both packing as much heat as hero Philip Marlowe. 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. 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. Robert Kocharyan on years of his leadership in Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia Situation on Armenian-Azerbaijani border is still tense, more on COVID-19 in Armenia, May 28 digest "Armenia" alliance of political parties paying tribute to founder of First Republic Aram Manukyan (LIVE) Yerevan.today: Armenia acting PM not greeted at ruling party's headquarters, citizens call him 'capitulator' Russia MOD reports on maintenance of ceasefire regime in Nagorno-Karabakh Armenia acting MOD meets with Russian counterpart in Moscow Armenia 2nd President: I see possibility of restoring borders of Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast We can provide our army with some key, modernized weapons, says Armenia ex-President Kocharyan Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: Captives issue is not one that any opposition force can resolve OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs release statement on detention of 6 Armenian servicemen by Azerbaijan Armenian acting Deputy PM: Discussion on issues possible only after withdrawal of Azeri troops from Armenia's territory Armenia acting PM on Syunik roads, Russian military posts: This is only place where there are working nuances Armenia acting PM: Process of return of POWs will intensify after upcoming elections Putin congratulates Aliyev on Republic Day 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 A plastic surgeon highlighted why these are the prettiest female idols with monolid and double eyelids! Do you agree with the list? See the full rank in this article! A prominent plastic surgeon named Philip Son recently named Best 3 "Female Idols with the Prettiest Monolid," as well as Top 3 "Female Idols" with the most gorgeous "Double Eyelids." In particular, aside from working at a Seoul-based plastic surgery clinic, Philip Son also shares information related to plastic surgery, through Naver blogs and YouTube. In fact, their account "PSPS" has a good number of subscribers and views. Check out his videos and channel HERE. Meanwhile, he often makes in-depth analyses about K-pop female idols, and here is his ranking of prettiest stars with monolids and double-eyelids! (Disclaimer: The list is based on the plastic surgeon's personal preference too (with medical basis), thus readers' choice may vary.) BEST 3 "Female Idols With Gorgeous Double-Eyelids" In his blog, the plastic surgeon selected three idols with the most beautiful double-eyelids. 1. IZ*ONE Kim Min Ju Prior to her debut, the female idol gathered several attention upon joining "Produce 101" for her incredible visuals, especially her eyes. The surgeon explained that her double-eyelid line is an in-out line that extends to the front eye, due to this, her black eyes were highlighted well. 2. Yeonwoo The former MOMOLAND Yeonwoo received praises from the surgeon, who even said Yeonwoo is among the top ten prettiest idols, though she's underrated. Philip Son then described her eyes lines as "near and sharp," wherein the fat under her eyes is making her look younger. 3. ITZY Yuna Yuna is a 03-liner but her visuals just seem to get better, same as her height, and the surgeon described her image as "similar to actress Jun Ji Hyun." The surgeon then explained that Yuna's big eyes are overhanging, that's why people see it bigger, which are likely to pop out. He also said, "The double eyelid line is an inout line, and the line is open to the front of the eyes that makes her eyes look clear." Best 3 "Female Idols with Prettiest Monolid" 1. ITZY Yeji ITZY is popular for her unique look, particularly her gorgeous "cat-like eyes." She may look like she has a low inline double-eyelid, but it depends on her photos and makeup. Without her eye makeup, Yeji's monolid is visible, and she looks more pure and fresh with a simple look. 2. TWICE Dahyun As for Dahyun, according to the surgeon, despite the female idol having a monolid, here eyes are big that it looks natural He added, "Her iris are very large, and the pretarsal folds are well-developed." The surgeon also mentioned that Mina and Dahyun have the prettiest nose in TWICE. 3. Red Velvet Seulgi Among her group members in Red Velvet, Seulgi is the only member with monolid, thus making her shines more. For more K-Pop news and updates, keep your tabs open here at KpopStarz. KpopStarz owns this article. Written by Eunice Dawson Its been more than two years since Kit Harington said goodbye to Game of Thrones and his character Jon Snow. Harington wrapped filming on the final season in late 2018. And since the HBO series ended, Harington has stayed extremely busy in both his professional and personal life. Heres a look at what the actor has been up to. Game of Thrones star Kit Harington with Rose Leslie | Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images Kit Harington took some time off to focus on his mental health following the end of Game of Thrones Harington didnt take much of a break after wrapping on Game of Thrones. He went straight to Londons West End and starred in the play True West. His performance earned him positive reviews. But, after the show ended its run in February 2019, Harington knew he needed some time off. Just days ahead of the GOT series finale airing on HBO in May 2019, Harington checked himself into a posh rehab center in Connecticut called Prive-Swiss. Fans who watched the documentary The Last Watch know that filming the final season of the HBO series took its toll on Harington and everyone else in the cast and crew. Harington was exhausted. And according to The Things, he had a habit of turning to alcohol when he wanted to relax and unwind. He decided to check into the rehab center to get help with his drinking and to de-stress and focus on his mental health. While Harington was working on himself, he had the constant support of his wife Rose Leslie. The Game of Thrones star is renovating a home and expecting a baby As Cheat Sheet has previously reported, Harington and Leslie purchased a 15th-century farmhouse in 2017. This past year, they got approval to create a new kitchen and install a new bathtub in what Leslie calls the house that Jon Snow built. They are also installing a new boiler, radiator, and pipes to improve the heating in the home. The renovation project is estimated to cost $685,000. All of this is happening ahead of the birth of Harington and Leslies first child. The couple revealed that they were expecting when Leslie posed for a Make magazine photo shoot in September 2020. Kit Harington and Rose Leslie can stay warm after winning permission for new heating in their 15th century thatched farmhouse https://t.co/BbTCjt1OQc Daily Mail Celebrity (@DailyMailCeleb) October 6, 2020 RELATED: Inside Kit Harington and Rose Leslies 15th-Century Home aka the House That Jon Snow Built Before the couple revealed they were expecting, Harington talked about how fun it will be to tell his future children about how their parents met on the set of Game of Thrones. He hasnt said anything publicly since the pregnancy announcement. But Leslie shared that she was thrilled to be expecting. She also revealed that she couldnt wait to meet the new member of their family. Harington is also enjoying the money he earned from his eight seasons on the show, and now has an estimated net worth of $12 million. He reportedly splurged on a few cars, including a Jaguar, an Infiniti Q60, and a Triumph Thruxton. Kit Harington is about to become part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe In the two years since he wrapped filming on Game of Thrones, Harington has moved on to other acting projects. This is a big deal for the actor since the HBO series was his first professional acting credit. While he did do some projects during GOTs eight season run, Harington no longer has that series to fall back on. In 2020, the actor was a guest star in the Netflix series Criminal: UK. But the biggest project by far for Harington post-Game of Thrones is Marvels Eternals. Harington wrapped filming on the movie just before the pandemic hit. And the release date has been pushed back a few times. Fans will finally get to see Harington as Dane Whitman aka Black Knight later this year when Eternals finally hits theaters on November 5, 2021. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. The cause of mass fish deaths in the tristate area late last year remains under investigation, a spokeswoman for the New York Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) said this week. Mass deaths of menhaden, commonly known as bunker, have occurred in large numbers across the tristate area, including off the shores of Staten Island, in the Hudson River, and in the Long Island Sound. The DEC spokeswoman said Tuesday that the agency is coordinating the investigation with neighboring states and the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC). She said the fish have tested negative for a specific disease despite showing symptoms like irregular swimming patterns. The ASMFC is a regulatory body that coordinates fish conservation and management on the East Coast. It is compromised of three commissioners each from 15 states along the eastern seaboard. Menhaden are both an important part of the food chain and are commercially harvested for their use in supplement products, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Larger fish and predatory birds eat the menhaden, and the fish are harvested for use as as fertilizers, animal feed and bait, as well as being a major source of omega-3 fatty acids for their use in human and animal supplement. Multiple authorities have made efforts in recent years to stimulate and protect the Atlantic Menhaden population. The New York legislature passed and Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed a bill in 2019 that prohibited use of certain large, industrial fishing nets to take menhaden. That bill was sponsored by State Sen. Todd Kaminsky (D-Long Island) -- who is one of three ASMFC commissioners from New York -- in his legislative chamber. In August, the ASMFC voted unanimously to link how many menhaden could be fished in a year to ecological reference points that take into consideration larger fish populations that feed on the smaller menhaden. Multiple readers reached out to the Advance/SILive.com in later November and early December concerned about large numbers of dead fish washing up on Staten Islands shores. DEC officials said in December that residents around the state had reported similar phenomenon, and that its not necessarily something to be concerned about. Die-off events of menhaden are not unusual and there are various naturally occurring causes for these events. Fish, such as bunker, that swim in large schools are particularly vulnerable to low dissolved oxygen, certain environmental pressures, and pathogens, the DEC said in a statement. Similar masses of dead fish washing up on Staten Islands shores have been reported in the past, including in 2017 when the DEC offered a similar explanation. In a November report on our sister site, NJ.com, Hackensack Riverkeeper Bill Sheehan talked about the same phenomena in New Jersey. While Sheehan said it is quite common, the report noted that the die-off events at the end of 2020 were unusual because most occur during warm weather, when things like algae bloom deplete oxygen from the water. Sheehan said at the time that the Hackensack River was unusually warm because of a hot summer and warm fall. Theres no one to blame for these sort of instances, he said. You can blame Mother Nature. The DEC encourages the public to report incidents of fish die-off events by email to marinefisheries@dec.ny.gov. EKF Diagnostics, the global in vitro diagnostics company, announces that it has introduced one of the first tests to precisely measure levels of COVID-19 neutralizing antibodies in individuals. Unlike other antibody tests, the Kantaro COVID-SeroKlir SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibody test kit determines both the presence and specific quantities of human IgG antibodies to the SARS-CoV-2 virus. This enables a broad range of COVID-19 applications, such as delivering vital knowledge for advancing the understanding of protective immunity, assessing vaccine response and accelerating therapeutic treatments. Image Credit: EKF Diagnostics The high performance quantitative COVID-SeroKlir kit has received FDA Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) and is CE marked. It has demonstrated 98.8% sensitivity and 99.6% specificity for detecting SARS-CoV-2 specific IgG antibodies against two SARS-CoV-2 virus antigens, the full-length spike protein and its receptor-binding domain (RBD). This confirmed accuracy means false positives and false negatives are minimized. Being a two-step enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), ensures COVID-SeroKlirs accuracy. The ELISAs initial plate screens for RBD positive or negative samples, whilst the second plate provides a quantitative result of the antibody titre/concentration for the full-length spike protein. As the kit uses standard methods and equipment, it is easily operated without need for scaled equipment or special environments and contains components to test 630 patient samples. The best-in-class serologic COVID-19 assay is based on technology developed by clinicians at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Health System in New York in partnership with RenalytixAI, a spinout company from EKF Diagnostics. Here, COVID-SeroKlir has been validated on a highly diverse cohort of more than 75,000 patients, including over 30,000 who were diagnosed with COVID-19; this is more than any other COVID-19 test. In addition, the test has been independently verified by peer reviewed journals, including Nature and Science [1, 2], as well as the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH). The Mount Sinai study also demonstrated that over 90% of infected individuals with mild-to-moderate COVID-19 experience robust IgG antibody responses against the viral spike protein [2]. In addition, these COVID-19 neutralizing antibody levels were confirmed to be relatively stable during the first five months after infection. Explaining the value of knowing the precise levels of SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies, Julian Baines, CEO of EKF, said, Quantitative IgG antibody testing can provide important support for determining public health strategies, informing healthcare decision making, and verifying the effectiveness of vaccines as they become available. It is also an essential component of a general health check to determine past COVID-19 infections. This is because COVID-19 has been linked with an increased risk of potentially life-threatening complications, including lung, kidney, and cardiovascular disease. EKF holds exclusive rights to market and distribute the Kantaro COVID-SeroKlir kit in the UK and Germany, and non-exclusive rights in the rest of Europe. Julian Baines added, With the capacity to manufacture up to 10 million tests per month, EKF is well placed to drive rapid availability of COVID-SeroKlir kits to a broad range of laboratories for immediate operation without needing specialized testing equipment. References remaining of Thank you for reading! This is your last free article before you will be asked to subscribe. Already have a paid subscription? Sign in Posted Friday, January 22, 2021 2:30 am On Tuesday, Jan. 19, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee appointed Camara Banfield to the Clark County Superior Court. She replaces Judge Bernard Veljacic, who was recently appointed to the Washington State Court of Appeals, Division II, according to a news release from the Governor's office. According to the release, Banfield has served as a deputy criminal prosecutor with the Clark County Prosecuting Attorneys Office since 2004, most recently serving as the offices chief criminal deputy prosecutor. In this role, Banfield supervises the criminal division, manages its budget and shapes the offices policies and procedures around criminal prosecutions. In 2020, Banfield co-founded the Action Reform Committee to review and reform practices and procedures within the prosecutors office in an effort to confront racial inequities in the criminal justice system. According to the release, Banfield is also involved with the community and since July 2020 has served on the Vancouver School District Board of Directors. She also trains youth in track and field, mentors at-risk youth and volunteers in local Meals on Wheels programs. Whether as a prosecutor or as a resident of Clark County, Camara has committed herself to serving and improving her community, Inslee said in the release. I am eager to see her bring this same energy and passion to the bench. Banfield earned both her law degree and her bachelors degree from the University of Oregon. A Message From The Editor just-style gives you the widest apparel and textile market coverage. Paid just-style members have unlimited access to all our exclusive content - including 21 years of archives. I am so confident you will love complete access to our content that today I can offer you 30 days access for 1*. Its our best ever membership offer just for you. Leonie Barrie, editor of just-style Leonie's offer to you * plus VAT if applicable [January 22, 2021] New Book Showcases Bermuda's Offering for Private Trust Companies Three private client advisers in Bermuda are contributors to a new book, Private Trust Companies: A Handbook for Advisers, putting the spotlight on Bermuda's offering as a world-leading jurisdiction for the establishment of private trust companies. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210122005443/en/ Vanessa Schrum, Appleby (Bermuda) Limited (Photo: Business Wire) Published by Globe Law and Business, the book acts as a comprehensive resource for lawyers, accountants, family office executives, and others who advise high-wealth families on private trust companies. It fully explores the legal, regulatory, and practical dimensions of forming and operating a private trust company. Bermuda is featured prominently with a chapter on private trust companies in Bermuda by Keith Robinson and Ashley Fife of Carey Olsen, a chapter on the ownership and governance structures of private trust companies co-authored by Vanessa Schrum of Appleby (Bermuda) Limited, and a chapter on coordinating with the family office by Sara Schroter and Michelle Wolfe (News - Alert) of Meritus Trust Company Limited. Roland Andy Burrows, CEO of the Bermuda Business Development Agency, noted that the chapters from Bermuda advisors illustrate the caliber of internationally-recognised experts practicing within the country. "Bermuda is filled with world-class talent in many sectors, especially in the financial realm," he said. "Our expertise in many areas is unsurpassed, especially given our lengthy and esteemed history with private trust company offerings. I look forward to sharing the insights and knowledge from our country's top financial practitioners with prospective clients. The BDA continues to work with the Government and idustry to differentiate Bermuda's offering in this competitive global space to ensure we remain the jurisdiction of choice." The book covers the relevant law in prime jurisdictions in addition to organisational and operational issues, such as: designing a private trust company's ownership structure, implementing proper internal controls, outsourcing services, working with professional advisers, overseeing trust investments, and managing inter-jurisdictional activities. It also covers important matters such as coordinating with the family office, communicating with family, protecting privacy, and handling disputes involving private trust companies. Sara Schroter of Meritus commented: "Meritus was delighted to have been asked to pen the chapter on private trust companies and trustees coordinating with family offices. Given the government's interest in promoting Bermuda as a jurisdiction of choice for setting up family offices, we think that highlighting the importance of the relationship between trustees and family offices is key. As we note in the book, the dynamics between the family, the family office, and the private trust company will directly affect the long-term success of the management of the family's wealth. Bermuda has an abundance of highly qualified professionals with a breadth of experience in trust, legal, wealth management, and complementary areas suitable for family offices' needs." Vanessa Schrum of Appleby commented: "Appleby was pleased to contribute to the chapter on ownership and governance structures of private trust companies, which illustrates how these companies are owned, structured and decisions are made. This publication is very timely as wealthy families and organisations review trust structures following the impact of the global pandemic and seek to base structures in highly regarded, well regulated locations. Bermuda features highly in the book and is touted as being one of the top six jurisdictions outside the US in which to form a private trust company, due primarily to Bermuda's favourable legal and regulatory environment, developed legislation and good courts." Keith Robinson of Carey Olsen commented: "Private trust companies have long been a favoured structuring option in Bermuda for high net worth families seeking a bespoke alternative to an institutional trustee. My colleague Ashley Fife and I were very pleased to be able to contribute on this topic to this important new publication. We hope that this publication will continue to promote Bermuda as the leading jurisdiction for offshore trusts and the domicile of choice for the establishment of new private trust companies - with the benefits for the Bermuda economy and employment that this entails." To order a copy of the book, available in a hardback format and as a convenient eBook, visit https://www.globelawandbusiness.com/books/private-trust-companies, and for more information on doing business in Bermuda visit www.bda.bm. CONNECTING BUSINESS 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. Our goal? To make doing business in Bermuda smooth and beneficial. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210122005443/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Chennai: The AIADMK (Amma), led by Chief Minister K Palaniswami, on Wednesday declared its support to NDAs Presidential nominee Ram Nath Kovind. The announcement came two days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi rang up Palaniswami to seek his partys support for the National Democratic Alliance nominee. A press release issued by the AIADMK headquarters here recalled the Prime Minister calling up palaniswami, who is also party headquarters Secretary, seeking support for Kovind and said the matter was discussed today by the high command. Based on the deliberations, it was decided to unanimously extend support to Kovind, the release said. Yesterday party leader T T V Dhinakaran had said in Bengaluru after meeting his aunt V K Sasikala in a jail there that AIADMK (Amma)s stand on backing the NDA presidential nominee would be decided by her. Have decided to support NDA's presidential candidate #RamNathKovind: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister E Palanisamy pic.twitter.com/OllPbsXn6s ANI (@ANI_news) June 21, 2017 He had told reporters that, It (the partys stand on presidential poll) will be decided by partys General Secretary Sasikala. Asked whether the party would support Kovind, he had said That also will be decided by (party) general secretary. Also Read | Presidential Poll 2017: Ramnath Kovind and Narendra Modis politics of symbolism For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. The Junta de Andalucia is preparing to implement its contingency plan for a possible scenario of 7,000 patients admitted to hospitals with Covid-19. This Friday the region has recorded 20 consecutive days of increases in hospital patient numbers. The Juntas deputy minister for Health, Catalina Garcia, said, "Last week the 4,500 Plan was approved and this week the 7,000 Plan will go to the Cabinet. Perhaps this Saturday we will be above the number of people hospitalised during the second wave." Hospitalisations have risen very quickly," Garcia warned. This Friday, Andalusian hospitals registered the twentieth consecutive day of increases to the number of patients in hospital - up 267 making a total to 3,310, that is 602 more than the peak reached on 30 March (2,708) and 168 more than the peak of hospitalised patients of the second wave on 10 November. (3,478). There are 453 patients in intensive care, 21 more than the previous day, and 15 more than the peak reached in March (438). A letter written by a Chinese pastor who was detained alongside 100 other members of his congregation has been released, speaking of "disgust" at the Communist Party. Wang Yi, pastor of Early Rain Covenant Church in Chengdu, Sichuan, apparently wrote the letter in the event that he would be taken by Chinese Communist authorities, which happened during a raid on Sunday. In the letter, published and translated on social media on Wednesday by Brent Pinkall and Amy Cheung, Wang says that he is "filled with anger and disgust at the persecution of the church by this Communist regime, at the wickedness of their depriving people of the freedoms of religion and of conscience. "But changing social and political institutions is not the mission I have been called to, and it is not the goal for which God has given his people the Gospel," he said, explaining that his role is to lead people to Jesus Christ. He said that following the Bible, he accepts and respects "the fact that this Communist regime has been allowed by God to rule temporarily. "As the Lord's servant John Calvin said, wicked rulers are the judgment of God on a wicked people, the goal being to urge God's people to repent and turn again toward Him. For this reason, I am joyfully willing to submit myself to their enforcement of the law as though submitting to the discipline and training of the Lord," he continued. "At the same time, I believe that this Communist regime's persecution against the church is a greatly wicked, unlawful action. As a pastor of a Christian church, I must denounce this wickedness openly and severely," the pastor wrote. "The calling that I have received requires me to use non-violent methods to disobey those human laws that disobey the Bible and God. My Savior Christ also requires me to joyfully bear all costs for disobeying wicked laws." As South China Morning Post reported, the church leader is under criminal detention for allegedly inciting subversion of state power. Chen Yaxue, Wang's 73-year-old mother, noted that it is not known where Wang's wife, Jiang Rong, was taken. Those arrested on Sunday included other church leaders and seminary students, with Communist officials detaining other Christians in Chengdu hiding in their homes as well. Police officials say that they are cracking down on illegal gatherings. Persecution watchdog groups, including ChinaAid, have said the actions are "a major escalation of religious persecution in China," targeting innocent religious believers. Chen revealed that she and her 11-year-old grandson are under constant surveillance by guards working with the atheistic government. "They follow us whenever and wherever we go," the elderly woman said. "The surveillance has taken a huge toll on my grandson. He is emotionally shocked with [his parents taken away]. He has not slept for two nights." Wang clarified in his lengthy letter that he has not been trying to change any institutions or laws in China, and that the only thing he cares about "is the disruption of man's sinful nature by this faithful disobedience and the testimony it bears for the cross of Christ." "I'm not even interested in the question of when the Communist regime's policies persecuting the church will change. Regardless of which regime I live under now or in the future, as long as the secular government continues to persecute the church, violating human consciences that belong to God alone, I will continue my faithful disobedience," he wrote. "For the entire commission God has given me is to let more Chinese people know through my actions that the hope of humanity and society is only in the redemption of Christ, in the supernatural, gracious sovereignty of God." He shared his hopes that God will use the persecution of Chinese Christians "to help more Chinese people to despair of their futures, to lead them through a wilderness of spiritual disillusionment and through this to make them know Jesus." He said that the persecution of believers and followers of Christ "is the most wicked and the most horrendous evil of Chinese society." "This is not only a sin against Christians. It is also a sin against all non-Christians. For the government is brutally and ruthlessly threatening them and hindering them from coming to Jesus. There is no greater wickedness in the world than this," he argued. "If this regime is one day overthrown by God, it will be for no other reason than God's righteous punishment and revenge for this evil. For on earth, there has only ever been a thousand-year church. There has never been a thousand-year government. There is only eternal faith. There is no eternal power," the pastor declared. Courtesy of The Christian Post SB 2678 by State Senator Scott DeLano, R-Biloxi, and HB 633 by State House Representative Kevin Felsher, R-Biloxi, were introduced earlier this week and have been assigned to the Education Committee in each chamber. The bills, which would bring classroom instruction of computer science to all of the state's 442,627 students, are expected to receive hearings soon. "We want ... more emphasis on this critical core subject (computer science knowledge and skills) in the K-12 classroom" The proposed laws come as the C Spire Foundation committed $1 million earlier this month to help school districts with teacher training and implementation. C Spire executives, education advocates and technology leaders are optimistic the Legislature will consider and adopt new laws that will give elementary, middle and high school students equal access to computer science curriculum. A grassroots effort to win legislative passage last year was cut short by the COVID-19 virus outbreak after a successful House of Representatives vote on a computer science bill in mid-March. The resulting global health pandemic closed most of Mississippi's 884 public and charter K-12 schools and left many of the state's 442,627 students with no option but virtual distance learning from home. However, state lawmakers provided a boost to the grassroots effort last July with two new laws that set aside $200 million to help 151 school districts purchase more than 325,000 computer devices and other tools that enable students to continue learning from home after widespread school closures caused by the public health crisis. Matching state funds and grants also were set aside for rural broadband deployment. "We need to capitalize on the progress we've made in educating and informing our colleagues and the public on the importance of getting more rigorous computer science standards in all of our schools so that students have the knowledge, skills and abilities to compete for the best jobs in the new 21st century economy," DeLano said. Felsher noted that while some districts may already be exceeding the requirements for computer science instruction, the state public school system needs uniform standards that apply to all students and schools. "Ultimately, we want every student to have the same opportunities to pursue computer science regardless of where they live or what school they attend," he added. Part of the push for uniform standards is being fueled by differences in the amount, if any, of computer science education offered by school districts across the state. "The goal is to get more emphasis on this critical core subject in the classroom," said C Spire CEO Hu Meena, noting that computer science education is taught in less than half of the state's public high schools. Workers with a background in computer science are in high demand and short supply in Mississippi. Employers currently have over 1,475 unfilled jobs due to the serious shortage of trained, qualified IT and computing workers. The average starting salary is almost double the statewide average. In 2019, only 327 students took the AP computer science exam according to code.org, a STEM education advocacy group. "Getting computer science in all Mississippi classrooms represents a tremendous opportunity to give our young people exposure to the fundamentals necessary for their future success in the workforce," said C Spire CTO Carla Lewis, noting that computer science teaches critical thinking, computational and problem solving skills that benefit all students and future employers. C Spire has worked closely with lawmakers to refine the legislation that would help make computer science available in all schools fully by the 2024-2025 academic year. Many districts and schools have made progress and will not need to make changes while others will need to boost teacher training and update courses to the latest curriculum. "We're committed to helping all of our schools overcome any barriers that might stand in the way of offering computer science in classrooms," Lewis said, adding that C Spire is offering to help identify solutions for more teacher training and distance learning. Mississippi public K-12 schools are some of the most diverse in the nation with over 52 percent of the population students of color - African American and Hispanic - and nearly 49 percent female, two areas that have historically been under-represented in the computer science industry, Lewis added. C Spire has been heavily involved in efforts to promote computer science education in Mississippi since 2015 with coding challenges, coding academies, pilot accelerated degree programs and other efforts designed to inspire and encourage students to consider pursuing academic degrees or professional careers in science, technology, engineering and math-related fields. The grassroots computer science education effort is designed to move communities forward with a focus on workforce development, broadband access and technology innovation. To learn more about the need for computer science education in K-12 classrooms or to get involved in the effort, text FUTURE to 50457 or go to www.ourMSfuture.com. About C Spire C Spire is a privately-owned telecommunications and technology company driven to deliver the best experiences in wireless, fiber internet, and business IT solutions such as internet, VoIP, cloud and managed services. Read more news releases and announcements at cspire.com/news. For more information, visit cspire.com or find us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. SOURCE C Spire Related Links http://www.cspire.com Robert Kocharyan on years of his leadership in Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia Situation on Armenian-Azerbaijani border is still tense, more on COVID-19 in Armenia, May 28 digest "Armenia" alliance of political parties paying tribute to founder of First Republic Aram Manukyan (LIVE) Yerevan.today: Armenia acting PM not greeted at ruling party's headquarters, citizens call him 'capitulator' Russia MOD reports on maintenance of ceasefire regime in Nagorno-Karabakh Armenia acting MOD meets with Russian counterpart in Moscow Armenia 2nd President: I see possibility of restoring borders of Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast We can provide our army with some key, modernized weapons, says Armenia ex-President Kocharyan Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: Captives issue is not one that any opposition force can resolve OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs release statement on detention of 6 Armenian servicemen by Azerbaijan Armenian acting Deputy PM: Discussion on issues possible only after withdrawal of Azeri troops from Armenia's territory Armenia acting PM on Syunik roads, Russian military posts: This is only place where there are working nuances Armenia acting PM: Process of return of POWs will intensify after upcoming elections Putin congratulates Aliyev on Republic Day 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 Abu Dhabi's renewable energy company Masdar said it has signed a strategic agreement with French group EDF Renewables to explore renewable energy opportunities in Israel and support the countrys clean-energy objectives. Under the agreement, Masdar and EDF Renewables Israel, a wholly owned subsidiary established in 2010, will look to collaborate on existing renewable energy projects, and projects under development, while also exploring joint participation in new programmes announced by the government of Israel. The MoU was signed by Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, Chief Executive Officer of Masdar and Bruno Bensasson, EDF Group Senior Executive VP Renewable Energies and Chairman and CEO of EDF Renewables at a virtual ceremony held on the side lines of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW) 2021. Israel is targeting 30 percent of its energy coming from renewable sources by 2030, up from a previous target of 17 percent, as it looks to phase out coal use. Achieving the new target will require an additional 15 gigawatts (GW) of solar capacity being developed over the period. On the agreement, Dr Yuval Steinitz, Israel's Minister of Energy, said: "We are seeing the first fruits of the Abraham Accords in the field of energy! We welcome all investment that brings us closer to achieving the targets that I set for solar energy in Israel." "The new partnership between Masdar from the United Arab Emirates and EDF - an international company that invests in renewable energy around the world and operates in Israel for a decade - is an expression of confidence in Israel's energy market and will help us achieve our goal of becoming a world leader in solar energy within six to seven years," stated the minister. "The UAE and Israel have embarked on a new era of co-operation on renewable energy and associated technologies, which will benefit both our nations and support our clean-energy objectives. Israel is known for its innovation ecosystem and we look forward to working in partnership with EDF Renewables Israel on developing solutions that will drive the energy transition," said Al Ramahi. "This also strengthens our already powerful partnership with EDF Renewables, with whom we are already working together on projects across the Middle East and North Africa, and in North America," he added. Bensasson pointed out that Israel was a country with an attractive long-term potential for renewable energies and innovative technologies, where EDF Renewables has developed a leading position, especially in solar energy. "I am very happy to extend to new geographies, our trusted partnership with Masdar and to sign this strategic alliance today in Israel," he stated. "By joining our forces with Masdar on the Israeli market, we will strengthen the leading position that the teams of EDF Renewables Israel have achieved over the last decade," he added.-TradeArabia News Service The Senate on Friday confirmed Lloyd J. Austin III as defense secretary, filling a critical national security position in President Bidens cabinet and elevating him as the first Black Pentagon chief. The 93-2 vote came a day after Congress granted Mr. Austin, a retired four-star Army general, a special waiver to hold the post, which is required for any defense secretary who has been out of active-duty military service for less than seven years. It reflected a bipartisan consensus on Capitol Hill that it was urgent for Mr. Biden to have his defense pick rapidly installed, a step normally taken on a new presidents first day. Its an extraordinary, historic moment, said Senator Jack Reed, Democrat of Rhode Island and the chairman of the Armed Services Committee. A significant portion of our armed forces today are African-Americans or Latinos, and now they can see themselves at the very top of the Department of Defense, which makes real the notion of opportunity. Mr. Austin, 67, is the only African-American to have led U.S. Central Command, the militarys marquee combat command, with responsibility for Iraq, Afghanistan, Yemen and Syria. He retired in 2016 after 41 years in the military, and is widely respected across the Army. Young American poet Amanda Gorman may have stolen the show at the inauguration of the new US President with her words in verse: And so we lift our gazes not to what stands between us, but what stands before us. In a sense, the poetic line summarises Joseph Robinette Biden Jrs fundamentally reassuring message that the United States can heal while it recovers and rebuilds even as he attempts to reconcile and rectify the stark differences brought to the fore in four years of the Donald Trump era. The sense of calm resolve that Mr Biden, Americas 46th President, conveyed amid rhetoric and realism in bringing up white supremacy and domestic terrorism might have been just what was required after the tumultuous events of just two weeks ago when the same US Capitol, a pillar of democracy, was under siege. Mr Bidens ability to find the right words as he plays the healer who can stitch together the seemingly unbridgeable divide was the highlight. His talk of American aspiration, as opposed to the America First that his predecessor had emphasised at his 2017 inaugural, was tempered by post-pandemic humility after the US has been scarred more than any other nation with 400,000 deaths and millions more sick. The advent of the new presidency is not so much a transition as a sea change from the rule of his predecessor who showed scant regard for basic science and who upended news cycles with untruths distributed on social media platforms. In the face of crass challenges to democratic traditions, Mr Bidens call for public comity was comforting: Lets begin to listen to one another again, hear one another, see one another. Without unity there is no peace, only bitterness and fury, no progress, only exhausting outrage, helped echo the ringing truth of old maxims on unity amid diversity that the world seems to have forgotten, thanks to the cascade of crises carried by the virus including the disruption of large parts of the global economy. In a welter of executive action, Mr Biden is bringing the United States back into the Paris agreement on climate change and into the World Health Organisation, besides stopping the construction of the Mexican Wall and addressing immigration issues thrown up by a racist and insular predecessor. The liberal revival promises more towards repairing hurt allies and equitable trade deals, obviating the need for tariff or sanctions-ridden confrontations that Mr Trumps Washington had so preferred. The dazzling optics of fireworks lighting up Capitol Hill was in keeping with the celebration of the inauguration while celebrity entertainers ushered in sobriety in view of the Covid-riddled times we are living in. There were messages to be read too in the ascension of vice-president Kamala Devi Harris, the first Black American and first person of Indian descent who was sworn in with her hand on two Bibles. The absence of the outgoing President Trump seemed inconspicuous, though he had the decency to leave a generous letter for his successor. In the end, the oldest democracy did survive the threat even as the Proud Boys, who were eulogised by Mr Trump, began mocking him as a total failure. One can only hope the return to decency and truth in America might ease the path to a global revival too. To monitor changes to the coronavirus that could supercharge the pandemic or render vaccines less effective, scientists must sequence its genetic code to catalogue potentially dangerous mutations as they emerge Paris, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 22nd Jan, 2021 ) :To monitor changes to the coronavirus that could supercharge the pandemic or render vaccines less effective, scientists must sequence its genetic code to catalogue potentially dangerous mutations as they emerge. But so few countries are conducting and sharing surveillance that experts are as worried about the mutations they cannot see as those they can. Publication of the first genomic sequence of SARS-CoV-2 in January last year, at the very outset of the pandemic, allowed scientists to identify it as a new coronavirus, and begin developing diagnostic testing and vaccines. Since then, tens of thousands of sequences have been uploaded on public databases, enabling mutations to be tracked with a degree of detail and a speed never achieved before. But the lion's share of this information has come from just one country: Britain. As of mid-January, GISAID -- a major data sharing platform originally created to monitor influenza -- had received 379,000 sequences. Of these, 166,000 were from Britain's Covid-19 Genomics UK (COG-UK), a partnership between health authorities and academic institutions. "This is the first time we are ever seeing how a pathogen evolves at this scale," said Ewan Harrison, Director of Strategy and Transformation at COG-UK and a fellow at the Wellcome Sanger Institute where much of the sequencing is being done. "We are learning that these mutations accrue way faster than we thought." Currently the programme is sequencing 10,000 genomes a week -- roughly six percent of known cases in Britain although that fluctuates -- and the plan is to double that. "The UK blows everyone else out of the water," said Emma Hodcroft, an epidemiologist at the University of Bern and co-developer on the Nextstrain virus tracking project. "To me, this has been the moonshot of the pandemic, alongside the vaccines." Denmark, she noted, also routinely sequences and shares data, but the information coming from most other countries is sporadic at best. Sequencing has identified distinct variants -- strains that have acquired clusters of new mutations -- in Britain, South Africa and Brazil in recent weeks. The new, fast-spreading variant in the UK is "like a mini-pandemic within the pandemic", said Harrison. But without systematic monitoring, he added, scientists might still not have figured out it was a "game changer". Early warning did not stop the variant spreading -- it has been detected in dozens of countries. But it has allowed other nations to prepare. Without the warning from UK scientists, the world would probably be flying blind, said Hodcroft. "If this was expanding in another country, we would just be looking at whatever country it was and going: 'Oh, they're having a bad rise in cases, I guess people aren't following the guidelines'," she told AFP. Other variants have become visible only when they spread internationally from their point of origin. Earlier this month, for example, a new strain -- carrying a mutation, known as E484K, that researchers fear could evade immunity -- was identified in Japan in people arriving from Brazil. ROME, Jan. 22, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- If investments to help rural small-scale farmers adapt to climate change do not substantially increase, we risk widespread hunger and global instability, warned Gilbert F. Houngbo, President of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), ahead of the Climate Adaptation Summit next week. "It is unacceptable that small-scale farmers who grow much of the world's food are left at the mercy of unpredictable weather patterns, with such low investment to help them to adapt," said Houngbo. "They do little to cause climate change, but suffer the most from its impacts. Their increasingly common crop failures and livestock deaths put our entire food system at risk. It is imperative that we ensure they remain on their land and sustainably produce nutritious food. If not, then hunger, poverty and migration will become even more widespread in the years to come." In response, Houngbo will announce the launch of IFAD's Enhanced Adaptation for Smallholder Agriculture Programme (ASAP+) at the Climate Adaptation Summit on 26 January, alongside IFAD's Goodwill Ambassadors Idris and Sabrina Elba who will discuss the topic with Alexander de Croo, Prime Minister of Belgium, and Dag Inge Ulstei, Norway's Minister of International Development. Only 1.7 percent of global climate finance a fraction of what is needed - goes to small-scale farmers in developing countries despite their disproportionate vulnerability to the impacts of climate change, according to a report released by IFAD at the end of 2020. ASAP+ intends to change this. It is envisioned to be the largest fund dedicated to channelling climate finance to small-scale producers. It aims to mobilise US$500 million to reduce climate change threats to food security, lower greenhouse gases and help more than 10 million people adapt to weather changes. It will also help countries achieve their nationally determined contributions set under the Paris agreement. Austria, Germany, Ireland and Qatar have already pledged commitments. Small-scale farmers currently produce half of the world's food calories, but are often entirely reliant on natural resources, including rain. As a result, they are at significant risk from increasing temperatures, erratic rainfall, pest infestations, rising sea levels, and extreme weather events. Note to the editor: Follow the event: 26 January 09:30-11:30 CET CAS Channel 4. Register here or follow CAS YouTube channel. Contact: Antonia Paradela - [email protected] - Mobile: +34 605398109 www.ifad.org SOURCE International Fund for Agricultural Development Related Links www.ifad.org